had another day of Tryal given them into their hands but a mad zeal and fury attended them against the honest and upright-hearted people and the Fury of the Oppressour was highly exalted amongst them burning like fire in which they could not contain themselves nor possess their own Spirits in quietness in which fury was folly the effects of which did betray and destroy both themselves and others They being diverted from their first intentions and desire after righteousness a just recompence of reward for their disobedience came upon them according to many true Testimonies from the Lords servants unto them which if in time their ears had been open to the Lords instructions and their hearts inclined to righteousness that swift and sudden desâ—ruction had not so soon come upon them but they being blinded with fury in their anger would neither hear nor see that which was the effect of their own work nor the Lords hand of Justice near come upon them as now they may consider it XII The Secluded Members then came in as a rod of Gods anger and of Justice or a prey upon them and it was manifest to the seeing Eye that God had turned his hand against all those which haâ— abused his Power and neglected his work who had sought and set up themselves insâ—ead of the Lord and his righteousness and now when the Lords hand is justly stretched forth to wound those that by him would not be healed who shall forbid it until the cause be removed and they purged through judgment and suffering And now unto you the present power King and Parliament be not high-minded but fear be not lifted up as though by your Arm Power and Policie you had got a Victory For it is Righteousness yet which the Lord doth require and if by his immediate power without your Sword he have cut off all those that you might be grafted in Consider therefore Gods end in so doing for it is by that immediate power of God which hath broken them that you must stand if you do stand for God is the same and will be to you as he hath been to others as you answer or not answer his requirings For it is not Persons that God accepts but he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him therefore as you look to be established by the Lord do righteousness equity and justice to every man without respect of persons and according to the equal and Royal Law of God walk doing unto others as yee would that others should do unto you Take heed of imposing any thing relating to the matter of Worship upon the Consciences leâ—â— you kindle Gods wrath against you as others have done which will not easily be quenched for upon this Rock have many been broken and others wounded so that they could not again be healed And two things we would mind you of especially First That you are not come in by your own Sword or Power but by a remarkable hand of God in such a way as neither your selves nor any other could have expected Secondly Consider what a flood of unrighteousness licentiousness and flâ—shly liberty hath of a sudden overspread the Nation upon your comming in which although it received some little seasonable curb by a Proclamation from King Charles till which scarce a man scaring God and that could not joyn with them in their rioting and drunken healths could pass the Streets in most places of the Nation yet the body of that iniquity still stands in many places as in May-games Fiddlings Dancings Stage-Plays and divers other ungodly vain Sports by which Gods righteous Soul is still grieved the Spirits of all people that truly fear God sadned the weight of that wickedness which already lay upon the Nations mightily encreased quite contrary to what such a work as your coming in after such a manner required All which speaks dreadful things against these Nations in the sight of many who are most acquainted with Gods fear and have that Eye in them which foresees evil to come in whose hearts and mouths it is now to warn you in love to your own Souls who are in power to scatter such Wickedness and the Nations peace and wel-being that the Wrath that is already threatned might be prevented from coming in your day And we desire that you may take more notice of the Lords warnings to you then others have done that have gone before you that Gods hand and power be not turned against you as it was against them R. H. An Epistle to Friends OH my dear and truly beloved Friends by the holy Spirit of my Father is my heart freely opened and enlarged unto you even in the love which is as a Fountain of Life which plentifully flows forth in the virtue of the Father in the hearts of the beloved children of God which many Waters cannot quench amongst such who have known the Lord in the outgoings of his Power to be as the Morning to your souls the virtue of whose Grace and Love hath been as a dew remaining upon your branches and whose Doctrine hath even dropped as the rain upon your tender-Plants that you thereby might be refreshed and nourished up unto eternal life the Lord God hath honored you with his presence and hath often fed you with his living appearances and manifestations and you have known what it is to drink of the pure Waters of Life even from that living Fountain which doth always flow in the Spirit by which there is pure and spiritual refreshment ministred unto the soul and the Waters of Strife have ye refused which doth corrupt those that drink them and so as it hath been so let it always continue that you may be kept clean by the Word which you have heard from the beginning and by which you have been gathered out of the World by the Word of his Power and fed together as sheep of his pasture and lambs of his Fold So let not the feeling-sence of the loving-kindness of the Lord be forgotten neither let the purity of your first love decrease but let the dear love of the Father in the freeness of liffe flow forth plentifully one towards another which is the bond of perfection among the children of Light by which you will come to be established in the free Spirit of the Lord in the unity of Life and in the fellowship of the Gospel not being subject to change or be moved from that Word and Spirit by which you have been taught and led in the vvay of Life and by which you have known the mind of Christ and by his gift of Righteousness vvhich you have received are you able to try every spirit as you abide in it whether it be of God both as to Doctrines without and as to motions vvithin So therefore let nothing move you nor unsettle your minds from that measure of Life which in all things is a perfect Instructor which will keep you in a pure Dominion over
over the world purifieth the heart and maketh man obedient and faithfull unto Goâ— as he lives in it till he hath fought the fight of it and overcome his spiritual enemy power of darkness which hath led man from his Maker into sin and transgression so as the gift of God did largely shew forth it self in the said servant of Christ by opposing and renouncing Errors stopping the mouths of and many times convincing gainsayers 3. And though his bodily presence and his speech to some seemed weak and contemptible yet we can in the truth bear witness that he was a man both of a solid spirit and quick understanding and delivered weighty things in his ministring as were felt by such as were unprejudiced who were impartial sober and staied in their spirits and the innocency and uprightness of his life and conversation so many have a certain knowledge and can give their testimony thereof that I shall need to say little as to that and he labored for peace unfeigned love and unity in the Truth amongst people witnessing against that spirit and those things in any which would either make division or cause offences or stumblings in any thing contrary to the Gospel of peace and salvation wherein the mystery of the everlasting and true fellowship consisteth and he truly preached the Cross of Christ and true judgment to such spirits as would live in a form and notion of Truth out of the life power and true obedience who though they may profess great matters in words and strain after high things in the carnal comprehension yet are but in the state of such as were dead as unto whom the Gospel hath in judgment beeâ— preached that they might be judged as men in the flesh buâ— live according to God in the Spirit as that follower of Christ and Minister of righteousness R. H. hath held forth who walked in his integrity to the Lord and â—â—tained his first love and habitation in the truth being over all such changeable spirits as would lead from it into any ways or things tending to be get prejudice division or offences in the minds contrary to thâ—â— pure love which stands in the living unchangeable Truth Anâ— this I must needs say touching that man that I never felt more of the presence and love of God accompanying him theâ— I did in that time we were sufferers and conversant togetheâ— in Newgate before his decease And he viz. R. H. was taken away in a time of suffering and tryal for the testimony of a good conscience being in the year 1662. in which many of the Lords people were under persecution especially in the City of London for the exercise of their tender consciences in meeting together in the worship of God as the Saints and true Christians in the Primitive times did and diverse others of the innocent and faithful servants of Christ who were sufferers upon the same account in Newgate London laid down their lives for the â—estimony of Jesus about that time as he did being for the most â—art taken weak and sick in prison and as was judged by the most part their hard imprisonment and deep suffering being crouded together in great companies the hot season in prison â—nd in holes was the occasion and beginning of their distemâ—er and sickness whereon they died before they were discharâ—ed of their imprisonment So as he nor they did suffer nor â—ere taken away for any evil-doing or in wrath or judgment â—ut in the peace and love of God as to them-ward having paâ—iently endured and faithfully finished their course with joy â—nd fulfilled their testimony in faithfulness as seeing him â—hat is invisible having received a crown of glory and life â—hose memorial lives with us and is for ever blessed and â—hus the Lord hath many times taken away the righteous â—â—om the evil to come who through faith have received a â—â—od report and left an everlasting testimony behind them And now blessed are all they that in faith patience and sinâ—â—rity do follow the Lamb unto the end whithersoever â—e goeth â—hether it be through tribulations persecutions or what sufâ—â—rings soever for such are they that keâ—p their habitations 〈◊〉 the power and love of God and such overcome by the blood 〈◊〉 the Lamb and the word of their testimony and shall reign â—ith Christ as victorious Conquerors in his everlasting kingâ—â—m over death and darkness and the power of it and such 〈◊〉 abide in the love of the Truth and Faith of Gods Elect do 〈◊〉 and witness that seed which God will exalt over the earth â—â—â—ore which he will root out and overturn his enemies that his 〈◊〉 plant may take deep root and spread to the ends of the 〈◊〉 And so all friends who have received the love of the Truth and the knowledg of the life and power thereof wherein is immortality to the faithful and obedient Be valiant for the Truth upon earth and live in true love unity and peace always minding and folâ—owing those things which make for peace and feel the true and constant love and fellowship in the Gospel of peace life and salvation And so blessings from on high will fill your hearts and the glory of the Lord will be your rereward in the everlasting inheritance of life with the holy seed which will out-live all its enemies and remain when the enmity of the wicked and the seed of it is removed and gone So the Lord exalt his Name and Truth and promote his Kingdom over all that is contrary to himself that he alone may have the glory and preheminence whose right it is G. W. Waltham in Essex the 27 of the 11 month 1662. Epist. pag. 4. lin 30. for attained read retained pag. 5. lin 16. for so as he read so as neither he Reader this following Testimony was given forth by our dear Friend Edward Burroughs before he finished his testimony by death for the Truths sake which I thought fit here to insert RIchard Hubberthorne was born in the North part of Lancashire and was of very honest Parents his Father was a Yeoman of the Country and had a good Report of his Neighbours for uprightnâ—sse in all his dealings and Richard was his onely Son who was inclinable from his youth upwards to Religion and to the best way always minding the best things and following the company of good men and was never known to be addicted to vice or malignity nor ever following any evil course of life from his Child hood but fâ—â—red the Lord and walked uprightly before him and 〈◊〉 faithful according to the Light and knowledge received in all things and his natural disposition temper was meek and lowly and loved peace among men he was brought up with his Parents in good education according to the custom of the Country and in time of the late Wars he was disposed ro go into the Army and was in Scotland most of the time till the Land was reduced and he
external stuff pours out which hath poisoned many people which thou sayest thou shouldest open the Gospel withall all that have the least convincement may see thee to be a seducer for what is external is natural and what is natural knows not the things of God but the Lord be praised thou hast declared thy self abroad Qu. 12. Whether any Ministers of God were made Ministers by the wil of man yea or no Shew it me by the Scripture Pr. And in thy answer to this Query thou sayest There is 〈◊〉 Minister of God made by the will of man onely but by man in subordination Rep. Here thou crossest the Scripture Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man And here the lying spirit hath shewed it self indeed Pr. And thou sayest There is no such hope of any such calling as was in the time of the Apostles Rep. And here thou hast cast thy self and thy fellowâ— and all thy study to be without the Doctrine and Life of the Apostles for thou concludest there is no such calling yet thou talkest of laying on hands there thou and you are making likenesses which is forbidden and to be confounded and so we conclude and all the children of Light shall judge that your Hope and your Calling and your Ministry made by the will of man and not only by God to be without God and conarary to the Apostles Qu. 13. Shew me by the Scripture whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man to teach him but the Lord or no Pr. We must not look for any immediate extraordinary miraculous teaching by revelation from the Lord and yet all men are taught of God too Rep. What confused stuff is this and blasphemy that comes out of thy bottle Thou wouldest make God not an immediate doth not God teach immediate Here thou shewest that thou dost not know the living God for the teaching of God is immediate in the least degree Pr. None aims to such a perfection of knowledge in his gifts as not to need teaching Rep. Here I charge thee to be a Lyar who speaks contrary to the Scripture and here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a slanderer who speaks of being taught of the Lord Jesus Christ outwardly by the spirit what confused stuff is this and here again I charge thee to be a lyar for the words of our Lord Jesus Christ are spirit and life but such as thou who lookest upon the outward thing cannot receive his words though you have the letter of the Gospel as they had the letter of the Law Quest. 14. Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chief places in the assembliâ—â— stand praying in the synagogues which Christ did forbid his disciples to act such things and cried wo against those that did act them In thy answer to this querie thou ramblest up and down with many words to justifie that which Christ cried wo against to justifie the chiefest place in the Assemblies and to be called of men Master and for standing praying in the Synagogues which Christ pronounced wo against and so let all the people see if thou and you be not such as are called of men Masters and stand praying in the Synagogues which the wo was and is upon Mat. 23. and there is neither shelter nor hole for thee to hide thy self for them that walk in the truth will find thee out and praised be the Lord God of heaven and earth who hath given us a spirit of discerning and we are able to judge you who live in deceit for the Apostle prophesied with the spirit of the Lord that such should come and we see with the same spirit you are come and with the same spirit you are judged Quest. 15. Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devil and no Ministers of Christ which do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Pr. They that swerve from the Doctrine of Christ are of the spirit of Antichrist Rep. There thou art this is thy own condition who deniest immediate revelation and thou that deniest immediate revelation deniest Christ for Paul said the Son was revealed in him and so all that thou speakest is with the lying spirit in the wicked generation and whereas thou slanderest and sayest we rail that is false And again thou speakest of love because the letter declares it but the love of God who dwells in it to such thou art an enemy and as touching using plainness of speech to people because we do not flatter or use enticing words of mens wisdom which thou dost so thou hast cleared thy self from the children of God and to be in the generation of them that swerve from the doctrine of Christ who seekest to justifie that which he cried wo against aâ— Mat. 23. And whereas thou accusest us for railing upon people thou art a liar for love useth plainness of speech and love and charity is out of deceit if we should flatter we should hold it up and should be pleading for thy generation who talks of God and confesses that you have not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had Therefore how can you know God then And whereas thou speakest of trying the spirits the fruits of it is love here with the spirit of love is thy generation tried for when the servants of the Lord have been moved to come into your Synagogues some have been stockt and wounded and imprisoned and hailed out of your synagogues And is this the fruits of your spirit Qu. 16. Whether they be not seducers that draw people from the anointing which is in them and tell them they must be taught of a man whereas the anointing teaches them they need no man teach them but as the anointing teacheth them and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Pr. Many false Prophets are gone forth Rep. Here thou hast proved thy self to be a false Prophet who denies immediate revelation for whom the Lord sent forth he spoke to them immediately which thou deniest and there thou art one of the false Prophets which thou speakest of and knows nothing of the anointing who deceives the simple and ignorant the world may wonder after such but who are in the light and receive any thing immediate will see thee in the dark to be a deceiver for none in thy generation can witness that you need no man teach you but the anointing for who doth are come out from your teaching and you both And as touching Sects them we deny as thou speakest in thy answer to the fifteenth Querie therefore do we see thee with that which is no Sect to be colouring and deluding people telling them thy error is truth who quotes and misappliest the Scripture to maintain thy falshood Pr. The flesh is quickned with the spirit of life to bring forth some kind of fleshly fruits 1 King 8.46 Joh. 14.4 Prov. 20.9 1 Joh. 1.8 10 Eccles. 7.22
God to be a lyar for the word was in the beginning before any tongue was and your Hebrew and Greek is natural and the natural man knows not the things of God and the world by wisdom knows not God Pilate was a worldly man and he had this original and the wisdome of the world and there thou art and there the curse is upon thee so here thou preachest another original then the Apostles did they preached Christ the fountain and thou preachest Hebrew and Greek that is thy original and thy father Pilate had that original which crucified Christ and set it over him and the scripture came not by the will of man Therefore it is not the knowing of it by Hebrew and Greek but by the spirit that gave it forth therefore all people take warning and cease from such deceivers and take heed to the light in your conscience which is the light of Christ to guide your minds up to God the Father of light and be not deceived nor wander not up and down after such who know not the truth but put Hebrew and Greek for the original which Pilate had which crucified Christ Jesus as you may read in Luke 23. All people may see thou art brought no further yet then thy father Pilate so all thy prayers we deny for there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding who art led with a seducing spirit into delusions who saist the spiriâ— of life stirs up the flesh to bring forth fruits and thou that art in the flesh canst not please God And there thy spirit is tryed to be the spirit of error And a great deal of such stuff thou hast in thy answers to the queries which is not worth mentioning And this thou hast written to publish thy self that them that have a love to Christ their hearts may be turned from thee to God to see how thou hast uttered forth thy solly though with many fair glosses thou and such as thou art deceive the simple But all who are in the light do see thee and comprehend thee Something in Reply to the Epistle thou wrotest to the Lady BINDLOSSE TO her thou speakest of the doctrine and spirit and the holy Ghost Here I charge thee to be a lyar who knows nothing of them who deniest immediate revelation for thou who deniest that deniest the Father and the Son as in Matth. 11.27 Wherein goest thou about to exhort others who art in the condition thy self but art as Martha that would be serving If she do but take heed to the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall she will quickly see thy folly for the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall shall be her condemnation if she hate it and if she love it it will guide her into the way of righteousness up to Christ And there O woman is thy teacher and his condemnation And the Work which is brought forth in the North doth tâ—rment thee R. Sherlock and such as the Lord doth move to exhort or to speak such thou slanderest and dost accuse as tempting for thy slanders and reproaches the wo wil turn upon thee from God who is the Justifier of his children and with such Priests as thou art the righteous seed was ever hated as you may read throught the Scriptures If she that thou callest a Lady be grounded upon thy doctrine be a member with thee of thy body let her read thy answers to the queries the replies to them to the light in her I speak which is of Christ which will witness me and let her see thee and if her mind be guided by it it will condemn all her former practises of worship and let her see thy delusions And again thou art flattering the Lady and tells her of a discourse of the Spirit and these are thy unsavoury words who art discoursing of the Spirit but deniest it for thou that deniest immediate Revelation denies the Spirit In the Corinthians the Apostle said things were revealed to him by the spirit and all thy doctrines to be denied and all that thou speakest and thou art seen to be one of the evil beasts and slow-bellies whose mouth must be stopt And what dost thou tell her of growing up in the knowledge of God and stop the way for her to pass who deniest immediate revelation which the Apostle exhorted to And the Saints were to have the loins of their minds girded up as in 1 Pet. 1.13 And what hast thou to do to talk of Heaven or happiness who art a Beast in thy colours And so this is the intent that I have written this Reply to the Epistle which thou wrote to her thou callest Lady that she might with the Light of Christ in her see thy folly for to that I speak which is the Light of Christ which if she hate it it will be her eternal condemnation Something in Reply to thy Introduction Pr. NO age hath brought forth more pretenders to the Spirit of God than this wherein we live Rep. Let all people take notice if thou be not he that pretends the Spirit who hath not the same understanding and knowledge that the Apostles had and there thou art in the pretence who art blind and thy worship as thou callest it is thou dost not know what worse than it was at Samaria who art in the pride of heart And as thou sayest the Devil hath sown his crop and reapt his harvest and there thou art one of his servants sowing his seed and amongst the delusions as thou calst them for that is in thy generation which comes out of thy own bottle which now flows out what is within issues forth this is thy own condition who seducest the people The fire is kindling and the tares are burning which makes you wicked ones to cry out And so all Impostors and Blasphemers are in thy generation and you are ignorantly worshipping and your gross Idolatry which thou speakest of is your own and thou art a Murderer and understandest not what thou speakest of them and God thou knowest not who deniest immediate revelation from Heaven but onely what thou knowest thou knowest naturally as a bruit Beast which Jude speaks of And a great deal of stuff thou hast in this Introduction which is not worth mentioning If the Reader doth but read with a single eye he may see all thy confused stuff which is not worth naming And a great deal of stuff thou hast written in discourse of the Spirit and the Holy Ghost which thou knowest not what thou speakest of and of the Trinity which there is no Scripture for A Reply to an Epistle that thou wrotest to him whom thou callest Sir Robert Bindlosse THe Queries being sent to his house from Rich. Hubberthorn being his desire that they should be made publike and we do praise the Lord that deceit is brought to light And thou saist Perhaps some satisfaction might be given to those seduced wavering souls amongst you Truly I do
Son of God and immediate miraculous revelation and sayest there is no need of any such qualifications now therefore doth all your Teachers shew forth your railing and slanders but these things we wave for God will give you you lyars your portion who hath not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had and here thou hast shamed thy mother that is adulterated from the Apostles life Pr. Our gifts are from the spirit of God though studied for with these means that are outward and moral c. Rep. Here I charge thee to be a Lyar in the presence of God the gift of God is a free gift it is not studyed for nor is it gotten by moral means and if it were studied for and found in outward means then it were not a free gift and here thou hast made it manifest that thou knowest not the gift of God for it is not him that wills nor him that runs but God that shews mercy So thou blasphemer for shame blush Pr. No man can be wise without the spirit of wisdom nor knowing without the spirit of knowledge so no man can pray as he ought without the spirit of prayer p. 71. Rep. In thy answer to the first query thou sayest you do not attain the same koowledge and understanding of the Gospel as the Apostles did then if thou have not the same knowledge and understanding it is all deceit for in thy own words thou sayest you cannot not pray without the spirit knowledge and understanding and thou sayest you do not attain the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles had then thou hast not the same spirit of love to pray withall and thou sayest you cannot pray without the spirit yet thou goes and tells people of a Gospel and hath not the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles had therefore thy knowledge is bruitish Jer. 10.14 Psal. 92.6 Psal â—9 8 Pr. That we may according to the Catholick Faith worship one God in Trinity Rep. For these things which thou tells people of there is no Scripture as Catholick Faith and Trinity and of three persons Pr. The second kind of the holy Spirits impressions on humane souls page 78. Rep. There is no Scripture which speaks of humane souls for the soul thou knows not who art a murtherer with thy Deity stuff who would dit up the way from God but praises be to the living God who hath given his sons and daughters eyes to see thee and all your Deity stuff which you imitate who are whoredomed from God but the Saints of the most high God do sing over it and you halelujah to God who witness their souls redeemed And there is abundance of stuff in that Book which thou calls the discourse of the Spirit which is not worth mentioning and abundance of lyes and slanders but them we pass as knowing the author of lyes from whence they come is for destruction And in page 95 thou speaks of Timothy studying for his gift Did he study for his gift or for the proving of it and dividing of the word aright but he did not study for it for the gift of God is a free-gift And in another place thou speaks of the blessing of God being upon your studies but I say the curse of God is upon your studies who have not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had and so preaches another gospel Pr. And most blasphemously to profess and boast of an equality with God p. 66. Rep. Thy boasting is excluded without in thy generation and thou art excluded from the life and mind of the Apostle who said Let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.5 6. and this thou calls blasphemy and so thou hast shewed what spirit thou art of contrary to the Apostle Pr. And for our new sect of Enthusiasts had they the spirit of God as they pretend abiding in them and speaking in them c. Rep. All pretences and sects are denyed where the Spirit of God dwells though with thy generation such was ever called so And that is thy own who hath made a discourse of the Spirit and here thou art clearly from them that the Spirit of God spoke in and did abide in them which Spirit of God did descend into their hearts which Spirit God hath given to every one to profit withall and the Spirit of the Father speaketh in you saith Christ Mat. 10.20 take no thought and in many places thou art speaking of a study and blessing a study Here thou art contrary to Christ who saith Take no thought and art of the Devil And here I charge thee to be one of them that Jeremy speaks of who speaks a vain divination of thine own heart Pr. As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are Spirits but God is not a Spirit as they are Spirits pag 57. Rep. This is confusion for Christ said God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and there thou art raced out to be without the doctrine of Christ. Pr. 'T is the very ground whereupon this last upstart crew of Quakers build all their resolutions and strange fanatick opinions and heresies even that which they call the light within us whereunto we must only give ear pag. 112. Rep. O thou impudent God will make the an example thou lying spirit Is the Light which Christ hath enlighned every one withall that comes into the world a strange fanatick opinion which one he loves it and the other he hates it and he that hates it it is condemnation Here thou art against Christ and the Apostles for the Apostle did exhort the Saints to take heed unto the light within them untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts O thou Lyar did the Prophet cal the truel light a deceit of the heart or is the light of God a false vision Christ Jesus which doth enlighten every one that comes into the world which is witnessed among the Quakers and he that walks in the Light shall have the Light of Life and thou that hates this light speaks a divination of thy own brain and a lying imagination and with this Light of Christ thou shalt be condemned thou blasphemer who calls the Light of Christ heresie and fanatick opinions but here thou dost but fill up the measure of thy Fathers who calls this Light which is Christ in us Heresie p. 113. To all you Readers of his Book I speak to the Light of Christ in you which if you love it it will bring you to weigh and comprehend his words and if you walk in it you shal have the light of life and you that hate it it shal be your Condemnation when the book of Conscience is opened you shal witness that I speak the truth to every one of your souls R. Sherlock thou bids them beware
Kings Rulers that the Scripture speaks off He contemns Authority vvho is a fighter or quarreller or drunkard or lyar or swearer and they vvho abuse themselves vvith mankind but not they vvho declare the Word of the Lord to such to lead them from all such practises but such you account disturbers and contemners of Authority who stand patiently before you because they will not put off their hats for it is your pride that is disturbed and not Justice for the Law of Justice is vvithout respect of persons and doth judge thee vvho doth respect persons Another thing charged against me is That I said I dwelt in God and where the Lord called me I ansvver Let shame and terror take hold upon you both Priests Magistrats who make a Law in your wils to imprison those vvho come to vvitness they dvvel in God as the Saints did Paul said In him we live move and have our being and said he had no certain dvvelling-place and by this Lavv he vvould be imprisoned and he vvas persecuted and reviled and suffered it 1 Cor. 4. and John said He that dwells in love dwells in God and God in him 1 Joh. 4.16 and he that keeps his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit that he hath given us 1 John 3.24 and by this Lavv John should be imprisoned because he said he dvvelt in God and all the Prophets and Apostles did go vvhere the Lord called them O blush and be ashamed before the Lord to profess Christ and Justice and make a Lavv to imprison those vvho are obedient to the commands of God and dwell in God that ever such a thing should be acted or once named in your Courts or Sessions who profess your selves Christians The Heathens have so much light as to see your nakedness and folly The Law was added because of transgression for the lawless and disobâ—dient and not for the righteous who dwel in God and are obedient to him Another thing against me is Because I would not enter into Recognizâ—nce to appear at the next Sessions to answer the premises being charged in his Highness Name to the Gaol at Norwich I answer The Lord God who is above all Names and Highnesses in his Name and Presence do I speak clear my conscience before him and all the World who hath set me free from being bound to the wil of any man for he is comâ—ng in his mighty power to bring down all Powers Names Highnesses and Laws under which the seed of God suffers This is the word of the Lord to all you who in your wills make laws by them cause to suffer the servants of the living God but by his Law which is perfect changeth not both you and your Laws are to be condemned The Discharge Norf. ss Whereas I sent you yesterday the body of Richard Hubberthorn late of Yelland iâ— Lancashire by the Constables of Wâ—mondham Now these are to require you forthwith upon the receit hereof to set at liberty the said R. Hubberthorn provided he be charged with nothing else but his Mittimus from me laid to his charge and this shall be your warrant for so doing Octob. 10. 1654. To the Keepers of the Gaol in the County of Norf. in ehe City of Norwich Ralph Woolmeâ— I being by the same Law and Power set at liberty by which I was committed to prison under the same hand seal by which the Keepers of the gaol were charged to keep me by the same command under the same hand seal are the Keepers of the gaol commanded to set me at liberty by the same power which charged these things against me in the Mittimus by the same power am I cleared discharged of them in this Warrant nothing else being laid to my charge I desire to know by what Law I am yet kept prisoner or vvhat I have to ansvver the next Sessions This vvas I moved of the Lord to declare and lay open that all people in the Light vvhich Jesus Christ hath enlightned them vvithall may see the changeable Lavvs made in the Will of man vvhich is changeable being turn'd from that in tht conscience from the Lavv of God vvhich is perfect and changeth not and by all such Laws as are made in the Wil of man did ever the servants of the Lord suffer do novv Let all vvho are lightned by Christ to knovv the perfect Lavv judge R.H. Prisoner in Norwich-Castle A true testimony of the zeal of Oxford-Professors and Vniversity-men who for zeal persecute the servants of the living God following the example of their brethren of Cambridge Also the lewdness of those two great Mothers discovered who have brought forth so many Children and never had Husband From Oxford the 26 day of the fourth Moneth 1654. A Brief and true testimony to all the people of the unjust and unlawful proceedings of those called Justices in Oxford against two Northern women who in obedience to the Lord came to Oxford upon the 20 of the fourth Moneth who several days as they were moved of the Lord passed through the Streets Colledges and Steeple-houses declaring the word of the Lord freely And upon the 15 day being the first day of the week were moved to go to a Steeple-house and when the Priest had done one of the women began to speak in answer to what was delivered and in exhortation to the people Then two of the justices cried out Take her away carry her to prison and they took them away and carried them to prison called Buckerdo where onely fellons and persons are committed for murther and other hainous offences are and secured And on the morrow being the second day of the week some of the Justices asked the Major whether there was no meeting appointed the Major said No he knew no business they had that there should be a meeting the Justice answered There is two Quakers committed to prison the Major answered Let those Justices that committed them if they have any Law against them let them act it upon them if not set them free and the said Major said further That he had nothing to say against them but he said that if they wanted food money or raiment he would take care that they should be supplied so the Major left them and went about his publick imployment and would have no more to do in the matter nor act any thing against them but did rather think it convenient to leave it to them to act according to their wills and he free from it himself But upon further consideration and for the more satisfaction the Major went up where the Justices were to examine the women and that their cruelty might the more be made manifest the Vice-chancellour of the University was sent for to come up before them and then they proceeded to examination and the first Question propounded was What her name
was and the place of her abode and answer was made to both then they asked What their business was to Oxford they answered They were commanded of the Lord to come thither they asked What to do they answered To declare against sin and ungodliness which they lived in as pride covetousness lust and all uncleanness self-righteousness and all false worship which both Priest and people lived in contrary to the commands of God Then they asked them How they knew they were called of God they said They knew the voice of God and that they were called of God And this is to be observed as a true testimony of these two servants of the Lord that they did neither beg nor steal neither did they wrong nor violence to any man they coveted no mans silver gold nor apparel but because they obeyed the word of the Lord and did his work faithfully speaking the word of the Lord in boldness against the deceits of the Priests and people in the Streets in the Market-place in the Synagogues and in the Colledges clearing and discharging their consciences in the Lords work and service freely administring that which they had freely received from the Lord of whom they do receive their reward for their reward is with them and the presence of the Lord God doth accompany them and for their obedience to the Lord they receive the shame of the world as ever the servants of the Lord did who were mocked buffâ—tted and shamefully used being tied together at Johns Colledge and pumped and kicked and buffetted and thrust into a pool called Giles's pool so that they went into a remote place to wash the dirt off their cloathes And here both Magistrates and Schollers and they who pretend to be Ministers of the Gospel are the chiefest actors in this persecution and so do make themselves manifest to be in the same generation of the Scribes and Pharisees and Hypocrites who were ever persecutors of the righteous seed whomever it hath brought forth and so they fill up the measure of their fathers iniquities Again as concerning the Justices being assembled the Vice-chancellor being the chief actor in this persecution said That they blasphemed the name of God and did abuse the Spirit of God and dishonour the grace of Christ and asked the women Whether they did read the Scriptures they answered Yea they did then they asked them Whether they were not to be obedient to the power of the Magistrate they answered They were obedient to the power of God and to the power as it was of God their souls were subject unto it for consâ—ience sake Well said the Vice-chancellor you prophane the word of God and I fear you know not God though you so much speak of him And then they concluded that there was matter enough for their commitment and punishment and wished the women to withdraw consenting that a paper should be drawn up for their being whipped out of the City And when the paper was drawn up it was presented to the Major to set his hand to it but the said Major refused and said He was not willing to do it but one of the Justices said That it was the privilâ—â—ge of the City that if any vagrant were taken within the Franchises and liberties of the City the paper must be drawn up That I such a one Major have committed such and such persons and then it is to be sealed with the Office seal but the Major answered That he would refuse both then others said who were zealous and thought that they had done God good service That if he would not it should be done by them and it was agreed upon that they should be soundly whipped and that for the present because of the tumult be put into the cage And the next morning their wills was performed though with much unwillingness in the executioner Many other particulars might be mentioned of their sufferings afflictions and patience under reproachings revilings slanders and false accusations cast upon them which is the portion of the righteous in the world as Christ said Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute and speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my names sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets that were before you Mat. 5.11 12. and saith Christ They shall put you out of the synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service and these râ—â—â—gs will â—hey do unto you because they know not the Father nor me Joh. 16.2 3 4. Aâ—â— nâ—w both sons and daughters of the Lord comes to witness these â—hings fulfilled and you Magistrates Priests and people do fulfil the Scriptures against the servants of the living God as you have done against these And herein is made manifest your tyranny and persecution the chief Priest being the chief actor in it yet there was many in the City that have so much of the light of Christ made manifest in them as to acknowledge them to be servants of the living God and to own them in their sufferings and to confess the appearance of Christ in them before men and in love did accompany them out of the City and did own them in their persecution And this testimony is true to testifie to all people and to all the world the cruelty of unreasonable men and that the Major had no hand in any of this cruel usage and persecution The names of the two women who suffered persecution for righteousness sake is Elizabeth Heavens and Elizabeth Fletcher R.H. Two Letters written by R. H. during his imprisonment in Norwich Castle From Norwich Castle TO all my dear friends whom the Lord by his eternal spirit is gathering out of the World into the covenant of Life to be of one heart and mind and soul. Wait all in that which is pure and invisible that the pure teachings of Christ you may know every one in particular which is without form and beauty to the visible that nothing you may receive but that which speaks from the eternal moving of the living God have salt in your selves to savour with all words you may discern which is without life and power and standing single in that which is pure of God all such deny to be your teachers which have the words of truth but live not in the life and power of what they say so in the power of the living God wait in silence of all flesh and here comes that which hath been fed to be famisht and that which hungers after God comes to receive living nurture and nourishment from God So in the invisible comes to feed upon the bread of life which comes from heaven and the tender plants will come to grow up unto eternal life and fruit will be brought forth unto God dwelling in that which is invisible and all untimely fruit will wither and fade away but keeping low in the light
that in it your minds may be kept discerning will grow as the light doth arise and spring up in you you will discern all airy spirits who through great swelling words would allure and draw all the minds of those who have escaped the common pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ so all dear friends in that which is pure wait and in it watch against the nature which would keep you in bondage to corruption and out of the glorious liberty of the sons of God and from the glory of the first body and out of the order and course of nature and out of the Covenant where all things are blessed now in that which hath convinced you wait that in it you may see that which is gone out which is for the sword which is for the famine the consumption determined is to pass through the whole earth for the earth must be plowed up and the ground dressed before the Lord can reap his pleasant fruit which grows upon his own most pure Vine which he himself hath planted Now there are plants which the Father hath not planted within the light is seen and discerned from the Fathers planâ—s and here is your teacher the light which waiting in it you will come to discern between the clean and unclean and here that which is of God you will know and that which is contrary unto him and here is the true discovery and here is watching over one anothers souls in the light for in the light true judgement is given upon the deceit where it is for in the light it iâ— seen Now every one which is enlightned by Christ Jesus walk up to the light which you have received in obedience to the Lord that he in you all may be glorified and you all who are faithful may enter into his joy So the mighty God of power be with you true and faithful ones babes and children of the living God that you be not of them that turn back but of that which go on to the saving of the soul and that as faithful witnesses to God you may stand boldly against all gain-sayers and against all the powers of darkness that in the mighty power of God you may dwell and in it triumph over the World and all the deceits of it Your servant in the Lord Richard Hubberthorn Prisoner in Norwich Castle To my dear Brethren and Sisters whom the Lord is gathering inâ—o the Covenant of Life DEar brethren and sisters in my Fathers love I dearly salutâ— you in the same love and power which is immortal bâ— which we are raised from the dead in it to keep pure union anâ— fellowship together and in it to see one another and to know onâ— another and in it freely to open to one another that which from the secrets of God is made manifest that ye may all drink togetheâ— of the pure water of Life which nourisheth the living soul and so one soul we come all to witness and one bread which the Fâ—ther freely giveth that by it his own may be fed the babes and children begotten by him that which is sincere pure and immortal they feed upon and they come to know where life is in the presence of the pure living God and as into the knowledge of him you come to grow out of the worlds nature you come to be separated you come to receive of him the earnest of that inheritance which the obedient and faithful comes to enjoy walk worthy of that eternal measure which you have received for freely it is given unto you from the bowels of the love of God and it is hid from the world for the world is not worthy of it nor of them who in it live so as you all abide the pure measure which is from God you will come to see a clear separation and redemption from that which is mortal and fadeth away and from that which cumbers your minds and defiles the temple of the living God which temple ye are as you abide in that which is pure which doth cleanse and keep pure and clear the mind and understanding and the conscience where the mystery comes to be opened and all things which hath been hid comes to be made manifest in the light in soberness and patience all wait upon the living God that you may know his leadings and workings in every condition and his power in its several workings that you may know and discern and his voice you may know when it speaks that so every voice and spirit you may try 〈◊〉 now and judge by that which is eternal and heâ—e in your strength you will come to witness and your growth out of the weakness and so no more tossed to and fro with windy doctrines but a leading up into the life you will daily witness and a passing from all works the righteousness which is of faith you will witness wrought and established in you by the eternal word which is in the heart in which if you do abide and continue ye need not that any man teach you for from it have you learned where the teacher is and where your condemnation is which turns from it to the witness in you All I speak that these things you may see and know and read in the light for from the life and love of God these proceed to nourish the sâ—me life which in measure is begotten in you yea verily the bowels the tender bowels of the love of God is opened towards you that nothing may be hid from you which may add to your growth in the life of God as you have been learned and here taught by the pure word of life which from the father unto your souls hath reached so go and approving your measures to the Lord that all your enemies may be cleared so in the pure life of God the fleshly lusts which war againâ—â— the soul and all the traps and snares you may see and subtle temptations which draws the simple out of the way that into the pure wisdom of God you may every one come to grow and in his will you may all wait for counsel from him that nothing may lead you but the Lord and then in all conditions you are led by the Lord in them you will find his presence his power and peace and joy you will find in your obedience and faithfulness and herein your strength you will find increased and power to conquer and reign over that which hath been too strong for you and led you into captivity but if your minds go from that which is pure then your strength is lost and you are weak as other men therefore in the light dwell and in the innocency then you will be able to contend and stand for the pure truth of God delivered unto you against all serpents and vipers and all the enemies of God and wait all upon God out of your own wills that the workings of his mighty power you may
deny and are strangers unto He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Pr. Satan hath from the beginning envied a people this priviledge and saith at Christs first coming the commandements of God was made of none effect through tradition Mat. 15.6 and saith at Christs second coming the commandements of God will be of none effect through revelation Answ. Here thou hast uttered forth words without knowledge but it is that thy ignorance and folly may be laid open unto all for it was they that made the commandements of God of none effect through tradition which precryed standing in the Synagogues had the chiefest places in the assemblies and was called of men Master and in these steps art thou and the rest of the Priesâ—s in England who say the same things for at Christs first coming he cried wo against such and the same Christ cries wo against the same things now and whereas thou sayest that at â—hrists second coming the commandements of God will be of none effect through revelation Here I charge thee to be a blasphemer and dost speak that thou hast no scripture for and contrary to the scriptures and contrary to the Apostles doctrine for Paul did witness Christs second coming which was in the spirit as in Gallatians 2. and 2. and saith I went up by revelation and communicated unto them that Gospel which I preached amongst the Gentiles and he did witness the Son of God revealed in him and all the Apostles who did witness him to be come again to them the second time to reveal the will of the Father unto them this did not make the commandements of God to be of none effect and the same Christ we do witness to be come and hath revealed the Fathers will unto us for no man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him this we do witness eternal living praises to him for evermore and by his revealing his Son in us his commandements are fulfilled and so all such we do deny that say by the revelation at the second coming of Christ they shall be made of none effect Pr. Certainly many Old Testament Saints saw into the glory and liberty of New Testament times yet durst not cease from that worship which was burdensome worldly and carnal till the Lord did come in person and call them out Answ. Here I do charge thee to prove where ever any of the Saints before Christ was made manifest in the flesh did continue in that worship which they saw to be burdensome worldly and carnal but did declare against all false worship sacrifices and services which was worldly and carnal and against all who drew near to God with their mouths whose hearts was from God and against all idolatrous worships which were carnal and did cast off every burden as is witnâ—ssed in the Prophets which were before Christ came in the flesh and here all the Prophets and holy men of God shall witness against thee as Isaiah Jeremiah David Ezekiel Micah and the rest who worshipped God and their worship was not carnal nor worldly neither did Christ come in person to call them out of their worship for they had finished their testimony before Christ came in the flesh who did fulfil their testimony and did bear witness unto it that it was of God and did declare all that were out of that worship which the Saints were in who worshipped God before Christ came in the flesh who was the end of the Law and the end of the Prophets let him that hath understanding read these things now here doth Christ the Saints and the Scriptures all bear witness against thee and thy doctrine whâ—ch would make people believe that the Prophets and holy men of God who were before Christ came in the flesh did live and continue in that worship which was burdensome worldly and carnal which here is proved against thee by Christ the Saints and the Scriptures that shame may cover thy face and that thy mouth may be stopped and that the simple may know the truth for whose sakes this is given forth Pr. So New Testament Saints may see into that liberty and glory which is to be revealed but let them not go forth before the time but abide in New Testament worship till the Lord come in person and call them out and then they shall go out all together Mat. 24.27 It is indeed a worthy life whâ—ch we live in the spirit but it is an unworthy deceit that except we live out of the Gospel we cannot live in the Spirit Answ. O be ashamed for ever to confess thy self a Minister of Christ and of the Gospel why dost thou preach at all or what art thou a Minister of if that Christ be yet to be revealed or uncome in person which thou holdest forth to the people and how many souls hast thou led into that pit of darkness and blindness as to believe that Christ is yet to come in person he that confesseth not Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh is an Antichrist and he that preacheth any other Gospel or any other Christ then that which did come in the flesh and was made manifest in the Saints and is now made manifest and witnessed to be come in the flesh let him be accursed now the Scripture which thou bringst in Mat. 24.27 proves no such thing as another Christ coming in person for the same Scripture we do witness to be fulfilled in us and in his light do we see all those who are in the desert and who are in the secret chambers whom they go out unto who turn from the light of Christ within them to hearken unto those who cannot witness the comâ—ng of the son of man as the lightning from the East shineth even unto the West but talks of an expectation of the appearance of Christ in person and professed to be Ministers of that Christ which yet is to come in person and here thou art rased out from the Apostles doctrine who did not preach any other Christ but that which was come and made manifest and did never tell of Christ's second coming in person nor of his personal reign and thou that tells of such a deceit that except ye live out of the Gospel ye cannot live in the Spirit here thy deceit is indeed made manifest and thy life who would separate the Gospel from the Spirit But against that life and deceit we bear witness who by this Spirit do and according to the Gospel Again thou art teaching people how to set up Popery as followeth Priest If they will prove the Pope supream Monarch this way it may be done God made two Lights the greater to rule the day viz. the Pope the lesser to rule the night viz. the Emperor Ans. Here thou hast professed thy self long to be a Teacher and preached against Popery and hast not been ashamed to accuse others of it who stand clear in the truth of God witnessing
opened which were blind and now in the Light of Christ the Way is seen which leads unto God the Father of Light and in it all false Prophets and false Teachers they do see and by them cannot be deceived who come in sheeps cloathing and are beautiful outwardly decked with the Saints words but inwardly ravening Wolves And now their covering comes to be taken of which was none of their own and now the Wolf appears ravening against the Lambs of God for the day hath made them manifest and of them the Lambs of God are aware and in innocency are preserved and in the pure Wisdom which is not of this World in it they see and comprehend the Serpents Wisdom subtilty craftiness and snares which for the righteous seed are laid but in the Eternal Light made manifest to the seed a way is seen out of them all and by the Eternal Power of the pure living God of life deliverance out of them all is witnessed Eternal pure living praises to him for evermore Given forth from the love of God to the souls of those who desire to know the truth to take away all stumblings and cut off all occasions from all minds that in the Light of Gheist the truth they may see to be clear from all slanders and false accusations which from the unclean spirits proceeds which goeth out of the mouth of the Dragon to devour the innocent but from the Dragon and all his Floods the innocent are preserved Given forth from him who a witness stands for the truth of God against all deceit R. H. Written from Mondlesham in Suffolk the 29. of the 3. Month 1655. The distance between Flesh and Spirit c. THis is the Word of the Lord to all people as I am moved of the Lord to clear the scandals and false accusations cast upon the righteous seed and as the seed of God in all generations have suffered reproaches from the World so now the same seed where it is brought forth suffers by this generation of evil doers and is afflicted and tormented and shamefully accused now in England whom you call Quakers And you say we deny all the Ordinances of Christ and you say we do not honor the Magistrâ—tes nor are subject unto Authority but are disturbers and breakers of the peace which is false The first accusation You say we deny Repentance Ans. And this is false for Repentance is the gift of God and this gift we have received and his free grace which teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 by repentance we have forsaken sin as it was discover'd to us by the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned us withall and so the mercies of God we have found according to his promise and are sent of the Lord to preach Repentance to all people who would have all men come to repentance and to the acknowledgement of the truth that they might be saved 2 Tim. 2.25 And with the Word of the Lord as they are moved of the Lord do many go now with this Doctrine into your streets into your markets into your synagogues and into your cities to call you to repentance before the wrath of the Lord come upon you and both sons and daughters now are sent to preach this Doctrine amongst you from the Lord and for obeying the Lord herein are they reviled by you and persecuted and falsly accused And thâ—s is left for a Testimony against you from the Lord and shall bear witness against you The second Accusation is That we deny Baptism Ans. The Baptism of Christ we own which all the Saints were baptized into which was by one spirit into one body as in 1 Cor. 12.13 and by this baptism we do witness the washing away of sin not onely the washing avvay the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God But sprinkling of Infants vve deny which there is no Scripture for And all you who from your imagination do imitate Johns Baptism and so go into the vvater and say you are believers and have right to the Ordinances of Christ but you to be believers we deny vvho are not yet come to repentance and your Water-baptism vvhich is but an imitation from the letter for the Lord never sent you forth nor commanded you either to preach or baptize as they did vvhom you go about to imitate vvho are not yet come to repentance nor to the first principle of the doctrine of Christ nor to ovvn the light of Christ in your consciences which should exercise them and lead you to vvait upon God and lead you to repentance And the Faith of believers you know not for the mysterie of Faith is held in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 vvhich you cannot vvitness which hates the Light of Christ vvhich should exercise your consciences and so your minds and consciences are defiled and vvith that mind you talk of faith and of the Ordinances of Christ and of Water-baptism vvhich serveth unto us for a figure as the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 3 21. And Jesus Christ was baptized by John by water that he might fulfil all righteousness Mat. 3.15 And John was a Prophet and Christ is the end of the Prophets and Johns baptism was but a figure for he said he did but baptize with water but Christ is the end of all figures types and shadows and did fulfil them for he fulfilled all righteousness and Johns Ministry and Johns baptism and he that fulfilled all righteousness the same baptizeth which John did bear witness unto and all men came unto him Joh. 3 16 but he baptized none with water But this is a mysterie to thy dark mind which knows not the baptism of Christ nor Johns doctrine nor Jesus Christ the true Light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world vvhich John bore witness unto John 1.9 but goes to hold up the types and figures which Christ came to fulfil and so deniest Christ to be come in the flesh to fulfil all righteousness and so thou art an Antichrist who holds up the figures which Christ came to fulfil and so thou denies the Scriptures and Christ who said he came to fulfil all righteousness and the Saints baptism thou art ignorant of which is by one Spirit into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 And Paul who was a Minister of Christ and preached the Gospel did bring many into this baptism and he was not sent to baptize with water but to preach the Gospel and all the Churches which he preached unto came to witness Christs baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire by one Spirit into one body and were baptized into Christ who was the head of the body Rom. 6.3 and by this baptism we are thus washed from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit but your imitated baptism of water we deny who live in your filthiness of flesh and spirit whose minds and consciences are defiled but the baptism of Christ we
the Gospel is to be preached unto which is able to receive believe and obey it which if not received believed and obeyed is their coâ—demnation 2 And what and where that light is which every man must be turned unto before they can receive the remission of their sins 3 And whether that be not in the Heathens which if they obey not will be their condemnation though they have never heard nor seen the Scriptures and what is it that is the condemnation of such 4 And whether any things which is not spiritual and eternal can condemn the creature from God for not obeying it 5 And whether such have not the Gospel who have not seen nor heard the Apostles writings and what the Gospel is which they that disobey the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against though they have not known the Letter 6 And whether any be condemned for disobeying that which they do not know 7 And whether that in all which are come into the world by which they are justly condemned disobeying it is not able and sufficient to lead them to life eternal obeying it 8 And whether such who speak good words to the people and they themselves be out of the life of them be not deceivers and cannot profit the people at all 9 And whether ever any was sent of the Lord to preach that to others that was not fulfilled in themselves 10 And whether the Gentiles have not that light in them which justifies them that believe in it 11 And whether thou be in the life of all that which thou preachest to others und be a witness of it if thou hadst not seen the Scriptures 12 What is it to be baptized for the dead and whether they who were baptized for the dead did not deny the resurrection of the dead 13 Did Christ own the praying of the Pharisees in the Synagogues or did he not call them heathens and what was it that made them Heathens seeing they were Jews after the flesh Whether was it not their idolaâ—rous worship and oppressing the people and is not this your mark and proof by Christs words 14 Is there any unrighteouser trade in the Nation then the Priests in selling the Letter for they will have money of them that do not buy of them as they have of them that have agreed with them and hired them 15 Is there ever a Tradesman in the Nation so unrighteous that sells his wares on the week day as the Priests do on the first day to take money of them and compel them to pay money they sell nothing to 16 Is there ever a poor hireling or hedger or labourer in the Nation that will force people that have not hired them nor set them at labour to pay them money would not this be an unrighteous thing in those labourers and hirelings as the Priests do take of them that have not hired them nor set them on work is this a righteous thing let all honest hearts judge 17 Whether would not the Priests account it an unrightâ—ous and unequal thiâ—g in us to compel them to repair our Meeting-houses in every County and to give us summs of money and if so whether are they yet come to the royal Law of Liberty to do unto all men as they would men should do unto them and if short of the Law much more of 〈◊〉 Gospel 18 Are not you them that eat mens bread for nought Mark eat mens bread for nought to whom you do nothing for and to pluck it out of the mouths of fathers and children I wish that you were either in the Law or in the Gospel for then some of your practises ways or words might be justified which now they cannot therefore learn wisdom while you may see your folly which now is made manifest with the truth Richard Hubberthorn The Horn of the He-Goat broken OR An Answer to Tho. Winterton his Book which he affirmeth to be A chasing of the young Quaking Harlot out of the City which if those that he writes against be not by it chased out of the City then all may take him to be a false Prophet which reads what he hath affirmed by his Book to be brought to pass To the READER READER THE time is come and coming wherein the God of Heavenis setting up his Kingdome which is not carnal but spiritual and establishing his throne in righteousness the day is appeared and appearing wherein all that oppose him shall be ashamed Now when he is declaring his righteousness and his saving health in the Nations and now the Man of Sin and Antichrist is discovered and the hidden things is brought to light and now when his enemies cannot hide themselves any longer but their shame must appear who are covered and not with the spirit of the Lord Therefore I say because the Lord in his mercy hath caused his marvellous light to arise in the earth the Prince of darkness is angry and all his subjects because their judgment draws nigh and their strength must be thrown down And as the Lord hath made manifest his light more then in some generations past Therefore the rage of the old Dragon is greater and his Angels and instruments who are to be taken with the Beast and the false Prophet and shut up in the pit and sealed in utter darkness for ever and therefore he is come forth in his power and his strength and all his subjects every one with such weapons as they have some with clubs some with prisons whippings reproaches and mockings some with their corrupt sensual wisdom to oppose some with lyes and slanders but all is at work to defend their Masters Kingdom and would not have the man to rule Christ Jesus who will judge all their unrighteousness and bring down the Beast out of his seat amongst whom thou mayest see Tho. Winterton sitting near his Master unto whom he is fallen upon the throen of unrighteousness In a former Book he denied any thing above nature to guide man and in this his last book would judge of us by his evil consequence and he hath denied that he hath any thing that is infallible but he saith he judges by his imaginary faculty and he judges us in the 15. page to be Harlots because we speak plain language as Thou and so hath made all the holy men of God Harlots and Adulterers who used the same and so blasphemously against the spirit of truth hath set himself and makes lyes his refuge as the rest of the Dragons Army do and therefore these few things mind wherein his shame is laid open and his lyes denied and his sensual Queries answered which rose from his imaginary faculty And so take heed Reader thou come noâ— in the way of the lyars nor lend thy ear to the wicked but mind the light of Christ Jesus which will shew thee men of corrupt minds and corrupt things and seeing in the single eye In vain doth the Fowler spread his net in
many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Modern Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ the Apostles we bear witness to by the same spirit not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus all these shifts saves not the Priests of England from being discovered their deceits abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H.N. Jacob B.W.E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them then this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but crosse his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgmens who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all alonge in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Aspes being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharises his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemâ—ed him with transgâ—essoâ—s and betwixt two thieves And in the end he desiers his Reader to receive in love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned not reeeived what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Perverse Principle and that Christ blâ—ssed infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by his fruit every spirit by its works words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designs are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavoury words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are cleare in his sight from these devilish accusations though J. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book is an accuser of the brethren is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical plots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he sayes his words would take away our lives but to raise the uncleane spirit against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe him for none else can to persecute the people way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters of haveing ill Designes which thing we stand witnesse against seek the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is forging of them and declaring of them that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returnig from his ungodilness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness whereas the subject of his matter invented in his mind brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in 22 particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scripture though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our cotradiction to Scripture and while we be proved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his slanders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God then a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that J. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and Witness of God in every man we appeal for judgement and do in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans conscience and beg not belief of any but know all that be in the Light of the Son of God witness to us and feel our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of godliness reaching to the Witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all And though J. S. judge our Doctrine to be Scripture-contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his Work and Judgement doth spring and try if an old lying heart and sinfâ—l wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit No we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the Light of the Spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him contradict the Scriptures though by his dark mind so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did judge of Christ to be a blasphemer and a contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and
his Testimony is true saying And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the World it self could not contain the Books which should be written John 21.25 So that all is not written which was revealed wrote and spoken which if much more were written which was made mâ—nifest by it with that which is written could they not know the Lord their mindes being from the light of Christ which doth reveale and make manifest that which may be known of God in them And many who have the Letter and are Ministers of it are sensual having not the spirit nor the word of God nor the testimony of Jesus and their Ministry is but as Chaffe to the Wheate and the Lord is against them For what is the chaffe to the wheat saith the Lord Jeremiah 23. Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer breaketh the rock in pieces Now many have the letter and know not the word of the Lord as a fire neither is the rock broken with the letter and such use their tongue for it is their own and the power of the Lord is not come over it such cause the People to err and doth not profit them being not sent nor commanded of the Lord for who are sent and commanded of the Lord the Lord useth their tongueâ— to speak his words which he puts into their mouthes and such words doth profite the people and not cause them to err being spoken according to the law which is light And the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie and such do witnesse the Scriptures that as they cannot be broken so they cannot be denied by the Spirit which gave them forth to be a Declaration of those things which was revealed known and believed But they are not that which they are a declaration of the letter testifies of the eternal life but it is not it neither gives it It testifies of the light of the glorious Gospel shining in the heart whih gives the light of the knowledg of the glory of God but it is not that light which gives that knowledge It testifies of the Way but Christ is the Way of the Word but God is the Word and of Redemption but Christ is the Redemption not the Letter though it testifies of Justification Sanctification but they are wrought by the Word in the grace and power of Christ and so every one who wil own the Scriptures as they were given sorth to be owned must first own that of God in them which is manifest to work in the Creature that which they testifie of that Christ the power of God they may witness working all their works in them and for them according to the Scripture But contrary to the Scripture J.S. from the root of Errour saith That the written letter is a Spirituall Arm and Sword of the Spirit and that the very power of the written letter puts Satan to flight And in the same Page saith That the Devil hath Scripture in his mouth Answ. Let the People take notice and read the Scriptures and see if there be any such thing that the Sword of the spirit was ever in the Divels Mouth for the spiritual Armour which is said to be the Word of God But the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit is that by which he is to be destroyed and is the mystery bid from him and all that follow his lusts But though the Divell which did not abide in the truth and his Ministers who are out of the truth may take the letter in their mouthes as they have done and say it s written so but the word of the Lord is not in their moutheâ— which is the sword of the Spirit and such will use the letter in their mouthes which cannot sease from sin whose eyes are full of Adultery beguiling unstable Souls their heart being exercised with coveteous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are in the Error of Baalan loving the wages of unrighteousnesse and taking them and such have the letter in their mouthes but knows not the Word of God whâ—ch who comes but know it restraines them from all such practises Again J.S. from his blindnesse and root of Error and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scripture is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scripture is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22.19 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee â—xcellent things in Councels and Knowledg that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee An. By this scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them read their writings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World the Pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which now is declared in Chapters And every one which coms to the true ground of Faith must come co the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scripture was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the Word that all men in him might
of their bodies which now if people mind the Scripture there is no such doctrine in it as the Saints in Heaven have not received the Redemption of their bodies for they who had received the first fruits of the Spirit upon earth did wait for the adoption and for the redemption of the body till the creature it self be delivered into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Rom. 8. And this was witnessed and is witnessed and this is the Work of the Worlds Teachers instead of presenting them perfect in Christ Jesus as the Apostles did they would make people believe that the Saints in Heaven their bodies are unredeemed if so where is that redemption wrought And whereas I. S. vvould make people believe that there are none clean novv Christ said concerning those that follovved him Now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you John 15.3 And David saith that the Lord is good unto such as are of a clean heart Psal. 73.1 And the Lord said concerning his people that he would pour clean water upon them and they should be clean from all their filthiness Ezek. 36.25 and this Prophesie was to be fulfilled And the Lord said also by his Prophet Zephaniah That his Remnant should do no iniquity nor speak lyes neither should a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth Zeph. 3 1·3 And Paul preached Wisdom among them that were perfect and as many as were perfect should be so minded and Christ preached to the pure in heart that they should see God Matt. 5. Now if there were none perfect Christ preached unto such as there was not Now this is the chief ground of J. S. and the rest of the Enemies of truth and of perfection to declare against it because some fall from it as his instance of C. A. or others in the like To which I answer Their falling into that which is not perfect doth not make that which they fall from imperfect for the Angels that kept not their first state which was perfect did fall from that which was perfect A Virgin state is perfect but if any go out of that state and become foolish yet that which they depart from is perfect And if any do fall from the Truth and do not abide in Christs Doctrine that doth not make his Doctrine to be imperfect for Christ saith Except they abide in him who is perfect they cannot bring forth fruit Is not he that is in Christ perfect though some do not abide in him And is not the Truth Truth because some deny it Was not Christs Doctrine and the Apostles true because Demas did forsake it and love the present World And was not that part of the Ministry which Judas had committed unto him perfect And was not he the true Christ that Judas preached though afterwards he betrayed him Now if people do but truly consider all those that now do turn from the way of Truth which is now preached and lived in by us it may be an evident token to justifie us in the Way of Truth seeing what they go into when they go from the Light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which while they abide in it are kept out of all filthiness of flesh and spirit and so long they may speak of perfection and of the gift of God which is perfect But if any go from the Light then they are let at liberty to act all uncleanness with greediness and so are cast out from us and from perfection And if any such deny the Truth and forsake it yet there remains in them a witness for the truth and against their own uncleanness as in C. A. who from the Witness of God in him was made to confess that if he had continued in the Light of Christ he could not have so sinned against the Lord and so by his transgression fel from the way of Life and could not continue in Christs Doctrine any longer so such things may satisfie people concerning the way of Truth for while they are of us all such things is denyed by them but when they go out from us then they become Drunkards Swearers Prophane Adulterers Fornicators and so every evil Work is committed and then they turn to the Priests Doctrine there all such things are and are excused and then the Priests rejoice and give thanks if any turn from the Light of Christ and the obedience of the Gospel into drunkenness and prophaneness again where they were before and if they wil but swear and respect mens persons and use the rod of violence and persâ—cute and shed the blood of the innocent and be conformable to the World that is the Priests rejoicing and if any turn from the truth into any act of uncleanness then they take that as a proof against those that abide in the truth and such a thing is a better proof to them then all the Scripture and those are they that rejoice in iniquity and watch for evil and so they rejoice in that which we have cast out as abomination and these are they that plead for a life in sin while they are here and that say that the saints glorified in Heaven do yet hope for the resurrection of their bodies and so not come to the end of their hope though in Heaven when as the Saints upon earth witnessed the end of their hope the salvation of their souls Now these may wel deny perfection on earth who deny it in heaven which the Saints we and the Scriptures do witness it in both and against all such who are not fit to speak of the things of God Again in his ninth Head of contradiction he speaks of a warfare which yet himself never came unto and in it he wrests Pauls words and so would turn the truth into a lye saying as if Paul should say thus If sin that wars and sights in me hath no power to condemn me then there is no condemnation to me Which words Paul never spake and it is a lye in the ground for it is not sin that is the condemnation but the Light which lets men see their sins because men love darkness rather than light as many in this age have manifested themselves to do and the light shall be their condemnation who are not yet come to the War nor to the Victory which the Scripture speaks of Again in his tenth Head of contradictions speaking of repentance as if he would prove that we denyed or disclaimed godly sorrow and his proof is this If we disclaim in-dwelling sin in the godly we disclaim godly sorrow Let all people take notice of this If we deny in-dwelling sin we deny godly sorrow this is contradiction in the highest degree but against it this I shall affirm that none comes unto godly sorrow but they deny in dwelling sin and they that do not deny in-dwelling sin denies godly sorrow Again John Stelham in his eleventh Head of contradictions to the Scripture in his speaking of
one thing more where he charges R. F falsly to speak falshood for saying the priests of England they teach people to sing lyes in hypocrisie this they do and do wiâ—kedly in it and he hath added to their wickedness in denying it to be so for to all people without exception they give to sing I am not puft in mind nor have a scornful eye and they making not exception in giving forth these psalms to sing Some that they give it forth to are puft in mind and have scornful eyes and these they teach to sing lyes in hypocrisie to any honest man this appears true let J. S. shuffle and twist never so much In the 16 th Head concerning Elders and Ordination We do not herein contradict the Scripture but witnesse forth according to it that who are moved by the Spirit of God to watch over the Flock and ordained with gifts thereunto may take the oversight of the Flock wittingly and of a ready mind and not by constraint nor for filthy lucre sake as J. S. and his generation of false Teachers who preach for hire and for gifts and rewards such are not ordained of God to watch over the Flock but run and were never sent and therefore shall not profit people at all and such an ordination we deny who are ordained at schools or by natural arts and sciences to speak their brain-study by a Glass this is by man and not of God and God doth deny it and we testifie against it by the spirit of God and do say The call to the true Ministry and Eldership is not by man nor of man but by the Lord according to Gal. 1.1 yet such a one is approved of all the Saints and go forth not contrary to men who fear the Lord for the spirit of life is one in them that are called and ordained by it and in them that beareth witnâ—ss to truth what such doth approve with the spirit that are called by â—he spirit This is our judgement and the judgement of Truth what ever J. S. or any of his fellows raise up to oppose it and herein we do not contradict the Scriptures he is that lyar in the subject matter on which he treats in the title of the Section In his 17 th Head concerning Ministers Maintenance Concerning this we do no way contradict the Scripture but witnesseth according to it that the Ministers of Christ doth receive freely and gives freely of what they have received from God and haveing planâ—ed a vineyard may eat the fruit of it and keeping a flock may eat of the milk of the flock and when they go into a house may eat such things as are set before them and yet may not be chargeable to any man and this is according to Christs instructions not contradictory to the Scriptures though J. S. be pleased to so stile it but all such who preaches for hire or takes hire for preaching and seeks for their gain for 50 l. or 60 l. per annum or the like from their quarter a Parish or Town and such who take Tithes Gifts and Rewards for preaching which people should not give them except they preached and such who have sums of money and lives in pleasures and vanities and lust and fulness of the Flesh as the Priests of England do this maintenance we do deny and them that act those things we deny to be Ministers of Christ or that any Maintenance by way of Ministry doth belong to such who are greedy dumb doggs and can never have enough as Isa. 5 6. such practises and men we oppose and doth no whit contradict the Scripture but it witnesseth to us herein and against all such and therefore I. S. and his Bâ—ethren the Independeâ—ts who acts such things they contradict the Scripture and so are truly guilty themselvs in action of what they falsely accuse us in words for such who walks in the steps of the false Prophets as he and they doth that preach for hire and takes Gifts and Rewards for preaching are contrary to all the true Ministers of Christ and the Scripture and the Spirit that gave it forth condemns them and much as to this we have publickly spoken and written and so here I need say the less though much might be said to manifest I. S. folly and vanity though they that plant a vineyard may justly eat the fruit thereof yet what is this to purpose he is a thief that eats of the fruit of that which he hath noâ— planted but is hired thither for so much per Sermon or per annum and plants nothing for the Lord he that preaches the Gospel may live of it but this shames I. S. and this Generation of Teachers who many of them might begg bread at peoples doors had they not a Law by violence to compel maintenance from them which thing is a very shame to all righteousness which is practised by most of the Priests of England at this day grievous to be related what unjust Judgements against them for to maintain Ministers so called what is the thing that J. S. pleads for Tithes or an hundred or two hundred pound a year he is a Lyar to say that we contradict the Scripture because we cannot uphold this but must bear witnesse against it so whilst he falsely charges us with contradicting the Scripture in the very same thing he and his Generation are found in this practice contrary to all the Ministers of Christ that ever was sent by him and in the very practice of the Deceivers Antichrists and False-Prophets in making merchandize of people through covetousnesse in preaching for hire and in seeking for their gain from their quarters and this is the very truth let J. S. and all his fellows read their own contradiction to the Example of all the Ministers of Christ in their cuâ—sed practice of Maintenance which is the greatest oppression this day in England and this is their grief against us because God hath opened our mouths to declare against them and to shew their solly and wickednesse unto all people and when the Law of the Land ceaseth to maintain them which will come sooner than they expect then may they beg their bread or perish for want and that is all the fruit that their Vineyard of wilde Brambles will bring forth to them and if every particular of his words should be searched much rottennesse might be let forth but in plainnesse I have spoken as to the truth of things in pleading for truth and in denying the Deceits and the Oppression of Hirelings which I cannot call Ministers Maintenance His 18 th Heâ—d concerning immediate Calling In this we do not contradict the Scripture J.S. is a Lyar herein also but we say Such as are called of God are called by his Spirit and led with it and fulfills the will and work of God in the Spirit and such as are called by the Spirit of God are approved by all the Saints of God who
with the same Spirit bear witnesse to such as are called by it and speaks by it The Ministry of God is not of Man nor by Man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ which is not learned by natural Arts but received in the Holy Ghost and this the Scripture bears wirnisse to but the Call to the Ministry by natural Learning at Oxford and Cambridge this I deny and trample upon and all your Arts and knowledge and Humane Study and Languages is not able to make a Minister of Christ this I do affirme though they approve one another yet are they not approved of God without his Spirit and they that have his Spirit deny Natural Learning as to be made a Minister of Christ hereby and E.B. his words are owned transcribed by J.S. cited Page 16. in the Warning c. and all that he saith doth not prove that any of the Ministers of Christ were called by the Church or approved unto that work of the Ministry by them who were not called by the Spirit and guided with it he saith the sending of God is two-fold and for this he hath no Scripture to prove it and so holds forth that which the Scripture will not evidence And further he saith he pretends to no such Call of an Apostle if he have not the same Call by the same Spirit as the Apostles had he is no Minister of Christ and in measure he hath confessed to be without the same Call as the Apostles were called with and will not pretend such a Call Again He falsly Charges R. F. with Crucifying the Ministers of Christ which is a Lye and of the Devil though none of us may spare to call Hirelings greedy dumb Dogs and devourers and lazy shepherds and in this we do not contradict the Scripture nor work offence towards God nor our neighbours And he concludes Who of us we or they shall have the worst of it in Conclusion the day shall declare unto that we are willing to come by which we and all the blind Priestâ— of England shall be manifest and we know Lyers such as J. S. shall not have the better who is to us made manifest already to be out of the way and out of the power and life of God His 19 th Head concerning immediate Teaching In this we do not contradict the Scripture as J. S. falsly charges us withal but do say that we are taught of God and needs no man to teach us â—ut as the anointing of God which abides in us and the promise of God is fulfilled upon us Jer 31. we are all taught of God from the least of us to the greatest with whom the Covenant of God is established and this is the cause wherefore we set forth our selves to the World who are yet in the unconverted estate that they also may come to the knowledge of the wayes and teachings of God in the Spirit and may come into the Covenant of peace where none need to say know the Lord but all these are taught of him yea and immediatly too by his spirit and this we do witness and the Lord doth witness with us though the unbelieving heart of J. S. and his fellows cannot believe it but doth gainsay it as being contrary to the Scripture when as themselves doth contradict the Scripture in denying it so proving themselves guilty of what they do accuse us of falsly but this is that their folly may appear to all men as it doth to us and J. S. saith he is yet to learn the promise of the immediate teachings of God to be given to all that are to teach others this doth make it manifest that himself is without the promise of God and is not yet taught of God and so without Gods Covenant being not learned in the teaching of God by his Spirit which is immediate And thus to confound truth he hath by his confession shamed himself and shewed himself to all men to be unlearned in the doctrine of Salvation Further he saith If God had intended to have given teaching immediatly without any medium then would he not have sent Preachers abroad for them to hear mark this mans blinde productions and what impudence is in his heart who holds forth That God intended not the thing to be what be promised should be he promised to teach his people himself and this man holdes forth that he intended it not and so hath no lesse than charged God with Hypocrisie let the Reader mark this but this is the ground wherefore the Ministers and Preachers were and are sent abroad to bring all people to be taught of God by the Spirit and to inform their minds to the gifts of God in them that by the spirit received the knowledg of they might know the things of God which is not known but by the Spirit of God which all the Children of God are led and guided by and they that are not led with the Spirit of God which Spirit is immediate are not the heirs with Christ are none of his let J.S. say what he will or may this we believe and this the Scripture gives testimony of for us and with us Yet further to manifest his folly he saith It is erroneous enough and contradictious to the whole Scripture when R. F. truly tells him saith Thou that art not taught of God shewes that thou speaks a vision of thy own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord let the Reader search where the errour and contradiction to the whole Scripture lyes in these words or whether he hath not proved himself blind and ignorant and in errour and contradicton to the Spirit of God Further he saith Never did any but Gods slayers and Spirit-wounders go about to sâ—parate the Word of God and his breath Now let this be considered Christ did tell them the Pharises who had the words whâ—ch God had spoken by the Prophets that they had never heard â—he voyce of God here he divides or separates betwixt the words and the voyce or breath and was no God-slayer nor Spirit-wounder as thou hast vvickedly and blasphemously laid dovvn thy position vvhere thou hast concluded Christ to be one against vvhom thy vvords are laid dovvn let the Reader prove thy doctrine His 20 th Head concerning Questions In this we do not contradict the Scripture J. S. is taken with a lye in his mouth who hath made it a subject to treat upon for Questions in their places wee own but such as are of the Divell we deny as Christ did who shewed himself as a fool unto all mens wisdom when the subtile Pharisees and others tempted him who vvould not ansvver their crafty Questions though them that questioned in simplicity he did to resolve and satisfie them and informe them in the knovvledg of the Father Then some leaves he hath filled vviâ—h producing some of our Queries out of some of our Books Commenting thereupon and vvould prove them ignorant and unprofitable and the
it fall into Scripture contradiction but R.F. nor others wil therefore c. This is unfound and laid down but not proved at all neither maâ—or nor minor and hereby he hath concluded wickedly the Apostle Iames and Christ himself to be fallen into Scâ—ipâ—ure contradictions who did exprâ—sly forbid all swearing and did not compare the precepts and examples for Swearing with the prohibition against it and thus J. S. is taken uttering folly with his tongue hath drawn a conclusion upon Christ and the Apostle Iames to be contradictors of Scripture let shame cover his impudent forehead And they that charge Christ and the Apostle James with contradicting Scripture are enemies to God and of the Devil and for eternall vengeance but Iohn Stelham hath done so and therefore he is an enemy to God and of the Devil and for eternal vengeance But further at large as concerning Swearing our testimony thereof is laâ—d down at large in a Book called The glory of the Lord arising And whereas further I. S. as a man not weary of iniquity goes on after his false charging of us with contradicting to scripture â—harges us again that we contradict our selves in many things which accusation we bear with as much patience as we do his former seeing they are all out of one heart and to the same end for it is a small thing for us to be judged by man and so that wherein he charges us with self-contradictions I passe lightly over having cleared the truth That we do not contradict the Scriptures but if this man J. S. had been in Generations past what would he have said of Isaiah who was sent to tell Hezekiah from the Lord That he should die and not live 2 King 20.1 At the same instant of time the word of the Lord came again to Isaiah that Hezekiah should be healed and that he should go up to the house of the Lord These were both the words of the Lord to Hezekiah and yet no contradiction in Isaiah though such a Spirit as J. S. would so have judged And what would he have judged betwixt David and Ieremiah Psal. 119. and the 103. and Jer. 23.29 David saith The Words of the Lord are sweet unto his taste yea sweeter than the honey to his mouth And Jer. saith Thè Word of the Lord is as a fire and like a hâ—mmer which breaks the Rock to pieces Now there is no contradiction in these two not to that Spirit by which they are guided though so it might seem to such as J.S. whose mindes are dark And what would he have judged of Christs words Matth. 12.30 and Mark 9.40 where Christ said He that is not with me is against me and he that is not against us is with us â—nd yet in these words there is not contradiction to him that hath an ear to hear But if J.S. had been in those dayes out of his evil heart would he have charged the holy men of God to be contradictions to themselves it is very like that he would and these things I leave with the Reader to be considered of for we who have the same Spirit do clear Christ and the holy men of God from contradictions and knows J.S. and such as he to be seekers of occasions against the Just and would make offâ—nces where there is none for as I have said we do not allow J.S. to be the Interpreter of our words for then no question but he would have his own end and meaning and J. S. saith We deny the letter of the Scripture to be Scripture this is charged upon him to be a lye as it is well known through this Nation both in Doctrine and conversation we own the Scriptures and to deny Matthew Mark and Johns Declarations of the Gospel is no denyal of the Scripture for the Gospel was preached to Abraham which Gospel was and is the power of God before these four men did declare it though we deny their Writings to be the very Gospel which is the power of God yet we do not deny but they truly declared of the Gospel and this is to own the Scripture as it speaks of it self to be Let J. S. judg what he will of us and whereas he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture Gospel the Scripture gives no such names to it but saith the Gospel is the power of God and that is the Gospel which we preach even the power of God unto all people let J. S. judge by consequence what he will And further he would plead for the Title of Master from the Example of Abrahams Servant but this is nothing to prove the lawfulnesse of a Minister of Christ that they may be called Master for Christ saith to his Ministers Be ye not called Masters and the Spirit of Christ being our rule that leads us in the fulfilling of Christs words let J. S. shuffle as he will Also he lyes of J.N. to say he denyes and grants the same thing to be in the letter for though he say He that believes hath the witnesse in himself which is truth yet he doth not say The Letter is the Belivers witnesse which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spiritual understanding of the Scriptures But this he doth in another way than that whereby he inspired the Pen-men of the Scriptures Now this is false Doctrine For Christ the way the same to us as to them and not another way of understanding Scriptures nor by another Spirit than that which gave them forth and he saith Christ directed to himself John 5.39 as revealed in the Scriptures and more than that as conveyed by the Scriptures to a Soul Now let the Reader take notice and search that Scripture Whether he hath not added to it yea or nay or where any ever had any Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures It doth say the Scriptures testifie of him but it doth not say that he is revealed in the Scriptures nor conveyed by them to a Soul and this is his additional gloss to corrupt the Text to undervalue the eternal Spirit of the Father by which Christ is only revealed and received and not by the Scriptures And for E. B. to say That he came not to them with enticing words neither what he had gathered from the Scripture without him but to declare the Word of the Lord and not to speak his own conceivings and imaginations this is true and no contradiction in it though J. S. say these cannot both be true to say That he neither came with what he had gathered from Scripture nor his own imaginations For the Apostâ—es of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Worâ— and Gospel of God which they had received from God and not gathered from Scripture nor in their own imaginations and because he saith both these negatives cannot be true then it is concluded that himself preaches either what
rather bewitched And further he saith the light in every man is a poor base beggarly scrap to the Gospel treasure these words are uttered in his hastiness and without either fear or knowledge for he that lighteth every man with the true light of life or of Condemnation is not base beggarly scrapâ— as I. S. saith it is for it brings to the â—nowledge of the Gospel treasure and pearle and not other light and thus whilst he thinks to prove us self-contradictors he proves himself a vilifier and a blasphemer of Christ Jesus the Saviour of the World who lighteth every man that commeth into the World Again he would make this contradiction becâ—use we say every man in hiâ— first state is as a Beast and yet saying every man is lightned but this is not contradiction no more than the former is then he speaks of naturall conscience and sâ—cretly charges us as if we should say it is potent and victorious at last but this is a secret slander of his for we say Christ only is victorious and through him are we made Conquerers and not by natural conscience and he speaks of Gospel conviction to be above the conviction of natural conscience but I would know of him where the Gospel conviction works if not in mens consciences and so in his next let him divâ—de if he can and shew the dâ—fference of such convictions Further he would say that this is contradiction to say thâ—t every man in his first birth may see himself to be natural and yet to say that the light which discovers natural corruptions is not natural but spiritual both these are true for the light shines in darkness which shews the darkness and is not darkness but light and he that câ—n understand that Scripture Iohn 1.5 shall see the truth of both these to be no self-contardiction Further he saith the Scriptures are a rule above the Saints light and unto it and not so their light above the Scripture this is confusion and he knows not whereof he affiâ—ms for the Spirit of God is the the Saints rule and that is greater than the Scriptures and the rule of the Spirit of God is above the Scripture but such as J. S. who talks of Scripturres to be a rule yet acts these things which the Scriptures declare against are but found in deeper hypocrisie for he that is ruled by the Spirit of God walks up in the fulfilling of Scriptures And further J. S. confessâ—d and saith this he knows that he is more brutish then any man and hath not the knowledge of the holy and this is truly â—onfessed his own works manifest his own condition to be true and he confesses he never obeyed natural light as he ought and as he might and this is truly confessed for if he had obeyâ—d that light which he calls natural he would not thus have stumbled at him who hath lightned every man And further he charges a deceit when men will put off that for redemption light which is but old creation light let him charge them that are guilty but yet we say that the same is Redeemed by whom the world was created and this is without any deceit and he that lighteneth every man with the light that is but one he is the Saviour of all that receive him in the light and he is the condemner of all that hate his light this is no self-contradiction but the very truth as it is in Jesus Further â— S. would make it appear if he could that we contradict our selves concerning sin and Christ but his whole Section I leave to be read in his Book and let the wise Reader judge whether his proof be any such thing only his lye will prove what he saith he saith We hold Christ to be in all this is his Lye for we say Christ is not in the Reprobate neither did we ever affirm that Christ is not in the Reprobate and so is not in all neither do we concerning Justification contradict our selves in the Spirit of God though so it may appeare to J. S. blind mind and so would make it appear to others by blind arguments by his own meaning Again J. S. would charge self-contradiction upon us because we bear witness to the New-Covenant and doth say the children of God are taught of God and needs no man to teach them but as the annointing within them and yet doth write and print here he saith we condemn in others what we allow in our selves Now to all honest people this is no contradiction neither a condemning in others what we allow in our selves for therefore we write and print and speak that all may come to the knowledge of this thing may be converted to God and know his teaching wiâ—hin them but what would J. S. have said of John who told them they needed no man to teach them but as that within them and yet did write Epistles to them â—ery like he would have called this contradiction And the same is our cause who doth and must do though J. S. and his companions be grieved therewith because their folly is laid open thereby print and write and speak that people through the Ministry be brought to know the teaching of God in themselves and yet herein in the light of the Spirit of God do we not contradict our selves let J.S. say what he will neither do we allow in our selves what we condemn in another this is one of J.S. his lyes we allow the Ministry of Christ yet doth not allow the Ministry of Deceivers and yet is not in contradiction and this in short may give the Reader to understand the deceit and deceivableness to lye in J. S. who is found seeking offences against us without any cause given him and he layes snares for another which doth entrap his own feet And whereas he hath transcribed E B his Confession in the warning to Underbarrow which confession is still owned and no self-contradiction proved by it For though God spake by G.F. to him yet this doth not contradict the teaching of the spirit of God as that E. B. was not taught by the spirit of God For as I have said G. F. did minister as many do at this day that people should come to the teaching of God in themselves and herein we do not contradict the scriptures let J. S make as many blind Arguments as he can and that instance about J. L. being of the same nature with the former The Answer supplies both his Proofs neitâ—er of which doth prove us in contradiction but is a witnesse to the Ministry of Christ and to the Conversion received through it wherein we are taught of God and need no man to teach us but as the anointing the spirit of God within us which is immediate and yet we preach the Gospel to others that they may come to witnesse the same with us even the teaching of the spirit of God and for this end is the Ministry of God
vanity and men of high degree are a lye and the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things Hear this ye wise men and foolish The more ye strive against the Lord the more is your wound made incurable and the higher you rise in envy always the deeper is your fall in confusion And now Christian Reader whose heart God hath opened to see and behold the things that be eternal and can truly discern of different causes and between the good and the evil and between the light and the darkness This Book is sent forth in the pursuit and after a Book called Hosâ—nna to the Son of David c. by a nameless Author whose work indeed was hardly worthy of an honest mans Name though very subtilly and craftily he prosecutes his purpose and traverses his steps full cunningly as this worlds wisdom could guide him in which wisdom he cannot know or receive the things of God and therefore it cannot be expected that the things of God should be received from that wisdom and though he hath confounded in his words his description of the Light of Christ sometimes speaking well of it aâ—d sometimes otherwise and not knowing hardly whereof he hath affirmed his words are so confounded and mixed in his corrupt reason in giving forth his knowledge of the things of God which he seems to be ignorant of but only as he hath the knowledge of them from the Letter by which no man can come to the knowledge of God nor of the things of his Kingdom without the revelation of the Spirit of Jesus and the operation of the same Spiriâ— But Friends the Testimony of God stands sure for ever though men would confound it in their own reason And this is the Testimony That Christ lighteth every man that cometh into the world which Light is sufficient to lead every man to God or else to condemn every man from God and this Testimony is true notwithstanding all the opposition against it and it shall abide sure for ever though men strive never so much in the gain-saying of it And this is the Testimony which we have born and shall bear to the end and who believes it and who believes it not this is the hand of the Lord according to his pleasure and to him we leave it and so we do and must clear our consciences from time to time while the Lord gives us a being And herein we are a good savour to God and our reward is with him whether Israel be gathered or no Isa. 49. And also this nameless Author which is supposed to be one John Jackson known in this City hath taken some seeming occasion against us by searching our Books and as he saith hath found some contradictions in them which may appear to be so to his dark mind yet in the sight of the spirit of the Lord that is truth which he sees to be no other than error However this is sent forth for the true information of peoples minds that they may know that truth is bold and confident and that it is Armour which defendeth from all Enemies and giveth strength to answer the craftiness of men And this same John Jackson hath shewed himself now to be one with the common Priests of the world for as they have done so hath he opposed the way and people of God and with the very same arguments shewing that he is of the very same spirit with them his discourse and arguments being of the same nature as theirs are yea he hath shewed himself to be of the very same spiâ—it with all the open prophane wretches which doth revile and scorn and abuse in every Town and Countrey the Lords people and as they do so so hath he written with subtile Arguments to the very same end as they reproach and scorn to wit in a derision and despising the way and servants of the Lord so that his self-separation is now seen what it is to be a very cheat and hypocrisie who while he professeth a separation frâ—m the World doth practice the very same wickedness and is not changed from them in nature though he be in appearance But what a poor work hath he brought forth in two years time which he saith his work hath been as Embers raked up in ashes yet a work that gains no praise of God nor very little of the praise of any man It seems he hath hatched mischief upon his bed and brought it forth in the morning Who would have thought but a wise man in that time would have brought forth a larger piece and more to purpose I am sure he might have made better use of his time in another exercise than to have writ against the servants of the Lord It had been more honest for him to have set his pen to paper and studyed to have given his testimony against the Pridâ— and Drunkenness and Oppression and Whoredoms and Wickedness in this great City I say it had been more honest and liker a Saint to have sought the reforming of prophaneness and wickedness that greatly abounds in this City than to have studyed two years to bring forth his invented stuff against a harmless and innocent people which he nor any can justly charge with evil but as he hath digged deep by his imaginations in recollecting a seeming-contradiction out of our writings which is no contradiction no more then Christs words are who saith Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no life in you And yet in the same discourse saith The flesh profits nothing And for Isaiah to go with the Word of the Lord to Hezekiah to tell him he should dye and not live yet in the same instant of time told him he should live and not dye Would not John Jackson have counted these contradictions But what he hath done in this in sending forth a Book against the Quakers he hath been so far from beating down sin drunkards and rude scorners and abusive men that he hath fully strengthened their hands and the wickedst people in this Nation are very glad of his work he hath given them matter to oppose truth withall but his reward and theirs shall be both with one hand and he shall drink his portion in the same Lake with such whose hands he hath strengthened and let him know and them all God hath established us upon a sure Mountain which the Gates of Hell and Death cannot prevail against So his work is counted of us and cast by as our spoiled prey of Babylons treasure onely this is sent abroad after it in the pursuit of it which is not done with multitudes of words of mans wisdom but in the plain nakedness of innocent truth which is more strength than all his arguments of guile whereby he would deceive the people but he can deceive none but such as are deceived already for all that are in the Light and in the Truth sees beyond all that he can say and are established
I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness And Jesus cried anâ— said He that believeth on me believeth on him that sent me Also Joh. 12.44.46 This light was not mans reason nor understanding neither was it mans spirit that was the true light which lightneth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1 9. Again another false testimony concerning the light is this That the light did drive Adam from the voice and presence of God and so far is the light from leading up to God that it drives the soul from God and keeps him in the fall p. 53. Answ. This Doctrine is to turn the truth of God into a lye and to call light darkness and darkness light for there is no such testimony in the Scriptures that the light did drive Adam from the voice and presence of God but Adam saith I was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self It was because he had disobeyed Gods voice not because he was enlightned for the Scripture saith It is your sins that hath separated you from God it doth not say that it is the light which hath separated you from God or driven you from him this may well be called a damnable Doctrine or Doctrine of Devils Hath God sent his Son a light into the world to drive the souls from God and keep them in the fall Now let all consider and judge that ever knew the light whether it be darkness or it be light which drives the soul from God and keeps it in the fall Now this doctrine being compared with the Scriptures is utterly false and there is a few that profess godliness in this Nation that can bear it or approve of it and for such as account themselves the highest profession and above forms under the name of Seekers to publish such a thing in print here it appears that the best of men iâ— but as a Briar and the most upright is sharper then a Thorn-Hedge for the day of thy Watch-men and thy Visitation cometh now shall there be perplexity Mic. 7.4 Now here is a day for tryal that they which can may try the spirits and doctrines whether they be of God Now I shall lay it to that of God in all is it not the work of the Devil to drive the soul from God and to keep people in the fall If so then it is not the work of the light which lightneth every man that cometh into the world is not this to call light darkness to say that the light is so far from leading up to God that it drives the soul from God and keeps him in the Fall What is that which leads man out of the fall if the light keep man in it As this is contrary to Scripture and to truth so it is contrary to his own words as in pag. 7. there saying That by the Light is the will and mind of the Creator made known unto man and he sufficiently qualified to see it and understand it Answ. How can these two stand together That the light drives man from God keeps him in the fall and again That it makes known the will and mind of the Creator unto him and sufficiently qualifies him to see and understand it This cannot truly be called Hosanna to the Son of David nor A Testimony to the Lords Christ but a line of confusion which is stretched out wherein darkness is come forth as a cloud and spreads it self over the earth to darken peoples minds from the knowledge and understanding of truth by words without knowledge but his folly shall proceed no further unreproved and made manifest Another false Testimony concerning the light is this That at first it moved upward and man could look God in the face and serve him but now since the fall the Thief is got into the Candle and now the Spirit burns downward and discovers the things beneath Answ. What is the nature of the Light changed or is the spirit so changed that before it ascended upward and now downward We shall try this according to the Scripture which saith Who knoweth the Spirit of man that goeth upward and the spirit of a Beast which goeth downward to the earth Eccles. 3.21 so then if it goes downward it is the spirit of a Beast not the spirit of a man And here it is plainly evident that he knows not the spirit of man from the spirit of a Beast so unfit to cry Hosanna to the Son of David or bear testimony to the Lords Christ. But as for the Light which hath enlightned man that cometh into the world the fall did not â—hange the quality of the light for the light is the same as it was but darkneâ—s cannot comprehend it neither knows how to give a true testimony of it but confusedly speaks of two lights the one springing up with man in his naturall birth suitable to his naturall birth and another light sutable to the new birth that is born of the spirit This is a testâ—mony which is not to be found in Scripture to be two Lights sutable to the two births for he that is born of the flâ—sh persecutes him that is born of the Spirit and God hath put enmity between the two Seeds but to say that there is two lights sutable and so the one natural and the other spiritual the one of the earth earthly and the other of the Lord from Heaven as the two births are this is not a testimony according to truth for the light is but one and the spirit of truth is but one and the same spirit which led the Saints which believed into all truth the same did convince the world of sin because they did not believe in Christ Joh. 16.3 And that light which is the condemnation of the world who love the darknes rather then Christ the same is the Saviour of all them that believe and one man loves it another hates it yet it is the same light Joh. 3.19 but the Scripture bears no such testimony as that there is two lights in man the one spiritual the other natural and for any man to say that the light of Christ is natural is blasphemy against the Son of God and is a sin not easily forgiven and it is hard for such to find the place of repentance for every one that comes to repentance must first come to the light which Christ hath enlightned them withall and must know it to be spiritual and confess it so and with this light come to discern the two births the one from the other and their several natures and how that the one birth is guided by the light it being as the eye giving them to see what to speak before they speak and so keeps them out of the worlds line which is confusion and as a Teâ—cher giving them to understand what to do before they do it and so keeps them out of the condemnation bringing their works
to the Lord but contrariwise his obedience and that he waâ— in Christ Jesus so this was not as the bleating of the Sheep or the lowing of the Oxen neither did it shew that they were not in the City for Paul testifieth of the holy brethren which he was a Minister unto That they were come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born whâ—ch are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling Now let him that hath thus accused shew how many miles these had to travel before they came to the City and whether there was any parts measures or degrees in these or whether there was absolute perfection without any measure of degrees of it and whether Paul was not come so far as these unto whom he preached wisdom even among those that were perfect and might he not in that estate say that he would not stretch himself beyond his measure But this I say none are true witnesses of perfection but those who know their measure and abide in it and likewise those that call the witnessing of the truth in a measure of the Spirit the bleating of the Sheep or the lowing of the Oxen such never knew perfection neither yet presseth after it but would keep all others from it by despiteful terms against the measure of the spirit which leadeth unto it But the day is come and the light is risen which hath found out and discovered all the cunning craftiness of men in whâ—ch they go about to deceive the hearts of the simple and beguile unstable souls but the elect seed is risen which iâ— is impossible to deceive for it is not the Scripture words which men may take and speak in the hypocrisie which can darken our knowledge nor any way hinder the testimony of truth in those which have received it in the power of God only with such things the blind may lead the blind and with such things they may strive to keep others out of the kingdom which have not tasted of the good word of God neither are brought to know a measure of God in themselves whereunto to be obedient but I see the Lord is opening a way for such to come out of the pits which they have been led into in opening their eys and letting them see that their Watchmen are blind and that understanding is departed from them even from their Leaders and the counsels of God is depâ—rted even from the ancient and the people are even like to perish for want of vision because they have not seen for themselves but their Teachers have seen for them vain visions and lying divinations and prophesied lyes causing the ignorant to believe them but the Lords hand is stretched out against such and is stretched out to gather his own seed from such to bring them into the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom and into the knowledge of the holy whithis understanding Prov. 9.10 which understanâ—ing is a Well sprinâ— of life Another seeming strength risen up against us is the conceit of the discovery of a Schism in the body as if the Band or Girdle which bound up the body were broken and as if there were now a character brought forth amongst us shewing a variety of persons doctrines and practises and as if the testimony of our being of the body of Christ from the unity in the body were ceased and as if the Heads were divided and as for proof instances G.F. to J.N. J.N. to G.F. J.B. to J.N. and as if it were not person but party which some wonder at admiring and waiting to see the Lords counsel and pleasure in it Answ. All those that wait to see the Lords counsel and pleasure and his wisdom in this thing shall see it and be satisfied and it vvill for the time to come be more for the confounding of those that vvatch for iniquity then any vvay for confirming them in iniquity and by that vvhich God hath done and is doing shall the Girdle and Band of our love be made stronger and in this shall the sight of our enemies fail and become blindness for their thoughts is not as Gods thoughts in these things neither their eye as his eye for he saw a better thing for us in these things then they have imagined for that vvhich they thought vvrought for evil hath wrought together for good unto those that stand in Gods counsel who alwayes waits to see those works which stands in his wisdomâ— contrary to mans reason for that which they thought did break that hath bound and that which they thought did separate that hath united together so that there is not a difference nor dividing of Heads not in persons nor in parties nor in doctrines not in practices but the same unity in the body in the faith in the seed in the covenant in one heart and one soul one way and worship of God in the Spirit is now as much or more then ever before witnessed so that God hath cut off occasion from those that seek occasion hath taken away the corner-stone that the wicked thought to build upon and hereby hath God tryed and discovered and brought to light that which lay in the bottom of the deepest pits for God hath brought in this his day many things forth to try prove those who said they were his people and those that a few dayes since seemed to be like Lambs do now manifest themselves to be in the nature of Lyons and ravening Wolves and those that pre-end to wait for the coming of Christ in power and had the Name of Seekers they are now found to reject his coming and to be such as watch for iniquity in those among whom Christ is come now they are turned backward and now drink up that which they had vomiâ—ed up for now if they could but finde any iniquity among such as God hath made known the glory of his power among or if they can but suppose or imagine any such thing from false conceptions conclusions this would be a sufficient ground to them to print a Book upon and publish it abroad and but that the Lord hath been on our sides well may we say when all sorts of men and religions hath risen up against us by their violence had we been consumed for the powers of darkness and all the divers worships of the Beast are now more joyned together then ever and the deepest subtilty of the Serpent is now at work in his members to devise wayes and change the Laws and times whereby the spirit might be quenched which God hath raised up in his children whereby a mighty cry is gone forth through the Nations against the Mystery of iniquity where it worketh both in
the root and the branches of it and now is the burden of the Beasts of the South felt as truly as in the Prophets dayes Isa. 30.6 from whence cometh the young and old Lyon the Viper and fiery flying Serpent and now doth the mighty and terrible cry of the spirit of the Lord go forth to the men of this generation as it went forth before time to the Egyptians concernig this which the Lord hath wrought your strength is to stand still and if this counsel of the Lord be by you received you shall know more of the ways and workings of the Lord with his children and that all things which the Lord hath done is for the furtherance of the Gospel and that those which are approved may be made manifest what a strong ground of occasion would the envious one have thought he had if he had come among the babes in Christ who were met together at Corinth hearing Paul say that there was divisions among them said that there must be heresies among them that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.19 and this was no character that God had broken them without hands nor that he had made their profession of unity of no force but through this manifestation he did work schism out of the body that so there should be no Schism Rent Heresie nor any such thing in the body and this thing was not that the enemies of God might glory against the truth and if any labour to seek occasion against the holy Brethren and say they are divided into Heads because two eminent men of them withstood one another as concerning eating with the Gentiles viz. Paul and Peter to such I say he that gathered at first into unity is the healer and Repaired of such breaches and they may profess and witness as much unity after this as ever before And these three which the envious one hath mentioned to be at difference in Doctrine and practice viz. G.F. J.N. J.B. the unity in the life and power of God in them and in their Doctrine and practice shall stand for a witness and for a condemnation against all the accusers and now seeing that their occasion is taken away their accusations may cease and if such Prophets be deceived then let them consider who hath deceived them I the Lord hath deceived that Prophet Therefore what would such a Prophet think of the Apostles words when he saith There must come a falling away first that the man of sin may be revealed Would he or could he judge this a charecter that the day of Christ were at hand or that through such things the power of it should be made more manifest or that those among whom these things were wrought should be thereby the more united To believe this will bring men even to their wits end it being so contrary to their thoughts and conceivings and this may well confound their vvisdome and turn them backvvard and bring them to question truth of all that vvhich ever they have vvritten spoken or acted against those vvhom the Lord hath manifested his povver and vvork among contrary to their judgement and discerning for the vvays and vvorkings of the Lord is deep and his secrets are vvith those that fear him and not vvith those that despise his appearance and speak evill of that they knovv not and the Lord vvill yet vvork greater things in the earth that such may be confounded And what wil such say if the words of Daniel the Prophet be fulfilled in these dayes saying And some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge and to make them white even to the time of the end c. Dan. 11.35 Doth not God hereby try men and try their spirits and try their discernings should any in such cases judge before the time the Lord will mâ—ke it manifest for this cause wil God bring such into judgement Therefore I say unto you that your strength is to sit still and let the Lord alone and let his people alone and let him work his own work in his own way and presume not to be his counseller for who hath known the mind of the Lord let such as have dwell in it and preserve knowledge so shall they always abide in strength and power Union with the Lord and one with one another men shall yet know for all that hath been that we are his Disciples because we love one another and none shall make our glorying and rejoycing in the unity of the spirit and in the love of God void but it shall abound more and more to torment the spirit of enmity which would break it or accuse us for professing of it but over that spirit we are in the Lord But what if some should rise up evâ—n froâ— among our selves speaking perverse things and draw Disciples after them and go out from us as they did from among the Apostles that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us Ought this to be laid to our charge Or ought the way of God to be accused because of such things to be Heresie or Schism If this seem to you an evident token of perdition and of error yet to us of our Salvation and that of God And we are assured that we are of God having the witness in our selves yet not bearing witness of our selves for there is one that beareth witness of us even the Father which is in Heaven and his witness is true being unto us a seal of assurance Therefore from henceforth this is a Warning to small and great that they no further proceed in that which is both unnecessary and unseasonable For this I say unto all such that it is unnecessary and unseasonable to seek to perswade us that the truth is error or that the light which every man is enlightned withal is the spirit of every man for that is not according to the record which God hath given of his son nor which the Son hath given of the light but blessed be that day and blâ—ssed for ever be that poâ—er in which a seed is brought forth unto which the Father hath given a true testimony in which they shall never be confounded which abide faithful for great is the mysterie of godliness God manifest in the flesh and against this manifestation is the power of darkness risen up and all the messengers and ministers of Satan under all forms and professions hath joyned themselves together to make their arm strong against the Son of righteousness his righteous life and righteous wayes which now he is bringing forth among his children but out of the mouth of Babes hath God ordained strength against which all the powers of darkness cannot prevail and unto which strength all our enemies must bend and bow and come for salvation For that which now the leaders of the people have set themselves against when they have finished their course and the anguish comes over their
elected Ans. There he hath belyed the Ministers of the gospel for they could discern the elect from the World as it is written Ye shall discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not and Paul and Peter vvrote to the Elect So these Teachers vvho knovv not the Elect and yet exhort all their hearers to believe and lay hold on Christ their preaching is in vain for if God hath but intended a certain number to be saved and the rest to be condemned then they set their Hearers on work in vain and many to expect that vvhich they are never like to have So these people are in a miserable state And note that these Priests though they take sums of money and tythes of their Hearers in many parishes in the Nation yet they know not vvho are elected among them according to this mans words Pr. That the Sword of the Spirit is ineffectual without the Letter Ans. The Svvord of the Spirit is the Word of God vvhich vvas effectual before the Letter vvas to Enoch to Isaac to Jacob to Abraham and others and from the Word vvas the Letter given forth and the Letter is not effectual without it Pr. That there was no Scripture written but what is extaut and in the Bible Ans. Yes against that shall the Scripture bear witness the Book of Nathan the prophet the Book of Ahijah the Book of Iddâ— 2 Chron. 9.29 the Book of Shemaia 2 Chron. 20.15 the Book of Gad 1 Chron. 29.29 the Book of Jehu 2 Chron. 34. the Book of Jasher 2 Sam. 1.18 the prophesie of Enoch Jude 2. one Epipistle of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 5.9 one Epistle to the Ephesians Eph. 3.3 one Epistle to the Laodiceans Col. 4. All these Scriptures vvere given forth from the same spirit and to the same end and use as those are which are bound up in the Scriptures although these be left out Pr. That there was no Scripture â—or Writings appointed of God to be a Rule of Faith and Manners but what is bound up in the Bible Ans. Those Scriptures which are not bound up in the Bible were given forth from the same spirit and by the motion of the Holy Ghost and so for the same ends and uses that the other Scripture was given forth for and as he appointed the one so the other Pr. That the Letter doth antecede and go before the spirit in all that walk in the spirit Ans. This is false for the spirit did antecede the Letter in all that walked in the spirit who gave forth the Letter from the spirit Pr. That the works of Christ in some respect are not perfect Ans. That is false for every gift of God is perfect and every work of Christ is perfect in all his children but that spirit in thee which is fallible makes nothing perfect and therefore judgeth all things yea Christ and his Works to be fallible and deceivable like it self Pr. That the Law requires more strict and exact obedience than the Gospel Ans. Nay The Law saith Thou shalt not commit adultery but the Gospel saith Thou shalt not lust The Law saith Thou shalt not kill but the Gospel saith Thou shalt not be angry The Law saith Thou shalt not forswear thy self but the Gospel saith Swear not at all Matth. 5. And so the Gospel requires more exact obedience then the Law contrary to this affirmation Pr. That God chose a Devil to be one of his Ministers in chusing Judas and his proof for it is this That the Divine Natuâ—e did not see it good to communicate the knowledge of all things unto the humane nature and therefore though he was a Devil when he chose him yet he knew it not Ans. This is a charging of Christ with ignorance contrary unto John 2.24.25 which saith That Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man And though Judas by transgression became a Devil and the Devil abode not in the Truth doth it therefore follow that he was never in the truth But Christ speaks of him and to him as well as to the rest that they had power to cast out unclean spirits Matth. 10.1 and that the Spirit of the Father spoke in them Matth. 10.20 So that there was no difference while the Spirit of the Father led him and taught till the Devil entered into his heart to betray that Lord of Life So that is a false charge to say That Christ sent out a Devil to minister the Gospel Pr. That the Spirit of God may accompany a Ministry and the Minister not have the Spirit Ans. This is another Doctrine than ever the Prophets or Apostles preached for I never read in the Scripture that ever any did minister for God which had not the Spirit or that ever any was converted unto God by such a Minister as had not the Spirit Therefore prove this assertion to the people where or when the Spirit of God did accompany that Ministry when the Minister had not the Spirit so that thou mâ—ist as well as thou hast said not pretend unto any infallibility nor unto any truth in thy ministry for if thou didst people would see that thou didst pretend unto that which thou art far from So that if thou wouldst not pretend to minister neither no more than to have the Spirit it were better for thee Pr. That the power that went forth in the Apostles Ministry was in God and not in them but as they have it communicated to them by the exercise of Faith Ans. Here thou hast confounded thy self for if they had it communicated to them by their exercise of Faith then it was in them for the exercise of Faith is within in the pure Conscience and so the power was in them from which they ministred and they did not abuse their power but from the power ministred forth their gift as they had received it Thomas Ramsay said That we preach a Doctrine of Devils in saying that men may be free from sin in this life Ans. Then the Apostle Paul preached a Doctrine of Devils For he said Rom. 6 2. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein And in the 7 th verse saith He that is dead is free from sin And in the 18 th verse he saith to the Believers being then made free from sin Ye became the servants of righteousness in ver 22. he again tells them That now being made free from sin and become servants to God you have your fruits unto holiness and the end everlasting life And this was spoken to the Romans while they were in this life and it was not a Doctrine of Devils but the Doctrine of the Gospel and Christ preached the Doctrine of perfection in this life Matth. 5.48 saying Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect and also it is written Be ye holy for I am
and even a reproach among the Heathen So let no more the cry of the Priests nor of the poor be heard in our Land the one crying for Laws to persecute and receive money of those who they preach not unto which receives no teaching from them which cry is intolerable to be heard or suffered in a free Common-wealth And the other for want of the creatures of God when as others spend the creatures of God upon their lusts excessively and so the Creation is out of order 〈◊〉 those that are come into the Gospel-Ministration and to be taught of the Lord and have received Christ Jesus the Lord and walk in him it is not so amongst us for the creatures of God are not spent upon the lust nor destroyed neither is there a beggar amongst us who are truly of us in the obedience of truth so that we do not desire that any people or profession in the Nation should maintain our poor for they are our own flesh without respect of persons for if any of us have of this Worlds good and see our Brother stand in need and shuts up the bowels of compassion from him the love of God doth not dwel in us neither doth any other maintain those that minister unto us the Word and Doctrine so we according to the royal Law of Liberty desire to do unto others as we would have them do unto us and thus to be a free people and a free Nation So every form and profession will enjoy their own Minister till they come to know him unto whom the gatherings of the people must be viz Christ So that neither Parliament Assizes Sâ—ssions nor Courts will have any thing to do in matter of Religion but to keep the peace of the Nation and then he that hath the Word of God may speak his Word faithfully and freely without interruption so that the Gospel of God may have its free course and be glorified and that great oppression of Tythes which lies heavy upon the whole Nation which God raised up his Spirit in the Army once to testifie against may be taken away that what was then pretended may be now fulfilled and the people eased of their oppressions which they have long felt the burthen of and groaned under that so as a free people they may be delivered from that bondage and the Law may be disannulled by which that bondage is imposed upon them So this will beget love in the Nation and all persecution cruelty and bitterness wâ—ll cease and every one may freely and quietly enjoy the fruit of his own labor then with much freedom chearfulness wil every one minister of his substance unto all necessary uses knowing that the earth and the fulness of it is the Lords And when this universal love and free Spirit is begotten among people then wil righteousness establish the Nation and that will be brought forth which many sincere hearts and tender consciences hath waited for seveâ—â—l years and many have been even almost weary and faint in â—heir minds in waiting for that which they once had a lively sight of and hopes to enjoy in the Lord's promise of Liberty and Freedom opened in their understandings ten years since insomuch â—hat some have been ready to tempt God and say that he was slack concerning his promise and some for want of long patience have lefâ— off expecting that which they once believed hoped foâ— but God is reviving the hopes of the contrite ones in them that had said there was no hope in them is he renewing strength to believe that God will give Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning the Judges at the first were not to judge for gifts nor for rewards nor the Priests were not to preach for hire nor the Prophets were not to divine for money but the Judges did minister justice freely between man and man and the Priests did minister the Law freely which was added upon all transgression So in those days there were no Priests that troubled the Courts Judges nor Counsellors with Addresses Petitions or Complaints for maintenance no suing at the Law no imprisoning mens persons for Wages nor no spoiling of mens goods and there was not such delays in executing judgment upon transgressors as is now for the Judges sate in the gate and executed judgement speedily upon the offendors and cleansed the Land of evil-doers and so eveâ—y one was to wait on his Mâ—nistry which he had received from the Lord and are to do so now if they do it unto the Lord He that judgeth for God is not to respect any mans person in judgment and he that hath the Word of the Kingdom is to minister it freely and then the people wil minister their carnal things freely to every one that hath need so that whereas even from the Priest to the people all have been given to covetousness strife and debate every one now will be given to love and freeness one to another for he that hath spiritual things wil minister them freely and he that hath carnal things will minister them freely and so will all come from under the execution of the Law and from all strife and contention Another great oppression wherein iniquity is upheld by a Law is in the Ministration of the Law between man and man it not being done freely so not as in the beginning HE that doth minister the Law let him do it freely for the Lord and for righteousness sake and let him be as one of the Judges in the beginning and as one of the Counsellors whose eyes were not blinded with gifts and rewards and so it will come to be a free Nation and then every man will not seek his own but every one anothers good and then will pure love spring up to one another and one will seek to preserve and save another and not devour and destroy one another about earthly things as now they do so Christ's Spirit will be found among all sorts of people Ministers of the Law Ministers of the Gospel and Subjects of the Nation which were to save mens lives not to destroy them and then the Scriptures which cannot be broken wil be fulfilled and peace wil be extended as a River and righteousnesse as a mighty Stream For it is this spirit which I have mentioned in Lawyers and Priests which did not minister freely but for covetous ends hath made merchandize of peoples souls and estates that hath broken the peace of this Nation as many hath had a deep experience even when the Army was in its first purity and zeal for God and his Truth that Spirit did creep into their Counsels and corrupted them and did creep into Parliaments and corrupted them and when there was any appearance of a Monarchy or Government arising in the Nation that spirit crept into every high Court and corrupted it so that whole Nations are corrupted with that spirit so that till that spirit be purged out there
Lord R. H. According as vve read in the Scriptures That the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding so by its inspiration is an understanding given us of the things of God Lord. Then one of the Lords said How do you know that you are led by the true Spirit R. H. This we know because the Spirit of truth it reproves the world of Sin and by it we were reproved of sin and also are led from sin unto righteousness and obedience of truth by which effects vve knovv it is the true Spirit for the spirit of the vvicked one doth not lead into such things King and Lords Then the King and his Lords said It was truth King Well of this you may be assured That you shall none of you suffer for your Opinions or Religion so long as you live peaceably and you have the Word of a King for it and I have also given forth a Declaration to the same purpose that none shall wrong you nor abuse you King How do you own Magistrates or Magistracy R. H. Thus vve do ovvn Magistrates Whosoever is set up by God whether King as Supream or any set in Authority by him who are for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well such we shall submit unto and assist in righteous and civil things both by body and Estate And if any Magistrates do that which is unrighteous we must declare against it only submit under it by a patient suffering and not rebel against any by insurrections plots and contrivances King Then the King said That is enough Lord. Then one of the Lords asked Why do you meet together seeing every â—ne of you have the Church in your selves R. H. According as it is written in the Scriptures the Church is in God Thes. 1.1 And they that feared the Lord did meet often together in the fear of the Lord and to us it is profitable and herein we are edified and strengthened in the life of truth King How did you first come to believe the Scriptures were truth R. H. I have believed the Scriptures from a child to be a Declaration of truth when I had but a literal knowledge natural education and tradition but now I know the Scriptures to be true by the manifestation and operation of the Spirit of God fulfilling them in me King In what manner do you méet and what is that order in your méetings R. H. We do meet in the same order as the people of God did waiting upon him and if any have a word of exhortation from the Lord he may speak it or if any have a word of reproof or admonition and as every one hath received the gift so they may minister one unto another and may be edified one by another whereby a grovvth into the knowledge of the truth is administred to one another One of the Lords Then you know not so much as you may know but there is a growth then to be admitted of R. H. Yes vve do grovv daily into the knovvledge of the truth in our exercise and obedience to it King Are any of your Friends gone to Rome R. H. Yes there is one in Prison in Rome King Why did you send him thither R. H. We did not send him thither but he found something upon his Spirit from the Lord whereby he was called to go to declare against Superstition and Idolatry vvhich is contrary to the Will of God Kings Friend said There were two of them at Rome but one was dead King Have any of your Friends been with the Great Turk R. H. Some of our Friends have been in that Countrey Other things were spoken concerning the liberty of the servants of the Lord which vvere called of him into his service that to them there vvas no limitation to Parishes or places but as the Lord did guide them in his Work and Service by his Spirit So the King promised that we should not any ways suffer for our Opinion or Religion and so in love passed away R. H. His Answer to John Horn. J. H. IN thy Answer to my Queries thou seemest to be resolved to say something although it be absolutely contrary to the truth and to that which thou knowest to be Truth as will appear in what follows In answer to my first thou sayest Christ in his Spirit ascended up to Heaven when his Body was upon Earth Is this an answer to the Question Is the mind or Spirit called the Son of man according to John 3.13 which came down from Heaven And no man doth ascend up to Heaven but the Son of man which was then in Heaven So by this thy Answer it appears then that the Spirit is the Son of man and that there is no other Son of man that ascends into Heaven but the Spirit then what becomes of that body thou speaks of if the Spirit only be that Son of man In thy Answer to the second and third Queries thou provest in thy way that Mary did that which was forbidden by Christ when she held him by the feet and worshipped him but in Mat. 28.9 there is no forbidding of her to touch him but this is plainly manifest that thou art in a snare and cannot tel how to get out and yet thou wilt be saying something though thereby thou more ensnares thy self but this Scripture thou wilt once know fulfilled The Wicked shall be silent in darkness When thou shouldst answer to the fourth thou tellest of its being a secret and of prying into things above what is vvritten although the ground of my Query is grounded upon that vvhich is vvritten in Luke 24.4 To the fifth thou saist That the Women did distinguish which was Christ vvas certain but hovv they did so is a foolish curious Question What certainty is there that they did knovv vvhen thou knovvest not hovv but this is like the rest of the Priests doctrine beating the air and leaving all people in uncertainties and yet would be paid for so doing but the Lord hath made thee manifest with the rest that you cannot deceive much longer To the sixth thou sayest the two Angels were seen visibly but were not Bodies nor Persons of men but in thy answer to the fourth saist that they both saw them as men and heard them speak and had two individual Forms Now if thou wert but simple and not wilfully blind thou mightest be the more excused In thy answer to the seventh thou art more lost and confused then in all the rest for when thou shouldst answer who were the eleven Disciples that were met together mentioned Luk 24.33 thou saist that Thomas might occasionally be gone out Ans. If he was gone out then the eleven was not together as Luke 24. Again thou saist that Matthias was chosen before the Evangelist wrote his Book What darkness and ignorance is this Thou art not questioned when the Book was written nor when Matthias was chosen but who was the eleven that was together
all feignedness and formality even to dwell in the substance which is the holy life of the Son of God where the true love the heavenly voice and pure joy is felt and known as in the beginning always remembring how the Gospel in power came unto you and how in fear and much trembling it was both preached unto you and received by you with the many blessed effects of its operation vvorking your conversation out of the earthly nature from the earthly body into the heavenly body in which you are able to take up his Cross if it be daily to follow him in the regeneration and newness of life even from the true knowledge of him in whom ye have believed and by whose povver you stand For when we consider the infinite deepness and largeness of that love with which we have been cloathed and have even covered others withal and likewise the many experiences of the Father's dealings with us in working all our Works both in us and for us this cannot but deeply engage our hearts unto him how that ever since we have known him to be our Leader he hath always gone before us preparing our vvay that we might serve him he hath for his seeds sake even reproved Kings and hath quenched the violence of fire that was kindled in many hearts against us he hath by his Wisdom put to silence the ignorance of foolish men that he may clear us from all their reproach He hath not only kept us alive in our suffering under the Wrath of our Enemies but in the power of his spirit made us to reign over them and not only over our outward and open enemies but also over the secret smitings of the wicked one which would privily slay the righteous He hath had a tender regard to his innocent ones to keep them out of the snares of the betrayers and to keep them in the unity of his power and love in the which I speak unto you that know these things whose ears the Lord hath so opened that you can try Words and whose eyes also he hath unclosed that you can see that which causeth divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and avoid it for hitherto even until this day have you learned by good experience and some through sufferings that whatsoever hath risen up to oppose the Lord in his Way to quench the strength of his Love or to break the unity of his people whether it hath been by spirit or letter under never so innocent pretences the Lord hath brought it down and confounded it and made it to be as dust under the feet of his Saints so that we may together say to the praise of our God that we knovv the depths of Satan and are not ignorant of his devices Therefore in the sence of this experience put on strenth O ye Arm of the Lord by vvhich he will do great things and through whom he will make his power known to the Nations in setting up his Kingdom and Government and his Peace of which there shall be no end Let nothing hinder the setting up of his Scepter of Truth and Righteousness amongst you and let the Life of Jesus in his Love and Power reign over all the earthly spirits and over the spirit of Jealousie which is strong as death and cruel as the grave which being not received it can hurt nothing but its own habitation in which it lodgeth So keep your selves pure in the love of God and be not partakers of other mens sins walking worthy of the holy and blessed calling in which the Lord hath given you an inheritance among the living And dwel in the spirit of meekness in which the Wisdom and Power of God you will feel to the refreshing of your souls for as you therein abide you are our joy in the Lord and a strength unto us in his Work Another Epistle to Friends IN the life of the Son of God dwell that in it you may be made manifest unto all answering the just and reproving the unjust for he is come to rule who must put down all rule and all authority under his feet and in him is the living dominion felt and the faith in the power which overcomes the edge of the sword and subdues Nations in which is the dread of the Almighty to bring under the stout-hearted even by the power of the holy seed which is spreading abroad in the earth for the finishing the Fathers work in the earâ—h which all are witnesses of who do abide and walk in his light where you may all enjoy your peace with the Lord and be kept in his power over the power and spirit of the world in the everlasting covenant of light and life where you may all feel the growth of the seed in you into the Fathers gift which is the life immortal so dearly beloved and truly begotten in my Fathers love dwell in that which gives you a sight knowledge and feeâ—ing of him who hath begotten you into a measure of his life light power and image and hereby will you all be united into one serving one another in love for God is love and we are his off spring and to the world is he manifest through us as being his natural branches and the breaking forth of his light and power and is as set upon a hill unto which all eys look and from which the sincere and tender take their example so dear hearts in the path of the Just walk which is a shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day so as children of it all walk that you to others may be examples and leaders out of darkness and out of the ways of death into the Kingdom of the Father which stands in the Light righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost in which the power and presence of my heavenly Father preserve you and keep you in his living Dominion Reasons why no Imposition ought to be upon mens Consciences by any but the Lord. 1. BEcause no man can perswade the conscience of another either what God is or how to worship him but onely the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man 2 Because to impose any thing upon another mans conscience either to do or practice is not to do unto another as he would have another do unto him and therefore is contrary to Christs doctrine 3 Because all obedience or service that is thereby obtained is for fear of wrath and not from love nor for conscience sake and will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4 Because thereby no man can make an Hypocrite a Believer but it is possible that thereby he may make many Hypocrites 5 Because that in all forced impositions upon mens consciences there is of the wrath of man exercised which workâ— not the righteousness of God but rather begets enmity one towards another 6 Because that men are not made thereby loving Subjects but forced Slaves 7 Because that by the force of imposing any thing upon men many are thereby hardned in their hearts and resolved to resist when as by love and leaving them free they mâ—ght easily be perswaded of that which otherwise thâ—y will not be THE END Acts 33. Rom. 4.11 John 5.3 Jer. 1.5 6. Luk. 1.66.08 1 Kin. 8.46 John 14.4 Prov. 20.9 John 18.10 Eccles. 7.23