light this is also utterly false and a lye and the author proved to be of the Devil for the light of Christ leads up in the fulfilling of the scripture and not in opposition to it but by his lightness and lyes he is made manifest to be a dâ—câ—iver of the people and so take thy own words in thy conclusion to thy self thou art he that is a ienated from the Scripture and from the Spirit of God also by thy lying spirit of Contradictâ—on which is manifest in thy writings In his 15th Head concerning singing We do not contradict the Scripture herein again thou art a lyar but singing with the Spirit and with understanding we own of such as are redeemed out of the World and are not of the world but singing of Davids experiences sung in the World by such who are of the World this singing we do deny as it is practised in this Generation in Rhyme and Meeter in a vain multitude of people where all or most of them do dishonour God in singing Davids words which themselves are out of the life of and in a life quite contrary singing the law of God is dear to them and that they exercise themselves in it when every moment of time they are exercised in Wickednesse and casts the Law of God behind them and thus singing lyes and that which is not true to them yet in the name of the Lord Other Reasons many may be given why we deny singing in this Form and manner and way as singing is practised in this Generation but this Instance is sufficient to all honest people but Cavellers mouths are not soon stopped not by the truth and all I. S. professes as to maintain this manner and practise of singing are all impertinent he proves that the Saints sang and were exhorted to it but what is this to the purpose to prove the World must sing who are unconverted which singing we oppose only and not the Saints singing in the Spirit who are moved to it by the Spirit O thou Lyar wherefore dost thou say To be against singing Davids words by the world in Rhyme and Meetre as we do is contrary to Eph. 5. Col. 3. doth these Scriptures hold forth any such thing let the Reader try as that Davids experiences may be sang in the World in Rhyme and Meetre nay they do not and so thou art a lyar on the Scriptures to be taken notice of and marked for a wrester of the Scriptures and in this we have often declared our minds by words and writings that Poetry and I. Hopkins and T. Sternolds brain invention we have denyed yet Davids Psalms we have owned and do own them as they were given forth by the Spirit of God and not as they are perverted and added and diminished to such a compass of syllables as they are now in practise and thus I have given you a further testimony for and against singing wherein we deny it and wherein we own it and so leaves his muddy stuff and so counts it not worth raking in only a Lye or two or more he is proved in as the Reader may take notice also of one thing more where he charges R. F. falsely to speak falsehood for saying the Priests of Eug. they teach people to sing lyes in hypocrisie this they do and do wickedly in it and he hath added to their wickedness in denying it to be so for to all people without exception they give to sing I am not puft in mind nor hath a scornfull eye and they making not exception in giving forth their Psalms to sing some that they give it forth to are puft in mind and have scornfull eyes and these they teach to sing Lyes in hypocrisie to any honest man this appears true let I. S. shuffle and twist never so much In the 16th Head concerning Elders and Ordination We do not herein contradict the Scripture but witnesseth forth according to it that who are moved by the Spirit of God to watch over the Flock and ordained with gifts thereunto may take the oversight of the Flock wittingly and of a ready mind and not by constraint nor for filthy lucre sake as I. S. and his Generation of false Teachers who preach for hire and for gifts and rewards such are not ordained of God to watch over the Flock but runs and was never sent and therefore shall not profit people at all and such an ordination we dâ—â—y who are ordained at Schools or by naturall arts and sciences to speak their brain-study by a glass this is by man and not of God and God doth deny it and we testifie against it by the Spirit of God and doth say the call to the true Ministry and Eldership is not by man nor of man but by the Lord according to Gal. 1. 1. yet such a one is approved of all the Saints and goes forth not contrary to men who feareth the Lord for the spirit of life is one in them that are called and ordained by it and in them that beareth witness to truth what doth such approve with the Spirit that are called by the Spirit this is our judgement and the judgement of truth whatever I. S. or any of his fellows raise up to oppose it and herein we do not contradict the Scriptures he is that lyar in the subject matter on which he treats in the Title of his Section In his 17th Head concerning Ministers Maintenance Concerning this we do no way contradict the Scripture but witnesseth according to it that the Ministers of Christ doth receive freely and gives freely of what they have received from God and having planted a vineyard may eat the fruit of it and keeping a flock may eat of the milk of the flock and when they go into a house may eat such things â—â— are set before them and yet may not be chargeable to any man and this is according to Christs instructions and not contradictory to the Scriptures though I. S. be pleased to so stile it but all such who preaches for hire or takes hire for preaching and seeks for their gain for 50 l. or 60 l. per aâ—num or the like from their quarter a Parish or Town and such who take Tiâ—hes Gifts and Rewards for preaching which people should not give them except they pâ—eached and such who have sums of money and lives in pleasures and vanities and lust and fulness of the Flesh as the Priests of England doth this maintenance we do deny and them that act those things we deny to be Ministers of Christ or that any Maintenance by way of a Ministry doth belong to such who are greedy dumb doggs and can never have enough as Isai 56 such practises and men we oppose and doth no whit contradict the Scripture but it witnesseth to us herein and against all such and therefore I. S. and his Brethren the Independants who acts such things they contradict the Scripture and so are truly guilty themselves in action
generation of ungodly and when we read the plain words of Christ Luke 17. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you he saith we madly wrest the reading of the words when we neither â—dd nor diminish now he seems to say It is the Kingdom of heaven among you and not the kingdom of heaven within you and so blames the Scripture and confounds the doctrine of many of the Independents who say the Scriptures is believers Rule but he seems to charge the Scripture with false translation and therefore is subject to alteration and so cannot be the rule of Believers according to his own account and thus by wicked men are we blamed when we do not speak according to Scripture language and now as wickedly charged by I. S. for speaking just in the Scripture expressions with madly wresting the words but thus it was before and whatsoever we do now by our enemies must be reviled and our words abused contrary to our innocent intents Then in the end of his Epistle he desires the Prayers of his Church that his Reply may be accompanied with power according to the truth of it Indeed so it shall and no more according to the truth of it which is very fâ—lshoods and deceits so shall the power of the Lord confound it and turn it into folly and confusion as may be seen by a sober man who this following doth with patience read and weigh Then many things is uttered by him in his Epistle to the Reader he seems to shew he saith how R. F. and his Associates have made up A Litter and Fardel of Erronious Divinity and secretly charging us with making up of what we profess from some Writers before us But to this I Answer His reproachful words Litter and Fardel and Erronious we bear with patience rather rejoycing that we are accounted worthy of the reproach for the truths sake from an envious man than to be angry with our reproaches But however let him and all our enemies know what we profess and bear witness of we receive not from man but from God even the Gospel which we testifie of by the revelation of Jesus Christ in us we received it and informs others to the same door which is by our Ministry that they may receive the same and this is but his poor shift to undervalue the power and truth of Jesus in the sight of men who would falsly make men believe That our Doctrines are but the spawn of many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Moderne Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles we bear witness to by the same Spirit and not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus and all these shifts â—aves not the Priests of England from being discovered and their deceits and abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H. N. Jacob B. W. E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them than this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but cross his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgements who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all along in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Asps being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemned him with transgressors and betwixt two theeves And in the end he desires his Reader to receive in Love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God and according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned and not received what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Preverse Principle and that Christ blessed Infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by its fruit and every spirit by its works and words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designes are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavory words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are clear in his sight from these divilish accusations though I. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book and is an accuser of the brethren and is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer and the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical Flots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he saith his words would take away our lives but to raise the unclean spirits against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe hâ—m for none else can to persecute the people and way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters and of having ill Designes which things we stand witness against and seeks the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly and impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is in forging of them and declaring of them and that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being
God can hinder that which the Lord hath begun and is carrying on by his own power though the nations are angry because that by the light of his glorious Gospel shining forth his wrath is revealed upon them for their ungodly deeds that the Scripture which cannot be broken may be fulfilled and therefore it were better for them to be silent and put their mouths in the dust if so be for them there may be hope then to rise up against that wihch is more unchangeable than the heavens and the earth and therefore in vain have the enemies of God and People in all Professions joyned themselves together against the light of truth and the way of the Lord which many in our dayes have fallen upon but is broken to pieces and it hath fallen upon many and grinded them to pouder and nothing shall escape for the day of the Lord is come and it is very nigh to you that hate it a day of darkness and of gloominess of clouds and of thick darkness and now the seed of God is as the morning spread upon the mountains a great people and a strong there hath not been ever the like neither shall there be any more after itâ— even to the years of many generations a fire goeth before them and behind them a flame burneth the land is as the garden of Eden before them and behind them a desolate wilderness and nothing shall escape them the appearance of them is aâ— the appearance of horses and as horse-men so shall they run c. the earth shall quake before them the heavens shall tremble the Sun and Moon shall be dark and the stars shall withdraw their shining and the Lord shall utter his voyce before his Army as he now doth for hâ—s Camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his word for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it And now according as the Prophet Joel Prophesied is it come and coming to pass Joel 2. 2 3 4 10 11. against which seed men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the things of God are risen up who in their first appearance in their writings profess themselves to be that which they are not seeming right unto many through their feigned words and fair spâ—eches deceiving the hearts of the simple for whom Christ died but afterwards in the same writings to those that see they manifest themselves what they are and being so considered as they are seen and known cannot deceive and therefore to all people who desire to be edified and satisfied in the ground and truth of things as they are made manifest by the Lord to the light in you I speak that in it you may be able to understand truth in what I say and by the truth to judge of things that differ for such as the tree is such is the fruit an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit neither can one fountain send forth sweet water and bitter Now as concerning a Book given forth by John Stelham Priest at Terling in Essex who having an evil eye because Gods is good and being filâ—ed with indignation because God hath mercy on his own seed whom he hath blessed hath out of the abundance of his heart spoken it forth now the way to know that which is spoken in darkness is to read it in the light and iâ— his tâ—stimony in any thing as coming from him is to be believed it is that which is concerning his own condition and if his estate and condition be such that in it he can receive the things of God and minister them to others then they may be received but if his condition be such that in it he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God then that which cannot receive cannot minister and so he is to be silent and none to expect the things of God from him being neither fit to reprove nor to rebuke but to be reproved and rebuked as will appear as followeth The Ground in him and the Heart out of which this abundence of words in his Book proceeds in it as he declares is yet the root of all Error and of all sin is in him and seen by him not mortified and that he hath an old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth no good thing a sinful wretch and worm subscribing himself the sinful John Stelham as in his Introduction in page 80. and page 117 Now therefore we having found out the Root and the Ground to be a root of Error and the ground of Deceit and a heart wherein dwells no truth nor no good thing therefore from that which is unclean shall we not expect that which is clean to proceed nor truth from that wherein dwells no truth but from the lying heart and deceitful tongue hath the Lord delivered us so that if we be called revilers and be rebuked and a charge laid against us as to contradict the Scriptures of God and be called Antiscriptural Antichristian and Antispiritual We have now learned to know whence it doth proceed even from the old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth and we can bear it because we know that till that heart be taken away and a new heart known wherein is Truth We must be reproached and spoken evil of falsly for his sake who hath taken away the old lying heart and hath given us a new heart wherein truth dwelleth and where truth proceeds out from and herein are we manifest from the children of this Generation and herein are the two states known and the two conditions of men according to the testimony of Scripture and the parable which Jesus spoke Luke 6. 39. Can the blind lead the blind shall they not both fall into the ditch And vers. 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good And an evil man out of the evil Treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh And hereby is the tree known by his fruits and the heart of the wicked was ever filled with lying and vanity and understanding was hid from them the Lord was grieved with such that did err in their hearts and had not known his wayes Psal. 95. 10. and such their hearts was fat as grease and in their hearts they imagined mischief and studied destruction Psal. 119 70 Psal. 140. 2. and this was an evil which was under the Sun that the hearts of the sons of men was full of evil and madness while they live Eccles. 9. 3. And such a heart was in the Scribes and Pharisees a lying heart wherein dwelt no truth filled with evil thoughts as Christ said Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts Matth. 9. 4. and out of the heart did arise all false accusations calling the truth blasphemy and the way of it heresie and such who be in the state as John
unrighteousness and taking them and such have the letter in their mouths but knows not the Word of God which who comes to know it restrains them from all such practises Again I. S. from his blindness and root of Errour and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scriptures is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scriptures is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22. 19. 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee Answ. By this Scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith and not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge and for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them and read their writtings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the Power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World and to the pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which is now declared in Chapters And every one which come to the true ground of Faith must come to the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scriptures was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world that all men in him might believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith Joh. 8. 24. But John Stelham going on in his own devised Fables would pervert the words of truth both in our writings and in the Apostles as it is manifest in his writing of this reviling Rebuke concerning R. F. and I. N. E. B. and F. H. and others which whosoever read their words and his they may discern truth from devised fables without much Reply unto it as in some places he is mingling his own words with theirs joyning a lye to the truth that he may contradict it as false as every one that reads with understanding will see which when they have spoken plain truths which he himself hath often in his Book confessed unto to be truth will afterwards give his meanings to their words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they mean thus c. then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his own meaning then he saith he hath contradicted their words though he have before confessed the truth of their words so he hath not contradicted the words as they were spoken but because they spoke not his meaning with the words therefore the true words must be false in his judgement and bear his rebuke as his Book doth make manifest and adding his lye to the words of truth these two things are his greatest proofs to resist the truth in page 77. he hath mingled his own words with the words of R. F. in which page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R. F. having been speaking of the light which enlighteneth every man which cometh into the world he adds which where it is and it is in every man it reneweth the judgment c he here adding his own and then rebuking it would make people believe lyes that all might be damned who believe not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgement is renewed with the light though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who hate it and who are void of true judgement because they hate the light which they be enlightened withal And also the Apostles words he perverts and gives meanings unto which if he did not they would be a plain testimony with that which he hath set himself to oppose so giving meanings both to their words and our words his meanings must be the ground of his Believers Faith and not the Scriptures as he said before The Apostle Peter speaking of a more sure Word of Prophesie wherein they did well to take heed as unto a light that shined in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the holy Ghost to this I. S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostles words for he doth not exclude heart-prophesie for there was never any prophesie but did proceed out of the heart before it was written in any Book And the Apostle saith Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts and that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and that which moved them to speak Prophesies was in their hearts and the Apostle did not bid them wait till the day-star did arise in the Scriptures but till it did arise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts I. S. saith That is until by the study of the Scriptures more light be cleared up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words and the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in
whereas I. S. would set the law and justice of God at a difference with the Gospel and as contrary in saying the law and justice finds us and leaves us sinners Gospel and Mercy declareth and pronounceth us righteous now the one pronouncing a man righteous and the other pronounce the same to be a sinner these two are contrary but the Scripture hath another testimony saying mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Psal 85. 10. Now here is unity here is not righteousdess pronouncing one thing and mercy another for the righteousness of God is revealed from heaven against the disobedient and this will not leave them disobedient nor sinners if ever they come to mercy for it doth not leave them as it finds them and so that doctrine is accurst from God which saith That the justice finds them sinners and leaves them so and to say that Justices pronounce them sinners and Mercy pronounce them righteous but to satisfie all people a few words may serve to answer the volume of that darkness and blindness given forth by him before mentioned should a man full of words be justified Job 11 2. Again Concerning I. S. in his 7. Head concerning Regeneration saith That the Word of God that is Preached was never without or besides Scripture c. And as in other places he hath said That the Spirit is given by the Letter so here would make Regeneration to proceed from it which this being denyed he concludes it had been better the Scripture had not been known noâ— written The Word and Gospel was Preached unto Abraham without Scripture and before the Scriptures was written and they who are Regenerated and born again it is by the immortal Word which is able to save their Souls which Word was before the letter was written and who be begotten again and born by that Word it is profitable for such that the Scriptures was written and given forth and the Scripture by such is honoured but such who calleth the letter the light and the Word and that which begets again into the new birth by such both the work of God is despised and the Scriptures perverted and denyed Again I. S. in his 8. Head of Contradiction speaking of Perfection uttereth forth more confusion and contradiction to himself in his speaking of the Communion of the Saints in heaven and doth lye concerning the Saints on earth saying The Saints in Heaven hoped for the perfection of their bodies at the Resurrection c. And again contradicts that in saying That at death they have a final perfection and a full harvest and reward of peace c. Now this is the issue that all people may take notice he hath so envied perfection and Christs doctrine which saith Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect and them who now Preacheth that doctrine that he hath set out a volume to declare against the Saints being perfect here yea and his envie hath reached to Heaven to prove that the Saints in heaven is not perfect but waits for the Redemption of their bodies which now if people mind the Scripture there is no such doctrine in it as the Saints in heaven hath not received the Redemption of their bodies for they who had received the first fruits of the Spirit upon earth did wait for the adoption and for the redemption of the body till the Creature it self be delivered into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God and this was witnessed and is witnessed and this is the work of the worlds Teachers instead of presenting them perfect in Christ Jesus as the Apostles did they would make people believe that the Saints in heaven their bodies is unredeemed if so where is that redemption wrought And whereas I. S. would make people believe that there is none clean now Christ said concerning those that followed him Now eyere clean through the Word which â— have spoken unto you John 15 3. And David saith That the Lord is good unto such as are of a clean heart Psal. 73. 1. And the Lord said concerning his people That he would pour clean water upon them and they should be clean from all their filthiness Ezek. 36. 25. And this Prophesie was to be fulfilled and the Lord said also by his Prophet Zeph. That his Remnant should do no iniquity nor speak lyes neither should a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth Zeph. 3. 13. And Paul preached wisdom among them that were perfect and as many as were perfect should be so minded and Christ preached to the pure in heart that they should see God Matth. 5. Now if there were none perfect Christ preached unto such as there was not Now this is the chief ground of I. S. and the rest of the enemies of truth and of perfection to declare against it because some fall from it as his instance of C. A. or others in the like To which I answer Their falling into that which is not perfect doth not make that which they fall from imperfect for the Angels that kept not their first state which was perfect did fall from that which was perfect A virgin state is perfect but if any go out of that state and become foolish yet that which they depart from is perfect and if any do fall from the truth and do not abide in Christs doctrine that doth not make his Doctrine to be unperfect for Christ saith Except they abide in him who is perfect they cannot bring forth fruit is not he that is in Christ perfect though some do not abide in him and is not the truth truth because some deny it Was not Christs Doctrine and the Apostles true because Demas did forsake it and love the present world and was not that part of the Ministry which Judas had committed unto him perfect and was not he the true Christ that Judas preached though afterwards he betrayed him now if people do but truly consider all those that now do turn from the way of truth which is now preached and lived in by us it may be an evident token to justifie us in the way of truth seeing what they go into when they go from the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which while they abide in it are kept out of all filthiness of flâ—sh and spirit and so long they may speak of perfection and of the gift of God which is perfect but if any go from the light then they are let at liberty to act all uncleanness with greediness and so are cast out from us and from perfection and if any such deny the truth and forsake it yet there remains in them a withness for the truth and against their own uncleanness as in C. A. who from the witness of God in him was made to confesse that if he had continued in the light of Christ he could not have so sinned against the Lord and so by his transgression
read any contradiction in it but only it seems I. S. hath set himself to cavell Further he saith We contradict our selves concerning Quaking and trembling from this confession that the same power that made Moses to quake and tremble the same power we witness but wherein doth this contradiction appear in these words let honest men try the cause and I. S. be silent and whereas he Instances I. P. standing in an evill cause and of I. P. he may be silent whose blood he or his Generation sought after and now might they well be quiet of him their wills being stifled by drinking his blood as it were but that wicked men must add to their own wickedness till it be fulfilled that they may receive their reward and I. P. was bold as is the children of God and though I. S. would clear himself and his company from what was done to I. P. yet by the effect it appeared that there was enough envy in them towards him and the truth and though his body be in the ground yet the Spirit of the Lord which guided him stands alive a sufficient witness against them and all their cruel and wicked dealing and let I. S. judgement be what it will neither concerning growth of Grace nor forms of Religion nor fruits of the Spirit do we at all contradict the Spirit of God neither doth he prove us in these things whereof he accuseth us in strife debate except against such as I. S. and the Devils Kingdom neither in emulation hatred scoffs or any of these things whom the Lord hath redeemed us from though we be falsely accused in these things as in many other by him and whereas he would prove their preaching in their method and Points and Reasons and Uses from the example of the Saints in former ages he falls far short in effecting his extent for he cannot prove that they studied for what they spake nor that in such a way they delivered what they said an hour by a glass c. as the Priests of this age do also if it were they preached in the like manner as the Apostles did yet not by the same spirit but by the spirit of error and for a wrong end that is the thing which makes their manner abominable when as they are not guided wth the same Spirit of the Apostles and their preaching in their method of points and particulars is rather an art of preaching by humane policy and not the gift of preaching by the Spirit of God neither do we concerning humility and love contradict our selves but are in humility and love towards all men even such as wrongs us we seek no revenge against and herein doth our humility and love appear yet cannot we respect any mans person with hat or knee and that is it which I. S. I suppose is offended with In his 13th Head concerning Ordinances He charges us with self-contradiction because we say we own praying c. and yet hath given over Family prayer morning and evening and at meals but this is no contradiction for we own praying in the Spirit of God but doth deny it without the Spirit and this is no contradiction he may as well say it was contradiction in Christ to cry against the prayers of the Pharisees yet to teach his Disciples to pray and to pray himself this is the same cause of ours which he foolishly charges with contradiction and as I have said the prayers of the Wicked we deny and yet doth own Prayer in the Spirit and who are moved by the Spirit morning or evening or at meals or otherwise and this is truth let I. S. gather what he can from it Further he saith If we teach one another why do we condemn them for teaching But to this I have answered Preaching or Teaching by the Spirit we own and without the Spirit we deny and because we say we own all that which is Gods as Baptisme the Lords Supper and Sabbath c. pet doth disown in practice their Water Baptisme and their form of breaking of Bread and Wine and their forms of Church-fellowship and their form of keeping a Sabbath this he charges to be contradiction but it is not so in the sight of the Lord though I. S. falsely so judge it for their Baptisme and breaking of Bread and Wine and their Church fellowship and keeping of a day I say their exercise in these things we do deny to be of God as in measure is proved and may be further if need require and I say we own that which is Gods and which is led unto by his Spirit and practised in his fear and counsel and yet we do deny all their Immitations of any thing which God commanded doth owne the command of God and yet doth not contradict our selves though I. S. falsely so judge of us Further he charges us with self-contradiction concerning speech and silence because we check some for speaking and yet speaks or writes our selves but this is the same with the former and the same answer will serve that speaking that which is not in the Spirit we check which is not the voyce of Christ but of the stranger and yet doth own that which is spoken by the Spirit of God and herein doth not contradict our selves Further he saith We contradict our selves concerning Conscience and Laws because we say there must be no Law concerning Religion viz. to bind any man to worship in this or the other way and to bind him from this or that way of Worship and yet in exhorting the Rulers that their Laws be according to that in the Conscience but in these words there is no contradiction for the Laws being according to the light in every mans Conscience that Law will not bind or limit the Conscience from this or that way of Worship in Religion for that Law is un just which binds or limits the pure conscience of any man but that Law which is contrary to the light in every mans conscience is oppression and we bear witness against it and though we do say no Law must be laid upon Religion that it is to say to bind any mans Conscience to or from such a form of Religion and though we further say that all just Laws is and should be according to the light in every mans conscience yet in this there is no contradiction And whereas I. S. speaks of such Laws who persecuted prisoned and crucified for the testimony of a good Conscience God hath hewen down in all ages saith he Let the Rulers of England take notice of this from the mouth of one of their Teachers And further I adde so will God hew down in this Age all those Laws by which many are persecuted and prisoned as he hath done ie other Ages therefore let it be considered by them And he saith The Magistrate is not to levell his Law with every mans conscience and light and this he speaks in opposition to us but he needs
not for we say the same that some mens Consciences are defiled and we do not desire the Laws to be made according to mens several opinions and defiled Consciences but according to the light of Christ Jesus in every mans Conscience which is but one in all and is according to the Law of God and every just Law will be according to it and though I. S. by his own meaning would make it appear contradiction in our saying no Law must be concerning Religion and yet saying all Laws should be according to the light of Christ in the Conscience Now by these words we do not mean that we would not have a Law according to Religion but no Law to limit to or from this or that manner of Religion and this doth very well agree with our saying let all your Laws be according to the light of Christ so by his misinterpretation of the first he makes it appear to be contradictions to the second but it is not so in the light of the Spirit of God And further R. F. saying the law of God answers his Justice and the light of Christ in the conscience answers the law of God which is perfect according to that in the conscience these words I. S. charges with two errors but let the Reader try where the error lyes and not believe I. S. false deduction from R. F. plain words which are simply uttered through subtilty wrested And I. S. speaks as if some would have Magistrates to make Laws to bind themselves from striking at offenders Blasphemers Gospel and Church disturbers c. In answer to this we are not they that would have any Magistrates to bind themselves from striking at offenders who are truly able to judge of offences we own that such should be punished according to the offence but the Magistrates Law reaches but to the outward man to keep that in peace and good order and not to the inward man to bind or limit that And as for Blasphemy and Gospel and Church disturbing we find many Magistrates not able to judge thereof but many on the contrary calling truth blasphemy and reproving of sin in Teachers and people Gospel and Church disturbing and so by false judgement making such offenders which are not and so abusing their power and condemning the Innocent rather then the guilty and these are such as I. S. speaks of where the strong man armed keeps the house and these are rather a terror to well doers then to evill and such Magistrates and such Laws by which the just are oppressed and the hands of the wicked strengthened will the Lord confound in a day to the glory of his name and to the refreshing of all his people who is now every way oppressed by evill men both by Rulers Teachers and People And as for the rest of his Book it s but of the same nature with the former and not worth answering to onely his lyes I do deny and his first following is that all our Doctrines are raised upon the ruines of the Scriptures excellency and authority this is false neither doth his proof at all make it good His second lye is that our corrupt Tenents are built upon false and novel Interpretations and this is two lyes together our Tenents are not corrupt neither do we build any thing which we hold upon false Interpretations His third lye is that it is pride that hath bred and doth feed our opinions and practises and this is also false and to prove it hath wrested some of E. B. words His fourth lye is that unbelief begets and procreates all our errors and our love of error with our derisions of the truth here is many lyes folded up in one which are all denyed with the life of God and the author of them proved to be of the Devil and we proved to be of God who are spoken all manner of evil against falsely for the name of Jesus His fifth lye is that we do subtilly couch many errors under spacious words of truth this lye also I bear Witness against as also against his Sixth wherein he charges us with meer ignorance and wilful blindness about the covenant of Grace c. His seventh lye is that much of mystical Babylon and confusion is in our Writings and wayes this is also a lye and of the devil and also against his eight I bear testimony our Doctrines and practises ends not in Apostacy neither are they blasphemy against Christ as I. S. impudently asserteth so that from the first of his Book to his last his whole Work is born witness against not to be of God but of the devill and in vain hath he striven and his Work shall not accomplish any part of his desire for the Quakers against whom he hath Written cannot be offended in Christ though I. S. have endeavoured for to make their way and Doctrines in the sight of men abominable but his Work shall not prevent the purpose of the Lord nor the gathering in of the upright-hearted from the mouths of devouring Shepheards such as I. S. and the Priests of England who is it that doth not begin to see their deceits and abominations yea thousands do and mâ—ny more shall do so that all their striving to uphold their Kingdom is but in vain for God hath blasted al their glory and he will teach his people himself and govern them by his own Law and order and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and Antichrist and all his ministers shall be confounded and the Beast and the false Prophet shall both be taken alive and cast into the lake Ah John Stelham against whom hast thou set thy self and exalted thy horn against whom hast thou bent thy strength and shot forth thy envie in crafty words of guile who is it that thou hast defied and girded on thy armour against and counted them as nothing before thy uncircumcised strength even against the Lords people hast thou thus done though thou wilt not now know it yet one day thou shalt know it when iniquity is come to an end and transgression finished and thou shalt stand in thy lot at that day and receive according to thy work a just and righteous reward from the hand of the Lord in the day of judgement when every secret work of iniquity shall appear to condemnation and in the mean time the Lord will bring forth good unto his people even from thy evil and all things even thy evil purposes shail work together for good unto such whom God hath called and thy works and purposes which are to trouble them and to break them and to make them appear vile in the sight of men even thy work doth the Lord turn to establish them and to unite them and in the sight of men thy work against us proves us to be of God and thy self to be of the Devil who was a persecutor from the beginning
and thou shalt be scattered in thy imaginations and thy whole work hath God confounded and it shall not accomplish any whit of that end propounded in thy sinful heart which hath brought forth milchief for it 's blasted in the anger of God and men shall neither call it nor the Father of it any more blessed And Friend hadst thou known how little it doth accomplish of thy evil intent thou would have spared thy labour and employed thy service to another end and then had not thy wickedness so greatly appear in the sight of God nor thy shame and nakedness in the sight of men as it now doth by this thy sinful deed brought forth of a cursed womb and conceived in unrighteousness Alas alas man How art thou fallen into the pit which thou hast digged for another And how doth the shame overtake thee which thou hast thought should fall upon us let thy wickedness correct thee and know thou that the Lord will not forsake his people who cannot be offended in Christ though thou cast stumbling blocks of iniquity in the way and would cause them to sin but even so much the more as thou speaks evil against the way of the Lord are they the more upright therein and the more loving and delighting in the path of righteousness and thou hast but the more fully discovered in many things from thy own pen the wickedness and wrath that hath secretly lodged in thy heart and it appears that thy wisdom is devillish and from below deceiving and being deceived and thy path is in craft and subtilty and not in innocency and plain simplicitâ— and â— this manner and by this means chiefly is thy work managed unto an evil end but the Lord hath rebuked it and will do yet more till it appear to all men as it doth to us to be what I have said of it and it shall be a shame to thee and shall not receive prayse neither of God nor man but condemnation in the sight of both and hadst thou known that we are established even on the top of Gods holy mountain and cannot be moved nor shaken by such weak pitiful blasts of confusion and ignorance coming out of thy mouth where poyson lodges under thy tongue sure hadst thou known it thou would have travelled in another path but that thy folly might appear unto all men is thy work sent abroad that they may see what lodges in thy mind even more envie then in the heart of Balaam and more desire of evil to the Lords people than ever was in him and thou fulfils the measure of thy forefathers wickedness till the sum be accounted and destruction follow thou hast too much troubled thy self in labouring and thy reward will not countervail thy pains hadst thou but only spoken against us we should have born it and thou might have been the more excused but in that thou hast spoken against the light of Christ and called it perverse Principle and many other blasphemous words of bitterness against the very truths of Jesus This is the cause wherefore we have answered thee and thou art utterly inexcusable for what thou hast done it is not altogether through ignorance though much ignorance be in it but out of perfect rebellion and purpose of mischief and for Mastery we do not strive with thee but rather wisheth thy repentance than thy destruction and who doth not believe but your kingdom I mean the Priests of England is going down apace and your glory fading as a flower and the Lord will make you a shame to your selves who hath for many ages preyed devouringly upon the upright and through perfect covetousness have made merchandize of Souls and now many hath an eye opened to see your shame and it appears with horrible detestation even the saying is fulfilled As troups of robbers wait for a man so the company of Priests Murders in the way by consent as the Prophet said and as Christ said Wo unto you you will not enter your selves nor suffer others to enter that world Wherefore thou J. Stelham even thou repent of this thy Wickedness for the wrath of the Lord is gone forth against thee and evill hast thou done against God and against his people and against thy own Soul and this thou shalt know one day to thy exceeding sorrow unto which time we leave thee and could have born all thy scandalous rearms without replying again but onely for the sake of the simple that thy neighbours may see thy folly and all men to whom thine and this doth come and we have not been large but in short have in singleness of heart born our testimony once more to the truth of the glorious Gospel which we have received of God and not of man and against thee and thy sinful heart and whatsoever proceeds out of it for thou being evill how canst thou speak good things the Tree must be good before the fruit can be so but out of thy evill heart hast thou brought forth evill and must receive the reward of evill whether thou wilt or no and what if we should go about to shew wherein the Priests of England do contradict the Scripture might not we have a large Catalogue even in all your Worship and in the most of your practises acting contrary to the Scripture and contradicting that Spirit that gave it forth in Doctrine and in conversation in such an enterprise as this might we make your folly sound abroad and as to the contradicting your selves and being of many judgements and opinions and difference in many particulars about the things of God among your selves herein you abound almost above measure and this if need require could I by the strength of Jesus sufficiently make you appear abominable in the eyes of all just men and so think not in thy self that you are free from Scripture and self-contradiction but truly guilty your selves in what thou hast wickedly accused us of falsely which doth but prove thee to be of thy Father who is an accurser of the Brethren and proves us to be of God according to Christs words we are spoken all manner of evill of falsely for the name of Jesus Christ whom we serve and therefore are hated of the world because we are not of it but without much more words I leave this I. S. our adversary to the judgement of the Great Day wherein we and he shall receive according to our deeds and till then is as willing to have dispraise as praise of men who is not a Jew outward but a Jew inward who hath no praise of men but of God who is of the Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World E. B. * viz Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Priest Priest Answer Priest Answer Answer Priest Answer Rom. 8.
fell from the way of life and could not continue in Christs Doctrine no longer and so such things may satisfie people concerning the way of truth for while they are of us all such things is denyed by them but when they go out from us then they become Drunkards Swearers Prophane Adulterers Fornicators and so every evill Work is committed and then they turn to the Priests Doctrine where all such things are and are excused and then the Priests rejoyce and give thanks if any turn from the light of Christ and the obedience of the Gospel into Drunkenness and Prophaneness again where they were before and if they will but swear and respect mens persons and use the rod of violence and persecute and shed the blood of the Innocent and be conformable to the World that is the Priests rejoycing and if any turn from the truth into any act of uncleannesse then they take that as a proof against those that abide in the truth and such a thing is a better proof to them then all the Scriptures and those are they that reâ—oyâ—â— in â—niquity and watch for evill and so they rejoyce in that which we have â—ast out as abomination and these are they that plead for a life in sin while they are here and that say that the Saints glorified in Heaven do yet hope for the Resurrection of their bodies and so not come to the end of their hope though in Heaven whenas the Saints upon earth Witnessed the end of their hope the salvation of their souls Now these may well deny perfection on earth who deny it in Heaven which the Saints we and the Scriptures do witnesse it in both and against all such who are not fit to speak of the things of God Again In his 9th Head of contradiction he speaks of a Waâ—far which yet he himself never came unto and in it he wrests Pauls words and so would turn the truth into a lye saying as if Paul should say thus If sin that wars and fights in me hath no power to condemn me then there is no condemnation to me which words Paul never spake and it is a lye in the ground for it is not sin that is the condemnation but the light which lets men see their sins because men love darkness rather than the light as many in this age have manifested themselves to do and the light shall be their condemnation who are not yet come to the War nor to the Victory which the Scripture speaks of Again in his 10th Head of Contradictions speaking of Repentance as if he would prove that we denyed or disclaimed godly sorrow and his proof is this If we disclaim in dwelling sin in the godly we disclaim godly sorrow Let all people take notice of this If we deny in-dwelling sin we deny godly sorrow this is contradiction in the highest degree but against it this I shall affirm that none comes unto godly sorrow but they deny dwelling sin and they that do not deny in-dwelling sin denies godly sorrow Again John Stelham in his 11th Head of Contradictions to the Scripture in his speaking of the Word and means of Grace he is setting up that which before he hath been pulling down in page 123. where he saith That they are justified from all legal obligations and conditions of their own workings both within them and without them And in page 174. he is setting up Obligations and conditions of Reading Hearing Prayer Preaching to which he saith life and salvation is promised and so would have salvation come by Works which he hath so much declared against before and so makes Prayer Reading Preaching c. not only the means through which salvation comes but the cause for which they are saved saying To prayer is promised salvation Now to the informing of minds of people I say That all promises are to the Seed and the fulfilling of the promises is witnessed through its obedience to Christs command and through the works of righteousness but none can pray so as to be heard of God and accepted but who have first known heard and believed him whom they call upon which none do but who own the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which teacheth to Pray Hear Read and Preach with knowledge and understanding Again I. S. in his 12th Head concerning Baptisme would go about to prove the sprinkling of Infants to be the Baptisme and so denyes both Iohns who was from and Christs and the manner of them and sets up another which the Scripture doth not mention as sprinkling Infants which who reads his Books may see his proofs by consequences would have the Scripture speak that which in never mentioneth in plain Precept and so would turn the truth into alye and so by his own rule in the 68th page of his Book shall he be judged Such Messengers as speak more then is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say But that all people may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures and that which is testified by them is to come to the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which light was before Ordinances was and which light gives to see the place of Ordinances and their time wherein they are to be obeyed for the light comes from the substance of all the divers washings and carnall Ordinances and it leads into the one Baptisme which is the substance of that of Water which Iohn who was a Prophet was the Minister of and Christ said unto his Disciples Iohn verily baptizeth with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire but he never commanded them to baptize with Water but commanded them to go teach all Nations baptizing them into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and although some of the Disciples and Paul for a time did Baptize with Water yet who shall judge their permission in it although Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ witnesseth that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. 17. and thanks God that he had baptized no more of them yet witnessed that they were all Baptized with one Spirit into one Body And I. S. saith To be against Infants Baptisme is contrary to Acts 2. 28 29. This is false for that Scripture doth not command it nor give president for it let the Reader search if he find any such thing as the Scripture proving Infants Baptisme but the promise is to as many as the Lord shall call and so he hath foully belyed the Scripture for if that Scripture be contrary to such who are against Infants Baptisme then must he prove from that Scripture Infants Baptisme to be commanded as practised which he cannot do and so is a perverter of the Scripture and it is truth that we do deny brain imaginations and sprinkling Infants with water but then he rambles over many Scriptures proving the Baptisme of Believers these