which I answer That the Judgement of the true Church of which Christ is Head in matters of faith I do not deny for being governed in all things by the Head Christ to whom all Judgment is committed John 5.20 the Judgement thereof must of necessity be true for the strength of Israel cannot lye and ought to be submitted unto by all But the Church of Rome being not the true Church she being not governed by the invisible Head Christ to whom all Judgment is committed as before proved Therefore she is not Judge of controversies in matters of Faith And the true Church to whom Christ said he that heareth you heareth me were such as heard Christ and in whom the spirit of the Father spake Mat. 10.20 But the Church of Rome doth not hear Christ as hereafter I shall prove therefore they who heare the Church of Rome do not hear Christ But surely when A.S. began this work of deciding controversies he had forgotten that the Church was the only Judge in that particular and not every man nor the private spirit for had he considered that he being but a particular man would not have undertaken the Churches work as appears by the Title of his book he hath for he calls it A brief Decider of all controversies in matters of Faith which book we have cause to judge is his own only work and not the Churches in which we find him condemning himself for the thing which he is doing for as appears by his aforesaid Title himself undertakes to decide controversies and in his 6th Chapter he affirmeth that the Church is the only Judge or decider of all controversies But this is that his confusion may the more appear as it hath done in many other things as may be seen in this small Treatise and surely if the Pope have no better servants than A. S. to do his work for him he had better keep them idle than to employ them in such a work for in the end they will bring more shame to him than they will honour for such like confusione and other abominations hath already made the very name of the Pope an ill savour to all true Christians And one thing more in A. S. his 6th Chapter I cannot well omit to observe where he saith the spirit inspireth when he will and you hear his voice but cannot tell whence from God or the Devil he doth come or whither to heaven or to hell he doth go and then saith so is every one that is born of the spirit and to prove this he quotes Luke 9.55 where Christ said ye know not what spirit ye are of Now consider the blindnesse and ignorance or else the wilful wickednesse of A. S. who jumbles a deal of Scriptures together blasphemously wresting of them to his own destruction or at least to the destruction of his own work in hand thinking thereby to blind the minds of people and with his good words mixed with blasphemies and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple as his predecessors have done in the long night of Apostacy which hath been over all nations since the Apostles dayes But it s in vain for him to strive to accomplish his end for the day is dawned unto many and there is an eye opened in many thousands in this Nation of England that gives them to see over and beyond all this Babylonish or confused trumpery and stuff and have a feeling of that which was before Babylon was and shall out last Babylon to the praise of God and to the glory and honour of his name who is blessed for ever Well Although it was so that Christ said unto his Disciples you know not what spirit ye are of yet consider the time when he spake these words was it not before they were born of the spirit although called to be Apostles for Christ said unto them you must be born again John 3.7.8 and that he would send them the spirit of which he said they must be born which should lead them into all truth John 16.13 and he did not say as A.S. doth that they should not know whence from God or the Devil the spirit came or whither to heaven or to hell it went oh horrid blasphemy in A. S who saith so is every one that is born of the spirit as much as to say that he that is born of the spirit knows not whether he be from God or the Devil or whither he shall go to heaven or to hell oh wickednesse indeed Christ said no such thing as A.S. doth although that blessed worthy saying of our Saviour and Lord Christ was and is very true viz Marvel not that I say unto you that you must be born again for the wind bloweth where it listeth and men hears the sound thereof but cannot tell from whence it cometh nor whither it goeth adding even so is every one that is born of the spirit John 3.7 8. Mark they that were born of the spirit were unknown to the world for said the Apostle after they were born again the world knows us not So although they were in the world and men saw them yet the world knew them not no more than they knew from whence the wind came and whither is went which they heard the sound of and indeed so is the state of the true Church in the world at this day And the Apostles did know from whence the spirit came and of what spirit they were after they received the spirit of truth and were born of it for Christ told them John 14.16 that he would pray the Father and he should send them the Holy Ghost the Comforter John 16.7.13 which should abide with them for ever and they did receive it and were led by it into a heavenly habitation Eph. 1.3 for they were made to sit together iâ— heavenly places in Christ Jesus so it s hereby clear that the Apostles knew from whence the spirit came and whither it led them and it s also plain that A.S. either wilfully or sottishly wrests the words of Christ and by his additions to them would make them import another thing than was intended by him of purpose to divert people from being led by the spirit of God or to disswade them from adhering to the leadings of it under pretence that they cannot tell whence from God or the Devil it doth come or whither to heaven or to hâ—â—l it goeth when indeed Christs words in themselves importeth quite another thing as above shewed Wherefore let all mind and obey the spirit of truth which will lead into all truth and condemn sin in the flesh and will lead out of all unrighteousnesse and errours and heresies which the Church of Rome is full of and that spirit which condemns the abominations of the Whore and all sin and unrighteousnesse that is the spirit of God and comes from God through the Son of his love who is the light of the world that lighteth every man that cometh
into the world and leads up to God the Father from whence it comes all who are taught and guided by it but condemns from God all who in unbelief or in rebellion do despight unto it and disobey the motions thereof But to return to the matter concerning the Churches being Judge First I find A.S. in the beginning of his seventh Chapter saying Methinks I hear a Quaker whispering the Light that is in thee is the Judge of all controversies and the law and rule according to which thou must walk Answ I answer Yea the people called Quakers do believe and say that the light which every man is enlightned with is the law and rule according to which every man ought to walk and is the Judge in all controversies in matters of faith for as before All Judgement is committed to the Son John 5.22 who lighteth every man that cometh into the world so all Judgement being committed to the light that lighteth every man the light that is in every man must of necessity be the Judge of all controversies and this I farther adde that all who are baptized into Christ hath put on Christ and all who are by one spirit baptized into one body though they were sometimes darknesse are made light in the Lord and so they being in him and he in them are all one even as Christ and the Father is one and he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one by which its clear that Christ in his Church who is light with him is the onely Judge of all controversies and indeed this supernatural Light is the true touchstone by which all spirits may be tried whether they be of God or not for as the Apostle said whatsoever makes manifest is light Ephesians 5.13 so that without this touchstone none can try spirits because an evil spirit may speak good words Again Christ is in all things to be the Example of all believers and he lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1.9 so every man being enlightened with the light of his spirit who is to be our example in all things it must of necessity be that the light that is in us is this Judge and the law and rule according to which all ought to walk Secondly But then A.S. replyes that the light that is in thee tells thee that thou must hear Christ and Christ tells thee that thou must hear the Church c. Answ I answer Yea the Light that is in us teacheth us to hear Christ who hath enlightened us and also to hear his Church with whom he dwells and that hears him and in whom his spirit speaks so as I said before I shall not go about to deny the Authority of the true Church but the usurped authority of the Church of Rome I do deny usurp'd I say because she hath been and here is sufficiently proved not to be the true Church to whom Christ gives power and authority both to bind and to lose therefore her authority is usurp'd and she is not to be heard but to be turned away from Thirdly A.S. saith If you object that the spiritual judgeth all things and the spiritual is judged of no man I answer that the godly spiritual judgeth all things c. But I deny that you or any other Sectaries in the world is godly spiritual for as St. Augustine saith they have not the Holy Ghost that are out of the Church Reply To which I say that as A.S. hath coâ—fessed That the spiritual man judgeth all things its according to my own belief but what doth this avail the Church of Rome who as I have proved is not godly spiritual but is sensual and devilish and is not the true Church but the Whore for although as he saith The godly spiritual is judged of none yet the Whore is judged of all who are godly spiritual and although A.S. denyeth that thâ— Quakers are godly spiritual yet he is never able to prove his affirmation for though they have not the holy Ghost who are out of the Church yet it doth not follow that they have it not who are out of the Church of Rome except she could be proved to be the true Church The contrary whereof I have already proved for the people called Quakers though they are out of the Church of Rome are led by that spirit which teacheth them to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world as thousands of their Neighbours can bear witnesse therefore the people called Quakers are godly Spirituall Again That Prophet which is of God is godly spiritual Jer. 28.9 and that Prophet which speaketh a thing and the thing come to pass that Prophet is of God But the people called Quakers have prophesied several things as to the late overturn'd Powers of this Nation with divers other things which accordingly came to pass as to their sorrow they were made to know therefore they are of God and godly spiritual 4. A. S again saith If you say know ye not your selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Câ—r 13.5 I answer the true sence and meaning of this place is this c. So here A.S. is again undertaking that which himself saith is the Churches work for saith he in his eighth chapter the Church is the alone interpreter of all Scriptures and yet he himself who is but a particular man is here undertaking to give an interpretation or meaning to the forementioned Scripture by which it is plain that he condemns himself in the thing he is doing 5. Again fifthly he saith That the spirit of God saith Hear the Church but the spirit of the Devil contradicts and saith Hear not the Church but Christ alone for of Christ saith he it s written This is my beloved Son him hear ye behold how the Devil pleads for Christ of purpose to deceive Christians c. Ans To which I answer That I think I need not say much to convince all that reads but A.S. his own words that he is either grosly ignorant or else abominably wilful wicked for who can believe that the Devil will plead for Christ or perswade people to hear Christ and disswade them from hearing of the Church certainly if he would perswade people to hear the greater he would not disswade them from hearing the lesser And how can people pâ—ssibly be deceived that hears Christ and obeys him I cannot believe that its the spirit of the Devil that perswades people to hear Christ but rather that its the drawings of the spirit of the Father that invites them to come unto the Son and to heâ—â— him for Christ said None cometh unto me except my father who hath sent me draw him Joh 6 44. But A.S. contrarywise in effect saith That the Devil draws people to come unto Christ and to hear him By which he hath manifestly shewed that he is of â— contrary spirit unto Christ Therefore A.S. is an Antichrist and
unto all Christians therefore it is not lawful for Christians to swear at all And that spirit that tolerates swearing or would set it up as a religious act is an anâ—ichristian spirit because it is against the command of Christ And although the Apostle might or did call the Lord to witnesse concerning the truth which he spake yet that doth not prove that the Apostle swore as A. S. affirmeth that he did neither do we read that ever any of the Apostles did either propagate or tolerate swearing since Christ forbid it But contrariwise the Apostle James saith Above all things my brethâ—en swear not neither by heaven nor by the earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay least you fall into condemnation So that although A.S. would wrest the words of Christ to perswade people that his intent was they should not swear but in truth and in righteousnesse yet the words of Christ and the Apostle whom all true Christians are to heare doth clearly import that their intent was that people should not sweare at all by any oath whatsoever But this Antichristian spirit which opposeth the doctrines and commands of Christ and his Apostles we have had large experience of and we have oft-times seen that it leads people to swear and also to forswear themselves both which are an abominaâ—ion to the Lord and in the transgression against God and the new covenant Ninthly and A.S. saith the Apostle said salute one another but the devil saith salute not one another for Christ saith he sending his disciples bid them salute no man by the way Luke 10.4 this Devil follows all Quakers but alas Christâ— meaning there was that none should hinder them by the way c. Answ To which I answer here again A. S. goes about to make us believe that the commands of Christ are the impositions of the Devil or at least that the Devil stirs up people to keep the commands of Christ the first of which is blâ—sphemy in the highest degree and the second is little lesse for if the Devil would teach people to keep the commands of Christ then might they serve Christ and Bâ—lial but as Christ said that cannot be And indeed we do experimentally see and finde that the Devil alwaies opposeth the keeping of Christs commands As now in A. S. Who would diswade them from it under pretence that its the devil that leads them to it And as to his saying this Devil follows all Quakers I answer its true but alas its intentionally to destroy them for it was said to the Serpent in the beginning that the seed of the woman should bruise his head and he should bruise its heel Gen. 3.15 And even so it s now come to passe for the Lord Jesus Christ the promised seed Gal. 3.16 being become the leader of his people and the Angel of Gods presence going before them the Devil as A. S. saith comes after them and follows them with his fiery darts of persecution and Serpent like is snarling at the heel But blessed be the Lord he that goes before them and is in them is greater and mightier then the Devil that follows them and he hath been their preserver hitherto and I doubt not but he will unto the end preserve all who trust in him And as concerning Christs words there needs no meaning to be given to them for he meant as he spoke but if they did according to A. S. his own conclusion he is not the interpreter but the Church Therefore A.S. being not the church but a particular man according to his own argument his interpretation is not to be heeded Again he saith every man is not the Interpreter for saith he every man is a liar and indeed he hath confirmed unto us that himself is a liar because he hath belied the intent of Christs words aforesaid by giving his meaning to them Then saith A. S. Yet these deluded souls think that this their deluding spirit is of God and why forsooth because it reprehends them of sin c. and did not Judas his spirit rebuke him of sinne and notwithstanding induce him to desperation and to hang himselfe Answ Here A. S. is again putting light for darknesse or calling the spirit of truth a deluding spirit for is not that the spirit of truth that reproves the world of sin John 16.7 8. Did not Christ say that he would send the comforter that should reprove the world of sin and we never read of any other spirit that did reprove sinne but the spirit of truth which A. S. blasphemously calls a deluding spirit neither did I ever read that a deluding spirit was the comforter which that spirit that reproves for sin is as Christ said And again is it not clear that A.S. puts light for darknesse in calling that a deluding spirit which reproves sin for the Apostle said that whatsoever things are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever makes manifest is light Eph. 5.13 and the deluding spirit is darknesse it self so that hereby it manifestly appears that A.S. cannot discern betwixt light and darknesse so is a miserable blind guide indeed And though the spirit of truth did rebuke Judas for his treachery doth it therefore follow that it was the same that led him to hang himself no this is great ignorance in A.S. to affirm for he might as well have said That the same spirit that led him to betray his Master did afterwards rebuke him for it but then his ignorance would have somewhat more plainly appeared But it was indeed the same spirit which led Judas into that presumptuous act as to betray his Master that afterwards led him to desperation and to hang himself and that spirit which let him see his wickednesse which he had done and rebuked him for it was light for whatsoever makes maninifest is light Eph. 5.13 Eleventhly then lastly he saith Thus far have we degressed for the Conversion of Quakers c. Answ To which I say that if he have no better way to convert Quakers nor no better arguments to produce in order to their conversion then what he hath made use of in his pretended reconsiler of Religions he were better be silent and save his labour for I cannot believe that a thousand such books will ever convert or rather divert one Quaker nay nor convince them neither except it be of his own grosse ignorance or wilful wickednesse of which there is enough appears as before manifested Thus having briefly answered the most remarkable arguments produced by A. S. to prove the church of Rome the true church and also the several particulars by which he endeavoured to render the people called Quakers as a people led by a deluding spirit I find the rest of his book consists of divers arguments in which he controverts with Sectaries and their Bibles and Ministers c. whose cause as aforesaid I am not ingaged in therefore it doth not
of the Spirit of Christ in his inward parts which all ought to obey and submit unto For the persecuting Jews who were uncircumcised in heart and ears and did alwaies resist the holy Ghost they professed as great zeal for God and his cause as the Apostate Christians now do and they looked for the coming of the Messiah of whom all the Prophets prophesied and profest they would adore him and reverence him c. and said that if they had been in the daies of their fathers they would not have slain the Prophets Mat. 23.31 who prophesied of the coming of Christ and so they had seemingly a great zeal for God and his truth But alas a murdering spirit was found in them for notwithstanding they professed that they would not have killed the Prophets yet they killed the Son who was the end of the Prophets And although the Prophets signified the time when Dan. 9.24 and the place where the Messiah should be born Mic. 5 2. yet when he was come according to the Prophets which they profest These professing Jews would not own him nor receive him Joh. 1.11 because he reproved their hypocrisie and their murdering spirit Joh. 8.40 But they crucified and slew him And this is the very state of the Apostate Christians at this day for who is there now amongst them but wiâ—l profess as great love to Christ as the Jews in Christs dayes did to the Prophets who prophesied of him who is there now amongst them but will say had we been in Pilats daies we would not have crucified Christ nor delivered him up to be crucified aâ— the Jews said of the Prophets yet notwithstanding their so saying they do as the Jews did for now in this day of his spiritual appearance which they professe they look for and expect they are found persecuting of him in his Members under the same pretence that the Jews persecuted him in their day viz. as a Blasphemer c. And so the Persecutors were in all ages bâ—inded by the god of the world who was a murtherer from the beginning and though they could see the iniquities of their fathers and predecessors in persecuting and killing the Prophets yet the envy of their hearts was such that they could not see their own iniquities in persecuting and slaying the son who was greater than the servants whom their fathers slew so as I said before it is not a profession of Christ and his Ordinances or zeal for his cause that makes people true Christians neither is God worshipped upon any of those mountains where the persecuting and destroying one another is but the worship of God consisteth in obedience to that spiâ—it of truth which condemns all those works of darknesse and cruelty and in his own mountain of holinesse where nothing hurts nor destroys Isa 11.9 And such is the Father now seeking to worship him that will worship him there and is now gathering his sheep from off the barren mountains upon which the Whore siâ—s where they have been scattered in the dark and cloudy day of Antichrists reign and where the wars and fightings are even to his own holy mountain where they shall learn war no more Isa 2.4 And this is the work that the envious and murtherous one opposeth and bestirrâ— himself with all his force and might in his instruments of cruelty and men of war arming of them with all kind of weapons that possibly he can form to fight against this appearance and work of God for so it hath been that since we who are reproachfully called Quakers were raised up to be a people to bear testimony for the name of the Lord and of the working of his spirit and power we have alwayes been even as a But for all the Archers of Babylon even from every mountain to shoot at And our sufferings hath not been only in our persons and estates as the spoyling of our goods and scourgings and cruel mockings and imprisonments many unto death as this Nation to her anguish must be made to know but even all sorts of Babylons Meâ—chants or they that trades in every part of her or within her subburbs have oft made it their business to write and print against us endeavouring thereby as much as in them lay to render us odious to our own Nation and to Nations about us under pretence that we were Papists and Jesuits and that we propagated Jesuitical principles c. but they being almost if not altogether weary of that work finding it to be to no purpose for the truth which we professe hath still got ground and flourisheth through all these things now at last the Papists or Jesuits themselves who I perceive have a secret hope of a day once more in this Nation they begin to put out their heads and to print against us and so both Protestants and Papists even every head horn of the Beast after whom the whole world wonders are â—â—uâ—d pushing against the Laâ—o and the Saints Rev. 17.14 For of late a cerâ—ain Pamphlet accidentally came to my hands written by a perfect Roman Catholick who subscribed his name A.S. in which he seems to shew himself sensible of the great distractions that are throughout the whole Christendome about the true way of worship and conâ—eâ—ning the true Church and fiâ—st states a Question viz which is this Church c. and afterwards makes it his businesse to prove the Church of Rome to be this true Church and that by divers Arguments by him stated in a Syllogistical manner And I also finding the Author of the aforesaid Pamphlet therein smiting at the people of God called Quakers and endeavouring to render them odious by affirming they are led by a deluding spirit c. I found my self somâ—what concerned to return a brief reply to his chief Arguments therein produced by which he haâ—h in vain endeavourd to accomplish the aforesaid work by him undertaken A.S. His first Argument produced to prove the Church of Rome to be the true Church consisteth of nine particulars as followeth viz. That is the true Church and no other which is one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church which is visible infallible inerrable in which is power of miracles out of which none can be saved But the Româ—n Pontificial that is to say the faithful people dispersed all the world over in communion with the high Priest Bishop or Pope of Rome is such and no other Therefore the Roman Pontificial alone is the true Church Reply To which I reply that the true Church of which Christ alone is Head and Supreme Governour is in it self one holy Apostolick Church c. I shall not go about to deny but as touching that grand Question by A.S. stated before his Argument here inserted viz. which is this Church c. I answer this is a thing indeed disputable amongst many yea amongst many thousands yet not at all questionable nor yet doubtful unto me for I am well satisfied therein and in all other
one that puts light for darkness and darknesse for light against whom the woe is pronounced Isa 5.20 And although A.S. so much pleads for the church whom I know all will hear that hears Christ yet upon serious consideration I find its of purpose to deceive Christians and so he hath shewed himself as bad as the Devil he speaks of being found doing the same work of which he seems to accuse the Devil for in his sixth chapter I find him as afore declared in effect perswading people Not to adhere to the motions of the Spirit of Christ under pretence that they cannot tell whence from God or the Devil it comes or whither to Heaven or Hell it goeth c. And aâ— above he is again perswading people That its a dangerous thing to hear that spirit that invites them to hear Christ calling it the Devil because it doth not invite them to hear the church of Rome also But I never read or heard before that any spirit did invite people to hear Christ but the spirit of the Father and his spirit said This is my beloved Son him hear ye Mat. 17.5 Therefore that spirit that invites people to hear the Son of God is not the Devil but the spirit of the Father and ought to be heard and obeyed by all 6. Again A.S. affirmeth that the spirit of God saith That Carpenters Smiths Masons and other tradesmen must not meddle with Ecclesiastical things as to Preach or Teach c. But saith he the evil spirit affirmeth the quite contrary by perswading them they may all prophecy one by one But alass then saith A.S. he deceiveth for that place is understood of the real and true Prophets of whose number all the Devils in Hell cannot prove all tradesmen to be Answ Here A.S. seems to oppose that which for my part I know none affirms for who is there that saith all Tradesmen have the spirit of Prophesie I know none Yet although all Tradesmen have it not it doth not therefore follow that no Tradesmen have it neither did I ever read that the spirit of God did forbid Tradesmen to meddle with those things nor doth that Scripture which A.S. quotes confirm any such thiâ—g which he affirmes but rather the contrary and we do read in the Scriptures of truth that Christ did call some of several Tradesmen to teach the way of God and to Preach the everlasting Gospel witnesse St. Peter a Fisher-man and St. Paul a Tent-maker with divers others that might be mentioned so that though all Tradesmen have not the spirit of Prophesie yet we see that some had and they were not forbidden but commanded to Preach and Teach and therefore they who have the Testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of Prophesie although they be Tradesmen they may Preach and Teach according to the gift thereof received for the Appostle said Every one as he hath received the gift of the spirit so let him administer 1 Pet. 4.10 7. And saith A.S. the Apostle saith Women must not speak in the church but the Devil saith they may For the Scripture averreth saith he That your sons and daughters shall Prophesie this Devil deceiveth the women Quakers But alass that Scripture was fulfilled in the Apostles and in the true Propheâ—esses in their times as Anna Luk. 2.28 and now is in such as have the true spirit of prophesie which Quakers Wives and Daughters can never prove themselves to have Answ Here A.S. hath confessed that there was Prophetesses in the Apostles dayes and that there now is at this day also and the Apostle spake of Women that were helpers with him in the Gospel Phil. 4.3 So then its undenyable that Women did speak and Prophesie and now may though the Apostles did not permit busie-bodies and taâ—lers to be asking questions in the Church but said they should ask their Husbands at home So the thing disputable is Whether or no the Quakers Wives and Daughters hâ—ve the true spirit of Prophesie concerning which I say this The Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophesie and many Wives and Daughters of the people called Quakers have received the testimony of Jesus and knows the life of Jesus manifested in them as by their fruits of love meeknesse gentlenesse patience long-sâ—ffering c. which are fruits of the spirit doth appear unto those who have a knowledg of them Therefore they have the spirit of Prophesie And farther several of the Wives and Daughters amongst the people called Quakers have prophesied of the desolation of the great Whore the Church of Rome and when that comes to passe it will be thereby proved that they have the true spirit of prophesie and then shall every tongue confesse to it and in the mean time let none speak evil of the the things they know not least they be found fighters against God 8. Again A.S. saith That the good spirit saith It is a Religious act to swear by God in a Just Cause but the evil spirit contradicts for its written saith he Swear not at all Behold the â—uritanisme of this impure spirit but alass he deludeth for God expresly commands Jer. 4.2 Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in Truth in Judgment and in Justice c. Ans I answer although in the Law and Prophets people were commanded to swear in truth and righteousnesse and to performe their oaths to the Lord yet Christ the new covenant whom God promised should not be according to the old saith sweare not at all Jer. 31 31 32. and though Moses and the prophets was to be heard under the ministration of the first covenant yet they said when Christ the second covenant was come people must hear him for said Moses a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall ye hear Deut. 18.15 And the Prophet said that Nation and people that will not serve thee that Nation shall perish Isa 60.12 So that although Moses said thou shalt perform thy oath to the Lord yet Christ that Prophet who is the end of that Law and whom Moses said the people must hear or else be cut off he saith swear not at all and although the Prophet said thou shalt swear the Lord liveth c. yet Christ who is the end of the Prophets and whom the Prophets said people must serve or else perish saith swear not at all and although it may be alledged that the Angels swore yet Christ the first born amongst many brethren to whom all the Angels must bow saith swear not at all and although it may be farther alledged that God himself swoare and therefore its lawful for Christians to swear yet God himself said concerning Christ This is my beloved son hear ye him Mat. 17 5. And this beloved son of God whom all Christians ought to hear saith swear not at all All which being rightly weighed and considered it plainly appears that swearing by any oath whatsoever was forbidden by Christ Jesus who is the Law-giver