God By Christ or righteousnes H. N. sayth he meaneth the being like Christ not any ceremonial Christ so he seemeth to esteem the playn doctrines of the gospel to be but ceremonial that wheras we read there of one Jesus to be crucified for our syns c. this he couÌ„teth but a ceremonie shadow or figure such it may be as was the ram that Abraham offred or the beasts that Aaron killed or perhaps the parable that Jotham told for the true Christ that saveth men is the Lovely being that is in the Familists themselves this idol hath their god H. N. out of his prudency according to his fleshly mind set vp And this is a great secret or mysterie of iniquity H. N. 5. Herevpon my beloved mought ye or som other say we learn not or ther is not any thing taught vnto vs then out of the clear scripture which may not lie Yea my beloved the scripture lyeth not but al those which ar not instructed through the spirit of Christ they lie are beguiled signify or expouÌ„d the scripture which is spokeÌ„ through the holy Ghost shewed out in the spirit of life Iohn 6. vpon an earthy or elementish foundation wherthrough the man can not obteyn or get any renewing of the hart Even like as in the witnessing of the scripture ther is witnessed sufficiently to those that can vnderstand the same Who is ther without the word of the Lord which is spirit life Iohn 6. that hath atteyned vnto the salvation or who hath I beseech you in any world brought forth any true witnes vnlesse that he through the Spirit of the Lord which is his word become altogether born anewâ— H. A. UUE are sure the sacred scripture lâ—â—th not but H. N. which abusâ—th and falsifieth the scripture and denieth Jesus to be the Christ making Love and the Lovely Being in himself and his familie to be Christ as we have heard is by the Apostle condemned for a Liar and an Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 22. and he not being instructed through the Spirit of Christ hath taught an earthly and rotten foundation to the ruine of true religion The scripture cannot rightly be vnderstood or opened but by the Holy Ghost that is the gifts of the holy Ghost But some have the gifts of the Spirit which yet are not themselves altogither born anew as had Balaam the Scribes and Pharises Caiaphas Judas the traitor and others many which as the Apostle sayth Heb. 6. 4. were once lightned have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the holy Ghost Therfore it is false which H. H. writeth that none in any world brought forth any true witnes vnlesse that he became altogither born anew Againe he here brocheth another error in expounding the Spirit of the Lord to be his word which H. N. in his grosse vnderstanding perversly gathereth from Christs words Iohn 6. 63. the words that I speak vnto you are spirit wherby our Lord meaneth that his words were spiritual not that they were the Holy Spirit it self For he vseth the like phrase of a spiritual and regenerated man saying Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Iohn 3. 5. 6 Now seing H. N. describing his Communialty of the Love sayth Whosoever cometh into this good city he becometh altogither born anew in the spirit he may by like reason conclude that himself and his Nicholaitans are also the holy Spirit and so be a blasphemer against the Holy Ghost as he is against the Father and the Son The Scriptures teach vs playnly to distinguish between the word and the Spirit of the Lord this latter being cause and author of the former as it is written 2 Sam. 23. 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake in me his word was in my tongue and of al the prophets it is witnessed that they spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1 21. The Apostle sayth this is the word which is preached among you and how they preached it an other sheweth when he sayth that by the spirit of God they knew the things given them of God and spake those things not in words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Spirit teacheth that al men may see how ignorantly if not worse H. N. hath confounded the word and the Spirit of the Lord as if they were one thing H. N. 6. Note wel or consider of fellowship the estate or manner of the Apostles how that they although they went about so long tyme with Christ wer alwayes with him whiles the power of God was wrought through him vnderstood not what the mind of the Lord was concerning the godly causes before that the day of Pentecost or Whitsontide when that they received the holy Ghost was come vnto them Even like as there standeth written how that they sayd at the tyme when Christ was crucified among them we had hoped or supposed that he should have delivered Israel and it is now the third day and ther cometh nothing of it we wil goe a fishing For they supposed that Christ should have set vp a fleshly kingdom H. A. HEre H. N. to magnify himself as a spiritual and godded man spareth not to wrong the holy Apostles as if they before Pentecost Acts. 2. vnderstood not the scriptures nor preached the word truly wheras it is evident that they were sent and had preached the word long before Luk. 9. 1. 2. which word Christ had given them and they received Iohn 17. 8. 14. and were made clean by it Iohn 15. 3. and he had opened their vnderstanding to vnderstand the scriptures Luk. 24. 45. though afterward at Pentecost they received more plentifull graces of the spirit when Christ was gone from them Act. 2. 1. 2. 4. c. Again H. N. as if he delited to falsify the scripture sayth there standeth written how that they sayd when Christ was crucified we hoped that he should hav delivered Israel c. wheras these words were spoken by Cleopas and an other disciple which were none of the Apostles as appeareth Luk. 24. vers 18. 21 33. and to make vp his patcherie he addeth that they sayd it is now the third day there cometh nothing of it we wil go a fishing Wheras those two spake not at al of going a fishing but other men at an other time Ioh. 21. 3. By this the reader may mind what credit is to be given to H. N. his allegations of scripture who careth not to profane the holy word for maintenance of his lies and setteth things down as they come in his idle head But why say I so of this godded man seeing men ought not to distrust him nor suspect any manner of evil or vnwisdom by this Oldest Father whose eysight as himself sayth was clearer then Chrystal his vnderstanding brighter
then the Sun H. N. 7. The whiles then that the Apostles which dayly went about with Christ and had the word of the Father dayly among them vnderstood not the Spirit of the Lord how should then the multitude of these which now say that they are Christians yet neyther have nor know spirit nor word but go on with their fleshly prudencie in the literal scripture and set forth the same with their fleshly harts before the simple people as it seemeth best vnto them and say even so very stowtly we have the word of the Lord wheras it is but their own word wherin that they through their own prudencie are gendred or begotten feel eyther perceiv the same H. A. THe application of this invective belongeth to H. N. himself and his Nicholaitans who out of his fleshly hart as seemeth best vnto him though against the literal scripture setteth forth his forgeries to the simple people yet boasteth very stowtly that he is anoynted with the holy ghost in the old age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ godded with God in the spirit of his Love made heyr with Christ in the heavenly goods of the riches of God illuminated with the spirit in the heavenly truth the true light of the perfect being elected to a minister of the gracious word c. so that in him and his sect the prophesie is fulfild which foretold how in the last dayes men should be lovers of them selves boasters proud cursed speakers c. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2. But if the Apostles as he sayth vnderstood not the spirit of the Lord how should then he that is sold into syn and given over vnto heresies which are works of the flesh feel or perceiv the same H. N. 8. It is true they have the scripture and the same giveth witnes of the Lord and of the word but is not the word it self Iohn 5. neyther yet may any man vnderstand the witnessing of the same vnlesse that he hath first inherited the spirit of the Lord in the second birth H. A. ONe evil and heresie draweth on another wher God restreyneth not men by his grace Here H. N. denieth the scripture to be the word of the Lord saying that it giveth witnes of the Lord and of the word Which he would gather from Christs speech Iohn 5. 39. Serch the scriptures for they testifie of me but he abuseth the scripture and concludeth amisse as if because it giveth witnes of the Lord Iesus therefore it is not the word the contrarie wherof is true it giveth witnes of him therfore it is his word For Christ playnly calleth that which is written in the Law the word Iohn 15 25. and so doth Paul Rom. 9. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 54. and Peter 2 Pet. 1. 19. The scriptures for we speak not here of the essential word of the Father which is Christ himself are the word of the Lord written even as the lively preaching of the prophets and Apostles was the word of the Lord spoken The beginning of their books sheweth this as Hos. 1. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Hosea Ioel. 1. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Ioel and many the like It is sayd Exod. 20. 1. God spake al these words and in Exod. 24. 4. it is said Moses wrote al the words of the Lord. If then that be Gods word which is spoken that also is his word which is written and H. N. is but an instrument of Satan to teach otherwise that he may bring his own word in the place If the scripture be not Gods word because it is a witnesse then the Holy Spirit which H. N. made the word before in sect 5. is not so seeing that is a witnesse also 1 Iohn 5. 6. yea Christ is a witnesse Rev. 1. 5. God the Father is a witnesse 1 Iohn 5. 9. 10. the Apostles also were witnesses Luk. 24. 48. If then that which is a witnes is not the word then none of these but H. N. and his dreames must be the word to weet of the Serpent and he indeed is no witnesse of God neyther do his writings bear testimony to the truth but seek to destroy it H. N. 6. Oh my beloved look into the same a little with me what vncertayn witnessings that we out of an earthly or a natural Being have followed after even vntil this day We may wel say with the Prophet it is altogither lies what the scripture learned preach eyther teach for asmuch as they do reject the word of the Lord Ier. 8. Here giveth the prophet a distinction or diversity betwixt the word of the Lord the witnessing of an vnregenerated man which he bringeth forth out of the Letter of the scripture H. A. THe more we look the more indeed we see what vncertayn witnessings you H. N. out of an earthly Being have followed after even vntil this day This stil more and more appeareth in your abusing of the prophets and Apostles Here you would father a distinction vpon Jeremy as if the word of the Lord and that which is written in the scripture were not one and the same the Prophet teacheth no such thing but blameth the Jewes for rejecting the word in truth and deed whiles they boasted to be wise and to have the law with them Ier. 8. 8. 9. He denyeth not the written law to be the word for I have before proved that it was Gods word Exod. 20. 1. 14. 4. but sheweth how vnregenerate men wil abuse it and yet boast of it as your self H. N. are found to falsify the word and yet vaunt your self to be a godded man and minister of the gracious word Every jod and title and consequently every Letter word and sentence of the scripture is Gods vndoubted word though yow and al Divils should deny it the false glosses and heresies that yow and other vnregenerated men gather from it are the word of Satan which the scripture it self by help of Gods spirit evidently doth disprove and so the word of the Lord endureth for ever and that is the word which the Apostles preached 1 Pet. 1. 25. and what they did preach is recorded in their writings H. N. 10. Oh if these men which now so boldly or freemindedly doe say that they are Christians and wil alwayes confesse Christ with the mouth had eyes to see the right spirit for to vnderstand then should they surely cease or leav off for to walk in the strange or erring wayes 11. There is read in the scripture that Christ should be confessed or acknowledged which is a very true witnes but the mind or meaning of the Lord therin do verie few vnderstand And many suppose whiles they have read in the scripture of one Christ likewise through their industry or prudencie they know that in times past ther was one Christ in Israel which was born amongst his own that the same when they know it confesse it with their
the spirit of error that possessed him he takes Christs death for vs to be a holy life in vs as before is more largely shewed Vnsound it is and savoring of a fātastical spirit that he opposeth in the end the services and ceremonies which ar ministred through the comaundement of the holy Ghost out of a Christian like being vnto the service fashioned like to the scripture For ther is no service commanded by the holy Ghost but it is fashioned like to the scripture and hath the ground and warrant therfrom otherweise it cometh from the Spirit of Satan and not from God For Gods Spirit leadeth men into al truth Iohn 16. 13. and it is Gods word which is the truth Iohn 17. 17. The three that bear witnes in heaven The Father the Word and the holy Ghost as they ar in Being so are they also in their testimony one 1. Ioh. 5. 7. As the doctrin of Christ was not his own but the Fathers that sent him so neyther is the doctrine of the holy Ghost his own but the sons that sent him as Christ witnesseth saying he shal not speak of himself but whatsoever he shal hear he shal speak and agayn he shal glorify me for he shal receiv of mine and shal shew it vnto yow Now seing the holy Ghost teacheth no other doctrine then Christ nor Christ then the Father and seing Christ himself sendeth al men to serch the scriptures as they which testify of him and his Apostle hath taught vs that the knowledge of the scriptures is able to make vs wise vnto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus we may veryly deem it to be a delusion of Satan whatsoever any would teach vs towching Gods service that is not warranted by the scriptures and that those are spirits of errour which so disdeyn and scoff at scripture-learning and boast of illumination by the holy Ghost Vnsound also it is and contrary to the scriptures that H. N. here would perswade vs that where it commeth not to passe that the holy Ghost which is the pledge of the godly inheritance is not received vnto them there is not the Christian service ministred For the Apostle sheweth that Israel had the true Christian service ministred to them when they did al eat the same spiritual meat and drink of the spiritual Rock which followed them which Rock was Christ yet received they not the Godly inheritance which is the holy Ghost for with many of them God was not pleased they were overthrown in the wildernes and could not enter into the Rest of God because of their vnbeleef The Christian service was rightly administred to Simon Magus whē he was baptised yet was not his hart right in the sight of God also vnto Iudas when he did sit and eat with the other Apostles yet even then Satan and not the holy Ghost entred into him Even so with vs the true Christian service in the administration of the word seales and censures is set forth and practised though many receiv it into evil harts and vnfaithful to their greater condemnation But the elect of God are edified comforted and confirmed in his grace hereby though these are not many for many be called but few elected Mat. 20. 16 Agayn H. N. hath here set down that which overthroweth the whole scope of his writing when he sayth Those services cerimonies which are ministred through the commandement of the holy Ghost out of a Christian-like Being they have the promises whiles they are rightly obeyed c. If thus it be then ought all Christians to labour and seek for those services and ceremonies as he calleth them that so they may obteyn the promises then also must they shun and refreyn from al false and humane ceremonies or services which have no promise and are but the profaning of Gods name And this is our cause fayth and practise which witnes against and absteyn from the Antichristian services and ceremonies of Popery for which doing the world hateth and persecuteth vs from which profession practise and patient suffering this writer would diswade and allure to communion with wickednes by the vayn pretenses set forth in this Letter as after more playnly foloweth H. N. 21. Oh how wel should they doe which do now extol themselves before the simple and say that they are preachers of Christ if they would first learn to know Christ before they made themselves ministers of him They wil preach the word of Christ and yet they have not according to the Spirit seen the fashion or shape of Christ or heard of the same in any world They say the scripture witnesseth vnto vs that we for Christs cause should forsake our lives the which according to the truth is very true but the most part which speaks so much thereof they themselves vnderstand not the mind or meaning of God in that which the scripture sayth namely how that we must hate and forsake our own life or els we cannot be the disciples of Christ. Therfore mark wel therevpon not only vpon that but also vpon al the witnessings of the scripture 22 Oh vnderstand advisedly what I doe write of the forsaking of our own life When God had created the man then was the man in subjection to the life of God and not to his own life for therevnto God had created the man that he should be of one life one being one Spirit and of one nature with God But when the man desyred in his hart to love some other thing beside the life of God namely the concupiscence of the syn then went he into his own life and contentation and forsook the life of God and lived even so his own life and the life of the Divil 23. The whiles now that the office of Christ hath his ministration for to bring the man agayn vnto God the Father so cannot Christ bring the man to the Father vnlesse that the man forsake his own life which he hath lived so long to the Divel and to himself which is al that same wherin he hath sought loved lived to himself 24. Is not this now a great overshooting or misunderstanding that the children of men can say and teach that Christ meant hereby the natural or elementish man H. A. IT had been wel in deed if H. N. who so extolleth himself before the simple sayth that he is a preacher of Christ yea Godded with God would first have learned to know Christ before he hade made him self a minister of him For now being ignorant of the principles of religion and a meer stranger from the life of God he hath perverted al things to his own and ther mens perdition Witnes this his corrupt doctrine about the forsaking of our own life Wherin he first and generally seeketh to colour his iniquity with deceit and fraud For to perswade that we need not give our lives our natural elementish lives for
and folowed his corrupt counsel then were they led captive as the Apostle sayth being simple women laden with synns and led with divers lusts From which estate God keep al his people direct their feet in the wayes of life peace AN EPISTLE Sent vnto two daughters of Warwick From H. N. THe wisdome of the Father through the Love of Christ in the power of the holy Ghost in the second birth out of the new life of the heavenlie being be vnto every one which with an vnpartial hart seeketh the godlynes in Iesus Christ to a harty salvation Because that every one which seeketh God with hart mought know the right diversitie betwixt the heavenly and the earthly betwixt the spirit the flesh betwixt the light and the darknes betwixt the death the life and betwixt the righteousnes of the spirit and the righteousnes of the elementish things and then to love the same That grant vs the Almightie God through his love Amen 1. Because ye mought through the spirit of Christ inherit the same gift and meere affection or goodwillingnes to the godly life I do bear or cary the same gift God is my witnes before al men But now am I compelled through the love of Christ severally to open the same gift vnto two yong daughters of a certayn place named Warwick The Lord give his prosperitie and grace thervnto for that his righteousnes which is wrought through the Spirit of Christ mought be knowen of them and that the life of Christ which by many is sought after the flesh might be knowen and inherited of them according to the spirit even like as God which is blessed is a Spirit Ioh. 4. 2 Cor. 3. H. A. OUr saviour Christ the wisdome of the Father hath warned vs to beware of false prophets which come vnto vs in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves The Apostles through the love of Christ in the power of the holy Ghost have foretold vs that in the latter times some should depart from the faith and give heed vnto spirits of error and doctrines of Divils speaking lies through hypocrisie and having their consciences burned-with-a-hot-yron and therfore counselled vs not to beleev everie spirit but to trie the spirits whither they ar of God because many false prophets were even then gone out into the world The evil that they should enterprise is privilie to bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that hath bought them the maner of their cariage should be to vse feighned words fayr flattering and good speech swelling words of vanity promises of liberty and the like The effect of their doctrine should be deceiving of the harts of the simple even of many yea if it were possible of the verie elect and by those many that follow their damnable wayes the way of truth should be blasphemed The end of al which touching themselves is that because such reprobates receive not the love of the truth that they mought be saved therfore God sendeth them strong delusion that they should beleeve lies and they al may be damned which beleeve not the truth but hav pleasure in vnrighteousnes These things considered it standeth vs vpon to look wel to our selves least we be caried away with the error of the wicked This author H. N. beginneth as was foretold not onely with fayr and flattering speech but also with swelling words of the second birth out of the new life of the heavenly being and sondry the like He boasteth of the gift of the godly life which he beareth before al men and here severally openeth vnto two yong daughters and of this he taketh God to witnesse He telleth them in the 2. section folowing that the Christ of God was not yet declared vnto them according to the heavenly truth Thus promiseth he great matters and seemeth to be a setter forth of a new Christ and consequently of a new God Very needful therfore it is to attend vnto his doctrine and if it be true for to receive it if false for to abhorr it and to hold the author therof accursed And herevnto the Lord inable and guide vs by his grace 1. First where he vaunteth of the gift borne before al men in his other writings opened to these daughters in this Epistle let vs bring it to the trial by the word of God who he saith is his witnes For we read of some that have given gifts vnto their lovers that they might come vnto them on every side for fornication and whither this writing and other pamphlets of H. N. be not gifts sent abroad for such evil purpose let the godly reader judge If his gift have wytnes of God it hath witnes of his written word as the prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because ther is no light in them Is H. N. willing to come to this trial it seemeth farr otherweise for in al his writings he much inveigheth against scripture-learning contrary to the true prophets and Apostles who highly commended this as being able to make men wise vnto salvation and profitable to teach to improve to correct to instruct in righteousnes and never did any of them entwite the learning or knowledge of the scriptures as the reader may see H. N. to doe in this Epistle and his other pamphlets Our saviour Christ willed al men even his adversaries to serch the scriptures for they testified of him If they testified likewise of H. N. and his doctrine doubtlesse he would not despise as his manner is the scripture-learning of others especially whiles he wil seem to rely vpon the testimonies of the same for himself But if we may not learn the truth of religion out of holy writt how then may we attayn it H. N. telleth vs in his First exhortation to his children thus My beloved children like as the true Communiality of holy ones and Elders of the house of Love confesse vnder the obedience of the Love the beleef in Iesu Christ and the Christian baptism and like as I expresse the same here vnto you and confesse or acknowledge it before al men to be the true faith and the vpright baptisme even so ground with fast beleef your harts likewise therin So then the doctrine of H. N. and his folowers must be the groūd of our faith as they confesse and beleev so must we And herein the Familists religion accordeth wel with the Turks whose great prophet Mahomet in his law or Alchoran to draw disciples after him saith thus They that worship God let them if they be good beleev his Messenger Mahomet and again O ye good men be followers of God and of his messenger never wittingly depart from them But may we not our selves by the light and grace that God giveth vs make trial of H. N. his religion by the word of the Lord
as H. N. sayth according to the heavenly truth Wheras that which he meaneth by heavenly truth wil be found indeed to be hellish error he teaching such things of God and of Christ and of mans righteousnes as the prophets and Apostles have every wher condemned which anon will appear H. N. 3. Because that the same miserable doctrine and false wisdom of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes mought be made known and even so then to be forsaken therfore hath God now in the same last day showed his grace mercifulnes on vs poor wretched ones and hath declared vnto vs through his holy spirit his service of Love for to declare vnto al good willing ones through the self same service which is the true way to the everlasting life Therfore let everie one now through the same service of love be warned that he look wel hereto that he boast not himself in any of the works of righteousnes or take on the same to salvation neyther to condemnation before that he in the spirit of Christ through the love of the Father be renewed in al righteousnes of life Not that I mean in the elementish ceremonial righteousnes which the man setteth forth or occupieth out of his owne prudencie but I mean in that righteousnes which according to the heavenly truth is in the being of Christ and is set forth through the spirit of God For the Father is not honoured but through the Son that is no man may know eyther serve God but that he must be born out of the spirit of Christ even like as ther standeth written Ther availeth before God neyther circumcision nor vncircumcision but onely a new creature in Christ Iesus wrought through the Love Gal. 6. Therfore shal Christ in the day of judgements accuse and find faultie a flesh in their righteousnes even like as he saith I shal reprove or rebuke the world of their righteousnes Ioh. 16. That this is al what the man out of his first birth hath set vp for a righteousnes which is an enimy vnto God even like as he sayth Ioh. 10. They are al theeves and murtherers which are come before me that is whosover letteth himself think that he is a Christian before the spirit of Christ be born in him that same is a theef and a murderer For whosoever hath not the spirit of Christ the same belongeth not vnto him Rom. 8. Even like as Paul hath witnessed wher he saith I durst not speak any word vnlesse that Christ had spoken the same in me or through me Rom. 15. yea no man sayth he in an other place can name Iesus to be the Lord but through the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. A natural man sayth he testeth not the spirit of God 1 Corinth 2. My children saith Paul to the Galathians with whom I travel agayn in birth vntil that Christ be fashioned in you 1 Gal. 4. Here may we mark that without the Spirit of Christ ther is no knowledge of God And vvher God is not knovvn ther can ther not any doctrine be occupied to the mans salvation It is verie true H. A. THe author pretending to deal against that which he would faynest establish to weet the miserable doctrine and false wisdome of the flesh which gendreth her own righteousnes first draweth the readers to himself and his familie and the service of Love as being the declarers of the true way to the everlasting life now in the same last day But this is like the cariage of the whorish woman who caught the yong man and kyssed him and with an impudent face sayd vnto him I have peace offrings this day have I paid my vowes therfore came I forth to meet thee c. and H. N. hath no better warrant then his predecessor Mahomet who before him boasted himself to be the Teacher of the nations That the reader may discern the frawd of this falser I wil first briefly shew what doctrine he hath taught cōcerning God and Christ And then I wil proceed in answering this his Letter The God which H. N. treacheth to the world is not as the scriptures declare the true God vnto vs One eternal everliving infinite incomprehensible almighty vnserchable and vnchangeable Being who onely hath immortality and dwelleth in the light that none can attayn vnto whom never man saw neither can see vnto whome be honour and power everlasting Amen 1 Tim. 6. 16 Exod. 3. 14. Rev. 1. 4. Iob. 11. 7. 8. 9. 36. 26. Psal. 90. 2. 93. 2. 102. 26. 27. 145. 3. Act. 17. 25. Iam. 1. 17. But H. N. telleth vs of a God that was in the beginning as a light af life of one substance with the manly creatures For as he saith after in this letter God had created the man that he should be of one life one Being one Spirit and of one nature with God Now the manly creature we know was finite comprehensible not from eternity but had his beginning in the sixt day of this world and soon was changed from his estate and became like to the beasts that perish How then can it without highest blasphemie and dishonour of God be sayd or thought that God was of one substance with the man yet H. N. to bring his blasphemie to a higher degree if he may hath further manifested his mind thus See and mark ye beloved in the beginning when God made al things wel then was the Lord one Lord of his kingdom one God of his works ther was also no more but one God and one man and they were one and had in al one order being and nature for God was al that the man was and man was al that God was The Divil when he had the Serpent for his instrument the subtilest beast of the field durst not vtter such abomination vnto Evah as to say she should be of one substance with God or al that God was but only that she should be like vnto God knowing good and evil but here having gotten a new instrument H. N. which mystical letters may rightly be read Ha Nachash that is The Serpent who now is weren more old in evil more bold in falshood he shameth not to teach that God and man were one substance and being God al that man and man al that God was By this doctrine H. N. leadeth men at once from God to the Divil and deifieth the Serpent For the Serpent was too subtile for the manly creature the Divil deceived and overcame the man with al that he was his body sowl and spirit Now seing God the creator and man the creature had al one substance and being and the one was al that the other was it wil folow vpon this blasphemers doctrine that the man had as much power wisdom wil and ability everie way to withstand the Divil as God himself had but the Divil was too strōg and too wise for the man therfore also he was
creator and the creatures between whose Being there is no comparison Which things if he would not learn of the H. scriptures because he scorneth scripture learning yet might he have learned of Philosophers and heathen men who have sayd that though by certayn demonstration it is manifest that a divine artizen hath procreated vs yet by no reason or wit can we perceave what his essence or being is That God is One alone separated from all who cannot be explayned nor perceived that he is the first simplicity incomprehensible incomparable vniform that he cannot be known or found out yea that it is neyther possible to find him out nor lawful to serch him out And many like speeches have the Pagans spokē of God more divinely soundly and religiously a great deal then this Epicure H. N. the God of the Familists hath written in his blasphemous pamphlets After he hath thus described the vpright Christian Baptisme as he sayth or washing in the name of the Father he proceedeth with his Baptisme in the Name of the Son of whom he sayth that he is conceived of the holy Ghost and born of the holy Virgin Mary And that thissame Son of God beareth in vs our synnes c. and that he vnder the obedience of the Love of his Father is gone before vs therin for that we should in like manner follow after him vnder the obedience of his Love in his death of the crosse to the safemaking of vs from our synns become incorporated to him with his like death and baptised or washed vnder the obedience of the Beleef in his Name or safemaking and bury even so through the beleef the old man c. to the forgiving and releasing of our synns through his name or safemaking to the end that we might even so through Iesu Christ obteyn the renewing of our spirit and mind in an vpright life and resurrection from the dead with Christ in the appearing of his Majesty And that this is the vpright Christian Baptisme in the name of the Son and is the true forgivnes and purging of our synns through Iesu Christ. And all that thus folow not Christ are no Christians nor yet baptised in the name or salvation of the Son Here is an other puddle of heresie for men to be washed in in the name of H. Ns Christ. Of whom he first telleth vs that he is conceived and born whereas we beleeve in that Christ which was conceived and borne now many yeres ago But the Nicholaitans have a Christ in them to weet their Lovely Being as before is shewed Neither is their fayth setled on one Jesus borne heretofore in Israel but they themselves are born of the virgin Mary as their Father H. N. teacheth them in his Gospel saying the vpright children of the beleef which had their discent out of the seed of the faith of Abraham and the pure virgin Mary as also from the holy Ghost were known to be the true seed of Abraham because the same seed was the seed of the promise of God the Father was likewise in his mind according to the spirit the likenes of God his Father also spirit spiritual of the godly nature being according to the wil of God wholly minded w th God These vpright children of the beleef ar the Familists themselves if we wil beleev them they are born of the holy Ghost and of the pure virgin Mary and are not onely their own saviours but as a little before in the same place he writeth the seed out of the faith of Abraham out of the pure Virgin Mary is the true seed of promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth Thus do these caytiffs take to themselves the honour of Christ and though the Prophet telleth vs but of one child that is born vnto vs which should be prince of peace should order and stablish the kingdome of David forever yet these tel vs of many children of the pure virgin Mary as being that seed of promise in whom al generations of the earth should be blessed How they have this strange birth we may gather by H. N. his learned interpretation of the name Mary which he sayth signifieth a Doctresse for the doctrine of H. N. is that wherby his disciples are born anew as elswher he expoūdeth that to be born of the virgin Mary out of the seed of David after the flesh is of the pure doctrine out of the seed of Lov. Now Mary caled in Greek Mariam in Hebrew Mirjam I find in the scripture to signify their rebellion Nehem. 9. 17. which name very fitly agreeth to the Familists Doctrine but how or in what tongue it signifieth a Doctresse themselves I suppose can hardly shew vnlesse vpon H. Ns authority who as he hath given them a new gospel so also a new language farr differing from the language of Canaan wherby they may make what meaning and gather what allegories they lyst from words and none must suspect any vnwisedome to be in them Secondly H. N. sayth that thissame Son of God beareth in them their synns wheras that Son of God in whom the scriptures teach vs to beleev hath washed vs from our synns in his own blood and put thē away by the sacrifice of himself for he was wounded for our transgressions his own self bare our syns in his body on the tree and died for vs. How erroneously then doth H. N. perswade that Christ beareth in vs our synns Thirdly he sayth that Christ is gone before vs for that we should in like maner follow after him vnder the obedience of his Love in his death of the crosse to the safemaking of vs from our synns so teaching vs to save our selves by imitation of Christ this being all the benefit we have by his death that it is an example vnto vs how to do likewise Wherin H. N. sheweth himself to be a greater enemy to Christianity then was Caiaphas who sayd it was expedient that One man should die for the people and that the whol nation perished not so prophesying that Christ should die for the nation wheras H. N. would have men die themselves for their own salvation that so they might all perish for ever But we have otherweise learned the true Christ who was delivered to death for our syns and is risen agayn for our justification That as by one man the first Adam syn entred into the world and death by syn and so death went over all men so by one man the second Adam Christ we might reign in life and as by one mans disobedience many were made synners so by the obedience of one many might he made righteous Fourthly H. N. teacheth that men are baptised vnder the obedience of the beleef in his name or safemaking and bury even so through the Beleef the old man
c. to the forgiving and releasing of their synns Where agayn he perversly applieth that to obedience and mortification which is due vnto faith For when the Eunuch would be baptised Philip required nothing of him but to beleeve and Paul sayth to him that worketh not but beleeveth in him that justifyeth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnes Although therfore obedience to the faith must be given by all true Christians and they which are baptised into I. Christ are baptised into his death and buriall yet is not this done to the forgiving and releasing of their synns as H. N. Pharisaically inferreth but to shew forth the fruit and force of faith wherby the just doe live and lay hold on Christ whom God hath set forth for a reconciliation though faith in his blood to declare his righteousnes by the forgivnes of synns that ar passed through the pacience of God Wheras therfore H. N. doth gather from the premisses that this which he hath set down is the vpright Christiā baptisme in the name of the Son is the true forgivnes purging of our synns through Iesu Christ he is found a false witnes against God and Christ and would give vs a synful sink of error even a vayn perswasion of our own obedience righteousnes and sanctification to wash our selves in and hath royled with his feet the pure fountayn of Christs blood which clenseth all beleevers from all syn That vpon himself his own words may justly be retorted he boasteth himself of the baptismey of Christ and he hath not known him in any world Of like leven is H. Ns baptisme in the name of the holy Ghost which he maketh to be also the second birth out of the holy Ghost the true love of God Christ. And this even as the former of baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son we must not vnderstand of any outward action by the minister of Christ washing with water as did John the Baptist nor yet to be done at one and the same time with the former but as H. N. sayth in the oldnes of time when the dayes of the patience of Christ in the obedience of the holy and gracious word his service of Love are fulfilled that is when men have walked long ynough in the Familists religion that then the holy Ghost becommeth powred forth through Iesus Christ vnderstanding H. Ns Christ to weet the Lovely being over them all that have followed Christ in his death of the crosse obediently that is which have saved themselves from their synns by their own fantasticall suffrings and have kept his doctrine with the word of his patience even vnto the end Thus hath this deceiver of minds drawn all Gods ordinance of Baptisme which with men is outward and was by the Apostles admininstred with materiall water vnto a blasphemous imagined Being and conformity with God or regenerated estate and the holy doctrine of Justification by forgivnes of synns through the blood of Christ shed for vs and sealed vnto vs in baptisme he hath wiped away vnder colour of Sanctification or deification by our own following of Christ. Which things he teacheth by the same spirit that the Serpent taught Evah not to fear the outward eating of the forbidden fruit seing she should be like vnto God knowing good and evil H. N. 19. After such a like maner witnesseth Paul of the supper of Christ wher he sayth so many of you as have eaten of one bread are become partakers of one body Hath any man now rightly vsed the supper of Christ the same is then become partaker of the body of Christ according to the mentioning of the scripture 20. Therefore see vnto it yea see vnto it everie one which sayth that he hath fulfilled the service of Christ or would be a disciple of Christ. For those services and ceremonies which are ministred through the comandement of the holy Ghost out of a Christianlike Being they have the promises whiles they are rightly obeyed that should receive the pledge of the godly inheritance which is the holy Ghost And where that cōmeth not to passe vnto them ther is not the Christian service ministred let them make them then so like fashioned to the scripture as they wil. For whatsoever is served without the spirit of Christ it is an abomination before God therein may everie one think freely H. A. That which is here sayd of the supper of Christ if an honest faithful mā had written the same might wel be yielded vnto for in the words ther would lurk no frawd But coming from this old seducer H. N. and being affixed to his former heresies I deny that after such a like manner as H. N. before treated of Bapisme Paul witnesseth of the supper of Christ. For Paul sayth not that we ar one Being with Christ but that we are the body of Christ and that the bread which we break is the communion of his body which body we eat and have communion with by faith not really and essentially as fleshly men imagine and we ar caled the body of Christ not properly but figuratively by way of similitude and in great mystery for as a man joyned to a woman is one flesh so he that is joyned vnto the Lord is one Spirit But as the woman notwithstanding her conjunction is not the man neyther hath the Being of the man so the church notwithstanding her conjunction is not Christ neyther hath the Being of Christ but by faith is coupled vnto him as he sayth by the prophet I will mary the vnto me in faith Now that H. N. hath the like grosse understanding of the Lords supper as he shewed before of Baptisme appeareth not onely by his entrance saying After such a like manner c but also by his words in his Gospel wher speaking of the Passover he sayth Christ gav his disciples to drink out of the cup which is his passion his true blood which is his holy life of the New Testament Thus applyeth he all things about Christ to a holy life even then and there wher it is playnly spoken of death For though blood whiles it is in the body is the life of the same yet when it is shed out of the body as Christ ther sayth his was it signifieth death not the life of the party as also the Apostle testifieth so oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew the Lords death til he come And as David would not drink the water that came out of the well of Bethlehē because it was the blood of the men that fetched it that is because they jeoparded their lives vnto the death to fetch it so we when we drink the wine out of the cup in the Lords supper doe drink the blood of Christ that is his death which for our synns he did vndergoe But H. N. by
life to frequent idolatrous assemblies hear masse worship a God of bread and the beast Antichrist observe his wicked ceremonies and professe his heretical doctrines as the Nicolaitans wil doe and H. N. would perswade these daughters vnto whiles yet he pretends to have them leav syn Dissimilation and hypocrisie is a hateful syn both to God and man wherin they that live are altogither strangers from the life of God and this is the trade of life and religion among the Familists who hating all religions but their own yet wil professe counterfeit and walk in any religion save their own for that they doe onely in secret because their works are evil but God in his time wil give them their due reward even openly H. N. 27. Oh how grosly then do they comprehend this which signify or apply this same vnto vs vpon the Pope of Rome say that the Pope is the Antichrist Oh oh no the Antichrist is nearer vnto vs were it wel known The wisdome of the flesh wherewithal the man wil judg the godly causes is verily the right Antichrist I say the wicked nature of the Divil wherwith the man is of one mind so long as he in the renewing of his spirit is not incorporated with Christ is verily that same right Antichrist Oh vnderstand it rightly with an vnpartial hart H. A. HEre H. N. crieth out of their grosse comprehension that say the Pope of Rome is the man of syn the Antichrist in the meā time he sheweth himself to be most grosse and carnal in his comprehension that expoundeth that man of syn spoken of 2 Thes. 2. to be The wisdome of the flesh the wicked nature of the Divil c. The vanity and falshood wherof every babe in Christ that looketh into that scripture may easily perceiv For th'Apostle speaking there of the day of Christs comming teacheth them not to exspect that vntil the departing from the fayth were first come and the man of syn the Son of perdition were first disclosed But the wisdome of the flesh and wicked nature of the Divil was come already for Adam and his children had brought it forth and nourished it in the world even from the beginning Gen 3. Rom. 5. 12. 14. 17. 18. c. and it was disclosed both by the Law Rom. 3. 20. and by the Gospel already preached 1 Cor. 1. 18. 19. 21. 27. and 2. 6. 7. c. 1 Iohn 3. 8. c. Wherfore it is but deceiving of mens sowles to teach them to wayt and look for that thing to come which is already come and H. N. sheweth how farr he is from vnderstanding the scriptures which yet so insolently vaunteth himself over al men As for vs we have learned of the Apostles to vnderstand generally every false prophet to be an Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 18 19. 22. But specially one great Antichrist to come after the Apostles times whose mystery began even then to work whiles they lived but somthing ther was which then withheld his reveling namely the hethen monarchie of the Romane empire which at that time withheld and hindred the doctrine of the Gospel by open tyrannie and persecution and should let the working and disclosing of that great Antichrist in the Papacie vntil himself that hethen Empire were taken out of the way Then after him should arise an other Beast or Monarchie with hornes like the Lamb Christ pretending his faith and Religion as doe the Papists though his speech be like the Dragons in al damnable doctrines and idolatries And this Antichrist should seat himself in the Temple or howse of God which is the Church and in the consciences of men by his errors wherwith he should deceiv mens sowles A large and lively description of which Beast and great whore that reigneth in the city built on 7. hills we have in the book of Revelation the light wherof H. N. would darken by the foggs and mists of his own fleshly and allegorical interpretations Now that the reader may see how good a proctour H. N. is for the Pope and wherfore he is so neerly affected to him and denyeth him to be Antichrist it shal not be amisse to shew what paynes he hath taken to compare himself and his societie with the Pope and his clergie that al mē may discern them to be both sworn brothers against Christ. In his new Gospel caled Evangelium regni H. N. hath thus applied things This same foregoing sayth he of the Elders of the holy vnderstanding and their anoynting of the holy Ghost to Priests Elders and Fathers hath the catholik church of Rome til vnto this day ministred and observed in figures as is abovesayd For to a token of remembrance of the holy anoynting of Christ with the holy spirit they have vsed the anoynting with oyl it is a sacramēt of the holy church of Christ which signifyeth vnto vs the anoynting of the Priests or Elders with the holy Ghost 5. Of which anoynted Elders or foregoers of the cōminalty of the catholik church of Rome the cheefest anoynted is named Papa signifieth vnto vs an old Father in the holy vnderstanding also the chief Bishop or high priest which hath his being or conversation in the most holy of the true and perfect sanctuary ministreth his office of the holy word therout and for that cause is also named The most holy Father c. Those now that are next to the forenamed Papa are named Cardinals which signify vnto vs the principallest which are neerest in the most holy vnderstanding of the godlines vnto the Eldest or holyest Father and have their communion with him in the most holy of the true and perfect being c. After this he proceedeth to shew how the Bishops signified the pastors of the sheep and lambs of Christ The Parish priests or curats signified Levitical priests or adjoyned Pastors and elders of the holy vnderstanding c. The Deacons signified ministers or helpers of the parish priests in the holy Godservices The Sextons signified conservers or keepers of the holy things The many manner of orders wherthrough many anoynted ones and zelous people sought the righteousnes and holynes which are named Monks signified such as dwel alone are through the love of the righteousnes Sanctified for that cause also separated from the world and from al what is worldly and fleshly c. And Next vnto al these forenamed anoynted ones are the common people which beleev and cleave vnto the services religions and ceremonies of the Anoynted and which also humble them to the requiring of those same c. Thus hath H. N. fetched the mysterie of his Family of Love from the Popes forge that al men may see it is no marvel that he denyeth the Pope to be Antichrist for H. N. the oldest Father of this Family wil be the Papa and great Antichrist himself and the Pope of Rome was but