THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AGAIN DISCOVERED After the long and dark Night of Apostacy which hath overshadowed the whole World for many ages and the profession and practise thereof witnessed unto by the Scriptures And here all may see who it is of all these Sects and divers forms of Religion in these Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures in what they professe and practise and who it is that are not according thereunto for the line of true judgement is stretched upon all profession and a true search into and tryal thereof is made and hereby it is manifest who it is and what sort of people that may justly claim the benefit of the Protectors Oath to be protected thereby in their practises of Religion who hath bound himself to maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures c. This is written for the good of this Commonwealth and the information of all people in it By a friend to all people especially them that feares God and loves righteousness LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION Again discovered c. FOrasmuch as Oliver Cromwell called Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland chief Ruler according to man hath bound himself by an oath and sworn that he will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestan◠Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Old and new Testament of the Scriptures which oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who it is in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversities of judgements and many Assemblies and gatherings of people who are divers in their wayes in their practices and in their form of Religion in these Nations which doth all profess the Scriptures and that their form of Religion is accorco the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of life and salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under heaven given for salvation and they that believe in him and receive him they it is onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by his spirit and changed thereby from death to life and such hath unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this world but heirs of the Kindom of God and these may own and claim a title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of people and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to trial Dare you join issue with me in this matter to try your profession and practise of Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my heart to lay you all to the line of true judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your priviledge if your profession and practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors oath but if your profession and practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your practice of Religion And with this argument I shall try you all whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not according to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is truth and therefore all people come to trial and receive your judgement by this rule· And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his spirit to be changed into his image and the body of sin and death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the day of the Lord and in equity and righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this practice and doctrine is not according to the Scripture being it was never commanded nor any example for it in Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and ownes your title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that teach this for doctrine and practice it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures This I do affirm therefore stand you by for what you practise and professe there is neither command nor president in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a necessity is put upon you to make use of your knowledge if you would be protected in this Commonwealth in your practise of RELIGION likewise you sing and give to sing Davids Psalmes in rime and meeter professing it is to the glory and honor of God ye practice this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this practice and profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any president for this practice in the Scriptures in Gospel-times Therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot
hath given light to every man that cometh into the world this is according the Scripture as you may read Joh. 8.12 Ioh. 1.9 and though they turn people from darkness to the light of Christ within them exhorts people to hearken to that within them not to seek a Christ without them to ascend or descend to fetch him these Doctrines are perfectly according to the Scripture for you may read Acts 26.18 Paul saith he was sent to turn people from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to the power of God and Rom. 10 you may read the Apostle saith What saith it The Word is nigh thee in thy heart that is The Word of Faith which we preach and they were not to say Who shall ascend or descend to fetch Christ And though they tell people they must witness Christ in them or else they cannot be saved this also is according to the Scriptures as you may read 2 Cor. 13. chap. the Apostle saith Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates And though they say Christ is the Word of God and doth deny the Scriptures to be the Word by which the World was made this Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for we read Rev. 19.13 that the Name of Jesus is called the Word of God And Luke 1. of the Scriptures it is said they are a Declaration by those which were eye-witnesses and Ministers of the Word And though they press people to perfection and doth say Men may be perfect upon Earth and compleat in Christ Jesus this Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for you may read 1 Cor. 2. chap and 6 of some that were perfect who were men upon earth and the Ministers of Christ spoke Wisdom among them that were already perfect and Col. 2·10 the Apostle saith unto the Church who were men in this life upon Earth he saith to them Ye are compleat in him And though they press the people to live without sin and doth say They that are born of God doth not commit sin this also is according to the Scripture for it is Christs command Mat 5 Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect and 1 Joh. 3. there it is spoken of some that were the sons of God already and he saith Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for he cannot sin because he is born of God and saith he A◠he is Christ so are we in this present world And now all people may understand that in all these Doctrines which they do hold forth they do fully agree with the Scriptures and they bear witness to the truth of their Doctrines that the servants of God and the Apostles of Christ did preach the very same things for Doctrine as is done at this day and so these Doctrines are not to be wondred at not so much as they are by the wicked to be cryed against for heresie and error and these few particulars onely I have mentioned at which the people of this age the most stumble at and all other things whatsoever which is held forth for Doctrines unto people I am able to prove them by the Scriptures that in all things they are according to the Scripture not different or contrary to the Scriptures so that all people may take notice and see that whatsoever they do practice for Religion and holds forth for Doctrine they do herein justly according to the Scriptures and they justifie their practises doctrines in these things mentioned and in whatsoever else can be objected by any man And this I shall take in hand to prove before all the World That the people of God called Quakers doth practice nothing for Religion or preach for Doctrine but what is perfectly according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and in the fulfilling of them and so they are proved to be of that true christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures and so may fully claim protection and preservation in their practice of Religion And this is to be considered by the Protector and all Magistrates and people in these Nations that they may know what the true Christian Religion is and who is in it and who is not in it and for this purpose is this written for the satisfaction of all people that they may see who it is that hath a right and priviledg to be protected upholden by vertue of the Oath Likewise all may understand That what such practice and profes for Religion is not without good ground but that the very same things were practised by them that were of the true Christian Religion and preached for Doctrine by them that were Saints which is now practised and held forth by the people of God and the Scriptures doth fully bear witness in all things shewing that such are guided by the same spirit which the Saints were guided by in ages past and as they had so have these the testimony that they are of God and that the whole world lies in wickedness And as concerning their being persecuted by many of the Rulers Priests and People though they be sent to prison and banished out of Towns and whipped and beaten and scorned and reviled this is also according to the Scriptures and the Scriptures is fulfilled upon them for the same things were done to the Apostles and to the servants of the Lord as you may read through the Acts the people mocked the Apostles and slandered them and said they were full of new Wine and the chief Priests conspired against Christ and the Apostles and incensed the Magistrates against them and the Magistrates put Christ and many of the Apostles in prison and caused them to be whipped and beaten to be banished many other cruelties done unto them the Scripture is full to prove this from the beginning to the end of it and Christ said They shall persecute you and speak all manner of evil of you for my Names sake and as they have done unto me so shall they do unto you ye shall be hated of Nations And the Apostle said All that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution So that all people may see though the people of the Lord be persecuted and reviled and imprisoned and cruelty done unto them and though it be done by the chief Magistrates and chief Rulers and the wise men of this age all this is according to the Scriptures and that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and the same things which are now done unto the people of God were done unto the people of God in ages past by the same instruments to wit the Rulers and Magistrates and by the same means to wit by the information and false accusations of the chief Priests and Teachers in Jeremiah you may read how the Priests sought to take away his life and you may read how the chief Priests consulted against Christ and how they complained to the Magistrates against him
these things And let no man blame me for I have but with an equal hand brought all sorts of people to the line of true judgement that they may know who is to be maintained and who is not in their Religion and practises thereof But and if that after all this the people of God be persecuted and violence be done to them and injustice and unrighteousness acted upon them in this Commonwealth as of late years hath been and yet it be suffered to be and none taken any notice to preserve and defend them whose Religion is according to Scripture which he is sworn to maintain then I leave it to the light in all mens consciences to judge what a condition such are in whose oath is not kept but broken for these things are of no less value then either breaking or keeping a mans own oath which solemnly hath been taken and this is not a light thing but to be seriously considered of both by Magistrates Teachers and people in this Commonwealth yet notwithstanding all this the people of God doth not boast in or trust unto the arm of flesh neither are any whit the more confident in their way though it be proved that they ought in justice to be upholden and maintained in what they profess and practise as aforesaid for their hope and confidence is onely in God who onely is sufficient to protect and uphold his people in all their ways and exercises and though all men do forget their own promises and oaths yet will not the Lord forget his chosen people to defend them from all their Enemies who hath again appeared to gather his people after the long and dark night of apostacy and his House and Tabernacle shall be exalted over all the Earth An Objection Now many may say seeing I challenge claim and affirm that this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scripture then they ask and say Hath there been no true Religion before this or hath all these Religions been false before and seeing this hath but newly appeared in the world was there no true Religion before and if there were any where was it and what was that Religion seeing there hath not been for many ages such a Religion as this is And after this manner doth many reason and object to themselves and raises to themselves stumblings and conceits themselves that our forefathers were of a good way and many of them sure were saved which was not of this Religion which did not profess and practice these things which is professed and practised by this people Answer Now unto all these I do answer and say That this Religion is the true Religion which is according to Scriptures as is proved already seeing they profess and practice nothing for Religion but what the Scriptures doth justifie and shews the very examples of the same things but that God had a people in all ages and a feed that never bowed to Baal it s believed and such as did sincerely seek after God according to what they knew and they were accepted of God according to what was made manifest in that age and generation yet the testimony of truth it self and the way of the Lord it self for many generations hath not so clearly and purely been held forth as it is now in this age and generation for now the true light hath shined and the way of salvation is evidently made manifest as by many witnesses and evident tokens which may be given and was not so clearly for many ages past held forth and known And such who have been sincerely seeking after God though they knew not perfectly the way unto him neither had they such a pure testimony revealed to guide them as now is manifest yet such do now rejoice and owns the way of the Lord and the seed of God is refreshed in them and all causes of stumbling removed and the pure light of the Gospel is sprung forth more clear in this age then in any age for many generations for the Scripture sheweth that a dark night of Apostacy hath been over the whole world and the beast hath reigned and the false Prophet hath deceived many Nations and the whole World hath wondered after the beast for many ages and the beast hath made war with the Saints and hath had power to kill them and hath put a stop many times to the appearances of God till now at length he doth appear and the power of hell and death shall not stop it and they do say that they are come out of the Apostacy to the dawning of the day again and the same power of God and the same truth as was in the Apostles days and the same Ministry by the gift of the same Holy Ghost as was in the Apostles days is now witnessed and at the time of ignorance God winked but now the eye is opened and all is called to repentance so it will not excuse any man to plead how it was with our forefathers or to say Where was this Religion before these few years and such like for now the power of God it self is made manifest which brings into the true Religion and all that are of God heareth it and shall own it and shall receive the Testimony which is given It 's known that there are many thousands which hath not yet owned it in which there is true thirstings after God and a zeal for him and such are not condemned to be altogether out of Religion for such seeks his face and the day is neither clear nor dark to them in which they are and such shall own and submit to the Government of Christ and they that are not under the Government are not of the true Religion as I said This is the time of restauration and the Lord is bringing back again and a thorow reformation wil the Lord work in the Earth such as hath not been known in ages past There hath been a Seed sown which the Devil hath catched away but now the Seed shall grow and become the greatest of all herbs and the fowls of Heaven shall lodge in the Branches And this is a plain answer to all sober people for according to the Scriptures in the times of the Apostles the day of glorious light sprung forth and mighty was the power of God at that day but since hath darkness overshadowed all and Antichrist hath reigned and the whole world hath been made drunk with the wine of fornâ—cation which hath been in the hand of the whore who hath set upon the Beast and upon Nations and Peoples and the Gentiles hath trodden under foot the holy City of God for forty and two months but now is the time of restauration as hath been promised that the Lord is bringing back his people again and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and Christ alone must reign and rule and his Kingdom set up over the whole world And let no man be offended at what I have done for I have not reflected upon any mans person but on what he practiseth for Religion London the tenth Month 1657. The End * Mark 4.1 2. Luke 5 3. * Act 20 * Phil. 4.3 * 1 Kings 19.19