not way to that Spirit of errour that will be getting up in you and let my words be acceptable unto you to this end to own the Scriptures of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles which is able to make the wise to Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 and not to contemn them as is usual as one said to me which I am sure they owne when I said I had the word of God the Scriptures of Truth in me he asked me whether I had ink and paper in my heart Oh that such expressions might cease from amongst you I would fain know from any one of you whether all the Commandements contained in Scripture whether spoken by the Lord himself or by his Prophets or by his Son Jesus or by his Apostles which are not yet abrogated by the death of Christ are not the duty of the People of the Lord to observe and obey and whether the Commandements of God are of less vertue because they are written then if Jesus Christ did immediately speak them unto us and whereas you say we have passed through and left them this is no wonder if I may be certain in any thing what you mean by your expressions I may in this that you mean Baptisme other Ordinances of Gods House for the little number receiving Tenth and the few of them that do receive the Truth continuing in it it is an argument to me we are in the Truth rather than otherwise for saith Christ Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luke 12.32 It is not only so now but it was in the time while Christ was personally present many left him and walked no more with him John 6.66 And this is what is prophesied of 2 Thes 2.2 Let no man deceive you for that day shall not come except there come a falling away and saith the Apostle to Timothy some shall depart from the Faith but let us inquire into the reason which the Servant of the Lord Paul gives The first Reason 2 Thes 2.11.12 Is because they received not the Truth in the love of it and this hath been the reason of some falling away and receiving strong delusions for it hath been confessed to me by one of that Principle that she did submit to the Truth to wit Water-Baptisme because others did submit to it because it was in fashion and if any of your Consciences condemn you in this God is greater than your Consciences and knows all things repent of that your wickedness The second Reason which the Apostle rendreth of persons falling away of receiving strong delusions is because they had pleasure in unrighteousness it is possible that some may receive the Truth in the love of it and yet in time loose their first love and take pleasure in unrighteousness and so loose their peace and so run to airy notions of things that they may get peace which is not the true peace of God and this I find not only by the Scriptures of Truth but from their own expressions some of them hath said to me that they had not peace though at the first they had it and that they lived contrary to their consciences for some years before they received that which they call Truth Oh! that they would juslifie the Lord in his giving them up to believe strong delusions and take shame to themselves for doubtless the Lord will not be mocked for what they sow that they shall reap and though the way of God is at this day called Herisie and hath been so in daies past yet know this that Herisie is a fruit of the flesh as well as prophaneness in conversation and if you live and allow your selves in it you shall dye not only a natural death but the second death dear souls who are much upon my heart that have no ends but to glorifie God in what you do know this that the Devil can transform himself into an Angel of light and this I say to you by the word of the Lord that if men have never so much outward holiness upon them if they perswade you to forsake any of the Commandements of God do not believe them as you will answer it at the great day of the Lord read Galatians the first Chapter and let your Souls tremble at the word of the Lord now that it is the word of the Lord or the mind of the Lord which is all one which the Apostle Paul writeth see 1 Cor. 14.37 If any man think himself to be a Prophet or a spiritual man let him acknowledge the things that I write to be the Commondements of the Lord. Oh! that you of the Ministry as you are called would consider of this Scripture and not to appropriate that to your own Books which you will not allow the Scriptures and for you that say you went away because of the carnality of some Professors you ought to indeavoured their reformation and if not to have dealt with them according to the rule of Christ in that case and not to have forsaken the truth upon that account return return to the Lord and the Truth and you will find many amongst the Baptists as willing to own any thing that is of God as you can be to perswade them He further saith for know ye where God is present there needs not arepresention of him by any thing and where the eterual Fountain of all vertue is set open there needs not digging of other Wells for Water turn therefore to the light within the Conscience which is able to Baptise and wash your Souls from all Sin and make Rivers of living Water flow out of your belly which light is the alone Salvation of God he that loveth it and obeyeth it shall know it In answer to which I know not any Baptist that doth practise or doth set up any thing to represent God but hath renounced those hidden things of darkness and if so doth he not beat the Air when those persons that he writeth to doth not own any such thing but if he means where God is present there needs not outward forms in his Worship as Water in Baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper then it is not true as to Baptisme that there must be Water I might give you many Scriptures yet I shall only give you but one because it is full pregnant Acts 10.47 Can any forbid Water that these should not be Baptised which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we For Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper see Mat. 26.16 He took Bread and so likewise the Cup compared with Luke 22.19 20. And therefore let none deceive you with vain words and whereas he saith turn to the light within which is able to Baptise wash from all sin and further saith it is the alone Savation of God such an exhortation we find not in all the Scriptures of Truth if every man is to turn to
TRUTH UINDICATED Being An ANSVVER To the high flown Fancies of John Perrot known by the name of a Quaker in a Paper with this Inscription to all BAPTISTS every where or to any other who are yet under the shadows and watry Element and are not come to Christ the substance Wherein is laid open the airy vain Foolishness if not Blasphemousness of his words covered over with ambiguous and doubtful tearms unto all unbiazed and rational men But I will come unto you shortly and will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but the power Cor. 4.19 Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 Epistle of John 9. Take heed that the Light that is in you be not darkness Luke 11.35 By Randall Roper a Servant of Christs LONDON Printed for the Author 1661. To the Reader ALthough I am not ignorant of the prejudice which a Subject of this nature hath upon the minds of many men and likewise conscious of my own inability to such a work yet notwithstanding I shall not omit Writing according to the measure of the Tallent that the Lord heth given me in regard of that encouragement that I have met with from the Lord to this work since I first thought on it I shall intreat and beseech thee in the fear of God to read with an unbiazed affection and not to be rash in judging but on the contrary be fond like those Bereians that were more noble than those of Theselonica and the reason is there rendred because they searched the Scriptures whether those things were so or no alledged by the Apostle Paul Acts 17.11 I am nesessiated to say as Laban said to Jacob in an other case it must not be so done here the short volume that I intend to comprize what I shall write at this time is such that it will not bear a long Epistle and therefore I shall with as much brevity as I can give you my reasons of answering that Paper although I think there is abundance of folly at the best if not lies as shall be made manifest first reason that constrains me is the restless condition of the People called Quakers in giving them up and down to People that they think there is any hope to work upon together with that high confidence they have of it as an Oracle of God and that which cannot be answered when it is nothing less than the senseless Prophane and divised words of a brain-sick-apostate Secondly that high estimation they have of the Author of that Paper insomuch that I have been told of two of his judgment which I am sure they will own that he had as great a measure of the Spirit as ever man had and that he had talked face to face with God as a man talketh with his friend and several other things of a like tendency which would be too tedious to insert which I have cause to think nay believe are lies therefore my Friends who ever you are that desire to abide in the Doctrine of Christ having respect to all his Commandement that you may experience Communion with the Father the Son you have cause to praise him magnifie the name of your God that hath so given up and in the way of his justice which men hath so honoured that as he is a rageing wave of the Sea so he hath foamed out his own shame Secondly we have cause of sorrow that any poor souls that aims at the glory of God should follow such Teachers And so I shall leave but shall continue my Prayers that the Lord would keep his Children and Babes from that deceit and that the Lord would grant some that are already turned after Satan Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth which is the end and aim of him that desireth truth may flowrish and that errour and darkness may be done away RANDAL ROPER TRUTH UINDICATED Being An ANSVVER To the high flown Fancis of John Perrot known by the name of a Quaker GOd who at sundry times and in divers manners hath in times past spoken to our Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last daies spoken unto us by his Son even the Lord Jesus who hath told us that false Prophets should arise Mat. 24.24 and by the Apostle Peter whom he did in a special manner Authorize to feed his Lambs and Sheep John 21.15 who hath told us that as there were false Prophets among the people even so there shall be false Teachers amongst you who privately mind that shall bring in damnable Hericises denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow those preniscious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of whether this Scipture is not in a great measure fulfilled by the People called Quakers I will leave the impartial Reader to Judge for those that deny the Doctrine of Christ do privately and covertly deny Christ but they do deny the Doctrine of Christ therefore do privately deny Christ that they do deny declare as useless the Doctrine of Christ is manifest and shall be made manifest and that the truths of the Gospel is evill spoken of by reason of them experience doth testifie is it not the cry of the People you first turn Annabaptist and then Quaker you do not continue in what you first take up But because I design brevity I shall come to the words of this subtil deceiver who is pleased rather with emminancy of words then pregnancy of reason That you may know his words they are in a different caracter from mine which I am necesesiated to insert because I may not beat the air if any be offended at my writting by way of argument I know not any way to demonstrate things beter than that in this critiall age if I did I would take it the Auther of that Paper is confident in his assertions but proveth nothing but I do intend to prove what I say by the Scriptures of truth and in order to the words I shall take this way First by taking a Veiw of the exprese words by him spoken and shall give particular answers Secondly I shall answer that which I apprehend to be his drift and aime in what he saith and that is to lay low extenuate and make void the two Ordinances of the Gospel to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper or breaking Bread and drinking Wine in remembrance of Christs death not to be used by such as are come to Christ the substance wherein I will shew the duration continuation of Baptisme and the Lord Supper untill Christ shall come himself or personally which is all one and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit into the hearts of his people doth not put an end to those two Ordinances and shall answer some Objections First then he begins with this inscription To all
through and left to be cast to the Moles and to the Batts Oh the Contradiction that is in that Paper and whereas they say they eat the true Body and Blood of the Lord this will be nothing less then a Lye Take this argument founded upon the Scriptures of Truth if Christ hath instituted visible forms to wit bread and wine when persons do by faith pertake of the body and blood of Christ then those persons that do not pertake of the visible forms can not partake of the Body and blood of Christ but Christ hath instituted bread and wine to be pertaken of when persons do pertake of the Body and blood of the Lord therefore those persons that do not pertake of the visible forms cannot pertake that is to say eat and drink the Body and Blood of the Lord that which will be questioned is whether persons must pertake of Bread and Wine when they do pertake by Faith of the Body and Blood of Christ which is plain Mat. 26.26.27 28. Mark 14.22.23 Luke 22.19.20 agree all in one I shall repeat onely that which Mathew writteth and as they were eating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and breake it and gave it to his Disciples and said take and eate this is my Body and he tooke the Cup and gave thanks saying drink you all of it for this is my Blood of the New Testament shed for the remission of sins you see what way Jesus Christ taketh in order to their eating the Body Blood of Christ he gives them Bread and Wine and this must be granted Christ did nothing in vain that needed not be done now if it had been the mind of Christ that they should have eaten his Body and drink of his Blood without eating the bread and wine he would not have given them to his Disciples therefore let none be wise above what is written this I say that I do not find in all the Scriptures of the New Testament that any person did eat the Body and blood of Christ but those that did pertake of the visible forms but I would not be mistaken for I do beleive that it is not the want of Ordinances but the contempt of Ordinances that condemneth for in daies where his Ordinances cannot be injoyed the Lord hath been and will be to his people that in the want of Ordinances and without Ordinances as he is to them in the use of them but that cannot be pleaded now in this day of light the Lord commands obedience to all his Ordinances and will not hold men excused that lives without them see Iohn 3.19 Oh let not the meanest of the Commands of God to carnall reason be a means to hinder thee from the practise of them for it is matter of commendation to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 and whereas he saith we know it because it gives us blessed gronth in the life iunocencie of the Lamb if that which they say they know by that they are in the water and blood and that they eat the body and blood of the Lamb. If that be not true then we may conclude that the things are not true now I say though you do that which is right and just between man and man although that is not found in all your Principle yet this is fare short of the innocency of the Lamb the innocency of Christ appeared in his in that he stooped to the meanest of Gods Commands to carnal reason as Mat. 3.15 Suffer it to be so for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness if any person might have been exempted from the obedience of that commandement Christ might yet he takes a painfull journey to that end to be Baptised of Iohn that he might not only be a commander but a leader to his People Secondly his innocency appeared in that he doth not prove himself to be the Son of God only by the signs and miracles which he did though he had the spirit without measure but by the Scriptures and saith had you beleived Moses you would have beleived me for he wrote of me Iohn 5 46. and though Persons are to honour the Son as the honour the Father yet such was the innocency of Christ that he exhorteth them to search the Scriptures and gives these two reasons First they was such that in them they did beleeve was taught the way to eternal life Secondly not only because it was that they owned beleeved that there was such vertue in them but it was so in Christs account for saith he they testifie of me they declare of me Iohn 5.35 As if he should say if you question whether I am sent of God whether I am the Christ of God search the Scriptures you shall find I am so they testifie of me and further adds an imposibility of beleiving on him if they did not beleive Moses writings 47. verse he did not say turn to the light within and that will satisfie and that will Testifie no he doth not say as the Author of that Paper that the light within is the alone salvation of God and therefore for persons to say they are nourished in the life and innocency of the Lamb and to lay low the Scriptures of Truth not to be the rule to walk by and that which will not deceive that which doth witness whether Doctrines be Truth or Error they that say this is not true are not in the innocency of the Lamb. For how shal any thing or Doctrine be tryed if we have not assure word of prophecie one man saith by his present light within such a thing is an error another saith by his present light within that thing is truth therefore of necessity there must be some thing to inlighten which is sure therefore saith David thy word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path Psal 119.105 Oh therefore search and mediate in the word of God that is to say the mind of God contained in Scripture and be calling to the Lord for his Spirit that thou maist have a right understanding be not puffed up and think you are in the innocency of the Lamb when it is not so but this is the will of God concerning you what you search the Scriptures for they testifie what Christ would have his Disciples do and if you would be Disciples then walk according to his Commandement contained in Scripture I would hope that there is some of you that love the Lord let your love be manifested in this that you have respect to all the Commandements of the Lord be not partial prefering one thing before another 1 Tim. 5.21 But resist Satan in all his deeps and wills which he hath halled you into though some of you be ignorant of it surely you may have an holy conversation to wards men and yet walk in the worship of God blameless and let the form and the power be kept together bear with me and be not rash and give
have received the Spirit so well as we Therefore I conclude that God the Father and Jesus Christ by him are the Sole Baptisers with the Spirit then it is of necessity water Baptisme that he commissionates his Disciples to dispence I find but three Baptismes at the most in Scripture the Baptisme of the Spirit they cannot Administer the Baptisme of afflictions they surely are not to adminster to overwhelme one another in sufferings none I think will say they are to do therefore of necessity it is water Baptisme an other Objection which I met with from some of that principle say they though it were water Baptisme 28 of Math. Yet it was the Baptisme of John which was then are long to cease when that of the Spirit should come in I answer in briefe because I must draw to a conclusion that the Baptisme of water which is called Johns Baptisme is no otherwise his Baptisme then the Gospel which Paul preached was his Gospel and therefore when the Scripture calleth it the Baptisme of John it is the Baptisme which John was made the cheif administrator of and so the Law of God is called the Law of Moses and so I understand the Apostle Paul Rom. 2.16 When he saith That God shall judge men according to his Gospel according to my Gospel That is to say which I am appointed to preach yet it was the Gospel of Christ which he was to preach and so I say the Baptisme that John did administer was Christs Baptisme John was either the servant of Christ or the servant of the Devil that must be granted I hope none will say he was the Devils servant then if he was Christs servant then the service which he did was Christs service and then surely his Baptisme was Christs Baptisme which he did Administer and not his own no otherwise than he was the cheif Administrator of it consider this you that run upon Airey Notions and fill your Belly with East Wind which will not profit in the day of the Lord and that it was the Baptisme of Christ which John did Administer is manifest because Christ was Commisionated Authorized by the Father to Baptise with water as well as John though it being an external Water he left the actual doing of it to his Disciples amongst whom John was the cheif or else seeing in commanded others to do it and so Baptised by others at least if not by himself as John 3.22.4 1 2. His witness of himself John 12.39 Is it not true if he had not Commission from his Father so to do which would be Blasphemy to think for he saith that he spake nothing of himself but as the Father gave Commandement so he spake and likewise as the Father gave him Commandement so he did there are some circumstancial difference between water Baptisme before the Death of Christ and Baptiseme with water after the Death of Christ but this is undeniable that not only Christ did submit unto it command his Disciples to dispence it while he was with thee not only so but doth Commission his Disciples to be observing of it unto the end of the World after he was risen again Math. 28.19 And accordingly the Apostles did practise it in all the Primitive Church and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end of water Baptisme see Acts the 10.47 Can any forbid water that those should not be Baptised seeing they have received the Holy Ghost so well as we where you may see the Apostle Peter makes it an Argument that they must be Baptised with water seeing they have received the Spirit Oh why should you maintaine such opinions that are so contrary to the Spirit of God in his children in dayes past Oh be not wise above what is written for our Learning but lie low and be not exhalted in your selves see how contrary your Spirit that you are guided by is to the Spirit in that Apostle Peter was guided by he saith there is a necessity of water who can forbid water if there be the Baptisme of the Spirit you say if persons be Baptised by the Spirit they need not be Baptised in water consider of this in the dread of the Almighty and now I will come to that Ordiannce of breaking Bread and drinking Wine to shew forth the Lords Death untill he come and will shew that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end to that Ordinance take this reason That which doth shew forth Christs Death that is to continue while he comes personal or himself but when we eate that Bread and drink that Cup we shew forth the Lords Death therefore it is to continue untill the personal coming of Christ see Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewitched you that you shall not obey the truth What is the reason he rendereth Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you which was no otherwise then the Lords Supper I will add this Argument grounded with the Scriptures of Truth that which in the doing of persons do pertake by Faith of the Body and Blood of Christ that is to continue to the end of the World but in eating Bread and drinking Wine the faithful the sencere hearted do by Faith pertake of the Body and Blood of the Lord therefore to continue unto the end of the World for the first assertion see John 6.35 Excepta man eat my Flesh and drink my Blood yee have no Life now life is of absolute nesessity and therefore the means must continue to get this Life and that persons do by Faith in that very Ordinance partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord see Math. 16.26 Take eat this is my Body c. But in a word what need I spend time in reasoning from the benefits that it brings but may only say thus and who can deny it what Christ commanded his Disciples in that case is his Disciples duty to do at this day and that Christ did command see Mat. 26.26 Mark 14.22 Luke 22.19 20. Take eat this is my Body and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end to this Ordinance is manifest for the Church of Corinths had the Spirit in a plentiful measure did not come behind no Church but was enriched with knowledge utterance as you may see 1 Cor. 1.7 8 9. 1 Cor. 12.7 8 9. and so forward yet they did and ought nay was commended that they keep the Ordinances as they was delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 and so in the 26 verse As often as you eat this Bread drink this Cup you shew forth the Lords Death until he come Which of necessity must be an other coming than of his Spirit for by that he was come to them already but it is plain that it was a coming which they was not in the injoyment of for saith the Text vntil he come but as it was said before that he was come to them by his Spirit and
now I have with as much speed as I could come to the end of what I promised only I have a short word or my mind in shortness to speak unto two sorts of People to the People called Quakers Secondly to those that are under the profession of the Truth according to the mind of God contained in Scripture First then to the People called Quakers if any of you answer what I have writ in writing do not wrest my expressions for I have dealt ingeniously with you in answering that Paper though it would be better for you to be silent then to speak evil of the way of God if you do I shall not promise you to answer truly friends God is my witness that what I have written is in tenderness of Spirit towards you I beseech you to consider of it and do not please your selves with airy conceits but meditate in the Law of the Lord that so you may hold fast the form of sound words I do hope and beleive the Lord hath a remnant amongst you that fear the Lord and do what you do in the integrity of your Souls which that prophesie shall be fulfilled upon Isa 29.24 They also that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding and those that murmured shall learn Doctrine This I have faith in shall be accomplished upon some of you when many amongst you shall discover themselves what they are now privately then you that have erred in Spirit shall understand that is you shall see that the Devil can and hath transformed himself into an Angel of Light and you that murmured at the way of the Lord shall then learn Doctrine Dear Souls whom I love that have no corrupt ends but only have the honour of God in your eye have respect unto al the Commandements of the Lord and be not lead by the errour of the wicked be no longer deceived by false Teachers who as much as in them lies makes the Commandements of God of none effect read and consider of that text of Timothy that thou maist have such an esteem of the Scriptures as holy men had of old 2 Tim. 3.15.16 and you that are called the Ministry I do exhort you from the Lord who hath made me sinsible of the losse of Souls cease from perverting of the way of the Lord Oh be careful what you say and Preach lest the Lord lay the blood of poor Souls upon you I am not unsensible of that high confidence that you have of your selves aâ— being such that canno err Let me perswade you to lye low in your selves and tremble at the Word of the Lord his saying precepts and Commandements contained in Scripture lest what I have said be as a witness against yâ—ur in the great day of the Lord when persons shall not be judged by what they have supposed light but by the Words of Jesus Christ content not your selves with morality but worship God in Spirit and not only so but in Truth and trust in nothing below the blood of Christ to make attonement for sin this I speak not to stir up prejudise against you but to warn you of the danger which will come upon you if you repent not and shall continue my prayers for such of you that are in the lemits of a Christians duty to pray for And unto you my Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ do not make a wrong application of what I have said do not think you are in a safe condition barely because you are in the profession of the Truth of the Lord no friends do not trust or lean there for know this if thou hast been Baptised and if thou eat and drink at Christs Table yet if thou work iniquity thou wilt be shut out of the kingdome Oh my Friends do not hold the Truth in unrighteousness as some did in dayes past but answer the end of the Ordinances of the Lord it is possible that some may be in that condition that professe the Truth as the professing People of the Lord wherein the 7 of Ier. who was punctual in the observation of outward things and yet gave way to several evils do not rest in such a condition but remember from whence you are fallen and do your first work Oh my Friends let your lights shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven and let not the enimies of the Truths of God have no just accasion to speak evil of the way of God by reason of you but study to adorne your profession and unto you my Friends which are a pressing after the Mark of the calling in Christ Jesus go on in that work until you perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord and esteem of the Ordinances of the Lord never the worser because men that seem to have outward holiness upon them speak against them see the 2 Cor. 11.13.14 15. but do and say as the holy David in Psalm 119.126 127 128. I love thy Commandements above gold yes above fine gold Therefore I esteem thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way which that we mâ—y all do is and shall be the prayer of him that is willing to serve you in the Gospel of Christ according to the Tallent the Lord hath given me faithful is he that hath promised who hath began a good work in us and will carry it on to the day of the Lord. THE END ERRATA EPistle Page 2. l. 10. r. and for him Epistle Page 2. l. 11. r. him for and Page 8. l. 22. r. arreyes for errour Page 14. l. 1. r. that for what