ever And also have we not good reason to turn from you when you turn from Christ the true Light that gives the true knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesns Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 For the want of obedience to the which Light you come to erre and stray from the way of God and are as you say in the lost state like lost sheep and no marvel when you will not hearken to the voice of the true shepherd and bishop of the soul and they which do you persecute and so will not receive the knowledge of the truth your selves and enter into the kingdome nor suffer those that would as much as lieth in you you shut the kingdome of heaven against men as did the chief Priests and Scribes and Pharisees of old therefore woe is to you that ever you were born alas for you how will you be able to stand in the dreadful terrible day of Gods righteous judgment that is coming and speedily hastens upon you who are found opposers of the work of the spirit of truth even that spirit that the Apostles and Disciples of Christ were Ministers of that is it that leads into all truth into which the good shepherd is gathering his sheep wherein is witnessed the perfect gift that leads out of sin and imperfection the gift of the spirit of faith that overcomes the spirit of the world that leads into bondage and so come to witness the glorious liberty of the sons of God 2 Cor. 4 13.3 17. which is in the spirit for where the spirit of the Lord is received there is liberty from what from the bondage of sin and corruption not in sin and the lusts of the flesh as many would have it but in the spirit that leads out of sin and mortifies the lusts of the flesh as the Scripture saith Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh Galat. 5.16 which you Priests cannot believe though the Scripture saith it you are not come to the spirit of faith that overcomes the world who say we can never be free from sin while we are upon earth hath not he dominion over sin that doth not fulfill the lusts of the flesh as it is written Galat. 5.24 they that are Christ have crncified mark the flesh with the affections and lusts these that are Christs did witness a victory over sin who lived and walked in the spirit and the law of the spirit of life in Christs Jesus made them free from the law of sin and death Mark these were such that walked in the spirit and were the sons of God who ceased from sin for it is written John 8.34 he that committeth sin is the servant of sin that is not one of the sons of God that is made free indeed for know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness for when ye were the servants of sin mark before Christs words that is committed sin ye were free from righteousness but now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life Rom. 6 16 20 22. then there was a freedome from sin in the Apostles dayes as they bear testimony in the spirit of God and we who believe their testimony and are come to the same spirit and cannot but bear the same testimony according to our measure receiving him in the same spirit of faith do receive the same power to become the sons of God Now seeing there was a freedome from sin in the Apostles time who witnessed his glorious appearance to put away sin and that he had done in them the work he came into the world to do that is to destroy the works of the Devil how comes it to pass now that this Doctrine of the Apostles can find no more place in this generation of priests and people it is because they love darkness more than light and their lusts and evil deeds more than the life of righteousness and so would perswade the people that there is no such life of righteousness to be brought forth here on earth as the Apostles spake of and witnessed and the Scriptures bear testimony to so it doth clearly appear what kingdome you are of and whose servants you are that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable soules mark these the Apostle saith are the false teachers that being in damnable heresies who through Covetousness and feigned words make merchandise of you 2 Pet. 2 14.2 1.3 who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness that cannot cease from sin mark but plead for it terme of life these are they that beguile the unstable and strayed sheep whose hearts are exercised with covetous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray like lost sheep following the way of Balaam the son of Bozor who loved the wages of unrighteousness to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever because they hate the light and love darkness more than light it justly becomes their portion And who is he that will be so wicked as to say we ought not to turn from these who prove themselves to be in the way of Balaam both in life and Doctrine a company of miserable sinners that cannot cease from sin being erred and strayed from the right way that leads out of sin therefore bring another Doctrine to plead for it and turning the Doctrine of truth into another meaning to uphold your contrary practice and cover your life that the Apostle bare testimony against whose Doctrine was from the gift of the spirit of truth which saith every good giving and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father of lights James 1.17 and as many as come to this good and perfect gift receive it and are taught by it are led into the good old way of truth and righteousness which is the perfect leadings of the perfect spirit of God into his perfect life by which the command of God comes to be kept which saith Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Matth. 5.4 8. and the Apostles said they kept his commands and did that which was right in his sight but you priests and people that are erred and strayed from the good and perfect way cannot keep his commands nor do that which is right in his sight for it is impossible you should till you come to the good perfect gift of God and because it is impossible with you you think it is so with all but that which is impossible with you is possible with God and all who do receive him the perfect gift of Gods power and walk in it are come to witness the dominion of the son of God which is over sin hell and death and so becomes the sons of God that can do nothing
LAMENTATION OVER ENGLAND FROM A true sight and suffering sense of the lamentable Wickedness of such Rulers Priests and People that are erred and strayed from the way of God and follow too much the devices and desires of their own hearts offending against his holy Laws limiting the Holy one of Israel making the devices of their own hearts a Law to insnare the Innocent that worship the Father in spirit and truth Whereby all Persecutors may in pity to their souls truly consider what way they are in and whether it leads and whose work they are doing and what the Scripture saith will be the reward of Oppression and Cruelty By M. W. Evil shall hunt the cruel man to destruction I know that the Lord will avenge the afflicted and judg the poor Surely the righteous shall praise thy name and the just shall dwell in by presence Psalm 140.11 12 13. Printed in the Year 1664. Impartial Reader IF thy heart be upright towards God thou canst not but love his truth in the inward parts which teacheth thee to speak the truth and do the truth and to deal plainly with all men and not to call evil good nor good evil nor put light for darkness nor darkness for light but to deal justly with all men and walk humbly with thy God and then thou needst not fear the threats nor frowns of any man who is but dust but wilt fear the Lord and give glory to him that made heaven and earth the sea and the fountains of water in exalting his name above every name and his commands above the wills of men in bowing thy heart and soul to the obedience of his spirit that his everlasting kingdome of righteousness may be set up in thee that the blessed government of his Spirit thy soul may be subject to then thou canst in truth say the kingdom of God is come in power and great glory then the Idols of gold and silver and the glory of the work that perisheth thou wilt cast to the Bats of the night that cannot behold the Sun and to the Moles of the earth that know not him that gave them breath then canst thou declare what the Lord hath wrought and sound forth his praise to the ends of the earth then will the voice of the good shepherd of Israel be joy to thy heart strength to thy sinews marrow to thy bones and thy soul shall feed in the fat pastures and thy dwelling shall be in the hill of Gods delight even Sion that shall never be removed into which the Father of life is gathering his own seed out of all Nations Tongues and Languages to dwell with him in the unity of his spirit and to have fellowship with him in his life that his coming may be witnessed in the ten thousands of 〈…〉 the world and to destroy the will of the flesh and make his great slaughter of all that which hath rebelled against him and cannot be subject to the law of his spirit but resists and is a law warring in the flesh and that nature which slew the Lamb from the foundation of the world yet offereth a sacrifice but could never please God and they that please God could never please it therefore were they and are they persecuted and suffer by it and so spiritually overcome and reign over it so our kingdome is not of this world but over the spirit of this world neither can it be shaken by the powers of this world but by its power doth shake the world and shall over turn that foundation on which the wickedness is built that the blessed foundation of the Prophets and Apostles may be revealed before all Nations which is Christ Jesus the Light in which the saved in all nations shall walk and in which if thou that readest this dost not walk thou canst never witness Gods salvation but if thou believe and in it walk then wilt thou know this to be truth and love to thy soul from th◠friend A Lamentation over England from a true sight and suffering sense of the lamentable wickednesse of such Rulers Priests and People that are Erred and Strayed from the way of God c. TEnder love to all your Souls is the subject of this ensuing Treatise And your refusal to accept of so great love as the Lord God of life holds forth to you in this the day of his tender visitation is cause sufficient for this my Lamentation Oh England England and ye Rulers and Magistrates thereof Oh that you had prised this the day of your visitation Oh that you had hearkened to the voice of the truth in the mouths of the Prophets and servants of God who have finished their faithful testimony several of them with the laying down of their lives And that you had not despised and still do despise and persecute those whom he hath sent unto you Oh that the blood of his pretious servants did not lie at your doores which cries loud for vengeance in the ears of the just God of heaven and earth till he make Inquisition for it How many have been imprisoned till death for obeying the will of God And how hath their blood been mingled with their sacrifices when they have been peaceably met together in the fear of the Lord and in the dread of his power out of the fear of him that kills the body but in the love and patient nature of the Lamb that overcomes the wrath and saves the soul who is the highest power that the soul ought to be subject to who hath given it life breath and being and who can cast it into Hell fire if it obey him not And therefore you are very much mistaken in us who think to frighten us out of our Religion by persecution or killing the body it being that which the Lord hath raised up in us by his mighty power in the denyal of our own wills and so contrary to all mens wills that have not submitted to his power For when he appeared in his power to place his fear in our hearts then our flesh trembled and Immortality was brought to light through the Gospel which was the voice of the Son of God to our souls by which we came to hear and live which life is contrary and which voice is dreadful to the flesh and so we having felt the terrors of the Lord for sin and transgression do not at all fear the terrors of men which can but kill the body and when that is done can do no more Therefore friends you knew not what you did when you began to meddle with us and make laws against us and persecute us because we could not submit to your wills for had you known us you would not have begun such an ill work wherein you should have lost so much labour and gained so much dishonour and also incurr'd the wrath of God Had Nebuchadnezzar known the three Children as well before as he did after he would never have forced them
word of the spirit of truth to you all for we are a people that have done you no wrong at all and as we walk in the truth we do professe and own we cannot wrong you nor any upon the face of the whole earth but you have wronged us and do daily in afflicting punishing and persecuting us as evil doers and as a people not fit to live upon the earth but know this from the Lord that lives for ever what you have designed against us in your hearts shall be your own portion because we are of the seed of the spiritual Jews whose Kingdom shall flourish for ever But what is the evil and what is our crime that we are thus reckoned as sheep for the slaughter is it not only because we cannot break the commands of God and his son Jesus and own your worship which he never commanded nor his Apostles and Disciples ever practised but warned those that feared God to depart from them that were lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God covetous proud unholy men despisers of those that are good walkers in their own ungodly lusts speaking great swelling words having mens persons in admiration because of advantage who run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and to cover all this hold forth a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away saith Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 3.5 and because we do so therefore are we hated and persecuted but if we could put into your mouths then we might save the spoyling of our goods and be accounted good Christians though we served the devil but we are come to the knowledge of the truth everlasting praises be given to our God for ever and ever and to the power of godlinesse that cannot bow nor creep to deceit but must bear testimony with the holy Prophets and Apostles and the blessed company of Saints and martyrs of Jesus against preaching for hire and divining for mony and spoyling mens goods for trebble damages casting their bodies into prisons till death and all for mony and for gain from their quarter Oh blood thirsty bloody minded men destroyers of souls and bodies for your bellies who never have enough woe woe from the Lord is your portion that ever you were born to live to exceed the false prophets of old and yet professe Christianity For we do not read that ever they did force any by suite of Law to pay them but we read that Balaam when he did not his work that he laboured so mightily to do for the King of Moab which was to curse the people whom God had blessed mark when he could not do his work he went away without his reward and so is it not meet that those whom in this nation are sent by men pretending authority over souls and put into Parishes and places to reform and blesse the people and cannot do their work but the people grow worse and worse though they take pains yet God never sent them and is it reason that they should have such a great reward as the tenth of all our labours If they had sowen spirituals it had been a small thing for them to have partaked of our carnals or if they had planted a vineyard they ought to have eat of the fruit thereof But this Vineyard of Times the Pope hath planted for his Priests and never intended it for these who do not his work nor the Lords neither And therefore why may not they with Balaam return without a reward from the King seeing their blessing doth as little good as Balaams intended cursing did harme for he went away without the Kings great honour and promotion because the Lord would not suffer him to fulfil or satisfie the will of that spirit which would have had the Israel of God destroyed Num. 24.11 but so saith the King the Lord shall keep thee back from honour But wo be to that spirit that willeth the destruction of Gods Israel now that it may keep or get its earthly ends and selfish fleshly honours which God is risen in his mighty power to bring into contempt because it opposeth it self against the work of his spirit which is to bring down the earthly and exalt the heavenly Which work must and shall be done when men and devils have don and said what they can for he that made us for his praise hath now by his spirit quickened us up again for his glory And this is the Lord from heaven that spirit that as is the heavenly such they may be that are heavenly That the heavenly Image may be exalted above the earthly both to rule and reign over it in the Lambs patient nature to overcome the earthly which preacheth forth to the heavenly Witnesse in all consciences So the long suffering and patience leads to repentance and newness of life But that spirit which turneth people from the gift of God in them is the deceiver that strengtheneth the hands of the evil doer to make War against the appearance of God in man that brings salvation and this is the false Prophet that hath and doth deceive the Nations which second appearance of Christ the true spiritual light is to consume with the breth of his mouth and the brightnesse of his coming And this appearance of truth in the inward parts the false Prophet cannot endure Mark because it is come to reveal and consume him and therefore he thinks to strengthen himself by the powers of the earth in perswading them to believe his report and Prophecy against the spirit of truth and they being not come to the word of life in themselves that was before the deceiver was do not discerne him and so come to be deceived by him and to make War against the brightnesse of the rising of the Son of righteousnesse and the leadings of his pure spirit of life in his Children by making Laws and Decrees against them for the exercise of their pure Consciences towards God and man And hear is the tryal of their faith made manifest to be precious by which many comes to be added to it and the kingdom exalted by its own power through opposition and persecution so it comes to be seen and known to be the power of life in us that is greater and mightier then the power of death and darknesse that comes against us that we can of a truth say He that is in us is greater then he that is in the world who comes against us but must be overcome by him that is in us whose power shall burst the bonds of wickedness destroy the spirit of persecution that makes Laws for stumbling-blocks to the people that have a desire to seek after the Lord and come to the measure of his spirit that leads into all truth that they may witnesse dominion over sin and the works of the Devil destroyed in them and they forsake him and all his works and all the vain pomp of this wicked
upon your beds your secret faults and wickednesse and makes you confesse in your hearts it is so and brings you to a sense of sorrow and misery that will be your portion if you repent not and turn to the Lord that spirit that searched thy heart and tried thy reins that pure word of truth that cannot deceive thee the annointing that speaks the truth in thee and this I say from the spirit of truth except thou believe in that word of truth and obey it thou shalt never witnesse salvation This is the infallible truth to all upon the face of the whole earth and there is no other salvation under heaven nor no other Name given to be saved by then this which is the Gentiles light and Israels glory that which make manifest the deeds of darknesse and reproves them this is that spirit that reproves the world of sin that leads out of sin all that do believe and follow it and this is he that spirit that is given for a leader to his people to be his salvation to the ends of the earth This is the Word of God the Son of God the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin and saves the souls of all that believe in him the Son the truth that maketh free the quickening spirit that quickens to life again the soul that was dead in Adam and so brings Immortality to light through his power which is the Gospel and he that believes not in his power knows not the Gospel that power which sets free from sin for that is the glad tidings to the soul to hear of a deliverance from the bondage of corruption that it may no longer serve sin the wages whereof is condemnation and death to it but that it might come to Sow in the eternal spirit and Reap the Wages of life everlasting for such as it sows such must it reap because God is Just And therefore they that do believe in the eternal power have denyed themselves and given up their souls into the hands of a faithful Creator that he may save them from the sin and take it away and bring in his own perfect righteousnesse according to his promise in his New Covenant of free mercy and grace and it is unpossible for God in Christ to faile or forsake them but keeps Covenant and mercy for ever and saves the soul from the sin and power of hell and death which is the Work his father hath sent him into the world to do and perform and he that doth believe in him he hath promised to raise him up out of the Fall Death and the Curse and restore him into the life of God from which he fell and was dead to and brings forth a new birth by creating a new heart and renewing a right spirit in him and this is his promise to do and work to perform and such who are not of this Faith can never have this Work wrought in them but do through their unbelief as it were make him a lyar that is as if he would not or could not performe his promise and such are dead while they live in the Sinne Fall and the Curse Reprobate to every good worke dishonouring the Lord of life through their unbelief of the truth But on the contrary believing the lying spirit that leads into the sin who saith that sin must be lived in while we are on the earth this is the Doctrine of the Devil and the Devils Doctrine which he hath taught his servants and Ministers to preach who are the false Prophets that daube with untempered morter that deceive the Nations so upholding the kingdome of the Devil sin and darknesse that he may keep his Kingdome and power in their hearts and rule there in the disobedient and bring forth his will that is sin and iniquity and ungodlinesse so beget his owne Image in them and do his owne Work through them and Preach his own Doctrine in them in which they believing can never witnesse salvation But are a company of miserable sinners laden with sin and iniquity ever learning of the deceitful lying spirit and so can never come to the knowledg of the truth that sets free from sin but are ever pleading for it being in the error strayed from the way of Gods salvation doing the things they ought not to do persecuting hating and killing the Innocent spoyling and robbing them of their goods acting in madnesse and folly beyond the very letter of the law and sometimes against it as for example some are excommunicated out of the assembly of miserable sinners their Church so called and after excommunication have had their goods strained on and taken away for not coming to their worship in the time of excommunication this is unreasonable cruel envious wicked dealings and this is done against many casting others into Dungeons and nasty holes and Prisons that hath destroyed their lives and all because we speak the truth and do the things that we ought to do and cannot hearken to the lying spirit that leads into errour and astray from the way of God But do hear the voice of Christ the good shepherd and Bishop of our souls and keep his sayings who saith swear not at all and do not after their works who are blind guides that say and do not the thing they say they ought to do but believe in the light that ye may be the children of light John 12.36 for said he I am the light of the world he that followeth me not blind guides shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life chap. 8.12 13. then said the Pharisees thy record is not true mark what the blind guides said then and are they not blind guides that say so now who say it is but a natural light that is the light of the world that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and that it is not able to save a man from sin though it do condemn him and reprove him for sin and the deeds of darkness when as Christ himself the truth that cannot lye said he that followeth him the light shall not walk in darknesse and we who are come to the light in our selves and follow it do bear testimony against all the blind guides and hireling priests and false prophets upon the face of the whole earth that his record is true but this the unbelieving Jews could not believe then no more than the unbelieving Gentiles can believe now therefore they walk in darknesse and hate the light but this is the word of the Lord God of truth to all the Gentiles upon the whole earth they must believe in their light that is to say the Gentiles light before ever they can witnesse Gods salvation for that is his Covenant to the people and his salvation to the ends of the earth What if the blind should say what to do answer to save them from walking in darkness and then the fruits and works of darknesse cannot be brought forth
hath purchased us unto himself and not to the will of any man in the first nature as in things appertaining to God for there the elder must serve the younger for Jacob had the blessing and we cannot serve two Masters that is to say the Will of God and the Will of man when contrary to God and thus we who keep in the innocency and cannot please men to displease God are grievous sufferers and some even unto death where many thousand hearts are made sad and many thousand spirits Mourn in secret Oh that ever such wickednesse should be upon recod to posterity that the harmlesse innocent people of England should be banished out of their Country for waiting upon the Lord that hath redeemed their souls and praying to their God that made heaven and earth What a people redeemed by the precious blood of the Son of God imprisoned and banished and spoyled by their Neighbours and Countrymen and yet call themselves Christians Christ never yet owned any such that imprison banish and kill their brethren for worshipping their heavenly father And dare any that have any fear of God before their eyes say we are not Christians if so what Christians are you that banish your brethren Christ our elder brother never taught you that practice nor any of his Apostles or Disciples gave you that example but on the contrary said and commanded to love one another for John saith 1 Joh. 3.10 In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother so it is manifest in whom the envious nature dwelleth that slew his brother because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous and this is the nature of all persecuters and such as banish their brethren for righteousness sake which you see the Scriptures saith are not of God And can any be so blind as not to believe that the Lord will visit for these things and stretch out his hand over the Nation in terrible Judgments that shall overtake all you that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near and then how will you be able to stand in Judgment wâ— Lord shall reward every man according to his works and if you should receive the same things at the hand of the Lord as we receive from you would you not think it a sore judgment then why cannot you in judgment remember mercy and think upon the afflictions of Joseph for though rewas sould by his brethren for a bond-man into Egypt yet the Lord was with him and he became ruler over the whole Land And though his sayings pleased not his brethren for the which they hated him without a cause yet the Lord loved him and blessed him with a double portion And now the Shepherd of Israel is leading Joseph like a flock and doth not his waies and sayings please you what is the matter is it not because the ways of the Shepherd of Israel are not as your ways therefore his sayings are not acceptable nor his testimony believed in the mouths of the people of his flock and the sheep of his pasture And wherefore doth not his ways please you because you love darkness more then light and the lusts of the flesh more then the life of righteousness this is that which is natural to the flesh and therefore no new nor strange thing to us for we know that seed can bring forth no better fruit and therefore it inherits not the promise for the promise is to the seed that was and is disalowed of men that is it that is chosen of God and precious for the believing in and obedience of we are disalowed and hated as our brethren were in former ages but mark this ye persecuters of our age the hated of men was and is blessed of God He that was sould and separated from his brethren being try'd was found faithful upon whose head the blessing came Joseph was sould and Jesus was sould Joseph had rule over Egypt and Jesus over the World who is become the head of the corner and shepherd of the soul and leads Joseph like a flock who is the glory of Israel that shines forth for our salvation and blessed are they that walk in his light which is the way that pleaseth not the world that lieth in wickednesse loves their evil deeds but is the way that pleaseth the Lord which he hath blessed with â—m everlasting blessing that it should prosper for ever 〈…〉 ones do walk and the redeemed of the Lord out of a◠〈…〉 For the Lord our God is one and his way is one who hath 〈…〉 be one sold and one shepherd out of whose hand his sheep shall not be 〈…〉 Job 10.16 Into whose Fold we witnesse a gathering blessed 〈…〉 that hath gathered us and by his eternal spirit of life hath quicke 〈…〉 into a blessed hope that nothing shall be able to reanove us wh◠〈…〉 in this faith And therefore what if the Heathen rage 〈…〉 a vain thing and the Kings of the eartâ—â— themselves◠〈…〉 the Lord and his Anointed And what if the 〈…〉 blow and the storms oâ— the wicked bear and the 〈…〉 the unâ—odly swel and death and hell combin'd and take counsel together against us yet saith he that lives for ever I have seâ— my King upon 〈…〉 of Sion and blessed are all those whose souls are subject to his Law that he hath with in their hearts to his spirit in their inward parts for it is the law of the spirit of life that the law of the spirit of strife envy shall never prevail against though it may be formed and new moulded yet it shall noâ— prosper nor accomplish the end of those that made it And therefore is there not a cause to take up this my limentation over you O ye Rulers and Magistrates of England why will you die O ye people by 〈…〉 the paths that lead to destuction when the Lord stretcheth â—â—ch his kind of mercy to receive you into his covenant of life why will 〈◊〉 chuse your own way and despise the path of peace and rest to yoâ—â—â—â—â—ls and why do you disdaâ—â— the noble immortal seed that the father or 〈…〉 sown for your salvation that of which except you be born again your souls perish for ever 〈…〉 do you flight the leadings and teâ—ch 〈…〉 spirit of truth in the inward parts which is the 〈…〉 up teachers to 〈◊〉 selves conformable to your own 〈…〉 â—able to your wills 〈…〉 deceive your souls and one day you shall know that these things 〈…〉 and that you have hated and persecuted your best friends even dear friends to your souls who are 〈◊〉 willing to lay down 〈…〉 a testimony to that truth by which your 〈…〉 to be 〈◊〉 And the Lord is our 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 in his truth that we desire 〈◊〉 destâ—â—â—â—tion of any neither in 〈…〉 but the good of 〈…〉 our enemies might come 〈…〉 be fâ—â—â—ed And 〈…〉 ofâ—â—â— prayer 〈…〉 for 〈…〉 may not 〈…〉 day of visitation 〈…〉 that belong to their everlasting peace be 〈…〉 to destruction for ever And it is not 〈…〉 that I have 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 of God 〈…〉 for 〈…〉 the soul 〈…〉 on in the 〈…〉 leads 〈…〉 that the spirit of love and life presseth to 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 and reprove the evil practice and 〈…〉 And 〈…〉 O ye 〈…〉 not 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 are 〈…〉 〈…〉 but a sufferes by your 〈…〉 Christ Jeâ—â— M. W.
against the truth but for the truth But you that call your selves Ministers of Christ that have not received the perfect gift of God that cometh from above which is for the perfecting of the Saints you are not sent of God and cannot profit the people at all and are but intruders into that you understand nor and cannot do the Lords work but are making a trade of felling the Apostles words and Christs words and the Prophets words being ignorant of the word of faith in the heart and in the mouth which they preached which is the Gospel that is hid to those that are lost and gone astray by erring from the way of life which the Minister of Christ is to turn the people to that is from the darknesse to the light which you that God never sent hate and say it is natural and from the power of Sathan unto God which you that have not received the gift of God cannot believe is able to destroy the works of the Devil while you live upon the earth so you are wholly ignorant of the power of the kingdome of God that is come and will consume the Antichristian wherein the will of God is done in earth mark that as in heaven and this you pray for yet believe against or else you must believe it is the will of God that men should live in sin as long as they are on the earth but the Apostle saith the contrary in these words this is the will of God even your sanctification 1 Thess 4.3 and they who are come to the gift of the spirit that sanctifies cannot but bear testimony to the salvation of God through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth 2.13 but you that have received your gift from your fountains of Oxford and Cambridge which are beneath and cometh from the corrupt nature that stands in the fall and degeneration estranged from the Covenant of life erred and strayed from the right way which is the gift of the spirit and are in the way of fallen nature and its gifts and these gifts can never lead out of the fall up to God because they are but from beneath and cannot bring to the knowledge of God nor his truth for Pilate had the natural gift of Tongues as Latin Greek and Hebrew and by it he could not know the truth but said to Christ what is truth John 18.38 so you that have received your gift from beneath knows not the mind of the spirit which is the mind of Christ which the Apostles by the spirit had but you study to make a message of your own according to your own mind and imagination and when it is made you must have money for it because you came not by this art of Sermon-making without money and although you should be but bunglets at this trade and not masters of this art yet if you can get a shop and set up the people must be compelled to pay you though they abhor your work and this makes your trade so much in request and truth so much persecuted but must we buy your imaginations because you bought your art this is not equal nor just nor ever ordained of God as his Ordinance yet we submit our selves in suffering patiently till the Lord take off this oppression and break this yoke Was it ever heard of in any age that people were compelled to buy chaff to eat when they might have wheat for nothing had not the Prodigal more liberty among the swine than we have among such as accout themselves sheep of Christ for he might eat the husks freely though it satisfied not his soul till he returned to the fathers house where he had bread enough freely and we who are come to the Fathers house and have bread sufficient cannot spend our money for that which is not bread and our labour for that which perisheth but on the contrary to exhort all to seed upon the bread that is living that comes down from heaven and giveth life unto the world Joh. 6.33 and this is the gift the Father of life hath given and blessed are all they that do receive it But from your fountains of Oxford and Cambridge doth flow forth a spirit of persecution and strife against the truth as we by sad experience have felt and witnessed for these several years whereby many of us have lost our lives by long imprisonment and cruel usage which that spirit hath occasioned by stirring up the people and Magistrates to fulfill their wills and if we should say this spirit were of God we should lye against the truth but this is the wisdome that descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual and devillish this cometh not down from above and therefore it opposeth that which doth For the Doctrine of the Apostles of truth is this 1 Pet. 4.10 Let every man as he hath received the gift minister the same one to another not for money but as good disposers or stuards of the manifold grace of God Now if any who have received the good and perfect gift of God that cometh down from the Father of Lights in obedience to the spirit of truth goes to communicate of his gift to others then he is counted an offender by that spirit which came from Oxford and Cambridge and the Lords of that spirit and Priesthood have made a Law against it even against that which the Lord Jesus doth command by his eternal spirit in his Apostles which they and his Disciples did practice and must practice notwithstanding all opposition Can you be so ignorant as to think your law shall bind his spirit from ministring in whom and where he pleaseth Can you stop the Sun that it may not go its course If not consider what will become of them that strive against their maker and the work of his eternal spirit Do you think that he that hath received the gift of ministration from above will be stopped by your Law which is from beneath If you measure that spirit with the wisdome from beneath you may think so but we have received another spirit than that of Oxford and Cambridge for that spirit hath been stopped by the commands of men because its commission is but from man so man commands them to be silent and they are so because they be the Ministry of the powers of the Nation who gives them their Wages so the National Ministry are but the servants of the National power as it doth appear for vvhen the powers changed the Ministry changed except they turn vvith the time as for the most part they do and lick up their own vomit again as it is clear to most people they have done of late How did they cry out against the Common-prayer some years ago to be such an abominable thing as not fit to come into their mouths but now rather then lose a fat Benefice they can swallow it down Surplice and all Doth it not appear now who preach for money We told you
in this I must needs say You speak the truth in the presence of God but if you had done the things ye left undone and ought to have done then you had as well done the truth as spoke the truth then you might have brought your deeds to the light with boldnesse and it would have been made manifest that they were wrought in God whereas now you must needs confess that which leads you to do the things you about not to do is the spirit of the Devil that is against the truth and leads to persecute it but the Lord is cur witness that the desire of our souls is that you might come to that spirit that leads to do the things you ought to do which is the spirit that leads into all truth then you and we should not differ but should be one Church in God and one people that are blessed for ever and till you come here we shall alwayes differ from you though never fight with you both in life and Doctrine for they that do not the will shall not know the Doctrine but if we or any of us should be so wicked as to turn from the spirit of truth and do the things which we ought not to do and leave the things undone which we ought to do then we should come to you and be of your Church which is not in God and then woe will be to us that ever we were born and then indeed we might fight drink and whore and swear and curse and then we should be counted good subjects to the King but I am sure we should be better to the Devil but the Kings best subjects indeed are they that fear God who depart from evil these honour the King and the King will in a little while know these to be his best friends who cannot flatter him for their own ends and have mens persons in admiration for advantage but when their earthly ends is not answered they can turn against him for a better advantage for hath not money caused many to betray their trust and oaths will not bind where God is not feared but where he is they must render to Cesar the things that are Cesars and to God the things that are Gods for they that are Gods people do only know the things that are Gods that only belong to 〈◊〉 and they cannot give to Cesar the things that are Gods for that were evil and unjust before God and out of his fear and therefore they that are not in his fear do quarrel with us about those things who would have us to give Cesar all that we cannot do but the things that are his we freely give Tribute to whom tribute is due Custome to whom Custome fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13.7 Now all this doth not belong to Cesar for fear belongs to God and therefore we cannot give all to Cesar Tribute and Custome we give and in that with the obedience to all his Just commands we honour him And in that which for Conscience sake we cannot do we patiently suffer and so we do submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 But it is written Fear God and keep his Commandements for this is the whole duty of a man Eccles 12.13 So our duty is to render to God his due that is to keep his commands and do that which is right in his sight And when Cesar commands us to do that which God forbids then we chuse rather to obey God then man and so we shew forth that we fear him that is able to destroy both soul and body if we do not obey him So in the things that belong to our souls we are to hear the heavenly voice of the Bishop and Shephard of our souls because every one of us shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14.12 And it is just and Gods due that the soul should be subject to that power that hath given it life breath and being that is the higher powers the soul ought to be subject to the powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13.14 To be Ministers of God for good and not for evil but if the Ministers of the power given for good turn the power against the good they are not Ministers for God for God hath not ordained the power against the good So he that is against the good is against the ordinance of God and God is against them that abuse the power ordained for good and he will avenge and execute wrath upon them that do evil Thus it is clear Rulers for God are not a terror to good works but to evil and it is as clear that they which seek to terrifie those that do that which is good are not Rulers for God and so do not fear him nor honour the King for it is written 2 Sam. 23.3 He that ruleth over men must be just mark that ruling in the fear of God and he that ruleth in his fear cannot punish those that meet in his Name and keep his commands because they do the things they ought to do but they that rule not in Gods fear are not just in punishing those that keep his commands and in doing that which they ought not to do these ought not to rule over men who fear not God nor honour the Kings to such I say doth God do you think love cursing and swearing better then a silent waiting upon him in his fear if you think not why do you punish the one and let the other alone or is the Law against the fear of God and not against the profaneness because it is executed upon the one and not upon the other and think ye that God loveth profane songs and wicked talk before or better then a good exhortation from the Spirit of truth that people might keep Gods holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the dayes of their lives how can you expect to prosper that do these things who tread in the steps of those whom God overthrew before you did they accomplish their end in persecuting of us did they cause us to come to their worship or submit to their wills or did they scatter and overcome us did not the Lord scatter and overcome them who rose up against his work in us and how do you think to escape doing the same things as against us who are a people that would lay down our lives that your souls might be saved in this the day of the Lords visitation But alas alas for you you have slighted the day of Gods love to your souls and your misery is you cannot believe it but when it is too late to return you may feel it and then you shall confesse we were your best friends who told you the truth though you hated us for it yet the reward of our love to you we shall receive at the hand of the Lord and you the reward of your hatred and cruelty towards us its the
I cannot believe this record saith the blind guide and his followers then saith Christ for if ye believe not that I am be what he the true light ye shall dye in your sins then saith Jesus again unto them I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall dye in your sins whither I go ye cannot come Mark that ye despisers and haters of the light ye despise and hate Christ and ye that will not follow him the light here in this world shall not follow him hereafter into the glory of the world to come but shall dye in your sin and perish eternally Consider this ye despisers of truth there is but a breath betwixt you and eternal destruction ye haters of the light the eternal word by which you breath move and have a being who plead for sin and the deeds of darkness to live in them for tearm of life read your portion that live and die in sin and consider what he hath said that cannot lye if you will not live the life of the righteous being manifested unto you in the day of visitation you cannot dye the death of the righteous nor shall your last end be like unto his because he hath called and you refused he hath stretched out his hand of mercy and you will not regard ye have set at naught all his counsel by his messengers he hath sent unto you and would none of his reproof by his light in your consciences the spirit of truth that he hath sent to reprove the world of sin therefore saith he that cannot lye I will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh and when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall you call but I will not answer you shall seek him early but shall not find him Pro. 1.24 25 26 27. therefore because the spirit of truth hath said it you that are in that capacity cannot dye the death of the righteous who shall in Gods peace that he hath laboured after with all men lye down and in his everlasting habitation dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil for the upright shall dwell in the land that the envy of Cains spirit shall not nor cannot banish them out of and the perfect shall remain in it These be a people whose life the blind guides could never yet see in all ages because they dwelt not in their land which is the land of darkness where Cain said he should be hid from the face of God therefore all his generation loves this land of darkness naturally to this day it being the land of their nativity where their fathers City is built out from the presence of the Lord and the blessing of the light of his countenance in that land of the valley of the shadow of death where the sitting down is in darknesse and the Prince of the power of darknesse bears rule there teaching his children and subjects to plead for his kingdome of liberty in the flesh which natural desires and lusts of the flesh being brought forth is the life after the flesh that cannot please God the old mans life in the curse in whom the seed of the serpent the subtilest beast is head and makes war in the old enmity against the seed of the woman of which is the spiritual or the birth after the spirit that the birth after the flesh persecutes and hates as Cain did who was of that wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous 1 John 3.12 therefore it is no marvel that the children of light are hated of the world that lyeth in wickednesse and pleads for it and hates the light and pleads against it for he that hateth the light abides in darknesse and loveth not his brother and it s written whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him and where eternal life is not abiding there is Cains nature dwelling and from that nature ariseth the persecutor that doth not well in doing the things he ought not to do and so fin lyeth at his door And woe unto the wicked it shall be ill with him saith the spirit of the Lord for the reward of his hands shall he given him Isaiah 3.11 For the wicked shall be cut off from the earth and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it Proverbs 2.22 Therefore let all that have yet a day prize it and make your calling and election sure in this the day of Gods love and tender visitation to your souls and think not to say in your hearts did not the thief upon the Crosse dye the death of the righteous yes and did he not live the life of the righteous yes he lived by faith though it might be but the last hour he being then called at the last hour to believe in Christ the light of the world he followed him by faith in him and bore a glorious testimony for him when most of his Disciples had forsook him and the blind guides laugh'd him to scorn and wagged their heads at him then he who was faithful reproved his fellow that was as blind as his guides and chief priests so the priests and the thief and the elders were all in one spirit of envy mocking and despising the truth and chose the murtherer and the thief of which spirit they were of before the truth the son of God which spirit he that believed did rebuke and that was a good work in that hour when few durst own him but yet more then all this he confessed him to be a king and that a heavenly one too before the face of his enemies and before the whole world justified the righteous son of God and said he had done nothing amisse which proved his enemies the chief priests murtherers and in such a time when he was in his lowest estate when he said My God my God why hast thou for saken me then did he honour him by his faith which preached God had not forsaken him but had given him an everlasting kingdome and did not doubt but he was able to bring his soul that believed into his kingdome therefore said Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome and so received him before the face of the world as a faithful witnesse to the death who entred into the glorious paradice of God that his precious faith had fitted him for in that short time And if in so short a time faith in the power of God can bring forth such a glorious work what wretched wicked miserable unbelieving sinners are they who say they be in Christ the son of God yet do not expect to be saved from their sin and set free from their iniquity all the dayes of their life these make but a bad confession of the work of faith which is not to the glory of God the Father that hath sent his son to take away the