except the Works be perfect yea or nay Que. 13. Whether had not the Jews all the words of the Prophets and yet when Christ came slew Him who was the Virtue Sum Substance the Beginning and End of the life of the Prophets And whether you being out of the Spirit of Christ are not under the judgement of Jeremiah's words viz Though they say the LORD liveth surely they swear falsly Que. 14. Whether did Adam lose morâ—… in his life than CHRIST came to restorâ—… unto Man in this life Which is the greater the living soul or the quickning spirit And whether is any one or more of you Members restored unto either or not in the life of either of these two states yea or nay Que. 15. Whether is not all Sin of the Devil and he that commits Sin of the Devil yea or nay Concerning the true Church Query 16. Whether is not the Trutâ—… Church the Body of CHRIST which is in GOD And when Paul spake of Christ and the Church whether did he not speak of a Mystery yea or nay Que. 17. Whether are the Members of Christ's Body evil And if sinners be Members of Christs Body tell me if any other spirit be the sinnews of that body besides the spirit of the Devil which leads into sin and evil yea or nay Que. 18. Whether is not the perfection of the Glory of GOD in his Church And whether doth that remain among sinners yea or nay Que. 19. Whether hath not Christ said Without exception God heareth not sinners and therefore saith James You ask and have not And whether doth not God hear the Prayers of his Church yea or nay Que. 20. Whether doth not Paul say That Christ's Church is without spot or wrinkle to bring it into which state he purged every branch and the unfruitful he cut off And tell me since the last two hundred years whether your Members have encreased in more Sin or in more Holiness in outward shew and practice in their conversation Que. 21. Whether all that commit Sin are not in the Apostacy from the Spirit which is the life of the Church and leads out of all sin yea or nay Que. 22. Whether is not Christ the Promise of the Father The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpent's head And did he come to do lesse than was promised Now search you the Prophets and see what was promised and also answer me When the Serpents head is bruised is not Man as he was in the day that he was created yea or nay Que. 23. What is Salvation and Râ—…demption and Restauration and from whâ—… and unto what and when Que. 24. Whether the evil works all men is not Testimony of the false faâ—… of all such men And if Adam for one 〈◊〉 lost so glorious an Estate How think you wiâ—â— your so many sins shall you be made Inheritors of his first state Que. 25. Whether can any of you just say That Christ is the end of the Law fâ—â— Righteousness unto you who never came 〈◊〉 the beginning of the Righteousness thereof Did Christ come to destroy the Law or 〈◊〉 fulfil the Law Do you believe Paul's Testimony of Christ in whom he was revealeâ—… who therefore testified That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them that walk nor after the flesh but after the Spirit And whether is any one of you sâ—â— entred into the Spirit yea or nay Que. 26. Is any one or more of you truly in the Faith to witness unto John's Testimony who said As Christ is so are we in this present world and whether were they theâ—… in sin yea or nay Que. 27. Whether did not Christ rebuke Hypocrites when he said Why call you me Lord and do not the things which I say And Did not Christ say unto his Disbiples Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And Whether do you think that he was an unequal Lord and his Commandments grievous which could not be born yea or nay Que. 28. What are the Clouds and the time of the Night and the cause of the Darkness Blindness and Ignorance And what are the Vails which cover the Heart and the understanding part And how is the World set in man's heart whereby man cannot find out the Work which GOD maketh from the beginning to the end thereof Que. 29. What is that which removes the Darkness breaks thorow the Clouds rents the Vails and drives back the mist and thickness of the Night And whether is not that which is the Cause and that which removes the Cause these two still the same since the Fall unto this day of man's remaining under the Curse in the Fall And whether any thing redeems out of the Curse but that which redeems out of the Fall and is not every sinner in the Fall yea or nay Que. 30. What is that which takes away the Original of Sin and if the Original which is the root and off-spring be take away the root not left in ground how caâ—… a branch grow or fruit be brought forth GOD saith the soul that sinneth shall die And Whether do you otherwise believe Thaâ—… if you live in sin until death but you shaâ—… receive as Paul saith the wages of sin whicâ—… is death yea or nay These things are but that which maâ—… lead unto an entrance of somewhat morâ—… to follow which I offer as hereby directeâ—… in the Substance to all such as desire to know the new birth And when the Learneâ—… have answered them as the liberty of Pen Ink and Paper is afforded me I may explicate your Replications and shew the grounâ—… thereof and withall try if the key of the understanding all Mysteries is among you which is in the Church of Christ and any thing concerning the Kingdom of God Call your Councils together I am an alone Child propound your Queries and let me answer them for in GOD is my trust and not in self who am his Servant From the Inquisition-Prison in Rome J. P. THe Church of Christ this day stands in the Doctrine of Christ. They are in the Life which cannot recompence unto any man evil for evil but good for evil but you I find recompencing evil for good which is contrary to all good You are in the nature and practice of the Scribes Pharisees and Hypocrites which Christ cryed Wo against You call men Lords and Masters and are called of men Lords and Masters You love Greetings and Salutations in the Market-places and in these things love to be seen of men And you are in the delight of the uppermost Rooms and Places at Feasts and love the honour which comes from men All which is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ But the Church of Christ speaks not more of Christ than as they live and walk in the Doctrine of Christ Number over your Traditions and compare them with what Christ and his holy Apostles delivered that you may see in how much you are short
preach it or if knowing what the Gospel is Is it any thing lesse than thy duty to go forth and preach it yea or nay Que. 2. What is that flaming Sword which is set at Edens Gate to keep the Way of the Tree of Life that not any in the state of Transgression and nature of Corruption may taste thereof which he that eateth not thereof in this Life shall perish unto everlasting Death at the end of his Life And declare whether there is no difference or what is the difference in the nature ground and substance between that Sword the Blood of the Lamb the Crosse of Christ Purgatory and the Fountain which is set open for Judah and Jerusalem to bath and to wash in Que. 3. Whether they who have bathed in the Fountain of God and washed in the Blood of the Lamb that have born the Cross of Christ unto the crucifying of the nature of the Corruptible and Mortal and that have passed thorow the flaming Sword shall enter into any other Purgatory And what did Enoch passe thorow to attain to the perfection of living and walking with God And whether was or is Salvation more than one since the Fall seeing the matter thereof is but one and God the All but one and his Promise one and unchangeable to save out of the Fall yea or nay Que. 4. Whether did Christ come to work Salvation for Souls through the imprisoning the Just or captivating Souls seeing the Scriptures say that he came to open the Prison doors and to bring forth the Prisoner How may it honestly be said that thou art Peter's Successor in the Truth or the Vicegerent of Christ who contrary to the end of the Coming of Christ the Life Practice and Example of Christ dost profess and practise that which brings dishonour to the Name of CHRIST And answer By what wouldst thou have me to know a Vine branch from a Thorn-tree Que. 5. VVhether is thy Nation growâ—… in Righteousness unto the Age of the Beautâ—… of Holiness or Are they even ripe untâ—… Judgment in the multitude of their Oaths Curses and Blasphemies Pride Whoredoms and Adulteries Lyes Envy anâ—… Hypocrisies in the full growth of all manneâ—… of Abominations and Iniquity Canst thoâ—… shew me one Member of thy whole Bodâ—… which now is as Nehemiah the Captain of thâ—… Lord's People and as Nathaniel the truâ—… Israelite was that I may have unity witâ—… him else who what and where thinkest thou is the Church of Christ Que. 6. Whether and in what manneâ—… hast thou passed from under the Reign anâ—… Dominion of Death unto Moses's house And shew me the testimony of thy Stewardship in his house and the seal of thy passage thorow his house into the way of the Prophetâ—… life and the mark of the way and signet of the Prophets life leading to John Baptist's cry in the Wilderness and the Record of his Baptism to be of God in thee and how thou hast been emptied from Vessel to Vessel unto the perfect losse of the scent of the old lees which if thou canst not shew me the true effect of this work in thy life whether in thy best profession of all the writings of thy dead fathers and the confession of the Scriptures of the holy Prophets and Apostles Art thou any other than as Paul saith a boaster in another man's line made ready to thy hand yea or nay Que. 7. Whether hast thou the true Eye of discerning to trace the way of a Serpent over a Rock Dost thou know the course of a Dolphin in the Deeps or the path of a young Dolphin in the shallow Waters And by what line wouldst thou measure their way And with what Instrument canst thou measure the path of the first flight of a young Dove thorow the Air and shadow of the Heavens If thou knowest not this how knowest thou to take the Wings of the Morning to meet the Sun in the South to be at rest with the Children of the Day where the light of the Moon is as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes the everlasting Sabbath of God Answer these with the Life of Truth if thou wilt have me believe that thou art Peter's Successor in the true Faith But wherein thou art unable honestly confess it hear me and come out of Prison and I will instruct thee in the way of God more perfectly Let all thy men of Learning take heed of high obstinate perverse wills and froward hearts And take you all heed lest a root of bitterness and spirit of envy be in you and learn this Where-ever you see a persecuting spirit know alwayes that that spirit is not of God Rome given forth of the Inquisition-Prison J. P. TO all in ROME from the highest to the lowest that are setled in sin and will not hear to come out of the way and nature thereof who walk in the path of Iniquity in the love of Transgression and say in your hearts Who is of God that we should hear him whose liberty is in the lust and pleasure in persecuting the Just walking in the broad way which leads to endless destruction under the seal of everlasting wrath and will not hear to know and enter into the strait path of life in which the wayfaring men though fools cannot erre therein And in your hardness against GOD you think that you are above all men wise in your sinful wayes you are wise unto evil but not in the good which cometh from God who will not hear to be turned from all evil but shut your eyes and stop your ears and make Vows as sealed Bonds together crying Away with it Away with it We will have none of it not considering the dayes of old how the Messiah came according to the Prophets yet contrary to the Jews expectations and in cross to all their Lusts and Inquities Wherefore they took counsel of their own Wills and slew Him And now I do but in the Substance testifie unto you That CHRIST the Light of the World is come and coming according to the Apostles Testimony of Him the second time without sin unto Salvation which is contrary to your Expectations under the blackness and darkness of the clouds of your sins and transgressions under which you cry We will not We will not And every man in his hardness utters his sentence saying Persecute persecute Imprison imprison as it was in all Ages He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that waâ—… born after the Spirit even so it is now and thus rendring evil for good you plat the Crown of the Thorns of the cruelty of youâ—… hearts upon the head of the Innocent anâ—… Just This therefore is your Condemnation LIGHT is come into the World but ye haâ—… the Light and love Darkness rather thaâ—… Light because your deeds are evil For whosoever loves the LIGHT brings his deed to the LIGHT that by the LIGHT the may
Battering Rams AGAINST ROME OR The BATTEL of JOHN the Follower of the LAMB Fought with the POPE and his Priests whilst he was a Prisoner in the Inquisition-Prison of ROME ALSO A Certain REMONSTRANCE of Righteous Reason written in Rome-Prison of Mad-men unto all Rome's Rulers Together with a POST-SCRIPT to all tender-hearted Roman Catholicks London Printed for Robert Wilson at the sign of the Black-Spread-Eagle and Wind-mil in Martins Le Grand 1661. To the tender moderate Roman-Catholick Reader Friend THe following Writings being such as have been dispensed in the City of Rome unto which Answers were expected by me from them whom it chiefly concerned but not receiving any unto any of my Queries propounded to Pope Priests c. in Rome even unto this day and being now returned unto this Land of England may expect something of Answer from thee unto the said Interrogations which are of general concernment unto all Roman Catholicks or else I may conclude that Truth is in no wise on your side but absolutely and undeniably against you which I therefore leave unto thy consideration and if from that which followeth thou shalt be perswaded of the Truth which is held forth therein confessing it in singlenesse and simplicity of heart and mind if afterwards thou desirest to be further satisfied touching any thing of our Doctrine or Practices ask it in the Spirit of Moderation either by Word or Writing of me and according to the Light of the Knowledge of GOD given unto me I may meekly answer thee in the tendernesse of my Soul Who am a real faithful and true lover of all Souls Called John Perrott To the READER Reader I Have found it expedient for the satisfaction of many tender Desirers to intimate these few preceding Words to the following Tract shewing the certainty of the thing which many have enquired after yet not as if the relation thereof were able to enduce any Souls to believe in the True GOD forasmuch as Christ said If they will not believe Moses and the Prophets neither would they believe if one should come from the dead Yet every Work of the Lord God to me is of exceeding weight especially such wherein the life and safety of my outward man was very much concerned in the time of my Pilgrimage in Forreign Parts and Countries In brief I give this Relation to wit When I was in Legorn in my Travel onwards to Turky on a certain night an Angel of the LORD awakened me out of my sleep saying Arise and go to the Window the which I did in very much dread and trembling where standing I suddenly heard certain English-men in another Room at a Neighbour's house wickedly conspiring my hurt but blessed be God who sent his Messenger to warn me by the Power of his own Life delivered and saved me from the Evil of the said Conspiracy Moreover In Greece I met with divers difficulties being in my Pilgrimage led through many Tryals and Tentations by being brought before Rulers and Magistrates and sometimes destitute of any thing to purchase natural food yet still the presence of the Lord was with me both by Sea and Land and in the greatest straits he alwayes appeared in the greatest power of Love caring and providing for me even beyond all that my heart could ever think which things to mention at large would fill up much Paper And therefore in this compendious Preface may only hint one passage more of the powerful Arm of God battelling for mine Innocent Soul in a Righteous Cause which the Romans were well informed of before I arrived at Rome and that by divers hands from Venice by which they might at least-wise understand That God was my God and that I was his faithfull Servant in the Work that he had called me unto It came to pass in proceed of my Pilgrimage as I was returning by Sea from Smyrna to Venice that upon the way near unto Corfu the Sea-men and Captain of the Ship took a wrongful occasion of Anger and Wrath against me at which time I offered my self in much meeknesse and moderation to reason the matter with the said Commander of the Ship but in brief he threatned to cast me on shore on a certain barren Island on which there was no Inhabitant who when he saw that I was in that contented being wholly offered unto God in all place and time desisted that Attempt but forthwith bound himself under an Oath and Curse that when I came to Venice he would have me burnt to death by fire To whom I replyed saying I fear not man whose breath is in his nostrils but the God of life who was my Leader in all that he had called me unto This being at evening suddenly after these passages there was a cessation of many of his words of bitterness though some there were that grinned their teeth upon me and could even have found in their hearts to have bitten off my flesh from my bones which kindled the Anger of the LORD GOD Almighty against them for all that Night his sore Indignation and Vengeance did burn as a flame in his bosom so that it came to pass at the dawning of the next day that he cast down a ball of Fire betwixt the Decks amongst divers Passengers which brake as into the roaring of a Cannon amongst them and slew two persons and wounded one more and besides that the Lord caused Fire to Rain down from Heaven in coals upon them which burned some in their bodies others it smote and wounded and others it slew in the Ship And this is the Account of the slain viz. An English-man the Gunner a Dutch-man the Carpenter and an Italian a Marriner an Armenian Merchant and a Turk a Servant which were five of five several Nations and five others wounded which the Lord God Almighty gave as Examples of his Wrath that the rest that lived might fear his dreadful and terrible Name Moreover the said coals of Fire burned many holes through their Sails and split their Main-Top-Mast in the Puttox and then grievous was the cry of all Flesh amongst them And from thence their perverse Spirits were much more moderated to hear me in causes of Equity and Truth Many things more I might mention of the wonderful Works of my God whom my simple soul serves even in the integrity and uprightness of my whole Heart But in these things I cease at this instant having hinted some things of other Passages in other Writings and therefore at the present do draw to the putting in order the following Writings which were dispensed by me in the Inquisition-Prison at Rome J. P. An Epistle general to the Romans GOD who at sundry times and in divers manners in the dayes of old spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets hath now in these latter dayes spoken unto us by the Revelation of his Son the LORD from Heaven who in the fulness of the dispensation of time came a Light into the world to be
the manifest Salvation of GOD unto the ends of the Earth as was spoken by the Word unto Isaiah his Prophet in whose face expresly we have the Revelation of the Father in whom we behold the Glory of the Son as the Glory of the only begotton of GOD full of Power and Wisdom hereby knowing what we Worship whom the whole world alienated from the Power Life Wisdom and Holiness of GOD do ignorantly Worship in the imaginations of their own hearts which before the Lord are only evil continually Him therefore declare I unto you GOD the Eternal and unto every mortal Invisible and Incomprehensible Spirit who is not likened unto the Creation which by the Power of his Eternal Word was made to glorifie hiâ—… Name by the Spirit sheweth That he dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped by the Works of mens hands as if he needed any thing who from the beginning determined the times appointed and made all mankind of one mould and gave unto them Life and Breath and added thereunto of the Grace of his Mercy a measure of the Divine Nature if haply that thereby they might seek and feel after him the LORD their Creator But Man whom the LORD made little lower than the Angels and gave him the fulness of the Earth to possess rebelled at all times against his GOD he departed from the beginning from the living Way and made Invention the joy of his Heart and made his Inventions a fence against God and his Imaginations a Bullwark of defence and in all Ages and Generations though the LORD visited with Judgements Destruction Mercies and wonderful Deliverances and sent his Servants the Prophets arising up early and lying down late with Precept upon Precept and Line upon Line speaking as afar off by Signes and Figures and Parables and as at hand by Iudgement and Mercy And always shewed how that he is GOD and altogether unlimited neither bound unto Words nor Wonders nor limited in Sea or in Land but still Man made marks for GOD and set bounds for the Arm of his Power who in no wise is measured as the waters in the Wells nor contained as the Rivers with the banks who was not conceived as the Seed of Man nor born as the Babe of the Womb who is not comprehended as the grass with the ground nor as the wide swelling Seas with the sands of the shores who is not known as he knoweth all fowls and calleth the Stars by name who is not measured as the Earth with the Moon nor as the Heavens with the course of the Sun and therefore Man alwayes lost the knowledge of the eternal Power of the God-head and still settled in his own will which at first rebelled against GOD and in the same Will made Laws and Statutes and Ordinances for Government for Worship and for punishment though even from the dayes of the first man Adam unto this day the hand of the LORD GOD was turned against that work as witness the preaching of the Spirit of Abel Enoch and Noah he who hath an ear let him hear witness also Abraham Isaac and Jacob among the Heathen and Moses among the Egyptians yea witness the Spirit of Moses among Israel by Preaching by Power by Judgement and Deliverance What may I more say They would build a Tower to reach unto Heaven and Arks and Cities and Tabernacles and Temple And all for GOD to be constrained in their Works and when they had Commandments and Sacrifices as appointed by the Word of the LORD the Spirit sheweth when in all these things they would have forced the Rest of GOD the LORD arose alwayes against them and sent his Servants the Prophets to cry against those things with the same Word which commanded them whom they did beat imprison wound and torture yea and put to death And thus it alwayes was He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even as it is now and in like manner it hath been from the dayes of Abel until the Heir came and him they shamefully slew to possess the Vineyard Moreover of his dayes I may also speak even in the dayes of the LORD CHRIST when he was transfigured before his Disciples at the glorious appearance of Moses Eliah and the LORD the Disciples would build them Tabernacles but mercy appeared unto them in a Rebuke and they were instructed in the Way of GOD but yet and notwithstanding also that Paul the Apostle taught a pressing on from one degree of Faith unto another until all should be perfected unto the fulness of the measure of a compleat stature shewing also in the Resurrection who himself was risen with Christ the diversities of the measures of the Glories which were revealed and every measure as gathered into God in his fulness were respectively full shewing it by the figure of the Glories of the Lights of the Sun Moon and Stars and wrote to the Church how that he was caught up into the third Heaven and saw things which were unlawful to be uttered And John in the LORD'S Day in the Revelation of the Lord from Heaven saw the great things of GOD yet said the Angel unto him Come up hither I say notwithstanding all this the doctrine of GOD that he might be known to be GOD and not in any wise to be limited Man in his wilfulness and presumption unto this day hath set marks against him and made measures of words in their Wills as Cords of restraint to bind him yea the Heavens and the Earth and the depth of the Seas and all the increase of the Plant of the field and her seeding Seed the Sun Moon and Stars the Clouds the Winds the Hail and the Rain-bow of GOD shall witness against the Nations of the world in this matter They limit not God in their pleasure but do bow in subjection to his Will but the Nations of the Earth in the crookedness of their hearts have made walls against the passage of GOD. O Man lift up thine head and look and behold how the People and Inhabitants of the Earth do limit the LORD to their lusts O open thine Eye and see how they make GOD as a Transgressor in the Earth even as the Cattle of a Stranger which have fed in the fields of their Pasture and as the hand of a Thief and Robber which hath stolen the labour of another Look thorow the Earth among the Nations thereof and thou mayest read all their Professions as Prisons for the Reign of of GOD in the Conscience is limited by the forms of their Words and one cryeth Here and another saith There and another saith these are the Laws and the Precepts and he that will not Rest in this he is out of the Way of GOD and he that speaks against our Law and the Manners of our Worship he must bear the punishment thereof Concerning all which if the Conscience of GOD should demand Are your Words GOD
the Light and dwell in the Light with thy mind and heart stablished and fixed in it which shews thy own transgression within to have feeling of the Judgment of GOD upon the transgressor in thee And come to the love of the Light and follow the Light by it to be led out of sin and transgression and then with the Light by which all things are made manifest in all matters of Judgment thou wilt reach that of GOD in all which in all will justifie thee in the sight of GOD and so thou wilt stand girded with Justice in the seat of Equity and Truth a terror to evil-doers and a praise to them that do well GOD is coming to search the whole Earth who looketh for the fruit of Judgement from all that sit in the seat thereof Mercy to the Poor Relief of the Oppressed The Poor hath cryed and the Oppressed hath groaned and GOD hath heard it and he who heareth will answer Answer thou alwayes in thy place for the LORD lest the LORD GOD make thee to answer for thy self before Him Though I am but as a suckling of the Lords Flock nevertheless in the simplicity and tenderness of my life as one that hath received Mercy at the Judgment seat of God according to the lowliness of my measure I counsel thee in his pure fear That thou dost look over the Books of the Registers of the Law of thy Nation and see if any one Statute be there written which may stand as a Law to condemn the Just David complained of that in his day for he saw the issue of what came to passe though it was afar off from his dayes We have a Law said the Jews and by our Law he ought to dye by which they in their wilfulness put the LORD CHRIST to death And so it was in all Ages that transgressors for whom saith Paul the Law was made did make such to suffer under the Law and put them to death by a Law in whose mouth guile was not found which was the unrighteous Judgment Friend Draw thou thy hand from that And though the people do cry even as it was complained of in Judah concerning the Prophet The Land is not able to bear all his words yet of a truth the Word of the LORD will come to passe and be fulfilled And truly I say unto thee as Jeremy said unto the Elders of Israel with the life of that Prophet Do with me as seemeth good in thy sight but assuredly know I am of God And I also desire that the LORD GOD in Mercy may not lay this thing to your charge in the day of his Judgments forasmuch as you do you know not what I sit not in the seat of the unrighteous in any measure apt to judge any thing before the true time wherefore unless the fruit in this matter did shew the Tree I shall not at the present accuse the Romans with our detainment under their Yoak of Captivity to provoke words from us whereby the Prophet's words might become fulfilled upon your heads in this your Age in making a man an offender for a word but I am rather in expectation of the Appearance of the Nobility of that which hath been reported and written concerning the Romans If we have transgressed the Law of GOD Try us by the Law and give us our punishment according to the Law For the LORD GOD knows I delight in Righteous Judgment If we are not found transgressors why are we innocent strangers and pilgrims stopped of our Voyage if our Bonds hold us by you onely upon the account of suspition we blame you not but prove us and satisfie your selves concerning us only if we have found the favour of Justice before you which the living God requires of you shew us the Cause in truth why we are detained that according to Law and Equity before your seat 〈◊〉 Judgment we may make our open Defence I am a Friend of thy soul J. P. From the Inquisition-Prison in Rome To all in the Colledges of Rome that have any zeal or desire to answer Truth for the Lord and Truths sake MEn fearing GOD are not rash nor heady neither will they judge a matter before the time Wherefore for the better information of your selves concerning the Truth and Life the Way of GOD and Church of CHRIST I have in plain-heartedness queried for you in the honesty of sober minds to give me your Answer in writing plainly and pertinently to each of them without renting any part of my words For which in expectation I shall wait in Rome whilst these Bonds hold me until it come to my hands which you ought to answer as you profess the name of Christianity among the sons of men for the sake of souls Query 1. What is that one thing needful unto Salvation which with the possession thereof a man possesseth all things And whether can a man possess it and not know it yea or nay Que. 2. What is that by which Paul exhorted the Brethren to to try the spirits whether they were of God yea or nay Que. 3. Whether are any of you now called by CHRIST to a further estate of Knowledge than the Disciples were then when Christ said unto them You know not of what spirits you are yea or nay Que. 4. If by Christ you are called further shew me how And whether you have really heard the Voice of Christ but if not called unto or beyond that estate which they were then in not knowing your own spirits by what spirit would you truly judge of my Spirit who am of God Concerning the Way of God Que. 5. Whether are you in the way of God which is but one and How was that one unto Enoch and now but one and the same unto you Que. 6. Whether is not CHRIST the Light of the World that one way yea or nay Que. 7. Whether are sinners in CHRIST who is the narrow way or are they under the power of Satan in the broad way yea or nay Que. 8. Whether are you in that way which was prophefied of and is now manifest which the way-faring men though fools cannot erre therein yea or nay Que. 9. Whether are you in any other way but in that in which an Hypocrite can walk and whether can an Hypocrite walk in CHRIST yea or nay Que. 10. Whether are not all that are in the Church of Christ in the true way of God where the way-faring men though fools cannot erre therein Que. 11. Whether is the Spirit of Truth come unto you which leadeth the Members of Christ's Church into all Truth But if you have not a Member that in life is led out of all Error into all Truth How can you say that you have the Spirit of Truth Que. 12. If all be in Sin and Error in the Life How shall I conclude any one to be of the true Faith seeing the Apostle saith Shew me thy Faith by thy Works Can the Faith be perfect
it under the Judgment of Penalty To be brief I would draw to the understanding of the Root of a Matter which ought in Wisdom principally to be known in you all that you may know your Root of which I have seen much as ye daily bring forth the fruit thereof Que. 24. Whether the spirit of Oaths Envy Lust and Lyes is not of the ground and original root of Heresie yea or nay Que. 25. Whether that Spirit hath not an absolute and instant Ground and Root universally according to Confession in your Body yea or nay Que. 26. Whether is not all things which are contrary to the Doctrine and Life of CHRIST and his Apostles absolutely and undeniably Heresie and that assuredly Opinion which is the lesser as practice which makes it greater and they both but one in the Ground and Nature yea or nay Que. 27. What Rule of Truth or Precept in the Scriptures of Truth have you to condemn any man as an Heretick which denieth your evil spirit and in the Life utterly abhorreth all your beastly works and wicked words brought forth by the spirit of Heresie And to what purpose think you standeth the judgment of your spirit Do thou mind thy blind-hearted brother Thomas Courtney of these things who told me that Heresie speaking of some Opinion was a worser sin than Murder which weighed in the deeps le ts to see that it breaks a gap for more evil than a thousand of the like his lines is able to reconcile the which was his ignorance as if Murder were not the most abominable desperate act of wilfulness against GOD and a man's Neighbour brought forth by the spirit of Heresie which spirit abounds in all your Coasts which is the real cause of all the Oaths Curses Lyes Dissimulations Hypocrisies Drunkenness Gluttony Adulteries Pride Covetousness Envy all Uncleaness and Murders brought forth innumerably in your Land For which cause if you had all Words and understood all Mysteries yet the Saints interested in the simplicity of Truth dwelling in GOD cannot joyn hands with you to partake of your spirit and so of your evil deeds and lastly of the Wrath to be revealed which the Lord God in his Counsel hath determined shall sweep a secure Land When lastly thou wert with me I saw that thy visage was none of thine own as always unto thy own I desire not to judge thee rashly but let me exhort thee saying Carry not a Bears Paw under thy long Gown nor a Lion's Tooth within thy mincing Lips thy words many of them were as smooth as sweet Butter and fresh Oyl but see thou that under thy tongue there be not hid the poyson of Asps in such things as in the rest of the dead works signs shews and noises as the Magicians of Egypt about the Walls of the Prison and elswhere you may as they themselves did deceive your selves also but by all these things neither in my self nor in you am I at all deceived Settle your selves in Council I am bound within Walls yet blessed be the LORD GOD I savour the deeds of darkness and many of them would not be of good report to be told among your selves You know that I bear all the folly as being 〈◊〉 your Vâ—…ssal to that end but you know not how I trample upon the fruit and the spirit which yeelds it From the Inquisition-Prison in Rome J. P. To the Inhabitants of the bloody City the Mother of Cruelties and Murder REad the Declaration of the Righteousness of this Cause let it be spread in an open Parchment upon the Standard of your Host and let it be marked in your Ensign as a perpetual shame in the face of your Camp There was a certain Message sent by the hand of a Servant by the LORD of a strong Army who treated for the Surrender of the City He came not as a Coward to hide in a hole nor as treacherous to slay in secret but to deliver his service to the Chief to depart with the Answer of the Head of the Land He was foolishly entreated by the hands of the jealous and ilâ—… handled by the doubtful and timerous hearted they bound a Man of War in Chains and rejoyced often to smite him with rotten sticks they chused not to plead with him in open field nor to deal with him as do the Valiant and Honourable they bound him in their seat of contempt and sent Scorners to view him in secret he looked at the works of their hands and wrote them in the soals of his feet he setled his heart in the righteousness of the Message of his LORD and rather chose the Chain of his Enemies Yoak than to yeeld unto Cruelty and Flattery he was faithful to his Enemy in what he was sent as he was to his LORD that sent him he washed his hands of the Blood of the City and possessed the Peace of his LORD What will you say for your selves when this Servant's Cause shall be publickly pleaded to your faces I know your purpose concerning the Heir and the purpose also of the LORD of the Vineyard as the Reward of your wilful works You have been well warned but you have not well received but have ill rewarded and requited Yet in all I desire not that God may requite you as ye have requited me and therefore I have Consolation and you know not my Crown The putrified head of the corrupted body and rotten tayl yea the whole body even from head to tayl I tread upon for ever J. P. Rome from the Inquisition-Prison To the Priests appointed as Inquisitors and Keepers of the Inquisition-Prisons thereunto belonging A Visitation of the Lord God to you all is come ARise arise It is high time to Awake and Arise from the Seat of Blood For the LORD GOD is arisen to make Inquisition for the Blood of every Innocent Soul which hath been starved and slaughtered upon the face of the whole Earth Indignation flyeth with him as a pointed Arrow Vengeance is in his Right hand as a Spear for the Battel and Wrath as a Dart to pierce the Liver of the Wicked The LAMB is arisen for Slaughter as a Lion to devour the Prey a Burning fire proceedeth out of his mouth The Ungodly shall be consumed before him and because Iniquity is plentiful in the Land he hasteth the Iudgment of the Day neither Covering nor Cloud shall hide the Wicked nay nor the Clifts of the craggy Rocks from the fierceness of his provoked Fury He will smite suddenly even in a moment in the Land and bereave the habitation of the Dweller He will catch as a snare in the night and none shall deliver from his Wrath He will abide as burnings in the Earth Corruption shall not dwell in his Presence the Evil-doer is for the Wine-press of his Wrath but the Just shall dwell in his Pleasures It is at hand It is at hand the Day of Vengeance of the LORD according to the Prophecy The abundance of
may say that my Writings were against then as aforesaid could not I have written the things which I have written in your Inquisition-Prison Fifthly Because that all Righteous Laws of GOD in Nations touching Facts Criminal and Crimes Capital are no more to one person particular than unto all men in general And therefore my adhibition at last to write things of the same nature and purpose in Prison which at first I did in the fruition of Liberty demonstrates that your said self-nulled Law Under which contrary to the tenure of GOD's righteous Law I am yet irrationally and compulsively held in your house of Captivity was not at first so much a stable Law as an aiery variable nicity for that which in such cases adhibits to one and prohibits the same to another is rather like a wind of vanity than a body or pillar of solidity seeing that it will admit of the respect of persons in Judgement and consequently what equality there is in restraining of persons more than two years upon the account of a changeable curiosity and aiery nicity judge thee O thou righteous Iudge in the high seat of superiority Sixthly Because the Eternal Spirit of Righteousness my Maker which searcheth all hearts and tryeth all reins which is the greatest Witness of all Witnesses beareth testimony in my spirit that in all which I have written have stood and do stand in my Conscience clear naked and void of all and every part of a prejudicial mind or conception of Envy Wrath Malice Scorn or despightful Contempt of any man's person neither have I thereby wronged any man whatsoever for all that is therein inserted is none other but wholsom Admonitions exciting to a more peculiar holy and blessed life towards GOD and a man's Neighbour with certain solid sober Interrogations which tend not to the custom of heathenish strifes and contests in the envious and malicious spirit of bitterness but purely sincerely and reverently in the humble spirit of fear of the LORD GOD to the proper and sole end of the Glory of GOD through the Salvation of Souls by his heavenly enlightning of Understandings with the Glory of his holy Spirit And savoury reprehensions of that spirit which sinneth and testimony against the Evils of the Land and the insertion of sundry spiritual Mysteries of the heavenly Kingdom with the spiritual Witness of the Father Son and holy Ghost and nothing therein contrary to the New Testament of GOD the Blood of the Covenant and immaculate Life of the Lamb nor any thing in opposition to that chast Spirit of Sanctity which was in Mary or any which was or is as that blessed Virgin was which upon further and due tryal I am able in the grace and power of GOD and the Life of our Lord Jesus to make appear unto that of God in you and all men whatsoever which my Language can understand upon the face of the Earth In which thing being justified First by GOD which sent me Secondly By example of the holy Prophets of old Thirdly By the practice of CHRIST and his Apostles which at large through the Mercy of the Lord God Almighty I am also able to hold forth unto you in the day of due tryal according to the undeniable Record and Witness of the holy Scriptures of Truth And therfore Righteousness saith Because that the nature of the matter was of a pure purpose should rationally have been recompenced by you with none other than a pure and Christian-like practice Seventhly Because the sweet savour and good report of our Innocency came to your City before us which God made divers of your Ecclesiastical Members to confess in plainness of speech to my face Eighthly Because the Witness of GOD which is greater than the Witness of Man testified in my spirit That all my honest Queries sweet and holy Admonitions pure Advertisments godly Reprehensions proceeded from no other but as Crystal streams from the fountain of the Father's Love which he hath made as a Well of Waters in my bowels And principally because that Reprehension is an infallible token of the Father's Love to his Seed in all Nations and Lands testified by the Spirit to John the Apostle saying Whom I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Ninthly Because it is the undeniable Duty of all men upon the face of the Earth to love the Rebukes of the LORD as it is purely the LORD's Mercy and of his infinite Love to send them as Visitations of his Love unto all Nations Tenthly Because the resisting of the Rebuke is the resisting of the token of the Favour and Love of GOD which renders men unworthy of the Love and Mercies of GOD their Maker And because it vails the heart from the life of the true Zeal in spirit and hardens the heart in the Wrath of Cain towards Abel of Esau to Jacob and of the Jews to Jesus 11. Because the Righteous Law of God is of the same nature full of Judgment and Reprehension of every Evil not respecting the Person of any man and is at unity with every such spirit of its own nature in so good a work for the which cause it was righteously added of GOD for if there were no bridle how should the Beast be tamed if no Helm how should the Ship be sailed And without Correction there is no perfect Instruction 12. Because the Rebuke of Life is as a Steel which smiteth at the Flint of man's heart and kindleth in his Internals the fire of the fear of his Creator which is the beginning of Wisdom which reveals the knowledge of the countenance of the Father whom to know is Life eternal and because of Solomon's proverbial commendation of the work of Reprehension saying The Reproof of the Righteous is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver 13. Because as the matter of my said Writings is manifestly composed of Righteousness and covered with the Countenance of the Word of GOD so the manner thereof stands in unity with the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles which were in the nature of Divinity which covereth not Iniquity with daubing Iniquity 14. Because Moses the Messenger of GOD justified him which prophesied in the Camp whom the People complained against thus answering and saying Would God all the Lords People were Prophets And because GOD Almighty is unchangeably the same as yesterday so this day and for ever of these stones able to raise a Seed unto Abraham 15. Because of the amiable Example of the gesture of David the King under the sharp Reprehension of Nathan the Prophet who persecuted not the Prophet but with a contrite spirit repented of his own sin And the like of the King and People of Niniveh who persecuted not Jonah though he cryed their Destruction in the Streets 16. Because the Prophet Isaiah prophesied it as the great Evil of such a People which would make a man an Offender for a Word 17. Because that for the same things like
unto them my said Writings in life and nature the Prophets CHRIST and the Apostles by ungodly and unrighteous Rulers were persecuted and made sufferers in the world And because from the day of Cain's Cruelty even unto this moment there was never any other spirit in the world which did or doth persecute any soul for his pure Conscience of GOD besides the thick spirit of darkness which is of the old Serpent the Devil to which the Apostle in his day held his Testimony saying As it was then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now 18. Because the Doctrine and Life of CHRIST teacheth his Church to recompence all men good for evil and not any man evil for evil seeing the recompence of evil for evil rendreth men manifestly as children of the Devil and much more the rendring evil actual for the work of good sincerely intentional And because that Christ reprehended that spirit of Revenge in the youth of his Disciples which would have had Fire come down from Heaven to destroy his Persecutors saying You know not of what spirit you are Who though the glorious Power of the Father was with Him which could do all things yet persecuted no man but suffered all things And because we do not persecute you nor any other Sect beside you 19. Because that when CHRIST so sharply reprehended Peter saying Get thee behind me Satan And when he said also to the Jews You are of your father the Devil and the lust of your father you will do and he was a lyar from the beginning Neither his friend nor his foes persecuted Him with that bitterness wherewith you have persecuted me I might moreover instance Jeremiah's crying against the Temple which once GOD commanded Paul's Reprehension of the High Priest Peter's of Simon Magus Paul's Declaration of Reproof to the Athenians in the open Court of the Arreopageans with many other Acts of CHRIST and his Apostles yea and a Cloud of Witnesses reserved to the day of Judgement and to testifie the Innocency of the Just at the open Bar of Tribunal 20. Because the Kingdom Weapons and Warfare of the LORD JESUS and his Apostles and Church were not nor are not carnal but spiritual and also because my Writings Sayings and Speeches are not carnal nor tending to a carnal end but spiritual tending to a spiritual life without end The which spiritual Holiness if you call spiritual Wickedness yet professing your selves to be the Church which is the Body should consequently in the Channel and clear Course of the running River of Righteous REASON be subject unto CHRIST whom you confess to be the Head of the Body and so the Body to be subject to the Law of the Head and not to make the Head subject to the lust of your body and then you would do as CHRIST did and as the Apostles practised cut down the spiritual Wickedness with spiritual Weapons For when the Jews said unto Jesus Thou hast a Devil and in the name of Beelzebub dost cast out Devils the LORD then whom you are not greater in whose hand all Power was persecuted not their persons but fought with them with the spiritual Weapons and said If I in the name of the Prince of Devils do cast out Devils then is his Kingdom divided and so with the spiritual Weapons cut down the spiritual Wickedness These are the things which I call Righteous Reason to every righteous rational man living Forasmuch also as for more than two years space as precited and in like manner in the interval of the said time as opportunities sundry and divers were presented I having in the spirit of sobriety moved and modestly urged for an open fair and legal Tryal according to the holy Law of GOD and of his Son JESUS CHRIST which righteously regulateth among his Church the which was many times promised but being hitherto never performed may give just occasion unto every person of prudent understanding which hath or may hear thereof to conceive that my continued Restriction thus debarred from the Judgment of the Law of Equity is of the nature of Apostacy from and consequently in Antipathy unto the sage moral Ty of humanity and all things which are of the Virtuous Substance heavenly And that from the consideration of the subsequent causes which I the rather intimate from the cogitation that they may be rationally as an Inducement and Instigation of you to expediate my hitherto detarded Tryal at open Tribunal of Law where I may justly find ample Audience to illustrate unto all attending Apprehensions the perspicuity of the Defence of mine Innocency In due progress whereunto therefore from this Spirit of meeknesse O ye Rulers of ROME conceive c. First Because the simple proper pure solid and sole end of the Law of GOD and all Righteous Laws of Nations is really righteously and equally for the expedition of Judgment on every Transgressor for the fact of his Transgression without respect of persons for the perfecting Righteousness in the Earth and where the end of the Law is made void there the substance of the whole Law is destroyed Secondly Because punishment inflicted upon any man by any Judge or Magistrate which hath a Law without Judgment and open Conviction by the Law is not according to Righteousness so much an act of Equity as directly contrary to all Law and unreasonable constriction of the cruelty of Tyranny and such an Act stains the glory of his Tribunal of Authority For by a Law he holdeth the Seat of his Superiority and the Righteousness of Judgement by the Law being the Glory of the Chair of his Magistracy Judgment being perverted the Just Tribunal is overturned and thereby the Glory thereof rendred as a stage of Infamy And thus the Law being violated mark what follows The Land by unrighteousness ruined Thirdly Because the constriction and continuation of Bonds through suspence of Judgment and Punishment of a Person without Judgment and open Conviction by the Law stands in contrariety to the pure practice and life of true Christianity which actually leadeth to the doing unto all men as a man would that another should do unto him in which also consists both the Law and the Prophets And because it is but of the same which the Proverb rendreth most infamous saying Hang a man first and Judge him afterwards Fourthly Because it is expresly in opposition to the pure Nature of GOD your Creator who looketh for the work of Judgment in the Land and sent Judgment into that Land in which the Righteousness thereof was scanted and where against the end of the Law the Judgment thereof is found delayed and suspended there the measure is scanted and the ballance falsified upon the Stall and there the presumptuous Lust of irrational and unsatiable Will ruleth in the Seat of wrongful Revenge in the enmity to the Righteousness of the Law it self which was added of Christ for the
the waves of temptations passing over your weary minds you shal not always mourn like doves for a mate nor grieve like Widows for the losse of their Beloveds neither shall your dayes be alwayes Tribulations nor the continuance of your time as surpassing pangs of pains But surely you shall draw into a good time wherein Beauty shall be given into your souls for Ashes the Oyl of Joy for Mourning and the Garments of Praise for the spirit of heaviness in which time the strength of the LORD your Maker shall be the Pavillion of you Peace and you shall rest in his Joys for ever Well therefore O ye tender Friends whom my soul is seeking in the Love of my Father to be united unto Him in his Holiness Come and experience this Doctrine and prove this new and living Way of the LORD though not another than that which from the beginning was but only new unto the old nature of all flesh which corrupteth its way in the sight of the Lord God which is the Way wherein the holy Apostles and suffering Servants of JESUS lived and walked and being but one as the Apostle saith There is one Way one Truth and one Life as ye believe and confess there is but one True GOD and therefore as ye find in your way coruption abounding ye have cause also to confess that the Way of God being but one cannot be the Way in which you walk Forasmuch as GOD hath said by the mouth of his holy Prophet speaking of the Messiah I will give him for a Way and for an high way which the wayfaring-men though fools shall not erre therein Who also spake by the same Prophet saying I will give Him for a Covenant to the People for a Light to the Gentiles that He may be my Salvation unto the ends of the Earth of whom also in the fulness of the dispensation of time John the Baptist bore Witness testifying Him to be the True LIGHT that lighteth all mankind coming into the World as Christ himself said I am the LIGHT of the World he thot believeth in me shall not abide in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life This is the Way even the true Way of the LORD GOD which I desire through proof your souls may experience And to the end that you may have the true Witness within you of the Power of Holiness which leads into perfect Unity with the Perfect GOD in the Innocent Life of the Lamb of GOD that taketh away the sin of the World I tenderly exhort counsel and advise you to turn your minds unto that Light of the Lamb of GOD which shineth into all your Souls convincing you in all your Consciences of all your sins and joyning your minds unto it in perfect Love of it because it is of the pure Nature of your pure Creator you shal come in due time to find and see assuredly that as that same Light which shineth in all your Consciences is of such a powerful and virtuous Nature as that it not onely searcheth your hearts and tryeth your reins and finds out your most secret sins but also convinceth you as well of the least as of the greatest of your sins so it will likewise free deliver and ease you from the burden of your sins which is the cause of your dissatisfaction and many sorrows because that as it is of GOD pure perfect and altogether virtuous in its nature cannot change from its property nature and vertue but as it convinceth of the least sin being loved and lived in must also deliver from the least sin and being still of the same vertue and nature of GOD convincing your souls of your greatest sins being loved and lived in must also free and deliver you from your greatest sins and being found of so pure and powerful a nature and vertue to free and deliver your souls from your least and from your greatest sins must also of necessity in the same love deliver you from all your sins The which all must confess excepting some in Atheism might say That the perfect Grace and Light of the Alsufficient GOD is an Insufficient Medicine to heal the soul perfectly of all its maladies and infirmities But I am better perswaded of all you that desire the true Knowledge of the true and living God having a sensible Understanding in you that there is such a Light shining into your souls that sheweth you all your sins the which ye may remember you have had from your Childhood because you cannot otherwise say but that from your Childhood it accused you of all your sins in the secrets of your Consciences which no one else could accuse you of but yet ye were not then directed unto it as you are now counselled and therefore could not know the power and virtue because you never proved its force strength and virtue through a perfect love yeelding in obedience unto its motions and often checks of your minds Wherefore this is the happy day of your Visitation wherein it is told you that if you love that LIGHT which shews you the nature of all Temptation unto Evil and joyn unto the LIGHT so as to be guided by the LIGHT which is contrary to all Evil it will deliver you from the end of the Tempter which presents the Temptation by saving you from the Evil which Light you will then know in the invisible power of the holy God which is given you for the perfecting of his Praise in your hearts through the forming and new-creating your hearts into the mind of his own Righteous Spirit which thing you cannot know but through the experience and tryal which in the tryal I am sure as God is holy and that measure of Light in your Consciences is of GOD which is holy vertuous and powerful will purifie you from sin and perfectly save and deliver you from all evil And therefore I must needs conclude that he is most extreamly sinful and desperatly evil that saith he desireth to be delivered from all sin and evil which will not try to experience such a power and virtue of the Grace of GOD given into his soul which is able to save and deliver him from all evil Be ye therefore wise O People unto your own Salvation having had experience of the vanity of your own way and wayes try ye now the Righteous Way of GOD in which you cannot transgress and that because in your wayes you have not found rest to your desirous and thirsty souls which of all things would choose rather to be cloathed with the Righteousness of the living GOD and after tryal by pure obedience in pure and undefiled love if ye find not deliverance from your sins which is the cause of your pressures and burdens and afterwards the peace of your poor souls and satisfaction of your simple tender minds even in fulness of Content and Joy in the Pleasures of Immortal Life which is the end of all your Desires Requests and earnest seekings Then