creator and the creatures between whose Being there is no comparison Which things if he would not learn of the H. scriptures because he scorneth scripture learning yet might he have learned of Philosophers and heathen men who have sayd that though by certayn demonstration it is manifest that a divine artizen hath procreated vs yet by no reason or wit can we perceave what his essence or being is That God is One alone separated from all who cannot be explayned nor perceived that he is the first simplicity incomprehensible incomparable vniform that he cannot be known or found out yea that it is neyther possible to find him out nor lawful to serch him out And many like speeches have the Pagans spokē of God more divinely soundly and religiously a great deal then this Epicure H. N. the God of the Familists hath written in his blasphemous pamphlets After he hath thus described the vpright Christian Baptisme as he sayth or washing in the name of the Father he proceedeth with his Baptisme in the Name of the Son of whom he sayth that he is conceived of the holy Ghost and born of the holy Virgin Mary And that thissame Son of God beareth in vs our synnes c. and that he vnder the obedience of the Love of his Father is gone before vs therin for that we should in like manner follow after him vnder the obedience of his Love in his death of the crosse to the safemaking of vs from our synns become incorporated to him with his like death and baptised or washed vnder the obedience of the Beleef in his Name or safemaking and bury even so through the beleef the old man c. to the forgiving and releasing of our synns through his name or safemaking to the end that we might even so through Iesu Christ obteyn the renewing of our spirit and mind in an vpright life and resurrection from the dead with Christ in the appearing of his Majesty And that this is the vpright Christian Baptisme in the name of the Son and is the true forgivnes and purging of our synns through Iesu Christ. And all that thus folow not Christ are no Christians nor yet baptised in the name or salvation of the Son Here is an other puddle of heresie for men to be washed in in the name of H. Ns Christ. Of whom he first telleth vs that he is conceived and born whereas we beleeve in that Christ which was conceived and borne now many yeres ago But the Nicholaitans have a Christ in them to weet their Lovely Being as before is shewed Neither is their fayth setled on one Jesus borne heretofore in Israel but they themselves are born of the virgin Mary as their Father H. N. teacheth them in his Gospel saying the vpright children of the beleef which had their discent out of the seed of the faith of Abraham and the pure virgin Mary as also from the holy Ghost were known to be the true seed of Abraham because the same seed was the seed of the promise of God the Father was likewise in his mind according to the spirit the likenes of God his Father also spirit spiritual of the godly nature being according to the wil of God wholly minded w th God These vpright children of the beleef ar the Familists themselves if we wil beleev them they are born of the holy Ghost and of the pure virgin Mary and are not onely their own saviours but as a little before in the same place he writeth the seed out of the faith of Abraham out of the pure Virgin Mary is the true seed of promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth Thus do these caytiffs take to themselves the honour of Christ and though the Prophet telleth vs but of one child that is born vnto vs which should be prince of peace should order and stablish the kingdome of David forever yet these tel vs of many children of the pure virgin Mary as being that seed of promise in whom al generations of the earth should be blessed How they have this strange birth we may gather by H. N. his learned interpretation of the name Mary which he sayth signifieth a Doctresse for the doctrine of H. N. is that wherby his disciples are born anew as elswher he expoūdeth that to be born of the virgin Mary out of the seed of David after the flesh is of the pure doctrine out of the seed of Lov. Now Mary caled in Greek Mariam in Hebrew Mirjam I find in the scripture to signify their rebellion Nehem. 9. 17. which name very fitly agreeth to the Familists Doctrine but how or in what tongue it signifieth a Doctresse themselves I suppose can hardly shew vnlesse vpon H. Ns authority who as he hath given them a new gospel so also a new language farr differing from the language of Canaan wherby they may make what meaning and gather what allegories they lyst from words and none must suspect any vnwisedome to be in them Secondly H. N. sayth that thissame Son of God beareth in them their synns wheras that Son of God in whom the scriptures teach vs to beleev hath washed vs from our synns in his own blood and put thē away by the sacrifice of himself for he was wounded for our transgressions his own self bare our syns in his body on the tree and died for vs. How erroneously then doth H. N. perswade that Christ beareth in vs our synns Thirdly he sayth that Christ is gone before vs for that we should in like maner follow after him vnder the obedience of his Love in his death of the crosse to the safemaking of vs from our synns so teaching vs to save our selves by imitation of Christ this being all the benefit we have by his death that it is an example vnto vs how to do likewise Wherin H. N. sheweth himself to be a greater enemy to Christianity then was Caiaphas who sayd it was expedient that One man should die for the people and that the whol nation perished not so prophesying that Christ should die for the nation wheras H. N. would have men die themselves for their own salvation that so they might all perish for ever But we have otherweise learned the true Christ who was delivered to death for our syns and is risen agayn for our justification That as by one man the first Adam syn entred into the world and death by syn and so death went over all men so by one man the second Adam Christ we might reign in life and as by one mans disobedience many were made synners so by the obedience of one many might he made righteous Fourthly H. N. teacheth that men are baptised vnder the obedience of the beleef in his name or safemaking and bury even so through the Beleef the old man
God By Christ or righteousnes H. N. sayth he meaneth the being like Christ not any ceremonial Christ so he seemeth to esteem the playn doctrines of the gospel to be but ceremonial that wheras we read there of one Jesus to be crucified for our syns c. this he couÌ„teth but a ceremonie shadow or figure such it may be as was the ram that Abraham offred or the beasts that Aaron killed or perhaps the parable that Jotham told for the true Christ that saveth men is the Lovely being that is in the Familists themselves this idol hath their god H. N. out of his prudency according to his fleshly mind set vp And this is a great secret or mysterie of iniquity H. N. 5. Herevpon my beloved mought ye or som other say we learn not or ther is not any thing taught vnto vs then out of the clear scripture which may not lie Yea my beloved the scripture lyeth not but al those which ar not instructed through the spirit of Christ they lie are beguiled signify or expouÌ„d the scripture which is spokeÌ„ through the holy Ghost shewed out in the spirit of life Iohn 6. vpon an earthy or elementish foundation wherthrough the man can not obteyn or get any renewing of the hart Even like as in the witnessing of the scripture ther is witnessed sufficiently to those that can vnderstand the same Who is ther without the word of the Lord which is spirit life Iohn 6. that hath atteyned vnto the salvation or who hath I beseech you in any world brought forth any true witnes vnlesse that he through the Spirit of the Lord which is his word become altogether born anewâ— H. A. UUE are sure the sacred scripture lâ—â—th not but H. N. which abusâ—th and falsifieth the scripture and denieth Jesus to be the Christ making Love and the Lovely Being in himself and his familie to be Christ as we have heard is by the Apostle condemned for a Liar and an Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 22. and he not being instructed through the Spirit of Christ hath taught an earthly and rotten foundation to the ruine of true religion The scripture cannot rightly be vnderstood or opened but by the Holy Ghost that is the gifts of the holy Ghost But some have the gifts of the Spirit which yet are not themselves altogither born anew as had Balaam the Scribes and Pharises Caiaphas Judas the traitor and others many which as the Apostle sayth Heb. 6. 4. were once lightned have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the holy Ghost Therfore it is false which H. H. writeth that none in any world brought forth any true witnes vnlesse that he became altogither born anew Againe he here brocheth another error in expounding the Spirit of the Lord to be his word which H. N. in his grosse vnderstanding perversly gathereth from Christs words Iohn 6. 63. the words that I speak vnto you are spirit wherby our Lord meaneth that his words were spiritual not that they were the Holy Spirit it self For he vseth the like phrase of a spiritual and regenerated man saying Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Iohn 3. 5. 6 Now seing H. N. describing his Communialty of the Love sayth Whosoever cometh into this good city he becometh altogither born anew in the spirit he may by like reason conclude that himself and his Nicholaitans are also the holy Spirit and so be a blasphemer against the Holy Ghost as he is against the Father and the Son The Scriptures teach vs playnly to distinguish between the word and the Spirit of the Lord this latter being cause and author of the former as it is written 2 Sam. 23. 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake in me his word was in my tongue and of al the prophets it is witnessed that they spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1 21. The Apostle sayth this is the word which is preached among you and how they preached it an other sheweth when he sayth that by the spirit of God they knew the things given them of God and spake those things not in words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Spirit teacheth that al men may see how ignorantly if not worse H. N. hath confounded the word and the Spirit of the Lord as if they were one thing H. N. 6. Note wel or consider of fellowship the estate or manner of the Apostles how that they although they went about so long tyme with Christ wer alwayes with him whiles the power of God was wrought through him vnderstood not what the mind of the Lord was concerning the godly causes before that the day of Pentecost or Whitsontide when that they received the holy Ghost was come vnto them Even like as there standeth written how that they sayd at the tyme when Christ was crucified among them we had hoped or supposed that he should have delivered Israel and it is now the third day and ther cometh nothing of it we wil goe a fishing For they supposed that Christ should have set vp a fleshly kingdom H. A. HEre H. N. to magnify himself as a spiritual and godded man spareth not to wrong the holy Apostles as if they before Pentecost Acts. 2. vnderstood not the scriptures nor preached the word truly wheras it is evident that they were sent and had preached the word long before Luk. 9. 1. 2. which word Christ had given them and they received Iohn 17. 8. 14. and were made clean by it Iohn 15. 3. and he had opened their vnderstanding to vnderstand the scriptures Luk. 24. 45. though afterward at Pentecost they received more plentifull graces of the spirit when Christ was gone from them Act. 2. 1. 2. 4. c. Again H. N. as if he delited to falsify the scripture sayth there standeth written how that they sayd when Christ was crucified we hoped that he should hav delivered Israel c. wheras these words were spoken by Cleopas and an other disciple which were none of the Apostles as appeareth Luk. 24. vers 18. 21 33. and to make vp his patcherie he addeth that they sayd it is now the third day there cometh nothing of it we wil go a fishing Wheras those two spake not at al of going a fishing but other men at an other time Ioh. 21. 3. By this the reader may mind what credit is to be given to H. N. his allegations of scripture who careth not to profane the holy word for maintenance of his lies and setteth things down as they come in his idle head But why say I so of this godded man seeing men ought not to distrust him nor suspect any manner of evil or vnwisdom by this Oldest Father whose eysight as himself sayth was clearer then Chrystal his vnderstanding brighter
life to frequent idolatrous assemblies hear masse worship a God of bread and the beast Antichrist observe his wicked ceremonies and professe his heretical doctrines as the Nicolaitans wil doe and H. N. would perswade these daughters vnto whiles yet he pretends to have them leav syn Dissimilation and hypocrisie is a hateful syn both to God and man wherin they that live are altogither strangers from the life of God and this is the trade of life and religion among the Familists who hating all religions but their own yet wil professe counterfeit and walk in any religion save their own for that they doe onely in secret because their works are evil but God in his time wil give them their due reward even openly H. N. 27. Oh how grosly then do they comprehend this which signify or apply this same vnto vs vpon the Pope of Rome say that the Pope is the Antichrist Oh oh no the Antichrist is nearer vnto vs were it wel known The wisdome of the flesh wherewithal the man wil judg the godly causes is verily the right Antichrist I say the wicked nature of the Divil wherwith the man is of one mind so long as he in the renewing of his spirit is not incorporated with Christ is verily that same right Antichrist Oh vnderstand it rightly with an vnpartial hart H. A. HEre H. N. crieth out of their grosse comprehension that say the Pope of Rome is the man of syn the Antichrist in the meā time he sheweth himself to be most grosse and carnal in his comprehension that expoundeth that man of syn spoken of 2 Thes. 2. to be The wisdome of the flesh the wicked nature of the Divil c. The vanity and falshood wherof every babe in Christ that looketh into that scripture may easily perceiv For th'Apostle speaking there of the day of Christs comming teacheth them not to exspect that vntil the departing from the fayth were first come and the man of syn the Son of perdition were first disclosed But the wisdome of the flesh and wicked nature of the Divil was come already for Adam and his children had brought it forth and nourished it in the world even from the beginning Gen 3. Rom. 5. 12. 14. 17. 18. c. and it was disclosed both by the Law Rom. 3. 20. and by the Gospel already preached 1 Cor. 1. 18. 19. 21. 27. and 2. 6. 7. c. 1 Iohn 3. 8. c. Wherfore it is but deceiving of mens sowles to teach them to wayt and look for that thing to come which is already come and H. N. sheweth how farr he is from vnderstanding the scriptures which yet so insolently vaunteth himself over al men As for vs we have learned of the Apostles to vnderstand generally every false prophet to be an Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 18 19. 22. But specially one great Antichrist to come after the Apostles times whose mystery began even then to work whiles they lived but somthing ther was which then withheld his reveling namely the hethen monarchie of the Romane empire which at that time withheld and hindred the doctrine of the Gospel by open tyrannie and persecution and should let the working and disclosing of that great Antichrist in the Papacie vntil himself that hethen Empire were taken out of the way Then after him should arise an other Beast or Monarchie with hornes like the Lamb Christ pretending his faith and Religion as doe the Papists though his speech be like the Dragons in al damnable doctrines and idolatries And this Antichrist should seat himself in the Temple or howse of God which is the Church and in the consciences of men by his errors wherwith he should deceiv mens sowles A large and lively description of which Beast and great whore that reigneth in the city built on 7. hills we have in the book of Revelation the light wherof H. N. would darken by the foggs and mists of his own fleshly and allegorical interpretations Now that the reader may see how good a proctour H. N. is for the Pope and wherfore he is so neerly affected to him and denyeth him to be Antichrist it shal not be amisse to shew what paynes he hath taken to compare himself and his societie with the Pope and his clergie that al mē may discern them to be both sworn brothers against Christ. In his new Gospel caled Evangelium regni H. N. hath thus applied things This same foregoing sayth he of the Elders of the holy vnderstanding and their anoynting of the holy Ghost to Priests Elders and Fathers hath the catholik church of Rome til vnto this day ministred and observed in figures as is abovesayd For to a token of remembrance of the holy anoynting of Christ with the holy spirit they have vsed the anoynting with oyl it is a sacramēt of the holy church of Christ which signifyeth vnto vs the anoynting of the Priests or Elders with the holy Ghost 5. Of which anoynted Elders or foregoers of the cōminalty of the catholik church of Rome the cheefest anoynted is named Papa signifieth vnto vs an old Father in the holy vnderstanding also the chief Bishop or high priest which hath his being or conversation in the most holy of the true and perfect sanctuary ministreth his office of the holy word therout and for that cause is also named The most holy Father c. Those now that are next to the forenamed Papa are named Cardinals which signify vnto vs the principallest which are neerest in the most holy vnderstanding of the godlines vnto the Eldest or holyest Father and have their communion with him in the most holy of the true and perfect being c. After this he proceedeth to shew how the Bishops signified the pastors of the sheep and lambs of Christ The Parish priests or curats signified Levitical priests or adjoyned Pastors and elders of the holy vnderstanding c. The Deacons signified ministers or helpers of the parish priests in the holy Godservices The Sextons signified conservers or keepers of the holy things The many manner of orders wherthrough many anoynted ones and zelous people sought the righteousnes and holynes which are named Monks signified such as dwel alone are through the love of the righteousnes Sanctified for that cause also separated from the world and from al what is worldly and fleshly c. And Next vnto al these forenamed anoynted ones are the common people which beleev and cleave vnto the services religions and ceremonies of the Anoynted and which also humble them to the requiring of those same c. Thus hath H. N. fetched the mysterie of his Family of Love from the Popes forge that al men may see it is no marvel that he denyeth the Pope to be Antichrist for H. N. the oldest Father of this Family wil be the Papa and great Antichrist himself and the Pope of Rome was but
as H. N. sayth according to the heavenly truth Wheras that which he meaneth by heavenly truth wil be found indeed to be hellish error he teaching such things of God and of Christ and of mans righteousnes as the prophets and Apostles have every wher condemned which anon will appear H. N. 3. Because that the same miserable doctrine and false wisdom of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes mought be made known and even so then to be forsaken therfore hath God now in the same last day showed his grace mercifulnes on vs poor wretched ones and hath declared vnto vs through his holy spirit his service of Love for to declare vnto al good willing ones through the self same service which is the true way to the everlasting life Therfore let everie one now through the same service of love be warned that he look wel hereto that he boast not himself in any of the works of righteousnes or take on the same to salvation neyther to condemnation before that he in the spirit of Christ through the love of the Father be renewed in al righteousnes of life Not that I mean in the elementish ceremonial righteousnes which the man setteth forth or occupieth out of his owne prudencie but I mean in that righteousnes which according to the heavenly truth is in the being of Christ and is set forth through the spirit of God For the Father is not honoured but through the Son that is no man may know eyther serve God but that he must be born out of the spirit of Christ even like as ther standeth written Ther availeth before God neyther circumcision nor vncircumcision but onely a new creature in Christ Iesus wrought through the Love Gal. 6. Therfore shal Christ in the day of judgements accuse and find faultie a flesh in their righteousnes even like as he saith I shal reprove or rebuke the world of their righteousnes Ioh. 16. That this is al what the man out of his first birth hath set vp for a righteousnes which is an enimy vnto God even like as he sayth Ioh. 10. They are al theeves and murtherers which are come before me that is whosover letteth himself think that he is a Christian before the spirit of Christ be born in him that same is a theef and a murderer For whosoever hath not the spirit of Christ the same belongeth not vnto him Rom. 8. Even like as Paul hath witnessed wher he saith I durst not speak any word vnlesse that Christ had spoken the same in me or through me Rom. 15. yea no man sayth he in an other place can name Iesus to be the Lord but through the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. A natural man sayth he testeth not the spirit of God 1 Corinth 2. My children saith Paul to the Galathians with whom I travel agayn in birth vntil that Christ be fashioned in you 1 Gal. 4. Here may we mark that without the Spirit of Christ ther is no knowledge of God And vvher God is not knovvn ther can ther not any doctrine be occupied to the mans salvation It is verie true H. A. THe author pretending to deal against that which he would faynest establish to weet the miserable doctrine and false wisdome of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes first draweth the readers to himself and his familie and the service of Love as being the declarers of the true way to the everlasting life now in the same last day But this is like the cariage of the whorish woman who caught the yong man and kyssed him and with an impudent face sayd vnto him I have peace offrings this day have I paid my vowes therfore came I forth to meet thee c. and H. N. hath no better warrant then his predecessor Mahomet who before him boasted himself to be the Teacher of the nations That the reader may discern the frawd of this falser I wil first briefly shew what doctrine he hath taught cōcerning God and Christ And then I wil proceed in answering this his Letter The God which H. N. treacheth to the world is not as the scriptures declare the true God vnto vs One eternal everliving infinite incomprehensible almighty vnserchable and vnchangeable Being who onely hath immortality and dwelleth in the light that none can attayn vnto whom never man saw neither can see vnto whome be honour and power everlasting Amen 1 Tim. 6. 16 Exod. 3. 14. Rev. 1. 4. Iob. 11. 7. 8. 9. 36. 26. Psal. 90. 2. 93. 2. 102. 26. 27. 145. 3. Act. 17. 25. Iam. 1. 17. But H. N. telleth vs of a God that was in the beginning as a light af life of one substance with the manly creatures For as he saith after in this letter God had created the man that he should be of one life one Being one Spirit and of one nature with God Now the manly creature we know was finite comprehensible not from eternity but had his beginning in the sixt day of this world and soon was changed from his estate and became like to the beasts that perish How then can it without highest blasphemie and dishonour of God be sayd or thought that God was of one substance with the man yet H. N. to bring his blasphemie to a higher degree if he may hath further manifested his mind thus See and mark ye beloved in the beginning when God made al things wel then was the Lord one Lord of his kingdom one God of his works ther was also no more but one God and one man and they were one and had in al one order being and nature for God was al that the man was and man was al that God was The Divil when he had the Serpent for his instrument the subtilest beast of the field durst not vtter such abomination vnto Evah as to say she should be of one substance with God or al that God was but only that she should be like vnto God knowing good and evil but here having gotten a new instrument H. N. which mystical letters may rightly be read Ha Nachash that is The Serpent who now is weren more old in evil more bold in falshood he shameth not to teach that God and man were one substance and being God al that man and man al that God was By this doctrine H. N. leadeth men at once from God to the Divil and deifieth the Serpent For the Serpent was too subtile for the manly creature the Divil deceived and overcame the man with al that he was his body sowl and spirit Now seing God the creator and man the creature had al one substance and being and the one was al that the other was it wil folow vpon this blasphemers doctrine that the man had as much power wisdom wil and ability everie way to withstand the Divil as God himself had but the Divil was too strōg and too wise for the man therfore also he was
creator who is blessed for ever Amen To al then that H. N. can say for his own Godhed or his disciples let al true Christians answer as Jeremy taught the Jewes to answer the men of Babel The Gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shal perish from the earth and from vnder these heavens Ier. 10. 11. By this the reader may perceive what a poysoned religion this Nachash H. N. hath brought into the world concerning God Now for his Christ H. N. teacheth vs not according to the scriptures of one particular man of the stock and generation of the Jewes born about xvi hundred yeres agoe in Bethlehem who himself alone being God equal with the Father before the world was and in that fulnes of time took vnto him our humane nature bare in his own body the syns of al his elect and by that once offring of himself vpon the crosse hath purged them al from al their syns c. No H. N regardeth not as after in this Letter sect 11. he sheweth this knowledge that in times past ther was one Christ in Israel which was born amongst his own c. but telleth vs of a Lovely being and a holy life this is his Christ. For in his First exhortation he sayth walk with your spirit in the Lovely and vertuous Being Fasten your mind therto and build your righteousnes theron For that is an eternal and fast standing foundation wheron al Gods prophets and holy ones have builded and is Christ himself Agayn in the same book he sayth After a little time of your distresse and anguish or heavines the Lord wil bring his Christ that is his best beloved and most holy being in power and glory vnto you In this his Epistle to the two daughters he expoundeth Pauls words 1 Cor. 13. though I had al faith c. if I had not love it were nothing that is sayth H. N. whosoever hath not Christ he is with uâ— God thâ—rfâ—re also in an other place he caleth Love the vpright Being of Christ himself And because this Lovely life and being appeareth dayly fresh and new in those that come to the family of Love therfore they professe to beleeve not that Christ was but that he Iâ—â—â—â—â—eived of the holy Ghost through the power of the most highest born of the H. virgin Mary And wheras the scriptures teach that Christ suffred for vs and for our syns H. N. 〈…〉 Christ beareth in vs our syns The scriptures teach that by the obedience of one meaning Christ many are made righteous he hath washed vs from our syns in his blood he was once offred to take away the syns of many and with one offring hath he consecrated for ever them that are sanctified H. N. teacheth vs that Christ vnder the obedience of the Love of his Father is gone before vs therin for that we should in like manner follow after him vnder the obedience of his Love in his death of the crosse to the safemaking of vs from our syns Thus must we save our selves by our own suffrings and Christ set forth vnto vs in the scriptures is but an example to teach vs what we must doe But what should I stand longer vpon this point for the Familists hold and professe that an obedient and godly life is Christ Iesus and so their doctrine of Christ agreeth with their former doctrine of God both being wretched and blasphemous Having thus opened the groundwork of H. Ns. religion it shal be the easyer to discerne his frawd in this Letter which I now wil particularly answer Let every one now through the same service of Love sayth this author be warned that he boast not himself in any of the works of righteousnes or take on the same to salvation neyther to condemnation before that he in the spirit of Christ though the love of the Father be renewed in al righteousnes of life In that H. N. sayth before he be renewed he playnly intimateth that his deadly error that after men are renewed they may boast in and take on their works to salvation contrarie to Pauls doctrine who sheweth that not onely the vncircumcision the vnrenewed Gentiles but also the circumcision the renewed Jewes should be justified of God by faith which faith excludeth mans rejoycing or boasting and al works of the Law He confirmeth it also by Abrahams example who though he were renewed in righteousnes of life had nothing to rejoyce of with God but was justified by faith alone and as he so we al shal have faith not works imputed to vs for righteousnes But H. N. speaking of the 10. commandements given on mount Sina caleth that law God 's eternal true living righteousnes that he would have to be erected through his people Israel vpon the earth and wherin al the children of men generations and heathen should live Wherin his doctrine is quite contrary vnto Pauls who sayth if ther had been a law given which could have given life suerly righteousnes should have been by the Law but the scripture hath concluded al vnder syn that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ should be given to them that beleeve Now the way of life the Apostle had before shewed in the same chapter saying it is evident that no man is justifyed by the Law in the sight of God for the just shal live by faith and the Law is not of faith but the man that shal do thoâ—e things shal live in them H. N. therfore teaching contrary to the Apostle as we have seen even a miserable doctrine and false wisdome of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes is by th' Apostles commandement to be holden accursed Gal. 1. 8. And this gift of his hath no witnesse of the holy prophets or Apostles to confirm the same but by his predecessor Mahomet is wel approved for eveÌ„ so did he teach the Turks That the Law of God is not impossible and intollerable howsoever the Apostles say the contrary Rom. 8. 3. Act. 15. 10. and that they which keep the the Law are joyned with God saved After this H. N. sheweth that he meanes not the elemetish ceremonial righteousnes but that which according to the heavenly truth is in the Being of Christ for this we had heard is his heaveÌ„ly truth that every man should have the Being of Christ or be Christ himself His proof herof is The Father is not honoured but through the Son that is sayth H. N. no man may knowe or serve God but that he must be born out of the spirit of Christ. And thus he leadeth the daughters by degrees to their own new birth for their righteousnes and salvation and to maynteyn this heresie he corrupteth and abuseth the scripture Gal. 6. 15. wher Paul sayth against such as vrged Christians to be circumcised
then the Sun H. N. 7. The whiles then that the Apostles which dayly went about with Christ and had the word of the Father dayly among them vnderstood not the Spirit of the Lord how should then the multitude of these which now say that they are Christians yet neyther have nor know spirit nor word but go on with their fleshly prudencie in the literal scripture and set forth the same with their fleshly harts before the simple people as it seemeth best vnto them and say even so very stowtly we have the word of the Lord wheras it is but their own word wherin that they through their own prudencie are gendred or begotten feel eyther perceiv the same H. A. THe application of this invective belongeth to H. N. himself and his Nicholaitans who out of his fleshly hart as seemeth best vnto him though against the literal scripture setteth forth his forgeries to the simple people yet boasteth very stowtly that he is anoynted with the holy ghost in the old age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ godded with God in the spirit of his Love made heyr with Christ in the heavenly goods of the riches of God illuminated with the spirit in the heavenly truth the true light of the perfect being elected to a minister of the gracious word c. so that in him and his sect the prophesie is fulfild which foretold how in the last dayes men should be lovers of them selves boasters proud cursed speakers c. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2. But if the Apostles as he sayth vnderstood not the spirit of the Lord how should then he that is sold into syn and given over vnto heresies which are works of the flesh feel or perceiv the same H. N. 8. It is true they have the scripture and the same giveth witnes of the Lord and of the word but is not the word it self Iohn 5. neyther yet may any man vnderstand the witnessing of the same vnlesse that he hath first inherited the spirit of the Lord in the second birth H. A. ONe evil and heresie draweth on another wher God restreyneth not men by his grace Here H. N. denieth the scripture to be the word of the Lord saying that it giveth witnes of the Lord and of the word Which he would gather from Christs speech Iohn 5. 39. Serch the scriptures for they testifie of me but he abuseth the scripture and concludeth amisse as if because it giveth witnes of the Lord Iesus therefore it is not the word the contrarie wherof is true it giveth witnes of him therfore it is his word For Christ playnly calleth that which is written in the Law the word Iohn 15 25. and so doth Paul Rom. 9. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 54. and Peter 2 Pet. 1. 19. The scriptures for we speak not here of the essential word of the Father which is Christ himself are the word of the Lord written even as the lively preaching of the prophets and Apostles was the word of the Lord spoken The beginning of their books sheweth this as Hos. 1. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Hosea Ioel. 1. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Ioel and many the like It is sayd Exod. 20. 1. God spake al these words and in Exod. 24. 4. it is said Moses wrote al the words of the Lord. If then that be Gods word which is spoken that also is his word which is written and H. N. is but an instrument of Satan to teach otherwise that he may bring his own word in the place If the scripture be not Gods word because it is a witnesse then the Holy Spirit which H. N. made the word before in sect 5. is not so seeing that is a witnesse also 1 Iohn 5. 6. yea Christ is a witnesse Rev. 1. 5. God the Father is a witnesse 1 Iohn 5. 9. 10. the Apostles also were witnesses Luk. 24. 48. If then that which is a witnes is not the word then none of these but H. N. and his dreames must be the word to weet of the Serpent and he indeed is no witnesse of God neyther do his writings bear testimony to the truth but seek to destroy it H. N. 6. Oh my beloved look into the same a little with me what vncertayn witnessings that we out of an earthly or a natural Being have followed after even vntil this day We may wel say with the Prophet it is altogither lies what the scripture learned preach eyther teach for asmuch as they do reject the word of the Lord Ier. 8. Here giveth the prophet a distinction or diversity betwixt the word of the Lord the witnessing of an vnregenerated man which he bringeth forth out of the Letter of the scripture H. A. THe more we look the more indeed we see what vncertayn witnessings you H. N. out of an earthly Being have followed after even vntil this day This stil more and more appeareth in your abusing of the prophets and Apostles Here you would father a distinction vpon Jeremy as if the word of the Lord and that which is written in the scripture were not one and the same the Prophet teacheth no such thing but blameth the Jewes for rejecting the word in truth and deed whiles they boasted to be wise and to have the law with them Ier. 8. 8. 9. He denyeth not the written law to be the word for I have before proved that it was Gods word Exod. 20. 1. 14. 4. but sheweth how vnregenerate men wil abuse it and yet boast of it as your self H. N. are found to falsify the word and yet vaunt your self to be a godded man and minister of the gracious word Every jod and title and consequently every Letter word and sentence of the scripture is Gods vndoubted word though yow and al Divils should deny it the false glosses and heresies that yow and other vnregenerated men gather from it are the word of Satan which the scripture it self by help of Gods spirit evidently doth disprove and so the word of the Lord endureth for ever and that is the word which the Apostles preached 1 Pet. 1. 25. and what they did preach is recorded in their writings H. N. 10. Oh if these men which now so boldly or freemindedly doe say that they are Christians and wil alwayes confesse Christ with the mouth had eyes to see the right spirit for to vnderstand then should they surely cease or leav off for to walk in the strange or erring wayes 11. There is read in the scripture that Christ should be confessed or acknowledged which is a very true witnes but the mind or meaning of the Lord therin do verie few vnderstand And many suppose whiles they have read in the scripture of one Christ likewise through their industry or prudencie they know that in times past ther was one Christ in Israel which was born amongst his own that the same when they know it confesse it with their
AN EPISTLE SENT VNTO TVVO daughters of VVarwick from H. N. THE OLDEST Father of the Familie of Love VVith a refutation of the errors that are therin by H. A. Rescue me Lord and deliver me from the hand of strangers whose mouth talketh vanity and their right-hand is a right-hand of falshood Psal. 144. 11. Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp 1608. To the Christian reader wisdome grace AS ther are many enimies of the truth of the gospel and many that write to broach and spread their errors so is it needful that some write against them least troden truth be quite forsaken and silly sowles be wrapped in error vnto perdition It is not easy for al men to espie Satans subtilties nor the deceitful sophismes of his ministers both he they can trāsforme themselves like Angels of light Such therfore as discern them through the grace of God should give warning vnto others that as the foolish womā is troublesome babling lowd inviting her ghests to the depth of hel so the maidens of wisdom may lift vp also their voice and make their crie be heard on the highest places of the citie What wormwood and bitternes even deadly poison is sparsed abroad in Henry Nicholas his writings who caleth himself the Father of the Family of Love the children of wisdome that do read the same may by the light of Gods law soon perceive yet with faire and flattering speeches he hath beguiled many vnstable sowles such as have had no love to the truth have been givē over vnto his lies And never had Satan a fitter time to work his malicious wil on the sons of Adam then in these last evil dayes when Atheisme and iniquity doe so much abound Never had he a fitter religion for Atheists and carnal hypocrites then that which H. N. out of his corrupt and fleshly hart hath set abroach It taketh away the crosse of Christ persecution for righteousnes sake and teacheth men to cōmunicate with al religions services and ceremonies so as they cleave in hart to his feighned service of the Love It maketh them pure and without al syn in their own foolish imaginations yea more then which the Serpent himself did never teach it deifieth them with God In a word it bringeth a fretting leprosie vpon al religion overthroweth the grounds of faith layd in holy scriptures which H. N. by foolish allegories perverteth to the destruction of himself and his Family And for the principles of theologie he hath written more blasphemously and absurdly then ever did Mahomet in his Alcoran For this cause in answering this his letter as I was requested by some that heard how much it was boasted of among the Nicholaitans I have touched by the way some of the impious heresies that are in his other writings without knowledge wherof his frawd in this Epistle cannot easily be perceived For as a child of darknes he laboureth to be obscure in his words y t men may admire the deepnes of Satan by which he speaketh and himself when he is folowed can no other way escape may have this for his last refuge that men vnderstand him not But al things when they are reproved of the light are manifest for the light is that which maketh al things manifest Now the word of the Lord is a lantern his Law a light by it therfore have I assayed to discover the snares of this seducer not doubting but God who causeth the Morning to know his place that it may take hold of the corners of the earth that the wicked may be shaken out of it wil notwithstanding al the dark delphick speeches and glozing allegories of these falsers declare their works and manifest their impieties and wil turn the night in the darknes wherof they think to be shrowded and they shal be destroyed Let therfore the prudent reader make trial of that which on both sides is said by the word of truth least as the serpent beguiled Evah through his subtilty so their harts be withdrawn from the sincerity of Christ. And the Lord give them vnderstanding in al things and preserve them from this generation for ever for the wicked walk on every side whiles vilenes is extolled among the sons of Adam Henry Ainsworth The preface made by some of H. N. his disciples THis Epistle was written by the author vnto two maydens that were before purposed out of zele to have suffred death for the confession sake of the Christiā ceremonies which as he saith in divers places of his works are no more but outward meanes set forth by God his ministers to direct people to the inward righteous life of Christ in the spirit supposing therin that they should rightly have obeyed fulfilled the cōmandemēt of Christ who willeth vs to forsake our own lives for his sake But vpon better consideration therof through the grace of God and these distinct godly testimonies and reasons both touching that point and divers others herein conteyned their mindes as it hath bene reported by some of that followship wer altered herin to an other vnderstanding of the matter and they did willingly indevour themselves afterwards to follow his good counsel Answer THe drift of this Epistle being at the best to disswade from the pacient and cōstant witnessing of the truth of Christ especially in the outward ordinances of the gospel and open profession of the same Under a colour of inward and spiritual confession and service of God in the holy Ghost it shal not be amisse to look a little into the sleights of Satan wherby as it seemeth he hath deceived and would stil deceive the simple and to shew the weaknes and insufficiencie of the reasons alleged in this Letter as also to manifest how the outward obedience of the body must be conjoyned with the inward of the mind and spirit and the external ordinances of Christs testament professed and practised if we would have the spirit and life which is of God And howsoever H. N. accounteth the ordinances of the gospel but ceremonies yet in that he confesseth them to be outward meanes set forth by God to direct people to the inward righteous life of Christ in the spirit he manifesteth himself to be but a seducer in perswading the two maydens not to suffer death for the confession sake of them seing the outward meanes of mans salvation and of the righteous Christian life is to be stood for vnto the death as in handling the particulars shal by Gods grace appear And if by the authors counsel those daughters were drawn as here is insinuated from their outward confession suffring affliction for the ordinances of Christ against the Romish Antichristian doctrines ceremonies their faith was but weak they forsook the inward righteous life of Christ in the spirit and their mindes were perverted to a very evil vnderstanding If also they assented to other points of H. Ns. heresies
and folowed his corrupt counsel then were they led captive as the Apostle sayth being simple women laden with synns and led with divers lusts From which estate God keep al his people direct their feet in the wayes of life peace AN EPISTLE Sent vnto two daughters of Warwick From H. N. THe wisdome of the Father through the Love of Christ in the power of the holy Ghost in the second birth out of the new life of the heavenlie being be vnto every one which with an vnpartial hart seeketh the godlynes in Iesus Christ to a harty salvation Because that every one which seeketh God with hart mought know the right diversitie betwixt the heavenly and the earthly betwixt the spirit the flesh betwixt the light and the darknes betwixt the death the life and betwixt the righteousnes of the spirit and the righteousnes of the elementish things and then to love the same That grant vs the Almightie God through his love Amen 1. Because ye mought through the spirit of Christ inherit the same gift and meere affection or goodwillingnes to the godly life I do bear or cary the same gift God is my witnes before al men But now am I compelled through the love of Christ severally to open the same gift vnto two yong daughters of a certayn place named Warwick The Lord give his prosperitie and grace thervnto for that his righteousnes which is wrought through the Spirit of Christ mought be knowen of them and that the life of Christ which by many is sought after the flesh might be knowen and inherited of them according to the spirit even like as God which is blessed is a Spirit Ioh. 4. 2 Cor. 3. H. A. OUr saviour Christ the wisdome of the Father hath warned vs to beware of false prophets which come vnto vs in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves The Apostles through the love of Christ in the power of the holy Ghost have foretold vs that in the latter times some should depart from the faith and give heed vnto spirits of error and doctrines of Divils speaking lies through hypocrisie and having their consciences burned-with-a-hot-yron and therfore counselled vs not to beleev everie spirit but to trie the spirits whither they ar of God because many false prophets were even then gone out into the world The evil that they should enterprise is privilie to bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that hath bought them the maner of their cariage should be to vse feighned words fayr flattering and good speech swelling words of vanity promises of liberty and the like The effect of their doctrine should be deceiving of the harts of the simple even of many yea if it were possible of the verie elect and by those many that follow their damnable wayes the way of truth should be blasphemed The end of al which touching themselves is that because such reprobates receive not the love of the truth that they mought be saved therfore God sendeth them strong delusion that they should beleeve lies and they al may be damned which beleeve not the truth but hav pleasure in vnrighteousnes These things considered it standeth vs vpon to look wel to our selves least we be caried away with the error of the wicked This author H. N. beginneth as was foretold not onely with fayr and flattering speech but also with swelling words of the second birth out of the new life of the heavenly being and sondry the like He boasteth of the gift of the godly life which he beareth before al men and here severally openeth vnto two yong daughters and of this he taketh God to witnesse He telleth them in the 2. section folowing that the Christ of God was not yet declared vnto them according to the heavenly truth Thus promiseth he great matters and seemeth to be a setter forth of a new Christ and consequently of a new God Very needful therfore it is to attend vnto his doctrine and if it be true for to receive it if false for to abhorr it and to hold the author therof accursed And herevnto the Lord inable and guide vs by his grace 1. First where he vaunteth of the gift borne before al men in his other writings opened to these daughters in this Epistle let vs bring it to the trial by the word of God who he saith is his witnes For we read of some that have given gifts vnto their lovers that they might come vnto them on every side for fornication and whither this writing and other pamphlets of H. N. be not gifts sent abroad for such evil purpose let the godly reader judge If his gift have wytnes of God it hath witnes of his written word as the prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because ther is no light in them Is H. N. willing to come to this trial it seemeth farr otherweise for in al his writings he much inveigheth against scripture-learning contrary to the true prophets and Apostles who highly commended this as being able to make men wise vnto salvation and profitable to teach to improve to correct to instruct in righteousnes and never did any of them entwite the learning or knowledge of the scriptures as the reader may see H. N. to doe in this Epistle and his other pamphlets Our saviour Christ willed al men even his adversaries to serch the scriptures for they testified of him If they testified likewise of H. N. and his doctrine doubtlesse he would not despise as his manner is the scripture-learning of others especially whiles he wil seem to rely vpon the testimonies of the same for himself But if we may not learn the truth of religion out of holy writt how then may we attayn it H. N. telleth vs in his First exhortation to his children thus My beloved children like as the true Communiality of holy ones and Elders of the house of Love confesse vnder the obedience of the Love the beleef in Iesu Christ and the Christian baptism and like as I expresse the same here vnto you and confesse or acknowledge it before al men to be the true faith and the vpright baptisme even so ground with fast beleef your harts likewise therin So then the doctrine of H. N. and his folowers must be the groūd of our faith as they confesse and beleev so must we And herein the Familists religion accordeth wel with the Turks whose great prophet Mahomet in his law or Alchoran to draw disciples after him saith thus They that worship God let them if they be good beleev his Messenger Mahomet and again O ye good men be followers of God and of his messenger never wittingly depart from them But may we not our selves by the light and grace that God giveth vs make trial of H. N. his religion by the word of the Lord