God By Christ or righteousnes H. N. sayth he meaneth the being like Christ not any ceremonial Christ so he seemeth to esteem the playn doctrines of the gospel to be but ceremonial that wheras we read there of one Jesus to be crucified for our syns c. this he couÌ„teth but a ceremonie shadow or figure such it may be as was the ram that Abraham offred or the beasts that Aaron killed or perhaps the parable that Jotham told for the true Christ that saveth men is the Lovely being that is in the Familists themselves this idol hath their god H. N. out of his prudency according to his fleshly mind set vp And this is a great secret or mysterie of iniquity H. N. 5. Herevpon my beloved mought ye or som other say we learn not or ther is not any thing taught vnto vs then out of the clear scripture which may not lie Yea my beloved the scripture lyeth not but al those which ar not instructed through the spirit of Christ they lie are beguiled signify or expouÌ„d the scripture which is spokeÌ„ through the holy Ghost shewed out in the spirit of life Iohn 6. vpon an earthy or elementish foundation wherthrough the man can not obteyn or get any renewing of the hart Even like as in the witnessing of the scripture ther is witnessed sufficiently to those that can vnderstand the same Who is ther without the word of the Lord which is spirit life Iohn 6. that hath atteyned vnto the salvation or who hath I beseech you in any world brought forth any true witnes vnlesse that he through the Spirit of the Lord which is his word become altogether born anewâ— H. A. UUE are sure the sacred scripture lâ—â—th not but H. N. which abusâ—th and falsifieth the scripture and denieth Jesus to be the Christ making Love and the Lovely Being in himself and his familie to be Christ as we have heard is by the Apostle condemned for a Liar and an Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 22. and he not being instructed through the Spirit of Christ hath taught an earthly and rotten foundation to the ruine of true religion The scripture cannot rightly be vnderstood or opened but by the Holy Ghost that is the gifts of the holy Ghost But some have the gifts of the Spirit which yet are not themselves altogither born anew as had Balaam the Scribes and Pharises Caiaphas Judas the traitor and others many which as the Apostle sayth Heb. 6. 4. were once lightned have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the holy Ghost Therfore it is false which H. H. writeth that none in any world brought forth any true witnes vnlesse that he became altogither born anew Againe he here brocheth another error in expounding the Spirit of the Lord to be his word which H. N. in his grosse vnderstanding perversly gathereth from Christs words Iohn 6. 63. the words that I speak vnto you are spirit wherby our Lord meaneth that his words were spiritual not that they were the Holy Spirit it self For he vseth the like phrase of a spiritual and regenerated man saying Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Iohn 3. 5. 6 Now seing H. N. describing his Communialty of the Love sayth Whosoever cometh into this good city he becometh altogither born anew in the spirit he may by like reason conclude that himself and his Nicholaitans are also the holy Spirit and so be a blasphemer against the Holy Ghost as he is against the Father and the Son The Scriptures teach vs playnly to distinguish between the word and the Spirit of the Lord this latter being cause and author of the former as it is written 2 Sam. 23. 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake in me his word was in my tongue and of al the prophets it is witnessed that they spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1 21. The Apostle sayth this is the word which is preached among you and how they preached it an other sheweth when he sayth that by the spirit of God they knew the things given them of God and spake those things not in words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Spirit teacheth that al men may see how ignorantly if not worse H. N. hath confounded the word and the Spirit of the Lord as if they were one thing H. N. 6. Note wel or consider of fellowship the estate or manner of the Apostles how that they although they went about so long tyme with Christ wer alwayes with him whiles the power of God was wrought through him vnderstood not what the mind of the Lord was concerning the godly causes before that the day of Pentecost or Whitsontide when that they received the holy Ghost was come vnto them Even like as there standeth written how that they sayd at the tyme when Christ was crucified among them we had hoped or supposed that he should have delivered Israel and it is now the third day and ther cometh nothing of it we wil goe a fishing For they supposed that Christ should have set vp a fleshly kingdom H. A. HEre H. N. to magnify himself as a spiritual and godded man spareth not to wrong the holy Apostles as if they before Pentecost Acts. 2. vnderstood not the scriptures nor preached the word truly wheras it is evident that they were sent and had preached the word long before Luk. 9. 1. 2. which word Christ had given them and they received Iohn 17. 8. 14. and were made clean by it Iohn 15. 3. and he had opened their vnderstanding to vnderstand the scriptures Luk. 24. 45. though afterward at Pentecost they received more plentifull graces of the spirit when Christ was gone from them Act. 2. 1. 2. 4. c. Again H. N. as if he delited to falsify the scripture sayth there standeth written how that they sayd when Christ was crucified we hoped that he should hav delivered Israel c. wheras these words were spoken by Cleopas and an other disciple which were none of the Apostles as appeareth Luk. 24. vers 18. 21 33. and to make vp his patcherie he addeth that they sayd it is now the third day there cometh nothing of it we wil go a fishing Wheras those two spake not at al of going a fishing but other men at an other time Ioh. 21. 3. By this the reader may mind what credit is to be given to H. N. his allegations of scripture who careth not to profane the holy word for maintenance of his lies and setteth things down as they come in his idle head But why say I so of this godded man seeing men ought not to distrust him nor suspect any manner of evil or vnwisdom by this Oldest Father whose eysight as himself sayth was clearer then Chrystal his vnderstanding brighter
Christian baptisme consisteth of an outward washing with water by Christs Minister and of an inward washing with the holy Ghost by Christ himself Ioh. 1. 33. Act. 8. 38. and 10. 47. The outward washing of the flesh without the inward clensing of the hart is not avaylable to salvation 1 Pet. 3. 21. Yet may not the outward action be despised or neglected For as the true circumcision was of the hart in the spirit yet if any had not circumcision also in his flesh he was to be cut off from his people as having broken Gods covenant so is it likewise for baptisme come in place of circumcision Act. 2. 38. Colos. 2. 11. 12. The outward baptisme many do rightly receive which have not the inward as did Symon Magus Act. 18. 13. 20. 21. The inward none have in deed and truth that do despise the outward we teach that these both must be joyned togither according to the scriptures and labour for both The Familists therefore which boast of their inward baptisme and administer not the outward among themselves but present their children to be baptised of Papists or any other Antichristians so offering their children vnto Molech and perswading others to do the like shew themselves to be farr from true Christian baptisme which defile their bodies and sowles with such hypocrisie and idolatrie And H. N. which laboureth here to disswade these two daughters from suffring and witnessing against Popery bewrayeth himself not to have known Christ in any world nor can he shew Christs shape to be in him whiles vnderhand he teacheth grosse impietie pretending inward baptisme and spiritual regeneration But the drift of this man is by his invective against others to allure men to himself for when he concludeth with his exhortation that every one should humble himself before the might of the Lord and trust vpon his grace his meaning is as elswhere he explaneth himself Let your selves now in all your being nature minde and disposition become renewed through the Love in her service and give all your vnderstanding captive vnder the obedience of the Love and humble your selves even so vnder her service to the end that ye all may become washed in the Love with the pure water of the Love For to become washed in the Love with her pure water is the vpright washing and the true Font of the regeneration or new birth Now seing thus harlot-like he allureth all men to his stollen waters within his lovely Family for th'vpright washing let vs see what manner of washing and baptisme that is which he so boasteth of In this Letter he coucheth his heresie in a word namely that Being of Christ wherby the meaneth that the man or the lovely Being in the man baptised is Christ himself as before is manifested and after shal further appear This error he would ground on the Apostles words Gal. 3. 27. For all ye that are baptised into Christ have put on Christ which place this author thus allegeth so many of you as are baptised have put on Christ. Where first as his maner is he corrupteth the text it self by taking away those words into Christ and saying onely baptised wherby he would intimate that none are rightly baptised but such as have put on Christ contrary to the scriptures which shew that Symon Magus and many others were rightly baptised as touching the Ministerie of man which yet had not put on Christ because they were not baptised into Christ as the Apostle here addeth but H. N. omitteth Agayn he gathereth that which the Apostle strowed not namely that to put on Christ is to have the Being of Christ in vs but this H. N. fansieth to himself for the spirit of God speaketh not so yea the Apostle meant farr otherweise as his former words shew wher he sayd for ye al are the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus So Christ is put on by faith as also elswhere he is sayd to dwel in vs by faith not by a real or essential Being such as the Familists feign to themselves by the spirit of error Now to Beleeve in Christ and to have the Being of Christ that is to be Christ himself are farr differing things as all men know And as wel might the Familists plead that Abraham was God because he beleeved in God and that the multitude of Israel were the Lord because they beleeved in him as that men are Christ or have the Being of Christ because they beleev in him and by beleef have put him on Neither can our imitation or following of God or of Christ in the likenes of his death and resurrection make the Being of God or of Christ to be in vs any more then our following of the Apostles which also we are exhorted vnto can make vs of one Being with them How absurd these things are any reasonable man may see Yet such absurdities many ar the groundly documents of this oldest Father H. N. touching Baptisme and other mysteries of religion as is more playnly to be seen in his First exhortatation For there treating of Baptisme and having described God to be a might Spirig a perfect cleer Light and a true Being he addeth that the same Being is God the Fathers name meaning that Name of the Father into which we are baptised and his Love it self No word of God telleth him this but he forgeth it out of his fleshly hart The Being of God as we may learn by the Scriptures is such a thing as neyther men nor Angels can know or comprehend how then should they Be the same 1 Tim. 6. 16. Isa. 6. 2. Psal. 145. 3. Iob. 11. 7. 8. and 36. 26. But the Name of God is that wherby in some sort he hath made known and manifested himself in his word and works Exod. 3. 15. and 6. 3. 33. 19. Deut. 12. 8. 11. Psal. 9. 11. After this having discoursed of the Fathers plucking vs to the Love of Christ and so baptising vs into the name of the Father and this by the Familists in the administration of the holy word vnder the obedience of the Love with the Law of the Lord and with his correction c. H. N. telleth vs that God the Father with the discipline of his Law manneth himself with vs and we become likewise Godded with him to the end that we through his own Being should bear as men of God his holy Name vnder the obedience of his Law c. Wherin this heretik vttereth double blasphemie first that God the Father manneth himself with vs by which doctrine Athâ—an like he spoileth God of his true Being his simplicity immutability infinitenes and the like which the scriptures shew to be in God Deut. 6. 4. Iam. 1 17. 1 King 8. 27 Secondly in saying that men become Godded with him he wretthedly extolleth corruptible man into the throne of the incorruptible God confounding heaven and earth the
as H. N. sayth according to the heavenly truth Wheras that which he meaneth by heavenly truth wil be found indeed to be hellish error he teaching such things of God and of Christ and of mans righteousnes as the prophets and Apostles have every wher condemned which anon will appear H. N. 3. Because that the same miserable doctrine and false wisdom of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes mought be made known and even so then to be forsaken therfore hath God now in the same last day showed his grace mercifulnes on vs poor wretched ones and hath declared vnto vs through his holy spirit his service of Love for to declare vnto al good willing ones through the self same service which is the true way to the everlasting life Therfore let everie one now through the same service of love be warned that he look wel hereto that he boast not himself in any of the works of righteousnes or take on the same to salvation neyther to condemnation before that he in the spirit of Christ through the love of the Father be renewed in al righteousnes of life Not that I mean in the elementish ceremonial righteousnes which the man setteth forth or occupieth out of his owne prudencie but I mean in that righteousnes which according to the heavenly truth is in the being of Christ and is set forth through the spirit of God For the Father is not honoured but through the Son that is no man may know eyther serve God but that he must be born out of the spirit of Christ even like as ther standeth written Ther availeth before God neyther circumcision nor vncircumcision but onely a new creature in Christ Iesus wrought through the Love Gal. 6. Therfore shal Christ in the day of judgements accuse and find faultie a flesh in their righteousnes even like as he saith I shal reprove or rebuke the world of their righteousnes Ioh. 16. That this is al what the man out of his first birth hath set vp for a righteousnes which is an enimy vnto God even like as he sayth Ioh. 10. They are al theeves and murtherers which are come before me that is whosover letteth himself think that he is a Christian before the spirit of Christ be born in him that same is a theef and a murderer For whosoever hath not the spirit of Christ the same belongeth not vnto him Rom. 8. Even like as Paul hath witnessed wher he saith I durst not speak any word vnlesse that Christ had spoken the same in me or through me Rom. 15. yea no man sayth he in an other place can name Iesus to be the Lord but through the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. A natural man sayth he testeth not the spirit of God 1 Corinth 2. My children saith Paul to the Galathians with whom I travel agayn in birth vntil that Christ be fashioned in you 1 Gal. 4. Here may we mark that without the Spirit of Christ ther is no knowledge of God And vvher God is not knovvn ther can ther not any doctrine be occupied to the mans salvation It is verie true H. A. THe author pretending to deal against that which he would faynest establish to weet the miserable doctrine and false wisdome of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes first draweth the readers to himself and his familie and the service of Love as being the declarers of the true way to the everlasting life now in the same last day But this is like the cariage of the whorish woman who caught the yong man and kyssed him and with an impudent face sayd vnto him I have peace offrings this day have I paid my vowes therfore came I forth to meet thee c. and H. N. hath no better warrant then his predecessor Mahomet who before him boasted himself to be the Teacher of the nations That the reader may discern the frawd of this falser I wil first briefly shew what doctrine he hath taught cōcerning God and Christ And then I wil proceed in answering this his Letter The God which H. N. treacheth to the world is not as the scriptures declare the true God vnto vs One eternal everliving infinite incomprehensible almighty vnserchable and vnchangeable Being who onely hath immortality and dwelleth in the light that none can attayn vnto whom never man saw neither can see vnto whome be honour and power everlasting Amen 1 Tim. 6. 16 Exod. 3. 14. Rev. 1. 4. Iob. 11. 7. 8. 9. 36. 26. Psal. 90. 2. 93. 2. 102. 26. 27. 145. 3. Act. 17. 25. Iam. 1. 17. But H. N. telleth vs of a God that was in the beginning as a light af life of one substance with the manly creatures For as he saith after in this letter God had created the man that he should be of one life one Being one Spirit and of one nature with God Now the manly creature we know was finite comprehensible not from eternity but had his beginning in the sixt day of this world and soon was changed from his estate and became like to the beasts that perish How then can it without highest blasphemie and dishonour of God be sayd or thought that God was of one substance with the man yet H. N. to bring his blasphemie to a higher degree if he may hath further manifested his mind thus See and mark ye beloved in the beginning when God made al things wel then was the Lord one Lord of his kingdom one God of his works ther was also no more but one God and one man and they were one and had in al one order being and nature for God was al that the man was and man was al that God was The Divil when he had the Serpent for his instrument the subtilest beast of the field durst not vtter such abomination vnto Evah as to say she should be of one substance with God or al that God was but only that she should be like vnto God knowing good and evil but here having gotten a new instrument H. N. which mystical letters may rightly be read Ha Nachash that is The Serpent who now is weren more old in evil more bold in falshood he shameth not to teach that God and man were one substance and being God al that man and man al that God was By this doctrine H. N. leadeth men at once from God to the Divil and deifieth the Serpent For the Serpent was too subtile for the manly creature the Divil deceived and overcame the man with al that he was his body sowl and spirit Now seing God the creator and man the creature had al one substance and being and the one was al that the other was it wil folow vpon this blasphemers doctrine that the man had as much power wisdom wil and ability everie way to withstand the Divil as God himself had but the Divil was too strōg and too wise for the man therfore also he was
then the Sun H. N. 7. The whiles then that the Apostles which dayly went about with Christ and had the word of the Father dayly among them vnderstood not the Spirit of the Lord how should then the multitude of these which now say that they are Christians yet neyther have nor know spirit nor word but go on with their fleshly prudencie in the literal scripture and set forth the same with their fleshly harts before the simple people as it seemeth best vnto them and say even so very stowtly we have the word of the Lord wheras it is but their own word wherin that they through their own prudencie are gendred or begotten feel eyther perceiv the same H. A. THe application of this invective belongeth to H. N. himself and his Nicholaitans who out of his fleshly hart as seemeth best vnto him though against the literal scripture setteth forth his forgeries to the simple people yet boasteth very stowtly that he is anoynted with the holy ghost in the old age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ godded with God in the spirit of his Love made heyr with Christ in the heavenly goods of the riches of God illuminated with the spirit in the heavenly truth the true light of the perfect being elected to a minister of the gracious word c. so that in him and his sect the prophesie is fulfild which foretold how in the last dayes men should be lovers of them selves boasters proud cursed speakers c. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2. But if the Apostles as he sayth vnderstood not the spirit of the Lord how should then he that is sold into syn and given over vnto heresies which are works of the flesh feel or perceiv the same H. N. 8. It is true they have the scripture and the same giveth witnes of the Lord and of the word but is not the word it self Iohn 5. neyther yet may any man vnderstand the witnessing of the same vnlesse that he hath first inherited the spirit of the Lord in the second birth H. A. ONe evil and heresie draweth on another wher God restreyneth not men by his grace Here H. N. denieth the scripture to be the word of the Lord saying that it giveth witnes of the Lord and of the word Which he would gather from Christs speech Iohn 5. 39. Serch the scriptures for they testifie of me but he abuseth the scripture and concludeth amisse as if because it giveth witnes of the Lord Iesus therefore it is not the word the contrarie wherof is true it giveth witnes of him therfore it is his word For Christ playnly calleth that which is written in the Law the word Iohn 15 25. and so doth Paul Rom. 9. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 54. and Peter 2 Pet. 1. 19. The scriptures for we speak not here of the essential word of the Father which is Christ himself are the word of the Lord written even as the lively preaching of the prophets and Apostles was the word of the Lord spoken The beginning of their books sheweth this as Hos. 1. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Hosea Ioel. 1. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Ioel and many the like It is sayd Exod. 20. 1. God spake al these words and in Exod. 24. 4. it is said Moses wrote al the words of the Lord. If then that be Gods word which is spoken that also is his word which is written and H. N. is but an instrument of Satan to teach otherwise that he may bring his own word in the place If the scripture be not Gods word because it is a witnesse then the Holy Spirit which H. N. made the word before in sect 5. is not so seeing that is a witnesse also 1 Iohn 5. 6. yea Christ is a witnesse Rev. 1. 5. God the Father is a witnesse 1 Iohn 5. 9. 10. the Apostles also were witnesses Luk. 24. 48. If then that which is a witnes is not the word then none of these but H. N. and his dreames must be the word to weet of the Serpent and he indeed is no witnesse of God neyther do his writings bear testimony to the truth but seek to destroy it H. N. 6. Oh my beloved look into the same a little with me what vncertayn witnessings that we out of an earthly or a natural Being have followed after even vntil this day We may wel say with the Prophet it is altogither lies what the scripture learned preach eyther teach for asmuch as they do reject the word of the Lord Ier. 8. Here giveth the prophet a distinction or diversity betwixt the word of the Lord the witnessing of an vnregenerated man which he bringeth forth out of the Letter of the scripture H. A. THe more we look the more indeed we see what vncertayn witnessings you H. N. out of an earthly Being have followed after even vntil this day This stil more and more appeareth in your abusing of the prophets and Apostles Here you would father a distinction vpon Jeremy as if the word of the Lord and that which is written in the scripture were not one and the same the Prophet teacheth no such thing but blameth the Jewes for rejecting the word in truth and deed whiles they boasted to be wise and to have the law with them Ier. 8. 8. 9. He denyeth not the written law to be the word for I have before proved that it was Gods word Exod. 20. 1. 14. 4. but sheweth how vnregenerate men wil abuse it and yet boast of it as your self H. N. are found to falsify the word and yet vaunt your self to be a godded man and minister of the gracious word Every jod and title and consequently every Letter word and sentence of the scripture is Gods vndoubted word though yow and al Divils should deny it the false glosses and heresies that yow and other vnregenerated men gather from it are the word of Satan which the scripture it self by help of Gods spirit evidently doth disprove and so the word of the Lord endureth for ever and that is the word which the Apostles preached 1 Pet. 1. 25. and what they did preach is recorded in their writings H. N. 10. Oh if these men which now so boldly or freemindedly doe say that they are Christians and wil alwayes confesse Christ with the mouth had eyes to see the right spirit for to vnderstand then should they surely cease or leav off for to walk in the strange or erring wayes 11. There is read in the scripture that Christ should be confessed or acknowledged which is a very true witnes but the mind or meaning of the Lord therin do verie few vnderstand And many suppose whiles they have read in the scripture of one Christ likewise through their industry or prudencie they know that in times past ther was one Christ in Israel which was born amongst his own that the same when they know it confesse it with their
and folowed his corrupt counsel then were they led captive as the Apostle sayth being simple women laden with synns and led with divers lusts From which estate God keep al his people direct their feet in the wayes of life peace AN EPISTLE Sent vnto two daughters of Warwick From H. N. THe wisdome of the Father through the Love of Christ in the power of the holy Ghost in the second birth out of the new life of the heavenlie being be vnto every one which with an vnpartial hart seeketh the godlynes in Iesus Christ to a harty salvation Because that every one which seeketh God with hart mought know the right diversitie betwixt the heavenly and the earthly betwixt the spirit the flesh betwixt the light and the darknes betwixt the death the life and betwixt the righteousnes of the spirit and the righteousnes of the elementish things and then to love the same That grant vs the Almightie God through his love Amen 1. Because ye mought through the spirit of Christ inherit the same gift and meere affection or goodwillingnes to the godly life I do bear or cary the same gift God is my witnes before al men But now am I compelled through the love of Christ severally to open the same gift vnto two yong daughters of a certayn place named Warwick The Lord give his prosperitie and grace thervnto for that his righteousnes which is wrought through the Spirit of Christ mought be knowen of them and that the life of Christ which by many is sought after the flesh might be knowen and inherited of them according to the spirit even like as God which is blessed is a Spirit Ioh. 4. 2 Cor. 3. H. A. OUr saviour Christ the wisdome of the Father hath warned vs to beware of false prophets which come vnto vs in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves The Apostles through the love of Christ in the power of the holy Ghost have foretold vs that in the latter times some should depart from the faith and give heed vnto spirits of error and doctrines of Divils speaking lies through hypocrisie and having their consciences burned-with-a-hot-yron and therfore counselled vs not to beleev everie spirit but to trie the spirits whither they ar of God because many false prophets were even then gone out into the world The evil that they should enterprise is privilie to bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that hath bought them the maner of their cariage should be to vse feighned words fayr flattering and good speech swelling words of vanity promises of liberty and the like The effect of their doctrine should be deceiving of the harts of the simple even of many yea if it were possible of the verie elect and by those many that follow their damnable wayes the way of truth should be blasphemed The end of al which touching themselves is that because such reprobates receive not the love of the truth that they mought be saved therfore God sendeth them strong delusion that they should beleeve lies and they al may be damned which beleeve not the truth but hav pleasure in vnrighteousnes These things considered it standeth vs vpon to look wel to our selves least we be caried away with the error of the wicked This author H. N. beginneth as was foretold not onely with fayr and flattering speech but also with swelling words of the second birth out of the new life of the heavenly being and sondry the like He boasteth of the gift of the godly life which he beareth before al men and here severally openeth vnto two yong daughters and of this he taketh God to witnesse He telleth them in the 2. section folowing that the Christ of God was not yet declared vnto them according to the heavenly truth Thus promiseth he great matters and seemeth to be a setter forth of a new Christ and consequently of a new God Very needful therfore it is to attend vnto his doctrine and if it be true for to receive it if false for to abhorr it and to hold the author therof accursed And herevnto the Lord inable and guide vs by his grace 1. First where he vaunteth of the gift borne before al men in his other writings opened to these daughters in this Epistle let vs bring it to the trial by the word of God who he saith is his witnes For we read of some that have given gifts vnto their lovers that they might come vnto them on every side for fornication and whither this writing and other pamphlets of H. N. be not gifts sent abroad for such evil purpose let the godly reader judge If his gift have wytnes of God it hath witnes of his written word as the prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because ther is no light in them Is H. N. willing to come to this trial it seemeth farr otherweise for in al his writings he much inveigheth against scripture-learning contrary to the true prophets and Apostles who highly commended this as being able to make men wise vnto salvation and profitable to teach to improve to correct to instruct in righteousnes and never did any of them entwite the learning or knowledge of the scriptures as the reader may see H. N. to doe in this Epistle and his other pamphlets Our saviour Christ willed al men even his adversaries to serch the scriptures for they testified of him If they testified likewise of H. N. and his doctrine doubtlesse he would not despise as his manner is the scripture-learning of others especially whiles he wil seem to rely vpon the testimonies of the same for himself But if we may not learn the truth of religion out of holy writt how then may we attayn it H. N. telleth vs in his First exhortation to his children thus My beloved children like as the true Communiality of holy ones and Elders of the house of Love confesse vnder the obedience of the Love the beleef in Iesu Christ and the Christian baptism and like as I expresse the same here vnto you and confesse or acknowledge it before al men to be the true faith and the vpright baptisme even so ground with fast beleef your harts likewise therin So then the doctrine of H. N. and his folowers must be the groūd of our faith as they confesse and beleev so must we And herein the Familists religion accordeth wel with the Turks whose great prophet Mahomet in his law or Alchoran to draw disciples after him saith thus They that worship God let them if they be good beleev his Messenger Mahomet and again O ye good men be followers of God and of his messenger never wittingly depart from them But may we not our selves by the light and grace that God giveth vs make trial of H. N. his religion by the word of the Lord
No for in his First exhortation he saith no man can rightly according to the truth of the holy scriptures nor according to the spiritual vnderstanding of the godly wisdome deal in or vse the true God-services nor the services of the holy word it becometh not likewise that any man should take in hand to busy himself therabout but onely the illuminated Elders in the godlie wisdom which walk in the house of Love But what if H. N. with his coelders be but deceivers of mens sowles seduced themselves and seducing others for be they not men as others are and subject to error He telleth vs no for they have received the word of life through the power of the most highest out of his holy heaven from the living God and are even so through the same word Godded with God Therfore in an other place of that book he saith men ought to beware that they distrust not the Eldest in the Familie of Love nor suspect any maner of evil or vnwisdom by him nor yet also in anywise perswade themselves y t the exercises documents instructions which ar taught or set forth before them by the Father of the Familie of Love or oldest elder are too slight too childish or too vnwise for them to follow after or to obey But with perfect harts humbly and single-mindedly even as good willing children vnto the Obedience to receive the same instructions proceeding out of the wisdom and counsel of the Eldest And must we needs put out our own eyes that H. N. may lead vs may we trust him that he himself is not a blind guide and false prophet such as Christ foretold should come in this last time For this matter he hath given vs his warrant thus My loving children and thou Familie of Love give ear to me your Father and live according to my doctrine that it may goe wel with you For the Lord wil have the Father honoured of the children and what the mother biddeth or commandeth the children to doe that wil he have kept Take heed to my doctrine and all what I out of Love do set forth teach and exhort you vnto that print to a seal of life or a witnes of the truth in your harts For it is your life By this we may see what a good ground H. N. hath layd for himself and his cause that men should receive his word and doctrines for Oracles of God He saw that his brother the Antichrist of Rome had much prevailed in the foolish world by making men beleev that he and his church could not err he minded also perhaps the glorie that Mahomet hath among Turks by perswading them that the Alchoran his law-book is without all falshood therfore H. N. wil sayl by that compas and make that the foundation of his work And coming as an enemy to warr against Christians he is much more malicious then Nachash the Ammonite who would have thrust out but one ey of the Israelites wheras this tyrann would thrust out both and that not of the body as Nachash would but of the mind and vnderstanding that having bereft men of their wits he might keep them prisoners vnder his heresies For in his Crying voice he hath proclaymed saying Let your selves now in all your Being nature mind and disposition become renued through the Love in her service and give al your vnderstanding captive vnder the obedience of the Love Thus H. N. wil be gaoler and keep in captivity the minds of al men til they bow vnto him and say as he hath taught his children or rather his sâ—laves in his First exhortation O my father in the Love I submit my self and al myne vnderstanding vnder the wisdome of thy doctrine And when he hath gotten mens minds thys captived he may lead them whither he lyst though it be into the deepest dungeon of hel We find in Christs Testament the Beraeans commended that tried the Apostles doctrines by the scriptures dayly Act. 17. 11. and other Christians also that took heed to the most sure word of the Prophets as to a light shining in a dark place 2 Pet. 1 19. Howsoever therfore H. N. would extinguish the seven lamps of the golden candlestick of Gods law that men might see by the smoke of the fyre which he hath kindled we mean not to trust his pretended light but to bring to the trial both his spirit and his gift For the serpent by his subtilty brought Evah vnto death whiles he took away Gods playn word and set his own in the place like may be our end if we submit our selves and all our vnderstanding vnder the foolishnes of this mans doctrine H. N. 2. See my beloved in the Love of Christ I must speak vnto you even like as Paul spake vnto the fleshly Israelites where he saith I bear Israel witnes that they stand fervently minded towards the lov of God but not according to knowledg for they seek to set up their own righteousnes Rom. 10. So is now the witnes of God in our spirit with the holy Paul towards you that yee likewise stand fervently minded towards the love of God but not according to knowledge because that the Christ of God is not yet declared vnto you according to the heavenly truth but wel according to mans wisdom or industrie which to the literal scripture add their own prudencie and even so goe forth withal or occupie their own righteousnes without the spirit of Christ which is a miserable doctrine being taught without the spirit of Christ. H. A. SOlomon warneth vs of an heretik vnder the figure of a foolish woman that calleth vnto her them that passe by the way yea such as go right on their way saying who so is simple let him come hither And in this her cal she counterfeiteth Wisdomes words for even so had her maidens spokeÌ„ before to the sons of men that went astray The Apostle Paul found fault with the Israelites that for want of knowledge did seek to set by their own righteousnes by the works of the Law neglecting the righteousnes of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ. H. N. here cometh like the troblesom woman and calleth these two daughters which went right on their way even in the true path beaten by Paul and the other Apostles And the more to allure them he vseth Pauls words and pretends his affection but his drift is to draw them quite awry from the true way of righteousnes which Paul did preach vnto a false righteousnes by the works of the law a miserable doctrine which H. N. in his writings hath taught without the spirit of Christ. These two daughters of Warwick did as I have heard so know and beleev in Christ and in God and seek the true righteousnes which is by faith as other true Christians of our English nation have done and doo But the Christ of God was not yet declared vnto them
that they might avoid persecution that in Christ Iesus neyther circumcision avayleth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature meaning that such as were graffed into Christ by faith vnto salvation from their syns they need not care in this estate for having or wanting the outward Jewish signe of circumcision but labour for that which it signified namely to become new creatures dying dayly vnto syn and living vnto righteousnes which fruits ar vndoubted testimonies that they ar in Christ. But H. N. corrupteth the words first saying Ther avayleth before God and then adding in Christ Iesus wrought in the Love meaning that a new creature in Christ which Christ is wrought in the Love for so he thinketh Christ to be the Lovely Being in vs as before is shewed this new creature avayleth before God for righteousnes and safe-making from our syns as his words elswhere are Thus careth he not how he wrest or what he add vnto the scriptures so as they may seem to serve his turn That the reader may see his deceit I wil shew what is his veyn and manner of reasoning Two things are given vs of God through Christ. 1. justification and 2. sanctification Justification is by the forgivnes of our syns for Christs sake and for the death that he once suffred for vs himself alone on the crosse whervpon followeth our blessednes and salvation and this justification we apprehend by faith alone After which foloweth the work of Christ in vs by sanctifying our bodies sowles and spirits and making vs conformable to his death burial and resurrection and furnishing vs with fruits and graces of the Spirit which being fruits of faith in Christ following the same are no cause of our justification or blessednes for that we have freely before given vs of grace Now coÌ„meth H. N. and he taketh this latter point of Sanctification and al such scriptures as speak therof and putteth it in place of the former to weet our justification making this our new birth and these fruits of faith to be the very cause of our happines righteousnes it self yea and Christ himself Which deceitful reasoning of his may further be manifested by a type and shadow of our redemtion shewed to our fathers traveling towards their outward rest in Canaan as we do now travel towards our eternal rest in heaven They in their journey were stung by fyrie serpents and many of them died To save them from this death a serpent of brasse was set vp on which who so looked was without any other salves or medicines healed of his deadly wound Then being thus healed they went forward on their way fought against the Amorites and other enimies and won the promised land and this they were to doe before they could have possession of the same If H. N. had then lived and should have perswaded the people that not the looking vp to the brazen serpent but their after journeyes and battel 's against the Amorites did heal them of their stings should he not haue belyed the work of Gods grace who without any work or war of theirs did heal them freely even so doth he in this The venim of Synn by the fyrie serpents the Devils tormenteth men and bringeth them to death Jesus Christ is lifted vp vnto vs as was the Serpent in the wildernes vnto whom we looking vp by faith are throughly healed After this God unployeth vs in a holy life and Christian warfare to subdue our lusts and affections and bring forth fruites of the spirit in sanctification Now coÌ„meth H. N. and telleth vs this holy life this Christian warfare is our righteousnes our safemaking from our syns and is Christ himself Thus is he an enimie vnto the grace of God and hinderer oâ—â—mans salvation seeking to procure it by the works of the law by which no flesh shal be saved and in stead of Christ would give vs an idol of his own fiction After this as vnsavourly and to as little purpose he alledgeth an other scripture wher Christ as he sayth in the day of judgemeÌ„ts shal find faulty al flesh in their righteousnes as he saith I shal rebuke the world of their righteousnes Ioh. 16. First it is to be observed that Christ spake these words of the Comforter the Holy Ghost which he being gone away would send to his Apostles Ioh 16. 7. as after came to passe Act. 2. 33. and sayth when he is come he will reprove the world c. but H. N. allegeth this that Christ himself should do it and falsifyeth our Lords words putting I for He the reason wherof seemeth to be for that H. N. holdeth not a distinctioÌ„ of the three persons in the Godhed as we professe according to the scriptures but ignorantly shuffleth and confoundeth al. Secondlly he addeth to the scripture saying their righteousnes wheras Christ sayth onely that the Holy Ghost should convince the world of righteousnes which may as wel if not better be vnderstood of Christs righteousnes then of the worlds especially seing the reason therof is rendred thus Of righteousnes because I goe to my Father Now though one may vnderstand it otherweise of the worlds feighned righteousnes yet is it overmuch boldnes in H. N. to put his own vnderstanding in sted of the text it self for this is the meanes to corrupt Gods pure word even as the mans hart is most corrupt Thirdly he referreth this to the day of judgements which is far from Christs meaning for he promiseth the efficacy and power of the Holy Ghost in his servants whiles he is absent from them before the day of judgemeÌ„t as the text sheweth to any wise hart But wherfore doth H. N. put in this may we think Doubtlesse to draw men vnto himself for he is the Comforter promised yea he is Christ himself and this day and time of his preaching is the day of judgements This is evident by his own words otherwhere For in his First Exhortation he thus writeth According to al the testimonies of the holy spirit of Love this gracious word and his service of Love is the Light and the day of the true judgement wherwith God with his holy ones accomplisheth and wherwith also he wil accomplish his judgement vpon the earth according to the truth In the Gospel of H. N. it is also thus written For behold in this present day the glorious coming of our Lord Iesu Christ with the many thowsaÌ„ds of his Saincts becommeth manifested which hath set himself now vpon the seat of his majesty for to judge in this same day which the Lord hath ordeyned or appointed the whol world with equity and with faithfulnes and truth according to his righteousnes And agayn in the same book Behold and consider my beloved how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones and how that now in this day or light of the Love the judgement seat of Christ
is revealed and declared vnto vs out of heaven to a righteous judgement vpon earth from the right hand of God and how that on the same judgement seat of Christ that the scripture mought be fulfilled ther sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of David which judgeth vprightly thinketh vpon equity and requireth righteousnes By this the reader may see what this man aymeth at in al his writings even to draw al men vnto himself as judge of the world sitting on the throne of Christ and spareth not to apply the promises of Christs coming to this day of his preaching being a more shamelesse and presumptuous blasphemer then ever was Mahomet or any arch-heretik that Satan sent to bewitch the world As he hath abused this 16. of Iohn so doth he afterwards the 10. of John They are al theeves and murtherers which are come before me that is sayth H. N. whosoever letteth himself think that he is a Christian before the spirit of Christ be born in him that same is a theef and a murtherer Wher againe he intimateth Christ and a Christian to be al one and if the Spirit of Christ be borne in a man then though he make himself Christ the door the shepheard c. he is no theef no murderer Thus H. N. sheweth himself to be sold vnto syn and given over to an heretical and reprobate mind perverting al scripture vnto his destruction It is very true H. N. 4. See my beloved in the love of Christ even thus standeth the fouÌ„datioÌ„ of y e Christianity in such maner of wise havâ—th Apostles taught the salvation in Christ even like as Paul sayth to the Corinthes 13. although I givc al my goods to the poor and that I suffer my body to be burned and although I had faith saith he that I could remove mountayns if I had not love it were not any thing vnto me that is whosoever hath not Christ he is without God and without righteousnes in this world I mean the being like Christ which is received through the power of the holy Ghost and not any ceremonial Christ which one man speaketh of or promiseth to an other through the ceremonial service which he out of his prudencie according to his fleshly mind hath set vp O no The work and begetting or procreating of the children of God cometh not so slenderly to passe as men now at this time teach each other out of their vnregenerate spirit which never proceedeth from God H. A. UUHat a sandy foundation of Christianity H. N. hath layd we hav seeÌ„ before by his doctrine of God and of Christ and of mans righteousnes Here to build hay on his rotten ground he perverteth an another scripture and would father his error on the Apostle Paul who most of al other did set against it For the teaching the salvation in Christ to be by Fayth as before is shewed H. N. wil have him say it is by Love the Love that is in vs which Love he expoundeth as his manner is to be Christ himself so wresting the word as did the old serpent vnto mens destruction The Love treated of by the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. is a qualitie in the Saincts wrought in them by the spirit of God as it is written The fruit of the spirit is Love c. Now this Love which is in vs whither it be towards God or our brethren is not the foundatioÌ„ or cause of our happines but an effect thereof as we may learn by the Apostle that sayth Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved vs sent his son to be a reconciliation for our synnes Which Love when we perceiv by faith then we agayn doe love the Lord as it after followeth We love him because he loved vs first Then from the Love of God floweth also the Love of our brethren as is further added And this commandement have we of him that he which loveth God should love his brother also And that these graces come not of our selves and consequently ar not meritorious in vs nor causes of our salvation Moses taught his people when he sayd The Lord thy God will circumcise thy hart the hart of thy seed that thou mayst Love the Lord thy God with al thy hart with al thy fowl that thou mayst live As for the cause of our salvation that it is onely Gods Love and grace towards vs the Apostle Paul sheweth saying God which is rich in mercy through his great Love wherwith he loved vs even when we were dead by syns hath quickned vs togither in Christ so by grace ye are saved This Grace we apprehend by fayth which fayth if it be alive stirreth it self and worketh by love And thus the Saincts doe shew their fayth by their Love and good works but in case of justification before God and mans salvation al works are excluded as the same Apostle proveth saying David declareth the blessednes of the man vnto whom God imputeth justice without works This being so what labour they for but our curse and wretchednes which would have vs rely vpon our Love or any good works for the saving of our sowles His next inference is more mischeevous when he expoundeth those words if I have not Love thus That is sayth H. N. whosoever hath not Christ is without God Thus maketh he Love in vs to be Christ and so the playn doctrines of the Gospel concerning our Saviour shal be but a fable And that this is his meaning he sheweth elswhere more playnly when he sayth If ye wil not that the wrath of God should come or fal vpon you so deal faithfully before God his holy ones walk with your Spirit in the Lovely and verteous Being fasten your mind therto build your righteousnes theron for that is an eternal fast standing foundation wheron al Gods prophets holy ones have builded and is Christ himself Here men may see what a miserable foundation he hath layd for to build our righteousnes on eveÌ„ our own walking in the lovely verteous being and this with him is Christ. Wherby he proclameth himself to be Antichrist for the Apostle John sayth Every spirit which confesseth not Iesus Christ comen in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist Now to say that Love which is an affection of the mynd is Christ is to deny him comen in the flesh out of the loynes of David and Abraham of the virgin Mary in the dayes of Herod the King as the scriptures playnly teach And by as good reason may H. N. deny that ever ther was any such man as Adam any such beast as the Serpent any such creation of the world as Moses describeth Gen. 1. or any God and so by his allegories overturne al religion and bring Atheisme in the place which in deed he hath done with most high abomination in deifying himself and blaspheming
c. to the forgiving and releasing of their synns Where agayn he perversly applieth that to obedience and mortification which is due vnto faith For when the Eunuch would be baptised Philip required nothing of him but to beleeve and Paul sayth to him that worketh not but beleeveth in him that justifyeth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnes Although therfore obedience to the faith must be given by all true Christians and they which are baptised into I. Christ are baptised into his death and buriall yet is not this done to the forgiving and releasing of their synns as H. N. Pharisaically inferreth but to shew forth the fruit and force of faith wherby the just doe live and lay hold on Christ whom God hath set forth for a reconciliation though faith in his blood to declare his righteousnes by the forgivnes of synns that ar passed through the pacience of God Wheras therfore H. N. doth gather from the premisses that this which he hath set down is the vpright Christiā baptisme in the name of the Son is the true forgivnes purging of our synns through Iesu Christ he is found a false witnes against God and Christ and would give vs a synful sink of error even a vayn perswasion of our own obedience righteousnes and sanctification to wash our selves in and hath royled with his feet the pure fountayn of Christs blood which clenseth all beleevers from all syn That vpon himself his own words may justly be retorted he boasteth himself of the baptismey of Christ and he hath not known him in any world Of like leven is H. Ns baptisme in the name of the holy Ghost which he maketh to be also the second birth out of the holy Ghost the true love of God Christ. And this even as the former of baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son we must not vnderstand of any outward action by the minister of Christ washing with water as did John the Baptist nor yet to be done at one and the same time with the former but as H. N. sayth in the oldnes of time when the dayes of the patience of Christ in the obedience of the holy and gracious word his service of Love are fulfilled that is when men have walked long ynough in the Familists religion that then the holy Ghost becommeth powred forth through Iesus Christ vnderstanding H. Ns Christ to weet the Lovely being over them all that have followed Christ in his death of the crosse obediently that is which have saved themselves from their synns by their own fantasticall suffrings and have kept his doctrine with the word of his patience even vnto the end Thus hath this deceiver of minds drawn all Gods ordinance of Baptisme which with men is outward and was by the Apostles admininstred with materiall water vnto a blasphemous imagined Being and conformity with God or regenerated estate and the holy doctrine of Justification by forgivnes of synns through the blood of Christ shed for vs and sealed vnto vs in baptisme he hath wiped away vnder colour of Sanctification or deification by our own following of Christ. Which things he teacheth by the same spirit that the Serpent taught Evah not to fear the outward eating of the forbidden fruit seing she should be like vnto God knowing good and evil H. N. 19. After such a like maner witnesseth Paul of the supper of Christ wher he sayth so many of you as have eaten of one bread are become partakers of one body Hath any man now rightly vsed the supper of Christ the same is then become partaker of the body of Christ according to the mentioning of the scripture 20. Therefore see vnto it yea see vnto it everie one which sayth that he hath fulfilled the service of Christ or would be a disciple of Christ. For those services and ceremonies which are ministred through the comandement of the holy Ghost out of a Christianlike Being they have the promises whiles they are rightly obeyed that should receive the pledge of the godly inheritance which is the holy Ghost And where that cōmeth not to passe vnto them ther is not the Christian service ministred let them make them then so like fashioned to the scripture as they wil. For whatsoever is served without the spirit of Christ it is an abomination before God therein may everie one think freely H. A. That which is here sayd of the supper of Christ if an honest faithful mā had written the same might wel be yielded vnto for in the words ther would lurk no frawd But coming from this old seducer H. N. and being affixed to his former heresies I deny that after such a like manner as H. N. before treated of Bapisme Paul witnesseth of the supper of Christ. For Paul sayth not that we ar one Being with Christ but that we are the body of Christ and that the bread which we break is the communion of his body which body we eat and have communion with by faith not really and essentially as fleshly men imagine and we ar caled the body of Christ not properly but figuratively by way of similitude and in great mystery for as a man joyned to a woman is one flesh so he that is joyned vnto the Lord is one Spirit But as the woman notwithstanding her conjunction is not the man neyther hath the Being of the man so the church notwithstanding her conjunction is not Christ neyther hath the Being of Christ but by faith is coupled vnto him as he sayth by the prophet I will mary the vnto me in faith Now that H. N. hath the like grosse understanding of the Lords supper as he shewed before of Baptisme appeareth not onely by his entrance saying After such a like manner c but also by his words in his Gospel wher speaking of the Passover he sayth Christ gav his disciples to drink out of the cup which is his passion his true blood which is his holy life of the New Testament Thus applyeth he all things about Christ to a holy life even then and there wher it is playnly spoken of death For though blood whiles it is in the body is the life of the same yet when it is shed out of the body as Christ ther sayth his was it signifieth death not the life of the party as also the Apostle testifieth so oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew the Lords death til he come And as David would not drink the water that came out of the well of Bethlehē because it was the blood of the men that fetched it that is because they jeoparded their lives vnto the death to fetch it so we when we drink the wine out of the cup in the Lords supper doe drink the blood of Christ that is his death which for our synns he did vndergoe But H. N. by
the spirit of error that possessed him he takes Christs death for vs to be a holy life in vs as before is more largely shewed Vnsound it is and savoring of a fātastical spirit that he opposeth in the end the services and ceremonies which ar ministred through the comaundement of the holy Ghost out of a Christian like being vnto the service fashioned like to the scripture For ther is no service commanded by the holy Ghost but it is fashioned like to the scripture and hath the ground and warrant therfrom otherweise it cometh from the Spirit of Satan and not from God For Gods Spirit leadeth men into al truth Iohn 16. 13. and it is Gods word which is the truth Iohn 17. 17. The three that bear witnes in heaven The Father the Word and the holy Ghost as they ar in Being so are they also in their testimony one 1. Ioh. 5. 7. As the doctrin of Christ was not his own but the Fathers that sent him so neyther is the doctrine of the holy Ghost his own but the sons that sent him as Christ witnesseth saying he shal not speak of himself but whatsoever he shal hear he shal speak and agayn he shal glorify me for he shal receiv of mine and shal shew it vnto yow Now seing the holy Ghost teacheth no other doctrine then Christ nor Christ then the Father and seing Christ himself sendeth al men to serch the scriptures as they which testify of him and his Apostle hath taught vs that the knowledge of the scriptures is able to make vs wise vnto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus we may veryly deem it to be a delusion of Satan whatsoever any would teach vs towching Gods service that is not warranted by the scriptures and that those are spirits of errour which so disdeyn and scoff at scripture-learning and boast of illumination by the holy Ghost Vnsound also it is and contrary to the scriptures that H. N. here would perswade vs that where it commeth not to passe that the holy Ghost which is the pledge of the godly inheritance is not received vnto them there is not the Christian service ministred For the Apostle sheweth that Israel had the true Christian service ministred to them when they did al eat the same spiritual meat and drink of the spiritual Rock which followed them which Rock was Christ yet received they not the Godly inheritance which is the holy Ghost for with many of them God was not pleased they were overthrown in the wildernes and could not enter into the Rest of God because of their vnbeleef The Christian service was rightly administred to Simon Magus whē he was baptised yet was not his hart right in the sight of God also vnto Iudas when he did sit and eat with the other Apostles yet even then Satan and not the holy Ghost entred into him Even so with vs the true Christian service in the administration of the word seales and censures is set forth and practised though many receiv it into evil harts and vnfaithful to their greater condemnation But the elect of God are edified comforted and confirmed in his grace hereby though these are not many for many be called but few elected Mat. 20. 16 Agayn H. N. hath here set down that which overthroweth the whole scope of his writing when he sayth Those services cerimonies which are ministred through the commandement of the holy Ghost out of a Christian-like Being they have the promises whiles they are rightly obeyed c. If thus it be then ought all Christians to labour and seek for those services and ceremonies as he calleth them that so they may obteyn the promises then also must they shun and refreyn from al false and humane ceremonies or services which have no promise and are but the profaning of Gods name And this is our cause fayth and practise which witnes against and absteyn from the Antichristian services and ceremonies of Popery for which doing the world hateth and persecuteth vs from which profession practise and patient suffering this writer would diswade and allure to communion with wickednes by the vayn pretenses set forth in this Letter as after more playnly foloweth H. N. 21. Oh how wel should they doe which do now extol themselves before the simple and say that they are preachers of Christ if they would first learn to know Christ before they made themselves ministers of him They wil preach the word of Christ and yet they have not according to the Spirit seen the fashion or shape of Christ or heard of the same in any world They say the scripture witnesseth vnto vs that we for Christs cause should forsake our lives the which according to the truth is very true but the most part which speaks so much thereof they themselves vnderstand not the mind or meaning of God in that which the scripture sayth namely how that we must hate and forsake our own life or els we cannot be the disciples of Christ. Therfore mark wel therevpon not only vpon that but also vpon al the witnessings of the scripture 22 Oh vnderstand advisedly what I doe write of the forsaking of our own life When God had created the man then was the man in subjection to the life of God and not to his own life for therevnto God had created the man that he should be of one life one being one Spirit and of one nature with God But when the man desyred in his hart to love some other thing beside the life of God namely the concupiscence of the syn then went he into his own life and contentation and forsook the life of God and lived even so his own life and the life of the Divil 23. The whiles now that the office of Christ hath his ministration for to bring the man agayn vnto God the Father so cannot Christ bring the man to the Father vnlesse that the man forsake his own life which he hath lived so long to the Divel and to himself which is al that same wherin he hath sought loved lived to himself 24. Is not this now a great overshooting or misunderstanding that the children of men can say and teach that Christ meant hereby the natural or elementish man H. A. IT had been wel in deed if H. N. who so extolleth himself before the simple sayth that he is a preacher of Christ yea Godded with God would first have learned to know Christ before he hade made him self a minister of him For now being ignorant of the principles of religion and a meer stranger from the life of God he hath perverted al things to his own and ther mens perdition Witnes this his corrupt doctrine about the forsaking of our own life Wherin he first and generally seeketh to colour his iniquity with deceit and fraud For to perswade that we need not give our lives our natural elementish lives for