witnessed within by obeying the light that leads to the unction and into the anointing and so witnesse to the power and in it the life of faith hope and election predestination and sanctification by the teachings through the spirit in the opening of the mystery in the spirits ministration that leadeth to the unction and the anointing Col. 1.26 27 28. 1 Joh. 2.20 and 27. Lastly they that obeyed the light and followed the same according to the doctrine of Christ and the ministry in the spirit they were through the obedience thereunto brought out of darknesse into the marvellous light and knowledge of the glory and eternall excellency that though they had been in darknesse yet through their obedience to the truth through the spirit God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse did gloriously shine in their hearts and was manifested within to break down darknesse through their obedience to the truth the pure light led them to such a full attaintment or knowledge of God in the enjoyment thereof that they knew Gods glory and excellency revealed in them and they had the heavenly treasure within them and they were changed from glory to glory into the pure image or divine being in the glory and excellency so as by the spirit of the Lord and as by the obedience to the light and truth through the spirit they did attain to the assurance and knowledge of the divine glory and eternall excellency according to the working of the divine power of God to salvation and the knowledge thereof by and through Christ the true light others so may and no other way but they did so attain to the knowledge therefore harden not your hearts against the truth and take heed least there be not found in some of you that are resisters of the truth an evill heart of unbelief and so you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin Heb. 3.12 13. 2 Tim. 3.8 9. then wo and misery Hebrewes 10.25 26. Something to clear the truth from some lyes slanders and false reports that may occasionally be cast falsely upon it by Robert Gurdler post-master in Birmingham or any that he maketh use of to write print declare or carry about any lyes slanders and false reports against the truth held forth by those men that the world scornfully calleth Quakers For the said Robert Gurdler is full of envy against the truth held forth by the servants of the Lord and against them that are reproached under that name as aforesaid but such as are honest hearted will not be offended at his reports that knoweth what he is although formerly he have been a teacher amongst the water baptized people and now cause the truth by some to be evill spoken of by reason that he is so full of pride and vain glory and turned to the priests again and is given over to lyes and falsely doth slander and cause the innocent to be slandered but it were better that a a mill-stone were hanged about his neck then that he should offend one of the little ones that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ But I shall be short only let the honest hearted know that I write not this as an accusation against him nor against any but for the truthes sake that it may be kept clear and withall that they may know that this said Robert Gurdler doth falsely accuse and slander the people of God that are reproached under the name of Quakers and I going into Birmingham heard of it whereupon I sent a letter to him either for him to come to me and some others with me or to appoint a place for us to come to him that he might either clear himself or else bear about with him the badge of a backbiter and false accuser of the innocent and expect the judgement that is due to such c. A copy of the letter sent to Robert Gurdler post-master so calied in Birmingham is as followeth The letter to Robert Gurdler I coming into this Town to visit some friends VVHereas I am informed that thou Captain Gurdler shouldst give out words that the people of God whom the world and the wicked one doth scornfully and reproachfully call Quakers should be deceivers and guided by the spirit of the devil or words to that effect which can be proved by some inhabiting in this town Which if thou did it is not becoming any professing Christ to slander accuse and bite behind serpent like and if thou did not clear thy self and let shame cover the face of the liars slanderers backbiters and false accusers of the innocent I being one that the world and wicked one doth in scorn reproachfully out of disdain call Quaker So being one that suffers with the people of God under that name of reproach I look upon my self to be concerned therein and to be one that thou as I am given to understand or the wicked one in thee slanderest backbitest and falsely accusest and takest upon thee to speak evil against as the serpents seed ever did and judgest of us with evil thoughts and out of an evil heart If so then I demand of thee professing thy self a Christian that thou come up unto us this day and either clear thy self or bear thy shame and guilt about upon thy breast Come and if thou canst convince us and make it appear that we are deluders and guided by the devils spirit do and let it be declared against at the market crosse or else acknowledge thy errour therein take shame to thy self and own thy condemnation to be just upon thy false accusations and false judgement that thou censurest the people of God withall and bear about with thee the badge of a backbiter slanderer and false accuser and deny thy profession lest the Lord be dishonoured by thee and so take vengeance upon thee with the wicked and seed of evil doers Come to us either to Lieutenant Powels or William Bayleys or a convenient place where this day thou mayest appoint us to come to thee and if thou be able to judge and try spirits thou art permitted to lay open the ground of delusion errour and deceit with its fruits and effects how it enters and by what to be prevented and also how the devil had his first beginning and entrance into mankind and how thou canst make it appear that we carry his image and by what where it is to be defaced he dispossessed and trampled underfoot Send thy answer to Lieutenant Powels by this bearer at the white Bear in Birmingham this thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth 1654. R. F. The letter as aforesaid was sent but the said Robert Gurdler did neither come to us nor appoint us a place where we might go to him but writ a few words that were lies to us again but no proof for his sayings neither by scripture fruits nor practise Whereupon I writ a note back to him again at that present by his bearer also acquainting him in it that there was to
there assembled that day and the too men called Quakers as aforesaid And thirdly the dispute held between the priests and the men they called Quakers in the latter part of the day and fourthly I shall clear the accusations to the honested hearted that truth may stand pure in its place as it is and that it may stand a witnesse also against lying spirits and against errour delusion and deceipt For the spirit of truth being come teacheth us all things and guideth all such as obey it into all truth according to gospell discipline and promise and bringeth all the things of Christ to our remembrance according to the working of his divine power and the good pleasure of his will praised be the Lord for the riches of his love John 14.26 John 16.13 First Some particulars laid down or declared hear by one of the men which the world scornfully calleth Quakers which are as followeth hear set down for the honest mind to consider of weigh in the ballance of equity so to enter into the allowance through the good consent into the sincerity that it may be stayed in the integrity out of the evill surmisings grudgings and false reports and look at the truth above them to walk in it and be freed from them c. Concerning Election and Predestination Touching election God sees not as man ungenerated sees for men in that state and condition sees naturally and so discerns nor the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 2.14 but God sees spiritually with that spiritual eye sees althings as they are whence they are how they are and those that he did doth predestinate he fore-knew and saw into the mistery which was and is in such revealed and revealing in which mistery in the creature he did and doth in that mistery with his all seeing eye see something good which afterwards in his due time were through Christ in them and is in such revealed and revealing according to the working of his divine power and had not God foreseen that how would it as it was and is in such have been manifested and revealed according to the working of his power that through their love and obedience to the truth according to choice in the royall acception through their obedience to the truth upon manifestation through the spirit continuance therein after that they were sealed their souls was also purified and that which so sealed and purified their souls was revealed and known working within in the mistery and the pure love enjoyed through the unsealing or opening of the same within them who were born again and the seed of God was within them and in that seed were their souls through the obedience to the light and truth purified and elected stablished and confirmed and they therein and by the working of the divine power joyned to the Lord and so both Jew Greek Barbarian Scythian bond and free male and female come into the unity of all soâ—ts that obeyed the truth and walked in the way Christ Jesus the light of the world they came thereby to the father and so knew the ground where election stood according to predestination and foresight of God which were manifested according to the working of his divine power and after the good pleasure of his will and that in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather them into Christ through their obedience to the light in the eternall truth in whom also we have obtained an inheritances being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh into unity and the election joining the soul to the seed after the counsell of his own will that we as they was should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ the foundation of choice and election in the ordination in whom we also trusted after that we heard the word of truth Rom. 10.6 7 8. Eph. 1.9 10 11 12. the gospel of our salvation Rom. 1.16 17. in whom after that we believed we were sealed with that holy spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 which God foresaw within in the mystery and to be good which were in them revealed and is in such revealed who obey the light and walk in it Col. 1.27 28. 2 Cor. 4.5 6 7. and through the obedience to the same light and truth what such enjoyed in and through the same way light and obedience to the truth others may and to have their souls purified as such had and have who are begotten and born again as they was 1 Pet. 1.22 23. and saith Christ other sheep I have which are not of this fould them also I must bring in Joh. 10.14 15 16. Rev. 22.17 2 Heb. 9.10 Christ in dying for us is our example in sufferings and way to the Father For Christ in dying for sinners and ungodly died for all for was not all sinners and ungodly guilty of Christs death but it is by his Bloud that we are justified and by his Life that we are saved in following his councell the light manifested within and obeying him the true light that lighteth every man that comes into the world Joh. 1.9 and such as obey and follow him are led out of darknesse by him through their obedience and so into the light of life Joh. 6.12 it is by Christs life that we are saved in following his councell and obeying him through the crosse with slayes the enmity as he became obedient to the death of the crosse who is our leader and example is the Author of eternall Salvation to all that obey him but none else and he that will follow Christ must denie himself and take up his crosse dayly as he is required and through his obedience to the crosse which slayes the enmitie he comes to know life and peace to his soul in the eternall unity Rom. 5.8.9 Luke 9.23 c. Mat. 10.38 c. 1 Pet. 4. 1 Cor. 1.17.18 Ephes 2.16.17.18 Heb. 5.8.9 Justification by Christ alone who died for our sins and rose again for our justification we are justified by faith in his bloud or life through the obedience to the crosse whereby the enmity is slain and the election witnessed in the reconciliation through the crosse which ministry in the crosse is the power of God to such as are saved and witnesseth justification by faith in the bloud or life of Jesus as such did Rom. 5.1 1 Cor. 1.18 Rom. 5.8 9. 1 Joh. 5.4 c. and we bear about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus as such did that the life of Jesus may more and more be manifested in our mortall flesh who by his spirit quickeneth the mortall body dwelling within us so saving us by grace and maketh us to sit together with him in heavenly places 2 Cor. 4.6.7 to the 12. Rom. 8.10.11 to the 20. Eph. 2.4.5.6.7 therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we
have accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not onely so but we glory in tribulation also knowing that tribulation maketh patience and patience experience and experience hope hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shead abroad in all our hearts and in some the glory shineth as Christ hath said all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them Rom. 5.1.2 to the 6. Ioh. 17.10 and being dead with Christ we are dead to the world and worldly honour and to the fleshly worships and fleshly ordinances also Col. 2.10 11 12. to the end and such as are risen with Christ and hath a fellowship with him there they seek not the things that are below but hath their affections on things above Col. 3.1 2. Whose conversation is in heaven Phil. 3.20 Luk. 17.21 Praised be the Lord for the riches of his eternall love which no man can take away Rom. 8.32 33. to the end 1 Ioh. 4.16 17. Christ is the way to happinesse and the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey and follow him and is the light of the world and doth lighten ever man that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 Joh. 8.12 Heb. 5.8 9. happy for ever are all that obey and follow him but wo from God is the reward of all that continue in their sins and take pleasures in unrighteousnesse and will not obey nor follow him to be led out of darknesse errour and deceit into the light of eternall life Rom. 2.4 5 6,7 8 9. Ioh. 14. Seeing that Christ is the way to happinesse and the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him and the light of the world that doth lighten every man that cometh into the world and they that follow him they shall not walk in darknesse but have the light of eternall life here Christ is the way to the Father and to Election Redemption Justification and Sanctification and also to eternall salvation to such as obey and follow him then they that do not obey but refuse to follow him such sleights mercy tendered in Christ and their destruction is of themselves therefore God is just in all his wayes who hath given gifts unto the rebellious Rom. 5.6 7 8. Isa 42.6 and all that obey him finds mercy of him Isa 55.1 2 3. to the 9. Rom. 2.6 7. and Christ he saith he that comes unto him he will in no wise cast off and he is perfectly able to save all that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 Come to Christ poor souls come out of your pride and vain glory poor creatures for Christ is not there come out of your self-love and self-righteousnesse and out of your will-worships he is not there seek not the living amongst the dead come out of your Idols temples and Idolatrous worships and come out of confusion cut of Babylon least ye partake of her plunges wherefore be separate and come out from amongst them that the Lord may own you and be your God Rev. 18.4 2 Cor. 6.15 16.17 18. Come out of self and self actings life is not in the nature for your poor souls come to Christ poor souls and obey the light which shews you sin and evil checks and calls for purity obey that call and come out of your wills all come in at the door the true light Christ he is the door and he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 and they that come out of self and follow him the true light and way to saluation they shall not loose their reward nor walk in darknesse but have the light of life Rom. 2.6 7. Joh. 8.12 therefore come all you that are weary with your will-worships come out of it to Christ the true light and in him learn to worship within in the spirit God who is a spirit and seeketh such to worship him Ioh. 4.23 24. Phâ—lip 3.3 2 Cor. 3.17 18. you that are weary of your Priests and beggerly rudiments come off from them and touch not their unclean things their unclean doctrine that stands in their wills come and learn of Christ you are called now to come the light in your consciences shall answer come learn doctrine all ye children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord and they shall be stablished in righteousnesse Isa 54.13 14. therefore obey the light within you that shews you unrighteousnesse and come out of it and wait in the light to receive the pure righteousnesse which is the gift of God Rom. 5.17 take heed you do not reject the counsell of God obey that of God in your consciences which answers the call and come off from your hireling and tything Priests they have long deceived you for their own ends and that in their consciences tells them so and that they never was sent of God but of old wicked Bishops which had their first rise from the Pope your worship is the worship of the beast that stands in that nature turned from the light and is out of the truth of Gods like that spoken of in the Rev. 13. it will never redeem your souls come out of it to Christs ministry in the spirit and wait for the opening of the mystery within you Col. 1.27 come and learn of God Object but you are ready to say we cannot come of our selves doth not Christ say no man can come unto me except my Father which hath sent me draw him Answ True he said so to self-conceited Jews take heed that you be not found in the selfish nature and will worship worshipping you know not what Joh. 4.21 22. let that in your consciences answer and refuse not to obey it now it is drawing and calling you to come out of sin and out of your will worships and wait upon God for teaching as Christ hath said it is written in the Prophets and ye shall all be taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Joh. 6.44 45. therefore incline your ears and heart within your teacher is within you if you obey but if you refuse and disobey then judgement followeth for your disobedience Isa 1.19 20. and the light within you that shews you sin and evil deeds will teach you to forsake the evil and shew you the way to the Father and to salvation if you love and follow it but it will condemn you if you disobey and hate it Col. 1.27 Joh. 3.19 20. Now you are warn'd and all left without excuse and that in your consciences is my answer come out of your rebellion the light in you lets you see it follow the light and follow not your wicked thoughts devises nor rebellion and wickednesses you have served sin long and so the Devill plead not for it but forsake it and come out of it his servants ye are to whom ye obey he that commits sin is the servant
come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day it is written in the prophets and they shall all be taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Ioh. 6.44 45. Heb. 8.10 11. Heb. 10.14 15 16 17 18 19 20. 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12 13 14 15. Exek 11. to the 17. 4. That Christ Jesus the anointed of God is the saints high Priest and teacher in the new covenant and royall priesthood and he is the end of the first covenant and that priesthood which took tythes and offered sacrifices both for their own sins and the sins of the people but could never make the people perfect thereby but Christ Jesus is the end of that priesthood and law by which they were made priests and by which tythes were commanded for their service to them to be paid Heb. 3.1 Heb. 2.17 Heb. 8.6.7 8 9 10 11. and he who through the eternall spirit offered himself to God the Father hath by his own bloud put an end to the Leviticall priesthood and the law by which they were ordained or made Priests and by which tythes were commanded for their service to them to be paid and he who through the eternall spirit offered himself to God the Father hath changed the Priesthood and law and ended both law and priesthood by which Priests were then ordained and by which to them for their seâ—vice therein Numb 18. Tythes under that priesthood were paid Numb 18.20 21. so the priesthood and service therein being ended tythes are there ended also for the priesthood being changed and that covenant taken away there was made of necessity a change of the law also so an end of tythes with the Sacrifices burnt offerings and the things there spoken of and Christ Jesus is the everlasting offering and saints high Priest and the mediatour of the new covenant the end of the old and sum of all the things and substance of all types shaddows figures of him and tythes being a thing in the covenant and priesthood which Christ hath ended therefore tythes by him are ended and for proof to confirm the same read at large the 7 8 9 10 chapters to the Hebrewes Those that take tythes c. are not in the new covenant Then such as profess faith in Christ and acknowledge the new covenant and gospel ministration therein which is upon better promises Heb. 8 and 10 chap. and in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 Such as this do profess and either take tythes or pay tythes are out of the substance and out of the new covenant that do not deny upholding what Christ Jesus hath shed his bloud for to put an end unto that he might bring in a better hope and to be made perfect pure and compleat in him the substance and fulness Heb. 7.11 to the 20. Heb. 7.22 23 to the end Col 1.26 27 28. 1 Ioh. 3.3 Col. 2.9 10. Eph. 4 11 12 13. But such as profess themselves to be Christs ministers in the new covenant or gospel ministration and takes tythes or compells people to pay them tythes such are enemies to the gospel of Christ and dishonours the Lord Jesus by so doing for such are upholders and causeth others to uphold that which Christ Jesus hath shed his bloud to put an end unto with that priesthood and service Numb 18 1 2 to the 8. In which priesthood and for which service the tythes were paid Numb 18.20 21. and the priesthood and service for which the priests had tythes is ended and done away to christians by Christ and Christs priesthood is not of Aarons tribe that took tythes but of the tribe of Judah that took no tythes nor had no command for the same so not Christs ministers for it is evident that the first priesthood and covenant is changed and ended and that our Lord sprung out of Iudah Heb. 7.11 12 to the 18. which had no command to take tythes but in him they with that first priesthood ended Heb. 7.22 23 to the end Heb. 8.1 2 3 to the 11. Heb. 9.11 12 to the 18 and Heb. 10.1 2 3 4 5 6. to the 21. then such as take tythes upholds the first priesthood which Christ hath ended and such as do so deny Christ come in the flesh 1 Ioh. 4.1 2. to put an end to those things in the Scriptures concerning the first priesthood before-mentioned spoken of and in their works are against him Tit. 1.16 and so Antichristians but the Priests of the world that takes tythes are such so enemies to the cross of Christ Philip. 3.18 19. and enemies to the gospel of Christ therefore Antichristian ministers and not the ministers of Christ nor the gospel 5. That Christ Jesus is the mediatour of the new covenant and the end of the old for he hath taken away the first that he might establish the second upon better promises without sacrifices and burnt offerings so without tythes and this Jesus who is the mediatour of the new covenant and end of the old he is perfectâ—y able to save to the uttermost without tythes and burnt offerings or mans inventions all those that come unto God by him and he is the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him Heb. 12.24 Heb. 7.22 Heb. 9.15 Heb. 10.5 6 7 8 9 to the 19. Heb. 5.8 9. 6. That the true worship of God in the new covenant of which Jesus is the mediatour and the saints high priest in the royall priesthood Heb. 3.1 1 Pet. 2 5 and 9. Is in the spirit and the truth as he hath said Ioh. 4.23 24. and God is that spirit which we worship and beholding with open face as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed according to the working of his divine power after the good pleasure of his will from glory to glory into the same pure image as by the spirit of the Lord. Philip. 3. to the 3 verse 2 Corinth 3.17 18. 7. That the ministers of Christ and the new covenant are made able ministers thereof not by man Gal. 1.1 but by the Lord. Gal. 1.11 12 and 15 16. and such were able ministers of the new covenant not of the later but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 And the ministry of Christ in the new covenant or gospel ministration is for the perfecting of the saints to build them up into the unity of the faith and to lead chem from faith to faith into the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and to a perfect man in Christ Jesus as is witnessed in the Scriptures both by Christs own doctrine declared of and the declaration of the doctrine of Christs Apostles and ministers Mat. 5.4 8. Phil. 3. Eph. 4.11 12 13. Rom. 1.16 17. Heb. 6.1 Heb. 12.22 23. Rev. 14.3 4 5. 1 Ioh. 5.11 12 13. 1 Cor.
2 6 7. 1 Ioh. 4.16 17. The false ministry and ministers Then those ministers that are made by the will of man and such as are ministers of the letter and not of the spirit such are not taught of God neither are they the ministers of Christ nor his gospel and such as have a form of godliness and wants the power are to be denied and turned away from and that ministry which doth not lead up to perfection but keepeth people ever learning and never able to come to that perfect measure of the knowledge of the Son of God and the eternall truth to a perfect man in Christ Jesus is none of Christs ministry but the ministry of the world and of Antichrist therefore not the ministry of Christ nor the gospel but such a ministry as that which is spoken of that keeps people laden with sins and led away with divers lusts and saying under it they cannot be freed from their sins whilst they live that is such a ministry as Christ hath not ordained in the new covenant but is shut out therefore that ministry is a contrary ministry to Christ and his Apostles in the new covenant and to be holden accursed also the ministers thereof as it is required 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Gal. 1.8 9. Who the false prophets are and how to be known even by their fruits as Christ hath said Mat. 5.15 and 20. The false prophets idoll shepheards and blind watchmen were and are such as bears and bore rule by their means and such as sought and doth seek for their gain from their quarter greedy dumb dogs that never had nor never have enough but were and are such as sought and seeketh for the fleece and then made and now maketh a prey upon the people and preached and doth preach for hire and then went and doth now go in the way of Cain who received and doth receive the wages of unrighteousness Balaam like and such the Lord was and such the Lord is against and sent and doth send to cry out against them but the priests of the world are such and hath such fruites whereby they may be known to be the false prophets idol-shepheards blinde watchmen and greedy dumb dogs that are never satisfied but either petitioning or crying to the people and crying out to the magistrates to help them with one thing or another and if they might but have their wills they would shew forth their cruelty doggednesse persecution and tyranny as many of them have already done so they are out of the example of all the true prophets and true Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore to be cryed out of and declared against and the wo is unto them for their reward as it was to such Jer. 23. Isa 3.11 Ezek. 34. Jer. 5.30 31. Isa 56.10 11. Mic. 3.5 and 11. 2 Pet. 2. Iud. 11. The Resurrection of the just and unjust That there is a resurrection of the just and unjust and the saints shall be raised up to be glorified and enter into the eternall joy of their Lord but the wicked to be terrified and the just hath boldnesse in the day of judgement 1 Ioh. 4.17 and are accepted but the wicked and all the nations that forget God are to be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and thither goes the disobedient and cursed to be tormented eternally from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 1 Cor. 15.12 13 14 15 to the 30. Matth. 27.52 53. Rev. 20.6 Matth. 25.41 to the end Rev. 20.10 11 12. to the end Rev. 21.8 27. 2 Thes 1.8 9. The Lord will plead with all flesh That the Lord will plead with all flesh by his sword and by fire Isa 66.15 16. and the terrours of the Lord is to be known to all flesh and upon all the wicked and ungodly Mala. 4.1 Zeph. 1.14 15. therefore happy are they that obey the light which comes from the Lord Jesus which light doth convince them of and reprove for sin and evill that through their obedience to the light they may be led out of darknesse and know judgement and vengeance to consume the wickednesse and seed of the serpent in them and know the power of life to work in them that through their obedience to the light and truth they may have their souls purified as such had who obeyed the truth through the spirit and have 1 Pet. 1.22 23. and bodies washed with the water of the word through the sanctification of the spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 and so know their souls joined to the divine life through the eternall spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 and through their obedience to the light and ministry in the crosse 1 Cor. 1 18. that they may give all diligence here to make their calling and election sure that so an entrance may be ministred abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Heb. 5.9 2 Pet. 1.10 11. There is no place to be purged in betwixt heaven and here therefore plead not for sin c. No unclean thing shall enter nor the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19.20 and there shall not in any wise enter into it any thing that defileth nor that which worketh abomination or maketh a lye Rev. 21.27 then such as continue in sin unseparated and are not purified from it here their case is dangerous for the unclean shall not enter into Gods kingdom and there is no place betwixt heaven and here to be purged in and the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God therefore be not deceived for such as dies in their sins and unrighteousnesse coming so to the judgement then wo and misery is their portion eternally take warning betimes and read Rev. 14.9 10 11. Rev. 20.10 11 to the end Rev. 22.11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 21 8 27. The difference between the naturall and spirituall estate and condition and how the soul comes to enjoy fellowship with God and partake the sweet gospel grace and virtue Men naturally knows not the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 And in a state of unregeneration they are dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 but alive in the evill pride and vain glory serving divers lusts and pleasures Eph. 2.2 3. so in deaths reign and all their actings in their wills in that nature turn'd from the light is out of a selfish principle and in that self-seeking nature thinking thereby to merit something by their own self-actings in that nature turned from the light so setting up their self-actings and performances that stands in their wills thinking to get life and peace or salvation thereby but all that is seen with the light to be out of the true ground and not in the life of truth which stands out of the light in the mans will and with the light which calls the mind within and
drunken man and had Ezekiell Daniel and the men that were with him been here now and done so trembled and quaked as the Scripture witnesseth of them Ier. 23.9 Ier. 5.22 Ier. 30.5 6. Hab. 3.16 Ezek. 12 18. Dan. 10.8 9 10 11. the Priests of England and their people would have been ready to have said these men had been deluded or mad and have been ready to have reviled them and to have called them Quakers Yet they can take such mens words to professe and trade withall for mony but despise their conditions and magnify themselves against the people of God that witnesseth their conditions and that power which they did and such are now by the Priests of England and their people reproachfully called Quakers but you that reproach the people of God and magnify your selves against them read what the Lord will do to you Mat. 5.10 11 12. Luk. 6.22 23. 1 Pet. 4 13.14 and such like as is spoken of in the prophesie of Zeph. 2.9 10 11. And though we be reviled and reproached by the name of Quakers yet we can gladly rejoyce that we are counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ to us reproaches are great riches for Christs sake as they was to the holy men of God and to Moses who did exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 11.25 26. Heb. 12.21 The ground and manner of the meeting The meeting at Chadwitch in Worcestershire on the 21 day of the 12 month between the 2 men by the world scornfully called Quakers and the 2 Priests to wit one Priest Osland Pastor to an independent company as they say at Bewdley and one Andrew Trusterom Priest at Clent To the 2 Priests that were at the meeting and others of their party the day aforesaid some passages laid before them to look on and take into consideration and the manner and ground of our meeting in brief as followeth The meeting at Chadwitch in Worcestershire the day aforesaid we whom the world scornfully called Quakers had appointed that day set apart to meet with the people there abouts that used there to meet with others that might come into us that day not knowing any thing of your being there till we came at the place where the meeting was appointed and when we came at the meeting house we found you 2 Priests got peaking up Pharisee like and had been labouring to incense the people against us crying our against false prophets and seducers and p oved to be those same your selves whom some of the people had opposed before we came so finding you peark'c above them and jangling with them out of the envy and pride of your hearts before we came so seeing that I pressed in amongst the people to get in to stand before your faces as I was constrained and moved and with much pressing the throng was so great I pressed through the throng until I came and stood before you the 2 Priests whereupon you made a speech that all the people would be silent but I that you and I might speak together c. But I was not free in my spirit to have the spirits of others tyed up by my promise therefore I opened my mouth to speak as I were guided by the spirit of my Father Mat. 10 20. and said unto you also that the room was very throng so for the truthes sake and for the good of the people there gathered together and for conveniences sake also it would be better to go forth of the doors upon the green hill that all people might hear and be kept cool but that you refused and then would not but said if that I would ask you a question you would answer me or if I would you would ask me a question and I would answer you or if you not be interrupted you would speak or to the effects or if I would speak you would hear me c. Whereupon to that I told you again I had appointed that meeting with the people and had something from the Lord to declare to that people there gathered together so be silent till I have done or declared what from the Lord I have here this day to declare to this people and then if you would have me to ask you a question that I shall do afterwards if God permits whereupon to that yon 2 Priests granted and sat down so by your promise you were bound to hear me and be silent till I had done as aforesaid if you had regarded your word and also after that you were bound accordingly from your own proposition and by your promise to answer my question which was to propound unto you So after that silent I stood a while and a woman bad me to speak and speak up aloud but I to her answered and said woman I am not to be commanded by thee but by the Lord and as he pleaseth so I shall speak whose power I am subject unto and to be ordered by also disposed of according to the good pleasure of his divine will in whose counsell I now do stand Then after that according to the good pleasure of the Lord who had ordered and did order to his praise and according to the assistance of his holy spirit and the working of his divine power I did declare the truth of God as it were witnessed to the witnesse of God in all consciences that were present and heard and shall be witnessed before the judgement seat of Christ for my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power c. 1 Cor. 2.3 4. Rom. 2.16 And blessed are they who continue with patience in the well doing 2 Cor. 6. Rom. 2.7 that obey and follow the light and counsell of the word of truth answered within by the light of Christ in their consciences through the mystery of godlinesse Col. 1.27 28. But such as are contentious and disobey the truth to obey unrighteousnesse their portion will be grievous woe and misery 2 Thes 1.6.7 8 9. 2 Thes 2.7.8.9.10.11.12 then indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2.8.9 whether Priest or people But though the truth was that day declared in much power and many of your party at the first and others were pricked at the heart and were much tendered and convinced and many did secretly and some openly confesse to the truth and your selves confessed to that which you said I held forth concerning mortification of sin and the resurrection and other truths till your practises were touched and the worlds churches tythes preaching for hire bearing rule by their means seeking for their gain from their quarter and such like things were declared against at which you the Priests startled who before were convinced of the truth declared and had sighed sobbed and groned in your spirits very often as many can witnesse and as that in your consciences which is my witnesse for Gods truth declared and answer
against your deceits doth know Yet when you saw that the truth did prevail upon the spirits of many and that you must either yield up to it and take your shame or else to stand up contrary to that in your consciences to oppose it and resist it as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8.9 and sought to harden the peoples hearts against him lest they should have believed and obeyed the truth so after I had spoken about an hour and a half or two houres you sought to resist the truth though clear truths according to scripture as that in your consciences and others of the servants of God can witnesse and you laboured much to have got me and the truth silent and broke your own engagement by promise But what are the words of Priests but words of false-hearted self seeking and deceitfull men as you and others do know yet truth prevailed and would not be silent for flesh and deceit truce-breakers like your selves and such spoken of in 2 Tim. 3 chap. That did not regard your own word and promise that time you broke your own order and word bond or the present engagement whereupon I told you the summe and commanded your silence for your words sake and still spoke to the people this is not self justication but a witnessing to the truth against the deceits and deceivers and to clear it from lies and danders and though you the Priests did so seek to resist the truth contrary to that in your consciences and so stirred up envy in the harts of some of the ignorant people against the truth of God and the messenger of God c. yet the cause I commit to the Lord who will carry it on against gainsayers and opposers like you and such in your nature and will also case himself of his enemies and be avenged of his adversaries Isa 1.24 And the Lord will avenge himself of you except ye repent and acknowledge your fault and to the people declare against your errour own your condemnation thereupon and take shame to your selves And to this the light in your consciences is my witnesse and answer the judgements upon you it wils to be just and if you do not repent and give over deceiving the people and cease your opposition against the truth or else eternall vengeance you cannot escape be silent all flesh the light is my answer and witnesse beyond and against your wills Happy are you if you obey it in all things but wo to you if you disobey it and act contrary to it Now you have time prize it remember Dâ—ves end and also take warning and remember that in your life time you have been warned as to you I said by the spirit of the Lord. And when you Priests could not have your wills as you would who had before in part bound up your selves by your word and promise but broke your bonds whereupon I told you the same and I was bound to clear my conscience before you and the people to lay open your deceits and for the truths sake because that yon and others also of the Priests your brethren had so much cried out against false prophets and the like I said towards the latter end of my speech declared by the spirit of the Lord to the people that day at Chadwitch in Worcestershire as aforesaid That you the two priests was bound by your word to hear me what I had to say and after that to answer my question also whereupon keeping you chained or tied up by your own word then I proceeded and went on to lay open before you and the people who the false prophets were and how they might be known even by their fruits as Christ hath said Matth. 7.15.16 and 20. So by your fruits are you known and all such as the true Prophets of the Lord was sent to cry out against as than I laid open by description and fruits also proving the same by scripture which now I shall not much mention because I laid you and such so open before your faces and such like as speaks a divination of their own brain stealing the true prophets and true Apostles words to trade with all for money and selfends which they spake forth freely as they were moved of the holy Ghost and as the spirit gave them utterance 2 Pet. 1.19.20.21 Act. 24. therefore such as steals their words to trade withall for money are the thieves and false prophets spoken of in Jer. 23. but the Priests of the world are such therefore thieves and false prophets as by their fruits they are known and such as bear rule by their meanes seeks the fleece and makes a prey upon the people and seeks for t heir gain from their quarter Jer. 23. 23. Mic. 3.5.11 Isa 56.10.11 2 Pet. 2. such priests as preach for hire like those that the true prophets were sent to crie against such are the priests of the world therefore false prophets and to be cried against as such was Jer. 5.30.31 Ezek. 34. And such proud covetous selt-seeking men as agrees with a people beforehand to pay them 20.30 40.50.60.80.100.200 or 300 pound per annum faying they are ministers of Christ sudh doth speak falsely and are lying false prophets never sent of the Lord they cannot find their example in scripture neither amongst the true Prophets nor true Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Micah 3.5.11 but such are amongst the hirelings and such as are greedy dumb dogs never satisfied Isaiaeh 56.10.11 but seeking for their gain from their quarter and making a prey upon the people Ezek. 34.1.2.3 and amongst such or under Tythmongers tytheing Priests as thou Andrew Trusterom art and saidst thou wouldst prove it to be lawful but did not and the other would not meddle about tythes so I bad him then cry them down For thou and such as takes tythes professing your selves gospel ministers are lyers and deceivers as I told thee and have not one example for so doing amongst all the gospel ministers nor Judahs tribe which you can prove by plain scripture to take tythes by command Oh shame Andrew Trusterom and all tything priests like thee you dishonour the gospel and are out of the gospel way and order be ashamed and blush and all hirelings and also tything priests like thee you that take tythes do not the work nor service that such did as bad the tythes a peculiar gift for their service onely during the legall ministration You tything priests what are you Aaronitall and Leviticall or Pharisaicall and hypocriticall where are you and where is your holy garments water of purification your altars fire and incence and burnt-offerings and sacrifices where is your circumcision and where is all the service required under the Aaronitall and Leviticall priesthood done and performed by you Tithing Priests that was done by Aaron and Levi who had the tythes a peculiar gift onely for their service under that priesthood Numb 18.1.2 3 4 5
6,7 and Numb 18.20.21 And you tything priests by the same Law are to do all the service required as well as take tythes else you are dissemblers with God and man taking tythes and leaving the work undone and there never was any gospel allowance stop your mouthes But seeing you do take tythes where is vour store house to put the tythes in Malac. 3. Let that be known and where it is that the gates may be set open in every place of the nation that the poor the widows fatherlesse and strangers may come thither to be filled and satisfied that is to have out of them food and raiment that there may not be a beggar in England but be relieved and satisfied and have food and raiment out of the tythes as there was not to be a beggar in Israel but to be relieved filled and satisfied out of the tythes as may be read Deuir 14.27.28.29 But do you not you tything priests in England take tythe of the poor the widows fatherlesse and a so strangers if servants come and be shangers in a place or sojourners doing service from one year to another some of you take tythe out of their earnings or wages here you manifest your cruelty that so do and are even binding and have bound heavy burdens upon the poor but woe is your portion that do so Math. 23. Never such gospel ministers was known that ever the scripture maketh mention of but you are those thieves and robbers that Christ speaks of which never came in by the door as it is written Ioh. 10. chap. And you are robbers of the poor and do not what the law requires of you that commanded tythes to be paid to the Leviticall Priesthood but you are so farre from the gospel order that you are transgressours of the law instead of keeping it you break it and take tythes contrary to the law of God in the first covenant priesthood take tythes contrary to the law in that covenant for the poor the widows the fatherlesse strangers instead of paving tythes under the law was to be filled satâ—sfied out of the tythes according to the law Deut. 14.27.28.29 but you that are tything priests in England take tythes of the poor and many widows and fatherlesse and strangeâ—s for in many places the priests tythe servants wages taking a farthing at shilling and as their errour is Oh wicked seducers deluders and deceivers but woe to the wicked and to Gods adversaries for it shall go ill with them Isaiah 3.11 Isaiah 1.24 And you hold up that which Christ came to put an end to who hath fulfilled that law and covenant by which that the first priesthood was ordained and by which tythes were commanded to them to be paid and the priesthood being changed so he changed the law by which the priests were made and tythes paid so an end of the priesthood that received tythes by a law therefore an end of tythes the reward for your service and Christ is the summe and substance of all the things there spoken of who is of the tribe of Iudah that took no tithes neither did he take any nor his masters of the new covenant under the gospel therefore stop your mouthes a bout your tythes and also take shame to your selves restore to whom you have wronged by taking tythes professing your selves ministers of the gospel and restore four fold as Zaccheus who had been an oppressour upon his conversion did and also read Hebrews 7.8.9 and 10. chapters So in brief I leave that and come on to let you know by bringing things back to your remembrance c. That when your deceits and the deceits of the priests of England were declared against that day and laid open to your understandings and in your presence that it even cut you to the heart who had so often that day sighed and groaned to the hearing of others and then thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent went out of the room being accused in thy conscience and pricked with it but that which did accuse thee doth accuse thee and will be a swift witnesse against thee thou cannot flee it to the grave and the pit it will follow to witnesse a gainst thee and upon thee answer it will the judgements of God to be just if it thou hate and still disobey therefore be advised I warn thee and give over deceiving the people for their own ends But to come on having left thee without excuse as well as the rest this is to bring to remembrance and let thee and the rest know that when thou was fled and going out of the room when the meeting was I then ceased declaring to take away slanders and prejudices and otherwise might have been raised and I turned me about towards the other Priest Osland Pastor to the independent company at Bewdley so called that be might have some time to answer my question and object what he or others had to object that truth might be cleared and according to my promise I propounded to him a question after I had ended my speech to the people and therein had laid open your deceits and the deceits of the priests of the world to the people which question was this The beginning of the dispute What death it was that had reigned over those that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression and what it was in mankind that such a death had reigned over how he could witnesse in the inward ministrations through deaths reign through Moses or the judgements and through the prophecyings to John in the wildernesse and how in his burnings and shineings to the least in the kingdom what the soul and spirit of man was and how to be known asunder because the word of the Lord divideth asunder betwixt the soul and spirit as it is written Heb. 4.12 But to this question I received but only a shuffle in stead of an answer and be said call in my brother which was priest Trusterom and thou coming in seemed as though thou would answer it but yet it is from you without its answer Then it followes that you either could not answer the question propounded and so acknowledged the same by your fleeing from it and leaving it without its full answer or else that you would not answer it and so to further manifested your lies lying spirit saying you would answer it and did not but left it and yet it remains without its true and full answer to manifest your lying false spirits and hereby know we the spirit of truth and your spirit of errour asunder and that it is the last time as John faith Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time Ioh. 4.1 to the 7. 1 Ioh. 2.18 and that you are of the Antichristian ministry and the Antichristian ministers Then you had a speech seeingly to
to come so teaching saints and glorifieth the Son and bringeth souls into the perfect knowledge or enjoyment of the Father and the Son Ioh. 14.20 in the holy unction Iob. 2.29 and 27. which teacheth all things to such as the light and spirit obey and walks in as it is written and witnessed by such as knoweth and knew the holy unction in them and the word abiding within them 1 Ioh. 2.13 14. and the heavenly treasure within 2. Cor. 4.6 7. and we know that such as are guided by the spirit of God are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 1 Ioh. 3.1 and God hath sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternall 1 Ioh. 5.20 And we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the true light and our Lord for God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined within in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus and this treasure have we within us as they had in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us and the message that we have to declare is this that God is light and in him is no darknesse at all and Christ is the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world they that follow him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and he is the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him which is witnessed through the opening of the mystery within Col. 1.27 and by obedience to the light in the eternall power of truth through the spirit as it is written and witnessed and according to the outward declaration of the Scripture but enjoyed according to the inward manifestation of the spirit the gift of God which is given to profit withall in the spirits ministration and mystery 2 Cor 12. to know the fellowship with Christ in the glory 2 Cor. 4.6 7. Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Heb. 5.9 1 Ioh. 1.5 2 Cor. 3.17 18. Rom. 8.14 15 16 17 18 19. Gal. 4.6 2 Thes 1.10 Ioh. 17.10 Then remember that you the 2 Priests would go out of the room towards the latter end of the day it was so hot and throng though you would not go before so we went into plain upon a green hill and most of the people stood below in the valley and thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent and I stood together on the hill where I begun to lay open the things as aforesaid concerning the light and Spirit being sufficient according to the working of the divine power of the Lord and the good pleasure of his will through theobedience to the light teachings of the spirit of grace to lead to salvation and unto all truth whereupon thou said that was granted before we came out of the room so for the better satisfaction of the people I would have laid it open to the people there but thou yielded up to that truth only I was to return to the people on proof concerning that the Scriptures fore saw that God would justify the heathen through faith preach the gospel unto Abraham saying in thee shall all nations be blessed which Scripture is this Gal. 3.8 which is witnessed in Christ Gal. 3.18 29. and according to the Scriptures the declaration of him and the word Luk 1.1 Act. 1.1 Ioh. 1.3 the word is God and eternall life Ioh. 1.1 1 Pet. 1.23 1 Ioh. 5.6 7 11 20. Heb. 4.12 Rom. 16.6 7 8. Rev. 19.13 Then after that thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent who was the mouth most for the Priests that day thou would have maintained thy call being put upon it there on the hill but could not prove it to be according to any gospel minister though thou had thy proof and witnesse without thee written in a paper in the end of thy book as thou knowes and could not remember thy call nor thy proof and witnesse without thy written paper in thy book end to turn to other mens words that thou were out of the life as I then cold thee and said also that such as thou were made tradesmen at Cambridge or Oxford or from under such as had yours and their rise from the old wicked Bishops and such Bishops from the Popes generation and they from the Pope and the Pope from old Antichrist and so Antichristian ministers and not the ministers of Christ nor the gospel For I told thee the ministers of Christ and the gospel was not made by the will of man but of God were they ordained and was sent by Christ Jesus and the holy Ghost and received not their gospel nor call of man but of God neither was such that were so called taught of man but of God as it is certified to the Brethren and left upon record in Scripture and such as were so called and taught made not their gospel burdensom but free to be examples also for others that come after to follow and such gospel ministers as were so called ordained gifted and sent forth they sold not their gift nor preaching the gospel for mony nor tythes but preached freely 1 Cor. 9.16 17 18 19. Act. 20.33 1 Cor. 11. i. not for tythes as the priests of the world do now that follow not their example neither had any gospel minister 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 or 300 pound per Annum as the priests of the world have now but such gospel ministers as were ordained called and sent of God went to turn people from the darknesse to the light from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.14 15 16,17,18 Gal. 1.1 and 11,12,15,16 vers and such coveted no mans silver nor gold nor apparell but laboured with hands and preached the gospel freely who were made able ministers of the new covenant not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 Act. 20.28 and 3.3 34,35 vers Act. 13. Mat. 10. 1 Cor. 11.1 vers Then such as go to trades at Universities and learns old Authours mans inventions to add a divination of their brain to the Scriptures and are taught of proud covetous self-seeking men of such Arts and are called by such and are called of men master and hath tythes are called by them to great benefits 20 40 100 200 pound a year such are not according to the gofpel minifters but are Antichriftian and deceivers and such are the Priests of the world therefore Antichristian ministers seducers and deceivers of the nations then thou Andrew Trusterom the Priest as aforesaid thou seemingly would have denyed thy call and ordination from the old wicked Bishops but could not from that ground had thou thy rise and upon it yet stands in the