TRUTH Lifting up its head above SCANDALS Wherein is declared What God Christ Father Son Holy Ghost Scriptures Gospel Prayer Ordinances of God are By GERRARD WINSTANLY Professors of all forms behold the Bridgroom is in coming your profession wil be try'd to purpose your hypocricy shall be hid no longer You shall feed no longer upon the Oyle that was in other mens Lamps the Scriptures for now it is required that every one have Oyle in his own Lamp even the pure testimony of truth within himself For he that wants this though he have the report of it in his book he shall not enter with the Bridegroome into the chamber of peace LONDON Printed in the year 1649. TO THE SCHOLlars of Oxford and Cambridge and to all that call themselves Ministers of the Gospel in City and Country SIRS YOu are the men that stand up assuming the power to your selves to teach the People the mystery of the Spirit and that you are the onely men sent of him for that office therefore you are called spirituall men or men that are all spirit Many differences you see about spirituall things arises up daily amongst the people it doth not belong to you to make parties but to judge of these differences with a moderate and meek spirit between people and people you are not to suffer flesh or selfish distemper to breake forth from you a hasty rash spirit cannot judge any thing There are onely these two roots from whence these differences spring up that is either from the Spirit that made all things or from humane flesh which is the Creature that is gone astray and he that walks after the flesh denies the Spirit Now if you be spirituall as you say you are to judge of these differences and declare what is of the Spirit that it may stand and what is of the flesh that it may be trod under foot that so the Lord alone that made flesh may be exalted above flesh in the day of his power that doth begin to shine forth The rule that you judge by you say are the Scriptures of Prophets Apostles and ancient writers if so then you are not spirituall or all spirit neither have you the alone priviledge to judge for the People having the Scriptures may judge by them as well as you If you say no the People cannot judge because they know not the originall I answer neither doe you know the originall though by your learning you may be able to translate a writing out of Hebrew or Greek into our mother tongue English but to say this is the originall Scripture you cannot for those very Copies which the Prophets and Apostles writ are not to be seen in your Universities You say you have the just Copies of their writings you doe not know that but as your Fathers have told you which may be as well false as true if you have no better ground then tradition You say that the interpretation of Scripture into our mother tongue is according to the mind of the spirit you cannot tell that neither unlesse you were able to say that those who did â—nterpret those writings had had the same testimony of Spirit as the pen-men of Scriptures had for it is the Spirit within that must prove those copies to be true now you know that there are many translations and interpretations which differ much one from another which of them must the People take to be truest seeing you yourselves are at losse One company of you sayes this translation is the truth and then the People must be forced to follow you loe here is Christ saith the Prelats another company of yours saies such a translation is the truest and then the People must be forced to follow them as this halfe-day of the Beast cry loe here is Christ First here in the Presâ—ytery then there in the Independency and thus you leade the People like horses by the noses ride upon them at your pleasure from one forme and custome to another and so quite from the Spirit You presse the People with much violence to maintain the Gospel the People demands What is the Gospel You say it is the Scriptures The People replies again How can these Scriptures be called the everlasting Gospel seeing it is torne in peeces daily amongst your selves by various translations inferences and conclusions one pressing this another that and the People are lost in the midst of your waters If you say you can judge by the Spirit why then you have not the alone priviledge to judge neither for the Spirit is not confined to your Universities but it spreads from East to West and enlightens sons and daughters in all parts If you say that visions and revelations are ceased and that the Spirit and Scriptures are still together then you erre mightily in spending constructions upon the Scriptures which is a revelation and doth not rather leave the Scriptures to their own genuine language that People may read the very lettter without alteration Two things as you are Scripture men you must judge of First what is the Gospel Secondly what is the report or declaration of the Gospel I declare positively what I know doe you take the Scriptures and disprove me if you can First The Gospel is the Spirit that ruled in the Prophets and Apostles which testified to them that in the later daies the same Spirit should be poured out upon all flesh Secondly then their writings is not the Spirit but a report or declaration of that law and testimony which was within them Now the Spirit spreading it selfe from East to West from North to South in sonnes and daughters is everlasting and never dies but is still everlasting and rising higher and higher in manifesting himselfe in and to mankinde But now the declaration of the Spirit being but words gon out of the mouth may be and daily are corrupted by the subtilty of imaginary flesh it is the Spirit within every man that tries all things words cannot try all things he that speakes from the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption shall tast of misery that flesh brings upon himselfe but he that speaks from the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life or he that preaches the Gospel shall live of the Gospel that is he that speakes from the Spirit shall have inward peace life and liberty from the Spirit in the midst of all worldly straights he shall not want life and peace within You will say what of all this I answer it is matter of the greatest concernment your Pulpit wrings against Errors The People cries what are those errors You answere that there are a company of men roâ— up that denies God and Christ and the Scriptures and the Gospel and prayer and all Ordinances and yet yoâ— have not considered with a meek spiriâ— what these men say but cry then down without tryall is this spiritual judging Well matters of this nature are to be judged with a wary and moderate spirit
Answ As his body was laid by the hands of his enemies in the earth as dead carrion as they thought like one of themselves when they die but his body corrupted not the creation but rose up above corruption purging it out Qu. Explaine your meaning Ans. His body being made of the four Elements which were corrupted by man in whom they all dwelt they are restored again from that bondage of corruption by the body of Christ in whom they all dwelt likewise As thus his breath rose up above the corruption of the Ayre purifying the Ayre his moysture rose up above the corruption of the waters purifying the water his heat and warmth rose up above the corruption of the fire cleansing the fire and his flesh and bones rose up above the corruption of the earth and stones purifying of them and so he spreading himselfe in the body of the Creation took of the curse so that the foundation of restoration of all things was laid in and by him which when it is manifested then man kinde shall see the glory of it and till that time the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in paine waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God Q. I but the Apostles saw him after he was risen and touched him and saw him ascend upwards Ans. The declaration of Scripture doth point out the mystery of Christs spirituall â—ising and the exaltation of his spirituall power over the flesh and over the corruption that is in the Creation for the whole Scriptures are but a report of spirituall myâ—teries held forth to the eye of flesh in â—ords but to be seene in the substantiall â—atter of them by the eye of the Spirit and â—herefore the Apostle might well say they saw touched Christ for their very bodies and mindes were changed and made like to his glorious body for they were made new creatures and were raised up above corruption which was no other but Christ rising up in them and lifting up himselfe in their fight and feeling above the flesh Quest Why then I perceive that as the body of the first man was a representation of the whole Creation and did corrupt it so the body of Christ was a representation of the whole Creation and restores it from corruption and brings all into the unity of the Father again Ans. This is very true for in this particular lies the mystery of the Fall and the restoration of all things again Q. But whither went the Spirit of Christ Ans. To his Father that is entred into the spirit of the whole Creation into that Spirit that breathed all forth of himselfe and that governs all by himselfe which is Reason and so is become one with him and being lifted up will draw the whole Creation to the spirit of onenes with himselfe and with his Father As a bucket of water first taken out of the Sea and standing alone for a time is afterwards powred into the Sea again and becomes one with the Sea And this is the Seed that comes to bruise the Serpents head and when his work was done in that one particular person hee returned backe again to his Father from whence he came and now sends down his Spirit and drawes up Sonnes and daughters yea the whole Creation into himselfe And truly this is great comfort to me that whereas formerly there was not a man found that could remove the curse but every one still increased the curse now there is a man found that hath killed the curse in part and the virtue of that sweet oyntment shall cleanse the whole and this worke is now breaking out for the Father will make the Creation to know it by experience and it shall be hid no longer And this points out the mystery of the first Adam and the second Adam or the first Man and second Man which the Father Reason was pleased should spring up in mankinde Q. What doe you mean by the first Adam or first man Ans. He is a preparer to hold forth three names or titles of the one perfect power of darknesse and yet a son that Reason hath brought forth But this son is said to be of the earth earthy for he is a son that feeds lives and delights himselfe altogether in and upon the objects of the earth endeavourin to make himself a Lord over his fellow creatures in unrighteousnesse seeking to advance himselfe though it be to others ruine and this man hath lift up his heel against his Maker and knowes him not Qu. Is this Adam one single person or branch of humane flesh Ans. Every particular branch of mankind living upon the objects of the creation and rejecting their maker are the linage or generation of the first man yea being bound up all together they make up but the one first Adam Qu. Declare more plaine what this first man is Ans. He is that mighty power of flesh that leades flesh to live upon it selfe and not to live upon its maker it followes the way of the flesh with greedinesse and jeeres and ejects the spirit And this is called a mighty man because he being to act his part in the great world first as Father Reason will have it He hath drawne all flesh into disobedience to the spirit And this Adam hath beene very fruitfull he hath filled the earth with himself and covered all with his darknesse For looke upon every man and woman in the world that lives upon the obâ—ects of the creation and not upon the spirit in the creation and they are but branches of the first man and then put them all together into one lumpe and they make up still but the first man perfect an earthy man that knowes not the spirit and therefore when you see a man wholly delighting himselfe in the enjoyment of fellow creatures you may call him truly Adam or the first man Qu. What is the spirit in the Creation Ans. It is a meeke and loving spirit liveing in the light and strength of reason holding up the whole creation in a onenesse of sweet compliency in every creature according to its place and office Qu. What are those three names of one perfect power of darknesse that the first man Adam was a preparer of Ans. First The King of darknesse or aspiring power of the flesh that lifts up his heele against his Maker but yet lies within and acts not Secondly The beastly son that arises up from that rebelling power and that is Man that holds forth this rebellion to fellow creatures for now rebellion is broke out and Reasons law is violated the creatures flesh seekes to honour it selfe and hath forsaken his Maker here is the Father and the Son of darknesse Thirdly When the whole earth is filled with this disobedience so that you cannot meet with a branch of mankinde but hee lives upon the objects of the creation and not upon the spirit This makes the first man perfect in darknesse and the whole world is filled with uncleane
terror to all unrighteousnesse Qu. But what if the Powers of a Land command some of their people to hold forth the scriptures to the rest and they be willing to obey An. If they doe they can command their servants only to read them and to such people as are willing to hear them read but they cannot command their servants to spend constructions thereupon neither can they force the people to come to hear those constructions but must leave both parties at liberty neither can they force the people to give the tenths of their increase for a yearly maintenance to those servants neither can those servants say we speake truthes and what differs from our constructions are errors and so call upon the Magistrate their master to punish such whom they brand for hereticks for all these things denie the scriptures and is contrary to the spirit of the Father and doe tie his hands and hinder the setting up of pure service and sow emnity to the Fathers own way of teaching They say I deny Father Son and Holy Ghost but wherefore they raise such a scandall I cannot tell yet hereof I shall give this accompt Qu. What is Father Son and Holy-Ghost Answ These are three names given to the one Spirit As first the Father he is the spirit Reason out of whom the creation of heaven and earth with every branch of it proceeded The Spirit in whom all things lay before there was any manifestation appeared visible and this is called the siery orbe or spirit of burning that will trie all mens works of what nature they be Secondly the Son is the light and declaration of the Father to the creation after it was come forth and here first note that every creature in its place and stature is a son to the Father because every single creature doe demonstrate his maker to the view of his fellow creature every one as a candlestick holding forth the Father by the light that is in it self for indeed the light that is in it is the Father himself and the Father shewes forth himself to the creation by every particular parcell of the creation but these are but darke or weake shining Suns Suns over which the clouds are much spread But now perfect man is the Son of the Father in perfect glory for when the Father rules and shines in him bodily then he can declare the Father by all his senses to the câ—eation which no other creature can doe but he Therfore man is called the supream creature and he can call the spirit Lord because he sees and heares feels smels and tastes that he who is the spirit of gentlenesse uniting all together in love and sweet compliancie doth governe the whole creation and subjects all the flesh under him and makes it serviceable Now thaâ— man that is not humble and subject to the spirit his maker he is a Sun undâ—r a dark eclipse he hath the forme of the Son indeed that hath no â—rightnesse in him he is not the well beloâ—ed Son So you see here is the Father and the Son both in one person and spirit Now thirdly the Holy Ghost is a man in whom the Father dwels bodily which is Eâ—manuel God with us and in and by whom the Father doth manifest his power in doâ—ng great works And he is said to be holy â—ecause the darknesse of the flesh is subdued â—nder the feet of the spirit and the spirit â—ules in flesh over all his enemies And he is called the Go-host or the â—rength of heaven living and walking in â—esh as an host or army of men are called the â—rength of a land and going up and down or the defence of the land against all eneâ—ies so I say perfect man hath the strength â—f the Father dwelling bodily in him And â—ne man thus drawne up is as an hoste of â—en or a strong army or a Go-host going â—r travelling among enemies and subduing â—hem under his feet by the power of the â—pirit that is in him And thus did the man Jesus Christ tread â—ll enemies powerfully under foot and â—ranke not he was a Go-host or a traveling army of mighty strength which way sover he went the spirit dwelt in him without measure And the particular Saints likewise as they are drawn up into the Father they have this tearme given them that on shall chase a hundred and a hundred put tâ— thousand to flight this declares they aâ— go-hosts or armies of mighty strength Now he that sins against the Father or the the Son in the former sense of Son-ship â— I said shall be forgiven and here he speakâ— of creatures one trespassing against anotheâ— and in so doing sins against the Father the is the light in them And here flesh mâ— possibly walke in wayes of opposition to the Father as he shines forth in creatures or â— he shines forth out of man weakly but â— that sins against that body in whom the Fâ—ther dwels bodily shall not be forgiven A man may sin against other sons and â— forgiven but he that sins against this belâ—ved son this holy Ghost this strength â— the Father shall never be forgiven By the word He or whosoever doth sinâ— is not meant here the creature man but the man of sin or powerfull serpent within the flesh for this strong wicked man fights against the strength of heaven this would nâ— have the spirit to dwel in flesh bodily why because he himself would dwel there wouâ—â— have the spirit to be under his proud feet therefore there is an irreconcilable difference between the man of sin the serpent and the man of righteousnes the Spirit both striving to dwell in man but the spirit will prove the stronger Qu. But if it must only be the cursed one in me that shal be destroyed I le live as I list I shal be saved An. Know this that this body of sin and the flesh is so nearly wrapped each in other that before the spirit hath parted them thou shalt roar in bitternesse and wish thou hadst never been borne and the more familiarity thou hast had with thy cursed lust the sharper will thy torments be the foundâ—r cannot burn away the drosse but must burn the gold too in the fire Qu. But if you take it Spirit Father Son and holy Spirit and leave the word Ghost out as to be a declaration of the Father as some say Answ Then the Spirit doth declare holy breathing as when man was first made his maker breathed into him the breath of life and man became a living soul so that the spirit in the man is the life and breath of God in the man and so a holy spirit And in this sense likewise the man of sin the powers of the curse in man seeke to deâ—troy the light life and breathing of God in man but he must be destroyed under the feet of the spirit who will dwell himself in his own house which house is man Qu. But