accounted the Church of Christ in these dayes though imperfect Secondly Against the being of the seed of God and light of Christ within men thirdly against the Saints attaining to perfection and freedom from sin whilst in this mortal estate which is the very end for which Christ Jesus gave gifts unto his Ministers ordaining some to be Prophets some Apostles some Pastors and some Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the spiritual body till we all come in the unity of the faith unto a perfect man in Christ Jesus in whom the whole building fitly framed together groweth to an holy temple in the Lord and the Apostle saith know you not that your bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost i 1 Cor. 3.17 and if any man defile the temple of God him will God destroy k 1 Thes 1.1 and the Church is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ where nothing that is unclean can enter and the tabernacle of God is with men as he hath said I 'le walk in them and dwell in them though T C. have affirmed that God never had yet a Church in the world free from sin and so hath laid sin to the charge of Gods Elect for l John 3.8 he that commits sin is of the Devil and a servant of sin and so free from righteousness and this is the cause he hath undertaken to plead In the front or enterance into his paper he hath cited this Scripture to the Law and to the testimony if any speak not according to this rule it is because there is no light in them Now in regard he hath put in his declaration and goes about to plead a title or propriety that the man of sin hath and must have in the Church of Christ whilst here on earth and hath here cited the Law and Testimony which I own for a rule to try by I am constrained as Defendant to join issue and plead with him according to the Law of Truth in the presence of our Judge and Law-giver whose judgement is true and whose testimony is sure But first it is to be considered what the Law and what the Testimony is and where they are according to the Scripture Thy law is light Prov. 6. The law is spiritual Rom 7.14 The law gives the knowledge of sin Rom. 3 20. And behold the daye come saith the Lord Jer. 31. that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers which Covenant they break but this shall be the Covenant that I will make with them after those dayes I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts And again Heb. 10. I will put my laws in their hearts and in their minds will I write them and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more and this is the Covenant that makes the comers thereunto perfect and the Law which makes free from the law of sin and death and he that believeth hath this witness in himself and so hath set to his seal that God is true and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie and this is that sure word spoken of 2 Pet. 1.19 And we have also a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts mark In your hearts the Law in the heart the light in the heart the testimony of Jesus the sure word of prophesie in the heart the word of faith nigh in the heart And now to come to the matter he saith pag. 2. Christ was sent to save his people and not to save onely the oppressed seed or light within to which I say he was sent to set the oppressed free and to save his people from their sins and to open the eyes of the blind m John 9.39 that those that saw not might see n Mat. 18.11 and the son of man was sent to seek and to save that which was lost and the Lord of hosts hath left us a seed else o Rom. 9. we had been as Sodome yea like unto Gomorrah and this seed is within and we know that the whole Creation travelleth together in pain until now and not onely they but our selves also that have the first fruits of the spirit even we our selves have groaned within our selves for the redemption of the body which God hath prepared to do his will p 1 Cor. 15 who giveth unto every seed it s own body and he that is begotten of the immortal seed and born again of water and of the spirit is saved from his sin and he sinneth not neither can he because the seed of God remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 Joh. 3. Mark he cannot sin because he is born of God and because the seed remaineth in him But T.C. saith pages 2 3. It is language besides the Gospel of truth that Christ came to save the oppressed seed within and farther that he dare say it is such a salvation as never came into the heart of God nor was ever known to Prophets Apostles or Christ himself to save the oppressed seed of God in men with which his Covenant is made Here he hath contradicted the Scriptures of truth above-mentioned with many others that might be instanced likewise he hath contradicted himself for he with others of his brethren directs their Epistle from Tiverton to such as are called to be Saints through the immortal seed which dwelleth in them now if it be language besides the Gospel of truth to mention the oppressed seed within why doth he make use of the expression and if it be according to truth why doth he suggest that those who use such expressions are poor deluded people and because I said in the beginning of my Epistle to them I am constrained with compassion to the oppressed seed in you which groans to be delivered from the bondage of corruption c. he seems to render it an offence by false constructions arising from an evil affected mind wresting and perverting my words and then calling it a mear cheat to please children and sools as if it were a language not fit to be spoken of or once named among them that are grown so strong in the state of imperfection And because my Epistle was directed to the Anabaptists Churches so called and then I denied them to be the Church of Christ and told them that their presumption was seen that called themselves the Church of Christ and were not as their blasphemy was known that called themselves q Rev. 2 9. Jews and were not He calls this contradiction and confusion but the confusion is in himself as may appear to the impartial Reader of that
THE LINE OF TRUE JUDGMENT Laid to an imperfect piece published By Thomas Collier which he calls an Answer to an Epistle written to the Churches of the Anabaptists c. A Reply herein is published in order to the Exaltation of the spiritual man with his Ordinances and Administrations above the man of sin with the weak and unprofitable Ordices that doth not make the comers thereunto perfect BY Thomas Salthouse Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your dayes a work which ye shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Acts 13.41 Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Job 21.14 They are of those that rebell against the light they know not the wayes thereof nor abide in the pathes thereof Job 24.13 LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate THe Reader may here observe that the first entrance into this discourse was occasioned by a printed Paper from Tiverton wherein the state and condition of the Anabaptists Churches was represented which came to my hand and after I had read it over and considered their condition to be far short of what they profess I was moved to write an Epistle to them and sent it among them for the better information of the honest hearted and for the sake of such as are not altogether settled upon the lees and as an answer to that Epistle Thomas Collier hath written a Pamphlet to vindecate their practise and present condition shewing them many examples and instances of the Saints failings in former ages tending to their incouragment in the estate of sin and imperfection intimating that notwithstanding their great abominations therein expressed they are and may be owned as the Church of God in persuance whereof I was constrained to send this reply as a farther manifestation of the good will of him that would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth with a seasonable word written by J.C. added hereunto which may go abroad among them to be read received and considered of by such as have not refused to Return T. S. The line of true Judgement laid to an imperfect piece published by Thomas Collier which he calls an Answer to an Epistle written to the Churches of the Anabaptists c. WHen I consider the gross darknes degeneration and Apostacy of some high pretenders to Religion and how willfully ignorant they are become of the great mistery of Godliness b 1 Tim 3 1â— not liking to retain God in their knowledge nor to hearken to the reproofs of instruction which is the way of eternal life I remember what the spirit hath expresly spoken concerning such c Rom. 1.28 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Divels speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared as with an hot Iron making Shipwrack of the mystery of faith d 1 Tim. 4. which is held in a pure conscience and which was once delivered unto the Saints which purifies the heart and gives victory over the world and after a diligent search and examination had who it is that are given up to strong delusions to believe lies and who teacheth for doctrines the traditions of men e 1 Tim 3.9 creeping into houses and leading about silly women Captive Laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth nor to perfection I find by evident testimony that the people cal'd Anabaptists are as chiefly concerned herein as many of those whom they themselves have formerly pretended to differ from and declare against as Ante-Christian both in call practice maintainance doctrine and worship with whom they are joyned and confederate to fight against the truth as it is in Jesus as by their practice and the writings of some of them is plainly and clearly made manifest for with the light of Christ are they seen through their unrighteous covering and feigned humility and with the Spirit of truth are they tryed their language bewrayes them f Eph. 2.12 to be strangers to the Covenant of promise yea such as cannot indure sound doctrine nor receive the things of the spirit of God when in the fear of God freely tendered and offered unto them And forasmuch as Thomas Collier a Teacher among them hath several times ingaged himself with the beast and false Prophet to make war against the Lamb and his followers by publishing his own imaginations to render them odious to the world Suggesting their way and worship of the true God to be heresy and errour as his forefathers in all ages have done and now once more under pretence of Answering an Epistle of mine written in the fear of God and sent to them in love he hath manifested much folly enmity ignorance and wickedness by wresting and perverting the words of truth and soberness therein contained as he hath done and doth g 2 Pet. 3.16 the Scripture of truth to his own destruction that he may not be exalted in his wickedness and so proceed further to boast of what he hath done herein or heretofore against the truth and the faithful witnesses of it I am constrained for the vindication of the truth in general whereof I am a witness and for which I suffer a little farther to search into his works of darkness that his covering may be stript off and his refuge of lies swept away that he may stand naked and bare in the presence Dan. 7.9 of the ancient of dayes before whom the matter in controversie is to be debated and as for what I wrote in that Epistle and do write on this account it is commended to that of God in the conscience of all such as are simple hearted and sober minded to be read and received without prejudice either against the truth which is reproached by the world or against the earthen vessel which is herein imployed as an instrument and who hath without prejudice against any particular person though occasion was given to mention him made these things publique in persuance of a pamphlet lately published by T. C. called an answer to an Epistle written by me to the Churches of the Anabaptists so called When his pretended answer was brought to light and deliberately searcht through and weighed in an equal ballance the scope of his discourse and weight of his arguments was first to prove that they might be the Church of God notwithstanding their great abominations and wickedness confessed in their Epistle from Tiverton with several instances and agravations of the failings of those in former ages whom the Lord sent his true Prophets and Ministers to declare against and to call to repentance and hereby he would imply that the Churches of God in former ages have been sinful and wicked like themselves who profess and would be
harder then a flint I believe shame would strike him in the face at the reading again in the cool of the day what hee hath forged against us in the heat and bitterness of his Spirit for all that have heard us will be ready with one consent to say that we press most after obedience of any other profession or people whatsoever and we have sure ground for so doing knowing that the promise of the Lord and his blessing is to the obedient and that the terrors of the Lord and his wrath is against the e Col. 3.6 children of disobedience and our testimony stands upon record against all such as f Job 24.13 rebells against the light and against all who are proud heady and high minded Disobedient to parents without naturall affection such as are g Gal. 3.1 bewitched and doth not obey the truth as it is in Jesus And to say that wee walk in a way of disobedience is utterly false for our way is the good old way of holiness Jesus Christ who saith I am the light of the world and h John 8.12 he that followeth me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life and his record is true and we have believed it and again he saith i John 14.6 I am the way and no man cometh to the father but by me and of this way we bear testimony and in this way we walk and whosoever saith they believe in Christ and followes Christ and doth not believe in the light and walk in obedience to the light are deceived and led aside with the errour of the wicked and are in the rebellion and disobedience and such with the light are judged and k John 3.19 condemned and by us declared against in that estate of disobedience yet we cannot cease to call them to repentance that if peradventure they may come to the knowledge of the truth but he saith pag. 11. that they endeavour to turn souls from Christ to the light within them teaching absolute disobedience and rebellion against Christ in his word the Scriptures and obedience to their own fancies and lying imaginations within them To which I say this is but his own false construction and vain imaginations mixt with Ignorance and enmity for the Scripture is a witness with us of what we teach and of what we believe and endeavour to turn people unto and he might as well have accused the Ministers of Christ as us in this particular for they were sent l Acts. 26.18 to turn people from the darkness to the light and in so doing neither they nor we did nor doth endeavour to turn them to fancies nor teach them rebellion against Christ in his word this is but the poyson of Asps that cometh from under his tongue and we can bear it being exercised with the reproaches of Moab and the revileings of the Children of Ammon with whom this man hath joyned himself to fight against the truth yet notwithstanding for the truths defence and vindication this may inform the simple hearted that are not come to a right understanding of what we hold and teach that we do not endeavour to turn souls to a light within them distinct from Christ but we labour to turn people to the true light of Christ in them m 2 Cor. 4.6 for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts and this is the true light which we have seen and which we declare and endeavour to turn people to and this is the light which John was sent to bear witness of that all men through him might believe n John 1. the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and this is not a fancy nor an imagination as is falsly affirmed by T. C. who farther proceeds to call it a natural light and the ruins or remainders of that which was in the first Adam and saith it is the great design of these men to set it up in opposition to the true light and life of Christ c. but this also is his own blindness and ignorance of what wee labour to set up that causeth the mistake and false judgement for we labour to turn people to the true spiritual light of the second Adam who is the Lord from heaven heavenly that as they have sinned through one mans disobedience they may by the obedience of one be made free from sin and death and to this end are we called and sent forth in the name of the Lord to call sinners to repentance that are in the lost estate in the first Adam and to turn people from the darkness to the true light that they may come to worship the onely true God whom we worship in the spirit and in the truth and this is the work of our Ministery having turned people from the darkness to the light to stir up the pure mind in them by daily exhortations and provocations to love and obedience to him who hath required truth in the inward parts that holiness may be o 2 COr 7.1 perfected in the fear of God that their light which doth shine may shine clearer and clearer before men that thereby the Lord may be glorified and the mouths of gain-sayers stopped and herein have we union with the elders of whom the world was not worthy who sustained the same sufferings reproaches and tryals of cruel mockings bonds and imprisonments as wee do for the testimony which they held and by the same power are we kept through faith unto salvation so that we can rejoyce when men reviles and persecutes us for Christs sake and the Gospel knowing that if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost p 2 Cor. 4.3 whose minds the God of this world hath blinded and whose ears with the deaf Adder are stopped that although we speak plainly according to the Scripture and declare what we have heard and seen yet it cannot be received by such as are given up to believe lies and truly this man hath manifested as much enmity and ignorance herein against us as if he had sold himself to work wickedness and bent his tongue for lies he calls them horrid abuses against Christ Scripture and Saints that I would have the light within to be believed in and loved and because I call Christ the true seed the true light the Lord the Law giver the more sure word of Prophesy c. he makes it as some hainous offence and labours to make a separation between Christ and his light in the consciences of men and women which upon good grounds we exhort people to turn unto believe in love and obey for God hath given him for q Luk. 2.37 a light unto the Gentiles a leader of his people and for salvation to all the ends of the earth to open the eyes of the blind and to bring forth the prisoners out of the prison houses end
this is our message to the world to declare r 1 John 1.5 that God is light and in him is no darkness at all and to turn people from the darkness to this light that they may be brought out of the estate of degeneration and imperfection where they have lain covered with gross darkness feeding themselves with the hypocrites hope and empty shadowes as of a light without a word without Christ without A Church without baptism without bread and wine without ordinances and administrations all without which makes not the commers thereunto perfect being carnally observed according to traditions received from men and that which most agravates their misery they are self conceited and will not hearken to the reproofs of instruction nor receive the things of the Spirit of God when freely tendered and offered without money and without price Oh that you did but know the desires and breathings that proceeds from the spirit that ever lives to make intercession unto God for you why will you spend your money for that which is no bread and your labour for that which doth not satisfy how long will you make lies your refuge and feed upon ashes and cover your selves with unrighteous coverings the flying Angel is gone forth with the everlasting Gospel to preach to all nations kinreds tongues and languages and the call hath reached unto you that have been asleep s Dan 12.2 in the dust of the earth Therefore harden not your hearts but incline your eares and hearken diligently what the spirits saith and take heed of t Heb. 2. neglecting this great salvation for this is the day of your visitation and once more a word of exhortation to you as from the Lord to return to u Joh. 12.3 the light and believe in the light and love the light c. w Rev. 21.2 walke in it that you may have fellowship with us and that you may be received into the generall assembly where the only true God is worshipped in the spirit and truth x Psa 29.2 in the beauty of holiness but he saith pag. 13. we know it is an easy thing to be received by them without any letters of recommendation for if a man will but turn away from Christ and faith and scriptures and obedience and turne to the light within and say he is perfect and can say thee and thou he may quickly be one of their Church c. But truely he is deceived herein for it s not so easy to be a member of our Church which is the true Church as he ignorantly pretends though the gates be not at all shut by day yet there can in no wise enter any thing that defileth and is polluted nor no prophane person neither whatsoever worketh abomination y Rev. 22.15 for without are dogs and drunkards and sorcerers and whoremongers and swearers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye and its death to any beast that comes near the mountain of the Lords house which is established in the top of all mountains z Isay 2. and exalted above the hills where we worship God in the spirit in the true order and fellowship where all may speak a 1 Cor. 14. one by one as the spirit moves and gives utterance and if any of the adulterated generation should come among us from a far country and bring a letter of recommendation from some great man of the world or from an assembly of professing people his spirit would soon be tryed whether he were of God or not for we cannot b Joh. 4.1 believe nor receive every spirit that may come with excellency of speech and the inticing words of mens wisdom and be commended by men and pass for a good Christian in the worlds account for we know the voice of Christ c â—â—h 10.5 and strangers we cannot hearken to And as for such as turnes away from Christ faith and obedience they are more like to be received by and to find acceptance among the Anabaptists then among us if they will but take up their great ordinance as they call it to wit water Baptism the second or third time and make Confession of their sins that light spirit that wretched worldly spirit c. They must be owned as brethren and sisters Christs excellent ones although they be cruell to children and servants mockers of God c. See a large description of the Estate of their Church in their Epistle from Tiverton and look abroad among all professions in the nation if worse fruits can be found then is brought forth among them but how can we expect better till the vineyard be dressed by husbandmen of the Lords calling and sending its manifest they ran and was not sent and therefore the people are not profited by them and truly its far easier to be a member of such an imperfect Church as theirs the way being so wide then it is to be of ours for the way is straight that leads to it d Cor. 12.13 the Baptisme being spirituall by which they are received in and the naturall man cannot receive the things of the spirit of God and the words thee and thou doth not make a member of the true Church neither are they the principle of our Religion for they may be used in the deceipt as well as the truth may be holden in unrighteousness though they be proper and pure language and by us used and owned yet let none think that our Religion depends only upon words but that we are builded upon the sure foundation of many generations for an habitation of God through the spirit e â—ph 2.20.22 Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone and many that pretends to Religion in these dayes and professes the scripture for a rule are so far from coming to be of our Church that a word of exhortation can hardly have entrance among them neither can the scripture language be born by T.C. and his adherents for because I said the Law is f Heb. 7. changed and the Priesthood is changed and the Covenant which made not the commers thereunto perfect for the weaknesse and unprofitableness of it is done away c. he saith take these words as they are stated and they speak forth most horrible iniquity though they be stated expresly as they 〈◊〉 in Scripture and saith he the ordinances that we walke in are the new testament ordinances grounded upon the new restament Covenant but truly it s very unlike seeing their Covenant and ordinances doth not make the comers thereunto perfect which thing he denyes both in Epistle and practice as is plainly manifest to the childrne of light And should I but trace him through his Epistle from Tiverton and this imperfect piece written as a vindication of it and their Churches imperfect Estate a Large volume would but contain the particular circumstances but I shall refer the reader to that Epistle and mine in persuance of
it which was not written by me to the intent of strife or contention about words but in the feare of the Lord by way of exhortation to repentance after I had deliberatly read over and considered the state of their Church under their hands in print and although I did write in love and tenderness and in plainness of speech and in English yet T. C. pretends to interpret it to make it speake another thing then is intended and when he hath set down his own false constructions and interpretations he calls it our Logick and so sports himselfe in his own deceivings and then saith he I trust that every tender and faithfull soul that trembles at the word of the Lord will tremble at the thoughts of the reception of such divinity as this is which is nothing but a false divination of his own heart for those that trembles at the word of the Lord doth little approve of his divinitie it s more pleasing among and more delightful to them that cannot indure sound Doctrine and they can well agree with and approve of such teachers as will countenance sin and plead for the being and living in sin whilst in this mortall Estate But to press after holiness perfection and obedience to the light of Christ Within Oh this is a hard saying the land cannot beare such language away with such a fellow it s not fit hee should breathe in the ayr or live upon the earth he brings certain strange things to our eares this is a new Doctrine he us of a light within us but this is a naturall light say they this is not the light of Christ for when Christ cometh no man knoweth whence he is but we know of this light in us let us heare of something that we know not and tell not us of a light within us that reproves for sin and convinces of sin and thus the day of small things is dispised and the reproofs of instruction set at nought and the first principle of pure Religion slighted as too meane and too low things for such high spirits to stoop to in these dayes And because out of a true sence of their miserable Estate and condition expressed in their Epistle I said to the simple hearted come out from among them and be ye separated least you perish in their gainsaying he saith this is the great worke of all Pharisee-like to compass sea and land to make one proselyte now let the understanding and wise hearted judge if I have offended herein and whether it be not safe to come out from among them that are formall in holy duties and without the terrour of Gods Majesty c. as they are by their own Confession Was it Pharisee-like when the true Prophet called to a people to come out from among them that lived in sin and not pertake with them any longer therein least they also should pertake of their punnishment and is it an offence now to call the simple hearted to come out from among them that lives in sin and pleads for the continuance of it so long as they remaine in this world Tim. 35. and the Minister of Christ saith g that those who had the forme of godliness and not the power was to be turned away from for what concord hath Christ with Beliall or what communion hath light with Darknesse or what agreement hath the temple of God with Idolls for ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them wherefore come out from among them and be seperate and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. and this was not Pharisee-like to make a prosylite and he saith but why must they come out from amongst us to which I shall here answer in plaine English and so save him labour to interpret first because they have not profited by your Ministry as you Confess you have laboured in vain and that which hath been brought forth hath been to little purpose Secondly because you have h 2 Tim. 3.5 the forme of godliness and not the power thereof and doth impose such ordinances upon them as doth not make the commers thereunto perfect Thirdly because of your coldness and deadness that indifferency and Laodicean spirit that is fallen in upon you Fourthly because you have been drawing iniquity with cords of vanity whilst you have said Let the Counsell of the Lord come that we may know it in a word because your Church hath sin remaining in it and you believe it will never be otherwise whilst you are in this mortall Estate so that your Ministry is not for the perfecting of the saints i Eph. 4. the ends for which Christ gave Giftes to his Ministers and again he saith whether must they come doubtless to them a pure perfect people without sin I say yea unto a people k Deut. 33.29 saved by the Lord saved from their sins saved from the untoward generation with a great and mighty salvation to such a people are they called to come to the generally assembly to the Church which is in God to a pure people l Heb. 12.23 to the spirits of just men made perfect that they may be the Lords in the day m Mal. 3.7 when he makes up his jewells for now he is bringing in the desire of all nations who saith to the sea give up and the light is risen out of obscurity and we have seene it and now the Lord is gathering his seed from the cast and from the west n I say 43. who saith to the north give up and to the south keep not back bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth bring forth the blind people that have eyes and the deaf that have eares and let the nations be assembled for now is salvation and strength come and we cannot be silent but freely invite and exhort the simple hearted to come up with us to the house of the Lord. And therefore I say again o I say 2.5 Come let us walk in the light of the Lord come with me from Lebanon in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills or from the multitude of mountains arise and come away look from the top of Amana come from the Lions den and from the mountains of Leopards come up out of Egypt and Babylon enquire the way to Sion seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near come up hither to worship God in the spirit and in the truth and seek not the living among the dead p Rev. 22.17 The spirit and the bride saith come and whosoever will come let him come to the waters freely and drink without money and without price This word is to you that are athirst and to you that are tender-hearted in plainness to your understandings and not the