truely say as we are faithfull that we are partakers of the divine nature which worketh and leadeth us unto the righteousnes of God and out of the Fall and out of the Curse into the Son-ship to receive the spirit of adoption and so we are made members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Ephes 5.30 and is not ashamed of the Doctrine of the Apostle Ephes 2.5.6 mark thou that denyes perfection and equallity with Christ shall the members deny the head oh horrible if this be thy Knowledge no wonder if thou rage with thy naturall light for spirituall light thou art ignorant of which was the Apostles message 1 Iohn 1.5 Acts 26.18 which message is trampled under Foot by you that hath your Logicke but that any thing which is of the flesh or corrupt will of man is equall with God that we deny and so is cleare from horrible blasphemy Pr. Thou tells me I call Divine light naturall but if this be thy Divine light I must tell thee I call it not naturall light but Diabolicall delusion even the glowings of Satan transforming himselfe into an Angell of light Ans I have told thee the truth though thou call it what thou will and seeing thou art given over to beleeve lyes and not onely so but a maintainer of that worke thy selfe therefore thou calls light darknesse and darknesse light And if thou call that Diabolicall delusion which I call Divine light I must tell thee thou art a blasphemer wrest and twine what way thou can for I call no other light the Divine light but that spoken of Luke 2.31 Iohn 1.9 3.20 5.35 8.12 12.36.46 Acts 26.18 Ephes 5.13 consider this thou that would put out the Sun and have all to walke in the light of thy and your flame which by your falne wisome is invented or kindled thou that hates this light which we own is in darknesse and so in Diabolicall delusion acted by the spirit of Satan in the transfiguration having a name of that which you are not to wit the Ministers of Christ for you are found in Kains Corahs and Balaams way in envie resifting the spirit gainsaying the truth loving the wages of unrighteousnes pleading for fin and imperfection and so no Ministers of Jesus Christ but of Anti-christ For the Minister of Jesus Christ said If we walke in the light as he is in the light then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sins mark if we dwell or walke in the light 1 John 1.7 the light gives the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 4.6 the light is Christ Iesus John 8.12 12.36 46. and Christ is the power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 and the power of God in Divine 2 Pet. 1.3 by which Divine power we are made partakers of the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 which nature being enjoyed leads into an equallity with Christ according to measure in the regeneration So man let thine own weapons turn edge against thee Pr. But because you own not the Scripture to be the Word of God you are not afraid to abuse them and misapply them at your pleasure both in this particular and all other that Satan suggests unto you Ans The Scriptures we own to be what they are to wit the Words of God Deut. 11.18 c. 12.18 c 17.9 Prov. 30.6 Isay 31.2 Iâ—r 44.28 Micah 2.7 9. and a testification 10.5 39. a Declaration Luke 1.1 a Treatise Acts 1.1 and the words of Christ Marth 24.35 Marke 8.38 Luke 4.22 Iohn 8.47 1 Tim. 6.3 Rev. 1.3 and these words we own which was inspired by the spirit of life Into the Saints to be a Declaration of the word of life which is the Word of God and what art thou that thou would have us to pervert the Scriptures thou shews thy selfe ignorant of the Word of the Lord which would have the Scriptures to be the Word of the Lord contrary to these Scriptures Gen 15.1 Num. 22.18 Dout. 30.14.1 Sam. 3.1 Psal 33.6 107.10 119.89 Ier. 2.1 7.1 33.1 Ezek. 1.3 .6.1 7.1 Deu. 9.2 Ier. 23.29 Iohn 1.1 14 the World sanctifieth 1 Tim. 4.5 it is called his or him Heb. 4.12.13 see Heb. 11.3 Iames 1.18 at 22.1 Pet. 1.23.25 Rev. 19.13 mark the a of Pet. 3.5.6.7 oh yee Priests and others who calls the Scriptures the Word of God here you are found the abusers and misâ—applyars of the Scriptures I refer the Reader to these places above cited if it be not so and thâ— suggestions of Satan to be in the Pharisaicall grave like Ministers of this and other nations who thus perverts the Scriptures calling the Scripture that which they call not themselves but testifieth against as is proved So Simon Atkinsou thou art caught in the net that thou hast layd for others and the day is over thee and you all Pr. As for further instance how ignorantly impudently c. hast thou wrested the words of the Prophets Christ and of his Apostles to make odious his most faithfull pious painfull and profitable Ministers that rule well and labours in the word and doctrine who are therefore of men to be counted worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 upon whom thou would powre double contempt and disgrace for their labour Ans It s well that these Scriptures and your practises is both apparant we shall lay the one to the other and the Reader shall judge if he will whether I have wiested the words of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles by applying the Priests practice to them yea or my Reader mind these Scriptures I say 56.9.10.11 Ier. 5 30.31 Ezek. 34. to the end Hos 6.9 Micah 3.11 Mat. 23. from 4 to the end 2 Tim. 3.1 to the 10. ver 2 Pet. 1.2.3 14.15 17. Inde 11. and now deale honestly with these places and see it the Priests of our times be not in the same steps And where as thou saith it is to make you odious I say I would you were discovered to all then would your odiousnesse appear to them as well as it doth to us and your lambe-like discipline they would also see to be of no profit but for your own bellies and your faithsulnesse and painfulnesse for that end For which end you strive to keep people from the new Covenant Fleb 8.9.10.11 and from the light that giveth the Knowledge of God 2 Cor. 4.6.7 and from the anoynting within 1 Iohn 2.27 I say you keep people from the Kingdome of God within them Luke 17.21 in the dregs of the old Covenant miked with a new name or shadow of Christianity held in and by the coverous envious boasting principle And here you keep people in slavery to honour you own rules as lords over them You are not like the elders that was of old spoken of 1 Tim 5.17 they had not recorded that they had the tenth of mens increase as of goods and
and teachers so 〈◊〉 art found â—onle in that wherein thou seared me and now thou must take the papists for thy and your brethren and hearers and let them bâ—ate your testimony for they pay you Tythes or wages and you injoy their shâ—pps marke that Pr. 9. Ac. The â—arsts know that the great thing that must be done before they can â—â—duce amongst us is to make them reject their teachers and there fore they bond all their wits and endeavours to viâ—â—fie them and drow the hearts of the people from them end so do the Quakers Ans What the papists your owners doth it is nothing to us we deny them and your pastets and teachers who is thus found in discord First thou saith they call you no true Ministers but deceivers Secondly thou saith they own you for their pastors and teachers And now thou saith they strave to visâ—â—fie you and draw people form you Oh bottomles pit consasion no wonder if they mist or vapour darken the ayre and obscure the Sn but that we bend our wits and endeavours to debase you or villisie you contrary to truth and righteousnes I say that false for we lye in the will of God who is gathering people from all dumbe shepherds himselfe that they may be no more meat for them Eze. 34.10 so we rest in his counsell and in his promise â—zo 34.11.10.17 Iohn 10.16 so we rest in his counsell who treads the winepressâ— alone Isay 63.3.4.5.6 by whose power the refuge of lyars is violated and he hath a controversie with you all and is risen in righteous judgement to render a reward to the proud Psal 94.2 Pr. 10. Ac. The Papists main error consists in the contempt of the Soriptures they say they will not take it for the Word of God but on the authority of the Church and that it is but part of his Word and that Decrees and Constitutions of Popes and Counsels are of equall authority with it the Quakers say it s not the Word of God but onely a Declaration of the Word that was in them that gave it forth and that what themsâ—lves speak or write is from the same spirit therfore equal with it A. Here we deny both you and the papists who holds the Scripture to be the Word either in part or in whole and also we do deny both the Popes Decrees Constitutions Counsels and your divinations and practises to be equal with or agreeable either to the Scripture as it is or to the spirit that gave them forth and you that say they are the Word and they that say they are in part the Word of God I say unto you you are both Idolaters for the Scripture which you call the Word saith God was the Word John 1.1 and that Word became Flesh John 1.14 so you Priests is forming a whole idoll and the Papists but part of an idoll so you are found filling up the measure of your fathers greater idolaters then the paâ—ifâ—s And whereas thou saith the Quakers say it s but onely a Declaration I say the Evangelist saith also so Luke 1.1 and God is the Word who also is a spirit which did inspire his mind and will into his servants which they recorded for a restimony unto future ages which testimony is perverted wrested idolized and made a trade upon by the Parish-masters of England and else-where who is owned of the Papists for Pastors and Teachers according to S. A. his own consession but as touching the Word of God I have spoken largely to it in the 15 pag. so I say he that speaketh and writeth truth in sincerity speaketh and â—riteth from the spirit of truth viz. the spirit of God and so from the same spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and so as it is truth equall with the Scriptures of truth according to its measure Pr. 11. Ac. The Papists say it is but a dead letter so do the Quakers A. Thou said before that the papists owned you to be their pastors and teachers so you popish pastors and teachers we deny your testimony if you say that inke and paper in it selfe is living but we own it that it was the inspired words and will of God freely revealed and freely recorded by them to whom it was inspired by the moveings of the holy Ghost and so written freely for our learning but not to make a trade of as the Papists Bishops and Iesuites did of old after five or six or seven years learning as Prentises at some University and as the Parish masters doe now who after 5.6 or 7. years Prentises at some University or great Schoole gets a place or Parish in the Country and so much in the year and teaches there it may be all his life-time and will tell people that three parts of the world hath never heard of Christ and yet he abides in his Parish and once in seven dayes stands up in his shop where he is accompaniâ—d by some may be 40.50 or 60. years with some and more or lesse with most part and still they are like the crackling of Thornes under a pot unbridled unstable not so much of Christs Doctrine lived in and obeyed as yea nay in their communication or not to sweare at all so you Priests are found hatched in the Popes Nest but deeper in the mistery of witchcraft by sayrer painted profession Pr. 12. Ac. The Papists say it is not fit to be judge of controversies the Quakers say the touchstone of tryall is not the word without but the light within Ans I say I deny the Papists herein for the Scriptures is fit to judge of some controversies if it be held in the righteous part but I doe not say neither with the Papists that it is not fit nor with you popish pastors and teachers that it is the tryar of spirits so here I deny both the Papists and you And whereas thou salst We say the touchstone is not the Word without but the light within I say that God it light John 1.5 who fils Heaven and Earth with his presence let 23.24 and this is the word which we own which is like a sire and a hammar before whose eyes all things are naked and open Heb. 4.12.13 who is a discerner of the thoughts and searches the heart and tryes the reignes of people this is our touchstone the Word nigh in our mouthes and hearts Rom. 10 8. the ingrofied Word I am 1.21 and this is the light which shineth in our hearts which giveth us the knowledge of the glory of God 2 Cor. 4 6. and reproves and makes manifest all things Eph. 5.13 and thou that contemns the light within comtemns that which gave the Apostles knowledge 2 Cor. 4 6 for Christ was given for a light see the promise Isay 49.6 and also his own testimony Ioh. 8.12 12.46 and it was not a Christ without the Gentiles which was the hope of glory but Christ in them Col. 1.27 and this Christ is the
light and seed which bruiseth the head of the serpent within take notice of that and unto him all power is given and he hath said Got not forth Mat 14.16 Pr. 13. Ac. The Papists prefer the vulgar translations before the saws words that the spirit did indite the Scriptures â—â—s namely Hebrew and Greek and so doe the Quakers the English before these Ans We own all Tongues in their places but that the Scripture was given forth or indited by the spirit in Hebrew and Greek onely is false or there was at ler isalem of every Nation under Heaven and every man heard them speak in his own Language Act. 2.3.9 but I say that you or any other by the litterall Knowledge of these Tongues can open the Scriptures that we deny for as there is no respect of persons with God so there is no respect of Languages with him nor Tongues but in every nation he that feaâ—eth God and worketh righteousnes is accepted Acts 10 34 35 so seace your witchcraft from dawbing over the saints words with your Lodâ—ck who epride is in your songues your Tongues is waters the seat of the Whore Rev. 17 15. and because you would be counted wise and learned therefore you mingle your Tongues so your marchandize passes or currant amongst the blind yea I may say wilfully blind who if they will may see your ravenous inside out of which is powered envie railing lyes and slanders covetousneâ— and persecution at all that reads in this â—nd marks your reproaâ—hes may see And now I deny both the Papists and you who is both nursed up at Universiâ—ies so calâ—ed and learned in your Tongues as Pilate was Iohn 10.19 oâ— let Peter and John be witnes against you who was not learned and yet gave forth the Scripture so our native Tongue we own as châ—ese to us because it is the fist of God wereby we understand one another and we own all other in their places but we deny them that takes pride in any Tongue or mixes their dirty Logick with the Scripture for money Pâ— 14. Ac. If the Papists could but get down the regulusing authority of the Scriptures they would conclude they had won the field for they will not abide that all spirits be tâ—yed by the written word nor will the Quakers A. The Papists we deny and their indeavor herein and the Scriptures we own and their regall authority which is the power of God but all such as creep into houses to make a trade of the Scriptures abuseth the Scriptures authority and here ye Parish made â—s and Jesuite successors who coms from their Colleges into their Masse-houses are found in deavouring to tread the Regal or Kingly Authority of the Scripture under your seet so from that authority you are gone to the image of Queen Maâ—â—es Law by which the Jesuits was and you Priests is garded and by the same Law some of you have imprisoned to death as witnes Exeter Colchester Lancester Yorke and Durham Goales so the authority of the Scriptures viz. the power of God is denied by you which is sled to the power of nationall Laws and Magistrates to hold you by putting the letter for the word and tryall of spirits you your selves being ministers of the letter and yet whith the letter cannot see your selves in Cains Corahs and Balaâ—ms spirit and practises for which amongst the rest of your forceries the curse will overtake you exeâ—pt you repent And thou that would have the Scripture to be the tryar of spirits thou presumes to take the ballances out of the hand of God the Lord weighâ—th the spirits Pro 16 2. and the spirit searchâ—th all things 1 Cor. 2.10 and whatsoever maketh manifest is light Eph. 5.13 so that which searcheth weigheth and maketh manifest is the Lord his spirit and hâ— light and these three are one from whom we have â—eceiâ—ed the unction or anoâ—nting which teacheth of all thing 1 Iohn 2.27 they that tâ—yed the pirits was such as John exhorted to the anoynâ—ing for teaching from the teachings of man saith he Yereâ—d not that any mâ—n teâ—â—h you c 1 John 2 27 and they that were of God hâ—ard them that exâ—orâ—ed to the anoynting from the teachings of men of corrupt minds and this I testifie that they are guided by the spirit of Aâ—â— Christ who doth not own Christ the light come into thâ—iâ— flesh to destroy the works of the Devill and to give thee knowleâ—â—e of God and of Adoption and the hope of Glory and to give â—â—e knowledge of condemnation and righteousnes and of eaâ—◠〈◊〉 stration and how they are passed through And whereas hâ—â— art telling of aâ—titeen word â—o be the â—ryaâ— I say the Scripture we 〈◊〉 the addition â—â—e deny and shall have it upon thee to prove for â—â—ver and gold is pure in its nature but it may be mouâ—â—en into a Calfe so â—â—o the Scriptures is pure and true as they are but they may be and is abâ—sed by the builders of Babell now in the misâ—ery of their workâ—ng but the Loâ—d will no longer be mocked by such cunnâ—ng Carpenters but is risen and hath taken a view of all shadows by his light which is as the eye-lids of the Morning by which all buildings is made manifest to be upon the sand though the builders of all sorts have pretended to hew their stones from one Rock yet the Lord hath a controversie with you and by his power which is the authority of the Scriptures is the shaking all buildings at their very roots Pr. Now many more particulars could I instance were it necessary and not over tedious to prove your selves to be the Babylonesh Factors that have received the marke of the Beast in your hand though not in your fore-heads so fully yet as to discover you to all yet to us you are discovered plainely A These particulars which thou hast already instanced is sufficient for us to see thy blindnes for if thine eye had been open when thou searched my pâ—câ—e as thou said thou would thou would have bin ashamed to have thus falsly accused us with thy confusion which accusations is justly reforted to the puddle from whence they sprang for even the same spirit that called Christ mad and said he had a Devill the same spirit that called Paul a pestelont fellow and a mover of Sedition I say the same spirit in thee S. A. hath indeavoured to joyn us with the Papists thine own predecessors as is proved therefore the Romish Factors or Merchants you are found as well as Babylonish having received the mark of the Beast in your Fore-heads rushing forward in lyes and slanders as a horse into the battell so beast like pushing and wrastling with flesh and blood viz. with the persons of men plunging them into holes and dungeons even as strong beasts drives the weak so here you are found exereising the power of the first Beast persecuting the free ministration of the spirit the anoynter
the comforter for the Scribes and Pharisees was the first that with stood the Ministry of Christ and persecuted the saints and spoyled their goods Secondly the Papists getting the name of Christians they brought in Gentiles tythes and so made an image to the first beastly persecuting Ministre of the Seribes and Pharisees having get up their Tythes Easter reckonings Pâ—â—er-pence Smoake-pence and the like as in Henry Clarkes Beck before mentioned in Anthony Pearsons Book stiled the great case of Tyâ—hes may be seen for the which they persecuted them that with held them Thirdly the â—arish masters or out dayes having get a fairer forme is found filling up the measures of both Sâ—â—thes and Pharisees and the Papists persecuting and fighting themselves as hath been proved and as I can witnes from Richard Gilpyn of Grastooks who pushed me with his hand calling me simple foole and threathing me with prison and clapping by the heeles c. so to us you are made manifest and shall no more we are a rough garment to deceive or a black dyed Inke garment but the Lord will cut off the name of the Kimerims or the name of the Black-coats so look to it you sons of the Sorcerers for the lack of wages hath stopped and will stop the mouthes of the idol shepherds that calls the Scriptures the word of God and try all of spirits And as for not being fully descovered to all I would we were discovered to all as we are by the grace of God that all might know our innocency concerning those things whereof thou Acenseth us Pr. And the marke you have received is your allowance among them to buy and sell with them so Rev. 13.16.17 for now they doe trust you and maintains commerce with you sith they see you will not stick to sell their Rats-bane for bread with which you have poysoned many a sonle A. Here thou slanderous man may be proved an open lyar as hitherto thou hast been all along thy preamble for although thou hast indeavoured and bended thy Caine-like spirit to prove us consederate with the Papists yet thou cannot justly and therefore thy fallacy is turned home again and thou and all you which is owned by them for their pastors and teachers must own them in community or else be ashamed of taking wages of them and also of â—â—â—ading in their steps and trading with their Wares for they learned 5. or 6. or 7. years more or lesse at a Colledge or else-where and so doe you They sing Davids Psalmes Translated into Rime and Meeter by Iohn Hopkins and Thomas Sternhold or others and so doe you They sprinkled Infants and so doe you They Preached Funerall-Sermons and so doe you They had Mortuaries and so have you They took money for Marrying Churching of Women Burying the Dead and so doe you They stood up in the same Pulpits in which you stand and in the same Houses as may be proved which you ignorantly call the Church They rent the Scripture into Heads Doctrines Uses Points Motives c. and so doe you They halled to prison them that spoke to them in the time of their houres talke and so doe you They Imprisoned but three moneths but you Imprison six so here you are found in their steps as may be seen in Anthony Pearsons Book and in Henry Clarks Book spoken of before And whereas thou saith We are allowed trusted and they maintains comâ—â—eâ—ce or conversation c. with us here thou lyar is seen let their bloody persecution against us in France Spaine Italy and elsewhere beare testimony against thy slanderous Tongue which discovers the treasure of thy heart what it is And as for seâ—ing their Râ—tâ—-bane c. whereby we pâ—tson c. as above as thou saith I say the pâ—yson of Afâ—s is under the lips of lyars slanderers and false accusars in which work thou art found and thy Fellow levenars and all Phâ—â—iâ—â—aâ—call and Papisticall marchandize we abhor and all such unreasonable men as thou art the Smoake of thy inverted Fuell is seaâ—â—ered by the light of our Lord Jesus Christ in this Paper so pâ—ysoners you are by hypercrisie and it shall stand upon you in the day of the Lord for a name except thou repent of feeding poor people with leven And now to thy closure the scope of which I shall transcribe Pr. â—â—co fesse I have been more tedious thou â—â—â—ntended c. and doth hereby testifie against your present condition and after a first and now this second admonition as Hereticks Iâ—re act you c. Tit. 3.10 and will have no famâ—lear fellowship with such selfe condemned persons as you are not honour any of your Papers any more with answer â—â—r receive you to house c. least I should partake of your evill deeds c. A. Thou hast had a long travell in lyes and standerous accustions and the same that opened thy mouth in confusion and lyes is now closing or concluding thy paper with resolutions of the same nature but thou had more need to confesse and forsake thy folly and deceipt in which thou livest in the mistery as a Wolâ—e in a Sheeps Skin but it 's too hard for thee to wage war against the free ministration of the spirit of God for he will not be tyed to your forme nor confined to your houre-glasses or watches not will not at all be limited by this confused covetous Came-like gain-saying slanderous spirit which lodgeth and liveth in your invented traditionall will-worship which spirit in thee S. A. hath begun with a lye and continued thy Discourse with confused and unjust retortings and thy testimony against us is but such another aâ— theirs was who said this fellow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God c. Mat. â—6 60.61 and this I lay upon thee S. A. in the presence of the dreadfull God of Heaven and Earth that thou art a lyar a false accusar and a false witnesse against the innocent and guiltlesse reflecting that upon us which thou neither hast nor canst prove God forbid it were better for us to dye if it were so but we know our innoceney which will cleare us in the sight of God when these thy snares will setter thyne own fect And as for being Hereticks or obstinate in a false beliefe this is utterly false for we are willing to give account of our Faith and we doe appeale to God the Judge of all and to every mans conscience in his sight and to the testimonies of the saints viz. the Scriptures for any thing that we hold And thou S. A. that teacheth for the fleede and filthy lucre and is found thus lying and slandering hath nothing to doe with Titus For Titus did not make againe of people as thou dost see a Cor. 12.28 but thou art found a lyar falsly and enviously acousing the innocent So thou art not found in the spirit of godly admonition but in wrath and in the spirit of wilfull contempt against the
THE â—AMBS INNOCENCY DEFENDED Against Lyes and Slanders 〈◊〉 Answer to a Second Reply of a Priest who is â—…lled a Minister at Lazonby in Cumberland called Simon Atâ—…uson who hath shewed his Wolfish nature against those people â—…lled Quakers ranking them up with the Papists falsly accusing them â—…f those things which they utterly detest but his weapons is turned against himselfe by one of the Campe of the God of Israel whose â—ye it opened in measure by the inward search and Counsell of Gods â—pirit to see the winding paths of the crooked Serpent and to see the Wolfe under the covering of out-side Painted Profession and to see â—he mistery of Witchcraft working in the shadow of Reformation â—ranslated into a fairer forme springing from the old corrupt root â—nd to see the bickerings of the night-armie running on heaps now in the dawning of the day and the uncircumcised in Heart and Ears is Flying from the light and repâ—oofe of the same and from the Alarum of the Spirits Trumpet which is sounded within for the cutting downe of the man of sin and for the quenching of his Motions O Lord in thy light we see light and by it all things is made manifest and thou art worthy of all honour and besides thee there is not another for thou hast opened our eyes and unvailed our understandings 〈◊〉 the discovery of the skirts of the Whore Light is sowne for the righteous and gladnesse for the upright in heart Blessed is the people that know the joyfull sound they shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance Truely thy light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the Eyes to behold the Sun Psal 97.11 89. â—5 Eccles 11.7 Lift up thy selfe thou Judge of the Earth render a reward to the proud They gather themselves together against the soule of the righteous and condemne the Innocent blood Every day they wrest my words all their thoughts are against me for evill And thou hast made us a by-word among the Heathen and a shaking of the head amongst the people Psal 94 2. 21. 56.5 44.13 14. A false Witnesse shall not goe unpunished and he this speaketh lyes shall perish Prov 19.9 There is a voyce of the howling of the Shepherds for their glory is spoyled Zach. 11.3 Written in defence of the Truth as it is in Jesus by a Foole to the Wisdom of this World who according to measure hath tasted and obtained of the Wisdome of God whose bodily name is called Joseph Helling 1658. To the READER FRiend whosoever thou art that Reades this Dialogue or Conference ensaing I desire thy stability in an honest Consideration before thou judge that thy judgement may be without partiality in truth and sincerity for the end of my Writing is not for the laud of Men but for the taking off of Scandalls Therefore have I transcribed the Priests Second Reply to me First His Answers to my Paper and some of my quaeries Secondly His Considerations Thirdly His Accusations and Closure the scope of all which I have transcribed and answered having abridged my answers with as much brevity as I could conveniently being assaulted with such a wresting false-accusing Spirit which is not ashamed to write his forged lyes and false constructions in a Volume the scope of which is divided into parsells and answered in plainnesse and singlenesse of Heart for all seeking-sober-minded to judge with the seed and witnesse of God in the consciences of every one who reades them And Friend though thou may judge me rash or censorious because I render to a false Prophet his name and to an hireling his name and to a lyar his name and to the mistery of witcheraft in the shadow of Reformation its name and to the wolfish Ministry of anti-Christ is name I say though thou may judge me in thy will and reason to be rude in speech yet know thou that I am not rude in knowledge but I shall stand to vindicate the truth of what I have here layd downe in these ensuing Answers Also for brevity sake I have onely cited the chapter and the verses but not transcribed the summe of the words but hath left them to thy search and honest consideration And this is my desire That the ancient of dayes might be exalted above all the heads of Heresie And that peoples understandings might be opened that the Man of sinne might he made manifest in the mistery of his working mark and that the worship might be known which standeth out of all the limiting wills of Men and that all false Teachers might be discovered by their fruits and according to Scripture who in this age is found casting blocks in the way of innocency and is as a thorne hedge before the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus who for their Trade Marchandize and Bellies sake they set themselves in array in the unity of enmity against the light and teachings of Gods Spirit in Man one of which volunteers of Gog whose name is in the Title page S. A. hath uttered his folly as one casting a stone into the Ayre which falleth upon his own Head as thou may see Reader if thy Measure be just and Ballances equall He that answereth a mater before he heareth it it is solly and shame vnto him The Heart of the Righteous studieth to answer but the mouth of the wicked powreth out evill things Prov. 18.13 15.28 Joseph Helling The Lambs Innocency Desended against Lyes and Slanders in Answer to a second Reply of a Priest c. Simon Atkinson I Have received thy Paper wherein I find thee acted by Corahs spirit in Kains way but man know thou that it s neither lyes nor false accusations that I have layd upon thee far be it from me and the Lord doe so to me and more if I wrong thee or you as thou haft done me and my Brethren But in plainnesse and in truth I answer against thy sophistry for the defence of innocency and if there be any other end in me let it be accursed Priest Deluded soules The Scripture saith Pro. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the righteous even they both are abomination to the Lord. Answer Deceiver of soules Pro. 17.15 is fulfilled upon thee and you who through covetousnesse with fained words maks matchandise of soules for your dishonest gain and yet saith you are the Ministers of Christ here you are found justifying the wicked even a generation of persecuting Priests to be Christs Ministers Pr. Which abâ—minable ends is found in you and in all of your way more then in any generation of people in the world at this day that I know of Ans Here thou art sound ignorant of us and belyes us in saying that we justifie the wicked we are cleare from thine accusation and let all that knows any thing of our conversations beare us witnesse whether we countenance wickednesse in the least in any appearance so man be willing
pillaging poor people Houses Cavelleer-like and so is found as a Troupe of Robbers Hos 6.9 so the spirit of holines is not your clothing for you execed your Fore-Fathers the Scribes and Phasisees or the Lesuits in Queen Maries dayes for persecuting Here you are found to be filthy Dreamers speaking the Visions of your owne hearts studying invented for money your Church is your Shop your Sabbath is your Market day which makes me cry Oh miserable Reformers and Reformation for shame desist thy leven Pr. You are given up to beleeve lyes for that you received not the truth in the love of at nor liked to retain God in your Knowledge therefore are you given up to these strong Delusions Ans All lyes and lyaâ—s we doe deny who saith they are Ministers of Christ Iesus and yet makes a trade of the Letter and we have received the truth in the love of it which is the light and grace of God Iohn 8.12 Tit. 2.11 which teacheth us to turn away from all covetous hirelings who calls the Scripture their rule and the tryar of spirits but is neither guided by spirit nor Scripture I say we are taught to turn from such to the light which shines in our hearts and to the anoynting 2 Cor. 4.6 1 Iohn 2.26 by which we come to know God and to retain him in our Knowledge by whose power we are brought from darknesse deluders false Apostles and from all them who are murmurers complainers walking after their own lusts whose mouthes speaks great swelling words having mens persons in admiration because of advantage Iude 16. who serves not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies so S. A. thine accusation stands recorded against thy slefo Pr. Vunder which you lye as spectieles of Divine wrath which is come upon you as heretofore upon the Iowes for the like sins see 1 Thes 2.15.16 in which sad case we are forced to leave you not knowing whether ever the Lord will deliver you because you despise our help and sets light by our cousells and hates our instruction your hearts being utterly and desperately hardened Ans Reader thou may take notice how that the Apostle in this 1 Thes 2. who used not a cloake of covetonsnes ver 5. But laboured and travelled that he might not be chargoable ver 9. I say take notice how he declares against the Jews in the 15.16 v who kiled the Lord Iesus Christ and their own Prophets and forbad the Apostles to speake to the Goutiles They had their Synagogues to ateep into as the Priests of our time the Papists Masle-houses to creep into not labouring in travell as the Apostles did 1 Thes 2. 8.9.10.11 but despising them that doth Iewes-like 1 Thes 2. 15.16 but you are more subtile holding up the first Priest-hoods maintenance under the cloake of Gospel maintenance crying against them that speaks what they have received freely so the 1 Thes 2.15.16 is fulfilled amongst you that is called of men Masters stands praying in your Masle houses or Synagognes striving to draw from the spirits teachings c. but we are delivered from you and knows your voyces to be the voyces of strangers and the Lord hath brought us into that one Fould where he is the Shepherd alone from the mouthes of all ye dumbe shepherds which made a prey upon us and so your help we deny for you help into spirituall whoredom but not out And your counsell we deny its invented trash and you are found and proved lyars but he is our Counseller whose name is called Wonderfull Counsellor Isay 9.6 who is also our hope of glory Col. 1.26.27 who is our Instructer who faith learne of me Mat. 11.29 he hath turned unto us his pure Language by taking away out stony hearts for whose Instruction we utterly deny all your leven and you leveners who faith and doth not so S. A. thou and thy Fellows shall proceed no further undiscovered to the Children of Light and except you repent of your lewdnesse divine wrath will be the portion of your spirtuall Witcheraft wherein you keep people alwayes learning and you your selves alwayes pleading against perfection Oh ye Caterpillars and Grasse-hoppers how long will ye not cause to destroy the blossomes of the vine which increaseth dayly before your bloody devouring jawes and envious instigations Oh that ye would be warned Pr. And now to come to the conclusion of the Paper which contains some simple Quaries c. and why Quaries c. Ans The end of my quaering was and is for the clearing of the truth and try all of thy spirit whether patlent or perverse and not tempt thee with evill as thou hast enviously judged but that by slighty cunning might be made manifest as after will appear Pr. Thou shewes thy selfe without shame to doe the works of thy Father who was a tempter c. Mat. 22.17.18 19.3 c. Mar. 8.11 9.14 Luke 10.25 John 8.56 Ans Here thou hast eited some Scriptures unto which thou compares me for asking of thee a question Ah thou judge of evill thoughts the Scribes and Pharisees had better cause to call Christ a tempter then thou hath to call me for the knew from whence the Baptisms of John was better then they as Mat. 21.25 and whose Son he was better then they Mat. 22.45 although he asked them I say they mocked him and subtilly layd waite to intangle him but I have not quaeried of thee in that nature but for clearing of truth because of diversity of judgements so I deny them that sought to intangle Christ to be my fore-fathers although thy actions with thy Fellows cannot deny them to be your fore-fathers as is proved for innoceney will clears me and the Lord be judge between thee and me Pr. And now though I might send thee away as Christ did thy fore-fathers Mat. 21.25 chap. 22.45 c. yet because I know thee and the rest of thy generation to be lesse ingonuous and more impedent and apt to be lifted up upon light oceasion and least my total silence should afford any fuell for the fire of thy pride I shal shape thee such answers as may possibly have no more wisedome then thy Quaries though probably more truth then thou quaries after Ans I have not asked after the nature of the Scribes and Pharisees to intangle thee although thou hath intangled thy slefe but for the causes afore said have I quaered and thou art found the immetator of those who first consulted to lye Mat. 21.25.26.27 and then answered plainly ver 31. 41. as thou hast done â—s after will appeare But first thou hast made thy Kaine-like Jewish spirit manifest Christ Jesus asked many questions although he knew And the Apostle exhorted to give a reason of the hope that was in them but albeit thou pretend to be a Minister of Christ yet thou art found unwilling to answer but is lifted up in contempt and false accusations for I tell thee we know what
practises as the Reader may take notice in my Answers all along this Book to that of God in every Conscience who Reades it I appeale Pr. fourth con Caust thou prove or darest thou deny that Ministers in the Gosspel time were not seated in their own Churches whether in Countries Townes or Cities Act. 14.23 ch 20.28 Tit. 1 5. 1 Pet 5 1.2 Col. 1.17 all these places plainly speaboth the countrary Ans I doe not deny but that the Apostles ordained Elders in every Church and that such as was not greedy of filthy luere Tit. 1.7 1 Tim 3.3 but took the over sight not for silthy luere but of a ready mind 1 Pet. 5.1.2.3 and they watched for soules Heb. 13 17. and not for gain from their quarters as you Priests doe but that they were seated in Parishes the Popes division with their set stypends suing men at Law if they could not pay them the tenth of the increase of their goods and ground I say that of deny and all these Scriptures that thou hast cited will not prove such a thing as that the Eiders there spoken of received Tythes either Tews Tythes or Gentiles Tythes as tenth Stack tenth Cock tenth Lambe tenth Fleece tenth Geese tenth Pig and a Hen if one have but two and Smoake pence or Peter pence c. so S. A. thou and thy Fellows with your invented Elders must be forced to own the Pope to be the institutor and promulgator of your Gentiles Tythes and he is your example for these things and not the Apostles nor Elders of old and I refer the Reader to Henry Clarkes Book stiled a description of the Prophets Apostles and Ministers of Christ and also of them called Ministers in England c. there thou may take notice of the rise and foundation of your English Church order and your Ministers maintenance who is found deceitfull workers and enemies to the Crosse of Christ Pr. fifth con Were not the Apostles Evangelists and Prophets extraordinary Officers in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 and particularly Commissioned to Preach up and down at itinerants any where every where without limitation Mark 16.15 and doth not thy deniall of this argue grosse ignorance of the very Scripture letter Ans Here thou shews thine extravagant spirit confusedly Reader compare the fourth proposition and fifth together and see what contraditions is in them for in the fourth thou S. A. goes about to prove the Ministers setled in Churches whether in Countries Townes or Cities and now thou saith they are Commissioned to Preach any where every where without limitation and also that they are particularly Commissioned and were extraordinary Officers citing Marks 16 15 as though none but the eleven had had that commission let Paul Silas Timothy Barnabas and these Scriptures Acts 20.4.5.6 ch 13.1 ch 9.10 bear witnesse against thy falacy for Apostles Prophets and Evangelists with Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 is but ordinary members compacted in the body 1 Cor. 12.12 27.28 and ordinarily supplyeth that place in the body where they are placed as also doth the lesser members and one cannot say to another I have no need of thee 1 Cor. 12.21.22 c. so but ordinary Officers in the body for the edifying of the same and for the compleating and perfecting it so here thy deceipt is seen and thou not to be like unto them nor none of you Tythe-mongers who is at ease in the flesh and in your parishes with a fat benefice And whereas thou saith I deny the Apostles Evangelists and Prophets Call Commission Office and Ministry wâ—ch was without limitation here I charge thee in meeknes and in truth to be a lyar for I own the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists their call commission office and travell in their Ministry and I honour them with my soule whose record layes open such leveners as thou to be deceitfull workers and enemies to the Crosse of Christ transformed into the name of the Ministers of Christ but the nature ground commission and life of Christ his Apostles you want so take thy shameles accusations home again who hath thus belied me the Lord open thy eyes to see thy own folly Pr. sixth con Is there not a vast difference between taking hire and wages which the workman is worthy of Luke 10.7.1 Cor 9.7.10.15 1 Tim. 5.18 and teaching for hire and filthy lucre sake and if it be the duty of all that are taught in the Word to communicate to him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6 6. canst thou prove that it is not lawfull for them to take such things and if Tythes are a Legall ceremony and unlawfull under the Gospel A. Here the end of thy drut is seen Meats for the belly and the belly is for meat but God shall destroy both it and them 1 Cor. 6.13 but there is a great difference between that hire wages which the Apostles was commissioned to receive and taking of Gentile tythes which was never commanded in the Old or New Testament and also taking set stipends making bargains with Parishes suing and casting into prisons as is proved I say here is a vast difference thou hast cited Luke 10 1.1 Cor. 10 7. 10 15.1 Tim 5.8 for the defence of your hire Reader take notice of Luke 10.7 where Christ saith in the same house râ—mâ—in eating and drinking c. for the labourer is worthy of his hire also v 8. Eat such things as is set before you mark he doth not say Take Tythes and if they will not give you Tythes sue them at Law or cast them into prison as you priests doe but he said they might cate and drink with them that did receive them Luke 10.8 mind that they were not to bide where they were not received v 10. But the Priests of our time who calls themselves Ministers of Christ as men voyd of all reason compels all sorts of people to maintain them albeit they be not received and they that denyes them to Tythes let them be what they will in opinion or judgement in Law or prison they must goe Oh shamelesse men where is your comission or example in the New Testament for these things yea or in the Old Testament And whereas thou cites 1 Cor. 9 7. I say take notice Paul saith v. 4. have we not power to eat and to drink I mark he doth not say have we not power to take Tythes and although he had power to eat and to drink yet he used none of these things neither did he write that it should be done unto him see veâ—ses 15.16.17 18 19. And as for 1 Tim 5.18 I answer we shall not deprive the Oxe of his provender nor the labourer of his hire but shall communicate of our carnalls to them that sows spirituall and teaches in all good things as al 6.6 I say if any who labours in the Word and preaches freely as he hath received it come amongst us he shall have meat and