my flesh trembles when they lye and lying is dishonour to the Lord and they say O Lord my righteousness when they themselves are the servants of Sin and plead for it and teach the people to lye calling that the service of God but lying is of the Devil and he is the Father of lyes and they teach the People to sing and say O Lord I am not puft in minde I have no scornful eye when they are puft in scorn and derision and so sing lyes to the dishonour of God all lyes howling and lying when they read Davids conditions they read them with hats on and when they turn them into rime and meeter they put their hats off and lye singing and setting that nature on singing and to rejoyce which is for the curse and so worship the works of their own hands following the Imaginations of their own hearrs and take a glass and speak an hour by their old Author studyed spirit and their glass standing by as if the word of the Lord was to be bound to an hour 1 Cor. 14.15 Rev. 14.1 2 3. day or place see if this be not errour or Popery and hold it not up be not deceived God will not be mocked Let him that sings sing with the Spirit and the Vnderstanding to know what he sings They that are redeemed from the Earth shall sing new Songs which none can sing but those that are redeemed out of the Fall up to the Lord God and to the Lamb to Praise him for ever Let not your Priests deceive you and destroy your souls any longer and keep you under Popery Atheism and Ignorance of the Spiritual Ministry Christ is a Mysterie and none know him but they to whom he is revealed put out all your Priests they all deceive you every one And that you may know the truth wait upon the Lord for teaching who is the Teacher of all his by his Spirit and the ministration is powerful to redeem the soul out of the Fal up to God and to reform and change your natures and dispositions which will guide you and lead you into the way of peace to know the Lord to gather out of all the ways and works of darkness Atheism and Popery Covetousness and Prophaness which all are given to Preists and People that live in their first nature and know not God who is a spirit and of purer eyes then to behold Iniquity who is a consuming fire and is both the heart-searcher and tryer Petition and will burn up the wicked in the indignation of his Ire That the Faithful Ministers of Christ by whom we have believed whose labours have been so profitable and are yet so necessary to the Church of God and whose reputations and encouragements ought to be so dear unto us are daily laden with contempt and reproach disturbed in the diligent and peaceable execution of their office by evil and unreasonable men and also undermined in their calling and maintenance whereby the course of the Gospel is much hindered and the spirit of Gods people nay we doubt not to say the Spirit of God himself is grieved and vexed to see the precious Ordinances of Christ trodden under foot c. That the Faithful Ministers of Christ by whom we have believed c. That the Ministers of Yorkshire or the Ministers of the World are the Ministers of Antichrist Answ 1. The Priests Practise as their fruits do make them manifest and their Ministry is of man and not of God and the Faith that is spoken of is corrupt for it doth not purifie but worketh into Pride Covetousness oppression and persecution lust and revenge hatred backbiting scornfulness cruelty malice debate deceit malignity and envy drunkenness lying and swearing because of oaths the Land mourns and pride swels and Covetousness and oppression and grinding the faces of the poor and these are the fruits of the reprobate and are Ordinances of Antichrist and not of Christ and they are all gone out of the way both Priests and people and the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge saith the Lord I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no Priest to me seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God I will also forget thy children as they were increased so they sinned against me saith the Lord and as it was then so it is now therefore thus saith the Lord I will change their glory into shame for they eat up the sin of my people and they set their heart to do wickedly it is not now made manifest by their fruits for there is like Priest like people Hosea 4 6 7 8 9. I will punish them for their wayes and reward them their doings saith the Lord. Hos 4.6 7 8 9. 2. It is with the Priests now as it was with the false Priests and false Prophets and the people now as it was with the children of Israel after they had backslid and broken the Covenant of the Lord their sins testifie against them to their faces now as theirs did then Hos 5.5 They call the proud happy and they that work wickedness are set up and they that tempt God are even delivered Mal. 3.15 Mal. 3.15 as it was then so it is now in this generation and the Priests of the World are contrary to Jesus Christ and his Apostles who were his true Ministers in all things 1. They are exceeding proud and are called of men Masters which Jesus Christ hath taught his to deny Mat. 23.8 and herein they walk contrary to the Scripture and the command of Jesus Christ and shew the spirit of errour and are no Ministers of Christ that do not abide in his Doctrine but are of Antichrist and are Lords over Gods heritage Mat. 23.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Proud Pharisees they are and sit in the same seat and act the same things as they did they have the chiefest places in the Assemblies as the Scribes and Pharisees had which were enemies to Iesus Christ they love the greetings in markets as they did and to be called of men Masters as they were and suffer men to worship them with cap and knee and are enemies to Iesus Christ as the Scribes and Pharisees were and hold up that which he came to throw down and so walk contrary to Iesus Christ herein they shew themselves to be Antichrists and of the saâ—…e generation that persecuted Christ when he came in the flesh as they do now that he is appearing in Spirit and the chief Priests were the greatest persecuters of him then as the Priests of Yorkshire are now who follow their steps 3. They are exceeding covetous and burden and oppress poor people Acts 20.33 34 35. 1 Cor. 4.11 12 13. 1 Cor. 9.15 16 17 18. Gal. 1.10 Jam. 2.1 2. and are light and wanton living in pleasures and wantoness upon earth which the true Ministers of Christ did forbid as in all things they were good
examples to the people but these are evil examples and walk contrary both to the Scriptures and the practise of Christ and his true Ministers herein they shew the spirit of errour and are enemies to the Truth of God 4. They are men-pleasers all the Priests of the world and have mens persons in admiration because of advantage denying the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ Iames 2.1 2. Gal. 1.10 which the true Ministers of Christ did practise herein they walk contrary to the Scripture and shew the Spirit of errour and are enemies to the truth of God 5. The Priests of the World or the Ministers of man and of Antichrist they are blamable and are soon angry and are given to wine strikers and are given altogether to filthy lucre Jer. 23.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Joh. 1.1 2. c. Joh. 17.14 15 16 17. Jer. 23.29 Heb. 4.12 1 Pet. 1.22 23. Rom. 6. 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Pet. 1.25 Jam. 1.21 22. Col. 1.1 2 Cor. 3.6 Gal. 1.11 12. Eph. 1.1 2 Tim. 1.1 Mat. 23. Mat. 26. Jer. 23.16 17 18 19 20. Jer. 23.10 11 12 13 14. Jer. 23.1 Jer. 5.23 24 25 c. Hosea 4.1 2 3 c. Isa 59. Isa 29.9 10 11 c. Gal. 1.8 9. Mal. 2. to the 10. The two Seeds one of the Flesh and the other of the Spirit contrary to the Ministers of Christ as in Titus 1.7 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3. walking contrary to the Scripture and are guided by the spirit of error 6. The Priests of the world and their Ministry is not of God but of man they are the Ministers of man and not of God and are no Ministers of the Spirit but are of the imaginary wayes what they do conceive of or imagine that they hold forth and know not the word of life which is eternal that sanctifieth and purifieth Soul and Body which word is invisible and is as a fire and a hammer and is quick and powerfull which is the power of God that killeth the old nature and purgeth out the old leaven and raiseth up the immortal Soul out of death to praise the Lord. And they that do Administer it are cleansed and washed justified and sanctified by it which word endureth for ever being the ingrafted word that is able to save the souls of those that know the Ministration of it and the Ministers of it were and are able Ministers of the Spirit not taught of man but by the will of God and administer to that which is kept in the death the immortal seed which the Ministers of the world are ignorant of but are persecuters of those that hold forth the word of life now as the Jews and Scribes and Pharisees chief Priests and Elders of the people were and they speak a divination of their own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord and their Ministry will never satisfie nor purifie one soul it hath been long but here is no redemption nor Sanctification by it Nay they say themselves that it will never sanctifie them whilst they are here and by their fruits it doth so appear and so it doth not profit the people at all they teach for Doctrine traditions and rudiments of the world and they are all confused so many men so many minds when as the Ministers of Christ were and are all of one heart and one minde who were taught of God and are Ministers of the Spirit and not of the letter or of man as the Priests of the world and all those here in York-shire are and are contrary both to Christ and his true Ministers and load his Servants with Reproachings and Revilings and are Enemies both to him and his and they and their Ministry is accursed for it is contrary both to Christ and his Apostles and doth neither sanctifie nor purifie but keeps in the lust of the flesh and in the fall There are two seeds one after the flesh as Ishmael was and the other after the Spirit and by promise as Isaac was and they that are after the flesh they persecute them that are after the spirit and they that are after the spirit or by promise are made not onely to believe but also to suffer what the Lord shall permit or see good and they that are of the promised seed are of Abraham now and are born again one Seed one Faith one God one Father one Baptism one Bread one Body all one and in one Baptized by one Spirit into that one body which is spiritual and made to drink into one Spirit and their faith doth purifie them and worketh them out of their old nature and ingrafteth them into the Vine which is Christ Jesus the Vine of the Lords free love and being all one in Christ Jesus set and ingrafted into their own Vine the natural branches being cut off those that are Jews outward and not inward who live in the wild-Olive and in their natural stock or state or condition know them not who are in the true Vine being made partakers of the Divine nature their faith standing out of the wisdom of mans words in the power of God groweth with an increase making fruifull being in the Vine the fruits of true faith do shew it forth as Vertue and Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness brotherly kindness and charity which maketh fruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so shall all men know saith he That ye are my Disciples if ye love one another continue in my love for faith without works is dead as the worlds faith is or the fruits of the first seed which is after the flesh and they that are in the flesh their old corrupt nature and in the wild Olive they cannot please God and their faith standeth without in the wisdom of mans words and not in the power of God which worketh a Reformation and a change but as they are in the fall their fruits make them manifest and their faith is corrupt it doth not purifie their conscience from dead works and so they believe in that which thier priests lead them into for good as say the Petitioners we have believed in them for good like Priests like People as in Hoseas time Hosea 4. and all live in one nature that are in the fall and are under the curse in their old nature both Priests and people and the Priests are evil examples to the people 1. The Priests they live in Pride and the people they believe The Priests are evil examples that if they may be proud that are their leaders they may follow their examples because it is suitable to their earthly hearts and so they believe in them as they say for good calling good evil and evil good but the woe is to such 2. The Priests they live in Covetousness and the people they follow their examples and are all given to Covetousness both Priests and people and love it and believe it is good because it is suitable to their earthly
see the deceits of all our proud Priests and blind Guides that their sins testifie against them to their faces Hosea 5.5 6 7. that they are a seed of evil doers and live in the lust and filth of the flesh Persecuting Killing and Slaying the righteous and innocent ones and drive them away from them by their Envious Malicious wicked practises in life and conversation and are evil Examples they are kings of Pride and that is one of the seven Abominations which the Lords Soul loatheth Prov. 6.16 17 18. Prov. 6.16 17 18. And we are bound in Conscience to testifie against it and proud Priests are exceeding raging mad and would not that we should see beyond their Dirty Miry Doctrine of earthly conceivings and Imaginations wherein they did deceive us and have got our mony a long time for that which is no bread and caused us to spend our labor for that which gave us no satisfaction to our souls they were as theeves that wounded us and left us they led us into Pride by their evil example seeing them live in Pride we saying that if it was not right they would not do it and if they did it we might do it and so they being blind Guides led us into blindness and wounded our consciences and then they made us this cover for Pride and said it was but decency here they added their own inventions and we knew it not so long as we lived in Egypt and Sodom with them following the customs and fashions of the world which we find now we are taught to deny for the fashion of the world passeth away but the plagues of God is their portion Wo to all deceivers But we find our teacher the Lord writing his Law in our hearts and teaching us by his Spirit Jer. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.10 11. according to his promises made in the time of old Jer. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.10 11. And he having established his law in our hearts sheweth us sin and evil for we had not known that lust had been a sin but that the pure Law of God said thou shalt not lust neither after Pride nor Covetousness nor Envy nor anger nor pleasures nor the love of the world nor the honor of the world nor pleasures nor delights because the Priests that said they were sent of God lived in all these things and if they had been contrary to the mind and will of God they saying that they knew it and spoke his words from his mouth and we concluding within our selves said If they may do it we may do it and so they destroyed us for lack of knowledge and drove us from the Lord but now he is gathering us to himself by his Spirit according to his promise Ezek. 34.11 12 13 14 15. Ezek. 34.11 12 13 14 15. And lets us see whither we were driven even into the broad way of fleshly delights but that the Lord of his infinite love hath discovered it to us and we are brought to see where they left us in the cloudy and dark day and would never come to shew us any light nor to set our feet into the way of peace but led us further into the wilderness out of Pride into Covetousness and so caused us to taste of the forbidden fruit saying that Covetousness was but a provident care but we now find that it was the Devils Doctrine that they taught us For the Lord saith to us by his Spirit that Covetousness is Idolatry and draweth the heart from him but these Covetous Idolatrous Priests run with greediness altogether after it as those greedy dumb dogs did that Isaiah was sent to cry out against Isa 56.10 11. He said that the watchmen were al blind as these proud Priests are now blinded with covetousness For Tythes Gifts and rewards hath blinded their eyes that they see not Pride and Covetousness to be a sin but greedie after it Coveting altogether after great means and if they have not to satisfie their lusts to live in pomp and pleasures they complain of the people and if any for conscience sake towards God seeing his Ministry to be free and no sale set upon it which Ministry teacheth them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts as Pride Covetousness the love of the world knowing that if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him and that all that is in the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the Pride of life is not of God but is of the world for conscience sake towards God who is the father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose wisdom is not to be bought nor sold Job 28. Job 28. and the Lords free love running forth to his People saying Why do you spend your mony for that which is no bread and your labour for that which doth not satisfie Hearken ye diligently to me Isa 55.1 2 3 4. Deut. 4.1 2. Prov. 30.5 6. and eat ye that which is good and let your souls delight themselves in fatness Isa 55.1 2 3 4. And we find it made good to our souls and every word of God being pure and a shield to them that trust in it and he that adds to it or takes from it is to be reproved being found a lyar Prov. 30.5 6. And he that adds his own Inventions the Lord is against him Jer. 23. And we that are of God are against him and are bound to testifie against his deceits and deceiveableness according to the command of the Lord who saith have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkness Eph. 5.11 Joh. 10.1 8 10. Quest but rather reprove them and how can we see a thief and consent unto him but we shal be guilty of the same crime I pray you consider of it you that are spirituall judge what I say Are not all the Priests in England thieves Answer for them who wil Do they not study for what they say and walk by other lines Did ever the Ministers of Christ so As he bade them take no thought what they should eat Luk. 12.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. Luke 12.11 12. Gal. 1.10 11 12 15 16. 2 Cor. 3.6 nor what they should drink Luk. 12.22 23. So he bade them take no thought what they should say for it should be given them in that hour Luke 12.11 12. But these dare neither trust God for their meat nor drink nor cloathing as they did nor for words to speak as they did who were unlearned men but as they were taught of God and were made Ministers not by the will of man but by the will of God Gal. 1.11 12. And were able Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter 2 Cor. 3.6 But these both studie what they shall eat and what they shall drink and what they shall put on to make them proud and what they shall do to oppress poor people and they study every way how they may
threaten and do sue and go to Law for carnal maintenance which both Jesus Christ and his true Ministers do forbid as in Mat. 5.40 1 Cor. 6. ver 1. but they do not abide in his Doctrine as is now made plain in our book of Easter Reckonings And we would reckon with them as we have there declared about the pure Doctrine by the Spirit of the Lord made known and taught to us And if they could prove themselves warrantably by Scriptures to have Rule from them which we own the Life of and make it appear to us to be Ministers of the Spirit they should have their due and if they will lay open their shamefull dealings to all men let all take notice of their folly that God may have the praise who hath laid open their deceits and taught us freely by his holy Spirit in these our dayes to him be all holy praise both now and for evermore who is worthy to be praised God blessed for ever Reader I Would have thee to peruse this ensuing Treatise or something in Answer to the Counties Petition put up to the Parliament by the Priests and many of their associates here in York-shire wherein their flatteries and subtilties and deceits are discovered and laid open and although theybe so cunning that in their Petition they have kept out themselves and put it up in the name of the People yet they were the chiefest Actors and got all as many as they could Boyes and Girles in several places that knew not their left hand from their right to set their hands to their Petition and many people that had any knowledge of God in the least measure denied to joyn with them But read it over and it will to thee their deceits more plainly manifest and fully discover Rich. Farnworth The Counties Petition To the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England THe humble Petition of many inhabitants of the County of York and City of York and County of the same City Humbly sheweth That your Petitioners who are less then the least of the Mercies they enjoy as they desire to be sensible of that good decree of peace and truth which through the good hand of God upon your Counsels and Indeavours they partake of and are therefore Petitioners to the Lord for you that he would remember you for good and spare you according to the Multitude of his mercies and so withall they think it their duty humbly to present unto you the deep sense they have of some evils and dangers which they apprehend very nearly to concern the truth of God and Gospel of Salvation or the prosperous course thereof whereon the glory of peace and safety of this Nation besides the eternal welfare of precious souls more worth then worlds do much depend 1. That many scandalous and ignorant Persons Enemies to the People and ways of God upholders and practisers of the abolished Ceremonies and no friends to the present Government and peace of this Common-wealth are continued in the work of the Ministry to the prejudice of that calling the hinderance of Reformation and danger of Immortal Souls 2. That the faithfull Ministers of Christ by whom we have believed whose labors have been so profitable and yet so necessary to the Church of God and whose reputations and incouragement ought to be so dear unto us are daily loaden with contempt and reproach disturbed in the diligent and peaceable execution of their office by evil and unreasonable men and also undermined in their calling and maintenance whereby the course of the Gospel is much hindred and the Spirit of Gods people nay we doubt not to say the Spirit of God himself grieved and vexed the precious Ordinances of Christ trodden under foot and consequently the welfare of this tossed distracted common-wealth very much endangered For if the just Lord who is in the midst of us spared not his ancient people the Tribes of his inheritance when once they began to mock his Messengers and deal injuriously with those that are sent to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel whereby they filled up the measure of their sins and brought upon themselves wrath without remedy even wrath to the utmost and we see no reason why the unchangeable God should not proceed by the same measure against gentile Churches as of such you have had also nearer instance in the fall of those persons whom the Lord cast out before you the rock of whose ruine was their opposition to a Godly and conscientious Ministry Lastly They take boldness to represent that the liberty granted by the Parliament in matters of Religion and the worship of God is very much abused to the increase of Popery and prophaness contrary to your intentions in the same Your Petitioners seriously considering and laying to heart these things think it their further duty earnestly to beseech you by the glorious and fearfull name of God which is every day blasphemed by the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ which is much dishonored and despised and by whatsoever is dear unto us which by these and such like evils we believe to be much endangered That you would take these particulars into serious and speedy consideration 1. That you would take a more effectual course for removing of scandalous and unworthy Ministers from the office and work of the Ministry then yet is or can be taken by the Committee for plundred Ministers sitting at Westminster in regard of the great distance of this County that so the Parliament may not be charged not so much as by neglect to build again those things they have destroyed 2. That you would speak comfortably to those that teach the good knowledge of the Lord seeing that God himself hath given notwithstanding manifold infirmities testimonial seals to many of them and take care that they may have a comfortable subsistance that you would support the honor and reverence of the Universities necessary to the supply of able Ministers and bear witness against those who daily discover their enmity to the Office and Ordinances of the Gospel whereby life will be given to your well established Laws and inferior Magistrates encouraged to vindicate and further the Gospel in their several stations and much danger of the Common-wealth prevented which cannot but be feared For the oppressers of the Ministry whose Principles are full of confusion and lead to casting off the Rulings as well as the teachings of men wherewith they have given much cause of suspition in this and full evidence in other Nations Lastly That you would take care to build such battlements about your grants of liberty in matters of Religion that Popish and prophane Persons may not take advantage thereby to dishonor God despise his Ordinances pollute his Sabboths and so the land be filled with Atheism Ignorance and Idolatry So shall the Lord who hitherto hath been a wall of fire round about us be also for glory in the midst amongst us and your Petitioners be further engaged to
on in blinde ways worshipping the works of your own hands teaching for doctrine traditions and rudiments of the world telling people that they are ordinances of Christ when they are but your own inventions How dare any of you say you are the Ministers of Christ and act contrary to them blush for shames do you not hold up that filthy horrible thing that was committed in the land which the Lord sent his true Prophets to cry out against as in Jer. 5.30 31. The Prophets did prophecy falsly and the Priests they bore rule by their means Jer. 5.30 31. then But do not all the Priests here in York-shire so now Following the wayes of Balaam teaching for gifts and rewards Iude 11. as they did Shew me but one in all York-shire that does not Put forth one that is not guilty of it and cries out against it as the true Ministers did Come Where is there one in York-shire that goes not on in the wayes of Cain to envy c. and that teacheth not for money or Tythes and bears not rule by their means and that seeks not for their gain from their quarter place and parish where they are as the false Prophets did or where is there one that teacheth not for some of these Or that teacheth not for gifts or rewards as Balaams Priests did and that cries out of it and against it as the true Prophets and servants of the Lord did Is there not one to be found in all York-shire out of the false Prophets state and condition or else found in Balaams Priests state and condition which were all enemies to the Servants of God and to the ways of God all minding earthly things whose end is destruction Phil. 3.18 19. Sift them all turn them all out they are scandalous men and scandalize the Gospel of Christ which is clear and free and hath no sale set upon it as in Isa 55.1 2 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come and receive freely without money or without price Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which doth not satisfie Hearken ye diligently to me saith the Lord and eat ye that which is good and your souls shall live and I will make with you an everlasting Covenant even the sure mercies of David The Servant of the Lord cries Come freely Isa 55. come eat freely that your souls may live Isa 55.1 2 3 4. As he had received freely of the Lord he spoke freely again and directed them to the Lord as he was taught of the Lord and as the true Ministers did he watched for their souls as one that was to give account unto God But these false Priests they will do nothing without money they will have money here in York shire for reek passing up the chimnies and for servants wages without money will they do nothing see if that be not their Diana and they are here in York shire like unto those false Priests that Micah the Servant of the Lord was sent to cry out against Mica 3. saith he Put into their mouths and they cry peace peace and say we are good Christians and are the beloved of the Lord but now that we try them and put not into their mouths they say we are Seducers and Hereticks and Deluded and Mad and they can make such Christians as they call them for money and they can change them and cast them out again for want of money this is the manner of Balaams Priests here in York-shire and now that we put not into their mouths they are so envious that if it were in their power they would destroy us and prepare war against us suing some at Law because they will not pay for reek passing up their Chimnies Mat. 5.40 1 Cor. 6.1 2 Ioh. 9. Mich. 3. and threaten others to go to Law with them which both Jesus Christ and his true Ministers do forbid plainly shewing themselves to be none of his for he that abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Joh. 9. and are like unto those that Micah cries out against Put not into their mouths and they prepare war and now that they are tried they manifest themselves All people try your Priests everywhere and be no longer deceived by them see if York-shire Priests do not manifestly declare themselves to be amongst the false Prophets and are scandalous all of them every one and are ignorant of the Spirit of truth for they persecute those in whom it is manifested to Rule and see if these do not prejudice the calling and hinder the work of Reformation as much as in them lies to the endangering of immortal Souls but God will cut them off out of the work they have nothing to do with his Ministry theirs is of man they are the Ministers of man and not of God Enemies to the People of God and wayes of God as their fruits do make them manifest every tree being known by its fruits Mat. 7.15 16 17 18 19. they are in the flesh the Lust the Earth and the Fall and persecute those that are after the spirit who are born again and worship God in Spirit and in truth as in John 4.23 24. Knowing that he seeketh such to worship him But these are of the first birth and draw near to God with their mouth and lips but their hearts are far of having their fear taught by the precepts of men as those had which the Lord complained of by his servant the Prophet Isa 29. ver 13. And are they not upholders and practizers of old Popish Ceremonies do they not uphold the Idols temple set up in the time of Popery or ignorance for God that made the world dwelleth not in temples made with hands Acts 7.47 48 49. Acts 17.24.25 Neither is he worshipped there with mens hands and they do worship there that which their hearts do imagine sprinkling Infants which is but a Mark of the Beast Rev. 13.16 17 18. and tell the people it is an ordinance of Christ when there is not one word in the Scripture for it Gal 3.27 1 Cor. 12.13 Eph. 4 4 5 6. 1 Pet. 1.22.23 They that are Christs have put on Christ and are baptized by one Spirit into one body where there is but one Faith one Lord one Baptism one God and Father of All and in All and through All those that are of the Faith of Abraham and born again of water and the Spirit But these are ignorant of it And they make use of the Popes Law to imprison by denying the Law of God 1 Cor. 14.29 30 31. or practice of the people of God as in 1 Cor. 14.29 30 31. when any thing was revealed to him that sat by the first was to hold his peace and the other was to speak but these will binde the Spirit of God under a Popish Law and deny the Law of God as by their fruits it doth appear and
make their Ministery burdensome and studie what to speak studying old Authors and some of them writing down that which they speak in papers See if these do not distrust God Jer. 23.29 30 31 32. 2 Joh. 9. and do dishonor him and are no Ministers of the Spirit but are Unbelievers and Infidels who distrust God and steal the words of their neighbours as the false Prophets did Jer. 23.29 30 31. But the Lord is against them now as he was then and sends to cry out against them now as he did then and when any is sent by the Lord to cry out against them now to tell them of their deceits and deceivableness Acts 7.47 48 49. Ver. 57 58 59. Acts 6.11 12 13. Mat. 23.27 28 29 30 31. and how that they are no Ministers of Christ who do not abide in his Doctrine but teach for Doctrine the traditions of men and call a stone-house a Church and say that God dwelleth there and when any is sent by the Lord to cry out against them there as Steven did Acts 7. who said God that made the world did not dwell in Temples made with hands and that evil generation of the uncircumcised in hearts and ears did murder poor Steven the Servant of the Lord and said he was a blasphemer and came to overturn the Law and the Statutes that were given forth by Moses and so these persecuting Priests here in Yorkshâ—re especially their sins testifie against them to their face that they are of the Generation that slew the righteous blood and they would have all to take notice that they know not God for when any is sent to them and says that God doth not dwell in any of those Idol Temples that are made with hands as in Acts 17.24 Acts 17.25 neither is he worshipped there by Traditions Customs and Rudiments of the world with mens hands Acts 17.25 But he is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Joh. 4.23 24. 1 Pet. 2.5 1 Cor. 3.19 2 Cor. 6.16 Isa 54.11 12 13 14 15. for he seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 24. And that the Church of Christ is made all of living stones elect and precious 1 Pet. 2.5 and that the Saints are made the Temples of the living God as the Corinthians did witness and that they shall need no man to teach them for the Lord is the teacher of his himself alone by his Spirit and asks them how they came to their Ministry and bids them prove what they have said they run away and will not stand to prove their call to the Ministry but lets them be beaten and struck by the uncircumcised in hearts and ears for none that are circumcised by the spirit of the living God cometh there to stand up to deceive the people But the hireling fleeth because he is an hireling that the Scriptures may be fulfilled Joh. 10.12 13. And the thief cometh not Joh. 10.12 13. but for to kill and to steal and to destroy Joh. 10.10 But the good shepherd he layeth down his life for the sheep but these that cannot prove their call to the Ministry of the Gospel the Ministration of the Spirit which excells that of Moses and John they having nothing but what they have stolne and studied for Their old Author studied spirit fails them and the hireling fleeth because he is an hireling and not the true Shepherd and the thief kills steals and destroyes and saith to the people hear him not whom God hath sent take him Officers and put him in the stocks and let him be had to Prison and so turns Persecutor and you all know that Persecution is of the Devil and now those divelish Priests shew themselves what they are now that they are come to be tried but it is but that they may be made manifest what generation they are of and when they cannot defend themselves by their old Author-studied Spirit it failing them then they Petition to the outward powers of the Land that they may more plainly appear but the Foxes are so subtile that they twine about into the hole of their earthly wisdom in their Petition that they would cover over themselves as if they were the Ministers of Christ and would justifie themselves but God will condemn them And it were better for them that a Milstone were hanged about their necks and they themselves cast into the Sea then that they should offend one of these little ones that believeth in the Lord the Petitioners are many of them Persecutors and I do not question but that both Parliament and Army and all that fear the Lord and are acquainted with his teachings the teachings of the Spirit of Grace in the least measure those that know it know that it teacheth to deny all ungodliness as it is made manifest by the Divine light of God within where the light of God doth shine in the hearts of any as it doth in those who are taught of God who have the heavenly treasure in earthly vessels as the Saints had See 2 Cor. 4.5 6 7. And those that are enlightned and guided by the same Spirit that they were which spirit is but one where it is made manifest I say all those that know this spiritual teaching of Jesus Christ both Parliament and Army and all others know that this blessed Spirit teacheth to deny persecution and worketh out anger and envy and wrath and revenge purging out the old nature working into love and bowells of Compassion Gentleness Goodness Meekness Temperance Patience Godliness and brotherly kindness which causeth the old man to be put off and the old persecuting nature and causeth the new man to be put on and withall to be made partaker of the Divine nature and those that know this in part will see that those false Priests have a filthy deceitfull heart and will be discovered and made manifest in their deceivableness by those that have the Spirit of God and they have an end to themselves for to have the praise of men as the Scribes had that sate in Moses seat as these do proud Pharisees they will appear to be fair outsides but they have insides full of rottenness and deceitfulness of heart but you know what is the portion of such Mat. 23.1 2 27 28 29. See Mat. 23. And it will not be unknown to the Heads and Rulers of the Nation what sort of men they were that took counsel together to take Jesus by subtilty to kill him And then they may see what Generation these are of and what seed after the flesh but not after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh they presecute them that are after the Spirit You heads and Rulers of the people see that you stand in the Counsel of the Lord and mind that which is of God in you that is pure which sheweth you the vanity of your minds and checks you when you do contrary to it and
complained of by the Prophet Isaiah Isa 29.13 First Let me ask you that profess your selves to be Ministers of the Gospel Quest but are not of the letter for you will not let it be your rule to walk by but run from it and will not abide the tryal but are you not all made manifest by your fruits what you are Take notice of it all people consider and see how you have been deceived all this while they will all be found deceivers and blinde guides that deceive the people did God ever send scandalous and ignorant persons enemies to the people and ways of God into the work of his Ministery and do not your fruits declare that you were never sent of him who are enemies both to him and his where he is made manifest Secondly Do not your sins testifie against you to your face that you are none of his the highest of you are you not all unprofitable servants do not you make the people light and vain as the false Prophets did which ran but the Lord never sent them as in Jer. 23. Thirdly Are you not proud and pride is of the devil and God doth forbid it and saith it is an abomination to his soul and that is contrary to God and is scandalous and shews that you are guided by the spirit of error and are ignorant of the spirit of truth that teacheth to deny pride which is one of the seven abominations which the woe is to Woe to the Crown of pride for the devil he is the King of Pride then woe to you ye devilish proud-Priests Jesus Christ saith Learn of me I am meek and lowly in heart but you shew that you are ignorant of his teachings and are enemies to those that are brought into the obedience of his teachings which teacheth self-denyal and you being self-lovers are contrary to the Scriptures and the practice of the Ministers of Jesus Christ and scandalize the truth where it is manifested in power Are you not covetous and God doth forbid it and the Ministers of Christ do forbid it and say Eph. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Tim. 6.6 7 8. Let not covetousness be once named amongst you as it becometh Saints and let your conversation be without covetousness for covetousness is Idolatry and draweth the heart from the Lord and covetousness is the root of all evil and you are covetous exceeding covetous the Ministers of Christ said having food and rayment therewith let us be content and the Ministers of Christ laboured to make the Gospel of Christ to be without charge And coveted no mans silver nor gold nor were not greedy of filthy lucre Acts 20.32 33 34 35. 2 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. Gal. 1.11 12 15 16. 2 Cor. 3.6 but spoke against it in obedience to the commands of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ The Ministers of Jesus Christ were not taught of man but of God they were not made Ministers by the will of man but by the will of God and they were not Ministers of the letter but able Ministers of the spirit and they made full proof of their Ministery and gave no offence in any thing that their Ministery might not be blamed but in all things approving themselves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watchings in fastings by pureness by knowledge by long sufferings by kindness by the Holy Ghost by love unfained by the word of Truth and by the power of God 2 Cor. 6.3 4 5 6 7. 2 Cor. 6.2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. The Ministers of Christ were blameless as the Stewards of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no strikers not given to strong drink nor filthy lucre they were lovers of good men they were holy just and temperate Tit. 1.7 8. 1 Tim 3.1 2 3 4 5. Mat. 23.8 1 Cor. 9.19 The Ministers of Christ were not men-pleasers neither were they called of men Masters but became servants to all in obedience to the Command of Jesus Christ and they were not persecuters but were gentle towards all men even towards them that did oppose them They were examples to the flock and exhorted others to follow them so far as they followed Christ Eph. 5.1 2. and saith he Brethren be ye followers of me and mark them that walk so as ye have us for an example Phil 3.17 Phil. 3.17 for saith he many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who minde earthly things Phil. 3.18 19. Phil. 3.18 19. Now consider the end of your conversation even all ye Priests of Baal who profess your selves to be Ministers of the Gospel see where your conversation is are you not altogether earthly and walk contrary to the holy practice and conversation of the Ministers of Christ which were examples to the flock in all things now see if you have not lost your examples and walk altogether contrary First As they had received freely they spoke freely again and were free from covetousness they took God to witness it and so made the Gospel of Christ free and not burdensome Secondly But you are exceeding covetous and are hirelings and are amongst the false Prophets in the same state and condition that those were whom the Lord sent his true Prophets to cry out against then as he sendeth to cry out against you false Priests now which scandalize the truth of God you are all scandalous and if you have that which is your right you must all be cast out every one great and small for the highest of you in your fleshly wisdom and notions are the highest deceivers of the people Do not your fruits make you manifest Are you not all in the same condition that the false Prophets were in that ran but the Lord never sent them do you not look for your gain from you quarter Isa 56.10 11. place and parish where you are as those did that Isaiah was sent to cry out against Isa 56.10 11. Cleer your selves if you can and do you not take Tythes which neither Iesus Christ nor his true Ministers did and so act contrary to them both shewing yourselves to be Antichrists as it is now made manifest by your practise scandalous you are all of you Tythe-mongers and hirelings and ignorant you are of the same spirit that they were guided by that spoke for the deceits of the false Prophets and so are enemies both to the people of God and the ways of God and are guided by a spirit of errour deny it if you can your works will testifie against you and are you not upholders of the traditions and rudiments of the world which is a prejudice and hinderance of Reformation and danger of poor souls leading them
hearts and that is the good that they believe in them for all feeding daily on the forbidden fruit for both Pride and Covetousness is forbidden and those that live in it both Priests and People are in the broad way in the fall and under the curse 3. The Priests live in rayling and lying and speaking evil of that which they know not and they live in pleasures and wantonness and heady-high-mindedness Lust and revenge to persecution oppression and grinding the faces of the poor and see if these be not fruits of darkness and whether they do not live in them and the tree is known by its fruits and if this be not Atheism Ignorance Blindness Delusion and Herresie and errs from the truth for they are no fruits of the Spirit but of the flesh and of the seed of the Serpent whose head is yet unbruised in them that act those things And the People they follow the example of the Priests and believe that if they do such things that are teachers and leaders of them they may do the same and follow them as Examples and because those things are delightsome to the flesh they love them and believe in them for good and would not leave the evil of their doings but cry out against those that speaks against them for their ungodly deeds And because they cannot but declare against their deceits in speaking the truth they cry out saying that they lade them with contempt and reproach and disturb them c. But the time is come that they cannot endure sound Doctrine The Priests cannot endure sound Doctrine are not the Priests here in York-shire in the same state and condition that the false Priests and false Prophets were in whom the Lord sent his true Prophets to cry out against then as he sendeth to cry out against these now Isaiah was sent to cry out against them and called them dumb dogs yea greedy dogs shepherds that could not understand that never had enough for they did every one look for their gain from their quarter Isaiah 56.10 11. and because he spoke the truth he was hated of them as those do hate the Servants of the Lord now that testifie against their deceits and disturb them breaking their carnall peace and false rest and now they cry out against it Jeremiah he was sent to cry out against them and said that they held up a filthy and a horrible thing for they preached for hire and did bear rule over the people by their means Jer. 5.30 and do they not so now was not Jeremy lade with contempt for declaring the truth and put in the Prison and in the Dungeon and am I become your Enemy because I tell you the truth doth that lade you and disturb you or do not you lade the servants of the Lord that are sent to tell you of your deceits and deceiveableness and render them odious to the People but the Lord will clear up the Innocency of his People and take away the names of reproach from them and give you the cup of his fury that you may drink the dreggs of it and be ashamed of the evil of your doings Malachi He was sent to the Priests to tell them that their blessings were curst Mal. 2. and you are now found in the same state and condition doth truth lade you and disturb you and break your peace It must be so for God is against you and you are those that cause the truth to suffer and lade it by reproaches and revilings and persecutions as your fruits make it manifest and so you must drink the cup of trembling and astonishment for Jerusalem shall be a burdensome stone to all Nations for the Spirit of God is grieved by you that burden and oppress poor creatures and are never satisfied crying out for means for your bellies making your bellies your Gods seeking after earth and earthly things Whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things persecuting and imprisoning and shamefully entreating those that are sent to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel and you fill up the measure of your fathers Iniquities as your fruits do witness against you that you are they that stay the righteous and persecute the Innocent and are drawing upon your heads wrath without remedy even wrath to the utmost for he will plague the Beast and the false Prophet and burn the whore with fire and confound the wisdom of the wise and bring to nought the counsel of the prudent that he may reveale himself to babes and teach them the knowledge of his truth for he will rule all Nations with his Iron-rod who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Lord God omnipotent ever praised be his name Petition Lastly They take boldness to represent that the liberty granted by the Parliament in matters of Religion and the worship of God is much abused to the increase of Popery and prophaneness contrary to your intentions in the same c. Answ It grieveth these persecuting Priests that any liberty should be granted for the Truth to be declared lest that their deceits should be laid open and are troubled that the Parliament should see beyond them to give some liberty that truth may not alwayes be bound under the powers of darkness ruling in the proud Priests but light is rising in Parliament and people to see the deceits of the Priests though they would be giving meanings by their old-author studied spirit got out of old Authors at the University where the fountain is corrupted full of dead mens bones and now it stinks now that their deceit is discovered how they have deceived the people in the night time the time of darkness whilst the Mysterie of iniquity bore rule in man now light is risen and is arising to see how they have a long time blinded the people in giving meanings to the Scriptures which are true as they speak who do come to see them fulfilled can witness it as there are many in those parts can bear testimony to the same and now that the subtile Foxes are beaten out of that hole they would make the Parliament believe that there stands need of a meaning to be given to their late act or grant for liberty in matters of Religion as if they knew not what they did intend in the thing without they give them a meaning to their intentions but because it is contrary to their intention that is the reason that they would not have any to know any thing but what they suggest or put into their brain but brain knowledge is dying and now the Priests are crying to Magistrates to help to uphold them but as light doth arise in the hearts of the Parliament they will be ready to put out their dim lights and give such grants for liberty of Conscience that truth may be declared in every place that which is revealed in secret shall be declared on the house top and that will make