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
few years ago but the Saints were Quakers I am able to prove long before for Abrahâ—… and Isaac and Moses and Habakkuk Daniel and Paul and all the rest were Quakers though they were not called so and though our name is new yet our Religion is old for it is the good old way even the way the Apostles walked in though it hath been over-clouded for many years in the dark night of Apostacy which hath been over the whole World and the Beast hath Reigned and made War against the Saints and killed them and this hath been for many ages as you may read Yet there was a Seed which God preserved for himself in the midst of darkness but now is the Way of the Lord made manifest again and the same Power and Life of God which was in the Apostles dayes and Truth shall spring forth and Idolatry shall be rooted out by little and little and Antichrist and his kingdom shall fall and even Christ the Son of God the same as ever was for no other do we own but him who was and is and is to come he shall rule and his People shall follow him And though he saith The Quakers be an upstart Sect using such scornful words not beseeming a Minister of Jesus Christ but we are willing to bear all his reproaches for Christs sake And he speaks most foolishly and saith as if we knew not the contents of our Religion yea we know the contents and foundation of it which is Christ that good old foundation and him we are zealous for and him we Preach and no other And though he saith The Christians Faith hath been known for sixteen hundred years ago I say it was so but the night hath been over all wherein no man can work since it hath been first revealed and Traditions and Superstitions hath the World been exercised in and led into and the true Faith of the Gospel hath been departed from and many knows it not at this day And he saith He abhors any Gospel or Religion that was not made sixteen hundred yeares ago c. To this I Answer Then must he abhor his own practice for sprinkling of Infants telling people it is a Baptizing into the Faith of Christ was not so long since nor singing Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter for a part of Gods Worship and many other things which the Priests of England practise for Religion and Gospel Ordinances but are not so but an invention came in many years since the Faith was revealed to the Apostles and thus he hath abhored his own practise and is condemned out of his own mouth And whereas he speaks of one that lately spoke to another in these words He denied the God that he Worshipped That might be true for thousands in England Worships the god of this World and that god the Saints deny And he counts it a thing very abominable to trust to that Which is within the Saints though it be according to the Scriptures for Christ is in the Saints and God dwels in the Saints and God and Christ is only to to be trusted to There is also another piece put forth by him called A Sheet for the Ministry in which also according to his usual manner he Rails and Lyes against the Quakers in many things also I might instance in many more things wherein he hath belyed us as a man without fear or honesty and much ado he maks about Tythes And he commends his Reader to the Quakers Catechisme for better satifaction And I do commend all sober people to the Answer of the same wherein his folly and weakness is laid open as in them particulars But he saith The Tenths are theirs as fully as the rest are ours but this is denyed for the Tythes are not paid out of the Lands but out of mens labours and industrious exercises upon the Land for if any man let his Land lye untilled there is no Tythes claimed so that it is manifest it 's paid out of mens labours and not out of the Land and many other things we have against Tythes and against the unjustness of them and the oppression growing thereby And we do know That never any Minister of Christ was maintained in such a way nay they were so far off being maintained by a Law that they would not make use of their power which they had in Christ in those things as of outward maintenance But much need not be said for thousands begins to see the grievous burden and unlawfulness of Tythes and that in the Gospel administration these things are no way commanded by the Law of God but as they came in by tradition and were established by the Pope and are now the chief maintenance of Englands Teachers Indeed grievous and sad to be considered it is how many hundreds in England of honest men are made havock on in their Persons and Estates in relation to Tythes because for Conscience sake they cannot pay to the upholding of an Antichristian Ministry which denies Christ come in the flesh by upholding Tythes which only belonged to the first Priesthood under the Law and was never practised either paid or received by any of them that were Witnesses of Christ come or after his death who did thereby fulfil that part of the old Covenant and put an end to that Covenant and the Priesthood was changed that took Tythes and a necessity there was also of the change of the Law as it is written So this is an Answer in part to Richard Baxters many Lyes and Reproaches and his whole Work is turned by as our spoyled prey of Babylons treasure and no more to be recokned in the Records of Truth but shall stand upon an account among the corrupted and poluted commodity of the growth of Egypt and Babylon And this is for the satisfaction of honest people by a Friend EDWARD BURROUGH THE TRUE Christian Religion Again DISCOVERED After the long and dark Night of Apostacy which hath overshaddow'd the whole World for many Ages and the profession and practise thereof witnessed unto by the Scriptures And here all may see who it is of all these Sects and divers Forms of Religion in these Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures in what they profess and Practice and who it is that are not according thereunto for the Line of true Judgment it stretched upon all Profession and a true search into and tryal thereof is made and hereby it is manifest who it is and what sort of people that may justly claim the benefit of the Protectors Oath to be protected thereby in their Practices of Religion who hath bound himself to maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures c. FOrasmuch as Oliver Cromwel called Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland chief Ruler according to man hath bound himself by an Oath and Sworn that he will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it
been answered and said if patience or any moderation had ruled over your despiteful spirits but because I could not to satisfy your wills and to fulfil your purpose answer yea or nay and thereby make my self a Transgressor Therefore hardly would you suffer me to say any thing in any manner of arguing but by wickedness endeavoured to stop my Mouth My answer was and is the Scriptures the Writings which are one are but a declaration and witness of the Word of God which Word was in the beginning and endures for ever as Iohn and Peter testifies and the Scriptures which are Writings were not in the beginning but began to be written by Moses many hundred years after the beginning Therefore the Scriptures which were not in the beginning are not the Word of God which Word was in the beginning further the Scripture saith the Worlds â—â—â—e made and framed by the Word of God but the Scriptures made not the Worlds therefore the Scriptures are not the Word of God which as the Scripâ—â—â—e it self saith made the Worlds many such like witnesses might be alledged from the Scriptures to prove the Scriptures are not the Word God 〈◊〉 a Declaration of the Word of God and cannot endure for ever then 〈◊〉 said he would prove the Scriptures should endure for ever but could not bring any plain Scriptures as I demanded of him to prove the assertion but went about in Logick to prove it and could prove no more then that the truth written of in the Scripture should endure for ever which thing I never did or shall deny and so needed not to be contended against by any sober men but unreasonable men who have not Faith will say any thing for Advantage to themselves and Disadvantage to the Truth which they are set to oppose And he instanced and said It is written Christ is God Blessed forever 〈◊〉 then shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and said this should endure fâ—â—â—â—er To which I answered That which is written of only shall endure forever but the Scriptures and Writings should not endure forever And further instanced God was written and was Scripture and should not endure â—â—â—ever though God should endure forever and he could not be written nor â—â—â—â—ained in a Book and through your Vanity in Scorning and Hooting 〈◊〉 Unreasonableness according to your own purpose lest your Deceiver â—â—â—â—ld be made manifest you prevented me and would not suffer me to speak in what much more I had to say in this particular and I observed that in all the Questions and Arguments against me were hatched secretly a Snare to 〈◊〉 me into Suffering and to this purpose some of you said wickedly I â—â—â—ld presently dispute my self into Prison and further he instanced Thou 〈◊〉 â—…r thy Father and thy Mother it is so written and said he This is a Command of God and the Word of God and shall endure for ever with presumptuous boasts and scornfull invented terms not beseeming any 〈◊〉 much less a Minister and that he could prove this to be the Word of God against all the Quakers in the World and against all the Fiends in Hell and against all the Jesuits at Rome or filthly words to this purpose and much I desired moderation from you with diligence to hear my defence and thereupon many times desired the Mayor who was present to command silence but I could hardly obtain any from you you were so generally rude and rash and unreasonable and to him I replyed that to honour Father and Mother in the Lord was a Command of God and the Word of God and should endure for ever but Luke's Writings the Scripture were but a Declaration of this Command and not the Command it self nor the Word of God and would perish and not endure for ever and bid you read Luke 1. 1. There Luke calls his Writings which are Scripture a Declaration and much more might I have spoken to this thing if I had been yoaked against a reasonable man or if the Auditors had been but civil but you could not endure to hear but said I subtilly insinuated into their People and thereupon several times some of you spake to the Mayor to dismiss the people I think lest your Hirelings should be discovered and your Wickedness reproved and thus the thing came near an end he not being able to prove by any Scripture or right Argument the Scripture to be the Word of God which shall endure for ever but must if his and your eye ever be opened confess to what I held forth that onely that which is written of in the Scripture or which the Scriptures declare of shall endure for ever to be the Word of God and not the Scripture or Writings then presumtuously he said prove him if I could to be a false Prophet to which I answered and desired much your moderation but could not obtain it as though you had set your selves to be rude and vain to prove a false Prophet was either by Conversation or Doctrine or both and by his Fruits he was known to preach for Hire and to divine for Money is fruits and signs of a false Prophet as the Scripture testified which should be my rule to try him by if he durst stand to it and they that preached for hire were false Prophets and he preached for hire and therefore was a false Prophet according to the Scripture rule then he said he preached not for hire yet he had hire for preaching a poor shift to cover the Devils Deceits but it will not hide his Shame and it was proved that he preached for hire to all but such who stopped their Ears and it was manifest in his face that he sued some at the Law which would not pay him Tythes And then I asked him to give any Examples from the Ministers of Christ where ever they took Tythes or sued Men at the Law who would not pay them Wages but to this he gave no answer at all and thereby he was proved to be a false Prophet and a Deceiver and much more might have been said as to this to prove him and his Generation to be false Prophets as may be done at any time but such was the unreasonableness at this passage that you were nigh to lay violent hands upon me some of you and lest your Deceiver should be made manifest you would not suffer me to speak what I had to say but cried Away with me And tell me any of you when he preached any year or time at this Town when he had no hire and therefore he is a Hireling because he preacheth not without it but for it and so is a false Prophet and he being I judge sorely afraid lest he should be discovered went out of his Pulpit door two or three times till I called him back again and charged him to stay if he was a man and I would prove him to be a preacher of false Doctrine who in my hearing said
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
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
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
somthing shewed me that I was very ignorant and knew not the true God and the beauty of all things vanished And I went to some asking What God was which was professed for I said I knew him not but got no satisfaction from any And I was much separated from the vain ways of the world and from vain worldly people and was made to reprove many often for wickedness in words and actions and was much decided and looked upon scornfully by many and then the Preaching of them whom I had formerly much delighted in was as withered and decayed yet then it pleased the Lord to shew himself a little in love to me and I had sweet refreshments coming in from him to my soul and had joy and peace in abundance and openings of the living truth in me which the world knew not of and the mystery of the Scripture was something opened which before I knew nothing of and I saw many glorious things in it which lie hid under the letter and I was in much rejoycing many times and sang praise for I was brought out of the Land of darkness and could say I was in the Light and I grew up to know high things but not knowing the Cross of Christ I ran forth in my wisdom comprehending the mysteries of God having a Light shined in me and I grew up into notion to talk of high things for it was my delight to comprehend in my busie mind thus being ignorant of the Cross to keep low in it I ran before my Guide up into comprehension and then was I above many of the Priests and Professors and followed only to hear the highest Notionists that Preached high things but the fleshly man was at liberty and so I became one of them in their discoursings and was looked upon by them to know much the former terrour was gone and I had got up from under the judgement and now pride grew more than ever and self-conceitedness and presumption and fleshly liberty to the carnal mind and my delight was much in discoursings where I played the Haâ—lot and the Prodigal and gave holy things unto Dogs and cast Pearls before Swine for wisdom was hid from me and here I lived pleasantly for I had the true God and the true Truth in my comprehension which by my wisdom in the Light I had comprehended and I had the world in my heart Pride Covetousness and the earthly spirit ruled and my delight was grown up to that which once I had no delight in and the beauty of things grew up which seemed to be vanished here I was â—un from my Husband after other Lovers and had left the Lord my Maker who had so graciously made manifest himself unto me and had spent my portion among harlots but I became to be darkned and had lost that which once I had and had but in memory that which before I had injoyed could tell of Experiences but they were dead to me and somthing within me began to question how it was with me for I saw my self to be ignorant more than formerly and I saw I knew nothing something desiring in me to be from whence I was come but I grew to be much given to the world to seek after riches and glory in it and I fed my self with what I had formerly enjoyed and said Whom God loves once he loves for ever but that was then head and ruled in me which he loved never I was wanton and lived in the lustful nature among heathens crucifying the Lord of Life but the blood of that which I had slain cried continually and the witness which lay slain would give me no rest which the earthly made merry over and I grew to be weary of hearing any of the Priests though never so high for something which shined deep in me shewed me ignorance in all profession and I was put to a stand many times in my self at those things which were come to pass then it pleased the Lord to send his true and faithful Servant and Messenger who is called according to the flesh G. Fox he spoke the language which I knew not notwithstanding all my high talking for it was higher and yet lower And it pleased the Lord to speak to me by him that I was in the prodigal state and above the Cross of Christ and not in the pure fear of the Lord but full of corruption and the old nature though I had professed freedom yet it was but such as the Jewes professed for I saw my self to be in bondage to my own Will and to my own Lust and through the Word of the Lord spoken to me by him I began to see my self the witness being raised where I was and what I had been doing and saw I had been making an image to the first Beast which had the Wound by a Sword and did live whose deadly Wound was healed and was full of Airy Notions and Imaginations and was worshipping the image which I had made and then I saw my self to be a Child of Wrath and that the Son of the Bond-Woman lived that Harlots had been my Companions and was no more worthy to be called a Son Then trouble and distress came upon me such as was not since the beginning of the world and I was at my wits end and a day of thick darkness and trouble a day of weeping and mourning and misery and a day of vengeance and recompence came upon me such as I had never known one vial of Wrath after another the great Whore was to be judged and to drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which had made me once drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and then I separated from all the glory of the World and from all my Acquaintance and kindred and betook my self to the company of a poor despised and contemned people called Quakers and now am I one in that Generation which is and ever was hated of the world by the chief Priests and Pharisees and Generation of Serpents and hath chosen rather to suffer Affliction with a poor despised People than to injoy the pleasures of Sin with the great multitude though the worldly pleasures were not wanting to me and now do I bear witness against all Forms of Religion and false Hirelings and chief Priests who walks in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees and of the false Prophets of Israel and was never sent of God to declare his Word And do freely Declare against all out-side Profession and Notion and do witness George Fox to be a true Minister of God one that speaks the Word of the Lord from his mouth one who was sent of God and who is the Servant and Messenger of the living God he is the Friend of God and wo unto his Persecutors they are the Seed of evil doers and now I am despised of my neighbors and carnal acquaintance and is not greater then my Lord who was called a Blasphemer and a Deceiver as
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
respect of Gods Decree and Efficacy of his Death from the foundation of the world really and indeed suffer death or dissolution of Soul and Body as upon the Cross at Ierusalem more or oftner than once Answ. Here in this query thou Diviner art found adding to the Scripture thy divinations of thy own brain whereupon the plagues of God is to be added unto thee and poured upon thee for as thou sayst the Man Christ Jesus the Lamb of God slain in respect of Gods Decree and Efficacy of his Death from the Foundation of the World Oh thou Lyar let all people see where there is such a Scripture that speaks as thou speakst here but in the Light of Christ thou art seen and in the life comprehended and art for condemnation The man Christ Jesus we own and witness and the Lambs Book of Life which was slain from the Foundation of the world we witness the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world this we witness according to the Scripture praises praises eternal praises be to the Lord God for ever and thee to be the Beast that makes war with the Lamb we witness and thou Antichrist which looks at Christs death at Ierusalem alone and cannot confess him no otherwise but without thee here thou art but equal with the Pope of Rome for he confesseth Christ dyed at Ierusalem as well as thou so let all thy Congregation see what they hold up that follows thee 3. Quer. Whether did the man Christ ever really and indeed suffer in his own person for that end and after that manner which he did once upon the Cross at Ierusalem before the time or since the time Answ. Here thou full of all subtilty hast made manifest thy Poison and enmity but with the Light of Christ thou art seen and known and with it condemned for ever Christ Jesus in his own Person doth and ever did suffer by thee and such as thou art and by thy Generation he did suffer at Ierusalem and doth suffer where he is made manifest by you after the same manner and thou Blind-Pharisee and Blasphemer wouldst thou have Christ to have more ends in suffering then one 4 Quer. Whether was not that death which the man Christ suffered once and but once upon the Cross at Ierusalem so satisfactory for all the sins of the Elect as that the Iustice of God did not doth not since require any suffering or working upon that account either from Sinner or from Saint Answ. Here thou Jesuite art pleading again for a Christ far off thee according as thy Father doth at Rome That Christ that dyed at Ierusalem did not satisfie for thee who art an enemy to him and doth not abide in his Doctrine but acts contrary to his Commands and art under the wo which he cryed against them that were in the same steps where thou art and from that wo thou shalt never flee The death of the man Christ Jesus which suffered at Ierusalem we own and witness the same Christ that suffered at Ierusalem we witness made manifest and the one God and the one Mediator we witness and know betwixt God and man the Man Christ Jesus according to the Scripture And here thou Lyar art made manifest to all thy Congregation to be a Lyar who said amongst them that we denyed that Christ that died at Ierusalem so let them all be Witnesses of thy Lyes and let thy mouth be stopt thou Lyar who art for the Lake and whereas thou queries whether the justice of God be not satisfied for the sins of the Elect here let shame strike thee in the face that ever thou shouldst take upon thee to speak to any people and knowst not the Scripture where dost thou read in all the Scripture that God doth require satisfaction for the sins of the Elect or laid any thing to their charge let all people try thee here by the Scripture and see whether thou be not a blind ignorant Sot who doth not know what the Justice of God requires neither from Sinner nor from Saint Isa. 42. 1. Isa. 65. 9. 22. Luk. 18. 7. Rom. 8. 33. 5 Quer. Whether you are reconciled to God by any other obedience than that particular obedience which Christ performed in his own Person and is mentioned in the Scripture or by any other suffering or death than that which Christ once suffered upon the Cross at Ierusalem Answ. Silence flesh wouldst thou who art an Enemy to God and a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the Air rules know how we are reconciled to God and by what obedience first own the Light in thy Conscience which condemns thee and be obedient to that and then thou shalt know by what obedience it is that we are reconciled to God for yet thou knowst no obedience nor the Death which Christ suffered upon the Cross thou dost not know but art an Enemy to the Cross of Christ and in the mystery of iniquity and in the dark power and man of sin what hast thou to do to talk of obedience who art reconciled to thy lust and sin reigns in thee and thou art blind in the broad way that leads to death as thy fruits makes it manifest who lives in strife and envy 6 Quer. Whether did not the Man Christ suffer as a publick Person in the Elects stead or in their behalf and for that end that none who believed in him might dye eternally Answ. There thou Blind-Guide makest many replys but still one and the same thing but thou makest it manifest that thou dost not know the man Christ at all nor his sufferings for that death reigns in thee yet that hath passed over all men that askes this query for a publick Person Christ is not to thee but a mystery which thou knowest nothing of and for the redeeming of the Elect from under such mouths as thine did and doth Christ suffer and those that are brought to believe deny such dumb Idol Shepherds as thee who as yet doth not believe and therefore shalt dye eternally except they repent 7 Quer. Whether the sufferings of Christ now in his Saints be all the satisfaction that is made to or which the justice of God looks for for sins past present and to come Answ. There thou Blasphemer askest thou knowest not what is not Christ the same now as ever and is not the sufferings of Christ satisfactory where ever What wilt thou have to satisfie if the sufferings of Christ do not satisfie let all people take notice what a Blasphemer thou art or what they can learn of such a one as thee who knowst neither the justice of God nor the sufferings of Christ in his Saints 8 Quer. Whether was not that Body of Iesus which consisted of Flesh Blood and Bone and which was offered upon the Cross at Ierusalem the one and onely sacrifice for sin God accepted and to which alone exclusively the Saints before under the Law and the Saints
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
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
shake terribly the Earth shall give us our Portion in the Lake that burns I answer Let all the World here take notice of thy confusion and ignorance which utters forth it self through thee thou before wast scorning of trembling and now thou art approving of it and if it be they that tremple which serve the Lord here be a Witness against thy self thou servest him not who art not yet come to tremble but art in thy high nature above the fear of the Lord and here again thou art found a false Accuser for we reject not the Law of the Lord nor the Word which he hath spoken but live in it and rejoyce in it daily for in it is our hearts delight And here again as thou hast measured to us it shall be measured unto thee when the Lord God arises to recompence his Enemies thy Portion will be the same as thou hast said in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone And now a few words in answer to that which thou calls A Caution to all that are called Saints in the Nation which may concern all people I answer They who are Saints who dwell in the Light and walks in the Light do discern thee to be no Saint neither will receive any caution from thee but will testifie against thee for thy Lyes slanders and false accusations which thy Book is filled with and herein it may concern all people that thy Lyes and Slanders be reproved and laid open lest they receive thy Lyes for the Truth and be deceived by thy subtil Speeches who brings the Prophets words and the Apostles words wrest ing them and falsly applying them to make thy Lyes to be received but all people who love the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them will see thee and deny thee and turn away from thee as having the Form of Godliness without the Power And whereas thou sayst Ye may rejoyce that you live to sâ—e not only the mystery of Godliness but also the working of iniquity in the fleshly corrupt and sensual minded men calâ—d Quakers I answer That name Quakers was cast upon us by the Heathen through their scorn and derision as the name Christians was upon the Disciples though quaking we own for all the Holy Men of God witnessed it and the Holy Scriptures declares of it and here again thou enviously and maliciously castest a Slander upon us Fleshly Corrupt and Sensual-mindedness and the working of the mystery of Iniquity is destroyed in us by the mighty Power of God made manifest in Jesus Christ which takes away sin to the praise of the living God I speak in clearing the Innocent from thy false Slanders and it shall stand for thy own condition fleshly corrupt and sensual-minded and the working of the mystery of iniquity And herein I prove thee to be so by thy Fruits thy Lyes and false Reproaches and envious false Accusations which is the fruits of the flesh and of corrupt sensual-mindedness which fruits do appear in this thy Writing and as for the Mystery of Godliness it is hidden from thee and in that mind and nature thou shalt never know it for thou livest in the sight of thy own Pollution and of thy carnal Ordinances and not in the injoyment of the Mystery of Christ which is Godliness And whereas thou sayest Ye may rejoyce and in nothing be terrified because the Scriptures did foretel of such and is fulfilled in these men And thou bringest many Scriptures where Christ and the Apostles prophesied of the coming in of false Prophets and Teachers I Answer Though ye do now rejoyce yet your joy shall be turned into sorrow and howling and the Lord hath said it and the day of terror will overtake you wherein your hearts shall fail you for fear and your foundation shall be removed and its true that the Scripture doth foretel of us and is witnessed in us That all the Lord's Children should be taught of the Lord And that the Lord would gather his Flock out of the mouths of all dumb Shepherds c. and according to our growth up in the Life of the Scriptures they are fulfilled in us but false Prophets we do deny though all those Scriptures which thou hast set down we own to be prophesies of false Prophets those false prophets which Christ prophesied of came in the Apostles dayes they saw them comming in then 1 Iohn 2. 18. And as all these Scriptures testifies which thou hast cited and since the Apostles dayes hath been a great Apostacy and not a true Church of Christ could be found and ever since hath the same Generation of false Prophets stood under several forms and appearances deceiving the Nations But now the pure Light of Christ shines discovering to them who walk in the Light who they are and daily more and more clearly shall they be seen and thou wilt be found in their number who art a cursed child in whom the son of perdition is exalted which utters forth thy Lyes and Slanders sensually and make it manifest to all that thou hast not the Spirit of God but are separated from it in self-seperation which is abomination unto God and must be scattered by him And whereas thou sayest Seeing it is so let you be filled with boldness and let you contend against those ungodly Ones which are now risen I answer ungodliness we deny and your boldness shall the Lord turn into weakness and faintness and your contendings against us shall not prosper for this is our heritage every Tongue that riseth up in judgment shall be condemned you shall all be scattered and driven away as Chaff before the Wind who sets yourselves to contend against the Truth for that which is now risen shall confound you all And whereas thou bringest many Scriptures which were Exhortations of the Apostle to the Saints with exhorting thy Brethren I answer The Scriptures I do own and that Spirit which spake them forth I witness but thou art an Enemy to the Power of them though thou hast the Form of Truth thy lying and false accusing hath made thee appear to be an Enemy to the Life which the holy Men of God lived in and so hast cleared thy self from those Scriptures which were written to the Saints and must own those which were written to the World The Lyar must be cast into the Lake the Wicked must be turned into Hell and such as these thou must own to belong unto thee and these are thy Scriptures which thou hast right unto And whereas thou sayest We talk of high enjoyments and great revelations without above and beyond the Scripture and that we talk of a Light which is besides the Scripture but its deep and thick darkness and what hath such lights led men unto even contempt of God and of all Righteousness I answer Here again thou art found a Lyar and an Accuser of the Brethren for what we do declare the Scripture witnesseth to the same and we speak of nothing
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
enviousness might be laid open to the simple And truly I say unto you you have and will miss of your end in putting forth this Book of yours And whereas you say you shall be willing at any time to vindicate every conclusion therein contained against any that shall oppose I answer I challenge you all in this particular to prove those accusations which you have laid to our charge whom you call Quakers in many particulars which before I have demanded what they are is before spoken of And whereas you say you account that light within not witnessed by the Scripture without which some so much talk of to be deep darkness I answer if you know any who speak of any Light which the Scripture doth not witness of we with you freely declare against such and such a light is darkness but the Light of Christ which we speak of which hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world I hope you are not so impudent but you will acknowledge that the Scriptures speaks of this light and dare not deny but that the Scripture witnesses that Christ is the Light of the word for as I said we freely give way and desire that all might search the Scripture whether these things be not so as we declare And whereas you say and exhort to let the Scripture be the rule of faith and practice I Answ. Here you would alwayes keep people in darkeness under your teaching and would make void the new Covenant which is the Law written in the heart and the Spirit of the Lord put in the inward parts to be the rule and guide of the Saints for who walks by the rule without them and teaches men so to do would make void the Covenant of life and peace where the Teacher is not removed into a corner which Teacher all that have faith and an holy Conversation do witness which teaches not contrary to what the Scripture speak but is a teaching and fulfilling of the Scripture and an establishing of it though thou and many may profess the teaching of the Scripture and may in your own wills conform unto it in the outward appearance as the Pharisees did and yet be but Hypocrites and deceived as they were and I say again that faith was before the Scripture was written which faith is declared of in the Scripture which faith comes as is manifested by hearing of the word preached which word is even in the mouth and in the heart if you have an ear you may hear and now I advise you all in the Name of the Lord to cease striving and contending against the truth for verily the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands will dash your image of many mixtures to peices and it falling upon you will grinde you to powder and your conforming the outward man to an outward thing and teaching men so to do and limitting and tying the Holy one to a visible thing will not cover you in the Day of the Lord nay verily though concerning the Scripture without you may walk blameless yet one thing will be found lacking even the cross of Jesus Christ by which all sin is crucified in them who walk in it and I say unto you that your covering is to narrow and it will not hide your secret parts for in the eternall Light of Christ you are seen and comprehended your beginning your time and your end for though you have the Scriptures and Jewish like walks up in the outward appearance of them crying up the Ordinances and Churches yet your praise is of men and not of God for you are enemies to the life of the Scriptures as is made appear by your many Lyes and Slanders against us which you have uttered and I say return your minds every one within to that in your own consciences which reproves you in secret for your secret iniquities it will let you see where your hearts are and how far they are mortified to the world and the love of it and this light wherewith every one of you is enlightned is the Light of Christ and it is the Lords true Witness and shall witness for him eternally against all whose deeds are evil who walk in disobedience of it and all who love it and walk in it it leads unto Christ and into all purity and holiness and uprightness of heart towards God and man and this light leads unto justification all tâ—eâ— who are taught by it and herâ— is your Teacher loving it and your condemnation eternally continuing to hate it And thus I have answered thy Book and the Truth is witnessed and many false Lyes and false Accusations denied and testified against and thus I rest waiting for an answer to clear thy self if thou art able of those things which I haâ—e denied which thou hast charged upon us for God is my Witness this I do desire that Truth may be made manifest and imbraced and Deceit and Errour discovered and denied By one who is a Witness against the Deceits of the World called Edward Burrough TO THE Camp of the Lord IN ENGLAND TO all you Called Chosen Elected and Beloved of the Lord who are of the Circumcision made without hands of the Seed of Abraham who are Iews indeed not after the flesh but in the Spirit unto whom belongs the Everlasting Promise and Covenant which God hath and is fulfilling in you and establishing with you We your Fellow-Citizens of the Heavenly Ierusalem which is the Mother of us all and of the same Body and of the same Seed and same Birth begotten and brought forth by the immortal Word of Life which lives for ever do send greeting and do imbrace you in the Arms of our Beloved who is and is to come God blessed for ever You who are called Quakers who are so not onely in word nor in shew but in Life and in Power whom God hath called chosen to place his Name in and to take up his Habitation among above all the Families of the Earth the Tabernacle of God is with you and his Dwelling-place is among you and onely among you is God known and his Name is great in your Assemblies We who are of the same Root and Off-spring do bring in our witness and do set to our seal That God of a truth is with you and among you and he is the God of the living that answers by Fire he is I am and there is none besides him the First and the Last the Beginning and the End of all things Praise him for ever ye Redeemed of him lift up your heads your Redemer is come clap your hands and shout for joy and let the everlasting Praises of God be in your mouthes for ever and ever Exalt ye his Name above all gods and glorifie him in the sight of all the Heathen and let his marvellous Works stand upon Record from Generation to Generation Wonderful hath his Work been among you and that my soul knows right well
unto you and your destruction cometh as an armed man and you cannot escape nor fly to hide your selves from the wrath that cometh which is kindled already to devour the pleasant Palaces of your wicked hearts delight Wo is me for you you that are exalted upon your mountain of ease and liberty having forgotten the rock from whence you are hewn who were raised out of weakness to reprove the mighty and gives not glory to the Lord neither considers what he hath done for you but are become ingratefull and disobedient children and of a double heart and tongue professing liberty of the pure conscience but living in corrupt fleshly bondage oppressing the Just and slaying the holy One and neglecting the cry of the Innocent having made your fingers as heavy as your Fathers loynes the hand of the Lord is against you and his wrath will break out upon you who strengthens the hand of evil doers and gives liberty in your Dominions unto the scum of the Nations to possess your Land in peace and will not give place unto the Seed of Iacob but fortifies your selves against him and will not suffer him to inherit how full is your Land of murderers of drunkards of Lyars and swearers and of prophane persons of fugitives and vagabonds and runnagades who are protected by your Law to possess in peace but in wrath have you turned your sword against the upright and have made Laws to limit the Spirit of the Lord and to uphold deceit Therefore repent of this your sin who have endeavoured to prevent the Lord and humble your selves ye Lofty for the purposes of your hearts are broken and a scattered Seed remains in your Dominions which the Lord will bless and which you cannot be able to suppress and as pricks in your eyes will it stand a Witness against you in your hypocrisie and cruelty and the more ye lay yokes upon it the more it will spring forth Therefore be wise ye Rulers and Judges and leave to imagine mischief and lay your hands upon your mouthes and open them not any more and turn in your minds to the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith you are enlightened and it will let you see what you have done and will set your sins in order before your eyes and will justly reprove you who have not done as you would be done unto but have cast the Law of God behind your backs and not regarded the call of Equity and if you love the Light of Christ it will change your minds and will bring you to Repentance from sin unto God and from the Dominion of Satan unto the Kingdom of Christ Jesus The Light is your Teacher if you love it and will guide you in the Way of God but if you go on in your wickedness it is your Condemnation eternally and shall seal to the justness of the Judgments of God when they come upon you now you have time and a fair Warning prize the day of your visitation before the Decree of Vengeance be sealed against you â—nd Repentance be hid from your eyes lay it to heart you are but men and not God and your strength flesh and not Spirit if you own the Light it will manifest the Will and Counsel of the Lord unto you and give you Power to act Righteousness unto God wherein you will be accepted Consider lest you go down to destruction and there be none to deliver you ANd unto all you that do profess the Name of the Lord and have got the form of the Saints worship in your imaginations and have separated your selves into an outward conformity without the Power of Righteousness brought forth in you and would be called Members of the Church of Christ all Sects and Sorts Repent ye of your Hypocrisie and stop your mouths in the dust for you are weighed in an equal Ballance and are found wanting and are tried by the Searcher of hearts the Light of the World and are found corrupted deceitful are you in the Root and cursed in your Branch deep and secret Hypocrisie Pride and Coveteousness and the love and glory of the World and fleshly Exaltations abounds among you as Branches of the Root wherein you grow And how can you bring forth good fruit out of your cursed Ground your knowledge is bruitish and vain and your outward conformity is a weariness to the Lord for you are found Fighters against him and Opposers of Christ Jesus and Deniers and Contemner of his Light by which he hath lightened every man that comes into the World You stumble at the Foundation and build upon the Sand one of you building a Wall and another daubing it with untempered Morter your hearts are not upright with the Lord but flatters your own souls Which of you have denied the World for Christ or what have you laid down for him In your vain imaginations you worship God ignorantly making his Commandmentâ— void through your transgressions You stand in the cursed Nature alive to the World following the vain delights thereof resisting the Way of the Lord through your wisdom which is foolishness with God you have the profession of the Scriptures in your natural knowledge but you are without the Life thereof out of the unity of the one Spirit of life in severall meanings and opinions which is death and in vain conceits are you scattered upon the barren Mountains where your souls are starved and strayed in the cloudy and dark day and you are devoured under your dumb Idoll Shepherds who are in Cains way of wickedness and in the steps of all the false Prophets and of the Scribes and Pharisees fulfilling their measure of wickedness and persecution against them is the wrath of God kindled to consume them as stubble they preach for hire and they divine for money and they seek for their gain from their quarter and they run and were never sent and you are not profited by them but are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth Awake ye Professors God calls unto you give ear unto his voyce Come out of Babylon and turn unto Sion that her desolate places may be builded you wander abroad in the darkness groping as blind men your profession will wither and all your knowledge will consume away and your righteousness is abomnation to the Lord your praying God hates and your oblations is a weariness to him for you are in the enmity against God and the Serpents head is not bruised Come down ye Cedars who are exalted above the Cross of Christ and make not a cloak of the Saints words to cover your unrighteousness grievous is your Idolatry who have painted your selves with the likeness of the Saints life and bows to the Image set up in your imaginations drawing near God with your mouths but with your hearts going after your coveteousness Repent the day of the Lord is coming upon all flesh and meet the Lord and prepare his way and bow your heads you lofty Oakes
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
of Satan and your voice is known for none is turned from the evil of his way and therefore is wrath coming upon you to the utmost A Lover of your Souls but am a Witness against all your deceit F. H. VVHereas we are accused by the Teachers and People of this Generation That we are false Prophets and Deceivers and that we deny the Christ which dyed at Jerusalem and that we preach another Gospel then the Apostles preached and that we deny the Scriptures and the Ordinances of Iesus Christ and that we hold Free-will and establish Self-righteousness and teach People to act in their own strength to obtain Life and that we deny Churches Ministers and Magistracy To all these false Accusations I Answer It is no new thing nor no strange thing to the Children of Light who are separated from the World and worldly Worships and from the works of Darkness to be accused falsly and to be standered by being called Deceivers and Seducers by the Generation of chief Priests and Pharisees in which Generation are the Teachers and Professors of this Age who have a Form of Godliness but deny the Power Christ was called a Deceiver and a Blasphemer and the Apostles were called Movers of Sedition Hereticks and Turners of the World up-side down by them who professed in word what Christ was in Substance and what the Apostles witnessed and so it is now We who are scornfully called Quakers do live in and declare forth no other thing but the Substance of what the Priests have preached upon and the Pofessors have talked upon in their carnal minds by their imaginations He is a false Propâ—â—â— and a Deceiver which hath not the Word from the Mouth of the Lord but takes that which the Lord spoke to Another and calls it his and usâ—… his Tongue and saith The Lord saith it when the Lord never spake to him And here are the Teachers of the World themselves guilty of that whereof they falâ—â—y accuse us for they take the Prophets words Christs and the Apostles words to talk upon but have not received the Word from the Mouth of the Lord and their prophesie and preaching would soon be ended if they had not the Scripture which is other mens words and that which was spoken to others to speâ—â— their imaginations from And these are the false Prophets and Deceivers which run and are not sent which speak to others pretending they be sent of God but walking contrary to all that ever God sent to declare his Name in foâ—… Generations and so are known to us by their fruits having no example from the Prophets Christ nor his Apostles for their practice but do walk in the example of the false Prophets of Israel of the Scribes and Pharisees and of the false Brethren O foolish People which have eyes and sees not which have heaâ—… and do not understand Is the Lord changed from what he was Were they falâ—â— Prophets and Deceivers in Isaiah's time which he was sent to cry out against which sought for their Gain from their Quarter And are not your Teachers false Prophets now which act the same things Were they false Prophets and Deceivers in Ezekiel's time which 〈◊〉 was sent to cry against that fed themselves wiâ—â— the Fat and clothed themselves with the Wool and made a Prey upon the People And are not your Teachers false Prophets and Deceivers now which 〈◊〉 the same thing Were they false Prophets in Micahs time which he was sent 〈◊〉 cry out against which preached for Hire and divined for Money and cryâ—â— peace to them that put into their mouthes but prepared war against them that 〈◊〉 not And are not your Priests false Priests and Prophets which act the same thingâ— Were they Deceivers of the People in Christs time which he cryed wo agaiâ—… which were called of men-Masters and which had the chief Places in the â—…blies and which stood praying in the Synagogues and went in long Robes 〈◊〉 which loved greetings in the Markets And are not your Teachers Deceivers of the People now which are found acting the same things Were they false Teachers and false Brethren in the Apostles time which they declared against which through coveteousness with feigned words made merchandise of the People and went in the way of Balaam for Gifts and rewards and preached for filthy Lucre and which Paul saw come and coming in his dayes which were proud men coveteous men self-willed and fierce men heady high-minded men having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power which alwayes taught People bâ—â— none were able to come to the knowledge of the Truth under their teaching Aâ—â— are not your Teachers false Teachers now who walk in the same steps To â—â—e Light in all Consciences I do speak which will witness the truth A sottish and ignorant People which cannot discern who the false Prophets and Deceivers and false Teachers are the Lord is the same that ever he was and his Spirit 〈◊〉 no whit changed Was it once an abomination to the Lord in the false Priests and Prophets of Israel to seek for their Gain from their Quarter and to feed themselves with the Fat and clothe themselves with the Wool and make a Prey upoâ— the People and to preach for Hire and to divine for Money and are not these thingâ— and they that uphold them abomination to him now Did the Spirit of the Lord in his Servants declare against these things then and against them that upâ—… them then and must not the same Spirit where it is made manifest declare agaiâ—â—â— these things and against them that uphold them now Was it once an abomiâ—â—tion in the sight of Christ in them to be called of men Master and to have 〈◊〉 chief places in the Assemblies and to stand praying in the Synagogues c. and are not these things an abomination to him now in whom they are upheld Dâ—â— Christ cry wo against such things and against them that upheld them then and must not the Spirit of Christ where it is made manifest cry wo against such things and against them that uphold them now Were these marâ—s of false Teachers then to make merchandise of the People and to go in the way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Gifts and Rewards and for filthy 〈◊〉 and to be proud coveâ—… â—eady high-minded self-willed and fierce men And are not they false Teachers now which bear these marks Did the Apostle give warning to beware of such and to turn away from such and must not the same Spirit where it is made manifest give warning to beware of such and to turn away from such now We witness to have received according to measure the Spirit of the Prophets 〈◊〉 which they spoke and the Spirit of the Apostles by which they spoke which is Christ made manifest in us and happy are all they that receive our Testimony For by the same Spirit of Christ we do declare against these abominationâ— now as the holy men of
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
man to teach them and that take no care what to eat nor what to drink nor what to put on and so witness the promise of God and abide in the Doctrine of Christ these you call Deceivers and idle and careless persons and thus deny the power of what they have professed and herein their minds are corrupt and reprobate concerning Faâ—…ith for Faith is the Substance and purifies the heart from these things which they are guilty of And Peter and Iude also were Witnesses of those Deceivers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of in their time for they saw such were come and coming which should bring in damnable Heresies and through covetousness with feigned words make merchandise of the people they walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise Government and Dominion presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities they speak evil of things that they understand not they have eyes full of adultery and they cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable Souls an heart they have exercised with covetous practises cursed Children which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam who loved the Wages of unrighteousness they themselves are the Servants of corruption ungodly men turning the Grace of God into laciviousness and defile the flesh these are Murmurers Complainers walking after their own lusts and their mouthes speak great swelling words having mens persons in admiration because of advantage these be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit And here again I charge it upon the Teachers of this Age that they are of that Generation which came into the World then for they have brought in and do uphold damnable Heresies telling people That sprinkling Infants with water is the Baptism into the Faith and that singing David's Experiences in Rime and Meeter is singing to the glory of God and that a House of Stone is the Temple and Church of God these are damnable Heresies and they do through covetousness make Merchandise of the people if they can get more money at another place thither they will go and thus people are their Merchandise they walâ— after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness they walk in pride and in lust and some of them will be drunk and lye and swear and talk uncleanly and they despise the Saints Government and Dominion for they walk in the wayes of the World in the Customs and Traditions of men and follow their own wills and whom the Spirit of God governs and hath dominion over follows Christ for their Example whose Government and Dominion they are under but they live in pride lust and vanity and according to the flesh and herein they despiâ—â— Government and Dominion and speak evil of this Dignity and of the Mysteries of God revealed in his Saints which they know not nor understand not calling it Error They are presumptuous and self-willed they have presumed to call themselves Ministers of Christ and all the Towns where they live must serve and be subject to their wills and they are adulterated from God after honour and riches and the vanities of the World and they cannot cease from sin themselves for they say None must cease from it while they are on the Earth and herein they beguile many Souls for till sin be ceased from the Soul it is beguiled they have a heart exercised with covetous practises and they follow the way of Balaam and go for gifts and rewards and love the wages of unrighteousness they take money of poor people for sprinkling Infants and for burying the Dead which are covetous practises they take money for Hens and Eggs and for Smoke passing up the Chimney which are unrighteous Wages and thus they have forsaken the right Way of God and of all the Saints which spoke forth the Scripture and in these things they are Servants of corruption and are ungodly men and turn the Grace of God which shines in their Consciences which shews them their ungodly wayes into laciviousness and through the lust they defile the flesh and many of them will murmur and complain for want of Wages even to spend upon their lusts and they speak great swelling words speaking of the fame of Christ of his Life and Death and Resurrection but cannot witness by the Spirit of Christ within them what they speak of him and they have mens persons in admiration because of advantage some of them had the Bishops in admiration and some the King in admiration and now they have others who bear rule in admiration and thus they deceitfully have twined to admire mens persons only because of advantage many of them have separated themselves none who are not of their Judgment must joyn with them in their worship but â—â—ither they nor their Separates have the Spirit of the Living God but do deny 〈◊〉 infallible Spirit and they are sensual in their wayes practises and wisdom â—â—d these have deceived many even whole Nations And here you see plainly when the Deceivers and false Prophets came in they were come and coming in in the Apostles dayes and then was the Prophesie of Christ fulfilling and fulfilled and the Apostle suffered under Tyrants and were put to cruel deaths and then they came in more fully for since the Apostles days hath been a great Apostacy and many Forms of Worship and Wayes of Religion have been imitated from the Letter through imaginations and but one Generation of Teachers though one above another in the comprehension sensual wisdom and at enmity one against another though all in one birth and nature But they are all discovered by the Light Praises from all that know God to him for ever Since the Apostles dayes hath darkness been spread over all though the Lord had some which he preserved for himself in the midst of Apostacy and darkness who the false Prophets are which Christ prophesied of to every honest heart and single eye may be known Christ said By their fruits should they be known and the Fruits of the Teachers of the World are plainly made appear to be the fruits of Deceivers and not of the Ministers of Christ none have gathered Grapes nor Figs from them And thus I have cleared my Conscience in the Presence of God concerning the false Slander and Accusation which the Teachers and People of the world do cast upon us and to that in every ones Conscience it is made appear who they are to whom this Accusation justly belongs Wo unto all you who strive against the Lord and justifie that which the holy men of God which spake forth the Scripture in the Scripture declared against and which condemn that which the holy men of God in the Scriptures justified and witnessed for You who live in Pride in Coveteousness in Double-dealing and in Hypocrisie and in the Lusts of the flesh you strive against the Lord God and against the Light of God which is in your Consciences
wouldst teach People to apply the Promises unto Salvation while they are in a condition of damnation condemned in the sight of God by the Light in their own Consciences nor will not own that which discovers sin and how then can they own him that takes it away and purges from it by his Blood which thou sayest is done but hast no more witness of it by the fruit of ceasing to commit sin then the Pope hath who lives in your sin then how is it taken away Then thou sayest with an impudent Tongue It s not of works least any man should boast as these fond Hypocrites called Quakers would do Answ. Thou Slanderer When didst thou hear any of the Quakers boast or see them live in Hypocrisie God shall judge thee thou deceitful heart but further I answer by a Query Will that faith which is without works justifie And must not every one receive according to their deeds he that doth good Life he that doth evil Condemnation but such is thy faigned fancy of Faith who seekest to be justified by it whilst thou bringest forth the fruits of unbelief Then thou speakest of living by Faith which as thou sayest Is to apply the Lord Iesus Christ his Benefits as Birth c. I say if to talk of him was Faith in him and to live by his Faith then few would want him for many have gotten the words which are without the Life of Righteousness through Faith and to live by Faith says not who shall ascend or descend to fetch Christ for Salvation neither doth it say When shall he come from afar ot save his People but Faith speaks thus What saith the word of the Gospel which is within the heart as thou mayst read in the Scripture of Truth hadst thou but an ear to hear but thou sayest Lo here and Lo there false Prophet like Then thou sayst further How are they deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the World began c Answ. Here thou hast discovered thy self more plainly Did not the Saints own Christ Jesus the same yesterday to day and for ever for Salvation and is there any other Christ then he who was before Abraham was and is he not now glorified with the same glory mind the same Glory which he had with the Father before the World was according as he prayed is this deceit or is it thy grievous ignorance to call it so to own him as he was before the World was for Salvation thou ignorant man that was the very Christ the Son of God who was equal with the Father which was in the beginning and in time was manifest in Bethelem and calls himself the Light of the World thou hadst better have said nothing then by multitude of words to lay open thy shame Friend that spiritual Rock whcih the Fathers did eat and drink of which followed them that Rock was Christ the Salvation The next thing that I take notice of is thy exposition upon that Scripture Iob. 4. 3. And thou sayest this is the meaning Every Spirit that doth not confess that thâ— Christ that was with the Father before the World was did in the appointed time of the Father come into the World took upon him a Body and was very Man as well as very God c. Answ. If every spirit be of God which doth in words confess this then is not the Pope himself antichrist seeing he confesses as much of this it may be more then thou dost neither canst thou justly condemn us for denying this for we do confess it with our hearts and not only with our mouthes as thou and the Pope doth But Friend Is every one saved that saith Lord Lord nay it is only he that doth the will of the Father and who in many Nations do not confess this to be true and yet there are but few in all Nations in the Way to Life that shall be saved by Christ Jesus and it is not much better nor more accepted to confess Christ in words to be come and yet in works to deny him then it is both in words and in works to deny him the one is wicked in Prophaness the other is wicked in Hypocrisie the one is a Lyar the other is a false Witness and whether of these are most vile let them who are spiritual judge Then thou exhortest To receive no Christ except God's Christ c. To this I say The Christ of God is a Mystery not known to the World and this is he which was in the beginning whom God gave into the World to be the Light and Saviour thereof even he is God's Salvation unto the ends of the Earth and unto him he is Light and shall be Salvation and Redmeption where his Person never came and yet it cannot be said Here is the Place where the Son of God is not Let him that reads understand Then thy next thing is proving many things concerning Christ which I pass by as not having any thing therein against the Quakers only in one particular where thou numbers again them with the Ranters so that I pass by also lest thou should say I justifie the Ranters and do rather choose to let the Innocent lie under the suffering of thy reproach whose innocency will appear when thy black vail of Lyes is taken away Then the next thing I mind is where thou seems to reprove the Quakers for wresting the Scripture Iohn 1. 9. whereby thou sayest They split themselves and endeavour to split others c. Answ. Wresting is thy own and not ours for we take the Scripture in plain words without adding or diminishing as our enemies shall witness for us Then how wickedly dost thou say we wrest it when we neither add nor diminish But thy folly must appear by thy much meddling And then thou takest in hand to speak to the thing and thus thou sayst Every man as he comes into the World receives a light from Christ as he is God c. Answ. What less hast thou said then we except thou wilt say he hath not lighted man as he is Christ and so divide the Father and the Son which is error for what the Father doth the Son doth also and they are equal in power and operation and cannot be divided Then thou sayst This Light is Conscience that some call Christ though falsly Answ. Them I leave for thee to reprove and do deny them and thee together if thou hast not falsly made a Lye of some Body and told thy own Lye through the wresting of their words let the Light in thy Conscience judge Then thou sayest This Light will shew a man there is a God and will discover the eternal God by his works and it will reprove of sin and make sin manifest and by it the unregenerate man is able to know the sins against the Law are sins against God c. Answ. Also this will the Light of Christ do wherewith he hath enlightened every man
Abstain from all evil and follow that which is good and listen to the word within in the heart but this Gospel thou deniest and so must needst preach another Gospel and so art the accursed as Paul saith Then thou sayst Thus the poor Soul is most horribly carried away head-long c. into the belly of Hell c. thus much is the sum by turning the mind within to the Light which doth convince of sin and listning thereto and clapsing with the motions in the Conscience which do command to abstain from evil and to practice good and closing with something within which thou hast confessed is the Light of Christ hereby or thus is the poor Soul carried headlong and at the end of its life doth fall into the belly of Hell as thou sayst Let shame cover thee if thy heart be not altogether hardned was ever such Doctrine preached surely malice hath carried thee out of sence else thou wouldst not have uttered these things but it is answer enough to reckon thy confusion up into a sum and I leave it to every honest heart to read and judge thereof Then thou further sayst The Devil counterfeits the works of Grace and makes the Soul believe if it will be led by what is made known unto it by the Light or Conscience within it shall do well Answ. Wo unto thee that callst good evil and evil good Art thou not ashamed to utter thy mind so wickedly and impudently doth the Light of Christ within deceive or is not this Christs Doctrine I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall have the Light of Life and he that walks in the Light stumbles not and this shamelesly hast thou called the Doctrine of the Devil but if ever thou knowst God it must be by following and by being led with the Light within which God hath made known unto thee else the Light is thy condemnation eternally Then thou sayst The Devil counterfeits the new birth by perswading it is wrought by following the Light of the World c. Answ. This Doctrine is as wicked as the former and from as lying a spirit but answer me By what is the New-birth wrought and how if not by following the Light of Christ in the Conscience is there any other way to God but Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that comes into the World and whereas thou beginst to scorn in thy vain mind at living upon Bread and Water and wearing no Hatbands and not speaking except the Spirit moves c. The Scorner and the Lyar go together the Lord rebuke thee thou false deceitfull heart and lying tongue it grieves thy lust to know any to live upon bread and water and it torments thy pride that any should forsake their pride and it is easily known of what spirit thou art and that thou goest on in thy own will before God leads thee and scornst to wait till the Spirit of God moves upon thee or scornst them that do wait but thou runst and art not sent like unto thy Fore-fathers and therefore thou dost not profit people at all Then thou accusest us of sad Blasphemies and horrible Doctrines but namest nothing and so slanderst without witness and take back thy own words for they belong to thee as is sufficiently proved in this Answer to thy Book let the wise in heart judge And thou hast said Thou wonderst that the ground do not open and swallow us up or else the Devil fetch us away alive c. And this most fully discovers thy spirit to be without the fear of God in any measure who utterst such wicked Language for which thou hast no example among all the Children of God and is not this horrible Doctrine and little less then sad Blasphemies It is answer sufficient to gather up thy confusion and send it thee to read if there be any honesty in thy heart repent and cease thy wickedness lest God smite thee with a Curse and make thee an Example of Destruction Then thou goest on and hast asked thy self a Question Is it not the Spirit of Christ that doth make manifest or convince of Sin The Question is good but thou hast consounded it in thy Answer and not answered plainly but hast covered Truth under the vail of thy many words Thou sayst There are two things that do make manifest and convince of Sin first the Law and secondly the Spirit of Christ. I query further Doth any thing convince of sin contrary to the Spirit of Christ if not then that which doth convince of sin is like unto or one in the Union or something as good in its Nature as the Spirit of Christ and thou instancest in Iudas whom thou sayst was convinced of sin by the Law without the Spirit of Christ to which I say the Law of God is spiritual and is not contrary but one with the Spirit of Christ in its union at least and that which let him see Christ to be innocent was not words syllables without him but must needs be within him so if I should say the Spirit of Christ was not in him yet was the Work of the righteous Law of God written in his heart which is spiritual and Christ Jesus was not without his own testimony in Iudas which is Light by which Iudas was and is condemned eternally And though Iudas was at the same time possessed of the Devil as thou sayest yet there was that within him also which disquieted and tormented the Devil which discovered the Devil with his works by which he saw his murderous mind and the Blood of the Just One I say it needs must be contrary to the Devil and to his works which condemned him I call it the Light of God which is spiritual call it what thou canst Then thou goest on and seems to shew a difference betwixt being convinced by the Law without the Spirit of Christ and the convincement by the Spirit of Christ but art confounded in thy discourse I say the power of the Law of God is spiritual and though thou make a little thing of it to be convinced by the Law of sins against the Law yet I make it a thing of weight And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love darkness rather then Light because their deeds are evil and the Law is Light as saith the Scripture and Christ is come to discover and reprove sin and I put thee to prove in all the Scripture where any such thing ever was distinguished as something to convince of sin without and besides or contrary to the Spirit of God and till thou provest it thus far I have answered thee concerning it Then thou sayst Though some say they are not only convinced of Sin but have gotten some power over it to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law yet thou further sayst This may be done as those blind Pharisees called Quakers think they do and be but natural men
c. Answ. Thou perverter of the right Way of God how long wilt thou go on in thy uncleanness uttering thy wrath against the Simple It seems to get power over sin and to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law is a thing of no value with thee but is it not further then thou ever camest let that of God in thy Conscience judge and answer and shew me if ever any natural man did it throughout the Scripture And as for the Pharisee it is thy own I return it to thee again thou art called of men Master and hast the chief Seat in the Assembly and standst praying in the Synagogues as they did in Christs time Friend how fain wouldst thou clear thy self to make others guilty but the guilt stands at thy door and rests upon thy own head and I rather chuse to be of that profession which abstains from those things forbidden in the Law and to have power over sin then to live in the transgression of the Law and under the power of sin Yet talking of belief in the Son of Mary whose Name Mary I may have ground to judge thou worshipst as the Papists do and the same I say much as Paul did The uncircumcision of such who keep the Law shall condemn thee in thy false faith who breakst the Law Then thou again confessest That Christ as God hath enlightened every man that comes into the World with the Law which doth convince of Sin but to this I have spoken so shall pass it only mind the Scripture which thy self hast quoted The Law is Light then the Light is the Law and gives the knowledge of sin Then thou sayst If the Spirit of Christ convince thee of Sin then it convinces of more Sins then against the Law And to this I say It seem there is some sin against which there is no Law by thy confused Story or that the Law is not against all sin Friend shew if thou canst any sin which is not against the Law if thou canst not Repent and cease thy confusion Then thou speakst against self-righteousness but hast forgotten to reprove thy self of thy Lying and Slandering and false Accusing and it is thou that preachest another Gospel then the Apostle preached he directed every one to the Word within in the heart and turned to the Light within from darkness but thou directs altogether to a thing without dispising the Light within and worshipping the Name Mary in thy imaginations and knowst not him who was before the World was in whom alone is Salvation and in no other Then thou sayest The Light convinceth of Sins but of no other then Sins against the Law as though there were some sins which were not against the Law but to that I have spoken And thou sayst It doth not shew the Soul a Saviour or Deliverer c. Answ. Thou art here in a Lye for the Light which comes from Christ doth manifest a Saviour and Deliverer and nothing else for if the Light of Christ doth not shew Christ what then can unto every one that walk in the Light Then the next thing thou provest is That God only is our Saviour there is none beside him c. But how contrary is this to that in page 42. where thou sayest They are wickedly deluded who own Christ no otherwise but as he was before the World was for Salvation For if God be the Saviour and there is none beside him then it is no delusion to own him as he was before the World was and thus I sum up thy confusion and contradictions and leave them for thee to read The next thing I observe is where thou art proving the Resurrection and slanderest the Quakers with making light of it but yet again wickedly numbring them with other Infidels that thou mightst have a cover for thy slander but I put thee to prove where they made light of the Resurrection or else prove thy self a Lyar in the sight of all Just men thou secretly slanderest but proves nothing Then thou hast raised a Query from Ephes. 4. 10. but hast not answered it though many words thou hast uttered yet little to the purpose and I return thee the same query again to answer and many other things and Arguments thou hast made to which I shall say little only mind thee of thy carnal sottishness who speakst of Christ to be four or five foot long let shame cover thy Lips thou blind Sot when didst thou see Christ in that length hast thou not here spoken of that which thou knowst not and art a busy body intruding into things whereof thou art ignorant but Fools love to be medling to manifest their own folly among whom thou art and much more stuff which I pass by as not worth naming only thy malice is against the Kingdom of Heaven within and utters thy carnal sensual knowledge of the things of God which thy imaginations shall never know The next thing I observe is where thou reckonst the Quakers to be the false Prophets which Christ speaks of which shall be before his coming and to be the Scoffers which walks after their own hearts lust which Peter speaks of Answ. To which I answer those false Prophets which Christ spake of came in in the dayes of Iohn For saith he by this we know that it is the last time for now are there many Antichrists and this was before a Quaker was heard of And if we should diligently search we should find thee in their steps through feigned words through coveteousness making Merchandise of Souls loving the wages of unrighteousness and such were the Scoffers which Peeer speaks of among whom thou art found in thy practice among them who are preaching for hire love the error of Balaam who took gifts and rewards and Christ hath said we shall know you by your Fruits and the same Fruits that ever were brought forth among the false Prophets of old grow among you in many things I could instance but he is wholly blind that sees you not Before thou wast accusing us of drinking water and now thou accusest us of walking after our own lusts but such is thy confusion thy wrath overcomes sense Then thou speaks of some who told thee to thy face thou usedst conjuration and witchcraft because what thou preachedst was according to Scriptures c. To which I say Let the guilty be reproved for we deny thy Accusation to be true upon any of the Quakers which some may think thou speakst of so thy Accusation rests between thee and them and we are clear for every Truth which the Scriptures bear witness of we do own and do not condemn any for preaching according to the Scriptures Then the next thing I observe is thy crying so loud against Christ within which indeed is the only thing without which there is no Salvation for Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates And this also I observe from thee as having traced thy path unto
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
out of the Life of them thinking thou dost God service in speaking evil of his people and thy Rules by which thou walkst is proved by thy works and words to be imperfect and erroneous and thy darkness is of Satan and not the Light of Christ. Thy sixth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light that it destroys the institutions of Christ therefore is the light of Satan c. Answ. Hast thou no foundation but a Lye to place thy Argument upon surely thy time is neer an end because thou hast no refuge but a lye to fly unto Thy major Proposition is not altogether sound for that light was the Light of God and of Christ which commanded circumcision and the seventh day to be kept a Sabbath and the Worship in the Temple which was instituted by God c. And that was the Light of God and of Christ also which led the Disciples from these things to deny them and bear witness against them and yet no offence in God nor no contradiction in the Light of Christ but this to thy dark mind is a mystery sealed and I leave it as a Parable to thee Then for the proof of thy minor Proposition thou instancest That we deâ—â— Baptism and breaking of Bread yet darest thou not contend for sprinkling of Infants that imagination of man and no institution of Christ. But makest use of the Baptist herein unto whom I perceive thou art an Enemy what poor shifts art thou fain to run unto now when thou art likely to be discovered and rambles up and down wresting our words to blind the eyes of the simple for you that live in your filthiness yet professing the Supper of the Lord it is made manifest you eat and drink your own damnation and discerns not the Lords Body and while you are of the World and not come to Repentance you have nothing to do to speak of the Institutions of Christ which was to his Church to be practised therein only and not among the Children of this World so thy darkness is of Satan and not of Christ and thy Conclusion it is to thy self Thy seventh Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. Which denies agreâ— Work of Christ in the hearts of them who believe in him therefore it is the Light of Satan c. Answ. What hast thou nothing but a Lye in thy mouth to ground thy Discourse upon and to draw thy Conclusion from we deny not the work of Christ in the hearts of them who believe the proof of this minor position makes it not at all evident when thou hast wrested our words as much as thou canst much less if the simplicity of our words were used so it being a Lye in the ground I need noâ— much pluck down the building for it fals of it self as being not so firm as upon the Sand for we hereunto exhort that every one may know and witness the work of Christ in the heart to change and translate and to give power over the World But among thy many blind Arguments thou sayest Thou deniest that the Righteousness of Christ whereby a Believer is justified doth dwell in him c. The Scripture saith Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates and where Christ is there is his Righteousness for they are not divided and the Word of Faith which is the Righteousness of Christ is in the heart as Paul saith but I have cause to think thou art not much ashamed of being proved a Lyar because thy impudency hath overcome simplicity and honesty for when thou hast committed abomination thou canst not blush nor be ashamed but thy shame will the Upright see Thy eighth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men â—o omit their duty to God therefore it is the light of Satan c. Answ. Thou Enemy of God when wilt thou cease thy Lyes and to pervert the right way of God we teach no man to omit his duty neither doth thy witness of thy minor Proposition stand any whit for thy purpose we are our selves daily exercised in Prayer unto God and omits it not as thou falsly accusest but to bear Testimony against the Sacrifice of the Wicked prayer self-righteousness c. that it is abomination and not accepted of the Father this is no whit to the purpose of teaching men to omit their duty as thou falsly accuseth us and thy multitude of vain Arguments are to no purpose herein and thou shews a vain wontoâ— spirit at I. Ns words whose Exhortation is to wait for the Spirit which we testifie no man can be heard or accepted of God in what he doth without it and this is the Duty of the Children of God to wait upon the Father to be led by his Spirit and he who is without the Spirit hath not received Christ Jesus and though thou scornst at this yet of it we are not ashamed and thy false conclusion is like thy foundation both to be condemned with the Lyar. Thy ninth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men to say they have no sin therefore the light of Satan c. Answ. In the proof of thy major Proposition thou sayest The Light of Christ doth teach that all his People are freed from the dominion of sin and Christ Jesus no where saith That any are free from the dominion of sin who are not free from the committing of sin but the contrary he saith He that commits sin is the Servant of sin and such a one is under the dominion of it where he is Servant sin is Lord so he who is redeemed from the Dominion and committing of sin and cleansed from all unrighteousness by Christ Jesus through his Blood if he saith he hath no sin he is no Lyar but if before confession and forsaking of sin he saith he hath no sin he deceives himself according as the Scripture witnesseth unto both these conditions 1 Iohn 1. 8 9. Again He that is born of God sins not as the same Apostle saith and if he that sins not saith he hath no sin he is no Lyar but his Light is the Light of Christ and not of Satan And thy blindness is seen in that thou sayest in effect as though some may be free from the dominion of sin and yet not free from the committing of sin if thy Light teacheth thee thus it is contrary to the Light of Christ which gave forth the Scripture our Light teacheth from the committing of all sin and gives dominion over all unrighteousness and of this Light we are not ashamed This is the strength of thy Argument which is answered so much of the rest I pass by only may mind thee of thy confusion Thou sayest Where sâ—n hath no dominion that man is perfect c. And thou allowest that the Light of Christ teacheth men that they are freed from the dominion of sin and it is proved that none are free from the dominion of sin but who are saved
Apostacy then began men to study from Books and Writings what to preach and say not having the holy Ghost received in them without which none are Ministers of Christ mark that and when men had lost through ignorance the Knowledge of God dwelling in them and that their Bodies were his Temple and that he dwelled and walked in his People then began they again to build Temples without and to set up their false worships in them for having lost the sence of Gods true Worship which the Saints worshipped in in the Spirit and in the Truth then they began to worship in set Dayes and set Times and set Places and outward Observances which is not the worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth but Superstitious and Idolatrous and when the Word of God was not received immediately from his Mouth nor the Gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ as it was in the dayes of the Apostles then darkness being come in they used their tongues when the Lord had not spoken to them as the false Prophets did before Christs time and long have they said the Letter is the Word and that the Letter is the Gospel and that it must be received by the Scriptures and by natural Learning and Arts and that none can be Ministers of Christ but such who are learned in the Languages and knows the Original of Scriptures Latine and Greek and Hebrew nor any of these have received the Gospel by revelation or the Word of God from his mouth And when singing in the Spirit and with the Understanding was ceased and not known then began People to get the Form of singing of Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter and when the pure power of Godliness was lost which was in the days of the Apostles manifested and known then in the Apostacy the deceit grew into the Form of every thing which the Saints had enjoyed in the Power and so were Shadows set up instead of Substance and Death instead of Life and the Form without the Power which in many Branches sprang forth some into one appearance and some into another but all under the power of the Beast with his many heads and horns defended and until this day since the dayes of the Apostles thus it hath been and those very Teachers and supposed Ministers which now are in this and other Nations are of that very Root which sprang forth in the dayes of the Apostles and they are under the dominion of the Beast and moveable like unto the great Whore and this may easily be proved that they are of that Generation of Teachers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come which the Apostle saw was coming in in their dayes of those which Iohn saw the world to run after for Christ said That by their fruits they should be known and the Apostles they described their fruits them by their fruits and so we seeing their fruit to be the very same now which the Apostles described was the fruit of them that then were come and coming from whence we do conclude according to sound judgment that these very Teachers are of the same Generation and Branches of the same Root which sprang forth then And in Pauls Writings you may read such they were whom he saw of whom he bad people to beware and said perillous times would come and men should be Lovers of themselves Covetous Proud Blasphemers Disobedient to Parents Unthankfull Unholy without Natural Affection false Accusers Fierce Despisers of those that are good Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power and such of whom people were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth for people were laden with sins and led away with divers lusts and these did resist the Truth as Iannes and Iambres who withstood Moses by making likenesses without Life and they were men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the Faith Now it is plain that these Teachers in this Generation are of that very Stock which Paul describes such he saw would come and such we see are come and by their fruits we know them as Christ said and Pauls words are fulfilled for these Teaâ—hers are lovers of themselves and covetous and proud this is plain to all people and Blasphemers who denies Christ to have lighted every man that comes into the World and therefore they deny Scripture and so are disobedient and unholy men and without natural affection who many of them have caused the Innocent to be imprisoned and some have died in Prison and they the chief cause of this and this is without natural affection to the Creatures and they are false Accusers and Lyars and fierce in their Books and Preaching as is manifest through all this Nation and they greatly dispise those that are good and prepares war against such as do not put into their Mouthes and they aâ—â— heady and high-minded and lovers of vanities and pleasures this is evident without proof and they have a Form of Godliness they say all should be taught 〈◊〉 God but when any comes to witness it and deny their teaching they cry agaiâ—… such as Hereticks and thus they have the words and the Form but deny thâ—… Power and they are ever teaching twenty and forty years and more but noâ—… able ever to come to the knowledge of the Truth by them but all in blindness aâ—â— darkness still and people cries out who have been learning many years froâ— them that they do not know the Truth and its plain that these Teachers are of that sort that Paul spoke of who brings none to the knowledge of the Truth people that follows them are laden with sins and led away with divers lusts 〈◊〉 these have and do resist Truth every whore they deny that Christ hath lights every man that comes into the world and so resists Truth and denies Scripture and the truth as you may read Iohn 1. 9. And they are corrupt minded ever wicked Persecutors and Suers at Law and earthly minded and covetous and oppressors and are wholly rebrobate concerning the faith and thus it is plain that the root of these Teachers was springing in the Apostles dayes and hath grown ever since in this dark night of Apostacy and hath filled the Nations Again the Apostle saw that many should depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in hypocrisie haviâ—â— their Consciences seared as with a hot Iron Now these Teachers are of the Stock which is departed from the true Faith for they are without true Faith and reprobate concerning it who are in iniquity and sin and the works of the World which are evil now Faith purifies the heart from all this but their hearts 〈◊〉 not purified but polluted with Covetousness and preaching for Hire and Persecution and Envy and therefore they had not Faith and so are of that Generation which
filthy Dreamers and know nothing but whâ—â— they know naturally as bruit Beasts and in that they corrupt themselves aâ—â— they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam aâ—â— they are Trees whose fruit withers raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame wandring Stars they are Murmurrers and Complainers walking after their own lusts having mens persons in admiration because of advantâ—… and these seperate themselves sensual having not the Spirit and of this sâ—… which Iude describeth are these Teachers in this Generation whose fore-fatheâ— crept in in the Apostles dayes and these are their cursed Children which 〈◊〉 abound in these Nations at this day and they are filthy Dreamers studdying fâ—r what they speak and dreaming without the Spirit of God an hour in a Pulpit and what they know it is naturally by natural Learning and natural Arts and iâ— that knowledge they are also corrupted in Pride and Vain-glory and Vanities like bruit Beasts in their Apparrel and Practises and not like Ministers of the Gospel nor Saints and they are in Cain's way in Envy and Murder and Wrath abounding no People like them and they do run greedily after Balaams Error â—or Gifts and Rewards and unrighteous Wages which they run after greedily and they are Trees which bring forth cursed fruits which will wither and fade away and they are like proud raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their shaâ—… in Lyes and Slanders and cursed speaking in publique and private and they have no Habitation in the Firmament of God but are wandring Stars and soâ—â—times in one Opinion and sometimes in another but the blackness of Darkâ—… is reserved for them and the Judgment of the great Day and they are Murâ—… rers and Complainers and can never have enough but seek for their Gain frâ—… their Quarter as the false Prophets did in Isaiah's time and they have mens pâ—…sons in admiration because of advantage to themselves bowing and worshippiâ—… mens persons who will advantage them in their Wages or Hire and Maintenance begging favour of the Magistrates and having their persons in admiration that they may have their advantage in oppressing poor People in Tytâ—… in this their wickedness is hard to be expressed and these have separated into self-seperation some into one Form gathered and some into another but aâ—â— sensual and in the wisdom which is from below and without the Spirit of God And thus it is proved that these Teachers of this Age are of the same Generation in their practises which Iude described to be creeping 〈◊〉 in his time And further the Apostle 1 Iohn 4. he saw that the false Prophets and Antichrists which Christ prophesied of to come were come in his dayes and said Many false Prophets are gone out into the World which is the spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard said John And even now already is it in the World and they were of the World and the World heard them and so are this Generation of Teachers who succeed them that went forth into the World then these are of the World in its wayes Pride and Wickedness Covetousness and Envy and all Evil and thâ—y that are in the evil of the World in wickedness hear them and maintain them so that according to Iohn's Description these Teachers of this Age are of that same flock which came in then and Iohn further saw that all the World was gone after them and worshipped the Beast which was then risen run after the false Prophet which then came in and sat upon the Beast and its plain that the World is all run after them unto this day which is a day of bringing back again from the false Prophet and from under the power of the Beast and the Beast and his Image and the false Prophet his Divinations must down to the ground and according as Iohâ— farther prophesied The holy City which had been troddâ—n down under the Gentiles feet for such a time should again be gained and the Saints should have the Dominion and the old Dragon should be chained and Christ shâ—â—ld reign and his Kingdom should â—e set up in the Earth and the Tabernacle of God should be with men and this is the day that the Lord is restoring again the Way of Peace which long hath been lost and the the Power of God is again witnessed which hath not been known for Generations So that of things spoken this is the sum of Truth and the Word of the Lord God to all People on the Earth that in the dayes of Christ and the Apostles it was a glorious Day of Light and Life and Power and the Lord gathered a People which honoured his Name while they stood with him and in his Counsel walked but since the dayes of the Apostles hath been an Apostacy and Darkness over all and a Subversion upon all and Night hath been over all wherein no man could work as Christ said and Forms without Power haâ—e been estabished the pure Way of God hath not been known in its purity so that this time wherein all are fallen is a time of ignorance of the reign of the Beast which all the World hath wandred after and a time wherein the Gentiles feet have trodden down the holy City and a time wherein all the World runs after the false Prophet and are deceived and made drunk with the Wine of the Whores Fornications I say this is the time wherein all the men of this Generation are fallen and the Scripture is fulfilled the Night wherein no man can work is upon the World and further this is the time of Antichrists dominion who hath exalted himself in the Seat of God shewing himself to be God and long hath he reigned with the Beast and the false Prophet even since the dayes of the Apostles and these same Teachers of this Generation which now are in the World are manifest by their fruit to be of that generation of that seed and stock of false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come in the last time after his dayes and which most of the Apostles saw coming in in their dayes by their fruits I say they are known for these bring forth the same fruits and bear the same Marks which those described did in their time so we see Christ's Prophesie is fulfilled who said they should come for they are come and the Apostles descriptions are fulfilled on these for these Teachers are such as bear the same Characters as is proved as they said they should bear that would come and long have the Nations been deceived and kept under the worship of the Beast running after the false Prophet And we see Iohns Prophesie is fulfilled who said that The holy City was given to be troddâ—n undâ—r the feet of the Gentiles for so we see it hath been for many Generations and also we know the time is now approaching that the dominion of the Beast is near an end and the holy City
they gained any in the hearts of people towards them for many years that they have preached and herein again I do believe that they do exceed all the false Prophets and all the Deceivers that ever went before them in this respect none ever had the Magistrates to act for them as these have as it appears the Rulers some of them are at the wills of the Teachers to do for them what they desire either to take Peoples goods or to send them to Prison shewing that these Teacâ—â—â—â— have not a spiritual Weapon to defend themselves but that the Magistrates wiâ—â— their Law are their chiefest ARMOUR for if they can but get favour of 〈◊〉 Magistrate they have allowance to preach at such a place and if they can get the favour of a Magistrate they can do well enough to be maintained by cauâ—â—â—â— such to be sent to prison or taxing treble damages upon their Goods if they wiâ—â— not help to maintain them and if they have the favour of the Magistrates if any do reprove them for these things and for others of their wickedness and if any do but tell them of it they can have such sent to Prison as in revenge as for speaking and reproving them for their wickedness hath some hundreds of innocent People suffered imprisonments and other cruel things in these Nations so that iniquity is upheld as it were by Force and Power so that it is not their Gospel that maintains them nor gets them favour with the people nor doth it defend them but it is the command and Warrant of a Magistrate which doth all this so when the Magistrates cease to approve them to maintaiâ— them and â—efend them they must utterly fall into misery and can neither be approved maintained or defended any other way for because of this their wickedness God hath left them and all honest true hearted People have left them and therefore what a condition are the Teachers in who deserve not the love of meâ— because they are so cruel hearted towards them and they deserve not the Love of God because they are so wicked against him And I might yet more fully describe and declare wherein they do exceed the Deceivers and false Prophets of old but of this according as the Lord moveth and leadeth and this may suffice to shew what they are by their works and by the spirit that leads them which appears not to be the Spirit of God but the spirit of Antichrist Furthermore and besides all this which I have said herein they do exceed the Deceivers that are gone before for upon account the sum of their Maintenance yearly in these Nations being reckoned may be about Fifteen Hundrâ—â— Thousand POUNDS a Year Oh wonderful Is not this almost incredible that the Teachers should put the Nations to such a charge as this and yet people receive nothing answerable to it But all this Money is spent for that which is 〈◊〉 Bread and their labour wasted and they have no profit thereby This money might be made better use of then to give it for deceiving the people And if any doubt of this account and shall think this is not like to be true upon an even râ—â—koning it may be proved and made appear considering how many Parishes thâ—â— are and reckon what belongs to every Priests Parish with what is given to 〈◊〉 Priests in Ireland which is aboundance These things are a shame to the Ministry of Christ though the impudent Teachers of these Nation are void of shaâ—â— herein A Reply to the Priests Plea and an Answer to their Objections WHereas many of the Priests of ENGLAND to hide themselves frâ—â— the charge of being Hirelings they alledge these Scriptures The Lâ—bourer is worthy of his Hire and the Workman is worthy of his Meat but these Scriptures will not serve to cover their shame in what is charged against them for 〈◊〉 Hire which Christ allows to the Labourers is but to remain in the same house into 〈◊〉 they enter eating and drinking such things as they give them with such who were 〈◊〉 they were to remain and to eat that which was set before them and they labouâ—â—â— truly and travelled up and down and were truly worthy of meat for their work and of this Hire for their Labour But this makes nothing for the lawfulness of so many pounds a year at a certain place this is more then eating 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 house which is worthy to bargain with people for so much the year and compelling people to pay by a Law that do deny Christ never instituted such a practice neither can it be truly said that these called Ministers do labour as the Ministers of Christ did and so this Scripture is but wrested by them when they bring it for proof of their practice for their hundred pounds a year compelling some of it from the people doth exceed eating and drinking to suffice nature with such who are worthy So this Scripture maketh not for their turns nor doth it justifie their Practises Again they Object against our charge the words of Paul who said He that preacheth the Gospel shall live on the Gospel and that it was a small matter to reap carnal things from them unto whom they sowed Spiritual things but this Scripture makes not for them for as I said it s not the preaching of the Gospel that maintains them but the Magistrates with their Law that compelleth Maintenance from the people and this is not to live on the Gospel for we allow as Paul did that they which preach the GOSPEL should live on the Gospel Therefore let the Magistrates cease with their Power to cause people to pay them and let all the World see if their Gospel will maintain them and let them reap their carnal things from them where they sow spiritual but they must reap as a free Gift too and not by compulsion for so the Apostle signifies it is a small matter for any to reap carnal things where they sow spiritual things yet what is this to prove the lawfulness of bargaining with people for so much by the YEAR as these Teachers of ENGLAND do many of them and will not preach except they have so much promised them before For it is right to reap after sowing but it is a transgression to bargain to reap before they sow and these Scriptures will not hide them nor defend them in their practice for if the Magistrates did not compel from people Maintenance by a Law the Priests of this Age would reap but little from any thing that they sow for there 's little love in the hearts of the people towards them Also they Object He that plants a Vineyard may eat of the fruit thereof and he that keeps a Flock may eat of the Milk of the Flock this Paul said though he would not make use of his power herein but wrought with his hands that the Gospel might not be chargeable but what Vineyards have the Teachers
of England planted or what Flocks do they keep Their Vineyards prove not tender Grapes but wild â—ower Grapes wild Vines and not Vines to bring forth acceptable fruits and their Flocks prove not Flocks of sheep but wilde rude people who are in the nature of Wolves and Lions and if the Magistrates Law were not their Vineyard noâ— the flock would hardly yield them any maintenance the Apostles planted first a Vineyard and gathered the â—â—heep before they reaped or eat any of the fruit but the Teachers of England differ from them in this for they know what they must have before they plant or before they feed their flock and differ from the Apostles practice who first planted a Vineyard and gathered a flock before they could receive any crop and they would 〈◊〉 then use their power but kept the Gospel of Christ without charge so that this Scripture will not prove the Priests actions lawful in preaching for sums of money â—nd some other Scriptures they bring to prove the lawfulness of their preaching for â—ire which may all be answered as these are and whatsoever they can object will â—ot justifie them for their reaping carnal things and their hire and their eating â—f the milk of the flock is quite of another nature as is proved then the Apostle â—ractices were and were the people wiâ—e they would see and understand these â—hings and not be deluded through perverting of Scriptures and through wresting of them to other ends then wherefore they were given forth and this is written â—o answer some of their objections whereby they would defend themselves for â—hat though Paul took of other Churches to supply his necessities as sometimes he did yet â—his will not prove the lawfulness of their hundreds of pounds by the year most of which they spend in pride and idleness so that still this Judgment is true â—pon them which I have given all objections being answered and all defences â—eing made yoid and hereof they are guilty as I have charged them and proâ—ed it out of the Scripture They disagree to the Ministers of Christ and agrees with the Deceivers and in some particulars exceeds them for I believe all the falsâ— Prophets in Israel did not destroy any whit near a Million and a half of Money in a year considering all things it must come to little less their Funeral Sermons their great Tythes and small Tythes and Marriages and Sprinkling of Infants and Churching of Women with other such Penuries claimed by the Church of England with what is given to them out of the Nations treasure which is many hundred pounds a year also considering how much in a year is spent and consumed at two or three Colledges in this Nation in relation to the Ministry as in bringing some up to the attainment of the Ministry is they call it and upon the Educators of such with a very great abundance of such like charges consumed out of the Nations treasure which is wasted as in relation to this Ministry spoken of I do not speake against good education and learning which is in its place a vertue as for Travellers and many others neither do I account such money vainly wasted and spent but onely as to the Ministry of Christ natural learning is not there admitted to make Ministers or to enable them thereunto but that money which is thereupon spent is wasted and consumed and how much is spent in this way and for such an end onely I leave wise men to judge which will make up a large sum in the whole considering all things I say their yearly maintenance may amount to fifteen hundred thousand pounds a year which is a thousand thousand and half a thousand thousand pounds Men of weaâ— understandings can hardly reach to know how much it is and that makes me thus plainly expound it Kingston upon Thames the eighth moneth 1657. A description of the true Ministery of Christ and its Maintenance THe day hath appeared that makes all things manifest and the light is arisâ—â— that gives to discern between truth and error between the true and eveâ—â— false way and between the true worship of God which is spiritual and every falâ—â— worship of the world which is Idolatry and the true Ministry of Christ is knoâ—â— from the false Ministry by their several fruits and signes for hidden things are brougâ—â— to light and secret things are revealed but now the people of the world both tâ—â— wise and the foolish thus they object and say Seeing that you do so much coâ—… our Ministry and Ministers in their call in their practices in their conversation â—â—d 〈◊〉 their maintenance what Ministry do you own and what Ministers do you allow of 〈◊〉 whether would you have any Ministery at all seeing you throw down and declare against sâ—â— as the Law of the Land sets up and such as we have looked upon to be able Ministers 〈◊〉 after this manner are the people of this Generation begun to reason among themselves sâ—… what would this people do if they had power what Ministers would they approve of and 〈◊〉 maintenance would they allow them To all this I do answer and say The true Ministers and Ministry of Câ—… we do allow of and we would have set up and established and we wait patiâ—… ly till it be brought to pass even such as are ordained by power from on 〈◊〉 and who have received the gift of the holy Ghost who are called of God into the 〈◊〉 of the Ministry such we do approve of to be Ministers of Christ in whom he is reveâ—… and who have received him and are changed by him from death to life and out 〈◊〉 darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of God and who are born of the Spirit and 〈◊〉 led and guided by it into all truth and are called by it to follow the lamb whither sâ—… he goeth and who are taught by it in all their practices of Religion and in 〈◊〉 whole worship of God and such we own as have felt the operation of the spiâ—… in themselves and who have tasted handled seen and felt of the Word of life whiâ—â— abids for ever and such who goeth in the name of the Lord to Minister and declare freely what they have freely received of God by his Spirit and who preacheth Christ freely as the onely way and means of life and salvation unto all people even such as ministereth him the way the truth and the life the onely justifier and sanctifier and deliverer of them that believe and the condemner of them that believe not and such as Ministereth Christ onely the teacher and leader of his people and nothing else besides him and such we allow as onely seeketh and laboureth in the wisdom of God to bring people out of the wayes of sin and death unto the knowledge of God and to the things that belong unto their peace such who have no respect to large places or great benefits to seek after
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
do God service that kills you 〈◊〉 casts you from among them and the Devil shall cast some of you into prison And thâ—… things you have done and fullfilled Christs words against your selves for 〈◊〉 witness against you and to shew that you are Enemies to Christ and to his Kingdom and that you will not have him to reign as I have said Therefore whâ—… he reigneth he shall say Bring hither those mine Enemies and slay them before me O! what will the just Judge of true Judgment the God of Heaven and Earth render unto you when he ariseth to plead the cause of the poor and needy and to deliver his Inheritance from under your oppression into perfect freedom What account will you give in that day when he brings swift destruction upon you And wherewith will you answer him when the secrets of your hearts are made manifest and when the true witness in you all is awakened which will bring to your remembrance all your cruel and unjust dealing and all your bitter and hard speeches which in your envy you have brought forth against the Lord and against his people What will be done to you his Enemies when Christ Jesus whom you have persecuted comes to reign in his Kingdom and subdues the kingdoms of this World and changeth them into the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and the Saints which you have oppressed receives the Authority and Dominion It shall be said All that would not that Christ should reign slay them before him when it shall be given to the Saints to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron and to execute upon the Heathen all the judgments written for behold all ye stout hearted the Lord cometh in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World in righteousness and you shall be convinced of all your ungodly deeds for the Scriptures must be fullfilled and as you have done even so will it be done unto you when the suffering of the righteous is finished and your wickedness come to an end when the Lord shall reign you shall lick the dust off his feet and all the Persecuters of Christ shall be trodden down as mire and the righteous shall rejoyce over them and the Lord shall mock when your fear and calamnity comes which come suddenly in a day when you expect not how shall the Lord pardon you for this you have sinned against knowledge and gone on after warning and hardened your hearts after reproof and the day of your visitation you have greatly slighted ye Rulers have abused your power and ye subjects have abused your subjection and now consider what God did in Generations past unto the rebellious children what he did to Pharaoh and all his Hosts when his long suffering was finished how did Pharaoh harden his heart and his cruel Task-masters oppress the righteous even as you have done and they would not let Israel go free to serve the Lord but they kept them in bondage and this way you walk who exercise cruelty as they did and laid heavy burthens upon the Innocent grievous to be born cruel task-masters have you been over the Heritage of the Lord and in Pharaohs example of wickedness have you walked fulfilling his measure of cruelty and Pharaohs example shall you follow in a cursed end remember how the loftiness of his heart was bowed down and how his proud heart was abased in the day that God pleaded with him in his righteous judgments he and all his task-makers were confounded in a day and the bondage of the righteous was broken in a moment how was his whole strength of Tyranny overturned and turned into weakness the righteous were delivered and he and all his train overwhelmed in one day and thus shall it come to pass upon you Therefore consider this all ye that fullfill the measure of iniquity suddenly will the righteous God be awakened to take vengeance upon you and the just shall not always groan under your bondage for he that looketh from the Heaven hath pity upon the distressed for whom now his arm is stretched out to bring deliverance unto them and all their enemies will be confounded who have this long time ploughed long furrows upon the back of the righteous the oppression and cruelty and injustice brought forth in this Nation it calls for vengeance from Heaven Alas alas woe is me for you you Heads and Rulers and Judges of England what have you done and suffered to be done under you against the innocent people of God who is as dear to him as the apple of his eye for they be written on the palms of his hands and because of the cry of the poor and the needy will the Lord arise and plead their cause Oh consider and let it enter into your hearts the cruelty and injustice that hath been brought forth in this Land and remember what God did unto all the Persecuters of old how was their strength consumed and they overturned and destroyed what did he to Pharaoh and all his host who persecuted the Seed of God how was he destroyed and the righteous set free and what was done to Haman How was he justly rewarded who persecuted the Innocent Seed of God What did God to Herod and all his people who persecuted the Innocent and remember what he did unto them that persecuted the Three Children and them that persecuted Daniel how did they fall into the pit which they had digged for another and how were they destroyed and the Innocent delivered considered and remember these things ye that suffer the Just to groan by you Search through the Records of old and search what God hath done unto all them that lifted up their hand against Him and his People and is he not the same at this day his Hand is not shortened that it cannot save his people and destroy his Enemies his Ear is not dull of hearing that he should not understand this unjust suffering of his people though you live carelessely in pleasure upon Earth while the Innocent mourns yet doth the Lord regard though you spend your time in pleasure and delight your selves in vanities all the day long yet the Lord hath taken it to heart and his Spirit is grieved that his Innocent Servants should lye in Holes and Dungeons to be trodden upon and be accounted as the off-scouring of all things hardly thought worthy to have a place on the Earth Oh remember these things ye that are high minded and consider what God did to the Bishops and their crew of persecutors in this Nation your selves are witnesses how the Lord overthrew them and delivered his people in a few years time and as little as you did they think that they whom they persecuted should so soon come to have reigned over them the Lords Hand was then against Oppressors as it is at this day do you think the Lord hath forgotten or that he takes no notice of what is come to pass how should he forget his
their wickedness without reproof and ungodliness may be hid under hypocrisie and above all other means that is used at this day to keep up the Kingdom of the Devil and to offend the Kingdom of Christ this is Cheif striving against the Light of the World opposing it and denying it and by crafty Arguments and cunning Speeches seeking sutable Scriptures as they suppose to ground their false Argumentâ— upon against this very thing that the Light of Christ is given to every man that comes into the World or that the Light which convinceth and reproveth every man of sin within him is not the Light of Christ nor worthy to be taken notice of but natural and such like and no way sufficient to Life and Salvation if the Unjust men persecute it is such as walk in the Light of Christ Jesus that cannot fulfill the wills and customs of mâ—n and so are not of thâ—… World but contrary to it in all its wayes and workâ—…â—…ich are evil and if tâ—… wise men of the World make any Arguments it is against the Light wiâ—… which Christ lightneth every man that comes into the World so that all 〈◊〉 envy of the Devil whether under this or that colour and appearance is againâ—… the Light of Christ Jesus and them that walk therein and if the light be 〈◊〉 denyed and not believed in nor regarded then may the Devil have whâ—… Possession of the heart of man and if the Light of Christ Jesus within 〈◊〉 owned and loved and walked in then Christ is received and there the Dâ—… is dispossessed and therefore it stands him upon above all other things 〈◊〉 possess people against the Light within which Christ hath given that then 〈◊〉 may not be discovered in the heart but may keep all his goods in peace aâ—… have quiet possession in his Habitation Well be it so though all men of thâ—… Kingdom doth gainsay the Light of Christ by this or that way of wickedness yet it is precious unto us and I cannot but earnestly contend for it against 〈◊〉 Gainsayers and yet strives not for mastery to our selves nor to exalt any thing of our selves but only the Lord and his truth which he hath made more dear to us then either life or name or liberty and though so it be that this Way be spoken evil against every-where yet the Lord owneth it and us who are faithful therein in the presence of our Enemies to the confounding of the wisdom of this World And whereas Iohn Bunion hath formerly set himself divers wayes to oppose the Truth under the account of his great zeal against Error but especially in a Book sometime since put forth by him thinking thereby to offend the Way of Righteousness and now a second time hath appeared with a defence upon his former called A Vindication c. Of the former and his Defence is more to the laying open his folly and to the uncovering of his blindness and wickedness then his first offence given by him which caused me to write in short four sheets of paper to clear the Truth from what he had spoken against it And now having again a second time appeared in many word without knowledge yet in great zeal hath brought forth many things reprovable even Lyes and Slanders and evil Speeches in abundance yet with great pretence of holiness and soberness and he hath not only belyed me but the Truth which is my chief and moving cause that the Truth may be clear of this my second Reply unto him and not for my own sake in any thing for I more prize to be accounted a fool and dispraised in the World then to be honoured thereby and when iniquity shall come to an end and transgression shall be finished his shall be the Kingdom and the Inheritance of Rest Eternal that hath kept himself clean and pure from a lying and slanderous tongue and who hath done righteously and fullfilled the Will of God For it is not every one that saith Lord Lord that enter into the Kingdom but he that doth the will of the Father which is in Heaven and in that day when the Book of all Consciences shall be opened and every thing brought to Judgement then shall the Light in every ones Conscience answer the Lord in the justness of his dealings and even then if not before shall this Iohn Bunion know the Light in all mens Consciences is of force when he shall be judged and then shall he see he hath wronged the Lord and dealt evil against his own soul in speaking evil of what he hath not known and in giving false judgement of what he hath not understood and till that day I leave him without praying for fire to devour him only may reprove his Lyes Errors Contradictions and False-dealing and clear the Truth from his false Charges and only to the most chiefest things whereof he accuses us in short I may Reply And whereas thou sayst There is one that hath ventured to stand up against the Truth and hath published a Book in which there is a great number of Heresies cunningly vented by him and also many things there falsly Reported of thee To which I answer that same Book published called The true faith of the Gospel contended for c. Shall clear it self from this reproach that I have not stood against any one truth or uttered any Heresie or lye against thee but in that Book did witness forth the Truth against many things falsly laid down by thee against the Quakers and that same Book with soberness read without partiality and prejudice doth clear it self from these false Aspersions and prove thee a Lyer herein and I leave it to the honest hearted to judge who reads that Book while I with patience and not seeking any revenge doâ— bear thy reproaches counting them greater riches then thy praise And Farther thou saist Only by the way thou thinkest good to mind me of my cloathing my self with the words of the Prophets and Apostles c. Answ. True enough by the Way out of the Truth and out of Christ who is the Way hast thou spoken this and so hast uttered in falsehood and by or out of the Way neither have I cloathed my self and yet am I clothed with the Life of the Prophets and Apostles and not only with their words nor do I fight against them though thou falsly sayst it but bears witness unto them in Doctrine and Conversation and before all the seed of Evil-doers and take back thy own words to thy self who art in that Generation which hath the words but are without the Life in the evil life Farther thou sayst I have broken out with a false Testimony of Iohn Burton and thee at which thou seemest to be much offended that I should say thou art joyned with the broken Army of Magog and hath shewed your selves in the defence of the Dragon against the Lamb c. Reply what needest thou be troubied at this
thou impudently dost in thy comparing the principles of the Ranters with the Quakers And to save thy brother from shame and guilt thou art fallen thy self into the Snare and justly may be judged to exceed him in Wickedness and thou sayst with shame to thy self I repeat it that the Quakers will not own Christ without them but thou brings not testimony of this Assertion till then art thou reckoned and shall be plauged for a Lyer which will be forever for we own him as he is ascended far above all Heavens who fills all things yea and without us too So that instead of proving the first false Accusation thou adds another Slander and the second thing wherein thou comparest them is unsound for though we witness yea thousands that we need no man to teach us as the Saints did 1 Iohn yet we cry not down the Ministry of God but owns it and cryes down such by whom people cannot come to the Knowledge of the Truth though they be ever learning who Preach for Hire and goes for Gifts and Rewards loves the Wages of Unrightousness this was the Apostles Doctrine as it was ours and is no Heresie though thou mayst so judge it for we say by the same Spirit as the Apostles did they that are of God heareth us who are in the Truth which is but one and there is not another and the Apostles which witnessed Saints needed no man to teach them did exhort them and yet did not condemn principles by practice Then thou goest on and sayst The Ranters are not for Baptism and Breaking if Bread and are not the Quakers the same But what doth this prove and thou sayst the Ranters are they that would profess themselves without sin and how far short of 〈◊〉 Opinion are the Quakers and the Ranters would not own the Resurrection c. And how say you Do you believe the very Bodies shall rise c. Reply Friend this is far short of proving these things upon us by querying them to us let the Reader consider But it may be impudency hath not so wholy eaten out honesty in thee as that thou darest charge us wholy with these things but would intrude into us be thy Questions as though the thing were so indeed but thou mayst by ashamed of thy work Is this sufficient proof of evil against us to ask us whether it be so what hast thou proved in all this against us if we were guilty thinkest thou we will accuse our selves this is absurdity and wickedness in thee falsly to charge us and to bring no better evidence but thy bare words and as we deny the Ranters so do we thee and sees you both to be Enemies to the Life of God But thy last and chieâ—… proof as thou thinkest that we are one is that the Ranters are Sinners and the Quakers are Lyers the first I wilâ— not vindicate but this last is disputable and thy proof of it is first thoâ—… sayst from what thou hast said already to some pages of my first Book to which I 〈◊〉 Replyed and leaves it to the Reader only doth say thou hast not yet proved one Lye against me in the sight of God nor men thou art the Lyer if thou say thâ—… hast and honest men shall be judge betwixt us And thy second proof is moâ—… to the discovering thy ignorance then yet hath been And to clear thy self from my charge against thee viz to be a wrester of the Scripture which yet I stand to thou art fain into grievous error my first charge is true upon thee 〈◊〉 thou perverted or wrested that Scripture Rev. 13. 18. in saying the Lamb was 〈◊〉 before the Foundation of the World for that Scripture saith since or from 〈◊〉 Foundation of the World hast thou no more sence art thou and all thy compaâ—… so ignorant that you know not betwixt before and since a time how are you blinded and yet persists in your wickedness and will not be reproved therefore this is a double iniquity in thee to thy shame remember it for I have said true though thou understand it not there is as much difference betwixt before and since in that thing as betwixt a Lye and Truth for to say the blood was shed before the Foundation of the World as thou didst is a very Lye but to say iâ— was shed since or from is truth and that Scripture is truth Rev. 13. And thou art the Lyar and Wrester of it and I have not wronged thee in my first though thou impudently and ignorantly wouldst clear thy self and lay iniquity upon me But further to clear thy self thou sayst thou said in Gods account it was shed before the World was and this is little less then Blasphemy what is God a Hypocrite like thy self to account that for Truth which is a Lye as I have proved O horrid error and perfect blindness but this will not cover thee nor thy shame from the eye of men where is thy Proof for such a Doctrine that God accounts that which is a Lye for Truth largely is manifest thy folly Repent if thy heart be not void of shame for what thou hast spoken heâ—… in and let the Reader understand this difference thou sayst the Blood of Christ was shed before the Foundation of the World according to that Scripture Rev. 13. I say thou perverts the Scripture and lyest grosly in the main thing it self and saith it is* since or from the Foundation of the World let the honest judge and now it is seen the Lye rests upon thy own Head who wrests the Scripture and belyes the Lord and me and goes on in thy wickedness after reproof and take thou the Ranters they are thy Companinons in lying and sinning and not ours And further thou art offended that I should say and would fain reckon it for a Lye that all thy work is a secret smiteing and an obscure shooting against the manifestation of Christ within which words I own to be truth concerning thee and am not ashamed of them though thou say I say falsly and when the Book of thy Conscience is opened thou shalt confess it only I leave this to be considered seriously and judged by them who are spiritual and they shall be my Witnesses and the Lye is of thee and thy Father whose wickedness is sufficiently seen by what is said if I should say no more Again thou sayst it is an untruth of thee to say thou art one of those that do preach for Hire through Covetousness making merchandize of Souls my words are not so laid down thou hast wrested them for thy purpose though it availes nothing but I said thou art in their steps that through covetousness with fained words makes merchandize of Souls and thou art found among them that preaches for Hire and I have spoken the truth herein let the Light in all Consciences judge who are not feared in many things I might instance that
knowes how to take Childrens bread and cast it to Doggs Reply Now let all consider what thou hast said Christ Jesus is the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven the Childrens Bread and they have no other Now the Devil cannot take Christ Jesus who only is the Childrens Bread and give him to Doggs O horrid canst thou behold this and not be smitten to the heart what wickedness and ignorance lodges in that heart that can utter these things Though thou thinkst thou hast done bravely i◠thus saying yet the Wisedom of God turns thy words upon thy own head into confusion and grievous error I deny it though thou affirm it that the Devil can take or knows how to take Christ Jesus and give him to Doggs Further thou sayst I am grieved that thou shouldest say none but a Company of Notionist and Ranters c. are carried with the Quakers c. and sayst thou this appears in 〈◊〉 mens sight c. Reply Thou art a Lyar I am not greived at thy Slanders and wicked Reproaches but rather rejoyces therein that I am one worthy to bear them and all men that can see sees thee a false Accuser herein For such who have feared the Lord and served him and are and have been honest and upright to God and man have owned us and have been neither Ranters nor such like and we rejoyce if any that hath been so be turned from it unto God to live in Righteousness though thou note it for a false thing in the margent But to make it appear false thou hast corrupted my words which are Though some of all sorts of people be brought to God yet thou seems to be offended herewith and these my words are true upon thy head for I ask notwithstanding some were such are they such who are in wickedness since they owned us then why dost thou wickedly as though thou wert offended at it upbraid us that such or such are carried away with us as though none else which is thy Lye uttered in thy hastiness And whereas thou art offended thou sayst that I should say thou are like the Pharisees whether I spake so or no however I own that thou art like them at least even one among them As further I shall manifest then thou hast over-leapt with a false excuse of passing by many railings as thou sayst which it seems troubles thee that I should truly charge thee to bring sorth Lyes without fear and that the Ranters and light Notionists and thee we deny till you turn to the Lord by repentance and if you turn from your iniquity we dare not deny you And further I truly charge thee that thou art puft up in thy Lyes and Slanders and advanceth thy self above the Innocent who exceeds thee in Faith towards God and in good works towards man and whose conversation is in heaven but thine is among the Hirelings c. And this thou hast skipped over as a deceitful Child with a poor excuse which thou mayst be ashamed to call these railings but that thy heart is void of shame let the sober Reader judge else then thou saist I stumble at that wherein in thy first thou sayst The Devil perswades these men to believe First That salvation was not compleatly wrought out for Sinners by the man Christ Iesus c. Reply Here thou art a Lyar again I stumble not for I walk in the Light and doth not stumble but I reproved thy Lye and Slander and said this Accusation is clearly false wickedly cast upon us for there is no Salvation in any other neither is it wrought by any other but by Jesus Christ c. As page the ninth of my first may be read but thou hast not at all removed the true charge against thee that I charged upon thee upon these words viz a Believer of Lyes a Slanderer a false Accuser which stands true upon thee still and will for ever till thou remove it by repentance for thou canst never clear thy self any otherways and thou sayst I have left some words out but this is but a poor catch for do I not make an Et caettera at the end of thy words and if thou wert not too ignorant thou mightest understand that which follows is included and conjoyned Then thou goest on and sayst I am offended that thou shouldst say the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light that they brought into the World with them telling them that will lead into the Kingdom c. Now my answer to this is sober and just as will appear though thou sayst vainly I seem to be gravelled because I informed thy mistake who said pervertingly either in subtilty or for want of wit the light which they brought into the World with them when as the Scripture saith Christ is the Light which lighteth every man that comes into the World Ioh. 1. 9. which Light as I did I do affirm will lead into the Kingdom of peace and rest and deny it if thou canst for the Light of Christ doth reveal Christ and the Light lighteth every man that cometh into the World then thou heaps up many words though thou falsly sayst I corrupt that Scripture Ioh. 8. yet I lay it down in its own words and say that is or was the true Light that lights every man that comes into the World and that Light which hath so done will lead all that believes into the Kingdom for Christ said I am the Light of the World and though thou ignorantly wouldst seem to say this is error yet I affirm it that the same which saith I am the Light of the World is he and no other which lighteth every man that comes into the World and this I suppose thou wilt call a filthy error but the filthiness is in thy own heart and error too through ignorance of the knowledge of the things of God who wouldst fain if thou could make it appear that that Christ which lighteth every man that comes into the World Iohn 1. 9. is not the same that saith I am the Light of the World Iohn 8. 12. Thy confused words seems to carry this meaning let the Reader judge whether that be not the same Christ Jesus which Iohn speaks of Iohn 1. 9. as it is written of Iohn 8. 12. and though thou ignorantly sayst I would have room to broach my folly yet thou lets out of thy vessel in sides of leaves of Lyes and Slanders and Folly and thou sayst when he said I am the Light of the World he was without he did not mean any light within and thou presumptuously bids me deny this if I can to which I say the same Christ which said I am the Light of the World was he which was before Abraham who was Light to the Gentiles and lighteth every man in the World yea he was and is given to be a Light where his person which was supposed the son of Ioseph never came and do thou deny
of Christ without and with as good or better understanding though both a like far from the Kingdom of God yet in thy Answer thou askest me if I put 〈◊〉 difference betwixt the speaking of and beleeving in Christ without Yea I do a great deal for he that believes in him hath the Witness in himself of him and his heart is purifyed and he is a new Creature which thou art not but thou I suppose wouldst be reckoned a Believer nay for I think the Pope hath both more words and more good works and makes as much Conscience of lying and false accusing as thou for ought as may be understood of a tree by the fruits which is our way to judge as Christ hath given us example then is that I said thou hast answered thy self a question deceitful thou art offended and boasts thy self against me Charging me to be an Enemy to the truth and the liâ—â— in that I did not manifest thy deceit but now I shall therefore to stop thy proâ—… boasts in that answer thou calls it a sad doctrine which saith follow the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall and other such like things following that question which are deceitful and wicked and thou thereby art proved the Enemy to truth thy self and thou and thy words are both deceitful and therefore boast not thy self Then thou answers my Question which was doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ are Reprobates the Question is sound and of worth to be noted and in thy answer thou sayst yet it is true to which I soberly Reply then what a condition are all in that hath 〈◊〉 Christ within nor no knowledge of him but what they have of him as he is without by the letter without do thou consider this and whether it be not of the chiefest prize to Life and Salvation to wait for him and seek for him within seeing all that have not him within are Reprobates But farther thou wouldst seem to manifest a great deal of folly in me when as the folly lies in thy own bosome and by thy confused words I understand thâ—… groundst thy Answer upon alye and false understanding and therefrom bringâ—… the false reproof as if I should hold forth that every man hath received Chriâ—… or the Spirit of Christ in him This I have never said but that every man hath the Light of Christ giâ—… him which I say is one in union with the Spirit of Christ and I say Christ 〈◊〉 given to all but all receives him not and I see thou understands not my forâ—… words that I write in answer to one of thy Queries thou canst not distingâ—… betwixt a thing being given of God and a thing being received by man so 〈◊〉 the folly is fallen back on thee take it who understands not my words 〈◊〉 opposes thy own conceivings and false understanding and though I might 〈◊〉 truly apply this word folly in that extent then thou applyed the like word 〈◊〉 thy self in this same page yet I leave it to the judgement of the serious Reader and say thy folly is want of wit in the World and not for Châ—… sake Then thou wouldst defend thy first wickedness in that thou saidst the Devil deceives Souls by perswading them to follow the Light within which all men have but my answer to it thou hast not reached in that I said 〈◊〉 that comes to Life eternal must follow the Light within which Christ haâ—… given which stands over thy head for ever to be truth but yet how bliâ—… art thou in confessing the Light within even Conscience to be the Light 〈◊〉 Christ as God and yet sayst the Devil deceives souls by bidding follow the Light within O abominable doctrine what doth the Devil deceive souls by bidding foâ—… the Light of Christ as God so Iohn Bunion's doctrine is let it be noted 〈◊〉 see thou thy folly how it is manifest and thy pittiful evasions are weighed 〈◊〉 stead of contradicting my former sufficient answer which thou could no 〈◊〉 reach to wrest or otherwise to answer it askes a question which I may ansâ— assoon as thou hast sufficiently replyed to my former answer and this is in 〈◊〉 an answer to it it is heresie to say that the Light of God or any Light of 〈◊〉 or Christ can or doth deceive the Soul and though thou stumble at it I said 〈◊〉 in saying that thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within 〈◊〉 the Reader judge And now to manifest thy ignorance fully thou hast confessed the Light witâ—… even Conscience is the Light of God hast not thou cause to repent of 〈◊〉 absurdities and blindness who holds forth that the Devil deceives Souls by the Light of God seeing thou canst find no Light within man but that which thou confessest is the Light of God Then thou sayes Thy whole design was first to shew Souls where Salvation is to be bad namely in Christ without and yet hath confessed all that hath him not within are Reprobates and such have not salvation by him without Consider therefore without Christ within no Salvation as I have said and thou hast confessed it Mark it then to clear thy self from contradiction which I charged thee with thou wouldst cast a confusion upon me in that thou says I would make a defiled Conscience the Law and Spirit of Christ to be all one This is falsly spoken I have never said nor thought that a defiled Conscience is the Law and Spirit of Christ a Lyer thou art to be noted and this Lye adds to the number and yet consider thou hast said several time that Consciences is the Light of Christ as God and now calls Conscience defiled Is the Light of God defiled Iohn Bunnion saith so O horrid read thou thy confusion and grievous Error which is brought to thy Door and there I leave it thou mayst Blush and all thy Witnesses at this and in that thou callst my Answer Scoulding against thy Epistle and persumptuously sayst The truth of which thou couldst be willing to seal with thy Blood Reply Scoulding I deny but I have reproved thy Lyes in the Authority of the Lord and be not so proudly pust up in boasting what sayst thou shall thy Blood go for this that the Quakers are Deceivers and that the Devil deceives Souls by bidding them follow the Light within which thou sayst is Conscience which thou confesses is the Light of God and that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and that the Scripture say so and that we deny that Salvation was compleatly wrought by the man Christ Jesus with several other things noted for Lyes what sayst thou Iohn Bunnion art thou so desparte as that thou wilt hazard thy Blood upon this account if it be so sure the Devil hath great power over thee cease thy boasting lest the Lord make thee an Example and though thou wouldst exhort me thy spirit I deny
and so thy words I judge and cannot receive good from an evil Spirit Then thou comes on falling on thy own foul ignorance again and wouldst fain clear thy self but by thy stirring thy own wickedness herein thou makes it cast an odious sight to all that pass by we may follow thee a little seeing thou art not yet weary and fain wouldst thou make it appear that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and sayst it was in Gods account but to this I have spoken and largely shewed thy blindness to all men and adds this upon thy head thou art a Lyar and Perverter of Scripture to say That the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was And further thou art a Lyer to say That God accounts a thing for Truth which is a Lye a sad error and wicked And further thou art a Lyar to say that I corrupt thy woods for I had not laid open thy nakedness so fully if thou hadst not persisted in thy blindness as now I am forced to do but enough of this and more then ever thou canst clear thy self of honestly and yet to cover thy own shame charges me falsly with folly to speak evil of things I know not or else with madness c. Reply Friend be not so confident I know the difference betwixt before and since or from and know that God accounts not a Lye for Truth as thou holds out thy own folly and madness behold who commits iniquity in lying on the Scripture and on God and on me and yet persists after a sober reproof and resists the Reprover with opprobrious words let confusion of face cover thy impudent forehead while I forgive thee and seeks not vengeance against thee then through thy mistake of my words thou hast falsly gathered a subject to oppose and fights with thy own understanding mightily and thinkst thou confoundst me and its thy self for however thou understands my words either for want of wit or otherwise it never entred into my thoughts with charging thee to believe that Christ is a tipe only I charge thee that thou saidst so of others So that I think this is a mistake in thee for want of knowledge to understand my rehersal of thy words being transcribed as the shortest not to fill volumes and through thy own misunderstanding of my laying down the words thou heavily yet vainly charges me with corrupting thy words which God is my witness I have not done though thou be guilty herein But further I deal plainly and slanders not in secret as thou dost we do not look on Christ to be but a shadow and tipe if thou affirm I shall answer further and as to that thou sayst I say Jesus is the substance to that answer I stand though thou sayst Thou doubts I do not spâ—… plainly c. Reply As I have said I seek not a proof of my faith of thee nor any man not do I beg thy belief while I am approved in the sight of God herein I matter not what a lying spirit doubts of me so that what vain Arguments or Queries thou raises from thy own false doubt I pass by being by the present thing branching out in things on the by if I should examine every particular I might fill a vollume And whereas thou hast answered my question which is did Christ put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth he justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law be finished In thy Answer thou sayst Christ did put an end to the Law for Righteousness for all that the Father hath given him This is little to the Question I say that Transgressors of the Law are not Christs but Children of Disobedience and Children of Wrath and such God hath not given to Christ who are his Enemies nor Christ to them is not given but to condemn them is that estate and thou sayst there are many given to Christ who yet lives is their sins the Apostle Iohn saith he that sins is of the Devil and hath 〈◊〉 known God and such as are of the Devil are not Christs and in that I saâ—… doth Christ justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law 〈◊〉 finished and not one tittle of the Law shall fail till all be fulfilled thou hast 〈◊〉 reached the understanding of my words for while disobedience stands and the Transgressor lives the work of the Law is not finished nor fulfilled but to that is Condemnation and not Justification if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear for he that transgresseth the Law is an Enemy to Christ and Christ fulfills not the Law for his Enemies they must bear their own burthen and though this thou cannot understand now yet in the day of Judgement shalt thou feel it and when the burthen of thy own Inquity is upon thee then shalt thou confess to what I have said and read me in what now thou canst not understand and in the mean time I deny that Christ hath put an end to the Law for thee who art a Lyar and breaks one and so is guilty of all Many of thy words might be weighed and searched but I am no picâ—… of quarrels but to my last Query thou sayst little to the purpose which is what assurance have any that the Law is fulfilled for them who 〈◊〉 yet Transgressors of it in themselves but sayst Assurance comes thâ—… believing and obedience to the Law is a fruit of believing c. Saying 〈◊〉 one that hath the hope of the Son of God purifies himself as he Christ 〈◊〉 pure Reply Then he that hath not the fruit viz. obedience to the Law 〈◊〉 may judge by the fruit or for want of fruit is no Believer and he that is 〈◊〉 purifyed as he is pure Christ hath not the hope of being the Son of God but is without hope now see where thou art who yet breaks the Law and 〈◊〉 without thy own noted fruit of believing neither is purifyed as he is pure and so is without hope this is according to thy own affirmation if thâ—… canst not bear it blame thy self for laying down such a position as hath proâ—… thy self to beâ—an Unbeliever and without hope and so without God in the World one that is for condemnation and to be judged in the state where now thou standst And whereas thou sayst I would lay assurance on obedience to the Law thou lyest in this also my words are the Law must be fulfilled in you by Christ in Judgement and in Righteousness if ever you receive Salvation and these words are true against all thy opposition neither do I affirm that by the deeds of the Law any flesh living shall be justified but the contrary though thou wouldst falsly yet secretly cast it upon me and wickedly callst this my forthy argument where I said the Law convinceth and is a School-master to bring to Christ c. But the
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
are not in the Scripture words in terms yet I have 〈◊〉 said falsly herein and do not thou be a reprover of that which thou cannnot 〈◊〉 self deny then thou sayst How feeble an argument is this to prove that every one 〈◊〉 Spirit c. Reply Thou blind man did I go about to prove any such thing or 〈◊〉 any Argument thereupon we are about the Light which Christ hath giâ—… or lighted every man in the World withal which Light convinceth of 〈◊〉 and is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ unto this was I speaking 〈◊〉 this I stand by and thou conceives another thing from my words and 〈◊〉 against thy own consequences like a man too irrational to understand coâ—… English c. Then thou sayst Thou passed by other lame Arguments which I tumble evâ—… 〈◊〉 blind man in a thicket of bushes O be ashamed for ever thus to evade and shuffle with such scornful 〈◊〉 I said that which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God Iohn 1◠〈◊〉 that which makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reproved is made 〈◊〉 fest by the Light Ephes. 5. how darest thou call these lame Arguments tumbâ—… over what impudence is in thy heart so to say when thou art put to 〈◊〉 fusion then such excuses thou bringst Well some may see thy folly 〈◊〉 to my Question which was whether that Light which every man is liâ—… withal is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation to every one 〈◊〉 believes if thou say not wherein is the blame in God in his Liâ—… 〈◊〉 in the Creature thou sayst No it is not sufficient I take it for an 〈◊〉 and leaves it to be weighed by the sober Reader and though there be veâ—… honour and of dishonour made of the same lump as thou sayst yet I 〈◊〉 Query is not every mans blood that perisheth of his own head 〈◊〉 not the Lord clear from the blood of all men even though they go to dâ—… ction and if the Reader try thy Book over he may judge whose Arguments 〈◊〉 lame Then whereas thou sayst Christ as God hath lighted every man that comâ—◠〈◊〉 the World To which I said then why dost thou say we wrest that Scriâ—… Iohn 1. 9. seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then what thou callest wâ—…elling in us and this is truth let all men consider else that when thoâ— câ—…nfesses Christ as God hath lighted every man in the World it is no less then wâ—… we say and that Scripture sayes which is That Christ is the true Light 〈◊〉 that is he which lighteth every man that comes into the World and mayâ—◠〈◊〉 thou be ashamed to call this so scornfully a glavering Answer not being 〈◊〉 clear thy self from my just charge in that herein I charged thee with coâ—… to oppose us in that which thy self confesseth to be true consider well oâ—… and let not thy blood go for the truth of all what thou sayst for I deâ—… not Further thou cries out Is this all the wit I have and wonderful igâ—… 〈◊〉 Because I said it is not good to neglect following the Light but that 〈◊〉 one minde the Light of Christ Jesus in them in answer to thy words 〈◊〉 having said the Light which convinceth of sin is the Light of Christ as 〈◊〉 which the neglect of will be sure to damn as thou sayst and now let wiseâ—… judge of my answer but thou falls heavily on it proving that obedâ—… to the Law will not justifie and the like which I do not at all affirm 〈◊〉 to that I say the Law having its opperation upon the disobedient the 〈◊〉 comes to be seen which is he that is the end of the Law and the Law mâ—… him be obeyed or fulfilled in thee if ever thou be saved from being damned 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 â—…ul bid listen â—ithin telling me of making sheâ—â—â—r for my errâ—â— c. Tâ—…â—o 〈◊〉 say that Paul bids listen within let the Reader judge from that Scâ—…ture 〈◊〉 10. 6. The righteousness of faith sâ—…ks on thâ—…s â—…se â—â—rs 〈◊〉 which is the 〈◊〉 of the Gospel and vers 9. what saith it the Word iâ— nigh tâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mâ—… and in thy Heart was not that the end of these words to lisâ—… 〈◊〉 the Word is in the Heart what saith it there now the error iâ— thine 〈◊〉 â—…e truth and the Lye is returned to the Founder who denyes thâ—t Pâ—…lâ—…en â—…en within when its plain he saith The Wâ—â—d 〈◊〉 i◠〈◊〉 Hâ—…t what 〈◊〉 it â—…ere O that a man professing knowledge and enterprzing such things should â—…e so 〈◊〉 and so unable to finish what he hath â—…in then thou cryest oâ—t â—…sly and notes it in the margent for wresting of thy words in that I â—…d â—…ou sayst They are ignorant of the Gospel who closâ—… in with thesâ—â—…s of th◠〈◊〉 â—…in or Conscience which doth command to abstain from the â—â—ll and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and thy own words are How the poor souls through ignorance of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these motions of its own Conscience viz. the motions which convinceth of sin â—…in which doth commâ—… abstain from this evil and practice thâ—â— gâ—dd so â—et wâ—â—e men consider whether I have wronged that intent of thy words and â—e not so soon angry â—or thou canst not vindicate that they that closes â—n with these motions of the â—â—science or the Light of Christ within which oâ—…ceth of sin within which doth command to abstain from-this evil and â—o practice thi◠〈◊〉 is igâ—…nce of the Gospel and do not evade it by words without knâ—…dge in picking of quarrels and seeking offences by different tearms of worâ—…â—…e â—o occasion justly is given thee Then my Question thou see â—…est to aâ—swer which was what and how doth the Light of the Gospel work of not in the â—…ce and to command from evil and to practice goodâ— this 〈◊〉 â—…nds over thy head not confuted nor fully answered for the true 〈◊〉 â—…ang of it thou hast not comprehended but to thy own conception thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ed as if I should say that every man hath the Light of the Gospel â—…g â—n thâ—m to Salvation which I never said nor thought so thy answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tâ—…e purpose Then thou hast passed by full sligâ—… as disable to clear thy Godâ— and his Spirâ—â— that guides thee which is the Godd of this World of that great 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 justly charged upon thee Page 19. of my last which a â—…ing to â—…e collection is by turning the mind within to the Light which doth 〈◊〉 of sin and listning thereunto and clasping in with the motions of 〈◊〉 Conscience which doth command to abstain from evil aâ—d to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and closing with somthing within which thou confessess 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—…f 〈◊〉 these things preceding then thou sayst Hereby 〈◊〉 thâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ried headlong and at the end of its life doth fall into the â—…lly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sum of wickedness set forth by thee which when
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
would prove that the second coming of Christ is not his coming in Spirit I say I will not beg him to believe it but as he believes so be it unto him and all that he saith doth not prove but that Christ promised and fullfilled to his Disciples that he would come again to them mark again is a second time If any man hath an ear let him hear And then he saith he will not trouble himself to lay this to my charge in that it was said of him Christs coming in Spirit is no coming it may be he repents of what he hath said being better considered since he hath already falsly charged me with it as some in the County of Bedford knows very 〈◊〉 that he hath falsly charged me and denyed his own words spoken by his own mouth Also he said Take notice that I affirm that there is nothing in me nor is any man to be taken notice of These are his own words spoken by him April 12 1656. at Patnam witnessed by three men who heard it from his mouth and this charge he doth not fully deny but in a great measure he assents to it yet would cover his shame a little with a Lye in saying Directly in this fâ—â—â— of words he did not lay them down but this will not serve to hide his Reprobate state for to his face it may be testified he spoke the words as I have laid them down and therefore consider against whom I am yoaked against one that is a Reprobate and without Christ in him one that hath denyed Christ in him or else thinks Christ not worth taking notice of O abominable ignorance why should such a fellow take the things of God in his mouth who hath denyed Christ in him and the Spirit of Christ indeed it appears that he doth take notice of nothing in him else he would have been wounded with the Light in his own Conscience before he had brought forth thus many Lyes it seems he takes notice of nothing in him but is past feeling damnable doctrine indeed without comparison that ever one professing to be Minister of Christ should be so stark blind and wicked yea we have taken notice of what thou hast said and it shall be recorded for ignorance of the greatest sort but he would evade the thing and give a sence upon his words and in such a sâ—â—â—â— he owns and in such a sence he denyes it but what is this to the purpose except he confess it at it is that he is unregenerate and if so he confessâ—â— the Light of God is in him and then to be taken notice of if it be but to condemn him O blindness to be marked well this mans folly hath appeared sufficiently who confesses this Light in every man is the Light of Christ as God and yet saith he affirms there is nothing in him nor any man regenerate or unregenerate without exception are his words here spoken worth the taking notice of The rest of the particulars charged upon his Fellows is passed by with the excuse of wanting the names expressed may be he is glad to be ignorant in this thing but letâ— search Iohn Burton said That Christ had two bodies one out of the fight of the Saints in Bedford May 23. 1656. And to this Iob. Bunion confesses but would excuse it if he could and would manifest that Christ hath two bodies clean contrary to the Scripture which affirms Ephes. 4. 4. Now no marvel that he gain-sayes me when as he hath gain-said the Apostle who said expresly There is one body but they say two bodies let them be ashamed for ever thus to contradict Scripture Iohn Spencly one of the Testators of this lying Scrole a Member of the same supposed Church said that Christ and the Word of Life were two things and so would divide Christ contrary to Ioh. 6. 48. where Christ saith he is the bread of Life and contrary to 1 Ioh. 1. 2. The 23d of the 8th Month 1656. Iohn Bunion and one Fer and Ioh. Child laid down 1. That God dyed And that very God and the everlasting Father dyed contrary to many Scriptures as Dan. 4. 34. and 12. 7. 2. They affirmed That the Word that was in the beginning was crucified upon the Cross contrary to 1 Peter 1. 23. 3. They affirmed That Iustification is without obedience yet say I None is Justified in disobedience but all condemned in it let them mark that and there is but either in obedience or in disobedience and he that is a Believer and justified is not without obedience 4. That There is a light which convinceth of sin besides the Light of Christ and Iohn Bunion in all his Book cannot prove any is convinced of sin that hath not the Light of Christ or that any thing besides the Light of Christ doth convince of sin so that his confusion doth appear 5. That There is no saving knowledge but what comes without from Heaven contrary to 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. where it is said the light shone in their hearts out of darkness I. Child deny'd that the man Christ Jesus had given a Light to every man that comes into the World contrary to Iohâ— 1. 9. Also he denyed That every man was lighted that they might believe contrary to Ioh. 12. 36. 35. Ioh. Burton said That a man might be upon the foundation and yet â—…y Christ Now the Scripture saith Matth. 10. 33. He that denys Christ shall be denyed of the Father and the Father denys not any that are on the foundation as they affirm Another of them said That the Word that was hid in Davids heart was the outward Scriptures Another of them affirmed That he was justified from all his sins past present and to 〈◊〉 and said there was Scripture in the Acts to prove it Iohn Burton said That a man is not justified by the Spirit Iohn Bunion said the 30. of the 11. month That the Spirit of Christ doth nothing Mark within 〈◊〉 as to justification he affirmed That the Flesh of Christ is not within any man then there is no man that hath life in him if Christs words be true Ioh. 6. 53. and Christs words is true and therefore Iohn Bunions doctrine is damnable He said That by the Kingdom of Heaven within the Pharisees Luke 17. Christ speaks of himself there as a personal man to be that Kingdom of Heaven Mark here what the substance of this is doth he mean that the person of Christ was in the Pharisees O horrid blindness not to be parrelelled He said The best thing in a natural man is Impure and yet in this Book confesses that the Light of God is in all men so that must be impure else Ioh. Bunions doctrine is a Lye but the Light of God is pure and therefore Ioh. Bunions doctrine is a Lye He said that the Scripture In every place doth not mean as it speaks and instanced that in Peter not to mean as it speaks where
is contained in the Old and New Testament of the Scriptures which Oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who they are in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversity of Judgements and many Assemblies and Gatherings of people who are divers in their Wayes in their Practices and in their Form of Religion in these Nations which do all profess the Scriptures and that their Form of Religion is according to the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one Spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one Truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of Life and Salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under Heaven given for Salvation And they that believe in him and receive him those are they onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by the Spirit and changed thereby from Death to Life and such have unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this World but Heirs of the Kingdom of God and these may own and claim a Title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and Practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of People and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his Oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to Trial Dare you joyn issue with me in this matter to try your Profession and Practise oâ— Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my Heart to lay you all to the Line of true Judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your Priviledge if your Profession and Practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors Oath but if your Profession and Practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your Practice of Religion And with this Argument I shall try you all Whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not aecording to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is Truth and therefore all people come to tryal and receive your judgement by this rule And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his Spirit to be changed into his Image and the Body of Sin and Death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the Spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the Day of the Lord and in Equity and Righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the Oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession and practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that it is a sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this Practice and Doctrine is not according to the Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and own your Title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become Members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that preach this for Doctrine and practise it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the Purity thereof as it is contain'd in the Scriptures this I do affirm Therefore stand you by for what you practise and profess there is neither Command nor President in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a Necessity is put upon you to make use of your Knowledge if you would be protected in this Common-Wealth in your Practice of Religion Likewise you sing and give to sing David's Psalms in Rhyme and Meeter professing it is to the Glory and Honour of God ye practise this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this Practice and Profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any President for this Practice in the Scriptures in Gospel Times therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot justly own to be pro tected and maintained because the Protector 's Oath reacheth not to uphold and maintain any such Practices in Religion which are not according to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that meet together to exercise your Religion and to worship God in Temples made with hands set a part by you for that Practice professing them to be Churches of Christ this is not according but contrary to the Scriptures which say God dwells not in Temples made with hands neither did the Saints of old constantly practice any such thing But they were the Persecutors that met in Temples made with hands who cast out and haled the Apostles out of such Temples so that in this Practice you cannot justly own to be protected as not being a Practice in Religion according to Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Ministers preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching so much a Year and so much a Sermon at a Town or a Parish in a settled Place and who take Tythes and compel People to pay Tythes by a Law such are not the Ministers of Christ and ye that uphold such for Ministers of Christ are false in Judgment and blind in Understanding and are not of that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures in the Purity thereof neither Ministers nor People for the Ministers of Christ never acted any such thing they were the false Prophets and false Apostles that preached for Hire and for Gifts and Rewards neither did
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
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
not to bow to any Likeness Exod. 20. And we read Iames 2. the Apostle exhorts not to have the Faith of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus with respect of Persons but condemns that practice of respeâ—â—ing such as are in goodly Apparel and gay Cloathing and have gold Rings above a poor man in vile Raiment and he saith plainly They that have respect to Persons commits sin and we read that the Pharisees said of Christ he respected no mans person and he is our Example And we read that the three Children were cast into the fiery Furnace with indignation before the King being bound before him and cast into the Furnace Daniel 3. And we read that Paul and all the Servants of God did Thou Kings and Princes and Rules and they spoke plainly to all men and durst not give flattering Title to any as you may read in Iob 33. so that all people may see their Practice in denying to respect Persons and in speaking plainly without flattering Titles to any man or denying to pull off the Hat or bowing to men iâ— gay Clothing or giving place to such that wear gold Rings and have goodly Apparel before such as have vile Raiment is justly according to the Scriptures though people stumble at such Practices and the People of God may claim to be maintained in this Practice of their Religion seeing it is proved to be commanded in Scriptures not to respect the Person of any man and also it was the Saints practice and therefore herein they ought not to be condemned but justified as being a practice in Religion agreeing with the Scriptures And as concerning their denying Obedience to Magistrates in some Cases this is according to Scripture also for we read that the Rulers commanded the Apostles and straitly charged them to speak no more iâ— the Name of Iesus yet the Apostles did not obey Magistrates herein neither did they cease to Preach in the Name of Jesus and though Christ was commanded or besought to depart out of their Coasts yâ—â— he did not obey their request and we read that the three Children werâ— commanded to worship the great Image yet they did not obey this Command of the King so that all people may see it is lawfull for the Saints to disobey Commands of Kings and Rulers where they command that to be done or spoken which God doth not but the contrary And I say again Where Kings or Rulers Parents or Masters doth command or require any thing of them that are under them which is not according to God in such causes Subjects or People and Children and Servants are free and not required of the Lord to subject to any thing which is not justly according to him but yet we say That Subjects and People and Children and Servants ought to subject to them that have rule over them in all things which is according to God in Truth and Righteousness and by the Law of God all People are bound to obey those that have Rule over them not to disobey them in any thing which may stand with the Exercise of a good Conscience to God so that though the People of the Lord now do deny to depart out of a Town or Place and though they will not cease to declare against sin and wickedness in Teachers and People though a Magistrate command it this is but according to the Scripture for the Apostles went on boldly declaring the Name of the Lord after they were forbidden And thus the Servants of the Lord do now they freely declare the Way of Salvation and call People to repent and reprove Iniquity in all sorts of people though wicked men command them to the contrary and falsely charges them that they are disobedient to Government and Authority though they are not no more then the Servants of God and Apostles of Christ who in the same causes did the same things and the Lord hath commanded to crâ—â—â—â—ud and not to spare but to tell people of their Transgressions and therefore many of the Lords Servants do deny to be silent or to cease from declaring against sin though a Magistrate command it And Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and therefore many do deny to swear upon any account in any place though the Magistrates do command it for the Servants of the Lord do deny to put off a Hat or to Bow in respect of any mans person though a Magisttate command it for the Scripture doth say He that respects Persons commits sin so that all people may see that what the Servant of the Lord doth in these things are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for all these things were commanded and practised by the Saints in former Ages and they said It was better to obey God then man and we ought to do it in all things and that according to the Scriptures too So that in all these practises in Religion the Scriptures justifies them and are as Witnesses to them and they might claim protection in the exercise of them by the Protectors Oath but if they be not maintained but persecuted for the practice of these things then will the Light in every mans Conscience witness the Oath is broken and not kept for it extends to uphold and maintain the practice of Religion which is according to the Scriptures as these are proved to be And as concerning their Doctrines which the World stumbles at yet their Doctrines are according to the Scripture though they say Christ is the Light of the World and lighteth every man or hath given light to every man that cometh into the World this is according to the Scripture as you may read Iohn 8. 12. and 1. 9. and though they turn people from Darkness to the Light of Christ within them and exhort people to hearken to that within them and not to seek a Christ without them to ascend or descend to fetch him these Doctrines are perfectly according to the Scripture for you may read Acts 26. 18. Pâ—… saith He was sent to turn People from Darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to the Power of God and Rom. 10. you may read the Apostle saith What saith it The Word is nigh thee in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach and they were not to say Who shall ascend or descâ—… to fetch Christ. And though they tell people They must witness Christ in them 〈◊〉 else they cannot be saved This also is according to the Scriptures as you may read 2 Cor. 13. the Apostle saith Iesus Christ is in you except ye 〈◊〉 Reprobates And though they say Christ is the Word of God and do deny the Scriptures to be the Word by which the World was made This Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for we read Rev. 19. 13. That the Name of Iesus is called the Word of God And Luke 1. of the Scriptures it is saâ—â— They are a Declaration by those which were Eye-witnesses and Ministers of
the Word And though they press people to Perfection and do say Men 〈◊〉 be pâ—…ect upon Earth and compleat in Christ Iesus This Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for you may read 1 Cor. chap. 2 6. of 〈◊〉 that were perfect who were men upon Earth and the Ministâ—â—â— of Christ spoke Wisdom among them that were already perfect And Col. 2. 10. the Apostle saith unto the Church who were men in this Life upon Earth he saith to them Ye are Compleat in him And though they press the people to live without sin and do say They that are born of God do not commit sin This also is according to the Scripture for it is Christ's Command Mat. 5. Be perfect as yâ—â—r Faâ—â—er in Heaven is perfect And 1 Iohn 3. there it is spoken of some that were the Sons of God already and he saith Whosoever is born of God â—oth not commit sin for he cannot sin because he is born of God and saith 〈◊〉 As he is Christ so are we in this present World And now all people may understand that in all these Doctrines which they do hold forth they do fully agree with the Scriptures and they beâ—â—â—…ness to the Truth of their Doctrines that the Servants of God and the Apostles of Christ did preach the very same things for Doctrine aâ—…done at this day and so these Doctrines are not to be wondred at not so much as they are by the wicked to be cryed against for 〈◊〉 and error and these few particulars onely I have mentioned at which the people of this Age the most stumble at and all other things whatsoever which is held forth for Doctrines unto people I am able to prove them by the Scriptures that in all things they are according to the Scripture and not different or contrary to the Scriptures so 〈◊〉 all people may take notice and see that whatsoever they do practice for Religion or hold forth for Doctrine they do herein justly according to the Scriptures and they justifie their Practices and Doctrines in these things mention'd and in whatsoever else can be objected by any man And this I shall take in hand to prove before all the World That the People of God called Quakers do practice nothing for Religion or preach for Doctrine but what is perfectly according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and in the fulfilling of them and so they are proved to be of that True Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures and so may fully claim Protection and Preservation in their Practice of Religion And this is to be consider'd by the Protector and all Magistrates and People in these Nations that they may know what the true Christian Religion is and who is in it and who is not in it and for this purpose is this written for the satisfaction of all people that they may see who it is that hath a Right and Priviledge to be protected and upholden by vertue of the Oath Likewise all may understand That what such practice and profess for Religion is not without good Ground but that the very same things were practized by them that were of the true Christian Religion and preached for Doctrine by them that were Saints which is now practiz'd and held forth by the People of God and the Scriptures do fully bear witness in all things shewing that such are guided by the same Spirit which the Saints were guided by in Ages past and as they had so have these the Testimony That they are of God and that the whole World lies in Wickedness And as concerning their being persecuted by many of the Rulers Priests and People though they be sent to Prison and banished out of Towns and whipped and beaten and scorned and reviled this is also according to the Scriptures and the Scripture is fulfilled upon them for the same things were done to the Apostles and to the Servants of the Lord as you may read through the Acts the people mocked the Apostles and slandered them and said they were full of new Wine and the chief Priests conspired against Christ and the Apostles and incensed the Magistrates against them and the Magistrates put Christ and many of the Apostles in Prison and caused them to be whipped and beaten and to be banished and many other cruelties done unto them the Scripture is full to prove this from the beginning to the end of it and Christ said They shall persecute you and speak all manner of evil of you for my Name sake and as they have done unto me so shall they do 〈◊〉 you ye shall be hated of Nations And the Apostle said All that will give godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution So that all people may see though the people of the Lord be persecuted and reviled and imprisoned and cruelty done unto them and though it be done by the chief Magistrates and chief Rulers and the wise men of this Age all this is according to the Scriptures and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and the same things which are now done unto the people of God were done unto the people of God in Ages past by the same Instruments to wit the Rulers and Magistrates and by the same means to wit by the information and false accusations of the chief Priests and Teachers in Ieremiah you may read how the Priests sought to take away his Life and you may read how the chief Priests consulted against Christ and how they complain'd to the Magistrates against him and the Apostles and the same things are now come to pass and we do not strange at it for they are the chief Priests of England that do most seek the Persecution and cause the People of God to be persecuted by their complaining and petitioning to the Magistrates so that in all these things not only what is practised and preached for Doctrine but also in what is suffered is perfectly according to the Scriptures and all people that are not blind may see that this Religion is in all things agreeable with the Scriptures both in what they do and in what they suffer so that this is given forth for the good Information of the Protector and all Magistrates that they may hear the Tryal of all things and may not falsly conjecture or suppose and thereupon give Judgement without any true Knowledge let them search the Scriptures and try I hope the worst of men have so much Conscience that they will stand in owe of the Breach of their own Oaths and that they will perform unto the Lord and unto all men what they have firmly and not compell'd sworn to do and thus it may be hoped the wâ—… Persecution will cease which is lamentable to be declar'd how the People of the Lord have suffer'd in many things even them whose Religion is proved to be according to the Scriptures who practice nothing for Religion neither hold forth any thing for Doctrine but that which is
Pride would have appear'd and hadst thou had a better Heart less of Unfaithful Dealing would have proceeded from thee But as I have said Evil shall fall upon himself that hatcheth it for another But why dost thou say Faithful Account in the Title Page Signifying to the World that all in it is true and nothing of Truth wanting in relation to that Dispute and yet in thy Epistle sayst Thou dost not undertake to set down the multitude of words that that day was fill'd withal and pag. 29. sayst That a third man of the Company made a large Discourse concerning the Person justified but relatest not one word what was said by him and here thou hast not dealt faithfully nor given a faithful Account And pag. 31. thou sayst E. B. at such a time did multiply many words but dost not relate his particular words and so hast not in this dealt faithfully nor given a faithful Account And also in many other things thou hast not related what was spoke at all and thus thou hast contradicted thy self in saying A Faithful Account and yet confessing in effect Unfaithfulness And thy own words being compar'd together prove a contradiction in thy own Mind and Pen for to give a Faithful Account as thou sayst thou hast is to relate the whole Truth and not to keep any back neither to speak more then the Truth by adding thereto any thing But again thou sayst Thou undertakest not to relate the multitude or every particular of words neither dost relate what particular words such a one and such a one spake but sayst He said so and multiply'd many words not saying what his words were And therefore thou hast heaped a Contradiction upon thy own head and it shall remain till it hath made thee ashamed And now as to the particulars upon which the Dispute depended so far as they are truly laid down in my words and in my intent and meaning I am ready to justifie them yea at any place or time convenient or before any Auditory whatsoever upon lawful Occasion but as thou hast laid them down or some of them thou hast wronged me and the Truth and either not understood my meaning or subverted and perverted my words to thy own Advantage And whereas in the Epistle thou sayest I would not own them viz. The Particulars laid down to be mine at first and yet owned every one of them in the Discouse c. Answ. I did not own them but how and how did I own them but thus The Objector had laid down some of the Particulars not in my words which made them vary from the intent of my meaning and others of the Particulars he had laid down utterly false and so I did deny them as coming from him but as to the substance of some of the Particulars I did own having laid them down according to my own honest Meaning in my own sound Expression of words and thereupon I engaged a Dispute upon the Particulars having first denied them as laid down by him and in his corrupt Expressions and then owned them in the simplicity in the words as by me uttered I mean some of them but some I altogether denied And as to speak of that Text Ioh. 5. 39. By which sayest thou I endeavoured to skin over what I spoke but to no purpose I do deny thy words for that same verse shall stand a Witness for me and against thee in all the World and that verse shall prove that some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints and the Truth it self is my Covering and I need no other thing to skin over as thou scornfully speakest And whereas thou sayest There was just matter of Reproof in the Dispute in both Parties c. Answ. Whilst thou hast condemned others thou hast judged thy self who was of the one Party a strong Contender for the Priests Party and having now accused both Parties wouldst clear thy self to be of neither but canst not for it is known thou didst take their part and in the Title thou sayest The Discourse was betwixt a party of them called Quakers with Mr. Philip Taverner c. where thou dost own thy self to be one and reckonest thy self the foremost Master of the Disputants And now upon better considerations I think when thou hast searched into their Folly with whom thou wast joyned thou wouldst absent thy self to be none of them but a third Party But let me tell thee What Disorder Prejudice and Passion as thou speakest of that was amongst the Priests thou hast a part in and must own their Sin and their Condemnation for thou art also guilty And that there was any Passion except pure Zeal for God and his Truth which thou mightest falsly so call or Prejudice or such like amongst us I do deny it and know thee to have born a false Testimony and all thy Covers as if thou wert a Moderator or the like in thy speaking will not hide thee nor cover thee from what I have said of thee But as to the things in particular I now come and may shew what my words are and the Ground of them and how I laid them down and upon what Occasion in the first Meeting whereupon the Dispute did arise and I do not here go about to give a perfect Relation of that Dispute for my Memory hath not contain'd what passed but as to the intent and meaning of my words I would give all the true knowledge thereof and how far I do own the Particulars charged against me First As to that The Scripture are not the WORD of God because the Devil spoke something and Pharoah something which is there written Answer There is some truth in this but my words were drawn up by him at the shortest and the most for his own Advantage laid down by him For I do remember That in the first Meeting I was speaking concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures which are a Declaration thereof and shewing the difference betwixt the Word and the Letter and Scriptures for the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was made by it and it endureth forever But the Scriptures were not in the Beginning for Moses was the first that wrote any thing of the Scripture who was long after the Beginning neither was the World made by them neither can they endure forever and therefore the Letter the Scriptures are not the Word of God which the Scriptures call the Word for also in the Scriptures are written what the Devil spoke and what Pharoah and other Wicked Men spoke and therefore they are not the Word of God but as I have said a Declaration of the Word and what is written of is the Word but the Scriptures the Writings are not but a Testimony and Declaration of the Word Much more as to this might be said and was spoken by me at the Meeting which is not particularly related and this is sufficient to
Sin in themselves and Sin in the man yet not sin to the man if he doth not consent to them obey them and fulfil them and the Scripture doth prove it Rom. 7. where he saith It is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me for in his Mind he served the Law of God and with his Mind did not consent to the Motions of Evil and Sin and the Sin was not his nor reckoned against him by the Lord because with his Mind he consented not and this no Upright Man can deny And also I apply'd my self at that time for Witness to the Experience of sober people and Christians Whether many times there had not been evil Motions in their Hearts presenting themselves to which they had not consented but the Lord had given them Power over them to resist them and deny them and they were not overcome of them And whether ever they were accused and condemned for such Motions which the Lord gave them power against Or Whether the rather they had not Peace and Joy in the Lord who had discovered to them and given them power over the Evil which had presented it self And I also gave them that which I had witnessed concerning the thing as a Testimony agreeing with the Scriptures to that particular And though the Relation saith as if I spoke of my present State to be so but herein the Hearers were mistaken if so they understood me for my present State is another then what it once was I bless the Lord I speak without Boasting And my present State I did not then nor now shall declare for I am not known to the World nor desire to be as what my State is But this was my Intent and is in these things My State was say I yea I believe from Ten Years old till many Years after that many times I had Evil Motions arising in my own Heart which sometimes overcame me and sometimes the Lord gave me to overcome them so that I consented not to them nor obey'd nor follow'd them and when they did overcome me and lead me aside then was I troubled and condemned of the Lord for they were reckoned to be my Sins when I consented and many times the Lord gave me power over them and I consented not but resisted them and denied them and then had I great Peace and Joy in the Lord and no Condemnation and this was my Experience for some years together though my present State be another Condition of which I shall not speak as not being needful at this time and this is the Truth which no sober Christiaâ— can deny It s true we spent a little time in disputing upon those things but to little purpose as on their part for what I then said many of the people saw to be the very Truth and all were well satisfied except such as might harden their hearts and much more passed betwixt us And as to this thing which I cannot relate only P. T. as he began so he goes on giving a Report in his Relation of much more then himself spoke and a great deal less then we spoke which thing in him was not very fair not honest For I then proved by many Scriptures That some were perfect in this life 1 Cor. 2. 5. even perfect without Sin Iohn 1. 47. 1 Iohn 3. 7. and yet I did declare at that time That many of the Saints and Children of God were not come to the State of Perfection which admits of no Addition for many of the Saints daily receive more and more of God's Wisdom and of his Power and Life revealed in them wherein they grow up to God from Strength to Strength And though they did so much contend against it yet in the end were forced to confess to the substance of what we spake as to the particular of Perfection The next thing is concerning Perfection and I am charged with holding That Perfection is attainable in this Life which thing I did hold forth and contend for and am not now ashamed of it and my very Proofs which then I used some of which are related by P. T. are sufficient to prove the particular if I should say nothing more and even as the thing is related though what I spoke the whole is not related by much as about this particular of perfection but what is related shall stand as a Witness for me and against them that do so much plead against Perfection even of such perfection to be without sin in this Life And to this I shall say little more but leave his own Relation unto the consideration of sober People onely must say that P. T. hath belyed his own Memory in saying his Relation is A faithful account and yet hath related much more then he spoke also about this Particular As to the next thing which is objected against me That the Scriptures were given to the World and not to the Saints this is utterly false and was neither thus spoken by me nor yet my meaning and at the Dispute I did deny that I spoke the words neither had I any such intent as they have deducted though still I do confidently affirm That that Scripture Iohn 5. 39. was spoken to the Unbelieving Iews that went about to Kill CHRIST who had never heard God's Voice nor seen his Shape nor had not Christ's words abiding in them and to them he spoke that Scripture mention'd neither had I any such meaning but that the Saints and all sober people and all people might search the Scriptures though such a bad consequence they have drawn upon my words and said It is a giddy assertion that hath dropped from me and yet himself is forced to confess what I spoke is true to wit that that Scripture in the fifth of Iohn was spoken to the unbelieving Iews and not to the Saints and yet P. T. to confound himself confesses that I said The Epistles were given to the Saints and this is a Contradiction from his own Pen First to say that I asserted the Scriptures were given to the World and not to the Saints and yet saith I confess the Epistles were given to the Saints which are some part of the Scriptures And whereas P. T. further speaks questioning in himself how far I own the Authority of the Scriptures and such like which shews his ignorance or his unbelief for I have and do here again speak plainly That we do own the Authority of the Scriptures and we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures have had hope and they are able to make the man of God perfect through Faith and what Christ and the Apostles owned the Scriptures to be the same we do and neither more nor less and in this we are approved of God and let men judge what they will And whereas P. T. further speaks something of Iesuites and saith he does not apprehend me to be of that measure of subtilty which is found among men of that Brother-hood
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
〈◊〉 Truth to speak plainly by reproving them that gain-say it and to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God in every mans Conscience 〈◊〉 I desire to be manifest and seek not 〈◊〉 worâ—… to covâ—â— Eâ—… thâ—◠〈◊〉 may not be sâ—… 〈◊〉 â—â—ou 〈◊〉 â—…y to 〈◊〉 â—…t but let all my Enemies sâ—…ct wâ—…at thâ—…â—…ill 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stand approved and noâ— of man 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 â—ew inâ—…rd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of man but of God And as for railing Language and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—inst thee I have used none but spoke the truth in Plainness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ing thou â—…est to stâ—… at is whereâ—â— I sâ—…d I suppose thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d thy self Mr. Philip Tavernâ—â— â—nd â—â—ou now 〈◊〉 to hide 〈◊〉 sâ—… from the force of my words to the sight of the World◠〈◊〉 appears 〈◊〉 to â—…ke upon thee with some Shame and thou sayest Thâ—… 〈◊〉 not preâ—… Mr. before thy Name but the Stationer did it who sayst â—â—ou wâ—… pleased to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man with that Title c. Rep. Noâ— instead of clearing himself he hath shewed moâ—e guilt of Ambition 〈◊〉 â—efore and my words were I supposed and not an absolute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith and had not I good Reason to suppose it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was his Aâ—…n being also contrary to the express Command of Christ Mat. 23. 〈◊〉 inâ—…eed I hardly ever read any Superscription like to it by the greatest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of men as men accounâ— and it is a thing far above Humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—ming any man much less one that professeth himself to be a 〈◊〉 of Christ to subscribe himself oâ— be with his consent Mr. such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems to cover himself from Ambition because saith he he did it 〈◊〉 himself but another I say I shall not charge him here with Falshood but I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is very unusual for any man to add any thing to another mans Book without his knowledge I never knew it done by any Stationer who hath had 〈◊〉 knowledge of their Wayes but yet he acknowledges it was done in Honour to him to subscribe him Master and here he hath justified the thing and 〈◊〉 that he is indeed guilty of Ambition who confesseth that it is an 〈◊〉 to him to be subscribed Mr. by another for he saith The Man that 〈◊〉 â—â— Honoured him with that Title And here men may take notice what Honour â—â—is my Adversary looks after even the Honour that Christ forbiddeth who 〈◊〉 â—â— his Ministers Be not ye called of men Masters but the man hath honourâ—… 〈◊〉 Taverner with titling him Mr. as he saith Tâ—â— next thing treated proves also that he is Ambitious for he pleadâ— much the lawfulness of Titles of Civil Respects as he calls it and this is all to justiâ—… the Title of Master to himself and thereupon hath wrested divers Scriptures 〈◊〉 though the Unbelieving Greeks used the word Master or Iohâ—…â—2 â—2 〈◊〉 â—e hath quoted is this an Example sufficient for Christians to break the â—…and of Christ Mat. 23. 10. Neither are any other Scriptures a Warrant 〈◊〉 thy man so to do though for a whole Page he treats only as for the lawfulâ—… of â—â—ch Titles yet in the end would shut guilt from his own Door that he 〈◊〉 not Titles for he saith This he speaks not that he would have it so done to 〈◊〉 And this his seeming to justifie himself proves himself guilty knowing that he had given truly occasion for People to judge he would have it so and in the end would blind the minds of the Simple with words of seeming Humility that he would not have it so done to him as if he cared not for it And whereas I said in my first That I am without any Prejudice towards the man viz. P. T. He saith I must give him leave to question it first from my Railing Words against him secondly from my Scornful Pitty expressed c. saith he Rep. I have no Prejudice against him God is my Witness and he may queâ—… what he will who is in the Unbelief for its manifest by his former that he questions where he hath no just occasion shewing much prejudice in himself for he said in his first Relation commenting upon some of my words If by such words I meant so then it was truth but if I meant so then it was false And 〈◊〉 not this a perfect sign of prejudice in him who had not just occasion to except against the words as they lay nor could not condemn them but upon giving his own Interpretation of them first Whereupon I said in my first Answer p. 14. Alas poor man must I be judged upon thy own Meaning c. and yet in 〈◊〉 words I shewed no scornful Pitty to him though he falsly supposeth it and sâ—… it and so while he cannot believe that I am without Prejudice against him 〈◊〉 hath shewed himself guilty of prejudice towards me and my words to be seeâ— and justly believed by many And whereas he saitâ— It s doubtful howâ—… I own the Authority of the Scripâ—… because I say in my first We through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hope have had Hope saith he Now it seems because I place my words 〈◊〉 have had Hope his unbelieving doubtful Heart questions whether I own the â—â—thority of Scriptures and would falsly conclude That through the Comfort of the Scriptures we have no Hope now and saith he Are you now flown so high that you need not c. pag. 3. And therefore I may now answer further Yeâ— through the Promise of the Lord declared in Scripture we have Hope 〈◊〉 this present That God will bring down and overthrow all such that deceive the 〈◊〉 who are made Ministers by man and of man at Schools and Colledges and all this set Maintenance by Tythes and casting people into Prison and spoiling their Goods to maintain Ministers as at this day in the Nation many Hundreds have been cast into Prison and many Hundred Pounds worth of Cattel 〈◊〉 Bedding and all kind of Goods have been distrained for to maintain the Ministry I say We have Hope according to the Scriptures That God will being down all this and your preaching for Money and bargaining with people 〈◊〉 so much the year and your preaching what you have studied for from the Scriptures by a Glass in a Steeple-house where the Mass used to be said God will confound all this and poor people shall be delivered from the Mouthes of those Deceivers that make a Prey upon them and preach for Hire and seek for their Gain from their Quarter and these things with many other we hope for at present Wherefore think not in thy self we now do not hope for we 〈◊〉 do and and have had Hope through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures Whereas I charged P. T. in my last That he had wronged both me and the Trâ—â—â— in his Relation c. which he saith in his Answer is false and he saith He 〈◊〉 not apprehend me and the
thou and thine too light and the 〈◊〉 the Lord will scatter them And P. T. confesses Every Real-hearted Christian may be and is in 〈◊〉 called Perfect Rep. Then wherefore doth he oppose me who testifieth the same thing and he now confesseth even That every Real-hearted Christian may be and is called Perfect in Scripture And is not he here guilty in that he charged me falsly in pag. 21. of his last With going Rounds like unto a Horse in a Mill who sometimes denies Perfection and sometimes confesses it to be attained in this life but he is forced in the end to confess to the Truth and to iustifie me And also the Scripture doth testifie The Saints were already perfect and compleat in Christ while they were in the Life upon Earth Col. 1. though there be a time wherein all the Saints do complain of the Body of Sin in their Warfare and Travel yet there is a state also wherein they have put off the â—…doy of Sin and are the Servants of Righteousness and free from Sin Rom. 〈◊〉 22. But P. T. shews little Experience in those states as of the Travel under the Body of Death and also of the Victory over it and so what he speâ—… is but by guess from other mens words and then it is no marvel if he errs in â—udgment and bring one Scripture to contradict another not having the infâ—… Spirit that gave it forth nor feeling the States nor the passing thorow these Conditions declared therein for there is a time of Travelling and complaining under the Body of Sin and its Burden and a time of Freedom from it and Victory over it yea even in this life upon Earth And whereas I said in my last Many of the Saints daily received more and 〈◊〉 of God's Wisdom and of his Power and Life revealed in them wherein they grow in to God from strength to strength Now saith he But whether he doth not own some to have attained so high that there can be no Addition is a Query my soul saith he 〈◊〉 not been able to enter into his secrets in this thing because my words were Mary of the Saints c. Rep. My first words it seems he cannot contradict but owns them to be the so I need not defend them only he supposeth a Question in which there is not much Edification to be answered and I have no secrets in what I speak for to the the Children of Light my words are plain though to P. T. and such they may be Parables and Secrets But as for my own particular I now here answer 〈◊〉 Question and further reply I do grow up in Wisdom and Knowledge daily and never knew so much of T 's Deceit as now I do since and at the Dispute the Ground of this our Debate so I thought good to let him know that I do grow in Truth which doth daily discover more and more Deceit in him and them that oppose Truth and so also grow in the Knowledge of his Error of Judgment and Ignorance that I may condemn it and judge it And whereas I said The Light which everyman 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 encreased daily as in page 16 of my first more appeareth In opposition to this to overthrow it as he supposeth he hath nominated that Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of â—… 〈◊〉 Now my words are true and no Contradiction to the Apostle's words 〈◊〉 to such as are blind that cannot discern between Light and Darkness 〈◊〉 will judge falsly and out of an evil mind make an appearance of seeming 〈◊〉 where there is none for the Light that lighteth every man that 〈◊〉 the World is Christ Iohn â— 9 and that Christ the Light that 〈◊〉 every 〈◊〉 that comes into the World is sufficient to bring every man 〈◊〉 loves the Light and walks in it to believe in Christ these are my words 〈…〉 mind and would any man that were not stark blind make 〈…〉 this Doctrine or bring a Scripture to prove the contrary 〈…〉 I own and do no way contradict For the 〈◊〉 Man doth 〈◊〉 the things of God nor know 〈◊〉 yet this is not Contrary to what I say 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus lighteth every man that comes into the World 〈◊〉 Light 〈◊〉 is sufficient and he changeth men from Natural to 〈◊〉 so they 〈◊〉 to believe in Christ that hath lightened 〈…〉 say or hold forth That the natural man 〈…〉 God and that the natural man hath Faith 〈◊〉 never 〈…〉 to my mind to say so he hath drawn 〈◊〉 evil Consequence 〈…〉 and then confounded his own 〈…〉 for my saying and intent is that 〈…〉 the World and his Light is 〈…〉 natural to spiritual and to give 〈…〉 things of God and of his Spiri◠〈…〉 is no Contradiction to the Apostles worâ—â— though 〈…〉 understanding I suppose rather than 〈…〉 Principle is proved sound and the Title of the 〈◊〉 a Lye And whereas I said That Christ wrought Righteousness perfectly 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Righteousness in all that believe and 〈…〉 or that hath not the other pag. 12. of my first He saith Whâ—ther I do 〈◊〉 Iustification and Sanctification he leaves all rational men to judge c. 〈◊〉 That Christ wrought Righteousness without us is not denyed by him 〈…〉 the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈◊〉 he cannot well deny 〈◊〉 read Rom. 8. 4. and that no man is justified by the Righteousness that 〈◊〉 wrought without who believes not nor is converted to God but in the 〈◊〉 of Satan This all the Children of God believe and know That none 〈◊〉 justified by Christ's Righteousness without 〈◊〉 who are convertâ—â— to God 〈◊〉 received Christ and he is in them 〈◊〉 else they are 〈◊〉 and not justified And so I am not ashamed of my Principle 〈…〉 to be too light for he that hath not Christ 〈…〉 is a Reprobate and not justified by anâ— Righteousness without Neither 〈◊〉 found Iustification and Sanctification which be 〈…〉 are one in Christ for he is made unto us Sanctification and Iustification and 〈…〉 that is in the Pollutions of the World unsanctified is not justified 〈◊〉 condemned so none are justified by a Righteousness without them but 〈◊〉 in the same corrupt 〈◊〉 with him must not I be judged 〈…〉 justifie If any Work be 〈…〉 in the Strength and Power of 〈…〉 strength then 〈…〉 and that no Work or Word is justified but what the â—… And though P.T. ignorantly commenceth 〈◊〉 these words yet are they words of 〈◊〉 and Righteousness and all that he saith 〈◊〉 nothing to the 〈◊〉 And whereas I did ask him which he had Ignorantly affirmed in his 〈…〉 that Righteousness which Christ works â—… in his Strength and 〈…〉 is called Our Righteousness which he seeâ—â— to answer but 〈…〉 my words for I
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 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
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
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
from his devouring Lips And as for any other thing in his Paper it is not worth answering to nor worth minding but his wickedness will turn upon his own head and he shall bear the burthen of his own words onely he queries whether this be not the Pestilence that walks in Darkness And the Flouds that the Dragon hath cast out of his Mouth to drown the Woman Is not this the mark of the Beast who opened his Mouth in Blasphemy And are not these the Unclean Spirits that came out of the Mouth of the Dragon and out of the Mouth of the false Prophet Answ. Now the Pestilence that walks in Darkness is the Plague that is out of the Light Sin and Death and Misery which smites the Ungodly and he sees it not And the Floods which the Dragon cast out is the Floods of Persecution and Cruelty viz. The imprisoning until death and spoiling peoples Goods for Tythes and Money as the Priests have done And the Dragon gave power to the Beast that compell'd all to worship and that carried the Whore the false church and the true Church has bin fled into the Wilderness for many Generations and the false church the Whore has sate as a Queen and given her cup to drink the false church of Rome and the false church of the Protestants all which are of the Whore these have all been carried by the Beast which the Dragon gave his power to and they have all persecuted the Woman the true Church the Mark of the Beast he compell'd people to receive compell'd them to worship and they open their mouthes in Blasphemy that deny Christ and deny the Light and that say they are Iews and are not this is Error and Blasphemy which the Beast opens his mouth in against the Saints and against them that dwell in Heaven and the unclean spirits are the spirits of Devils that are out of the Truth and these the Dragon casts our in Slanders and Reproaches and Lyes such as this Author has done and of that Generation is he Christ said False Prophets should come and Iohn saw in his dayes they were come and he saw the world gone after them of that Generation are you and now the Lord is gathering people from you again and Babylon must fall and all her Merchants howl and weep and these things have been which the Scripture speaks of the Woman is now coming out of the Wilderness again and the Whore must be rewarded and sorrow is coming upon her as she has done unto the Saints so shall the Saints do unto her And in the Conclusion he saith Worthy Sir to this Member of Parliament it will be your Honour to stand in the Gap to stop the violence of this Hellish Torrent that is so high that it sounds from Dan to Beersheba and threatens Iudgment to our Israel c. Answ. Here is the Conclusion of thy matter which is the sum of it a running to the Powers of the Earth for help what have you Ministers lost the Lord to be your strength that you must flee for help to men to defend you from the Spirit of God in his People Must they make Laws to establish you and set you up Is not this the Whore that road upon the Beast and that the Beast carries Is not here a Description of her out of the mouth of this Author Is he crying to you to persecute the Innocent It is true the Seed of God is risen the Elect Seed that is able to make War against the Beast and against the false Prophets even with the Word of the Lord and is he offended that Truth is risen so high and would he have some Fire and Faggot again in Smithfield and some Persecution and Banishment acted upon the People of God Is this the standing in the Gap and stopping Violence or would he have it done this way Yea Judgments indeed are threatned to your Generation for if God will not destroy you soon enough you will destroy your selves and your own Iniquity will be upon you and the wickedness of the Wicked shall slay him But my Counsel is not only to that particular Member but to the whole Body of them That they be wise and take heed what they do for the Eye of the Lord is over you and his Hand can dash you in pieces and if you be Oppressors of the People of God and will not relieve the Oppressed the Innocent and break the Bonds of Oppression the Lord will break you in pieces for this is the Rock that hath broken all before you Persecuting people for Conscience sake and if you go in this way your Destruction shall be the most lamentable of any that was ever yet before you Do you not yet see the Wickedness of this Generation will you yet contend for them Surely you might learn Wisdom even by their Folly and if you do not shut your eyes there needs no more discovery then their own present wayes and works Wherefore consider the Day of God's Visitation is upon you make good use of your time lest the Lord breaks you down and never build you up and let the Spirit of the Lord have its Liberty and limit it not for if you do you shall never prosper nor never be made a Blessing unto the people under your Charge Remember you are warned by a Lover of your Souls ANd Friends Great Things hath the Lord done in these Nations in your dayes and that by the Face of your Authority and there has a Spirit stirred in some of you and in the Army which the Lord hath appear'd with and yet the Work of the Lord is not finished but greater things then these hath the Lord to accomplish amongst us and in this Nation and these things that have come to pass have been but as the preparing of the way for the bringing about of greater things It is true many Mountains have been removed and some Oppressions taken off and excellent things have bin promised and doubtless by some of you really intended but alas the Work hath long remain'd unfinished and many of your best Friends are almost weary with waiting to receive the end of their Hopes and Desires and many are even fainting concerning the Good Old Cause though of late it hath seem'd to be revived by you yet it goes but easily forwards and even so little is its growth since your late Meeting that many are thinking themselves to be in a deceiv'd condition by you Why They see that wicked Clergy's Interest more prospering then the just Freedom of the People And this I say unto you in the Name of the Lord That while that Interest of this false Priesthood I mean is so much favoured and defended you can never prosper nor the Nations be ever happy under you for it is one of the greatest Oppressions this day in the Nation the maintaining and upholding of this Ministry by Tythes and other unrighteous Wages and 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
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
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 you do thus and will not allow clearly and freely Liberty of Conscience but will by force and violence limit the Spirit of the Lord and tender Consciences this shall be a Snare upon you and a Rock oâ— offence against you to break you to Pieces for in so doing the God of Heaven will be displeased with you as with others if so be that you take upon you to prescribe the Lord a way how he must be worshipped and will take upon you to rule and judge in the cases of Conscience and in the matters of Christ's spiritual Kingdom which appertains to Christ alone to be Iudge of and Ruler in and not man and to him alone you ought to give the whole Rule and Government in all the matters of his own Kingdom and that he may prescribe and teach Worship and Faith and Duty to himself in all spiritual things and this I claim of you on his behalf even that you give unto him the whole Rule and Authority in all the matters of his own Kingdom and that you allow Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith and Worship to all Christian people in these Nations and that no man be compelled or forced to or from by outward violence any kinde of profession of Faith or practises of worship for it is of Antichrist so to do if that you impose any Sâ—rt of Worship and Religion contrary to mens Consciences upon penalties on mens Persons or Estates if you do thus you exercise not the Power of Christ but of Autichrist and it is â—â—depriving of Christ of his Heirship and of the Government of his own Kingdom which will be reckoned against you as a fearful abomination if you â—â—lk therein And therefore let men believe in Christ and Worship him according as they are perswaded in their own Consciences for a tender Conscience in the Sight of God is a thing greatly regarded of him and if you limit it and do violence upon it the Lord will be provoked against you and these Nations will not bear it but it will beget fiery contentions in the mindes of men if any Religion and Worship contrary to their Consciences be imposed upon them and while some men are gratified others will be displeased and if you allow not free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of spiritual things the effect of it may prove sad and Miserable to your selves and your Government and this shall you know in time to come even the good effect of Toleration in Liberty of Conscience and of woful effect upon the contrary Therefore be wise and instructed ye Rulers of the Earth and kiss the Son lest ye perish out of the way of Peace and Happiness Now you have your day and time to be made happy or to be left miserable that your Government may be blessed or otherwise deprived of all Blessedness These things have I Written to You in Love and Honour towards You That Ye may know and be informed what the Lord requireth of You if so be You may escape the Wrath that is to come And love nor Wrath to You Your prosperity nor overthrow is determined upon You or prophesied unto You by me but as You walk in Justice Truth and Righteousness or as You walk contrary and bring forth Oppression and Persecution Bristol City the 4th day of the sixth Moneth 1660. Edward Burroughs A PRESENTATION of Wholsome Informations unto the King of England c. THe Servants of the Lord and his People that feared his Name and trembled at his Word never wanted false Accusers in any Age to repute them vile and to reproach them by slanderous words and that even to the Rulers of the World and to the Kings of the Earth have the chosen People of the Lord been falsly accused and reproached by the slanderous Tongues of ungodly Men in all Generations as in many Particulars might be proved out of the Scriptures by the Example of things in the dayes of old For even in those dayes it came to pass that the Elect People were reproached and falsly reputed by the men of the World as in the Case of the Iews in their building of the Temple again when they returned out of the Captivity How were the People of God at that day accused and reproached and that by the wise men of that Kingdom even unto the King Ahasuerus Ezra 4. 15 16. That good City of Ierusalem the Habitation and Dwelling of the Iews and then only named People of God was accused of being a bad rebellious City and hurtful to Kings and that the People moved Sedition therein to the danger of the Revenue of Kings c. And Neh. 4. 2. the People of God were scorned and reproached and called feeble Iews who builded the House of God and it was said in derision of them that a Fox should go up and break down their Wall And also how were the holy Prophets and Servants of God rejected reproached and accused even to the Princes and Rulers of the Earth in Generations past as Daniel to the King how was he accused Dan. 6. 13. and the three Children were accused to the King Dan. 3. 8. and the Apostles were reproached under the slander of being movers of Sedition and such-like Acts. 24. 5. being many times accused and haled before Felix Agrippa and divers others of the Rulers of the Heathen and it was told the Apostles by Christ That all manner of evil should be spoken against them for his Name sake And throughout the whole Scriptures there is very large Testimony how that in Ages past the Servants and People of God were accused and falsly reproached before Rulers and Kings by their Enemies that sought their destruction The truth of this is so clear and full that it needs no further Testimony And as it was in this case in the days of old so is it happened in this day who more now accused and falsly reproached then the Innocent People of God Is not all evil spoken against them and that even to Rulers and Governers and Kings And this is done by their Enemies that seek to destroy them even by such as would not have the Work of the Lord to prosper and his People to be preserved and on this account the cry is great against us every where as if we were Hereticks Blasphemers Seditious and Enemies to Magistracy and Government to Church and Ministry and such like And these with such like have been and are the Accusations against us whereby we are reproached falsly before men and this hath been our portion in this World since we were a People by the Men of this Generation and the very same is come to pass upon us in this case as was upon the People of God in former Generations and as it was done unto them so it is done unto us and therefore we are in Patience under all our Afflictions and Sufferings whether we are persecuted by Actions or Words and for the Name of
to be the Ministers of Christ and sent of him by Doctrine and Conversation and through Faith and Patience and thus and after this manner were the Apostles and Ministers of Jesus Christ approved in the dayes of old even before Kings and Rulers and others and they did not beg for themselves nor any for them approbation to themselves and their Ministry before any so that this Petitioner is not in the Spirit and Way as the Saints and Apostles were in who is begging even by flattery an Approbation of Ministers and Ministry as he saith on his bended Knees that the Ministry may be upheld maintained and established and that the King would do it 2. If none are to be upheld and maintained and established but such as this Petitioner hath described then not very many of the men of this Generation of Priests because they come not under his own proposed Qualifications For alas the King may say or without offence to him I hope I may say for him Where shall we find such as are here described shall he find one among many oâ— any at all of that Fraternity that have not been disloyal unconstant and changable in their wayes And have not they as for the general part of them I mean of the Priests turned every way and cryed up and prayed for this and the other that would but give them Money and Means and the very self same men sometime been for one Man and his Government and in a very little time been quite contrary to that and so proved themselves absolute time-serving Polititians to gratifiâ— mens humours and to serve their own sordid Interests Doth not ten thousand in England know this and may not the King himself easily believe it and know it especially when he considers who it was chiefly that first preached and prayed up the War against his Father and who it was that made so many Flattering Addresses to Olâ—â—â—â— Cromwel and then to his Son Richard and then changed from that way of Government and then cryed up Commonwealth-way again and now are turned to cry up him By all which it doth appear that no one sort of People in England are so disloyal and unconstant as that Generation of Teachers and who can now put trust in such that have thus served Times and been Men-Pleasers even for their own ends And how shall the King ever without great danger to himself repose confidence in such as are so changeable or how câ—n any man beg his upholding and establishing of them without shame to himself and that under the name and qualification of constant Men and not-time-serving men for their own Interests when as these very men called Ministers for whom this man is now begging are qualified quite contrary to his own description And therefore the King hath reason enough to deny the request because the general part of men petitioned for are not Lux mundi Sal terrae but blind Leaders of the Blind and changeable Hypocrites and the Oppression of the Kingdom nor are they all watch-Men for Souls but many for Money and Hire nor God's Ambassadors but Antichrist's Ministers who are out of the Spirit and Doctrine of Christ Jesus And now I shall proceed to the fourth Branch of his Petition which is expressed in these words saith he I humbly beg your Grace That ye would uphold a liberal and sufficient Maintenance for the learned Ministry because Christ hath ordained They that prâ—ach the Gospel should â—â—ve of the Gospel not a Niggardly but Liberal and Sufficient Maintenance that they â—â—y be encouraged c. Answ. As for â—â—ue Gospel-Ministers they beg not Means nor Money of the Powers of the Earth but are therein without care only careful how to please the Lord and to fulfil in Faithfulness their Calling Nor did ever the Apostles seek for Maintenance that way though its true the false Prophets in Generations past they could never have enough of Maintenance but every one of them sought for his Gain from his Quarter Isa. 56. 11. and the false Prophets and Priests they Preached for Hire and Divined for Money and all that would not give them and put into their Mouthes they prepared War against them Micah 3. 11. And the false Teachers of old they taught for filthy â—â—â—re and by feigned words made Merchandize of people Tit. 1. 11. 2 Pet. 2. 3. such as walked in these practices in dayes past were reputed and taken for Deâ—â—â—vers and false Teachers but Christ's Ministers and the true Prophets and Apostles never went in this Way but trusted the Lord that sent them with â—â—re for all outward things yea some of them laboured with their hands that by all 〈◊〉 they might make the Gospel of Christ without charge 2 But yet it is certain a Maintenance to the True Ministers of the Gospel is allowed by Christ and by his Apostles but not by so much Money a Sermon 〈◊〉 Oâ—e Hundred Two Hundred or Three Hundred Pound or more or less as they can bargain for and get by the Year nor the Tythes of mens Labour and Encrease for Preaching nor any forced and imposed Maintenance whatsoever 〈◊〉 a way as this Christ never ordained that his Ministers should be maintained in the World nor did the Apostles ever allow institute or practice such a way of Maintenance in their Ministry But this kind and way of Maintenance is altogether Antichristian and like to the false Prophets way beforementioned and not at all according to the Scriptures nor the Example of Christ's Gospel-Ministers in former Ages 3. The Maintenance which Christ and his Apostles allowed Ministers and that Way whereby Christ's Ministers were fed and clothed and maintained by outâ—â—â—d Necessaries was Into whatsoever House that was worthy the Disciples entred they 〈◊〉 there abide and eat such things as were set before them For said he the â—â—â—kman is worthy of his Meat and the Labourer is worthy of his Hire And Paul said 〈◊〉 a small matter to reap Carnal things where they had sown Spiritual things and he 〈◊〉 peâ—â—â—heth the Gospel may live of the Gospel And that was the way of the Apoâ—â—â—â—â— Maintenance even by Free Gift from them whom they had begotten 〈◊〉 â—â—e Faith and they that had planted a Vineyard might eat of the Fruit of 〈◊〉 and he that kept a Flock might eat of the Milk thereof and this was Eâ—â—land Just That that Church whom they had planted and among whom 〈◊〉 laboured should administer outward Necessities to them but yet they 〈◊〉 not any sum of Money nor Tythes of Peoples Estates nor so much 〈◊〉 the year as a Debt for this way was not the way of a Gospel-Mainâ—â—â—â—nce in the dayes of the Apostles but by a FREE GIFT of the â—â—â—rch and not by Imposition and Force upon any were they maintained in â—â—â—â—ward things 4. Let the King know That it is not at this day a just lawful way of Gospel-â—â—intenance to Christ's Ministers this forced way of Maintenance by Tythes
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
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
of themselves without God the Creator and then the Power and Life cast them out of all Peace Joy and Happiness into the Earth and into Death and Death became the King and Prince over Mankind and they had no more possession of Life nor Blessedness by it in their separated Estate neither did it any longer raign in them but they having transgressed against the Life and acted of themselves and spoken of themselves without the Leadings and Movings of the Life this was their Transgression They went out of the Power and Life in all Motions and Actions and then Life drove them forth of its good Pleasure into the Earth separate from its Vertues and Peace and into Death which is contrary to it self to live in Anguish and Sorrow And so when the Devil was gone out of the Truth and had led Mankind out of the Truth and out of Life and thereby they were all separated from Life and drove out from God out of his Pleasure into his Wrath Then became Death to have a Beeing in Mankind and great Authority and not before and then Death began his Kingdom in the World and over it and he set up his Rule and Government in and among and over all the Children of Men. And so from Transgression came Death that was its Beginning Man having Transgressed against the Life that brought him forth and being separated from Life then Death took place and its kingdom was established over the World and in all the Children of Men in opposition to Life and its Government and Kingdom and Death reigns from Adam so saith the Scripture and the Life was transgressed against and so provoked into an absence and to withdraw it self into invisibility from the enjoyment of Mankind that it should not be felt nor perceived of Him to comfort him and then the whole body of Death came upon Man to load his Conscience and vex his Soul and Death and only Death hath a preheminence over all in Transgression and is established into a Kingdom over sinful Subjects who are under its Command and hath its Rule and Goverment and brings forth its Works and Fruits in Mankind contrary to Life and in opposition to it and to its Kingdom and Power and opposeth the Kingdom and Power of Life the Creature and in its Nature and all its Fruits and Works it is contrary and opposite to Life and its Works and Fruits and through Death is the whole Creation in its exercise by man perverted from the right use and end ordained of God and out of Death proceedeth all evil as Lying Swearing Drunkenness and Whoredom Pride Strife and every evil work and word These things are the Fruits and Works of Death and Death governs the Children of men in the practice of all these things and in transgression Death lives and acts and speaks through Men and Women and Death rules in them and hath perverted them in all their wayes for they have given their Power to it and it wholly Captivates them and is established over them and hath the dominion in them and Life is swallowed up of it And this Kingdom of Death opposeth God and the Kingdom of Life and exalts it self against Life and hath its operation in the Creature in all manner of unrighteousness bringing forth daily such words works fruits and effects as doth oppress and is a burden unto the Life and unto the God of Life and Death and its Kingdom doth continually war and strive against Life and its Kingdom and the one opposeth the other through all Generation since the beginning for the Devil is the King of Death and hath the Power of iâ— and he is King in its Goverment and Ruler in its Dominion and this is the state of all the Children of men in Transgression Death rules and the Kingdom of Death reigns in them and it brings forth cursed fruits through them and they are subjects thereof and in obedience thereunto in all things And through Death which hath Power over them are they separated from Life and have no part nor portion therein because of Death that hath separated them and vailed and clouded them and loads their Consciences But now the Promise of the God of Life is to restore Mankind out of Death and Darkness and that Life shall reign again and subdue Death and destroy it and its Kingdom and swallow it up and this is the Promise of the Father For in Transgression Death hath subdued Life and overcome it in Mankind But in the Restoration Life shall swallow up Death and subdue it and overcome it and this comes to pass through the rising again of Life from under Death which hath held it in bondage and Life that made the World in the beginning and gave to all things Life and substance as I have said which Life in its measure in Mankind hath been overcome and swallowed up in Transgression That Life shall appear though in another manner of appearance than it did in the beginning for then it appeared freely of it self without opposition and brought forth the first Creation But now it doth appear through great opposition and through all that doth oppose it in this second Creation when Life comes again to reign over Death and swallow up and overcome and subdue it and who comes to witness this the new Creation they know Life appearing through opposition and through the destroying of Death and all its works and fruits for CHRIST is the Life and he is the Seed of the Wâ—… which bruiseth the Serpents head who hath the Power of Death Life bruiseth his Head breaketh his Government and destroyes his Works as it appeareth and riseth in the Creature and Death and its Works opposeth Life and its manifestation and appearance and gainsayes it and often quencheth it iâ— its appâ—… Now the first Appearance of Life in the Creature it convinceth and reproveth the works of Death and the words that proceed from Death which are unrighteous words and unrighteous works and Life when it rises it reproves them and condemns them and though Death doth oppose and gainsay the Operation of Life yet Life works through and overcometh subdueth and swalloweth up Death and destroys all its works in the second Creation and Life again comes to take possession of the Creature which it made in the beginning and Life comes to reign again whose Right it is to raign for by it the Creature Mankind and all Creatures were in the beginning formed and brought forth and therefore it is its Right to reign and to have the dominion over the works of its own hands whom since the beginning in Transgression the Devil and Death and his seat of Government has had the possession of and CHRIST the Power of God and the Life hath been as it were dispossessed and thus the first Creation hath been defaced and lost its Glory and it hath been corrupted and degenerated quite from the perfect state as it was created in and Mankind hath
your Power if that I say ye oppose his Work and will seek to bind and limit his Spirit in his People and will yet force and impose upon Conscience by outward Violence and Kill and Persecute unto Death and Banishment for matter of Conscience and because of difference in Iudgement in Spiritual Things then thus it shall be done unto you Ye shall Fall and Perish and be Troubled and Blessings and Prosperity shall not be unto you If it be not thus the Lord hath not spoken by me Well Friends even all ye that have Authority and Power in the Government of this World are nearly concerned to take special notice of these things presented unto you seeing the Effects of these two Causes are both very weighty and infallibly certain even to you-wards particularly Very weighty because Peace Prosperity and Happiness or Misery Distractions and Downfall to you is depending upon the Effects of the Causes infallibly certain because the Iustice of God Almighty is such that he must bring Reward upon all according to their Deeds and his Iustice cannot be diverted But if ye permit Free Liberty of Conscience in the Exercise of Godliness in Faith and Worship unto all People under your Power then shall Peace and Prosperity be unto you according to the Purpose of God But if ye impose upon Conscience in any wise by Force in Religious Matters and will not be instructed and advised to the contrary Then shall Misery and Destruction certainly be unto you according to the Justice of God's Vengeance These things are so as a Servant of God I present them to you and not upon Fiction or Fancy but as I have received them from the Lord God by his Spirit which signifies the Verity and Certainty of those Things in my Soul Friends Doubt not of these things for verily the Time is at hand and it must surely come to pass my Spirit shall see it and rejoyce therein if in this Body I may not behold it That imposing and forcing of Conscience by Laws and Ordinances of Men upon Penalties on Mens Persons and Estates in Religious Matters shall be expunged subdued and abandoned in these Nations and Kingdoms of the World and it shall be no more But Liberty Liberty shall be Re-planted Embraced and Renowned amongst Men and Truth and Righteousness Mercy and Peace True Liberty and Freedom Justice and True Judgment with all the Causes and Effects thereof shall flourish and grow and prosper on the Earth and the contrary shall fall and rise no more This Day is dawning nigh it s at the Door Blessed are they that are prepared for it Wherefore let all Flesh Hear and Fear Bow and Tremble and let the Hearts of the Righteous rejoyce and be exceeding glad let all the Upright in Heart put on the Garment of Praises and Deliverance For the Day is at hand that Antichrist with all his Strength and Power Force and Policy shall be a Hissing and Reproach and Shame Contempt unto the Saints of the Most High and amongst whom the Lord God Omnipotent doth and must Raign and Rule in Dominion and Glory and Power over all forever and evermore E. B. London this 12th Moneth 1661. Antichrist's Government Justly Detected c. CHAP. 1. Concerning Imposing Religion the Case stated and the Unrighteousness thereof shewed with the Danger thereof also made appear by manifest Proofs Presented unto the Rulers and People of our Age throughout the World TO Impose any Kind of Religion any Way of Worship or Form of Faith and outward Conformity in any Practices of Duty to God-wards by an External Authority of men through force of Laws commanding and requiring such Conformity in Faith and Worship upon Pains Penalties and Forfeitures on mens Persons and Estates as hath been practiced in the World since the dayes of the Apostles amongst the Nations professing Christianity This thing is not of the Lord nor according to Commands of Christ and Example of the Apostles and Primitive Christians declared of in the Scriptures but is of Antichrist and Unrighteous Unequal and Dangerous to the Destruction of the Souls and Bodies of both the Imposers and the Imposed 1. Such kind of Forcing and compelling by force of outward Laws into such outward Conformity of Religion Faith and Worship Church-Government and Ministry was never in beeing nor ever practiced in the true Christian Churches amongst the Apostles in their dayes nor ever was such a thing known among the Primitive Christians There was no such kind of Laws made nor executed amongst them nor such Force exercised on mens Persons and Estates in such Cases there was no outward Violence used in the Primitive Times to compel any to Conformity to Christian Faith Worship and Practice of Christian Religion None of the first Christians were made truly Religious and converted from the Way of Error to the Way of true Christianity by such means of outward Force and Commandments of Men put upon them They were not I say converted themselves to the Christian-Faith and Religion nor made Conformable Worshippers of God in his Spirit by that Way and Means nor did they seek to convert others into Conformity to Church-Government and Christian-Worship by force of outward Laws upon Pains and Forfeitures These things were not in the true Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes amongst the Primitive Christians 2. But the true Way of Conversion among them to the Christian-Faith and Worship and true Church-Government whereby people were made rightly conformable to the true Christian Religion as it was amongst the Apostles was by and through the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ Jesus preached amongst them in the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit of God of such as were truly called and sent of him which did turn People to the Spirit of God and that Ministry wrought in them to receive it by which their Consciences were convinced and their Hearts perswaded in the Love of christ to believe in him and receive him and follow him and thus were they drawn and begotten and converted into the Faith and Worship and Practice of the true Christiâ—…-Religion and made conformable to the Government and Order of the true Church of Christ in all things by this Means and Way only and not at all by any outward Force and Compulsion exercised upon them they were converted to the true Christian-Religion and to the true Worship of God and by the same Way did they convert and turn others to the same and this only is the Perfect Way of Christian-Conformity to the true Christian-Worship and Church-Gâ—…ment it ever was since the beginning of Christianity in the World and iâ—â—nto this day even to perswade the Heart and to convince the Conscience inwardly by the sound Doctrine of the Gospel through the Operation of the Spirit of Christ and by Love and Meekness and Patience and all the Fruits of Righteousness held forth in Doctrine and Conversation which may answer the Testimony of God in all mens Consciences
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
and the like Yea and the Persecutions and Murders that ever have been acted against the Saints of God in all Generations though Cruel and Unrighteous and of the Devil yet all this hath Antichrist titled to be in Honour to Christ and for the destroying Hereticks and out of Iustice and Zeal for God and such like yea and the most Gross Idolatries and most Deceitful Wayes of Worship that ever hath been set up in the World have been named after Christ and pretended to be done in Honour to him and for his Glory and so forth so deceivable hath Antichrist been in the World and walked and wrought among the Sons of Men in deceiving of them that he hath used and taken upon him the very Name of Christ and all his Evil Works of Iniquity of all kinds hath he put the Name and Honour of Christ upon them and so deceived the World by his false Wayes Worships Doctrines and Persecutions through covering these things with the Name of Christ and pretending his Honour and Exaltation whenas his own true Nature and Property is to kill Christ and gainsay him And this indeed is Antichrist who under colour and pretence of Worshipping and Honouring Christ doth seek to Slay him This is that Crafty and Deceitful Fox that Man of Sin that hath been exalted that Antichrist that Wicked One that hath deceived the World for many Ages But the Lord is now discovering him and destroying him by the Breath of his Mouth and by the Brightness of his Coming according to the Faithful Promise of God in his Servants and Antichrist shall be discovered and destroyed the Day of the Lord is at hand upon him 8. Again It hath been the way of Antichrist that he might the better deceive the World to transform himself into the likeness of the best Way and strictest Profession of Religion and so to remove from one Way and Form unto another as I said before that he might the better deceive men according as Paul writ 2 Cor. 11. verse 13 14. for such are false Apostles deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an ANGEL of LIGHT by which it is plain That Antichrist did change and transform himself and remove from one Way to another even till he appeared as an Angel of Light and in the very Way and Form of the Ministry of Righteousness Thus did Antichrist work and transform himself in the dayes of the Apostles and ever since unto this day in all Times and Ages for it hath been his manner and way when he could no longer cover himself nor be hid in such a Way of Worship and Religion in which he hath sometimes dwelt and walked but that his Wickedness Cruelties Persecutions and Deceits must needs be seen and made appear unto men by the Light of the Lord shining amongst them then he hath transformed into another likeness and removed his cruelties and persecutions into another form and appearance it may be into the very way in the outward prosession and practice of it in which sometime the Lord hath dwelt and walked and there hath he dwelt deceiving the World by his new form and appearance and exercised his wickedness cruelties and persecutions in some new way having quitted the Last Form in which he dwelt because he was there too publikly seen and discovered And now in his new likeness into which he is Transformed he can plead the example of Saints they did such things and held such Doctrines and Performed such Practises as now he is found in and this did the Devil sometime to Christ he pleaded Scripture against him And thus Antichrist can Change himself into divers appearances that he may deceive men Well but and if he be again discovered and his cruelties and wickedness made appear in his Last and Newest Form he can transform again into a more strict Way and zealous Performance even into an Angel of Light as if he were indeed the true Christ and were in the Truth altogether and no man needed to doubt of the Truth of his Way and then under that Form being covered with more Zeal then ever with more pretence of Duty to God then before he blinds the World and deceives them and leads men to Perdition and though changeable in his Appearance yet is he in himself Antichrist still in his own proper nature a Murderer Destroyer and a Fountain of Mischief and Evil. The Truth of this is plain if it be considered through the course of Scriptures in Generations past and Transactions of Time as in the Prophets dayes of old this spirit which is no other but the Devil sometimes opposed gainsayed and persecuted the Prophets reproached them and with-stood them and imprisoned them and killed them And sometimes we find the same spirit transformed it self into the way of the Prophets and acted by some deceivers and false Prophets in the same words and practices which the true Prophets had said and done and as the true Prophets used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it so the false Prophets in whom the Devil was transformed they used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it also when God had not spoken to them So here was this spirit of Antichrist changing and transforming himself that he might the better deceive Also in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles the Devil and Antichrist apeared against them and persecuted them and killed them and used Cruelty and Injustice towards them and as before I said this was done to Christ and his Apostles by the wicked Iews under colour and pretence of Love to their God and Zeal for their Law and for the Honour of their Ordinances and Priesthood which they supposed Christ and his Apostles made void which shews That the Devil and Antichrist appears in the World as a good Man as a Lover of God and his Laws and the like Well But though the Envious Men and Wicked Persons through the spirit of the Devil did for some time oppose gainsay and persecute Christ and his Apostles yet the same spirit possibly some of the same Persons transformed into the Profession of Christ and into the Profession of the Words and Works of Him and his Apostles For we find Envious men and Wicked men such as had persecuted Christ and killed him were gotten to preach him in words and had gotten and taken upon them the Form of Christ's Doctrine and preached him out of Envy and for Self-ends and the like So that 't is plain The same spirit that sometime opposed and persecuted the Prophets Christ and his Apostles other times was transformed into the Profession of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles words And this is the way of Antichrist to deceive men upon Earth and to lead them to Perdition For when the Devil and Antichrist perceives that his Envy Malice and Cruelty cannot prevail to subdue and keep under the Way and Truth of Christ Jesus as it
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
Raign in Person upon Earth p. 107. 12. To all them called Ranters p. 108. 13. To all them called Seekers and Waiters p. 109. 14. The Beast which all the World Wonders after but they whose Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life hath many Heads and many Horns p. 109. A Description of the State and Condition of all Mankind upon the Face of the whole Earth Sheweth from p. 115. to 123. 1. What man was in his Creation before Transgression 2. What he is in Transgression and how he became a degenerate Plant. 3. The Way of Restauration Salvation and of Life Eternal declared to the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the whole World Truth Defended or Certain Accusations answered cast upon the People called Quakers by the Teachers of the World In which is discovered 1. Who are the false Prophets 2. When they came in 3. How they may be known 4. Who they are that deny Christ and preach another Gospel 5. Who they are that deny the Scriptures Churches Ministers and Magistrates c. p. 124. to 135. The true Faith of the Gospel of Peace Contended for in the Spirit of Meekness Being an Answer to John Bunnian a professed Minister in Bedfordshire p. 136. An Answer to a Book called Stablishing against Quaking put forth by Giles Firmin a professed Minister in Essex p. 153. The Crying Sins Reproved whereof the Rulers and People of England are highly guilty Being Additions to their own Confessions held forth by them in their Declaration wherein these Three Nations were invited to a solemn Day of Fasting c. p. 168. A Measure of the Times Wherein is shewed 1. What the state of things have been in Ages past 2. What the state of things are at this present day 3. What shall be the state of things hereafter from p. 183. to 203. The Testimony of the Lord concerning London Being a Warning to all sorts of People in it what the Lord requires of them p. 214. to 222. A Just and Lawful Tryal of the Teachers and Professed Ministers of this Age Wherein is shewed That they are judged and by the Scriptures proved to be contrary to all the Ministers of Christ in former Ages 2. And are proved to agree with all the false Prophets and Deceivers in their Call Maintenance Doctrine and Practice In which Book is also a Description of the true Ministry of Christ from p. 223. to 239. A Standard lifted up and an Ensign held forth to all Nations Being a Testimony Concerning The True God p. 241. The Son of God p. 242. The Spirit of God p. 242. Man and all Mankind p. 243. The World in general p. 243. Man's Restauration Redemption and Salvation what they are and by whom they are wrought p. 245. True Religion and the true Worship of the true God p. 245. Iustification and Sanctification p. 246. The Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up p. 246. Governours and Government and Subjection to them p. 247. The true Ministry of Christ and the false Ministry and the Difference betwixt them p. 248. The Gospel of Christ p. 249. The Word of God and the Scriptures p. 249. The Devil and Damnation p. 250. All Creatures that God made p. 251. The New Covenant p. 252. Faith p. 253. What Works are accepted of God and what Works are not accepted p. 253. Man's State in the first Adam before Conversion and his State after Conversion and what Conversion is p. 254. The Woful Cry of Unjust Persecutions and grievous Oppressions of the People of God in England Shewing the Ground of Persecution in its first Cause and the Enmity which is betwixt the two Seeds p. 256. Truth the Strongest of all witnessed forth in the Spitit of Truth against all Deceit In a Reply to John Bunnian ' s second Book p. 275. Many Strong Reasons Confounded Being an Answer to Richard Baxter ' s Twenty four Arguments which he said Would hinder any reasonable man from being a Quaker p. 310. The true Christian Religion again Discovered after a long and dark Night of Apostacy Shewing who it is of the Sects and Forms of Religion in the Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures p. 325. A Message for Instruction to all the Rulers Judges and Magistrates to whom the Law is committed Shewing 1. What Iust Government is 2. How far the Magistrates Power reacheth and what the Sword of Iustice is to cut down and what it is to defend 3. An Exposition of some parts of the Law for the Edification of such as desire to judge Righteously between man and man p. 343. The State of the Controversie between Richard Mayo Priest of Kingstone and Edw. Burroughs p. 375. Truth made Manifest Being an Answer to a Book called The Quakers Rounds put forth by one Philip Taverner p. 399. A Testimony concerning the Estate of the True Church Shewing 1. What she hath been 2. What she is pag. 413. The True State of Christianity truly described Shewing 1. What it was in its Beginning and Purity 2. What it now is in its Apostacy and Degeneration And also sheweth the Woful State wherein them called Christians now stand being departed and revolted from the Spirit of Christ and from his Teachings pag. 418. A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we believe who are called Quakers pag. 439. Some of the Principles of the Quakers scornfully so called by men Vindicated In Answer to two Printed Books put forth by Philip Taverner a supposed Minister of the Gospel in Middlesex p. 444. A Testimony against a Great Idolatry committed Being a true Mourning of the Lord's Servant upon the many Considerations of his Heart upon that Occasion of the great stir about an Image of O. Cromwell carryed about the 23th of the 9th Moneth 1658. p. 457. A Message proclaimed by Divine Authority From the Chosen Assembly of the Redeemed People in England to the Pope chief Bishop in Rome and to his Cardinals Iesuits and Priests c. being an Invitation and Challenge to them to come forth to Tryal and shew if they have the same Faith Power Spirit Authority and Government as had the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy p. 462. A Faithful Testimony concerning the true Worship of God Shewing 1. What it is in it self 2. And who are the true Worshippers p. 474. Some false Principles and Errors Discovered In Answer to a Book supposed to be put forth by Samuel Eaton a professed Minister of the Gospel amongst the Sect of Independents in Cheshire p. 483. A Message to all Kings and Rulers in Christendom Being a Warning from the Lord to them to take heed of Oppression and to cease to grind 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 his fierce Indignation upon them p. 492. An Account of some Grounds and Reasons of the Innocent Sufferings of the People of God