powerings forth of his eternall Spirit and to feel its operation and movings in you untill then in the dread power and authority of the Spirit of the Lord again I say unto you Let all flesh keep silence Gods witness in every one of you shall eternally witness me to be true for through the operation of Gods eternall Power and Spirit of Life Life and Immortality is brought to Light through which the Immortall soul comes to be refreshed and the seed of God raised out of death And that Life and seed is but one in all in the male and in the female so if Gods Spirit move in son or daughter to speak in the Church of Christ it is not lawfull to quench it But if any thing else speak whether in male or female and not the Spirit of the Lord or its movings that which speaks in male or female being in the sin and transgression that is the woman or sorrowfull sinfull man that must be silent and ask the husband at home which if she continue in the faith Patience Godliness Sobriety and Charity untill the man-child be born or brought forth in Dominion to Raign to Rule the transgressing part with a rod of Iron she may be saved he that can receive it let him for where sin and evill is standing there is woe and sorrow whether in male or female and all must be silent in the Church till sin and iniquitie is blotted out but who are come to know remission of sin through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ there is glad tidings Joy and Peace and all that ever ministers from the Spirit of Truth in the Church of Christ must first be a partaker of the fruits of the Kingdome of God in measure for saith the Apostle The husbandman that laboureth must first bepar taker of the fruits viz. of that he ministereth to wit of the Joy or Glory he testifieth of therefore saith he to Tymothy consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding c. And male and female is all one in Christ and each must come to know the Travell and Anguish which makes all faces gather paleness before that Child be brought forth Wherefore saith the Prophet Jeremiah Ask ye now and see whether a man doth travell with Child wherefore do I see every man with his hands upon his Loins as a woman in travell and all faces are turned into paleness c. Jer. 30 6. This is a mystery Christ in man And so I say when the Life of Christ is brought forth in power in son or daughter it is Lawful for either to speak in the Church of Christ as Miriam and the holy women did in the days of old teach and instruct in the Congregation of the Lord and Miriam taught Israel to sing praises to the Lord and Deborah a Prophetess Judged Israel and instructed Barack taught the people to praise the Lord and Huldah the Prophetess spoke the Word of the King saying Thus saith the Lord And Priscilla with Aquila her Husband took Apollo a man of Alaxandria and instructed him more perfectly in the way of the Lord And Paul commends those women to the Philippians which laboured with him in the Gospell And do the Baptists think the Apostle would commend those women in one place or to one people and reprove them or write against them to another people and command them to be silent because Paul saith I suffer not a woman to teach or to usurpe authority over the man But be silent and ask her Husband at home c. and therefore you will not willingly if the Lord send his handmaids or daughters amongst you suffer them to speak on whom the Lord promised he would pour out of his Spirit in the last days and they should Prophesie I tell you there is a great mistery in those words I suffer not a woman to teach but to be in silence c. The Lord of Hosts is the Husband of his Church and as Peter said Our beloved brother Paul writ in all his Epistles somethings hard to be understood which they that are unlearned in the Doctrine and mysteries of Christ wrest as they do all other Scriptures to their own destruction Therefore take heed all ye that are stumbling at the Lords speaking in his handmaids as in ages past who is the same for ever Least yee are found perverting the Truth of the Lord and quenching his Spirit For Anna a Prophettess a woman of great age that had lived with an Husband seven years from her Virginity a widow of about fourscore years of age that served God in Fastings and Prayers she coming into the Temple that instant when the Child Jesus was in the Temple she gave thanks and preached in the Temple redemption by Jesus Christ to all them that looked for it in Jerusalem And Christ himself bid Mary Magdalen to whom first he appeared after his Resurrection out of whom he had cast seven Devills Go and tell or preach to my Brethren that he is arisen saith the Angell and go to Gallalee there shal they see me saith Christ And so I say unto you where ever the seed which is Christ to which all the promises of God are Yea and Amen and all that ever come to be blessed it must be in the seed is brought forth in power to Raign it is lawfull to speak whether in male or female quench it not for in Christ Jesus there is no difference in him all is one Col. 3.11 Gal. 3.28 Therefore again I say unto you quench not the Spirit of the Lord but try all things and hold fast that which is good and despise not reproof of Instruction but receive the Truth in the Love of it to wit the Light and Spirit of Truth within as is largely before proved according to the Scripture of Truth as it is in Jesus And take heed least for your not receiving the Truth in the Truth in the Love of it God give you wholly over to reprobate minds to work uncleanness with greediness and so he Justly send you stronger delusions that ye all may be damned who will not believe and receive the Truth in the Love of it And then in that day of trouble and Anguish when you cry and call even you who have caused the simple to erre keeping them in that which perisheth in the using from the measure of of God in them bringing all the Arguments and strong Reasons to pervert and perswade from the Truth and to stop Gods Righteous witnesse from arising in the simple of which many would hear and receive the Truth but having not strength are afraid of being cast out from amongst you as it was amongst the envious Jews who ever of them did confess Christ was to be cast out But the day is near come that such fears shall be cast out of them who breath after God in righteousness and Truth and they shall come to know one if you cast them out will
Lord and shall make it to appeare by the aforegoing words of the Apostle to the Romans and also by the words following that it was not the Apostles then present condition when he said O wretched man that I am c. but a condition that he had once passed through which through Christ he did witness a freedom from Rom. 8,12 onely it was the manner of the Prophets and Apostles when they writ to the people and for the condescending to the low estate or condition that those they writ unto were in to rank themselves with them to wit in using the word We or Us as for instance if we say we have nosin or have not sinned c. And in mamy things we offend all And as Isaiah saith Lord why hast thou caused us to erre from thy wayes James 3.2 1 John 1.8 Isaiah 36.17 But Paul as is a fore shewed affirmed they were really dead to sin Rom. 6.2 and he giveth an infallible reason for it for saith he Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death that like as Christ was raised from the grave so they were to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.1 to the 8. and so they came from under the dominion of sin and from under the Condemnation of the Law Rom. 6.14.15 Chap. 8.1 but whiles a man lives the Law hath Power over him He that hath an ear to hear can hear and understand Rom. 5.14 but he over whom and in whom death reigns though he may talk of Christ and his righteousness of Faith and Grace c. yet not being turned to the Light which is the Law Rom. 5.13,14 he is not come so far as the pure law of God neither knowes he it in righteousness and truth but is a stranger unto it for saith Paul Know ye not my brethren how that the Law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth for I speake to them saith he that know the Law for the woman that hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he liveth but if her husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her husband so that she is no adulteress thoughshe be marryed to another Wherefore saith he my brethren ye also are not that ye shall become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be marryed to another even to Christ who is raised from the dead thorough whom they brought forth fruits unto God for saith he when they were in the flesh he did not then say they now are in the flesh or following the motions of the flesh the motions of sin which were by the Law wrought in their members sin and brought sorth fruits unto death but now he said they were delivered from the Law that they should serve in newness of spirit Rom 6.15 What shall we say then saith he Rom. 7.7 Is the Law sin God forbid for he had not-known sin except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet But sin taking occasion by the Commandement wrought in him all manner of Concupiscente For he was alive mark and take notice of that ONCE He there told them what he was once but by the receiving of the Law which caused sin to abound and appear exceeding sinful he cried out O wretched man c. So there was a time Paul saw his sin to abound by the Law c. and there was a time he did witness he was dead to sin And there was a time he told them The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had freed him from the Law of Sin and Death And that was Paul's then present condition for saith he There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh or its motions for they that so do cannot please God But saith he Rom. 8.1 to 10. Ye are not in the stesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he gives a character of them that have this Spirit whereby in the Light of the Son of God they may judg and examine themselves for if the Spirit of Christ be in thee the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness So that through this Spirit of Life Paul did witness a freedom from sin and a Victory over sin on this side the grave and thanked God for it and said He had fought the good sight he had finished his course he had kept the Faith which gave victory over the world or sin and henceforth saith he 2 Cor. 12 7 8,9 there is laid up for me a Crown of Glory and Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not onely to me but unto all them which love his appearance And although Paul did cry out of the thorn in the flesh and of the buffeting of Satan lest he should be exalted above his measure Tit. 2.11,12 the Lord did not impute that unto him as sin but said My grace is sufficient for thee which Grace taught Paul and the Saints to deny sin and ungodliness whereby they lived like God in that present world So that it is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Apostles and Saints in Light did witness a redemption from sin and were regenerated washed and cleansed and sanctified on this side the grave Read and compare these Scriptures 1 Cor. 1.30 Rom. 6.2.7.22 Ch. 7.6 Rom. 8.2 to 10. 1 Cor. 6.11 Ch. 15.55,56,57 2 Tim. 4.7,8 1 Pet. 4.1,2 So I being cast into Prison that very day that Priest Whale thus affirmed not giving any just offence in word or action as Priest Whale passed by the Prison I required him to prove where man should be made free from sin seeing that he had affirmed That the godliest man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave His Answer was They should be cleansed in heaven O wretched man How hast thou darkned the Counsel of the most High God uttering words without the true knowledg of God from thy wisdom which is from beneath which is earthly sensual and bruitish and how hast thou deceived thousands of souls Wo is me for thee the Controversie of the Lord will be great with thee and you all and have taken their moneys for that which is not Bread and have made them spend their labour all the daies of their lives for that which doth not profit their immortal souls which wil be required at thine such blind guides hands as thou art May not the People State wch have given thee a great house 150 l. a year some say 200 l. a year truly say It is for nought for if people can never be made free from sin or get the victory over sin on this side the grave the contrary
I have proved by the Scripture of Truth is it not then plainly made manifest that thou hast taken the peoples mony for nought and deceived them and so hast clothed thy self with the fine of the wooll and thy wife her garments laced with silver and gold from the neck down to the foot the poor ready to perish with hunger and nakedness 1 Tim. 1.2 1 Tim. 2.9,10 lace upon lace some near as broad as four fingers which is not according to the ornaments of the holy women of old which were not laced with silver or gold or plaiting of the hair but covered with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price and hast fed thy self with the fat and neither thou nor any of you all have fed the poor and needy nor bound up that which is broken nor healed at the bottom that which was sick nor brought again that which was driven away but with fierce wrath and cruelty have ye ruled And now to cover thy wickedness and deceit thou Priest Whale sayest They must be cleansed from sin in Heaven which is also contrary to the Scripture which saith No unclean thing Idolaters nor Adulterers effeminate persons nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor covetous persons nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners or any that defiles or works abomination or that makes a lye shall inherit the kingdom of God or enter into that holy City and as the tree falls so it lies Eccl. 1.3 1 Cor. 6.9 Rev. 21.27 But saith Paul such were take notice some of you But they came to be washed cleansed and sanctified by the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of their God before ever they entered God's Kingdom which is joy righteousness and peace in the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.9 to the 11. Rom. 14.17 And now let that of God in you all judge Whether that Doctrine Priest Whale preached be according to the Scriptures and all people beware of them to wit such Teachers as Priest Whale and come out from amongst them lest ye partake of their plagues and consider your paths and ponder your waies and what you have benefitted in the things of God by following and learning of such Teachers and cease from them and mind that of God in you and as you come to mind and obey that it will lead you unto God the Father of Life and open your understandings and as you come to wait on the Lord it will reveal the true knowledge and glory of God in you in the face of Jesus Christ the key of which your Teachers have taken from you and caused you to err from the right way of the Lord even CHRIST the LIGHT who is the Way the Truth and the Life 2. The Principles and judging of Robert Car Baptist Pastor in Clonmell He affirmed the 10 th day of the 5 th month 1659 That the Scripture was the Rule of Life and Faith to Salvation And that the Scripture was the more sure word of Prophecie that Peter spake of and the Law Testimony And for us that are called Quakes to affirm that the Spirit of truth from God received was the true rule of life to salvation c. he said It was a fiction of the Devil Answ The true and everlasting Rule of life to Salvation and the Author of Faith which is Christ the holy Scripture is a true declaration of which is Christ the Eternal son of God the Spirit of life and truth which lighteth every one that cometh into the world that all men through him might believe Joh. 16.13 which whosoever loves and followes the Light of the son of God comes to receive the Spirit of Life and truth which leades into all truth and the Light and Spirit of truth is the Law and Testimony which was before the writings of Matthew Mark Luke and John for â—aith Isaiah Isa 8.26 To the Law and to the Testimony Now when Isaiah spake those words the Evangelists writings were not writen Jer. 32.40 Heb. 8.10 Ier. 31.33 Prov. 6 23 therefore the Law and Testimony is another thing and within man for saith God I wil make an everlasting Covenant with the house of I srael I wil put my Law and fear in their hearts and write it in their inward parts Now the Law is the Light which they that believe in follow come to receive the spirit of Life and truth as I said before and that is the Testimony of Jesus for the Testimony of Jesus saith John is the spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19.10 And this Spirit the Apostle did witness was come amongst them and bare witness to their Spirits that they were the sons of God for saith he because ye are sonnes God hath given forth the Spirit of his Son into your take notice hearts Gal. 4 6. And by this Spirit and Light they came to be led out of the lusts of the flesh and through the Cross of Christ knew a crucifying of it and that life in them that stood in outwards signes and things that perished in the using which Paul gloried not in neither desired to glory in any thing save the Cross of Christ for he knew and said Gal. 6.15 Circumcision though it was in its time serviceable and commanded of the Lord yet it availed them nothing yea he told them Gal. 5.2 If they were Circumcised Christ would profit them nothing But the new was to be accepted which was the onely work of the Spirit of the Lord through its eternal working and operation in their hearts circumcising of it and cleansing of it Gal. 5.6 whereby they who abides its working comes to receive the faith of God's Elect which works by love into the obedience to the Spirit of Truth and the sure word of Prophecie which is nigh them even in their hearts and mouths which divideth the evil motions and the evil words from the good and gives power against them as they do appear whereby all that come to obey and take heed unto that more sure Word come to know their sanctification and so the New Creature they come to know and the Mercy and Peace of God comes to be mustiplied in them and on them walking according to that Rule And Peter did not say the Writings of the Evangelists were that more sure Word than that they heard in the Mount which was the living Word of the Lord that abides for ever which by the Gospel was preached unto them and of this Living Word must all be born that ever come to know salvation which Word is in the heart and is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword even to the dividing of the joints and marrow soul and spirit and the thoughts and intents of the heart And this WORD David said hee had hid in his heart out of which came the Issues of life So Peter told them of another Word than the Words heard in the
Mount Read and compare these Scriptures The spiritual man compares spiritual things with spiritual 1 Pet. 1.23,24,25 2 Pet. 1.17 to 21. Joh. 1.1 Rev. 10.13 Rom. 10 6,7,8 Heb. 4.12 So they which put the Letter which killeth for the Rule of Life and Faith unto Salvation in stead of the Spirit which quickneth are in the if I may speak Robert Carrs words fictions of the Divel and out of the true Faith and Truth of Jesus and not guided by that holy Spirit which righteous Abel Enoch and Abraham were before the Scriptures were written and shall be for ever when Scripture shall be no more 3. The Principles of Edward Whale Priest of Waterford and Priest Millard of Passage near Waterford Each of them affirmed in the Pulpit in the Idol Temple of Waterford That that Light which we called Quakers bear testimony unto which Christ hath enlightened every man withall that comes into the world they say say the Priests they have a Light within them but how great is that darkness This they both affirmed before the people Answ Here ye Priests have brought your selvs under the WOE which call the true LIGHT which lighteth every one that cometh into the world great darkness for WO is to them that call Light darkness darkness Light Isa 5.20 for I am the Light of the world saith Christ and he bids them walk in the Light he that walketh in the Light stumbles not but he that walketh in the dark stumbles and knowes not where he goes because there is no Light in him for the Light of the wicked which rebel against the Light shall be put out I am come a Light into the world saith Chaist and he bids them walk in the Light for he that believes in the Light and followes it shall not walk or abide in darkness but shall have the Light of Life Jo. 8 12 and no other Light than Christ do we testify of which God said Isa 42.9 he would give for a Light to lighten the Gentiles and for a Covenant to the people and for salvation to the ends of the earth And Paul a true Minister of God Act. 26.18 was sent to turn from darkness to the Light and from Satan's power to the living God Rom. 9.18 19. And he told them what might be known of God was manifest in them And Elihu said if the wicked confess their sin God will deliver their soul from going down to the pit and their life shall see the Light and be enlightned again with the Light of the living Jo. 12.46 Job 18.5 cha 24. chap. 23.26 to the 31. And John a man sent of God came to bear testimony of the Light and said That was the true Light that lighted every one that comes into the world Jo. 1.9 So ye Priests and ye all who deny the Light that lighteth every one that comes into the world are found to preach another doctrine than Christ and his Apostles preached and so are not to be received into the house neither bid God speed for they that so do will partake of your plagues 2 Jo. 9,10,11 4. The Principles and Judgement of Captain Samuel Wade Baptist Teacher given under his hand as followeth I do believe those people called Quakers are under the highest delusion in the world c. in the magnifying the Light within and stands in opposition to Christ without and the Scriptures And the first rise of the Quakers was in London about the year 1647 as witness S. Wade Ans It is agreeable and according to the Scriptures to magnifie and exalt God in man and the Spirit in man and Christ the Light in man for saith the Apostle What may be known of God who is Light is manifest in man Rom. 1.18 1 Jo. 1.5 And Christ said I am the Light which is within except ye be reprobates and this Light shined in the dark heart of man but the darkness comprehended it not but the Lord now by his eternall power hath caused and commanded the Light to shine out of darkness and hath shined take notice in our hearts and hath given the true knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.5 chap. 13.5 Jo. 1.1 to 9. And the Scripture saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ in him he is none of his but if the Spirit of Christ be in you the body is dead and the Spirit is life because of righteâ—usness And this testimony I give for the Lord and his truth that the same Spirit of Light and Truth that raised Jesus from the grave is in us and by it hath God quickened and is quickning our mortall flesh even by his Spirit that dwelleth in us which is that mystery that hath been hâ—d since the long night of Apostacy these many generations even Christ in us the hope of Glory Col. 1.25,26,27 Rom. 8. ver 9.10.11 and God is a Spirit and all that ever come to worship God in truth must worship him with and in the Spirit of truth And therefore let that of God in all Judge whether it be delusion to be led and guided by the Spirit of truth or in opposition against Christ and the Scriptures to extol and magnifie the Light or Spirit within for saith Christ when he was with his Disciples if I go not away the Comforter will not come but If I go away I will send you the Comforter even the Spirit of truth which shall lead you and guide you into all truth And Paul said unto the Galatians because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son take notice into your hearts c. Jo. 16 13. Gal. 4.6 And therefore thou Samuel Wade and all you Professors of the world that talk of Christ in your fleshly wisedom which is from beneath and is sensuall and brutish your knowledge must perish and dye if ever the true Comsorter the Spirit of life and truth from God ye come to know or enjoy for that is but a knowing Christ in the flesh or flesh glorying in Christ but an enmity to the Cross of Christ and I can truly say as Paul did though I have known Christ in the flesh yet henceforth I desire to know him so no more To Gods witness in you all I speak which did never change or consent to sin unto which as your mindes come to be turned and by it to be lead and guided it will cause you to cease from your own words and to know the time to keep silent for a time of silence if ever ye come to minister from the Spirit of truth shall ye Baptists will ye nill ye and all Professors on the face of the earth come to know 1 Cor. 12.7 and so as in the measure of Gods Spirit which is given to every one of you to profit withall ye come to wait in the pure fear of the Lord that will be a bridle to your tongue and a limit to your
affirm in the fear of God we do not put any on works or duries according to the first Covenant for life and salvation for by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified But a measure of Gods Light Grace and Spirit of truth being first given freely to every man to it obedience is required which as I said before is a Cross to the will of man through which Cross is the power of God felt to the slaying of the enmity and the cleansing of the heart whereby the faith of Gods Elect comes to be received which works by love in obedience to what the Lord requires and so by the same power as Christ was raised from the grave comes the Creature to be quickened even his mortall body by the Spirit of Christ that dwells in him and so comes to be changed to walk in newness of Life through obedience to the Life of God in man for Christ himself learned obedience in the days when he was manifest in flesh and being made perfect through sufferings became the author of eternall salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.8,9 and so to press the Creature to obedience to the Light and Spirit of Life and Truth within it is not against Christ nor contrary to the Scripture nor a setting man to work for Life but to work in obedience to the Life received is according to the doctrine of Christ and is the beginning of the ground work of salvation But I must once more return to my present work to wit to the magnifying of the Light and anointing within for saith John when he writ to the Saints concerning those which would have seduced them from the Light and anointing he exhorted them to abide in that of God in them for saith he I have not writ unto you because ye know not the truth but because ye have known it that ye might abide in it Let that therefore abide mark in you which ye have heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning take notice shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Father and in the Son and the anointing which ye have received of him mark that abides in you and ye need not that any should teach you but as the same anoynting teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 Jo. 2.21 to 27. and so to magnifie the Light and Spirit within and walk in obedience to it is not Spirituall delusion nor against Christ nor in opposition to the Scripture which is largely proved by the Scriptures of truth But they that are not guided by the Light and Spirit of truth within are in the Spirituall delusion And whereas thou S. W. speaks of magnifying the Light within against Christ and in opposition to the Scriptures of truth Paul saith when he writ to the Philipians I would ye should understand Brethren that the things which have hapened unto me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel so that my bonds in Christ are manifest c. for I know that it shall turn to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ according to my expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always take notice of that so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body c. And there is not any one thing in all the whole Scripture more clear to be proved then the magnifying of Christ the Law Light and Spirit of Truth in man And as for the first Rise of us which scorners call Quakers which S. W. saith was in London about the year 47 it is no more true then his charging of us that the magnifying of the Light within stands in opposition to Christ and the Scripture But as for the eternall power of the Lord God of hosts which in righteousness hath been revealed and made manifest amongst us more then hath been of late ages through the long night of Apostacy by which proud flesh hath exceedingly quaked and trembled that was not first in London as S.W. dreameth but in the North of England as many faithful witnesses can testifie if required and the first that ever was known to give us that name of Quakers as I heard out of the mouth of a true faithfull witness of the Lord was a persecuting Justice in Darby Shire Gervas Bennet as I remember about the year 1652. yet the power of the Lord was witnessed before that time amongst our friends in the North. Yet that was not the first rise of the Quakers or Quaking which S. W. saith was in London which plainly manifesteth to all the Children of Light that Captain Wade is no Minister of Christ neither following him in the regeneration for they that follow Christ in their mouths is found no guile mark that neither do they speak a lye for quaking was thousands of years before that For saith Moses so dreadfull was thy presence that I did exceedingly quake and tremble Heb. 12.21 And Isaac which was before Moses hundreds if not thousands of years did witness quaking or trembling for when he heard the voice of Esau the cunning Hunter he exceedingly trembled Gen 27.33 And in the holy war in the days of old the Host of Israel and the Garison and the spoylers mark ye spoylers who make a prey and spoyl of the Lords servants and their outward substance a Day of horror and perplexity is coming on you and the spoylers also did quake and tremble and there was a great trembling and quaking in the Host in the field 1 Sam. 14.15 And David said his flesh did tremble he was afraid of the judgements of the Lord Psal 119.120 And Daniel that holy Prophet when he saw the Vision and heard the voice of the Lord stood trembling and a great quaking fell on them that stood by Dan 10.7 to the 11. And Habbakuck when he heard the Decree of the Lord against the wicked who built towns with blood and established Cities by iniquity and that gave drink to their neighbours till they were drunken and their nakedness seen c. and violence was done on mens blood and they taught lyes and trusted in dumb Idols take notice and their rejoicing was to devour the poor secretly for the which the man of God saw the Lord would be avenged of them in the day he would invade them with his troops or compass them about with his terrible army with displayed banners the which when the Prophet heard his belly trembled and his lips quivered rottenness entred into his bowelâ— he trembled that he might rest in that day of trouble such a man as saith Isaiah Isa 66.2 to the 5. hath the Lord regard unto which is of meek and humble Spirit that trembles at his Word Habak 2.8 to the end chap. 3. See thou S. W. and you all that despises
God in thee judge The matter is great weighty which concerneth everlasting salvation And why should it be thought an incredible thing That Christ should now be manifested in mortal flesh qnickening them that were even dead in sins and trespasses for verily I I have written no other thing concerning him or of the operation of his Eternal spirit then what in measure I have really not imaginarily seen and handled and felt of his work and glory for I dare not speak of that which the Lord hath not wrought in me and by me or to boast in other mens lines for all the world have a form of worship talking of Christs words and the Prophets and Apostles words but are out of their Life and Power Behold what headiness and high-mindedness treachery and betraying one another and will be yet far worse by evil men and seducers c. What incontinence men and women burning in their lusts one towards another What eating and drinking and rising up to play c and yet all covered with a Profession of God and Christ But how can any better fruits be expected when Pastors and Teachers tell People for Doctrines they cannot get victory over sin on this side the Grave which herein is plainly proved false and the everlasting way of Truth discovered which leads out of sin and gives power against sin on this side the Grave and to live pure and holy even as God is holy Think it not impossible with the Lord all things are possible And what I have here written is not to render any man odious or to discover their nakedness but for the bringing of Gods truth to Light for I having had something lying on me a long time to give forth amongst the Professors and Baptists who have any true desires after God and as in obedience to the movings of the Lord I passing amongst them seeing their PRACTISES and hearing their DOCTRINES it was now laid on me of the Lord to give it forth as an Answer thereunto which I have done for the clearing of my Conscience in tender love that all who love their souls may be warned while time is For the dispensation of the fulness of time is come nigh for the gathering together all in ONE even in Christ whether things in Heaven or things in Earth The Parable of the Field is fulfilled the Pearl is found Father Mother Husband or Wife House or Land all is forsaken if the Lord calls and followed even to the end of the earth for the gathering into the unity with the Father and the Son This is the onely desire of him whom the Lord hath called into his labour which seeketh your Eternal good With the measure of God's spirit try all things and let not any motion passe away that seeks truly after God that you may come to have an infallible testimony of the spirit of the Lord in you to lead you and guide you For he that believeth hath the witness in himself T. M. THE BAPTIST AND INDEPENDENT CHURCHES So called Set on Fire By a bright shining Light revealed from Heaven Their PASTORS and TEACHERS scorching in the flame of it gnashing and blaspheming God and his Tabernacle As their Principles rash and judging herein recorded do demonstrate Which are answered for the vindicating of Truth and the satisfying of the simple In which they are found to be children of them which killed the Just and have drunken of the Cup of Fornication who also must drink of the Cup of Indignation at the hand of the Lord. 1. EDward-Whale accounted an Independent Teacher Priest of Waterford affirmed That the godliest man that ever was on the earth did not get the victory over sin or lived free from sin on this side the Grave He did not except Christ This he affirmed in his Pulpit before the whole Congregation in the Idol-Temple formerly a Masse-House with a Cross on the top of it and another at the end of it on the 21. day of the 6th Month 1659. in the City of Waterford Answ He that is born of God doth not commit sin because Christ the Seed of God is in him and as he abides in him he cannot sin though he may be tempted to sin as Christ was yet not overcome with the temptation of sin but thorough Faith in Christ gets the victory over sin and temptations on this side the grave 1 Joh. 3.9 ch 5. ver 4. Sin is of the Devil and he that commits it and pleads for it is taken captive by the Devil at his will 1 Tim. 2.26 1 Joh. 3.5.8 And for this purpose Christ the eternal Son of God was made manifest to take away sin and to destroy sin Heb. 2.14,15 And forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood Christ himself also partaked of the same that thorough the death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who thorough fear were all their life time subject to bondage which Christ redeemed them from for saith the Apostle He was made to us wisdom and redemption c. 1 Cor. 3.50 And the Apostle did witness through Christ victory over sin on this side the grave For saith he O death where is thy sting O grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the the Law but take notice thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory thorough our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.54,55,56,57 And so Priest Whale hath preached another Doctrine then Christ or his Ministers and hath as it were blasphemously charged Christ his holy Prophets and Apostles with sin for he did not except them when he said The godlinst man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave And so by the holy Scriptures of this truth he is corrected and taken with a lye in his mouth and as it were denying the very purpose work and office of God in Christ which was to save from sin and thorough â—…ath to destroy sin and death and to take it away narling it to the cross c. And this testimony I give unto all the World for the Lord God and his truth That it is possible in and thorough CHRIST JESUS the light of the world that lighteth every one that comes into the World that all that it love and follow in the daily Cross I say That thorough Faith in the Blood of Christ who is our example whose steps many of us are following according to our measures who did not sin neither was guile found in his mouth c. it is possible to live free from sin and to live a pure righteous and holy life even perfect as he is perfect in this present World before this earthly Tabernacle go down to the grave and at this let none stumble but in the cool and calm spirit and in the Light and fear of God search the Scriptures for they testifie that
airy Spirit and so as your minds come to be staid in the measure of Gods Spirit and receive a word by the inspiration of the Almighty to declare for the edifying or building up the members of that body of which Christ is the head according as you receive mark it must be your own and onely your own not an others So ye are to minister as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God and then let him be accursed that should it seek to quench For if one had the tongues of men and Angels and could speak all the mysteries of Kingdome of God in that mind which is not guided by the Spirit of Truth not in the life of truth that is but death and hell talking of the same of wisedom but a stranger as to the enjoying of the thing and must be silent and peradventure death reigning over him and not come so far as to the receiving of the righteous Law of God where the Thunders Voices and Earthquakes are felt seen and heard for so dreadfull was thy presence saith Moses that I exceedingly quake and tremble for where the Law is not received within death reigns and hath dominion and the day not yet known that makes the strong man to bow and the keepers of the house to tremble For I came not to destroy the Law saith Christ but to fulfill it and Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or one tittle of the Law shall pass away till all be fulfilled So all come to the Light and follow the Light which to the life will lead the Law for to fulfill The Law is Light saith Solomon and David said I delight to do thy will O God mark thy Law is in my heart and the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedom his tongue talketh of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart Psal 37.30,31 Psal 40 8. Prov. 6.23 and Christ said I in them and thou in me that they all may be made perfect in one Jo 17.22,23 chap 16.13 and he that believeth on the Son of God 1 Jo. 5.10 hath the witness in himself And when John Peter wrote to the Churches concerning the seducers that would have seduced them from the anoynting of God within them they told them there were false Prophets amongst the people as there should be also amongst them who privily should bring in damnable heresies take notice ye that deny the Light and Spirit within even denying the Lord that bought them and many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil Spoken of I am the Way and the Truth saith Christ such were and are they that have mens persons in admiration because of advantage without naturall affection filthy dreamers which defile the flesh speaking evill of dignities despise dominion the higher power Christ the power of God unto whomall power in heaven earth is given who have eyes ful of adultery pleading animpossibility of being made free from sin on this side the grave living in pride and vanity lovivg pleasure eating and drinking and rising to play for which God slew twenty three thousand in one day 1 Cor. 10. and found in Cains way Core and Balaams way loving the wages of unrighteousness and cringing and bowing according to the fashions of the world which must pass away and worshiping and serving the Creature more than the Cteator Who is God blessed for ever Now in the Light of the son of God Examine your selves ye Baptists whether you are not guilty of these sins and tâ—ansgressing the doctrine and commands of Christ calling men master and are called master and swearing and pleading for it and seeking the favour and friendship of the world which is enmity against God and taking thought what to eat or what to drink and what to put on read Mat. 5.23 What then are you baptized unto And whereas some of you say That every one is not inlightned with saving Light Do you think it would stand with the justice of the Almighty seeing the Scripture hath concluded and testisteth That all men have sinned for to save some in sin and condemne others in sin I tell you nay therefore let every mouth which would so say be stopt before the impartiall God for he would not that any should perish for as all have sinned and come short of obedience to the spirit and grace of God in the first Adam in the fall the Lord is therefore calling all men every where to repentance and hath called some to repentance not to be repented of and hath given to every man a measure of his Spirit Light and Grace though it is not yet made manifest or known to every man and for the time of ignorance God winked and hath now sent forth and is sending his faithfull messengers which love not their lives to the death to the four quarters of the earth to preach his everlasting Gospell and repentance and remission of sins through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and to turn mens minds from vanities and dumb idols to the Light of the living which he hath enlightned them withall he that believes and receives their testimony which is Christ the truth and it follows shall be saved but he that receives not nor obeys shal be condemned the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and this will be the condemnation of the world to wit the Light in man which shews him his evill deeds of which the impartial God as I said before a measure hath given to every man on the face of the whole earth whom he would have to be saved and come to the knowledge and obedience of the truth this the witness of God in all consciences shal witness to be true Disobedience and Unbelief in Christ the Light within will be the cause of destruction to all that perish Neither do we as some imagine put creatures on works and duties according to the first Covenant for life and salvation The Law indeed saith do this and live but it is one thing to work for life c. and another thing to work or act in obedience to the life and power of God received For God hath first given a measure of his Spirit unto man before he requires ought of him and so his work is before him and his reward is with him even the presence of the Lord of Life which makes glad the hearts of the upright which follow him in the regeneration For saith David in the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people So in the Light which from the life of Christ doth come and up to the life of Christ it leads all that follow it Is the power in man but not of man It is the gift of God unto it is man required to be obedient and what ever the Lord requires of man is a Cross to man in the fall and contrary to the will of man So that I say and
Mokell which that day was preaching I being moved of the Lord to give my testimony against him which by good and fair words they were good words us they were spoken from the holy men of God but the deceiver taking them to cover his deceit thereby deceives the simple so after that in my conference with R. M. he said he had not an Infallible Spirit but was subject to erre so this makes good my testimony for the Lord that he spoke not from the mouth of the Lord but spoke the good words as I said before from an erring spirit for all that speak not from an infallible spirit or measure thereof speak from an erring spirit So let that of God in all Judge what Pastors Teachers these be Many other such like passages might I relate which would be too large to write neither do I write it out of prejudice or envy unto any God knows I lye not but it is only that all who are concerned therein may throughly search themselvs with that of God in them see what they have Profited in the things of God by such Pastors and Teachers and into what you are baptized for where the old man and its fruits are standing to wit Pride Lust Envy c. You are not come so far as John's Baptisme the true figure which was to repentance nor the answer of a good conscience by the resurrection of the Just but have need to be taught the first Principles of the true Christian Religion to wit turn to the Light of Christ in you which would lead you to repentance and from dead works c. and to go on to perfection Heb. 6.1.2 And into the daily Cross as I said afore to the crucifying of the old man and his deeds and so to know as Panl did a daily dying and baptized into the death of Christ buried with him in baptism that Like as Christ was raised by the Power and Glory of God the Father of Life from the Grave so to be raised and changed into newness of Life and so the fruits and effects of the Spirit of Truth will be brought forth which are meekness Long-suffering Brotherly kindness Gentleness Temperance Love Faith Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Now if these fruits and effects are brought forth by you Baptists let that of God in all Judge for Christ said false Prophets should come and ye shall know them by their fruits and now false Prophets and brutish Pastors are known by their fruits who cry out the Ordinances of Christ The Ordinances of Christ c. Even as the false Prophets did in the days of old The Temple of the Lord The Temple of Lord but mocked the messengers of the Lord God and despised his Words and killed and mis-used his Prophets against such Christ himself cryed and Prophesied the destruction of that Temple and said God his Father was a Spirit and in the Spirit and in the Truth would he be worshipped And told his Disciples when he was with them That except he did go away the Comforter would not come But if he did go away he would send the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which should lead and guide them into all Truth and shew them things to come 8 Therfore that very night he was betrayed as a Pledge of his Love knowing that his Disciples were but weak The Holy Ghost not being then given amongst them though he had done many glorious works and miracles amongst them he left them a remembrance of himself which was the figure of the Spirituall breaking of Bread as will be shewed I say that very night Christ was betrayed He took Bread and broke it and blessed it saying This is my Body which is broken for many c. And Likewise the Cup saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood c. which was to be done onely in remembrance of him saith the Apostle mark the Limitation of time till he come who blessed be the Lord many do witness to be come in great Power Glory and when his good Spirit was come unto the Apostles it was their great work to bring the Saints off from outward things that were seen Carnall Ordinances that perished in the using for Bread is seen and Wine is seen and Elementary Water is seen and they all are Carnall and perish in the using 2 Cor. 4.17.18 Col. 2.22 Therefore saith the Apostle If ye be dead with Christ why as though Living are ye Subject to Ordinances which all are to perish in the using after the Commandements of men threrefore he bid them beware Least any man spoyle them through Philosophy and vain deceit and traditions of men after the rud ments of the world and not after Christ Col. 2.8 to the end of the Chap. And bid them if they were risen with Christ to seek those things which were above Carnall Ordinances which perished in the using where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God c. And this testimony I give to all the world That you baptists and other that are found practising those ordinances Baptism and breaking Bread c. you are not to be parallelled or compared to the Saints and Apostles that did practise those things in their purity or first institution by Christ not from tradition or command of mans for whatever Christ or his Prophets or holy Apostles did practise as is recorded in the Scripture is no ground for any one now to practise except commanded or moved immediately by the same spirit that lead them unto it for they that so do will be found in the rudiments of the World walking in traditions although they may say They have eaten and drunken at the Table of the Lord and prophesied in his Name and done many wonders c. yet when God's righteous Witness comes to be raised in Power to judgement it will be said Who required those things at your hands c For since the long Night of Apostasie that Antichrist hath reigned through his subtil working hath gotten into all these outward Ordinances Practises and Forms that were practised by the Primitive Church but the Power he had not which did then even in the dayes of the Apostles begin to work with all Power Signs and lying Wonders in them that perish whom now by the second and glorious appearance of Christ in man is revealing the man of sin and Mystery of Iniquity and by the Power of his Spirit and brightness of his coming is destroying and consuming of him which hath a long time reigned in man the Temple of God And therefore ye Baptists you are found in the Traditions and Rudiments of the World for the Pope Jesuits and all his Fryars and all that they call Christendom are baptizing and breaking bread crying out The Ordinances of the Lord c. But the Spirit of Life from God which is eternal and not carnal nor seen with the carnal eye he I say that hath this spirit is come
to the end of all those shadows and knows himself as he abides in it a member of the body of which Christ is the the Head and a member of the true Church in God with the Saints in Light and so comes truly to say as the Apostles did We being many are one body and one bread I speak as to the wise in God to judge what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood the Life of Jesus Christ And the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ c. For all are partakers of that one Bread I am the Bread of Life saith Christ he that hath an ear to hear let him hear and he that eats thereof shall never dye So I say in this the day of God's eternal Power his children who meet together sitting in the heavenly high places waiting on the Lord in the measure of his spirit and in the Spirit of Truth are worshipping him they being many are one body and come to be partakers of that spiritual Bread of life which is broken amongst them by the Divine hand through the Power of the Lord so are come to the substance of the shadow or outward sign which was to be done in remembrance by the Disciples till he come c. but not commanded to be practised by succeeding Generations as a traditional rudiment the which did prefigure the spiritual communion of the Saints in the dispensation of times which is come for the gathering together all in one even in CHRIST Eph. 1.10 And those that were baptized unto Moses c. They also eat of this Spiritual Bread and drank of that Spiritual Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10.2.4 Therefore in the Power and Authority of the Spirit of the Lord I bear testimony That all the children of the Lord that are taught of him and in his righteousness in their measures are established are come to the end of all those shadows types and figures which stood in meats drinks and divers washings and such carnal Ordinances baptising with Water and breaking natural Bread c. Outward Offerings and sacrificing of Beasts c. are carnal and the Apostle said I Paul testifie unto you if you be circumcised Christ will profit you nothing What Scripture had the Apostle to prove that seeing there was a time Scripture required it I say although these Ordinances and commands were instituted by the Father and the Son they stood in time until he that was before time and for ever will remain when time shall be no more was manifest the second time c. even Christ in them the hope of glory and he that believes hath the witness of truth in himself and so is come in truth according to the Scriptures of truth to the end of those carnal Ordinances which were imposed on them take notice of the limitation of time until the time of Reformation Heb. 9.10,11 Rom. 10.4 9 And this testimony I give for the Lord's Truth his chosen ones whom he hath called to labour in his Vinyard that we called Quakers do not deny the Ordinance of God Christ to wit Baptism and breaking of bread c. as they stood in their time and place as is aforeshewed but for any to take them up by tradition or imitation according to the Doctrine of Pastor Hunt Baptist which said in the high place in their meeting at Kilkenny That none could follow Christ to be as perfect as he was Therefore saith he They must be as perfect as they can and follow him so well as they can and by imitation And so hee would make the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers to be of none effect by his imitation and traditions for his Doctrine and Ministry was for the perfecting of the Saints c. they preacht wisdom amongst them that were perfect and they laboured to present every man perfect in Christ and Epaphras prayed they might stand perfect And the Apostle said They were compleat in Christ and come to mount Sion and to an innumerable company of Angels and to the spirits of just men made perfect And Christ said Whosoever will be my Disciple he must take up his dayly Cross and follow me He doth not say Follow me as well you can c. but his Disciples said We have followed thee in the regeneration c. and they received the Light of Life through which they loved one another and said Herein was their love made perfect and therein was their boldness because even as he was mark the reason in the day of Judgement even so were they in the present and were and are perfect and so they witnessed his Command and Doctrine fulfilled which said Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect And for any as I said before to take up any Ordinance except moved of the Lord by imitation or tradition I manifestly affirm It is absolute Idolatry and Witchcraft drawing the minds of creatures into outward observations contrary to the law Testimony and that is the only Work of Antichrist crying Lo here lo there and Christ saith Go not forth to keepe the minds of creatures in outward things which perish in the using from the Light of the Son of God within which he hath enlightened every one that comes into the world withall that all men through him might believe and walk in the Light which would lead unto the one baptism to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire through which the heart comes to be purified and the Faith of God's elect comes to be received which gives the victory over the world and the mercy and peace from God comes abundantly to be multiplied in and on the new creature who is changed and raised to newness of life by the same power and glory that raised the Lord Jesus from the Grave So in the Light of the Son of God examine your selves ye Baptists whether you are come to know a real change of life and to be new creatures and old things past a way or passing away if not I testifie unto you in the Name of the most High God your baptism avails you nothing and you are not yet come to the true repentance not to be repented of And as sure as the Lord lives his just and righteous Judgement must you all come to feel revealed in you and upon that nature that hath disobeyed his Gospel through which Gods Righteousness comes to be revealed from Faith to Faith c. through which Revelation of his Righteous Judgements in flames of fire comes the creature to know the purging away the filth of the flesh and the consuming of the man of sin which hath a long time sate in the Temple of God and exalted himselfe above God even the mystery of iniquity comes to be revealed which hath a long time reigned through the Power of darkness which hath wrought
receive them even as Christ received him whom the Jews cast out and the Lord will bring them by a way they have not known in paths they have not trodden that which is high rough and crooked will the Lord bring low and make it straight and plain so that a fool shall not erre therein and when the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the God of Israel saith the Lord will not forsake them I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the Vallies c. Isa 41.17,18 And many of them which ye brutish Pastors Teachers have kept in bondage a Day when God's witness comes to be raised up in them in Power a swift witness will the Lord make them against you That is God's Truth unto you and in that day as I said before shall ye that have caused the simple to erre c. Who are scorching in the flame and ye know it not Gnashing and Blaspheming God and his Tabernacle who keep the Commands of Jesus according to the Law and Testimony to wit the Light within which is the Law and the Spirit of Jesus which is the Testimony by which his faithfull ones are moved and Guided which you say is the Spirit of the Devill woe is me for you cry unto the Lord he wil not hear you except ye speedily Repent to whom repentance is offered for you would none of his reproof neither did choose the pure fear of the Lord but have hated the true knowledge of the Lord and have chosen that wherein he delights not but are rebelling and rejecting the Counsell of the Lord doing evill continually before me saith the Lord. Therefore shal ye bow down to the slaughter and my servants whom ye despise shall eat abundantly and drink and be satisfied and sing for Joy of soul but you who are accounted as Embassadors of Peace shal weep and howl for vexation of Spirit and eat the fruit of your own doings and not be satisfied the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Thus I have in obedience to the movings of the Lord in tender Love to all your souls not shunned to declare and make manifest the way to everlasting salvation as one that am truly sensible of the state and want of Christ that all professors of the world are in I say unto every particular whose desires is after God and would walk in the good old way the way into it is plainly made known which is Jesus Christ the Light within which all that believe follow it will lead in the daily Cross of Christ which will slay the enmity in man which hath separated him from God by which man wil again come to an entrance into the everlasting inheritance to sit down in our Fathers House amongst those that are sanctified where is bread enough And whereas thou Wil. Lee hast said that I am absolutely damned Is not the cause of Damnation unbelief not believing in Christ the Light which Lighteth every one that comes into the world which Light is within and Spirit of Truth within and Christ the hope of Glory within except thou art a reprobate whether the cause of Judas's damnation was not because he betrayed the Just into the hands of murderers Therefore take heed Wil. Lee that the Judgement thou others have given unto the Innocent take heed it be not executed on your own pates for thou and the rest of you are in danger of it because ye have Judged before the time for because Judgement is not presently executed the misery of man is great that goes on in his wickedness take notice of that Wil. Lamb Pastor that boasted the Quakers had Judged thee long ago and it is not yet come to pass for with what measure you have meted to others will be meted to you again good weight pressed down and running over into your bosoms will men give unto you and in the day of your perplexity remember you were forewarned in the Life time of your Prosperity Written in Clonmell the 8 month 1659. when ye were at ease saying Peace and Safety And had been published abroad long ere this time but Satan hath hindred through keeping my body in bonds Neither is it now published to exasperate evill men against any of you Baptists in this day of Tryall that is come and yet more coming upon you But it is laid on me to set it forth that ye may see how ye have rejected the Truth and despised instruction for which you must feel the hand of God T. M. THE END