thereby that they are none of his Ministers but also that Christ hath no true Disciples or Subjects Therefore they that deny the Spirit of Christ they must needs be false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ or the Devils Subjects note such and take it for granted they are the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ The true Gospel-Ministers and Saints in Christ Jesus before the Apostacy declared and affirmed that they had received the Spirit of God whereby they knew the things that were freely given them of God and by the same Spirit they knew that they were children of God and joynt heirs with Christ and could by divine right say it the Spirit of God also witnessing with their Spirit that it was true and thereby viz. by the Spirit which they had received of God or by the Spirit of his Son which he had sent into their hearts they could cry Abba Father Rom. 8.14 15 16. 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. Gal 4 6. But since the Apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ declares and affirms that it is presumption or blasâ—hemy for any to affirme now that they have the Spirit of God and know thereby the things which are freely given them or God and to say that they are the children of God and joynt heirs with Christ and that they have the Spirit of God as an evidence bearing witness with their Spirit according to the Scriptures that it is so and that God hath sent the spirit of his Son into their hearts whereby they cry Abba Father and can so call him by divine right according to the Scriptures as the Saints in Christ Jesus formerly did This the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ calleth presumption delusion and blasphemy therefore note them and as Christ hath said Mat. 7.20 by their fruits ye shall know them The true Apostle and Minister of Christ before the Apostacy exhorted or counselled the people to walk in the spirit to the end that they might not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.16 Because they that live in the flesh cannot please God as the true Gospel Minister before the Apostacy hath said Rom. 8.8 and the fruits of the flesh are manifest saith he which are these See Gal. 5.19 20 21. and they which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God as the true Gospel-Minister hath said and as may be read Gal. 5.19 c. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Eph. 5.5 6. But since the Apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they deny the Spirit of truth and labours to keep people from walking in the Spirit of God to the end that they may fulfill the lusts of the flesh and that they may live in the flesh and be kept but of the Spirit least they should please God and so for the upholding and strengthning Satans interest in people they are and labours to keep people in sin and to pleade for the same that they may live in the flesh and bring forth the works thereof to the end that they may be fitted for Satan and be kept out of the kingdome of God Therefore it is high time for people that hath any regard to the glory of God and of their souls good to look about them and not any longer follow the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ that hath had such a long reigne and are expert in the work of deceiving The true Gospel-Minister before the Apostacy counselled people he ministred unto not onely to walk in the Spirit that they might not fulfil the lusts of the flesh but also that through the spirit they might mortify the deeds of the body to the end that they might live unto God and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit and so glorify him But since the apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they labour to keep people from the Spirit least the deeds of the flesh should be mortified and therefore they labour to keep them out of the Spirit of truth least they should by it be led out of deceit and into the truth to live to the praise and glory of God as aforesaid also see Gal. 5.16 Rom. 8.13 14. Joh. 15.8 Gal. 5.22 23 24. For if they should walk in the Spirit and bring forth fruit unto God and dye to the world Satan would loose his hold and his interest in people would cease and come to an end Therefore that he may uphold a kingdome of sin and unrighteousness covered over with a pretence of godliness in people he sits the false Prophets and seducers to labour and Minister for him but as Christ hath said by their fruits ye shall know them a before mentioned Mat. 7. Concerning perfection according to the Scriptures THe onely true God when he appeared to Abraham the Father of the faithfull declared and said I am the Almighty God and in his doctrine or by way of command said unto Abraham Walk before me and be thou perfect Gen. 17.1 which doctrine Abraham received and also Christ Jesus our Lord in his doctrine or by way of command he said unto his Disciples and those that he taught who had grace and received the same be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Mat. 5.48 And such as pressed after perfection the doctrine of the Father and the Son said by the Spirit of truth as many as are perfect be thus minded Phil. 3. to press others on to the same and before the apostacy whilst the holy Ghost had the ordering in the true Church and were of Counsell with the Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospell with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven Acts 15.28 1 Pet. 1.12 they declared and said we preach wisdome amongst them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 and they taught in all wisdome labouring to present every man perfect in Christ Col 1.27 28 29. for which end they said Christ Jesus when he ascended upon high gave gifts unto men that is to say for the perfecting of the Saints c. Eph. 4.10 11 12 13. who having grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 received the same But since the apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they deny the aforesaid doctrine of perfection and under a cover they are not ashamed to say and affirme that the doctrine of sinless perfection was first bred by the Devil secondly detested by Christ thirdly and never received or truly beleeved in by them that had any sparke of true grace when the said Doctrine of perfection as aforementioned was first bred or brought forth by the Almighty God secondly and owned approved of and preached by the Lord Jesus Christ thirdly and heartily received beleeved in pressed after attained unto and preached by them that had received the Spirit of grace and thereby were guided as aforesaid Then they that deny the said doctrine of perfection aforementioned and speak so falsly of it as aforesaid doe make it appear that they are
not since then deceived the Nations and are they no more setled then waters or how should it be otherwise whilst they erre from the true Spirit and follow their own inventions but God is now bringing and hath brought many people out of the waters to the Rock Christ Jesus and is building them together in him upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord For an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph 2.18 19 20 21 22. And now is the Lord bringing people to the true spirituall worship againe according to the Scriptures Ioh. 4.23 24. Phil 3.3 which was before the Apostacy at which the false Prophets that hath long reigned in the time of Apostacy are greatly offended but it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled which saith evill men and seducers shall waxe worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 The true Christians owned and professed Christ Jesus within them before the Apostacy and did not deny Revelation but since the Apostacy the false Prophets and Antichristians denyeth the true Christ to have an inbeing in his people and are offended at such as own revelation and the true Christ to be within according to the Scriptures The Apostle Paul not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead did affirme and certify to the Brethren before the Apostacy that the Gospel which was preached of him was not after man nor received of man neither was he taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.1.11 12. he did not deny revelation as the false Prophets doe but said when it pleased God who called me by his grace to reveale his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediatly I conferred not with flesh and blood but went into Arabia c. Gal. 1.15 16 17. here this true Gospel Minister neither denyed revelation nor disowned the Son but witnessed that God had revealed him unto him and that within as aforesaid but the false Apostles and false Prophets deny both revelation and Christ to be within the true Apostle said he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which Gospel he affirmed and declared to be the power of God unto salvation unto every one that beleeveth and furthermore he hath affirmed that therein viz. the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God as aforesaid is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith Rom. 1.16 17. here againe the true Gospel-Minister before the Apostacy owned revelation and did not say it was ceased neither was he ashamed of that Gospel of Christ namely the power of God wherein the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as aforesaid and the same Apostle before the Apostacy commanded that if any man yea or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel than that which he with the rest had preached to let such beholden accursed Gal. â— 8 9. but since the apostacy the false Apostles or Ministers of Anti-Christ together with the false Prophets who deny revelation and say it s ceased they preach a contrary Gospel to that which the true Apostles preached where in the righteousness of God as aforesaid is from faith to faith revealed therefore the said false Apostles or Ministers of Anti-Christ together with the false Prophets are held accursed The true Gospel Minister in whom Christ was revealed in preaching to the Gentiles before the Apostacy where he speaks of the mystery which God would make known among the Gentiles he hath declared it to be Christ in them the hope of glory whom saith he we preach and teach c. Col. 1.27.28 did not the true Gospel Ministers in so preaching preach Christ within as aforesaid and doe not the false Prophets since the Apostacy deny such a doctrine The true Gospel Ministers before the Apostacy preached the Gospel with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.12 but since the Apostacy the false Prophets seeks to exclude the office of the Holy Ghost and are highly offended at them now that preach the Gospel againe with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven the true Gospel-Minister before the Apostacy was called and sent to turne people from the darkness to the light Acts 26.16 17 18. and so from the power of Satan to the power of God but in the Apostacy and enmity the false Christs and false Prophets are against the true light and thereunto opposite both endeavouring to keep all they can for owning the light and joyning to the same and they also labour by their wiles slights and cunning craftiness to seduce and as much as in them lyeth to turne people from the true light to the darkness againe and so from the power of God to the power of Satan but now they are known for the day is dawned and the day Star arisen in the hearts of many and the day declareth every mans works of what sort they are therefore as this is read with a right understanding let them that so read take notice who the false Christs and false Prophets are and of them hereafter be aware Concerning Revelation and the Spirit c. MOreover in the Primitive time before the Apostacy or coming of the false Christs and false Prophets that Christ said should come and Iohn saw were come as aforementioned the true Gospel-Ministers were so far from denying Revelations That they said No man knoweth the things of God but by the spirit of God which revealeth the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 11. And they also declared and said that they had not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit of God that they might know the things that were freely given them of God ver 12. and if no man know the things of God but by the Spirit of God which revealeth the deep things of God then to deny Revelations and say they are ceased Is not that to deny the office and work of the Spirit of God and say it is ceased and doe not they that say so plainly shew that they are false Prophets and false Apostles or Ministers of Anti-Christ and doe not such also deny the true Apostles Doctrine and shew that they are ignorant and without the true Spirit guiding them to speak and that they know not the things of the Spirit of God who deny Revelation the office and work of the Spirit to reveale and make known the things of God as aforesaid without which Spirit of God or a measure thereof no man can know the things of God as the true Apostles hath said The true Gospel-Minister before the Apostacy declared and said that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 but the false Prophets or Ministers of Anti-Christ since the Apostacy deny that any man should have the Spirit of Christ and they doe not onely declare
false Prophets and Ministers of sin or Subjects to Anti-Christ and no true Christians nor any true gifted men but as Christ hath said by their fruits they are or shall be known therefore beware of them and take heed of being devoured by the wolf which long hath layen hid in a sheeps cloathing but now comes to be seen where the day is dawning Concerning laying on of hands c. THe true Gospel Ministers before the apostacy declared and said that their sufficiency was of God who had made them able Ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit and they excluded self and denyed the insufficiency and all the power of it 2 Cor. 3 4 5 6. But since the apostacy the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ they deny an inward call by the Lord God and his Spirit to be sufficient to the work of the Ministry without an outward call of men not qualified thereunto by the holy Ghost and so they set up a sufficiency of self and prefers that before the power of the holy Ghost and they that doe so must needs be false Prophets and Ministers of sin or subjects to Anti-Christ and though under a pretence they would acknowledge the laying on of hands yet they would not own the office Counsell and authority of the holy Ghost in it but denyeth that the holy Ghost did either speak in the Primitive time before the apostacy to them that laid hands on or that they were qualified and impowered by the holy Ghost to the same when in such a case the Scripture is plaine for the proof of the thing against them who against the truth so affirme for it is said and in holy Scripture left upon record that there were in the Church that was at Antioch certaine Prophets and Teachers as namely Barnabas and Simeon and Lucius and Manaen and Saul and as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them Acts. 13.1 2. here it is plaine that the holy Ghost spake to them that ministred and fasted as aforesaid and the holy Ghost also declared that he had called the said Barnabas and Saul for the work of the Ministry or as aforementioned and moreover the holy Ghost said by way of command to them he spake unto who laid on their hands separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them which was to the work of the Ministry and if they had not in obedience to the holy Ghost direction and Counsell or order separated the said Barnabas and Saul they had been opposite and disobedient to the holy Ghosts command and authority but they were obedient and truly subject thereunto and did what they were required by the holy Ghost and when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they let them goe but they attributed the work of sending unto the holy Ghost and not to the power of man without the holy Ghost as the false Prophets doe now so they being sent forth by the holy Ghost departed unto Selucia and from thence they sayled to Cyprus Acts. 13.3 4. So it is clear that what they did in that thing it was what they were qualified and impowered by the holy Ghost to doe and they did it as a manifestation of their subjection unto the holy Ghosts order and authority who was of Counsell with them and did impower them to doe what he saw good and needfull to be done by them as subjects unto him Acts 13.1 2 3 4. Acts 1.8 Acts 15.28 and he also for bad them doing what he would not have done by them Acts 16.6 7 8 9 10. And so were of Counsell with them and a commander over them as well as a guide unto them and a remembrancer teacher and comforter of them according to the promise of Christ Iohn the 14.16 17 26. Ioh. 16.13 and they owned him and his authority when he was come Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.14 c. Acts 1.8 Acts 10.20 21. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. and they did not seek to exclude the office direction Counsell and authority of him that is to say of the holy Ghost as the false Prophets and Ministers of Anti-Christ doe and a long time have done who are now greatly offended at them that own the holy Ghost to be of Counsell with them and to teach command guide and comfort them according to the Scriptures Therefore take notice that they that seek to exclude the office and authority of the holy Ghost out of the Ministry and Churches to the end that they may set up themselves they are the false Prophets and Ministers of Satan or Subjects of Anti-Christ who are the great enemies to the kingdome and Ministery of Christ and are the Devils chief Agents and for the upholding of him and his interest in people therefore be warned and take heed of them for they have had a long reign and by their fruits ye shall know them according to Christs saying Mat. 7.15 16. c. And now as God is pleased to bring people to the annointing and teaching of the Spirit of truth to teach them and qualify them with the holy Ghost and thereby impower and send them to teach and require them to lay on hands it is good and ought to be done for what the holy Ghost sees good to be done and requireth any to be subject to him in the thing to act with and in the behalf of him it is necessary to be done and they ought to yeeld their obedience as a subjection unto him but if men take upon them by their own wills and inventions or humane learning to teach and lay on hands and be not fitted impowered and qualified by the holy Ghost to the same it is but selfish and the work is their own and not the Lords and therefore it works little or no true Reformation as experience of long and ever since the apostacy may or doth largely evidence and clearly demonstrate against them Oh that men would deny themselves and self-confidences and all self-refuges and interests thereof as in reference to the work of the Ministry and worship of God and also about the work of Reformation c. and let the Lord alone with his work and give up into his will to be led taught counselled and ordered by him then would they see the emptiness and insufficiency of self and their own nothingness as in reference to the work aforementioned and so see the Lord to be the author and well-spring of all good and happiness to mankinde and also sufficient to reforme teach order and establish people and nations in the truth and true spirituall worship and Ordinances both to the praise and glory of his grace and the joy and comfort of their souls and for the everlasting good and happiness of them so would stocking stoning and persecuting of men and wasting their estâ—tes or spoyling their goods about
righteous man falling seven times a day and there is the place of Scripture which makes most for that saying when it doth not say so but it seems Hopkins and Sternhold durst presume to put in their own words and say seven times a day to make meeter and the people ignorantly have grounded a confidence upon a lie and so have lied of the righteous man and also of the Scripture since the apostacy by reason of the false Prophets or Subjects of Anti-Christ Neither doth that Scripture say in plaine tearms that the just man sins in those seven times that he falls but the wicked sins because he falls into mischief and lays waite against the dwelling of the righteous and seeks to spoyl his resting place as aforesaid moreover it is said of the wicked that they sleep not unless they have done mischief and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall or suffer by them for they cat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence but the righteous is counselled to avoid the way of evill men Pro. 4.14 15 16 17. and are forbidden to enter into the path of the wicked and if the righteous man should sin seven times a day he would both enter into the path of the wicked and walk in the way of evill men But it is said that the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18 but the way of the wicked is as darkness ver 19. Therefore it is to be observed that there is as much difference between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked as between light and darkness and that they that deny the light are ignorant of the way of the righteous and most acquainted with darkness the way of the wicked and I say there is a vaste difference between sinning seven times in the whole and sinning continually seven times a day if it was so that the just man did sin seven times in those seven falls yet the just man he may fall severall times and not sin in those falls for it is said of Job that he was a perfect and an upright man as any was upon the face of the earth at that time Job 1.8 and he held his integrity as the Lord said though Satan moved the Lord against him to have destroyed him without cause Iob 2.3 and he fell into many troubles or tryalls sufferings and exercises as just men oftentimes doe yet it is said that in all this Job did not sin with his lips Iob 2. 10. And Iames saith if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body And the just or righteous man may fall into troubles tryals and exercises for the tryall of their faith and patience and yet in those falls may be kept from sin for many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of them all the Lord upholdeth them that so fall and raiseth up all those that be bowed down Psal 145.14 for the Lord upholdeth them with his hand Psal 37.24 Concerning Prayer IN the true Church before the apostacy the true Gospel Minister said I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the understanding also 1 Cor. 14,15 But since the apostacy the false Prophets or Ministers of Anti-Christ and Subjects of sin they pray without the true Spirit guiding therein and without the understanding for though they say Our father which art in Heaven they are ready to account it blasphemy for any to say I am a child or Son of God and they also say in one of the Petitions in the Lords Prayer viz forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us here they pray to God to forgive them their trespasses committed against him as they forgive them that trespast against them when they doe not forgive such as they account to be trespassers against them but rather seeks to destroy them by imprisonment and sending to the house of correction and by abusing them with cruell persecution Doe such pray for any forgiveness of God who doe not forgive when they pray for their forgiveness as they forgive others and if any be moved of the Lord to goe and speak to a Priest or a company of people led astray by a spirit of errour to the end that they may returne and seek the Lord doe not the Priests account it a trespass against them and instead of passing it by with a forgiveness if it be by them accounted a trespass doe they not seek rather to punish to the uttermost if so doe they not pray without understanding when they pray to be forgiven as they forgive others when they never intend to doe as they say and doe they not also pray that God may be avenged on them as they seek to be avenged on the people of God that comes to speak unto them in pure obedience to the Lord which the Parish Priests accounts a trespass against them But if they were in the truth they need not to be afraid to be spoken unto by a servant of the Lord is it not deceit that needs to be guarded with a law to the end that none may speak unto them in obedience to the Lord likewise in the true Church before the apostacy it was an order amongst them that if any thing were revealed to them that sat by they might speak and the first hold his peace 1 Cor. 14.30 But since the apostacy the case is altered in the Parish Churches so called and none must speak their that sits by if the Lord command it under paine of imprisonment c. Is not that in errour to the true Churches order consider well of it and read 1 Cor. 14 30 31 32 33. And before the apostacy to pray by the true Spirit was much commended and amongst true beleevers in the true Church it was much practised and prayer could not well be made acceptable to God but by the Spirit or they knew not how to pray as they ought without the direction and assistance of the holy Spirit which made and now maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God But since the apostacy prayer by the Spirit hath been much denyed and the false Prophets and Subjects of Anti-Christ are ready to mock and jeer at them that preach and pray by and with the Spirit according to the Scriptures as the Saints formerly did Rom. 8.26 27.1 Cor. 2.4 5 6. Mat. 6.6 c. Eph. 6.18 19. But who are they that jeer at this now except the false Prophets and Subjects to Anti-Christ who like hypocrites pray standing in the Synagogues contrary to the true Christs command Mat. 6.5 that they may be seen and praised of men of like minds but as Christ hath said they have their reward and by their fruits they shall be known but Christ bids his to beware of such and