in the false Jews Examinations it is our great mercy that God restrained him from inventing lyes of us for out it had come we must have shared with Lieutenant Collonel Hobson whom here the Gent. present to the world from the Jows mouth a person of credit As a slighter of Ordinances a neglecter of Family Duties For say they the Jew was much pressed by one how he could stand under the power of Lioutenant Collone Hobosons pravers being so long in his Family To which he plainly answered That they used no Family Duties while he was there How Gospel-like had it been if these Gent. had enquired the truth before they had thus published defamed the Lieutenant-Colonel living but ten miles distance I hope he will vindicate himself and shew that he dare not expose himself and Family to that direful curse Ier 10.25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not on thy Name Having thus wounded the reputation of the Lieutenaut-Colonel they are pleased again to let fly at the Administrator and his Allies for crying up the false Jews Confession To which I answer That if it be well weighed by the judicious Reader as the Confession of a Iew it will appear a very full Confession of a Messiah come in the Flesh For the Gentlemen have dealt most unworthily in concealing that part of his Declaration wherein much of the excellency of a work of grace exquisitely counterfeited by him is contained most in juriously breaking off with a Caetera desiderantur When I demanded of M. Hammond whether he would have denied the Iew Baptism upon this Confession He answered Yes because of his many lies But when I replyed That his lies were unknown to me at that time Nay then said he I should have not denyed him And now I suppose the Gentlemen have not forgot any one passage they have let fly every way at the Church of Hexham at the Administrator at their dear Friend at the Lieutenant-Colonel at Captain Everard at the Army and before they have done My dearly beloved and most cordial Fellow-Labourer will be brought upon the Stage by them Really the Administrator hath as good company as he could wish in this alone the Gentlemen have been courteous 'T is no small mercy my dear Brethren and Friends that you and I are counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name who hath suffered the Fathers wrath for us Heb. 10 32 33. 't is one Gospel-mark of illumination Partly whilest yee are made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilest ye became companions of them that were so used And here I present you with the false Iew truly and faithfully as it was written with his own Hand The substance of the Declaration and Confession which was made at the publike Meeting-House at HEXHAM the fourth Moneth the fifth Day 1653. By IOSEPH BEN ISRAEL ROM 11.1 I say then hath God cast away his People God forbid For I also am an Israelite of the Seed of Abraham of the Tribe of Judah Benjamin Men Brethren and Fathers MY purpose is to declare unto this Congregation first my Descent and Education and secondly the great work of my Conversion I verily am a man which am a Iew of the Tribe of Iudah Act. 23. born in Mantua a City in Lombardy a Province of Italy trained up in the Religion of my Fathers and brought up in the choicest learning of my Countrey and having attained unto eight Languages I betook me setiously to the Study of Philosophy where meeting with Plato sirnamed Divine Trinum per unum Socrates and Hermes Trismegistus I found such light in the glorious Mystery of the Triunity that I was wonderfully surprized and amazed and the more that Heathens should come to the knowledge of this most excellent Doctrine O Lord said I how shall those Philosophers rise in judgment against us who have more light even sepher hattorah the Book of the Law the former book rendred them inexcusable but what will become of us who have the revealed Will of God I had not gone three foot-steps in this way but I found Elohim in the plurall number compounded with a singular word Bara created upon which my meditation was much raised to admire this mysterie when passing on a little further I met with Nangas haadam betrolmenu Let us perfect man with our Image Why us but that we should understand the plurality holden forth in the Creator this drew my Meditations first towards the Christians Messiah But now Satan the professed enemy of Christ of al that set their faces towards heaven told me that these were but fancies and delusions of my own brain shall the Heathenish Philosophers be a rule for my Religion no I will follow the Law under which I was born and educated Behold the power of Satans snares and behold the vileness of mine own heart forsaking this blessed light and rejecting all these holy motions returning to my former old waies again But here through the goodness of God I found no rest but very much trouble and anquish of spirit But O the loving kindness of God! whose design graticusly appeared to bring me to the knowledge of himself even from our own way of worship Our Doctors chuse out a place to say every Morning and Evening Shemang Israel Adonay Eloheinu Adona echad Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one Immediately upon this I find thrice Elohenu Jehovah Iehovah the Lord c. O Brethren I cannot express the heart-searchings and movings that were upon me at that instant which with my former Meditations engaged my soul in a firm belief of the blessed Three in One which most sacred Trinity I do invocate as a witness of the sincerity of my heart holding concurrence with my words O Holy of Holies Father Son and Spirit Searcher of the heart and Tryer of the reins be pleased to give strength and courage to avow thee grant that my lips may enunciate truth and deal with thy servant according to the integrity of his heart After diligent enquiry of the Lord Jesus Christ I did in heart confess him as the most high God taking upon him our nature but then Satan sets upon me with fresh and violent temptations which caused me to break forth O my soul it s for thee I care go I back to the Law I lose thee and thy case my body go I forward to those that profess this Messiah and behold gross and abominable Idolatry look upward and behold a just and jealous God the punisher of it look about thee and behold all thy friends ashamed of thee and thy neerest relations our sing thee and the Messiah whom thou believest But can this be the true Messiah whose disciples are so notoriously wicked wallowing in all kind of sin and woful Idolatry In the midst of these perplexities and distractions of spirit I was almost swallowed up of despair And
their profession After such a people I especially enquired 1. the Lord having convinced me that there was no way of becomming a visible Disciple of the Lord Jesus but by Baptism and that Faith was necessarily to precede the administration of it The Scripture through which the Lord was pleased to break in with a conviction in this particular upon my spirit was that of Mark 16.16 confirmed by the constant practice of the Disciples in the History of the New Testament neither did I ever meet with any plain Scripture thwarting this light but many concurring to confirm me in the truth I had received So that Hic sisto pedem till they who walk by a rule preposterous to this can shew me a clear and plain Scripture for such their walkings To bottom Ordinances upon mens inferences how rationally soever deduced is not to me consistent with the faithfulness of the Messiah who was the great Apostle and Prophet of his Church and left not his houshold without plain directions how he would have them to go in and out before him in all wel-pleasing and not to depend upon the extracts of the wisest of Mens Reasonings For Moses who was but a Servant in whose House from my youth up I have been educated was so faithful as in plain terms to lay down every Ordinance which God would have us to make the Rule of our obedience And shall we suspect his Master would be less faithful or deficient No in no wise But secondly I did the rather enquire after such a People because their manner of Administring of Baptism is very clear to me to be most consentaneous to the mind of the Lord Christs institution which is by a total immersion of the Party baptized under water When I consulted with the best Phylologists in the Greek tongue whether Sacred or Prophane I found all Vno Ore profess That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dip or put over head as the Dyar doth his Cloath into his Liquors which is confessed to be the genuine meaning of the word even by those who are professed Adversaries to the carrying on of Baptism by immersion Let me give you one instead of many and that an eminent one it is learned Spanhemius in his Dubia Evangelica Dub. 24. Partis tertiae Thus much the Gent. had in print which they willingly concealed ad calcem where having discussed ex professo quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie concludes that this exposition is to use his very terms Syncera conformis significationi verbi communi Christianorum immo omnium Graecè doctorum calculo comprobata And this sense of the word is received and retained by the learned Translators in the most eminent Languages of West Christendome The Italian and the Spanish retain the Greek word Baptesimo The High and Low Dutch render it Doop and Tauff which signifie a total immersion and Eu tauffen to baptize as is well known to those that are knowing and acquainted in these Languages Add hereunto the conformity between the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tebilah in our Language which is a total Immersion as appears by that expression our Nation gives concerning a Woman going to purifie her self in Water after the daies of her separation because of her uncleanness she is said to go lattevillah to be hid over Head and Ears I shall only add this one Testimony of our Rabbines which when I found comformable to the practice of the Disciples of the Messiah in the carrying on of this Ordinance of Baptism as it is held forth in the Scriptures by immersion of the Parties to be baptized it was of great weight and authority with me and it is this In sepher Jalkut O nitzachon set out by R. Mulhusino argel letalmidei talui lalechet litvilah it is a custome of the Disciples of the hanged man for my Nation in mentioning of Christ Periphrase him by contempt talui the hang'd man to go to the place of Immersion to be hid over head and ears in Water And thus the Lord having made plain my way before me and bringing me to a people walking according to the light which through the Scriptures confirmed by the Testimony both of the learned in my own and other Nations who was I that I should resist God and turn away from those whom God had discovered to my poor wandring soul to be a people walking in the way of his own appointment and according to those convictions that were upon my spirit For whose Communion I do exceedingly bless God and wherein I greatly rejoice The Lord Christ having given into my spirit abundance of joy and refreshing as a signal token of his good liking and gratious approbation of this my undertaking warming my heart under the full discovery of that Promise made good to me both in the union of my soul to himself and giving me into the imbraces of and communion with his People Him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out John 6.37 Now to God onely wise who hath shewed me these grear things the God of my Fathers keeping Covenant for ever who hath not taken his mercy from me nor suffered his Truth to fail but hath taken one of the out-casts of his antient Israel and brought it home to himself To him be glory and Dominion throughout all Ages Amen Amen Tamvenishlam tehillah leel barach Josephus Ben Israel ex Judaeo Christianus The Administrators Animadversions upon this Declaration and Confession wherein the glorious Order and Method of the Highest shines forth 1. IT is observable that the Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to manifest himself to this poor soul that asked not after him to advance him as a living Monument of free grace and mercy like as the Woman of Sychar comming to Jacobs well to draw water for her bodies comfort met unexpectedly with a living Fountain of distinguishing grace freely streaming out to her soul So was the Lord pleased while this Jew was pumping the water of Philosophy for the accomplishment of the outward man to open the glorious Fountain of the Divine Nature for the blessed information and to the great admiration of his Spirit until that happy season blinded with the Traditions of his Fathers O the distinguishing love of God! Rom. 11.7 2. The Gospel-like order of this great work deserves our most serious thoughts that high and wonderful doctrine which the Almighty laies for a sure Foundation in his heart is it whereon eternal blessedness depends And this is life eternal That they might know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Joh. 17.3 He is first awakened as it were by Esays Vision the discovery of that glorious infinite blessed Three in One Holy Father Esa The Lords antient people the Jews have ever accounted it great blasphemy to call God a Person 6.3 Holy Son John 12.41 Holy Spirit Acts 28.26 and other Foundation can no
ever since I came to Hexham They cannot make it good That we own Persons as living monuments of free grace only upon closing with our opinion They cannot make it good That I have charged many gratious Saints with making no conscience of lies These and other gross Untruths of these Gent. being considered I suppose I have more cause to bewail their sad condition as being given up of God to believe to make and to publish lies so that their own Pen drops their own doom 2 Thes 2.11 both in their Title Page and the closure of their tenth Consideration But time and occasions call to a Conclusion And therefore to their eleventh Consideration enquiring Whether the work upon my heart be any better than the Jews I have already answered That if it be not their skil in heart work is as little as they say mine is seeing they have judged me truly gratious Their 12 Consideration I shall leave to my beloved Brother and faithful Fellow-labourer to which he answers That the twelfth Consideration hath as much of the Serpent in it as any of the former For whereas they mention his present station he apprehends it to be inserted by them 1. Either to his disparagement which is the grand design carryed on through the false Jewish Pamphlet and if so he must tell the Gent. it is their weakness so to judge they not knowing wherof they affirm For as the Office relates to a person of no mean quality but one eminent and honorable in his Country so also it is a place of considerable credit and no mean trust though they would present it to the world as despicable 2. Or secondly If they insist upon his Office as an impediment so that he cannot labour in the Lords work this mistake is equal with the former For his Office does not like their fat Lots at Newcastle for which they take occasion in their first Epistle to give God thanks pag. 2. l. 23. make him so corpulent or unwieldy but he can once or twice a fortnight lanch out to preach the Gospel in the dark parts neer adjacent where are divers Parish meeting-houses which stand as so many dark Lanthorns and which these Gents present pomp and greatness will not vouchsafe them to visit no not once in a Summer to hold forth their light to some thousands of poor souls which sit in darkness and may for all them perish without understanding But to proceed As for his great change which these Gent. charge him lately to have professed He doubts not but in the day of the Lord Jesus his appearing it shall appear that he possesses what he hath professed And that it is of a former date than since their Bugbear Articles of Scandals which they say were shown him though he never got a sight of them to peruse them wherein what was of truth he neither then did nor will deny But what he then granted had it amounted to a Charge he makes no question but he should have heard of them long ere now he having appeared in two Publique Disputes with the Administrator against them at Newcastle even before the expiring of their Commission So that concerning these Articles he hath ground to conclude That either there was self-conviction upon these Gent. that they were false or their proof shrunk in and sailed them being ashamed to justify such untruths or there hath been corruptness on some hands since that a business which the world must be made believe was so wicked hath been neer upon 3 years pocketed up in silence and if a truth hath bin withholden in unrighteousnes Any of these being granted which the impartial Reader in reason can't deny there was doubtless no such necessity as these Gent. pretend for him to strike in with the Administrator and his way who came not into these parts for many moneths after to secure him from the stroke of these Gent. Mock-Articles of Scandals they having had time will and power sufficient had they but had sufficiency of truth and integrity to have drawn up a charge against him But by the way let the Reader take notice that the Administrator and his way holds a rod over these Gent. and teaches them moderation He was struck in with the Administrator and his way therefore these Gent. waved their Articles Doth not such an inference well become Gent. that profess to be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth Oh blessed be our God who hath raised up such Professors of the Administrators way as have chained up men of persecuting Prelatical spirits so that they cannot act up to the height of mischief against the truths of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Professors of them as they would But say the Gent. We desire to see further c. Ans They have their desire but upon this condition That he may prevail with them for the like liberty before he lay the weight of infallibility in a work of grace upon any or all their judgements since that experience whereof sundry instances may be given hath taught him that these Gentlemen are not acted by an infallible spirit but are men subject to the like Passions Delusions and Mistakes as he is Optimus ille Qui minimis urgetur S. A. As to their last Consideration the Administrator can through mercy cheerfully bear all the affronts derisions end abuses of it and all the rest though temptations have not been wanting to answer these Gent. Rom. 12.17 18 19. in another way but Christ hath taught me better 1 Peter 2.23 so that when they say I speak in the same Language which the spirit of Satan breathed out of the mouth of my Dear Brother the Counterfeit I can patiently bear it Mat. 10.25 and leave it to the Lord who was tearmed Beelzebub before me and told me what I should meet with But whereas the Gent. confidently tell their Reader That the Counterfeit could never dissemble so handsomely in the Ordinance of Prayer and thereupon deride me thus Yet this is the Saint that the Administrator saies he had not found the like no not in England Let me tell the Reader what I shall punctually prove whensoever I am called to it That this is another gross untruth Vntruth 13 and a farther evidence that the judgement which the Gent. say is fallen upon us hath manifestly seized upon themselves namely To be given up of God to believe lyes Really Christian Reader this wretched Impostor whom these Gent. say at adventure could not dissemble so handsomely in the Ordinance of Prayer could speak sweetly soundly affectionately feelingly in Prayer so as to draw forth the heart exceedingly of such as are richly experienced in the things of Christ But it is manifest how readily yea and greedily the Gentlemen embrace whatsoever the false Jew speaks that may any way wound us wheras all other things that seem to appear for us they brand as Lyes Forgeries Deceits c. The Gent. close leaving the Administrator upon the Stage in his relation of the false Jews joy and spiritual sweetness after Baptism and they affirm its true He was observed to smile as he came out of the water and being asked the reason why he smiled it was as easily believed as spoken by him to be the joy of the Holy Ghost And I shall conclude also with declaring That I am certain these Gentlemen themselves are no other way able to discern or know where the joy of the Holy Ghost and Heavenly incomes are but by the expressions and actions of the party which were not wanting in this exquisite Hypocrite As for his smiling as he came out of the Water it is as easily believed by these Gentlemen it seems as spoken to use their own words But I perceive these Gentlemen little know what it is to be buried in Baptism that can believe a Person baptized is so suddenly in a smiling condition I was as neer to him as any and helping him out of the Water I heard him pray as soon as he could take breath I leave all to the Lord and his Saints it is their work to judge the World let them judge between us whether is guilty of believing Lyes as easily as spoken We in giving credit to the false Jews holy humble Confession when he appeared to us to be adorned with the pure Robes of Snow-white innocence no guilt at all or these Gent. in embracing whatsoever he told them against us after his notorious falshood was detected and they knew him to be an abhominable Lyar Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest doest the same things Rom. 2.1 FINIS
BANNERS of LOVE Displaied over the Church of Christ walking in the Order of the Gospel at HEXHAM By the out-stretched Arm of the King of Saints against the Jesuitical Design lately attempted by the false IEW. OR An Answer to a Narrative stuff'd with Untruths by four Newcastle GENTLEMEN ISAIAH 4.5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon her assemblies a Cloud by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence ISAIAH 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn REV. 2.2 Thou hast tryed them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars LONDON Printed by Hen. Hills and are to be sold at his house at the sign of Sir John Old Castle in Py-Corner 1654. To the Church of Christ walking in the Order of the Gospel at HEXHAM MY DEARLY BELOVED THe Crown of my rejoicing in Christ through whom he is pleased to convey divine consolations for the sweet refreshing of my weather-beaten soul surrounded with storms on every hand from Rome from the World and which is most sad from my late familiar friends the professed servants of the same God whom we adore O my Beloved what measure have you and I met with from unreasonable and wicked men since by a separation from the world we made a visible profession of the faith of the Gospel You know the many plotted lies that have been invented and vented by Satan and his children That there were 12 persons to be baptized at Naward Castle whom I called my Apostles and said that I was their God That I have taken 12.14.20 a person for baptizing them That some have seen me drunk on the Rodâ— That I robbed a man neer unto Corbridge That I was sent for to Newcastle and so to London to suffer That some whom I baptized presently run mad had the Palsie were blind have been drowned have hanged themselves and many such like untruths But Deut. 33.16 Isa 43.1 2. through the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush you have been preserved in the midst of these flames so that from the first day until now you have been living Monuments of his unspeakable mercy not a hair of any of your heads perished being more than conquerours through him that loveth us his banners of l ve have been continually over us he hath drawn out the hearts and affections of his Churches to own you their gratious spiritual Epistles from London Lempster Leith Stokesley Lancashire and Cheshire have raised and exceedingly refreshed your spirits and the Lord return seven fold into the bosoms of those precious ones O what a rich stock of prayers have you going a mighty interest in the Churches of Christ who are terrible as an Army with Banners The late Jesuitical attempt to ruin you Christ discovered seasonably and blasted the Adversary yea and turned it to your singular advantage and wonderful increase in number and grace who could imagine that so many pretious souls should be added to the Church of Hexham upon this detection of the Impostor most men thought it would have been your ruin but as upon the discovery of those grand Hypocrites in the first pure Church Acts 5.14 so hath the Almighty blessed and prospered you But now alas your flourishing condition hath I fear stirred up a spirit of emulation in those congregations that differ from your judgement who under a pretence of publishing the false Jew have mightily laboured in his design to supplant you who being but a young Vine and of tender Grapes had more need of careful dressing and constant dews of consolation and instruction than such discouragements and defamations as that you readily imbrace any whether Sheep or Goats if they be but of your opinion in Baptism that you even the whole Congregation are given up of God to believe lies These and such like aspersions are sad and grievous especially from those who have pretended to build with you giving a secret stab as it were in the midst of a brotherly salute but t is your mercy that Christ deals better cherishing your souls with his most sweet and chaste imbraces as his most loving faithful Spouse carrying you in his blessed Arms and folding you in his bosome of love that Nest and Hive of sweetness taking all your reproaches affronts and indignities as done unto himself while he leads you through the green Pastures and feeds you with marrow full of fatness by the still waters hiding you in his Pavilion and in the secret of his Tabernacle from the strife of tongues thus the Eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the Everlasting Arms. Wherefore be incouraged in the Lord ye children of the most High and remember what I have sometimes taught you That the Saints trials shall end in triumph your Night of Misery will have a most glorious Morning of Victory And though it be sad to suffer by Professors yet consider that Christ suffered by his own professed people so did Paul Acts 21.20 with 28. and other pretious Saints Did you ever hear of a Church increasing as God increaseth you without great afflictions and persecutions Do not consult with flesh and blood but behold the works and wonders of the Lord how he baffles the carnal conceits of men Remember what a signal token of divine approbation was shewed but a moneth since at Muggleswick in the cheerful submission of many pretious souls to your despised Ordinance of Baptism the very same day that it was cryed down by a Boanargis who soon fell sick and so dyed the whole night following being spent in Prayer and declaring the work of grace upon their souls a Vigil to be observed and in the morning buried with Christ in Baptism Some of you have been secretly instructed and marvellously convinced of Disciple-baptism onely while you have been under the preaching of Infant-springling Live up to these mercies you pretious Saints let your holy humble walking crown Christ 1 Peter 2.12 and more and more confute the adversary So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly You Phil. 4.1 Rom. 16.20 whose prayers prevailed for my life from a late extreme sickness would surely have me live Why now I live 1 Thes 3.8 2 Cor. 11.2 if you stand fast in the Lord I have espoused you to one Husband O my dearest let your shining conversation so adorn your profession that I may give up my account with joy and present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ when transported on Angels wings to the Kings Palace we shall be lovingly received into our Masters joy with Well done and Well come This is the life the joy the hope of him who intirely and unfeignedly loves you Hexham 6 mon. 20 day 1653. Your servant for
his spirit being far from his former temper but in this the Gent. are silent Let the Reader if he can espy one good word for the Administrator throughout all the Gents false Iew but all the Gall and Wormwood they can procure When nothing could be proved against the Iew being ready to depart without a discovery Alderman George Dawson offered that if I would see him forthcoming he should go with me but seriously I found my spirit averse since his late expression when of a sudden after the Gents fierceness had done no good the Almighty searcher of hearts ordered the steps of a man at that instant into the Room with two Lecters the one directed to Thomas Horseley but so worn spelled and written that there was much difficulty in reading of it yet so much appeared that his guilt appeared more than by all the former rugged unchristian dealing yet still he faced it out and subtilly evaded all at length I desired that I might take him into the Garden which was readily granted Mr. Hammond also whispering in mine ear to sift him thoroughly but this the Gent. smother declaring Vntruth 7 That the Iew desired to go aside with the Administrator whereas God knows and some of themselves know that the motion and desire was mine What a naughty spirit is it that sets these Gent. a work concealing all that might render the Administrator any way acceptable and proclaiming all that may any way tend to his disps ragement amongst the rest declaring that they knew not what passed betwixt us which is untrue for I declared to them That I pressed him with all my might by perswasions allurements threatnings to discover the particulars of that guilt I manifestly discerned in him but before I could obtain this some others came to us which made him more reserved so that I set to it singly the second time but all the Gent. comming into the Garden much a mused him Then Mr. Hammond and some others laboured with him but when they could not prevail I was desired the third time to try what God would do who now so mightily appeared in a corner of the Garden neer the River that the wretch confessed his imposture telling me that if his life might be secured he would make known strange things but not daring to promise more than I could perform I called to Mr. Hammond who upon some promises and encouragements had all discovered As that he was no Iew but to act the Iews part was circumcised at Rome That he was Mr. Alexander Ramsey 's Son That he would discover many Popish Plots against England c. After this Mr. Hammond and Mr. Durant desired me as being best acquainted with him to give him some Christian Counsel which I willingly performed labouring to touch or if possibly to awaken his seared conscience and hardned impenitent heart shewing him the just hand of a sin-searching God c. Amongst other things I demanded of him How I should know that he took up Baptism at Hexbam upon any other tearms than he took up Circumcision at Rome id est on purpose to deceive He answered That all he could say was his conversation while he was amongst us And thus much for the discovery of the Impostor with which the Gent. draw to an end of their Narrative onely some passages it seems they had almost forgot They had almost forgot to tearm their dear friend a Stickler whom they say urged this Agument for the Counterfeit triumphingly Did ye ever hear or read of an Emissary from Rome that submitted to the Ordinance of Baptism Ans I suppose that as these Gent. could not name one so they never heard of such an Impostor as this the Pope with his scarlet Conclave and subtil Jesuits and bloody Inquisition are now hatching new projects to undermine and ruine the true Churches of Christ Vntruth 8 A second passage which the Gent. had almost forgot is a most notorious untruth viz. That the Administrator called the Counterfeit to partake of the Ordinance of the Lords Supper and that he dissembled to avoid it Reader there is not one syllable of truth in this almost forgotten passage here are many living witnesses in the Church of Hexham to testifie That the false Jew most earnestly desired the Ordinance and the Administrator by desire of the Church wished him to forbear until he had cleared himself at Newcastle wherupon he most exquisitly acted the part of a dejected forlorn perplexed soul smiting his breast and with tears and trembling for no doubt he can quake professed that his soul did weep even tears of blood for those lyes which he thought no sin when they were spoken Thus the Gent-instead of ours have published their own shame in this great falsehood and not onely this for the false Jew tells them which being to our reproach they publish That he looked upon our Baptism as no more than the washing of his hands but for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that he dissembled to avoid But can these Gent. believe that the Papists have any more esteem of our Ordinance of the Lords Supper than of our Baptism Certainly our Communion is no less contrary to their Masse in all particulars than our Baptism to their Sprinkling Is not the same judgement which the Gent. say is seized upon us justly faln upon themselves being given up of God to believe lies 2 Thes 2.11 and that from he mouth of a known Lyar. Truly although these Gent. judge nothing of God in us yet for the honour of truth they should have enquired of us being but sixteen miles from them before they had Published these gross and slanderous untruths But I proceed to their third passage which was almost forget The Administrator thought to terrifie us in saying This Jew was sent for into the Army Ans I fear that inâ—â—â—ad of this passage the Gent. have almost forgot themselves in usurping the Throne of God boldly intrenching upon his Prerogative Royal Do they know my thoughts God alone knows the thoughts of men How then can they say The Administrator thought to terrifie us I wish the Gent. who boast so much of the knowledge of the heart and thought to read 2 Thes 2.4 10 11. But why should these Gent. be terrifyed with the Army I know not any Professors that fear the Army but such as are principled for persecution indeed it is thought these Gent. have not much affected the Army since Captain Everard and his Brother stirred up their spirits to persecution by a Petition which our Noble Lord General like an excellent Christian slighted But the Gent. do every way abuse me in declaring that I said The Jew was sent for into the Army I said indeed That the Jew was invited into Scotland by a godly tender-hearted Christian commiserating his mean condition Being almost tyred with these Passages which had been as good altogether as almost forgotten I hasten having already answeted to all that concerns us
his who professeth his sorrow and doth hope he hath obtained mercy upon Pauls account because he did it ignorantly in unbelief 1 Tim. 1.13 Lastly I would give a word of caution to all the dear servants of Christ to abstain from all appearance of evill and not to commit the least sin to avoid the greatest danger but walk in Gods path and leave the success to him 10. This hath occasioned many false reports as that he is no Jew but a Jesuit an Impostor a Counterfeit and what not whereas it will evidently appear a Noon-day verity to any ingenuous person that shall converse with him that he is indeed a Iew especially when they shall behold that manifest token in his Flesh the distinguishing Character of Circumcision which I also saw before I baptized him Gen. 17. 11. But the mighty power of Faith grounded upon many precious promises especially this All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Iohn 6.37 bearing him through all these great undertakings for his Names sake who made this gracious promise his the lively demonstration of Evangelical Repentance and a throughly changed Nature The cleer knowledge of the great Mysterie of Godliness the gracious flowings of love from life and life from light the sweet experimental breathings of a Christ within in a more excellent manner than I am able to recite did even constrain me to profess that I have not found a more blessed work of Grace no not in England 12. And therefore looking upon him as a subject fitly qualified through Grace for Christs Kingdom my very soul cleaving to him and the same in tire affections abundantly flowing from my faithful Fellow-Labourer with full approbation of all my Brethren that heard him I called upon him in the words of that holy man And now why tarriest thou arise and be baptized Acts 22.16 and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord. 13. Which Initiating Ordinance he being well inform'd in as to the subject matter Beleevers and the exact manner Dipping or Plunging both from the holy Scriptures and from the full testimony of the most learned Jewish Doctors averring that the manner of the Disciples of Jesus of Nazareth the Hang'd Man was to baptise their Converts in Rivers by Immersion or Dipping the whole body under water according to the ancient custome of cleansing Lepers and of menstruous Women even to this day Whereupon after a publike solemn Profession of the Lord Jesus and humble addresses to his Throne for his gracious presence some hundreds accompanying him to the River Tyne he was baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus who return'd him in a rejoyceing frame of spirit Acts 8.49 and hath filled his soul since with much spiritual sweetness Now let all that are the Lords Remembrancers give him no rest untill he bring in all his Antients gloriously and make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth Isai 24.23 62.7 60.1 by causing that joyful found to ring in their ears Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Rom. 11.25 26. Tho. Tillam THus I have truly presented the False Jew the greatest part whereof was omitted by these Gentlemen and yet they were pleased to print my Animadversions upon the whole And when they had so done they offer to the world their Considerations upon them telling the judicions Reader That he will see without their Advertisement Vntruth 9 how these Animadversiens are rather the Issues of the Administrators own thoughts than bottomed upon the Confession for many things say they he Animadverts upon are not visible to us in the Declaration but sure he had a mind to make something of it Reply The former part which the Gentlemen have printed was more properly the Jews confession and the later part which they have omitted was his Declaration Now they having about fourscore lines of the later part before their eyes in print have willingly broken it off at the end of seven lines Caetera desiderantur telling the world that the rest is wanting and then insult over my Animadversions as lame and defective Vntruth 10 and the Issues of my own thoughts appealing to the judicious Reader which appeal I also willingly make now that all is come to his view let him freely judge whether these Gentlemen have abused me by labouring to make my Animadversions and my self equally monstrous They conclude vvith a Scoff But sure he had a mind to make something of it I think 't is evident that these Gent had a mind to make something of it when they printed not the one half and yet gave forth my Animadversions upon all But to their considerations upon them Their first Consideration This glorious change which the Administrator was so confident of was in a moneth by reading some books in Lieutenant-Collonel Hobsons house as himself pretended How soon shall a man be called by these men a living Monument of free Grace though a meer stranger onely upon closing with their opinion Reply Me thinks 't is harsh that these Gentlemen should limit the holy one of Israel and judge it no true work of grace unless it be above a moneth in doing That New-England way of keeping persons upon trial many Moneths my soul could never close with The way of Christ is to receive poor wounded thirsty penitent souls upon their earnest desires If these Gentlemen would give me one Scripture for rejecting such as such this Jew seemed really I shall give them thanks and soon change my judgment but till then I shall endeavour to follow the practice of Peter Acts 2.41 8.12 13. 16.33 18.8 Paul and Philip in looking upon those that profess the faith of Christ and Repentance from dead works as living Monuments of free Grace and fit for the Ordinances of the Gospell If they shall prove hypocrites as Ananias and Simon Magus 2 Cor. 10.6 and the false Jew did we have in a readiness to revenge all such disobedience But whereas the Gentlemen present us to the world as owning such for living Monuments of free grace that do but only close with our opinion it is a great Untruth we do well know Vntruth 11 that few or none desire communion with us but such as are convinced of Disciples Baptism onely and therefore it is the least matter we seek after our main business is to labour as far as the Rule leads us to find their faith firm their repentance right a competent measure of knowledge and self-denial their conversation holy since the time they were enlightned and by these fruits we judge them that desire fellowship with us Mat. 7.16 Gal. 5.22 to have passed through the pangs of the New Birth and subjects fit for Baptism and hereupon we shew them all the Forms and Ordinances of the Temple the out-goings and in-commings and so open the armes
of our dearest affections to embrace them But it is well known that divers Persons under full convictions as to our opinion as these Gent. term it have been denyed communion with us and desired to wait in the use of means until the fruits fore mentioned shall appear whereas these Gent. do own and receive such in whom neither Faith Repentance Self-denial Knowledge or desire at all appears Their second Consideration That the Administrator calls the distinction of Persons Idols as at a meeting in Newcastle the last year he called them appearances and manifestations Reply These Gent. have no less abused me in this than in their High Commission-like dealing in that Conference at Newcastle where Mr. Hammond would rigidly impose the term Person upon me and when I put him to produce one rule for it which by Scripture he could not he demanded what I would call the Three Persons My answer was that I durst not give any Appellation at all but Father Son and Spirit God being gratiously pleased so to appear or manifest himself to us when suddainly he stopped my speech and spake very loud to the people that I called God an appearance or a manifestation which went for currant amongst that party And the like height of spirit was seen in the same Gent. when I was speaking of God as a Father a Son a Spirit he presently riseth up crying A Son a Son is that Scripture Language Then casting his arms abroad to the people Look ye friends said he this is the Gent. that stands so much for Scripture and now he saies A Son a Son then turning to me he said I must call him the Son I answered A Son and he hotly replyed often the Son not a Son t is no Scripture phrase till at last he sate down silent upon my rehearsall of this Scripture To us a Child is born to us a Son is given Such hath been the carriage of some of these Gent. towards me more like the Lordly Prelates than humble Gospel Ministers But concerning the great charge of calling the distinctions of Persons Idols I have indeed warned Christians to keep themselves from the Idols of mens vains inventions Mat. 15.9 Psal 99.8 because Christ hath declared it to be vain worship and t is that which procures the vengeance of God upon it Now if the Appellation Person be not Scripture t is a meer invention of Man and so an Idol Yes say they we have the Author to the Hebrews and is not he of more Authority than all the Rabbies in the World Reply Undoubtedly he is for however some do question the Authority of this Epistle yet I do firmly embrace it as the very word of Christ But the Author of this Epistle doth not call God a Person the words quoted by the Gen. are these Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the express character of his substance or subsistence These Gent. tell the world of the Administrators non-acquaintance with the Rabbies and that I do not disprove them I shall onely at present make use of our own Writers Crit. Sac. pag. 272. who possibly may help to inform some of them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it be translated Person for a Person and that some render it Essence others Substance others Subsistence yet all these are improper and that the proper signification of this word is a Foundation or Basis which subsisting of it self bears up other things In 2 Cor. 9.4 it is Confidence In Heb. 11.1 it is Existence In the Scripture it doth signifie A firm and settled perswasion of the mind upon any thing mark it well this is the Scripture signification of the word but saith he It is also used observe it is also used for the Divine essence with a Personal propriety Heb. 13. Thus you see this worthy Author layeth no such weight upon the word person as these Gent do to charge a man with denying the Trinity that cannot own the term Let us a little consider another learned Writer Gheynell Div. Trinun p. 22. who was commended to me with seeming affection by Mr. Hammond who indifferently accepts the word Person or Subsistence and plainly saies that the word which they translate Person is Subsistence Heb. 1 3. Page 81. and in page 84. the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render Subsistence and by way of Analogy Person observe it is by way of Analogy he further holds forth Page 89 that the Fathers did use the phrase of three Hypostases not daring it seems in the purest Primitive times to translate it Person but at last Page 91. they took the boldness to use the word Person I desire to be informed why this word Hypostasis which the Primitive Fathers so long used may not still be kept without translation as well as other * As Thylacceries Mat. 23 5. Anathema Meranath◠words whose proper signification cannot easily be rendred in English But to proceed with Master Cheynell pag. 89 90. you have this sober Christian conclusion We are prompted by the Spirit to explain this Mystery thus the Father Son and holy Ghost are three in subsistence but one in nature no Mystery can be explained with less violence and more sobriety for we are precise in keeping to the very words of Scripture in explaining this Grand Mystery to the plainest of men and therefore they were sentenced of old that did not believe this plain truth But I am sentenced now for professing the truth for when I declared my judgement in this glorious Three in One nothing would serve their turn but the very word Person what the height of spirit was God knows One observation more I shall add from Mr. Cheynell upon Calvin Non minori Religione c. Whatever we think or speak of our own heads concerning God will be like our selves unsavory foolish and vain and yet these Gent. are troubled that their invented word Person should be tearmed an Idol no Language is rich enough no words are significant enough to declare this profound Mystery which the understanding of Men and Angels cannot comprehend nor the tongue of Men and Angels express And therefore I hope that untill these Gentlemen can shew me the word Person in the Scripture I shall enjoy my Christan liberty to adore the eternal Father Son and Spirit according to Christs Word and not after the inventions and rigid injunctions of men There are three that bear record in Heaven 1 John 5.7 the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one Little Children I warn you again keep your selves from Idols Amen Verse 21. The Gent. have prevented me in answering themselves how I came to know that the Jews count it great blasphemy to call God a Person for they presently conclude That I had it from this Counterfeit Jew and truly in this they are right I should hope for some Christian accomodation if I could find these Gen. as ingenuous