there is no need of conversion to make them Christians who are Christians born by the natural flesh of their godly Parents and so the god of this world who hath bâ—inded their eyes maketh them esteem it a great priviledge to have a perfect dead Act of his supposed Regeneration to be done by force upon their children for they can have no meanes to know or guess that the Spirit is joyned with water in their baptism which is the Instrument or outward Act of their Regeneration Consider how fast the poor Infant is lock'd to presumption when they have either presumption or nothing for the Foundation of their Order or rather Mystery Babylon's Order the god of this world knew well that none could be admitted into the Kingdom of God or government of the Gospel without Regeneration of water and the Spirit and his business in Mystery Babylon is to bring man to invent a form in imitation of God and so keep men that when they come to be capable of believing they should not look after Baptism or Regeneration of Water and the Spirit John â— 5 As Christ hath His Disciples made and baptized so Babylon Mystery hath hers supposed to be baptized too and in this the man of sin exalteth himself above God for God is merciful in forgiving sins and receiving into grace and favour upon Repentance every penitent sinner and therefore hath given Order to His Disciples upon confession of Faith and Repentance to baptize but this man of sin will make men believe that he hath more mercy then God by His word holds forth for he receiveth all in Infancy and needeth neither Faith nor Repentance in receiving his subjects the Subjects of Christs Kingdom have heart-pricking Truth to convince them and bring them to Repentance but Babylons Members are so easily made that they neither knew nor felt when it was done And thus the way is broad and easie that leadeth to destruction Also considering that the keeping of Christs Commandments is a proof of our love to Christ and that the receiving of the Spirit is an effect of obedience Joh. 14.15 16. and knowing that the written word is more surely to be taken heed to then an Act of the Spirit in Transfiguration though Christ Himself be present 2 Pet 2.19 to the end because Satan being a spirit can dissemble a spiritual Act but his mouth is stopped and he reproved with It is written And further knowing that Christ taught duty from the written word and it to be believed and practised rather then the words of one which should rise from the dead Luk. 16.22 I stayed not for Revelation to teach me my duty although I expect Revelation to convey unto us and evidence in us Christ our life but turn'd at Wisdom's reproof expecting after obedience Wisdom's promise Prov. 1.23 And now hating every false way knowing They that err from thy Statutes their deceit is falsehood Psal 119.118 and esteeming thy Precepts concerning all things to be right ver 128. I cannot but say of Scripture record Thy word is very pure therefore my soul loveth it verse 140. and upon this account I took the directions of that Scripture which Paul writeth by inspiration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and proveth it by Isa 52.11 viz. I came out from Babylon Mystery the great her Daughter and Grandchild and touched none of their precedent manners Deut. 12.30 But I say laying aside mans learned mists of darkness and his precedent Examples I took the Doctrine of Christ and His Apostles for my Foundation and their Ensamples for following of Christ for my imitation Ephes 2.20 Truth speaketh I tell thee Church of Christ as thy name is the house of God the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of the truth thou art not in thy order reproveable by Scriptures 1 Tim. 3.15 And if any Enemy whatsoever undertake to reprove thee and hath not Christs weapon he fought Satan with vâ—z it is written though he tell thee of standing in the Will of God or being led by the Spirit or of an inward Teacher or of Light within as if there were some secret thing that passed by peeping and muttering which right Reason cannot be used about the understanding of they are no better the VVizards or Familiar Spirits To the Law and to the Testimonies if there they miss any thing viz. in that they hold forth or teach and speak not according to this word though they talk of Light within it is because there is no Light in them Isa 8.19 20. and their light is darkness Mat. 5.19 fear thou no such Enemies but live in the nature of rejoycing there meet thy God there work Righteousness Isa 64.5 viz. That which Christ began and shewed us when he said Thus it becometh Vs c. Mat. 3.5 Take thou notice oâ— the continuance of Gods wayes though the Enemy would tell thee they are ended and so expect thy Salvation And against the fear of those that would set a Spirit which teacheth not to obey Scriptures and follow the examples of Christ and His Disciples in opposition to a Spirit that teacheth to live in obedience to Scriptures and to follow the Examples aforesaid Rom. 15.4 Comfort thy self by Faith in Scripture and there with patience cast the Anchor of thy hope Phil. â— 4 Rejoyce alwayes yea again I say rejoyce And that thy rejoycing may not be in vain take these Cautions First Take heed that thou miss not of a way within a way if thou bless thy self in the high way without the way which is called holy Isa 35.8 which holy way is recorded in Job 28.7 8 9 10. Is the turning up all things by the roots cutting forth rivers among the rocks discovering every pretious thing binding the floods from overflowing bringing forth hidden things to light The high way being thy duty to walk in the holy way being the laying of Gods hand upon Christ thy Covenant and doing all thy works for thee Isa 26.12 holding thee that thou canst not depart from him and quickning the desires of thy soul Psal 18.17 18. In all thy acts of obedience thy Faith must be in the operation of God Col. 2.12 through which our Duties are living Ordinances performed by two co-workers Secondly Take heed whilst you walk into the way of God that your great business be to seek God His Face His strength evermore Psal 105.3 4. where the Psalmist maketh this the ground of his joy therefore if you fail herein your joy is groundless In which search love kindleth more and more as thou comest neerer God so as the soul groweth sick of love and cannot cease to press hard after God Psal 63.8 because it is upbeld by Gods right hand till thou know thy self to be set as a seal upon Christs arm and his heart for ever Cant. 8.6 and then also wilt thou follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 Thirdly Take heed thou be not defiled in the way
to prince and people in the land of my nativity as is proved in the 106. Psalme the 29. Vers and Psalm 99.8 Isa 66.5 and many other Scriptures And from declining the exact rule of Christ and his Apostles laid down in the bookes of the New Testament only under which grace we are and not under the Law of terror Heb 12 21. This poor Supplyant of yours to whom God hath given grace to be faithful is willing I hope amongst many others to stand in the Gap by shewing to you and all England and praying to God for you and it Ezek. 22.30 compared with the 28. Verse the very way by which an end must be put to the proceedings of the resisters of the truth 2. Tim. 3 9 Viz. by the discovering their folly to all men to which purpose this poor-servant of Christ Jesus hath written this treatise against this first Beast that ariseth out of the Sea viz. the Church that hath his power maintained and his worship exercised by the second Lamb-like horned beast that is more like a Lamb then the first and ariseth out of the eatrh viz the world and yet he holdeth up the first beasts power and worship by Magistrate sword the place that the first arose out of yeeldeth no such power his Lamb-like horns being the strength that prevaileth with the Magistrate to uphold him viz a repute of holyness and innocency in which he exceedeth therefore as a Lamb or as one in sheeps cloathing and in the pretended name of the Lamb Christ he taketh power by the Magistrate to constrain rich and poor small and great bound and free to worship c. Revelations 15. therefore where there is a constraint upon all into one worship we may well suspect that it is the power of that beast who is the very powerful life-giver to the bare Image of the first beast which Image if it had not the Magistrates power to constrain it it were life-less and therefore called the Image because it hath neither Scriptures authority to provoke nor power to constrain so that this beast is but a Dâ—agon at the best that cannot stand without mans art or power to uphold it and shall certainly fall when Gods arke of testimony is brought to it and this is the last beast that shal be at enmity with my Master Christ Jesus and this is the same spirit with the first who is the old Serpent and Satan whose whole body consisting of beast whore and false Prophet as head body and taile shal in the end perish together Revelations 19.20 The beast was once wounded by my Masters providence and power when he died upon the Cross where he spoiled principalities and powers and made show of it openly Col. 2.15 the vertue whereof is his deadly wound to this day and no Salve that the beasts healing flatterers hath though for a time it giveth ease to the blind sleepy conscience can make this deadly wound unmortal viz. those Prophets spoken of in Ezek 13.9 But when triumphant truth the beasts mortal foe shal appear to make manifest what this wounded beast is that can never look upon Gods word to examine his own standing but he so much feeleth there the soarness of his mind as that he dare not in it prosecute his examination he shall be dead by that act and taken out of the way 2. Thes 2.7 and by how much truth looketh forth by so much this beast is sick of his wound ask your selves when truth appears where is lyes are they not all dead and gone then impudencie and out-faceing of lyes must needs cease when God shall destroy the face of the covering of all people and the vail that is spread over all nations Ezek. 25.7 the very discovery of him is his wounding therefore let those of the Clergie that loves to be Masters of all people upon the account of godliness contrary to Christs counsel Math. 23.10 look about them for Christ Jesus woundeth the head out of the house of the wicked by discovering the foundation to the neck Selah Hab. 3.13 for then their standing will appear whether it be of God or no then their begging for liberty to persecute those that dare not feed them and honour them will be at an end when Gods out-casts are visibly provided for and the oppressor ceaseth Esa 16.4 then those that made lyes their refuge vvhen they fled from the written word to mens invented may bees will be utterly undone when the patient Heb. 10.36 not hast-making beleivers Esa 28.16 is upon their sure foundation then the Hail shall sweep away all the refuge of lyes and the water shall overflow the hiding places Esa 28.17 So that it must needs follow that the weapons of our war-fare are not carnal 2 Cor. 10.4 5. but mighty through God so that the sword of the Magistrate hath no such strength against this beast as mighty truth hath therefore be wise O ye Kings and Rulers of the earth as it followes in the second Psalme 10.11.12 Verses take heed of persecuting any for Gods sake although they be presented to you as deceivers Mat. 27.36 and seditious Acts 24.5 For was not Christ and his Apostles so presented to their persecutors it is better to take Christs counsel viz. let both grow together till Harvest then that the blood or distress of any one persecuted Saint should lie at your door Christ disclaimed any intrest in your kingdom in the dayes of his flesh and set an example of obedience to God in being under your authority and his Apostles commanded submission to you and to pray for you and we are yours subjected to you in all civil obedience so do you refuse to have authority in Christs Kingdom and be you there subjected to him and as he saith My Kingdome is not of this world so say you that your Kingdome is not over his Church and let his Laws be in your eys as they are in truth so wholly by which he governeth his Church that man cannot add to them or amend them it is possible to help forward a delusion by persecution making the erronious presume that they are martyrs for Christ when they perish in prison upon religious accounts and then if you do that to them for Christs sake or for Religions sake for which you have no rule in Gods Word it will be then if God give you not repentance till the day of Judgement that hee will come to say to you Who hath required this at your hands but never to provoke them to love the truth or make them willing by mans but by Gods power Psal 110. Yet if you go about to drive them that Christ is a wooing and beseeching them by the mouth of his Apostles 2 Cor. 5.20 you may come at the trouble of your conscience in the hour of death too too late to repent but we as our duty is do pray indeavor that no such thing may fal upon you And in the words of
THE BEAST That was is not yet is looked upon OR The Bo-peeping Beast POINTED AT OR He that hideth himself hunted because of whom Truth complaineth and is spoken to by Pope and Prelate by Presbyter by Independent by Quaker by Baptist TOGETHER With her several Answers to them all ALSO One DESCRIPTION of the BEAST ALSO The coming forth and progress of the BEAST hitherto ALSO An Epistle to Magistrates and Law-givers likewise to take off Prejudice if any be Two Epistles one to the Reader and another to the Christian Reader VVITH A true Reproof to W. S. a Quaker who in his Book called The Lying Spirit in the Mouth of the False Prophet wherein he endeavours to make Men believe that he had answered H. H. his Book called The Doctrine of the Light within the Natural Man leading to Eternal Life examined by Scripture-Light London Printed for Daniel White at the seven Stars in Paul's Church-Yard 1659. Truth speaketh I Have been despis'd banish'd from one place to another in the world ever since Adam entertained a lye for self-exaltation sake and so fell from me his covering unto Fig-leaves and brought his posterity under Excuses and May-bees for their souls food and comfort so that a Tabernacle hath been ever since more proper for me then a settled condition When the true One the sent One was upon the earth under scorn and sufferings he did exalt me and gave Apostles and Prophets for Master-builders of me upon the chief Corner-stone viz. Himself his Death his Burial Resurrection Ascension sending down his Spirit which formerly inspired Scripture-Writers and Believers to joyn his in one Spirit by which he is present in the heart by faith keeping life eternal in them and hiding it in God for them Col. 3.3 He I say and his Apostles left my Testimony in Scripture-writ under a terrible charge that none should add to it nor take from it But as Christ and his Apostles did so to this day all that will have me without mixture of mans inventions must be sure to suffer for whosoever will closely walk in my ways he shall lose friend after friend as he attaineth to more and knowledge of me if he be a way faring man and follow his knowledge heartily and sincerely the harder he presseth after the mark Phil. 3.14 the more he encreaseth in knowledge to the loss of all or most of his friends whom he dearly loveth to the rending of his soul so that he who encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow Eccles 1.18 Yet notwithstanding this sorrow could not stop the love of Christ in the hearts of multitudes from keeping his commandments for some hundreds of years together after his Ascention Joh. 14.15 though few or none now dare look at me because there is so many of mine enemies that have put upon themselves a dead image of me under forms of godliness And also another sort of mine enemies have received the spirit of Satan as an Angel of Light to cry down forms of Godliness with so that I cannot appear beautiful in form and power joyntly as I did in the time of Christ and his Apostles and for hundreds of years after The one of these sorts being offended at my life because they think to enjoy me coldly carelesly easily onely in form and when that is obtained they think they may sleep under the covering of May-be and other excuses without disturbance of self-exaltation or lusts The other exalting a spirit of deceit to the outing of all yea the very form of godliness in which the distinct order and commands are That Christ and his Apostles taught practised and recorded in holy writ for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come 1 Cor. 10.11 that there may be As it is written to reprove sin and Satan with and all reproveable spirits and things with to comfort the distressed with to reprove ruleless walkers with This form and record being cryed down this spirit of deceit may rule without examination or reproof and whatsoever he dictates in the children of disobedience for disobedience is a denying of Gods order he may call it the moving of Gods spirit At the first before the depths of Satan was known there was no other grief upon the sincere ones for Christs sake but the worlds sore persecution but now this is the worlds wo they can no sooner look towards me for conversion but one of the two foresaid stumbling-blocks or offences puts themselves in the way Mat. 18.7 Now followeth the speech that may be aptly spoken by Pope or Prelate Truth I hope you will not out me of my honourable order that hath continued about thirteen hundred years and hath been settled by the approbation of so many learned and reverend Bishops and Doctors who have gone on to chuse an universal Bishop as Christs Vicegerent resembling the high Priest under the Law and being Peters successour and have settled an attendance of eminent Cardinals that are all Princes and are able by Authority of our holy Father to controul Kings and Kingdoms That hath converted divers Counsels and in every Counsel hath brought forth some holy Law or Ceremony or more that maketh for the honour of the Church and fast binding her together in strength and riches so that now she is become greater and stronger then any Prince yea then all the Princes in this part of the world called Christendom And she hath invented such Inquisitions Racks Fires Tortures c. and hath so absolute a power that both the greatness of Kingship and Nobility and also the baseness of Whores and Harlots and all lustful people yea the very Thieves in Jayl and Bawdes in Bridewel have love to my Order yea and great reason they have for I can for money or love if they be obedient to their Mother holy Church grant pardons that will quiet their consciences if they will believe me of all their sins past present and to come so that safely be it spoken saving the honour of the Church they have a petty licence to vaunting pride and youthful lusts being but venial sins and all this honour and greatness is the fruits of learning and study which as Mr. Baxter writeth is very laborious * It is not the sweat of the brows that God appointed man to get his living by By my wisdom I have provided away for younger Brothers of Noble-men and Knights to creep under my wings for honour and greatness therefore all the greatness in this part of the world will hold me up and help me to jerk any saucy fellow that shall hold an Argument though never so true against me yea and if we were cruel as I hope you will not say we are I have made such provision of candor to lust honour and greatness in me that all the honour strength and multitudes are at my command to tear the limbs as with their talents and to bill out the brains as with my Peak of all contradictors insomuch
written on thy forehead c. Will the Scriptures own thee in this Is it fit that thou shouldst reap that fruit by violence that came not of thy seed Again did not Jeroboam carry all the ten Tribes from Gods Worship to the calves at Dan and Bethel onely to save his honour kingdom and standing Doth not Edward George and Richard and all the godly Priests in England know That no Scripture-reproof can lye upon the Baptizer or Baptized where Faith and Repentance is sincerely professed before the performance of that Ordinance And also that there is never a word to say in Scripture for their Infants Baptism but a May-be Upon such an assurance they will not venture to buy twenty pounds worth of Land And this their May-be is but imagined and without all warrant of Scripture Do they not now cast the Anchor of their Rhetorick and Learning into any Lie or May-be to keep their Kingdom their Mother Prelate prepared for them by Pope and Councils they having never a word of God to prove Gods Must-be or commandment for their practice And doth not all their May bees arise from Popes Councils and Fathers whose beings would fall their honour cease and none would buy their wares any more Rev. 18.11 compared with the last words of vers 13. if they did not Jereboam like hold the People from the worship of God recorded in the Scriptures of Truth Have they not procured the Armour of the Magistrates Power to protect them that none may speak in their publick places nor speak to disturb them Oh! what a License is here to tell lies without reproof while they are going to or coming from thence but their own Learned Rhetorical by man ordained Members that are fast tied not by Truth but by the bonds of their own Livings and greatness having entertained that Temptation which Christ refused viz. all the Kingdoms of the world and the glory thereof therefore His Servants are not payed for His VVork out of the world 's common stock of Honour Greatness and Livings of a hundred c. a year nor hath Christs Servants the flock of Knights Ladies and Gentles in their silk Gowns trailing on the ground to seek them for their good esteem as thou hast even as thy Mother Pope and Prelate hath for their blessings But Sion is an out-cast in this world This is Sion whom no man seeketh after Jer. 30.7 It is the supposed knowledge of the learned Pharisees together with the countenance of his brother and the supposed ignorance of Christs Flock Doth any of the Pharisees or the Rulers who are Lawyers believe on him but this people who know not the Law and are accursed VVhilst thou art overcome with the aforesaid temptation therein being an enemy to all Righteousness in not ceasing to pervert the right wayes of God Act. 13.10 The very thing that becometh Christ and all that he calleth us to fulfil Mat. 3.15 which are plain Scripture-Precepts and in setting thy May-bees in the room thereof These things considered I leave thee Presbyter to judge thy self by the 13 Chapter of Ezekiel Prâ—sbyter may thus Reply I strange at your reproof being my name is recorded in the Scriptures 1 Tim. 4.14 I confess that is a proper name and a name fit for Disciples made and baptized by Christ or His disciples I judge thee not for the name thou bearest but for thy Nature and Generation as thou art Pope and Prelates Daughter those that are called by the foresaid name in câ—peâ—re had the nature of the name thy nature is of 〈◊〉 Mâ—â—â—er Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the whole earth my confederates are VVarriors against the Lamb the place where thou fittest iâ— Peoples Multitudes c. the name aforesaid to thee is the sheeps clothing that thy wolvish nature is covered with Mat. 7.15 this nature of thine appeareth cruel in that thou art aâ— enmity with thy Mother Prelate and thy Mother with thee like two Boars with their Tushes in each others sides whilst both of you desire to lay Gods Vineyard waste like two wild Beast that are destroying one another and all that com◠〈…〉 you as if you did resemble the two paws of that Bâ—ar sacken of in the Scriptures of Truth that had three ribs in her mâ—uths Dan. â— 5. whose ribs they were is not named intimating that it matter'd not to her whose sides she tore in pieces so she might devour much flesh the three ribs something resembling the treble damage that forceth men to great distress 〈…〉 this beast being resolved to tear â—ll in pieces rather then to want her Prey These sheep of Christ whose clothing you have put on in that Name look in their mouths there is no tooth in their heads that can draw blood of their fellow creatures their food is that which they can eat without hurting their fellow creatures a beast a horse and a sheep may feed in one 〈◊〉 uâ—e without hurting one another Their shepherd did not teach them to persecute men for conformity â—â—though they had to do with a false deceiving and deceived people blinde leaders of the blind Mat. 15.14 that differed from them but directs them to let them alone and when there was men casting out devils and followed not them forbid them not saith their shepherd Luk. 9.5 Mar. 9.39 As it is against the nature of a sheep to run after a wolf to worry him so it is against the nature of the Subjects of Christs Kingdom to run after Errours and Heresies with Fire Sword Death Prisons and Whips in their hand there is no such tools in Christs Kingdom of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end Isa 9.7 Here here in this place I say is the food and joy of their souls whilst this brood of Mystery Babylon have no soul-food or content except they may have a whip and other tortures in their hand to drive their neighbours into conformity Thus going about to build up Sion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity Mic. 3.10 and the chief reason of this their violence is their heart is so fraught with pride and covetousness that they cannot endure any Mordecal who will not give them honour nor any piece of husbandry that will not yeild them tenths or composition and this maketh them Hâ—man-like to run to the Magistrate when they conceive themselves wronged in this case Look to thy self Presbytery I may not own thee for the body of Christ because thou art not recorded in the Scriptures of Truth Now followeth the speech which some Independâ—nts Grandchild to Pope and Prelate and daughter to Presbyter may aptly speak I have called my mother Harlot and have left her as such a one though she be a well favoured-one she is the destruction of all Nations and Families where she is through her witchcrafts Nahum 3.4 bewitching people upon a religions account Gal. 3.1 I have none of her priests
Psal 119.1 for it is less offence to bring a beastly Creature into a hogstie or any filthy place then to bring it into a Princes presence-chamber or a bed of love where there ought to be nothing loathsome but all to be lovely and love provoking Objects So is it less wickedness to have a mind and conscience defiled in beastly prophaness then to bring such a minde into the House of God the Church of the living God Tim. 1.15 That thy soul may bee deeply ingaged take notice of the whole Order of persons and things wherein thy communion lies with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1.3 4. The whole Order is the innumerable company of Angels the General Assembly of the first-born that are written in heaven unto God the judge of all unto Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then the blood of Abel In the first place consider whether the Father and the Son can have communion with thy sins thy worldly pleasures or pursued honours in a condition where right and strong and pure Objects of eternal love forceth the heart to a strong purgation 1 Joh. 3.3 No no all thy pleasures honours c. must be thrust from thee as a menstruous rag Secondly Consider whether such company can delight to talk with thee of good bargains the honour thou hast from great persons the delicates wherewith thy feasts are furnished and thy new fashions No no I tell thee the mind that can feed on these things is too defiled for Gods ways and can take no pleasure in Heavenly food a pure mind is capable of remembrance of the commandments of Christ and his Apostles 2 Pet. 3.2 of the enjoyning the commanded loving kindness of God which hath such warmth and power that it maketh them become one new heart with this new wine and Gods Song with them in the right when God useth their heart their joy and their and his own delight to sing his songs with and their prayer with the God of their life Psal 42.8 As if it were said God the life of his childrens prayer is with them in their act of praying They need not travel hundreds of miles to present their Petitions on pilgrimage the marrying of his body together and the rejoycing over them as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his bride Isa 52.4.5 proves Gods presence at their heart-working-life Here here I say is perfection when God in a perfect way visiteth a perfect heart the living man is as well able to lay aside his breathing as these are able to forbear pressing on towards the mark Phil. 3.14 or to follow after God having no pattern but the Heavenly Fathers perfection to imitate Psal 36.8 being under the laver of that Blood which was shed by this eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 Our perfection is in the life a working it is yet perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 and whilst we draw our natural breath the blood of Christ in cleansing will do its work the fear of God its work and our Heavenly Father will stand for our Pattern and our Christ will be our life 1 Joh. 1.7 There is nothing but it may be yet a perfecting in us only our purchase by the blood of Christ is perfectly paid and in that sense it is finished and our salvation undertaken if either the Tempter were dead or we our selves stronger then Adam was in his innocency or the evil day and hour of our temptation past Gal. 6.1 we might speak of such a perfection as admitted of no imperfection but whilst the Scripture is of use let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall and we may as the case now standeth with us with Paul speak of perfection and imperfection both in one Chapter Phil. 3. If thou beest undefiled in the way thy soul will be in this frame 1. Thou wilt not endure to see the least defilement in thy self without loathsome apprehensions of thy self and running to that fountain which is set open for sin and iniquity to wash in Zech. 13.1 And 2. If undefiled in the way thou wilt be always a running and not carelesly sleeping Heb. 12.1 but rather weeping with thy face thitherward Jer. 50.5 either for joy shame desire or all these so strongly will thy heart be ingaged to seek the Lord Jer. 30.21 A fourth caution Take heed that every one of you strive by watching begging of God beseeching one another to keep from among you Egyptian bondage this ruling one over another with rigor Exod. 1.13 14. which might not be one brother over another in the time of the Law Reason first because that love which procured the shedding of Christs blood hath caused his poor Members to be set as a Seal on his heart and upon his arm Cant. 8.6 and owned them for his people Isa 51.16 Therefore if thou hast Gods love shed abroad in thy heart to constrain thee afford it them out of thy breast A second Reason why we should not rule over our Brethren with rigour is we are and so was Elias subject to the like passions that any feeble brother is Jam. 5.17 and thou mayest come to be remoted Gal. 5.1 and it is possible thy temptation may be this that Satan may move thee to have low contemptible yea it may be hateful thoughts of thy brother and thou mayest have a Spirit of putting away and covering violence with a cloak Mal. 2.16 therefore take heed of this temptation The third Reason why not with rigour c. Because thou art not godly or Godlike in so doing for he did not take thee at advantages when he might justly have cut thee off but waiteth for thee that he may be gracious unto thee and will wait upon all to that purpose Isa 30.11 He cut none off suddenly in a few days or a week c. nor pressed thine offences to all advantages that he might break thee off he hath given contrary rules to that to his Apostles and Disciples how to move towards their Brethren Luke 17. the five first verses Let my fifth caution therefore be That for no supposed advantage sake or fear of disadvantage to the truth thou darest step from the Rule that Christ laid down one jot for if thou dost it is a judging of the Law-makers wisdom and foresight as if he did not foresee and provide in his rule for all following effects Secondly It is an exalting of thine own wisdom in that thou thinkest thou seest cause to be a ruler further then he hath left a rule to guide thee by Thirdly Thou mayest assay in so doing to prevent the fruit that God bringeth forth by contrary means In this case how far might Abrahams imagination have fought against Gods command He might have said of Isaac he was the son of the Promise and the Promised seed is in his loyns c. Amongst other Scriptures I offer to thy consideration
slaughter Zach. 11.3 4. where the howling of the shepherds and the roaring of Lyons are mentioned both together where Israels Clergy are reputed pitiless slayers and fellers of the flock and hold themselves not guilty saying Blessed be the Lord for I am rich ah poor England how dangerous are acts of cruelty amongst thy shepherds when they are labourers for license to destroy for Religions sake this was the condition of poor Israel who was sometimes as dear in Gods sight as England when it was at the best Isa 22.25 There is a conspiracy amongst her prophets in the midst thereof like a roaring Lyon they have devoured souls they have taken the treasures of their pretious things they have made many widdows in the midst thereof VVe may also look upon our Clergy how they band together to get if it were possible such Parliament-men as might be as teeth in their heads Christ takes no such care to exalt His Gospel by worldly Magistrates it is apparent that these Priests took no care how many widdows they made or of devouring souls witness our Pulpit-VVar to maintain liberty for themselves to lead soules blindly that were blind to destruction but the pretious things they will bave or else they will sue and distress him that dare not for conscience sake pay them for devouring souls and many poor labouring men and widdows and children that are constrained to fit with bread and water pottage whilst their labours and profits are required to feed them and cloath them with the pretious things of our Nation Is this love and pity the Law of Heaven where the servants in the Gospel should live upon giving and receiving no no it is the contending and distressing Law of hell rather take heed good People of such shepherds if you once come to have a glimpse of them search and look farther for if you delight in such hear and observe that he that loveth as well as he that maketh a lie is without the City of Salvation Rev. 22.15 Of the enmity of a Spirit something like this Beast I found in the mouthes of some of our Lincolnshire Clergy who though they had not forty shillings a yeer according to the Statute of Free-hold were swarming to chuse the Knights of the Shire I desire that any of the rest when Truth provoketh them and will not be found to serve their turns be of a better spirit for these could better digest lying then to be reproved for lying About thirty years agon when I was persecuted by the Bishops wandring from my dwelling place I came to Spalding where I did remain a little time where being in the company of two or three Christians I had occasion to look upon the 139 Psal we being only talking together I did read I am wonderfully and fearfully mad instead of I am wonderfully made I not at all being preaching then as the Lyar did report some that failed in their Duty of taking things in the best part reported it notwithstanding at the same time I did correct my self and own the true reading and this report being gotten into the nest of the Clergy and there hatched by hatred scorn brought forth this enlargement that I should preach it as a Doctrine But I know not what It came to pass at the chusing the Knights of the Shire upon Jan. 10. a great company of Priests being got together in Lincoln Castle I coming neer where they were one of them comes by me with a boy-like behavior and cryeth I am wonderfully and fearfully mad to which I said nothing and he past into the crowd of them and another either a Priest or one of their dear Berns seeing the first did not provoke me to speak accused me by the name of this fellow for preaching of that Doctrine but what I could not gather his words were so confusedly uttered onely wonderfully and fearfully mad for there is none of them agreeth in words what the Doctrine was and so turned his back to whom I answered Art thou not ashamed to maintain the Priests lies and then turn thy back when thou hast spoken the words but he turning his face and averting the same the Synod of them turned to me with out-facing countenance to whom I said I stand here to maintain the Truth against the whole Synod of you And whereas I might expect something to be said that might make that which they said probably appear first one of them and then another of them cryed Hout him Boyes hout him all the rest standing silent approving for they did not reprove what the two spake Also Mr. Wood Merchant of Boston told me That one that he looked at to be a godly Minister told him That when some cryed a Hall a Hall I cryed a Halter a Halter which here by my pen and heart in the presence of God I deny for I did not speak those words nor any words to the contempt of Mr. Hall nor had ever in my Life an offended thought at the man Observe if the supposed godly of them bend their tongue like a Bow for lies Jer. 9.3 and the active men among them be so inclined to mutiny as the Reader may judge how dangerous such words were at such a time and place Are they not like to be Members of the aforesaid Beast and like that company of Priests aforesaid that muther in the way by consent for these sought my undoing either by Mr. Hall's hands or the multitudes and to stain my repute according to the interpretation of Christ Mat. 5.21 and also guilty of slander Psal 50.20 and making a man an offender for a word Isa 29.20 21. and shall according to that word be brought to nought consumed and cut off if they repent not H. H. The coming forth and Progress of the Beast hitherto THe holy Scriptures foreseeing Devourers for to grow Amongst out of church of Christ a Eph. 2.2 12 Acts 20.30 Doth truly stile such so As Lyon Bore and Wolfe And dumb and greedy dogs That selfness honors beast-like wealth Doth wallow in like hogs In mire yet still fild with fears Their only loved prey By strength of day-spring valiant truth Should taken be away Their Lepord-like with Lyons mouth do grin b Rev. 13.2 And paw of Bear with Dragons strength stretcht out A child of truth in the act of covering Their worrying paw least men should spie Their naked shameless beastial cruelty With Christ sheeps cloathing whil'st they can deceive c Mat. v 15. With that when not they Magistrate ask leave That they may use his sword and then they 'r bold Though inside wolvish nature men behold To tel truth's children that they must not prate But put into their mouths else they will make d Mica 3.5 War against them whom God doth love they hate From somtimes Church of Christ Did Pope and Prelate spring From Pope and Prelate did This Presbyter begin From Presbyter did Independant fly Yet members still of
one body Made ere they knew in infancie But Scripture Baptist doth them all deny For the good old way that Jesus walked in e Ier. 7.16 And the Apostles taught repenters to begin f Acts 2.38 Hereupon the spirit of the beast rouzeth up himself again Yea thinks the Quakers spirit then will I All that is called God or worshiped deny g 2 Thes 2. For where by order * by making false order I can have no place I must exalt my self to the disgrace * viz. in his deceived ones who exalt the sound of name but have being ignorant of the nature of the law of God and Christ Of God opposing order of his face Though God be the God of order Plainness of truth opposite to the beasts mysticall pretences GOD sent his son in flesh to come True naturall blood to shed And did ordain his death to be In simple man bake't bread And Vine fruit wine that men do drink Which God and man doth chear When in his ord'nance spirit joynd The price of Christs blood dear Shown to hold forth his death for sin Until he come again That is gone up true advocate Our cause for to maintain Where holy God and sinful man By Christ a treaty hold Who takes our prayers and there to God Our miseries doth unfold And doth return into our hearts The fruits of his blood shed True pordon strength comfort and joy By spirit witnessed Who doth with blood and water joyn One witness manifested a Iohn 1.5 8. In Gods one way whil'st men obey Repent and be baptised And then expect pardon of sin And holy spirit Gods gift b 2. Acts 38 Whil'st that our loves is prov'd to Christ In making it our striâ—t For to keep all Gods commandments Where Scripture comfort dwells c Rom. 15.4 With Son and Father manifest Where men are not Rebels a Iohn 14 21. Hereupon the spirit of the beast proceedeth Thinks disobedient spirit I have No share in this strong Saviour I l'e cry down Lawes and holier be Then all that formes do favour In the eyes of those that have the love Of simple truth denyde I l'e serve their lusts and them perswade They need not to be ti'd I strong delusion can command Affections into tears b Ezek. 8 14 And cause men for to lean on God And so free them from fears c Mica 5.11 And cause men to protest to God That they 'l obedient be d Ier. 42.6 Yet his commandments to deny And say it is not he e Ier. 43. i 2 For in right steps of humbleness f Ps 17 11 They shall seem after God to press And though by Christs knowledge they scape Through lusts the worlds pollution g 2 Pet 2 20 Yet Gods commandments turning from They 're fast in my possession Although that they his way forsake They holiness may hold * The strength of delusion lieth in their seeming to themselves others to hold forth their formal holiness For I will spirit them my self Whil'st they 're fearless and bold I can my self transforme Into an Angels light And there maintain the light within The disobedient wight a 2 Cor. 11 14 2 Thes 2. Truth speaketh As righteous they must sure appear Whilst they can have the Skill To seem as Christs Apostles right And preachers of his Will b 2 Cor. 11 13.15 These were so far convinc't As to disclaim prophaneness But love of truth did not receive To bring them to obed'ence c 2 Thes 2 Self-love did them provoke Lest they should damned be Or of salvation be deny'd Prophaneness for to flee Doth it avail saith they To save us let us see All other Scriptures they throw by As useless for to bee Delusion speaks Therefore to them I me sent d 2 Thes 2 11. compared with 10 Verse Such lies they shall believe As me their inward Teacher to Prefer though God they grieve e Gen. 6.6 Before that simple Christ That Scripture-writing gave That men might read know his law And sure instructions have f 2 Pet. 1 19 20 2 Tim 3.17 Truth speaks The Man of God to make perfect And furnish him throughout There is a rule to know Gods will None need of it to doubt Delusion speaketh In mans imagination I le frame a lawless Christ And set my selfe up there as God And in his name be hi'st I le cause these to ascribe to me What ere to God is due And to my inward motions To flye from Scripture-view Remember Ahabs case 1 King 21.23 Truth doth and will conclude When beauteous holiness appears In sweetned-soul the dew of youth to bring Psalm 110 In morning womb it never fears To own its Jesus Lord and King That God-begotten Virgin-born That crosfide flesh was crown'd with thorn Hath saving power and law-giving In person place and time No true man can deny this thing And say he 's without crime That doth salvation to himself apply Whilst that obedience he doth clean deny Though faith and bapti'm in one book be writ Yea in one Chapter and in one Verse too Delusion saith he can the faith out pick And leave the bapti'm for some else to do Thus self-love his salvation minds Whil'st love of righteousnesse thinks fit To hate iniquity betimes The Oyle of gladness with his Christ to get a Psal 45.7 And thinks nothing for himself to imbrace To be too low carnal or base That his Jesus to his Apostles gave For Church direction but will tread the trace With Christ and his Disciples to his grave And knowes when 's left his body then that he From 's bodyes worship not before is free If our great God by such a lowly thing As blew in fringe would Israel mind Of their obedience to their Lord and King b Num 15 38 That they might not to their own heart Nor to their eyes be seeking With spirit of disobedience dark Though light calld go a-whoring Then think not baptism breaking bread Mean Lawes by Christ b'ing uttered Flying to holier spirit they think then Christ That doth and will exalt himself the high'st Within the disobedient child That is by spirit but not by God beguil'd To all Law-givers and Magistrates WIth the submission of a poor worm that is under your feet that you may behold what God hath given to my heart to write a warning to men and that you may avoid all provocations to that horrid sin of building up Sim with blood Micah 3.10 I tender this treatise to your view hoping that you will not despise the words of him that is as much your underling as any maid-servant to her Master though they may Contend with some of you Iob 11.13 Being I am heartily engaged by Christ Jesus my master to disswade all men from adhering to mans inventions or devices in and about the worship of God because they are so dangerous
hunt him out If they do not rather compell by the Magistrates sword into conformity then convince by sound doctrine the gain-sayers Tâ—tus 1.9 2 Tim. 2.25 and not desire them to be rooted out of their dwellings to be cast into prison to have their goods spoiled for want of conformity to them if they be content not to be chief of all that come forth in the name of God viz. not to give Laws to all so that none may preach without their authority and let Gods authority without mans serve the turn if they can be content that any man cast out Devils Mark 9.39 if they can be quiet in mind to see others preach Christ that have not authority from them and rejoyce in it though he be preached of envy Phil. 1.15 if they be without all the forenamed instruments and acts of cruelty nor have no heart to desire nor sue for power to force conformity to them by the Magistrates sword then they are no members of the Beast that this book pointeth at Hovvsoever none can deny but that some Presbyterians and Independants are held in their forms upon account of riches and honour or for some self-engagements sake although most or all may not be so vvhich I am afraid are there is novv so much light abroad according to Daniels Prophesie Dan. 12.4 that if there vvere such a povver upon them as could make their hearts manifest as one day there shal be some of them must needs ovvn some part of the speeches that are spoken in this book to be the very thoughts of their hearts that they take comfort and have their standings maintained from the causes inserted there and other-some the rest and some all hovvever I am excuseable because the spirit of God out of the mouth of Jesus Christ my master in the undvidiing expression said Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites although some of them proved believers they were then the guides though blind ones teachers of Jsrael a people that God loved somtime as wel as ever he did England also Christ reproving Lawyers spake wo to them in general Luke 11.46 though some of them proved good men as Ioseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus c. then it is possible that England may be as blind led as Israel then was for the Pharisees and Lawyers was as learned then as ours now are therefore Reader take heed that thou let not thy heart rise against this book by unconsiderate prejudice read it ponder it to this purpose 1. Take heed of retaining that spirit that thinks himself wise enough to controul plain commands of Christ in Scripture 2. Also if the plaines and simplicity be that that offended thee in Christs Lawes read Mat. 11.6 and seriously consider whether the practise of the Apostles and Disciples for 300. years after Christ be not a good expositer of the Law and that thou need not go to spirits or Angels for a higher exposition against their plain practises 3. Consider in thy mind whether any Statute recorded in the Scripture can be repealed but by a Statute there also recorded and then take heed of changing Christs Laws upon mans authority 4. Do not believe because the falling away is great that therefore the Law of baptising beleivers is cancelled for if the command were not yet in force there could be no falling from it 2. Pet. 2.21 5. Understand that whosoever falleth away yet are religious must needs have some inventions of man by Satans inward working either that the Rule is not exact enough then meditate Eccles 7.16 or that it is too strait then carry thy meditations to the written Word Isa 8.28 and there pitch down thy Standard for truth 6. If truth of God stir thy mind to trouble and the Word carry a sharp edge rightly applyable to thee take heed that Satan work thee not into the rage of revengeful persecution Psal 76.10 and then thou may come to approve thy self to be a Christian Reader which is the desire of the servant of Christ who is a well-wisher to the whole Creation H. H. A true Reproof of W. S. SIR HAving known your discretion in other things I cannot but wonder that you should seem to suppose that you have any thing like an Answer to H. H. in your Book but much more should I marvel that you should say It is hard to draw Wine out of thy Lees Which is as much as to say It is hard to answer that which you go about to answer And though you see your self blundered in what you are about to answer that you would go on viz to heal those that Truth woundeth but that I consider that when once your heart cometh to engage in error then wilful ignorance tempts God and hardens your hearts against evident truth of God then yours ceaseth to be an outward single disobedience but it is an inward heart working God-tempting though ignorant Error which is not charged in this place of Heb. 3.8 9 10 11 12. with ignorance of God but of his Wayes and in this appeareth a heart of unbelief in departing from the living God when men are wilfully ignorant and have a heart set against his Wayes Wherefore herein you prove your selves to be of the shameless generation spoken of in Ier. 6.10 your spirit is not ashamed to take the Name and Title of God and you are not ashamed to say you are moved by God when indeed you are moved by the Evil One you giving and he taking the Name of God or rather the using your lips to exalt himself above God with 2. Thess 2. and also in that he maketh you his voice by his own Authority to proclaim null the Laws that God made by Jesus Christ and without any Warrant from Christ or his Apostles crying down that vvhich they taught and practised either they or you must needs be of Satan being that the Scripture saith If we or an Angel from heaven teach unto you another Gospel then what we have preached to you let him be accursed Gal 1.8 You say in your Book I deny I am made to stand a witness against thee in the power of the Lord vvhilst I hold up that Gospel What self-exaltation is here What proof is here of your matter Here is great swelling Words do you think your Spirits Authority enough so that he need not to use Scripture to prove his matter by when he is questioned Then he seems in this as in other things to be above Christ by his own exaltation for Christ when he met vvith your spirit in temptation though he be the Son of God yet used Scripture saying It is written and in his Word by the mouth of John appealeth to Record saying There are three that bear record on earth the Spirit Water and Blood and these three agree in one but your Spirit is so far from agreeing that it opposeth two of them wherefore it cannot be the Spirit of God your Spirit cometh forth in
its own single Witness and denieth to be tryed by Scripture or any thing else but it self You try all your matter by that you call the light vvithin the natural man c. of vvhich light your spirit is the transfotmed Angel 2 Cor. 11.14 and things are like to go on in his side in his ovvn Court. We acknowledge the light vvithin the enlightned man vvhich agreeth with the Scriptures Heb. 10.32 compared vvith 2 Tim. 3.17 but not before illumination this is the light that enlightneth every man but vve must not acknowledge it but where it is It is good to answer Tempters by seeing the image or superscription though Tempters are more general It is certain there is something called a light by Christ that is in the unregenerate man and may be darkness Matth 6.23 Surely this must be yours for you own yours there and vvould have all judged by that and neglect Christ and his Apostles rules in Scripture And now to be short Friend you have not found out one particular in all my Writings whereunto you might apply your self as a just matter of your reproof therefore you fell upon me with many foul revilings onely there is a mistake in the quotation I not being at the Presse my self to correct it the place should have been 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. for which mistake you take him in a Snare that reproveth in the Gate and maketh a man an offendor for a word Isa 29.21 yea and that a word mistaken onely and that you do with most foul insultations In matters of the World he that should prosecute his Neighbor for vvitnessing the truth when he onely mistakes â—he place and â—and upon that point would be known amongst men as a cunning Knave As for the matter you made shew to answer you have given it all the go by yet you will be in Print Well according to Solomon in Prov. 26.5 I have answered you and according to his counsel in Verse 4. I shall not answer you except you shew more Wisdom you have asked me no question but what are plainly prevented in my Writings if you had eyes to see it you might see it therefore I refer all to the judicious Reader that shall read both Books Again you make something of the word Carpenters Son but that is your mistaking ignorance for it was he that the Jews vilified by that Name who is the Saviour of the world and Law-giver to Saints and as they reproached his meaness by that Name so you reproach the meaness of his Laws by the Name oâ— outside Law carnal unspiritual things as not high enough for him that exalteth himself above all that is called God or worshipped Therefore the VVord is a proper allusion to you you and the Jews both vilifying Christ and his Laws as too mean for you Again you play upon the word Taking it upon me as my duty you need not for it is a Scripture phrase Gen. 18.31 and whosoever is a VVitness for the Truth taketh up the Cross and upon him Christs burden which to do is my duty the word you see will warrant the phrase and that is more sure then your As God his movings I write against a Spirit and People in disobedience and I bended my writings against the thing wherein the deceit lay I did personally asperse no man but thou hast missed the point though thou comest forth as a man provoked and one in union with that Error I reproved and hast brought forth my Name and dwelling-place that thou mightest reproach me with railing terms upbraiding me with what men had done unto me and art to be reproved by Psal 50 19 20 and Jude 8 9 10. Is not this personal animosity Have you not need to plead for perfection that do such things Do you think your Spirit that hath set you about this is the spirit of God or no You must needs call this either envy or malice or both Is this any proof for your matter that you give folks to think you answer This is as impertinent as all the rest even so is thy calling that light in the natural man of which Christ saith Matt. 6.23 How great is that darkness the light of Christ and averring that I speak against it the Lord will uphold my good Name though thou wouldst blast it and make me content to go through thy evil report and be glad to see thee penitent and obedient to God that thou and I may enjoy that one life and truth together with the Apostles and Disciples and that God-man that dyed upon the Cross and is now with his Father and our Father in heaven which he gave in the dayes of his flesh and now maintaineth Written by an unworthy Servant of God who in Gods perfect way waiteth for visitations of that Spirit that is sent from the Father and the Son by that Man Jesus who is in Heaven in his eternal and unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7.24 H. H. FINIS ERRATA Pag. 4 line 5. for talents read talands l 6. for peak r. beak l. 2â— for Charts r. Church P. 12 l. 4 after the word Disciples r. truth speaketh l. 20. after the word mouâ—hr when that Statute is as the mouth of some inveteraâ—e Clergy-men to hold mens estates in at their pleasure P. 16. l. 15. for Ecclesiasies r Nehemiah