thereby that they are none of his Ministers but also that Christ hath no true Disciples or Subjects Therefore they that deny the Spirit of Christ they must needs be false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ or the Devils Subjects note such and take it for granted they are the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ The true Gospel-Ministers and Saints in Christ Jesus before the Apostacy declared and affirmed that they had received the Spirit of God whereby they knew the things that were freely given them of God and by the same Spirit they knew that they were children of God and joynt heirs with Christ and could by divine right say it the Spirit of God also witnessing with their Spirit that it was true and thereby viz. by the Spirit which they had received of God or by the Spirit of his Son which he had sent into their hearts they could cry Abba Father Rom. 8.14 15 16. 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. Gal 4 6. But since the Apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ declares and affirms that it is presumption or blasâ—hemy for any to affirme now that they have the Spirit of God and know thereby the things which are freely given them or God and to say that they are the children of God and joynt heirs with Christ and that they have the Spirit of God as an evidence bearing witness with their Spirit according to the Scriptures that it is so and that God hath sent the spirit of his Son into their hearts whereby they cry Abba Father and can so call him by divine right according to the Scriptures as the Saints in Christ Jesus formerly did This the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ calleth presumption delusion and blasphemy therefore note them and as Christ hath said Mat. 7.20 by their fruits ye shall know them The true Apostle and Minister of Christ before the Apostacy exhorted or counselled the people to walk in the spirit to the end that they might not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.16 Because they that live in the flesh cannot please God as the true Gospel Minister before the Apostacy hath said Rom. 8.8 and the fruits of the flesh are manifest saith he which are these See Gal. 5.19 20 21. and they which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God as the true Gospel-Minister hath said and as may be read Gal. 5.19 c. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Eph. 5.5 6. But since the Apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they deny the Spirit of truth and labours to keep people from walking in the Spirit of God to the end that they may fulfill the lusts of the flesh and that they may live in the flesh and be kept but of the Spirit least they should please God and so for the upholding and strengthning Satans interest in people they are and labours to keep people in sin and to pleade for the same that they may live in the flesh and bring forth the works thereof to the end that they may be fitted for Satan and be kept out of the kingdome of God Therefore it is high time for people that hath any regard to the glory of God and of their souls good to look about them and not any longer follow the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ that hath had such a long reigne and are expert in the work of deceiving The true Gospel-Minister before the Apostacy counselled people he ministred unto not onely to walk in the Spirit that they might not fulfil the lusts of the flesh but also that through the spirit they might mortify the deeds of the body to the end that they might live unto God and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit and so glorify him But since the apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they labour to keep people from the Spirit least the deeds of the flesh should be mortified and therefore they labour to keep them out of the Spirit of truth least they should by it be led out of deceit and into the truth to live to the praise and glory of God as aforesaid also see Gal. 5.16 Rom. 8.13 14. Joh. 15.8 Gal. 5.22 23 24. For if they should walk in the Spirit and bring forth fruit unto God and dye to the world Satan would loose his hold and his interest in people would cease and come to an end Therefore that he may uphold a kingdome of sin and unrighteousness covered over with a pretence of godliness in people he sits the false Prophets and seducers to labour and Minister for him but as Christ hath said by their fruits ye shall know them a before mentioned Mat. 7. Concerning perfection according to the Scriptures THe onely true God when he appeared to Abraham the Father of the faithfull declared and said I am the Almighty God and in his doctrine or by way of command said unto Abraham Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 17.1 which doctrine Abraham received and also Christ Jesus our Lord in his doctrine or by way of command he said unto his Disciples and those that he taught who had grace and received the same be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Mat. 5.48 And such as pressed after perfection the doctrine of the Father and the Son said by the Spirit of truth as many as are perfect be thus minded Phil. 3. to press others on to the same and before the apostacy whilst the holy Ghost had the ordering in the true Church and were of Counsell with the Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospell with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven Acts 15.28 1 Pet. 1.12 they declared and said we preach wisdome amongst them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 and they taught in all wisdome labouring to present every man perfect in Christ Col 1.27 28 29. for which end they said Christ Jesus when he ascended upon high gave gifts unto men that is to say for the perfecting of the Saints c. Eph. 4.10 11 12 13. who having grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 received the same But since the apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they deny the aforesaid doctrine of perfection and under a cover they are not ashamed to say and affirme that the doctrine of sinless perfection was first bred by the Devil secondly detested by Christ thirdly and never received or truly beleeved in by them that had any sparke of true grace when the said Doctrine of perfection as aforementioned was first bred or brought forth by the Almighty God secondly and owned approved of and preached by the Lord Jesus Christ thirdly and heartily received beleeved in pressed after attained unto and preached by them that had received the Spirit of grace and thereby were guided as aforesaid Then they that deny the said doctrine of perfection aforementioned and speak so falsly of it as aforesaid doe make it appear that they are
righteous man falling seven times a day and there is the place of Scripture which makes most for that saying when it doth not say so but it seems Hopkins and Sternhold durst presume to put in their own words and say seven times a day to make meeter and the people ignorantly have grounded a confidence upon a lie and so have lied of the righteous man and also of the Scripture since the apostacy by reason of the false Prophets or Subjects of Anti-Christ Neither doth that Scripture say in plaine tearms that the just man sins in those seven times that he falls but the wicked sins because he falls into mischief and lays waite against the dwelling of the righteous and seeks to spoyl his resting place as aforesaid moreover it is said of the wicked that they sleep not unless they have done mischief and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall or suffer by them for they cat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence but the righteous is counselled to avoid the way of evill men Pro. 4.14 15 16 17. and are forbidden to enter into the path of the wicked and if the righteous man should sin seven times a day he would both enter into the path of the wicked and walk in the way of evill men But it is said that the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18 but the way of the wicked is as darkness ver 19. Therefore it is to be observed that there is as much difference between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked as between light and darkness and that they that deny the light are ignorant of the way of the righteous and most acquainted with darkness the way of the wicked and I say there is a vaste difference between sinning seven times in the whole and sinning continually seven times a day if it was so that the just man did sin seven times in those seven falls yet the just man he may fall severall times and not sin in those falls for it is said of Job that he was a perfect and an upright man as any was upon the face of the earth at that time Job 1.8 and he held his integrity as the Lord said though Satan moved the Lord against him to have destroyed him without cause Iob 2.3 and he fell into many troubles or tryalls sufferings and exercises as just men oftentimes doe yet it is said that in all this Job did not sin with his lips Iob 2. 10. And Iames saith if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body And the just or righteous man may fall into troubles tryals and exercises for the tryall of their faith and patience and yet in those falls may be kept from sin for many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of them all the Lord upholdeth them that so fall and raiseth up all those that be bowed down Psal 145.14 for the Lord upholdeth them with his hand Psal 37.24 Concerning Prayer IN the true Church before the apostacy the true Gospel Minister said I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the understanding also 1 Cor. 14,15 But since the apostacy the false Prophets or Ministers of Anti-Christ and Subjects of sin they pray without the true Spirit guiding therein and without the understanding for though they say Our father which art in Heaven they are ready to account it blasphemy for any to say I am a child or Son of God and they also say in one of the Petitions in the Lords Prayer viz forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us here they pray to God to forgive them their trespasses committed against him as they forgive them that trespast against them when they doe not forgive such as they account to be trespassers against them but rather seeks to destroy them by imprisonment and sending to the house of correction and by abusing them with cruell persecution Doe such pray for any forgiveness of God who doe not forgive when they pray for their forgiveness as they forgive others and if any be moved of the Lord to goe and speak to a Priest or a company of people led astray by a spirit of errour to the end that they may returne and seek the Lord doe not the Priests account it a trespass against them and instead of passing it by with a forgiveness if it be by them accounted a trespass doe they not seek rather to punish to the uttermost if so doe they not pray without understanding when they pray to be forgiven as they forgive others when they never intend to doe as they say and doe they not also pray that God may be avenged on them as they seek to be avenged on the people of God that comes to speak unto them in pure obedience to the Lord which the Parish Priests accounts a trespass against them But if they were in the truth they need not to be afraid to be spoken unto by a servant of the Lord is it not deceit that needs to be guarded with a law to the end that none may speak unto them in obedience to the Lord likewise in the true Church before the apostacy it was an order amongst them that if any thing were revealed to them that sat by they might speak and the first hold his peace 1 Cor. 14.30 But since the apostacy the case is altered in the Parish Churches so called and none must speak their that sits by if the Lord command it under paine of imprisonment c. Is not that in errour to the true Churches order consider well of it and read 1 Cor. 14 30 31 32 33. And before the apostacy to pray by the true Spirit was much commended and amongst true beleevers in the true Church it was much practised and prayer could not well be made acceptable to God but by the Spirit or they knew not how to pray as they ought without the direction and assistance of the holy Spirit which made and now maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God But since the apostacy prayer by the Spirit hath been much denyed and the false Prophets and Subjects of Anti-Christ are ready to mock and jeer at them that preach and pray by and with the Spirit according to the Scriptures as the Saints formerly did Rom. 8.26 27.1 Cor. 2.4 5 6. Mat. 6.6 c. Eph. 6.18 19. But who are they that jeer at this now except the false Prophets and Subjects to Anti-Christ who like hypocrites pray standing in the Synagogues contrary to the true Christs command Mat. 6.5 that they may be seen and praised of men of like minds but as Christ hath said they have their reward and by their fruits they shall be known but Christ bids his to beware of such and
in the legall dispensation when he was a little child and bound about with a linnen Ephod and so not have been admitted to minister to the Lord or in his behalf in that ministration because a child or not 23. years of age might he not either by such a Law have been bound from the work of the ministry though the Lord had called him to it and by his word both established and fitted him for it according to the Scripture 1. Sam. 2.18.19.1 Sam. 31.19 20 21. or else by that Law have suffered and been by men condemned or not approved because not called to the ministry according to their Law if so was not such a Law viz. 13. of Eliz. 12. as the parish-priests preachers and Ministers were called ordained and tolerated by or according unto their ministry a Law directly contrary to the Scriptures and in opposition to God and his word or way of calling to the ministry as aforesaid yea or nay Query XVI And might not Christ Jesus himself by such a Law have been bound and not admitted to have done his Fathers will at twelve years of age when at such an age he waxed strong in spirit being filled with wisdome and the grace of God was upon him so that he was fit to dispute and did at twelve years of age doe his Fathers business as may be read Luke 2.40 41 42. to the 50. But if it had been of late years when the Common prayer book and that way of calling to the work of the Ministry according to the Statute of the 13. of Eliz. 12. were in force if not yet might not Christ himself if he had then been personally present in England have by that Law been disallowed of and not admitted to the work of the Lord at twelve years of age nor afterward no more then by the Jews and chief priests he was who questioned his authority and said have any of the rulers or Pharisees beleeved on him if so was not that Law directly opposite to the Scriptures and contrary to the way of God as aforesaid and if he had pleaded his inward spirituall call and said his Father had sent him would not the rulers and chief priests in England have opposed and said â—n inward call without an outward according to the Law of man before mentioned would not have been sufficient yea or nay Query VII And if none might have been admitted to Minister in the behalf of the Lord but such as subscribed to the Articles agreed of in the Convocation holden at London in the year 1562. and also such as did assent to the same and read their subscription to the said Articles with a Declaration of their unfeigned assent thereunto in the parish Church where they were to serve in the time of Common prayer at or soon after their Induction being 23. years of age and before their admission brought the Bishop of the Diocess from men known to him a testimoniall of their professing the doctrine expressed in the said Articles that they might receive a testimoniall under his Seal authentick and be tolerated c according to the 13. of Eliz. 12. which was the Parish-Priests way of ordination and toleration it seems till of late that there was no Bishops to give them orders or a testimoniall under their seal authentick c. might not by the same rule or Law all the Ministers of God as true Prophets and Apostles that was sent by the Lord God and his Spirit according to the Scriptures have been disallowed of and neither admitted nor tolerated because they had not the Common prayer book nor the Articles that was but agreed of in the Convocation holden at London as they were agreed of in the time of apostacy therefore they could not subscribe to them nor read any Declaration of their unfeigned assent thereunto in the Parish Church because they had no such Parish Church nor Popish stuffe among the true Gospel-Ministers before the apostacy spoken of in the Scriptures and if the Lord should have sent any by his Spirit according to the order of the true Prophets and Apostles might they not have been disallowed of and not admitted into the work of the Ministry in England c. if they could not submit to that Popish stuffe and inventions of the false Christs and false Prophets or errour of the parish priestâ—â— c. that came in since the apostacy and must not such as the Lord sends now and hereafter by his Spirit and according to his word be disallowed and denyed by the parish-priests c. if they can not submit to their other inventions or former Popish traditions yea or nay Query XVIII Was it not declared in the Statute of the 13. of Eliz 12. that none should be admitted to administer the Sacraments when the Common prayer book and that Service was in force untill he were 24. years of age and was not the Sacraments and Sacramentalls formerly whilst the Mass book was in force commonly called the Mass see the Statute of the 2. 3. of Ed. 6. Chap. 1. And if the Sacraments and Sacramentals were called the Mass whilst the Mass-book was in force was they not the same in the time of the Common prayer book and are they not the same that they were seeing the Scripture speaks nothing of either Sacraments or Mass yea or nay Query XIX Did not the Pope after the apostacy when he caused Tithes Oblations Obventions c. to be paid to the Parish-Priests Parsons and Rectors c. cause the same to be paid to them and such like onely as were of the Popish order and preached up his interest and observed the Mass book and that service and worship onely which was then set up and by him allowed of yea or nay Query XX. If so then whether ought not those Tithes Oblations Obventions c. to have ceased and returned back to the people againe when he and that worship and service was denyed for which they were payed or is the worship and service in the ground of Superstition and Popery made void where and by whom Tithes Oblations Obventions c. are received which the Pope at first since the apostacy created or caused to be paid yea or nay Query XXI Did King Henry the 8. when he denyed the Pope to be head of the Church of England called the holy Church then deny the Tithes and make them void which the Pope had created or caused before to be paid and did he put down Tithes to cause them to returne to the people againe whose right they were before the Pope caused the people to pay to them to his Priests Parsons and Rectors c. or did not King Henry and his Parliament when the Pope was denyed to be head of the Church confer and state the Popes former Creation or gift as Tithes Oblations Obventions c. upon the Prelates or the Kings Parish-Priests Parsons and Rectors c. and were they not then to observe to
say that generation then present should not pass till they came or those things before the passing way of that generaâ—â—onâ— should be done and is this the generation of men that generation which were personally present then though the evill Spirit of error doe rule in a great number of the persons who are of the seed of evill doers in this sinfull and sin contending for generation yet there hath been many generations since Christ said false Christs and false Prophets should come And that that generation then present whilst Christ were personally with them should not pass till those things should be done how is it then that Priests and Pofessors are so ignorant of the Scriptures to try they are but come now and that these are the last times of which Christ said they should come Observe Christ said to his Disciples while personally present with them false Christs and false Prophets should come and deceive many Mat. 24. Mar. 13. as aforesaid and he also said that generation should not pass till those things should be done this Christ said to his Disciples and friends whilst personally present with them and said beware of them for many shal be deceived by them and you shall be delivered up to be afflicted and ye shall be killed and hated of all nations for my names sake and as Christ said they should come Iohn in his time or in that generation before it was passed said they were come and moreover he said that was the last time in which it was said they should come for saith the Apostle Iohn in the 1. Epistle 2. Chapter 18 19. ver Little children it is the last time and as you have heard that Anti-Christ should come even now are there many false Christs or Anti-Christs whereby we know that it is the last time here they were come yet priests and professors are so ignorant of the Scripture that they cry out now they are come and they are come but now when they came before the decease of the Apostle Iohn many hundred years since yea saith he they went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us no doubt but they would have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest they were not all of us ver 19. And as Christ had foretold his Disciples of the coming of those false Christs anâ— how they would deceive many saith he goe not forth or oâ—â—t after them but rather abide within so when they weâ—â—â—… me Iohn said and declared then that they were not come in his time and he writ to the faithfull to keep to the anointing within 1 Ioh. 2.20 27. And here Johns Epistle agreed with Christs Doctrine and moreover as Iohn had told that the false Christs or Anti-Christs were come and exhorted the faithfull to keep to the anointing within he also said that the false Prophets were come and were already gone out into the world beloved said he to them that kept to the anointing within them 1 Ioh. 2.27 and kept the commandements of Christ and knew that he abode in them and that they abode in him because he had given them of his Spirit 1 Ioh. 2.23 24. yea and such as had overcome the Devil the wicked one and had the word of God abiding in them ver 13.14 who were of God and not of the world 1 Ioh. 5.19 who being of God knew the Son of God to be come and said he had given them an understanding to know him that is true and then they were in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ 1 Ioh. 5.20 they did not deny Christ to be within who were in him and he in them neither were they of the world but of God and such Iohn writ unto to try the Spirits he did not write unto the world nor hireling Priests to try the Spirits take notice of that but he writ to them that were not of the world but of God and were in Christ and owned and professed Christ to be in them as aforesaid to such he writ to try the Spirits saying beloved beleeve not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4.1 marke many false Prophets saith he are gone out into the world then they were come long before this time and since then they have had a long reign and now is God discovering them and bringing people off from them Christ said they should come viz. false Prophets and false Christs and John saw they were come and went out from them and was not that which inwardly ravened from the Spirit of God into the Apostacy the ground which the false Prophets rose out of and did not they that turned from the truth and abode not in it joyn together with the Beast to make war with the Saints and did not such turne against the Saints as ran a whoring from that of God and did not they make war with the Saints and overcome them and did not the false Prophets deceive and seduce Nations and Kindreds Languages and multitudes and set up the Image or worship of the Beast and did not all that dwelt upon the earth goe out after them and worship the Beast and his Image but the elect whose names are written in the Lambes book of life slaine from the foundation of the world and must not they that worship the Beast and his Image be plagued and tormented as may be read Rev. 13. and Rev. 14. Christ said false Prophets should come and deceive many yea if it were possible the very elect Mat. 24 John saw they were come and gone out into the world 1 John 2.18 19. and in the Rev. John speaks of the Beast and false Prophet joyning together and how they had prevailed but the Beast and the false Prophet are to be cast together into the lake of fire and brimstone and must be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 here he hath declared their punishment to be everlasting John saw that all the world wondered after the Beast Rev. 13.3 and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast who is able to make war with him ver 4. when he had made war with the Saints and had overcome them was not power given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations ver 7. and did not the Beast so prevaile when he had made war with the Saints and overcome them that he set up in the time of Apostacy when he had dominion in England in and through the Pope Schools Colledges called Vniversities to fit and make ministers for himself and was not all constrained to worship that which vvas set up in the Apostacy but such as had their names written in the Lambs Book of life who could not worship the Beast and hiâ— Image but rather choosed to suffer and he caused â—all both small and great rich and poor