saying we draw people from the Appearances of God we draw People up to God from Wrath and Malice and the Appearace of Sathan for in Wrath Malice and Envy and Strife thou livest in for who are drawn from thee and the Appearance of Wrath Malice and Strife lives in Joy and Love and Unity onewith another and as for what thou speakest of constant restlessenesse it is thy own for all who are drawn from you are drawn into stedfastnesse and the Spirit of them that are drawn from you thou knowest not Thou who art restlesse and keepest all other in restlesnesse ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the Truth 2 Tim. 3 7. and therefore thou judgest them like thy self and it seems our Papers and Writings and Speakings do torment and trouble thee as ever the power of Truth did the Pharises for the Prophet who was moved to write the Roul when he sent it to him unto whom it was directed he burned it so doth Writing now torment and trouble thee And whereas thou accufest us of brazen-faced Rayling and reproaching without heeding whether we speak Truth or a Lye Ans All this state and condicion thou art in Brazen-faced thou art for thou art a Beast and brazen-faced in uttering forth thy Lyes and thy Railing and thy venomous filthy Speeches and thou it is that dost not heed whether thou speakst Truth or a Lye for Truth thou canst not speak for thou canst do no otherwise for thou art of thy Father the Devill Who was a Lyar from the begining for the truth yet thou knowâ—st not but we speak the Truth as it is in Jesus and lye not and testifie to that which should excercise thy Conscience 2 Cor. 4. 2. and eternally shall all you witnesse us â— Cor 5 11 though the lyng-Spirit in you now judg the power of Truth to be a Lye which ever the lying-Spirit did but thy Spirit is tryed and we know what thou art an enimy to the Truth and without God in the World Query 17. Whether you have the same Spirit as was in the Apostles and Christ and the Prophets which gave forth the Scriptures seeing you act contrary to the Scriptures and follow your own Invencions and Tradicions and so have erred from them all Priests Answer The same Spirit that Christ had the Prophets and Apostles had and the same have all that are Christs there is but one Spirit of Light Truth and Peace in the Body of Christ 1 Cor. 9 14. and all Dispensacions are given forth by this one Spirit Yer I do beleive this Spirit is given forth in severall measures and degrees to the Body of Christ Ephes 4 7. 1 Cor 12. from the 4 Verse to the 12. Yea I do also beleive no man to this day in the world hath so full a measure of the Spirit as the Penners of the Scriptures had they had the gift of Toungs and were by the Spirit enabled to preach to any part of the world I do not know any that hath such a gift by the Spirit they had a gift of healing the Sick and curing the Lame in their bodily infirmities I know non such no not the perfectest among you they had by the Spirit a gift of Prophesie which was tru and came to passe and though you have had those among you that have pretended to this yet all that hath been is but a discovery of that Lying-Spirit they were led by enough to make you blush but that you are brazen-faced They erred not in discovering the minde of God to us I know none that can rightly boast of such a measure I have taken the Pains to answer thy Queries particularly excuse it not but answer me I have propounded so again that is particularly The Lord open your eyes that what is of God and Truth may fix on many of you that you may escape out where the Snare of Satan is broken and I shall rejoyce in my Pains Farewell A Reply to the Priests Ans Freind here thou hast confessed that all hath the same Spirit that are Christs and here is Confusion in thy words and thou shewest that thou canst not witness it thy self but sayest others hath it thou dost beleive and yet after thou comest to deny it and sayst no man in all the world hath so full a measure of the Spirit as the Penners of the Scripture had and Freind here thou shewest thou hast not the same Spirit that was in Iesus and he that hath not the same Spirit is none of his Rom. 89. and it doth show that thou readst the Scripture with thy Carnall minde and sayst thou dost beleiv the Spirit is given forth in severall measures and degrees thou sayst it because the Scripture sayth it but thou knowest not Christ neither art thou a Minester of him and the working and Operacion of the Spâ—rit thou knowest not as thou showedst it before neither dost thou know the gift of God but art querying the Condicions of them that had received the gift and afterward fell away after they were made pertakers of the heavenly gift which showes that thou knowest not the gift of God nor art not made pertaker of it but art in the Fall and so showest forth thy Ignorance for if thou wert made a pertaker of the heavenly gift thou wouldst leave of buying and selling the Letter and making Merchandize of it Rev. 18 11. Thou sayst thou dost not know any one that hath such a gift to preach in any part of the world nor the gift of Tongues here thou shamest thy own Profession in the natural state and the natural preaching and all thy fellows who profess Tongues and your carnal Original thou sayst thou knowest not any that are so gifted to speak in all parts of the world here thou shewest thy self that Christ never sent thee for whom Christ sent to preach he sayd Go preach to all Nations to every Creature Matth 16. 15. but he did not send them for gifts and rewards for it was Balaam that looked after such things and in that generacion thou art envying the righteous thou sayst thou dost not know the same gift amongst us neither dost thou see it among the Apostles for the same that was in the Apostles we witness the blinde see the deaf hear the lame walk and them that have layd long under such false Physicians as thou art are cured the dumb speak and therefore thou ragest as thy Example the Pharises did and sons and daughrers prophecy Ioel 2. 28. but such were called mad men and fools by such as thou art in their generaâ—ion who art out of the truth and whereas thou dost accuse that we have had such amongst us as pretend to this Prophecy thou art a Lyar there is none pretends Prophecy and the lying spirit speaks in thee and thou neither art ashamed neither canst thou blush thou sayst thou dost not know such amongst us therefore thou discoverest thy self that thou knowst
a day of power and vengeance Ier. 51. 6. will come upon thee which thou shalt not be able to resist though now thou art querying and canst not tell whether man can resist or no by thy Query thou hast shewed forth thy subtlety Serpent like the children of Israel which had tasted of the mighty power of the Lord when they murmured they were destroyed Numb 14. 28 29. but this thou knewest not but art shutting up the Kingdom of Heaven against men as these did who were called of men Masters which stood praying in the Synagogues which Christ cryed wo against in Matth. 23. reade thy porcion there who hated Christ and there thou art for shame give over professing thy self to be a Minister of God who knowst not the power of God but art querying whether any man can resist it yea or no. Query 1. Who were they the Apostle spake this word to Ephes 2. 12. Answ They were they that were made nigh by the bloud of Christ whom thou art an Enemy to and without God in the world in the generacion of the Pharises and a childe of disobedience Light shines and Darkness doth not comprehend it the god of the world hath blinded thy eys Rom. 11. 8. and thou hast shewed thy self to be a Tempter Query 2. Whether you dare own this as a truth made out by the Spirit of God in the Apostle Answ We do witness in us what the Apostle speaks by the same Spirit that was in the Apostle therefore we witness against thee who hast nothing but the Letter and the lying spirit to be thy witness and we do witness what the Apostle sayth He that believeth hath the witness in himself 1 Iohn 5. 9 10. and this do we own therefore tremble before the Lord thou childe of the Devil Psal 99. 1. and blasphemer and Enemy of Righteousness who art querying without Query 3. If so whether your opinion is not contrary to truth and so a Ly Answ Opinions we do deny and here thou hast shewed forth thy dark minde thou canst not witness that ever thou wert in the Light for darkness cannot comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. and there thou art for thy minde is full of confusion and frivolousuess and the Lye speaks in thee and there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding and that which should exercise thy conscience thou art an Enemy to and to the Apostles life thou art an Enemy and knowst it not though thou canst and dost make a Trade of his words and Christs words and the Prophets words O thou false-hearted dissembling Hypocrite the Plagues of God are due to thee and that is thy porcion Rev. 18. 8. Query 1. Whether there be not a time that men are darkness Ephes 5. 8. Answ Thou art in darkness and the man of sin is darkness and the Light shines in darkness and thou dost not comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. Thou hatest the Light thou childe of darkness and therefore thou art in darkness which Light shall condemn thee Iohn 3. 19. the righteousness of God is revealed upon thee in flames of fier thou childe of disobedience Query 2. Whether there be a possibility to hide Christ the Son of Righteousness quite under a cloud where he really is Answ Thou Enemy of God thou dost hide the Talent in thee under the clod of earth in thee If thou hast an ear thou mayst hear 1 Pet. 3. 19. the Ministers of God they speak to the spirits in Prison and the Prisoners shall come out of Prison Art thou a Teacher and shewest thy self to be so sottish and to be ignorant of the Form and must be taught the Letter therefore thou shewest thy ignorance because the son of perdicion is above all that is called God in thee 2 Thess 2. 3. Thou blinde Hypocrite was not he in Egypt while Herod was King and out of Egypt have I called my Son sayth the Lord Who hast thou preached all this while or who hath sent thee to preach Here thou hast shewed that thou never knewst Christ nor Christ never sent thee O thou dark dumb Prophet thou wert speaking of the Prophet and of Grace which hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. 11 12. which thou turnest into wantonness for this Grace is the Saints Teacher those who are taught of it deny thee and thou art one that keeps the Light in Prison in thee and the Devil is exalted above all that is called God in thee who art for condemnacion and destruction as it is written Query 3. Whether the Devil be stronger than Christ the flesh than the spirit or where dost thou finde he was ever a Prisoner in Satans chains Answ We witness that he was in Satans chains and is in thee else how could they crucifie him afresh thou Enemy of Righteousness who hast shewed forth thy ignorance and thou art he that keeps him in them here thou shewest thy self to be ignorant of the Letter but art one of them that imprisons the truth Christ sayth I was in Prison and is kept in Prison by thee and ye visited me not Matth. 25. 43. The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison Rev. 2. 10. And Christ sayth Saul why persecutest thou me and in that generacion thou art persecuting but in all these things thou shewest thy self to be ignorant of the life and power within but art querying without with thy busie minde looking with the eye that cannot see and hearkning with that ear which cannot hear which shews that thou never knewst Christ but dost imprison him The same which discended did ascend which sayd He had overcome the world Iohn 16. 33. If thou hast an ear thou mayst hear but thou art he that quenches the spirit and despisest prophecying who lives in the lusts of the flesh who art for destruction and the fier doth not the Letter say he was taken from Prison from Judgment and was he not in Prison when Barnabas was delivered when a company of rude fellows came from the high Priests such as thou art to take him and lead him to Prison and he it is which is imprisoned still the cause of it is thou and such high Priests as thou art Mark 15. 1. which stir up the rude company to bring him to the Magistrate and to the Prison still Matth. 26. 59. O thou Enemy of Righteousness dost thou inquire whether Christ was in Prison thou art born after the flesh and persecutest him who is born after the Spirit here thou art answered Query 1. Whether it be not a needless expression to speak of drawing the soul to Christ if Christ be so near us as in us a Teacher and Leader already Iohn 6. 44. Answ Thou Enemy the Tempter and Serpent Christ hath called thee to repentance and thou hast been convinced with the Light which is Christ but thou livest in the flesh and in the filthiness in the mystery of iniquity who wouldst have the Scripture to be answered without thee who art an
but thou neither ownest Prcepts Law nor Command nor Statutes nor Ordinances therefore a busie fellow thou art querying whether we own them or no that thou mightst accuse for if thou didst own them thou wouldst own us and Christ but thy Precepts and Commands we deny and Doctrines and Ordinances for they are not to be tasted touched nor handled for they are to perish with the using of them Col. 2. 21 22. Query 3. Whether it be not the work of Satan on your spirits to endeavour to stop the greatest part in the world from giving that to God which he calls for Answ It is the work of God to stop the mouths of the world that we witness and it is the work of Satan to open the mouths of the world and he opens their mouths who keeps open thy mouth whose mouth must be stopped Tit. 1. 11. and that which the world gives to the living God is abominacion for the whole world lyes in wickedness and thou wouldst have the worlds mouth kept open and that which is abominacion to the Lord God set up but the Lord is coming in power to throw down the abominacion and to stop the mouths of the world which thou wouldst justifie and set open shewing thy self to be a Freind of the God of this world It is the work of God to stop the mouths of the world Freind thou wouldst have an Answer to these Scriptures and Queries Roâ— 7. 18 25. 1 Iohn 19. Query 1 Whether thou dost own the Scripture for a Truth Answ We witness the Scripture to be a Truth and thee to be a Lyar not knowing any thing of them Query 2 Do you not deceive your selves in saying you have no sin Answ Here thou errest in not knowing that Epistle which thou bringest to accuse us withall for the same that gave it forth sayd If ye confess your sins he is faithfull and just to forgive and to cleanse you from all uncleanesse 1 Iohn 1. 9. here thou hast shewed thy selfe that thou art not come yet to the confession of thy sinns therefore farre short from cleansing from all thy filthinesse of Flesh and Spirit but blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is making manifest himself to destroy the works of the Devill 1 Iohn 3 8. and here thou shewest that Iesus Christ is not made manifest to thee and that the works of the Devill are yet standing in thee O thou enimy of God and Righteousness what hast thou preached all this while to poor ignorant blind people now thou hast shewed here that thy Faith is vain and that thou art yet in thy sins as the Scripture shews plainly He that beleives is born of God and cannot commit Sin 1 Iohn 3 9 Query 3 How canst thou justifie thy self to be in the Truth and the Truth in thee when thy words make it a very Token and Signe that the Truth is not in thee Answ Thy Token and thy Signe is without thee and here thou shewest thy self to be in the generacion of the Pharises looking for outward Signes and outward Tokens and sayst how can we justifie our selves Thou dark Sot did ever Truth come to justifie Selfe Truth ever comes to condemn Selfe Here thou hast showed forth thy Confusion in this Query and in thy dark minde If we say we have not sinned we deceive our selves and make him a Lyar and the Truth is not in us 1 Iohn 1. 10. But where Iesus Christ is made manifest he is made manifest to destroy the works of the Devill and he that sinneth is of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. Here are the Children of God made manifest and the children of the Devil for he that commiteth Sin never knew God if we had not sined we had needed no Saviour and here thou showest thy self to be a Child of the Devil and never knewest God but standest for the Devils Kingdom making thy self manifest not to be in that condicion as they were that spoke forth the Scriptures but art without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. hating those now who have the life of them made manifest and Jesus Christ who is come and made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil this I witness to be fulfilled and the taking away of sin and the cleansing from all unrighteousness therefore I clear my conscience Prayse to the glorious God for ever who is coming to lead poor simple People from their blinde Guides for to the children of God ye are discovered to be the children of the Devil Query 1. Are the Scriptures owned for a Truth yea or no. James 3. 2. Answ Here thou hast shewed forth thy busie minde one question had been enough to have asked whether the Scriptures be tru yea or no We witness the Scriptures to be tru and we witness thee to be a Lyar and erring from the Scripture not knowing them Matth. 22. 29. Many Scriptures thou hast stollen to maintain thee in thy sin and to uphold the Devils Kingdom who livest wholly in offences and bringst them into the same offences like thy self and wouldst make the Apostles offenders like thy self for the Apostle sayth Whosoever offends not in words the same is a perfect man and able to bridle the whole body and whosoever hath not power over his own tongue his Religion is vain James 3 2. and here thou shewest thy Religion to be vain Query 2 Is there a greater Priviledg or Freedom now for Christians than there was for the Apostles or Brethren in those times if so discover it by Scripture Answ Here thou hast shewed thou knowst nothing for thou art desiring to know their Priviledg which minde in thee never shall for the same Priviledg the Apostles did enjoy we enjoy and the unity is but one Ephes â— 13. and the same word they did enjoy we do enjoy and the same Christ we enjoy and the same God they did enjoy we do enjoy here thou wouldst make two which shews thou art in the conâ—â—sion there is a greater Priviledg and Freedom now than there was then yet the same and in thy query thou hast shewed thou knowest nothing of Scripture and again thou sayst that as for what any of us say besides or above it or against it thou weighest it not And all Scripture is for the perfecting of the man of God Ephes 4. 1â— which we witness but thou shewest thou knowst nothing of the Scriptures but hast spoken besides it and against it as oft I have shewed thee in thy former Writings and Queries and added to it and perverted it therefore are the Plagues du to thee and are thy porcion Clear thy self if thou canst let that in thy conscience clear thee but it cannot I know thou wouldst be satisfied if we can what are the Reasons that so many questions should never be answered till our days though God had still a People in the world and where didst thou see such questions put forth before for the darkness
and is all the righteous bloud shed and in that nature which thou wouldst know these things in it was ever hid from who have the chiefest places in the Assemblyes and called of men Master Matth. 23. 7. and in that generacion thou art which the Wo was ever preached to try thy self for to that in thy conscience which should exercise it do I speak 2 Cor. 4. 2. and when it doth appear it will witness me 2 Cor. 5. 11. the time is coming and now is that not at Ierusalem in your highest profession of Christ nor your highest glorious nocions of him which you live in nor none of your Steeple-houses nor none of your Exercises as you call them nor the daintiest Dish you have will be meat for the tru worshipers of God for they have run to this Steeple-house and that Steeple-house and to this mountain and that mountain and here is a dainty Dish and there is a dainty Dish sayth the Harlot which hath long deceived the simple ones but now all you Harlots are discovered which have deceived the Nations and now Abraham shall arise who is the Friend of God whom thou knowest not but art in the generacion of them who professed Abraham and freedom and God to be their Father but were of their Father the Devil Iohn 8. 44 4â— doing his work who was a Murderer crucifying the just who are in the fall and not come to the beginning for thy Father was a Murderer since the beginning and Dives must be turned into Hell and the Dives with your dainty Dishes must be layd low and you who profess the New Ierusalem will be found to be in the old Ierusalem where the Lord Iesus Christ was and is crucified in your Ierusalem now in the highest place of Worship the tru worshipers of the Father in Spirit and Truth witness it to be so and the time is come that the Scripture is fulfilled and the words of Christ Iohn 4. 23. Praises Praises to the Eternall glorious God of Heaven and Earth for ever and ever who now hath made his Power known by which we see the Deceits of you all 6 Query Whether it be not Gods Ordinance that the inward living spiritual powerful word of God whereby all the Saints of God are taught and the tru inward spirituall Worship of the Saints should in the outward appearance of them be held forth in earthen vessels as under a form of Speech or word yea or no Ans Freind in this Query thou hast uttered forth thy weakness and thy ignorance in the form of the Letter doth appeare yet Serpent-like thou art full of Subtilty but thy nakedness doth appeare openly The word of God is as a Fire and cannot be limited no not with thy carnal Reason It is as a Hammer to beat thee to peices and as a Sword to cut thee asunder whensoever thou comest to know this powerfull word of God And this is the word which the Prophets spoke from who cryed Wo against all them that sayd the Lord sayth and he never spoke to them and cryed against all them that bear rule by their meanes Ier. 5 30 31. the horible filthy thing is committed in the Land which is and was held up with Preist and People but now the same living spirituall eternall Word is made manifest and is preached abroad against all you Hyerlings and greedy dumb Dogs which have not a word from the Lord but seek for your gain from your quarters and get up into the cheifest place of the Assemblies and are called of men Masters and stand praying in the Synagogues he that is the Word cryed Wo against all such and them that had this Word he bade them not to be as they were Math. 23. 8 9 10. And this Word is made manifest in the Saints which is declared abroad but thou who livest in Appearance and wouldst see things in Appearance in thy carnall wisdom and Reason â—hou art shut out from this knowledg for to thee it is death to thy carnall minde therefore freely do I publish the Eternall Truth abroad and as knowing you that you have not a word from the â—ord but are in that generacion of those that did shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men neither go in your selves nor suffer others laying heavy burthens upon the People and will not toutch them with one of your fingers but what you do you do it to be seen of men making broad your Philacteries and devouring Widdows houses Math. 23. 45. who art desolate from Christ who hast got the Form of Christs words but art in the steps of the Scribes and Pharises who had got the form of Moses and the Prophets and were enemies and strangers to the Life of God Moses and the Prophets and their Form you have got in your comprehension in the earthly vessel and that 's your heavenly Treasure but now you are tryed with what you hold forth in a Form of words but the word of God is powerfull and in him is no Form but thou art a Theif and a Robber who stealest the Prophets words Ier. 23. 30. who art without who knowest not the Word nor the Lord nor the tru Ministers of the Word shutting out thy self in the dark world and Querying whether the Word should be held forth in earthen vessels if thou hadst an Eye or if thou hadst an Eare thou mightst hear and see it preached dayly but as I said to thy first Query thou knowst not the Light whith enlightneth every one that commeth into the world but art ignorant deaf and blinde one that hates the Light that makes thee let forth so many stumbling Queries for hadst thou the Light thou wouldst not stumble but be as a Citty set upon a Hill but thou art without who hast shewed forth such a dark minde but that minde is for destrukcion for if thou didst walk in the Light and love it it would lead thee to the Day which would let thee see all things and there would be no ocasion of stumbling but thou art him that hates the Light so all thy Preaching as thou callest it leads from God being blinde and leads the blinde and must both go into the Ditch together but we who are Ministers of the Eternal Word see it and dwell in the Light and declare freely without a Bag or a Staffe without Brass and Silver or two Coats for the workman is worthy of his meat freely you have received freely give Math. 10. 8. therefore we do deny your preaching and for the simple ones sake who are in the Simplicity who have been ensnared by you who are in the Subtilty and such as you are who have let forth these Queries for we know your Spirits though you have not let forth your names so who are in the simplicity seeking after the Truth for their sakes have I let forth my self and shewed forth your folly Query 7. Whether the Idols Temple and the Worship that 's done therein
God hast none who crucifiest Christ now who art he that frustratest and quenchest the Spirit who must be consumed with the breath of his mouth and destroyed by the brightness of his coming thou queryest whether there be a power in every man as to be saved if he will here thou subtlety who art ditted full of Eearth hast shewed forth thy ignorance of the power of God 2 Tim. 3. 4 5. Man in his will would be saved as thou wouldst but the power of God is contrary to thy will and destroys it which saves and as many as receives Christ to them he gives power to become the sons of God Iohn 1. 12. but here thou son of perdicion hast made manifest thy self not to love Christ nor receive him therefore thou wantst power and there thou hast shewed thy self to be that wicked and slothfull servant which hidest thy Talent in the Earth Matth. 25. 26. and there is that Light and Power in every man which if he take heed to it and wait within there he shall finde his Saviour 2 Pet. 1. 19. but if he hate this pure Eternal Light it shall condem him eternally whose deeds are evil Iohn 3. 19. as thine is and so all stumbling is by being disobedient to the Light as the Iews who stumbled at Christ who sayd he was the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into world so thou dost now at the same Light which shall be thy condemnacion eternally thou shalt witness me it is the same Light as ever was to that which should exercise your consciences do I speak which will witness me and condemn you though God is greater than Conscience 7 Query Whether there shall be a general Resurrection of all flesh all summoned to one place and to what place to receive a tru and du Sentence of Iudgment yea or no Answ Christ Iesus is the Resurrection of the just and unjust some to salvacion and some to condemnacion the same that saves the same condemns Matth. 25. 31 32 33 34. And thou desirest to know the place it is the day that God will judg thee and the world in righteousness whom he hath ordained thou busie fellow who art querying of others condicions of the world without thee but it is that thou Fool mightst utter forth thy folly and here thou hast made it appear and in thy Queryes thou art little wiser and there is a place where thou shalt finde a Judg and his Trumpet is sounding but thou art deaf yet and canst not hear it and the Sumpter-horse is gone forth 8 Query Whether may the Scriptures by the Spirit of God be opened and unfolded and expounded to the People yea or no Ans Here thou Serpent art full of subtlety High-Priest like under a colour comest and wouldst be taught but in thy other Queryes thou art teaching and judging and thou didst shew thy selfe to be one that didst not know the Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the world and what dost thou talk of opening the Scripture who hates the Light and stumblest at it and art disobedient to the Spirit Col. 3. 6. to it thou art an Enemy Ephes 5. 6. but it is that thou mayest be kept in the high place of wickedness Ephes 2. 2. but by them who dwell in the Light thou art comprehended and taken in the snare and art without the Truth of God and an Enemy to that which should guide thee and to be a Cloud without water Iude 12. and the same Spirit where it is made manifest and lived in and walked in and not the lusts of the flesh it opens the Scriptures in the People and fulfils them for it is the same that gave them forth and where this is witnessed it needs not be queryed whether it opens the Scripture to the People or no for it doth open them in the People and to the People but thou art without the Gate of Truth what is this to thee one that art without stumblest at the Light a Childe of Disobedience whom the wrath of God abides upon Iohn 3. 36. but it is the Serpent that would be wise and wouldst paint thy self with other mens words who pretendest to have the Spirit but art a Deceiver in the world in thy Fathers Kingdom and Dominion and this shalt thou see when thou ownest the Light which is thy condemnacion and witnessest me to speak the truth George Fox FINIS Certain QUERIES given forth from one Robert Lucas of Kellet in Lancashire who is wise in his own conceit professing in words that he knows something but iâ— here found out to know nothing but what he knows naturally as a bruit Beast and in those things hath corrupted himself as Iude 10 and that through his wrath bitterness envy and malice against the wonderfull and mighty power of God which he hath manifested in his People which now makes the Devil to rage persecute and blaspheme and to set all his Servants a work to tempt to minister Questions to despise falsly accuse and to slander and contemn all those who are redeemed from the Earth and are Servants to the living God and walk in the Truth judging and condemning and overturning all those who profess the Truth in words but walk contrary which Questions were propounded to one who is despised of the Despisers for the Truths sake whose name among men is Richard Hubberthorn but are answered by the Spirit of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord as followeth I Have here received a Paper whose name subscribed to it is Robert Lucas in which are many unlearned Queryes proceeding from the subtle minde Serpent-like which minde is full of mischief and dark about Questions and strife of words 2 Tim. 2. 23. being full of darkness and in them are many temptations yet because thou Fool shouldst not be exalted in thy pride and foolery a few things in Answer I have given forth to the uttering forth of thy foolery thou that hast been a Professor so long and art querying what Faith is and whether Faith be attained by hearing the Word preached and whether all men have not Faith and whether it is possible to please God without Faith and thou queryest how Christ is in man and whether any be elected to Salvacion and whether all men be conceived in sin and queryest how it is done away after thou hast shewed forth thy foolishness thy blindness and thy ignorance as not knowing any thing thou hast made a Profession of Christ and here thou shewest thou knowst him not for shame give over thy Profession and lay thy hand upon thy mouth and be silent but to us the uttering forth thy folly is serviceable as it is written Fools are uttering forth their folly and thou hast shewed thy self to be one Prov. 13. 16. 1 Query What Faith is Answ Faith is the Gift of God and that which asks the question is without and shall never know it for thou art a Reprobate concerning it the Faith
so it is not another meaning to the Scripture but their own meaning though covered and veyled till cleared and opened and yet thou goest on and sayst we give another meaning to them which if thou canst charge me with and make it good spare me not if not this in the paper is of no validity for it was given to me but that the Apostle's meaning was often dark to a weak eye before expounded thou must needs confess if thou shalt but view two or three for a trial and clear up the meaning of the Apostle in Rom. 5. 14. A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayest what a man can doe is one thing and what hee doth or desires to doe is another thing here thou shewest thy selfe to bee compleat in thy selfe And thou sayest that no man can give an exposicion besides the meaning of the Scriptures and thou thinkest we should be quiet we cannot let thee be quiet who livest in thy thinkings and deceivest peeple with thy imaginacions whom God is come to scatter and God is against thee who art giving exposicions upon the Scriptures and wouldst have them who live in the power of the Scriptures to let thee alone but thou art hee who wrests the Scriptures 2 Pet. 3. 16. who ever was denyed therefore thou art discovered to them who live in the power of them all Scripture is vayled and covered from thee and so thou wouldst give a meaning to them and so under a colour make peeple beleeve it is the same meaning but thou art discovered who sayst I charge thee I can dost thou not say the Scriptures are dark I charge thee to have spoken a Ly and art a lyar and dost not see the Scriptures at all and all thy imaginacions of them are lies thou sayst the Scriptures are dark to a weak ey here I charge thee to be a Lyar before the Living God the darknesse is in thy selfe and not in the Scriptures Luke 11. 33. 34. therefore thou dost wrest the Scriptures and dost make a Ly upon them and turnest them into a Ly Ier. 5. 22. O thou enemy of God tremble before him thou hast nothing to doe with the Scriptures Friend thou wouldst have mee to vieu one Scripture or two for a tryall the Scriptures we know but thou sayst they are dark thou art full of darknesse and they are as they speak he that can receive it let him he that hath an ear may heare what the Spirit sayth thou wouldest have me to give Exposicions upon the Scriptures as thou dost whom the plagues are aded to for as it is written the plagues are added to â—hâ—m that addeth to the Prophecy of this Book Rev. 22. 18. and there is thy porcion but wee know the Scriptures and own them as they speak but all thy Expositions of them wee do deny for with them thou dost bewitch the peeple but the plagues of God will be poured upon thee for thou dost neither know the Scripture nor God but art a lyar and of thy father the Devil Iohn 8. 44. Thou dost also bid me clear up the meaning of the Apostle in the fift chapter to the Romans verse 14. so heer I charge thee again that thou dost wrest this Scripture for men of corrupt mindes do wrest them and so thou art but the Scriptures are clear it is thy corrupt mind and heart that must be cleared Let the Scriptures alone thou hast nothing to do with them thou vayn man dost thou talk of clearing up the Scriptures who art full of filth and corrupcion woulst thou have that cleared which was spoken from the Spirit of the Lord thou blind hypocrit and Pharisy all peeple who walk in the light may see how thou hast uttered forth thy folly and record against thee 4 Query Shew me by the Scriptures where the Ministers of Christ ever took Tythes or Augmentacions of the world Pr. Answer I shall answer but for my selfe seeing the paper was sent to mee in particular and my Answer is that I take no Tythes no nor Augmentacions from the world and that thou knowest well enough but that thy Kainish nature in thee to use thy own expressions hath made thee blind it is not any Augmentacion unlesse it have somthing added to what I had before now thou knowst I have nothing besides it nor before it from any of you all All I have is a Gift from the State and why may not I take a Gift from the State call them the world or what thou wilt as well as George Fox and James Nayler take a Gift from the world among you I know not but I would willingly be resolved in this A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayst thou takest no Tythes nor Augmentations of the world but thou confessest thou takest a gift who goest in the way or Balaam for gifts and rewards Iude 11. and art in his generation so art one of these filthy dreamers which Iude speaks of therefore wo unto thee who shall perish in the gaynsaying of Core 1 Pet. 3. 16. O thou false accuser where canst accuse either George Fox or Iames Nailer of taking gifts of the world as thou dost here thou wouldst make them like thy self and a colour for thy own filthiness by accusing George Fox and Iames Nailer because they bear testimony unto the truth and testifie against thee and thy gift that thy deeds are evil and wouldst fetch up the Apostles to maintain thee in thy filthiness Acts 20. 33. he did eat no mans bread for nought and so coloured Beast wouldst colour thy self with the Apostles words to maintain thy self in the generation of Balaam which the Apostle cried wo against and wo is thy portion therefore own it and there is thy resolve Priests second Answer to the fourth Query Besides God hath said The Earth shall help the Woman and did the Woman reject that help because t is from the Earth Answer me He hath said Kings shall be nursing fathers and Queens nursing mothers to his people shall Gods people then refuse to take their fatherly and motherly kindness Answer me Are we not to be thankfull and take their refreshing as from Gods hands for he stirs up their hearts to it whosoever they be that do it Paul did not run away and refuse kindness when it was offered him by the Barbarians Acts 28. 7 10. neither did he refuse a lodging from them which no question was of some value A Reply to the Priests Answ Thou wouldst be answered whether the Earth helpeth the woman yea or no. Answ Yea the earth doth help the woman against all such Dragons as thou art the Scripture we do witness is fulfilled and Kings and Queens which are nursing fathers and mothers thou art an enemy to Isai 49. 23. and knowest not but as a Thief hast gotten the words of the Apostles and so with them wouldst maintain thy gift O thou blinde Pharisee are these thy meanings that thou wilt give to the Scripture
world Iohn 1. 9. the one he loves the Light and brings his works to the Light and walks in the Light and there is no occasion of stumbling Iohn 11. 9. the other he hates this Light because his deeds are evil and this is his condemnacion the Light be silent all flesh Friend thou art one that hates this Light thy spirit is tryed for if thou wert in the Light there would be no occasion of stumbling but thou art Antichrist without this Light Iohn 4. 3. therefore thou dost not see the Light which hath enlightned every one the believer and the unbeliever which is his condemnacion that believes not 2 Query If in unbelievers as well as in believers whether is it one and the same Light with that Anoynting thou speakest of yea or no. Answ It is one with the Anoynting and if it were not one with the Anoynting it were one against the Anoynting an imagined Light wherein thou hast shewed thy blindness and thy ignorance thou makest appear which neither knowest the Light nor the Anoynting for thy dark minde cannot comprehend it Light shines in darkness and darkness comprehends it not Iohn 1. 5. and there thou art exalted in the foolish wisdom which is of the world which is foolishness to the wisdom of God swelling in the lying vanityes one of them that are disobedient to the Light without God in the world the son of perdicion which is exalted above all that is called God 3 Query Whether it be not the new Law of Righteousness written in the heart to condemn sin in the flesh which thou sayst a man may say he is above the Law by the Gospel be not the pure and true Gospel manifested by Iesus Christ yea or no. Answ That is thy own condicion for thou art got above professing the Gospel or the new Law of Righteousness which knowest neither in the power of truth through the death for if thou didst there would not be such a confusion in thy Queryes and in thy words for thou professest the Gospel with thy busie minde and wouldst be informed as touching those things and wouldst be up in the highest place professing the Gospel but thou must come down to the first Principle Heb. 5. 12. and see thy self a childe of disobedience in whom the Prince of the Ayer yet lodgeth for hence it is so many do profess the Gospel and the new Law of Righteousness and are not come through the Law for the Law hath power over a man as long as he lives and who are made free from the Law are made free from sin through the Law 1 Iohn 3. 4. I am dead to the Law where this is witnessed and the Gospel known and the new Law of Righteousness but Friend this is out of thy dark minde for thou art drunk yet with the Earthly spirit and appearest something in thy comprehension which is gathered in with imaginacions and conceivings but the promise is thou must be scattered and if ever thou witness that fulfilled thou wilt witness what I say but thy dark minde comprehends me not 4. Query Whether thou makest any distinction between the new Law of Righteousness written in the heart by the life of Jesus and the Law administred by Moses which sayth Do this and live and if thou make any wherein lyes it Answ Thou wouldst be comprehending with thy Reason to know a difference without thee which shews forth thy blindness Death reigned from Adam till Moses and that it doth in thee yet for that which should see is in the death the Law and the Prophets they were untill Iohn and Iohn untill Christ he that can receive it let him if thou canst receive it thou mayst and when thou comest to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through Iohn to come to Christ then shalt thou see the Light is but one but thou art making a difference betwixt Christ and Moses as the Pharises did who knew not Moses nor the Prophets nor Iohn nor Christ and in that generacion of the Pharises thou art I must deal plainly with thee thy spirit is known and tryed which is not the spirit that raised up Iesus therefore thou who wouldst be comprehending with thy Reason thou and thy Reason are comprehended which shall never search into the things of God the pure wisdom of God is shut up from that vulterous eye Iob 28. 7. and venomous Beast who art come out of the bottomless Pit and thither must return again and in the viperous generacion thou art And as touching the outward commands and observances where the life of Iesus is made manifest the substance of all Types and â—igures is come Rom. 10. 4. there is no more observing them being made free from all them by him who was under the Law made under the Law to fulfill the Law and the righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 2. and who are here denyes all the carnal outward Observances Tradicions as the Temple outwardly which God had commanded and Circumcision outwardly and the Priests outwardly for they had received Iesus Christ the high Priest who is the end of the Law Rom. 10. 4. so the carnal minde had carnal Types and Figures and Shadows of heavenly things but he that is made free from the Law is made free from the curse which thou art not which gave forth these Queries if thou hadst thou wouldst not have shewed forth thy busie minde but it is now as the Apostle sayd it was then there was some doting about questions and the Law which thou shewest thy self to be one of them who hast uttered forth thy folly therefore be ashamed and lay thy hand upon thy mouth 5 Query Whether New Jerusalem and the holy Temple therein be but newly come down from Heaven as in this our Age or the like wherein the tru worshipers worshiped the Father in spirit and truth or hath it always been the place and Temple wherein the Saints of God have worshiped the Father in spirit and truth Iohn 4. 23. from the beginning of the world seeing our Saviour speaks that Abraham saw his day and rejoyced and that the time is coming yea now is that neither at Samaria nor at Jerusalem Answ Thou wouldst know whether New Ierusalem be newly come down in this our Age and it is that which ever was and ever did come down to the Saints they witnessed this but Friend to thee in thy age and generacion where thou art in it is not come but thou art a stranger querying without nor never did nor never shall come in that generacion thou art among the Serpents which the Wo was ever preached to Matth. 23. even that generacion which got the form to speak of Ierusalem and the Temple but are the Synagogues of Satan and full of dead mens bones and who are whited outsides and beautifull outwardly but full of corruption within and in that generacion wherein was
has reigned long and Gods People did ever stand against such things thou mayst reade of many Martyrs that suffered Death who witnessed the truth against the pretended truth for the dark time and power of Babylon hath long reigned and the works of the Beast but now God is raising up Light in Peoples hearts 2 Cor. 4. 6. by which ye are descended that profess the Scripture to be your Rule and Touch-stone to try withall for the queries are put forth to you that ye might see your selves 1 Cor. 4. 5. that there is no Scripture for what you act and that you might shew forth your filthiness and here in thy queryes and writings thou hast made it appear openly the dark power that hath reigned in thee hath been an upholder of this Babylon that never knew any thing of the life of the Scripture come to be opened to thee but now thy torment is but beginning and so fare thee well and if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear Rev. 2. 11. but thy carnal filthy blinde minde in this will not be satisfied nor never must but must first know destruction and is for desruction which is an Enemy to God therefore do we not flatter thee nor few Pillows under thy arm-holes that thou maystly soft Query A question thou askest Which is most likely to be Antichrist and of the Devil he that preaches a Power in all men to obey Answ Now here thou shewest thy self openly to be Antichrist and of the Devil and knows not the first Principle for Jesus Christ sayth I am the light of the world that enlightens every one that comes into the world he that loves the light brings his deeds to the light that the light might prove them and he that walks in the light there is no occasion of stumbâ—ing and the other he hates the light because his deeds are evil and the Light will reprove them Iohn 3. â—â— The Light is the condemnacion of the World which Light is Christ who sayth He is the Light here thou hast made thy self openly to be blinde and one of the children of disobedience who disobey the Light and wouldst have all others to disobey it and to follow thy imaginacions and so thou dost not onely deny it thy self but thou wouldst have all others to deny it For the Grace of God which bringeth salvacion hath appeared to all and teacheth us the Saints to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. this is the Saints Teacher but thou shewest thy self to be blinde and ignorant of the Letter this Grace hath appeared to all freely and this Grace of God is the free Teacher but such as thou art in the world turns this grace into wantonness and sets up Teachers without you and so denyes the Grace of God to teach and so lives in ungodliness and unrighteousness and tempts God for Grace when the Grace of God hath appeared to all and here thou shewest thy self to be a Tempter of God Iames 5. 5. and void of grace and understanding turning it into wantonness which should teach thee and drawst ot hers from it Query Another question thou askâ—st Who is more likely to be Antichrist and of the Devil he that sayth he is Christ and the Light of the world or he that preaches that false Christs should come Answ The same that sayd false Christs should come the same Christ sayd he was Christ and the Light of the world this Christ and this Light we witness here thou callest Iesus Christ Antichrist and hast shewed forth thy blasphemy Iames 2. 7. Thou blasphemer how darest thou profess thy self to be a Minister of Christ and blasphemest Christ 2 Tim. 3. 2. and questionest whether he that sayth he is Christ be not of the Devil or no and here thou hast shewed thy self to be in the generacion of the Iews that blasphemed Christ and called him Devil Iohn 10. 33 36. for the same Christ we witness made as manifest as ever and thee to be a Reprobate without Christ and thou hast made thy self openly to appear to be a Reprobate without God and Christ in the world Ephes 2. 12. Query Another question thou askest who is like to be the man thou speakest of he that sayth he is equal with God and Christ or he that preached Christ the Head Ans Here in this question thou hast openly shewed thy self not to have the same minde the Apostle had for sayth he I would the same minde were in you that was also in Christ Iesus who thought it no robbery to be equal with God and yet made himself of no reputaâ—ion Phil. 2. 5. and here thou hast shewed thy self that thou hast neither the minde of Christ nor his Apostles but art an Antichrist and an Enemy against them that witness these things which the Apostle said I would that ye were of the same minde and again the Apostle sayth Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son 1 Iohn 1. 3. and he did write to others that their fellowship might be with them and he that hath the Father hath the Son also and he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and he that is joyned to an Harlot is one flesh and there thou art harloted from all the Saints Christ and the Apostles and hast shewed thy self to be an Enemy against them who are in the same minde and condicion as the Apostles and Saints were here be thou a witness against thy self that thou art witnessing against the life of the Saints he that preached Christ witnessed the Head and the Members and wished the same minde to be in them as was in Christ who thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2. 6 7. which thou art ignorant of but thou hast shewed thy self that thou neither knowest the Head nor the Members nor the Body but wouldst seek to take the preheminence from Christ who hast got the chief place in the Assembly and art called of men Master but Christ sayd Call no man Master on earth for you have one Master even Christ Matth. 23. 7. and there thou hast taken the preheminence which Christ sayth He that will be greatest must be servant to all Matth. 23. 8 11. but thou art got above all in the place of them that the Wo was preached to and there is thy porcion own it FINIS Certain QUERIES occasioned by a Printed Paper of Richard Farnsworth sent to be answered and no Name subscribed From dark mindes which be full of subtlety not knowing the first Principle 1 Query WHether that Light within unto which thou exhortest all to attend be in unbelievers as well as in believers yea or no. Answ Friend in this first Query thou wouldst know whether the Light be in others which shews forth thy dark minde which cannot comprehend the Light neither hast thou the Light which the Scripture speak of Iesus Christ sayth I am the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the