Nations and through Covetousness with feigned Words make Merchandize of them which you now spare not Pr. Ans. And secondly thou grantst That if Men be made of God spiritual whether Shepherds or Plowmen first they may teach But thirdly thou sayst every Man that hath the Spirit in some Measure doth not attain to that Height Growth and Degree that they did who gave forth the Scriptures and therefore may not as lawfuly nor as infallibly teach as they did and thou sayst Nor canst thou discern clearly that the best amongst them called Quakers have yet reached that Degree or Dispensation of the Spirit And after much dissembling Speeches thou manifests thy light and frothy Spirit still despising me because of my Youth but thy Words are not worth mentioning And thus when thou openest thy Mouth concerning the Spirit thou manifests thy Folly and Ignorance of the Spirit so that a Babe may comprehend thee and tell thee of thy Folly And when thou thinkst of thy Beard or Age as thou sayst Confusion of Face may cover thee For though every one that hath the Spirit in some Measure doth not attain to that Height Growth and Degree that they did who gave forth the Scripture yet it doth not follow that none do attain to that Height Growth Degree and they that have attained to the same Spirit in a Measure and by the same Spirit are moved and called forth may as lawfully and as infallibly teach as they did in their Measures for the same Spirit is infallible in the least Measure and its call is lawful and thus thou shewest thou wast never called norâ—led by it who art so ignorant of it and as here also doth further appear in that thou confessest Thou discernest not the People called Quakers and therefore are blind and from thee the Secrets of God are hid and it doth not follow that they are ever the less spiritual but rather more because thou canst not discern them who pretend'st thy self a spiritual Man And thus they are attained to that Degree they can discern thee to be a Blind Guide and Deceiver of the World and therefore is thy spirit the more against them for all thy Flattering and Dissembling Speeches from thy hypocritical Heart who bendest thy Tongue like a Bow against them uttering forth Lyes in Hypocrisie and with thy scornful spirit Reproachest me with Lyes but it was thy Generation that Quaked for Fear of the Downfal of their Kingdom and therefore persecuted me and imprisoned me yet their Fear did not overtake me for I was made as willing to Suffer as they were to Afflict as knowing it was for his Cause who will make you all to Quake and Tremble who lift up your Heels against him And as thou comparest Cambridge to Jericho so the Curse of Jericho shall come upon it for its Whoredom and Sorceries and Stiff-neckedness against the Lord and his Anointed And though thou thus Scornest me and Despisest me because of my Youth yet it is because thou knowest not the Scripture nor the Power of God Qu. 6. Whether any are the Ministers or Messengers of Christ but those that are guided by his Spirit and abide in his Doctrine as the Holy Men of God were in Scripture and whether the Wind doth now blow where it listeth Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer to the first Part thou grantest That none are the True Ministers and Messengers of Christ but those that are in some measure guided by his Spirit and abide in his Doctrine But secondly thou say'st Men may think that they have that Spirit and yet be led by the Lying Spirit as Zedekiah who smote Michaiah was 1 Kings 22. 24. Rep. Herein thou markest out thy self for a Deceiver who pretendest to the Spirit it is the Lying Spirit as is before proved and so art shut on t from the Ministers and Messengers of Christ who art not guided by his Spirit and therefore abidest not in his Doctrine as is before proved by thy Ignorance of the True Spirit And therefore thou and such False Prophets as thou thus smite at and persecute us that are called Quakers because the Lord is pleased to bestow his Spirit upon us whereby we are able to declare your Deceit and manifest your Lying Spirits who have professed your selves the Ministers of Christ yet Strangers to his Spirit and Opposers of his Truth like Jannes and Jambres who are Men of corrupt Minds and Reprobates concerning the Faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. Pr. Answ. And to the second Part of the Query thou say'st That the Wiud blows where it listeth if it be not stopped yet are there many false Winds which blow likewise from a Deceitful Spirit which to prove thou quotest Ephes. 4. 14. That we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro with every Wind of Doctrine and sayest Mind this James Rep. This I do mind and still see how thou markest out thy self with thy Deceitful Spirit for if the Wind doth blow where it listeth which thou acknowledgest then what is that in you professed Ministers which goes about to stop it with Gain-saying and Persecution and would limit the Spirit of God unto a Text or Theam from which you with your deceitful spirits do raise Uses Points Tryals and Motives c. whereby many poor Creatures are tossed to and fro and carried about with your airy spirits with the Sleight and cunning Craftiness of your Brains whereby you study to deceive as thou mayest read in the latterâ—end of the Verse which thou hast quoted Ephes. 4. 14 which here shall stand against thee And so many are the Children which are tossed to and fro by you although they have both Beards and Age as thou sayest yea some are Thirty some Forty some Fifty some Sixty yea Eighty and never yet come to the Knowledge of the Truth and thus with Feigned Words through Covetousness you make merchandize of the People beguiling Unstable Souls But think not that all you False Prophets with the Beast that upholds you can stop or quench this Spirit which now bloweth where it listeth for with all the Sleight and Craftiness that you can use you shall be made to fall before it and the Fruits of your Labours shall be given you Qu. 7. Whether thou wilt own Immediate Revelation now yea or nay Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer thou sayest The Apostle teacheth you to pray for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Acknowledgment of God Which to prove thou quotest Ephes. 1. 17. but sayest There are many False Lights and Delusions of Satan who too often transforms himself as an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11. 14. which thou sayest are entertained by unwary men for the Illuminations and Revelations of God's Spirit as appears in Zedekiah aforesaid which to prove thou quotest Ezek. 13. 6. 2 Thess. 2. 11. Rep. Here again thou hast marked out thy self and also belyest the Apostle for that Scripture in Ephes. 1. 17. only makes mention how the
who would try the Living by the Dead and again he said that one Spirit could not try another for by that Judgment the Evil Spirit might try the Good Spirits to which I replyed By the Spirit of God all other Spirits are tryed and also that by the Light Darkness is discovered but Darkness cannot comprehend the Light neither discover the Light and here again his Blindness and Ignorance and Deceit was much discovered to the People although he fed himself and would have shuffled it off by his Consequences and filthy Logick but it the more laid open his Deceit and presently the said Elligood was found with another Lye in his Mouth for he said that I said the Thing should be proved by every Man's Spirit which was a very Lye for I said that the Baptism of the Spirit was the Substance of the outward Baptism the which he denyed and bid me prove it and I said I spoak to the Witness in every Man's Conscience which his dark Mind could not comprehend but with his dark Mind wrested my Words and therefore said that I said it was witnessed by every Man's Spirit but his Spirit was a lying Spirit there tryed and made manifest to the People and his Blasphemy against the Spirit of God in calling Truth Error and Error Truth and putting Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness because the God of the World hath blinded his Eye and many witnessed against him for his filthy Spirit was odious to many of the Hearers then afterward he again said that I was a Deceiver and his Proof was that I was not obedient to the Command of Christ to be baptized and I told him I was baptized but he said with Water and he said that was a Command of Christ to be baptized with Water and I bid him shew me that Scripture but he could not but brought a Scripture in the Acts where the Apostle commanded some to be baptized and this by his filthy Logick and Consequences he would have made a Command of Christ but he could not deceive the Light which did him try and make him manifest to the Shame of his Prosession but he could not bring one Scripture to prove it to be a Command of Christ to baptize with Water and then he shuffled to that Scripture where the Apostle said Be ye Followers of us even as we are Followers of Christ and then he said Christ was baptized but he confessed it was to fulfil all Righteousness and I said he was also circumcised and he said that was not for Example then not the Baptism for both were to fulfil all Righteousness to which End he the Substance came but Christ himself baptized not with Water neither do they read that the Apostles were baptized with Water then who is their Example and how do they follow the Apostles in that seeing they are baptized and the Apostles were not then he fled from that being there routed and said They might be Disciples before they could take up the CROSS of Christ and I replyed with Christ's Words That they might take up his Cross before they could be his Disciples which he denyed and said That Wicked Men upon that Account might take up the Cross of Christ and that Christ required Wicked Men to take up his Cross and I said it was so he did require them so to do for by taking up his Cross they come to deny their Wickedness for they that bear his CROSS live not in Wickedness but this Elligood said That Wicked Men could not take up his CROSS for he said Reproaches and outward Sufferings were the CROSS of Christ for his Name 's sake but this was not the Cross by which Paul was crucified to the World and the World to him and saith Paul where he was speaking concerning Wickedness and Unrighteous Ones to the Corinthians Such were some of you but you are now cleansed c. And here Wicked Ones and Unrighteous Ones took up his CROSS which to them was the Power of GOD unto Salvation though to the GREEKS Foolishness and to the JEWS a stumblingâ— Block amongst whom this ELLIGOOD is found who is a Stranger to the CROSS OF CHRIST who saith REPROACHES and Outward SUFFERINGS are the CROSS OF CHRIST whenas the CROSS OF CHRIST makes DISCIPLES and they must be DISCIPLES before they can suffer REPROACHES or PERSECUTION for the NAME OF CHRIST and must depart from Iniquity before they be a Prey to the World for CHRIST's sake for the VVorld loves its own and they that take up the CROSS do depart from Iniquity which is before Reproaches or Persecution is suffered for the Name of CHRIST And here ELLIGOOD is found the Lyar who said Wicked Men were not called to take up the Cross of CHRIST whenas all are wicked before they take up this Cross and here ELLIGOOD is found to be no Disciple of Christ who is such a Stranger to the Cross of Christ who is a Lyar and so are not the Disciples of Christ for the Lyar is of the Devil and therefore is ELLIGOOD Then I knowing him to be one of the Baptists Teachers I took out some Queries which not long before I had sent them but no Answer to them had I received and I would have read them openly that the People might have heard and also he that was one of their Teachers but as I was reading he not having Power over his own VVill could not bridle his Tongue but disorderly run into many VVords so that the People could not understand and I spoak to him for it and he said He had not Time to stay and further said That he was not of the Society of these Baptists at Fnestanton and yet he came with them and from them and then I replyed That be owned them to be the Church of God and this he did and then if he was not of their Society he was shut out of the Church and then he would have shuffled off with his Consequences and said he dwelt for off and then I replyed with the Apostles Words Though absent in Body yet present in Spirit and the Multitude that believed were of one Heart and Mind and here was the Society of the Saints and he being out of this Society is shut out of the Church and then he would have made it stood by his Logick which only is to make a false Thing seem true but it the more laid open his deceitful Heart and Shame to the Hearers who severally witnessed against him to speak nothing but Deceit and then saith he you call the Apostles Words Deceit because he had often stoln the Apostles Words to make his DECEIT seem TRUTH by covering it with the APOSTLES Words and this is a more subtil Deceit and then in his Will he called me Deceiver the which he was to prove and all the People was silent and there he uttered several Lyes and laid open himself to be the Deceiver as I had told him in
their Minds in Writing if they intended such a Thing So then one Hind a Tanner in Cambridge sent me this Note as followeth which Joseph Doughty had sent unto him The NOTE Brother Hind AS touching a Discourse with James Parnel I shall be willing to do God and Men Service in it to my Power given to me First Provided that it be somewhat publick the Questions in Controversie may be stated in Writing II. That the Questions may be such as may be Resolved and Answered according to Scripture III. That the Questions agreed upon may be delivered into the Disputants Hands Three Dayes before the Day of Dispute IV. That to avoid Confusion in Multitude of Words a short Form of Argument shall be used on both Parts V. That some shall be chosen on both Sides to see Order on both Sides observed in Discourse and competent Judges also appointed VI. That Censorious Rash Terms of Judging shall not be used VII That the Disputants shall declare before the People their Intent in Dispute April this 17th 1655. John Doughty My Reply to this was as followeth as not being willing to come under their Snares Reply THis is not to me but betwixt Brother and Brother so if you two Brothers are agreed concerning this your Intent towards me let me know your Mind in Writing now while I am in the Town for while I was abroad there was a Voice of such a thing as from you but to me you did not declare your Minds neither in Word nor Writing therefore now I am in the Town let me know your Minds in Writing that there may be no Boasting nor Daring in Secret for Truth is bold and seeks no Covers This from me to you I send and do require your Answer who am called James Parnel This was writ on the Back-side of their Note and sent back to Hind who forth with flew into a great Rage against the Messenger in the Street and said That I â—yed in saying That the Note was not to me which any one who can read may plainly see it so and him to be the Lyar for the Lake and his seeming Religion to be Vain who is still in old Cain's Nature in Wrath and Bitterness without a Bridle to the Tongue Then the next Morning I received this from them as followeth JAmes Parnel This is to thee my Intent towards thee is this If thou art minded to dispute with me appoint Time and Place publick and if the Lord will I will dispute with thee And so on with his Proviso's as aforesaid Then my Reply was as followeth TO thee Joseph Doughty I do reply That thou must understand the Occasion of the Dispute to be sprung from thee or thy Party as I did declare on the Back-side of thy other Paper so if thou or any of you that made your Boasts or Darings behind my Back or have any thing against me or the Truth which I bear Testimony unto or the Way which I walk in I am ready now at all times through the Power of God to stand up for and defend the same against thee or any other who shall Object against Oppose or Gain-say it be it in the Towns Hall or as publick as you will And what I have at any time declared against you People or your Profession I shall be ready to maintain justifie by such Weapons as I have which are not Carnal but Spiritual and here is Time and Place from me declared But to the End of all Disputes and Arguments I am come for before they were I am and in the Light do them comprehend and judge to be out oâ— the Light in Babylon and the Disputer and Arguer of 〈◊〉 World But still I say Against such I stand a Witness for the Truth which I have received of God and by his Power am carried abroad to declare and preach abroad to the directing and turning People's Minds to the true Light of the Lord Jesus and there to come into the Love and Unity where live the Children of Light the End of all Disputes and Arguments and this I am ready to Defend and Seal with my Blood But I say My Weapons are not Carnal but Spiritual And as for these Provisoes of thine they are rather for me to lay upon thee according to Equity for I am the Defender But these things of thee I do not require neither Three Dayes before-hand but am ready at any time to stand to what I have here declared And as for Confusion in Multitude of Words which is thy fourth Proviso Reply Look thou to that on thy Part and if thou canst tax me thou mayest And as for Order in the Discourse for which thou wouldst have some chosen which is thy fifth Proviso Reply Look thou to that on thy Part for my God is a God of Order and if thou canst tax me thou may'st and let that stand against me But if there be Men of Power to keep the People of the World in Order I am not against it And as for Competent Judges which thou wouldst have appointed Reply Is the Scripture thy Rule and not thy Judge but thou must flee from that to the Judgment of Man which is changeable or else how come Disputes and Controversies But to that Judgment I shall not stand the Spiritual Man shall be the Competent Judge and the Scripture shall witness And as for Censorious Rash Terms of Judging which is thy sixth Proviso Reply Look thou to that on thy Part and if my Judgment thou canst find contrary to Scripture thou may'st by Scripture disprove it But what is that that would not be judged And as for Declaring before the People the Intent and Purpose in Disputing which is thy seventh Proviso Reply If thou who are the Disputant amongst the People hast any thing to say unto the People thou may'st declare thy Mind according to the Freedom of thy Mind I shall not bind thee neither shall I by thee be bound but as the Lord puts into my Mouth I shall declare unto the People what is my Mind and Intent as his Spirit guideth me so that for that I take no Thought So here I have declared my Mind in Reply unto thy Writing where thou may'st understand my Mind if thou hast an Ear to hear and an Understanding open And if this doth not satisfie thee and the rest of you yet nevertheless cease your Boasting and Daring behind the Back for the time to come and let this Witness for me to any Honest Heart whether it be not Fair and Equal And so I rest in the Unchangeable James Parnel So it seems this pleased them and so it was concluded to be of the Twentieth Day called Fryday of the Second Moneth called April So when the Hour came which was appointed we were disappointed of the Meeting-Place which the Baptists had provided for they sent me word they had provided a Place but when we came to meet it could not be had and so we were
you can witness of the Work of God in your Hearts for all this your long and great Profession and esteeming your selves of the Church and Faith of Christ and Saints in Christ So if you can witness yet the Earth-Quakes and that the Earth is yet removed out of its Place and Mountains removed by the Eye of Faith and if the Vail of Darkness be yet rent Is not the first Man yet standing and the first Image and the Serpent's Head For while you are Strangers to the Light and your Minds are from the Light you are wandred and strayed in the Pathes of Darkness and so are the Children of Darkness in whom the Prince of Darkness ruleth even the Serpent who is Head in Man but the Promise is The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpent's Head But you are acting in your own Wills and Wisdom the Serpent is your Head and you are not yet come to witness the first Promise fulfilled but are still in the Fall under the Power of Darkness in the Disobedience and Strangers unto the Cross and so have no Part in Christ in that Nature For none come to have a Right in Christ but through the Cross for As many as are baptized into Christ are baptized into his Death and they that are Dead with him do Live with him and they that are Dead are freeed from Sin and they that are in Christ are New Creatures old things are passed away and all things become new But they that are not in Christ are still in old Adam and so in the Fall under the Curse and under Death's Dominion drove out from the Presence of God into the Earth and Death reigns over all from Adam until Moses of what Profession soever Therefore now read your selves by the Light which comes from Jesus Christ and shineth into your dark Hearts and searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reins and maketh manifest the Secrets to which Light I am made manifest and by it witnessed in you all and unto it I do direct your Minds for the turning of your Minds from the Darkness to the Light all you that have a Desire to find the Way of Truth in what Form soever that thereby you may come to see how you have been wandred and scattered in the many ways of Darkness in the Land of Darkness in this cloudy dark day as Sheep without a Shepheard being carryed about after the Voice of Strangers from the Shepheard of your Souls Therefore hearken no more without to those that cry Lo here or Lo there is Christ and so draws your Minds without to seek for a Christ without and a Redemption and a Sanctification without a Righteousness without and a God without but turn your Minds within for it is to be found within if ever you find it For there is no Way to come unto the true Knowledge of the Truth or of God or of Christ but by that of God within For what is to be known of God is manifest within and the same which descended the same doth ascend And so the Way to God is to be found within by the Light which maâ—nifests Death and slayes Death Do not you read the Parable of the Woman that had lâ—st the Piece of Silver and could not find it until she had turned into the House and lighted the Candle and swept the House and then she found that which she had lost and rejoyced with her Neighbours Now the Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord and his Life was the Light of Men so turn in your Minds to the Light of the Lord Jesus which if you love it to bring your Deeds to it it will let you see the Deeds of Darkness and the Paths of Death and it will also search your Hearts and make manifest your inward Parts and let you see what you have lost and as you love this Light and like to retain it in your Minds and by it to be guided it will lead you out of all the crooked and froward Wayes of Darkness into the Light of Life and so to come to find and know the Voice of the true Shepherd who is come to seek out and gather all his scattered Sheep out from amongst the Mountains and Valleys and the many Wayes and crooked Pathes wherein they have been scattered and strayed in the Land of Darkness and to gather them together into one Flock into one Way into one Sheepfold and he alone will be their Shepherd and this you shall come to witness as you love this Light and follow it it will lead you out of your many Forms and many Wayes into one Way out of your own Wisdom and Imaginations wherein you have been building Babel and this will strip you of all your own Righteousness wherewith you have covered over your deceitful Hearts and it will lay your Deceits before you and bring you to Judgment and if you love this Light and follow iâ— and be willing to wait upon it out of your own Wills and Wisdom and Imaginations and Carnal Thoughts Reasonings and Consutations and self-Acting and Imitating it will lead you to know the Voice of the true Shepherd within you from the Voice of the Stranger and so to know the precious from the vile he who saith I am the Light he saith I am the good Shepherd who will bring you to know the Way and the Door into the Sheepfold if you do not run out in your own Wills and seek to climb up another Way for the Way is but one and he that saith I am the Light saith I am the Way and I am the Door into the Sheepfold so if you turn from the Light and stumble at the Light you stumble at all and so fall but if you love the Light and be willing to follow the Light it will lead you through all and to deny your selves and to take up his Cross unto your selves and to pass through good Report and evil Report through Persecution and through Death and the VVay will not be grievous but joyous and so you will come into the VVay and in at the Door unto the Sheepfold and so into the Fellowship and into the Life and into the Power and into the Faith of the Saints where all live in Union in one united by one into one Body the End of all Jarring Jangling Divisions and Disputes therefore said the Apostle Where is the Wise where is the Disputer of this World hath not God made foolish the Wisdom of this World Therefore I do call you to come out from amongst them and be ye separate and touch no unclean Thing and I will receive you saith the Lord and I will be unto you a Father and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters Now you are called and this is the Day of your Visitation for now Light is come into the VVorld and if you like to retain it in your Minds happy are you but if
Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy Mouth and here thy Heart hath deceived thee neither doth this prove that the World may sing David's Conditions in a Meeter because it is possible to come into his Conditions but then they must come out of the World but I do not perceive that you have a Desire to come into his Conditions who deny Quaking and Trembling which was Part of his Conditions But those that do come into his Conditions need not take his Words to sing in a Meeter but the same Spirit that taught him to praise the Lord will also teach them which it seems you are Strangers to and therefore sing Lyes in Hypocrisie And as he said He was not puffed in Mind nor had no scornful Eye you also say you are not and as he said He roared all the Day long and watered his Couch with his Tears you also sing you do so And thus the Ignorant People are led by you to exercise themselves in Things that for them be too high and you that lead them cause them to err And therefore Wo unto you blind Guides and Deceivers of the People Neither are David's Psalms nor the rest of the Holy Scriptures for Drunkards Swearers Lyars and such like Persons to make a Song on for to such they are sealed and the same that gave them forth the same will open them and they that can so read them may and so they are profitable And how the Jews did read the Old Testament in publick as thou sayst doth not at all prove that you should sing David's Conditions in a Meeter who are far Strangers to them so here thou might'st have been silent from such Carnal Reasoning but that thou art glad of any Thing to cover thy Deceit because the Scriptures will not And that Song that was given by the Lord to Moses for Israel to sing it was not in Meeter neither other Mens Conditions but it was a Song the Lord had appointed them to sing suitable to their Conditions but still this doth not prove that the Lord gave you David's Conditions to sing in a Meeter from your light Minds as you do therefore silence Deceiver and let the Scripture alone in its Place and strive not to make the Lord the Author of your Deceit And thou say'st His Prayers may teach them to pray but he saith The Prayers of the Wicked are Sin And thus thou wouldst teach them to pray by Tradition and not by the Spirit for they that pray by the Spirit need not others Prayers to teach them though ye that are ignorant of the Spirit have nothing else And thou say'st His Hymns may teach them to land the Lord but the Prophet saith The Dead cannot praise the Lord but the Living and none can praise the Lord but those that know him but the Wicked know him not and therefore their Prayers and Praises is Deceit though for a Cloak they steal their Words that knew him and thus thou wise Man thy Wisdom perisheth And thou say'st His Afflictions may order support and comfort them when they are in the like Conditions I say till then let them alone and then you will know how to use them but while ye are blind ye do abuse them and are Ignorant of the only Comforter and Supporter which David witnessed in Affliction And thou say'st His Prophesies and Promises may be the strengthning of their Faith Thou blind Hypocrite what Faith have the VVicked who know not God while thou thy self that art a Teacher hast not Faith to trust him for an Earthly Maintenance what then hath his Promises strengthned thy Faith who hast sung them and read them these many Years Neither are his Promises to the VVicked but upon Reformation For No Peace to the Wicked saith my God Neither doth his Zeal to God nor Love to Righteousness at all provoak them as you teach them to use them in a Customary VVay to make a Song of them and therefore are not profitable to them because they do abuse them where thou hast sufficiently discover'd thy Weakness and Ignorance in thy Opinion with which thou slanderest us but it is thy own Qu. 28. What is the Word And whether is it Visible to the Carnal Eye or Invisible And where the Scripture speaks of any other Word of God then one Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer thou goest about to prove the Word to be four-fold and condemnest me of Ignorance in it and say'st There is first an Essential Eternal Powerful and Living Word by which all Things were made Joh. 1. 1 2 3. And to prove another Word which thou callest the Ingiven and Inspoken Word thou quotest Jer. 2. 1. and 4. 11 13. And to prove another Word of the Lord thou quotest 2 Tim. 3. 16. Rep. Here thy Ignorance of God is not hid who by thy Wit and deceitful Wisdom wouldst make four of one but all these Scriptures which thou hast quoted do not prove any other then one which Word was in the Beginning by which all Things were made which thou confessest to be Eternal Powerful and Living and that Word which came unto the Prophets was as a Fire and a Hammer to beat the Rocks in Peices then was it not Powerful and Living and one and the same with that the Apostle speaks of which is Qâ—iâ—k and Powerful and Sharper then a two-edged Sword and this is the same Word of Life which the Apostle spoak from and published which was from the Beginning and this was the same Word which was published which David there speaks of and by this Word were the Prophets all begotten and born again and this Word is Invisible hid from the Carnal Eye as thou thy self confessest though in Confusion But that Scripture which thou quotest in 2 Tim. 3. 16. to prove a written Word doth not mention any such Thing but if thou meanest that the Scriptures are that written Word I answer There are many Words in the Scripture but the Word is but one of which the Scriptures bear Testimony And thus thy Ignorance is manifestâ—d and returned into thy own Bosom Qu. 29. What is the End of Christ's Coming and what is the Redemption Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer thou goest about to prove that manifold which is but one and so runnest into thy sundry Divisions in thy Imaginations and though thou accusest James Parnel that he knows it not yet he is able to discern thy Confusion for in one Place thou say'st There is a Redemption from all Sin and another Redemption from all Evil and this thou callest two-fold and thou say'st There is a Redemption from the Curse of the Law and another Redemption from the Guilt of Sin which also thou callest two-fold Rep. How many Redemptions wouldest thou here make of one thou blind Guide Can any be redeemed from all Sin and not from all Evil and from the Curse of the Law and not from the Guilt of Sin And is not all
Light may shine forth in your Conversations and his Beauty appear in your Image that the Heathen may be ashamed and â—ear before the Lord your God And here my Friends is my Comfort in the midst of Bonds yea if this Body was to be sacrificed up it would not abate my Joy that I have in you in whom the Work of God prospers Therefore I do charge you all in the Presence of the living God whom ye do profess in his Fear to abide diligent and circumspect that you grieve not the Spirit of God nor cause his Holy Name to be blasphemed lest you add Affliction to the Bonds of the Gospel From Colchester Castle in the 9th Month 1655. This from a Friend who is known in Spirit who for the Innocent Seeds sake suffers the Bonds of the Gospel JAMES PARNEL Another Epistle to Friends FRIENDS TO the â—ight of Christ Jesus in You all bring Your Deeds by it to be tryed and proved which Light in You all is the Heartâ—Seacher and Tryer which as you take heed unto it will not let you be idle or sloathful or careless nor let You set lâ— in a Formal Way or Carnal Security but will let you see the Ground and End of all Your Actions and Actings and will prove and try Your Hearts and let You see how Your Hearts stand towards God and what therein is Head and Ruler so that none of You may be acted by a False Spirit which begets into a False Liberty out of the Cross but that your own Wisdom and Reason which argues against the Light for a Liberty out of the Cross may all come unto the Death of the Cross to be mortified for all that in You which would not be tryed by the Light springs from the Enmity against the Light and is for Condemnation by the Light to which Light in You all I speak which is the Cross to Your Wills that by it You may try all Your Wayes and Actions For all You that are Bowing and Crouching and Uncovering to the Creature You are still in the Old Nature where old things are not past away but are still following the Customs of the dark World worshipping the Beast which all the World wonders after and worships for that iâ— the Beast even proud Lucifer the Lust in Man which would be honoured and bowed to and exalted which so swells in Wrath and Rage and Persecution against those that cannot worship bow to nor honour it to which No Worship nor Honour is due for Dust is the Serpentâ—s Meat And from this Beast in Man did this Persecution ever arise against this Righteous Seed which could not honour nor worship him as you may read Rev 1â— All the World wonders after the Beast but those whose Names are written in the Book of Life and those were and are persecuted by the Beast and coâ—ld not nor cannot scarce buy or sell. And that in You which honours and worships the Beast or proud Nature in Man is that which would not bear or suffer the Rage or Persecution of the Beast but would serve two Masters and so while you are seeking to please the one you displease the other and so beguile your own Souls and are a Sâ—are to others and this Heart is not right unto God bring your Ends in so doing to the Light and you shall see it so which â—ight will not deceive you but undeceive you as you take heed unto it and are willing to be led by it which will lead you into the True Worship of the Only True God whose Worship is in Spirit and in Truth And by this Light you will see that to Him alone All Honour Glory Worship Dominion and Thanks belongs And Him that Honours God him will God Honour But this Honour is not of Man for saith he I receive not Honour of Man And here all Men are honoured in the Lord but out of the Lord none are honoured And they that are Proud and High and Lofty are out of the Lord for that is one of the seven Abominations And here by the Light all Respect of Persons is condemned and the Lord honoured in all and all in him which Light condemns the Language of Babylon and begets into the plain single Language which the Beast-like Nature cannot â—ear nor savour But if you seek to please Men you are not the Servants of Christ Gal. 1. 10. And all you that still follow the Fashions of the World wherein is Excess either in Meat Drink or Apparel you are still alive in the World's Nature being conformed like unto the World and are not obedient unto the Light which convinceth you of the Vanities of the World and the Fashions thereof therefore by the Light in your selves which condemns all that in you which would be exalted and esteemed in the World which would be like the World and have the Praise of the World which is to be condemned with the World by the Light which is not of the World And so Pride comes to be rooted out of the Heart and You crucified to the World by the Light which let you see the Vanity of the World and the Fashions thereof which â—ass away which are not to be Touched Tasted nor Haâ—dâ—ed And all the Customary Words of the World which are by the Light condemned which by the Light are seen to be invented from that Nature which knows not God whereby God is dishonoured who calls to all who will follow him To come out from amongst them and be you separate and touch no Unclean thing and I will receive you saith the Lord. Therefore touch not their Customs but keep out of their Fashions and Traditions for they are all Unclean and own thâ— Crâ—ss and despise the Shame and follow the Light out or Babylon and it will lead you into the pure Religion which is unspotted of the World and so will crucifie you to the World and the World to you But that in you that pleadeth that Scripture Custom to whom Custom that is it which is willing to remain blind in Custom to save its Life which by the Light is declared and condemned with the World which would keep in Friendship with the World and in the Love of the World all which is at Enmity with the Light and is for Condemnation by the Light Therefore to the Light turn your Minds that by it you may judge all such Carnal Ends and Reasonings which would uphold these Carnal Customs contrary to the Light which gave forth the Scripture by which you may see what Custom the Apostle there spake of in Rom. 13. 7. as you may read in Matth. 9. 9. how he sate at the Recâ—it of â—ustom but this doth not at all uphold the Customs of the Heathen that are Vain Therefore to the Light take heed that it may be your Teacher and Counsellor that from it alone you may Act and Speak and so will you find the Witness within your selves for what you Act and Do.