Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	apostle_n	scripture_n	word_n	6,515	5	4.2341	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79860	A cloud of vvitnesses: with whom I also appear to bear testimony, that Christ Jesus is the word of God, and not the Bible which is called the Scriptures. For which the word the prophets, apostles, and servants of the Lord, obeying, and bearing their testimony thereunto, have suffered by all generations of men, cruel mockings, stripes, bonds, and imprisonments, by the Egyptians, Philistians, Babylonians, Caldeans, idolaters, back-sliders, Roman Papists, and in generall, the heathen that know not Christ Jesus to be the word of the Lord. ... / Written by him, who is known by the name of Henry Clark.	Clark, Henry, 17th cent.	1656 (1656)	Wing C4452; Thomason E872_2; ESTC R206562	39,859	39

Epistles to the Churches as they saw them in their severall conditions and some to particular persons as to Timothy Titus and Philemon and to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad And Peter in his second Epistle speaks of the Scripture and said 2 Pet. 1.20 21. 1 Cor. 2.4.14 Heb. 3.5 8.5 Exod. 17.4 34.27 40.33 Isa 8.1 Jer. 30.1 2. 36.1 2 3 4. That no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation but the holy men of God spake them forth as they were moved by the holy Ghost so that the prophecies written came not of old by mans own will nor by the will of man but by the Holy Ghost in the holy men of God who were moved by the same to speak them forth so that all speaking and writing and all interpretations of the things of God that comes not from the movings and power of the Holy Ghost comes from mans own will and not from the will and power of God Moses who was faithfull in the house of God did all things according to the pattern shewed him and writ not in his own wil but in the wil of God And so Isaiah wrote at the Commands of the Lord And Jeremiah wrote not but at the Command of the Lord who said unto him VVrite all the words in a Roll of a Book that I have spoken unto thee against Israel and against Juda and against all the nations from the dayes of Josia even unto this day And Jeremiah called Baruch and Baruch wrote all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Jeremiah from the mouth of Jeremiah Baruch wrote them Here it is plainly seen that the Scriptures at the first was not given forth by mans will or by private interpretation but they were given forth by in the will of God by the holy men of God as they were moved to speak them forth by the Spirit of God but since the first giving of them forth they have been translated by private interpretors into the many Languages and the many Languages have severall Copies of their private interpretations with some words added to and some words left out But the same Spirit of God that gave them forth knows its own that it gave forth by the holy men of God 1 Cor. 2.10.12 2 Pet. 3.1 Mic. 3.11 and disowns the other words that are not of and from it self for no man knoweth the things of God save the Spirit of God so that it plainly appears that the Scriptures was never called the Word of God neither by Christ nor his Apostles but they were called by them Moses VVritings Moses Law The Book of the Prophets The Prophets and The Psalms A Declaration Testimony and Epistles But the blinde Guides the priests of England that preach for tithes hire gifts and rewards they do teach the people and say Hearken to the VVord of the Lord as it is written in a Chapter and a Verse The VVord of the Lord was before all time but the Bible which men call the Scriptures was not before all time for Moses after the Creation many generations did begin to write the first part of it who was the first Writer John 1.1 2.3 4. 10.14 John 4.24 John 10.28 2 Cor. 3.6 which was in time and the rest were written in order of time as the holy men of God were moved by the Spirit of God to write and give them forth to be written therefore the Bible which is called the Scriptures is not the VVord of God but is that which testifies of the VVord of God Christ Jesus God is a spirit is the Bible which is called the Scripture God a spirit Nay for the Word is God The letter kills is that Christ the spirit that giveth life Nay then the Letter is not the VVord of God for Christ is the Word and this Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and he is the Light and Life of men and by him the world was made First Before the Bible which is called the Scripture was writ the Word was John 1. i. Heb. 13.8 Rev. 22.13 1 John 1.1 2. Isa 41.4 Rev. 19. i3 Isa 7.14 Matt. 1.23 Heb. 2.16 John 8 56.58 Gen. 15.1 2. Prov. 18.10 1 Sam. 3.21 Matt. 11.27 John ●0 30 14.6.9 10. Dute. 8.15 Gen. 49.10 Psal 119.160 162. verses Isa 42. Jer. 23. Ezek. 34. Dan. 2.45 Mic. 4 5 chap. for in the beginning was the VVord and the VVord was with God Christ Jesus the same yesterday to day and for ever said he I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last It is he that calleth the generations from the beginning who said I the Lord am the first and with the last I am the same and John said His Name is called the VVord of God And they shall call his Name Emanuel which is by interpretation God with us who took upon him the Seed of Abraham and was before Abraham was Abraham said Christ rejoyced to see my day he saw it and was glad The Word of the Lord came to Abraham in a Vision saying Fear not Abraham I am thy Sheild and thy exceeding great Reward The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous run unto it and are safe And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by his VVord Christ said No man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him and said Christ I am the VVay the Truth and the life No man cometh to the Father but by me he that hath seen me hath seen the Father I and my Father am one I am in the Father and the Father in me And Moses said The Lord thy God will raise up a Prophet in the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him shall you hearken And Jacob said The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come and unto him shall the gathering of the people be and David said Thy Word O Lord is true from the beginning I rejoyce said he at thy VVord as one that findeth great spoile and the same Word of the Lord did all the prophets see and hear and bear witness to and no other and the Scriptures were written to bear Testimony of this Word to after Generations that should come and likewise of the righteous judgments of God which came upon them that opposed the same which Examples were written for our learning upon whom the ends of the world is come unto whom the Scripture is given by inspiration of the Spirit that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto every good work which is profitable for Doctrine for Reproofe for correction and for instruction in Righteousness Secondly As Christ is the VVord of God John 8. i2 John 1.5.9.12 John 3.19 20. Eph. 5. i3 John 16.9 10 11.12 2 Pet. i. 19 so he is the Light of the

VVorld yea the true Light that inlightneth every one that cometh into the world VVhosoever followeth him shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of life and to as many as receive him and beleeve on his Name to them he gives power to become the Sons of God but these whose Understanding is darkned even such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death the Light shineth in the darkness but the darkness comprehendeth it not but al things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light the Light makes sin manifest in the understanding and convinceth of sin and condemns sin in the conscience but those that walk in darkness hate the Light and will not bring their deeds to it because they are evill and the Light reproves them and to such the Light is their condemnation Therefore take heed to this Light which shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts while you have the Light beleeve in the Light John 12.36 1 Thess 5.7 that ye may become the children of the Light and the children of the Day who bear witness to the Light Iohn a man sent of God to bear witness of the Light who said that was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world And David he bare witness and said The Lord is my light and my lamp he will inlighten my darkness he is my salvation and the strength of my life and again said he Psal 72. i. 2 Sam. 22.39 John 1.1.5 Isa 49.6 60.19 20. Luke 2.31 32. John 1.10 11 17 verses Thy VVord is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathes And John said God is Light and in him is no darkness at all And Isaiah said The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light and thy God thy glory Christ is given for a Light to the Gentiles and for salvation to the ends of the earth to which Simeon bore witness and said Mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel which Light was in the beginning and is come to his own and his own received him not he is in the world and the world was made by him and the world knows him not by whom Grace and Truth is come CHRIT JESUS Thirdly Seeing that Christ is the Light of the world Isa 55.3 John 5.25 and the VVord of God which is to be hearkned unto and obeyed therefore unto him hearken and hear that your souls may live For they that hear the voice of the Son of God they shall live the word is nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth Dute. 13.14 Eccles 2.14 Prov. 4.23 Coll. 1.27 Rom. 12.5 1 Cor. 8.6 John 17.23 Rom. 10.6 7 8. Coll. 1.26 27. 1 Tim. 3.16 John 15.18.25 1 Pet. 2.7 Matt. 21.42 Jer. 20.9 2 Sam. 23.2 3. 1 Cor. 10.4 Matt. 17.5 Heb. 3.15 Matt. 11.29 Isa 40.31 Matt. 24.23 24 26. Mark 13 2i 22 23. Luke 17.21 22 23. that thou mayest do it therefore keep thy minde in from wandering abroad for the wise mans eye is in his head Christ is the head of every man hearken and attend to his word keep thy heart with all dilligence for out of it are the issues of life he that hath the Son hath life Christ in you the hope of glory he is one in all except ye be Reprobates you may know this For we being many are all one in Christ Iesus who said I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and Paul said the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Ch●ist down from a love or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but saith it The word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of Faith which we preach without controversie great is the mystery of godliness which hath been hid from ages aad generations but is now made manifest unto his Saints which is God manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles rejected by the world but received into glory And Ieremiah said His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay And David said The spirit of the Lord speak by me and his word was in my tongue the Rock of Israel speak to me and that Rock is Christ he that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the spirit saith God is a spirit who saith this is my beloved Son hear ye him in all things Cease from man whose breath is in his Nostrils and hearken to the VVord of the Lord which is nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth Christ Jesus saith Come learn of me heare that your souls may live to day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts but be swift to hear and slow to speak stand still and see the salvation of the Lord for they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and do not hearken any longer to the blinde guides the priests which cries Lo here hearken to the Word of the Lord saith one as it is written in the chapter and the verse Lo here saith another hearken to the Word of the Lord as it is written in this chapter and this verse See here saith one it is written this chapter and this verse See there saith another as it is written in this chapter and this verse But they are false prophets rise up to seduce if it were possible the very Elect but saith Christ go not forth beleeve them not the kingdom of heaven is within you the Law is written in the heart according to the Covenant of God Moses David Jeremiah and Paul and said the Word of the Lord is in the heart and in the mouth Iude 11 verse Numb 22.38 24.17 18 19. Mic. 3.11 and yet the priests of the Nations are not ashamed to say It is written in a chapter and a verse and although the priests of this Nation run greedily after the error of Balaam for honour and rewards yet they are more blinde than Balaam and have not got by all their study and learning so much of the knowledge of the Word as he who said to Balaak after the Lord had turned him from going to curse Israel the word that God putteth into my mouth that shall I speak O ye priests that preach for hire and divine for money and are by men called and say your selves you are ministers and preachers of the Word of God Are you not ashamed to see that Balaam had more knowledge of the Word then you have be ashamed and blush and stop your mouths and be

his right Eye his Arm shall be clean dried up Zach. ●● 17 and his right Eye shall be utterly darkned Read your portion you Idol-shepherds of England who say the Scripture is the Word of the Lord John 1 1.1● which testifieth contrary to your saying that Christ Jesus is the Word and the Word is God which is as a fire Fifthly The Word of the Lord is like a Hammer that breaketh the Rocks in pieces and the Rocks are thrown down by it Jer. 23.29 Nah. 1.6 Jer. 10 10.1● Hearken all you who have made your faces harder then a Rock and refuse to return to the Lord that made you and have made your hearts as an Adamant-stone lest ye should hear the Law from the pure Law-giver Christ Jesus by him shall ye be broken to pieces as with a Rod of Iron and dashed in pieces like a potters vessel The Lord the true God the living God and an everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not abide his indignation he hath made the earth by his power he established the world by his wisdome and stretched out the heaven by his understanding he saith of the portion of Iacob thou art my battel Ax and the weapons of war Lament 3.24 Psal 16.5 119.57 Matt. 22.43 44 45. Jer. 51.15 19 20 21 22 23. And David said The Lord is my portion and the lot of mine inheritance and again he said Thou art my portion O Lord. Christ is Lord and David called him so The Lord said unto my Lord and this Lord is Iacobs portion whom the Lord said By thee will I break in pieces the Nations and with thee will I destroy Kingdomes and with thee wil I break in pieces the Horse and his Rider and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his Rider with thee also will I break in pieces man and woman and with thee wil I break in pieces young man and old and with thee wil I break in pieces the young man and the maid Hearken you priests of England who are called Ministers and say the Scripture is the Word of God but the Word of the Lord is invisible and cannot be seen with your carnall eyes and by it wil the Lord break in pieces the Shepherd and his Flock Ezek. 34.8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. and he will gather his Flock from your mouthes and it shall become no longer a prey unto you and he will feed his sheep upon the mountains of Israel and lead them to the stil waters and he will likewise break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of Oxen and with thee will I break in pieces saith the Lord the Captains and Rulers Matt. 10 34. Luke 12.51 52 53. and said Christ Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth I am not come to send peace but a sword to make division for from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided three against two and two against three the Father shall be divided against the Son and the Son against the Father the Daughter against the Mother and the Mother against the Daughter the Mother-in-Law against the Daughter-in-Law and where the Word of the Lord comes Heb. 4.13 Psal 139.1 2 3 4. it seperates and divides asunder Paul said that the Word of God is quick and powerfull and sharper then any two-edged-sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and this David witnessed and said O Lord thou hast searched me and known me thou understandest my thoughts afar off and art acquainted with all my wayes Sixthly The VVord of the Lord is very pure said David therefore thy servant loveth it Psal 119.140 Isa 40.8 c. 1 Pet. 1.23 John 15.3 17 17. 1 Thess 5.23 Isa 9.6 1 John 1.7 Eph. 5.25 26 27. 1 Pet. 1.2 Christ Jesus is the same yesterday to day and for ever And Isaiah said The VVord of our God shall stand for ever And Peter said Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever the word of the Lord which is pure makes clean said Christ Ye are clean through the word And Paul said the very God of peace sanctifice you wholly Christ Jesus is the mighty God the prince of peace who said Father sanctifie them through thy VVord thy VVord is Truth Christ is Truth the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin He loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the VVord that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish holy as he is holy in all manner of conversation and so the Saints of Christ are by the sprinckling of the blood of Iesus Christ made clean from al filthiness and from all Idols saith the Lord wil I cleanse you by the which Will we are sanctified Ezek. 36.25 Heb. 10.14 Heb. 2.11 1 Cor. 6.11 through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified for he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren which brethren do beleeve that they need not go into Purgatory to be cleansed from their sins after death for they know that they are already translated from death to life Rom. 6.18 and have the witness in themselves that although they were filthy John 15.3 yet now they know that they are washed sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Iesus Christ and by the spirit of our God and being made free from sin by the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus are become the servants of Righteousness Seeing said Peter ye have purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 Mat 5.8 see that ye love one another fervently with a pure heart the pure in heart they are blessed and shall see God but no unclean thing shall inherit the kingdom of God for without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie and out of the kingdome you are 1 Cor. 6.9 i0 Rev. 22.15 and such are you who say you shall never be free from sin in this life For as the tree falls so it shall lye whether it fall to the North or to the South Therefore cleanse your hands you sinners and purifie your hearts you double minded and come to Christ that you may be made clean through the Word and have life Seventhly The Scripture which is visible John 1.2 3. Exod. 20.11

Heb. 1.2.3 Coll. 16.17 Jer. 10.12 Psal 33.6 made not the world but by the Word of God the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein were made For said Iohn In the beginning was the VVord and the VVord was with God all things were made by him and nothing was made without him that was made for it was the Spirit of God that moved upon the face of the waters and Jeremiah said That God hath made the earth by his power he established the world by his wisdome Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdome of God And David said By the VVord of the Lord were the heavens made and all the hosts of them by the breath of his Mouth And Paul said Heb. 11.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the VVord of God so that the things which are seen were not made of the things which do appear For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principallities or powers all things were created by him and for him Eightly And as all things were made by the Word of God which Word was before any Letter of the Scripture was written so by the same Word of his Power are all things upheld For in him we live and move and have our being Acts 17.24 26 28. Heb. 1.3 2 Pet. 3.5 6 7. said Peter For of this thing they are willingly ignorant of that by the VVord of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water whe●eby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished but the heavens and the earth which are now by the same VVord are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men under which ungodly men the Prophets and Apostles and Servants of the Lord ever in all generations suffered cruel mockings bonds and imprisonments and death for obeying the Commands of the Lord and bearing their Testimony of Christ Jesus the Son of God and the Word of God and likewise for crying out against the sins and abominations which was committed in those dayes both by Kings Rule●s Judges Priests Prophets and people and as the sins and abominations was then so it is now in these dayes acted by the like generation of Heathens that rage Psal 2.2 Iohn 16.2 Rev. 2.10 and people that imagine vain things the Kings and the Rulers fit and take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed and in so doing they think they do God good service and for their so doing are accounted good Christians by their own generation both of Priests and people but they are no christians that do such things for if any man be in Christ he is a new creature and the old man with his deeds is put off and the New man put on Christ Iesus and of him they learn who is meek and lowly and to be holy in all manner of conversation and to love the brethren and to entertain strangers and those Rulers that so learn are a terrour to the evil doers and a protection to them that do wel for he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God for those that were ordained of God and ruled in the fear of God did not imprison the Servants of God and his prophets but received them and protected them But those Rulers and people who without the fear of God were and ruled in their own wills they whipt and stockt Luke 23.10 11. and put in prisons and dungeons and chains and murdered despised and mocked the messengers of the Lord untill the wrath of God arose against them and there was no remedy as you may see hereafter appear Abraham he put none of the Servants of the Lord in Prison for as he said in his Tent doore in the heate of the daye in the plains of Mamro where the Lord appeared unto him and he lift up his eyes and looked and do t●●e men stood by him and when he saw them he ran from the Tent-doore and met them and said My Lord if I have found favour in thy sight pass not I pray thee from thy servant and Abraham said Let a little water I pray you be fetched and wash your feet and rest your selves under the Tree and I will fetch a morsel of bread and comfort your hearts Read Gen. 18. chap. and after that you shall pass on for therefore are you come to your Servant and Abraham hastened into the Tent and said Make ready quickly three measures of fine meale kneed it and make Cakes upon the hearth and Abraham ran unto the herd and fetch a Calfe tender and good and gave it to a young man and be hasted to dress it and Abraham took butter and milk and the Calfe which was dressed and set it before them and he stood by them under the Tree and they did eat and the men rose up from thence and looked towards Sodome and Abraham went with them to bring them in their way And just Lot he put none in prison Gen. 19. chap. For there came to Sodome at even two Angels and Lot sate in the Gate of Sodome and Lot seeing them rose up and met them and he said Behold now my Lords turn in I pray you into your Servants house and tarry all night and wash your feet ye shal rise up early go on your wayes he pressed upon them greatly and they turned in unto him and entered into his house and he made them a feast and did break unleavened bread and they did eat Moses put none of the Servants nor prophets of the Lord in prison Numb ii 24 to the 30. for when the young man ran and told him that Eldad and Medad do prophesie in the camp and would have had Moses to forbid them and Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake would to God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them and Moses and the Elders of Israel went into the Camp but did not forbid them David he put none of the Lords prophets in prison 2 Sam. 12. chap. for Nathan the prophet came and declared unto him the parable of the Ewe-lamb he straightway confessed his sin and owned his condemnation upon himself by his own words out of his own mouth neither do I finde that Solomon put any in prison Ioshua he put none of the Lords servants in prison nor Gideon Iosh 5.13 i4 i5 Judg. 6.8 i1 12 13.25 c. he neither put the Angel nor the prophet of the Lord in prison but he threw down the Altar of Baal and cut down the Grove that was by it Neither did Hezekiah nor Iehosaphat 2 Kings 19. 2 Chron. 19. nor Iosiah put any of the prophets of the Lord in prison neither did any of

these Kings and Rulers afore mentioned make any law statute or ordinance or send forth any Proclamation to their Judges Justices Sheriffs or other Officers to take the Prophets and Servants of the Lord as they wandered up and down in sheep-skins and goat-skins from place to place in the work and service of the Lord and to put them in prison or to whip them and to send them away with Passes like Vagabonds And Abraham Lot Moses Ioshua Gideon David Solomon Hezekiah Iehosaphat and Iosiah were all Rulers that feared God and were not of them that misused the Prophets nor despised the Word nor mocked the Messengers of the Lord. But those that do in these dayes imprison mock and misuse the Prophets and Ministers of God and despise his word which they declare and obey are no Christians neither were they Christians that did so in former Generations for the first King or Ruler that I read of Gen. 39 40. chap. who had got an invented Prison was Pharoah King of Aegypt and Ioseph being falsly accused by his filthy unclean Mistris was put into the Aegyptian Kings Prison among the Kings Prisoners by his Master Pottiphar the Captain of Pharoahs Guard and Pharoah being offended with his Butler and Baker in his wrath put them in Prison and he that was offended and did this in his rage was no Christian but a dark Aegyptian King without the fear of God And the uncircumcised Philistines had not the fear of God that plowed with Sampsons Heifer and caught Sampson and put him in prison Judg. 26.21 and bound him with Fetters of Brass these Philistines that did this were no Christians And Ahab as King Pharoah and the Philistines had got Prisons 1 King 22.27 Coll. 3.5 so had he got a Prison and said of Micaiah the Prophet of the Lord Take this fellow into the Prison and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction untill I come in peace And Ahab was an Idolater and no Christian And Asa fel off from the Lord and relyed on the King of Assyria 2 Chron. 16. chap Psal 3.1 I●a 31.1 for the which he was reproved by Hanani the Seer then was Asa wrath with the Seer and put him in the prison-house for he was in a rage with him because of this thing and Asa oppressed some of the people the same time Was Asa that oppressed the people and that fel off from the Lord and went down to Aegypt and Assyria for help a Christian yea or nay And Zedekiah did that which was evill in the sight of the Lord God 2 Chron. 36.12 c. Ier. 37. 38. chap. and when Ieremiah came to him and speak to him from the mouth of the Lord he humbled not himself but consulted with his Princes and at their request Jeremiah was by them put in a Dungeon where they let him down with cords and he stuck fast in the m●re and Zedekiah and his Princes that did this to the Lords Prophet and despised his word and transgressed very much after all the Abominations of the Heathen were no Christians And Herod the Tetrarch that Fox and Murderer he put Iohn Baptist in prison and Herod the King stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church Matt. i4 3 Acts 12.1 2 3 4 21 22 23. and he killed Iames the Brother of John and when he saw it pleased the Jews he caught Peter the Apostle of Christ likewise and put him in prison and these two Herods was neither of them Christians that did this I am sure And the Romanes when they saw that Paul had in the Name of Jesus commanded the Spirit of Divination to go out of the Damsel which did likewise the same hour Read Acts. ●●6 chap. and that thereby the hope of their gains was gone then they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the Market-place to the Magistrates and brought them to the Governours saying These men being Jews do exceedingly trouble our City and teach Ordinances which are not lawfull for us to receive neither to observe being Romans and all the people rose up against them and the Governours rent off their clothes and commanded that they should be beaten with Rods and when they had beaten them sore they cast them in Prison and commanded the Jaylor to keep them safely who having received such a commandment cast them into the inner-prison and made their feet fast in the Stocks These Romans Magistrates Governours and People were no Christians that used the Apostles and Servants of Christ so And all these Heathen Rulers Kings Magistrates and People who without the fear of God were and bore their Swords in vain were no Christians were not contented with putting the Prophets Apostles Ministers and Servants of the Most High God in Prison Dan. 3. i 2.8.13 14 15. but they invented in their rage and cruelty further punishments and death unto them For Joseph he was not only put in Prison but he was bound in Prison and he was brought before Pharoah hastily out of the Dungeon Read Dan. the 6. chap. And they were Philistines that put Sampsons eyes out and bound him with Fetters of Brass and they were Idolaters and such as transgressed very much after all the abominations of the Heathen and mocked the Messengers of God and misused his Prophets and despised his Word that fed Micajah with bread and water of affliction and let Jeremiah with cords down into the Dungeon to stick fast in the mire And they were Babylonians and Caldeans that invented the Fiery Fornace and put Hananiah Mishael and Azariah into it for refusing to fall down and worship the Golden Image that Nebuchadnezar had set up Then Nebuchadnezar the Princes the Governours and the Captains the Judges the Councellors the Treasurers the Sheriffs and all the Rulers of the Provinces were all at making the Proclamation and the Caldeans they accused the three Jews Shadrack Meshek and Abednigo and the King in his rage and fury commanded them to be brought before him and he was full of fiery the form of his Visage was changed and he commanded the most mighty men of his Army to binde them and cast them into the fiery burning Fornace and by the same generation of men was Daniel cast into the Lyons Den for praying and giving thanks unto God And these Babylonians and Caldeans were no Christians And they were Libertines Syrenians and Alexandreans and men of Cylitia and of Asia that suborned men and stirred up the people Acts 6 7. chap. the Elders and the Scribes and caught Stephen and brought him before the Councel and when they heard the things which he speak they gnashed on him with their teeth and ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the City and stoned him to death And they were Jews and Gentiles together which stoned Paul and drew him out of the city supposing he had been dead Acts 14.