Vnderstanding or the Day was not so far dawned upon them we shall not have determine because our Business is to consider what the Lord has done for us hath he not given us to believe that God's Holy Spirit is the only Guide into all Truth the Substance of all Types and Figures and the fulfiller of every addition for Righteousness-sake truely reconciling to God But if after we have seen or believed the Lord is that Spirit the Heir of all things that is Good and Serviceable for mans Souls Good that was either in the Law Prophets or in any External Order Form Rule or Shadowy thing if after we have believed all this we set up Ceremonial Circumstantial or shadowy Things as Terms of Communion and Essential to the Government of Christ then we err on one Hand as they did on the other they seemed to come short in not believing the thing to be done on this side the Grave c. And we err and come short in concluding the Work is done before it is which is a false Rest for as we have more Additions than we had in our Beginning and as every adding of outward Rules shews a Want of Christ's Government by his Holy Spirit therefore in the best Sense if these Rules are added to perfect and not only as an Expedient for the present Want and so only to be used till Christ come in Power to govern the Soul instead of helping they will certainly hinder For as there is no Rule that hath been is or ever shall be to perfect the Soul by bringing it to God but the Holy Spirit so it is certain there is no Government in this Case but that of Christ but it shall have an End From hence it is certain that no outward Rule as it concerns a Holy Conversation on the Worship of God is of any Service but until he come therefore outward Rules as above are set up by us as a standing Ordinance or but for a Time If but for a Time then their Service is but to steddy our Mind that so in the Vse of them we might daily wait for their fulfilling by the coming of Christ by his Holy Spirit But if Rules as above are made as a standing Ordinance then are these outward things over-valued and whilst over-valued we cannot know Christ the Emanuel come to fulfil them On this account it is that every latter Appearance of God is as Death to the former and this is our Case as well as any that did go before us for the Substance of those two great Dispensations of Law and Gospel must be known in every Man that comes truly through the Work of Regeneration into the Kingdom of God and therefore as the Natural Life is hard to be parted with where a better is not hoped for so where the Life of Religion stands in outward Things or Rules they are hard to be parted with while a better Life and Rule is not hoped for Can any Man serve two Masters which in our case we desire may be truly considered and for that end we offer as the Object of the Mind is so is the Mind whether it regard Conversation or the Worship of God for if the Object of the Mind be an outward Rule the Mind can go no further than that Rule for can any thing give forth more than it hath in it self therefore by outward Rules Man can go no further than a Legal Dispensation and if Mantakes up his Rest here his Dependance is no higher than a Covenant of Works and such cannot know self-slain and as such can never know boasting excluded they cannot know Salvation truly by the free Grace of God But if the Object of the Mind be God's Holy Spirit and truly follows it the Mind thereby will become wholly Spiritual wherein the old Things pass away and all becomes new both as to outward things and also to heavenly things Here the Tree is made Good and its Fruit Good Now the Root being Holy the Conversation is Holy for as is the Fountain so is the Stream what was difficult before is now easie and what seemed harsh before is now pleasant for the Root of evil being cast out there remains nothing but Good Here the Peace on Earth and good Will is known to all Mankind we desire therefore that outward Things may not be over-valued for therein stand the uncharitableness that is amongst all that fear God for as the over-valuing outward things hinders from coming into Communion and Fellowship with God so it hinders the true Knowledge of the stirings of God in others for when the Appearance or Conversation must be measured by certain Rules it follows what is Terms of Communion or is accepted of God may not be accepted of Men we know where the Heart is purified the Mind made Holy by the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit this is terms of Communion or what is accepted of God from hence proceeds a Holy Conversation with a Confession to that Righteous Principle by which it is made such and therefore as this is not accepted with Men such are not born of God nor do they know that Holy City whose Gates stands open by Day for there is no Night there this lets all in that are Good but hinders what is not But all Cities but this as they have Day and Night so they know not what they do but shut their Gates as soon against the Good as the contrary That this great Evil may be avoided is all that is intended by what is here written and that as we began in the Spirit so we may wait to be perfected thereby that so as we have in any measure known him to have been our Alpha we may know him to be our Omega also for by no other way can the Deceiver be cast out as he takes up the Profession of the Truth Where the Term You is found in the following Discourse we intend the Author and those of his Mind whoever they are whether many or few And as the Term We is also used it may be understood in respect to those of the same Mind with the Author of this Boook There are several Faults committed by the Press in Letters Stops c. which the Reader is desired to amend in the Reading and in page 5. line 8. for Author read Apostle And pag. 49. lin 8. for uncountable read unaccountable AN ANSWER to a BOOK ENTITULED A Brief EXAMINATION c. AS to the Definition of Liberty spiritually explained Page the first we agree upon the matter But Page 2. after the asking of several Questions the Author comes to this result That there is some things left to our freedom and bounds it at this time to outward things of Life and Commerce as what I shall eat and when c. And then states this Question But doth not freedom extend farther than this For since God hath given me a manifestation of his Spirit to profit withall and that I have the gift
matter prove it Observe do not we set up the Body of our Community to determine the matter and what difference betwixt that and resolving matters of Faith by the majority of Voices For is not the Body taken for the greater number and then is it not the same thing when truly applied and if this be true is it not much worse in us by how much we begun better O that it could be considered For otherwise we believe at last it will not only be found wrong but that 't is but a few that manage this Mystery in comparison to the greater number though they may be supported by their compliance but as we can truly say Father forgive them they know not what they do we are not without hope but seeing we have observed that Christians and Christianity was always disadvantanged by those Pleas for Unity when put in practice of which we have had the Experience from others and now have it among our selves if we could heed to improve the occasion and that is to put in practice among our selves that good advice we have given to others to wit to make nothing Terms of Communion but essential things to which purpose that Book styled An Address to Protestants is so full to the matter that if more can be said no more need if the Advice there were but effectually taken by our selves of which to be sure there 's most need that so at least if we cannot mend others we might prove the truth of our Advice by amending our selves till then those excellent Precepts want Examples and all know they 're more prevailing therefore let us begin to set that great and glorious Example which as yet the World never knew We forbear to transcribe any part of the Book considering it's great applause and late Writing We hope it should not yet be forgotten However it may be reviewed to corroborate the Memory and then there can want nothing that we know of but Self-application In the mean time since 't is matter of Fact that Christians never thrived on a true Christian account where those Pleas for Unity have been put in practice relating to ceremonial circumstantial and shadowy things do not object that was only as carried on to violence for we say the ground of all Evil is first in the Mind and from a straitness there and therefore they that omit nothing of that power they have who can believe if such had more they would imploy it better Self-denial and Forbearance is the best demonstration of a Christian frame of Spirit for Christ did not come to take away the greater Evils only but the lesser also yea even the ground of all strife that is Evil. Therefore let us alter our course and take other but better measures have Christians and Christianity as truly such almost been extinguished in the World by seeking an Unity in Opinion Let us seek it in Essentials and then the work is done among us at least to peace and then to be sure we shall promote according to our power what the World stands need of as well as to wait that a true Figure of the Universal Church of which Christ is the true Head may be advanced among our selves and as this is truly set up and promoted all difference dies that 's evil among such as truly fear God then what remains will be of no more Evil than the various forms and colours of Flowers in Gardens if not of much more service that true Philosophers Stone being known to turn all the Metals into pure Gold Do we think we have been the most true that have been since the Apostacy which perhaps we have as to Notion and Profession of the things of God Then let us endeavour to promote what is more true What can hinder the putting this in practice but the Devil by the likeness of Truth perswading this was to give liberty to Evil And therefore to prevent that they set up their own Works whereby instead of leaving People to come in at the right Door they do but make them formal We must confess this cannot be fully known till God discover it and therefore we must wait in Patience for God's time but 't is a mistake to think this is to give liberty to Evil while our end we are sure bears witness to the contrary But to answer all the Objections that may be made as it would take up now too much time so perhaps we may not know all that may be advanced so we shall omit that till we are better informed of them as also till more sitting Opportunity do occur In the mean time we desire those things may be taken in the best sense but if otherwise we hope we shall not altogether be unprovided We know 't is writ They shall come from the West North East and South to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom Those certainly was not of one external Form and Order as to ceremonial and shadowy things yet we find they agree but perhaps some will say this is in Heaven well what then Must they not agree on Earth that must agree in Heaven Shall not God's Will be done on Earth as 't is in Heaven How else shall the Governments of this World become the Kingdom of Christ but as the Peace of the one becomes the Peace of the other and as the Government of that becomes the Government of this For is not Christ the Head of all that is good from the least breathing to the fullest perfection And doth not he own all that 's of his own begetting every where according to the degree of Knowledge revealed Can any thing that 's good in a spiritual sense be received but as it comes down from above And as Christ owns all that is good shall not we own it Doth not he gather all the good together in one even himself Doth he gather all universally in every Nation that fears him and work Righteousness without respect to shadowy things c. wherein they may differ for those he hath left unmeasured on purpose that they might not hinder Doth he do this in every Nation and shall not he do it in one Nation Doth he do this in general and shall he not do it in a Family Yes surely he will in his own appointed time 'T is true he proceeds by weight and measure nor can we hasten his Work yet certainly we may wait for it in a true Christian Moderation and Patience desiring the Lord Jesus may come and if he please quickly to gather the Minds and Spirits of all that fear him in any measure into his Name that is but one then would Sion become our Solemnity and Jerusalem a City sought out and not forsaken even the Praile of the whole Earth not that which is below for she is in Bondage with her Children but that which is from above the Mother of all that is born free which is not of Man's Contrivance Work or Workmanship
or to apply them to avoid the Cross of Christ in our selves is extreamly evil but to apply them against what we believe is wrong and imposed let who will be concerned may be a true Application for the like cause will have the like effect where-ever it appears But he proceeds and saith the Doctrin is true but not exclusively of all External Counsel c. We say so too for we are for agreeing with him as far as we can and therefore that we may continue we must mind him there is a vast difference betwixt excluding all External Counsel and receiving all for Counsel that comes from this or that Man or from this or that Assembly and we are sure we cannot find that he makes any good provision in his Book to the contrary by allowing Conviction to preceed Conformity but he saith such sayings as this that I must mind the Spirit of God in myself c. are false in Application where Men are allowed observe to have had the fear of God and mind of his Spirit and are not proved to have acted in their own Wills c. Answer We did concur above as far as we could but now we must dissent it is not therefore false in Application for that were to say because some have had the fear of God and mind of his Spirit therefore such have it now or always Again because some are not proved to have acted in their own wills therefore such have acted in the will of God and therefore we must depend on such at all times in what they direct because we believed that once they was right O sad Argument How is it possible that we should believe his cause good when we are sure those are unsound Arguments and are also certain the Truth stands in no need of what is untrue to defend it much less can make use of what is false nay that belong to what is wrong or at best to what is but like Truth and to this purpose is the whole Page nay the whole Book for instead of proving things he takes for granted that this Church must be right and all she differs with must be wrong but the mischief is we know not certainly what he means by this Church and therefore desires she may be set forth fairly and in the mean time we believe he can no more prove her infallible as directed to Men than he can make this Argument good that because some had the fear of God as above therefore such have it now wherein there is no Evidence no Certainty to depend on for such may have had the fear of God and mind of his Spirit and for all that may now be without it as well as himself who used to have good Arguments but now wants them Again every Fact must be committed before proved therefore they may have acted in their own will and not yet fully proved but what proof would he have and we will endeavour to provide in the mean time can any indifferent Man think that all this Smoak can be without Fire What one part all right and t'other all wrong let them think so that can we cannot and not only so but if we have allowed any to have had the fear of God and mind of his Spirit in things offered to us if that allowance was true observe it was because we had a divine sense rellish and taste of it in our own Hearts was not this all the true Evidence we had or could have that such was right And are we to go any further for a proof that such are wrong then when the same Evidence comes not along with them Nay instead of that Evidence what we have is either against the things or manner of bringing them in must not we stand or fall here or otherwise put our own Eyes out on purpose to be led and guided by others and that before we are either perswaded that their sight is good or deputed to lead us Page 11. he saith The Enemy is at work to scatter the mind of Friends by those loose Pleas as leave me to my freedom and to the Grace of God in my self c. For he saith The plain Consequence is to go from ancient Principles and Practices as there set down and to set measure against measure as in Page 12. which he saith is Confusion it self Babel indeed this is the very Rock he saith both Professor and Prophane would long since have run us upon that a way is hereby opened to all the World Libertines to plead the light within for their Excesses c. which he saith grieveth God's Spirit and was severely reproved by our Friends in the beginning and is still reproved by them that keep their Habitation c. Answer The ground of this great noise and clamour was not a going from ancient Principles or Practices but your bringing in new things and pressing them to dissatisfaction against which it was alledged by those dissatisfied as the Spirit of Truth was not only allowed but was truly the only guide into all Truth they ought to be left to the Grace of God in this matter and not pressed to receive circumstantial or shadowy things contrary to their freedom and satisfaction here such pleaded Conscience against Imposition Now will you for this criminate such with going into what is evil or immoral or at least with designing such things is not this to judge before the time What 's this but first to suspect your Brethren of evil and then kill them in a sense to prevent it a practice always judged by us in others as evil and unrighteous and therefore every appearance of it ought to be avoided in our selves do such or did they meet together And then as a Church agree what Rules should be observed by you and might not they do that as well as you For if Church Authority may be pleaded in the case a few may be a Church as well as many for 't is not the greatness of the number in a Scripture sense but the qualifications of the Persons that makes a true Church But if nothing that is simply evil or immoral can be charged upon your Brethren nor yet any excess in imposing new things upon you will you to make way for Lordship and Dominion over your Brethren joyn with the prophane and Professors against them and the Truth or at least against those Testimonies to it For when he tells us That this was the very Rock Professors and Prophane would have run us upon namely that hereby a way was opened to all the Worlds Libertines to plead the Light within for their excesses either he makes some Friends among which is himself to be one with Professors against the light within or otherwise doth not he joyn what is unequal together For it is plain that the Professors tho' they owned the light within and Spirit of God in a sense yet they denied it was a sufficient Rule to be relied upon to guide into
as Churches their Power being all alike If then some distinct Assembly it must be such an one to speak modestly as is superiour to all the rest according to Constitution and then what comes not in this way can have no shadow of any Authority for force or pressure of new things beyond satisfaction and freedom but such a Church cannot be but either by a civil Compact or by a divine Institution The first is not agreeable with the Truth for we cannot delegate or give power to any to make Rules or Laws to guide us or oblige us in spiritual Matters because we cannot be bound by any thing but the Truth and we must know it such before we can be bound by it therefore no such Compact or Agreement can be because liberty reserved and our power given away are inconsistent But if the latter that some one Assembly according to divine Institution is superiour to all the rest who can make circumstantial or shadowy things Terms of Communion 'T is necessary we should know that Assembly as well also that their Authority is divine if we must rest upon their Determinations without Trial in these matters c. But this we think we cannot know but by a divine way and that then must be either by a divine sense in our own minds or by the Authority of Truth which such bring to convince in both cases we conceive our Understanding is concerned in our Obedience and Duty but neither of those ways are known to us at present therefore till set forth to press Obedience under the notion of a divine Institution implies a kind of Contradiction being in effect to say we are to go out of the Truth to serve it for to go into uncertainty is not to serve the Truth if it be not to go out of the Truth directly thus by all our endeavour in searching into the matter we cannot find according to the Principles of truth that Conformity is to go before Conviction however not before Perswasion And yet we say for Peace sake and that nothing might be hindered that is good as also that true liberty may be preserved any Particular or any Assembly of the Community may offer what is new if they sincerely believe it good and serviceable without breach of Unity or at least of Communion but we cannot find to the bringing of new things in as matters of Faith or Terms of Communion that any Assembly have any more power than a particular Person and if mistaken we would very gladly be better informed and therefore till that be done we believe to press new things as matters of Faith or Terms of Communion to dissatisfaction and indeavouring to get such things strengthened by geting the majority of Voices either directly or indirectly is a going out of Truth to make Parties And this being done how easie is it for Men to be hurried into that Uncharity as not to dispence with those Dissenters which themselves have made without Characters of Indignity as publick marks of Dis-favour as though the thing was out of doubt Truth because the most are for it We shall endeavour to bring this long business to this short issue either such as believe the Spirit of Truth is the only guide into all Truth have liberty and freedom to judge of what they are to receive or they have not if they have not power and liberty to judge of what they are to receive and practice as matters of Faith c. then the power over them is uncountable and such must submit to their Determinations not because they know or are perswaded they are true but because those that have this power over them say they are true if this be not Usurpation exercising Lordship and Dominion as well as the bringing in blind Obedience and the begetting into an Implicite Faith we desire it may be fairly demonstrated to be according to Truth this cannot fairly be denied because we believe the Truth will stand the Test and be willing to come to the Tryal we know that which is false will not indeed because it cannot therefore we are fully perswaded where any is offended at this fair and free Inquiry for satisfaction 't is a sign if not an infallible one that such are faulty But on the other hand if we have liberty and freedom to judge of what we are to receive and practice as matter of Faith on terms of Communion that so our Religion and Duty may be according to our Understanding and Judgment then we may dissent as well as assent to things proposed or brought in according as things or occasion may fall out and this without fear or hazard of being proclaimed Delinquents for Nonconformity not only with respect to our private Sentiments or Opinions for that we might do in Turky or at Rome but with respect to those of the same Communion that would bring new things in to be observed otherwise we have neither true liberty nor freedom The Result is if there be a power over us that can bring in new things as matter of Faith and terms of Communion let it be fairly set forth and proved according to truth but if we have power and liberty to judge of what we are to receive then allow it freely that dissatisfaction and difference may come to an end To this we think can be but one Objection and that is that such as are dissatisfied are not conscientious which we confess is an old Objection but yet not more old than evil and never was to seek to abuse others by such as over-valued themselves 't is time therefore it were removed being as well unchristian uncharitable as unrighteous to criminate Perfons before any thing that 's evil or immoral can be justly proved against them and such practices have always been so far from making difference less as they made them greater for instead of restoring the Path of Peace and Truth to dwell in they always laid a sure foundation both for dissatisfaction and at last for division seeing every one that is truly conscientious have not far to go for an unerring Evidence to reverse so erronious a Judgment Those are some of those many things that we are dissatisfied with in his Book and we can say on a conscientious account either then from a true Understanding or from some misapprehension of the matter in both cases we conceive we should be relieved according to Truth And as our Author is great in the Reputation of Men we expect and also hope he will be great as a Christian too which is to submit unto the Truth where-ever it appears concerned by amending what is amiss whether it be with respect to himself or it be in our mis-understanding so far as lieth in his power and that he may proceed chearfully in this undertaking we are content to say we know but in part and indeed we think but in a little part too nor dare we think our selves so perfect but what we have writ may be objected against by such as will cavil on divers accounts Perhaps some may say it wants Method may be some may say there 's seeming Contradiction or 't is full of Tautologies nay perhaps some fault may be found as to the matter for we confess and think that the day will still grow more clear and then shadows will still be less However as we are sure our end is good there can be nothing done against us in the same mind that can hurt or be of evil Consequence for varieties of Understanding that stands in the fear of God and are managed in his love may be some cause that more light is afforded but however we make our advice to others in the first place a caution to our selves to be always ready to hear and mind what when and how the Lord is pleased to speak or appear for we do not already count our selves perfect yet one thing we do forget what is behind and presses hard after the Mark that stands before and think those that do not so seems not apt for the Kingdom of God for the mind of Christ must be sought for forward and not back to his former appearances and thus in part we know what we are but what we shall be we do not fully know but as the living hopes remain in the mind such truly wait for his appearing which as they cannot miss of his coming so shall they see him as he is and be purified by him that is pure for he was is and is to come Lastly we must confess we do believe our Author might be really troubled touching our Differences as Israel was about Ruben when he built his Altar but we believe also he did not inquire the matter out fully as they did which if he had we are fit to think we should have found as few Objections in this Book as in his other Writings or had he considered of what of this nature was as we were informed communicated to him some time since then perhaps had been no occasion for this however we hope shall be always as ready to confess unto a Truth as to oppose an Error In the mean time we conclude truly desiring the good of Mankind in general but especially of them that have in any measure believed or confessed that the Spirit of Truth or Light within that comes from God is the only guide into all Truth for those we are the more concerned not only because they are nearer to us by Profession but also because they have received more and so have more to give an account of therefore we do earnestly desire such may not sit down in a Notion or Profession of so holy a Principle and thereby take the name of the Lord in vain but by a true Travel in their own Hearts and Minds with God's holy Spirit may come to prove the Truth of what is professed then will they be established as Mount Sion indeed that never can be removed The END
AN ANSWER TO Several Material Passages IN A BOOK Published some time since by W.P. ENTITULED A Brief Examination and State of Liberty spiritual both with respect to Persons in their private Capacity and in their Church-Society and Communion c. By J. H. London Printed in the Year 1691. THE PREFACE TO THE READER FRIENDS YOV being esteemed such as profess the Spirit of Truth the guide into all Truth having met with this Book Entituled A brief Examination and state of Liberty spiritual both with respect to Persons in their private Capacity and in their Church Society and Communion and finding the Author tells us his aim was to assert Truth detect Error and point at some Shoals and Sands that some have too boldly run upon c. Noting the great difference among Friends touching the latter we could do no less than give it a serious Perusal in which we found instead of asserting the Truth freely detecting Error fairly or pointing at any dangerous Sand or Shoal certainly the tendency of our Author's Discourse was rather to remove those true Marks we had then otherwise by endeavouring to bring in a Blind Obedience and an Implicit Faith to what he calls the Church which seems rather implied too than fairly set forth that we can find On this account considering how easie 't is for many on a Religious score to take things for granted from Persons valued on that account rather than give themselves the trouble of tryal by a true search according to the due weight of the Matter We say considering the danger of this we could do no less than take notice of several parts of the said Book desiring they may be well weighed and considered by such as believe the Spirit of Truth is that only guide into all Truth How far we was obliged to do this at present by an immediate Motion from God we shall not now determine nor Impose upon any for as we find the name of the Lord in this case is almost become as a Reproach being so often used of late to so little purpose so we would not administer further Occasion in that respect to those that are without to speak evil of the way of Truth because of some difference among such as profess it nor would we peremptorily impose upon our Brethren who professing the same Principles of Truth may pretend to the like Certainty for avoiding those things we chuse rather to commend whâ—t we have to say to the witness of God in every mind that being the likeliest way to make room for Truth and as soft words are said to pacifie Wrath so are they most like to be heard at this time 'T is true we have delivered our Judgment plainly that the Tendency and Import of our Author's Discourse was and is to bring in blind Obedience c. which as it leads from the Truth so it is wrong in it self and as every wrong is managed knowingly or otherwise thro' some mistake if wrong is carried on knowingly 't is evil or wicked because designed but from this censure we may in Charity excuse our Author believing him both a better Man and more a Christian but if not designed it must be carried on and managed through some mistake and so we would have what is said in the following Discourse to be understood But then some may inquire how our Author could be mistaken being Master of such great Abilities to which we answer easily through the mysterious working of the Enemy in the likeness of Truth nor need this seem strange to any if they consider how many have been deceived thereby both great and small and some at times hurried into things grosly evil as killing their fellow Creatures and yet at the same time think they did God Service c. How much more easie is it for Persons to be deceived by the Enemy in things that appear like good The likeness of good and of Truth is that which the evil one takes up to keep his place and save his Life when he can keep no longer in the polluted State for being a Spirit he can turn into any likeness and through the over-valuing of outward thing 's on a Religious score has the Enemy slipped undiscovered into all Forms of Religion that have been in the World and thereby kept alive his Kingdom in the Wrath Enmity hard Speeches Hatred and Vncharitableness that have been kept up among the various Professors of it Therefore that great Mystery of Iniquity stands in the likeness of Truth for if there was nothing like Truth that is not Truth there could be no Vncharitableness among such as in any measure fear God for as then there would be nothing but good and Evil so such as loved the Good as they would deny the Evil they would own the good to the least degree of its appearance knowing that as the Root of all Evil was but one so the Root of all good was but one But now besides what is evil and good as coming from each respective Root there is a third thing as we may say that stands betwixt them The outward appearance resembles good to a great degree but the Root is of the same Nature with the Evil having only changed his appearance and though good may sometimes be witnessed here as there is any thing of Sincerity in the Mind yet the Root of Evil not being removed away the covering of the Soul in the best sense is but as the linnen and woolen Garment forbid to be worn under the Law On this account it is as needful to know the Enemy cast out of our Hearts as he appears like good as it was to know him cast out as he appeared as Evil for as where the latter is not known there wants the form of Truth so where the former is not witnessed there wants the power of it It is here that he deceives poor Man sitting as God in the Temple of God and therefore till he is cast out we cannot know our Names truly to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life In this is the Victory not only over Sin but over Satan for when he can keep no longer in the polluted State nor deceive by the likeness of good then can he deceive no more This we must hope and look for and the Turnings and overturnings in Profession of Religion since the stirring of God by his Spirit to Reformation do shew that he is on his way to reign whose Right it is a But to our Time this Likeness of Truth this Enemy as God sitting in the Temple of God c. hath not been cast out nor could in any Reformation because all-a-long some outward Ceremoniel or shadowy things was joyned with the Spirit of Truth as essential to Salvation True Religion and the Government of Christ But as the Enemy can go into any outward Form or Thing therefore he could not be cast forth whilst those outward Things were overvalued but whether such have acted against