of Worship and Practices upon people And what do you mean by Godly Ministry Will you admit of just Tryal according to the Scriptures whether yours be that Godly Ministry or no for all sorts of Christians Papists and Protestants and all others they will say That they are in the right Way and their Ministry is the Godly Ministry but the fruits of many prove the contrary and we cannot believe that yours is the Godly Ministry except you will prove it to us by and according to the Scriptures Now it is certain That the Ministry of the Apostles was the true Godly Ministry and if yours agree with theirs then we will confess That yours is the true Godly Ministry Therefore tell us plainly do you agree with them in your Call and in your Maintenance and in your Practices and in your Fruits and Effects in your lives and Conversations and in your Doctrines Are you justly according to and do you agree with the Apostles in all these things shall we lay you to the Line that you may be judged This is but as a hint at things whereby you might justly be tryed for if you agree not with the Apostles in these cases mentioned then it is evident that your Ministry is not the true Godly Ministry but hereafter we may have a better occasion to try you And thus the principal part of your Exhortation is answered and if you can receive it in Love TO all you Sixty One Teachers in London under whose hands your Exhortation passeth this I say to you in the Fear of the Lord God Oh ye Men consider and let it enter into your hearts the Day of the Lord is at hand upon you and an Account of your Stewardship must you give and his Reward must you have whom you have served and you must reap the Fruit of what you have sown Oh look upon your Flocks and see what a condition they are in Oh what Pride and Vain-glory is abounding amongst them Oh how doth Wickedness spring forth from them Are they like unto Sheep of Christ's Fold or Are not they appearing outwardly Christians when as the evil nature is uncut down in them Oh what Wickedness abounds in this City What Double-dealing and Dissimulation What Lying and Swearing and Drunkenness Oh high are all the Fruits of the Flesh grown amongst your Flocks Your Vineyards are not dressed as they ought to be there are aboundance of corrupt Trees and fruitless Branches which cumber the Ground Oh! it makes the Heart of the Righteous sad to walk in the Streets and to view the Abominations that are daily brought forth by a people professing Scriptures Church Ministry and Christ. Oh! it burdens the Just and grieves the Righteous Soul to consider how high Iniquity is grown among the Sheep of your Pastures whom ye should have fed with Knowledge and converted unto the Fear of the Lord had you been Messengers sent of God the very Iews and Heathens they blaspheme against Christ through the Abominations brought forth among Christians that have the Name to live but are dead Oh! let it enter into your Hearts and smite you that your many years Ministry should have so little effect for your Vineyard is like untilled Ground unploughed and unbroken up Oh! there is much Hard-heartedness amongst your People and their Hearts go after Covetousness even while they profess God with their Lips Oh! the Righteous mourn in secret to see the Prophanness the Scornings and Reproaches that are brought forth in your City And Oh the Idolatry that aboundeth let it repent you that you have been so sloathful and never more seek the Fleece but seek the Flock that 's gone astray from the Lord who is the true Shepherd whose Voice hath not been obeyed and many Pastors have destroyed the Vineyard and many Shepherds have fed themselves and not the Flock Oh consider the Day of the Lord is at hand and he will visit with his Rod You and your Flocks prepare to meet the Lord for his Kingdom is nigh to come which will be a terrible Day to all the Workers of Iniquity And as for this your Exhortation I say As for Exhortation in it self Ministers ought to exhort their Flocks so such a thing in it self I do commend and not oppose but when I had read and seriously considered the Aim and Intent of your spirits in your Exhortation I found it secretly and in a measure openly opposing and striking at and secretly smiting the People of the Lord whom you have Reproached by the name of Quakers who are dear to the Lord and he careth for them though you see no Beauty in them but account them altogether vile and in as much as you lifted up your hands against them upon that account was it upon my spirit to return something in Answer for the Information of many that they might be Undeceived and not in Envy towards any but in Love to all to both you and your People and you have occasioned this upon your selves though you are reproved And not as a man of Strife or Contention have I proceeded but as one that desireth the further Manifestation of Truth and that no false Accusation may rest upon it which you have secretly brought forth with which the Lord is not well-pleased that you should set your selves in Opposition against his People and if any of you shall receive a just Reproof and repent it may prove to you an Advantage or much Good and be not so Proud as to say in your hearts What aâ—t thou weak man that reprovest us or Wherefore art thou so bold thus to deal with us but rather fall under just Reproof for in Uprightness of Heart have I proceeded towards you and not in mine own but in the Will of the Father And oh that your Flocks would also consider among whom there are many that are zealous in their way Oh that their Zeal and Judgments were guided by the Spirit of the Lord then should it be well with them Oh that they would be meek and humble and learn the Fear of the Lord Oh that every one of them would consider and turn from their Iniquities and become Followers of Jesus Christ then should the Glory of the Lord be revealed unto them and Peace and Truth and Righteousness should be unto them and their Families and their City if they would come into Covenant with God and be taught of him and be exercised by his Law in their Hearts then should the Countenance of the Lord be upon them and then should they discern between Truth and Error between the Ministers of Christ and Deceivers Oh! there is a Pitty for many poor souls which are zealous in their way of Religion without Knowledge and they think they do God good service while yet their Consciences are not exercised by the Spirit of the Lord but a false spirit that rules and leads and may hold the Truth in unrighteousness and they know not but that they do
Form and in Forms of Righteousness without the Power and in Immitations without Life and perfect Knowledge so that all the Practices of Religion we beheld without Power and Life though some had a sincerity in them and a zeal and a desire towards the Lord yet all people erred in Judgment and none were guided in Judgment by the Eternal Spirit and because of the error in Judgment that made their zeal blind and their performances of Righteousness not accepted though acted in some sincerity and zeal because they were not guided in Practice and led in Judgment by the Spirit of the Lord which only leads into all Truth and none are in the Truth but who are led thereby so that we behold all Profession but as Coverings with Figg-leaves while the nature of Transgression stood uncondemned and not crucified and then we saw not only the Performance and Practice in Church state and in religious Orders were corrupted but also Government and Magistracy and all things in civil state were not aright in the sight of the Lord nor as the Lord required neither as he had ordained in the beginning for Government we know as ordained of God is to punish and limit and terrifie all Evil-Doers and to preserve and defend all that do well and that mens Consciences are to be left free and to be ruled by the Lord alone and guided by his Spirit and that outward Power and civil Magistrates and Laws so called ought not to be Lord or Ruler in mens Consciences nor over them but we beheld how Unrighteousness and Iniquity and Sin and Wickedness was strengthened and encouraged in the Government and by such as were in Authority and how the Fear of God and the exercise of a good Conscience was abused so that it was turned backward from what it ought to be them that did well were punished and limitted as Trausgressors and the Evil-Doers were set free and not made afraid so that we could truly cry Truth was faln in the Street and Justice and true Judgment turned backward and Equity had no place to enter and the Innocent were devoured through want of true and just Judgment and the Needy were spoiled and made a prey and thus it was framed for no sooner had we opened our Mouthes but the Magistrates began to put us in Prison and execute great injustice upon us and became Oppressors of the Innocent and laid grievous unjust burdens upon us grievous to be born and true justice and judgment was neglected and wrong judgement brought forth and good Government abused and men in Authority not ruled by the Lord neither ruling for the Lord among men and thus it came to pass upon us through the corruption and Degeneration in Goverment and Magistrates which we saw to be as it was fulfilled by them to wit not as the Lord required nor as he in the beginning ordained it but quite the contrary and this we saw in the beginning when the Spirit of the Lord was poured down upon us and power from on high was revealed to declare against all the Abominations of the Earth and to make War against all Corruption in all Orders and Places and Men. Then being prepared of the Lord and having received Power from on high we went forth as commanded of the Lord leaving all Relations and all things of the World behind us that we might fufill the work of the Lord into which he called us and with Flesh and Blood nor any Creature we consulted not nor took counsel of men but of the Lord alone who lifted up our heads above the World and all fears and doubtings and was with us in Power and Domininion over all that which opposed us which was great and mighty and gave us power over it all and to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and this is the Saints honour and the Word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare and caused the Deaf to hear the Blind to see and the heart that was hardned to be awakened and the Dread of the Lord went before us and behind us and teror took hold upon our Enemies And first of all our Mouthes were opened and our spirit filled with indignation against the Priests and Teachers and with them and against them first we began to war as being the Causers of the people to err and the Blind-leaders that carried the Blind into the Ditch and against them as the Fountain of all wickedness abounding in the Nations and as being the issue of Prophaness for from them hath Prophaness gone forth in all Nations and against them we cryed aloud as being redeemed from their Mouthes who had made a prey upon us as they do upon all that follow their ways and in Steeple-houses we did visit them often and in Markets and other Places as the Lord moved and made way for us shewing unto all them and all their people that they were not Lawful Ministers of Christ sent of him but were Deceivers and Antichrists and such whom the Lord never sent and we spared not publikely and at all seasons to utter forth the Judgments of the Lord against them and their wayes and against their Churches and Worships and Practices as not being of God nor commanded by him by which they deceived the World and this was our first work which we entred upon to thresh down the Deceivers and lay them open that all people might see their shame and come to turn from them and receive the Knowledg of the Truth that they might be saved and this we did with no small Opposition nor danger yea oftentimes we were in danger of our lives through bearing abusing Punishing Haling casting over Walls striking with Staves and Cudgels and Knocking down to the Ground besides Reproaching Scorning Revilings and Houtings at and Scoffings and Slanderings and all abuses that could be thought or acted by evil hands and Tongues and often carried before Magistrates with grievous Threats and sometimes put in the Stocks and Whipped and often Imprisoned and many hard Dealings against us the worst of Tongues or hands could execute sparing Life of this all the North-countries may witness and all these things are sustained and suffered from people and Rulers because of our faithfulness to the Lord and for declaring against the false Deceivers for nothing save onely the Hand of the Lord and his Power could have preserved us and carryed us through all this neither for any reward outward whatsoever or advantage to our selves would we have exposed our selves to that sufferings and violence and dangers which befell us daily but the Lord was our exceeding great reward through all these things and kept us in the Hollow of his Hand and under the Shadow of his Wings and gave us Dominion in Spirit over all our Enemies and subdued them before us and though Rulers and People were combined against us and executed their injustice and violence upon us yet the Lord made us to Prosper and
in that nature which is to be famished and glories in what hath been done by it as though it had not received power from the Lord and is exalted as though it bare the Root not knowing that it is born of the Root and that spirit spends its Treasure which it received in the Fathers house amongst Harlots and despises the poor and seeks occasion to glory over the weak that it may be renowned beware of that spirit I charge you all for it is not of the Father nor to be followed but to be condemned and resisted unto death Again believe not that spirit neither follow it which preacheth not from the measure of God received and to be manifest to it in you and approved by it only but speaks above the measure and reaches not to the measure of the Grace of God that spirit leads after words and outward shews and cries peace to the Rich and judgment to the Poor and the Word of God is not divided aright but heals up falsly and daubs with untempered morter and cries peace where God speaks war and cries war where God speaks peace and that Spirit is a Deceiver and a Betrayer and feeds but the Ear and not the Life and darkens the Counsel of God by words without knowledge and is not of the Father but of the World and to be denied and condemned Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which is not subject to rule and order and is not meck and diligent and long suffering but heady and high and untoward seeking occasions against the Just and Watcheth for evil that spirit will not bear reproof but is idle sloathfull and careless and surmising evil and backbiting and conforms in appearance making a fair shew but is not unto God as appearing unto man and that would go and is not called and will not go when it is called and seeks for the praise of men more then God and that is fruitless ground and brings forth Bryars and Thorns in secret which choaks the Seed of God beware of that spirit it is a Lover of this World have no fellowship with it for it is not of the Father but a Deceiver and is to be a denied Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which is tossed and unsetled and is given to change and is not established with Grace that is an Adulterer and hunâ—s for the precious Life and seeks by flattery to beguile the Innocent that spirit is zealous for a moment but is soon overcome and is stony ground and brings not forth fruit to perfection but withers and its latter end is worse then the beginning That spirit is exalted into presumption in peace and cast into desperation in trouble and the double minde lodgeth in it and it is unstable in all its wayes and is a ground for the Seed of Satan and to it there is no peace from God and beware of that spirit for it is not of the Father but to be condemned Again Believe not that Spirit neither follow it which is more zealous then knowing whose zeal is without true knowledge and stands in that which is corrupted that flourisheth for a moment but cannot endure for ever it hath no root in it self but is furious and passionate and not long-suffering that spirit knows not its self but would devour its Adversaries with bitterness and not gain by long-suffering that is not the spirit of the Father but must be denied in all Again Believe not that spirit which draws back into the World into its lusts and liberty and fashions which passe away that spirit forgets God and draws back for his Soul hath no pleasure in it but is vexed with it where the Cross is made of none effect and the false liberty is walked in which murders the Life that spirit is of the Devil and is to be condemned And now all Friends of God every where who knows him and are known of him whom he hath gathered out of this untoward Generation be diligent in your Callings and keep your Meetings in faithfulness waiting upon the Lord that you all may receive of his fulness to be filled with it and may be nourished up unto himself as trees of righteousness the planting of his own right hand to spread forth his Name and Glory as a people saved by him and to whoâ— there is none like besides And this know and understand that spirit is not of the Father which confesseth not the Son to be come in the Flesh who destroys the works of the Devil and takes away sin and that Spirit believe and follow whiâ—â— condemns sin and destroys it and takes it away and so gives peace with God iâ— your own Consciences and leads you into all Truth and keeps you from all evil and you that witness this the Son you know and the Father you know to dwell with you and in you and this is the first and the last believe in him and follow him and look not for any other and in this the Father of Life and Glory whose Dominion is without beginning and end establish you and preserve you Amen and Amen I a beloved Brother and a Companion unto all the Saints in suffering and in rejoyciâ—â— who have received this Testimony from the Father do with it in this Epistle salute tâ—â— whole Church in the Love of the Father as moved of him by his Eternal Spirit whiâ—â— beareth witness to me that we are of God and the whole World lieth in wickedness 〈◊〉 that all that are of God heareth us And this Testimony I give of the Father 〈◊〉 of the Son and of the Truth and of the Salvation of which I am made a Witness and against all that ever shall deny it or turn from it And this is thus far the 〈◊〉 of my Testimony by the Spirit of the Father not knowing when the time comes it 〈◊〉 be finished and the night may come when no man can work E. B. To all that suffer for the Testimony of Iesus and foâ— his Name sake THe glorious God of Truth hath appeared and made known his Way aâ—â— Truth perfectly in this our day and hath chosen unto himself faithfâ—… Witnesses to testifie of his Name and of his Truth before Rulers and People and hath brought forth a Seed which is not of this World which cannot boâ— to the Devil but is Heir of Gods Inheritance though a Sufferrer in this World under the Powers thereof and many in this Generation who are called and faithfull and chosen bear witness unto the Name of the Lord in Sufferings and Tribulations whom he will honour because they honour him who is exalting his Truth and his People through Sufferings And now all Friends who are called to suffer for the Testimony of Jesus and foâ— the exercise of a pure Conscience which you hold be valiant for the Truth upon Earth and faint not but finish your Testimony with joy for the Lord aâ—â— against all your Enemies and look
the Waters are dried up which have been the Seat of the great Whore Now though all those Churches and Sects of People are said to be and known to be the Seed of the Whore and not of the Virgin as I have declared and though Nation and Peoples and Multitudes have been all running to Fornication and been deceiv'd and made drunk yet this I have to say In all sorts of People and amongst all those Sects amongst Papists and Protestants and all Sects risen out of them in thousands of people notwithstanding the Darkness and all the Apostacy that hath rul'd in the general yet in some of all Sorts and Sects there hath been a Sincerity and Simplicity and a Desire and Zeal for God and of God in them and amongst them yet the Sincerity Simplicity and Desire which hath stirr'd in some of all Sects it hath no sooner appear'd but it hath been smitten and betray'd by the wicked without and so by the error of Judgment within For even amongst the worst of Sects we know there are some in whom there is Simplicity and Sincerity and Zeal and yet err in Judgment for this is possible and we know it is so with Thousands and ten Thousands at this day There may be a Simplicity and Zeal and Sincerity of Heart and yet err in Judgment and the Judgment not truly guided by the Spirit of the Lord but a false spirit and a false thing even the spirit of Whoredom it self ruling the Judgment and be chief there and this destroys and murders and betrays the Zeal and Simplicity and this is and hath been ever since the dayes of the Apostles great error in Judgment and the Judgment of all those Sects have been mis-guided and misled and a false thing and not the Spirit of the Lord has guided the Judgment and thereby the true Sincerity Zeal and Simplicity hath been enslav'd and held under by reason of the erring in Judgment And the State of such is truly to be lamented where Simplicity is devour'd and Sincerity betray'd and held captive by the Whorish spirit that sits Ruler in Judgment I do not speak of all people of all Sects that they have Zeal and Simplicity but of some people in all Sects and through all these false Churches and so the spirit which hath guided the Judgment that has abased the Zeal and abused the Sincerity and betray'd it so people have been a running running after the Form and blind in Judgment and lost Sincerity and Simplicity that has been betray'd in them though sometime appearing and stirring and so the wrong part in people has fed upon the Form and Appearance and the Seed starved and the Sincerity eaten out and so one Sect hath made this the Rule of their Judgment and another Sect another thing the Rule of their Judgment one cries Tradition another Scriptures another cries The Practice of Saints before us and none of all have been guided in Judgment by the Spirit of the Lord where the Spirit of the Lord is not the only rule of Judgment guiding the Judgment in all things that people that man are in Error and the Sincerity in them has not its free course but bound under with a spirit which is Bondage leads into Bondage And when people come to be turn'd to the Light of Christ in them and receive a measure of the Spirit of the Lord to guide the Judgment then the Sincerity Simplicity Zeal will grow and thrive and be encreased but till then the Good is eaten out that lies under and is oppressed and ever and alwayes the Desire quenched the Sincerity lost the Simplicity betray'd by the spirit of Whoredom which rules the Judgment and these things are manifest in our Age. Therefore all people come out of your Sects and false Churches for the Woman is return'd and returning out of the Wilderness and the Seed shall spring forth as in the dayes of old E. B. THE True State OF CHRISTIANITY Truly Discribed and also Discovered unto all PEOPLE What it was in its Beginning and Purity and what it now is in its Apostacy and Degeneration And here by true Testimony is declar'd to the whole World how and wherein in divers particulars the Christians through all the World so called now are fallen and gone backward and revolted from what the true Christians once were And this sheweth unto all the World the woful State and Condition wherein them that are called Christians now stand being departed and revolted from the Spirit of Christ and from his Teachings And this is given forth that all People may understand concerning the Times and the changing of Times and concerning what hath been what now is and what suddenly cometh to pass in the Earth BEhold and hearken give ear and listen diligently all ye People through the whole World that are called Christians All you I say that go under that name and that bear that name and are named Christians from one end of the Earth to the other through all Nations and Countries whither you are scater'd upon the face of the whole Earth Behold and take notice what the Word of the Lord is unto you and what the Testimony of Christ is towards you all for the Line of true Judgment is laid upon you and the Measuring-Rod is put forth to reach over you and the Servant of the Lord hath viewed your State and Condition and what you were in your beginning and increase and what you now are in your Decrease and woful Apostacy into which you are fallen and degenerated from the Life of Christianity Oh! let your Ears be open to Instruction and regard well what I through the Lord do say unto you even all you and every particular of you under Heaven that make a Profession of Christ in words and are known through the World by that name of Christians hearken I say and consider and remember from whence and into what you are fallen and return and repent The Lord hath with you a Controversie and he will plead with you because of your Back-slidings and Revoltings for you are gone away backward and you are turned aside from the Life of Christ and from his Spirit and are now without that which was the Reason and true Ground of your Name Christian and you have lost the true Character of the Name and now have only the Name without the Life and Power thereof and are dead to Christ and his Life and have a Name to live but are dead and having lost that which gave you a true title to the name of Christian you deserve not that Name nor to be called by the Name of Christ because you are departed from his Spirit And this is to be declared to you in the Name of the Lord that you may take a view of your own estate to the end that you may be awakened to return from whence you are degenerated The Lord had a People in all Generations unto whom he
into Bondage in Conscience to God-wards by Laws or Men but enjoyeth Freedom and Liberty therein as much in Sufferings and in Persecutions under all the Cruelty of Men as in doing and practices when they are not persecuted for in Sufferings the Conscience is exercised and hath its Liberty in Patience and Forbearance and at Liberty of Persons in practice it is exercised and hath its Liberty in doing and performing whatsoever the Spirit of the Father moveth and leadeth unto And thus where God hath freed the Conscience and it is Free and at Liberty in him and to him nothing without can bring it into Bondage or Captivity but in all Conditions and in all Exercises whether doing or suffering the pure Conscience is in Liberty in it self and in perfect Freedom in God through all over all and beyond all But now there hath been a great Cry among many that have professed Righteousness and Religion For Freedom of Conscience and begging and craving from the Powers of the Earth to Tolerate Liberty of Conscience and that they might have the Liberty of their Conscience in Religion And thus some have been looking too much without for Liberty of Conscience from Men and from Powers without them before their Consciences were set free by the Lord within the Bond of Iniquity broken and that Burden of Iniquity and Guilt done away which hath been a Burden Bondage upon the Conscience For as I have said No Man nor Powers of the Earth can truly Free or give Liberty to the Conscience which is bound by the Cord of Iniquity within But 't is evident The Cry for Liberty hath not been so much for the Exercise of Conscience truly so as for the freedom each one of their Sect and for their Liberty in the practice of their own Worship and Conformity and thereupon have divers men of divers Sects sought to the Powers of Men and of the Earth to grant them Liberty of their Consciences whenas it hath been rather for the Freedom to and Defence of their Sect and of their Practices in their Worship than for Liberty of Conscience truly so for while they have cryed for Liberty from without yet Sin and Iniquity and Transgression have lain upon their Conscience within and they have sought from Men for the Liberty of their Sect to practice their own Worship which they have called Liberty of Conscience And to this Intent by some hath been the Cry for Liberty of Conscience that their Sect and their own Wayes of Worship might be defended from the Violence of others who have opposed their Practices and Worships for People of divers Wayes of Worship and of divers Sects have all been at Strife one with another and divided one against another and yet all professed good Conscience and cryed for Liberty thereof from the Powers of the Earth not but that the Powers of the Earth ought to grant free Liberty of Conscience in the Exercise of every Sect of Religion and to suffer all to profess and practice their Religion while they walk justly and Peaceably in a Land But here hath lodged the Deceit and Deceivableness of the spirit of Satan in the Hearts of men from the least to the greatest of all those divers false Sects and Worshippers they have therein zealously gone on and pleaded for their Sects and Worship though never so gross or dark and contrary to Truth under the denomination of Freedom and Liberty of good Conscience and the very Title and Name hath been the Colour and deceived many while a false Worship and false Sects have gone under the Name of Liberty of good Conscience and Thousands have been deceived and blindly led into such a false Sect and into such a Profession to act and perform with great Zeal false Practices in a false Worship falsly supposing it to be out of a good Conscience and that they have acted in the Liberty thereof yea and many may suffer great and grievous things and some the loss of their Lives for the very Practice of false things and false worships in a false Sect and yet under the name of good Conscience and for Liberty of Conscience as they may profess and believe But this may seem strange to be spoken to some who may enquire how it comes to pass and how this may be That many may suffer great and grievous Cruelties and some the loss of their Lives for the Practice of false Things and the Exercise of false Worships which they may suppose to be out of good Conscience and for good Conscience sake whereas it is not truly so nor rightly so But how happeneth this may some say I Answer This cometh to pass after this manner Because Conscience is made of that and of the Things and Performances which God requires not and so there is a great Zeal in the doing and performing of such a Practice and such a Worship whenas the Lord doth not require these things at their Hands and this is because the Mind and Heart and Conscience is dark and not truly informed nor guided with the Spirit of Truth and of the Father but a false spirit ruleth and leadeth the Conscience and it is not exercised with the Spirit of the Father that leadeth into all Truth So I do acknowledge that Conscience may be mis-led and mis-guided and mis-informed and Conscience may be made of doing such and such things which the Lord doth not require and there may be a Fear not taught of the Lord nor received by the sence of his Presence but only received into the Heart by the Precepts of men Example of others Custom of Times or the like and here the Conscience being not truly informed nor guided by the Spirit of the Lord there is a false Fear and Zealousness in the performing of such things which the Lord doth not require nor his Spirit lead into the practice of but only the Traditions and Precepts of men hath placed a false Law and Commandment which requires a false Obedience which many whose Understandings are blinded and being without true Knowledge they zealously perform and practice as the Worship of God thinking themselves bound in Conscience to practice such things and not to leave them undone whenas the Lord and his Righteous Spirit leadeth not to them nor yet his Just Law doth require the doing thereof but only a false Law and Commandment is received by Precepts and Traditions of men or from looking upon the Practice of others By such means as this there is a false Fear in a blind mis-guided Conscience and a Zeal without true Knowledge And thus it was amongst the Iews in the Prophets dayes They Sacrificed their Children and cut themselves and caused their Children to pass through the Fire and did many things zealously whenas saith the Lord Who hath required these things at your hands for they come not into my heart And Paul witnesseth the same of the Iews in his dayes and bore them record that they had a Zeal
but it was not according to True Knowledge And thus the Iews were zealously performing that as their Duty and as out of a Good Conscience which the Lord required not at their hands and so they made Conscience to do that which the Lord required not and their Consciences were mis-led and not righly informed and as it was amongst the Iews in this case in the dayes of old so now is it amongst the Christians in the Apostacy their Consciences being mis-guided by a false spirit they are doing and performing the things in great Zeal and for the exercise of their Consciences which the Lord doth not require of them Thus do the Papists they do and practise the things in great Zeal and through a false Fear in their blind Consciences which things are in themselves Idolatry and not commanded nor required of the Lord as in many particulars I might shew even in many parts of their Worship and Religion which out of a Fear and blind Zeal and mis-guided Conscience they practise which is in it self but Idolatry and not required nor accepted of the Lord. And many things in relation to the Protestants Worship and amongst all the several false Sects upon Earth which are done and practised in great Zeal and out of a false Fear and as in pretence of a good Conscience and yet are things in themselves Idolatrous as done and practised by them And this comes to passe as I have said because the Conscience is mis-informed and a false spirit guides and rules in the exercise of Conscience and the understanding of the People is blinded and they know not but they do well though their minds are captivated and their minds and judgments in error and though there be a sincerity to God-wards and a desire of Him in the bottom among some People of all Forms and Sects and some of all are zealous towards God in their practices in their Religion and Worship yet among all People and the Churches that have been for many Generations there hath been great Error in Judgment and much blindness in mind and the Conscience falsly exercised towards God and the Superscription hath been To the Unknown God and He hath been ignorantly worshipped and the Spirit of the Lord hath not truly exercised Peoples Consciences nor guided their Zeal nor been Ruler in the Judgment And by this means the sincerity and humility towards God hath been eaten out and always quenched and the bare practice of things and profession of Religion in the outward appearance hath been more lookt at than the presence of God felt in the Practices and the Zeal hath been more for the performance of such things than for God purely enjoyed through them And thus it hath been through Christendom in the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches Many have erred in their Judgments and the Zeal for God hath proceeded out of the error of Iudgments and out of mis-information of Conscience some other things than only the Spirit of God hath ruled in the Iudgment and been the exercise of Peoples Consciences And this is a hint of things about true Liberty of Conscience and about the Error in Iudgment and the blind Zeal in captivated sincerity Now it may be objected What is the only absolute Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience and when are Mens Consciences truly guided To this I answer The only chief and perfect Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience both to God and all men is The Spirit of Christ for it is only that which can truly guide the Conscience in Faith Doctrine and Worship and in all things towards God even the Spirit of Christ which is the gift of the Father it only leadeth into all Truth as it is written and all whose Consciences are guided and exercised by it are in unity and Peace in their Worship Doctrine and Religion for the Spirit of Christ is but one in it self and guideth the Conscience into the exercise of one Truth and Faith and in this same Spirit is true â—nion and Communion of SAINTS in Religion and Worship and this is manifest through the Scriptures for the Apostle exhorted To walk in the Spirit and by it and as many as walked by the Rule of the Spirit Peace be upon them and it is the Spirit of Christ the Everlasting Comforter that teacheth all Truth and the Holy Anointing of the Spirit that dwelt in the Saints taught them all things and they need no man to teach them but as the Anointing that dwelt in them And then are mens Consciences truly guided in all the Ways of Righteousness when the Spirit of God guides the Conscience and is the Rule of all Faith Doctrine and Practices So that Traditions of Men Prescriptions of Councils Antiquity of Time Commandments of Men nor Example of others without the Spirit of Christ cannot be the only true Rule of the Exercise of Conscience for all these things are changeable alterable and subject to variations and therefore cannot infallibly guide the Conscience in the Duty towards God nor rightly exercise the Conscience in Unity and Peace but while a Nation or Kingdom or People walk by the Rule of Traditions Prescriptions Commandments of Men Example of others or the like they err in Judgment in Faith Doctrine and Worship and are all divided in Contention about these matters because their Rule of Conscience and Judgment is doubtful and alterable and not infallible and therefore they have no perfect assurance of Gods acceptation to them in their Faith and Religion nor perfect Peace and Unity in their Faith and Worship But as the Rule of their Consciences in their Duty towards God is divers some make one thing and some another their Rule so are they divers and divided in what they hold profess and practice and are but of great Babylon in their Religion And because that something besides the Spirit of God exercises the Conscience therefore it is that here are so many Wayes and Sects of Religigion and kinds of Worship in Christendom and amongst Christians while the Spirit of Christ only is not the Rule of Iudgement and Exercise of Conscience to God and Man for the only perfect Rule of Conscience in the Exercise to God is the Spirit of Christ and not any other thing And now Whosoever shall persecute the Exercise of Conscience when guided by the Spirit of Christ such persecute Christ Jesus And this is Persecution for the Name of Christ when Sufferings are inflicted as Reproaches Imprisonment or whatsoever for the Exercise of Conscience towards God by his Spirit but and if any are persecuted for Religion-sake only so if that in such their Exercise of Religion they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ yet that suffering is a kind of Persecution also if I say the Suffering be only for and because of their Religions-sake and they walk Justly and Righteously as men so that as is signified about the middle of this Chapter
judge between the Priests and Professors and all the Sects and us ye have heard their Doctrines and ye have heard something of ours ye have seen their Conversation and ye have seen something of ours ye have heard them long and something of us ye have heard for a little season and now give your Evidence is it not with them as we have said are not your Priests in the Steps of the false Prophets and of the Deceivers and do not they seek for their Gain from their Quarter as they did that Isaiah cryed against do not they preach for Hire and divine for Money as they did which Micah cryed against are not they such by whom you have not been profited as Ieremiah cry'd against let that of God in you answer to these things And are they not Proud Men and Covetous Men and Envious Men and Heady High-minded Men and given to filthy Lucre And are they not such as through Covetousness make Merchandize of Souls and that by Good Words and Fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of the Simple such as Paul and Peter declare against And are they not such as the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles cry'd against And do they not bring forth the same Fruits as did the false Prophets and false Apostles I leave it to your Consciences to be the Judge Compare them and lay them to the Line of True Judgment if you shut not your eyes you may see it is thus and have we charged them falsly or have not we spoken the truth concerning them we have said they are false Ministers and Deceivers and not true Ministers of Christ and is it not so let the Light in your Consciences answer we have said they have run never were sent and that they have not profited the people at all and is it not so to the Witness of God in you I do appeal and let that justifie that we have spoken nothing but the truth examine and try in all things that we have charged them with And are they not guilty in all things that we have charged upon them let the Witness of God in you testifie to this And what do you judge of them are they not of that stock which Christ said should come and should be Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing and should deceive many and which Iohn saw were come in his dayes and which the World went after and the whole World run after them are not they in the nature of Wolves devouring and tearing the Lambs of Christ and do they not tear People by causing their Bodies to be imprisoned and their Goods to be spoiled and do they not deceive many and yet they have the Sheep's Cloathing the Saints words and their practices but inwardly are they not ravening and doth not the World go after them and hath not the World run after them for many Ages and is it not thus with them And have they received the gift of the holy Ghost or are they not made Ministers by the will of man and not by the will of God do they not differ and are contrary in Call in Practice in Maintenance and in Fruits and Effects to the true Ministers and true Apostles and do they not agree and are they not according to the false Prophets and false Ministers and Deceivers in their Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects search the Scriptures and lay them to that line and then let the witness in your Consciences judge and answer and do not they prepare War against such as do not put into their mouthes and do not they feed with the Fat and cloath with the Wool do not they oppress the Nation and the Creation and are not they such whose Call and Practices and Maintenance and whole Ministery hath a dependance upon Popery and doth it not all savour of Popery and in the main and Principal parts thereof were ordained by the Pope this may be fully made manifest And are not all Professors and Sect of people such as have the form but are without the Power of Godliness are not people still Covetous and Earthly-minded and given to the World and proud and vain even such as profess Religion and to be a seperated people are not Professors as covetous and proud as such as do not profess and are not they given to the World and doth it not shew that they are unchanged nor translated but death Reigns among them and is it not manifest that they have taken up the form of the Apostles and Christs words and Practices and are without the life and not guided by the Spirit of Christ and the Apostles in their Praying and Preaching and are not your souls lean and starved to the Witness of God in you all I speak which may testifie that many people have a shew of Religion without Life and therefore have not we spoken the truth of them in what we have said in the Day of Judgment you shall answer this And as concerning the Quakers what do you say of them you have seen their Conversation few Towns but some of them have been and are amongst you Do not they fear God and do not they walk justly and truly among their Neighbours and speak the truth and do the Truth in all things doing unto all no otherwise then they would be done unto and are they not Meek and Humble and Sober and do not they take much Wrong rather then give Wrong to any and are they not such as delight in the Wayes of the Lord and do not they deny the World and its Pleasures and forsake all Iniquity more then your selves and do not they take up the daily Cross of Christ to all its wayes and earthly glories and do not they Preach in the Power of God and reach to your Consciences when you hear them and doth not the Light in you answer that they speak the Truth and is not their Call and Practice and Maintenance the same as was the Apostles and faithful Ministers compare them with the Scripture and then judge in your Consciences and do not they suffer many hard and cruel things even all manner of evil spoken and done against them falsly for the Name of Christ Are you ignorant of their great Sufferings through this Nation and what do you think is their suffering for Evil-doing or is it not for Righteousness sake What Harm do they do to any by Work or Word Why are they reproached and mocked and scorned and why are they put in Prisons and whipped and thus sorely abused is it for any Evil-doing or is it not because they are the Servants of the Lord Compare their Fruits with the Priests fruits their Conversation with the Priests conversation see whether be liker the Apostles and these things I leave to you that you may come to consider and judge justly of all things for the Lord God is risen and his Light in Peoples Consciences is shining forth and it shall answer to what I say in this World
Rudiments of the World we testifie against being Witnesses of the Substance and your taking on practices in that nature which is contrary unto Christ from the Words and Commands of Christ unto them that followed him we also testifie against and in it you are found among the Papists which walks by Tradition and not from the Motion of the Spirit of God and here thou art found a Lyar for the Commands of Christ is our life our joy our peace and glory and hereby we know that we love him because we keep his Commandments and they are not grevious unto us which is not received by tradition from without us but by the Eternal Spirit Christ Jesus revealed in us which is not contrary to his Commands without but a fulfilling of them for he is not a Iew who is one outwardly whose praise is of men neither is the Obedience which Christ doth require a conforming the outward man unto an outward thing which Obedience is your boasting onely and there only your difference lieth from all the World in the outward appearance Pharisee-like but the ground of enmity and seat of the Beast is standing within and you are twofold more the children of the Devil and God is risen to confound you and to break your Image to pieces and he shall have the praise of God who is the Jew inward whose obedience and circumcision is inward and who have no confidence in the flesh And whereas thou exhorts to hear one loving Reproof out of the Scripture which their Predecessors I mean the Papists thou sayest would have taken from us in the English Tongue and these would take from us the vertue of it that is to say the sharpness and sweeness of it by working upon us a dislike to it I Answer we do deny thy voice and though thou mayst bring Scripture in thy mouth to us it is but as the Devil brought it to Christ and we deny it from thee for if thou sayst God lives thou swears falsly and the Papists they are thy Predecessors who walks only by tradition as thou dost from a thing without them separate from the Life and both them and thee we do deny and bears witness against you to be without God in the World in the alienation out of the Covenant knowing nothing of him but what you have heard by a Fame and a Report and that we in the least would take from any the virtue of the Scripture it is a Lye uttered by the Devil in thee for we testifie unto all that it shall every tittle be fulfilled even upon the ungodly and thou shalt know it one day to be fulfilled upon thee thou Lyar must be cast into the Lake that burns for ever and this is the sharpness and sweetness which thou must have from it who art a false Accuser of the Brethren bearing the Image of the Dragon the Devil whose servant thou art as it is made manifest by thy Writing and this many will witness with us that often we do declare upon the just and the unjust the Scripture must be fulfilled and the righteous must have a Reward and the ungodly must have their Portion in utter darkness according as the Scripture saith and herein we establish the Scripture in its place to be a true Declaration of God and Christ and what the righteous and the wiced shall enjoy but that it is God and Christ or the Way unto Life we deny it for this is its vertue a declaration of that which the Saints believed and he that witnesses the same Life and Truth which it testifies of to be made manifest in him is a Witness of it and it is a Witness unto him and this is the vertue of it if thou hast an ear thou mayest hear and that we work upon Any a dislike of the Scriptures I charge thee to be a Lyar for to the fulfilling and establishing of it we declare that every one may walk up in the Life of it by that which gave it forth and to be a true witness of it as they were that spoke it but thee and all such we do deny which adds your imaginations upon it to sell for money And whereas thou sayst by way of Query to us Hath the Scripture no power over you have you a spirit to guide you without a written word it is out of Gods Government if it cannot be brought to the Law and to the Testimony I answer Jesus Christ onely hath power over us and not a Letter without us and the Spirit by which we are guided is no other but that which gave forth the Scripture which Spirit is the Word of God and which Spirit the Scripture bears witness unto and this we often say if we speak or act contrary to Scripture let us be judged by the Scripture and we as Paul did do commend all that shall search the Scripture to try whether these things be not so which we declare and herein we are under the Government of God who alone hath power over us but you who have not the same spirit which gave forth the Scripture neither knows it nor us but out of the evil corrupt ground thou judgest of it as thou dost of us and both thy judgment of it and us is to be judged by the Eternal Light of Christ which never erreth nor changeth And whereas thou sayest We may be Familiar-spirits for ought thou knowest what muttering and uncouth howling is among us which you cannot but impute to be a spirit contrary to the Word if we will not come to the Word to be tryed I answer it is true thou knowst us not for we are unknown to thy Generation though you have the Scripture which we in our lives and practices are Witnesses of as Christ was unknown to the Pharisees who had the Scripture which he came to fulfil and thou art ignorant of the Scripture and a Scorner of the Power of it who callst the Power of the Lord uncouth howling what would you have said concerning David who lay roaring all the day long even as a man distracted and concerning Habakkuk whose belly trembled and whose lips quivered when he heard the Voice of God But here you are made manifest who scorns that which the Scripture bears witness of and never knew what it was to be pricked to the heart as they were which cryed out what shall we do to be saved and if thou canst thou may try by the Scripture whether this be any other but that which the Scripture speaks of and not the same Spirit which made the Servants of God to quake and tremble which the Scriptures speaks of which this day is become a reproach even unto them that profess the Scripture for by the Word of God which the Scripture declares of shall all flesh tremble and be confounded and then thy self shall be judged into the Lake that burns for ever except thou repent And whereas thou sayest How shall you do to try spirits if we
deny both the written Word which is your Rule and Reason too for we appeal from both Answ. Art thou not ashamed to say The Scripture is thy Rule who art found a Lyar and a false Accuser thy Rule shall try thee and shall bear witness against thee when God judgeth thee by Jesus Christ for neither by the Scripture nor thy corrupt reason canst thou know the things of God who art a natural man in the fall in the World without God But again I say let any try us in our lives and in our practices and if we speak or act contrary to the Scripture judge us by it but thy eye is blinded and when thou feest the Scripture fulfilled even crying out as a Woman in travel thou calls it uncouth howling and a spirit contrary to the Scripture and how art thou able to try who art blind and deaf in the mystery of the Kingdom of God for thy reason must never enter unto God but is shut out and in seeing thou seest not and in hearing thou dost not understanst and upon thee herein is the Scripture fulfilled And whereas thou sayest We will not have Christ to rule over us for we deny both his Person and Word which is the Rule of Life and Love I answer O thou Lyar God shall judge thee let shame cover thee and let thy own Conscience convince thee of thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent Christ Jesus is our Head and we are of his Body and his Word is sweet unto us even our life and rule of life and by him we see thee to be an Enemy to him and from him I judge thee not his Word but the spirit of the Devil is thy rule for he is the Ruler and Father of Lyes and Lyars and thy Portion thou must have with him in the Lake and what thou sayest of us it shall stand for thy own Condition thou wilt not have Christ to rule over thee who lives in thy lust and carnal mind without the fear of God which Christ comes to destroy in all that witness him And whereas thou sayest In the Name of God thou proclaimest That those men that disown the written Word are not Spiritual men they may have the Spirit of Antichrist Answ. Thou hast nothing to proclaim from God but as the false Prophets had other mens words and also I say if thou find any that disown the Scripture we also disown such and do say they are not spiritual men but have the spirit of Antichrist and of this number thou art guided by the spirit of Antichrist who art a Lyar and a false Accuser which is contrary to the Spirit of Christ and art without Faith and so art unreasonable in the corrupt reason without pure and undefiled Reason And whereas thou sayest Who but the spirit of Antichrist durst countermand the Commands of our Law-giver the Lord Iesus Christ I answ The Commands of Christ are Spiritual and in and by the Spirit and not traditional from the Letter without and Antichrist may conform to the Command without as the Pharisees did and yet be an Enemy to the Life and Substance of his Commands and this is thy own condition as it was the Pharisees who said He destroyed the Law who came to fulfil it as thou sayest We make void and deny the Commands of Christ when as we are Witnesses of them and directs all unto the fulfilling of them and thy spirit here is tryed to be the spirit of Antichrist the same which was in them which persecuted Christ and thou raylst and slanderest his Members And whereas thou sayest There were never any men appeared in the World so like those that Peter speaketh of in his second Epistle and these desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God I answ Peter spoke of such as thou art for as a Cloud carryed about with a Tempest thou art and a Well without water and defilest the flesh and dispisest the Saints dignity and speakest great swelling words of Vanity whilst thou thy self art a Servant of corruption serving the Devil by lying and falsly accusing and that we desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God thou art a Lyar for we go about to establish them and declares of him who is the Substance of them and God will reward thee according to thy deeds Who also accuseth us of unseemly Kissing in Glasiers-hall thou sayest if Mr Pope do not belye us I answer This is another Lye which proceeds from thee let all the honest hearted which ever have frequented our Assembly at that Place testifie against thee and Pope and your father the Devill whom by lying you serve and that no unseemly Actions have proceeded from us but Sobriety and Civility and unseemly Actions shall stand for thy own condition they are such as thy self who commits unseemly brawling and folly and vain contending against the Truth in Glasiers-hall as many Honest-hearted will witness against you and for us who have seen your base actions as Scorning and Flouting in that Place and so here you your selves are guilty of the Wontonness which Peter speaks of and of aluring through the lust of the flesh which thou slanderously wouldst cast it upon us And thou further sayest None ever promised to themselves so much liberty as these and the Ranters in being freed from the power and tryal of the Word I answer Both the Ranters and thee we do absolutely deny and testifie against you both to be in the enmity against God and against us who are his Servants Thou before didst rank us with the Papists and now among the Ranters but herein the Scripture is fulfilled upon us as they have done unto Christ so they do unto us he was numbred among Transgressors by the Generation of painted Sepulchers and whited Walls as we are by thee and all liberty which is of the flesh and to the flesh we do deny as many can witness who are Witnesses of our Ministery and again I say he that is able let him try us by the Scripture but thou art blind and hath hardened thy heart against God and hath neither salt nor savory and so are good for nothing but to be trodden under foot And whereas thou sayest The Lord bless every one of his from the condition of Chandler who formerly was the head of a Company of Shakers I answer The day is coming when thou canst not flee the wrath of God though thou pray God will not hear thee and if ever thou hast seen Chandler in this condition thou mightst have read thy figure in him weeping and howling and gnashing of teeth will be thy portion for ever and I say unto thee this condition of Chandlers is not come upon him because he was once a Shaker by the dread of the Lord upon him but because he went out from that condition out of the fear of God into the liberty of the flesh out of his shaking and fearing state which once he
but what is declared of in the Scripture by the Holy Men of God and neither without it nor above or beyond it do we speak I challenge thee to prove what thou hast asserted and all the City of London whether we have spoken or declared any thing but what the Scriptures bears witness to and the Light which we declare of is the Light of Christ which the Scripture saith hath enlightened every one that comes into the World and it is not besides the Scripture so as contrary to it but the Scripture bears witness of the Light And here I charge thee with Blasphemy who calls the Pure Light of Christ thick Darkness and that the Light of Christ which is the Light which we declare of hath led men or leads any to contemn God or his Ordinances or Righteousness let shame strike thee in the face thou impudent one who blasphemously sayes that the Light of Christ is thick Darkness and leads into contempt of God let the Light in thy own Conscience condemn thee thou Enemy of God for thy Lyes and Slanders and Blasphemy which in this thy Book thou hast uttered And whereas Thou exhortest to labour to see an excellency in Christ in the Word of Christ and in the Church and Ordinances of Christ. I answer For the simple Ones sake that they may not be deceived none ever shall see any excellency in those things but who owns and walks in the Light of Christ which lets every one see themselves first and your talking of the same and report of Christ and of his Word and Ordinance is not to know the excellency of those things for death in you talks of the same but the thing in Substance you are ignorant of and you who stumble at the Light wherewith Christ lighteneth every one are above the Door which is the entrance unto the life of these things And so I exhort all to mind the Light of Christ and to walk in it and it will lead unto Christ from whence the Light comes and it will lead to the fulfilling of Christs Words and to the one Bread and to the one Baptism and the Light is the Door and Entrance unto the Life of those things But you who hate the Light and deny it to be in every one hath but the Husk and outward Declaration of those things and are without the Life And whereas thou sayst They that are of God will hear John Peter and Paul and the rest that were the Servants of Christ not the fleshly conceits of those or any other men and Christ Sheep hear his Voyce and a Stranger they will not hear I answer They that are of God do own the writings of all the Servants of Christ but many may profess their words as the Pharisees did the Prophets words and as thou dost now and yet not be of God but children of the Devil but that our conceits are fleshly I do deny for all conceits of the flesh we deny and bears witness against and it shall stand for thy own condition and thy voice is the voice of a stranger and they that are of God will not follow it though thou bringst the Saints words in thy mouth as the Devil did unto Christ yet in the Light of Christ thou art seen and comprehended and from the Light of Christ answered and by it judged to be without the life of those Scriptures which thou speakst of and they are to thee but as an empty sound And whereas thou cites many more Scriptures which are exhortations of the Apostles to the Church and exhorts thy Brethren with them To which I answer as before The Scriptures I do own but to thee thou envious man they do not belong for as in this thy writing thou art proved a Lyar and a Scorner and a Slanderer and a false Accuser and a Blasphemer out of thy own mouth be a Witness against thy self and let all thy whole Assembly bear witness against thee that the Scriptures which were spoken to the Saints who walked in the light and had denyed ungodliness do not belong unto thee who art an hater of the light and lives in the pollutions of the world but the Scriptures will surely be fulfilled upon thee The wicked shall be turned into Hell and the Lyar shall have his portion in the Lake and he that works abomination is to be troden in the winepress of the wrath of God without the City and such like And now somthing in answer to some things in the Epistle to the Reader Whereas thou and the rest of you there say although the light hath appeared yet there is a Generation of men in the world that do hate the light and endeavour to put it out crying against the Scriptures of Truth it s a dead letter and against the form of doctrine therein contained To which I answer It is true the light hath appeared Christ who is the Light lightneth every one that comes into the world which light hath appeared in every mans conscience and there is a Generation which hates the light and you are of that Generation which say every man hath not the light and calls the Light of Christ thick darkness and endeavour to put it out and here you have read your own condition though you make a large profession of the Scriptures which is not the light but words declared from the Light as the Iewes did profess the Prophets words but persecuted Christ and spoke against him who was the light and substance of the Prophets words and if you know any who cry against the Scripture and against the doctrine therein contained we cry and declare against such for the Scripture we own in its place to be a true declaration of God of Christ and of the Saints conditions but they are not the light but Christ is the light as themselves bear witness nor are they the Saints guide but the Spirit that gave them forth as they themselves bear testimony neither were the Scriptures given forth to give your own imaginations and suppositions upon but they themselves are doctrine and are as they speak he that hath the same spirit which speak them forth reads them and understands them and none else And whereas thou sayst Lest that simple plain meaning men should be kept in Babels darkness or the enlightned fall into the errour of the wicked for that reason your Book came to publick view I answer truly you are deceived who think to gain into your form the simple plain meaning men by Lies and false Slanders and false Accusation who are simple and plain unto God will descern your deceits and how falsly you have accused the innocent and will see you to be in Babels darkness and who walks in in the light wherewith they are enlightned will see you to be in the errour of the wicked and out of the Truth and it is well for the Truths sake that your Book came forth that thereby your filthiness and deceitfulness and
your good works brought forth in your own wills in that nature in which the enmity lodges is a lame and a blind Sacrifice and of Cain's nature which God accepteth not you are in the liberty of the flesh and the daily Cross of Christ you do not know but lives daily to the World and dies not to it and your knowledge of Christ is without you by what such a Prophet and such an Apostle spoke of him and the witness of the operation of his Spirit and Power you have not in you nor his sufferings you do not know in your life but by your life make him to suffer in you in his Life the horrible filthy thing is commited amongst you and your Teachers are perfect in the false Prophets steps and some of you are as bruit Beasts in their knowledge gathered in by vain study and humane learning through Phylosophy and vain deceit and have large Quarters from which they seek their Gain and through Coveteousness with feigned words make merchandise of souls and are compleat in Balaams way of Idolatry following his Error loving the Wages of unrighteousness teaching for filthy Lucre devouring souls for dishonest Gain by trading with the Scriptures and selling their Imaginations upon them for money gaining many thousand of pounds a year thereby having stolen the Saints words into their unclean hearts uttered forth by them for advantage to themselves when the Lord hath not sent them nor spoken unto them nor ordained them for his service but their Call and Ordination have been by man and their work and testimony of themselves and have not profited you at all and yet you have loved to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof Even you that have been helped and they that have holpen shall both fall together in the Day of the Lord's Recompence which will fall grievously upon you and none shall be able to deliver you but miserable Comforters and Physitians of no value shall all be unto you and your long applyed Promises shall suddenly fly away No Peace from God is to the Wicked neither do I sow Pillows under your Elbows but to the Light in your Consciences I commend these things which Christ hath enlightened every of you withal which shines in Darkness and you cannot it comprehend nor in it believe but at it stumbles and by it shall be broken which if it you loved it would teach you in the Spirit the Living God to worship and would condemn all your set forms of worship in the imaginations the Light is given you of Christ Jesus unto Life Eternal or unto condemnation everlasting when the Hand of the Lord is upon you remember you had Warning and when you are in the Lake and in the Pit remember you had a day of Visitation upon Earth The Light in all your Consciences shall witness Gods Judgments to be just and your mouths shall be stopped To all you that are called Anabaptists WIth you also is the Controversie of the Lord for you are Children of the same seed more purged in the Fire of blind Zeal and begotten in the transforming of the Serpent into more secret hypocrisie and deeper subtilty your covering being larger the greater deceit and abomination lodges under Death reigns among you and your Kingdom is scituate in the Mountains of exaltation and you feed aboundantly in the Valleys of pride and vain glory and are nourished with the bread of prosperity you are grown high and great in your number and have joyned your selves for advantage and glory in your strength having through Policy and Craft and bowing to the beastly power highly exalted your own Horn and by Flattery have gained much of your dominion which you hold in possession by the Law of guile many simple Ones have by your curious colour and bed of fair pretences been deceived to commit Adultry with your Image brought forth in the likeness of the Saints God by imaginations from the Saints words you worship the Practice and exercise of the Saints with the same mind that the Papists do worship their Names and dayes You allow not Idols without nor a vain conversation in the World but you are stricâ—t in observation in your outward conformity in your self-righteousness which is your greatest sin you are cloathed with the Saints words and practices which you have climed up in your own wills to obtain not having entred in by the Door and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Saints manner shewing forth his Death till he come to Salvation you kill him as the Heathens do till he appear unto Condemnation and you shew forth daily that you cruciâ—e him in the World eating and drinking to your selves condemnation you say Christ dyed only for you as Elect but your works make manifest that he dies by you as Reprobate You take up a command from the Letter and imitate the Apostles some of you in a lower and some of you in a higher degree in that mind and nature which in the Apostles was crucified and you say Christ commands it when the Letter doth but declare it and you are not led with the same Light which gave forth the Commands declared to observe them but say in such a Verse of such a Chapter such a Command is not having received the Command by the same Spirit Here you are proved to be them which use your tongues and say he saith it when God hath not spoken unto you but as you read it without you as the false Prophets may do the words of the true Prophets and thus you are in the Witchcraft as they were Gal. 3. who take on things in your own wills and observe Commands without from the Letter thereby drawing from the Teachings of God within by the Spirit you are zealous as they were for the Traditions and Figures and cannot see him which is the end of all that which perisheth with the using so you are not dead with Christ from the World who are yet subject to Ordinances which are of the World They that obeyed Christ and followed him were led by the Spirit and not by the Letter for they were not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit and such were judged to be in error and this is your condition who say such are Breakers of Christ's Commands and Makers void of the Scripture and Destroyers of the Ordinances who witness Christ the Substance and him to be King and Judg and Law-giver and in whom and upon whom the Scripture is fulfilled and so it established and the Commands of Christ kept which are in Spirit and his Law daily walked in which condemneth sin And this is not contrary to the Scripture but a fulfilling of it in Principles in Doctrines and in Practise and in Conversation The Apostles were sent to preach the Gospel to every Creature and they were all led by the same Spirit and did not go before it in their own wills
the end and numbred thy work into a total sum which is a secret smiting and obscure shooting against the Manifestation or Belief of Christ within which there can be no Salvation without as I have proved and in words only I find thee exalting Christ without and worshipping the name of Mary like the Pope I have good ground so to judge And whereas thou callest the Doctrine of Christ within false Opinions and takeâ—â— in hand to discover it as in Page 203. I say to all honest men who have but any knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture thou art hereby sufficiently discovered who callst the chief thing which is the chief unto Salvation and without which can be none false Opinions God shall judge thee thou wicked heart and much more I need not say but shall leave this to the view of any that are honest to judge so have gone through thy Book and passed by many things only I have spoken to that in which thou hast treated any thing upon us and the Truth I have cleared from many Lyes and Slanders and thy Vail of false Reproaches is rent and our Innocency doth partly appear and thy vail of Hypocrisie is a little removed and thy deceitfull heart weighed and seen And as for the rest of thy Book whicg I have not medled with thus much I say of it I suppose you will confess it was all given forth by one spirit and it is proved some of it is given forth by a lying spirit then let the Reader judge what the rest of it can be though the words be true yet is thy spirit false and at the best what thou hast said is but bearing false witness as to thy self of a true thing I own the words and I deny the voice and here I deal plainly with thee Thou then askst a Question Doth not the Scripture speak of Christ within unto which I further add answer it as thou canst Doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates And is not this thus much all are reprobate but they in whom Christ is within Answer iâ— plainness and darken not knowledge by words without wisdom And towards the end I find thee making up the sum of thy wickedness with this numbring the Quakers with Ranters Sin Death and the Devil I will not bring a railing Accusation against thee but the Lord rebuke thee thou unclean spirit who hast falsly accused the Innocent to clear thy self from guilt but at thy door guilt lodges and I leave it with thee clear thy self if thou art able And thy wicked Reproaches we patiently bear till the Lord appear for us and we are not greater then our Lord who was said to have a Devil by thy Generation and their measure of wickedness thou fulfils and art one of the Dragons Army against the Lamb and his Followers and thy Weapons are Slanders and thy Refuge is Lyes and thy work is confused and hath hardly gained a name in Babylons Record and by us so much of it at least as is against us is cast by as our spoiled prey and trampled upon in all thy reproachfull speeches who art unclean and of more price to us is thy hatred and envy then thy love can be except the gâ—und were better in which you stand Now a few words I may write in Answer to the Queries in the end of thy Book which thou directst thus Some Questions to the Quakers or a few Queries to those possessed with a Spirit of delusion in this Generation Question 1. If sayst thou that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him why say the Scriptures That some are sensual having not the Spirit aâ—â— Christ saith The World cannot receive it John 14. Answ. Some men are sensual and have not the Spirit because they received it not some cannot receive it because they believe not in him from whence it comes yet is the measure of the Spirit given unto every man to profit withal as the Scripture saith And it is given to within him to reprove him of sin but few do receive it and when thou canst learn to distinguish between a thing being given and a receiving of such a thing then thou mayst be answered in thy self It is one thing in God to give the Spirit and another thing in the Creature to receive it He gives it to many that receive it not to follow it and to be guided by it thus far I answer and let them that are led with a spirit of Delusion answer thee further Qu. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from under the Law is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If it be redeemed by something that worketh in them then why did the man Christ Iesus hang upon the Cross in Mount Calvery without the Gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his People and why do the Scriptures say That through this man is preached unto us forgiveness of sins c. Answ. The Church of God is redeemed by Christ Jesus which is revealed within all that believe and Christ Jesus wrought in them mightily and it was he that wrought in them to will and to do this is plain according to Scripture And the man Christ Jesus was hanged upon the Cross on Mount Calvery because they wickedly judged him to be a Blasphemer and through their envy persecuted him to death because he bore witness against them and as in their account he died and hanged upon the Cross for an Evil-doer and this is one ground at least why he hanged upon the Cross and the Scriptures say That through this man is preached the forgiveness of sins because there is no other that can forgive sin nor the blood of any other thing that can take away sin but the Blood of God as it is written And thus far I answer If thou wilt have more seek it from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion Qu. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you risen within you ascended within you Answ. There is no Scriptures that mention any one of our particular names and thy Query is raised from thy mis-understanding of us so I judge but Christ is within us that we dare not deny and he is the Lamb that was slain in the streets of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt mind spiritually and he is now risen and ascended this we know through Faith in his Name And I leave thee to receive a fuller Answer from them that are led with a spirit of Delusion if they will give it thee Qu. 4. Is that very man that was crucified on Mount Calvery between two Thieves whose Name is Iesus the Son of Mary is he the very Christ of God ye or nay Answ. Yea he is the very Christ of God which was before the World was by whom the World was made who was made
open view then thou hast in the least measure discovered us or detected us or justly reproved us in Doctrine or Conversation to be contrary to the Saints in Generations past who are our cloud of Witnesses as being guided by the same Spirit according to the measure as we have received but this is rather a discovery to all the Upright that were of God because we are spoken all manner of evil of falsly by thee and thy Generation who are sufficiently proved in all your wayes and worships to be of the Generation of them that ever persecuted the righteous Seed of God And as for the success thou hast found little profit thereof for the Judgments and Wrath of God will succeed thy Lyes and Slanders and this shalt thou find and they that are deceived by thee shall perish together and this will be the reward of thy duty which thou sayest called upon thee now to speak And seven of thy first Pages hast thou filled in pleading for thy own kingdom and unjustly justifiing thy own cause in Preaching for Hire and in Divining for Money and in seeing for thy Gain from thy Quarter false Prophet like it well appears that sometime thou hast been bit upon thy sore and searched where thy guilt hath lodged and now thou hast endeavoured to heal up the wound and cure thy self and hast brought many arguments and hast sought to clear thy self by guile 〈◊〉 not by innocency and hast gathered many Scriptures together which as thâ— supposest might make for thy purpose herein by preaching of them How fâ—… wouldst thou blind the eye of the Simple that thou mightst alwayes act thy abâ— mination and not be seen and even as Satan brought Scripture against Chriâ—â— so hast thou against the Truth and to uphold thy iniquity Thou sayest It is the great clamour of the Quakers that you are no Ministers of Chriâ—… because you Preach for Hire Divine for Money and are Covetous c. This is true and I will add much more which thou hast spared You are greedy dumb Dogs and can never have enough every one of you seeking for yoâ— Gain from your Quarter and through Coveteousness make merchandise of Souâ—â— and make a Prey upon the Flock and feed your selves with the Fat and cloaâ—â— your selves with the Wool and cry Peace Peace to them that put into yoâ— Mouthes but prepare War against them that do not and are given to filthy 〈◊〉 cre and love the Wages of unrighteousness and go on headlong in the Error 〈◊〉 Balaam and Cain having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power beiâ— heady and high-minded-Men and false Accusers and proud Boasters and Lovers of Pleasure more than God c. Much more also is true upon you according to Scripture for whatsoever the true Prophets and Apostles declared as 〈◊〉 giving a description of the false Prophets and Apostles by their works and sigâ—… the same way may truly be said upon you as being every whit guilty of whatâ—â— ever was charged upon them by the Spirit of the Lord so that all thy wrestingâ— Scriptures will not clear thee and thy Brethren who have some of them said as 〈◊〉 as thou canst say in this particular but Truth stands unmoveable and you 〈◊〉 altogether discovered and made bare and naked and your shame doth appearâ—… thy answer to this which thou callest The Quakers clamour Thou sayest False Teachers may and have preached freely then be sure free Teâ—… could not prove you to be true Ministers c. Reply Thou and this Generation of Teachers exceed such in abominatiâ—â— who have not yet so far transformed your selves like unto true Ministers as 〈◊〉 teach freely and your condemnation will be the greater insomuch as you excâ—… them in wickedness and it is confessed that free Teaching would not prove 〈◊〉 to be true Minsters for you are false and deceitful in every account and 〈◊〉 nisters of Antichrist under many considerations more then one as in your Caâ—… and Worship and many other things And thus thou hast laid open thy own 〈◊〉 ly that thou mayest be judged out of thy own mouth For in the Margent thâ— sayest The Quakers teach not freely for at one Town thou hearest that one of the Quâ—kers had about five Pound gathered for him Friend This is a Slander and a false Accusation and thou hast heard and believed a Lye if not made a Lye and thy Lyes will be no refuge for thee in 〈◊〉 Day of the Lord for I testifie against them and thee and him to be no Quâ—â—â— who acted such a thing if any such was acted Then thou goest on and drawâ— many vain conclusions and arguments to no purpose and bringest the Scriptuâ—â— 2 Cor. 11. 8 9. and thinkest this for thy purpose because of the word Wâ—ges and now boastest as though thou hadst overcome but all this will not clear thâ— from guilt nor prove thee to be a Minister of Christ he reaped where he had sowâ— and not of the World he eat the Milk of the Flock and did not by a Law coâ— pel People to pay him as thy Generation doth neither was he chargeable to any as you are but made the Gospel of Christ free and used not his liberty in theâ—â— things but you go beyond the liberty of equity and by a Law obtain your Maintenance oppressing the Poor to make your selves rich living in Pride Idleness and Fulness but Paul did not thus but was in Cold Hunger and Nakedness and the Wages he took was not to do himself service but them as it is evident So Pauls example herein will not cloak thy filthiness nor cover thy shame hewas a Minister of the Spirit and did sow spiritual things and was no Hireling as the false Prophets who through coveteousness made merchandise of souls and this is thy example and not the practise of Paul whom thou wouldst fain make like â—nto thy self but he is justified and thou art condemned in the Sight of God whose work is not of his nature he gave freely and might reap where he sowed but thou makest a Covenant to reap before thou sowest and sowest not and so deceives the People Then thou sayst We provide for our selves when we wander up and down men must provide us Lodging Food c. Are not People bound to provide for you as well as to entertain us c. Thou alwayes pleadest thy own cause and so hadst thou need for the Children of God cannot plead for thee but testifie against thee It is Christ's Doctrine Into whatsoever House ye enter eat such things as are set before you but it was never his Doctrine Take so much by the year and if they will give you such a Sum preach to them this is the Doctrine Way and Wages of Balaam in which thou art found Many other Scriptures dost thou wrest and many a vain Argument dost thou make unto this purpose And thou sayest He that will be a Minister indeed will say
untruth of us and I say to all who read this and thine let them observe with an impartial mind and try all things and hold fast that which is good and let not the envy of the wicked one so prevail over you but search all things with the Light of God according to the Scriptures before you judge any thing least your zeal in your hasty untamed minds and spirits betray the honesty which may in sobriety be instructed and you informed the Way of Salvation which now the Lord of Heaven is discovering to them that seek him in truth and sincerity And because the Purpose of the Lord is to reveal his Glory and to discover and condemn the secrets of the well-savoured Harlot who hath sat long as a Queen in the Earth deceiving Kingdoms and Peoples therefore also is Herod and Pilate joyned together and Gog and Magog is risen in their Power to resist the Counsel of God and to disannul his Purpose but in vain do they strive and weary themselves to no advantage for Sions King shall reign and Ierusalem shall be built and become the praise of the whole Earth and Nations shall partake of her Glory and the Armies of Alients shall flee and be discomforted And all the Lyes and Slanders of the wicked one shall return upon his own head and the pit which the wicked digs for the Righteous it shall swallow the wicked up and his foot shall not escape the snare so that I testifie unto all People this one thing concerning Jesus Him hath God given a Light into the World a Judge and a Reprover of all the works of wickedness and with his Light every man that cometh into the World is lightened with the Light of Life all that believe and with the Light of Condemnation all that believe not If you every one turn in your minds from the vanities of the World unto the measure of the Light given you a present Teacher in the Wayes of God this Light will be in you to direct your steps in Righteousness and Peace for as it is written The Lord is the Teacher of all his People and all the false Teachers and Hirelings will be denyed and the Scribes and Pharisees and their leaven will be born witness against and the old man with all his deeds will be put off and the new Man will be put on which is the Likeness and Image of the Father and then will you witness the Life of the Scriptures and in you they will be fulfilled by the Spirit that gave them forth which Spirit all the Sons of God are guided by and this Spirit the World cannot receive no further then to be reproved by it of sin and condemned for unrighteousness and to every one who hath in the least received a measure of the Spirit and is guided by it to them only I leave what I have written and the Writing answered to be judged as in the sight of God with an impartial mind I have not striven for mastery through subtilty and deceitful speeches but in innocency I have written to vindicate the Lord's Truth from the Lyes of his Enemies who make iâ— their work 〈◊〉 render the Way of Truth odious lest their deceits should be laid open and they judged And this same Giles Firmin hath done his part sufficiently herein who hath not ceased lying and slandering from the beginning to the end of his Book unto which I might have written much more yet desire not to multiply words with such as are impudent and cannot 〈◊〉 when they have done evil but to the main Particulars a few to each of them I have written passing by much unsavory stuff proceeding from a light vain spirit as is easily discernd by the Children of Light who hath made both Foundations and Arguments very Lyes and hath laid things to our charge which we never knew nor by word or Writing was ever declared but thou Giles F. hast filled up thy measure of wickedness according to thy ability hadst thou been more subtil thy work would have been more deceitful Therefore repeat of thy wickeness and go not on in thy perverse way of uncleanness lest thou be cut off with an utter destruction and repentance be hid from thy eyes And to the foolish babling story in the end of thy Book I do Answer thou sayst a Minister now in Essex gave the Narration c. but hast deceitfully concealed his name and so he and thou well may as being ashamed thereof in laying slanders too foolish to subscribe his name unto Yet is Thomas Tillam known his name and nature whose Testimony is like thine and a Minister like unto thee who was and is known in all the Parts about Hexam to be a deceitful Fellow one who preached for Hire and sought for his Gain from his Quarter as is well known who also made merchandise of souls through coveteousness with feigned words And though T. Tillam be or was an Anabaptist and contrary to thee in his Opinion yet if he will but give a bubling Slander against us thou wilt belieive him and call him a Minister but his wickedness is well noted who for wickedness and filthiness was cast out and denied of the Assembly whereof he was the Pastor and stands this day as one cast off by them who are a little more honest than thou and he though yet Strangers to us and Opposers of us And now in that your deceits are discovered you flee to any bubble for a strength and make Lyes your refuge and yet justifie your selves and condemn the Innocent And thy last Story is an abominable Lye and a man that hath honesty in either hand or heart would be ashamed to utter such things but in plainness of speech thy Lyes and Slanders I do deny and unto thee I do return them again with true Judgment upon them and dare not flatter thee nor speak peace unto the wicked but to the Light of God in all Consciences I do stand clear by it to be justified when all the wicked are condemned By a Friend to Israels Common-wealth called EDWARD BURROUGH THE Crying Sins Reproved WHEREOF The Rulers and People of England are highly guilty WITH Additions to their own Confessions held forth by them in a Declaration of their own bearing date Septem 23. wherein these three Nations are called to a Day of solemn Fasting c. With meek Exhortations to this present Parliament that they take heed to themselves lest they make the Guiltless to suffer upon the account of Blasphemy or Error c. while the Evil-Doers go free and the false Prophets defended HOw long how long shall Gods righteous soul be grieved and his 〈◊〉 Spirit vexed with the vain oblations and offerings of them whose hearâ—â— are far from him even after their Idols and in their covetousness and earthly honours of this vain world while they honor with their lips and profess love with their mouths in outward observances How long Lord shall thy
the Foundation or Fundamental Principle of the Religion which is not in Form but in Power agreeing in the Foundation and in the whole building But Friends you seem to charge the late Powers of the Nation if not your selves yet some part of your Body which now are in power with great things with no less then to be Satans Seedsmen for if allowing difference in Forms be the dangerousest and fruitfullest Seed that ever was sown by the envious One as you say it is then who do you blame either the fore-going Parliaments of which some of you have been and so cannot be clear from that evil or the Protector himself and this seem to be a very great charge upon him whose judgment is appearingly to give allowance unto difference in Forms to be the Seedsman of Satan or to allow the envious One to sow the Seed which you call dangerous it is not Christians that are divided but the Sects and false Opinions men of corrupt minds Thus much in answer to the words as they are laid down but I rather chuse to speak to the mind or intent of the Penmans spirit of your Declaration which implieth an inclining to be against many Forms and to bind up all into one Form of Worship and so thereby though some which is evil would be shut out yet would the true spiritual Worship of the Saints above all assuredly thereby be excluded and the tender spirits of People who truly seek God would be oppressed But keep your selves from that evil I warn you lest you be broken and never bound up and lay no Law nor make no Law upon Religion but let Religion defend it self only lay your Law upon Peace-breakers and violent men and bind not mens Consciences to a Worship by your Precepts either made already or by such as may be made if you ease the Oppressed so God will establish you in peace if you fulfil his Will herein Again you say In not being fully sensible though the Lord in the depth of his wisdoms and righteous Iudgments hath for some years last past been overturning several Authorities in these Nations and hath as it were been pouring them from Vessel to Vessel he hath been pleased ever since his people publickly contended for his Truths still to set up Rulers who have allowed them the free exercise and profession of them Answ. Indeed you are not sensible of the righteous Judgments of God in overturning several Authorities in the Nation and therefore you go in the same abominations as they did who were overturned till you also be overturned as they were But take heed to your selves lest you be more then poured from Vessel to Vessel even spilt in the dust of misery and never more gathered again Your last part of this particular is false for we that are in the pure Religion and in the Exercise of our pure Consciences have not from some of you our Liberty but are cast into Goals and Dungeons and banished out of yoâ—â— Towns and Cities some of us by some that have been Rulers set up if this be doubted by you examine through your Nation true testimony may be given so that here you have spoken better of the Rulers then indeed it is and would make the Nation believe untruths to establish you though I condemn not all but my words are towards the Guilty that they may repent lest they perish in their iniquities and be cut off in their transgressions and the Curse be upon you all for the sake of some Again you say In that Athiestical and luke-warm Spirit too commonly aâ—…gst you whereby not only the Form but also the Power of Godliness is reproached and accounted as a vain thing but also too many have fallon from their first love and others esteâ—… themselves rich whilst they are miserable poor and blind and naked sins which â—…e the highest aggravated by being committed in Countries where the glorious Light of the Gospel shinâ—s clearest Answ. This you have confessed truly to your own shame in the sight of other Nations your spirit is not only luke-warm unto Righteousness but it is too â—â—mmon among some of you to be zealous and hot in persecuting the Way of Righteousness and indeed many of you are grosly fallen from your first Love and Integrity and thereby the Power of Godliness is not only reproached by you but persecuted and counted vile and they that live in it oppressed such is your zeal in your dead Form some of you that even you count the true Way and Worship of God madness and you are the men that esteem your selves rich while you are miserable and blind and naked and your sins are aggravated the more and higher because God gives you warning daily by the mouth of his Servants who hold forth the Light of the glorious Gospel and bears witness unto your faces against your Abominations and Idolatries committed by you yet for all this you continue in your iniquities and evil entreat the Messengeâ— of Peace unto you souls and are the men indeed which are Athiestical evâ—â— many by their work saying in their hearts there is no God and as truly as yoâ— have confessed your sins so must you confess the justness of the Judgments of God upon your own heads if you return not unto the living God and own the day of your Visitation Again you say In being more dissatisfied that you have not obtained all you aimâ—d 〈◊〉 then thankful that you have obtained so much as you now enjoy Answ. Verily this is not the least of your sins but exceed some others fâ—r you aim at that which you shall never obtain till you be thankful and walk worthy of what you enjoy and this is the way Ease the Oppressed and take oâ—f the yoke of the Poor and Needy and of the Lord you may be heard and seek not your own honour for that is the ground of dissatisfaction and unthankfulness among you and the cause why you abuse the Mercies which you do enjoy having lost the sence of the former dealings of the Lord with you Further you say All which with other the grievous sins of these three Nations caâ—â— aloud upon all the good People in them to lie low in the sight of our offended God and bâ— Prayer and Humiliation away which in our deepest distresses we have found both our Dâ—ty and Comfort to tread in to seek to appease his Wrath and that he would be pleased fâ—… his own Names sake to remove whatever accursed thing there is found amongst us and the as he is our God so we may be his People Answ. Indeed many more grievous sins are highly abounding in these three Nations your own oppressions and self-seeking honours and vain glories in your self-performed righteousness with your persecution of the Innocent by grievous unjust Fines and Imprisonment not regarding the cry of the Poor which lie under the heavy hand of Oppression of you subordinate Rulers these aboundantly add to the
was set up for a season so that Iohn farther saw and said the whole World went after the Beast and false Prophet whom he saw before was come and worshipped the Beast and his Image but a few whose names were written in the Book of Life And as I have said the whole City with the outward Court was trodden down by the Gentiles foot and darkness surprised all and wickedness abounded more and more and the night came upon all as Christ had prophesied and the Beast grew in his dominion till there was hardly any man left to bear witness in the Truth and in the Power of God unto the Name of Jesus but all was subverted into dead Forms and Shadows and Likenesses without Life and the Lord left the Earth as it were and covered himself in the Darkness and became a stranger in the World and did scarce openly speak by Vision nor Dream nor Prophet but all were in the dark and Ignorance abounded and Superstition was exalted the Saints Spirit and Life which they were in and guided by was lost and then they began to worship the Saints Names and Dayes and Words without the Life and Power and that Nature and that same Seed which had persecuted the Saints to death and gainsayed the Power and lost the holy Ghost turned it self into the profession of the Saints Words which were left upon Record and conformed it self into the Saints Practises without the Life Power and holy Ghost And having lost the Power from which the Scripture was given forth and not being guided in the Life which they were in which spoke it forth then from the Scripture in mens own conceptions and thoughts and by their reason without Gods Spirit they set up Likenesses and Images and Sects and Forms and many Heads and many Horns grew upon the Beast which all the World worshipped and went after for they had lost Christ the one Head wherein the Union stood and grew into Idolatry under the many Heads which were upon the Beast who had many Horns which pushed one against another as it is witnessed unto this day do not the Papists and Protestants so called and other Sects risen out of them push one at another to break and tear one another and these have many Heads The Pope he is a Head and the others they have a Head which every one bowes down under his own Head the Pope will not bow to the Protestants Head nor will the Protestants bow to the Papists Head the Presbyterians and Independâ—… and Anabaptists and the rest every one of them bows to their own Head and will not bow to anothers Head and all these with their Horns push one against another to rend one another and all these are from Christ and know not him the one Head of the whole Body and the one Horn of God's Salvation unto aâ— People for Christ which is but one is the Head and the Horn which all the Saints who are now gathered out of this Apostacy and dark Night unto whom the Light again is risen worship Christ the one Head and know him the one Horn which pushes aganist the Devils Kingdom which hath long been set up and rulâ—â— in the Earth among all these who have many Heads and many Horns who are aâ—… of them the very chiefest but in the night fallen in the Apostacy and Daâ—â—ness since the beginning of the reign of the Beast and the coming in of faâ—… Prophets which came in as I have said when the Churches backslided with the Whore also who hath made all Nations and People Drunk with the Wine of be Fornication and the Beast hath reigned over all Nations in his Dominion and Authority and the false Prophet hath prophesied through all Nations And all these came in since the dayes of Christ for he prophesied that iâ— should be so as it is come to pass and they were coming in in the dayes of the Apostles as you may read Paul saw them coming and largely describes their Character in several Epistles And Peter he saw them coming in and described them what such they were and should be and Iude he saw them also and Iohn more fully then any both in his Epistles and Revelations as I have â—â—â—â—ed at And when the Apostles were taken off the Earth some by cruel Deaths and others were banished then they sprung in more fully and grew through all Nations and to this day hath the Beast with his many Heads and many Horns ruled in Nations and been worshipped and his false Prophet hath ever since been defended and hath riden on the Beast through Nations and hath deceived Nations with vanity and error and at this very day the Nations and People are deceived and lie under Darkness in the slavery and bondage under the authority of the Beast and subject to the doctrine of his false Prophets And as I have said Darkness hath been over all and fancies and likenesses without Life have been bowed under and the Power being lost the Form hath been set up one after this sort and another after that according to mens vain conceits and apprehensions upon the Scriptures and not according to the manifestation of the Spirit of God which fulfilleth the Scriptures and brings to live the Life of them So in divers Colours and in divers Appearances and Robes in several forms and shapes of Garments hath the great Whore been decked who hath sat upon the Beast having the false Prophet serving as a Boy or Servant to do whatsoever the Whore listeth and the false Prophet this Servant of the Whore under the power of the Beast hath moved and turned as the Beast would and according as the Whore hath changed her self into other Garments and Colours even so hath the false Prophet changed his Doctrine and Prayers to please the Whore and to keep people under the Government of the Beast It s known in this our day that some who preached and prayed for the King and Bishops do now preach and pray for others even for them who destroyed the King and Bishops so the false Prophets with all his Children are but the Whores Servants who hath made drunk Kings and Princes and great Men and People and Nations with the Cup of Fornication and Abomination in the several Sects and Forms of Worships which have been set up without the power of Godliness for the Baptism of the Spirit being lost and not known then from the Letter by imaginations were several sorts of Baptism brought forth as sprinkling of Infants that dark folly and vain vanity which all these Nations have been deceived withal by the exercise of the false Prophet And when the Gift of the Ministry through the holy Ghost which the Ministers of Christ had was lost and not any more â—…eceived then began men to make Ministers by natural Learning and Arts and Languages and humane Pollicy and when the gift of preaching by the eternal Spirit was lost through the coming in of the
they seek their Gain and through Covetousness make Merchandize of souls â—he false Prophets of Israel were their Example and they follow in the Path of Unrighteousness having run and were never sent of God and therefore the People are not profited at all nor turned to God but from year to year and time to time ever learning but cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth Ignorance abounds in thy old Men and Rudeness and Wildness in thy Youths and thy People are without the knowledge of God and perish for lack of Knowledg Thou art even as a wild untilled Garden which bringeth forth no plesant Fruit thy Vines are as the Vines of Sodom and thy Fruit is loathsome to the Lords Taste wild Grapes and sour Grapes are brought forth in thee which the Lord hath no pleasure in ye bring forth fruit unto your selves and not unto the Lord ye kindle a Fire and warm your selves with your own sparks ye sacrifice to your own Net and ye think to be heard for your much Babling and your many Performances Aboundance of the first mans wisdom is among you it leads you and guides you and not the Spirit of God and through your own wisdom which is devillish you conform to the Saints words and to theiâ— practises in outward appearance and make your selves like the Saints and bow unto your own Images and Likenesses which ye make and are grown wise and full of knowledge but it is not the Wisdom of God nor the Knowledge that will endure for ever for you neglect the one thing which is only needful to Eternal Life Your Buildings are high but they are not upon the true Foundation for many of you stumble at the Corner Stone your sprinkling Infants is a vâ—ry Cheat and all that believe therein are deceived and your singing of David's â—â—periences in rime and meeter is a very Lye unto you your Worship is but Idolatry and it will not cover you in the Day of the Lord though none be like unto thee O London in Profession nor any City hardly can compare with thee in respect of the Multitude of thy gathered Assemblies and self Separates yet all this will not availe thee when the Lord searcheth thy heart which is found not perfect beforethe Lord but full of vain glory and lust and pleasures of the flesh and dissimulation and guile which the Wrath of God will be revealed against A single and an upright Heart is of greater price with the Lord then all the Performances of Self-righteousness that is done in thee while your hearts are given to vanity and continue therein Wherefore O London this is a Warning to thee Let thy Inhabitants repent the dreadful Day of the Lord is coming I have heard the voice of War against thee and not of Peace the cry of Howling and bitter Lamentation and not of gladness nor joy of heart What wilt thou do in the day of thy Visitation when the Lord stretcheth forth his Hand to smite thee To whom wilt thou flee And where wilt thou be hid when the Lord shews himself thy Enemy and appears to take an account of thee What will become of all thy Treasures How will thy vaine glory become a stink How will the dayes of thy mirth be turned into grâ—evous sorrow instead of thy pleasures and delicacies and mirth and wantonness shall be Sighing and Mourning and woful Lamentation all thy gods shall not be able to deliver thee nor all thy Profession shall not justifie thee nor all thy self-separating People shall not be able to stand in the gap to stay the hand of the Destroyer none of thy carved Images shall stay his fury nor none of all thy several Sects shal be a mountain to hide thee when the Lord strips thee naked and layes thee bare and gives thee to know what is in thy heart which will come upon thee in a day not looked for Wherefore repnet all sorts of People and turn to the Lord if there may be mercy found Cease your Wickedness ye Wicked and learn to live Righteously Wo unto you Drunkards Wo unto you Whormongers Wo unto you Covetous Wo unto you Lyars Swearers and Scorners Wo unto you Dissemblers and deceitful Dealers Wo unto you Proud and Vain-glorious Wo unto you lustful People The Lord will plead with you all and give unto you the fruit of your doings and reward you according to your works his hand shall not spare nor his Eyes shall not pitty in the day that he comes to Judgment when he takes vengeance upon all the seed of Evil-doers and to pluck up the wild branches and to cast them into the fire Sackcloth shall be put on instead of gay Apparel and all thy Idols shall vanish away as for all thy Profession where is it All thy many Sermons and long Prayers what is become of them And all thy publick and private Duties where are thy shall it be said Ye shall all know that there is a God that will execute judgment and justice and that will plead with all flesh and in his sight shall no flesh be justified And all ye who thirst for the Lord and desire after the knowledge of his Wayes unto whom iniquity is a burden by you desired to be freed from who have long sought the Lord and have not yet found him who have prayed and had no answer and have been weary and heavy laden and found no rest I say unto you Save your selves from this untoward Generation come ye out of these abominations that you may be delivered from the Wrath Fear ye the Lord and do not offend him in any thing stand in awe and transgress not love Righteousness and Truth touch no unclean thing and the Lord will receive you meddle not with their Worships bow not to their Images nor sacrifice not to their Idol gods have no fellowship with them in their prophanness nor yet in their hypocrisie but hearken ye to the Voice of the Lord that ye may know his Judgments in your hearts and his Law and Covenant established with you depart from all iniquity and cast away all your Idols and forsake all your Lovers Give not your selves to the wayes and pleasures of this World but give your selves to Chastity to Soberness and Meekness and above all things be upright in heart towards God and towards man speak the truth one to another and let no Guile dwell in your Lips nor a deceâ—tful Tongue in your Mouth And cease from all Vain-glory and vain Customs and Fashions of the World which are evil And cease from all Men-teachers which deceive the People by flattering words who cry Peace when the Lord hath not spoken peace daub with untempored Morter such have not profited you at all but your soules are starved under your Ministry and leanness is upon you though you ever learn of them yet you cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth by them Cease from them all and from all your gathered and
Ministers of Christ said Chrisâ—… was the Foundation but these say the Scripture is the Foundation and herein they are contrary and shew by their doctrine another spirit then was in the Apostles 7. Again the Ministers of Christ said they spake wisdom among them that were perfect and said As many of us as are perfect be thus minded and said that the end of their Ministry was to present every man perfect in Christ. But the Teachers of this Age deny Perfection and say None must be perfect in this life and if any preach up Perfection that it is to be attained they say it is Error and damnable Doctrine Nay they say none shall ever be free from sin or ever have victory over their sin nor overcome the body of sin while they be upon Earth But the Ministers of Christ witnessed they were more then Conquerers and that they had put off the body of Death and were free from sin and were the Servants of Righteousness And herein also they differ and are not of one spirit and we know that the Ministers of Christ were guided by the Spirit of God which held forth these Doctrines â—nd we know the Teachers of this Age that their spirit must needs be of the Devil because it holds forth and practiseth what the Ministers of Christ did not but the contrary 8. Again the Ministers of Christ were persecuted and suffered cruel and grievous things for Righteousness sake as you may read in the Acts and did not render evil for evil to any man for they suffered patiently But the Teachers of this Age are not persecuted but are Persecutors and cause Men to be put into PRISONS â—nd to be Banished out of Towns and Sue People at Law and seeks occasion against the People of God and herein they disagree and are not of the same spirit as they were which were Ministers of Christ but shew a spirit contrary 9. Again the Ministers and Apostles of Christ were not chargeable to any but made the Gospel without charge and free and laboured with their own hands and did not live â—dlely but were often in cold hunger and nakedness and perils and tryals But the Teachers of this Age live in Pride and Covetousness and Fulness and do not work with their own hands but makes the Gospel of Christ chargeable for many Hundred Thousand Pounds in a Year doe but maintain them which they have â—ut of poor mens labours and so these differ and disagree from the Ministers of Christ and shew they are not of that Spirit that they were guided by but are guided by a contrary spirit because they are contrary in their Call and in their Doctrine and Practice and Maintenance 10. Again the Ministers of Christ preached by the Spirit according as the Spirit gave them Utterance and sometimes continued preaching till midnight But the Teachers of this Age are limited by a Glass and Preach by a GLASS and when their Hour is out their time of preaching is ended and that which they have studied for before-hand that they preach and not that which they have received immediatly from the spirit of God And herein do they disagree and in many things more which after may be declared 11. Again the Ministers of Christ said Ye may all prophesie one by one that all â—ight be edified and as every one had received the gift of Christ so they might Minister to â—…hers and desired that all the Lords People were Prophets and Sons and Daughters â—…d prophesie But the Teachers of this Age will not suffer all to prophesie one by â—ne neither will allow any to preach as they have received from Christ without such Qualifications and learned Arts and Ordinations of men and â—hey will not allow a Woman to prophesie or speak among them and all might speak â—he Word of the Lord faithfully that had it and all might Minister as they had received it â—his was order in the Apostles dayes among them but this is now counted confusion â—…y the Teachers of this Age and if any speak to them or any among them maâ—y such are made to suffer cruelty or imprisonment or such like by their means â—nd herein they disagree and shew that they are guided by another spirit then â—…e Ministers of Christ were guided by and so are not his Ministers but Deâ—…ivers 12. Again the Ministers of Christ declared what they had heard and seen and â—…lt and tasted of the Word of Life and none of them did boast in another mans line but â—hat they all had received of the Lord that they declared and not their own inâ—entions and commended themselves to every mans Conscience in the Sight of God and they did not provide themselves Studies full of Books to gather out of in a Weeks time what to preach on the first Dayes as the Teachers of this Age do who by vaiâ—… study and humane learning frame up and notes it in a Book an hour or two hours discourse to the People And herein they disagree and shew that they are guided by a spirit contrary to the Ministers of Christ. 13. Again the Apostles and Ministers of Christ were called from their Herâ—… and from Nets from their Receipt of Custom and from their Callings and by receiving 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost were made Ministers of Christ and did not seek Peoples Money to themselâ—… but sought the People to God and went through cruel Sufferings and Persecutions many tiâ—… that they might hold forth the Way of Life and Truth to all People But the Teachers 〈◊〉 this Age they are trained up from their Child-hood in Arts and Sciences risiâ—… by degrees from one vanity to an other till at last they arive to the Function of 〈◊〉 Minister of Christ as they call it and few or none of them have been called from theiâ—… ordinary Calling to preach the Gospel for such a one is hardly allowed of to preâ—… among People and they seek Peoples Money to themselves and the Peoplâ—… to God And herein they disagree and shew another spirit then was in the Apostles 14. Again the Ministers of Christ were led and guided by the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 did not fulfil their own wills nor the wills of men and they brought People 〈◊〉 the feeling of the Spirit of Christ in them to teach them and after they had begâ—… People to God they said they needed no man to teach them but as the anointing 〈◊〉 them taught them But the Teachers of this Age follows their own spirits and 〈◊〉 subject to the wills of men if men admit them to teach they do but if mâ—â—â—…ny them then they do not preach but the Apostles did not thus for when 〈◊〉 forbad them to teach they did not cease to preach but went on boldly declaring the NAMâ—… of the Lord. And these Teachers do not bring People to know the Spirit of Câ—… in them neither can any through their preaching receive the Anointing
to 〈◊〉 in them that so they do not need any man to teach them but People 〈◊〉 ever learning so long as they live and never able to come to the knowledge of 〈◊〉 Truth and People are not profited at all And in this thing they disagree 〈◊〉 shew another spirit then the Apostles were guided by even the spirit of 〈◊〉 christ 15. Again the Ministers of Christ were low poor meek sober humble men 〈◊〉 as did not exalt themselves nor maintain themselves in Pride and Fulness by 〈◊〉 ceiving of poor Peoples labours But the Teachers of this Age are Proud 〈◊〉 Heady High-minded Self-willed and Exalted spirits living in Idleness Pâ—… and Fulness and receive of the Labours of poor People And herein they 〈◊〉 gree for the Apostles were often in Cold Hunger and great Sufferings and 〈◊〉 plexities but these are as fed Horses the Proudest of all people and the 〈◊〉 Covetous of any men and all men must Bow to them and call them Maâ—… which is quite contrary to Christs Command And thus they shew another 〈◊〉 then what the Ministers of Christ were guided by and if another spirit it 〈◊〉 needs be the spirit of the Devil for either the Spirit of Christ leads men 〈◊〉 spirit of the Devil And now seeing that the Teachers of this Age bring forth fruits contrary to 〈◊〉 Ministers of Christ it shews that they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ cause in their Calling in their Ministry in their Maintenance in their Life 〈◊〉 Conversation and in their Doctrine they are not the same but quite contrary the Apostles and Ministers of Christ What can we conclude of them We have 〈◊〉 cluded already that such are Deceivers whose works are of another nature 〈◊〉 who are guided by another spirit then the Ministers of Christ were for Câ—… saith Every Tree is known by its Fruits and this is sufficient what I have said 〈◊〉 if need require it may further be made to appear in the sight of the whole Woâ—… and sufficiently proved that they differ in all these things mentioned and many more and are not one with the Apostles neither in Call nor Practice 〈◊〉 Maintenance nor in Doctrine nor in Conversation nor any other thing 〈◊〉 do disagree and are quite contrary so as it is concluded these are not the Miâ—…sters of Christ though they profess themselves to be so because they bring forth fruits quite contrary to the Spirit of Jesus which the Spirit of Jesus did and doth reprove And seeing they are not guided by the Spirit of Jesus because their fruits are contrary to it then must they needs be guided by the spirit of Antichrist and so are the Ministers of Antichrist and do his works by his spirit And further I shall shew wherein they do agree with the false Prophets and false Apostles and wherein they are like unto them in their Ministry and Practice and Doctrine and Conversation and if the Marks of Deceivers fall upon them in the sight of all people why should they not bear it And if the same works be proved to be acted by them which the false Prophets and Deceivers acted then why should â—t be thought a thing incredible among men that these are Deceivers 1. First the false Prophets run and were not sent and they did not profit the people at all for they stood not in the Counsel of God and so they turned not any from their iniquity bâ—t rather strengthened the Hands of the Evil-doers so that none could turn from their wickeâ—…ess and they spoke a Vision of their own hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord and they said still to the wicked The Lord hath said ye shall have Peace and to every one that walked after the Imaginations of his own heart they cryed No Evil shall come upon him and the Priests and the Prophets were prophane as you may read Ier. 23. And this is a fit parallel for the Teachers of this Generation they can shew no Call from God nor by his Spirit neither are People profited by them as experience doth shew and teach through this Nation and they do cry Peace to the wicked and count all Christians and followers of Christ that are but sprinkled when they are Infants though they live in wickedness and from them as from the Prophets of Israel is prophaneness gone forth into many Nations and a wicked example of evil these give to all Nations neither do these speak from the Mouth of the Lord but a Vision of their own heart and what old Authours say and at the best but what the Saints of the Lord said before them and this is no more as done by them then â—â—eâ—ling of the Prophets words or the word from their Neighbour Again you may read how the false Prophets used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it when tâ—â— Lâ—rd â—â—th never spoken to them but only what they had stole from others who were the Prophets of the Lord and this is a fit example to the Teachers of this Age and a trâ—e pâ—rallel between them for these dare not own that ever they heard the voice of the lord immediately nor that they spoke from the mouth of the Lord immedâ—…ly but use their Tongues and say The Lord said so by such a Prophet when 〈◊〉 themselves have not received the Word from the Lord and the Lord was 〈◊〉 â—…ch who prophesied Lyes as did the false Prophets of Israel as the Teachers of â—â—is Age do as it is manifest and the Lord is against them And herein do they agree and concur with the false Prophets in their Call and are in concord wiâ—h the Deceivers of old 2. Again the false Prophets and blind Watch-men of Israel they were ignorant 〈◊〉 they were greedy dumb Dogs that never could have enough and they looked to their own 〈◊〉 and every one sought for his gain from their Quarter and they were drinkers of Wine 〈◊〉 strong Drink and boasted that tomorrow should be as this day Isa. 56. And this is 〈◊〉 â—it parallel with the Teachers of this Age for they are blind Watch-men and do not discover to People the wickedness of their wayes and no less can be said of tâ—â—m then that they are greedy dumb Dogs for they all look to their own way and every one of them hath a Quarter a TOWN or a PARISH from which they seek their Gain and some of them are Lovers of Wine and strong Drink as daily experiences witness And herein the Teachers of this Generatiâ—…n â—…e proved to succeed the false Prophets in the same works and shew they are 〈◊〉 by the same spirit because they so fitly agree and concur in their works and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plain to all men that are but reasonable much more to them that are spiriâ—… 3. Again the Deceivers such as were false Prophets Preached for Hire and 〈◊〉 for Money and yet leaned upon the Lord and said Is not the Lord among us And tâ—…e
it 〈◊〉 evident that their hearts are exercised with covetous practises who sue poor Pâ—â—ple at Law some for Twelve Pence which they are more able to give to 〈◊〉 they whom they sue to receive from and they follow the Error of Balâ—… and run after him greedily who went for Gifts and Rewards as do these 〈◊〉 have unrighteous Wages cause people to pay them money for whom they do not work and this is unrighteous Wages these are Wells without Water and Clouds without Rain they make a shew of Godliness and Righteousness when as they are prophane and unrighteous and they speak great swelling words of vanity professing themselves to be Orthodox Divines and such like which are no more but words of vanity without Truth and they seek to allure all people to follow them in their way of Idol Worships and so they are deceived and deceiving and while they promise liberty to others by Christ from sin when they are dead themselves are the Servants of corruption and live in sin to this day and in all things which the false Apostles were guilty of these come not behind but these do shew by their works that they are guided by the same spirit which was in the Deceivers of old and so they agree and concur one with another in unrighteousness Again the false Prophets and Deceivers which were come and coming in the dayes of Iohn they were of the World and the World heard them And they were them which Christ prophesied of should come into the World which should deceive many and such were they which the Apostle saw coming in 2 Tim. 3. and he said after his dayes greivous Wolves should come in which should not spare the Flock such as were departed from the FAITH and spake Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Consciences sâ—â—â—ed with a hot Iron and such were they Covetous Boasters proud Blasphemers Unthankful Unholy without natural Affection Truce-breakers false Accusers Incontinent fierce Despisers of those things which were good Traytors Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasure more then Lovers of God they have the form of Godliness but deny the Power therereof and People by them were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth of this sort the Apostle saw was coming and would come more fully and such are the Teachers of this Age for they are of the World living in Pride and the Wickedness of it and the World hears them such as themselves proud and wicked People for they that fear God and walk in his Wayes are departed from many of them and they shew that they have no Faith but are departed from it for FAITH keeps from evil from the wayes of sin and death which they live in and Lyes in aboundance they speak in hypocrisie and their Consciences are seared that is plain else they could not do as many of them do who cause innoâ—ent People to be put in prison and make havock of their Goods who will not pay them Tythes or maintain them and they are the proudest of men and as Covetous as any and Unthankful and Unholy they shew themselves to be and they are false Accusers and Truce-breakers for they hardly make any Conscience of belying the People of God in the Pulpits or to the Magistrates and they are Heady High-minded and if some of them be not Treacherous judge ye who have turned divers wayes in their judgments according to the times and they have a Form of Godliness but not the Power pray and sing in a form and preach in a form and method and people are ever learning by them sixty Years or more or less and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth but dye in ignorance and blindness without knowledge under them And herein do they agree also with the false Prophet and Antichrist which Iohn saw to be come in and such as the Apostle saw which were then coming in and they shew the very same spirit by the same works and the same fruits which appear from them men of understanding may compare them in all these things They do agree and appear to be of that very Stock and Generation which the Apostle prophesied of for they were grievous Wolves which should not spare the Flock which the Apostle saw and these do not spare the FLOCK but even devour them and no less then grivous Wolves can they be said to be For if a poor Woman hath but ten EGGES in all the World they will have one in many parts of this Nation or but ten Chickens they will have one or but a Fire in their House they will have a Penny for the Smoak and such like wolvish devouring wayes and if these be not grievous Wolves let all the World judge And here is their Treachery made manifest while they say they preach the Gospel in love to souls yet its manifest they preach for love of Money for few or none of them preach where there is no money and People are absolute blind that do not see them for in all things they agree with the Deceivers and false Prophets of old and shew that they be of the very same spirit and thus you see their own Rule condemns them and because they say the Scripture is their Rule therefore I have thought good to lay them to it and measure them by their own Line and all People may see wherein they are quite contrary to the Ministers of Christ and wherein they wholly agreâ— with the Deceivers Let them hide themselves from this blow if they can and let them bring their Arguments against this sentence and let all their Friends appear for them and see if they can reverse this judgment which their own line hath judged them by let them bring in their Plea and defend themselves from this if it be possible for in those things which I have named and many other it is manifest that they fully agree with the Deceivers and disagree with the Ministers of Christ and by their fruits they are perfectly made manifest Again Christ spake in his dayes and the Apostles in their dayes that false Prophets and Deceivers should come into the world and after them and they gave descriptions what such they should be and what fruits they should bring forth as I have before mentioned in that 1 Iohn 2. and it is plain that these Deceivers and false Prophets did come in according as was prophesied for Iohn said By this we know it is the last times for now are they come which was many hundred years ago I say the Deceivers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of to come Matth. 24. came into the World many hundred years ago as you may read 1 Iohn 2. And with this I shall conclude this particular The Teachers of this Age by their â—ruits are proved already to be of that stock and succeeders in the same works by the same spirit of them which Christ said should come and which the Apostle saw was
feeding his lust in pride and voluptuousness with that which should keep him from hunger and nakedness and so pleasing the lust in all things more than satisfying pure nature and this ought not to be for it is out of the Covenant of God in which all Creatures were made and in which they stand except the Creature man who is degenerated out of Gods Covenant and subverts all things to his own end and not unto the glory of God while he continues in that state unreconciled to God but man being restored and redeemed and renewed again into covenant with God through the condemning of the evil then all Creatures to him are restored and made blessed the curse being removed out of his own heart the Creatures are no longer cursed to him but good and decent and enjoyed and received in the Covenant of God in the life and vertue by which they were created and by the wisdom which they were made man comes to order them and exercise himself in them and no more are they spent upon the lust nor on the vain minde nor ruled over in oppression but all that is condemned and all Creatures are seen to be the Lords and the Whole Earth is his and the fulness thereof and the abuse of all Creatures is ceased and they are enjoyed in their pure vertue to feed and to cloath the Creature and not to be destroyed upon the lust but for the healths-sake are they used to the glory of of the Creator and unto the end wherefore he Created them and are pure as they were in the beginning and the blessing is felt which is more than all creatures CHAP. XVI Concerning the new Covenant and how man comes to the Knowledge of God this Testimony I give THE Covenant of God is Unity betwixt God and man and a binding each to other to serve each other the one is bound to obey and submit and worship and the other to blesse and keep and lead and perserve this Covenant is established with his own Seed for ever and there is no Teacher but God all is taught of him from the least to the greatest who are in this Covenant his just Law is written in their heart to condemn all transgression and his pure Spirit is put into the inward parts to be the rule and guide of life in all things and none need to say know the Lord but all knows him in the Spirit and worships him and obeys him and follows him in Spirit and in Truth and such are come into Peace and Reconciliation with God and the Covenant with Hell and Death is broken and in this Covenant there is no Priest nor Offering but Christ Jesus the high â—…iest of God the one Offering for sin he takes away sin and makes intercession and in it is no Temple but our bodies are the Temple of God and he dwells in us and walks in us and there is no circumcision but the circumcision of the heart which is the putting away of all the uncleanness of the flesh nor in it there is no means of salvation but Christ the onely way the Truth and Life and none comes to the Father but by him he Declares of the Father and there is no Light but the Light of the Lamb all that are Saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb and there shall be no need of any other light no need of the Light of the Sun nor of the Moon nor of Candle but the Lord is unto them an everlasting Light and God alone is their Glory and this Covenant is for ever and cannot alter nor change but is sure unto the Seed of his own Inheritance but he that is born of the Flesh hath no part in it who is shut out from the Knowledge of God who is not known to the wisdom of this World which is Foolishness with God and the Knowledge of God is received no other way but onely by the revelation of Jesus Christ and by the Working of the Spirit of the Father in the heart he opens the blinde Eye and unstops the deaf Ear and changeth the heart and causeth it to understand and he removes that which hath stood in the way betwixt God and the Creature which hath caused ignorance in the Creature that the Lord could not be seen nor perceived Christ Jesus the second Adam Lighteth every man and at Mankind that cometh into the World with the true Light but some hates the Light and they will not come to the Light least their Deeds should be reproved and their Deeds are evil and they are in a condemned State and such cannot receive Christ nor the Knowledge of God but such who love the Light with which Christ hath enlightned them they bring all their Deeds to the Light and walk in the Light and their Deeds are wrought in God never to be condemned And such as loves the Light receives Christ and the Knowledge of God which is eternal Life and none comes to the Knowledge of God and of Christ any other way but through the Light of Christ and by the Operation of the Spirit of God and evil is condemned out of the Heart and the Heart is made clean by the Word of God and the Knowledge of God is received into the clean Heart and not into the impure for without Holiness none shall see God nor ever come to the Knowledge of him neither can the Knowledge of God be received by the Traditions of men or any outward Observance in the will of man but only by the Teachings of the eternal Spirit is the living God known in the Creature CHAP. XVII Concerning Faith this Testimony I give unto the VVorld FAith is the Gift of God and by it Christ is received and enjoyed it is the Substance of things hoped for and the very Evidence of things not seen gives the Creature to believe God in all what he hath promised all that which is acted and spoken in it is well pleasing unto God and that which is done without is sin it is the strengh of the Creature to act for God in all things It is that whereby the World is overcome and all the Powers of Hell and death it is the Armour against the Devil and the defence of all the Children of God by it they overcome all their Enemies and through it they reign over all the World it carries through all Sufferings and Tribulations with Joy and Patience Faith is an Act of God in the Creature through it Peace and Righteousness and the Crown of Life is received from God by Faith all things are received that are received of God by any of his Children He that hath Faith sees and feels the Lords Presence at all times and through Faith we do and suffer gladly for the name of Christ in all things and this is thus far our Testimony given by the Spirit of the Father of those things of which we have received the knowledge from God who hath given us his
Treasure and we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels even the knowledge of those things which are Eternal which is not our own but the Lords to give forth according to his movings and of those things have we Handled Tasted and Felt. CHAP. XVIII Concerning what VVorks are accepted of God and what VVorks are not accepted brought forth by the Creature WHatsoever work man is moved and led unto by the Spirit of God and guided and ruled in the practice of to speak or act whatsoever by the same Spirit which moveth and leadeth into all the works of righteousness and not into any evil this is acceptable in the sight of the Lord and these works are well pleasing to him where the Lord goes before and is the leader in all things and this man and his works who is led with the Spirit of the Father is justified and accepted of God and not for the Creatures sake who respects not the person of any but for his own Name sake because they are wrought in him through faith and is moved unto and guided in by his own Spirit and they arise from Gods Righteousness revealed in the Creature and not from the righteousness of the Creature for man being changed and replanted into the Living Vine and the Root being good every work which springeth forth from it is good also and accepted of God because the Root is so But whatsoever works are brought forth by any Creature though the same in appearance which are accepted of God from another yet not being moved unto nor guided in by the Spirit of the Father but brought forth in the will and wisdom of the Creature which is from below and acted in imitation from the Saints words these works are not accepted and well pleasing unto God but is offence unto him and sin against him even the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto him and if a man come before the Lord with thousands of Rams and ten thousand of Rivers of Oyl and if he give the fruit of his Body for the sin of the Soul and cover the Alter with tears and is not led with a measure of Gods Spirit none of all these works are accepted nor his Preaching Praying Baptism nor Breaking of Bread nor any other Observances towards God whatsoever are not good in his sight but evil and to be contemned and the Root from whence they spring because man is in the Enmity against him and not changed out of the old Root nor in that state is not led with the holy Spirit of the Father and the Root being Bad the Branches are evil and none are accepted of God in any thing which they perform towards him but such as are in Christ Jesus the second Adam and such are new Creatures so that it is not for the Creatures sake that any work is accepted of or offence against God but only for his Name sake and because of being guided or not of being guided with the Measure of Gods Pure Spirit Therefore is man and his works good and accepted or evil and not regarded but condemned of God CHAP. XIX Concerning mans state in the first Adam before Conversion and his state after Conversion and what Conversion is MAns state in the first Adam in transgression is a state of perfect enmity against God and Death rigns in every man and he is possessed with Blindness and Ignorance and unbelief and is wholly imperfect to receive the things of Gods Kingdom or to act any thing for God acceptable to him man in that state is wholly Dead to God and insensible of the Presence and Power and Life of his Creator for he is drove from God and is not led by him he hath no power to perform any good in the sight of God but is possessed with evil and led into all evil continually he is free from righteousness and free to all evil being the servant of the Devil and subject to him and overcome of him every moment and is led by him to transgress against the Lord his heart is unclean and out of it proceeds continually uncleanness in all manner of words thoughts and actions which flow out of the corrupt Fountain which grieve and vex the Lord and his Spirit who is dishonoured daily by man through his abuse of Gods Creatures who is a Devourer and Destroyer of them and not a Preserver as he ought to be who abuseth them upon his Lust and not to the Glory of the Lord he loves the Creature and worships the Creature and is gone a whoring after the Creature and hath forgotten God that made him and all things and hath lost his own dominion wherein he was set in his Creation and his state in his Transgression is cursed of God and without the Peace of God it being in the enmity against him and in all things he is wholly unprofitable to his Maker and onely profitable to himself and to the Devil and this in short is the state of every man in Transgression before Conversion but his state after Conversion is a State more blessed for man is changed and renewed and translated by the Power of the Lord through the working of the eternal Spirit Through Conversion his Mind is changed and his heart is renewed the old is done away and a new Heart is given and all things are become new even every Word and Works and every Intent and Purpose of his Mind is converted into another end and guided by another Spirit than before his Conversion and man is again returned to God into the Sense and Feeling of his Maker and into Covenant with him where he is blessed and all things to him for the Reconciliation is made with God and the evil is judged and condemened and Sin is taken away and blotted out and not remembred For man is become Servant unto God and onely serves him in all things and not himself or any other Creature in any thing for he hath received Power to become Son to God and hath received Power over the Devil and his Temptations and Death is destroyed and the effects of it are ceased and the Sting of it is taken away and Life and Immortallity is brought to Light and man is made capable to act in all things for the Glory of his Maker and God hath made Christ Wisdom to him to rule him and guide him in all things and Righteousness to cover him Justification to him to clear him in his Sight and the new Man is brought forth and the creating in Christ Jesus unto good Works is known and the Birth which is Heir of Gods Kingdom is witnessed and unto this man is the Lord become an everlasting Light and a sure hiding Place for he is not the Servant of Sin but of Righteousness nor an offence to God in any of his Works but for his Names sake is well pleased with him he is his Teacher in all the ways of Peace he is his Helmet and his Shield and his
the Assembly and stood praying in the Synagogues and loved the uppermost rooms at Feasts and that were called of men Master and such like and the Apostle said such were Deceivers to take gifts and rewards and lucre and that loved unrighteous wages and that were Back-biters and false Accusers and Covetous and having a form of Godliness but denying the Power who ever taught and the people were not able to come to the knowledge of the truth with many other such like Now this is my appeal to all mens Consciences in the sight of God whether thou art not found under some of these Charracters at least or whether thou art not one in union and fellowship with such who act these things yea thou are among them and not crying against them and so art guilty of their sin though not as fully in the act as are some may be so that I doubt not but they who have not hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes will see how thou hast condemned thy self in confessing the truth and the time is coming that further it will be made manifest concerning thee only at present thou art sufficiently discovered to be out of the truth in the way of perdition and however though thou hast covered thy self as much as is possible from the stroke of thy own hand and from the guilt of thy own confession yet Ioh. Burton thou hast condemned an hundred I think of Independant Ministers so called thy brethren who are known to be found guilty of those things all or most of them which thou confessest are marks of a false Prophet and while thou bidst us examine our selves thou art the man or among them that are proved truly guilty He saith He is not come to one of the dayes of the thousand years of Satans being chained and this is truly confessed and so he is in the Reign and Government of the Devil and Satan is not bound but at liberty in him as it well appears and Christs reign is not known and so it must needs be true that he is of the Army of the Dragon against the Lamb. Some of the same Members with him said in Bedford That they scorned that Light which convinceth of sin which the Quakers speak of Further most falsly I am charged by him with railing against the Lord Jesus which is absolute false my words are spoken in fear and reverence of the Lord Jesus Reader these things I leave to thee to be judged of his false Slander and his Damnable Doctrines and wicked lying Accusations and Contradictions which his nine sheets of paper is filled with as if he had set himself to lye and slanders and speak wickedly against the truth which is over him and is a testimony against him and though opposed by him yet not confounded but him it confounds and by it he shall be judged and condemned and the time comes when further he may be made manifest if this be not sufficient out of the abundance of his heart hath his wicked Tongue uttered these things which are but a little of what lodges in him but let him prove these things first and then utter more AND now Iohn Bunion thou and thy false Witnesses and all thy Company and brethren in iniquity Remember and repent for the day of your visitation is upon you blessed were you if you could receive it before it be spent not to be recalled and before the long suffering of God come to an end and you be shut up in utter darkness And indeed friends the day hastens wherein every man shall receive according to his deeds he that hath done evil shal not be cloaked and he that hath done good shall not be uncovered in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open and searched with the eternal Eye the end of my work is to clear the Truth and the Way thereof God is witness from thy slanderous and lying and perverting Tongue and only I reprove thee by the Spirit of the Lord and so leaves thee to receive thy reward from the Just God of righteous Judgement who upon thy head wilâ— render vengeance in flames of Fire in his dreadfull day which upon thee comes suddenly even when thou and you cries peace peace then shall destruction come as an armed man from which thou shalt not fly to escape though now you all be hardened against the Lord and his Way and Truth and hath even bent thy Tongue for Lyes and hath reproached the Innocent to the piâ—â—cing of thy own soul and one day shalt thou know it therefore bow and tremble before the Lord God thou and all thy Companions a Lyar and Slanderer thou art a Perverter and Wrester of the right Way of God and of the Scriptures a Hypocrite and Dissembler a holder forth of damnable Doctrines an envious man and false Accuser condemning another falsly in what thy self is fully guilty of these things I lay to thy charge justly in the presence of the Lord God and upon thy account are they reckoned by him and proved by testimony in the sight of man and may be more fully hereafter if any thing be wanting and one day shalt thou feel the burthen of them though now thou be above shame and all thy Lyes Slanders Deceits Confusions Hypocrisies Contradictions and damnable Doctrines of Devils with impudency held forth by thee shall be consumed in the Pit of Vengeance and then shall the Witness in thy Conscience justifie the Lord in condemning thee and me to be true in reproving thee and this I say to thee and you all the Living God you know not nor his Son Jesus Christ but are Enemies to God and * persecuters of the Lord of Life and shall perish among the Uncircumcised Ye false Witnesses and wicked Helpers you may be ashamed of your testimony subscribed at the beginning of his lying scribble will you yet say through Grace those things are true the rather stop your mouthes in the dust who hath offended the Lord more then defended him or your selves and be ashamed in the presence of God and man much more may be said hereafter to lay you further open if you yet harden your hearts in your wickedness but I do rather reprove you then strive with you and rather desires your return to God then your Condemnation by him and with this I shall end and by what is said in short is sufficient to manifest you and Iohn Bunion to all honest people what Generation you are of and that you are guided by a lying and unclean spirit and that you are doing the Devils works in gain-saying the Way of Truth and Righteousness by your multitude of Lyes and Slanders and damnable Doctrines and what ever you account or falsly judge of me yet am I true though as a Deceiver and the Lords Servants and a Witness for him and against all your Lyes and Slanders and Wickedness hatched amongst you and brought forth by a lying Orator whom you have
is contained in the Old and New Testament of the Scriptures which Oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who they are in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversity of Judgements and many Assemblies and Gatherings of people who are divers in their Wayes in their Practices and in their Form of Religion in these Nations which do all profess the Scriptures and that their Form of Religion is according to the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one Spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one Truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of Life and Salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under Heaven given for Salvation And they that believe in him and receive him those are they onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by the Spirit and changed thereby from Death to Life and such have unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this World but Heirs of the Kingdom of God and these may own and claim a Title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and Practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of People and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his Oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to Trial Dare you joyn issue with me in this matter to try your Profession and Practise oâ— Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my Heart to lay you all to the Line of true Judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your Priviledge if your Profession and Practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors Oath but if your Profession and Practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your Practice of Religion And with this Argument I shall try you all Whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not aecording to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is Truth and therefore all people come to tryal and receive your judgement by this rule And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his Spirit to be changed into his Image and the Body of Sin and Death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the Spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the Day of the Lord and in Equity and Righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the Oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession and practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that it is a sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this Practice and Doctrine is not according to the Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and own your Title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become Members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that preach this for Doctrine and practise it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the Purity thereof as it is contain'd in the Scriptures this I do affirm Therefore stand you by for what you practise and profess there is neither Command nor President in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a Necessity is put upon you to make use of your Knowledge if you would be protected in this Common-Wealth in your Practice of Religion Likewise you sing and give to sing David's Psalms in Rhyme and Meeter professing it is to the Glory and Honour of God ye practise this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this Practice and Profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any President for this Practice in the Scriptures in Gospel Times therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot justly own to be pro tected and maintained because the Protector 's Oath reacheth not to uphold and maintain any such Practices in Religion which are not according to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that meet together to exercise your Religion and to worship God in Temples made with hands set a part by you for that Practice professing them to be Churches of Christ this is not according but contrary to the Scriptures which say God dwells not in Temples made with hands neither did the Saints of old constantly practice any such thing But they were the Persecutors that met in Temples made with hands who cast out and haled the Apostles out of such Temples so that in this Practice you cannot justly own to be protected as not being a Practice in Religion according to Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Ministers preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching so much a Year and so much a Sermon at a Town or a Parish in a settled Place and who take Tythes and compel People to pay Tythes by a Law such are not the Ministers of Christ and ye that uphold such for Ministers of Christ are false in Judgment and blind in Understanding and are not of that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures in the Purity thereof neither Ministers nor People for the Ministers of Christ never acted any such thing they were the false Prophets and false Apostles that preached for Hire and for Gifts and Rewards neither did
the Saints and Churches of Christ look upon them that acted those things to be Ministers of Christ but on the contrary declared against them to be Deceivers So that all you People and you professed Ministers that act those things that the false Prophets acted and all you People that love to have it so and give Hire to your Ministers for Preaching and consent unto it none of you are of the Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because this part of your Practice in Religion is not according but contrary to Scriptures Now substracting all these in these Nations from the whole which practiseth and professeth these things mentioned for Ordinances of God and for his Worship none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because these things which you Practice for Religion is not held forth in all the Scriptures by any example or command likewise you are of the greatest number of people in all these Nations and that Practice and Profession of Religion which the greatest number follow and exercise themselves in cannot be the true Christian Religion because the Scripture saith Few are in the straight way that leads to Life to wit in the pure and true Religion but many are in the Broad way that leads to destruction and such that are the greatest number who are in the broad way are not in the Religion in the purity thereof as it is held forth in the Scriptures likewise many of you who Practice those things mentioned for Religion are yet unconverted to God but live in wickedness in the Pride and Vanities and in all the evil of this World in Double-dealing in Drunkenness in Whoredom and in the Works of Darkness therefore you are not of the true Christian Religion neither do your walk with God in Purity and Holiness neither are you changed by Christ into his Image nor are guided by his Spirit neither do you live to God in any thing but to this World in all things and your Religion is manifest not to be according to the Scriptures but contrary And so let all people consider whether or no you must be maintained in your Religion Come forth and plead your cause all ye that are called Presbyterians and Independants and all others stand up and prove if you can your Practice in Religion to be according to Scriptures but seeing no man is able to prove these things mentioned which is practiced by you for Religion to wit Sprinkling of Infants and singing David's experiences in Rhime and Meeter and Worshipping God in set-places as Idol-Temples and preaching for and giving great sums of Money for preaching with other things practiced by you for Religion neither were these things ever commanded in Scriptures neither is there any example for the practise of these things in Scripture by any of the Lords people and therefore you cannot justly own a Title in the Protectors Oath to be maintained and upheld by vertue thereof in these your practises of Religion for it appears he is but bound onely to uphold and maintain that Religion which is according to Scriptures and not them who practiceth those things for Religion which are not according but contrary to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that are called gathered Churches who holds sorth for Doctrine that the Scriptures are the Word by which the World was made and that the Scriptures are the Foundation and that the Scriptures are the Way to Salvation and that the Letter and the Spirit are unseparable and that the Scriptures are both the Writings and the thing fignified and that except a man be Baptized with Water he cannot be saved with such like Doctrines which have been held forth by some professing themselves to be of the Church of Christ all you are manifest not to be of the Christian Religion because those Doctrines are not according but rather contrary to the Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Practice in the Exercise of Religion is but by Imitation from the Scriptures and you are not led by the Spirit of of the Father in what you speak and practice you are not of the true Christian Religion which the Scripture speaks of for the Sons of God and who are of the true Religion are led by the Spirit of God and not by their own Thoughts and Imaginations and the Traditions of men And all that are not led by the Spirit of the Father are not of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and not any that are such can justly own to be protected in their Religion because it is not according to the Scriptures Likewise All ye that do profess the things of God and Christ and that you are Members of the Church of Christ and profess Righteousness and Truth in words and yet live in Pride and the Vanities of this World and in Unrighteousness and the Customs of the Heathen which are vain and are not cleansed from Unrighteousness nor freed from the Body of sin and death neither do answer your Profession with a Conversation shewing that you are not guided with that Spirit whose words you do profess All you are Hypocrites and live in Hypocrisie none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures For the Exercise in true Religion sheweth forth in Life what is prosessed in words Come try your selves and prove your selves all sorts of people for now your Religion is to be try'd what Name soever you go under And all you that practice and profess those things for Religion for which there is neither Command nor President in Scripture your Religion is concluded not to be according to Scriptures and so no Title or Priviledge can any of you justly own of being upheld or maintain'd by the Protector 's Oath But as I have said For sprinkling of Infants and singing of David ' s Experiences in Rhyme and Meeter c. there is neither Command nor President in Scriptures and therefore you that practice those things which I have mention'd for Religion are not of the true Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures which is to be protected Likewise all ye that persecute by Reproaches or Revilings and Cruelty or that cause the People of God to be persecuted many of you there are in these Nations which profess Religion yet are Envious Persons and Persecutors of the Innocent Hereby it is manifest that you are not of that Religion which is according to Scriptures for the Saints never persecuted any but were themselves persecuted for Righteousness sake so you are not to be protected in such Exercise because it is not according but contrary to the Scriptures for you have no Example from the Saints for professing and practizing Religion and yet persecuting such as are of the true Religion whose Consciences are truly exercised towards God and towards all men Now seeing that it is discovered in part who it is that
are not of the true Christian Religion according to the Scriptures it remains to be proved if there be any who they be that are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and who they be that are to be protected in their Practice and Exercise of Religion And as concerning the dispised and rejected People called Quakers herein I shall speak for them as a Friend to them and a Lover of their Wayes who is nor ashamed of their Practices in Religion and shall measure and try their Practices in Religion whether they be according to Scripture and if it prove so to be that what they practice for Religion and hold forth for Doctrine be according to the Scriptures then why should not they own their Right and Priviledge to be upholden and maintained by the Protector 's Oath who hath sworn to uphold and maintain them and their Religion whose Exercise in Religion is according to Scriptures being that same People are and have been faithful Subjects of this Common-Wealth And first of all They dare not own themselves to be Christians nor to be Members of Christ nor to have any Right or Title to the Kingdom of God but as they witness converting by the Spirit of the Lord and are changed from Death to Life and from Darkness to Light and from Satan's power unto the Power of God through the Operation of the same Spirit and as in all their Works and Wayes and Exercises in Religion they are guided by the same Spirit who leadeth them out of the World and out of the Vanities and Evil-Works thereof and this is according to the Scriptures And their Religion herein is justify'd by the Scriptures who witness That Christ is in them and that they have receiv'd him through Faith and thereby are cleansed from all Unrighteousness and have put off and are putting off the Body of sin and death and walk with God in Purity and Holiness being led by the Spirit of God therein and with God they have Peace being reconciled by Jesus Christ who is their Salvation and they have no other And this is according to the Scriptures And again As concerning their Meetings and the manner thereof They are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for though they meet in many Parts of these Nations by great Numbers some in the open Fields and some on the Mountains in some Places and sometimes without Doors and sometimes in Houses all this Practice is according to Scriptures For we read Mat. 5. 1. in the dayes of Christ That there were great Multitudes of People that follow'd him and he went up into a Mountain and preached and taught them upon the Mountain And in Mat. 14. 14. we read That there were great Multitudes that came out of the Cities unto Iesus into the Deserts and he had compassion towards them and did good unto them And at that time there were many Thousands met together as you may read and it seems stay'd many whole dayes together for they sate down on the Grass and eat together and then Iesus sent the Multitudes away And in Mark 6. you may read how that Multitudes came to Iesus out of the Cities into a desert Place and Iesus began to teach them many things in that desert Place for he had compassion on the Multitude And in Luke 9. how the people again follow'd Jesus into a desert Place and he preached unto them the Kingdom of God Such Meetings then were counted strange as such Meetings are now when the People of God meet together by great Numbers to preach and to hear the Kingdom of God preached But their Meetings are according to the Scriptures for the People of God in Generations past met in the same manner as the People of God called Quakers meet now For sometimes Christ preached out of a Ship unto the People that stood on the Sea Shore And Paul kneeled down and prayed among the Saints near the Sea Shore at his passing into the Ship And we read Acts 2. that there was Three Thousand converted at one Sermon then there must needs be a great Meeting and a great deal of People met together Such Meetings now are wondred at but such Meetings are but according to Scripture so that this part of their Practice in Religion is agreeable to the Scriptures and the same as the Saints Practice was in Ages past And as for the People of God meeting together sometimes in the Night-season to wait upon the Lord and sometimes sitting in Silence and waiting upon the Lord and no words utter'd amongst them but every one sitting silent before the Lord having receiv'd nothing from the Lord to speak one to another at which the people of the World do wonder and falsly judge it not to be a Christian Exercise But we read in the Scripture Iob 2. that Iob who was a Christian for he was a just and perfect man he and his Friends sate upon the Ground seven dayes and seven nights and spake not a word one to another this would be a strange thing at this day to see practised And in Ier. 8. 14. you may read where the Prophet Ieremiah exhorted the people to assemble themselves and said Let us enter into defenced Cities and let us be silent there for the Lord our God hath put us to Silence But such a Practice now is thought strange by the people of the World who are not acquainted with the Wayes of God who are wise in their own Eyes and know not what it is to wait upon the Lord in silence who never yet were put to silence in themselves by the Lord. And you may read Ezek. 3. where the Prophet sate down among the People of the Captivity and they were astonish'd seven dayes and at the end of seven dayes and not before the Word of the Lord came to the Prophet So that you see it was the Practice of the Servants of the Lord oft-times to sit and wait upon the Lord in Silence though people wonder at such Meetings now And we do not read That there was alwayes speaking among the Saints in the Churches when they were met together But Acts 2. we read That the Church was met together in a Place and the Holy Ghost fell upon them and then they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance then it seems they had not spoken before though they had met together in a House and then they spoke the wonderful things of God and some that heard mocked and others said they were full of New Wine even as the people of the World do at this day when any of the People of the Lord are moved to speak as the Spirit gives utterance So that sometimes to sit in Silence being met together to wait upon the Lord as many of the Servants of the Lord do in this Nation is a Practice of Religion and not contrary but according to the Scriptures for many of the Servants
the Word And though they press people to Perfection and do say Men 〈◊〉 be pâ—…ect upon Earth and compleat in Christ Iesus This Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for you may read 1 Cor. chap. 2 6. of 〈◊〉 that were perfect who were men upon Earth and the Ministâ—â—â— of Christ spoke Wisdom among them that were already perfect And Col. 2. 10. the Apostle saith unto the Church who were men in this Life upon Earth he saith to them Ye are Compleat in him And though they press the people to live without sin and do say They that are born of God do not commit sin This also is according to the Scripture for it is Christ's Command Mat. 5. Be perfect as yâ—â—r Faâ—â—er in Heaven is perfect And 1 Iohn 3. there it is spoken of some that were the Sons of God already and he saith Whosoever is born of God â—oth not commit sin for he cannot sin because he is born of God and saith 〈◊〉 As he is Christ so are we in this present World And now all people may understand that in all these Doctrines which they do hold forth they do fully agree with the Scriptures and they beâ—â—â—…ness to the Truth of their Doctrines that the Servants of God and the Apostles of Christ did preach the very same things for Doctrine aâ—…done at this day and so these Doctrines are not to be wondred at not so much as they are by the wicked to be cryed against for 〈◊〉 and error and these few particulars onely I have mentioned at which the people of this Age the most stumble at and all other things whatsoever which is held forth for Doctrines unto people I am able to prove them by the Scriptures that in all things they are according to the Scripture and not different or contrary to the Scriptures so 〈◊〉 all people may take notice and see that whatsoever they do practice for Religion or hold forth for Doctrine they do herein justly according to the Scriptures and they justifie their Practices and Doctrines in these things mention'd and in whatsoever else can be objected by any man And this I shall take in hand to prove before all the World That the People of God called Quakers do practice nothing for Religion or preach for Doctrine but what is perfectly according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and in the fulfilling of them and so they are proved to be of that True Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures and so may fully claim Protection and Preservation in their Practice of Religion And this is to be consider'd by the Protector and all Magistrates and People in these Nations that they may know what the true Christian Religion is and who is in it and who is not in it and for this purpose is this written for the satisfaction of all people that they may see who it is that hath a Right and Priviledge to be protected and upholden by vertue of the Oath Likewise all may understand That what such practice and profess for Religion is not without good Ground but that the very same things were practized by them that were of the true Christian Religion and preached for Doctrine by them that were Saints which is now practiz'd and held forth by the People of God and the Scriptures do fully bear witness in all things shewing that such are guided by the same Spirit which the Saints were guided by in Ages past and as they had so have these the Testimony That they are of God and that the whole World lies in Wickedness And as concerning their being persecuted by many of the Rulers Priests and People though they be sent to Prison and banished out of Towns and whipped and beaten and scorned and reviled this is also according to the Scriptures and the Scripture is fulfilled upon them for the same things were done to the Apostles and to the Servants of the Lord as you may read through the Acts the people mocked the Apostles and slandered them and said they were full of new Wine and the chief Priests conspired against Christ and the Apostles and incensed the Magistrates against them and the Magistrates put Christ and many of the Apostles in Prison and caused them to be whipped and beaten and to be banished and many other cruelties done unto them the Scripture is full to prove this from the beginning to the end of it and Christ said They shall persecute you and speak all manner of evil of you for my Name sake and as they have done unto me so shall they do 〈◊〉 you ye shall be hated of Nations And the Apostle said All that will give godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution So that all people may see though the people of the Lord be persecuted and reviled and imprisoned and cruelty done unto them and though it be done by the chief Magistrates and chief Rulers and the wise men of this Age all this is according to the Scriptures and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and the same things which are now done unto the people of God were done unto the people of God in Ages past by the same Instruments to wit the Rulers and Magistrates and by the same means to wit by the information and false accusations of the chief Priests and Teachers in Ieremiah you may read how the Priests sought to take away his Life and you may read how the chief Priests consulted against Christ and how they complain'd to the Magistrates against him and the Apostles and the same things are now come to pass and we do not strange at it for they are the chief Priests of England that do most seek the Persecution and cause the People of God to be persecuted by their complaining and petitioning to the Magistrates so that in all these things not only what is practised and preached for Doctrine but also in what is suffered is perfectly according to the Scriptures and all people that are not blind may see that this Religion is in all things agreeable with the Scriptures both in what they do and in what they suffer so that this is given forth for the good Information of the Protector and all Magistrates that they may hear the Tryal of all things and may not falsly conjecture or suppose and thereupon give Judgement without any true Knowledge let them search the Scriptures and try I hope the worst of men have so much Conscience that they will stand in owe of the Breach of their own Oaths and that they will perform unto the Lord and unto all men what they have firmly and not compell'd sworn to do and thus it may be hoped the wâ—… Persecution will cease which is lamentable to be declar'd how the People of the Lord have suffer'd in many things even them whose Religion is proved to be according to the Scriptures who practice nothing for Religion neither hold forth any thing for Doctrine but that which is
them and with a good Conscience they cannot swear but do deny it upon all Conditions because Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and the Apostle doth exhort above all things not to swear and therefore it is a matter of conscience unto many and not a matter of purposed wrong towards any man and though here it may be objected But for want of an Oath a just man may loose his just Cause because Judgment depends upon witness by oath to that I answer that is because the Law is not according to Christ by which the Judgment comes but is unjustly grounded upon the breach of Christs Command viz. swearing and whether ought the man to be blamed or condemned as a Transgressor who keeps Christ's Command and cannot swear at all upon any Tearms or whether that Law ought not to be corrected and regulated to be according to the Law of Christ and all that which is contrary in the execution thereof to be condemned and removed that a just man's witness may be given and taken upon occasion without an Oath and his just cause may go on against his Enemies by just judgment grounded upon the naked truth in plainness testified without swearing this is to be considered and though it be again obiected but many say some makes more Conscience and are more afraid to testify falsly upon Oath then upon bare words without an Oath so to have the truth known wholly that is the end of the Oath to this I answer a man that truly and uprightly fears God will be as much afraid and make as much Conscience of speaking falsly as of swearing falsly and out of a good Conscience will testifie as truly as if he swore and for others who fears to swear falsly and doth not so much fear to speak falsly without Oath this is because there is a greater punishment to such and it is accounted a greater offence among men to swear falsly then to speak falsly and for the correcting of that the punishment and offence should be changed and such as testify falsly without Oath may be accounted Offenders and punished as such who swears falsly and this will bind the wicked in a sufficient fear and cause them to be afraid of testifying falsly even as much as of swearing falsly if the testimony in causes among men of such evil persons who cannot make Conscience of lying nor speak the truth without swearing it ought the rather to be had and to be done by binding by a Law and punishing if he testifie a Lye then by causing him to continue in the breach of Christs command but however still I say such who out of a good and tender Conscience do deny to swear ought not to be persecuted and punished as great Offenders for while this is done the Law and good Government is perverted and authority is greatly abused to another end then wherefore it was ordained of God and that Law and authority must needs be unjust which oppresseth or punisheth the excercise of a good Conscience as for evill doing and this shews the blindness and ignorance of men in authority to whom the Law is committed who discerns not neither makes a difference betwixt things done in the Fear of God and in the excercise of a good Conscience towards him and things done out of an evil minde to evil inteâ—ts purposely and wilfully to do wrong and injury to mens persons and estates for all Magistrates ought to learn this and to distinguish that their power and authority may justifie the one and condemn the other that true justice and sound judgement may spring forth in the Earth and in the Nations that all the Upright and Well-doers may rejoyce and live in rest and peace and all the Workers of Iniquity and such as do Evil may be afraid and fear to offend just men and just Laws and thus would the Name of the Lord be great in the Earth among men and such a Government renowned for ever and such Magistrates would be a praise to Generations after them and a blessed example to Ages to come But now some may say and object how shall this be known and who can tell and discern of such Causes and who it is that do their Works out of the exercise of a good Conscience and who do their Deeds out of an evil Minde and to an evil intent and so is wrong dealing and worthy of punishment this is a doubtful Cause may some say and difficult to be known and understood But to this I answer and say To all such as have the Spirit of the Father and are led thereby and in their Judgement guided therewith this is an easie thing to discern and an easie matter to know and find out and such as cannot discern and distingush in such Matters have not the Spirit of God nor the spirit of true and sound Judgment neither is indeed ordained of God nor fit to judge the People nor the honour of a Ruler and Judge belongs not to such a one who cannot find out a matter nor know and judge between the precious and the vile how to justifie the one and how to condemn the other and indeed this is the reason and cause of so much Injustice and Oppression brought forth at this day because the spirit of sound Judgment is wanting and such as are set to judge hath it not to try and discern and give Judgment by it and therefore Light is put for Darkness and Darkness for Light and good is called Evil and Evil Good and true Justice and Judgment is perverted and turned backward and the guiltless is condemned guilty But I say if the work be done by a man out of a good Conscience and as a matter of Conscience then he doth it in the Fear of God and in the cross to his own will and in meekness and tenderness of heart not seeking himself in what he doth but is willing to suffer for the Truth sake and for what he doth and will not resist Evil or the false Judgments of men but patiently and quietly bears all things for the Lords sake and in all what he doth or suffers he gives the glory to the Lord who works his works in him and gives him strength and patience willing to suffer for them But again I do answer by men that have the spirit of sound Judgment to rule and guide them this cause is easie to be discerned and the difference may be known betwixt a thing done out of a good Conscience and for a good Conscience sake and a thing done out of an evil mind and purpose and to an evil end to the wrong and injury of another for the ground from whence the works do proceed are contrary and the spirit by which the works are wrought are contrary and the purpose and end to which they are wrought are contrary and the spirit of God and of sound Judgment may and doth put a difference betwixt the ground acting and end of
their Countries and Relations and wandred up and down the World from Town to Town and from one Country to another even as the Servants of the Lord do by the same Spirit at this day who can no more be truly judged for Vagabonds and Rogues c. than Christ and his Apostles could be who were a perfect example to us in these things For it is a lawful occasion in the Sight of God whatever you judge of it to travel up and down not being burthen some or chargeable to any to beat witness for the Name of the Lord and against all Sin and Iniquity that people may be reformed and instructed in the right way Therefore you must make a special distinction in your Judgement between such as are Rogues and idle and dissolute persons who are hurtful to the Creation and such as are innocent and harmless and not of evil behaviour though you may through prejudice otherwise judge of them this is to inform you herein that your Judgments may be according to God and not according to man neither with respect of persons Also you have another late Act for the Observation of the Lord's-Day wherein is inserted That none shall wilfully maliciously or of purpose disturb or disquiet the publick Preacher or to make any publick Disturbance in the Congregation Now the Law is good and it is right that all such be punished who do malitiously wilfully or of an evil purpose disturb or disquiet any man or people to the danger of breach of publick Peace and let all such be punished according to their desert But yet you must take heed in this cause for many of the Servants of the Lord are and may be moved by the Power of the Lord to come into a Congregation or an Assembly of People to declare against Sin and Iniquity and the Wayes of Wickedness in People or to ask a Question soberly of the Teacher or to instruct People to Edification in the Way of the Lord or such like may they do as they are moved â—nd yet not maliciously nor wilfully nor of wicked purpose for it was the Apostles Practice and the Practice of the Saints to go in the Synagogues and Meeting-places and to dispute with the Teachers on the Sabbath-days and sometimes they spoke to the people by way of Exhortation and the people bid them speak on and yet these were not Disturbers of the Assembly neither were they malicious men or wilful neither did they these things to any evil purpose and it was the Practise of the Saints that all may speak one by one in the Church when they were assembled together and this is the Practise of the Servants of the Lord now and yet they cannot justly be condemned by your Law though they come into your Assembly as they are moved of the Lord to object or reprove or exhort for they do it not in malice towards any but in love towards all and they can no more justly be condemned than the Apostles and Saints in the Primitive times who were unto us a just example in these Practises as you may read in the Scripture and you may as justly condemn them as us who are guided by the same spirit in the same things Therefore you have need to take heed of condemning the Innocent by a Law lest you bring innocent blood upon you and you must make a perfect difference between such as comes among you Wilfully and maliciously and on evil purpose to disturb and molest any man or Congregation and such who comes in the Name and Fear of the Lord who are moved of him contrary to their own wills anâ—â—h love to all people And in these causes you have need of discerning and sound judgement lest you condemn the guiltless and abuse your power and subvert the Law and so bring condemnation upon your selves And as you will answer it before the Lord in his dreadfull day cause not any to suffer through your envy and surmizings or false suspition through over-reaching the words of the Law to a wrong sense and to a wrong end Also it is inserted in the same Act against many evil things 〈◊〉 drinking in Taverns Inns Ale-houses Strong-water-houses or to Tipple unnecessarily or any other house c. and also against travelling and walking on that day vainly and prophanely c. Now the Law is good that evil exercise be prevented and prophaneness in every respect on that day and on every day and that such be punished that are found in any evil exercise whatsoever But yet you must take heed that none of the Innocent suffer hereby for many of the people of God may and do travel on that day to meet together to worship God and to wait upon him to find his presence and to receive of his refreshments to their souls But this cannot be judged an evil practise or prophane travelling or breach of the Sabbath For we read of a Sabbath-days Journey Acts 1. and 12. where some of the Servants of the Lord returned from Ierusalem to Mount Olivet which is a Sabbath-dayes Journey so that such who now travels to wait upon the Lord on that day though it be several Miles to and from the place of Meeting cannot justly be judged to be Sabbath-breakers no more than the Apostles who travelled a Sabbath-days Journey in obedience to the Lord to wait upon him So that you must take heed and make a noted distinction betwixt such who travel on a profane and an evil exercise or about the affairs of this World and such who travel on a good exercise to wait upon the Lord and to serve him For the Law it self excepts such from being taken up or judged Sabbath-breakers So take heed that you subvert not the Law and abuse your power through false judgement through your own envy and so you smite the guiltless and brings destruction upon your selves For herein we own the Law of God to walk by and the Apostles for an example though we may suffer unjustly by you Also there is a late Act for Discovering and Repressing of Popish Recusants by presenting to such as are Popish or Popishly affected an Oath as is therein described To renounce the Pope's Authority and to deny all his Doctrines and to testifie against the Authority of the Church of Rome and against any Licence given thereby to bear Arms or raise Tumults or by Violence to hurt the chief Magistrate or Government of these Nations c. And such as deny the taking of that Oath are to be adjudged Popish Recusants and to be proceeded against accordingly Now that Law is good That such who are adherent to the Pope and by his Authority would raise Armies and Tumults and offer Violence to the Hurt of the chief Magistrate or Government or people of these Nations c. as it is signified in the said Oath should be discovered and repressed But yet you must take heed and wait for sound Judgment in the Prosecution of the same For
Members of one Head and mind always the Testimony of Truth its self and walk therein and you cannot stumble Have not respect to Persons but to the Truth only for Persons may change but the Truth abides for ever So let not an evil Eye look at Evil when it comes to pass to take occasion thereby against the Truth for then you stumble and fall but I say again have respect only to the pure Testimony of Truth which is sure and cannot err nor alter though man may change and err and that is the Testimony which is held forth for Salvation evon the Testimony of God with whom there is no shaddow of turning Therefore all take heed unto your selves that you give not nor receive any offence against the Lord and against your own souls but know the Seed of God in which stands the Election where the Covenant of God is sure and unalterable and a Birth you must all know to be brought forth in you which must inherit and that is it which is born of the Spirit which doth obtain the Promise it is not that birth which is of the Flesh which works by willing and running and thinking that obtains not the Promise of God neither is Salvation shewed unto it but in Patience and in Long-suffering is the Victory received over all the Powers of Darkness which make war against the Kingdom of God So all Friends dwell in that which lets you see before the World was and that stops and limits all Strife in the mind and gives you victory over it and none must glory in the Flesh for that glory must be confounded but let him that glories glory in the Lord in the Spirit and not in the Flesh And take heed that none of you abuse your liberty which is in Christ Jesus neither turn it into fleshly Bondage and thereby the Just comes to suffer and the fleshly part comes to rule above the Seed of God but dwell in the Cross which suppresseth every high Thought and whatsoever is against God in the first motion and thereby you will be preserved from the Enemy which watcheth for Evil against you and seeks occasion against the Way of the Lord but mind that which keeps you pure for it is the pure in Heart that sees God and it is him that is of clean Hands and of a pure Heart that inherits God's holy Mountain And as concerning all your Afflictions and Sufferings and Tryals and Persecutions and whatsoever is laid upon you by the Lord or by Men I say bear all things patiently and endure all things in Long-suffering these things are but for a moment and they are not worthy to be compared with the Price of God's Inheritance and if you dwell in the Counsel of the Lord all these things will be turned unto your good in all Tryals and Sufferings the Lord's Arm will be revealed and these things must come to pass that Truth may appear in its beauty in Victory over all that which doth oppose it and vengance is the Lord's and he will repay for he doth enquire after our Blood though no man lay it to heart or consider the cause or unjust Sufferings of the Innocent who are become a Prey to the Ungodly and unjust Men till God arise to plead our Cause And all Afflictions and Sufferings are but for to try and prove they are not to confound or destroy the Lord's People and therefore in patience they must be born and the Life of God felt which gives Dominion over all these things And receiving all things as from the Hand of the Lord then in all things your Peace will remain and God's Testimony will witness Peace and acceptance with God And of all Injustice and Abuses and Cruelty acted upon you by any at any time keep account of it and draw it up in short and plain words the occasion and manner of it and at every Quarter Sessions let a true Declaration of all unjust Sufferings be presented in prudency and singleness of heart to the Justices or Grand-Jury by such as are wise and faithful and appeal to the Witness of God in them in such Causes that that of God in all Men may witness for us Let this be done as cause is seen at every Sessions in the Wisdom and Authority of God that in all things Justice and true Judgment may be sought after and in Patience waited for till the Lord alone our King and Judge and Law-giver comes to reign over all his Enemies when all that now suffer for him shall reign with him A Servant to the Churches of Christ E. B. To the Elect and Chosen Seed of God in London TO the Elect and Chosen Seed of God most dear and precious who are redeemed to God and joyned in Covenant with him and have tasted and felt and heard of the Love and Peace of the Father and to all the Faithfull and Called of God who are Partakers of the Power and Presence of an Endless Life in particular unto you the Flock of God in and about London who fear the Lord and wait upon him and over whom he is the chief Shepherd The Salutation in the Father's Love by me a Brother and Companion unto all the Children of Sion and chiefly unto you a Friend in Heart and nothing more desiring for you then your encrease in God and that Grace Peace Love and Fellowship from the infinite Father of Heaven and Earth may be largely encreased and aboundantly multiplied amongst you and in all your hearts that you may shine forth in the Beauty of the Lord and the Garment of Righteousness and Truth may be spread over you all and that the Spirit of Holiness may rest upon you that the fruit thereof may greatly abound in you and spring forth from you whereby the Father who hath begotten you may be glorified through the Nation and among his Saints through the World and my Soul wisheth that the Fear of the Lord be amongst you and his terror upon all your Enemies Amen DEarly Beloved and much desired after in the Lord the Spirit of the Father in upon me to put you in remembrance of these things of the greatest price which belong unto your Peace which have been hid from you in the time of Darkness but now are reveal'd unto you whereof your Eyes have seen your Ears have heard your Hands have handled and your Hearts have perceived and now be not unmindful thereof but take heed unto the precious Treasure of Life Eternal which the Father hath given unto you I mean the Knowledge of himself who is manifest to dwell in you and to walk in you and to lead you and to guide in all his Wayes of Peace and Truth and this is that Treasure more desirable and of greater price then the Glory of the whole Earth yea it is Peace to the soul and Gladness to the heart and Refreshment to the life to feel and witness the Teaching of the Spirit of the Father
Truth and turned from it and were unfaithfull to the Lord. FOrasmuch as in these our dayes the God of Truth hath made manifest his Name and Truth in the hearts of his people and hath gathered the minds of thousands into it to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth in which he is accepted and of this Truth which is but one and there is not another are we made Witnesses and Ministers of and hath the Testimony in our selves that we are of God and are a good savour unto him in them that believe and in them that perish and we have the Testimony that he that is of God heareth us and we know the whole World lies in wickedness and who are in the Truth in the Light and in the Life have followship one with another in Holiness and Righteousness in that which comprehends the World and condemns all the works thereof which are evil and this Truth and Worship and Fellowship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam whose Kingdom and Rule is not of this World but from Heaven who according to his Promise in his Counsel hath made known his Power to the raising up a righteous Branch a royal Priesthood a peculiar People zealous of his Name to shew forth his Praise and Glory in Justness and Righteousness in Love Mercy and Peace and works of Purity having our Conversation in Heaven and since that Day of the Manifestation of this Truth of the Gospel of Peace and Salvation which is the same now as was in the beginning which is in Christ Jesus the Light of the World who is the same to day yesterday and forever and changeth not I say since that very day hath the Lord prospered his Truth to the renewing of many into his Image and Likeness and to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to God by the Mouthes of his Ministers and through great Sufferings and Tribulations and Afflictions and Labours hath the Lord honoured his Name and his Truth in Nations and given it a praise among all that fear him and hath honoured it and exalted it in the sight of the Heathen to the confounding of the Wise and Mighty and to the bringing out of the Captivity of Darkness Sin and Death wherein in times past all have walked while Strangers from the Life of God so that thousands who have received the Truth are established in it and cannot be moved nor shaken but are built upon the sure Foundation their Faith standing in the Power of God with whom the Arm and Presence of the Lord God is defending and preserving continually and unto such the Truth is precious and the Way of the Lord and his Name and Honour is dear yea more then life or liberty or any other thing which passeth away who for the Truth 's sake as is it in Christ Jesus do daily give up themselves to suffering and to reproach for well-doing and not for evil and loves not life unto death that the Lord God and his Name and Truth may be honoured so that in the Truth which is received and learned of the Father daily do we walk in all Purity and Holiness of Life answering the Mercy and Love of the Lord in the exercise of a good Conscience both towards God and man in Patience and Long suffering and Wisdom towards all to the putting to silence of Gainsayers rendring love and mercy toward our Persecutors and are set in our hearts to fulfil the will of God in all things And now whereas that the Scriptures may be fulfilled some may and have denied the Truth which once was received and loved to the making shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience abusing the Mercy and Grace of God which to them appeared and follow the counsel of their own hearts and not the Lord having lost the feeling of the Spirit of the Father and are and may be separated from us in the self-separation through an evil heart of unbelief that it may be made manifest they are not of us though they arise from among us and may by disorderly walking contrary to the Truth cause the Truth to be evil spoken of giving occasion thereby to the Enemies of God to blaspheme his Name and Truth in the Earth and may be a stumbling to the weak and an offence to the Way of the Lord before the Simple through their Disorders and Confusions raising the rage of the wicked against the Lambs of Christ being not led in the Wisdom of God but in the Confusions taking liberty to their own hearts desire ful filling the will thereof without the Fear of God above the Cross of Christ in the nature uncrucified and speaking high Words in the presumption and not in the Light and Power of God and acting in the vanity of the Mind in the pretence of Truth and moving of the Spirit such things as Truth and the Children of it who are guided with the Spirit cannot justifie but is judged and denied and cast out from among the Children of Light who walk in the Truth and do try the Spirits whether they be of God Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God this is written to go abroad among Friends and others to inform and shew unto all that the Truth and we that are in it and Ministers of it do stand clear from all such who act and speak out of the Truth and contrary to it in the Disorder and Confusion and not in the Fear and Counsel of God and with the Truth such are judged and denied and fellowship with them we have not nor of their works do approve though such once owned us and were convinced of the Truth and received the Seed of the Kingdom into the unprofitable Ground yet being separated from us and gone out from the Truth and are not subject to it and its Government but are unruly and disorderly we and the Truth do such deny and the spirit that rules them being not the Spirit of Christ Jesus and such have done evil against their own Souls and against God and are Troublers of the Righteous Seed and have and do dishonour the Lord and his Truth in the sight of the Heathen causing the right way to be reviled and reproached and evil spoken of through the offence by them to the making sad the hearts of some whom God hath not made sad and even more especially in that they pretend to the Truth in their words but in works deny it and profess to be in it yet secretly condemning and openly reviling the Ministers of Righteousness which God hath blessed and doth daily bless with his eternal Power to the turning many unto God and to the strengthning of the weak and feeble which we with many others do witness to be the Ministers of Life and Reconciliation and there is no other and are established in it and cannot be moved by the temptations of the Devil though the wicked one may revile for a moment to
the one is the Word of God but the other is not and this all sober men confess to though thou dost jangle and twist about it with thy lame Arguments to no purpose at all except to shew thy Weakness and Folly And also No man is justified by Christ's Righteousness until he receives it and as he receives it and this thou shalt one day witness For though Righteousness be in him sufficient to justifie yet by it art thou nor any man justified but in the receiving of it and dwelling in it and this shalt thou confess to be truth in the Day of the Lord and in the mean time let me bear thy false censure in calling this Heresie And also a man may be tempted to sin and there may be evil motions to him yet he not being overcome of the Temptation not consenting to the motion of sin it is no sin unto him neither shall sin be imputed to him if he commits it not but he that commits sin though he profess never so much of Justification yet for his sin shall he be condemned and this shalt thou witness in the day of Iudgment Also That there is a Perfection attainable in this life even to be perfect and without sin in Christ Iesus and this I affirm to be the Truth of the Gospel and that wherein the Faith of God's People stands and though thou madest a twisting and a wrangling against it yet it is too strong for thee and in thy wisdom and thy arguments is thy folly and thy weakness seen and Truth stands over thee and thou canst not it nor me reprehend And also That some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints this I also have sufficiently proved and thou art not able to detect it and all thy snarling in opposition to these things is confounded and thy Arguments made without effect and all whose eyes are open see thee to be of too short a measure and of too weak a capacity to understand the deep things of God which are hidden from thine Eye and them thou savourest not in that wisdom though thou hast the words yet thou art ignorant of the Life and the Life is in dominion over thee and to it must thou submit and lay down thy Crown And from thee am I hidden in that Life and Truth which I do profess And though I be as a Deceiver yet am I true and though I be slandered and reproached and back-bited by thee yet it is for Christ Iesus's sake and for his Truth 's sake and not as an Evil-doer But Friend learn more Wisdom then to judge a man before thou hearest him or to condemn the matter before thou hearest the Proof of it for by these things thou hast not gain'd a good Report but God condemns thee for it and men see thy shame in it and the burden of it one day shalt thou bear even thou and all that own thee in these things And now thy spirit is try'd and it is found too light and cannot stand in Judgement for it is unsavoury and though seperate from the World in appearance yet is thy spirit of the world and reacheth not the knowledge of the things that are eternal but art imagining in thy mind not being guided by that Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures and so thy knowledge is natural and cannot contain Spiritual Things Therefore Friend come down to God's Witness in thee the Light which shews thee sin and convinces thee of evil that Light is thy Teacher if thou lovest it and thy Condemnation if thou hatest it I have divers particulars against thee at a convenient season to manifest thy Folly and Weakness by them And whatever thou judgest me I am a Friend to thy Soul Edw. Burrough Richard Goodgroom held forth at the Dispute at Draton the 18th day of the 11th Moneth 1657. HE said The Letter was the Word and by the Letter he said he meant the thing contained in the Scriptures And when I said I had the Letter in my hand meaniug my Bible but not the thing signified he said But I had the Thing signified And he said People were justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the Work of Sanctification and Christ justified Sinners as Sinners that is while Sinners remaining in sin At Justice Fortescue's house in the year 1656. he did deny That any was converted to God by a Light within And then I asked If it was not that same Light that converted which gave the Knowledge of God and they confessed Yea and yet did deny That the Light within converted to God though I shewed them that Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 6. which did confound the Deceit At Uxbridge one time he said Christ needed not to have come to have judged the World for there was sin enough in the World to judge it before he came Then I asked If Sin judged the World and he answered Yea and he said They were in the Covenant of God spoken of Nehem. 9. which turned the Law of God behind their backs E. B. A TESTIMONY Concerning the Estate of the True Church What she hath been and what she is Being given forth from the Motion of the Spirit of the Father COncerning the true State of the Church what she hath been and what she is at this day and concerning her Increase and Decrease through Ages and Generations past And her present State is this Returning again out of the Wilderness where she hath long been fed having a place prepared of God Now the Apostle saw her a Woman cloathed with the Sun covered with the Light of Heaven and with the Glory of God having the Moon under her Feet the Light which was ordain'd to rule the Night Thus she was and this was her state in the dayes of the Apostles when many were converted out of Darkness and renewed to be Members of this Church for her Glory shone through the World and she flourished through Nations and this was her state in the Apostles dayes And she travelled to bring forth the Man-Child Christ Jesus which is the Child and Husband of this Woman which was clothed with the Brightness of the Glory of God the elected Spouse of Christ the Lamb's Wife and his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones having Power and Dominion and treading under all contrary And thus was it with her in Generations past whose Seed spring forth as Branches fruitful and glorious But in process of time it came to pass That this Woman the Spouse of Christ his Body the Wife and Mother of this Man-Child she was bereaved of her Beauty and her Garments were taken away her Seed was made War against and was smitten and overcome and she fled into the Wilderness and there hath sate desolate as a Widdow lamenting the loss of her Children and being deprived of her Husband and the Man-Child which should have ruled the Nations For she hath been fled into the Wilderness and her former Beauty
there should false Teachers arise among the Christians who should bring in damnable Heresies and many Christians should follow their pernicious wayes by reason of which the Way of Truth should be evil-spoken of And the Apostle Iohn saw That many false Prophets were gone out then and many Antichrists were then come in among the Christians Now all these do shew and declare of a Degeneration and falling away of Christians from the Life of Christianity and we see these Prophesies fulfilled and Flocks of Christians are devoured from the Life of Christ by devouring Wolves which have entred among them who have led them into pernicious ways and into damnable Heresies whereby the Name of Christianity is become reproachful amongst the Heathens that never were called Christians and many Thousands are departed from the true Faith from that Faith which did purifie the hearts of the Saints and many Christians have given heed to seducing spirits and have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof and they are led of divers Lusts and are become men of corrupt minds and are reprobate and without the true Faith And the Apostles prophesied of the Degeneration which we see fulfilled in these our dayes and even while some of the Apostles were yet living they saw the Christians Apostatizing and falling away and the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Iohn Rev. 2. 3. to the Christian-Churches in Asia who were already departing from the Christian-Life some of them were departed already from their first Work and some of them were given to the doctrine of Balaam and to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing the Lord did hate and others of them were seduced by Iezabel and taught to commit Fornication and to eat things sacrificed to Idols and others of them had a name to live but were dead and others of them were neither hot nor cold and the Lord said he would spue them out of his Mouth Now here the Christians were falling away you may see and as before it had encreased so now the true Christian Life began to decrease and the glory thereof became darkned through all Asia And also Rev 13. 11. 1. 16. Iohn saw one Beast arise out of the Sea and another out of the Earth which set up a Kingdom over the whole World and caused all people upon Earth to worship the Beast and the Beast hath been great in his power and he hath ruled over the World in great dominion and all that would not worship him he hath had power to kill and hath killed them so that the true Christian Life and Religion as the Apostles received it and practised it hath been extinguished for many Generations and People have had the Form of Godliness but denied the Power and lived under the Name and Profession of Christianity but have been without the Life and this is to be considered of and diligently searched into by all you that go under the Name of Christians through all the World for unto you only I direct my words And now it remains to be shewed what the state of Christians is at this day and wherein particularly they are apostatized and degenerated from the true Life and Practice of the Apostles who were the first Christians for wherein the Christians now are contrary and not agreeable to the Apostles in Faith in Practice in Worship in Ministry and in the entrance into Christianity and in any other thing whatsoever I say wherein they are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians of old to wit the Apostles therein are they degenerated and fallen from the true Life of Christianity and this shall be the Rule of Judgment to try all you that are called Christians upon the face of the Earth wherefore awake and come forth to Judgment for the measuring Rod is laid upon you all whereby you shall be truly measured and compared with them that where the first Christians upon Earth and the Heathens shall see your nakedness and your shame and his at you when they behold how wofully you are fallen from that Life in the Purity thereof of which you do profess the words and shall not they rise up in Judgment against you who never had the name of Christians who are not faln nor degressed from what they have profest in any measure comparable to you who now retain only the name of Christians and are departed from the Life of Christ. First concerning the entrance into Christianity and the way and means whereby people are now made Christians and receives that name In this will your fall and degeneration appear For the Apostles and first Christians upon Earth before they were Christians or were called so they were first converted and changed and translated from Death to Life as you may read 1 Iohn 3. 14. and Col. 1. 13. and they first received Christ and became followers of him and received his Spirit to teach them and to guide them For the Apostle said If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. to wit no Christians and the Apostle said as many as were the Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and also it was promised by Christ to all that were his the Comforter should come the Spirit of Truth and he should lead them into all Truth which promise all that were Christians did receive and they were led into all Truth by the teachings of the Spirit of Christ which dwelt in them for all that were Sons God sent the Spirit of his Son into their hearts which Spirit sanctified them through the obedience thereof Now these were Christians and were truly so called For they had the mark of Christ and his Image upon them and he dwelt in their hearts by Faith Ephes. 3. 17. These I say were truly called Christians and none but such at that day of their Original were called Christians or had Fellowship in the Christian life nor were any looked upon by the Apostles to be Christians but by them that were such But look back all ye Christians upon Earth and see your fall and wherein you are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians in their first and pure Estate I say look to your Original and see how you are Apostatized from them in your entrance into your profession of Christianity for though you have the name of Christians yet you were not made so nor received that name by being first converted and changed and translated from Death to Life and from being the Children of disobedience to be the Children of God through the work and operation of the Spirit of God in you for hereof are Thousands and Ten Thousands of Christians now wholly ignorant and altogether without the feeling of the Spirit of God to change them to convert them and to translate them but are accounted Christians by tradition or natural education and because of being sprinkled with a little water upon the face being Infants or by a
bare confession and profession of the Name of Christ in words and professing of a bare belief in the Scriptures by this way and means were you made and received you the name of Christians without any real change from darkness to Light and from Satan to God as I have said Now here appears to be a woful degeneration in the very entrance of the thing and this is not agreeable but rather contrary unto that way of Christianity wherein the Christians in their beginning were so made and called for then none were Christians or so called but who through the preaching of the Gospel were first converted changed and renewed as I have said but now in these Nations all are called Christians that are spinkled upon their faces with Water by a Teacher when they are Infants or that do but profess Christ in words though they are not guided particularly by his Spirit neither have received Christ to dwell in them and to be King over them and here again appears a wofull Apostacy for none in the beginning of Christianity in the World were made Christians or so called but who received Christ and in whom he dwelt and was in them as you may read 2 Corinth 13. 5. and who were Followers of him and had his Spirit in them the Comforter to teach them and to lead them into all Truth but now thousands upon thousands who have the name of Christians have not received Christ to dwell in them nor to rule them neither is he manifest in them by his Spirit to teach them and they are not led into all truth but live in deceit and unrighteousness and are not Followers of Christ but follows their own hearts desirâ— and their own hearts Lusts and are condemned in their own Consciences and have not received the Comforter the Holy Spirit to be their Guide and Leader out of all Unrighteousness and here appears a woful Degeneration And that you Christians through all the World are revolted and gone backward from Christianity as it was in its Original a Lamentation may be taken up because of this woful Fall into which you Christians are fallen Consider of your own state and return and repent Again The Christians were begotten of God and born of him 1 Joh. 5. 18. And they were born of the Word of God and of the incorruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. And they were created in Christ Iesus unto good Works Eph. 2. 10. And they were New Creatures and old things were done away 2 Cor. 5. 17. They had put off the Body of Sin and Death Col. 1. 18. And were the Servants of Righteousness and free from Sin Rom. 6. 22. as you may read But now also Woful are you Christians degenerated from this for Thousands upon Thousands of you are not born nor begotten of God though you have the Name of Christians neither are you born of the Word of God which lives forever nor of the incorruptible Seed neither are created again nor become new Creatures nor have put off the Body of Sin and Death neither are the Servants of Righteousness nor free from sin But on the contrary Are the Servants of Sin and free from Righteousness and are in the corruptible state and are old Creatures and are not washed nor purified as the Saints were as you may read 1 Cor. 6. 11. and here is a woful Degeneration of the Christians now from what the Christians were in the beginning The Christians then were New Creature and put off the Body of sin and were washed and sanctified But the Christians now are not so but the contrary to wit Unwashed and Unsanctified remaining in the Pollutions of the World and are of the birth which is born of the Flesh and are in the old nature serving sin and the lusts of their own Hearts and thus are you fallen from that which the true Christians possessed for being compar'd to them you are not agreeable but rather contrary to them in all these things and the Lord is now come to search you and to try you and to all People shall you be discover'd for the Lord is now risen to bring all to Tryal and to Judgment And again Herein will the Apostacy of the Christians appear in respect of Unity and Fellowship for the Christians in their Beginning while yet the Life of God was not darkened amongst them They were of one Heart and one Mind and one Soul as you may read Acts 4. 32. And the Lord promised That he would give unto his People one Heart and one Way And Ezek. 11. 19. the Lord promised To give his People one Heart and a new Spirit Which Promise the Christians received and they that believed were of one Heart and there was no lack amongst them but some sold their Possessions and distributed to them that had need and they were Members of Christ and he was Head amongst them and over them And they were Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bones Eph. 5. 23 30. And all the Christians were of one Faith Eph. 4. 5. and had Unity and Fellowship in the Life which was made manifest in them for they had tasted and handled and seen and heard the Word of Life and they had Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. But all ye Chirstians upon Earth how are you degenerated and how great is your Fall in this For you are not of one Heart and Mind nor in Unity and Fellowship one with another but are of divers Sorts and Sects and are run into many Opinions and Divisions and are of many Wayes and Minds and Hearts Divers sorts there are of Papists and divers sorts of Protestants so called which are all divided in Opinions and striving and contending about Faith and Religion and the Worship of God and are opposing one another and putting one another to Death because of a difference in those things How great is the difference through many Nations amongst Christians about those things which sheweth that the Christians are wofully fallen in respect of Unity and it is manifest such Christians have not received the Promise of God as the Apostles had for now the Christians can suffer one another to lack and to perish and die and starve for hunger and want Behold in all this all ye Christians generally how you are fallen then in the beginning of Christianity no lack nor want was amongst them they that had much sold it and gave to them that had none but now thousands are oppressed through Want while others have too much some are feeding and clothing excessively with their multitude of Dishes and changes of Raiment while others have scarce whereon to seed or to cover their Nakedness and this manifesteth that you are not Members of the Body of Christ neither is he Head in you nor amongst you but you are Members of an Harlot and joyn'd to a Harlot and one with a Harlot for you profess many Faiths some say They believe Christ is
ever obtain any thing â—…t concerning this Great is the Degeneration of Christians in this Geneâ—…n for now the Ministers amongst you Christians are maintain'd by an â—…rd power through compelling Maintenance of Tythes and other Set-Wâ—… from the people even from them that do not receive their Ministry and they do not preach freely but makes their preaching chargeable to whole Nations and the maintaining of Christian Ministers is become a burâ—…n to whole Nations and great Oppressions upon the poor and now the â—…ers seek mens money and gold and it doth not appear that they only seek a people to God but on the contrary they seek peoples mony to themselves and it doth not satisfie the Ministers now to eat and driâ—…k such things that are set before them in a House that is worthy but they must have so much a year and so much a Sermon and so much for every particular man of his Parish be they worthy or unworthy to the value of a hundred or two hundred pounds by the year whereby poor people are greatly oppressed and they will reap carnal things by force and violence from them to whom they sow no spiritual things for they are suing at Law and putting in Prison and distraining peoples Goods by Force and Cruelty to maintain them and their Families in Pride and idleness which things the Christian Ministers formerly in the dayes of the Apostles never did but were often under great Sufferings in Fasting often and in Cold and Nakedness often Lâ—…ring with their hands 2 Cor. 11. 27. Wherefore ye Christians behold how you are fallen and how your Ministry 〈◊〉 generated both in its Call and in its Maintenance being diverted quite contrary to what the Christian-Ministry was once Behold I say how you are fallen and your Ministry quite subverted from what the Ministry 〈◊〉 in the dayes of the Apostles Then the Maintenance of Ministers was by a free Gift from them that received their Ministry and they would not make their Ministry chargeable to any But now the Maintenance of Ministers is by Force and Cruelty and great Oppression of many people and their Preaching is chargeable to many Nations Then they sought no man's Gold nor Money nor fought Riches from the people but only sought the people to God But now men's Money and Riches are sought and taken from them by Violence without regard of seeking people or bringing people to God Then to eat and drink in a house that was worthy such things as were set before them and to reap carnal things as Meat and drink and Necessâ—â—â—es by a free Gift from them that received their Ministry this was a sufficient Maintenance for the Christian Ministers But now so many Hundred Pounds by the Year to maintain themselves and their Families in Pride and Idleness and to reap it by Compulsion and Injustice from poor people In this manner are the Christiâ—â— Ministers now maintain'd which is manifest to be quite contrary to the Practice of Christian Ministers in the Apostles dayes Behold your Fall ye Christians and how you are degenerated The Lord is come to try you and to search you you are weighed and are found too light you are measured and are found wanting what the Christians once were in their Purity you are not in many things but the contrary which sheweth that you have the Name of Christians only by Tradition but are withoâ—â— the Life and being paralell'd with the Christians who truly follow'd Christ you are no whit equal to them in any thing but wholy contrary in all things shewing you follow another spirit then they who were Followers of the Spirit of Christ so witnessing to the whole World that you are degenerated out of Christ the true Vine and are Branches in a degenerate stock which brings Fruit forth through you which hononreth not God but grieveth his pure Spirit And be Witnesses against your selves that you are fallen and degenerated from that Life and Practice which was amongst the Apostles and Christians Again As concerning your Worship which is now practiced amongst you Christians through the World herein also will your Apostacy greatly appear for the Worship of the Christians was one and guided by one Spirit and was in the Spirit and in the Truth saith Christ Iohn 4. concerning the Worship of Christians God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spâ—… 〈◊〉 in Truth And saith the Apostle We are the Circumcision that worship God in Sâ—… rit and rejoyce in Christ Iesus and have no Confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3. 3◠〈◊〉 these were Christians And also Rom. 6. 7. They worshipped God not in the Oâ—…ness of the Letter but in the Newness of the Spirit and the Spirit guided them iâ— all things and was their Teacher in all their Worship for the Spirit 〈◊〉 them to pray and they pray'd in the Spirit and they knew not what they should â—ray for as they ought but the Spirit made intercession for them Rom. 8. 26. And the Christians were exhorted to pray in the Holy Ghâ—st Jude 20. And the Preaching of Christians it was in the Spirit and by the Teachings of the Spirit For they preached as the Spirit gave them utterance Acts 2. And Philip was led by the Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord moved Philip to go and preâ—h to the Eunuch Acts 8. And the Apostles went up and down as they were moved and led by the Spirit and preached and prayed in what place and at what time and season as the Spirit moved them and gave them utterance sometimes in the Fields and sometimes in Houses This was the Practice of the Christians in their Preaching and Praying And also the Apostle said I will pray with the Spirit and with Understanding I will sing with the Spirit and with Understanding And he exhorted the Christâ—… To speak in Psalms and spiritual Songs singing to the Lord and making Melody in their Hearts to him Eph. 5. 19. Now this is the Testimony concerning what the Worship of Christians was its manifest that it was in the Spirit and by the Teaching of the Spirit their preaching praying and singing were in the Spirit taught and exercised therein by the Spirit which they had received from God But now the Worship of Christians at this day is not agreeable to this but being said to the line of Judgment is proved contrary for first the Christians nâ—w are diviâ—ed in their Worship and have many Forms of Worship some worshipping after one manner and others after another so that amongst the Christians therâ—… divers Forms of worshipping and they are striving and conâ—â—ding about thâ— Worship every one praising their own Form and striving one against anothers Form of Worship and this sheweth that the Christians now are not guided nor exercised by the one Spirit of God in their worship and this shews that the Christians now are degenerated from the true Worship of God in Spirit which once the Christians Worship stood
in for then the Worship of Christians was one and in one Spirit but now the Worships of Christians are many and divers and divided one from another and they are not in unity in their Worship 〈◊〉 in strife and division and herein you are apostatized from the Life oâ—…â—…ristianity and its manifest that the Worship of Chrâ—…s now is not in 〈◊〉 Sâ—…t and in the Truth but in vain Traditiâ—… learned in natural knowlâ—…ge by people that are not converted unto God and any part of the Worship which is now practised amongst Christians whether amongst Papists of any sort or Protestants of any sort I say every part of the Worship now practised amongst Christians through the World may by taught unto and learned of and exercised in by a man that knows â—â—t God neither is in the Truth nor converted to the Truth neither hath the Spirit of God guiding nor leading of him And I say That which may be done or practised by a man that is not in the Spirit nor in the Truth not is yet converted to the Knowledge of God nor is not in any measure guâ—â—ed by the Spirit of God is not the Worship of the true God which is in the Spirit and Truth but as I have said any part of the Worship now prâ—…sed amongst Christians may be done and practised by aman that is out of the Spirit and out of the Truth and unconverted to the Knowledge of God 〈◊〉 therefore the Worship now practâ—â—ed amongst Christians is not the true worship of the true God which is in the Spirit and in the Truth and which câ—â—not be practised without it Many more things might be said as to prove the Worship of Christians now 〈◊〉 practised by them is not the true Worship of the true God but this is 〈◊〉 which I have said that which is practised without the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which must be in the Spirit and cannot be practised without it but such is the worship of Christians for the Christiansâ—â—ow â—â—ow generally pray some after one Form and some after another in their own wills and times and know not the movings of the Spirit of the Father tâ—ereunto nor guiding them therein but in such a manner as they set unto themselves or as the custom of the Country instructs them therein and know not the intercession of the Spirit of the Father in them nor know not the praying in the Holy Ghost and as for the preaching of Christians it is not now practised as the Christians of old practised it nor by the same Spirit now they study for what they speak and gather out of the Scriptures â—ome having it written in a Book what they will preach to the people and this is not to preach as the spirit gives them utterance neither is this from the teaching or moving of the Spirit of God but by humane Art and humane Craft knowing before-hand what and how much to speak so much as they have collected in their thoughts from such a Verse and how long to preach till a Glass be run and know what to have for preaching and this and such like is the manner of the Preaching now among Christians which hath no savour in it of God's Spirit or of the Teachings and Leadings of God's Spirit in it but altogether contrary to wit This Practice savours of Idolatry and of vain Traditions and Superstitions And in short This Practice of Preaching among the Christians now is not in the same manner neither by the same Spirit nor for the same End as the Preaching of the Christians was in the dayes of the Apostles which sheweth that the Christians now are Apostatized and greatly Degenerated from what the Christians were then For again The Christian Ministers now do not go as they are moved of the Lord up and down from Country to Country to convert people to God as the Christian Ministers did then But enquire for places of great Maintenance where there are great store of Tythes and Set-Wages and if they can there they settle themselves and preach in manner as I have said And this practice savours nothing of the Teachings of the Spirit of God nor of the Movings of that Spirit whereby the Christian Ministers of old were guided which sheweth that the Christian Ministers now are in the Apostacy and in the Degeneration from God and from what the Christian Ministers were then And as concerning the Practice of Singing noâ— amongst Christians it is not in the Spirit nor with a good Understandiâ—… but in a vain Form and Tradition and not in the Spirit of the Lorâ—… 〈◊〉 now the Christians many of them in a Form sing the Conditions 〈◊〉 as David's Prayers and Praises Troubles and Afflictions when as themselves are in a condition quite contrary to what David was and so sing that which unto themselves is false as being out of that condition of which they sing and this is not singing with the Spirit neither is it to sing spiritual Songs And others of Christians have another manner of singing all which singing of Christians now hath no savour of the Teachings of God's Spirit in it neither is it according nor by the same Spirit as the singing of the Christians once was A woful Apostacy is fallen upon you ye Christians through the World and you are fallen you are fallen from the Life of Christ and the true Praâ—… of Christianity as the first Christians were in then their praying was in the Spirit and the holy Ghost but now without the Spirit in Forms and Traditions Their Preaching then was as the Spirit led them and as it gave them utterance but now by humane Learning and Policy at such a Place for so much a Year an Hour by a Glass what they have gathered by study upon other mens Works Then the Singing of Christians was in the Spirit and their whole Worship was spiritual in the Spirit and in the Truth but the Singing of Christians now and all their Worship is in vain Traditions exercis'd without the Leadings and Movings of the Spirit of God Then the Worship of Christians was one and by one Spirit now it is divers and in division and in many coâ—trary spirits Alas oh ye Christians consider how great is your Fall and how woâ—â—l your Degeneration in respect of your Worship fallen greatly from the teaching of the Spirit of God in your Praying in your Preaching and in your Singing to follow humane Learning and worldly Policy and vain Traditions the Customs of the Country and your own Imaginations in your Praying Preaching and Singing as I have proved unto you Oh consider how great is your Apostacy from the true Life of true Christianity Greatly do you err from the pure Way wherein the true Christians walked and being truly paralell'd with them and measur'd with the Spirit of true Judgment you are found not equal to them in any measure but rather contrary altogether shewing you are guided
by another spirit then once the Christians were and that you follow another Teacher then once they did your Practices do make it manifest which are contrary and not according to what the Practice of the Christians once were Is not my Judgment just upon you Have you not lost that and are departed from it which gave the Name of Christian and so have the Name without the thing a Profession of Christianity but no true Title therein but having lost that which gave the true Title to the Name So that this is your state and this is your Condition generally ye Christians through the World A Name you have of Christianity but to the True Life thereof in every Particular are you dead And now all ye Christians upon Earth Behold behold how you are fallen and degenerated in all these things and many more which might be named I Faln I say from the true Christian Life and Practice wherein the Christians once were shewing fully to all the World that the Spirit of Christ doth not now guide you Christians but another Spirit which brings forth through you other Works and Fruits and of another nature then what the Christians once brought forth and being compared with them you are no whit equal in the very way and means whereby you are made Christians you differ from them and in all your practices and in life and conversation you are contrary to them And in respect of your Worship and Ministry in every part thereof are you altogether contrary unto what the Christians once were yea in your very Apparel you shew a Degeneration from the true Life and Practice in Christianity for the Apostle exhorted the Christians to adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety not with brodered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array 1 Tim. 2. 9. And the Christians were there exorted That â—â—eir Adorning should not be the outward plaiting of the Hair or of wearing Gold or putting 〈◊〉 of Apparel But now amongst ye Christians is a practice found quite contrary What Vanity and Excess is in your Apparel striving to excel one another in Pride and Vain-Glory in your Gold and Silver and costly Array spending the Creation of God to satisfie your lustful Minds shewing another spirit then was amongst the Christians of old whose words and Name ye pâ—â—fess but are degenerated from the Life in things of greater and less moment Alas alas Oh wo is me for you How is my spirit often oppressed in the remembrance of your woful Fall What shall I say unto you but this You are revolted and gone away backward from the Way of Life and you have altogether forgotten God and are degenerated from Christ the living Vine and the Anger of the Lord is now greatly kindled against you to consume you and to confound you because you are revolted and turned aside from the pure and perfect Way of God which once was manifest amongst Christians And your Back-sliding and Apostacy is truly compared to that of the Iews who did retain the Name of the People of God after they were turned aside from his Commandments even as you do retain the Name of Christians though you are departed from Christ For the Iews had seen and known much of the Power and Presence and Hand of the Lord in many great Victories and Deliverances and the Lord had chosen them above any other People at that day to place his Name with them and amongst them and yet after all that they forgot his wondrous Works and rebell'd against him and became a Stiff-necked and Hard-hearted people much more then any other besides them and they would not be instructed nor reclaimed by the Voice of the Prophets but smote them and slew them and when Christ their Saviour came they would not receive him nor walk in his Wayes but crucified him saying They would not have tâ—… Man to reign over them And to this in every particular are the Christians now found equal and agreeing with Back-sliding Israel for much of the Hand and Power of the Lord were the Christians made Partakers of and the Lord wrought great Deliverances for them when they were few in number and under heavy Yoaks and Bondage through Persecution and cruel Dealing yet then the Lord was with them and increased them greatly in number and gave them Victory in a great measure over all their Enemies but now are they revolted even as the Iews and have forgotten God and greatly rebelled against him and have turned his Love to their Lusts abusing his Loving-kindness and are become a stiff-necked and hard-hearted people as ever were the Iews and now you will not be instructed nor reclaimed from the Error of your wayes but abound in all manner of Unrighteousness and will not hearken to the Voice of the Lord nor return to him but are a gainsaying people and will not return unto him from whom you are fallen but hate the Light which Christ has lightened you withal neither will have Christ to reign over you but crucifie the Life as the Iews did And as the Sacrifices and Oblations the Sabboth-keeping of the Iews and all the Works of Righteousness were an Abomination to the Lord after they were departed from him even the very practice of those things which God had once commanded them to perform became a Burden to the Lord and his Soul could not away with them even their New Moons and Sabboths his Soul hated Isa. 1. and all their Sacrifices were as if they cut off a Dogs Neck and their Oblations as if they offer'd Swine's-blood and their burning Incense as if they blessed an Idol Isa. 66. I say The very Practice of the Iews after they were revolted and become disobedient Children in those very things which God had commanded them to do and practice and which once the Lord accepted the doing of by his People yet after they were turned aside from the leading of his Spirit the practice of the very same Works were hateful in the sight of the Lord when they performed Works of Righteousness to him and yet their Hearts went after their Covetousness and their practizing of that which God had once commanded to be done their doing of it was Idolatry and was a Burden to the Lord's Soul and their Righteousness and all their Practices therein were as filthy Rags even loathsom in his Presence when their Fear towards him was taught them by the precepts of men and they had lost that pure Fear which 〈◊〉 was taught them of God but they were gone from his Fear which should have kept their Hearts clean and their Hears were defiled and poluted and therefore not any of their Performances to him could be accepted but were altogether become an Abomination And even thus is it at this day as concerning the Sacrifices and Performances of Christians being as I have said and made manifest departed from the Lord and from the Spirt of Christ All their Prayings and Preachings and
brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace and all Evil-doers whatsoever may stand in awe and be afraid of God and just Men and the Execution of Iust Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly Religious and that no man ought to be compell'd to or from any Exercise or Practice in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other Practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to oppose false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exhortation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought nor to be counted a Breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punishable by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe the outward Laws and Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons and Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Law of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe that Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit only must lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors and that Subjects ought to obey in the Lord those that have Rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which are according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him to such causes all people are free and ought to obey God rather then man and we believe That herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is Good and out of all that which is Evil. Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Man-kind are in one of these states all that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of Death and Darkness being Children of Wrath and Disobedience in the alienation and separation from God in the Transgression unreconcil'd to God the Enmity ruling in the Heart being in the Fall and not restor'd to God again but ignorant of his Power and of his Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal and in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all evil bâ—inging forth all his works out of that Ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adâ—… and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and â—…ll never inherit eternal Life but go inâ—â— Perdition yet have all such a Day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprâ—…tion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ledge and desâ—…sing the Love of God â—â—ey conâ—… iâ—â—he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath of Gâ—…d abides upon them â—…t they tâ—…t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath for they believe in the Light and becâ—…â—…ldren of the Light and are renewed in Mind and Hâ—… and receiâ—… the Love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adâ—… 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to bring forth Fruit â—nto the Father and â—ll their Fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—om 〈◊〉 grâ—…d which is â—…ssed for they are led by the Spirit of thâ— Faâ—…r and â—…ch are in the state of Election who are â—ade Heâ—rs with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eveâ—… Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe That â—…cy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad in the World that all pâ—…ple mâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whâ—◠〈◊〉 have receiv'd of God and they that believe this and walkâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father shall be saved but they that belieâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be condemned because they do not believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be â—…tten 〈◊〉 in â—…rt this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the Knowledge of thâ—se things from God A Friend unto all People E. B. Some of the PRINCIPLES OF THE QUAKERS Scornfully so called by men VINDICATED And proved Sound and True and according to the SCRIPTURES In Opposition to the False Charges and Lying Reports given forth against the Truth in two Printed Books put forth by one Philip Taverner a supposed Minister of the Gospel in Middlesex near Uxbridge And hereby Truth is Manifested and Discovered and the Controversie determined by the Judgment of Truth between Philip Taverner aforesaid the Accuser and Edward Burroughs Defendant of the Truth who contends for the Faith of the Gospel and for the Word of God in the Heart against all such Gainsayers as have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power and many such are in this Age. WHereas P. Taverner one of Truth 's Opposers whether throâ—… Ignorance or Subtilty I now determine not hath again appear'd against me and the Truth in Print as in Vindication of himself and his former Work who about four Moneths ago gave a false Relation of a Dispute but instead of mending the matter he hath made his own cause the more vile as may appear to such who take a perfect view of the Proceedings from the beginning to the end thereof Now the intent of this my Reply is to clear the Truth further and to take off his false Aspersions which he hath cast upon my innocent words in my former Book in answer to his first And as for the rest of his Book which hath no relation to mine nor to the Dispute I shall pass it by The Title of my first Book was Something of Truth Made Manifest c. To which sayst thou A plausible Title to cover a Railing and Bitter spirit under that it may walk in the World less suspected c. Reply My words are truth for in 〈◊〉 â—â—ok Truth was made â—â—â—ifest to â—…y in relation to the former Dispute to the Satisfaction of many and as 〈◊〉 â—…ing anâ—â—â—â—â—erness of spirit I do deny only I am zealoâ—â— for the
Heart and tries the Reins who is a God Great and Mâ—…ty and giveth unto all Creatures Life and Breath and he will change at 〈◊〉 〈…〉 all the Children of Men and bring them to an Account before his 〈…〉 Seat wherefore let all Flesh tremble before him and let all the earth 〈…〉 〈…〉 his Presence who changeth and subdueth and over-turneth at his Pâ—… and brings men to destruction who have rebell'd against him â—…fore thou Pope chief Bishop at Rome this is unto thee from the Mouth of â—… Come down come down lay down thy Crown subject thy self 〈…〉 before the Lord God of Vengeance lest 〈…〉 come upon thee and crush â—… and thou shalt know that this hath the Lord spoken in the day â—…ry flaming Sword which is already drawn enters into thy Bosom 〈…〉 thy Honour and Renown Behold I have heard the Voice of Houlâ—…er Lamentation I have heard the Voice of War and not of Peace I 〈…〉 I have seen the Strong become Weak and the Mighty become Miserabâ—â—â—…ud and Honourable brought into Contempt yea I have seen her thâ—… a Queen and has said She never shall see Sorrow I have seen the losâ—â—…n and Widdowhood come upon her even in one day I have seen her Bâ—…â—…ed into Bitterness I have seen her Honour brought into Contempt I 〈…〉 Whore that has made all Nations drunk with her Fornications tâ—… the Golden Cup in her hand I have seen the Cup of Indignation pâ—… her to drink I have seen her cast upon the Bed of never-ceasing â—… I have seen the City that was full of people that was the Glory of I â—… that made all Nation rich with her Traffick and Merchandize I 〈…〉 that City laid desolate and dis-inhabited and made the Sorrow of the 〈…〉 Earth and I have seen the smoak of her burning ascend forever and this is 〈◊〉 must shortly come to pass and if thou hast an Ear to hear thou mayst 〈…〉 and these things are true and faithful and they shall not fail but the Wâ—… shall know the Majesty Dread and Terror the Vengeance and Indigâ—… of the Almighty This is assented unto by many and written and subscribed by one that hath a Nâ—… not seen nor known of the World but known among Men by the name of Edward Burroughs Return your Answer to me or any of the People called Quakers for me in London from whence this is sent being written the 24th of the 8th Mon. 1658. A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY Concerning the True Worship OF GOD VVhat it is in it self and who are the True WORSHIPPERS In Opposition to all the False Worship in this Nation which is Idolatry which is discover'd in its Foundation and in its Manifestation not to be ever commanded of God or practized by his Apostles and Saints but it is declar'd to consist chiefly of such things and practices as had their first Beginning and Ordination in the Church of Rome whereby the Hypocrisie of this Generation doth appear in denying and crying against the Papists Idolatries and yet are found in the practice of the same thing in their Church Ministry and Worship which were first instituted by the Pope's Authority FOrasmuch as there is in the World a great Controversie among people concerning the Worship of God one crying This is the right Worship another That is the right Worship And people in these Nations are divided about the Worship of God and divers one from another in their Performances and Practices of Worship one sort worshipping after this manner another after that and there is great strife through the whole Nation about this matter and a great dis-satisfaction among people which is the right Worship and who are the right Worshippers and Thousands are desiring after the right Worship of God and to become Worshippers of him as he requires Therefore now it is upon me to shew unto all the World what the true Worship of God is in it self and who are his true Worshippers First The Worship of God in it self is this It is a walking with God and a living with him in Converse and Fellowship in Spirit and Truth for he is only worshipped therein and to do the Truth and speak the Truth This is the True Worship of God where the Mind is guided with the Spirit of Truth and the Presence of the Lord felt at all times and his Fear in the Hearts of people and his Councel stood in and his Covenant felt which unites to the Lord in Spirit this is the True Worship of God and it is without respect of times or things And now none upon Earth can thus worship God but who are changed and renewed in heart and mind and born of the Spirit and led thereby where the Body of Sin and Death is put off such as are redeemed out of the World and out of all its wayes and nature such only can worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and such is the Father seeking to worship him now in this present Age And there is never a one upon Earth that can worship God as he requireth who remain unchanged and are in the Transgression unrenewed and unconverted such cannot worship the True and Living God but that which they perform and practice as the Pretence of his Worship is Idolatry and Abomination and the Lord hath not required it at their hands for none can walk with God nor have unity with him but who are renewed and changed nor none can do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things but such who are led by the Spirit of Truth and such are in the Covenant of God and true Worshippers of him and all that is contrary is not the Worship of God but Idolatry as I have said And now as concerning this Worship practiced in England in these Steeple-Houses Churches so called it is not the Worship of the Living God but Superstition and Idolatry for people have not learned it by the Teachings of the Spirit neither doth the Spirit lead them therein but it standeth in Form without Power and in the Inventions and Traditions of the Fathers and there is not in it the manifest Presence of God neither do you Worshippers meet with the Lord nor enjoy his pure Life and Presence in your Practices and the substance of your Worship as it is now practized is made up of Inventions some part of your own and some part brought along from the church of Rome And is it not great Hypocrisie in you to profess a denyal of the Church of Rome and yet be found practizing some of the same things as your Worship which the Church of Rome first instituted and practized as her Worship Shall we instance unto you some particular things Was it not by the Authority of the Church of Rome that these Houses in which you worship which you call Churches were first set up and made Worshipping-places for them And is it not a little while since that the Mass and old Popish stuff was therein
Joy and Pleasure of this World and in your Exercise spiritual and temporal the spirit that is of this World doth lead you and guide you the spirit of Unrighteousness that leadeth contrary to him and can you be otherwayes deceived or more deceived For you are without God already and want his Peace and the Inheritance of Life Eternal that is in him you want the possession thereof and you are following dead Idols and Vanities which steal away your minds whereby it is manifest that you are deceived For all people upon Earth that are not led by the Spirit into all Truth that have not received the Promise of the Father they are all deceived and cannot be more deceived then they are And so is the Cry in general among people if any one forsake and deny their way of Worship and Religion and Profession be it of what manner or nature soever presently there is a Cry chiefly by the Priests Take heed you be not deceived and you are in Heresie and Error and such like Thus have the Papists cryed against them that have dissented from them and the Prelates cry'd the same and now yoâ— cry the same to them that dissent from you But your Zeal is not so much against Heresie and Error simply so as it is to have your own Sect and Worship upheld and against them that do dissent from you and it hath been Antichrists way since the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles to cry Heresie and Error and you are deceived to all that did decline and dissent from him for you may read in the Scriptures Power was given to the Beast to compel all to worship him and all that would not he made War against and had power to kill them and 〈…〉 have the Papistâ— done 〈…〉 against 〈…〉 that denyed their church 〈…〉 the Prâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your cry 〈◊〉 Heresie and Error 〈…〉 deceived who do 〈…〉 church and your ministry and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have you learned â—f your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 church 〈…〉 â—…se all sorts of people â—… That 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and that 〈◊〉 arâ— is 〈…〉 and see how your selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit of Unrighteoâ—sness â—…ness and Ignorance and a Cloud of Error is over you and 〈◊〉 â—… and the Son of God who is â—…ring now in Majesty and Renoâ—… to 〈…〉 Name over all the Earth and Antichrist's way you have been in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have all to how under his power unto his worship But noâ—… eyes of 〈…〉 are opened and Life and Rigâ—…ness and Truth it self 〈…〉 â—…ung 〈…〉 â—…he Clouds of Dâ—…ness and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Unknown God and him you ignorantly worship afâ—… of men 〈◊〉 not afâ—… 〈◊〉 Comâ—…s of God 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of the Fore-fathers is seated in you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Witness and â—… and quencheth the Spirit your old 〈◊〉 Traditiâ—… and 〈…〉 your Exercise therein 〈◊〉 thaâ— part which iâ— carnal and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 others and your Worship which is out of the Spirit of God 〈…〉 Spirit of God in others to 〈◊〉 â—ny truly to the Living 〈…〉 〈…〉 will destroy your Worship and confound it and no more is tâ—… 〈…〉 â—…shipped iâ— Stâ—â—ple-Houses they are left desolate of God's Preâ—… 〈◊〉 more in Dayes and Tiâ—es and Things but they that worshâ—… 〈…〉 〈◊〉 in the Spirit changed by it and led by it into the Truth So 〈…〉 doth open your Eyes you will see the Worship of God to be 〈…〉 thing then you suppose it you cannot be educated naturally in the Worship of God nor learn it by Traditions for it stands only in the Spirit and is taught by the Spirit unto all them that are born of the Spirit and who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be born of that are the true Worshippers of God in which the Father is well pleased And as for your Worship in Steeple-Houses God hath no Delight in he â—…th it not but it is an Abomination to him it is not pleasing to him beâ—…e you be out of his Spirit and worship after your own Traditions 〈…〉 after his Spirit And this worship hath stood all this long time of Anâ—… while the Whore and the Beast hath ruled over Nations and so one Tradition after another hath been brought in and one false Worship hath risen out of another and what people have had it hath been by Tradition and not from the immediate Spirit of God and so the True God hath not been woâ—…d in his Spirit And now all the World have been pleading for theâ—â— Traditions and they be in respect above the Commandments of God among ye that worship in Steeple-houses you are even mad against them that 〈…〉 â—…inst the Steeple-houses and plead the Antiquity of your Worship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your Traditions and Ordinances now they are ancient even as anciâ—…â—s since the false Prophets and Antichrist came in and did put on the Shâ—… Clothing but inwardly ravening Wolves these killed the Life and slew the Prophets and they set up Inventions of their own and your Traditioâ—… and Worships are as ancient as since power was given to the Beast over Kindreds and Peoples and the Lord God is bringing down your Worship the Original of which came up when Antichrist went out into the World as you may read in Iohn's Epistle and so you may plead Antiquity yet not as ancient as the True Church is for when the truâ— Churches were apostatized then came up your Worship and your many Traditions and this hath been while the Woman hath been fled into the Wilderness and the Man-child caught up to God which when the Woman returns again your worship ordinance will be over-thrown and the True Worship again established and Liberty but first you must know the Spirit to teach you before you can worship in it and the Spirit must purifie your Hearts and make them 〈◊〉 before you can offer to God an acceptable Sacrifice for your Sacrifices are not acceptable but they are stained and polluted in the fight of the Lord who 〈◊〉 hath beheld what you are a doing and you are in that which his Soul hath no Pleasure in and in the Day of your â—…ation the Witness in your Consciences shall answer it so you are to know God by his Spirit before you can worship him the Word of the Lord must be 〈◊〉 in your Hâ—â—rtâ— as a 〈◊〉 as a Hamâ—… and 〈◊〉 muâ—â— be crâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aâ—d have 〈…〉 Spirit â—…ore ye can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So all you false Worshippers you are called that you may return and may come into the True Worship which is in tâ—â— Commandment of God and not the Traditions of 〈◊〉 and in that Law written in the Hearâ— is God knownâ— who worketh man's Salvation 〈◊〉 which leadeth in the true and perfect Worship of the True and Living God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord 〈…〉 all in aâ—… Thâ—…efâ—… retuâ—… Why wiâ—… yoâ—…ye aâ—â— perish 〈◊〉 your 〈…〉 A 〈…〉 â—…n is taâ—â—n uâ—â—… Oâ—… why 〈◊〉 you â—â—rish â—…ough 〈…〉 yoâ—◠〈◊〉 Sâ—… tiâ—… Câ—… into the Spâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Truth that you may â—…ship
God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of him who is now appeared in Power and great Glory to gather his People to Himself This is to go abâ—… among all people wâ—o arâ— worshipping in Tempâ—… made with hands â—nd who are under this Ministry and are of 〈◊〉 Church aforementioned that they may come to consider and see the Erâ—… of their Way of thâ—… Worship and of their Miâ—… And this is a Visitation from the Lord unto them all by a Friend 〈◊〉 all your Souls E. B. Some False Principles And ERRORS DISCOVERED And REFUTED 〈…〉 Answer to a Catechism-Book which is said to contain The Principles of Religion put forth by a nameless Author But is supposed to be the work of one Samuel Eaton a professed Minister of the Gospel among the Sect of the Independants in Châ—shire But upon true Examination he is found to be teaching the Traditions of Men for the Commandments of Christ and his Principles are proved to be not according but contrary to the SPIRIT of GOD and the Scriptures To the READER THE Reason and Cause of this being sent abroad is for the better Information of all but more particularly for the good of that Assembly to whom Samuel Eaton is Minister and Pastor that they may know the Truth from Error and the Way of Righteousness from all false Wayes and may turn frâ—â— Idol-Shepherds that destroy the Vine-yard and tread it down and may 〈◊〉 to Christ and receive him who is the chief Shepherd to feed his Flock with the Bread of Eternal Life And the Reason why these False Principles are charged upon Samuel Eaton is this It being doubtful to some who was the Author of that Catechism wherein these Principles and Doctrines were held forth John Gredley and Anne Sheeld by name were with the said Samuel Eaton and asked him If he owned that Book the Catechism and he said He would maintain all in it That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answer THE Wayes of the Lord are Equal and Just but the wayes of the Sons of Adam are altogether corrupted and different and contrary to the Wayes of Salvation And the Wisdom that is of this World is Foolishness with God and its End is Destruction to its self and to all that walk therein And what is Man that he shall prescribe a Way to his Makerâ— and who is it that will be more wise then God to â—et him a Way how he must â—…ch his People Therefore in-vain have men laboured and have reaped to â—…selves nothing but Wind and Confusion And in vaâ—â— have they sown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to reap after them whose Fruit hath been Emptiness and not filled the Hand of the Gatherer And in particular this Book with which I am now â—…ing is the Fruit of an empty Tree which cannot satisfie the hungry 〈◊〉 nor comfort the weary Seeker for the Satisfaction and Comfort of the â—…ing hungry Soul dependeth only upon the Lord and upon the Bread of â—â—fe that commeth down from God and the soul that eaâ—â— thereof is â—…ed and comforted forever and hungereth no more nor thirsteth any slâ—… but the Fountain is in him and the Well springeth up unto Eternal Life 〈◊〉 goes no more forth And if so be that all herein were true and souâ—… Doâ—… and were learned so as to express it over again in words this might be 〈…〉 the soul still remaining in Anguish and under Sin and Death though 〈◊〉 in the Knowledge that is from below and yet in a farther Ignorance of God for the wisdom of this World knows not God neither can it teach not receive the knowledge of the things that pertain unto Life Eternal but to the Sâ—…e and to Fools doth the Lord teach and reveal the Knowledge of his Kingdom and it is not received from Books nor the Teachings and Tradition of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 by the Manifestation of the eternal Spirit which doth lead into all Truth â—…eveals the Mysteries of Salvation The first thing that I take notice of is this thou sayst God is a Spirit 〈◊〉 he is one in Beeing and is to be distinguished into three Persons and the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost are Personal Relations and if one be a Person such are the other c. Answ. The Father Son and Spirit is one this we believe and know according to the Scriptures but as for thy word Person that is carâ—… 〈◊〉 â—oo low a word to denominate God by who is Infinite for God and the Spirit hath no Person nor cannot truly be distinguished into Persons for a person has relation to Place Time and Change and is not in all places at all tiâ—es at â—…e and the Scriptures know no such distinction for God is a Spirit and hath no relation to one Time Place or Alteration more then another but filleth Heaven and Earth and his Presence is in all and over all who is bleâ—… forever and is infinite and without Person or confined Beeing and the Sâ—…pture no where in true Translation doth denominate God Christ and the Spirit by Persons and Personal Beeings nor doth distinguish them into â—…ee Persons for Persons are related to carnal as I have said and Persons is â—oo low to denominate God and Christ and the Spirit by So thy Principles are unsound and not agreeing to the Spirit of God and the Scriptures and therefore not to be believed nor received Whereas thou sayst That the one standing Rule according to which God is to bâ—â—…ht worshipped and served is the holy Scriptures in which God hath revealed himself in all things which he would have believed and doâ—e c. Answ. It is the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit was and is within the Saints that leadeth into all Truth and teacheth to kâ—… all things and that Spirit of God only is the standing Rule to walk in and to walk by it was the Rule to Abel Enoch Abraham and the rest of the â—…ly Fathers that lived before any Scripture was written and it was the Ruâ—… to the Prophets to Christ and to the holy Apostles they all followed the Spirit and walked in it and spake and wrought and acted as the Spirit of God within them moved them and led them it was not the Scriptures but the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures that was the standing unchangâ—…le un-erring Rule of worshipping serving and obeying the Lord God and that same Spirit is the standing Rule to us also For the Apostle commandeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Spirit and that which we are to walk in is our Rule And as many 〈◊〉 the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and then the Spirit is their 〈◊〉 and that guides the Feet in the Way of Peace And in the Spirit is God â—…pped For they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the â—… and such he seeketh to worship him For it is in the Hearts of his People 〈◊〉 within them that God revealeth himself by his Spirit For it is the Spirit 〈…〉 the thing â—f
God and none knoweth the things of God saving by the 〈◊〉 of God and that revealeth God and teacheth to worship God and to serve him And the Scriptures they declare of the Rule and of the Revelatiâ—… 〈◊〉 God and are a Declaration of all things which are to be believed and 〈◊〉 by the Children of the Lord so that the Scriptures are not the 〈◊〉 Rule neither do they teach to worship and serve God but the Spiâ—…â—â—ve forth the Scriptures that is the standing Rule in and through â—…tions and the Spirit doth reveal the Knowledge of God and how 〈…〉 〈◊〉 worshipped and served And thou sayst The Scriptures are the Word of God given by immediate Inâ—… 〈◊〉 God and that they are given to all men to be read And the Scripâ—…â—…cient to make the Man of God perfect and throughly furnished and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—nto Salvation And the Scriptures are plain and easie to be 〈…〉 â—y the simplest and there is Milk in them for Babes and strong Meat for 〈◊〉 grown up â—… Christ is the Word of God and his Name is called The Word of 〈◊〉 and the Word of God was in the Beginning and shall endure forever and this Word is not the Scriptures and the Scriptures are not the Word but the Scriptures are words of God given forth from the Word 〈◊〉 was in their Hearts that spake forth the Scriptures which were wrote 〈◊〉 the Holy Men of God were moved by the Holy Ghost and given by the Inspiration of the Spirit of God And the Scriptures are a Declaration and a â—…tise of the WORD that was in the Beginning and shall endure forâ—… but the Scriptures are not the Word And some of them were giâ—… to one sort of Men and some of them to another and some of them â—… But as for the Threatnings and Judgments propounded and the Reproof of the Wicked that part was not given to the Saints nor spoken to â—…em and so not given to all and the Promises to the Children of the Lord and the Epistles to the Saints and them that were sanctified that part was not given and spoken to the World and to the Wicked who are unâ—…ted and so not spoken to all though all may read them yet none can understand them but by the same Spirit that gave them forth and who have not the same Spirit to guide them they cannot understand the Scriptures for they were given forth by the Eternal Spirit and the carnal â—…dom that is from below and sensual cannot understand nor receive the â—…gs of the Kingdom of God which are declared of in the Scriptures And so the Scriptures are not easie to be understood but are sealed from the World â—â—ither are the Scriptures without Faith which thou hast left out sufficient to make the Man of God perfect but the Scriptures through Faith are able to make the Man of God perfect and throughly furnished this we know and â—…re and do set the Scriptures in their right place and give them their right Hâ—…our and Respect And as for thee and thy Generation who are erred from the Spirit of Truth You know not the Scriptures nor the Power of God for Christ is the Bread of Life and the Water of Life in him is the Milk for Babes and 〈◊〉 for strong Men and not in the Scriptures who testifie of Christ the Life and in them the Pharisâ—â—s thought to have Eternal Life but would not come 〈◊〉 Christ the End of the Scriptures that they might have Life and this is the self same state with yours of this Age who think to have the perfâ—… of Salvation and the Milk for Babes and the Meat for Strong Men in the Scriptures but will not receive Christ who is the perfect Salvation and 〈◊〉 Bread and Water of Life for all the Children of the Lord who are 〈…〉 the Spirit And so thy Doctrines and thy Principles of thy Religion 〈◊〉 not sound nor agreeing with the Scriptures but contrary and by a 〈…〉 spirit and therefore we cannot be of thy mind but do truly 〈…〉 unlearned of the Father and knowest not the Way of Salvation and so 〈◊〉 canst not truly inform nor direct others And thou sayst Men are under a Necessity of multiplying Transgâ—… 〈…〉 3. 12. Ephes. 4. 17. 2. Pet. 4. Answ. In this thou hast erred and spoken contrary to sound Dâ—… 〈◊〉 there is no Necessity laid upon any to commit any sin much less a Neâ—… multiplying Transgression if there be a necessity who layes it 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and why is that Necessity Transgression is of the Wicked One and 〈…〉 is of the Devil and there is no necessity for that upon any account 〈…〉 sin destroyes the Soul and is a Veâ—ation to the Lord God and a Câ—… 〈…〉 lasting Misery and for to act that there is no Necessity which hath 〈…〉 fects And thou hast perverted the Scriptures quoted by thee to prove 〈…〉 Assertion which I have set down for the Reader to peâ—…se that all â—… thou hast perverted them for they prove no such Doctrines as that 〈…〉 a Necessity of multiplying Transgression which thou hast affirmed and 〈…〉 the Scriptures to prove it which is first false doctrine uttered by thee it 〈◊〉 also a perverting of the Scriptures to maintain it and this two Evil◠〈◊〉 thou hast committed in one Work and because thou hast done Evil 〈…〉 at thy Door and there I will leave it And thou sayst To be justified is not to be really â—lâ—ansed from all Sin 〈…〉 take of real Righteousness and Holiness but it is to be accounted and reputâ—… Holy and not to have Sin reckoned c. Answ. There are none justified but who are in Christ and are chanâ—… and renewed and born again and such are cleansed from sin For he 〈…〉 of God sinneth not and it is he only that is justified and not the Old Man that is unchanged and commits sin he is not justified and who are born of God and are justified are really cleansed and do partake of Righteousness and holiness even of the Righteousness and Holiness of the Son of God and in that Righteousness he is accounted Righteous and in no other nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other way then by receiving Christ and his Righteousness and being made Partâ—kers of it in their Hearts for the Apostle said If Christ be not in you 〈◊〉 are Reprebates and such are not justifieth nor accounted just and holy who have not Christ within them and his Righteousness but who have Christ within the Hope of Glory and are accounted Just and Righteous in the sight of God the Body of Sin is put off for if Christ be in you the Body is dead because 〈◊〉 Sin and such are really cleansed and if he be in you you are made Partaâ—… of real Righteousness and Holiness and this is the Truth of the Gospel of Christ which confounds and condemns thy false doctrine for no man it accounted and imputed just and holy but who are cleansed from Sin
you know to sit as a Refiners Fire to purifie your Hearts that you may be fit Temples for him to dwell with who dwells with Holiness and the Unclean are cast out from his Presence and he is come amongst you to search you and try you and to discover his Foundation and the Wise in their own eyes shall stumble and fall and be broken and it s the Poor in spirit and Upright in heart whom the Lord hath chosen and with such will he dwell and now all must come to feel that which breaks down the high nature which ruled above the Seed of God the Ax must be laid to the Root of the cursed Tree which hath brought forth no Fruit to God but cumbered the Ground and that Trâ—e must be cut up in every one of you and cast into the Fire that the Plant of God's Renown may spring forth and bring forth Fruit Now every one must come to know the two Seeds in which the Election and Reprobation stands the one with all its Fruit must be â—ast out and Judgment from the Lord must pass upon it for that Seed hath long been fruitful in the World and flourished in the Earth its Frâ—â—â— hath been according to the Flesh which the Lord is now risen to blast with a Curse and all your earthly glory must wither and all your ioy and peace that stands in this Creation must pass away and all your own wisdom must be confounded for that receives not the Things of God but to it they are foolish ness it is only the Simple and Poor in Spirit that are taught of God and it is with the Meek and Humble that he dwells but who are high in their Minds and exalted above the Fear of God who follow their own wayes and thoughts such have no part in him but are cast out into Darkness and Darkness covers them from the Light and Knowledge of the Lord God they know not him to dwell in them nor to lead them nor to guide them neither doth his Spirit lead such into all Truth but they rebel against the Motions of the Spirit of God which checks them and reproves them for their evil Deeds but they hate the Light and love Darkness and bring forth the Fruits of Darkness which the Light reproveth for but because they are disobedient to it they cannot receive Power over their sins but Sin hath power over them and in this State there is no Peace nor Justification to them but Trouble and Condemnation from God Wherefore all ye People that fear God and love his Wayes be obedient to the Light which Christ hath lightened you withal which calls you out of Transgression and reproves you when you act against it and this is the Measure of the Spirit of God which is sent into the World to gather people to God from whence it comes this leads to Christ and will bring you to receive him to dwell in you and to cleanse you from all Unrighteousness and as you come to be made clean by the Word of God which is Quick and Powerful in all that believe which Word you must feel to cleanse and purifie you in your selves and to make you clean from all that which offends the Life of God and then you will receive the Testimony of Justification as you come to be quickened by God by the quickening Spirit by which every one must be quickened from Death which hath reigned over all to Life that it may reign in you and till this be known all Profession of the Scriptares avails nothing towards Life Eternal therefore feel in your selves Christ Jesus the Quickening Spirits that you may be made alive to God again And all you that are convinced with the Light be faithful therein through all Tryals and Sufferings which are to come upon you inwardly or outwardly for great Tryals and Sufferings without will come and great Judgments and Afflictions within will approach but through all these things be faithful and in them all be patient to the End that you may obtain Life Eternal which is the Reward of all the Faithful And dwell in the daily Cross of Christ in which the Power of God will be witnessed amongst you which will throw down that which hath ruled above the Seed of God that the Seed of God may come forth in which the Election stands which receives the Promise of God but Friends there must be a long and patient waiting under the Hand of the Lord and of the Operation of his Spirit before you come to witness the Election you must be faithful to that which calls you and take up the Cross to your own Wills Lusts and Desires and Affections which arise out of the earthly Part for that which is of the Flesh must be crucified as that which is of the Spirit comes to live for it is that which is born of the Spirit in you which is Heir of God's Kingdom and which must Inherit Eternal Life And so wait upon the Lord every one of you that his Fear may be in your Hearts and his Spirit in your inward Parts to lead you and to guide you in all his Wayes And meet together to hear what the Lord saith in you Hearken to his Voice that your Souls may live It is the Voice of God heard in the Creature which raises the Soul from Death And though you â—ear no word from Man yet his Voice may be heard in you if your Ear be turned to the Light with it your Hearts will be searched and your Wayes tryed and all your Words and Works approved or reproved and â—ere is your Teacher or your Condemner and this was I moved in tender 〈◊〉 to the Seed of God to write unto you Grace and Peace from God be â—â—ongst you all that fear him Amen A Friend to the Seed of God in you E. B. To all Friends in LONDON c. TO all the Flock of God in London even to all you that are of a clean Heart whose Minds are stayed upon God even to all that are Faithful and Sincere in the Sight of the Lord with my very Heart I wish Grace and Peace and Mercy from the God and Father of our Life unto you all thâ—â— are such without respect of Persons and such that are so I love with a perfect Love and am united to you in the Bonds of the Gospel and perfectly present with you in Spirit and who are such among you that truly fear the Lord and walk in his Way I cannot forget nor be separated from â—â—â—â—her can I be of such forgotten for are we not written in one anothers hearts yea I daily read such in the Book of Life and of such may I daily be read who know and have felt my Labours and Care and Travels amongst you which have been more then a little my God knows and ye are my Witnessâ—â— for many times the Lord hath made me as a Wall of Defence betwixt you and many Enemies
then thou wilt see and fathom over all this Profession of Christ and all these Churches that are without the Life of Christ which are come up in the Apostacy and as the Life of God ariseth in thee thou wilt see who the false Prophets are and Deceivers which Christ Prophesied of should come and Iohn saw were come in his dayes which have over-spread the Nations and these are they which have the Sheep's Clothing upon them but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves and such are they that will Flatter thee for great Benefices and Places and large Maintenances they have Christ's words and the Apostles words the Sheep's Clothing but they that put not into their mouthes they will prepare War against them and Raven upon them and cast their Bodies into Prison or spoil their Goods And wilt thou bring thy Name into dishonour to all the Saints upon Earth by defending of these in their Evil wayes thou oughtest not to do it nor to suffer the Innocent to be troden down and destroyed for denying such and witnessing against them that are out of the Life of Christ and a great Overthrow will the Lord make among those Teachers and such a Ministry that needs to be defended by carnal Weapons and by Stocks and Prisons for such Teachers and Ministry are not of Christ as is manifest and as People have been scattered after them for Ages so they shall again be gathered from them by the Spirit to follow the Lamb whither soever he goes And take heed these Teachers come not too near thee neither put Confidence in them for their hearts are not right before the Lord and they will flatter thee while they hatch Mischief against thee but stand over them in the Dominion of God And if they sow Spiritual Things let them reap Carnal by a Free Gift and if they have Flocks let them eat of the Milk-Freely given them and if they have planted any thing let them eat the Fruit as it comes Freely and be not thou cumbered about maintaining Ministers but free thy self of that Burden neither suffer innocent Men to be troden down and destroyed in their Persons and Estates about the maintaining of such Teachers which is become the grievousest Oppression in the Nation And as concerning thy Family Thou hast need of God's Wisdom to guide thee that thou mayst Rule in God's Authority over all light loose proud wanton ungodly and deceitful Persons take heed of such spirits for they will be a Temptation to thee to draw thee into Evil and into the World out from God let no such be thy Companions nor remain in thy House lest they betray thee with Flatteries and Honour which perish and such may profess much Love and great Duty in words yet they being out of the Fear of the Lord cannot be blessed unto thee in their Service Wherefore Love such men and let them be thy Companions that Fear the Lord and that are Solid and Sober and Upright such as may be good Examples before thee which will quench Evil and not increase it in thee and though such appear not in Flatteries towards thee nor with a double mind yet they will be Faithful to thee and such will the Lord bless unto thee And let no Drunkards nor Covetous Evil-minded Persons that seek themselves and not the Lord have place with thee for they will be a Dishonour to thee and bring the Curse into thy Family And love such as make Conscience of their Words and Wayes and be not an Oppressor of the Tender Consciences of any but let the Lord be Ruler there both in thy self and in all thy Family And be of a Pittiful Tender Mind and Spirit towards Strangers and all People and be Kind and Long-suffering towards all yet let Justice reach to all Transgressors and be an Example to all in Authority under thee And let not Evil and Cruel-hearted Men bear any Place for such render thee and thy Government Dishonourable and by such the Land is filled with Violence and the Just Mourn whereby the Blessing is kept â—â—r away and the Curse near ready to dâ—vour Now Friends if thou comest to be guided by the Spirit and with the Wisdom of the Father then thou wilt bring the Nations into good Order whereby the Inhabitants may live in Peace and perfect Freedom from all Oppressions and Vexations that now are a Bondage upon the Just and Upright for there is great Corruption entred into all places and all forts of men and when the Lord toucheth thy Heart and maketh thee rightly sensible of all things as they now stand then thou wilt see the Ministry as now it standeth to be quite degenerated from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles before the Apostacy and as it now standeth there is much of it which is to be thrown down to the Ground and crushed to pieces for it is corrupted altogether even in the way of its setting up and in its Call and in the way of its Maintenance and Practice in all these things it is corrupted and degenerated from what the Ministry of Christ was before the Apostacy and this may be proved by the Scriptures and so it is not to be upholden by thee but to be corrected and thrown down the rather And likewise in Magistracy thou wilt see great Corruption entred and aboundance to be purged out for it is much degenerated from the state as it was ordained of God and in the Laws there is much to regulate and correct when thou comest to the Principle of God in thee if ever that arise iâ— thee it will bring thee to thresh down and trample down all unjust men that handle the Law and all such that judge for Gifts and Rewards and all such Lawyers that devour the Innocent for Gifts that will not plead the Cause of the Poor without great Fees and all the Priests that preach for Hire and the Teachers that teach for filthy Lucre and to get Gain all such men will be counted as Bryars and Thornes by thee to be plucked up by the Roots and to be cut up as Evil Trees which cumber the Ground for such do corrupt the Land and cumber it and if ever the Lord doth arise in thee he will reward them by thee according to their wayes whose wayes are corrupt before the Lord. Be thou faithful in what the Lord calleth thee to and thou shalt have thy Reward and seek his Honour and he will Honour thee and let thy mind â—e to the Lord in all things and feel his Word and Power and Presence in thee to quench all that which is contrary and then thou wilt be blessed in this life and in the Life to come but if thou continuest 〈◊〉 thy Oppression the Lord will suddenly smite thee By a Friend unto thee in the Lord E B. This was given to Oliver Cromwell his hands at Hampton Court in the Sixth Moneth 1658. about a Moneth before his Death This is
in Judgment because thereof And as for thee who art now set up in his stead We certainly believe that the Hand of the Lord is in this matter if but to try thee and it is he that hath brought it to pass not expected by any nor much sought after by thy self but its 〈◊〉 to pass a thing out of and contrary to the Thoughts and Expâ—â—â—ations of the whole Nations art thou attained to this Place of â—…nment and therefore we must acknowledge something of the great Hand of God in it being come to pass as out of due season yet may the Lord make it seaâ—â—nable and we patiently wait to receive what the Lord brings to pass thereby knowing that thou art in the Hand of the Lord to do whatsoever he will with thee and conceâ—â—ing thee And if thou fearest him and walkest with him and chusest him for thy Councellor and art obedient to him and seekest his Glory alone and not thy own Honour and Greatness then the Lord will do great things for thee and by thee and accomplish his own Work through thee whiâ—â— fell in thy father's hands and thou wilt be blessed and renowned and honoured forever and thy Name shall be had in respect in Generations to come and hereby the present thoughts of many shall be confounded but if thou dost harden thy â—eart against God and live cruelly and neglect his Cause and despise his Name 〈◊〉 Honour and seek thy own renown and oppress the Just in thee and without thee and suffer the Poor to groan under the Cruelty and Burden of Oppressing Men and Laws in thy Government without relief from thee and go on 〈◊〉 Authority as some evil men before thee then shalt thou not prosâ—… but the Lord shall bring thee down and lay his Hand of Judgment upon thee and thy Name shall be a Reproach to the Saints forever and the heavy 〈◊〉 of Vengeance shall be upon thee and pursue thee more then any before thee and the Lord will deliver his People by another way and this is not in Flattery and Feignedness to thee but as the Lord lives our God shall 〈◊〉 to pass in his day and thou shalt be the Witness Wherefore O man seek the Face of the Lord and enquire diligently of him and hear his Word that thy Soul may live and feel a measure of his Spirit in thee to lead thee into all Truth and set his Presence before thy Eyes alwayes to direct thy steps that he may bless thee with Power Wisâ—â—â— Authority and Dominion to perform the Duty of thy Place faithfulâ—â— towards the Lord and all Men as he requireth of thee And if thou 〈◊〉 â—â—â—kest the Kingdom of God and its Righteousness and the Reconciliation between the Lord and thee and comâ—st to feel the Elect Seed of God raised up over all the contrary in thee and Transgression and thy own Will and Affections and that which is of the Flesh in thee judged and condemned by the Word in the Heart which maketh the immortal Soul to live and â—e refrâ—â—â—ed in God and the Heir of the Promise of God born in 〈◊〉 and hereby shalt thou have an Assurance and Hope of Life Eternal to rest in perfect Peace with God when this World is no more but passed away â—ith thee and also in this present time Wisdom and Valour and true Nobility shall be added to thee and the Spirit of Power and Dominion to â—â—ke Men and Nations be afraid and fear and all Evil Men and such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hurt of thee and thy Government â—â—â—ll be blasted and confoundâ—â— and all Good Men be encouraged and made strong and the whole Naâ—â—â—â—â— kept in Peace and Unity and the Truth and Peace of God shall hereâ—â—â—â—ourish amongst us to the Honour of the Eternal God and to thy Reâ—… if thou rulest and governest for him and by his Spirit and Authority And we are truly sensible of the great Charge of this Place and also of the multitude of Perplexities and Dangers to thy self occurring and happening thereby Dangers from open Enemies by their Malice and cruel Plots and Dangers from thy pretended Friends and they of thy own House by secret Surmâ—â—â—ngs Dangers in Martial and Civil Affairs in this Nation and abroad so that we certainly believe Nothing save only the Wisdom of God and his Power can preserve thee and carry thee to go through and faithfully fulfil so great a Place and to discharge it truly in the Sight of God and Just Men neither mayest thou be defended and preserved by any other Means from the wills and plots and envy of evil men who may watch for evil against thee to destroy theâ—â— and blot out thy Name and thy Father's Posterity out of the Land Wherefore take heeâ— to thy self and fear God that he may bless thee for this is a subtil and crafty Generation and the Nations are politick and the Inhabitants thereof are wise and deceitful over whom thou art set and with whom thou hast to deal Therefore beware of men for many may seek after thy hurt and some may flatter thee and shew seeming great respect unto thee and profess great Service of Love to thee in the Nations and in thy Family for a season till their own Ends of Advantage be accomplished and may in the very time hatch Evil against and secretly invent to uncover thy Nakedness and betray thee for many men are Treacherous but thou receiving a Measure of the Wisdom of God it will guide thee over all such and thou wilt see into the hearts and spirits of men and to discern between Love Unfeigned which will seek thy good and not self and that Love which is feigned which will flatter thee and blind thy Judgment and lead thee into Snares and such as will the least flatter thee will be the most true to thee So beware and let not vain Flatteries and Proud Ambitious and ungodly Self-seeking Men nor Drunkards nor Covetous nor Politick and Deceitful men and spirits have any place in thy Heart nor in thy House nor in Places of Authority and Trust in thy Government for such men will be a Snare unto thee and a Dishonour to thee and the cause of God's Wrath and Curse against thy Person Family and whole Nations for such men God will not bless nor thee nor the Government for their sakes and this thou wilt find trâ—â— one day Therefore chuse unto thee such men as fear God who are Just and Humble and Upright-hearted who are Sincere and Faithful to the Lord who have the Wisdom of God and true nobility of Spirit in Righteousness and Simplicity free from the Prophaneness of this evil World let such be thy Companions to wait upon thy Person and to Govern and Rule in thy Family and Nations and let such be put in Trust who will not be Treacherous for such are Blessed and will be a Blessing to thee and the whole Government And we know that the Lord gives respect
charged against them whereby the Lord hath been offended But all things and places of men must be new moulded and corrected and purged and regenerated that true Judgment may flourish and Righteousness and Truth prosper as in the Beginning and this will the Lord suddenly bring to pass by his own Power and if thou opposest it thou shalt not prosper but be cut off and taken out of the way For the Spirit of the Lord hath been provoked to Wrath because of these things and his Anger is kindled against the Nations and he hath overthrown and yet will once more overthrow till he comes whose Right it is to Rule whose shall be the Government and Kingdom and all his Enemies shall be slain And as for the publick Ministry as now it is in its present estate we certainly know and testifie from the Lord unto thee and to the whole Nations that it is not the same Ministry of Christ which the Apostles had nor by the same Power and Spirit but is wholy degenerated in Call in Practice and in Maintenance and in all things from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the true Churches before the Apostacy and it is as now it stands in degeneration not of God nor in the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus nor hath it the same End and Effects as the Ministry of Christ once had but it s tasted and tainted with the Spirit of Antichist which long hath ruled in the World and it s become a grievous Oppression in the Nations and people are not converted nor turned to God from their evil wayes but remain unprofited and to say no more of it though much I might say what I affirm of it I may prove by the Scriptures against the wisest of them before thee if thou pleasest viz. That as now the Ministry stands it is not perfectly the same Ministry the Apostles had but is degenerated from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy and if ever God toucheth thy heart thou wilt see it so when the Spirit of Christ is chief Judge in thee thou wilt witness this to be true and then may not thy Power uphold any thing which is contrary to God when Government is purged and made pure from all its present Degeneration Again There are many and divers sort of Sects and Gatherings of People and Professions in Reliigion of several contrary Judgments and Opinions Worships in these Nations and these People over whom thou art set to rule are divers and divided in their Wayes and Minds and Professions of Religion some looking for and seeking after Christ in such a manner and others after another manner all crying Loe here is Christ and thus he will come and loe he is there and so will he appear and some are inventing and supposing such a Government to be best and others contrary to that and many are as distracted in their thoughts not knowing what to seek or what to look after some are for such a Government and Religion and others for another and peradventure each one of these may seek to thee for Protection against such as oppose them commending and justifying their own Way and Sect and Form and Religion against all others and craving Laws to maintain themselves and their Sect and to stop and limit all other Ways as Heresie because differing from them and they will each of them turn and rest the Scriptures from the mind of the Spirit that gave them forth to prove their own Opinions and Professions to be right against all others but now thou mayst know that the Scriptures were given forth by the one Spirit of God and is the Testimony of one Truth of one Saviour of one true Worship and one only true Religion and not many and diverse Wayes and them that are of divers Judgments and Worships and Religions and yet all plead Proof from the Scriptures for what they profess and practice all such pervert the Scriptures and wrest them who are thus divided and unsettled in Religion and they shew that none of them have the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit leads into all Truth and in it is the true Worship of God and the true Profession and Practice of true Religion and that Spirit only understands its own words in Scripture but all these divers Sects and Heaps of People that are divided in Worship and about Religion have not the Spirit of God that gave forth Scriptures to lead them into all Truth and guide them in the perfect Way and pure Religion which the Apostles and Churches of Christ were in in their dayes but all these many Sects that are thus divided are risen up since the days of the Apostles and are of another spirit and of a false Religion And as for such called Ministers they will be hurrying about thee and flattering thee with fair and crafty words and smooth Petitions and Requests for Protection and Establishment from thee and for large Maintenance and Stipends and Tythes and possibly they may complain to thee against such as cannot give them Hâ—re and Tythes but may reprove their Evil and Covetousness and Wickedness begging for Laws against such and crying out against Error Herisie because some may be mov'd to cry against their Deceits Oppressions and for the like causes they will run about thee and seek their own Advantage and this we know their nature and spirit is such and hath been for many Ages But now Friend Do thou stand in God's Authority out of and over all such Teachers and Sects and come not under any of them that have the Form of Godliness but want the Power who are in the Apostacy from the Life and pure Religion that the Apostles were in nor believe them not that shall say Lo Christ is â—â—rt or Lo he is there or Who shall ascend to fetch him from without or When shall be come from far to save his People Go not thou after any of these but he arken to the Word of God in thy heart and know that Christ is within thee else thou art reprobate neither do thou take in hand to exalt any one of these Sects or some of them above others neither defend maintain any of them against others of them nor tollerate not one of them above another for if thou dost it will betray thee and the Nations Peace and set all spirits on Fire about thee and while one is pleased and may pray for thee others will be vexed against thee and curse thee wherefore be not troubled about these things nor cumber not thy self about Religion how to establish it for it is God's Hand only to establish his Worship and Religion it belongs to him as he will and not as man by his Policy and Wisdom but stand free from them all and neither establish any nor persâ—â—ute any Sect whatsoever but let them all have their couâ—se and
is a Parliament what is a Protector and what is a Council or any other sort of men while the Presence of the Lord is not with them and while his Spirit and Authority is wanting to them What can any of these bring forth none of all these whatsoever if the Lord be not chief in them and amongst them and his Counsel their only Guide shall be any otherwise unto this Nation then as a broken Reed to lean upon and no more then a Shaddow which shall not save the people from the heat nor from the storm this we know and this we declare in the Name of the Lord. And we are not for Names nor Men nor Titles of Government nor are we for this Party nor against the other because of its Name and Pretence but we are for Iustice and Mercy and Trust and Peace and true Freedom that these may be exalted in our Nation and that Goodness Righteousness Meekness Temperance Peace and Unity with God and one with another that these things may abound and be brought forth aboundantly such a Government are we seeking and waiting for wherein Truth and Righteousness Mercy and Iustice Unity and Love and all the Fruits of Holiness may abound and all the contrary be removed cast out and limitted And we are not for such and such Names and Titles of Government that promise fair things and perform nothing but if a Council if a Parliament if any one Man or a number of Men whatsoever shall have the Spirit of the Lord poured on him or them and shall be anointed of the Lord for such an End and Use to Govern this Nation under such only shall the Nation be happy and enjoy Rest from such men fitted of the Lord and called by him and under such a Government of Truth and Righteousness shalt thou O Nation enjoy Rest from all thy Travels and under such a Government shall the Righteous rejoyce and the whole Land sing for Joy of Heart when Tyranny and Oppression shall be clean removed Strife and Contention and Self-seeking utterly abandoned and when Peace and Truth flows forth as a Stream and the Lord alone rules in thy Rulers and he the Principal amongst them and under such men and such a Government only and not under any other shalt thou O Nation be happy and thy people a free People Wherefore O Nation when wilt thou begin to look to the Lord when wilt thou begin to set up Him and not man when wilt thou mind his Power and Presence in and through men more then any men themselves when shall it once be O ye people of our Nation that ye will seek after him to be the principal and chief Power among you Oh! let your eye be turned to the Lord alone that he may deliver you and bring Salvation and Freedom and look no more at men but only as they are in him guided by his Spirit only expect good from men as they are guided by the Lord and then shall you not ever any more be deceived as long you have been with Parliaments with Councils with Armies nor any others for in these have you trusted and not in the Lord from these have you expected great Things without him whenas alas what shall men accomplish or what can they bring forth while they reject the Counsel of the Lord and his Word as hitherto they have done and therefore hath he broke them and confounded them yea and he will break them and crush them under his Rod even till they come to learn his Judgments and know him the alone Power and give Honour to him that doth whatsoever he will and he will overthrow it once and again even till he comes whose Right it is to Rule and he is at work in this his Day and because of Iniquities doth he visit with Tribulation and through great Tribulation and overturning of Men and Powers will he advance his own Kingdom and Government and the end of all these things shall bring forth his Glory and men that will not honour him by dealing Righteously in their Day upon Earth they must honour him in their destruction at their Latter-end and let not men glory one over another while some are put down and others set up but let them all know they have but each sort their hour and their end will come even as others for an everlasting Kingdom and Government will God setup that must rule over all and this is the hope of a poor dispised people though for present hated of all and sought to be destroyed by all yet our Souls are anchored and staid even in the sure Promises of our God in this the day of the Nations trouble and though we are poor and rejected of all and have nothing to glory in among any party or sort of people but even in our Reproaches and Sufferings which we sustain from all yet have we perfect rest in God and satisfaction over all these distractions we know him in whom we have believed and we trust in the shadow of his Wing and we are not of a doubting heart concerning what can come or whomsoever do rule for this we know though all seek after our blood yet he can deliver us if he will we know him that can do all things and if he save none can destroy if he bless none can curse him we know and in him we rest and we give our power in all things to him not unto mortal man whose breath is in his nostrils who must perish as the dung we cannot be afraid of their horror nor can we be drawn by their love but we trust in his Name and under his defence shall we be saved we give our power to him to be defended and preserved by him alone and we are well content with our Sufferings and murmur not our Sufferings are our present Crown but yet Wo unto that Authority which maketh us to suffer and wo 〈◊〉 the men upon whom God shall charge the guilt of our Oppressions and wo unto that Spirit that is found acting against Gods Anointed Behold ye Mountains of the Earth behold ye Rulers and ye People the Lord hath blessed his People and every Tongue that riseth up in witness against them shall be condemned and every Weapon that is formed against them shall be broken this is our hope in this gloomy day and the hope of a Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace which must be set up is our refreshment in this day of trouble and let not our Enemies glory over us forthough we be very poor yet shall we be made rich and though we have no carnal weapon yet shall we conquer and thus have we declared our selves in much plainness and sincerity to our Nation whom we love and whose present condition we pitty and and lament over and we are Friends to an appearance of good that may come forth in Truth and Sincerity and as Righteousness do appear in any we are ready to joyn with
manifest though you deny them in some particulars some of you yet you can cry against that in some of them and yet uphold the same thing I may lawfully instance that some of your Brethren some in this Nation and some in Ireland take or have lately taken Tythes for Preaching and have Yearly Stipends and so much by the Year out of the States Treasure for Preaching One Hundred Pound Two Hundred Pound and Three Hundred Pound a piece by the year which indeed doth shew that you are not intending to destroy their oppressing and abominable practices but the rather that you would turn them out of great Places and Benefices and turn your selves in Oh Deceit and Wickedness which I am forced to lay open upon this Occasion of your own just Provocation hereunto And as for their preserving you and you them against such as do oppose you they may easily joyn with you in this if they could hope in your Faithfulness for some of you and your Members have shewed as much Enmity have been open Persecutors even as they and their Members have been and your Members have been sending the People of God to Prison and persecuting them even as the common Priests of the Nation and you appear to be guided by the same spirit in many things and if they be Antichristian in their wayes and practices its sure that you are not of Christ because you are like unto them in Nature And in that you say You would have none tollerated in their Religion that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but you would tollerate Episcopacy Presbytery or a â—â—inted Form c. say you To which I say I know that spirit that you are of if it had its full authority would tollerate none but your selves for your spirit in nature differs not from the spirit of the Church of Rome And what are you now for tollerating Episcopacy who were once your selves in your Zeal for God when your sincerity was not darkned nor your hearts so much corrupted through Places of Honour and through such things as now they are Instruments to the pulling down of Episcopacy and will you now tollerate it again and help to set it up and build what you have destroyed as if you recanted of what you had done but plainly shewing that you are not of the same Spirit that once you were of but have lost Sincerity and can embrace Idolatry for once ye were the men that did oppose it and did violently help to pull it down but now you are for tolleration Oh! unconstant men this is to you not herein discovering my Judgement in the case and if Episcopacy why may not Popery be tollerated seeing they are one and the self same in ground and nature and not much different in appearance and you may agree to tollerate a stinted Form in others because your selves are in a stinted Form also for what is yours else but a form crying up your water and bread and wine and differing from the World onely in these outward things when as the City and Nation knows you are men as covetous as worldly minded as ambitious as self-seeking of honour and places as any others in the Nation and your Religion appears to be a stinted Form as much as others Alas poor men you have discovered your hearts in your Declaration and according to the corruption thereof I cannot but answer you and there are some that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and say they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise of what the Saints believed and enjoyed and Christ is the Word of God that may in time to come be tollerated in their Religion in this Nation though you have renounced them but while they are owned and regarded of the Lord they respect not your love nor hatred who are mortal men and your breath in your nostrils and must fall and perish as the dung in all your beauty and your profession of Religion before the coming of the Son of God And in your Post-script you say you have under you hands sent forth your Declaration in behalf of your selves and others of your Iudgement but I must tell you I do believe there are some even of those called Anabaptists which will reject your work and to them my answer is not for I spare them but to you fearful Hypocrites in a time of danger that have in this juncture of time renounced us without ground or reason in the Sight of God but for your 〈◊〉 as if you would gain the favour of the Nation and City by denial of â—â—s and looking upon your selves to be reproached because of us when as you are a Company of unworthy men even unworthy of our reproaches and to escape them have denied us as seeming to clear your selves but you are deceived in this matter and it shall turn to work against you in the Nation and in the City for we have a more surer witness in their Consciences even in the Consciences of all people that we are of God then you have for take but away your outward water and Bread and Wine and some few outward Practices and what do you differ from the worst sort of men in the Nation for doth not Pride and Hypocrisie and Self-Love and Covetousness and the love of this World abound amongst you as much as amongst any others the Witness in Peoples Consciences knows it which shall be a Witness for us and against you You may indeed have gained League with the worst sort of men in the Nation but you have not gained the sincerity in people and while we have that on our side to witness for us take you the rude multitude for we are not discouraged at all concerning this thing but the rather do glory in the Lord though we be denied of all for though men forsake us yet the Lord careth for us and your own doing shall return upon your own heads and thus much is sufficient to the substance of your Declaration and if I receive any reply I shall expect it under the hands of you all that I may further search and discover you unto your selves and to the Nation And whereas there is a Manuscript goes abroad consisting of five particulars which is said that it was delivered in to the Committee of Safety as Advice and Counsel to them but who the Authors of it are is something uncertain but certain it is that some of the called Independant Ministers and Pastors were the chief Promoters of it and in the Copy which was delivered to my hands it is said These five Particulars were the result of a little Synod made up of Presbyterians Independants and Anabaptists but whether it is so or no I leave that and would say something to some of the Particulars and even to the Committee of Safety and Officers of the Army and all others of the Nation for their better information then the same Paper describeth to
Just and Sober Men and to your condemnation in the Sight of God who takes notice of your wickedness and unseemly behaviour which you may call to mind and remember that you may repent of your ungodly words and cruel speeches and rude bruitish gestures which appeared in you without any Fear of God to your shame be it spoken and like Priests like People all out of the way in folly and vanity erring through Lightness and Wantonness not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God but perverters of the one and despifers of the other the sin of the Priest will be charged upon the People because you love to have those things so and uphold him in his wickedness and the sin of the people will be charged upon the Priests who through Lyes and Lightness cause you to err and profits them not at all but is a blind Leader of ye blind People till both fall into the Ditch together who close your Eyes that you may not see and shut your Ears lest you should Hear and harden your Hearts that you may not understand and your Destruction is of your selves and your Blood is upon your own Heads who scorns to be reproved and despiseth the Way of the Lord and will not receive his Truth in the Love of it that you may be saved but is a blind willful and stiff-necked people some of you who have hearts and cannot understand Is these the fruits of your long Profession Railing Mocking Scorning Laughing Hooting Foolish and Vain Words Nick-naming and Reproaching these things abounds openly among you to your shame especially at such a time when Meekness and Soberness and Moderation had much better become you to have been brought forth by you your Priests exceeding the rest in vileness and some of your Rulers hardly being clear remember your work and call to mind your words and ways and let shame cover your heads from the highest to the lowest of you and thou proud wild reproachful professeâ— Minister cease thy vain presumptious boastings against the Innocent and now when thou puts off thy armor if thou hast gotten a victory glory or rather hide thy face for shame and stop thy mouth in the dust whose Lightness and Wildness hath super-abounded some of thy fellows who may be ashamed of thee in thy words and behaviour whereby thou art sufficiently proved to be one that was never sent of God if we had no other testimony Thy proud presumptions boast against the Quakers was with soberness and in the Fear of the Lord answered to thy shame in the sight of all such whose hearts are not altogether hardned and given up to believe Lies and to do Wickedness that they may be damned that believe not the Truth and first as to the manner of the dispute on his part were his Railing Envious Reproachful unsavory filthy words of God or of the Devil with much impudency many times uttered in the discourse as Villain Sirrah Wretch Blasphemer Rogue and such like lying words of Bitterness more like the words of a brawling Drunkard then for a Minister of Christ and were his booting laughsing and clapping his hands and rude and unseemly gestures and behaviour of God or of the Devil more like in appearance to a Stage-player then to a Minister of Christ to his shame I mention it consider and answer these things and let that of God in your Consciences judge to which I stand to be approved in meekness and he to be reproved and condemned in his filthiness and bruitishness in the Sight of God may not you who owned him in that discourse be ashamed of him in these his words and actions which appeared who boastingly gave a Challenge to dispute of the things of God and then to mannage it in Rudeness and Wildness without any Fear of God in Lying and Slandring and at the end when things came to the head for Tryal to run away and not to stand to the end though several times he was charged to it I appeal for Answer to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences not like a Minister of Christ in any measure he appeared but as one that knows not the Living God nor his Law and Fear nor Judgements and an unfit fellow upon tryal I found him to dispute the Precious things of God and through some Nations I have hardly met with a worse which caused me to be the more silent then otherwise I would for I chosed rather to be accounted a fool by silence then to offend the Just Law of God by giving holy things to Dogs or casting Pearls before Swine in which nature he and some of you appeared who fasly Slandered the Innocent with the name of Jesuite and such like crying away with him with Bitter and Cruel words and gestures pushing with your hands and crying a Prison were the fittest or such like even like unto your fore-Fathers the Pharisees who persecuted Christ under the account of themselves being righteous and he a blasphemer and they laid snares for him to entrap him in his works as you did who when I would not answer according to your provoking that you might ensnare me would hardly suffer me to answer any thing to clear and defend to the Truth against the boast of the Wicked but by Hooting and Laughing and Clapping of Hands and Foolish Jeastings and unreasonable Rudeness prevented me from speaking and them that would have heard from hearing as much as you could even as bruit Beasts or Heathens and not like civil people much less like godly Christians nor like such as would or could soberly debate the Truth of God to edification and truly may I say I fought with Beasts at Reading after the manner of men but all was to make your selves and your pretended Minister manifest and all could not be so blind but might understand his wayes and words not to be guided by the Spirit of God but by the spirit of the Devil who is the Father of such Works and Conâ—… as was brought forth by him in the Meeting in many uncivil actions and reproachful words of envy And also as to the matter of dispute on his pâ—â—t managed was but a vain contention boastingly uttered without the Fear of the Lord in a proud presumptious spirit and a Snare laid in the mid'st of his Questions and Arguments to entrap the Just but in vain was the Snare 〈◊〉 in the sight of the Bird and I chose rather to appear a Fool to your wisdom then to be made a prey upon by you and caught in your deep-laid Snare for we are learned to be as wise as Serpents and deeply did he and sâ—â—e of you fall into the Snare of Confusion and Wickedness and False Doctrines as would have been laid open if he had durst to have staid or you to have heard The Principal Question was whether the Scriptures are the Word of God which he affirmed but could not prove by plain Scripture â—â—to which much might have
this Nation and pretended great Reformation in the Civil State as well as the other had done in Church State And who got the Estates and Titles of their Enemies and pretended to free this Nation from all Oppressions but have not done it but have continued the old Oppressions and have been striving among themselves who should Rule and who should be great but have not Ruled for God nor in Justice and Equity though they first Warred against the King and carryed it on and removed the King and Lords and that Goverment and all this in pretence of Ruling better and in a better Government and yet kept not Engagements nor Promises made in that case Upon such is the guilt of the Suffering of the King so far as his Sufferings are unjust even upon Hypocrites who have walked in these steps who as I have said first made war against the King and got great Estates and quite forgotten the cause once pretended by them and now in flattery Cries up King and Kingly Government again though this many years they have seemed to be opposite against it upon such as these may the guilt aforesaid in measure be charged And though there are risen many Sects and Sorts of People since the beginning of the Wars yet in the beginning there was but one sort that were in a capacity to raise and prosecute War against the King and upon such there is guilt to be charged in the sight of God who have foregone their Principles and been deceitful both to God and men And as for Us who are called Quakers we are clear from the guilt of all his Sufferings and in the present Capacity wherein we now stand and under the actings of that Spirit which now we are of we have no part in the guilt of these Iniquities we have not cast out others and taken their places of great Benefices neither have we made war with carnal Weapons against any never since we were a People mark neither have we broken Oaths and Engagements nor promised freedom and deliverance and for self-ends and Earthly Riches betrayed as others have done what we pretended to and in many particulars it doth appear that we are clear from his Sufferings for we have been a Suffering People as well as they by the same Spirit which caused them to suffer which hath been much more Cruel Wicked and Unjust towards us than it hath been towards them though our Persecution hath been in another manner but what they have done against us we can freely forgive them and we would have you to follow the same example and if you could accuse them in many things so could we but this is not a time to accuse one another but to forgive one another and so to overcome your Enemies or else you will appear in the same Spirit that so he that condemns them cannot justifie you though we do condemn as well as you them that have pretended Reformation and Wared against you upon that account and when they had gotten victory did not reform but become Oppressors themselves as well as others and became Cruel towards others that would not say and do as they and for this Cause the Lord hath brought them down and may justly suffer others to deal with them as they have dealt with others yet notwithstanding I must still say and it is my judgment that there was very great Oppressions and Vexations under the Government of the late King and Bishops under his power which the Lord was offended with and many good People Oppressed by for which cause the Lord might and did justly raise up some to oppose and strive against Oppressions and Injustice and to intend and press after Reformation in all things and that Principle of Sincerity which God did raise in many in the beginning of the Wars which in some things acted them forth and carryed them on in opposing Oppressions and pressing after Reformation this Principle I can never deny but acknowledge to it though many soon lost it and became Self-seekers forgetting and foregoing the Cause pretended to having lost Sincerity and became corrupted in their way and Injustice and Oppression abounded by them and because hereof are they condemned in the sight of the Lord and not by me Justified because they have lost Sincerity and turned the War and all the Proceedings into Self-seeking and therefore is God provoked against them though had they continued in their Integrity and had really performed what some time they pretended and had forsaken all Sin it had not been thus with them neither had this guilt been upon them which now they are like to be accountable for And this is my Judgment concerning these things Quer. 6. Whether or no he may iustly think ye and with more safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE so called to all the many Sects and sorts of People and Worshippers that are now in beeing in these Nations Or whether he may Tollerate some and not all Or whether he may Tollerate none but reduce the Government of the Church into the way of Bishops and Prelates as it was in his Father's dayes Which of these may he do justly and with more safety to himself and happiness to his Government and Kingdoms Answ. We do believe he may and ought justly and with most safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow free LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all the Matters of Faith and Worship towards God for LIBERTY in exercise of CONSCIENCE in the Matters of God's Kingdom is a very precious thing to the Lord and very dear in his sight and he is tender of it and I do stedfastly believe he will not bless the Rulers of this Nation that shall deny to the People of this Nation and oppose LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the exercise of Faith and Worship towards God for I do know it is not given of God to any Earthly King or Ruler whatsoever to exercise Lordship over the Consciences of People in the Matters of Faith and Worship and the things pertaining to Gods Kingdom for Kings and Rulers are but to Rule over men in a Nation in the Matters between one man and another in outward things and worldly affairs and therein only men ought to Rule in Equity over a Nation or City or Country and Magistracy in this state and for such an end is Gods Ordinance appointed of him for the preserving of peace and good order among men in outward things and it is a priviledge of the Crown of Christ's Spiritual Kingdom to be Lord and Ruler over and in mens Consciences in Faith and Worship and all the Matters of his Kingdom even as and according to his pleasure and as his Spirit leads and guides for and if any man shall assume to prescribe God a way how he must be Worshipped and shall limit his Spirit from this or to the other way of Religion and think to be Lord in mens
and divers practises thereunto pertaining it is not the true Worship of the True and Living God though never so zealously practised because it cannot be believed that the Authors and Composers of it were moved led and guided by the Holy Spirit of God in their very Institution and forming of it and whatsoever is brought forth whether in Faith or any practise in any kind of Profession and practises in any way of Religion and not onely by the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which is only in Spirit and Truth and consists onely of such practises moved unto and guided in by the Spirit and the true Worship of God is not otherwise neither for matter nor manner but in what things and after what manner as the Spirit of God leadeth unto and guideth in for the Father seeketh such to Worship him as Worship in Spirit and Truth 4. As for the Method and Form of the matter it is not according to the example of the Holy Scriptures nor agreeing to the practise of Worship held forth by the Apostles but different from and partly contrary to the Spirit that was in the Saints and their example of Worship as in many circumstances pertaining to the orders of Common-Prayer-Book might be instanced but even some of the Practises themselves and the manner of performing them are for the most part Invention and Tradition traduced into the World long since the Apostles days and they are not according to the Scriptures nor example of the Saints Worship in the Church of Christ in their days and therefore the Matter in it self partly and the Method of it are not the true Worship of the Living God which is not after the traditions of men as the manner of performance of Common Prayer-Book is when as the Worship of God is in and by the Spirit of God as before witnessed 5. And as for the Practice of it in this Nation as by Imposition and force upon pains penalties as it was practised for many years together as so held forth it was not the Worship of God but Abomination to him as I have shewed and that Worship which is practised by any people being forced upon them is but Hypocrisie and deceit and outward conformity in such Worshippers and God requires it not of them and such was the Worship in the Common-Prayer so called for there were many who did bow and conform thereunto even because of the terror of men even many in the Ignorance of their Consciences and some against their Consciences and contrary to the Light thereof and some were persecuted because they could not conform all which was Abomination in the sight of the Lord even the consequence of the thing was as evil as any part of either matter or manner also even while many conceited themselves in their Ignorance that they had Worshipped God and done well while they had onely performed such Worship forced upon them and which the Lord never required at their hands and that cannot be the true Worship of the true and Living God which can be performed by a People without the Spirit of God by which alone and without it God cannot be Worshipped and the practise of Worship after the order of Common-Prayer did many thousands if not most perform without the Spirit of God whereby it fully appears that in the practise of the Book of Common-Prayer the Worshippers did not Worship the true and Living God but walked only in a part of the Form of Godliness but had not the Power 6. But as for the Practise of it as now in England without Imposition upon all by force and penalty but by some out of supposition that it is the best way of worship and that willingly and neither forced upon them nor they forcing it upon others as thus practis'd is not so great Idolatry nor of so bad effects as if it were violently forced upon all but if any suppose it to be the best way of worship and be so perswaded such may more equally have their Liberty in the exercise thereof while they allow Liberty to others to follow what worship as they are preswaded and as it is unjust to impose by violence that or any other Form of worship upon people so it is unjust to impose penalty or punishments on the Bodies or Estates of any for their conformity to the Book of Common-Prayer or any other kind of Worship for as it is contrary to God to compel by force to that Practise of Worship so it is unjust to stop by force from that Way of Worship or to inflict Penalties upon the Persons or Estates of any because thereof for though many exceptions may be justly made by sound Arguments against that way of Worship in matter manner and effects as I have said yet none ought to be afflicted in Person or Estate for the error of their minds while their error extends not to destroy the Person and Estate of another for all force by violence that hath been put on the Bodies and Estates of men about Church-Worship Ministry and Religion of any kind hath been Antichristian and not of God even for many Generations 7. And therefore them that read the Book of Common-Prayer and all other sort of Worshippers that are either perswaded by the Spirit of God or suppose in their hearts of the Verity and Truth of their Way let them all have their Liberty in their way of Worship without force or restraint by outward Laws while they impose not one upon another violently for the true Worshippers ought not to be persecuted for their Worship but if they are it will confirm them in the truth of their Way the false Worshippers ought not to suffer affliction of Persecution nor loss of Estate though they do err in their Minds and Judgments about Worship in spiritual things but if they are afflicted because thereof it will harden them in their evil wayes and not convert them nor turn them from the evil of their wayes for men are converted to the right way and out of that which is evil by the Spirit of God and through perswading of the Conscience inwardly and not by force or violence put upon their Bodies or estates outwardly never any were converted to God by such means And this is my Answer to the Objection and my judgment of the case inquired into The Book of Common Prayer so called partly the Matter it self and the Method of it and the Manner of its performance is not the true Worship of the True and Living God no not the free Practise there of without Imposition much less the Practise of it by Imposition and force for that is altogether Abomination and hath with it woful effects upon whatsoever People it hath been or shall hereafter be forced and violently Imposed This is given forth for the Satisfaction of all that desires in this Matter The 5th Moneth 1660. E. B. A Postscript AND some set up the Institution
the World might condemn him and every sober Subject would cry in their Consciences against him for unjust judgement and cruel proceedings if he upâ—â— report of others through prejudice should act against any people and the Heathen King Agrippa would rise up in judgement against him who would not â—â—â—demn Paul from the Accusation of others without first hearing the Accused â—imself and a Christian King ought to shew as much Mercy Justice and Reason in what he doth as the Heathen Kings have done in the like case And let the King consider this 3. Let him also consider what Enmity and Malice and Rage is in the hearts of these men these Priests I mean of whose Fraternity and Alliance this our Accuser is one and how they seek after innocent blood who are thus ready and â—â—â—â—ard at his first enterance into the Land to present the King with Accusations of Falshood and Reproaches against an innocent people to move his heart if possible to destroy and devour the harmless The spirit and nature of these men are to be considered whose works are often tending to shed blood but if he shall be guided and counselled by such they will lead him into the ditch for they are of the spirit of Envy and Mischief and Mischief rests with them even against all who will not bow under their Authority and submit unto their false Worâ—â—ips And let the King beware of that Generation of men lest they be a snare â—pon him and wound him And I shall now proceed to some other things in his Book to that where he â—aith He doth upon his bended Knees most bumbly beseech the King and the Honourable Parliament that they will first Cut off false Prophets Hereticks and perverse and incorrigible Seducers and â—â—â—â—phemers for these are the Pâ—st saith he of both Church and State 〈◊〉 Answ. I answer to this Many things are considerable to the King and Parliâ—ent and whole Kingdom 1. It is to be considered who these false Prophets Hereticks Seducers and â—â—â—â—phemers are which the Petitioner would have cut off and destroyed â—â—â—m his meaning is of is doubtful for that there are false Prophets Heâ—… Seducers and Blasphemers in these Nations and that very many â—â—is is not doubtful but certainly believed and known but what sort of men 〈◊〉 perfectly who these are distinguished from all others this requireth 〈◊〉 debate and large tryal especially seeing that each sect and sort of â—â—ople cries against others as if they were such and such and this is usual with â—â—â—â—sts Protestants and others to cry for their own Liberty and Toleration a such who are in the right way and each one sort almost desiring and petitiâ—â—â—â—â— the Powers of the Earth against others that are not of their way to deâ—… and cut off such as differ from them as Hereticks and Deceivers but such â—â—â—â—it that seeks to destroy menslives on that account is of Antichrist and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 2. And if false Prophets Hereticks Seducers and Blasphemers were cerâ—… known and distinguished from others that are not so yet the King 〈◊〉 â—â—â—liament ought not to destroy such and to cut them off from the Earth 〈◊〉 â—…lling of them or executing outward punishments and afflictions upon 〈◊〉 for God hath not committed such power and authority to them neiâ—â—er to be Judges infallibly who are false Prophets Hereticks and Blaspheâ—â—â—â— â—or yet to execute death and outward sufferings upon such as are for these are spiritual matters and Causes to try and judge who deceivers are and to proceed towards Hereticks and Blasphemers and these Cases belong to the Jurisdiction of Christs Spiritual Kingdom and not to any earthly Kingâ— and Rulers at this day 4. And if King and Parliament were able to judge of false Prophets and â—lasphemers and who they are that are such from others that are not yet how contrary to the way of God would it be even to the example of Christ and his Apostles to destroy and cut off by death the lives of such false Prophets and Blasphemers for if men be in an evil way even in the way of Heresie and Error and Blasphemy and be deceived and deceivers of others yet it is not a time to destroy and kill such like as if such should be sent straight to Hell being cut off in their wickedness and in their Error This is not God's way I say for he desires not the death of sinners not to cut men off in their Errors and evil wayes but it s rather the time to instruct and exhort such and to correct and reprove them by sound Doctrine and to win them to the Truth and out of their errors that they may be saved and this Christ and his Apostles gave example for for there were many in their dayes that were false Prophets and Hereticks Seducers and Blasphemers and that were perverse and incorrigible that did Blaspheme against Christ and called him Devil and that did oppose the Gospel and scorned the Apostles and such were Blasphemers and Hereticks but did Christ and his Apostles at all desire that such might be killed and cut off by death Nay they forgave their Enemies and did instruct them by sound Doctrine and sought to win their Persecutors and not to have them killed as this Petitioner would whose Spirit is manifest to be of Antichrist and the Dragon and not of the Lamb and if the request were granted and the lives of such as this Petitioner calls false Prophets cut off then the King and Parliament would rather provoke the Lord against themselves to destroy them then to give unto themselves blessings and peace 5. But they being ignorant who the Deceivers and Blasphemers are and not being equal and just Judges in that case but also divided among themselves about it and it being not committed of God to them to destroy by death of body such as may err in their minds by killing such whom they may suppose false Prophets and they wanting infallible judgement to know who are false Prophets how soon may they destroy and cut off the lives of true Prophets and Christ's Ministers and men that Fear God instead of false Prophets and Blasphemers even for want of true judgement and discerning and because of their own division in judgement in that case for iâ—s possible that some of the Parliament may judge such to be Deceivers whom others of them may judge to be true Ministers and whose judgement then shall stand and also thus it hath often come to pass in the World the true Prophets and Christ himself and the holy Apostles and Ministers of Christ were accounted Deceivers Hereticks and Blasphemers and such like by thâ— Kings and Rulers of the World in former Generations and thâ— true Prophets Christ and his Apostles were persecuted as such and destroyed as such some of them even by the Kings and Rulers of this World till they 〈◊〉 provoked God against them to destroy them and some of them he did bring wrath upon
extream Reproaches as I have said in Contempt and Derision of that People and all this as if those People were guilty of heinous Crimes that it might appear to thee as if these Petitioners had done nothing but Iustice in what they have done and they seek to cover themselves and to hide their Wickedness before thee in what they have unjustly acted and this seems to be the Current of some part of the same Petition already presented unto thee like as if they had done no Evil though they have Unjustly Banished 〈◊〉 off Ears Whipped inhumanly and taken away lives as aforesaid And they would have thee believe they are Innocent towards thee and towards us whenas it is evident as the Sun at Noon-day that they are our Persecuters and that they have â—â—justly persecuted us unto Death for the Name of Christ and that also they are not unto thee as they Hypocritically feign themselves And therefore O King for the clearing of our selves and the Name of the Lord which we profess and for reproving of their bold impudent Insolencies both in what they have already done to us and now in seeking to cover themselves unto thee And also if there be any doubtfulness in thy Heart of these Matters for these Ends and Causes with Respect to the Fear of God and Honour 〈◊〉 the King I hereby presume to pursue their said Petition even unto thy Court and to wipe away the Slanders and Reproaches of Ungodly Men as much as possible hoping thereby thou wilt receive due and just Information in this matter of proceeding between us and them that thy just Judgment may be given accordingly And I shall transcribe some few of their own words presented to thee and thereupon spread some few Considerations before thee also and I pray God give thee an Understanding to judge justly in this and all other cases The first thing that I note is whereas they say That they have chosen rather the pure Scripture-Worship with a good Conscience in this poor remote Wilderness to â—it New-England among the Heathens than the Pleasures of England with subjection to the Imposition of the then so disposed and so far prevailing Hierarchy which we could not do without an evil Conscience c. say they The Considerations presented unto the King upon these words are divers 1. The Worship Doctrine Discpiline and Constitution of the Church of New-England is different and contrary and not purely according unto the Scriptures in the Administration of the Gospel nor in a pure Conscience purely guided by the Spirit of God though they seem to justifie their own Way and Case before the King and this may justly be made appear in his Presence upon good Occasion only at this time I assert the Case and if ever God gives oportunity I may prosecute it with Proofs and Evidences and that to the great Reproof of the Church so called of New-England who are not only in Doctrine Worship and Conversation contrary to the Scriptures but impudent and too presumptious to affirm their own Self-justification and Innocencâ— before the King when as it is manifest as the Day is from the Night that the Pastors and Members of the Church of New-England want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and follow the spirit of Persecution Violence and Cruelty and are void of a Good Conscience both towards God and Men. To prove this there needs no greater Evidence than their own Deportâ—…nt towards the Harmless Quakers for these five years time who as I have said have spoiled their Goods and imprisoned their Persons cut off their Ears Banished them and inhumanely put them to Death and all this because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Religious Matters when as no manner of Evil could be charged upon them in the things between man and man And if these be not works contrary to the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and contrary to a Good Conscience I am yet ignorant and must leave it to the Judgment of the King before whom this Matter is brought to receive his Judgment 2. Let the King consider how they have ignorantly condemned themselves in the same things for whith they have judged others for while they seem to complain of the Impositions of the Bishops which they stile prevailing Hierarchy if it was Transgression in the Bishops in dayes past to impose upon these Petitioners and to Persecute them for Non-conformists how much more are these men guilty of Imposition and Persecution of tender Consciences Nay they have exceeded in the same Transgression and become seven-fold guilty of the sins themselves which they complain against in others for they have gone further in Cruelty and Persecution towards the Innocent Quakers than ever the Bishops proceeded against them even so far further as the murdering of a man is more than cutting off his Ear And the Cause of the Quakers towards these Petitioners hath been as Innocent as ever theirs was towards the Bishops Oh hypocritical Generation who are condemning of others for that whereof themselves are guilty and imposing upon others in a far higher degree than ever the Bishops imposed on them witness their Law in New-England which judgeth every man to pay 5s per day who come not to their Assembly and imposing Fines of 40s and 50s apiece on such as meet together to worship the Lord which are evident signs of an evil Conscience as themselves speak The next thing that I note upon which the King ought to consider the Petitioners say concerning the Quakers Open Capital Blasphemers open Seducers from the Glorious Trinity the Lord 's Christ the Blessed Gospel and from the holy Scriptures as the Rule of Life open Enemies to the Government it self as established in the hand of any but men of their own Principles malignant Promoters of Doctrines directly tending to subvert both our Church and State By way of Answer to this let the King consider 1. The envious and detestable spirit of maliciousness of these Accusers and how vehement and fervent their persecuting spirit is drawn forth with reproachful Tearms in the highest degree like as if they could not utter sufficiently the Envy of their Hearts or as if they wanted words to demonstrate their Malignity and devouring Malice against that People whom they in scorn call Quakers and all this to present us Odious and Abominable before thee O King I say but this of them unto thee The Lord forgive them if they have not sinned unto Death and Unpardonably I have no desire of Revenge towards them but I leave Vengeance to the Lord who will recompence in his season neither do I desire to provoke or incense the King against them only Duty to God and the King teacheth me and Love Constraineth me and an absolute Necessity presseth much upon me to spread our Denyal of their Bitter and Malicious Accusations against us before the King unto whom we are thus foully accused And I say I
the Church of ROME who are in the said Book Villified and Reproached by the Name and Term of Antient Phanaticks And this is sent forth as an Answer thereunto to Pursue it Apprehend it and Condemn it as a Pamphlet of Calumnies and Slanders against the Protestants both of former and present Dayes who are all of them Scorned in the said Book the one as Ancient the other as Modern PHANATICKS Which is sent abroad as a Warning to ENGLAND to beware of the spirit of the Church of ROME lest it Exalt it self in Cruel Persecution against the PROTESTANTS and all that differ from it HOW Great and Miserable hath been that Darkness and Ignorance which hath over-spread the Nations and Kingdoms of the World since the Apostles dayes And how manifold is that Error into which many have been fallen even as into a Snare of Destruction And how woful is that Strife Division and Contention about Religion that hath highly abounded among the Christian People so called For the whole Christendom have been divided and in Opposition one part against another about the True God and his Worship and concerning the knowledge of Salvation by Jesus Christ And divers kinds of Religion Church-Government and Practices of Ordinances of Faith Worship have been extant in the World and Nations Countries have been all in Division Strife and Contention about these Matters and have been also persecuting one another violently unto Bonds and Death for and because difference in Judgment and Practices concerning Spiritual Things Papists against Protestants and Protestants against Papists and one sort of Christians so called against another and the men of such a Judgment and Faiâ—â— and Way of Religion have been persecuting and seeking to destroy all that have been contrary minded to them And thus have been the woful Divisions and evil Effects thereof in the World among Christians about Faith and Worship and Religious matters this has come to pass because of the spirit of Error Darkness that hath possessed the minds of men since the falling away from the Truth as it was once manifest among the Apostles And thus it s come to pass because of the erring from the Spirit of God and because that hath been wanting amongst men therefore have People been divers and divided about Matters of Religion each one sort following their own Invention and Traditions of men and also persecuting one another and killing and imprisoning one another because of the same and all this because the Spirit of Truth hath not dwelt in the Hearts of Christians as it did in the Apostles not led guided and taught them in true Unity and Fellowship as it did the true Christians in the dayes of old And while the Spirit of Christ hath been wanting and is not received into the Heart to mortifie guide rule and teach in all the Wayes of God and the whole exercise of Religion and Duty towards Him and while there is any kind of imposing and forceing of Religion by Laws of men upon Penalties and Forfeitures and setting up Worship and Church Government by that means and in that way without the immâ—… Teaching of the Spirit of Christ in the Conscience I say while this hath been and is continued nothing but Division Strife Contention Persecution and Nations and Peoples destroying one another about Religion hath been is or can be in the World amongst Christians And of this same to wit of Division and Contention about Religion with the Enmity of such as are so divided one against another to the persecuting and killing one of another that are contrary minded as it hath been brought forth in the World for Generations past we have here a sufficient large Testimony lately published in a Book called Semper Iidem or A Paralel of Phanaticks c. wherein is made mention of what Strife and Contention there hath been in former dayes among the false Christians and how they have cruelly Persecuted Burned and Destroyed one another in this Cause only for and because of the difference in Maters of Judgment and Religious Things and these Persecutions and Cruelties effected contrary to the Example of Christ and his Doctrine who hath exhorted to Love and Peace and not to Kill and Destroy and that a man should love his Enemies and not Kill and Destroy them contrary to which Doctrine the false Christians of all kinds have walked and acted since the dayes of the Apoâ—… who have been Apostatized and fallen from the very Life and Power of Godliness as held amongst the primitive Saints into Forms and empty Shadows being all in strife one with another about such things and have wanted the Spirit of Christ which should have led and guided into all Truth and exercised them in the true Worship of the true and living God who is a Spirit and is only truly worshipped in Spirit and in Truth but out of this Spirit and spiritual Worship the false Christians have been erred and so all divided and in Centention aâ— aforesaid and persecuting one another because thereof each one sort justifying their own Way 〈◊〉 Right and condemning that which hath differed as the Wrong and all as Hereticks that have been otherwise minded But as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Book Semper Iidem c. I would gladly animadâ—… 〈◊〉 conâ—…ing it and do intend to write a few things by way of anâ—â—er thereunto and this is the present Occasion of my present work for having met with the said Pamphlet and perusing of it I found divers Considerations on my spirit to send forth in Answer to pursue the said Semper Iidem up and down the World till it returns again unto the place from whence it came to wit Unto the bottomless Pit out of which it lately arose and in reading the same Book I have principally observed the Mischievout End and secret Evil Intents of the Nameless Author more than the Matter it self contained and though the Author be Nameless yet is his nature and spirit known by his Book and for what end he hath concealed his Name I know not except he was ashamed of his Work and durst not Authorize his Matter by his Name but however the spirit end and intent of the said Nameless Person is perceived and known as much as any Tree can be distinguished by its Fruit and he is of an Envious Disposition of Heart and of Malicious Countenance and in nature and stock of the descent of Cain for his spirit is of an evil constitution hot and fiery and enclinable to destroy all that are not like-minded with himself in the Iudgment of Religious Matters and his proceedings and the end of his work is of an Intent and Purpose wicked enough if every Effect answers the Cause appearing and be not diverted from the End proposed by the Author and this I find by Calculation of his Birth and the Temper of his spirit and of the Time wherein his Book is published and by the Cause and End and Intent of the
though some may profess good Conscience and cry for Liberty thereof in their false Sect and Religion not taught them by the Spirit of Christ yet the Civil Magistrate ought not to punish and use Violence to such for their Religion but if they do they persecute and the Lord will lay it to their charge But yet this is safe for all first to obtain true Liberty of Conscience to God-wards and to receive the Spirit of Christ to be taught only by it in the Exercise of Conscience and Religion that they may not err in Conscience and Judgment in spiritual Matters nor suffer Wrongfully under pretence of Righteousness sake whenas it is not truly so CHAP IV. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion TO all ye that are of divers Judgments and Opinions in and concerning Spiritual Matters who are divided about Faith Doctrine Worship and Church Government some of you holding one thing some another different and contrary to that being diversly divided in mind and heart concerning the matters that are one in themselves to which you all assent as to the things in themselves and yet are different contrary minded about the self-same things To you all I am moved to write that so ye may be informed perfectly First What the Cause is of your Divisions and why it is thus amongst you And Secondly Of the bad Effects and Fruits such Divisions have brought forth And Lastly The Meant and Way of Reconciliation that ye may come into Love and Peace and Unity with God and one with another in all things pertaining to his Kingdom First The Cause of your Divisions and of the Diversities of Judgments and Opinions that are amongst you concerning the Things and Matters of God's Kingdom is Because you want the Spirit of God to guide you and it is not the Rule of your Knowledge and Iudgment and you wanting the Spirit of God in which is Unity among Saints therefore is it you are so divided and divers and different and contrary one to another in these things it is because ye want the Spirit of God I say which only teacheth the true Knowledge of God and gives an Understanding in all his Wayes and Matters It is the Spirit of God that teacheth true Faith true Doctrine and true Worship and all things about Church Ministry and Religion and if that you had the Spirit of God in you and were taught and guided by it it would teach you into one Faith and one Truth and into the true Worship and into the true Church-Government and you would be in Unity and Peace And if you all had the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and by which Spirit the Saints of God were guided in dayes past it would teach you into Unity and to be of one Mind one Heart and one Soul in all the Matters pertaining to God's Kingdom in Faith Worship Doctrine and all things else If you had the Spirit of God I say and were taught by it then you would have Unity with God and one with another in all his Wayes and there would have been no Division nor Contention amongst you about spiritual Matters but because you want that therefore you have Strife and Division amongst you even throughout all Christendom Here 's a Nation and a Kingdom holding such a Faith and Worship and there 's another People holding Faith and Worship contrary to that and here 's one Sect of People and there 's another different in Faith Judgment and Opinion and this is a Shame to whole Christendom That all should profess Christ Iesus and Faith in him and Salvation by him and his Doctrine and Worship and yet be in strife division and in great contentions concerning the same some holding and practizing one manner of Faith Worship and Doctrine and others holding contrary and different and this shews that ye are all fallen from the Life of Christianity as it was held in the Apostles dayes amongst the true Churches for they were of one heart mind soul and spirit as it is written they were of one Faith of one Worship of one Doctrine and had one way of Church-Government and this continued amongst the Churches of Christ till there were some that had Erred from the Spirit of God in their own Consciences and then they also Erred in Faith in Doctrine and in all other things relating to God and these were the Apostate Christians that had erred from the Spirit and divided themselves from the true Church and differed in Judgment amongst themselves and this was because they had erred from the Spirit of God which would have kept them in Unity with God and one with another for the Spirit is the Bond of Peace and the Seal of the Covenant of Love amongst the Saints So now All ye who are divided in your Knowledge and Iudgement and are in contention one with another about the matters pertaining to God's Kingdom you are the apostate Christians and you are without the Spirit of Christ The first apostate Christians erred from the Spirit and so became divided from the true Faith and from the true Worship and also among themselves and you never yet received the Spirit of Christ that you might come into Unity and Fellowship with God and one with another and that is the Reason of all your Divisions in Religious matters because you have not received the Spirit of Christ to teach you and to unite your Hearts to God and one to another but you having the Scriptures traditionally by discent through Ages which do describe and declare of that Faith and Doctrine and of the Worship and Church-Government which were among the Saints of old which they held and practised and from the Scriptures which declare of the things from thence you take up a Conceit and false Judgment and an Imitation and a false Conformity and then each sort of you call that your Faith and Church-Government and some after one manner of form and some after another and thus you are divided because you want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit did work true Faith in the hearts of them that gave them forth in dayes of old and it taught them Worship Faith Doctrine and all things concerning Gods Kingdom for the Spirit led them into all Truth and now you wanting the same Spirit that wrought in them and taught them and you having but their words to wit the Scriptures from thence in the Wisdom which is below and in the carnal Reason and in the first mans understanding each Nation takes up a conceit that it is so and so and takes up an Imitation of Worship and Church-Government according to their own sensual wisdom and according to the breadth and depth of their Conceits and then imitates and that severally and diversly and in a divided manner and this is amongst Kingdoms and amongst Neighbours and Brethren this Division in matters of Faith Worship and Doctrine and Church-Government
received and so is divided in whole or in part from the true Church of Jesus Christ and from being a Member of the same and not only so but hath received also and doth hold some False Principles Opinions and Practices either different from or contrary to the Truth of the Gospel before believed in known and professed such a man is a Heretick though generally yet truly described Not such as are Heathens Unconverted who never believed yet in the Gospel such who have alwayes resisted the Truth and never yet were convinced of the Way of the Lord nor ever tasted of his Word and Power but have alwayes been Strangers to the Israel of God and Enemies to the Church of Christ such are not properly called Hereticks though they do err in Mind Heart and Practice but such only as have believed in Christ and Professed his Truth and been of the Church and yet are fallen away from the perfect Truth into some false Principles and Practices and are become unsound in Judgment and erroneous in their Understandings and have forsaken the Way of Truth in whole or in part and are corrupted and lost their Love to God and his Wayes and are obstinate and hardened against the Truth which once they believed and with False Doctrines Principles and Practices do gainsay and oppose the Truth and them that are stedfast in it These are Hereticks and truly so called Men that have erred from the Faith that have made ship-rack of it and of a good Conscience that are turned against the Lord and his People and gainsay the Truth that once themselves have believed and professed These are Erroneous Men and Hereticks and such Hereticks there were in the Church and among the Corinthians and there were such who did creep into the Church and privily brought in Heresies amongst them as before is proved And these Hereticks were such as had once been amongst the true Members of the true Church and been convinced of the true Jesus and had sometimes walked with them but were departed from them and had forsaken the Truth and received false Principles and Opinions and therefore they were truly nominated Hereticks and all such at this day are truly so called And this is the Description in general of a Heretick 4. Now I come to declare who are the true Judges of Heresie and Hereticks Not every man can judge in this case in his own Thoughts Imaginations and Suppositions who are Hereticks and who are guilty of Heresie though it hath been the practice for many Generations amongst the Apostate Christians to reproach traduce and accuse one another to be Hereticks and each sort and sect of false Christians to judge censure and condemn others that are not of their Judgement and Opinion but different from them to be Hereticks and Erroneous and this hath been usual among many but this is not the true Judgement not the way to try and judge truly who Hereticks are by one Sect and sort slandering and accusing others to be such because they have not conformed to their Way and Principles but been different from them true Judgement hath not been brought forth in this case on this wise but rather Envy and Enmity hath judged and men's thoughts imaginations and jealousies have falsly judged in this matter and no sound judgement determined who have been Hereticks for men have judged of one another by their private jealousies and evil conceivings and censured one another to be Hereticks without the Spirit of sound discerning and just Judgement and all that Judgement brought forth in that case without the infallible Spirit of Christ Jesus which is onely true Discerner and Judge in the matter hath been false Judgement and men have judged one another falsly upon envy and evil suppositions and without the Spirit of the Lord and it hath often happened by reason hereof That such so judged for Hereticks have been more righteous and more in the truth then they that have so judged them and the Judges have been more out of the truth and more Hereticks themselves then they whom they have falsly Judged And this might be made appear through several Times and Ages since the Apostles dayes among the false Christians 5. None are able to dilcern of Heresie nor to try and judge justly who are Hereticks none but they I say that have the infallible Spirit of God in them to guide them and have infallibility and perfect certainty of Judgment and Knowledge in that case of Heresie none else are rightly able to judge who are Hereticks but such I say as have the infallible Spirit of Christ and are infallible and certain in their Judgments these onely and none else are able to judge they onely are competent Iudges in this case of Heresie and who are Hereticks and if any judge in that Case it is but out of Envy and Enmity and in the evil Suppositions and Conceivings as aforesaid and must needs be false and unjust Judgment if they have not the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of Judgment to discern by and determine with in that Case for no man nor men may or can justly judge another in the matter of Heresie as a Heretick by their own thoughts or suppositions out of their enmity and for their self-Interests but the Judgement in that matter must be just equal holy and true and onely by the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is infallible and gives infallibility of Judgement and discerning into all cases and things for it was Christ Jesus and his Apostles and the Saints that had the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of judgement that could onely judge justly of such things who were Hereticks and who were not and it was not the Iews nor Pharisees that could justly discern or judge in God's Spiritual matters but they alwayes judged of Christ and his Apostles and of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God falsly and unjustly in their evil suppositions and envy and this was because they had not the infallible Spirit of Judgement nor the certain infallible knowledge and discerning of different things in Spiritual Cases and so it is now at this day amongst them called Christians there is none can discern truly nor judge justly what Heresie is nor who is a Heretick but such as are guided by the infallible Spirit of God and have infallibility of Judgement nor none can make Laws whereby justly to judge of Heresie and Hereticks but them who have the same infallible spirit of God guiding them and have received infallibility of Judgement So both the Law-makers and the Judges of the Law must be infallible in knowledge and judgement in this case of Heresie otherwise the Law made for that purpose and the Judgment given by that Law are both False and Unjust and not according to God and his Truth but are to be justly judged and condemned of the Lord God in his day and season 6. Now it remains to be enquired into Whether there is any
of his People he is at a distance from the Lord God and the Spirit which should comfort him doth daily vex and judge him and the people among whom he should be saved he is separated from and cast out to Satan is now among the Sons of Belial the Children of Wickedness and Ignorance that must be condemned And this man is now rejected of the Saints that once was embraced of them and thus he is punished for it is the greatest Punishment and Vexation for a man that hath once tasted of God's Love Mercy Peace and Blessings amongst God's People and to be forsaken of God and without his Love in his Anger in his Judgment and in the Curse amongst the Wicked without Peace and Blessings amongst the Saints this is Punishment indeed from which the Lord deliver all his People that fear him Yet notwithstanding this kind and manner of Punishment pertains to Hereticks as such most properly and not to be destroyed in Person or Estate by outward Penalties this I onely mean and intend where the Error of a man and his Heresie in his Mind and Judgment doth only extend to the hurt of his own Soul and against God and not to the harm of his Neigbours Person or Estate in that Case he ought only to suffer as before-mentioned To be delivered up to Satan and to be rejected c. But if his Error and Heresie do extend further then onely against God and his own Soul even to the wronging injuring and defrauding of his neighbours person and estate and outward wrongs or evils or violence or visible mischiefs be committed as Murders or other the like visible crimes against men to the injuring of others then I forbid not outward external punishments to be corporally inflicted upon the person and estate of such a man but it ought to be done and that by Laws of men provided for the same end even such a mans Error in such his wrong dealing may justly and lawfully be punished with death banishment or penalties according to the desert of the crime if his sin and error be against men let men deal with him and punish him accordingly If his offence and error be onely against God and his own soul let God deal with him and punish him by his wrath in his Conscience which one day will be executed upon all that err from the Truth and tribulation and anguish shall be upon his soul that doth evil as it is written But it is utterly unlawful and sin against God for men to kill burn or banish men for the error of their minds and judgments in Spiritual matters while they do walk justly and truly as men in the things pertaining to men and are not injurious to the Persons or Estates of any by reason of such their Error but they only sin and err against God and their own Souls to the hurt thereof and not man by any outward Punishments or Violence executed upon their Persons but God and his People in the way and manner of the Spirit of Christ as afore declared ought for such their Errors and Heresies to deal with them and proceed towards them in respect of Punishment for the same Lastly These things are but said in general concerning Error and Heresie how they are to be judged and Punished and by whom and to manifest that there is Error and Heresie Hereticks and Erroneous Persons in the World for as I have said before it was not now my work to ennumerate the particular parts of Errors and Heresies that are held in Principle Doctrine and Practice in the World at this day they are so many and large but yet more particularly thus I would in brief define Hereticks and Heresie That man whatsoever he be is in Error in all parts of his Principles and practises held and maintained by him in point of Religion and Worship of God especially that is not Perswaded of the Truth and verity of his Way by the holy Spirit of God and led guided and taught in the performance and practice thereof by the same Spirit of Jesus if the holy Spirit of God dwell not in him and doth not preswade the heart in the belief of the Truth and teach and lead the man in the practice of it such a man even that man Errs and is in Error in all what he is and what he doth in point of Religion and Duty to God-wards and that because the Spirit of Truth and Righteousness is not the only Leader and Teacher in the things professed and practised but either Traditions Example of others or Custom of Places and Times or something else besides the Spirit of God which only perswades into the belief of Truth and teaches into the performance of the same and thus is distinguished and known A man that is Erroneous in his Faith and Practice not taught and perswaded by the Spirit of Christ in what he is and in what he doth he is in Error and in a degree of Heresie erring in Mind and Judgment and Conscience in Principle and practice and subject to err in all things Now as for the Case of Error and Heresie as the matter hath stood in distinguishing of Hereticks and Heresies in judging of the same and in proceeding with Hereticks in the manner aforesaid for many Generations in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes all this hath been wrong and not in the Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus but Men Cases and Proceedings all have been perverted from Truth in that matter because the spirit of darkness and ignorance hath ruled and not the Spirit of God in the Hearts of men and the spirit that is not of the Father which Spirit of the Father is only pure perfect and infallible because it is of God and can truly judge and determine in these Cases has been Lord and Judge in this matter and men out of their Envy and Hatred one towards another have judg'd one another to be erronious and Hereticks and proceeded against them thereupon and such as have differ'd in Iudgment or Opinion one Sect and Sort from another and would not conform to one another in their Wayes Practices and Religion it hath been common for all different sorts of men to cry out one upon another and against each other Heresie Heresie Hereticks Erronious Persons and the like and proceeded against one another men against men differing from them and sect against sect contrary to it self and especially that sect or sort of People that hath had the Government of Nations and Countries in their Power could and hath easily proceeded against all others dissenting upon the account of Error to the destroying of many absolutely through envy hatred and prejudice and not upon the Truth Soundness and Verity of Judgment in that matter and this hath been common for many Ages Sometimes according to the occasion offered Papists have destroyed Protestants and sometimes Protestants have destroyed the Papists on this account of Heresie and Error All which
Worldly Government for so much as hath been brought forth in any Government in any Nation at any time of Unrighteousness Injustice Oppression Idolatry false Worship and Persecutions and of any othor Evils even so much of Antichrist's kingdom government and power hath been in that Kingdom and Government and that Kingdom and Government wheresoever in what Nation and Country soever hath been Antichristian even in so much and by so much as Injustice Wickedness Cruelty Persecution or any Acts of Sin and Wickedness have been or are brought forth into action in that Government And thus it is manifest what and where Antichrist's Government is Now I shall briefly shew Who the Subjects of his kingdom are 1. All the ungodly unrighteous and unconverted Persons in general throughout the World are the Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom all the Sons of fallen Adam in Transgression all that are in the first Birth in degeneration in the alienation and separation from God even all that are wicked and do wickedly that are in the Enmity against Christ and unholy unsanctified and unregenerate these are aâ—â— of Antichrist's kingdom Subjects of it and Servants to it and it rules in them and over them and Antichrist is their Ruler in all these their wicked wayes and in this their present state and condition 2. All Hypocrites that profess God in words and in Works deny him that make a shew of Religion and Worship when their Hearts are far from the Lord that with their Mouthes profess much Love to God and with their Lips honour him but are departed from his Fear and stand not in his Counsel all such are Subjects of the Goverments of Antichrist even all false-hearted and dissembling Hypocrites that profess more of God then they know of him by the operation of his Spirit that have an outward conformity in appearance of Worship and duty to God-wards and their hearts are not conformed to the Power of God by his Spirit all such are of the government of Antichrist and his kingdom and power dwells in them and they are under the dominion thereof 3. All Idolaters false Worshippers Hereticks and erronious Persons such as cry up Church and Ministry and profess Faith and Godliness and yet are not guided by the Spirit of Christ nor led of it into all Truth these are Subjects of the aforesaid Government of Antichrist even all they that are sensually-minded and have not the Spirit of Christ guiding them in the Way of Righteousness and Truth who are not converted and born again and renewed into the Image and Likeness of Christ Iesus and yet practice Holiness and Duty to God-wards in outward appearance and are in the profession of the words of Christ and his Prophets and Apostles but have not the same Spirit and Power of the Lord Iesus Christ as the Prophes and Apostles had these are covered with Sheep's-Clothing and profess Christ and his words but are against Christ and contrary to him in kind and nature and all such are of the government of Antichrist and he governs them and rules over them 4. All Backsliders and them that have forsaken the right Way of the Lord all that are turned against the Truth of God which once they knew and believed and were convinced of and sometimes professed these are all Subjects of Antichrist's raign and authority even all the Unfaithful and False-hearted who are treacherous to God and men and unconstant unchangeable Time-servers Hypocrites who have denyed Christ before men and turned against him and his Saints such are under Satans power and he works in their hearts and Antichrist deceives them and they are under his power and dominion and are Subjects of his government 5. All Persecutors of the Saints all violent and cruel Men all that persecute such as are contrary-minded to themselves are of Antichrist and Subjects of his kingdom even all that kill and burn and destroy for difference of Faith and Religion who themselves profess Love to God and his Way and yet will persecute others and destroy them by cruel dealing and that would not suffer any to live but themselves and will not do to others as they would be done unto but hate the Neighbour and persecute Brother and impose upon his Conscience in things against good Conscience and are violent Doers all such men are Subjects to Antichrist's kingdom in all Nations throughout the World Therefore let all consider This is the Day of the Lord God will discover and destroy Antichrist and his kingdom let the Wicked and Ungodly turn from his evil way lest God destroy him with perpetual Destruction Lastly 'T is the Property of such who are Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom to profess and cry up much of Christ in words of what he said and did of his Life of his Death of what he hath been and what he shall be and do deny the present enjoyment of Christ to that Antichrist is an Enemy he can well away with it to speak of Christ at a distance but he cannot bear it if any hold forth a present enjoyment of Christ That Christ takes away sin and forgives it and that his Blood cleanseth from it and that he is the Iustifier and Redeemer and Saviour the Profession of all this in words from the Letter without and that they are things true in themselves Antichrist can bear and make a shew of in Profession but if any of the Saints of God do witness these things and shall testifie in the Power of the Lord the enjoyment of these things and that they are at present in this Life possessed to wit Christ now lives in us and is come and his Blood hath clensed from sin and he hath forgiven it and he hath justified redeemed and saved I say if any do witness these things in present enjoyment and that they are now in this present time witnessed in the Spirit of Christ and not onely professed from the Letter without but experienced by the Work of God within Antichrist opposeth this and gainsayes present enjoyment And such indeed are Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom who have the profession of Christ in words but no present enjoyment of him but want his Nature and are in the Nature contrary to him and feed upon Reports of things done by him without and upon the expectations of what he shall do hereafter and in this present state are without Christ and are Sinners and Transgressors against the Life of Righteousness unconverted and unregenerated by Christ all such as these are the Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom And as concerning the Rise and Fall of Antichrist the Beginning and Ending of his Kingdom these things in season may be declared if God permit E. B. A Hue-and-Cry AFTER THE FALSE PROPHETS AND DECEIVERS Of Our AGE And a DISCOVERY of them by their WORKS and FRUITS And who they are in this Age that follow the same spirit and act the same things as did the false Prophet in former Generations FOrasmuch as in