subject to the Law of God and so judged with the power that brings forth judgment into Victory The body of sin is first within and those that know Redemption from it victory over it knowâ—â— the Power of God working within Secondly To come to thy sayings they are weighed and thou art seen to stand in thy will and unrighteous false Astronomicall judgment and the Secrets of God that stands in his Counsail are hid from such Astronomers and lyers as â—hou art who art all along catcht with the lye comed out of thy mouth and that which stands with the Divine Power of god stands with his Justice to let his servants bear about in their bodies his true Judgment which bringeth forth Righteousnesse and by the execution of his Justice sin is the reby condemned in the flesh so within their bodies for the body of sin is within and the just Judgement is executed upon it within so through the judgement upon the unjust comes the freedom of the Just by the working of the power of Truth in the Spirits ministration But thy fallacy we deny thy sting in thy tail yet it stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8. For what the Law could not do in that it was week through the flesh God sent his Son to condemn sin in the flesh verse 3. and the freedom from the Law of sin and death is by the Law of the Spirit in Christ ver 2. and that is within in the body which Spirit that worketh within and executes Judgment upon him setting free from the same doth also quicken the mortall body verse 11. and Paul he bore about in his Body so did the rest the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ might dwell in their mortall flesh 2 Cor. 4.10.11 and these workings and actings was within in the body and he said from henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear about in my body the marks of the Lord Iesus It stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh and to let his servants bear about in their bodies both the dying and sufferings of the Lord Iesus Take notice of that Gal. 6.17 and they had the sentence of death within themselves and that was in their bodies and the sufferings of Christ did abound in them 2 Cor. 1. and that was in their bodies and when Paul writ unto the Colossians he Rejoiced in his sufferings for them and was to fill up that which was behinde of the Afflictions of Christ in his flesh c. Coloss 1.24 25. and he knew the mighty Power of God which wrought in him mightily verse 29. the Power of God within and the afflictions of Christ in their flesh and the works of Christ in their body and the knowledge of the terrours of the Lord and the bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord and the sentence of death within them and the condemning of sin in their flesh and the sufferings of Christ did abound within them these things was witnessed by them in their bodies c. which Conditions thou art â—gnorant of and so never came in by the dore which dore and sufferings and the like the people of God now witnesse whom thou Skip doth slander and Revile but as for thy saying If we bear in our bodies and Spirits Gods just and exact Judgment until he have wrought out of us his own satisfastion and recompence c. thou speaks thou knows not what and as I said before so say I still thy fallacy we deny and thy sting in thy taile but we witness to the truth and sufferings with Christs as the servants of the Lord did and by the workings of his Spirit we witness sin condemned in the flesh Judgement brought forth into victory and sanctification by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 1.30 but that point of sophistry is thy own and turns back upon thee again And where thou hast gathered several Scriptures together and art speaking about sanctification and saith in the last place will you consider how Paul doth reckon the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. as in thy 28. page Reply The sanctification we own and witness unto as I said before but we deny thy point of sophistry thou tells of A Point of sophistry denyed and that thou hast any thing to do either to Judge of the people of God or workings of the Spirit that art ignorant of his teachings and art iound to be the false accuser of the Brethren The divine power of God which worketh out the corruptions doth also sanctify the soul and bringeth forth the fruits of the Spirit as is here mentioned witnessed by us whom the world calleth Quakers yet we witness the Power of God which causeth to shake tremble and quake as the holy men of God did which the Scriptures also witnesseth And as we witness their conditions so we witness the fruits of the Spirit effected by the operation of the divine power which branches forth into love without dissimulation c. which love is kind envyeth not vanteth not it self is not puffed up nor revileth nor rejoyceth not in iniquity but is a support both of faith hope and patience and causeth to go comfortably through both afflictions and tribulations 1 Cor. 13. and the same power of life brancheth forth it self by the spiritual operation into joy which is not fleshly but spiritual such a Joy as no man can take away and this remaineth within also according to the saying of Christ Iohn 15.11 and this divine power bringeth forth another fruit of the Spirit in us whiâ—h is called Peace and such a Peace as the world cannot give but such a Peace as Christ giveth unto his spoken of in the 14. of John 27. verse and it brancheth forth into long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness temperance patience godliness brotherly-kindness c. as in Gal. 5.22 23. anâ—wering with 1 Cor. 13. chap. which speaks of the Spirits fruits and likewise agreeing with that Rom. 12. and 2 Pet 1 2 3. c. This we witness unto by the Spirits workings and teachings according to the measure and manifestation of of the Spirit of truth and according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Where thou says first whatsoever journey Satan shall suggest unto them they must undertake if it be a hundred or two hundred miles Page 29. Reply That is false and not true and here thou art charged to be an open lyer and false accuser satans suggestions we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee again and we also deny his service he is thy Teacher and Master who hath so taught thee to lye and falsly accuse and thou undertakes to do his service but thou must receive thy
17. A fifth Fâ—ample from pâ—â—ct se of 〈◊〉 men of God proâ—â—ing plain speakingâ—o 〈◊〉 no â—ailing and so rickâ—h void Edmund Skip's â—â—e of difreâ—â—â—â— c. Fifthly another Example take notice of to be a witness against the deceit and dying toughes that calls truth railing c which doth also prove that speaking truth against deceit and in plainness to Rulers Magistrates Princes Judges Priests and People is no railing nor reviling as thou Skip says and so thy Rule of discovery as thou calls it is thereby made null and void and thou art he that loth so judg amiss with thy false spirit of tâ—echery and dekeâ—t in thy Astronomical Judgment and â—lazing â—taâ— wherein thou mast set forth thy lying Wonders Let all the wise-hearted take notice That when the Prophet Micahâ— the servant of the Lord was sent by the Lord to the Judges and Priests to tel them of their Transgressions and plainly said that the Iudges judged for rewards and the Priests they preached for here and yet they leaned upon the Lord but the Lord was against such things and sent his servant to tell them of it plainly Micah 3.11 and he also told the Rich-men they was full of violence and the Inhabitants thereof spoke lyes and their tongues was hypocritical and deceitful in their mouths and Micah in so saying did not rail nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth by and with the Spirit of the Lord Mica 3.8 9 10 11. Mica 6.8 9.10 11 12. See also what the Prophet Ieremiah saith Ier. 5.29 39 31. and see what the Prophet Ezekiel saith Ezek 34.9 10. and see what the Prophet Hosea saith in the 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 and in all that they there spoke they did neither rail nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth take notice That then to speak truth against deceit was no reviling and likewise now theservants of the Lord being sent to Cities or Towns and such like places to speak the Word of the Lord to Citizens and people and also to tell the Priests they Preach for hire that do so and to tell the Judges they judg for rewards that do so and tell the Rich-men that they are full of violence and tell the Inhabitants in Cities Corporations Market-towns and Villages in England or elsewhere that their tongues is deceitful in their mouths and they are so c. Such setvants of the Lord that are by His Spirit so sent to such Cities and Towns to tell Magistrates Priests and people what they are and reprove them of their transgressions Truth cleared and the deceit reproved by the Spirit of truth and for their sins and iniquities and forewarn them of the judgments to come eâ—cept they repent and amend and turn to the Lord by forsaking the evil of their waies and the evil of their doings such are not raylers and revilers neither of Magistrates Priests nor people but Servants and Messengers of the Lord and such are those that are so sent by the Lord of those whom the world scornfully calleth Quakers therefore such are no railers not revilers but the Lords Servants and Messengers whom the Lord so sends by His Spirit though the world abuse them and scornfully call them Quakers but saith Christ to his Marvel not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you c. The People whom the world calleth Quakers art proved to be the People of God of Him sent though by the world despised c. And such are not railers but speaks the words of sound truth though it be by some rejected it was so before and therefore Edmund Skip thy sayings are false and thou judgest altogether amils through the mysterious workings of Aneichrist in his transformings thou speaks of in thee which so makes thee to vent forth his lies and untruths through thee Now all People consider of this and take heed of despising the Messengers and people of God whom the world scornfullyâ—call Quakers and also take heed of rejecting the Counsel of God as thou wilt answer it before the Tribunal seat of Gods Justice and Judgment And now that truth is so cleared to you in that things and as asoresaid call it not railing nor reviling which is sound truth from the Spirit of truth and cleared also by plain Examples in Scripture witnessed aforetime by the holy men of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christs and sealed to or confirmed by us who now live and walk in the Spirit though reviled by the nick-name of Quakers but being of the Divâ—ne-nature made partakers we are not desirous of vain-glory who do deny railing and reviling and provoking or envying one another as such did 2 Pel. 1.3 4. c. Gal. 5.24 25 26. The Prophet Zephaniah was sent to cry Another Example of a polluted and filthy Ciâ—y that received not the correct on of the Lord as the Cities Liechfield Coventry and that Town of Kendal â—ppleby and saith wicked persecuting places did not receive the Instruction c. wo to the polluted and oppressing City and those that said wo to Kendal and Leichfield c. being guided thereunto by the Spirit of the Lord did right in so doing for they are wicked polluted places as well as that polluted City that the Prophet Zephaniah cryed wo unto in his Prophecy and such like who obeyed not the voice of the Lord as that City c. did not take warning and fear And read your Example who have not obeyed the Lords voice in His Servants no more then that polluted City the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of which obeyed not the voice nor received the correction and instruction And saith the Prophet Her Princes within her are roaring Lyons her Iudges are ravening Wolves their Prophets are light and trecherous persons their Priests have polluted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3.1 2 3. And though that City obeyed not the voice nor received the correction and instruction no more than Kendal and Leichfield and such like places Let them take warning and fear and in Judgments remembred they will be by the Lord and know that he sent his Servants amongst them and there were they persecuted and imprisoned as well as at Coventry and a place in Worcestershire called Kederminster and their blood be upon their own heads for they are left without excuse let them take notice of that Richard Baxter Mâ—nister at Kedermâ—nster châ—s-Priestan Worcestershire haâ—h brought forth that monster persâ—ution and haâ—h imprisoned onâ— for the breach of no known Law but under pretence of speaking hard speechâ—es and read Ezek. 33.11 12 13 14 15. and 3.18 19 20 21. And also let all people know that those places are wicked places and guided by a persecuting spirit and at Kederminster and other places as those and such like they have persecuted the Servants of the Lord for the breach of no known Law neither of God nor man but only for declaring against their
did not walk after the flesh but after the spirit and though there be no condemnation to them that are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit who witnesse the Law fulfilled in them and so are led by the Spirit and made more then Conquerers through him that loved them who are sons and heirs of God Rom. 38. Chap. and 1 Iohn 1 22 9. and Gal. 3.29 Gal. 4.6.7 1 Iohn 2.20.27 Yet such as are not sons but bastards The unrighteous who walk in the flesh and fulfiâ—l the lusts hereof are out of Christ and under a state of condemnation luâ— they are now warned and left without excuse happy aâ—e they if thâ—y return to the Lord by forsaking the evill of their wayes but if they do not â—wo c. who walk not after the spirit but after the flesh such as are unrighteous and unrighteousness is transgression of the Spiritual Law Read 1 Iohn 3.4 and verse 10. such are under a state of condemnation take notice of that all the proud and lofty ones al the covetous oppressors lyers swearers false-accusers haters back-biters scoffers scorners coseners cheaters envious and malicious ones Rom. 1.27 29 30 c. and take notice of it all you unrighteous ones of what sort soever and you that plead for a continuance insin yet walk after the flesh Remember you are under a state of Condemnation are transgressors of the Righteous Law ye unrighteous ones therefore return from your unrighteousnesse or else you shall in no wise inherit the Kingdom of God and this I testifie unto you from the Spirit of the Lord say not but that you are warned I am clear from your blood now that I have warned you from the Lord and if you will not take warning to turn from your unrighteousnesse your blood be upon your own head and in your condemnation from God the light of God in your consciences that reproves you for sin will also be a swift witnesse against you and upon you Answer it will the Judgments of God to be just therefore take warning now whilest you have time least you die in your sins and perish and be shut out from God and cast into everlasting burnings and eternall torment also Read and Consider of those Scriptures Rev. 20.10 15 2 Thâ—s 1.8 9. 1 Cor. 5.9.10 Gal. 5.19 20 21. Rev. 14.9.10.11 Mal. 4.1 Rev. 21.8 27. Read Ezek. 33.11 12 13 c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 c. you may see before the Reward of the unrighteous and now you are warned And where thou says It is a most devillishire and delusion to conceave that any who are one with God inâ—â—â—â—ist shall undergo the wrath of God in that manner they speak of by this they make the death of Christ of none effect citing Hebrews the 9. They that are one with God in Châ—â—staâ—e freed from siâ— â—â—d â—o from wrath Reply The death of Christ we witnesse to be of great effect and as before is proved also according to the 9 of the Hebr which witnesseth what before is said but thy conceaving fallacy we deny which lies in these words That any who are one with God in Christ shall undergo the wrath of God in such manner c. we deny the conceit and thy fallacy both and we charge thee to be a lier and false accuser for we do not say that such as are one with God in Christ shall suffer the wrath of God in such a manner there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ as before is said and that we witnesse and who walk in the light Christ is light and such as walk in him receaves the Light of life Iâ—hn 1.9 Iohn 8.12 and he leads to God the Father of Lights and in him there is the love perfected 1 Iohn 4.16 17. and he that walks in the light as he is in the light hath fellowship with the Father and Son and there is a cleansing from all unrighteousnesse and a dwelling in the divine Love and so the Unity is witnessed as Christ hath said Iohn 14.30 and he that abideth in him sinneth not 1 Iohn 3.6 neither can he sin verse the 9. and there is a freedom from sin and unrighteousnesse the cause of wrath and so a freedom from sin A freedom also from wrath to such as are one with God in Christ so this conceit and fallacy being denied and truth set in its Right place the people thou calls Quakers are not in the delusion because not within the compass of thy saying whereby they would prove them so then thy ground being ript up thy fallacy taken away Truth is cleared and thou art ensnared or in the delusion thy self that art in the lies and false-accusaions take notice of this The Serpent and his seed are shut out from God under the wrath and vengeance 2 Thess 1.6 7 8. But ye the Serpent and his seed are in the unrighteousnesse and not in God for there is no fellowship agreement nor concord betwixt them 2 Cor. 6.14.15 but enmity is placed betwixt the two Seeds and such as are of the Serpents seed as thou art must know the wrath and vengeance of God for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlines and unrighteousnes of men who hold the Truth in righteousns Rom. 1.18 take notice of that all ye unrighteous ones as is said before for it is a Righteousness things for God to Recompence to tribulation to the unrighteous and such as trouble his 2 Thess 1.6 7. And where thou says When you have weighed it see whether it can stand with the Lords Justice to call any of his servants to bear so in their bodies and spirits as they do his Iust and exact Judgment untill he have wrought out of them his own Satisfaction and Recompence in that nature The World are not to Judge the Laints but the Saints shall Judge the the World Reply The naturall man knows not the things and teachings nor workings of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 and such thou calls to judge and trie c. For thou calls upon the World to judge and the World trie thy expositions and tenents and the World are not to judge the Saints nor the Spirits workings teachings and actings yet the Saints must judge the World 1 Cor. 6.2 1 Cor. 2.15 therefore thou and the Judges in the carnall are with the Spirit of Truth judged through the eternal with that which sets up Judgment and Justice in the new Creation and we are the wormanship of God in Christ Jesus created again and changed by the operation of his spirit into the pure Image again 2 Cor. 3.17.18 and so we are out of the unrighteousness in the Righteous where the true Justice is set up through the Judgment therefore you cannot Judg us who are in the life of Truth with your earthly carnall mindes which is shut out not being
such breeding and manners and a fained pretence of humilitie for secret dissimulation flattery and deceit c. And so Satan in those and all other of his deceits by â—â—iâ—â—ing himselfe for your dispositions and capacities if it be to transsfome himselfe into the likness of God which are thy words and as it were to act the part of God seemingly amongst you under fair pretences fine words seemingly self-denying actions so that at least Satan or the Devil as thou saies may insinuate himself into your understanding and affections and 〈◊〉 leave any thing unattempted that may if it be but in probability as thou saies serve to seduce instead of theirs your poor souls this maketh him according to thy saying so disguise himself as an Angel of light amongst you and by you high notionary Priests and false Antichristian Ministers in your false doctrine and Antechristian Ministrie working through that mysterious vaile as thou saies amongst you and under which be would not be seene to be himselfe yet though he so work and â—ct and have wrought and a long time acted amongst you now praised be the Lord with the true light you are seen and your vaile will not hide you those that dwell in the light and life received who are preserved our of Satans snares whom thou calls Quakers such sees both him and you and declares against â—â—s and your mysterious actings through the vaile thou speaks of in your mysterie of iniquity at which thou art troubled And though Satan be so disguised amongst you in your notions and new inventions yet with the light both he and you are seene to a appear in your colours and the true light declares your works and his of what sort they are which amongst you hath a long time lien hid and the worâ—â— of darkness which Antichrist hath wrought through that mystery of iniquity by suiting himselfe according to your dispositiâ—â—s and capacityes as thou saâ—es into likenesses like truth but is â—ot truth a shew but not the substance so that he sitteth and hath sitten long upon the hearts and minds of such because as thou saies he could amongst you no otherwise prevaile and now with the light your mystery and mischief invented against the truth and those you call Quakers is seen and with the light comprehended and all your filthiness poured forth is back into your filthy unclean and mischievous generation returned take it to your selves again who are in that trechery delusion and Apostacy thou speaks of and the poor beguiled wretches stands for your selves who are under that power of Satan thou speaks of and transforming your selves out of one invention form image or likeness into another As thou art Edmund Skipp who art as it were going a begging to the people called Baptists because thou saies that through the mysterious workings of Antichtist the society thou had communion with is now wholly broke off And from thy Antichrist an delusions and those disguised Angelical and mysterious operations of Satan thou speaks of if they be broke off they may now boldly declare against such delusions and deceits being taken â—nto light life and pâ—wer of truth and if they do not yet I do and wâ—tneâ—s against thy delusions and Antichrist an spirit and Doâ—â—â—â—â— as hereafter will more clearly appear who act in the false Antâ—châ—â—st an mysterious actings there spoke oâ— in thy Astronomicaâ— Jâ—dgmâ—nt as thou calls it upon 2 Câ—â— 11.13 14 15. and which is â—ow â—o much practised by yoâ— dâ—â—gâ—ised and Satanical Ministers some in one invention and some â—n another lâ—ke Dyers and Tayloâ—â— often in new colours and learning new fashions to pâ—ease lustâ—ul and câ—â—â—ons minds w thal but aâ—l your covers and cloaths of dishonesty now will not hide you but leave you bare to a single eye Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love who brings your deeds of darkness and hâ—dden thâ—ngs to light To thy first demonstration as thou calls it in page 6. First It mâ—st needs be â—spâ—â—t of delusion and Antichrist that doth â—nstead of theirs misinform thy heart and so maketh it judg amiss of things as thou hast done and hereafter will more clearly appear to any single eye and thou hast by that spirit of delusion and of Antichrist made manitest thy Astronomical and false Judgment but such are div ners therefore saith the Lord I will nâ—â—kâ—th m mad as may be read Iâ—a 44. for it is He that frustrateth the tokens of lyars and thou art a lyar therefore thy token 's frustrated and it is the Lord also that maketh diviners mad that tuâ—neth wise-men backward and maketh their knowledg foolish as thâ—ne is and such like Isa 44.25 who by thy false and Astronomâ—cal judgment as thou calls it hast judged clear amiss and called evil good and good evil and so thou owns and approves what thou ought not and condemns by thy false and Astronomicall judgment what ought to be owned and approved the light stands a witness against thee which lâ—ght is thy condemnation that hates it and acts so against it and contrary to it And secondly That base deceit of Antichrist thou speaks of which is brought forth is not sound in the hearts of those people thou calls Quakers they deny it but it is found and brought forth by Antichrist in thy heart and the hearts of such as thou art thy Astronomical Judgment is false and hath deceived thee and thou thy self art found in that deceit â—irmingeham â— G. who artiso clearly mistaken in judgment as R. G. and such like in their deceiveableness are that calls good evil and ev l good and such as calls the Power of God that reformeth the heart and redeems the soul to God and worketh our pride covetousness theft whoredoms drunkenness lying swearing cursing cheating defraud wâ—tcherast hatred variance wrath strife and worketh out of sedition and the works of the flesh as 1 Cor. 6.9 10. and Gal. 5.19 20 21. â—nto sanctification and purity as in 1 Cor. 6.11 and into the fruits of the spirit whereby the flesh is crucified with the affections and lusts thereof so that there is a living and walking in the spirit and spiritual communion with the Father by such in the spiritual life of sanctification and purity Gal. 5.23 24 25. And grace and peace is thereby multiplyed through the knowledge of God and of Iesus our Lord according as His divine power giveth unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 1.2 3. This power and work of grace wrought by the Spirit of God in the hearts and souls of those you scornfully call Quakers is witnessing and witnessed the Spirit of God also wirnesseth the same with our spirits Rom. 8.14 15 16. Gal. 4.6 and wirnesseth against your lying spirits and against all such as call this work delusion c. Here Edmund Skâ—pp thy Astronomical judgment is abominable false
left in the snare which thou hast laid and the pâ—t which thou hast dâ—gged and sounder the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist as to the single eye will clearly appear thereby will the innocent by thee called Quakers be cleared though thou and the wicked through plotting mischief be ensnared and seared that all simple hearts may take warning and be preserved who have the living God in any measure truly seared and served by doing his will in departing from the workings of Antichrist by his own power in himself and also though his Antichristian Ministers being as thou art transformed as a Minister of righteousness beguiling the ignorant through the mysterious actings by a Satanical spirit of Antichrist in that mystery of iniquity with thy lying wonders c. 2 Thes 2.9 10 11 12. Now I shall speak to clear the truth from some of thy accusations and slanders that deceit may be cast out and truth stand clear as hereafter will appear First To that in thy tenth page where thou seeks to render the people of God odious which thou calls Quakers and one chief thing thou accusest them withal and lays as a ground to work on and that is thou says their railing and speaking â—uch languages to all sorts of people and Rulers and Magistrates c. which doth as thou says discover a spirit of delusion error c. Now if I prove that that they do not as thou says then thou wilt be found to be what thou would charge them withal and so they cleared and thou left to be known thereby to be guided by a spirit of error and in the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of But I shall prove that those thou calls Quakers are not as thou says therefore thou art the deceiver and in the delusions c. an the people thou calls Quakers redeemed from such things and stands clear To thy second Rule whereby thou says thou wilt find out where Satan doth colour over and blind this fallacy with some Scripture words and instances And that is first as thou says their rayling and says they count it not railing but a sharp rebuking and reproving men with authority c. quoting Thus 1.13 and 3.15 and those are the places thou says Satan covers himself under and that of Nathan to David when he said thou art the man and that of Christ to Peter when he called him Satan I answer Satan cannot cast out Satan and a Kingdom divided cannot stand thou deceiver and subtil serpent doth or will Satan discover and reprove his own deceivableness No he will not strike at his own Kingdom to root it out The fallacy thou speaks of that is thy own turned back upon thee again and the Scriptures which thou hast cited we witness and own the authority spoken of but they are no covers for deceit as thou says therefore in that thou art the false accuser and lyer against the truth and truths friends thou art a stranger to the life of truth and them and that which thou calls rayling is to tell thee and men of the evil of their ways for in the second place thou says they charge men with hypocrisie aod so take the example of Christ to call men hypocrites here thou shews thou art offended at truth for declaring against the deceit and so art judged out of thy own mouth and by thy own works who art in the hypocrisie and therefore an hypocrite for we cannot follow any better examples then Christ Jesus and his true Prophets and Apostles for we are required so to follow them as for our examples and we do not errâ—n so doing but are accepted for obeying Christ and hâ—s Commands and following him for our example and the eâ—ample of such Eph. 5.1 1 Co. 11.1 and thou art offended at that and that the seed of God should sharply reprove and rebuke the serpents seed and the man of sin and darest thou say there was sin or deceit manifested by Paul forbâ—dding Titus reprove and rebuke with authority or was that any rayling and reviling in him and such to obey the commands of the spirit of truth as Nathan did and such as are sent as he was from God sent to tell David he was the man and Christ Jesus himself to Peter Get thee behind me Satan And as it was no sin nor deceit in them to say so being guided thereunto by the Lords spâ—râ—t then it is not deceit error nor delusion for such now so to say being thereunto as they was guided by the Lords holy Spirit to say so to whom they are so sent and to say as they are by the Lord required but thou and the Serpents seed are offended at the righteous judgment and language of the Spirit of Truth therefore thy sayings against such are false and so thou judgest amiss to call it rayling and reviling speaking against sin and deceâ—t and to speak plainly to Teachers People Rulers and Magistrates according as their Condâ—tâ—ons are c. As I shall prove by several Scripture eâ—amples and then let all the children of light judg and not the world which thou calls to judg of thy sayings who are in deceit as thou art and cannot judg aright but therein thy folly and enmity is discovered and for colouring delusion error and deceits with pretences and seemingly from the Scriptures by-fallacies c. none more guilty of that sin than thou art and the Hireling and Tything-Priests and such false Antichristian Ministers that are in union with Antichrist as thou art being so acted and guided by a Satanical spirit in all his mysterious actings being turned back and according to thy sayings in thy 11. page and the judgments woes c. against Kendal in the North shall stand But that which proceeds from the Spirit of truth and the true Power of the living God in His Sons and Daughters which thou calls rayling is not as thou says but are words of truth therefore thy second Rule for the discovery of the mystery thou tells of is false a lying fallacy so error and deceit therefore thou art a false Judg and so guided by an erronious spirit of delusion to judg amiss of the Saints practice by thy delusion error and deceit Example 1. To speak truth in plainness by the spirit of truth to Priests People Rulers or Magistrates is no railing but according to the Scriptures and practise of the Peop of God as is here by these Examples proved to be a witness for the truth and against E. S. lies error and all decei For first When the Lord sent the Prophet his servant Isaiah to speak to the blâ—nd watch-men and greedy Sheapherds of Israel who had transgressed the first Covenant c. he called them beasts and said All ye Beasts of the field come to devoure His Watch-men are blind they are ignorant they are all dumb-dogs yea they are greedy dogs which have never enough they all look to their own way
every one for his gain from his own quarter as the Priests of England and Anrichristian Ministers do now and it is no railing nor reviling to tell them so because they do so nor to call them hirelings and blind-guides because they are so and looks for their gains tyths or hire in lieu of them or augmentations bribes gifts and rewards every one lookes to his own way and all for their gain from their quarter out of mens estates one way or another against many of their wills take notice of it and let the wise-hearted consider and see if it be not right and just to tell them what they are and to tell them of their sins is no railing for the Lord saith Cry aloud spare not tell them of their sins and the people of their transgressions Isaiah the servant of the Lord did so and we the servants of the Lord in obedience to the spirit of truth do so now as he did and that is no railing or reviling but words of sound truth Take notice of this and also read Isa 58.1 and Isa 56.9 10 11 Secondly And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord did say so as before mentioned by and with the Spirit of the Lord he did not therein raile nor revâ—le but speak the words of sound truth a-against their deceits and for so doing was justified by the Lord thoughhe might be condemned or judged with false spirits and lying tongues and such was to be condemned for what falsly against the truth and against the Servants of the Lord they said therefore take notice of that and read Isa 54.17 Thirdly then where now any servants of the Lord are guided by His Spirit to call Englands Priests and Antichristian Ministers like thee Edmund Skip and such as Preach for hire and bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their Quarters and places and Parishes where they are though in coloured deceits I say the servants of the Lord being led by His Spirâ—t to call such hypocrites Antichrists and deceivers blind-guides and greedy dumb-dogs such as never have enough but every one looks to his own way and some for tyths some for hire and wages 100 or 200 l. per annum in lieu of them some for large augmentations out of other mens Estates and some for bribes gifts and rewards professing themselves to be Ministers of Christ and the Gospel and not such servants of the Lord as are led by His Spirit as aforesaid and now to cry out agaâ—nst such deceivers and Antâ—christian Ministers as Englands black Priests and high aâ—â—y Notionists and such as before mentioned though they be disguised and colour over their deceits yet with the light are they seen and their deceits discovered And I say such as by the Spirit of the Lord tells them or any others plainly of their sins and transgressions and so what they are such do not raile nor revile though sinners transgressors and deceivers say they do therefore their judgment is false and not true and thy cover Edmund Skip will not hide but leave thee bare that thy nakedness may appear and those that thou calls Quakers are clear See a fourth Rule to clear this more fully because thou makest it such a chief Rule as thou calls it for the discoverng of the Quakers mystery of delusion in Failing c. and free from such accusations and aspersions as thou would cast upon them and salsly charge them withall take notice of this for herein I do not judg amiss Fourthly When Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to speak to a professing people and to the Mag strates Governours or Rulers to tell them and a people who observed much from the Letter of the Scripture which had been true commands of God to some in a present dispensation or under that Legal administration but those that took upon themselves to observe commands according to the Letter of the Scripture and were not guided by a true Spirit to do them Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to tell such people and Magistrates or Rulers who did things by imitation that God loathed their sacrifices and that he did not accept of their service nor solemn Assemblies c. and though they made many prayers yet he would not hear them Take notice of that all ye that observe and do things by imitation in your own wills from the Letter and are not guided thereunto by the Spirit which was before the Letter was And moreover Isaiah was sent by the Spirit of the Lord to tell a City that had been beautiful and full of Judgment that now they was full of murtherers and he told that City that had been full of judgment and righteousness and were full of murderers he said A warning to Iudges Rulers and Professors in all places to fear the Lord God and stand in aw of him and not sin their Princes were Rebels or rebellious and companions with theives and how for saith he every one loveth gifts and followeth rewards they judg not the fatherless neither did the cause of the widdow come unto them and he also told them what the Lord would do by such and by his enemies and adversaries Take notice of that Oh ye Judges and Rulers and also Professors and fear the Lord God Likewise read Isa 1.10 to the 25 c And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit so spake and said to a professing people and Princes Now call not truth railing nor reviling leastyou be condemned of the Lord when you are judged Citizens Rulers and Magistrates he did not in all that sin neither raile nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth And now the servants of the Lord so led and acted by His Spirit with it may so say as they are directed and commanded by the Lord and not in all that sin neither rail nor revile but speak the words of sound truth and not judg amiss though such as are spoken to may reject the Counsel of the Spirit of Truth c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 20 21. Neveri heless the wicked being warned and do not return from their wickeanass his blood will be upon his own bead and the Lords servant is through his obedience cleared and if such as reject the Spirits counsel and judg the servants of the Lord with a false spirit and call truth railing yet it is not and the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit may condemn the lying tongue for thus saith the Lord Every tongue that shall use up in judgment against thee thou shall condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord and this I witness in and by the Spirit of the Lord for the truth and against thee Edmund Skip and all lying tongues which are condemned by the living truth and the servants of the Lord for your enmity against it and them Isa 54.15 16
Antichristian ministery and speaking the Word of the Lord and reproving sin and deceit which they call railing and reviling as one of the servants of the Lord is now in prison at Worcester upon that account only and for the breach of no known Law sent from Kederminster thither by those under Richard Baxter Minister which is the chiefest Priest in Worcestershire and that Town was accounted great in profession but now like Priest like people Hosea 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 even full of envy and malice against the servante of the Lord which carrieth them forth into cruel persecution but let the wise-hearted know that the chiefest of the Priests when Christ came personally were the greatest enemies of his and did the most both stir up Rulers and people to persecute him and the greatest Professors were cruel and bitter against him And now that Christ is come and coming in the Spirits of his Saints Children and Servants to reprove the world of sin and unrighteousness and to discover the deceivableness of Antichrist and the Antâ—christian minâ—stery the chiefest Priests and many great Professors as well as Richard Baxter Chief-Priest at Kederminster and such now labour to uphold the Kingdom of Antichrist under a dark black cover which cannot hide the baseness of their hearts but lets it break forth into cruelty and persecution but it is too manifest that they are of the bloody City in the pollutions and filthiness and hath disobeyed the voice and heardened their hearts against the truth who have haled out of their Synagogues beat abused and imprisoned such as the Lord sent unto them c. But it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled and that they may manifest themselves to be of that Generation of persecutors and blood-thirsty ones How dangerous a thing it is to reproach and revile the people of God that ever persecuted the righteous seed and wo from God is upon all such Teachers and People and they may read their Example Matth. 23.31 32 33 34.35 But to come to the matter in hand That City which the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of and Rulers Teachers Priests and people And again the servants of the Lord that speaks truth against deceit do not revile but such as speak evil of them and salsly accuse them are the revilers as such was that reproached the people of God and magaâ—â—fied themselvs against them as the Priests and their party do now by and against those the Lords people whom they scornfully call Quakers which obeyed not the voice as in Zeph. 3. Chap. and see what the Lord by his Prophet saith in Zeph. 2. How he cries wo to such a people as are there spoken of verse 5. c. Likewise he tells a wicked people there what the Lord will do unto them and see the cause why Zeph. 2.8 9. This saith he shall they have for their pride because they have reproached and magnâ—fied themselves against the people of the Lord of hâ—sis therefore saith the Lord by His Prophet I will be terrible unto them c. Zeph. 2.10 11. c. Then take heed what you do and consider of this all ye unrighteous ones who reproaches and reviles the people of God under the Nick-name of Quakers The Prophet Zephaniah did not raid nor revile when he spoke to that City when he cried wo unto in and called the Princes within it Roaring Lyons and the Judges Evening Wolves and the Prophets light and â—echeâ—ous persons and said the Priests had poâ—uted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3. because it was so and they had done so yet to the eye of reason a natural man that knows not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.24 he would have been ready to say it had been harsh language and rayling as now in thâ—s generation they call the Spirits language railing and reviling when it tells people of their sins and transgressions but though the natural man say so it is not so for he that so saith and accuseth falsly is the railer and reviler but Edmâ—â—â— Skip and the Priests and Antichristian Ministers and such as are prophane proud and wicked they speak evil of the Spirits language and accuseth falsly and cannot prove their false accusations therefore they are the railers and revilers and not the people which they reproachfully call Quakers and the natural man is not to judg the spirâ—tual man but the spiritual man may judg the natural man it is his Prerogative for he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man and this priviledge have all the Saints and Brethren of Christ Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love 1 Cor. 2.14 15,16 Heb. 2.11 1 Cor. 6.2 But thou art offended The seed of God may judg the seed of the Serpent but the seed of the Serpent is not to judg the seed of God that the righteousseed should judg the seed of the Serpent and thou art offended to have a hypocrite called a hypocrite but Christ gave them that name and called them so them such as are guided by his Spirit may but we and the righteous seed are so taught and guided therefore we may and so follow him for our example Maâ— 23.27 28 29. and we know we are of the righteous seed For God hath sent the. Spirit of His Son-into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father c. Gal. 4.6 7 and Rom. 8.14 And we are to call a lyar a lyar for the Scripture calleth them so and the Spirit of truth spoke it forth 2 Pet. 1.20 21. and we being guided by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 and 1 Ioh. 3.2.4 as such was that called lyars by the name of lyars therefore by the same Spirit may and do we call them so for that is the name which the holy Spirit gave them to call lyars by the name of lyars For be that saith he loveth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar 1 Ioh. 2.4 Kev 21.8 Rev. 22.15 And thou and all such as are offended to have liars called liars seeing the Spirit calleth them so and gave them that name thou and all such art offended at the Spirits teachings therefore judg your folly and the pride of your hearts And thou and all such who are offended Serpents were called Serpents by the Spirit of truth to have a Serpent called a Serpent though they appear like men in the truth but full of hypocrisie and deceit thou and all such are offended at the language of Christ in the Gospel-ministration for he called such Serpents and Vipers As by the Spirit of truth such were so called then with the same Spirit they may be called so that are so now and that is not un-Gospel like but agreeing thereunto Mat. 23.28 29 30 31 32 33. And if thou and the Serpents seed be offended Children of the Devil are called by their Fathers same the Holy-ghost calleth them so to be called by your name your burden you must
world hate them Iohn 17.14 this word abideth in such as hath overcome the world and greater is he that is in them then he that is in the world 1 Iohn 2.12 13 14. and such are sons 1 Iohn 3. and being sons they are heires of God and joynt heires with Christ Rom 8.16.27 and such have a right to the promises being heires according to the promise and of the seed which the promises are to Galas 3.29 therefore thy fallacy I deny Edmund Skip and witnesse the spirits teachings which thou art a stranger unto as it doth appear the accusations is taken off from Truths friends which thou calls Quakers and now truth is on their side and shineth pure and clear Fourthly That promise made to the waiting people at that time spoken of Malachy 3. was a particuler people and a true figure for there was a time when the adversaties of the Lords people called the Proud happy and they that wrought wickednesse were set up by such enemies and adversaries Malachy 3.15 then they that feared the Lord met often together and spoke one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard them Gods unchandgable Love and Remembrances of his former mercies and loving kindness is sweet and comsortable to his people c. verse 16. but the promise was not upon their acceptation of meeting together in the first place but out of the free love and mercy of the Lord made known unto his own peculier ones which moved them to meet together for saith he I am the Lord I change not therefore the sons of Iacob are not consumed Mala. 3.6 there was a manifestation of Gods love unto them his loving was the moving cause of their meeting together and not their meeting together the moving cause of Gods love to them and so the promise I say to them was not in the first place upon their acceptat on of meeting together but the free love mercy of the Lord which moved them to it and for his loves sake were they accepted their meeting together was not the cause of Gods unchangable love to them but the free love and unchangable of Gods goodness the so mer promises of God remembrances of his loving kindness to them was the cause and their meeting together a fruit of their tobedience to God for his mercy and loving kindness manifested to them and now the promises are to the seed that are in the Covenant and returned to the pure being and in the obedience to the God of Iacob and Israel in the Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17.18 Fistly And that we witnesse who are of the promised Seed The Saints and Servants of the the Lord are witnesses to his teachings and workings by his Spirit And The holy Vnction is the Saints-Teacher and the Spirit of Promise their grade into all Truth and we witnesse the teachings and Covenant of God with his own Seed and according to the promise of the Lord to the Seed as in Isa 48. v. 27. and where he hath said that his Spirit and Words put in the mouth of such there spoken of shall not depart out of the mouth of the seed nor out of the mouth of the Seeds Seed from henceforth for ever saith the Lord Isa 59.20 21. and that spiritual promise of Christ in the Gospell we witnesse which guideth and leadeth into all Truth the Spirit being come which was promised and prayed for Iohn 14.16 17 26. Iohn 16.13 and we also witnesse to the holy Unction which teacheth us all things and we need not that any man teach us but as the Anointing teacheth us which is Truth and no lie as it is written 1 Iohn 2.20 27. And Edmund Skip this power which gave forth the promises and new fulfilles them to the Seed we witnesse to and in therefore Edmund Skip thou that calls the teachings of the Spirit of God and the workings by his Power in and through his children and servants the mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks evill of the Power of God and blasphemes in so saying but thy folly is seen and that for all thy Comparisons and Scriptures under pretences adding thereunto thy fallacies and lying divinations as is manifested to any single eye in thy 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. c. pages And thou art ignorant of the workings and teachings of God and one that blasphemes his Power but thy Judgment thou must bear who art that false accuser of the brethren misapplier of the Scriptures and calls Truth delusion and Delusion truth and so calls evill good and good evill such is thy false judgment crrour and deceipt manifested in thy Astronomical judgement or Blazing-star 1. Whereas thou Edmund Skip falsly accuseth them thou calls Quakers and saith they are filled up with Railing Harsh Some accusations cast off from the Truth and Truth friends by the World called Quakers and turned back upon the Accuser and false accusers to remain and Clamerous language c. in this 13. page but thy saying therein is false and that is largely proved against thee and so the truth from that accusation cleared before and that is turned back upon thee the false accuser and with the false accusers to remain 3. And whereas thou tells of taking Scripture to cover over deceipts withall that we denie and this saying is therein false so turned back upon thee again and with thee and the false accusers to remain the Scriptures we witness to be a true Declaration of the Truth Luke 1.1 1 Iohn 1.3 and we make use of them in their place to witnesse for the Truth and against deceivers and deceipt but for taking them to cover over deceipts withall therein thou lies and hast by that also manifested thy lying spirit and none more guilty of that sin both taking the Scripture to made with all for money and also to cover deceipts and fallacies with all then such as thou art and the priests of the World and not we whom thou accuseth for presently after thou calls them a mislead people and tels what is meident to a mislead people quoting 1 Tim. 6 4. and 4. v. 2 Tim. 3.4 But that misleading we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee and all that are proud traitours heady high minded and lovers of pleasures which things we deny and against them testifie and those Scriptures which thou hast cited tells of such a sort of people Which two places of Scripture clears us and proves such as the Priests and their followers to bring forth the fruits they speak of us their fruits maketh them manifest to be those people thou speaks of not us whom you cal Quakers so according tothatsaying the Priests and their followers are the misled people thou speaks of and there is like Priest like people Hos 4.9 which 2 places of Scripture 1 Tim. 6.4 5. and 2 Tim. 3.4 turnes backwards off from us to you ye Proud-doaters about Questions and Strife of words
Antichrist in hâ—s mysterious actings thou speaks of and though thou be exalted in the delusions by Satans transformings in the working so disguised through that mysterious vail yet thrown down thou must be who art in the delusions and so overcome with deceit by the subtil stratagems of Satan thou speaks of therefore let all that fears God take heed of thee and thy delusions and the mysterious workings of Antichrist by whose spirit thou as well as his Ministers art Acted who art labouring through his deceitful power thou speaks of and working to bring other poor creatures into thy own Region of darkness and valley of death who art under the dominion of the prince of darkness the prince of the power of the air the spirit that ruleth in thee and all the children of disobedience such as thou art 2 Thess 2.9 10 11 12. In thy Pages 25 26. thou sayes They compare their sufferings and Agoâ—ies with those of Christ and they must suffer the wrath of God and the like as he did and yet reckon themselves the servants of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord will prove this to be a horrible lie and delusion because that Christ suffered for his servants and boâ—e the wrath and curse of God for them and made satisfaction to his Fathers law and justice in his own blood and his father was pleased to accept it c. Reply thy comparison and fallacy we deny where thou sayes they compare their sufferings and agonies with those of Christ and say they must suffer the wrath of God as he did The comparison is thy own and the fallacy lies in those words in thy third line as He did we do not say we must suffer râ—â—poâ— that cross at Mount Caâ—vary Christs death of great effect who hath satisfied the justice of God for the breach of the first covenant and now estabâ—â—shed the second to satisfie the fathers wâ—ath and justice for the transgressions under the first covenant as he did therein thou lies and accuseth falsly for he hath satisfied his fathers law and justice by suffering upon the cross at Mount-Caâ—ary for the transgressions that were under the first covenant who through the eternal spirit offered up himself without spot to God and now in the new Covenant he doth purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God and for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Covenant that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receave the Promise of eternall inheritance Hebr. 9 11 12 13 14 15. and we are called not onely to beleeve but also to suffer as they under the New Covenant that beleeved were did who said For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not onely to beleeve but also to suffer for his sake having the same Conflict which ye saw in me and now hear it to be true Philip. 1 29 30. This spoke the Minister of the Gospel The Saints under the New Covenant do witness the sufferings of Christ in tâ—em c. who had suffered and born about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus Read and understand 2 Cor. 4.10 and the same Minister of the Gospell did annex a suffering to beleeving and that in the behalf of Christ Philip. 1.29 and thy comparison and fallacy being taken away we witness such sufferings which thou appears to be a Stranger in and accuseth a people that witnesse the Power of God which worketh out salvation by fear and trembling which the Gospell Minister that spoke to the Philippians of to suffer as well as beleeve in his 2 Chapter 12.13 and also annexed obedience to faith and suffering to both and we know that Christ is the Author of our salvation that obey and serve him and His servants we are as well as sufferers for his Names sake who also is the Author of eternall Salvation to all that obey him Hebr. 5.8 9. this fallacy being taken away Truth we witnesse and a suffering Condition and that according to the teachings of the Spirit of Truth for Christs sake though not as he did upon the Crosse at mount Calvary to Redeem them that were under the Law from under it who fulfilled that Law and Covenant that were but Types and figures of him who took away the first and established the second Such as come not by the dore and through inward sufferings with Christ are strangers to the New Covenant and the theef is seen to be without c Hebr. 10. and as they who witnessed Christ under the New Covenant did witnesse a bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so do we and the life manifest in our mortall bodies as such dâ—d 2 Cor. 4. And as they who were Ministers of the New Covenant and knew the terrours of Lord so do we therefore we perswade men to be Reconciled to God as they did who were his Ambassadours and Fellow-labourers with him 2 Cor. 5.11 and 2. Cor. 6.2 Cor. 2.15 16 17. And we know also that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ as theirs did 2 Corinth 1.5 and thou that art a Stranger to the inward suffering and so accuseth them who witness them thou manifests to all the children of Light whose servant thou art a Theef that hath climbâ— up another way and so never come in by the door and have I charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be noâ—â— of his Ministers that art so ignorant of the Spirits works and teachings and by thy fallacies and living divinations casts slanders and Aspersions upon the Children and Servants of the Lord by thy subtilty and Serpent-tine wit who art that horrid lyer and the Spirit of God proves thee to be so that through a dirty fallacy thou would cast upon the Innocent buâ— it is turned back upon thee to Remain plagues is the Serpents portion but thou art of the Seâ—pents seed a lier and false-accuser and plauges is thy portion silence deceaver and stop thy mouth with the true light art thou seen and comprehended and with the Light condemned And though Christ did make satisfaction to his Fathers Law Christ hath made satisfaction for the Law and there is now condemnation to such as are infreed from and Justice to fulfill that law which had been broken and through the fulfilling of it were his Justice satisfied yet that doth not free from inwards sufferings that law stood outwardly and was fulfilled and the Justice of God satisfied concerning the breach of it but now his Law is written within in the heart according to the tenour of the New Covenant that was given according to the Fathers Promis Ier. 13.13 c. Hebr. 8. So now the Righteousness of the holy Law of the Spirit of Life t is to be fulfilled in us as it was to be fulfilled in them that
According to the eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord ver 11 being now no more Strangers Forreiners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Ephes 2.18 19 20. for which cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and in Earth is named Eph. 3.14 15. And whereas thou says that some of them go naked and they have a colour from that of Saul and also saith they neevr knew the mind of the Lord so discovered by any of his servants either under the new or old Covenant c. pag. 35. Reply A Reply to that about going naked which thou hath accused some withall and says they bring in a cover for that from Saul Here thou hast shewed that thou art a busie bodie about other mens matters and also ignorant of the minde of the Lord discovered to Isaiah the Prophet one of his Servants undâ—â—â—â—e old Covenant to whom the word of the Lord came saying 〈◊〉 thy sackcloth from off thy loynes and thy shoe from off thy 〈◊〉 â—nd he did so and walked naked and bare-foot 3 years in obeâ—â—â—ce to to the minde and will of the Lord Isaiah 20. chapter See and take notice here was an example And the Lord so far Discovered his minde that he commanded the same thing to be acted and done which were Performed according to the Word of the Lord Therefore in that thou hast manifested thy Spirit of Errour as well as in the rest of thy sayings slanders and false accusations Secondly And thou says As for that of Sauls stripping off his cloathes and lying down naked amongst the Prophets there is nothing in that Place doth prove it to be the will of the Lord c. Reply Saul at that time was guided by a Spirit of Prophecy and that was according to the will of the Lord for no Prophecy of the Scripture came in old time by the will of man but by the will of God 2 Pet. 1.21 but Saul was then a Prophet guided by a Spirit of prophecie according to the will of the Lord and at that very time when he stript off his cloathes and day naked before Samuel all day and all night 1 Sam. 19.23 then Saul having at that time the Spirit of God and prophesied till he came before Samuel where he stript off his cloathes and then prophesied also which were according to the will of the Lord at that same time when he lay naked among the Prophets and as Balams Asse did speak to reprove him for his madness and folly so thou having manifested thy madnes and folly art Reproved and Judged for thine who art in errour delusion and filthy deceipt but are lest naked and bare as Saul was and now all thy Covers will not hide thee thy skirts is discovered take shame to thy self and beware how thou utters thy folly as thou hast done And whereas thou says if they cannot see the servants of Christ that walk according to the manifest Rules of the Gospell to be the servants of Christ but reckon them to be the servants of sin hypocrites c. as thou says they do commonly why then thou says they prove themselves to be blind and led forth by a lying and deceavable spirit of delusion by Antichrist c. pag. 37. Reply Now if we can see and know the servants of Christ that walk according to his Spirit 〈◊〉 manifest Rule in the Gospell and so do not reckon them to be blind servants of sin nor hypocrites c. and do not as thou sayes commonly call them so then we do not prove our selves to be blind nor led forth by a lying and deceaveabl spirit neither of delusion nor Antichrist c. as in thy 37. page The Serpent catcht or taken in his own snare devieâ— But we whom thou calls Quakers do see and know the servants of Christ that walk according to Gospel rules and do not reckon them to be servants of sin nor men in the darkness and hypocrisie c. neither do we commonly call them so then we do not prove our sâ—â—â—es to be blind but in the light Joh. 8.12 nor led forth by a lying and deceivable spirit but by the manifestation of the Spirit a rule in the Gospel to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and also led by that spirit which is the Saints guide into all truth John 16.13 a Rule in the Gospel and so we are led by the Spirit of God which is the Saints guide Roman 8.14 Galat. 4.6 7. therefore we whom thou calls Quakers are not in delusion nor guided by the Spirit of Antâ—christ we are hereby cleared and thou ensnared and so thou art he that hast proved thy self to be blind and led forth by a lying Spirit therefore in that delusion of Antichrist thou speaks of and art acted and guided by his Spirit and amongst such as thou ranks together like unto the men of the world that do not know the servants and Disciples of Christ from his professed enemies according to his saying but speaks evill of the men you know not and of the things and workings of the Spirit of God and so there needs no further proof then your own open and Professed mistake who your selves are Ranked with the carnall and sinfull men of the World so that there is like Priest like People Hos 4. v 9. who are all under the Power of Antichrist and so without God in the World and the poor deluded Creatures thou speaks of according to thy 37. pag. The Covenant the Promises we witnesse but the Alienation and slanders aspersions and false accusations and lies as well in the 37 page as in other parts of thy Book that we deny turning them back upon thee and thy generation again though thou be made to cast away Tythes thou art strong in thy false accusations and lyes and so art in the deceivablenesse with the rest that took them though thou be in another colour disguised take notice of that therefore do I turn thee amongst the Serpents generation for Lyers and slandererers deceavers and false accusers therefore thou are of that generation and of the Serpents seed whose head is in the unbruâ—sed And whereas thou says if these poore deluded wretches of whom we are speaking shall judg themselves to be the servants of Christ and reckon them to be the servants of Christ also then they are brethren and if brethren and yet hate their brethren they must needs be under delusion and the words of the Apostle John will render them to be Liers and deceaved People c. pag. 37 38. Reply Now upon this Reckoning and Account as thou leaves it toour judging rnd reckoning of our selves so I say if we know that we are the Servants of Christ The wise taken in his own craftinesse and the Innocent art clear thâ—reby and reckon our selves Brethren and so love one another and
that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God-in him herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is so are we in this world 1 John 4.16 17. 10. We love him because he first loved us and manifested his love to us to beget our hearts and souls to love and obey him and this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also vers 19 20. 11. By this we know we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous to such as are born of God for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our saith 1 Joh. 5.2 3 4. 12. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that is born of God 1 Joh. 5.5 6. Joh. 3.5 6 7 8 of water and the Spirit not after the flesh nor after the will of man but after the spirit and according to the will of God Joh. 1. but as many as received him to them he gave powers to become the sons of God even to â—hem that believe on his name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men but of God Joh. 1.12 13. and such as are born of God are in the life of faith known the witnesses and he that Believeth â—n the Son of God and is of that birth hath the witness within and the record is there known and witnessed in the life eternal and we do through the mercies of God know the teachings and workings of Gods holy Spirit within us witnessing the faith and the birth and we do not believe and love one another only but we know that the Son of God is come also and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and as they was and said so do we and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternal and no delusion nor deceit but according to the teachings and workings of the spirit of truth and witnessed to by the Scriptures and the servants of truth 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 20. and friends and brethren who are out of the envy and hatred in the divine love and so out of the old life in the new passed by the Lord. Page 28. And where thou sayes They are under the great bondage and slavery which is laid upon them by Satan who captivates them at his will Reply Then it is by the Satanical Ministers and tything and hierling Priests that bondage and bring into prisons for speaking the truth and declaring against their false Antichristian Ministery The servants of Christs bondage by the Ministers of Antichrist as many by their means hath so been brought into bondage and outward imprisonment and could not have liberty to declare and spread abroad the truth because Satan in and by his false deceitful Ministers caused some to be laid hold on and put into prison and thereby acting the divels part brought some into bondage which by the devil in his Antichristian Ministers were laid upon even such servants of God as were Antichrists opposers and so that Scripture were fulfilled where it is said the devil shall cast some of you into prison and ye shall have tribulation for a tâ—me and so the devils Ministers hath in that acted their part to bring into bondage the servants of the Lord take notice or that ye Satanical persecuring Antichristian Ministers who bondage and imprison the servants of the Lord and you that are by them so imprisoned be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life Head Rev. 2.10 And whereas thou says They are made to suffer more cruel and heavy burthens then she Israelites under Pharaon in Egypt Page 28. Reply Then it is by the Satanical Priests and Antichristian Ministers as before and not onely by our bonds and imprisonments but also by causing them to pay the tenths of their yeerly increase of hey and corn The tithing and hireling-Priests false Antichristian Ministers are cruel oppressors of the people of God as Pharaoh was and tithe lamb and wooll money for Marâ—â— and foals money for kine and calves money for eggs and smoak passing the chimmeys and their geese and piggs tithe hemp and flax tithe apples and cherries Easter reckonings and Midsummer dues as they call them and causeth such to pay those things to whom they do no service except to revile them and â—ail against them and such as cannot for conscience sake towards God pay these demands to uphold an Antichristian Ministry captivates or imprisons them at his will and thus they suffer more cruel burthens by them then Israel did by Pharaoh for I do not read that ever Pharaoh did after that manner therefore you Antichristian Ministers be ashamed of your Ministery Page 40. And thou thy self saith in Page 40. That They forsake father and mother wife and children for Christs sake and they endure much affliction persecution opposition and disgrace from the men of the world c. Reply By that thou hast proved them to be none of the world but such as love Christ above all Mat. 10. 37 c Luk. 9.23 c. and art thou offended and all this while slandering and reviling them for their love they bear to Christ by doing his will and following him according to Gospel discipline The people and servants of Christ suffers affliction persecution and reproach from the men of the world for the love they have to Christ by following him and doing his will and reproving of sin rule and doctrine and so suffers for his names sake as such aforetimes did that believed loved obeyed and followed him and it is the portion from the world that His must eâ—pect to be afflicted persecuted and suffer reproach which thou calles disgrace from the men of the world and so here thou hast cleered them to be the chosen people of God that are chosen out of the world to suffer for Christs sake as they do and by this thou hast also cleared thy self to be none of the friends and disciples of Christ but one of the world for they are reproached and slandered by thee and so by the world and therefore thou lovest them not because they are not of the world and makes good the Scripture and saying of Christ who said to his If the world hate you ye know it hated me and so thou hates his and therefore hates him and saith he to his if ye were of the world the world would love its own but thou loves not us because we are not of the world but are chosen out of the world to declare against the evil of it and therefore thou art offended but we must do the will of the Lord and
rejoyce in that he hath chosen us out of the world and counted us worthy to do his will in declaring against the deceits of the world and also in that he hath counted us worthy to suffer for his names sake Joh. 15.18 19 20 21. and more especially that our names are written in the Lambs book of life knowing also that the unrighteous and all whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life shall not enter into the holy City nor inherit the Kingdom of God but be cast into the lake that burneth c. as Jesus hath said who sent his Angel to testifie the same Take notice of this all ye persecuters gainsayers and oppressors of the truth and all the unrighteous prophane ones and all under what deceipts soever 1 Cor. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.9 10 11. and Rev. 21.8 27. Rev. 20.10 11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 22.10 11 15 16. And where thou shews thou art offended that truth should be spread abroad thou makes covers to cover over deceit but it is clearly seen and thou art falsly accusing and saying That they pretend that the Lord sendeth them hither and thither that they know not wither to go or to what person till they come to the place or person c. Reply That is false the pretence is thy own and that fallacy or sting in thy tail I deny where thou sayes They pretend the Lord sends them hither and thither they know not whither The wicked bends their tongues like their bows for lies and so shoots their arrows of reproach against the innocent c. thy pretence and fallacy is denied but the Lords sending I own and know and after what manner he sends even as he pleaseth according to the workings in his own councel after the good pleasure of his will And this I do own notwithstanding thy cover from the Lords sending of Moses to Pharaoh and Nathan to David and Ananias to Saul c. Thou art busying thy minde about them and their sending and art a stranger to the life they lived in they was not liars slanderers false accusers nor hypocrites like thee but declared against such as thou and thy generation of evil doers are by the spirit of the Lord in his servants and children declared against now at which thou art sore offended and bends thy tongue like thy bow for lies and shoots thy arrows of reproaches false accusations and slanders out against the truth and would not be told of it again but be thou sure God will meet thee and with his righteous judgements smite thee and such like and then wo to the wicked and such as thou art it shall go ill with you Isa 1.24 2 Thess 1.8 9. Isa 3.11 2. Thy pretence being denyed and fallacy cast out the former sendinâ—s of the Lords servants I own A sting in the tail denyed but the Lords sending of his servants as he pleaseth owned and also the sending of the Lords servants now by the same spirit and power which thou art a stranger unto that speaks against immediate teachings by the Spirit of God which teachings immediate I own and also know the Lords sending when I am sent to person or place as Ananias did when he wâ—s sent unto Paul in the street called straight to that person and place Act. 9.10 11. and as I do so do all witness to the truth who stands in the councel of God and to the truth I witness but thy saying that lay in thy fallacy and sting in thy tail that I deny and backe with the rest of thy lies I return open thy old botle and take them in again into the serpents seat from whence they came that with thee and in thy generation they may remain And where thou sayes Let us return and examine the manner of the Lords sending his servants and prophets upon particular messages I answer Thou hast nothing to do to busie thy minde about them The way and manner of the Lords sending forth his servants is owned according to the working of his power in his own councel after the good pleasure of his divine will and also some times to particular places and persons according to the word of the Lord. yet art an enemy to them and a stranger to the immediate teachings and so to the power by which they were and are sent but the immediate teachings I own as before is said and also the power and spirit by which the Lord sent and now sendeth his servants and the manner of the Lords sending of them as he pleaseth according to the working of his power in his own councel and after the good pleasure of his will he then sent forth his servants and so doth he now and that I also own and those that the Lord sent and stood in his councel they knew whither to go and sometimes the Lord told them to whom to go and what to say and sometimes they were to go to places c. and it should be told them when they came there what to say and sometimes waited after they came there several dayes before it was given what to say or speak c. And as the Lord did then to his servants according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his will so doth he to his servants now according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his divine will but Edmund Skip thou that art a liar slanderer and false accuser of the brethren thou art of the old serpent Rev. 12.15 c. and not in the councel of God but accusing such as are and speaking evil of the wayes and workings of the spirit and power of God then out of his councel and so not sent of him but by the false accuser and the man of sin therefore I take that from thee which thou hast stoln and return it into its right place again and I tell thee plainly the Lord is against such theeves as thou art and as may be read Jer. 23.30 31 32. But to the truth I witness and own and that when the Lord called Moses and made known himself to him he sent him according to the good pleasure of his will and so doth he now such as standeth in his counsel Exod. 3. And when Ezekiel was sent to them of the captivity at Tel-abib that dwelt by the river of Châ—ber he knew whither to go but not what to say neither when he went to them nor at first or present when he came there amongst them and where they was but he sat where they sat and remaied there amongst them seven dayes before it was given him what to say so he to wit Ezekiel the servant of the Lord when he was at that time sent by the spirit of the Lord he knew whither to go but not what to say untill it were revealed unto him Ezâ—kiels seven dayes silence at Tel-abib or given unto him what to say from the Lord to the people unto which he
were sent And as it was with that servant of the Lord so it may be with some others of the servants of the Lord they know sometimes whither to go and not at present what to say and as it was no delusion in Ezâ—kiel to go and wait so it is no delusion in them that so go in obedience to the spâ—rit of the Lord though they waite when they come there as long or little time as the Lord pleaseth as Ezekiel the servant and true Prophet of the Lord waited amongst the people of the Captivity at Tel-abib where he was sent seven dayes after he came there then he came there amongst them by the river Cheber before the word of the Lord came unto him what to say therefore silence all flesh also read Ezek. 3.14 15 16. When Ananias was sent to Paul he was told in a vision to whom to go and what to say Act. 9.10 11 c. Peter sent by the spirit c. When Peter had seen the vision though it was not told him before he went what to say yet he knew whither to go and went without gain-saying Act. 10.17 18 19 20 c. So others of the servants of the Lord may know by vision or revelation whither to God and not at present what to say and to go without gain-saying the power they do well for to obey Philp sent on the way towards Gaza 1. When Philip was in the villages of the Samaritans he was commanded to arise and go towards the South unto the way that went down from Jerusalem unto Gaza and he did obey the commands he knew at that time onely whither to go to such away that led to Gaza but he neither knew what to do there nor what to say yet he did obey and went unto that way that went from Jerusalem unto Gaza which is desert Act. 8.25 26 27. Philip joyned to the Chariot 2. And again Philip when he came there as he was going on the way he saw a Chariot and the spirit said unto Philip go and joyn thy self to yonder Chariot and he went knowing then the second time whither to go but not at that present what to say until he came at him that sat in the Chariot to whom by the Spirit he was sent Act. 8.29 30. And when Philip came at the man to whom he was sent instead of delivering a message first unto him when he came there he propounded a question Act. 8.30 But the Eunuch neither ran away nor sent Philip to prison for propounding unto him a question as many Antichristian Ministers in these dayes do Take notice thereof An observation to be â—aken notice of by the Lords servants about being sent c. And here it is to be observed that the Lord did not alwayes make known to his Servants whom he sends to particular persons and places what to say before they go their obedience is required first to go and then to wait for what he is pleased by them to say or do therefore he will have his servants to stand in his Counsel that they may be ordered by him according to the good pleasure of his will Some of the Lords servants and at sometimes knows-before they go both whither to go what to say and what to do others sometimes they know to whom to go and not at present what to say it was so amongst the Lords servants Prophets and Apostles before time and it is so with the Lords servants now they are to be ordered by his Power in his own Counsel according to the good pleasure of his will Several things acted by the servants of the Lord before time which if any of the servants of the Lord should be commanded so to do now this generation would wonder and call it delusion madness And again see a few of the Prophets acts according to command First see Jeremiah's act about the earthen bottle how the word of the Lord came to him and told him what to do which would be strange in these days if any of the Lords servants should do so and likewise concerning the girdle when he was commanded once to go and put it in a hole of the rock Jer. 13.1 2 3 4. and he obeyed that command ver 15. but he knew not at that time why he did it but shewed his obedience to the Lord then after many dayes he was commanded to go fetch that girdle again and it was so marred that it was profitable for nothing see Jer. 13.6 7. and the second time Jeremiah knew nor why he did so act but he shewed his obedience without any gain-saying Then the third time the Lord made known to him the mystery of the thing verse 8.9.10 Likewise that of Ezekiel about the tile when he pourtrayed upon it and laid siâ—ge with a pourtrayed tile c. Ezek. 4. and likewise concerning the Barbers rasor cutting off his hair and weighing it in the ballance c Ezek. 5. and about digging through the wall to carry the goods out when reason would have said the door had been more convenient and many things which the Lords servants did there which if any of the Lords servants now should be commanded to act such things to figure out the condition of a people and what the Lord would do and in his time perfect and accomplish they would in this generation be ready to call it madness delusion and folly but such as knows not the immediate teachings of the Spirit of God knows neither his sending to particular persons nor places nor the Spirits workings and actions no more then thou Edm. Skip dost who so slaundereth and accuseth the people of God and art a stranger to the immediate teachings of the Spirit of God as thou hast shewed and before is proved therefore silence deceit and stoy thp mouth thy Prognostication or Astronomical Judgment is false and stuft full of lies falshoods and untruths to fill ignorant people with fancies envy and lies that thou may make them like thy self in deceit and filthiness such as are wiling to believe it and be led by thee but to the wise hearted thou hast tittered thy shame and folly With the light that changeth not art thou and thy pernicious waies and fubtil twistings seen and comprehended and with the light judged and condemned And where thou says There was one in the North kept a fast a great while and thou conjectured it to be either Nayler or Foâ— who was commanded of the Lord to fast and as thou says if thy memory faile thee not it was seaven days and having so done he was commanded to fast so many more next ensuing that and so several of them as thou says have been commanded to fast and this thou says is the little great wonder this man having fasted as be was commanded by his enemy under the pretence of a friend c. Reply Thy sting in thy tail fallacy and little great wonder is denied where the
not our thoughts the Lying Spirit hath told thee so by which thou art deceived and so taught to lie thy Tongue is deceitfull and so is thy heart and now the Spirit of Truth tells thee the same and also witnesseth against thee and thy deceipt And that distrustfull care we deny and know that Christ doth engage his people to leave it but there is a true care which Christ engageth the hearts of his people unto and that we own And the love of Christ teacheth us diligence and faithfulness also which engageth our Hearts and Souls unto him and to do justly love mercy and walk humbly with our God to serve him with Reverence and Godly fear and also to serve our generation in Love by being faithful unto the Lord our Redeemed passing the time of our sojourning here in fear and true care therefore thou open Lyer lay thy hand upon thy mâ—dâ—â— and â—â—ish be ashamed for ever that thou should be to befooled by the Devil as thou art to be his slander-Carryer and sow his seed of distention lies slanders and evil 〈◊〉 and so Labours to harrow it into the fear of enmity and grounds of Prejudice And that saying where thou says Thou hast read 〈◊〉 what an insolent proud Authentick manner the Devil spoke to Christ c. Reply That shall stand for thy self who are the Devils-slander-carrier and Satans Proclaimer and Publisher of lies slanders and deceiptfull wicked evill and filthy aspersions in such a 〈…〉 insolent Authentick manner against the Truth of Christ and his Brethren and friends so against him in them and Reviles the servants of the living God is thy Fore-fathers did Revile our bâ—estâ—d Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ but were joyce in this that we are counted worthy to so suffer for his Names sake Math. 5.10.11.12 and with all knowing this that the servant is not greater then his Lord as he himself hath said therefore we bear it in Remembrance dwelling in his word John 4.1 〈◊〉 John 15.20 And where thou says we own visions and Revelations c Reply That we do not deny if we should we should deny the Spirit of Truth and the Condition of the holy men of God Act. 9.10 11 12. and Act. 10.17 and we also know this that there is no true knowledg of God but by Revelation as Christ himself hath said Who spoke Truth and could not 〈◊〉 and he is also to be beleeved and obeyed who is the way to the Father and the Scriptures bears testimony from his own mouth to the â—â—â—e undeniable and grounded Truth as may be read Matth. 11.27 Luk. 10.22 And where thou sayes so making themselves eithe Prophets or Apostles c The Lord maketh both true Prophets and true Apostles Reply Self we deny and all the Power of darknesse so in that thou hast told another Lie and of our selves we are not able to think any thing as our selves but our sufficiency is of God who maketh both Prophets and and Apostles and so able Ministers of of the New Testament or Covenant not of the Letter but the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life this the Scriptures witnesseth and we witnesse with them 1 Sam. 3.19 20 21. 2 Pet. 1.21 Eph. 4.4.11 12 13. Rom. 12.6 7 Acts. 13. 1 Pet. 4.10 2 Cor. 3.5 6. Gal. 1.11 12. And where thou says Let this be also wel observed these dreamers say not withstanding they pretend it is God by some speciall Revelation or Inspiration be what it wil the Lord must be the Author of it pag. 34. Reply Thy fallacy we deny and therein thou hast uttered another Lie be ashamed and blush and for the Dreamers they shall stand for thy self and such in thy nature and deceablenesse of unrighteous who defile the flesh and despiseth the Spirituall dominion and Government which we witnesse unto by which Spirituall Poner the flesh with the affections and lusts are crucified Gal. 5.24 and with the Spirit and Power of our God are we sanctified washed cleansed and justified 1 Corimb 6.11 therefore we are no Dreamers For we witnesse the Spirituall dominion and Government by which we are preserved in our sanctification by Christ Jesus as such was in theirs that spoak against the dreamers Jude 1.2 and Revelation and Inspiration and the Lords sending according to the good pleasure of his will and the working of his divine power we own but thy pretence and fallacy or sting in thy call where thou says Be it what it will be God must be charged with it that we utterly deny and so testify against this abominable lye and â—â—â—n it back upon thee and the dreamers there remain Observe it well And where thou says Did you ever know a People acted through a more glorious shew or pretence of Righteousness then they are c. Reply Thy shews and pretences is by us denied but to obey Christ in all his discoveries and divine Appearances working unto Righteousnesse and changing from glory to Glory into the pure Image by the power of the Lords Eternall Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17 18. as such afore-time did that we we with the Scriptures do also witnesse and own and as Christ hath said to his Father in the eternall love to his in the glorious appearance and discovery unto such as were changed and changing into the Glory where he saith all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them John 17.10 and the sufferings is not worthy to compared to the Glory revealed within Rom. 8.18 and God who commanded the Light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts through his glorious discovery and divine appearances of Glory and Righteousness to give us the knowledge of his Glory saith the Ministers of Christ and even in the face of Jesus Christ this treasure have we in eathren vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.5 6 7 and the Saints fellowship with Christ in the Glory is to be admired as the Apostle saith to the Thessalonians which glorie appears in the inwards 2 Thessal 1.10 this the Scriptures witnesse and in the fulfilling and changing into glory of Righteousnesse we also witnesse according to the measure and manifestation of his divine appearance fellowship with him in the pure enjoyment of Light Life and Love received from him who is the Lord our Righteousnesse and so made unto us Wisdom and Righteousnesse 2 Cor. 1.30 and with him and the Spirituall operation we witnesse according to his divine Appearance both in Glory and Righteousness as the Scriptures also witnesseth which we do own and with them also witnesse and of Christ according to his pure discoveries of his love according to His glorious Appearance which we do own but thy fallacies and guilded pretences we do deny and thee and thy pernicious wayes disown And where thou say Their throwing off and denying the World and all care and pains thereof for Christs sake
and forsaking Father and Mother Wife and Children for Christs sake what a fair colour is this Reply Thy colour we do deny but to the Truth of Christ we witnesse and own and thy Satanicall spirit will not let thee throw off nor deny the World c. for there Antichrist keeps his hold who hurries the hearts of such out after the world to seek the glory love and praise thereof and to deny it is so directly opposite to Antichrist and against his Kingdom that he will not lead creatures out of it and herein thou art discovered in thy colours to be of Antichrist and the world but we are taught first to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall he added as he hath said Matth. 6. Chapter and art thou so much offended that any should so love Christ above all as to follow him in the cross whereby they become crucified to the world and the world unto them and he that loveth father or mother son or daughter more then me saith Christ is not worthy of me Take notice of that Math. 10.37.38 Galat. 6.13 16. but thou art offended that any should love Christ above al their Neighbours as themselves so manifests that thou art an enemy to those that walk according to the Gospell Rule through the Cross who are of the Israel of God who witnesse grace and mercy which is the Priviledge of the Israel of God that walk according to that Rule in the Gospel Gal. 6. v. 16 which thou art offended at them that walk according to the Rule in the Gospell who love Christ above all and their neighbour as themselves and fulfill the Royall Law by doing the will of God and walking in the Light Life and Power of Truth Therefore let all the children of Light that dwell in the divine Love light life power of the eternall Truth judge of thy deceipt Antichrist will not destroy his own kingdom and now he is offended that the Kingdom of Christ in the souls of his Saints is set and setting up which foretells the destruction and downfall of thine and the downfall of the Priests of the World and their Antichristian ministry at which thou art sore moved and like a troubled Sea froming out thy own shame but thou art discovered and thy deceiptfull works laid open and made manifest therefore stop thy mouth who art of the World and the old Sâ—â—pents seed and also Prognosticating Astronomer like but this Astronom call judgment is falss and not true as is proved and laid open to the Publick view Again thou says They endure much affliction opposition and persecution from the World c. Reply Then let all that fears God take notice of that for the World loves its own but the Quakers Reproachfully called and persecuted by the World are not of the World but being in Christ and so Christians they do suffer by the World and men of nature contrary to Christ for Christians did not nor do not afflict one another nor persecute but were so done by informer Ages Hebr. 11. and here thou hast cleared thy self to be no Christian but of the World and so Antichristian and those called Quakers to be Christians and not of the World who are as thou says so persecuted and reproached by the men of the World and thou art one that doth so shamefully reproach Christ Encourageth his to bear the Persecution of the World and speak evill of them and the wayes and workings of God in them c. Yet they being Christians and suffers by thee and the men of the World the Christians aforetime did so suffer and were persecuted by the World as they are now and their Conditions is not contrary but agreeing to the Conditions of Christians friends and servants of Christ before them being compared with Hebr. 11.36 37 38. 2 Cor. 6.4 5 9 7.8 2 Tim. 3.10.11 12. and also compared with that saying of Christ to his where he encourageth them to bear the Reproaches and Persecutions from the men of the World where he saith A warning from the Lord to such as Reproach and persecute under the nick name of Quakers or such as are of the divine nature made partakers if the World hate you it hated me before it hated you if you were of the World the World would love his own but because I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you c. John 15.16 17 18 19. Here Christ hath a chosen People that suffers affliction from the men of the World for his Names sake But the People whom the World reproachfully calleth Quakers they suffer reproaches afflictions and persecutions from the men of the World for Christs sake therefore they are the People that Christ hath Chosen out of the World Take notice both thou and all you that so slander and reproach and also such as persecute Christs Chosen-people whom you scornfull call Quakers and beware what you do against the Innocent be you sure that the Lord Jesus Christ will cal you to answer before him for it consider also of that 25 Chapter of Maâ—h â—â— vers 41 42 43. and so on to 〈◊〉 anâ—â—â—e what you can â—earn out of it and cease your cruelty â—â—ult persecâ—â—â—â— and reproach not the people of Christ so as you do scoâ—â—â—â—tly by you called Quakers noâ— any that â—â—e of the divine nâ—â—â—re â—â—â—de pâ—rtakers 2 Pet. 1.3 4 c. Again thou sayeâ— Thereâ—re 〈◊〉 a pâ—â—ple to be sound that cry out more against Antichristiâ—â— all appreaâ—â—â—es of sin and â—â—â—ghteousness then they do c. Page 40. Reply Also here again thou doâ—st more fully clear thâ—â—â—o be the people of God for they are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness bâ—t rather reprove them 〈◊〉 5 11. and that they do according to thy sayâ—ng The people of God may repove sin and cry out against unrighteousness and â—â—ey aâ—â—â—â—g in righteousness being taught by the gâ—â—â—e of God to deny ungodliness and worldly lusâ—â— and to live righteously soberly and godly in thâ—s present evil wâ—â—ld Tâ—l 2.11 12. they may â—â—stâ—y cry out against sin in all appearances and also against â—lâ—might â—â—sâ—ess whatsoever for the people of God did so bâ—â—ore them that were so taught by the grace of God before them and they that did so cry out against sin in all appearances and unrighteousness of what sort soever were the pâ—â—ple of God and were not delâ—â—ed and they that in the spirit and power of truth do cry out against sin in all appearances and against unrighteousness of what sort soever such are the people of God now and are not delâ—â—â—ed but the people whom the world doth scornfully call Quakers they do so to wâ—â— as the people of God â—forâ—â—â—me did â—â—â—â—g out against sin in all appearances and all unrighteousness wâ—â—â—soever being themselves taught by the grace of God â—â—o deny ungodliâ—ess and worldly luste
swift witness against all deceitful workers who live within the power of what they speak or write much more against those that write filthy abhominable lies Oh if thou love either Christ or thy own soul return return unto the light of Christ in thy own conscience which will let thee see the deceit of thy own sinful heart out of the abundant deceit thereof thy pen hath run so largely in confusion now I charge thee in the presence of the living God in as much love to thy soul as ever that thou return to the light of Christ in thy own conscience and mind that which checks thee in secret I tell thee man in love there is something yet in thee which will witness me to be true See one more page 64. where for thy own defence not for the defence of the truth thou saiâ—â— thou wast necessitated to fly unto the practices and truths of other men to wit Baptists where it is plain thou had not the spirit of Christ to fly unto and speak from as the true Apostles had witness one Acts 6.10 therefore thou art both seen in the light proved by Scripture and thy own Writings to be a false Apostle and a false Minister 3 Cor. 11.13 14 15. much more might be said and proved both from thy writing and actings but I desire the good of thy soul by this which is sufficient at present to prove thee at present to be one of the wondering Startes Iude 13. A word to all Professors in the world BEing it was ordered of my Lord God and Father of lights that something must go forth in print as from me who am the least of all Saints I was even as freely engaged in my spirit out of tender love to your souls to present a few lines from that measure of spirit which is brought forth in me Oh my friends my friends the hour is not only comming but now is witnessed in me that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Iohn 5.25 and the voice of the true Dove is heard in our Land to wit this earthly Tabernacle that is made the Temple of the living God who is now fulfilling his promises in us that walk not after the flesh but after the spirit even in us is the Lord establishing his new and everlasting Covenant even the sure and certain mercies of David which is by the life of Iesus Christ in us fulfilled and witnessed whereby we have fellowship with the Father and one in measure brought to live in him and he in us where we have joy and rest and eternal peace which passeth all understanding and all the worlds comprehension where all the Children of the light meet and see face to face for the Lord hath brought again Sion who is become the perfection of beauty out of the which God now shineth Psal 50.2 and is become our glory and we his Isa 46.13 Oh prayses prayses be unto him who hath redeemed us out of Nations kindreds and tongues to serve the living God in newness of life and not in oldness of Letter that so now we may offer up eternally living and eternal sacrifice and prayse for evermore who hath in measure redeemed us from the world and out of all darkness that is therein and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son and made us partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light which is the eternal light of life for God is light and in him is no darkness at all and all those that live in him are Children of the day who walked in the day even the pure light in the which there is no occasion of stumbling our feet being guided in the path of peace which is the true and living way in which the wafaring man though a fool shall not erre Isa 35.8 which is a pure way of holiness leading up into the full enjoyment of the Father who hath long waited to be gracious unto us and now in the day of his love and power hath gathered us in his arms of love and brought us home unto himself who were before the out-casts of Israel wondering with you from Mountain to Hill but did not finde rest unto our souls but now the great and mighty power of the Lord hath raised up his own seed in us now indeed we are made by the life of the Sonne in us to cry Hallelujah unto him to him alone be all honour glory and obedience and eternal prayses forever even for ever and ever for he that was lost is found he that was dead is alive and behold he liveth for ever more Now my friends the whole world lieth in wickedness and all the world by wisdom knowes not God the natural man perceiveth not the things of God which are hid from the wiâ—e and prudent even from the readers of the Scripture from Scribes Pharisees Priests yea the Princes of this world for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory who is crucified daily by the same spirit that now ruleth in the Children of disobedience even in the Scribes Priests and people that live in the same Nation where the learned ones of the world are 〈◊〉 all those that walk in darkness to wit pride to covetousness 〈◊〉 love of the world hatred variance strife sedition heresie baâ—â— biting heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then the over of God scoffers walking after their own ungodly lusts raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame who accounts gain godliness whose eyes are full of adultery feet swift to shed blood eares open to all deceit whose mouthes are full of cursing and bitterness the poyson of Aspes are under their lips their throats an open Sepulcher who imagineth mischief lying altogether deceitful and desperately wicked who can know it such as these are the fruits of the flesh in the which all the world lies therefore I witness against the world that the works thereof are evil Now in the world there are Sects Schismes Judgements and Opinions there they are heaping up teachers to themselves having itching eares and according to the number of their fansies so are their wayes of worship according to the number of their imaginations so are their Gods for there are many Gods and many Lords but the living God is not known by the world for it by wisdom knowes not God no man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him now he that hath the Son revealed in him is born of God and he that is born of God overcometh the world and sinneth not he that sinneth hath not seen him but this is a hard saying who can bear it the world cannot for the world hears its own they that are of God heareth Gods word ye hear them not therefore ye are not of God Now friends all you that have looked after me and other men for teaching now I can write unto you