they should continue in the Father and in the Son and they that went forth from the Apostles went forth from this and in the Revelations it is declared that all the world went after them who had the lying signes wonders and the miracles and deceived them that dwelt upon the earth and that has been the worship of the beast and this has been since the dayes of the Apostles who said some should depart from the faith which is the shield and so made war against the Saints which was in the faith and over-came them but now the Devill shall be taken and with him the beast and the false Prophets and cast alive into the lake of fire and Babylon the great whore confounded and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory and the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to them that dwell upon the face of the earth which is the power of God and strike down all those that has got the words but not the power and reach to the life and immortality that that may come to light through the Gospel which is the power of God and to you that is the word of God The Profession of the Catholique Faith of the last Councell of Roüen holden in the year 1571. according to the Councell of Trent holden the year 1360. which they have taken upon oath and sworn to perform Answ. WHich Faith and profession and Catholique which is held up and performed by an oath a company of swearers which are sworn to perform the Catholique Faith and Profession is got up since the dayes of the Apostles and since the dayes of Jesus Christ in the flesh and separate from them for Christ saith swear not at all though they had sworn in the old time Christ who was the oath of God and the Apostle saith above all things my brethren swear not who was in the covenant of God the oath of God not by heaven nor by earth nor any other oath least ye fall into condemnation so all swearers whatsoever Papists or other that are called Christians are fallen under the condemnation And the Apostles contended for the Faith and was in the Faith till death and true brethren vvhich vvas held up vvithout an oath so all that hold up or perform their Profession of Faith vvith an oath are apostatized from the true Church Faith and Profession from it reprobated and are under condemnation from the Apostles Saints and Christ vvhich vvas never svvorn to perform the Profession of their Church though the first Priest-hood svvore and the Angel and men in strife and Abraham and Solomon and Moses and the Prophets yet Christ the second Priest-hood the covenant of God and the oath of God is that vvhich ends all oâ—ths and denyed svvearing and the Apostlâ—s that vvere in the faith of him denyed swearing and these was of the true Church and pure Religion And though the Angell swore the Angels must bow down to the Son of God that saith Swear not at all who is the end of the Prophets greater then Solomon the end of Moses reigns over the houshold of Jacob and Joseph and before Abraham who said swear not Christ Jesus him by whom all things was made before it was made the Master of the family of Heaven and Earth who is the Author of the true faith which is held without an oath which Author of Faith denies oaths and swearing and ends them and they deny swearing that be in his faith 1. and 2. Prinâ—iples IN N. believe of firme faith and professe all and every of the things contained in the symball of the Faith which the holy Roman Church uses viz. 1 I believe in God the Father all powerful Creator of heaven and of the earth and of all things visible and invisible 2 And in one Lord Jesus Christ the onely Son of God and begotten of the Father before all the worlds God of God Light of Light true God of true God begotten and not made consubstantial with the Father by whom all things have been made who for all men for our salvation is descended from heaven and hath been incarnated by the holy spirit of the Virgin Mary and hath been made man hath been also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate hath suffered and hath been entombed and is risen again the third day according to the Scriptures and is ascended into heaven is set at the right hand of the Father and again shall come in his glory to judge the living and the dead the Kingdome of whom shall have no end Answ. You are not in the true faith of the Son of God nor know him not to be come in the flesh that be swearers and you that be not in the faith of the Son of God you know not God but swearers are under the condemnation and knows not him that was crucified that said swear not at all And knows not him that dyed and rose again and him that is the Light of the world and the Judge of the world Christ Jesus the Saviour by whom all things was made made of a woman born of a Virgin who is one with the Father him ye know not that be out of the faith of him and the Apostles who said Swear not at all whose profession Church Faith and Religion is held up by swearing and oaths with all your stuffe and invented words apostatized from Christ and the Apostles Church profession and faith and Religion under the condemnation and all professions besides upon the earth which is held up by oaths and swearing are under the condemnation in the reprobacy concerning the faith which is in Christ Jesus which gives the victory and is the shield and in which men please God without an oath you cannot please men nor worship without an oath 3 Prin. And in the holy Spirit Lord and quickning power who proceeds from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified who hath spoken by the Prophets Ans. You talk of believing in the Spirit that proceeds from the Father and the Son or God that spoke by his Prophets which Christ is the end of the Prophets and you talk of true worship as speaks in spirit and truth which the Devil and enmity is out of you talk of these things who holds up your Church profession and Religion with oaths a company of Apostates from the true faith which the Apostles were in which Christ is the Author of which faith hearing the spirit is received which denies oaths and then in that spirit is God worshipped and the Scripture known given forth from it and the Son and the Father known the Spirit received and the spirit of the Prophets and the end of their words Christ Jesus these are all known by the hearing of faith wherein the spirit is received 4 Prin. And one holy Church Catholique and Apostolique 5 Prin. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins and wait for the resurrection of the dead and for
Joshua and Israel falling down before the Ark which was in prayer to the Lord and the Lord heard him and spoke to him and answered him Now he doth not say that he fell down to the Ark or to the Images or bowed down to them for the Law was contrary which saith thou shalt not bow down c. But he and Israel fell down before the Ark to the Lord and this is nothing to the bowing now to Images and pictures and crosses for that was the time of the Figure there was a Temple made and many things Tabernacle and Sanctuary which was all in the types and figures before the substance was come But now the substance is come Christ Jesus who ends all types and figures and similitudes and the patterns for he is the substance of those things that figured him forth who hath opened their mouths So now your crosses and your images and your pictures and your bowings before them wch you have made and set up is Antichristian without any command of God against Christ who is the substance And if Joshua had bowed to the outward Arke or Altar or Temple or any of the Figures c. But it was not so and the command of God was the contrary and we say Christ is come the everlasting covenant the everlasting Priesthood for in the first Covenant and priesthood was the Figures and there was singings c. But now they that sing must sing in the spirit and they that pray must pray in the spirit and they that worship must worship in the spirit so it was the work of the Apostles to bring people off the shadows and changeable things to Christ the substance where there was no shadow not change nor variablenesse and to keep them from Idols and so all your idols images crosses crucifixes representations are set up since the Apostacy from the Apostles and so our mouths are eternally opened and that Scripture in Joshua the 7. brings nothing for you for the Jewes Ark is gone and down now and their Altar and Temple is down and gone and denyed by them that be true Christians in the life but them that have a name but be dead are setting up imitations and likenesses that has lost the life of Christ and his minde and the image of God are falling down before dead Idols but Christ is risen and those that be risen with him are seeking those things that be above for crosses crucifixes images idols be below among the dirty mud where the Devill is in the earth the murtherer and murthering one another about their Idols and these dead things which are all out of the truth Pr. And even as Joshua and the Israelites made their prayers to God after this manner and Ceremony so do we make our prayer unto Christ and the blessed Trinity and because we have or at least ought to have a sense of our own basenesse and of the just indignation of Christ against us we turne our selves to his Saints and blessed Mother who are likewise represented unto us by these pictures and do humbly beseech them to mediate between us and Christ Answ. Joshua his falling down before the Arke to pray to the Lord your falling down praying before your Images and Idols and Crosses to put you in minde of Christ is not measurable nor comparable with Joshua's but for the Ark which Joshua fell down before it is ended which Arke was a command of God but yours God never commanded but have been invented by you that have apostatized from the Apostles who saith Little children keep your selves from idols so that which God commanded being denyed which they fell before much more ought yours to be denyed which God never commanded and both are judged with the spirit of truth in which the Saints pray to God the Father of spirits who can pray without Images or representations or Idols and the Saints and the Apostles Christ bade them pray in his name not in the name of Mary not in the name of the Saints nor in the name of his Mother but ask in his own name for saith he Who is my mother sister and brother but those that do the will of my father So this I say though people be never so vile they are not to ask in the name of the Apostles nor of the Saints nor in the name of Mary but in the name of Christ and he hears such who asks in his name for there is no other name under heaven given by which any can be saved then by the name of Jesus Pr. He saith when ye shall see the signe of the Son of man which is the signe of the Cross in the ayre c. then shall all the mockers of this signe of the Cross seeke to hide themselves in the clifts of the Rocks Answ. Who be in the Crosse of Christ which is the power of God they are in Christ and are made free from the wrath that is to come and are in Christ which was before the hills rocks and mountains was setled but your rocks and your mountains and hills in the Apostacy hath covered you and to them you have cryed and under them you have sheltered who has drunk the blood of the Martyrs and Prophets and Saints since the days of the Apostles and your Crosse is in the Ayr set up by the prince thereof who have inwardly ravened from the spirit of God which is the lying signe and the wonder and not the signe of the Son of Man so spirituall Sodome and spirituall Aegypt which is darknesse mystery Babylon the great mother of harlots which inwardly ravened from the spirit of God which has reigned over the Kings of the Earth which have set up her inventions and turned against them that was in the spirit of God who be in the lying signes and wonders And the Son of man is coming upon you like a Thief in the night the same to day yesterday and for ever And all schisms and heresies in the whole Christendome so called is amongst you and such that professe the Scriptures but be out of the life that gave it forth which with it the life we comprehend you all which life was before the Scriptures was given forth and who be in it be of the Church Pr. He saith If you will look upon others then draw your eyes from the bad and worser sort and look upon the better sort whose lives and conversations are without reproof whose godlinesse innocency love and charity to all men c. more then any other sort and the very best amongst you in true reall worth and weight may no more compare then lead or dirt may be compared with gold Answ. Your works and fruits should praise you that is the counsell of a wise man and not thy own tongue and your own tongues but how can you speak of innocency or godlinesse or humility when that Fires Inquisitions and Gaols and killing of such as be contrary to your minds which
the life of the world to come 6 Prin. I admit and embrace most firmely the traditions Apostolique and Ecclesiastick and all the other observations and ordinances of the same Church Answ. Your traditions your word Catholique your sprinkling Infants which you call your baptisme does not remit your sins for there is no Scripture for it so Church traditions sprinkling Infants all have got up since the dayes of the Apostles and so the unholy Catholique and Apostolique Church traditions is got up since the dayes of the Apostles and your fruits declare it in the Apostacy from the true Church of the Saints and Apostles and the resurrection Christ you be ignorant of and the power of the world to come that be gone out of the faith that the Apostles were in 7 Prin. I admit also the holy Scripture according to the sense that hath been given by the holy mother Church to the which it appertaineth to judge of the true sense and interpretations of the holy Scripture and shall never take in hand to interpret them then according to the common consent of the Fathers Answ. Your mother which you call the holy Church which gives the sense is the whore from the spirit of God which the Apostles was in and Christ and the Prophets for that is it that knows the Scripture and that was in the Saints that gave it forth and all must have it in them before they know the words again and come into unity with God again of whom they learned that gave it forth and unity with the Scripture and one with another and this both Papists and Protestants are out of the spirit and falling out about the sense of Scripture and your Father and Mother sons which ravened from the spirit of God and so thou and you all teachers from others inventions and your teaching is traditions for Doctrine which are the commands of men but now to the Lord be glory ye are all discovered by his life 8 Prin. More I professe that there is seven truly and properly said Sacraments of the new Law instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and necessary for the salvation of humane people but not all to every one viz. Baptism Confirmation Eucharist penitence the extream unction the Order and Marriage and that they confirme the grace and that among them the baptisme the confirmation and the order cannot be rejected without sacriledge Answ. In this you have shewed your Apostacy again from the Apostles and Christs doctrine which sayes Go preach the Gospell to all nations baptizing them without any limit and Marriage they that forbid that is the doctrine of Devils which is honourable the Bed undefiled in all And the Apostles doth not call them Sacraments neither Baptisme nor Marriage nor the visiting of the sick nor the Lords Supper Your confirmation and order and your penitence whipping and beating your selves for your sins is your own invention a sacrament of your owne making which the Apostle does not call repentance a sacrament or confessing of sin or sorrowing for sin the nature within should be afflicted and circumcised in the spirit which puts off the body of sin and that brought down and not to strike the creature and beat the creature that is as you wrestle with flesh and blood the power of darknesse causes you to do that which guides you within that strikes at the creature which power of darknesse should be struck at that the creature might come into the liberty of the sons of God 9 Prin. I receive also and admit the Ceremonies of the Church Catholique receive and approve in the administration solemnly of all the abovesaid sacraments 10 Prin. I embrace and receive all and every of the things which hath been defined and declared by the sacred holy Councel of Trent touching the sin originall and the justification 11 Prin. I protest likewise that in the masse is offered to God true proper and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and for the dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is truly really and substantially the body the blood with the soule and the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there is made a conversion of all the substance of the bread into the body and of all the substance of the wine into the blood and the which conversion the Church Catholique calls Transubstantiation 12 Prin. I confess also that under one of these one receiveth Jesus Christ all entire and one true sacrament Answ. In these four Principles which ye teach for Doctrine is but your owne traditions and commandements which are learned of one another of men at the Council of Tâ—ent and at your Fathers which is your sin in the apostacy from the Apostles who was not of man nor by man And as concerning Justification ye are ignorant of for where that is known the sin is done away which came by the first Adam And they that believe are passed from death to life And there are some children of believers which is holy yet all by nature children of wrath in the unbelief and your Church is held up by tradition and traditions and vows and oaths which is all in the Apostacy from the spirit where it seems the root of the word protesting is come from your selves who are Apostates and not ftom the Scriptures but you have thrust it in your offering and mass it is but a dead thing it is neither good for the dead nor the living the living do not accept of it but as Cains sacrifice for are not you murtherers and destroyers of one another about Religion sacrifice and traditions as Cain did whom God did not accept his sacrifice And as the Jewes did without the life which gave forth the Scriptures turn against the just and all the Apostates since the dayes of the Apostles which are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God who set up all your lying signes and wonders and traditions and deceive people with them that dwell upon the earth who be from the spirit of God inwardly ravened from it in which spirit God is worshipped which spirit brings to offer living sacrifice And the bread and wine after they have consecrated it which you say is the very body and blood of Christ and soule and it 's divine and that ye call Transubstantiation and he that receives either bread or wine receives Christ Now seeing that this Doctrine and Principle is laid down by you the Council of Trent and tollerated by the great Bishop of Rome the Pope and taught by the Jesuites I shall demand one thing of you out of every Nation and from every Dominion and Island belonging to the Bishop of Rome the Pope Let there come forth a Bishop and a Jesuite and consecrate bread and wine and after consecration and conversion which you call transubstantiation which you say then is the very body blood and soul of Christ which is divine Let that then be set by and kept and let us take of
against whom you and all the sects upon eaâ—th appears that are come up since the dayes of the Apostles whom they comprehend and will tread to dust and to powder The seed of God is risen and the top-stone is laid glory to God in tâ—e highest Come out all Sects and Sâ—ctaries to the battel and you are all in the vanity contenders and pretendeders got up since the days of the Apostles the marks are appeared not to be the marks oâ— the Sâ—ints who hath the Fathers name written in their foreheads but you have the mark of the Beast upon you and without the true ground and the true reason of the Apostlâ—s â—re you out of For instâ—nce the true Church taught not to persecute and the true reasonable men that was in the faith for faith gives victory over that nature in particular that would persecute and so doth not lead to kill the Creature for the sake of the nature in it in general And fafth teaches not this Dâ—ctâ—ine but denies it and brings to suffer all things through which mountains are subdued Thou further saist They that are of a wicked life may have a right faith and reproves others that cannot believe it Answ. A wicked man he hath not faith of the elâ—ct of God for faith gives victory over wickednesse and faith purifies and faith makes reasonable and who are of the faith are of Abraham and come out of all these adulterous generations the mystery of Faiâ—h is hâ—ld in a pure conscience Now here you are in the errour you Papists and all Apostates from the Apostles like the Jewes and the Devil that hath a belief but is out of the truth yet may get a belief in the Letter as the Jewes held a belief long in the Letter but kill'd the Son And you have had the Letter and form of godlinesse long but killed the Saints and Martyrs who are reprobated Devils Jewes Apostates Papists from the elect of God for who are of faith â—re of Abraham and who are of Abraham are of the elect of Christ which doth not pertain to Idols And here is the mystery of the Church known the body of Christ which is a top of your flesh and Idols both which is not of the flâ—sh of Abraham nor of the Church All you are but the pretenders of the Spirit of Christ in the apostacy from it since the dayes of the Apostles as your fruits declare your names and Images So I confesse to you it is the ancientest form that hath been since the dayes of the Apostles but had I never known the Papists nor none of these Sectaries we had knowâ— truth We came not through the Popes channels but are come to that which all Apostates ravened from and so you your selves must be put to silence and your mouths stopped which are the evill beasts that tears one another worse then the common beasts which the Apostles speak of which was coming up before his decease How are you learning one another about your meat and husks and worships and images and helps and Teachers and Scriptures which was not the work of them that gave it forth with your horns And how many Images have you upon you and names and marks and what are all these Images and marks but the marks and Images of the beast which is risen since the days of the Apostles Whereas thou Queriest what be all these but sect as Independents Anabaptists and other Sectaries which sayest thou was first of the Church of Rome and thou sâ—yest the Church of Rome cannot be said to be sectaries because it hath been constant since the dayes of the Apostles and all Sectaries springed from it and not you from them Answ. The Roman Church was the first made up of Hereticks Schismaticks and Apostates and Reprobates and Antichrists and false Prophets which Christ said should come Matth. 7. and John said was come and as you may read in Timothy and Titus Reprobate from the faith and erred from the faith and had the form of godlinesse and denyed the power and kept the form and as John said was come and they went after Idols before his decease and he writ to the little children to keep themselves from Idols And Jude saw them crept up before they were aware which went in Corah's Balaams and Cains way that were Murtherers And are not you Murtherers that murther one another as Cain about his sacrifice And Jude saw they turned the grace of God into wantonnesse which should be their teacher and salvation So all these self-separations Apostates Reprobates which went after the doctrine of Devils and forbid meats and marriages and the spirit spoke expresly should depart from the faith and â—ll these have made up the Church of Rome and there 's your visible Church held up by Cains weapons Then as for all these Sectaries springed from you you were like to beget no other children but bastards which is but a false conception brought forth by the will of man which is applyed that God got it and fathers it upon God And as for all these Sects which are sprung of you are like no other wayes but like to a Sea and burst into names which went from the spirit of God you are not like to be kept in unity who ravened from the spirit of God the life of Christ and the Apostles was in and to that which you ravened from are people come and coming which stands a-top of you all They that worship God must worship him in spirit which mortifies all sin and corruptions and they that worship God must worship him in truth in that the Devill abode not in To all the Papists upon the Earth TO come out and try their faith and strength without Cains weapons for there was two that did sacrifice and the one killed the other about the sacrifice and whether of these two was excepted can you read your selves and which was the vagabond It 's said that the Pope and the Church of Rome hath the Key and it 's left to them and ye are the keepers of the Key Now if you be keepers of the Key ye are to open to Nations about you and to render a reason of the hope that is in you if the Lord be sanctified in your hearts you will Are you according to the Scriptures Is the practice of your Church according to the Scriptures Is the spirit of the Lord powred upon you and all flesh Doth your sons and your daughters prophesie And if any thing be revealed to another that sits by you and bids another hold his peace that is speaking for you may all prophesie one by one Or are you not like others and the rest of the Sects that will put them in prison and say they have disturbed you and so shew your selves both Reprobates and Hereticks from the Church and the Spirit that the Apostles were in And can you say Christ is in you male and female Or are you not reprobates and say you
THE PAPISTS STRENGTH Principles and Doctrines which they are sworn to Preach from the Councel of TRENT by the Popes Authority and after confirmed by the last General Assembly at ROVEN 1571. All which they have sworn to perform Answered and confuted Furthermore their Principles and Doctrines Answered and Confuted as they were laid down in two or three severall Papers by R. W. Papist lately sent from HOLLAND Also a challenge to the Pope and all his Adherents to choose out of all his Dominions some Cardinals Fryers or Jesuits to try their Bread and Wine after Consecration by watching on their side and on our side to prove that if afterward they have consecrated it whether the Bread and Wine doth not loose its taste and savour and so not the Body and Blood of CHRIST Also a paper to all them that fast and afflict themselves who are in the will-worship and voluntary humility Also some Quaeries to all the Papists upon Earth to be answered in writing and sent to them which all Sects upon the Earth call QUAKERS By GEORGE FOX LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. The Papists Principles as followeth whose name subscribed thereunto is R. W. Priest HE saith He cannot but admire to see what a power Satan hath over the sons of Adam and especially â—ver Schismaticks and Apostates from the union of the Roman Catholique Church Answ. Theâ— that be in the true Light Chrâ—â—â— Jesus that fathoms the world 〈◊〉 not admire to see the great power of Satan over the sons of Adam in the fall and over all the Schismaticks and Apostates for Schismaticks and Apostates and the sons of Adam in the transgression be all â—n the Devils power where he is in the transgression out of the truth in one power murderers for the Devil a murtheâ—er sons of Adam mâ—râ—herers in the fall out of the truth Schismaticks and Apostates out of the truth murtherers and will all murther and noâ—â—dmired at with the children of Light who has tryed their spirits So Devil sons of Adam in the fall and Papists and Protestants that will all murther for Religion and worship be all in the Devils power Murtherers out of the truth that Christ and the Apostles was in so the Roman Catholique Church which will murther is Satans synagogue for he is the murtherer and there he hath his seat And all the Protestants that be murtherers about Religion and worship are Satans synagogue are Apostates and Schismatâ—cks as well as you they were the first great synagogue of Satan and the first Apostates and Schismaticks from the life of the Apostles and Christ though since the dayes of the Apostles you have apostatized from the life others has professed against you and so are broken into heaps and names Satan has got up many synagogues in many parts of the world and gotten the sheeps cloathing and cryed up himself to be the name of Châ—â—stian which is meer Antichrist quite against him compelling all by sword or faggot or prison or stocks or whips or houses of Correction or Gaols or Inquisitions to worship him This is quite against Christ the Apostles spirit in the apostasie from them apostatized So you may strange to see the Devils power over the sons of Adam Apostates and Schismaticks and not see your selves swallowed up in the Devils power doing his work Thus judging others not seeing your selves for the Devill sons of Adam in the fall from the truth and you who are apostatized from Christ and the Apostles Doctrine and the Schismaticks that be from you in words and sects and names that be called Protestants that will murther for Religion and Worship they be all in the same power which the Devil is in for the Devil is out of the truth the sons of Adam out of the truth and the church of Rome out of the truth apostatized Protestants and all others that be out of the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be out of the truth such are murthering one another about words and are Satans synagogues wreâ—â—ling against flesh and blood Striking at creatures in stead of striking at the power that captivates creatures to the intent that creatures might come into the liberty of the Sons of God which was the work of the Apostles and Christ Pr. No man can discern head or foot of the Quakers method or order yet there is some shew of reason in their Quaeries Answ. Thus he confounds himself Babylon And we do believe that neither the Papists Apostates Protestants nor sons of Adam nor Dâ—vill out of the truth can know either head or foot of the Quakers principles with all their thinkings for the Quakers is come into that which the Devil is out of sons of Adam is out of the Papists are out of and the Protestants that which overwhelmes them all Devill sons of Adam Papists Protestants out of the life of God with it are they all judged which Life the Quakers are in Pr. He saith not one Papist that he knows doth call himselfe a defender of the Faith yet he saith in a sense in writing against our principles he might call himself a Defender of the Catholique Church and Faith and yet notwithstanding he could not defend himselfe from the Devill Answ. In this thou hast shewed thy faith and the faith of the Catholique Church which will not defend you from the Dâ—vill so ye are the reprobates from the faith of the Elect that quenches the fiery darts of the Devill and gives victory over the world and the Devill and is their shield and with that faith is his Kingdom subdued And we do believe that the faith will not defend you from the Devill and if thou knowest never a Papist that is a Defender of the Catholique Faith what have you done with all the fires and faggots and inquisitions and killings and slayings and writing of your great Volumns against them that have protested against you all this time but now your faith fails and your wheel is gone off and the confusion of Babylon is confounded and the faith of Gods Elect contended for witnessed amongst them called Quakers whose weapons are not carnall but spirituall And your wicked Priests and such as be in the reprobate sence like Judas betraying the just have been the Preachers and Teachers which has gotten the form of godlinesse but are out of the power and the life and these are them that have risen against the Saints and overcome them which are now warring against the Lamb and the Saints but the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory Pr. And whereas you say you give the title of holinesse to the Pope after the same manner as was given to the high Priest in the Old Testament and wicked Magistrates was called gods and the Priests wear their titles upon their breasts and Jacob called his wicked brother Esau Lord and there is Scriptures enough to give honourable titles to wicked men Answ. These are
hath reigned since the days of the Apostles and whether or no the spirits of people hath not separated from since the dayes of the Apostles which they were in and is not that the cause that all Nations are brought into Sects and heaps and lost their unity with God and the Scriptures with which spirit they learned of God the Father of spirits that gave forth Scripture are you come unto the spirits of just men made perfect to the Church in God the Father the Judge of all What Scripture have you for taking Tythes and where did the Apostles take tythes so that denyed the first Priest-hood and witnessed Christ the sum the change of the Law by which the Priesthood was made And the disannulling of the commandement that gave tythes and are not you transgressors and made your selves transgressors that have set up these things the Apostles threw down And where did the Apostle take tythes and what is the first principle of pure Religion and what is the soul of man And have you not lost the Crosse of Christ which the Scripture saith is the power of God and hath set up Crosseâ— of wood and stone on the end of your Steeple-houses and do take bread and wine on the day-time which Christ took at night What is the light what is the word what is the Gospel what Scripture have you for sprinkling Infants Are you them that have heard and learned of God which Christ saith them that have heard and learned of God comes to the Son Have you seen the shape of God are you them that God speaks to by his Son who is heir of all things upholding all things by his word and power Is your Church the Church that is in God have you heard of the Father seeing it is written ye shall all be taught of God Are you not them that looks at things that are seen for things that are seen are temporall the things that are not seen are eternall Are not Images Idols Pictures Reliques Bones pieces of Cloath things that are â—een and temporall Answer these Queries in writing and send them to the people who are scornfully called Quakers in England by all the sects of the earth Shall a man whiles he is upon the earth be made free from sin and be made perfect and the body of sin put off And what Scripture have you for consecrating bread and wine and where did the Apostles so Will you try your Church by the Scripture of truth and measure your selves by the Apostles Declaration and venture your selves to be tryed and judged by them that the spirit of truth led them to speak forth And what is the Wine-presse that was troden without the City and whether you bid every man examine himselfe whether Christ be in him except he be a reprobate And whether or no you are as the Apostles who preached Christ in them the hope of glory warning every man that you may present every man perfect in him in Christ Jesus To prove the Papists Church to be a false Church contrary to the Apostles and that they are wolves which Christ said should come which are inwardly ravening Ye have the sheeps cloathing and are the false Prophets that should arise according to Christs words that should shew lying signes wonders which if it were possible should deceive the very elect and should say Loe Christ is here and loe Christ is there Do not you tell people that he is in the bread and that he is in the wine and tell them that he is in the chamber and that he is in the desert where you put the bread and the wine is not there Christ cannot you put him in the cup-board and in the chamber and in the desert cannot you put and tell people he is there And have you not the sheeps cloathing but are you not ravening wolves inwardly ravening from the spirit of God So doth not your fruits appear contrary to the Church of God For have not you fulfilled the Scriptures having the sheeps cloathing but inwardly are the ravening wolves Have not you ravened wearied and destroyed and killed many hundreds and have you not your holes and Gaols which you call Inquisitions which you put them in are you like the Church in this Did ever Lambs and the sheep weary and tear them to pieces and then carry them into dens and make wracks and tortures for poor creatures or for the wolves either Did ever the sheep destroy the wolves Now which doth your fruits make you appear to be the sheep or the wolves judge your selves by the Scriptures Now let all people judge you all that be in the wolvish nature that are not sheep no more then you So Christ calls them wolves inwardly ravening from the spirit of God these Christ said should come and they have come up since the dayes that Christ said they should come And the Apostle saith in Acts 20. That after his departure grievous wolves should enter in among them not sparing the flocke which should arise from among themselves speaking perverse things drawing many Disciples after them Now have not you Papists risen since the dayes of the Apostles and you know the Apostles did not prison persecute devour any but the wolves should do it Now these rise among the Saints that should not spare the flock mark make havock of the flock to devour and destroy the flock Now we remember that Christ told of you and of these things and the Apostle tells of these things 1 John 2. said it was the last time then Whereas they had heard that Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists and false prophets come into the world 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. Paul speaking there of cutting off occasion For as much as false prophets deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ no marvel for Satan himself transformed himselfe and his Ministers transforming as the Ministers of righteousness Now this the Apostle saw come up among the Corinthians before his decease So now again you may see Satans Ministers they are murtherers and his Angels they are murtherers Now the Apostle said he out off the occasion he did not cut off the outward bodies of people as you do and the Apostles were persecuted whipped and beat now you see that you are whippers persecutors and beaters and though you persecute one another which have the name of Christians yet are not the sheep nor the Ministers or true Apostles nor the true Church And when the true Ministers and Apostles saw that these false Apostles should come and Ministers of Satan should tranâ—form themselves into Angels of light he brings them to the light that shined in their hearts them that would give them the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. And are not you as bad as the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus Christ and their own Prophets who kill the Prophets that are sent among you 2 Thes. 2. And
lusts and so into the wars that brought forth sin and so death and fighting and wars that hath brought forth among you and so out of that which takes away the occasion of wars and out of the faith that works by love and so in the dead faith which is Cains which will murder and kill them that sacrifices that are contrary to you so are not you stepped into Cains way from the true Church Moreover are not you those that hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons and so are transgressors committers of sin who breaks in that point as respecting of persons is guilty of all and drawing before your judgment-seats and killing You great and rich men whose time of weeping and howling is come and so are turned to be the blasphemers your Church is made up of blasphemers respecters of persons transgressors committers of sin convicted by the Law that goes out of Sion Now the fruit of your faith is not the works of charity for you 'l kill and murther like Cain so that faith is without the true works and the true charity but the belief is like the Devils and Cains who is not justified by that faith though you pretend faith and works to people but the â—ruits thereof declares you to be wolves and so erred from the truth Are not you swearers which James saith Above all things my brethren swear not at all lest ye fall into condemnation So are not you the false brethren the false Church the false Ministers fallen into the condemnation contrary to James who taught in the true Church and the true brethren that above all things they should not swear neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath So is not your Church made up of Hereticks apostates that are given to fables and rudiments of the world and things below forbidding meats and marriages and reprobates concerning the true faith and belief which are found in the dead without the works but in the works of Cain and the Devill murtherers doing his works as the Jews did against Christ and the Apostles and Prophets Again the Apostle Peter bids beware of false teachers who said there are false prophets among the people even so there shall be false teachers among you who should bring in the damnable heresies which should bring upon themselves swift destruction even denying the Lord Jesus that bought them which are like to Sodome which are in their filthiness fulness and like unto Core turning away from the truth and Balaam and Cain Now is not Corah's Cains and Balaams marks found among you and hâ—â—h not these made up your Church these which went forth from the Apostles Doth not your Inquisitions your Gaols and dens and persecutions and murthers of the Saints shew Cains marks before mentioned So let Corah's Cains and Balaams marks in your forheads testifiâ— which had the high words and spoke them in hypocrisie and beguiled the unstable souls who are the cursed children and contrary to the Apostles and just Lot and Noah the 8th person Who are the wells without the water trees without the fruit who having escaped the pollutions of the world by whom many is again overcome is brought inâ—o bondage by you so â—râ—th hath been lost troden under your feet who haâ—h born Corah's Cains Balaams image 2 Pet. 2. But your damnation slumbers not for you have denied the Lord in turning from the light which he hath lightned you withal going from the spirit as Cain Core Balaam did And then John wrote to little children said it was the last time whereof Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists come into the world whereby we know it is the last time which Christ said should come Matth. 7. And told them again Mat. 24. and said he had told them before concerning false Prophets and Antichrists should come inwardly ravening wolves devourers which John saw should come and went forth from them into the world and in the Revelation The whole world that dwelt upon the earth went after them So these that Christ said should come John saw was come inwardly ravening Wolves false Prophets false Teachers which the world is gone after hath made up your Church which went forth from the Apostles and Christ he said they should come bid them they should not goâ— after them and John who saw they was come bids them keep to the anointing in them They need no man to teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them and as they continue in this they continue in the Son and in the Father And from this are you all gone so that which Christ said should come John saw was come even the Antichrist and the false Prophets and how they should try the spirits that was gone forth into the world Again they should love one another and not as Cain slew his brother Why did he slay him because his sacrifice was accepted his was not Cains was not Now doth not the fruits of your Church shew you to be Cains your love which the Apostle saith not as Cains so are you not apostatized from the true Church the true love into Cains love so no true brethren and your love stands but in the word not in the deed and Iohn saith Little children keep your selves from Idols He saw the false Prophets Antichrists then come wch should run into those things Now here are not you apostatized again from the true Church and run into Idols who profess your selves to be men and teachers and so run in that that John bids the elect keep from 1 John So have proved your selves to be the false Apostles that run after Idols which Christ said should come and the Apostle saw was come that should if it weâ—e possible deceive the very elect with your Idols which the elect before the foundation of the world was made keeps from wch Idols your Church is full of Again Jude saw it crept up before his decease at unawares and he bids the Saints contend for the faith once delivered to them the common salvation So these that crept up in the days of Jude hath made up your Church again and separated themselves from the Apostleâ— sensual not having the spirit speaking the great high swelling words admiring the persons of men for advantage which are as Sodom and Gomorah and Corah offering strange fire you are offering the strange sacrifice who are like clouds winds raging waves of the Sea speaking great swelling words having mens persons in admiration going in the way of Cain Corah Balaam Now the marks of all these are found in your Church and found in your foreheads Cains sword is among you do not you rage do not you fome do not you kill do not you speak the high swelling words But Enochs prophecy is come to passe in ten thousands of his Saints is the Lord come to judgement and to convince you of your ungodly deeds and of
Is this the love of Christ Is this the love of God Is this the love that was in the Apostles Did the Apostles do so did Christ do so that had all power c. to all that were not of their minde yea or nay answer 6 What differs your works from the works of the Pharisees for that which they did they did to be seen of men And the young man boasted of his works yet when it came that he should have sold all and followed Jesus the beloved of God there was the hard thing whereby he might have had treasure in heaven And how differs your giving almes from the Pharisees seeing the Pharisees were in your state to murther and murthered the just and you give almes and are found in the same nature that will and do murther them that be contrary minded to you wherein do you here differ from the Pharisees And Châ—ist saith love enemies and you have your Inquisitions and Fagots here his love differed from the Pharisees and yours And saith John Let us love in deed not in word not as Cain the wicked one who slew his brother because his works were righteous the others were evill And saith John He that killeth with the sword must perish with the sword here is the faith and patience of the Saints Now where is your patience that are killing and prisoninâ— And we wrestle not against flesh and blood saith the Apostle but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places How do you wrestle against principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places Does it not shew that your weapons are carnall and not spiritual while you are prisoning burning making inquisitions for the bodies of people that are contrary to your minde Do not you wrestle against flesh and blood Is not this to wrestle against flesh and blood to prison to burn to kill creatures are not you apostatized from the true Apostles and true Church which is the pillar and ground of truth who said We wrestle not against flesh and blood answer these things by Scripture 7 Do you own the Law and Prophets which is to do as you would be done by would you have all that be contrary to your minde do unto you as you do unto others to make Inquisitionâ— and to burn and to kill them that be contrary to their minde as you have your Inquisitions Fagots Fires for such that be contrary to your minde not observing your customes would you have others do so unto you and serve you so that will not observe your customes Is not to do as you would be done by the Law and the Prophets 8 Did ever Christ or the Apostles give any command that any should be put to death touching worship touching Religion shew me a command in Scripture from Christs or the Apostles mouths Are not they that murther slay and make war the Beast and the false Prophets under the dominion of the mother of Harlots and in the steps of Cain and Jezebel out of the steps of Christ and the Apostles 9 What is will-worship Does any worship God in the spirit truth but who be in that which the Devil is out of Can any being in the spirit and in the truth which the Devil is out of the Murtherer slay any concerning Religion or worship but on the coÌ„trary if they be in the evil overcome it with good Now if you kill murther slay make Inquisitions burn where is patience where is long suffering where is stopping the mouths of gain-sayers concerning gain saying if you cannot you have a fagot for them or a prison or an Inquisition are you not here like unto them that rose against Stephen that were not able to resist his spirit but stoned him to death wherein differs your nature and spirits from these did Stephen do so to others the Apostles were stoned did they do so to others Now this is Christs command he sent them forth as sheep amongst Wolves he sent out Prophets and Wisemen and said some they should kill and some they should thrust out of their Synagogues some they should persecute from City to City and said they should be hated of all men for his names sake and they should speak all manner of evil of them and were these to do so again to others kill hate hale out of Synagogues persecute Nay did not Christ say love enemies blesse them that curse now are not they that are contrary to this out of this Anti-christs and false Apostles 10. Has not the true Ministery true Spirit true Power true Church the true crosse been lost since the dayes of the Apostles and the false Ministery false Prophets false Apostles Antichrists Synagogues of Satan has appeared since which all your Crosses your names your pictures your Images your praying by beads has come up have not you lost the true spirit the Image of the Father and his name by which men are saved and so since run into other names run into Images lost the true Image run into Crosses lost the true Cross the power of God run into praying by beads and lost the true praying in the spirit and is not the Candle put out within and so ye have set up your lights burning without you defiled the Temple of God within and so set up Temples without are they not set up by that which defiles the inward Temple and is not that it which will murther slay prison and bring before Inquisitions which defiles the Temple of God seeing they that witnessed the Temple of God said love enemies and does not it shew that the love of God was there if love enemies which was a command of Christ who are them that are to be persecuted and hated and who are they that you are to slay and kill answer 11 Have you heard the voyce of God immediately from heaven as the Prophets Apostles did have you the same spirit wch Christ and the Apostles had which gave forth the Scriptures which was before they were given forth yea or nay 12. Is that the blood of Christ that is your wine which was shed upon the Cross when Christ was crucified alter you have consecrated it 13. Is that the body of Christ that is your bread after you have consecrated that said Lo a body hast thou prepared me to do the will of God and will not your bread corrupt and let it lye after you have consecrated it and does the body the flesh of Christ see corruption answer 14. What is the ground and cause of all the destractions amongst the called Christians is it not because they have the words of Christ the Prophets and Apostles but be cut of the life of them 15. What is that thing wch four men do carry on staves that all men must bow before it when you carry it in the streets and what do you do it for and where did Christ or the Apostels do any such thing 16. Why do
you when you sprinkle your children put salt in their mouths spit in their eares dip their heads in the water and crosse them over the faces 17. What is the death that hath passed over all men 18. What is the tree of knowledge of good and evill 19. What is Anti-christ is not it he which sets up things which Christ has not commanded 20. What is the beast the first and second 21. What is the Dragon 22. What is the Mother of Harlots and her cup which all Nations and the Kings of the earth has drunk of 23 What is the bottomlesse pit 24 What are the locusts 25 What is the first principle of the pure Religion 26 Doth Christ Jesus enlighten every man that comes into the world yea or nay 27 What is it that gives the knowledge of the glory of God and where is it 28 What is the Word 29 What is the Gospel 30 What is the Record 31 What is the Original 32 What is the law and the testimony 33 What is self-righteousnesse 34 Shall a man while he is upon earth have the body of sin put off and be perfect and come to that which is perfect and have his transgressions and sins blotted out yea or nay 35 What is conscience and what is the soul 36. Would you not destroy them that would break down your pictures your Images your Crosses your Crucifixes and throw away your beads would not that lovâ— in you destroy them that should destroy your pictures Crosses Crucifixes Images beads would not the Heathen have done the same to the Jews that had destroyed their Images Groves pictures set up which God never commanded Would not the Jews have destroyed the Apostles for denying the Temple the Altar Sanctuary Tabernacle dayes Priests offerings the outward things which God had formerly commanded but denyed by them that came to witnesse and preach up the body that God had prepared to put an end to them and was not that the love of God in the Apostles and was not that the selâ—ish love that held up pictures Temples Images Idols which God never commanded and was not that the selfish love in the Jews that held up Temple tythes Priests Images similitudes and are not you in the selfish love and is not this selfish love that holds up Temples Tythes Priests Images Crucifixes Pulpits and is not all this in one nature Jews Gentiles and you since the dayes of the Apostles and out of the love that the Apostles were in who witnesse against Jewes Priests tythes and Gentiles and Idols and bad the Saints keep themselves from Idols 1 John 5.21 37. Are not they the false Apostles Ministers and Teachers Antichrist Beast and false Prophets who comes with lying signs wonders and miracles since the dayes of the Apostles and John and who are these describe them that should come with the lying signs and wonders and the beast should work miracles since the dayes of the Apostles 38. Are not they the false Apostles Ministers and Teachers and in the night out of the true day have lost it since the dayes of the Apostles the true Christians which were children of the day that now observes dayes is not this a figure and sign to be in the night was not the true Apostle afraid of some that observed dayes that he had bestowed his labour in vain amongst them and was not this observing of dayes coming up amongst some before the Apostles decease which the true Apostles rebuked and since the dayes of the Apostles have they not spread over Nations observers of dayes and are they not gone into the night and lost the true day 39. Why do you whip your selves with cords or ropes or whips where did the Christians or Apostles do so or did Christ or the Apostles give any such command will you be tryed and have your practises tryed by the Scriptures of Christ and the Apostles 40. Do you own the practice of the Church of the Saints and Christians which the Apostle was amongst that if any thing be revealed to another that sits by let the first hold his peace for ye may all prophecy one by one that all may learne and be edified and comforted the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets and God is the God of order and not of confusion 41. Do you own that Sons and Daughters shall prophecy in this age and that the spirit will be poured out upon them yea or nay 42. Do you own revelation and immediate inspiration as the Apostles had the same now in these dayes as was amongst them yea or nay 43. Do you own trembling and quaking as was amongst the Saints which the Scriptures speak of and the salvation which is to be wrought out with fear and trembling and doth not this work out that nature that beats and striks the Creature 44. What are all your names that you give to your Fryers Monks Jesuits given to them for where did Christ and the Prophets and Apostles do so or give any such names to any as white Fryers black Fryers Jesuits Abbots Monks has not this been set up since the fallâ—ng away from the power and life that the Saints were in who were of one mind and heart and Spirit and Soul and the number of these names got up since 45. From whence was the rise of your Pope Cardinâ—ls Abbots Monkes Pryors Arch Bishops Covents Canons Nunns Jesuites Franciscans Dominicans Carthâ—sians Capuchins Benedictines Mendicants Carmelits gray Fryers black Fryers white Fryers your Regulers and Seculers our Altar Rayles Organs Candlesticks Tapers Lights Torches holy Water Myters Vestments Fonts Surplisses Bendings before Images bowings before the Altar where do ye find these names or things amongst the Apostles or the Saints and Churches which the Apostles were amongst or where did they do so shew a proof of it before their decease in all their Epistles or in all the declaration of Christ or the Apostles for your practise to act or practise any such thing or to give any such names or set up such Orders 46. Where had the Apostles and Saints any Inquisition-Houses to put them in that were contrary to their minds 47. Where had the Apostles and Saints any houses to put men and women into such as ye call Abbies Monasteries Nunneries 48. Where did the Apostles or Saints set up a form that some of them should beg all their life times is it not said I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed beging his bread 49. Where did ever any in the Scriptures wear sack-cloth or hair-cloth except such as of the Lord God were commanded to wear them as a sign 50. Where is it amongst the Apostles and true Churches that were amongst them that they should be distinguished one from another by their habits as every name hath their severall habits amongst you prove me this by Scripture have not you lost the true knowing one another in the Spirit and so know one another by habits
like they that have a horn to call their hounds together or the Swine-heard for people to put forth Swine or hower-glasses to preach by the hower prove it by scripture else acknowledge your are in the Apostacy and have set up â—hese things by your own inventions and are them that limit the spirit 62. Where did ever the Apostles consecrate any thing or the scripture speak of Sacraments or where did the Apostles use that which you call holy Water to sprinkle people withal if you cannot shew it by scripture where the Apostles or Christ diâ— practise any such thing acknowledge your selves that you be in the Apostacy that have set up such things since the dayes of the Apostles and erred from the true Church in your inventions 63. Where did the Apostles when they went to preach or to pray put on white Hoods Copes Tippets white Surplisses and cornered Caps are not all these things got up since the dayes of the Apostles amongst such as are apostatâ—zâ—d from them 64. Who are the inwardly Raveners that Christ said should come which was the false Prophets which should have the Sheeps clothing but inwardly ravening Wolves an inwardly ravening Wolf worse then a dog which got the sheeps clothing is not this it that has made war against the Saints that kept the testimony of Jesus the Spirit of prophesy and has not the wolf been covered with the sheeps clothing long such as ravined from the spirit such as has inwardly ravened and would ravine and destroy all that be contrary minded 65. Have not men fallen into the flesh since the dayes of the Apostacy and ravined from the spirit that went forth from the Apostles are not they them that has set up all these outward things as Temples Tythes Priests crosses crucifixes Schooles Colledges to make them Ministers Images Idols Abbies Nunneries Candels Altars Holy waters Praying by Beads sprinkling children with the sign of the crosse and have not you gone back who are ravened from the spirit and so lost the substance and so imitating Aaron and his Sons and imitating Altars and outward things that stood in Moses which the Apostle sayes while Moses was read the veil was over their hearts 66. Was not the first Priest-hood a true tipe and the Temple a true tipe of the inward and the Sanctuary and Altar a tipe and the outward things in the Law shadowing forth the good things that were to come which were but to have their times and seasons and did not the Apostle witnesse the substance of all tipes figures and shadows and signs and similitudes and likenesses and witnessed that which gave him to see where there was no shadow nor changing Now are not all your tythes Temples Priests Altars Crosses Crucifixes Images Similitudes Beads Cloysters Abbies Nunneries set up by your own inventions which men and people has been compelled to worship are not all these lying signs and wonders and the worship of the beast that which they that inwardly ravened set up and is not this to give worship to them that inwardly ravined from the spirit of God who are the Wolves that â—an make a profession of Christs and the Apostles words the Beast and false Prophets which the world has wondred after and should deceive them with their lying signes and wonders Did not the Apostles give hints of such things before their decease did not John see such come as the whole world went after and all that dwelt upon the earth worshipped the Beast Now answer me these things and clear me them by Scripture where the Apostles did practise or act any such things before mentioned and if ye be not such that John and the Apostles speaks of and Christ that should be the inward ravening wolves and go forth from the Apostles which John saw all that dwelt upon the earth worshipped and went after and all that dwelt upon the earth drunk the cup of fornication and should deceive them that dwell upon the earth with their lying signes and wonders and miracles and if you be not them tell me who they are 67 What is the Beast and the number of his names and what are his names and what is his marke that they that would not receive should be persecuted And what is his image and what are his heads and what are his crowns and what is the mother of the harlots and what is the great whore which hath corrupted the earth and what is the cup of fornication that all Nations has drunk of and who are the Beast and false Prophets what are they that are come up since the dayes of the Apostles How to say you believe as the Church believes and you will not trouble your selves about the Scriptures because they are hard to â—e understood you are to see that you be of the Church that the Apostles were of which was the pillar and ground of truth which was without spot or wrinkle or blemish and so their belief stood in Christ and God And when any did wrong yea Peter Peter was withstood and not believed as he believed And as for saying the Scriptures are hard to be understood that is to shew you want the spiâ—it as was in them that gave them forth in which is the unity and the bond of peace And none comes to be a member of the Church in God the pillar and ground of truth without spot or wrinkle or blemish but who comes into the spirit that they were in that gave forth the Scriptures with which spirit every one in particular hath his particular satisfaction in the Scripture it opens it to them with which spirit he hath unity with God unity with the Scriptures of whom they learned that gave them forth and there is the bond of peace Now to tye up men to believe as others believe and to compell them by a law or a prison or an inquisition this was not in the true Church but this is a marke of the apostacy from it and is a marke that they that do so are the wresters of the Scriptures and err'd ravened from the spirit that they were in that gave them forth For it was not their worke to compell people by a Law by a prison by an Inquisition to obey their faith and to bring them into their worship and doctrine that was not the worke of them that had the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures but this shews and signifies and declares it selfe forth that you would have power over mens faith which saith the Apostles we have not but bade them look at Jesus the author of the faith And again to believe as others believe which do call themselves a Church Is not this different from the Apostles doctrine who saith he that believes hath the witnesse in himself and hast thou faith have it to thy self 68 Is your Church the body of Christ and is your bread the body of Christ after consecration and is that bread after you have consecrated it the Church