peruert Heb. 6. and other holy Scriptures to their owne destruction Hauing now discouered some of H. Ns. principles The summe of the true Faith wee will in short set downe our Faith concerning these 6. Principles Heb. 6. First of Repentance from dead workes we doe beleeue that euery transgression of any Law of God is sinne 1. Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 6.23 and the wages of euery sinne is Death and so a dead worke That no man by reason of weake Flesh can keepe the Law Rom. 8.3 and therefore by transgression becommeth dead in Sinne Ephe. 2.1.3 and so by weake Nature the Childe of wrath For the Law causeth wrath Rom. 4.15 for where no Law is there is no transgression but the power of Gods word contained in the holy Scriptures 1. Cor. 15.34 Ephes 5.14 and not the Reuelations or Dreames of H.N. nor any others awaking man and setting his sinnes in order before him and the fearefull terror of Gods wrath against him Act. 2.37 16.30 Act. 2.38 3.19 causeth man to be pricked in his heart and to cry out what shall wee doe to be saued To which God answereth Repent of thy sinnes confesse them sorrow for them and reforme them But man seeing by the same holy Scripture that this his repentance or any other thing that he can doe cannot appease Gods wrath nor satisfie his Iustice for his sinne he is inuited hereupon to flye vnto Gods Grace by the Redemptiō purchased through the blood of his Sonne who is God ouer all and tooke our Nature vpon him and became Man Dyed for vs and is risen againe in his Body ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession for his seruants euen for all that obey him Heb. 5.9 through whom alone wee haue Redemption euen the forgiuenes of our sinnes 2. Thus by Faith in the Blood of Christ is this Sinner sprinckled in his heart from an euill Conscience Heb. 10.22 and must also be washed in his Body with pure water 3. This is the Baptisme that saueth not onely the washing away the filth of the Flesh but in that a good Conscience maketh request vnto God 1. Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ Yet not onely the good Conscience is Baptisme but also washing with materiall water into the Name of the Father c. For to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen which is the estate of Grace or true Christianity in this life called the Kingdome of Heauen Ioh. 3.5 Ephes 4.5 Wee must haue Water and Spirit Christ hath coupled them together as his one Baptisme and let no man seperate them 4. By laying on of handes wee conceiue is meant the whole ministery of the Church which consisteth of those Offices mentioned in Christs Testament All which are to be entred into by laying on of hands as these Scriptures teach * Act. 6.6 13.3 For other laying on of hands by which extraordinary guiftes were communicated vnto men wee vnderstand they were myracles giuen of God in the primitiue Church for the confirmation of the Apostles authority who taught thinges that neuer before were taught Heb. 2.5 which that they might be credited they did such thinges as neuer men did And if any Familist can doe Myracles as did th Apostles thē might they haue had some colour to write and bring into the world new Gospels as they are not ashamed to doe 5. Concerning the Resurrection from the Dead We beleeue that our soules shall be seperated from our bodies by naturall Death That the Body returnes to earth whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 1. Cor. 15. vntill the day that Iesus Christ shall come againe to Iudge quicke and dead Then shall our Bodies rise againe euen these bodies Ioh. 19.25 c. and with these eyes shall wee see our Redeemer Lastly we doe beleeue and looke for to our great reioycing the blessed appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ to that Eternall iudgement wherein hee shall Iudge both quicke and dead according to their works done in this Flesh 2 Cor. 5.10 whether they be good or euill Reuel 20.12 to an Eternall being to wit Them that by continuance in wel-doing seeke glory and Immortality Rō 2.7 c. 1. Thes 4.17 Rom. 2.8 they shall come to Eternall Life where they shall bee euer with the Lord. But those that are contentious and disobey the Truth and obeyes vnrighteousnes haue done euill and haue not repented thereof They shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation Ioh. 5.29 indignation and wrath shall bee vpon them burning in the Lake for euermore with the Deuill and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Now let all Iudge whether wee be totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. as these accusers doe suggest or rather that themselues are not only ignorant of them for if they were their sinne were the lesse but they deny them and that after their enlightning The 9. transgression they accuse vs of is Ninthly you will not bee reformed by the Light which God hath manifested in these latter times and whereof much is in the Booke of Common Prayer and in the Homilies and in the Booke of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons Answ VVEE hauing asked some of them what Light this is that in these latter times God hath manifested for we conceiue God neuer spake nor euer will after his speaking by his Sonne in these last dayes who by himselfe and his Apostles hath deliuered all the Counsell of God sealing it vp with these sentences If wee or an Angell from Heauen teach any otherwise then we haue Preached Gal. 1.8 9. let him bee accursed And if any adde to what they haue done Reuel 22.18.19 God will adde the plagues written by them or if any take away any of those their wordes God will take away their names out of the Booke of Life we say we hauing asked them concerning these thinges they haue answered vs God hath spoken to the world at three seuerall times First by Moses and the Fathers 2. By Christ and the Apostles And thirdly by an euerlasting Gospell in these last dayes alledging Reuel 14. Which what Gospell should it bee but the Gospell of the Kingdome which H. N. hath published to the world in which many of his poysoned Doctrines is broached concerning which hee hath giuen himselfe a stately stile farre exceeding the Apostles in all their writings full of blasphemies which is this H. N. through the Grace and mercy of God Euang. Peg. Cap. 1. and through the holy Spirit of the loue of Iesu Christ raised vp by the highest God from the Death according to the prouidence of God and his Promises annoynted with the Holy Ghost in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly goods of
Hee did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth hee was that iust one Cap. 3.18 who appeared to take away our sinnes and in him is no sinne That he suffered for the sinnes of others although what is said be proofe sufficient yet if any thing might bee accounted plaine with these wofull men manifold testimonies might be added Esa 53.5.6 you see Christ appeared to take away our sinnes hee was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes are wee healed Vers 12 and the Lord laide vpon him the iniquity of vs all hee powred out his soule vnto the Death hee bare the sinnes of many and payed for the trespassers hee dyed for the vngodly Rom. 5.6.8.9.10 for Sinners his Blood iustifies others his Death reconciled vs when wee were his enemies hee was giuen to Death for vs for our Sinnes Rom. 8.32 2 Cor. 5.15 Gal. 3.13 4.5 1. Pet. 2.21.24 hee dyed for all that were Dead Christ redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law by his suffering euen the cursed Death of the Crosse that he might Redeeme them that were vnder the Law who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his Body on the Tree 1. Pet. 3.18 4.1 1. Tim. 2.6 1. Ioh. 2.2 c. Christ the Iust suffered for the vniust and he hath suffered for vs in the Flesh hee gaue himselfe a Ransome for all men and hee is the reconciliation for the Sinnes of the whole world Secondly it is manifest that none can haue saluation but by Faith in those Sufferings of that man CHRIST IESVS Mar. 16.16 Hee that beleeneth and is Baptized shall be faued as many as receiues him to them Ioh. 1.12 hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen as many as beleeue in his Name Ioh. 3.16 And whosoeuer Beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting Life hee that beleeueth not is Condemned already Vers 18 Be it knowne vnto you men and Brethren that through this man is Preached vnto you forgiuenes of Sinnes and from all thinges from the which yee could not be iustified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38.39 by him euery one that Beleeueth is iustified The righteousnes of God is manifest vnto all and vpon all that Beleeue Rom. 3.22 And Abraham the Father of the Faithfull he beleeued and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnes Rom. 4.24 And to vs also shall it bee imputed for Iustice which beleeue and the Iust shall liue by Faith Gal. 3.11 And wee are the sonnes of God by Faith in Christ Iesus Vers 26 What shall we need to alledge more testimonies who will not wonder that any mortall man professing the Scriptures should dare to set his face against God in these his euident testimonies when God saith The iust shall liue by Faith in his Sonne Christ Iesus who dare say this is a fable to seeke Iustice in another then in our selues and that by the Law men may bee justified before God as after it shall appeare they doe From all which testimonies we confidently affirme that neuer any Sinner was saued but by Faith in Christ either beleeuing him to come by the Promise of God to pay the ransome for mans sinne Or that he is come to performe the same For they that were saued before his Comming did beleeue in him according to the promise of the Father but after he is come all must beleeue as himselfe saith That I am hee Ioh. 8 24. or else they shall dye in their sinnes All which is so euident that it may be maruailed at that the Deuill should so besot men with blindnes as that they should contradict so euident a Truth and the rather because in wordes they acknowledge the Scriptures and in their Writings plentifully quote them but indeed it is certaine it is but to blinde the eyes of the simple For as the Master saith Therefore it is assuredly all false and lyes H.N. Dialog cap. 16. sect 16. seducing and deceitfull what the vngodded or vnilluminate men out of the Imagination of their knowledge and out of the learnednes of the Scriptures bring forth institute Preach or teach They Preach indeed the Letter but not the worde of the liuing God Let them esteeme themselues as holy as they will they are all a false Christianity and a deuillish Synagogue or Schoole So say his Disciples That wee out of the Family of Loue vnderstand not one word in all the vniuersall Bible and that wee are in the way of infernall darknesse So that pretend what they will they reiect all Scripture further then may stand with H. N. and his fellow Elders in the Family of Loue. For thus further they write They ought to beware that that they distrust not the Eldest in the Family of Loue H. N. in 1. exhor cap. 13 Diuis 11. fol. 31. nor suspect any manner of euill or vnwisedome by him nor yet in any wise perswade themselues that the Exercises documents or Instructions which are taught or set forth before them by the Father of the Family of Loue or oldest Elder are too sleight too childish or too vnwise for them to follow after or to obay but with perfect hearts humbly and singly minded as good willing Children to receiue the same instructions proceeding out of the wisedome and Councell of the Eldest and to stand euen so submitted till they come vnto the manly oldnesse in the Loue. Againe he saith The Scripturely learned man hath no knowledge of Gods matters In the Prophesie cap. 8. hee cannot vnderstand any tittle much lesse interpret or expound the same to others it is giuen onely to the Family of Loue to vnderstand the secrets thereof Againe thus My Children and you Family of Loue giue eare to mee your Father liue according to my Doctrine Jn his 1. exhort cap. 11. sect 1.2 that it may goe well with you take heed to my Doctrine and what I doe set forth and teach that it may bee a Seale of life and a witnes of truth in your hearts for it is your Life And againe thus Let your selues now in all your being nature minde and disposition Crying voyce cap. 3. sect 11 become renued through the loue in her seruice and giue all your vnderstanding captiue vnder the obedience of the Loue. And so teacheth his Children to say O my Father in the Loue 1. Exhor cap. 13. sect 2. I submit my selfe and all my vnderstanding vnder the wisedome of thy Doctrine Let all iudge if these wretches abolish not the Scriptures to set vp their owne deuillish inuentions what shew of the Scriptures soeuer they make But they obiect against this strict Faith in this man Christ and his sufferings Rō 2.14.15 For when the Gentiles which haue not the Law doe by Nature the thinges contained in the Law hauing not the Law are a Law
A DISCOVERY OF THE ABHOminable Delusions of those who call themselues the Family of Loue. WHEREIN THEIR FALSE CHRIST and false Profession is plainely laide open and all their grosse Cauils cleerely confuted PRO. 28. They that forsake the Law praise the wicked but they that keepe th Law set themselues against them REVEL 2.6 But this thou hast that thou hatest the workes of the Nicolaitans which I also hate Printed M. D.CXXII TO THE READER AMong the many Tares that the Enuious man hath sowen in these last Dayes of the world there are two principall ones by which he so preuayleth among them that acknowledge a Christ that hee bringeth many millions of soules to eternall perdition which wee earnestly beseech may be seriously considered One is a perswasion he worketh in many that if they haue the knowledge of Christ in wordes and doe make a profession of him with their lips mouth and so are accounted Christians by name practising some obseruations which haue a shew of his sacred Commaundements although in deede and Truth they bee the inuentions of Men this they thinke are perswaded is Christianity effectuall and will serue sufficiently to bring them to heauen A second is that when the Deuill seeth he cannot preuayle with diuers in this perswation but that they see Christianity is another thing then a bare profession of Christ then by little and little hee throweth them vpon these fearefull rockes of Familisme to beleeue and be perswaded that true Christianity and the worship of God is onely inward in the heart not at all in any outward obseruatiō or Bodily performance whatsoeuer and that the knowledge of a Christ who by his bodily Death suffered for our sinnes is needlesse which being effectually wrought in their hearts they growe presently to a loathing of the true Christ and the bodily obseruation of all Christs Ordinances for the gathering of his Church for his Ministery for his Worship and for his Church gouernment and all the appertainings thereof hating and contending against all that in the feare of God stand for the maintainance of them And not so onely but also defend with a high hand that men may be saued without knowledge or Faith in the Blood of the man Christ and that Christians ought to subiect their bodyes at the Magistrates commaund in all outward reuerence at any Idolatrous abhomination Mahometisme Papisme or whatsoeuer keeping their hearts to God all which commaunds of the Magistrates they account but Idle vanities as shall be shewed And for the spreading of these and many other most fearefull thinges the Deuill hath raised vp H.N. the most skilfull workman of this Craft and for his Successors though botchers in respect of their Master M.P. who calleth himselfe the mighty Prince of the Hebrewes and his seruant who writeth thus Seruant of M.P. a true Certif cap. 1. sect 10. It is not the pride of our manly being that wee meane to be equall in this or that but onely we meane God to be the very fame in M. P. and the seruant of M.P. that he was in H.N. c. These hauing written diuers Bookes many of which wee haue read by which they haue gotten many Disciples especially such as hauing knowne much truth which vsually is accompaned with the Crosse of Christ haue not onely forsaken that truth wherewith they were enlightened but now doe most wofully blaspheme it whose vniust accusation of vs and proude boasts occationeth the publishing of this little worke And although these especially be delt with yet there are diuers others who will not be called Familists that are deeply tainted with diuers of these things some called the scattered flocke who agree with the former that they may remaine in Babilon A litle booke to the Church of Rome pa. 113. and there mourne tarry c. And what account they make of the Lords Ordinances may appeare by that they write of Baptisme In T.L. aduertis pa. 5.8 which they say is teares teares is the water in Baptisme c. Another sort there are who although they haue not the name of Familists in that they dislike many of their blasphemies yet are dangerously affected with one of their maine grounds They cry out against outward Church Ministery Worship and Church gouernment and feeke and sue to the Magistrate for reformation thereof which when they cannot obtaine they submit and earnestly perswade others to submit to those thinges which being against their Consciences they cry out of onely to auoyde the crosse of Christ and they perswade the people that seeing they haue had comfort in that estate although the thinges they practice be most vile yet they may remaine in the practice thereof and they being reproued for speaking euill of that they practice and submit to they haue Fig-leaues to couer this their naked hypocrisie and when the examples of the Disciples and Churches of Christ are brought to reproue their courses they answer These were inuisible Churches the Elect in the outward Church and diuers such fancies whose courses herein are met withall in this writing following The meane betwixt these we desire to walke in not approuing it sufficient for iustification to haue a Fleshly knowledge of Christ onely or to haue respect to any outward obseruation or bodily seruice where the soule or affection is wanting For in all the Ordinances of Christs Gospell nothing auayleth but a new creature Gal. 6.15 2. Cor. 5.17 Ioh. 3.5 and if any be in Christ he is a new creature none can enter into the kingdome of heauen except he be borne again But we doe abhorre any hypocriticall conceipts which indeed are deceits where the knowledge and Faith of Christ after the flesh and those bodily obseruations that Iesus Christ cōmaundeth is dispised and made of none effect yea where in stead thereof any manner of Idol-seruice is set vp and outwardly reuerenced Christ telleth vs It becommeth vs to fulfill all righteousnes Math. 3. in bodily washing or Baptizing and as often as wee eate that bread of Cōmunion 1. Cor. 11.26 and drinke that Cup we shew forth the Lords death till hee come God hath made our Bodies redeemed them preserueth them Psal 119.113 and will glorifie them so as we will glorifie him with both in abhorring vaine inuentions and louing his Law Christ hath coupled soule and body together and let no man seperate them in his seruice If bodily obseruations be abandoned in the Cōmandements of the first table concerning the worship of God Mat. 23.38 which is the great Commandement and that we may with our bodyes performe any worship why is not the Commands of the second Table our duty towards man abandoned in all bodily obseruations and that our bodyes may steale Whore Lye Murther and what not which thing the oldest Father of this Family doth not sticke at as is shewed Pag. 54. In dealing with this wofull people let none take offence that wee
walking vprightly as farre as they see when indeed their walking is so farre from vprightnes that when God calls and cryes vnto them and stretches out his hand vnto them all the day long by that measure of means which he affoordeth them Rom. 10.21 they still gaine-say him and are rebellious against him But their obiection is That all they that are ignorant and either by wordes or workes deny Christ and worship Idols and see no further but thinke they doe well they shall be excused to which ignorant conceit wee must say something Ignorance shall not excuse any that liue in Idolatry and doe not obey the Sonne of God THough it be sufficient that the Lord hath pronounced these Iudgements against such as beleeue not in and obey not his Sonne but are Idolaters without exception of ignorant or not ignorant yet that the truth of the Lord may shine herein as the light at noone day wee haue endeauored to take away this their obiection also that in particular words That ignorance is sinne it appeareth by those ceremoniall sacrifices of attonement which were offered for it Leuit. 4.13 c. 22.27 5.2.5.15.17 Heb. 9.7 and the wages of all sinne is Death Also the Lord saith Harden not your hearts as in Meribah and Massah where your Fathers tempted me c. though they had seene my worke forty yeares haue I contended with this generation and said they are a people that erre in their heart for they haue not knowne my wayes therefore I sware in my wrath Psal 95.8 c. Hosea 4.6 surely they shall not enter into my rest And my people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge And our Sauiour teacheth That if the ignorant lead the ignorant Mar. 15.14 both shall fall into the ditch And hee that knew not his masters will Luk. 12.48 and yet did thinges worthy of stripes hee shall be beaten And they that kill Christs Disciples Ioh. 16.1 shall thinke they doe God seruice because they neither knew God nor Christ which to know is Eternall life Ioh. 17.3 Peter through his ignorance aduised Christ not to suffer for which he had a most sharp reproofe Get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.23 thou vnderstandest not the thinges of God Againe I know Brethren yee did it through ignorance Repent Act. 3.17 that your sinnes may bee put away The Gentiles that regarded not to know God by his wonderfull workes the Heauens and Earth Psal 19. which preach and teach day and night to euery speach and language and giueth euery reasonable soule vnder Heauen a measure of knowledge because they regarded not to know God Rom. 1.28 God deliuered them vp to a reprobate mind And the Iewes had the zeale of God yet not according to knowledge for they being ignorant of the righteousnes of God Rom. 10.2 they found it not And Christ Iesus shall render vengeance in flaming fire vnto them that doe not know God and obey not the Gospell 2. Thes 1.8.9 And those that through the signes and lying wonders of the man of Sinne are deceiued 2. Thes 2.10 c. they shall perish and bee damned because they receiued not the loue of the Truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes What store of testimonies are in this thing If men doe euill though of ignorance for the same shall not enter into Gods rest but be destroyed fall into the pit be beaten be deliuered vp to a reprobate minde haue flaming Fire rendred vpon them and be damned all which the mouth of the Lord hath spoken If any notwithstanding all this will yet say Ignorance shall excuse any 1. Cor. 14.38 wee will answer with th'Apostle If any bee ignorant let them be ignorant and taste the reward thereof The cause of Ignorance is hardnes of hart and vnbeliefe and not the want of means as is plaine If our Gospell be hid that is if any be ignorant of it it is hid to them that perish 2. Cor. 4.3 c. in whome the God of this world hath blinded their mindes that is of the vnbeleeuers c. And they being strangers from the life of God Ephes 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of their hearts So that vnbeliefe and hardnes of heart is the cause of Ignorance and ignorance maketh men strangers from the life of God Paul did it ignorantly through vnbeliefe 1. Tim. 1 13 All haue or might haue meanes enough had they vsed that well which they had And whereas they affirme it to be iniustice in God to condemne all the Nations of the earth that haue beene or are ignorant of Christ Wee answer though it be plaine that Christ is manifest by a measure of meanes to euery reasonable Creature vnder Heauen Col. 1.6.23 For haue they not heard Rom. 10.18 yet in this th'Apostle affirmeth Gods iustice appeareth that such as had but the inuisiblenes of God declared in the Creation of the Heauens and the Earth Rom. 1.19 c. which teach knowledge Day and Night whose voyce is heard in euery Language vnder Heauen they regarded not to know God by the same Psal 1.1 c God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde If any yet demaund why the Cannibals know no more the Apostle answeres Because they regarded not to know God by that they had Hath not God promised that if any seeke they shall finde Math. 7.7 What made the Wise men of the East to finde the Babe Christ but their diligent seeking Math. 2.1 Men finde not because they seeke not Iam. 4.2 wee need not goe amongst the greatest Pagans we shall find too many who know not God nor Christ in our owne Nation now the same cause they haue no knowledge that is the cause why the Cānibals haue no knowledge namely because they seeke not The Iewes had meanes enough yet were they ignorant of the way of God and God was found of those that in comparison sought not after him Rō 10.20 That none need be ignorant read these Scriptures Deut. 30.11 Rom. 10.6 c. 18.20 Math. 7.7 Iam. 4.2.3 Some also obiect Act. 17.30 In the time of that ignorance God regarded not c. From hence they conceiue that God regarded not to punish Ignorance but let the place be considered and it doth effectually conuince that conceit Th' Apostle Paul cōming to Athens and beholding the blinde Deuotion of the Athenians and reprouing them for the same enformeth them of the true God whome saith he you ignorantly worship him shew I vnto you and hauing shewed them what that God was and what he was not how he would be worshipped and how he would not concludeth with these words In the time of that Ignorance God regarded not but now he admonisheth all men euery where to repent c. In the time of Ignorance God had no regard of your blinde Deuotion but now in
mercy the knowledge of the Gospell being reuealed to the world by his Son hee admonisheth all men euery where to repent euen you Athenians of your ignorant worship else as he had no regard in the time of your ignorance you continuing the same he will yet haue no regard of your ignorant Deuotion the like is said of Caines worship that God regarded it not Gen. 4.5 God hath so little regard of Ignorance that if his owne Commandements should be performed without knowledge Heb. 11.6 it were sinne For without Faith it is impossible to please God and whatsoeuer is not of Faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 the wages of sinne is Death This place therefore may be for confirmation of what is said to proue that God hath no regard of any ignorant worship whatsoeuer But their mayne obiection is from Cornelius in that he is called a Deuout man Act. 10. cap and one that feared God with all his Houshold which gaue much Almes to the people and prayed God continually a iust man of good report among all the Nation of the Iewes The holy Ghost saith of this man That his Prayers and his Almes were come vp in remembrance before God Therefore saith the Lord now send men to Ioppa and call for Symon whose surname is Peter hee shall speake wordes vnto thee whereby both thou and all thy House shall be saued This man say they was in the estate of saluation before euer Peters Doctrine came vnto him which if it were so it must bee by Faith in the promised seed Iesus Christ and then will make nothing for them where we can see a man or men in whom wee can behold asmuch good as in Cornelius wee will willingly say asmuch of him as of Cornelius But wil it therefore follow that such as liue in Idolatry and wilfully though ignorantly goe on in the same that such must be declared to bee in the estate of saluation Seeing the Lord hath so plentifully declared the contrary Can any such thing be said of Cornelius wee neither reade that he was an Idolater nor refused to receiue Christ Iesus when hee was offered Thus much Cornelius estate proueth That men that walke in no euill way but on the contrary haue many goodnesses in them God so remembreth and respecteth them that hee will not leaue them till he haue sent Peters Doctrine vnto them whereby they may be saued yea God respecteth any good in any as in Ahab 1. King 21.29 1. King 14.13 Ionah 3.10 Rom. 1.12 c. Ieroboams Sonne Niniuie yea in those that haue no more but the workes of God to teach them as euery reasonable Creature vnder Heauen hath that if they vse that well and glorifie God by that they haue he will not leaue them till he haue brought thē to Peters Doctrine whereby they may be faued Now that Cornelius although a iust man fearing God and his prayers had in remembrance with God was therefore in the estate of Saluation before Peters Doctrine came vnto him it may be questioned if not absolutely denyed for these reasons 1. Because the Lord saith Act. 11.14 Peter shall speake wordes vnto thee whereby both thou and thy House shall be saued If they were in the estate of saluation before to what end are these wordes spoken 2. It is said when Gods worke concerning Cornelius was declared vnto the Apostles and the rest of the Circumcision Vers 18 they glorified God saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles graunted repentance vnto life If they had life before what cause had they to glorifie God for granting it now by Peters Doctrine 3. Peter relating that God chose him that by his mouth the Gentiles Cornelius and the rest should heare the word of the Gospell and beleeue Act. 15.7.8.9 For saith hee God which knoweth the hearts bare them witnesse in giuing vnto them the Holy Ghost euen as vnto vs And hee put no difference betweene vs and them after that by Faith hee had purified their hearts Now this being so that by Peters Doctrine the ioyfull tidings was brought and they beleeued by which Faith their hearts were purified and then they were in the same estate with the faithfull who dare be so bolde notwithstanding all these manifest testimonies as to say Cornelius was in the estate of Saluation before any part of these came vnto him Those Iewes are said to feare God when as yet they had not repented of killing the Lord of Life The humiliation of Ahab and Neniuie Act. 2.5 came vp in remembrance with God as before is proued Act. 17.23 and 3.1 The blinde Athenians are said to bee Deuout and the vnbeleeuing Iewes kept a constant course in Prayer These be the best proofes they haue for a thing of so great consequence the iustifying of those whom God condemneth Saying vnto the wicked thou art righteous Ezek. 13.22 thereby strengthening their handes that they cannot returne from their wicked way by promising them life But wee hope the Godly wise will reject the euill and cleaue fast vnto what God hath so plentifully and plainely taught that Ignorance shall not excuse any that continue in wickednes For if ignorance would excuse men how happy were the Ignorant Or if one ignorant person that iustifieth himselfe in his wickedne might be saued why not two and so twenty and then where were the period to stay vs heere Where were our rule which Ignorant should bee saued and which not Or how could it be auoyded but all Ignorant persons must be saued how wicked soeuer if of ignorance The reasons for one if there were any would bee reasons for all ignorant persons whatsoeuer And for Conclusion of this thing they obiect That generall repentance will serue from Psal 19.12 Who can vnderstand his faults cleanse mee from secret faults To which wee answer If there be any Repentance generall or particuler we will not gaine-say it for we acknowledge the righteous doe offend oft in words and actions Mat. 18.22 which they know to be euill the particulers whereof are so many that they are not able to vnderstand them and therefore ought they to pray Cleanse me from secret faults that are hid from me for want of remembrance the particulers of which if they were of could be related they would particulerly repent of them But Idolaters that liue in Idolatry and take pleasure therein though of ignorance cannot bee brought within this compasse For let an Idolater who performeth any generall Repentance let him be asked whether hee intend to include in his Repentance his Idolatry which others know he liues in his answer will be no in no wise It is his Idoll which is his God or God-seruice which he accounteth one of the best actions that he doth For example Let one of the Family of Loue be asked one that is not yet deified for one that is deified cannot sinne and so needes no repentance let a youngling in the
to dissemble if Authority command it then suffer any afflictions to the outward man abusing for his purpose this Scripture Blessed is the barren that beareth not c. As also that Christs yoake is easie and his burthen light And therefore bringeth not his to suffer persecution to the outward man but to doe any thing that Authority commaundeth whose grosse abhominations hath been formerly confuted and we trust our innocency defended against all the accusations of these Children of that olde accuser of the Brethren The Lord discouer their most palpable abhominations and deliuer poore simple soules from their snares Pro. 9.18 for assuredly the Dead are there and her guests are in the depth of Hell Conclusion IF these Familists or any that are not willing to be knowne to be of them doe except against any thing either by word or writing which is here written and say that we wrong them in alledging H. Ns. and the rest their hellish sayings and laying them vpon them we answer them many of these sayings are their owne and all the rest for any thing that we knowe for otherwise they would not disperse their Bookes if they did not approue of the Doctrine contained in them in all things that we know follow their course and we hartily beseech all that shall haue to deale with them that if they be ashamed of H. N. and this his new light or euerlasting Gospell which they so much glory of that they would require them by writing to be published to testifie their abhorring of these his wicked blasphemies otherwise they will not onely confirme all of their holding the same but also giue all occasion to iudge them to bee as they are dissembling hypocrites who hold thinges and yet endeauour to perswade people that they doe not holde them Let them testifie their abhorring 1. FIrst that which H. N. hath written of God That God and Man had one Order Spirit Nature and being that God was all that Man was and Man was all that God was 2. That Christ is the Perfection in the Louely being whereunto their Godded Elders doe attaine Or any power in man whereby hee can keepe the Law without Faith in the man Christ 3. That the true Baptisme is To bee in the loue and her Seruice 4. That the Resurrection of the Dead The Eternall Iudgement and the euerlasting life is in this life before the naturall Death of the body And that the Body commeth to nothing after Death 5. That they ought to prostrate their Bodyes before any Idoll or Idol-seruice at the Magistrates command keeping their hearts to God 6. That the Worship of God standeth not at all in any outward Ordinance or obseruation 7. That if one bee tempted to any Sinne and cry and there come no helpe hee or she is guiltlesse though they commit the Act. 8. That they doe not binde themselues in Matrimony of men nor yet suffer themselues to be bound therein but are like the Angels of Heauen 9. That they ought to confesse before the Eldest in the Family all their euill thoughts wordes and deedes whatsoeuer they be and all that their inclination and Nature draweth them vnto 10. That some of them are come vnto such a perfection that being Godded with God neither in thought word nor deed they can sinne any more 11. That no man maketh any thing his owne or proper to himselfe but all thinges whatsoeuer is in the Loue is free and is as one 12. That any that are ignorant though Idolaters and worshippers of Deuils and iustifying themselues therein may bee saued though they know not nor beleeue in the Blood of the man Christ 13. That H. N M. P. and the seruant of M. P. were raised vp of God to publish these thinges to the world in these latter dayes as an euerlasting Gospell All these thinges hath Henry Nicholas and his followers published being raised vp out of the infernall pit to the deceiuing of them that beleeue not the Truth which Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Eternall Father hath reuealed but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnes being of God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde that they might be damned If they testifie their abhorring of these thinges without scores euasion or mentall reseruation we shall be glad If not let them be content to be called his Disciples whose Discipline they maintaine Wee doe herein as we would be done vnto for we are content that any whatsoeuer shall aske vs a reason of our Faith in any thing and we will render it to them Now the Lord Iesus Christ the great and good Shepheard of his Sheepe disclose and destroy the lyes and snares of this Theefe and robber H. N. and his followers that the soules of all for whom Christ hath payed so deare a price may be deliuered from their destruction and be brought vnto and continued in his Folde to their Immortality of soule and body in Glory euerlasting By the same our Lord and Sauiour to whome with the Father and the blessed Spirit one Eternall and euerliuing God be Glory and Dominion now and for euer Amen PSAL. 111.104 By thy precepts J haue gotten vnderstanding therefore J hate all the wayes of falshood VERS 115. Away from me yee wicked for I will keepe the Commaundements of my God FINIS