Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	true_a	worship_v	worshipper_n	5,566	5	12.1877	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52677	An account from the children of light (to them that askes) in several particulars why we have been kept from joyning to, or worshipping in those formes at law, and formes of worships, that have been imposed upon us against our consciences, in these late years, for denying whereof, we have so deeply suffered, with our lives, liberties, and estates. : Also what we owne as to those things, and can be obedient to for conscience sake, according to truth, and the practise of the church of Christ, and the Scriptures.	Naylor, James, 1617?-1660.; Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.	1660 (1660)	Wing N256; ESTC R27517	31,099	57

spoyle of our goods Now God having revealed his true worship to u● i● the light of Christ which is is in spi●it and truth and called us out of carnall things ●or which there is no Scripture we ●●nn● for Conscience sake worship any more therein Now neyther by the Spirit of Christ in us nor by letter of Scriptures without us nor by the example of all the holy men of God that hav● walked before us can we for Conscience sake owne nor uphold that for the true and spirituall worship of God in spirit and truth neither to repaire their house maintaine their Priest nor his Clarke as they would impose upon us Now some have said What would you have no Church Minister preaching praying nor none of this worship nor maintenance c. What would you have We say yes we own a Church ministring preaching praying and the maintenance that thereto belongs but we would have them to be of God and after his will in Christ Jesus and not after the will and traditions of men contrary both to God good men and the Scriptures of truth For we reade of a Church of Christ in Scriptures but it was in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ And we read of a ministry of Christ in Scripture made not of man neither by man but by the revelation of the Son of God in them And the Gospel or Ministry that they preached was not after man nor received of man neither was they taught it but by revelation of Jesus Chist And we read of a Maintenance they had which was to live of the Gospel And the spiritualls which they sowed freely without money or money-worth brought them forth fruits freely both in spirituall things and worship towards God and in carnall things towards their outward wants and as they planted so they eate And where the plant grew and the soule prospered till it could bring forth fruit freely there they need not to sue them and to take it by spoyle but of the world they looked for nought but persecution nor ever coveted or compelled any such thing from any creature no not where they had sowne and planted unlesse it grew in spirit and life to God they looked not to reape any thing but losse if that which they had sowne withered in the way therefore did they watch for the soule and not for tythes piggs and eggs and geese and sheaves c. but that the soule prospered towards God that was their prize And to make the Gospel without charge that was their reward if they did it freely and willingly but if not willingly then a necessitie was layd upon them and woe was their portion And these went on and prospered gathering Churches out of the world into God from place to place even where they was not sent for they went freely as they was moved of the holy Spirit And if anywhere they came was found worthy to receive them with them they might eate freely what was set before them where the Spirit was free but they did not seat themselves in a Towne or say this is my Parish and this is my hire so much a yeare but wandred to and fro having no certaine dwelling place nor was their bellyes any part of the bargain as to coming preaching staying or going as to any place And when they had gathered a Church into the Spirit and life of Christ Iesus which brought them to meete together then they did not Lord it over them in faith or conscience neither was they called their Masters but still servants for Christ sake nor did they get a glasse and set up and if any spoke in their time while they was speaking say they broke their peace and send them to prison but said all might prophesie that all might be edified and it was joy to them to heare any to speake by the Spirit either son or daughter and some might speake and some might judge of what was spoken And if any thing was revealed to him that stood by the first was to hold his peace and the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets Now this Church and its order we owne where ever we find it to be after God and in him but when we meete with a company of people that denyes all this And if any be moved in the Spirit eyther to speake while they are speaking or judge what they have spoken Then the teacher cryes away to prison with him and the people runs upon us all a heapes ready to pull us to pieces this we owne not nor doth Christ nor the Scriptures owne it to be his Church t●is is not the Spirit of the Prophets nor subject to the Prophets but the rude Spirit which tumul●ed upon the Apostles and Prophets of old So here is somewhat declared of the ministry we owne and his maintenance but of such a thing as a Clarke we read not in Scriptures neither name nor office And now let none thinke it strang● or an error in us to compare weigh and ●ry and prove things for we are christians have received the spirit that is of God that we may know the things that are given to us of God from things that are of the world And we may not receive every one for a Minister of Christ who tells us he is nor that for a Church that every one calls a Church nor that for worship which every one would impose upon us for things had need of trying and Spirits also and we hold fast that which is good Its true in the world there be many Churches and many heads Gods many and Lords many many faiths and many opinions but in Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 called to unity in all these things so 〈◊〉 we say with the Churches of Christ in ●cripture to us there is on● body one Spirit one 〈◊〉 one faith one baptisme one God and fathe● of all who is above all and through all and in us all And this one God in us is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit in truth so of us he requires truth and that we worship no other things nor bow to them though all men have not this faith but can follow any thing in their worship which is the fashion of the Nation where they live but this we are called out of And into that one worship we are come which is in spirit and truth for in that is the father worshipped and God hath sought us out of the many worships that are in the world in Spirit to worship him and Christ saith these are the true worshippers that so worship and ●nto this hath Christ led us and in it he ownes us in his Spirit and the Father ownes us and testifies to us in every enlightned conscience and in this we are come to the Spirits of just men and they owne us And the letter of Scriptures it ownes us also and in this we have peace

Conscience from dead works And will you not suffer him to reigne and governe therein hath not he quickned every living soule and created anew every free Spirit and would you take and keepe the kingdome therein out of his hand and rule there for another or your selves with force and cruelty Is not this he for whom the Sabbath was made and all the ordinances under heaven speakes his dominion And will you now read this and professe and withstand him in the Consciences of his tender people and deny him to rule in his Church alone have you not read what God hath said of him and his enemies in the second Psalme nay are not all the Scriptures his and testifie to him alone as head over all and ruler in all his Saints And as you have heard read and professed his dominion more then heathens and yet goe on to keepe it from him so to you is his first appear●nce to seeke his owne of you And if you persist to deny him it s you must drinke the Cup first that the heathens may heare and feare his name fr●m farre and his rising appeare to all the ends of the world that its he alone who is from everlasting at whose name every knee must bow and tongue confesse to the right of his inheritance And this further I lay before you people of this Nation who have long been crying for peace and settlement in the Nations and in your Religion and you cry out of so many divisions and so many religions I say to you all how should you be otherwise when you will not come to the one religion that is of God and was in the beginning with God and brought forth in time by Iesus Christ for the bringing all into God againe and reconciling all sorts of scattered people who are scattered in the imaginations and customes of carnall spirited men from God the one good thing into many things rudiments and traditions wherein you can neither be reconciled to God nor one to another for how is it like that ever that religion can reconcile to God which sets you a killing one another to uphold it are you like to obtaine peace in that Spirit which in your hearts is the cause of enmity and warre or obtaine unitie from that roote which hath thus scattered you in its fruits and off spring This is like the false Prophets of old who would bite with their teeth and cry peace Nay this is not the way of settlement or lasting peace THAT you must have in returning and making peace with the Spirit of Jesus you must kisse the Son and so make peace for this hath been seene concerning you of these Nations that if you owne not the light of Christ in spirit and truth that he may lead you out of these many things which are not of ●od and reconcile you to God in spirit and truth there to worship him alone who is a Spirit you will ere long be in bloud eyther amongst your selves one against another or else i● the bloud of the innocent Lambs of Chri●t which will not be for your peace with God for he that hath letted your peace and settlement is not yet taken away nor his power who is that old bloud-sucker and divider of Nations people and tongues abou● faith and religions and with which a fire hath often been kindled nor can his power be stopped but by the Spirit of the Lambe of God which takes away sin and breakes downe the wall of separation which is made about ordinances litterall ceremoniall and traditionall which can never cease but as men turne to the Spirit of the Lord Iesus That with the light of peace and truth you may be led into peace truth and unity that wrath may be done away and the ground thereof and you and your religion may be setled on the foundation of truth Christ Jesus the chiefe corner stone and not upon dayes times meats drinks and apparell and other things which will perish with the using and so will they that worship and not in the leadings of Christ alone and God will shake the Idolls of peoples minds and all the glory of flesh that he alone may be exalted in the earth as he is in heaven So if you will have peace you must come to the Son of peace and if you will have establishment you must come to the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles of God for I say many have been about to build a house for God to dwell in with carnall things and rudiments and this they would bind him to his people who is a Spirit and his house must be built of spirituall men and women who like living stones must grow up in his owne light and vertue into a holy temple in the Lord In which you must be builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. And this is Gods house built by Christ alone with that which is elect and precious not with gold and garments or observations of perishing things but with redeemed soules by the bloud of Iesus out of their vaine conversation and gathered into the Spirit of truth and life and power to worship God who is a Spirit in spirit truth and this is Gods house at this day which was his house in the Apostles dayes who dwells not in Temples made with hands as saith the Apostles nor with mens hands is worshipped but with him that 's poore in spirit and of a broken and contrite heart to him will I looke saith the Lord and there will I dwell And the bodyes of his holy people are the Temples of the living God as he hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 2 Cor. 6.16 And untill you come to this building of God in your selves God will not dwell with you in peace but all your buildings will he cōfound and not accept your sacrifice and then the Devill will enrage you against Gods house and spirituall building even his poore despised people them to destroy like Cain when his sacrifice was not accepted in his owne will But if you turne to the Lord who is that Spirit then will he cause his light to shine in your hearts to give you an heavenly understanding and he will put his Spirit in your inward parts and fill you with heavenly power and will let you see the lively Image of truth and peace and he will take away the vaile of the Covering that is spead over all Nations from which arises all their carnall comprehensions and carnall worships of the invisible spirituall God and he will also swallow up death in victory which now worketh in the Nations to kill one another about religion and worship without spirit and life so will you come to be taught his true worship who is a Spirit and become true worshippers in Spirit and so grow up in his knowledge and he will owne your worship whom as yet you have neither heard hi● voyce at any time nor seene his shape And Christ saith of such worshippers You worship you know not what but the true worshippers worship in faith and know what they worship and such the Father ● now seeking to worship him saith Christ Iesus John 4.22 23 24. And this is the thing oh England tha● concernes thy peace with thy God in thi● thy day who art Combred with many things about Christ and worship but neglects the one thing needfull for thy everlasting peace and establishment and to bring thee into that worship of Spirit withou● which God cannot accept thee and that religion which is pure and undefiled in the sight of God which will keepe thee unspotted in the world which till thou turn● to thou wilt be working against the Spirit of God through the darknesse of enmity that is in thee and he will certainly worke against thee except thou repent THE END J. N. R. H. 1 John 3.27 Isa. 5.6 2 Chro. 19.6 Isa. 6.9 Mat. 12.8 Heb. 2.10 Dan. 4.25 Acts 2.36 1 Tim. 6.15 Isa. 11.4 Isa. 40.11 Psal. 45.7 Jer. 23.5 6. Luk. 1.24 Isa. 6.3 2 Sam. 23.4 Isa. 32.1 2. Eccles. 10.16 17. Psal. 69.9 Lam. 3.14 Rev. 21.24 Isa. 5.21 Jer. 17.5 John 5.44 Isa. 30.1 Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.18 Mat. 17.5 2 Cor. 10.6 Isa. 28.7 Jere. 23. Amos 2.4 Amos 7.14 Jerem. 23. Isa. 1.9 Hester 3. Dan. 6. Dan. 3. Acts 5.28 29. John 16.2.3 2 Tim. 1.13 Job 32.21 22. James 2. Dan. 3.21 Lev. 18.30 Ier. 23.10 Mat. 5.34 Iames 5.12 Lev. 19.12 Mat. 5.34 Mat. 5. Isa. 59.4 Isa. 28.15 Jer. 9.3 4 5 Pro. 12.19.22 Pro. 29.12 Psal. 40.4 Deut. 19.16 17 18 19 20 1 Cor. 7.39 M●la 2.15 Ma●h. 19.6 M●th. 19.8 Mah. 19.4 5. Rom. 8.2 Nom. 13. Acts 4.19 2 C●r 1.12 1 Tim. 3.9 James 1.27 John 4.23 24. Dan. 4.17 Heb. 1.8 9. Isa. 11.1 2. 2 Cor. 4.5 2 Cor. 1.24 1 Pet. 5.3 2 Cor. 10.4 Eph. 6.12 1 Cor. 4.5 Mic. 3.10 Col. 1.18 Phil. 2.10 Rev. 17.14 John 6.27 Col. 1.18 Mat. 1.21 Phil. 2.13 1 Cor. 6.10 Rom. 14.23 Rom. 14.4 Mat. 7.12 1 Cor. 2.10 11. John 3.20 21. Rom. 7.6 1 Thes. 1.1 Gala. 1.16 Gal. 1.11.12 1 Cor. 9.14 1 Cor. ● 17 18. 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Cor. 14 29 30 31. 1 Cor. 2.12 1 John 4.1 1 Thes. 5.21 1 Cor. 8.5 6. 〈◊〉 4 5 6. Heb. 7. John 4.21 24. Acts 7.48 Acts 17.24 Jer. 10.2 3. Isa. 55.4 Luke 1.79 Heb. 1.6 Mica 3. Col. 2.14 15 16 17 20 21 22. Heb. 10.11 Isa. 66.2 Isa. 25.7 8. 2 Cor. 3.16 17 18. John 5 37. Luke 19 42· Luke 10.41 42. James 1.27

Land might have become as Sodom and not one have known the Lord nor his word And as it was in the dayes of the false Prophets so hath it been since the dayes of the false ministry for which many have suffered since the dayes of the Apostles for testifying against such as have erred in Spirit forme and doctrine from Christ Jesus and his Apostles And this hath been from the indwelling power of Christ in them and his precious light shining in their hearts and consciences that they have thus been preserved and enabled to beare the testimony of Christ against false worships and worshippers and so it is at this day in all who keepe a pure Conscience towards God in all his word and worship that his true and spirituall worship might not be wholly lost out of the world Also if at any time their Kings or Rulers forgot God or Kings arose who knew not God and then would lay upon them Laws and Commands which was not just an● lawfull for them to doe then by the light of Christ in a pure Conscience they was enabled to withstand it even unto death As that of Mordecai and the Jews who would rather all be destroyed then bow to Hammons pride at the Kings command though Englands people would have said this is but a civill thing and duty and good manners and the like yet Gods Law in their Conscience they preferred above all that the King commanded contrary thereto yea life and all would they lose rather then defile their Conscience towards God or deny his Law there though no Law without had forbidden such a thing Yet in other cases did they appeare true and subject to the King for Mordecai's truth saved the Kings life not long before though from man he had little reward for it Likewise might be Instanced that of Daniels praying contrary to the decrees of the King his Counsell of Presidents and Princes and that of the three children against the fierce Command of Nebuchadnezzar in denying to worship at his will and pleasure likewise that of the Apostles when their Rulers and Priests also charged them straitly not to preach any more their answer before authoritie was we ought to obey God rather then men yea it would be too long to tell how many godly men and women upon the account of a pure Conscience not onely hazarded their lives but lost life and all for the testimony of a tender Conscience as might be instanced But this may be said for all That if they would but have denyed the law of God in their conscience and conformed to the wills of men and their laws not o●e of all the Prophets Apostles or all the holy men of God need to have suffered death or spoyle So now in that any of us by the same spirit of Christ and from his light and law in our Consciences are moved to goe testifie against false Prophets false worships and declare the way of truth to all people against them to their face And if Rulers have been so opposite to this as to make laws against it and to command us to bow and worship at their wills which for Conscience sake towards God we could not for which we have suffered the spoyling of goods long and heavie imprisonments shamefull usings and losse of lives also I say in this we have a cloud of witnesses even the Lord Jesus our Captaine and the whole body of Martyrs who have all gone before us in the selfe same obedience of faith and Spirit and have suffered the same or such like things from Rulers that knew not God and teachers that knew not God in their dayes and all of them in their dayes was counted offenders hereticks or dispisers of Authority or some such reproach was cast upon them by their accusers and persecuters for obeying the law of their God in their Consciences whom the Rulers of the darknesse of this world have not known nor can know till they beleeve his light in their own Consciences So it is not for new things nor strange opinions which was never in the world before for which we suffer though to the world they seeme new and strange but for the very same workes of the same Spirit of light and truth which hath often appeared in a poore contemptible people and hath as often received the same measure from them who professe him in words but in workes deny him by such have we suffered who read and preach the same in words which this eternall Spirit in us now worketh And with such who with words garnish the sepulchres of those whom their fathers slew are we counted great offenders for being found in the same way and practise and in obedience to the same Spirit in that measure as we have received it So we have this added to the testimony of a good Conscience towards God and towards men that we suffer not for evill doing though as evill doers to wit the practise of holy men and the Scriptures of truth which will owne us herein and stand on our parts against all our adversaries and accusers And t●is will be proved so when we come to particulars wherein we differ from the wayes and worships of these present times and for which we are so much hated and persecuted And we know that it will not be found harmfull to the bodyes estates or well-being of any Christian neighbourhood nor of any other people in the nations to practise those things wherein we differ in civill and temporall things nor hurtful to the soules of any In the things wherein we differ in religious or spirituall matters from the severall opinions and formes of worships that are or have been set up in these nations As we shall make it plainly appeare if either Spirit of truth or Scripture of truth or things equall may but be received on our part Now we shall mention some particulars in which we differ for Conscience sake from some of the formes traditions and commands of the men of this present age and the powers that have ruled therein under whom we have therefore suffered as evill doers And first as to those things which some calls civill ANd indeed it may be wondered at by any moderate people that in a nation called Christians any man should suffer so much as to be called an offender for some of the things which I must mention upon this account especially they being layd upon us by the spirit of Christ as matter of conscience and by a people so highly pretending for liberty of Conscience As it hath been layd upon us by the Spirit of Christ to use the same single language to all sorts of people which the Scriptures uses and all the holy men of God therein have ever used that is to say thou to any one person and you to more then one A language sound and true to God and man which the Spirit of God first spoke and gave to man and of man

Commands That so under you we might be godly and quietly governed within and without But if yet it must be so that your distance be so great that with one heart we cannot obey you both then whether it is better to obey God or men with the light of God in your own consciences judge you therefore if we can but keepe peace with the one of you we chuse to keepe our everlasting peace with God and that saving saith that 's held in a pure Conscience And our prayers to the father of lights is for our whole body of Christs Church and every member thereof that our hearts may be kept single to him alone what ever we suffer from men for so doing Now to those things which some call religious THough in our selves we make no such distinction it being that our Consciences are to be exercised in the light and Spirit of Christ in all we doe towards God and towards man and every particular action towards men God requires that it be done as to him and to his glory and not in our own wills nor in mens wills nor after their wills manners and customes and commands but in the will of God alone revealed in Christ Jesus in Spirit and in his motion and leadings which if we misse in and serve eyther men or our selves therein and not God we are accountable to him as though we had erred in that which the world calls Religion therefore what ever we do to God in Christ to us is his service and pure religion and undefiled before God if we keepe but our conscience unspotted from the world though it be but in visiting a fatherless childe or a widdow in their affliction or any other thing which the Spirit of truth justice and mercy leads us to and requires of us But as the worship of God it selfe hath relation to him alone who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth betwixt him and every particular creature onely known in matter measure and manner time and place And knowing that the onely wise God who gives the kingdoms of the earth to whom he will yea and may set over them the basest of men as well as the most vertuous without controule if he please so to deale in judgement towards any Nation yet this hath he reserved as an eternall Scepter in the hand of Jesus our Lord and by an everlasting Covenant hath he sworne once for all concerning him Thou art a King for ever over the holy people and his throne is established in their consciences by a perpetuall decree to all generations therefore was it never known that ever he trusted or titled any earthly Prince with Lord over the faith and consciences of his owne people This was ever the S●ns prerogative above the Kings of the earth and he alone is to be Judge and Law-giver and correcter and leader in that invisible spirituall work of worship towards God for he onely knowes the way and none comes to the Father but by him It s true the Pope hath taken upon himselfe such authority under pretence of the Apostles even over the faith and consciences of people and with it hath shed much innocent bloud which lyes upon his seat and his line till God come to enquire for it and for that end hath set up inquisitions c. And others after and from that have erected Courts and Synods with their fines and prisons and tortures to force the faith and Consciences of people and they pretend the Apostles also for this worke But this we know that the Apostles was no such men nor used any such weapons but deny them therein both the Pope and they that are risen since And expressely deny to be Lords over Gods heritage or over their faith neither did they preach themselves Lords and Masters but Christ Jesus alone the Lord and themselves servants for Iesus sake as both their owne words practise doth testifie for saith Paul Not for that we have dominion over your faith And saith Peter Not for filthy lucre neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but as examples to the flock So we know that from Peter they had it not nor from Paul nor from any of the true Ministers of Christ for their weapons was not carnall but spirituall nor did they wrestle with flesh but with spirit so all they can get from the Apostles either in word or practise is this That if they be troubled with errors or profanenesse in their Churches Then if they have the Spirit and power of the Lord Iesus then to deliver such a one up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soule may be saved and body also in the day of the Lord And this is not to goales or gallowes or inquisitions or tortures or fires now had they this spirit and power they would know that which would convert in deed and truth and not make hypocrites or else kill them but the false Church having not these weapons nor this spirit and power is builded with oppression and upholden with bloud And in her are found the bloud of all the holy Martyrs of Jesus as saith the Scriptures yea even now is she drunke with bloud Revel. 18.24 17.6 So now this is the thing we say as to the worship of our God and to the order of it In all things it belongs to Christ Iesus our Lord and to him as sole King Lord thereof we cōmit our selves even the whole man soule and body as to all things of that nature And though there may ari●e power after power and seeke t● stop us of this liberty and freedome by acting force and violence upon our outward man yet are we free by birth in Christ Iesus and our inw●rd man they cannot bind nor can we ever while we abide in that see●e give up the right of Christ unto any of them but this we testifie in all we doe or suffer that the right is Christs over our Consciences and over our worships and to him alone we confesse before men and he hath the name in us And though for a time or times we yet suffer yet we know the end must come And the Lambe must take the kingdome and we know him that is true and faithfull whom the Father hath sealed and anoynted to be head of the ●hurch which is his body and to him must the Nations account And therefore we say to all the severall powers that comes upon us we may not deny the Lord in our Consciences to bow to or worship in what men shall set up or command but he that saves us dayly from our sins he shall leade us in our worship and to him we must give the obedience of faith who gives us faith and power by his Spirit to obey and who hath wrought all our workes in us and for us and by whose vertue

markets in the name of the Lord and by the Call of his holy Spirit How many hundreds have been imprisoned for preaching the everlasting Gospel of Jesus freely in Townes Temples streets and markets and from house to house which was the manner of Gods messengers in the name of his Son ever to doe and for which they suffered How many have had their cloaths rent off their backs and been shamefully beaten till they have been left for dead and afterward carried to prison for but asking a question or speaking a word in a Steplehouse while a man hath been speaking things doubtfull or not true though this was the way of old in which the servants of Christ walked and by which he gathered the Churches into God in Spirit and out of false worships And it was the manner of the Apostles to enter into Synagogues and places of worships both of Jewes and Gentiles on their Sabbath dayes and openly dispute there with them before their hearers and then whose hearts God touched lest their carnall worships and clave to Christ in spirit which is now become a greater offence to this generation then ever it was eyther to Jewes or Gentiles for I never read that simply for so disputing they either beat them or haled them to prison though they went sometimes three Sabbath dayes together into one Synagogue yea the fiery Jews who was set on mischiefe against that way yet this they could suffer in their Synagogue as is testified Acts 17.2 and saith the Scrip●ures this was his manner And in Acts●8 4 it is said he reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath day at Corinth where he continued a yeare and six months teaching the word of God among them vers. 11. Now hath not this been the great offence of these dayes yea I may say the chiefest crime which the servants of Jesus Christ hath suffered for in this age and none scarce eyther ruler or teacher is able to beare it once which they could beare a yeare and above among Iewes and heathens so that this way of Christ by which the Churches was gathered called in the Apostles time is become more abominable in the sight of those that cals themselves Christians then it was eyther to Iewes or heathens And when neither laws of Iewes Gentiles nor heathens that was made in times of popery would answer their wills against this then ha●e they made new Lawes of their owne against this practise which themselves read believe and preach and this we cannot owne that men should withstand that in workes which they professe in words and seeke to impose it upon others who serve God therein by the Spirit of Iesus and then call themselves Christians and say the Scriptures is their rule who cannot beare it in them that practise it in obedience to Christ Iesus And this is that we contend for in all our sufferings and actings in the simplicity of our hearts that our Lord and Master Iesus Christ may have his Prerogative Royall restored to him over his body the Church and every particular member thereof his Lordship and Mastership given to him alone of all his children from least to the greatest and that none else force it or require it from him but that his headship alone over his Church his leadings and the seate of his Iudgements in every redeemed soule and conscience ma● be restored to him and that he m●y have 〈◊〉 name and authority therein and that none may presume to take his authority to themselves while they give him faire words call him Lord Lord but neither doe his will in their own consciences nor suffer them that would This I say is that we seeke now at the hands of men that are called Christians which by his own bloud and by the precious suff●rings in many of his obedient servants of old he once purchased out of the hands of the old persecuters and gave it as inheritance to his seed after him to all generations to call him head and Lor● in the● and over them in all things pertaining to worship and conscience as the Scripture of truth is evident And this we say in his behalfe and in the power of his name where ever he sends us that though his adversary of old hath taken this his purchased possession from him and now sits where he ought not commandding in conscience over his subjects and creatures compelling and forceing to obey his traditions and law from a carnall precept or tradition of men yet we say the right is Christs alone and the whole kingdome of God in every conscience he hath purchased with his bloud and great sufferings of old therefore we say to all sorts of people looke to him and walke in his light all that looke to be saved for we say he is a great and mighty one who though he have been as one gone a far jorney for a time yet he is returned and hath seene how his deare servants have been entreated and his little children spoyled of their birth-right and cast out of their purchased possession and heavenly kingdome and now strangers rule over their tender consciences and s●●ke to defile them with adultery and Idolatry which is against their spirituall birth and breathing and himselfe robbed of his authoritie and Scepter of his everlasting Dominion for which he will tread nations in his wrath and people in his hot displeasure even for Z●on● sake the Citie of his glory and he will spoyle the spoyler and lead Captivity captive and so will he make way for his inheritance to come into their habitation of ●est And this we say to ●ll people GIVE VP feare God and gi●e glory to his Name for the houre of hi● Judgements is come and he will have dominion as of old and his purchased possession as in anc●ent dayes But especially to you who are called Christians and mention his name and call him Lord and profess the Scriptures in words which testifies of him his sufferings and his purchase through bloud and the eternall anoynting of the Father sworne unto him by an everlasting Covenant that he alone shall sit on the spirituall throne over the house of David for ever that he may with his spirituall leadings gather the out-casts of Israel and present to God all the precious among the people have you not read you professing Priests and Rulers that it is he alone that is the light of the world and that God hath given him for a witnesse to the people a leader and commander that its he that 's appointed for a light to them that sit in dakness and in the shadow of death to guide their feete in the way of peace did God ever set any at the right hand of power but he alone that he might make his foes his footstoole of whom he saith when he brings him into the world Let all the Angels of God worship him have you not read that it s he alone that purgeth the