Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	bear_v	son_n	witness_n	5,359	5	7.9501	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86667	The rebukes of a reviler fallen upon his own head, in an answer to a book put forth by one Iohn Stelham, called a minister at Terlin in Essex. Wherein is shewed unto all spiritual men, that he himself is justly proved to be a contradictor of the scriptures, while he falsly accuses others thereof, that are clear, and the saying is fulfilled upon him, he is fallen into the pit, which he digged for others, for even that way which he calls heresie, do we worship the God of our fathers. By R.H.	Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.; Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1657 (1657)	Wing H3229; Thomason E919_7; ESTC R207520	62,017	83

which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many other of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them pass here unanswered yet they may be seen with the mind informed in the truth and all who are of God and of the truth may know that it is a small matter for us to be rebuked or judged to be in confusion who so evidently hath confounded both our words and the Apostles into his own false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gave forth the Scriptures and abideth in us and we know that they cannot be broken but must be fulfilled as they were given forth by the Word which they were given forth from by taking heed unto which the young mans way is cleansed and by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from the Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledge is denyed that which would set up devised fables above Christ the Spirit and Scriptures that by the Spirit is denyed without contradiction and as we shall by the Spirit and by the Scriptures try John Stelhams Doctrine which if he deny them both then by his own Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judg others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60 to try withal is ●his Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say By this then is all that of him before mentioned cast out being both more and contrary to what is in the Scripture as also that which is to be declared as followeth in his second head as he calls it of Scripture Contradiction he is speaking concerning a Trinity and three Persons which words a●e not spoken in the Scriptures he naming the Father Son and Spirit by such names as the Scripture never did and so about words and names which the Scripture doth not mention arising out of the Devination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shut the kingdom from men and so hath no ground for the word three Persons from the Scripture but the Scripture in one translation speaking of Christ being the express Image of the Fathers Person and in another translation saith that he is the express Figure of the Fathers substance as he is witnessed to be by those that know him and so till he find the word three Persons and Trinity in the Scriptures let him own his own rule to judge him to be no Messenger sent by Gods Spirit because he speaks more than is in the Scripture who saith The holy Ghost is a Person and this person dwells in Saints though not personally mark this A Person dwell in the Saints not personally all this confusion is as tares which men gather which must be bound in bundles and cast into the fi●e for what is the Chaff to the Wheat or what is a I such invented words to the knowledge of the Father Son and Spirit which are one which bear record in heaven and there are three that bear witness in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one and when these are known in their witness in man what they witness unto and what they witness against within and without such will give them names according to their works and according to the Scriptures The Third Head of John Stelhams Scripture Contradiction is concerning the light which every man is enlightened withal which of all things is most hated by all such whose wayes words and works are contrary to it for it being risen in the hearts of the Children of men to give the knowledge of the truth hath in this day made many wiser than their Teachers and now they which have caused people to err are by the light seen and by the children of light are denyed and they being denyed their envie is up against the light which hath made them manifest and they walk not by the light nor according to the Scriptures but there is a line of confusion comes over them by which now they walk and from which their Writings doth proceed as John Stelham in page 52 saith they may affirm agreeable to the Scripture and yet contradict the Scriptures in saying that Christ is in every man or that the light in every man leads to the Father And saith Christ God or as God is in every man and a spark of his godhead light is in every man but there is not in every man that redemption light which leads to the Father That Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal leads to the Father all who are led by it and believe in it and condemns all from the Father which do not obey it but hate it and speak dispitefully against it who are turned out from God who is light and truth into the confusion saying that the God-head-light is not the Redemption-light but with the light that Lye and confusion is judged for ever and in affirming that the Godhead light is in every man and then calling it common and old Creation-light and Scripture-light page 61 and the light of Nature page 74 75. a legal light page 76. and a created light page 78. and an universal light unto which I say as God is so is his light and so is his godhead not created nor natural and as every one comes to know the light which by I. S. is so reviled they shall neither follow nor believe his Doctrine till he can prove when the light of the Godhead was created and how it became natural or legal or where he had those names for the Scriptures doth give no such names to the light and so by his own rule he speaking more than is in the Scripture is not a Messenger sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by it in what he saith As also in other things as in Page 64. saying That light without Scripture is no light Then Enoch's light in which he walked with God was no light nor Jacobs light nor Isaacs nor Abrahams for they were without these Writings and this letter which he calls the Scriptures but they were not without light And thousands have so much light whether they have the Scriptures or not as to see this darkness as to say light though saving light without Scripture is no light did the Scriptures make the light to be light and was the saving light made by that which was written let all take notice and turn away from such in another place he calls the Scriptures but the Declaration that Christ is the Word and calleth them a Vessel that the light is put into in page 43. and 44. Now let them of understanding consider and judge whether the vessel be the maker of that which is put into

light this is also utterly false and a lye and the author proved to be of the Devil for the light of Christ leads up in the fulfilling of the scripture and not in opposition to it but by his lightness and lyes he is made manifest to be a d●c●iver of the people and so take thy own words in thy conclusion to thy self thou art he that is a ienated from the Scripture and from the Spirit of God also by thy lying spirit of Contradict●on which is manifest in thy writings In his 15th Head concerning singing We do not contradict the Scripture herein again thou art a lyar but singing with the Spirit and with understanding we own of such as are redeemed out of the World and are not of the world but singing of Davids experiences sung in the World by such who are of the World this singing we do deny as it is practised in this Generation in Rhyme and Meeter in a vain multitude of people where all or most of them do dishonour God in singing Davids words which themselves are out of the life of and in a life quite contrary singing the law of God is dear to them and that they exercise themselves in it when every moment of time they are exercised in Wickednesse and casts the Law of God behind them and thus singing lyes and that which is not true to them yet in the name of the Lord Other Reasons many may be given why we deny singing in this Form and manner and way as singing is practised in this Generation but this Instance is sufficient to all honest people but Cavellers mouths are not soon stopped not by the truth and all I. S. professes as to maintain this manner and practise of singing are all impertinent he proves that the Saints sang and were exhorted to it but what is this to the purpose to prove the World must sing who are unconverted which singing we oppose only and not the Saints singing in the Spirit who are moved to it by the Spirit O thou Lyar wherefore dost thou say To be against singing Davids words by the world in Rhyme and Meetre as we do is contrary to Eph. 5. Col. 3. doth these Scriptures hold forth any such thing let the Reader try as that Davids experiences may be sang in the World in Rhyme and Meetre nay they do not and so thou art a lyar on the Scriptures to be taken notice of and marked for a wrester of the Scriptures and in this we have often declared our minds by words and writings that Poetry and I. Hopkins and T. Sternolds brain invention we have denyed yet Davids Psalms we have owned and do own them as they were given forth by the Spirit of God and not as they are perverted and added and diminished to such a compass of syllables as they are now in practise and thus I have given you a further testimony for and against singing wherein we deny it and wherein we own it and so leaves his muddy stuff and so counts it not worth raking in only a Lye or two or more he is proved in as the Reader may take notice also of one thing more where he charges R. F. falsely to speak falsehood for saying the Priests of Eug. they teach people to sing lyes in hypocrisie this they do and do wickedly in it and he hath added to their wickedness in denying it to be so for to all people without exception they give to sing I am not puft in mind nor hath a scornfull eye and they making not exception in giving forth their Psalms to sing some that they give it forth to are puft in mind and have scornfull eyes and these they teach to sing Lyes in hypocrisie to any honest man this appears true let I. S. shuffle and twist never so much In the 16th Head concerning Elders and Ordination We do not herein contradict the Scripture but witnesseth forth according to it that who are moved by the Spirit of God to watch over the Flock and ordained with gifts thereunto may take the oversight of the Flock wittingly and of a ready mind and not by constraint nor for filthy lucre sake as I. S. and his Generation of false Teachers who preach for hire and for gifts and rewards such are not ordained of God to watch over the Flock but runs and was never sent and therefore shall not profit people at all and such an ordination we d●●y who are ordained at Schools or by naturall arts and sciences to speak their brain-study by a glass this is by man and not of God and God doth deny it and we testifie against it by the Spirit of God and doth say the call to the true Ministry and Eldership is not by man nor of man but by the Lord according to Gal. 1. 1. yet such a one is approved of all the Saints and goes forth not contrary to men who feareth the Lord for the spirit of life is one in them that are called and ordained by it and in them that beareth witness to truth what doth such approve with the Spirit that are called by the Spirit this is our judgement and the judgement of truth whatever I. S. or any of his fellows raise up to oppose it and herein we do not contradict the Scriptures he is that lyar in the subject matter on which he treats in the Title of his Section In his 17th Head concerning Ministers Maintenance Concerning this we do no way contradict the Scripture but witnesseth according to it that the Ministers of Christ doth receive freely and gives freely of what they have received from God and having planted a vineyard may eat the fruit of it and keeping a flock may eat of the milk of the flock and when they go into a house may eat such things ●● are set before them and yet may not be chargeable to any man and this is according to Christs instructions and not contradictory to the Scriptures though I. S. be pleased to so stile it but all such who preaches for hire or takes hire for preaching and seeks for their gain for 50 l. or 60 l. per a●num or the like from their quarter a Parish or Town and such who take Ti●hes Gifts and Rewards for preaching which people should not give them except they p●eached and such who have sums of money and lives in pleasures and vanities and lust and fulness of the Flesh as the Priests of England doth this maintenance we do deny and them that act those things we deny to be Ministers of Christ or that any Maintenance by way of a Ministry doth belong to such who are greedy dumb doggs and can never have enough as Isai 56 such practises and men we oppose and doth no whit contradict the Scripture but it witnesseth to us herein and against all such and therefore I. S. and his Brethren the Independants who acts such things they contradict the Scripture and so are truly guilty themselves in action

generation of ungodly and when we read the plain words of Christ Luke 17. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you he saith we madly wrest the reading of the words when we neither ●dd nor diminish now he seems to say It is the Kingdom of heaven among you and not the kingdom of heaven within you and so blames the Scripture and confounds the doctrine of many of the Independents who say the Scriptures is believers Rule but he seems to charge the Scripture with false translation and therefore is subject to alteration and so cannot be the rule of Believers according to his own account and thus by wicked men are we blamed when we do not speak according to Scripture language and now as wickedly charged by I. S. for speaking just in the Scripture expressions with madly wresting the words but thus it was before and whatsoever we do now by our enemies must be reviled and our words abused contrary to our innocent intents Then in the end of his Epistle he desires the Prayers of his Church that his Reply may be accompanied with power according to the truth of it Indeed so it shall and no more according to the truth of it which is very f●lshoods and deceits so shall the power of the Lord confound it and turn it into folly and confusion as may be seen by a sober man who this following doth with patience read and weigh Then many things is uttered by him in his Epistle to the Reader he seems to shew he saith how R. F. and his Associates have made up A Litter and Fardel of Erronious Divinity and secretly charging us with making up of what we profess from some Writers before us But to this I Answer His reproachful words Litter and Fardel and Erronious we bear with patience rather rejoycing that we are accounted worthy of the reproach for the truths sake from an envious man than to be angry with our reproaches But however let him and all our enemies know what we profess and bear witness of we receive not from man but from God even the Gospel which we testifie of by the revelation of Jesus Christ in us we received it and informs others to the same door which is by our Ministry that they may receive the same and this is but his poor shift to undervalue the power and truth of Jesus in the sight of men who would falsly make men believe That our Doctrines are but the spawn of many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Moderne Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles we bear witness to by the same Spirit and not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus and all these shifts ●aves not the Priests of England from being discovered and their deceits and abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H. N. Jacob B. W. E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them than this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but cross his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgements who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all along in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Asps being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemned him with transgressors and betwixt two theeves And in the end he desires his Reader to receive in Love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God and according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned and not received what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Preverse Principle and that Christ blessed Infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by its fruit and every spirit by its works and words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designes are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavory words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are clear in his sight from these divilish accusations though I. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book and is an accuser of the brethren and is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer and the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical Flots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he saith his words would take away our lives but to raise the unclean spirits against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe h●m for none else can to persecute the people and way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters and of having ill Designes which things we stand witness against and seeks the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly and impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is in forging of them and declaring of them and that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being

of what they falsely accuse us in words for such who walks in the steps of the false Prophets as he and they doth that preach for hire and takes Gi●ts and Rewards for preaching are contrary to all the true Ministers of Christ and the Scripture and the Spirit that gave it forth condemns them and much as to this we have publickly spoken and written and so here I need say the lesse though much might be said to manifest I. S. folly and vanity though they that plant a vineyard may justly eat the fruit thereof yet what is this to purpose he is a thief that eats of the fruit of that which he hath not planted but is hired thither for so much per Sermon or per annu● and plants nothing for the Lord and he that preaches the Gospel may live of it but this shames I. S. and this Generation of Teachers who many of them might begg bread at peoples doors had they not a Law by violence to compell maintenance from them which thing is a very shame to all righteousness which is practised by most of the Priests of England at this day grievous to be related what unjust proceedings are acted upon the poor people by unjust judgements against them for to maintain Ministers so called what is the thing that I. S. pleads for Tithes or a hundred or two hundred pound a year he is a Lyar to say that we contradict the Scripture because we cannot uphold this but must bear witness against it so whilst he falsely charges us with contradicting the Scripture in the very same thing he and his Generation are found in this practise contrary to all the Ministers of Christ that ever was sent by him and in the very practice of the Deceivers Antichrists and false Prophets in making merchandize of people through covetousness in preaching for hire and in seeking for their gain from their quarter and this is the very truth let I. S. and all his fellows read their own contradiction to the example of all the Ministers of Christ in their cursed practise of maintenance which is the greatest oppression this day in England and this is their grief against us because God hath opened our mouths to declare against them and to shew their folly and wickednesse unto all people and when the Law of the Land ceases to maintain them which will come sooner then they expect then may they begg their bread or perish for want and that is all the fruit that their vineyard of wild Brambles will bring forth to them and if every particular of his words should be searched much rottenness might be let forth but in plainness I have spoken as to the truth of things in pleading for truth and in denying his deceits and the oppression of hirelings which I cannot call Ministers maintenance His 18th Head concerning immediate Calling In this we do not contradict the Scipture I. S. is a Lyar herein also but we say such as are called of God are called by his Spirit and lead with it and fulfills the will and work of God in the Spirit and such as are called by the Spirit of God are appoved by all the Saints of God who with the same Spirit bears witness to such as are called by it and speaks by it the Ministry of God is not of Man nor by Man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is not learned by natural arts but received in the Holy Ghost and this the Scripture bears witness to but the Call to the Ministry by naturall learning at Oxford and Cambridge this I deny and trample upon and all your arts and knowledge and humate study and languages is not able to make a Minister of Christ this I do affirm though they approve one another yet are they not approved of God without his Spirit and they that have his Spirit denyes naturall learning as to be made a Minister of Christ hereby and E. B. his words are owned transcribed by I. S. cited page 16. in the warning c. and all that he saith doth not prove that any of the Ministers of Christ were called by the Church or approved unto that work of the Ministry by them who were not called by the Spirit and guided with it he saith the sending of God is two-fold and for this he hath no Scripture to prove it and so holds forth that which the Scripture will not evidence And further he saith he pretends to no such Call of an Apostle if he have not the same Call by the same Spirit as the Apostles had he is no Minister of Christ and in measure he hath confessed to be without the same Call as the Apostles was called with and will not pretend such a Call Again He falsly Charges R. F. with Crucifying the Ministers of Christ which is a Lye and of the Devil though none of us may spare to call Hirelings greedy dumb Doggs and devourers and lazy sheperds and in this we do not contradict the Scriptures nor work offence towards God nor our neighbour And he concludes Who of us we or they shall have the worst of it in Conclusion the day shall declare unto that day we are willing to come by which we and all the blind Priests of England shall be manifest and we know Liars such as I. S. shall not have the better who is to us made manifest already to be out of the way and out of the power and life of God His 19th Head concerning immediate Teaching In this we do not contradict the Scripture as I. S. falsly charges us withal but doth say that we are taught of God and needs no man to reach us but as the anointing of God which abides in us and the promise of God is fulfilled upon us Jer. 31. we are all taught of God from the least of us to the greatest with whom the Covenant of God is established and this is the cause wherefore we let forth our selves to the world who are yet in the unconverted state that they also ma● come to the knowledge of the wayes and teachings of God in the Spirit and may come into the Covenant of peace where none need to say know the Lord but all these are taught of him yea and immediately too by his Spirit and this we do witness and the Lord doth witness with us though the unbelieving heart of I. S. and his fellows cannot believe it but doth gainsay it as being contrary to the Scripture when as themselves doth contradict the Scripture in denying it so proving themselves guilty of what they do accuse us of falsly but this is that their folly may appear to all men as it doth to us and I. S hath belyed the Scriptures Dan. 9. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. in saying it is contrary to those Scriptures to say the teaching of God is immediate let the Reader try and I. S. saith he is yet to learn the promise of the immediate teachings of God to be

that we contradict our selves concerning sin and Christ but his whole Section I leave to be read in his Book and let the wise Reader judge whether his proof be any such thing only his lye will prove what he saith he saith We hold Christ to be in all this is his Lye for we say Christ is not in the Reprobate neither did we ever affirm that Christ is not in the Reprobate and so is not in all neither do we concerning Justification contradict our selves in the Spirit of God though so it may appeare to I. S. blind mind and so would make it appear to others by blind arguments by his own meaning Again I. S. would charge self-contradiction upon because we bear witness to the New Covenant and doth say the children of God are taught of God and needs no man to teach them but as the anoynting within them and yet doth write and print here he saith we condemne in others what we allow in our selves Now to all honest people this is no contradiction neither a condemning in others what we allow in our selves for therefore we write and print and speak that all may come to the knowledge of this thing and may be converted to God and know his teaching within them but what would I. S. have said of John who told them they needed no man to teach them but as that within them and yet did write Epistles to them very like he would have called this contradictions And the same is our cause who doth and must do though I. S. and his companions be grieved therewith because their folly is laid open thereby print and write and speak that people through the Ministry be brought to know the teaching of God in themselves and yet herein in the light of the Spirit of God do we not contradict our selves let I. S. say what he will neither do we allow in our selves what we condemn in another this is one of I. S. his lyes we allow the Ministry of Christ yet doth not allow the Ministry of Deceivers and yet is not in contradiction and this in short may give the Reader to understand the deceit and deceivableness to lye in I. S. who is found seeking offences against us without any cause given him and he layes snares for another which doth entrap his own feet And whereas he hath transcribed E. B. his confession in the warning to Vnderbarrow which confession is still owned and no self contradiction proved by it for though God s●ake by G. F. to him this doth not contradict the teaching of the Spirit of God as that E. B. was not taught by the Spirit of God for as I have said G. F. did minister as many doth at this day that people should come to the teaching of God in themselves and herein we do not contradict the Scriptures let I. S make as many blind arguments as he can and that instance about I. L. being of the same nature with the former the Answer supplyes both his proofs neither of which doth prove us in contradiction but is a witness to the Ministry of Christ and to the conversion received through it wherein we are taught of God and needs no man to teach us but as the anointing the Spirit of God within us which is immediate and yet we preach the Gospel to others that they may come to witness the same with us even the teaching of the Spirit of God and for this end is the Ministry of God sent by us to bring others to the knowledge of God through it and this is no self-contradiction let I. S. say what he will Further I. S. doth instance E. B. his calling mans light natural and carnal in the Warning c. and would call his contradiction to some who doth deny the light of Christ to be natural and carnal as the Priests of England terme it but this is no contradiction for though w● do deny that the light of Christ Jesus is natural and carnal and doth not allow any so to call it yet the light of man by which carnal men doth judge of carnal transgressions is natural E. B. doth never say that the light of Christ is natural and carnal but the light of Man is so he saith and in this Instance there is no contradiction neither in any parts of the words following which is transcribed and much might be said as to the occasion of those words being uttered when E. B. was in prison falsly as many have been since who was one of the first that by ●mprisonment was a sufferer for the name of Jesus in the North of England before I. S. was troubled with any of us but it is sufficient what is said to the mans light by which carnal men judgeth of any thing is one thing and the light of Christ Jesus which is spiritual mens guide is another thing E. B. speak of mans light and I. S. foolishly opposes him as if he spake of the light of Christ Jesus and so opposes his own conception And further I. S. asserts That Scripture light is the standing rule for faith and manners so are not immediate revelations and teachings Here he hath set up the Scriptures above the Spirit of God and above the Revelation of Jesus Christ the Saints was led by what the Spirit revealed and taught Christ said he should teach into all truth and they that were the Sons of God were loved by the Spirit of God and that was their rule to be led by in their Faith and manners but yet see a hypocrite I. S. is he that pleads for Scripture to be the rule and yet is acting in many things contrary to the Scriptures as at large may be instanced neither is in all the Scripture the Scripture called light but Scripture saith Christ is the light Further he saith There is sufficient light in the Scripture to guide men to salvation mark his Doctrine whether he hath not preached another thing than Christ to be the way and whether he hath not made Christ and the blood of Christ of none effect without which no salvation But he saith there is sufficient in the Scripture to lead men to salvation and neither Christ nor his blood is in Scripture let it be moved Further he saith The Scripture was given by the Spirit for a rule this we desire a proof off by plain Scripture and till then we deny it And further he saith The Spirit gives out himself by Scripture and yet he saith he never said the Scripture did give the Spirit and this is an absolute contradiction as may be noted so I. S. is taken in the snare contradicting himself in one quarter of a sheet of Paper and hath not at all proved us to be self-contradictors concerning any of these things mentioned by him Further he saith in his 8th Head That our possessing perfection and Quaking after Moses example cross shines on the other but wherein he doth not shew neither can the honest-minded

read any contradiction in it but only it seems I. S. hath set himself to cavell Further he saith We contradict our selves concerning Quaking and trembling from this confession that the same power that made Moses to quake and tremble the same power we witness but wherein doth this contradiction appear in these words let honest men try the cause and I. S. be silent and whereas he Instances I. P. standing in an evill cause and of I. P. he may be silent whose blood he or his Generation sought after and now might they well be quiet of him their wills being stifled by drinking his blood as it were but that wicked men must add to their own wickedness till it be fulfilled that they may receive their reward and I. P. was bold as is the children of God and though I. S. would clear himself and his company from what was done to I. P. yet by the effect it appeared that there was enough envy in them towards him and the truth and though his body be in the ground yet the Spirit of the Lord which guided him stands alive a sufficient witness against them and all their cruel and wicked dealing and let I. S. judgement be what it will neither concerning growth of Grace nor forms of Religion nor fruits of the Spirit do we at all contradict the Spirit of God neither doth he prove us in these things whereof he accuseth us in strife debate except against such as I. S. and the Devils Kingdom neither in emulation hatred scoffs or any of these things whom the Lord hath redeemed us from though we be falsely accused in these things as in many other by him and whereas he would prove their preaching in their method and Points and Reasons and Uses from the example of the Saints in former ages he falls far short in effecting his extent for he cannot prove that they studied for what they spake nor that in such a way they delivered what they said an hour by a glass c. as the Priests of this age do also if it were they preached in the like manner as the Apostles did yet not by the same spirit but by the spirit of error and for a wrong end that is the thing which makes their manner abominable when as they are not guided wth the same Spirit of the Apostles and their preaching in their method of points and particulars is rather an art of preaching by humane policy and not the gift of preaching by the Spirit of God neither do we concerning humility and love contradict our selves but are in humility and love towards all men even such as wrongs us we seek no revenge against and herein doth our humility and love appear yet cannot we respect any mans person with hat or knee and that is it which I. S. I suppose is offended with In his 13th Head concerning Ordinances He charges us with self-contradiction because we say we own praying c. and yet hath given over Family prayer morning and evening and at meals but this is no contradiction for we own praying in the Spirit of God but doth deny it without the Spirit and this is no contradiction he may as well say it was contradiction in Christ to cry against the prayers of the Pharisees yet to teach his Disciples to pray and to pray himself this is the same cause of ours which he foolishly charges with contradiction and as I have said the prayers of the Wicked we deny and yet doth own Prayer in the Spirit and who are moved by the Spirit morning or evening or at meals or otherwise and this is truth let I. S. gather what he can from it Further he saith If we teach one another why do we condemn them for teaching But to this I have answered Preaching or Teaching by the Spirit we own and without the Spirit we deny and because we say we own all that which is Gods as Baptisme the Lords Supper and Sabbath c. pet doth disown in practice their Water Baptisme and their form of breaking of Bread and Wine and their forms of Church-fellowship and their form of keeping a Sabbath this he charges to be contradiction but it is not so in the sight of the Lord though I. S. falsely so judge it for their Baptisme and breaking of Bread and Wine and their Church fellowship and keeping of a day I say their exercise in these things we do deny to be of God as in measure is proved and may be further if need require and I say we own that which is Gods and which is led unto by his Spirit and practised in his fear and counsel and yet we do deny all their Immitations of any thing which God commanded doth owne the command of God and yet doth not contradict our selves though I. S. falsely so judge of us Further he charges us with self-contradiction concerning speech and silence because we check some for speaking and yet speaks or writes our selves but this is the same with the former and the same answer will serve that speaking that which is not in the Spirit we check which is not the voyce of Christ but of the stranger and yet doth own that which is spoken by the Spirit of God and herein doth not contradict our selves Further he saith We contradict our selves concerning Conscience and Laws because we say there must be no Law concerning Religion viz. to bind any man to worship in this or the other way and to bind him from this or that way of Worship and yet in exhorting the Rulers that their Laws be according to that in the Conscience but in these words there is no contradiction for the Laws being according to the light in every mans Conscience that Law will not bind or limit the Conscience from this or that way of Worship in Religion for that Law is un just which binds or limits the pure conscience of any man but that Law which is contrary to the light in every mans conscience is oppression and we bear witness against it and though we do say no Law must be laid upon Religion that it is to say to bind any mans Conscience to or from such a form of Religion and though we further say that all just Laws is and should be according to the light in every mans conscience yet in this there is no contradiction And whereas I. S. speaks of such Laws who persecuted prisoned and crucified for the testimony of a good Conscience God hath hewen down in all ages saith he Let the Rulers of England take notice of this from the mouth of one of their Teachers And further I adde so will God hew down in this Age all those Laws by which many are persecuted and prisoned as he hath done ie other Ages therefore let it be considered by them And he saith The Magistrate is not to levell his Law with every mans conscience and light and this he speaks in opposition to us but he needs