of sin and son of the Devill read Rom. 6.16 Joh. 8.34 1. Joh. 3.8 hearken to the light within you that checks and reproves you for sin and obey that that will not deceive you but if you obey and follow it it will teach you when such as doth draw you from the teachings or Christ within such doth seduce you 1 Joh. 2.26 27. come to the light to be led into the holy life and into the pure worship of God in the spirit obey the light take up the crosse to your wills and come to Christ come out of your false churches and of from your proud Priests and off from your false Pastors to Christ the true shepheard and bishop of the soul and the true Pastor and feeder of his flock and come to the church in God 1 Thes 1.1 Heb. 12.22 23. and their overseers made by the holy Ghost Act. 20.28 is known and elders in Christ 1 Pet. 5. and there is no constraint nor for filthy lucre and such as dwell in the power knowes the voice of the Father and the Son to speak in the Church and amongst such Ioh. 10.4 Gal. 4.6 Luk. 12.12 Act. 2.4 Mat. 10.20 Take heed to that which is pure of God in your consciences and obey it that which calls for a pure conversation 1 Pet. 1.13 14 15 16. and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good conversation and come out of your sprinkling of infants it is no ordinance of Christ come follow the light and come out of your false baptisme all that you may be buried with Christ in the true baptisme Rom. 6.1 in the suffering and witnesse that through the crosse and so a fellowship with him in the new life ver 3 4. and be baptized into Christ so put him on Gal. 3.27 and by one spirit witnesse that baptisme into one body 1 Cor. 12.11 12 13. where there is one Lord one faith one baptisme and so of such one God and one Father of them all who are of the houshold of God in that church which is the piller and ground of the truth Eph. 4 4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Tim. 3.15 Come all you that are weary and heavy laden Mat. 11.28 saith Christ and I will give you rest obey the light and come out of your sins take up the crosse and deny your wills and forsake your iniquities 2 Tim 2.19 and Christ will receive you and elect you he is the foundation of election obey him that you may be laid on him and builded up into the election 1 Pet. 2.4 5. and give all diligence to have the assurance of calling and election 2 Pet. 1.9 10. Christ Jesus he is the light and the way to the Father and the authour both of election and salvation to all that obey him Ephes 1.10 Ephes 2.7 8 18 19. Ephes 3.9 10 11. Heb. 5.8 9. Now Christ Jesus he is the true light that lighteth every man that comes into the world and with his light you see darknesse in you and rebellion and wickednesse and he the true light calâ—s you by his light to forsake darknesse wickednesse rebellion sin and evil and he calls you with his light to come out of darknesse 1 Joh. 1.5 and follow him that gives you light that with it you may be led on to him Christ Jesus to the Father of lights and into the marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9.10 And now that you are called and perswaded by the light to obey and follow it if you will not obey and follow the same but continue in their wilfulnesse sinfulnesse and rebellion taking pleasure in wickednesse and so love darknesse rather then the light and disobey the truth to take pleasure in unrighteousnesse then great will your condemnation and damnation be Ioh. 1.5 9. Ioh. 8.12 Ioh. 14.6 Ioh. 3.19 20. 2 Thes 2.7 8 9 10 11 12. and 2 Thessal 1.8 9. Romans 1.18 Revel 20.10 Rev. 21.8 27. Election and Predestination stands in the counsell of God Those things concerning Election and Predestination stands in the counsell of God and are hid from all the wise and prudent of the world Isa 29.10 11 c. 1 Cor. 1.20 21. 1 Cor. 3.19 20. Col. 1.26 27. Isa 29.16 17 18 19 22 23 24. Rev. 5.1 2 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 1.18 Eph 2. 1 Cor. 6.17 Heb. 2.10 11. yet the secrets of God are with them that fear him and he is pleased to reveal his counsell and such things to babes and those babes are born again contrary to the will of man Ioh. 3.6 7. Ioh. 3.10 11 12. Ioh. 1 22 23. and such as witnessed election and predestination were such as were born again of water and the spirit that the Scriptures speaketh of and knew the mysteries opened in them and to them and saw what God fore knew to predestinate and what to reprobate learn to deny your selves and obey the light that you may be taught of God to know the same and to know the two seeds within and learn to see and know that except you be born again you cannot enter into the kingdom of God nor witnesse assurance of the eternall inheritance nor of election therefore busie not your minds about those things in your wills and fleshly natures for from such and the serpents seed are they hid praised be the Lord Mat. 11 15 26 27. But ye have a light to the which ye do well to take heed unto to obey and follow the light of Christ within in your consciences which checks and reproves you in secret for sin and evill and if you love and obey that light it will teach you and guide you to the sword to know the power to cut and bruise the serpents head within you and so through the crosse to witnesse a suffering with Christ in the mystery through the ministery in the crosse and so know a bearing about in your bodies the dying of the Lord dayly that the light of Christ may through the crosse by slaying the enmity be manifested to your souls and in your mortall flesh 2 Cor. 4.6 7. to the 12. that through the obedience to the light within and the eternall truth through the spirit your souls may be purified 1 Pet. 1.22.23 and the seed raised up by the power of God which Christ taketh upon him and not the nature of Angells and so to witnesse the birth and bearing up over the world and through the quickenings and working of the divine power to know your souls joined to the seed and so to God by being changed from glory to glory into the pure holy image by the spirit of the eternall God to know election in the ground and truths as they are in life and power thereof enjoyed through the obedience to him and his light guide Mat. 25.28 29 30. Mat. 25.41 to the end 2 Thes 1.8 9. and spirit to witnesse the salt seal savoury discerning and holy unction which teacheth all things 2 Cor.
against your deceits doth know Yet when you saw that the truth did prevail upon the spirits of many and that you must either yield up to it and take your shame or else to stand up contrary to that in your consciences to oppose it and resist it as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8.9 and sought to harden the peoples hearts against him lest they should have believed and obeyed the truth so after I had spoken about an hour and a half or two houres you sought to resist the truth though clear truths according to scripture as that in your consciences and others of the servants of God can witnesse and you laboured much to have got me and the truth silent and broke your own engagement by promise But what are the words of Priests but words of false-hearted self seeking and deceitfull men as you and others do know yet truth prevailed and would not be silent for flesh and deceit truce-breakers like your selves and such spoken of in 2 Tim. 3 chap. That did not regard your own word and promise that time you broke your own order and word bond or the present engagement whereupon I told you the summe and commanded your silence for your words sake and still spoke to the people this is not self justication but a witnessing to the truth against the deceits and deceivers and to clear it from lies and danders and though you the Priests did so seek to resist the truth contrary to that in your consciences and so stirred up envy in the harts of some of the ignorant people against the truth of God and the messenger of God c. yet the cause I commit to the Lord who will carry it on against gainsayers and opposers like you and such in your nature and will also case himself of his enemies and be avenged of his adversaries Isa 1.24 And the Lord will avenge himself of you except ye repent and acknowledge your fault and to the people declare against your errour own your condemnation thereupon and take shame to your selves And to this the light in your consciences is my witnesse and answer the judgements upon you it wils to be just and if you do not repent and give over deceiving the people and cease your opposition against the truth or else eternall vengeance you cannot escape be silent all flesh the light is my answer and witnesse beyond and against your wills Happy are you if you obey it in all things but wo to you if you disobey it and act contrary to it Now you have time prize it remember Dâ—ves end and also take warning and remember that in your life time you have been warned as to you I said by the spirit of the Lord. And when you Priests could not have your wills as you would who had before in part bound up your selves by your word and promise but broke your bonds whereupon I told you the same and I was bound to clear my conscience before you and the people to lay open your deceits and for the truths sake because that yon and others also of the Priests your brethren had so much cried out against false prophets and the like I said towards the latter end of my speech declared by the spirit of the Lord to the people that day at Chadwitch in Worcestershire as aforesaid That you the two priests was bound by your word to hear me what I had to say and after that to answer my question also whereupon keeping you chained or tied up by your own word then I proceeded and went on to lay open before you and the people who the false prophets were and how they might be known even by their fruits as Christ hath said Matth. 7.15.16 and 20. So by your fruits are you known and all such as the true Prophets of the Lord was sent to cry out against as than I laid open by description and fruits also proving the same by scripture which now I shall not much mention because I laid you and such so open before your faces and such like as speaks a divination of their own brain stealing the true prophets and true Apostles words to trade with all for money and selfends which they spake forth freely as they were moved of the holy Ghost and as the spirit gave them utterance 2 Pet. 1.19.20.21 Act. 24. therefore such as steals their words to trade withall for money are the thieves and false prophets spoken of in Jer. 23. but the Priests of the world are such therefore thieves and false prophets as by their fruits they are known and such as bear rule by their meanes seeks the fleece and makes a prey upon the people and seeks for t heir gain from their quarter Jer. 23. 23. Mic. 3.5.11 Isa 56.10.11 2 Pet. 2. such priests as preach for hire like those that the true prophets were sent to crie against such are the priests of the world therefore false prophets and to be cried against as such was Jer. 5.30.31 Ezek. 34. And such proud covetous selt-seeking men as agrees with a people beforehand to pay them 20.30 40.50.60.80.100.200 or 300 pound per annum faying they are ministers of Christ sudh doth speak falsely and are lying false prophets never sent of the Lord they cannot find their example in scripture neither amongst the true Prophets nor true Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Micah 3.5.11 but such are amongst the hirelings and such as are greedy dumb dogs never satisfied Isaiaeh 56.10.11 but seeking for their gain from their quarter and making a prey upon the people Ezek. 34.1.2.3 and amongst such or under Tythmongers tytheing Priests as thou Andrew Trusterom art and saidst thou wouldst prove it to be lawful but did not and the other would not meddle about tythes so I bad him then cry them down For thou and such as takes tythes professing your selves gospel ministers are lyers and deceivers as I told thee and have not one example for so doing amongst all the gospel ministers nor Judahs tribe which you can prove by plain scripture to take tythes by command Oh shame Andrew Trusterom and all tything priests like thee you dishonour the gospel and are out of the gospel way and order be ashamed and blush and all hirelings and also tything priests like thee you that take tythes do not the work nor service that such did as bad the tythes a peculiar gift for their service onely during the legall ministration You tything priests what are you Aaronitall and Leviticall or Pharisaicall and hypocriticall where are you and where is your holy garments water of purification your altars fire and incence and burnt-offerings and sacrifices where is your circumcision and where is all the service required under the Aaronitall and Leviticall priesthood done and performed by you Tithing Priests that was done by Aaron and Levi who had the tythes a peculiar gift onely for their service under that priesthood Numb 18.1.2 3 4 5
say every man is not lighted in some measure with the true light they deny Johns record of Christ and deny Christ to be the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and such as say every man hath not a light to lighten them they deny the scripture and would make John a liar But such as say so and would do so they are enemies to the truth and the true light so enemies to Christ and the gospel and are false accusers of Iohn that bare record of Christ and so lie against the record that God gave of his sonne but Iohns words of truth and the record that God gave of his sonne shall be witnesse against such to demonstrate shew and confute their lies by plain scripture without consequence read as aforesaid Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 and 1 Cor. 12.7 Tâ—tus 2.11.12 Isa 42.6.7.9 Act. 26.18 and Galat. 3.28 Thirdly Light shineth in darknesse but darknesse comprehenceth it not as it comprehended it not then Iohn 1.5 yet light is there where it is not walked in nor obeyed Such as hate the light or sit and walk in darknesse with the light they see darknesse for whatsoever manifesteth darknesse is light Eph. 5.13 And they do not walk in darknesse because they have no light but because they have the light checking and reproving them of evil and they do not forsake their sin by obeying and following the light therefore do they walk in darknesse for such as follow the light are are led out of darknesse into the light of eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.6.7 and such as had been in darknesse and alienated from the life of truth as the Romans and Ephesians were it was not because they had not the light but because they walked not then in it for that which may be known of God saith the Apostle to the Romanes is manifest within Rom. 1.19 and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to themselves Rom. 1.28 c. And such as had been alienated from the life of truth as the Ephesians were whilst they walked in darknesse yet they had light which did to them discover the darknesse and the fruits of darknesse but by obeying and following the light such as so did were led out of darknesse and out of the fruits of darknesse and were led into the light of life so that then they walked in the light of the Lord as they have witnessed and may be seen Ephes 5.8 to the 14. Fourthly And such as were called out of darknesse had the light when they were in darknesse and by the light were they called out of darknesse into the light of the Lord as the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Capadocia Asia Bithinia such as in time past had not been a people for God after they were called out of darknesse into the marvellous light were then the people of God and such was to demonstrate or shew forth the praise of him who was the true light Ioh. 1.9 1 Ioh. 1.5 and they by obeying and following the light were led into the marvellous light and as they were others by so obeying may but they were therefore for proof read 1 Pet. 2.9.10.11.12 2 Pet. 1.19.20.21 Fifthly And this is the condemnation of the world not that light is not come into the world to shew men their evil deeds but because light is come into the world and men they loved darknesse rather then the light not because they have it not to demonstrate or shew them their evil deeds which is contrary to the light but because they have it to demonstrate and shew them their evil deeds and they hate the light that discovereth their evil deeds and do not obey it to forsake their evil deeds which is reproved by the light John 3.19.20 Eph. 5.13 therefore are they condemued by it Sixthly But all such as love and obey the light doth truth and cometh to the light that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God and this light is within which they do well to take heed unto as unto a light which shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-starre doth arise within them in their hearts by which light spirit in the prophecyings teachings workings and counsellings such as follow and obey the same are led out of darknesse errour and deceit into the light of life and so into all truth according to gospel discipline and promise Joh. 3.20 2 Pet. 1.19 20.21 Iohn 14.20.26 Iohn 16.13 Seventhly Then such as say the light and spirit is not sufficient without some other help of mans wit or the like to lead men to the knowledge of the truth and to salvation through the obedience to the truth through the light and spirit of truth according to the fathers teachings only such as say so shew not only their ignorance of the workings of the light of life but their ignorance of the guidance of the spirit of truth and the fathers teachings in the new covenant and gospel ministration likewise and they also seem to lie against the holy Ghost and resist the truth as such spoken of whose folly did appear as theirs doth therefore the case or condition of such is dangerous as so do like such spoken of Rom. 1.18.19 and 28.29.30.31 verses 2 Tim. 3.8.9 Math. 12.31 Eighthly And seeing that Christ is the true light and he said such as follow him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and he hath said also that the spirit shall reprove the world of sin unbelief c. and that he shall guide and lead such as follow the guidance thereof into all truth and such as so obey and walk in the spirit should in that day know him in the Father and he in them and they in him Iohn 14.15.16.17.20 and 26. And this spirit should not be a lying spirit nor an imperfect guide to the followers thereof but the true spirit of truth and should dwell within to guide and lead them into all truth And he hath said also that he the spirit of truth should not speak of himself but from him his father and Christ hath said of the spirit that whatsoever he should hear that he should speak and he should also shew them things to come and saith Christ he shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you and he shall teach you all things so be the saints teacher and he shall bring all things to your remembrance concerning me so the spirit is both the saints teacher their guider remembrancer about the things of God and thus they come to know all truth as Christ hath said which truth in the full knowledge and enjoyment of him and his father doth make them free Ioh. 16.1.2.3 to the 16. Ioh. 14.20 Ioh. 17.10 1 Iohn 2.20 and 27. 9. Then such as say the true light and the spirit according to the Fathers teachings
only is not able to teach all gospel truths nor sufficient to lead to salvation such as say so are lyars against the truth the true light and the spirit of truth therefore enemies to Christ and the gospel For the Lord Jesus hath said that he is the light of the world and those that follow him shall not walk in darknesse but have the light of life eternall life and so assurance of salvation who is the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him the light and the way to the Father and the true light of the world that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Ioh. 14.6 1 Pet. 2.9.10 Heb. 5.9 Tenthly But such has say the light of the world which is the true light Christ Jesus that lighteth every man that cometh into the world is not sufficient to salvation being obeyed and followed without some other help such as so say speak they know not what unadvisedly and such questions the power and authority of the true light Christ Jesus and knows not that he is perfectly able to save to the uttermost all those that come unto God by him and the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him only Heb. 7.24 25. Heb. 5.7 8 9. Eleventhly Such as say the light which is Christ by his spirit opening the mystery is not able to teach all the perfect knowledge of the truth such as say so are against Christs doctrine in the gospel ministration and against him Antichristian for he who is the true light and lighteth every man that cometh into the world saith that all that obey him the true light shall be saved by him only and that all that obey him the true light shall not walk in darknesse but be led out of darknesse into the light of life and so into eternall life by him the true light and perfect Saviour to all such for he is perfectly able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him the true light Christ Jesus and to such as obey him he is the authour of eternall salvation who is the true light and lighteth every man that cometh into the world but is the condemnation of such as after manifestation do wilfully sin against love tendered and mercy profered who do hate the light and love their evill deeds and darknesse rather then the light Ioh. 3.19 20. Heb. 10.25 26. 2 Thessalonians 1.6 7 8 9. Iude 4. 2 Thessalonians 1.12 Twelfthly Christ Jesus the light of the world hath said who is the true light and lighteth every man that cometh into the world that the Spirit of truth coming to be manifested within should guide them and teach them all things being obeyed and bring all things to remembrance and guide into all truth Iohn 14.16 17 and 26. Iohn 16.13 14. Then such as say this spirit is not sufficient to teach all things being obeyed and such as so say and say it is not sufficient to guide into all truth being come and walked in without some other help such questions the authority of the spirit and affronts the Lord Jesus by contradicting his own sweet gospel discipline doctrine and promise but such as do so and bâ—ing a contrary doctrine who love not the Lord Jesus Christ let them be Anathema Maran-atha accursed with a curse 1 Cor. 16.22 Gal. 1.8 9. Therefore blessed are they that obey the true light and follow the counsell and teachings of â—he spirit of truth that they may know the spirit of the Father speaking in them and through them and so know the free love of the Lord wrought in their souls by the working of the divine power according to the good pleasure of his will in the spirits teachings and sweet gospel ministration through the riches of the Fathers love sending the spirit of his son in their hearts whereby they cry Abba Father Luk. 12.12 Mat. 10.20 2 Corinthians 6.16 2 Peter 1.2 3. Galatians 4.6 7. Such as aforetime did obey the light and the teachings of the spirit were made able ministers of the gospel of Christ Act. 2.4 2 Cor. 3.6 Joh. 19.19 20 21 22. Act. 4. ch Act. 7. ch Act. 1.22 23 24 c. Heb. 8.10 11. in the new covenant of grace according to the Fathers teachings though some of them outwardly were ignorant and unlearned men so that they confounded the great Rabbies and Greek Latine and Hebrew scholars and the Jewish chief Priests so that they cryed out to the magistrates counsellours and governou s to cause them to be persecuted beaten and abused imprisoned and threatned to speak no more in the name of Jesus and the great rabby doctoâ—s and chiefest of the English Priests if they might have their wills would do so now to such as have been with Jesus and they seek to quench the light and spirit but shall not be able to do it for it will powerfully appear in sons and daughters in the spirits ministration and the teachings thereof and so thereby they may take notice that the schollars of Christ are brought up at Emanuels school taught of the Lord according to his promise Act. 4.12 13. Isa 2. 1 Cor. 14.24 25. and have been with Jesus for counsell the Emanuel God with us and in us the everlasting Father and the mighty God wonderfull counsellour Isa 9.6 Joh. 6.45 Joh. 4.20 2 Cor. 6.16 as he was in them that were taught by his spirit though some were shepheards ploughmen tradesmen and some ignorant and unlearned in the great scholes of humane learning and Paul denyed his learning that he had received of man when he was made an able minister of the gospel which he preached he had not received it of man neither was he taught it of man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ as he hath certified to the brethren Gal. 1.11 12 and 15 16. and now is the Lord teaching his and now is the Lord sending the law forth of Sion and making and sending forth ministers to declare his truth and publish the gospel freely without the help of proud covetous self-seeking men ever praised be the Lord they that obeyed the light and walked therein they witnessed that by it they were led out of darknesse to walk in the light of the Lord and as they did come out of darknesse through the obedience to the light according to the doctrine of Christ to walk in the light of the Lord by so doing others may for Christ is the true light and the way to walk in the way that leads out of darknesse into light out of sin into grace out of bondage into liberty out of unbelief into the life and power of faith out of errour and deceit into the life and power of truth and so into the holy unction which teacheth all things without the help of faln man or his fleshly wisdom as it is Written ye have an unction from the holy 〈◊〉 and ye know all things 1 Ioh. 2.20 and this is
2 6 7. 1 Ioh. 4.16 17. The false ministry and ministers Then those ministers that are made by the will of man and such as are ministers of the letter and not of the spirit such are not taught of God neither are they the ministers of Christ nor his gospel and such as have a form of godliness and wants the power are to be denied and turned away from and that ministry which doth not lead up to perfection but keepeth people ever learning and never able to come to that perfect measure of the knowledge of the Son of God and the eternall truth to a perfect man in Christ Jesus is none of Christs ministry but the ministry of the world and of Antichrist therefore not the ministry of Christ nor the gospel but such a ministry as that which is spoken of that keeps people laden with sins and led away with divers lusts and saying under it they cannot be freed from their sins whilst they live that is such a ministry as Christ hath not ordained in the new covenant but is shut out therefore that ministry is a contrary ministry to Christ and his Apostles in the new covenant and to be holden accursed also the ministers thereof as it is required 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Gal. 1.8 9. Who the false prophets are and how to be known even by their fruits as Christ hath said Mat. 5.15 and 20. The false prophets idoll shepheards and blind watchmen were and are such as bears and bore rule by their means and such as sought and doth seek for their gain from their quarter greedy dumb dogs that never had nor never have enough but were and are such as sought and seeketh for the fleece and then made and now maketh a prey upon the people and preached and doth preach for hire and then went and doth now go in the way of Cain who received and doth receive the wages of unrighteousness Balaam like and such the Lord was and such the Lord is against and sent and doth send to cry out against them but the priests of the world are such and hath such fruites whereby they may be known to be the false prophets idol-shepheards blinde watchmen and greedy dumb dogs that are never satisfied but either petitioning or crying to the people and crying out to the magistrates to help them with one thing or another and if they might but have their wills they would shew forth their cruelty doggednesse persecution and tyranny as many of them have already done so they are out of the example of all the true prophets and true Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore to be cryed out of and declared against and the wo is unto them for their reward as it was to such Jer. 23. Isa 3.11 Ezek. 34. Jer. 5.30 31. Isa 56.10 11. Mic. 3.5 and 11. 2 Pet. 2. Iud. 11. The Resurrection of the just and unjust That there is a resurrection of the just and unjust and the saints shall be raised up to be glorified and enter into the eternall joy of their Lord but the wicked to be terrified and the just hath boldnesse in the day of judgement 1 Ioh. 4.17 and are accepted but the wicked and all the nations that forget God are to be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and thither goes the disobedient and cursed to be tormented eternally from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 1 Cor. 15.12 13 14 15 to the 30. Matth. 27.52 53. Rev. 20.6 Matth. 25.41 to the end Rev. 20.10 11 12. to the end Rev. 21.8 27. 2 Thes 1.8 9. The Lord will plead with all flesh That the Lord will plead with all flesh by his sword and by fire Isa 66.15 16. and the terrours of the Lord is to be known to all flesh and upon all the wicked and ungodly Mala. 4.1 Zeph. 1.14 15. therefore happy are they that obey the light which comes from the Lord Jesus which light doth convince them of and reprove for sin and evill that through their obedience to the light they may be led out of darknesse and know judgement and vengeance to consume the wickednesse and seed of the serpent in them and know the power of life to work in them that through their obedience to the light and truth they may have their souls purified as such had who obeyed the truth through the spirit and have 1 Pet. 1.22 23. and bodies washed with the water of the word through the sanctification of the spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 and so know their souls joined to the divine life through the eternall spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 and through their obedience to the light and ministry in the crosse 1 Cor. 1 18. that they may give all diligence here to make their calling and election sure that so an entrance may be ministred abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Heb. 5.9 2 Pet. 1.10 11. There is no place to be purged in betwixt heaven and here therefore plead not for sin c. No unclean thing shall enter nor the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19.20 and there shall not in any wise enter into it any thing that defileth nor that which worketh abomination or maketh a lye Rev. 21.27 then such as continue in sin unseparated and are not purified from it here their case is dangerous for the unclean shall not enter into Gods kingdom and there is no place betwixt heaven and here to be purged in and the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God therefore be not deceived for such as dies in their sins and unrighteousnesse coming so to the judgement then wo and misery is their portion eternally take warning betimes and read Rev. 14.9 10 11. Rev. 20.10 11 to the end Rev. 22.11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 21 8 27. The difference between the naturall and spirituall estate and condition and how the soul comes to enjoy fellowship with God and partake the sweet gospel grace and virtue Men naturally knows not the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 And in a state of unregeneration they are dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 but alive in the evill pride and vain glory serving divers lusts and pleasures Eph. 2.2 3. so in deaths reign and all their actings in their wills in that nature turn'd from the light is out of a selfish principle and in that self-seeking nature thinking thereby to merit something by their own self-actings in that nature turned from the light so setting up their self-actings and performances that stands in their wills thinking to get life and peace or salvation thereby but all that is seen with the light to be out of the true ground and not in the life of truth which stands out of the light in the mans will and with the light which calls the mind within and
turn from the evil to the good in perswading his heart perswades him to wit the creature man against sin and to turn from the iniquitie and he joyning to the light his lusts naturall corruptions and inclinations to the evil is thereby to wit by the light not onely discovered but also crossed judged and condemned So the creature man obeying the light and serving the good he forsakes the evil and becomes a servant of righteousnesse yielding up his members to the light as instruments of righteousnesse unto that which is holy that he may serve in the new life and so witnesse the change and the new creature as it is written Rom. 6.11.12 and the 17.18 to the 23 verse 2 Cor. 5.17 Which light as aforesaid within in the conscience that reproves for sin being obeyed and upon the discovery and manifestation to the view of the understanding submitted wholly unto it crosseth and crucifieth lusts and all evil of what sort soever as it doth arise so condemning sin in the flesh and also quickens the soul so easing it and redeeming it according to the working of the divine power and thereby freeing the soul from the bondage of corruptions wherein it was held which corruptions are purged out of the soul by the ministry in the crosse 1 Cor. 1.18 throng the obedience to the light and truth in the spirit 1 Pet. 1.22.23 1 Pet. 2.9.10 and so the soul is through the obedience to the light and by the operation of the divine power raised up from under the bondage wherein it had been held into a spirituall enjoyment of the fathers eternall love and wrought through the obedience to the light and truth in the spirit into the new life and spirituall worship Rom. 6.1.2.3.4 Ioh. 4.23.24 Rev. 22.17 Philip. 3.3 whereby the heart through the obedience to the light and the eternall spirit is circumcised the body of sin put off and the soul baptized into the endlesse love so into Christ the fulnesse whereby it putteth him on and so stands compleat in him the fulnesse and being baptized by one spirit into unity in that one spirituall body so into the new covenant entered sealed and confirmed and there the soul sits under the vine receiving of the vertue from the fulnesse and drinketh in that one spirit where there is one covenant one body one bread of life one spirituall reck for souls to be refreshed at and in one faith one Lord one baptisme which is not carnall but spirituall and so there is no confidence in the flesh nor fleshly worships but a rejoycing in Christ Jesus and being of the spirituall seed in the spirituall worship and covenant There is a glorying in the Lord the justifier and in the spirituall circumcision baptisme breaking of bread and prayer and the glory communion and fellowship into the covenant and doctrine is known by the preaching of the crosse and the ministry of the spirit through the crosse which crucifieth the worlds nature and the creature to the world and there my glorying is where the old things are passed away and the new things enjoyed for if any man be in Christ he is a new creature Old things are passed away and behold all things are become new as it is written and know with such as enjoy the same 2 Cor. 5.16.17 Rev. 21. and Colos 2.9.10 Galat. 3.27.28 1 Cor. 12.11.12.13 Eph. 4.4.5.6 Ioh. 6.53.54.55.56 1 Ioh. 5.20 1. Cor. 10.15.16.17 Shaking Quaking and trembling is no new thing which is despised in this generation but witnessed in the Scriptures amongst the people of God then as the Scriptures declareth c. And though the serpents seed do revile the people of God by names of reproch yet thus saith the Lord Hearken unto me ye that know righteousnesse the people in whose heart is my law fear ye not the reproaches of men neither be ye afraid of their revilings for the moth shall eat them up like a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool but my righteousnesse shall be for ever and my salvation from generation to generation read Isa 51.7.8 And though we be reproached and called by the name of Quakers reproachfully yet the power we witnesse and the salvation which power in other generations was witnessed amongst the people of God that witnessed both shaking trembling and quaking according to the declaration left for a witnesse upon record in the scriptures For Moses the servant of the Lord did exceedingly fear and quake as for proof you may read Hebr. 12.21 and Act. 7.22 and it Moses had been here now and witnessed such a condition of quaking the Priests and people of England many of them would have been ready to have reproached Moses and have called him a Quake as they do reproach the people of God under the name of Quakers Secondly Davids flesh trembled Psalm 119.120 and he roared by reason of the disquietnesse of his heart Psal 38.8 Psal 22.1 Thirdly Job saith that trembling took hold on his flesh Job 21.5.6 And at this saith he my heart trembleth and is removed out of its place Job 37.1 Fourthly The Lord sent Isaiah to the people to speak his word saying Hear the word of the Lord all ye that tremble at his word Isaiah 66.5 and Isaiah and those trembling people and such as the Lord had given him were for signes and wonders in Israel Isa 8.16.17 18. And if any witnesse a trembling condition now as such did then they are reproached and hated and are for signes and wonders in England and by them reproachfully and scornfully called Quakers And if Iob David and the people with Isaiah Math. 9.10.11.12 Luke 6.22.23 1 Pet. 4.13.14 had been here now and witnessed such conditions of shaking and trembling the people in this generation and the Priests might have had as good ground to have called such Quakers as they have to call the people of God Quakers now who witnesse the law of God written in their hearts and the power that worketh salvation but such as so reproach and revile the people of God by the name of Quakers are ignorant of the life of the Scripture and the power which worketh out salvation with fear and trembling Philippians 2.11 12 13. 5. Habakkuck the Prophet of the Lord his belly shook and his lips quivered Hab. 3.16 6. Ieremiah his heart within him was broken and his bones did shake Ier. 23.9 and see what he saith Ier. 5.22 and Ier. 30.56 7. The word of the Lord came to Ezek'ell the prophet saying son of man eat thy bread with quaking Ezek'ell 12.18 Daniel he trembled and the men that was with him a great quaking fell upon them so that they fled to hide themselves Dan 10.8 11. If Habakkuck the Prophet of the Lord had been here now and his belly had shook and his lips quivered as he saith they did and had Ieremiah the Prophet of the Lord been here now and his bones had shook and he have been like a
drunken man and had Ezekiell Daniel and the men that were with him been here now and done so trembled and quaked as the Scripture witnesseth of them Ier. 23.9 Ier. 5.22 Ier. 30.5 6. Hab. 3.16 Ezek. 12 18. Dan. 10.8 9 10 11. the Priests of England and their people would have been ready to have said these men had been deluded or mad and have been ready to have reviled them and to have called them Quakers Yet they can take such mens words to professe and trade withall for mony but despise their conditions and magnify themselves against the people of God that witnesseth their conditions and that power which they did and such are now by the Priests of England and their people reproachfully called Quakers but you that reproach the people of God and magnify your selves against them read what the Lord will do to you Mat. 5.10 11 12. Luk. 6.22 23. 1 Pet. 4 13.14 and such like as is spoken of in the prophesie of Zeph. 2.9 10 11. And though we be reviled and reproached by the name of Quakers yet we can gladly rejoyce that we are counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ to us reproaches are great riches for Christs sake as they was to the holy men of God and to Moses who did exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 11.25 26. Heb. 12.21 The ground and manner of the meeting The meeting at Chadwitch in Worcestershire on the 21 day of the 12 month between the 2 men by the world scornfully called Quakers and the 2 Priests to wit one Priest Osland Pastor to an independent company as they say at Bewdley and one Andrew Trusterom Priest at Clent To the 2 Priests that were at the meeting and others of their party the day aforesaid some passages laid before them to look on and take into consideration and the manner and ground of our meeting in brief as followeth The meeting at Chadwitch in Worcestershire the day aforesaid we whom the world scornfully called Quakers had appointed that day set apart to meet with the people there abouts that used there to meet with others that might come into us that day not knowing any thing of your being there till we came at the place where the meeting was appointed and when we came at the meeting house we found you 2 Priests got peaking up Pharisee like and had been labouring to incense the people against us crying our against false prophets and seducers and p oved to be those same your selves whom some of the people had opposed before we came so finding you peark'c above them and jangling with them out of the envy and pride of your hearts before we came so seeing that I pressed in amongst the people to get in to stand before your faces as I was constrained and moved and with much pressing the throng was so great I pressed through the throng until I came and stood before you the 2 Priests whereupon you made a speech that all the people would be silent but I that you and I might speak together c. But I was not free in my spirit to have the spirits of others tyed up by my promise therefore I opened my mouth to speak as I were guided by the spirit of my Father Mat. 10 20. and said unto you also that the room was very throng so for the truthes sake and for the good of the people there gathered together and for conveniences sake also it would be better to go forth of the doors upon the green hill that all people might hear and be kept cool but that you refused and then would not but said if that I would ask you a question you would answer me or if I would you would ask me a question and I would answer you or if you not be interrupted you would speak or to the effects or if I would speak you would hear me c. Whereupon to that I told you again I had appointed that meeting with the people and had something from the Lord to declare to that people there gathered together so be silent till I have done or declared what from the Lord I have here this day to declare to this people and then if you would have me to ask you a question that I shall do afterwards if God permits whereupon to that yon 2 Priests granted and sat down so by your promise you were bound to hear me and be silent till I had done as aforesaid if you had regarded your word and also after that you were bound accordingly from your own proposition and by your promise to answer my question which was to propound unto you So after that silent I stood a while and a woman bad me to speak and speak up aloud but I to her answered and said woman I am not to be commanded by thee but by the Lord and as he pleaseth so I shall speak whose power I am subject unto and to be ordered by also disposed of according to the good pleasure of his divine will in whose counsell I now do stand Then after that according to the good pleasure of the Lord who had ordered and did order to his praise and according to the assistance of his holy spirit and the working of his divine power I did declare the truth of God as it were witnessed to the witnesse of God in all consciences that were present and heard and shall be witnessed before the judgement seat of Christ for my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power c. 1 Cor. 2.3 4. Rom. 2.16 And blessed are they who continue with patience in the well doing 2 Cor. 6. Rom. 2.7 that obey and follow the light and counsell of the word of truth answered within by the light of Christ in their consciences through the mystery of godlinesse Col. 1.27 28. But such as are contentious and disobey the truth to obey unrighteousnesse their portion will be grievous woe and misery 2 Thes 1.6.7 8 9. 2 Thes 2.7.8.9.10.11.12 then indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2.8.9 whether Priest or people But though the truth was that day declared in much power and many of your party at the first and others were pricked at the heart and were much tendered and convinced and many did secretly and some openly confesse to the truth and your selves confessed to that which you said I held forth concerning mortification of sin and the resurrection and other truths till your practises were touched and the worlds churches tythes preaching for hire bearing rule by their means seeking for their gain from their quarter and such like things were declared against at which you the Priests startled who before were convinced of the truth declared and had sighed sobbed and groned in your spirits very often as many can witnesse and as that in your consciences which is my witnesse for Gods truth declared and answer
6,7 and Numb 18.20.21 And you tything priests by the same Law are to do all the service required as well as take tythes else you are dissemblers with God and man taking tythes and leaving the work undone and there never was any gospel allowance stop your mouthes But seeing you do take tythes where is vour store house to put the tythes in Malac. 3. Let that be known and where it is that the gates may be set open in every place of the nation that the poor the widows fatherlesse and strangers may come thither to be filled and satisfied that is to have out of them food and raiment that there may not be a beggar in England but be relieved and satisfied and have food and raiment out of the tythes as there was not to be a beggar in Israel but to be relieved filled and satisfied out of the tythes as may be read Deuir 14.27.28.29 But do you not you tything priests in England take tythe of the poor the widows fatherlesse and a so strangers if servants come and be shangers in a place or sojourners doing service from one year to another some of you take tythe out of their earnings or wages here you manifest your cruelty that so do and are even binding and have bound heavy burdens upon the poor but woe is your portion that do so Math. 23. Never such gospel ministers was known that ever the scripture maketh mention of but you are those thieves and robbers that Christ speaks of which never came in by the door as it is written Ioh. 10. chap. And you are robbers of the poor and do not what the law requires of you that commanded tythes to be paid to the Leviticall Priesthood but you are so farre from the gospel order that you are transgressours of the law instead of keeping it you break it and take tythes contrary to the law of God in the first covenant priesthood take tythes contrary to the law in that covenant for the poor the widows the fatherlesse strangers instead of paving tythes under the law was to be filled satâ—sfied out of the tythes according to the law Deut. 14.27.28.29 but you that are tything priests in England take tythes of the poor and many widows and fatherlesse and strangeâ—s for in many places the priests tythe servants wages taking a farthing at shilling and as their errour is Oh wicked seducers deluders and deceivers but woe to the wicked and to Gods adversaries for it shall go ill with them Isaiah 3.11 Isaiah 1.24 And you hold up that which Christ came to put an end to who hath fulfilled that law and covenant by which that the first priesthood was ordained and by which tythes were commanded to them to be paid and the priesthood being changed so he changed the law by which the priests were made and tythes paid so an end of the priesthood that received tythes by a law therefore an end of tythes the reward for your service and Christ is the summe and substance of all the things there spoken of who is of the tribe of Iudah that took no tithes neither did he take any nor his masters of the new covenant under the gospel therefore stop your mouthes a bout your tythes and also take shame to your selves restore to whom you have wronged by taking tythes professing your selves ministers of the gospel and restore four fold as Zaccheus who had been an oppressour upon his conversion did and also read Hebrews 7.8.9 and 10. chapters So in brief I leave that and come on to let you know by bringing things back to your remembrance c. That when your deceits and the deceits of the priests of England were declared against that day and laid open to your understandings and in your presence that it even cut you to the heart who had so often that day sighed and groaned to the hearing of others and then thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent went out of the room being accused in thy conscience and pricked with it but that which did accuse thee doth accuse thee and will be a swift witnesse against thee thou cannot flee it to the grave and the pit it will follow to witnesse a gainst thee and upon thee answer it will the judgements of God to be just if it thou hate and still disobey therefore be advised I warn thee and give over deceiving the people for their own ends But to come on having left thee without excuse as well as the rest this is to bring to remembrance and let thee and the rest know that when thou was fled and going out of the room when the meeting was I then ceased declaring to take away slanders and prejudices and otherwise might have been raised and I turned me about towards the other Priest Osland Pastor to the independent company at Bewdley so called that be might have some time to answer my question and object what he or others had to object that truth might be cleared and according to my promise I propounded to him a question after I had ended my speech to the people and therein had laid open your deceits and the deceits of the priests of the world to the people which question was this The beginning of the dispute What death it was that had reigned over those that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression and what it was in mankind that such a death had reigned over how he could witnesse in the inward ministrations through deaths reign through Moses or the judgements and through the prophecyings to John in the wildernesse and how in his burnings and shineings to the least in the kingdom what the soul and spirit of man was and how to be known asunder because the word of the Lord divideth asunder betwixt the soul and spirit as it is written Heb. 4.12 But to this question I received but only a shuffle in stead of an answer and be said call in my brother which was priest Trusterom and thou coming in seemed as though thou would answer it but yet it is from you without its answer Then it followes that you either could not answer the question propounded and so acknowledged the same by your fleeing from it and leaving it without its full answer or else that you would not answer it and so to further manifested your lies lying spirit saying you would answer it and did not but left it and yet it remains without its true and full answer to manifest your lying false spirits and hereby know we the spirit of truth and your spirit of errour asunder and that it is the last time as John faith Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time Ioh. 4.1 to the 7. 1 Ioh. 2.18 and that you are of the Antichristian ministry and the Antichristian ministers Then you had a speech seeingly to
justify guard or defend your pulpits of wood but fled from the guard and left them for another to defend your great plea or defence for your pulpit of wood was that Ezra had one but you was to prove that any of the ministers of the gospel had one and said you wou'd but did not so further manifested your lies and Antichristian doctâ—ine for lyars are Antichristian and of old Antichrist their father Ioh. 8.44 when you was put to read that place of Ezra's pulpit spoken of in Nehem. Nehem. 8.1 2 3 4 5. 8. it was proved that his pulpit was not in a steeple-house but in the street before the street called the water gate and yours is in steep e-houses and not in streets therefore not as Ezra's was And secondly Ezra's pulpit of wood was but only for the reading of the Law book from morne till mid-day but yours is constant and in idols temples not for the reading of the Law only but for the preaching of the gospel as you say therefore Ezra's pulpit guards not yours he was a priest under the Law in the first covenant and priesthood and the Law is changed by which Ezra was ordained priest and legall preacher in his wooden pulpit in the street that was before the water gate and the Law and priesthood being changed and ended so Ezra's pulpit and you could not prove yours by or from the example of any gospel ministers but left it and would not plead for it so lost its guard proved your selves lyars and unskilfull souldiers or pulpit leaders and commanders and let your pulpit be routed and disguarded therefore to be guardlesse and now disregarded not to be pleaded for but to be proclaimed against then we bad you own your condemnation also upon that your errour so you left that and went on to another thing even to prove your mastership Which ching you could not prove by gospel rule and example of gospel ministers but Scribes Pharisees and hypocrites which Christ cryed wo against and by command said to his gospel ministers be not ye called of men masters for one is your master even Christ and all ye are brethren he that will be greatest let him be your servant and they obeyed his doctâ—ine given forth to them by command Mat. 23.8 10 11. And there was neither Master Peter nor Master Stephen nor Master Philip nor Master Andrew nor Master Barnabas nor Master Paul but he said he became servant to all as may be read 1 Cor. 9.18 19. Then such as disobeys Christs command professing to be his ministers Mark 10.43.42.44 and are called masters abideth not in his doctrine and so hath not God 2 Ioh. 9. but are Antichristian and the priests of the world are such therefore Antichristian ministers so one of you to wit priest Osland would not plead for it but said if men would call him so he could not help it or to that effect he presently answered the thing and said it was God that wrought both the will and the deed of his own good pleasure so the first act of grace is of God and then from him so from grace received and we bad him disclaim it and declare against it therefore you left that and lost it so your mastership is routed with your pulpit and now Antichrists kingdom begins to fall and tumble down praised be the Lord. And when we bad you to acknowledge your errour own your condemnation thereupon and take shame to your selves who like the Gentiles had exercised Lordship and authority in your proud nature and such like over others contrary to Christs counsell commands and gospel discipline and doctrine Mat. 23 8.10 Mar. 10.42 43 44. But wo is to such Mat. 23. ch Mar. 12.38 39 40. as the Scripture and as Christ hath said and the wo is to you that walk in such steps as those that Christ cryed wo against at to you I said then you fret and were vexed and said I had had taught false doctrine which then you said you would charge me withall but could not prove it which false doctrine you said was this that I said men might not act for life but from life or grace received and sought to cover your selves with this saying you will not come unto me that you might have life and so said there might be acting for life and then Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent to confute his saying and answer himself to the accusation laid against me therefore according to Andrew Trusteroms saying that God wrought both the will and the deed according to his own good pleasure if he had seen that it was instead of confuting or contradicting my doctrine a more confirmation of the same and confuting himself to his shame for God working both the will and the deed according to his own good pleasure then he is the first mover and actor of grace and life in the soul therefore the first motion to goodnesse and the first act of grace is of God working the soul into the obedience and the creature to the performance of the same so that he acts not for life and grace but he is acted by the divine power according to the good pleasure of the Lord and so acts of love and performance of the same is from life through the quickenings to motion and from grace and strength received to proceed into action and so grace and peace is multiplyed unto us through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him who hath called us to glory and virtue 2 Pet. 1.2 3. Ioh. 6.44 45. 2 Corinth 3.5 6. 2. You the Priests said the light was not sufficient of it self without some other helps to lead into all truth c. I answered and said that the light being obeyed with and through the spirit was and is sufficient to lead into all truth and to salvation for Christ is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world as Iohn and his record doth witnesse of him who was sent so to do and testifieth the same in the record that God gave of his Son which is true and no ly Ioh. 1.5 6 7 8 9. And every man being lighted with this light Christ Jesus he hath said that such as obey the light and follow the same they shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life Ioh. 8.12 and he spake true and could not ly that so said who is the light and the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him Heb. 5.8 9. And his spirit is the guide to such as follow the light and obey it from whence it comes to lead them into all truth as the Scriptures witnesseth that bears record of Christ and as he himself hath said who is to be trusted and believed in read Ioh. 14.26 Ioh. 16.13 which spirit speaketh within and sheweth things
to come so teaching saints and glorifieth the Son and bringeth souls into the perfect knowledge or enjoyment of the Father and the Son Ioh. 14.20 in the holy unction Iob. 2.29 and 27. which teacheth all things to such as the light and spirit obey and walks in as it is written and witnessed by such as knoweth and knew the holy unction in them and the word abiding within them 1 Ioh. 2.13 14. and the heavenly treasure within 2. Cor. 4.6 7. and we know that such as are guided by the spirit of God are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 1 Ioh. 3.1 and God hath sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternall 1 Ioh. 5.20 And we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the true light and our Lord for God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined within in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus and this treasure have we within us as they had in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us and the message that we have to declare is this that God is light and in him is no darknesse at all and Christ is the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world they that follow him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and he is the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him which is witnessed through the opening of the mystery within Col. 1.27 and by obedience to the light in the eternall power of truth through the spirit as it is written and witnessed and according to the outward declaration of the Scripture but enjoyed according to the inward manifestation of the spirit the gift of God which is given to profit withall in the spirits ministration and mystery 2 Cor 12. to know the fellowship with Christ in the glory 2 Cor. 4.6 7. Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Heb. 5.9 1 Ioh. 1.5 2 Cor. 3.17 18. Rom. 8.14 15 16 17 18 19. Gal. 4.6 2 Thes 1.10 Ioh. 17.10 Then remember that you the 2 Priests would go out of the room towards the latter end of the day it was so hot and throng though you would not go before so we went into plain upon a green hill and most of the people stood below in the valley and thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent and I stood together on the hill where I begun to lay open the things as aforesaid concerning the light and Spirit being sufficient according to the working of the divine power of the Lord and the good pleasure of his will through theobedience to the light teachings of the spirit of grace to lead to salvation and unto all truth whereupon thou said that was granted before we came out of the room so for the better satisfaction of the people I would have laid it open to the people there but thou yielded up to that truth only I was to return to the people on proof concerning that the Scriptures fore saw that God would justify the heathen through faith preach the gospel unto Abraham saying in thee shall all nations be blessed which Scripture is this Gal. 3.8 which is witnessed in Christ Gal. 3.18 29. and according to the Scriptures the declaration of him and the word Luk 1.1 Act. 1.1 Ioh. 1.3 the word is God and eternall life Ioh. 1.1 1 Pet. 1.23 1 Ioh. 5.6 7 11 20. Heb. 4.12 Rom. 16.6 7 8. Rev. 19.13 Then after that thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent who was the mouth most for the Priests that day thou would have maintained thy call being put upon it there on the hill but could not prove it to be according to any gospel minister though thou had thy proof and witnesse without thee written in a paper in the end of thy book as thou knowes and could not remember thy call nor thy proof and witnesse without thy written paper in thy book end to turn to other mens words that thou were out of the life as I then cold thee and said also that such as thou were made tradesmen at Cambridge or Oxford or from under such as had yours and their rise from the old wicked Bishops and such Bishops from the Popes generation and they from the Pope and the Pope from old Antichrist and so Antichristian ministers and not the ministers of Christ nor the gospel For I told thee the ministers of Christ and the gospel was not made by the will of man but of God were they ordained and was sent by Christ Jesus and the holy Ghost and received not their gospel nor call of man but of God neither was such that were so called taught of man but of God as it is certified to the Brethren and left upon record in Scripture and such as were so called and taught made not their gospel burdensom but free to be examples also for others that come after to follow and such gospel ministers as were so called ordained gifted and sent forth they sold not their gift nor preaching the gospel for mony nor tythes but preached freely 1 Cor. 9.16 17 18 19. Act. 20.33 1 Cor. 11. i. not for tythes as the priests of the world do now that follow not their example neither had any gospel minister 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 or 300 pound per Annum as the priests of the world have now but such gospel ministers as were ordained called and sent of God went to turn people from the darknesse to the light from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.14 15 16,17,18 Gal. 1.1 and 11,12,15,16 vers and such coveted no mans silver nor gold nor apparell but laboured with hands and preached the gospel freely who were made able ministers of the new covenant not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 Act. 20.28 and 3.3 34,35 vers Act. 13. Mat. 10. 1 Cor. 11.1 vers Then such as go to trades at Universities and learns old Authours mans inventions to add a divination of their brain to the Scriptures and are taught of proud covetous self-seeking men of such Arts and are called by such and are called of men master and hath tythes are called by them to great benefits 20 40 100 200 pound a year such are not according to the gofpel minifters but are Antichriftian and deceivers and such are the Priests of the world therefore Antichristian ministers seducers and deceivers of the nations then thou Andrew Trusterom the Priest as aforesaid thou seemingly would have denyed thy call and ordination from the old wicked Bishops but could not from that ground had thou thy rise and upon it yet stands in the
Goodâ—â—r Tho. Chanler and others What wicked blasphemy is this and a gap to profanenesse If so that the devil was guided by the holy Spirit to call Jesus Lord then every drunkard thief whore monger and profane person may say they are guided by the holy Spirit if the devil was for such are his servants and he their master But the devil was not guided by the holy Spirit to say so to wit as aforesaid no more are they therefore Oasland thou art a perverter of the right wayes of the Lord as Elymas was Acts the 13. and so full of all mischief and a child of the devil as he was verse 8. and 10. and taught to blaspheme and lie by the spirit of thy father the devil who was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him then not the holy Spirit of truth for him to call Jesus Lord by as thou saidst he did for he speaketh lies and when he speaketh them he is the father of them they are his own read John 8.44 to be a witnesse against thee and all such Elymas was not guided by the holy Ghost when he withstood the truth but he was guided by the spirit of the devil as thou wast when thou so blasphemously saidst but Elymas was smitten by the holy Ghost for opposing the truth and judgement came upon him for it and Ananias and Sapphira were slain by the holy Ghost for lying against him Acts 5. And thy case is dangerous but smitten thou art by the light in thy conscience and this is a bâ—ot and stain to it and to thy profession and judgements will pursue thee and overtake thee and vengeance from God for the same except of it thou speedily repent and openly declare against that thy blasphemy own thy errour therein and thy condemnation upon it and take shame to thy self stop thy mouth and cover thy lips Simon Magus was not guided by the holy Spirit when he would have bought it with money but was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity as thou art that so lies against the truth Act. 8.18.19.20.21 And as no man can call Jesus Lord but by the holy Ghost then such as have not the holy Ghost guiding them cannot by it so call him but the devil and his angels have not the holy Ghost therefore they that have it not cannot with it and by it so call him And Christ himself saith to some Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Luke 6.46 Such as disobey Christs counsell doctrine and commands cannot by the holy Ghost call Jesus Lord in truth but the devil and devillish men disobey Christs counsell doctrine and commands and keep not his sayings therefore they are not guided by the holy Ghost nor cannot by it and with it call Jesus Lord so the gap is hedged up by the holy Ghost But the wicked and such as are deceived by the devil are to be with him cast into the lake of fire to be tormented for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 and such as have not their names written in the Lambes book of life are to be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.15 and such as those spoken of Rev. 21.8 and all such are shut out from God and to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power as are spoken of Rev. 21.27 Rev. 22.15 2 Thess 1.8.9 Thus hath your folly been made manifest as the resisters of the truth before you and as yours is that are resisters of the truth now like such spoken of 2 Tim. 3.1.2.3 c. vers the 8. 9. And thus are your deceits discovered your wickednesse also but they are comprehended chained and with the light condemned therefore silence deceivers But it is good that you have uttered your folly that it may appear to your view which hath lien hid in your old bottles and dock bottomes which now is uncovered and you seen to be painted harlots and serpents like such spoken of Matth. 23. the 25.26 to the 34. read your hearts with the light see also your lies and confusion and stuff of such sort acknowledge your errours own your condemnation to be just thereupon give over deceiving the people and take shame to your selves though the dark see you not yet the children of light doth you and all such as you are both see and comprehend and all your pernicious wayes praised be the Lord who hath raised up a light in his people to see your nakednesse from the truth covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord and so to uncover your skirts your covers will not hide you but leave you naked and bare to the single eyed or children of light also read that commandment which is for you oh Priests it is in Malachy 2.1.2 to the 10. Some short and clear demonstrations laid down concerning the light Some short and clear demonstrations laid down as followeth and proved by plain scripture to shew the honest hearted the truth of that pure light of the gospel of Christ which is so stumbled at with dark minds which may also further serve to clear the accusations that were against the truth that day and before in Worcestershire at Bramsgrave and other places concerning the light that truth may also stand pure in its own place and pure being and stand a witnesse against lying spirits seducers and deceive s who live in errour and deceit 1 Pet. 2.6.7 that stumble at the light now as the Jewes and chief Priests and their party did before Wherefore it is contained in scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded unto you therefore which believe he is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner 1 Pet. 2.6.7 First demonstration c. Christ he is the light of the world and the true light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world and he hath said that such as follow him the true light they shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life as Christ himself hath said see his own words of truth and Johns words that bare record of him for proof to demonstrate and shew and also witnesse to the same grounded truth which is so much stumbled at read Joh. 1.9 Joh. 8.12 Secondly Seeing that Christ is the light of the world as he himself hath said who is to be beli ved and hath also said that such as follow him the light of the world they shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and John that bare reco d of Christ the light of the world he hath witnessed in his record of him and said that he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world then such as
witnessed within by obeying the light that leads to the unction and into the anointing and so witnesse to the power and in it the life of faith hope and election predestination and sanctification by the teachings through the spirit in the opening of the mystery in the spirits ministration that leadeth to the unction and the anointing Col. 1.26 27 28. 1 Joh. 2.20 and 27. Lastly they that obeyed the light and followed the same according to the doctrine of Christ and the ministry in the spirit they were through the obedience thereunto brought out of darknesse into the marvellous light and knowledge of the glory and eternall excellency that though they had been in darknesse yet through their obedience to the truth through the spirit God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse did gloriously shine in their hearts and was manifested within to break down darknesse through their obedience to the truth the pure light led them to such a full attaintment or knowledge of God in the enjoyment thereof that they knew Gods glory and excellency revealed in them and they had the heavenly treasure within them and they were changed from glory to glory into the pure image or divine being in the glory and excellency so as by the spirit of the Lord and as by the obedience to the light and truth through the spirit they did attain to the assurance and knowledge of the divine glory and eternall excellency according to the working of the divine power of God to salvation and the knowledge thereof by and through Christ the true light others so may and no other way but they did so attain to the knowledge therefore harden not your hearts against the truth and take heed least there be not found in some of you that are resisters of the truth an evill heart of unbelief and so you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin Heb. 3.12 13. 2 Tim. 3.8 9. then wo and misery Hebrewes 10.25 26. Something to clear the truth from some lyes slanders and false reports that may occasionally be cast falsely upon it by Robert Gurdler post-master in Birmingham or any that he maketh use of to write print declare or carry about any lyes slanders and false reports against the truth held forth by those men that the world scornfully calleth Quakers For the said Robert Gurdler is full of envy against the truth held forth by the servants of the Lord and against them that are reproached under that name as aforesaid but such as are honest hearted will not be offended at his reports that knoweth what he is although formerly he have been a teacher amongst the water baptized people and now cause the truth by some to be evill spoken of by reason that he is so full of pride and vain glory and turned to the priests again and is given over to lyes and falsely doth slander and cause the innocent to be slandered but it were better that a a mill-stone were hanged about his neck then that he should offend one of the little ones that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ But I shall be short only let the honest hearted know that I write not this as an accusation against him nor against any but for the truthes sake that it may be kept clear and withall that they may know that this said Robert Gurdler doth falsely accuse and slander the people of God that are reproached under the name of Quakers and I going into Birmingham heard of it whereupon I sent a letter to him either for him to come to me and some others with me or to appoint a place for us to come to him that he might either clear himself or else bear about with him the badge of a backbiter and false accuser of the innocent and expect the judgement that is due to such c. A copy of the letter sent to Robert Gurdler post-master so calied in Birmingham is as followeth The letter to Robert Gurdler I coming into this Town to visit some friends VVHereas I am informed that thou Captain Gurdler shouldst give out words that the people of God whom the world and the wicked one doth scornfully and reproachfully call Quakers should be deceivers and guided by the spirit of the devil or words to that effect which can be proved by some inhabiting in this town Which if thou did it is not becoming any professing Christ to slander accuse and bite behind serpent like and if thou did not clear thy self and let shame cover the face of the liars slanderers backbiters and false accusers of the innocent I being one that the world and wicked one doth in scorn reproachfully out of disdain call Quaker So being one that suffers with the people of God under that name of reproach I look upon my self to be concerned therein and to be one that thou as I am given to understand or the wicked one in thee slanderest backbitest and falsely accusest and takest upon thee to speak evil against as the serpents seed ever did and judgest of us with evil thoughts and out of an evil heart If so then I demand of thee professing thy self a Christian that thou come up unto us this day and either clear thy self or bear thy shame and guilt about upon thy breast Come and if thou canst convince us and make it appear that we are deluders and guided by the devils spirit do and let it be declared against at the market crosse or else acknowledge thy errour therein take shame to thy self and own thy condemnation to be just upon thy false accusations and false judgement that thou censurest the people of God withall and bear about with thee the badge of a backbiter slanderer and false accuser and deny thy profession lest the Lord be dishonoured by thee and so take vengeance upon thee with the wicked and seed of evil doers Come to us either to Lieutenant Powels or William Bayleys or a convenient place where this day thou mayest appoint us to come to thee and if thou be able to judge and try spirits thou art permitted to lay open the ground of delusion errour and deceit with its fruits and effects how it enters and by what to be prevented and also how the devil had his first beginning and entrance into mankind and how thou canst make it appear that we carry his image and by what where it is to be defaced he dispossessed and trampled underfoot Send thy answer to Lieutenant Powels by this bearer at the white Bear in Birmingham this thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth 1654. R. F. The letter as aforesaid was sent but the said Robert Gurdler did neither come to us nor appoint us a place where we might go to him but writ a few words that were lies to us again but no proof for his sayings neither by scripture fruits nor practise Whereupon I writ a note back to him again at that present by his bearer also acquainting him in it that there was to