that they were of at Munster who followed John of Leydon and thought to build up Sion with blood and beat down its enemies with carnal weapons for though they might pretend to be led by the Spirit within them we know that that which led them into uproars war and bloodshed was not the Spirit of Christ which leads us for it teaches us to love our enemies and to save mens lives and not to destroy And for the corrupt principles and practises of those called Ranters we have given testimony against them which all that have heard and duly weighed in that Spirit that tries all things can witness that we are as far from them as light from darkness but whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation for when the Spirit of Christ doth so work in the hearts of any that they cannot run with the world into rioting and excess then presently they will call it Belzebub Mat. 10.25 or the Devil transformed into an Angel of Light as the Pharisees did unto Christ in the dayes of his flesh and if they called the Master of the house Belzebub no wonder if it be more done to them of his houshold But as for self-mortification voluntary humility and will worship whereof we are accused we know it avails not but those which do by the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh shall finde comfort in so doing and an humble heart Isa 57.15 with a broken and contrite Spirit which doth fear God and tremble at his Word however that be reproached as one of the Devils tricks yet such a one God delights to teach and dwell in Ch. 66.2 and we with whom his Tabernacle is do not worship in our wills but in Spirit and Truth neither do we say that it is a perfect demonstration of humility to cast away band-strings lace and ribbonds though we believe it a duty incumbent upon us to abstain from wearing things superfluous and unserviceable and also from all excess in meats and drinks though we know the Kingdom of God stands not therein yet we desire to be found temperate and in modest apparel 1 Tim. 2.9 according to the good example of the ancient Christians And further I do observe how the Author of that writing with which I now deal hath often misrepresented our doctrines and practise as further may appear by a serious view of his and what follows thereby I perceive he doth not rightly understand us and I am perswaded did never regularly try our Spirits either by a sober hearing of our doctrines declared by our own mouths and pens or by his own view of our practises but hath heard and believed what evil and prejudiced men have maliciously printed and said against us on purpose to slander and render us odious Therefore in answer to what is said against us I shall labour rather for the stopping of slanders and to prevent misconstructions to inform the Reader of the Truth of those doctrines which we do believe and practice then particularly to traduce the Author with whom I have to deal though in many things more I might shew wherein he hath wronged us and given unsound constructions both of Scripture and our doctrines and practices Concerning the Scriptures and concerning the Word Spirit and Light within Concerning the Scripture I say we do not slight them nor cast them off as a dead Letter Paper and Ink but own them which Moses and the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles did write or speak forth as they were moved by the Spirit of God so far as they are free from false transcription and corrupt translation to be the very words and true sayings of God and therefore not to be slighted but read believed and practised by every true Christian but they that are unlearned of Christ 2 Pet. 3.10 whose hearts are not stablished by the grace of God do pervert or wrest the Scriptures out of their right place to their own destruction not rightly distinguishing betwixt the Law and Gospel times nor betwixt that which was abolished for the unprofitableness thereof and that which God hath established for ever and therefore we do direct all to that Word of God which was in the beginning before the Scriptures were written Read Joh. the first of which the Scriptures testifie that it is Life and is the Light of men that shines in darkness even in mens dark hearts shewing the grosness and corruption of their hearts I say this Word which was and is God the Saviour of all them that believe who searcheth all hearts and incomprehensibly dwels in his Kingdom that is in man and doth reprove man for his unbelief and evil deeds we do direct all to wait to knovv this ingrafted Word and hearken to it Luke 17.20 21. that they may not be unlearned but all taught of the Lord that Spirit vvhich holy men of God knevv and did believe in Jam. 1.21 and vvas moved or led by before the Scriptures vvere vvritten that so by this Interpreter one of a thousand people may have the Scriptures opened and feel the povver of God and have faith in the povver and live in the life that the Primitive Christians lived in Act. 26.17 18. and thus to direct people to the Word Spirit or Light of God vvithin is none of the Devils vvork as he saith but the vvork of Christs ancient Ministers neither doth it make void the Scriptures 1 Joh. 1 2 3. but establisheth them in their right place as a true Declaration and the Lord Jesus Christ vvho is that quickning Spirit vvhich doth enlighten every man that cometh into the vvorld in his right place as the foundation which unto all generations standeth sure Joh. 1.9 1 Cor. 3.9 2 Tim. 2.19 neither can our directing people to this foundation Christ the Light vvhich enlightens their consciences have such bad effects as to lay them open to all base lusts error and delusion for all those things are condemned vvith the Light and they that believe and do such things go from and against the Light in their ovvn consciences Concerning the tryal of Spirits I say the Apostle gave forth no such command as that we should try the Spirit of God by the Scriptures for it is most absurd to try the superior by the inferior and no man can rightly understand the Scripture nor discern Spirits whether they be of God or no but by the Light of the Spirit of God within 1 Cor. 2.14 Therefore are they worthily reproved who presume by strength of reason sharpness of wit and humane learning both to judge of the Scripture and of the Spirit of God and its movings in men Jer. 31.33 as the Scribes Pharisees and chief Priests did who in their pride and self-wit sate as Judges of the Law in the letter Isa 8.20 Heb. 10.16 and thereby condemned Christ the Prince of Life and also his blessed Martyr Stephen as blasphemers that were not
Ministry vvho freely vvithout money or price have received the vvord of reconciliation and do freely preach it coveting no mans silver or his gold nor his corn not his hay nor his wool nor his Lamb but do cast their whole care upon the Lord that hath sent them and do plow in hope plant in hope and thresh in hope that the ground may be broken up that hath brought forth briars and thorns and the true seed grow to a blade an ear and corn in the ear and then be separated from the chaff and such as these shall never be frustrate of their hope nor want necessary things pertaining to this life though they know not to day what they shall have to morrow chap. 6.25 26 27. 1 Cor. 4.11 I know that they that preach the Gospel shall never want a livelihood But he that hath sent them will take care to provide them a morsel in due season and such as these though some of them have no more certain dwelling place then the ancient Ministers of Christ had are made manifest in our consciences and so far approved and owned as the Ministers of Christ Hos 6.9 Heb. 7.16 But for the company of Priests that are made by mans will and have the Law of a carnal commandement for to uphold their Ministry and maintenance and claim tythes of mens increase a thing not mentioned by the antient Christians and when for pure conscience sake and not for any corrupt ends as our manifold sufferings may evince we cannot uphold that Jewish custom and Antichristian practice which hath been introduced in the dark night of Popery then do they sue us to Law cast in prison and make spoil of our goods ordinarily the trebble value of what they demanded but sometimes amounting to the trebble trebble value of what they said was due which hath brought such a blot on them as shall never be wiped off and manifests them to be such as Peter said had hearts exercised with covetous practices and such grievous wolves as Paul said should come not sparing the flock therefore we do turn from them to the chief Shepherd 2 Pet. 2.14 Act. 20.29 who hath redeemed us from being a prey to them Concerning womens speaking That Daughters did Prophesie in the Congregations of Gods antient people is evident Num. 11.2 Judg. 4.4 5 6. Joel 2.28 29. for to Israel God spoke by or in Merriam in the dayes of Moses and again he spoke in Deborah to Israel and judged them by the words of her mouth who sate under the Palm tree for many years in the dayes of Barack and Joel said that vvhen God did pour forth his Spirit Daughters should Prophesie as vvell as Sons Acts 21.9 and one man had four Daughters that vvere Prophetesses in the Apostles dayes and divers vvomen vvere helpers of the Apostles in the vvork of the Ministry as is both evident in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles Read Rom. 16. 1 Cor. 11.5 ch 14.22 vvhere Paul also gave rules how they should Prophesie saying That every woman praying or Prophesying with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head and where should the woman Prophesie if not in the Church seeing the same Apostle commendeth that gift above many for edification of the Church and saith that Prophesie serveth not for them that believe not but for them that believe so that it is evident that although he did not permit a woman to speak in the Church nor usurp Authority over the man yet he did permit the Spirit of God to speak in vvomen as vve do for vve dare not forbid it lest in so doing vve should quench the Spirit vvhich they have the Promise of as vvell as men Concerning Superiors and Inferiors and the honour that is due from the one to the other Also concerning Titles Curtesie and Salutation by the way In the beginning God did create all Nations of one blood to dwell upon the face of the whole Earth Acts 17.26 that they might glorifie his Name and live innocently in love one to another but since the seed of the Serpent was received in mans heart that naturally inclines him to pride violence and all other foul inormities we are perswaded that by Gods Ordinance some have a superiority given them for the punishment of evil doers and a praise to them that do well As first the Husband over the Wife 2. The Parents over the children the King over his Subjects and the Rulers over the people in their several Countries and liberties also Masters over their servants and Mistresses over their handmaids and to these Superiors we are perswaded by the Lord that there is an honour due from inferiours and in his Light we do see and know that it consists not in vain Ceremonies wherein there is no service to God or man such as uncovering the head and bowing the knee And therefore the examples of Jacob and Abraham though good men who bowed to Esau and Abraham to the Hevites a Heathen Nation will not vvarrant us to bovv dovvn and vvorship creatures against our consciences no more then their going in to their handmaids vvill vvarrant us to do the like neither doth due honour consist in vain complements vvhich for the most part are frivilous fained and hypocritical as your servant Sir I go Sir c. but in diligent and speedy obedience to all just commands of Superiors and in patient suffering under those that are unjust doth due honour consist for those children do most honour their Parents and those Subjects their Prince which are of good behaviour temperate sober wise and humble and do readily obey all their just commands and patiently suffer chastisement for refusing to obey that which is unjust and this honour which is due from all Inferiors to Superiors we do not at all teach any to withhold and therefore we can with confidence appeal to the consciences of our very enemies and accusers that we do design to level nothing but sin wherein we are justified by the Lord who will bring down the loftiness of man Isa 2.11 and bow the haughtiness of his spirit and exalt himself alone as in the beginning for he is worthy because he alone is the Lord and therefore we cannot call any man the Lord besides him 1 Cor 8 5 6. though we know in the world there is Lords many and one of them we can call a Lord but not the Lord nor my Lord because God is the Lord and there is none our Lord besides him and in like manner we can call some Ladies as the antient Christians did yet not any elect Lady but such whose election we know and why should we call any my Lady as he urges unless by marriage union we have interest in them And for such as do any way demonstrate to us that they are of a Noble and honourable spirit we shall not stick to call them Noble or honourable as Paul did Festus
worthy to live and this was the fruit of trying the Spirit by the Scripture when mans wisdom sate as Judge of both Note That we own the Scriptures to be a rule but not the onely rule whereby to cry Spirits which is rather to be judged by them both and let such as know no other rule whereby to try Spirits but the Scriptures confess they are ignorant of the Law written in the heart and of the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit or Word of Prophesie that is near in the heart even the more sure Word surer then the words of the Prophets or Apostles which may be wrested for it is a Light in a dark place viz. the heart to give man a true understanding of their words and his Law that is written there is perfect and unalterable and by this rule holy men of God tryed Spirits before the Scriptures were written and so all the Spirits that are gone out into the world may be tryed and those that are contrary to it are also contrary to the Scriptures rightly understood and therefore under the judgement of both 2 Pet. 1.19 but the Spirit of God judgeth all things but ought to be judged of no man therefore sad will be their accompt that call it the Devil and its motions his impulses for all sins and blasphemies against the son of man may be forgiven Mat. 12.31 32 but the blasphemy against the holy Spirit shall not be forgiven neither in this world nor in that to come Concerning Perfection We say first that we have sinned and God hath let us see it and we have confessed it 1 Joh. 1.7 and he hath forgiven it through the blood of Christ which doth wash and cleanse us from it and by his power we are kept from sinning yet do we not boast of perfection in our selves because by the grace of God we are what we are howbeit we know that it is the Commandment of Christ that we should be perfect even as our Heavenly Father is perfect Mat. 5 48 and therefore we are perswaded it is not impossible for us to be so whilst here in this life for he is not such an hard Master to command impossibilities Heb. 10.10 14. and moreover by one offering he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified and we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all therefore perfected for ever and this was and is the very end for which he sends forth his Ministers Eph. 4.11 12 13 even to gather the Saints into the unity of the Faith to a perfect man in the mersure fulness and stature of Christ 1 Joh. 3 5 to 11. who even for this purpose was manifest to take away sin and destroy the works of the Devil but if any will yet say that cannot be whilst here in this life for some sin will remain in men whilst on this side the grave let them answer me these questions 1. Whether they believe that any shall enter in to inherit Gods Kingdom and if yea then whether they believe that they shall enter into it with some sin in them and if nay then in what time and place shall they be cleansed and their sin perfectly done away seeing they deny it to be possible whilst in this life but we affirm it being perswaded that there is no purgatory wherein to be cleansed after death and knowing that Christ Jesus is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 11.25 they that come to God by him so that those that are born of God and abide in Christ sin not neither can because they are born of God and his seed remains in them contrary to which text no interpretation of it or argument can stand good but herein are the children of God and the children of the Devil made manifest he that doth righteousness is of God but he that sinneth is of the Devil who sinneth from the beginning and this doctrine doth not tend to Ranting as they that understand it not say but to encourage people to wait to be cleansed and kept by the mighty power of God from all unrighteousness which is all sin and press on to perfection in the Life of Christ Concerning Salvation by Christ We say and believe that without the sufferings and death of Christ at Jerusalem no man can be saved justified or sanctified and therefore do they maliciously or at least ignorantly slander us who say we expect not to be saved by Christs sufferings at Jerusalem but by Christs sufferings in us for such words did never proceed from us though we say that it is not an historical knowledge and belief of what Christ said and suffered at Jerusalem sixteen hundred years ago that can or doth save any man without feeling of his Spirit Phil. 3.10 Power and Life made manifest within to make them conformable to him in his death and raise them together with him to live in the vertue of his life by which life we as well as the ancient Christians are saved Rom. 5.10 and we are justified sanctified in the Name and by the Spirit of our God which mightily worketh in us and all his works are perfect and therefore I do distinguish betwixt the righteousness which is of faith 1 Cor. 6.11 which the Spirit worketh and the righteousness which is of the Law performed by mans own strength for though the one be as filthy rags yet so is not the other therefore is he the enemy of all righteousness that mingles them both together and treads them under foot as dung and dross therefore let all that love their souls love Christ the righteousness of God and follow after him that they may be made righteous and have that boldness in the day of judgement which the ancient Christians had because said they as he is so are we in this world 1 Joh 4.17 Concerning Swearing To swear at all in Gospel times is no part of Gods worship therefore it is no delusion but the truth that makes us refuse to swear in any case For though swearing was used in the time of deaths reign from Adam to Moses and that by some of Gods people and not only so but commanded in some particular cases by Moses and the Prophets in the time of the Law yet a greater Prophet being raised to whom they all gave witness and command that in all things he should be heard with this severe penalty that every foul that would not hear him should be cut off from his people Acts 3.22 23 24. And seeing Christ Jesus that Prophet which they said God would raise hath found that Covenant faulty in which oaths were used Mat. 5 34. and by his own mouth expresly hath commanded us not to swear at all though in old time it was lawful and an honour to God to swear in some cases yet now it is not lawful or an honour to God to swear in any case
because Christ Jesus the great Law-giver in the New Testament hath by plain and express precept wholly forbidden it against which precept no argument conclusion or interpretation whether of Council Synod or private man is good though grounded upon the Law of Moses the words of the Prophets or practice of Gods Servants Saints or Angels for their words and practises are to be reduced to an harmony with his and not his to theirs he being given to be head over all things to his Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all and therefore cannot the example of Saints or Angels and much less the practice of men in strife justifie us in the breach of his command had we no other ground for our denyal to swear but to swear at all is against the Law of the Spirit of Truth that dweleth in us and derogates from the glory of his verity who hath made our yea yea and our nay nay in all things but the Apostle James who writ to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad as if he had foreseen that because of former precepts and customs they would have stood to justifie some swearing contrary to Christs command was very positive and expresly did forbid it above or before all things saith he my brethren swear not Jam. 5 12. neither by heaven nor by earth Mark nor any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation Therefore we cannot swear by heaven nor the things therein nor by earth nor the things therein nor by any other oath though by such Christians as be in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of Christ it be accounted lawful for if we did swear at all we should justly fall with them into the same condemnation Concerning the worship of God and why we separate from them that worship in Temples made with hands First Because we do thus believe and declare that God is a Spirit and dwells not in Temples made with hands Acts 7.48 Chap. 17.24 25. neither is rightly worshipped there and therefore we cannot joyn with them in worship that be erred from the Spirit and from the Truth Mat. 15.8 9. and do in their wills worship in vain having their fear towards God taught by mens precepts and their worship consists not of Gods Ordinances but in divers observations inventions and traditions which are not the Commandments of the Lord from heaven Read Is 2. but rather a loathing to his soul and a grief to his spirit because in matter and manner they are contrary to the Primitive Christians worship For first they did not sprinkle Infants and call that baptisme into the Church that we can finde in the Scripture nor in History for near the first three hundred years neither was it a part of their worship to sing Davids Psalms in rime and meeter as in these dayes men do which are far enough from the condition that David was in when he gave forth the Psalms and besides the Ministers that were allowed among the Primitive Christians did not read Prayers for money nor study Sermons to last an hour and preach them for money neither did the Primitive Christians love to have it so as the titular Christians now do who by their divisions envying and persecuting about worship do make it manifest that they are neither in the same Spirit nor worship in the same manner as the Primitive Christians did and therefore we separate from them which we have sufficient ground to do 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 2 Tim 3.5 though they had the very form of godliness which yet they have not seeing they are out of the power which should crucifie them to the world and the world to them and are conformed like to the world and for the generality of them do live in sensual lusts if not in open Prophaneness but although we cannot for conscience sake joyn with them in their worship because we do in heart believe it is not right yet do we not as he saith Joh 21. to the 24. cast off all worship and Ordinances of God for we are sought out by the Father to worship him in Spirit and in Truth where we have found aceeptance with God at what time soever and wheresoever we have been gathered together to wait upon him whether by day or in the evening as the true Christians were when Paul continued his speech till midnight and sometimes we meet in a believers house upper-chamber field or barn Acts 20.7 8. as the ancient Christians did who were gathered out of the world and separated from the Jews worldly Sanctuary and Heathens Temples and yet were not of those that did creep into houses and separate themselves sensual not having the Spirit no more then we are though by such as accused them and persecuted them we have all manner of evil said against us falsly and are persecuted as they were because for conscience sake we cannot forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but must meet together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 10.25 Mat. 18.20 that we may enjoy his presence and comfort and edifie one another in love Concerning Ministers and maintenance We do say how shall they preach and declare unto us the minde of God except they be chosen and sent of God Rom. 10.14 15. and therefore we do deny to hear such as run and are not sent of God but for lucre and honours sake take upon them to Preach and speak of those things which by wisdom humane learning 1 Pet. 5.2 3 Job 38.2 and natural parts they can never understand but do darken counsel by words without knowledge for the generality of them say that revelation is ceased and that they have no vision in these dayes therefore we wonder not that they and their people are so ignorant of God Mat. 11 27 for none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him neither do we wonder why so many perish for want of true knowledge though we greatly pity to see it so for we know that when the Teachers have no vision as by their own confession they have not the people perish Prov. 29.18 therefore we dare not trust our souls with them though people that have itching ears do chuse them for their Pastors or such Bishops as exercise Lordship and Dominion over peoples consciences impose them upon us for the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bishop of our souls 1 Pet. 2.19 Jer. 3.15 and he hath given us Pastours according to his own heart that feed us with knovvledge and understanding and leads us to living springs and a fold of rest Mar. 10 8 9 10. and them vve do dearly ovvn and esteem for their vvorks sake that be Christ true Ministers vvhom he hath sent and doth furnish and enable by the gift of his Spirit for the vvork of the