have no such speech among you Catholicks But is without which is your bread and wine and are not all Murtherers Persecutors Prisoners Whippers Burners Inquisitioners Sectaries and Apostates from the Apostles and sacrificers from that nature Cain was in and not from the divine natuâ—e and the faith of the Son of God and the Apostles and Abel Have you the spirit of Christ Is any of the Church but who are of Abraham Is any of the Church of Christ but who are of the flesh of Christ Is any of Faith but who are of Abraham And is not faith a mystâ—ry a perfect gift of God and is not this faith held in a pure conscience And can any ones conscience which is not pure hold this faith of Gods elect wch is the mystery and doth not this faith give victory over the nature in man and woman that doth pâ—rtain to Idols anâ— Images made with mans hands and in the wills of men in Jewes Gentiles Apostates from the Apostles since their dayes come up And doth not the faith give victory over all the Jewes changeable Types Offerings Temples Tythes Priests Covenant Hath the Lord put his law into your minds that you need not say unto your neighbour and writ it in your heart that you need not say unto one another Know the Lord For from the greatest of you to the least of you ye all know the Lord Hath God commanded the light to shine out of darknesse and doth it shine in your hearts And then mark dotâ— that liâ—ht that shines in your heart mark again give you the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Cor. 2.4 Are you them that doth take heed to the light that shines in the dark place Is the day-star risen in your hearts that Peter speaks of Is the ingrafted word which is able to save the soule felt in you And the hidden man of the heart which is with the Lord a great price Are you them that are no wearers of gold or costly array Are you them that exercise Lordship one over another like unto the Gentiles or are you like unto the Apostles which Christ said it should not be so amongst them Are you like to the Pharisees called of men Mâ—ster laying heavy burdens upon the people and go in long Robes chiefest seats in the assemblies and loves salutations and uppermost rooms at Feasts which Christ said unto his be ye not so And where do you read Mr. Paul Mr. Titus and Mr. Timothy c. Are you the â—rue believers that are ceased from their own works as God did from his Are you come out of the law of works to the law of faith Is your consciences purged from dead works to serve the living God Are you those Children that needs no man to teach you but as the same anâ—inting abides in you and as it doth teach ye shall continue in the Son of God and the father Or are you the Seducers Sects and Hereticks that draws people from the anointing within and so men teachers Are you them that keep your selves from Idols that John speaks of Are you of the seed of the woman that keeps the commands of God Are you the children of the Lord that are taught of him that are farre from oppression Are you ceased from men whose breath is in their nostrils that the Prophet speaks of Are ye them that tremble at the Word of God Are you them that obey the word of faith in your hearts in your mouths and that saith the righteousnesse of faith speaks on this wise you need not say you need not fetch it from above or from beneath but what saith it The word is nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth to obey it and do it Is this a sectary or out of sectaries Are ye of them that make images or likenesses of Males and Females things in heaven above and earth beneath and bows down unto them wch corrupts themselves with them and corrupts the earth Are you of them that saith The kingdome of heaven is within you Have you found it in you Or are you like unto the Pharisees gazing for it abroad without you Is God the author of your faith and is it in your hearts and doth it purifie you Are the professors the greater persecutors that hath the form out of the faith out of the life of them that be of the faith and life then the Gentiles whether have been greater in all ages judge ye Have you found the pearl hid in the field Are you the Merchant man that hath made an exchange and purchased it Do you speak only as the Holy Ghost moves you as they that gave forth Scriptures Are you led by the same spirit and power that the Aâ—ostles were Do you speak but as the spirit gives you utterance and are you them that do not quench the spirit Are you them that owns prophesies immediately as the Apostles and Revelation and Inspiration from God as they had Have you heard Gods voyce and Christs voyce immediately from heaven as the Prophets and Aâ—ostles did What is the tree of Knowledge and what is the flaming Sword that keeps the tree of Life And what are the inwardly raveners and what is it they ravened from And what are the false Prophets and Antichrists that have got the sheeps cloathing which Christ said should come and John saw they were come And in the Revelation The world went after them And what is the Sea the Beast rose out of and what is the Beast and what is the second Beast that rose out of the earth and what is the earth he should deceive with his miracles and what are his miracles And all that dwell upon the earth should worship him because of his miracles And what are his names marks horns and heads crowns and images and what is the woman that fled into the wildernesse and what is the Whore that hath corrupted the Earth and what did she whore from which hath made the Inhabitants of the earth drunk And what are these Kings that have committed fornication with her And what is the cup of fornication that all Nations have drunk of And what is mystery-Babylon that reigns over the Kings of the earth and what is the Whore the false Prophets weapons Antichrists the Dragons that fight against the Saints withal And what are the Lambs weapons and the Saints that they fight withal and what Peoples Nations Multitudes Tongues are those that John says are waters that the Whore sits upon and what are those Saints that the Beast overcame and who are they which then the Beast had the power over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and are not these things got up since the dayes of the Apostles And whether or no the Lamb and the Saints shall not have the victory over them all again and whether or no the Saints must not come to that which they ravened from before they have victory over all that which
like they that have a horn to call their hounds together or the Swine-heard for people to put forth Swine or hower-glasses to preach by the hower prove it by scripture else acknowledge your are in the Apostacy and have set up â—hese things by your own inventions and are them that limit the spirit 62. Where did ever the Apostles consecrate any thing or the scripture speak of Sacraments or where did the Apostles use that which you call holy Water to sprinkle people withal if you cannot shew it by scripture where the Apostles or Christ diâ— practise any such thing acknowledge your selves that you be in the Apostacy that have set up such things since the dayes of the Apostles and erred from the true Church in your inventions 63. Where did the Apostles when they went to preach or to pray put on white Hoods Copes Tippets white Surplisses and cornered Caps are not all these things got up since the dayes of the Apostles amongst such as are apostatâ—zâ—d from them 64. Who are the inwardly Raveners that Christ said should come which was the false Prophets which should have the Sheeps clothing but inwardly ravening Wolves an inwardly ravening Wolf worse then a dog which got the sheeps clothing is not this it that has made war against the Saints that kept the testimony of Jesus the Spirit of prophesy and has not the wolf been covered with the sheeps clothing long such as ravined from the spirit such as has inwardly ravened and would ravine and destroy all that be contrary minded 65. Have not men fallen into the flesh since the dayes of the Apostacy and ravined from the spirit that went forth from the Apostles are not they them that has set up all these outward things as Temples Tythes Priests crosses crucifixes Schooles Colledges to make them Ministers Images Idols Abbies Nunneries Candels Altars Holy waters Praying by Beads sprinkling children with the sign of the crosse and have not you gone back who are ravened from the spirit and so lost the substance and so imitating Aaron and his Sons and imitating Altars and outward things that stood in Moses which the Apostle sayes while Moses was read the veil was over their hearts 66. Was not the first Priest-hood a true tipe and the Temple a true tipe of the inward and the Sanctuary and Altar a tipe and the outward things in the Law shadowing forth the good things that were to come which were but to have their times and seasons and did not the Apostle witnesse the substance of all tipes figures and shadows and signs and similitudes and likenesses and witnessed that which gave him to see where there was no shadow nor changing Now are not all your tythes Temples Priests Altars Crosses Crucifixes Images Similitudes Beads Cloysters Abbies Nunneries set up by your own inventions which men and people has been compelled to worship are not all these lying signs and wonders and the worship of the beast that which they that inwardly ravened set up and is not this to give worship to them that inwardly ravined from the spirit of God who are the Wolves that â—an make a profession of Christs and the Apostles words the Beast and false Prophets which the world has wondred after and should deceive them with their lying signes and wonders Did not the Apostles give hints of such things before their decease did not John see such come as the whole world went after and all that dwelt upon the earth worshipped the Beast Now answer me these things and clear me them by Scripture where the Apostles did practise or act any such things before mentioned and if ye be not such that John and the Apostles speaks of and Christ that should be the inward ravening wolves and go forth from the Apostles which John saw all that dwelt upon the earth worshipped and went after and all that dwelt upon the earth drunk the cup of fornication and should deceive them that dwell upon the earth with their lying signes and wonders and miracles and if you be not them tell me who they are 67 What is the Beast and the number of his names and what are his names and what is his marke that they that would not receive should be persecuted And what is his image and what are his heads and what are his crowns and what is the mother of the harlots and what is the great whore which hath corrupted the earth and what is the cup of fornication that all Nations has drunk of and who are the Beast and false Prophets what are they that are come up since the dayes of the Apostles How to say you believe as the Church believes and you will not trouble your selves about the Scriptures because they are hard to â—e understood you are to see that you be of the Church that the Apostles were of which was the pillar and ground of truth which was without spot or wrinkle or blemish and so their belief stood in Christ and God And when any did wrong yea Peter Peter was withstood and not believed as he believed And as for saying the Scriptures are hard to be understood that is to shew you want the spiâ—it as was in them that gave them forth in which is the unity and the bond of peace And none comes to be a member of the Church in God the pillar and ground of truth without spot or wrinkle or blemish but who comes into the spirit that they were in that gave forth the Scriptures with which spirit every one in particular hath his particular satisfaction in the Scripture it opens it to them with which spirit he hath unity with God unity with the Scriptures of whom they learned that gave them forth and there is the bond of peace Now to tye up men to believe as others believe and to compell them by a law or a prison or an inquisition this was not in the true Church but this is a marke of the apostacy from it and is a marke that they that do so are the wresters of the Scriptures and err'd ravened from the spirit that they were in that gave them forth For it was not their worke to compell people by a Law by a prison by an Inquisition to obey their faith and to bring them into their worship and doctrine that was not the worke of them that had the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures but this shews and signifies and declares it selfe forth that you would have power over mens faith which saith the Apostles we have not but bade them look at Jesus the author of the faith And again to believe as others believe which do call themselves a Church Is not this different from the Apostles doctrine who saith he that believes hath the witnesse in himself and hast thou faith have it to thy self 68 Is your Church the body of Christ and is your bread the body of Christ after consecration and is that bread after you have consecrated it the Church
THE PAPISTS STRENGTH Principles and Doctrines which they are sworn to Preach from the Councel of TRENT by the Popes Authority and after confirmed by the last General Assembly at ROVEN 1571. All which they have sworn to perform Answered and confuted Furthermore their Principles and Doctrines Answered and Confuted as they were laid down in two or three severall Papers by R. W. Papist lately sent from HOLLAND Also a challenge to the Pope and all his Adherents to choose out of all his Dominions some Cardinals Fryers or Jesuits to try their Bread and Wine after Consecration by watching on their side and on our side to prove that if afterward they have consecrated it whether the Bread and Wine doth not loose its taste and savour and so not the Body and Blood of CHRIST Also a paper to all them that fast and afflict themselves who are in the will-worship and voluntary humility Also some Quaeries to all the Papists upon Earth to be answered in writing and sent to them which all Sects upon the Earth call QUAKERS By GEORGE FOX LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. The Papists Principles as followeth whose name subscribed thereunto is R. W. Priest HE saith He cannot but admire to see what a power Satan hath over the sons of Adam and especially â—ver Schismaticks and Apostates from the union of the Roman Catholique Church Answ. Theâ— that be in the true Light Chrâ—â—â— Jesus that fathoms the world 〈◊〉 not admire to see the great power of Satan over the sons of Adam in the fall and over all the Schismaticks and Apostates for Schismaticks and Apostates and the sons of Adam in the transgression be all â—n the Devils power where he is in the transgression out of the truth in one power murderers for the Devil a murtheâ—er sons of Adam mâ—râ—herers in the fall out of the truth Schismaticks and Apostates out of the truth murtherers and will all murther and noâ—â—dmired at with the children of Light who has tryed their spirits So Devil sons of Adam in the fall and Papists and Protestants that will all murther for Religion and worship be all in the Devils power Murtherers out of the truth that Christ and the Apostles was in so the Roman Catholique Church which will murther is Satans synagogue for he is the murtherer and there he hath his seat And all the Protestants that be murtherers about Religion and worship are Satans synagogue are Apostates and Schismatâ—cks as well as you they were the first great synagogue of Satan and the first Apostates and Schismaticks from the life of the Apostles and Christ though since the dayes of the Apostles you have apostatized from the life others has professed against you and so are broken into heaps and names Satan has got up many synagogues in many parts of the world and gotten the sheeps cloathing and cryed up himself to be the name of Châ—â—stian which is meer Antichrist quite against him compelling all by sword or faggot or prison or stocks or whips or houses of Correction or Gaols or Inquisitions to worship him This is quite against Christ the Apostles spirit in the apostasie from them apostatized So you may strange to see the Devils power over the sons of Adam Apostates and Schismaticks and not see your selves swallowed up in the Devils power doing his work Thus judging others not seeing your selves for the Devill sons of Adam in the fall from the truth and you who are apostatized from Christ and the Apostles Doctrine and the Schismaticks that be from you in words and sects and names that be called Protestants that will murther for Religion and Worship they be all in the same power which the Devil is in for the Devil is out of the truth the sons of Adam out of the truth and the church of Rome out of the truth apostatized Protestants and all others that be out of the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be out of the truth such are murthering one another about words and are Satans synagogues wreâ—â—ling against flesh and blood Striking at creatures in stead of striking at the power that captivates creatures to the intent that creatures might come into the liberty of the Sons of God which was the work of the Apostles and Christ Pr. No man can discern head or foot of the Quakers method or order yet there is some shew of reason in their Quaeries Answ. Thus he confounds himself Babylon And we do believe that neither the Papists Apostates Protestants nor sons of Adam nor Dâ—vill out of the truth can know either head or foot of the Quakers principles with all their thinkings for the Quakers is come into that which the Devil is out of sons of Adam is out of the Papists are out of and the Protestants that which overwhelmes them all Devill sons of Adam Papists Protestants out of the life of God with it are they all judged which Life the Quakers are in Pr. He saith not one Papist that he knows doth call himselfe a defender of the Faith yet he saith in a sense in writing against our principles he might call himself a Defender of the Catholique Church and Faith and yet notwithstanding he could not defend himselfe from the Devill Answ. In this thou hast shewed thy faith and the faith of the Catholique Church which will not defend you from the Dâ—vill so ye are the reprobates from the faith of the Elect that quenches the fiery darts of the Devill and gives victory over the world and the Devill and is their shield and with that faith is his Kingdom subdued And we do believe that the faith will not defend you from the Devill and if thou knowest never a Papist that is a Defender of the Catholique Faith what have you done with all the fires and faggots and inquisitions and killings and slayings and writing of your great Volumns against them that have protested against you all this time but now your faith fails and your wheel is gone off and the confusion of Babylon is confounded and the faith of Gods Elect contended for witnessed amongst them called Quakers whose weapons are not carnall but spirituall And your wicked Priests and such as be in the reprobate sence like Judas betraying the just have been the Preachers and Teachers which has gotten the form of godlinesse but are out of the power and the life and these are them that have risen against the Saints and overcome them which are now warring against the Lamb and the Saints but the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory Pr. And whereas you say you give the title of holinesse to the Pope after the same manner as was given to the high Priest in the Old Testament and wicked Magistrates was called gods and the Priests wear their titles upon their breasts and Jacob called his wicked brother Esau Lord and there is Scriptures enough to give honourable titles to wicked men Answ. These are
was not the work of the Apostles nor of them that kept the faith of Gods elect that gives victory over the world and so those whom you call bad and those whom you call good are all found one here having drank the whores cup found in the fornication without husband out of the true humility which is Christ the seed that bears the sin and iniquity Pr. You take offence because the Roman faith doth teach it lawfull to punish Schismaticks and Hereticks with the sword but if you will be mad and say that those which seduce mens souls cause schisms and heresies in the Church and disturb the peace thereof must be let alone and may in no wise be punished who can help it Answ. The faith of the true Church did not teach any such doctrine to punish Schismaticks and Hereticks or Seducers with an outward sword but said on the contrary their weapons was not carnall but spirituall Now the carnall weapons who punish them you call Hereticks and Schismaticks whose Church is disturbed by such You shew you have not the power to convince gainsayers stop the mouths of them and make them to confess that God is in you of a truth and this doth shew that you are reprobated from the true faith which the Apostles were in and of Christ who said love your enemies and if any one smite thee on the one cheek turn the other novv the beast and false Prophets and the Anti-christs Mother of Harlots should drink the bloud of the Saints Martyrs and Prophets and kill them which the faith and patience of the Saints did not rise against now again the Lamb and the Saints should have the victory which should slay with the sword which are the words of his mouth not vvrestle against flesh and bloud killing creatures but over-comming with the bloud of the Lamb And here is the faith and patience of the Saints whose Kingdom is not of this world but you that are killing with the sword fire and fagots and inquisition bowing before Images Idols Pictures crosses these be all of this world and Kingdomes of it carnal weapons and carnal things held up by the carnal and not spiritual Now of your speaking of the Magistrates of the higher power which is higher then all Image-makers and Idols which gave them to see before transgression was which Transgresser set up Idols and Images which they in the higher power broke down that was the work of the Magistrates and they had the wisdom to make the true figure and shadow which Christ came to put an end to And they that set up Images Idols since the dayes of the Apostles and Pictures and crosses and holds them up by an outward power and Magistrates and compels others to bow down to them is the worship of the beast and not the worship of God and this I declare in the presence of the Lord God and all the Magistrates that be in Gods fear they will break down your Idols and Images and crossâ—s and crucifixes and masse-houses Schooles and Colledges which you make Priests and Ministers in which they that know the Ministers made by the will of God will do this and the exposition of the Scriptures by your Church we cannot own which is Apostatized from the true Church which bid the Saints keep from Idols which all that be of the true Church are so to do And your Church which is run into Idols Pictures and Likenesses is run into error and is not infallible and so you are gone from the life which gave forth the Scriptures which Peter was in and so run into Idols and must have Images and likenesses to put you in mind of Christ and the Saints And you are gon from the Spirit the holy Ghost which they was in which over-saw the Churches who watched for the Souls and had the rule over the Saints so from this Church are you apostatized its peace which Church is the Pillar and ground of truth the Divel is out of the Pillar and ground of truth he abode not in it and all schismes heresies they cannot disturb the peace of this Church here comes no sword-men here nor carnal weapons nor inquisitions fire nor fagget stockes and prisons nor Idols all such are wâ—thout that deceives Nations and tells them they are a Church which slayes the Sâ—ints Pâ—ophets and Martyrs the same nature slew Christ and his Aâ—ostles and Abel with their carnall weapons for all are one out of the life and power of God striking at creatures wrestling against flesh and bloud in stead of striking at the power that captivates the creatures to the intent that creatures might come to the liberty of the sons of God now you hâ—ving not continued in the Aposâ—lâ—s faith mind and spirit but Apostatized from them you have all lost the guide and rule as they were in both Protestants and your selves that be out of the life and faith that the Apostles was in that led them to give forth the Scriptures so you have been the wolves in the Sheeps clothing destroying one another about outward things and powers but with the power of God and life of God by them that are in the wisdom of God are you all judged to be out of the Kingdom of peace which is the Kingdom of Christ fighting with carnal weapons hailing to the Goals Inquisitions whips stocks houses of correction faggots fires either Protestants or Papists are you here like the Kingdom of Christ his subjects but like Pharisees Jewes and Cain apostatized from the Apostles lost the faith lost the unity lost the Spirit of God which the Saints was in which led them to give forth the Scriptures in which is the unity which is the bond of peace into which all that is called Christendome must come before they be one and all the names blotted out that is amongst them given to them in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and all their prayers is abomination that be out of that unity and to you that is the word of the Lord and the Quaeries thou hast not answered and your prayers is denyed and your peace also for you have not abided in that which the Apostles and the Saints was in which did oversee the Churches but you are turned strikers which the Apostle saith they should not be so And the Apostle saw the comming in of the man of sin and Christ speaks of Anti-christ and the false Prophets coming in with their signs and lying wonders which if it were possible would deceive the very Elect which John saw was come and went forth from them and bid the Saints keep themselves from Idols for they were them that got up Idols which went forth from the Apostles which Apostles bid the Saints keep to the anointing in them and they need not that any man should teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them which is truth and no lye and even as it had taught them so
they should continue in the Father and in the Son and they that went forth from the Apostles went forth from this and in the Revelations it is declared that all the world went after them who had the lying signes wonders and the miracles and deceived them that dwelt upon the earth and that has been the worship of the beast and this has been since the dayes of the Apostles who said some should depart from the faith which is the shield and so made war against the Saints which was in the faith and over-came them but now the Devill shall be taken and with him the beast and the false Prophets and cast alive into the lake of fire and Babylon the great whore confounded and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the victory and the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to them that dwell upon the face of the earth which is the power of God and strike down all those that has got the words but not the power and reach to the life and immortality that that may come to light through the Gospel which is the power of God and to you that is the word of God The Profession of the Catholique Faith of the last Councell of Roüen holden in the year 1571. according to the Councell of Trent holden the year 1360. which they have taken upon oath and sworn to perform Answ. WHich Faith and profession and Catholique which is held up and performed by an oath a company of swearers which are sworn to perform the Catholique Faith and Profession is got up since the dayes of the Apostles and since the dayes of Jesus Christ in the flesh and separate from them for Christ saith swear not at all though they had sworn in the old time Christ who was the oath of God and the Apostle saith above all things my brethren swear not who was in the covenant of God the oath of God not by heaven nor by earth nor any other oath least ye fall into condemnation so all swearers whatsoever Papists or other that are called Christians are fallen under the condemnation And the Apostles contended for the Faith and was in the Faith till death and true brethren vvhich vvas held up vvithout an oath so all that hold up or perform their Profession of Faith vvith an oath are apostatized from the true Church Faith and Profession from it reprobated and are under condemnation from the Apostles Saints and Christ vvhich vvas never svvorn to perform the Profession of their Church though the first Priest-hood svvore and the Angel and men in strife and Abraham and Solomon and Moses and the Prophets yet Christ the second Priest-hood the covenant of God and the oath of God is that vvhich ends all oâ—ths and denyed svvearing and the Apostlâ—s that vvere in the faith of him denyed swearing and these was of the true Church and pure Religion And though the Angell swore the Angels must bow down to the Son of God that saith Swear not at all who is the end of the Prophets greater then Solomon the end of Moses reigns over the houshold of Jacob and Joseph and before Abraham who said swear not Christ Jesus him by whom all things was made before it was made the Master of the family of Heaven and Earth who is the Author of the true faith which is held without an oath which Author of Faith denies oaths and swearing and ends them and they deny swearing that be in his faith 1. and 2. Prinâ—iples IN N. believe of firme faith and professe all and every of the things contained in the symball of the Faith which the holy Roman Church uses viz. 1 I believe in God the Father all powerful Creator of heaven and of the earth and of all things visible and invisible 2 And in one Lord Jesus Christ the onely Son of God and begotten of the Father before all the worlds God of God Light of Light true God of true God begotten and not made consubstantial with the Father by whom all things have been made who for all men for our salvation is descended from heaven and hath been incarnated by the holy spirit of the Virgin Mary and hath been made man hath been also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate hath suffered and hath been entombed and is risen again the third day according to the Scriptures and is ascended into heaven is set at the right hand of the Father and again shall come in his glory to judge the living and the dead the Kingdome of whom shall have no end Answ. You are not in the true faith of the Son of God nor know him not to be come in the flesh that be swearers and you that be not in the faith of the Son of God you know not God but swearers are under the condemnation and knows not him that was crucified that said swear not at all And knows not him that dyed and rose again and him that is the Light of the world and the Judge of the world Christ Jesus the Saviour by whom all things was made made of a woman born of a Virgin who is one with the Father him ye know not that be out of the faith of him and the Apostles who said Swear not at all whose profession Church Faith and Religion is held up by swearing and oaths with all your stuffe and invented words apostatized from Christ and the Apostles Church profession and faith and Religion under the condemnation and all professions besides upon the earth which is held up by oaths and swearing are under the condemnation in the reprobacy concerning the faith which is in Christ Jesus which gives the victory and is the shield and in which men please God without an oath you cannot please men nor worship without an oath 3 Prin. And in the holy Spirit Lord and quickning power who proceeds from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified who hath spoken by the Prophets Ans. You talk of believing in the Spirit that proceeds from the Father and the Son or God that spoke by his Prophets which Christ is the end of the Prophets and you talk of true worship as speaks in spirit and truth which the Devil and enmity is out of you talk of these things who holds up your Church profession and Religion with oaths a company of Apostates from the true faith which the Apostles were in which Christ is the Author of which faith hearing the spirit is received which denies oaths and then in that spirit is God worshipped and the Scripture known given forth from it and the Son and the Father known the Spirit received and the spirit of the Prophets and the end of their words Christ Jesus these are all known by the hearing of faith wherein the spirit is received 4 Prin. And one holy Church Catholique and Apostolique 5 Prin. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins and wait for the resurrection of the dead and for
the life of the world to come 6 Prin. I admit and embrace most firmely the traditions Apostolique and Ecclesiastick and all the other observations and ordinances of the same Church Answ. Your traditions your word Catholique your sprinkling Infants which you call your baptisme does not remit your sins for there is no Scripture for it so Church traditions sprinkling Infants all have got up since the dayes of the Apostles and so the unholy Catholique and Apostolique Church traditions is got up since the dayes of the Apostles and your fruits declare it in the Apostacy from the true Church of the Saints and Apostles and the resurrection Christ you be ignorant of and the power of the world to come that be gone out of the faith that the Apostles were in 7 Prin. I admit also the holy Scripture according to the sense that hath been given by the holy mother Church to the which it appertaineth to judge of the true sense and interpretations of the holy Scripture and shall never take in hand to interpret them then according to the common consent of the Fathers Answ. Your mother which you call the holy Church which gives the sense is the whore from the spirit of God which the Apostles was in and Christ and the Prophets for that is it that knows the Scripture and that was in the Saints that gave it forth and all must have it in them before they know the words again and come into unity with God again of whom they learned that gave it forth and unity with the Scripture and one with another and this both Papists and Protestants are out of the spirit and falling out about the sense of Scripture and your Father and Mother sons which ravened from the spirit of God and so thou and you all teachers from others inventions and your teaching is traditions for Doctrine which are the commands of men but now to the Lord be glory ye are all discovered by his life 8 Prin. More I professe that there is seven truly and properly said Sacraments of the new Law instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and necessary for the salvation of humane people but not all to every one viz. Baptism Confirmation Eucharist penitence the extream unction the Order and Marriage and that they confirme the grace and that among them the baptisme the confirmation and the order cannot be rejected without sacriledge Answ. In this you have shewed your Apostacy again from the Apostles and Christs doctrine which sayes Go preach the Gospell to all nations baptizing them without any limit and Marriage they that forbid that is the doctrine of Devils which is honourable the Bed undefiled in all And the Apostles doth not call them Sacraments neither Baptisme nor Marriage nor the visiting of the sick nor the Lords Supper Your confirmation and order and your penitence whipping and beating your selves for your sins is your own invention a sacrament of your owne making which the Apostle does not call repentance a sacrament or confessing of sin or sorrowing for sin the nature within should be afflicted and circumcised in the spirit which puts off the body of sin and that brought down and not to strike the creature and beat the creature that is as you wrestle with flesh and blood the power of darknesse causes you to do that which guides you within that strikes at the creature which power of darknesse should be struck at that the creature might come into the liberty of the sons of God 9 Prin. I receive also and admit the Ceremonies of the Church Catholique receive and approve in the administration solemnly of all the abovesaid sacraments 10 Prin. I embrace and receive all and every of the things which hath been defined and declared by the sacred holy Councel of Trent touching the sin originall and the justification 11 Prin. I protest likewise that in the masse is offered to God true proper and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and for the dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is truly really and substantially the body the blood with the soule and the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there is made a conversion of all the substance of the bread into the body and of all the substance of the wine into the blood and the which conversion the Church Catholique calls Transubstantiation 12 Prin. I confess also that under one of these one receiveth Jesus Christ all entire and one true sacrament Answ. In these four Principles which ye teach for Doctrine is but your owne traditions and commandements which are learned of one another of men at the Council of Tâ—ent and at your Fathers which is your sin in the apostacy from the Apostles who was not of man nor by man And as concerning Justification ye are ignorant of for where that is known the sin is done away which came by the first Adam And they that believe are passed from death to life And there are some children of believers which is holy yet all by nature children of wrath in the unbelief and your Church is held up by tradition and traditions and vows and oaths which is all in the Apostacy from the spirit where it seems the root of the word protesting is come from your selves who are Apostates and not ftom the Scriptures but you have thrust it in your offering and mass it is but a dead thing it is neither good for the dead nor the living the living do not accept of it but as Cains sacrifice for are not you murtherers and destroyers of one another about Religion sacrifice and traditions as Cain did whom God did not accept his sacrifice And as the Jewes did without the life which gave forth the Scriptures turn against the just and all the Apostates since the dayes of the Apostles which are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God who set up all your lying signes and wonders and traditions and deceive people with them that dwell upon the earth who be from the spirit of God inwardly ravened from it in which spirit God is worshipped which spirit brings to offer living sacrifice And the bread and wine after they have consecrated it which you say is the very body and blood of Christ and soule and it 's divine and that ye call Transubstantiation and he that receives either bread or wine receives Christ Now seeing that this Doctrine and Principle is laid down by you the Council of Trent and tollerated by the great Bishop of Rome the Pope and taught by the Jesuites I shall demand one thing of you out of every Nation and from every Dominion and Island belonging to the Bishop of Rome the Pope Let there come forth a Bishop and a Jesuite and consecrate bread and wine and after consecration and conversion which you call transubstantiation which you say then is the very body blood and soul of Christ which is divine Let that then be set by and kept and let us take of
Reader to that which is written in answer to the former papâ—r Again Thou saith that the Apostles and their successors had power to remit sins according to John 20.23 The Apostles who believed in the Son of God unto whom all power is committed and had received power from God could do nothing against the power which was their life and what they said and did from that power stâ—ndeth for the same power that Christ received of the Father the same he gave unto them and the same that they did remit was remitted But what is this to the Pope who is out of the power of God who follows his Successors the Antichrists Deceivers Apostates and vagabond Jewes and Exorsists who would have cast out Devils in the name that Paul preached but could not When did Christ or any of his Apostles say to the Pope or any of the Cardinals Fryars Monks Jesuites whose sins ever you remit are remitted Or when did he give the Pope or any of his Cardinals Fryars Jesuites Monks power to sell Pardons for money Is not this a doctrine of the Devill which Peter whose successors you say you are who declared against you and such as you who said concerning you that you taught those things for filthy lucre which you ought not to teach And further thou saiest thou confâ—sses that there are other points of Popish Doctrine which you teach that there is not such evident Scripture for as for those before mentioned if thou hadst said there had bin none at all thou had spoke truth this is the Popish doctrine which thou sayest you have not clear Scriptures for for Purgatory praying to Saints and baptizing of Infants c. I say there is no Scripture at all except it be your own devised Fables For the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sinne them that do believe and there is no need of any other thing to cleanse and so your Purgatory is a feigned fiction and a lying invented thing invented by the Pope to get money by And as for praying to the Saints there is no Scripture for but against it For it is written thâ—u shalt worship the Lord thy God and him ONLY shalt thou serve and cal upon me in the day of trouble It doth not say call upon the Saints And farthermore Christ said Whatsoever â—e aske in my name it shall be given you And farthermore Christ said to his Disciples Whatsoever you aske my father in my name it shall be granted unto you He exhorteth them not as the Pope doth to ask in the name of St. Mary and St. Peter and St. Dominick And as for baptizing of Infants that is an invention of your own framed and formed since the dayes of the Apostles For the Apostles were commanded to teach and preach before they baptized any but you baptize those that are untâ—ught and unlearned and these they call members of youâ— visible Church and so all this fâ—igned doctrine before mentioned is denyed and and condemned by the spirit oâ— the Lord which you are erred from 5 Prin. That the Scripture doth no where clearly teach that we must do nothing nor believe noâ—hing whiâ—h is not written in the Scripture so thou saith even by our own rule the whole foundation of all our nâ—w faith falls to pieces For if I am bound to believe nothing but what stands in Scripture then thou sayest thou art not bound to believe this maxime of Heretickes because it stands not in Scripture Answ. Paul was no Heretick and he said If I or an Angell from heaven preach any other Gospel let him be accurst And Moses he was no Hâ—retick and he said to the Church of the Jewes concerning the book of the Law given unto them Thou shall not adde thereto nor take therefrom And John he was no Hâ—retick and he said If any man shall add unto these things written in the book God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in the book And yet all these were Hâ—reticks in thy account their faith stood in the power of God and this the Scripture bears witness of and those things were written in the Scripture that they might be believed and from the spirit of truth they were written And so if thou professe thou have the spirit of truth thou art bound not to believe any thing contrary to the Scripture and here your foundation and doctrine is dashed to pieces by the spirit of God who spoke for the Scripture And farther thou goes on in thy blindness and ignorance and sayes thou art not bound to believe that the Bible is the word of God because it stands not in Scripture is not the Scripture that which is written in the Bible And dost thou not call the Scriptures the Word of God and yet foolishly saith the Bible stands not in the Scripture Thou goes on and says it is most clear that we are bound to believe and receive some things that are not written in the Scripture they who know the bond of the spirit are not bound by iâ— to beliâ—ve any thing which is contrary to the spirit which speak forth the Scripture Further thou brings 2 Thes. 2. and 15. 21 John 25. to prove that we are bound to believe something that is not â—ritten in the Scripture because the Apostle exhorts the Thessâ—lonians to stand fast and to hold the traditions which they had been taught whether by word or writing Now if thou can produce thou may the words that he taught to the Thessalonians which was spoken by the same spirit which he wrote the Epistleâ— by and that which he spake doubtlesse is not contrary to that which he wrote and so this proves nothing that every one is to believe your vain traditions which you have invented in your carnal minds being erred from the faith and having lost the spirit And although John say that there were many other things that Christ did which are not written Yet what doth this prove that your innovated stories and devised fables ought to be believed And I say unto thee and unto all you it is meer madnesse to aver or to believe that which is contrary to that which is written And then thou says if any man ask thee what those things be which Christ and the Apostles taught and have not written thou gives an answer thy selfe that they taught to baptize Infants and that we must sanctifie the Sundays and other holy days and to fast in Lent and acknowledge Sr. Peters successors for the governours of Christ-Church and to say Masse and with all other points of Catholique doctrine all which pack of lyes and foolish fopperies and invented imaginations which is all contrary to that which Christ spake and the Apostles wrote of him For these are all invented stuffe some from the Heathens you have by traditions and the rest has been invented both the words and the things themselves since the Apostles dayes wherein there hath been a great Apostacy and
that is contrary to the Light Then you must know a shame which is to be despised in the sight of all the world in breaking covenants who with them hath made covenants and bound your selves in vowes Therefore come to feel the witnesse of God in you which gives you to feel and see that all the covenants upon earth must be broken that is made from the light the minde that is from it which if you come into the light you will know the marriage of the Lamb your Fast shall cease for God doth not accept your extreams your passions your fast your afflicting your selves for a day while there is prejudice and envy seated among you the man-slâ—yer which shews that you be out of the light and life of the Prophets and of Christ and his Apostles both Magistrates and Ministers and Teachers And the Pope which sits now on high whose arms fingers legs and head is brancht out but with the power of the Lord is compassed and seen the end that he is in and all is but earth and the worshippers but earth and in the earthly things the threshing Instruments must thresh for you lie like a wildernesse for the Lord God of power is coming to plow up and so seed it and that the truth over may passe and Christ in power come to reign who is Law-giver and Judge and to break your wills and bow down your thoughts who will subdue all things to himself Who will reign and to exalt his kingdome whose dread and terror is gone out into the earth All what is done in mans will which he pretends to God he will be judged for it and all your observances and fasts and circumstances and worships who hath required this at your hands saith the Lord Come to truth and singlenesse and innocency then you will see Cain is a vagabond the envious man the man-slayer a murtherer from God a vagabond and fugitive though he built a City And he observed outward things but comes not to witness the spirituall Sacrifice but it shewed that you be in envy and slayes men concerning Religion being another spirit then Christ and the Apostles wherein as iâ— is declared in Scripture with it ye are judged and your reading over prayers cumbers and wearies the just with reading over prayers and praying to names your observing of Images and your earthly Crosses and this keeps you from the life and power of God which is the Crosse of Christ and the Spirit in which you should pray which the Lord knows the mind of G. F. This is to go abroad among the Papists in all the Earth Friend AS thou hast spoke of giving a reason which reason is fathomed and comprehended to be earthly Now there is a reason which flows from the faithful that makes reasonable and that gives dominion over the earthly but this reason is but earthly and stands in the earthly as hereafter will be made appear as thou art brought before the judgement and weighed in the ballance And as for the Church in the days of the Porphet that was in the days of Baal that would not bow to him nor serve him Now it seems there was some that did bow to Baal that had been of the Jewes and remained as in the outward name But those were of the Church that bowed not to Baal to the earthly mark that and those stood in the truth and bowed to the Lord and kissed not Baal and there 's a distinction between the holy kisse and the contrary Now that was invisible that kepâ— them from bowing to Baal and that was invisible that they were gone from viz. these Jews that did bow to Baal As for the seven Churches of Asia that 's agreeable to these words for many got the words of the Church but the Life they fell from Then as for the Church of Rome as for the dissolution of the Roman Catholique Faith which was before Luther and Calvin which is as a dark puddle the smoak of the bottomlesse pit that hath not a foundation but from the foundation Christ fled And Luther and Calvin something there was stirring in them Luther was true in his place but it was but a little but so much as comprehended you and as for their falling from you before Luther and Calvin they were but in your outward Ceremonies For neither you the Church of Rome nor those you beget nor Luther nor Calvin was in the very life that is infallible the Apostles were in and Christ that the Scriptures were given forth from Therefore kill you and slay you that be contrary to you in your Religion and it is the cause of all people running into Sects and heaps upon earth Calvinists and Lutherans because they are not in the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures that hath been lost among you all since the dayes of the Apostles which is now found among them that are called Quakers whom all the Sects upon earth are against that are got up since the dayes of the Apostles and with the spirit that the Apostles were in you are all fathomed as a span You that are the Church of Rome came to be made up of all these rotten members that fell away from the Apostles before the Apostles deceased that got the forme of godlinesse but denied the power that forbid meats and marriage that minde earthly things So you have been the ancientest Apostates and all that have apostatized from you you call Sectaries which you Apostates was the mother of all And so I tell you you are the most ancient in the form of godlinesse and that have denyed the power as your Gaols and Inquisitions declares your fruits And you lye like a barren field unplowed up but now the plough of the Lord is going the servants of the Lord are driving on the horses which will tear your ground And the publique worship that the Apostles were in who were led by the Spirit of God hath been lost since the dayes of the Apostles amongst you for Christ said false prophets should come that were inwardly ravened that were wolves that had the sheeps cloathing which John saw was come and that the whole world were gone after them and so there you lost the infallible spirit and have held up part of the visible form and run into some inventions of your own making and so is become the Mother of Harlots and have brought them forth that are harlots Now that which Christ said should come which false Prophets John saw was come and the whole world was gone after them they made war with the Saints that kept the testimony of Jesus them that had the forme the sheeps cloathing and were ravened from the spirit and so overcame the Saints then power was given to the beast over all kindreds tongues and nations and all that dwell upon the earth should worship him Then the beast and his names and his images and his mark and horns then the Vials and Thunders should come again to
be poured upon him and his seat So the Author of all these sects and names hath been from you that first ravened from the spirit of God all Sects upon the earth would kill one another about their worship which shews the spirit of the Devil and not the spirit of the Apostles So when the Beast had overcome the Saints and killed them and got power over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations And the woman fled into the wildernesse and the man-childe caught up to God And the Dragon made war with the â—emnant of her seed that kept the commands of God and here by this you may see where the Church hath been And the great Whore which went forth from the Apostles and ravened from the spirit of God yet hath had the sheeps cloathing which all Nations hath drank her cup She hath corrupted the earth and made the Inhabitants of the earth drunk and the Kings of the earth hath committed fornication with her and all nations have drunk her cup of fornication She sits upon the waters and the waters are peoples not a people and the waters are nations where the Whore sits and multitudes and tongues Now mark if Nations be waters and Peoples be waters and Multitude waters and Tongues waters And the earth is corrupted and the Inhabitants of the earth drunke and all nations have drunk the cup of fornication and the Kings of the earth hath committed fornication with her Now where is the Church and the Rock all this time when nations peoples multitudes and tongues are waters and the Inhabitants of the earth drunk and the earth corrupted and all nations have drunk the whores cup And the whore cannot be said to be the heathen for the Whore goes from something and there is the ancient visible Church And the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and all nations have drank the cup of fornication and fornication is before you be married And these are them that have drank the blood of the Prophets Saints and Martyrs that have kept the testimony of Jesus But now again the Lamb is brought forth to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron though the Beast and false Prophet and Kings of the earth and the old Dragon make war against the Lamb and the Saints yet the Lamb and the Saints shall get the victory and the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to all nations kindreds tongues and people and life and immortality shall come to light through the Gospel which your old great Grand-father went from in the dayes of the Apostles and so to that that they went from is people now come and coming and the Lambs wife is making her selfe ready and the Saints do sing the Lord God omnipotent reigns and you are all too immoderate spirits you and all other Sects then to be like the Apostles and Christ or to be like the Church of Christ your fallibility and your Idols Inquisitions and Cruelties makes it appear Two Queries being propounded to thee In thy answer to the first Query thou saist That all Churches or meetings of all sorts of men which have not the spirit of God they may erre In thy answer to the second Query thou saist That the Church of Christ or the meetings of those Christians that follow the rule and law of Christ and are always guided by them cannot erre in any truth Reply Your Church the Church of Rome have erred from the spirit of truth and the truth in which there is no errour As instance you have set up Idols and the spirit of truth in the true Church said Keep your selves from Idols as in Johns Epistle And you have made Ministers by men and by the will of man and so gone into your own wills which the Scripture came not by nor which Christs Ministers were not made by and you and all Apostates since are of men and made by men and so you are erred â—rom the spirit of truth that leads into all truth You are erred from the Crosse of Christ the power of God and have set up outward Crosses and falls down to that instead of falling down to the power of God You have erred from the true Image of God the Saints were in and have set up outward Images of wood and stone You have erred from the Saints life and spirit and from the spirits of just men and so from the true Church and so set up the Reliques as pieces of Cloath and old bones So you know after the flesh which the Apostles did not And you are erred from the Rock and falln into the waters as in Revelations And your Idols Pictures and Images have corrupted the earth so you are erred from the true Church and the true Spirit which cryed against Idols in all ages as Moses said in his command to the people and the Apostles Your Church is commanded to make Images and Idols and the Church in Moses time and the Apostles Churches were commanded to keep from them So no true Church you are but apostates but fallible and erred in matter of faith and doctrine and praised be the Lord who hath brought you to the Light And multitudes of instances may be shewed who compares the Church with what the Churches of Christians were in the dayes of the Apostles And thou saist the difficulty is where the Church of Christ is to be found for Papists Lutherans Calvinists Anabaptists Arminians and all schismatical meetings they do claim the title of Christs Church to themselves c. Answ. All these the Roman Church being the mother of the Apostates and all these before-mentioned are started from her her sturdy sons and severall names still in the forme for the light within they are all against and Christ within to reigne and teach and the Law within in the heart and in the mind whereby all comes to know the Lord and the word in the heart and in the mouth to obey and do and the spirit of truth to lead into all truth whereby the Saints have unity one with another and with the Scriptures and with God This the Papâ—sts are run from into Images and Idols and this the Baptists Lutherans and all other Sects are run from into other Images within but with the spirit of truth which leads the Saints into all truth are these comprehended and out of all these sects and sorts are people coming I 'le break your names and marr your Images with the spirit of truth fence your selves never so wisely And so none of these nor you neither are of the true Church but the beast and his names but some of these you calâ— Sâ—cts are neerer the true Church then you for the world who lives in Images and Idols wonder after you who lives in Images and Idols who are apostatized from them keep your selves from Idols As for the Quakers who are risen in the Ancient of dayes in the end of the night of apostacy among whom that's appeared that cannot be shaken
hath reigned since the days of the Apostles and whether or no the spirits of people hath not separated from since the dayes of the Apostles which they were in and is not that the cause that all Nations are brought into Sects and heaps and lost their unity with God and the Scriptures with which spirit they learned of God the Father of spirits that gave forth Scripture are you come unto the spirits of just men made perfect to the Church in God the Father the Judge of all What Scripture have you for taking Tythes and where did the Apostles take tythes so that denyed the first Priest-hood and witnessed Christ the sum the change of the Law by which the Priesthood was made And the disannulling of the commandement that gave tythes and are not you transgressors and made your selves transgressors that have set up these things the Apostles threw down And where did the Apostle take tythes and what is the first principle of pure Religion and what is the soul of man And have you not lost the Crosse of Christ which the Scripture saith is the power of God and hath set up Crosseâ— of wood and stone on the end of your Steeple-houses and do take bread and wine on the day-time which Christ took at night What is the light what is the word what is the Gospel what Scripture have you for sprinkling Infants Are you them that have heard and learned of God which Christ saith them that have heard and learned of God comes to the Son Have you seen the shape of God are you them that God speaks to by his Son who is heir of all things upholding all things by his word and power Is your Church the Church that is in God have you heard of the Father seeing it is written ye shall all be taught of God Are you not them that looks at things that are seen for things that are seen are temporall the things that are not seen are eternall Are not Images Idols Pictures Reliques Bones pieces of Cloath things that are â—een and temporall Answer these Queries in writing and send them to the people who are scornfully called Quakers in England by all the sects of the earth Shall a man whiles he is upon the earth be made free from sin and be made perfect and the body of sin put off And what Scripture have you for consecrating bread and wine and where did the Apostles so Will you try your Church by the Scripture of truth and measure your selves by the Apostles Declaration and venture your selves to be tryed and judged by them that the spirit of truth led them to speak forth And what is the Wine-presse that was troden without the City and whether you bid every man examine himselfe whether Christ be in him except he be a reprobate And whether or no you are as the Apostles who preached Christ in them the hope of glory warning every man that you may present every man perfect in him in Christ Jesus To prove the Papists Church to be a false Church contrary to the Apostles and that they are wolves which Christ said should come which are inwardly ravening Ye have the sheeps cloathing and are the false Prophets that should arise according to Christs words that should shew lying signes wonders which if it were possible should deceive the very elect and should say Loe Christ is here and loe Christ is there Do not you tell people that he is in the bread and that he is in the wine and tell them that he is in the chamber and that he is in the desert where you put the bread and the wine is not there Christ cannot you put him in the cup-board and in the chamber and in the desert cannot you put and tell people he is there And have you not the sheeps cloathing but are you not ravening wolves inwardly ravening from the spirit of God So doth not your fruits appear contrary to the Church of God For have not you fulfilled the Scriptures having the sheeps cloathing but inwardly are the ravening wolves Have not you ravened wearied and destroyed and killed many hundreds and have you not your holes and Gaols which you call Inquisitions which you put them in are you like the Church in this Did ever Lambs and the sheep weary and tear them to pieces and then carry them into dens and make wracks and tortures for poor creatures or for the wolves either Did ever the sheep destroy the wolves Now which doth your fruits make you appear to be the sheep or the wolves judge your selves by the Scriptures Now let all people judge you all that be in the wolvish nature that are not sheep no more then you So Christ calls them wolves inwardly ravening from the spirit of God these Christ said should come and they have come up since the dayes that Christ said they should come And the Apostle saith in Acts 20. That after his departure grievous wolves should enter in among them not sparing the flocke which should arise from among themselves speaking perverse things drawing many Disciples after them Now have not you Papists risen since the dayes of the Apostles and you know the Apostles did not prison persecute devour any but the wolves should do it Now these rise among the Saints that should not spare the flock mark make havock of the flock to devour and destroy the flock Now we remember that Christ told of you and of these things and the Apostle tells of these things 1 John 2. said it was the last time then Whereas they had heard that Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists and false prophets come into the world 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. Paul speaking there of cutting off occasion For as much as false prophets deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ no marvel for Satan himself transformed himselfe and his Ministers transforming as the Ministers of righteousness Now this the Apostle saw come up among the Corinthians before his decease So now again you may see Satans Ministers they are murtherers and his Angels they are murtherers Now the Apostle said he out off the occasion he did not cut off the outward bodies of people as you do and the Apostles were persecuted whipped and beat now you see that you are whippers persecutors and beaters and though you persecute one another which have the name of Christians yet are not the sheep nor the Ministers or true Apostles nor the true Church And when the true Ministers and Apostles saw that these false Apostles should come and Ministers of Satan should tranâ—form themselves into Angels of light he brings them to the light that shined in their hearts them that would give them the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. And are not you as bad as the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus Christ and their own Prophets who kill the Prophets that are sent among you 2 Thes. 2. And
Is this the love of Christ Is this the love of God Is this the love that was in the Apostles Did the Apostles do so did Christ do so that had all power c. to all that were not of their minde yea or nay answer 6 What differs your works from the works of the Pharisees for that which they did they did to be seen of men And the young man boasted of his works yet when it came that he should have sold all and followed Jesus the beloved of God there was the hard thing whereby he might have had treasure in heaven And how differs your giving almes from the Pharisees seeing the Pharisees were in your state to murther and murthered the just and you give almes and are found in the same nature that will and do murther them that be contrary minded to you wherein do you here differ from the Pharisees And Châ—ist saith love enemies and you have your Inquisitions and Fagots here his love differed from the Pharisees and yours And saith John Let us love in deed not in word not as Cain the wicked one who slew his brother because his works were righteous the others were evill And saith John He that killeth with the sword must perish with the sword here is the faith and patience of the Saints Now where is your patience that are killing and prisoninâ— And we wrestle not against flesh and blood saith the Apostle but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places How do you wrestle against principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places Does it not shew that your weapons are carnall and not spiritual while you are prisoning burning making inquisitions for the bodies of people that are contrary to your minde Do not you wrestle against flesh and blood Is not this to wrestle against flesh and blood to prison to burn to kill creatures are not you apostatized from the true Apostles and true Church which is the pillar and ground of truth who said We wrestle not against flesh and blood answer these things by Scripture 7 Do you own the Law and Prophets which is to do as you would be done by would you have all that be contrary to your minde do unto you as you do unto others to make Inquisitionâ— and to burn and to kill them that be contrary to their minde as you have your Inquisitions Fagots Fires for such that be contrary to your minde not observing your customes would you have others do so unto you and serve you so that will not observe your customes Is not to do as you would be done by the Law and the Prophets 8 Did ever Christ or the Apostles give any command that any should be put to death touching worship touching Religion shew me a command in Scripture from Christs or the Apostles mouths Are not they that murther slay and make war the Beast and the false Prophets under the dominion of the mother of Harlots and in the steps of Cain and Jezebel out of the steps of Christ and the Apostles 9 What is will-worship Does any worship God in the spirit truth but who be in that which the Devil is out of Can any being in the spirit and in the truth which the Devil is out of the Murtherer slay any concerning Religion or worship but on the coÌ„trary if they be in the evil overcome it with good Now if you kill murther slay make Inquisitions burn where is patience where is long suffering where is stopping the mouths of gain-sayers concerning gain saying if you cannot you have a fagot for them or a prison or an Inquisition are you not here like unto them that rose against Stephen that were not able to resist his spirit but stoned him to death wherein differs your nature and spirits from these did Stephen do so to others the Apostles were stoned did they do so to others Now this is Christs command he sent them forth as sheep amongst Wolves he sent out Prophets and Wisemen and said some they should kill and some they should thrust out of their Synagogues some they should persecute from City to City and said they should be hated of all men for his names sake and they should speak all manner of evil of them and were these to do so again to others kill hate hale out of Synagogues persecute Nay did not Christ say love enemies blesse them that curse now are not they that are contrary to this out of this Anti-christs and false Apostles 10. Has not the true Ministery true Spirit true Power true Church the true crosse been lost since the dayes of the Apostles and the false Ministery false Prophets false Apostles Antichrists Synagogues of Satan has appeared since which all your Crosses your names your pictures your Images your praying by beads has come up have not you lost the true spirit the Image of the Father and his name by which men are saved and so since run into other names run into Images lost the true Image run into Crosses lost the true Cross the power of God run into praying by beads and lost the true praying in the spirit and is not the Candle put out within and so ye have set up your lights burning without you defiled the Temple of God within and so set up Temples without are they not set up by that which defiles the inward Temple and is not that it which will murther slay prison and bring before Inquisitions which defiles the Temple of God seeing they that witnessed the Temple of God said love enemies and does not it shew that the love of God was there if love enemies which was a command of Christ who are them that are to be persecuted and hated and who are they that you are to slay and kill answer 11 Have you heard the voyce of God immediately from heaven as the Prophets Apostles did have you the same spirit wch Christ and the Apostles had which gave forth the Scriptures which was before they were given forth yea or nay 12. Is that the blood of Christ that is your wine which was shed upon the Cross when Christ was crucified alter you have consecrated it 13. Is that the body of Christ that is your bread after you have consecrated that said Lo a body hast thou prepared me to do the will of God and will not your bread corrupt and let it lye after you have consecrated it and does the body the flesh of Christ see corruption answer 14. What is the ground and cause of all the destractions amongst the called Christians is it not because they have the words of Christ the Prophets and Apostles but be cut of the life of them 15. What is that thing wch four men do carry on staves that all men must bow before it when you carry it in the streets and what do you do it for and where did Christ or the Apostels do any such thing 16. Why do
you when you sprinkle your children put salt in their mouths spit in their eares dip their heads in the water and crosse them over the faces 17. What is the death that hath passed over all men 18. What is the tree of knowledge of good and evill 19. What is Anti-christ is not it he which sets up things which Christ has not commanded 20. What is the beast the first and second 21. What is the Dragon 22. What is the Mother of Harlots and her cup which all Nations and the Kings of the earth has drunk of 23 What is the bottomlesse pit 24 What are the locusts 25 What is the first principle of the pure Religion 26 Doth Christ Jesus enlighten every man that comes into the world yea or nay 27 What is it that gives the knowledge of the glory of God and where is it 28 What is the Word 29 What is the Gospel 30 What is the Record 31 What is the Original 32 What is the law and the testimony 33 What is self-righteousnesse 34 Shall a man while he is upon earth have the body of sin put off and be perfect and come to that which is perfect and have his transgressions and sins blotted out yea or nay 35 What is conscience and what is the soul 36. Would you not destroy them that would break down your pictures your Images your Crosses your Crucifixes and throw away your beads would not that lovâ— in you destroy them that should destroy your pictures Crosses Crucifixes Images beads would not the Heathen have done the same to the Jews that had destroyed their Images Groves pictures set up which God never commanded Would not the Jews have destroyed the Apostles for denying the Temple the Altar Sanctuary Tabernacle dayes Priests offerings the outward things which God had formerly commanded but denyed by them that came to witnesse and preach up the body that God had prepared to put an end to them and was not that the love of God in the Apostles and was not that the selâ—ish love that held up pictures Temples Images Idols which God never commanded and was not that the selfish love in the Jews that held up Temple tythes Priests Images similitudes and are not you in the selfish love and is not this selfish love that holds up Temples Tythes Priests Images Crucifixes Pulpits and is not all this in one nature Jews Gentiles and you since the dayes of the Apostles and out of the love that the Apostles were in who witnesse against Jewes Priests tythes and Gentiles and Idols and bad the Saints keep themselves from Idols 1 John 5.21 37. Are not they the false Apostles Ministers and Teachers Antichrist Beast and false Prophets who comes with lying signs wonders and miracles since the dayes of the Apostles and John and who are these describe them that should come with the lying signs and wonders and the beast should work miracles since the dayes of the Apostles 38. Are not they the false Apostles Ministers and Teachers and in the night out of the true day have lost it since the dayes of the Apostles the true Christians which were children of the day that now observes dayes is not this a figure and sign to be in the night was not the true Apostle afraid of some that observed dayes that he had bestowed his labour in vain amongst them and was not this observing of dayes coming up amongst some before the Apostles decease which the true Apostles rebuked and since the dayes of the Apostles have they not spread over Nations observers of dayes and are they not gone into the night and lost the true day 39. Why do you whip your selves with cords or ropes or whips where did the Christians or Apostles do so or did Christ or the Apostles give any such command will you be tryed and have your practises tryed by the Scriptures of Christ and the Apostles 40. Do you own the practice of the Church of the Saints and Christians which the Apostle was amongst that if any thing be revealed to another that sits by let the first hold his peace for ye may all prophecy one by one that all may learne and be edified and comforted the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets and God is the God of order and not of confusion 41. Do you own that Sons and Daughters shall prophecy in this age and that the spirit will be poured out upon them yea or nay 42. Do you own revelation and immediate inspiration as the Apostles had the same now in these dayes as was amongst them yea or nay 43. Do you own trembling and quaking as was amongst the Saints which the Scriptures speak of and the salvation which is to be wrought out with fear and trembling and doth not this work out that nature that beats and striks the Creature 44. What are all your names that you give to your Fryers Monks Jesuits given to them for where did Christ and the Prophets and Apostles do so or give any such names to any as white Fryers black Fryers Jesuits Abbots Monks has not this been set up since the fallâ—ng away from the power and life that the Saints were in who were of one mind and heart and Spirit and Soul and the number of these names got up since 45. From whence was the rise of your Pope Cardinâ—ls Abbots Monkes Pryors Arch Bishops Covents Canons Nunns Jesuites Franciscans Dominicans Carthâ—sians Capuchins Benedictines Mendicants Carmelits gray Fryers black Fryers white Fryers your Regulers and Seculers our Altar Rayles Organs Candlesticks Tapers Lights Torches holy Water Myters Vestments Fonts Surplisses Bendings before Images bowings before the Altar where do ye find these names or things amongst the Apostles or the Saints and Churches which the Apostles were amongst or where did they do so shew a proof of it before their decease in all their Epistles or in all the declaration of Christ or the Apostles for your practise to act or practise any such thing or to give any such names or set up such Orders 46. Where had the Apostles and Saints any Inquisition-Houses to put them in that were contrary to their minds 47. Where had the Apostles and Saints any houses to put men and women into such as ye call Abbies Monasteries Nunneries 48. Where did the Apostles or Saints set up a form that some of them should beg all their life times is it not said I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed beging his bread 49. Where did ever any in the Scriptures wear sack-cloth or hair-cloth except such as of the Lord God were commanded to wear them as a sign 50. Where is it amongst the Apostles and true Churches that were amongst them that they should be distinguished one from another by their habits as every name hath their severall habits amongst you prove me this by Scripture have not you lost the true knowing one another in the Spirit and so know one another by habits
Is that the body of Christ the Church for the Apostle saith the body of Christ which is the Church 69 Is God worshipped in truth but in the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and in that which the Devil is out of Now can any of you worship God in the truth unlesse you be in the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures then being in the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures how can you say that the Scripture is hard to be understood or any that be in the Church seeing the true Church is made up of living stones and the Scripture was given forth from the spirit 70 And whereas it is a generall word to say you believe as the Church believes and the Scriptures are hard to be understood Doth not this shew that you be all afraid of your standing and shew that your Church is in the state of apostacy from the Apostles and Disciples of the Lord Jesus that there is a cry amongst you the Scripture is hard to be understood And we must believe as the Church believes and the Church is the Pope and his Councel Now if he or his Councel dare not venture to try their standing to meet the spirit of God and to answer these Qâ—eries or all his train that be under him then shall we know and then shall it be seen who is the true Church and who are the apostates and set up a likenesse an Image And if you do shelter your selves in the darkness and not come forth to the light and dare not venture your Principles and is afraid of the heat and for fear that your heads should be cut or slashed and your principles dasht to pieces and see that your weapons will not carry you out and that your righteousnesse is but as rags and you have been but wolves covered with the sheeps cloathing and have been devourers of the Lambs and can do nothing without your swords and carnall weapons and your Inquisitions then may the whole world see you Therefore come out I challenge you all and give an answer either in print or in writing and bring your deeds to light that they may be manifested to the whole earth and declared on the house-top our weapons are not carnall with which we shall handle you neither need you fear your persons neither need you be afraid that we will wrestle with flesh and blood for that which was amongst the Apostles is come to that which hath been since the Apostles is seen The arm of flesh is not our weapons but the Lord of hosts Come thou Pope with all thy Jesuites and Cardinals and see if thou can stand this day before the truth for these queries be to the whole body and thee scattered up and down the face of the whole earth and the power of the Lord God of life of heaven and earth is gone over you and hath fathomed you 71 Was it the work of the Christians to be beating Dâ—ums up and down fighting destroying one another where has been loving enemies where has been overcoming evill with good and rendring to no man evill for evill 72 Doth not Christ say It hath been said of old time thou shalt perform thy oath unto the Lord But doth not he say swear not at all Now ye swearers have not you bâ—oken Christs command and have apostatized from his doctrine but if ye say the Prophets swore or Abraham swore or David swore or Solomon swore or Moses swore or the Priests swore Christ is the end of the Prophets and Priesthood a greater then Solomon then Joseph or Jacob Before Abraham was I am who saith swear not at all Now if you say did not the Apostles say an oath was an end of controversie and strife amongst men that men swore by the greater which the Apostle brings as an example shewing how God could not finde a greater and therefore swore by himselfe concerning his covenant that doth not change betwixt God and man in which covenant man comes to have peace with God Now if ye say did not the Angel swear in the Revelations I bring forth my first begotten into the world and let all the Angels worship him and this is the beloved Son heare ye him saith God And above all things my brethren saith the Apostle swear not at all neither by heaven nor by earth lest ye fall into condemnation So are not all you swearers fallen under condemnation and out of the Apostles doctrine and apostatized from it Nay is not the power which you call your supream under the condemnation and Magistrates that are swearers and giving oaths no Christian Magistrates but they and their power is all under condemnation all swearers upon the earth for saith the Apostle Above all things my brethren swear not at all left ye fall into condemnation So are not ye swearers who calls your selves a Church Pope Magistrates all upon the earth under condemnation and out of the doctrine of the Apostles false brethren and out of the power of Christ who has all power in heaven and eâ—rth given unto him who saith let your yea be yea and your nay nay in all your communications who is the end of oaths whose doctrine the Apostles preached and abode in Now are not all Churches Teachers powers Magistrates under condemnation that be the swearers and not the help-government to Christ out of the higher power all Magistrates from under the higher power that be swearers and out of Christs power and help Magistracy and government for him who has all power in heaven earth given unto him and out of the Apostles Doctrine and Christs Doctrine who saith Let all your communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoever is more is evill And so how can a company of swearers be a Church or the supream power which are the Beasts and false Prophets apostatized from the Apostles and Christs Doctrine and them that inwardly ravened from it and has had the shâ—eps cloathing that tear and rend all in pieces that will not come into the wolves way and bow down to that which he has set up and so therefore is the cry amongst you the Scripture is hard to be understood and you are tyed to believe as yoâ—â— Church believes so by that means you have held the out-side the sheeps cloathing and pretend to be saved by your works and meritâ— when the wolfe has been in your hearts tearing to pieces and rend and devour them that will not believe as you believe I cannot gainsay you in this as for your saying the Scriptures are hard to be understood when you are all ravened from the spirit that gave them forth 73 Where did ever any of the Saints change their names unlesse they had a command for it as ye do when ye are made Popes Did Peter change his name 74 Where was it amongst the Apostles that some might not marry and they might not at some times of the yeare marry but at those times they might