that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God-in him herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is so are we in this world 1 John 4.16 17. 10. We love him because he first loved us and manifested his love to us to beget our hearts and souls to love and obey him and this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also vers 19 20. 11. By this we know we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous to such as are born of God for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our saith 1 Joh. 5.2 3 4. 12. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that is born of God 1 Joh. 5.5 6. Joh. 3.5 6 7 8 of water and the Spirit not after the flesh nor after the will of man but after the spirit and according to the will of God Joh. 1. but as many as received him to them he gave powers to become the sons of God even to â—hem that believe on his name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men but of God Joh. 1.12 13. and such as are born of God are in the life of faith known the witnesses and he that Believeth â—n the Son of God and is of that birth hath the witness within and the record is there known and witnessed in the life eternal and we do through the mercies of God know the teachings and workings of Gods holy Spirit within us witnessing the faith and the birth and we do not believe and love one another only but we know that the Son of God is come also and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and as they was and said so do we and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternal and no delusion nor deceit but according to the teachings and workings of the spirit of truth and witnessed to by the Scriptures and the servants of truth 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 20. and friends and brethren who are out of the envy and hatred in the divine love and so out of the old life in the new passed by the Lord. Page 28. And where thou sayes They are under the great bondage and slavery which is laid upon them by Satan who captivates them at his will Reply Then it is by the Satanical Ministers and tything and hierling Priests that bondage and bring into prisons for speaking the truth and declaring against their false Antichristian Ministery The servants of Christs bondage by the Ministers of Antichrist as many by their means hath so been brought into bondage and outward imprisonment and could not have liberty to declare and spread abroad the truth because Satan in and by his false deceitful Ministers caused some to be laid hold on and put into prison and thereby acting the divels part brought some into bondage which by the devil in his Antichristian Ministers were laid upon even such servants of God as were Antichrists opposers and so that Scripture were fulfilled where it is said the devil shall cast some of you into prison and ye shall have tribulation for a tâ—me and so the devils Ministers hath in that acted their part to bring into bondage the servants of the Lord take notice or that ye Satanical persecuring Antichristian Ministers who bondage and imprison the servants of the Lord and you that are by them so imprisoned be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life Head Rev. 2.10 And whereas thou says They are made to suffer more cruel and heavy burthens then she Israelites under Pharaon in Egypt Page 28. Reply Then it is by the Satanical Priests and Antichristian Ministers as before and not onely by our bonds and imprisonments but also by causing them to pay the tenths of their yeerly increase of hey and corn The tithing and hireling-Priests false Antichristian Ministers are cruel oppressors of the people of God as Pharaoh was and tithe lamb and wooll money for Marâ—â— and foals money for kine and calves money for eggs and smoak passing the chimmeys and their geese and piggs tithe hemp and flax tithe apples and cherries Easter reckonings and Midsummer dues as they call them and causeth such to pay those things to whom they do no service except to revile them and â—ail against them and such as cannot for conscience sake towards God pay these demands to uphold an Antichristian Ministry captivates or imprisons them at his will and thus they suffer more cruel burthens by them then Israel did by Pharaoh for I do not read that ever Pharaoh did after that manner therefore you Antichristian Ministers be ashamed of your Ministery Page 40. And thou thy self saith in Page 40. That They forsake father and mother wife and children for Christs sake and they endure much affliction persecution opposition and disgrace from the men of the world c. Reply By that thou hast proved them to be none of the world but such as love Christ above all Mat. 10. 37 c Luk. 9.23 c. and art thou offended and all this while slandering and reviling them for their love they bear to Christ by doing his will and following him according to Gospel discipline The people and servants of Christ suffers affliction persecution and reproach from the men of the world for the love they have to Christ by following him and doing his will and reproving of sin rule and doctrine and so suffers for his names sake as such aforetimes did that believed loved obeyed and followed him and it is the portion from the world that His must eâ—pect to be afflicted persecuted and suffer reproach which thou calles disgrace from the men of the world and so here thou hast cleered them to be the chosen people of God that are chosen out of the world to suffer for Christs sake as they do and by this thou hast also cleared thy self to be none of the friends and disciples of Christ but one of the world for they are reproached and slandered by thee and so by the world and therefore thou lovest them not because they are not of the world and makes good the Scripture and saying of Christ who said to his If the world hate you ye know it hated me and so thou hates his and therefore hates him and saith he to his if ye were of the world the world would love its own but thou loves not us because we are not of the world but are chosen out of the world to declare against the evil of it and therefore thou art offended but we must do the will of the Lord and
Serpent shoots forth his sting in those words saying he was commanded by his enemy so to fast under the pretence of a friend thy pretence is false and the enemy and his commands we do deny and thee the Conjecturer Prognosticator and Astronomer with thy lying wonders in thy false and Astronomical Judgment and thy prodigious Comet with its scintillations and spâ—rklings thou tells of and also thy little great wonder and lyes and false accusations and slanders who art he that Satah hath transâ—ormed like to an Angel of light who art venting thy lyes and malice because thy false Apostle ship is now discovered and thy Antichristian transforming being fitting for his highest attain mens â—nd making and made able to deceitful works as thou hast learned by Antichrists methodical way in his School and art learning that Philosophical Maxime thou rests of and by thy Philosophy and vain deceit deceives poor ignorant creatures acting â—n that mystery of iniquity and sophistry plagues upon it and wo and â—â—â—geance from God is the reward of thy Satan cal work who art â—oâ—â—gly promoted by him as to be his Nuntio Thou declarer and publisher of horrid lyes slanders and false accusations wo and vengeance expect for thy reward and the lake is prepared for sorcerers inchanters witches lyers and such like Rev. 21.8 thy filthiness we deny thy sting in thy taile Rev. 1.9 and also thy deceiâ— ablenefs slanders false accusations and horrid lye and lyers are for the burring lake and such like take notice of that Secondly But obeying the commands of the Spirit we own for such are Christs friends as keeps his commands and watching fasting and prayer we own according to the reachings and commands of the Spirit of truth and with Gospel discipline and Doctrine but all that which is contrary to the truth of the Gospel that we deny and the Devil doth not nor will not so strike at his own Kingdom of lust as to set any six or seaven daies to fast for thereby lust it becomes weak and it as a means of rooting lust out that great evil on fruit of the Devil and as Christ hath said some sort and so it may be said of this sort it goes not out but by fasting and prayer and herein thy Judgement is false and not true and thou contemns the power of truth and the works of the Spirit of God and one while saith if it was be thou calls Nayler or another that he had a command of God so to d◠〈◊〉 thou sayest he said he had then he did well that kept the command and obeyed and art thou offended at that thou art offended at truth if thou be but thou art therefore ignorant of the teachings and workings of the Spirit of truth and so ignorant of Christs commands and yet taketh upon thee to Judge the truth with thy false mind and out of thy false heart and hath also manifested the same in accusing him falsly that thou hast but a conjecture of be it Nayler or Fox and so with the truth art thou judged and thy lying tongue condemned by the Spirit of truth according to the heritage of the servants of the Lord Isa 54.17 Thirdly For fasting which thou contemns and derides such as do it in obedience to a true command and so in obedience to the Lord for thou says in pag. 44. thou art perswaded they dare not tell a lye c. and if they dare not tell a lye c. as thou says then God teacheth them to deny lying and speak the truth and so to obey the teachings and commands of the Spirit of truth and it is God that teacheth truth and no lies for no lye is of the truth therefore in thy sayings thou hast ensnared thy self and by thy words art thou judged to be unstable like a wave of the Sea foaming out thy own shame and manifesteth thy confusion that says for thy own ends as in pag. 44. thou art perswaded they dare not lye yet further thou sayest they are deluded by Satan How confused thou art the Devil hath no truth to speak then not to teach â—â—â—â—ther to speak truth and not lye for there is no truth in him 〈◊〉 when he speaketh a lye he speaketh it of himself for there is no truth in him John 8.44 then not for any to receive from him therefore they speaking truth and no lye whom thou accusest they are neither taught of him nor deluded by him Take shame to thy self and blush that so lieth of them and accusest also for fasting and when they had confirmed the souls of the Disciples and had prayed with fasting they commended them to God on whom they believed Acts 14.21 22 23. and they gave them to fasting and prayer 1 Cor. 7.5 and were in fastings often and they approved themselves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watchings and fastings 2 Cor. 6.4 5. here in judging fastings that were done in obedience to a command of the Lord to be a command of Satan thou therein hast judged the spirits action judged the practice of the Saints Servants of the Lord and art ignorant of the conditions of the aforesaid approbation of the Ministers of the Gospel and so hast manifested thy Antichristian spirit of trechery delusion and deceit according to thy gradations as thou hast been taught methodically in thy master Antichrists School who art one of his Antichristian false Apostles and Schollers trained up in error delusion and deceit by him whose coming is with signs and lying wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish 2 Thess 2.9 10 11. And where thou says for that deceit of theirs in giving over all care and Callings and then honest employments in the world they are made to misapprehend the teachings of Christ in Matth. 10.37.38 Reply We do not misapprehend the teaching of Christ in Mat. 10.37 38 but witness thereunto and in that thou art proved a lyer And for that fallacy which is laid down in that word All Care and Callings and honest employments that is also false and is so proved before therefore thou art charged with another lye thy mouth is full of such stuff which thou hast learned in the Antichristian School where thou hast learned thy art of lying and deceit he ashamed and blush And thou Sophister saiest being given over to lyes where thou wrests and twists about with thy fallacies and deceivable spirit that we think Christ doth engage his people to leave all care and diligence Reply Thy fallacy thou hast laid down in thy saying all care and diligence which we deny and here thou art found with another lie in thy mouth silence deceit thou cannot by a lying-spirit enter into our thoughts that saist They think Christ doth engage his people to leave all care and diligence Here again I charge thee with another Lie for it is
the Lord and speaks evil of the work that he is and hath been pleased to bring forth in the souls of His People and now thou art found a false accuser of such as witness the Spirits teachings and the bringings forth of the truth of God in their souls and thou art one that cannot put a difference between the precious and the vile but call truth railing and reviling as before is proved and calls good evil and evil good and so hath no salt to savour withall And where thou says these people are mistaken in their judgment that they accuse falsly and that must needs be a delusion c. I Answer It is thou that art so mistaken in thy false Astronomical Judgment as I have proved therefore thou art in the delusion and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of and thou must needs be mistaken in thy false Astronomical Judgment and so in delusion and guided by a Satanical Spirit that doth so accuse and condemn a people for what thou ought not and calls the workings of the Spirit of God by his power in his Servants the delusion of Satan c. as in thy 40. and 41. page and so thy sayings being false are turned back upon thee again with thee to remain and in the reproachful false accusing and lying generation from whence they came And where thou says that when they are made to write abundantly unto men charging them without knowledge of truth They are not able to make good their wrongful accusations c. I Answer as for that fallacy which lies in those words without knolwedge of the truth that we deny and therein thou art a lyar and charged to be so and also a false accuser speaking without knowledge of the truth as it doth appear in thy false Prognostication or Astronomical Judgment as thou calls it and for wrongfull accusations that we also deny they are thy own who art not able to make good by sound truth what thou accuseth withal as is before proved and thou art left with the charges standing fast upon thee and true judgment set upon the head of thy false Astronomical judgment and so thou art thereby out of the teachings of God which thou speaks of that art the lyan slanderer and false accuser of the brethren For the Spirit of God and his teachings we witness according to his Promises Ier. 31.31 to the 3â— Isa 54.13 14. whereby our souls are established in righteousness according to his teachings by his Spirit in the new Covenant Heb. 8 and the Spirit of God teacheth his servants in another way contrary to thy will and many slanderous aspersions and false accusations And where thou says quoting Malacy 3. vlt. they shall discern between the righteouss and he wicked between them that serve God and them that serve him not I Answer Wee witness the Promise of the Lord fulfilled and now we discern and know the righteous from the wicked and so see thee and all false accusers to be servants of sin so of the Serpents seed therefore no servants of God nor in his righteousness but out of his wisdom and teachings who are so slanderous and despitefully wicked take notice of that But again thou sayest if any shall say That Promise and the Promise of being guided by the Spirit into all truth are Promises made to some particular men as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles they shall find in reading that place it was speken to all the people of the Lord upon that great acceptation the Lord had of them upon their meeting together c. 1. I Answer The Promises of Gods love and mercy are to Abraham and his seed but not to the Serpent and his seed and false accusers are of the Serpents seed and hath no right to those Promises but thou and such like in the deceivableness and false accusers like thee are of the Serpents seed and so hath no right unto these Promises therefore art thou and the Serpents seed ignorant of the gifts and teachings of the Spirit of God Secondly That Promise of being by the Spirit guided into all truth The Promises of Gods blessings and happiness are to his own seed and they all chosen people beloved of God and by Christ gathered out of the world to whom He giveth h s word and Spiâ—â—t and the world â—â—teth them was not then given neither were it given upon that account as thou saiest of the acceptation that God had of the meeting of the Jews in the first Covenant often together for Christ was not then come in the flesh so that Promise was not made for it were by him given to his Disciples before his departure from them for when he had told them of his leaving them and going to the Father He said unto them a particular people to wit his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye my Disciples believe in God believe also in me Iohn 14.1 and I go to prepare a place for you ver 2. and saith he after that to them I will pray to the Father and he shall send you my Disciples and Friends the Comforter and he shall abide with you for ever Iohn 14.16.17 Then that Promise was not given upon the acceptation of the meeting of those Jews spoken of in Malachy 3. seeing Christ was not then come visibly and after he was come and had suffered many things before his departure from his Disciples he told them he would pray to the Father for that Promise Ioh. 14.16 26. which was that Spirit that should guide into all truth Ioh. 16.13 and when Christ prayed for them he prayed not for the world Ioh. 17.9 and he gave them his word not the Letter but the Spirit which is the Word Ioh. 17.17 which Word was their sanctification ver 17. so one with the Spirit and Word of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Christ himself is the Word for so is his name he is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 and he is the Sanctifier and sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Hebrewâ—s 2.10 11. and that Promise was not made as thou say st Edmund Skip and therein thou hast also manifested a lying pirit in that and also shewed that thou art not acquainted with the teachings of the Spirit of God nor the work of Sanctification thou speaks of and let all the children of light take notice of this Thirdly to come to the place of Scripture again because thou sayes those promises was not made to the particular people I say none knowes the right to the promises but the rightcous seed and they are one people singled out from the world who are heirs of God and joyntheirs with Christ c. Iohn 17.9 10 11. Iohn 15.18 19. and the promises of blessing and happiness are to them therefore the promises of blessing and happiness are to the Righteous feed separated from the world chosen out of it by Christ Iohn 15.18 19. to whom he giveth his word and therefore doth the
ANTICHRISTS MAN of VVAR Apprehended and encountred withal by a Souldier of the Armie of the Lamb. OTHERWISE An Answer to a Book set forth by one that subscribes his name Edmund Skipp Preacher of the Gospel as he saith to a people at Bodenham in Herefordshire but is found one that is acting Antichrists part disguised but nakedly seen herein discovered in this Answer to his Book called the Worlds Wonder or the Quakers Blazing-Starre And in this Answer he is discovered and proved to be one that is chief in the service of the old Dragon who pretends in his Book to discover the mystery of the Quakers as he calls them and to lay open a dangerous design who is found out that whilst he hath been pretending to be chief in discovering a Plot or Antichrists misterious actings is found himself to be the chief plotter by a Satanical spirit disguised and in the transformings of Antichrist deep in the mystery which he pretended to disdiscover but is here apprehended and taken and also encountered withal as the wise-hearted in the reading with a pure understanding may see and so this may prove to be a means of a greater downfal of Antichrists Kingdom and for the furthering of the truth and setting up of purity in its right place and by this Truth and Error may be clearly known asunder that deceit may thereby be forsaken and Truth embraced and received as it is in Life and Power in the Lord Jesus who hath said Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free Iohn 8.32 Written in Worcestershire by a servant of the Lord the second Moneth called April 1655. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1655. To my Friends and Wel-wishers that desire the welfare of Sion and prosperity of Jerusalem and to all who suffers reproaches and are reviled for righteousness sake in Hereford-shire Worcestershire Warwick-shire and elsewhere under the nick-name of Quakers THe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Bless Preserve and keep you in your faithfulness and obedience to Himself and in your diligent watchfulness and circumspect walking blamelessly before him and lovingly one to another and the Lord God of life and power settle you and establish you by his eternal spirit in the life and Power of Truth that you may walk before him in love and grow up into the pure divine excelency that you may be able to comprehend with all Saints to know what is the heighth and depth and length and bredth of the love of God that you may be comprehended into the infinitness of His incomprehensibleness and be as a peculiar people to bring praise to the Lord and if you be reproached and reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake happy are you reioyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward Dear hearts you that are so accused and slandered by the Serpent and his seed walk in wisdom and blamelesly and you will feel the pure Joy spring up into your souls to fill your understandings Oh! be faithful to the Lord and valiant for the truth that as Antichrist bestirs himself seeking to prop and uphold his Kingdom and to cast out revilings and false accusations as a mighty floud so you may be watchful over him in every place and resist him in the Faith and be able to stand in the gaps and so be keptsafe and be ready to make war against the Dragon that in the Lords strength you may be Crowned with victory and be made to triumph in His strength and all wait in the measure of the grace of God to receive wisdom from above and to be filled with the riches of the grace of God and so every one to walk as you have received the Lord Jesus rooted and grounded in him that the Eternal may rule in you all that you may be made valiant Souldiers to follow the Lamb and fear not the rage nor cruelty of the old Dragon but stand in the pure Being and so as you abide in the measure of the grace of God received you will grow strong and valiant in the Lord and be able to pass over the deceived and to withstand the Deceiver For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 1 John 2 24. So I am with you in the divine Being of love and you may read my name in the Book of life One who suffers with you for the Testimony of the Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and reproached as you are by the name of Quakers R. F. Antichrists Man of War apprehended c. OR A Reply to Edmund Skipp's Book of slander and false Judgment by him called the Worlds wonder or the Quakers BLAZING-STAR MEeting with this Book upon the 28. of the Month called March in my travel in Worcestershire I was constrained to stay a few dayes to return an Answer thereunto for the simple ones sake to clear the aspersions and remove the stumbling blocks throwen in the way to cause the weak to stumble and fall And at the first view of the Book it set seemingly a great face against the truth but through the mercy of God I was made not to matter it but joyn battel against it Therefore Edmund Skipp as thou hast subscribed thy come thou hast abundantly laid open thy folly and shewed thy enmity and despite to the Truth but thou art encountered and thy deceits are discovered and laid naked and bare to any single eye as hereafter will appear I only meeting this Book of thine in my travel and both seeing and knowing that thou hast written it from a spirit of pride and despite to the spirit of Truth and against the Servants of our Lord Jesus by thy spirit of delusion coloured over with shows and pretences of godliness and a feigned humility intruding thy self into those things which thou hast not seen vainly putt up with a fleshly mind with a cover of fallacies and feigned humility and to thy first Doctrine that thou and such pretenders to be nearest the Lamb an speaking of but appears like the old Dragon in wrath against the Truth and Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ who thy self might formerly have lived Pharisee like till thou were discovered but now hast manifested thy wolfish heart and thou art slandering and accusing such as follows the Lamb not in pretences but in reality and purity whom thou revilest under the name of Quakers And thou art constrained to complain because as thou saiest thou hast lost thy society and even as it were now goes a begging to those people thou calls Baptists as in the latter end of thy book doth appear and now that Satan hath got a cheif seat in thy heart and entred into thee through that spirit of delusion thou speaks of thou ventest thy solly in acting his part in reviling the Servants of the Lord and defaming the truth And whereas thou saies that when Satan findeth a people living
such breeding and manners and a fained pretence of humilitie for secret dissimulation flattery and deceit c. And so Satan in those and all other of his deceits by â—â—iâ—â—ing himselfe for your dispositions and capacities if it be to transsfome himselfe into the likness of God which are thy words and as it were to act the part of God seemingly amongst you under fair pretences fine words seemingly self-denying actions so that at least Satan or the Devil as thou saies may insinuate himself into your understanding and affections and 〈◊〉 leave any thing unattempted that may if it be but in probability as thou saies serve to seduce instead of theirs your poor souls this maketh him according to thy saying so disguise himself as an Angel of light amongst you and by you high notionary Priests and false Antichristian Ministers in your false doctrine and Antechristian Ministrie working through that mysterious vaile as thou saies amongst you and under which be would not be seene to be himselfe yet though he so work and â—ct and have wrought and a long time acted amongst you now praised be the Lord with the true light you are seen and your vaile will not hide you those that dwell in the light and life received who are preserved our of Satans snares whom thou calls Quakers such sees both him and you and declares against â—â—s and your mysterious actings through the vaile thou speaks of in your mysterie of iniquity at which thou art troubled And though Satan be so disguised amongst you in your notions and new inventions yet with the light both he and you are seene to a appear in your colours and the true light declares your works and his of what sort they are which amongst you hath a long time lien hid and the worâ—â— of darkness which Antichrist hath wrought through that mystery of iniquity by suiting himselfe according to your dispositiâ—â—s and capacityes as thou saâ—es into likenesses like truth but is â—ot truth a shew but not the substance so that he sitteth and hath sitten long upon the hearts and minds of such because as thou saies he could amongst you no otherwise prevaile and now with the light your mystery and mischief invented against the truth and those you call Quakers is seen and with the light comprehended and all your filthiness poured forth is back into your filthy unclean and mischievous generation returned take it to your selves again who are in that trechery delusion and Apostacy thou speaks of and the poor beguiled wretches stands for your selves who are under that power of Satan thou speaks of and transforming your selves out of one invention form image or likeness into another As thou art Edmund Skipp who art as it were going a begging to the people called Baptists because thou saies that through the mysterious workings of Antichtist the society thou had communion with is now wholly broke off And from thy Antichrist an delusions and those disguised Angelical and mysterious operations of Satan thou speaks of if they be broke off they may now boldly declare against such delusions and deceits being taken â—nto light life and pâ—wer of truth and if they do not yet I do and wâ—tneâ—s against thy delusions and Antichrist an spirit and Doâ—â—â—â—â— as hereafter will more clearly appear who act in the false Antâ—châ—â—st an mysterious actings there spoke oâ— in thy Astronomicaâ— Jâ—dgmâ—nt as thou calls it upon 2 Câ—â— 11.13 14 15. and which is â—ow â—o much practised by yoâ— dâ—â—gâ—ised and Satanical Ministers some in one invention and some â—n another lâ—ke Dyers and Tayloâ—â— often in new colours and learning new fashions to pâ—ease lustâ—ul and câ—â—â—ons minds w thal but aâ—l your covers and cloaths of dishonesty now will not hide you but leave you bare to a single eye Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love who brings your deeds of darkness and hâ—dden thâ—ngs to light To thy first demonstration as thou calls it in page 6. First It mâ—st needs be â—spâ—â—t of delusion and Antichrist that doth â—nstead of theirs misinform thy heart and so maketh it judg amiss of things as thou hast done and hereafter will more clearly appear to any single eye and thou hast by that spirit of delusion and of Antichrist made manitest thy Astronomical and false Judgment but such are div ners therefore saith the Lord I will nâ—â—kâ—th m mad as may be read Iâ—a 44. for it is He that frustrateth the tokens of lyars and thou art a lyar therefore thy token 's frustrated and it is the Lord also that maketh diviners mad that tuâ—neth wise-men backward and maketh their knowledg foolish as thâ—ne is and such like Isa 44.25 who by thy false and Astronomâ—cal judgment as thou calls it hast judged clear amiss and called evil good and good evil and so thou owns and approves what thou ought not and condemns by thy false and Astronomicall judgment what ought to be owned and approved the light stands a witness against thee which lâ—ght is thy condemnation that hates it and acts so against it and contrary to it And secondly That base deceit of Antichrist thou speaks of which is brought forth is not sound in the hearts of those people thou calls Quakers they deny it but it is found and brought forth by Antichrist in thy heart and the hearts of such as thou art thy Astronomical Judgment is false and hath deceived thee and thou thy self art found in that deceit â—irmingeham â— G. who artiso clearly mistaken in judgment as R. G. and such like in their deceiveableness are that calls good evil and ev l good and such as calls the Power of God that reformeth the heart and redeems the soul to God and worketh our pride covetousness theft whoredoms drunkenness lying swearing cursing cheating defraud wâ—tcherast hatred variance wrath strife and worketh out of sedition and the works of the flesh as 1 Cor. 6.9 10. and Gal. 5.19 20 21. â—nto sanctification and purity as in 1 Cor. 6.11 and into the fruits of the spirit whereby the flesh is crucified with the affections and lusts thereof so that there is a living and walking in the spirit and spiritual communion with the Father by such in the spiritual life of sanctification and purity Gal. 5.23 24 25. And grace and peace is thereby multiplyed through the knowledge of God and of Iesus our Lord according as His divine power giveth unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 1.2 3. This power and work of grace wrought by the Spirit of God in the hearts and souls of those you scornfully call Quakers is witnessing and witnessed the Spirit of God also wirnesseth the same with our spirits Rom. 8.14 15 16. Gal. 4.6 and wirnesseth against your lying spirits and against all such as call this work delusion c. Here Edmund Skâ—pp thy Astronomical judgment is abominable false
left in the snare which thou hast laid and the pâ—t which thou hast dâ—gged and sounder the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist as to the single eye will clearly appear thereby will the innocent by thee called Quakers be cleared though thou and the wicked through plotting mischief be ensnared and seared that all simple hearts may take warning and be preserved who have the living God in any measure truly seared and served by doing his will in departing from the workings of Antichrist by his own power in himself and also though his Antichristian Ministers being as thou art transformed as a Minister of righteousness beguiling the ignorant through the mysterious actings by a Satanical spirit of Antichrist in that mystery of iniquity with thy lying wonders c. 2 Thes 2.9 10 11 12. Now I shall speak to clear the truth from some of thy accusations and slanders that deceit may be cast out and truth stand clear as hereafter will appear First To that in thy tenth page where thou seeks to render the people of God odious which thou calls Quakers and one chief thing thou accusest them withal and lays as a ground to work on and that is thou says their railing and speaking â—uch languages to all sorts of people and Rulers and Magistrates c. which doth as thou says discover a spirit of delusion error c. Now if I prove that that they do not as thou says then thou wilt be found to be what thou would charge them withal and so they cleared and thou left to be known thereby to be guided by a spirit of error and in the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of But I shall prove that those thou calls Quakers are not as thou says therefore thou art the deceiver and in the delusions c. an the people thou calls Quakers redeemed from such things and stands clear To thy second Rule whereby thou says thou wilt find out where Satan doth colour over and blind this fallacy with some Scripture words and instances And that is first as thou says their rayling and says they count it not railing but a sharp rebuking and reproving men with authority c. quoting Thus 1.13 and 3.15 and those are the places thou says Satan covers himself under and that of Nathan to David when he said thou art the man and that of Christ to Peter when he called him Satan I answer Satan cannot cast out Satan and a Kingdom divided cannot stand thou deceiver and subtil serpent doth or will Satan discover and reprove his own deceivableness No he will not strike at his own Kingdom to root it out The fallacy thou speaks of that is thy own turned back upon thee again and the Scriptures which thou hast cited we witness and own the authority spoken of but they are no covers for deceit as thou says therefore in that thou art the false accuser and lyer against the truth and truths friends thou art a stranger to the life of truth and them and that which thou calls rayling is to tell thee and men of the evil of their ways for in the second place thou says they charge men with hypocrisie aod so take the example of Christ to call men hypocrites here thou shews thou art offended at truth for declaring against the deceit and so art judged out of thy own mouth and by thy own works who art in the hypocrisie and therefore an hypocrite for we cannot follow any better examples then Christ Jesus and his true Prophets and Apostles for we are required so to follow them as for our examples and we do not errâ—n so doing but are accepted for obeying Christ and hâ—s Commands and following him for our example and the eâ—ample of such Eph. 5.1 1 Co. 11.1 and thou art offended at that and that the seed of God should sharply reprove and rebuke the serpents seed and the man of sin and darest thou say there was sin or deceit manifested by Paul forbâ—dding Titus reprove and rebuke with authority or was that any rayling and reviling in him and such to obey the commands of the spirit of truth as Nathan did and such as are sent as he was from God sent to tell David he was the man and Christ Jesus himself to Peter Get thee behind me Satan And as it was no sin nor deceit in them to say so being guided thereunto by the Lords spâ—râ—t then it is not deceit error nor delusion for such now so to say being thereunto as they was guided by the Lords holy Spirit to say so to whom they are so sent and to say as they are by the Lord required but thou and the Serpents seed are offended at the righteous judgment and language of the Spirit of Truth therefore thy sayings against such are false and so thou judgest amiss to call it rayling and reviling speaking against sin and deceâ—t and to speak plainly to Teachers People Rulers and Magistrates according as their Condâ—tâ—ons are c. As I shall prove by several Scripture eâ—amples and then let all the children of light judg and not the world which thou calls to judg of thy sayings who are in deceit as thou art and cannot judg aright but therein thy folly and enmity is discovered and for colouring delusion error and deceits with pretences and seemingly from the Scriptures by-fallacies c. none more guilty of that sin than thou art and the Hireling and Tything-Priests and such false Antichristian Ministers that are in union with Antichrist as thou art being so acted and guided by a Satanical spirit in all his mysterious actings being turned back and according to thy sayings in thy 11. page and the judgments woes c. against Kendal in the North shall stand But that which proceeds from the Spirit of truth and the true Power of the living God in His Sons and Daughters which thou calls rayling is not as thou says but are words of truth therefore thy second Rule for the discovery of the mystery thou tells of is false a lying fallacy so error and deceit therefore thou art a false Judg and so guided by an erronious spirit of delusion to judg amiss of the Saints practice by thy delusion error and deceit Example 1. To speak truth in plainness by the spirit of truth to Priests People Rulers or Magistrates is no railing but according to the Scriptures and practise of the Peop of God as is here by these Examples proved to be a witness for the truth and against E. S. lies error and all decei For first When the Lord sent the Prophet his servant Isaiah to speak to the blâ—nd watch-men and greedy Sheapherds of Israel who had transgressed the first Covenant c. he called them beasts and said All ye Beasts of the field come to devoure His Watch-men are blind they are ignorant they are all dumb-dogs yea they are greedy dogs which have never enough they all look to their own way
every one for his gain from his own quarter as the Priests of England and Anrichristian Ministers do now and it is no railing nor reviling to tell them so because they do so nor to call them hirelings and blind-guides because they are so and looks for their gains tyths or hire in lieu of them or augmentations bribes gifts and rewards every one lookes to his own way and all for their gain from their quarter out of mens estates one way or another against many of their wills take notice of it and let the wise-hearted consider and see if it be not right and just to tell them what they are and to tell them of their sins is no railing for the Lord saith Cry aloud spare not tell them of their sins and the people of their transgressions Isaiah the servant of the Lord did so and we the servants of the Lord in obedience to the spirit of truth do so now as he did and that is no railing or reviling but words of sound truth Take notice of this and also read Isa 58.1 and Isa 56.9 10 11 Secondly And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord did say so as before mentioned by and with the Spirit of the Lord he did not therein raile nor revâ—le but speak the words of sound truth a-against their deceits and for so doing was justified by the Lord thoughhe might be condemned or judged with false spirits and lying tongues and such was to be condemned for what falsly against the truth and against the Servants of the Lord they said therefore take notice of that and read Isa 54.17 Thirdly then where now any servants of the Lord are guided by His Spirit to call Englands Priests and Antichristian Ministers like thee Edmund Skip and such as Preach for hire and bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their Quarters and places and Parishes where they are though in coloured deceits I say the servants of the Lord being led by His Spirâ—t to call such hypocrites Antichrists and deceivers blind-guides and greedy dumb-dogs such as never have enough but every one looks to his own way and some for tyths some for hire and wages 100 or 200 l. per annum in lieu of them some for large augmentations out of other mens Estates and some for bribes gifts and rewards professing themselves to be Ministers of Christ and the Gospel and not such servants of the Lord as are led by His Spirit as aforesaid and now to cry out agaâ—nst such deceivers and Antâ—christian Ministers as Englands black Priests and high aâ—â—y Notionists and such as before mentioned though they be disguised and colour over their deceits yet with the light are they seen and their deceits discovered And I say such as by the Spirit of the Lord tells them or any others plainly of their sins and transgressions and so what they are such do not raile nor revile though sinners transgressors and deceivers say they do therefore their judgment is false and not true and thy cover Edmund Skip will not hide but leave thee bare that thy nakedness may appear and those that thou calls Quakers are clear See a fourth Rule to clear this more fully because thou makest it such a chief Rule as thou calls it for the discoverng of the Quakers mystery of delusion in Failing c. and free from such accusations and aspersions as thou would cast upon them and salsly charge them withall take notice of this for herein I do not judg amiss Fourthly When Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to speak to a professing people and to the Mag strates Governours or Rulers to tell them and a people who observed much from the Letter of the Scripture which had been true commands of God to some in a present dispensation or under that Legal administration but those that took upon themselves to observe commands according to the Letter of the Scripture and were not guided by a true Spirit to do them Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to tell such people and Magistrates or Rulers who did things by imitation that God loathed their sacrifices and that he did not accept of their service nor solemn Assemblies c. and though they made many prayers yet he would not hear them Take notice of that all ye that observe and do things by imitation in your own wills from the Letter and are not guided thereunto by the Spirit which was before the Letter was And moreover Isaiah was sent by the Spirit of the Lord to tell a City that had been beautiful and full of Judgment that now they was full of murtherers and he told that City that had been full of judgment and righteousness and were full of murderers he said A warning to Iudges Rulers and Professors in all places to fear the Lord God and stand in aw of him and not sin their Princes were Rebels or rebellious and companions with theives and how for saith he every one loveth gifts and followeth rewards they judg not the fatherless neither did the cause of the widdow come unto them and he also told them what the Lord would do by such and by his enemies and adversaries Take notice of that Oh ye Judges and Rulers and also Professors and fear the Lord God Likewise read Isa 1.10 to the 25 c And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit so spake and said to a professing people and Princes Now call not truth railing nor reviling leastyou be condemned of the Lord when you are judged Citizens Rulers and Magistrates he did not in all that sin neither raile nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth And now the servants of the Lord so led and acted by His Spirit with it may so say as they are directed and commanded by the Lord and not in all that sin neither rail nor revile but speak the words of sound truth and not judg amiss though such as are spoken to may reject the Counsel of the Spirit of Truth c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 20 21. Neveri heless the wicked being warned and do not return from their wickeanass his blood will be upon his own bead and the Lords servant is through his obedience cleared and if such as reject the Spirits counsel and judg the servants of the Lord with a false spirit and call truth railing yet it is not and the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit may condemn the lying tongue for thus saith the Lord Every tongue that shall use up in judgment against thee thou shall condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord and this I witness in and by the Spirit of the Lord for the truth and against thee Edmund Skip and all lying tongues which are condemned by the living truth and the servants of the Lord for your enmity against it and them Isa 54.15 16
Antichristian ministery and speaking the Word of the Lord and reproving sin and deceit which they call railing and reviling as one of the servants of the Lord is now in prison at Worcester upon that account only and for the breach of no known Law sent from Kederminster thither by those under Richard Baxter Minister which is the chiefest Priest in Worcestershire and that Town was accounted great in profession but now like Priest like people Hosea 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 even full of envy and malice against the servante of the Lord which carrieth them forth into cruel persecution but let the wise-hearted know that the chiefest of the Priests when Christ came personally were the greatest enemies of his and did the most both stir up Rulers and people to persecute him and the greatest Professors were cruel and bitter against him And now that Christ is come and coming in the Spirits of his Saints Children and Servants to reprove the world of sin and unrighteousness and to discover the deceivableness of Antichrist and the Antâ—christian minâ—stery the chiefest Priests and many great Professors as well as Richard Baxter Chief-Priest at Kederminster and such now labour to uphold the Kingdom of Antichrist under a dark black cover which cannot hide the baseness of their hearts but lets it break forth into cruelty and persecution but it is too manifest that they are of the bloody City in the pollutions and filthiness and hath disobeyed the voice and heardened their hearts against the truth who have haled out of their Synagogues beat abused and imprisoned such as the Lord sent unto them c. But it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled and that they may manifest themselves to be of that Generation of persecutors and blood-thirsty ones How dangerous a thing it is to reproach and revile the people of God that ever persecuted the righteous seed and wo from God is upon all such Teachers and People and they may read their Example Matth. 23.31 32 33 34.35 But to come to the matter in hand That City which the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of and Rulers Teachers Priests and people And again the servants of the Lord that speaks truth against deceit do not revile but such as speak evil of them and salsly accuse them are the revilers as such was that reproached the people of God and magaâ—â—fied themselvs against them as the Priests and their party do now by and against those the Lords people whom they scornfully call Quakers which obeyed not the voice as in Zeph. 3. Chap. and see what the Lord by his Prophet saith in Zeph. 2. How he cries wo to such a people as are there spoken of verse 5. c. Likewise he tells a wicked people there what the Lord will do unto them and see the cause why Zeph. 2.8 9. This saith he shall they have for their pride because they have reproached and magnâ—fied themselves against the people of the Lord of hâ—sis therefore saith the Lord by His Prophet I will be terrible unto them c. Zeph. 2.10 11. c. Then take heed what you do and consider of this all ye unrighteous ones who reproaches and reviles the people of God under the Nick-name of Quakers The Prophet Zephaniah did not raid nor revile when he spoke to that City when he cried wo unto in and called the Princes within it Roaring Lyons and the Judges Evening Wolves and the Prophets light and â—echeâ—ous persons and said the Priests had poâ—uted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3. because it was so and they had done so yet to the eye of reason a natural man that knows not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.24 he would have been ready to say it had been harsh language and rayling as now in thâ—s generation they call the Spirits language railing and reviling when it tells people of their sins and transgressions but though the natural man say so it is not so for he that so saith and accuseth falsly is the railer and reviler but Edmâ—â—â— Skip and the Priests and Antichristian Ministers and such as are prophane proud and wicked they speak evil of the Spirits language and accuseth falsly and cannot prove their false accusations therefore they are the railers and revilers and not the people which they reproachfully call Quakers and the natural man is not to judg the spirâ—tual man but the spiritual man may judg the natural man it is his Prerogative for he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man and this priviledge have all the Saints and Brethren of Christ Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love 1 Cor. 2.14 15,16 Heb. 2.11 1 Cor. 6.2 But thou art offended The seed of God may judg the seed of the Serpent but the seed of the Serpent is not to judg the seed of God that the righteousseed should judg the seed of the Serpent and thou art offended to have a hypocrite called a hypocrite but Christ gave them that name and called them so them such as are guided by his Spirit may but we and the righteous seed are so taught and guided therefore we may and so follow him for our example Maâ— 23.27 28 29. and we know we are of the righteous seed For God hath sent the. Spirit of His Son-into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father c. Gal. 4.6 7 and Rom. 8.14 And we are to call a lyar a lyar for the Scripture calleth them so and the Spirit of truth spoke it forth 2 Pet. 1.20 21. and we being guided by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 and 1 Ioh. 3.2.4 as such was that called lyars by the name of lyars therefore by the same Spirit may and do we call them so for that is the name which the holy Spirit gave them to call lyars by the name of lyars For be that saith he loveth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar 1 Ioh. 2.4 Kev 21.8 Rev. 22.15 And thou and all such as are offended to have liars called liars seeing the Spirit calleth them so and gave them that name thou and all such art offended at the Spirits teachings therefore judg your folly and the pride of your hearts And thou and all such who are offended Serpents were called Serpents by the Spirit of truth to have a Serpent called a Serpent though they appear like men in the truth but full of hypocrisie and deceit thou and all such are offended at the language of Christ in the Gospel-ministration for he called such Serpents and Vipers As by the Spirit of truth such were so called then with the same Spirit they may be called so that are so now and that is not un-Gospel like but agreeing thereunto Mat. 23.28 29 30 31 32 33. And if thou and the Serpents seed be offended Children of the Devil are called by their Fathers same the Holy-ghost calleth them so to be called by your name your burden you must
world hate them Iohn 17.14 this word abideth in such as hath overcome the world and greater is he that is in them then he that is in the world 1 Iohn 2.12 13 14. and such are sons 1 Iohn 3. and being sons they are heires of God and joynt heires with Christ Rom 8.16.27 and such have a right to the promises being heires according to the promise and of the seed which the promises are to Galas 3.29 therefore thy fallacy I deny Edmund Skip and witnesse the spirits teachings which thou art a stranger unto as it doth appear the accusations is taken off from Truths friends which thou calls Quakers and now truth is on their side and shineth pure and clear Fourthly That promise made to the waiting people at that time spoken of Malachy 3. was a particuler people and a true figure for there was a time when the adversaties of the Lords people called the Proud happy and they that wrought wickednesse were set up by such enemies and adversaries Malachy 3.15 then they that feared the Lord met often together and spoke one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard them Gods unchandgable Love and Remembrances of his former mercies and loving kindness is sweet and comsortable to his people c. verse 16. but the promise was not upon their acceptation of meeting together in the first place but out of the free love and mercy of the Lord made known unto his own peculier ones which moved them to meet together for saith he I am the Lord I change not therefore the sons of Iacob are not consumed Mala. 3.6 there was a manifestation of Gods love unto them his loving was the moving cause of their meeting together and not their meeting together the moving cause of Gods love to them and so the promise I say to them was not in the first place upon their acceptat on of meeting together but the free love mercy of the Lord which moved them to it and for his loves sake were they accepted their meeting together was not the cause of Gods unchangable love to them but the free love and unchangable of Gods goodness the so mer promises of God remembrances of his loving kindness to them was the cause and their meeting together a fruit of their tobedience to God for his mercy and loving kindness manifested to them and now the promises are to the seed that are in the Covenant and returned to the pure being and in the obedience to the God of Iacob and Israel in the Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17.18 Fistly And that we witnesse who are of the promised Seed The Saints and Servants of the the Lord are witnesses to his teachings and workings by his Spirit And The holy Vnction is the Saints-Teacher and the Spirit of Promise their grade into all Truth and we witnesse the teachings and Covenant of God with his own Seed and according to the promise of the Lord to the Seed as in Isa 48. v. 27. and where he hath said that his Spirit and Words put in the mouth of such there spoken of shall not depart out of the mouth of the seed nor out of the mouth of the Seeds Seed from henceforth for ever saith the Lord Isa 59.20 21. and that spiritual promise of Christ in the Gospell we witnesse which guideth and leadeth into all Truth the Spirit being come which was promised and prayed for Iohn 14.16 17 26. Iohn 16.13 and we also witnesse to the holy Unction which teacheth us all things and we need not that any man teach us but as the Anointing teacheth us which is Truth and no lie as it is written 1 Iohn 2.20 27. And Edmund Skip this power which gave forth the promises and new fulfilles them to the Seed we witnesse to and in therefore Edmund Skip thou that calls the teachings of the Spirit of God and the workings by his Power in and through his children and servants the mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks evill of the Power of God and blasphemes in so saying but thy folly is seen and that for all thy Comparisons and Scriptures under pretences adding thereunto thy fallacies and lying divinations as is manifested to any single eye in thy 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. c. pages And thou art ignorant of the workings and teachings of God and one that blasphemes his Power but thy Judgment thou must bear who art that false accuser of the brethren misapplier of the Scriptures and calls Truth delusion and Delusion truth and so calls evill good and good evill such is thy false judgment crrour and deceipt manifested in thy Astronomical judgement or Blazing-star 1. Whereas thou Edmund Skip falsly accuseth them thou calls Quakers and saith they are filled up with Railing Harsh Some accusations cast off from the Truth and Truth friends by the World called Quakers and turned back upon the Accuser and false accusers to remain and Clamerous language c. in this 13. page but thy saying therein is false and that is largely proved against thee and so the truth from that accusation cleared before and that is turned back upon thee the false accuser and with the false accusers to remain 3. And whereas thou tells of taking Scripture to cover over deceipts withall that we denie and this saying is therein false so turned back upon thee again and with thee and the false accusers to remain the Scriptures we witness to be a true Declaration of the Truth Luke 1.1 1 Iohn 1.3 and we make use of them in their place to witnesse for the Truth and against deceivers and deceipt but for taking them to cover over deceipts withall therein thou lies and hast by that also manifested thy lying spirit and none more guilty of that sin both taking the Scripture to made with all for money and also to cover deceipts and fallacies with all then such as thou art and the priests of the World and not we whom thou accuseth for presently after thou calls them a mislead people and tels what is meident to a mislead people quoting 1 Tim. 6 4. and 4. v. 2 Tim. 3.4 But that misleading we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee and all that are proud traitours heady high minded and lovers of pleasures which things we deny and against them testifie and those Scriptures which thou hast cited tells of such a sort of people Which two places of Scripture clears us and proves such as the Priests and their followers to bring forth the fruits they speak of us their fruits maketh them manifest to be those people thou speaks of not us whom you cal Quakers so according tothatsaying the Priests and their followers are the misled people thou speaks of and there is like Priest like people Hos 4.9 which 2 places of Scripture 1 Tim. 6.4 5. and 2 Tim. 3.4 turnes backwards off from us to you ye Proud-doaters about Questions and Strife of words
such also as supposes gain to be godliness and those likewise that sollowes pleasures which we deny and turn them back as thou art and the Priests and Antichtistian ministers such as are proud and supposes gainto be godliness which they do not that thâ—u accuseth under the name of Quakers and thou thy self if thou was not blind might see that thou clears them also of that thyself in thy 30 and 31 pages where thou sayes they are made to deny their callings c. but as for giving over labouring and following of wordly business thou says thou could bedy with that and shews thy Reason as thou says â—hat when thou considered that most men are overcome and surfeited with the cares things of this life thou thought as thou sayes that the people of God should be upon the extream on the other hand those then are not they that suppose gain is Godliness c. here thou takes them also according to that saying of thine to be the people of God and yet thou calls them a misted People what confusion is here how confused thou art saying and unsaying building up and throwing down Babylonish and thou cleares them from the cares of the World and for surfeiting with that and yet in the places of Scripture before cited as in 1 Tim. 6.5 6. that is speaking of one that is Proud c. which thing they deny and abhor and also declare and testify against it as Isaiah did that said Wo to the Crown of Pride Isa 28. and by that Scripture which thou art blind in and cannor see what in darkness thou hast done thou hast Ranked them amongst a people that doates about Questions and strife of words and such as follow pleasures c. which things they deny against them testifie and they are no such thou thy self in another place hast confuted thy self therein and cleared themof that in thy 20 Pag. for thou says there they desire to become fools and to be made weak and as thou says thou knowes not what is doth appear thou says thou knowes not what that art so confuted and so consuting thy self in thy own sayings theresore let all the wise hearted take notice of that and judge by what spirit thou art guided even by a Spirit of delusion error and deceipt And to that in thy 19 Pag. where thou says they Reckon it their perfection and bappiness to be deprived of all here thou speakest thou knowest not what a divination of thy own brain and an imagination of thy heart And whereas thou says the Spirit of God doth neither so Act nor teach c. I answer the Actings and teachings of the Sparit of God we own but deny thy sayings who are ignorant both of his actings and teachings as before is proved and as thou thy self in uttering thy Confusion hast made it plainly manifest And where thou art telling of one thing that did very much stumble thee a great while and it was this thou sayes that they said the best things that ever they Received from God mentionag knowledge and faith and high enjoyments must burnt up and destroyed I Reply they that walk in the light stumble not The best things that ever we Receaved from God as Faith Heavenly-wisdom and Spirituall enjoyments is owned c. but they that disobey the light and walk contrary to it they stumble even at noon-day but thou walks not in the light and therefore thou stumbles and would aspire to know the Saints Conditions with thy vain mind but cannot for out of their life faith and enjoyments thou art shut and for destruction to suffer but thy fallacy we deny which Iles in these words of suffering losse of all that we Received of God and where thou says of faith knowledge and high-enjoyments and would charge a Lie upon us saying that we should say we should suffer losse of them thy fallacy we deny but Faith True-knowledge and what we have receaved of God that we enjoy according as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 c. And where thou says that they desire to become fools and to he made weak and thou knowes not what Page 20. Reply Thou hast shot forth thy sting in thy tail or hinder part of thy words in that fall acy or saying where thou says thou knows not what as thou hast said how confused thou art as I said before to say thou knowes not what therefore thy judgment and sayings must needs be false and not true that as thou thy self hath said thou says thou knows not what and an in thy confusion and falshood treachery and deceipt thou hast nothing to do to judge of the wayes of God nor of the people of God And where thou says The Holy Ghost judgeth it meet that all care and diligenoe should be used hath in Reading exhorting one another c Reply What the Holy Ghost teacheth that we do own and also at we are guided thereby to evercising of those Graces A Sting in the tail a satit cy denyed wherewith the Lord hath endued our souls we also own and to he kept diligent in the Spint to understand the mind and will of God in the making sorth of his Love that we may be to the praise of the glory of his Grace and Reading and Prayer that we do own but thy Sting in thy tail fallacy or lying-divination that we deny Reading and Prayer and all Godly exortation according to the teachings of the Spirit of God is now witnessed amonst the people of God by the world called Quakers Which is this where thou says Those beguiled wretches pretend they must not Read or Speak a good word to one-another Reply thy saying in this is all false and thou laid a smooth-ground before it and coloured it over and layes this in the middle to stumble the simple thou subtill Serpent this fallacy we deny and the pretences shall stand for thy self and the begulied and wretches thou speaks of but Reading we own and speaking good words exhorting one another and prayer by the Spirit of Truth and speaking the Truth in Love that we may grow up in Him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of its self in Loves Ephes 4.15 16. And where thou says They say they have no freedom to speak admonish or discowise about heavenly things or any thing whereby they may glorifie God or do good one to another Reply Math. 5.16 This saying is altogether false and not true and thy fallacy we deny but speaking about the things of God and that which may glorifie him that we do own knowing that by obeying
Antichrist in hâ—s mysterious actings thou speaks of and though thou be exalted in the delusions by Satans transformings in the working so disguised through that mysterious vail yet thrown down thou must be who art in the delusions and so overcome with deceit by the subtil stratagems of Satan thou speaks of therefore let all that fears God take heed of thee and thy delusions and the mysterious workings of Antichrist by whose spirit thou as well as his Ministers art Acted who art labouring through his deceitful power thou speaks of and working to bring other poor creatures into thy own Region of darkness and valley of death who art under the dominion of the prince of darkness the prince of the power of the air the spirit that ruleth in thee and all the children of disobedience such as thou art 2 Thess 2.9 10 11 12. In thy Pages 25 26. thou sayes They compare their sufferings and Agoâ—ies with those of Christ and they must suffer the wrath of God and the like as he did and yet reckon themselves the servants of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord will prove this to be a horrible lie and delusion because that Christ suffered for his servants and boâ—e the wrath and curse of God for them and made satisfaction to his Fathers law and justice in his own blood and his father was pleased to accept it c. Reply thy comparison and fallacy we deny where thou sayes they compare their sufferings and agonies with those of Christ and say they must suffer the wrath of God as he did The comparison is thy own and the fallacy lies in those words in thy third line as He did we do not say we must suffer râ—â—poâ— that cross at Mount Caâ—vary Christs death of great effect who hath satisfied the justice of God for the breach of the first covenant and now estabâ—â—shed the second to satisfie the fathers wâ—ath and justice for the transgressions under the first covenant as he did therein thou lies and accuseth falsly for he hath satisfied his fathers law and justice by suffering upon the cross at Mount-Caâ—ary for the transgressions that were under the first covenant who through the eternal spirit offered up himself without spot to God and now in the new Covenant he doth purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God and for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Covenant that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receave the Promise of eternall inheritance Hebr. 9 11 12 13 14 15. and we are called not onely to beleeve but also to suffer as they under the New Covenant that beleeved were did who said For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not onely to beleeve but also to suffer for his sake having the same Conflict which ye saw in me and now hear it to be true Philip. 1 29 30. This spoke the Minister of the Gospel The Saints under the New Covenant do witness the sufferings of Christ in tâ—em c. who had suffered and born about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus Read and understand 2 Cor. 4.10 and the same Minister of the Gospell did annex a suffering to beleeving and that in the behalf of Christ Philip. 1.29 and thy comparison and fallacy being taken away we witness such sufferings which thou appears to be a Stranger in and accuseth a people that witnesse the Power of God which worketh out salvation by fear and trembling which the Gospell Minister that spoke to the Philippians of to suffer as well as beleeve in his 2 Chapter 12.13 and also annexed obedience to faith and suffering to both and we know that Christ is the Author of our salvation that obey and serve him and His servants we are as well as sufferers for his Names sake who also is the Author of eternall Salvation to all that obey him Hebr. 5.8 9. this fallacy being taken away Truth we witnesse and a suffering Condition and that according to the teachings of the Spirit of Truth for Christs sake though not as he did upon the Crosse at mount Calvary to Redeem them that were under the Law from under it who fulfilled that Law and Covenant that were but Types and figures of him who took away the first and established the second Such as come not by the dore and through inward sufferings with Christ are strangers to the New Covenant and the theef is seen to be without c Hebr. 10. and as they who witnessed Christ under the New Covenant did witnesse a bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so do we and the life manifest in our mortall bodies as such dâ—d 2 Cor. 4. And as they who were Ministers of the New Covenant and knew the terrours of Lord so do we therefore we perswade men to be Reconciled to God as they did who were his Ambassadours and Fellow-labourers with him 2 Cor. 5.11 and 2. Cor. 6.2 Cor. 2.15 16 17. And we know also that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ as theirs did 2 Corinth 1.5 and thou that art a Stranger to the inward suffering and so accuseth them who witness them thou manifests to all the children of Light whose servant thou art a Theef that hath climbâ— up another way and so never come in by the door and have I charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be noâ—â— of his Ministers that art so ignorant of the Spirits works and teachings and by thy fallacies and living divinations casts slanders and Aspersions upon the Children and Servants of the Lord by thy subtilty and Serpent-tine wit who art that horrid lyer and the Spirit of God proves thee to be so that through a dirty fallacy thou would cast upon the Innocent buâ— it is turned back upon thee to Remain plagues is the Serpents portion but thou art of the Seâ—pents seed a lier and false-accuser and plauges is thy portion silence deceaver and stop thy mouth with the true light art thou seen and comprehended and with the Light condemned And though Christ did make satisfaction to his Fathers Law Christ hath made satisfaction for the Law and there is now condemnation to such as are infreed from and Justice to fulfill that law which had been broken and through the fulfilling of it were his Justice satisfied yet that doth not free from inwards sufferings that law stood outwardly and was fulfilled and the Justice of God satisfied concerning the breach of it but now his Law is written within in the heart according to the tenour of the New Covenant that was given according to the Fathers Promis Ier. 13.13 c. Hebr. 8. So now the Righteousness of the holy Law of the Spirit of Life t is to be fulfilled in us as it was to be fulfilled in them that
subject to the Law of God and so judged with the power that brings forth judgment into Victory The body of sin is first within and those that know Redemption from it victory over it knowâ—â— the Power of God working within Secondly To come to thy sayings they are weighed and thou art seen to stand in thy will and unrighteous false Astronomicall judgment and the Secrets of God that stands in his Counsail are hid from such Astronomers and lyers as â—hou art who art all along catcht with the lye comed out of thy mouth and that which stands with the Divine Power of god stands with his Justice to let his servants bear about in their bodies his true Judgment which bringeth forth Righteousnesse and by the execution of his Justice sin is the reby condemned in the flesh so within their bodies for the body of sin is within and the just Judgement is executed upon it within so through the judgement upon the unjust comes the freedom of the Just by the working of the power of Truth in the Spirits ministration But thy fallacy we deny thy sting in thy tail yet it stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8. For what the Law could not do in that it was week through the flesh God sent his Son to condemn sin in the flesh verse 3. and the freedom from the Law of sin and death is by the Law of the Spirit in Christ ver 2. and that is within in the body which Spirit that worketh within and executes Judgment upon him setting free from the same doth also quicken the mortall body verse 11. and Paul he bore about in his Body so did the rest the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ might dwell in their mortall flesh 2 Cor. 4.10.11 and these workings and actings was within in the body and he said from henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear about in my body the marks of the Lord Iesus It stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh and to let his servants bear about in their bodies both the dying and sufferings of the Lord Iesus Take notice of that Gal. 6.17 and they had the sentence of death within themselves and that was in their bodies and the sufferings of Christ did abound in them 2 Cor. 1. and that was in their bodies and when Paul writ unto the Colossians he Rejoiced in his sufferings for them and was to fill up that which was behinde of the Afflictions of Christ in his flesh c. Coloss 1.24 25. and he knew the mighty Power of God which wrought in him mightily verse 29. the Power of God within and the afflictions of Christ in their flesh and the works of Christ in their body and the knowledge of the terrours of the Lord and the bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord and the sentence of death within them and the condemning of sin in their flesh and the sufferings of Christ did abound within them these things was witnessed by them in their bodies c. which Conditions thou art â—gnorant of and so never came in by the dore which dore and sufferings and the like the people of God now witnesse whom thou Skip doth slander and Revile but as for thy saying If we bear in our bodies and Spirits Gods just and exact Judgment until he have wrought out of us his own satisfastion and recompence c. thou speaks thou knows not what and as I said before so say I still thy fallacy we deny and thy sting in thy taile but we witness to the truth and sufferings with Christs as the servants of the Lord did and by the workings of his Spirit we witness sin condemned in the flesh Judgement brought forth into victory and sanctification by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 1.30 but that point of sophistry is thy own and turns back upon thee again And where thou hast gathered several Scriptures together and art speaking about sanctification and saith in the last place will you consider how Paul doth reckon the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. as in thy 28. page Reply The sanctification we own and witness unto as I said before but we deny thy point of sophistry thou tells of A Point of sophistry denyed and that thou hast any thing to do either to Judge of the people of God or workings of the Spirit that art ignorant of his teachings and art iound to be the false accuser of the Brethren The divine power of God which worketh out the corruptions doth also sanctify the soul and bringeth forth the fruits of the Spirit as is here mentioned witnessed by us whom the world calleth Quakers yet we witness the Power of God which causeth to shake tremble and quake as the holy men of God did which the Scriptures also witnesseth And as we witness their conditions so we witness the fruits of the Spirit effected by the operation of the divine power which branches forth into love without dissimulation c. which love is kind envyeth not vanteth not it self is not puffed up nor revileth nor rejoyceth not in iniquity but is a support both of faith hope and patience and causeth to go comfortably through both afflictions and tribulations 1 Cor. 13. and the same power of life brancheth forth it self by the spiritual operation into joy which is not fleshly but spiritual such a Joy as no man can take away and this remaineth within also according to the saying of Christ Iohn 15.11 and this divine power bringeth forth another fruit of the Spirit in us whiâ—h is called Peace and such a Peace as the world cannot give but such a Peace as Christ giveth unto his spoken of in the 14. of John 27. verse and it brancheth forth into long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness temperance patience godliness brotherly-kindness c. as in Gal. 5.22 23. anâ—wering with 1 Cor. 13. chap. which speaks of the Spirits fruits and likewise agreeing with that Rom. 12. and 2 Pet 1 2 3. c. This we witness unto by the Spirits workings and teachings according to the measure and manifestation of of the Spirit of truth and according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Where thou says first whatsoever journey Satan shall suggest unto them they must undertake if it be a hundred or two hundred miles Page 29. Reply That is false and not true and here thou art charged to be an open lyer and false accuser satans suggestions we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee again and we also deny his service he is thy Teacher and Master who hath so taught thee to lye and falsly accuse and thou undertakes to do his service but thou must receive thy
According to the eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord ver 11 being now no more Strangers Forreiners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Ephes 2.18 19 20. for which cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and in Earth is named Eph. 3.14 15. And whereas thou says that some of them go naked and they have a colour from that of Saul and also saith they neevr knew the mind of the Lord so discovered by any of his servants either under the new or old Covenant c. pag. 35. Reply A Reply to that about going naked which thou hath accused some withall and says they bring in a cover for that from Saul Here thou hast shewed that thou art a busie bodie about other mens matters and also ignorant of the minde of the Lord discovered to Isaiah the Prophet one of his Servants undâ—â—â—â—e old Covenant to whom the word of the Lord came saying 〈◊〉 thy sackcloth from off thy loynes and thy shoe from off thy 〈◊〉 â—nd he did so and walked naked and bare-foot 3 years in obeâ—â—â—ce to to the minde and will of the Lord Isaiah 20. chapter See and take notice here was an example And the Lord so far Discovered his minde that he commanded the same thing to be acted and done which were Performed according to the Word of the Lord Therefore in that thou hast manifested thy Spirit of Errour as well as in the rest of thy sayings slanders and false accusations Secondly And thou says As for that of Sauls stripping off his cloathes and lying down naked amongst the Prophets there is nothing in that Place doth prove it to be the will of the Lord c. Reply Saul at that time was guided by a Spirit of Prophecy and that was according to the will of the Lord for no Prophecy of the Scripture came in old time by the will of man but by the will of God 2 Pet. 1.21 but Saul was then a Prophet guided by a Spirit of prophecie according to the will of the Lord and at that very time when he stript off his cloathes and day naked before Samuel all day and all night 1 Sam. 19.23 then Saul having at that time the Spirit of God and prophesied till he came before Samuel where he stript off his cloathes and then prophesied also which were according to the will of the Lord at that same time when he lay naked among the Prophets and as Balams Asse did speak to reprove him for his madness and folly so thou having manifested thy madnes and folly art Reproved and Judged for thine who art in errour delusion and filthy deceipt but are lest naked and bare as Saul was and now all thy Covers will not hide thee thy skirts is discovered take shame to thy self and beware how thou utters thy folly as thou hast done And whereas thou says if they cannot see the servants of Christ that walk according to the manifest Rules of the Gospell to be the servants of Christ but reckon them to be the servants of sin hypocrites c. as thou says they do commonly why then thou says they prove themselves to be blind and led forth by a lying and deceavable spirit of delusion by Antichrist c. pag. 37. Reply Now if we can see and know the servants of Christ that walk according to his Spirit 〈◊〉 manifest Rule in the Gospell and so do not reckon them to be blind servants of sin nor hypocrites c. and do not as thou sayes commonly call them so then we do not prove our selves to be blind nor led forth by a lying and deceaveabl spirit neither of delusion nor Antichrist c. as in thy 37. page The Serpent catcht or taken in his own snare devieâ— But we whom thou calls Quakers do see and know the servants of Christ that walk according to Gospel rules and do not reckon them to be servants of sin nor men in the darkness and hypocrisie c. neither do we commonly call them so then we do not prove our sâ—â—â—es to be blind but in the light Joh. 8.12 nor led forth by a lying and deceivable spirit but by the manifestation of the Spirit a rule in the Gospel to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and also led by that spirit which is the Saints guide into all truth John 16.13 a Rule in the Gospel and so we are led by the Spirit of God which is the Saints guide Roman 8.14 Galat. 4.6 7. therefore we whom thou calls Quakers are not in delusion nor guided by the Spirit of Antâ—christ we are hereby cleared and thou ensnared and so thou art he that hast proved thy self to be blind and led forth by a lying Spirit therefore in that delusion of Antichrist thou speaks of and art acted and guided by his Spirit and amongst such as thou ranks together like unto the men of the world that do not know the servants and Disciples of Christ from his professed enemies according to his saying but speaks evill of the men you know not and of the things and workings of the Spirit of God and so there needs no further proof then your own open and Professed mistake who your selves are Ranked with the carnall and sinfull men of the World so that there is like Priest like People Hos 4. v 9. who are all under the Power of Antichrist and so without God in the World and the poor deluded Creatures thou speaks of according to thy 37. pag. The Covenant the Promises we witnesse but the Alienation and slanders aspersions and false accusations and lies as well in the 37 page as in other parts of thy Book that we deny turning them back upon thee and thy generation again though thou be made to cast away Tythes thou art strong in thy false accusations and lyes and so art in the deceivablenesse with the rest that took them though thou be in another colour disguised take notice of that therefore do I turn thee amongst the Serpents generation for Lyers and slandererers deceavers and false accusers therefore thou are of that generation and of the Serpents seed whose head is in the unbruâ—sed And whereas thou says if these poore deluded wretches of whom we are speaking shall judg themselves to be the servants of Christ and reckon them to be the servants of Christ also then they are brethren and if brethren and yet hate their brethren they must needs be under delusion and the words of the Apostle John will render them to be Liers and deceaved People c. pag. 37 38. Reply Now upon this Reckoning and Account as thou leaves it toour judging rnd reckoning of our selves so I say if we know that we are the Servants of Christ The wise taken in his own craftinesse and the Innocent art clear thâ—reby and reckon our selves Brethren and so love one another and
rejoyce in that he hath chosen us out of the world and counted us worthy to do his will in declaring against the deceits of the world and also in that he hath counted us worthy to suffer for his names sake Joh. 15.18 19 20 21. and more especially that our names are written in the Lambs book of life knowing also that the unrighteous and all whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life shall not enter into the holy City nor inherit the Kingdom of God but be cast into the lake that burneth c. as Jesus hath said who sent his Angel to testifie the same Take notice of this all ye persecuters gainsayers and oppressors of the truth and all the unrighteous prophane ones and all under what deceipts soever 1 Cor. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.9 10 11. and Rev. 21.8 27. Rev. 20.10 11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 22.10 11 15 16. And where thou shews thou art offended that truth should be spread abroad thou makes covers to cover over deceit but it is clearly seen and thou art falsly accusing and saying That they pretend that the Lord sendeth them hither and thither that they know not wither to go or to what person till they come to the place or person c. Reply That is false the pretence is thy own and that fallacy or sting in thy tail I deny where thou sayes They pretend the Lord sends them hither and thither they know not whither The wicked bends their tongues like their bows for lies and so shoots their arrows of reproach against the innocent c. thy pretence and fallacy is denied but the Lords sending I own and know and after what manner he sends even as he pleaseth according to the workings in his own councel after the good pleasure of his will And this I do own notwithstanding thy cover from the Lords sending of Moses to Pharaoh and Nathan to David and Ananias to Saul c. Thou art busying thy minde about them and their sending and art a stranger to the life they lived in they was not liars slanderers false accusers nor hypocrites like thee but declared against such as thou and thy generation of evil doers are by the spirit of the Lord in his servants and children declared against now at which thou art sore offended and bends thy tongue like thy bow for lies and shoots thy arrows of reproaches false accusations and slanders out against the truth and would not be told of it again but be thou sure God will meet thee and with his righteous judgements smite thee and such like and then wo to the wicked and such as thou art it shall go ill with you Isa 1.24 2 Thess 1.8 9. Isa 3.11 2. Thy pretence being denyed and fallacy cast out the former sendinâ—s of the Lords servants I own A sting in the tail denyed but the Lords sending of his servants as he pleaseth owned and also the sending of the Lords servants now by the same spirit and power which thou art a stranger unto that speaks against immediate teachings by the Spirit of God which teachings immediate I own and also know the Lords sending when I am sent to person or place as Ananias did when he wâ—s sent unto Paul in the street called straight to that person and place Act. 9.10 11. and as I do so do all witness to the truth who stands in the councel of God and to the truth I witness but thy saying that lay in thy fallacy and sting in thy tail that I deny and backe with the rest of thy lies I return open thy old botle and take them in again into the serpents seat from whence they came that with thee and in thy generation they may remain And where thou sayes Let us return and examine the manner of the Lords sending his servants and prophets upon particular messages I answer Thou hast nothing to do to busie thy minde about them The way and manner of the Lords sending forth his servants is owned according to the working of his power in his own councel after the good pleasure of his divine will and also some times to particular places and persons according to the word of the Lord. yet art an enemy to them and a stranger to the immediate teachings and so to the power by which they were and are sent but the immediate teachings I own as before is said and also the power and spirit by which the Lord sent and now sendeth his servants and the manner of the Lords sending of them as he pleaseth according to the working of his power in his own councel and after the good pleasure of his will he then sent forth his servants and so doth he now and that I also own and those that the Lord sent and stood in his councel they knew whither to go and sometimes the Lord told them to whom to go and what to say and sometimes they were to go to places c. and it should be told them when they came there what to say and sometimes waited after they came there several dayes before it was given what to say or speak c. And as the Lord did then to his servants according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his will so doth he to his servants now according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his divine will but Edmund Skip thou that art a liar slanderer and false accuser of the brethren thou art of the old serpent Rev. 12.15 c. and not in the councel of God but accusing such as are and speaking evil of the wayes and workings of the spirit and power of God then out of his councel and so not sent of him but by the false accuser and the man of sin therefore I take that from thee which thou hast stoln and return it into its right place again and I tell thee plainly the Lord is against such theeves as thou art and as may be read Jer. 23.30 31 32. But to the truth I witness and own and that when the Lord called Moses and made known himself to him he sent him according to the good pleasure of his will and so doth he now such as standeth in his counsel Exod. 3. And when Ezekiel was sent to them of the captivity at Tel-abib that dwelt by the river of Châ—ber he knew whither to go but not what to say neither when he went to them nor at first or present when he came there amongst them and where they was but he sat where they sat and remaied there amongst them seven dayes before it was given him what to say so he to wit Ezekiel the servant of the Lord when he was at that time sent by the spirit of the Lord he knew whither to go but not what to say untill it were revealed unto him Ezâ—kiels seven dayes silence at Tel-abib or given unto him what to say from the Lord to the people unto which he
seen in the light of Jesus Christ to be and in the world like a raging Sea whose waves casts up mire and dirt continually unto whom there is no peace Isa 57.20 21. a wandering Starre never setled Jude 13. but tossed up and down with every winde of Doctrine from such turn away 2. How you may know them P. 36.9 Abiding in the light that comes from Christ in that light you will see light so comprehend all the Children of darknes for he that followeth Christ who is the light of the world shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life to judge all the false Apostles and all the Children of the night who live in the dark minde in pride covetousness lying making a Trade of the Scriptures which were spoken forth from the light by those that witnessed it but thou that takes up their expressions and livest not in the same life thou art the false Apostle that preacheth another Gospel now besides the foregoing Scriptures thou hast declared thy self to be a false Apostle by thy own writings First in writing thy thinkings and conceivings page 50. yet my former thoughts page 53. I am but in part convinced page 16. methinks page 51. as I conceive such were the false Apostles 1 Tim. 1.7 understanding not what they say nor whereof they affirm but speak and write the imaginations of their own hearts as thou hast done in page 18. the thoughts of my own heart in the which are many devices Prov. 19.21 Secondly In being one of the world and calling thy fellow-Creatures of the world to judge what thou sayest and here thou hast manifested thy self to be a false Prophet entered into the world which the Saints of God never did page 23. and let all the world assure themselves that in page 45. here thou dost wrire thy self as thou art calles thy own to witness the world one with the world therefore we being gathered out of the world are hated and written against by thee John 15.19 I shall forbear to write what I know of thy former and yet continued practises this being sufficient to prove plainly that thou art a false Apostle whose many lies written against us I need not to mention in particular only some few in short that the simple may not be deceived by thee nor the truth suffer altogether under thy scandalls Page 48. Thou biddest the feeble Creatures of the world to judge of spiritual things though the world by wisdom knowes not God 1 Cor. 1.21 page 46. thou sayest that we do lying wonders but hast thou in all those lies and writings of thine proved that any of those which thou callest wonders are lying wonders for it is not thy saying it is a lying wonder that makes it to be so for there were such as thee that said that Christ cast out Deâ—ils through Beelzebub but they were liers and so art thou Thou sayest our works are deceitful page 49. but thou hast no ground for it but the deceit of thy own heart page 18. the which thou callest the world to bear thee witness page 23. page 50. thou fayest we diâ—own the power and spirit of truth which is a lie but thou hast a form of godliness denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 Page 53. Thou sayest thou art in part convinced that peradventure the Lord would have his people walk in some way whereby they might be brought into a perfect unity in heart Oh art thou not here ashamed to let even the world whom thou callest unto so often read thy ignorance what art thou but in part convinced what way leads to unity Oh for shame for shame give over thy profession talk no longer of the Gospel thou hast made thy self manifest to all men Oh hast thou been talking of the Gospel so long and art yet ignorant of the way that leads to unity Oh let shame stop thy mouth and cover thy face for ever but if thou wouldest shift from this and say thou meanest an outward way or form I tell thee there is no way to have fellowship with the Father 1 John 1.3 but in the unity of the faith and the knowledge not a thinking of the Son of God who is the true living and only way unto the Father John 14.6 where is perfect unity even one heart and one way Ier. 32.39 which is away of holiness the Wayfaring men though fools shall not erre therein Isa 35.8 Also in page 53. thou sayest that thou art very sensible that thou hast lost thy comforts and therefore thou dost hope not to give over until thou hast found some way or means of having thy former enjoyments refreshed Why hast thou lost that thou never hadst thou saidst but now that thou was but in part convinced of the way and hadst thou the comforter long agoe and lost him now oh Babylons Merchant the way and the comforter is but one the which is Jesus Christ Iohn 14.6.17.26 Iohn 17.23 I know that if Jesus Christ had been brought forth in thee without which there is no true comfort who is the substance of all tithes types forms and shadows that thou could not unto this day have remained a Parish Priest and so uphold an Antichristian Priesthood halting between many opinions neither according to Aaron Levi nor Christ but living in thy own will and so living above Christ who lived not in his own will for saith he not my will but thine be done Iohn 6.38 And now who will regard thy writings when thou acknowledgeth that the comforter which is the spirit of truth is departed from thee now it appears thou art a lier indeed now thou hast no truth born up in thy understanding thy former injoyments as thou calls it which were indeed nothing but comprehensions got up in the wisdom of the Serpent Oh art thou not ashamed that the world which thou didst soon make up in thy writings should now read thy confusion art thou not ashamed in such a condition as this when thou confessest thy former enjoyments and comforts are departed from thee even now to write against those that thou acknowledgest to have large experiences and much of the power of truth through Christ page 50. Oh take heed least it had been better for thee that a Milstone had been hanged about thy neck and thou cast into the Sea Oh canst thou not look back on him whom thou hast thus pierced to wit the life of Christ in others now thou mayst read with shame and tears that which thy own hand hath written from thy own sinful heart look in page 5. and 8.18 which was then in the apostatized condition without the former comforts as thou calledst it page 53. now thou art found to be a false Apostle indeed Oh remember from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works yea repent ere it be too late Rev. 2.5 Oh though thou canst strive with man there is no striving with thy Maker who will come a