which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many other of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them pass here unanswered yet they may be seen with the mind informed in the truth and all who are of God and of the truth may know that it is a small matter for us to be rebuked or judged to be in confusion who so evidently hath confounded both our words and the Apostles into his own false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gave forth the Scriptures and abideth in us and we know that they cannot be broken but must be fulfilled as they were given forth by the Word which they were given forth from by taking heed unto which the young mans way is cleansed and by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from the Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledge is denyed that which would set up devised fables above Christ the Spirit and Scriptures that by the Spirit is denyed without contradiction and as we shall by the Spirit and by the Scriptures try John Stelhams Doctrine which if he deny them both then by his own Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judg others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60 to try withal is â—his Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say By this then is all that of him before mentioned cast out being both more and contrary to what is in the Scripture as also that which is to be declared as followeth in his second head as he calls it of Scripture Contradiction he is speaking concerning a Trinity and three Persons which words aâ—e not spoken in the Scriptures he naming the Father Son and Spirit by such names as the Scripture never did and so about words and names which the Scripture doth not mention arising out of the Devination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shut the kingdom from men and so hath no ground for the word three Persons from the Scripture but the Scripture in one translation speaking of Christ being the express Image of the Fathers Person and in another translation saith that he is the express Figure of the Fathers substance as he is witnessed to be by those that know him and so till he find the word three Persons and Trinity in the Scriptures let him own his own rule to judge him to be no Messenger sent by Gods Spirit because he speaks more than is in the Scripture who saith The holy Ghost is a Person and this person dwells in Saints though not personally mark this A Person dwell in the Saints not personally all this confusion is as tares which men gather which must be bound in bundles and cast into the fiâ—e for what is the Chaff to the Wheat or what is a I such invented words to the knowledge of the Father Son and Spirit which are one which bear record in heaven and there are three that bear witness in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one and when these are known in their witness in man what they witness unto and what they witness against within and without such will give them names according to their works and according to the Scriptures The Third Head of John Stelhams Scripture Contradiction is concerning the light which every man is enlightened withal which of all things is most hated by all such whose wayes words and works are contrary to it for it being risen in the hearts of the Children of men to give the knowledge of the truth hath in this day made many wiser than their Teachers and now they which have caused people to err are by the light seen and by the children of light are denyed and they being denyed their envie is up against the light which hath made them manifest and they walk not by the light nor according to the Scriptures but there is a line of confusion comes over them by which now they walk and from which their Writings doth proceed as John Stelham in page 52 saith they may affirm agreeable to the Scripture and yet contradict the Scriptures in saying that Christ is in every man or that the light in every man leads to the Father And saith Christ God or as God is in every man and a spark of his godhead light is in every man but there is not in every man that redemption light which leads to the Father That Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal leads to the Father all who are led by it and believe in it and condemns all from the Father which do not obey it but hate it and speak dispitefully against it who are turned out from God who is light and truth into the confusion saying that the God-head-light is not the Redemption-light but with the light that Lye and confusion is judged for ever and in affirming that the Godhead light is in every man and then calling it common and old Creation-light and Scripture-light page 61 and the light of Nature page 74 75. a legal light page 76. and a created light page 78. and an universal light unto which I say as God is so is his light and so is his godhead not created nor natural and as every one comes to know the light which by I. S. is so reviled they shall neither follow nor believe his Doctrine till he can prove when the light of the Godhead was created and how it became natural or legal or where he had those names for the Scriptures doth give no such names to the light and so by his own rule he speaking more than is in the Scripture is not a Messenger sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by it in what he saith As also in other things as in Page 64. saying That light without Scripture is no light Then Enoch's light in which he walked with God was no light nor Jacobs light nor Isaacs nor Abrahams for they were without these Writings and this letter which he calls the Scriptures but they were not without light And thousands have so much light whether they have the Scriptures or not as to see this darkness as to say light though saving light without Scripture is no light did the Scriptures make the light to be light and was the saving light made by that which was written let all take notice and turn away from such in another place he calls the Scriptures but the Declaration that Christ is the Word and calleth them a Vessel that the light is put into in page 43. and 44. Now let them of understanding consider and judge whether the vessel be the maker of that which is put into
fell from the way of life and could not continue in Christs Doctrine no longer and so such things may satisfie people concerning the way of truth for while they are of us all such things is denyed by them but when they go out from us then they become Drunkards Swearers Prophane Adulterers Fornicators and so every evill Work is committed and then they turn to the Priests Doctrine where all such things are and are excused and then the Priests rejoyce and give thanks if any turn from the light of Christ and the obedience of the Gospel into Drunkenness and Prophaneness again where they were before and if they will but swear and respect mens persons and use the rod of violence and persecute and shed the blood of the Innocent and be conformable to the World that is the Priests rejoycing and if any turn from the truth into any act of uncleannesse then they take that as a proof against those that abide in the truth and such a thing is a better proof to them then all the Scriptures and those are they that reâ—oyâ—â— in â—niquity and watch for evill and so they rejoyce in that which we have â—ast out as abomination and these are they that plead for a life in sin while they are here and that say that the Saints glorified in Heaven do yet hope for the Resurrection of their bodies and so not come to the end of their hope though in Heaven whenas the Saints upon earth Witnessed the end of their hope the salvation of their souls Now these may well deny perfection on earth who deny it in Heaven which the Saints we and the Scriptures do witnesse it in both and against all such who are not fit to speak of the things of God Again In his 9th Head of contradiction he speaks of a Waâ—far which yet he himself never came unto and in it he wrests Pauls words and so would turn the truth into a lye saying as if Paul should say thus If sin that wars and fights in me hath no power to condemn me then there is no condemnation to me which words Paul never spake and it is a lye in the ground for it is not sin that is the condemnation but the light which lets men see their sins because men love darkness rather than the light as many in this age have manifested themselves to do and the light shall be their condemnation who are not yet come to the War nor to the Victory which the Scripture speaks of Again in his 10th Head of Contradictions speaking of Repentance as if he would prove that we denyed or disclaimed godly sorrow and his proof is this If we disclaim in dwelling sin in the godly we disclaim godly sorrow Let all people take notice of this If we deny in-dwelling sin we deny godly sorrow this is contradiction in the highest degree but against it this I shall affirm that none comes unto godly sorrow but they deny dwelling sin and they that do not deny in-dwelling sin denies godly sorrow Again John Stelham in his 11th Head of Contradictions to the Scripture in his speaking of the Word and means of Grace he is setting up that which before he hath been pulling down in page 123. where he saith That they are justified from all legal obligations and conditions of their own workings both within them and without them And in page 174. he is setting up Obligations and conditions of Reading Hearing Prayer Preaching to which he saith life and salvation is promised and so would have salvation come by Works which he hath so much declared against before and so makes Prayer Reading Preaching c. not only the means through which salvation comes but the cause for which they are saved saying To prayer is promised salvation Now to the informing of minds of people I say That all promises are to the Seed and the fulfilling of the promises is witnessed through its obedience to Christs command and through the works of righteousness but none can pray so as to be heard of God and accepted but who have first known heard and believed him whom they call upon which none do but who own the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which teacheth to Pray Hear Read and Preach with knowledge and understanding Again I. S. in his 12th Head concerning Baptisme would go about to prove the sprinkling of Infants to be the Baptisme and so denyes both Iohns who was from and Christs and the manner of them and sets up another which the Scripture doth not mention as sprinkling Infants which who reads his Books may see his proofs by consequences would have the Scripture speak that which in never mentioneth in plain Precept and so would turn the truth into alye and so by his own rule in the 68th page of his Book shall he be judged Such Messengers as speak more then is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say But that all people may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures and that which is testified by them is to come to the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which light was before Ordinances was and which light gives to see the place of Ordinances and their time wherein they are to be obeyed for the light comes from the substance of all the divers washings and carnall Ordinances and it leads into the one Baptisme which is the substance of that of Water which Iohn who was a Prophet was the Minister of and Christ said unto his Disciples Iohn verily baptizeth with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire but he never commanded them to baptize with Water but commanded them to go teach all Nations baptizing them into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and although some of the Disciples and Paul for a time did Baptize with Water yet who shall judge their permission in it although Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ witnesseth that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. 17. and thanks God that he had baptized no more of them yet witnessed that they were all Baptized with one Spirit into one Body And I. S. saith To be against Infants Baptisme is contrary to Acts 2. 28 29. This is false for that Scripture doth not command it nor give president for it let the Reader search if he find any such thing as the Scripture proving Infants Baptisme but the promise is to as many as the Lord shall call and so he hath foully belyed the Scripture for if that Scripture be contrary to such who are against Infants Baptisme then must he prove from that Scripture Infants Baptisme to be commanded as practised which he cannot do and so is a perverter of the Scripture and it is truth that we do deny brain imaginations and sprinkling Infants with water but then he rambles over many Scriptures proving the Baptisme of Believers these
proofs are impertinent what is this to prove Infants Baptisme so that is passed by here as making arguments against Believers Baptisme except one professing that were our present adversary but in this he is pursued from all the Scriptures he cannot prove in justice that ever Infants Baptisme was either commanded or practised though he craftily wind about never so much in his Imaginations and consequences And in the general I answer Much by us have been written and spoken to this purpose so our judgements in this charge is fully known of which we are not ashamed before men as being fully justified herein in the sight of the Lord and so as to this particular more need not be said Again in the 12th Head of Scripture Contradiction as he saith concerning the Lords Supper I. S. makes much ado because of our denyall of carnall Inventions and Imitations practised by many in the exercise of that called the Supper of the Lord though with one heart and mind we say and witness that Christs flesh and blood is our meat and drink and none hath life in them without it yet doth receive it in the Spirit and power of God and doth bear our testimony against Imitations and false likenesses set up in the World as the Wicked and Prophane people such as live in pride and wickedness and covetousness both teachers and people eating a little Bread and drinking Wine so many times a year in such a form and manner and way as Christ nor his Apostles never practised such things in and no change wrought among people but both before and after if not in the very time fulfilling all wickedness and unrighteousnesse in words and wayes and thoughts yet by false suggestion from their Teachers believing vainly themselves to be the better or Saitns for the practice of such things whereas they do the more thereby vex the Lords soul and grieve his Spirit by hypocrisie and deceit this we call carnal Inventions and doth deny it in the presence of the Lord that it is evill and not accepted of God but condemned in his sight I. S. proves not that any thing which Christ instituted to be practised among the Saints only even was practised in the World among such who are not called neither sanctified and this is abomination to the Lord to practise the Saints words or wayes and have not the Spirit of the Father which we cannot see among the people of this Age no nor manage them professing to be selected Church members but pride and envy abounds among them all and in that spirit of disobedience in which they live to the Ordinances of Christ they have no right to practise that which only is to be practised among them that have the Spirit of the Father and nothing that Christ instituted for his Saints do we deny in its life and age but lives are changed and Antichrist hath roled and even the things which once he instituted your practise of them who are poluted are abomination to him and this is a full Answer in generall as to the thing though I pursue hâ—m not in every particular word and argument to lay open his folly but our judgement in this is known he that can receive it let him and the belief of the wicked we shall not begg in these things we are approved of God and in the denyal of all false Imitations and who is he that shall condemn In the 14th Head concerning Prayer Concerning Prayer we do not contradict the Scripture in our practice I. S. is the lyer herein who hath made it a subject to treat two leaves upon for praying in the Spirit and by the Spirit and in publick and private too we own and do practise as is known to thousands our enemies can witness for us and according to the Scripture too and not contradicting to it any way but this is the offence against him at which he is troubled that we should deny the prayers of the Pharisees or of such who are in the steps of the Pharisees viz. who for a pretence make long Prayers and stands praying in the Synagogues who are out of Christs and the Apostles Doctrine and the prayers and practises of such we do not deny according to the Scripture which saith the sacrifice of the wicked are abomination to the Lord and they shal receive greater condemnation who makes long prayers for a pretence as it is manifest concerning many in this Generation and against the praying of the Hypocrites and of hirelings who pretends to pray in love to Souls when as if they had not a great sum of mony from the people would not pray among them but seek a place to pray at among such who wouâ—d give them money and hire and this praying is for a pretence and we do deny it in publick and doth not offend God herein though we vex I. S. hereby because some will not worship the beast and bow a hat off while he is praying in an Idols Temple which he complains of in I. P. though he himself that prayes have a Cap on and himself confesses not wicked mans prayers are accepted publick or private and here he hath condemned all his own praying who confesses he is wicked and sinfull and his heart is old and lying Let all take notice of this which if he had not confessed it it is sufficiently proved then why shall he ever hereafter be offended seeing his prayers are not accepted according to his own confession if any tel him so or declare against his praying and before any can truly pray they must receive the Spirit of the Father and them we know who are not led by the Spirit of the Father them and their prayers are to be declared against by the Saints and are condemned in the sight of God And I. S. saith If this counsel be followed viz. waiting in the Light till the Spirit leading be known it makes known nothing of Publick Ministers Church officers Baptisme Lords Supper publick order of prayer nor of Christ as Mediator nor of the Spirit of promise c. The light that every man hath makes manifest nothing of this he sayeth he in this is a Lyar and slanderer of the people of God who are led by the moving of the Spirit in the light of the word Christ Jesus that lighteth every man and owneth the publick Ministry of Christ which is received by the holy Ghost and Church and Baptism and Christ as Mediator and the Spirit of promise and all these thing all the Saints upon earth who have the spirit of Christ shal witness against I. S. herein to be a lyar of the light and Spirit of God and so is a transgressor and his wickedness may largely be laid open but the least of the children of light may see his folly and madness who also lyingly saith that Quakers they nourish up people in the light that every man hath which is the light of Christ Jesus in opposition to Scripture light
of what they falsely accuse us in words for such who walks in the steps of the false Prophets as he and they doth that preach for hire and takes Giâ—ts and Rewards for preaching are contrary to all the true Ministers of Christ and the Scripture and the Spirit that gave it forth condemns them and much as to this we have publickly spoken and written and so here I need say the lesse though much might be said to manifest I. S. folly and vanity though they that plant a vineyard may justly eat the fruit thereof yet what is this to purpose he is a thief that eats of the fruit of that which he hath not planted but is hired thither for so much per Sermon or per annuâ— and plants nothing for the Lord and he that preaches the Gospel may live of it but this shames I. S. and this Generation of Teachers who many of them might begg bread at peoples doors had they not a Law by violence to compell maintenance from them which thing is a very shame to all righteousness which is practised by most of the Priests of England at this day grievous to be related what unjust proceedings are acted upon the poor people by unjust judgements against them for to maintain Ministers so called what is the thing that I. S. pleads for Tithes or a hundred or two hundred pound a year he is a Lyar to say that we contradict the Scripture because we cannot uphold this but must bear witness against it so whilst he falsely charges us with contradicting the Scripture in the very same thing he and his Generation are found in this practise contrary to all the Ministers of Christ that ever was sent by him and in the very practice of the Deceivers Antichrists and false Prophets in making merchandize of people through covetousness in preaching for hire and in seeking for their gain from their quarter and this is the very truth let I. S. and all his fellows read their own contradiction to the example of all the Ministers of Christ in their cursed practise of maintenance which is the greatest oppression this day in England and this is their grief against us because God hath opened our mouths to declare against them and to shew their folly and wickednesse unto all people and when the Law of the Land ceases to maintain them which will come sooner then they expect then may they begg their bread or perish for want and that is all the fruit that their vineyard of wild Brambles will bring forth to them and if every particular of his words should be searched much rottenness might be let forth but in plainness I have spoken as to the truth of things in pleading for truth and in denying his deceits and the oppression of hirelings which I cannot call Ministers maintenance His 18th Head concerning immediate Calling In this we do not contradict the Scipture I. S. is a Lyar herein also but we say such as are called of God are called by his Spirit and lead with it and fulfills the will and work of God in the Spirit and such as are called by the Spirit of God are appoved by all the Saints of God who with the same Spirit bears witness to such as are called by it and speaks by it the Ministry of God is not of Man nor by Man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is not learned by natural arts but received in the Holy Ghost and this the Scripture bears witness to but the Call to the Ministry by naturall learning at Oxford and Cambridge this I deny and trample upon and all your arts and knowledge and humate study and languages is not able to make a Minister of Christ this I do affirm though they approve one another yet are they not approved of God without his Spirit and they that have his Spirit denyes naturall learning as to be made a Minister of Christ hereby and E. B. his words are owned transcribed by I. S. cited page 16. in the warning c. and all that he saith doth not prove that any of the Ministers of Christ were called by the Church or approved unto that work of the Ministry by them who were not called by the Spirit and guided with it he saith the sending of God is two-fold and for this he hath no Scripture to prove it and so holds forth that which the Scripture will not evidence And further he saith he pretends to no such Call of an Apostle if he have not the same Call by the same Spirit as the Apostles had he is no Minister of Christ and in measure he hath confessed to be without the same Call as the Apostles was called with and will not pretend such a Call Again He falsly Charges R. F. with Crucifying the Ministers of Christ which is a Lye and of the Devil though none of us may spare to call Hirelings greedy dumb Doggs and devourers and lazy sheperds and in this we do not contradict the Scriptures nor work offence towards God nor our neighbour And he concludes Who of us we or they shall have the worst of it in Conclusion the day shall declare unto that day we are willing to come by which we and all the blind Priests of England shall be manifest and we know Liars such as I. S. shall not have the better who is to us made manifest already to be out of the way and out of the power and life of God His 19th Head concerning immediate Teaching In this we do not contradict the Scripture as I. S. falsly charges us withal but doth say that we are taught of God and needs no man to reach us but as the anointing of God which abides in us and the promise of God is fulfilled upon us Jer. 31. we are all taught of God from the least of us to the greatest with whom the Covenant of God is established and this is the cause wherefore we let forth our selves to the world who are yet in the unconverted state that they also maâ— come to the knowledge of the wayes and teachings of God in the Spirit and may come into the Covenant of peace where none need to say know the Lord but all these are taught of him yea and immediately too by his Spirit and this we do witness and the Lord doth witness with us though the unbelieving heart of I. S. and his fellows cannot believe it but doth gainsay it as being contrary to the Scripture when as themselves doth contradict the Scripture in denying it so proving themselves guilty of what they do accuse us of falsly but this is that their folly may appear to all men as it doth to us and I. S hath belyed the Scriptures Dan. 9. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. in saying it is contrary to those Scriptures to say the teaching of God is immediate let the Reader try and I. S. saith he is yet to learn the promise of the immediate teachings of God to be
be Scripture this is charged upon him to be a lye as it is well known through this Nation both in Doctrine and Conversation we own the Scriptures and to deny Matthew Mark Luke and Johns Declarations of the Gospel to be Gospel is no denyal of the Scripture for the Gospel was preached to Abraham which Gospel was and is the power of God before these four men did Declare of it though we deny their Writings to be the very Gospel which is the power of God yet we do not deny but they truly declared of the Gospel and this is to own the Scripture as it speaks of it self to be Let I. S. judge what he will of us and wheras he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture-Gospel the Scripture give no such names to it but saith the Gospel is the power of God and that is the Gospel which we Preach even the power of God unto all people let I. S. judge by consequence what he will And further he would plead for the title of Master from the example of Abrahams servant but this is nothing to prove the lawfulness of a Minister of Christ that they may be called Master for Christ saith to his Ministers Be ye not called Masters and the Spirit of Christ being our rule that leads us in the fulfilling of Christs words let I. S. shuffle as he will Also he lyes of J. N. to say he denyes and grants the same thing to be in the letter for though he say he that believes hath the witnesse in himself which is truth yet he doth not say the letter is the Believers witness which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spirituall understanding of the Scriptures But this he doth in another way than that whereby he inspired the pen-men of the Scriptures Now this is false doctrine For Christ the Way the same to us as to them and not another way of understanding Scriptures nor by another Spirit than that which gave them forth and he saith Christ directed to himself Joh. 5 39. as revealed in the Scriptures and more than that as conveyed by the Scriptures to a Soul Now let the Reader take notice and search that Scripture Whether he hath not added to it yea or nay or where any ever had Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures it doth say the Scriptures testifies of him but it doth not say that he is revealed in the Scriptures nor conveyed by them to a Soul and this is his additional gloss to corrupt the text to undervalue the eternal Spirit of the Father by which Christ is only revealed and received and not by the Scriptures And for E. B. to say That he came not to them with enâ—icing words neither what he had gathered from the Scripture without him But to declare the Word of the Lord and not to speak his own conceivings and imaginations this is true and no contradiction in it though I. S. say these cannot both be true to say That he neither came with what he had gathered from Scripture nor his own imaginations for the Apostles of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Word and Gospel of God which they had received from God and not gathered from Scripture nor in their own imaginations and because he saith both these negatives cannot be true then it is concluded that himself preaches either what he hath gathered from Scripture or his own imaginations and let him chuse to say whether he will and in the next he will be proved a false Prophet and that E B. compiled a Book out of Scripture Collections is false for having the same Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which brings the Scripture to remembrance is not compiling a Book out of Scriptures and I. S. is found a false accuser and E. B. neither a self Contradictor noâ— self curser and these are true words to this generation and owned with the Spirit of God though I. S. in his scornful spirit abuse them he that hath the Word of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord to declare he is reviled and mocked But he that speaks the imagination of his own heart from the Saints conditions he is heard and owned and this is neither Scripture contradiction nor self-contradiction let I. S. judge out of his own heart what he will neither is this self contradiction to ask which of the Saints hâ—d the witness of their souls union to seek in the Letter and yet to affirm the Spirit opens and brings that which is spoken in Scripture to remembrance Let I. S. first answer the query in plainness which is an honest query and not to imply from it his own conceptions to make appear self-contradictions let the sober Reader judge where the contradiction lyes and he saith the Spirit is in the letter and goes about to prove it if he could if the Spirit be in the letter then all must have the Spirit that hath the letter and the Spirit is where ever the Bible is which I do deny for many hath the letter and professes it which knows not the Spirit and many hath the Bible in their pocket which hath not the Spirit there and this will be confessed by I. S. and all his fellows and so he must revoak who â—aith the Spirit is in the Letter and the Spirit gives life but the Letter kill In his proof he saith The written Word viz. the Letter is of greater authority then the Writer mark here Christ was one of them which gave forth Scripture and he was a greater authority then what was written and I say as it is plain to all honest men who can believe truth that the holy men of God who had the Spirit were of greater authority than the Scriptures since hath been which they left behind them But I. S. hath set Christ and all them that gave forth Scripture to be lesse in authority then the Scriptures let wise men judge of this matter he saith They were imperfectly holy that wrote forth the Scriptures and this is an absolute lye for the Scriptures gives this testimony of many of them that wrote it that they were perfect men and he hath also slaundeâ—ed Christ to be impâ—rfectly holy and in his next let him pâ—ove what this Imperfect Holiness is and till then we deny there is any Holiness â—mperfect Further he saith The promises of the Scripture are his Chariot to convey him Spirit whether he pleases to go but where is his proof for such a Doctrine but all that he saith doth not prove that the Spirit is in the Letter though he say to make up the sum of his matter Daily experiences doth demonstrate that the Spirit is in the Letter but where is the man let him answer that thus hath experienced that alwayes when he hath seen the letter and handled the letter hath seen and handled the Spirit the testimony of
â—n honest man I will believe but not I. S. assertion out of his own heart In his 2d Head of Self-contradiction Concerning hearing the Word this is not contradiction to say they who are of God hear his Word and yet to deny the hearing of such as I. S who is not a Minister of the Word but a professor of the Letter for proud men and covetous men and false Acculers such as I. S. is are we exhorted to turn away from by Paul and this is not a denying our selves to be of God as I. S. would charge us withall because we deny to hear hirelings for we hear Gods Word and his Voice and therefore do we deny to hear Deceivers and this is no self-contradiction nor saying nor unsaying let I. S. judge what he will the Saints shall be my witness and though we say that the Saints teacher cannot be removed into a corner as saith the Scripture and that the Saints will find their teach as they lye in their beds both these are true and not self-contradiction let a sober Reader judge whether he can find contradict on in those words but fain would I. S. have his lyes believed for truth that he might have praise of men for his works hath gained no praise of God and he saith R. F. hath proved not lyes yet against him if it were so let the Reader search whether there be none proved against him now but let him not say like a Pharisee I am no lyar but rather let him repent of his lyes and wickednesse His 3d Head concerning the Light within Wherein much ado he makes as to prove the light of Christ spoken of Jo 1. 9 to be a natural light and he saith the light given to all men even that light spoken of Jo. 1. 9. is a dim light and is cold and insufficient to Salvation and unable to make true discovery of the true Saviour and such like contemptible undervaluing words of the pure light of Christ by whom the world was made who lighteth every man in the World and by this it is known more evidently what Spirit I. S. is of but there is none of us who have received the knowledge of God by the very light of Christ which shines in our hearts can believe him and this is no contradiction to say that every man is lightened by Christ with the true light and yet to say some men are living in a natural condition both these are true for some hates the light of Christ and their deeds are evil and such are in a natural condition but this doth not prove that Christ hath not given them light though they be in a natural condition I leave it to spiritual men to judge though they say it seems strange that some should live a natural condition and yet have the light of Christ given them saith he as if every man brought a Saviour with him into the world This last is his false conception but he is mans Saviour by whose power every man is brought into the World and if I. S. did but understand as we do that some love the light and some hates it such as hates it denyes Christ he that loves it receives Christ who knows this strangeth not I. S. wondring shews his Ignorance who would secretly charge us to be bewitched with a Notion of accounting nature grace which we do not and it is his own condition he that conceives Lyes believes them and tells them is the rather bewitched And further he saith the light in every man is a poor base beggarly scrap to the Gospel treasure these words are uttered in his hastiness and without either fear or knowledge for he that lighteth every man with the true light of life or of condemnation is not base beggarly scraps as I. S. saith it is for it brings to the knowledge of the Gospel treasure and pearle and not other light and thus whilst he thinks to prove us self-contradictors proves himself a villifier and a blasphemer of Christ Jesus the Saviour of the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World Again he would make this contradiction because we say every man in his first state is as a Beast and yet saying every man is lightened but this is not contradiction no more than the former is and then he speaks of natural conscience and secretly charges aâ— if we should say it is potent and victorious at last but this is is a secret slander of his for we say Christ only is victorious and through him are we made Conquerors and not by natural conscience and he speaks of Gospel conviction to be above the conviction of natural conscience but I would know of him where the Gospel conviction works if not in mâ—ns consciences and so in his next let him divide if he can and shew the difference of such convictions Further he would say that this is contradiction to say that every man in his first birth may see himself to be natural and yet to say that the light which discovers natural corruptions is not natural but spiritual both these are true for the light shines in darkness which shews the darkness and is not darkness but light and he that can understand that Scripture Iohn 1 5. shall see the truth of both these to bâ— no self-contradiction Further he saith the Scriptures are a rule above the Saints light and â—nto it and not so their light above the Scripture this is confusion and he knows not whereof he affiâ—ms for the Spirit of God is the Saints rule and that is greater than the Scriptures and the rule of the Spirit of God is above the Scripture but such as I. S. who talks of Scriptures to be a rule and yet acts these things which the Scriptures declare against are but found in deeper hypocrisie for he that is ruled by the Spirit of God walks up in the fulfilling of Scriptures And further I. S. confessed and saith this he knows that he is more brutish then a man and hath not the knowledge of the holy and this is truly confessed his own works manifest his condition to be true and he confesses he never obeyed natural light as he ought and as he might and this is truly confessed for if he had obeyed that light which he calls natural he would not thus have stumbled at him who hath lightened every man And further he charges a deceit when men will put off that for redemption light which is but old creation light let him charge them that are guilty but yet we say that the same is Redeemed by whom the world was created and this is without any deceit and he that lighteneth every man with the light that is but one he is the Saviour of all that receive him in the light and he is the condemner of all that hate his light and this is no self-contradiction but the very truth as it is in Jesus Further I. S. would make it appear if he could
generation of ungodly and when we read the plain words of Christ Luke 17. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you he saith we madly wrest the reading of the words when we neither â—dd nor diminish now he seems to say It is the Kingdom of heaven among you and not the kingdom of heaven within you and so blames the Scripture and confounds the doctrine of many of the Independents who say the Scriptures is believers Rule but he seems to charge the Scripture with false translation and therefore is subject to alteration and so cannot be the rule of Believers according to his own account and thus by wicked men are we blamed when we do not speak according to Scripture language and now as wickedly charged by I. S. for speaking just in the Scripture expressions with madly wresting the words but thus it was before and whatsoever we do now by our enemies must be reviled and our words abused contrary to our innocent intents Then in the end of his Epistle he desires the Prayers of his Church that his Reply may be accompanied with power according to the truth of it Indeed so it shall and no more according to the truth of it which is very fâ—lshoods and deceits so shall the power of the Lord confound it and turn it into folly and confusion as may be seen by a sober man who this following doth with patience read and weigh Then many things is uttered by him in his Epistle to the Reader he seems to shew he saith how R. F. and his Associates have made up A Litter and Fardel of Erronious Divinity and secretly charging us with making up of what we profess from some Writers before us But to this I Answer His reproachful words Litter and Fardel and Erronious we bear with patience rather rejoycing that we are accounted worthy of the reproach for the truths sake from an envious man than to be angry with our reproaches But however let him and all our enemies know what we profess and bear witness of we receive not from man but from God even the Gospel which we testifie of by the revelation of Jesus Christ in us we received it and informs others to the same door which is by our Ministry that they may receive the same and this is but his poor shift to undervalue the power and truth of Jesus in the sight of men who would falsly make men believe That our Doctrines are but the spawn of many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Moderne Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles we bear witness to by the same Spirit and not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus and all these shifts â—aves not the Priests of England from being discovered and their deceits and abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H. N. Jacob B. W. E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them than this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but cross his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgements who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all along in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Asps being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemned him with transgressors and betwixt two theeves And in the end he desires his Reader to receive in Love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God and according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned and not received what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Preverse Principle and that Christ blessed Infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by its fruit and every spirit by its works and words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designes are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavory words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are clear in his sight from these divilish accusations though I. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book and is an accuser of the brethren and is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer and the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical Flots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he saith his words would take away our lives but to raise the unclean spirits against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe hâ—m for none else can to persecute the people and way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters and of having ill Designes which things we stand witness against and seeks the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly and impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is in forging of them and declaring of them and that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being
clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience and doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returning from his ungodliness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness and whereas the substance of his matter invented in his mind and brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in twenty two particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scriptures though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our contradiction to Scripture and while we be approved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his sâ—â—nders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God than a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that I. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false Judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and witness of God in every man we appeal for judgment and doth in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans Conscience and begs not belief of any but knows all that be in the light of the Son of God witnesseth to us and feels our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of Godliness reaching to the witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all and though I. S. judge our doctrine to be Scripture contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false Rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his work and judgement doth spring and try if an old Lying heart and sinful wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit no we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the light of the spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him Contradict the Scriptures though by his dark minde so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his forefathers did judge of Christ to be a Blasphemer and a Contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and put them to an end and not destroy them nor contradict them not in the sight of his Father though to their corrupt judgement and Christ tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God who had old lying hearts were sinful wretches even such as John Stelham hath confessed himself to be and therefore his words and judgment and theirs is like to be all of one nature judging truth to be error and the way of God to be Heresie and Blasphemy this the Pharisees did of old and even thus doth John Stelham and his Companions do at this day but why should any be troubled hereat seeing herein Christs words are fulfilled upon us who said they shall speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my names sake and so hath this man done with his light scornful spirit and fulfilled Christs words who because he hath not known the Father nor the Son hath spoken evil falsly against them that follow Christ and this were sufficient answer to his whole Book yet let us see what follows and let the Reader try with all moderation that he may be edified and may know the true spirit from the false and the doctrine of the Gospel from lying visions and may cleave to the truth and escape the error and let none believe hastily things uttered without knowledge out of I. S. deceitful heart FOrasmuch as many of the Servants of the Lord have been moved of the Lord to set forth in order several Declarations of those things which the light of the glorious Gospel shining in their hearts hath given them the knowledge of and for this end are they published that others also may know the certainty and truth of those things which are believed known and enjoyed amongst us not that they can be known by reading the letter in which they are delared but through their diligence and obedience to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them though not for it which is the same light which shined in our hearts and gave us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by which light of the glorious Gospel who are faithful in it to the Lord their understandings come to be opened that they stumble not at those things which are testified in the truth neither at that which is declared in other Scriptures but it being that in this our day it hath pleased the fâ—ther to bring forth in life and power that mercy and truth which the Scripture speaks of by which iniquity is purged out and as it is become a savour of life unto life in those that receive and believe in it so it is also become a savour of death unto that death which remaâ—ns in both Priests and People in this age who hates the light who can scarce hear it named or that people should be turned unto it as the Apostle did turn them from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remission of their sins and be partakers of the inheritance amongst them that are sanctified but when they hear that Preached or Printed which they may do and out of which they cannot receive the remission of their sins then envie riseth up in them and a perverse mind and ungodly Speeches and false Accusations saying that we speak of a natural light and of a natural conscience when as we speak of the true light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world and in which Christs doctrine stood which said to the people and to the Pharisees again and again I am the light of the world as Joh. 8. 12 Joh. 12. 46. but now because the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we declare it freely as we have received it therefore is flouds of ungodliness risen up against us but it is impossible that the seed which the Lord is manifesting his light and power to bring forth should be kept alwayes under the power of death which seed is now terrible in the Lords power and will yet be more terrible as his power encreaseth which is now going forth as an Army with banners for the torment of the wicked is already begun because the righteousness of God is now spreading over the Nations and neither the rulers of the darkness of this world nor all the Printings and Preachings of those who be out of the life of
Stelham confesseth he is was never appointed by the Lord to watch over Souls But such where Christ did dwell in their hearts and because they were sons God sent forth the spirit of his Son into their hearts Eph. 3. 17. Gal 46. and such had truth in their hearts doing the will of God from the heart and did draw neer unto God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water these did not profess the things of God in an old lying heart wherein dwelt no truth but called upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart and said that the end of the Commandment was Charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned from which some swarved in the Apostles dayes having turned aside unto vain jangling and such desired to be teachers of others but the doctrine is corrupt and the Ministry of Faith is not held where the heart and conscience is not pure And the Lord is good unto such who be of a clean heart Now as concerning the Scriptures John Stelhams Testimony from the old lying heart wherein dwells no truth is this That the Scriptures are the word of God and truly so called and the letter and Scripture is all one as page 3 4. but to contradict that himself he saith in page 5. the letter taken strictly is but legal Administration using these words the letter killeth i. e The bare legal command without a promise of power or pardon as a bare letter void of strength life and spirit it leaveth all men under a killing sentence and curse let them that have understanding judge Again as concerning the letter in page 6. he expresseth himself thus The Spirit is given by it And in the next words saith the Scripture is but instrumental to the Spirit Now mark the Letter taken strictly being legal without a Promise of Power or Pardon void of strength life and spirit The Spirit to be given by this which he confesseth is void of strength life and spirit and is but instrumental to the spirit whether this be not contradiction and confusion let them that read judge For in reading these things which he hath published many may seal to the Confession of his own Condition to be truth but that which he hath declired of the things of God to be false For now the light being broken forth such doctrine cannot be received nor beleeved that the spirit is given by the letter but that which is declared in the letter was given forth from the Spirit which was in them which spoke it forth but people may long have the letter and think in it to find God and eternal life and may die in their sins though I. S. say that not one man in the world knows God to be God till he finds him in the Scripture But I say unto him as Christ said unto the Pharisees who had neither heard his voyce at any time nor seen his shape had not his word abiding in them nor did not believe in the light and that he was the light which did enlighten every man that cometh into the world search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me saith Christ the life but those thought that they had the life in the scriptures deceived them for they wanted the life when they thought they had it so I. S. thoughts that he hath the spirit by the letter deceives him for when he finds the spirit eternal life then his old lying heart in which is no truth but the root of error will be taken away and so the light which cometh from Christ the life in which the spirit is received condemneth all such thoughts for they proceed out of that heart which is not upright before the Lord neither is it set to seek the Lord in that way in which he and his spirit is found Again I. S. talking of the Scriptures intrudes into things which he hath not seen comparing it with that which he hath seen and so in what he saith he is blind saying The Scriptures is a more standing rule than visions To which I Answer The night is upon him that he hath no vision and therefore doth not know what a vision is a rule unto nor the continuance of it as those in Israel which said that every vision faâ—leth and so would not have them a standing rule and that reproach of the visions of God was so common that it was become a Proverb amongst them but the Prophet who was in the light and had the vision of the Lord and had the word of the Lord he was to reprove that Proverb and to tell them that they should no more use it as a proverb in Israel and said the dayes are at hand and the effect of every vision and so with the light who be in it doth now reprove all such proverbs and preachings against the visions of God for from the visions was the Scriptures spoken forth and that which they had seen they declared so that which gives forth words is greater than the words and without vision the people perish and they may perish while they have the letter but they cannot perish while they have the vision and although there be vain visions they do not make the true of none effect And although there be Sorceryes and Enchantment that doth not make the true resurrection of the dead of none effect but the blind must stumble at the things which they do not see Again I. S. saith That the Authority of the Scriptures is owned among the Jewes to this day Answ. No Christ is not owned amongst them who is the Authority and Power unto which the Scriptures give testimony that he is so neither are they yet converted as thou thy self confessest and they who be in the unconverted estate doth not own the Authority of the Scriptures though such may talk of them as thou dost speaking that of them which they never spoke of themselves Again I. S. saith in the 17. page As deep things as the Spirit hath Revealed they are all in the Scripture Answ. Nay There was things Revealed which was unutterable and many things which was Revealed and also Written which is not in the Scripture as the Book of Nathan the Prophet and the Prophesie of Ahijah the Shilâ—â—mitâ— and the Visions of Iddoa the Seer which was against Jerâ—bâ—ans the Son of Nabat 2 Chron 9. 29. And the Book of Shemath the Prophet 2 Chron. 1. 2. 15. And the Book of Jehu 2 Chron. 20. 34. And the Book of Gad the Seer 1 Chron 29. 29. And the Book of Jaser 2 Sam. 1. 18. and the Prophesie of Enoch who prophesied of the coming of Christ in his Saints to execute Judgement upon all and to convince all that are uugodly of all their ungodly deeds and hard speeches
which ungodly sinners have spoken against him as Jude beareth witness and he also saw and Prophesied of Israel according to the flesh that they should do wickedly and slay him who was the light of the world And much more which is not written in the Bible And that which was manifest unto Paul which he wrote to the Corinthians in an Epostle not to company with fornicators that whole Epistle is not in the Bible 1 Cor. 5. 9. And likewise that which was revealed unto Paul in the dispensation of the grace of God given unto him how that by revelation God made known unto him the mystery which he wrote unto the Ephesians in a few words whereby they when they read they might understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it was then revealed unto his holy Angels and Prophets by the Spirit which Epistle in which that mystery was written is not in the Bible Ephes. 3. 3. And the Epistle which Paul wrote to the Laodâ—ceans which he charged the Colossians to read amongst them and that theirs should be read in the Church of the Laodeceans wherin his thanks and prayers to God was for their stedfastness in the truth wherein he made manifest the unprofitable talkers who went about to draw them from the truth of the Gospel and from their diligence in good works of eternal life as many vain and unprofitable talkers are in the world now doing the same work And whereas I. S. saith That the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians was read as the Word of the Lord in the Church of the Laodeceans Why doth he not as well â—ear witness that Pauls Epistle to the Laodeceans was read as the word of the Lord amongst the Colossians Col. 4. 16 And if he read in his Church the Epistle to the Colossians as the Word of the Lord why doth not he read to his people that which was written to the Laodeceans they both being given forth from one Spirit So let him consider of those things above mentioned and try whether his words will stand unreprovable 67 page saying God might have revealed more than is in the Scripture but he pleased not so to do In that page mentioning Samuel Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles saying All that they have spoken is written both according to what was Written before and for substance the same Answ. What I have spoken and shall here speak may sufficiently make manifest that his words proceed from the old lying heart in which dwells no truth for I have shewed out of the Prophets and out of the Apostles many things which was both revealed and declared which is not in the Bible written And likewise I shall shew farther of the things concerning Christ testified by John and we know that his Testimony is true saying And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it seâ—f could not contain the Books which should be written John 21. 25. So that all is not written which was revealed wrote and spoken which if much more were written which was made manifest by it with that which is written could they not know the Lord their minds being from the light of Christ which doth reveal and make manifest that which may be known of God in them And many who have the Letter and are Ministers of it are sensual having not the spirit nor the word of God nor the testimony of Jesus and their Ministry is but as Chaff to the Wheat and the Lord is against them For what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23. Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces Now many have the letter and know not the word of the Lord as a fire neither is the rock broken with the letter and such use their tongue for it is their own and the power of the Lord is not come over it such cause the People to err and doth not profit them being not sent nor commanded of the Lord for who are sent and commanded of the Lord the Lord useth their tongues to speak his words which he puts into their mouths and such words doth profit the people and not cause them to err being spoken according to the law which is light And the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie and such do witness the Scriptures that as they cannot be broken so they cannot be denied by the Spirit which gave them foâ—th to be a Declaration of those things which was revealeâ— known and believed But they are not that which they are a declaration of the letter testifies of the eternal life but it is not it neither gives it It testifies of the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in the heart which gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God but it is not that light which gives that knowledge It testifies of the Way but Christ is the Way and of the Word but God is the Word and of Redemption but Christ is the Redemption and not the letter though it testifies of Justification and Sanctification but they are wrought by the Word in the grace and power of Christ and so every one who will own the Scriptures as they were given forth to be owned must first own that of God in them which is manifest to work in the Creature that which they testifie of that Christ the power of God they may witness working all their works in them and for them according to the Scriptures But contrary to the Scriptures I. S. from the root of Errour saith That the written letter is the spiritual Arm and Sword of the Spirit and that the very power of the written Letter puts Satan to flightâ— And in the same Page saith That the Devil hath Scripture in his mouth Answ. Let the People take notice and read the Scriptures and see if there be any such thing that the sword of the Spirit was ever in the Divels Mouth for the spiritual Armour which is said to be the Word of God But the Word of God wâ—ich is the sword of the Spirit is that by which he is to be destroyed and is in the mystery hid from him and all that follow his lusts But though the Devil which did not abide in the truth and his Ministers who are out of the truth may take the letter in their mouths as they have done and say its written so but the word of the Lord s not in their mouths which is the sword of the Spirit and such will use the letter in their mouths which cannot cease from sin whose eyes are full of Adultery beguiling unstable Souls their heart being exercised with covetous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are in the Errour of Balaam loving the wages of
the Covenant of Works was not made with Adam in innocency God could not in justice require satisfaction of his posterity under the Fall c. A third supposition to prove Adam under a Covenant of Works is this Either he stood under the Covenant of Works or was under the Covenant of Grace or he was under no Covenant c. Unto which I Answer All such Priests and Teachers who be out of innocency themselves cannot tell what Covenant those are in with God who are innocent and in the image of God in holiness and righteousness and therefore from such have we so much perverting of the Scriptures and violating of the Law of God to make it according to their imaginations But unto such God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my Words behind thee psal. 50. 16. Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit But I say that Covenant in which Adam was with God in his innocency and in his image he stood in that and by that by which he was made a living Soul and in that was in unity and Covenant with God for the disobedience of which he was driven out from God into the Earth and none was under the Law of Works neither was that Law added until there was transgression which it was added because of but that which is innocent and without sin unreprovable in Gods sight is under no Law but that which endureth for ever which doth free from sin and death those that be in it which is made manifest unto some since the falling from it and which the Isles is to wait for till it be made manifest where it is not already revealed and all who come to have right to speak of Gods Precepts and to take his Covenant in their mouths they see and comprehend all such darkness which doth not speak according to words of Scripture but speaks of three Covenants contrary to Scripture saying that the first Covenant promiseth nothing of Salvation nor mentioning nothing of a Saviour and yet saith that that Covenant is a part of Gods Word and his Will and pure law and yet mentioneth nothing of a Saviour and again saith that the Moral Law he calls of Works which promiseth no Salvation mentioneth nothing of a Saviour that this which mentioneth nothing of a Saviour is to be a directory and rule to true believers for the ordering of their Sanctification â—s it is also in Christs hand guiding them by his Spirit so this cannot build nor joyn together and so time to cease building any more in confusion but in denyal of that false doctrine I say That there is but two Covenants spoken of in the Scriptures which is a plain testimony of them without any such confusion or contradiction as the Apostles to the Hebrews saying in that he saith a new Covenant he hath made the first old c. And in the first Covenant as you may read Heb. 9. in all these things there was Christ held out and mentioned in the shadows and figures and so that Covenant which promiseth no Salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour that we deny for there is not such a Covenant in the Scriptures For that which said Do this and live promised life and mentioned Christ who is the life and by Christ who is the life and light of men is that Covenant fulfilled and by his power both the obedience and life is brought forth of which that Covenant speaketh and the new Covenant being come that God hath promised wherein he hath put his Law in their hearts and his Spirit in their inward part and all such needs not to come to such Priests to be taught who tells of a Covenant which promiseth no Salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour for we who be in the second know the first fulfilled which Christ was held forth in under Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly sanctuary and divers washings and carnal Ordinances which never made the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but now is Christ the Covenant of God and Covenant of light come and preached and with his light shineth in mens Conscience that he may make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience which Covenant is now witnessed among thousands and such denyed which speak of a Covenant that mentions nothing of a Saviour and that to be the rule of true believers Again in John Stelhams 5th head of Scripture Contradiction he speaks concerning Sin saying That the more a Soul is sanctified the more he sees his moats to be beams and that Paul was groaning and sighing all his life time under the body of sin and death Both these are false For the more a Soul is sanctified he is not the more taught to lye or to see falsly but the more he is taught to see clearly and discern a moat to be a moat and a beam to be a beam and knows the differance And Paul thanks God who had given him the victory over sin and death which he had not while he groaned under the body of it and so both the Saints and the work of sanctification is falsly accused by such and such are to be denyed as Enemies to God and to his Work In the reading of this let all people take notice That in the several and particular Heads of I. S. Book where he saith he hath contradicted us he is proved himself to contradict the Scriptures and so far as he contradicts the Scriptures in those particulars so far he may say he contradicts us and our testimony being one with the Scriptures in them things For in his 6 Head as concerning Justification he saith He that is justified is justified by God not under the Aspect or Notion of a Saint and as such but of a sinner and as a sinner believing in Jesus not as he loveth God or overcometh the world by Faith c. but as believing on Christ dying c. Now this testimony of I. S. is contrary to the Scriptures for God never justified any as hating of him nor as a sinner but as made obedient through Faith according to the Scriptures as the Apostle witnesseth Gal 2. 16. Even by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ c. so they believed that they might be justified and the ungodly they were first called out of their ungodliness and whom he called them he also justified and they whom he justified them he also glorified and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13. 39 and so all who are justified by the Lord are justified from their sins and not in them as all shall witness who come to be justified by Christ from their iniquity And
whereas I. S. would set the law and justice of God at a difference with the Gospel and as contrary in saying the law and justice finds us and leaves us sinners Gospel and Mercy declareth and pronounceth us righteous now the one pronouncing a man righteous and the other pronounce the same to be a sinner these two are contrary but the Scripture hath another testimony saying mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Psal 85. 10. Now here is unity here is not righteousdess pronouncing one thing and mercy another for the righteousness of God is revealed from heaven against the disobedient and this will not leave them disobedient nor sinners if ever they come to mercy for it doth not leave them as it finds them and so that doctrine is accurst from God which saith That the justice finds them sinners and leaves them so and to say that Justices pronounce them sinners and Mercy pronounce them righteous but to satisfie all people a few words may serve to answer the volume of that darkness and blindness given forth by him before mentioned should a man full of words be justified Job 11 2. Again Concerning I. S. in his 7. Head concerning Regeneration saith That the Word of God that is Preached was never without or besides Scripture c. And as in other places he hath said That the Spirit is given by the Letter so here would make Regeneration to proceed from it which this being denyed he concludes it had been better the Scripture had not been known noâ— written The Word and Gospel was Preached unto Abraham without Scripture and before the Scriptures was written and they who are Regenerated and born again it is by the immortal Word which is able to save their Souls which Word was before the letter was written and who be begotten again and born by that Word it is profitable for such that the Scriptures was written and given forth and the Scripture by such is honoured but such who calleth the letter the light and the Word and that which begets again into the new birth by such both the work of God is despised and the Scriptures perverted and denyed Again I. S. in his 8. Head of Contradiction speaking of Perfection uttereth forth more confusion and contradiction to himself in his speaking of the Communion of the Saints in heaven and doth lye concerning the Saints on earth saying The Saints in Heaven hoped for the perfection of their bodies at the Resurrection c. And again contradicts that in saying That at death they have a final perfection and a full harvest and reward of peace c. Now this is the issue that all people may take notice he hath so envied perfection and Christs doctrine which saith Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect and them who now Preacheth that doctrine that he hath set out a volume to declare against the Saints being perfect here yea and his envie hath reached to Heaven to prove that the Saints in heaven is not perfect but waits for the Redemption of their bodies which now if people mind the Scripture there is no such doctrine in it as the Saints in heaven hath not received the Redemption of their bodies for they who had received the first fruits of the Spirit upon earth did wait for the adoption and for the redemption of the body till the Creature it self be delivered into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God and this was witnessed and is witnessed and this is the work of the worlds Teachers instead of presenting them perfect in Christ Jesus as the Apostles did they would make people believe that the Saints in heaven their bodies is unredeemed if so where is that redemption wrought And whereas I. S. would make people believe that there is none clean now Christ said concerning those that followed him Now eyere clean through the Word which â— have spoken unto you John 15 3. And David saith That the Lord is good unto such as are of a clean heart Psal. 73. 1. And the Lord said concerning his people That he would pour clean water upon them and they should be clean from all their filthiness Ezek. 36. 25. And this Prophesie was to be fulfilled and the Lord said also by his Prophet Zeph. That his Remnant should do no iniquity nor speak lyes neither should a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth Zeph. 3. 13. And Paul preached wisdom among them that were perfect and as many as were perfect should be so minded and Christ preached to the pure in heart that they should see God Matth. 5. Now if there were none perfect Christ preached unto such as there was not Now this is the chief ground of I. S. and the rest of the enemies of truth and of perfection to declare against it because some fall from it as his instance of C. A. or others in the like To which I answer Their falling into that which is not perfect doth not make that which they fall from imperfect for the Angels that kept not their first state which was perfect did fall from that which was perfect A virgin state is perfect but if any go out of that state and become foolish yet that which they depart from is perfect and if any do fall from the truth and do not abide in Christs doctrine that doth not make his Doctrine to be unperfect for Christ saith Except they abide in him who is perfect they cannot bring forth fruit is not he that is in Christ perfect though some do not abide in him and is not the truth truth because some deny it Was not Christs Doctrine and the Apostles true because Demas did forsake it and love the present world and was not that part of the Ministry which Judas had committed unto him perfect and was not he the true Christ that Judas preached though afterwards he betrayed him now if people do but truly consider all those that now do turn from the way of truth which is now preached and lived in by us it may be an evident token to justifie us in the way of truth seeing what they go into when they go from the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which while they abide in it are kept out of all filthiness of flâ—sh and spirit and so long they may speak of perfection and of the gift of God which is perfect but if any go from the light then they are let at liberty to act all uncleanness with greediness and so are cast out from us and from perfection and if any such deny the truth and forsake it yet there remains in them a withness for the truth and against their own uncleanness as in C. A. who from the witness of God in him was made to confesse that if he had continued in the light of Christ he could not have so sinned against the Lord and so by his transgression
this is also utterly false and a lye and the author proved to be of the Devil for the light of Christ leads up in the fulfilling of the scripture and not in opposition to it but by his lightness and lyes he is made manifest to be a dâ—câ—iver of the people and so take thy own words in thy conclusion to thy self thou art he that is a ienated from the Scripture and from the Spirit of God also by thy lying spirit of Contradictâ—on which is manifest in thy writings In his 15th Head concerning singing We do not contradict the Scripture herein again thou art a lyar but singing with the Spirit and with understanding we own of such as are redeemed out of the World and are not of the world but singing of Davids experiences sung in the World by such who are of the World this singing we do deny as it is practised in this Generation in Rhyme and Meeter in a vain multitude of people where all or most of them do dishonour God in singing Davids words which themselves are out of the life of and in a life quite contrary singing the law of God is dear to them and that they exercise themselves in it when every moment of time they are exercised in Wickednesse and casts the Law of God behind them and thus singing lyes and that which is not true to them yet in the name of the Lord Other Reasons many may be given why we deny singing in this Form and manner and way as singing is practised in this Generation but this Instance is sufficient to all honest people but Cavellers mouths are not soon stopped not by the truth and all I. S. professes as to maintain this manner and practise of singing are all impertinent he proves that the Saints sang and were exhorted to it but what is this to the purpose to prove the World must sing who are unconverted which singing we oppose only and not the Saints singing in the Spirit who are moved to it by the Spirit O thou Lyar wherefore dost thou say To be against singing Davids words by the world in Rhyme and Meetre as we do is contrary to Eph. 5. Col. 3. doth these Scriptures hold forth any such thing let the Reader try as that Davids experiences may be sang in the World in Rhyme and Meetre nay they do not and so thou art a lyar on the Scriptures to be taken notice of and marked for a wrester of the Scriptures and in this we have often declared our minds by words and writings that Poetry and I. Hopkins and T. Sternolds brain invention we have denyed yet Davids Psalms we have owned and do own them as they were given forth by the Spirit of God and not as they are perverted and added and diminished to such a compass of syllables as they are now in practise and thus I have given you a further testimony for and against singing wherein we deny it and wherein we own it and so leaves his muddy stuff and so counts it not worth raking in only a Lye or two or more he is proved in as the Reader may take notice also of one thing more where he charges R. F. falsely to speak falsehood for saying the Priests of Eug. they teach people to sing lyes in hypocrisie this they do and do wickedly in it and he hath added to their wickedness in denying it to be so for to all people without exception they give to sing I am not puft in mind nor hath a scornfull eye and they making not exception in giving forth their Psalms to sing some that they give it forth to are puft in mind and have scornfull eyes and these they teach to sing Lyes in hypocrisie to any honest man this appears true let I. S. shuffle and twist never so much In the 16th Head concerning Elders and Ordination We do not herein contradict the Scripture but witnesseth forth according to it that who are moved by the Spirit of God to watch over the Flock and ordained with gifts thereunto may take the oversight of the Flock wittingly and of a ready mind and not by constraint nor for filthy lucre sake as I. S. and his Generation of false Teachers who preach for hire and for gifts and rewards such are not ordained of God to watch over the Flock but runs and was never sent and therefore shall not profit people at all and such an ordination we dâ—â—y who are ordained at Schools or by naturall arts and sciences to speak their brain-study by a glass this is by man and not of God and God doth deny it and we testifie against it by the Spirit of God and doth say the call to the true Ministry and Eldership is not by man nor of man but by the Lord according to Gal. 1. 1. yet such a one is approved of all the Saints and goes forth not contrary to men who feareth the Lord for the spirit of life is one in them that are called and ordained by it and in them that beareth witness to truth what doth such approve with the Spirit that are called by the Spirit this is our judgement and the judgement of truth whatever I. S. or any of his fellows raise up to oppose it and herein we do not contradict the Scriptures he is that lyar in the subject matter on which he treats in the Title of his Section In his 17th Head concerning Ministers Maintenance Concerning this we do no way contradict the Scripture but witnesseth according to it that the Ministers of Christ doth receive freely and gives freely of what they have received from God and having planted a vineyard may eat the fruit of it and keeping a flock may eat of the milk of the flock and when they go into a house may eat such things â—â— are set before them and yet may not be chargeable to any man and this is according to Christs instructions and not contradictory to the Scriptures though I. S. be pleased to so stile it but all such who preaches for hire or takes hire for preaching and seeks for their gain for 50 l. or 60 l. per aâ—num or the like from their quarter a Parish or Town and such who take Tiâ—hes Gifts and Rewards for preaching which people should not give them except they pâ—eached and such who have sums of money and lives in pleasures and vanities and lust and fulness of the Flesh as the Priests of England doth this maintenance we do deny and them that act those things we deny to be Ministers of Christ or that any Maintenance by way of a Ministry doth belong to such who are greedy dumb doggs and can never have enough as Isai 56 such practises and men we oppose and doth no whit contradict the Scripture but it witnesseth to us herein and against all such and therefore I. S. and his Brethren the Independants who acts such things they contradict the Scripture and so are truly guilty themselves in action
given to all that are to teach others and this doth make it manifest that himself is without the promise of God and is not yet taught of God and so without Gods Covenant being not learned in the teaching of God by his Spirit which is immediate And thus to confound truth he hath by his confession shamed himself and shewed himself to all men to be unlearned in the doctrine of Salvation Further he saith If God had intended to have given teachings immediately without any medium then would he not have sent Preachers abroad for them to hear mark this manâ— blind productions and what impudence is in his heart who holds forth That God intended not the thing to be what he promised should be he promised to teach his people himself and this man holds forth that he intended it not and so hath no less than charged God with Hypocrisie let the Reader mark this but this is the ground wherefore the Ministers and Preachers were and are sent abroad to bring all people to be taught of God by his Spirit and to inform their minds to the gift of God in them that by the Spirit received the knowledge of they might know the things of God which is not known but by the Spirit of God which all that are Children of God are led and guided by and they that are not led with the Spirit of God which Spirit is immediat are not the heirs with Christ nor none of his let I. S. say what he will or may this we believe and this the Scripture gives testimony of for us and with us Yet further to manifest his folly he saith It is erroneous enough and contradictious to the whole Scripture when R. F. truly tells him and saith Thou that art not taught of God shewes that thou speaks a vision of thy own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord let the Reader search where the errour and contradiction to the whole Scripture lyes in these words or whether he hath not proved himself blind and ignorant and in errour and contradiction to the Spirit of God Further he saith Never did any but God slayers and Spirit-wounders go about to separate the Word of God and his breath Now let this be considered Christ did tell them the Pharisees who had the words which God had spoken by the Prophets that they had never heard the voyce of God here he divides or separates betwixt the words and the voyce or breath and was no God-slayer nor Spirit-wounder as thou hast wickedly and blasphemously laid down thy Position where thou hast concluded Christ to be one against whom thy words are laid down let the Reader prove thy doctrine His 20th Head concerning Questions In this we do not contradict the Scripture I. S. is taken with a lye in his mouth who hath made it a subject to treat upon for Questions in their places we own but such as are of the Devil we deny as Christ did who shewed himself as a sool unto all mens wisdom when the subtil Pharisees and others tempted him who would not answer their crafty Questions though them that questioned insimplicity he did to resolve and satisfie them and inform them into the knowledge of the Father Then some leaves he hath filled with producing some of our Queries out of some of our Books Commenting thereupon and would prove them ignorant and unprofitable and the like but it had been more just and of a better report for him to have answered them and shewed them to be as he saith of them to all people rather then in a manner backbited them and reproached them and not shewing wherein it lyes and if they be so needless and vain aâ— he saith then the sooner had such a wise man as he thinks himself I. S. confuted them by sober and plain answers but what if our folly in the sight of men be wisdom in the sight of God and his wisdom foolishness with God no matter what he say of us who hath shewed himself already and confessed truly that his heart is old and lying and sinfull so we can expect no better judgement from his Pen then what is in his heart but while we are approved in the â—ight of God we matter nor what men say of us especially one that hath set himself to be our enemy and the Lords enemy and I leave the honest sober Queries to be read which he hath falsely branded with Pride and Ignorance and such like as this what rule have you in scripture for putting off the Hat this is an honest question which he wickedly slanders with pride and whether is your Gospel free without charge as the Apostles was yea or no these and such other questions he rails against to be Ignorant and quarrelous and vain and of the devil now it had been more honest to have confuted them in answering discreetly then to have thus branded them And he saith It is one thing to take hire for preaching and another thing to preach for hire whereby his scope is to excuse himself may be and his Brethren who are hirelings and would not be counted to preach for hire though he dare not deny lest all men should see his folly but that they have hire for preaching but then let him tell us when or where ever any of them preached and had no hire and then we will believe they preach not for it but such as receives sums of money of one man or a country which would not be given him except he preached to them this same man is a hireling and preaches because he hath hire and hath hire because that the ground he preaches Further he saith Christs righteousness which justifies a believing sinner is not the essentiall righteousness of his Godhead and here he hath spoken ignorantly and held forth as if there is two righteousnesses of Christ which I call for a proof from him for else let him confess to his shame that he hath added to the Scripture for the righteousness of Christ is but one by which all the Saints are justified Further he saith ignorantly enough that which is done according to the bare letter of the written command or from a gift of the Spirit or in a Gospel way from a living principle of grace acts of holiness by the holy Spirit and Faith given stirred up this is a righteousness of ours saith he and seems to separate it from the righteousness of Christ as he holds forth let men behold his ignorance Further he saith though it be wrought by the strength of Christ in us yet as to Justification Paul would not be found in it this for a word mark again Reader canst thou see any thing here but ignorance as if Paul were justified by another Christ then what wrought in him to will and to do Further he saith Paul counted all things but losse and dung even what he had done or suffered since conversion that he might win Christ Mark again what was
that we contradict our selves concerning sin and Christ but his whole Section I leave to be read in his Book and let the wise Reader judge whether his proof be any such thing only his lye will prove what he saith he saith We hold Christ to be in all this is his Lye for we say Christ is not in the Reprobate neither did we ever affirm that Christ is not in the Reprobate and so is not in all neither do we concerning Justification contradict our selves in the Spirit of God though so it may appeare to I. S. blind mind and so would make it appear to others by blind arguments by his own meaning Again I. S. would charge self-contradiction upon because we bear witness to the New Covenant and doth say the children of God are taught of God and needs no man to teach them but as the anoynting within them and yet doth write and print here he saith we condemne in others what we allow in our selves Now to all honest people this is no contradiction neither a condemning in others what we allow in our selves for therefore we write and print and speak that all may come to the knowledge of this thing and may be converted to God and know his teaching within them but what would I. S. have said of John who told them they needed no man to teach them but as that within them and yet did write Epistles to them very like he would have called this contradictions And the same is our cause who doth and must do though I. S. and his companions be grieved therewith because their folly is laid open thereby print and write and speak that people through the Ministry be brought to know the teaching of God in themselves and yet herein in the light of the Spirit of God do we not contradict our selves let I. S. say what he will neither do we allow in our selves what we condemn in another this is one of I. S. his lyes we allow the Ministry of Christ yet doth not allow the Ministry of Deceivers and yet is not in contradiction and this in short may give the Reader to understand the deceit and deceivableness to lye in I. S. who is found seeking offences against us without any cause given him and he layes snares for another which doth entrap his own feet And whereas he hath transcribed E. B. his confession in the warning to Vnderbarrow which confession is still owned and no self contradiction proved by it for though God sâ—ake by G. F. to him this doth not contradict the teaching of the Spirit of God as that E. B. was not taught by the Spirit of God for as I have said G. F. did minister as many doth at this day that people should come to the teaching of God in themselves and herein we do not contradict the Scriptures let I. S make as many blind arguments as he can and that instance about I. L. being of the same nature with the former the Answer supplyes both his proofs neither of which doth prove us in contradiction but is a witness to the Ministry of Christ and to the conversion received through it wherein we are taught of God and needs no man to teach us but as the anointing the Spirit of God within us which is immediate and yet we preach the Gospel to others that they may come to witness the same with us even the teaching of the Spirit of God and for this end is the Ministry of God sent by us to bring others to the knowledge of God through it and this is no self-contradiction let I. S. say what he will Further I. S. doth instance E. B. his calling mans light natural and carnal in the Warning c. and would call his contradiction to some who doth deny the light of Christ to be natural and carnal as the Priests of England terme it but this is no contradiction for though wâ— do deny that the light of Christ Jesus is natural and carnal and doth not allow any so to call it yet the light of man by which carnal men doth judge of carnal transgressions is natural E. B. doth never say that the light of Christ is natural and carnal but the light of Man is so he saith and in this Instance there is no contradiction neither in any parts of the words following which is transcribed and much might be said as to the occasion of those words being uttered when E. B. was in prison falsly as many have been since who was one of the first that by â—mprisonment was a sufferer for the name of Jesus in the North of England before I. S. was troubled with any of us but it is sufficient what is said to the mans light by which carnal men judgeth of any thing is one thing and the light of Christ Jesus which is spiritual mens guide is another thing E. B. speak of mans light and I. S. foolishly opposes him as if he spake of the light of Christ Jesus and so opposes his own conception And further I. S. asserts That Scripture light is the standing rule for faith and manners so are not immediate revelations and teachings Here he hath set up the Scriptures above the Spirit of God and above the Revelation of Jesus Christ the Saints was led by what the Spirit revealed and taught Christ said he should teach into all truth and they that were the Sons of God were loved by the Spirit of God and that was their rule to be led by in their Faith and manners but yet see a hypocrite I. S. is he that pleads for Scripture to be the rule and yet is acting in many things contrary to the Scriptures as at large may be instanced neither is in all the Scripture the Scripture called light but Scripture saith Christ is the light Further he saith There is sufficient light in the Scripture to guide men to salvation mark his Doctrine whether he hath not preached another thing than Christ to be the way and whether he hath not made Christ and the blood of Christ of none effect without which no salvation But he saith there is sufficient in the Scripture to lead men to salvation and neither Christ nor his blood is in Scripture let it be moved Further he saith The Scripture was given by the Spirit for a rule this we desire a proof off by plain Scripture and till then we deny it And further he saith The Spirit gives out himself by Scripture and yet he saith he never said the Scripture did give the Spirit and this is an absolute contradiction as may be noted so I. S. is taken in the snare contradicting himself in one quarter of a sheet of Paper and hath not at all proved us to be self-contradictors concerning any of these things mentioned by him Further he saith in his 8th Head That our possessing perfection and Quaking after Moses example cross shines on the other but wherein he doth not shew neither can the honest-minded