is God and Man in one Person Answ. As for the word Trinity it is invented and he hath learnt it out of the Mass-Book or Common-Prayer-Book but we own the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ that Christ is God and the Spirit is God and there are three that bear record the Father Son and Spirit and these are one but God and the Spirit are not Persons but Infinite Beeings and the Scripture no where in true Translations expresseth God under the Name Person for Person is too Carnal to express God and Christ and the Spirit by but God was in Christ reconciling the World and this we believe and acknowledge according to the Scriptures but for this word Doctrine of the Trinity the Scriptures know no such word but the Truth we own and the Gospel and the Scriptures too They hold that Iesus Christ died onely signally or examplarily and that we are justified by the Suffering of Christ in us and to be healed by his Stripes is to be stripped off or from Sin Answ. Jesus Christ died and rose again and ascended according to the Scriptures this we do believe And Christ was and is the Substance the end of all Signs and Examples yet was he an Example to the Saints and the Apostle exhorted to walk as they had Christ for an example and while he was in the World he did and spoke and acted many things as Parables Signs and Examples the substance of which is to be received in the Saints and known by them through the Spirit and we believe Saints are justified by Christ and through Faith in him which was and is and is to come who is blessed for ever and none are justified by his Death and Suffering and Blood without them but who witness Christ within them for all are Reprobates and to be condemned and cannot be justified that have not Christ in them as thou mayest read Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates and all that believe in Christ and receive him they are healed through his Sufferings and Stripes for he sanctifies them and gives them Remission of Sin and justifies them and in him the Saints are compleat and the New-man the Regenerate is justified and the old-man is in the Degeneration and knows not Christ in him and hath not received him but onely heard of him without him and believes the Relation but this faith doth not justifie for all the false Christians upon Earth have this faith but that Faith alone justifies which gives to receive Christ and him to live in us and to dwell in us by that Faith They utterly renounce the Doctrine of Iustification by the imputation of the Righteousness of Christ or by the obedience he performed or Sufferings he sustained or underwent in his own Person without us Answ. This is partly true and partly a Lye we do indeed renounce the profession of Justification by the Imputation of Christ or his Righteousness performed without men by men while they are in the degenerated estate and unconverted and unreconciled and unborn again for by such profession of Justification many deceive their Souls but yet we say that Righteousness is imputed to us and reckoned unto us who believe in Christ and have received him even the Obedience and Sufferings that he performed without us is ours who have received him within us and witnesseth Christ in us and therefore we are not Reprobates yet we do acknowledge he wrought perfect Righteousness by Obedience and Sufferings without us and that Righteousness is ours by Faith which Faith hath received Christ to dwell in us and he and his Righteousness his Obedience and Sufferings we enjoy in us in Spirit if any can receive it let them for that he wrought Righteousness this is acknowledged but who have a part in this Righteousness that is disputable They wholly renounce the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and it is one of the great Reasons for which they decry the Ministers because they assert it they say Jacob and Esau are in a man and the good Seed is Jacob which God electeth and the bad Seed is Esau which he reprobates Answ. The Doctrine of Election and Reprobation we do own according to the Scriptures and therefore hast thou belied us and slandered us and art found reproveable and would incense mens minds against us for advantage to thy self but to some in that House we are better known then thou canst report of us and yet thou sayest we say that Iacob and Esau are in a man and the good Seed God electetâ— and the bad he reprobates and thou mayest here see thy confusion and thy ignorance uttered in the self same Lines for thou sayest we renounce the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and yet sayest we say the good Seed God electetâ— and the bad Seed he reprobateth and this shews what spirit thou art of and how that the spirit of unrighteousness doth possess thee and leads thee to speak without understanding and we further say man being degenerated became reprobated and cast out and all by nature are Children of Wrath and the Children of Wrath are all in the reprobate State and none are elected but who are elected in Christ the Seed of David and so in the first Adam all are reprobated and all that are in the second Adam are elected and the Election and Reprobation stands not in the Persons but in the Seeds and yet the Persons are blessed or cursed in the love or in the displeasure of God according as the Seed of God or the seed of the Serpent lives and dwells and bears rule in the Persons and we do indeed decry and deny you the professed Ministers upon many accounts more then one and we have already and may in time to come shew sufficient Reasons against you both in Doctrine and Practise and other wayes that you are not the Ministers of Christ but the Ministers of Satan generally That Iesus Christ as he is the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abraham is in every one and that a measure or part of the Substance that was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary is in every one Answ. Jesus Christ he is the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abrahâ—… according to the Flesh and after the Spirit the Son of the Living God and this Christ that was and is and is to come who was dead but is alive and lives for evermore the alone Saviour of the World he hath given a measure of Light and Life unto every man and there is a Light from him that shines in the heart of all men shining in Darkness the Light shines but the Darkness comprehends it not and this was Iohn's Testimony and is our Testimony That Christ enlightneth every man or all Man-kind that cometh into the World for in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men as the Scripture saith and the Apostle preached the Light that shined in peoples
which hath been of the false Woman and not of the Elect Spouse that is married to the Lamb. 6. That forcing and compelling of Persons by any outward Law and Authority to be of such or such a Religion and to conform to such a Way of Worship is the Worship of the Beast and of the Whore and not the Worship of God and to kill and persecute Persons for the exercise of Conscience and because they will not be of such a Religion and cannot conform to such Worship is of the Devil and the Dragon and not of God nor according to him and that your Church herein is not Successor of the Apostles and the true Church of Christ but is of the Beast and the Whore which Iohn saw was to come in his time and which we see are come in our dayes and have ruled for Generations and I affirm that Persons so made conformable by force and violent Laws to such a Religion and Worship are but two-fold more the Children of the Devil and are not at all converted to God thereby but becomes Idolaters whom God will judge 7. That none upon Earth are true Members of the true Church of Christ having a portion in the Inheritance of Eternal Life but such who are gathered out of the World by the preaching of the Gospel and are changed and renewed by the Power of the Lord God in the Heart and are led by his Spirit within them into all Truth and are joyned unto Christ the Head and gathered into the Eternal Unity of the Infinite Body by the same Spirit and Aâ—ointing dwelling in them and of such onely doth the true Church of Christ consist now in this present time as it did in the Apostles dayes but of such Members doth not your Church consist in this present Age neither is it in the Order and Government of the Spirit of Truth but in the Form without the Power therein was its beginning and its standing at this day 8. That the time is at hand and the Day of the Lord draws near and the fulâ—ess of time is approaching wherein great Babylon shall be thrown down and fall to the Ground and the Lord will be avenged on her and will render Judgâ—ents unto her and the Beast and Whore and false Prophets unto whom the Kingdoms of the World have been subject shall be taken and cast alive into the Lake and the Devil and Satan shall deceive the Nations no more but the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ whose Kingdom shall be revealed in Power and great Glory in the hearts of his Chosen And the Church of Rome and all the false Sects and Churches upon the Earth will the Lord God overthrow and his true Church shall be gathered out of the Wilderness and the Beauty of new Ierusalem of the holy Church the Lamb's Wife shall be as Glorious aâ— before she fled thither and before she was troden down of the Gentiles and the Lord God Almighty shall be known and his Tabernacle shall be with men These things I assert to you in the Name of the Lord and the truth thereof is certain and should be ready to argue and dispute these things with any sober Person amongst you upon equal tearms and to prove the Infalibility hereof by the Spirit of the Lord and according to the Scriptures wherefore consider of them in Patience and Meekness and believe in the Light of Christ which is in your Consciences which Christ hath lightened every man that cometh into the World withall that you may come to the knowledge of the Truth and out of all false Wayes and if any of you will return an Answer hereunto in behalf of your whole Body and can be able to clear your selves in Writing from what is charged upon you it shall be gladly received by me and a Reply iâ— Meekness returned to you for the further mâ—nifestation of Truth that Truth and Righteousness may clearly appear and be embraced and all Deceit and and false wayes of Antichrist may be confounded and denyed and who are in the Truth shall be confirmed and who are in the Error may have Warning now in the Day of the World's Visitation The Lord is coming to Judgment who will judge the Secrets of all Hearts and the whole World in Equity Dunkirk the 20th of the 3d Moneth 1659. By a Friend unto Righteousness and a Lover of all Souls E. B. These Propositions were sent to them in Latine This was sent to the chief Rector of the Jesuits Colledge in Dunkirk in Latine FRiend thy wisdom and thy knowledge is earthly and sensual and thereby canst thou not know the Things of the Kingdom of God thou canst neither learn them thy self nor teach them to others for thou art but a blind Leader of the Blind And thus saith the Lord God unto thee The Fruitless Tree is standing in thee that brings forth no Fruit unto God and the Head of the Serpent is not broken in thee that deceives the Soul nor the Body of Sin put off that burdens the Just and the Sword shall cut thee to pieces even the Sword of the Lord it shall slay thee And Friend The time is at hand that the Lord will make thee know that thou art and hast been in thy Life time a Dishonour to him and that thou hast not served him but thy self and the Devil and thy Heart is not right in his sight but is corrupt and deceitful for thou art tryed and measured and thou art found wanting in all things and God will judge thee and the Witness in thy Conscience shall answer his Judgments and all thy Idolatrous Practices and Profession of Religion and Church and Ministry thy many Prayers and thy Works of Righteousness all this shall not hide thee from the Wrath of the Lamb though now thou art hardened â—nd utterly unsensible yet the Stone shall fall upon thee that will grind thee to Powder and thou shalt not escape but the burden of thy own Iniquities shall weigh thee down into Perdition except thou speedily repentest Therefore fear and tremble before the Lord God and remember thou art warned by one that seeks the Peace of Souls but makes War by the Sword of the Spirit against the Kingdom of the Devil and Antichrist in whomsoever it stands And Friend answer me this one Query What is that Whore that hath sate upon Multitudes and Peoples and what is that Golden Cup in her Hand and what are the Abominations and Fornication of which her Cup is full which she hath caused the Kings and People to drink and with which she hath deceived the World Answer me this and subscribe thy Name E. B. ANd now this I have to say concerning the Church of Rome to them and to all the World as having been in a measure an eye and an ear Witness of their Idolatrous and false Wayes Practices and Doctrines never having in all my dayes
be with you all Edw. Burroughs Underbarrow the 18th day of the 8th Moneth 1661. THE CASE Of the People called QUAKERS ONCE MORE Stated Published TO THE WORLD VVith the ACCUSATIONS charged upon them and their ANSWERS WE are an afflicted and Suffering People in these Kingdoms at this day Mocked Reproached Haled before Magistrates Violently abused and Imprisoned and much Hard-dealing exercised upon us This is apparently visible to all people and needs no further Proof But whether these Afflictions and Sufferings Imprisonments and Hard-dealing be Just or Unjust according to our Deserts or out of the Malice and Enmity of our Adversaries this is the Question to be enquired into Unjust and Unrighteous and out of Malice and Enmity and not of true Desert say we are these Sufferings imposed on us But Justly and according to Desert and the Laws of the Land say our Adversaries Who shall be judge in the Case between us Even the Law of God the Gospel of Christ the Scriptures of Truth the Example of Primitive Christians our Neighbours and the Witness in every Mans Conscience and to the Judgment of all these we appeal and shall abide their Sentence First We are Accused of an Heinous Crime and as if we deserved the greatest Punishments Because we are Dissenting and Differing from the Church of England and cannot Conform to all Her Worships and Ceremonies therefore are we said to be Hereticks Because holding and practizing Different Things from Her c. Plea First The Scriptures of Truth which are according to both Law and Gospel do say and Judge That they who sometimes did Dissent and Differ from some of the Church of Christ in some Principles and Practices and could not practice in all things what some others did as Romans 14. where it is signified That some of the Church of Christ believed they might eat All Things some others of the Church did eat Hearbs some esteemed One day above Another others esteemed Every day Alike this kind of dissenting and difference about Meats and Dayes and Ceremonies were amongst the Members of the True Church but What is the Judgment of Scripture in this case of Difference amongst them Not that the Dissenters one from another should be Punished and Imprisoned and Banished but ver 5. Let every man be perswaded in his own mind And One was not so much as to Judge Another in this case of Difference and Dissenting much less to Imprison one another for that Cause And in Phil. 3. 15. it is there signified That if any persons were dissenting and different in Judgment or in the growth in Grace from the rest of the Church every one was to walk in that measure of Truth as he had attained to And if any were otherwise-minded viz. Different in the Growth in the Grace of God then God should reveal the same unto them And notwithstanding their difference in Judgment whether in cases Substantial or Ceremonial yet they were still to be in Love and Unity and walk in their measures to which they had atained and they were not to be Imprisoned and persecuted as we are at this day Hence observe That the Judgment of Scriptures which the Law of God and Gospel of Christ are according to is clear for us and against them that hate us that imprison us and afflict us for dissenting and differing in some Doctrines and Practices from the Church of England But Secondly If we were indeed Hereticks and Erroneous People suppose so which never yet was truly proved of us nor can be What Judgment do the Scriptures which are according to the Law of God and Gospel of Christ give in that case Not that we should be thus imprisoned and Afflicted with corporal punishments but according to Titus Tit. 3 10 11. we should first be Admonished in Love and Exhorted once and again and then if we gain-say and will not hear Reproof to be Rejected cast Out and Denyed of the Assembly of Saints but not imprisoned and banished and according to 1 Cor. 5. where it is signified That some in the denomination of the Church did Offend against Christ and the Church and were Hereticks and Dissenters because of their Evil deeds from the True Church yet these were not to be imprisoned and persecuted in their persons but delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord they were to be Spiritually dealt withal and they were to be cast out into the Wicked World anong the Ungodly to have their portion from God with the Wicked to be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that it might be destroyed and the Spirit saved in the Day of the Lord. So if we were indeed such as these were Dissenters and in Difference from the true Church because of some Wickedness yet the Judgment of Scriptures are against our Enemies in this Case who persecute and imprison us for thus it ought not to be done unto us if the Church of England were the true Church of Christ and we in difference from her by False Principles or Evil Conversation or any thing else Thus you see the Judgement of the Scriptures and of the Law of God and Gospel of Christ is against our Persecutors Thirdly But suppose we doubt That the Church of England and its Ordinances Discipline its Worship and Ceremonies be not according to the Scriptures of Truth but are in the Form of Godliness without the Power suppose we in Conscience believe this and think we can prove it which is the very truth of the Case and therefore do deny Conformity to her lest we should sin against God and wrong our own Consciences at least as we believe What Judgment doth the Law of God and Gospel of Christ give in this Case We are Exhorted and Comanded in Scripture 2 Tim. 3. From Covetous Men and Proud Men Lovers of themselves false Accusers Despisers of them that are Good High-minded Men and Lovers of Pleasures they that have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power from all such we are to turn away And therefore we believe we are Justified by the Scriptures in turning away for these divers years past and till we be otherwise perswaded by sound Doctrine from the Ministry and Churches that are in England or lately have been and sound Reason hath not been yet shewed us to the contrary by you because they are such as the Scriptures exhort us to turn away from and because we have judged that they have had the Form of Godliness but not the Power so we are not to be imprisoned and persecuted though we differ and dissent and turn away from all them that are Covetous Proud Boasters Lovers of themselves Despisers of them that are Good High minded Men and such as have a form of godliness but not the Power But we are Judged Just and our Case not condemned by the Law of God and Gospel of Christ and by the holy
or in the day of Judgment when we and all Man-kind shall appear and come sorth to tryal and every mans work shall be tryed and all shall receive according to their deeds And so gladly would we be made manifest to all the World if that after the reading of this Book any be unsatisfied still in this matter And if any especially of the Heads and Rulers have doubts or Jealousies raised in them concerning us and the Priests and that they further would be satisfied and resolved for that end let any Wise-men propound for full satisfaction of all sorts of People that we with the consent of the chief in Authority that have power in this Nation who may preserve peace and safety among people and thereby to stop all Jealousies may freely and chearfully Four Ten Twenty Thirty more or fewer of us give as many of the wisest and ablest of the Priests and Professors a meeting for dispute at any place in England at what place time and for what continuance as they shall ascribe and consent unto and to dispute and controvert betwixt us and them any such thing and every such particular as shall or may be objected by any of the Heads and Rulers or other Grave Understanding Men wherein they are doubtful betwixt us and would thereof be satisfied that by such Dispute and opening of such causes objected full and real and toal satisfaction may be given to the whole Nation and every particular man and member therein Otherwise Let the Priests or Professors or any of them object what they can against us in our Principles Profession Faith and Practice and our whole Religion And if they shall affirm and alledge any one or more things against us that any Principle we hold or Practice we profess in any part throughout all our Religion are false Principles and false Practices and not according to Truth nor the Scriptures but shall affirm that our Religion is not the true Religion nor we of the true Church of Christ and they shall have free liberty to give their best proof and reason for what they affirm and alledge yet by the Strength of Christ and in the power and authority of God and according to the Scriptures we shall confute all their Proofs and strongest Reasons and on the contrary we shall joyn our Principles Doctrines and Practices and all our Religion and every part and particular thereof to be the very truth and agreeing with the Scriptures according to that shall maintain by lawful Arguments and plea that our Religion and Worship and all that we profess and Practice is according to the mind of the Lord and justified of him and that whatsoever is and may be spoken against us upon that account is utterly false and to be condemned and upon this we will ingage with them and with any of our Enemes of what Sect and Profession soever to the intent onely that Truth may be manifest and embraced and Deceit and Error discovered and denied And also upon such an Engagement we should agree to have the liberty freely and soberly to object against the Priests concerning their Ministry their Call their Practice their Maintenance and their Fruits and Effects and concerning their Church and Principles and Worship and whole Religion and shall hear patiently all that can be said in defence thereof by any or all of them and shall prove by the Spirit of the Lord and according to the Scriptures that their ministry is not the true Ministry of Christ nor they true and lawfull Ministers of the Gospel but shall manifest by evident Arguments that their Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects are not according nor agreeing but contrary and differing to what the true Ministry was and its Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects were in the true Apostles and among the true Churches and furthermore by the Grace of God we shall prove their Church their Worship and their whole Religion in all parts thereof to be degenerated from what the true Church was the true Worship and true Religion in the days of the Apostles and true Churches of old and these things shall we make manifest by faithful and sound Arguments according to the Scriptures that all the Earth may know and all people perceive who is in the Truth and of the true Worship and Religion and who are in the contrary and whether the Priests and that which they profess and practice for Religion or the Quakers and that which they profess and practice for Religion be of God and according to him and whether are contrary that the end of this long Travel and War and controversie may be desided and justly ended between us and all people may be resolved and satisfied concerning us and them that do oppose us And let all the Priests and Professors lay aside and give over their Houses of Correction and imprisoning people and whipping of them and stocking of us and dealing in this manner of violence and cruelty as for years by-past they have done in defence of their Religion and resisting of ours and let them lay aside their carnal Weapons and fighting against our persons and imprisoning of us about our Religion and let them come forth in sound Arguments the best they have and let us see what spiritual Weapons they have to resist us and defend themselves and let us try whether their spiritual Weapons or ours be the strongest and the most powerful and mighty and let theirs that are so prevail against the other be it ours or theirs and this is the way to try the truth and to make all things manifest and to deside and end all the whole controversies between us and them which hath been great this many years and let the Truth be set up and exalted where ever it is and all Deceit thrown down to the Ground and let us war with the Weapons of the Spirit against Errour and false Religion one in the other but le ts not hurt Creatures nor imprison Persons nor stock and whip Creatures and make them to suffer but let us thresh Deceit and whip and beat that and all false Opinions let us throw them down where they are found whether in them or in us and let us fight with the Weapons of the Spirit that are spiritual let them fight no longer with such cruel carnal Weapons and then let such as get the victory and overcome appear to be in the truth of the Church and such as falls and is overcome be manifest to be in the Error and of the false Church and Religion and let us love one anothers persons and let them act no otherwise towards our persons then we do upon theirs and towards them and let them take the liberty to deal with us and our persons as we deal with them and their persons and no otherwise And let such whether them or us that cannot prove our selves to be the true Church of Christ nor of the true Worship and true
of knowledge and there thou art till thou art become a Fool and dead to that reason thou shalt never eat of the tree of Life and therefore Flesh be silent and thou sayst thou dost not allow that reason that gets only a conclusion or an argument instead of Christ and after thou sayst the day is yet to dawn and the day Star to arise and thou cryes violently for it and here what hast thou more for an assurance of thy salvation then an argument and a conclusion instead of Christ for thou confesses the day is not dawned and then thou are yet in the night and in darkness for the day dawns and the day star arises before Christ be witnessed but thou knows no such thing as either Christ or the dawning if thou had not others testimony and that is without and thou art one Christ spoke of Since Iohn the Kingdom suffers violence and many thrust into it and thou art striving and are violent but I say thou shalt not be able till thou layst down thy contending in thy carnal wisdom and striving and resisting but thou must become a Fool and sit at Jesus feet but thou art full and rich and whole and need no Physitian and therefore thou must be sent empty away and when the Book of Conscience shall be opened thou shalt be judged for what thou hast done against the Innocent Now something in Answer to the Fourth Particular which thou sayest is a Tenent held forth by the Northern people which is A denying of the Ascension and Beeing of the Body of Christ. Answ. O thou Enemy of Righteousness when wilt thou cease to pervert the right Way of God who uttereth thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent God shall judge thee and between thee us whether thou hast not uttered Lyes and false Accusations in the Name of the Lord and put forth in Writing unto the World for truth that which is absolutely contrary unto the Truth God will reward thee thou full of subtilty according to thy deeds who takes part with the Dragon against the Lamb goes about by thy lying Slanders to render the Way of Truth which thou canst not comprehend in thy serpents wisdom odious unto all men but God taketh our part against thee and will dash thy Lyes and Slanders and thy Impudent Forehead in pieces even by that Power which makes the Earth to quake tremble which is become a reproach unto this Generation many who have heard us since we came to this City though our Enemies shall witness against thee and for us in this particular for we have oft witnessed forth and I do here again witness forth in the sight of God and men that Christ Jesus is risen and ascended far above all Principalities and Powers and the same which descended into the lower parts of the Earth is also ascended and raigns over all subjecting all unto himself that he may be Lord over all and in all and may be glorified by all and Members of his Body we are who thou enviously raylst against and Witnesses of the Body we are whereof Christ Jesus is Head and because of the Resurrection of the dead Body which is ascended we are called in question and all Sects Opinions are troubled and on an uproar concerning us and I tell thee plainly we are so far from denying the Ascension and Beeing of the Body of Christ that because of being called to witness it as being Members of it we are persecuted and reviled by such as thy self whose carnal conceptions and imaginations of Truth we do deny and do testifie unto you all that through death is the Resurrection and Ascension witnessed and every one that reads the Scripture is not witnesses of the resurrection of the body of Christ and all whose witness is onely without them other mens words which had the Witness within them we deny to be true Witnesses but are found false Witnesses of the Resurrection and of the Ascension and knows not Christ nor his body but by hearsay and whereas thou bringst many Scriptures to prove his Resurrection and Ascension I answer the Scriptures we own to be a true Declaration of the Witness which was in the Apostles of the Resurrection and of the Ascension of Christ but thee we deny who are found a Lyar and a Slanderer and thy resurrection will be unto condemnation and thy ascension will prove a descending into the Bottomless-pit for ever to be tormented except thou repent and from the Life of the holy men of God thou are razed out who art found in the way of ungodliness and thou hast nothing to do to profess their words who art out of their life nor no inheritance in their words but as thou steals them adding thy own imaginations upon them and wresting them to thy own destruction being one unlearned in the Way of God and in the Doctrine of Christ. And whereas thou sayst And thus you see how these men deny the Lord that bought them if they deny the Body that was crucified for them I answer We deny not the Lord that bought us for by him can we say we have received the end of his coming and of his Death and Ascension even he hath purchased us and set us free from the Power and Kingdom of the Divel of Lyes and Slanders and false Accusations of us by whom the Man-child is brought forth and this shall stand for thy own condition who art a wandring Star and hath no habitation in the Heavens God will plead with thee thou who hast set thy self against the Lord in Slandring and reviling his servants Now to thy fift Particular That we deny the Ordinances of Christ in which thou sayest We also deny the Lord that bought us Answ. The Way unto God and unto Everlasting Life which is Christ Jesus we do not deny but are true Witnesses that same Christ alone which was crucified at Ierusalem and which God hath raised from the dead and which is ascended in him alone is Salvation and by him also alone are all justified that believe in him and this we declare freely unto all people that Christ is the Ordinance of God ordained by him for the Salvation of all that believe and for the Condemnation of all that believe not in him and that the Way unto this Christ is not any outward visible thing but even that which is manifest from him leads up unto him even the Light by which he hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World which is Spiritual as Christ is Spiritual and whereas thou sayest there is nothing that Christ commanded but we deny it mentioning only your Baptism and Breaking of Bread which is your Idol and your Image you bow unto the one Baptism which is by one Spirit into one Body into the Death of Christ we are Witnesses of and the Bread which we break is the Communion of the Body of Christ and we being many are one Bread but the beggerly
c. Answ. Thou perverter of the right Way of God how long wilt thou go on in thy uncleanness uttering thy wrath against the Simple It seems to get power over sin and to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law is a thing of no value with thee but is it not further then thou ever camest let that of God in thy Conscience judge and answer and shew me if ever any natural man did it throughout the Scripture And as for the Pharisee it is thy own I return it to thee again thou art called of men Master and hast the chief Seat in the Assembly and standst praying in the Synagogues as they did in Christs time Friend how fain wouldst thou clear thy self to make others guilty but the guilt stands at thy door and rests upon thy own head and I rather chuse to be of that profession which abstains from those things forbidden in the Law and to have power over sin then to live in the transgression of the Law and under the power of sin Yet talking of belief in the Son of Mary whose Name Mary I may have ground to judge thou worshipst as the Papists do and the same I say much as Paul did The uncircumcision of such who keep the Law shall condemn thee in thy false faith who breakst the Law Then thou again confessest That Christ as God hath enlightened every man that comes into the World with the Law which doth convince of Sin but to this I have spoken so shall pass it only mind the Scripture which thy self hast quoted The Law is Light then the Light is the Law and gives the knowledge of sin Then thou sayst If the Spirit of Christ convince thee of Sin then it convinces of more Sins then against the Law And to this I say It seem there is some sin against which there is no Law by thy confused Story or that the Law is not against all sin Friend shew if thou canst any sin which is not against the Law if thou canst not Repent and cease thy confusion Then thou speakst against self-righteousness but hast forgotten to reprove thy self of thy Lying and Slandering and false Accusing and it is thou that preachest another Gospel then the Apostle preached he directed every one to the Word within in the heart and turned to the Light within from darkness but thou directs altogether to a thing without dispising the Light within and worshipping the Name Mary in thy imaginations and knowst not him who was before the World was in whom alone is Salvation and in no other Then thou sayest The Light convinceth of Sins but of no other then Sins against the Law as though there were some sins which were not against the Law but to that I have spoken And thou sayst It doth not shew the Soul a Saviour or Deliverer c. Answ. Thou art here in a Lye for the Light which comes from Christ doth manifest a Saviour and Deliverer and nothing else for if the Light of Christ doth not shew Christ what then can unto every one that walk in the Light Then the next thing thou provest is That God only is our Saviour there is none beside him c. But how contrary is this to that in page 42. where thou sayest They are wickedly deluded who own Christ no otherwise but as he was before the World was for Salvation For if God be the Saviour and there is none beside him then it is no delusion to own him as he was before the World was and thus I sum up thy confusion and contradictions and leave them for thee to read The next thing I observe is where thou art proving the Resurrection and slanderest the Quakers with making light of it but yet again wickedly numbring them with other Infidels that thou mightst have a cover for thy slander but I put thee to prove where they made light of the Resurrection or else prove thy self a Lyar in the sight of all Just men thou secretly slanderest but proves nothing Then thou hast raised a Query from Ephes. 4. 10. but hast not answered it though many words thou hast uttered yet little to the purpose and I return thee the same query again to answer and many other things and Arguments thou hast made to which I shall say little only mind thee of thy carnal sottishness who speakst of Christ to be four or five foot long let shame cover thy Lips thou blind Sot when didst thou see Christ in that length hast thou not here spoken of that which thou knowst not and art a busy body intruding into things whereof thou art ignorant but Fools love to be medling to manifest their own folly among whom thou art and much more stuff which I pass by as not worth naming only thy malice is against the Kingdom of Heaven within and utters thy carnal sensual knowledge of the things of God which thy imaginations shall never know The next thing I observe is where thou reckonst the Quakers to be the false Prophets which Christ speaks of which shall be before his coming and to be the Scoffers which walks after their own hearts lust which Peter speaks of Answ. To which I answer those false Prophets which Christ spake of came in in the dayes of Iohn For saith he by this we know that it is the last time for now are there many Antichrists and this was before a Quaker was heard of And if we should diligently search we should find thee in their steps through feigned words through coveteousness making Merchandise of Souls loving the wages of unrighteousness and such were the Scoffers which Peeer speaks of among whom thou art found in thy practice among them who are preaching for hire love the error of Balaam who took gifts and rewards and Christ hath said we shall know you by your Fruits and the same Fruits that ever were brought forth among the false Prophets of old grow among you in many things I could instance but he is wholly blind that sees you not Before thou wast accusing us of drinking water and now thou accusest us of walking after our own lusts but such is thy confusion thy wrath overcomes sense Then thou speaks of some who told thee to thy face thou usedst conjuration and witchcraft because what thou preachedst was according to Scriptures c. To which I say Let the guilty be reproved for we deny thy Accusation to be true upon any of the Quakers which some may think thou speakst of so thy Accusation rests between thee and them and we are clear for every Truth which the Scriptures bear witness of we do own and do not condemn any for preaching according to the Scriptures Then the next thing I observe is thy crying so loud against Christ within which indeed is the only thing without which there is no Salvation for Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates And this also I observe from thee as having traced thy path unto
departed from the Faith after the Apostles time which they 〈◊〉 would come and these do seduce and their Doctrines are of the Devil who denies the Truth which the Scripture bears witness of and say Sprinkling Infants 〈◊〉 water when they are two or three dayes old is Baptism into the Faith of Christ this is the Doctrine of the Devil and Lyes they speak in great numbers and in hypocrisie and write them forth to the World in great hypocrisie with feignedness and pretence of holiness and its plain many of their Consciences are seared How do many of them cause the poor people to suffer grievous imprisonment and spoiling of their Goods to the ruin of Families almost for their maintenance as Tythes and such like which if their Consciences were not seared they could not do also some of them cried to the rude wicked People in their Idol-temples Fight Lads for the Gospel and many who have born witness to the Truth and against their deceits have been beat and abused and knocked down as for dead in their presence and their consciences are absolute seared else they would tremble at these things Also the Apostle Peter he saw false Prophets would come in 2 Pet. 2. And false Teachers who would bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and many should follow their pernicious wayes and through covetousness with feigned words they would make Merchandize of people and they would walk after the Flesh in the lust of Uncleanness and despise Government and be presumptuous and self-willed and not afraid to speak evil of Dignities and they would speak evil of things they understand not and their hearts are exercised with coveteous practises and were cursed Children and they sport themselves with their own deceivings and these had forsaken the right Way and are gone astray following the way of Balaaâ— who loved the Wages of Unrighteousness and these are Clouds that are carried with a Tempest and they speak great swelling words of vanity and while they promise to others liberty themselves are the Servants of corruption and such were Scoffers and Mockers which would come after the Apostles dayes and they would walk after their own lusts And now according to this Prophesie of Peter who saw false Teachers coming in he gave these Characters of them whereby it doth plainly appear that this Generation of Teachers are they and of that Stock which then came in for these bring forth the very same fruits which they did which he spoke of and we know them by their fruits as Christ hath said for these have filled the World with damnable Heresies as holding forth That sprinkling Infants with Water is Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that a Steeple-House is the Church and that singing Davids Experiences in the World among wicked People in Rime and Meeter is singing to the Praise of God and these are damnable Heresies even to the denying the Lord that bought them for they deny the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ given to every man to be the only Teacher and the only Guide of man and they that do deny the Light of Christ with which every man that comes into the World is lighted to be sufficient to lead to Christ and to the Kingdom of God as these Teachers in this Age do they deny the Lord that bought them and many even whole Nations all the World as Iohn saw in the Revelations have followed their pernicious wayes and run after their Idolatry and pernicious wayes of Superstitions and they do make Merchandise of souls through covetousness with their feigned words for where they can make their Bargain to have the most money there they will preach and no where else and if any will give them more the next year they will sell that People and go to another for very covetousness by feigned words and they do walk after the flesh in the lust of Pride and Covetousness which is uncleanness of the flesh and they despise the Saints Government and Order for they will not suffer the Saints to prophesie one by one in their Assemblies according to the Saints Government but do despise that and persecute it by the government of the Beast unto whose government they are subject and not to the Government of Christ and the Saints and thus they are presumptious and self-willed presuming to afflict and cause the Children of God to be cast into Prison and suffering them to be beat and abused by their Flock out of their wicked self-wills and they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities and do speak evil of the Wayes of God and of his Truth which they understand not and their hearts are exercised with covetous practises and are cursed Children for they make poor People that have but ten Eggs give them One and that hardly can get any Fewel for the Fire pay them a Fenny for the smoak with many such other exceeding covetous practises as suing men two hundred miles to answer for three Shilling claimed by them for Tythes And these sport themselves in their vanity in their own deceiving and wheâ— they have oppressed People for their Wages and make People pay them for whoâ— they do no work and force Wages from them that never hired them which arâ— unheard of coveteous practises they sport themselves in their pride and lustfâ—lness and they are out of the right Way and gone astray from the Wayes of God which are holy and are in the way of Balaam who went after unrighteous Wages who sought for enchantment against Israel as these do and these loâ—â— unrighteous wages by taking maintenance from People by force unto whom is nothing owing by them and these are carried with a Tempest of every Wiâ—d according as the Powers of the Earth blow these are carried sometimes under such a Government and sometimes against it and so are Clouds carried aboâ—t and are unsettled on the foundation and they speak great words of Christ God and the Scriptures which are but words stolen by them because they are not spoken by the spirit of God but by a lying spirit and they promise to others liberty that they shall receive the Kingdom of God after death and that Christ hath taken away their sins with such like Promises of liberty but themselves are the Servants of corruption living in Pride and Hatred and Coveteousness and these serve sin and are Servants of corruption and they are Scoffers and Mockers and Walkers after their own lusts as it is evident in all mens sight so that according to the Judgmenâ— of Truth we judge these Teachers of this Generation 〈◊〉 be of the same root which then sprang forth for these bring forth the same fruiâ—s as they in that time did and in the Apostacy they have over-spread the whole World And also the Apostle Iude gave a Description of them according as Peter had done he saw certain men creeping in who turned the Grace of God in to Wantonnes and they were
lying Thy second proof is That we are Deceivers because sayst thou 〈◊〉 do perswade souls that Christ is crucified in them dead within them kept 〈◊〉 with something within them which was never taught by them that spoke the Scriptures c. Reply These words are falsly laid down but what thinkest thou of such who might crucifie to themselves afresh the Son of God and put him to open shame as it is written this they could not do above Stars they being men upon the Earth and Christ was sent to preach to the Spirits in Prison he that can read let him understand this Doctrine was preached by them that spoke forth the Scriptures who had the Spirit of God but in blindness I find thee and I think so I must leave thee and though I do not feed the Serpent yet my words are plain to him that hath an understanding and an ear open and Deceiver belongs to thee and at thy door it lyes and thou canst not remove it Farther thou sayst We perswade souls that that man that was born of the Virgin Mary is not above the Clouds and the Stars when as the Scripture saith a Cloud received him out of their fight Reply This is another Lye uttered without fear or knowledge or honesty we do not perswade souls to believe any such thing but bears witness to the truth of that Scripture that a Cloud received him out of their sight and we say he is out of their sight and must appear again in sight and this is a wicked way of thee to prove us Deceivers by slandering us adding more to thy own sin and the more will be thy burthen in the day of the Lord when Plagues and Torment are thy portion from which thou shalt not flye though now thou be above shame Farther sayst thou We perswade souls not to believe that that man that was crucified and rose again c. Shall so come again to Iudgment as he went away and shall raise up men and women out of their Graves and cause them to come into the Valley of Jehoshaphat thou sayst we strive to beat souls off from believing this c. Reply O how swiftly thy lying Tongue runs without fear as though neither God nor man took notice of thee or that ever thou shouldst be called to question for them many Lyes together thou hast here foulded up in one thy Lyes I deny and this to be one hast thou set thy self to tell Lyes O abominable wickedness mayst thou not tremble when thou considers what thou falsly sayst of us contrary to my words who said in the truth of my heart we own him to be what the Scripture speaks of him and not otherwise it seems thou cannot believe when I speak truth I number up thy Lyes and returns them back to thee to read and by all this is it not true that thou art of the same spirit with thy fellow and abound more in Lyes as I said in my first his was but about three thine manifold more but thy Lyes are no testimony against us that we are Deceivers but they shall lie heavy upon thee at one day when we shall be clear For in the affirmive I further say that that Christ Jesus that was crucified and rose again shall come as he went away to Judgement and the dead shall be raised and every man shall receive according to their deeds and he shal◠set to judge the Heathen round about according to Ioel 3. and thy portion in that day shall be Howling and Gnashing of Teeth for the Lyars Portion is the Lake Thou sayst again the Quakers make no difference between that Light wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned all and the Spirit of Christ he gives not to all Reply I put thee to prove that they are contrary or divided one against the other for thus Christ saith I will send you the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which must needs be the Spirit of Christ and he shall reprove or convince the World of sin and of righteousness now mark that same Spirit of the Father and of the Son who is the Comforter of the Saints is the same and not another that doth reprove the World he that can read let him understand the World cannot receive the Comforter yet have they given to them that which doth reprove them which is with the Light of Christ Jesus of the same and not contrary nor divided if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear the Error is in thy self who art without understanding Further thou sayst That every one hath that which is like the Spirit of Christ even as God as the Spirit of Christ which thou sayst is desperate blassphemy and cryes out with an out-cry O wonderfull deceit c. Reply I would have all to take notice that thou hast wronged my words in wresting of them for thy wicked purpose to have a ground of slander there is no such words in the tenth Page of my Book which thou quotest but in one place I say till thou prove the Light of Christ Iohn 1. 9. which thou confesses every man hath to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ Mark I shall say every man hath that which is one in union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure these words I must own But let the sober Reader take notice how fouly thou hast wronged my words leaving out the strength of them to take occasion of slander whe◠thou hadst proved the Light of Christ which in Iohn 1. 9. is spoken of to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ then had been a better season for this charge against me O thou impudent and shameless man so uniustly to deal against the upright who envies thee not but pitties thee therefore when thou or any man can prove the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. and Iohn 8. 12. to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ then I may own the Judgement and charge upon me but till then thou art proved a Lyar for the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. that Light is one in union and not contrary and is of the likeness of the Spirit of Christ and as good in its measure and these words I stand to to vindicate against all thy Lyes and wresting of words and out-cryes who is an unfit fellow to judge what Blasphemy is who art so blind that thou knowest not the difference of words betwixt before and from as I have shewed Repent If so be thou may find mercy Then further thou sayst to cover my self and deceit I do apply that which should be to the children of God c. And yet cannot reprehend my answer which is just and faithful that the Children of God were always counted Deceivers and this is true as thy self confesses but wickedly saith in thy answer and most lyingly too and blasphemy is falen out of thy mouth The Devil
whereas I said Christ is a mystery and unto hiâ—… he is Light and shall be Salvation where his person supposed son of Ioseph never came which words are true not gain-sayed by thee though thou ask Did he obtain salvation for any without that body which he took of 〈◊〉 Virgin Answ. That body which was begotten by the holy Ghost is not so carnal 〈◊〉 thou supposest and that spiritual Rock which followed them saved them aâ—… the same Son of God the Saviour who was born a Child to them was the Priâ—… of peace yea the everlasting Father but thy eye sees not this and therefore thâ—… sayst Here 's the place where he is not and the place where he hath not been Now thâ—… sayst Thou passes by many things which thou mightst justly examine and also many unseemly expressions O thou deceitful heart and tongue is this thy excuse when my words are Consider of this when thou hast a better understanding for its yet hidden from thee then when thou hast thus cried out against my just Answer thou tells me what I should have said Alas poor man thou reaches not what the knowledge of things eternal is by that wisdom in which thou art I need no man to teach me but the Lord. Then thou sayst Iesus Christ hath obeyed the Law and justified thee c. Reply Nay hold repent first and be turned from thy iniquities and believe in him and boast not thy self so proudly thou art in the transgressions of the Law in disobedience to it a Lyar Slanderer and Scorner one that the Prince of the power of the Air rules in a Child of Wrath and every one shall dye for his own iniquity and the soul that sins shall dye and wrath to every one that doth evil and the revelation of the Judgements of God Learn what this meanes or ask them that are of a better understanding then thy self Then thou seemst to minde me of some weakness and cries out Wonderful foolishness c. Because I said the Light of Christ given to every man Ioh. 1. 9. as thou confessest is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ and to the Grace of God but is one in their nature Mark and a man cannot possibly love one of them and hate another therefore one they are in the union leading in the same way unto the same End and where doth the Spirit of Christ give light or the Grace of God work or lead if not in the Conscience c. These are my words Now let honest men consider and Iohn Bunnion be silent what foolishness or wonderful weakness is in these words but only to the wisdom which is devillish which despiseth truth or what cause was there to blush when I wrote them as he impudently saith who cannot contradict them nor reprove them and yet railes upon them no marvel that thou wouldst pass them as thou sayst with such a poor shift to evade with a Lye that thou hast spoken to it already when as thou hast not medled of these things O let not thy impudency so sottishly carry thee for thy shame is seen and laid open its good in thy light to pass that which confounds thee which is past answering so to save thy credit among thy fellows the cause to blush is in thy self and it s brought to thy own door Then thou pleads for the Scripture to be the Rule in opposition to my Question which is not answered which was can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to to walk to Life or to come to God by then the Light of Christ which every man hath given him c. But thou mayst for shame cease pleading for Scripture rule being thy self art so far contrary to it for he that walks in the Life of the Scripture I have union with him and the Light of Christ is a more surer Testimony either to witness Justification or Condemnation then any mans words without whatsoever then my other Question was whether the Turks Iewes and thee and others do serve sin and lust because Christ hath not given you Light to discover your sins or because you hate that Light that is given and much to this thou speakest not pertinent nor answerest in plainness I leave it to the Reader to judge and to read my answer Page 17. of my first which clears truth from all what thou hast said against it in this particular Now I come to the next thing where thou Foolishly chargest me That my Doctrine is not according to Truth but a Lye Charging me to affirm that which the Apostle doth deny Because I said the Spirit is given to every man though every man receives it not and it strives with the wicked though he follow it not c. My words herein are Truth and no Lye neither contrary to the Scripture â—…nd let the Reader be judge betwixt us the Apostle saith the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal and some of these to whom he writes thus were wicked given to incest and idolatry and other sins here I prove it was given to the wicked and thou confesses the Righteous had it and there is but these two on the face of the Earth Now if thou canst find a man that is neither wicked nor righteous then thou hast advantage then some hath not the manifestation of the Spirit the Saints had the Comforter the Spirit of Truth and he the Spirit of Truth convinced or reproved the World of sin they that were not Saints but wicked had it reproving them Mark these things and let honest men judge while both thou and I am silent whether thy Doctrine which denyes that which the Scripture affirms or miâ—… which bears witness to the same thing which the Scriptures speaks be to be disowned let an equal Line measure the shame and false Doctrine is fallen upon thee and thou art offended that I should say thou bringst other vain Arguments with a vapour saying Neither I nor my fellows are able to answer c. But I say true the Arguments are vain one is The Devils are convinced but have not the Spirit or such like Now what is this to the purpose that thou contendst in that wherein no body strives with thee nor none affirms against thee and it is a vain Argument to parallel the Devil in such a case as having the Spirit but thou art so blind it s hardly possible to let thee see thy ignorance herein I may not much strive with thee onely I le tell thee of those thingâ—… and the sober Reader shall judge to instance a thing impossible to proâ—… things possible are vain Arguments so that I have herein done thee no wroâ—… Then thou cries out of my weakness and that I Blaspheme and of a great 〈◊〉 of ignorance discovered in me and bidst me be silent and falsly charges me with Presumption and such like c. Because I said thus much I leave with thee 〈◊〉 thou
Spirit is given to eveâ—… man this thou hast catched at and wouldst prove it unsound but truth is oâ—… thee and both these are true and further I say that Christ is given unto 〈◊〉 World yea to all but all receives him not and they that do not receive him 〈◊〉 Reprobates though he be given but not received and the folly and figâ—… against truth is in thy self who says it is contrary to the Scriptures to say 〈◊〉 Spirit is given to every one thou here lyest of the Scripture as it s proved 〈◊〉 I do not befool my self in saying the words or some of them I own in 〈◊〉 Book though I have written against the Book for though thou speak Châ—… words and the Apostles words yet thy voice is the strangers and thy 〈◊〉 I deny what ever words thou speakst and is not bafooling my self and 〈◊〉 I could justly end my discourse and what is said is sufficient to manifest thee and me to the honest Reader And thus far thy weapons of Slanders are broken and thy refuge of Lyes are layd waste and this also is cast by as our spoyled prey of Babylâ—â—s treasure and trampled upon and know that we are of God and be that is of God heareth us and to our God shall all bow and before him tremble And whereas thou seemest to be greatly offended and stumbling very much at my answers to thy Queries because thy carnall conceptions is not satisfied nor thy vain minde gratified having as thou thinkst great occasion against me thereby which causes thy mouth to be opened in vapouring words aloft against the simplicity of the Gospel not understanding my words for the things of the Kingdom of God is a parable to thee and sealed from thee never to be known in the reason in which thou judgest But in short thus I Reply I did not purpose to answer fully to them to feed any mans wisdom with my knowledge of the things of Gods Kingdom for the Queries were not fully directed to the Quakers so that quench thy anger and according to my answer go seek a further answer or else be thou still unsatisfied from them who are led with a spirit of delusion for such a direction requires no full answer from me nor any of us who are in the truth and not in the delusion neither did I purpose nor do I at any time to answer fully to such things as are directed in a great part to others I am not a servant especially to them that are led with a spirit of delusion to fufil thy will But yet the short answers that I gave which was not in the behalf of delusion but for the truths sake I still own though thou cannot understand them but products many bad lying wicked consequences from them and my purpose was not to feed thy foolish wisdom in answering nor to satisfie thy reason to receive praise from thee or any man for so I know it must be in hearing and seeing thou must not perceive nor understand who art of the Generation hardened and in parable is the Kingdom of Heaven unto thee and I rejoyce the rather in being a stumbling to thee in that state wherein thou standed then that I should have gratified thee for I seek not nor receives honour from man in what I do but is covered from the Worlds knowledge and know this if thou cannot receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little leaven thou shalt never know it But yet how wicked art thou in this also though not understanding me in what I said yet so fouly wronging me with above 30. false charges and slanders from my words which thou reaches not the knowledge of so it will be enough Reply to sum up thy Lyes and send them back to thee to seek them out and an evidence for them and the Querys and my Answers shall stand as they are to be judged of by honest men while we are both silent in our own cause they are to be seen at large in my first Book The true faith of the Gospel contended for c. in the 26 27 28 pages And whereas further I speak at the end of my Answers of Christ within the hope of glory and said it is that mystery which long hath been hid from Ages but now is made manifest and declared and though the wise of this World cannot receive it but speaks evil against it yet it is dear unto us and so much more precious because despised by such as him and such things are a testimony to us and against you viz. our Enemies c. As in my 29. Page of my first may be sâ—en and most wickedly this or part of it he calls babling and says he passes by it O horrible impudency What marvel that he should so belye me when as he hath called the very Scripture truth spoken forth in righteousness bablings and these things I leave the Reader to Judge of and all his Lyes thrown upon 〈◊〉 â—â—pudently and consider what ground this man hath from my answers to be seen in my first Book to broach out and belch out such a number of Lyes and Slanders in five sides of paper not any one of them charged against me falsly were spoken by me or ever in my thoughts to speak or ground given by any of my words for such productions as it is seen what lodges in the heart of such a Fellow even desperate wickedness who is without any 〈◊〉 or honesty who dare utter such things against the upright who hates not his Enemies but while I am clear in the sight of God from all his false Slanders I matter not what Iohn Bunion says of me who is as a man given up to wickedness who in less then a sheet of paper hath uttered thirty Lyes or more which I may particularly manifest before he can find evidence a great wickedness 〈◊〉 this mans Converts be good while himself is unconverted is he a Minister of Christ for shame let it not be told so well I beg not vengeance against him he leaves my answers to be read who will clear me from his lying consequences 〈◊〉 wickedly conceived and as wickedly uttered By one of Gogs Army against a Member of Jesus Now I come to reckon up his damnable Doctrines and errors which are contrary to the truth as will manifestly appear to him that is spiritual some of thâ—â— damnable without comparison Iohn Bunion said That Christs second coming is not his coming in Spirit for 〈◊〉 coming in Spirit is no coming He saith this or part of it is a lye made of hiâ— by me when as several Witnesses doth testifie in righteousness that those very words were spoken by him in Pauls steeple-house in Bedford Town Mâ— 23. 1656. as is witnessed and yet this man is so impudent that he deâ—â—â— what he spake or is ashamed of his words and so would cast the Lye upâ—â— me who is clear and the wickedness lies at his door and whereas he
all men do forget their own Promises and Oaths yet will not the Lord forget his chosen People to defend them from all their Enemies who hath again appear'd to gather his People after the long and dark Night of Apostacy and his House and Tabernacle shall be exalted over all the Earth An Objection Now many may say Seeing I challenge claim and affirm That this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scripture then they ask and say Hath there been no true Religion before this or have all these Religions been false before And seeing this hath but newly appear'd in the World was there no true Religion before And if there were any where was it And what was that Religion seeing there hath not been for many Ages such a Religion as this is And after this manner do many reason and object to themselves and raise to themselves Stumblings and conceit themselves That our Fore-fathers were of a Good Way and many of them sure were saved which were not of this Religion which did not profess and practice these things which is professed and practised by this people Answ. Now unto all these I do answer and say That this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scripture as is proved already seeing they profess and practice nothing for Religion but what the Scriptures do justifie and shew the very Example of the same things but that God had a People in all Ages and a Seed that never bowed to Baal its believed and such as did sincerely seek after God according to what they knew and they were accepted of God according to what was made manifest in that Age and Generation yet the Testimony of Truth it self and the Way of the Lord it self for many Generations hath not so clearly and purely been held forth as it is now in this Age and Generation for now the true Light hath shined and the Way of Salvation is evidently made manifest as by many Witnesses and evident Tokens which may be given and was not so clearly for many Ages past held forth and known and such who have been sincerely seeking after God though they knew not perfectly the way unto him neither had they such a pure Testimony revealed to guide them as now is manifest yet such do now rejoyce and own the Way of the Lord and the Seed of God is refreshed in them and all causes of stumbling removed and the pure Light of the Gospel is sprung forth more clear in this Age then in any Age for many Generations for the Scripture sheweth that a dark night of Apostacy hath been over the whole World and the Beast hath reigned and the false Prophet hath deceived many Nations and the whole World hath wondered after the Beast for many Ages and the Beast hath made war with the Saints and hath had power to kill them and hath put a stop many times to the Appearances of God till now at length he doth appear and the power of Hell and Death shall not stop it and they do say that they are come out of the Apostacy to the dawning of the Day again and the same Power of God and the same Truth that was in the Apostles days and the same Ministry by the Gift of the same holy Ghost as was in the Apostles dayes is now witnessed and at the time of ignorance God winked but now the eye is opened and all is called to repentance so it will not excuse any man to plead how it was with our Fore-fathers or to say Where was this Religion before these few years and such like for now the Power of God it self is made manifest which brings into the true Religion and all that are of God hear it and shall own it and shall receive the Testimony which is given It s known that there are many thousands which have not yet owned it in which there are true thirstings after God and a zeal for him and such are not condemned to be altogether out of Religion for such seek his Face and the Day is neither clear nor dark to them in which they are and such shall own and submit to the Government of Christ and they that are not under the Government are not of the true Religion as I said This is the time of Restauration and the Lord is bringing back again and a thorow Reformation will the Lord work in the Earth such as hath not been known in Ages past There hath been a Seed sown which the Devil hath catched away but now the Seed shall grow and become the greatest of all Herbs and the Fowls of Heaven shall lodge in the Branches And this is a plain Answer to all sober people for according to the Scriptures in the times of the Apostles the Day of glorious Light is sprung forth and mighty was the Power of God at that Day but since hath Darkness overshadowed all and Antichrist hath reigned and the whole World hath been made drunk with the Wine of Fornication which hath been in the hand of the Whore who hath sat upon the Beast and upon Nations and Peoples and the Gentiles have trodden under foot the holy City of God for forty and two Moneths but now is the time of Restauration as hath been promised That the Lord is bringing back his People again and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and Christ alone must reign and rule and his Kingdom set up ever the whole World And let no man be offended at what I have done for I have not reflected upon any mans person but on what he practiseth for Religion London the 10th Moneth 1657. E. B. A MESSAGE FOR INSTRUCTION TO All the Rulers Judges and Magistrates to whom the Law is Committed Shewing what Just Government is and how far the Magistrate's Power reacheth and what the Sword of Justice is to cut down and what it is to defend Whereby they may learn and be directed to discern betwixt the Guiltless and the Guilty and betwixt a Matter of Wilful Wrong by Evil-Doers which they are to Punish and a Matter of Conscience by men that fear God which they are to be a Praise unto and not a Terror and in particular divers Causes are discover'd which are prov'd to be Matters of Conscience and not of Wilful Wrong though many therefore are unjustly persecuted and afflicted as Evil-Doers With an Exposition of some parts of the Law for the Edification of such as desire to judge Righteously between Man and Man who would discern of different Causes and Iustifie the Righteous and Condemn the Evil-Doer Concerning Government and Magistracy this I have to say IT is an Ordinance of God ordain'd of him for the preserving of Peace among men for the punishing and suppressing of Evil-doers and for the Praise of them that do Well that men's Persons and Estates may be preserv'd from the Violence and Wrong-dealing of evil men And for this End Government was ordain'd of God to be set up
unless saith he I have more then an ordinary Art of hiding my self c. To which I answer Iesuites I deny and all of that Fraternity and whatsoever savours of Popery yet am I hidden from people and what I am he knows not neither the World for from that Wisdom am I hid neither can I manifest my self to that Wisdom that is devilish and knows not God nor the least of his Sons and Servants for in all those things of which we then discoursed the depth thereof could hardly be spoken of because of the darkness of peoples understandings And especially concerning Justification I was very sparing and could hardly freely declare my self yet what I spoke was a great satisfaction to many then present though the one half that I spoke is not truely related though so much as is related shall stand a sufficient Witness for me and against them that oppose me and that my words and meanings were honest This was the thing charged upon me That no man was further justified then he was sanctified Now my intent and meaning in this was honest and as about this Particular much was spoken which now I do not recollect to repeat onely P. T. hath hinted in short at things how they passed and my words shall be for ever witnessed That Sanctification is a Witness of Iustification and no man can further know himself to be justified then he is sanctified nor justified then he is restored And had P. T. but laid down my full answers as I spoke them at that Dispute there would have been no need to have written any thing in answer onely I do remember I did stand to manifest that the New Birth Sanctification and Justification were all agreeing in one and not one without another and that Christ wrought Righteousness perfectly without us and also fulfilled Righteousness in all that believe and no man is justified by the one of these without the other and that hath not the other and they hold the contrary and R. G. did publickly affirm that a man was justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the work of Sanctification which I denyed and must always deny that any man who is not born again but is in the old nature and not sanctified but is in the Pollutions of the World is justified by Christ's Righteousness neither can he in that State till he be born again and Sanctified have any benefit or manifestation of Justification by Christ and this all men shall witness though because of this I now may be falsly judged And though R. G. did openly testifie that Christ justified Sinners as Sinners yet say I all that are justified are justified through Faith and Faith doth purifie the Heart as was largely spoken by divers of us at that Meeting which is not particularly related which definition of our Justification they could not except against for we never were nor are ashamed to declare what we hold concerning Justification which is through Faith in the Blood of Christ the Seed of the Covenant and though at that time they made much jangling yet to no purpose as to convince us of any Error or any sober men there present of any Error in us as concerning that thing And whereas it is related as if I should say We are men brought up at Plow-tayle and understand not Schollar-like terms my words were not thus spoken but upon the occasion of their speaking words which is not in Scripture Language as inherent Righteousness or the like Whereupon I desired them to keep to the Form of sound words and of Scripture Language that people might understand what they spoke for said I ye are Schollars as you profess and some of us were brought up at Plow or Cart and may be do not understand Schollar-like terms though I did not mean all of us and what some of us do understand as to that I shall not now speak yet this I say the least of us do understand betwixt Truth and Error and betwixt that which is Righteous and that which is Unrighteous and in that is more peace then in the knowledge of Arts or Tongues and our knowledge in that is as Dung and Dross in comparison of the other And as to Justification upon which Subject we contended a long time though they foolishly charged us with it we do deny utterly the works of man and the works of man's righteousness as in relation to our Justification and that it is only and wholly by the Grace and Gift of God and the Righteousness of Christ who is revealed in all that believe in him by which Justification comes yet say we That Faith without works is dead and will not justifie a man but by that Faith which brings forth works even the works of God in us and through us by that Faith are we justified and according to the Apostle's words so we believe not by works of Righteousness which we have done nor by a dead Faith without Works but by a living Faith which worketh in us are we justified let vain men deduct what they may this is truth in the sight of the Lord and all men These indeed are the Particulars upon which the Controversie depended and having been some hours together they were willing to depart and R. G. would give little hearing to me when I charged him with something uttered by him at divers times in my hearing which I should have proved to be unsound Doctrine and Error had he had that patience to have stayed and whereas P. T. doth speak of having a Pope in our Bellies with such like scornful words which a discreet man would not have defiled his Mouth withal but that he must shew himself to be of that Generation of Priests who persecuted the Innocent in every Age and for his telling of our Error and recovering of our feet out of the Snare and delivering us from the Delusion its true his words stand but upon a supposition and that supposition stands upon the Report of others as he seems to intimate which is but a thing far off true credit for what Error and Snares and Delusion did P. T. convince us of in five hours discourse not any at all but the rather was forced to confess to the most part of what we delivered then what need was there to utter these his words in writing as if he had heard some great Matter of Delusion or Error but all these his words I do bear and if he hath harboured such thoughts of us as it appears too much by his words let him cleanse his Heart by Repentance lest his intended evil bruise his own head And whereas he hath commented upon a Book called A Standard lifted up which Book I own and that which is therein written and himself is forced to own what himself objects against and comments upon If saith he E. B. means so and so then his words are truth but if so and so then it is Pope-like or such like Alas
Truth so well agreed that it is possible to wrong us both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. pag. 4. Rep. That he wronged me it appears in his not relating all that I said 〈◊〉 the Dispute the Ground of this Quarrel not by half and more I kâ—… and in relating more then himself spoke by far And let sober men judge â—…ther he did not here wrong me in relating a thing that passed between us 〈◊〉 relating much more then ever he spoke and much less then I spoke if the truth of that Matter were it wrong or right Matter and my self also be not by this kind of Doctrine wronged I appeal to all honest People whilst both he and I 〈◊〉 silent so the False-Dealing and Wrong in his first Book is upon him still according to my Charge unremoved And the Lye in this his last Book in that he saith I say Falsly when I have spoken the Truth which is a Lye in the highest degree in saying when I spokâ— the truth That I spoke Falsly and his Proof in that the Truth and I do not agree is because I said in my first The Saints have no need of Scriptures to teach them but the Spirit of the Father leadeth and teacheth into all Truth Rep. My words are justifiable for It is the Spirit that leadeth into all Truth John 16. and the Saints need no man to teach them but they have the Aâ—â—inting within them and they know all things by the Unction 1 John and the Spirit of the Father is given them by which the Scriptures were given forth And the Lord is the Teacher of his People and they need not any to say to them Know the Lord Ier. 31. Ye they that witness this do not make the Scripture of none effect but own it in its place yet not as their Teacher for then they should deny the new Covenant Ier. 31. and then something besides the Spirit leads into Truth and they have something to teach them besides the Anointing but if this be all the Proof that can be given against me That I and the Truth do not agree I doubt not but â—ll Spiritual men will see the Emptiness and Weakness of the Witness against me and will be more confirmed rather then shaken that I and the Truth do fully agree though P. T. speaks otherwise falsly against me and as if I had contradicted the Apostles words which he quotes against me who saith Whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning which Scripture I do own and no way contradict it s the Error of his Judgment which so judgeth for even they for whom the things that were written were for their learning yet they were led into all Truth by the Teachings of the Spirit and they were taught of the Father and what was written to them was not written because they knew not Truth or to teach them Truth 1 Iohn 2. 21. let him learn what this means The next thing he notes is whereas I said I then proved meaning at the Dispute bâ—… Scriptures That some were perfect in this life 1 Cor. 2. 5. even perfect without sin John 1. 47. 1 John 3. 7. And to gainsay this he hath brought 2 John 1. 8. If 〈◊〉 say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us and saith he Who speaks truth in this E. B. or the Apostle as if I had spoken contrary to the Apostle Solomon also saith he tell us There is not a Iust Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not which also he brings as a Witness against what I have affirmed Rep. It s true I held forth a state of Perfection to be waited for and attained â—â—to upon Earth and I am not ashamed of my Principle neither is it found too light For that Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 5. doth testifie that some were perfect upon Earth in the dayes of the Apostles and if they were so the same is to be waited for and witnessed in this Age for the Hand of the Lord is not shortened And that Scripture 1 Iohn 3. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not and 〈◊〉 is born of God doth not commit sin vers 6 9. doth clearly manifest there is a â—â—â—te upon Earth free from sin wherein Power is received and felt over all Temptations and over the Devil even such an estate That the Wicked One canâ—…â—â—ch such that are born of God and this was the thing I held forth and do vindiâ—…e against all Opposers That the Saints may wait for and witness upon Earth to have power over sin and over its Temptations and free from the committing of sin by the Power of the second Adam living and dwelling in thâ—â— And thus must thou believe P. T. or else thou believest not Scripture â—â—â— that any are born of God or abide in Christ if thou believest not that tâ—… confess thou errest in Judgment who art unbelieving of what the Scriptâ—… bears witness of Therefore tell me plainly if thou believest That there â—…y that are born of God and abide in Christ then must thou believe 〈◊〉 do not commit sin elâ—e thou deniest the Scripture And what I held forth herein I do not contradict the Apostle nor Solomon's words for its true the Apostle said If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves but art thou so blind that thou dost not see he speaks there of a state before Confession of Sins and the words saith the Apostle If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us 〈◊〉 Sins and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness so I do agree with the Apostle's words and do not contradict them For I do say If any say they have no sin before they do confess their sin and forsake their sin and be cleansed from it I do say they are Lyars and the Truth not in them and I also say If that after a maâ— hath confest his sin and be cleansed from it and hath his sin forgiven him and witnesseth that he is born of God and does not commit sin I say he 〈◊〉 the Truth also and the Truth is in him And though Solomon did say There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sins not yet is my affirmation true notwithstanding for Solomon forgat the Lord and his Heart went after many strange Women and became a Transgressor and in that state did not know the Birth born of God which doth not commit Sin for he was but under the Administration of the Law which doth not make perfect as pertâ—… to the Conscience and peradventure in that state he being erred from God he did not see any that did not sin These things will be plain to some though perhaps thou mayst shut thine eye against them and Solomen was not our Example in Conversation I am sure nor hardly in Doctrine And thus I 〈◊〉 weighed thy Text which thou seemest to say before I have not weighed and my Principles are proved sound and
more theâ— the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them that opposed the Truth nor no Weapon shall I use against thâ—m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Spiritual and the Sword that goes out of the Lamb's Mouth 〈◊〉 the many Scriptures which he quotes page 23. â—o neither say nor sigâ—… 〈◊〉 the Letter the Writings are the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ed though Mâ—… 〈◊〉 5. 5. â—…id He would 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Lord did he then shew 〈◊〉 Letter the Writings the Scripture I say No therefore he did not 〈◊〉 Writings and the Letter the Wâ—rd of God as you affirmed â—nd sâ—… 〈◊〉 prove but thoâ—â—…test 〈◊〉 anâ—â—rovest â—othing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though mâ—ny times the Word oâ— the Lord came to such a Prophet and to 〈◊〉 Prophet as thou 〈◊〉 proved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iâ—â—l and others yet did the Wrâ—… and the Letter come to them or that which the Letter and Writings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let Wise Men judge That noâ— all thou caâ—st â—ay doth not prove 〈◊〉 Writings the Letter is â—…e 〈◊〉 of God or thâ—…â—…ver any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—hat 〈◊〉 better Proof be given which I neâ—â—◠〈◊〉 need not revoke any 〈◊〉 that I have said contrary viz. Thâ—◠〈◊〉 Letter 〈◊〉 tings are the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called But still I say The 〈◊〉 tings and Letteâ— are not the Word 〈◊〉 the â—â—ing wriâ—â—en of is the Word 〈◊〉 that lives forever Then 〈◊〉 that I charged R. G. with saying whâ—â— I had my 〈◊〉 in my 〈◊〉 the Dispute I had the â—…ing signified in my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which thiâ—◠〈…〉 first Relation had much â—â—â—â—â—fied but now he seeâ—… to acknowledges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and excuses it by supposing it was A Slip of his Tâ—… the higheâ—â—â—…tter of 〈◊〉 in it 〈◊〉 â—s for the words 〈◊〉 only 〈◊〉 self but diâ—… others do will 〈…〉 them spoken by R. G. 〈◊〉 Fellow Dâ—…tant and had he or 〈…〉 a Sâ—… of the Tongue 〈◊〉 had gone no â—…ther 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—◠〈◊〉 in thy 〈…〉 lation gave a wrong Account thereof and had laid down the thing quiâ—◠〈…〉 wise then he spoke it this made the matter more a Transgression and thy 〈◊〉 count to be false neither am I reaâ—y to catch words from the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 ponâ—â—t as thou chargeâ—â— me buâ— that Charâ—â—â—… â—…â—…ust needs make use of it to shew the Folly 〈◊〉 sâ—â—h men that will so do 〈…〉 of their own Moutheâ— often and by their own words to confound them 〈…〉 â—…hou have me to give away 〈◊〉 just Cause through neglect of hearing 〈◊〉 â—…ing notice of such fouâ— words as to say I had the Thing in my hâ—…d that was 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Bible when I 〈◊〉 the Bible in my hand and so â—et Deceit a top on me 〈…〉 of reproving Evil I am otherwise taught do thou judge what thou 〈…〉 my Principles are found to agree with the Scriptâ—re for it 〈…〉 shall be â—…ed by 〈◊〉 words and by his words shall 〈◊〉 be condemned 〈…〉 â—…y Answers to his Qâ—eries raised from some words of mine writâ—… 〈◊〉 The Standard c. My Answer sayst thou is little else 〈…〉 thing over again c. Now I say Itâ— needless here to tranâ—… 〈◊〉 and Anâ—…rs over again but let them be looked in my first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Something of Truth Made Manifest c. wheâ—… it may be seen that 〈…〉 sufficiâ—â—t and laid down to the satisfaction of all reasonable 〈…〉 be resolved though thou sayst Thâ—â—â— i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evidence of Truth 〈…〉 first but dost not at all discover the falsness 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 any partiâ—…ar 〈…〉 been right for thee to have â—â—â—e and not to â—ave charged evil 〈…〉 my Answers and prove nothing but 〈…〉 believe him exâ—… 〈…〉 â—is words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oracle for them â—…t â—â—â—e recâ—â—ved the good 〈…〉 cannot believe him 〈…〉 Conclusion he charges me 〈◊〉 â—…sh kind of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Wâ—… can be in the 〈◊〉 of sâ—ch 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 so ba◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 sâ—… 〈◊〉 wâ—â—ds when in his former he 〈◊〉 â—…luded That I 〈…〉 Doctrine and weakened the 〈◊〉 o◠〈◊〉 Scriâ—… to 〈…〉 â—…ng thoughts of them and such 〈◊〉 because I â—…d affiâ—…d the 〈…〉 saying The Devil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scriâ—… 〈…〉 I not Reason to question what is in his heart who had the boldness 〈…〉 â—o 〈◊〉 evilly against me as he dâ—d 〈◊〉 proving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—o what I said And in that I did charge Darkâ—ess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—pon 〈◊〉 I do and may still till he Repenâ—â— for doth he not accuse me falsly in 〈◊〉 things as in saying My Principles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 light c. but proves not partiâ—… his Charge and in his first Book accused us as if we had a Pope in our 〈◊〉 which words are both Lies and Scornful and are not thâ—â—â— things true 〈◊〉 that he is in Darkness and Blindness and so my Charge is 〈◊〉 false upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saith He will not judge E. B. â—astily c. 〈◊〉 Hast not thou falsly judged me already 〈◊〉 many things as I have shewed 〈…〉 the Lord in time may let thee see thy judgment is false and awaken thy 〈…〉 to Repentance and then shalt thou confess I have done thee no 〈…〉 but the Wrong-Dealing lies at thy Door so that by what is said the 〈…〉 thy Book is a Lye and utterly false which is Some Principles of Edw. â—… called a Quaker Examined and found too light 〈…〉 Now in this I shall not be Judge altogether in my own Cause but leave 〈…〉 the view of sober Men and require their Judgment when they have read 〈…〉 â—…erly over what one particular instanced by him is proved to be unâ—ound 〈…〉 light for according to the Testimony of the holy â—en of God in Scripâ—…â—â—â—reby may I confirm the Truth of what I have and do hold forth and to 〈…〉 â—…ns Conscience do commend my self to be approved in the sight of God 〈◊〉 good Report or bad Report of men I regard not but trâ—â—d over them both 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rein the Truth is wronged I am bound to give my Evidence for it and 〈…〉 opposers and that is the very end of this my present Work to contend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth and not for Mastery though Truth doth give me Mastery over 〈◊〉 and to hold forth the same Faith Light and Truth which the Apostles 〈…〉 before the Apostacy which hath been clouded in all this dark Night of â—…cy which hath been over the World for many Ages since the Man-child 〈◊〉 â—…ght up to God and the Woman â—â—ed into the Wilderness spoken of in the Revelations but now the Light is made manifest and the Glory of the Lord is revealing and the Day is dawned and the Night is over to â—…y and the subversion of this Ministry now in England is clearly seen from 〈…〉 Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles And now as concerning this Controversie between Pâ— Tâ—â—â—â—â—â—r and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whoever is not satisfied herewith but desires a full and true Account of the 〈◊〉 may peruse his first Book called
God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of him who is now appeared in Power and great Glory to gather his People to Himself This is to go abâ—… among all people wâ—o arâ— worshipping in Tempâ—… made with hands â—nd who are under this Ministry and are of 〈◊〉 Church aforementioned that they may come to consider and see the Erâ—… of their Way of thâ—… Worship and of their Miâ—… And this is a Visitation from the Lord unto them all by a Friend 〈◊〉 all your Souls E. B. Some False Principles And ERRORS DISCOVERED And REFUTED 〈…〉 Answer to a Catechism-Book which is said to contain The Principles of Religion put forth by a nameless Author But is supposed to be the work of one Samuel Eaton a professed Minister of the Gospel among the Sect of the Independants in Châ—shire But upon true Examination he is found to be teaching the Traditions of Men for the Commandments of Christ and his Principles are proved to be not according but contrary to the SPIRIT of GOD and the Scriptures To the READER THE Reason and Cause of this being sent abroad is for the better Information of all but more particularly for the good of that Assembly to whom Samuel Eaton is Minister and Pastor that they may know the Truth from Error and the Way of Righteousness from all false Wayes and may turn frâ—â— Idol-Shepherds that destroy the Vine-yard and tread it down and may 〈◊〉 to Christ and receive him who is the chief Shepherd to feed his Flock with the Bread of Eternal Life And the Reason why these False Principles are charged upon Samuel Eaton is this It being doubtful to some who was the Author of that Catechism wherein these Principles and Doctrines were held forth John Gredley and Anne Sheeld by name were with the said Samuel Eaton and asked him If he owned that Book the Catechism and he said He would maintain all in it That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answer THE Wayes of the Lord are Equal and Just but the wayes of the Sons of Adam are altogether corrupted and different and contrary to the Wayes of Salvation And the Wisdom that is of this World is Foolishness with God and its End is Destruction to its self and to all that walk therein And what is Man that he shall prescribe a Way to his Makerâ— and who is it that will be more wise then God to â—et him a Way how he must â—…ch his People Therefore in-vain have men laboured and have reaped to â—…selves nothing but Wind and Confusion And in vaâ—â— have they sown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to reap after them whose Fruit hath been Emptiness and not filled the Hand of the Gatherer And in particular this Book with which I am now â—…ing is the Fruit of an empty Tree which cannot satisfie the hungry 〈◊〉 nor comfort the weary Seeker for the Satisfaction and Comfort of the â—…ing hungry Soul dependeth only upon the Lord and upon the Bread of â—â—fe that commeth down from God and the soul that eaâ—â— thereof is â—…ed and comforted forever and hungereth no more nor thirsteth any slâ—… but the Fountain is in him and the Well springeth up unto Eternal Life 〈◊〉 goes no more forth And if so be that all herein were true and souâ—… Doâ—… and were learned so as to express it over again in words this might be 〈…〉 the soul still remaining in Anguish and under Sin and Death though 〈◊〉 in the Knowledge that is from below and yet in a farther Ignorance of God for the wisdom of this World knows not God neither can it teach not receive the knowledge of the things that pertain unto Life Eternal but to the Sâ—…e and to Fools doth the Lord teach and reveal the Knowledge of his Kingdom and it is not received from Books nor the Teachings and Tradition of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 by the Manifestation of the eternal Spirit which doth lead into all Truth â—…eveals the Mysteries of Salvation The first thing that I take notice of is this thou sayst God is a Spirit 〈◊〉 he is one in Beeing and is to be distinguished into three Persons and the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost are Personal Relations and if one be a Person such are the other c. Answ. The Father Son and Spirit is one this we believe and know according to the Scriptures but as for thy word Person that is carâ—… 〈◊〉 â—oo low a word to denominate God by who is Infinite for God and the Spirit hath no Person nor cannot truly be distinguished into Persons for a person has relation to Place Time and Change and is not in all places at all tiâ—es at â—…e and the Scriptures know no such distinction for God is a Spirit and hath no relation to one Time Place or Alteration more then another but filleth Heaven and Earth and his Presence is in all and over all who is bleâ—… forever and is infinite and without Person or confined Beeing and the Sâ—…pture no where in true Translation doth denominate God Christ and the Spirit by Persons and Personal Beeings nor doth distinguish them into â—…ee Persons for Persons are related to carnal as I have said and Persons is â—oo low to denominate God and Christ and the Spirit by So thy Principles are unsound and not agreeing to the Spirit of God and the Scriptures and therefore not to be believed nor received Whereas thou sayst That the one standing Rule according to which God is to bâ—â—…ht worshipped and served is the holy Scriptures in which God hath revealed himself in all things which he would have believed and doâ—e c. Answ. It is the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit was and is within the Saints that leadeth into all Truth and teacheth to kâ—… all things and that Spirit of God only is the standing Rule to walk in and to walk by it was the Rule to Abel Enoch Abraham and the rest of the â—…ly Fathers that lived before any Scripture was written and it was the Ruâ—… to the Prophets to Christ and to the holy Apostles they all followed the Spirit and walked in it and spake and wrought and acted as the Spirit of God within them moved them and led them it was not the Scriptures but the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures that was the standing unchangâ—…le un-erring Rule of worshipping serving and obeying the Lord God and that same Spirit is the standing Rule to us also For the Apostle commandeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Spirit and that which we are to walk in is our Rule And as many 〈◊〉 the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and then the Spirit is their 〈◊〉 and that guides the Feet in the Way of Peace And in the Spirit is God â—…pped For they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the â—… and such he seeketh to worship him For it is in the Hearts of his People 〈◊〉 within them that God revealeth himself by his Spirit For it is the Spirit 〈…〉 the thing â—f
I say would not many Sects ere this day have prevailed one against another had not the Powers of the Earth stopped and limitted whom they would and given liberty to set up whom they would But now the Light of the Day is arisen and hath appeared and the Lord is making a Way to establish his own Religion by his own Power and he is gathering his Seed who shall wax stronger and stronger and shall prevail through all Opposition through all false Sects and false Worships of the Earth and they shall wax weaker and weaker and shall never be established in Righteousness but they and the Power that upholds them shall be broken together and this will the Lord bring to pass in his Day And thus I have shewed you what true Religion is and how it cannot be established and how it may be and what the Authority of earthly Rulers is and how far it extends and do shew that true Religion cannot be settled thereby but by the Lord alone it must and that it is the Work of Christ's Ministry and not of earthly Power by violent Laws to establish Religion And this is a testimony from the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to ye Rulers and Parliaments that make Laws and minister Laws meddle not with Religion to establish one Sect or Sects and to limit and throw down others but fear the Lord God and wait for his Wisdom and remember that that hath been a Rock whereupon many before you have been split and brought into confusion even when they have gone about to limit or stop or establish Religion how have they been confounded and never had success from the Lord to such endeavors for the Lord hath never shewed countenance for many Generations to such as have attempted to make men religious by outward Laws and to settle Nations therein by outward Laws Wherefore now be wise ye Rulers and kiss the Son for the Wrath of the Lord is already kindled and he will break in pieces and dash Babylon's Children against the Stones and confound the great Whore the false Church and all false Sects her Daughters who have been brought forth and set up in Nations ever since the Woman the true Church hath been fled into the Wilderness and the Beast hath carried the Whore born her and upheld her and she hath journeyed through Nations upon the Beast and the Beast hath defended her if any man hath an Ear let him hear and this is a Visitation to ye Rulers and to all that make Laws and minister Laws By a Friend to Righteous Men. E. B. Satan's Design DEFEATED In a Short Answer to a Manuscript sent by a Priest out of Sussex to a Member of this present Parliament full of railing Accusations whereby he hath secretly smitten the Innocent by a secret desiring the Persecution of the People of God But herein his Folly and Madness doth appear that while he hath accused others falsly himself is found guilty of the same thing With Invitations of Love to the present Authority that they may save themselves from being the Executioners of the Priests malice least the Lord destroy them A Certain Paper being come to my hand which is said to be written by one Priest Iackson and sent to a Member of Parliament containing divers Particulars charged as Errors upon the dispised People called Quakers wherein he saith he hath set down some of their Tenents which they maintain unto which Manuscript I am moved to write something in answer as to clear the Truth from his foul Aspertions which he casts upon it to the intent that the said Member of Parliament and the whole House may be better satisfied and resolved wherein they doubt of every Particular that the Truth may appear when as the foul Vail of the Darkness and Slanders is removed That the Holy Scriptures are not the Word of God nor the Saints Rule of Faith and Life neither is it the duty of every one to search them Answ. The Holy Scriptures that were given forth by the Spirit of the Lord as holy men of God were moved they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise Luke 1. 1. and that which the Saints had handled and tasted of the Word of Life that they declared forth in Words and Writings Acts 1. 1. and the Scriptures as they were given forth by the Spirit of God are a true Declaration of what is to be believed and practised in relation to eternal Salvation It is a true Testimony concerning God and his mighty Works and of Truth and Righteousness and it is a Testimony also of the Devil and what he is and of his Deceits and Errors and Uâ—righteousness so the Scriptures are Words given forth by the Spirit but Christ is the Word that was before the Scriptures were for in the begining was the Word of God and the World was made by it and the Word shall endure for ever and Christ's Name is called the Word of God And though the Scriptures are profitable and were given forth to be read and to be fulfilled yet they are not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life unto the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures that is the Rule and Guide the Teacher and Leader into all Truth and them that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and if you walk in the Spirit saith the Apostle you shall live and as many as walk acording to this to wit of the Spirit Peace is upon them and so the Spirit of God is the Rule of the Saints Faith and Life and the Spirit leads them to walk in the fulfilling of the Scriptures and according to them And as for all the Priests in England who do profess the Scriptures to be their Rule out of their own Mouthes will God judge them who are found walking contrary to the Scriptures in Life and Doctrine and Practises while they cry it up for their Rule and condemn all that will not say as they â—ay And the last part of this Proposition is utterly false for we never do assert that it is not the duty of every one to search them but we bid every one search the Scriptures and every one ought to search them but yet we say that none understands them but who have the Spirit that gave them forth nor none can profit thereby but by the Spirit that gave them forth which works the same Truth in the Heart which the Scriptures without declare of and this I do affirm they are the Words of God and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Faith and Life to the Saints and all men ought to search the Scriptures and to believe what is therein written and to receive and enjoy Christ who is the Substance and the End of all Things the first and last the beginning and ending and in him the Scriptures are fulfilled and finished They do deny the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Christ
The Scripture was the Foundation of Foundations but when he heard this he ran away and fled like a Hireling and would not stay and I was and am ready in the Presence of God and any sober men to prove this to be false Doctrine and of the Devil and him to be no Minister of Christ who holds it forth And all you sober minded men may be ashamed of him who managed his work with so much wickedness and impudency while he staid and when it came to the very trial then he run away and would not stand though I desired him hereby did his guilt appear is flying the tryal and this is the substance of the Business though not every particular word and I have gathered it up to send you and him that when you see it and consider and read what you have done you may be ashamed of him and of your own unreasonableness And further He is already proved and may be more largely hereafter to be one that God never sent both by Conversation and Doctrine and no Minister of Jesus Christ and not only in the House but when we were come forth such was your Violence to the stopping of us when we were pasting and had not the Mayor prevented it our Suffering from some of you had been more then it was let the Fear of God strike you and let his Light search Wicked and Ungodly Hearts and repent of your doings and cease to do Evil and turn from your Deceiver if you love your own Souls and learn the Way of Righteousness and Peace which you have not yet known for in the broad way you are and the end of it will be unto your everlasting Destruction And to you this is a Warning and a Visitation from the Lord by a Lover of your Souls who is true though by you called and counted a Deceiver and this in Love to your Souls is sent unto you E. B. Here also followeth certain Queries to Christopher Fowler the same time to which he never yet could give any Sober Answer therefore I here insert them that he may yet give his Answer Christopher Fowler SEeing thou art a man so irrational and so unsober to speak and fairly to debate things in Discourse and thy Auditory so rude and inhumane in Behaviour and words therefore to thee these few Queries I propound to try thee whether thou wilt shew the spirit of a Man by writing more then by speaking seeing therein I have tryed thee to be more like a Wild Inhumaine Creature than a Sober and Upright Christian. Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was framed by it and it shall endure forever hence I query of thee I. Whether the Scriptures be the very Word of God yea or nay Seeing the Scriptures were not in the Beginning neither was the World framed by them neither can they endure forever hence I query of thee II. Whether the very Word of God be Scripture yea or nay Seeing it is confessed that which is written of and declared of in the Scriptures is the Word of God and the Truth which shall endure forever hence Iquery of thee III. Whether the Scriptures the Writings and the Thing or Subject declared and written of are not two distinct things so as one may have the one and not the other yea 〈◊〉 nay Seeing God and his Word Will and Mind is Eternal Infinite and Endless hence I query of thee if thou hast an Understanding answer IV. Whether God his Word Will and Mind is or can be contained or holden in Scriptures and Writings or but only part of the Declaration of him of his Word Will and Mind yea or nay Seeing such were false Prophets which preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for Gain from their Quarter hence I query of thee V. Whether by this Rule art not thou proved a false Prophet who preachest for Hire and takest Hire for Preaching and hast a Quarter reading of some part of it from which thou seekest Gain answer in Plainness Seeing every Tree is known by its Fruit as Christ saith hence I query VI. Whether by this rule thou that bringst forth the same fruits as the false Prophets did viz. Lies Lightness Pride Covetousness and false accusing art not the same Tree viz. a false Prophet Seeing they were false Prophets who ran and were not sent and did not profit them the people at all but clothed themselves with the Wool and prepared War against them that put not into their Mouths c. hence I query of thee VII Whether by this rule thou art not proved a False Prophet who canst not prove that thou art sent of God neither are the people profitted by thee but are rude and wanton and wicked and thou preparest war against them that put not into thy mouth by suing them at law for Tithes c Seeing Scorning Lying Slandering Envy Hatred Lightness c. with much more of which thou art guilty are the fruits of the flesh and of the Divel hence I query of thee VIII Whether by this rule art thou not proved to be no Minister of Christ but of the Devil and a Servant to him and a Liver to the Flesh and not in the Spirit in whom these Fruits of Darkness and of the Flesh are abounding Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the beginning and Christ Jesus is the Foundation and no other can be laid hence I query of thee IX Whether by this rule thou art not proved a Deceiver and thy Doctrine false and Error and contrary to Scripture who said the Scriptures are the Word of God which were not in the Beginning and said that the Scriptures which are not Christ are the Foundation of Foundations and whether this Doctrine of thine doth not deny Christ and so art proved to be Antichrist answer according to Truth Seeing thou confessest thou hast Hire for Preaching yet sayst thou preachest not for Hire hence I query of thee X. Whether any of the People of Reading would give thee so much a Year if thou didst not preach to them and if no then whether they do not give thee so much and thou receive it because thou Preachest unto them or did they give thee so much before thou preachest or will they give thee any when thou dost cease to preach to them try them when thou wilt and prove thy self a true Prophet by Preaching some years and receiving nothing and till then I charge thee to be a false Prophet Seeing the Ministry which Christ Jesus sent by the Apostles did bring people that they needed no man to teach them but as the anointing within them hence I query of thee XI Whether by this rule thy Ministry is proved not to be of Christ Iesus nor thou sent of him by which none can come to this condition that they need no man to teach them produce any one if thou canst and so a Ministry of Anti-christ
more clear opportunity for I cannot be at Okingâ—â—â— the day mentioned by thee because my service is already determined for that day and for some other reasons also in my own breast Let me have a plain answer from thee that I may dispose of my self is the Lord guides me for his service This is all for present I do desire who am a Friend to all that love the Lord. Reading the 19th of the 10th Moneth 1659 E. Burroughs But to this Letter his Answer was he would not meet me at Reading for there was no need of Dispute there and therefore it is my present work at this time for to answer his ten Particulars in writing and to make them publick to â—ll that all may judge of this matter And indeed but that for these teâ— particulrs Charges and that truth may be clear from those Charges in his ten Particulars I believe I had not thus proceeded in this publick manner but because â—e ceaseth not to speak evil of the Truth and yet will not come forth fairly to Tryal neither will answer me any Queries in publick but keeps a secret reviling and reproaching therefore do I thus proceed Answer to the first Position Thy Major and thy Minor are both lame and both false and thy so conclusion falls to the Ground for the Quakers do not pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but they in sincerity say that Christ is the Word of God Io. 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. and the Scriptures are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise and this Testimony is according to the Scriptures Luke 1. 1 Acts 1. And it is not Heresie nor Blasphemy to deny the Scriptures to wit the writings to be the Word of God but the truth written of and those things declared of in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 â—he Word of God and not the writings which are Scriptures But this iâ—â—â—â—the◠〈◊〉 to before mâ— so I pass it Answer to the second Position Thy Major Position is uâ—â—â—â—ly 〈◊〉 and not grounded upon any part of the Scriptures so that the Niâ—… and the Concluâ—â—â—â— are both denied and cast out for a man mâ—y sâ—y That Chrisâ—â—â—e Foundation of Faith and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Life for thus the Scriptures say and a man may lawfull deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faâ—â—â— and Rule of Life and neither be Heretick nor Blasphemer was the Apoâ—â—â—e a Blasphemer and a Heretick who said No other Foundation could be laid but thâ—â— which was laid already which was Christ And was he a Heretick and a Blasphemer that said The Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and exhorted to walk â—y the Rule of the Spirit and are the Quakars Blasphemers and Heretiâ—â—s who â—old forth that Truth the Apostles held forth and who walk by the Spirit wâ—… according and not contrary to the Scriptures O thoâ— Perverter of the right way of God who hast falsly accused the Innocent in thy illiterate Logick Answer to the third Position In this thou hast falsly accused but yet let us câ—â—sider thy words There was a Nature in that Maâ— Iesus Christ that was born of tâ—e â—â—â—gin that was subject to cold heat thirst and hunger and subject to be tempted of the Devil and this nature was not God whose nature is Infinite Eternal Unmeasurable me sâ—bject to hunger nor thirst nor to heat and cold nor subject to temptations so that a man may say lawfully and be no Blasphemer that there was a Nature in him which was â—ot God and yet the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him too and he is the Everlasting Father and the Father is in him and he in the Father and thus by a sound interpretation of the Word God by Nature thy Major and Minor and Conclusion are all made void Answer to the fourth The good works of the Saints are wrought in God and by his Spirit and its God that works in them to will and to do and all such Works are worthy Works glorious Works and blessed Works even unto Eternal Life as the Scripture saith Glory Honour and Peace be unto every man that â—orketh good Rom. 2. 7 10. And no man by Faith without Works is justified for Faith without Works is dead and a dead Faith doth not justifie This is our Faith and the Faith which the Apostles were of and we are neither Hereticks nor Papists no more then were the Apostles and thy argument is vain and falls to the ground and hath no weight in it unto sober Minds though Self-righteousness is altogether Abomination to the Lord and justifieth not any man Answer to the fifth Position A man may deny the Sprinkling of Infants and the administration of Bread and Wine as is held forth in your Assemblies and be neither Antichristian nor a Heretick for the Institution of sprinkling Infants and administring of Bread and Wine among unconverted people was never ordained of God nor practised amongst the Apostles if thou sayst it was prove it out of the Scriptures or else stop thy Mouth and to deny such Ordinances and Practices which God never commanded nor the Saints of forâ—er Ages ever practiced is not Antichristian nor Heresie but thu do the Qakers and tâ—â—â—â—fore they are not Antichristian nor Hereticks upon this accompâ— and tâ—â—â— thy Position is not worth any thing for the end proposed by thee but thy Weakness and Folly is made manifest and thy idolatâ—ous Prâ—ctices so much plâ—â—â—ed for by thee are denied and opposed by the Spirit of the Lord. Answer to the sixth Position As for the sin of Infants we do not say That Infants in general that is to say every particular Infant that is 〈◊〉 hath been horn into the World has Sin for some were fillen with the holy Ghost and some were â—â—â—ctified from their Mother Womb and what Sin had such And the Scriptâ—re speaks That the Unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Beliâ—ving Hâ—… eâ—se 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Câ—ildrâ—â— unclean but now are they holy And what sin had these So that â—â—y maâ—… is proved defective and so thy minor and thy conclusion is worth nothing though as to the general part we do believe there is a nature whereby all are Children of Wrath in Degeneration Answer to the seventh This is a false Accusation thy minor Proposition and is a Lye and so thy Conclusion is utterly false Answer to the eighth As for the Christian-Sabbath we do not deny that for Christ is the Saints Rest and the Seventh day of the Week is the Iews Sabboth and not the Christian-Sabbath and so this is but a false Accusation as the rest And as for the first day of the Week which you observe for Sabboth you have neither binding Example nor express Command in Scripture for that practice Answer to the ninth As for the singing of David's Psalms in Rhime and Meeter and in the Custom as practised amongst you we do utterly deny to be any Ordinance of
Christ and his sake we bear all things having Prophesie and Example before us of the same things that came to pass between the Men of this World and the People and Saints of the Most High And for as much as one that subscribes himself George Willington of Bristol City hath publickly appeared in Print even in the Work aforesaid with his Accusations and Reproaches against the People of God whom he in scorn calls Quakers in his Book called The thrice Welcome of King CHARLES the Second c. Because of which his Accusations are the very present Occasion of this my present Work and that his Accusations may be turned backward and the minds of Men even of King Charles may be better informed for he hath accused us to the King and being we are somewhat concerned in this matter being thus reproached and that to the King who hath yet little knowledge of us and our Principles therefore it is upon me to give reasonable Answers to that Part of his Book wherein we are concerned and accused lest that the King to his own hurt should receive such Accusations for Truth when as they are otherwise and so be induced to proceed upon Reports if the Charge should not be answered And first I shall affirm and prove it in its season That this same Man whose Accusations I am now going to answer hath proceeded in the same spirit of all the false Accusers beforementioned and he hath lifted up his voyce in contempt of the Lord's People and hath rendered an evil Report of the Lord's Elect and though we forgive our Enemies him and such as he yet will the Lord plead with and give unto them according to their Deeds and we only may reprove them and leave Vengeance to the LORD our GOD unto whom it belongs Now though we are and have been thus proceeded against ever since we were a People even falsly reproached and all manner of evil spoken against us foâ— the Name of Christ by them whose Hearts are filled with Fury and Rage against us yet we are known in our integrity unto the Lord who hath placed his Nâ—me with us and we know one another in Faithfulness and Truth and Righteousness and I hope we have a Witness in many Consciences even of our Enemies and also of many in Bristol that as to our Doctrines Practises and Conversations they are according to the Truth and answerable to the Scriptures and justifiable even of the Witness of God in all sober-minded People even of them that have not yet joyned themselves to us and we are known to that in many even to the Witness of God in their Consciences to which in all we daily commend our selves in Doctrine Practise and Conversation that thereby onely we may be known and approved and we praise not our selves neither do we boast of what we are sâ—ving in the Lord yet from time to time we do and can make our Appeal in the sight of God to the just Principle of Him in all Men and even to the King before whom we now stand accused by this our Enemy do I make this desire though yet we are in a great measure Strangers to him in Doctrine Practises and Conversation that he may in all Cases of this and other Matters shew Moderation and the Spirit of Meekness and may first try all things and then he may judge the more justly for we are not afraid to be tryed before him and all the World in any Matter of Doctrine or in any Part of our Religion and we should judge it greatly honourable in the King to hear our Answers as well as our Enemies Accusations and to the Witness of God in him we can appeal for determination in any matter that is or may hereafter come in controversie before him concerning us And it is most certain that the proceedings of George Willington in this case of his accusing us to the King is not in love to Us nor to the King and his Government but altogether contrary as upon divers found Reasons I might â—emonstrate and may in its season and his present work against us is from old in-bred Enmity and Malice against us who would have us destroyed if it were in his Power for he hath formerly manifested himself in writing Reproaches and Slanders against us which were sufficiently answered and hereproved and refuted to his great shame among all sober People to which he never yet replied as being too Ignorant and too weak ever to clear himself from what is charged against him in the Answer given to his former Book but now as I have said out of and from that bitter old long-seated Enmity and devouring Malice he hath again appeared in Print against us supposing himself to have so excellent opertunity more then ever before to have his devouring mind satisfied of us and therefore hath he in haste presented the King with a Welcome partly of Reproaches and Accusations against the People of God but his Heart hath deceived him in this case for we shall live and not die God will preserve us and no man shall destroy us Now it had been a Welcome of love far more to the King to have sought his Mercy and Meekness towards all at his first enterance into the Government and the rather to have stirred him up thereunto then to seek to provoke him to rigour and wrath against any to destroy them as this Welcome of Willinton's tends unto which is not true love to the King but rather a preparing a Net for to entangle him and to lay stumbling Blocks of Iniquity before the Feet of the King that he might be destroyed and fall and never rise And let the King consider this for if he be provoked by any means to dâ—stroy or seek to overthrow the Innocent People of God that same shall be a Net to entangle him to destruction and a stumbling Block to fall upon and be everlastingly broken So that hereby the Welcome of Geo. Willington doth appear to be not of love but of ignorant hatred to the King and indeed it is such especially that part of it now under hand that it deserves reproof more then acceptation even from the King if he rightly consider the ground and end of the Author in his Accusations against us notwithstanding his seeming fawning and Flatteries by which he appears to be some Pick-thank or some News-teller or rather Tale-carrier for some hope of Promotion or Reward But I wish better to the King then that he receive or accept of the false Informations of this Author our Accuser or of any such like lest that he ensnare himself and be taken and stumble and fall in receiving mis-Informations instead of Truth and thereupon proceed in judgement or censure unjustly which is a way to destroy himself Let him take heed to himself I desire better for him and that he may shut his Ear against evil Informations and may never have his Heart opened to the sheding of Blood
or to persecute any for their Conscience and the exercise thereof towards God And now I come to the Accusation it self which is this in substance That the Quakers are Enemies unto and have sought to root out the true Protestant Religion The words are these calling upon the King to honour the Lord which saith he is done by establishing and preserving the true Protestant Religion which of late years hath been in great danger to be rooted out by Anabaptists Quakers and Atheists page 6. line 1 2 3. of his Book Answ. In answer to this divers things are considerable as to the manner of his Charge against us That this Accuser hath proceeded in the same manner and by the same spirit as the Iews Scribes and Pâ—â—â—isâ—â—s and chief Priestâ— proceeded against Christ Jesus for they numbred him with Transgressors as it is written and crucified him between two Thieves that they might add to his Afflictions and bring him under the greater reproach to Ages after and thus this Accuâ—â—â— hath done in numbring the Innocent People of God called Quakers with and among Transgressors even that he may the more add to their Reproach and have his Accusation heard before the King even that it might be received for truth as if the Quakers were no better then Atheists that deny God for for this end this Accuser in these Terms vilified us and made us equal in this account to the Atheists and thus numbered us with Transgressors and Sinners and that unto the King and for this end no doubt that we might be destroyed and cut off and crucified with such as deny the Lord God Oh how unjustly and unmercifully hath this our Accuser proceeded in thus dealing towards us let the King and all People consider 2. As for such as are Atheists who deny there is a God or who deny the true God that is and who live after the desires of their own lusts saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die and there is no pleasure in the Grave nor state of happiness or misery after this Life such we do deny and have no Affinity Amity Union nor Fellowship with them nor they with us and this is well known through the whole Nation and fully believed in Bristol and I am perswaded in the very Conscience of this our Accuser he knows we are not such as deny God nor have any fellowship with such therefore how hainous is this man's Crime both to God and Men who hath abused the whole Nation with his Slanders and endeavoured to mis-use the King's Ears with false Informations and hath perverted his own Conscience in speaking contrary to it and hath vexed the Lord by his Lyes and all in this his numbring of us in Accusation with the Atheists as if we were one with them and no better then they 3. As for the Anabaptists so called the other Party with whom we are accounted and numbred in the Accuser's charge It is well known what difference there is between us and them and how that we have been opposite one to the other in Controversie about spiritual things and also in matters of Judgement about Government and fighting with carnal Weapons c. and they have dealt sometime with us and proceeded towards us too hardly and maliciously as some of themselves know in accusing us to the Powers of the Nation as this man hath done But I shall at this time say no farther of them then this There may be a sincerity and uprightness amongst them in many of them more then is in this our Accuser though there is no small measure of Error in Judgement in them as concerning many Doctrines and Practises held by them and it s not my work now to accuse them neither to reward them evil for their evil but only on this occasion I am forced to clear the truth for the better information of all and I do wish well to them and even that they may confess to the justness of God's Judgment in what hath befallen them in this the day of their reproof who have been too ambitious and hard-hearted towards others that have not been of their Way and Sect and now the Lord deals justly with them in bowing them under others and in defacing their glory which was of man and not of God But to the case in hand I return and say How unrighteous still doth appear the manner of this our Adversary's Charge for whatsoever the Anabaptists or any others may hold or do though I at this time shall neither justifie nor yet condemn all what they profess and practise cannot we be charged guilty of except it first be lawfully proved that we holâ— and practise the same things And as for us who are scornfully called Quakers which Title was given unto us of derision and nick-naming I cannot in this place say much of us lest I should be said to justifie our selves which I seek not to do because it is the Lord that justifies us neither do I love much to be heard in our own Cause when it is onely our own nor do I seek praise of men for us nor of men to be â—…ed yet this I may say on Gods account and in his cause and not of our 〈◊〉 we are the people of the Lord whom he hath called and chosen and 〈◊〉 and though hated of men yet it is for the Lords sake and not for any 〈◊〉 amongst men that can be chaâ—ged upon us And we are Worshippers of 〈◊〉 â—â—ue God in spirit and in truth and we are of God and they that are of 〈◊〉 are not against us but with us and as for any Doctrine or Practise in 〈◊〉 Religion held forth by us they are according to the Scriptures of Truth 〈◊〉 I assert and can prove if need require in opposition to any that shall â—â—â—y it for we are not of a new Religion as if we worshipped strange godds though by the ignorance of men we are so reputed but are of the same Spirit 〈◊〉 in the same way of truth and we walk in the same light and life even as tâ—â— Apostles and Churches of Jesus Christ were of and walked in in the days 〈◊〉 old and this I am ready to make proof of if so it come to pass even beâ—â—â—â— the King and the whole Nation and do further declare That whatsoeâ—â—â— Church-Government Ministry Doctrine and Ordinances Faith and â—â—â—ship and whatsoever Religion in whomsoever that is not according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament but differing from and coâ—â—rary to that Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures I do for my self and on the behalf of all them that are one with me utterly renounce and â—â—y and freely give witness against notwithstanding upon whatsoever foundation such Church-Government Ministry Doctrine Faith and Worship be builded if not upon Jesus Christ as the alone Foundation and according to the Scriptures and proveable thereby they are Antichristian and the Lord will confound
in your own Consciences you are in a condemned condition and you cannot be justified of the Lord while you are accused by the Light within you of such and such sins and that you are guilty of them and sorsake them not for the God of Heaven condemneth and justifieth men according to the Witness of the Light in their own Consciences for it is Gods Evidence to bear witness for God and to accuse or excuse every man in his sight and according to its evidence God justifieth or condemneth all the Children of men III. Again Whosoever will be saved must be born again of the seed of God and must be changed and renewed in Mind and Heart and Spirit and old things must pass away and all things must be made new and a new Nature must live in you and the Image of God must be brought forth which is in Righteousness and true Holiness which is like unto God and this is the new Creation which every one must witness to be wrought in them that ever â—â—â—â—ers into Gods Kingdom For saith Christ Except a man be born again he canâ—â—â— enter into the Kingdom of God for it is not a profession of Religion made with the Lips nor the practises of Duties and Ordinances taken on and performed in the old nature and a holding of truth in unrighteousness this is not the way of Salvation but it is the regenerating and making like unto God being his Image of Justice Truth and Righteousness it is this in which men may be saved everlastingly IV. Again Whosoever will be saved must receive the Spirit of God and it must dwell in them even the Spirit of the Father and they must be taught by it and led into all Truth to do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things even the spirit of Truth must be received to teach and to lead in all the wayes of God it alone must teach and all the Hireling-Teachers of the World must be turned away from by whom peoples souls have been deceived all such as have run and God never sent them that have cryed up Tâ—â—ching and Ministry and through whom people have not received the Spirit of thâ— Father all such Teachers must be denyed their Church and Ministry and the Spirit of the Father must only teach and lead and you must walk in the Spirit and not after the Flesh for if you walk after the Flesh in the wayes and works of it you are in the state of Condemnation and not of Salvation and the Spirit of God doth not teach you but you are out of the New Covenant of God in which Covenant all are taught of the Lord and in Righteousness are they established the Spirit of God is put within them and the Law of God is written in their hearts and they need no man to teach them but as the Spirit teacheth and this is the New Covenant of Peace with God into which all must come to witness this or else they cannot be saved V. Again all that will be saved must be sanctified cleansed and purified from all Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Word of God whereby every Heart must be made clean and every Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lamb and the body of sin and death must be put off and the bondage of Corruption must be broken and Iniquity must be forsaken and turned from and siâ— must be judged in the Flesh and Purity Holiness and Righteousness must live and reign in all that will be saved and Sin and Transgression and the guilt of it must be removed and you must shew forth the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness and must be pure as he is pure in kind and quality and you must walk in Holiness and Righteousness being freed from Corruption and from the Wayes of Sin and Death being sanctified in Body Mind and Spirit by the Word of the Lord and Sin must be blotted out and Transgression must be covered and Iniquity must be remembred no more and in all things you must cease to do evil and learn to do well if ever you will be saved VI. Again whosoever will be saved must witness Christ revealed in yoâ— â—â—d â—e must live in you and you must be Followers of him wheresoever he goâ—s â—â—d your Bodies must be the Temples of the Living God and God must walk 〈◊〉 you and dwell in you according to his Promise and he must be your King your Judge and Law-giver your Teacher Father and Master and he must be 〈◊〉 in all unto you even God the Father who is blessed for ever you must â—â—ow him near you and feel his Presence in you to be your Joy Life and â—eace and you must have fellowship with him in spirit and must worship him 〈◊〉 Spirit and by the Spirit without respect of Dayes Times or Places every one that will be saved must come into this and witness it for this is the way of the Salvation of God VII Again whosoever will be saved must live in the Power of Godlinâ—ss and must deny all Forms of Religion without the Power all Profession of Scriptures Ordinances Church-member-ship Praying and Preaching which is not in the Power of God and by his Spirit must be denyed and that part that holds it that holds the Form of Godliness without the Power must be crucified and every one must come into the Power of the Spirit of God and must witness that to work in them to will and to do and no more professing the Things of God but as they are witnessed by the work of his Spirit in their hearts you must not hold Truth any longer in unrighteousness nor make a profession of it in your your unrighteous minds no more talking of Justification and Redemption nor of any of the matters of Gods Kingdom but according as they are witnessed by the working of the Spirit of God in the heart and every one must feel in himself the evidence and Testimony of the Spirit of God to witness the Truth in his heart or Conscience of what he professeth with his mouth VIII Again Whosoever will be saved must witness the Scriptures of Truth fulfilled in themselves the things that they have read of without them must be wrought within them wrought in their hearts by the same Spirit as gâ—ve forth the Scriptures they must pass through the same conditions as the holy men of God did and the same truth that the Scriptures declare of must be revealed in the heart by the same Spiâ—it that gave forth the Scriptures and none must profess more than they do enjoy from God and all flesh must be silent from speaking of the things of Gods Kingdom which they have not seen handled rasted and felt by the working of the Spirit of God in their Consciences and this is to witness the Scriptures fulfilled when you have experience of the same conditions and of the same operations and manifestations which the Servants of the Lord passed through
which he would bring upon others Again The Accuser chargeth us That we would neither have King Magistrate 〈◊〉 Ministers but of our selves c. Answ. 1. I have before mentioned what kind of Rulers and Government we would have even such as are just men and men of Truth and Righteousness and that hate Covetousness and every evil Way and such are of us even such we would have to reign as are approved of God who would be a praise to them that do well and a terrour to Evil-doers and that would only rule and reign for the Lord exercising and executing his Righteous Laws by the Spirit of God and such will be blessed in their Authority 2. And till such only rule and bear the Sword of Justice in the Earth we do know Peace and Happiness can never be in the Kingdoms of the World but divisions and confusions will arise and be brought forth for it is the only blessedness of a Government in any Nation when the Authority it self is just â—ad according to God and when such as bear the execution thereof are just Kings Righteous Magistrates and Ministers of Justice that will judge for God and not for man and we seek not the Place of Government in this World nor do we intrude our selves into such Places though this we say while that spirit reigns and rule in the Nations of the Earth which is not of God but contrary to us Peace and Happiness in good Government amongst men through the World can never be though we are truly subject to whatsoever Authority is set over us by doing or suffering Then the Accuser speaks of teaching the Wayes of Righteousness and saith according to this the Quakers have gone through Ireland and he speaks of God's Wrath following for hardness of Heart and this saith he is just like the Quakers Doctrines now Answ. That the Quakers scornfully so called have gone through Ireland and through many other Nations of the Word to teach and preach Truth and Righteousness this is true and without occasion of an evil Charge against them for so doing and the Lord hath prospered us and been with us to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and we have Testimony in the Consciences of many for the truth of our Doctrines and Practices and this is not Error nor Heresie to proclaim the Wrath of God because of the hardness of Peoples Hearts for that is the Portion of all hard-hearted men and we are not ashamed of this Doctrine for it is according to the Scriptures of Truth and but that this Accuser is given up to blindness of mind he would never have mentioned these things against us nor used our Names in reproach in this matter And lastly whereas he saith some of the Quakers say they are Jews and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan and thou chargest Iames Naylor with â—â—ying that he was Christ and that one should say George Fox was Iohn Baptist and such false Prophets and Prophesies we have heard too much of c. Answ. 1 That they say they are Iews and are not are such as have a Name to live but are dead who say and do not but we are not such so this his Charge is false and wicked and of the Synagogue of Satan he doth manifest himself to be by his accusing of the Brethren And as for Iâ—…s Naylor he never said he was Christ through this hath been cast as a foul Reproach upon him by others yet it never was proved against him lawfully noâ— any thing tending thereunto saving that he said Christ was in him as 〈◊〉 iâ— in every Member of his Body according to measure And as for the story of George Fox there are many such lying stories that have gone abroad in these Nations in opposition to the Truth of God made manifest but over all these things Truth â—ath gotten the victory and the Lord's Work must prosper in the Earth and all Lyâ—rs must be confounded and have their Portion in the Lake And this iâ— our Portion from the World as Christ said They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name sake but great shall be your Reward in Heaven And this is for a Testimony against them that our Enemies are of the Devil and for a Testimony to us that we are of God And thus I have returned our Defence before you against his several Lyes and Slanders and it s left to the Witness of God in your Consciences to be Judge in this Case between us and him and if you be cloathed with the Spirit of moderation and meekness and will judge according to Equity I doubt not but the Cause is clear against our Adversary who wrongfully and to a wicked and evil intent hath hatched Mischief against us and brought it forth before you and we desire nothing of Revenge towards him for his evil work but do leave him to be rewarded of the Lord who will justly give him and all men according to their Deeds And now I have a few Considerations to present unto you three in particular as such in that capacity who bear rule in this Land 1. Consider how that you are set in Place and Authority and ought to judge and govern for God alone and to be a Terror to all Evil-doers and a Praise to all that do well and the living God requireth of you To do Iustice Truth and Righteousness in the Land to hear the cry of the Widow and Fatherless and to judge uprightly the Cause of the Poor without respect to your own self-ends and ye ought to be meek and humble men in your Places of Care and Trust which iâ— committed unto you and take heed that your hearts be not lifted up in the honour of high Places and so Iudgment Mercy and Truth be neglected and Oppressions and Cruelties be brought forth 2. Consider that if ye do Iustice and Righteousness and walk humbly with the Lord and exercise Mercy and Truth in the Land and hear the Cry of the Poor and deliver the Afflicted then the Lord can make you a Blessing to your selves and to the People But if you be proud and exalted and ambitious and vain-glorious and exercise Cruelty and Oppression and tread down the Poor and vex the Needy and grieve the Lord God by your Iniquities then God will cast you down and lay your honour in the Dust and make you a Curse and a Reproach and your Names and Memorial shall be a stink and the justice of the Lord's Hand shall effect it 3. Consider that ye are Men and not God and your strength flesh and not spirit and there is a God greater than all who is above all who can suddenly in a moment save his People and destroy his Enemies and he can break you down and never raise you up he can turn his Hand upon you and all man-kind as the Potter doth with his Clay even tread
to say Occasion is Wrongfully taken against us to destroy us and we are proceeded against contrary to the End of Just Government which is To preserve the Peaceable and not to destroy them and contrary to the KING 's former Promises who hath said We should not suffer for Matters of our Religion and Conscience living Peaceably in the Land And if we suffer because we cannot Swear at all such our suffering is for our Conscience sake and we are therein Persecuted Unrighteously as Innocent People and without just Cause And we must commit this our Cause to God who regardeth the Oppressions of his People and will avenge their Cause in his season And for the present this is all I have to say and present concerning this Case of Swearing and concerning the Oath of Allegiance CHAP. II. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning our Meeting together to Worship God 1. WE do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ and in his Power and Spirit and we do come together in the Fear of God to wait upon him and to receive the Teachings of his Holy Spirit and his Council to direct us in all our Wayes how to walk Righteously towards God and Men and in our Meetings we practice our Hearts and Minds in Godliness and speak of the Things of the Kingdom of God in Preaching the Word of God and in Prayer to Him according as his Holy Spirit guideth us which is given us of God to lead us into all Truth according to his Promise Iohn 16. 13. and that we may edifie one another in the Wayes of Holiness and Truth for the benefit of our souls and this is according to the Scriptures For they that feared the Lord met often together and spake one to another and edified one another And this is our Principle That it is our Duty to God-wards to meet together and that he requires it of us and for the exercise of our Consciences to him it hath been alwayes and is our Practice to meet together in the Exercise of the worship of God as aforesaid and not for any other End as in Contempt of Authority or to Plot or Contrive or to Meditate Evil against the King or his Government or any of his Subjects we have no such end I say in meeting together But our alone only and absolute End in our Meeting is to worship the Lord our God and to serve him and to wait upon him in obedience to his Will and for good Conscience sake as our Duty towards him 2. And this our Practice of Meeting together for the End and Cause mentioned if it be in publick Houses or more private in Upper Chambers or in the open Fields on what day soever is Lawful and Just in the sight of God and is according to the Example of the Primitive Saints and provable by the Scriptures as in Acts 1. 13 14. And when the Disciples and Saints returned from Jerusalem they went up into an upper Chamber both Men and Women and Waited upon the Lord and continued with one accord in Prayer and in Supplication And in Acts 20. 7. 8. The first day of the â—…k the Saints met together and Paul preached unto them and continued his Sermon till Midnight holding forth the Matters of the Kingdom of God And they were met in an upper Chamber from whence Eutychus fell down And Acts 28. 30 31. And Paul remained two full Years preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in his own hired House in Rome and he exhorted the Saints Not to neglect meeting together as the manner of some was whom he reproved Heb. 10. 25. By which Testimonies with divers others that might be given it is manifest that the Saints of God in former Ages did meet together to worship God and to wait upon him in Prayer and Preaching as the Spirit of the Father taught them that dwelt in them And sometime they met publickly and sometime more private and sometime on the day time and some in the night season and they met separate from the Synagogues and wayes of publick Worship among the Iews according to the Will of God and as it was ordered amongst them And thus it is manifest That our Meeting for the Worship of GOD at this Day though they are separate from the Way of Publick Worship of the Kingdom and are in more private Houses are justifiable being after the Example of the Saints and according to the Scriptures of Truth and therefore our Meetings are according to the LAW of GOD Just and Lawful 3. And forasmuch as by Reason of the late Insurrection of some few Persons in London our Lawful Assembling of our selves together in the Worship of God is under present Restraint and Prohibition and by Proclamation forbidden under the Denomination of Seditious and Unlawful Meetings and our Friends Imprisoned and persecuted for that Cause of Assembling themselves to wait upon God Now in this Case this I plead unto the King That we are no manner of way guilty of that Insurrection upon which the Proclamation of forbidding our Meetings was grounded and therefore ought not to suffer with the guilty being Innocent from the very Occasion of that Proclamation And for the King to prohibit our Meetings for and because of the ill Use that others made of theirs this seems a Condemning of the Innocent with the Guilty which is no way just in the sight of God nor men but altogether unequal that we should suffer for other mens Fault though such did abuse their Liberty and pervert the End of their Meetings into rising up with Carnal Weapons against the King so did not we neither in Intent nor Action and therefore our Meetings ought not to be prohibited for the Cause of other mens Faults and Miscarriages in that Case And also We have the King's Promise divers times That we should not suffer for our Religion while we acted nothing against the Peace of the Kingdom and Government which yet we never have done nor made any ill use of our Meetings nor of the King's Promises nor forfeited them and therefore according to his own Promises we ought to have our Meetings and enjoy them without Restraint because we have not forfeited the benefit of his former Promises in that behalf nor ever made use of our Meetings to Plot or Conspire against the Government to its Harm or Detriment and because of our Innocency herein the Benefit of his former Promises are yet in force unto us to protect our lawful Meetings and not to prohibit them And though upon Suspition only our Meetings have been Restrained and our Friends Imprisoned by the late Proclamation yet we being proved Innocent and without Guilt of that which occasioned it the KING and Council may and ought in Justice and good Reason to Reverse and Revoke that part of the Proclamation related to us as being Innocent that we may enjoy our lawful Meetings according to the Scriptures and Example of Saints and according to
long sate in Darkness that their Souls may live and be refreshed with the Light of the Living And for this Cause do we Labour and Spend and â—re Spent accounting nothing too dear for us that the Light of Truth may shine abroad and guide the Upright in the perfect Way till the Elect be gathered into the Pasture of Eternal Life and the Son so elivated on the Firmament of Joy and Praises never to go down but the Saying fulfilled There shall be no Night but the Light of the Son shall be as the Light of seven dayes These following Testimonies were written at divers Times as the Lord drew forth my Spirit through the Motions of his Life in me some of them some years since and being cast by among Bundles of Manuscripts and now lately coming to my sight and looking them over I have thought good to send them abroad as being of service to many And this is the Occasion and End of my present publishing these things And to the Iudgment of the Spirit of God in all the Saints do I commend my Labours and myself to be approved Westmoreland the 25th of the 7th Moneth 1661. Who am a Friend to all Men E. B. A DISCOVERY of DIVINE MYSTERIES c. CHAP. I. A Testimony concerning Life and Death and their several Fruits and Effects Distinguished THere is only Life and Death and there is but only Life and Death in the whole Creation that Ruleth and Raigneth in and among and over all the Children of Men and all the Children of Men upon the Face of the Earth are under the Government and Dominion of LIFE or of DEATH in whatsoever they are and in whatsoever they do and Life or Death hath the Rule and Government in every Creature in every Exercise whether of Works or Words and all people upon the Earth are subject to the Government of one or the other and bring forth the Fruits and Works in obedience to Life or to Death and shews them forth in visible appearance Now these two to wit Life and Death are contrary one to the other in Beeing in Nature in Works and Fruits and each of these are known and distinguished the one from the other in Beeing in Nature in Fruits and Effects which diversly they bring forth in this World and each of them hath a Kingdom and Government in himself distinct from and contrary each to other and each of them have their several Subjects which also are contrary in Birth and Generation in quality and kind over which they Rule and Govern and to whom they give distinct Portions and Heirships in this World and hereafter and where Life Rules and reigns Death is held in Captivity and Bondage and where Death lives the Life dies and where one of these brings forth Fruit the other is Barren for they agree not in one but are in all things contrary and the Subjects of the one are alwayes opposing and striving against the Subjects of the other And between Life and Death there is continual War and Strife among the Creatures who are the Subject of the one of them in whatsoever man is and in what he doth First Concerning Life I will speak Life was in the Beginning with God and is without descent and God is Life in himself without beginning or ending of Time Place or Matter and Life put forth it self out of its invisible Beeing into Work and Action in the beginning of the World and appeared in visible Operations and Works and brought forth all Creatures and all things into visible Appearances and Life was the Author of all the Beginning and Foundation of all and Life was and is that Beeing and Vertue of all things that are and it was the Ioy and Delight of all things that it self brought forth for all Things and Creatures subsisted through it and it gave Breath and Life to all Creatures and Life blessed them all and in it were all Creatures at Unity being framed and brought into Visibility and for the Pleasure of Life which was all in all in the Beginning and there was a sweet Concurrance and Harmony in the whole Creation through the Power and Beeing of Life in the midst of all Creatures through which the whole Creation was made and framed by the Eternal Word of Life and through which they stood and did remain 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—sedness and Life ruled and raigned in every Creature that was brought forth and was the Glory and Substance thereof For Life was and is that only begotten of the Father the Son and Heir of the Everlasting Father his express Image and Brightness being one with the Father not separated or divided from him And as for Death it was not yet known nor had it any place in the Creation it had yet received no Power nor Kingdom nor Government neither was it in beeing But Life was all over all through all and in all in the Beginning before Disobedience and Transgression entred to war against Life But Life was Prince Ruler and Governour in and over all the Works of the Creator And Life in its beeing is God and God is Life and in its Government and Fruits and Effects is Purity Righteousness Truth Holiness Meekness and all the Works that are Just and Equal according to God and like him and which shews him forth in the Creation and this was and it was thus in the Beginning before Death entred into the World or had a kingdom But it is written The Devil abode not in the Truth but went out of the Truth and he is the King of Death and hath the Power of it he went out of the Power of God and out of the Life by which all things was made and created and abode not in the Truth nor in the Life to live and act and speak in that but desired to be and became to be something of himself without God and he spoke of himself and acted of himself without the Power and Life and also contrary to the Power and Life of the Creator being separated from it and become a distinct Beeing of himself and then having lost his State and first Condition thus became an Enemy to Life and Truth and became the King of Death and he was the first of Death's Race and he holds the Power of it unto this Day he being gone out of the Truth and out of the Power and Life of God and become a distinct Beeing of himself having a kingdom of his own to promote in Opposition to the Kingdom of God Then he drew Mankind out of the Power and Truth and Life and beguiled Eve and Adam as you may read in the Scriptures and they lost the Life and Power even all Feeling of it and Comfort in it by which they were Created and made and they also transgressed and acted contrary to the Life and Power and acted of themselves and spake of themselves without the Power and Life of their Creator being separated from it and were and did something
Imposing Religion and the Example hereof may be read in Nations and Countries at this day what Discontents and Contentions have arisen dangerously among people one towards another and towards their Rulers upon this Cause and Occasion of Imposing Religion by Force Unrighteously and 't is a Danger this day that all the Rulers of the World are exposed unto and deeply involved in where this Cause of Imposing Religion is extâ—nt in Force 3. It is Dangerous to Impose Religion by Force because it must needs produce Oppression Persecution Violence and Hatred in the prosecution thereof and this is dangerous to any Kings Rulers or Governours to be reputed Oppressors Persecutors and Violent Men this is Infamous and of bad Report amongst men and Abomination and Wickedness in the sight of God for any Rulers upon Earth to be Oppressors Persecutors and Cruel Men and such consequently must they be that are Imposers upon mens Consciences in Matters Religious And this Danger all the Rulers of the World are in that do Impose Religion by Force even to render themselves Infamous by Oppression in the sight of men and to render themselves Sinners against God and this Danger falls upon the Imposers of Religion because of such their Impositions by Force upon the Consciences of men Lastly 'T is Dangerous because 't is of Antichrist and not of Christ as before proved and all that do Impose by Violence on the Consciences of Men in Religious Cases are of Antichrist in so doing and because thereof liable to God's Indignation and Heavy Wrath in this World and hereafter and 't is Dangerous to bring the Wrath and Judgments of God upon Men that are guilty thereof for God will be avenged upon such his Enemies that exercise Violence and Persecution upon Men for their Conscience sake And this is a Danger unavoidable which all that impose Religion are liable unto even to be Cut Off in the Wrath of the Lord and to undergo his Indignation for all the Reasons before shewed These with many other Dangers are they involved in that are Imposers in Religious Matters Therefore Oh that the Rulers of this World would be Wise now in their last day and would consider the Unjustness and Unreasonableness of their Imposing Religion and the many Dangers that attend the same Oh that they would learn God's Counsel and Rule only for him in Justice Mercy Truth Equity and true Judgment exercising the same in the Meek and Lowly Spirit of Jesus among men and over whom they are set to Rule in this World and would give to God Almighty his Due and Right and Priviledge in exercising the Consciences of Men by his Spirit in all Cases of Christ's Kingdom for it only belongs to him to be Ruler in the Inward Man Oh! that the Rulers of this World would give this Power and Dominion unto God and would from henceforth never more exercise Lordship over Conscience by Imposing Religion through Force but would only Rule well over the Outward Man in the things pertaining to Man and would leave to God the Rule and Exercise of Conscience Oh! then would it go well with them and Happy and Blessed should they be in such their Authority and Peace should be unto them if that they only took the Government as appointed of God over the outward Man and did not impose upon the inward man by Force in Religious Matters but committed that Authority to God Then I say should Peace and Blessings be unto them But while it is otherwise even while they exercise Dominion and Lordship over Conscience as aforesaid they do unjustly and Unreasonably and bring upon themselves many Dangers and are liable to Contentions Oppositions Wars and many Mischiefs in this World and to the Anger and Wrath of God in the World that is to come CHAP. II. Concerning Heresie the Case Stated What it is in it self and who a Heretick is and who are the absolute true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertains to such as are truly convicted of Heresie 1. THere is such a thing as Heresie in it self even many Heresies and Errors abounding amongst the Sons of Men in the World at this day and there was Heresie in the dayes of the Aposties and amongst them brought in by such as erred from the Truth after they had once known the Truth and received it as ye may read the Iews they cryed out of Heresie in their time which caused the Apostle to say to them Acts 24. 14. After that Way which ye call Heresie do we worship the God of our Fathers And the Apostle said 1 Cor. 11. to the Church There must be also Heresies amongst you that they that are approved of God may be made manifest And 2 Pet. 2. 1. it is spoken of some who should privily bring in Damnable Heresies into the Church By all which it is manifest there was in the Apostles dayes Heresie and Heresies as there is at this day even many Heresies and Errors in the World held professed and maintained by the Apostate Christians that are gone into the Form of Godliness without the Power and are turned from the Spirit of Christ and the soundness of his Doctrine into the formal Profession of Religion and of the words of Christ and his Apostles and among such are the Heresies and Errors 2. Heresie is somewhat believed and professed in Practice of Worship and in Point of Faith and Doctrine that is either contrary to or different from the perfect Truth of the Gospel of Christ something I say held and practiced in Point of Worship Faith and Doctrine which is not justly according to the pure Truth of Jesus but either in whole or in part different from and contrary thereunto and whatsoever Practice of Worship or Point of Doctrine as is so held professed believed or practiced is Heresie and Error because it is different from and contrary to in whole or in part the perfect Truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and because thereof it is Heresie and such is Heresie in it self different from and contrary unto the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ though as for the particular Parts and Points of Heresie in Worship Doctrine and Practice which are at this day held professed and believed among Apostate Christians are so very many that they would be too large here to ennumerate but my present Intention is only this To shew at large what Heresie is in it self and who is a Heretick 3. A Heretick one that is properly so is such a Person as hath sometime believed in the Truth and made Profession and Acknowledgment of the Way of true Christianity and hath received and held the true Faith of the Gospel of Christ and been in some measure united to Christ and a Member of his Church but is fallen and degenerated in whole or in part from the said Faith and Acknowledgment of Christ Jesus and the Way of Christianity and hath erred from the Truth of the Gospel once believed and
Scriptures but rather such as inflict Sufferings upon us And for any of our Principles and Doctrines that we hold we deserve no punishment nor persecution because hereof for we testify before God Angels and Men That we hold and maintain no principles of Religion nor practice of Worship nor Doctrines of Gospel but what are according to Scriptures of Truth And we are ready to be tryed and proved in that case and to bring the matter to Issue in fair proceedings with any man that shall object the contrary And thus the Judgment of Scriptures are for us as we suppose at least and if we are in Errour either by denying any thing on the one hand or affirming any thing on the other we have not been hitherto well Proceeded against in order to our Conviction Secondly We are accused as for a great Crime and Imprisoned because we meet together in the Name and Power of Iesus Christ to wait upon him and to Worship him in Spirit and Truth in Prayer to God and Exhortations one to another to Righteousness and Holiness But what Iudgment doth the Law and Gospel and holy Scriptures give and our Neighbours also between us in this Case Le ts come all to their Barr and receive Iust Sentence Plea First The Judgment of God's Law Christ's Gospel and holy Scriptures are not against our meeting together but on the contrary do command us and Exhort us with promises of blessings to meet together in the Worship of God and to wait upon him And it was the practice of the primitive Christians to assemble themselves together in that form and manner as we do at this day to wit in a private manner and separate from the multitude and all the Iews Synagogues as in Acts 1. 17. The Saints and Disciples both Men and Women to the number of one hundred and twenty which were far more then five went into an upper Chamber being a private place and no publique Synagogue and their waited upon the Lord in Prayer and Supplication according as we do at this day Thus the Scriptures justify the way and manner of our Meetings and condemns them not Again in Acts 20. 8. the Saints and Disciples were gathered together in an upper Chamber and Paul Preached unto them until mid-night Here was a private Meeting far above the number of five and out of any Publick Synagogues and Christ Iesus said Where two or three are met together in my Name there I am in the midct of them And He and his Disciples often met together in private places apart from the Jews publick Worships sometimes in a Ship and sometimes in Desarts and on the Mountains and in particular Houses and Preached and Prayed this the Scriptures Prove And also in Heb. 10. 25. we are expresly commanded not to neglect the Assembling of our selves together but to exhort one another and so much the more as the day approached By all which Scriptures with many more that might be quoted it is Evident to all the World That our meeting together for the Worship of God in that form and manner as Practised by us is according to the Law of God the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the holy Scriptures And all these give Just Judgment for us and Justify us and therefore consequently condemn such as do violence to us for this practise of Meeting together for the Worship of God And thus though we are Accused and Imprisoned as Evil doers yet such our practise of meeting is manifestly according to the Law of God Gospel of Christ Scriptures Example of Saints and President of primitive Christians all which give Judgment for us Secondly What Judgment do our Neighbours give in this Case they say concerning our Meetings That they have known us to meet together in such manner for diverse years in their Towns and Villages and never knew nor understood of any harm or danger herein nor ever were any way prejudiced either in their Persons or Estates by our meetings The very witness of God in all our Neighbours do Testify and give Iudgment that our Meetings have alwayes been peaceable and quiet and that we come together in peace and good order and parted in the same and no person hath been harmed by such our Meetings enquire of the Nighbourhood and they will tell you they believe in their Consciences our Meetings are for good and have good effects and are not evil nor brings forth any evil to any And as for the manner of our Meeting and and sitting together it 's orderly and decently and of good report among men and for any Doctrine that ever was there held or heard by any none can truly accuse it to be either Error or Heresie or Sedition but on the contrary they know it witnesseth against all Sin and Iniquity and tends to the turning of people from Ungodliness and Unrighteousness to Truth and Holiness And many can tell this is effected by our Doctrine Preached in our Meetings and our Neighbours can witness that we part again in Peace and Good order and in convenient time and they can shew you they are not terrified nor the peace of the Land disturbed on our part by our Meetings which are in God's fear and to the Glory of his Name which all sober men know are according to the Law of God and Gospel and primitive Christians Example And thus our Neighbours give Judgment for us and in their Consciences do not Justify them that Imprison us for this matter of meeting together which Gods Law Gospel Scriptures and our Neighbours do thus clearly justifie Thirdly We are Accused as guilty of a heinous Crime and Imprisoned Because we refuse to Swear at all or take any Oath in any Case Plea First The Judgment of the Law of the New Testament of God and Gospel of Christ and Scriptures in this case is clear on our behalf As in the express Command of Christ in his Law and Scriptures Recorded Mat. 5. where he saith Swear not at all by Heaven nor Earth nor by Ierusalem nor by the Head but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more comes of Evil. And again Iam. 5. the Apostle commandeth the Saints in these words Above all things my Brethren Swear not by Heaven nor Earth nor any other Oath And many holy Martyrs since the Apostles dayes did deny all Swearing Thus you see the Judgment of Christ Jesus and of the Gospel and of the Apostle and of Scriptures are so far from Condemning of us to Imprisonment and Banishment for our refusing to Swear that we are Commanded and Exhorted by them not to Swear at all and therefore consequently justify us in our refusing to Swear and thus give not Judgment for such as do Imprison and Persecute us for not Swearing Come to the Judgment of Christ his Gospel and holy Scriptures Let you and us appear together be fore their Judgment Seat whether they give judgment against us that deny all Swearing or
against you that Imprison us for that Cause And let the Lord God Angels and just Men give their Judgment in this Case we a poor Afflicted people do appeal to you for just Sentence of Judgment between us and our Opponents Secondly Let our Neighbours give their Judgment though we do refuse to take any Oath because of the Commands of Christ and his Gospel as aforesaid yet what harm hath this ever yet been to any of our Neighbours let them speak or what detriment ought this to be to any of them they will tell you Though we cannot formally take an Oath yet we are ready at all times to do the Truth and to speak it on all good occasions as much as if we did Swear upon a Book and they can trust us upon our words as much if not more then they can do any that Swear upon their Oaths and therefore they shall give judgment that according to their best knowledge we ought not to be Imprisoned and Banished though we cannot Swear formally upon a Book being the Truth is not suppressed nor yet the administration of justice ought to be obstructed for our refusing to Swear Thus the Neighbourhood bears witness for us and against such as deal hardly by us and Persecute us because hereof Fourthly We are accused as Heinous Offenders and imprisoned because 't is supposed We do not submit to obey the known Laws of the Land but break them and will not conform to the Church pay Tythes take Oaths leave meeting together c. though we know the Laws of the Land command these things Plea First As to submitting to all known Laws of the Land this is known to God and our Neighbours that our Principle and Practice is and ever hath been to submit to every Government and to submit to all Laws of men either by doing or by suffering as at this day we resist not the greatest of Afflictions and Tribulations that can be imposed on us and this is well known to our Neighbous and all People that we are submissive to all Laws of Men by patient Suffering without Resistance even when any Law requires any thing of us which we cannot perform for Conscience sake that Law we fulfil by patient suffering resisting no man noâ— rendring Evil for Evil to any And the Judgment of the Scriptures which are according to both Law and Gospel and the Presidents of Saints justifie us in this Case in chusing patiently to suffer the greatest Penalties of the Law rather than to obey by doing any such Law as requires things contrary to our pure Consciences as in the Example of the Three Children Dan. 3. who were commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image at what time soever they heard the sound of the Musick upon the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which Commandment they could not obey nor could Truth fall down to worship the Image but rather chused to suffer the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which accordingly was done unto them Again in the Case of Daniel chap. 6. who was commanded To make no Petition to any God or man for Thirty Dayes save to King Darius upon the Penalty and Affliction of being cast into the Lyons Den But Daniel did rather chuse to suffer the Penalty to be cast into the Den of Lyons than to obey the Commandment and was cast into the Lyons Den. By these Examples of holy Men with many more that might be given out of the Scriptures 't is evident That Righteous Men will rather chuse to suffer than to obey any Law of Men contrary to their Consciences So the Law of God and Example of Saints and holy Scriptures give Judgment for us in this Case of rather chusing to suffer than to obey Laws contrary to our Consciences and consequently must needs condemn such that Persecute and Imprison us because they require Obedience of us in Things against our Consciences Secondly Though we do disobey Laws and cannot actively obey every Law of man when it requireth and commandeth things contrary to a good Conscience yet herein also are we justified by the Law of God Example of Saints and holy Scriptures and they give Judgement for us and consequently against our Enemies in this Case and in particular in the two Examples before mentioned in Daniel the Three Children were expresly commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image and Daniel was also required by the King's Decree Not to pray to any God or Man save to King Darius yet all these Holy Men of God did absolutely disobey the Law and Decree so requiring of them and did contrary to the Commandment for the three Children did not how nor Daniel cease to pray to his God but prayed as at other times and yet were justified of God in so doing Also the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 4. 18. were commanded To Preach no more in the Name of Iesus but the Apostles did disobey their Commandment and went on and preached in the Spirit and Power of Christ contrary to the Commandment of the Rulers and appealed to them Whether it were not better to obey God than man Many Examples we might collect out of the Scriptures that the Servants of God did disobey the Commands of Kings and Rulers and could not obey by doing any Command contrary to God but rather choosed to suffer Afflictions and Death it self than to obey such Laws and Decrees as required any thing contrary to a pure Conscience and this is our case at this day we cannot obey by doing any thing against our Consciences but must break the Laws of men and disobey their Commandments rather than break the Law of God and sin against their own Consciences whatsoever we suffer because hereof and yet the Examples of Saints and Scriptures justifie us in this behalf And let all our Enemies cease to cry out Rebellious and Disobedient to Laws and Government for we are not such as do wilfully and obstinately disobey any Laws of Men but for Conscience sake and that we may not sin against God nor offend his Witness in us therefore we cannot obey Laws contrary to our Consciences whatsoeveâ— we suffer which we resist not nor rebel against any in this Case So that our Principles and Practices are to obey every Law and Government either by Doing or Suffering And though we disobey such Laws as are not according to the Law of God and rather do chose to suffer yet herein we are justified by the Law of God and the holy Scriptures Thirdly And as for our Conversations among men in respect of our daily walking and converse with them in our dealing in respect of Honesty and Faithfulness and Truth and Justness in Works and Words our Neighbours shall give Witness for us We will not justifie our selves 't is God that justifies us and the Law of God Gospel of Christ Scriptures Examples of Holy Men our
The MEMORABLE WORKS Of a SON of THUNDER AND CONSOLATION Namely That True Prophet and Faithful Servant of God and Sufferer for the Testimony of JESUS Edward Burroughs Who Dyed a Prisoner for the WORD of GOD in the City of LONDON the Fourteenth of the Twelfth Moneth 1662. The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Psa. 112. 6. And they that be Wise shall shine as the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars forever and ever Dan. 12. 3. In the sight of the Unwise they seemed to dye and their Departure was taken for Misery and their going from us to be utter Destruction but they are in Peace For though they be Punished in the sight of Men yet is their Hope full of Immortality Wisd. 3. 2 3 4 5. 5. 4 5. Being Dead yet speaketh Heb. 11. 4. Printed and Published for the good and benefit of Generations to come in the Year 1672. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY To the People of God In Derision called QUAKERS The Publisher of this Volumn wisheth all Peace and Prosperity in the Lord. Dear Friends I Having had much Exercise and care upon me in Collecting and for the Publishing these Books in this Volumn at length after much Travel Diligence for the effecting this Impression they are through the Assistance and Providence of God as I may well say brought forth and finished for you and your Children and such as are moderate and well-affected who shall desire any of them The reason why this Work hath been so long unfinished was partly the difficulty of Printing and partly it being also thus voluminous and weighty and partly since I began the Printing of this many other things of Truth 's Concernment intervened which required expedition in the publication howbeit this Work hath long lain as a matter of weight upon my spirit to use my utmost endeavours for its accomplishment and greater desires thereof could not be in any of you then in my own particular I having Travelled both to answer and serve Truth as also the desires of many Friends herein whom also I have been willing and desirous to serve in that true Love which stands in the Life and Truth of our God who requires faithfulness of us all that we may remain living Witnesses in our several Places this short time of our Pilgrimage and in the end lay down our Heads in Peace and Assurance of a Crown of Life and Glory as our Everlasting Reward for this is the End that crowns all The Diligence and Works of the Faithful And I having been an Eye and Ear Witness of the Faithfulness Valour and Courage of this Faithful Servant and Prophet of the Lord E. B. in his powerful Testimony and effectual Ministry which the Lord did bless with a very Glorious Success unto me and many more have found my self the more oblieged for the divulging of these his Works which though many of them were given forth in the time of his Youth soon after the Lord first raised him up and when the discovery of Truth was in its infancy both New Strange and a Wonderment to many in our Age it being after such a long time of Darkness and Night of Apostacy yet the Power of the Lord which then broke forth was very Mighty both in him and his dear Companion in the Gospel Fr. Howgill who were sent in the beginning amongst us in this City of London where though they met with much Opposition and Gain-saying by perverse spirits and formal Professors of all sorts who denied and resisted the Power of Codliness yet the Lord so accompained these his two faithful Servants and Ministers of Righteousness as to the confounding the wisdom of the Wise and stoping the Mouthes of many contentious Opposers and convincing of Gain-sayers yea the Lord did manifest and perfect his Strength through Weakness even through Instruments dispised and coutemptable in the Eyes of the Proud and Exalted of the World out of the Mouthes of Babes did the Lord ordain Strength and through Simplicity did his wisdom speak both in this his faithful Witness E. B. and divers other in the beginning So that let none contemn the honest Plainness and harmless Simplicity of any of his first Writtings or Books here inserted for many are living Witnesses that the Power and Wisdom of God did then even while he was young and tender every way appear and shew it self in him through such plainness and Simplicity to the confounding and overturning the wisdom of many that were high and lofty who conceited themselves wise with their opposition of science falsly so called And it may not be unnecessary for Friends and their Children to read and peruse these Testimonies Informations and Vindication of Truth where they are in way of Controversie with many others of like nature given forth by the Servants of the Lord in Truth 's Vindication the Perusal and Reading thereof may be of Service both to you and yours you being in the Light and Inspiration of the Almighty which gives Understanding from which all Scriptures or Writings that are given are profitable to the Man of God for his Accommodation and ought not to be slighted whether they be in plain Testimonies or in Vindications and Answers For though many are come to a particular Satisfaction in the true Light which is the Rule of the Understanding and know so much of Christ as to die for him yet cannot so well dispute for him though that be necessary and few given up and accomplished for that Service therefore there may be need for more to apply their hearts to Wisdom as to be furnished in every respect to stand up for the Truth against its Opposers to convince Gain-sayers and stop the Mouth of Iniquity where ever it opens it self against the Righteous to pervert the right Wayes of God and his Truth since the Labours and Works of this valiant Souldier of Christ are here manifest to your view and to continue on Record as permanent Monuments of his Service for the Lord and as Tokens of God's Love to many it being also apparently manifest how plainly and eminently many of his Prophesies came to pass and were fulfilled upon the Heads of the persecuting Powers Rulers and Government of O. C. and others of that Affinity who trod in the same Path who resisted God's Power in not removing Oppression from off the Innocent It is not my place much to endeavour B's applause in many words because I cannot add to him or what he hath done thereby nor yet to his Faithfull Companion Francis Howgill or his Works which many do also desire might be Collected and Published as these are for indeed he also wrote many weighty things and of much Service to the Truth which would be a very conderable Volmun that will require both much Care Charge and Industry to publish in Print and therefore it would be of much Service to Truth if Friends would so consider the
weight thereof as to encourage such a Work of value and worth for many know what a great Sufferer F. H. was and how he lay many years in a bad Prison at Appleby in Westmoreland for the Testimony of Jesus and of a good Conscience for that he could not Swear so that in the same Prison under the Hands of his Persecutors he cheerfully and with much Satifaction and Peace gave up his Life and ended his Dayes in Peace Oh! the remembrance of these two Faithfull Witnesses who both died Sufferers being Prisoners for Truth is never to be forgotten And thus Dear Friends as the Salutation of our dear Brother E. B. according to his desire while in the Body I recommend unto you this Volumn of his Books with my Love in the Truth to you all being therein The Truth 's and your Servant and Friend Ellis Hookes London the 1st of the 2d Moneth 1672. THE EPISTLE TO The Reader TO all the World to whom this may come to be Read that they read with a good understanding and hereby they may come to the perfect knowledge of the ground of difference between the Priests and Professors and all Sects in these Nations and Us who are in scorn called Quakers shewing that the Controversie on our part is just and equal against them all and that we have sufficient cause to cry against them and to deny their Ministry their Church their Worship and their whole Religion as being not in the Power and by the Spirit of the Living God as commanded of him or ever practiced by his Saints But this declareth the ground and Foundation thereof to be another thing and not the same on which the true Church and Ministry and Practice and Worship and true Religion was builded in the days of the Apostles And also this is an Invitation to all Sects and Professions of People to come forth and try if what they hold and profess be according to the Scriptures of truth and to do this in tryal by evident and sound Arguments and by the best spiritual Weapons they have and to lay aside all this Persecution and unrighteous Dealing and Stocking and Whipping and Imprisoning of us for speaking against their Religion and that they come forth in fair dispute to contend in the Spirit of meekness for what they Profess and Practice and to prove according to the Scriptures their Ministry Church and whole Religion that it is in and by the Spirit and Power of God or otherwise to renounce and deny all their Religion and the Profession and Practices thereof that every man may be satisfied who it is that are in the true and right Way and of the true Worship and true Religion and who it is that are not and this is desired by us who are called Quakers and also a true Account of our first beginning and coming forth in the World and of that great Sufferings we have sustained and how we have been carried on and are preserved to this day The Lord God everlasting who is true and faithful hath fulfilled his promise in us and unto us and we are gathered from the Mouths of all dumb Shepherds and out of the mouths of all Hirelings who have made a prey upon us and fed themselves with the fat and devoured souls for dishonest gain And we are come to the Fold of Eternal Rest where Christ Jesus is the chief Shepherd and he is the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls that feedeth his Flock with living Bread that nourisheth us unto Life Eternal he hath called us by his Name and put us forth and he feedeth us in green Pastures and we are fed with hidden Manna and lie down at Noon with his gathered Flock and out of Nations Kindreds Multitudes and Peoples are we redeemed to God and are come out of the World and out of great Babylon and out of spiritual Sodom and Egypt where the Lord Christ was and is crucified and lieth slain to this day and a top of the World hath the Lord set us on the Mountain of his own House and Dwelling where we behold and feel the Life and Glory and Crown of the World that hath no end and the world that hath an end is seen over and its crown and glory is his Footstool that reigns amongst us And as for all that which this perishing world brings forth which men seek after only it s reckoned our temptation though all the Sons of Adam are seeking its glory its riches its crowns its contentments but of that Birth are we which hath no crown no glory nor rest under the Sun and a Birth is brought forth amongst us which is Heir of another Kingdom and Possessor of another Crown whose glorying is in the Lord all the Day long and he is our Refuge our Rock and our Fortress against all our Enemies and what though the Wicked arm themselves and the Ungodly bend their Bow what though all sorts of People from the Prince upon his Throne to the Beggar upon the Dunghil exalt themselves against the despised People of the Lord's Inheritance who for his Name 's sake are kill'd all the day long What though the Wise-men bring forth their Arguments and what though the Rulers bring forth unrighteous Judgments against the Seed that God hath blessed what though the Revilers and Scorners open their mouthes and Reproachers and Revilers cast out their bitter words as a Flood against the Remnant of the Woman's Seed that has long been fled into the Wilderness And what then if the Teachers the Prophets and the Elders and the Heads and Wise men of the World set themselves to pray and preach and print against the chosen Seed of Iacob yet notwithstanding all this though this is come to pass and Hell open her Mouth and her Floods break forth to overflow and be much more increased yet shall the King of Righteousness rule among his People and his Presence will not forsake his chosen Ones but the Lord is with us a Mighty and Terrible One and the shout of a King is amongst us and the Dread and Terror of the Almighty covereth us and it goeth before us and compasseth us about And the Lord is working a Work in the Earth mighty and wonderful he is gathering the Scattered and binding up the Broken-hearted and his People shall dwell in safety and none shall make them afraid and no Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper nor no Hand that is lifted up shall prevail for Sion shall rise out of the Dust her beautiful Garments shall be put on and Mourning and Sorrow shall flee away and her Light is risen that is everlasting and the Sun shall never godown but his day shall remain for ever and the Night shall not again cover her brightness nor the Sun set upon her habitations the City that hath long laid waste shall again be builded and the dwelling that hath long been without Inhabitant shall be replenished for the numberless seed of
how generally we were men of the strictest Sect and of the greatest Zeal in the Performance of outward righteousness and went through and tried all sorts of Teachers and run from Mountain to Mountain and from man to man and from one Form to another as do many to this very day who yet remain ungathered to the Lord and such we were to say no more of us that sought the Lord and desired the knowledge of his Wayes more then any thing beside and for one I may speak who from a Child even a few years old he set his face to seek and find the Saviour and more then Life and Treasure or any mortal Crown sought after with all his heart the one thing that is needful to wit the Knowledge of God And after our long seeking the Lord appeared to us and revealed his glory in us and gave us of his Spirit from Heaven and poured it upon us and gave us of his Wisdom to guide us whereby we saw all the World and the true state of all things the true condition of the Church in her present estate first the Lord brought us by his Power Wisdom and the Word by which all things were made to know and understand and see perfectly that God had given to us every one of us in particular a Light from himself shining in our hearts and consciences which Light Christ his Son the Saviour of the World had lighted every man and all Mankind withal which Light in us we found sufficient to reprove us convince us of every evil deed word and thought and by it in us we come to know good from evil right from wrong and whatsoever is of God and according to him from what is of the Devil and what is contrary to God in motion word and work and this Light gave us to discern between truth and error between every false and right way and it perfectly discovered to us the true state of all things and we thereby came to know man what he was in his creation before transgression and how he was deceived and overcome by the Devil and his estate in transgression and in disobedience and how he is drove and banished from the presence of the Lord and the sorrow and anguish which he is in and to undergo and also by the Light in us we perfectly came to know the way of Restauration and the means to be restored and the state of man being come out of Transgression and restored these things to us were revealed by the Light within us which Christ had given us and lightened us withal what man was before Transgression and what he is in Transgression and what he is being redeemed out of Transgression and also the Light which shineth in every one of us as to it our minds became turned and our hearts inclined the perfect Estate of the Church we came to know her Estate before the Apostles days and in the Apostles dayes and since the dayes of the Apostles and her present Estate we found to be as a Woman who had once been cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet who brought forth him that was to rule the Nations but she was fled into the Wilderness and there sitting desolate in her place that was prepared of God for such a season which season in the very end thereof when the time of her sojourning was towards a full end then were we brought forth if any have an Ear they may hear so that all these things concerning man and concerning the times and seasons and the changing and renewing of times and all things that pertain to Salvation and Redemption and Eternal Life needfull for man to know all this was revealed discovered and made known to us by the Light which was in us which Christ had lighted us withal And we found this Light to be a sufficient Teacher to lead us to Christ from whence this Light came and thereby it gave us to receive Christ and to witness him to dwell in us and through it the new Covenant we came to enter into to be made Heirs of Life and Salvation and in all things we found the Light which we were enlightened withal and all Mankind which is Christ to be alone and only sufficient to bring to Life and eternal Salvation and that all who did own the Light in them which Christ hath enlightened every man withal they needed no man to teach them but the Lord was their Teacher by his Light in their own Consciences and they received the holy Anointing And so we ceased from the teachings of all men and their words and their Worships and their Temples and all their Baptisms and Churches and we ceased from our own Words and Professions and Practises in Religion in times before zealously performed by us through divers Forms and we become Fools for Christ's sake that we might become truely wise and by this Light of Christ in us were we led out of all false Wayes and false Preachings and false Ministers and we met together often and waited upon the Lord in pure Silence from our own words and all mens words and hearkned to the Voice of the Lord and felt his Word in our hearts to burn up and beat down all that was contrary to God and we obeyed the Light of Christ in us and followed the Motions of the Lords pure Spirit and took up the Cross to all Earthly Glories Crowns and Ways and denied our selves our Relations and all that stood in the way betwixt us and the Lord and we chose to suffer with and for the Name of Christ rather then all the pleasures upon Earth or all our former zealous Professions and Practices in Religion without the Power and Spirit of God which the World yet lives in And while waiting upon the Lord in Silence as often we did for many Hours together with our minds and hearts towards him being stayed in the Light of Christ within us from all thoughts fleshly Motions and desires in our diligent waiting and fear of his Name and hearkning to his Word we re-received often the pouring down of the Spirit upon us and the Gift of God's holy eternal Spirit as in the dayes of old and our heart were made glad and our Tongues loosed and our Mouthes opened and we spake with new Tongues as the Lord gave us utterance and as his Spirit led us which was poured down upon us on Sons and Daughters and to us hereby was the deep things of God revealed and things unutterable were known and made manifest and the Glory of the Father was revealed and then begun we to sing Praises to the Lord God Almighty and to the Lamb for ever who had redeemed us to God and brought us out of the Captivity and Bondage of the World and put an end to Sin and Death and all this was by and through and in the Light of Christ within us and much more might be declared hereof that which
judge between the Priests and Professors and all the Sects and us ye have heard their Doctrines and ye have heard something of ours ye have seen their Conversation and ye have seen something of ours ye have heard them long and something of us ye have heard for a little season and now give your Evidence is it not with them as we have said are not your Priests in the Steps of the false Prophets and of the Deceivers and do not they seek for their Gain from their Quarter as they did that Isaiah cryed against do not they preach for Hire and divine for Money as they did which Micah cryed against are not they such by whom you have not been profited as Ieremiah cry'd against let that of God in you answer to these things And are they not Proud Men and Covetous Men and Envious Men and Heady High-minded Men and given to filthy Lucre And are they not such as through Covetousness make Merchandize of Souls and that by Good Words and Fair Speeches deceive the Hearts of the Simple such as Paul and Peter declare against And are they not such as the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles cry'd against And do they not bring forth the same Fruits as did the false Prophets and false Apostles I leave it to your Consciences to be the Judge Compare them and lay them to the Line of True Judgment if you shut not your eyes you may see it is thus and have we charged them falsly or have not we spoken the truth concerning them we have said they are false Ministers and Deceivers and not true Ministers of Christ and is it not so let the Light in your Consciences answer we have said they have run never were sent and that they have not profited the people at all and is it not so to the Witness of God in you I do appeal and let that justifie that we have spoken nothing but the truth examine and try in all things that we have charged them with And are they not guilty in all things that we have charged upon them let the Witness of God in you testifie to this And what do you judge of them are they not of that stock which Christ said should come and should be Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing and should deceive many and which Iohn saw were come in his dayes and which the World went after and the whole World run after them are not they in the nature of Wolves devouring and tearing the Lambs of Christ and do they not tear People by causing their Bodies to be imprisoned and their Goods to be spoiled and do they not deceive many and yet they have the Sheep's Cloathing the Saints words and their practices but inwardly are they not ravening and doth not the World go after them and hath not the World run after them for many Ages and is it not thus with them And have they received the gift of the holy Ghost or are they not made Ministers by the will of man and not by the will of God do they not differ and are contrary in Call in Practice in Maintenance and in Fruits and Effects to the true Ministers and true Apostles and do they not agree and are they not according to the false Prophets and false Ministers and Deceivers in their Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects search the Scriptures and lay them to that line and then let the witness in your Consciences judge and answer and do not they prepare War against such as do not put into their mouthes and do not they feed with the Fat and cloath with the Wool do not they oppress the Nation and the Creation and are not they such whose Call and Practices and Maintenance and whole Ministery hath a dependance upon Popery and doth it not all savour of Popery and in the main and Principal parts thereof were ordained by the Pope this may be fully made manifest And are not all Professors and Sect of people such as have the form but are without the Power of Godliness are not people still Covetous and Earthly-minded and given to the World and proud and vain even such as profess Religion and to be a seperated people are not Professors as covetous and proud as such as do not profess and are not they given to the World and doth it not shew that they are unchanged nor translated but death Reigns among them and is it not manifest that they have taken up the form of the Apostles and Christs words and Practices and are without the life and not guided by the Spirit of Christ and the Apostles in their Praying and Preaching and are not your souls lean and starved to the Witness of God in you all I speak which may testifie that many people have a shew of Religion without Life and therefore have not we spoken the truth of them in what we have said in the Day of Judgment you shall answer this And as concerning the Quakers what do you say of them you have seen their Conversation few Towns but some of them have been and are amongst you Do not they fear God and do not they walk justly and truly among their Neighbours and speak the truth and do the Truth in all things doing unto all no otherwise then they would be done unto and are they not Meek and Humble and Sober and do not they take much Wrong rather then give Wrong to any and are they not such as delight in the Wayes of the Lord and do not they deny the World and its Pleasures and forsake all Iniquity more then your selves and do not they take up the daily Cross of Christ to all its wayes and earthly glories and do not they Preach in the Power of God and reach to your Consciences when you hear them and doth not the Light in you answer that they speak the Truth and is not their Call and Practice and Maintenance the same as was the Apostles and faithful Ministers compare them with the Scripture and then judge in your Consciences and do not they suffer many hard and cruel things even all manner of evil spoken and done against them falsly for the Name of Christ Are you ignorant of their great Sufferings through this Nation and what do you think is their suffering for Evil-doing or is it not for Righteousness sake What Harm do they do to any by Work or Word Why are they reproached and mocked and scorned and why are they put in Prisons and whipped and thus sorely abused is it for any Evil-doing or is it not because they are the Servants of the Lord Compare their Fruits with the Priests fruits their Conversation with the Priests conversation see whether be liker the Apostles and these things I leave to you that you may come to consider and judge justly of all things for the Lord God is risen and his Light in Peoples Consciences is shining forth and it shall answer to what I say in this World
Heathen and under the barren dry and empty Ministry of Man which stands in the will of man and have proceeded out of the carnal inventions and imaginations of fallen man and is not according to God nor to the practice of the Saints in former Ages and Generations To you all do I clear my conscience in the presence of God by declaring to you in writing being that I cannot have freedom through the subtilty of the Serpent who doth work alwayes to prevent the living Truth to be declared and the deceits of himself to be discovered and made manifest to declare in word among you I have been sent by the Lord moved of him to come and to declare to you the Word of the Lord to the directing of your minds where to wait to attain the true Knowledge of the Lord and to that one Thing needful the Eternal welfare of your souls and to lay open the deceits of the Serpent who doth work in the cursed deceitful Ministry which is upheld by you whereby your souls are kept in the death and only your dark minds fed and nourished by the painted and Serpent-like expressions and declarations coming out of the carnal wisdom and brain knowledge of your Hireling who walks in the way of the false Prophets of Israel which the true Prophet called greedy dumb Dogs four several times hath the Lord by his Eternal Spirit working in me moved me to come into the Congregation and Assembly he himself is the Witness that I came not of man nor by the will of man but contrary to the will and desires of man wherein stands the true Ministry of God now as it was ever the true Prophets Ieremiah and Ionah witnessed the same and the Apostle Paul and as it is known to you unto whom I speak that I could not have liberty to declare to you the Truth from God who came not to you with entising words neither what I had gathered out of Scripture from without me neither to speak my own imaginations and conceivings as your false Hireling doth but to declare the Word of the Lord to the convincing your dark understandings that you might see the deceits by which you are and have been led that your souls might have been redeemed up to God out of the imagined worships of the World to worship in Spirit and in Truth Hear ye the Word of the Lord ye people all your carnal traditional Ordinances and Observances is abomination to the Lord all your praying and praising is odious in his sight for all your worship is an imitation and an imagination of the dark mind of man and was never commanded by God therefore consider all ye people what you are doing and reject not the Lord nor his Everlasting Truth but prize your time and now seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon his name while he is near Your souls are kept in the death under your dead Minister and under his dead Doctrines dead Reasons Points and Uses which he speakes from the Saints conditions and experiences but is an enemy to the substance and to them in whom the same conditions are made manifest in the power of Truth and he doth make manifest himself to be in the same generation of them who had the form of Godliness but denies the Power having the Letter as the Pharisees had but persecuting the substance as they did All people consider whether he be not in the generation professing God and Truth in Word as the Scribes and Pharisees were but persecuting the Son of God who is the Substance of Truth where he is born and made manifest he is in the generation of them who professed Abraham's freedom and that God was their Father but were of their father the Devil for his workes they did they said and did not as he doth as it is made manifest he is a whited Wall a painted Sepulcher which Christ the Son of God cryed wo against who was and is the Light by which all Deceivers Hirelings and false Teachers are discovered and cryed out against The Light which is Christ do I witness to be made manifest in me from God the Father of Light daily leading me up to him to live in Purity and Uprightness praises be to him for ever in which Light I see your Teacher to be a Hireling a greedy dumb Dog seeking for his gain from his Quarter one that God never sent but hath run and was not sent therefore doth he not profit you at all and from this Light which is Christ do I declare against him as knowing him that he hath not the Word of the Lord but the Letter Freely do I declare against him as knowing him to be a Deceiver and an Antichrist being once I was deceived by him but now through the rich Love of my Father who hath made himself known to me hath shined by his Eternal Light in my heart do I see him and all such to be Antichrist and no Minister of Christ from the mouth of the Lord I do declare it that you are led blindly by him your blind Guide and you are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Living Truth by his Ministry He layes heavy burdens upon you He is in the generation of them who had the Law and Prophets but persecuted him who came to fulfil the Law and who hath the substance of the Prophets He hath the Conditions and Experiences of the Saints in the Letter but who are brought to witness the same Conditions and the same strait Way in which they walked He is an enemy to all people to you from God I do declare it he is one that God never sent to speak his Word to you he calls good evil and evil good and puts Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and therefore wo is his Portion and wo is the Portion of all that upholds him What will ye do in the end thereof He doth bewitch you to observe That calling is an Ordinance of God which he never commanded Poor people your souls lies in the death under the power of darkness and corruption under your dead Minister and under his dead carnal Observances and your dark Minds your Wit and Reason is only fed and so the enemies of the Lord are strengthned by him and you remain in ignorance and in blindness and cannot attain the true Riches for Christ only is the Way to the Father the Light in every man which leads to the Father but this Light he denies as having enlightened every one that comes into the World as several times he hath done to me in Argument Here he makes Christ a Lyar and doth not know the first Principle of Religion nor the Light which leads unto God but is a Heathen and knows not God for this is the Light which all the Servants of God in all Generations witnessed and which Light we do now
witness praised be the Lord for evermore who hath in his Light led us to himself and hath shewed the deceits of him to us and of all such as he is he is in the generation shutting the Kingdom of Heaven against men neither entring himself nor suffers others to enter that are entring Through the Power of the Lord made manifest am I bold to declare against him who walks not in the Doctrine of Christ and therefore is an Antichrist and doth deceive you professing himself to be sent of God and walking contrary to the Truth of God a Hypocrite saying and not doing Ye my Country men be not deceived by him try him by the Scriptures see how he walks according to the Declaration as they did who were Ministers of Christ not by the will of man but his Ministry is by man and according to man and had his Call from man as it is known to you all but they who were true Ministers witnessed the contrary neither received they their Gospel from man but by the revelation of Jesus The true Ministers of Christ sent sorth by Christ witness now the same thing for Christ is the same that ever he was which is now made manifest in the Saints and his Ministry is the same which is not by man but contrary to man be not deceived God will not be mocked for he is terrible and his day is powerful and dreadful that shall come upon the Heathen and upon the workers of Iniquity and upon all Dissemblers and Hypocrites all your carnal Worship and Ordinances and Observances is but mocking of God and dissembling with him and is but an imitation an imagination of the Mind of fallen man imitated by you and your Minister droven by the imaginations from the true Worship of God which the Saints in former generations was exercised in who were led not by imagination as you are but by the Spirit of God as all the servants of God are Now as ever was true Baptism I own which is by the holy Ghost and with Fire and the Baptism with one Spirit into one Body do we witness but that which your Chief Priest and false Hireling holds up I deny it it is not of God but is an imitation and is abomination in the sight of God and therefore from God do I Declare against it and against your Hireling that upholds it among you True Communion of Saints I own for we have Union and the Bread which we break is the body of Christ and the Cup which we drink is the Blood of Christ by which we are nourished and fed up to Eternal Life for he that eats not Christ's Flesh and drink his Blood he hath no life in him he among you that can receive it let him but your Communion I deny for it is Heathenish and no more but an imitation having proceeded out of the imagination of the Proud Your breaking of Bread and drinking of the Cup is abomination and God never commanded it and this doth your Pharisee uphold sitting in the seat of Christ and of the Saints as the Pharisees did in Mose's seat saying and not doing True singing I own with the Spirit and with Understanding singing in the Spirit making Melody in the heart to the Lord this singing was and is among the Saints in the Church of Christ this is well pleasing to God for it is not an imitation nor by tradition as your singing is but it is true Sacrifice the song of the redeemed ones which none can learn but the redeemed ones of the Lord who is come and coming to Zion with songs and everlasting Joy upon their heads but your singing is Carnal Traditional and Heathenish and is an Imitation and is not with the Spirit of Jesus but with the spirit of the World with the spirit of Drunkards Swearers Lyars Mockers Scorners Coveteous ones with the spirit of Wrath Envy Malice with the spirit of Cain with the spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees and chief Priests who persecuted the Saints which sang in Truth in former Generations and now the deceit is turned into the form of singing and they that live there persecutes them that sings in the Power for thus it was ever they that lived in Profession of the Word outwardly persecuted them that lived in the Power of which was professed and there you and your Hireling is but know that the Lord will take an account of you and give unto every man his reward according to his deeds You and your Priest have got the form of Baptism of the Communion of Singing and of a Church but the Power and Substance of these Ordinances you know not for they are hid from all vulturous eyes and from the generation of the Pharisees and Serpents who are called of men Master and which have the chief place in the Assemblies as your Hireling hath and who is called of men Master as they were which Christ cryed Wo against True preaching of Jesus Christ Crucified we own and do witness for the preaching is out of the will of man out of Form and Custom and is foolishness to the wisdom of the World now as it was ever this is not with the inticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and the preaching of the Word of Faith which is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that preaching we do own for Faith comes by the hearing of this Word preached And the Prayer with the Spirit of Truth we do own for that is not in word to be seen of men but led to that not by Custom Form and Tradition but by the Eternal Spirit which proceeds from God which hath free recourse to God which God heareth and doth accept for their iniquity is purged out of the heart and is not regarded for he that regards iniquity in his heart God will not hear his Prayer but the Preaching and Praying of your Hireling I do deny for they are abomination to the Lord for his preaching leads from God stands in his own Will in his own Time in Form Custom and Tradition and your souls are not refreshed by it neither is true Faith known among you for how can he being evil speak good things A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit said he who cryed Wo unto them that said and did not in which generation he is how can he teach and direct towards true Religion being he denies the Corner Stone the first Principle of Religion which is the Foundation which no other can any lay the Light of God which hath enlightened every one that comes into the World which he denies to have enlightened every one Poor people I do pitty your souls God is my witness to see you lie in darkness in ignorance and blindness and in deadness under your dead Hireling and under his dead traditional Preaching your wisdom reason and dark minds
somthing shewed me that I was very ignorant and knew not the true God and the beauty of all things vanished And I went to some asking What God was which was professed for I said I knew him not but got no satisfaction from any And I was much separated from the vain ways of the world and from vain worldly people and was made to reprove many often for wickedness in words and actions and was much decided and looked upon scornfully by many and then the Preaching of them whom I had formerly much delighted in was as withered and decayed yet then it pleased the Lord to shew himself a little in love to me and I had sweet refreshments coming in from him to my soul and had joy and peace in abundance and openings of the living truth in me which the world knew not of and the mystery of the Scripture was something opened which before I knew nothing of and I saw many glorious things in it which lie hid under the letter and I was in much rejoycing many times and sang praise for I was brought out of the Land of darkness and could say I was in the Light and I grew up to know high things but not knowing the Cross of Christ I ran forth in my wisdom comprehending the mysteries of God having a Light shined in me and I grew up into notion to talk of high things for it was my delight to comprehend in my busie mind thus being ignorant of the Cross to keep low in it I ran before my Guide up into comprehension and then was I above many of the Priests and Professors and followed only to hear the highest Notionists that Preached high things but the fleshly man was at liberty and so I became one of them in their discoursings and was looked upon by them to know much the former terrour was gone and I had got up from under the judgement and now pride grew more than ever and self-conceitedness and presumption and fleshly liberty to the carnal mind and my delight was much in discoursings where I played the Haâ—lot and the Prodigal and gave holy things unto Dogs and cast Pearls before Swine for wisdom was hid from me and here I lived pleasantly for I had the true God and the true Truth in my comprehension which by my wisdom in the Light I had comprehended and I had the world in my heart Pride Covetousness and the earthly spirit ruled and my delight was grown up to that which once I had no delight in and the beauty of things grew up which seemed to be vanished here I was â—un from my Husband after other Lovers and had left the Lord my Maker who had so graciously made manifest himself unto me and had spent my portion among harlots but I became to be darkned and had lost that which once I had and had but in memory that which before I had injoyed could tell of Experiences but they were dead to me and somthing within me began to question how it was with me for I saw my self to be ignorant more than formerly and I saw I knew nothing something desiring in me to be from whence I was come but I grew to be much given to the world to seek after riches and glory in it and I fed my self with what I had formerly enjoyed and said Whom God loves once he loves for ever but that was then head and ruled in me which he loved never I was wanton and lived in the lustful nature among heathens crucifying the Lord of Life but the blood of that which I had slain cried continually and the witness which lay slain would give me no rest which the earthly made merry over and I grew to be weary of hearing any of the Priests though never so high for something which shined deep in me shewed me ignorance in all profession and I was put to a stand many times in my self at those things which were come to pass then it pleased the Lord to send his true and faithful Servant and Messenger who is called according to the flesh G. Fox he spoke the language which I knew not notwithstanding all my high talking for it was higher and yet lower And it pleased the Lord to speak to me by him that I was in the prodigal state and above the Cross of Christ and not in the pure fear of the Lord but full of corruption and the old nature though I had professed freedom yet it was but such as the Jewes professed for I saw my self to be in bondage to my own Will and to my own Lust and through the Word of the Lord spoken to me by him I began to see my self the witness being raised where I was and what I had been doing and saw I had been making an image to the first Beast which had the Wound by a Sword and did live whose deadly Wound was healed and was full of Airy Notions and Imaginations and was worshipping the image which I had made and then I saw my self to be a Child of Wrath and that the Son of the Bond-Woman lived that Harlots had been my Companions and was no more worthy to be called a Son Then trouble and distress came upon me such as was not since the beginning of the world and I was at my wits end and a day of thick darkness and trouble a day of weeping and mourning and misery and a day of vengeance and recompence came upon me such as I had never known one vial of Wrath after another the great Whore was to be judged and to drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which had made me once drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and then I separated from all the glory of the World and from all my Acquaintance and kindred and betook my self to the company of a poor despised and contemned people called Quakers and now am I one in that Generation which is and ever was hated of the world by the chief Priests and Pharisees and Generation of Serpents and hath chosen rather to suffer Affliction with a poor despised People than to injoy the pleasures of Sin with the great multitude though the worldly pleasures were not wanting to me and now do I bear witness against all Forms of Religion and false Hirelings and chief Priests who walks in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees and of the false Prophets of Israel and was never sent of God to declare his Word And do freely Declare against all out-side Profession and Notion and do witness George Fox to be a true Minister of God one that speaks the Word of the Lord from his mouth one who was sent of God and who is the Servant and Messenger of the living God he is the Friend of God and wo unto his Persecutors they are the Seed of evil doers and now I am despised of my neighbors and carnal acquaintance and is not greater then my Lord who was called a Blasphemer and a Deceiver as
now I am but praised praised be the Lord for evermore who hath separated me from the World and worldly glories and hath made me a partaker of his Love in whom my Soul hath fall satisfaction joy and content Thus have I travelled through the World even unto the end and am now come to the beginning of that which never shall have end which the dark mind of man knows not E. B. I Am a Prisoner for the Truth sake and for Declaring to man of his Wickedness and of his Transgression of the spiritual Law of God which is spiritual and for writing of a Letter which was written from God to shew to man of his wicked ways and how he stood in the presence of God as by the spiritual Light of God which shines in the hearts of his servants was discovered and made manifest unto me for who Speaks Writes or Declares from the Light of God which doth discover all the dark paths of fallen man and all his spiritual Wickedness Speaks Writes and Declares not as from man whose light is only natural and carnal which is darkness in the pure Light which is eternal but as from God whose Light is spiritual and doth make manifest the secret Whoredom of fallen man and from this Light did the Prophets and Ministers of God who were sent by him to reprove Sin and Transgression Speak Write and Declare and in this Light did the true Prophets Ieremiah and Hosea discover Israel to be adulterous and in the presence of God to be guilty of Whoredom from whose presence they declared And all now who are sent of God to reprove for Sin and Iniquity declares from the same Light of God and by the same Spirit which Ieremiah and Hosea did For the pure Light of God is but one from generation to generation in all generation which discovers Sin and Iniquity the same Light now as in the time of the Prophets and Apostles and from this Light which is not carnal but eternal did all the holy men of God Write and Declare And all who are sent of God now witnesses the same Light and Speaks from the same Light now as they did then for who cannot witness this Light are no Ministers of God neither ever were sent of God to Declare the Truth from God but are Deceivers and blind Guids and speaâ—â— from the natural and carnal light the imagined and supposed light which hath not seen the living spiritual God for Declaring by Writing to a man that he is guilty of all manner of wickedness naming pride drunkenness and whoredom I am imprisoned I wrote not as from man whose light is only natural and carnal and doth only make manifest carnal Transgressions of a carnal Law but as from the eternal and spiritual light which doth make manifest spiritual Transgressions of a spiritual Law And in this Light is he to whom I wrote guilty of all manner of Wickedness Now this which I declared from God who is spiritual is above the reach and comprehension of the carnal and earthly Law for by the natural light through the earthly Law is no natural man able to judge of that which is spoken or declared from that which is eternal and spiritual for darkness cannot comprehend the light which light all the Servants and Ministers of God are guided by to Act Speak or Write and therefore do I deny to have this Cause put into the Judgement of carnal Lawyers who judges by the natural light through the earthly and carnal Law yet willing I am before any Authority to Answer for my self that whereof I am Accused but to the Judgement of earthly Magistrates I do not stand but to the Judgement of the Living and Eternal Judge who Judges not according to the sight of the eyes and hearing of the ears but who judges with Equity and Righteousness thus rather I chose to suffer imprisonment in the Body yet free as to God in the Truth waiting to be Redeemed not by the earthly Powers through the earthly Law but by him who is Eternal whose Law is Eternal who orders all things by his mighty Power to which Power I give up my self to be kept in it and ordered by it continually Here I have given to all People the ground of my Imprisoment in the particular of it though I might in few words have declared the thing for between the feed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent is Enmity put and he in whom the Seed of the Serpent is Ruling seeks the destruction of him in whom the Seed of the Woman is Raised And here is the Ground of all the Saints Imprisonment now as ever was the envy of the Devil working in Fallen man against the living Truth of God where it is made manifest By one who is a Labourer in the Vineyard who is not known to the World though named of the World EDWARD BURROUGH THE Walls of Jericho Razed down to the GROUND OR An Answer to a Lying Book called The Quaking Principles dashed in pieces Wherein one called Henoch Howet which goes under the name of an Anabaptist doth falsely accuse and maliciously belye us his seven Principles which he calls ours I shall lay down and what we own is vindicated and what he hath belyed the Truth in is turned upon his own head NOw is the time wherein the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is setting up a Kingdom and exalting his Name in the Earth and is exalting his own Son upon the holy Hill of Sion and is discovering the Mother of Harlots who hath made all Nations drunk with her Fornication and Iezabel shall be cast into a Bed of Torment and the fire of the Lord God is come down from Heaven and is kindled in the Earth to burn up and destroy and to consume to ashes even all those that have worshipped the Beast and hath his Image and the false Prophets that have deceived the Nations and they both shall be taken alive and cast into the pit for the Lord is grieved and wearied with this adulterous and viperous Generation who are offering up that which stinks in his nostrils and strange fire and are professing him and his Resurrection who crucifie him and put him to open shame and they deny the end of his coming and are offering in Cains nature while they slay the Just and are in the gainsaying of Corah who perished in it and so shall all those that gainsay the Lord in his Way and now the Lord of Heaven and Earth is proclaming War with the Dragon and his Angels and they shall be cast out and whosoever doth resist him in his way shall be broken to pieces as a Potters vessel and thou Henoch Howet who would limit the holy One of Israel and bind him up in thy carnal reason and stint him in his Way and Form up things in thy imagination from the Scripture and walks by Tradition thou art accusing us among the Papist but let it stand for
thy self and to that in thy Conscience I speak and it will let thee see that all thy worship is taken on in thy will and in that nature in which the enmity stands and so hath taken on things and taken up things by tradition from others and that which was commands to others who followed the Lamb whithersoever he went and no commands to thee neither doth God require those things of that nature neither doth he accept it while the bands of wickedness is not loosed and the oppressed is not set free and therefore let all flesh and carnal reason be silent for God will confound the wisdom of the wise and they that have divined in their reasons which is in the curse and under the curse shall be mad now in the day when God is raising up his own Image and bringing back that which hath long been held in captivity and now the men of the Earth Pharaoh and all the Inchanters of Egypt and the South-sayers and the Diviners and Gog and Magog among which thou Hewet art found one and they compass the Camp of the Saints about but fire shall come down from Heaven that shall destroy all the Adversaries of the Lord and Israel shall go free 1. That which thou calls our first Principle And first thou sayest They oppose the Word Christ to the written word and will have a Word that is a discovery spiritual to be the Word but whatsoever it is they call the Word it is perfectly false and not the truth Answer Oh thou Lyar and Slanderer the Lord will plead with thee for Addars Poyson is under thy tongue and thou hast a Whores forehead that art not ashamed of thy false accusing let hundreds in the City of London who hath heard us be witness against thee and thy Lyes that thou hast Printed and suffers them to be cryed up and down the streets as thy filthy Songs and Ballads and runs to disgrace the Truth but to the Lord who is righteous shalt thou give an account and thou art as Ianes and Iambres that withstood Moses and for all thy hard Speeches and filthy Lyes shalt thou give an Account for to him who is the Searcher of hearts and that in thy Conscience shall bear witness against thee and that we oppose the Word Christ to the written word as thou callst it I charge it upon thee that we do not oppose Christ to the Scripture for Christ is the Word Iohn 1. and this the Scripture doth not oppose but bears witness to him who is the Word and his Name is called the Word of God and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us as the Scriptures witness and the Word of the Lord endures for ever but he doth not say the Letter endures for ever but thou that art accusing us that we do not own a form of sound words here thou shalt be judged out of thy own mouth where readst thou of a written word in the Scripture and here thou shalt be tryed by the Scripture and judged by it that thou art a perverter of the Scripture thou wouldst have more words then one the Word is but one the Word sanctifies Sanctifie them through thy Word but he doth not say the Letter sanctifies And the Word of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting but the Letter is not from everlasting and the Scripture had a beginning and was declared in time and Prophesie shall cease but the Word is from everlasting to everlasting And the Word of the Lord is as a Hammer and as a Fire but the Scripture doth not say that it is as a Hammer and a Fire and yet the Word that he spoke was Spirit and Life yet the Scripture is not Spirit and Life and thou that wouldst set up the Letter in the place of God to try all things and search all hearts thou makest an Idol of it and so opposes God with it and so would bring that to contend against the Lord the which they witnessed through sufferings and I tell thee and all the world the Word is but one and all who knows God hears that Word and it is a Light and a Lanthorn unto their Pathes but that is invisible and eternal and what the Saints did witness of this Word they declared 1 Iohn and the Scripture is true and bears true record and testimony of the Word and they were true Witnesses of the Word of Life that wrote it and it is a true Declaration or Testimony of those things that are certainly believed Luke 1. of the which they saw and heard and tasted and all who come to know the Word of the Lord reads it again and sees it as it is written and further thy envy and shame is made manifest that thou wouldst accuse and yet thou sayst whatsoever they call the word it is perfectly false and not truth here thou would judge and yet thou canst not tell what we call the Word but at last concludes its false whatever it be and here thou blasphemes and callest Christ Jesus in whom is all truth false for no other Word I own but Christ and the Scripture speaks of no Word of God but one and thou that wouldst make the Letter the Word it self shall judge thee and thou makest much mincing and arguments in thy carnal reason and sayst the ground of error is ignorance of the Scripture and thou bringst Mark and Matthew alas I know what Mark and Matthew wrote is true if thou hadst an ear to hear the ground of all error is because he is not known nor his voice whom the Scriptures bear record of and thou sayst we drive men into darkness that works upon people to dis-esteem the Scripture and perswades people to an uselessness of the Scriptures let all that have heard us in the City of London or elsewhere speak if they heard us say the Scriture was useless or did dis-esteem it but on the contrary we exhorted them to search if the Scripture did not bear witness to those things we declared and so let shame cover thy face thou false Accuser and thou bringst 2 Tim. 3. 17. that it is for the perfecting the man of God and that its profitable to correct and instruct this is owned but it s not the man of God thou wouldst have perfected by it but such Hirelings as thy self hath been and false Accusers as thou art and I say it is profitable to us to reprove thee and correct thee and read thy portion a Lyars portion is in the Lake and as Rom. 15. 4. its not denyed but as Christ Jesus is witnessed who is the Comforter which the Scripture bears witness of there is comfort and hope and thou sayst the Scripture proves the New birth and teacheth perseverance to the end It bears testimony of some that did witness the New birth and that persevered unto the end but what is this to thee that never came one step in the way and as for promises there is no
Rudiments of the World we testifie against being Witnesses of the Substance and your taking on practices in that nature which is contrary unto Christ from the Words and Commands of Christ unto them that followed him we also testifie against and in it you are found among the Papists which walks by Tradition and not from the Motion of the Spirit of God and here thou art found a Lyar for the Commands of Christ is our life our joy our peace and glory and hereby we know that we love him because we keep his Commandments and they are not grevious unto us which is not received by tradition from without us but by the Eternal Spirit Christ Jesus revealed in us which is not contrary to his Commands without but a fulfilling of them for he is not a Iew who is one outwardly whose praise is of men neither is the Obedience which Christ doth require a conforming the outward man unto an outward thing which Obedience is your boasting onely and there only your difference lieth from all the World in the outward appearance Pharisee-like but the ground of enmity and seat of the Beast is standing within and you are twofold more the children of the Devil and God is risen to confound you and to break your Image to pieces and he shall have the praise of God who is the Jew inward whose obedience and circumcision is inward and who have no confidence in the flesh And whereas thou exhorts to hear one loving Reproof out of the Scripture which their Predecessors I mean the Papists thou sayest would have taken from us in the English Tongue and these would take from us the vertue of it that is to say the sharpness and sweeness of it by working upon us a dislike to it I Answer we do deny thy voice and though thou mayst bring Scripture in thy mouth to us it is but as the Devil brought it to Christ and we deny it from thee for if thou sayst God lives thou swears falsly and the Papists they are thy Predecessors who walks only by tradition as thou dost from a thing without them separate from the Life and both them and thee we do deny and bears witness against you to be without God in the World in the alienation out of the Covenant knowing nothing of him but what you have heard by a Fame and a Report and that we in the least would take from any the virtue of the Scripture it is a Lye uttered by the Devil in thee for we testifie unto all that it shall every tittle be fulfilled even upon the ungodly and thou shalt know it one day to be fulfilled upon thee thou Lyar must be cast into the Lake that burns for ever and this is the sharpness and sweetness which thou must have from it who art a false Accuser of the Brethren bearing the Image of the Dragon the Devil whose servant thou art as it is made manifest by thy Writing and this many will witness with us that often we do declare upon the just and the unjust the Scripture must be fulfilled and the righteous must have a Reward and the ungodly must have their Portion in utter darkness according as the Scripture saith and herein we establish the Scripture in its place to be a true Declaration of God and Christ and what the righteous and the wiced shall enjoy but that it is God and Christ or the Way unto Life we deny it for this is its vertue a declaration of that which the Saints believed and he that witnesses the same Life and Truth which it testifies of to be made manifest in him is a Witness of it and it is a Witness unto him and this is the vertue of it if thou hast an ear thou mayest hear and that we work upon Any a dislike of the Scriptures I charge thee to be a Lyar for to the fulfilling and establishing of it we declare that every one may walk up in the Life of it by that which gave it forth and to be a true witness of it as they were that spoke it but thee and all such we do deny which adds your imaginations upon it to sell for money And whereas thou sayst by way of Query to us Hath the Scripture no power over you have you a spirit to guide you without a written word it is out of Gods Government if it cannot be brought to the Law and to the Testimony I answer Jesus Christ onely hath power over us and not a Letter without us and the Spirit by which we are guided is no other but that which gave forth the Scripture which Spirit is the Word of God and which Spirit the Scripture bears witness unto and this we often say if we speak or act contrary to Scripture let us be judged by the Scripture and we as Paul did do commend all that shall search the Scripture to try whether these things be not so which we declare and herein we are under the Government of God who alone hath power over us but you who have not the same spirit which gave forth the Scripture neither knows it nor us but out of the evil corrupt ground thou judgest of it as thou dost of us and both thy judgment of it and us is to be judged by the Eternal Light of Christ which never erreth nor changeth And whereas thou sayest We may be Familiar-spirits for ought thou knowest what muttering and uncouth howling is among us which you cannot but impute to be a spirit contrary to the Word if we will not come to the Word to be tryed I answer it is true thou knowst us not for we are unknown to thy Generation though you have the Scripture which we in our lives and practices are Witnesses of as Christ was unknown to the Pharisees who had the Scripture which he came to fulfil and thou art ignorant of the Scripture and a Scorner of the Power of it who callst the Power of the Lord uncouth howling what would you have said concerning David who lay roaring all the day long even as a man distracted and concerning Habakkuk whose belly trembled and whose lips quivered when he heard the Voice of God But here you are made manifest who scorns that which the Scripture bears witness of and never knew what it was to be pricked to the heart as they were which cryed out what shall we do to be saved and if thou canst thou may try by the Scripture whether this be any other but that which the Scripture speaks of and not the same Spirit which made the Servants of God to quake and tremble which the Scriptures speaks of which this day is become a reproach even unto them that profess the Scripture for by the Word of God which the Scripture declares of shall all flesh tremble and be confounded and then thy self shall be judged into the Lake that burns for ever except thou repent And whereas thou sayest How shall you do to try spirits if we
was in and this he shall witness with me to be true and against thee who would reproach the Way of Truth by him when the Book of Conscience is opened And whereas thou further sayest Their spirit will perswade them that they are not fallen from righteousness and would therefore justifie them I answer We are gathered up into righteousness and fallen from vanity and this the Spirit of God perswadeth us and witnesseth in us and for us by which onely we are justified freely and not by the works of the Law nor by any outward observance and herein thou also art a Lyar who sayst we are fallen from righteousness for even the righteousness of God is manifested to us by which we deny all your carnal outward observances by which you think to obtain life and righteousness Now in answer to thy sixth Particular which thou calls a heavy and sad offence which is a denying honour to men which thou sayst is the example of good men to which I do answer God hath commanded to honour him alone and not to how down to any Creature and thou hast brought many Scriptures to oppose the command of God and so art more fully made manifest to be an enemy unto him which would plead against him by that which is written from him pleading the example of good men which is no example to us to break the command of God no more then Davids example in comming whoredom and Iosephs example in swearing by the life of Pharoah is an example for any to act those things now and I do utterly deny that any of these Scriptures which thou hast cited will prove and maintain your heathenish custom in your deceitfull way of honouring one another to please the Devil in one another which is without the fear of God and it is a sad offence to none but the Devil because it weakens and disturbs his Kingdom of which thou art as is made manifest who pleads to uphold it from the Scripture but vain honour with flattering titles unto any man we do deny but yet we honour all men in the Lord and out of him we honour none to uphold the pride of man for God will bring it all down and lay it in the dust and exalt himself to reign over you all and whereas thou sayst how far are these men from the holy Writ To which I say and answer thou slanderously wouldst make us to appear odious in the sight of men but all the upright in heart will see thee and thy blindness and ignorance who bringst that Scripture where Christ in fulfilling the Law of God which he came to fulfil worshipped in the Temple to prove and maintain the worship of man Answ. O thou blind Pharisee and perverter of the Scripture God will plague thee thou enemy of his truth who perverts the Scripture to thy own destruction and art worse then the Pharisees who said he respected no mans person and they shall witness against thee and whereas thou speaks of honouring Father and Mother which thou sayest we deny in this our practice I answer I charge thee to be a Lyar for as I said we honour all men in the Lord and direct all Children and Servants to obey their Parents and Masters in the Lord and this many can witness for us which have more frequented our Assemblies then thou hast done but this we also testifie where the obedience to any man stands in opposition to God the obedience to God is rather to be chosen and herein he that will not hate Father or Mother for Christ sake is not worthy of him but thou carnal earthly man art pleading for the Kingdom of the Devil to honour man above God and I say how can you believe that seeks honour one of another your honour and your heathenish custom we testifie against yet unto every Ordinance of man we are subject for Conscience sake Now to that which you call the seventh mistake affording absolute perfection at one Instant in admitting of none but perfect men into conjunction Answ. It is a mistake in thee for such a word never proceeded from us I may say it is rather an absolute Lye invented by thee to make us odious then a mistake from us for thy heart is desperately wicked and thy torment is kindling by the Breath of the Almighty many which have heard us will testifie against thee for we say the Saints have their growth up into a perfect man in Christ as Christ himself had and we say also there is children and young men and fathers as the Apostle said but thou art not ashamed to utter thy Lies and Slanders which hundreds in this City will witness against thee for a Lyar and even the light in thy Conscience will accuse thee to thy face that thou hast imagined lyes and mischief upon thy bed against us and whereas thou bringst many Scriptures to prove thy slanders against us to be true to which I answer all the Scriptures we own and bear witness unto by that Spirit from which they were spoken but thee and thy spirit we deny for both you and it is of the Devil and thou hast devillishly added thy imaginations upon them and wrested them which I shall not now mention because I do deny the thing which thou assertest for its an absolute lye and do say unto thee God will reward thee thou slanderous tongue and whereas further thou sayest in our perfection we deny any man being under frailty or capableness to sin to be of our communion I answer here again thou art a Lyar these words were never uttered by us as thou hast set them down but I say he that sins is of the Devil and such we have no unity withal nor such hath no unity with God for no impure thing enters to him nor hath communion with him for whosoever works abomination is to be cast out and trodden in the winepress of his wrath where the portion of Lyars is among whom thou must receive thy reward for with such we have no union who are disobedient children but with him who in the least measure which he hath received from God walks up in the Light unto God we have unity and communion with him Thou sayst one of us told thee that which sinned could not be saved I answer it is out of the reach of thy wisdom and thy vulterous eye shall never see it I say as the Scripture saith The soul that sinneth must die and every man must die for his own iniquity if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear and further thou sayest that our Doctrine may appear to be utterly against the Scripture thou bringst Rom. 7. 23. where Paul was under the Law and saw a Law in the members warring against the Law of the mind I answer his Scripture we own and are ture Witnesses of it but there was also a time that the Law of the Spirit of Life had freed him from the Law of sin and death but
is neither hast cleaved to it and so art raâ—ed out from the Life and from the Foundation and the Apostle who had his Commission not from man nor by man he exhorted those he preached and wrote to to take heed to the sure Word of Prophesie as unto a Light that shined in a dark place and to wait in it till the Day did dawn and the Day Star did arise and for distinguishing of that in the Conscience what it is he that is not separate from the darkness knows not how to do it But this I say unto thee as we declare unto all the Light which shines into the Conscience is the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withal and it is spiritual like himself and eternal and it leads out of sin and declares against all iniquity and he that comes to own it and to be guided by it it leads out of sin to know the Cross of Christ which is a Mystery to thee and it leads to the eternal Word which was in the beginning before sin was and it will judge all thy imaginations and vain conceivings and it leads to the Inheritance incorruptible out of corruptible if thou hast an ear to hear thou mayst hear it is that which will let thee see thy vain frothy imaginations which thou hast of God and will condemn all thy vain imaginations and hating it it will be thy condemnation and there is the issue of it and all such as steals other mens words and the true Prophets words and never knew the life that was in them all such we deny and shut them up within utter darkness where they and thou art and for the glorious things that thou and thy Partner speaks of which call your selves the two last Witnesses it is manifest that your mysteries are as in thy Book and thy queries where thou putst Elect and Reprobate together and as for tryall of spirits we give liberty and exhort all that may to try and we direct them to that to try by which is infallible and eternall whereby they may see and comprehend thee and all who have not the Spirit But that they should try who have nothing to try with let all such be silent for ever for none understands the Spirit but the Spirit with which we see thee and all who stands in their imaginations are ignorant of it therefore stop thy mouth in the dust and be silent 9 Quer. Do not they that speak to a people that declares against all appearances which are contrary to his way discover himself unto a true discerning Spirit not to be of the Lord unless they can demonstrate a spiritual Commission that he hath received from Heaven by voyce of words through the glorious mouth of the Lord so that no mortal man can disprove him though few for want of understanding receive him Ans. The Way that leads to the Father is but one which is Christ and he that declares from him made manifest in him declares against all Sects and Opinions that which thou calls appearances and the Way is one and the Truth one where there is no rent nor division and he that dwels in the life hath discerning and he that witnesses the annointing discerns he is able to judge and discern and in that thou art seen who wouldst sit on the throne but thou must come down and lick the dust dust is the Serpents meat and they who had their Commission from God and have their Commission from God now they were made manifest to every mans Conscience in the sight of God and this we witness this the Scripture witnesseth and he that believes hath the witness in himself and the father bears witness and they witness the voice of the Lord which is spiritual speaking to them and they declare from that which is spiritual to the Consciences of Gainsayers and this is witnessed but thy voice of words is carnal and is denyed and who art thou made manifest unto that which is mortal cannot discern and disprove thee but that which is immortal can and they who are guided by the immortal denies thee and will receive none of thy Testimony because it is not the same which the holy men of God witnessed and doth now witness which voice shakes the Wilderness and rents the Rocks and makes the Earth to reel to and fro but to thee this is a mystery and sealed 10. Again he that speaketh of an invisible spiritual God or Christ living in the Consciences or Spirits of men thou sayst He questions the truth of all the Scripture records concerning the Life Death and Resurrection and Ascension of the blessed Body of Christ into the Throne of his Immortal Glory And doth he not question Whether the Consciences of the Saints being sprinkled with the Blood of Iesus which dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem are purified from the pollutions of the Flesh and Spirit doth he not question the Resurrection of the Souls and Bodies out of the Earth at the last Day Answ. Here again thou hast made thy shame and ignorance manifest and knows not so much as the Letter of the Scripture Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ not by the will of man and a Minister of the Everlasting God he witnessed the Son of God revealed in him and he said Know ye not that Christ is in you or else you are Reprobates And Christ is not divided And he that is joyned to the Lord is onâ— Spirit And I and my Father are one And where Christ dwells the Father dwells And if thou hast an ear to hear thou mayst â—ear and if the same Spirit be not in you that raised Christ from the dead you are none of his and he that declared these things spake of a spiritual Christ and an invisible God and who shall ascend up to Heaven the word is nigh in thy mouth and in thy heart and this is the same Christ that suffered without the Gate at Ierusalem and no other which Paul travelled till he was born in them if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear and the Apostle did not question the Scripture records for they spoke it and recorded it and they witnessed the Life of Christ and his Death and Resurrection and Ascension and they witnessed him ascended above Thrones and Dominions and to sit at the right-hand of the Father and we witness the same Christ made manifest in us and his Resurrection not because Paul said so but we have seen it and are Witnesses of it the same that ever was the same that did Ascend the same did ascend this is a riddle unto thee and seven seals is upon it and thou that queriest shall never see them opened and they who had Christ in them and the Father and the Son supping with them they had their Consciences sprinkled and none else for his blood thou knowst not and so I say unto thee thou art not sprinkled nor thy Conscience purified from dead works and they who know
Christ in them and no more after the flesh come to know his Resurrection he is the resurrection he is the first and the last who knows him risen and have seen him witness the first day and the last what speaks thou of a last day that never came to the beginning and so thy soul lies in death and in chains and in utter darkness and therefore lay thy hand upon thy mouth and see where thou art and the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures thou canst not witness 11 Quer. If after death there is no bodily Resurrection for the Spirits of men to possess an immortal Glory to eternity or to suffer an eternal Devil-like shame according to their deeds whether good or evil Is it not one of the vainest things in the World to discourse of God and Righteousness unless it be for earthly Gain amongst men Answ. There is a Resurrection both of the just and of the unjust the just into everlasting life and the unjust into everlasting shame and contempt and every one shall receive according to his works whether they be good or evil but this is a mystery hid for none knowes it but through death but what knowest thou who art yet alive in sin what shall be in the resurrection which is after death which whoever comes to know the resurrection knowes the end of all things therefore it is not taking their words nor thy own imaginations that is Faith nor if thou know Christ no nearer than Ierusalem nor no nearer than above the stars thou knowst not where but through thy dark imaginations this is not to know Christ risen from the dead see therefore what hast thou seen in thy self But thou art dead while thou livest in that nature and at the resurrection contempt and shame will be thy portion and turn in â—hy minde to that which shews thee sin and witness the body and sin destroyed within and then and not till then shalt thou know how it is in the resurrection 12 Quer. Thou raises a question from Pauls words to the Athenians and didst before condemn them that stole other mens words and here thou hast stolen a Query and thou askestwhat think you did that spiritual Creator dwell and sive in the Athenians Consciences or did his glorious person visibly appear in the highest heavens Answ. The Athenians to whom Paul spoke worshipped the work of their own hands as this Generation doth their own imaginations and that God whom ignorantly they worshipped at a distance which God lived in Paul's Conscience Paul declared unto them and they looked as thou dost carnally thinking God to be carnal and at a distance but he said he was not at a distance from every one of them for in him they lived moved and had their being and this was the God which Paul preached of which Creator we witness lives in the high and holy place and with him also that is of a humble and a contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word 13 Quer. And thou sayest what think you can there be any living Spirit without a body or person to display its life in or from and must not the Creator of necessity be a glorious personal substance and thou sayest doth not these men that worship an infinite Spirit without any bodily form living in mens Consciences glory only in a god of â—â—eir own imaginations instead of honouring the onely Lord of all life the man Iesus yesterday today and for ever Answ. That which is not possible with men is possible with God which God is a Spirit as Jesus Christ saith and a spirit hath not flesh and bone nor a created body but displays it self as it pleases contrary to thy will and the will of all men and thou who wouldst by thy reason tye the Creator with a necessity to a personal Beeing art void of the knowledge of God and led by thy corrupt reason which shall never know God and all those who worships God in Spirit worships an infinite Spirit which Spirit inhabiteth eternity and lives in the Consciences of the Saints and this is not to glory in an imagination but a witnessing of the same eternal Truth which the Saints witnessed which spake forth the Scripture for they witnessed Christ to dwell in them and the same God they worshipped whose temple they were and not another and the same we witness and this to the honour of the Man Jesus who was yesterday today and for ever 14 Quer. The eternal Spirit Creator and alone everlasting Father which dwells essentially in the glorified Body as our Lord Iesâ—â— his eternall Son and virtually reigns in all the Saints Elect men and Angels be Record between me and you world without end whether this Epistle shall not be sent to you and all the chosen that shall peruse it principally for the establishing of your tender spirits upon that eternal spiritual Rock Iesus Christ God and Man in one distinct body or person glorified and onely honoured with all spiritual praises from Elect men and Angels when this World is consumed into ashes and all time or times is swallowed up into eternity or eternities Ans The Eternal Spirit which is the Everlasting Father which thou sayst is essencially in the Son thy word essencially I deny and thy voice yet Christ and the Father is one and the same Spirit that dwells in the Son dwels in the Father which is one I and my Father is one the same dwells in the Saints thy word virtual I deny the same that dwells in the Father and in the Son the same dwells in the Saints not distinct nor divided For he that hath seen the Father hath seen the Son and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and Christ is not divided I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and he that is joyned to Christ is one spirit and not distinct nor separate if thou have an ear thou mayst hear and that eternal Spirit which is the Father and the Son which dwels in the Saints is Judge of thee and by that Spirit I judge thee that this Epistle came not from him to none of the chosen for they who are chosen deny thy voice and what dost thou speak of Elect and Angels with whom God dwells when in thy fourth query thou saidst they were defiled and the holy Ghost saith He dwells with no uncleanness and so speaks confusion and Babylons language which is the land of thy nativity from whence all these things have been spoken by thee and all that shall ever be established with thy declaring or thy Epistles shall be thrown down for the Rock shall beat thy Image to pieces and therefore leave off thy speaking of him and of thy distinct body and of his glory for when he shall appear in his glory instead of thy praises thou shalt bowl and lament and wish the mountains to cover thee and he who is out of time shall consume thee to ashes who
people and by them being deceived in some particular things naming onely three things the first whereof is That godliness being a Mystery that it did consist of something within and not of something without and that the Saints were to expect life and salvation from a Christ within and not from a Christ without I answer Godliness is a mystery the Image of God which is Godliness is a mystery hidden from the eye of I. Turner and from all vulterous eyes and this mystery is within in life and power consisting of the new man Christ Jesus who is the Image of God made manifest within the Saints in whose Image man is like God godly and this mystery is not in outward things in word or declaration or outward practice though where this mystery is made manifest godly practises will flow from it to without but yet the power life and mystery of godliness is within and cannot be seen with the carnal eye not comprehended with the carnal mind And here I charge I. Turner in the presence of God that she knowes not the mystery of Godliness who blasphemously calls this a corrupt Principle and here it is made manifest that she is in Babylon yet and is deceived and bewitched by the Devill I bear witness to the truth and to this particular and against her who denyes it And the Saints have Life and Salvation from Christ made manifest within which is the same Christ which suffered without and this I affirm that till Christ be revealed within there is no Salvation nor Life partaked of The Scripture saith they were Reprobates in whom Christ was not And the Apostle said Christ in you the hope of glory and Christ lived in him which was his â—ife and Salvation Where Christ is not made manifest within the Serpent is Head and the Devil is King in the heart and this I witness and do declare it as in the presence of God that till Christ was made manifest within me I was not saved nor had no life as to God though I was high in Profession and Knowledge outwardly And here again I. Turner hath shewed forth her blindness and sottishness to all and may stop her mouth for shame and confess that she is a bondslave in Babylon who calls this a corrupt Principle which is the Way Power and Life of Religion and Salvation which is Christ Jesus within made manifest in the Saints which takes away Sin and destroys the Works of the Devil and she and all others who walks and lives in the flesh following the lusts and desires of it living to their own wills in the broad-way and talks of Salvation by any thing without will be deceived for nothing will present to God but the Righteousness of Jesus Christ revealed which takes away sin and sets free from it And now for the second Principle That Saints were not to do duties by or from a commmand without but from a command within and that the Word command in Scripture was not a command to them till they had a Word within them I answer That is no command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the command which was to another not having the command to themselves I challenge to find an example for it they obeyed every one their own command one was sent to Baptism and to Preach the Gospel another was sent not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel And thou I. Turner or any other who goes to duty as you call it by imitation from the Letter without which was commands to others in your own wills and time your sacrifice is not accepted but is abomination to the Lord for you go without the moving of the Spirit in your own wills and strength which God hates and which his wrath is upon And I charge her here as in the presence of the Lord that she knows not what a command from God in Spirit is but is ignorant and not a daughter of Sion and let her mouth be stopped and let shame strike her in the Face who professes her self to know the Lord and let all be ashamed of her who professes themselves members joyned with her in Church she hath made manifest the ignorance of them all Now for the third particular That as to the time of doing duties they were to wait for the moving of the spirit to carry them forth to it and this they called Wayting for a power and till they had such a power they were to do nothing but sit still and wait and this not onely in private duties but in Church also not owning any Ministery by way of gifts of Office but to come together and there sit still and wait till they had a power and then to speak whether man or woman I answer who dare call this a Principle of deceit none but who are led by deceit and such is I. Turner who puts light for darkeness and darkeness for light all duties as she calls them whatsoever if the moving of the Spirit do not carry forth to act them then the movings of the corrupt will and vain mind carries forth and who act from such Principles are accursed from God And I. Turner and all who denies to wait for the movings of the power of the Spirit to carry forth but goes before the moving of it all their Prayers Preachings Ordinances and Churches I do deny and declare against by the Eternal Spirit of God that they are odious and abomination in the eye of the Lord and is no duty which he accepts whether they be done in private or in the Church And that Ministery which is not carried forth by the moving of the Spirit of God but of man and in the will of man which Ministry is hated of God and she which denies waiting upon God till power be given in from God to act and speak for God hath denied the way of God and the practice of the Saints in former Generations and wo is unto her who makes the simple believe this to be deceit Whereas she saith in these particulars which carried such a face or shew of spirituality she was corruped but did never fully own them in judgement nor practice I answer O blind deceived spirit which calls these but a shew or face of spirituality she calls the substance a shew and the shew or likeness a substance And wo unto her which calls good evil and evil good these particulars by the eternal spirit I own and walk in but that spirit of deceit and Antichrist in her hath denied them and calls them deceiveable and saith by them she was corrupted let her be ashamed and all of her Faction it was the Principle which led her from these things by which she was corrupted and which hindered her to own them and practice them and which now makes her declare against them which Principle is the spirit of the false Prophet which now rules
which I know will never own nor practice these things She also saith She did oppose those Principles which led to looseness either in conversation or in slighting the Churches or Ordinances of Christ though she believes such Principles naturally follow the others I answer She did and doth oppose the Principle of God which would have led her out of pride and lust into an holy conversation and out of false Churches into the Church which is in God And I charge her here that she believes Lyes and utters what she believes which is Blasphemy who saith she believes that wicked Principles naturally follow the three named by her And whereas she saith As to that Principle of waiting she could yet never come up to it in practice in private duties she could not stay so long from duty till she had such a power but did frequently go to duty when she had it not I answer Here I do believe her she speaks truth with her lying spirit she never yet could wait upon God to act for him but hath run in her own will which is abomination to him which is no acting for God but for self and for the Devil and here hath she shut her self out from the holy men of Gods practice who waited upon him to be led by him by the power of his Spirit and she shews her self openly to all that she went to that which she calls duty in her own power and time and knew not the power of God nor his time to be acted in and all her Duties as she calls them is no more but imagined and imitated from the letter without acted by the Serpents strength and wisedom in her and she hath here plainly discovered that she knows not what waiting upon God is in truth and sincerity She saith She thought sometime she had had it and saith she thought she had had communion with God I answer Her thoughts I do deny who call truth deceit and she did as now she doth live in thoughts and conceivings by which she is beguiled that spirit which rules and speaks in her never had communion with God but is contrary to him nor never was acted in the truth of God but against him She saith She knew no Scripture-ground for the practice of waiting to be acted by the power of the Spirit and led to duty I answer The Saints ground of acting is not the outward letter but the Spirit which gave forth the letter but the Scripture doth declare of such as waited to be acted by the Spirit and Power of the Lord Dare any say the Saints Prayed or Propresied without the movings of the Spirit and Power of the Lord here she hath shut her self among the Heathens who knows not God nor what it is to be acted by his Spirit and Power She speaks of losing her peace and having little or no communion with God nor scarce any thing to speak to or for God I answer True peace in Christ she never knew for there is no peace to the wicked neither have any who denies waiting upon God as she hath done any communion with God nor nothing to say to or for God but through deceit and in deceit is I. Turner That which brought her into trouble and let her see the confusion Which she speaks of which she had lived in before but saw it not till then that Witness I own and it shall witness for the Lord and the Truth of what I say eternally though she have slain the Witness yet it shall arise to her condemnation and her everlasting misery And whereas she saith Some laboured to perswade her it was a dispensation of God and that the Saints after brought out of Egypt must be in the Wilderness before they come to Canaan I answer I bear witness by the eternal Spirit the truth of this particular as having witnessed the same condition and she which hath denied this to be of God hath openly shewed her self to be of the Devil denying the truth of Scriptures She saith this did not at all satisfie her but she continued in a sad condition I answer She here hath shewed what spirit she is of of the viperous Generation which fled the wrath which came upon her and could not abide the judgement and of the spirit of them which would have been back in Aegypt which murmured and therefore with them she entered not but i◠perished with them in the Wilderness Whereas she saith She was never so troubled with temptations as at that time I answer Here she hath shewed her self to be the stony ground which when temptation came withered away She speaks of a particular temptation which was Questioning the Being of God I answer That which was troubled wrought the temptations and not that which troubled and here she shews her ignorance which cannot discern the ground of temptation but layes it upon God which is basphemy for he tempts none to evil Whereas she saith this was the 〈◊〉 fruit of her straying from the pure wayes of Truth I answer Here again she shews her blindness who knows not that temptations are for good That which she calls straying from the pure wayes of truth is otherwise for the stronger man came to dispossess the strong man and then began the war and happy had she been if she had patiently endured to the end but not abiding under the judgement but starting aside she is cast out and must not enter for the second Beast whose deadly wound is healed is alive which makes war with the Lamb which exerciseth all the power of the first Beast and here I. Turner is under the dominion of the second Beast She speaks of blessing God that she strayed no further I answer She who hath denied to wait unto Prayer and Praises but prayeth in her own strength and time her Praise is abomination to the Lord and she calls that straying from God which was leading unto God and so hath forsaken the right way and hath cast the way of God behind her back and resisted him who would have led her out of darkness and out of confusion Whereas she speaks of God remembring her To which I answer he will remember her to plague her who hath brought dishonour to his great Name and hath called his way the way of error and of deceit and his real Truth a shew or notion she hath chosen her own way the way of destruction Whereas she speaks being turned from owning these particulars she was restored to those joyes that once she had I answer She is returned with the Dog to the vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire and there 's her joy and she now joys in the earthly dust in Forms and Traditions and likenesses of things and knows not what it is to joy in God the Substance as by her writings it is made manifest who hath denied Salvation by Christ within and hath denied to wait upon God for the Power of his Spirit and
calls them deceitfull Principles she hath chosen the way of Death rather then the way of Life and hath taken her self to follow shaddows and likenesses and neglected the Substance which is Christ within the hope of glory her latter end is worse then her beginning and the Parable is fulfilled upon her And she speaks in the 126. pag. of Satan being discovered under his vail and in particular as to that of being saved by a Christ within and not by a Christ without and the Lord was pleased to shew her it was quite another thing differing from the Gospel and that it was attended with this evil consequence to overthrow the whole Gospel and to deny the Lord that bought them I answer I charge her here as in the presence of God with belying the Lord and with horrible Basphemy who saith That that which the Saints and servants of God witnessed who Preached the Gospel and established it Christ within manifested is quite another thing differing from the Gospel and that it is attended to overthrow the whole Gospel O horrible Blasphemy and belying the Lord who saith that the Lord was pleased to shew her it did ever he shew any Lyes all take notice of this wicked and horrible Blasphemer the Lord rebuke that unclean spirit of Antichrist in her She goes on and saith then secondly as to that of waiting for a power to Pray and that here was no command but from within concerning both these the Lord was pleased to shew that it was not according to his minde but a meer invention of Satan and that it was attended with this evill consequence to slight Scriptures and Commands of God and to expose the soul to Satans deceivings to walk by the imaginations of their own heart instead of the motions of the Spirit I answer The Saints waited for the moving of the Spirit which was power in them to help them to pray they knew not to Pray as they ought without it and this command and help they had not without them but within them And I again here charge her with belying the Lord and with notorious Blasphemy who saith that that which the Saints witnessed waiting for the power of the Spirit to Pray is not according to the minde of the Lord but an invention of Satan and she is not ashamed to say the Lord shewed her and the same which they witnessed who spoke forth the Scripture and which walked in the Commands of God tends to slight Scriptures and commands of God and to expose the soul to Satans deceivings this is Blasphemy and Error and corrupt Principles and she which hath denyed waiting to be led by the motions of the Spirit is led by the imaginations of her own heart is under the power of Satans deceiving and speaks contrary to what the Scripture speaks and so slights it and the Commands of God she hath Blasphemed the God of Heaven and accordingly will the Lord requite her And thus have I for the simple ones sake declared the truth and every single eye may see who it is is led by corrupt principles and what I have written shall she eternally witness to be true and all her co-partners And I pass by the rest of her Book as not worth answering for it is nothing but airy imagination and confusion and death yet raigns in her and in her Book is spoken out by her and she knowes not the Baptism of Saints nor Communion nor the true Church of Christ to that witness in her conscience do I declare and when it shall arise it will eternally witness me Whose Name in the Flesh is EDWARD BURROUGH The Copy of a Letter c. FRiends for so I call you I was moved of the Lord to come into your Assembly to declare the truth from him concerning you as by the eternal Spirit was revealed to me and I do acknowledge it it was a mercy from the Lord that I had that small liberty which I had to clear my Conscience amongst you and to discharge my duty in obedience to the Lord and to every ones Conscience am I made manifest whether you will hear or you will forbear truely Friends there is somthing among you which I own and which is owned of my Father but yet many things hath he against you and as I said I now again say from the mouth of the Lord that your Covering is too narrow to hide your shame and your bed too short to stretch your selves upon Now friends the Ordinances of Iesus Christ which you act in you say in obedience to him I do not speak against but do witness them in life and power neither do I judge such amongst you who have entered in at the door by the Principle of God to the Ordinances if any such but you I do declare against and do judge by the infallible Spirit who have in your own wills thrust in your selves and acted by imagination and immitation from the Letter without and not having received the Command from Christ into your selves such I judge to be in deceit deceived by the Serpent which deceives the simple by the likeness of a thing and you that limit the Lord to any outward visible thing that without such can be no Salvation you I judge again to be in deceit and my judgement shall stand for nothing is available that which God once commanded nor that which was not commanded but the new Creature which is born of the immortall Seed contrary to the will of man Truely Friends you are acting in darkness and there is no seperation in you betwixt the precious and the vile betwixt the clean and the unclean for that which did convince you of false Hirelings and of their deceitful worship which is owned of my Father in you hath not been obeyed by you but your minds have been drawn forth from within to obey a thing without and herein have you been bewitched from the obedience of the truth within to obey the letter without as they were which the Scripture speaks of and you are acted in another form and likeness then you were before and which some are acted in yet but by the same spirit and you have a zeale I beare you record but it is not according to knowledge I declare against that spirit by which you are now acted as knowing it to be the spirit of Antichrist and that which is owned by my Father in you is oppressed by you by your wisdom and reason which stands above and is head and rules amongst you which is for destruction and for the Lord to accomplish his wrath upon and happy were you if you knew the day of vengeance which is the acceptable year of the Lord but you are yet full and rich and think you have need of nothing and have a name that you live but you are dead and empty and miserable your form is corrupted and you seek the living among the dead and you act in the form but walks at liberty
cry up as Oracles of God I answer The most high God judge between thee and us whose wrath is kindled against thee thou enemy of righteousness and Child of wrath thou hast belyed the Lord of Heaven and Earth for to this he moved thee not for he moves none to utter lyes and slanders as thou hast done but the spirit of enmity and of the Devil hath moved thee and to the Truth thou bears no witness but against the Truth and against the Innocent and charges us with fleshly mindedness and spiritual pride O thou Lyar and false Accuser the Lord who takes our part against thee will plead with thee and render upon thy head according to thy deeds prove what thou speaks that we are fleshly minded and spiritually proud or else let thy mouth be stopped and shame cover thee forever Sorceries and witchcraft and drawing from the simplicity of the Gospel we do deny but the plain single Truth we do declare by which the eye of the blind is opened in many to see your deceits who call your selves Churches and Preachers of the Gospel which is not the Gospel that the Apostles preached but an adding your own Imaginations upon their words who witnessed the Gospel and it shall stand for thy own condition thou art in the sorcery and witchraft who draws people to observe an outward visible thing from the Light of Christ within them which leades to the simplicity of the Gospel which is inward and not outward and thou art in thy fleshly and corrupt thoughts crying up the Ordinances and Oracles of God which are but carnal and beggerly rudiments of the world which passeth away and here thou art seen and made manifest in the Light of Christ to be a Hypocrite who falsely accuses others of that which thou art guilty of thy self the same Gospel as ever was do we declare and not another which we received not from man neither was taught it by man and as the Oracles of God it shall stand forever for a witness against thee and all the world who doth not believe for even the Father beares witness of us and therefore our witness is true and the righteous God will plead with thee thou Lyar and false Accuser and here be a witness against thy self that the Lord moved thee not but the Devil acting in thy own imaginations and in the vanity of thy own mind and in thy one fleshly and corrupt thoughts And whereas thou sayest to us thou directs thy speech from the Lord Thus saith the Lord to thee O Quaker thou art fleshly minded I answer It is not the voyce of the Lord to us that speaks in thee but the voyce of the Devil and the Serpent which speaks from thee fleshly minded we are not but are redeemed out of it and our mindes are changed and are Spiritual and 't is the Spirit of the living God seals unto us and witnesses in us and here thou art of thy Father the old Dragon and Accuser of the Brethren but it is God that justifies and who art thou that condemns and this thy speech is seen and comprehended which thou hast directed to us and it is judged by the Spirit of true judgment to be a false Accusation and a Lye and not the Word of the Lord and into the Lake amongst the false Prophets thou art to be turned who useth thy tougue when the Lord never spake to thee And thou sayest we look upon the Iustitution of Christ Supper with a fleshly and carnal eye because we say that the bread and wine which Christ commanded his Disciples to eat and to drink is carnal I Answer The bread and wine is visible and carnal and fleshly and not Spiritual nor Eternal and in the eternal Light by the Spiritual eye of God opened in us we see them and do own that it was a command of Christ to stand for its time and no more but a carnal figure of a spiritual thing and the spiritual thing being the Substance bearing witness the figure is denied and declared against and thou and thy Generation who art acting in those things by tradition tying and limitting God to a visible thing that without it no salvation art in the sorcery and witchraft and an enemy to the substance for Christ never since he was sacrificed brake of the Bread or drank of the Cup with his Disciples but new in his Fathers kingdom and thou who art in the â—arnal figure acting those things without the injoyment of Christ art sensual and by the Light of Christ art to be condemned and judged with the world who art without God and without the injoyment of Christ in the beggerly rudiments of the world Thou sayst O fleshly minded men whom the god of this world hath blinded because you believe not and thou sayst thus saith the Lord and speaks the Prophet Malachic words To which I answer this again I do deny the god of the world is cast out and the eye is opened through judgments and our fleshly minds are judged and in the Name of Jesus we do believe and our belief in him hath purified our hearts to the praise of the Living God who hath wrought all our works in us and foâ— us do I speak without boasting and here again I charge it upon thee that thou art a slanderer and a false accuser and let shame cover thee who professes thy self to be a Teacher of others who thy self is not taught of the Lord but steals Malachis words and speaks them to us in thine own imaginations and calls it the word of the Lord the Lord is against thee thou false Prophet who prophesies lyes in his Name and that which thou speaks to us is thy own condition and that which shall come upon thine own head for a child of disobedience thou art and thy eye is blinded by the god of this world And whereas thou sayest we are spiritually proud that give forth our selves to be some great ones and we say we are Apostles and are not but are found Lyars proud Pharisees Hypocrites that say we are Iust Holy Humble and the poor sinful Publicans are more justified then we I answer proud we are not our God shall judge between thee and us in this thing for we have nothing but what we have freely received from him and that we give forth our selves to be great ones here thou art a Lyer and a false Accuser again this we have said and do yet again declare that we were moved of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to come to declare his mind and his Truth in this City but this is no boasting and by that same spirit which was in the Apostles were we moved and are guided and by no other but who hath found us Lyers since we came I challenge you and all thy Sect to prove one lye that we have uttered or else let shame cover thee and let thy mouth be stopped and let thy own heart condemn thee to be
shake terribly the Earth shall give us our Portion in the Lake that burns I answer Let all the World here take notice of thy confusion and ignorance which utters forth it self through thee thou before wast scorning of trembling and now thou art approving of it and if it be they that tremple which serve the Lord here be a Witness against thy self thou servest him not who art not yet come to tremble but art in thy high nature above the fear of the Lord and here again thou art found a false Accuser for we reject not the Law of the Lord nor the Word which he hath spoken but live in it and rejoyce in it daily for in it is our hearts delight And here again as thou hast measured to us it shall be measured unto thee when the Lord God arises to recompence his Enemies thy Portion will be the same as thou hast said in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone And now a few words in answer to that which thou calls A Caution to all that are called Saints in the Nation which may concern all people I answer They who are Saints who dwell in the Light and walks in the Light do discern thee to be no Saint neither will receive any caution from thee but will testifie against thee for thy Lyes slanders and false accusations which thy Book is filled with and herein it may concern all people that thy Lyes and Slanders be reproved and laid open lest they receive thy Lyes for the Truth and be deceived by thy subtil Speeches who brings the Prophets words and the Apostles words wrest ing them and falsly applying them to make thy Lyes to be received but all people who love the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them will see thee and deny thee and turn away from thee as having the Form of Godliness without the Power And whereas thou sayst Ye may rejoyce that you live to sâ—e not only the mystery of Godliness but also the working of iniquity in the fleshly corrupt and sensual minded men calâ—d Quakers I answer That name Quakers was cast upon us by the Heathen through their scorn and derision as the name Christians was upon the Disciples though quaking we own for all the Holy Men of God witnessed it and the Holy Scriptures declares of it and here again thou enviously and maliciously castest a Slander upon us Fleshly Corrupt and Sensual-mindedness and the working of the mystery of Iniquity is destroyed in us by the mighty Power of God made manifest in Jesus Christ which takes away sin to the praise of the living God I speak in clearing the Innocent from thy false Slanders and it shall stand for thy own condition fleshly corrupt and sensual-minded and the working of the mystery of iniquity And herein I prove thee to be so by thy Fruits thy Lyes and false Reproaches and envious false Accusations which is the fruits of the flesh and of corrupt sensual-mindedness which fruits do appear in this thy Writing and as for the Mystery of Godliness it is hidden from thee and in that mind and nature thou shalt never know it for thou livest in the sight of thy own Pollution and of thy carnal Ordinances and not in the injoyment of the Mystery of Christ which is Godliness And whereas thou sayest Ye may rejoyce and in nothing be terrified because the Scriptures did foretel of such and is fulfilled in these men And thou bringest many Scriptures where Christ and the Apostles prophesied of the coming in of false Prophets and Teachers I Answer Though ye do now rejoyce yet your joy shall be turned into sorrow and howling and the Lord hath said it and the day of terror will overtake you wherein your hearts shall fail you for fear and your foundation shall be removed and its true that the Scripture doth foretel of us and is witnessed in us That all the Lord's Children should be taught of the Lord And that the Lord would gather his Flock out of the mouths of all dumb Shepherds c. and according to our growth up in the Life of the Scriptures they are fulfilled in us but false Prophets we do deny though all those Scriptures which thou hast set down we own to be prophesies of false Prophets those false prophets which Christ prophesied of came in the Apostles dayes they saw them comming in then 1 Iohn 2. 18. And as all these Scriptures testifies which thou hast cited and since the Apostles dayes hath been a great Apostacy and not a true Church of Christ could be found and ever since hath the same Generation of false Prophets stood under several forms and appearances deceiving the Nations But now the pure Light of Christ shines discovering to them who walk in the Light who they are and daily more and more clearly shall they be seen and thou wilt be found in their number who art a cursed child in whom the son of perdition is exalted which utters forth thy Lyes and Slanders sensually and make it manifest to all that thou hast not the Spirit of God but are separated from it in self-seperation which is abomination unto God and must be scattered by him And whereas thou sayest Seeing it is so let you be filled with boldness and let you contend against those ungodly Ones which are now risen I answer ungodliness we deny and your boldness shall the Lord turn into weakness and faintness and your contendings against us shall not prosper for this is our heritage every Tongue that riseth up in judgment shall be condemned you shall all be scattered and driven away as Chaff before the Wind who sets yourselves to contend against the Truth for that which is now risen shall confound you all And whereas thou bringest many Scriptures which were Exhortations of the Apostle to the Saints with exhorting thy Brethren I answer The Scriptures I do own and that Spirit which spake them forth I witness but thou art an Enemy to the Power of them though thou hast the Form of Truth thy lying and false accusing hath made thee appear to be an Enemy to the Life which the holy Men of God lived in and so hast cleared thy self from those Scriptures which were written to the Saints and must own those which were written to the World The Lyar must be cast into the Lake the Wicked must be turned into Hell and such as these thou must own to belong unto thee and these are thy Scriptures which thou hast right unto And whereas thou sayest We talk of high enjoyments and great revelations without above and beyond the Scripture and that we talk of a Light which is besides the Scripture but its deep and thick darkness and what hath such lights led men unto even contempt of God and of all Righteousness I answer Here again thou art found a Lyar and an Accuser of the Brethren for what we do declare the Scripture witnesseth to the same and we speak of nothing
as you do neither did one go from the Command which had been given to another using anothers words and excercising themselves in anothers practises when the Lord had not commanded but such they bare witness against which did use their tongue and transform themselves into the likness of true Prophets and Apostles as you have done and are in the love of the World and only separated in the appearance and not in the ground You stumble at the â—ight and therefore know not the Door of entrance nor where the Commands of Christ are to be received and the Will of God to you is to be known and so your obedience is the conformity in your own wills to that which was the Will of God to another this Sacrifice is also lame and blind and God saith to you Who hath required this at your hand For if you have observed and done all those things which the Declaration of the Law and Gospel doth require you are unprofitable Servants and yet one thing do you lack the dying with Christ and the Sufferings and Cross of Christ is not known but in the liberty of the flesh you are and not in the condition of the Promise to Life Eternal Friends you have ruâ— into the form of Godliness without the Power into a Church which is not in God but of the World into a Baptism which doth not wash away sin for you live in sin and plead for it while you live upon Earth into a Communion which is not with God which no unclean thing can enter into for the Proud and Coveteous partake with you and while some of you have said they that preached for Hire have been Antichristian you your selves are fallen into the same abomination taking Gifts and Rewards and large somes of Money and upholding such who do it Here you are unjust to your own Principle and are for condemnation with the Light in your Consciences Let shame cover your heads ye Hypocrites your covering will not hide you nor your high talking of Christ without you so long professed by you will not justifie you while you are found disobeying this Light in your Consciences which Light is one with God with Christ and with the Spirit in its measure and it doth convince you of sin and is a command to you and would lead you if you walked in it from all iniquity which is the Will of God to you and to that mind which is carnal which ruleth in you the Commands of Christ which are Spiritual are not given nor can be received but say Lo here and Lo there Christ is to be found with the Light you are comprehended which if the least measure of it you did own it would lead you to the Baptism inward of the heart and to the Church which iâ— in God whereof Christ is the Head in every Member and into the Communion with God and to follow the Lamb of God wheresoever he goeth and out of your imitations and liknesses and strife and contention about the words given forth from the Spirit who are in your own unity in Division and several Meanings and divers Constructions and Judgments and several wayes of Obedience and Worships and Belief which by your imaginations you draw from the Scripture which is the Declaration but of the one God and one Truth of one Obedience and of one Faith and thus you exalt the great Image of many mixtures your selves being a chief Member of his body You say the Scripture is your Rule but are divided into Opinions and Conceits contrary to the Scripture every one worshipping that which you imagine from the Scripture not being in the Unity of the Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which is one and not divided in Obedience Worship or Faith and while you say the Scripture is your Rule your lives are squared by the spirit of the Divel and hewn out into Pride and Hypocrisie and love of the World And to you who are called Free-willers who say Christ died for All. HErein you affirm that whereof you are ignorant which may be true in Christ but a Lye unto you for you are not dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World but are alive against him in the World they for whom he died are dead and they who yet live put him to death Free-will unto the wayes and fashions and vanities of the World stands in you you know not the daily Cross of Christ which is unto man's will nor what it is to follow Christ and obey him which is contrary to man's will You say He that is condemned it is because he will not believe this is true in Christ but not in your carnal apprehensions of the natural man in whom there is no power to believe He that hath an ear let him hear There are some true desires among you but your minds are not truly informed to the fulfilling of your desires and your minds are outward and apply peace to that which is for condemnation Your reason and wisdom is corrupted and cannot receive Truth but call it error and this is your sin Death over you hath passed and reigns over you as over all men and your knowledge is in time and you cannot hear of things which were before the World was your wisdom is sensual and your comprehension is strong and the little simplicity in you is betrayed by the subtilty which hath dominion in your Governour Your Crown must be laid down and Fools must you become before you be truly wise or can be crowned with the Lamb. And among the rest Remember you had warning and a Day of visitation before you were destroyed and this shall be by you witnessed in the day of the Lord. To all you who say you wait and believe for the Coming of Christ to Reign in Person upon Earth HEre you the Lord's Controversie which he hath against you The Way of his coming is not prepared but Rocks and Mountains are standing and Valleys are not filled up and rough and crooked is your present way your hopes and expectations in that ground wherein they spring will wither and fade away as the Grass for your hope of his comming hath no whit purified you as he is pure for you are in the flesh and in the liberty of it which is Rebellion to his Reign and Christ is kept in Prison in exile with that mind and the Divel is yet at liberty working in your earthly members and leads you captive into his covenant in his government in seeking your selves and to strengthen your selves in the Kingdom of the World and murmur that any should be above you and that is he which put Christ to death and will not have him to reign in his Power over the Earth and to you what purpose is it to desire the day of his coming for with wrath will he come and with vengeance will â—e appear and will break your Kingdom like a Potters vessel for suddenly will he come but your
any Creature was made and the whole World is comprehended and mans state in his first Creation is here known what it was and mans state in Transgression is also known what it was and mans state restored again is also witnessed and the difference perceived betwixt the first Adam which was overcome of the Devil though he was innocent and without sin and bore the likeness of his Maker and of the second Adam who cannot be overcome of the Devil whom Satan hath nothing in who is the express Image of the Creator it self He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard it hath not entred into the heart of man that which the Father hath revealed by his Spirit things not lawful to be uttered of which there is no declaring that which is Infinite Endless Eternal and in this I shall end By one who hath measured and viewed in true Iudgment the condition of all Mankind who is a Lover of Souls and a Friend to the Creation of God known in England by the name of EDWARD BURROUGH London the 6th of the 3d Moneth 1656. Truth Defended OR CERTAIN ACCUSATIONS ANSWERED CAST Upon us who are called Quakers by the Teachers of the World and the People of this Generation WITH A clear Discovery who are the false Prophets and when they came in and how they may be known and who they are that deny Christ and that preach another Gospel and who deny the Scriptures Churches Ministers and Magistrates whereby the Magistrates and People of this Nation may see they justifie that which the Scripture condemns and condemns that which the holy men of God justified and may read their example and our example through the Scriptures The Epistle To all you who call your selves Ministers of the Gospel and all People in all Relations under what form of Worship soever in England or in all the World whâ— profess your selves Christians THe mighty day of the Lord is come according as he promised of old and this day is witnessed wherein he is establishing his Mountain and exalting it above all Mountains and is gathering his People which have been scattered in the dark and loâ—â— Night of Apostacy which Christ and his Apostles saw coming into the Churcâ—… then and hath had dominion long over the World and hath reigned till now and reigns nâ—â— in all the Professors in all Forms every where But now the time is come wherein the Kingdâ—… of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and thousands witness it to the praise of his everlasting Name And therefore the Nations are angry and 〈◊〉 Pâ—inces of the Earth because Michael one Prince is arisen to plead with all who make 〈◊〉 against him And now Herod and Pilate and all Jerusalem are in an uproar and Ammâ—â— and Amaleck and the Egyptians and the Philistines are joyned now against him And all you who live in Forms and know not the Power do now persecute and joyn your selves tâ—gether being in the same nature as the Persecutors of old which were born after the Flesh. And now you Sons of Bondage and of Hagar are to be cast out and now you are all 〈◊〉 manifest that you are in the Flesh for all your Bows are bent and all your Arrows are 〈◊〉 at a People which are accounted by you as the filth of the World and as the off-scouring of all things whom the World calls Quakers in whose foreheads is written the Name of the living God and unto you I say that make war against them and now take part with the Dragâ—â— against the Lamb you shall all drink of the Cup of Fury and indignation of the Lord 〈◊〉 unto the Living God who is holy and jealous for his own Glory and Name which hath manifested his Mind and Will by his eternal Spirit unto us shall you all bow and stoop For now the Lord hath rent the Vail of the Covering which hath been spread over 〈◊〉 the Nations in all Professions and you are all seen by the ternal Eye which is opened in thousands even all from the highest to the lowest who have stolâ—n and painted your selves with 〈◊〉 â—ens words And all your Images which you have set up and all your traditions from â—en in which you have walked are all seen to be stubble and â—ill not abidâ— in the day of the Lord. And all your Churches which you have gathered together by imitation from the 〈◊〉 shall all be scattered and there you all are for you all deny Revelation and say it is ceased and so you call the Letter the Light and the Word but with that which was before the Scripture you are seen and judged even with that which shall endure for ever And seeing you have cast reproach upon the Name of the God of Heaâ—â—â— and Earth whom we worâ—â—ip and which you call delusion for the truths sake are we moved to lay open your â—akedness that you may be judged by that which you say is your rule Here in this Little Book thou who hast any honesty in thee or any desire of truth and wilt search the Scripture thou wilt see thâ—◠〈◊〉 the teachers of the world in all Forms and all Professors ever cryed out who had but the Form against them who had the Life and Power as you all 〈◊〉 now against them who Worship God in the Spirit and have no confidenâ—e in the flesh and therefore in this following Discoâ—rse which 〈◊〉 written by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scripture thou shalt see who are the false Prophets and who they are that preach another Gospel and who they are that deny the Scriptures and thou mayst see when the false Prophets came in and who they are clearly proved to be by their own rules And all you who call your selves Magistrates and Christians you may see your selves to hold up that which Christ the Prophets and Apostles cryed oâ—â— against and Persecute them who stand in the counsel of God and them thâ—â— Declare against all the deceit as the Holy men of God did and so you are the beast which holds up the false Prophets and those whom the Scripture declareth against God is arisen to dâ—… to pieces all them who withstand him and therefore come out of Babylon â—â—d out of all your painted forms and come to own the first Principle which will change your mindes even the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withal and by it you shall see what you are doing Now if you deny this you deny the Corner-stone and you stumble and shall be broken and by thâ—â— which you call natural shall all your Image of gold and silver and all your mixed invented worship be dashed to pieces and 〈◊〉 for the Pit Therefore all be silent and speak not evil of those thingâ— you know not for now you are all seen you who say you are â—â—ws and are not but are of the Synagogue
free from sin and were the Servants of Righteousness They say Christ hath not enlightened every 〈◊〉 the Scripture saith He is the Light of the World and hath enlightened every one c. can they now who live in the same persecuting nature and walk in the 〈◊〉 steps as they did which persecuted them who spoke forth the Scripture as the Teâ—chers and People do own the Scripture in Truth Their professing of the Scripture is as theirs was which made a great profession of it in the outward appearance but put him to death who had the Life and was the Substance of it They then as the Teachers of the World do now denyed the Spirit and Life whicâ— gave sorth the Scriptures And the Ordinances of Jesus Christ we own and witness Preaching Praying Baptism Communion Singing and whatsoever was ordained for his Saints to practise in Life and Power we witness these things in the eternal Substance having passed through the earthly figures which was but to stand for its time by the Eternal have we been led by the Command of it within us and got by tradition from the Scripture without us And we deny all such who have taken up these things in their own wills by conforming the outward man to the outward Letter and have not entred in at the Door True Preaching we own and do witness in which is the Cross of Christ and the Power God unto Salvation or Condemnation it is foolishness to the World and its wisdom now as ever it was and we deny all speaking of imaginations from the Scripture which is in the wisdom of the World and which stands in the will of man limitted to a set time day or place Prayer by Spirit and in the Spirit we own and witness which is not limitted to a time and place And we deny all the Worlds formal customary Preaching and Praying for a pretence Baptism we own and witness which is With one Spirit into one Body into the Death of Christ And we deny all Baptisms which are imagined and imitated by conforming the outward man to the outward Letter which is but a likeness of the the true Baptism Communion we live in which is In the Light by the Spirit which will endure eternally and we deny the Worlds imitation which is in word and declaration and visible carnal things which will pass away Singing which is with the Spirit and with Understanding of the redeemed of the Lord we own and witness but the Worlds singing in Rime and Meeter proud men singing That they are not puft in mind and prophane men singing That the Law of God is dear to them this singing we deny for it must be turned into howling the Lord hath said it And here again I charge it upon the Teachers of the World That they deny the Substance and Power of what Christ commands his Saints to practice by upholding their own imitations and so deceiving the People but where the Substance is witnessed the figure is denyed and the false imitations are discovered and denied And mans free-will we do deny for the will of man shall never enter to God but leads out from God into the lust and into the flesh and keeps in the power of the Devil and man hath free-will unto that which is evil but not to that which is good and all who follow Christ the Light of the World must deny their own wills and take up the Cross of Christ which is to the will and walk in the Light contrary to the will in the strait Way which leads unto Life which is out of the will of man in the Will of God which the will of man doth resist and oppose And I charge it upon the Teachers and Professors who do not witness the daily Cross of Christ that they live in their own free-will and holds it up and are led by it into pride and coveteousness and lusts of the flesh which stand in the will and here they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us living in their own free-will and walk not in the daily Cross of Christ. And Self-righteousness we have denied and have seen it in the same Light which Isaiah did to be as filthy Rags and we declare against it and against them which live in it for self must not be saved it is accursed from God it is wholly unrighteous and makes the best of actions so and is and must be cast out from God Christ Jesus made manifest and revealed in us is our Righteousness and self is judged and condemned by him who is made unto us Righteousness neither do we teach People to labour in their own strength to obtain Life but do direct People to the Light of Christ within them which walking in will be strength to them to lead them to Life the Light which is of Christ to which we direct all to wait in to be taught by it will lead out of self-righteousness and from under the power of self to witness the power of God to lead and to act and to witness Christ Jesus revealed the Righteousness of God And the Church which is in God which is the Body of Christ whereof Christ is Head we witness and are members of it gathered and joyned by the eternal Spirit and not by tradition in the wisdom of man And we deny all the Worlds Churches whereof they were made members by visible things without and gathered by traditions and not by the Spirit whereof the Serpent is head and not Christ and which is the body of antichrist some of which commits Idolatry iâ— an Idols-temple and the ministry of this church we deny for it stands in 〈◊〉 will of man and the Ministers of it are such as all the Servants of the Lord witnessed against the Churches the Ministry and the Ministers are contrary to God but the Ministry which is to the Seed which is out of the will of man we own and witness which ministers Life unto life and Death unto death and divides the Word aright judgment to the fat and to the strong and feeds the â—…gry and looseth the Bars of wickedness and breaks not the bruised Reed 〈◊〉 quencheth not the smoaking Flax this Ministry we deny not but are Friends unto it and who are Ministers here we have union withal but proud men and such as are called of men Masters are cast out of this Ministry and are Miniâ—… to the body of antichrist and know not the Mystery of the Ministry of Jesus Christ which is to the Spirit in Prison Magistrates and Magistracy we deny not but do give respect unto for Conscience sake for who bears the Sword of Justice who use their power to be a terror to the wicked and for the praise of them that do well are Ministers of God and we desire that there were more Magistracy here and that the Magistrate would more use his power to be a terror to Lyars to Swearers to Drunkards to Railers to
false Accusers and to proud Men and Oppressors this 〈◊〉 are Friends unto but to such as act by their own wills in corrupt Laws and 〈◊〉 thereby violence to the Innocent and strengthen the hands of Evil-doers we cannot be subject but choose rather then to transgress the Law of God whiâ—â— is written in our hearts by submitting to such mens wills and laws to suffer by the corrupt wills of men under corrupt laws for a moment And thus I have answered those false Accusations which are cast upon us and 〈◊〉 declare it to be the same spirit in the Teachers and People of this Generatioâ—… which accuseth us as it was in the Scribes and Pharisees which accused Chrâ—… and his Disciple and this the Scripture witnesseth unto as they did unto him 〈◊〉 would they do unto us A further Answer to that Accusation of being false Prophets and Deceivers JEsus Christ prophesied and said That in the last dayes should many false prophets arise which should deceive many and if it were possible the very Elect. Now the Teachers and People of this Generation do say That we who by the World are called Quakers are those false Prophets and Deceivers which Christ prophesied of Of this their false accusation have they Drunkards Lyars Swearers and all the ungodly People in every profession to witness them but their Accusation and their Witnesses we do deny though they preach it among the People for doctrine And now in answer to this false Accusation and Slander I am moved to write a little and shall to that Principle of God in every mans Conscience clear my Conscience and declare what I know from God concerning those false Prophets who they are when they came in and how they may be known and shall leave it to every honest heart to consider of The Apostles and Ministers of Jesus Christ saw the same false Prophets which Christ prophesied of to be come and coming in their dayes before a Quaker waâ— heard of Iohn said By that they knew that it was the last time for said he Even now are there many Antichrists and false Prophets gone out into the World such werâ— they who confessed not Christ to be come in the Flesh and they were of the World and spoke of the World and the World heard them Now here I charge it upon the Teachers of the World that they are of that Generation which went out into the World then for as they then confessed not Christ to be come in the Flesh so these uphold those things which were under the Law which was before Christ came in the Flesh outwardly and so confess Christ not to be come in the Flesh and so they are Antichrist They uphold an outward Temple and an outward Worship and take tythes as the Priests under the Law did as a Type and Figure of Christ but when he was come and sacrificed these things which were to stand for a time were put to an end and none who witnessed Christ come and were sent by him to preach the Gospel did uphold those things but witnessed forth the Substance and denied the figure they denied the outward Temple and witnessed they were the Temples of God and that God dwelt in them and denied the outward worship and witnessed the Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth within them for they who worshipped without worshipped they knew not what as they do now and they denied to take Tythes but lived of the Gospel and said They that preached it should live of it but the Teachers of this Generation are of the World living in its pride lusts and vanities and they who live in the same worldly nature uphold them and hear them Iohn also said Every spirit that confesseth not Christ to be come in the Flesh is Antichrist And here I charge it upon the Teachers of the World that their Spirit of Pride and Covetousness and Envy and Hypocrisie which rules in them is the Spirit of Antichrist and confesseth not Christ to be come in the Flesh for where he is made manifest and come in the Flesh this spirit is destroyed For as saith the Scripture he was made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil Paul was also a Witness of the false Prophets and Deceivers which Christ prophesied of in his time for he gave warning to beware of such and to turn away from such whom he saw then come and coming in but came more fully in after his dayes he said of this sort They were lovers of themselves covetous proud heady high-minded fierce men and dispisers of those that were good given to filthy lucre and to pleasure and were false-Accusers and Blasphemers and without natural affection and unthankfull and unholy and taught silly women who were led with divers lusts but were not able to come to the knowledge of the Truth by their Teaching they were men of corrupt minds and reprobatâ— concerning Faith And here again I charge it upon the Teachers of the World that they are of that Generation which came in then for they are Lovers of themselves they take money of poor people to whom they are more able to give and they are proud and covetous men that go in their Ribbons and Cuffs and gaudy attire and they preach to them where they can get most money and some takes money of them and sues them at the Law to whom they preach not at all they are heady and high-minded men for poor people bow to them in the Streets and call them Masters They are fierce men and dispise those that are good if any speak against them of the truth they are fierce against and despise such and they are given to filthy lucre and are lovers of pleasure for where they can have most money there they will abide and they live in pleasure in idleness and lust and vanity they are flase-Accusers they will call them Deceivers which are not and that Blasphemy which is not and they are Blasphemers and without natural affection They say the Letter is the Word and the Scripture the Light which is contrary to Scripture for God is the Word and Christ is the Light and they will suffer the rude multitude and some will set them upon it to hale beat and strike out of their Assemblies which is without natural affection They are unthankful and unholy they have great sums of money from the people and are not thankful but compel them by a Law to pay them and herein they are unholy by their actions which are declared which is oppression and they teach always but men and women are ignorant still and none able to come to the knowledge of the Truth by them and they have a Form of godliness they profess the Scriptures That the Children of the Lord are to be taught of the Lord and that Christ said Take no thought what to eat nor what to drink nor wherewith to be cloathed but who witness themselves taught of God and that they need no
of Christ Jesus wherewith he hath lightned every man that comes into the world and it will lead into the Kingdom of Peace and righteousness for saith Christ I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life and this is that which thou wouldst fain call the Lye of the Devil and therefore to cover thy wickedness and impudency thou hast changed and mixed the terms of words that thou mayest have a ground for thy Slander but thou art seen and comprehended and thy folly appears Then thou sayest we say It will convince of Sin Swearing Lying Stealing c. of Sins against the Law and this thou makest a thing of little account to be convicted of sins against the Law by the Light of Christ for there is nothing else that doth convince of sin mind that And this Light thou seems to acknowledge every man hath and this Light I do affirm to be the Light of Christ Jesus and to bid People follow this the Light of Christ to lead into the Kingdom can be no Lye of the Devil for he which convinceth of sins against the Law leads up into the fulfilling of the Law and though thou and thy Generation would leap over the Law yet must the righteousness of it in Judgment be fulfilled upon you and by Christ Jesus in you if ever you receive the Salvation to your Souls Learn whâ—t it means Much more thou ramblest over which I pass by as being not pertinent to the thing in hand but Fools love to be meddling though little to the purpose and as I have said thy Maker will not blame thee for thou hast brought in of thy chiefest substance though it be but as Clay and as Dirt at least that of it which is against the Quakers and the substance of many Pages following is this that I have gathered denying or at least opposing Christ revealed within and in opposition to this quotes many Scriptures of what he did in his own Person which Scriptures I own and the Truth which they bear witness of yet must we beâ—â— witness that without the Revelation of Christ within there is no Salvation However so much is or may be spoken of him without as the Pope can do as well as thou yet are you found to be one Generation persecuting the Life under the zeâ—l of profession of the words Then the next thing that I mind is a Question which thou hast asked thyself Do not the Scriptures make mention of Christ within c And I shall ask further Doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ within are Reprobates But thou hast proved deceitful in answering thy self and shuffled and I may much fear thou wilt not be faithful in answering mine however it rests upon thee to answer it or to stop thy mouth Then the next thing is thou sayest This design of deceiving the Devil carries oâ— by pretending if they follow what is made known to them from the Light within Answ. I observe all thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within which Christ hath given to every man and thy whole work is to render his â—ight odious But this I further answer The design of the Devil in deceiving souls is thy own and I turn it back to thee but this is truth as it is in Jesus He that comes to eternal Life must follow and walk in what is made known by the Light of Christ within And thou sayest Beg of God to convince thee by his holy Spirit c. And thus thou utterest thy confusion sometime treating for it and sometime against it secretly smiting the Just mixing the Truth with Lyes that thereby thy Slanders may be covered and thy deceit hid The rest of thy Epistle I pass by being from the same spirit which thy Lyes are from and thy Lying Spirit the Children of God cannot own and therefore must needs deny that which proceeds from it And thus much in answer to thy Epistle Sixteen of thy first Pages are filled with this to wit proving that there is a Christ and that he was promised and that he was waited for and expected c. To all this I shall say nothing except thou hadst proved it in opposition to some body for what is Truth I own by the Spirit of the Lord as it is Truth in Christ but as it comes from thy lying spirit I do not so well own it I own the words and I deny thy voice and this is my Answer Only I find thee wresting some Scriptures whether through subtilty or for want of wit I shall not judge especially this hast thou encreased Revel 13. 8. and faisly sayst The Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and it is Since the Foundation of the World betwixt which is great difference the one being a very Lye and the other very Truth Then thou goest on proving That he is the Saviour that was born of Mary c. which thing we never denied and therefore I need the less to answer thee except thou hadst spoken it in opposition to us which I find thee not altogether until the thirty seventh Page where thou again secretly smitest in mixing some Truth with thy Lye And thou sayest How horribly are those deceived who look on Iesus to be but a Shadow or Type This is thy Lye I know not any who do it and yet thou sayest Of something that was afterwards to be revealed c. Answ. This hath some truth in it which is this The same Christ which was born of Mary which wrought Righteousness in his Person by doing and suffering which was is the Substance was afterwards revealed in the Saints And this is no horrible deceit to witness Christ revealed or to wait for him to be revealed within Then thou sayest When he was come then was an end put to the Law c. And here I ask a Question Did Christ Jesus put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth be justifie that which the Law condemneth before the work of the Law be finished What is the meaning of the Scripture Not one tittle shall fail till all be fulfilled What assurance have any that it is fulfilled for them who are yet transgressors of it in themselves An Answer to this may satisfie the simple Then thou goest on and sayst How are they deceived that think to obtain Salvation by following the convictions of the Law which they call Christ c Answ. Here thou confessest the Law convinceth then it is not put to an end or fulfilled or taken away because it yet works and it is no deceit to mind that which doth convince of sin to lead to Christ to take sin away for the Scripture saith The Law is a School-Master to bring to Christ but thou art in the deceived state who healest up falsly and daubest with untempered Morter and
to Salvation or condemnation even that Light of which we declare so that thou hast said no less hitherto then we in this particular and the Scriptures say They saw the Eternal Power and Godhead by that which was made manifest of God in them mind in them which once they knew of God but turned from it and the Scripture saith That which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God John 16. and also the Scripture saith That which makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reproved is made manifest by the Light even the true Light the Apostle speaks of Ephes. And the sum of all this which thou wouldst reprove in us is no more then the Scriptures bare witness of and which thy self hath uttered and confessed And Friend dost thou know this Light that is given of Christ and God unto every man is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation unto every one that believes if thou say it is not wherein is the blame in God or in this Light or in the Creature shew if thou canst Then thou again sayst This light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every one that comes unto the Word which doth convince of sin Answ. Thus far thou art forced to confess Truth I think against thy mind and thus far in words only we agree as in this particular then why dost thou say By wresting that Scripture John 1. 9. we split our selves and endeavour to split others seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then thou callst wresting in us I reckon up thy confusion and leave it for thee to read and them to whom this may come Then thou sayst The neglect of this Light will be sure to damn though the obedience to the Law will not save them c. Answ. Here again thou hast confessed truth If the neglect of the Light will be sure to damn as thou confessest then I say surely it is not good to neglect it that must needs follow deny it if thou canst therefore the sum of thy words is the same with us that every one mind the Light of Christ Jesus least they be damned for the neglect of it And Friend to the second part of the clause I say the Law must be obeyed and the righteousness of it fulfilled within thee if ever thou come to Eternal Life if it be not thou cannot escape damnation Learn what this means Then further thou sayst Though Christ doth give a Light to every one that comes into the World yet it doth not therefore follow that this Conscience or Light is the Spirit of Christ or the work of Grace wrought in the heart c. Here thy confusion is seen at large who wouldst seem to divide between the Light of Christ which thou confessest is given to every man and the Spirit of Christ and the Grace of God However thus far I say the Light of Christ given to every man is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ nor to the Grace of God but one in their nature and a man cannot possibly love one of them and hate another neither can any obey one of these and disobey the other therefore are they one in the union leading in the same way unto the same end And where doth the Spirit of Christ give light or the Grace of God work or lead if not in the Conscience And can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to to walk to Life or to come to God by then the Light of Christ in the Conscience which thou confessest every man hath that cometh into the World Then thou sayst Heathens Turks Iews Athiest c. have that that doth convince them of sin yet are so far from having the Spirit of Christ in them that they delight to serve their lust c. Answ. This Query I ask of thee Do they or thou or any man serve sin or your lusts because Christ hath not given you light to discover your sin or because you hate that Light that is given answer me And surely by this which doth convince of sin is every man in the world inexcusable so it works for God in all men either to justifie or condemn And tell me is not the Spirit or Light of Christ the only thing which doth convince of sin Or doth any thing convince of sin contrary or besides or without the Spirit of Christ if nay then it must needs be that it is from or by or something of the nature of the Spirit of Christ which is in the Heathens And the sum of thy doctrine is no less in the profession of thy words then what we say then why dost thou condemn us But it seems thy tongue speaks one thing and another thing is in thy heart and this is Hypocrisie Then thou sayest Those that are alive to sin have not the Spirit of Christ c. But I say it is given to every man though every man receives it not and it strives with the wicked man though he follows it not And some other vain Arguments thou usest to prove That every man hath not the Spirit of Christ which I pass by only thus much I leave with thee till thou provest the Light of Christ which thou confessest every may hath to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ I shall say every man hath that which is one in union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure Then thou goest on and sayest That the Devil might be sure to deceive or to that purpose he saith Turn thy mind inward and listen within and see if there be not that within thee that doth convince of sin c. Answ. Thou hast confessed that the Light within which convinces of sin is the Light of God and Christ and now thou sayest the Divil to deceive souls bids turn to mind the Light within which doth convince of sin thou hast lyed of the Devil Oh thou blind Priest whom God hath confounded in thy language Was ever such a thing spoken That the Devil can deceive any by the Light of Christ or that he uses any such doctrine Friend it is the Voice of the Gospel to bid listen within to the Light even to the Word of Faith within the heart as Paul preached But thou further sayst They are ignorant of the Gospel who clasp in with these Motions of the Light within or Conscience which doth command to abstain from the evil and to practice good And here thou hast shewed thy blindness and ignorance more then can be uttered as though the motions of the Light of Christ in the Conscience which command to abstain from evil and to practice good were another thing then the Light of the Gospel what and how doth the Light of the Gospel work if not in the Conscience and to command from evil and to practice good Surely thou preachest another Gospel then Paul preached for his Doctrine was
manifest from Mary's womb and was persecuted to death by the Scribes and Pharisees in whose steps thou treadst in asking subtil Queries to insnare the Innocent as they did read thy Example and thy self to be an Enemy to the Christ of God Qu. 5. Is that very Man with that very Body within you yea or nay Answ. The very Christ of God is within us we dare not deny him and we are Members of his Body and of his Flesh and of his Bone as the Ephesians were They that are led by a spirit of Delusion shall answer the rest of this thy Query if they will Qu. 6. Was that very Iesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of Flesh and Bones after his Resurrection from the dead out of Josephs Sepulchre ye or nay for the Scrpiture saith he was and if so then did that Man go away from his Disciples and not into them in his Body as the Scriptures declare or did he with that Body of Flesh go into his Disciples as some fond Dreamers think Answ. What the Scriptures speak of Christ we own to be truth and own him to be what the Scriptures speak of him and all mens imaginations of him we deny and their falsâ— interpretations of the Scriptures concerning him and let the fond Dreamers who are in their thoughts be reproved for we dare own nothing to be truth but what the Spirit of the Lord bearâ— witness of according to the Scripture thus far I anwer in behalf of the Quakers let them who are led with the spirit of Delusion answer the rest which concerns themselves Qu. 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the Father before the World was no other Body but his Church if you say no as it is your wonted course Then again I aske you What was that in which he did bear the sins of his Chrildren if you say it was his own Body on the Tree then I ask you whether that Body in which he did bear our sins was or is the Church of God yea or nay Again if you say he hath no Body but his Church then I ask what that was that was taken down from the Cross c Answ. In this thou hast not only queried but Slandered therefore first thy Slander I do remove It is not our wonted course to say that Christ hath no other Body but his Church thou art herein as in other things a false Accuser but we say the Church is Christ's Body And it is sufficient for Salvation to know Christ Jesus to be head in us and over us and our selves to be Members of his Body and what thou intendst by making so many foldings in one Query it may be judged is to insnare and in that thou answerest thy self for us in somthing that thou mayst have a further ground to lay a deeper snare we do deny thee and thy spirit and see thee to be only feeding in thy imaginations upon the report of things without the Life and thy religion stands in disputes and controversies and querying and many words but our Religion stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God and towards man whether we speak or be silent Thus I have answered thy Queries or so much of them as concerns us and as I have said if thou wilt be further answered go seek an Answer from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion and let them answer their part or else be thou unsatisfied for I shall not answer them to satisfie thee nor I may not feed thy Serpents wisdom nor subtilty which cannot receive of the things of God not understand a reason of the Hope of Christ in us if we declare it to thee For all throughout thy Book I do observe it is that which thou strikest against even Christ within which is our Hope of Glory And it is that Mystery which long hath been hid from Ages and Generations but now is made manifest and declared And though the wise of the World cannot receive it but speak evil against it yet is it dear unto us and so much more precious because despised by such as thee and thy Generation And such things are a testimony to us and against you and go thou with them that are led with a spirit of Delusion for you are one in Nature and the Children of God who are redeemed cannot but deny you together Some few Queries propounded for John Bunyan to answer Query 1. Whether is any man justified by Christ Jesus in the sight of God but he that follows Christ and is it not a work to follow him yea or nay and what is the sight of God Qu. 2. Whether will that Faith justifie a man which hath no works seeing the Apostle saith Faith without works is dead and what is that which works Faith and where is it within or without Qu. 3. Whether any man is justified but he who is born of God and whether doth he that is born of God commit sin and is that within the Creature or without him which works the new Birth Qu. 4. If Christ hath lightened all men as he is God as thou confessest then whether hath he not lighted all men as he is the Son of God and is not the Light of God sufficient in it self to lead unto God all that follow it yea or nay Qu. 5. Whether it is not the same Light in him that hates it as it is in him that loves it Iohn 3. if there be a difference in the Light shew it wherein it lies whether in its nature or otherwise Qu. 6. Whether it is possible that any can be saved without Christ manifest within if no then whether it is not the Doctrine of Salvation which is only necessary to preach Christ within and it is not the whole Mystery of Salvation God manifest in the flesh Qu. 7. Whether is it not possible that many may profess as much of Christ without as thou hast said of him and yet be damned and if this be the faith to profess him born dead risen and ascended without then is there any Unbeliever in England seeing all in the outward sound believe and professe as much as thou hast said yea or nay Quer. 8. Whether hath that man faith in Christ who is not changed in the Nature and is not the Lyar and Slanderer an Unbeliever and of the cursed Nature yea or nay Quer. 9. Whether doth any man receive Christ who receives him not into him if not shew how Christ can be received and whether many do not profess him which never received him Quer. 10. Whether to preach for Hire for Gifts and Rewards and to Divine for Money and to make Merchandise of People for so much a year for preaching to them is not true Marks and Signs of a false Prophet or can any give truer Signs of the false Prophets then Isaiah and Micah gave yea or nay Quer. 11. Whether must not the Devil be chained before Christ reign
He findeth all little enough For shame cover thy Lips and stop thy Mouth thy stuff stinks with raking in who sayest That men cannot be sufficient Ministers without Arts and such poor blind stuff of which I am ashamed and pass by it as not worth the mentioning Then thou goest on in the matter of Tythes seeing the Rule and Law of Scripture will not fully bear thee out in thy wicked practise of pleading for Hire 〈…〉 goest to the Law of the Nation and so the Gospel which you preach will not maâ—…n you according to the Apostles Doctrine but by a Law are maintained through the grievous oppression of the Innocent as is witnessed in this Nation and thou art put to all thy shifts though but beggarly some of them to blind Peoples eyes so that you may have your Hire and in thy Arguments thou pleadest That Tythes are no mans own but the Ministers c. But I say if poor men did not labour and improve their time and strength and money you could have no Tythes so that if the Land was not tilled through poor Peoples labours you might go without so Tythes are not paid out of the Land but out of mens labours thereupon and so you rob poor mens labours and not the Land that you may live in filthiness And thou sayest Care is taken for you already many hundred Years before you were born in setting an Estate c. Yea the Pope settled Tythes upon his Priests whose Generation you are of a poor shameless shift to plead such things leaving the Rule of the Scripture and defending your selves both in your Ministry and Maintenance by a Popish â—aw which was the supreme Power in the Nation when Tythes were first established in England but neither the Rule of Scripture nor of the National Law will make your works justified all People shall see your nakedness and God will make you ashamed of your way And as to particular Had we lived in the primitive Churches when the Magistrates were Heathens c. This I shall answer by a Question Doth not the works of some of the Magistrates in England I do not say all prove themselves rather to be Heathens than Christians by their unjust imprisoning of the Innocent without â—…ch of any Law and so to be rather Destroyers of the Church which is the Body of Christ then careing to preserve it and also in giving treble dammage to the Hirelings for Non-payment thereby wasting and making havock of poor mens Estates as is in many places to be witnessed and these are they who are most zealous for you some of them I leave this Question to be answered which being but truly answered will discover whether you who by oppression take Tythes 〈…〉 â—ho oâ—â— of the exercise of a pure Conscience cannot pay Tythes and so are Sufferers and you Oppressors are Carriers on of the designs of Hell and Rome as in thy eleventh Page thou speakest Then thou sayest So much for the Ministers Maintenance c. Yea more then enough but that thou mightest lay open thy own folly therefore wast thou allowed that thy shame might be fully laid open and thou uncovered who hast acted thy part as others of thy Brethren before thee in pleading your own unjust cause of Idolatry to uphold your grievous Oppression of Tythes and set Maintenances under which at this day many thousands do sadly groan and not pittied by you but though you regard not the Lord God doth and will avenge their Cry upon your heads who have made your Ministry and Religion the most grievous Oppression in this Common-wealth and so are fallen into greater abomination than the Heathen and are higher than they in ungodliness and deeper in subtilty and go to the Heathens and they will shame you and take thy own counsel and practise it as in thy tenth Page And much more of thy stuff I pass thus much is sufficient to discover thy deceit in this particular Then thou goest on and from thy Text thy observation is this It hath been of old and it is the practise still of the Prince of Darkness to transform himself into an Angel of Light c. To which I answer It is proved by the Scripture that it hath been of old his practise and it is proved upon thee that it is still his practise and thou art the man upon whom thy observation stands true who art in thy good words and fair speeches and pretences transformed only in the appearance and not in the ground out of gross wickedness into secret hypocrisie and so makest an Image without Life and so as Iannes and Iambres art resisting Truth yet art thou seen and comprehended though thou sayest Satan is never less seen then when he acts as an Angel of Light which I suppose thou speakest by experience as being acted therein undiscovered to the Simple because of thy hypocrisie In thy Page thirteenth thou sayest that The Scriptures are the true Light Here thy blindeness and error is discovered who speakest herein contrary to the Scripture which saith Christ Iesus is the true Light 1 Iohn 9. Here thâ—â— wouldest exalt the Scriptures in the Seat of Christ and thereby deny him in saying the Scripture is that which he only is and nothing else to wit The trâ—â— Light of the World which lighteneth every man that comes into the World and the Scriptures are a Declaration of him and not him And thou goest on and sayest Because these Quakers â—each People they must do justly do no body wrong nor Lye c. some take it for granted they come from Christ c. But this thou snuffest at and makest light of by which is easily discerned of what spirit thou art the Scripture witnesseth He is a Minister of Christ that turâ— from Darkness to Light and from sin unto God and could we but wink at sin and cloak it as you do and cry Peace Peace to them that walks after the imaginations of their own hearts then should we be loved and not hated of the World And in thy fourteenth Page Thou reckonest us with the Fryars and Popish Generation but them and thee we do deny and that holiness and righteousness which is in the will of man for because we cannot run to the same excess of riot with you you think it strange and therefore thou accusest us as with a matter of fact That we drink water and fast and wear no Lace c. That which thoâ— wouldst make us abominable in by the sight of men doth our innocency and uprightness appear in in the sight of God and his Children Then thou goest on in thy confused language and in that which thou callest thy use Take hâ—ed that you be not deceived To whom dost thou speak to them that are in the Truth If thoâ— speakest to thy own flock thy word might have been Search lest you be deceived for we know the whole World lies in wickedness and this Generation under the deceivableness of
a blind Ministry which leadeth not unto God but keeps in Darkness ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth And in thy Page ninteenth Thou hast put forth a Question which is How shall we know this transformed Angel of Light c To which I answer Where he rules he is not known nor discerned for the god of the World hath blinded the eye which should make him manifest and this is true in thee who art led by him and perceivest it not and art doing his work and understandest not but the brightness of the coming of the Son of Man in the Children of the Father hath discovered him in the World and in thee and though thou woulst fain put him among the Quakers yet he is found in thy own house thou endeavourest to prove thy Accusation by vain consequence and false conclusions but our Assertion is proved by the Spirit of God and stands upon thy head and shall be witnessed by the Light in thy own Conscience Now something in answer to thy Arguments and false Conclusion And thy first Argument is That the Light of the Quakers will not admit of nor endure the Trial therefore the Light of the Quakers is the light of Satan c. Answ. Thy proposition and ground of thy Argument is a Lye and so thy conclusion is to no purpose for we deny not a Trial but exhort People thereunto that they search the Scripture to see whether these things be not so and are tried by the Scriptures in Doctrine and Conversation and proved to be simple thereby to be in the Truth as it is in Jesus and are testified of in Scripture by the Holy men of God who are unto us a Cloud of Witnesses in our Faith and Life and Sufferings and Tryals c. Friend thou hast fained a Lye upon us and hast confuted thy own Lye this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers if it would stand in trial neither is thy proof That wâ— do deny tryal any wit to this purpose as I. N. against F. Harris Page the tenth which thou quotest let the honest hearted read but subtilly hast thou wrested the words to bring thy false Conclusion and Lye about to take place among the ignorant People Thy Lye is condemned and thy refuge is taken away and thou art left naked for the Destroyer Thy second Argument is The Light of the Quakers putteth out the Light of Nature therefore their Light is the light of Satan c. Thou sayest by the Light of Nature thou meanest the inward Law which God set up in the heart of all mankind châ—â—king many sins against God and man c. Answ What blind confusion is this which is uttered from thy dark mind no whit savory but stuff hardly worth stirring in and quite contradiction to thy own words Page fifteen where thou chargest us with directing to the Light in the Conscience which thou callest Natural but we call it Spiritual and this is it which cheeks the sins against God which thou sayest our Light puts out and that we preach any thing for Light which puts out this light which is the work of the Law of God written in the heart this Argument is also a Lye and so thy conclusion is made void likewise but that the Knowledge and Wisdom and Prudency of the natural man which is corrupted must be put out this we own and the Quakers Light which is the Light of Christ shall confound the Wisdom of the World and be no transgression against God nor from a light of Satan but of Christ and the proof of thy Argument is as thou sayest Wâ— deny honour to all Superiours and seemest to be greatly offended with the word Thou quoting many Scriptures against it but let the wise in heart judge thee herein none of all these Scripture will prove that ever any of the Saints gave flattering Titles unto men or spoke You to a particular Person which thou art to prove or else thou sayest nothing that the word Thou to Superiours is any denying of honour due unto them and herein thy conclusion is also false being the foundation of thy Argument is a Lye and thy Argument made up of confusion saying That Light is Natural which is the inward Law set up in the heart checking the sins against God and man this is one Lye also saying That our Light puts out the Light This is another Lye Friend if Lyes would prove us Deceivers thou wouldst accomplish it How easie a thing it is for thee to confute thy own Lyes when thou hast made them Thy third Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures setting up a spirit in man which shall not be examined by the Scriptures therefore it is the light of Satan c. Answ. The first part of thy Argument is a very Lye and also the last as thou hast laid it down our Light teacheth not men to forsake the Scriptures but into the fulfilling of them to walk in the Life of them and it teacheth to exalt the Spirit of God in man above all things and in its fruits and opperation may be examined by the Scriptures but it self is the Searcher of all things even of the deep things of God and this is not the Light of Satan but of Christ which teacheth men into the fulfilling of the Scriptures and to exalt the Spirit in man which gave forth the Scriptures which is the trial of all spirits and whatsoever conclusion be gathered for an Argument whereof a Lye is the foundation as of this the conclusion must needs be vain and a Lye like its foundation And in thy proof of the major position thou sayest The Scriptures are left by God to be your Light and Rule c. And the Scriptures say Christ is the Light the Way the Truth and the Life and so the Rule and so thou hast set up the Scriptures above Christ and by thy lying spirit crosseth the Scriptures but thou art accustomed to Lye and so art expert therein And thou sayest Christ bids you seâ—â—câ— the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. It is true he bids the Pharisees who had not Christ Word abiding in them and who had not heard God's Voice nor seen his Shape but persecuted Christ them he bad search the Scriptures and justly hast thou thrâ—â—â— in thy self among the Pharisees and so art an Enemy to Christ according to thy own confession And for the proof of the minor position thou hast not at at 〈◊〉 proved by any way of the Books quoted thy proposition That the Quakers Ligâ—â— teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures c. Let the wise in heart judge And thou sayst But to speak truly The Quakers make nothing of Scriptures c. This is the very falsness and of thy lying tongue and no truth in it and a Question here I ask Whether he be the more guilty of forsaking Scriptures which live the Life thereof
and in the fulfilling of them by the Spirit or he that talks in words of them and makes a trade thereof but lives in Lying and false Accusing and Pride and vain Glory and tâ—e filthiness of the Flesh This Question being answered will open the understanding of the simple and our innocency thereby will appear from all thy grievous slanders and wicked wrestings of our words As in Page twenty five in thy false conclusioâ—… of this particular thou sayest The Quakers divide the Spirit from the Scripture c. Yea the Spirit and the Scriptures are low things though they bear witâ—… to the truth of each other thus are they divided That every one that hath the Scriptures hath not the Spirit and this is no error nor from a Light of Satan but thy Lyes are from the Darkness of Satan and not from the Ligâ—â— of Christ. Thy fourth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which makes the Scripture cross it self and that in things known by the Light of nature therefore the light of Satan c. Answ. This is also false in the foundation and thy Arguments and Confusions made without effect Friend whilst thy foundation is a Lye thy Building wiâ—… not endure be sure of that the Scripture was given forth by one Spirit and bears witness unto one thing and doth not cross it self in the Light of the Spirit that gave it forth though to thy carnal wisdom it may seem so And for the proof of thy minor proposition thou sayst we quote that Scripture Iames 2. Have not the Faith of our Lord Iesus with respect of Persons c. to overthrow all respect of Persons c. Doth this at all prove that our Light makes the Scripture to cross it self Where is it said in the Scripture Have the Faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of Persons Such a one thou must bring or else thou hast said nothing to this purpose And thy second Scripture is That we say as Christ said Swear not at all Will this Scripture being quoted by us prove that our Light makes the Scripture cross it self What blind confused stuff is this which proceeds from thee thinking to make us odious and vile but thou hast the rather made thy self ignorant and blind in the sight of all the Children of Light who comprehend thee in thy subtilty and as to that of Swearing which thou hast strived in thy Argument to prove the Lawfulness of it thou hast thereby made thy Argument against Christ's own words who saith Swear not at all and thou art he whose Light or rather whose Darkness would confound the Scriptures to blind the eye of the Simple and thy conclusion stands true upon thy self hence thy light is the light of Satan not of Christ. And thou sayest The Quakers bid men be guided by the Light of God within c. How doth this contradict thy own words page twenty second where thou sayest The Quakers Light puts out this light the inward Law set up in the heart c. when wilt thou be ashamed of thy ignorance and stop thy mouth in the dust Thy fifth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which takes men off from that Rule which is perfect and cannot err and sends them to be guided by a Light which is imperfect and may and doth err therefore the Light of Satan c. Answ. Hast thou given up thy self wholly to lyes and to make them thy refuge thy work is to make a Lye and then to confound it this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers as I said and in the proof of thy minor Proposition thou hast fallen short of proving what thou takest in hand and sayst The Word of God is perfect but the Quakers do not send men to the Word c. This is false we preach the Word and send men to it even that Word of Faith which the Apostle preached which is in the heart and in the mouth and that Word is perfect and errs not and this we send men too to be guided by it and to receive faith in it then thou sayest The light of Conscience is imperfect and may err and takes accasion to speak of that Scripture 1 Ioh. 8. but to what purpose I know not except thou wouldst prove that Light of Christ to be imperfect and err which we say hath lightened every mans Conscience in the World and is a perfect Rule in the Conscience where man is guided by it and this Light leads up unto Christ to exercise the Conscience and he to rule King and Lord in the Conscience and so to make Conscience one with him in the unity and this is true wisdom and no folly as thou accountst it in thy blindness page twenty nine Then thou goest on and hast intimated a falsity from I. Ps Query and then confutes thy own Lye I. P. doth not say every man is lightned with a saving Light but asks the Question to be answered which for the simple sake here I do answer Christ hath lighted every man in the World with the true Light which is saving Light to every one that believes therein and condemning Light to him that believes not yet is the Light true Light and no error nor imperfection in it and they that hate it are such as know nothing of Redemption Justification c. and a great part of England is in that conditin though they have heard the report yet they know it not in truth and righteousness and this Light is in the World and the World knows it not yet doth not this confute that he hath lightned every man that comes into the World as thou wouldst ignorantly make it appear in the same page Then thou sayest If you speak of reason and understanding so Christ lighteth every one c. Here thou hast confessed Truth with thy lying Spirit it is the purest reason that every man should serve his Maker and act nothing contrary to his Maker this the â—ight of Christ lights unto and leads unto and it is the best understanding that gives a man to understand the Way of eternal Peace and Rest for his Soul if he love the Light and lets him understand when he acts against his Maker c. and this hath Christ lighted every man unto Then thou sayest Conscience may err and provest it from Paul's example of persecuting If Conscience be not guided by the Light of Christ it erreth but it was not the Light of Christ in Pauls Conscience which led him to persecute but his thoughts and imaginations which were in the high mind above the Light in the Conscience then many false conclusions from our words hast thou drawn through thy wresting of them thou sayest as in all our books the word of God written is made of no account c. thy lying tongue will God rebuke the Scriptures we account of and set them in their Authority and bring them as a Witness against thee and all thy wayes who art
I perceive thou hast got a catch by some Scriptures being misplaced and not truly quoted which may be the Printers fault for ought I know But all that ever thou hast spoken proves not the truth of what thou hast asserted let shame cover thy face Thy twelfth Argument is Such is the Quakers light viz. which affirms sound Believers walking Evangelically in obedience to Gods Commandments to be in a state of Condemnation therefore it is the Light of Satan c. Answ. Thou being neer at an end hast left the greatest Lye to the last When wilt thou be ashamed and stop thy mouth thy testimony of Lyes is well nigh finished and thou bindest up the sum with an abominable one yet thou confessest in thy Margent We do not say thi◠in many words but by consequence c. Here let all men take notice of thee who hast accused us with a thing and yet confessest we say not the thing thou hast fully manifested thy self we need go no further to lay thee open but thou sayest By consequence c. Friend if thou mighttest be the Interpreter of our Books its like thou wouldest deal deceifully as thy Generation hath done with the Scripture but we write not our Books and leave them for to be expounded by thee but they are as they speak simple plain Language to the ignorant that thy may be instructed thou hast manifested thy skil in wresting our words sufficiently we allow thee not to be our Interpreter we testifie he who is a sound Believer and walks in obedience to the commands of God is in a justified state in the sight of God but we put a difference betwixt condemning sound Believers and speaking plainly in reproof of sin as if we tell the Lyar his portion will be the Lake and the Proud he shall be as stubble before the fire and the Wicked shall be cast into Hell and that no Coveteous Unclean Whoremongers Drunkards c. shall never enter into the Kingdom of God This Language is not a condemning of the sound Believers neither is it so accounted in the Sight of God though falsly judged by thee and we stand to the Judgment of him and not unto thy false Slanders And thou further sayest and desirest the Quakers But to tell thee of one man in the Word of God meaning the Scriptures who was Holy who embraced the Quakers Doctrines Principle and Practises c. David was holy Moses was holy Ieremiak was holy with many more testified of in the Scripture that were of the same Faith with us and of the same Doctrines and Principles and Practices for themselves were Quakers as their own Writings make manifest and hadst thou been in their dayes thou wouldst have spoken no less evil of them then of us for it was such as thou who spoke evil of them and persecuted them and hence I do conclude thy spirit to be the spirit of Satan and not the Spirit of God Thy thirteenth and last Argument is against our Shaking as thou callest it and it is manifest to every one thou sayest whence it comes c. And railest much against it and shufflest off and kicks against the testimony we give out of the Scripture bringing the like examples of the Servants of the Lord. And thou sayest We abuse the examples of Daniel Moses and David to defend these diabolical actings c. God shall reprove thy lying Tongue and rebuke thee with the reproof of his Judgments yea many more than these named can we bring to witness for us in the same actings of the Power of God which thou most wickedly callest Diabolical and leavest the Reader to observe thy foolish Story to which in its place I may answer Then thou goest on and ramblest over a great deal of stuff from an Author like thy self who wrote a Book against us also and whose testimony is no better then thine as being of the same spirit against the Seed of God with thee and his testimony and thine are both for condemnation thou quotest his Lyes to prove thine as though his words were of authority with the Scripture but wrechedness and subtilty lodges under your tongues and though you be of several Opinions and Judgments in your Worships and Ministries yet are you joyned and against us as Herod and Pilato and if it was not such a things as would make for thy wicked purpose thou wouldest scorn to make use of his words to prove thine but the shift of the subtil Fox which would devour the Lamb is taken notice of in all his actings Then thou sayest No you own no such revolation viz by the foregoing words 〈◊〉 you were taught the Gospel by the revolation of Iesus Christ. And here let all men take notice of thee to be one that was never sent of Christ but one who knows not God for as Christ Jesus saith No man knows the Father nor the Son but he to whom the Son reveals him And thou having denied the Revelation of the Son of God hast shut out thy self from his Knowledge For shame talk no more of the things of God but let thy mouth be stopped from making mention of his Name especially on the account of being a Minister all that know God or the Gospel are ashamed of thee some of thy own Brethren will not own thee herein some of this I have laid open before Then thou goest on saying The pretended revelation of the Quakers do cross an Article of Faith and Rule of Obedience in Scripture This is not the least of thy Lyes I deny the Slander the same Truth and Faith and Obedience as ever was witnessed in the Holy men of God which declared forth the Scripture we own and bear witness of and no other The Revelation of Christ in us in Faith and Obedience is witnessed by Paul who is our Example and thou art the man whose spirit is contrary to Scripture as is clearly made manifest and in thee the man of sin is revealed and the Light which should discover him is vailed and I may truly say of thee as thou falsly hast said of us Surely the Devil is the Authour of thy work Then in thy conclusion thou sayst Much more might be gathered out of their Books whereby it may appear by what spirit these Quakers are led by the spirit of Satan scarce trasnformed into an Angel of Light Now to all the honest hearted unto whom this and thine may come even to thy own Hearers at least unto such who have but moderation in their spirits and to that measure of God in their Consciences I do appeal that they by it may judge whether thou hast more discovered the spirit of Satan in us by any thing which thou hast in all thy Books justly proved against us to be evil or sin or error except thy Lyes and Slanders may stand for a testimony or in thy self who hast slandered us unjustly and wrested our words deceitfully and spoken many 〈◊〉 grievous
untruth of us and I say to all who read this and thine let them observe with an impartial mind and try all things and hold fast that which is good and let not the envy of the wicked one so prevail over you but search all things with the Light of God according to the Scriptures before you judge any thing least your zeal in your hasty untamed minds and spirits betray the honesty which may in sobriety be instructed and you informed the Way of Salvation which now the Lord of Heaven is discovering to them that seek him in truth and sincerity And because the Purpose of the Lord is to reveal his Glory and to discover and condemn the secrets of the well-savoured Harlot who hath sat long as a Queen in the Earth deceiving Kingdoms and Peoples therefore also is Herod and Pilate joyned together and Gog and Magog is risen in their Power to resist the Counsel of God and to disannul his Purpose but in vain do they strive and weary themselves to no advantage for Sions King shall reign and Ierusalem shall be built and become the praise of the whole Earth and Nations shall partake of her Glory and the Armies of Alients shall flee and be discomforted And all the Lyes and Slanders of the wicked one shall return upon his own head and the pit which the wicked digs for the Righteous it shall swallow the wicked up and his foot shall not escape the snare so that I testifie unto all People this one thing concerning Jesus Him hath God given a Light into the World a Judge and a Reprover of all the works of wickedness and with his Light every man that cometh into the World is lightened with the Light of Life all that believe and with the Light of Condemnation all that believe not If you every one turn in your minds from the vanities of the World unto the measure of the Light given you a present Teacher in the Wayes of God this Light will be in you to direct your steps in Righteousness and Peace for as it is written The Lord is the Teacher of all his People and all the false Teachers and Hirelings will be denyed and the Scribes and Pharisees and their leaven will be born witness against and the old man with all his deeds will be put off and the new Man will be put on which is the Likeness and Image of the Father and then will you witness the Life of the Scriptures and in you they will be fulfilled by the Spirit that gave them forth which Spirit all the Sons of God are guided by and this Spirit the World cannot receive no further then to be reproved by it of sin and condemned for unrighteousness and to every one who hath in the least received a measure of the Spirit and is guided by it to them only I leave what I have written and the Writing answered to be judged as in the sight of God with an impartial mind I have not striven for mastery through subtilty and deceitful speeches but in innocency I have written to vindicate the Lord's Truth from the Lyes of his Enemies who make iâ— their work 〈◊〉 render the Way of Truth odious lest their deceits should be laid open and they judged And this same Giles Firmin hath done his part sufficiently herein who hath not ceased lying and slandering from the beginning to the end of his Book unto which I might have written much more yet desire not to multiply words with such as are impudent and cannot 〈◊〉 when they have done evil but to the main Particulars a few to each of them I have written passing by much unsavory stuff proceeding from a light vain spirit as is easily discernd by the Children of Light who hath made both Foundations and Arguments very Lyes and hath laid things to our charge which we never knew nor by word or Writing was ever declared but thou Giles F. hast filled up thy measure of wickedness according to thy ability hadst thou been more subtil thy work would have been more deceitful Therefore repeat of thy wickeness and go not on in thy perverse way of uncleanness lest thou be cut off with an utter destruction and repentance be hid from thy eyes And to the foolish babling story in the end of thy Book I do Answer thou sayst a Minister now in Essex gave the Narration c. but hast deceitfully concealed his name and so he and thou well may as being ashamed thereof in laying slanders too foolish to subscribe his name unto Yet is Thomas Tillam known his name and nature whose Testimony is like thine and a Minister like unto thee who was and is known in all the Parts about Hexam to be a deceitful Fellow one who preached for Hire and sought for his Gain from his Quarter as is well known who also made merchandise of souls through coveteousness with feigned words And though T. Tillam be or was an Anabaptist and contrary to thee in his Opinion yet if he will but give a bubling Slander against us thou wilt belieive him and call him a Minister but his wickedness is well noted who for wickedness and filthiness was cast out and denied of the Assembly whereof he was the Pastor and stands this day as one cast off by them who are a little more honest than thou and he though yet Strangers to us and Opposers of us And now in that your deceits are discovered you flee to any bubble for a strength and make Lyes your refuge and yet justifie your selves and condemn the Innocent And thy last Story is an abominable Lye and a man that hath honesty in either hand or heart would be ashamed to utter such things but in plainness of speech thy Lyes and Slanders I do deny and unto thee I do return them again with true Judgment upon them and dare not flatter thee nor speak peace unto the wicked but to the Light of God in all Consciences I do stand clear by it to be justified when all the wicked are condemned By a Friend to Israels Common-wealth called EDWARD BURROUGH THE Crying Sins Reproved WHEREOF The Rulers and People of England are highly guilty WITH Additions to their own Confessions held forth by them in a Declaration of their own bearing date Septem 23. wherein these three Nations are called to a Day of solemn Fasting c. With meek Exhortations to this present Parliament that they take heed to themselves lest they make the Guiltless to suffer upon the account of Blasphemy or Error c. while the Evil-Doers go free and the false Prophets defended HOw long how long shall Gods righteous soul be grieved and his 〈◊〉 Spirit vexed with the vain oblations and offerings of them whose hearâ—â— are far from him even after their Idols and in their covetousness and earthly honours of this vain world while they honor with their lips and profess love with their mouths in outward observances How long Lord shall thy
came to pass and was fulfilled and as you may read in thâ— Revelations the Churches grew into Superstitions and Idolatries and the Chuch of Ephesus had lost her first Love and her Candlestick was to be removed and so it came to pass and some in the Church of Smyrna were in the Blasphemy saying they they were Iews and were not but were the Synogogues of Satan and the Church of Pergamos some of them held the doctrine of Balaam and to eat thingâ— sacrificed to Idols and to commit Fornication and some held the doctrinâ— of the Nicolaitans which God hated and against them would the Lord fight with the Sword of his Mouth and the Church of Thyatira suffered that Woman Iâ—zabel to prophesie and to teach and seduced the Servants of the Lord to comâ—it Fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols and she and her Lovers werâ— to be cast into a Bed of torment and her Children should be killed with Death and all the Churches should know that God searched the reins and the hearts and every one should receive according to their deeds and the Church of Sâ—… had only a Name to live but was dead and her work was not perfect before God and upon them would the Lord come as a Thief and they should be in Darkness and not know what hour he would come and the Church of the â—â—odiceans were luke-warm neither hot nor cold and the Lord would spew her ouâ— of his Mouth for she was wretched miserable and poor and blind and naked and the shame of her nakedness did appear And if any had an ear to hear they migâ—t hear these things were spoken by him that lives for ever the First and the Last the Beginning and the Amen so that hereby the Lord's Soul was vexed and his Spirit grieved and his Wrath was suddenly kindled against them who were Revolters and Backsliders from his Way of Salvation which he had made manifest to them through the mouth of his Servants so that his Fury went forth againâ—â— them to overthrow them and to break them to peices and they being turned from his Law and from his Statutes he gave them up unto their own hearts desire and brought in the Heathen upon them to confound them who broke them assunder and trod down many of their Cities and gained great Parts of their Dominions and made them Slaves by multitudes and overthrew their Worship and subjected their Power even the Turks and base uncircumcised People made a Prey upon them and possessed their Habitations and set up abominable Idolatries in the Place where God's Honour had dwelt and their Dominions and Treasures without became spoil to the teeth of Devourers for they having lost the Terror of the Lord he brought up the Heathen to be a terror unto them whose power was mightier then they and overcame them they being without the power of God and they justly came upon them according to the Purpose of the Lord because of their backslidings And others of thâ—â— who were not so given up to the will of an outward Enemy yet were they given up to strange Idolatries and Subversion and setting up Images and worshipping that which is not God but abomination to him to this day so that the holy City which had been full of Glory was given to the Gentiles to be trodden down and under their polluted feet hath it been stamped and to their mouth hath it been a prey for such a time even since these things came to pass unto this day as you may read and the Beast and false Prophet hath ruled in oppression and the great Whore hath made all Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornication All the great Men and Princes and Nobles and all the People upon the Earth have been made drunk by her and touched her uncleanness and ever since the day wherein the backsliding entred she hath sat upon Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People and hath been decked in divers colours to deceive the hearts of all people and all Nations have been deceived by her and the Beast and his Power whose Dominion hath been great hath upheld Wickedness by a Law and established Idolatry by Decrees and all have been out of the Way and wandring in Blindness and Darkness even the whole World have worshipped the Beast and gone after the false Prophet which sits upon the Beast and his power protects him till they be both overthrown into perdition and cast alive into the Lake which now the Lord is coming to do in Power and Dominion and great Babylon is coming into remembrance before the Lord and as she hath done so shall it be done unto her her Children is dashing against the stones and her Off-spring is withering away and the Darkness is vanishing and the Sun is appearing and the Beastly Power shall be subdued and the false Prophet confounded even the old Dragon shall be bound and chained never more to deceive for the Beast hath had a long reign with his false Prophet who have prophesied Lyes and false Divinations and led away the minds of all People For mark and consider Christ Jesus who came into the World with glad-tidings of good things even with Peace and Salvation he said the glorious day was come and even that day which many Prophets and Wise-men had desired to see but had not seen the earth was filled with light as I have said yet he farther prophesied and said that the night should come when no man could work and that in the last dayes false Prophets should arise and deceive many and should come into the World and should cry Lo here is Christ and lo there is Christ and if it were possible should deceive the very Elect and the Apostle Iohn in his time who had been an eye-Witness of Jesus and had handled and tasted and felt the Word of Life and had been with Jesus and bore a true testimony unto him in that very Age and Generation he saw the false Prophets and Antichrists come and coming in and aluded to the very sayings of Christ By this we know said he that it is now the last time for there are now many false Prophets and Antichrists gone out into the World they were not of the true Apostles but went out from among them being gone out from the Light in their own particulars and beguiled the hearts of the simple by good words and fair speeches and went in Balaams way for Gifts and Rewards and in Cains way to Envy and Murder as you may read in the Scripture So that in Iohns time the false Prophets which Christ foretold of were come and they did deceive many according as Christ had said and they drew many from the Wayes of God and subverted many from the Way of Truth and made havock of the Flock and were grievous Wolves according as Paul said and truth began to perish from among men and the Power thereof ceased and the Apostacy came in and the form
Apostacy then began men to study from Books and Writings what to preach and say not having the holy Ghost received in them without which none are Ministers of Christ mark that and when men had lost through ignorance the Knowledge of God dwelling in them and that their Bodies were his Temple and that he dwelled and walked in his People then began they again to build Temples without and to set up their false worships in them for having lost the sence of Gods true Worship which the Saints worshipped in in the Spirit and in the Truth then they began to worship in set Dayes and set Times and set Places and outward Observances which is not the worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth but Superstitious and Idolatrous and when the Word of God was not received immediately from his Mouth nor the Gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ as it was in the dayes of the Apostles then darkness being come in they used their tongues when the Lord had not spoken to them as the false Prophets did before Christs time and long have they said the Letter is the Word and that the Letter is the Gospel and that it must be received by the Scriptures and by natural Learning and Arts and that none can be Ministers of Christ but such who are learned in the Languages and knows the Original of Scriptures Latine and Greek and Hebrew nor any of these have received the Gospel by revelation or the Word of God from his mouth And when singing in the Spirit and with the Understanding was ceased and not known then began People to get the Form of singing of Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter and when the pure power of Godliness was lost which was in the days of the Apostles manifested and known then in the Apostacy the deceit grew into the Form of every thing which the Saints had enjoyed in the Power and so were Shadows set up instead of Substance and Death instead of Life and the Form without the Power which in many Branches sprang forth some into one appearance and some into another but all under the power of the Beast with his many heads and horns defended and until this day since the dayes of the Apostles thus it hath been and those very Teachers and supposed Ministers which now are in this and other Nations are of that very Root which sprang forth in the dayes of the Apostles and they are under the dominion of the Beast and moveable like unto the great Whore and this may easily be proved that they are of that Generation of Teachers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come which the Apostle saw was coming in in their dayes of those which Iohn saw the world to run after for Christ said That by their fruits they should be known and the Apostles they described their fruits them by their fruits and so we seeing their fruit to be the very same now which the Apostles described was the fruit of them that then were come and coming from whence we do conclude according to sound judgment that these very Teachers are of the same Generation and Branches of the same Root which sprang forth then And in Pauls Writings you may read such they were whom he saw of whom he bad people to beware and said perillous times would come and men should be Lovers of themselves Covetous Proud Blasphemers Disobedient to Parents Unthankfull Unholy without Natural Affection false Accusers Fierce Despisers of those that are good Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power and such of whom people were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth for people were laden with sins and led away with divers lusts and these did resist the Truth as Iannes and Iambres who withstood Moses by making likenesses without Life and they were men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the Faith Now it is plain that these Teachers in this Generation are of that very Stock which Paul describes such he saw would come and such we see are come and by their fruits we know them as Christ said and Pauls words are fulfilled for these Teaâ—hers are lovers of themselves and covetous and proud this is plain to all people and Blasphemers who denies Christ to have lighted every man that comes into the World and therefore they deny Scripture and so are disobedient and unholy men and without natural affection who many of them have caused the Innocent to be imprisoned and some have died in Prison and they the chief cause of this and this is without natural affection to the Creatures and they are false Accusers and Lyars and fierce in their Books and Preaching as is manifest through all this Nation and they greatly dispise those that are good and prepares war against such as do not put into their Mouthes and they aâ—â— heady and high-minded and lovers of vanities and pleasures this is evident without proof and they have a Form of Godliness they say all should be taught 〈◊〉 God but when any comes to witness it and deny their teaching they cry agaiâ—… such as Hereticks and thus they have the words and the Form but deny thâ—… Power and they are ever teaching twenty and forty years and more but noâ—… able ever to come to the knowledge of the Truth by them but all in blindness aâ—â— darkness still and people cries out who have been learning many years froâ— them that they do not know the Truth and its plain that these Teachers are of that sort that Paul spoke of who brings none to the knowledge of the Truth people that follows them are laden with sins and led away with divers lusts 〈◊〉 these have and do resist Truth every whore they deny that Christ hath lights every man that comes into the world and so resists Truth and denies Scripture and the truth as you may read Iohn 1. 9. And they are corrupt minded ever wicked Persecutors and Suers at Law and earthly minded and covetous and oppressors and are wholly rebrobate concerning the faith and thus it is plain that the root of these Teachers was springing in the Apostles dayes and hath grown ever since in this dark night of Apostacy and hath filled the Nations Again the Apostle saw that many should depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in hypocrisie haviâ—â— their Consciences seared as with a hot Iron Now these Teachers are of the Stock which is departed from the true Faith for they are without true Faith and reprobate concerning it who are in iniquity and sin and the works of the World which are evil now Faith purifies the heart from all this but their hearts 〈◊〉 not purified but polluted with Covetousness and preaching for Hire and Persecution and Envy and therefore they had not Faith and so are of that Generation which
of the Plagues of the Beast and of the Whore and though the false Prophet gathers Gog and Magog together to fight against the Lamb and to compass the beloved City about yet he shall and them that he gathers be broken to pieces and driven as dust before the Wind and as Stubble before the Fire for the purpose of the Lord shall stand Great Babylon is come into remembrance before the Lord to reward her according to her deeds and the Lord will cause his Truth and his Salvation to be known in the Earth and his Name and Power is declared in the hearts of his People to the overturning of all unrighteousness and though every horn of the Beast push against this and every Head with his Members set it self against it yet the Counsel of the Lord shall not be disannulled nor made void for the Scepter and Dominion of his Son shall be exalted over all the Earth and the Princes of the World and the Kings of the Earth shall lay down their Crowns and become subject for the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ the Kingdom of the Beast must down and the princely power of Darkness must be overthrown and Laws and Times and Things and Powers of men shall be overturned and overturned till he come to reign in the Earth whose right it is to reign over Nations and People And because of this the rage of the Heathen hath been great and the counsels of the Wicked many and strong from the prophane Drunkards to the chiefest professed Teachers of this Age even all the whole Body of the Beast hath joyned it self against the purpose of the Lord men of all conditions from the highest to the lowest have armed themselves with Mischief to offend the Way of Truth This is written as moved of the Lord to go abroad through the Nations that all may understand concerning the times and the changing of times how that the Beast hath reigned in Dominion over Nations Tongues and People and all have worshipped the Beast and gone after the false Prophet here all may come to a good understanding what hath been and what is and what shall be how that when the Power and Government of Christ was lost through departing from the Faith which ruled in the Apostles dayes then the whole World was as unstable in Wayes and Judgments as a Sea then out of the Sea one Beast arose and another after him arose out of the Earth and all have been caused both small and great bond and free to worship the Beast and the Image of the Beast yea all the Dominions of the World have for many Ages been subject to the power of the Beast in all things and not known the Worship and Power of God and the pure subjection to him but the Kings of the Earth and all her Princes have given their power to the Beast and have received their authority from him and acted thereby many of them in great unrighteousness in injustice and oppression and cruelty in pride and rebellion and vain glory in quarrelling one with another to the murthering thousands of thousands and this hath all been brought forth under the power of the Beast and by it and his Heads and Horns have exalted themselves one against another and smitten one onother and the great Whore hath made them all drunk and all People upon the Earth with envy pride wontonness and all unrighteousness this hath been since the Apostles dayes in this Night of Apostacy wherein the whole World hath been subverted by false Prophets and Deceivers and the Kingdom of Christ hath not been known upon Earth for many Generations but the Beast hath been established in his Throne of Rebellion against Christ Jesus his Decrees have been Laws and Statutes and he hath made waâ— against all the Saints and overcame them and reigned over them until this time and trodden down their City and defaced their Glory but the blood of the Just hath cried day and night under the Altar the Souls of such as have been slain for the Testimony of the Word of God have cried day and night How long Lord how long when wilt thou avenge our Blood upon the heads of our Enemies even the Beast the Where and the false Prophet and this hath been for many Ages even while the Kingdom of Antichrist hath been set up and advanced through the World and his Power and Authority hath reached over Nations bond and free from the Prince on his Throne to the Begger on the Dunghil even all have been subjected under the power of the Beast that nature having ruled within every particular hath given him the Authority without over all and admired him and said who is able to make war with him Antichrist hath ruled over all by injustice oppression and Tyranny in unrighteous Laws and through wicked decrees old Pharaoh-like he hath laid heavy yoaks and oppressive bonds upon the Just for who would not be subject to him he hath had power to kill them and none was able to gainsay such hath been the greatness of his power and the strength of his dominion over all that none have been able to make war against him he hath been admired in all the World not any Nation excepted where the government of Antichrist hath not born rule and there have been none left to bear witness against him or to stand up against him for the faithfull Witnessâ—â— have been slain in the Streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sâ—… and Egypt and all them that have dwelt upon the Earth have made merry 〈◊〉 their dead Bodies and rejoyced in their Iniquities over the Slain and been without a Reprover and not tormented nor troubled but have sent gifts one to another because they have slain them who have tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth and the government of the Beast hath been enlarged and the whole World have wandred after him and been in subjection under him for many Generations even fâ—â— forty and two months he that can read let him understand so long hath it beâ—… given him to make war against the Saints and to overcome them and it hath been given him to reign over all people in the Wrath of God and in his anger becâ—â—se of the Rebellion of all the Earth and all people in it but he shall be taken away iâ— Gods displeasure who reigns in his anger over the Nations who have forsakeâ— the Lord and was given up to the Power of the Beast to be subjected in Slavery and Bondage in Pain Sorrow and Misery and through Deceit Craft and Pollicy and Oppression and by the Wisdom of this World and natural Arâ—â— and Knowledge his Government hath long been established and his Dominiâ—… hath been upon Earth Times and Laws and Things and Powers of men have been in his hand to change and subvert and overturn into his own Imaâ—… and to transform
and his Arm shall watch over them to overthrow them all and to make them desolate that the Just may be delivered And all you who suffer any where Imprisonment or Finings or reproaches or any other thing because ye cannot Swear for Conscience sake nor respect Persons according to the vain Customs of the Heathen but are redeemed out of the Customs and Superstitions of men which are of the World and are evil and not of God nor justified by him you suffer for Righteousness sake and for Christs sake and are Witnesses for God herein against the Superstitions and Wickedness and Pride and High-mindedness of men and the Lord is with you if you be ruled in his Wisdom and are faithful to him and he will lift up your heads till his and your Adversaries be confounded And I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord who suffer for Righteousness sake in these things or in any other who are moved of the Lord to bear witness of the Truth and against the deceits of the World be not exalted in the flesh in your sufferings lest you forget God Nor be not cast down into sorrow lest ye be overcome of the Devil but dwell in the measure of the Power and Life of God which is above all and more then all and feel Gods living Arm to stay your hearts to watch to his own in you to refresh you continually And resist the Devil on every hand with the Armour of Light and Truth that your Life may be preserved in Dominion over all things even the Life which is not of this World in you may not be vailed nor overcome for to enjoy the Life of God with you is enough if you pass through the Fire and through the Water it keeps you and carries you above all this I witness and it is more then all outward Freedom or Liberty or Riches or Treasure of this World and walk herein in Boldness and Faithfulness and Patience as you have us for an Example in Christ Jesus who are in Jepardy every hour often in Tryals Sufferings and Dangers and love not our lives unto death for the Testimony of Jesus which we hold and that his Name and Truth may be exalted in the Earth but as the Lord moves are carried through Nations among Lyons and Devourers such as seeks our life for their Prey and yet the Lord is with us our Defence and Arm and Preserver above all Therefore look you at the Lord in all Affliction and Distress and know his Reward with you that your Burden and Yoak may be easie and not hard for his Presence makes all things joyful And know that it is for the Name of the Lord and for his Honour and for his Kingdom which God will set up through suffering for this cause are ye called to suffer and your Life nor liberty nor any other thing is not to be measured nor compared herewith So uâ—to every one of you I am moved to write and to warn you all in the fear of God be content and long-suffering and patient and finish you Testimony with rejoycing if ye seal it with your Blood and dwell with the Lord in his holy Habitation of Peace out of respect to time or places or things and give up your selves that his will in you may be fulfilled And think it not strange though you have fiery trials neither be moved at any Suffering without you or troubled in spirit neither let it break your peace nor fellowship with God by any impatiency or murmurings or temptations for then will your sufferings be grievous to you and the Enemy within and without will have ground against you to overthrow you and know it is that which ever was in all Ages and no new thing for the Seed of God to suffer by the Seed of Evil-doers for the wicked alwayes strengthened their hands in cruelty against the Righteous and laid heavy burthens upon the Just and caused the Innocent to groan under them for a time till iniquity was fulfilled that they might be broken and the Oppressed delivered and alwayes the Lord exalted his Name by the sufferings of his people as we have a Cloud of Witnesses of our Fore-fathers that went before who did bear witness to the Name of the Lord through faithfull suffering so it is no strange thing hath happened unto you but that which is common to all the Saints who enter the Kingdom through tribulation blessed are you if you be faithfull unto the end that you may reap the reward of your works of your sufferings and patience even the Crown of Life that never fades away so the Lord God of Life preserve you And all Frieds every where I am moved to warn you Dwell in love and unity and fellowship one with another in the Light and in the Spirit of the Father and fulfil the Law of Christ and bear one anothers burden and suffer with one another that none be oppressed among you in any thing whilst others are free but that the burden of all things and the care of all things in relation to the Truth be equal among you according to every ones freedom and as every one is moved of the Lord so to administer to one anothers necessities as Members of one Body to the honouring of the Head and spreading of the Truth that there be no complaining but equallity and justness and the Government of Christ ruling among you and his Wisdom in all things Feed no excess nor the lustfull devouring mind in any neither suffer the Distressed to perish for want but reach one to another in love and like mindedness suffering for one another and all caring for the Truth above all things that God may dwell among you and be known that he is in you of a truth And in this the Wisdom of God guide you all Amen By a Companion in Tribulation to all the Saints every where EDWARD BURROUGH THE Testimony of the Lord CONCERNING LONDON Witnessed in Truth and Faithfulness to the Consciences of all People in it that they may return to the Lord and Repent Also the Great Abominations discovered of this People who draws near God with their Mouthes and professeth Self-Separation when as their Hearts be far from the Lord. VVith a VVarning to all sorts of People in it what the Lord requires of them O LONDON thou art weighed in an even Ballance and found tâ—… light thou are measured by an equal Line and found to short and tâ—… narrow and thy People cannot stand in Judgment for abundance of iniquity lodgeth within thee and thou aboundst in all unrighteousness thy sins are grown over thy head and with transgression thou art covered as wiâ—… a Garment from the Head to the Foot thou art corrupted and there is muâ— unsoundness in thee O how doth Pride abound Lightness and Wantonness and the lust of the Eye and all the works of the Flesh are encreased to a large suâ— aboundance of Idolatry and Vanity springs out of
self-separate Congregations and wait upon the Lord that you may know him to be your Teacher who is the Teacher of all his People and he teacheth in the perfect Way of Peace and Truth and giveth Peace unto all that wait upon him and causeth the heart of the Upright to rejoyce he taketh away sin and removes it from his People and he forgiveth all their iniquities and healeth all their backslidings and blessed are all they that put their their trust in him for he is a God near at hand for he dwells with his People and he is worshipped only in the Spirit and in the Truth He dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped in outward Observations his Soul hath no pleasure among any self-separate People who cry I am holyer then another neither is he well pleased with the Sacrifice of the Proud all their Baptisms and Fellowships and Meetings is but a weariness to the Lords Soul and he hath no pleasure in any of their works who follow their own spirit and are not led with the pure Spirit of God alone but unto every one of sâ—ch will he look who is poor in spirit and of a contrite heart and of a single and upright mind he giveth regard unto every one that fears his Name who thirst and hunger after him in Truth and Righteousness and this is of exceeding great price in the Sight of the Lord yea more then all Offerings and Oblations whatsoever even more then thousands of Rams and ten thousand of Rivers of OYLE Therefore hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord and seek him with an upright Heart and thirst for him as for your daily Food loose not your precious time but call upon his Name while he is near for he is come neer unto many he stands at the door if any will open he will come in and will dwell with them for evermore All sorts of People be Awakened be Awakened How doth the Lord wait to be gratious unto you He even tarrieth for you till you return to him 〈◊〉 his Soul may have pleasure in you who hath long been grieved by you Therefore search your own hearts and see how you stand prepared to meet the Lord by following of his Counsel who hath so loved you and all Man-kind that he hath given his Son into the World to be a Light unto you all and every onâ— of you is lighted by him and with the Light you will know your evil deeds and are convinced of them and reproved for them and with this Light Jesâ—… Christ calleth you Sinners to Repentance to turn from your evil that you may be restored If you love this Light you love Christ who will save you from all your 〈◊〉 and from condemnation If you hate this Light you hate Christ and you â—â—main in your sins to be everlastingly condemned And thus is the Way of Life aâ—â— the way of Death set before you all if you follow the Light of Christ Jesus it will teach you to deny this World and all the vanities of it it will teach you to deny your own wills and the counsels of your own hearts and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word or action and in all things it will teach you to follow Jesus Christ that you may be justified by him But if you follow not tâ—… Light then you choose your own wayes to follow your own wills and yoâ— own lusts and all temptations and you deny Christ and the Way of Truth and 〈◊〉 the Wrath of God abides upon you for you continue in unbelief and in hardness of heart and are the Servants of sin unto death if you follow not the Ligâ—â— which Christ hath enlightened you withal who lighteth every man that comes â—â—to the World that they may believe and be saved Therefore take heed to the Light if you be guided by it you shall not transgress against God but you wâ—… receive the Power of God to overcome all evil all sin and iniquity will be condemned in you and your hearts will be made clean for the Lord to dwell in whoâ—â— dwelling is in his People and you must all cease from professing of what you 〈◊〉 not possess and from talking of what you do not enjoy for that is Hypocrisie anâ— to be judged So all ye Professors be Awakened Christ without you will not justifie you exâ—… ye know Christ within you the Profession of him will not take away sin not â—â—stifie in the Sight of God except you come to witness the operation of his Spirit 〈◊〉 you to teach you to depart from all evil and to lead you into all good Therefore come to the feeling of the Spirit of Jesus in you and the workiâ—â— of it which changeth reneweth and sanctifieth and bringeth to witness 〈◊〉 same Truth to be manifested in the heart which the Scriptures speak of without and as you receive the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures so you will uâ—derstand the Scriptures and by no other means For all your preaching anâ— talking of the Scriptures without the Spirit is but vain babling and that moutâ— is to be stopt for God is not known where the Operation of his Spirit is noâ— felt in the heart nor he cannot be worshipped in Truth but where his Spirit leadâ— and guides Much vain Profession there is in thee O City in which the Lord hath no delight and this is the Testimony of the Lord which I give concerning thee and do yet once more call unto thee as often I have done and do seal the Lords Testimony against thee even against all thy righteousness and against all thy sin which are both alike unto God and both to be condemned Thou hast been warned and thy People and the day of a glorious Visitation hath passed over thee the Lord hath reached unto many and stricken many who have not grieved but carelesly walked and slighted the day of their Visitation and have not hearkened to the Lords Call Unto thousands hath the word of the Lord been declared and the Kingdom of God preached nigh at hand and the very Way of Life and Death hath been set before you for the Lord hath sent to thee to warn â—hee and to shew unto thee what the Counsel of the Lord is and thousands have been reached with the Power of God and convinced of the Way of Life â—nd Peace who yet continue in hardness of heart and disobedience following the â—ounsel of their own hearts and the desire of their own minds which are wholly evil â—ontinually and the condemnation of such will be just in the day of the Lord and greater then theirs to whom the Way of the Lord hath not been known And yet â—mongst thy Thousands who are in the way to destruction the Lord hath a Remâ—ant a Few among so many which are precious unto him and whom his soul deâ—ighteth in who are despised in thee and set at nought and cast out of the saâ—our
Prophets of Israel when justly they are tried by their own Rule as they say and so let them bear this judgement which their own professed Rule judgeth with 7. Again the Priests and false Prophets of Israel this is said of them That as Troops of Robbers waits for a man so the company of Priests murders in the way with consent for they commit lewdness Hos. 6. 9. And what less may be spoken of the Teachers of this Age Spiritual men shall judge for if any man doth but cease from their abominable worship their deceitful worship and Idolatry and come to the knowledge of God they even seek to murder in the way and cry out against them for being deluded and deceived and such like so that like as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so it may be said of the Teachers of this Age for they take away the Key of Knowledge and will not enter in themselves to the knowledge of the Truth nor suffer them that would and indeed whatsoever abomination the Teachers and Prophets of Israel were found guilty of the Teachers of this Age do not come short but rather abound let search be made through the Scriptures and see whether there was any evil committed by them I mean the false Prophets of Israel that is not committed by the Teachers of this Age what were they guilty of that these can free themselves from If any man hath a word to say let us hear it and come out with your Arguments ye wise men and let us hear your Plea and they doing the same works which the false Prophets of Israel did must needs â—e concluded to be Followers of the same spirit and that they are no less then they were whose examples they follow which are followers or the false Prophets and â—ot of the Ministers of Christ. 8. Again Christ in his warning to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees who gives he description what they were and what their practises were and he saith they meaning the Pharisees did bind heavy Burdens grievous to be born and they laid them â—n mens Shoulders but themselves would not move them with one of their fingers and their â—â—â—k they do to be seen of men and loves the uppermost rooms at Feasts and the chiefest Seats 〈◊〉 Synagogues and greetings in the Markets and to be called of men Masters Now the â—eachers of this Generation are like unto these they do succeed the Pharisees in â—â—inging forth the same fruits for do not these bind heavy burdens grievous to 〈◊〉 born and laying them on mens shoulders making them suffer grievous â—ings through their cruelty as imprisonment and spoiling their goods these are grievous burdens which they lay upon men but they will not touch them with one of their fingers and their works are done to be seen of men for they think to be heard for their much babling and we know they love the uppermost Rooms at Feasts and hath it often and the chief place in the Synagogue they love that and have it and to be called of men Master which Christ forbids his Ministers to be they love that and they have it And herein do they agree with the Pharisees and in other things if we should duely examine the Scriptures shewing that they are of the same spirit which the Pharisees were of which crucified Christ. 9. Again the Pharisees and Deceivers were Persecutors such as complained to the Magistrates as you may read through all the New Testament and the Book of the Acts and elsewhere How the chief Priests caused the Saints to be persecuted by lying informations and grievous Complaints to the Elders and Rulers they sought to take Christ by subtilty and kill him and they persecuted the Apostles to prison and some to death and others to bonds and cruel sufferings And this was done chiefly by or through 〈◊〉 complaint of the Priests It was Amaziah the Kings Priest that complained to Jeroboam and informed against the poor Prophet Amos and it was Shimshia the Scribe that complained to the King against the building of the City of God and it was the son of the Priâ—â—â— that persecuted Jeremiah And herein also the Teachers of this Generation 〈◊〉 agree and concord with the chief Priests with and in persecuting the innocent shewing that they are of the same spirit for now they complain and inform against the People of God and through their information evil is done against them 〈◊〉 it is they through their lying and false accusations to the Magistrates by whom 〈◊〉 Saints do suffer and in all these things they do fully agree and concur with tâ—â— Deceivers of old 10. Again the false Apostles they were such as went for filthy Lucre and thâ—… covetousness with feigned words made merchandize of souls and denied the Lord 〈◊〉 bought them and brought in damnable Heresies and they walked after the flesh in the 〈◊〉 and uncleanness and despised Government and were presumptuous and self-willed 〈◊〉 sported themselves with their own deceivings and they could not cease from sin but bâ—… unstable souls and an heart they had exercised in covetous practises and they went astrâ—â— â—â—ving the way of Balaam loving the Wages of unrighteousness and they were Wells 〈◊〉 Water and were Clouds that are carried with a Tempest they speak great swelling words of â—…nity and allured through the lust of the flesh through much wantonness those who were esâ—… from them who lived in Error and they promised others liberty and themselves way 〈◊〉 Servants of corruption Now the Teachers of this Age are found guilty of 〈◊〉 in all these things they agree which the false Apostles were guilty of for 〈◊〉 through covetousness with feigned words do make merchandize of the people any will give them more money at the next Town they will sell the People 〈◊〉 they are and go where there is more MONEY and seeing they are out of 〈◊〉 Doctrine of Christ it is no less then denying the Lord that bought them And that they hold damnable Errors this I can pove For one of 〈◊〉 said in my hearing That the Scripture was the Foundation of Foundation And another said That the Scripture was both the Writings and the thing sâ—â—nified And these are as damnable Errors as ever the false Apostles brought 〈◊〉 and these they walk after the lust of the flesh in Pride and fulness thereof 〈◊〉 despise the Government of Christ and are presumptuous self-willed lofty 〈◊〉 spirited men and as the false Apostles did so do these speak evil of things 〈◊〉 know not of things they understand not and no less can be said of these 〈◊〉 that they sport themselves with their own deceivings and they cannot cease frâ—â— sin themselves for it is a principal doctrine among them That none must be 〈◊〉 from sin while they be upon Earth and they deceive unstable souls who thâ—… them to be Ministers of Christ when as they were never sent of Christ and
it 〈◊〉 evident that their hearts are exercised with covetous practises who sue poor Pâ—â—ple at Law some for Twelve Pence which they are more able to give to 〈◊〉 they whom they sue to receive from and they follow the Error of Balâ—… and run after him greedily who went for Gifts and Rewards as do these 〈◊〉 have unrighteous Wages cause people to pay them money for whom they do not work and this is unrighteous Wages these are Wells without Water and Clouds without Rain they make a shew of Godliness and Righteousness when as they are prophane and unrighteous and they speak great swelling words of vanity professing themselves to be Orthodox Divines and such like which are no more but words of vanity without Truth and they seek to allure all people to follow them in their way of Idol Worships and so they are deceived and deceiving and while they promise liberty to others by Christ from sin when they are dead themselves are the Servants of corruption and live in sin to this day and in all things which the false Apostles were guilty of these come not behind but these do shew by their works that they are guided by the same spirit which was in the Deceivers of old and so they agree and concur one with another in unrighteousness Again the false Prophets and Deceivers which were come and coming in the dayes of Iohn they were of the World and the World heard them And they were them which Christ prophesied of should come into the World which should deceive many and such were they which the Apostle saw coming in 2 Tim. 3. and he said after his dayes greivous Wolves should come in which should not spare the Flock such as were departed from the FAITH and spake Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Consciences sâ—â—â—ed with a hot Iron and such were they Covetous Boasters proud Blasphemers Unthankful Unholy without natural Affection Truce-breakers false Accusers Incontinent fierce Despisers of those things which were good Traytors Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasure more then Lovers of God they have the form of Godliness but deny the Power therereof and People by them were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth of this sort the Apostle saw was coming and would come more fully and such are the Teachers of this Age for they are of the World living in Pride and the Wickedness of it and the World hears them such as themselves proud and wicked People for they that fear God and walk in his Wayes are departed from many of them and they shew that they have no Faith but are departed from it for FAITH keeps from evil from the wayes of sin and death which they live in and Lyes in aboundance they speak in hypocrisie and their Consciences are seared that is plain else they could not do as many of them do who cause innoâ—ent People to be put in prison and make havock of their Goods who will not pay them Tythes or maintain them and they are the proudest of men and as Covetous as any and Unthankful and Unholy they shew themselves to be and they are false Accusers and Truce-breakers for they hardly make any Conscience of belying the People of God in the Pulpits or to the Magistrates and they are Heady High-minded and if some of them be not Treacherous judge ye who have turned divers wayes in their judgments according to the times and they have a Form of Godliness but not the Power pray and sing in a form and preach in a form and method and people are ever learning by them sixty Years or more or less and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth but dye in ignorance and blindness without knowledge under them And herein do they agree also with the false Prophet and Antichrist which Iohn saw to be come in and such as the Apostle saw which were then coming in and they shew the very same spirit by the same works and the same fruits which appear from them men of understanding may compare them in all these things They do agree and appear to be of that very Stock and Generation which the Apostle prophesied of for they were grievous Wolves which should not spare the Flock which the Apostle saw and these do not spare the FLOCK but even devour them and no less then grivous Wolves can they be said to be For if a poor Woman hath but ten EGGES in all the World they will have one in many parts of this Nation or but ten Chickens they will have one or but a Fire in their House they will have a Penny for the Smoak and such like wolvish devouring wayes and if these be not grievous Wolves let all the World judge And here is their Treachery made manifest while they say they preach the Gospel in love to souls yet its manifest they preach for love of Money for few or none of them preach where there is no money and People are absolute blind that do not see them for in all things they agree with the Deceivers and false Prophets of old and shew that they be of the very same spirit and thus you see their own Rule condemns them and because they say the Scripture is their Rule therefore I have thought good to lay them to it and measure them by their own Line and all People may see wherein they are quite contrary to the Ministers of Christ and wherein they wholly agreâ— with the Deceivers Let them hide themselves from this blow if they can and let them bring their Arguments against this sentence and let all their Friends appear for them and see if they can reverse this judgment which their own line hath judged them by let them bring in their Plea and defend themselves from this if it be possible for in those things which I have named and many other it is manifest that they fully agree with the Deceivers and disagree with the Ministers of Christ and by their fruits they are perfectly made manifest Again Christ spake in his dayes and the Apostles in their dayes that false Prophets and Deceivers should come into the world and after them and they gave descriptions what such they should be and what fruits they should bring forth as I have before mentioned in that 1 Iohn 2. and it is plain that these Deceivers and false Prophets did come in according as was prophesied for Iohn said By this we know it is the last times for now are they come which was many hundred years ago I say the Deceivers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of to come Matth. 24. came into the World many hundred years ago as you may read 1 Iohn 2. And with this I shall conclude this particular The Teachers of this Age by their â—ruits are proved already to be of that stock and succeeders in the same works by the same spirit of them which Christ said should come and which the Apostle saw was
such as approve of them and hear them and partake of their labour and so the Saints will maintain their Ministers and the World may maintain theirs and every sort of people may maintain such Ministers as labour for them and none to be forced to maintain such as they do 〈◊〉 approve of nor none hindred from maintaining of such as they do approve 〈◊〉 be they true or false Ministers and this is reason and a good Conscience Thâ—â— every man be left free in such cases to maintain whom he will and to give as he will 〈◊〉 what he will and this is reason and equity that no man be compelled to give or hiâ—… from giving to whom he pleaseth and what he pleaseth and so let people make choiâ—â— of their Ministers whom they will approve and whom they will hear and of whoâ—â— labours they will receive and then let them maintain them and if any be compelled let them be compelled to pay their own Servants who minister to them and not aâ—â—thers for whom they do no work and this is just and right both for Ministers aâ—â— people that every Minister be paid by them to whom he doth Minister and who receive him as a Minister and for whom he doth work and this great injustice and oppression in England will cease if this Law of Equity and Righteousness were established and all people left free to hear approve of whom they will and then to pay theâ— and maintain them and this would try the Ministers and who converted the most 〈◊〉 God and gained the love of most people and if they wrought well they may receiâ—â— a Maintenance accordingly by the free gift of the People and the Ministers that are noâ— content with this Law are out of pure Reason and Equity and shew that the dare not trust the Lord nor the fruits of their labours but would be maintained in â—idleness by unlawful means by compelling maintenance from them to whom they do no work and such shew great covetousness who desire more then the Milk of their own Flock and the fruit of their own Vine-yard but in Equity and Justice â—et every Minister be maintained by the fruit of his own labour from the people for whom he doth labour and this will content most part of the People and till this be established in the Earth true Justice and Judgment will be wanting in this particular and this is according to Truth and to a righteous Law and by this all people may understand what Ministers and Ministry we do allow and approve of and how Ministers ought to be maintained and if any go forth to a Place and Country among a people that are not converted then the Church ought to take care to maintain such in their work till they may reap of their own labour and eat of the fruit of their own Vine-yard but all this ought to be without compelling or forcing by the Minister for every Minister of Christ doth chiefly take care of the work unto which he is called and is without care of his outward Maintenance By a Friend unto England's Common-wealth for whose sake this is written and sent abroad EDWARD BURROUGH A Standard lifted up and an Ensign held forth to all NATIONS Shewing unto the whole world and to all people to whom it shall come by open Proclamation what the Testimony of God is and of his people which they hold which they have received from him through the eternal Spirit of which they are not ashamed before men but are called to witness it forth in the Nations in the same Spirit and Power as they have received it from the Lord. Also shewing of his great work which he is about to do in the Earth and this Testimony is true and no lye for it is of God and witnessed by Thousands of his People at this day who are in scorn called Quakers The CONTENTS CHap. 1. A Testimony concerning the true God Chap. 2. A Testimony concerning the Son of God Chap. 3. A Testimony concerning the Spirit of God Chap. 4. A Testimony concerning all mankind Chap. 5. A Testimony concerning the World in general Chap. 6. A Testimony concerning mans Restoration Redemption and Salvation what they are and by whom they are wrought Chap. 7. A Testimony concerning true Religion and the true Worship of the true God Chap. 8. A Testimony concerning Iustification and Sanctification Chap. 9. A Testimony concerning the Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up Chap. 10. A Testimony concerning Governors and Governments and subjection to them Chap. 11. A Testimony concerning the true Ministry of Christ and the false Ministry and the difference betwixt them Chap. 12. A Testimony concerning the Gospel of Christ. Chap. 13. A Testimony concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures Chap. 14. A Testimony concerning the Devil and Damnation Chap. 15. A Testimony concerning all Creatures that God made Chap. 16. A Testimony concerning the new Covenant and how man comes to the Knowledgâ— of God Chap. 17. A Testimony concerning Faith Chap. 18. A Testimony concerning what works are accepted of God and what works are 〈◊〉 accepted brought forth by the Creature Chap. 19. A Testimony concerning mans state in the first Adam before the Conversâ—â—â— and his state after Conversion and what Conversion is Also a Testimony of the Seed of God Also a Testimony that the Way of Life and the Way of Death is set before every man Also a Testimony to all Kings and Princes and Pâ—â—â—â—â— that we are not Enemies against but Friends unto all Civil Government and wholsom 〈◊〉 and Customs of any Commonwealth which is according to God c. Also a Testimony 〈◊〉 Government we declare our selves to be Enemies against Also a Testimony that we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disannul and make void the Covenant or Bond of Relations c. Also a Testimony that 〈◊〉 do maintain and hold the very same Truth as all the Generations of the Iust did in all Ages Also a Testimony of our Government and a Testimony of Quaking and Trembling Also a Declaration of the full purpose of our hearts c. IN the Name and Power of the Eternal God that made Heaven Earth and all things therein who is the Life of all things and the Power by which they stand in his Counsell and Fear I do hereby declare my self unto the whole world and unto all people upon Earth that ye may all know the very cerâ—â—inty of those things which is reported abroad through many Nations and that â—e may be informed truly concerning us from our own mouthes of many things â—hich cometh to you by false reports and lying informations concerning a people â—ppear'd in these late years and raised up going under the name of QUAKERS â—now ye assuredly that we are of God and are raised up by him and called by his Name and his dreadfull presence goes before us and his righteousness is our â—eward We are such as do fear and worship
others which we have not received from man but from God are 〈◊〉 purposed in the Lord to declare abroad and he hath put it into our hearts to 〈◊〉 his Will herein for he hath spoken who can but prophesie and he hath given 〈◊〉 word and many are they that publish it in faithfulness against the kingdom 〈◊〉 the Man of Sin which hath long been exalted in the Earth over the Seed of 〈◊〉 which the Lord is now a gathering and establishing his Covenant with and Ierusalem that hath long lain waste shall be made the praise of the whole Earth 〈◊〉 the Gentiles which hath polluted her shall be cast out and the Saints shall Rejoyâ—â— over all their Enemies And know you assuredly from us who know the Lord that God is doing greâ—â—â— things in the Earth he is begun to work and his arm shall bring it to pass he will overturn and overturn till he come to reign whose right it is who will change times and things even that which cannot be believed though a man declare it unto you is the Lord bringing to pass the Eye shall bless that sees it and the Heart shall praise that can understand and behold the Lord comes quickly and they are blessed that wait for him whose Reward is with him and his glorious Work is before him to be wrought by his own hand without the help of any other who needs not the help of man and he that doth oppose him shall be overthrown confounded and destroyed And again All ye Kings Princes Rulers and People whatsoever know ye assuredly that we are not Enemies against but Friends unto all Civil Government and to all just and righteous Orders and Decrees and wholsome Laws and Customs of any Common-wealth and no way are we destructive to or Destroyers of the Peace and Welfare and wholsome Laws which is according to God of any Nation whatsoever But are Preservers of the Peace of all people and wait in patience for the establishment of Justice and true Judgement and that Righteousness may spring forth and the Government of all Nations may be according to the Law of God Neither are we such who makes void the just Government of any Nation or City Neither are we such who through evil purposes plot or conspire or contrive Evil in our Hearts against any Governours or Government whatsoever but wish Peace and Truth and the Fear of the Lord unto all men and Nations and desire not the overthrow or evil to any people or their Government but are subject to just Government everywhere by obedience to it and subject to evil Government by suffering in patience under it so that righteousness alone we wait to see set up through the World and for that cause suffer patiently under our Enemies not seeking revenge against them nor envying the persons of any but pity our enemies and desire their Repentance rather than their Destruction Yet this we give all to know that the Lord will be avenged on all them who hate the Way of Righteousness and all that oppose the Lord and his Way and despise his Truth which he hath revealed they shall be confounded and broken to pieces and shall confess to the Lord and his Way and his Truth in the day of their Destruction Again let all the Earth know that against all unrighteousness injustice oppression whoredom murder and drunkenness and all sin whatsoever we do declare and acknowledge our selves to be Enemies against all sin and they that commit it and we cannot hide Sin and Iniquity in any but give our testimony against it and against all that live in it whatsoever without Respect to men or places and cannot flatter any man in his Transgressions but say that Lying Swearing Drunkenness Covetousness Jniustice Dissimulation Hypocrisie Murder and Envy Lust of the Flesh Pride and Wantonness and all the works of the Flesh whatsoever are contrary to God and of the Devil and they that lives in them and brings them forth are the Servants of the Devil and must not inherit the Kingdom of God who brings forth those works which grieves the Spirit of God and vexes his righteous Soul and this is that Government onely which is the Government of Sin and Death which we declare our selves Enemies to which is of the Devil and not of God and this is that Government which we testifie against and war against by the Sword of the Spirit of God and by his Power and not by the carnal weapons or subtil conspiracies or violent Insurrections for this way and by this means shall not the Government of Satan be overthrown or the Kingdom of Christ ever exalted Again let all the World know that we are not such as disanul or makes void the Covenant and bond of Relations or teach any so to do or give any example by our practice to any subjects to be rebellious to their Governors or children to be disobedient to their Parents or that servants be undutiful to their Masters But on the contrary do say and affirm it that it is the duty of Subjects to be obedient and subject in the Lord to their Rulers and Governours whether Kings Dukes or others who have rule over them and also that Children should be obedient to their Parents and Servants to be dutiful and subject to their Master in the Lord in all things and that Husbands and Wives live in all unity and peace in the Lord Provided onely where Rulers Parents or Masters or Husbands require of their Subjects Children or Servants or any other whatsoever requiring of their Relations that which is unjust and contrary to God and his righteous Law in such a case we say that Subjects Children Servants and all other whatsoever are free and we say where man requires any thing contrary to God and God requires another thing contrary to man the obedience to God is rather to be chosen and the obedience to all mâ—… is to be denyed and this is our judgement which is acording to truth and iâ— the mind of God concerning subjection and obedience and the duty of Relations one to another And lastly Know ye assuredly that we do not hold and maintain any thing by conversation or doctrine but the very same Truth in word and practice 〈◊〉 all our fore-Fathers did but bears witness of the same Salvation by the same Christ as they did and are not setters forth of strange gods for no other God is worshipped by us than he which Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the rest of the servants of the Lord in every generation worshipped served and obeyed neither are we such as do maintain Heresie Error or Idolatry or the worship of any strange god though hereof we are accused falsely yet against us cannot it be proved truly and this we give the whole world to know that no other end or purpose or design is in our hearts but onely to fulfil the will of God in all things as it is to us made manifest Even
other things which are good and just and pure but the fruits of the seed of the Serpent are of another nature as Lying Theft Murther Dissimulation Drunkenness and Whordoms Hypocrisie and all Unrighteousness which is not according to God but contrary to him and by these several Fruits proceeding through the Creature do we know every Creature and so judge of him to be the Child of God or the Child of the Devil in the election or in the reprobation for through whom the Fruits of the Seed of God doth spring forth we know such are not of the Devil and through whom the Fruits of the seed of the Serpent do spring forth we know such are not of God And these two Seeds are now striving in the Earth the one against the other and they in whom the Seed of God rules are persecuted by them in whom the seed of the Serpent rules for they in whom the Seed of God rules are born of God and of his Spirit and they in whom the seed of the Serpent rules are born of flesh and minds the things of the flesh which shall not endure for ever and so every one that is born of the flesh is of the seed of the Serpent or the seed of the Serpent rules in him and every one that is born of the Seed of God the Seed of God rules in him such are persecuted for righteousness sake by the seed of the Serpent which is at enmity against the Seed of God which cannot fulfill the will of the Serpents seed nor be subject to his laws for the Seed of God cannot be subject to the Serpents seed in any thing but is subject to God and not to any thing that is contrary to him but rather suffers imprisonment and cruelties and bonds under the Serpents seed than in the least to bow to it So this is the ground of all persecution and enmity which is betwixt the two seeds which seeks the overthrow each of other but who are of the Seed of God knows that they are of God and that the whole World lyes in wickedness under the government of the seed of the Serpent and such where he Seed of God is brought forth hath the testimony in themselves that they are of God and have believed in the Son of God who is the Light of the World and knowes him to be the Foundation and the Rock of Ages and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against him nor the enmity of the Serpents seed overcome him nor they that are Builded on him and this is a Testimony for the Seed of God and against the seed of the Serpent in all the World that it is persecuted of the seed of the Serpent and spoken all manner of evil of by the World according to the words of Christ which are fullfilled upon us to our rejoycing who are of the Seed of God and to the trouble of all our Enemies who are of the seed of the Serpent And otherwise it cannot be but that they who are born of the flesh must persecute them who are born of the Spirit for because of the enmity that is placed between the two feeds the one cannot love the other nor have fellowship the one with the other and which of our Fore-Fathers the Prophets and Disciples of Christ which were of the Seed of God were not persecuted hated and reviled and reproached by your fore-fathers who were of the seed of the Serpent and they no more then you could receive the Knowledge of God and his wayes but ever despised the path thereof and counted the Wisdom of God foolishnesse and stood in the enmity against God and his people and all their ways and they that were of the seed of the Serpent ever called truth error and the way thereof heresie and blalphemie Ieremiah Amos and the rest were called deceivers and mad-men and seducers of the people and evil was done unto them Ieremiah was put in the stocks and in the dungeons by the Rulers of that Generation who were of the seed of the Serpent even the Prophets of God who were sent of God and were witnesses of his Name in truth and righteousness were accounted and called deceivers and were persecuted by imprisonments and some unto death as you may read in the Scripture Ieremiah 20. Amos 7. These with others who were sent of the Lord to bear testimony of God and against the Rulers who executed not true Justice and Judgment but were oppressors of the poor who judged for gifts and rewards and against the false Prophets and Priests that ran and had not been sent who used their tongue and said the Lord said and the Lord had not spoken to them who prophesied falsly and preached for hire and bare rule by their means and made a prey upon the people these were of the seed of the Serpent and did persecute them that bore witness against them that were of the Seed of God The Word of the Lord was even a reproach unto Ieremiah daily and they smote him with the tongue and the chief Governour of the Lords house smote him and put him in the Dungeon And Amos who had been no Prophet nor the son of a Prophet but a herdsman he was persecuted by the Priest of Bethel and was commanded not to Prophesie in the Kings Chappel And Amaziah the Priest complained to Ieroboam the King against Amos the Prophet And Ezekiel the Prophet could not be received of the people for saith the Lord they will not hear thee for they will not hear me and they were a rebelious house and impudent and hard-hearted and would not receive the Prophets words And thus it was in the time of the Apostles and Christ Jesus they were persecuted and some of them put to death for bearing testimony unto the Father whom they were witnesses of and against the World what Reproaches Slanders Beatings Buffetings Scornings Tumults Uproars and all manner of evil did they suffer in their Generation by the seed of the Serpent from the hands of the Rulers and Priests and People Christ was accounted a Deceiver â—nd called a Devil and a Blasphemer and the Apostles were called Hereâ—…icks Deceivers and pestilent fellows movers of sedition destroyers of â—he Law and turners of the World upside down and such like All â—hese were of the Seed of God that were persecuted and the Persecuâ—ors were of the seed of the Serpent which brought forth violence and â—ickedness and false judgement against the Innocent and some were â—ost cruely put to death upon the false account of being Deceivers and Blasâ—hemers If you search through the whole Scripture you may read how the Just â—ere persecuted even from Abel who was of the Seed of God and all â—…at ever were persecuted for righteousness sake were persecuted upon the account of being Evil-doers and the Persecutors judged themselves to be Righteous He was the chief Governor of the House of the Lord that persecuted Ieremiah and the people that smote
foolish matters as for not putting off a Hat or for Theeing men and for denying the foolish circumstance of Swearing and we do not read that the worst of Tyrants in the Apostles dayes or before or since ever caused any to suffer for such things as these or ever questioned any upon any such small accounts for hundreds have suffered upon suspition when nothing at all can be charged against them and this is contrary to Magna-Carta And in many other respects which might be named this suffering is greater than hath been in any Age for many have suffered in this Common-wealth which have been faithful and hazarded all in time of war for the good of the Common-wealth and many of them suffer by them who have been Enemies and in Arms against the Common-wealth and herein the suffering appears more intollerable But doth the Magistrate think to come to account for these things Yea the Lord is Just and his Way is Righteous What flesh could but be provoked hereby But the Saints are changed in nature and are to fullfill the Will of the Lord by Suffering the Cruelty of men is become exceeding great against the Lord and his people Again hereby the Persecution in this Age appears more to exceed former Ages because Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion was never so much promised and professed as in this Nation at this day and yet for the exercise of a pure Conscience many are wofull Sufferers even by such who in words profess Liberty of Conscience themselves and yet persecutes the exercise of it in others even for not putting off a Hat or the like to them these with many other things may aggravate the hainousness of the sin of persecution to be great and more unjust than in-former Ages Alas how is the Sword of Iustice turned backward and the Innocent smitten and persecuted and that for Righteousness sake and not for Evil-doing By a Friend to the Suffering Seed of God EDWARD BURROUGH Truth the Strongest of all Witnessed forth in the Spirit of Truth against all Deceit And pleading in Righteousness it s own Cause to the understanding of the Simple against a very great number of Lyes Slanders Perverting of the Scriptures Contradictions and false Damnable Doctrines held forth by the INDEPENDANTS And is a Reply to Bunion's second Book called A Vindication c. Wherein what was wanting in his former of fulfilling wickedness is now appeared by his adding sin unto sin against God and against his own soul. Reader THOU hast here a very great number of Lyes and Slanders and Unjust-dealings and False-doctrines c. Laid open and reproved in plainness and not in hypocrisie and of contention there is not suddenly an end being begun therefore seeing the unbelieving heart of Iohn Bunion cannot believe me when I speak the truth in justness nor may I believe his Lies and Slanders uttered in hypocrisie what is laid down is left to thee soberly to judge of betwixt us while we are both silent And this know the one is a Deceiver and the other is as a Deceiver yet true and thus mayst thou weight things equally First considering of many Lyes and Slanders truly charged upon him in my first of which he is guilty from his first and he hath not at all cleared himself of them in his second which an honest man ought to have done before he had gone further for I soberly desired witness of what he said But be hath added to the number of his wickedness and not proved justly what he hath said against us And it is not for his sake for little thoughts I have of his conversion but thâ—…â—…ther that he will be hardned nor for may own sake as if I were unsatisfied concerniâ—…m that this is written but to undeceive the simple of what his wickedness may falsly suggest into the mind as if all were truth that he spoke if his wickedness were not reproved Again Consider that I have cleared the Truth of my words which he hath wrested and thereby taken occasion against the Truth by answering his own conceptions and not my plain words so my words which are words of Truth being defended all his Reply is made void So I have not so much desired to answer every particular of his words as to vindicate my own words and the Truth from his false Slanders and Accusations O HOW hath Satan filled the hearts of men in this Generation as well as in former Ages with Envy against the Truth and with Wrath against the Way thereof and how hath he filled them with Craft and deceitfull Subtilty to offend the Way of the Lord in all manner of Persecuting and Evil-speaking against it openly and also in secret Gain-saying in Hypocrisie and how are men armed to defend themselves in their naughtiness lying hid under the Vail of fair Speeches and fine Arguments using the Scripture in the words of mans wisdom to oppose the Power and Life of Righteousness even as the Scribes and Pharisees of old how zealous were they in their Observances and in fullfilling the Commands and Traditions of their Fathers having set themselves in Moses Seat professing Moses and the Prophets words and yet persecuted Christ the Life and Substance of Moses and the Prophets And as it was then so is it now how are Christs words and the Apostles professed and preached by such who are Enemies to the Life of Christ made manifest in mortall flesh and secretly opposing the doctrine of the Apostles who said Know ye not that Christ is within you except you be Reprobates But the mighty Day of the Lord is come and coming wherein all hearts are made manifest and the secrets thereof discovered and the light is springing out of darkness and the Sun is breaking thorow the Clouds to give light to all men and Nations and the great Whore which hath decked her self in divers colours to deceive shall be made naked and bare and the day of great striving is come and now every man stands up for his Interest to defend his Possession for the just Judge standeth at the Door to enquire by what Law every man holds his Inheritance and he findeth many holding their Religion and Profession by the Traditions of men only and not by the Revelation of Christ Jesus in them and such he will dispossess though they strive against him yet all is in vain and though they plead Antiquity yet that will not prevail and in that the day of great striving is come betwixt the Lamb and his Followers the Draggon and his Followers every one of that Party appearing with such weapons as the Devil hath armed them withal and with such Armour as the wicked hath they come appearing under divers colours to fight against Zioâ— yet under one Head and Prince of Darkness and unto one Purpose evâ—… that the Seed of Iacob may be rooted out and that the Way of Truth may 〈◊〉 prosper that then the Wicked may go on in
thou impudently dost in thy comparing the principles of the Ranters with the Quakers And to save thy brother from shame and guilt thou art fallen thy self into the Snare and justly may be judged to exceed him in Wickedness and thou sayst with shame to thy self I repeat it that the Quakers will not own Christ without them but thou brings not testimony of this Assertion till then art thou reckoned and shall be plauged for a Lyer which will be forever for we own him as he is ascended far above all Heavens who fills all things yea and without us too So that instead of proving the first false Accusation thou adds another Slander and the second thing wherein thou comparest them is unsound for though we witness yea thousands that we need no man to teach us as the Saints did 1 Iohn yet we cry not down the Ministry of God but owns it and cryes down such by whom people cannot come to the Knowledge of the Truth though they be ever learning who Preach for Hire and goes for Gifts and Rewards loves the Wages of Unrightousness this was the Apostles Doctrine as it was ours and is no Heresie though thou mayst so judge it for we say by the same Spirit as the Apostles did they that are of God heareth us who are in the Truth which is but one and there is not another and the Apostles which witnessed Saints needed no man to teach them did exhort them and yet did not condemn principles by practice Then thou goest on and sayst The Ranters are not for Baptism and Breaking if Bread and are not the Quakers the same But what doth this prove and thou sayst the Ranters are they that would profess themselves without sin and how far short of 〈◊〉 Opinion are the Quakers and the Ranters would not own the Resurrection c. And how say you Do you believe the very Bodies shall rise c. Reply Friend this is far short of proving these things upon us by querying them to us let the Reader consider But it may be impudency hath not so wholy eaten out honesty in thee as that thou darest charge us wholy with these things but would intrude into us be thy Questions as though the thing were so indeed but thou mayst by ashamed of thy work Is this sufficient proof of evil against us to ask us whether it be so what hast thou proved in all this against us if we were guilty thinkest thou we will accuse our selves this is absurdity and wickedness in thee falsly to charge us and to bring no better evidence but thy bare words and as we deny the Ranters so do we thee and sees you both to be Enemies to the Life of God But thy last and chieâ—… proof as thou thinkest that we are one is that the Ranters are Sinners and the Quakers are Lyers the first I wilâ— not vindicate but this last is disputable and thy proof of it is first thoâ—… sayst from what thou hast said already to some pages of my first Book to which I 〈◊〉 Replyed and leaves it to the Reader only doth say thou hast not yet proved one Lye against me in the sight of God nor men thou art the Lyer if thou say thâ—… hast and honest men shall be judge betwixt us And thy second proof is moâ—… to the discovering thy ignorance then yet hath been And to clear thy self from my charge against thee viz to be a wrester of the Scripture which yet I stand to thou art fain into grievous error my first charge is true upon thee 〈◊〉 thou perverted or wrested that Scripture Rev. 13. 18. in saying the Lamb was 〈◊〉 before the Foundation of the World for that Scripture saith since or from 〈◊〉 Foundation of the World hast thou no more sence art thou and all thy compaâ—… so ignorant that you know not betwixt before and since a time how are you blinded and yet persists in your wickedness and will not be reproved therefore this is a double iniquity in thee to thy shame remember it for I have said true though thou understand it not there is as much difference betwixt before and since in that thing as betwixt a Lye and Truth for to say the blood was shed before the Foundation of the World as thou didst is a very Lye but to say iâ— was shed since or from is truth and that Scripture is truth Rev. 13. And thou art the Lyar and Wrester of it and I have not wronged thee in my first though thou impudently and ignorantly wouldst clear thy self and lay iniquity upon me But further to clear thy self thou sayst thou said in Gods account it was shed before the World was and this is little less then Blasphemy what is God a Hypocrite like thy self to account that for Truth which is a Lye as I have proved O horrid error and perfect blindness but this will not cover thee nor thy shame from the eye of men where is thy Proof for such a Doctrine that God accounts that which is a Lye for Truth largely is manifest thy folly Repent if thy heart be not void of shame for what thou hast spoken heâ—… in and let the Reader understand this difference thou sayst the Blood of Christ was shed before the Foundation of the World according to that Scripture Rev. 13. I say thou perverts the Scripture and lyest grosly in the main thing it self and saith it is* since or from the Foundation of the World let the honest judge and now it is seen the Lye rests upon thy own Head who wrests the Scripture and belyes the Lord and me and goes on in thy wickedness after reproof and take thou the Ranters they are thy Companinons in lying and sinning and not ours And further thou art offended that I should say and would fain reckon it for a Lye that all thy work is a secret smiteing and an obscure shooting against the manifestation of Christ within which words I own to be truth concerning thee and am not ashamed of them though thou say I say falsly and when the Book of thy Conscience is opened thou shalt confess it only I leave this to be considered seriously and judged by them who are spiritual and they shall be my Witnesses and the Lye is of thee and thy Father whose wickedness is sufficiently seen by what is said if I should say no more Again thou sayst it is an untruth of thee to say thou art one of those that do preach for Hire through Covetousness making merchandize of Souls my words are not so laid down thou hast wrested them for thy purpose though it availes nothing but I said thou art in their steps that through covetousness with fained words makes merchandize of Souls and thou art found among them that preaches for Hire and I have spoken the truth herein let the Light in all Consciences judge who are not feared in many things I might instance that
of Christ without and with as good or better understanding though both a like far from the Kingdom of God yet in thy Answer thou askest me if I put 〈◊〉 difference betwixt the speaking of and beleeving in Christ without Yea I do a great deal for he that believes in him hath the Witness in himself of him and his heart is purifyed and he is a new Creature which thou art not but thou I suppose wouldst be reckoned a Believer nay for I think the Pope hath both more words and more good works and makes as much Conscience of lying and false accusing as thou for ought as may be understood of a tree by the fruits which is our way to judge as Christ hath given us example then is that I said thou hast answered thy self a question deceitful thou art offended and boasts thy self against me Charging me to be an Enemy to the truth and the liâ—â— in that I did not manifest thy deceit but now I shall therefore to stop thy proâ—… boasts in that answer thou calls it a sad doctrine which saith follow the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall and other such like things following that question which are deceitful and wicked and thou thereby art proved the Enemy to truth thy self and thou and thy words are both deceitful and therefore boast not thy self Then thou answers my Question which was doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ are Reprobates the Question is sound and of worth to be noted and in thy answer thou sayst yet it is true to which I soberly Reply then what a condition are all in that hath 〈◊〉 Christ within nor no knowledge of him but what they have of him as he is without by the letter without do thou consider this and whether it be not of the chiefest prize to Life and Salvation to wait for him and seek for him within seeing all that have not him within are Reprobates But farther thou wouldst seem to manifest a great deal of folly in me when as the folly lies in thy own bosome and by thy confused words I understand thâ—… groundst thy Answer upon alye and false understanding and therefrom bringâ—… the false reproof as if I should hold forth that every man hath received Chriâ—… or the Spirit of Christ in him This I have never said but that every man hath the Light of Christ giâ—… him which I say is one in union with the Spirit of Christ and I say Christ 〈◊〉 given to all but all receives him not and I see thou understands not my forâ—… words that I write in answer to one of thy Queries thou canst not distingâ—… betwixt a thing being given of God and a thing being received by man so 〈◊〉 the folly is fallen back on thee take it who understands not my words 〈◊〉 opposes thy own conceivings and false understanding and though I might 〈◊〉 truly apply this word folly in that extent then thou applyed the like word 〈◊〉 thy self in this same page yet I leave it to the judgement of the serious Reader and say thy folly is want of wit in the World and not for Châ—… sake Then thou wouldst defend thy first wickedness in that thou saidst the Devil deceives Souls by perswading them to follow the Light within which all men have but my answer to it thou hast not reached in that I said 〈◊〉 that comes to Life eternal must follow the Light within which Christ haâ—… given which stands over thy head for ever to be truth but yet how bliâ—… art thou in confessing the Light within even Conscience to be the Light 〈◊〉 Christ as God and yet sayst the Devil deceives souls by bidding follow the Light within O abominable doctrine what doth the Devil deceive souls by bidding foâ—… the Light of Christ as God so Iohn Bunion's doctrine is let it be noted 〈◊〉 see thou thy folly how it is manifest and thy pittiful evasions are weighed 〈◊〉 stead of contradicting my former sufficient answer which thou could no 〈◊〉 reach to wrest or otherwise to answer it askes a question which I may ansâ— assoon as thou hast sufficiently replyed to my former answer and this is in 〈◊〉 an answer to it it is heresie to say that the Light of God or any Light of 〈◊〉 or Christ can or doth deceive the Soul and though thou stumble at it I said 〈◊〉 in saying that thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within 〈◊〉 the Reader judge And now to manifest thy ignorance fully thou hast confessed the Light witâ—… even Conscience is the Light of God hast not thou cause to repent of 〈◊〉 absurdities and blindness who holds forth that the Devil deceives Souls by the Light of God seeing thou canst find no Light within man but that which thou confessest is the Light of God Then thou sayes Thy whole design was first to shew Souls where Salvation is to be bad namely in Christ without and yet hath confessed all that hath him not within are Reprobates and such have not salvation by him without Consider therefore without Christ within no Salvation as I have said and thou hast confessed it Mark it then to clear thy self from contradiction which I charged thee with thou wouldst cast a confusion upon me in that thou says I would make a defiled Conscience the Law and Spirit of Christ to be all one This is falsly spoken I have never said nor thought that a defiled Conscience is the Law and Spirit of Christ a Lyer thou art to be noted and this Lye adds to the number and yet consider thou hast said several time that Consciences is the Light of Christ as God and now calls Conscience defiled Is the Light of God defiled Iohn Bunnion saith so O horrid read thou thy confusion and grievous Error which is brought to thy Door and there I leave it thou mayst Blush and all thy Witnesses at this and in that thou callst my Answer Scoulding against thy Epistle and persumptuously sayst The truth of which thou couldst be willing to seal with thy Blood Reply Scoulding I deny but I have reproved thy Lyes in the Authority of the Lord and be not so proudly pust up in boasting what sayst thou shall thy Blood go for this that the Quakers are Deceivers and that the Devil deceives Souls by bidding them follow the Light within which thou sayst is Conscience which thou confesses is the Light of God and that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and that the Scripture say so and that we deny that Salvation was compleatly wrought by the man Christ Jesus with several other things noted for Lyes what sayst thou Iohn Bunnion art thou so desparte as that thou wilt hazard thy Blood upon this account if it be so sure the Devil hath great power over thee cease thy boasting lest the Lord make thee an Example and though thou wouldst exhort me thy spirit I deny
and so thy words I judge and cannot receive good from an evil Spirit Then thou comes on falling on thy own foul ignorance again and wouldst fain clear thy self but by thy stirring thy own wickedness herein thou makes it cast an odious sight to all that pass by we may follow thee a little seeing thou art not yet weary and fain wouldst thou make it appear that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and sayst it was in Gods account but to this I have spoken and largely shewed thy blindness to all men and adds this upon thy head thou art a Lyar and Perverter of Scripture to say That the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was And further thou art a Lyer to say That God accounts a thing for Truth which is a Lye a sad error and wicked And further thou art a Lyar to say that I corrupt thy woods for I had not laid open thy nakedness so fully if thou hadst not persisted in thy blindness as now I am forced to do but enough of this and more then ever thou canst clear thy self of honestly and yet to cover thy own shame charges me falsly with folly to speak evil of things I know not or else with madness c. Reply Friend be not so confident I know the difference betwixt before and since or from and know that God accounts not a Lye for Truth as thou holds out thy own folly and madness behold who commits iniquity in lying on the Scripture and on God and on me and yet persists after a sober reproof and resists the Reprover with opprobrious words let confusion of face cover thy impudent forehead while I forgive thee and seeks not vengeance against thee then through thy mistake of my words thou hast falsly gathered a subject to oppose and fights with thy own understanding mightily and thinkst thou confoundst me and its thy self for however thou understands my words either for want of wit or otherwise it never entred into my thoughts with charging thee to believe that Christ is a tipe only I charge thee that thou saidst so of others So that I think this is a mistake in thee for want of knowledge to understand my rehersal of thy words being transcribed as the shortest not to fill volumes and through thy own misunderstanding of my laying down the words thou heavily yet vainly charges me with corrupting thy words which God is my witness I have not done though thou be guilty herein But further I deal plainly and slanders not in secret as thou dost we do not look on Christ to be but a shadow and tipe if thou affirm I shall answer further and as to that thou sayst I say Jesus is the substance to that answer I stand though thou sayst Thou doubts I do not spâ—… plainly c. Reply As I have said I seek not a proof of my faith of thee nor any man not do I beg thy belief while I am approved in the sight of God herein I matter not what a lying spirit doubts of me so that what vain Arguments or Queries thou raises from thy own false doubt I pass by being by the present thing branching out in things on the by if I should examine every particular I might fill a vollume And whereas thou hast answered my question which is did Christ put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth he justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law be finished In thy Answer thou sayst Christ did put an end to the Law for Righteousness for all that the Father hath given him This is little to the Question I say that Transgressors of the Law are not Christs but Children of Disobedience and Children of Wrath and such God hath not given to Christ who are his Enemies nor Christ to them is not given but to condemn them is that estate and thou sayst there are many given to Christ who yet lives is their sins the Apostle Iohn saith he that sins is of the Devil and hath 〈◊〉 known God and such as are of the Devil are not Christs and in that I saâ—… doth Christ justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law 〈◊〉 finished and not one tittle of the Law shall fail till all be fulfilled thou hast 〈◊〉 reached the understanding of my words for while disobedience stands and the Transgressor lives the work of the Law is not finished nor fulfilled but to that is Condemnation and not Justification if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear for he that transgresseth the Law is an Enemy to Christ and Christ fulfills not the Law for his Enemies they must bear their own burthen and though this thou cannot understand now yet in the day of Judgement shalt thou feel it and when the burthen of thy own Inquity is upon thee then shalt thou confess to what I have said and read me in what now thou canst not understand and in the mean time I deny that Christ hath put an end to the Law for thee who art a Lyar and breaks one and so is guilty of all Many of thy words might be weighed and searched but I am no picâ—… of quarrels but to my last Query thou sayst little to the purpose which is what assurance have any that the Law is fulfilled for them who 〈◊〉 yet Transgressors of it in themselves but sayst Assurance comes thâ—… believing and obedience to the Law is a fruit of believing c. Saying 〈◊〉 one that hath the hope of the Son of God purifies himself as he Christ 〈◊〉 pure Reply Then he that hath not the fruit viz. obedience to the Law 〈◊〉 may judge by the fruit or for want of fruit is no Believer and he that is 〈◊〉 purifyed as he is pure Christ hath not the hope of being the Son of God but is without hope now see where thou art who yet breaks the Law and 〈◊〉 without thy own noted fruit of believing neither is purifyed as he is pure and so is without hope this is according to thy own affirmation if thâ—… canst not bear it blame thy self for laying down such a position as hath proâ—… thy self to beâ—an Unbeliever and without hope and so without God in the World one that is for condemnation and to be judged in the state where now thou standst And whereas thou sayst I would lay assurance on obedience to the Law thou lyest in this also my words are the Law must be fulfilled in you by Christ in Judgement and in Righteousness if ever you receive Salvation and these words are true against all thy opposition neither do I affirm that by the deeds of the Law any flesh living shall be justified but the contrary though thou wouldst falsly yet secretly cast it upon me and wickedly callst this my forthy argument where I said the Law convinceth and is a School-master to bring to Christ c. But the
prove the Light of Christ which thou confesseth every man hath to 〈◊〉 contrary to the Spirit of Christ I shall say every man hath that which is one 〈◊〉 union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure these are my words Page 18. and I own them and thy answer to them is no contradiction nor just confutation of them but lyest 〈◊〉 saying I call Conscience and Nature it self the Spirit of Christ this is falsâ—… never spoken by me so that thou hast uttered a pack of railing words withâ—… any knowledge or fear of God instead of a sober Answer the blasphemy aâ—… great deal of ignorance and presumption appears not in my words they aâ—… truth and thou hast not proved that the Light of Christ is contrary to the Spirit of Christ Nay thy simple policy is too short when thou hadst done so then had been a time to have cast these opprobrious speeches at me like venome from a Viper but the weakness or strength of error and blasphemy and the great deal of ignorance and presumption c. is fallen at thy door and there I leaâ—… it clear thy self from it as thou art able who without any confutation of thâ—… words falls impudently to charge me thus highly and falsly from the words 〈◊〉 thou silent while the Reader judges Then thou goes about to defend thy first wickedness in that thou said the Devil doth deceive poor Souls by bidding them listen wiâ—… and turn the minde within and see if there be not that which doth convinceâ—… sin c. And my Answer to this is sound and stands over thee and unreproved by thâ—… though many words thou speakest yet from the Scripture doth not prove or 〈◊〉 honest Arguments that the Devil doth deceive any by bidding them to turâ—… the Light within which convinceth of sin if thou wouldst have cleared thy 〈◊〉 thou shouldst have proved thy assertion according to my desire I asked thâ—… was ever such a thing spoken that the Devil can deceive any by the Light 〈◊〉 Christ but to this not a word in proof but saith Every man hath not the Spirit 〈◊〉 Christ c. But further then I Query Doth the Devil deceive any by bidding theâ—… 〈◊〉 turn in and listen to that Light spoken of Iohn 1. 9. for that Light am I contending for and not any other contrary to it then thou sayst thou denyst beyond thy reach either to understand or contradict thou wants that Spirit which can examine of truth be it known unto thee and what are those unseemly expressions wilt thou slander always in secret without evidence and if these be they in that I said our innocency will appear when thy black vaile of Lyes is taken away and this is truth and is no way but seemly to be spoken to thee who art an Enemy of God then thou wouldst justifie thy former slander who said we wrest that Scripture Iohn 1. 9. And my answer is we take it without adding or diminishing which is true and no Lye nor wresting of it neither in thy Reply can I find that thou provest it though many words uttered little to the purpose with adding to thy former slanders in saying We would hold that that Light is the Spirit of Christ this is not spoken in all my Book but that it is one in union I say and not contrary to the Spirit of Christ but witnesseth of it and to it And thou further saith We say many things which thou knowest to be Blasphemy This is another Lye prove one Blasphemy And further thou sayst Christ as he is Mediator doth not enlighten every one that comes into the World c. Reply Well thy ignorance and wickedness vents it self forth apace let any man read that first Chapter of Iohn and see whether he doth not speak of Christ as Mediator he saith He was in the beginning with the Father and was made flesh and dwelt with the Disciples and his Life was the Light of men and the Light shined in Darkness and that was he which lighteth every man that comes into the World and he came to his own but they received him not but as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God c. What sayst thou Was not this spoken of Christ as Mediator Consider and be instructed rather then let thy Blood go for it however I leave thy Doctrine and Errors herein to be judged by them that are spiritual and for shame cease such Doctrine the more I rake among the filth the more vilely and odious it appears and for thy proof of this Doctrine thou bringst Mat. 11. 25. and sayst here the Father and the Son are speaking one to another but what doth this prove though it be so doth it any way follow that Iohn did not speak of Christ as Mediator Iohn 1. what vain productions thou bringst from thy impertinent proofs let them be weighed and taken notice of honestly and thou bidst me understand thus much That nature which is Conscience is the Light of God I understand thy blindness if this be so as thou sayst then mans nature is pure without sin as the Light of God is and this is error abominable contrary to the Scripture which saith All by nature are the Children of Wrath are all by the Light of God as thou sayst nature is Children of Wrath see thy Divinity and take it as it is truly interpreted I desire not to wrong thy words thou givest me to understand the greatest ignorance from those things that lately I have heard no not the like in England and it is very true as I said thy folly appears by thy much medling Then thou askst me What I will have the Light called wherewith every man in the World is lightned and because I do not call it the Spirit of Christ thou as it were murmurs because I have cut of thy occasion and thou canst not bend thy tongue with any seeming advantage against the Truth but in that I say the Light of Christ convinceth of sin which is true thou on a sudden produces thy bad consequences and askes if I call nature the Light of Christ and such like c. But they all do not prove the contrary so that which convinceth of sin is worth minding and taking notice of by all that ever are saved and as to that where I say that which may be known of God was manifest in them even in them that were given up to work unrighteousness c. I said the truth which thou are not able to contradict in equity though thou very ignorantly bendst thy answer as if I had said the Knowledge of God was made manifest in them when I say plainly in my Book that they 〈◊〉 turned from the Knowledge of God and yet that which might be kâ—… of him was manifest in them and this thou canst not deny And though 〈◊〉 words as layed down
are not in the Scripture words in terms yet I have 〈◊〉 said falsly herein and do not thou be a reprover of that which thou cannnot 〈◊〉 self deny then thou sayst How feeble an argument is this to prove that every one 〈◊〉 Spirit c. Reply Thou blind man did I go about to prove any such thing or 〈◊〉 any Argument thereupon we are about the Light which Christ hath giâ—… or lighted every man in the World withal which Light convinceth of 〈◊〉 and is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ unto this was I speaking 〈◊〉 this I stand by and thou conceives another thing from my words and 〈◊〉 against thy own consequences like a man too irrational to understand coâ—… English c. Then thou sayst Thou passed by other lame Arguments which I tumble evâ—… 〈◊〉 blind man in a thicket of bushes O be ashamed for ever thus to evade and shuffle with such scornful 〈◊〉 I said that which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God Iohn 1◠〈◊〉 that which makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reproved is made 〈◊〉 fest by the Light Ephes. 5. how darest thou call these lame Arguments tumbâ—… over what impudence is in thy heart so to say when thou art put to 〈◊〉 fusion then such excuses thou bringst Well some may see thy folly 〈◊〉 to my Question which was whether that Light which every man is liâ—… withal is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation to every one 〈◊〉 believes if thou say not wherein is the blame in God in his Liâ—… 〈◊〉 in the Creature thou sayst No it is not sufficient I take it for an 〈◊〉 and leaves it to be weighed by the sober Reader and though there be veâ—… honour and of dishonour made of the same lump as thou sayst yet I 〈◊〉 Query is not every mans blood that perisheth of his own head 〈◊〉 not the Lord clear from the blood of all men even though they go to dâ—… ction and if the Reader try thy Book over he may judge whose Arguments 〈◊〉 lame Then whereas thou sayst Christ as God hath lighted every man that comâ—◠〈◊〉 the World To which I said then why dost thou say we wrest that Scriâ—… Iohn 1. 9. seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then what thou callest wâ—…elling in us and this is truth let all men consider else that when thoâ— câ—…nfesses Christ as God hath lighted every man in the World it is no less then wâ—… we say and that Scripture sayes which is That Christ is the true Light 〈◊〉 that is he which lighteth every man that comes into the World and mayâ—◠〈◊〉 thou be ashamed to call this so scornfully a glavering Answer not being 〈◊〉 clear thy self from my just charge in that herein I charged thee with coâ—… to oppose us in that which thy self confesseth to be true consider well oâ—… and let not thy blood go for the truth of all what thou sayst for I deâ—… not Further thou cries out Is this all the wit I have and wonderful igâ—… 〈◊〉 Because I said it is not good to neglect following the Light but that 〈◊〉 one minde the Light of Christ Jesus in them in answer to thy words 〈◊〉 having said the Light which convinceth of sin is the Light of Christ as 〈◊〉 which the neglect of will be sure to damn as thou sayst and now let wiseâ—… judge of my answer but thou falls heavily on it proving that obedâ—… to the Law will not justifie and the like which I do not at all affirm 〈◊〉 to that I say the Law having its opperation upon the disobedient the 〈◊〉 comes to be seen which is he that is the end of the Law and the Law mâ—… him be obeyed or fulfilled in thee if ever thou be saved from being damned 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 â—…ul bid listen â—ithin telling me of making sheâ—â—â—r for my errâ—â— c. Tâ—…â—o 〈◊〉 say that Paul bids listen within let the Reader judge from that Scâ—…ture 〈◊〉 10. 6. The righteousness of faith sâ—…ks on thâ—…s â—…se â—â—rs 〈◊〉 which is the 〈◊〉 of the Gospel and vers 9. what saith it the Word iâ— nigh tâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mâ—… and in thy Heart was not that the end of these words to lisâ—… 〈◊〉 the Word is in the Heart what saith it there now the error iâ— thine 〈◊〉 â—…e truth and the Lye is returned to the Founder who denyes thâ—t Pâ—…lâ—…en â—…en within when its plain he saith The Wâ—â—d 〈◊〉 i◠〈◊〉 Hâ—…t what 〈◊〉 it â—…ere O that a man professing knowledge and enterprzing such things should â—…e so 〈◊〉 and so unable to finish what he hath â—…in then thou cryest oâ—t â—…sly and notes it in the margent for wresting of thy words in that I â—…d â—…ou sayst They are ignorant of the Gospel who closâ—… in with thesâ—â—…s of th◠〈◊〉 â—…in or Conscience which doth command to abstain from the â—â—ll and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and thy own words are How the poor souls through ignorance of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these motions of its own Conscience viz. the motions which convinceth of sin â—…in which doth commâ—… abstain from this evil and practice thâ—â— gâ—dd so â—et wâ—â—e men consider whether I have wronged that intent of thy words and â—e not so soon angry â—or thou canst not vindicate that they that closes â—n with these motions of the â—â—science or the Light of Christ within which oâ—…ceth of sin within which doth command to abstain from-this evil and â—o practice thi◠〈◊〉 is igâ—…nce of the Gospel and do not evade it by words without knâ—…dge in picking of quarrels and seeking offences by different tearms of worâ—…â—…e â—o occasion justly is given thee Then my Question thou see â—…est to aâ—swer which was what and how doth the Light of the Gospel work of not in the â—…ce and to command from evil and to practice goodâ— this 〈◊〉 â—…nds over thy head not confuted nor fully answered for the true 〈◊〉 â—…ang of it thou hast not comprehended but to thy own conception thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ed as if I should say that every man hath the Light of the Gospel â—…g â—n thâ—m to Salvation which I never said nor thought so thy answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tâ—…e purpose Then thou hast passed by full sligâ—… as disable to clear thy Godâ— and his Spirâ—â— that guides thee which is the Godd of this World of that great 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 justly charged upon thee Page 19. of my last which a â—…ing to â—…e collection is by turning the mind within to the Light which doth 〈◊〉 of sin and listning thereunto and clasping in with the motions of 〈◊〉 Conscience which doth command to abstain from evil aâ—d to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and closing with somthing within which thou confessess 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—…f 〈◊〉 these things preceding then thou sayst Hereby 〈◊〉 thâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ried headlong and at the end of its life doth fall into the â—…lly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sum of wickedness set forth by thee which when
confuted thine c. Do not boast but hear what I say thou sayst in that answer that Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father in your Nature Mark now thy Nature and your Nature who are one with thee is sinfull and wicked and of the Devil for so all Lyars are and it is Blasphemy to say sinfull wicked divillish Nature such as Iohn Bunions is and his Fellows is at the right hand of God in Heaven O horrible consider of this and see what thy begging an answer hath brought upon thee I deny though thou affirm it that thy and your Nature which is wicked or a man in that Nature is ascended into Heaven and therefore boast not thy self another time This nakedness of thine might have been covered but for thy own boasting and thou sayst Asts 1. proves it let the Reader search If he can find that Christ ascended in sinful wicked Nature such as theirs is who are one with Iohn Bunion and this is another Lye of the Scripture and though thou with much impudent confidence affirm the Quakers to be Deluders c. I say from that we rather love dispraise then praise and are as our fore-Fathers were counted Deceivers and yet are true and thou art deceived in thy own heart in that thou understandst my words that I should say as though there were no false Prophets now because I said they were in the Apostles dayes which is true and yet are they now too even it s witnessed by thee and thy Fellows who are in their steps who through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls and your people are ever learning and not able to come to the knowledge of the truth and goes for gifts and rewards and are false Accusers and such like Nay but understand me better for I say thou art a false Prophet and thou art now though thy root sprang forth in the time of the Apostles of which thou are a Beanch and thy Fellows And though I said that Antichrist was in the dayes of Iohn and this was before a Quakers was heard of my words I own pâ—…rs that that the Christians were called Quakers at that day if thou canst 〈◊〉 I allow not thee to be my Interperter except I found thee more honest 〈◊〉 doth condemn thy meaning upon my words and though thou sayst instead of moving our selves no false Prophets we prove our selves no Christians because I said that word Quaker was not heard of in those dayes Now consider are they no Christians now whose title or name without was not gives or heard of in the Apostles dayes then Protestants are no Christians nor Independants are no Christians nor Anabaptists are no Christians because they were not called so in the Apostles dayes and whilest thou hast thought to prove us no Christians hast cast out thy self also then thou art no better then we and what poor Arguments and vain consequence these are 〈◊〉 the wise consider I did not say there were no Quakers then but not a Quakers heard of viz. by that name for there were thousands of Quakers who trembled and quaked at the Word of the Lord Moses and David Iereâ—… Isaack Paul with many more Quakers and Tremblers though not then 〈◊〉 called but as I said such as thou hast such thou bringst and thy Master will accept thee Then thou sayst I fling durt in thy face because I said if we should diligently search thee we should find thee in their steps through feigned words through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls loving the wages of unrighteousness And further I said among them thou art found who art preaching 〈◊〉 hire and loves the error of Balaam who went after Gifts and Rewards oâ— Now thou seemest to be grieved and calls this a false Accusation But le ts try the cause admits dispute Art not thou in their steps and among them that do 〈◊〉 things ask Iohn Burion with whom thou art joyned close to vindicate 〈◊〉 and call him Brother hath he not so much yearly 150. l. or more except tâ—… hast some of it which is unrighteous Wages and Hire and Gifts and Rewards What sayst thou Art thou not in his steps and among and with him and then that do these things if he be thy Brother and thou so own him what is 〈◊〉 in him whom thou vindicates I lay upon thee but tell me who have 〈◊〉 thee deny him and the rest of the Independants in these things which 〈◊〉 knowst he doth act and in thy answer I cannot find thee fully clearing thy 〈◊〉 by denyal but sayst That spirit that lead me out of this Way is a lying spirit 〈◊〉 or what Way I say out of the way of preaching for Hire dost thou mean â—y it s a lying spirit in thee that goes in their steps and among them that goes in 〈◊〉 way and though thou bid me have a care of receiving by hear say what I bâ—… said and received in this is truth though thou evade it never so much As to that of some bidding thee throw away the Scriptures c Indeed upon such terms it might be spoken so as to be owned a Lyar and a Slandereâ— is an unfit Fellow to meddle with the Scriptures or to take the Name of the Lord or of the man Christ Jesus in his mouth and I may say truly what hast 〈◊〉 unrighteous person to do to take his Name and truth in thy mouth hateâ—… to be reformed And in that I say of thy crying against Christ within this is true who said there was nothing in thee nor any man without exception to be taken not in of as we may prove by witness though thou deny it then was not Chrâ—… within and what less is this then to cry against him when as thou deayd him within or else concludes he is not worth taking notice of And thoâ—… thou say I falsely speak of thee in saying thou callst the Doctrine of Christ waâ— in false opinions and take in hand to discover it but the falseness is in the who hath uttered that which is untruth and contrary to the Gospel and 〈◊〉 denyes it or would hide thy wickedness for thou having framed an objectiâ—… and speaks of some that are for a Christ within c. and then thou sayst the wilt discover the falsity of such opinions Now thou dost here reckon the Doctrine of Christ within a false opinion or among them at lest let the Reaâ—… judge and be thou silent for shame but all thou sayst clears thee not froâ— what I said of thee God shall judge thee thou lying tongue and deceâ—… heart Then thou chargest me with folly and to eat my first words and to be 〈◊〉 ble in judgement and to fight against the Truth c. From my question aâ—…e doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates aâ—… not this thus much all are Reprobates but they in whom Christ is within a yet because I said the measure or manifestation of the
the Assembly and stood praying in the Synagogues and loved the uppermost rooms at Feasts and that were called of men Master and such like and the Apostle said such were Deceivers to take gifts and rewards and lucre and that loved unrighteous wages and that were Back-biters and false Accusers and Covetous and having a form of Godliness but denying the Power who ever taught and the people were not able to come to the knowledge of the truth with many other such like Now this is my appeal to all mens Consciences in the sight of God whether thou art not found under some of these Charracters at least or whether thou art not one in union and fellowship with such who act these things yea thou are among them and not crying against them and so art guilty of their sin though not as fully in the act as are some may be so that I doubt not but they who have not hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes will see how thou hast condemned thy self in confessing the truth and the time is coming that further it will be made manifest concerning thee only at present thou art sufficiently discovered to be out of the truth in the way of perdition and however though thou hast covered thy self as much as is possible from the stroke of thy own hand and from the guilt of thy own confession yet Ioh. Burton thou hast condemned an hundred I think of Independant Ministers so called thy brethren who are known to be found guilty of those things all or most of them which thou confessest are marks of a false Prophet and while thou bidst us examine our selves thou art the man or among them that are proved truly guilty He saith He is not come to one of the dayes of the thousand years of Satans being chained and this is truly confessed and so he is in the Reign and Government of the Devil and Satan is not bound but at liberty in him as it well appears and Christs reign is not known and so it must needs be true that he is of the Army of the Dragon against the Lamb. Some of the same Members with him said in Bedford That they scorned that Light which convinceth of sin which the Quakers speak of Further most falsly I am charged by him with railing against the Lord Jesus which is absolute false my words are spoken in fear and reverence of the Lord Jesus Reader these things I leave to thee to be judged of his false Slander and his Damnable Doctrines and wicked lying Accusations and Contradictions which his nine sheets of paper is filled with as if he had set himself to lye and slanders and speak wickedly against the truth which is over him and is a testimony against him and though opposed by him yet not confounded but him it confounds and by it he shall be judged and condemned and the time comes when further he may be made manifest if this be not sufficient out of the abundance of his heart hath his wicked Tongue uttered these things which are but a little of what lodges in him but let him prove these things first and then utter more AND now Iohn Bunion thou and thy false Witnesses and all thy Company and brethren in iniquity Remember and repent for the day of your visitation is upon you blessed were you if you could receive it before it be spent not to be recalled and before the long suffering of God come to an end and you be shut up in utter darkness And indeed friends the day hastens wherein every man shall receive according to his deeds he that hath done evil shal not be cloaked and he that hath done good shall not be uncovered in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open and searched with the eternal Eye the end of my work is to clear the Truth and the Way thereof God is witness from thy slanderous and lying and perverting Tongue and only I reprove thee by the Spirit of the Lord and so leaves thee to receive thy reward from the Just God of righteous Judgement who upon thy head wilâ— render vengeance in flames of Fire in his dreadfull day which upon thee comes suddenly even when thou and you cries peace peace then shall destruction come as an armed man from which thou shalt not fly to escape though now you all be hardened against the Lord and his Way and Truth and hath even bent thy Tongue for Lyes and hath reproached the Innocent to the piâ—â—cing of thy own soul and one day shalt thou know it therefore bow and tremble before the Lord God thou and all thy Companions a Lyar and Slanderer thou art a Perverter and Wrester of the right Way of God and of the Scriptures a Hypocrite and Dissembler a holder forth of damnable Doctrines an envious man and false Accuser condemning another falsly in what thy self is fully guilty of these things I lay to thy charge justly in the presence of the Lord God and upon thy account are they reckoned by him and proved by testimony in the sight of man and may be more fully hereafter if any thing be wanting and one day shalt thou feel the burthen of them though now thou be above shame and all thy Lyes Slanders Deceits Confusions Hypocrisies Contradictions and damnable Doctrines of Devils with impudency held forth by thee shall be consumed in the Pit of Vengeance and then shall the Witness in thy Conscience justifie the Lord in condemning thee and me to be true in reproving thee and this I say to thee and you all the Living God you know not nor his Son Jesus Christ but are Enemies to God and * persecuters of the Lord of Life and shall perish among the Uncircumcised Ye false Witnesses and wicked Helpers you may be ashamed of your testimony subscribed at the beginning of his lying scribble will you yet say through Grace those things are true the rather stop your mouthes in the dust who hath offended the Lord more then defended him or your selves and be ashamed in the presence of God and man much more may be said hereafter to lay you further open if you yet harden your hearts in your wickedness but I do rather reprove you then strive with you and rather desires your return to God then your Condemnation by him and with this I shall end and by what is said in short is sufficient to manifest you and Iohn Bunion to all honest people what Generation you are of and that you are guided by a lying and unclean spirit and that you are doing the Devils works in gain-saying the Way of Truth and Righteousness by your multitude of Lyes and Slanders and damnable Doctrines and what ever you account or falsly judge of me yet am I true though as a Deceiver and the Lords Servants and a Witness for him and against all your Lyes and Slanders and Wickedness hatched amongst you and brought forth by a lying Orator whom you have
is contained in the Old and New Testament of the Scriptures which Oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who they are in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversity of Judgements and many Assemblies and Gatherings of people who are divers in their Wayes in their Practices and in their Form of Religion in these Nations which do all profess the Scriptures and that their Form of Religion is according to the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one Spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one Truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of Life and Salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under Heaven given for Salvation And they that believe in him and receive him those are they onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by the Spirit and changed thereby from Death to Life and such have unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this World but Heirs of the Kingdom of God and these may own and claim a Title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and Practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of People and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his Oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to Trial Dare you joyn issue with me in this matter to try your Profession and Practise oâ— Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my Heart to lay you all to the Line of true Judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your Priviledge if your Profession and Practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors Oath but if your Profession and Practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your Practice of Religion And with this Argument I shall try you all Whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not aecording to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is Truth and therefore all people come to tryal and receive your judgement by this rule And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his Spirit to be changed into his Image and the Body of Sin and Death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the Spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the Day of the Lord and in Equity and Righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the Oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession and practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that it is a sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this Practice and Doctrine is not according to the Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and own your Title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become Members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that preach this for Doctrine and practise it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the Purity thereof as it is contain'd in the Scriptures this I do affirm Therefore stand you by for what you practise and profess there is neither Command nor President in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a Necessity is put upon you to make use of your Knowledge if you would be protected in this Common-Wealth in your Practice of Religion Likewise you sing and give to sing David's Psalms in Rhyme and Meeter professing it is to the Glory and Honour of God ye practise this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this Practice and Profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any President for this Practice in the Scriptures in Gospel Times therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot justly own to be pro tected and maintained because the Protector 's Oath reacheth not to uphold and maintain any such Practices in Religion which are not according to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that meet together to exercise your Religion and to worship God in Temples made with hands set a part by you for that Practice professing them to be Churches of Christ this is not according but contrary to the Scriptures which say God dwells not in Temples made with hands neither did the Saints of old constantly practice any such thing But they were the Persecutors that met in Temples made with hands who cast out and haled the Apostles out of such Temples so that in this Practice you cannot justly own to be protected as not being a Practice in Religion according to Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Ministers preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching so much a Year and so much a Sermon at a Town or a Parish in a settled Place and who take Tythes and compel People to pay Tythes by a Law such are not the Ministers of Christ and ye that uphold such for Ministers of Christ are false in Judgment and blind in Understanding and are not of that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures in the Purity thereof neither Ministers nor People for the Ministers of Christ never acted any such thing they were the false Prophets and false Apostles that preached for Hire and for Gifts and Rewards neither did
the Saints and Churches of Christ look upon them that acted those things to be Ministers of Christ but on the contrary declared against them to be Deceivers So that all you People and you professed Ministers that act those things that the false Prophets acted and all you People that love to have it so and give Hire to your Ministers for Preaching and consent unto it none of you are of the Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because this part of your Practice in Religion is not according but contrary to Scriptures Now substracting all these in these Nations from the whole which practiseth and professeth these things mentioned for Ordinances of God and for his Worship none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because these things which you Practice for Religion is not held forth in all the Scriptures by any example or command likewise you are of the greatest number of people in all these Nations and that Practice and Profession of Religion which the greatest number follow and exercise themselves in cannot be the true Christian Religion because the Scripture saith Few are in the straight way that leads to Life to wit in the pure and true Religion but many are in the Broad way that leads to destruction and such that are the greatest number who are in the broad way are not in the Religion in the purity thereof as it is held forth in the Scriptures likewise many of you who Practice those things mentioned for Religion are yet unconverted to God but live in wickedness in the Pride and Vanities and in all the evil of this World in Double-dealing in Drunkenness in Whoredom and in the Works of Darkness therefore you are not of the true Christian Religion neither do your walk with God in Purity and Holiness neither are you changed by Christ into his Image nor are guided by his Spirit neither do you live to God in any thing but to this World in all things and your Religion is manifest not to be according to the Scriptures but contrary And so let all people consider whether or no you must be maintained in your Religion Come forth and plead your cause all ye that are called Presbyterians and Independants and all others stand up and prove if you can your Practice in Religion to be according to Scriptures but seeing no man is able to prove these things mentioned which is practiced by you for Religion to wit Sprinkling of Infants and singing David's experiences in Rhime and Meeter and Worshipping God in set-places as Idol-Temples and preaching for and giving great sums of Money for preaching with other things practiced by you for Religion neither were these things ever commanded in Scriptures neither is there any example for the practise of these things in Scripture by any of the Lords people and therefore you cannot justly own a Title in the Protectors Oath to be maintained and upheld by vertue thereof in these your practises of Religion for it appears he is but bound onely to uphold and maintain that Religion which is according to Scriptures and not them who practiceth those things for Religion which are not according but contrary to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that are called gathered Churches who holds sorth for Doctrine that the Scriptures are the Word by which the World was made and that the Scriptures are the Foundation and that the Scriptures are the Way to Salvation and that the Letter and the Spirit are unseparable and that the Scriptures are both the Writings and the thing fignified and that except a man be Baptized with Water he cannot be saved with such like Doctrines which have been held forth by some professing themselves to be of the Church of Christ all you are manifest not to be of the Christian Religion because those Doctrines are not according but rather contrary to the Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Practice in the Exercise of Religion is but by Imitation from the Scriptures and you are not led by the Spirit of of the Father in what you speak and practice you are not of the true Christian Religion which the Scripture speaks of for the Sons of God and who are of the true Religion are led by the Spirit of God and not by their own Thoughts and Imaginations and the Traditions of men And all that are not led by the Spirit of the Father are not of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and not any that are such can justly own to be protected in their Religion because it is not according to the Scriptures Likewise All ye that do profess the things of God and Christ and that you are Members of the Church of Christ and profess Righteousness and Truth in words and yet live in Pride and the Vanities of this World and in Unrighteousness and the Customs of the Heathen which are vain and are not cleansed from Unrighteousness nor freed from the Body of sin and death neither do answer your Profession with a Conversation shewing that you are not guided with that Spirit whose words you do profess All you are Hypocrites and live in Hypocrisie none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures For the Exercise in true Religion sheweth forth in Life what is prosessed in words Come try your selves and prove your selves all sorts of people for now your Religion is to be try'd what Name soever you go under And all you that practice and profess those things for Religion for which there is neither Command nor President in Scripture your Religion is concluded not to be according to Scriptures and so no Title or Priviledge can any of you justly own of being upheld or maintain'd by the Protector 's Oath But as I have said For sprinkling of Infants and singing of David ' s Experiences in Rhyme and Meeter c. there is neither Command nor President in Scriptures and therefore you that practice those things which I have mention'd for Religion are not of the true Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures which is to be protected Likewise all ye that persecute by Reproaches or Revilings and Cruelty or that cause the People of God to be persecuted many of you there are in these Nations which profess Religion yet are Envious Persons and Persecutors of the Innocent Hereby it is manifest that you are not of that Religion which is according to Scriptures for the Saints never persecuted any but were themselves persecuted for Righteousness sake so you are not to be protected in such Exercise because it is not according but contrary to the Scriptures for you have no Example from the Saints for professing and practizing Religion and yet persecuting such as are of the true Religion whose Consciences are truly exercised towards God and towards all men Now seeing that it is discovered in part who it is that
not to bow to any Likeness Exod. 20. And we read Iames 2. the Apostle exhorts not to have the Faith of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus with respect of Persons but condemns that practice of respeâ—â—ing such as are in goodly Apparel and gay Cloathing and have gold Rings above a poor man in vile Raiment and he saith plainly They that have respect to Persons commits sin and we read that the Pharisees said of Christ he respected no mans person and he is our Example And we read that the three Children were cast into the fiery Furnace with indignation before the King being bound before him and cast into the Furnace Daniel 3. And we read that Paul and all the Servants of God did Thou Kings and Princes and Rules and they spoke plainly to all men and durst not give flattering Title to any as you may read in Iob 33. so that all people may see their Practice in denying to respect Persons and in speaking plainly without flattering Titles to any man or denying to pull off the Hat or bowing to men iâ— gay Clothing or giving place to such that wear gold Rings and have goodly Apparel before such as have vile Raiment is justly according to the Scriptures though people stumble at such Practices and the People of God may claim to be maintained in this Practice of their Religion seeing it is proved to be commanded in Scriptures not to respect the Person of any man and also it was the Saints practice and therefore herein they ought not to be condemned but justified as being a practice in Religion agreeing with the Scriptures And as concerning their denying Obedience to Magistrates in some Cases this is according to Scripture also for we read that the Rulers commanded the Apostles and straitly charged them to speak no more iâ— the Name of Iesus yet the Apostles did not obey Magistrates herein neither did they cease to Preach in the Name of Jesus and though Christ was commanded or besought to depart out of their Coasts yâ—â— he did not obey their request and we read that the three Children werâ— commanded to worship the great Image yet they did not obey this Command of the King so that all people may see it is lawfull for the Saints to disobey Commands of Kings and Rulers where they command that to be done or spoken which God doth not but the contrary And I say again Where Kings or Rulers Parents or Masters doth command or require any thing of them that are under them which is not according to God in such causes Subjects or People and Children and Servants are free and not required of the Lord to subject to any thing which is not justly according to him but yet we say That Subjects and People and Children and Servants ought to subject to them that have rule over them in all things which is according to God in Truth and Righteousness and by the Law of God all People are bound to obey those that have Rule over them not to disobey them in any thing which may stand with the Exercise of a good Conscience to God so that though the People of the Lord now do deny to depart out of a Town or Place and though they will not cease to declare against sin and wickedness in Teachers and People though a Magistrate command it this is but according to the Scripture for the Apostles went on boldly declaring the Name of the Lord after they were forbidden And thus the Servants of the Lord do now they freely declare the Way of Salvation and call People to repent and reprove Iniquity in all sorts of people though wicked men command them to the contrary and falsely charges them that they are disobedient to Government and Authority though they are not no more then the Servants of God and Apostles of Christ who in the same causes did the same things and the Lord hath commanded to crâ—â—â—â—ud and not to spare but to tell people of their Transgressions and therefore many of the Lords Servants do deny to be silent or to cease from declaring against sin though a Magistrate command it And Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and therefore many do deny to swear upon any account in any place though the Magistrates do command it for the Servants of the Lord do deny to put off a Hat or to Bow in respect of any mans person though a Magisttate command it for the Scripture doth say He that respects Persons commits sin so that all people may see that what the Servant of the Lord doth in these things are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for all these things were commanded and practised by the Saints in former Ages and they said It was better to obey God then man and we ought to do it in all things and that according to the Scriptures too So that in all these practises in Religion the Scriptures justifies them and are as Witnesses to them and they might claim protection in the exercise of them by the Protectors Oath but if they be not maintained but persecuted for the practice of these things then will the Light in every mans Conscience witness the Oath is broken and not kept for it extends to uphold and maintain the practice of Religion which is according to the Scriptures as these are proved to be And as concerning their Doctrines which the World stumbles at yet their Doctrines are according to the Scripture though they say Christ is the Light of the World and lighteth every man or hath given light to every man that cometh into the World this is according to the Scripture as you may read Iohn 8. 12. and 1. 9. and though they turn people from Darkness to the Light of Christ within them and exhort people to hearken to that within them and not to seek a Christ without them to ascend or descend to fetch him these Doctrines are perfectly according to the Scripture for you may read Acts 26. 18. Pâ—… saith He was sent to turn People from Darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to the Power of God and Rom. 10. you may read the Apostle saith What saith it The Word is nigh thee in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach and they were not to say Who shall ascend or descâ—… to fetch Christ. And though they tell people They must witness Christ in them 〈◊〉 else they cannot be saved This also is according to the Scriptures as you may read 2 Cor. 13. the Apostle saith Iesus Christ is in you except ye 〈◊〉 Reprobates And though they say Christ is the Word of God and do deny the Scriptures to be the Word by which the World was made This Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for we read Rev. 19. 13. That the Name of Iesus is called the Word of God And Luke 1. of the Scriptures it is saâ—â— They are a Declaration by those which were Eye-witnesses and Ministers of
perfectly agreeable to the Scriptures as all people hereby may understand which Religion the Protector hath sworn to maintain and uphold Then who shall presume to persecute the People whose Practice in Religion is prov'd to be the very same which his Oath extends to maintain Surely no man will be so impudent or shew such Rebellion to Government as to endeavour to break down and destroy that People whose Religion is prov'd to be justly that which he is by Oath bound to maintain Some heretofore before this Oath was taken might plâ—… Ignorance and say They knew not the mind of the Protector but now his mind is fully discover'd and he doth not only allow but also hath solemnly sworn To maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures And it is prov'd what People it is whose Religiâ—â— is so And I say again That same People mention'd do practice nothing neither hold forth any thing for Doctrine but it is either commanded or there is President for it in Scripture or agreeable thereto and therefore that same People is of the true Christian Religion which the Protector hath bound himself to maintain by Oath in the Face of the whole Nations so that none of the Magistrates now can plead Ignorance For as he is sworn to uphold the People of God in their Religion so are they bound to be true to him and the Government and to fulfil the good Laws and his Oaths and Enterprizes so that I say again It may be hoped for the time to come for Protection and to be maintain'd and no longer to be persecuted and destroy'd in their Persons and Estates as formerly they have been if men regard their own Oaths or there be any Truth or Sincerity in the Heart of man And I say by this very Oath mention'd might the People of God own and claim Protection and Defence in their Way and Practice of Religion which is so plainly prov'd to be according to the Scriptures though none of them desir'd such an Oath for their Protection or sought after it yet it being voluntarily instituted and taken why may not they own the extent of it which reacheth to them more then to any besides as is clearly described And not for their own sakes altogether do they own the benefit of it but that he who hath taken it may be clear in the sight of the Lord in performing of his Oath for his Felicity and the Encrease and Continuance of good Government they desire as much as their own Protection And they would not have any man so wicked or the cause of perpetual Infamy to be given to this Nation so much as that any thing should be destroyed or broken down which is sworn to be upheld and maintain'd in the Nation lest the Heathen Rulers rise up in Condemnation against the Doers thereof These with many other Arguments which might be produc'd press many to endeavour the fulfilling of the said Oath for his own sake who hath taken it And that first of all By that Oath the People of God may own Protection in this Common-wealth because their Religion is according to the Scriptures c. Secondly That some People might also own Protection in this Common-wealth in that the most of them if not all have been true and faithful Subjects of this Common-wealth and hazarded Lives and Estates for the Establishing of such a Government wherein the People of God might have full Liberty for the Exercise of their pure Consciences Again They may own Protection in this Common-wealth 〈◊〉 being at this day a Harmless and Innocent People not being offensive to any man's Person or Estate or in any other thing except to sin and wickedness and the Workers thereof And I say again That they do not desire any thing but the Wellfare and the Encrease and the Establishment of this present Government wherein it is according to God And this is written for the Information of all sorts of People that they may know unto what sort of people the Protector 's Oath extends to uphold and maintain and concerning all those whose practice in Religion and Doctrines are not according to Scripture but contrary to it as is manifest and so not to be maintained and upholden in their Profession and Practice of Religion by the Protectors Oath yet it is not desired that such should be destroyed or overthrown or bound or imprisoned or any cruelty done to them though their practice be not according to Scripture but it s desired that such may live in peace in the Common-wealth enjoying their Religion to themselves without any molestation from any outward Law or outward Power for many would not that any should be compelled to or from any Exercise in Religion by an outward Law but let them defend themselves in their Religion from those who may be moved of the Lord to reprove them or declare against them or convince them so that many would have Religion to defend it self and that the Magistrates with their Laws may preserve the Peace in the Common-wealth and men's Persons and Estates and not their Opinions and Judgements And we would they may not limit or stint tender Consciences for many may be of a tender Conscience in those things wherein their Consciences are not truly inform'd and such should not be condemned to Death but to be won by sound Doctrine and instructed by those who are called of God And so this is written that the whole Nation may understand the Mind of the Lord's Servants in all these things And let no man blame me for I have but with an equal Hand brought all sorts of people to the Line of true Judgment that they may know who is to be maintain'd and who is not in their Religion and Practices thereof But if after all this the People of God be persecuted and Violence be done unto them and Injustice and Unrighteousness acted upon them in this Common-Wealth as of late Years hath been and yet it be suffer'd to be and none take any Notice to preserve and defend them whose Religion is according to Scripture which he is sworn to maintain then I leave it to the Light in all men's Consciences to judge what a condition such are in whose Oath is not kept but broken for these things are of no less value then either breaking or keeping a man's own Oath which solemnly hath been taken And this is not a light thing but to be seriously consider'd of both by Magistrates Teachers and People in this Common-wealth Yet notwithstanding all this the People of God do not boast in or trust unto the Arm of Flesh neither are any whit the more confident in their Way though it be proved That they ought in Iustice to be upholden and maintained in what they profess and practice as aforesaid for their Hope and Confidence is only in God who only is sufficient to protect and uphold his People in all their Wayes and Exercises and though
doubt and cannot receive these things and believe that these particulars are damnable Doctrine and Error as they are laid down in themselves and if what is spoken already be not sufficient I may upon any just Opportunity prove unto you and unto all men in the sight of my Enemies That these particulars held forth by Richard Mayo and alledged by me before you are damnable Doctrine and Error And if I could be convinced to the contrary by him or any man in sober Arguments according to the Scriptures and if he shall be able to prove that these things are true and found and saving Doctrines then may I confess That I have wronged him which never can be done Therefore can I never confess without lying against my Conscience that I have wronged him but God justifies me and just Men and my own Conscience excuses me from all wrong in this matter and here or hereafter shall you and he know it also that I am without Offence to him in this Cause And if I suffer be it upon you that are my Judges and the Guilt of my Sufferings will be upon you one day For for the Truth 's sake am I not afraid nor ashamed to suffer whatsoever you lay upon me And whereas it is chiefly pleaded by my Adversary and his Council That he is damnified and much endangered by the speaking of my words And because I said He held forth damnable Doctrine Therefore say they he is in danger to lose his Place and so He and his Wife and Family cannot tell how to live c. These things they plead and upon this account beg Judgment against me because he is or may be in danger to be damnified To this I reply and Friends I would have you to consider He hath not yet proved to you the Dammage of the value of Two Pence nor is he in any outward Estate worse by loss of any thing outwardly by any thing that I have spoken and it is unjust to condemn me in an 100 l. upon supposed Danger and Dammage which may come while as he hath sustained none at present And further I say unto you I have had no Intentions of Evil against him nor Purpose in my heart to endanger or damnifie him in any outward thing God is my Witness but that nakedly and simply I spoke the Truth of him And if speaking the Truth to him doth endanger him and damnifie him according as they plead then is he a bad man and an evil person and not well worthy of your taking part with him if you be just Men as yet I kâ—…w nothing to the contrary nor worthy of giving your Judgment against me for him If the speaking Truth to him can so endanger him then consider you what a man he is for speaking of the Truth can never hurt an honest Man nor damnifie a good Man for honest Men rejoyce in the Truth and the speaking of it is an Honour to them But the speaking the truth may indeed damnifie a bad Person as to discover his Wickedness and to prevent him of more Wickedness which he may intend but speaking the truth cannot damnifie a good Man And if it be so that Richard Mayo because of his badness be damnified by my speaking the Truth to him must I therefore be condemned for speaking Truth or ought you to do it Let that of God in you answer Will you justifie his false doctrines and condemn me for reproving him Did ever any good Men or just Iudges of old condemn any man for speaking the Truth Or will you shame your selves in the sight of Wise-men by acting contrary to a good Conscience Which if you do condemn me for speaking the truth I do and must tell you while I live That your Iudgment is Unjust and you act contrary to a good Conscience and are Unrighteous Iudges and that you commit the great Abomination in justifying the Wicked and condemning the Righteous And is it not a Shame to him that professeth himself to be a Minister of Christ to plead The Loss of his Livelihood and of his Calling and the Poverty of his Wife and Family c. because of my speaking the Truth to him Never any of Christ's Ministers pleaded any such thing Were not they reproached and much spoken against And they were called Deceivers and Seditious Men and such like And did they proceed on this manner as he hath done against me Nay They forgave their Enemies And if I had spoken falsly of him as I have not he ought not to have done thus if he had been a Minister of Christ as he professeth And doth his Livelihood and his Place and his Maintenance of himself and his Family depend upon my forbearing to speak the Truth For he pleads That he is damnified and endangered in all these by what I have spoken And I still testifie and all good Men know that I have given no Offence saving then speaking the Truth And rather then he shall be damnified by my speaking the truth of him will you unjustly damnifie me for speaking the truth Is this the Way of JUSTICE to condemn the Truth that I have spoken to save the Guilty from supposed Danger Consider of this and save your selves from Unjust Iudgment lest the Lord justly judge you and condemn you This I shew in short and much more I might as to the Unjustness of the Action prosecuted against me and now I come to shew something of the unjust Proceedings in this matter against me in the time of my Tryals and other times and some part thereof I here lay before you that you and all may see I have had as unjust Proceedings against me in the matter as an unjust Action at first brought upon me At my first appearance in my first Answer I demurred to the jurisdiction of your Court and shewed That your Court and Judicatory being Temporal you could not in that Court take Cognizance of this Cause being of a Spiritual Dependancy and ought only to be try'd in spiritual Jurisdiction by spiritual Judges if there were any such and shewed out of the Laws of England reasonably that your Court had no power to try this matter But one of the Bailiffs Iohn Forth said which should have been my equal Judge They would over-rule that and they would try the matter without shewing any just Reason out of the Laws against my Argument grounded upon the Laws and they did over-rule me in that And the Court-day before the Tryal when the Jury-men were to be chosen and nominated I told them That the Jury-men should be such as had the Gift of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost in them or else they could not try the Matter because it was Doctrine that was to be try'd which none could try but by the Spirit of God neither could I cast my self into the Determination of any in this Cause but such And the Bailiffs Obadiah Wicks and Iohn Forth answered If they were men that
could take the Evidence that I spoke my words against Richard Mayo they were sufficient to try the Matter Whereby it doth appear that they had unjustly determined in themselves not to try the Doctrines but to have a Verdict against me however Again Some that were called to be of the Jury were heard to say before they saw me or ever heard the Matter If I came into their hands they knew well enough what to do with me Hereby it doth appear they were not equal men but malicious and prejudiced against me And moreover In the very time of the Tryal some of the Jury at the Bar said They would not believe any thing or take any Witness for Testimony which any of these on my part that were called Quakers spoke And this was also the Witness of their malicious and envious spirits against me who were rather as a Party against me then my Equals And were not these unjust men for the Tryal of such a Matter And moreover When all his Witnesses could not say enough to give colour for a Verdict against me one of the Bailiffs Iohn Forth by name who was one of the Judges upon the Bench proffered to come down off the Bench and swear as a Witness against me and when some spake against that he sent for a man into the Court out of the Town Iames Levite by name and whispered with him upon the Bench and told him what he should swear and he went to the Bar and took his Oath against me That I followed Richard Mayo with Reviling Language in three several Rooms in Bailiff Gunstone ' s House Which I do testifie was a false Oath before the Lord and all men and many know that I speak the Truth and that that man took a false Oath who was sent for into the Court and told by one of the Judges what he should swear I suppose Bayliff Gunston himself knows that this was a false Witness and are not these unjust Proceedings I appeal to your Consciences and upon such proceedings as these was a Verdict gained against me by much ado in above three hours time and the Foreman of the Jury himself said he would not have brought a Verdict against me but onely for the man's Oath Iames Levite which as I have said swore falsly being sent for and told by another man what he should say Again when the Fore-man of the Iury said they could not try the Cause and desired it might be referred the said Bayliff Forth on the Bench cryed no and told Richard Mayo he should have a Verdict first and ought my Judge thus to have spoken No he appeared to be rather a Party against me then my equal Judge and to all sober men these Proceedings may appear to be unjust And I hope some of you will make more conscience of your doings then to pass Judgment upon such an Unrighteous Verdict And moreover the Iury did not try the Cause which onely ought to have been tryed which was whether I had spoken truely or falsly of Richard Mayo that is to say they ought to have tryed and that was the thing in controversie between us whether these particulars alledged by me against Richard Mayo were true and sound Doctrine or damnable Doctrine and Errors for if the Particulars mentioned be true and sound Doctrine which were affirmed by Richard Mayo then I have wronged him and I must confess it and assent to your Judgment but if the Particulars be false Doctrine and Error then I have done him no wrong for I have spoken nothing but the truth and for that how can you condemn me And this was the Cause to be tryed which the Jury themselves confessed they did not try and therefore the Matter is not yet tryed in truth neither have I had a legal Tryal before you and then how can you give Judgment against me being the Action it self is so unequal and the Proceedings so unjust also and the Matter yet not fully tryed Do but consider of these things in the coolness of your spirits and let not me receive worse dealing from you because I am a Stranger neither because I am a Quaker so called but deal justly and truely for I desire nothing else of you but true Judgment for that will justifie me and clear me and respect not Persons but have respect to the Law of God which commandeth you to hear and judge the Cause of the Poor and the Strangers without respect of Persons and if you give regard to the Law of God in this Matter you cannot give Judgment upon this Verdict which is unjustly brought in by partial men as is manifest and you must either wholly arrest Iudgment or at least you must bring it to a new Tryal else you do me much wrong and injustice and all good men will so judge of it And further divers sufficient reasons hath been shewed by men of knowledge in the Law first against this Action and also against the Proceedings herein which might be reasons to you not to go on in Judgment against me but to clear me and even in your own way as I may say you have been dealt with and you have been shewed my Innocency so that if your Hearts be not hardened you cannot go any further against me but go contrary to the truth of my cause and contrary to your own Law also and though it was the dear love and respect of Friends to the Truth in freeness of their love to me more then any desire of mine or my knowledge I do own their love and justifie it yet much that hath been spoken in forms and tricks of Law and puntillio's of Law I do wave and let it pass and keep always to the naked truth of the Matter as before laid down And therefore if any Jury shall upon their Oaths justifie Mayo's Doctrines to be true and sound Doctrine and if you your selves upon your Oathes dare give Iudgment that Richard Mayo's Doctrine is not damnable Doctrine and Errors then I must lie patiently under your Judgment and under the breach of such Jury-mens Oaths and of your own Oaths also and therefore I demand of you according to right and justice let me be cleared otherwise let me first have a fair Tryal before I be condemned which yet I have not had because the Matter was perverted from that whether I had spoken the truth upon which the true Issue dependeth and upon no other thing Whether I spoke malitiously was a straining of the Cause to a wrong head and perverting it from its proper Issue and hereby was the just Cause of the Innocent clouded over and rejected and vilified and even betrayed into another meaning more then it ought to have been but it can shew its face above all this and Truth cannot be daunted though it may be vailed and lie hid for a season and though I be condemned by the Prejudiced and unfaithful Jury for speaking malitiously yet the Lord bears me witness to
but one the same to day yesterday and forever who is the Foundation of God and abides forever was preached unto you all to be the Way the Truth the Life and Salvation and there is none besides him why then are there Divisions amongst you and some for one and some for another And herein are you carnal and your minds abroad and not'staid upon him which gives the increase and all this is to be judged with the Life of God Wherefore I beseech you in the Fear of the Lord as you love him and his Glory yea as you love your own souls Come to the Light which lets you see all this and condemns it and strive not one with another nor exalt not your selves one above another but let all that be condemned and all your evil Surmisings and foolish Jealousies separate Worshippings Backbitings be brought to Judgment and let condemnation pass upon it all never more to appear to hinder your Fellowship with the Lord and know the Life of God in you all which is but one which is not at strife nor divided and let that arise that all Vails may be taken off and Hardness of heart judged and the Countenance of the Lord may shine upon you when that exalted spirit which has appear'd in some is brought down of which I charge you all to beware lest there be a total departing from the Lord and his Name be reproached through you among the Heathen and it had been better for such they had never been born Therefore I say unto you all lay it to heart till the Judgments of the Lord take it away and purifie your hearts from all these things which ariseth out of that which is not of the Father that my joy may be renewed who have been in travel for you tell Christ be formed in you that he alone may rule in you over all those things which are at enmity against the Life and hinders your growâ—â— And if you yet harden your heart against Reproof who are stubborn well the Lord will ease him of his Adversaries and break you as a Potter's Vessel And though you oppress the Life of God for a moment yet my Peace with him â—â—â—ll these things never take away but over all these things I tread am not offendâ—â— in him who is my Peace forever And though those things cause sadness of heart yet the Lord giveth no cause of Sorrow to them that are faitful to him but will arise to confound all Deceit and Deceitful Workers who err from his Way and count the Knowledge of his Wayes a Burden and of you all though you perish I am clear who am not hated of the Lord though falsly judged by his Enemies over whom I trample as the Dust and the Living God gives Victory over you all I am not of this World E. B. Something of TRUTH Made Manifest In Relation to a Dispute at Draton in the County of Middlesex in the first Moneth last In Opposition to the False Account given of it by one Philip Taverner in his Book stiled The QUAKERS ROUNDS OR A Faithful Account c. FOrasmuch as one who hath I suppose ambitiously stiled himself Mr. Philip Taverner hath taken in hand to set forth to the view of the World an Account and Relation of a Dispute hapning in the eleaventh Moneth last at Draton near Colebrook to which Relation I am a little engaged to write something by way of answer thereunto that all people may know the Truth and being the Truth is somewhat concerned herein that is the Reason wherefore I have taken in hand to write a little by way of answer to his Relation being without any prejudice towards the man as concerning any Wrong he hath done to me though me as well as the Truth he hath wronged as may appear to such who desire to know the Truth It 's true a publique dispute I had the time and place mentioned with a company of Priests and this same Philip Taverner was one of them and the occasion of the Dispute was thus I being a few weeks before at a Meeting with some Friends in the said Town one Richard Goodgroom in his relation mentioned was present at the hearing of what was spoken but at that time did not object any thing though afterwards in London and other places he went up and down in a backbiting manner and gave forth That I had held forth blasphemous Doctrines or the like whereupon I much desir'd a Dispute for the tryal of those things and it was accomplished and that day the Truth was much made manifest and Deceit confounded And as to all the things objected against me by Richard Goodgroom which he would have seemed to have taken great occasion thereby as if some great matter of Heresie and Error had been utter'd by me I say the very Truth of all these things was demonstrated according as I had laid them down and his Arguments against them made of none effect And though such as hardened their Hearts might go unsatisfied and in greater Unbelief then they came yet I am sure the Upright-hearted and such as desired the knowledge of the Truth were wholy satisfied and this many can give Testimony of with me And though by his Relation it may appear otherwise to some yet wherein he hath related falsly it shall fall upon his own head and his Folly shall truly more appear in the End then he would have or seem to cause any in me to appear at this present and so he might with more Credit to himself been silent then to have meddled in that wherein he hath shewed himself so imperfect For I believe That this same Philip Taverner hath given a Relation of four times as much as he did speak at that Meeting and hath related as though he spake that which he never uttered by so many times fo much as I have said and hath not related so much by many times as was spoken by me and them of my part as many may witness Which Work of his seems not to be perfect neither yet altogether honest as sober Men may judge but such a thing must redown more to his own Dishonour then to the Truth 's Disadvantage And first As to the Title of his false Relation which is stiled The Quakers Rounds or A Faithful Account c. To this I answer That the very Frontispiece and Title of his Book savours of a vain light scornful spirit and so every Spiritual Man may judge of it to be so But why dost thou Philip Taverner say A Faithful Account but that to confirm Falshood with audacious words having a shew of Confidence upon it thereby the more easily to enter ento the Hearts of the People as if it were irreprovable coming also from the hand and under the hand of a Mr. Philip c. having so stil'd thy self to make thy Fame great and to publish thy Work under a seeming Authority but hadst thou had more Humility less
Pride would have appear'd and hadst thou had a better Heart less of Unfaithful Dealing would have proceeded from thee But as I have said Evil shall fall upon himself that hatcheth it for another But why dost thou say Faithful Account in the Title Page Signifying to the World that all in it is true and nothing of Truth wanting in relation to that Dispute and yet in thy Epistle sayst Thou dost not undertake to set down the multitude of words that that day was fill'd withal and pag. 29. sayst That a third man of the Company made a large Discourse concerning the Person justified but relatest not one word what was said by him and here thou hast not dealt faithfully nor given a faithful Account And pag. 31. thou sayst E. B. at such a time did multiply many words but dost not relate his particular words and so hast not in this dealt faithfully nor given a faithful Account And also in many other things thou hast not related what was spoke at all and thus thou hast contradicted thy self in saying A Faithful Account and yet confessing in effect Unfaithfulness And thy own words being compar'd together prove a contradiction in thy own Mind and Pen for to give a Faithful Account as thou sayst thou hast is to relate the whole Truth and not to keep any back neither to speak more then the Truth by adding thereto any thing But again thou sayst Thou undertakest not to relate the multitude or every particular of words neither dost relate what particular words such a one and such a one spake but sayst He said so and multiply'd many words not saying what his words were And therefore thou hast heaped a Contradiction upon thy own head and it shall remain till it hath made thee ashamed And now as to the particulars upon which the Dispute depended so far as they are truly laid down in my words and in my intent and meaning I am ready to justifie them yea at any place or time convenient or before any Auditory whatsoever upon lawful Occasion but as thou hast laid them down or some of them thou hast wronged me and the Truth and either not understood my meaning or subverted and perverted my words to thy own Advantage And whereas in the Epistle thou sayest I would not own them viz. The Particulars laid down to be mine at first and yet owned every one of them in the Discouse c. Answ. I did not own them but how and how did I own them but thus The Objector had laid down some of the Particulars not in my words which made them vary from the intent of my meaning and others of the Particulars he had laid down utterly false and so I did deny them as coming from him but as to the substance of some of the Particulars I did own having laid them down according to my own honest Meaning in my own sound Expression of words and thereupon I engaged a Dispute upon the Particulars having first denied them as laid down by him and in his corrupt Expressions and then owned them in the simplicity in the words as by me uttered I mean some of them but some I altogether denied And as to speak of that Text Ioh. 5. 39. By which sayest thou I endeavoured to skin over what I spoke but to no purpose I do deny thy words for that same verse shall stand a Witness for me and against thee in all the World and that verse shall prove that some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints and the Truth it self is my Covering and I need no other thing to skin over as thou scornfully speakest And whereas thou sayest There was just matter of Reproof in the Dispute in both Parties c. Answ. Whilst thou hast condemned others thou hast judged thy self who was of the one Party a strong Contender for the Priests Party and having now accused both Parties wouldst clear thy self to be of neither but canst not for it is known thou didst take their part and in the Title thou sayest The Discourse was betwixt a party of them called Quakers with Mr. Philip Taverner c. where thou dost own thy self to be one and reckonest thy self the foremost Master of the Disputants And now upon better considerations I think when thou hast searched into their Folly with whom thou wast joyned thou wouldst absent thy self to be none of them but a third Party But let me tell thee What Disorder Prejudice and Passion as thou speakest of that was amongst the Priests thou hast a part in and must own their Sin and their Condemnation for thou art also guilty And that there was any Passion except pure Zeal for God and his Truth which thou mightest falsly so call or Prejudice or such like amongst us I do deny it and know thee to have born a false Testimony and all thy Covers as if thou wert a Moderator or the like in thy speaking will not hide thee nor cover thee from what I have said of thee But as to the things in particular I now come and may shew what my words are and the Ground of them and how I laid them down and upon what Occasion in the first Meeting whereupon the Dispute did arise and I do not here go about to give a perfect Relation of that Dispute for my Memory hath not contain'd what passed but as to the intent and meaning of my words I would give all the true knowledge thereof and how far I do own the Particulars charged against me First As to that The Scripture are not the WORD of God because the Devil spoke something and Pharoah something which is there written Answer There is some truth in this but my words were drawn up by him at the shortest and the most for his own Advantage laid down by him For I do remember That in the first Meeting I was speaking concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures which are a Declaration thereof and shewing the difference betwixt the Word and the Letter and Scriptures for the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was made by it and it endureth forever But the Scriptures were not in the Beginning for Moses was the first that wrote any thing of the Scripture who was long after the Beginning neither was the World made by them neither can they endure forever and therefore the Letter the Scriptures are not the Word of God which the Scriptures call the Word for also in the Scriptures are written what the Devil spoke and what Pharoah and other Wicked Men spoke and therefore they are not the Word of God but as I have said a Declaration of the Word and what is written of is the Word but the Scriptures the Writings are not but a Testimony and Declaration of the Word Much more as to this might be said and was spoken by me at the Meeting which is not particularly related and this is sufficient to
any honest man that is Spiritual who hath an Understanding to judge hereof Now I suppose themselves none of them are so ignorant as they will say The Scriptures are that WORD which was in the Beginning and which shall Endure forever But say they the Scriptures are another Word a Declarative Word or such like termes Now when we dispute or contend with any about the Word of God we dispute what that Word is which the Scripture saith is the Word and do deny that Word to be the Scriptures Writings though still we do own the Scriptures a Declaration of that very WORD of GOD and that the Scriptures in any place do call themselves the Word or signifie so much I do deny it and it is left for any of our Opposers to prove it that can if they do I will confess it to be the Word and revoke all that I have spoken to the contrary And as for thy Deductions and Consequences drawn from my words I do deny them for they are not to me but will turn upon thy self for thou sayest A strange kind of Assertion as if nothing of the Mind Will and Counsel of God were declared in the Scripture And whitherto can be the tendency of such giddy Doctrines then to a weakening of the Authority of the Scriptures and begetting Slightings and undervaluing Thoughts and that the effects may be lightly esteeming the Scriptures These and such Deductions hast thou drawn through thy Ignorance from my words from all which I am clear as having no Intent to any such things nor any Intent but to testifie to the Pure Innocent TRUTH And thy Deductions are far more ignorant and impudent then my Assertion is strange and let thy Consequences be what they will from my words the truth of my words will justifie me in the Sight of God and his Saints for I do honour the Scriptures above other Writings and give them the Authority and Esteem and Respect due unto them and more I dare not And some of thy pages I pass over as not worth taking notice of only I do say Thou hast wronged me in not relating so much as was spoken by us by far and in relating more then was spoken by thee or thy Party And the next thing I note is this where R. G. said he would and went about to prove That the Letter is the Word of God but was not nor is ever able to prove and thou hast changed the words of his Argument in thy Relation from what they were as he laid them down in the Dispute from called to owned for thus his words were laid down at that time said he That which Christ and the Apostles called the Word of God is indeed the Word of God but Christ and the Apostles called the Scriptures the Word of God Ergo. Now I denied and do yet that it can be proved That ever Christ and the Apostles called the Scriptures the WORD of GOD and neither do thy Proofs now nor his then of the minor Proposition prove That the Scriptures viz. the Writing were ever called the Word although it be true that the Pharisees made the Word of God of no Authority by their Traditions But that Scripture doth not say That the Letter is the Word which thing he was to prove or else he said nothing to the purpose And as to the other Scripture 1 Thes. 1. 13. that will not prove that the Apostle called the Letter the Word for it was the Gospel which they received as the Word of God and not the Letter The Gospel is the Word of God not denied by me but sealed unto but the Gospel is not the Letter and Writings but the Gospel is the Thing written of and that is it which the Apostle means to be the Word of God for that is the Word which he preached to the Thessalonians and which they received And so thy Arguments and Proof of thy minor Position is deny'd and so the major Position falls to the Ground And by this nor any other Argument can all you Priests of England prove the Letter of the Scriptures to be the Word of God which thing R. G. took in hand to prove but could not and would have cry'd against it in me as a great deal of Heresie for denying it but Error is fallen upon his own Head The next thing I note is in pag. 13. where thou wouldst seem to cover over R. G. thou sayest his words were not That I had the thing signified in my hand when I had the Bible but that I had that which declares of it Now to justifie him in Evil thou hast wronged me and the Truth for he did say when I held up my Bible I had in my hand the thing herein signified upon this very Occasion I holding up my Bible in my hand and saying to this very effect That in my hand I had the thing which did signifie in words of such and such things but I had not the thing signified And Richard Goodgrom made answer and said But I had the Thing signified and this some can witness Whereupon I made answer and said If it be so that I have the Thing signified in my hand then I have God and Christ and the Spirit and Heaven and Hell and Men and Beasts and all things that herein are written of and then he saw the Folly of his own Ignorance I perceive And much more might be related as upon this Subject which was said on both Parties which I desire not much to recollect only what I have said I can certainly remember and can justifie it And I must confess that Philip Taverner hath done pretty fairly though in some things he hath not done so And no was to the next thing charged against me in the Relation being placed the second though it is the third That evil Motions not consented to were not sin In the first private Meeting I remember my words were laid down thus and so I own'd them in the Dispute That Temptations or Motions unto evil are not sin to any man who doth not consent and obey to serve Temptations or evil Motions and they are not sin to the man except they be consented to by the man and this was proved in the Example of Christ who was tempted of the Devil and had motions to do evil yet did not consent nor commit sin for he resisted and overcame the Tempter and so the Devil's Motions and Temptations which were sin in themselves yet they were not sin to Him And this Proof then they could not deny neither can any sober or upright Man And so in the Dispute the thing was put to a farther Question thus But are not those Motions which arise out of a Man 's own Heart Sin except they be consented to To which I was willing to speak something and to own the very TRUTH and to justifie that there is a State wherein Evil Motions may rise out of a Man 's own Heart which are
poor man Must I be judged upon thy own meaning nay or must thy interpretation be the judge upon my words We have no such law my words stand true as I have laid them down to be received by such as are Spiritual and such as love to raise constructions falsly where there is no just ground their judgment I do deny and Charity will teach P. T. to judge upon the best sence and so let him own my words as truth and judge himself for his false construction of true and upright words onely this I take notice of saith P. T. A perfect Conformity to the Law of God in our own Persons though not wrought in our own strength but in the Strength and Power of Grace the Spirit working all in us and for us is no other then the Righteousness of the Law I need not much strive to confound this black Doctrine by many Arguments or multitude of words for the thing as laid down in his own words is vile and abominable to the understanding of any spiritual man for say I if it be the Spirit working in us and for us not in our own strength then is it God that worketh in us both to will and to do and the fulfilling of the Righteousness of the Law in us and not the Righteousness of the Law wrought by us and if it be in the strength and power of Grace and not in our own strength then it is the work of Christ in us and the Work of God's own Righteousness in us and any man that knows the least of God in Truth will witness to this and against his imagined Doctrine held forth by P. T. I might demand a Proof of him from Scripture where it is said or signified That the working of the Spirit all in us and for us and the working of the power of Grace in the Creature is reckoned to be our own righteousness the Righteousness of the Law and my words stand true from which he draws his false Consequences and layes down his dark Assertions and my own words I do own which are Such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the Wayes of Righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and in these words there is neither Contradiction nor unsoundness though he hath ignorantly charged them with both but the words shall stand for a Testimony against him and all his false deductions and he and all shall know That God justifies the Righteous and condemns the Wicked and that it is the New Man that is justified and not the Old And let Righteous Men judge what can be in such a mans heart who can draw so bad Consequences from such upright words But further he goes on and hath transcribed more of my words as Christ Iesus the Son of God is the Light and Life of the World and hath enlightned all mankind that cometh into the World with the true Light c. now saith he How do these agree with man's State in the first Adam In transgression is a State of perfect Enmity and Death reigns in every man and he is possessed with blindness and unbelief c. I say these do very well agree and they are both true for Death reigns in every man and he is in Unbelief and Ignorance and in a State of perfect Enmity against God as he is in the first Adam yet Christ hath lightned him and the Light of Christ shines in Darkness in him and the Darkness comprehends it not and he is enlightned that he may be changed from Death to Life and from Ignorance to Knowledge and though he walk in Darkness and is in Blindness and in a State of Enmity it is because he does not walk and believe in the Light which Christ hath lightned him withal and in my words there is no disagrement nor contradiction the Darkness is in his own Mind who cannot comprehend the Light nor the words that proceed from it Further he questions upon my words of having the Witness in themselves of being restored again First whether none are restored again but such as have the Witness in themselves I answer all that are restored again and do believe hath the Witness in themselves and none do believe nor are restored but they have the Witness of it Secondly he queries whether all are restored but some want the Witness in themselves I answer All are not restored nor do believe and such want the Witness in themselves that are not restored to God but them that are restored want it not And again he queries whether the Light which is in all is sufficient without any thing of further Grace superadded to bring up every Man to believe in Christ c I answer The Light which every man is lightned withal by Christ is sufficient to bring up every man to believe in Christ that loves the Light and walks in it and unto such is Grace added and increased daily for as every man improves the Measure of the Gift of God so it is increased the Light is increased Grace is increased Faith is increased but still the Light of Christ in it self is sufficient Again from my words to wit The Spirit is given to be the Guide and Rule of Life to the Children of God from whence he queries whether the Spirit is so given to be a Guide and Rule of Life to the Saints that they have no more need to attend upon the Scriptures I answer It is promised that the Spirit shall lead into all Truth and such do own the Scriptures but not as their Teacher for the Anointing dwells in them and they need no man to teach them but as that Anointing teacheth all things and they have no need of the the Scripture to teach them for all the Children of God are taught of God and need not any other Teacher nor need not to say one to another know the Lord and yet all such do own the Scriptures to be the Testimony of that which they believe and have received Again from my words to wit The Light of Christ in every one shall give testimony to the truth of what I speak unto which I do commend my self from this he queries can these be Witnesses to me and of the Truth in me who are ignorant of the Life and Power of the Creator c. who are following the counsel of their own hearts which are evil c I answer Yes the Light of Christ in such shall judge one day and to it I commend my self and by it one day shall be approved though now the Wicked hate the Light yet doth it witness against them and for us that we are of God though its true they cannot judge between Light and Darkness between Truth and Error yet the Light in them which shines in their darkness does judge and put a difference and when the Book of Conscience is opened it
the one is the Word of God but the other is not and this all sober men confess to though thou dost jangle and twist about it with thy lame Arguments to no purpose at all except to shew thy Weakness and Folly And also No man is justified by Christ's Righteousness until he receives it and as he receives it and this thou shalt one day witness For though Righteousness be in him sufficient to justifie yet by it art thou nor any man justified but in the receiving of it and dwelling in it and this shalt thou confess to be truth in the Day of the Lord and in the mean time let me bear thy false censure in calling this Heresie And also a man may be tempted to sin and there may be evil motions to him yet he not being overcome of the Temptation not consenting to the motion of sin it is no sin unto him neither shall sin be imputed to him if he commits it not but he that commits sin though he profess never so much of Justification yet for his sin shall he be condemned and this shalt thou witness in the day of Iudgment Also That there is a Perfection attainable in this life even to be perfect and without sin in Christ Iesus and this I affirm to be the Truth of the Gospel and that wherein the Faith of God's People stands and though thou madest a twisting and a wrangling against it yet it is too strong for thee and in thy wisdom and thy arguments is thy folly and thy weakness seen and Truth stands over thee and thou canst not it nor me reprehend And also That some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints this I also have sufficiently proved and thou art not able to detect it and all thy snarling in opposition to these things is confounded and thy Arguments made without effect and all whose eyes are open see thee to be of too short a measure and of too weak a capacity to understand the deep things of God which are hidden from thine Eye and them thou savourest not in that wisdom though thou hast the words yet thou art ignorant of the Life and the Life is in dominion over thee and to it must thou submit and lay down thy Crown And from thee am I hidden in that Life and Truth which I do profess And though I be as a Deceiver yet am I true and though I be slandered and reproached and back-bited by thee yet it is for Christ Iesus's sake and for his Truth 's sake and not as an Evil-doer But Friend learn more Wisdom then to judge a man before thou hearest him or to condemn the matter before thou hearest the Proof of it for by these things thou hast not gain'd a good Report but God condemns thee for it and men see thy shame in it and the burden of it one day shalt thou bear even thou and all that own thee in these things And now thy spirit is try'd and it is found too light and cannot stand in Judgement for it is unsavoury and though seperate from the World in appearance yet is thy spirit of the world and reacheth not the knowledge of the things that are eternal but art imagining in thy mind not being guided by that Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures and so thy knowledge is natural and cannot contain Spiritual Things Therefore Friend come down to God's Witness in thee the Light which shews thee sin and convinces thee of evil that Light is thy Teacher if thou lovest it and thy Condemnation if thou hatest it I have divers particulars against thee at a convenient season to manifest thy Folly and Weakness by them And whatever thou judgest me I am a Friend to thy Soul Edw. Burrough Richard Goodgroom held forth at the Dispute at Draton the 18th day of the 11th Moneth 1657. HE said The Letter was the Word and by the Letter he said he meant the thing contained in the Scriptures And when I said I had the Letter in my hand meaniug my Bible but not the thing signified he said But I had the Thing signified And he said People were justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the Work of Sanctification and Christ justified Sinners as Sinners that is while Sinners remaining in sin At Justice Fortescue's house in the year 1656. he did deny That any was converted to God by a Light within And then I asked If it was not that same Light that converted which gave the Knowledge of God and they confessed Yea and yet did deny That the Light within converted to God though I shewed them that Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 6. which did confound the Deceit At Uxbridge one time he said Christ needed not to have come to have judged the World for there was sin enough in the World to judge it before he came Then I asked If Sin judged the World and he answered Yea and he said They were in the Covenant of God spoken of Nehem. 9. which turned the Law of God behind their backs E. B. A TESTIMONY Concerning the Estate of the True Church What she hath been and what she is Being given forth from the Motion of the Spirit of the Father COncerning the true State of the Church what she hath been and what she is at this day and concerning her Increase and Decrease through Ages and Generations past And her present State is this Returning again out of the Wilderness where she hath long been fed having a place prepared of God Now the Apostle saw her a Woman cloathed with the Sun covered with the Light of Heaven and with the Glory of God having the Moon under her Feet the Light which was ordain'd to rule the Night Thus she was and this was her state in the dayes of the Apostles when many were converted out of Darkness and renewed to be Members of this Church for her Glory shone through the World and she flourished through Nations and this was her state in the Apostles dayes And she travelled to bring forth the Man-Child Christ Jesus which is the Child and Husband of this Woman which was clothed with the Brightness of the Glory of God the elected Spouse of Christ the Lamb's Wife and his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones having Power and Dominion and treading under all contrary And thus was it with her in Generations past whose Seed spring forth as Branches fruitful and glorious But in process of time it came to pass That this Woman the Spouse of Christ his Body the Wife and Mother of this Man-Child she was bereaved of her Beauty and her Garments were taken away her Seed was made War against and was smitten and overcome and she fled into the Wilderness and there hath sate desolate as a Widdow lamenting the loss of her Children and being deprived of her Husband and the Man-Child which should have ruled the Nations For she hath been fled into the Wilderness and her former Beauty
brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace and all Evil-doers whatsoever may stand in awe and be afraid of God and just Men and the Execution of Iust Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly Religious and that no man ought to be compell'd to or from any Exercise or Practice in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other Practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to oppose false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exhortation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought nor to be counted a Breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punishable by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe the outward Laws and Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons and Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Law of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe that Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit only must lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors and that Subjects ought to obey in the Lord those that have Rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which are according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him to such causes all people are free and ought to obey God rather then man and we believe That herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is Good and out of all that which is Evil. Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Man-kind are in one of these states all that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of Death and Darkness being Children of Wrath and Disobedience in the alienation and separation from God in the Transgression unreconcil'd to God the Enmity ruling in the Heart being in the Fall and not restor'd to God again but ignorant of his Power and of his Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal and in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all evil bâ—inging forth all his works out of that Ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adâ—… and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and â—…ll never inherit eternal Life but go inâ—â— Perdition yet have all such a Day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprâ—…tion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ledge and desâ—…sing the Love of God â—â—ey conâ—… iâ—â—he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath of Gâ—…d abides upon them â—…t they tâ—…t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath for they believe in the Light and becâ—…â—…ldren of the Light and are renewed in Mind and Hâ—… and receiâ—… the Love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adâ—… 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to bring forth Fruit â—nto the Father and â—ll their Fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—om 〈◊〉 grâ—…d which is â—…ssed for they are led by the Spirit of thâ— Faâ—…r and â—…ch are in the state of Election who are â—ade Heâ—rs with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eveâ—… Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe That â—…cy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad in the World that all pâ—…ple mâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whâ—◠〈◊〉 have receiv'd of God and they that believe this and walkâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father shall be saved but they that belieâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be condemned because they do not believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be â—…tten 〈◊〉 in â—…rt this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the Knowledge of thâ—se things from God A Friend unto all People E. B. Some of the PRINCIPLES OF THE QUAKERS Scornfully so called by men VINDICATED And proved Sound and True and according to the SCRIPTURES In Opposition to the False Charges and Lying Reports given forth against the Truth in two Printed Books put forth by one Philip Taverner a supposed Minister of the Gospel in Middlesex near Uxbridge And hereby Truth is Manifested and Discovered and the Controversie determined by the Judgment of Truth between Philip Taverner aforesaid the Accuser and Edward Burroughs Defendant of the Truth who contends for the Faith of the Gospel and for the Word of God in the Heart against all such Gainsayers as have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power and many such are in this Age. WHereas P. Taverner one of Truth 's Opposers whether throâ—… Ignorance or Subtilty I now determine not hath again appear'd against me and the Truth in Print as in Vindication of himself and his former Work who about four Moneths ago gave a false Relation of a Dispute but instead of mending the matter he hath made his own cause the more vile as may appear to such who take a perfect view of the Proceedings from the beginning to the end thereof Now the intent of this my Reply is to clear the Truth further and to take off his false Aspersions which he hath cast upon my innocent words in my former Book in answer to his first And as for the rest of his Book which hath no relation to mine nor to the Dispute I shall pass it by The Title of my first Book was Something of Truth Made Manifest c. To which sayst thou A plausible Title to cover a Railing and Bitter spirit under that it may walk in the World less suspected c. Reply My words are truth for in 〈◊〉 â—â—ok Truth was made â—â—â—ifest to â—…y in relation to the former Dispute to the Satisfaction of many and as 〈◊〉 â—…ing anâ—â—â—â—â—erness of spirit I do deny only I am zealoâ—â— for the
thou and thine too light and the 〈◊〉 the Lord will scatter them And P. T. confesses Every Real-hearted Christian may be and is in 〈◊〉 called Perfect Rep. Then wherefore doth he oppose me who testifieth the same thing and he now confesseth even That every Real-hearted Christian may be and is called Perfect in Scripture And is not he here guilty in that he charged me falsly in pag. 21. of his last With going Rounds like unto a Horse in a Mill who sometimes denies Perfection and sometimes confesses it to be attained in this life but he is forced in the end to confess to the Truth and to iustifie me And also the Scripture doth testifie The Saints were already perfect and compleat in Christ while they were in the Life upon Earth Col. 1. though there be a time wherein all the Saints do complain of the Body of Sin in their Warfare and Travel yet there is a state also wherein they have put off the â—…doy of Sin and are the Servants of Righteousness and free from Sin Rom. 〈◊〉 22. But P. T. shews little Experience in those states as of the Travel under the Body of Death and also of the Victory over it and so what he speâ—… is but by guess from other mens words and then it is no marvel if he errs in â—udgment and bring one Scripture to contradict another not having the infâ—… Spirit that gave it forth nor feeling the States nor the passing thorow these Conditions declared therein for there is a time of Travelling and complaining under the Body of Sin and its Burden and a time of Freedom from it and Victory over it yea even in this life upon Earth And whereas I said in my last Many of the Saints daily received more and 〈◊〉 of God's Wisdom and of his Power and Life revealed in them wherein they grow in to God from strength to strength Now saith he But whether he doth not own some to have attained so high that there can be no Addition is a Query my soul saith he 〈◊〉 not been able to enter into his secrets in this thing because my words were Mary of the Saints c. Rep. My first words it seems he cannot contradict but owns them to be the so I need not defend them only he supposeth a Question in which there is not much Edification to be answered and I have no secrets in what I speak for to the the Children of Light my words are plain though to P. T. and such they may be Parables and Secrets But as for my own particular I now here answer 〈◊〉 Question and further reply I do grow up in Wisdom and Knowledge daily and never knew so much of T 's Deceit as now I do since and at the Dispute the Ground of this our Debate so I thought good to let him know that I do grow in Truth which doth daily discover more and more Deceit in him and them that oppose Truth and so also grow in the Knowledge of his Error of Judgment and Ignorance that I may condemn it and judge it And whereas I said The Light which everyman is lightned withal by Christ is sufficient to bring up every man to believe in Christ that loves the Light and walks in it and unto such is Grace added and encreased daily as in page 16 of my first more appeareth In opposition to this to overthrow it as he supposeth he hath nominated that Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of â—… 〈◊〉 Now my words are true and no Contradiction to the Apostle's words 〈◊〉 to such as are blind that cannot discern between Light and Darkness 〈◊〉 will judge falsly and out of an evil mind make an appearance of seeming 〈◊〉 where there is none for the Light that lighteth every man that 〈◊〉 the World is Christ Iohn â— 9 and that Christ the Light that 〈◊〉 every 〈◊〉 that comes into the World is sufficient to bring every man 〈◊〉 loves the Light and walks in it to believe in Christ these are my words 〈…〉 mind and would any man that were not stark blind make 〈…〉 this Doctrine or bring a Scripture to prove the contrary 〈…〉 I own and do no way contradict For the 〈◊〉 Man doth 〈◊〉 the things of God nor know 〈◊〉 yet this is not Contrary to what I say 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus lighteth every man that comes into the World 〈◊〉 Light 〈◊〉 is sufficient and he changeth men from Natural to 〈◊〉 so they 〈◊〉 to believe in Christ that hath lightened 〈…〉 say or hold forth That the natural man 〈…〉 God and that the natural man hath Faith 〈◊〉 never 〈…〉 to my mind to say so he hath drawn 〈◊〉 evil Consequence 〈…〉 and then confounded his own 〈…〉 for my saying and intent is that 〈…〉 the World and his Light is 〈…〉 natural to spiritual and to give 〈…〉 things of God and of his Spiri◠〈…〉 is no Contradiction to the Apostles worâ—â— though 〈…〉 understanding I suppose rather than 〈…〉 Principle is proved sound and the Title of the 〈◊〉 a Lye And whereas I said That Christ wrought Righteousness perfectly 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Righteousness in all that believe and 〈…〉 or that hath not the other pag. 12. of my first He saith Whâ—ther I do 〈◊〉 Iustification and Sanctification he leaves all rational men to judge c. 〈◊〉 That Christ wrought Righteousness without us is not denyed by him 〈…〉 the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈◊〉 he cannot well deny 〈◊〉 read Rom. 8. 4. and that no man is justified by the Righteousness that 〈◊〉 wrought without who believes not nor is converted to God but in the 〈◊〉 of Satan This all the Children of God believe and know That none 〈◊〉 justified by Christ's Righteousness without 〈◊〉 who are convertâ—â— to God 〈◊〉 received Christ and he is in them 〈◊〉 else they are 〈◊〉 and not justified And so I am not ashamed of my Principle 〈…〉 to be too light for he that hath not Christ 〈…〉 is a Reprobate and not justified by anâ— Righteousness without Neither 〈◊〉 found Iustification and Sanctification which be 〈…〉 are one in Christ for he is made unto us Sanctification and Iustification and 〈…〉 that is in the Pollutions of the World unsanctified is not justified 〈◊〉 condemned so none are justified by a Righteousness without them but 〈◊〉 in the same corrupt 〈◊〉 with him must not I be judged 〈…〉 justifie If any Work be 〈…〉 in the Strength and Power of 〈…〉 strength then 〈…〉 and that no Work or Word is justified but what the â—… And though P.T. ignorantly commenceth 〈◊〉 these words yet are they words of 〈◊〉 and Righteousness and all that he saith 〈◊〉 nothing to the 〈◊〉 And whereas I did ask him which he had Ignorantly affirmed in his 〈…〉 that Righteousness which Christ works â—… in his Strength and 〈…〉 is called Our Righteousness which he seeâ—â— to answer but 〈…〉 my words for I
God and none knoweth the things of God saving by the 〈◊〉 of God and that revealeth God and teacheth to worship God and to serve him And the Scriptures they declare of the Rule and of the Revelatiâ—… 〈◊〉 God and are a Declaration of all things which are to be believed and 〈◊〉 by the Children of the Lord so that the Scriptures are not the 〈◊〉 Rule neither do they teach to worship and serve God but the Spiâ—…â—â—ve forth the Scriptures that is the standing Rule in and through â—…tions and the Spirit doth reveal the Knowledge of God and how 〈…〉 〈◊〉 worshipped and served And thou sayst The Scriptures are the Word of God given by immediate Inâ—… 〈◊〉 God and that they are given to all men to be read And the Scripâ—…â—…cient to make the Man of God perfect and throughly furnished and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—nto Salvation And the Scriptures are plain and easie to be 〈…〉 â—y the simplest and there is Milk in them for Babes and strong Meat for 〈◊〉 grown up â—… Christ is the Word of God and his Name is called The Word of 〈◊〉 and the Word of God was in the Beginning and shall endure forever and this Word is not the Scriptures and the Scriptures are not the Word but the Scriptures are words of God given forth from the Word 〈◊〉 was in their Hearts that spake forth the Scriptures which were wrote 〈◊〉 the Holy Men of God were moved by the Holy Ghost and given by the Inspiration of the Spirit of God And the Scriptures are a Declaration and a â—…tise of the WORD that was in the Beginning and shall endure forâ—… but the Scriptures are not the Word And some of them were giâ—… to one sort of Men and some of them to another and some of them â—… But as for the Threatnings and Judgments propounded and the Reproof of the Wicked that part was not given to the Saints nor spoken to â—…em and so not given to all and the Promises to the Children of the Lord and the Epistles to the Saints and them that were sanctified that part was not given and spoken to the World and to the Wicked who are unâ—…ted and so not spoken to all though all may read them yet none can understand them but by the same Spirit that gave them forth and who have not the same Spirit to guide them they cannot understand the Scriptures for they were given forth by the Eternal Spirit and the carnal â—…dom that is from below and sensual cannot understand nor receive the â—…gs of the Kingdom of God which are declared of in the Scriptures And so the Scriptures are not easie to be understood but are sealed from the World â—â—ither are the Scriptures without Faith which thou hast left out sufficient to make the Man of God perfect but the Scriptures through Faith are able to make the Man of God perfect and throughly furnished this we know and â—…re and do set the Scriptures in their right place and give them their right Hâ—…our and Respect And as for thee and thy Generation who are erred from the Spirit of Truth You know not the Scriptures nor the Power of God for Christ is the Bread of Life and the Water of Life in him is the Milk for Babes and 〈◊〉 for strong Men and not in the Scriptures who testifie of Christ the Life and in them the Pharisâ—â—s thought to have Eternal Life but would not come 〈◊〉 Christ the End of the Scriptures that they might have Life and this is the self same state with yours of this Age who think to have the perfâ—… of Salvation and the Milk for Babes and the Meat for Strong Men in the Scriptures but will not receive Christ who is the perfect Salvation and 〈◊〉 Bread and Water of Life for all the Children of the Lord who are 〈…〉 the Spirit And so thy Doctrines and thy Principles of thy Religion 〈◊〉 not sound nor agreeing with the Scriptures but contrary and by a 〈…〉 spirit and therefore we cannot be of thy mind but do truly 〈…〉 unlearned of the Father and knowest not the Way of Salvation and so 〈◊〉 canst not truly inform nor direct others And thou sayst Men are under a Necessity of multiplying Transgâ—… 〈…〉 3. 12. Ephes. 4. 17. 2. Pet. 4. Answ. In this thou hast erred and spoken contrary to sound Dâ—… 〈◊〉 there is no Necessity laid upon any to commit any sin much less a Neâ—… multiplying Transgression if there be a necessity who layes it 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and why is that Necessity Transgression is of the Wicked One and 〈…〉 is of the Devil and there is no necessity for that upon any account 〈…〉 sin destroyes the Soul and is a Veâ—ation to the Lord God and a Câ—… 〈…〉 lasting Misery and for to act that there is no Necessity which hath 〈…〉 fects And thou hast perverted the Scriptures quoted by thee to prove 〈…〉 Assertion which I have set down for the Reader to peâ—…se that all â—… thou hast perverted them for they prove no such Doctrines as that 〈…〉 a Necessity of multiplying Transgression which thou hast affirmed and 〈…〉 the Scriptures to prove it which is first false doctrine uttered by thee it 〈◊〉 also a perverting of the Scriptures to maintain it and this two Evil◠〈◊〉 thou hast committed in one Work and because thou hast done Evil 〈…〉 at thy Door and there I will leave it And thou sayst To be justified is not to be really â—lâ—ansed from all Sin 〈…〉 take of real Righteousness and Holiness but it is to be accounted and reputâ—… Holy and not to have Sin reckoned c. Answ. There are none justified but who are in Christ and are chanâ—… and renewed and born again and such are cleansed from sin For he 〈…〉 of God sinneth not and it is he only that is justified and not the Old Man that is unchanged and commits sin he is not justified and who are born of God and are justified are really cleansed and do partake of Righteousness and holiness even of the Righteousness and Holiness of the Son of God and in that Righteousness he is accounted Righteous and in no other nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other way then by receiving Christ and his Righteousness and being made Partâ—kers of it in their Hearts for the Apostle said If Christ be not in you 〈◊〉 are Reprebates and such are not justifieth nor accounted just and holy who have not Christ within them and his Righteousness but who have Christ within the Hope of Glory and are accounted Just and Righteous in the sight of God the Body of Sin is put off for if Christ be in you the Body is dead because 〈◊〉 Sin and such are really cleansed and if he be in you you are made Partaâ—… of real Righteousness and Holiness and this is the Truth of the Gospel of Christ which confounds and condemns thy false doctrine for no man it accounted and imputed just and holy but who are cleansed from Sin
and are in Christ for who do commit Sin are Unholy and so reputed of God and Sin is neckoned to them and this all will find in the Day of the Lord when 〈◊〉 cometh to judge righteously and to give every man according to his Works and nor according to what he may make a shew of and profess in words thouâ—â— all you false Daubers with Untempored Morter heal up the Hurt of the Daughter of Siâ—n deceitfully and cry Peace Peace by a false applying the Proâ—…ses and Words of Christ when God speaks no Peace and even you and you false daubeâ— Wall will the Whirlewind of the Lord beat down and destroy utterly And this I assert contrary to thy false Doctrine and Principles Tâ—… none are justified but who have Christ in them and really partake of Holiness and â—…sness and are really cleansed from all Sin and are born of the Spirit of God 〈…〉 〈◊〉 of the Prâ—… of Eternal Life 〈…〉 thou sayst Iustiâ—… 〈◊〉 not of any Dâ—gree 〈◊〉 if a Person 〈…〉 from any onâ— Sin he is justifieth from all Sin 〈◊〉 well from Siâ—â— to be committed 〈…〉 are already coâ—…ed and who is 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 Person is not unjustified upon 〈…〉 c. Answ. Grace and Faith and Truth and Christ himself admitteth of Deâ—… which are one and there are several Measures of Life of 〈…〉 and Faith of Sanctification and of Justification also for 〈◊〉 as every man hath received Christ so hath he received Sanctification â—… and no otherwise for Christ is made Wisdom and Sanctiâ—â—cation and Salvation and every one feels his Sanctification and his Justificaâ—… 〈◊〉 to the Measure of the Gift of Christ so that there are seveâ—… of Justification And also a man may be justified from one sin â—… and not from all sin for according to every man's Sanctificatiâ—… Witness of his Justification to him and no more and if thou 〈…〉 â—â—ing by Experience thou knowest this And no man is justified 〈…〉 which he is to commit for that saith gives Licence to sin if any 〈…〉 sin shall believe that that sin is long since forgiven and he is justiâ—… 〈◊〉 and if he shall believe that he is justified though he commits sin 〈◊〉 â—…fore he commits his sin this will be a cause to run into sin and is a 〈…〉 by thee unto all Unrighteousness Why if people can believe they 〈…〉 from the Sins which they have yet to commit what should restrain 〈…〉 running with pleasure into all Unrighteousness And if new Sins 〈…〉 committed do not make Persons unjustified then may the Sinners reâ—… their Sins and take their pleasure in Ungodliness This Doctrine of 〈◊〉 is pleasant to the Wicked and it is the Way and Principle of Liberty in â—… rather then the Principles to lead from sin and so thou hast shewed 〈◊〉 Work thou arâ— doing by strengthning the Wicked in his Way so that he cannot turn from sin rather then drawing him from sin and this is the 〈…〉 work And thou sayst Such as are justified are regenerated and sanctified and a little 〈◊〉 thou sayst To be justified is not to be cleansed nor is it to partake of real Rightâ—… and Persons are justified from Sins which they have to commit Answ. These are Contradictions and proceed out of Darkness and not 〈…〉 Light and thy Folly and Ignorance may be read by all men For who are Regenerated and Sanctified are also cleansed and partake of real â—…ness And thou further sayst That Sanctification is a real Change from sin to the parity of 〈◊〉 â—…ge of God Answ. And I say None are Sanctified but they are Justified so none are 〈◊〉 but who are changed into the Image of God this the Truth saith and wherein thou hast said contrary thou hast spoken contrary to the Truth and the Truth will judge thee 〈◊〉 Thou sayst Sanctification is not perfect in this life and the New Man â—… or Law of the Mind is that Grace or imperfect Sanctification c. Answ. Then Christ is not perfect in this life for he is made of God unto us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. â—0 But we say Christ is perfect and therefore Sanctification is perfect and the New Man is the Image of God and is created in Râ—…sness and in true Holiness But thou sayst The New Man 〈◊〉 imperfect 〈…〉 of thy Principles when they are compared with the Scriptures and see the 〈◊〉 and Wickedness of them And the Spirit and Law in the mind â—s the Spirit of God and the Law of God in which the Apostles served God and 〈◊〉 all the Saints but thou sayst The Spirit and Law in the Mind is imperfect 〈◊〉 this is Error in the highest degree to say â—…gniâ—… That the New Man 〈◊〉 Image of God thaâ— is in Righteousness and true Holiness and the Spirit of God and the Law of God is imperfect Sanctification and Grace is the Salvation and is God's Sufficiency and that thou sayst is imperfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus thy Principles of thy Religion which thou walkest in thy self 〈…〉 wouldst teach to others are Abominable corrupted Principles of Eâ—… contrary to the Spirit of Truth and to the Scriptures also And 〈…〉 that thy Name is concealed for thy work deserves noâ— a good Mans 〈…〉 it Much more might be said to lay open further thy â—olly but this is suâ—… men of Understanding and contrary to thee I do aâ—â—ert That the New 〈…〉 Image of God the Spirit and Lâ—…f God in the Mind is perfâ—… Peace 〈…〉 Sanctification and thou hast said the contrary and now whether thy 〈…〉 ples of Religion or mine be the most true and whether false let all 〈…〉 judge with the Light in their Consciences And thou sayst The old Man the Flesh the Body of Sin the Body of 〈…〉 the Sin that remains in sanctified Persons Answ. Who are sanctified are freed from thâ— Body of Sin and Dâ—… have put it off and the Law of the Spirit of Life hath fâ—eed 〈◊〉 from 〈…〉 and from the old Man for if the old Man the Flesh the Body of 〈…〉 Death be in the sanctified Persons then there are none sâ—â—ctiâ—â—ed at 〈…〉 what are they sanctified freed and cleansed from if the old Man 〈…〉 the Body of Sin and Death be yet remaining in them Thou spâ—… unlearned man and one that knows not the sanctified state but art 〈…〉 thy mind and Judgment and in thy words also for we have put 〈…〉 Man and are crucified to the Flesh and made free from the Body of 〈…〉 Death and this is our Sanctification and who are remaining 〈…〉 things are not sanctified but are in the Degeneration and hav◠〈…〉 yet in the Kingdom of God nor in Christ Jesus but are withâ—… the World And thousayst The Sanctification of the First Day hath put an end to 〈…〉 fication of the Seventh c. Answ. Here again thou hast uttered that which thou knowest not 〈…〉 dayes are alike unto God and one sanctified as much as another and 〈…〉 of dayes with
are to wait for Counsel to receive it from the Lord by that of him made manifest within you and as for all your outward Teachers that have used their Tongues amongst you and said The Lord saith it when God hath not spoken to them nor sent them and that preach for Hire and Sums of Money and these are them that cannot profit the People nor ever bring you to the Knowledge of God nor give you Counsel from the Lord and if you seek to uphold them and defend them against the Power of the Lord and his Word which is gone forth against them then shall you not prosper but fall with them and if you do enterprize any work in that spirit that doth oppose the Spirit of Christ Iesus in his people you can never have good success but the Lord will confound you before your Enemies And so now that you may all come into the New Covenant to be taught of the Lord and to be far from all Oppression this is the thing that you are all to wait for and to know the Power of the Lord and to go on in that against Unrighteous Men and Unrighteous Laws which are set up in the Nations that they may be destroyed and brought under and yet though such a Victory would be honourable unto you yet there is a Victory more Honourable to wit The Victory over Sin and Death and the Devil in your selves and that you are to mind and there is a Kingdom which is not of this World which cannot be obtained by an Outward Sword and this Kingdom are you to wait for that you may know it and feel it in your own particulars and this is the Doctrine of the Gospel of Peace unto you and the Glad-tidings held forth unto all of you come into the Power of the Lord and mind it that you may be lead by it and then may you be fit Instruments for the Lord to work by And take heed how you oppose those whom the Lord hath sent and is sending abroad in the Nations to proclaim the Mighty Day of the Lord they are no Enemies to you nor to any mans Person and therefore be tender over them for they go about the Lord's Work of this I warn you all in the Presence of the Lord. And so you dwelling in the Power of the Lord there is nothing shall destroy you nor confound you but you shall have Victory over all your Enemies within you and without you and the Lord will make you a Dread and a Fear to the Nations And so this is a Warning unto you all both Officers and Souldiers that you may mind what the Work of the Lord God is in the Nations Your Work hath been and may be honourable in its Day and Season but he hath a Work more honourable to work after you that is To destroy the Kingdom of the Devil and the ground of Wars And your Victory hath been of the Lord but there is a more honourable Victory to be waited for even the Victory over Sin and so we are the Friends of the Creation that do preach this Victory and this Kingdom and Peace which is Endless and Everlasting and which many are come into And as for the many and divers sorts of Worship which are come up since the dayes of the Apostles and are of the Whore and not of the true Church they are all to be thrown down and the Worship that is in Spirit and Truth to be set up by the Lord and he is gathering people into that Worship but if you be out of the Fear of God in the Rudeness and Wickedness of the World and seek your selves and not the Freedom of the Nations only then the Lord will lay you aside as a broken Pot-sheard and raise up unto himself a People that shall fulfil his work and do it for he hath much Work to do in the Nations for he is gathering his Elect Seed and changing the Kingdoms of the World and making them become the Kingdoms of Christ and so be low in your own eyes and do not seek your selves but seek one anothers Good and seek the Glory of the Lord and the Freedom of the Oppressed and in that you will be blessed and prosper till you have set up your Standard at the Gates of Rome I am a Lover of all your souls and a Sufferer in Patience under the Cruelties of men E. B. And some small Discourse we had with our English Priests that supply the Place of Chaplins to the Army and in particular one of them which had spoken something behind our backs against us and we proffer'd to have some discourse with him but he refused it only to evade the matter at that present he bid us state some of our Principles in writing and he would answer them in dispute in some publick place and being he was not willing to engage to dispute otherwise we were free to write this following Paper but we had no answer in agreement to dispute with us but shifted the thing from himself by telling us The Governour was 〈◊〉 willing But this was not the same Priest before mention'd that we had discourse with at our first coming into the Town Friend FOr the manifestation of Truth and that the perfect difference between thee and us may be known and who are in the Truth and who in the Error and that Truth from Error may be clearly discerned therefore according to thy own Proposals and expressed Desires thereof before many we do here assert some Particulars of that Truth which we have receâ—â—ed from God and do hold forth and maintain in the World in opposition to thee or any other that shall gainsay them viz. 1. That Christ hath lightened all men with a Light sufficient in it self to bring them to Salvation if they follow it 2. That God hath given Christ to be the Saviour of all men 3. That none are justified by Christ and his Righteousness without them but as they have receiv'd Christ and his Righteousness and witness them reveal'd in themselves 4. That the Saints of God may be perfectly freed from Sin in this life so as no more to commit it 5. That the National Ministers and Churches not only of Papists but of the Protestâ—â—ts also as they now stand are not the true Ministers and Churches of Christ. 6. That the Scriptures are a true Declaration given forth from the Spirit of God by holy Men of God moved by it to write them and are profitable but are not the Foundation nor the most perfect Rule of Faith and Life to the Saints These things we are freely willing and desirous to discourse upon with thy self and any others that shall joyn with thee in the presence of sober and wise men who may judge between us in any publick Place that may be procured by thee according to thy Engagements in this Particular provided it may be in the Spirit of Meekness and Moderation and that all fair
and sober Dealing may be amongst us and the Fear of God And to this we expect thy speedy Answer concerning Time and Place Edward Burroughs Samuel Fisher. The Propositions were writ as short as could be for to stop all Advantages against us that right be taken by our Adversary in case he had met us and agreed to dispute but upon enlargement in Discourse we might have laid open the truth of every on of these Particulars at large to the satisfaction of sober Minds that might have been doubtful hereof and sâ—ewed by the Scriptures the truth of all of them AN Epistle to Friends IN LONDON Dearly beloved Friends and Brethren WHom the Lord hath called with his Heavenly Call and made you Eye-Witnesses and Feeling-Witnesses of his Power and of his Truth my dear Love in the Lord falutes you all for the Lord's sake without respect of Persons and I Greet you with a holy Kiss Dearly Beloved I bare you witness That some of you have loved the Lord above all things and for his Truth the Glory of this World with its Vanities have been denyed by you and now I wish in the Lord the abounding and enlarging of the Love and Life of God in you and amongst you all And my Dear Friends In that the Lord hath blessed you in the Knowledge of the Truth and of his Wayes and called you to serve him and to live unto him and not unto your selves now this remains unto you all to be done by you even that you be Faithful and Careful in the Great Work of the Lord which he is doing amongst you and in the World at this day And first of all See that every one of you stand in God's Counsel and that ye do his Will in all things as the Lord maketh it manifest to you and watch over your own Hearts and keep your selves clear from the Evil of this World I am moved of the Lord to write to you in particular and to warn you in his Name who hath begotten you to himself That you be mighty careful and circumspect in all your wayes and that you walk as Patterns and Examples to all the tender Babes of God in the Flock and that by your wise Conversation and Faithfulness in the Truth the Weak may be strengthened and the Hungry may be filled and they that are of the World who thirst for the Lord may be won into the Truth My God knoweth and ye know also the Care and Burdens which I have had in that Place and seeing I am thus ordered of the Lord at this present I do beseech you all for the Truth 's sake That you unto whom God hath given Grace and Strength and Wisdom and Knowledge that you take the Care upon you to watch with the Flock and over them that are Weak And I say again You must be mighty careful in the Lord that you may walk in all things to his Glory so as there be no turnings back from the Truth by any nor no occasion given to the Heathen to Reproach Truth therefore not any Service of your own must you equal with the Lord's Service But at all times be armed with the Lords Armour to do and to suffer for the Truth And this seems Good unto me in the Fear of the Lord That you in particular do keep a Meeting among your selves once in Three Weeks or a Moneths time as ye see meet that in the Counsel of God you may consider of all things in relation to the Truth and that you may advise one with another in the Fear of the Lord of things amongst you that in good Order all things may be kept And if any Disorderly Persons who profess the Truth be known to any of you let it be presented to all and Two or Three of you as you are moved may in the Fear of the Lord and in his Wisdom reprove such Persons and Things by which in the least Truth is Dishonoured and if such resist Reproof then account them as out of the Body and the Life can have no Fellowship with such but first reprove Offences and Failings in Secret and in much Wisdom also lest you destroy the Righteous with the Wicked And I lay it upon you that you judge nothing but what is for Judgment and when any thing comes before you to be tryed or judged of be tender of the Simplicity and take heed of Rash Judgment and Forward Words be mighty considerate in the Fear of God that nothing be judged wholly in which there is any thing of God but dwell in that which doth discern and distinguish and separate the Precious from the Vile that you may divide Judgment a right in all Causes and the Pure may be Strengthened and the Deceit Confounded For such a thing may be and come to pass which cannot wholly be Justified nor altogether Condemned and in such things in Friends you had need be mighty careful that the Right Way may be spared and the Wicked cut off And if any of you be moved to Minister among the Flock let it be done in the Fear of God and in his Wisdom to the refreshing of the Weak and to the building up the Body and if you do it in the Power of God then you will be answered by the Witness of his Spirit in every one and you and they will feel an Increase from God And if any Minister amongst you with which the Spirit of the Lord hath not Fellowship but is an Offence to the Just bare such in Patience for a season and shew them in Meekness and Love their Fault that they may be restoed rather then cast out And if any amongst you be over-taken with a Fault and found faulty in the sight of the Lord in any Particular reprove and convert and instruct such privately in Meekness and if they rebel and resist then reprove them and let them be judged openly And charge all that in all things they keep to their own Measures of Christ and that they act nothing nor speak nothing without the Leading of his Spirit and that will bind under deceitful spirits And as for those Rebellious and Treacherous and Deceitful Lying spirits amongst you which may trouble you as they have formerly done to the great Dishonour of the Lord I wish they were cut off as for the Truth 's sake yet I exhort you to bear them with Patience and not to heed them nor be troubled at them but account of them as Disorderly and out of the Body and freâ— not in your selves because of the Wicked such things be but for a time but Truth is forever and they that walk therein their Fruits shall never wither And let Friends keep their private Meetings on the First-days with Diligence and none to run abroad without Foar but as they are moved of the Lord and then there will be a Service in it for the Lord and as any of you are moved be faithful to exhort Friends hereunto and with a
Laws and Decrees which have been set up in the days of Ignorance and yet stand whereby the Lord 's dear Children are afflicted and oppressed at this day and establishest such a Government which is justly according to God in which Righteousness and Truth Justice and true Judgment may run down and all the contrary may be stopped and chained and limited and confounded and then that which thy Father leâ—t undone the Lord will fulfil through thee And doing these things the Lord would make thee truly Honourable and Happy and Blessed in this life and in the Life to come but in doing the contrary the Lord will make thee a Curse and take thee away in his Judgments and thy Name shall be left a Reproach to Ages forever And if thou Rulest in Oppression and Cruelty and sufferest the Innocent to be Destroyed for want of True Judgment then shall thy Dayes be Fewer then thy Father's if thou be Disobedient to him the Lord shall cut thee off and thy Memorial shall Roâ— and this is the Word of the Lord God to thee And as for this Afflicted and Sojourning People They desire nothing to thee but Truth and Peace and Righteousness and no more of thee but Justice and true Judgment and that they and their little Ones which to them are brought forth may sojourn in Peace and quietly pass through the Nations till they come to the Land of Promise and they may not carry of the Glory nor Riches of this World with them nor seek great Places of Honour from thee nor be hurtful to thee nor the People nor to Mankind in their sojourning only what the Lord Commands them that they must do and what he forbids that they must not do For they have chosen the Lord to be their Leader and to give him their Obedience in all things and thy Government so far as it is according to God they will not destroy nor rebel against but are true Friends thereunto and subject in all things And if thou walkest with the Lord and chusest him for thy Councellor and abasest thy self and altogether exalt him and preserve his People that fear him then shalt thou prosper and thy Name shall be greater then was thy Father's and the Numberless Number of this now distressed People will be unto thee a Strength and stand by thee in thy Day of Trouble and defend thee and thy just Government and their hearts shall cleave to thee and thou shalt prosper for their sakes and none of thy Enemies shall have power over thâ—e to Destroy thee though many may seek for thy life Wherefore my Friend Awake awake and now consider The Day of thy Visitation is present and thy Father's is past and now thou hast a time to gain unto thy self Everlasting Honour and Renown or otherwise to leave thy Name a Curse and a Reproach for evermore Do thou hearken to the Voice of the Lord and fear his Dreadful Name and bow before our God that made Heaven and Earth who rules in the Kingdoms of Men and pulleth down one and setteth up another at his Pleasure and as he will and he will make thee know that he lives and reigns over all and doth whatsoever he will and if he smites thee none shall heal thee and if he wounds thee none shall comfort thee Therefore take him for thy Councellor and beware of the wicked Counsels of men for thou hast may Enemies and they would rejoyce to see thy Fall and if the Lord be not on thy side thou canst not long stand but if thou be obedient to him and preservest his People and breakest down all Oppression then thy Enemies shall fall and thy Foot shall tread them down and the Terror of the Lord shall be upon all that hate thee but thus shall it be done unto thee if thou be disobedient to him and rejectest his Counsel by his Servant I am thy Friend and a Lover of thy Soul and seek thy Happiness in this World and in the World to come known to many by the name of Edward Burroughs The Original of this was delivered to him a few dayes after he was proclaimed Protector To thee Richard Cromwel chosen to be Protector and chief Magistrate Governour of these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland a faithful Presentation and Salutation by a Servant of the Church WE are rightly and truly sensible in all things of the Mighty Hand of the Lord God who brings all things to pass by his own Power and according to his Will and in Heaven and Earth and over the Kingdoms of men he ruleth and reigneth he buildeth up and breaketh down he planteth and plucketh up and he pulleth down one and setteth up another and who may say What dost thou or Why dost thou it for he is a Great God and Mighty and his Majesty is terrible and all things in Heaven and Earth and all the Sons of Men are at his disposure whose Dominion is from Everlasting to Everlasting and he may be feared and had in Reverence by all Creatures that have Life and Breath And in particular we are sensible of his Great and Mighty Power who hath of late Years in these Nations once and again overturned and overthrowed and changed at his Pleasure Times and Powers and Authorities and Dominions and he hath brought down the Mighty from their Seats and stained the Crowns and Glories of the Honourable and broken the Stout-hearted and the Oppressors of their Governments as Potsherd one against another and made the Highest of Men of no respect before him for he hath pulled down and set up whom he would according to his Will and in all these things hath his Hand been the very Doer and Accomplisher thereof that he might be known and feared amongst all people through the whole Earth who is the Dread and Terror of Men and Nations And as for thy Father the late Protector Great things and Honourable did the Lord do for him in raising him up and casting out his Enemies before him and giving him Victory and Power and Renown through Nations and we know the Lord shewed Favour to him and gave him Strength Wisdom and Valour and a right Spirit and he was called of God into that great Work to subdue the grievous Cruelty once ruling over tender Consciences and to break down the great Oppressions which for Ages had caused the Just to groan and the Lord was with him in Victory and went before him and was his Defence and preserved him from great Dangers and from the Wills of all his Enemies and made him prosperous against them all but yet we know to say no more of him He did not wholy fulfil the Will of the Lord nor the Work which he begun but became Disobedient and abused his great Deliverances and Authority and did not set free the Oppressed altogether but left Mountains of Oppression and grievous Yoaks of Bondage unbroken down and unsubdued and the Lord smote him and took him away
charged against them whereby the Lord hath been offended But all things and places of men must be new moulded and corrected and purged and regenerated that true Judgment may flourish and Righteousness and Truth prosper as in the Beginning and this will the Lord suddenly bring to pass by his own Power and if thou opposest it thou shalt not prosper but be cut off and taken out of the way For the Spirit of the Lord hath been provoked to Wrath because of these things and his Anger is kindled against the Nations and he hath overthrown and yet will once more overthrow till he comes whose Right it is to Rule whose shall be the Government and Kingdom and all his Enemies shall be slain And as for the publick Ministry as now it is in its present estate we certainly know and testifie from the Lord unto thee and to the whole Nations that it is not the same Ministry of Christ which the Apostles had nor by the same Power and Spirit but is wholy degenerated in Call in Practice and in Maintenance and in all things from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the true Churches before the Apostacy and it is as now it stands in degeneration not of God nor in the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus nor hath it the same End and Effects as the Ministry of Christ once had but it s tasted and tainted with the Spirit of Antichist which long hath ruled in the World and it s become a grievous Oppression in the Nations and people are not converted nor turned to God from their evil wayes but remain unprofited and to say no more of it though much I might say what I affirm of it I may prove by the Scriptures against the wisest of them before thee if thou pleasest viz. That as now the Ministry stands it is not perfectly the same Ministry the Apostles had but is degenerated from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy and if ever God toucheth thy heart thou wilt see it so when the Spirit of Christ is chief Judge in thee thou wilt witness this to be true and then may not thy Power uphold any thing which is contrary to God when Government is purged and made pure from all its present Degeneration Again There are many and divers sort of Sects and Gatherings of People and Professions in Reliigion of several contrary Judgments and Opinions Worships in these Nations and these People over whom thou art set to rule are divers and divided in their Wayes and Minds and Professions of Religion some looking for and seeking after Christ in such a manner and others after another manner all crying Loe here is Christ and thus he will come and loe he is there and so will he appear and some are inventing and supposing such a Government to be best and others contrary to that and many are as distracted in their thoughts not knowing what to seek or what to look after some are for such a Government and Religion and others for another and peradventure each one of these may seek to thee for Protection against such as oppose them commending and justifying their own Way and Sect and Form and Religion against all others and craving Laws to maintain themselves and their Sect and to stop and limit all other Ways as Heresie because differing from them and they will each of them turn and rest the Scriptures from the mind of the Spirit that gave them forth to prove their own Opinions and Professions to be right against all others but now thou mayst know that the Scriptures were given forth by the one Spirit of God and is the Testimony of one Truth of one Saviour of one true Worship and one only true Religion and not many and diverse Wayes and them that are of divers Judgments and Worships and Religions and yet all plead Proof from the Scriptures for what they profess and practice all such pervert the Scriptures and wrest them who are thus divided and unsettled in Religion and they shew that none of them have the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit leads into all Truth and in it is the true Worship of God and the true Profession and Practice of true Religion and that Spirit only understands its own words in Scripture but all these divers Sects and Heaps of People that are divided in Worship and about Religion have not the Spirit of God that gave forth Scriptures to lead them into all Truth and guide them in the perfect Way and pure Religion which the Apostles and Churches of Christ were in in their dayes but all these many Sects that are thus divided are risen up since the days of the Apostles and are of another spirit and of a false Religion And as for such called Ministers they will be hurrying about thee and flattering thee with fair and crafty words and smooth Petitions and Requests for Protection and Establishment from thee and for large Maintenance and Stipends and Tythes and possibly they may complain to thee against such as cannot give them Hâ—re and Tythes but may reprove their Evil and Covetousness and Wickedness begging for Laws against such and crying out against Error Herisie because some may be mov'd to cry against their Deceits Oppressions and for the like causes they will run about thee and seek their own Advantage and this we know their nature and spirit is such and hath been for many Ages But now Friend Do thou stand in God's Authority out of and over all such Teachers and Sects and come not under any of them that have the Form of Godliness but want the Power who are in the Apostacy from the Life and pure Religion that the Apostles were in nor believe them not that shall say Lo Christ is â—â—rt or Lo he is there or Who shall ascend to fetch him from without or When shall be come from far to save his People Go not thou after any of these but he arken to the Word of God in thy heart and know that Christ is within thee else thou art reprobate neither do thou take in hand to exalt any one of these Sects or some of them above others neither defend maintain any of them against others of them nor tollerate not one of them above another for if thou dost it will betray thee and the Nations Peace and set all spirits on Fire about thee and while one is pleased and may pray for thee others will be vexed against thee and curse thee wherefore be not troubled about these things nor cumber not thy self about Religion how to establish it for it is God's Hand only to establish his Worship and Religion it belongs to him as he will and not as man by his Policy and Wisdom but stand free from them all and neither establish any nor persâ—â—ute any Sect whatsoever but let them all have their couâ—se and
not first challenged us to Disputes I had not had this Occasion thâ—â— to proceed now and in what I have done I refer it to the Iust Witness of God in the honest People in Reading and to all elsewhere FOrasmuch as great hath been the Debate for these divers years of late between the Lamb and his Followers and Antichrist and his Followers and the one of them hath been opposing the other in their own Power and Authority and great is the Debate at this day between these two Kingdoms which is endeavouring the Overthrow one of the other and all the strength and power of Antichrist is put forth in Defence of his kingdom by Persecution Injustice False-Imprisonments Beatings and Whippings and Spoiling of Goods and Persons and Railings Accusings Slanderings Reproachings by these wayes and proceedings doth Antichrist strive at this day for the upholding and maintaining his own cause and kingdom and by this means and these Weapons mentioned doth he seek to defend himself his Church and Ministry and Ordinances these are his Weapons and Armour by which he opposeth and fighteth against the Lamb and his Followers whom the Lord hath raised up for this end and they have within these few years more then ever for many Generations made an Invation and Inroad upon Antichrist his kingdom and government and the great City Babylon and the Seige is raised that hath long been laid against the Holy Seed and the great City Babylon is taken her Walls are scaled and her Gates broken and her Strength defeated and her Merchants spoiled of their goodly Treasure for the Day of the Lord is come and the holy Seed is he leading out of the spiritual Sodom and Egypt and Mystery Babylon the Great hath God remembred for her Iniquities and her Cruelties and Mercilesness and all her Abominations will God avenge upon her head and this doth come to pass and not by the multitude of an Host of men nor yet by humane Policy and Wisdom nor yet by carnal Weapons nor by Goals nor Prifons nor Persecutions these are not the Lamb's Weapons but these are Antichrist's and the Dragon's Armour and Weapons which he makes War by against the Lamb and his Followers even at this day in every Nation But the Lamb's Weapons are Truth Patience Long-suffering Meekness and down-right Sincerity of Heart and Tongue and by these things shall Antichrist be slain and these Weapons shall Conquer his kingdom Love shall overcome Hatred Meekness shall overcome Wrath Truth shall overcome Deceit and Falshood and God shall overcome the Devil But more particularly Great hath been the Opposition and Debate made one against the other and the Battel between Christ and Antichrist hath principally been held forth between the Ministers of the Church of England on Antichrist's part and the People called Quakers on the other part no man in the Nation can be so Ignorant how the Controversie hath depended betwixt these two and what Weapons they have used the one against the other and also it is in part known the Success of them both and how the one of them to wit the Ministers so called have had on their part the strength of Men the Magistrates Power the Rude Multitude and Humane Craft and the Serpent's Policy not any of these things have been wanting to them but yet a little Seed hath sprung up in the Nation on the other part unexpected by many which hath had Sincerity and Truth in it and the Lord hath been with it and he hath blessed it though but little and very small in its beginning yet it is prospered into a Kingdom for God's Might and his Authority dwelleth in it before whom all Nations of the Earth must Fear and Tremble But yet more particularly my present Occasion of demonstrating these things are as followeth and the Engagement that lies upon me hereunto is not out of any Personal Enmity that I have against any but my Intent is For the Discovery of the Truth that men may imbrace it and for the laying open the Deceits of Antichrist and his Kingdom that men may come out of Babylon and may not partake of her Sins nor of her Plagues and this matter now in hand chiefly concerns the people of the Town of Reading for their Satisfaction concerning the Wayes Practices Doctrines and Proceedings of Christopher Fowler one of their Ministers with whom I have been joyned in opposion two several times in dispute with him and the third time was appointed for our meeting upon Discourse as hereafter is related but he not appearing at the time and place according to appointment and he notwithstanding yet continues in opposition to and Reproaching of the Truth of the Gospel which I profess and contend for therefore upon this account do I thus eâ—gage with him and not for Centention sake but for the open vindication of Truth and Righteousness and sound Faith and Doctrine held forth by us and opposed and gain said by him The first opposition that fell out between him and me was at a meeting challenged by himself in that Town about the ninth Month in the year 1657 and I shall at present forbear his detestable and Abominable Practices and Spâ—â—ches against me and the Truth at that Meeting for indeed the remembrance of it is much passed from me but many in that Town may well remember to 〈◊〉 day how he hooted and clapped his hands in the Palpit as if he had been Hâ—nting on a Mountain and also his ungodly speeches and revilings towards me as calling me Dog and Villain and such like names and when some of his own people reproved him for such words he said The worst words he had in his Mouth was to good for me and indeed such was his carriages and words towards me at that time far off civility and not like a sober Heathen much less like a Christian or Minister of Christ and here follows what was written to him and to the Major and whole Town and sent the next Morning after the dispute which is some account of that dayes proceeding and finding a Copy of it by me I thought meet here to infert it Friends Rulers Priests and People of Reading A Few words to clear my Conscience to you all in the sight of God I send among you occasioned by this dayes Meeting ye people be ashamed of your Priests and ye Priests be ye ashamed of your People and all of you together cover your Lips and hide your Faces and be ashamed of your Profession in Religion or to make mention of the Name of the Lord in that nature in which you stand whose Lightness and Foolishness and Rudeness and Wickedness exceeds some others yea many with whom I have â—ad to do in Disputes you excel in unreasonableness in words and Behaviour manifesting your selves some of you not to be Civil Men much less Christians and this very day much of your Vanity Bruitishness and Unâ—â—vility appeared to your shame in the Sight of all
Just and Sober Men and to your condemnation in the Sight of God who takes notice of your wickedness and unseemly behaviour which you may call to mind and remember that you may repent of your ungodly words and cruel speeches and rude bruitish gestures which appeared in you without any Fear of God to your shame be it spoken and like Priests like People all out of the way in folly and vanity erring through Lightness and Wantonness not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God but perverters of the one and despifers of the other the sin of the Priest will be charged upon the People because you love to have those things so and uphold him in his wickedness and the sin of the people will be charged upon the Priests who through Lyes and Lightness cause you to err and profits them not at all but is a blind Leader of ye blind People till both fall into the Ditch together who close your Eyes that you may not see and shut your Ears lest you should Hear and harden your Hearts that you may not understand and your Destruction is of your selves and your Blood is upon your own Heads who scorns to be reproved and despiseth the Way of the Lord and will not receive his Truth in the Love of it that you may be saved but is a blind willful and stiff-necked people some of you who have hearts and cannot understand Is these the fruits of your long Profession Railing Mocking Scorning Laughing Hooting Foolish and Vain Words Nick-naming and Reproaching these things abounds openly among you to your shame especially at such a time when Meekness and Soberness and Moderation had much better become you to have been brought forth by you your Priests exceeding the rest in vileness and some of your Rulers hardly being clear remember your work and call to mind your words and ways and let shame cover your heads from the highest to the lowest of you and thou proud wild reproachful professeâ— Minister cease thy vain presumptious boastings against the Innocent and now when thou puts off thy armor if thou hast gotten a victory glory or rather hide thy face for shame and stop thy mouth in the dust whose Lightness and Wildness hath super-abounded some of thy fellows who may be ashamed of thee in thy words and behaviour whereby thou art sufficiently proved to be one that was never sent of God if we had no other testimony Thy proud presumptions boast against the Quakers was with soberness and in the Fear of the Lord answered to thy shame in the sight of all such whose hearts are not altogether hardned and given up to believe Lies and to do Wickedness that they may be damned that believe not the Truth and first as to the manner of the dispute on his part were his Railing Envious Reproachful unsavory filthy words of God or of the Devil with much impudency many times uttered in the discourse as Villain Sirrah Wretch Blasphemer Rogue and such like lying words of Bitterness more like the words of a brawling Drunkard then for a Minister of Christ and were his booting laughsing and clapping his hands and rude and unseemly gestures and behaviour of God or of the Devil more like in appearance to a Stage-player then to a Minister of Christ to his shame I mention it consider and answer these things and let that of God in your Consciences judge to which I stand to be approved in meekness and he to be reproved and condemned in his filthiness and bruitishness in the Sight of God may not you who owned him in that discourse be ashamed of him in these his words and actions which appeared who boastingly gave a Challenge to dispute of the things of God and then to mannage it in Rudeness and Wildness without any Fear of God in Lying and Slandring and at the end when things came to the head for Tryal to run away and not to stand to the end though several times he was charged to it I appeal for Answer to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences not like a Minister of Christ in any measure he appeared but as one that knows not the Living God nor his Law and Fear nor Judgements and an unfit fellow upon tryal I found him to dispute the Precious things of God and through some Nations I have hardly met with a worse which caused me to be the more silent then otherwise I would for I chosed rather to be accounted a fool by silence then to offend the Just Law of God by giving holy things to Dogs or casting Pearls before Swine in which nature he and some of you appeared who fasly Slandered the Innocent with the name of Jesuite and such like crying away with him with Bitter and Cruel words and gestures pushing with your hands and crying a Prison were the fittest or such like even like unto your fore-Fathers the Pharisees who persecuted Christ under the account of themselves being righteous and he a blasphemer and they laid snares for him to entrap him in his works as you did who when I would not answer according to your provoking that you might ensnare me would hardly suffer me to answer any thing to clear and defend to the Truth against the boast of the Wicked but by Hooting and Laughing and Clapping of Hands and Foolish Jeastings and unreasonable Rudeness prevented me from speaking and them that would have heard from hearing as much as you could even as bruit Beasts or Heathens and not like civil people much less like godly Christians nor like such as would or could soberly debate the Truth of God to edification and truly may I say I fought with Beasts at Reading after the manner of men but all was to make your selves and your pretended Minister manifest and all could not be so blind but might understand his wayes and words not to be guided by the Spirit of God but by the spirit of the Devil who is the Father of such Works and Conâ—… as was brought forth by him in the Meeting in many uncivil actions and reproachful words of envy And also as to the matter of dispute on his pâ—â—t managed was but a vain contention boastingly uttered without the Fear of the Lord in a proud presumptious spirit and a Snare laid in the mid'st of his Questions and Arguments to entrap the Just but in vain was the Snare 〈◊〉 in the sight of the Bird and I chose rather to appear a Fool to your wisdom then to be made a prey upon by you and caught in your deep-laid Snare for we are learned to be as wise as Serpents and deeply did he and sâ—â—e of you fall into the Snare of Confusion and Wickedness and False Doctrines as would have been laid open if he had durst to have staid or you to have heard The Principal Question was whether the Scriptures are the Word of God which he affirmed but could not prove by plain Scripture â—â—to which much might have
been answered and said if patience or any moderation had ruled over your despiteful spirits but because I could not to satisfy your wills and to fulfil your purpose answer yea or nay and thereby make my self a Transgressor Therefore hardly would you suffer me to say any thing in any manner of arguing but by wickedness endeavoured to stop my Mouth My answer was and is the Scriptures the Writings which are one are but a declaration and witness of the Word of God which Word was in the beginning and endures for ever as Iohn and Peter testifies and the Scriptures which are Writings were not in the beginning but began to be written by Moses many hundred years after the beginning Therefore the Scriptures which were not in the beginning are not the Word of God which Word was in the beginning further the Scripture saith the Worlds â—â—â—e made and framed by the Word of God but the Scriptures made not the Worlds therefore the Scriptures are not the Word of God which as the Scripâ—â—â—e it self saith made the Worlds many such like witnesses might be alledged from the Scriptures to prove the Scriptures are not the Word God 〈◊〉 a Declaration of the Word of God and cannot endure for ever then 〈◊〉 said he would prove the Scriptures should endure for ever but could not bring any plain Scriptures as I demanded of him to prove the assertion but went about in Logick to prove it and could prove no more then that the truth written of in the Scripture should endure for ever which thing I never did or shall deny and so needed not to be contended against by any sober men but unreasonable men who have not Faith will say any thing for Advantage to themselves and Disadvantage to the Truth which they are set to oppose And he instanced and said It is written Christ is God Blessed forever 〈◊〉 then shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and said this should endure fâ—â—â—â—er To which I answered That which is written of only shall endure forever but the Scriptures and Writings should not endure forever And further instanced God was written and was Scripture and should not endure â—â—â—ever though God should endure forever and he could not be written nor â—â—â—â—ained in a Book and through your Vanity in Scorning and Hooting 〈◊〉 Unreasonableness according to your own purpose lest your Deceiver â—â—â—â—ld be made manifest you prevented me and would not suffer me to speak in what much more I had to say in this particular and I observed that in all the Questions and Arguments against me were hatched secretly a Snare to 〈◊〉 me into Suffering and to this purpose some of you said wickedly I â—â—â—ld presently dispute my self into Prison and further he instanced Thou 〈◊〉 â—…r thy Father and thy Mother it is so written and said he This is a Command of God and the Word of God and shall endure for ever with presumptuous boasts and scornfull invented terms not beseeming any 〈◊〉 much less a Minister and that he could prove this to be the Word of God against all the Quakers in the World and against all the Fiends in Hell and against all the Jesuits at Rome or filthly words to this purpose and much I desired moderation from you with diligence to hear my defence and thereupon many times desired the Mayor who was present to command silence but I could hardly obtain any from you you were so generally rude and rash and unreasonable and to him I replyed that to honour Father and Mother in the Lord was a Command of God and the Word of God and should endure for ever but Luke's Writings the Scripture were but a Declaration of this Command and not the Command it self nor the Word of God and would perish and not endure for ever and bid you read Luke 1. 1. There Luke calls his Writings which are Scripture a Declaration and much more might I have spoken to this thing if I had been yoaked against a reasonable man or if the Auditors had been but civil but you could not endure to hear but said I subtilly insinuated into their People and thereupon several times some of you spake to the Mayor to dismiss the people I think lest your Hirelings should be discovered and your Wickedness reproved and thus the thing came near an end he not being able to prove by any Scripture or right Argument the Scripture to be the Word of God which shall endure for ever but must if his and your eye ever be opened confess to what I held forth that onely that which is written of in the Scripture or which the Scriptures declare of shall endure for ever to be the Word of God and not the Scripture or Writings then presumtuously he said prove him if I could to be a false Prophet to which I answered and desired much your moderation but could not obtain it as though you had set your selves to be rude and vain to prove a false Prophet was either by Conversation or Doctrine or both and by his Fruits he was known to preach for Hire and to divine for Money is fruits and signs of a false Prophet as the Scripture testified which should be my rule to try him by if he durst stand to it and they that preached for hire were false Prophets and he preached for hire and therefore was a false Prophet according to the Scripture rule then he said he preached not for hire yet he had hire for preaching a poor shift to cover the Devils Deceits but it will not hide his Shame and it was proved that he preached for hire to all but such who stopped their Ears and it was manifest in his face that he sued some at the Law which would not pay him Tythes And then I asked him to give any Examples from the Ministers of Christ where ever they took Tythes or sued Men at the Law who would not pay them Wages but to this he gave no answer at all and thereby he was proved to be a false Prophet and a Deceiver and much more might have been said as to this to prove him and his Generation to be false Prophets as may be done at any time but such was the unreasonableness at this passage that you were nigh to lay violent hands upon me some of you and lest your Deceiver should be made manifest you would not suffer me to speak what I had to say but cried Away with me And tell me any of you when he preached any year or time at this Town when he had no hire and therefore he is a Hireling because he preacheth not without it but for it and so is a false Prophet and he being I judge sorely afraid lest he should be discovered went out of his Pulpit door two or three times till I called him back again and charged him to stay if he was a man and I would prove him to be a preacher of false Doctrine who in my hearing said
well Oh that such would consider and not be hasty in any thing to perform or profess Religion in their degenerate estate but that they would come to know the Regeneration and the renewing of their minds by the holy spirit and that the Immortal Birth might be born in them even the Birth of the Spirit which is Heir of God Oh that that might live and rule in them then should they be Heirs of God and Citizens of the New-Ierusalem And oh ye People of London lay it to heart you must be born again or else you can never enter into Gods Kingdom you must be changed in nature and must be crucified to this world that you may live unto God this must you come unto or else you have no part nor portion in Eternal Life and your Duties and Performances in your Forms of Religion they cannot save you not justifie you all your Preaching Praying Singing and all your Duties whatsoever they are all nothing till you come to know changing and renewing inwardly and do witness the Seed of God raised up in you and the head of the Serpent bruised in you by the Seed of the Woman this must you come to witness that your Souls may live Oh that you would consider be not so zealous against that which you may call Heresie and Schism for while you err in judgment you may soon speak evil of Truth and persecute it under the name of Error many have wofully faln into that Snare and brought sorrow upon themselves thereby The wise Iews even the chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees they were as confident in their Way as you can be and yet they erred in judgment and would not receive Christ but persecuted him under the very name of a Deceiver and thus it is possible for many to do in this Age What though you have Christ's words and the Apostles words yet if you have not the Spirit of Christ that was in the Apostles you know nothing rightly of the Scriptures neither can you understand them nor have Salvation by them for you must know Christ in you your hope of glory else you are Reprobates and shut out of the Kingdom of God And search the Scriptures and see if they do not witness this Do not they say Christ is in you except you be Reprobates and do not they say The Law of God is written in the heart and the Spirit of God is put in the inward part And do not they say That Christ hath lightned every man that comes into the World with the true Light And do not they say that the Apostle exhorts people to hearken to the Word of God in their hearts and to be followers of the Spirit of God that was in their hearts And do not the Scriptures say That it was the Light that shined in the heart that gave the knowledge of God unto the Saints Search the Scriptures and see whether these things be so and must not men be born again of the Immortal Seed Oh consider and let not these Doctrines seem new unto you neither reject them though they come unto you in weak appearance not with words of mens wisdom but in Simplicity and in sincerity and in the Power of God And search the Scriptures whether these things be so were not they false Prophets That preached for hire and divined for money and sought for their gain from their Quarter were not such Deceivers in the true Prophets time and them that preached for filthy lucre and for money and for gifts and rewards were not such false Brethren and false Apostles search the Scriptures whether these things be so for the day of trial is now come wherein all must be searched and that Religion and Worship and Ministry which is not according to the Scriptures which was given forth by the Spirit of God let that Religion Worship Church and Ministry be utterly condemned of the Lord and all his People and let such Ministers as cannot prove their Call their Maintenances and Practices to be according to Scriptures let such Ministers be confounded and silenced for ever and come to try this matter when you will For whereas you cry out against us as if we were Deniers of Scriptures as if we were Enemies to Church and godly Ministry and Religion and as if we were Deceivers Hereticks Papists c. But I say unto you these things have you never yet justly proved against us but rather accused us behind our backs to make us odious among people and though for divers years together we have been publick yet when did ever any of you Ministers seek by lawfull means to convert us or shew us our Errors if we were as you say of us oh it had been your time to have sought our conversion and not to have Persecuted to have sent to Prisons Houses of Correction and by such Weapons of any outward force and cruelty have you dealt with us and not in meekness and by the Spirit of the Lord as Ministers of Christ ought to do but have cried to the Magistrates to defend you and your your Church and Worship being unable as it were by the Authority of God's Spirit to defend your selves Therefore I say unto you now lay down your Carnal Weapons and come out in the Spirit of Meekness and come out in the Authority of God's Spirit if you have it convince us thereby if we be in an evil way as you say let us hear your soundest Arguments by the Spirit of God and according to the Scriptures to prove those things which you say of us prove it by evident Arguments that we deny Scriptures and that we are Hereticks and that we are Papists I challenge you all in the Name of the Lord even all you Ministers of London let us hear your sound Reasons openly in the spirit of Meekness and do not back-bite nor slander in the dark and let us not be bawled against by your rude Members as often we have been even in the spirit of wickedness but come out you Ministers we are willing to be tried according to the Scriptures and by the Spirit of God in our Religion and in every part of it and if you be the same then come forth in the spirit of Meekness like Ministers of Christ and lay down your Carnal Weapons and let us have fair dealing openly that Truth may be manifested publickly and Error may be discovered and let us not envy one anothers persons and seek to destroy one anothers lives but let us seek to destroy the evil in one another that men might be saved and this would be a Christian-like way we would hear what you have to charge against our Religion by sound Arguments in Meekness that we may answer it and then we will charge something upon your Ministry Church Religion and Worship and we will prove what we say against you according to the Scriptures and we will not impose our Religion upon you by the force of outward Powers
may prove to be a just Judgment from the Lord upon the Unfaithful and Treacherous and Unjust Rulers and Teachers and People which I have mentioned and the Lord may justly avenge himself upon them who have abused his Mercies and not improved his Deliverance to his glory but preverted the end wherefore they were at first raised up I say the Lord may justly be avenged of them by this means of this mans coming in and he may be in the hand of the Lord a very smiting Rod to correct and rebuke and may be a heavy Judgment upon many in this Nation even from that cause and for that end as before I have expressed Quer. 2. Whether you or any of you do adjudge is Reasonable and Equitable that â—e should come and inherit the Nations of which he is born the right Heir Or whether or 〈◊〉 it is just or unjust to God and men that he would Reign King over these Nation If you walk and judge by the Law of God which is Equal then judge of this whether he hath been kept out this many Years and now is brought in again Reasonably and Iustly or Unjustly and contrary to Reason Answ. That he should come in is Reasonable and Equitable because through the purpose of the Lord his coming in is accomplished who effecteth nothing but what is Equal and Reasonable and there is cause in God sufficient wherefore it should thus be and there is Sufficient cause and Reason appearing to us in this matter and upon the very account as laid down in my Answer to the first Query it is Equal as in the Lord that he should be restored who hath been removed and cast out by such as have pretended to Govern and Rule better than he but have ruled in Oppression and Injustice and not answered the cause wherefore he was cast out and that he should come in to be a Scourge upon these this is just and in this particular doth lye the Reason and Equity of his coming in to inherit this Nation And as for Reigning justly over this Nation that may better be answered when we have had experience of his Reign for if he Reign and Rule in Truth and Righteousness in Mercy and in Justice and by and according to the Just Law of God if thus he Reign then he Reigneth justly and it is just to God and men that he should Reign and this the Law of God which is Equal judgeth by which we walk in all things and do judge of all things And as for his being kept out this many years we do judge that the hand of the Lord is in these matters and they were done and suffered to be done by him in which he will be glorified yet thus far I say they that have kept him out in pretence that they would Rule better than he and yet have ruled in Oppression and Injustice as much more may be then he would have done they have dealed unjustly and contrary to reason both to him and much more to the People of these Nations while they have made and had new Names and Titles of Government and Governors but have continued the old oppressions and not releived the oppressed according to their own vows and promises which they have broken and it is but just they should be punished for it but if he render not evil for evil he doth well Quer. 3. Whether or no ye can judge that his Reign and Government shall be blessed to himself and these Nations or the contrary Or whether shall Peace or Trouble be in the Land in his days And shall his days be many or shall his time be short if this be revealed to you let us know Answ. We do judge that his Reign and Government may be blessed to himself and these Nations or not blessed and peace may be in the Land or trouble in his dayes and his time may be long or it may be short according as he walketh in the fear of the Lord or as he walketh wickedly and according as his Reign and Government is in Righteousness Mercy and Truth or in Oppression and Injustice accordingly do I judge may he be blessed and may have Peace and long dayes or the contrary if he walk in the way which brings contrary effects and we take not upon us to judge any thing before the time but as thorow time he discovers himself so we may judge of him for we desire well for him and all men thâ—â—â—e mâ—y so Reign and Govern as to be a blessing to himself and these Nations that Peace may be in his dayes and his Time may be happy And this we certainly know that there is an eternal God who is over all and that can do whatsoever he will even set up and pull down whomsoever he will and though his strength now be great and his number very many yet there is an Eternal God above all who is mighty to save and mighty to destroy and if he please not God in his ways and in his Reign but be an Oppressor and walk in evil wayes we certainly believe he cannot be blessed nor have Peace nor long time but the Lord may bring to pass the contrary for as the Scriptures say it is by him that Kings Reign he makes Kings blessed or miserable the Scriptures gives much evidence concerning the good and the bad Kings of Israel they that were good men and Ruled well they were blessed and had long dayes and people were happy under them and to the Kings that were Idolaters and Oppressors and walked in wickedness and vexed the Lord it was contrary for the Lord cut them off and destroyed them and delivered the oppressed and God is the same now as he was then as powerful to save the Righteous and as mighty to destroy the wicked and we rather desire that he may follow the example of the good Kings of Israel that the good effects may follow and that he may not follow the evil example of Tyrants and Oppressors But and if he do the effect and reward will certainly be upon him and the Lord will rebuke him and this we know by the Spirit of the Lord. Quer. 4. Whether may be justly forgive or avenge himself of his and his Father's Enemies and if he do avenge whether or no can that be called persecution and if any or many suffer death or otherwise on that account because they destroyed his Father and sought to destroy him also do such suffer for righteousness and good conscience or no if some of you suffer for that cause shall you have Peace with God in it or is it for the name of Christ as ye often say Answ. He may justly in the sight of God forgive his and his Father Enemies and he will be the more blessed if he do it for it is a happy thing to forgive Enemies and it is Christ's Doctrine also to forgive Enemies and it would be a good report unto him among his Friends and
and divers practises thereunto pertaining it is not the true Worship of the True and Living God though never so zealously practised because it cannot be believed that the Authors and Composers of it were moved led and guided by the Holy Spirit of God in their very Institution and forming of it and whatsoever is brought forth whether in Faith or any practise in any kind of Profession and practises in any way of Religion and not onely by the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which is only in Spirit and Truth and consists onely of such practises moved unto and guided in by the Spirit and the true Worship of God is not otherwise neither for matter nor manner but in what things and after what manner as the Spirit of God leadeth unto and guideth in for the Father seeketh such to Worship him as Worship in Spirit and Truth 4. As for the Method and Form of the matter it is not according to the example of the Holy Scriptures nor agreeing to the practise of Worship held forth by the Apostles but different from and partly contrary to the Spirit that was in the Saints and their example of Worship as in many circumstances pertaining to the orders of Common-Prayer-Book might be instanced but even some of the Practises themselves and the manner of performing them are for the most part Invention and Tradition traduced into the World long since the Apostles days and they are not according to the Scriptures nor example of the Saints Worship in the Church of Christ in their days and therefore the Matter in it self partly and the Method of it are not the true Worship of the Living God which is not after the traditions of men as the manner of performance of Common Prayer-Book is when as the Worship of God is in and by the Spirit of God as before witnessed 5. And as for the Practice of it in this Nation as by Imposition and force upon pains penalties as it was practised for many years together as so held forth it was not the Worship of God but Abomination to him as I have shewed and that Worship which is practised by any people being forced upon them is but Hypocrisie and deceit and outward conformity in such Worshippers and God requires it not of them and such was the Worship in the Common-Prayer so called for there were many who did bow and conform thereunto even because of the terror of men even many in the Ignorance of their Consciences and some against their Consciences and contrary to the Light thereof and some were persecuted because they could not conform all which was Abomination in the sight of the Lord even the consequence of the thing was as evil as any part of either matter or manner also even while many conceited themselves in their Ignorance that they had Worshipped God and done well while they had onely performed such Worship forced upon them and which the Lord never required at their hands and that cannot be the true Worship of the true and Living God which can be performed by a People without the Spirit of God by which alone and without it God cannot be Worshipped and the practise of Worship after the order of Common-Prayer did many thousands if not most perform without the Spirit of God whereby it fully appears that in the practise of the Book of Common-Prayer the Worshippers did not Worship the true and Living God but walked only in a part of the Form of Godliness but had not the Power 6. But as for the Practise of it as now in England without Imposition upon all by force and penalty but by some out of supposition that it is the best way of worship and that willingly and neither forced upon them nor they forcing it upon others as thus practis'd is not so great Idolatry nor of so bad effects as if it were violently forced upon all but if any suppose it to be the best way of worship and be so perswaded such may more equally have their Liberty in the exercise thereof while they allow Liberty to others to follow what worship as they are preswaded and as it is unjust to impose by violence that or any other Form of worship upon people so it is unjust to impose penalty or punishments on the Bodies or Estates of any for their conformity to the Book of Common-Prayer or any other kind of Worship for as it is contrary to God to compel by force to that Practise of Worship so it is unjust to stop by force from that Way of Worship or to inflict Penalties upon the Persons or Estates of any because thereof for though many exceptions may be justly made by sound Arguments against that way of Worship in matter manner and effects as I have said yet none ought to be afflicted in Person or Estate for the error of their minds while their error extends not to destroy the Person and Estate of another for all force by violence that hath been put on the Bodies and Estates of men about Church-Worship Ministry and Religion of any kind hath been Antichristian and not of God even for many Generations 7. And therefore them that read the Book of Common-Prayer and all other sort of Worshippers that are either perswaded by the Spirit of God or suppose in their hearts of the Verity and Truth of their Way let them all have their Liberty in their way of Worship without force or restraint by outward Laws while they impose not one upon another violently for the true Worshippers ought not to be persecuted for their Worship but if they are it will confirm them in the truth of their Way the false Worshippers ought not to suffer affliction of Persecution nor loss of Estate though they do err in their Minds and Judgments about Worship in spiritual things but if they are afflicted because thereof it will harden them in their evil wayes and not convert them nor turn them from the evil of their wayes for men are converted to the right way and out of that which is evil by the Spirit of God and through perswading of the Conscience inwardly and not by force or violence put upon their Bodies or estates outwardly never any were converted to God by such means And this is my Answer to the Objection and my judgment of the case inquired into The Book of Common Prayer so called partly the Matter it self and the Method of it and the Manner of its performance is not the true Worship of the True and Living God no not the free Practise there of without Imposition much less the Practise of it by Imposition and force for that is altogether Abomination and hath with it woful effects upon whatsoever People it hath been or shall hereafter be forced and violently Imposed This is given forth for the Satisfaction of all that desires in this Matter The 5th Moneth 1660. E. B. A Postscript AND some set up the Institution
and bad experience of and so that you may speak what you have heard and seen and handled and tasted of the Word of Life All that will be saved must come to this and witness it IX Again Whosoever will be saved must believe in Jesus Christ and receive him and they must take up his daily cross and follow him and must know him to mortifie and crucifie them to the World and he must work the same things in you by his Spirit spiritually as he wrought without you in his Person or else you have no part in him nor salvation by him For it is not enough unto eternal life only to believe that there was such a one as a Christ and that he did and spoke such and such things at a distance without you for many may make a belief and a profession of this and yet perish but Him that was of whom you read without you must you receive and witness within you and you must know Him as he was before Abraham was and before the World was and He himself by his Spirit in you must give you the knowledge of Himself what He was before the beginning what he is now and what he shall for ever be X. Again Every one that will be saved must come up out of the Apostacy into which all Christendom hath been fallen and must come into the same Spirit Life and Power as the Apostles were in from which Life Spirit and Power all Christendom have been Apostates and they have held the words and practices of the Apostles without the same Life and Power and made Sects Churches and Ministers but out of the same Life and Spirit as the holy men of God were in and all that will be saved must be restored and received into the same Spirit and Life in their Churches Ministry and Ordinances as the Apostles of Christ Jesus were in and this is Restoration when People come again into the same Life and Spirit of God which the Apostate Christians have all wanted and been in the Form of Ministry Churches Religion and Godliness without the Power And unto this is the Lord God restoring People his Day is dawned and his everlasting Light is risen and his Name will be known in the Earth and none can be saved with the Salvation of God but who believe receive and understand these things A General Objection answered â—…ject 1. And whereas there is a great cry by some People of late That there must be no private Meetings but all People must come to Church as they say â—â—d that there must be no more Conventicles c. Answ. As for Conventicles I understand you mean Meetings out of publick Steeple-houses and that there must be no private Meetings for preaching and Praying but all People must be forced to come to publick Places of Worship Now I say If the Authority that is now set up and hath the Power doth exercise it self in this way then the God of Heaven will be provoked against it to overthrow it and confound it if it proceed contrary to the End of just Rule and Authority ordained of God which is for the punishment of them that do evil things between man and man but not to impose upon mens Consciences in things relating to the Worship and Service of God But the Lord God 〈◊〉 wholly Judge in such Matters and not any Man and if any Men 〈◊〉 erâ— in their Minds concerning Faith and Doctrine and the Worship of God that belongs to the Lord to punish and not to any Earthly Authority And what must not the People of God come together to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth Must not People conveen together in this Age as the People of God did in Ages past Did not Christ many times preach in the Dâ—sert and sometimes in a Ship by the Sea-side and sometiâ—es on a Mountain as you may read in the Scriptures And did not he often preach unto the Pharisies and sometimes to his Disciples out of the publick Synagogues And might not the Iews have called those Meetings Conventicles because they were not in their publick Synagogues And also did not the Apostles and Saints after the Resurrection of Christ when they returned from Ierusalem meet together privately for they went into an upper Room and waited upon the Lord anâ— continued with one accord in Prayer and Supplication And again at aâ—…er time they were about an hundred and twenty in number that were in one Place to wait upon the Lord and Peter preached unto them and were these Meetings Conventicles because they were not in a publick Synagogue but in 〈◊〉 upper Chamber and in a private Place And thus the Saints of old met together as ye may read Act. 1. and worshipped God in Spirit and in Truth and preached and prayed and must not the People of God now meet together to pray and wait upon the Lord but they must be reproached with th◠〈◊〉 of Conventicles and threatned and punished for so doing Oh how blind iâ— this Generation and how contrary to the true Christian-Spirit in their Practices And did not Philip preach Jesus unto the Eunuch in a Chariot as 〈◊〉 â—ent on the way and this was not in a publick Synagogue as in Act. 8. 〈◊〉 â—id not Peter preach to Cornelius with many others in Cornelius his house 〈◊〉 â—is was a Meeting and not in a Synagogue Acts 10. And did not the â—…les and Saints meet together in an Upper Chamber where Paul preached until midnight amongst the Saints Act. 20. and was this a Conventicle and aâ— unlawful Meeting Might not the Iews have said this was an Unlawful Assembly being in a Chamber and not in a Publick Synagogue And again Did not Paul preach in his own Hired House for two whole years together and received all that came in unto him Act 28. And here were Privatâ— Meetings out of Publick Synagogues But did the Iews threaten them and inflict sufferings upon them because they met in private houses and would not come to their Synagogues and Publick Worship or did they reproach them with the name of Sectaries and Conventiolers when they met together to wait upon the Lord sometime in praying and sometime in preaching And thus you may see by many Examples that the Saints and true Christian Churches in the dayes of old met together sometime on Mountains and sometimes in Deserts and sometime in Upper Chambers their own hired houses and not in the publick Synagogues but they were gathered from the Temple and first Priesthood and from the Worship which God had once commanded which stood in outward things and Ordinances and when they had received the substance they denyed the shadows types and figures and did not uphold them any longer And they were gathered by the preaching of the Gospel into the second and new Covenant and they met together in private Houses and upper Chambers and by the Sea-side to preach and pray and to worship the Lord and we do
Minds of Men and Unsettlement in their spirits and the Foundation of a happy Government is not yet discovered unto many nor do the People walk in the way of Peace but Iniquity is abounding Oppression and Cruelty yet lives Hard-heartedness and Envy Pride and Ambition are not yet cut down neither in all the Governours nor in the Governed and this is not the way of Peace and true Settlement but it is the way of Troubles and Distractions and the very Foundation of great Distractions and Wars rather than of Settlement and happy Government These things are so and therefore true Peace and settlement in good Agreement who can expect because the ground of Distractions and unsettlement is continued and increased rather than abated and removed amongst 〈◊〉 and the true Foundation of Peace and settlement in happy Government is not yet raised up amongst men but because Injustice and Oppressiâ—â— are continued therefore will God be provoked to bring Distractions Wars and Tribulations upon the Kingdoms of all the World and God will â—â—â—found and dash in pieces Powers Authorities Rulers Nations and Peoples and he will break one Potsherd against another and overthrow one Mountain against another and the Hands of cruel Men will God suffer to devour one another and ambitious and malicious Hearts shall be suffered to finish one anothers ends because of their own wickedness and therefore be not deceived Blessedness in the Kingdoms of this World can never be except Iniquity and Transgression be departed from except Oppession and Hard-heartedness dye and except the Foundation of War and Strife be removed and the Foundation of Peace and happy Government be raised up amongâ—â— Men. Again True Peace and settlement in good Government can never be except the Lord alone be owned as Judge and Law-giver and his righteous Laws to be executed in the Earth that Justice and true Judgement may flow down and all the contrary may be stopped and limtted by the just Laws of God and all unjust and unequal Laws made and established in the Ignorancâ— of Men which have not been justly according to the Law of God nor depended thereupon such Laws must also be made void judged and cast out and the Law of God must enter This must be accomplished if ever true settlement in a pappy Peace be amongst us the Laws must be changed the unjust and unequal cast out and just and equal Laws brought in for because hereof while unjust and unequal Laws have been executed in Judgement therefore have we wanted settlement and peace in a happy Government and the cortrary hath been and will continue till all unjust unequal and oppressive Laws be discontinued Again If ever true peace and settlement in a happy Government be amongst men Governours Rulers and Executioners of the Law must be just Persons and righteous Men Men that fear God and hate Covetousness and that depart from every evil way and all ambitious self-seeking and unjust Men must be cast out even all they that have sought themselves and not the Lord in their places of Trust such as have perverted Justice and true Judgement for their own corrupted Ends and such as have been cruel and hard-hearted Oppressors all such as these must be cast out and the Law must not be committed to such to execute neither must such sit in judgement over the People for because hereof and while such men have ruled and governed and executed the Laws no true settlement in a just Government but the contrary hath been even Destractions anâ— Tribulations and while such men do continue to rule and judge and execute the Laws in any part of the World we shall never have a happy Government nor settlement in it in this World nor till just men that have the Spirit of God and sound judgement that are humble and meek patient and merciful and such as fear the Lord and walk in his Wayes be called to rule and judge and execute the Laws and the Laws must be just and holy and the Executioners of them equal and upright men Till these things be accomplished a happy settlement in this Worlds Kingdoms can never be but God will dash one Mountain against another and throw one Hill upon another and he will give no Peace among the Kings of the Earth but stain the glory of all the Worlds Governments till Truth and Righteousness come to reign and till just Laws be executed by just Men and till Mâ—rcy and Justice Truth and Equity flow forth abundantly Therefore all Nations you have been deceived while you have turned up and down from one way and manner and kind of Government to another and from one sort of Governmten to others sometimes you have been for a Parliament sometime for a Protector and sometime for neither from each of these to others you have changed thinking to have peace and settlement in a happy Government but it could not be for there are continuâ—l Distractions untill this day in the minds of Mâ—n and they are yet unsettled in their spirits and there are Heart-burnings and â—nvyings and seeking of Revenge and while these things are nothing but Distractions and Tribulâ—tions not Peace but Troubles even till these things be removed And till â—e have just and equal Laws according to the Law of God established over 〈◊〉 and just and holy and Righteous Men to execute them in Judgement â—pon us and till we have Truth and Righteousness sit on the Throne until this be no true Settlement in a happy Government but Distractions and Contentions and woful Tribulations in the Kingdoms of the World and amongst men and this is certain and according unto the Will of the Loâ—d and in the justness of his Judgement these things come to pass for it is Injustice and Oppressions and want of Mercy and Truth which is the Foundation of Contentions and Distractions and it is Justice and Equity Truth and Righteousness that is the only Foundation of Peace and Settlement and a happy Government for a Perpetual continuance To all False Christians THere are many false wayes in the World and many false kinds of Religions and People are in much disagreement about their Church Worship and Ministry Papists are opposing the Protestants and the Protestants the â—â—pists and there is a great contention in the World But the Papists are in a wrong way and so are the Protestants too and their Religions are both false in many things for whilst they profess Christ and Christianity and make a shew of Righteousness in outward appearance yet many of them live in sinful wayes and bring forth the fruits of Iniquity against the living God and Pride Cheating and Double-dealing Covetousness and Envy Drunkenness and Whoredom and all Wickedness is abounding and brought forth both by the Apostate Christians though they cry up the Name of Christ and the Profession of Godliness yet are they wicked in the sight of God and they are not changed in heart and mind nor do they know the
charging all this upon us Answ. 1 That we do boast of talking with God or of Revelation This is another of his false Accusations for we boast not nor do we glory in any thing saving in the Lord and this is no Error but that which we must acknowledge unto or else deny the Truth to talk with God and God with us in and by his own Spirit for all the Saints have converss with God and union and fellowship with him in his own Spirit as the Scriptures do declare and as for Revelations we do acknowledge according to Christ's Words that we had never known the Father nor the Son but by Revelation For none known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him as it is written and all such as have not converss with God and that have not Revelation are not in the Way of Eternal life but are ignorant and without God in the World and neither know him nor have fellowship with him 2. As for killing all the Wicked this is another false Charge for it is not our Principle to war against the Persons of any Men and kill them with carnal Weapons about Church and Ministry and Religion as the Papists and Protestants do one against another but it is our Principle to war against the evil spirit in men and to smite that with the spiritual Sword of God's Word and we would have mens wickedness killed and their Persons saved and their Souls delivered and this is the War we make even till men be changed by the Power of God and all things made new even a new World and a new Earth we do expect according to the Lord's Promise so that it is no error to expect a new Earth and a new World for there is a new Creation which the Saints do witness created anew in Christ Jesus to bring forth good fruits unto the living God and all that do not witness this are in the transgression of the old Creation which brings the Wrath of God Again The Accuser tells a story of one that professed the Gift of discerning spirits and to know the Elect from Reprobates and that made holiness consist in speaking little and living homely and sordidly as our Quakers do saith he Answ. 1. As for discerning of Spirits that is a Gift which the Saints of God do receive in all Ages for the Apostles said to some was given the discerning of spirits by the manifestation of the Spirit of God So to profess discerning of spirits is no error in us though it be stated as a great error before you by an ignorant man who knows not what he saith nor whereof he affirms And its possible to know the Elect from Reprobates by their fruits and works for the Children of God who are the Elect are known by their holy and Righteous works and fruits and the Children of the Devil who are the Reprobates are known also by their works and fruits of unrighteousness which they bring forth and this the Scriptures bear witness of 2. As for speaking little and living homely and sordidly If he means by homely and sordidly plainly and without superfluity this is also works and fruits of holiness and its better to speak little than to utter multitude of vain words and its more justifiable to God and just Men to be plain and homely as he saith in Apparrel than superfluity of naughtiness in vain Attire and more holy for true holiness consists in the Power of God which crucifies all idle words and all superfluity in Apparrel and whatsoever is not like God And was but this Accuser as wise as he is envious he would never be seen to scorn the Quakers scornfully so called with speaking little and wearing plain and sober Apparrel but Fools love to be medling to manifest their own folly as it is written Again The Accuser telleth another Story of Muntzer how he did exhort some that were on his part viz. Anabaptists to kill every Mothers Son for a Sacrifice to the Lord and saith he by this we may gâ—ess if Anabaptists and Quakers should get the upper hand what they would do c. Answ. 1. As for the Quakers getting the upper hand we strive not for it by carnal Weapons to have victory over mens Persons though we know the Lord will give us victory and dominion over the Beast and over the false Prophets for the Lamb shall get the victory and they that are with him who are called and faithful and chosen but this victory is spiritual and obtained spiritually and thus we believe the Lord will give us the upper hand even victory over â—ll our Enemies 2. But what a wicked envious siâ—rmise and suggestion is here coutched under as if the Quakers if they had victory would kill every Mothers Son for a Sacrifice and that they would make War c. The Lord rebuke his slanderous Tongue who hatched Mischief in his mind against the Innocent and presented you with forged Lyes and Surmises and imagined guessed cruel and evil things against us who are far otherwise Principled than as he suggesseth but all this his own doings doth but manifest the folly of his own Heart and 〈◊〉 own wickedness for we are of the Spirit of Mercy and Peace and not of Murder and War not to kill mens Persons but to war with the Spirit of God against spiritual Enemies that mens Iniquities may be slain and their Persons and Souls saved Again The Accuser pag. 4. tells a long story of Micher Hopman and others with him what things they held As they condemned the Baptism of Children they would not take an Oath they pulled down Magistrates they undertook to kill all Princes they taught that in their Churches all were holy and that it was lawful to have many Wives that all Learning is prophane and that mean men are fittest to expound Sâ—riptures and there must be no ordinary calling in the Church but every man must speak as he is inspired And thus it is saith the Accuser with the Quakers and Popish Agents who are their Ring-leaders have been endeavouring in these three Nations these eight or nine years by-past c. Answ. 1. It is to be considered that all these things are fully charged upon us as being guilty thereof and so to every particular I shall answer As to that of the Baptism of Children we do say there is neither Command nor Example for it in all the Scripture God never commanded it nor did the Apostle ever practise it in their dayes but it is a Tradition of the Church of Rome introduced into the World long since the Apostles dayes and except better ground can be shewed for the Practice of it than bare Tradition it is lawful to deny it as being no Ordinance of God in his true Church except I say that it can be proved that God ever commanded it or the Apostles and Saints practised it till which be done it is no error to deny the
sprinkling of Infants and to deny it to be the true Baptism into the true Church 2. Concerning taking an Oath we say Christ Jesus commanded Mat. 5. Not to Swear to all and the Apostles Iames said Above all things my Brethren Swear not so that to deny to Swear and take Oathes is according to the Command of Christ and his Apostles and is no error though the Accuser hath here charged it on us as a heinous crime but we do deny all swearing in obedience to the Commands of Christ and our Yea is Yea and our Nay is Nay as Christ hath taught us without an Oath who hath commanded us not to take Oaths nor Swear at all 3. As for pulling down Magistrates and killing all Princes and that it is lawful to have many Wives These are Lyes and Slanders charged upon us by a false Accuser for our Principle is to obey all Magistrates and all Princes in every thing either by doing or suffering and we would have Princes and Magistrates to rule and reign in the Power of God justly righteously and according to the Law of God and would not have them killed and pulled down And we say it 's better to keep in the single chaste life than to have many Wives but any Accusation to make us appear vile this your Informer spareth not but according to his Work will be his Reward in the Day of the Lord. 4. Concerning all being holy in the Church we say That every Member in the true Church of Christ is holy for the Church of Christ is his Body and every Member of his Body which are Flesh of his Flesh and Bones of his Bones are holy as he is holy in kind and quality and it is his Exhortation to his Saints Be ye holy for I am holy saith Christ So that to hold that every member of the Body of Christ is holy is no error though it be so reputed by an ignorant man 5. Concerning all Learning being prophane and that mean men are fittest to expound Scriptures I do say that Learning in it self is a gift of God and is not prophane though as to the knowledge of God and the things of his Kingdom learning in Tongues and Languages is little available for it 's the Spirit of God that teaches the things of God and reveals all the things of his Kingdom and none can know God but as the Spirit of God discovers him for the Disciples who were some of them unlearned men in Books and letters had the knowledge of the matters of God's Kingdom taught them by the holy Spirit and such as have the gift of the Spirit of God be they poor or rich are fitted to expound and understand Scriptures for none can understand the Scriptures nor the things therein declared but by the Spirit of God that gavâ— forth the Scriptures and it is not Latine Greek or Hebrew that teacheth to understand the Scriptures but it is the Spirit of God and to whomsoever that Spirit is given and God gives it to whom he pleaseth they only are fit to declare the things of God unto others and to expound Scriptures and none else but them who have experience of the operation of the Spirit in their own hearts and this we hold and believe 6. Concerning ordinary Calling and speaking as he is inspired I say the Scriptures no where speak of ordinary calling and if by ordinary calling it be meant calling to any Office in the Church without the Spirit of God I say there was no such Calling for the Ministry of Christ in the Apostles dayes was called by the holy Spirit and the Ministry of the true Church is made ordained and called according to the Gift of God's holy Spirit which he giveth And as every one saith Peter hath received the Gift of the Spirit so let him administer the same one to another So that it is manifest by the Scriptures that the Call to the Ministry in the Apostles dayes was not of man nor by man saith Paul but according to the gift of the holy Anointing the Spirit of God and also every one in the true Church might speak as it was revealed to them for saith Paul If any thing be revealed to another that stands by let the first hold his peace for â—e may all speak one by one that all may be edified So that it is no Error to hold that every one in the true Church may speak as the Spirit of God gives them utterance and to whom the things of God are revealed by the Spirit 7. That there are Popish Agents among us and that such are our Ring-leaders this is a false slander and you ought to put the Accuser to prove it it is your duty so to do and that such Popish Agents be named and where they are And I challenge the Accuser to name one among 〈◊〉 or else let him stop his Mouth for a Lyar who hath abused your Names with dedicating Untruths to you for your approof Again He accuseth us for saying The Spirit bloweth where it listeth and he saith we judge none have the Spirit but our selves Answ. 1 Christ himself said The Wind bloweth where it listeth and so iâ— every one that is born of the Spirit And we do judge God hath given of his Spirit to many that are yet Ungodly and many are convinced of sin by the Spirit of God in their Consciences that are wicked and ungodly who are not of Us but yet we say as the Saints in Ages past said We know that we are of God and that the whole World lies in Wickedness and they that are of God hear us and are one with us and we do inform all People to the measure of the Spirit of God in their Consciences that they may come to the Knowledge of God and to be one with us Again He accuseth us to be acted by the same deluding spirit as John of Leyden was acted by Answ. 1. What spirit Iohn of Leyden was acted by we now dispute not neither doth this Accuser well know but what he hath from the reports of others which may be false as like as true in fome particulars but the Spirit that we follow is the Spirit of God by which we are acted in the wayes of Truth and Righteousness and are not deluded nor Followers of a deluding spirit for we are willing to be tried in our Doctrines and Practices according to the Scriptures and though we stand accused of these and the like things yet we challenge him to prove it before you and that we may be admitted to make our defence and we shall the rather easily prove that our Accuser is acted by the spirit of the Devil who is an Accuser of the Brethren like the Devil and that is a deluding spirit that teacheth men to backbitâ— lyâ— and slander as this man hath done so he is proved fully guilty of that whereof he hath accused others and must own the shame and condemnation to himself
am confident That the King hath better Experience of us than to believe these our Malicious Accusars And I do appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such Presentation 2. I do testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say we do believe and make prefession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all people to believe and not seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel and this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life we say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the Belief and Practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith And if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denyal of which they here accuse us they would not have cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceeded from another spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are well known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any Malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in Meekness and Humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the KING is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this Effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge who have thought it not enough to Whip most cruelly Banish cut Ears and put to Death the Innocent but must still accuse them â—alsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no Evil whenas the God or Heaven is Witness to whom we can appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Laws and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the Living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for Evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane Cruelties seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to smite and wound and reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have Martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain we were at last constrained for our own safety say they to pass a Sentence of Banishment against them upon Pain of Death such was their Dangerous Impetuous and Desperate Turbulency to Religion and to the State Civil and Ecclesiâ—stical as that 〈◊〉 unwilling soever could it have been avoided the Magistrate at least in Conscience both to God and man judged himself called for the Defence of all to keep the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them this could do no harm say they to them that would be warned thereby their willing rushing themselves thereupon was their own act and we with all humility conceive a Crime bringing their Blood upon their own Heads By way of Answer to this let it be considered 1. What Means was for a long time used before they put them to Death is shameful to mention Was it not by the means of Cruel Whippings Banishment Imprisonment Cutting off Ears and taking their Goods by Violence It s true by this Means the Petitioners dealt with the Quakers and never by any Christian like Means for the very first of our Friends that ever came among them they made them Prisoners ere they came on shore and inhumanely dealt with them and Banished them and this was the first and fairest Means that ever was used by them which are not Gospel-Means nor the Way by which the Church of New-England ought to have proceeded Had our Friends been in Error and such as they say of them it had been their Duty to have gained them by Love by Mercy and by Long-suffering these are the Weapons of the Spirit of God which ought to be us'd towards them that are in Error in order to the converting of them from the Error but contrary to this the Magistrates and Church-Members of New-England took Cain's Weapons and dealt Cruelly and not like Christians nor like sober Men towards the Innocent but their thus proceeding was in vain as themselves acknowledge for notwithstanding the Gospel of Christ grew and encreased and many were converted to the Faith of Christ Jesus throughout New-England 2. Let it be considered what their dangerous and desperate Turbulency was to States Civil and Ecclesiastical Did ever these poor People whom they condemned and put to shameful death lift up a Hand against them or appear in any Turbulent Gesture towards them Were they ever found with any Carnal Weapon about them or What was their Crime saving that they warned Sinners to Repent and the Ungodly to turn from his way We appeal to the God of Heaven on their behalf whom they have Martyred for the Name of Christ That they had no other Offence to charge upon them saving their Conversations Doctrines and Practices as Saints of the Most High God and this is witness'd by many of their Neighbours though themselves have hardened their Hearts against the Reproof of God's Witness And we certainly believe it was their Malice and Envy that constrained them to pass Sentence of Death upon them and not the Equity of either just Law of God or man for they deserved not the merit of Death such was the Innocency of their Cause And they are no more safe by the taking away the Lives of our
blessed us unto this day and hath he preserved us hitherto through many Tribulations and Dangers hath he shewed infinite Love and Favour unto us to this hour And will he now suffer us to be destroyed from being a People surely no Will he give our Enemies their hearts desire to cut us all off that they may blaspheme his Name surely no and if it be the Pleasure of the Lord that some of us should seal our Testimony with our Blood good is the Will of the Lord not ours but his Will be done for the Testimony that we have born for these divers years hath been so excellent in it self and in its Fruits and Effects that the finishing of it deserves the best Seal that possibly we can signe it with which is indeed our hearts Blood and this dwells upon my spirit and yet though it should be thus my confidence is sure that the Work of the Lord shall prosper and our Testimony shall be glorious forever and this People shall never be extinguished from being a People And I know not any thing that remains upon our part at this day but that we commit our selves into the Hand of the Lord living in the Seed of God wherein our Election is sure before the World was and forever and let us remember one another and pray one for another and let us stir up all the Children of our Father to Faithfulness and Patience while we have time I say let us walk to the Glory of the Lord keeping Faith and a good Conscience to our last end our Testimony shall never dye nor our Memories never perish when we are ceased to be and though we suffer now the loss of Life and all we have yet the Effects thereof will be glorious in Ages to come and our present Sufferings will hasten the Glory of God's Work throughout the World Receive this as my Salutation to you all It is now eight dayes since I left Ireland where my Service hath been precious for the Lord for full six Moneths all which time the Lord carried me in much Faithfulness and Diligence in his Service to the confirming of many in the Truth of God and to the converting of others and through and because of the Presence of the Lord which was with me I had a very precious time and was wonderfully preserved through many Dangers and Tryals and I travelled near two thousand Miles to and fro in that Land and had very free passage in the principal Cities and Towns till my work for present was fully ended there having more time then could be expected to clear my Conscience to all People and it would be too large to mention every particular Trans-action wherein I perceived the Eminent Hand of God with me and also many things I observed concerning the present state of things which I shall not now mention for what have we to do with the Affairs of worldly Kingdoms but as for Friends it was well with them they grow and increase in the Blessings and Fulness of the Father and when I came thence all was quiet and very few in Prison though I suppose the Tydings of things as they are here will produce the same Sufferings upon them But I hope they will be bold and valiant for the Truth in giving their Testimony by faithful Sufferings till these things be finished Thus I remain in Life and Death and when I am no more in everlasting remembrance your dear Brother and Companion by doing and suffering for the Name of the Lord and his Truth I am well and at liberty as yet E. B. 11th of the 12th Moneth 1160. A JUST and RIGHTEOUS PLEA Presented unto the King of England And his COUNCIL c. Being the true State of the present Case of the People called Quakers Truly Demonstrated and Justly Pleaded on their Behalf for the true Information of the King and his Council that they may well understand the Truth and Verity of doubtful Cases and may shew Just Judgment and Mercy And this is laid down in Six Particulars viz. 1. Concerning Swearing at all and particularly of the Oath of Allegiance 2. Concerning Meeting together to Worship God 3. Concerning Tythes among the Jews and among the Christians and why we Refuse to pay them at this day 4. Concerning giving Security by Bond to live Peaceably or to answer Accusations then and there c. 5. Concerning Government it self and particularly of this present Government 6. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King and his Government laid down in ten Particulars All which Cases are truly Stated and pleaded and the Cause of the Innocent Vindicated And this for the King and his Government that they may be Just and Righteous and perfectly according to God The Epistle to the King and his Council OH Friends this is your Day that God hath given you to try you and to prove you what you will do and whether you will Rule and Iudge and Exercise your Power for God or against him and this is the Hour of your tryal and the living God that made Heaven and Earth beholds you and his Eye is upon you and he waites for Iustice true Iudgment Mercy Righteousness and Truth to be brought forth by you in the Land that he might bless you and prosper you but and if the contrary be abounding and brought forth and exercised thorough you Blessings shall be turned into a Curse and the Iust God will deal with you after your deserts for the Reward of the Almighty is Iust and Equal unto all the Sons of men even according to their ways and works and the judgment of you nor of any is determined by him but according as He is served obeyed and feared or the contrary And seeing you have a day to do good and to forsake all evil to do Iustice Mercy and Truth in the Earth and to subdue the contrary if that you do the things you ought not and leave undone what God requires of you to do and trifle away your time in matters of less value and spend your days in Pleasures and Vanities and neglect Mercy and Iudgment in the Earth and have no regard to the Cry of the Poor and the Oppressed to deliver them from their cruel Persecutions if it be thus with you in this your day Who shall stand in the Gap to prevent the Anger of the Lord from breaking out or who shall plead for you in the day of your Reward when God himself ariseth unto just Iudgment to judge all Flesh and to deliver the Innocent Oh Friends is this nothing to you Is there no cause unto you of consideration in this matter Ought you not to lay these things to heart Why surely you are but men and your Breath is in your Nostrils and your Substance but dissolvable clay and the God of Heaven and Earth can do what he will with you and concerning you if ye please him it
it hath been in my Heart divers times to declare the Substance of these things unto you but at last I have chosen to write my Mind to present to you concerning the Matters very needful for you to be informed in and it is for your sakes as well as theirs that I have done it that you may not run on to act any thing against them upon Suspitions and Accusations of others without hearing our Defence and therefore it is for the avoiding and stopping of Persecution in the Land for this Cause have I taken in hand Submissively and not Presumptiously to state this Plea before you and I must leave it to your Considerations and cannot impose my Faith upon you to believe as I believe but having laid the Truth before you I shall leave it to the Lord to work Faith and Love and Iustice Mercy and all good things in your Hearts that you may bring them forth in the Exercise of them in the World London the 10th day of the second Moneth 1661. I am a Lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Righteousness E. B. A Just and Righteous PLEA presented unto the KING of England and his COUNCIL c. CHAP. 1. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance 1. WE do acknowledge our selves to be free-born People of this Kingdom of England the Land of our Nativity and we do assert That we have just and lawful Right and Title as such to possess and enjoy our Lives Liberties and Estates both by the Laws of God and Man having never unto this day since we were a People forfeited our Birth-right as men by any Rebellion Sedition Contempt or otherwise but have alwayes been and are a People exercised in the Law of our God by walking justly towards all men and doing to others as we would be done unto and have been and are a Peaceable People under every Government and Authority that hath been over us since the Lord raised us up And I do hereby declare That we now are and shall be Faithful Innocent and Peaceable in our several Stations and Conditions under this present Government of King Charles the second whom we acknowledge supream Magistrate and Governour over this Kingdom and for Conscience sake we are obedient and submissive to him as such in all his Commands either by doing and performing of what he justly requireth or by patient suffering under whatsoever is inflicted upon us in the Matters for which we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake when any thing is required of us different from the just Law of God And to this Subjection to the King and his Government we are bound by the Law of Righteousness and such hath ever been our Principle and Practice and is unto this day even to be Quiet and Peaceable and Patient under every Authority that is set over us and not in Unrighteousness to Plot or Contrive or Rebel against any Government or Governours nor to seek our own Deliverance from Injustice and Oppression in such a way And we are perswaded to seek the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority by all just and lawful Means and not to Rebel against him with carnal Weapons and so far as his Government is in Justice Mercy and Righteousness we declare true and Faithful Subjection and Obedience thereunto and wherein it is otherwise we shall be subject by patient suffering what is unequally imposed upon us and yet not Rebel in any Turbulent way of Conspiracies and Insurrections For our Principles are not for War but for Peace with all men so much as in us lie neither may we render Evil for Evil to any but are to be subject to the King and his Government Actively or Passively upon the Conditions aforementioned And we renounce all Forreign Authority Power and Jurisdiction of the Pope or any else from having any Supremacy whatsoever over the King oâ— any the good Subjects of England And this we Declare Acknowledge and Testifie in the Fear and Presence of God to whom we and all Mankind must give an Account and that without secret Equivocation or any deceitful mental Reservation 2. But as for all Oaths and Swearing we utterly deny for Conscience sake towards God because Christ Jesus hath commanded Not to Swear at all Mat. 5. And the Apostle saith Above all things my Brethren Swear not Jam. 5. And it was the Principle and Practice of divers holy Martyrs even some of the Protestant Church since the Apostles dayes in all Ages Not to Swear at all in any Case so for Conscience sake and according to the Example of Saints in former Ages we do refuse to Swear in this Case of Allegiance to the King and in all other Cases whatsoever and we cannot Swear at all Though the Truth and Verity of all Things in all Cases so far as known to us and as Occasion requireth we can acknowledge and testifie with Yea and Nay as in the Fear and Presence of God and with true Intent and Meaning to discover the Truth as is needful to be known And in this manner we acknowledge just Allegiance to the King and his Government that we shall live Peaceably and not Plot nor Rebel against him according to the Law of God and a safe Conscience but without any Oath or Swearing at all for we may not break the Command of Christ nor walk contrary to the Example of the Apostles and Saints by Swearing though we suffer the Loss of all because thereof And it is our known Principle and Practice ever since we were a People that in no Case whatsoever though of great Dependancy oft times to our selves both in respect of Advantage to us and also in avoiding of Sufferings we have not taken any Oath nor Sworn at all whereby it is manifest that our refusing chiefly to take the Oath of Allegiance is not because it is that Oath but because it is an Oath and for Conscience sake we cannot Swear at all 3. And thus the state of our present Case about this Oath of Allegiance is different from some others from all such who can swear and take Oaths in other Cases to whom taking of an Oath in it self is not matter of Conscience but as for us we make Conscience of an Oath in it self and that upon just Ground as we are able to demonstrate and therefore our Refusal of this Oath of Allegiance gives no Ground at all of Doubt or Suspition concerning us as if we would not live peaceably and quietly under this Government or as if we would Rebel against or Plot to destroy the King's Person or Authority and so deny to take this Oath as if we would leave our selves clear to proceed in such wayes this Judgment cannot justly be given of us because we deny to Swear at all in all Cases which if it were not so but that we could Swear in other Cases and not in this then we might justly be the more suspected
execute Laws in these Kingdoms and in all the Kingdoms of the World and such would be a Blessing in the Earth and the Governments under such and in the Execution of their Hands would be Blessed and Prosperous and all good Men would have cause to rejoyce therein and all Evil-doers and Transgressors would be limitted and made afraid if so be the Laws be Just Holy and Righteous and according to Equity and the Holy Law of God in all things and the due Execution of such Laws committed to Just and Righteous and Meek Men that love Judgment Mercy and Truth and would execute them in the Earth Then the happy and blessed Government will be exalted and Truth and Righteousness would reign as Judge on the Throne and in this shall all Nations and Kingdoms be prosperous and blessed when it cometh to pass 3. And as for this present Authority and Government now in being under the Name of King Charles the Second we do believe and acknowledge That according to the Purpose and Will of God and of his bringing to pass this present Government and Authority is set up and into its present being established The Lord I say hath suffered it to be effected for the Cause and End and Time and Purpose known to himself and not to mortal man And thus this Government and Authority is of God being brought in and set up in opposition to and for the reproof and correction of such as went before who had neglected Mercy Truth Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth till it was time for the Lord to cast them out and reprove them and make them a Desolation before their Enemies and this Authority was judged of the Lord fit for that use and end and reserved to be brought in as a Rod of God in his Hand to correct and smite many People And it is right in the sight of the Lord that this Authority should have this time and season to be exercised in these Kingdoms to try and prove both it self and all under it if so be that Truth Justice and Righteousness Mercy and Peace may be brought forth it these Kingdoms through it that God may establish it for long continuance and it is now a trying and proving to make it self happy and blessed or otherwise to bring it self into contempt and dishonour and accordingly as Truth Justice Mercy Judgment and Peace is brought forth by it or the contrary brought forth by it so must the Just and Equal Effects and Reward of it be from the Hand of God and it is only just Judgment Mercy and Truth Righteousness Relieving the Oppressed and the doing thereof that can alone make the Person and Government of the King Happy Blessed and Honourable in this World and hereafter and the contrary if it be brought forth must needs bring Confusion Discontents and all miserable Judgments and to say no more of it this is my present Judgement of the King and his Authority both in respect of their coming in and the Cause thereof and the Fruits and Effects that must follow which is not otherwise Determined of God but according to Desert and Merit of walking in Truth Justice and Righteousness or in walking otherwise 4. Our Obedience to this Authority must be according as before declared in the Plea of the first Case concerning Allegiance to wit For Conscience sake to God we are bound by his Iust Law in our Hearts to yeild Obedience to it in all Matters and Cases actively or passively that is to say in all just and good Commands of the King and the good Laws of the Land relating to our outward Man we must be obedient by doing and not withhold our Just Obedience but in the Cases of Conscience to wit in the Matters of Duty to God and of Worship Faith and Religion towards him we must only be obedient to God for it is he that teacheth and requireth Obedience in all those things and if any thing be commanded of us by the present Authority which is not according to Equity Iustice and a good Conscience towards God to be done by us we must in such Cases obey God only and deny active Obedience for Conscience sake and patiently suffer what is inflicted upon us for such our Disobedience to Men and we must choose Obedience to God rather than man though we suffer because thereof And this is our Principle and hath ever been our Practice to obey Authority by doing or suffering not disputing whether the Authority in it self be absolute of God or not yet being an Authority over us we are to obey it either by doing or suffering because it is an Authority and not to plot rebel or rise up with carnal Weapons against it and thus must our Obedience be to the King and his Government And if that in any thing of the Commands of the King we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake in the Cases of Conscience and when ought is required different or contrary to the Law of God we have Example hereof in the Scriptures of many of the Servants of God that could not in all things yield Obedience to the Laws of Nations and Commands of Kings when they required ought to be obeyed contrary to their pure Consciences as in the Case of the three Children Dan. 3. they could not obey the Law and Command of the King though it was absolute but refused Obedience and suffered for it and Daniel also himself disobeyed the King's Law and Commands Dan. 6. and the Apostles the same when they were commanded by the Authority of that City and County To preach no more in the Name of IESUS Act. 4. 17 18. They did not obey the Command of the Rulers in that Case but went on and preached Iesus in disobedience and contrary to the Command of the Rulers And by these and many other Examples it is apparent that it is justifiable in the sight of God and that it was practised by the Servants of God in former Ages even Disobedience to Kings and Authority in the Matters and Cases commanded contrary to the Law of God and a good Conscience and their Example may justifie such now in the same Practice in the same Case if they walk therein by the same Principle 5. And thus it is manifest That if we at any time be found not in full obedience by doing in all Cases and Things to the Laws and Authority of this Kingdom it is not out of contempt unto or Rebellion against the King's Person or Government it is not I say on that account but for good Conscience sake and because we must obey God rather than man when and where their Com mands stand in opposition the one to the other and this is that we may keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God from disobedience against him which is our care and endeavour by all means and when any thing is required of us to be done which we cannot do with a clear Conscience in
and the Papists by the Example of others against them Now I say The Wickedness of one will not justifie the Wickedness and Cruelty of the other for neither Party of them are justifiable in the sight of God but condemnable in such Proceedings and it was doubtless of Antichrist and the Devil in both Papists and Protestants to Destroy and Burn one another only for and because of Difference in Religion and wherein the Protestants did put any of the Papists to Death only for and because of Difference in Profession and Practice in Religion and because they were Papists herein the Protestants were acted by the same persecuting spirit of the Devil as the Papists were acted by against them so that I am not an absolute party with the Protestants against the Papists for I know that there is Error of Judgment amongst them both in Faith Worship and their whole Religion only my End is at present in pursuing Semper Iidem to confound his Bloody spirit of Persecution and Cruelty which I find him possessed withal as by his Discourse is apparent and also to put the Protestants in mind how their cause begins to be Reproached Vilified and Despised even in their own Land publickly in the Streets of their chief City which hath not been the like for above an Hundred Years And this is the End of my pursuing Semper Iidem with this Answer and I shall not much enlarge further only in the 11th Page there is one Passage worth observing There is instanced one Richard Woodman of Sussex who affirmed That he had the Spirit of God and can prove said he by the Scriptures that Paul had the Spirit of God as I my self and all God's Elect have Now saith Semper Iidem No Arguments nor Reasons could reclaim him from his Errors and so he was Burnt at Lewis because he said He had the Spirit of God and could prove that Paul had it Answ. There its manifest that this Martyr suffered for Truth and Righteousness sake as a Saint and Servant of God and for witnessing the Truth according to the Scripture which saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his which is manifest in the Scriptures that all that are Christ's and Members of his Church have and it is also manifest That the Papists have not the Spirit of God because they Burn such as do witness and testifie that they have it as here Semper Iidem hath given us an Instance that they Burn and Destroy such for Hereticks as say they have the Spirit of God he not believing that Paul had it but saith It is an Error to affirm it and yet this work seems now to be justified up and down London streets which is the double Iniquity and that which once many looked not to have seen that any being condemned and burned as Hereticks for saying They had the Spirit of God that this should be justified now in these Glorious Dayes of Light this seems almost incredible but that our Eyes behold it and causeth wonder in many what will be the Effect of such a bad sign appearing as a Justification of putting to Death the Innocent for no other Cause but in that he affirmed He had the Spirit of God And by this we learn to know how great the Ignorance Darkness and Blindness of the Church of Rome is and deserveth not the name of a Church if they be all of this mind to condemn men and Burn them for Hereticks for saying They have the Spirit of God and then an Hundred Years after justifie the doing of it to their shame and confusion let this be rehearsed who have themselves denyed that they have the Spirit of God and Condemning and Destroying others for saying they have it And this I leave to the Consideration of all the Protestants who must either deny that they have the Spirit of God or be Condemned and may be Killed as Hereticks for affirming it if so be the Church of Rome recover her desired Power and Pupose in England It s worthy to be minded while it may be 〈◊〉 lest the time come when it cannot be prevented And thus I have run through the main part of Semper Iidem and chiefly hinted at the principal Matters worthy to be taken notice of though much more might be said but that it is my property in all Cases to be as brief as may be for that is the best for the Understanding to contain what is spoken or written only shall not forget William Pryn who is stated in pag. 18. as one of our Modern Phanaticks I would not forget to mind him I say to answer his part and to clear himself if he can of the Aspertion of a Phanatick by which term he stands reviled though Semper Iidem fawneth upon him and flattereth with him and telleth him He is the only Person in this unhappy Paralel who hath given Testimony of his Reconcilement But what better is William Pryn for this Flattery I hope he is not yet reconciled to the Papists and become one of them if he be I desire he would let us know it and if he be not then Semper Iidem accounts him a Phanatick I shall say no further but shall leave him to answer for himself And now last of all for Conclusion I have some CONSIDERATIONS to present to the People of ENGLAND and particularly to the People of LONDON occasioned by the Publication of Semper Iidem 1. COnsider how the Ancient Martyrs as Wickliff Hawkes and Cranmer Latimer Ridley with many more who have been accounted by the Protestants themselves Famous for Piety and Faithfulness and Honourably esteemed Innocent Martyrs for their Witness-bearing against the Romish Idolatries and this for many years in these Kingdoms how I say they are now rendred Odious and Contemptible and Scorned and Slandered as Hereticks seditious factious Blasphemers and Phanaticks by the Author of Semper Iidem and this published openly through the Nation and up and down the Streets of London and this without rebuke from any in Authority that we know of I say this deserves serious Consideration That the Faithful Martyrs in their Day according to their Knowledge who were as the first Fathers of the Protestants-Church so called and did lay down their Lives and seal their Testimony with their Blood against the Idolatry of the then present Times and the Lives and Blood of these Men now to be made void and they that Martyred them justified as doing of Justice and they now reputed Hereticks and Phanaticks publickly this ought to be considered both in the Cause why it is thus and in the Effect of it if it be not restrained 2. Consider How that the generality of the People of England and London are reputed and stand under the present Reproach of being Phanaticks even all the People of England I say except the Papists not only the Separatists from the Church of England as Quakers Anabaptists Independents so called and
but it was not according to True Knowledge And thus the Iews were zealously performing that as their Duty and as out of a Good Conscience which the Lord required not at their hands and so they made Conscience to do that which the Lord required not and their Consciences were mis-led and not righly informed and as it was amongst the Iews in this case in the dayes of old so now is it amongst the Christians in the Apostacy their Consciences being mis-guided by a false spirit they are doing and performing the things in great Zeal and for the exercise of their Consciences which the Lord doth not require of them Thus do the Papists they do and practise the things in great Zeal and through a false Fear in their blind Consciences which things are in themselves Idolatry and not commanded nor required of the Lord as in many particulars I might shew even in many parts of their Worship and Religion which out of a Fear and blind Zeal and mis-guided Conscience they practise which is in it self but Idolatry and not required nor accepted of the Lord. And many things in relation to the Protestants Worship and amongst all the several false Sects upon Earth which are done and practised in great Zeal and out of a false Fear and as in pretence of a good Conscience and yet are things in themselves Idolatrous as done and practised by them And this comes to passe as I have said because the Conscience is mis-informed and a false spirit guides and rules in the exercise of Conscience and the understanding of the People is blinded and they know not but they do well though their minds are captivated and their minds and judgments in error and though there be a sincerity to God-wards and a desire of Him in the bottom among some People of all Forms and Sects and some of all are zealous towards God in their practices in their Religion and Worship yet among all People and the Churches that have been for many Generations there hath been great Error in Judgment and much blindness in mind and the Conscience falsly exercised towards God and the Superscription hath been To the Unknown God and He hath been ignorantly worshipped and the Spirit of the Lord hath not truly exercised Peoples Consciences nor guided their Zeal nor been Ruler in the Judgment And by this means the sincerity and humility towards God hath been eaten out and always quenched and the bare practice of things and profession of Religion in the outward appearance hath been more lookt at than the presence of God felt in the Practices and the Zeal hath been more for the performance of such things than for God purely enjoyed through them And thus it hath been through Christendom in the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches Many have erred in their Judgments and the Zeal for God hath proceeded out of the error of Iudgments and out of mis-information of Conscience some other things than only the Spirit of God hath ruled in the Iudgment and been the exercise of Peoples Consciences And this is a hint of things about true Liberty of Conscience and about the Error in Iudgment and the blind Zeal in captivated sincerity Now it may be objected What is the only absolute Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience and when are Mens Consciences truly guided To this I answer The only chief and perfect Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience both to God and all men is The Spirit of Christ for it is only that which can truly guide the Conscience in Faith Doctrine and Worship and in all things towards God even the Spirit of Christ which is the gift of the Father it only leadeth into all Truth as it is written and all whose Consciences are guided and exercised by it are in unity and Peace in their Worship Doctrine and Religion for the Spirit of Christ is but one in it self and guideth the Conscience into the exercise of one Truth and Faith and in this same Spirit is true â—nion and Communion of SAINTS in Religion and Worship and this is manifest through the Scriptures for the Apostle exhorted To walk in the Spirit and by it and as many as walked by the Rule of the Spirit Peace be upon them and it is the Spirit of Christ the Everlasting Comforter that teacheth all Truth and the Holy Anointing of the Spirit that dwelt in the Saints taught them all things and they need no man to teach them but as the Anointing that dwelt in them And then are mens Consciences truly guided in all the Ways of Righteousness when the Spirit of God guides the Conscience and is the Rule of all Faith Doctrine and Practices So that Traditions of Men Prescriptions of Councils Antiquity of Time Commandments of Men nor Example of others without the Spirit of Christ cannot be the only true Rule of the Exercise of Conscience for all these things are changeable alterable and subject to variations and therefore cannot infallibly guide the Conscience in the Duty towards God nor rightly exercise the Conscience in Unity and Peace but while a Nation or Kingdom or People walk by the Rule of Traditions Prescriptions Commandments of Men Example of others or the like they err in Judgment in Faith Doctrine and Worship and are all divided in Contention about these matters because their Rule of Conscience and Judgment is doubtful and alterable and not infallible and therefore they have no perfect assurance of Gods acceptation to them in their Faith and Religion nor perfect Peace and Unity in their Faith and Worship But as the Rule of their Consciences in their Duty towards God is divers some make one thing and some another their Rule so are they divers and divided in what they hold profess and practice and are but of great Babylon in their Religion And because that something besides the Spirit of God exercises the Conscience therefore it is that here are so many Wayes and Sects of Religigion and kinds of Worship in Christendom and amongst Christians while the Spirit of Christ only is not the Rule of Iudgement and Exercise of Conscience to God and Man for the only perfect Rule of Conscience in the Exercise to God is the Spirit of Christ and not any other thing And now Whosoever shall persecute the Exercise of Conscience when guided by the Spirit of Christ such persecute Christ Jesus And this is Persecution for the Name of Christ when Sufferings are inflicted as Reproaches Imprisonment or whatsoever for the Exercise of Conscience towards God by his Spirit but and if any are persecuted for Religion-sake only so if that in such their Exercise of Religion they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ yet that suffering is a kind of Persecution also if I say the Suffering be only for and because of their Religions-sake and they walk Justly and Righteously as men so that as is signified about the middle of this Chapter
though some may profess good Conscience and cry for Liberty thereof in their false Sect and Religion not taught them by the Spirit of Christ yet the Civil Magistrate ought not to punish and use Violence to such for their Religion but if they do they persecute and the Lord will lay it to their charge But yet this is safe for all first to obtain true Liberty of Conscience to God-wards and to receive the Spirit of Christ to be taught only by it in the Exercise of Conscience and Religion that they may not err in Conscience and Judgment in spiritual Matters nor suffer Wrongfully under pretence of Righteousness sake whenas it is not truly so CHAP IV. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion TO all ye that are of divers Judgments and Opinions in and concerning Spiritual Matters who are divided about Faith Doctrine Worship and Church Government some of you holding one thing some another different and contrary to that being diversly divided in mind and heart concerning the matters that are one in themselves to which you all assent as to the things in themselves and yet are different contrary minded about the self-same things To you all I am moved to write that so ye may be informed perfectly First What the Cause is of your Divisions and why it is thus amongst you And Secondly Of the bad Effects and Fruits such Divisions have brought forth And Lastly The Meant and Way of Reconciliation that ye may come into Love and Peace and Unity with God and one with another in all things pertaining to his Kingdom First The Cause of your Divisions and of the Diversities of Judgments and Opinions that are amongst you concerning the Things and Matters of God's Kingdom is Because you want the Spirit of God to guide you and it is not the Rule of your Knowledge and Iudgment and you wanting the Spirit of God in which is Unity among Saints therefore is it you are so divided and divers and different and contrary one to another in these things it is because ye want the Spirit of God I say which only teacheth the true Knowledge of God and gives an Understanding in all his Wayes and Matters It is the Spirit of God that teacheth true Faith true Doctrine and true Worship and all things about Church Ministry and Religion and if that you had the Spirit of God in you and were taught and guided by it it would teach you into one Faith and one Truth and into the true Worship and into the true Church-Government and you would be in Unity and Peace And if you all had the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and by which Spirit the Saints of God were guided in dayes past it would teach you into Unity and to be of one Mind one Heart and one Soul in all the Matters pertaining to God's Kingdom in Faith Worship Doctrine and all things else If you had the Spirit of God I say and were taught by it then you would have Unity with God and one with another in all his Wayes and there would have been no Division nor Contention amongst you about spiritual Matters but because you want that therefore you have Strife and Division amongst you even throughout all Christendom Here 's a Nation and a Kingdom holding such a Faith and Worship and there 's another People holding Faith and Worship contrary to that and here 's one Sect of People and there 's another different in Faith Judgment and Opinion and this is a Shame to whole Christendom That all should profess Christ Iesus and Faith in him and Salvation by him and his Doctrine and Worship and yet be in strife division and in great contentions concerning the same some holding and practizing one manner of Faith Worship and Doctrine and others holding contrary and different and this shews that ye are all fallen from the Life of Christianity as it was held in the Apostles dayes amongst the true Churches for they were of one heart mind soul and spirit as it is written they were of one Faith of one Worship of one Doctrine and had one way of Church-Government and this continued amongst the Churches of Christ till there were some that had Erred from the Spirit of God in their own Consciences and then they also Erred in Faith in Doctrine and in all other things relating to God and these were the Apostate Christians that had erred from the Spirit and divided themselves from the true Church and differed in Judgment amongst themselves and this was because they had erred from the Spirit of God which would have kept them in Unity with God and one with another for the Spirit is the Bond of Peace and the Seal of the Covenant of Love amongst the Saints So now All ye who are divided in your Knowledge and Iudgement and are in contention one with another about the matters pertaining to God's Kingdom you are the apostate Christians and you are without the Spirit of Christ The first apostate Christians erred from the Spirit and so became divided from the true Faith and from the true Worship and also among themselves and you never yet received the Spirit of Christ that you might come into Unity and Fellowship with God and one with another and that is the Reason of all your Divisions in Religious matters because you have not received the Spirit of Christ to teach you and to unite your Hearts to God and one to another but you having the Scriptures traditionally by discent through Ages which do describe and declare of that Faith and Doctrine and of the Worship and Church-Government which were among the Saints of old which they held and practised and from the Scriptures which declare of the things from thence you take up a Conceit and false Judgment and an Imitation and a false Conformity and then each sort of you call that your Faith and Church-Government and some after one manner of form and some after another and thus you are divided because you want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit did work true Faith in the hearts of them that gave them forth in dayes of old and it taught them Worship Faith Doctrine and all things concerning Gods Kingdom for the Spirit led them into all Truth and now you wanting the same Spirit that wrought in them and taught them and you having but their words to wit the Scriptures from thence in the Wisdom which is below and in the carnal Reason and in the first mans understanding each Nation takes up a conceit that it is so and so and takes up an Imitation of Worship and Church-Government according to their own sensual wisdom and according to the breadth and depth of their Conceits and then imitates and that severally and diversly and in a divided manner and this is amongst Kingdoms and amongst Neighbours and Brethren this Division in matters of Faith Worship and Doctrine and Church-Government
Scriptures and this is true Christianity and the other is the way of all Apostate Christians all Imitations from the Letter without the Spirit as gave it forth for there is a great deal of difference between making a Conformity in the Imitation of a Worship and Church-Government from the Scriptures without the Spirit and between the Spirits teaching and leading into the same Truth and same Worship and Church-Government which the Scriptures speak of the one is of Christ and is in unity peace and everlasting fellowship the other is of Antichrist and is in division strife and contention so you must all wait for the Spirit of Truth that you may receive it to work in your hearts to teach you and lead you or else you will never come to true Union and everlasting Fellowship with God and one with another neither can you be of one true Faith in one true way of Worship nor in one way of Church-Government except you receive the Spirit and walk in the Spirit And these be the words of the Lord God unto you all Now as concerning the Way of Uniformity in Faith and Church-Government imposed upon Nations and Countries and Cities by cruel Laws of Kings and Rulers as hath been the practice through Christendom to cause a whole Nation and Kingdom to bow and conform to such Principles of Faith and Worship and Church-Government according to the Will and Pleasure of a King or a Ruler such Uniformity and Union and Fellowship among Christians hath not been of Christ where people have walked by Imitation and conformed to the Commands of Men in such a Faith or to such a Worship or Church-Government this hath not been of God neither could this Unity stand or remain forever but it hath perished and will perish where-ever it is and that Faith and Worship and Church-Government which is so set up and so held will never save the Soul nor comfort it but it is blasted of God Whilst a Nation or a Kingdom or a People have Uniformity or hold Faith Worship or Religion either in the ignorance of their Consciences or contrary to their Consciences by the force of mens commandments and not by the perswasion of the Spirit of God in their own Consciences such Conformity I say is of Antichrist not of the Father neither can it stand in the Day of the Lord but the Fire of his Wrath will consume it All the apostate Christians in their uniformity of Faith Worship and Church-Government which is some other way or by some other means than only by the Spirit of God is of Antichrist and will be confounded for there is no true Unity and Fellowship in the ways of God and his Truth and Worship but what is in the spirit and that Unity will stand forever for it is in God not feigned neither because of the Love and Fear of this World as the other is That Uniformity in Faith and Worship which is forced upon people is all but Hypocrisie and Deceit both to God and man and God will judge it in the Imposers and Imposed Therefore no true Unity in Faith nor Worship nor in Religion but what is in and by the Spirit of God for as Christians come to divide themselves into many Ways and into divers Sects when they went from the Spirit of God and lost it and whilst they have been without the Spirit they have remained in Division Strife and Contention about Religion so now the means and way to come into Union and Fellowship and Faith is by receiving the Spirit of God again and not any otherwise and as Christians are brought again to receive this Spirit and walk therein all Division and Strife about Religion will cease and the cursed Fruits Effects thereof will also wither and be no more but then Unity Peace Blessedness Everlasting Fellowship and Comfort with the Lord and one with another in all his Wayes will be witnessed amongst all People By a Servant of Truth E. B. The FIFTH GENERAL EPISTLE Being A Tender Salutation OF PERFECT LOVE Unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most High who have Believed the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and Walk in the Light that hath enlightened every man that comes into the World IN the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ blessed forever the Tender Salutation of my Immortal Life is daily abounding towards you who are the true Flock of the Father's Love and Care who hath begotten you to himself by his Word that lives forever in us and with us that ye should be a People Chosen and Elected of him unto Eternal Blessings and to be a Praise and an Honour to him throughout the World by and through the vertue of his Life and Power and in the Fruits of his Spirit brought forth by you all who are the only Children of that Birth which is only the Lord's Well Dearly Beloved My Heart at this time is filled in the Father's Love with the dear Remembrance of you whom the Lord hath gathered with his Arm of Power and in his Spirit do I desire the encrease of all Mercies and Peace and Blessings unto you that you may be Rich and Strong and Wise and Mighty through the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving daily of his Grace may ever be preserved constant and faithful in the Heavenly Calling unto the End And forasmuch as the Lord hath began his Glorious Work in the midst of you and gathered you out of the Darkness and Ignorance and Unbelief of this World where some time your Converse hath been while ye knew not the Lord and raised you up into the Light and Power and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ having largely tasted of the same in the Experience of his Leadings through divers Operations and Manifestations of his Spirit so that many of you have attained to a good measure of Peace and Rest with the Lord in your inward Man Dearly Beloved seeing it is thus these things the Spirit of the Father in me travelleth to bring forth unto you for the End to Comfort you and to Confirm you and to Edifie you in the saving Truths of the Gospel of Peace 1. Consider what your former Estate hath been an Estate scattered like Sheep without a Shepherd some of you dispersed into one false kind of Profession of Religion and some into another walking in such Wayes as the Lord led you not in but ye were Driven from God into the pathes of Death and Darkness and were led by blind Watch-men in the Hypocrisie and false pretences towards God Honouring Him with the Lips while the Heart was far away this was the Condition of some of you and others of you were wallowing in the open Prophaneness of the Sinful World and such was your Estate wherein you were all Strangers to God and were without him in the World and served the spirit which leadeth Captive to Destruction and in that Way you were strayed even in the
of his truth so in conversion and regeneration that many can say the Way of the Lord is so made manifest that we look not for another nor are doubtful of the Way of Eternal Life therefore be established stedfast and constant in that way not easily moved nor tossed too and frô with men nor new Doctrines nor changeable things but approve your hearts in uprightness before the Lord by being faithful to the end faithful I say to be and do according to the measure of Light and Grace and Knowledge that God hath already committed to you that ye may not offend against the Grace of God but may glorifie the Lord in your Souls and Spirits being joyned in your hearts and married to the Living God and the Lord becomes Your Husband according to the Promise but if any be of a changeable Spirit such will receive Temptations and go out of the Covenant of God and abuse the gift of God if their heart be not meek and lowly and humble and perfect in the sight of God though there may be a taste of the Love of God yet there can be no assurance of it if the heart be not aright before the Lord and faithful and constant in his Truth and therefore all must wait to receive the assurance of Eternal Life in themselves even such an assurance of Life and Peace and Joy and Comfort that there can be no departing away being established in the Heir-ship never to loose the Crown Heirs of the power of God of his Wisdom of his Righteousness inheriters and Possessors of the Eternal Life that ye may dwell in the house forever not onely as Servants but as Sons not onely as such that have tasted of the Love of God but as such as are born Heirs thereof and must inherit the same forever Now dear Friends if this were my last unto You more then this the Lord hath not to say by me and last of all in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus I charge all the Saints to be faithfull to the Principles and Doctrines which Ye have heard and received and been taught of Christ through his Gospel Oh be not inconstant and unfaithful in those Principles and Doctrines which the Spirit of God hath perswaded your Consciences of the truth of for if any are unfaithful they deny the Lord of Life before men and must be denyed of him before the Father therefore let us put on strength and courage to be faithful and constant in life or death to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes and if we must suffer for our profession and practice of those truths which God hath perswaded our Consciences of the verity of we shall never be ashamed nor confounded before the Adversary though we gaom Tribulations Persecutions yea death it self for the Name of the Lord and his Truth yet we shall obtain the Crown of Glory which never fades away and verily all the Suffering and afflictions of this Present time are not worthy to be compared to that weight of Peace and comfort which is and shall be revealed amongst us And as concerning our Obedience to Government ever since we were a People Ye know what our Principle and Practise in that case hath been even to obey all men in all things either by doing or suffering if at any time ye are required to do any thing by any in Authority which is not agreeing but contrary to the Scriptures example of the Saints and the Spirit of Christ in your own consciences then ye are to suffer whatsoever if it be death it self rather then to obey and submit to the doing of that which is contrary to a good conscience this hath ever been our Principle and Practise since we were a People agreeing with the practise of the holy Prophets Apostles and Martyrs in all ages who rather did suffer grievous oppressions and persecutions then to obey any command of men in power by doing any thing contrary to the testimony of the Spirit of God in their own particulars let us all be like-minded this day not to do nor bend nor be in any wise contrary to the Spirit of Christ that dwels in us but rather suffer whatsoever may be imposed then to sin against that Light and knowledge of the Spirit of Christ which he hath given us but let us keep a clean heart and a pure Conscience to God-wards and therein we shall triumph over all in our inward Man though our outward man be afflicted and in this we shall have peace and comfort in God over all our Adversaries And as concerning your meetings the Lord hath given you the testimony of his Spirit in you for the verity and righteousness thereof though ye should suffer persecution for the same yet ye have the Spirit of Christ testifying in your hearts that this Way and Practise of meeting together as our practise hath been is of God and he Justifies us in the same and we have sufficient of assurance by the holy Spirit to stand faithful in that practise of assembling together to Worship God First we have the testimony of Scriptures and example of Saints in the Apostles daies to prove this practice of Meeting together The first Christians they met together in this manner and way as we do now they met in private houses and from house to house separate and apart from the Publique Synagogues and all other Sects and it is clear that we have the example of Saints and Scripture Proof for this our practise of meeting together 2. We have our own experience for these divers years how that the Spirit of the Lord hath moved our hearts to assemble together and the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ hath been amongst us and we have tasted of the goodness and love of the Lord being so met together how often hath the Lord met with us and his countenance shined upon us and our souls have been refreshed strengthened and comforted in this practise of meeting together these things are true and may confirm us in this practise of meeting together and to be faithful to the end 3. We have the full perswasions of the Spirit of God lively and fervent in our hearts at this moment that we ought not to neglect the Assembling of our selves together but that God requires it of us and it is his will that his People meet together to worship him in Spirit and Truth separate from all the world even in one Spirit and in the Name and power of Jesus I hope ye are all like-minded herein and that the Spirit of Christ perswades your Consciences in the Truth of that practise therefore be faithful unto God herein and sin not against the testimony of Scriptures and example of the first Christians nor against your own experience nor against the admonitions of the Servants of the Lord who are the first fruits unto God since the Apostacy and have again and again in the Name and Spirit of Christ exhorted you to meet
received and so is divided in whole or in part from the true Church of Jesus Christ and from being a Member of the same and not only so but hath received also and doth hold some False Principles Opinions and Practices either different from or contrary to the Truth of the Gospel before believed in known and professed such a man is a Heretick though generally yet truly described Not such as are Heathens Unconverted who never believed yet in the Gospel such who have alwayes resisted the Truth and never yet were convinced of the Way of the Lord nor ever tasted of his Word and Power but have alwayes been Strangers to the Israel of God and Enemies to the Church of Christ such are not properly called Hereticks though they do err in Mind Heart and Practice but such only as have believed in Christ and Professed his Truth and been of the Church and yet are fallen away from the perfect Truth into some false Principles and Practices and are become unsound in Judgment and erroneous in their Understandings and have forsaken the Way of Truth in whole or in part and are corrupted and lost their Love to God and his Wayes and are obstinate and hardened against the Truth which once they believed and with False Doctrines Principles and Practices do gainsay and oppose the Truth and them that are stedfast in it These are Hereticks and truly so called Men that have erred from the Faith that have made ship-rack of it and of a good Conscience that are turned against the Lord and his People and gainsay the Truth that once themselves have believed and professed These are Erroneous Men and Hereticks and such Hereticks there were in the Church and among the Corinthians and there were such who did creep into the Church and privily brought in Heresies amongst them as before is proved And these Hereticks were such as had once been amongst the true Members of the true Church and been convinced of the true Jesus and had sometimes walked with them but were departed from them and had forsaken the Truth and received false Principles and Opinions and therefore they were truly nominated Hereticks and all such at this day are truly so called And this is the Description in general of a Heretick 4. Now I come to declare who are the true Judges of Heresie and Hereticks Not every man can judge in this case in his own Thoughts Imaginations and Suppositions who are Hereticks and who are guilty of Heresie though it hath been the practice for many Generations amongst the Apostate Christians to reproach traduce and accuse one another to be Hereticks and each sort and sect of false Christians to judge censure and condemn others that are not of their Judgement and Opinion but different from them to be Hereticks and Erroneous and this hath been usual among many but this is not the true Judgement not the way to try and judge truly who Hereticks are by one Sect and sort slandering and accusing others to be such because they have not conformed to their Way and Principles but been different from them true Judgement hath not been brought forth in this case on this wise but rather Envy and Enmity hath judged and men's thoughts imaginations and jealousies have falsly judged in this matter and no sound judgement determined who have been Hereticks for men have judged of one another by their private jealousies and evil conceivings and censured one another to be Hereticks without the Spirit of sound discerning and just Judgement and all that Judgement brought forth in that case without the infallible Spirit of Christ Jesus which is onely true Discerner and Judge in the matter hath been false Judgement and men have judged one another falsly upon envy and evil suppositions and without the Spirit of the Lord and it hath often happened by reason hereof That such so judged for Hereticks have been more righteous and more in the truth then they that have so judged them and the Judges have been more out of the truth and more Hereticks themselves then they whom they have falsly Judged And this might be made appear through several Times and Ages since the Apostles dayes among the false Christians 5. None are able to dilcern of Heresie nor to try and judge justly who are Hereticks none but they I say that have the infallible Spirit of God in them to guide them and have infallibility and perfect certainty of Judgment and Knowledge in that case of Heresie none else are rightly able to judge who are Hereticks but such I say as have the infallible Spirit of Christ and are infallible and certain in their Judgments these onely and none else are able to judge they onely are competent Iudges in this case of Heresie and who are Hereticks and if any judge in that Case it is but out of Envy and Enmity and in the evil Suppositions and Conceivings as aforesaid and must needs be false and unjust Judgment if they have not the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of Judgment to discern by and determine with in that Case for no man nor men may or can justly judge another in the matter of Heresie as a Heretick by their own thoughts or suppositions out of their enmity and for their self-Interests but the Judgement in that matter must be just equal holy and true and onely by the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is infallible and gives infallibility of Judgement and discerning into all cases and things for it was Christ Jesus and his Apostles and the Saints that had the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of judgement that could onely judge justly of such things who were Hereticks and who were not and it was not the Iews nor Pharisees that could justly discern or judge in God's Spiritual matters but they alwayes judged of Christ and his Apostles and of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God falsly and unjustly in their evil suppositions and envy and this was because they had not the infallible Spirit of Judgement nor the certain infallible knowledge and discerning of different things in Spiritual Cases and so it is now at this day amongst them called Christians there is none can discern truly nor judge justly what Heresie is nor who is a Heretick but such as are guided by the infallible Spirit of God and have infallibility of Judgement nor none can make Laws whereby justly to judge of Heresie and Hereticks but them who have the same infallible spirit of God guiding them and have received infallibility of Judgement So both the Law-makers and the Judges of the Law must be infallible in knowledge and judgement in this case of Heresie otherwise the Law made for that purpose and the Judgment given by that Law are both False and Unjust and not according to God and his Truth but are to be justly judged and condemned of the Lord God in his day and season 6. Now it remains to be enquired into Whether there is any
Punishment pertaining to Hereticks as such for such Heresies held by them Being first convicted truly thereof as aforesaid by the true Church of Christ in whom there is infallibility of Judgment Knowledge and discerning in that case for in the true Church of Christ doth infallibility of true Judgment and Knowledge dwell and every true Member of the true Church hath its particular Measure of the infallible Spirit of Christ whereby he is certainly perswaded of the Way of Truth in which he walks and knows and believes the infallibility of the Truth he professeth and is certain and secure of the Way of his Peace and Assurance in God which he hath received and believed and also hath certainty and infallibility of Judgment and Discerning who are out of the Truth and in the Way of Error and are Hereticks such are infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the true Church of Christ and by every Member of the same according to his measure of the same Spirit and Gift of Knowledge and Discerning by it And to such as are so convicted by the infallible Spirit of Christ for such their Heresies there is a Punishment pertaining for Hereticks were to be punished in the Apostles dayes according to Paul's Instructions 1 Cor. 5. 5. which was That such a one as had erred from the Truth which once he knew should be delivered up unto Satan for the Destruction of his Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Here was a Punishment described by the Apostle for this Heretick that had erred and gone from the Truth and acted against it though once he believed in it and knew it And again Tit. 3. 10. he exhorts and advises That a man that is a Heretick after the first and second Admonition should be wholy rejected and turned away from and judged with the Holy Spirit of God And thus it is clear there is such a thing as dealing with men that are Hereticks and punishing them for such their Heresie according to the Apostle's Doctrines and Instructions And without all controversie such as do err from the Faith which once they have received and turn from the Truth in principle or practice must not escape unpunished but must receive the sentence of just Judgement from God and from his Saints that continue faithful 7. But what kind or nature this punishment is of in what way and manner such as are Hereticks may be and ought to be punished is doubtful to many and is a case at this time to be inquired into for that way and practice of punishing such as have been supposed to be Hereticks as among the Christians so called for many generations to wit the way and practice of burning banishing killing imprisoning and afflicting corporally the persons of them that have been called Hereticks for their heresies and laying forfeitures and penalties on their bodies and estates as hath been the practice of Papists and Protestants towards one another since the Apostles dayes this way and practice hath not been of God nor by any example or precept of the Apostles or first Christian Churches established in their dayes they did not practise or prescribe such dealing towards them that were truly Hereticks and were erred from the Faith and Truth of Jesus Christ not Killing Burning Banishing and Prosecuting the Persons of Hereticks this was not the way of the Spirit of God among the Primitive Christians they did it not nor gave institution for the doing of it at any time but this way of dealing towards Hereticks in such cruel proceedings as hath been in practice for many Ages is of Satan and Antichrist and is down-right Murder Robbery and Wickedness in the Eye of the just God while one Sect or Sort of Christians so called have punished and enviously persecuted another Sort different from them as Hereticks with grievous Afflictions in Body and Estate even unto Death and Banishment this hath not been of God nor true Christian-like but of the wicked one and Cruelties and Murders before the Lord neither are the same proceedings at this day in any part of the World where they are extant any just legal Righteous Christian-like way of proceeding according to Apostolical example but are of Antichrist and of the Wicked one as I have said And this Way and Practice of proceeding towards Hereticks hath been so far from effecting the return of any to the Way of the Lord that have been erred from it as the end of proceeding toward Hereticks should effect that the way and practice of Killing Banishment and Persecuting by violence Hereticks so called hath hardned men in their evil way and made such as have been Hereticks more bold confident and obstinate in their Way Heresie and Errors and many that have been more righteous and clearer from Heresie then such as have so judged them have been destroyed by cruel dealing and many others have been destroyed in their Iniquities and Errors by being so proceeded against And thus true Judgment and Justice in this case have been perverted and turned backwards and because of Ignorance and Cruelty the Righteous have suffered unjustly as the Wicked and the Wicked have suffered by unjust proceedings and thus the Way of Righteousness hath not been known in the Earth but Error upon Error one evil upon another hath come onesin added to another among the Sons of men in the Apostacy amongst the false Christians 8. But the perfect Way of the Lord in proceeding towards such as are truly Hereticks so discerned and infallibly judged to be by the true Church of Christ is this Let such first be admonished advised instructed and warned again and again to beware return from and renounce such false Principles Doctrines and practices held by them and this in the spirit of Christ Jesus in perfect love and in meekness and in the wisdom of the Lord God such I say as are erred from the way of the Lord and from the faith of Christ once received into error ought thus in the first place to be dealt withal by the Way of Admonishing Instructing Warning and Reproving that there may be a Returning and Repentance towards the Lord and his Truth again from whence they have erred and if such shall not receive the Instructions Reproofs and Admonitions of the true Church of Christ then such Hereticks shall be rejected and cast out according to Titus the 3. 10 11. saith the Apostle A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself here is the Description of the punishing of an Heretick if he will not receive Admonition after being given him again and again but doth harden his heart against the Church and against the truth of Christ and will not repent but persicts in his errors and heresies and that after reproof and admonition then he is to be rejected rejected what is that but a casting out from
the unity of Saints a departing and absenting from such an one and a depriving of him of the peace and comfort joy and felicity of the Assembly of God's People and Servants a turnning from such in Converse and Fellowship and a separating from them and judging them by the Spirit of Christ Jesus and this is rejecting an Heretick and delivering him to Satan according to 1 Cor. 5. 4 5 6. When the Church The Saints were met together with the Spirit of God and the Power of the Lord Iesus Christ such a one as had erred from the Truth and sinned against it and was truely an Heretick should be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit might be saved Delivering unto Satan what is that but to let him be cast out into the wicked World reputing him as such an one and that he partake not of the sweet heavenly and blessed Union and Fellowship of Saints in their Assemblios and converse with the God of Heaven in his Spirit and Life not to be numbred among the righteous nor a partaker with them in the holy Union of the Elect to pass judgment upon him eternally in the estate he is now in having both erred from the Truth and rejected and despised the reproofs and Admonitions of the Church of Christ and as such to give him up to Satan to give him up to that Spirit that hath led him aside from the Truth and hardned his heart against it to deliver him up to it seeing he refuseth to be reclaimed from it and hath chosen to follow it rather then the Truth let him be left unto delivered up unto that Spirit even unto Satan in the wicked World let him be cast out thither among the unclean and not reckoned among the record and line of the faithful People and separated from and cast out so as he expresseth it vers 11. If any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous a Railer a Drunkard c. with such a one not to accompany no not to eat and this is to deliver a Heritick to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh and is the proper punishment of Heresies and Hereticks according to the Apostles Advice and Precept but not to kill or punish the persons of men by corporal Afflictions and Penalties on the Bodies and Estates for their Error sake this the Apostle gave no Commission for but that such as erred from the Truth and walked contrary in Principle or Practice should be rejected and delivered up unto Satan in the way and manner before declared Again in Matth. 18. 16 17 18. it is signified by Jesus Christ to the self-same purpose in these words If thy Brother trespass go and tell him alone if he repent forgive him if not take one or two or more with thee and tell him again if 〈◊〉 still neglect to hear tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let such a one be unto thee as hath offended and rejected Reproof and Admonition again and again as an Heathen man and Publican In which words of Christ is truely signified the right and proper way of proceeding towards Hereticks and Offenders even that they be first again and again admonished and reproved and if they resist the same then to be cast out separated from and not enjoy the union and comfort of the Saints amongst them but as an Heathen man and Publican but here is not a word signified of laying corporal Punishments Burning or Banishing persons for their Errors sake and though they may offend no proceedings of this kind are authorised by Jesus Christ or his Apostles in their day but in another way and manner as I have shewed is the proper way ordained of God to deal with Hereticks according to the Testimony of holy Scriptures signified by Christ and his Apostles in the Primitive Churches 9. This is Punishment according to the nature of the Offence for as the Offence is Spiritual erring in the mind from the Truth and a going astray from the Spirit of Christ in a man 's own particular so the Punishment is answerable thereunto even to be separated from the Truth and not to enjoy the Vertue Peace and Comfort of it nor to be partakers thereof amongst the faithfull People And this is truly according to the Iustice of God whose Wayes are just and equal altogether and hath appointed just Rewards for Transgressors according to the nature and merit of the Fact and Deed that is evil and 't is righteous and just that men that sin against their own Souls should be deprived of the Peace and Comfort thereof that all that do depart from the Truth once known and sin against the knowledge thereof â—hould be no more a partaker of the Vertue and Felicity of the same and that they who offend the Lord's People and revolt from the union thereof should be cast out from them rejected of them and not enjoy the Blessings and Peace with them even that all they that will not hear the Repooofs of the Spirit of God nor be drawn with the gentle movings thereof should be judged and condemned with the same and not inherit the Assurance of the Saints And this is God's Iustice That all that love Evil and walk in Iniquity and despise the Lord should be cast out into the sinfull World to have their Portion with the Ungodly and all the Workers of Iniquity and this is just Punishment according to the nature of the Offence of Error aad Heresie for in my Iudgment and I have the Spirit of just Iudgment in this Case it is great Punishment and sufficient for a man that hath once tasted of the Vertue of God's Presence among his People to be cast out from the Feeling and Enjoyment of that Life Vertue and Assembly where it is enjoyed this is Punishment and a Wound to the Soul and Conscience for a Person that hath been turned from Iniquity and witnessed the Peace of Christ in the Church to be left in Iniquity and to witness the Wrath and Anger of God daily smiting him in his spirit and upon his heart this is indeed great Punishment And to have the holy Spirit of Christ in his People now to judge and condemn him whom sometimes it hath comforted and refreshed and to be dis-united and separated from that Spirit and Power amongst the Saints which once gave Life and Joy amongst them This man thus judged and condemned by and thus separated and dis-united from the Spirit and Power of Christ and his People is punished and afflicted sufficiently for his Error and Heresie even in his Conscience Soul and Spirit he is wounded grieved pierced vexed and punished though yet his outward-man and his person be not corporally afflicted by Punishments but he is afflicted within he is dealt withal by the Anger of God in his Conscience he is separated into Darkness and from the Light and Glory of God in the Assemblies
there is much Difference amongst men concerning this Matter and 't is the general way of People one sort to accuse another that are different from them in Profession and Religion That ye and ye are of Antichrist but this hath been for the most part in Enmity and in the Spirit of Wrath and Contention and is not from true Judgment and Knowledge now therefore it remains to be made manifest according to the Gift of Grace Knowledge and Understanding what Antichrist is in himself and how he appears in the World seeing we have proved That there is such a thing as Antichrist now Ruling and Raigning somewhere amongst men throughout the Nations of the Earth 3. Antichrist is not as some suppose a particular visible Person upon Earth Distinct and Divided from all other Persons as if none besides such an one were Antichrist but Antichrist is rather an Invisible Spirit a spirit I say dwelling in Persons even in many Persons throughout the World which makes them all of Antichrist or to be many Antichrists according to 1 Iohn 2. 18. There are many Antichrists saith Iohn whereby we know it is the Last Time So that it is plain There are in the World many Antichrists many Men of Sin or many Sinful Men many Sons of Perdition and Ungodliness not onely one man that is such but many men in the World even all such in whom the spirit of Antichrist or Antichrist that spirit dwells and walks they are all Antichrists or of Antichrist because of that spirit of Antichrist which doth possess them and rule them in the Wayes of Sin and Death in Idolatry and false Wayes and in opposition to and against Christ Jesus the Lord of Life even all the Deceivers in the World all that are erred from the Spirit and Power of CHRIST and are not of the true Church Gathered into his Name and Power but bringeth another Doctrine than that of Christ and his Saints and truly confesseth not in Word and Practice unto JESUS come in the Flesh all such are Antichrists and of Antichrist according to 2 Iohn 7. even all the Apostates who profess Christ and his Truth and his Church and are not in the Spirit and Power of Christ but in the Form of Godliness without the Power professing God in Words but in Works denying him all such are Antichrists by reason of that spirit of Antichrist which dwells in them and into which spirit they are leavened and moulded and are one with it and bring forth the Fruits of it in the World and therefore they are Antichrists more than one even many Antichrists as I have said 4. Antichrist in himself is the Man of Sin the Son of Perdition which is indeed and in Truth the very Devil in his Nature and Kind and in his Power and Spirit and of him and yet not divided nor distinct from him but is him to wit the DEVIL as he is in himself And he is against Christ and wholy contrary to Christ and bringeth forth Fruits and Works to the Dishonour of Christ and opposeth Christ and is in all things of a contrary Nature and Quality to Jesus Christ. And he is called Antichrist to wit before or against and contrary to Christ. And this is Antichrist in himself An Adversary to God an Enemy to all Righteousness a Perverter of the Wayes of God a Hater of all Good a Despiser and Persecutor of God's People and indeed a certain Spirit and Power Distinct Divided and Separated from the Living God and his Son Jesus Christ and contrary in Nature and Quality in Fruits and Effects And there is no Fellowship in any thing between Christ and Antichrist but they are divided and separated one from the other contrary and opposite one to the other in all their Wayes and Works and in their Kinds and Natures For as I have said Antichrist in himself in his nature and kind is the Devil and no other he is the Man of Sin the Sinful Man that conceiveth and worketh all Evil the Son of Perdition the Son that is lost from God and Reprobate forever he that is fallen diverted and cast out from the Presence Glory and Power of the Creator he that is sealed unto Vengeance in the Wrath and Enmity against God and Christ Jesus as being contrary irreconcilably to the Nature and Works of Christ. This is said of Antichrist as what he is in himself as that particular spirit and not of the many Antichrists which are only Vessels retaining this one spirit and Members of him through his Power dwelling in them and by which they are one with this spirit and one in Action and bring forth the Works and Fruits of it For 't is possible some that are such in their present standing even under the power of Antichrist may be converted and turned from him and changed into another Nature and so saved But as for the Antichrist in himself as such he is the Devil and sealed up in the Anger of God never to be redeemed nor saved nor changed into another Nature 5. Though Antichrist in himself be the Devil yet his Appearances in the World are divers and many and he appears in outward and visible Actions amongst men diversly somtimes he appears in the way and form of open Prophaneness by the Works of Men in all manner of Unrighteousness and Iniquity for all Sin of what kind soever in every appearance of it is of the Devil and Antichrist even all prophane Wayes and Works of Evil Men Lying Drunkenness Whoredom Double-dealing Envy Malice and every Evil Work and Word brought forth by the Sons of Adam in the Fall are all of Antichrist and the Devil and is his visible Appearance in the World though sometimes his Appearance is in another way and manner even in a way of seeming Righteousness and Holiness and in the Profession of Christ and Christianity and pretence of Faith towards God and Worship of God and crying up Church and Fellowship in the same and Forms of Godliness as if Antichrist were a Saint and Servant of God thus and after this manner doth Antichrist appear in the World amongst men now in these latter dayes since the Apostles time in the Apostacy of Christianity Antichrist I say though the Devil in himself yet hath he often appeared as a Saint upon Earth in the pretence of Holiness Righteousness Worship and Religion such hath been his Policy and Deceivableness that he hath put on the Appearance of Gospel Doctrine Ministry and Ordinances and covered himself thereby that he might the better beguile entangle and deceive Mankind in the Form and Profession of a Saint and Member of the true Church he hath put on the Sheep's-Clothing hath made use of the Saints words and Practices and hath exalted himself in the Temple of God as if he were God shewing himself to be God and hath been lifted up above all that is called God according to 2 Thes. 2. 4. and Christ himself said to his Disciples
and the like Yea and the Persecutions and Murders that ever have been acted against the Saints of God in all Generations though Cruel and Unrighteous and of the Devil yet all this hath Antichrist titled to be in Honour to Christ and for the destroying Hereticks and out of Iustice and Zeal for God and such like yea and the most Gross Idolatries and most Deceitful Wayes of Worship that ever hath been set up in the World have been named after Christ and pretended to be done in Honour to him and for his Glory and so forth so deceivable hath Antichrist been in the World and walked and wrought among the Sons of Men in deceiving of them that he hath used and taken upon him the very Name of Christ and all his Evil Works of Iniquity of all kinds hath he put the Name and Honour of Christ upon them and so deceived the World by his false Wayes Worships Doctrines and Persecutions through covering these things with the Name of Christ and pretending his Honour and Exaltation whenas his own true Nature and Property is to kill Christ and gainsay him And this indeed is Antichrist who under colour and pretence of Worshipping and Honouring Christ doth seek to Slay him This is that Crafty and Deceitful Fox that Man of Sin that hath been exalted that Antichrist that Wicked One that hath deceived the World for many Ages But the Lord is now discovering him and destroying him by the Breath of his Mouth and by the Brightness of his Coming according to the Faithful Promise of God in his Servants and Antichrist shall be discovered and destroyed the Day of the Lord is at hand upon him 8. Again It hath been the way of Antichrist that he might the better deceive the World to transform himself into the likeness of the best Way and strictest Profession of Religion and so to remove from one Way and Form unto another as I said before that he might the better deceive men according as Paul writ 2 Cor. 11. verse 13 14. for such are false Apostles deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an ANGEL of LIGHT by which it is plain That Antichrist did change and transform himself and remove from one Way to another even till he appeared as an Angel of Light and in the very Way and Form of the Ministry of Righteousness Thus did Antichrist work and transform himself in the dayes of the Apostles and ever since unto this day in all Times and Ages for it hath been his manner and way when he could no longer cover himself nor be hid in such a Way of Worship and Religion in which he hath sometimes dwelt and walked but that his Wickedness Cruelties Persecutions and Deceits must needs be seen and made appear unto men by the Light of the Lord shining amongst them then he hath transformed into another likeness and removed his cruelties and persecutions into another form and appearance it may be into the very way in the outward prosession and practice of it in which sometime the Lord hath dwelt and walked and there hath he dwelt deceiving the World by his new form and appearance and exercised his wickedness cruelties and persecutions in some new way having quitted the Last Form in which he dwelt because he was there too publikly seen and discovered And now in his new likeness into which he is Transformed he can plead the example of Saints they did such things and held such Doctrines and Performed such Practises as now he is found in and this did the Devil sometime to Christ he pleaded Scripture against him And thus Antichrist can Change himself into divers appearances that he may deceive men Well but and if he be again discovered and his cruelties and wickedness made appear in his Last and Newest Form he can transform again into a more strict Way and zealous Performance even into an Angel of Light as if he were indeed the true Christ and were in the Truth altogether and no man needed to doubt of the Truth of his Way and then under that Form being covered with more Zeal then ever with more pretence of Duty to God then before he blinds the World and deceives them and leads men to Perdition and though changeable in his Appearance yet is he in himself Antichrist still in his own proper nature a Murderer Destroyer and a Fountain of Mischief and Evil. The Truth of this is plain if it be considered through the course of Scriptures in Generations past and Transactions of Time as in the Prophets dayes of old this spirit which is no other but the Devil sometimes opposed gainsayed and persecuted the Prophets reproached them and with-stood them and imprisoned them and killed them And sometimes we find the same spirit transformed it self into the way of the Prophets and acted by some deceivers and false Prophets in the same words and practices which the true Prophets had said and done and as the true Prophets used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it so the false Prophets in whom the Devil was transformed they used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it also when God had not spoken to them So here was this spirit of Antichrist changing and transforming himself that he might the better deceive Also in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles the Devil and Antichrist apeared against them and persecuted them and killed them and used Cruelty and Injustice towards them and as before I said this was done to Christ and his Apostles by the wicked Iews under colour and pretence of Love to their God and Zeal for their Law and for the Honour of their Ordinances and Priesthood which they supposed Christ and his Apostles made void which shews That the Devil and Antichrist appears in the World as a good Man as a Lover of God and his Laws and the like Well But though the Envious Men and Wicked Persons through the spirit of the Devil did for some time oppose gainsay and persecute Christ and his Apostles yet the same spirit possibly some of the same Persons transformed into the Profession of Christ and into the Profession of the Words and Works of Him and his Apostles For we find Envious men and Wicked men such as had persecuted Christ and killed him were gotten to preach him in words and had gotten and taken upon them the Form of Christ's Doctrine and preached him out of Envy and for Self-ends and the like So that 't is plain The same spirit that sometime opposed and persecuted the Prophets Christ and his Apostles other times was transformed into the Profession of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles words And this is the way of Antichrist to deceive men upon Earth and to lead them to Perdition For when the Devil and Antichrist perceives that his Envy Malice and Cruelty cannot prevail to subdue and keep under the Way and Truth of Christ Jesus as it
Righteousness Truth Faith and Worship without the Power of God even likeness of the things that the Apostles and Saints held in the Power of God And hereby is the World deceived though Antichrist hath taught them to Plead Scriptures and Prove by Scriptures â—…t the Apostles did the same things and held the same Profession yet being now held and professed out of the Power of God and not in the same Spirit that the Apostles were in 't is but of Antichrist and deceivable and leads captive the souls of men into destruction Oh therefore that the World and all that dwel therein would consider the danger of that deceivable Spirit of Antichrist and how he deceiveth mankind and would turn from him and forsake the wayes and works of Antichrist that they may be saved and not destroyed Oh! all ye called Christians 't is time to consider what Spirit ye are of and what Spirit leads you and how ye may escape his delusions for the Day of the Lord is come and he is gathering People out of the wayes of Antichrist and setting them free from his cruel Bonds to serve the Lord in Liberty and Freedom of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and blessed are all they that witness this where Christ reigns and Antichrist is subdued with his works and fruits and discovered and destroyed by the Spirit of the Lord and the brightness of his Coming who comes to judge the World in Righteousness and Truth 11. These things are said in general of Antichrist Now it remains to be shewed What the Government of Antichrist is in it self and where it is in beeing and who the Subjects of his Kingdom are That Antichrist the Man of Sin hath a Government a Kingdom a Power an Authority a Rule and a Dominion which is indeed his Government this is not doubtful to any but acknowledged by all but what this Kingdom and Government is many are Ignorant Now the Kingdom and Government of Antichrist is not the Government and Authority of some particular man in some particular Countrey and Nation upon Earth distinct from all other persons and Nations as if such a particuler visible Kingdom and Authority were Antichrist's Government and none besides But the Authority Kingdom and Government of Antichrist is more invisible more hidden as it were more spiritual and undiscernable unto the sons of men then any visible outward Kingdom is And indeed the Kingdom of Antichrist is the Authority and Power of Spiritual Wickedness of Spiritual invisible Iniquity or the Rule and Dominion of the Son of Perdition of the Man of Sin exercised in the hearts and Spirits of all ungodly men This is the Kingdom and Government of Antichrist an Authority of Spiritual Wickedness a Power of the Mystery of Iniquity and of invisible prevailing of the Son of Perdition in and over the hearts of the Sons of men not onely of one person or in one Nation or Kingdom of the World but in all sinful persons and over all Nations of the Earth Antichrist's Government is such throughout Kingdoms of this World even a Spiritual Power of Wickedness a Dominion and Authority of the Mystery of Iniquity ruling and raigning in the hearts of many men even of all sinful men of all unjust men of all unconverted men through all Nations in the World So that it may not truly be said that Antichrist's Kingdom and Government is onely the particular Authority of any particular man in a particular Nation of the Earth and all others Men and Nations are free but it is as I have said the Authority Power and Rule of the Spirit of Wickedness of the Mystery of Iniquity in the hearts of all evil men in all Nations through the World And this is truly the Kingdom of Antichrist in it self 12. This Government is placed and set up and chiefly the place and beeing of it is not only in all Nations at large but in the Hearts even in particular Hearts of the Sons of men in the Heart and Inward Parts of man is the place where Antichrist's Government is his Authority Power and Dominion is in the Hearts of the Ungodly in the inward Parts of Transgressors in the Heart Antichrist that Man of Sin dwells and works according as it is written 2 Thess. 2. 9 10. speaking of the Man of Sin Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all lying Wonders and with all Deceivableness of Uurighteousness in them that perish His dwelling and working is in them that perish in the Ungodly in the Hypocrites in all â—…aters in all false Worshippers Thus it is manifest That the Government of Antichrist is in the Heart not only to one man in some Nations but in the Hearts of all such men mentioned in all the Kingdoms of the World even the Mystery of Iniquity the spiritual Wickedness the authority and power of that spirit that is against Christ and contrary to him which is the Rule Kingdom and Government of Antichrist dwelleth and worketh in the hearts of the Sons of men even like as Christ Jesus dwelleth and walketh in his Saints as it is written so accordingly doth Antichrist dwell and walk in all that are the Subjects of his Kingdom Yet notwithstanding the Government of Antichrist is in the hearts of men originally there as having got dominion and Power over the seed of God and placed it self in the heart which is its seat and where Christ should reign yet the Government of Antichrist is not so spiritual so hidden and invisible in the heart but that it appears outwardly and visibly in the actions and fruits of men so that the outward actions and works of men are 〈◊〉 and sinted with the spirit of Antichrist and his government apaears visible in Antichristian Ways and Works brought forth by men the Sinfulness of men the Hypocrisies of men the Idolatries of men and the false Principles and Doctrines of men which appear visibly are the Works of Antichrist and his Government stands in these things in these Works he Governs men and to the doing of them he leads and rules men by his authority and power which is in the Hearts of men And thus Antichrist's Government appears visible and outward and is in the outward Actions and Works of men to be seen in the World as well as the working of his Power and Authority is in the Heart inwardly And also Antichrist's Government is extended not only as first dwelling and working in the Hearts of the Ungodly nor secondly as over the Works of men particularly but over the Governments of many Nations and Countries in general is Antichrist's Power and Rule extended so that the Governments of the World are leavened and tasted with Antichristian-power and authority in many Nations even the spirit of Antichrist hath possessed many hearts many Works and not only so but many Governments amongst men and this hath appeared and broken forth visible in all the works of Unrighteousness Injustice Oppressions and Persecutions brought forth in
from the committing of sin And the sum of thy doctrine is no more then that which thou wouldst make error in us though sometimes thou art railing against Perfection and sometimes owning it under some particular accounts not under all and so one while builds up and another while throwest down and so art in Babylon Thou sayest There are thousands of perfect men in England c. yet thy false conclusion is because we hold Perfection Therefore is our Light the light of Satan c. I leave it to the simple minde to read thy confusion and shall rake no longer in it Thy Tenth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. Which teacheth men to revile and throw filth upon the true Ministers and true Churches of Christ therefore it is the light of Satan c. Answ. This Foundation is another Lye and thy Arguments are to no purpose We revile not neither do throw filth upon the true Ministers and Churches of Christ Thy proof of thy minor position gives not evidence of thy assertion let the wise in Heart judge So much need not be said because both thy proposition and thy proof is false Doth I. Parnel telling Of the Churches being in God c. prove that we revile throw filth upon Ministers c. What blindness is this but yet this will be the Question Who the true Ministers and Churches of Christ are for we judge it not neither doth the Lord to be reviling and throwing filth upon the true Ministers and Churches to call you greedy dumb Dogs that seek for your Gain from your Quarter and can never have enough and Hirelings that preach for Hire and divine for Money and Devourers of the Flock who feed your selves with the Fat and make a Prey through Covetousness upon the People acting the horrible filthy thing which Ieremiah cried against and to call you evil Beasts and Slow-bellies which teach for filthy Lucre as â—â—â—l did And much more such like may truly be spoken of you by the Spirit of the Lord and no railing against the Ministers of Christ no more then the true Prophets which spoke the same Language for who act those things which the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles declared against are no Ministers of Christ and here we find you in the steps of the false Prophets and Scribes and Pharisees and false Apostles if any ask the particulars I can give testimony hereof so that we make a great difference between reproving and condemning false Teachers and Hirelings and reviling the true Ministers of Christ prove your selves to be true Ministers of Christ and we shall joyn with you otherwise we must set to our seal against you for your abominations and shall as justly deny your Idol Temples and Worship therein to be the true Churches of Christ as we deny you to be Ministers for your works do make you manifest even your wickedness is discovered what rudeness and wildness and pride and vain glory is among you and Christ never had such a Body who were made up of such Members but I do the rather pitty your blind People than you for you are the blind Leaders of the Blind and shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men and enter not your selves nor will suffer others This is true upon you and so are proved to be the Generation of Vipers and Serpents and Hipocrites This is no reviling but the Language of the Spirir of God which Christ once spoke to such as you I speak of thee and thy Generation and we own and honour the true Ministers and Churches of Christ and revile them not but deny you and bear our witness against you Then thou sayest See what is required by the Apostles Example to bring you into the Ministry and prove you have it not To which I answer You have not the call of the Apostles who were called by the imediate Spirit none of you dare own this that I have yet heard of neither have you received your Gospel as they did by the Revelation of Jesus Christ and thou hast confessed it In Page fifty one thou sayst plainly You own no such Revelation and so hast manifested thy selfe to be without the abillities of the true Ministers in these two particulars and many more which might be mentioned and also in that which the Apostle saith He that preaches the Gospel shall live of the Gospel Now by an outward Law you are maintained through oppression of the Innocent as before I have proved for if you had not a Law to defend you in your Maintenance you might starve or beg So your gospel doth not maintain you but the Law of the Nation through oppression of the People And the Apostle preached Christ Jesus to be the Light which hath Lightened every man that cometh into the World and this you deny And much more migh be testified against you wherein you are not only short but contrary to the true Ministers of Christ. Thâ—â— thou shamelesly pleadst for the ordination by the Bishops which I shall pass by as not worth minding to set pen to paper about it and in conclusion thou sayest Thâ—… pleadst not for every particular Minister c. neither do I plead against any one Minister of Christ but against hirelings for which thou pleadst and so thy darkness is of Satan and not the Light of Christ take thy Conclusion to thy self for unto thee it belongs Thy eleventh Argument is Such is the Quakers light viz. which brags of the infallible Spirit and yet cannot speak good sence or reason therefore is the light of Satan c. Answ. This is also false and a Lye whom hast thou heard brag by word or writing of an infallible Spirit but the Spirit of God we say is infallible and that Spirit we have received in its measure but thy Lye I bear witness against and thee the father of it And thou sayst the Spirit of God speaks rationally and sence and thou sayst Satan also can speak likewise then that can be no clear discovery or difference betwixt them if they speak alike And thou sayst further Seeing the witty Jesuits cannot do the business now try if foolish Quakers can do it c. Thou art herein divided from some of thy Brethren who hath as unjustly as thoâ— accused us to be Jesuits but any thing you will say which may make for your turn to uphold the Kingdom of Satan but your Lyes and Reproaches are unto us great riches and our innocency will the Lord bring forth in his time and your wickedness shall fall upon your own heads in a moment but thy proof of thy minor position testifies no such thing against us as speaking rational or non-sence so thy position is false that we brag c. And thy proof is not for thy purpose thâ—â— we cannot speak good sence or reason so in thy whole business thou art found a Lyar and the Lyars Portion is the Lake this is truth and no reviling only
Sin in themselves and Sin in the man yet not sin to the man if he doth not consent to them obey them and fulfil them and the Scripture doth prove it Rom. 7. where he saith It is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me for in his Mind he served the Law of God and with his Mind did not consent to the Motions of Evil and Sin and the Sin was not his nor reckoned against him by the Lord because with his Mind he consented not and this no Upright Man can deny And also I apply'd my self at that time for Witness to the Experience of sober people and Christians Whether many times there had not been evil Motions in their Hearts presenting themselves to which they had not consented but the Lord had given them Power over them to resist them and deny them and they were not overcome of them And whether ever they were accused and condemned for such Motions which the Lord gave them power against Or Whether the rather they had not Peace and Joy in the Lord who had discovered to them and given them power over the Evil which had presented it self And I also gave them that which I had witnessed concerning the thing as a Testimony agreeing with the Scriptures to that particular And though the Relation saith as if I spoke of my present State to be so but herein the Hearers were mistaken if so they understood me for my present State is another then what it once was I bless the Lord I speak without Boasting And my present State I did not then nor now shall declare for I am not known to the World nor desire to be as what my State is But this was my Intent and is in these things My State was say I yea I believe from Ten Years old till many Years after that many times I had Evil Motions arising in my own Heart which sometimes overcame me and sometimes the Lord gave me to overcome them so that I consented not to them nor obey'd nor follow'd them and when they did overcome me and lead me aside then was I troubled and condemned of the Lord for they were reckoned to be my Sins when I consented and many times the Lord gave me power over them and I consented not but resisted them and denied them and then had I great Peace and Joy in the Lord and no Condemnation and this was my Experience for some years together though my present State be another Condition of which I shall not speak as not being needful at this time and this is the Truth which no sober Christiaâ— can deny It s true we spent a little time in disputing upon those things but to little purpose as on their part for what I then said many of the people saw to be the very Truth and all were well satisfied except such as might harden their hearts and much more passed betwixt us And as to this thing which I cannot relate only P. T. as he began so he goes on giving a Report in his Relation of much more then himself spoke and a great deal less then we spoke which thing in him was not very fair not honest For I then proved by many Scriptures That some were perfect in this life 1 Cor. 2. 5. even perfect without Sin Iohn 1. 47. 1 Iohn 3. 7. and yet I did declare at that time That many of the Saints and Children of God were not come to the State of Perfection which admits of no Addition for many of the Saints daily receive more and more of God's Wisdom and of his Power and Life revealed in them wherein they grow up to God from Strength to Strength And though they did so much contend against it yet in the end were forced to confess to the substance of what we spake as to the particular of Perfection The next thing is concerning Perfection and I am charged with holding That Perfection is attainable in this Life which thing I did hold forth and contend for and am not now ashamed of it and my very Proofs which then I used some of which are related by P. T. are sufficient to prove the particular if I should say nothing more and even as the thing is related though what I spoke the whole is not related by much as about this particular of perfection but what is related shall stand as a Witness for me and against them that do so much plead against Perfection even of such perfection to be without sin in this Life And to this I shall say little more but leave his own Relation unto the consideration of sober People onely must say that P. T. hath belyed his own Memory in saying his Relation is A faithful account and yet hath related much more then he spoke also about this Particular As to the next thing which is objected against me That the Scriptures were given to the World and not to the Saints this is utterly false and was neither thus spoken by me nor yet my meaning and at the Dispute I did deny that I spoke the words neither had I any such intent as they have deducted though still I do confidently affirm That that Scripture Iohn 5. 39. was spoken to the Unbelieving Iews that went about to Kill CHRIST who had never heard God's Voice nor seen his Shape nor had not Christ's words abiding in them and to them he spoke that Scripture mention'd neither had I any such meaning but that the Saints and all sober people and all people might search the Scriptures though such a bad consequence they have drawn upon my words and said It is a giddy assertion that hath dropped from me and yet himself is forced to confess what I spoke is true to wit that that Scripture in the fifth of Iohn was spoken to the unbelieving Iews and not to the Saints and yet P. T. to confound himself confesses that I said The Epistles were given to the Saints and this is a Contradiction from his own Pen First to say that I asserted the Scriptures were given to the World and not to the Saints and yet saith I confess the Epistles were given to the Saints which are some part of the Scriptures And whereas P. T. further speaks questioning in himself how far I own the Authority of the Scriptures and such like which shews his ignorance or his unbelief for I have and do here again speak plainly That we do own the Authority of the Scriptures and we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures have had hope and they are able to make the man of God perfect through Faith and what Christ and the Apostles owned the Scriptures to be the same we do and neither more nor less and in this we are approved of God and let men judge what they will And whereas P. T. further speaks something of Iesuites and saith he does not apprehend me to be of that measure of subtilty which is found among men of that Brother-hood
that you would learn more Wisdom and that your people would come to receive the Spirit of the Lord into their Hearts whereby they may be led into all Truth and into the Covenant of God where there is no Unbelief Ignorance Prophaneness nor Confusion but Peace Love and Unity altogether and if you and they did come into this you might be happy and the Judgments of the Lord would be removed Now I come to some Particulars which you do promise for your selves First That you will use all holy Endeavours to keep Cod and his Truth among you Secondly That you will be more diligent in watching over your Flocks Thirdly That you shall endeavour the Establishment of your Congregations against Popish Delusions To all which I Answer You must first make clean your own hearts and you must first Repent of your own Iniquities before you can heal others and you must first learn Obedience to God in your own hearts before you can truly instruct others therein And indeed there is need enough for you to mourn before the Lord and to fast and to confess your Sins as you say for the Lord has been long departed from you and his Presence from your Assemblies and that is the Cause of Deadness and Dryness and Barrenness among the people because God's Presence is wanting among you and you had indeed need to be more diligent in watching over your Flocks for you have been negligent therein and have fed your selves and not them and you have sought theirs and not them it s partly evident and it is time for you now to amend and to put away the Evil of your Doings but first before you dispence the Word to others you must feel the Word in your own Hearts to be as a Fire and as a Hammer in you and you must know another Foundation for Ministers than you have long stood upon even the Lord Jesus Christ must be your Foundation and you must cease to Preach for Hire and to Divine for Money and then should it be better with you and your Flocks would have comfort in you if you had received freely from the Lord and ministred freely to them but while you do it for Ends to your selves they can have no good Hopes nor Confidence in you And whereas you exhort your Congregations in divers Particulars First To take heed of false Teachers trying their spirits and holding fast that which is good especially to beware of Popish Insinuations c. say you Ans. Your Exhortation is good in it self but you should have demonstrated more plainly how false Teachers should be known comparing their Fruits now with what they were in the dayes of old when the Scriptures were written and that had been a good way to have discovered false Teachers That Mat. 16. mentioned by you bids them beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Christ said They were such as were called of men Master stood Praying in the Synagogues loved uppermost Rooms at Feasts went in long Robes and of such Christ bids beware and of such now the People in London are to beware where-ever they are for such as do these things are in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ cryed Wo against and the true Prophets cryed against such in their days as preached for Hire and that sought for their Gain from their Quarter and such you ought to cry against now as seek for their Gain from their Quarter except the guilt of these things in your selves stops your Mouthes from crying against them in others and the Apostles cryed against such as went for Gifts and Rewards such as taught for Filthy Lucre and such as made Merchandize of People for Gain for themselves such the Apostles and Christ declared against and such you ought to declare against But the People of your Congregations may say Who are such now and Where are they That I leave to their Consciences to judge who they be and where they are now and whether there be any of them in this City now and in the Nation that are called of men Master and love uppermost Rooms at Feasts and that preach for Hire and Money for Gifts and Rewards seek for their Gain from their Quarter teach for filthy Lucre and Gain who are found in these things now such are false Teachers who ought to be taken heed of I shall not now say it is any of you but I shall leave it to you and to your Peoples Consciences to whom your Exhortation is And as I have said before let all Popish Inventions and Popery be first cast out of this Nation and then if you joyn with us against it through the Spirit of the Lord we will endeavour the keeping of it out and that it shall no more enter in amongst us into this Nation And you say That your Knowledge here and all other Graces here are imperfect To which I say Then you are imperfect Saints imperfect Ministers But what do you mean by here I suppose that you mean upon Earth Now there are none of the Graces of God that are imperfect but the Grace of God is perfect in it self and the Spirit of God is perfect and every Gift of God is perfect as say the Scriptures Now that you should say the Graces of God are imperfect this is Error even abominable Error and you shew unsoundness in Judgment even in the things of God and hath belyed the Graces and Gift of God which in their measure are perfect And thus I have looked over your Exhortation and thus I have returned to you again not but that I know it is the Duty of Christ's Ministers to exhort their Flocks and that Exhortation in it self is good but when I find where Lyes and false Accusations are against the Quakers whom I dearly love and own upon that account and not otherwise have I engaged with you and what I have done it is not rendring Evil for Evil but rather to reprove your Evil and to undeceive your Congregations who might otherwise take all for true that you have said if it were not reproved Again You exhort your Congregations That they manifest Sincerity not only by hatred of Error but by a Love of the Truth c. Answ. Sincerity of Heart is indeed precious especially where the Spirit of the Lord is the rule of Judgment and doth mannage that Sincerity but where a false spirit rules in the Judgment the Sincerity is often betrayed into a Zeal against the Truth and against the Wayes of the Lord rather than otherwise and thus it was with the Iews whose Sincerity through their Error of Judgment was turned into Zeal and Bitterness against Christ And thus it is to be feared it is with many in your Congregations who may have a Zeal without Knowledge and be short of true Discerning between what is Truth and what is Error I speak not this of all but of some for it s no small thing to discern between Truth and Error
especially in this day wherein there are so many Ways and Professions of Church-Ministry and Worship and yet all professing the Scriptures are their Rule of Faith Worship and Practice and seeing that all Sects do profess Proof from Scripture for what they hold forth what Ground have the people to believe you more than others or others more than you for where people receive Doctrine or Religion by Report from others without the Evidence of the Spirit of God in their own Hearts this is not receiving of the Truth unto Eternal Life wherefore I exhort your Congregations That every one amongst them may wait upon the Lord to have a feeling and discerning in their own hearts and that each one may be led and taught oâ— the Spirit of God which leads into all Truth that they may deny all false Ministers and false Worships and may worship God in Spirit and Truth though the ministration of his own Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences and thereby will they discern between Truth and Error and will love the one and hate the other Thirdly You exhort That they keep themselves unspotted from the prevailing Corruptions of these back-sliding Times c. Answ. Concerning the Times many are ignorant but this is certain at the present Time wherein we are is the Lord disquieting of men and its the latter dayes of Antichist's Raign and Government that hath been in full Power and Authority for many Generations and Babylon that great City her Ruin is threatned because of her Abominations that have been many and great for the whole Earth hath been corrupted as it s written and now the Call of the Lord is That every man come out of Babylon and deliver himself that he may not partake of their Plagues and happy are they that are made clean unspotted from their Sins that they may not be found covered with her Garments for the Day of the Lord is come and coming upon Babylon and all Back-sliders from God and his Wayes Now Babylon is that great City which hath ruled over the Kings of the Earth and in her hath the Blood of Souls and of all just Men been found Fourthly You exhort To endeavour a Healing of those sad Breaches and Divisions which have been amongst you c. Answ. Now the sad Breaches and Divisions which are indeed at present in this Nation cannot be healed but as the Cause and Ground thereof be removed which is the Sins of Rulers Teachers and People and this is the Cause wherefore the Lord hath brought Distraction amongst them Oh what Ambition and Self-seeking hath been among the Rulers What judging for Gifts and Rewards What neglect of Mercy and Judgment amongst them And oh how have they oppressed the Poor and trodden down the needy and because hereof is the Righteous God vexed And oh what Covetousness and Greediness of Gain â—re the Teachers guilty of How do they Preach for Hire and Divine for Money How have they unreasonably caused men to be imprisoned and their Goods to be spoiled for Wages and Tythes and Hire Oh how hath Covetousness and Idolatry and Superstition abounded amongst the Teachers in this Nation Oh abominable have been their Sins their Oppressions and Self-seekings and because of these things hath the Lord brought Distractions amongst People and the Sins of Rulers and People cry for Vengeance from the Lord and till these Iniquities be removed by Repentance and forsaken the Fruit and Effect thereof shall never cease but Breach upon Breach will the Lord make till the Rulers and Priests repent them of their Iniquities God's Hand will be upon them both in Judgment and for their sakes that divine for Money and preach for Hire and judge for Rewards will the Lord make the Nation as Heaps and as a Ploughed Field Therefore let all people Repent of their Iniquities and return to the Light of Christ in their own Consciences and become Followers of the Lamb and this is the perfect Way of healing of all Breaches inwardly and outwardly Fifthly You exhort To be diligent in the Spiritual and Conscientious Performances of Family-Duties c. Answ. Men must first be awakened and enlivened unto God before they can act for God in Holy Duties and as for Duties performed in pretence unto God traditionally and without the Teachings of the Spirit of God is but Idolatry and the Nation is weary of such a Religion which they have received and held traditionally for thereby the Soul Immortal cannot be nourished unto Eternal Life and while you teach Duties towards God by that Rule while you teach Praying Singing Repeating Catechizing by Tradition and Immitation without the Leadings of the Spirit of Christ in them you do but teach Idolatry as long hath been taught in the Christian Nations the doing and performing such and such things as Christian-Duties and Practices and the Forcing and Compelling of doing such things upon People in the unregenerate state and unconverted nature this Religion and such Performances of Duties have been of Babylon and of Antichrist and a Cheat upon Peoples Souls whereby many have been murdered and slain in that great City and the Form of Godliness without the Power hath been practiced while Duties have been performed unto God without the Teachings of the Spirit of God and such their Consciences are blinded and the Lord abhors their Sacrifices And people must first come to feel the Word of God in their Hearts to regenerate them before they can perform any acceptable thing to God and therefore do not teach People to be Hypocrites do not teach them such and such Performances in the corrupt Nature without the Teachings of the Spirit of God in their own particulars for if you do you make them but two fold more the Children of the Devil and such Duties performed in that nature shall not cover nor hide from the Wrath of the Lord which is coming upon all Hypocrites Sixthly You exhort That they would cause their Children and Servants to submit to Catechizings and train them up in the reverence of Godly Ministry c. Answ. It may be enquired into what you mean by cause them to submit how cause them by Force and Imposition upon their Consciences by outward external personal Punishments or Threats Is this your Meaning Will you set up Religion by Violence And must Children and Servants be compell'd by Restraint and Force This is not the right Way to promote Religion and the Worship of God nor to make Children and Servants truly Religious it was the Beast that received power from the Dragon that caused all to worship both Small and Great Children and Servants and this causing to worship was in the time of the Apostacy when the true Church was fled into the Wilderness and all the time ever since have Nations been caused and compelled to such and such performances and practices of Religion and Worship and such causing I am jealous your Meaning is whereby you would force and compel such manner
them The truth of these things being proved and rightly considered by the King 〈◊〉 all others no just occasion will be found for this our Adversaries Charge nor 〈◊〉 place can rightly be found in the heart of the King for the reception of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tion but may upon just tryal condemn both Accuser and Accusatiâ—â— I mean not destroy the man but reprove the Accuser and his lyes â—…er And now I shall proceed to the Accusation it self and shall lay open the folly 〈◊〉 â—â—norance of the matter of his Accusation as well as I have done the wickedâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the manner of it 〈◊〉 the true Protestant Religion hath been in danger to be rooted out by the Quakers 〈◊〉 This is the Charge it self â—â—sw If by true Protestant Religion the Accuser mean true Christan Reliâ—â—â—â— then I deny his Accusation utterly and do charge him to be a Slanderâ—… Lyer and False Accuser and must desire of the King that such a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken notice of who hath abused and dishonoured him and that very 〈◊〉 in presenting him with Lyes and Falshoods for Welcomes which is inâ—… lesâ— then disgrace to both the Person and Office of a King What a 〈◊〉 â—â—tending so much to Love and Loyalty and so much rejoycing on his beâ—â—â—â—â—nd as if he were one of his choice Subjects and gave such reverence and 〈◊〉 to him and attempted so high as to be the Kings Informer and Instructer 〈◊〉 to be found a Presenter of Falshoods and Slanders against as good Subâ—… 〈◊〉 the Nation as himself O how abominable is this both to God and the 〈◊〉 and the whole Kingdom that these things should be much more that 〈◊〉 should pass unreproved for we are of the true Christian Religion as beâ—… 〈◊〉 have said even in the same way and of the same Spirit as were the holy 〈◊〉 and for that Religion we stand to do and suffer all things for that cause 〈◊〉 for the true Christian Religions sake But if this our Accuser by Protestant Religion mean the Sects of Lutheâ—…â—r â—r of the Sect of Calvinists so called or whomsoever else which I do 〈◊〉 heartily that I had the full intent of his mind of whom he means by the true Protestants for his words admit of divers acceptations and so a sound Answer can hardly be given while I do answer onely what I suppose to be his meaning by true Protestant Religion for there are divers sorts of Protestants Lutherans Calvinists and many others which are all Protestants and have protested against the Pope each one sort of them saying They are the true Christians and true Protestants yet are very much divided among themselves even to the killing and persecuting one of another so that which sort this man means and who of them are of the true Protestant Religion which we would root out c. this is doubtful I would I knew his meaning that I might give him a true Answer and sound for we may deny and oppose Protestant Religion or some part of it that is some Sects or divers sorts that have protested against the Church of Rome and yet be no Transgressors in the sight of God not many men for divers of the Protestants themselves are denying others of the Protestants and their Religion and it is my belief in this case that some have deserted the Pope and the Papists Religion upon bad grounds and have taken up a Religion as bad and no better then Popery not that I justifie Popâ—ry in all things but have a large Witness to give against it and men ought to protest against it yet I say some called Protestants in their Religion are as corrupt as any of the Church of Rome so on some account I may as lawfully deny Protestant Religion or some sort of them that do profess it as the Church of Rome for it is as corrupted some part of it and no more acceptable to God in the Profession and Practise of it This is spoken in general of it because his Accusation is general Now if I had his full intent whether he means Lutherans or Calvinists or what others if not them that are of the true Protestant Religion that we would root out then I should insist upon that particular sort and give my exception against them for I have many things to object at least and some things wholly to except against in the Protestant Religion or some sort of it not that I condemn or judge every individual man of the Protestant Religion for I believe there are many that are sincere and zealous towards GOD though with some Error in Judgement yet as to the Form of Worship and Constitution of Church and Ministry and Ordinances in the Protestant Religion it is much if not wholly differing and contrary to the Church Ministry Worship and Ordinances of the Apostles and true Christians in their dayes and more then this I now may not say a more full Answer I cannot give to this Charge except that I did know what sort of Protestant he intended which if I did I should utter my mind more large as to the Matter according as the Spirit of God gave me utterance And now that I have spoken of the manner and also of the matter of his Charge I shall hint partly of the end and purpose of his thus accusing as to the King His end intent and purpose of his thus charging us must needs be and it will appear to be out of Malice Wrath and Enmity for to incense and move the Heart of the King against us to destroy us as I have before mentioned And in answer to this some things most especially are considerable to the King and all his Friends 1. If he should upon the Report of this Man or any others let his Heart be moved into Rigour and Enmity against us and thereby seek intend or work Evil against us to destroy us he did but fill the Land with Violence Cruelty and Persecution and Innocent Blood and fill his Government with Oppression and Tyranny and provoke the God of Heaven against him to destroy him and overthrow his Kingdom and Power and Government and this would doubtless be the effect of receiving such a Mans Counsel and of his so proceeding if that he seek to pluck up what the Lord hath planted and if he dip hiâ— Hand in innocent suffering of God's People unjustly and if he reach forth his Hand to touch God's Anointed and hurt the Peaceable in his Land thâ—â— shall the Lord take him from his Authority and give his Dominion to another more worthy then he And this is for him to consider in the coolness of his 〈◊〉 2. â—f he did proceed to do any thing against us or be moved in his heart â—…unto barely upon the report of this or such other men without hearing Face to Face and lawful tryal in the matter and hearing our Answer and â—â—fence as well as our enemies Charge against us then all the Nations of