is lead to life but every one that doth evill hateth the light and will not bring his deeds to the light lest they should be reproved and so the light is his condemnation John 3.18 19 20 21. They affirmed That Christ died not for all contrary to the Scripture 2 Cor. 5.15 as abovesaid They say that the Scripture is the Word of God which is but a Declaration of the Word Luke 1.1 And Christ his Name is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 The Scriptures are words of God and Christ is the Word that fulfils and ends the words They affirmed That men and women and Children should be condemned for Adams Transgression c. contrary to the Scripture which saith The Children shall not bear the iniquity of their Fathers nor the Fathers the Childrens but every one shall give an account of himself and every one shall bear his own burden They affirmed That none could be perfect on this side the Grave and that a Ohilde of God cannot be perfect as to have no sinne at all Answ Contrary to the Scripture Mat. 5.48 Where Christ saith Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect And Christ doth 〈…〉 nor command impossible things and the Apostle saith We speak wisdome amongst them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2. And let as many as are perfect be thus minded and the Childe of God is perfect and without sinne for whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sinne and his seed remaines in him and he cannot sinne because be is born of God 1 John 3.8 9. It is as impossible for him that is born of God to commit sinne as it is impossible for him who is born of the Devil to cease from sinne They affirmed That none was Ministers of Christ but such as wait for an ordinary and mediate call from Men. Answ Contrary to the Scripture which saith The things of God knowes no man but the Spirit of God And contrary to Pauls Call who saith Not of man nor by man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ for he neither received of man neither was he taught it but it was given to him of God and this was the Gospell he preached Christ within the hope of Glory and if any bring another let them be accursed 1 Cor. 2. Gal. 1.1.12 Colos 1. They affirmed That an oath was lawfull to be taken of men and women Answ Contrary to Christs Command Mat. 5. who saith Swear not at all c. and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine James 5.12 who saith Above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into Condemnation They affirmed That Bread and Wine is the Communion with Christ Answ John and the Saints had Communion with God and his Son Jesus Christ and their Fellowship was in the Light For saith he if we walk in the Light as he is in the light then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.5 7. And they who are in the Light have fellowship with Christ and receives every thing in the purity from the Lord but they that hate the Light they remain in darknesse and every thing to them is accursed to the unbelieving and disobedient their is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled They affirmed that sprinkling Infants is an Ordinance of Christ when as Christ never ordained such a thing and their is no Scripture for it let the Priests of Scotland or any of their brethren in England prove it if they can They affirmed it was lawfull for them be called of men Master Answ Contrary to Christ his expresse words in Mat. 23.8.10 be not ye called of men Master c. They affirmed Tythes to be lawfull for Ministers now shewing themselves to be Antichristian dark and blind denying Christ Jesus to be come in the flesh and saying that is lawful which Christ hath disannulled and made void and there is no Law in the new testament that doth allow of Tythes to be paid to a Gospel Ministry therefore not lawful These are some of the false Doctrines and Principles of the Presbyterians about Glasgow Whereby it was plainly manifest that they are guilty of heresy and are heriticks which they would charge upon others But true Light now shineth which maketh deceipt and deceivers manifest Henry Foreside said in the hearing of several people that Christ was not in the Apostle Paul c. Contrary to Pauls words in Gal. 1. After it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me c. and in 2 Cor. 13. Ye seek a proofe of Christ speaking in me and Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1. and Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Peter Kid Priest of Douglasse said to preach that people should walk according to the Light and law within them is the Doctrine of Devils Answ Paul and other of the Apostles and Saints and true Christians who believed in Christ had the Light shining in them and the Law in them and the Spirit in them and God and Christ dwelt in them for their bodies were made Temples of the Holy Ghost as the Scriptures declare and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus had made the Apostle free from the law of sin and death and saith John these things I write unto you that your fellowship may be with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This was the Doctrine of Christ to bring people to Light Law life and spirit within to worship God in spirit and in truth and all who draw out and lead people from this are deceivers and their Doctrine is devilish William Somerwell Priest said It was ill manners to to say thee and thou to a man c. Contrary to the Scripture which all along doth give thee and thou to a particular not onely unto man though never so great in the world but also to God himself and unto Christ William Morton Priest of Wonstone summoned James Simmonton to his Sessions and being required to prove his Ministry he said he scorned to prove himself a Minister of Christ Contrary to the Scripture which saith be ready to give account of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear to every one that shall aske you And when he was told of taking hire for his preaching contrary to Christ his Commission who saith Freely ye have received freely give then the Priest arose in arage and called him base-born beggarly raskall contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth William Stockdale being in the Steeple-house of Lesmahagow where John Lum Priest thereof was preaching and he being writing some of his lyes the Priest cryed out and said There
was never any since the world began was free from sin nor never shall be write that said he Answ Which is quite contrary to plain Scripture Rom. 6.18 20 22. Being made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousnesse for when ye were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousnesse but now being made free from sin and become servants of God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord And Paul said Rom. 8.2 The Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death A Relation of some of the Sufferings of Friends to the Truth in Scotland JOhn Roberton called Lord of Ornock publickly refused to enter Andrew Hambleton in Shawton-hill in his possession under him because he was excommunicated by the Priests Witnesses of this Elexander Hambleton and John Strudders William Gray James Findly John Gray Robert Smally John Robine was summoned to be upon a Jewry at Dunbarton and when they came there and went within the Barr they puld off their Bonnets and bad them swear unto whom they answered they would not swear But they will tell the Truth and take God to be their Witnesse upon it but this they would not receive for John Callhonne called the Sheriffs deputy bad them swear by God and hold up their hands or go into prison and it was answered we dare not transgresse the Doctrine of Christ who said swear not at all he said it was but the Law of Christ that bad men not swear but the Law of God bad men swear and so would have set the old law over Christ who is the end of it who forbids swearing And because they durst not transgresse the Doctrines of Christ in which the Apostle lived who said Above all things my Bretheren swear not at all they put them all five into Prison The Heads of that which past in Discourse betwixt the People called Quakers and the two Priests of Hambleton in the Priests house The Names of the Priests are Jam. Nesmith and John English in which Discourse they have manifested themselves and all the rest of their Generation to be none of the Ministers of Christ but the Ministers of Anti-christ who preaches another Gospel then the Apostles did as in the Discourse following you may plainly see And also some Reasons why we deny them First JAmes Nesmith said There is no salvation in an ordinarie way for sinners without externall Revelation from the Scriptures Answ Here all may see they hold out another way to salvation then the Prophets and the Apostles did for they said Christ was given for salvation to the ends of the earth Isay 49.6 and there was not salvation in any other nor no other Name given by which any can be saved but by the Name of Jesus Acts. 4.12 But that salvation they tell of which is by external revelation from the Scriptures was never held forth by the Prophets nor the Apostles nor declared of in all the Scriptures of Truth therefore all may see they are such as preach another Gospel then the Apostles did and so are to be holden accursed and turned away from Gal. 1.8 Jam. Nesmith said That Christ doth not excommunicate the knowledge of himself but by the Scriptures and that the Scripture is the means by which the knowledge of God is imparted Answ This is a lye and Scripture contradiction For Christ who doth communicate the knowledge of himself by his own Spirit saith none knows the Son but the Father neither doth any man know the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 So it is not by the Scriptures that the true knowledge of God is imparted to any man but by Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 The second Priest John English First Said the Vail that was over people in the time of the Law was the Old Testament and it was taken away by the New Testament Answ Sin was and is the vail by which the mystery was vailed all the time of the Law until now for when Moses is read the same vail remains over their hearts for their minds was and is blinded by the God of this World lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ which is the Image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4.4 nevertheless when their hearts shall be turned to the Lord the vail shall be taken away 2 Cor. 3.16 which vail is done away in Christ 2 Cor. 3.14 and not by the Scripture which they call the New Testament and here John English is proved to be a lyar and of his father the Devil who is a lyar from the beginning 2. John English said That the Gospel that was preached to Abraham was the same for matter but not for substance neither was it a clear Gospel Answ The Gospel that was preached to Abraham was the same for matter and substance which Paul preached for matter and substance is one and it was a clear Gospel for Christ the substance was preached to Abraham and Abraham saw his day and rejoyced John 8.56 Therefore give over deceiving the people with lies and repent 3. John English said The Scripture is the glasse by which we see the Face of God Answ This is a lie and Scripture contradiction for the Apostle saith God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Mark the Priests ignorance or the Scriptures and here all may see that he is one of them that keeps people in darkness from seeing the face of God and erres not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 4. John English said The foundation of the Prophets and Apostles was meant the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament Answ The Prophets and Apostles meant what they speak and the same foundation which they declared of and builded upon did 〈◊〉 Enoch Noah and others who died in the Faith before the Old and New Testament was written build upon which foundation was Christ the Rock of Ages the foundation of the chief Corner Stone 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Cor. 2.11 But thou art one of them that drawes people from the foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles to build upon thy lies and consequences which building and foundation the Lord will bring to naught for he is risen to sweep away the refuge of lies which thou and thy generation hath been covered with and will make you naked and bare for your covering is too short that your shame cannot be hid any longer 5. John English said That they had their commission from Paul to give Bread and Wine Answ Here hast thou made it plainly manifest that thou and thy generation are none of the Ministers of Christ who say you have your
came to fulfill The Priests third Curse to which all the people were to say Amen Cursed be all they that say Faith is without sin and let all the people say Amen Ans FAith is the gift of God and the gift of God is without sin Eph. 2.8 Faith is that which gives the victory John 3.4 And that which gives victory is without sin And here they have cursed the Apostles and their Doctrine who saith Faith is without sin and Faith is precious 1 Pet. 1.7 and that which is Precious is without sin Faith is the gift of God and the gift of God is perfect and that which is perfect is without sin and gives victory over sin Without Faith a man cannot please God and that which men please God in is without sin Hebr. 11.6 And so ye have cursed the Apostle and his Doctrine the just and that which is pure that by which they were healed through Faith they were justified Rom. 3.28 and what is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.23 So what is of Faith is not sin and what is righteous is not sin and the Scripture speaks of the righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.13 Faith is not of sin but what is not of Faith is sin Faith gives victory over sin 1 John 3.4 in which Faith man is justified and hath peace with God Rom. 5.1 and it is a mystery held in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 The Priests fourth Curse to which all the people were to say Amen Cursed are all they that say every man hath a light sufficient to lead him to Christ and that within him and let all the people say Amen Ans HEre they have cursed the Apostles Doctrine who said God would dwell in them 2 Cor. 6.16 and Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.27 and God is light 1 John 1.5 And they have cursed the Prophets who said I give him for a Covenant a Leader of the people I will dwell in them and walk in them saith God Jer. 31.31 Hebr. 10.16 And he saith I will send you the Spirit of truth and it shall lead you into all truth John 14.17 John 16 13. And I will be their God to rule them and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 Thy curses are but winde for we are redeemed from the curse and the Apostles said the light that shined in their hearts was to give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 and they that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 and the light to guide our feet in the way of peace and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and if any bring another Doctrine receive them not into your houses neither bid them God speed 2 John 9 10. You have here shewed your selves in the cursed estate out of the Apostles rule the same spirit of truth that led the Disciples into all truth that shall reprove the world of sin John 16.8 13. The Priests fifth Curse to which all the people were to say Amen Cursed be all they that deny the Sabbath-day and let all the people say Amen Ans HEre thou hast cursed thy self and all the Apostles and all the Saints and their own generation hast not thou and thy own generation denied the Sabbath day the Jews met on which is the Sabbath day according to the Scripture do not ye meet together upon the first day and was not Christ crucified on the sixth day and did not he arise on the first day and did not the Saints meet together on the first day and not keep the Jews Sabbath-day do not you work upon it your selves and keep Markets and Fairs on it but as it is said before we are Redeemed from the curse These are the particular Sentences whereupon Matthew Mackell and the rest of the Priests present with him did excommunicate those people called Quakers in the presence of many witnesses and he required his Hearers to say Amen to every particular sentence John Humes Priest of Lismahagow his Principles Pr. THey who have not the Scriptures knowes not the Attributes of God by the light of nature but the Scriptures declare the great mystery of the three persons in Trinity which they who want the Scriptures knowes not Ans Thy Principle is a lie and they that had not the Scriptures knew God and Christ as Abraham and Enoch and the Scripture doth not declare of the three persons nor of the Trinity and the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God Pr. That the Scriptures reveal the great mystery of Election the great works of the Creation and the work of Redemption Answ There thou hast set up the Scripture instead of God and before God and the Son for it is God that doth reveal to babes and sucklings Mat. 11.25 and God did reveal by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 and God shall reveal Phil. 3.15 and the things of God are hid from the wise and prudent Mat. 11.25 that have the Scriptures the Jewes had the Scriptures and God reveals his secrets to the Prophets his Servants Amos 3.7 no man knowes the Father saving to whom the Son shall reveal him Mat. 11.17 now the Son reveals and the Father reveals and the things of God are revealed by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 the Jewes had the Scriptures and knew not the Son 1 Cor. 2.8 nor the Father as in John nor the things of God by a natural light as they call it the Jewes had the Scriptures and did not know the Election Isa 24. because they were from the Spirit So it is God that reveals the Son and Redemption and Election and not the Scripture the Scripture was given forth from them that had the Revelation from God Pr. That wee and the Papists and Jesuites and Priests do agree all together that the Scripture is the word of God that liveth and endureth for ever Answ I do believe that you and the Papists and Jesuits agree all in one but ye did not agree with the Apostles and Ministers of the word for the Ministers of the word calls the Scripture a Declaration as ye may read Luke 1. and ye do not agree with them that set forth the Acts that called it a Treatise Acts 1. likewise ye do not agree with some of your own who say the Scriptures signifies writings and writings will not endure for ever so ye are Babylon and do not agree with Christ and ye do not agree with John Bev. 〈◊〉 who saith the words nor with Moses nor God who spake all these words Exod. 20. In the beginning was the word and the word is God and the word liveth and abideth for ever but the Scripture is words and the Scripture cannot be broken James Nesmith Priest of Hambleton his Principles Pr. THat the soul of man is a reasonable sinfull substance Answ How can that which is sinful be reasonable and if that which is unsinful be
reasonable and sinful be reasonable both then they are one in unity The Lord will take the soul for an offering for sin doth the Lord take that which is sinful for an offerring Isai 53. see how thou and the Prophet agrees here But what is that soul that the wicked is not able to kill is it not that which God hath in his hand and this is a lye to say that which is reasonable is sinful of one that puts light for darknesse God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul who hath all souls in his hand and the soul is immortal and Christ the Bishop of it is immortal and God hath it in his hand which goeth against him that doeth evil whose hand is immortal but man transgressing against the commands of God the soul lies in death so Christ is the Bishop of the souls so they that came to know Christ their souls rejoyce in God their Saviour Luke 1. Pr. That the evil Spirits are both sinfull and reasonable Answ This is a lie for reasonable is not sinful and unreasonable is sinful 2 Thes 3. they have not the faith and if the evil Spirit be reasonable and the good reasonable they are both one who then is unreasonable If the evil Spirit be reasonable thou pots no difference between the precious and the vile thou hast the Mark of a blind guide and a false Prophet in thy so ehead Pr. That one of them Quakers is worse then the Devil A. This is a lie with his strange wonder for there is nothing worse then the Devil whose children you are for when he speaks a lie he speakes of himself and he is the Father of it Henry Foreside Priest of Lingiah in Dunbarton shire His Doctrine and PRINCIPLES Pr. THat God commands all every where to repent to the end that they should not have it to say but they were warned but not that he would give them grace to repent Answ Here thou makes God that he does not intend that he speaks and so thou would make him unrighteous though the Lord commands all men every where to repent Acts 17.30 who hath made all Nations of men of one blood to dwell upon the Earth and all being concluded under sin and unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 3.9 For both Jewes and Gentiles all were under sin and none of them did good no not one And Gods intent is that when he calls men to repentance they should repent when he calls them and many did repent and you are not fit men to be Ministers of Christ or God Now if God command all men every where to Repent and as thou sayst does not intend they should Repent thou and you go about to make God unjust First the Lord he desireth not the death of a sinner but that he should turn from his wickednesse and live Exod. 33.11 Now in the turning from his wickednesse he lives but in going on in his wickednesse he dies so Repentance was Preached from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 6.1 Christ came to call finners to Repentance not the Righteous for the whole needs not the Physitian but to the sick Mat. 9.12 13. And as for saying God did not intend to give them grace though he calls them to repentance That is a lie unrighteous doctrine for the grace of God hath appeared to all men which brings Salvation Titus 2.11 and so as he calls them to repentance he gives them grace that grace which brings salvation which men are justified by so it is saving grace that brings salvation and teacheth to deny ungodlinesse Now they that live ungodly turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse Jude 4. and these are the wells without water in Cains way Balaams way and Cores way Jude 11. speaks the high words in hypocrisie and these are they that separate themselves from the Apostles sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. and are of old ordained to condemnation who separated from the light which turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse so these are they that neglect the common salvation it was the charge of the Apostle to Timothy before his decease 1 Tim. 4.2 2 Tim. 4.7 Then told him perillous times should come and Doctrines of Devils and men speaking lies in hypocrisie he said unto them that they should trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 But the Devils Doctrine leads them from their Saviour and from the grace 2 Tim. 4.1 And they that are not in the Doctrine are from the light which Christ hath inlightned them withall John 1.9 And have turned the grace of God into wantonnesse and pernitious wayes and drawes others from it and we do conclude that to be the Doctrine of Devils which sayes God calls all men to repent and intends not to give them grace nor would not have them to repent as thou Henry Foreside doth say for it was the charge of the Apostle to Titus to speak sound words and sound Doctrine and could not be condemned Titus 2. and told him that the grace of God which brings salvation had appeared to all men which taught them to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lust and to live godly soberly and righteously in this present evill world these things speak and exhort with all authority Tit. 1. But as I said before ungodly men that turn the grace of God into wantonnesse are of old ordained to this condemnation and this the is condemnation of the world that light is come into the World and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill John 3.19 he that loves the light the light is his Saviour but he that hates the light it is his condemnation Pr. That the two parts of the Church must be prophane and godless Ans The Church is the Pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the living God for the ungodly are out of its grounds and that which is ungodly the pillar and ground of truth there is no ungodly in it and the Church is without wrinkle or spot holy without blemish Eph. 5.27 and the Church is in God 1 Thes 1.1 That which is in God is in the light and out of the ungodly Pr. That God before the world was had ordained one little part of the people for eternal life that sin or do all the evil they could they could not loose that which was ordained for them Ans Here thou goest about to make Christ a lyar for he that commits sin is the servant of sin 1 Joh 3.8 saith He that commits sin is of the Devil saith the Apostle and thou wouldst make God partial and hast taught a Doctrine contrary to the Scriptures For God is no respecter of persons Rom. 2.11 Who will give to every one a reward according to their works Psal 62.12 And he that works iniquity must depart cursed from Christ
art unrighteous who would make God and the Apostles unrighteous like thy selfe let all that fear God judge of it who are now come to the judgment Seat before the Almighty God who have been them that erred from the Apostles Doctrine with it is judged and are judged and you must have a reward according to your works and he that comes to life comes out of his wickednesse and not the wicked man enters into the kingdom of God Rev. 21. and the promise is to the seed and he that works iniquity departs from the seed Gal. 3.16 And the Election obtaines it Rom. 11.7 Not him that wills nor runs But God that shewes mercy And whereas thou sayest the wicked manis ordained to life without any cause in the Creature less or more This is just the Devils Doctrine again to bring every one to hide his Talent and none neither to watch nor pray for this is the creature that brings him to lay a side wickednesse and to depart from sin and iniquity which lets him see it and covetous and drunkennesse so through the obedience of the Spirit and that is in the Creature that brings him to confesse his sin and for sake it whereby mercy is shewed the power of God worketh in us saith the Apostle And as they had been servants to unright cousness so came to yeeld themselves servants unto righteousnesse Rom. 6. How comes the commands of God to be obeyed if there be not somthing in the creature that cause him to obey it For thou sayest without any cause in the creature why were all these expressions spoken in scripture that they should obey all things that Christ commanded Mat. 28.20 And all the statute and Ordinances spoken of in the scriptures if there be not something in man to cause him to obey it but thy intent is to make God unrighteous who respects no mans person but gives to every man a reward according to works Rev. 2.23 The one as well as the other and all shall appear befor the judgement of Christ 2 Cor. 9.10 He will judge the world in righteousnesse but there is something in the creature for every man that cometh into the world being enlightned whereby he is capable of obeying or disobeying and not believing comes to be condemned and in believing he is saved he hath the witnesse in himselfe John 3.8 1 John 5.10 For he that commits sin is the servant of sin John 8.24 And there is no respect of persons with God but whosoever doth righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10.34 35. The Apostle said He perceived God was no respecter of persons but whosoever doth wickedly he hates the light and is condemned but whosoever doth the truth cometh to the light John 3.21 and so out of condemnation so thou teachest another Doctrine so as I said before The promise is to the seed the seed is Christ and Christ all and in all 1 Cor. 15.28 And all ungodly and wicked men are shut out of the Kingdome of God where no wicked men enters one nor other and man must be turned again from wickedness before he encers Rev. 21.8 Pr. He being asked what he would do with Quakers and he said if he had been a Civil Magistrate he would have thought it good service to have cut off all their heads Ans There ye may all see if he be not of Cains stock and what an envy proceeds out of his mouth and unchristian Spirit and how would he convert them if they were out of the way and how would he convince them who would cut off their heads hath not this proved the Quakers to be in the truth and he out of it and is not the command of Christ that ye should love your enemies Mat. 5.44 Now ye may see he is out of the command and example but followed the example of Cain the murtherer and doth not his envie show as much against the Magistrates as against the the Quakers because they will not execute his malice and slay them for him and be his executioners and were not these Priests as mad against the Magistrates as they are now against the Quakers at Dunbar fight and would not they have had their heads off let their Pulpits witness though now they admire their persons because of advantage Jude 16. Who cannot hold in but their shame must be uttered forth who would slay the persons of men as Cain did so wo from the Lord is gone out against you who are envious and strives to make the people envious but the life of God is risen in the hearts of his people with which they shall see you all and the Quakers be out of the way of Cain who be in the light of Christ Jesus the Saviour of the soul in which they come to have a habitation in God the Saviour of all men especially of them that beleeve 1 Tim. 4.10 So you that be out of the light be Vagabonds though ye have great habitations in the earth for Cain built a City yet a Vagabond Gen. 4. Pr. It was asked him of a fore-ordained number to desiruction and for what Christ wept over Jerusalem He said as he was humane he mourned and his Godhead decreed them to Hell Ans This is a lying Doctrine of the Devil for after many of them of Jerusalem came to be converted as ye may read in Acts 2. And many of the Priests came to be obedient to the Faith for all being gone astray both Jews and Gentiles Rom. 3.9 concluded under sin the pure the eternal tendred over them who had stopped their ears and closed their eyes to that which was pure of God in them that they might have come to that which is pure and have been gathered under Christs wings Mat. 23.37 who is pure and so have been converted and healed and have heard with their ears and have seen with their eyes And as for the word humane that is not Scripture language it speaks not that language and there were converted many thousands of the Jews and they were pricked to the heart when that the Apostle said that was both Lord and Christ whom ye have crucified Acts 2. mark ye here thou mayest see thy self to be a lyar for here was of the Jews and of Jerusalem that he had wept over thou sayest he had ordained them them to Hell as he was God which were converted afterwards so thou wouldst make God unequal that the Son is not in the Father and divideth them that the Son should weep over them and the Godhead decree them to Hell and did not Christ command his Apostles that they should not depart from Jerusalem and was not the mighty conversion at Jerusalem so hath not Christ wept over Jerusalem and after was there not a mighty conversion there And thou sayest he condemned them as God to Hell there thou mayest see thy self in the Devils Doctrine 1 Tim. 4.1 Many thousands were converted at Jerusalem which Christ wept over before the
be not forgetful to entertain strangers for some have entertained Angels unawares when as ye would have the servants of the Lord prisoned and stocked and stoned to death or their heads chopped off so you are them that be in Cains way vagabonds from the Spirit of God now a vagabond hath not a habitation in God but wanders from the witnesse of God in him like Cain who built a City and called it after his Sons name Heb. 13.2 Gen. 4. I am the light of the world that lighteth every one that cometh into the world saith Christ the Saviour of our souls every one going from the light ye be enlightened withall ye are vagabonds and have have not a habitation in God and so goes into Cains way envious and would slay Balaams and Cores way which are with the light condemned and like unto those Jewes That haled out of the Synagogues that Christ spake of that goes in long Robes and are called of men Master but Christ saith be ye not called of men Master for one is your Master even Christ Mat. 23. Christ said they that went in long Robes loved the chiefest places in the assemblies should hale out of the Synagogues and they that do these things be gone from the light John 3.19 Joh. 16.2 All this perswading of corrupt Magistrates to persecute them that reprove sin in the gates in the Steeple-houses streets and highways is because men have a self-ish end and a private interest to themselves both Professors of Scriptures and Teachers and them that doth persecute hath a self-ish honour and an interest to themselves and so the self-ish Professors Teachers Magistrates that persecutes for them they have a form of godliness but the witness lies slain in them and they matter not for that rising for in that rising all the deeds words and actions come to light and then if the witness of God arise in them they will not be offended at such as reproves sin in their Gates Markets Steeple-houses and Streets for all upon the earth while they are from the witness of God in them they are corrupted and they may get the form of godliness the form of Christs the Prophets and Apostles words and live out of the power and be in the Religion that is vain for none upon the earth comes to the power of godliness but first they must come to the witness of God in them and there is none upon the earth that ever comes to the first principle of the pure Religion but first they must come to the witness of God in them There 's none knows the Scriptures given forth from the power and Spirit of God which was in the Saints but first they are brought to the Spirit of God in their own particulars Come all you Officers and Souldiers now after ye have ease and have overcome your enemies without take heed least you sit down in your ease and fulness and fall down into the earth and flesh and feastings and fulness and pride and so corrupts the earth and your selves and not come down to the witness of God in you whereby the enemy of God and of your own souls might be slain that you might come to find rest and peace in God after your outward wars and so come to the inward wars which takes away the cause of the outward whereby you may all come into true understanding to answer that of God in every one for them that do evil act contrary to that of God in them to such the sword is a terror and a praise to them that do well which is led by the Spirit of God up to God who is pure out of the evil and all Magistrates swords upon the earth should reach to that which is pure in every one to the soul so it takes away that which wars against it that breaks the outward so comes the soul to be subject to the higher power that 's above the transgressor which all the Magistrates and Rulers upon the earth must give an account to and there is none upon the earth that comes to worship God in the spirit and in truth but who first come to own that of God in them and there is none upon the earth that are like to retain God in their knowledge nor his Covenant while their minds is reprobated from that of God in them There all may see the Covenant of Grace to all men and the Covenant of light and life with the Father he gave him for a Covenant of light to the Gentiles to the Heathen I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and Judah the people of God I will write my Law in their hearts and their mindes so saith Christ the Covenant of God I am the light of the world and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that all men through the light of the Covenant of God might beleeve it is the Covenant of God that every man that cometh into the world is enlightned withal and every one that hates the light wherewith they are enlightned withall hates the Covenant and the light condemns him and here all men may see the free grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men the grace of God that brings the salvation the turning the grace of God into wantonness and walking despightfully against the Spirit of grace they neglect their salvation and bring punishment and condemnation upon them as it s written in Jude Concerning Election and what is elected the grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men the clearing Gods Justice and the fault is in man for his condemnation There is a precious thing in these Scots but there is a filthy beastly durty thing lyeth over Lodowick Semerell Priest of the new Steeple-house of Monkeland his proceedings towards Margaret Hambleton MArgaret Hambleton went to him to aske the causes why he would excommunicate her he said for three causes First For that she denyed the Presbytery Secondly For denying the Ordinances Thirdly For not forsaking the company of seducers and hereticks Her answere to the first was your Presbytery I do deny because it is tyranical and hath no power given of God but what ye take from men for ye rule as Lords over Gods heritage The Priest said she was ignorant of Scriptures for they spake of the laying on the hands of the Presbytery she then bid him read the Hebrew copy which said the laying on the hands of the Elders and true Elders that ruled for the Lord I owne but such as thou that preaches for filthy lucre that are Covetous as Timothy I deny Secondly Thy saying I deny the Ordinances is a lie for all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ I owne as Preaching Praying or Reading as any is moved of the Lord so to do I own them for he that ministreth out of the ability that God hath given him or any speaking as the Oracle of God them I own and this is according to plain
you cannot deceive the Nations any more as ye have done Again the Priests of the Presbytery belonging to Glascow made a fast and excommunicated these persons viz. William Gray and James Findly and charged people not to let them come into their houses commanding them to have no commerse with them in buying nor selling nor borrowing nor lending and James Findly being a Smith they charged people that they should not work with him for if they did they should be excommuicated also and Henry Foreside Priest of that parish again told them that it was acted in the presbytery that if any work any longer work that pertaines to the Smiths trade with James Findly they should be excommnicants and should not parake with any of his Church-Ordinances as marriage sprinkling the children and communion of bread and wine which act several of the people murmures under but say they must obey it contrary to their minds because they cannot bear the Priests wrath Again John Burnett Priest of Kilbrid charged his hearers to have no dealings in civil affaires with these people called Quakers that were excommunicated and he summoned such to his Sessions which had eaten or drunken bought or sold with them requiring them to make publick confession before the people that they had given offence in so doing c. Again Robert Paul one of the Priests elders said he would convert James Findly and his doctrine to convert him by was this That the Scripture was the word And secondly That the Scriptures was God Thirdly That the Scriptures is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven and no other under Heaven Fourthly That the scriptures is the Holy Ghost that the Father promised that he would send that should reprove the world of sin c. Ans If he had said that the Scripture is that which testifie of these things that doctrine had bin more like to have converted for the scripture saith That the word was in the begining before scripture was and it saith that Christ is the way and there is no other Name under Heaven by which men shall be saved but by Christ it doth not say that by no other name but the scripture so that all such doctrine will pervert people from God and not convert them to God And the same Robert Paul said he would respect mens persons and that he would never be free from fin neither was it possible Answ How can thou do any other but respect persons and commit sin while thou denyes God to be God and Christ to be the way and would make the scriptures both to be God and the way to God and would make them the spirit the gift of the Father but herein thou art blind and leads none but the blind and doth pervert and not convert for thou art ignorant of that which convinceth the world of sin yet which is the Spirit of truth which the scripture testifies of but that thou must first come to know to convince thee of and to condemn thy darkness before thou do either convince or convert any unto God James Gartsore Priest said they loved God which keeped not his commandements Answ Which is contrary to the Apostles doctrine which saith If any man saith that he loves God and keeps not his Commandments he is a lyar and the truth is not in him and hereby do we know wee love God because wee keepe his commandements 1 John 2.3 4. and his Commandements are not grievous but joyous And Christ saith Why call ye me Lord and doth not the thing that I command you so that none loves God but he who keeps his Commandements and abideth in him and he that abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.6 Peter Kid Priest of Douglasse said Put a man in never such a close place his soule will run like a post horse Answ Thou shewest that thou art ignorant of the soul and never knew what it was nor knowes how to Minister to it nor how to watch over it But if thou had seen thine own condition thou might have said that thy vain thoughts and wandring imaginations runs to and fro in the earth and thy mind is not staid upon God and art not come to know the first principal of the the time Religion that which should stay thy mind upon God so thou art to wait to be taught and not to teach William Simerwell Priest of Petinance said that Christ died for the Elect and godly people of the world and not for the Turks and Pagans and Barbarians c. Answ Christ died for sinners according to the Scriptures Rom. 5.8 And he came to call sinners to repentance not the righteous or godly Mat. 9.13 And Christ died for all 2 Cor. 5.14 15. And is the propitiation for our sins saith the Apostle that was the believers and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole World and the Gospel is to be preached to every Creature and remission of sins in his Name to Turks Pagans and Barbarians So herein thou hast shewed that thou was never made a Minister of the Gospel unto any neither knoweth what the Gospel is to be Ministred unto so therefore be silent and learn no more to blaspheme God and his truth as thou hast done Again Priest Simerwell saith Christ calls all men every where to repent but he will not that all should Repent Answ Here thou would make Christ a deceiver and so hath manifested thy selfe to be Antichrist what doth Christ call men to do that which he would not have them to do What is there any guile to be found in his mouth would thou go about to turne the truth of the Scriptures into a lye which saith That God wills that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth that they might be saved and thou here hath charged Christ foolishly and falsly in saying that he calls them to do that which he would not have them to do when he calls all men every where to Repent The Priest of the Presbytery belonging to Glascow summoned James Findly and William Gray to be examined by him for Heresy as they say and when they appeared they shut the door and would let none hear their examination manifesting themselves to be in darknesse and afraid to bring their deeds to the Light left their deceipts should have been laid open and reproved but they would not answere untill the doors were set open and all people to here that would come in Truth is bold and seeks no Corners They Priests affirmed that the Light which every one is enlightened withall is naturall c. Answ Here they manifest their ignorance of the life of Christ which is spirituall whose life is the light of men and this is the true light that lighteth every man that comes into the world and this light is pure that Christ doth enlighten every one withall and whosoever doth truth love the Light and brings his deeds to the light to be proved and by the Light