Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	dwell_v	heart_n	holy_a	6,103	5	4.8962	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81535	A discovery of the great fantasie, or, Phantasticall conceitednesse. That is to say, of the antichristian blindnes of those, that out of a meer false imagination and phantasticall conceitednesse, do hold themselves to be Christians, sprituall divines, deputies and messengers or spokes-men of Christ, and take upon them, as mediatours, to save others, whom they call the secular lay-men; therewithall, reviling, traducing, condemning, excommunicating, persecuting, exiling, and putting to death the true children of God, for not yeelding unto this phantasie of theirs, conceiving, that therein they do God great service, when they busie themselves in weeding the ground thus, according to their phantasies, and endeavouring to save the angels a labour against the time of the harvest. Together with a discovery of the great arch-whore, and her paramours or lovers, whereof the spirit of God beareth witnesse.		1642 (1642)	Wing D1651; Thomason E124_28; ESTC R6001	19,094	24

Psal 50.16 17 conceit and tongue-faith comforting themselves from without in their imaginarie and Phantasticall apprehensions Isa 29.13 Matth. 7.26 Ioh 5.38 with the merit and satisfaction of Christ stroking and soothing thereby their old Man in his sinfull courses but cannot endure the Spirit of Christ stroking and soothing thereby their old Man in his sinfull courses but cannot endure the Spirit of Christ or the inward Word of God in the Heart as in his Temple reviling and traducing that gracious inhabiting despighting and gainsaying the holy Ghost openly Hebr. 10.29 and thus indeed rejecting the true foundation and corner-stone of the everlasting covenant in their building This beloved Luk. 11.39 is indeed a most false pernitiously and deadly foolish Phantasie whereby these Phantasticall Men together with all that cleave unto them Ioh. 17.10.20.23 and seek for light in darknesse do precipitate and plunge themselves into everlasting Darknesse For he that is not united with God by the inhabiting of Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 Hebr. 3.6 and 6.6 the true and onely light in a true faith must remain thus separated from God and enchained with Lucifer in darknesse for ever Therefore take heed and understand yet at length ye children of men 2 Pet. 2.1 that when your Preachers do deny and traduce the inhabiting of Christ in the true beleevers they do speak too presumptuously against Christ and against his members who by the inhabiting of the Spirit of Christ in them Ephes 4.30 or by the participation of the Divine Nature are truly sealed and new born to be the children of God and truly the apple of his eye 2 Cor. 1.22 But of themselves that deny this inhabiting of Christ and that Christ doth not dwell in them 2 Pet. 7. Ioh. 8.44 not feeling him in themselves and denying the Lord that bought them it may be truly said according to the saying of Christ to the Jews Ye are of your father the devill and the lusts of your father you will do He was a murtherer and a liar from the beginning and abode not in the truth because the truth is not in him When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own For this is manifest by the likenesse of these Scribes and Pharisees of the New Testament with these of the Old Testament which had the word of God not dwelling within them and called Christ a made man and an inchanter and plainly shewed by their hypocriticall and carnall course and conversation Matth. 11.30 Hebr. 10.29 and the fruits thereof that not Christ but Antichrist which is the spirit of Darknesse and the Prince of this world did inhabite them and wrought such works Now consider yet further dear Man Isa 61.6 1 Pet. 2.9 that by reason of and from this inhabiting and anointing all Christians are children of the light Priests of the Lord a royall priesthood and holy peculiar people of God that ought to declare the power of him that called them out of darknesse to his marvellous light and washed them through his blood and made them Priests Rev. 1.6.9 10. Rom. 12.18 Gal. 5. Hos 14.3 Heb. 5.13 Revel 5.8 Numb 16. 2 Chron. 26.16 to present their bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God and to crucifie and destroy the works of the flesh and the earthly members in their lusts to offer up the calves of their lips as the fruits of the same in a praise-offering to God through Christ and to present the censor of the heart full of the sweet-smelling savour of prayer For as in the old Testament none were permitted to be a priest and to burn incense before God but Aaron and his sons that issued from him as from a Rock so in the new Testament none is a Christian but he that is cut out of Christ the living Rock 1 Cor. 10.4 Cap 3.16 Matth. 16.18 1 Pet. 1.23 Isa 8.18 1 Ioh 5.1.14 Matth. 3.17 Ioh. 1.13 c. 4.24 c. 16.26 Hebr. 5.16 1 Cor. 6.17 Ioh. 14.16 17. 2 Cor 4.6 1 Ioh. 2. and built upon him and none dare draw neer unto God with his prayer but he that is regenerated of Christ And to his throne of grace they all approach with cheerfulnesse that will obtain mercie from God their heavenly Father through the same mercie seat Jesus Christ by whom as the well-beloved they are acceptable before God Ephes 1.6 And upon this same ground also all true Christians are not secular but spirituall men for they cleave unto the Lord and are one spirit with him which Christ hath given unto them from the Father and thereby sealed them whereby likewise as by a shewing light there ariseth in their hearts the enlightning from the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ assuring and teaching them inwardly and not onely making their hearts sure Gal. 5.16 but working withall the fruits of the Spirit within them such as are faith love patience peace kindnesse meeknesse c. and therefore they are spirituall people hating the works and fruits of the flesh such as are adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatry sorcerie enmitie strife envie wrath hatred variance divisions seditions murther drunkennesse gluttony pride ambition extortion covetousnesse and the like all which do mark out a secular Ier. 7. worldly and carnall man where they are committed But those that belong to Christ do crucifie their flesh with its lusts and desires and as they live in the spirit so they walk likewise in the spirit and are in deed and in truth no secular or worldly but spirituall men however otherwise by their places and offices here they may be Kings Princes Nobles Citizens or Pesants Mark then and try thy self O Man what fruits there break forth in thy life from within Matt 5.15.20.22.34.35.23.25.26 and how thy heart is disposed inwardly in its thoughts and affections whether thou be a secular or spirituall person Let not the prating of those falsely called spirituall or Divines with their outward Church preachings confessions and communions deceive thee but go and try now thy own self whether Christ doth dwell and live in thee whether thou be in the faith fit or unfit exercise love yea or no 2 Cor. 13.5.6 and let not their pretended difference trouble thee that they do call themselves the Priests spirituall ones and men in holy Orders or Divines and these of thy Rank and Qualitie the secular and Lay-people The Devill as the spirit of Darknesse hath taught them to devise this difference whose spirituall creatures they are for he can likewise transform himself into an Angel of light 1 Cor. 11.13 and is a spirit why not then as well also his own Apostles and Ministers but as he is a spirit of Darknesse so are they spirituall ones of darknesse or altogether worldly and carnall whose belly is their God and whose glory is their shame for that is one and the same before God and their end

another and let this be a sure mark and character when thy Preachers tell thee that the kingdom of God is to be sought with them in their stone Churches in their Pubpits in the Chancell of confession and in the Lords Supper or at the Communion inveighing and railing withall against those that do not condemne the gathering of the congregations to heart the Word but onely blame and speaks against the false opinions and maintain with Christ that the kingdom of God is within man and that the Christians are the true Temples and dwelling houses of God the holy Ghost I say again be sure then Luk. 17.20 1 Cor. 6.19 Hebr. 3.6 that such are the many Phantasticks and false Prophets Antichristian and diabolicall Teachers and if thou suffer thy self to be deluded and conceited by their means that repairing to them in their Churches in thy carnall wayes and conditions and so hearing them and fetching the pardon of thy sins from them for money an Alms or some other outward respect thou hast there performed thy service unto God art reconciled with God hast been in the kingdom of God and at his great Supper and yet dost not find the kingdom of God in thine own heart and soul but goest on still in the old vanity of thy carnall courses Ioh. 14.21 2 Ioh. 5. according to the lusts of this world then thou art a Phantastick as they and mig●tily deceived for not those that heart the Word here or there from without but they that have it in their hearts that keep and do accord●ng to it and live no more in th●mselves and their own desires but in Christ in God and according to the will of God and likew●se do love one another from the heart in all uprightnesse and sinceritie th●se are the children of God in whom Christ doth dwell as in his house and T●mple Hebr. 3.6 2 Cor. 3.16 and guide and govern them by his holy and blessed Spirit As for those other although they shall say Lord have we not done great deeds in thy Name Have we not made excellent and powerfull Sermons driven out Devils have we not been constant daily and diligent frequenters of the Church have we not often confessed our selves and gone to receive the Communion and absolution and pardon of our sins by thy vicegerents this is the sentence they shall be doomed withall Get ye hence ye workers of iniquitie Matth. 7.21 22 23. I never knew you yet for none shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but such as do the will of my Father Now to speak of the Bond of Brotherly love in the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Perfectnesse whereby the true children of God do love their very enemies and do good unto them for when all things shall cease yet love is to abide still and it is the onely infallible character of the children of God and Christs disciples But God himself is love 1 Cor. 13. Ioh. 13.34 1 Ioh. 4 17. and without him none can love either God or his neighbour Therefore true Christian love proceedeth from the gracious inhabiting of Christ who by his blessed spirit Rom. 5.4 Ioh. 16. doth powre out the love in our hearts which overcometh all crosses and afflictions and can be seperated from God by nothing Rom. 8.35 39. Consider and see now I pray whether thou canst trace out love in thy Preachers Verily if thou do not sufficiently honour them and fill their hands Luk. 20.45 46. or if thou discover but in the least degree or winke that thou dost not hold and esteam of them as of the Vicegerents of Christ Matth. 25. and such as are able to pardon thy sins or if thou agree and assent not unto their Phantastick opsnions but endeavour rather to draw and direct both them and thy neighbour out of a tender and brotherly heart unto that which is good even 1 Cor. 11.3.5 with Paul to Christ himself not assent to those Men or self-authorized Vicegerents thou shalt soon discover what love there is in them and by whom they are inhabited for they do testifie it by the practise of their abominable slandering reviling excommunicating condemning irritating and enraging of the silly multitudes that the Word and the Love of God have no dwelling in them Ioh. 5.41.38 ● Take a view of Love throughout St. Johns Epistle and according to that examine and try both thy self and Preacher then thou shalt be soon and easily able to discern between upright Christians and those Phantasticks or hypocrites and beware of giving credit to it that any one can be a Christian that walketh not in love 1. Ioh. 3. for he that loveth not hath not God abiding in him and he that hath not Christ in himself but notwithstanding his worldly course and conversation presumeth to comfort himself in the immaginarie conceitednesse of a false-Opinion-saith with the Merit of Christ the same doth deceive and delude both himself and others Therefore prove and try thy self and learn to discern and discover the Phantastery of th●se that conceive they may love both God and their neighbour well enough without Christs true inhabiting of them And by reason hereof now turn thy self unto God the source or stream and fountain of love 1 Ioh. 4.17 Ioh. 6.44 follow his drawings whither both M●●●s the Prophets and all the Apostles yea Christ himself and like●ise all sincere and upright Teachers and Preachers do lead and direct thee Psal 8.5 and so thou shalt find the Love of the Father to arise within thee by his living Word and thy heart seasoned and possessed throughly Rom 5.5 by this Love as the holy Ghost without which LOVE it will be utterly impossible for thee to love God and thy Neighbour for all perfect gifts do come from him as from the Father of lights Iam. 1.16 One thing more thou art to be minded of viz. that these modern Phantasts do mightily defame and vilifie as they conceive the true children of God by terming and calling them Enthusiasts But know that Enthusiasta in the Greek tongue doth signifie a man endewed with divine power governed and acted by the Spirit of God as were in former times the Prophets and Apostles and as all Saints and holy persons yet are according to the measure which the Spirit vouchsafeth unto them for which cause the World a●so doth account and call them distracted and stark mad f●ols and Bedlams Whereas indeed these are even they whom Christ together with his Father and the holy Spirit Ioh. 14.24 is come in unto having made there abode within them that same Spirit teacheth and lead●th them Ioh. 15.16.18 whom the world cannot receive neither see him And he doth dwell in them as in a holy Temple and thereby they are partakers of the divine nature 1 Cor. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.4 and members of the body of Christ flesh and bone of his flesh

and bone and by this Spirit that abideth for ever with them Ephes 5.30 and leadeth the children of God in the right path teaching instructing chastising swaying and governing them 1 Ioh. 3. they know assuredly that God is and abideth within them Those now that are thus qualified are the right and true Enthusiasts and are nowhit ashamed of the Word As for other matters that are falsely fathered upon them as if they used to set themselves into some secret corner or other and wait there for speciall Raptures and Revelations till some spirit come unto them and instruct them in this or that these and such like tales and fables are the forged lies of the Antichristian Phantasts that neither know themselves nor Christ nor any true Christian The children of God know of no other revelation Ioh. 14.21 1 Cor. 1. Gal. 1.12 Ephes 1.19 Rom. 8.20 but such as Christ and Paul meant and as is alreadie alledged He that hath not the Spirit of Christ nor is acted and guided by him is none of his and no Christian but an Antichrist and child of Satan Mark therefore and observe well I pray since these Phantasticks and Raylers do of themselves confesse that Christ and his Spirit do not inhabite them nay dare moreover call it Phantastery when Paul saith that these are the children of God that are led by the Spirit by whom they destroy the works of the flesh blasphemously denying and traducing the inhabiting of Christ it is more then evident that all their Christianitie and all their vain glorious babling and prating of Christ is but a meere Phantastery an empty windie Word-Selling which hath neither virtue nor substance and because they are not Enthei and have not God within them therefore they are Athei Godlesse Athists without God and not being Christs or anointed and illuminated they are Antichrists Matt. 12.30 Revel 18.2 1 Ioh. 3.8.10 Act. 5.3 Cap. 13.10 blinded and darkned and not being a dwelling of Christ and Temple of his Spirit they are a Babel the dwelling and abode of unclean spirits and hatefull fowls wherein the Devill dwelleth who doth likewise appear and shew forth himself from within them by their outward works of carnall lusts covetousnesse pride envie wrath crueltie and persecution what kind of Bud and antichristian-murthering-Antichristian-murthering-spirit doth nestle in their hearts and what a false spirit doth issue forth in their words lo thus they are judged out of their own words and works But the time will likewise soon approach that all these Atheists and godlesse persons shall become and turn to be the Devils Phantusiasts when namely God shall execute his judgements now upon them as upon the disobedient Jews when for terror and anguish of heart Isa 66.24 2. Esdr 13. Psal 54. they shall lie and lirk in holes and for the fire of hell kindled in ●heir hearts and for the gnawing worm of their conscience they shall giddily tun about and howl like dogs that they may not be satisfied but faint and starve in their souls because they would not endure Christ the living water and true comfort of the soul Isa 52.6 Ier. 2.13 within them and likewise forbad and hindred others from drinking offering them water for money out of their own corrupt and stinking puddles Thus then beloved thou hast heard who are the great Phantasts and Antichristian Juglers now adayes that do but apishly imitate that which is true and thus by their Phantasticall imaginations deceive both themselves and others and fail of the way everlasting Consider now and try thy self well Matt. 24.5 c. 2 Tim. 3.1 c. Rev. 17.13 Matth. 7.15 and beware of the false Prophets and Phantasts who according as Christ and Paul foretold are risen in these latter times not by single or few persons but in a numerous multitude pretending his name and boasting of mighty signes and works seek them out in Countreys Cities Villages try them well and beware of them by their fruits thou shalt know them he that is not with Christ both in life and Doctrine and is not led and acted by the indwelling Spirit of Christ to shew forth the living faith in love and only to look in Christ but meaneth to sooth up and dawbe over his fleshly lusts in the wayes of Darknesse and the old man with the merit and satisfaction of Christ saying here in the wildernes or there is Christ and boasts of his Christianity the same is no Christian but an Antichrist a Lyat a Phantast a Stage-player and an Ape whose Christianity consisteth not in the Truth which is Christ but in a self made-imagination and outward-hypocriticall peevishnesse Therefore also it is nothing but Phantastery and deceit whereby men do beguild both themselves and those that follow them and fall together into the everlasting darknesse Glory onely be to God A DISCOVERIE OF THE ARCH-WHORE AND HER Paramours or Lovers of whom the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD beareth Witnesse IEsus Christ GOD and Man having accomplished the work of the Redemption of Mankind hath sent forth his Messengers into all the world to gather unto himself a Church or Spouse out of both Jews and Gentiles These dispatched Messengers of God have accordingly taught men with all care and faithfulnesse to renounce all earthly lusts and pleasures to crucifie their flesh to forsake all men how wise soever even themselves and every thing else that is not God himself and in pure and single hearted Love to cleave unto their Head and Bridegroom Jesus Christ as being betrothed unto him and to be onely and altogether corrected 2 Cor. 11. ●1 3 ruled led and taught in all submissive humble obedience by him and by his Spirit But as the Church began already in the Apostles dayes besides their Bridegroom Christ to honour also his Ministers in his stead to cleave unto follow them and to call themselves after their names a●though the holy men did highly rebuke them for and earnestly disswade them from it lest they should be ●●●●way like E●e ● Cor. 11. by the Serpent from the simpliciti● or pla●●nesse of Christ for as much as they ought to be Christs onely a●d no Ma●s and that God doth catch the craftie in the World and con●ou●deth them with all their w●sdom So after their Departure is this Adultery broke forth publickly and the Ministers themselves have allured the Spouse of Christ unto themselves with sweet and stately language and shew of their office and have not addressed them directly onely and solely to Christ their Bridegroome to wait on his Spirit for life power instruction and government but have offered themselves to provide for the Souls the Comfort of Eternall Salvation in the name and stead of Christ thereby to win men with soothing and magnificent words unto themselves according as the Adultery of the Churches and their daughters as well among the Papists and their partie as among the rest even to this very present is but too

do flow the rivers of living water springing up into everlasting life out of them that do beleeve in him and are partakers of his Spirit But whoso hath not this Spirit the same is no Christian Rom. 8.10 and whoso doth not in Truth eat and drink this spirituall meat and drink as the right and true bread of Heaven Ioh. 6.53 54. 1 Ioh. 5.9 Luk. 16.23 and water of life the same hath no life in him but his soul must eternally starve and perish and his body must become an everlasting Darknesse and whoso hath not this Light and Word of Life dwelling in his heart as in a living-Temple of God Ioh. 8.21.24.44 the same is none of Gods but a vessell of wrath and of the spirit of darknesse who sets him on to all evill and at last doth precipitate and cast him into perdition Now although this be the onely Truth and altogether undeniable according to the verdict of the Scripture of the old and new Testament and that onely and solely by this light of grace and Truth all the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Act. 15.11 and all other children of God were saved Act. 4.11 12. Ioh. 14. Chap. 6.19 and yet are saved to this day as also indeed there is no other Gospel none other name or way wherein we shall or may be saved but Christ the WORD and Light of life 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. who truly and really hath his dwelling and aboad in the children of God and as the well-beloved Son of God maketh them to become gracious sons and daughters of God and partakers of the Divine Nature Yet many there are that boast and vaunt themselves the Ministers of the Word though falsely 2 Ioh. 5.7 Epist Iud. ver 19. c. who most impudently and blasphemously dare take upon them to deny and traduce nay like unto mad dogs with fearfull and execrable barkings ballings railings and calumnies to set upon and persecute this gracious inhabiting of Christ in his faithfull members warning and exhorting the simple ones to beware of such Men and their Doctrine whom they do call Distracted Mad Phantastike Enthusiasts Dreamers Inchanters c. as they would do of the Devill himself On the other side they are ready and forward enough to boast and brag much of the story of Jesus Christ Psal 12. Iam 2.19 according to their heathenish-Arts and deceitfull-prating sitting in the Chair of Pestilence Matth. 7.21 and puffing up themselves like so many proud and garish Mountebanks talking and glorying of Christ His Person his office how he hath satisfied for mankind how he hath sent them forth as his own Messengers Matth. 24. instead of the Apostles 2 Thes 2.4 that whosoever heareth them doth hear Christ himself what they say is the Word of God and spoken as from heaven Christ had said Come unto me all ye c. Therfore men ought to come unto them hear them for where else should they find Him Yea that such as heard them receive the Faith and holy Ghost thereby and none otherwise They are forsooth the means the pipes and conduits whereby God doth save men by them God takes away the sins of men By them he makes men partakers of the body and blood of his Son And he now that beleeveth them in all this and forsaking Christ the living Well doth seek the same in Christs stead at their hands and doth honour and make much of them for it He it is whom they commend for a true Christian and one that hath the true and saving faith albeit he live not accordingly nor shew forth such an holy conversation as Christ commanded and his Apostles and other Saints of God approved by being themselves living patterns and examples thereof O say they that matters not greatly and can do them no harm let them but acknowledge themselves poore sinners the Priests have power to pardon and absolve them in Gods stead and to take away the sins from them Christ hath suffered death for them that they need not live so exactly what had his dying availed else Let them but be of good chear and apply his merit to themselves why the verie Preachers themselves although they do exhort others to a Christian life and conversation and sit in the chair of the Apostles yet they are not able to live thus But the office which they are in hath that power and vertue that men should give heed unto it and to their preaching and speaking not to their life and conversation they were but men themselves even as others By this false prating the true spirituall knowledge of Christ is extinguished 2 Tim. 2.13 14 15 16 17. 2 Pet. 2. Ezech. 13 10.18 19 22. and nothing remaineth but an historicall relation together with the hypocrisie and apish imitation the children of men are utterly turned away from Christ and caused to walk in their vanities and the lusts of the flesh and corrupt reason Gen. 18.21 whereunto they are inclined by their old Adamicall-nature and do nothing but devise evill and it is manifest how according to the course of this world they live worse then the Heathen being altogether ruled driven and acted by the spirit of Darknesse Ephes 2.12 that hath his work in the children of unbeleef according to his own pleasure and yet do perswade themselves by reason of the promises of libertie their shepherds feed them withall that for all that they are very good Christians and have the faith if so be they do but frequently repair to them in their stone-Churches Pulpits and Confession-chairs and reverence the Ministerie then all is well enough with them Thus by the deceit of such men being the instruments of the Devill 2 Thes 2.9 Ezek. 22.25 and not Pastours but murtherers of souls they encourage and strengthen their old Adam in his carnall lusts and the sensuall desires of their self-love every where and in all occasions to seek and advance thereby their own glory ease and benefit Eph. 4.17 c directly against the commandments of Christ against the doctrine and examples of the Apostles R●● 6.12 Cap. 7.4 c. Gal. 5.16 Cap. 6.7 1 Pet. 2.12.4.3 Matth. 16.24 Luk. 17.33 Ioh. 12.25 Ioh. 15.5 1 Tim. 1.5.6.3 who incessantly insist and urge that the old Adam that is the outward man together with his sinfull lusts and deserts shall and ought to be subdued crucified and killed that man must deny himself forsake all evill in his heart and taking his crosse upon him follow Christ that we must cease to do evill fear God and do good and Christ alone must give the power and strength hereunto by his Spirit to whom being sealed by him we must submit to receive instructions Tit. 2.12 Gen. 6.2 3. Behold and consider now how farre these people are from Christ and the true faith and how shamefully they do beguil both themselves and others with unprofitable imaginations and supposed opinions

will be according to their works Phil. 3.19 But all true regenerate Christians are spirituall indeed and bring forth the fruits of the spirit let them be for outward office or charge what they will Emperor King Prince Noble Citizen P●sant Preacher hearer they are all of one spirit one soul Phil. 1.27 Gal. 3.26.4.5 Col. 3.11 and lay hold on the unity of the spirit and there is no difference they be all but one in Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew neither circumcision nor uncircumcision neither Barbarian nor Cithian neither bond nor free neither servant nor master maid nor mistresse and so also neither estates spirituall nor secular or temporall neither Laicus nor Clericus neither Priest nor Lay but Christ is all in all and Love the Bond of Perfectnesse doth tye and knit them altogether into one spirit also many members of one body wherof the head is Christ See now and consider the great Phantastery of those Col. 2 18.23 that among such as would be the people of God do vaunt themselves the speciall Priests the spirituall ones the powerfull Ministers of Christ pretending they teach the others in Christ his stead provide revive and comfort their souls with the assurance of everlasting salvation pardon them their sins which God did take away by their means nay they were the means whereby as by a pipe or conduit God did impart faith and the holy Ghost unto men and save them souls and bodies everlastingly they must be present by all means if any doth mean to enjoy a blessed departure out of this world of them and by them they are fed in their souls with the body and blood of Christ if they do but pronounce the word of consecration upon it and when they administer Baptisme that the same is the Regeneration that they themselves are the apple of Gods eye the Messengers of his mouth that he that heareth them heareth Christ himself and by them God doth teach and instruct mankind that God will do nothing without them unlesse it were in case of extremitie then he supplied their part himself yet not indifferently with all but with such onely that had formerly honoured and renounced them and their Ministery that none ought to stumble or take exception against their scandalous life and conversation but look onely upon their function and upon the word that it ought to be esteemed a great mercie of God that he is pleased to give and communicate his graces to other men by such polluted stinking vessels and conduits that the doctrine is pure and sound still be the Doctor never so vile and rotten nay though he were the Devill himself Lo the swelling and strange imagination and the Phantacticall conceitednesse thus men are inthralled withall by the deceit of the spirit of darknesse who casteth such a mist before their eyes in their arts and sciences that they are not able to discern the light of the truth for the thicknesse thereof 2 Cor. 4.4 but are fallen into these abominable Antichristian blasphemies against God and his Christ and seducing such as follow them into the same Phantasterie Silly and besotted men how I pray shall they be able to provide for comfort and solace their or other mens souls when as we see them to be so carelesse and superficiall in regard of their own Do they not live in all carnall pleasures in luxurie uncleannesse drunkennesse gluttonie debo●stnesse in greedie pursuit of vain glory and filthy lucre in pride envy wrath hatred strife contention falshood and deceit walking altogether after the flesh How can they be spirituall I pray they are stark dead in sin and utterly stranged from the knowledge of themselves how shall they be able to shew thee the way to life How shall they teach thee that knowledge of God that is proper onely to the anointing which they have not at all but slander and deride rather Their wickednesse and vice is the very same the Prophets taxed in the Priests and Shepherds and Christ and his Apostles reproved in the Pharisees and the learned among the Jews therefore read and peruse the same and thou shalt find all things agree with the practise of these falsly termed Divines or spirituall men and that they prove yet worse in all regard Blind-Guides alas Matth. 23. how should they be able to speak comfort to any mans soul and to allay their fiery trials agonies and temptations 1 Pet. 2.25 Psal 23. with heavenly cordials the same lying not all in any mans power for onely Christ and none but Christ is the Archshepherd and Bishop Ier. 31.25 Mat. 11.28 29. Psal 107.9 Col. 1.27 1 Thes 1.3 Isa 44.24 Ca. 45.19.22 Isa 42.8 ca. 41.11 Rom. 1.22 Ier. 23.24 Isa 57.15 16. yea the Physitian and the Physick it self of the drooping and distressed souls they can find no rest in any humaine comfort or babling but onely and solely in Christ that uniteth them with God and gives them life for Christ is our life and he in us is that firm and undeceiveable hope of everlasting glory He it is that blotteth out our transgressions for His sake and dispelleth our misdeeds as a cloud and our sins as a mist Therefore turn away thy self from these blind leaders to Christ himself for it is he that redeemeth thee and he will give his glory to none other neither to those self up-start carnall-Idols He needs no deputie nor Vicegerent but as he filleth heaven and earth so he dwelleth in sin-broken hearts as in his Temple and comforteth the spirit of the humble and drooping and hath not need of any other means or Mediator 1 Ioh. 1.2 3. Isa 45.11 Isa 44.2 And the true Messengers of God do testifie and declare this unto their brethren and direct the same to Christ himself as to the well and spring of Life to Him that made them and that was with them from their mothers wombe and they do not take upon them to be his Vicegerents as if they were able to comfort or save the souls of men Who am I 1 Cor. 3. saith St. Paul I have betrothed you to a husband that ye should cleave to Christ as a pure Virgin not suffer your selves to be led aside by the wiles of Satan 2 Cor. 11.2 from the simplicitie in Christ to be directed to such or such or to call your selves after them Ye shall have no Father on earth saith Christ namely of regeneration but onely the heavenly Father who is the onely true Father Matth. 23.9 of all that is called children in heaven and on earth How then can ye call these men the spirituall Fathers of your souls Eph. 3.15 which yet do more hinder then further you in coming to the heavenly Father having taken away the keyes of heaven Matth. 23.13 they neither themselves will enter therein nor suffer you to get into it shutting the gates against you and frighting you away from it with

A DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT FANTASIE OR PHANTASTICALL CONCEITEDNESSE That is to say Of the Antichristian Blindnes of those that out of a meer false Imagination and Phantasticall Conceitednesse do hold themselves to be Christians Spirituall Divines Deputies and Messengers or Spokes-men of Christ and take upon them as Mediatours to save others whom they call the Secular Lay-men therewithall reviling traducing condemning excommunicating persecuting exiling and putting to death the true children of God for not yeelding unto this Phantasie of theirs conceiving that therein they do God great service when they busie themselves in weeding the ground thus according to their Phantasies and endeavouring to save the Angels a labour against the time of the Harvest Together with a Discovery of the great Arch-Whore and her Paramours or Lovers whereof the Spirit of God beareth witnesse LONDON Printed by T. P. and M. S. in Goldsmiths Alley 1642. PHANTASIE or FANCIE WHen the mind of man doth not deny it self in all humility before God and is not guided and acted by the Spirit and light of God but is wise and cunning of it self in it's own power or strength of Reason and the spirit of the world then is the same mind revolted from God and goeth on in it's own guidance and naturall wisdom and that is the Phantasie which under the name of Christ and palliating cover of the holy Scripture pretendeth great matters but indeed is nothing but a meer juggling even as Lucifer became such a Phantast and juggler when as he withdrew himself from the sacred government of the eternall light and essay'd in his own high mindednesse to be something of himself where also he seduced the first man that he forsook God and his command in disobedience Therefore O Man turn thy self from this power of the Devill unto the living God through Christ the Mediatour and Saviour lest by this Phantasterie and self-conceitednesse of thine inveigled-Reason thou become and abide a Phantasticall Juggler for ever in hell For without the Truth in Christ Jesus there is no salvation THE OCCASION OF THE ensuing Treatise WHereas in many Pulpits as also in sundrie writings of those that vaunt themselves true Christians and followers or successours of the Apostles there is nothing so common and ordinarie as reproachfully to abuse and traduce such as do not agree with their self-conceited-fond opinions by the termes of Weigelians Phantasts and Enthusiasts and that with as much clamour and bitternesse as can be devised It was thought needfull to shew those Praters something of their own Phantasterie whether it might please God to give them Repentance yet to acknowledge the Truth 1 Tim. 2.23 and to be freed from the snares of Satan by whom they are held captive according to his wil to grow sober again and by shaking off and renouncing their erroneous and phantastick spirit Ezech. 13.3 Isa 29.24 to receive understanding and instruction Which is likewise requisite for the simple people and such as want true information lest they do make themselves pertakers with the sins of others and participate of the plagues of Babel Revel 6.18 Ose 7.8 9. but rather that they may save their souls as a prey out of and sleighting the commandment of God and with pleasure and delight arrogating unto himself a wisdom and knowledge of his own He fell thereby off from God was captivated by the spirit of this world and subjected to the rule of Satan who so infected him with his spreading poyson that the same did cleave not onely to himself but likewise to all his posteritie whereby they are corrupted body and soul to everlasting death and become the children of wrath and are satanicall altogether Ephes 2. Yet seeing God ever good and gracious Wisd 1.13.2.3 made not the Death nor took delight in the destruction of the living but created man to eternall life and to his Image that he should be like unto him But by the devils envie Death came into the world therefore also God took heartie compassion of Man and of his Grace repaired this fall by his everliving WORD with the promise of the seed of the woman Wisd 10 20. Gen. 3.15 who also afterwards was born man and became an Attonement-offering and graciously gave such a light to man Ephes 5.2 Ioh. 1. Ioh 8.12 Col. 3.4 1 Ioh. 3.8 Ose 13.14 Ioh. 1. Col. 1.15 Ioh. 9.5 Luk. 2 39. Bar. 3.38.4.2 1 Ioh. 5.6.7 whereby he was set upright again and by the vertue whereof he was to fight against the seed of the Serpent and overcome the sinfull desires of the same in the faith of the Covenant For this womans seed the essentiall word of the Father is the light and life of men which doth destroy and overcome the works of Satan within them and this Word which was in the beginning whereby all things were created and are conserved is the light of men which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world all namely that receive it and love not the darknesse of their carnall lust and sinfull affections as the works of Satan more then the light but rather turn from them unto the light cleave unto it by faith and suffer themselves to be guided and governed by the spirit of it such have power to become the sons of God Ioh. 1.12 and by the gracious inhabiting of this light which is Christ to be made partakers of the Divine Nature Colos 1.27 For this light Christ the essentiall Word of the Father is the onely Mediatour and the onely means whereby the fall of Adam may be abolished 2 Pet. 1.4 Hebr. 3.14 1 Tim. 25. the losse recovered and man again reconciled with God And this is that day-spring from on high that giveth light to them that sit in darknesse Hebr. 1.3 Luk. 1.78 79. and in the shadow of death that they may walk before God in holinesse and righteousnes o all well-pleasing Who so hath this light in himself 2 Cor. 4.6 Rom. 8. 1 Ioh. 2.27 Act. 15.11 Ose 12 10. Col. 1.19.2.9 Ioh. 1.17.10.11 Ioh. 15.5 1 Cor. 10.3.12.13 the same is enlightned and whoso hath his spirit in himself the same is a Christian and anointed as likewise the Patriarchs and the Prophets had him and were saved onely by him who also did speak by them With him and in him is all the fulnesse of the Godhead and of him and of his fulnesse all of us must receive He is the true Vine and we are his branches participating vigour and life of him and his fulnesse and without him none is able to do any thing He is that spirituall Rock from whom the Fathers drank their spirituall drink and all the regenerate to this day still eat and drink this spirituall meat and spirituall drink Ioh. 14.6 Eph. 4.21 Rom. 7.6 Ioh. 4.14.7.37 38. not in a Phantasticall or imaginarie manner of sensuall reason but in Truth For in Christ there is Truth and Reality and from thence

their clamours and outcries lest in any wise ye should draw neer to your heavenly Father without their means and Mediatourship for do but observe I pray how Christ doth answer the Pharisees as they demanded of him when the Kingdom of God should come Luk. 17.20 that it cometh not with outward observations or ceremonies neither shall say lo here or lo there is it but the kingdom of God is inward and within Man and St. Paul saith The kingdom of God doth not consist in eating drinking 1 Cor. 4.20 Rom. 14.17 1 Cor. 2.4 nor in great swelling words or artificiall prating but in power and in the demonstration of the Spirit of God it being righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost that Man is to serve God in this kingdom in spirit and truth God being a Spirit himself Ioh. 4.23 M●tt 6.10.23 and requiring such worshippers as do worship him in spirit and truth Ioh. 24.21 Therefore also Christ hath taught us to seek above all things the kingdom of God and earnestly to entreat and pray to God that it may come unto us and be revealed in us Unto this kingdom of God Col. 1.27.27 Matth. 13.44 2 Cor. 4.7 Eph. 2.21 which lies already hid within thee all the faithfull teachers do direct thee when as they speak of Christ that great mystery within us how thou art a Temple and dwelling of the holy Ghost how thou dost carry the treasure in the field and in an earthen vessell Deut. 30.11 that the grace may be God through Christ the word of life Rom. 10.8 which is neer thee in thy heart and in thy mouth What do our Phantasticks pray to this O say they that is not to be understood these be Pauliniall Phrases certain usuall experssions the Kingdom of God ought to be sought with them in their vile stone Churches where you may hear them make Cicero like a number of quaint and curious Declarations and discourses out of the holy Scriptures after their manner according to the Idoll Brain or Glosses of Antichrist and humaine learning every one as he is taught and principled by those humane sects Where also in the chancell or quire of their auticular confession they do forgive the people their sins in Gods stead Matth. 24. and administer their Sacraments there there they say is the kingdom of God thither men are called and invited to the great supper by the peal of the Bels and their pulpits there they are the stewards of the mysteries of God what others say of the kingdom of God within Man that is nothing to them but Phantasterie Enthusiastrie in man there dwelleth nought that is good how should the kingdom of God be within him Men ought say they to repair and frequent to their Churches there is the house of God the gates of heaven the Citie that he hath chosen where he hath set up the memoriall of his Name where the great supper is celebrated where Christ is cried into men from without See beloved how these men are carried and hurried by the giddinesse and spirit of Darknesse Art 7.48 ● 17.24 Ier. 3.16 ● 7.4 Lies and blasphemies When the true children of God do speak of the kingdom of God through Christ within them and prove or redargue that Phantasterie of God dwelling in houses or Churches made with hands whereof the Jews were wont so much to boast and glory saying here is the Temple of the Lord and the Ark of the Covenant and indeavour to withdraw their neighbour from such Phantastery to the living God Isa 57.15.66 whose Throne are the heavens and the earth his footstool and whose dwelling is in a contrite heart then the spirit of lies doth belch forth in his Phantasticks and giving out the children of God do forbid to come to any Churches or Assemblies For they are vexed when the word of Christ is cast in their teeth touching the false Prophets in sheeps clothing Matth. 24. that say Here is Christ or He is in the wildernesse and in the chamber or chappell and when thereby their Antichristian Phantastery is discovered But beloved be not thou daunted with such lies for the children of God do not forbid to come to Church or to frequent the assemblies of the congregations such namely as are gathered in the unity of the spirit this they are falsely slandered withall by the lying spirit that swayeth these Phantastiques onely they do point at the false and fond op●nion of these Bablers and Idols that would have men imagine and believe their Phantasteries as if God had his dwelling and abode in their stony rotten Churches wherein the screech-owls Bats crows and sparrows nestle there the kingdom of God were to be met withall perswading people that there God would hear them in an especiall manner and what they do propound and tell men in these places they ought to receive and obey as the Word of God and there none should dare to controul or gainsay them thus and thereby laying waste and desolate the living Temples of the holy Ghost that is the souls and hearts of men thereof they say nothing or at best but little and in a very confused and intricate manner This indeed is insufferable to Gods children and directly against the glory of God that there they should hear of the lies and calumnies of those Phantasticks and by their silence and connivence as it were approve and ratifie the same before all the congregation and to deny Christ and his glory and therefore they have reason to absent themselves from their meetings seeing their gainsaying or protesting against them 1 Cor. 14.26 would be held a great sin although among true Christians it should be lawfull to every one But yet they have as good reason altogether to speak against these wayes thereby to withdraw the straying from such false opinions that they may possesse their heart with God Ioh. 4.21 Luk. 17.20 and seek for the kingdom of God according to the doctrine of Christ within themselves not suffering themselves to be tied to any place whatsoever In the mean while they do not despise the gathering of the congregations together whether it be a house of wood or stone or in the open field either nor do they simply find fault with frequenting of Churches provided it be done out of a true love to Gods word and to stir up one another with praiers to the praise of God in the great congregation and solemne devotions as likewise that the younger sort may be taught and instructed 1 Cor. 14.23 Hebr. 10.24 25. Ier. 7.4 the elder exhorted and encouraged in their courses and erring and stumbling ones be reclaimed heartned and strengthened Therefore now lay this to heart and rely on lies no longer when ye hear them say Here is the Temple of the Lord we have the true Religion here is the kingdom of God but amend your lives and doings dealing righteously one with