be onely visible things as a house of Wood and Stone and outward appearances as Forms and Rites and Customes that were observed therein Or the Idols Temple and the Worship that 's done therein be not also in mans Spirit and Mysticall Inward and Invisible as to sence according as it is begotten of the spirituall Prince of Darkness yea or no Answ Whereas thou wouldst be informed who art querying without in whom lodgeth the Mystery of iniquity which minde holds up the Forms and the Rites and the Customs and the Idols Temple of Lime and Stone which is the mysticall Spirit which thou speakst of for if thou own the Light which enlighteneth every one that comes into the world which is Christ it would bring thee into the Cross which is to thy carnall minde and let thee see the Prince of the Ayer rule in thee who art a Childe of disobedience where the Mystery of iniquity lodgeth and this light would let thee see the carnall minde in whom all the Images lodge and the Idols Temple and the carnall part being wrought out within and the Devils tremble and the Earth shaken Isay 2. 19. and thrown down there which is the foundacion of all images for that within holds up these without the carnal part within holds up the carnal Temple without and that looks at all these Rites Customs Forms and Tradicions thou speakst of and the minde that is perishing is that that holds up all these perishing things in whom the Mystery of Iniquity lodgeth 2 Thes 2. 7. but if thou wert obedient to the Light and loved it it would bring thee to know God and to escape the prince of the Ayer which holds up all these things without thee for Israel when he had forgotten his Maker builded Temples so thy carnal minde ruleing and disobeying the Light which would guide thee to God that carnal mind within brings thee to hold up Temples without thee and so thou art in the Pride and the Highness of minde for out of Pride whose Dominion is Satan came these Queries but who are made the Temples of God are holy and deny all your outward Temples of the Preists and and all your carnal Observances which you live in who profess the new-Covenant or the Gospel or Christ or the Word but I will deal plainly with you you are not come to know the old Covenant for from the inward doth all Idols and Images arise and there is many Idols and Images which thou bowest down to with out thee then look within thee and thou art full of Imaginacions and Images both within and without Pro. 6. 18. for as the spirituall Prince of Darkness as thou speakst they have their Idols and Images without as ever it was in all that Generacion which thou livest in and when thou hast denied the outward Idols all of them by the Light of God which thou hatest then thou shalt see them within thee thou that stumblest at the Light art he that holdst up all these Images Ezek. 7. 20. in whom the mystery of iniquity lodgeth for the Light of the body is the eye which shews all these things and that it is which I sayd to thee before thou knowest not for thou art full of Images within thou knowest it not born up in thy understanding to guide thee for it is the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the world Iohn 1. 9. which thou art an Enemy and a stranger to and stumblest at which Light shall be thy condemnacion Iohn 3. 19. 8 Query If the inward living invisible Word of God which is the Teacher in no way held forth under a Form as to outward appearance to men in earthen vessels why do I see thy Expressions and Exhortations come forth in Print Answ To the eighth Query Thou full of subtlety spuing forth thy Venom and askest in the Query before wheâ—her the word should be held forth or no and now thou dost hear something that is published abroad which is a cross to thee and which makes manifest you are stirred up and doth torment you therefore dost thou push with thy ten Horns nevertheless thou sendest not the Queryes to him whom thou dost accuse and sayst why see I thy Expressions in Print and sendest them to another but such is thy rage and fury and now it doth appear to all men though it hath layn close the eternal Word hath stirred him up but Friend I declare plainly to thee God Almighty of Heaven and Earth hath raised up a Light in the hearts of People 1 Pet. 2. 9. and he is coming to teach them himself whereby your abominacion and filthiness is discovered to the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty and according to his promise he hath poured forth his Spirit that his sons and daughters begin to prophecy Ioel 2. 28 29. Prayses be to the Lord God Almighty who now is setting up his Kingdom who sends his sons and Daughters abroad some to prophecy and some to preach and to declare his Name Freely ye have received freely give Matth. 10. 8. and some write and some speak face to face so you shall see it nearer you ere long and as the Prophets of the Lord who spake his Word somtimes spoke and when they were moved to write they writ â—nd published it abroad so do we the same being absent in body sending forth writings or Printed Books to declare to the simple mindes the deceits that ye who are blinde Guides have led them in but Iesus Christ the Light now shines by which ye are seen and discovered therefore stop your mouths be ashamed who have never had word from God Micah 3. 7. for the Lord God is coming to stop your mouths ye dumb Prophets and Dogs Thieves and Robbers who have stollen the words of others whom ye know not Jer. 23. 30. but the Earth hath got the Declaracion which is Earth and so speaks the Earth for the Earth but O Earth hear the Word of the Lord for wo is to ye that inhabit the Earth and now the Devil begins to rage because the Word of God is sounding abroad and the Trumpet is blowing which makes the Inhabitants of the Earth to tremble but all your Preaching we do deny and all your Blessings for as it is written as the Prophet sayd their blessings were cursed and their seed were corrupt Mal. 2. 2 3. and in their generacion you are the Light which is Christ is made manifest which lets me see you to be in that generacion which hath gathered us up to God and lets us see thee without God 9 Query Whether to exhort a man to attend to that Light which is within which his eye can see and which his ear can hear and which his understanding can comprehend and of which â—e can give a Reason be not to draw men to attend to visible things and to worship in the Idols Temple and to bow down to the Image of things which he hath
thou shewest thy self that would question truth for there is nothing in thee born up in thy understanding to receive truth withall here thou shewest thy self to be an open Lyar to say he acts contrary to the Prophecy who is one with it and bears testimony to it and the truth of it against all such false accusers 2 Tim. 3. 3. as thou art for false accusers should arise Tit. 2. 3. and here thou shewest thy self to be one who accusest the Spirit of the living God to be more false than those that have the spirit of Antichrist who shall be consumed and turned into the Lake by the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2. 8. the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it Query 6. What Scripture have you that speaks of the word two Sacraments which you tell the people of and what Scripture have you to act such things Priests Answer Certainly Satan hath blinded your mindes you would never have put forth such a Question else for the substancial Word the Lord Iesus that we preach of him the Scripture speaks every where and for the Word as the Declaracion of the minde of God in and by Christ to poor sinners the Scriptures are plentifull take two or three Iohn 5. 24. Iohn 8. 31. Iohn 12. 48. Iohn 15. 3. Iohn 17. 20. Ephes 1. 13. Many more I might add but that I have a check on my spirit for gratifying your folly so far as I have done in this particular A Reply to the Priests Answer In thy Answer thou sayst that Christ is the substancial Word thou sayst so because the Letter declares he is the Word but no other knowledg hast thou but this is no answer to the word two Sacraments for Christ we know who is the Word but the word two Sacraments which there is no Scripture for which you tell people of which is an addicion to the Scripture and a thing that never was practised among the Saints as thou being one with thy fellows that holdest up those things the Query was what Scripture you have to act such things but Satan hath blinded your eys 2 Cor. 4. 4. 1 Iohn â— 11. which will not let you justifie those things which you act which shews that you serve but an ill Master that will not bear you out neither can you own the Scriptures as they are but you must give Exposicions upon them and poynts and your imaginacions and conceivings who would have the Scripture cleared but it is thy evil eye and minde that must be cleared Matth. 6. 23. for the Scriptures are as they speak thou sayst the Word you preach Alack for thee thou never knewst the Word if thou didst thou wouldst not speak of clearing up the Scriptures as in thy other Queryes thou speakest of Query 7. What Scripture hast thou to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and where the Apostles did so or ever took a Text to treat upon Priests Answer Observe that place Matth. 6. 5. and thou shalt see that the thing Christ ayms at is not so much the posture nor the place but their end of praying in the Synagogue and that was to be seen of men for he did not before nor after condemn the dutyes of fasting praying alms-deeds but taught his Disciples how to do the same things though to avoyd the hypocrisie of others in doing of them and though another may be in the same place and posture as they were yet he may have other ends than they had which thou canst not lightly judg of as Christ did for Christians in prayer with upright hearts are not bound up to any place 1 Tim. 2. 8. And for praying in the publick meeting place and among the Assembly it was so common and usual that the place even had its name from it it was called the House of Prayer Matth. 21. 13. Isai 56. 7. and the hours of prayer were known by the Apostles Acts 3. 1. And that it was so in the times of the Gospel may be seen by Pauls Doctrine about it in the 1 Cor. 11. from the 9. to the 18. verse and in 1 Cor. 14. 13 14 15. For the times of prayer before Sermon and after the Apostle gives a general Rule 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done to edifying now what way is more edifying and building than for the servants of God to wayâ— on the great Builder God in Christ for help in the beginning of their work and in the close after mercyes received in speaking or hearing to speak good of the Name of our God in blessing and prayses the thankfull heart shall not want goodness from God but more fully the Apostle is clear in it 1 Tim. â— 1. That first of all prayers must be made to begin with that and that the thing is noâ— without example to conclude our speech with prayer see that in Acts 20. 36. This was likewise his manner in the close of his Epistles as may be seen in seven of his Epistles which I could never see in any of your Letters you like not prayer so well it seems And after that comes in thy frivolous and simple Question this is all I see thy hand to and therefore I call it thine Or ever took a Text to treat on I may well answer thee as Christ did the Saduces Thou errest not knowing the Scriptures for look Acts 8. 35. whether Philip took not a Text to treat on to the Eunuch out of Isai 53 7. Acts 10. 34. where Peter took a Text out of Deut. 10. 7. Acts 13. 17. out of Exâ—d 3. 14. and above all we have the example of Christ in this in his Sermon Luke 4. 17 18. who took his Text out of Isai 61. 1. in the Synagogue and he took a Book to reade it too though I believe he had the Scripture more in his heart than any of your Teachers thus having answered this Query I have one word to say to thee or the Inditer of it before I go on and that is this you have in this to me discovered a profane spirit that findes fault with our often seeking and calling on God and blessing his Name I am jealous that you are acted by the spirit of Satan amongst you you are so like those spoken of in the 3 of Mal. 7. 14 15. Reade and God give you to understand it well for to me it appears that the Spirit of God is quite of another nature that says Pray continually and without ceasing in every thing give thanks Ephes 6. 18. 1 Thess 5. 17 18. it calls and encourages to the thing Psal 50. 15. A Reply to the Priests Answer A Scripture thou wrests to maintain the Answer of it in Matth. 6. 5. Christ bids his Disciples pray not as the Pharises did for they prayed standing in the Synagogues but when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and shut the door and here thou art a Lyar of Jesus Christ and pervertst his words
had commanded when the everlasting Offering was come and against the outward Temple but thou art blinde and canst not see it Pharise like but thy minde is seen to be contradictory who wouldst contradict the truth and doth not see the end of God in fulfilling his Types and Figures and when they are fulfilled he doth contradict them and therefore do we contradict thee which actest these things God never commanded that which God had commanded was contradicted as Circumcision and the outward Temple and the Sabboth and all the Priests were denyed with them who had received Iesus Christ and here thou hast shewed thy self to be a blinde Pharise which knowest not the precepts nor commands of God but followest thy own imaginacions and thy own invencions which I have charged thee withall formerly and here I charge thee to be a blinde Guide Matth. 23. 16. and therefore came the Apostle to contradict all the Jews who held up the Figures after the substance was come but thou art blinde as the Pharises were and worse for when the Apostles had received the substance they contradicted the Pharises which held up the Types and Shadows which God had commanded and killed them that did witness the substance come but thou natural brute Beast who knowest nothing of God nor his truth must be consumed by unquenchable sier thou speakest of an Assembly of Christians coming together to worship God but a company of the world may come and thou joynest with them here thou shewest plainly that thy worship is no tru worship of God for they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Iohn 4. 23 24. for such are they which he seeks to worship him but not in the Steeple-house the mighty day of the Lord is coming and God that made the world doth not dwell in Temples made with hands therefore come down thou painted Beast which deceivest the people God will overturn thee and thy worship and all such as thou art and them who are of God God is sending them forth to give you the Cup double that ye have given to them thou sayst an Assembly of Christians coming together to worship God are not bound up so close but a company of the world may come in and joyn with them here thou shewest that thy Assembly are all of one spirit and here thou shewest plainly that thy spirit and their spirit is the spirit of the world and not the spirit that was in the Apostles and Saints which sayd What concord hath Christ with Belial and what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 Cor 6. 14. and here thou hast raced thy self out of the tru worship of God and I know thy spirit is not bound up but it is at liberty in the world in the broad way and therefore with them it can joyn and so here thou shewest thy self to be of a contrary spirit to them that preached the Word the Ministers of the Word are not Ministers of the Letter wherein it doth appear that thou art a Minister of the Letter a wrester of it those who are the Ministers of the Word speak forth freely and testifie against such hierlings as thou art who art bound up in thy form and set place and against all thy customary praying and singing for the preaching of the Word is to declare freely to all it is not bound up but such as thou wouldst limit it who doth keep poor simple people in bondage under thee I do believe God hath a people which is in captivity under thy dark imitated Forms and such as thine and who are misled by such as thou art for we were all under such blinde Guides as thou art until God of his infinite love did shew us his way and his light and your ways therefore in the presence of the Lord God do we testifie against all such practises as thine and for the simple ones sakes who are under such blinde Guides as thou art do we let forth our selves that they may see how such as thou bewitchest them and keepest them from worshipping the living God by thy imaginacions Gal. 3. 1. Thou bringest a place 1 Cor. 14. 23 24. to maintain singing of Davids Psalms in a Meeter but in that Scripture there is no such thing in it here again thou openly shewest thy self to be a perverter of the Scriptures and a wrester of it what communion hath the believer with the unbeliever here thou shewest thy self to be one of Babylon full of confusion and confused in thy words contrary to the Scripture and a wrester of it for the world knows not God by all its wisdom Thou sayst that your Congregacion is required to speak good of God O you Generacion of Vipers how can you being evil speak good things Mat. 3. 7. Here thou crossest Christs words thou wouldst have the Generacion of Vipers to speak good things An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit how can you speak good of God that speak nor good of his people the Pharises when they met together did they speak good of God when they sayd Christ was a Devil and gathered together with the chief Priests and sought to put him to death Iohn 11. 53. and in this generacion thou art taking counsel against Christ and against his anoynted incensing the rude multitude against them and is this speaking good of God Query 9. Whether a man shall overcome the body of sin while he â—â— on the earth yea or no Priests Answer There are divers and several victories over sin as first a victory over the dominion and reigning power of sin Rom. 6. 14. this is not given by the power of man but by the power of grace there is a victory over the condemning presence of sin sin cannot so hurt any elect Vessel as to throw him into â—ell and eternal wrath and condemnaâ—ion Rom. 8. 1. There is a victory over the being of sin in the flesh and whatsoever curse thou sayest on me for the same I must profess that I am of the minde that victory â—s not fully enjoyed while we are on the earth for then and not before when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. and the Apostle cals the body of sin the body of death Rom. 7. 24. A Reply to the Priests Answer Friend thou bringest so many Scriptures which is to the throwing down of thy own self as Rom. 6 14. and thou desirest to be satisfied to the contrary to thy belief for thou believest that man shall not be made free from sin as long as he is here and here I will shew thee that thou hast a lying spirit for in Rom. 6. they sayd they were made free from sin for while they were servants of sin they were made free from righteousness and here thou shewest a contrary spirit to that which was in the Apostle and thou desirest to be fully satisfied in those Scriptures in Rom. 7. 18.
25. Paul spoke his condicion that he was in to the Saints and what he had passed through which yet thou art alive in the flesh and not come to know the Law of God therefore thy carnal minde rules and reigns in thee and so thou art making a distinction in the Apostles words and wresting of them who witnessed that there was no condemnacion to him that was in Christ Iesus and witnessed the condicion under the Law and without the Law and was made free from the Law through the Law which thou knowest not so thou being a dead man canst not hear thou speakest of a Victory and reigning power of sin and yet in the conclusion of thy words thou speakest to the contrary again and that thou art of that minde that Victory is not fully enjoyed while we are on the earth and here thou speakest contrary to the Scriptures and there is a confusion in thy words for first thou sayst there is a Victory and Dominion â—ver the reigning power of sin and then again thou denyest it and here thou shewest Babylon for the Apostle sayd We are more than conqâ—â—rours through him that loved us and there is no condemnacion to them who are in Christ Iesus Another Scripture thou wouldst be satisfied in 1 Cor. 15. 54. the Apostle did speak what he saw in this Chapter which thou hast taken a word or two of and we witness and see the same yet death reigns in thee and corruption reigns in thee and the natural minde which doth despise the glory of God therefore is this Scripture hid from thine eys but it is as it speaks we witness it to be fulfilled and the Apostle was in the condicion that he spoke of for he witnessed the Victory and sayd Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 55 56. and sayd O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Rom. 5. 9. and thou hast raced out thy self from the Apostles and from the Saints condicions and shewest that death yet hath dominion over thee and that sin hath dominion over thee and that the mortal hath dominion over the and that corrupcions have dominion over thee and that that thou art in the grave and that Victory cannot be witnessed and art an enemy to it and hast not so much as a belief in thee of overcoming of sin and here thou hast shewed thy hypocrites hope as thou sayst and so keepest poor people in death in corruption and in the mortal and carnal minde and in the grave and in unbelief as thou art in thy self and shewest that thou art damned openly he that believeth not is condemned already he that believeth is born of God and doth not commit sin but is passed from death to life Query 10. Whether any natural man can preach the Gospel yea or no Priests Answer I do believe they may preach the historical part of the Gospel I believe Iudas did preach and was not behinde in his gift to outward vieâ— of the eleven Apostles for the Apostles had no ground to have any ill conceits of him for had they they would soon have reflected on him when Christ sayd One of you shall betray me but they questioned themselves and not him Matth. 26. 21 22. And God gives great gifts many times to wicked men Rom 2. 18 19 20. 2 Cor. 11. 13 14 15. Ministers of Satan may be transformed into Ministers of righteousness Gal. â— 8. They cannot preach the mystery of the Gospel nor Christ from their own experience or enjoyment for this they know not 't is folly to them 1 Cor. 2. 14. A Reply to the Priests Answer Here thou art pleading for the natural man for Iudas and the false Apostles and it is true in that generacion thou art among them and therefore thou must needs love thy own and stand up for them for no other generacion thou knowest I am a witness against thee and I know thee and have tryed thy spirit to be one of these false Teachers which wouldst transform thy self into an Angel of light and which dost intrude into these things thou never knewst and so thou puffest up thy fleshly minde there thou art I witness thee there eternally by the Eternal spirit Thou sayst Ministers of Satan may be transformed into Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11. 15. here thou wouldst make Satan and righteousness one and shewest forth thy error not knowing the words as the Apostle speaks and if they cannot preach the mystery of the Gospel how can they be transformed into righteousness for the Ministers of Satan transform themselves as the Ministers of righteousness but he doth not say he transforms into it here thou shewest thy self to be a Lyar and thy self to be one of those who are no Ministers of the Gospel getting the form but denying the power 2 Tim. 3. 5. which ever was to be turned away from whose end is destruction according to their works and so thou shewest all along that thou hast but onely the form of the Apostles words for thou pleadest for them who are without and against those who are within who are in the power and life of the truth thou pleadest against the truth and the life which the Apostles were in and the life of the Apostles for the Apostles did discern the false Apostles and those who did transform themselves so with the same spirit we discern thee to be in the same generation among them and there thou must own thy porcion and own the Scriptures to be tru and thy porcion in it which it speaks of to the false Prophets and false Apostles Another Scripture thou bringest 1 Cor. â— 14. thou bringest a Scripture which sayth The natural man receiveth not the things that be of the Spirit of God they are foolishness to him that is thy own condiâ—ion own that Scripture for a truth to thy self for the preaching of Christ and the Cross is foolishness to thee as it was to them that held up the Iewish Synagogues which yet thou holdest up another in imitation from the carnal Letter being carnal and blinde and ignorant of the mystery and of Christ and of the Gospel but the mystery and Christ and the Gospel we witness and own but we have not reâ—â—ived it of man neither were we taught it of man but by the revelacion of Iesus Christ Gal. 1. 12. and we do witness forth the substance as the Apostle did and therefore we do deny all such as thou art who art not so much as a Minister of the Letter and hast not yet got the form of it to speak it tru as the form is but thou hast shewed forth thy ignorance and foolishness of the form of the Letter Query 11. Whether the Tree be not known by its fruits yea or no Priests Answer No question but it is Christ himself says so but I pray thee tell me did ever a good Tree bring forth Despeâ—aâ—ion
nothing Thou deaf Adder and Serpent who art full of Cockatrices Psal 8. 4. for if thou couldst see but thou art blinde thou mightst see the same gift amongst us as was among the Apostles for we witness the same by the same spirit according to the operacion but the lying spirit in thee can judg no otherways of truth it self but to be a lying spirit for it is in the generacion of them that know nothing of the truth for that Spirit that we are led by thou knowest not for if thou wert led by the same Spirit we should be one with thee but Friend thy spirit is tryed and known to be the spirit of Error thou sayst the Prophets erred not in declaring the minde of God to you thou knowest not the Spirit that the Prophets were guided by nor thou knowest not the minde of God though thou hast the outside a declaracion which is to the visible eye without thee but art in the generacion of them that could tell by the Prophets words where Christ should be born yet they sought to put him to death Mark 14. 64. the chief Priests and so thou art one of them which is an Enemy to Christ where he is born now as they were them and as Iannes and Iambres witstood Moses so dost thou resist the truth out of a corrupt minde in the state of Iannes and Iambres out of the faith a Reprobate as thou hast openly shewed it but thou shalt proceed no farther for thy folly is and shall be made manifest 2 Tim. 3. 9. Thou sayst thou hast taken pains to answer these Queries thou hast wrested many Scriptures as it is made manifest to maintain thee in the state of the Pharises and to maintain thee an Enemy against Christ and to maintain thee to be one of Balaams Prophets and to maintain thee to be one of the hierlings and to justifie that which Christ forbids and to maintain thee to hold up that horrible filty thing that is committed in the Land and to bear rule by thy means Ier. 5. 30 31. which the Prophets cryed against and with the Prophets words and Christs words and with the Apostles words thou wouldst shelter thy self and make thy self a cover to maintain thee in thy filthiness but the Lord God of power is coming to uncover thee and lay thee more and more open and make thee bare that thy filthyness may appear to the end that the simple ones who are in captivity under thy subtlety and snare of iniquity may be delivered and peoples mindes directed unto God that â—e alone may be exalted to whom be all prayse honor and glory for ever And Friend thou sayst that thou desirest that the Lord would open our eys thou tempter of the Lord thy Lord we deny and thy Prayers we deny the Lord hath opened our eys Prayse and glory be to him for ever the Lord hath opened our eys without thy Prayers Matth. 20. 34. therefore we deny them they are abominacion and contrary to thy means hath the Lord opened our eys 1 Iohn 1. 1. neither is there any thing of God in thy Answers but thou and thy imaginacions are raced out for ever and all thy pains thou speakest of are the works of thy own hands which were ever cryed out against Thou desirest we may escape out of the snare of Satan where it is broken we have escaped out of thy snares where they are broken Psal â—24 7. and therefore out of thy dominion and from under thy power are we come and see thee to be one that the Devil ensnares who art one of his Souldiers and not of Christs fighting for the Devils Kingdom and fighting against the Saints with thy carnal weapons and against â—he Lamb but the Lamb hath got the victory over the Beast Prayses prayses be to the Lord God Almighty for every Amen FINIS QUERIES sent by Gabriel Camelford to the People who out of reproach and envy of the blinde and dark world are called Quakers Answered by the Spirit of the Lord which doth enlighten and shine in our hearts and those that live in the pure light of God and can reade with the Spirit may see him taken in his own Snare and condemned out of own mouth and his Deceits layd open Query 1. WHat is a Reprobate 2 Cor. 13. 5. Answer Whereas thou wouldst know what a Reprobate is thou art out of the truth hated of God a Childe of the Devil an Enemy of Righteousness the Son of Perdicion in whom Christ rules not but the works of the flesh who knows not the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into world but denyes it and hates it Query 2. Whether Christ be in a Reprobate to lead him to God Answ Thou askest thou knowest not what Shall ever a Reprobate enter to God Jacob have I loved Esau have I hated and Christ condemns the Reprobate and the Reprobate hates the Light Iohn 3. 19 20. as thou dost which shews forth the works of darkness and there thou art a Reprobate and one that knows not the Light that enlightneth every one that comes into the world and this Light shall condemn thee who keepest others in the same nature with thy fair glosses and colours which thou settest upon the Scriptures which must go into the Lake and into perdicion who livest in thy filthy and fleshly imaginacions which ever was cursed from God Psal 101. 5. an Enemy of Righteousness whom the Lord according to his promise will scatter who livest in thy imaginacious and conceivings Rom. 1. 21. and there thou art Query 3. If so why are not all men brought to God Answ Because they hate the Light as thou dost and lovest the darkness tather than the Light because thy deeds are evil Dost thou profess thy self to be a Minister of Iesus Christ and queriest why all men are not brought to God here openly thou hast shewed thy self to be a Hater of the Light for shame give over and blush Christ sayth I am the Light which enlightneth every one which cometh into the world Ioh. 1. 9. which thou art ignorant of he that loves the Light and walks in the Light there is no occasion of stumbling but thou that hatest the Light thy deeds are evil and therefore thou stumblest Iohn 11. 9 10. and there is thy condemnacion which is the Light and with such blinde Guides as thou art are poor people lead from the Light within them which should guide them to God to hearken to thy imaginacions and to fall down to thy images but the Plagues of God will be poured down upon the Beast and the false Prophet Deut. 28. 59. and thou art one which keepest people from God Query 4. Whether any man hath power to resist in the day when he comes to draw the soul to himself Aâ—sw Here thou shewest that thou dost not know the power of God neither hast tasted of it but standst in the power of Satan and dost resist and deny but
pass thou proceedest with this inference if so why dost thou deny and say that every one hath not that Light to teach them and guide them to God Is this a sufficient inference that bececause I have it therefore it must not be denied but that all have it Let any that God hath given an understanding to judg surely God hath left you you have even lost your common Reason among you A Reply to the Pr An. Thou sayst thou art able to say through grace that thy Beloved is thine and thou art his so do the false Prophets say He saith it Jer. 23. 31. but thou knowest nothing of the Beloved nor of Jesus Christ which is the Beloved nor through grace Thou sayst all that Christ hath is thine his Light for thy Prophet his Love as a Saviour to guide thee to thy Fathers house as a Thief thou hast gotten the Letter Jer. 23. 30. and a form which Christ spoke and that thou callest thine but thou enemy of Christ thou neither knowest the Light which is Christ that enlightneth every one that cometh into the world John 1. 9. that thou canst not witness according as the Query was put to thee nor the Prophet nor the fathers house nor the Saviour which the Scripture speaks of but thy fathers house thou knowest and thy beloved which is the God of the World and thy imagined Light which leads thee to thy fathers house which we utterly deny thee and thy fathers house and thy beloved thou hast shewed thy beloved is thine which is thy Lust for thy gift Qu. 2. Whether your Gospel be the same that the Apostles preached and if it be Why go you to Oxford and Cambridg when the Apostle said the Gospel he preached was not after man neither was he taught it by man neither received he it from man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Priests Answer I shall speak as to my own particular and this through grace I have to say God hath carryed forth my spirit to preach and to declare Christ and him crucified as the Apostles preached 1 Câ—r 22. and to declare the manner of Gods giving this gift to sinners as the Apostles did and that freely through grace Rom. 3. 24. the Doctrine of grace appears to be the Doctrine of the Gospel Gal. 1. 5 6. compared with the 9. 10. verses And he that preacheth another Gospel than this is a perverter of the Gospel of Christ and under the curse though he seem to an Angel from Heaven 7 8. v. Thy Inference is If it be so why do you not live on the Gospel I do live on the Gospel and that is thy trouble and grief it seems but thou addest when as it is said Freely ye have received freely give Matth. 10. 8. If thou examinest well what is cited by thee thou wouldst finde that this is principally spoken of healing the sick cleansing the Lepers raising the dead and casting out Devils which were things at that time more likely to get them money than preaching the Gospel but again if thou wilt take no notice of that but apply it wholly to the gift of preaching this I say that Christ did even there approve that the Labourer was worthy of his hire Luke â—â— 7 8. A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayst that God hath carryed forth thy spirit to preach and declare Christ and him crucified as the Apostles preached I utterly deny thee to be any Preacher of Christ or to know God or Christ or the Word of God and the Apostles condicion thou knowest not and the grace of God thou art an enemy to and thou art one of them that crucisies Christ Matth. â—7 â—â— wheresoever he is rising thou wouldst know him and crucifie him who art giving thy Exposicions upon the Doctrine of Christ and wresting the Scriptures to thy own destruction Gal. 1. 8. being unlearned and thou art he that preaches another Gospel which art a perverter of the Gospel which art cursed as thou hast made it openly appear in thy Queries and thou speakest of Angels from Heaven them thou knowest not Friend thou sayst thou livest upon the Gospel but it is upon that which the Apostles spoke the Letter a Declaracion that is thy Gospel which was made manifest to the Apostles which is not to thee and that thou livest on and tradest withall as a Thief and a Robber Ier. 32. 30. and so deceivest poor people who art a Minister of the Letter and not of the Gospel and thou sayst that the Labourer is worthy of his hier but what pay did Christ give to his Labourers that he sent into his Vineyard Did not he say they might have but a Penny Wilt thou be content with his wages O thou Enemy to him who art without God in the world and thou hâ—st shewed that Christ never sent thee to preach therefore thoâ— knowest not his wages that he gives but the Devil he leads thee and thou takest his hier and he is thy Master for thou receivest the wages of unrighteousness shewing thy self worse than Balaam who loves the wages of unrighteousness Iude 11. which wo was upon who art without perverting Christs words and wresting the Scriptures and like a Thief wouldst be like one of them in thy words but like the Devil in thy practice and thou sayst the doing of Miracles and the casting out Devils and raising the Dead were things at that time more like to get money than preaching the Gospel O thou Enemy of God! where dost thou finde any of the Ministers of God that took money for working Miracles Simon Magus would have bought the Spirit to have wrought Miracles withall but the gifts of God is not to be bought and sold for money thou sellest thy carnal gifts but thou they must perish that do so for it is your perishing minde for thou canst not witness one of the gifts of God nor of the Miracles of Christ neither the dumb to speak nor the blinde to see nor the deaf to hear but art a silthy Beast wich art spued out from God dead in thy sins and trespasses Ephes â— 1. and whereof thou wouldst have the Scripture answer thee thou art dead from hearing of them Query 3. Whether you can give another meaning to the Scriptures than they are and whether the Apostles did not give the right meaning to them when they spoke them forth or no and if they did what need learned men to give another meaning to them Priests Answer What a man can do is one thing and what he doth or desires to do is another if no man can give an Exposition besides the meaning of the Scriptures me thinks you should be quiet in that particular and not spend your breath so vainly the same Spirit of God that gave out the Scriptures being in the hearts of his chosen ones doth instruct them to compare one Scripture with another and to give out the meaning of one Scripture by another and
in thy understanding and so thou lookest upon the same which we speak or give forth in writing to be the same carnal minde that thou art in and so thou judgest all the Prophets and Christ and the Apostles to be in the same carnal state as thou art judging Scripture according to thy carnal minde 2 Cor. 3. 6. 3. 4. and so to thee truth is a savour unto death as it was ever but wee are moved of the Lord to write forth or to speak it is not an outward means as thou lookest upon but it is to the conscience of every man from that which is eternal to that which shall eternally witness it but thou art high up in thy hypocrisie and hast mens persons in admiracion because of advantage for the gift therefore it grieves thee to see the immediate and eternal teaching of the Lord alone who is teaching of his people and guiding them up to himself by his Spirit whose Sacrifice God doth accept Gen. 4. 5 who are in the second birth but thou art Cain and because thou seest the works of God and God accepts not thy Sacrifice therefore thou shewest forth thy envy against the righteous Seed in all thy words Query 13. Whether they be not Antichrists and do disobey Christ that have the chiefest place in the Assemblyes stand praying in the Synagogues called of men Master which things Christ did forbid his to act and cryed wo against them that acted such things Priests Answer No question what is against Christ in the flesh is a part of Antichrist and to be destroyed but as yet none of you all that I know have proved that the uppermost seats in the Synagogues were Pulpits there seats were more for honor than for service that Christ forbids and reproves and these places were taken out of love to them and for the Title of Master I would to take off the offence if that would do it that all would agree to call me by my name I take not the Title in love of it nor to have dominion by it and the Wo is against this yet I know there were Masters of the Assemblyes so called by as wise a man as any amongst you for ought I know Eccles 12. 11. A Reply to the Priests Answer In thy Answer to this Query thou canst not justifie the chiefest place in the Assemblyes therefore thou must own the Wo upon thee and Friend thou bringst a Scripture in Eccles 12. 11. to cross Christs words herein thou shewest to be a fighter against â—hrist for to maintain thy Mastership that thou mayst be a Master of an Assembly and here openly thou shewest thy self to be a Pharise and in the Pharises state sayth Christ A greater than Solomon is here Now thou hast shewed forth thy venom and ignorance indeed and openly to act against Christ and openly to be an Antichrist and a Pleader for the state of the Pharises and to contradict Christ Thou sayst no question but that which is against Christ in the flesh is a part of Antichrist thou hast shewed thy self to be an actor against Christ in the flesh and an Antichrist and shewest that thou never knewst him in the flesh nor in the spirit for he that walks in the spirit doth not fulfill the lusts of the flesh but hath crucified them and all things are become new Rom. 8. 13. but as thou sayst and dost believe that a man shall never overcome as long as he is here so shewing forth the old Bottle and what is within thee Matth. 9. 17. here is poured out which neither knows God nor Christ in the flesh nor in the spirit but hast poured forth thy blasphemy against Christ and his Doctrine and all who hold up his Doctrine and live in it and love Christ Query 13. Whether those be not Antichrists and of the Devil and no Ministers of Christ which do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ yea or no and which hold up those things Christ forbad Priests Answer Thou strainest at a Gnat and swallowest a Camel thou takest great care of Mint and Annis and neglectest the weighty things of the Law who preachest up that which Crist for bad prove what thou speakest if thou darest trust God as I desire to do wait with me for the time that God shall discover who abides with him and in his Doctrine and who doth not so far as it is revealed and open A Reply to the Priests Answer In thy Answer to this Query thou sayst we strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel because we deny that which Christ denyed who were called of men Masters as the Pharises were who strained at a Gnat and swallowed a Camel Matth. 23. 7. and thou mayst say that Christ did so for Christ spoke against them who were called of men Masters and taught his not to be so nor to call any man Master and here thou hast justified that which Christ forbids And thou dost accuse us that we do take care of Mint and Annis because we say Whosoever abides not in the Doctrine of Christ is a Devil and here thou hast shewed thy self that it is thou that takest care for those things that pass away which Christ did forbid thou bidst me prove thee to preach that which Christ did forbid here in thy very words thou preachest up that Christ forbids and cryes Wo against and here I chargethee in the presence of the living God who will render vengeance in flames of fieâ— Jer. 51. 6. Nah. 1. 2. and here thou hast shewed thy self to be in the Doctrine of the Pharises and of the Devil and accusest us with tything Mint and Annis who art a Lyar for all those things you hold up and we deny and it is thou that dost justifie them Dost thou not hold up these frivolous things the chiefest place in the Assembly and to be called of men Master laying heavy burdens upon the People and stand praying in the Synagogue this thou strivest to hold up which we deny the commands of Christ thou callest them Mint and Annis which is a Ly and here thou wrests the Scripture to thy own destruction I charge thee here and have proved thee to preach that which Christ forbad and shut thee forth to be any Minister of Jesus Christ eternally or knowing any thing of him thou wouldst have me to wait with thee if I dare trust God I waited with thee too long but thou art now revealed and discovered thou man of sin and son of perdicion 2 Thess 2. 3. who art exalted above all that called God and thy Doctrine is discovered and the end of it for it leades to perdicion for out of the bottomless Pit it came and thither it must go and in thy Queryes thou desirest to know which is most like Antichrist and here thou shewest that thou dost not know Antichrist but we know thee to be Antichrist 1 John 4. 3. and acting in those things which Christ never commanded contrary
saying we draw people from the Appearances of God we draw People up to God from Wrath and Malice and the Appearace of Sathan for in Wrath Malice and Envy and Strife thou livest in for who are drawn from thee and the Appearance of Wrath Malice and Strife lives in Joy and Love and Unity onewith another and as for what thou speakest of constant restlessenesse it is thy own for all who are drawn from you are drawn into stedfastnesse and the Spirit of them that are drawn from you thou knowest not Thou who art restlesse and keepest all other in restlesnesse ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the Truth 2 Tim. 3 7. and therefore thou judgest them like thy self and it seems our Papers and Writings and Speakings do torment and trouble thee as ever the power of Truth did the Pharises for the Prophet who was moved to write the Roul when he sent it to him unto whom it was directed he burned it so doth Writing now torment and trouble thee And whereas thou accufest us of brazen-faced Rayling and reproaching without heeding whether we speak Truth or a Lye Ans All this state and condicion thou art in Brazen-faced thou art for thou art a Beast and brazen-faced in uttering forth thy Lyes and thy Railing and thy venomous filthy Speeches and thou it is that dost not heed whether thou speakst Truth or a Lye for Truth thou canst not speak for thou canst do no otherwise for thou art of thy Father the Devill Who was a Lyar from the begining for the truth yet thou knowâ—st not but we speak the Truth as it is in Jesus and lye not and testifie to that which should excercise thy Conscience 2 Cor. 4. 2. and eternally shall all you witnesse us â— Cor 5 11 though the lyng-Spirit in you now judg the power of Truth to be a Lye which ever the lying-Spirit did but thy Spirit is tryed and we know what thou art an enimy to the Truth and without God in the World Query 17. Whether you have the same Spirit as was in the Apostles and Christ and the Prophets which gave forth the Scriptures seeing you act contrary to the Scriptures and follow your own Invencions and Tradicions and so have erred from them all Priests Answer The same Spirit that Christ had the Prophets and Apostles had and the same have all that are Christs there is but one Spirit of Light Truth and Peace in the Body of Christ 1 Cor. 9 14. and all Dispensacions are given forth by this one Spirit Yer I do beleive this Spirit is given forth in severall measures and degrees to the Body of Christ Ephes 4 7. 1 Cor 12. from the 4 Verse to the 12. Yea I do also beleive no man to this day in the world hath so full a measure of the Spirit as the Penners of the Scriptures had they had the gift of Toungs and were by the Spirit enabled to preach to any part of the world I do not know any that hath such a gift by the Spirit they had a gift of healing the Sick and curing the Lame in their bodily infirmities I know non such no not the perfectest among you they had by the Spirit a gift of Prophesie which was tru and came to passe and though you have had those among you that have pretended to this yet all that hath been is but a discovery of that Lying-Spirit they were led by enough to make you blush but that you are brazen-faced They erred not in discovering the minde of God to us I know none that can rightly boast of such a measure I have taken the Pains to answer thy Queries particularly excuse it not but answer me I have propounded so again that is particularly The Lord open your eyes that what is of God and Truth may fix on many of you that you may escape out where the Snare of Satan is broken and I shall rejoyce in my Pains Farewell A Reply to the Priests Ans Freind here thou hast confessed that all hath the same Spirit that are Christs and here is Confusion in thy words and thou shewest that thou canst not witness it thy self but sayest others hath it thou dost beleive and yet after thou comest to deny it and sayst no man in all the world hath so full a measure of the Spirit as the Penners of the Scripture had and Freind here thou shewest thou hast not the same Spirit that was in Iesus and he that hath not the same Spirit is none of his Rom. 89. and it doth show that thou readst the Scripture with thy Carnall minde and sayst thou dost beleiv the Spirit is given forth in severall measures and degrees thou sayst it because the Scripture sayth it but thou knowest not Christ neither art thou a Minester of him and the working and Operacion of the Spâ—rit thou knowest not as thou showedst it before neither dost thou know the gift of God but art querying the Condicions of them that had received the gift and afterward fell away after they were made pertakers of the heavenly gift which showes that thou knowest not the gift of God nor art not made pertaker of it but art in the Fall and so showest forth thy Ignorance for if thou wert made a pertaker of the heavenly gift thou wouldst leave of buying and selling the Letter and making Merchandize of it Rev. 18 11. Thou sayst thou dost not know any one that hath such a gift to preach in any part of the world nor the gift of Tongues here thou shamest thy own Profession in the natural state and the natural preaching and all thy fellows who profess Tongues and your carnal Original thou sayst thou knowest not any that are so gifted to speak in all parts of the world here thou shewest thy self that Christ never sent thee for whom Christ sent to preach he sayd Go preach to all Nations to every Creature Matth 16. 15. but he did not send them for gifts and rewards for it was Balaam that looked after such things and in that generacion thou art envying the righteous thou sayst thou dost not know the same gift amongst us neither dost thou see it among the Apostles for the same that was in the Apostles we witness the blinde see the deaf hear the lame walk and them that have layd long under such false Physicians as thou art are cured the dumb speak and therefore thou ragest as thy Example the Pharises did and sons and daughrers prophecy Ioel 2. 28. but such were called mad men and fools by such as thou art in their generaâ—ion who art out of the truth and whereas thou dost accuse that we have had such amongst us as pretend to this Prophecy thou art a Lyar there is none pretends Prophecy and the lying spirit speaks in thee and thou neither art ashamed neither canst thou blush thou sayst thou dost not know such amongst us therefore thou discoverest thy self that thou knowst
and is all the righteous bloud shed and in that nature which thou wouldst know these things in it was ever hid from who have the chiefest places in the Assemblyes and called of men Master Matth. 23. 7. and in that generacion thou art which the Wo was ever preached to try thy self for to that in thy conscience which should exercise it do I speak 2 Cor. 4. 2. and when it doth appear it will witness me 2 Cor. 5. 11. the time is coming and now is that not at Ierusalem in your highest profession of Christ nor your highest glorious nocions of him which you live in nor none of your Steeple-houses nor none of your Exercises as you call them nor the daintiest Dish you have will be meat for the tru worshipers of God for they have run to this Steeple-house and that Steeple-house and to this mountain and that mountain and here is a dainty Dish and there is a dainty Dish sayth the Harlot which hath long deceived the simple ones but now all you Harlots are discovered which have deceived the Nations and now Abraham shall arise who is the Friend of God whom thou knowest not but art in the generacion of them who professed Abraham and freedom and God to be their Father but were of their Father the Devil Iohn 8. 44 4â— doing his work who was a Murderer crucifying the just who are in the fall and not come to the beginning for thy Father was a Murderer since the beginning and Dives must be turned into Hell and the Dives with your dainty Dishes must be layd low and you who profess the New Ierusalem will be found to be in the old Ierusalem where the Lord Iesus Christ was and is crucified in your Ierusalem now in the highest place of Worship the tru worshipers of the Father in Spirit and Truth witness it to be so and the time is come that the Scripture is fulfilled and the words of Christ Iohn 4. 23. Praises Praises to the Eternall glorious God of Heaven and Earth for ever and ever who now hath made his Power known by which we see the Deceits of you all 6 Query Whether it be not Gods Ordinance that the inward living spiritual powerful word of God whereby all the Saints of God are taught and the tru inward spirituall Worship of the Saints should in the outward appearance of them be held forth in earthen vessels as under a form of Speech or word yea or no Ans Freind in this Query thou hast uttered forth thy weakness and thy ignorance in the form of the Letter doth appeare yet Serpent-like thou art full of Subtilty but thy nakedness doth appeare openly The word of God is as a Fire and cannot be limited no not with thy carnal Reason It is as a Hammer to beat thee to peices and as a Sword to cut thee asunder whensoever thou comest to know this powerfull word of God And this is the word which the Prophets spoke from who cryed Wo against all them that sayd the Lord sayth and he never spoke to them and cryed against all them that bear rule by their meanes Ier. 5 30 31. the horible filthy thing is committed in the Land which is and was held up with Preist and People but now the same living spirituall eternall Word is made manifest and is preached abroad against all you Hyerlings and greedy dumb Dogs which have not a word from the Lord but seek for your gain from your quarters and get up into the cheifest place of the Assemblies and are called of men Masters and stand praying in the Synagogues he that is the Word cryed Wo against all such and them that had this Word he bade them not to be as they were Math. 23. 8 9 10. And this Word is made manifest in the Saints which is declared abroad but thou who livest in Appearance and wouldst see things in Appearance in thy carnall wisdom and Reason â—hou art shut out from this knowledg for to thee it is death to thy carnall minde therefore freely do I publish the Eternall Truth abroad and as knowing you that you have not a word from the â—ord but are in that generacion of those that did shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men neither go in your selves nor suffer others laying heavy burthens upon the People and will not toutch them with one of your fingers but what you do you do it to be seen of men making broad your Philacteries and devouring Widdows houses Math. 23. 45. who art desolate from Christ who hast got the Form of Christs words but art in the steps of the Scribes and Pharises who had got the form of Moses and the Prophets and were enemies and strangers to the Life of God Moses and the Prophets and their Form you have got in your comprehension in the earthly vessel and that 's your heavenly Treasure but now you are tryed with what you hold forth in a Form of words but the word of God is powerfull and in him is no Form but thou art a Theif and a Robber who stealest the Prophets words Ier. 23. 30. who art without who knowest not the Word nor the Lord nor the tru Ministers of the Word shutting out thy self in the dark world and Querying whether the Word should be held forth in earthen vessels if thou hadst an Eye or if thou hadst an Eare thou mightst hear and see it preached dayly but as I said to thy first Query thou knowst not the Light whith enlightneth every one that commeth into the world but art ignorant deaf and blinde one that hates the Light that makes thee let forth so many stumbling Queries for hadst thou the Light thou wouldst not stumble but be as a Citty set upon a Hill but thou art without who hast shewed forth such a dark minde but that minde is for destrukcion for if thou didst walk in the Light and love it it would lead thee to the Day which would let thee see all things and there would be no ocasion of stumbling but thou art him that hates the Light so all thy Preaching as thou callest it leads from God being blinde and leads the blinde and must both go into the Ditch together but we who are Ministers of the Eternal Word see it and dwell in the Light and declare freely without a Bag or a Staffe without Brass and Silver or two Coats for the workman is worthy of his meat freely you have received freely give Math. 10. 8. therefore we do deny your preaching and for the simple ones sake who are in the Simplicity who have been ensnared by you who are in the Subtilty and such as you are who have let forth these Queries for we know your Spirits though you have not let forth your names so who are in the simplicity seeking after the Truth for their sakes have I let forth my self and shewed forth your folly Query 7. Whether the Idols Temple and the Worship that 's done therein
God hast none who crucifiest Christ now who art he that frustratest and quenchest the Spirit who must be consumed with the breath of his mouth and destroyed by the brightness of his coming thou queryest whether there be a power in every man as to be saved if he will here thou subtlety who art ditted full of Eearth hast shewed forth thy ignorance of the power of God 2 Tim. 3. 4 5. Man in his will would be saved as thou wouldst but the power of God is contrary to thy will and destroys it which saves and as many as receives Christ to them he gives power to become the sons of God Iohn 1. 12. but here thou son of perdicion hast made manifest thy self not to love Christ nor receive him therefore thou wantst power and there thou hast shewed thy self to be that wicked and slothfull servant which hidest thy Talent in the Earth Matth. 25. 26. and there is that Light and Power in every man which if he take heed to it and wait within there he shall finde his Saviour 2 Pet. 1. 19. but if he hate this pure Eternal Light it shall condem him eternally whose deeds are evil Iohn 3. 19. as thine is and so all stumbling is by being disobedient to the Light as the Iews who stumbled at Christ who sayd he was the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into world so thou dost now at the same Light which shall be thy condemnacion eternally thou shalt witness me it is the same Light as ever was to that which should exercise your consciences do I speak which will witness me and condemn you though God is greater than Conscience 7 Query Whether there shall be a general Resurrection of all flesh all summoned to one place and to what place to receive a tru and du Sentence of Iudgment yea or no Answ Christ Iesus is the Resurrection of the just and unjust some to salvacion and some to condemnacion the same that saves the same condemns Matth. 25. 31 32 33 34. And thou desirest to know the place it is the day that God will judg thee and the world in righteousness whom he hath ordained thou busie fellow who art querying of others condicions of the world without thee but it is that thou Fool mightst utter forth thy folly and here thou hast made it appear and in thy Queryes thou art little wiser and there is a place where thou shalt finde a Judg and his Trumpet is sounding but thou art deaf yet and canst not hear it and the Sumpter-horse is gone forth 8 Query Whether may the Scriptures by the Spirit of God be opened and unfolded and expounded to the People yea or no Ans Here thou Serpent art full of subtlety High-Priest like under a colour comest and wouldst be taught but in thy other Queryes thou art teaching and judging and thou didst shew thy selfe to be one that didst not know the Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the world and what dost thou talk of opening the Scripture who hates the Light and stumblest at it and art disobedient to the Spirit Col. 3. 6. to it thou art an Enemy Ephes 5. 6. but it is that thou mayest be kept in the high place of wickedness Ephes 2. 2. but by them who dwell in the Light thou art comprehended and taken in the snare and art without the Truth of God and an Enemy to that which should guide thee and to be a Cloud without water Iude 12. and the same Spirit where it is made manifest and lived in and walked in and not the lusts of the flesh it opens the Scriptures in the People and fulfils them for it is the same that gave them forth and where this is witnessed it needs not be queryed whether it opens the Scripture to the People or no for it doth open them in the People and to the People but thou art without the Gate of Truth what is this to thee one that art without stumblest at the Light a Childe of Disobedience whom the wrath of God abides upon Iohn 3. 36. but it is the Serpent that would be wise and wouldst paint thy self with other mens words who pretendest to have the Spirit but art a Deceiver in the world in thy Fathers Kingdom and Dominion and this shalt thou see when thou ownest the Light which is thy condemnacion and witnessest me to speak the truth George Fox FINIS Certain QUERIES given forth from one Robert Lucas of Kellet in Lancashire who is wise in his own conceit professing in words that he knows something but iâ— here found out to know nothing but what he knows naturally as a bruit Beast and in those things hath corrupted himself as Iude 10 and that through his wrath bitterness envy and malice against the wonderfull and mighty power of God which he hath manifested in his People which now makes the Devil to rage persecute and blaspheme and to set all his Servants a work to tempt to minister Questions to despise falsly accuse and to slander and contemn all those who are redeemed from the Earth and are Servants to the living God and walk in the Truth judging and condemning and overturning all those who profess the Truth in words but walk contrary which Questions were propounded to one who is despised of the Despisers for the Truths sake whose name among men is Richard Hubberthorn but are answered by the Spirit of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord as followeth I Have here received a Paper whose name subscribed to it is Robert Lucas in which are many unlearned Queryes proceeding from the subtle minde Serpent-like which minde is full of mischief and dark about Questions and strife of words 2 Tim. 2. 23. being full of darkness and in them are many temptations yet because thou Fool shouldst not be exalted in thy pride and foolery a few things in Answer I have given forth to the uttering forth of thy foolery thou that hast been a Professor so long and art querying what Faith is and whether Faith be attained by hearing the Word preached and whether all men have not Faith and whether it is possible to please God without Faith and thou queryest how Christ is in man and whether any be elected to Salvacion and whether all men be conceived in sin and queryest how it is done away after thou hast shewed forth thy foolishness thy blindness and thy ignorance as not knowing any thing thou hast made a Profession of Christ and here thou shewest thou knowst him not for shame give over thy Profession and lay thy hand upon thy mouth and be silent but to us the uttering forth thy folly is serviceable as it is written Fools are uttering forth their folly and thou hast shewed thy self to be one Prov. 13. 16. 1 Query What Faith is Answ Faith is the Gift of God and that which asks the question is without and shall never know it for thou art a Reprobate concerning it the Faith
Light which is Christ which he hath enlightned them withall and he that loves the Light brings his works to the Light and there is no occasion of stumbling to him that walks in it and loves it and this Light is not a Chapter without which the Teachers of the World read Thou that hatest this Light thou hast it it lets thee see that all thy Deeds are evil if thou bringst thy works to it it will reprove thee Iohn 3. â—0 and this is the condemnacion of the World and here every one hath a Teacher whose mindes are informed Iohn 8. 12 to that in every mans conscience do I speak which should exercise it which shall eternally witness me and eternally condemn thee and you all who are haters of Light and what hast thou to do to talk of Iohn and of Christ and of the Churches and of the Angels and knowest not the first Principle yet Heb 5. 12 which should guide thee out of the World and bring thee to Repentance but to this thou art an Enemy to and among the Antichrists which say Lo here and Lo there Matthew 24. 23 30 Query Why do you teach exhort write Papers and print Books Answ In thy Query before thou askest whether the Scriptures were written for our instruction and now thou askest why do we exhort and teach here thou shewest forth that thou art tormented and thy terror begins for our giving forth Papers or Printed Books it is from the immediate eternal Spirit of God to the shewing forth the filthy practises of the Worlds Teachers and thine who with a pretence and fair colours and glosses and with a seeming Religion deceives the simple and thy own soul too we have bin long under captivity by you and such as you following your imaginacions but God hath raised up a Light within us by which we see you Deceivers without us and all the blinde Guides Matth 23 16. so for the simple ones sakes who are led by the blinde as we are moved by the immediat Spirit of Christ to write to teach or to exhort or to put in Print and this is it which doth torment thee but it is but the beginning of thy sorrow and this is from the immediat Spirit of Christ which thou art offended withall as ever the Pharises were but thou shalt see more Papers and more Printings and as the immediat Spirit grows there will be more abominacions and filthiness layd open and all Deceit will be discovered and the Truth spread abroad and cherished which will and doth trouble thee as Herod was when Christ was born Matth 2 3 31 Query What is Conscience where is it seated in man and what is its office and duty Answ Thou hard-hearted Pharaoh hast thou been a Professor so long and yet askest what is Conscience thou full of subtlety and Tempter it is that which thou makest shipwrack of 1 Tim 1 19 shut up from thy dark understanding and thy dark Reason it is seated below the hypocrisie in thee thou art a Tyrant to it and rulest over it yet in thy carnal knowledg thou wouldst know it to talk of it but Plagues and Curses are du to that nature which thou must know before thou know the office or duty of it as thou speakest for yet thou art in the hardness of thy heart and here thou hast overturned thy self thou hast before asked many Queryes but the intent is to maintain thy carnal state which seares the Conscience the tender part in man but Friend if thou hearken to the Light to that in thy Conscience do I speak 2 Cor. 5. 2. it will let thee see what Conscience is thou hard bea rt and it will exercise thy Conscience towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16 and here shalt thou see its duty and office and where it is seated and by it how thy understanding is enlightned and by it how thy heart is cleansed if thou hast an Ear thou mayst hear thou that wouldst be taught what Conscience is and where it is seated for shame lay away thy filthy Profession who wouldst know where Conscience is it is under thy hypocrisie who art comprehending Conscience with thy carnal Wisdom and Reason but thou must be confounded and condemned with that which should exercise thy Conscience 2 Cor 5 11 and here thou hast shewed forth thou dost not know the first Principle but art without and one of them whose Conscience is seared 1 Tim 4 2 32 Query If thou have the Spirit of Christ and in a large measure as some give out of thee taking upon thee to be a Teacher as also sending many Queryes to others I require of thee an Answer to these Queryes not in ambiguous and doubtfull terms as the Devil in his Oracles but in plain Language affirmatively or negatively full and clear according to the Spirit in the Gospel-times that he that runs may reade it or else confess thou art led with a spirit of deceit and darkness which would not willingly descover it self Answ Thou sayst if I have the Spirit of Christ which I have and witness it but as taking upon me in the will to be a Teacher as you are made Teachers that I do deny I do deny the will and you both 1 Cor 2 17 and all who are made Ministers by the will of man but the sending forth Queryes which grieve thee to others is that you may shew forth your folly as you have done in answering them by your dark minde which cannot comprehend the Light in which they are given forth but shews forth your darkness blindness ignorance and folly and despight against the Spirit of Grace being Enemies to Jesus Christ which is the Light in us and hath discovered and layd open your deceits and blindness and to all who have their Eys in their Head your folly is made manifest 2 Tim 3. 9 And thou hast here discovered thy ignorance and shewed forth thy folly in these Queryes thou dost require an Answer to these Queryes in plain Language which thou hast sent I have spoken plainly to thee and not flattered thee and as touching ambiguous terms they are thy own as the Devil in his Oracles thou art guarded with them I comprehend thee and see thy Cloathing and thy Affirmative and thy Negative proceeds from thy cursed minde but sound and clear I have answered thee according to the Spirit that is in the Gospel but to thy dark minde they will be dark for thou neither knowest the Spirit nor the Gospel for I have answered thee in the Gospel-time and he that hath the Spirit may run and reade it and reade thy spirit to be the spirit of Error erred from all them that did preach the Gospel which ever were we are not led by a spirit of Error but it we do deny therefore we do deny thee therefore openly and freely and nakedly do I declare my self to the discovering of the spirit of Error which is in thee and all thy blinde Guides who is led by the Spirit of Truth hath discovered you to be in the deceit and in darkness without God in the world the Plagues of God are to be poured upon the Beast and the false Prophet and the Beast and false Prophet are to be cast into the fier Rev 20. 10 there is thy porcion now do not call this railing and rash judgment for thou knowest the Letter thunders and speaks forth such words to such as thou art who livest in that nature Friend this is thy day of visitacion 2 Cor 5. 11 to that which is in thy Conscience I have spoken which shall eternally witness me and condemn thee 1 Cor 4. 2 The mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it The Preparacion of the Heart in Man and the Answer of the Tongue â—â— from the Lord Prov 16. 1 FINIS NOw all you who are doting about Questions and are Ministers of Questions and not Ministers of Grace nor Edificacion but are busi-bodyes tempting and laying Snares and digging Pits lye are now fallen into the Pits which ye have digged for others and you who are wise are taken in your own craftiness and you are now answered from the mouth of the Lord and discovered and to every one is rendred his du and porcion but you sollowing the steps of your fathers the Iews you as they did marvel at his Answers though he was the Son of God Luke 20. 26 now you are answered own your porcion for I have kept back nothing what I received freely from the Lord freely I have declared unto you without parciality or having mens persons in admiracion because of advantage not favouring deceit nor giving liberty to sin for the Lord hath given us a mouth and wisdom which all our Gain-sayers are not able to resist and we walk in the pure wisdom of God and wisely towards you that are without redeeming the time and our speech is with Grace seasoned with Salt and we know how to answer every man Col 4. 5 6 Prayses Prayses to the Lord for ever who takes the wise in their craftiness and confounds and brings to shame all his Enemyes and discovers all Serpents with their twistings and twinings and subtle and cunning temptacions and hath fulfilled his Apostles words in his Sons and Daughters in making their folly manifest to all men and they shall proceed no further 2 Tim 3. 9 and now the painted Serpents the well-favoured Harlots the divers coloured Beasts and the wily Foxes are discovered to his Sons and Daughters that they cannot spoyl the tender Plants which the Lord himself hath planted in his Peoples hearts the Plants of his Renoun grows and flourisheth Prayses Prayses to the eternal powerfull God for ever Let all the Sons and Daughter of the Lord prayse the Lord Let all the Fathers and young men Children and Servants bless and prayse the Lord for ever who reigns for evermore Richard Hubberthorn