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A44111 An answer to several material passages in a book published some time since by W.P. entituled, A brief examination and state of liberty spiritual, both with respect to persons in their private capacity, and in their church-society and communion, &c. by J.H. Hogg, John, fl. 1675-1698. 1691 (1691) Wing H2368; ESTC R13730 50,925 60

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Vnderstanding or the Day was not so far dawned upon them we shall not have determine because our Business is to consider what the Lord has done for us hath he not given us to believe that God's Holy Spirit is the only Guide into all Truth the Substance of all Types and Figures and the fulfiller of every addition for Righteousness-sake truely reconciling to God But if after we have seen or believed the Lord is that Spirit the Heir of all things that is Good and Serviceable for mans Souls Good that was either in the Law Prophets or in any External Order Form Rule or Shadowy thing if after we have believed all this we set up Ceremonial Circumstantial or shadowy Things as Terms of Communion and Essential to the Government of Christ then we err on one Hand as they did on the other they seemed to come short in not believing the thing to be done on this side the Grave c. And we err and come short in concluding the Work is done before it is which is a false Rest for as we have more Additions than we had in our Beginning and as every adding of outward Rules shews a Want of Christ's Government by his Holy Spirit therefore in the best Sense if these Rules are added to perfect and not only as an Expedient for the present Want and so only to be used till Christ come in Power to govern the Soul instead of helping they will certainly hinder For as there is no Rule that hath been is or ever shall be to perfect the Soul by bringing it to God but the Holy Spirit so it is certain there is no Government in this Case but that of Christ but it shall have an End From hence it is certain that no outward Rule as it concerns a Holy Conversation on the Worship of God is of any Service but until he come therefore outward Rules as above are set up by us as a standing Ordinance or but for a Time If but for a Time then their Service is but to steddy our Mind that so in the Vse of them we might daily wait for their fulfilling by the coming of Christ by his Holy Spirit But if Rules as above are made as a standing Ordinance then are these outward things over-valued and whilst over-valued we cannot know Christ the Emanuel come to fulfil them On this account it is that every latter Appearance of God is as Death to the former and this is our Case as well as any that did go before us for the Substance of those two great Dispensations of Law and Gospel must be known in every Man that comes truly through the Work of Regeneration into the Kingdom of God and therefore as the Natural Life is hard to be parted with where a better is not hoped for so where the Life of Religion stands in outward Things or Rules they are hard to be parted with while a better Life and Rule is not hoped for Can any Man serve two Masters which in our case we desire may be truly considered and for that end we offer as the Object of the Mind is so is the Mind whether it regard Conversation or the Worship of God for if the Object of the Mind be an outward Rule the Mind can go no further than that Rule for can any thing give forth more than it hath in it self therefore by outward Rules Man can go no further than a Legal Dispensation and if Mantakes up his Rest here his Dependance is no higher than a Covenant of Works and such cannot know self-slain and as such can never know boasting excluded they cannot know Salvation truly by the free Grace of God But if the Object of the Mind be God's Holy Spirit and truly follows it the Mind thereby will become wholly Spiritual wherein the old Things pass away and all becomes new both as to outward things and also to heavenly things Here the Tree is made Good and its Fruit Good Now the Root being Holy the Conversation is Holy for as is the Fountain so is the Stream what was difficult before is now easie and what seemed harsh before is now pleasant for the Root of evil being cast out there remains nothing but Good Here the Peace on Earth and good Will is known to all Mankind we desire therefore that outward Things may not be over-valued for therein stand the uncharitableness that is amongst all that fear God for as the over-valuing outward things hinders from coming into Communion and Fellowship with God so it hinders the true Knowledge of the stirings of God in others for when the Appearance or Conversation must be measured by certain Rules it follows what is Terms of Communion or is accepted of God may not be accepted of Men we know where the Heart is purified the Mind made Holy by the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit this is terms of Communion or what is accepted of God from hence proceeds a Holy Conversation with a Confession to that Righteous Principle by which it is made such and therefore as this is not accepted with Men such are not born of God nor do they know that Holy City whose Gates stands open by Day for there is no Night there this lets all in that are Good but hinders what is not But all Cities but this as they have Day and Night so they know not what they do but shut their Gates as soon against the Good as the contrary That this great Evil may be avoided is all that is intended by what is here written and that as we began in the Spirit so we may wait to be perfected thereby that so as we have in any measure known him to have been our Alpha we may know him to be our Omega also for by no other way can the Deceiver be cast out as he takes up the Profession of the Truth Where the Term You is found in the following Discourse we intend the Author and those of his Mind whoever they are whether many or few And as the Term We is also used it may be understood in respect to those of the same Mind with the Author of this Boook There are several Faults committed by the Press in Letters Stops c. which the Reader is desired to amend in the Reading and in page 5. line 8. for Author read Apostle And pag. 49. lin 8. for uncountable read unaccountable AN ANSWER to a BOOK ENTITULED A Brief EXAMINATION c. AS to the Definition of Liberty spiritually explained Page the first we agree upon the matter But Page 2. after the asking of several Questions the Author comes to this result That there is some things left to our freedom and bounds it at this time to outward things of Life and Commerce as what I shall eat and when c. And then states this Question But doth not freedom extend farther than this For since God hath given me a manifestation of his Spirit to profit withall and that I have the gift
deceived by him in the likeness of the Truth at best for as the Rest is that which remains for the People of God so is there no state allotted men that have simply begun in Spirit to dwell in short of that because none safe but that the Rest is only by being in Christ the Travel is while he appears in us to fit us for himself to new create us for 't is the new Creature that only finds room in him Now the Enemy that fallen Angel can go with Man into every remove whilst man is fitting and preparing but into Christ he cannot come for in him he has no part upon which account 't is plain the difference is great betwixt our being in Christ and he only in us And as man must be made a new Creature before he can come into Christ so must he travel through the whole Mystery of Iniquity and in the last step of the Travel is the very height of the Mystery known and not before Here is the delivering of Isaac up indeed and the receiving of him again after another sort Here the Mystery is finished and Man's works ceaseth c. We know whilst the Hunger and Thirst remains for God's Kingdom in Man's Mind and Soul he cannot chuse but be sincere and then he must travel because the Hope stands before him and the sense of Eternal Life lives upon his Mind but if the value of that Heavenly Country fall in his Mind the Travel ceases and then if in any state short of the Rest 't is not God nor his Holy Spirit that bears Rule for where he rules there is Sincerity and where there is Sincerity there 's travel And as the Lord begets it so he has regard to the least measure of his own begeting and there the Enemy is chained and the Sin of the least Child is forgiven for his Name sake so that though the Enemy can go with the Creature he rules not but if the Travel of the Mind and Soul cease before the Rest is known let it be where it will as the Sincerity ceases it is the Enemy that rules and the more Knowledge revealed the greater is the Mystery of Iniquity and when this comes to pass as there is a false Rest set up so there is a great noise about outward things All was quiet before but now all in a Tumult not about essential but circumstantial or shadowy things It would not be so if we truly sought the Heavenly Country or rightly knew our Lives hid with Christ in God for if that was truly known first as to the Travel we should find work enough at Home and if the latter wherein our own Works ceaseth we should never think of establishing God's Kingdom by our Works But to leave this Digression and come again to the Matter As the likeness of Truth and Truth differ in the Ground so their Arguments do also differ Those plain and simple Arguments that will serve the Truth will do nothing for the other to help the likeness forward weighty Questions must be evaded or indeed agreeable to the Nature of the matter carried on something like Answer must be given to weighty Questions which in truth are none things that God has left unmeasured must be measured and a greater value set upon them than he ever set and what ought to be proved that it might be certain because where there wants Certainty there wants Truth must instead of being proved be taken for granted which begging of the Question is apparent throughout the whole Discourse as may be shewed in part as we proceed by which 't is plain to us and we hope will be to every considerate Reader that the plain tendency of the Paper was and is to bring in the likeness of Truth for the Truth by endeavouring a Conformity that 's more presumptive than real wherein things must be taken for granted because others say it and not because they that should receive them know they are true and that this Discourse levels at this Mark is plain to us and hopes will be to more if they consider the go-by to this weighty Question And this will be further confirmed when we consider the Difficulties that lye in the Question to be answered truly where Mens ways is not that of the Truth To this end consider the Question is fair and easily answered according to Truth then as his aim was to have asserted Truth he ought to have done it but 't is plain with respect to Truth and his Discourse he could do it neither way that is he could neither directly affirm or deny the Question For first had he affirmed the Question as he ought to have done that is to have fairly granted that where the gift of God is received to profit withall there all such ought to be left to act in the things of God as they are perswaded then had he spoyled his Discourse for he could not deny but those that he would conclude to be guided by others have received the gift of God to profit withall therefore as this would have been inconsistent with his Discourse 't is plain his way was not the way of Truth Again had he granted the Question as above he had not only spoyled his Discourse by asserting Truth but then he had asserted and stood by one of the Foundations Principles of our building and of every true building to wit Conviction and Perswasion And indeed without which as there can be no true buillding so can no true building stand where 't is discontinued this must needs have marred the Market of those whose cause he undertook that cannot be quiet about their Opinions till others of the same Communion are perswaded which ought and must be if Conviction or Perswasion must preceed Conformity By Opinions we mean such things as have not been from our beginning and which can never be proved essential things for they may tell us they are moved of God in the matter this will not do whilst we are sure that he hath left such things on purpose unmeasured that Men might agree therefore where Persons will press such things to dissatisfaction they raise themselves above the level of their Brethren and then of necessity there must be something of Lordship and Dominion exercised contrary to the Rule laid down by our Lord who said after those things the Gentiles seek but said it shall not be so among you he that will be the greatest let him be as him that serveth On this account they was to call no Man Doctor or Father that so their Dependence might not be on Men let their Abilities be what they will And thus as his Discourse could not bear the affirming truly this weighty Question because then must have granted Conviction so on the other hand he could not deny it for had he done that he must have been under an Obligation to have demonstrated how there could be a dependance on others in the things of God without
for she comes down from above ready prepared of God for all that is fit to enter therein Man's Work ceaseth here for he can add nothing to her Beauty and Perfection Martha's over Carefulness ends here and Mary's better part is enjoyed that can never be taken away and as Man's over-carefulness is over here so fear is at an end for as there is no Night here so her Gates stand open by Day for the good to enter therein whilst that which is not good cannot The true Church is here indeed but not yet referable to any Society with respect to outward Rules and therefore ought to be waited for by all Again he tells us Page 4. To plead being left to the Grace of God against Vnity is to abuse the very Plea c. Answer The drift of this Argument is like the rest to gain a presumptive dependance upon Men either for their greater number or for some external consideration or other without 〈◊〉 regard to Conviction or Perswasion 't is true to plead this against our Understanding is an abuse of the Plea and is little better than Heresie but none can be an Heretick that truly fears God therefore to plead this against this or that thing brought in by this or that Man or by this or that Assembly that we believe is wrong is so far from abusing the Plea that it may be a true using of it therefore before the Plea is proved abused he must prove the things brought in to concern the Essence of true Religion or those that bring them in to be infallible that so we may have something that is certain to depend on for as that is a-wanting Truth is to seek till this be done he doth nothing but beg the Question we are satisfied and that he knows it Page the 4th he saith I must say unto thee Friend what if thou wilt not be left unto the Grace and Spirit of God in thy self c. Answ We answer readily then such do the thing that is extreamly evil but on the other hand what if they are left with the Grace and Spirit of God which they may or at least some for any thing that he hath said What Care has he taken What Remedy has he provided that true liberty and freedom of Speech may be maintained Not a word of that which as it shews he has not asserted the Truth for that has no respect to Persons but allows equal liberty to all so it discovers him partially devoted in this business He cannot but know equal liberty is absolutely necessary in Truths Government as also the want of it hath ruined most of Christian Societies before us and as we have heretofore impeached the Building of others as not good where that was awanting allowing it at that time as a main Pillar of our Building if discontinued our Building that was true will not only fall down but then what is set up will be worse than what has been before us by how much we did begin better Again in the same Page he asketh If he may not exhort to the practice of what he is moved to press to the practice of c. If not he saith Thou art the Imposer by restraining me from my Christian liberty and not only so but away goeth Preaching and with it the Scripture that are both appointed of God for Exhortation R●proof and Instruction Answer We are as much for saving of the Scripture as he is and for saving of all that is good therefore we grant he may exhort to what he believes he is moved to press to the practice of and thus having agreed with him to save true liberty and all that is good we hope he will accord with us to shut all out that is not good therefore we say though we have granted this liberty as above it 's not our Duty to obey him because he says it but because we know or at least are perswaded that what he says is true for he may be mistaken and moved to what is wrong as well as to what is right for any thing that we know and the same that may be said to him is true to every one and all Men in the things of God Again in the same Page he Questions But are there not various Measures diversities of Gifts and several Offices in the Body To this he answers Yea and then questions But therefore are not the Members of one Mind and Judgment in common and universal Matters relating to the Church of God Answer There is not much doubt in this when truly understood but we are to mind that we be not deceived and imposed upon as to what is or ought to be accounted common and universal Matters By common and universal Matters we understand and we hope according to Truth that is what has been commonly and universally received and not new and novel things that have not been so received for all new things that have not been so received they must stay that bring them in whatever they are till they come in as the former did to wit by Conviction or at least by Perswasion before they can be truly said to be common and universal Matters and in the mean time observe this of Conviction and Perswasion preceding Conformity hath been a common and universal matter or thing because commonly and universally received among us as a great Truth we believing no true Building could be or stand without it therefore let us mind we leave not common and universal Matter and old Truths too for new Notions for if we must receive new things for common and universal Matters because some that bring them in call them so would have them so or at best believe they should be so we do not only go from this old received Truth Conviction and Perswasion the main Pillar of every true Building but then what is it that may not be obtruded This would bring us to rest upon Opinion and what is uncertain then what is more contrary to Truth and the whole tendency of his Discourse seems to this purpose on which account many excellent Truths are mis-applied Page the 5th he tells us What comes from the Light Life and Spirit in one is the same in Truth and Vnity to the rest as if it rise in themselves this is seen he saith in our Assemblies every day c. Answer The Design of this Argument is to gain a dependance upon the teachings of God by Instruments equal at least to the teaching of God immediately by his Spirit in our own Hearts but how plausible soever this is 't is not according to the Truth as 't is in Jesus for though there is no contrariety in the Spirit of God so no contradiction in the Spirit teaching being all for one and the same end to wit the good of Man by the Salvation of his Soul yet betwixt God's teaching by Instruments and teaching immediately by his Spirit in our own Hearts there is this distinction
or referred too all his work had been to no purpose grant that and no hopes of conforming before Conviction from hence 't is plain 't is Form and not Power and Life that is so strenuously endeavoured to be set up But the sense and consequence of his Argument sets Fellowship up instead of Truth for we can find no difference by his Argument betwixt saying They that go out of the Truth go out of the Light and they that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light but as the word Fellowship is set up for Truth we must inquire what must be understood by it for it cannot stand of it self Therefore to make it intelligible in the best sense we must joyn to it what he calls the Church and then that Church must relate to People and at last we judge it must relate to those Orders Rules and Forms that are set up by this Church for the difference begun there and therefore the Fellowship seems to stand there and then according to the Consequence of his reasoning in our Judgment his Position must be read thus or to this effect They that go out of Fellowship with this Church in these circumstantial or ceremonial things which she set up to be observed they go out of the Light that God dwells in Now if this be true the contrary Position is as true That they that walk in Fellowship with this Church in the things she sets up to be observed they abide in the Light that God dwells in Upon the whole 't is necessary to know whether all this be true or nay if not necessary a bare Conformity will serve and they that can believe this Doctrin have no more to do but to mind to keep in Fellowship with this Church in the things she set up to be observed and what may confirm such in it is his Position That they that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light for if this be certain the contrary is as certain That they that keep in Fellowship abide in the Light but if needful to know the truth of those things beyond a bare Conformity Belief or Report as most sure it is for if we must be led by this Church and she be wrong and that not known our Damage is irreparable but if she is right 't is as necessary to know that as it was the other otherwise we may be wrong whilst she may be right Now whether she is right or wrong can only be truly known by coming sincerely to the Spirit of Truth in our own Hearts and there waiting to know what is right and what is wrong for that way only can we be gathered into the Truth and kept out of what is wrong therefore we must affirm 't is absolutely necessary for every one to come to the Spirit of Truth for themselves for he that knoweth not the Truth in himself can never know it in another as he ought to know it nor can he value the Truth in another that doth not first love and value it in himself by which 't is plain 't is God that adds to the true Church and not Man though we do not deny any means that God may make use of but as they all direct to him so they all end in him for Righteousness sake to them that truly believe But to come to his Argument again which is that 't is easie to conclude That those that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light to which we say as easie as it is 't is not safe so to conclude upon this Argument the Word Fellowship being dubious and uncertain as above because those that did go out of Fellowship with the Apostles did go out of the Light therefore those that go out of Fellowship or differ with this or that Assembly in this or that ceremonial or shadowy thing go out of the Light is no good Argument being still but a begging of the Question what is this but to over-value our selves and bear witness of our selves as others before us have done endeavouring to set our Post by the Apostles which we cannot And if we could the work would not follow God hath designed which is to go forward but instead of that there would be a declining seeing 't is plain as the Apostle and these then were most eminent so there was a declining until the true Church did go into the Wilderness nor can the work succeed better whilst those that go before are to be relled on in the things of God or whilst they look for it betwixt the Apostles time and the Church going into the Wildernss the inquiry was what the Apostle did thinking by doing what they did to meet with the same Life and Power or at least by doing such things to find acceptance with God but when that was missed and Life could not be found nor Satisfaction in observing of outward things then was the true Church allured by the Lord into the Wilderness state wherein nothing could serve to satisfie the Immortal Soul but what came immediately from God and then such God visited by his Holy Spirit according to their state and his time and so from step to step till he came to us to whom we believe he hath appeared more clearly than to any since the Apostacy and as we have seen that Christ must be the beloved of the Soul before we could by his Holy Spirit be led out of the Wilderness so it must be a true dependance upon him that can only perfect that Work begun according to his own will and as we believe there is to be no end of the increase of his Government now begun we are to consider there is some alteration in the work it then decreased it must now increase and if it must increase we may well consider as God is Infinite and Eternal he hath still more Wisdom Power and Glory to reveal and as we think of this and consider that we are but come to the beginning of this glorious Day we should be so far from thinking our selves the greatest as we should think our selves the least for this only fits Men to know more this is that which makes the Elders low and little in their own eyes and then always ready to throw down their Crowns at the feet of Jesus let him appear when how and where he pleases Thus there must be a looking forward and not backward for the mind of Christ This hath yet never been truly known in any Reformation for instead of waiting truly upon him that stired in their minds and shewed them things that was true and did appear to them in the use of outward things whilst their mind was sincere to him we say instead of waiting upon him to compleat and fulfil those Additions that might be serviceable for a time they depended too much on outward Things and limited him by those Forms that he had appeared in and herein the Elders in every breaking forth of God since the Apostacy
the only guide into all Truth be discouraged so early and freedom of Speech taken away what may we think the next Age may do when we consider there was not yet any Christian Society but did at long run decline its Integrity in which danger we seem as well as any that did go before us And his own words to us seems to import as much for he brings the young convinced to be in most danger and for whom those requisite things seems mostly alledged to be serviceable is this because the Truth grows old that outward things are joyned with it to assist it nay sure then it must be because there seems a decrease and if the young convinced seems in this great danger whilst the old are living what must they do when they are gone beside if not an increase there will be a decrease Well since there is danger to go backward from the Truth in the Mind and Love of God in the Heart either into the World or into Form without Power and Life why should not liberty of Speech be allowed to all yea to such as think themselves the Church For if not suffered now because you think you are right they will not be allowed when there is need because they are wrong especially having your early Example to plead and thus may Truth 's Testimony suffer in the future by the cause which you now have given wherefore we think since you seem to make so much Povision for future time you ought in this more especially to have set Posterity a good President by your Moderation and Forbearance why may not you be cautioned to beware of Formality We would gladly have a satisfying reason for this while we consider all before us have failed ●●re and what can you say more in our day than others before us could in their time Have you received more then more is required Have you any thing but what you have received Must not the Roo● bear yo● and not you the Root Must particular Persons by our own Rule be humble and low and think others better than themselves and must not Churches as they relate to Assemb●●●● read in the same book for they are made of the same Men● Are they holier for being assembled or because the greater number then let them be more humble too We believe it is as much the duty of Assemblies as of Individuals for at best you know but in part and there is yet that to know which you do not and God is no more bound to many than he is to one as the Wind blows where it listeth so may God speak or appear by whom he pleases Pray let us know why Truth 's Testimonies may not be allowed and pass currant where the Life and Conversation is suitable is it because you are the greater number or because there is some among this greater number that is infallible and then have received the whole Counsel of God that nothing can be true but what such allow of and all must be so that they approve Not the first surely for Truth never prospered in the World while that was to be Truth concluded by the greater number besides 't is from hence that the Whore takes her power and strength so that it s not less than a scandal to speak of it in the case but if the latter we must confess 't is rare if true because without President or Example but on the contrary that many have pretended as high things and yet have been wrong is no news why then should not you fear that while you think you stand least you fall For we believe you cannot make it appear that any pretended such high things but they failed So that by all we can find you seem in more danger than safety and consequently more occasion to bear if not receive those Testimonies than reject them under the notion of loose Pleas. Perhaps you will say that those that use those Pleas are wrong and therefore the Testimonies are false and wrong as used against you but those that use them will tell you that they really concern you and that they are for your good to regard them and indeed are so for any thing that we can find that you have said or done but if some have been wrong must all be condemned for that Will that make you right We doubt not but you say they are wrong if so it must be manifest in their Lives and Conversation or not If manifest in their Lives and Conversations place your Judgment upon what is evil and spare not for there it will stand for we plead not for evil in any but for what is good but let that which is true live you know where the Heart believeth to Righteousness the Mouth must confess unto Salvation so where the Spirit of Truth is owned and known the guide into all Truth such may truly hold forth those Testimonies which belong unto it yea for those Testimonies of Truth ought to live as outward Monuments of it through all Generations But if no evil manifest in their Conversation nay perhaps instead of finding any evil there their Lives and Conversations may be as good as yours and such as adorns the Gospel against which Scripture saith there is no Law will you then make Laws against such as God has made none What will you do now Will you say they are still wrong though you have nothing against their Lives and Conversations nor yet against any principle or essential thing they hold and that because of that wrong those Testimonies of Truth which they use are wrong and false For he saith Page 9. That a saying may be false or true according to the subject or matter it is applied too but that we believe is a mistake for we think Truth 's Testimonies are not false because some may mis-apply them For instance this Testimony that the Spirit of Truth is guide into all Truth is always true however mis-applied to illustrate it in lower things as Meat Drink and Cloathing then what is more abused or mis-applied are they wrong or false because some abuse them No such matter no more do we think Truth 's Testimonies false because some abuse them Will you then abuse and discourage those Testimonies because you think those are wrong that use them though nothing that is immoral or evil in it self can be proved against them We think you cannot do this in the best sense but do evil that good may come of it and though that may be a Maxim in a false Church we believe 't is none in a true are they wrong still in your thought then 't is what you cannot right without doing wrong your selves Now if you cannot right a thing without doing wrong is it not your place to suffer Nay is it not your Duty And if the advice to the Church of Philadelphia was thought on in this case it might help to support However we know our Saviour overcame by suffering and
AN ANSWER TO Several Material Passages IN A BOOK Published some time since by W.P. ENTITULED A Brief Examination and State of Liberty spiritual both with respect to Persons in their private Capacity and in their Church-Society and Communion c. By J. H. London Printed in the Year 1691. THE PREFACE TO THE READER FRIENDS YOV being esteemed such as profess the Spirit of Truth the guide into all Truth having met with this Book Entituled A brief Examination and state of Liberty spiritual both with respect to Persons in their private Capacity and in their Church Society and Communion and finding the Author tells us his aim was to assert Truth detect Error and point at some Shoals and Sands that some have too boldly run upon c. Noting the great difference among Friends touching the latter we could do no less than give it a serious Perusal in which we found instead of asserting the Truth freely detecting Error fairly or pointing at any dangerous Sand or Shoal certainly the tendency of our Author's Discourse was rather to remove those true Marks we had then otherwise by endeavouring to bring in a Blind Obedience and an Implicit Faith to what he calls the Church which seems rather implied too than fairly set forth that we can find On this account considering how easie 't is for many on a Religious score to take things for granted from Persons valued on that account rather than give themselves the trouble of tryal by a true search according to the due weight of the Matter We say considering the danger of this we could do no less than take notice of several parts of the said Book desiring they may be well weighed and considered by such as believe the Spirit of Truth is that only guide into all Truth How far we was obliged to do this at present by an immediate Motion from God we shall not now determine nor Impose upon any for as we find the name of the Lord in this case is almost become as a Reproach being so often used of late to so little purpose so we would not administer further Occasion in that respect to those that are without to speak evil of the way of Truth because of some difference among such as profess it nor would we peremptorily impose upon our Brethren who professing the same Principles of Truth may pretend to the like Certainty for avoiding those things we chuse rather to commend wh●t we have to say to the witness of God in every mind that being the likeliest way to make room for Truth and as soft words are said to pacifie Wrath so are they most like to be heard at this time 'T is true we have delivered our Judgment plainly that the Tendency and Import of our Author's Discourse was and is to bring in blind Obedience c. which as it leads from the Truth so it is wrong in it self and as every wrong is managed knowingly or otherwise thro' some mistake if wrong is carried on knowingly 't is evil or wicked because designed but from this censure we may in Charity excuse our Author believing him both a better Man and more a Christian but if not designed it must be carried on and managed through some mistake and so we would have what is said in the following Discourse to be understood But then some may inquire how our Author could be mistaken being Master of such great Abilities to which we answer easily through the mysterious working of the Enemy in the likeness of Truth nor need this seem strange to any if they consider how many have been deceived thereby both great and small and some at times hurried into things grosly evil as killing their fellow Creatures and yet at the same time think they did God Service c. How much more easie is it for Persons to be deceived by the Enemy in things that appear like good The likeness of good and of Truth is that which the evil one takes up to keep his place and save his Life when he can keep no longer in the polluted State for being a Spirit he can turn into any likeness and through the over-valuing of outward thing 's on a Religious score has the Enemy slipped undiscovered into all Forms of Religion that have been in the World and thereby kept alive his Kingdom in the Wrath Enmity hard Speeches Hatred and Vncharitableness that have been kept up among the various Professors of it Therefore that great Mystery of Iniquity stands in the likeness of Truth for if there was nothing like Truth that is not Truth there could be no Vncharitableness among such as in any measure fear God for as then there would be nothing but good and Evil so such as loved the Good as they would deny the Evil they would own the good to the least degree of its appearance knowing that as the Root of all Evil was but one so the Root of all good was but one But now besides what is evil and good as coming from each respective Root there is a third thing as we may say that stands betwixt them The outward appearance resembles good to a great degree but the Root is of the same Nature with the Evil having only changed his appearance and though good may sometimes be witnessed here as there is any thing of Sincerity in the Mind yet the Root of Evil not being removed away the covering of the Soul in the best sense is but as the linnen and woolen Garment forbid to be worn under the Law On this account it is as needful to know the Enemy cast out of our Hearts as he appears like good as it was to know him cast out as he appeared as Evil for as where the latter is not known there wants the form of Truth so where the former is not witnessed there wants the power of it It is here that he deceives poor Man sitting as God in the Temple of God and therefore till he is cast out we cannot know our Names truly to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life In this is the Victory not only over Sin but over Satan for when he can keep no longer in the polluted State nor deceive by the likeness of good then can he deceive no more This we must hope and look for and the Turnings and overturnings in Profession of Religion since the stirring of God by his Spirit to Reformation do shew that he is on his way to reign whose Right it is a But to our Time this Likeness of Truth this Enemy as God sitting in the Temple of God c. hath not been cast out nor could in any Reformation because all-a-long some outward Ceremoniel or shadowy things was joyned with the Spirit of Truth as essential to Salvation True Religion and the Government of Christ But as the Enemy can go into any outward Form or Thing therefore he could not be cast forth whilst those outward Things were overvalued but whether such have acted against
or difference that the first is but to prepare the latter to perfect and as the latter is the highest Administration the Leader being only here that cannot be removed into a Corner so he is in that Administration the substance of all Types Figures and Shadows and the fulfiller of every Addition for Righteousness sake to them that truly believe in him therefore in a Holy Reverence to the Divine Being we say the teaching of God by his Spirit immediately in our own Hearts must have the preference if ever we be truly perfected and yet there is so much Truth in what our Author hath said that when fairly stated we are content it should be as a Rule to measure the whole Difference by And therefore we offer either all that do speak in our Assemblies or Meetings speak from the Light Life and Spirit or all do not if all do so speak set it out fairly and prove it that we may be satisfied but if all do not so speak which we take for granted then you must give us a certain rule to know who do so speak and who do not or otherwise you must leave us to receive or refuse according to the best of our understanding Observe we say you must either give us a rule as above or you must leave us free for there doth not appear any mean betwixt those two that can be certain To make the matter short we take it for granted that you can give no such Rule therefore we conclude we are left free in those things of God which when they do come from God's holy Spirit immediately there is no greater Authority for are then as the Oracles of God 'T is true all should speak thus but all do not there 's the doubt and the like doubt is every where where the Truth is concerned if not give us an infallible Rule to know that the Church as referred to this or that Assembly is infallible this is absolutely necessary if we must not act according to our Understanding for no less than what is infallible can keep in the Truth We take it for granted that you can give no such Rule and therefore conclude we are every where free where the Truth is concerned to act according to the best of our Understanding in the fear of God for the Truth is but one in all 't is not more because many say it nor less because one says it therefore we are as much bound to receive the Truth from one as from many and no more to regard many than one in this case wherefore it follows as we are not bound to receive from one Man what he saith is Truth when it agrees not with our Understanding we are not to receive it from many for it must agree with the Understanding or unto such as receives it it cannot be Truth Again Truth is to be received for its own value and not for the value of those that bring it in for if it were we were in equal hazard to miss it on both hands on the one by an over-value of Persons or else how could the Leaders of the People have caused to have err'd as they have done And on the other by an undervaluing when God chuseth the foolish Things of this World to confound the wise as he often doth and what is this for but that no Flesh should glory in his Presence Therefore upon this foot as above we conclude that Conviction or at least Perswasion must be freely allowed to preceed Conformity as well to keep down that over Greatness and Dominion poor Man by the Enemy's subtilty is subject to aspire at as also to keep every one in mind that they must know the Truth for themselves for others can never know it for them nay to speak plainly and properly Truth can only be received for its own value or it can never be received so that we may safely conclude where Conviction and Perswasion are disallowed that Government ceaseth to be true and is so far from being the Government of Truth as that it wants the likeness of it Page the 6th he saith They that walk in the Light have Fellowship one with another 1 John 1. whence he saith 'T is easie to conclude that those that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light c. Answer Every saying or Position hath only one other saying or Position that stands against it if therefore what is brought as the Antithesis differ from the direct opposite sense the Work that follows or what is builded upon it cannot be true Now this Position that they that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light he brings as the true Antithesis to this Position of Scripture quoted 1 John 1. or he doth not so bring it if he doth not bring it as true he deceivs or abuses his Reader but if he do bring it as the true Antithesis he is mistaken for this is not that true Position that stands against this Scripture for if it was then what stands against this Position would directly be that Scripture at least in a true sense for opposites remain as fixt in their sense as the East doth from the West Therefore we need go no farther for a Proof of the Truth of the Work than to take that Position that stands against his for if it be that Scripture in a true sense the work is true but if it prove another thing then may we see the cunning that is in daubing as well as something of that ground of the false reasoning that is among the Children of Men. To try the matter his Position is that they that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light Now that saying that stands against this must be that they that keep in Fellowship abide in the Light this is not that Scripture 1 John 1. but another thing differing materially from it that Scripture is If we walk in the Light as God is in the Light then have we Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Here the ground and cause of true Fellowship is a walking in the Light and the proof that the work is true is the witness in a Man 's own mind by the cleansing from all sin without this Fellowship is ineffectual but where this is such is safe let what will come and as this is the beginning and ground of Fellowship with God 't is the ground of Fellowship with those that is born of God but his Position that those that go out of Fellowship go out of the Light make Fellowship with Men for so it must be understood at last or 't is un-intelligible to be the ground of Fellowship with God or of walking in the Light as God is in the Light which is the same thing and as for the Proof that the work is true to wit the cleansing from all sin not a word of that should the witness in a Man's self been spoken on