of the light and so out of unity and seeth not the Saviour the Redeemer the substance of all types figures Parables the end of the Law that goes upon the man of strife And so being out of the light out of the unity out of the Covenant with God In the light is the Covenant of God Pr. He saith the whole soul and body of Saints and every faculty of the soul and member of the body there is some presence of sin in them all their dayes Page 113. Ans The Saints are sanctified and washed and cleansed body soul and spirit and they are made free from sin and then can live no longer therein and the body of sin is put off And they witnessed the darkness was past so then the works of the true light shined and the day was come and they was of one soul And they witnessed as he was so was they in this present world And he that is in Christ is a new creature And where Christ is within the body is dead because of sin And he that is born of God doth not commit sin And the Saints was upon the earth when they was made free from sin and not all their dayes sin in them as thou speakes of Prin. He saith sin dwells in the Saints if any Saint think otherwise he knowes not himself and if he be one really sanctified he is under a strong delusion and drousie dream Page 119. Answ He that is sanctified is sanctified from sin and washed and cleansed and he that is out of this sanctification is in the drowsie dream For who are in sanctification are in Christ the righteousness of God and they are awakened to righteousness out of the fall in the second Adam and drowsiness and dreames and delusions that come in the first Adam And sin and drowsie dreams and delusions dwells in them that pretend that they are sanctified ones and not really Pr. He saith it is a Popish Tennent that sanctification is wrought within men and Justification or a believers being justified from sin and ungodliness and not in it but the mystery of iniquity lies in this qualification pag. 120. And they that are justified by their sanctification it is a falshood And that none are justified but Saints perfect in holiness is a notorious contradiction Page 121. Answ He that is the sanctification is the justification and so by their sanctification are they justified it is one and the same that which sanctifies justifies And every man that cometh into the world having a light that cometh from Christ the sanctification redemption justification but them that be not in the light are with it condemned And such as be in the light they come into perfect holiness and their sins are not imputed to them But them that doth not believe in the light the spirit of truth that leads the believer into all truth reproves them for their unbelief and their righteousness and their judgement and so doth not justifie them but reprove them And the justification within roots out all Popery and all contradiction But to speak of justification and sanctification without and not manifest within ye are yet in the first Adam in the Popery where ye must have a Puratory to cleanse and not the righteousness of Christ within and sanctification within and Justification So such be reproved that can talk of it without sanctification without so there is the old Adam in the sin and transgression And all falshood is among them that can talk of justification without them and not witnesse it within them For who witnesse Christ within them they witnesse justification there and sanctification for Abraham believed and it was imâ—uted to him for righteousness and his belief was within and he saw Christ his glory And such as believe they come to witness the imputation But such as come again to witnesse that they are nearer then when they did believe and to witness that they have received Christ within is the end of their belief there they witness the righteousness it self without imputation which is the substance that which the promise ends in and all the fathers hoped for who stood in the imputation and all the believers in him But Christ being come the end of mans belief the righteousness it self here is a justification alone without the imputation Christ the righteousness of Gods blessing and glory for ever And a believer that is jâ—stified he is a new Creature and is past from the death which came by the sin comes to enter into his rest where sin is not And all the falshood and the contradiction is without the possession of justification and sanctification which reprobates talk of it in the mystery of iniquity and unbelievers in the mystery of iniquity which have the sheepes cloathing the outside the clothing of the Saints yet ravened from the spirit inwardly These have not been like to own justification within or sanctification there that inwardly ravened from the spirit of God which all must come to that which they ravened from and they themselves before they feel the justification sanctification Christ within them and have received the substance the thing the Scripture speakes of which not believing in the Light and going from it though they get all the sheeps cloathing yet are they not thereby justified though they get all the good words and the forme of godlinesse and obey not the Gospell the power of God for none obeys the Gospell but whâ— obeys the Light within And who are justified it is by the faith of Christ Jesus and without faith they cannot please him And who are in the Faith are the believers in the Light and so the Justification and the Faith doth qualifie from their old nature and mindes Pr. He saith They are not justified because they are new borne nor for their believing page 122. And I can say I am crucified with Christ and yet I have a corrupt rotten heart and an old lying heart as before he saith and Christ lives in him and there is a body of sin and death dwels in him And the life that he now lives in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God Page 124. Answ Where Christ is within the body is dead because of sin and where the saith of the Son of God is lived in it gives victory over sin And the life of Christ is out of Adam in the Fall in sin and transgression And the Circumcision comes to be witnessed that puts off the body of sin And where the life of Christ is lived in the new Covenant is there the new heart rotten corrupt lying is put off the old man and his deeds with his deceitful lusts And he that believes is borne of God is justified and he comes into the faith by which he pleaseth God and he that doth not believe is out of the faith and it is impossible he should please God and is out of that which should justifie him Pr. He saith Christs
the sleights of men which is in reference to false Prophets of which this Land is now full You say That a man cannot be made free from sin and cannot keep the Commandements of God perfectly Answ Are not you in the tossing too and fro and tossing people too and fro And are not you the false Prophets which Christ said should come which John said was come and the world hath been after you who tells the people that they cannot keep the commandements perfectly Contrary to John who saith he that loves God keeps the commandements of God And the Beast made war against them that kept the Commandements of God and herein is the love of God perfect Pr. You tell people of a Sacrament a Creed and three persons Answ Which the Scripture tells no such thing But the Common-prayer-book doth and so you do not teach the form of sound words in your Catechim Pr. Out of the Scriptures we may learn the knowledge of the true God Answ That which gives the knowledge of the true God is the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures for the Pharisees that had the Scriptures knew not God Pr. The state of man in this life is three-fold Creation Corruption Regeneration Answ In Regeneration the life is changed out of that life which is in the Fall So Regeneration and Corruption is not one in the new life Pr. A man by his own power cannot get into regeneration for they are dead in sins and trespasses Answ Some are sanctified from the womb and some children are holy so all are not dead in sins and trespasses for they that are so are but unbelievers Pr. All men have not salvation by Christ and there are many that have no share in salvation purchased by Christ Ans This is contrary to Scripture which saith that he is the offering for the sins of the whole world and the Saviour of all men and especially of those that believe And they that turns the grace of God into wantonnesse denies their salvation and they which hate the light which enlightens every man that cometh into the world hates their salvation to the ends of the earth Pr. The Scripture is the Word and God is in his Word and God in the Scripture offers Christ God in his Word offers Christ which you call Scriptures Answ The Scriptures of truth are the words of God and Christ the Word comes to fulfill them and God was in them that gave forth the Scriptures and Christ was in them who gave forth scriptures and the Scriptures testifie of him and the Scripture doth not say that God is in the dead Letter Paper and Inke but his power ye are ignorant of and errs not knowing Scriptures and the Scriptures are not God Pr. You say That God works inwardly by his spirit and outwardly by his Word and our faith is summed up in the Apostles creed Answ Christ is the Author of the Faith and the Apostle doth not tell us of a Creed the spirit and the word are one and they are inwardly known sanctifying Pr. The rule of Christian obedience is the Law of God Ans That which is the end of the Law is a Christians life and rule who comes to the obedience of faith in which they please God and are justified which no flesh by the works of the Law is justified Pr. Brethren be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde No man is able to keep the commandements of God we break them daily in thought word and deed in the best of our duties we are unprofitable servants Ans Here is your confusion layd open them that were perfect had a new minde and their deeds wrought in God and their thoughts were changed that witnessed repentance and they kept the commands of God and their fruits are of the spirit and of faith which are not unprofitable But your works and fruits who are out of the faith and out of the spirit of God are unprofitable who breaks the Commandements but they that love God keep his Commandements Pr. Christians must attend upon Gods Ordinances and Sacraments to know their duty toward their neighbour which Sacraments are the seal and the covenant Answ The Apostles tell us of no such signes sacraments nor such words but that which fulfils Law is the Son of God which brings him to do his duty towards God and towards his neighbour which is Christ Pr. There are two Sacraments and the Covenant of grace is to all that believe and receive Christ and the two Sacraments are Baptisme and the Lâ—rds Supper which are visible signes Ans The Scripture doth not any where call them visible signes nor sacraments and the Covenant of grace is to all whether they believe or not believe receive or not receive and the Scripture doth not call Baptisme and the Lords supper Sacraments Pr. Because Infants of the Jewes were circumcised therefore are children baptized Christ hath ordained this Sacrament as bread and wine and the Sacrament is the food of the soul Answ This is a Popish doctrine that which feeds the soul is immortall and that is the souls food which findes rest in Christ the bread of life the food for the soule And the Scriptures doth not tell us that the bread and wine is a Sacrament and the Scripture doth not tell us that Circumcision was outwardly a type of Baptisme outwardly but of the inward and you bring a Scripture which is the 23. of Luke and the 43. vers and saith that it saith that the souls of the wicked are cast into Hell which that Scripture speaks no such thing Pr. We are not to seek for happiness in this life Answ The Saints were and are made partakers of the heavenly riches and of Christs fulness and of his unspeakable joy and full of glory in Christs Kingdom which is in them who are upon the earth and for the rest of your lies and confusions is not worth answering Richard Baxter His Principles in that which he cals one sheet for the Ministers which is two sheets in whose mouth is found a lie as in his Title Page is to be seen His Principles in it as followeth Pr. THat we are hated of all men for the Name of Christ who are but Ministers who gave some Pastors Teachers appointed for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to a perfect man To Disciple Nations Baptize and Teach them so cut down the Ministers the Pillars and the buildings will fall Answ In the steps of the Ministers of Christ you are not found but in the steps of the Scribes end Pharisees called of men Masters in the chiefest seats of Assembles in your long robes uppermost Roomes at Feasts causing the Ministers of Christ to be haled out of your Synagogues and thrust out and haled and persecuted and prisoned which are in the generation of the Serpents that should fulfill Christs words Mat. 23.
end of the types and figures and shadowes the substance Pr. And the woman that Paul speaks of that is forbidden to speake in the Church but must learne of her husband at home is the whore that drinks the blood of the Saints in Revelations Ans That is false for the woman the Apostles speaks of there that must learne in silence and must be in subjection aske her husband at home is in the state of Eve who must not teach but learne in silence as also said the Law for shee was first found in the transgression now the woman here hath a husband to aske at home and not usurp authority over the man but Christ in the male as in the female who redeems from under the Law and makes free from the Law the man may speak Christ in the male and female who are in the spirit of God are not under the Law but the whore who drinks the blood of the Saints is gone from her husband from under the Law to aske the whore-master that doth drinke the blood of the saints which Christ the seed judgeth upon to whom he gives judgement Pr. And the outward creatures which God had made and created and blessed are the serpents meat as the old Ranter of Bristow when he was gnawing a peece of plum pudding said he was eating the serpents meat Ans The Serpents meate is dust and he goes on his belly and so hath proved him selfe to be a serpent who eates his meat which the children of God the seed doth not and Christ who eate of the bread he did not eate the serpents meate he did not call it serpents meat and that is cursed and judged that doth so Francis Duke his book intituled The fulnesse and freenesse of Gods grace his Principles are as followes Pr. GGod made man perfection of parts in this life but not perfection in degrees Ans Perfection of parts is perfection of degrees for where there is a part there a degree so in this thou medlest with things that are too heavy for thee Pr. That God did elect that drop of humane seed to be personall God man as the text is the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpents head Ans The elect is Christ the seed and Christ the second Adam is not humane for humane is earthly so thou erres in thy judgement for as Christ the seed saies he that is born of the flesh is flesh and he that is born of the spirit is spirit and the election obtaines it and he that is of the earth is earthly but he that is from above is heavenly Pr. Men may obey imperfectly but truly Ans Truth is perfect Christ is truth who is perfect and they that obey truly obey perfectly for perfect obedience and true obedience is one Pr. The seed of the Serpent and the Devils seed remaines in the best of men in this life for without this seed of the Devil issuing in humane nature it is not capable of Eternal life Ans This seed of the Devill hinders men to be capable of eternall life and such as are sanctified from the wombe was capable of eternall life and such as were made free from sin and the body of death and sin put out of them could not sin because the seed of God remaineth in them and witnessed redemption the works of the Devill destroyed and Christ manifested in their flesh condemned sin in their flesh and Christ in them the body being dead because of sin which was borne of God and they did not commit sin they were past from death to life for sin brought death and where the Devill had the power of it which went out of truth but the seed having destroyed death and him that hath the power of it which is the devill and God the God of all peace have bruised Satan under the faints feet such is a top of the seed of the devill and they are capable of eternall life and tells thee thy doctrine is a lye Pr. Man may believe truly but never rightly Ans He that believeth truly and is in the true beliefe believes rightly and he that believes truly is borne of God and he whose beliefe is false and not born of God it is as his that is out of truth which is not right which the true beliefe in truth is over him in that the Devill is out of all his generation that stands in an outward beliefe Pr. The will of man remaines in good men and bad men in heaven and in hell and in earth Ans There 's noe prophesie of the scriptures came by the earthly will of man but that mans will be subdued denyed with the Crosse and power of God whereby he that doth the will of God abides for ever but he that doth his own will abides not ever and flesh and blood enters not into the kingdom of God and they that goe downe into Hell go down into their owne wills and wilfulnesse but he must be born againe before he can enter into Gods Kingdom he that is borne of the flesh is flesh and will persecute him that is born after the spirit for there 's the two wills and earth is their footstool Pr. The Saints affirme themselves that they are all unclean things and their righteousnesse as filthy rags Ans The Saints are cleane and are sanctified and are washed and are cleansed now are you clean saith the Lord ye were such and such and the saints rightousnesse is Christ such as never will grow ragged which was before the world was made which was before rags and ragged righteousnesse was this is the Saints righteousness and true believers and the saints are not unclean things for it is the unsanctified that be unclean Pr. The Saints have a twofold righteousnesse in this world Ans The righteousness of the Saints is one Christ and is in one in God from whence all righteosnesse comes and the true believers righteousnesse is Christ Jesus the end of the Law Pr. Thou saist that James envies those that brag of their faith without works thou saist the Lord attributes that to the eye which is not proper the eye is the light of the body but yet the eye hath no light in it selfe to enlighten the body so he attributes that to the eye which is not proper to the Light Ans James did not envy for envy was of Cain and of the devill and of the wicked one he did not envy them whose faith was dead without works and Christs speech was proper who said the light of the body was the eye and without the eye the body hath not light looke of it either inward or outward t is proper within and proper without for when the eye is blinded within the body is full of darkenesse when the eye is blinded without the body is darke and he wants the light and the light of the body is the eye that being single the body is full of light and that is perfect
him by true faith Ans Salvation is purchased to all men that perished in Adam though they do not believe it for he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that do believe and an offering for the sin of the whole world mark the world and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all through him might believe and he that believes not is condemned by Christ the light the life the sacrifice the offering that through death that which in them was the power of death the Devill he destroyed and his power and so entred into his glory all that believe in him have life and all that doth not and receive him not hath not life but are condemned through unbelief Now if if you say that in Adam all dyed I say yes and in Christ all shall be made alive to the Justification of life I say yes as in Adam all dyed as in Christ they come to be made alive so them that are the believers are the holy so the believers children a new creation a new generation new creatures out of Adam in the fall the believers passed from death to life that came by Adam and so in that is a cleane creation and holy generation Pr. All things contained in the Gospell is summed up in the Apostles Creed Ans The Apostles doth not tell us of a creed but the Popes Canon-book and common prayer book and many things the Apostles had to say which was not lawfull to utter and many things Christ had to say they could not beare but the Gospell is the power of God and that the scripture speakes of but doth not say the Epistles is it Pr. God hath manifested himselfe in his word that these three distinct persons are one Ans The word nor the scripture doth not tell us of three distinct persons but it tells us of Father and of Son and of Holy Ghost but indeed as I said before the Popes canon book and Masse-book doth so for the Holy Ghost is not distinct from the Son and the Son is not distinct from the Father but they are all in one Pr. Having our chief hope placed in God being assured that nothing may with draw us from his love Ans Yet you say you are not able to keep the commandements of God perfect then you are drawne from the living God and you are from the chiefest hope Christ for who loves God keepes his commandements and such have the chiefest hope Christ in which the commandement ends here the love goes forth out of the pure heart but is not riches your hope and doth not riches and the glory of the world and the fashions thereof drew your hearts away and your love and hope stand in them and hath taken up the possession of your hearts more then God therefore who keeps them not perfectly keeps them not at all Pr. You say Christ hath ransomed your bodies and your soules from sin and by that one sacrifice of his body he hath redeemed you Ans Are your bodies redeemed and your soules that are immortall and your spirits sanctified and do you glorifie God in your bodies soules and spirits which is the Lords and is there not sin in your bodies and are not your spirits corrupted now who witnesses redemption of the body and soule from sin these are out of the first Adams state and are the holy ones and these be in the end of the law and that which fulfills the Law Christ Jesus but now if you come to say that you have sin in your bodies and the fruits will shew it selfe to persecute or envy rage malice pride or such wickednesse this shewes not the fruits of Redemption Pr. You say That God in Christ hath put out the remembrance of your sins and of your corruptions within you wherein you must fight all your life time Ans Whilst the sins you are fighting withall are not blotted out in your own particulars this is not the life of the Saints they are not fighting all their life time but come to the kingdome of God witnessing sin and iniquity blotted out the everlasting covenant of peace and life with God Pr. You say You are righteous before God through faith though your consciences accuse you for your trespasses against the commands of God being prone to evil yet notwithstanding imbrace the benefits of Christ as if you never had committed any sin or corruption and this is as if you your selves had perfectly compleated the obedience Ans Where the conscience accuses it is impure and that the true faith is out of for the mystery of faith is held in a pure conscience and that is it that receives Christ and which is not prone to evil nor transgresseth the commands of God but you are out of the perfect obedience and out of the faith both and are in the corruption are not the lovers of God nor come to Christ the end of the commandements which is loved in a pure heart and whereas you talke of conscience accusing and yet faith that is your ignorance for faith is held in a pure conscience the conscience doth not accuse but the unsanctified Pr. Not that we please God through the worthinesse of our faith for our works the best of them are imperfect in this life defiled with sin Ans It is faith that brings men to please God which Faith comes from him and gives victory over that men have lived in and not pleased God so faith there is a worthinesse in it it is the gift of God by which men please God and have accesse to to him and they are justified and through it they overcome and subdue mountaines and raise the dead your best workes being imperfect and defiled with sin in this life then they are not wrought in God but out of him in the darknesse they are works of darknesse unperfect defiled with sin are not the workes of darknesse to be condemned for the fire and to be out of the Law and Gospell but the works the Saints works that are in the Faith wrought in love are perfect wrought in God created to good works these are distinct from the unperfect defiled with sin and these good workes the Saints witnessed when they were upon the earth which is the works of Faith which works by love Ans Infants that are baptized belong as well to the covenant and Church of God as they of full age they by baptism being grafted into the Church of God so discerned from the children of Infidels so this baptisme succeeds Circumcision Answ Then by this all Christendom that are baptized are the Church and grafted into the Church Papists and Protestants and all and how is it that your Church is so much in confusion then for you say they are grafted into the Church of God and in the Church of God there is no confusion it is the Pillar and ground of truth without spot or wrinkle and how is it there is such killing
Scriptures and made free from sin c. pag. 18. Ans Contrary to Rom. 6. Contrary to the Apostle to the Colossians where he had put off the body of sin And contrary to Christ who saves cleanseth from all sin by his blood blots out all sin And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin Pr. He saith that Christ is in heaven in his humanity therefore not to be seen not to be heard not to be handled by us or any others that live upon earth and they cannot give their own assurance c. pag. 19. Ans So shews that they were never made Ministers by him who never saw him nor heard him so never handled the word of life from the Father nor the Son nor saw it nor heard it so are the Pastors that spoil the flock And he is the earthly Adam and humanity but Christ the second Adam is the Lord from heaven Pr He saith that Timothy was commanded to preach and yet had not heard nor seen nor handled any thing of Christ c. page 20. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who bid him to stir up the gift in him and told Timothy he was in the faith and he was to be strong in the grace of Christ And whosoever hath faith knows Christ to be the Author of it and knows something from Christ and so thou thy self hast confuted Pr. He saith that the Saints doth not see Christ for the heavens contain him page 20. Ans And the Apostle saith they sate with Christ in heavenly places so he is contrary to the Apostle And Christ was in them and walkt in them and God dwelt in them and Christ in you except ye be reprobates Pr. He saith the whole minde and will of Christ and God is left them in letters page 21. Ans And the Apostle saith it is past finding out the unsearchable wisdome and the secret things belongs to God and are revealed by the spirit and no man knows them but by the spirit Pr. And he saith the Gospel is the Letter c. Ans And the Apostle saith It is the power of God and the letter kils and many may have the form and deny the power and so stand against the Gospel which is the power of God Pr. And he saith the Devill shews his spight and spleen in them who say they have the word as it was in the beginning against the Scriptures c. page 22. Answ That is not so for they that have the word as was in the beginning own the Scriptures and are not against them but are in that which fulfils them Pr. He saith that all the Saints receive the spirit of Christ yet never heard his voyce Ans This is confusion for who are the sheep of Christ know his voyce Pr. He saith they are uncovered when commonly they have two caps on their heads and the people are covered when they have a hat on their heads c. page 29. Ans This is according to thy deceitful teaching and learning Pr. He saith the Scriptures is the voyce of Christ to them c. Ans And Christ said to them that had the Scriptures They never heard the voyce of God at any time to the Pharisees John 5. For there thou art un-put forth amongst the sheep and they heard the voyce that gave forth the Scripture and came to the life and Christ at the end of them Pr. And he saith there is an immediate voyce which speaks within which we have never heard nor do we know it within our selves experimentally and we believe and hope that we never shall know it c. page 30. Ans And so shews that they never knew the spirit of the Father speaking within them but follows their own dreams and spirits and stops their ear against that of God in them and they blesse themselves from that immediate voyce within and calls it the voice of the Devil which is the spirit of inspiration and the word of God in their hearts which men must obey and do Pr. And he saith to say Christ is within them doing all immediately and infallibly within them and so do say it is Christ and the spirit within them and not they Ans Now this he calls a spirit of Delusion And the Apostle saith I live yet not I but Christ in me And he works all in us and for us after his own good pleasure And this was not a spirit of delusion in them And this thou art reprobated from and found in thy own works Pr. And he saith That which is within them is not eternal and infallible when the Quakers asked him whether it was or no and he saith nay that which judgeth in them is not eternal infallible He saith they assert no such things as that concerning themselves And he saith though all the Saints have the spirit of Christ dwelling in them which is eternall and infallible yet that this spirit should do all that Saints do and should say all that Saints say and should judge for them both for persons and of things after an infallible manner and that they should neither say nor do nor judge any thing by any understanding of their own but the spirit all this we deny These are his words page 31. Ans Which is contrary to the Apostle who saith As many as are the sons of God are led by the spirit of God And Christ acts all in them and for them and the fruits of the spirit c. and the spirituall man judgeth all things And that is it which leads the Saints to devide and discern all things both temporall and spirituall the spirituall wisdome of God which gives them a spirituall understanding which men must rule withall but not with their own that comes to nought and you that have not that which is infallible to judge in you know not the spirit of Christ neither can you judge of persons or things that have not the infallible judgement nor have the spirituall man Neither have you the word of God in your hearts nor Christ which is eternall and infallible all which the Quakers have to judge persons and things Pr. He saith that children are of the seed as to the Church priviledges and externall Ordinances of a spirituall nature Ans Mark his confusion But Christ saith ye must be born again or else ye cannot inherit the kingdome of heaven and such be of the Church Pr. He saith If they can but destroy all formes the power will fall with it for the forme preserves the power page 37. Answ Contrary to the Apostle many have the form but deny the power The power preserves the forme sees the end of forms and destroys them and brings to see before forms was where forms is not For the Apostles who lived in the power denyed the Jewes forms and Gentiles both as we do now deny the Popish forms and yours which you have invented and set up Pr. And an immediate teaching he saith of
hath thrown out the Son the rule of knowing the Father who reveals him For many had Scriptures who knew not the Father nor knew the Son nor heard his voyce as in John 5. Pr. He saith All those that be without the Scriptures are without all comfort and hope and God See page 26. Answ Here then is thy Doctrine that none have comfort none hope none have God but who have Scriptures Abraham will tell thee otherwise and Enoch for those knew God and walked with him and knew hope and comfort and Joseph and Jacob and God was with them before the Scriptures was written And Christ was promised before the Scriptures was written and many have the Scriptures and not the comfort nor the hope but stand against him as the Jewes did against Christ And many may have the comfort and not read Scriptures Pr. He saith The onely judge of all errour is the Scriptures c. see page 37. Ans So he hath thrown out Christ and thrown out the spirit and the spirituall man and the Saints and God the judge of all who was the Author of the Scripture Pr. He saith The Apostle doth not say that God in these last dayes doth speak or will speak unto us by his Son but God hath already in time past spoke by his Son and that speaking is to these last dayes and we are not to look for any other speaking or revelation c. page 39. Ans And so by this thou hast denyed the scriptures and the authority of them which is Christ Jesus and denyed the Apostles doctrine and the new covenant where the law is writ in the heart and minde and all taught of God Thou hast thrown down and laid waste Christs commands who saith Learn of me And the command of God who saith This is my beloved Son heare ye him And so art ignorant of the scriptures and the power of God Pr. He saith It is abhorred dotage they are bewitched with to say they witnesse forgivenesse within c. See page 41. Answ Thou shews thou never knew a Saints life and that which cleanseth from all sin and the testimony within of forgiveness of sin for where it is forgiven it is within The Apostle saith If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin And many may speak of Christ without them and the body of sin not dead And so the Wolfe may get the form of godlinesse and the Devill may confess the son of God in words Pr. He saith It matters not much if the sense be in the Scriptures where the words be there or no See page 47. Ans And yet he saith the Scriptures is the rule and it is the word and so by that means have all men run into their senses into confusion from the words of the Scriptures which is not to be added to nor taken from nor can it be broken nor is it of any private interpretation and the Scriptures are the words of God and Christ is the word and in him they end and the spirit is the rule Pr. He saith Doth not Christ approve of the Jewes opinion in thinking that in the Scripture they should have eternal life And he saith Christ refers them to the Scriptures to finde life See page 48. Answ When as Christ said They would not come unto him that that they might have life and bid them believe in him whom God had sent who was the end of the Scriptures And Christ did not approve of them that thought to have eternall life in the Scriptures Pr. He saith to say that the light of Christ is not received from the Scriptures it is an abominable thing to be asserted Ans But the light is received from Christ and many had the Scriptures as the Jewes but stood against the Light as you do now and did not receive it that had the Scriptures which testified of it And the Light cannot be blotted out but it doth condemn and it leads to the knowledge of God and to eternal life Pr. He calls it a fancy of an idle brain to witnesse the law of God written in the heart that is different from the morall law c. see page 61. Ans The Scripture saith I will write my law in their hearts and put it in their inward parts and I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel not according to the old And this is the Covenant with Israel not according to the old and so they be in the fancy and idle brain that be out of the new Covenant of light Christ both Jews and Gentiles and all false Christians Pr. He saith This I do deny that the perfection of the whole law of God is writ in mans heart so as to know it and do it as it is written in the Prophets and Apostles c. See page 64. Answ Here thou hast discovered thy selfe to be in the unbelief and limits the Holy One that God is not the same Christ is not the same yesterday to day and for ever And none knows the Prophets and Apostles but who have the same covenant as they had and the same law and same spirit And whereas thou art opposing those as say the Word is within them and the Light is within them and the Spirit is within And because they say those be in unity and be one which makes thee appear one offended who must be ignorant still He that is ignorant let him be ignorant still but the light in thee shall see they are one Pr. He saith That none have ever had such attainments of Christ a Redeemer without the help of the Scriptures c. see page 65. Answ Now Abraham and Enoch and Noah and Adam had the promise of Christ before Scripture was written And the Gospel is the power of God and many may have the forme and not the power and eternall life is not in them nor the power of God For Christ is the power of God who saith Yee will not come to me that yee may have life who was afore Scripture was and all the Attainments is in him the Scripture speaks of and he is not attained to without life Pr. He saith Where did ever any say that they went through the Law to Christ This he judgeth and saith that they be strangers to the life of God that say so c. See page 71. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who saith I through the law am dead to the law but alive unto God And the law was our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ And again he saith The righteousnesse of the law is fulfilled in us Pr. He saith All notionall light is from Christ whatsoever c. see page 72. Ans Now notional is imaginations and that is not properly called light and therefore thou mistakest for light is not notion but is the thing it selfe that is from Christ Pr. Here again he denies that Christ hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world with light sufficient if
is a time for men to see they have sin and sinned and a time to confess it and forsake it and their is a time to witness the blood of Christ cleansing from all sin and then a time to witness the birth born of God which doth not commit sin 1 John 4. Chap. Pr. He saith Here is a strange conceit of a person that fills heaven and earth with his presence and dwells in the Saints blindness with a witness c. See page 8. Ans Here thy ignorance hath appeared again for all power in heaven and earth is given to him Christ Jesus who is in them at the right hand of God who is in the Saints dwelling and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world but this to thee is a strange conceit and blindness with a witness Thy witness is blinded with thy conceit which shews thy ignorance of Scripture and thy unskilfulness in the word and doctrine that all things is upheld by his word and his power and that there is no creature but is manifest in his sight For all things that was made was made by him that he might have a name above every name and that to his name should every knee bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God and God will dwell in man and it is he that seeth the heart Pr. He saith Sin is in the Saints c. See page 10. Ans Sin is not in the sanctified but in the unsanctified And he that saith sin is in the Saints he is blinded he is of the Serpent and he and they be in the poâ—lution themselves which the Saints have escaped and are washed and cleansed and so far as any one is sanctified it is from the sin Pr. He saith That we will not enter into the Kingdom by the Blood of the Covenant that hath been often proved c. See page 10. Ans And Francis Blake did publish it in Print that the Quakers did witness the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin and so thou Prints against us and he prints for us thou Prints that we deny the blood of Jesus and he Prints that we own the blood of Jesus and so ye are devouring the innocent betwixt you and the blood of the seed we own which cleanseth from all sin which doth not you which say sin must be in the Saints but make his blood of none effect which cleanseth from all sin Pr. He saith The Scriptures shall be our judge one day which we call the letter c. See page 11. Answ And the Scripture saith all judgement is committed to the Son and God will judge the world and the Saints and the spiritual man judges all things and thus thou art ignorant of the letter and this shall judge thee at the last Pr. He saith That the Kingdom is not come nor refreshing from the presence of the Lord c. Answ Which shewes they are like unto the Pharisees unconverted gazing here and there and Christ told them the Kingdom was in them And they that are not turned to the light which comes from Christ the refresher whereby refreshing might come so are not come to repentance yet Pr. He saith They that say they have no sin makes God a liar See page 12. Ans Which the Scripture saith no such thing but saith on the contrary the Scripture saith many were made free from sin And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin and they that are Christs have crucified the lusts and all things are become new and they that sin and lie are not in Christ the truth Pr. He saith All that have been are or shall be converted since the Gospel ministration are converted by the Apostles words c. See page 13. Ans So he hath thrown out the spirit that doth regenerate and Christ the way to the Father the word that sanctifieth and Christ the power of God to salvation Who said they would not come to him that they might be converted so if they get all the Apostles words and come not to Christ they are not converted and none are converted by the Apostles words but who comes to the Life that the words come from Pr. And he opposeth and saith It will be the Quakers fall because they say there is no other way to bring people to God but by the light in them c. See page 14. Ans Which is Christ the way to God from whence it comes which is mans condemnation not believing in it and so a saving light For saith God I will give him for a Covenant for a lgiht to the Gentiles that he may be my salvation to the ends of the earth the light shall and all that be not in the light are in the fall out of the Covenant in the unsaved state and knows not their salvation but as the Scripture declareth and so there is death and destruction talking of the same of wisdom and keeping people out of the light Pr. And he saith That Christ is not so the light of the World as he is the light of believers See page 14. Ans Christ is the light to the World as to believers and he that believeth in it shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life he that follows the light and believes in it shall have the light of life and shall not abide in darknesse He that follows not the light but hates it he abides in the darknesse and the light condemns him which the believer walks in and believes in and hath the light of life which light is one and the same which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world believers and unbelievers Pr. He saith That the Scriptures is the rule of the Saints and he saith the spirit is the guide to that rule c. see page 15. Ans And so would have the Scripture to be before the spirit Now the spirit was the Saints rule that led them to speak forth Scriptures and to let them to see to what condition they were spoken too and so by that they came to the law of Faith and they was not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit So in this ye have proved your selves not to be Ministers of the Spirit but of the Letter which the Spirit was before the Letter was Pr. He saith That the time of perfection will be when Christ comes from heaven and not before till then the Saints must be warring waiting groaning and mourning c. See page 20. Ans And David saith he had seen an end of all perfection contrary to Collier And the Apostle saith they should hunger no more nor thirst no more And Christ saith He that eateth his flesh and drinketh his blood shall hunger no more and thirst no more He that believeth is entered into his rest shall hunger no more and thirst no more And the Apostles and Saints witnessed Christ in them and the Kingdome while they were upon earth and
ambition and been corrected by and reproved for this by Quakers and Scriptures Pr. He saith the Spirit of Light will be Judged by the Scripture keeping to the Scriptures c. Ans Which is contrary to the Scriptures and the Apostles Doctrine But he is there like to the Jews who had the Scriptures yet they Judged the spirit of Light But the spirit of Light ownes Scriptures and the Scripture doth not Judge spiritual Light and are not one against the other but are in unitie Pr. And whereas he saith Noahs Ark was a true figure of the Church of God so Noahs Dove is a clear Embleme of such as through affection of new and unknown pathes do stray from the Church of God c. See page 1. Ans Now you having strayed from the Church of God which Christ said are the false Prophets that should come Matth. 24. and John saw was come and the whole world are gone after you And ye have brought the Nation to be water and your tongues are waters and your multitudes waters and your peoples waters upon this occation is the Doves flying abroad and hath found the Ark of the Testimony and the Quakers hath found no rest for the souls of their foot amongst you waters and the opening of the Seals and the Tabernacle in heaven For there is nothing but waters among you the Doves finds ye all waters not to set the soles of their feet But according to the eternal Counsel and promise of God how that the waters should be abated and dryed up and the people of God begins to inhabit and the Kings of the earth should not passe and that which you call your Church hath been waters Pr. And whereas he brings the sayings of Scripture that speakes of Prophets and pastors c. and names places of Scripture to oppose Christs Command which saith be ye not of men called master c. See page 7. Ans Which is to no purpose but to manifest himself a transgressor that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ that hath not the Father and the Son Pr. And he saith the Prophecy of Malachy is upon us who saith cursed be the deceiver who do not bring in his Tythes and offerings c. See page 9. Ans Which we say the Priesthood is changed and the offerings is denyed and he that holdeth them up is under the curse Pr. He saith to take the Scriptures as ye speak brings in all absurdity as when the Apostle saith the priesthood is changed the commandment is disanulled that took tithes Then he saith he would prove that none had Faith to take the Scripture as it is spoken for if they had it saith he as a grain of musterd-seed then they should remove mountains and heal the sick c. See page 10. Ans Now by this he hath shewed his Ignorance for Christs words and the Prophets are true as they speak and the things they speak of the fruits of the Faith as they speak of is known and the fulfilling of the promise And that which the Apostle speakes of Hebr. 7. the Priesthood is changed and the Law disanulled also and another Priesthood is come in not after the order of Aaron but after the order of Melchisedeck without Father without Mother without beginning of dayes or end of life You run into all absurdities that gives your meaning to Scriptures and private Interpretations have brought the world on heaps about the Scriptures And who are in the Faith are in the healing of the sick and removing mountains and you who be out of the faith have brought whole Nations into sicknesses and mountains and rough places Pr. He saith the priests work is changed in point of Administration onely but in respect of the order the priesthood is not changed c. See page 11. Ans Contrary to the Apostle who said Christ came after another order and not after the order of Aaron but came after the order of Melchisedeck So the order and all things pertaining to it falls which Ralph Hall saith doth not Pr. He saith the matter is not changed in any one of the Ceremonies only the manner of Administration c. See page 11. Ans The first Covenant could make nothing perfect saith the Apostle The matter and tâ—â— manner changed of all that pertained to the first Priesthood the matter and the manner fell down when the life came in the second Covenant where through the new and living way was felt whereby we enter in unto God by the blood and life of Jesus Christ and the offering And not by the first Priesthood first Covenant Tythes offâ—rings and sacrifices so matter and manner fell all and Christ came out of another Tribe that is of Judah And not after the order of Aaron but after the order of Melchisedeck and so after another matter Pr. And thou brings that concerning Jacobs paying a Tenth to the service of the house of God and why may not ye have Tenthes for the maintenance of the house of God which is called the Steeple house which was the Papists Masse-house Now see what a sutable measure thou hast c. See page 16. Ans There was a time when the Ark was maintained and the Tabernacle and the Temple and the store-house and Tythes And there was a time when all these things are utterly denyed So thou art a man that doth not divide thy work aright but a workman that may be ashamed of thy work Look on thy book who art crying up Tythes and Priests and thou saith the order is not changed of Aaron in the substance contrary to the Apostle and yet pleads the order of Melchisedeck and so art in confusion And as for the order of Melchisedeck ye are as short of that as of Christ in whom Melchisedeck ends Pr. H◠〈◊〉 the best of Gods people have sin enough to be repented of and to be humbled for c. See page 19. Ans Conâ—â—ary to John who saith he that is born of God doth not commit sin neither can be because the seed of God remaineth in him and he keepeth himself that the evil one touchetâ— him not and they was not to lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works and saith the Apostle how can we that are dead unto sin live any longâ—r â—â—erein and so â—hou art ignorant of the Saints state for sin exalts and doth not humblâ— for that which brings down sin humbles Pr. He saith he knowes not one in the Nation that sues men at the Law those that will not put into their mouthes c. And again he saith if they should not sue at the Law such as do not give them maintenance they would sin in doing so for it were to uphold coveteous minds c. See p. 19. Ans Now this is to prove your coveteous desires And the Courts throughout the Nation will witness against thee and the most suites that be in the Nation for one perticular thing is the Priests and the
Parishioners because for conscience sake they cannot put in their mouthes Therefore are they worrying of them like Wolves and destroying of them for their dishonest gain which they do no work for And do not the Ministers of God the Apostles rebuke such as went to law before the unjust one among another and bids them set up the least in the Church to Judge such things and told them they should Judge the world yea Angels and not to go to Law one among another about such things Then where art thou and thy generation that saith it is a sin if they do not go to Law if the Ministers do not sue for outward things let the least in the Church Judge thee How unlike the Apostles you are who kept the Gospel without charge and coveted no mans silver nor gold who Preached the Gospel the end of the Law and brought people from under it And you bring people into it and your inventions but the day is come that you are seen and the night is past to many and none can you deceive but who be in the night but the Judgement is gone over your heads the Judge of the world is come Pr. He saith it was imputed to Abraham for righteousness his Faith and doubtless Job was a perfect man in Gods account and Christs righteousness is imputed to us c. Ans Yet thou sâ—itâ— none â—oth good no not one and brings that Scripture in the Rom. comparing them that were in the Faith withall them that were gone astray both Jewes and Gentiles See page 21. Now let all try and Judge thee here and see thy false measure art thou a man fit to speak of the Saints and their Faith who puts them that be a stray Jews and Gentiles Amongst them that believe putting no difference betwixt the precious and the vile and so art not a man capable of true reason Pr. He saith Gods furnace is the grave where all the remainder of corruption shall be consumed c. See page 22. Ans Now what differs this from the Papists who hold a Purgatory And the Saints witnessed and said Now they were washed now they were cleansed c. while they were upon earth and they were sanctified through the obeâ—ience of the spirit they were justified and sate in heavenly places on this side the grave whiles they were upon earth and were made free from sin and was perfect Pr. He saith That Paul disclaimed perfection in himselfe c. page 23. Ans Who said as many of us as are perfect be thus minded which wrongs Pauls words And again he saith We speak wisdome among them that are perfect Pr. He saith If a man were free from sin he would be free from temporall punishment and afflictions c. see page 23. Ans Christ was free from sin and the Saints and yet he was not free from temporall punishment and affliction And so here he doth not divide the word aright neither Pr. He saith If we attain to perfection here we should attain to a rest here and brings the Apostles words who saith doubtlesse there remains a rest to the people of God c. See page 24. Ans And the Apostle saith there He that doth believe hath entered into his rest and so he doth not divide the word aright to know what state and condition it was spoken to And the Apostle said they were perfect the Ministers of Christ and he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and so thou art not a sanctified one and hath denyed the offering that hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and so hath denyed the Covenant that blots out sin and transgression and the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin Pr. But he saith That doth not follow that he that is dead to sin is freed from sin See page 24. Ans So he is contrary to the Apostle who saith so He that is dead to sin is freed from sin and can live no longer therein Pr. He saith The law of God is a standing rule to the worlds end c. And thou that saith the Law is a standing rule hath denyed Christ the end of it See page 25. Answ But the Scripture and Christ saith the Law must be fulfilled who is the everlasting covenant in the heart Christ and in the minde the end of the Law which was before the Scripture was written glorified with the Father before the world began which many have the Scriptures and yet from the Law of God written in the heart and neglect that which brings into Covenant with God by which the Scriptures is fulfilled and so here again thou dost not divide the word aright and brings not people into that which doth fulfill Scripture Pr. He saith Because this light doth not lead us to close with Gods Ordinances the Sacraments he looks upon it as a delusion of Satan page 26. Answ The Scriptures mentions no such word and the light was before your invented Sacraments was and cannot joyn with them but condemns them but it owns the Scripture and the Ordinances of God Richard Baxter's Booke called A Second Sheet to the Ministry justifying our Call against the QUAKERS c. His Principles follow Because the Children of God cannot satisfie his ungodly lusts therefore he is complaining to the Magistrates So he is one of the Complainers and Murmurers Pr. HE saith That Timothy was not to hold fast that which he had immediately received from God but that which he had received from Paul c. See page 5. Answ In this thou art contrary to the Apostle who bid stir up the gift that was in him and keep the faith which Christ was the author of and that would not contradict the Apostles words that was in the faith and that which Timothy received from God he was to hold fast in which he had unity with the Apostle Pr. He saith The holy Ghost is to help us in keeping that which is committed to us and not to reveal more See page 4. Answ Timothy could not know doctrine but by revelation and doing the will of Christ How art thou exalted and would put lyes upon the Apostle and limit the holy one and set bounds to the Just and be a Teacher of the holy Ghost what it must not reveal How art thou exalted in this above all that is called God and sits in the Temple of God blasphemously who would be a teacher of the holy Ghost who must be the Teacher and who tells what it must reveal and what it must not reveal Thou must be stopt for thy presumption If ye have nothing but what the holy Ghost hath given forth the form of words the Church of Rome hath the same and all the false Prophets upon the earth and Antichrists and Seducers and the Devils they get the Scriptures given forth from the holy Ghost and holdeth these words in the unrighteousnesse and stop and resist the holy Ghost and say it must reveal no more
it hath no unity And there is no true peace untill they come into the Kingdome which stands in joy in peace in righteousnesse Now where the body is standing and the root of sin in the heart not a perfect victory The Circumcision is not known that puts off the body the victory is not known while the body stands which the Apostle withessed the body of sin put off by the circumcision of the spirit which was in the inward man and he thanked God through Christ who had victory who was manifested in his flesh to condemn sin in his flesh that he through him became the righteousness of God And the life that he lived was by the faith of the Son of God And such as are made free from sin and dead to it and cannot live no longer therein these had the peace And such have not the peace where the body of sin is standing and sin in the heart there is the war But such as stand in the faith which purifies the heart and comes to witnesse the Circumcision of the heart they come to have the heart purified and the victory over the body as the Apostle declares Pr. He saith James Naylor deserved to be hanged page 5. He saith I tell my people they cannot be free from sin a perfect freedome from the being of corruption in them while they are on this side heaven pa. 9. And your speaking against Ministers and speaking in Markets is as bad or worse as to bait a Bull page 8. And he saith The Steeple house is the Church Ans The Ministers of Christ and the Prophets of the Lord which spoke his word which spoke in Synagogues and in Markets in high wayes and under the hedges and upon the mountains which disturbed the world and all professors upon the earth that had the words of truth which was out of the life and disturbed the Heathen that knew not God And all such Ministers of the Letter that have it and not the spirit that gave it forth are disturbed by the Ministers that be in the spirit that preach and speak forth the substance of the Scriptures And we know you and do believe you who saith your people shall not be made free from their corruption and tells them the Steeple-house is the Church and say the creature deserved to be hanged to be such at inwardly ravened which Christ said should come John saw was come and the whole world hath been after you that are wrestlers against flesh and blood and strikes at creatures in stead of striking at the power that captivates Creatures and so have kept people under the bondage of corruption and led people alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth and kept them in spirituall Aegypt Sodome and Gomorrah in filthinesse and telling of them the Masse-house is the Church the Steeple-houses Was it not a place for the Masse set up for the Masse with a Crosse at the end of it Look is it not on yet And is the Masse-house become thy Church thou mayst thank the Papists for that Was not the Pope and the Papists the setters up of all your Masse-houses and Colledges which have gotten up since the dayes of the Apostles among you inwardly ravenors from the Church which is in God and so have gotten up the Masse-house for your Church and there ye do keep up people telling them they must have corruptions while they be upon the earth So ye are Ministers of corruption which is contrary to the Apostles who said they sate in heavenly places and had escaped the pollutions of the world and they were children of the day not of the night and the true light shined So you that are ravened from the spirit of God have got up the Masse-house got people thither and telling of them they must have their corruptions and they must have sin and they must not be perfect while they are on this side heaven Now they can but have sin and can be but imperfect if they never came at you nor at your Masse-houses Now you are the Devills Messengers and Ministers that preacheth up sin and corruption and imperfection that people must be in and have sinne while they be upon the earth But the Ministers of Christ preached up perfection to be perfect and overcoming sin and made free from sin and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin and they had faith which gave them victory and the Circumcision that puts off the body of sin and the new Covenant that blotted out sin and transgression And such Ministers as you that make a trade of Scriptures as the Scripture it selfe the Prophets the Apostles and Christ doth make you manifest your fruits to be contrary to them that gave forth Scriptures So with it are you disapproved and judged with the life that gave it forth Pr. He saith And it seemes to me to be no more sin to bait a Bull then any other recreation And he saith The Quakers came into the Steeple-house and bid people to look to the light within them and to tell him that he was an Antichrist and blinde guide And saith I had rather be a hireling such as Christ hath hired in his Vineyard and receive a penny then some of the Quakers that go naked in the markets Answ The Quakers who be in the power of the Lord God have been moved of the Lord God to go into the world among Apostates who are ravened from the spirit of God and so are the Wolves that tears and rends and are ravening up and down for your Benefices and would eate one another out if you could and swallow one another like the fishes to the Sea Are you contented every one with your penny from Christ Are not you all fighting and striking and smiting and casting into Prisons for meanes for Tythes which ye do no work for Is not Christ come and hath found you smiting and striking your fellow-servants eating and drinking like Sodome and living in pleasure like the old world some having two hundred some three hundred pounds some lesse some more is here equall a penny Are ye like Christs Vineyard dressers Husband-men in the Vineyard Blush and be ashamed The stones are thrown now at Babylon and dasheth her children to pieces And Sion is building and the Tabernacle of David is rearing up Come up ye Saints and Prophets the Lamb and the Saints hath the victory And all those upon the earth and you all are the blinde guides and Antichrists who guides not people to the Light within and bids them not look at that but leads them from the Light within ye lead them in the darknesse and you are from the light in your own particulars and so the blinde guides for the fleece for the earth out of the Apostles Doctrine and Christs who brought people to the Light and bid them believe in it who told them the light that shined in their hearts would give them the
in the face of Christ Jesus and the light shining in the darkness which the darkness cannoâ—â—â—â—prehend it And no one upon earth ever sees their salvation but with the light â—â—ich cometh from Christ their Saviour who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all men through the light might believe he that doth not believe in the light is condemned And so he that followes the light shall not walk in darkness and he that followes not the light walks in darkness So with the light thou art comprehended to be a Minister of darkness in the apostacy keeping people from the light And one of the false prophets ravened from the spirit which Christ said should come John saw was come and the world goes after you that tells people the letter is the word and the spirit is in the Scriptures which is contrary to Scripture and them that spoke it forth which said the spirit of God was within them And the Scriptures were words of God and Christ the word comes to fulfill the words who is the word who was before the words was given forth in whom the words ends Pr. The Kingdom of heaven is within you not as Christ is in every one but the Kingdom of heaven is within you or among you Page 29. Answ Christ is within except ye be reprobates yea I say within all Professors is Christ in Christendom Christ is within them all except they be reprobates And if Christ be not within them all they are all reprobates but if Christ be within them all the body is dead and there is Christs reign and his Kingdom and no Babylon nor Antichrist where this is so And the Kingdom of Heaven is within you saith Christ yea in the Pharisees and that is the Kingdom in man that never consents to sin like a grain of mustard-seed like unto leaven that leavens the new lump And he that cometh to know that little Kingdom and receiveth that little Kingdom as a little child it makes the Kingdoms of the world become the Son of Gods Kingdom and knowes that no unrighteousnesse nor ungodlinesse must enter into it Pr. And Christ spake to the multitude when he said be not ye of men called Master and call no man father upon earth and did not bid the Apostles not to be called of men master Answ He spoke this to the multitude and to the Disciples both and said the Scribes and Pharisees was called of men Master who had Scriptures whom he cryed wo against And he said be not you of men called master for ye have all one master even Christ and ye are all Brethren this was Christs Command But all ye Pastors and Ministers Bourn and the rest who are apostatized from the Apostles Doctrine and Christs Doctrine ye trample upon the Commands of Christ It manifests that ye have the form of godliness and denyes the power and are not Brethren past from death to life but are all on heapes about the Scriptures Christs Prophets and Apostles words and making a trade of them for your own self-ends in the Apostacy such as Christ said should come which John saw was come which should inwardly raven which the world is gone after But now with that which ye all ravened from are ye all comprehended And Christ saith call no man father upon earth where Christ is witnessed the seed of God raised up no earthly man is his father nor cannot call no man father upon the earth according to the Command of Christ he that is heire of the promise of the world that hath no end of the second Adam born not by the will of man but he that is of the first Adam is in another state and stands against Christs doctrine and is the Son of Adam in the fall Pr. He saith such as pretend Christ within deny the blood of Christ his righteousness for Justification Answ Who witness Christ within they are not reprobates Justification and Sanctification is possessed the thing that was imputed to the believers Pr. And giving honour to men c. Answ Christ the second Adam receives not honour of men neither doth he respect mens persons his enemies could say so and they that received honour one of another was the Pharisees the great Professors which was a mark of the unbelief which Christ would not receive their honour the second Adam which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world will not receive the honour of men Now he that receiveth the honour is out of the light in the first Adam is out of the power And where humility is which goes before the honour there is no want of honour for he cometh into the power that maketh him honourable in the hearts of all people answering the humble principle in every one a terrour to the evil doer and here Magistrates that fears God attain the honour that is without the respect of Persons in the humility answering with the higher power the just principle in every man so come they to be honoured in the hearts of all people in the sight of God and a praise of them that do well which he that respects persons transgresseth the Law and commits sin and is convinced of the Law as a trangressor he that respects persons is out of the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ which purifies the heart which is held in the pure conscience and gives victory over the world which who are of faith are of Abraham And so for all thy lies and slanders and reviles and unsavoury and bad expressions which are loathsome before all sober people and stincks who hath published thy shame to the Nation in Print it shall cover thy self and be thy own garment and every word be thy own burthen and lay a weight upon thee in the day of thy misery and calamity and in the day of thy Judgement when thy works are tryed in the fire the witness in thy conscience shall me answer Gifford who is chief Priest at Bedford his Principle He said openly That faith was not perfect c. Ans Faith is holy and the gift of God and purifies and justifies and is a mystery in which is the unity by which God is pleased and this is perfect being the gift of God and from this he hath shewed his reprobation and his ignorance Thomas Moore in his Booke called A defence against the poison of Satans Designe These are his Principles Following Pr. HE saith Christ Jesus is personally absent from a believer And Christ is in and to our hearts the hope but not the possession nor do we possesse the glory Again he saith The grace of God which brings salvation to all men instructs them not to look into themselves or to any light or spirit in them Pag. 5. Answ Christ in you the hope of glory saith the Apostle And if the Saints sate with him in heavenly places they are not absent from him And if he say I in them and they in me so not
for for their own bellies and these cause divisions among all people Do not these serve their bellies And are not people come to mark them what a division they have set among people yea for Tythes and maintenance and persecuting and prisoning for it and haling before Judges and Justices by Writs into Courts and at Assizes and Sessions Doth not these serve their bellies that makes all this division and not Christ but they deny the light which doth enlighten every man c. and so deny Christ the Lord that bought them And the light that every man hath that cometh into the world and the light that shines in the heart it gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus and brings all off from serving their bellies and leads out of the lusts in the fall which came by Adam in the transgression Pr. He saith To speak the Word of God immediately and that which I speak I speak it immediately I am strengthened against that and admonished by God to hold fast the form of sound words And that which is able to make men wise unto salvation through faith And Timothy was to stir up the gift of God that was in him mediately and the putting on of the hands and the neglecting not the gift that was in him And God hath published his last dispensation and nothing more to be added or altered page 15. Answ It thou art strengthened by God against speaking his Word immediately or if thou speaks immediately thou being strengthened by God against this as thou saith In this thou shews thou never knew him who ever is strengthened of God it is by his power and that is immediate who ever speaks his word that lives and endures for ever it is immediate In this thou and you all have shewed your selves to be Ministers of the Letter and not of the Word of God which is immediate which lives and abides and endures for ever and is immortall and fades not away and this thou and you speak not immediately and therefore have ye indeed put the Letter for it that be from the Word of God in your hearts not born again of the immortal seed the Word of God And whosoever stirs up the gift of God in them it is immediate and by the immediate And who ever holds fast the form of sound words the Scriptures they are made wise unto salvation by them through the faith they are in the immediate gift of God and gift which brought Timothy to lay on the hands upon the Presbytery and see and divide the word aright and kept him out of partiality it was immediate and the immediate Word of God that he was to preach in season and out of season And since the dayes of the Apostles from this have you all been apostatized and asleep in the night of apostacy in the great City though there hath been Pipers among you and sounding of Trumpets and the voyce of thâ— Bridâ—â—â—d the grinding of Mills and the light of Candles And the time is coming that Bâ—â—ylon shall fall and become the habitation of Devils and the Saints shall rejoyce and sing over her c. Pr. He saith It is not properly and absolute in a full sense that God is manifest or glorified in the flesh of his Saints page 29. Ans The Saints are the Temples of God and God dwels in them and walks in them and they come to witnesse the flesh of Christ and they glorifie him in their souls and bodies and the Lord is glorified in their bringing forth much fruit And they witnesse the seed the one offering for sin and transgression to be manifest within and such are not Reprobates yet witnesse the one offering Christ Jesus and them that have not him within they are Reprobates Pr. He saith The body is dead because of sin yea it is yet in it selfe is but a wretched vile body page 30. And Christ is in or among believers the hope of glory And that person Christ is personally absent from the believers And we do not possesse the glory of this glory Christ in us page 32. Answ I do believe you that are not come to the Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world ye do not possesse the hope of glory in you ye are ab ent from Christ and do not feel him But the Saints in the light receive Christ the hope of glory and so he is not absent from them for they have unity with him and the Father and knows a change in them from glory to glory and witnesse Christ in them as believers in the light which walks not in darknesse that have the light of life And where the body of sin is destroyed and put off they glorifie God in their souls and bodies and spirit which is the Lords and those are not wretched Prin. He saith CHRIST is absent from us while wee are in the mortall body Answ Contrary to the Apostle who saith the life of Christ is manifest in their mortall flesh Pr. He saith Christ is in heaven with a spirituall body Answ And Priest Higginson saith he is in heaven with a carnall body And thus ye are confused and discerned who are from the Light and can speak of the body of Christ by the Letter and tell where he rose by the Letter as the Priests of old could tell Herod where he shâ—uld be born but Christs body is glorified Pr. He saith The first Resurrection we desire not to account our selves to have apprehended page 44. Such as magnifie their belly to be some eternall operation and making it withall deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish glorying in their shame minding sensuall earthly things All since the Apostle have not the Ministry of the Gospell immediately but mediately from the person of Christ in their believing through their word page 46. And the Text saith not the word of faith in the heart Answ Rom. 10. The word of Faith which they Preached was in their mouth and in their heart nigh them even in their heart And all since the dayes of the Apostles we do believe you have not received the Word immediately from Christ as the Apostles did who have erred and apostatized from them So none are Preachers of the Word in the Truth but who are Preachers of it immediately and such all are the false Apostles and such as serves not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies which mind earthly things sensually and are in the deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse deceiving the people with the good words forcing and taking maintenance of people they do no work for and keeping of them all from the immediate teachings of God they themselves being out of it and concluding all under their own dominion and shall all agree in one against the immediate teaching And they that be out of the immediate teaching is under the power of the Beast and Antichrist and the great whore the mother
cometh into the world that gives him the knowledg of the Son of God of the author of his faith and the taste of his fulness and to become a perfect man Pr. He saith The Scriptures is the meanes whereby the righteousnesse is revealed from faith to faith page 82. Answ The Pharisees had the Scriptures read every Sabbath and the form of godlinesse denyed the power and was reprobate concerning the Faith and the righteousnesse of Christ Jesus And God it is that reveals the faith and gives the faith and the righteousnesse and many have the words and yet not it who hath it hath the word in their hearts and the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and seeth God the original of all good and the Scriptures cannot reveal it but they testifie of it and all must come into the spirit before they know revelation or know the Scriptures either Pr. He saith New Jerusalem is not come down from heaven and be will make all things new not hath made page 83. He saith The body is dead because of sin yet there is a remainder of the old man in the members page 84. Answ Where the body is dead because of sin and that put off by the Circumcision of the spirit If the root be holy the branches are holy also and such comes to glorifie the Lord in their bodies and soules which are the Lords who hath redeemed them out of the sin So they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts and all things are become new And the new Jerusalem is witnessed come down from heaven among the Saints for who witnesseth Christ and know Christ knows the Tabernacle of God and knows the new Jerusalem and knows the place where there is no curse And many knows their Mother now and that which had led captive is gone and going into captivity Pr. He saith The Apostles gave the last and full revelation of the Gospell to all Nations And Timothy learned Doctrine mediately and since none may expect to receive so immediately as Paul did but all mediately page 88 89. Again God now gives and teacheth mediately and spiritually by the testimony of him mediately page 90. It is a little necessary to shew the vanity of their pretence of immediate revelation from Gods spirit page 91. Answ All them be in a pretence and in vanity that are from the immediate revelation of the spirit of God And if all people have all Pauls Declaration and if they have it not immediately revealed to them by the spirit of God as Paul had they have not the comfort of Pauls words neither have they the comfort of the revelations And John saith the everlasting Gospell must be preached to them that dwell upon the earth since the apostacy from the Apostles mark that And that which Timothy preached who was in the faith the gift of God and spoke his word and divided it aright it was immediate But since the dayes of the Apostles hath the immediate been lost and I know yee cannot expect it in the state ye all stand in inwardly ravened from the spirit of God and truth But now is the Saints come to that which ye ravened from and the Apostles were in who witnessed the immediate teachings of God and Gods teaching is immediate and the testimony of Jesus is immediate which is the spirit of prophecy but many have that which testifies of him and be from the immediate spirit as was in them that gave forth the Scriptures And all upon the earth that be from the immediate spirit of God as was in them as gave forth Scriptures and their Ministry be but mediate and they be but in the mediate they are all Ministers but of the Letter made by man and what they have it is but from man and not from God immediately Such have nothing but the sheeps cloathing and inwardly ravened from the spirit of God in them And here is Babylon the mother of Harlots and the Beast and his names but over all have they victory that be in the immediate in that which the Apostles was in and answer that in them all which they ravened from Pr. He saith Even now in the dayes of their adversity while the person of the Lord the fountaine of their teaching for whom they waite is personally absent from them Page 92. Answ All they that hate the light sees not Christ the fountain of teaching and these be them that inwardly ravened Such have their teachers in corners and are in the dayes of adversity and eate not the flesh of Christ nor drink his blood and are not of his flesh and bone and receives not his spirit But all who wait in the Light which Christ Jesus hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withall Every man that cometh into the world with which light he hath enlightned them their eyes shall see their Teacher that cannot be removed into a corner Salvation they shall see and dayes of adversity shall end and his guiding they shall know and come to be in unity with Christ and eate his flesh and drink his blood and be of his flesh and bone which thousands do witnesse this and the Prophet raised up the end of the Prophets and they that heare him not are to be cut off And none lifts up the Son of God but who be in the Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world and that brings him to understand the Scriptures and the substance of them Pr. He saith The grace of God that brings salvation it is a fancy to say it is stirred up in them but is a thing wrought in another for them And to say the Word of the Lord is within and the spirit within is mens following their own brain and visions of their own hearts And he saith whereas they imagine of a light within them all that knows God shewes the light in them to be darknesse it selfe See Post-script Answ All that knows God owns the Light within them to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus which light shines in their hearts And all that knows God owns the Light that doth â—â—lighten every man that cometh into the world Christ Jesus and believes in the Ligâ—â— and hath the witnesse in themselves And all that be from the Light within them be in the darknesse and stumbles which have been in this night of the apostacy from the Apostles Doctrine And all Gog and Magog and the Beast and false Prophets and the Kings of the Earth are making war against the Light that doth enlighten every man c. but the Light shall get the victory And all that be from the Word of God within in their hearts and their mouths though they speak of the Scriptures without yet they use their tongues and follow their own dreams and visions of their own hearts and brains and be from the Word of God that lives and abides
not in the darknesse but hath the light of life And you that keep people from the Light that doth enlighten every one c. are the messengers of Sathan out of the truth And the God of the world blindes the mindes of such as do not believe in the Light that every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withall that all through it might believe And who believes in it that doth enlighten every man c. the light of the glorious Gospell shines in them which is the mage of God Prin. And you say Visions are ceased and Revelations and immediate Inspirations Answ But I say Repent every one of you and come to the Light for the burthensome stone is fallen upon you and all that stands against the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world shall split your selves against the Rock and be grownd to powder And every one that cometh into the world Teachers Professors whatsoever must come unto the light which Christ Jesus the salvation that saveth the souls hath enlightned them withall before they come to life or know the light of the glorious Gospell shining in their hearts or come to the end of the Law or end of the Prophets or end of the Revelation or out of the apostacy or out of the Jewes state whose ears was stopt and eyes blinded out of the Gentiles state that goes astray after the vanities of their mind So all you and all upon the earth Jewes Gentiles and Christians of what sort soever must come to the light which every one of you is enlightned withall before every particular comes to see their salvation or satisfaction yea the salvation to the ends of the earth the glory of Israel the light of the Gentiles which the apostate Christians have ravened from the spirit of God within them have got the forme but stands against the Light that doth enlighten every man c. such have caused the way of truth to be evill spoken of yea among other Nations of the Heathens They have been hot and broyled in their lusts having had the forme of godlinesse and sheeps cloathing but all standing against the Light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world smiting striking their fellow-servants Now the Lamb is come and the Saints to reign with him Such their portion must have with the hypocrites who to every one will give a reward according to their works And the Lamb and the Saints shall have victory him by whom the world was made before it was made glorified with the Father before the world began Now is the seed Christ come to reign and the Just have preheminence And I say to you all Subscribers to all these Books Priests Professors Teachers whatsoever your patience would have better covered your shame and folly then your hast extreams and rashnesse But your folly must come forth that to all men it might appear Abundance more of Stuffe is in it which is not worth mentioning whose words shall be your own burthen the witnesse in all your consciences in the day of your judgement when your works are all tryed with fire shall answer to a friend of your souls and your goods eternall but judges your fruits words and actions for the day of the Lord is come that will try every mans work John Stalham who calls himselfe a Servant of the great Bishop of Souls who watcheth over a Flock at Terling in Essex In his Booke called The Reviler rebuked These are some of his Principles following Pr. HE saith Immediate Ruptures and Revelations seduceth simple peoples mindes c. And the perverse Principles of their selfe-adorning light And the Quakers deny all externall worship of divine Authority as not to be found among us And let Learning be advanced among pious men for God hath his witty and learned ones And the life of their Religion is the rule of the holy Scriptures the glory of the blessed Trinity See his Epistle to the Protector Answ The life of Religion is the spirit that gave forth Scriptures for all that have the Scriptures and be out of that be in the feigned Râ—ligion And the Scripture no where speaks of a Trinity but the Papists who be apostatized from the life of the Scripture It speaks of Father Son and holy Ghost and the water spirit and blood and the learned ones upon earth never knew Christ with all their naturall learning And if one get all the Naturals upon the earth and the Scriptures in all the naturall Languages and one supream power of a Nation tollerate all these Languages to be the Originall and they have the Scriptures in all these Languages these are witty ones but these knows not God nor Christ by all this though they have all the Scriptures while they are from the spirit of God that gave forth Scriptures For that which brings to know God is by the revelation of the spirit of God the light which doth not deceive the minde but their mindes be deceived that be from the light And all worships that be in the spirit and in the truth that gave forth the Scriptures called the Old and New Testament that we own and is owned among the Quakers For God who is a Spirit who led his servants and Prophets and Son by his spirit to speak forth the Scriptures which Christ the Son is come to fulfill who saith they that worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth and that among the Quakers is owned And the light which cometh from Christ leadeth from perverse Principles and adorning selfe for it leads out of its righteousnesse But perverse men ever stood against it in all ages and so spurned against the foundation and overthrew themselves Pr. He saith The spirit speaking in the Scriptures And them that say they have no sin a gracious heart will slight and despise He saith the Kingdome of God is not within them Luke 4. And he saith The soule prepares it selfe for death See Epistle to the Church Answ Such as had gracious hearts never despised him that had no sin but the ungracious did As for example all the Pharisees against Christ and against the Apostles and Saints and the holy men And the Apostle which told the Romans they were made free from sin and they that were dead to sinne how could they live any longer therein he slighted them not but encouraged them So we finde thee not to be a Minister of Christ and have proved and tryed thy spirit to be of such as say they are Apostles and are not And the spirit spoke in them that gave forth the Scriptures so they were declared forth And men may have the Scriptures and not know the spirit that spoke in them that gave forth Scriptures So that is the cause that all people be on heaps about the words and saying the spirit speaks in the Scriptures which spoke in the holy men of God that spoke them forth and learned of God
sin whilst they are upon earth they can be but in their sin if they never preach to them But the scripture saith He that believes is borne of God and he that is borne of God cannot sin because his seed remaines in him 1 Iohn 3.9 But this is of another world to him who is called James Dorram Minister of Glasgow Minister of darknesse who puts no difference between the children of God and the children of the devill 1 Iohn 3.10 They would have sin whilst they are upon the earth and it is darknesse but the Apostles said they were made free from sin Rom. 6.22 whilst they were upon the earth Pr. Christ being sinlesse separates him from all others Answ Christ being seperated from sinners Heb. 7.26 who are in Christ are seperate from sinners and sin both 2 Cor. 6 17. But this James Dorram hath made the offering of none effect Heb. 10.14 which hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified And hath made the blood of Jesus of none effect which cleanseth from all sin 1 Iohn 1.7 And he hath made the everlasting Covenant of none effect which blots out all sins trespasses And he hath made the faith of the Son of God of none effect which purifies the heart and gives victory over the world Acts. 15.9 1 Iohn 5.5 Thou dost herein preach and hold up sin and doth not preach it down and yet thou saist thou preachest not to hold it up and yet thou preachest they must have it whilst they are upon the earth here is confusion in thy tongue Prov. 17.20 Thou shouldst have preached it down and have brought them to a Church where there is neither spot nor wrinkle nor blemish nor any such thing Eph. 5.27 if thou wert a true Minister but your Church is full of spots and blemishes and wrinkles whilst ye are preaching up zeale to stone people and sin while they live as Henry Foreside and Iames Dorram doth Pr. God be thanked the scripture speakes nothing for freedome from sin and perfection Ans Thou thankest God that thou maist live in thy sin and imperfection and art glad of this thy false hope but thou art a lyar thou art out of the truth in this for the scripture saith they were made free from sin Rom. 6.26 and they preached wisdome among them that were perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 and he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 So the scripture speakes of freedome from sin and perfection and be perfect Pr. That the condemning power of sin is taken away Answ The believer doth not sin 1 Iohn 5.1 1 Iohn 3.9 but he that the believer overcomes commits sin 1 Io. 3.8 1 Io. 5.5 if the believer commits sin who overcomes the believer and so he that commits sin is under the condemning power of sin which thou saist not which thou and all other shall witnesse Pr. The believer is not in sin as the unbeliever is he sins not as the unbeliever doth and in an other place he saith the Law is the same to the believer that it is to the unbeliever Answ Here any may read thy confusion but I say unto thee he that believeth doth not commit sin but the unbeliefe is sin Rom. 11.20 and Christ is the end of the Law to every one that believes for righteousnesse sake Rom. 10.4 and yet thou puts both believers and unbelievers under the Law Lodowick Simerell priest of the new parish of Munckland his Principles and Doctrines Pr. THat it is blasphemy to say that the light in man which reproves of sin is the light of God is perfect is the gift of God Answ Contrary to scripture contrary to Christs words and contrary to the Apostles words is thy doctrine and Principles for every gift of God is perfect Isa 1.17 Isa 49.6 Iohn 1.3 Iohn 4. For Christ is the gift of God and he will give him for a Covenant of light to the Jewes and Gentiles which doth enlighten every man that commeth into the world which every one that doth truth comes to it which every one that doth evill hates the light and will not come to the light because the light will reprove him and so This is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds be evill So this light is perfect which doth reprove every man of sin and is from above and it is the gift of God and thou art blind and in darknesse that comprehends it not And the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Christ Jesus the gift of God him by whom the world was made this light was before any naturall light was made Sun Moon or Stars for all things that was made was made by the light which came a light into the world that all through him might believe for he that believes not in the light is condemned already and he that does believe in the light hath the witnesse in himselfe to set to his seale that God is true and the spirit of truth that doth reprove the world is perfect of God The light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withall is not conscience for the light was before any thing was made or conscience named So the light is that which exerciseth the conscience towards God and towards man where it is loved and the voice heard but where it is hated and the voice not heard the conscience is seared and the light is their condemnation whose consciences is seared which light was before conscience was The Priest would not have thee and thou to be to a single person and so is the man that would not indure sound words that cannot be condemned thee and thou was the language between God and his Saints and one another and you is to many and thou was to one and this was the language between Jeptha and his daughter and between the Saints and the Kings this shewes thou hast not learned the Accedence nor Bible nor art come to the forme of sound words Iohn Castaires called Minister of Glasgow his principles Pr. THis is naturall folks duty to pray to God and worship him although they sinfully keep themselves under a sinfull necessity to sin against God through ignorance Answ This hath been your worke to keep people in ignorance which you may be ashamed of A naturall man cannot worship God for he cannot receive the things of God nor a sinfull man but worship the Devill for he that commits sin serves him and he that serves sin serves the devill and worships him Iohn 8.34 And Christ said the Pharisees should receive the greater damnation for their pretended long prayers Mat. 23.14 and so he did not justifie them in their long prayers but rebuked them and said Wo unto them who draw near with their lips when their hearts were far off Isa 29.13 And they that pray and worship God must pray in the
as your heavenly Father is perfect Mat. 5.4 he knew that they might be perfect if they come into the Kingdom of God for there no unperfect thing must enter Rev. 21. and so he did speak that which he knew people should come into but they should come into it if ever they came into the Kingdom of God what is this to thee which cannot love enemies for they that love enemies shall know perfection and perfect love and patience have its perfect work Jam. 1.4 the Apostles speak wisdom to them that were perfect but not the worlds wisdom which comes to nothing 1 Cor. 2.6 and the work of the Ministry was for the perfecting of the Saints till they all come into the unity of the faith unto the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and unto the measure and stature and fulness of Christ Eph. 4. and they should not be any more tossed to and fro with the windy doctrines of men nor cunning craftiness wherewith they lie in waite to deceive and there art thou tossed up and down with every wind and far off the work of the Ministry when thou saist blasphemously Christ scorned men when he bad them be perfect Christ did not scorne them but thy doctrine it is imperfect and thou and you that transgress and abide not in the doctrine of Christ thou and you are Ante-christs as ye may read 2 Io. 9.10 Pr. When it was asked him of the words that Peter spake of concerning them that brought in damnable Heresies and denyed the Lord that bought them he said they did but think the Lord had bought them but they were not bought but they thought they had been so Ans Here thou again with thy damnable Doctrine dost goe about to make Peter and Iude lyers who speakes contrary to scripture and perverts their Doctrine and the words of Peter are thus even denying the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 and the words of Iude 4. denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ and thou saist the Lord had not bought them but they thought he had bought them wo and misery man will be thy portion that thou should so wickedly pervert the Apostles Doctrine and the scripture Acts. 13.10 and bring in such damnable Doctrine and devilsh doctrine and speaks such lyes in hypocrisy whose conscience is seared with a hot Iron 1 Tim. 4. it is time for people to turne away from you who have so long deceived them Pr. Concerning these words of Ezek. 18.28 If the righteous man turne away from his righteousnesse his former righteousness shall be no more remembred and he said the meaning of that scripture was they thought they had been righteous but they were not but supposed it had been so Ans Here in this thou art a minister of unrighteousnesse thou goest about to make God a lyer and the Prophets and perverts the scriptures for if he forsakes his righteousnesse and commits sin and iniquity and trespasses he shall dye and not live in the righteousnesse but if he forsake his sin trespasses and transgressions in the righteousnesse that he hath done and doth he shall live so Gods waies are equall Eze. 18. And thou saies they thought they had been righteous but it was not so And the Lord by the Prophet saith it was so that they should live in their righteousness dye if they depart from it and transgressed here thou art a diminisher from the prophets and Apostles words whose name is diminished out of the book of life read Rev. 22.19 Pr. He denyed that Christ dyed for all men but for the Elect. Ans Contrary to Iohns Doctrine who saith he is the propitiation for our sins and not for our sins onely but for the sins of the whole world 1 Iohn 2.2 and so it is the unbeliever that is shut out and not believing in the light that men are enlightned withall with which light they might see the one offering who tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all through him might believe and they that believe not in the light are condemned Ioh. 3.18 but beleving in the light shall come out of condemnation and he is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 and the grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men which was the saints Teacher Titus 2.11 12. and they that turn it into wantonnesse shall with it be condemned Iude 4. they that set up a heap of teachers 2 Tim. 4.3 after their own lusts went out from the Apostles doctrine before the Apostles decease 1 Io 2.19 and have turned the grace of God that brings salvation into wantonnesse ever since and saith it hath not appeared unto all men which brings salvation which is saving grace and Christ Jesus doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that they might believe and walke after him and saith they that follow him shall not abide in darknesse but shall become the children of light and have the light of life Io. 8.12 Now say they that hate the light it is not sufficient it is not a saving light but they shall find it sufficient to condemn them and their unbeliefe for not believing in it for believing in it they come to have the light of life Iohn 8.12 and Iohn 12.36 Pr. He being asked who were hirelings if they were not that did take hire his answer was they were hirelings that did not take hire and to prove it he brought that scripture in Philippians of them that preached Christ of envy and strife Ans Now all may see what doctrine he brings to pervert or wrest the scriptures Philip. 1.15 to prove them hirelings that doe not take hire that in the Phillyipians doth not prove that they were hirelings neither did they take hire so that for his purpose makes nothing though for this purpose he brings that scripture but that his folly and darkness might appeare and be made manifest by the light for now to it his deeds are come who is unfit to talke of the scripture Pr. He said it was the cleare marke of the Devill to goe up and downe from place to place to preach as the Quakers doe Ans Now here in this he may charge all the prophets Christ and his Apostles which went up and downe from place to place Heb. 11. that this is the marke of the Devill but this is too manifest to bring to light and discover the Presbyterian priests of Scotland who lies in Dens and Corners and fat benefits and there stick in the earth are crept into houses who say it is the devills marke to goe up and downe to preach but this is that they may manifest themselves to be judged by the practice of Christ his Apostles that their folly might appeare unto all men Luke 9.5.8 Heb. 11. likewise the Presbyterian Priests are turned like Ranters who
one another in this Church Papists and Protestants Lutherans and Calvinists so called how is it they are not of one body broken into so many heads now the baptisme of the spirit brings all into one body in which spirit is the fellowship and the unity which spirit is the bond of peace and Circumcision outwardly was a figure of Circumcision within and that it typed forth and baptisme without typed forth baptisme within and many may run into the outward water that doth decrease and doth not come to the body of Christ the light as you may read in the fifth of John for none are grafted into Christ the body but who comes to the light John bare witness of Pr. You say though Christ he in Heaven you on Earth and you are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Answ And yet before you said your consciences accused you and your best works in this life were sinful imperfect and you could not keep the commands of God now this is confusion who are of the flesh and bone of Christ are with him and fits with him in Heavenly places for their conversation is in Heaven Pr. We are grafted into Christ by the Holy-Ghost now according to his humane nature on earth Answ Humane nature is from the ground this is old Adam but Christ who according to the flesh was of Abraham and of David the Scripture doth not tell us of humane nature for humane is from the ground but Christ is from above and though he were a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world yet his nature was not corrupted nor his flesh saw no corruption he that is made of the dust is humane he that is the Lord from heaven is not humane so you erre in your understandings that doth not distinguish Pr. Teaching the Gospel and Ecclesiastical discipline by which the heaven is opened to believers and shut against the unbelievers Ans Christ hath the key which opens to believers which doth enlighten every man that comes into the world that through it they might believe and they that do not believe in the light which Christ hath enlightned them withal heaven is shut to them light condemns them and they neglect the Gospel upon whom the wrath comes which Gospel is the power of God and as for the Ecclesiastical discipline it is got up since the dayes of the Apostles in the apostasie which shuts up the Kingdom of Heaven against men that which they should have believed in that is the light Christ hath enlightned them withall which is the key Pr. And such you say that be wicked men the Sacrament is to them forbidden and shut out of the Congregation Answ Do you not call baptisme Sacrament and hath he given them it and did not you say they are grafted into the Church by baptisme and cannot Judas take the sop but for the word Sacrament that you may look in the old Canon Book the Masse-Book and such as you like you give your Sacrament as covetous and proud and lovers of gold and surfetted with the cares of this life and drunk with it and such as are in superfluitie and yet such you will give it to and common outward drunkards you will keep it from now are not all those forbidden and out of the Church of God read and judge your selves and amend your lives and repent that you may come into the spirit that baptizeth into the body of Christ Pr. You say Christ hath redeemed you by his blood and renewed you by his spirit to his Image Ans And yet your works before were sinful and you brake the command of God now this shewes still that you have but the form and unrenewed in spirit unchanged unconverted and not in the Image of God and not in the thankfulness of God out of a pure heart Pr. To mortifie the old man is to be sorry for your sins Answ A man may be sorry for the sin he hath acted but that which puts off the body of sin is the spirit and purifies the heart is the faith and that that cleanseth from all sin is the blood of Jesus and that that blots out all sin and transgression is Christ the Covenant of God and Christ within manifest in the flesh condemns sin in the flesh so having him within the body is dead because of sin Pr. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image the likeness of any thing in Heaven above or in the earth beneath or worship them or bow down to them thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain c. and remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day for six dayes thou shalt labour and do all thou hast to do but on the Sabbath thou nor thy ox servant or stranger shall do no manner of work Answ Do you not make graven images and Pictures of things in Heaven and of things in the water and of things in the earth and so make similitudes and representations and adore them and set them up in your houses and is not this quite contrary to the commands of God and hath not the Papists been your examples for these things and not the Apostles and do ye not take the Lords name in vain dayly in your streets and markets in your buying and selling and take the Lords name in vain when you call upon him with your lips but your hearts be in your covetous practices and full of hatred envy pride voluptuousness ambition self-honour and deceit and this is taking the Lords Name in vain to call on God with your lips while your hearts be after this manner do your servants or strangers or cattel rest on the seventh day and do you not keep Markets and Fairs on that day the Lord gave to the children of Israel after the fall of Adam for a sign of the restoration of the Creation that neither man nor servant nor family nor ox nor Asse should work on that day but rest so it was a signe the Apostles saith the Sabbath day was a shadow of good things to come which was Christ the good thing who restores the Creation and giveth the liberty to Horse Asse Ox and all the Creation unto man and stranger and servant and Redeemes man up into the image of God and renewes it which hath been lost and so is restoring of the Creation and gives rest to his people and all the Creation and destroys the Devil death and all his works Christ who is the restorer gives rest to the Creation who was before dayes was by which all things was made Pr. You say Thou shalt not do no murther thou shalt not steal nor thou shalt not covet thy neighbours goods house or servant nor any thing that is his his wife or ox or Asse c. Ans Do you do no murther that was the Law without do you fulfill it in Christendom then you do not murther the just principle of God in your particulars do you not quench the spirit in