against your deceits doth know Yet when you saw that the truth did prevail upon the spirits of many and that you must either yield up to it and take your shame or else to stand up contrary to that in your consciences to oppose it and resist it as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8.9 and sought to harden the peoples hearts against him lest they should have believed and obeyed the truth so after I had spoken about an hour and a half or two houres you sought to resist the truth though clear truths according to scripture as that in your consciences and others of the servants of God can witnesse and you laboured much to have got me and the truth silent and broke your own engagement by promise But what are the words of Priests but words of false-hearted self seeking and deceitfull men as you and others do know yet truth prevailed and would not be silent for flesh and deceit truce-breakers like your selves and such spoken of in 2 Tim. 3 chap. That did not regard your own word and promise that time you broke your own order and word bond or the present engagement whereupon I told you the summe and commanded your silence for your words sake and still spoke to the people this is not self justication but a witnessing to the truth against the deceits and deceivers and to clear it from lies and danders and though you the Priests did so seek to resist the truth contrary to that in your consciences and so stirred up envy in the harts of some of the ignorant people against the truth of God and the messenger of God c. yet the cause I commit to the Lord who will carry it on against gainsayers and opposers like you and such in your nature and will also case himself of his enemies and be avenged of his adversaries Isa 1.24 And the Lord will avenge himself of you except ye repent and acknowledge your fault and to the people declare against your errour own your condemnation thereupon and take shame to your selves And to this the light in your consciences is my witnesse and answer the judgements upon you it wils to be just and if you do not repent and give over deceiving the people and cease your opposition against the truth or else eternall vengeance you cannot escape be silent all flesh the light is my answer and witnesse beyond and against your wills Happy are you if you obey it in all things but wo to you if you disobey it and act contrary to it Now you have time prize it remember Dâ—ves end and also take warning and remember that in your life time you have been warned as to you I said by the spirit of the Lord. And when you Priests could not have your wills as you would who had before in part bound up your selves by your word and promise but broke your bonds whereupon I told you the same and I was bound to clear my conscience before you and the people to lay open your deceits and for the truths sake because that yon and others also of the Priests your brethren had so much cried out against false prophets and the like I said towards the latter end of my speech declared by the spirit of the Lord to the people that day at Chadwitch in Worcestershire as aforesaid That you the two priests was bound by your word to hear me what I had to say and after that to answer my question also whereupon keeping you chained or tied up by your own word then I proceeded and went on to lay open before you and the people who the false prophets were and how they might be known even by their fruits as Christ hath said Matth. 7.15.16 and 20. So by your fruits are you known and all such as the true Prophets of the Lord was sent to cry out against as than I laid open by description and fruits also proving the same by scripture which now I shall not much mention because I laid you and such so open before your faces and such like as speaks a divination of their own brain stealing the true prophets and true Apostles words to trade with all for money and selfends which they spake forth freely as they were moved of the holy Ghost and as the spirit gave them utterance 2 Pet. 1.19.20.21 Act. 24. therefore such as steals their words to trade withall for money are the thieves and false prophets spoken of in Jer. 23. but the Priests of the world are such therefore thieves and false prophets as by their fruits they are known and such as bear rule by their meanes seeks the fleece and makes a prey upon the people and seeks for t heir gain from their quarter Jer. 23. 23. Mic. 3.5.11 Isa 56.10.11 2 Pet. 2. such priests as preach for hire like those that the true prophets were sent to crie against such are the priests of the world therefore false prophets and to be cried against as such was Jer. 5.30.31 Ezek. 34. And such proud covetous selt-seeking men as agrees with a people beforehand to pay them 20.30 40.50.60.80.100.200 or 300 pound per annum faying they are ministers of Christ sudh doth speak falsely and are lying false prophets never sent of the Lord they cannot find their example in scripture neither amongst the true Prophets nor true Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Micah 3.5.11 but such are amongst the hirelings and such as are greedy dumb dogs never satisfied Isaiaeh 56.10.11 but seeking for their gain from their quarter and making a prey upon the people Ezek. 34.1.2.3 and amongst such or under Tythmongers tytheing Priests as thou Andrew Trusterom art and saidst thou wouldst prove it to be lawful but did not and the other would not meddle about tythes so I bad him then cry them down For thou and such as takes tythes professing your selves gospel ministers are lyers and deceivers as I told thee and have not one example for so doing amongst all the gospel ministers nor Judahs tribe which you can prove by plain scripture to take tythes by command Oh shame Andrew Trusterom and all tything priests like thee you dishonour the gospel and are out of the gospel way and order be ashamed and blush and all hirelings and also tything priests like thee you that take tythes do not the work nor service that such did as bad the tythes a peculiar gift for their service onely during the legall ministration You tything priests what are you Aaronitall and Leviticall or Pharisaicall and hypocriticall where are you and where is your holy garments water of purification your altars fire and incence and burnt-offerings and sacrifices where is your circumcision and where is all the service required under the Aaronitall and Leviticall priesthood done and performed by you Tithing Priests that was done by Aaron and Levi who had the tythes a peculiar gift onely for their service under that priesthood Numb 18.1.2 3 4 5
drunken man and had Ezekiell Daniel and the men that were with him been here now and done so trembled and quaked as the Scripture witnesseth of them Ier. 23.9 Ier. 5.22 Ier. 30.5 6. Hab. 3.16 Ezek. 12 18. Dan. 10.8 9 10 11. the Priests of England and their people would have been ready to have said these men had been deluded or mad and have been ready to have reviled them and to have called them Quakers Yet they can take such mens words to professe and trade withall for mony but despise their conditions and magnify themselves against the people of God that witnesseth their conditions and that power which they did and such are now by the Priests of England and their people reproachfully called Quakers but you that reproach the people of God and magnify your selves against them read what the Lord will do to you Mat. 5.10 11 12. Luk. 6.22 23. 1 Pet. 4 13.14 and such like as is spoken of in the prophesie of Zeph. 2.9 10 11. And though we be reviled and reproached by the name of Quakers yet we can gladly rejoyce that we are counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ to us reproaches are great riches for Christs sake as they was to the holy men of God and to Moses who did exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 11.25 26. Heb. 12.21 The ground and manner of the meeting The meeting at Chadwitch in Worcestershire on the 21 day of the 12 month between the 2 men by the world scornfully called Quakers and the 2 Priests to wit one Priest Osland Pastor to an independent company as they say at Bewdley and one Andrew Trusterom Priest at Clent To the 2 Priests that were at the meeting and others of their party the day aforesaid some passages laid before them to look on and take into consideration and the manner and ground of our meeting in brief as followeth The meeting at Chadwitch in Worcestershire the day aforesaid we whom the world scornfully called Quakers had appointed that day set apart to meet with the people there abouts that used there to meet with others that might come into us that day not knowing any thing of your being there till we came at the place where the meeting was appointed and when we came at the meeting house we found you 2 Priests got peaking up Pharisee like and had been labouring to incense the people against us crying our against false prophets and seducers and p oved to be those same your selves whom some of the people had opposed before we came so finding you peark'c above them and jangling with them out of the envy and pride of your hearts before we came so seeing that I pressed in amongst the people to get in to stand before your faces as I was constrained and moved and with much pressing the throng was so great I pressed through the throng until I came and stood before you the 2 Priests whereupon you made a speech that all the people would be silent but I that you and I might speak together c. But I was not free in my spirit to have the spirits of others tyed up by my promise therefore I opened my mouth to speak as I were guided by the spirit of my Father Mat. 10 20. and said unto you also that the room was very throng so for the truthes sake and for the good of the people there gathered together and for conveniences sake also it would be better to go forth of the doors upon the green hill that all people might hear and be kept cool but that you refused and then would not but said if that I would ask you a question you would answer me or if I would you would ask me a question and I would answer you or if you not be interrupted you would speak or to the effects or if I would speak you would hear me c. Whereupon to that I told you again I had appointed that meeting with the people and had something from the Lord to declare to that people there gathered together so be silent till I have done or declared what from the Lord I have here this day to declare to this people and then if you would have me to ask you a question that I shall do afterwards if God permits whereupon to that yon 2 Priests granted and sat down so by your promise you were bound to hear me and be silent till I had done as aforesaid if you had regarded your word and also after that you were bound accordingly from your own proposition and by your promise to answer my question which was to propound unto you So after that silent I stood a while and a woman bad me to speak and speak up aloud but I to her answered and said woman I am not to be commanded by thee but by the Lord and as he pleaseth so I shall speak whose power I am subject unto and to be ordered by also disposed of according to the good pleasure of his divine will in whose counsell I now do stand Then after that according to the good pleasure of the Lord who had ordered and did order to his praise and according to the assistance of his holy spirit and the working of his divine power I did declare the truth of God as it were witnessed to the witnesse of God in all consciences that were present and heard and shall be witnessed before the judgement seat of Christ for my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power c. 1 Cor. 2.3 4. Rom. 2.16 And blessed are they who continue with patience in the well doing 2 Cor. 6. Rom. 2.7 that obey and follow the light and counsell of the word of truth answered within by the light of Christ in their consciences through the mystery of godlinesse Col. 1.27 28. But such as are contentious and disobey the truth to obey unrighteousnesse their portion will be grievous woe and misery 2 Thes 1.6.7 8 9. 2 Thes 2.7.8.9.10.11.12 then indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2.8.9 whether Priest or people But though the truth was that day declared in much power and many of your party at the first and others were pricked at the heart and were much tendered and convinced and many did secretly and some openly confesse to the truth and your selves confessed to that which you said I held forth concerning mortification of sin and the resurrection and other truths till your practises were touched and the worlds churches tythes preaching for hire bearing rule by their means seeking for their gain from their quarter and such like things were declared against at which you the Priests startled who before were convinced of the truth declared and had sighed sobbed and groned in your spirits very often as many can witnesse and as that in your consciences which is my witnesse for Gods truth declared and answer
say every man is not lighted in some measure with the true light they deny Johns record of Christ and deny Christ to be the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and such as say every man hath not a light to lighten them they deny the scripture and would make John a liar But such as say so and would do so they are enemies to the truth and the true light so enemies to Christ and the gospel and are false accusers of Iohn that bare record of Christ and so lie against the record that God gave of his sonne but Iohns words of truth and the record that God gave of his sonne shall be witnesse against such to demonstrate shew and confute their lies by plain scripture without consequence read as aforesaid Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 and 1 Cor. 12.7 Tâ—tus 2.11.12 Isa 42.6.7.9 Act. 26.18 and Galat. 3.28 Thirdly Light shineth in darknesse but darknesse comprehenceth it not as it comprehended it not then Iohn 1.5 yet light is there where it is not walked in nor obeyed Such as hate the light or sit and walk in darknesse with the light they see darknesse for whatsoever manifesteth darknesse is light Eph. 5.13 And they do not walk in darknesse because they have no light but because they have the light checking and reproving them of evil and they do not forsake their sin by obeying and following the light therefore do they walk in darknesse for such as follow the light are are led out of darknesse into the light of eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.6.7 and such as had been in darknesse and alienated from the life of truth as the Romans and Ephesians were it was not because they had not the light but because they walked not then in it for that which may be known of God saith the Apostle to the Romanes is manifest within Rom. 1.19 and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to themselves Rom. 1.28 c. And such as had been alienated from the life of truth as the Ephesians were whilst they walked in darknesse yet they had light which did to them discover the darknesse and the fruits of darknesse but by obeying and following the light such as so did were led out of darknesse and out of the fruits of darknesse and were led into the light of life so that then they walked in the light of the Lord as they have witnessed and may be seen Ephes 5.8 to the 14. Fourthly And such as were called out of darknesse had the light when they were in darknesse and by the light were they called out of darknesse into the light of the Lord as the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Capadocia Asia Bithinia such as in time past had not been a people for God after they were called out of darknesse into the marvellous light were then the people of God and such was to demonstrate or shew forth the praise of him who was the true light Ioh. 1.9 1 Ioh. 1.5 and they by obeying and following the light were led into the marvellous light and as they were others by so obeying may but they were therefore for proof read 1 Pet. 2.9.10.11.12 2 Pet. 1.19.20.21 Fifthly And this is the condemnation of the world not that light is not come into the world to shew men their evil deeds but because light is come into the world and men they loved darknesse rather then the light not because they have it not to demonstrate or shew them their evil deeds which is contrary to the light but because they have it to demonstrate and shew them their evil deeds and they hate the light that discovereth their evil deeds and do not obey it to forsake their evil deeds which is reproved by the light John 3.19.20 Eph. 5.13 therefore are they condemued by it Sixthly But all such as love and obey the light doth truth and cometh to the light that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God and this light is within which they do well to take heed unto as unto a light which shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-starre doth arise within them in their hearts by which light spirit in the prophecyings teachings workings and counsellings such as follow and obey the same are led out of darknesse errour and deceit into the light of life and so into all truth according to gospel discipline and promise Joh. 3.20 2 Pet. 1.19 20.21 Iohn 14.20.26 Iohn 16.13 Seventhly Then such as say the light and spirit is not sufficient without some other help of mans wit or the like to lead men to the knowledge of the truth and to salvation through the obedience to the truth through the light and spirit of truth according to the fathers teachings only such as say so shew not only their ignorance of the workings of the light of life but their ignorance of the guidance of the spirit of truth and the fathers teachings in the new covenant and gospel ministration likewise and they also seem to lie against the holy Ghost and resist the truth as such spoken of whose folly did appear as theirs doth therefore the case or condition of such is dangerous as so do like such spoken of Rom. 1.18.19 and 28.29.30.31 verses 2 Tim. 3.8.9 Math. 12.31 Eighthly And seeing that Christ is the true light and he said such as follow him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and he hath said also that the spirit shall reprove the world of sin unbelief c. and that he shall guide and lead such as follow the guidance thereof into all truth and such as so obey and walk in the spirit should in that day know him in the Father and he in them and they in him Iohn 14.15.16.17.20 and 26. And this spirit should not be a lying spirit nor an imperfect guide to the followers thereof but the true spirit of truth and should dwell within to guide and lead them into all truth And he hath said also that he the spirit of truth should not speak of himself but from him his father and Christ hath said of the spirit that whatsoever he should hear that he should speak and he should also shew them things to come and saith Christ he shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you and he shall teach you all things so be the saints teacher and he shall bring all things to your remembrance concerning me so the spirit is both the saints teacher their guider remembrancer about the things of God and thus they come to know all truth as Christ hath said which truth in the full knowledge and enjoyment of him and his father doth make them free Ioh. 16.1.2.3 to the 16. Ioh. 14.20 Ioh. 17.10 1 Iohn 2.20 and 27. 9. Then such as say the true light and the spirit according to the Fathers teachings
witnessed within by obeying the light that leads to the unction and into the anointing and so witnesse to the power and in it the life of faith hope and election predestination and sanctification by the teachings through the spirit in the opening of the mystery in the spirits ministration that leadeth to the unction and the anointing Col. 1.26 27 28. 1 Joh. 2.20 and 27. Lastly they that obeyed the light and followed the same according to the doctrine of Christ and the ministry in the spirit they were through the obedience thereunto brought out of darknesse into the marvellous light and knowledge of the glory and eternall excellency that though they had been in darknesse yet through their obedience to the truth through the spirit God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse did gloriously shine in their hearts and was manifested within to break down darknesse through their obedience to the truth the pure light led them to such a full attaintment or knowledge of God in the enjoyment thereof that they knew Gods glory and excellency revealed in them and they had the heavenly treasure within them and they were changed from glory to glory into the pure image or divine being in the glory and excellency so as by the spirit of the Lord and as by the obedience to the light and truth through the spirit they did attain to the assurance and knowledge of the divine glory and eternall excellency according to the working of the divine power of God to salvation and the knowledge thereof by and through Christ the true light others so may and no other way but they did so attain to the knowledge therefore harden not your hearts against the truth and take heed least there be not found in some of you that are resisters of the truth an evill heart of unbelief and so you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin Heb. 3.12 13. 2 Tim. 3.8 9. then wo and misery Hebrewes 10.25 26. Something to clear the truth from some lyes slanders and false reports that may occasionally be cast falsely upon it by Robert Gurdler post-master in Birmingham or any that he maketh use of to write print declare or carry about any lyes slanders and false reports against the truth held forth by those men that the world scornfully calleth Quakers For the said Robert Gurdler is full of envy against the truth held forth by the servants of the Lord and against them that are reproached under that name as aforesaid but such as are honest hearted will not be offended at his reports that knoweth what he is although formerly he have been a teacher amongst the water baptized people and now cause the truth by some to be evill spoken of by reason that he is so full of pride and vain glory and turned to the priests again and is given over to lyes and falsely doth slander and cause the innocent to be slandered but it were better that a a mill-stone were hanged about his neck then that he should offend one of the little ones that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ But I shall be short only let the honest hearted know that I write not this as an accusation against him nor against any but for the truthes sake that it may be kept clear and withall that they may know that this said Robert Gurdler doth falsely accuse and slander the people of God that are reproached under the name of Quakers and I going into Birmingham heard of it whereupon I sent a letter to him either for him to come to me and some others with me or to appoint a place for us to come to him that he might either clear himself or else bear about with him the badge of a backbiter and false accuser of the innocent and expect the judgement that is due to such c. A copy of the letter sent to Robert Gurdler post-master so calied in Birmingham is as followeth The letter to Robert Gurdler I coming into this Town to visit some friends VVHereas I am informed that thou Captain Gurdler shouldst give out words that the people of God whom the world and the wicked one doth scornfully and reproachfully call Quakers should be deceivers and guided by the spirit of the devil or words to that effect which can be proved by some inhabiting in this town Which if thou did it is not becoming any professing Christ to slander accuse and bite behind serpent like and if thou did not clear thy self and let shame cover the face of the liars slanderers backbiters and false accusers of the innocent I being one that the world and wicked one doth in scorn reproachfully out of disdain call Quaker So being one that suffers with the people of God under that name of reproach I look upon my self to be concerned therein and to be one that thou as I am given to understand or the wicked one in thee slanderest backbitest and falsely accusest and takest upon thee to speak evil against as the serpents seed ever did and judgest of us with evil thoughts and out of an evil heart If so then I demand of thee professing thy self a Christian that thou come up unto us this day and either clear thy self or bear thy shame and guilt about upon thy breast Come and if thou canst convince us and make it appear that we are deluders and guided by the devils spirit do and let it be declared against at the market crosse or else acknowledge thy errour therein take shame to thy self and own thy condemnation to be just upon thy false accusations and false judgement that thou censurest the people of God withall and bear about with thee the badge of a backbiter slanderer and false accuser and deny thy profession lest the Lord be dishonoured by thee and so take vengeance upon thee with the wicked and seed of evil doers Come to us either to Lieutenant Powels or William Bayleys or a convenient place where this day thou mayest appoint us to come to thee and if thou be able to judge and try spirits thou art permitted to lay open the ground of delusion errour and deceit with its fruits and effects how it enters and by what to be prevented and also how the devil had his first beginning and entrance into mankind and how thou canst make it appear that we carry his image and by what where it is to be defaced he dispossessed and trampled underfoot Send thy answer to Lieutenant Powels by this bearer at the white Bear in Birmingham this thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth 1654. R. F. The letter as aforesaid was sent but the said Robert Gurdler did neither come to us nor appoint us a place where we might go to him but writ a few words that were lies to us again but no proof for his sayings neither by scripture fruits nor practise Whereupon I writ a note back to him again at that present by his bearer also acquainting him in it that there was to
THE BRAZEN SERPENT lifted up on high OR Truth cleared and above the deceit exalted and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wildernesse even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternall life Joh. 3.14.15 Here is also Laid down in this treatise something concerning election and and predestination which is so much spoken of and how they may know their election something concerning Christ being the way to the Father and how and concerning Christ the Mediatour of the new Covenants and the end of the old and how tythes are ended Also Concerning Justification Sanctification and Redemption and the condition of unregeneration and regeneration the mystery of the Crosse and how God will plead with all flesh the resurrection of the just and unjust with many pretious things for the good of the thirsting soul as the understanding is open in the reading for to read and not to understand is as if they did not read at all Lastly Here is part of a dispute held between two chief Priests and two men that came and met with them and the people at Chadwitch in Worcestershire the ground and manner of their meeting and most part of the dispute with some demonstrations to clear the truth from accusations held forth by those men that the world scornfully calleth Quakers Written in Worcestershire the beginning of the first moneth called March 1655. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1655. TO THE READER Reader In this little ensuing treatise there is some pretious truths laid down and as thy understanding is kept open in the reading thou 〈◊〉 â—ee the som having thy eye single here is somthing concerning Election Redemption Justification and Sanctification the change also and end of the first Covenant and Priesthood so an end of tythes and how as thou mayst see in the reading of this over and the truth cleared from among slanderers and exalted above over the deceits somthing of Christ being the way to the Father and how also the resurrection of the just and unjust besides many other things which I shall not now name in particular but I have written them for the clearing of the truth to the honest hearted as in the reading thou mayst further see also a meeting of the men called Quakers scornfully by the word two of them and some Priests at Chadwitch in Worcestershire and the manner of their meeting and part of a dispute also how they ended with some clear demonstrations to clear the truth from accusations that may falsly be occasioned against it by some either in Bromsgrove or elsewhere that are opposite against the truth as such were but I shall let that cease seeing I writ to William Cook William Filt and Humphrey Potter and the opposers as the writings to them will such things further clear and the Queries that was sent to me I answered but the Queries sent to William Cook William Filt opposers of the are yet by them unanswered severall Queries also to Priest Trusterom and some that was sent to the Priest Oasland and severall other Priests and opposers which upon them doth remain and the blazing star if Robâ—â—â— Gardler have a hand in it in this treatise thou â—â—yst also take notice of what he is even an accuser of the brethren and so remains but I leave thee to the reading of this and let truth clear it self who am a servant of Iesus that suffers for the testimony of a good conscience and rejoyceth with my fellow sufferers for the testimony of Iesus whom the world scornfully calleth Quakers March the 3. day 1655. R. F. The Brazen serpent lifted up on high THe truth cleared and above the deceit exalted that as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wildernesse for such as were bit and stung with the fiery serpents to look upon it and live Numb 21.6 7 8 9 verso shall the son of man be exalted that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life as it is written and witnessed in Joh. 3.14 15. and here to be short the truth of the gospel is cleared to the single eye and lifted up above or exalted over the deceits that some is ready to cast upon it which is the wicked serpents work to lye accuse falsely slander reproach the truth also and bite behind seeking thereby to stumble some that are possest with slavish fears and doubts and to wound the consciences of some that are weak and so sting them with the sting in their tailes by venting their venome and envy against the truth shouting forth their sting and biting at the heel behind with lies false reports slanders reproaches and false accusations but for a remedy to such as are so bitten and stung with such wicked spirits or fiery serpents in their bewildered condition and to stay the minds of poor weak creatures out of such salse accusations as proceeds from the serpents generation and also to stay the minds of the honest hearted the truth is here in brief cleared concerning the great battle fought with the sword of the mouth only at Underwood hill belonging to Chadwitch in Worcestershire the 21 day of the 12 month 1654. Between two chief Priests and their party to wit Priest Oasland Pastor so called to an independent company at a place called Bewdley and one Andrew Trusterom Priest at Clent the battle with the sword or the mouth or dispute the day aforesaid was between them and the two men that the world scornfully calleth Quakers R. F and F. G. this battle was hot and sharp against the deceipt and the man of sin from midday till towards night or till towards the going down of the evening sun yet the son of righteousnesse were above and went not down but were exalted in some the hearts of saints that day praised be the Lord and truth prevailed against the deceipt at that battle fought with the sword of the spirit which is the word of God Eph. 6. 12. to the 18. that is sharp for the cutting down of errour and deceipt praised be the Lord Heb. 4.12 and those that are offended at reports concercing that great publick meeting that were the fourth day of the week being the 21. day of the 12. month in Worcestershâ—re at underwood hill belonging to Chadwitch as aforesaid let them return to view this little treatise and weigh the truths of things in the ballance of equity so will they be satisfied concerning the same that are honest minded seeing the truth of things clearly demonstrated to take away lies slanders evill reports and false accusations that some are ready to cast out against the truth for the clearing thereof I shall first lay down a few particulars of the truths given forth from one of the men scornfully called Quakers And secondly I shall lay down the ground and manner of that meeting the priests and people
there assembled that day and the too men called Quakers as aforesaid And thirdly the dispute held between the priests and the men they called Quakers in the latter part of the day and fourthly I shall clear the accusations to the honested hearted that truth may stand pure in its place as it is and that it may stand a witnesse also against lying spirits and against errour delusion and deceipt For the spirit of truth being come teacheth us all things and guideth all such as obey it into all truth according to gospell discipline and promise and bringeth all the things of Christ to our remembrance according to the working of his divine power and the good pleasure of his will praised be the Lord for the riches of his love John 14.26 John 16.13 First Some particulars laid down or declared hear by one of the men which the world scornfully calleth Quakers which are as followeth hear set down for the honest mind to consider of weigh in the ballance of equity so to enter into the allowance through the good consent into the sincerity that it may be stayed in the integrity out of the evill surmisings grudgings and false reports and look at the truth above them to walk in it and be freed from them c. Concerning Election and Predestination Touching election God sees not as man ungenerated sees for men in that state and condition sees naturally and so discerns nor the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1. Cor. 2.14 but God sees spiritually with that spiritual eye sees althings as they are whence they are how they are and those that he did doth predestinate he fore-knew and saw into the mistery which was and is in such revealed and revealing in which mistery in the creature he did and doth in that mistery with his all seeing eye see something good which afterwards in his due time were through Christ in them and is in such revealed and revealing according to the working of his divine power and had not God foreseen that how would it as it was and is in such have been manifested and revealed according to the working of his power that through their love and obedience to the truth according to choice in the royall acception through their obedience to the truth upon manifestation through the spirit continuance therein after that they were sealed their souls was also purified and that which so sealed and purified their souls was revealed and known working within in the mistery and the pure love enjoyed through the unsealing or opening of the same within them who were born again and the seed of God was within them and in that seed were their souls through the obedience to the light and truth purified and elected stablished and confirmed and they therein and by the working of the divine power joyned to the Lord and so both Jew Greek Barbarian Scythian bond and free male and female come into the unity of all soâ—ts that obeyed the truth and walked in the way Christ Jesus the light of the world they came thereby to the father and so knew the ground where election stood according to predestination and foresight of God which were manifested according to the working of his divine power and after the good pleasure of his will and that in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather them into Christ through their obedience to the light in the eternall truth in whom also we have obtained an inheritances being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh into unity and the election joining the soul to the seed after the counsell of his own will that we as they was should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ the foundation of choice and election in the ordination in whom we also trusted after that we heard the word of truth Rom. 10.6 7 8. Eph. 1.9 10 11 12. the gospel of our salvation Rom. 1.16 17. in whom after that we believed we were sealed with that holy spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 which God foresaw within in the mystery and to be good which were in them revealed and is in such revealed who obey the light and walk in it Col. 1.27 28. 2 Cor. 4.5 6 7. and through the obedience to the same light and truth what such enjoyed in and through the same way light and obedience to the truth others may and to have their souls purified as such had and have who are begotten and born again as they was 1 Pet. 1.22 23. and saith Christ other sheep I have which are not of this fould them also I must bring in Joh. 10.14 15 16. Rev. 22.17 2 Heb. 9.10 Christ in dying for us is our example in sufferings and way to the Father For Christ in dying for sinners and ungodly died for all for was not all sinners and ungodly guilty of Christs death but it is by his Bloud that we are justified and by his Life that we are saved in following his councell the light manifested within and obeying him the true light that lighteth every man that comes into the world Joh. 1.9 and such as obey and follow him are led out of darknesse by him through their obedience and so into the light of life Joh. 6.12 it is by Christs life that we are saved in following his councell and obeying him through the crosse with slayes the enmity as he became obedient to the death of the crosse who is our leader and example is the Author of eternall Salvation to all that obey him but none else and he that will follow Christ must denie himself and take up his crosse dayly as he is required and through his obedience to the crosse which slayes the enmitie he comes to know life and peace to his soul in the eternall unity Rom. 5.8.9 Luke 9.23 c. Mat. 10.38 c. 1 Pet. 4. 1 Cor. 1.17.18 Ephes 2.16.17.18 Heb. 5.8.9 Justification by Christ alone who died for our sins and rose again for our justification we are justified by faith in his bloud or life through the obedience to the crosse whereby the enmity is slain and the election witnessed in the reconciliation through the crosse which ministry in the crosse is the power of God to such as are saved and witnesseth justification by faith in the bloud or life of Jesus as such did Rom. 5.1 1 Cor. 1.18 Rom. 5.8 9. 1 Joh. 5.4 c. and we bear about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus as such did that the life of Jesus may more and more be manifested in our mortall flesh who by his spirit quickeneth the mortall body dwelling within us so saving us by grace and maketh us to sit together with him in heavenly places 2 Cor. 4.6.7 to the 12. Rom. 8.10.11 to the 20. Eph. 2.4.5.6.7 therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we
3.17 18. 1 Ioh. 2.20 and 27. Otherwise if you rebell and reject the counsell and teachings of the light and gift which should teach and guide you to God the good giver and father of lights for your rebellion and sloathfulnesse God can take his gift and light from you for your negligence and disobedience rebellion and wickednesse as the talent was taken from the unprofitable servant and after cast soul and body into hell to be tormented for ever and then woe and misery therefore all now while you have time prize it Matth. 25. The fear of the Lord is to depart from iniquity pride arrogancy and every froward way and the manifestation of the spirit is given to profit withall Pro. 8. 1 Cor. 12. Rom. 1.19 then such as willingly and knowingly after conviction do continue in pride and envy self-love covetousnesse oppression vain glory and wrath malitiousnesse self-love arrogancy frowardnesse and wickednesse and do not deny themselves of those things and depart out of the iniquity but continues in their unrighteousnesse making covers and excuses for sins such as are rebellious children who do reject the counsell of the light of God in their consciences which doth convince them of sin and checks and reproves them for the same and though they make many prayers and offer sacrifice in that nature which departeth out of the true fear and so continue in their pride arrogancy frowardnesse and wickednesse God doth not accept of them nor their service no more then he did of such in their nature which he sent to cry against and said his soul loathed their sacrifices and services that stood in that nature and they were abomination to him as the prophet then said and so say I from the Lord the same to all such and Christ Jesus doth say such as be workers of iniquity though great in profession and shew yet he will disown them and say he knoweth them not as may be read Pro. 6.16 17. Isa 1.10 to the l6 Isa 3.11 12 and so on Matth. 7.20 21 22 23. Neverthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure and hath this seal the Lord-knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 they must either depart from iniquity or else depart from Christ that continue in the work of iniquity then it is the duty of every one that doth professe the Gospel of truth and the name of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel ministration to depart from iniquity and obey the light and truth of the Gospel that they may be accepted of God and builded upon the foundation of the prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone in whom the building fitly framed groweth into an holy temple in the Lord and that such may also be sealed with that holy spirit of promise Isa 1.16 17 18 19. Matth. 7.21 and 24 25 26 27 28 29. Ephes 2.18 19 20 11. Ephes 1.11 12 13. And seeing it is so then those that continue in pride covetousnesse envie maliciousnesse lying swearing drunkenesse vain talking foolish jesting pleasures and wantonnesse consening cheating deceiving and dissembling wantonness usurpation vain glory oppression earthly-mindedness scorn and dssdain these and the like of that nature under what cover and pretence soever being practised delighted and walked in and not denyed loathed cast off and forsaken and declared against else such hath not yet learned their duty towards God and doth not forsake iniquity but continue in it and pride lust and excess dissimulation and hypocrisie and such are not builded upon the foundation as aforesaid nor sealed but are under the woes the curse and the wrath profess what they will and except they repent and amend by forsaking their sins they are all like to perish Isa 5. Luk. 6. Isa 30.1 Isa 28.1 2 3. Rom. 2.5 6. Tit. 1.16 Rom. 1.18 19 22. and 28 29. ver Rev. 21.8 27. 2 Thes 1.8 9. Rev. 9.12 What repentance is and how to be known c. Repentance is a forsaking the evil and turning from darkness to the light to obey and follow it out of sin and ungodliness into grace purity and holyness for the grace of God which bringeth salvation being obeyed through the goodness and walked in it teacheth to deny ungodliness and woâ—ldly lusts and to live righteously soberly and godlily in this present evill world and such are the fruits of repentance by turning from darknesse unto light to obey grace and walk in the light of the Lord and in a holy and pure conversation which he calleth unto Rom. 2.4 6 7 and 10. Act. 26.16 17 18. Tit. 2 11 12. Eph. 5. 1 Pet. 1.13 14 15 16 17. But such as are convinced o sin and evill by the light and doth not obey the light that comes from the Lord Jesus to forsake the evill and come out of darknesse sin and iniquity errour and deceit such are unprofitable and in the works of darknesse loving the evill and haters of the light and this is their condemnation that light is come and they love darknesse rather then the light because their deeds are evill Joh. 3.19 20. Some grounds of truth laid down as followeth and duties 1. duty That Christ Jesus is the true light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world they that follow him the true light are by it led out of darknesse errour and deceit into the light of eternall life Joh. 1.5 6 7 8 9. Joh. 8.12 2. Then it is the duty of all that professe the gospel of truth and desireth the knowledge in the injoyment of eternall life and to be redeemed out of darknesse errour and deceit to take heed of sinning against the light or disobeying the same after conviction and manifestation least they be lest in darknesse errour and deceit and through their sloathfulnesse negligence and disobedience to the light and truth manifested they be cast with the unprofitable servant into utter darknesse where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25.28 29.30 3. That Christ Jesus is the way to the Father and to salvation and able to save to the uttermost all those that deny themselves follow the light take up the daily crosse and so come unto God by him and theâ—e is no other name to be saved by under heaven nor no other way to the Father but by the Lord Jesus according to the declaration or the Scriptures the working of the spirit of truth which spirit according to gospel discipline doctrine and promise is the perfect guide into all truth Ioh. 16.13 Act 10.42 43. Act. 4.11.12 That the Lord is the teacher of his people in the new covenant according to his promise made by his servants the prophets who prophesied before of the coming and sufferings of Christ as it is written and witnessed Ier. 31. to the 35. Isa 54.13 14. and Christ when he came confirmed what the prophets had said concerning the same saving no man can
2 6 7. 1 Ioh. 4.16 17. The false ministry and ministers Then those ministers that are made by the will of man and such as are ministers of the letter and not of the spirit such are not taught of God neither are they the ministers of Christ nor his gospel and such as have a form of godliness and wants the power are to be denied and turned away from and that ministry which doth not lead up to perfection but keepeth people ever learning and never able to come to that perfect measure of the knowledge of the Son of God and the eternall truth to a perfect man in Christ Jesus is none of Christs ministry but the ministry of the world and of Antichrist therefore not the ministry of Christ nor the gospel but such a ministry as that which is spoken of that keeps people laden with sins and led away with divers lusts and saying under it they cannot be freed from their sins whilst they live that is such a ministry as Christ hath not ordained in the new covenant but is shut out therefore that ministry is a contrary ministry to Christ and his Apostles in the new covenant and to be holden accursed also the ministers thereof as it is required 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Gal. 1.8 9. Who the false prophets are and how to be known even by their fruits as Christ hath said Mat. 5.15 and 20. The false prophets idoll shepheards and blind watchmen were and are such as bears and bore rule by their means and such as sought and doth seek for their gain from their quarter greedy dumb dogs that never had nor never have enough but were and are such as sought and seeketh for the fleece and then made and now maketh a prey upon the people and preached and doth preach for hire and then went and doth now go in the way of Cain who received and doth receive the wages of unrighteousness Balaam like and such the Lord was and such the Lord is against and sent and doth send to cry out against them but the priests of the world are such and hath such fruites whereby they may be known to be the false prophets idol-shepheards blinde watchmen and greedy dumb dogs that are never satisfied but either petitioning or crying to the people and crying out to the magistrates to help them with one thing or another and if they might but have their wills they would shew forth their cruelty doggednesse persecution and tyranny as many of them have already done so they are out of the example of all the true prophets and true Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore to be cryed out of and declared against and the wo is unto them for their reward as it was to such Jer. 23. Isa 3.11 Ezek. 34. Jer. 5.30 31. Isa 56.10 11. Mic. 3.5 and 11. 2 Pet. 2. Iud. 11. The Resurrection of the just and unjust That there is a resurrection of the just and unjust and the saints shall be raised up to be glorified and enter into the eternall joy of their Lord but the wicked to be terrified and the just hath boldnesse in the day of judgement 1 Ioh. 4.17 and are accepted but the wicked and all the nations that forget God are to be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and thither goes the disobedient and cursed to be tormented eternally from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 1 Cor. 15.12 13 14 15 to the 30. Matth. 27.52 53. Rev. 20.6 Matth. 25.41 to the end Rev. 20.10 11 12. to the end Rev. 21.8 27. 2 Thes 1.8 9. The Lord will plead with all flesh That the Lord will plead with all flesh by his sword and by fire Isa 66.15 16. and the terrours of the Lord is to be known to all flesh and upon all the wicked and ungodly Mala. 4.1 Zeph. 1.14 15. therefore happy are they that obey the light which comes from the Lord Jesus which light doth convince them of and reprove for sin and evill that through their obedience to the light they may be led out of darknesse and know judgement and vengeance to consume the wickednesse and seed of the serpent in them and know the power of life to work in them that through their obedience to the light and truth they may have their souls purified as such had who obeyed the truth through the spirit and have 1 Pet. 1.22 23. and bodies washed with the water of the word through the sanctification of the spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 and so know their souls joined to the divine life through the eternall spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 and through their obedience to the light and ministry in the crosse 1 Cor. 1 18. that they may give all diligence here to make their calling and election sure that so an entrance may be ministred abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Heb. 5.9 2 Pet. 1.10 11. There is no place to be purged in betwixt heaven and here therefore plead not for sin c. No unclean thing shall enter nor the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19.20 and there shall not in any wise enter into it any thing that defileth nor that which worketh abomination or maketh a lye Rev. 21.27 then such as continue in sin unseparated and are not purified from it here their case is dangerous for the unclean shall not enter into Gods kingdom and there is no place betwixt heaven and here to be purged in and the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God therefore be not deceived for such as dies in their sins and unrighteousnesse coming so to the judgement then wo and misery is their portion eternally take warning betimes and read Rev. 14.9 10 11. Rev. 20.10 11 to the end Rev. 22.11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 21 8 27. The difference between the naturall and spirituall estate and condition and how the soul comes to enjoy fellowship with God and partake the sweet gospel grace and virtue Men naturally knows not the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 And in a state of unregeneration they are dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 but alive in the evill pride and vain glory serving divers lusts and pleasures Eph. 2.2 3. so in deaths reign and all their actings in their wills in that nature turn'd from the light is out of a selfish principle and in that self-seeking nature thinking thereby to merit something by their own self-actings in that nature turned from the light so setting up their self-actings and performances that stands in their wills thinking to get life and peace or salvation thereby but all that is seen with the light to be out of the true ground and not in the life of truth which stands out of the light in the mans will and with the light which calls the mind within and
crosseth the will in the ground is all that with the light discovered reproved and with the light judged and condemned and peace comes into the soul as the light is submitted to and obeyed and so through the obedience to the light the will and will-worship is denied and with the light is the heart searched and the reigns tryed and so the light bâ—ing submitted unto it judgeth the selfish principle and cuts down the fleshly wisdom which light reproveth and judgeth the ground of the deceits with its fruits and effects which light being obeyed openeth the understanding and also shutteth out the pride and vain glory and the light crosseth the ground of self and self-actings and judgeth all that is acted in the mans will and fleshly wisdom which light being submitted unto and contained in it worketh into a reformation and changeth the heart begetteth a love to the truth and a hatred against the deceit which light guideth out of self unto the power of light which through the workings of the eternall spirit putteth out of self and begets a pure will and an earnest desire after the goodnesse and so working into the sincerity the desire is reall towards the Lord to seek after him in his own way contrary to the will of man and according to the pure mind and will of God which light being obeyed loved and yielded wholly unto it leads out of corruptions into purity out of nature into grace to witnesse the regeneration and be made partaker of the divine nature being led by the light out of the corruptions and corrupt nature as before and so out of darknesse into the marvellous light and worketh into the patience and pure zeal the light being loved and followed it leadeth to the power which through the eternall spirit worketh through the understanding into the endlesse love and so joynes the soul to the divine power through the obedience in the spirit whereby it receives eternall joy and comfort in the Lord who teacheth such to deny self self-love self-joy self-praise vain glory and self acting and to act in the love and joy of the Lord from the light and grace received against and contrary to the corrupt will and fleshly wisdome of naturall man in the power of life and love from and according to the grace received so to act from life in the quickenings and strength of the Lord according to the working of his divine power and the assurance of the fathers love in the measure according to the working of his divine power and the enjoyment in that measure and manifestation so growing in the life of the eternall truth and so perfecting holinesse in the fear of the Lord and salvation by degrees in obedience to the truth through the spirit and there is the true understanding of it according to measure and manifestation and the true knowledge of the degrees and passages in the inward man working up also to the sence of the outward or the creature man through the Crosse by which the enmity is slain and the enjoyment of the divine love known and so the naturall members of the mans body is washed with the water of sanctification and bodies cleansed from corruptions whereby the members are made instruments of righteousnesse unto holinesse and bodies and souls offered up to the Lord as a reasonable sacrifice to do him service being bought with a price and redeemed to purity again through the working of the divine power into the enjoyment of the riches of the love of God whereby there is a growing from grace to grace from faith to faith from glory to glory into the eternall unity and so into the fellowship with the father and the son and to be partakers of that sweet grace and vertue Joh. 14.20 Joh. 17.9 Rom. 1.16.17 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 6.11 12 13. Rom. 6.18.19 20 21 22. Rom. 12. 1 Joh. 1.2.3 1 Joh. 5.20 2 Cor. 3.17.18 2 Pet. 1.3 1 Joh. 4.16.17 Those that fellow Christ must take up a daily Crosse and follow him through the sufferings All who follow Christ must follow him through the sufferings for such as will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution 2 Timothy 3.10.11.12 then they that are persecutors are none of Christs followers take notice of that but such are the Priests of the world and many of their members or hearers therefore they are none of Christs followers they that are such may read themselves in Isaiah the 59. and 2 Timo. 3.1.2 3. to the 10. and likewise in the 13. verse and Isa 1. but thus faith the Lord to such when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of bloud Isa 1.15 and wo to you that are persecutors and to the wicked it shall go ill with you Isa 3.11 but blessed are they that are persecuted and suffers for righteousnesse sake their reward is great in heaven read Math. 5.10 11 12. and Luk. 6.22.23 And as Christ hath suffered in the flesh arm your selves likewise with the same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh the lusts of men but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4.1.2 c. And if ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye the spirit of grace and glory rests upon you 1 Pet. 4.13.14 And all who followeth Christ must take up the daily crosse and such as loves any thing more then Christ he is not worthy of him and saith Christ he that will be my disciple must deny himself and take up his crosse daily and follow me Luke 9.23.24 to the 28. Math. 10.37 38 39. No crown without the crosse The Crosse in the Mistery and what it cuts down and raiseth up as it is taken up daily c. The Crosse in the mistery Colos 1.26.27.28 is known to such as obey the light which comes from the Lord Jesus Christ which light doth convince of sin and unbelief self-love self-righteousnesse pride and vain glory and all iniquity and reproves in the conscience for such which light sheweth the lusts and evil of the heart and the light is within that doth so which light manifesteth corruptions and the naturall estate which light checks and reproves for sin and evil and being obeyed teacheth to forsake sin and the pride of the flesh and all evil desires lusts and devices of mischief the light where it is obeyed crosseth them and judgeth them within in the ground from whence they do arise Which light that so convinceth of evil and where it is submitted unto crosseth the ground of enmity and judgeth deceit in its appearance within the same light moveth upon the conscience and worketh men into the knowledge of sin And such as encline to the light may know it calling them daily to come to repentance which light being attended upon perswadeth mans heart to
turn from the evil to the good in perswading his heart perswades him to wit the creature man against sin and to turn from the iniquitie and he joyning to the light his lusts naturall corruptions and inclinations to the evil is thereby to wit by the light not onely discovered but also crossed judged and condemned So the creature man obeying the light and serving the good he forsakes the evil and becomes a servant of righteousnesse yielding up his members to the light as instruments of righteousnesse unto that which is holy that he may serve in the new life and so witnesse the change and the new creature as it is written Rom. 6.11.12 and the 17.18 to the 23 verse 2 Cor. 5.17 Which light as aforesaid within in the conscience that reproves for sin being obeyed and upon the discovery and manifestation to the view of the understanding submitted wholly unto it crosseth and crucifieth lusts and all evil of what sort soever as it doth arise so condemning sin in the flesh and also quickens the soul so easing it and redeeming it according to the working of the divine power and thereby freeing the soul from the bondage of corruptions wherein it was held which corruptions are purged out of the soul by the ministry in the crosse 1 Cor. 1.18 throng the obedience to the light and truth in the spirit 1 Pet. 1.22.23 1 Pet. 2.9.10 and so the soul is through the obedience to the light and by the operation of the divine power raised up from under the bondage wherein it had been held into a spirituall enjoyment of the fathers eternall love and wrought through the obedience to the light and truth in the spirit into the new life and spirituall worship Rom. 6.1.2.3.4 Ioh. 4.23.24 Rev. 22.17 Philip. 3.3 whereby the heart through the obedience to the light and the eternall spirit is circumcised the body of sin put off and the soul baptized into the endlesse love so into Christ the fulnesse whereby it putteth him on and so stands compleat in him the fulnesse and being baptized by one spirit into unity in that one spirituall body so into the new covenant entered sealed and confirmed and there the soul sits under the vine receiving of the vertue from the fulnesse and drinketh in that one spirit where there is one covenant one body one bread of life one spirituall reck for souls to be refreshed at and in one faith one Lord one baptisme which is not carnall but spirituall and so there is no confidence in the flesh nor fleshly worships but a rejoycing in Christ Jesus and being of the spirituall seed in the spirituall worship and covenant There is a glorying in the Lord the justifier and in the spirituall circumcision baptisme breaking of bread and prayer and the glory communion and fellowship into the covenant and doctrine is known by the preaching of the crosse and the ministry of the spirit through the crosse which crucifieth the worlds nature and the creature to the world and there my glorying is where the old things are passed away and the new things enjoyed for if any man be in Christ he is a new creature Old things are passed away and behold all things are become new as it is written and know with such as enjoy the same 2 Cor. 5.16.17 Rev. 21. and Colos 2.9.10 Galat. 3.27.28 1 Cor. 12.11.12.13 Eph. 4.4.5.6 Ioh. 6.53.54.55.56 1 Ioh. 5.20 1. Cor. 10.15.16.17 Shaking Quaking and trembling is no new thing which is despised in this generation but witnessed in the Scriptures amongst the people of God then as the Scriptures declareth c. And though the serpents seed do revile the people of God by names of reproch yet thus saith the Lord Hearken unto me ye that know righteousnesse the people in whose heart is my law fear ye not the reproaches of men neither be ye afraid of their revilings for the moth shall eat them up like a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool but my righteousnesse shall be for ever and my salvation from generation to generation read Isa 51.7.8 And though we be reproached and called by the name of Quakers reproachfully yet the power we witnesse and the salvation which power in other generations was witnessed amongst the people of God that witnessed both shaking trembling and quaking according to the declaration left for a witnesse upon record in the scriptures For Moses the servant of the Lord did exceedingly fear and quake as for proof you may read Hebr. 12.21 and Act. 7.22 and it Moses had been here now and witnessed such a condition of quaking the Priests and people of England many of them would have been ready to have reproached Moses and have called him a Quake as they do reproach the people of God under the name of Quakers Secondly Davids flesh trembled Psalm 119.120 and he roared by reason of the disquietnesse of his heart Psal 38.8 Psal 22.1 Thirdly Job saith that trembling took hold on his flesh Job 21.5.6 And at this saith he my heart trembleth and is removed out of its place Job 37.1 Fourthly The Lord sent Isaiah to the people to speak his word saying Hear the word of the Lord all ye that tremble at his word Isaiah 66.5 and Isaiah and those trembling people and such as the Lord had given him were for signes and wonders in Israel Isa 8.16.17 18. And if any witnesse a trembling condition now as such did then they are reproached and hated and are for signes and wonders in England and by them reproachfully and scornfully called Quakers And if Iob David and the people with Isaiah Math. 9.10.11.12 Luke 6.22.23 1 Pet. 4.13.14 had been here now and witnessed such conditions of shaking and trembling the people in this generation and the Priests might have had as good ground to have called such Quakers as they have to call the people of God Quakers now who witnesse the law of God written in their hearts and the power that worketh salvation but such as so reproach and revile the people of God by the name of Quakers are ignorant of the life of the Scripture and the power which worketh out salvation with fear and trembling Philippians 2.11 12 13. 5. Habakkuck the Prophet of the Lord his belly shook and his lips quivered Hab. 3.16 6. Ieremiah his heart within him was broken and his bones did shake Ier. 23.9 and see what he saith Ier. 5.22 and Ier. 30.56 7. The word of the Lord came to Ezek'ell the prophet saying son of man eat thy bread with quaking Ezek'ell 12.18 Daniel he trembled and the men that was with him a great quaking fell upon them so that they fled to hide themselves Dan 10.8 11. If Habakkuck the Prophet of the Lord had been here now and his belly had shook and his lips quivered as he saith they did and had Ieremiah the Prophet of the Lord been here now and his bones had shook and he have been like a
to come so teaching saints and glorifieth the Son and bringeth souls into the perfect knowledge or enjoyment of the Father and the Son Ioh. 14.20 in the holy unction Iob. 2.29 and 27. which teacheth all things to such as the light and spirit obey and walks in as it is written and witnessed by such as knoweth and knew the holy unction in them and the word abiding within them 1 Ioh. 2.13 14. and the heavenly treasure within 2. Cor. 4.6 7. and we know that such as are guided by the spirit of God are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 1 Ioh. 3.1 and God hath sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternall 1 Ioh. 5.20 And we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the true light and our Lord for God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined within in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus and this treasure have we within us as they had in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us and the message that we have to declare is this that God is light and in him is no darknesse at all and Christ is the true light that lighteth every one that cometh into the world they that follow him shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and he is the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him which is witnessed through the opening of the mystery within Col. 1.27 and by obedience to the light in the eternall power of truth through the spirit as it is written and witnessed and according to the outward declaration of the Scripture but enjoyed according to the inward manifestation of the spirit the gift of God which is given to profit withall in the spirits ministration and mystery 2 Cor 12. to know the fellowship with Christ in the glory 2 Cor. 4.6 7. Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Heb. 5.9 1 Ioh. 1.5 2 Cor. 3.17 18. Rom. 8.14 15 16 17 18 19. Gal. 4.6 2 Thes 1.10 Ioh. 17.10 Then remember that you the 2 Priests would go out of the room towards the latter end of the day it was so hot and throng though you would not go before so we went into plain upon a green hill and most of the people stood below in the valley and thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent and I stood together on the hill where I begun to lay open the things as aforesaid concerning the light and Spirit being sufficient according to the working of the divine power of the Lord and the good pleasure of his will through theobedience to the light teachings of the spirit of grace to lead to salvation and unto all truth whereupon thou said that was granted before we came out of the room so for the better satisfaction of the people I would have laid it open to the people there but thou yielded up to that truth only I was to return to the people on proof concerning that the Scriptures fore saw that God would justify the heathen through faith preach the gospel unto Abraham saying in thee shall all nations be blessed which Scripture is this Gal. 3.8 which is witnessed in Christ Gal. 3.18 29. and according to the Scriptures the declaration of him and the word Luk 1.1 Act. 1.1 Ioh. 1.3 the word is God and eternall life Ioh. 1.1 1 Pet. 1.23 1 Ioh. 5.6 7 11 20. Heb. 4.12 Rom. 16.6 7 8. Rev. 19.13 Then after that thou Andrew Trusterom Priest of Clent who was the mouth most for the Priests that day thou would have maintained thy call being put upon it there on the hill but could not prove it to be according to any gospel minister though thou had thy proof and witnesse without thee written in a paper in the end of thy book as thou knowes and could not remember thy call nor thy proof and witnesse without thy written paper in thy book end to turn to other mens words that thou were out of the life as I then cold thee and said also that such as thou were made tradesmen at Cambridge or Oxford or from under such as had yours and their rise from the old wicked Bishops and such Bishops from the Popes generation and they from the Pope and the Pope from old Antichrist and so Antichristian ministers and not the ministers of Christ nor the gospel For I told thee the ministers of Christ and the gospel was not made by the will of man but of God were they ordained and was sent by Christ Jesus and the holy Ghost and received not their gospel nor call of man but of God neither was such that were so called taught of man but of God as it is certified to the Brethren and left upon record in Scripture and such as were so called and taught made not their gospel burdensom but free to be examples also for others that come after to follow and such gospel ministers as were so called ordained gifted and sent forth they sold not their gift nor preaching the gospel for mony nor tythes but preached freely 1 Cor. 9.16 17 18 19. Act. 20.33 1 Cor. 11. i. not for tythes as the priests of the world do now that follow not their example neither had any gospel minister 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 or 300 pound per Annum as the priests of the world have now but such gospel ministers as were ordained called and sent of God went to turn people from the darknesse to the light from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.14 15 16,17,18 Gal. 1.1 and 11,12,15,16 vers and such coveted no mans silver nor gold nor apparell but laboured with hands and preached the gospel freely who were made able ministers of the new covenant not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 Act. 20.28 and 3.3 34,35 vers Act. 13. Mat. 10. 1 Cor. 11.1 vers Then such as go to trades at Universities and learns old Authours mans inventions to add a divination of their brain to the Scriptures and are taught of proud covetous self-seeking men of such Arts and are called by such and are called of men master and hath tythes are called by them to great benefits 20 40 100 200 pound a year such are not according to the gofpel minifters but are Antichriftian and deceivers and such are the Priests of the world therefore Antichristian ministers seducers and deceivers of the nations then thou Andrew Trusterom the Priest as aforesaid thou seemingly would have denyed thy call and ordination from the old wicked Bishops but could not from that ground had thou thy rise and upon it yet stands in the
Goodâ—â—r Tho. Chanler and others What wicked blasphemy is this and a gap to profanenesse If so that the devil was guided by the holy Spirit to call Jesus Lord then every drunkard thief whore monger and profane person may say they are guided by the holy Spirit if the devil was for such are his servants and he their master But the devil was not guided by the holy Spirit to say so to wit as aforesaid no more are they therefore Oasland thou art a perverter of the right wayes of the Lord as Elymas was Acts the 13. and so full of all mischief and a child of the devil as he was verse 8. and 10. and taught to blaspheme and lie by the spirit of thy father the devil who was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him then not the holy Spirit of truth for him to call Jesus Lord by as thou saidst he did for he speaketh lies and when he speaketh them he is the father of them they are his own read John 8.44 to be a witnesse against thee and all such Elymas was not guided by the holy Ghost when he withstood the truth but he was guided by the spirit of the devil as thou wast when thou so blasphemously saidst but Elymas was smitten by the holy Ghost for opposing the truth and judgement came upon him for it and Ananias and Sapphira were slain by the holy Ghost for lying against him Acts 5. And thy case is dangerous but smitten thou art by the light in thy conscience and this is a bâ—ot and stain to it and to thy profession and judgements will pursue thee and overtake thee and vengeance from God for the same except of it thou speedily repent and openly declare against that thy blasphemy own thy errour therein and thy condemnation upon it and take shame to thy self stop thy mouth and cover thy lips Simon Magus was not guided by the holy Spirit when he would have bought it with money but was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity as thou art that so lies against the truth Act. 8.18.19.20.21 And as no man can call Jesus Lord but by the holy Ghost then such as have not the holy Ghost guiding them cannot by it so call him but the devil and his angels have not the holy Ghost therefore they that have it not cannot with it and by it so call him And Christ himself saith to some Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Luke 6.46 Such as disobey Christs counsell doctrine and commands cannot by the holy Ghost call Jesus Lord in truth but the devil and devillish men disobey Christs counsell doctrine and commands and keep not his sayings therefore they are not guided by the holy Ghost nor cannot by it and with it call Jesus Lord so the gap is hedged up by the holy Ghost But the wicked and such as are deceived by the devil are to be with him cast into the lake of fire to be tormented for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 and such as have not their names written in the Lambes book of life are to be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.15 and such as those spoken of Rev. 21.8 and all such are shut out from God and to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power as are spoken of Rev. 21.27 Rev. 22.15 2 Thess 1.8.9 Thus hath your folly been made manifest as the resisters of the truth before you and as yours is that are resisters of the truth now like such spoken of 2 Tim. 3.1.2.3 c. vers the 8. 9. And thus are your deceits discovered your wickednesse also but they are comprehended chained and with the light condemned therefore silence deceivers But it is good that you have uttered your folly that it may appear to your view which hath lien hid in your old bottles and dock bottomes which now is uncovered and you seen to be painted harlots and serpents like such spoken of Matth. 23. the 25.26 to the 34. read your hearts with the light see also your lies and confusion and stuff of such sort acknowledge your errours own your condemnation to be just thereupon give over deceiving the people and take shame to your selves though the dark see you not yet the children of light doth you and all such as you are both see and comprehend and all your pernicious wayes praised be the Lord who hath raised up a light in his people to see your nakednesse from the truth covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord and so to uncover your skirts your covers will not hide you but leave you naked and bare to the single eyed or children of light also read that commandment which is for you oh Priests it is in Malachy 2.1.2 to the 10. Some short and clear demonstrations laid down concerning the light Some short and clear demonstrations laid down as followeth and proved by plain scripture to shew the honest hearted the truth of that pure light of the gospel of Christ which is so stumbled at with dark minds which may also further serve to clear the accusations that were against the truth that day and before in Worcestershire at Bramsgrave and other places concerning the light that truth may also stand pure in its own place and pure being and stand a witnesse against lying spirits seducers and deceive s who live in errour and deceit 1 Pet. 2.6.7 that stumble at the light now as the Jewes and chief Priests and their party did before Wherefore it is contained in scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded unto you therefore which believe he is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner 1 Pet. 2.6.7 First demonstration c. Christ he is the light of the world and the true light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world and he hath said that such as follow him the true light they shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life as Christ himself hath said see his own words of truth and Johns words that bare record of him for proof to demonstrate and shew and also witnesse to the same grounded truth which is so much stumbled at read Joh. 1.9 Joh. 8.12 Secondly Seeing that Christ is the light of the world as he himself hath said who is to be beli ved and hath also said that such as follow him the light of the world they shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life and John that bare reco d of Christ the light of the world he hath witnessed in his record of him and said that he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world then such as
only is not able to teach all gospel truths nor sufficient to lead to salvation such as say so are lyars against the truth the true light and the spirit of truth therefore enemies to Christ and the gospel For the Lord Jesus hath said that he is the light of the world and those that follow him shall not walk in darknesse but have the light of life eternall life and so assurance of salvation who is the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him the light and the way to the Father and the true light of the world that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Ioh. 1.9 Ioh. 8.12 Ioh. 14.6 1 Pet. 2.9.10 Heb. 5.9 Tenthly But such has say the light of the world which is the true light Christ Jesus that lighteth every man that cometh into the world is not sufficient to salvation being obeyed and followed without some other help such as so say speak they know not what unadvisedly and such questions the power and authority of the true light Christ Jesus and knows not that he is perfectly able to save to the uttermost all those that come unto God by him and the authour of eternall salvation to all that obey him only Heb. 7.24 25. Heb. 5.7 8 9. Eleventhly Such as say the light which is Christ by his spirit opening the mystery is not able to teach all the perfect knowledge of the truth such as say so are against Christs doctrine in the gospel ministration and against him Antichristian for he who is the true light and lighteth every man that cometh into the world saith that all that obey him the true light shall be saved by him only and that all that obey him the true light shall not walk in darknesse but be led out of darknesse into the light of life and so into eternall life by him the true light and perfect Saviour to all such for he is perfectly able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him the true light Christ Jesus and to such as obey him he is the authour of eternall salvation who is the true light and lighteth every man that cometh into the world but is the condemnation of such as after manifestation do wilfully sin against love tendered and mercy profered who do hate the light and love their evill deeds and darknesse rather then the light Ioh. 3.19 20. Heb. 10.25 26. 2 Thessalonians 1.6 7 8 9. Iude 4. 2 Thessalonians 1.12 Twelfthly Christ Jesus the light of the world hath said who is the true light and lighteth every man that cometh into the world that the Spirit of truth coming to be manifested within should guide them and teach them all things being obeyed and bring all things to remembrance and guide into all truth Iohn 14.16 17 and 26. Iohn 16.13 14. Then such as say this spirit is not sufficient to teach all things being obeyed and such as so say and say it is not sufficient to guide into all truth being come and walked in without some other help such questions the authority of the spirit and affronts the Lord Jesus by contradicting his own sweet gospel discipline doctrine and promise but such as do so and bâ—ing a contrary doctrine who love not the Lord Jesus Christ let them be Anathema Maran-atha accursed with a curse 1 Cor. 16.22 Gal. 1.8 9. Therefore blessed are they that obey the true light and follow the counsell and teachings of â—he spirit of truth that they may know the spirit of the Father speaking in them and through them and so know the free love of the Lord wrought in their souls by the working of the divine power according to the good pleasure of his will in the spirits teachings and sweet gospel ministration through the riches of the Fathers love sending the spirit of his son in their hearts whereby they cry Abba Father Luk. 12.12 Mat. 10.20 2 Corinthians 6.16 2 Peter 1.2 3. Galatians 4.6 7. Such as aforetime did obey the light and the teachings of the spirit were made able ministers of the gospel of Christ Act. 2.4 2 Cor. 3.6 Joh. 19.19 20 21 22. Act. 4. ch Act. 7. ch Act. 1.22 23 24 c. Heb. 8.10 11. in the new covenant of grace according to the Fathers teachings though some of them outwardly were ignorant and unlearned men so that they confounded the great Rabbies and Greek Latine and Hebrew scholars and the Jewish chief Priests so that they cryed out to the magistrates counsellours and governou s to cause them to be persecuted beaten and abused imprisoned and threatned to speak no more in the name of Jesus and the great rabby doctoâ—s and chiefest of the English Priests if they might have their wills would do so now to such as have been with Jesus and they seek to quench the light and spirit but shall not be able to do it for it will powerfully appear in sons and daughters in the spirits ministration and the teachings thereof and so thereby they may take notice that the schollars of Christ are brought up at Emanuels school taught of the Lord according to his promise Act. 4.12 13. Isa 2. 1 Cor. 14.24 25. and have been with Jesus for counsell the Emanuel God with us and in us the everlasting Father and the mighty God wonderfull counsellour Isa 9.6 Joh. 6.45 Joh. 4.20 2 Cor. 6.16 as he was in them that were taught by his spirit though some were shepheards ploughmen tradesmen and some ignorant and unlearned in the great scholes of humane learning and Paul denyed his learning that he had received of man when he was made an able minister of the gospel which he preached he had not received it of man neither was he taught it of man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ as he hath certified to the brethren Gal. 1.11 12 and 15 16. and now is the Lord teaching his and now is the Lord sending the law forth of Sion and making and sending forth ministers to declare his truth and publish the gospel freely without the help of proud covetous self-seeking men ever praised be the Lord they that obeyed the light and walked therein they witnessed that by it they were led out of darknesse to walk in the light of the Lord and as they did come out of darknesse through the obedience to the light according to the doctrine of Christ to walk in the light of the Lord by so doing others may for Christ is the true light and the way to walk in the way that leads out of darknesse into light out of sin into grace out of bondage into liberty out of unbelief into the life and power of faith out of errour and deceit into the life and power of truth and so into the holy unction which teacheth all things without the help of faln man or his fleshly wisdom as it is Written ye have an unction from the holy 〈◊〉 and ye know all things 1 Ioh. 2.20 and this is