sold their estates and brought it and laid it downe at the Apostles feet Rep. Here J challenge all the Oxford and Cambridge Teachers in England how many of their converts have sold their estates and laid it downe at your feet but you teachers and they are so earthly minded you are fit to sue them at the law and imprison them as Lancaster and Kâ—ndalâ— goals may wittnesse where many suffer now because they will not pay tithes and so you shew you preach another Gospell so let Christ and the Apostles judge you all to be without their doctrine and your convert as thou callest them to be without the Apostles and Christ let their example judge you all and so you shew that you never sowed spirituall things but only as a custome and a cloake thou bringest these words for the Apostle did reape carnal things where he sowed spirituall things Que. 22. What scripture is there to limit God to a place calling it a Church when as the Church is in God 1 Thes. 1.1 Pr. You cry down all distinctions as favouring of humane learning whereby the naked truth might be clearly and distinctly seen as it is in it self Rep. Here let all people take notice whether humane learning can open the naked truth Here thou wouldest make people beleeve that humane learning was before the naked truth and againe let all people take notice and see if the meeting in a steeple-house in England be a Church when so many hath beene moved of the Lord to come into meeting places among them and something hath been revealed to them and they have spoken and he that was the pretended teacher which was in the cheifest place in the Assemblie hath cryed out they disturb mee and then they have hailed them out to the stocks or prison and knockt them or bruized them and may be some have laine a quarter of a year in prison or more Now let all people take notice which have a love to God whether this be the Church which is the pillar and ground of truth or the â—age of uncleane birds which the Scripture speaks of when as the Scripture saith if any thing be revealed to him that stands by lâ—t the first hold his peace and the Church of God we owne but all such Churches as are fighters and which do imprison them who are moved of the Lord to come speake to them such Churches we deny And whereas thou slanderest us that we cry against the Ministers all such Ministers are to be cried against for they are contrary to the scripture Que. What scripture is there to have a Clark say Amen and to have groats apeece of the world for his trade Pr. And for the groat he receives yearly of some persons in the world J conceive it is not so much for saying Amen but he hath other offices Rep. Here thou goest about to justifie the Clarke and his groat and the custome of saying Amen which the Apostles practised no such thing neither had they any Clarke to say Amen which had a groat for his labour and let all the practise of the Apostles judg thee who saith that the Clarke hath other offices then saying Amen that is may be to ring the bell to gather carnall people together to hear such a blind guide as thou art and for laying you a cushion that you may lie soft or opening the booke or giving forth the Psalmes which all this here is no example for that the Apostles had any such thing but it is that you false prophets might utter forth your folly for to the children of light you are discovered and seen to be without the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and all the Scripture shall judge you and in thy answer thou dost conceive there thou hast brought thy selfe under that state which must be scattered for the Lord will scatter the proud in their vaine â—maginations and conceivings and let the Prophets words judge thee Que. 24. What Scripture is there for taking money for burying the dead or to have ten or twelve Shillings for preaching a Funerall Sermon or to take money for marrying man or woman Pr. For our paines in labouring in the word and doctrine the Apostle gives that general rule the labourer is worthy of his hire And what their wages is is not of our choosing but partly the liberality of founders and benefactors partly custome among all people in all Christian countries hath setled it Rep. Here thou usest the Apostles words which as I have shewed thee before thou art cleared from his life O thou blind guide whose mind is in the earth who art in the customes and art one of them that doth hold them up which all the Ministers of Christ are ashamed on thee and all thy generation who art without the life that gave â—orth the Scriptures who art one of them that goes in the way of Balaam who durst not take the gift though he loved it end as for the Apostles condition I charge thee and command thee to be silent and let it alone who denies immediate revelation from heaven therefore all that thou speakest is from the earth and below and the word thou knowest not which was in the beginning Joh. 1.1 when the letter was not and thâ—refore in it thou canst not learne and the Christians that are baptized into Christ are redeemed put of countries where yet thou art with thy customes and wayes of the Nation as thou dost confesse which Christ coms to redeem from and thou who receivest Balaamâ— wages art spâ—ing forth thy venome against the righteous seed where â—t is rising Que. 27. When did any that was sent of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel sue men at the Law Pr. Many differences may arise which cannot well be decided without suit at Law Rep. In thy answer to this querie thou dost allow of going to Law which the Apostle did not as in the Corinthians and he was a Minister of Christ and here thou shewest thou art none for thou allowest that he did not and who are come to the doctrine of Christ which is yea and nay there is no difference they need no going to Law there is no contention and many differences are in thy generation which is without Christ and his doctrine which many of you professed Ministers sue men at the Law which the Apostle forbad and here openly I charge you all in the presence of the living God to be no Minister of Christ but are raced from the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and thou writest a scripture in Acts 19.38 as concerning the rude multitude that was stirred up when truth was spoken these were they which were not brought into the truth and there thou art among such a company let all people see how Acts 19. will justifie thee for going to Law who professes thy self to be a Minister of Jesus Christ which the Ministers of Christ denied and here J charge thee again to be a perverter
the spirit of love is thy generation tried for when the servants of the Lord have been moved to come into your Synagogues some hast beene stockt and wounded and imprisoned and hailed out of your synagogues And is this the fruits of your spirit Que. Whether they be not seducers that draw people from the annointing which is in them and tell them they must be taught of a man whereas the anoynting teacheth them they need no man teach them but as the annointing teacheth them and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Pr. Many false prophets are gone forth Rep. Here thou hast proved thy self to be a false prophet who denies immediate revelation for whom the Lord sent forth he spoke to them immediately which thou deniest and there thou art one of the false prophets which thou speakest of and knowes nothing of the annointing who deceives the simple and ignorant the world may wonder after such but who are in the light and receive any thing immediate will see thee in the dark to be a deceiver for none in thy generation can witness that you need no man teach you but the annointing for who doth are come out from your teaching and you both And as touching Sects them we deny as thou speakest in thy answer to the fifteenth querie therefore do we see thee with that which is no Sect to be colouring and deluding people telling them thy error is truth who quotes and misapplies the Scripture to maintain thy falshood Pr. The flesh is quickened with the spirit of life to bring forth some kind of fleshly fruits 1 King 8.46 Iohâ— 14.4 Prov. 20.9 1 Ioh. 1.8 10. Eccles. 7.22 Rep. Here I charge thee to be a lier and a blasphemer in the presence of the living God let all people read these scriptures and see if there be any such thing in them and whether thou hast not misapplied these scriptures when the spirit saith it crucifieth the deeds of the flesh and walking in the spirit the lusts of the flesh is not fulfilled and here I charge thee to be a lier and of the Devill who was a lier from the beginning and in his generation thou art Qu. 17. Whether they do not bewitch the people who withdraw them from the spirit within to observe the ordinances of the world and traditionâ— of men without as the Galatians were bewitched Gal. 3.1 Pr. I must tell you that there is not only a holy and good spirit within and that in too few but there 's also an evil and seducing spirit within and that in too many even the spirit that doth bewitch men and draw them aside from the doctrines and commands of the spirit of truth and to strive by all means to draw the people off from giving heed to seducing spirits it is not to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men as you pervert the text but to obey the command of Gods true spirit who foretelling of false prophets and false spirits often in the word commands exhorts and admonishes to beware of such not to give heed to such and not to believe every spirit but to trie them Rep. Here in this answer thy spirit is tried which I have given to all people to read with a single eye that all may see what confusion here is in it First thou sayest that the seducing spirit drawes from the seducing spirit and in the seducing spirit thou art and from the spirit of life with the spirit of life thou art judged to be out of the doctrine of Christ nor is not guided by the holy spirit Que. 18. Whether they be not seducers which tell people these are the ordinances of God which God never commanded as sprinkling infants telling people of a sacrament which there is no scripture for and draw them from the spirit within to follow your imaginations and inventions Pr. But for sprinkling infants I have already given you the grounds of it out of scripture Rep. Here again I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar there is not such a word in the scripture to bear it out nor a word of a sacrament which there is no scripture for let all read the scripture throughout and see if they can find such a word in the scripture so let all people judge thee to be a liar and a sâ—ducer and in the devils invention which calls that an ordinance of God which is invention and imagination Pr. We are not blind-folded to follow the dictates of the spirit within Rep. Here J charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be in the flesh and to follow the flesh for who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God and thou that dost not follow the dictates of the spirit thou dost not follow the commands of God and what hast thou to do to talk of clearing it by the scripture when there is no scripture for it and when the scripture witnesses against the works of the flesh which thy spirit stirs up Quâ— Whether you have the same spirit which was in Christ the Apostles and Prophets which gave forth the scripture seeing you act contrary to the scripâ—ures and follow your own inventions and traditionâ— and so erre from them Pr. Our ministeriall actions are agreeable to the scripture Rep. Here J charge thee to be a lyar for in thy answer to the former Quere thou sayest you do not follow the dictates of the spirit within and art holding up sprinkling infants which there is no scripture for and so walk contrary to the scripture and to them that were led by the spirit which gave them forth Que. 2â— Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did first baptize and then preach faith and repentance twenty or thirty years afterwards Pr. Christ himself waâ— not capable of faith and repentance Rep. Here J charge thee to be a lier and a slanderer for he was capable of faith and repentance and the baptisme which the Apostles baptized withall what hast thou to do with it who art holding up sprinkling infants which there is no example for in the scriptures nor in all the Apostles practises Therefore silence flesh for thou knowest nothing of the wisdome of God which the Apostle speaks of but art in the state of Simon Magus who art buying and selling the letter worse then he for he would have bought the spirit which the Apostles denied so thou art denied with the same spirit but the saints baptisme we owne and the beleevers and the promises which is to the seed thou hast cleared thy selfe from who saith Christ was not capable of faith how could he be above it and not capable of it and the life that I live is by faith of the Son of God saith the Apostle which thou hast cleared thy selfe from Que. 21. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles received 100. or 200. pounds a yeare for preaching the Gospel Pr. Many of the Apostles converts
of the scripture and void of the knowledge of Christ and the life of the Apostles and out of their doctrine and do not call this râ—iling which is plainnesse of speech and love to thy soul Pr. And you raile very highly in scripture terms too whereby you take the garments of Gods holy Spirit and put them upon the Devils shoulders Rep. Here thou dost accuse us for railing speeches and as we told thee before that we deny and here thou callest thy self a Devil for of him thou art which thy pretences therefore woe is thy portion and whereas thou sayest we revile and accuse the brethren this is another of thy slanders we bid thee answer the queries and thou callest them scrupulous to thee they are so and again thou sayest we â—isapply the scripture that is false and the Lord Jesus Christ thou knowest not who deniest immediate revelation and what hast thou to do to talk of him and as throwing the woes which the Scripture speaks of which is against the deceits which thou livest in they are thy portion thou canst not escape them If we should not give thee thy due and portion we should flatter thee and it would not be love and why dost thou talk of understanding and bid us weigh and consider we have considered thy way and do know it and God hath given us an understanding in all things Pr. Hebrew and Greek we do truly call the Originall Rep. Here I charge thee that thou hast no more originall then Pilate thy father had Pilate had Hebrew and Greek which câ—ucified Christ which was the originall and here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar for the word was in the beginning before any tongue was and your Hebrew and Greek is naturall and the naturall man knows not the things of God and the world by wisdome knowes not God Pilate was a worldly man and he had this originall and the wisdome of the world and there thou art and and there the curse is upon thee so here thou preachest another originall then the Apostles did they preached Christ the fountain and â—hou preachest Hebrew and Greek that is thy originall and thy father Pilate had that originall which crucified Christ and set it over him and the scripture came not by the will of man Therefore it is not the knowing of it by Hebrew and Greek but by the spirit that gave it forth therefore all people take warning and cease from such deceivers and take heed to the light in your conscience which is the light of Christ to guide your minds up to God the Father of light and be not deceived nor wander not up and down after such who know not the truth but put Hebrew and Greek for the originall which Pilate had which crucified Christ Jesus as you may read in Luke 23. All people may see thou art brought no further yet then thy father Pilate so all thy prayers we deny for there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding who are led with a seducing spirit into delusions who saith the spirit of life stirs up the flesh to bring forth fruits thou that art in the flesh cannot please God and there thy spirit is tried co be the spirit of error and a great deal of such stuffe thou hast in thy answers to the queries which is not worth mentioning and this thou hast written to publish thy self that them that have a love to Christ their hearts may be turned from thee to God to see how thou hast uttered forth thy folly though with many faire glosses thou and such as thou art deceives the simple but all who are is the light do see thee and comprehend thee Something in Reply to the Epistle thou wrotest to the Lady Bindlosse TO her thou speakest of the doctrine and spirit and the holy Ghost Here I charge the to be a liar who knowes nothing of them who denies immediate revelation for thou who deniest that deniest the Father and the Son as in Math. 11.27 Wherein goest thou about to exhort others who art in the condition thy selfe but art as Matthew that would be serving If she do but take heed to the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall she will quickly see thy folly for the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall shall be her condemnâ—tion if she hate it and if she love it it will guide her into the way of righteousnesse up to Christ and there O woman is thy teacher and this condemnation And the work which is brought forth in the North doth terment thee R. Sherlock and such as the Lord doth move to exhort or to speak such thou slanderest and dost accuse as tempting for the slanders and reproaches the woe wil turne upon thee from God who is the justifier of his children and with such Preists as thou art the righteous seed was ever hated as you may read throughout the Scriptures If she that thou callest a Lady be grounded upon thy doctrine and be a member with thee of thy body let her read thy answers to the queries and the replies to them to the light in her I speak which is of Christ which will witnesse mee and let her see thee and if her minde be guided by it it will condemne all her former practises of worship and let her see thy delusions And againe thou art flattering the Lady and tells her of a discourse of the spirit and these are thy unsavoury words who art discoursing of the spirit but denies it for thou that deniest immediate revelation denies the spirit â—n the Corinthians the Apostle said things were revealed to him by the spirit and all thy doctrines tâ— be denied and all that thou speakest and thou art seen to be one of the evill beasts and slow bellies whose mouth must be stopt and what dost thou tell her of growing up in the knowledg of God and stop the way for her to passe who deniest immediate revelations which the Apostle exhorted to and they Saints was to have the loines of their minds girded up as in the 1 Peter 1.13 And what hast thou to do to talk of heaven or happinesse who art a beast in thy colours And so this is the intent that I have written this reply to the Epâ—stle which thou wrote to her thou calls Lady that she might with the light of Christ in her see thy folly for to that I speake which is the light of Christ which if she hate it it will be her eternal condemnation Somthing in Rebly to thy Introduction Pr. NO age hath brought forth more pretenders to the spirit of God then this wherein we live Rep. Let all people take notice if thou be not he that pretends the spirit who hath not the same understanding and knowledg that the Apostles had and there thou art in the pretence who art blind and thy worship as thou calls it is thou dost not know what worse then