of hell is lyars covetous c. which marks is stamped upon thee and thy generation of Priests S. A. but that we make people two fold more the children of hell then before is utterly false I appeale to every mans Conscience whether he that was a lyar a swearer a whoremunger and an ignorant person c. being changed from these things into moderation whether he be made two-fold more the child of hel then before or not For this I testifie that we have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workers and works of darknes but them we owne who is changed by the renewing of their minds And as for changing impiety into hypocrisie as above in false and I leave it for thee to prove wherein we are Hareticks or hypocrytes for we are clear from all that thou hast layd downs in this Paper against us and it shall stand for your own condition impiety and hypocrisie both apparantly brought forth as in most Goales Courts Assizes Sessions Correction-houses c. in this nation so here you are found the impious hypocrytes who would be called Ministers of Christ but is found biters and devourers take notice of that ye hereticks who calls it Heresie and Popery to Preach the light to be within which gives the Knowledge of God here you contradict the Scriptures Iohn 8.12 Iohn 17.21.2 Cor. 4.6 so heresie shall stand for your own lot in the end of time Pr. How clearly is this seen of all that have their Eyes open is discorne between good and evill Ans If thy sences were exercised to discerne between good and evill then would thou be ashamed to say that we made people two-fold more the children of hell then before but that it might be made manifest that the god of this world hath blinded thine Eyes therefore hast thou spoken Pr. Were not these times fore-seen and the danger of those dayes fore-told by the Lord himselfe and his Apostles Mat. 24.24.25 2 Thes 2.9.10.11.12.1 Thes 4.1.2.3.4.2 Tim. 3. to 6.2 Pet. 2. 12.1 John 4.1.2.3 Iude 8. consider them seriously and compare your own conditions with them imparsâ—ially Ans These things were indeed fore-told which began in the dayes of the Apostles as the Reader may take notice but it seems thou art blind concerning the times Reader mark the ignorance of this man who saith these is the times as above Christ said False Prophets should come Mat. 24.11 24.25 and by their fruits they shoud be known Mat. 7.16.20 and Iohn before his decease he said they were come see 1 Iohn 2 18 19. saith he it is the last times mark it is and saith the Angel all Nations have drunke c. mark have have drunke Rev. 18.3 here you may see your ignorance who saith Christ said false Prophets should come and now it is the last times Christ said they should come Iohn said it was the last time then and there was many Anti-Christs then so let Iohn beare testimony against you And as for these Scriptures that thou hast cited they shall stand recorded for a witnesse against all hireling Priests who take pleasure in the wages of unrighteousnes whose working is after the flesh for fat benefices suceeding the grievous Wolves which spared not the Flocke whose comming is after the power of Satan the Prince of darknesse with inticing words of man wisdom feeding itching ears living in fulnes suing and halling to Prisons lying and falsly accusing as I have proved upon you and so S. A. thou art in the strong delusion beleeving lyes as that we depend upon merits as selfe-righteousnes or selfe-performances selfe-justification and the like And as for 2 Tim. 3. let us see whether we or the Priests be such as is there spoken of as selfe lovers the Priests for their back and belly sues poor people at Law and causes some to travell 400. miles and some is imprisoned to death and some suffers so by that generation of Balck-coats that they have not had a Pan nor a Kettle lest I say such is selfe-lovers and covetous men taking three times double that which they challenge at first not only trebble dammage but trebble summes this is the wages of unrighteousnes worse then Balaam 2 Pet. 2.15 and they are boasters beyond their measures which is out of the Prophets life Christs life and the Apostles life in a proud covetous life as above and yet speaking of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles words in pretence of doctrine pushing one another from their Benefices as Beasts push from the F other unstable soules who trades with other mens lines and they are proud that consents not unto the words of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6.3.4 who said sweare not at all be not ye called of men Master sue no man at Law and freely ye have received freely give c. but the Priests of England resists his Doctrine herein So S. A. they and your spirits is tryed and seen And I have considered these Scriptures which thou hast cited and concluded thee in the path of rebellion denying Christ to be come in the flesh as in the vessels of his Sons and Daughters to perfect and deliver from sin and from corruption in this life so man desist from deceiving least thou perish Pr. This time seemeth to me to be emblematized to the Prophet in the Vision Zach. 3.12 it is the discovery of the state of a Church in the time of Reformation c. but the resisters shall reape rebuke for opposing the faithful Ministers whom he hath raysed up to reforme his House in these dayes and cloathed with a spirit of light zeale and power more then in many ages before which that you cannot see it s because blindnesse is fallen upon you Ans Here is a snare for thy Feet for our High Priest is risen who was the substance of Zachariahs Vision Christ Iesus the light whose Priesthood we own who hath put an end to all you changeable Priests that receives Tythes Heb. 7.12 and his Priest-hood you Tythe-mongers resists because you love the wages of unrighteousnesse suing at Law and as it were fights for your bellies and so is found evill beasts slow-bellies who can never have enough I say 56.11 but the Ministration of Christ Iesus is free without money or price Isay 55.1 Mat. 10.8 Rev. 22.7 and you are found to be the resisters of this High-Priest and his Doctrine and Ministry viz. the Ministre of the spirit of God And as for opposing Gods Faithfull Ministers that is false for we own them that is such with our soules but we deny the reliques of Papistry by which you reformers is up-held and all such who saith they are clothed with the spirit of holines light Leale and power we deny when they are found in Kains Corahs Balaams steps acted by a persecuting spirit haters of the light in a Zeale without Knowledge clothed with the power of darknesse by which power you are suing at Law casting into holes and dungeons and
THE â—AMBS INNOCENCY DEFENDED Against Lyes and Slanders 〈◊〉 Answer to a Second Reply of a Priest who is â—…lled a Minister at Lazonby in Cumberland called Simon Atâ—…uson who hath shewed his Wolfish nature against those people â—…lled Quakers ranking them up with the Papists falsly accusing them â—…f those things which they utterly detest but his weapons is turned against himselfe by one of the Campe of the God of Israel whose â—ye it opened in measure by the inward search and Counsell of Gods â—pirit to see the winding paths of the crooked Serpent and to see the Wolfe under the covering of out-side Painted Profession and to see â—he mistery of Witchcraft working in the shadow of Reformation â—ranslated into a fairer forme springing from the old corrupt root â—nd to see the bickerings of the night-armie running on heaps now in the dawning of the day and the uncircumcised in Heart and Ears is Flying from the light and repâ—oofe of the same and from the Alarum of the Spirits Trumpet which is sounded within for the cutting downe of the man of sin and for the quenching of his Motions O Lord in thy light we see light and by it all things is made manifest and thou art worthy of all honour and besides thee there is not another for thou hast opened our eyes and unvailed our understandings 〈◊〉 the discovery of the skirts of the Whore Light is sowne for the righteous and gladnesse for the upright in heart Blessed is the people that know the joyfull sound they shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance Truely thy light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the Eyes to behold the Sun Psal 97.11 89. â—5 Eccles 11.7 Lift up thy selfe thou Judge of the Earth render a reward to the proud They gather themselves together against the soule of the righteous and condemne the Innocent blood Every day they wrest my words all their thoughts are against me for evill And thou hast made us a by-word among the Heathen and a shaking of the head amongst the people Psal 94 2. 21. 56.5 44.13 14. A false Witnesse shall not goe unpunished and he this speaketh lyes shall perish Prov 19.9 There is a voyce of the howling of the Shepherds for their glory is spoyled Zach. 11.3 Written in defence of the Truth as it is in Jesus by a Foole to the Wisdom of this World who according to measure hath tasted and obtained of the Wisdome of God whose bodily name is called Joseph Helling 1658. To the READER FRiend whosoever thou art that Reades this Dialogue or Conference ensaing I desire thy stability in an honest Consideration before thou judge that thy judgement may be without partiality in truth and sincerity for the end of my Writing is not for the laud of Men but for the taking off of Scandalls Therefore have I transcribed the Priests Second Reply to me First His Answers to my Paper and some of my quaeries Secondly His Considerations Thirdly His Accusations and Closure the scope of all which I have transcribed and answered having abridged my answers with as much brevity as I could conveniently being assaulted with such a wresting false-accusing Spirit which is not ashamed to write his forged lyes and false constructions in a Volume the scope of which is divided into parsells and answered in plainnesse and singlenesse of Heart for all seeking-sober-minded to judge with the seed and witnesse of God in the consciences of every one who reades them And Friend though thou may judge me rash or censorious because I render to a false Prophet his name and to an hireling his name and to a lyar his name and to the mistery of witcheraft in the shadow of Reformation its name and to the wolfish Ministry of anti-Christ is name I say though thou may judge me in thy will and reason to be rude in speech yet know thou that I am not rude in knowledge but I shall stand to vindicate the truth of what I have here layd downe in these ensuing Answers Also for brevity sake I have onely cited the chapter and the verses but not transcribed the summe of the words but hath left them to thy search and honest consideration And this is my desire That the ancient of dayes might be exalted above all the heads of Heresie And that peoples understandings might be opened that the Man of sinne might he made manifest in the mistery of his working mark and that the worship might be known which standeth out of all the limiting wills of Men and that all false Teachers might be discovered by their fruits and according to Scripture who in this age is found casting blocks in the way of innocency and is as a thorne hedge before the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus who for their Trade Marchandize and Bellies sake they set themselves in array in the unity of enmity against the light and teachings of Gods Spirit in Man one of which volunteers of Gog whose name is in the Title page S. A. hath uttered his folly as one casting a stone into the Ayre which falleth upon his own Head as thou may see Reader if thy Measure be just and Ballances equall He that answereth a mater before he heareth it it is solly and shame vnto him The Heart of the Righteous studieth to answer but the mouth of the wicked powreth out evill things Prov. 18.13 15.28 Joseph Helling The Lambs Innocency Desended against Lyes and Slanders in Answer to a second Reply of a Priest c. Simon Atkinson I Have received thy Paper wherein I find thee acted by Corahs spirit in Kains way but man know thou that it s neither lyes nor false accusations that I have layd upon thee far be it from me and the Lord doe so to me and more if I wrong thee or you as thou haft done me and my Brethren But in plainnesse and in truth I answer against thy sophistry for the defence of innocency and if there be any other end in me let it be accursed Priest Deluded soules The Scripture saith Pro. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the righteous even they both are abomination to the Lord. Answer Deceiver of soules Pro. 17.15 is fulfilled upon thee and you who through covetousnesse with fained words maks matchandise of soules for your dishonest gain and yet saith you are the Ministers of Christ here you are found justifying the wicked even a generation of persecuting Priests to be Christs Ministers Pr. Which abâ—minable ends is found in you and in all of your way more then in any generation of people in the world at this day that I know of Ans Here thou art sound ignorant of us and belyes us in saying that we justifie the wicked we are cleare from thine accusation and let all that knows any thing of our conversations beare us witnesse whether we countenance wickednesse in the least in any appearance so man be willing
ground or sued men as Law or cast them into Prison if they could not pay them neither did they cast men in Prison for asking them a question as you have done and threatneth and here thou and you and powering disgrace upon your selves and your Ministry and I am clear from contemning or falsly accusing you for your fruit makes you manifest and they are blind that doth not see your loven Pr. They turn many soules to righteousnesse and shall shine as stars in the firmament for even and even Dan. 12.3 which the envious one in you indeavours by you to deprive them of their present comfort though he cannot keep from them their future Corwne Ans How long wilt thou goe about to cover thy and your skirts as though we were ignorant of your untempered morrer nay man know thou that we have followed you in a blind ceale with fasting mourning and prayers and we are well experienced what profit is reaped from you even open war at the Assizes and Sessions if we put not in at your mouthes yea Justices Warrants as you call them Bayliffs Prisons Flnes and if we speak to you in the feare of the Lord you cry up your weapons that props up your Gospel as Church-wardens Stocks Justices Warrants as you call them then a Fine and so long Imprisonment yea double worse then Queen Maries Jesuiticall Priest-hood for Persecution Therefore I say take heed leaft in stead of shining your cry be not woe alas for evermore So S. A. thou art found far unlike them spoken of Dan. 12.3 it s in vain for thee to borrow these expressions to cover that nature in which thou with thy Fellows livest your nakednes appears under this covering because it s not your own who is found out of Gods wisdom in lyes and false accusations herein is envy known And as for depriving you of your present comfort that is utâ—erly false except you call Tythes and Augmentations and set slypends your present comfort which you strive after as though gain were godlines So let the Reader take notice that we doe not harbour an envious spirit but we speak the truth by the spirit of truth which hath blown its Trumpet against the seed of the Serpent and the day is springing over the head of all your Assirian Army which fills the Countries Pr. These are able through God to cast down the strong holds of the Devil in the hearts of the children of men and to convince through the spirit of sin of righteousnes and judgement whom the Devill impatient of the down fall of his Kingdom rageth in you most furiously Ans They that are spoken of Dan. 12.3 indeed is able to doe these things thou here speaks of but ye are not like them thou and thy Fellows which denyes the light the manifester of transgression Eph. 5.13 and denies perfection and an equality with the head of the body here thou shews that ye are not members and that you do not turn people to righteousnes for he that doth no righteousnes is not of God 1 John 3.10 but he that doth righteousnes is born of God 1 John 2.29 and so a Son and an Heir Gal. 4.5 6 7. and so a member Eph. 5.30 and thou that denies and equality and pleads against it rents the members from the head and so is not wise and the spirit of truth in us beats testimony unto those Dan. 12.3 but against you leveners lyers and slanderers men in whom the Devilll rageth as in Dometrius of old and the rest of the Crafts-men who gained by their Trade as you doe by yours And now thou would make people beleeve that the Kingdom of Satan and his rage is in and amongst us Reader mark I appeal to thee whether the Devill rage in the persecutor or in the persecuted in them that doth imprison for a word or in them that is imprisoned in them that suffers the spoyling of their goods or in them that takes away mens Cows Horses Sheep Pots Kettles or other houshold-stuffe from them for whom they do not work so Reader judge even as thou would be judged of between us and the Priests so S. A. I charge thee and the rest of thy Function whose Fruits makes you manifest to be the agents of Satan and Ministers of his rage and you fight for his Kingdom to wit for imperfection and a continuance in sin contrary to Rom. 6.1.2 so thine accusation turns home again to thee and thy Fellows who is found in the guilt thereof Pr. And truely you doe approve your selves to be his most faithful Facters and the potent promoters of his interest that ever he imployed in any age that I have Read of well may you look for liberall wages for your unwearied working c. you run at his book when God bids you not sends you not c. you compasse many Countries to make proselites c. Ans Here thou blind man cannot get into Lots house to apprehend the messenger to wit that of God in the consciences of men but thou art groping in the dark and lifting up thy lying voyce in the streets of Sodom take notice of that and I appeale to the considerate Reader whether they that plead for sin and liveth in it be not the potent promoters or mighty advancers of Satans Kingdom or not so here S. A. thou and you Priests are found the faithfull Factors or men interested in hellish wars who counts it horrible to hold perfection and equality with the head And as for looking for Wages thou that art in Balaams way must look for that who pleads for the Kingdom of darknesse viz. imperfection c contrary to 2 Cor. 13.9 11. for that which keepeth from perfection is sin and I must tell thee that so long as you have put in at your mouthes you will not be weary but sease wages and you tyre as is largely seen but we run not at the book of Satan but by the Commission and permission of our God even the living God to turne people from darknes to the light a Cor. 4.6 which shines in their hearts which leads out of and preserves from the motions of transgressions as it is minded and obeyed and for that end doe we labour in travell as the Apostles did and we are ashamed to call them the Ministers of Christ who is settled Masters in their Parishes at ease in the flesh as a hog in the stall but if you be Ministers Goe reach all Nations and let the Heathen as you call them heare your Message If it be the same that Iohns was 1 Iohn 1.5.6.7 or els I conclude you justly to be idle drones jumbling in your notions amongst your Natives so thy false accusations touches us not but is retorted into thine own budget Pr. And when they are made they are two-fold more the c. having onely changed some of their impiety into deeper hypocrisie and all their Religion into damnable Haeresie Ans The Children
light who gives the Knowledge of himselfe by his light 2 Cor. 4.6 to him we commit and submit our selves to be taught And seeing God is the onely giver of Knowledge effectually Reader mark then that I say which is the onely giver is the ground cause and effect spiritually and instrumentally as in Phil. 2.13 And whereas thou saith He gives some kind of Knowledge of himselfe as before I say He is the onely effectuall giver of all Divine Knowledge drawing us unto his Son Iohn 6.44 in whom our Eye being placed we come to see and to understand by his Knowledge the Works of Creation and Providence And although thou say thy answers will not sat is fâ—â— my foolish faney As for thy reproachfull termes of untruths I little matter but know though I am satisfied with that which giveth satisfaction and with so much of thine answers as is truth though but in words gathered by thy comprehension in litterall experience for true experience is far from a lyar but God gives the Knowledge of himselfe by his light 2 Cor. 4.6 and this thou art ignorant of who kicks against the prieks of Conscienes which tells thee thou should not lye nor falsly accuse nor Preach for Hire nor be called of men Master nor strive to keep people alwayes learning and still unperfect still in the bondage of corruption they could but be so if they never heard thee take notice of that But furthermore God is both the effectuall and instrumentall giver effectually according to thy own confession I say instrumentally by the Word 1 Iohn 1.14 who was quickned in the spirit by which he also went and Preached unto the spirits in Prison 1 Peter 3.19 so the Word is our Preacher which the righteousnesse of Faith speaks of Rom. 9.6.7.8 by whose light we see your cunning craft and the bottome of you all 2. Quaerie Whether you will own the Scriptures to be your rule and your loves and practises judged by the Apostles lives and practises yea or nay Pr. Ans I retort this Quarie upon your selves who have forsaken thâ—â— Scripture rule and left the good old way of the Saints and what have you to doe with the Apostles practises as Apostles ye false Apostles deceitfull workers transforming your selves into the Apostles of Christ a Cor. 11.13 that say ye are Apostles and are not but is found lyars Rev. 2.12 Ans Here thy winding Serpentine Wisedom and equivocation in seen evading my question turning is back against the innocent accusing us as above I say the Scripture we own every jor and tittle in its place and time of its ministration viz. the Old and New Testaments the first and second Priest-hood the Law and changest the Law I say all these we own in their time and also the change and we own and also witnesse the service of God and his worship in the newnesse of the spirit and not in the oldnesse of the letter and also the ruse of a new Creature which is availeable Gal. 6.15.16 which is and was the good old way of the Saints and so by that rule we come through him that doth renew us as in Tit. 3.5.6.7 into the practises of the Apostles in measure and so is not false Apostles nor no deceitfull workers that remains for thee to prove S. A. so 2 Cor. 11.13 touches us not Reader mark Paul in the 7. ver testifieth that he Preached freely and in the 9. ver Again That he was not burthensome And again in the 10. ver he would not be stopped of that boasting for cutting off occasion in the 12. ver from them which desire occasion mark Paul Preached freely and they that sought occasion against Paul was false Apostles even as the Priests of our dayes who Preaches for Hire now seeketh occasion against them that Preaches freely so Rev. 2.12 shall stand for your own condition and the Lord knows our innocency who knows also that I lye not neither doe I falsly accuse you ye Taske masters like of Egypt Pr. Ah arrant arrogant Pharisees Will no lower forme in the Church then that of the Apostle fit you 1 Cor. 12.28.29 and marke it well ah more umbitious thou Diotrophes Doe you love to have the highest preheminence Did ever any but the Pope that Lucifer Prelate and your selves pretend to an Apostolicall Commission and Revelation since the false Apostles But if ye will needs be Apostles then prove your Apostleship as Paul did 2 Cor. 12.11.12 or elt you must lye in the laps of the lye as indeed you doe Ans Here thou calls us proud wandring Pharisees from which we are clear I say our example had not where to lay his head Luke 9.58 and we are willing to take our portion with him and with our cloud of witnesses Heb. 12.1 who wandered being destitute c. Heb 11.37 and such laboured in travell Preaching the change of the Priest-hood and Law and was persecuted of them that had their Synagogues to creep into as you have now because they testified against them then as we doe against you now who is sound in their steps as is proved And whereas thou saith Will no lower forme sit c. as before I say we are content with our measure whether high or low and it is lawfull for us to covet earnestly the best things 1 Cor. 12.31 and that Scripture owned 1 Cor. 12.28 And though the Apostle hath shewed a more excellent way ver 31. And whereas we are accused with the Pope to pretend Apostolicall Commission the Pope we deny and all you who is proped up by his beastly power imprisoning for a Word or a question and suing at Law for your Gentils Tythes which was instituted and managed by the Pope and Saxon Kings as in the years 933 940 959 by King Ateston King Edmund and King Edgar Pope Innocent and others which Priest-hood and Tythes was never commanded by God in Old in or New Testament here you are seen succeeding your fathers ambitiously holding up that which God never commanded And whereas thou saith We pretend Apostolicall Commission False accusations selfe protences we deny but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gist of Christ that measure we own Eph. 4.7 to be our Comission and Caller viz. the grace of God at the Apostle did Gal. 1 15. whether into Apostolicall or Propheticall or lower places which is all free Ministrations according to their measures without money or price and profitable in their places for the work of the Ministry for the edesying of the body for the perfecting of the Saints which perfection in this life by your Priests is denyed and so you are sound unprositable and false Apostles deceitfully working for your fat benefices transformed into the name of the Apostles or Ministers of Christs having your Commission from Man to trade with the Letter for money for the free Ministration of the Spirit is denyed by you so you deny the
Commission of the Ministry which was Go teach c. freely yee have received freely give and for his sake who gave this Commition we take pleasure in infirmity as the Apostle did a Cor. 12.10 and some in much patience which signes and wonders and mighty deeds as may be proved to the prayse of the loving God and we doe not make a gain of people as you doe no more then the Apostles did 2 Cor. 12.17.18 neither doe we goo to a Towne or parish to inquire what maintenance there is for a Minister as Tythes Gleabe-Lands c and give them a Sermon or two as you call them of liking But we goe to inquire who fears the Lord and owns the Spirit of God to be their Teacher which Teacher cannot be removed into a corner Isay 30.20 and with such we can take a little meat and drink which the Apostles was Commisioned to receive and here is our joy and proofe not onely in imitation but in life also witnesse a gainst all you who rules as Lords patterns of pride and covetonsnesse learning your Trade and selling your invenitions bearing rule by your weans which is a filthy horrible thing now in England as it was in Ieremiahs days Ier. 5.30 31. Oh ye Priests put it not from you for it sticks fast upon you Pr. And now to the rest of the Quaries I shall onely propose some cousiderations Ans I did but propound foure questions unto thee as in number and thou hast diverted two of them and answered two of them with lyes and true words and false accusations mixed together as one voyd of all sence making no matter what thou speake as is and may be proved Reader this is the querie which is not answered Whether the false Teachers and Decoivers may not be known by their fruits and whether they that bringâ—th forth the same fruits which was declared against by the true Prophet Christ Iesus and his Apostles of old be not the false Teachers now as they were then yea or nay This quaerie is digressed because it coma neer thee S. A. Pr. first Consideration Dost thou conclude in cold blood that either none or very few of the Ministers in England are truely godly and that either none or very few reall Saints are the seale of their Ministry in the Lord and is such sensoriousnesse safe and without flune Ans I doe conclude That the Ministers of Jesus Christ new in England who is called by the grace of God with Commission from the Spirit of God to Preach the Gospel freely as they have received in by the Revelation of Iesus in them as in Gal. 1.16 according to the measure of the gist of God Eph. 4.7 I say these are truely godly as they are obedient to the grace appeared mark and that the children of light who is called and obedient to the grace out of the fashions and customes of the world and out of all formally invented worships to worship God in spirit and in truth in the inward man Psal 51.6 I say this is the seale of their Ministry but that the Parish ministers who is called Ministers in England is truely godly that I do deny For he that loves me saith Christ keeps my Commandements now mark he hath commanded his to be perfect but the Priest of England denyes and pleads against his Doctrine herein he hath commanded not to sweare at all but the Priests of England pleads against hsi Doctrine herein he hath commanded not to sue any man at Law but the Priests of England resists his Doctrine here in suing poor people and swearing or causing some to sweare mens goods from them yes trebble sums Christ commanded to give freely as they had received but the Priests of England neither receives freely nor gives freely Christ commanded not to be called of man Master but the Priests of England both calls and is called Master with many more particulars which might be mentioned to this purpose all which shews That the Priests of England is out of Christs Doctrine and so hath not God 2 Iohn 9. so not truely godly And as for them which follows you which is thus found out of and oppose it against Christs Doctrine I say they make your Ministry manifert and seales it with their unbridled lungs and actions to be a barren fruitlesse Ministry voyd of sanctification which maketh Saints so you and your followers I doe deny to be either truely godly or reall Saints But I call them not in cold blood as thou quaeries neither according to flesh and bloods wiscom but by the spirit of truth and light of our Lord Iesus Christ I say I call you like Priest like people Hos 4.9 c. and this is no sinfull sensuring I commend my felse to every mans Conscience in the sight of God as the Apostle did 2 Cor. 4.2 and to the honest hearted every where who is but willing to compare your practises with the Doctrine of Christ and practises of his Aposels Pr. second Consideration Dost thou say or thinks that thy selfe mire hatest all daceit and sin whatsoever then the said godly Ministers and Sainits in England or else-where doe Ans I am not sufficient of my selfe to think any thing as of my selfe but my sufficiency is of God who hath opened my Book of Conscience wherein I find and reade the motions of the flesh to be an enemy to the motions of Gods Spirit which hath made me cry with tears for deliverance from that bondage so by the power of God I utterly tetest that nature in my selfe in the particular and in the generall which opposeth Christ and his Doctrine and doth conclude you to be no Ministers of Christ who wrests his Doctrine for selse ends and to your own destruction and them to be no Saints who follows such for the god of this world hath blinded their eyes that cannot see you to be painted Harlots lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine unto them Therefore I say you are running from mountain to hill under pretence of Resormation and still without the doore in the fashions and customs of this world and in your airic Knowledge and Wisdom there you set up your building and also the foundation of your worship hatched by Tradition springing from imaginations the ground of changeable wayesâ— take notice of that Pr. third consideration Dost thou affirme that the detestable titles of blinde guides dumbe dogs greedy Dogs c. are given without sin to such Minesters and that their Doctrine and practises prova them to be such as Christ and his Apostles declares against Ans As for godly Saints or Ministers these titles are not given to such by us God forbid but I affirme and testisie by the spirit of truth with the Prophet that these titles are given without sin to you who is found seeking gain from your quarter as they were Isay 56.10 11. and you beare the expresse image of the false Prophets and false Apostles
drink if he have necessity and we shall not hinder him of such wages as Christ gave his commission to receive Luke 10.7.8 but as for Tythes which you are not onely Preaching for but also as it were fighting for the ministers of the Gospel recorded in the Scriptures did not own them to be a lawfull ceremony after the change of the Priest-hood but preached the Law changed and the commandement disanulled Heb. 7.11 therefore unlawfull under the Gospel and as unlawfully used by you take it into consideration is there not a begger in England as there was not to be in Israel and where is your store house Ah ye Tythe-mungers let shame cover you all Pr. seventh con Whether the Ministers of England c. or the Quakers trade in Babels wares as thou chargest us I but stay a little sith thou art so forward in this matter I suspect thee the more and shall therefore make bold to search thy packe before we part that I may see what commodities thou carries and whence thou hadst thy wares c. I feare thou will be found most foule in this fauls thy selfe Ans I answer yee Parish-masters trades in Babells wares as is and may be proved and therefore my charge is truth and shall stick neer you till you come down from the throne of your imaginations where the stone of your building is graven your image molten And whereas thou saith Stay a little c. I say come freely with all thy Function and search me adn spare me not and accuse me for nothing but that which I carry so I shall say little more to this but take heed thou be not found a blinde searcher as the Reader may take notice as followeth And now I come to thy false conjunction or accusations wherein thou would ranke us with the Papists if thou could Pr. first accusation The Babylonish merchants I meane the Papists have their severall sorts of corrupt wares to sell which you are their onely chapmen for and hath taken them of their hands That the common light in all is sufficient to salvation provided men doe not stifle it nor extinguish it by wilfull sinning against it Sirs say not you-so too Ans This accusation is false and confused we never was at the Papists Colledges to learne a trade as most of you have bin as at Trinity Colledge Christs Colledge Jesus Colledge St. Johns Colledge c. these Colledges was instituted by the Popes Law and named after Saints for nursing up of Jesuites as also your Churches with the Popes Crosses upon the most of them and called by the name of Saints as St. Peters Church St. Pauls Church St. Maries Church c. so I have not given you a wrong title viz. Merchants of Babell which comes neerer you in the mistery then Papists outward tenents for I must tell thee and you That Babell may be builded with cunninger Carpenters then the outward impression of superstition neverthelesse you are found the Papists imitaters injoying both their learning-shops and market-shops to wit both Colledges and Masse-houses in which you buy and sell your wares as singing Hopkins and Sternholds meeter as part of your worship commanded by the Sexon Kings as in the year 747 by King Edgbert and in 924. by King Ethelstone alies Atelstine c. as also your sprinkling of Infants which was commanded by King Iâ—as alies Ina. or Ive in 1213. I refer the Reader to Henry Clarks Book stiled a description of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ and of those called Ministers in England c. Thou saith the Papists holds that the common light in all is sufficient as before joyning us with them and yet thou asks us Whether we say so or not Here the Reader may take notice that thou accuseth us for thou knows not what and also that thou art a blind searcher who said thou would search my packe and yet thou art sain to inquire of us What we carry and what we say I say thou art not fit to judge seeing thou art both blinde and hasty and the Papists I deny with their bloody instigations but that light I own which the Prophet Prophesied of Isay 49.6 and John boare testimony to John 1.9.10 to be sufficient to salvation which was given for salvation Isay 46 6. John 8.12 and he that walks not in this light walks in darknesse and knows not whether he goes because darknesse hath blinded his eyes as is manifest upon thee S. A. which knows not what thou speaks nor whereof thou affirmeth Pr. 2. Ac. That mans naturall will is free to repent beleeve and turn to God and that conversion is not the fruit of the spirit in the elect alone A. Here thou wou'd joyn us with the Papists but we deny thy conjunction with the Papists and thou art found a blind searcher for we hold no such thing as above For we know that mans naturall fleshly carnall will and mind is not subject to the Law of God but naturally inclined to corruption from which he that walks in the light knows a cleansing 1 John 1.7 but that convertion is not the fruit of the spirit alone is false also For the spirit quickneth the flesh prositeth nothing John 6.63 and this we testifie that it is God in all his saints mâ—sch worketh in them both to will and to doe Phil. 2.13 so 5. A. thou must own a lyars portion except thou repont Pr. 3. Ac. The Papist teathouth that a man may be perfect without sin in this life and may fulfill all Gods Commandements and doe not the Quakeres the same A. Here thou accuseth us with the Papists in thy smoakie consusion for sirst thou said affirmatively that we had taken the Papists waves off their hands and now thou art asking us questions What we doe but thou should have had thine Eye better opened before thou had searched my packe for thou boasted proudly and yet thou inquires of us so thou art found a blind searcher in the streets of Sodom and therefore a blind guide nor fit to lead others And as for peâ—fâ—ction I have spoken to it before and he that perfects is also the fulfuler and end of the Law for righteouâ—nesse sake to every one that beleeveâ—h to the Jew first and also to the Genetile Rom. 10.4 and the righteousnesse of the Law is sulfilled in them that walketh after the spi it Rom. 8.4 take notice of that ye who pretends Reformation and see if ye be yet come to the Law and hâ—w you have passed through its Ministration of condemnation to the Ministration of righteousnesse and peace Pr. 4. Ac. The Papists makes their perfection to lye in thiâ—â—â—n casting off of wordly imployments callings relations after the flâ—sh proprâ—â—ties as their Nuns Monkes and Hormots abusing Mat. 19 11 c. you are as like them herein as you were sâ—itted out of their moutles Ans We deny thy accusations and the papists perfection herein but this is our perfecter by
whom our perfection is wrought even he which said Fashion not your solves like unto this world whose Doctrine we are willing to obey though reproached for the same and numbâ—ed with the papists as our head was with transgs â—ffours Isay 53.11.12 but what the Nuns and the Munkes abuse is nothing to us for we know that perfection doth not lye in selling out outward estates but in dying with Christ unto sin and in putting off of the old man with his deeds that the new man may be witnessed which is perfect Eph 4.24 cleaving onely to the perfect righteousnesse of God by the spirts of his Son in our hearts Gal 4.6 so we deny both you and all the rabble of your papistical Function who hath swallowed up the Popes Law which he vomited to guard his Jesultes with by which Law you cause the innocents to suffer as most of the Goales in this nation can witnesse so you are the unclean spirits which is spitten out of his mouth exeresing the power of his beastly Laws so you are his Image though more â—inâ—lier carved adn hath a more guilded covering so you are found to be more in the mistery Babell having your hearts exercised with covertous prctises whith is Idolatry Gal. 3.5 this is extant is England and else where amongst you priests the papists imitators as more largely may be proved by tour Churching of Women as you call it Mortuaries Funerall-Sermons and Marrying for money with much more Romish trash too tedious to mention Pr. 5 Ac. The Papists holds inherent righteousnes to be the matter of our justsfication and not the righteonsnes of Christ alone and doe not you also the same A. Here thou blind man accuseth us with the Papists and yet thou enquires Whether we doe the same or not thou art proved a blinde searcher as I said confusedly first accusing and then quaerying whether it be so or not I say if the Papists hold inherent righteousnes to be the matter of your justification as thou saith then we deny both you and the Papists herein for we hold not inherent righteousnes viz. thâ—â— righteousnes which dependeth upon outward merits to be our justification alone although James hath said that man is justified by Works and not by Faith onely Jam. 2.24 but we are justified by the righteousnes of the Faith of the Son of God which Faith is justified or made perfect by works Jam. 2.22 So S. A. beware how thou searchest my packe another time least thou be found falsly and confusedly accusing as then arr now Pr. 6. Ac. The Papists doe place their Religion and Righteousnesse most in externals and things that have a shew of wisedomo in will-worship c. so doe the Quakersridgedly restratning as of obsolute necessity the use of Cuffâ— Points Lace Hathands and the like as if they might not at all be used or could not without sin or as if these were matters of greatest moment Ans Here thy blind and false conjuction is seen as all along is proved and thou art seen to be ignorant of us and our Religion for we deny that foundation which is external and we deny the Papists the head and you the tayle in the mystery of Babell and all your externall performances as they are held in the our sed nature and ground and all your principles in that ground And as for having a shew of wisdom in will worship c. this will turn home again to thee and your selves who sormally in your wills can preach and pray by your glasse or watch being not a shamed to lye in the conclusion of your work as thus you having rent a verse of Scripture in pleces Preaching so long as an houre lasts then you say much more might be spoken but time will not porâ—â—â—t when you have nothing else to does but to serve your bellies for the which service you leave the other be ginning in your own time and ending in your own time and none must aske you a question not speak in exhortation till your houres talk be ended contrary to 1 Cor. 14.30.31.32 and here your will worship is â—een as certain of your own Pâ—ets 〈◊〉 Crâ—sâ—s-men can testifie who by the grace of God is convinced of and turned from your witchcrast And as for ridgedly restrâ—â—ning the uso of Cuffs c. as above that is false but we doe it willingly in obe â—ience to our God not in a voluntary humility neither to the satisfying of our stâ—sh and if thou were not shamesulâ—y hardened thou would not contemne us for the casting off of the superfluities of naughtinesse which lâ—mes exhorted to east off lames 1.21 see 1 Pet 3.3.1 Tim. 2.9 and thou that on encourages peoples in outward adorning is contraty to the Apostle 1 Pet. 3.3 and so help them to sow to the flesh and into whoredom and is of that generation which ealled the proad happy Mas. 3.15 and one with the Papists with your Câ—ff Points Ribbous and â—uch like arregant trash desired by your ambitious wills for the outward adorning of your dust and ashes in which you Parish Masters is patternes nothing different from the Papists in the ground take notice of that Reader if thou have an Eare. Pr. 7. Ac. The Papists say that we are no true Mâ—â—â—sters of Christ but decesvers and teacheth the Devination of our own braiâ—es and so doe you with much more Ans The papists we deny with all their blood-thirsty crew and also we deny all the persecuting generation of prâ—efts in England else where to be the ministers of the power of God which is the Gospel and we have found you to be one in the ground with the papists though more painted in the mistery not divine though deviners and what we say we are ready to prove against both the papists and you having not onely found you out in the mistery but also in open rebellion against the Doctrine of Christ the end of his comming and against the vertue of his offering as is proved Pr. 8. Ac. The Papists say our Churches are no true Churches bus they own to for their Pastors and Teachers and so say the Quakers A. Here thou art trapped in thy own snare both in Popery and confusion for thou said before that the papists said You were not true Minâ—sters of Christ but deceivers and now thou saith that they own you for their pastors and teachers here is confusion that the papists should first call you decesvers and now according to thy own confession calls you and own you to be their pastors and teachers and â—o may they well for they pay you wages so here you priâ—sis are found papists pastors and teachers although thou hast gon about hitherâ—â— to cleare thy selfe and priest-hood papistry yet in thy â—â—se conjuâ—â—i â—n and blind search the sire of thy pride envy and anger hath bâ—oâ—en fâ—rth in a flame to discover thee for thou art owned of them with thy Faction to be their pastore
light and seed which bruiseth the head of the serpent within take notice of that and unto him all power is given and he hath said Got not forth Mat 14.16 Pr. 13. Ac. The Papists prefer the vulgar translations before the saws words that the spirit did indite the Scriptures â—â—s namely Hebrew and Greek and so doe the Quakers the English before these Ans We own all Tongues in their places but that the Scripture was given forth or indited by the spirit in Hebrew and Greek onely is false or there was at ler isalem of every Nation under Heaven and every man heard them speak in his own Language Act. 2.3.9 but I say that you or any other by the litterall Knowledge of these Tongues can open the Scriptures that we deny for as there is no respect of persons with God so there is no respect of Languages with him nor Tongues but in every nation he that feaâ—eth God and worketh righteousnes is accepted Acts 10 34 35 so seace your witchcraft from dawbing over the saints words with your Lodâ—ck who epride is in your songues your Tongues is waters the seat of the Whore Rev. 17 15. and because you would be counted wise and learned therefore you mingle your Tongues so your marchandize passes or currant amongst the blind yea I may say wilfully blind who if they will may see your ravenous inside out of which is powered envie railing lyes and slanders covetousneâ— and persecution at all that reads in this â—nd marks your reproaâ—hes may see And now I deny both the Papists and you who is both nursed up at Universiâ—ies so calâ—ed and learned in your Tongues as Pilate was Iohn 10.19 oâ— let Peter and John be witnes against you who was not learned and yet gave forth the Scripture so our native Tongue we own as châ—ese to us because it is the fist of God wereby we understand one another and we own all other in their places but we deny them that takes pride in any Tongue or mixes their dirty Logick with the Scripture for money Pâ— 14. Ac. If the Papists could but get down the regulusing authority of the Scriptures they would conclude they had won the field for they will not abide that all spirits be tâ—yed by the written word nor will the Quakers A. The Papists we deny and their indeavor herein and the Scriptures we own and their regall authority which is the power of God but all such as creep into houses to make a trade of the Scriptures abuseth the Scriptures authority and here ye Parish made â—s and Jesuite successors who coms from their Colleges into their Masse-houses are found in deavouring to tread the Regal or Kingly Authority of the Scripture under your seet so from that authority you are gone to the image of Queen Maâ—â—es Law by which the Jesuits was and you Priests is garded and by the same Law some of you have imprisoned to death as witnes Exeter Colchester Lancester Yorke and Durham Goales so the authority of the Scriptures viz. the power of God is denied by you which is sled to the power of nationall Laws and Magistrates to hold you by putting the letter for the word and tryall of spirits you your selves being ministers of the letter and yet whith the letter cannot see your selves in Cains Corahs and Balaâ—ms spirit and practises for which amongst the rest of your forceries the curse will overtake you exeâ—pt you repent And thou that would have the Scripture to be the tryar of spirits thou presumes to take the ballances out of the hand of God the Lord weighâ—th the spirits Pro 16 2. and the spirit searchâ—th all things 1 Cor. 2.10 and whatsoever maketh manifest is light Eph. 5.13 so that which searcheth weigheth and maketh manifest is the Lord his spirit and hâ— light and these three are one from whom we have â—eceiâ—ed the unction or anoâ—nting which teacheth of all thing 1 Iohn 2.27 they that tâ—yed the pirits was such as John exhorted to the anoynâ—ing for teaching from the teachings of man saith he Yereâ—d not that any mâ—n teâ—â—h you c 1 John 2 27 and they that were of God hâ—ard them that exâ—orâ—ed to the anoynting from the teachings of men of corrupt minds and this I testifie that they are guided by the spirit of Aâ—â— Christ who doth not own Christ the light come into thâ—iâ— flesh to destroy the works of the Devill and to give thee knowleâ—â—e of God and of Adoption and the hope of Glory and to give â—â—e knowledge of condemnation and righteousnes and of eaâ—◠〈◊〉 stration and how they are passed through And whereas hâ—â— art telling of aâ—titeen word â—o be the â—ryaâ— I say the Scripture we 〈◊〉 the addition â—â—e deny and shall have it upon thee to prove for â—â—ver and gold is pure in its nature but it may be mouâ—â—en into a Calfe so â—â—o the Scriptures is pure and true as they are but they may be and is abâ—sed by the builders of Babell now in the misâ—ery of their workâ—ng but the Loâ—d will no longer be mocked by such cunnâ—ng Carpenters but is risen and hath taken a view of all shadows by his light which is as the eye-lids of the Morning by which all buildings is made manifest to be upon the sand though the builders of all sorts have pretended to hew their stones from one Rock yet the Lord hath a controversie with you and by his power which is the authority of the Scriptures is the shaking all buildings at their very roots Pr. Now many more particulars could I instance were it necessary and not over tedious to prove your selves to be the Babylonesh Factors that have received the marke of the Beast in your hand though not in your fore-heads so fully yet as to discover you to all yet to us you are discovered plainely A These particulars which thou hast already instanced is sufficient for us to see thy blindnes for if thine eye had been open when thou searched my pâ—câ—e as thou said thou would thou would have bin ashamed to have thus falsly accused us with thy confusion which accusations is justly reforted to the puddle from whence they sprang for even the same spirit that called Christ mad and said he had a Devill the same spirit that called Paul a pestelont fellow and a mover of Sedition I say the same spirit in thee S. A. hath indeavoured to joyn us with the Papists thine own predecessors as is proved therefore the Romish Factors or Merchants you are found as well as Babylonish having received the mark of the Beast in your Fore-heads rushing forward in lyes and slanders as a horse into the battell so beast like pushing and wrastling with flesh and blood viz. with the persons of men plunging them into holes and dungeons even as strong beasts drives the weak so here you are found exereising the power of the first Beast persecuting the free ministration of the spirit the anoynter
pillaging poor people Houses Cavelleer-like and so is found as a Troupe of Robbers Hos 6.9 so the spirit of holines is not your clothing for you execed your Fore-Fathers the Scribes and Phasisees or the Lesuits in Queen Maries dayes for persecuting Here you are found to be filthy Dreamers speaking the Visions of your owne hearts studying invented for money your Church is your Shop your Sabbath is your Market day which makes me cry Oh miserable Reformers and Reformation for shame desist thy leven Pr. You are given up to beleeve lyes for that you received not the truth in the love of at nor liked to retain God in your Knowledge therefore are you given up to these strong Delusions Ans All lyes and lyaâ—s we doe deny who saith they are Ministers of Christ Iesus and yet makes a trade of the Letter and we have received the truth in the love of it which is the light and grace of God Iohn 8.12 Tit. 2.11 which teacheth us to turn away from all covetous hirelings who calls the Scripture their rule and the tryar of spirits but is neither guided by spirit nor Scripture I say we are taught to turn from such to the light which shines in our hearts and to the anoynting 2 Cor. 4.6 1 Iohn 2.26 by which we come to know God and to retain him in our Knowledge by whose power we are brought from darknesse deluders false Apostles and from all them who are murmurers complainers walking after their own lusts whose mouthes speaks great swelling words having mens persons in admiration because of advantage Iude 16. who serves not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies so S. A. thine accusation stands recorded against thy slefo Pr. Vunder which you lye as spectieles of Divine wrath which is come upon you as heretofore upon the Iowes for the like sins see 1 Thes 2.15.16 in which sad case we are forced to leave you not knowing whether ever the Lord will deliver you because you despise our help and sets light by our cousells and hates our instruction your hearts being utterly and desperately hardened Ans Reader thou may take notice how that the Apostle in this 1 Thes 2. who used not a cloake of covetonsnes ver 5. But laboured and travelled that he might not be chargoable ver 9. I say take notice how he declares against the Jews in the 15.16 v who kiled the Lord Iesus Christ and their own Prophets and forbad the Apostles to speake to the Goutiles They had their Synagogues to ateep into as the Priests of our time the Papists Masle-houses to creep into not labouring in travell as the Apostles did 1 Thes 2. 8.9.10.11 but despising them that doth Iewes-like 1 Thes 2. 15.16 but you are more subtile holding up the first Priest-hoods maintenance under the cloake of Gospel maintenance crying against them that speaks what they have received freely so the 1 Thes 2.15.16 is fulfilled amongst you that is called of men Masters stands praying in your Masle houses or Synagognes striving to draw from the spirits teachings c. but we are delivered from you and knows your voyces to be the voyces of strangers and the Lord hath brought us into that one Fould where he is the Shepherd alone from the mouthes of all ye dumbe shepherds which made a prey upon us and so your help we deny for you help into spirituall whoredom but not out And your counsell we deny its invented trash and you are found and proved lyars but he is our Counseller whose name is called Wonderfull Counsellor Isay 9.6 who is also our hope of glory Col. 1.26.27 who is our Instructer who faith learne of me Mat. 11.29 he hath turned unto us his pure Language by taking away out stony hearts for whose Instruction we utterly deny all your leven and you leveners who faith and doth not so S. A. thou and thy Fellows shall proceed no further undiscovered to the Children of Light and except you repent of your lewdnesse divine wrath will be the portion of your spirtuall Witcheraft wherein you keep people alwayes learning and you your selves alwayes pleading against perfection Oh ye Caterpillars and Grasse-hoppers how long will ye not cause to destroy the blossomes of the vine which increaseth dayly before your bloody devouring jawes and envious instigations Oh that ye would be warned Pr. And now to come to the conclusion of the Paper which contains some simple Quaries c. and why Quaries c. Ans The end of my quaering was and is for the clearing of the truth and try all of thy spirit whether patlent or perverse and not tempt thee with evill as thou hast enviously judged but that by slighty cunning might be made manifest as after will appear Pr. Thou shewes thy selfe without shame to doe the works of thy Father who was a tempter c. Mat. 22.17.18 19.3 c. Mar. 8.11 9.14 Luke 10.25 John 8.56 Ans Here thou hast eited some Scriptures unto which thou compares me for asking of thee a question Ah thou judge of evill thoughts the Scribes and Pharisees had better cause to call Christ a tempter then thou hath to call me for the knew from whence the Baptisms of John was better then they as Mat. 21.25 and whose Son he was better then they Mat. 22.45 although he asked them I say they mocked him and subtilly layd waite to intangle him but I have not quaeried of thee in that nature but for clearing of truth because of diversity of judgements so I deny them that sought to intangle Christ to be my fore-fathers although thy actions with thy Fellows cannot deny them to be your fore-fathers as is proved for innoceney will clears me and the Lord be judge between thee and me Pr. And now though I might send thee away as Christ did thy fore-fathers Mat. 21.25 chap. 22.45 c. yet because I know thee and the rest of thy generation to be lesse ingonuous and more impedent and apt to be lifted up upon light oceasion and least my total silence should afford any fuell for the fire of thy pride I shal shape thee such answers as may possibly have no more wisedome then thy Quaries though probably more truth then thou quaries after Ans I have not asked after the nature of the Scribes and Pharisees to intangle thee although thou hath intangled thy slefe but for the causes afore said have I quaered and thou art found the immetator of those who first consulted to lye Mat. 21.25.26.27 and then answered plainly ver 31. 41. as thou hast done â—s after will appeare But first thou hast made thy Kaine-like Jewish spirit manifest Christ Jesus asked many questions although he knew And the Apostle exhorted to give a reason of the hope that was in them but albeit thou pretend to be a Minister of Christ yet thou art found unwilling to answer but is lifted up in contempt and false accusations for I tell thee we know what