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
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.
all made perfect in One And here is the True Church where there is but One Teacher One Lord One Faith One Baptism One Light One Life and One Way One Shepherd and One Sheepfold and One Priest over the Houshold of God and One Hope and One Language One Family and One God and Father of all And they that cannot witness this are Strangers to Christ and Strangers to his Cross and Strangers to the Common-Wealth of Israel And this is the Work which the Lord has now begun and is carrying on by a Strong Arm and Mighty Power to redeem unto himself a pure Church and Blessed are they that hearken unto his Voice Here all you Formalists Imitators and Self-actors are shut out here all you Proud Ones are shut out here all you Lustful Ones Fleshly Ones and Carnal Ones are shut out and all you that are conformed like unto the World in their Fashions in their Customs in their Words in their Ways in their Worships and Traditions in their Love and in their Fellowship who are seeking the Glory and Honour and Riches of this World you are the Children of this World under the Dominion of the God of the World whose Kingdom is of this World Here all you are shut out who live at Ease in your Pleasures and live wantonly upon the Earth in the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life you are the Children of Babylon you kill the Just and he lies slain in the Streets but here you all are shut out of the New Covenant of Life in the Dark World under Death's Dominion of what Profession and Judgment soever Aliens and Strangers to the Covenant of Promise for they that are not with us are against us and our Union and Society is in the Light of Life But you must all suffer the Death of the Cross to the Life which you now live in before you can witness this Redemption for those that live with Christ are crucified with him therefore so it is they that will take up Life must first lay down Life for the Way to Life is through Death Therefore you must be stripped of all your Old Covers naked and bare that your Deceit and Shame may appear which you have so long covered with your own Righteousness but now you must suffer the Shame of the Cross if you would have part in Christ and all your old Wisdom Knowledge and Notions which you have gotten into your Comprehensions by your Conceivings of the Scripture-Letter wherein hath been your Life and Pride and Exaltation must all come to the Death of the Cross that no Flesh should Glory in his Presence but I say unto all you Professors Formalists Notionists and Disputers and Wise Ones of this World If you will not take up and imbrace this Cross Publicans and Harlots shall enter the Kingdom before you Therefore not many Mighty nor many Noble nor many Wise after the Flesh are called but he hath chosen the Foolish Things of this World to confound the Wise and the Weak to confound those that are Mighty that no FLESH should Glory in his PRESENCE but CHRIST is made over unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption that they which Glory might Glory in the Lord. And this I witness in my Measure the things which I have seen and heard and felt and tasted of the good Word of Life which was in the Beginning the same do I declare and am known and read by the Children of Light And now I shall proceed to several Passages that I have had with the People called Baptists in several Meetings that their Deceit and Delusion may be laid open to the Simple-hearted Upon the Thirtieth of the First Moneth called March in the Year 1655. I was at one Ashen's House in Fenstanton in Huntingtonshire where I was freely declaring the Truth of God to the People that came there together that Day as I was taught moved by the Spirit of Truth by which the Holy Men of God spoak forth the Scripture as they were moved and there came several of the People called Baptists into the Room amongst us amongst whom was one of their Teachers called Richard Elligood who after a while stood up in his Will and Wisdom to accuse me and said That I had said That God did not respect any Forms and yet saith he you use the Form and so use that which God hath no Respect to But his first words were Sir if you please I will speak something to what you have said To which I made Answer Here needs no Complements And then he runs on as aforeâ— said to which Accusation I reply'd was False and bad him prove what Form I used And he said The Letter And I replyed He that takes the Letter to talk of without the Life and Power such sets up a Form and makes a Form But this would not satisfie his filthy Wisdom which darkened his Understanding but because I spoak words which are mentioned in the Scripture by the same Spirit that spoak forth the Scripture by which I challenge the Scripture from him and all such who have gotten it to talk of but denies the Life and are Strangers to the Life and Power therefore with his contrary Spirit tasked me with a Form which by his Logick and deceitful Art would have proved but could not but his Deceit was laid open to the People and many declared against him for a Form is this as I said before the Likeness of a Thing but not the Thing it self as they have the Likeness of a Church which they have imagined from the Letter with their Elders Pastors and Teachers but not the Church it self and so they imitate the Scriptures but live not in the Life of them that spoak forth the Scriptures neither are acted and guided by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and so want the Life and Power and those are the Formalists that make Forms and Likenesses to deceive the simple as the Devil hath the Form of an Angel of Light but not the Life and Power who appears to rule in those Formalists and Self-Actors but the Day doth make him manifest and therefore he rages and then this Elligood denyed that I had the same Spirit that gave forth the Scripture and he said The Spirit might be tryed by the Letter for he said Many false Spirits are entered into the World and I asked him By what did the Apostle know that false Spirits were gone out into the World and he replyed and said By the Spirit of God then I replyed and said If by the Spirit of God the Apostle knew that there were many false Spirits gone out into the World then by the Spirit of God be tryed FALSE SPIRITS and knew False Spirits from the TRUE and here his Deceit was laid open to the People and he judged out of his own Mouth to be a Lyar and to be guided by a false Spirit
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
me to be in Darkness then much more thou judgest and condemnest thy self for for my Thirty Six Queries thou hast propounded me an Hundred And here also thou accountest me a Fool as by the Scripture thou quotest in Prov. 26. 4. and therein manifests thy self so much the greater Fool in propounding so many Queries to me whom thou account'st a Fool And thus the Pride of thy Heart hath deceived thee Pr. Answ. And whereas thou sayest Thou wast Inwardly called to the Ministry by the Motion and Gifts of God's Spirit long before I was born which thou sayest hath been God's Ordinary Way which to prove thou quotest Job 32. 8. 2 Chron. 20. 14. Amos 5. 7. 15. Mich. 3. 8. Rep. Though it hath been and is God's Ordinary Way by his own Power and Spirit to call and fit his own Ministers for his own Work as those Scriptures afore-mentioned do prove which we also do witness and do come no other Way yet these Scriptures do not at all prove where and how and by what thou wast called and Jahaziel and Amos and Micha which those Scriptures aforesaid bear Testimony of to be thus called were men that spoak the Word of the Lord freely against Sin and Transgression and False Prophets and Hirelings and their Lives sealed their Testimony And these Scriptures also bear Testimony how and where they were called from their Outward Callings to speak the Word of the Lord and so from those Scriptures thou art shut and hast nought to do to take them into thy Mouth for they do not prove that thou wast thus called from thy Labour for thou wast brought up all thy Dayes in Idleness and at a University as you call it to learn Arts and Sciences without which Those were Called and Fitted And for any other Call then as the Common National Ministers are called who deny both Immediate Revelation and Inspiration thou hast brought no Proof that will stand for thee but only thy own bare Words wherein thy Life and Practice will condemn thee for it is one with the National Priests and thou art maintained and upheld by the same Power as the National Teachers are neither dost go from Place to Place reproving Sin in the Gate as Amos and Micha did who were thus called neither dost speak freely as they did therefore are a False Prophet who sayst The Lord saith when he never spoak to thee but runnest and the Lord never sent thee and therefore thou profittest not the People at all as is manifest by the Fruits of thy Ministry and thus thou wast a Deceiver before I was born and the Lord hath Raised me up to Tell thee of it Qu. 2. Whether is thy Call and Means which thou professest Mediate or Immediate Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer thou say'st It was both For say'st thou Besides the Immediate aforesaid thou wast ordained a Minister by the Superiours and Governours of the Church as the Elders and Pastors of the Churches were formerly by Paul and Barnabas Acts 14. 23. But thou say'st Thou doubtest whether James Parnel well was called either way to be Teacher if so let him prove it by an Infallible Testimony Rep. Those that have an Inward Call to the Ministry do not stay for an Outward Call by Man but go forth in Obedience to the Word of the Lord Whosoever was called to the Ministry of the Gospel it was Immediately and not Mediately but thine Mediately by the Will of Man and not Immediately as before is proved and also out of thy own Mouth art made manifest For thou say'st Thou doubtest whether I was called either way But if thou wast Called and Guided by the Spirit of the Lord thou wouldst know without Doubts whether I was so called yea or nay for the True Ministers were Epistles writ in one anothers Hearts And they also know the False Prophets and the False Apostles and the False Ministers and declared against them as I do against thee and without doubt I do know thee to be a Deceiver by an Infallible Testimony and those that thou speakest of in Acts 14. 23. whom Paul and Barnabas ordained Elders they did not ordain them Ministers of the Gospel neither sent them abroad to preach the Gospel neither allowed them an Hundred or Two Hundred Pounds by the Year as thou hast but they chose out those that were strong in the Faith and set them to watch over the Weak But those Churches were gathered by the Power and Spirit of God and were turned from Darkness to Light and were washed clensed and sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God But out of your Church cast Drunkards and Swearers and Lyars and Proud and Covetous Ones and Adulterous and Idolaters and Quarrellers and Fighters and Scoffers and Scorners and Backbiters and Envious Ones and Prophane and Wanton Ones and the like who are neither Washed nor Sanctified and then see where will be the Church of England and the Pastors Teachers and Elders and all Then you that profess your selves to be the Church of Christ will be found the Synagogue of Statan whose Minister thou art And also Paul and Barnabas who ordained them Elders were Men endued with the holy Spirit of the Lord and were immediately called and chosen to the Ministry and had a Spirit of Discerning to know who were fitted for the Eldership and all this was done without an University or serving Seven years to learn Arts and Sciences or taking Degrees without which you can do nothing And also those Superiours and Governours have nothing but what they have gotten by Art and Study and reading of others Experiences but are ignorant of the Power of God neither know whether there be any Holy Ghost yea or nay but by the hearing of the Ear but scoff and scorn and persecute those that now do witness these things and they themselves were also first ordain'd by the Will of Man And thus thou hast but so much the more manifested thy self of the World in going about to prove thy self a called Minister by the Scripture which doth altogether witness against thee And whereas thou wouldst have me to prove my Call by an Infallible Testimony I tell thee Without an Infallable Testimony I do not go neither without an Infallible Testimony do I desire to be received or owned and to this the Infallible Spirit of Truth bears Testimony in all the Children of Truth And thou that hast not an Infallible Testimony either with me or against me are still in Darkness and knowest not the Truth then far unfit to be a Teacher to others Qu. 3. Whether thou art guided by the Same Infallible Spirit that gave forth the Scripture Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer thou say'st That we our selves teach That all Men are taught and guided by that Spirit at times And secondly thou say'st Thou praisest God for it thou art guided and assisted by that Spirit which is alwayes Infallible
And thirdly thou say'st Thou doubtest whether any of those that are called Quakers are alwayes guided by that Spirit Rep. Here all that are guided by any Measure of that Spirit may easily see the Lyes and Confusion for thy first is a Lye That any of us do teach that all Men are taught and guided by that Spirit at Times for I deny that thou art who art now taken with a Lye in thy Mouth which all that understand our Doctrine will witness against And 2dly That thou art guided hy an Infallible Spirit is a Lye against the Holy Ghost for no Lye comes from that Spirit And again thou belyest the Spirit of Truth to say Thou art guided by it and yet canst not give an Infallible Testimony whether those thou call'st Quakers are guided by an Infallible Spirit Yea or Nay but art in thy Doubts but that Spirit is without Doubts which now judgeth thee to be a Lyar and thy God thou praisest to be the Devil the Father of Lyes who must both be tormented together Qu. 4. Whether they that are guided by that Spirit need study how or what to say Pr. Ans. And in thy Answer thou sayst Timothy had that Spirit in a greater Measure then James Parnel yet Paul saith thus unto him as in 1 Tim. 4. 13 14 15 16. And thou saist If the Apostles had been put to preach upon a short Text or Theam methodically as by long Practice in the Church is expected from you they must oft times have studyed for it as thou conceivest though if you were left at large to speak as the Spirit of God moves you and gives Matter in thou hopest some of you by God's Assistance should speak as to good or better Purpose then any who now pretend to the Spirit 's Actings Rep. Here thou hast sufficiently manifested thy Spirit and thy Ignorance of the Spirit of God to any who understand the Things of the Spirit of God and all these Scriptures which thou hast brought concerning Timothy doth not at all prove that he that is guided by the Spirit of God need study how or what to preach But Paul exhorted Timothy to the Gift that was in him which was given him by or for Prophesie for in so doing he should save himself and those that heard him which you never do by the Fruit of your Study but rather destroy them witness the Fruits of your Ministry these many Years in this Nation who have wrought no better Reformation among your Hearers and also this Scripture doth not at all prove that Paul bad Timothy study old Authors and Heathenish Commentators as you do neither to Study Arts and Sciences as you do who with your Philosophy and vain Deceit do spoil the People for thou hast manifested thy self to be altogether ignorant of the Spirit of God who by thy own Conceivings judgest the Spirit of God to be insufficient to instruct and teach the Apostles what to speak at all Times without Study when as Christ himself exhorteth them to take no Thought what to speak for it should be given them in the very same Hour for saith he It is not you that speak but the Spirit of your father that speaketh in you which Spirit speaketh not without Method which Spirit you Teachers of the Church of England are great Strangers to who think that the Spirit of God can be limited to a Text or a Theam as thou confessest you are but thou Lyar where is now thy infallible Spirit who thus speakest thy own Conceivings And therefore be ashamed hence-forward to pretend to an Infallible Spirit who hast here so openly manifested thy Ignorance of it and its Movings so that if thou wast left at large to speak from that Spirit in thee and wast shut out of thy Library and from any Text or Writing thou wouldst plainly manifest thy self to be one of the dumb Dogs that could not bark which Isaiah from the Spirit of the Lord declared against without Study For I do believe that if thou and the rest of the National Teachers whom thou confessest are tyed to a Text or Theam could tell how to please the People and get Gain without studying or speaking from a Text you would for the Credit of your Cause as thou saist for I know nothing that tyes you to it but your own Covetous Ends to make a Gain of these Scriptures and to deceive the Ignorant with feigned Words whom Peter without Study foretold of and therefore thou Hypocrite pretend no more to an infallible Spirit but with the rest of thy Brethren confess thou art void of it as many of them have done for in such Pretences thou art but the greater Deceiver and thy Folly doth the more appear Qu. 5. Whether is it as lawful now for Tradesmen Shepherds or Plowmen to preach if they be led by the Spirit of God as those that spake forth the Scripture Pr. Ans. And in thy Answer thou saist If this was wholly granted James Parnel cannot claim any Interest therein as thou conceivest for thou saist he is neither Tradesman Plowman nor Shepherd nor will take any Course to maintain himself by this Labour for he hath been tryed But herein James Parnel can plainly tell thee thou art a Lyer for he followed a Trade with his Father until the Lord by his Spirit called him from it into his own Word and so I obeyed the Word of the Lord and left my Father with his Trade as James and John did their Father in the Ship For he that will not forsake Father and Mother Lands and Livings Wife and Children and all for Christ's sake is not worthy of him in which Work neither thou nor any other can tax me for Idleness but I believe my Labour and Diligence in the same is more offensive to you Deceivers then if I had been Idle But he that would call me from this Work that I am set about into the Work of Man I should answer him God must be served before Man for if it had not been the Will of God to call me forth into his Work I should still have served my Earthly Father sooner then any other Man notwithstanding the Evil Thoughts and Conceivings of such like as thee who art given up to believe Lyes and tell Lyes but where is now thy infallible Spirit who speakest by thy own Conceivings and thus the Thoughts of thy Heart deceive thee And as for my Maintenance I need not a Law to compel it as thou dost neither am chargeable to the World as thou art who by a Law of Man takest nigh three hundred Pound by the Year of them therefore in this thou mightst have laid thy Hand upon the Mouth for thou and hundreds more of thy Brethren never followed any honest Calling whereby to get an honest Livelyhood without being chargeable to the World but were from your Youths brought up at Babylon's Schools learning her Witchcraft and Sorcery thereby to deceive the
Apostle prayed for the Ephesiâ—ns that believed but it doth not at all prove that the Apostle taught you that are of the World to pray For the Prayers of the Wicked are Abominable and the Apostle would not teach such to pray And though in thy Answer the substance of my Query is confessed yet it doth not serve to prove that thou dost witness it in thy self or own it where it is possessed who wouldst bar it from Youth and limit it to Time and Age and so shewest thy Ignorance of it and that by the False Lights and Delusions of Satan thou art deceived who in thee ruleth as an Angel of Light And so thou art one of those unwary men who takest a Lying Spirit for an Infallible Spirit as is both here and often before proved who art found in Zedekiah's steps and so art one of those False Prophets which the Prophet speaks of who sayest The Lord saith when he never spoak to thee as is before proved And how long have you professed Ministers of this Nation fed the People with Expectations and Hopes That you would confirm what you have spoaken unto them which is not yet come to pass neither likely and thus you have deceived them by your Lying Divinations for your dishonest Gain and therefore for this Cause God hath given you up to strong Delusions that you should believe a Lye that you all might be damned who believe not the Truth now it is come unto you but still take Pleasure in Unrighteousness as in those Scriptures aforesaid which thou hast quoted against thy self and so they shall stand Qu. 8. What is the Gospel which thou art a Minister of and whether thy Gospel be free and without Charge Pr. Answ. And in thy Answer thou sayest to the first Part That the Gospel which thou preachest is the same which Christ and his Apostles taught which thou sayest is summarily contained in these four Verses Tit. 2. 11 12 13 14. wherein the Apostle speaks of the Grace of God to be their Teacher to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Justly and Godly in this present World c. And to the second Part thou sayest The Apostles Gospel was not every way without Charge which to prove thou quotest 2 Cor. 11. 8. And again thou say'st Nor hath Christ or any of his Apostles imposed it upon you that the Gospel should be altogether without Charge unto them which have it taught which to prove thou quotest Rom. 15. 27. And again thou sayest Nor is James Parnel's Gospel be it Right or Wrong without Charge If he doth not take more then it is worth if duly examined it is well Rep. Thy Spirit is much against James Parnel as Zedekiah's was against Michaiah yet here he can prove thee to be a Lyar and not only against him but of his Lord also and therefore if thou belyest the Lord how much more the Servant For Christ Jesus the Lamb of God was the Gospel which the Apostles preached which was free and not chargeable to any thâ—ugh he was and is a Burdensom Stone to them that believe not in him yet not Chargeable And therefore thou Blasphemer how darest thou to open thy Mouth thus against the Lord and his Anointed who are still in thy Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts who art pleading for the Earth and art a Stranger to the Free Grace of God and therefore these Verses which thou hast set down shall stand to witness against thee which thou sayest containeth the Gospel which thou preachest But the Apostles Gospel could not be contained in Paper and Ink for the Heavens could not contain him for He ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And also of thy Gospel thou makest a Trade and a Gain being many Years at an University as thou callest it to learn to preach it all which the Apostles did not and so thou bringest another Gospel and so art not to be Received but held as Accursed as thou art who art not ashamed to presume to say Thy Gospel is the same with the Apostles and thou dost here yield thy Gospel to be chargeable but this Scripture in 2 Cor 11. 8. doth not at all prove the Apostles to be chargeable who saith He took Wages of other Churches to do them Service for it was but for his Necessities and it was freely communicated to him and therefore no Charge But now you professed Ministers instead of robbing other Churches you rob and oppress the World Ruling over them by a Law with Force and Cruelty for the which you have no Scripture-Rule but amongst the False Shepherds But whom do you spare whether you do them Service or nay if you can but get it either by Fair Means or Foul And therefore in this thou before many others mightst well have laid thy Hand upon thy Mouth For whereas the Apostle there took some Necessaries which were freely communicated to him by the Churches thou takest nigh Three Hundred Pounds by the Year of the World by a Law of Man and none wilt spare who come within thy Bounds whether thou dost them Service or nay And that Christ or any of his Apostles have not imposed it upon you that the Gospel should be altogether without Charge it is true for they never intrusted you with it though for Lucre sake you have run though he never sent you and speak a Divination of your Brain but not from the Mouth of the Lord and so profit not the People at all but like Ravening Wolves make a Prey upon them but your End shall be according to your Works But they that are intrusted with the Ministry of the Gospel have this Charge imposed upon them As they have received Freely Freely to give The Apostle Paul also sheweth the same Example whose Care was to make the Gospel Free and without Charge and said Wo unto him if he preached not the Gospel and therefore because he would not make the Gospel Chargeable he took Necessaries of some and spared others and this was Wisdom which you Earth-Worms are void of and thus he that is taught in the Word may communicate to him that teaches in all Good Things and yet without Charge he that can receive it let him The Workman is worthy of his Meat And in that thou taxest James Parnel he hath not been chargeable to thee nor to thy Generation neither doth any of him complain though thou judgest him according to thy own corrupt Heart yet the Answer of the Just Witness in my Conscience shall be for me before the Righteous Judge of all Hearts when you Hirelings and False Prophets shall with the Mountains to cover you and the Rocks to fall upon you and hide you from his Presence who will give you your Reward in the Lake that burneth with the Beast that now upholds you in this your Wickedness Qu. 9. Whether thou dost hold up the First Priesthood that took Tythes or
at all resolve my Query but shufflest to and fro to hide thy self and excusest thy self by pleading Paul's Power in 1 Cor. 9. 6. And say'st That Christ your Master did not injoyn you so to do which to prove thou quotest Luke 10. 7. and Deut 25. 4. and also pleadest that in 2 Tim. 2. 4. and also pleadest a Liberty by the Councils and Synods in the Church in former Ages c. Rep. Yet all this doth not prove that ever thou labour'dst with thy Hands to make the Gospel free and without Charge which any who read these Scriptures may see and by thy Silence in the same judge thee guilty and to be out of the Apostles Practice therefore these Scriptures will witness against thee which thou hast quoted for thou art not as Paul Barnabas were neither wast called to the Ministry as they were neither preachest freely as they did neither labourest with thy Hands as Paul did but only makest a Trade and a Gain of the Apostles Words for thy own Ends and therefore what hast thou to do to mention Christ or his Ministers who art so plainly found out of their Practice or to call Christ thy Master who art thy self called Master and so robbest him of his Honour and art not in his Doctrine who saith Be not ye called Masters and so art none of his and therefore hast nothing to do with that Liberty which he hath given to his faithful Labourers whom he himself hath called into his Vineyard And as for that Scripture in Luke 10. 7. it is not against Labour but for Labour before thou canst have thy Hire but thou would'st have it and be maintained in Idleness by others Labours as the Clergy-men as thou callest them in England are who are no Ministers of Christ who are called of Men Master and so are out of his Doctrine in the Steps of the Pharisees whom the Wo is unto and therefore in this these Councils and Synods as thou callest them in your Church in former Ages have acted contrary to Scripture in ordaining that you should not work and labour with your Hands for your selves and your Families but that you should live in Pride and Idleness by the Sweat of others Brows to be maintained as you are which Ordinance is not of God but of Man by which you stand And how hast thou before falsly accused me for not working though I am not chargeable to the World and now thou art striving by Scripture wresting and false applying and all the Wayes thou canst for to excuse thy self from labouring with thy Hands as the Apostle did though thou and thy Family are altogether chargeable to the World all which Scriptures shall stand against thee for they all maintain working before the Benefit of the Work comes to them be it spiritual or temporal for the Ox treads not out the Corn without Labour But what Corn have you Clergy-men trodden forth and what spiritual things have you sown and what Gospel have you preached these many Years in England do not the Fruits of your Ministry condemn you witness against you to be such as run and the Lord never sent you and so the Curse follows you and is upon your Ministry and therefore profits not the People at all but as Drones live upon the painful Labour of others yea though you do not labour with your Hands yet who more entangle themselves in the Affairs of this World then you that call your selves Clergy-men both by â—aw and cunning Craft and Deceit and Bargaining and Oppressing thereby to make your selves Rich with the thing of this Life yea what Things is there in this Nation to get Riches by though never so unbeseeming Spiritual Men but you have a Hand in it and therefore none of those spiritual Souldiers which Paul speaks of in 2 Tim. 2. 4. therefore silence thou Deceiver for medling with the Scriptures with thy Babylonish Language as Prohibit Mechanick Synod and Clergy which are the Words of Man's Wisdom and contrary to the plain Language of the Scripture out of which thou art shut in Babylon where thou wast bred with thy Clergy as thou callest them Qu. 16. Whether thou dost not walk in the Steps of the Scribes and Pharisees who art called of Men Master or Doctor and hast the chiefest Seat in the Synagogue and uppermost Rooms at Feasts and Greetings in the Markets contrary to the Practice of the Apostle and so art under the Wo which Christ pronounced against such yea or nay Pr. Ans. And here thou wouldst shuffle off with Questioning instead of Answering and sayest What if Christ gave the Name of Master to Nicodemus John 3. 10. and Luke thâ— Name of Doctor to Gamaliel in Acts 5. 34. and thou say'st Is it then the giving or taking of these Names which Christ forbiddeth or the arrogant using of them out of an high or proâ—d Spirit that desires to be Idolized And thou confessest the Word Rabby signifies Doctor or Master which Names thou say'st were familiarly given both in the Old and New Testament which to prove thou quotest Eccles. 12. 11. Eph. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Rep. Here thy Blindness doth appear and thou wilt need no other Proof against thee but thy own Words though here thou would'st go about to slahder Christ and his Apostles whom thou art not worthy to name neither dost thou thereby answer my Query but would'st justifie that which Christ cryed Wo against and therefore a Minister of Anti-christ art found to which the Wo belongs for that Scripture in Joh 3. 10. doth not prove that Christ called Nâ—codemus Master as thou would'st fain slander him neither doth that Acts 5. 34. prove that Luke gave Gamaliel the Name of Doctor but in Way of Declaration what he was accounted amongst the Jews as any that read with Understanding may see yea thou thy self canst not deny it but that thou would'st be glad of any Thing to shelter thy Deceit but Christ expresly forbids his to be called Master and therefore it is concluded That you take these Names unto your selves from an Arrogancy and Pride of Spirit that you might be idolized as is well known how you swell and are puffed up in Wrath Rage if you be not so called by those you account your Inferiours or else you would not own it being Christ hath so expresly forbidden it to his Ministers and you professiâ—g your selves to be his Ministers and the Word Minister signifies Servant and Pâ—ul who was his Minister said He made himself Servant unto all but you would be Masters over all bearing Rule by your Means though hired as Servants yet more Unreasonable and Unjust for you will have it of them you do no Work for and also whatsoever thou sayâ—st Doctor or Master signifies Christ hath forbidden it and therefore in using of it thou art out of the Doctrine of Christ and the Wo is unto thee and the more for wresting the Scripture to maintain
Protestant-Ministers then you do and are you not Jesuited by some of her Emissaries that you would have them all one with another rooted out at once yea can the Devil himself desire more in this kind Answ. I see no Difference in the Ground betwixt the Church of Rome and You for they are Bloody Persecutors and upheld by a Persecuting Law and so are you who call your selves Protestants and therefore no Reproaches to call you Persecutors Hirelings False Teachers and Greedy Dogs as the Prophets of old called your Fore-Fathers in whose Steps you are found as is before proved But howsoever thou with thy Lying Spirit termest us of the Jesuits both thou and thy Brethren have bin in this sufficiently prov'd Lyars Therefore by the Sword of the Lord you must all be rooted out yea you must all fall together he will make a Grievous Slaughter from the Least to the Greatest for his Hand is stretched out against you and therefore your Father the Devil bestirs himself amongst you to stand up for his Kingdom And where did ever the Church of Rome persecute any sparing the Life more then you do Therefore let Guilt strike you and put not the Devil so far from you whenas he fights for you But Carnal Weapons we shall not use against your to root you out but our Weapons are Spiritual and Mighty through God to the pulling down of Strong Holds Therefore Tremble all ye Enemies of God Thy next is concerning the Inward Light Qu 75. Is there not a False Light as well as a True Light And thou quotest 2 Corinth 11. 13 14. Answ. Thou hast answered thy self with this Scripture and I have already proved that this False Light rules in thee as an Angel of Light who art a Minister of Antichrist transforming thy self as a Minister of Christ but out of their Life and Practice art found and therefore guided by a False Light which is an Evil Eye and Dangerous Darkness so that thou canst accuse others but canst not see the Falsness Deceit of thy own heart but thinkest that thou speakest by the Motion of the Holy Ghost whenas therein thou hast sufficiently been proved a Lyar and thus Satan rules in thee and makes thee believe he is God 2 Thes. 2. 4. And here is thy Seventy Sixth Query answered also And that Scripture which thou quotest in Mat. 6. 23. shall stand and witness against thee Qu. 77. Are we not therefore to try mens pretended Light by the Law and Word of God And thou quotest Isa. 8. 20. Answ. You neither know the Law nor Word of God and therefore relie upon the Law and Word of Man contrary to the Law and Word of God and yet pretendest to the Light and the Law and the Word of God and so by it art tryed and found to be a Deceiver who puttest the Letter for the Word and the Letter for the Law both which are within but according to thy own Meaning thou art out of the Light who attestest many things contrary to the Law and Testimony as before is proved Qu. 78. What may men think of your pretended Light who hate so many of your Brethren in the Ministry of England And thou quotest 1 John 2. 9. Answ. The Thoughts of Man are Vain and wouldest thou have the Light tryed by that here thou errest from the Law and from the Testimony and so confirmest my former Answer Therefore cease thy False Accusing from the Evil Thoughts of thy Heart for none of my Brethren in the Ministry of God do I hate But I deny that thy Brethren are mine for you are sprung of another Seed and so are become another Generation in which the Righteous Blood hath been shed and therefore Murderers unto whom belongs this in 1 John 2. 9. and Chap. 3. 15. where you may read your selves Qu. 79. Is there not another Light to go before the Light of Christ seeing the Wise Men that came from the East were guided unto Christ by a Star Matth. Chap. 2. Answ. Thy Ignorance of Christ and his Light thou hast here manifested and so confirmest my Reply to thy Answer to my Thirtieth Query that wouldst not have confessed that Christ doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World had not John so plainly affirmed it in Joh. 1. and that thou never yet sawest his Star who thinkest that it is not his Light Therefore thou that wouldst set up another â—ight before the Light of Christ art a Deceiver and a bringer in of False Lights Qu. 86. Is not the sure Prophetical Word a Light that shines in a dark Corner till the true Day-Light arises in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1. 10. Ans. But it is the Light of Christ that leads unto Christ the Perfect Day which Light shineth in Darkness and Darkness comprehends it not and therefore thou lookest without for another Light before the Light of Christ John 1. 5. Qu. 81. Whether the Life of Christ be not the True Light that men are to wait for and wherein the true Children of Light are to walk And thou quotest John 1. 4. and Ephes. 5. 9. Answ. Thou hast here answered thy self for his Life is the Light of Men which they must wait to know within them to guide them and thou that wouldest set up another Light before this Light art a Deceiver And this is the Light which now is come into the World testifying against the World and manifesting you to be the Deceivers of the World who have long set up False Lights to draw from this True Light the Minds of People Therefore now you can no longer hide your selves from this True Light you stand up to Oppose it where it is set up and some call it a Natural Light and an Insufficient Light but it is your Condemnation Thy next is concerning Prophets and Prophetesses Qu. 82. Whether some men may not be acted with a Spirit of Falsâ—oâ—d and Delusion even then when they think they prophesie by the Spirit of God as Zezekiah was 1 King 22. Answ. This is already aâ—swered in my Reply to thy Answer to my Sixth Query and thou in divers places to be thus acted Qu. 83. Whether the Lord did ever send forth Boyes or Striplings to be his Prophets and publick Teachers seeing John the Baptist who was born to be a Prophet of the Most High and was filled with the Holy Ghost from his Mothers Womb was not sent forth to preach and prophesie till he was 30. Years old Luke 1. 15. Answ. How often have I made thy Folly and Ignorance in this to appear and that thou mightst be ashamed to Boast of thy Age who so often hast erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God who wouldest limit it to Time and Age in which I have before sufficiently answer'd thee And now I say The Lord sent forth Jeremiah when he was but a Child and Out of the Mouthes of Babes and Sucklings the Lord hath perfected
to every Creature Neither doth either of these Scriptures which thou hast quoted prove to the contrary And how many Scriptures didst thou quote in thy Answer to my Fifteenth Query to prove that the Ministers of the Gospel might forbear Woâ—king and not to entangle themselves with the Affairs of this Life yet in all could not prove thy self a Minister of the Gospel and now thou questionest the Truth of the Scripture because neither thou nor thy Brethren were called according to Scripture But whomsoever the Lord calls unto his Work he doth take Care both for him and his Family but You that are not called by him dare not trust him without a Law of Man And in thy Ninety Eighth and Ninety Nineth Query thou seemest to accuse us with some that turned from the Truth and yielded to the Deceit of their Hearts and so gave Occasion to such as thee who wait for Occasion to Blaspheme the Truth but is is no new thing but the same which the Scripture declares of in divers places therefore saith Christ Offences must come but Wo unto them by whom they do come For there were then many such as thee in that Age who as thou dost waited for Occasion to blaspheme the Truth But if thou hadst been then how would'st thou have accused Christ who had but Twelve Apostles and one of them betrayed him and then hanged himself and another denyed him Therefore let this stop thy Mouth for speaking Evil of the things thou knowest not And as for Spencer and Gilpin whom thou here nominatest the Truth is sufficiently cleaâ—ed of them in other Books and the Priests have owned them as they did Judas which is the Name of all that turn from the TRUTH after they have received it Qu. 100. Have so many fallen into Distraction or Madness in any Sect or under any Doctrine as there hath done amongst your Hearers especially where the Number of Disciples was no more Answ. Look at Home and answer thy self witness your UNIVERSITIES as you call them for it is the Fruit of Your Studies who would find out that by Your Wit and Wisdom which the Lord hath hid from You And all that You cannot settle in Security and Blindness You lead them into Madness Confusion and Distraction if they do not in time forsake you as many will witness at this day That they are led by You into such a Wilderness that they know not which way to get out neither do You know how to direct them for You are in Confusion your selves and so the Blind leadeth the Blind into the Ditch Therefore this might have stopped thy Mouth from Falsly Accusing us But I remember TRUTH was ever accounted MADNESS and FOLLY by the Blind World who know not that Godliness is Great Gain And in thy Ninety Fourth Query thou wast Questioning the Truth of our Doctrine because of the Multitude of Disciples and now by the Fewness and thus thou Contradictest thy self And then after much of thy Filthy Stuff which all along thou hast vented forth of thy old Bottle against us which upon thee I have returned again from whence it came thou seemest to accuse our Book but dost not shew wherein and therefore I pass it by as knowing thy Lying Spirit And then thou stealest the Apostle's Words for a Cloak for the Deceit of thy Heart 2 Corinth 13. 7 8 9. which the Apostle spoak from a True and Upright Heart but thou from a False Deceitful Heart as all along hath been sufficiently proved and thy Prayers to be Abomination and that thou hast nothing to do to name the Name of God in thy Mouth who art a Worker of Iniquity and a Stranger unto God who art found out of his Doctrine and therefore with this Scripture I shall mark thee 2 John 9. 10. that all may know thee and turn away theit Ears from thee who art not to be received but denyed and therefore whosoever receiveth thee or thy Doctrine the same departeth from the Doctrine of Christ And therefore let this be a Caveat to all People to whom it shall come and look upon thee to be as Anathema Maranatha 〈◊〉 Cor. 16. 22. Given forth from the Spirit of the Lord through a Friend to all Souls witnessed in all Consciences by the Eternal Light of God by which I am known and received in the Behalf of Israel against the Armies of the Aliens who muster up themselves against the Lord and his Authority by a Friend to the Common-Wealth of Israel who is known to the World by the Name JAMES PARNEL Who is a Sufferer in Outward Bonds for the Testimony of the Everlasting Truth in Colchester-Castle 1655. A WARNING FOR All People ALL People Repent and turn to the Lord from the Evil of your Doings for the Day of the Lord is at Hand wherein the Lord will judge the World and give to every one according to their Deeds whether they be Good or Evil yea He is coming with Ten thousand of his Angels to be avenged of the Heathen and them that know him not Now all that live in Sin and Filthiness it appears you know him not for if you did you durst not live in your Lusts heaping up Wrath against the Day of Wrath wherein the Lord will appear as a Consuming Fire against all Ungodliness Rom. 1. 18. God is against you dissembling Professors who adorn the Outside serve God in Notions Words oâ—tside Forms but the Heart is not upright with God you are in the Earth in your Covetousness which is Idolatry and the Lord abhors the outside Worship when the Heartis not answerable and calls such Whited Walls and Painted Sepulchres Hypocrites Serpents Generation of Vipers and the Wo is to such how can you escape the Damnation of Hell Mat. 23. God is against you Proud Lustful Ones who make it your greatest Care to deck your selves in proud Attire inventing new Wayes Fashions to make your selves glorious in the Sight of Men that they may worship you and honour you but consider not that you are but Dust and God will lay your Honour in the â—ust for he is risen to whom all Worship and Honour is due and he will bring down yâ—ur Haughtiness and your Pride and will exalt the Humble and Meek and will seek that which was lost but will destroy the Fat with Judgment Repent ye Lofty Ones and turn to the Lord and humble your selves before him that you may be hid in the Day of his fierce Wrath lest he take you away and there be none to deliver for the Day of the Lord will burn as an Oven and they that are proud and they that do wickedly will be as Stubble and it will leave them neither Root nor Branch Mal. 4. 1. God is against you Drunkards who make it your Trade to pour in strong Drink abusing the Creature which God hath given to be used moderately for the Health and not for the Lust therein you shew your selves