perfidiously and treacherously for their filthy lucres sake and ye are generally convinced that they are but time servers wicked and bad ye are now openly and avowedly come to plead for a wicked ministry that such who are natural men and wicked may be Ministers of Christ and ought to be heard followed and maintained and such whom the Lord has sent forth to Minister in the power of his life and spirit ye call deluders Fanaticks and the like oh oh remember the day call to mind the time when your souls â—…oathed such Ministers and ye would travel many miles from one remote corner of the nation to another to hear a man who could speak lively to your souls in demonstration of the spirit and of power then there was in you a measure of pure discerning whereby ye could favour the man of God and distinguish the formal dry withered cold and dead preacher from the living and all his painted fine good words could not deceive you e had then a mouth a sence that could taste words as meat and such ye would follow and hear who could speak from and Minister of the power and spirit of life the Ministers of the Letter the dead formal preacher who could chant and talk the Scripture words and steal from other mens lines the good words made ready to their hand ye could not away with they were loathsome and burthensome unto you but now-having lost the discerning these ye can follow and maintain them And such who deny them ye call denyers of the Ministers of Christ a standing Ministry and yet when it was better with you then it is now ye denyed them and many a day cryed in good earnest of your souls to God that he would remove them and whip out of his house such buyers and sellers and purifie and purge the sons of Lev how cryed ye out and breathed to the Lord for a spiritual Ministry a Gospel Ministry a powerful Ministry and now when it s come and coming ye oppose it and bend your force to keep it down oh foolish people and unthankful do ye thus requite the Lord return return from whence ye are fallen repeâ—…rand do you first works turn to the Lord the fountain of living waters from whom ye have deeply revolted cease cease from the broken Cisterns ye have hewed out unto your selves drink no more at the pudled waters the dead waters which who so drinketh off dye they are dead because not freshly issuing and springing from the fountain of life if ye will return come and walk in the light of the Lord with us O house of Iacob O ye lost scattered sheep who have been driven from the fold of rest the sweet pleasant green pasture of your souls the still runing waters the pure sweet Christaline river of life that issueth fresh in living streams from the fountain it self Lo every one that thirsteth come unto the waters and drink wihout Money and price that your souls may live for of a truth the Lord God his opened unto us the fountain a vein of life a well-spring of life a well of living water hath he revealed in us who have believed in his light and hearkned to his voice which cryed in our hearts many a day saying in us turn ye turn ye why will ye die turn ye at my reproof and behold I will pour ouâ—… my spirit upon you this is the well of living water the gift of God which who so drinketh off will never any more drink or thirst to drink of these dead waters that is the good words uttered from a dead killing spirit the waters of the Whore on which she sits and holds forth this cup of fornications unto the inhabitants of the earth whereby they are made drunk bewitched and killed for her lips drops as an hony comb and her mouth is smoother then Oyl but her end the breath and spirit of her mouth from which the words proceed and which accompanies them is bitter as Wormwâ—…od and sharper then a two edged Sword to kill and destroy that of the Lords begetting and starving of it but to the edifying feeding and building up of the false birth Babilons brats which are not to live but to be starved and dye and happy are they who taketh them and dasheth them against the stones And now I say for your sake O ye my kiâ—…olk according to the flesh my little Sister who hath no breasts 〈◊〉 scattered sheep who have no pasture for your souls but that which feedeth death and maketh you live in the earthly corrupt principle which is the Serpents meat that if by any means I may provoke some of you and be serviceable as a mean in the Lords hand who am nothing of my self unto you that ye may return unto the Bishop and Shepherd of your Souls I am drawn in the tender love of God to write unto you concerning this principle to wit Jesus Christ revealed and revealing in man God and the things of his Kingdom even these veins and passages of liâ—… which runs through Paradise the City of God whâ—… streams make glad every inhabitant thereof who because of this can sit and sing God is our refuge we will not fear though the earth be removed and cast into the midst of the Sea God is known for a refuge in her palaces she is beautiful for Scituation the joy of the whole earth is and shall be Mount Sion on the sides of the North the City of the great King 〈◊〉 it must be he alone even this great King who must open an eye in you by the revelation of himself where by ye can behold thâ—… glorious Mountain of his Holiness on whâ—…ch his City Ierusalem from above is built where a feast of fat things full of marrow of wines on the Lees well refined is given to all who enter thereinto the vultures eye the eye of the natural understanding that eye which now seeth cannot see it and the path thereunto is short from all living in the natural earthly corrupt principle and it must be the Light of Christ that can only open the true eye to see this blessed path of Life which if ever ye know it must be known alone by Immediate Revelation and manifestation of Christ in you And it were a great step in its pâ—…ace for you to be convinced of this that it must be so And for this cause this is written to the simple hearted who are willing to see and loves to know the truth that ye being convinced by sound reason and it being demonstrated to you that there is such a thing among the Lords people and must be and that there is no other way to know God or the misteries of his Kindom but as this â—…ey of knowledge which your teachers take from you viz. Jesus Christ revealed in you opens them up then ye may be brought to wait for this glorious dispensation which many thousands can truly witness is come and I in my
not that light but were sent to bear witness of that light which is the light of the world and lighteth every man that cometh into it that by believing in the light he may know God and be saved for God willeth all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth and Christ said it is expedient for you that I go away else the comforter will not come even the spirit of truth whom I will send and he will lead you into all truth and bring things to your remembrance and give you wisdom and knowledge and power that all your enemies shall not be able to resist and this spirit was to furnish and back them in their Ministry else they had never gained such ground upon the world when I am ascended said he I will draw all men after me and this spirit they witnessed sent into their hearts teaching them what and how to speak and what they declared unto the people inwards from the spirit of Life of Jesus Christ revealed in them the same spirit and answered and testified to the truth of these things in their hearers that was it which convinced the world of sin righteousness and judgement that was it which made them manifest to be of God made them manifest in the consciences of their hearers thorough the manifestation of the truth Christ the truth the spirit of truth they were commended or approved to every mans conscience in the sight of God and if they or their Gospel was hid it was to them whose minds were blinded who were past feeling of the spirit of God which convinceth reproveth demonstrateth and maketh manifest and on such their words could get no ground but they persecuted and opposed them as fools and mad men so by that is said you may understand that word â—…even the best cannot give the knowledge of God and though Christ in the dayes of his flesh taught them many things yet how were they hid from them they were even very ignorant of many weighty things and could not then receive them or bear them at have many things said he that ye cannot bear as yet but when the spirit the comforter shall come he shall teach you all things and lead you into all truth and be with you for ever and when this spirit was poured forth then their narrow understandings were opened and enlarged to know these things which formerly they could not bear nor receive whereby it may appear sufficiently to any man or men of true understanding that the outward Revelation or discovery by words spoken from without of Christ or any of his Disciples or Apostles cannot reveal the Father nor the Son for if it was iâ—…ot sufficient to the Church his bodily presence his reaching them outwardly by word of month face to face but he said 〈◊〉 was expâ—… that he should go away from them and he would send another teacher who would do greater things and more manifestly and glorâ—…ously reveal unto them God and the things of his Kingdom if Christs bodily presence in his flesh was not sufficient of it self to minister though he spoke as never man spoke lyes I say if this ministration was not sufficient but a more glorious they were to expect and as they waited they witnessed it fulfiled and come unto them then farâ—…less is the outward ministration of any other man or men whomsoever sufficient for that effect for if Christ be not any more to be known after the flesh much less any other man nor is their knowledge they can receive from any other man to be rested in seeing the knowledge of Christ after the flesh was not sufficient nor to be rested in but they were to look for a better a more clear and full manifestation in themselves he appearing in a spiritual glorious heavenly misterious way in their hearts even such a way as the world cannot know him or receive him which made Indas nâ—…t Iscaeriot to wonder and question him saying how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world And it will yet further appear how insufficient words even the best of words Scripture words though there were as many books of Scripture as thâ—…â—…hole world could contain are to reveal or to give the knowledge of God unto man many yea the most of things natural and created cannot be understood of or by words words being but figures emblems signs and representations of things come always short of the things themselves unless they be lying words which go beyond the truth and these come far shorter and the knowledge they can give is but false and a lye what words can give a man the true and sufficient knowledge of the Sun can the best Orator tell a blind man what the Sun is what these pleasant and beautiful colours of his bearas are which makes the Rainbow thorough the refraction of a cloud dissolving into Rain can they describe to him the beauty of a Lillie in the field to which Solomon in all his outward glory is not comparable Do not these of the meanest capacity and understanding who have their eyes and can look upon the Lillie have a better and more satisfying knowledge thereof then the blind man though quick of understanding though he had all the wittyest Orators and wisest men of the world to describe it unto him all their words comes far short of the other mans sight or can a deaf man know what a musical harmony and melody of the vocie is or can one who has lost the taste of his mouth know wine from water or sweet from bitter now if the knowledge of these natural things cannot be had sufficiently by any words how much less can things spiritual and God who is a spirit be known by words if words come short in the description or manifestation of creatures obvious to our bodily sences how infinitely short they fall in the manifestation of God or the things of his Kingdom As it is written 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 9. Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him But verse 10. God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Lo how the Apostle shuts forth all the knowledge that can be had either by the outward ear or eye when all words are excluded from being sufficient to reveal the things of God but can mans imaginations reasonings or conceptions and thoughts of man in his natural understanding do it either nay saith he it hath not entred into the heart of man to conceive them then all conceptions and thoughts of mans heart in the fall the old heart old Adams heart are also excluded from giving the knowledge how then are they known God saith he hath revealed them unto us by his spirit not unto me only said he but unto us unto you as well as unto me
he that is born of God desire his Fathers face the Kings face the light of his Countenance this made David and so maketh it all the Children of God say We have more joy and gladness in the light of our Fathers Countenance though it were shut up in a Dungeon with Bread and Water than they whose Corn and Oyl and Wine doth abound Now whereas it is said The Scriptures are plain evident and manifest in themselves they have a secret glory Majesty and Purity in them which mans writings in his own wisdom have not and this abundantly manifests them to the spiritual Eye I grant it is so and certainly knows it to be so which makes them so precious unto me but consider a little what this Glory Majesty Plainness Purity c. is which makes them Manifest and to whom it Manifests them Such an Example will somewhat figure it forth having first known such a man of rare beauty comeliness and majesty which appears in his countenance and afterwards seeing his Portrait drawn so exactly as a Pensel could do this Image or Portrait has a pretty lively representation of him and the Characters of his Beauty and the Majesty of his Countenance appear somewhat in the Portrait whereby I Manifestly know That it is the representation of such a Man Now these Characters of Beauty and Majesty in the Image come far short of the Mans countenance and it was the seeing of him first made me know his Image to be his and so the glory and beauty of his Face may be called Primarie but that in the Portrâ—… Secondary or Derivative and the seeing himself makes me believe that it is his Description and it is Manifest enough so I reading in the Scripture wherein there are as it were rare and excellent draughts shaddowing forth Jesus Christ and I then coming to know himself the Scriptures lye open and plain unto me and they are very evident and manifest but to him that never saw the King of Glory himself they are hid and as a sealed Book and he who has heard God himself speak will manifestly know the words writ or declared by others in whom he has also spoken and he stands near himself to testifie and witness to the truth of these words which come from himself So Queen Sheba easily believed the report concerning Solomon and his wealth when she saw it and I reading the Description of such a Countrey I have been in and travelled thorow it is easie for me to know whether it be true or false and I being so long a hearer of such a Man speaking from word of mouth and afterwards reading a book containing his words I know them to be his having heard him before but the words as they lye in a book come far short of these which proceedeth from his own mouth for these had much móre Life and Power with them Then how much more do the words Immediately proceeding out of the Mouth of God excell a Declaration or writing of them though they be also precious and excellent but where the Word of the King himself is there is Power and blessed are they who know this joyful sound of the Voice of the living God in their hearts and have thus learned the truth as it is in Jesus having so learned Christ having heard himself and so having him the Witness in themselves Ephes. 4. 21. 1 Iohn 5. 10. They are built on a sure Foundation which gives them fullness of Assurance That the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine is of God having found himself Come and seen him of whom Moses and the Prophets wrot Iohn 1. 45. 46. And as it was the Spirit of Jesus Christ Witnessing in the hearts of them who believed to the Truth of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles by which they were made Manifest in their Consciences and their words were believed which proceeded Immediately from their own Mouthes and seeing that was necessary then it must be also necessary now also much if not much more seeing these Apostles and Prophets are not alive themselves in the flesh to tell us that they spoke or wrot so but that their writings are transmitted to us through many generations from hand to hand and no question they have fallen into enemies hands and how can a man be so fully assured as is sufficient for his Salvation but that Papists Iews and others who had them before us have wronged them and both added and taken away and altered if the Spirit of the Lord perswade him not to the contrary seeing it is possible they might have done so if the Lord had permitted and what a light Foundation have they to their Faith which men of corrupt minds or Devils or any powers whatsoever of this World may brangle spoile corrupt add to or take from for as we know through the rich mercy and gracious Providence of God the Lord hath so wonderfully preserved the Scriptures Testimony so far uncorrupt and pure as that they abundantly testifie the true foundation and these things sufficient for Salvation not that they are sufficient themselves but they abundantly testifie to that which is sufficient and this we know by the Spirit of God that wrought them but what a tottering and Lubrick and uncertain Foundation ye have made to your selves some of you affirming and these men of great account with you that the points of the Hebrew Coppies in which Language the old Testament was writ are but mens aditions and the first writers used them not and it is affirmed by many of your selves they are but a late invention Now what a great difference and considerable the pointing makes any skilled in that Language but a little may know the points being the vowells even so great that the points otherwaies set or added may not only alter one or more words but whole sentances and if so what a loss are ye at in your Foundation I found it only to touch this a little and refer the Reader to Sammâ—…el Fishers Book where he treats of this at large and Iohn Owen Confesseth the points or vowels to be so weighty that if they be invented or added since the writeing of the Scriptures by fallible men it mightily threatens the ruine of the Christian Faith thus he in words to the same purpose as may be seen in his book and yet these men who set forth the Biblia Polyglotta and many others affirm the points to be added since or that the contrarie is not Certain but they are happy whose Faith depends not on mans saying or unsaying but on that Word which was in the beginning and this only can certifie us of the Scriptures Argument 12. And as by the Spirit of Jesus Christ his Revealing Immediately in mans heart and bearing testimony to the Scriptures that they are of God and writ from his inspiring and moving of these holy Men of God who penned them Man can only be sufficiently perswaded to believe them so this can only
like these men who talke of the Scripture Canon being filled up so that the Spirit of Prophecy is Ceased are to the Iews who had such a fancy among them concerning the Scriptures of the Old Testament their being filled up and their becoming a Rule to them so that when Christ and his Apostles came and spoke from the same Spirit the Scriptures were writ from they would not hear them but cryed up the Scriptures We have the Scriptures and Moses Law and God spoke unto Moses and our Fathers but this Man we know not from whence he is Joh. 9. 28 29. And as for Prov. 22. 19 20 21. There is wisdom â—…ught in speaking to Solomon and making known her words and writeing unto him but that proves nothing That the speaking of that wisdom or spirit in others as in Solomon is Ceased Nor yet Isa. 8. 19 29. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word c. Now could this be a good Argument for the Iews against Christ and his Apostles and their Writeings No nor is not now against writeings or words proceeding from the Inspiration of the same Spirit for that which was writ after or is to be writ from the Spirit of God is not contrary to any thing writ before from the same Spirit but according to it for all the words of truth accord and agree together and there was a Law and Testimony writ in Men's Hearts before a Line of Scripture was ever writ in a Book and they who spoke not according thereto were but deceivers and had no morneing in them as the Hebrew carries it And now I come to that Scripture they lay so much weight upon 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16 17. But what Does the Cannon close here is not the next Chapter writ from the Inspiration of the Spirit of God and the other following Books if they were writ after this as they follow after it or if these words prove not but that Paul and others both spoke and wrot afterwards from the Inspiration of the holy Ghost how will it prove that there is no such thing now O say they all new Revelations are superstuous there needs no more Scripture that which is writ is writ is able to make wise unto Salvation from a Tim. 3. 15 16 17. But I say Paul and others wrot Scriptures afterwards But to come to that Scripture It is to be considered there is a writeing by the Spirit of God upon Man's heart See 1 Chron 28. 12. Compared with ver 19. and with Ierem. 31. 33 and 2 Cor. 33. And so this is Scripture or Writeing for both are one by the inspiration of God Scripture or writeing with Pen and Ink upon paper but with the Spirit of the living God upon the heart and these holy writeings are able to make 〈◊〉 unto Salvation And Scripture given unto a Man by Inspiration of God is profitable and the words should be thus Translated All Scripture given by Inspiration of God or all Writting given by Inspiration of God profitable for Doctrine for Reproofs c. That the Man of God may be perfect for the word is is not in the Greek and it 's false that all writeing is by Inspiration of God for much has been writ from the Inspiration of the Devil But I acknowledge these Books set down in our Bible to be writ from the Inspiration of God and when any man receives them by Inspiration that they be given him by Inspiration as to these who wrot them then they are profitable to him but if he come not to that Spirit which inspired the first Writers and there-with to be Inspired they cannot of themselves profit for the Letter kills but the Spirit giveth life and the Inspiration of the holy Spirit giveth understanding as saith Elihu so who come not to this Inspiration they come not to an Understanding of the Scriptures And our very Adversaries dare not plead from this Scripture that there is nothing more required but Scripture to make wise unto Salvation for they acknowledge the inward Illumination of the Spirit to be necessary thereto and if they make one exception why may not we make another That inward Revelâ—…ations and Inspirations are necessary aswel and further it may be said of the Scriptures of the Old Testament all that is spoken here of the use and ability of Scripture yet does not this exclude the writeings of the Evangelists and Apostles and we acknowledge the Scriptures are profitable and useful but not sufficient of themselves to make wise unto Salvation without the inspiration of the same Spirit that gave them forth which can only give the understanding of them But why do they plead that Scripture is able to make the Man of God perfect seeing they deny Perfection and cannot abide to hear that a man can be perfect And that Scripâ—…ure Luke 1. 3 4. Does it prove That no more Scripture is to be written nor any after Luke spoke or wrot from the inspiration of the Spirit of God Was not much writ afterwards Or could Luk's word cause Theophilus to know the certainty of these things of themselves Nay they were a Declaration of what he most surely believed himself and Theophilus reading it having the Spirit of God would find that witnessing in him to the truth of these things and this gives the certainty or assurance See 1 Thes. 1. 5 Their next Scripture is Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning c. What then is Revelation or the Spirit of Prophecy ceased for all this yet Paul himself had it and he sayes The Scriptures were wrot for his learning and he points here at a Scripture in the old Testamenâ—… but this proves not there was no more Scriptures to be added thereto and Paul sayes not the Scriptures were writ that we should learn only by them or stick to the Letter learning for he had a learning beyond them even that of the Spirit and in this same Epistle he points them to the newness of the Spirit beyond the oldners of the Letter Rom. 7. 6. which compare with 2 Cor. 3. 6. Their next Scripture is Math. 4. 4 7. as for ver 4. It fighteth Manifestly against them Man shall not live by Bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Now say they The word proceeding from Gods mouth is Ceased he speaks not from word of mouth now as he did of old but from the Scriptures but if God himself speak not Man lives not And what does this prove that Christ used the Scriptures Testimony against the Devil is there not therefore any Inspiration or Revelation was not Christ inspired himself and was not Paul and the other Apostles Inspired who used the Testimony of former Scriptures writ before them against their adversaries but yet they wrot Scriptures themselves from the same Spirit and why may not it be so now Their
Minister from the Spirit nor have received any ordinance there-from as is Manifest both from their Principles and Practises The 7th of the 4th Month 1668. G. K. FINIS POSTSCRIPT RObert Barron his Book Entituled Apodipis Catholica de formali objecto fidei coming to my hands after the finishing of what I had writ concerning Immediate Revelation its remaining a standing Ordnance in the Church I found it fit to cite such particular places directing the Reader to his Words where at large he may see them Where he declareth his Doctrine concerning Immediate or inward Revelation Ex parte Objecti and ex parte Subjecti affirming that ex parte Objecti to be Ceased which conâ—…th the Prophets and Pen-men of the Scriptures to have had and that only this Revelation Ex parte Objecti is Revelation properly simply and according to the more usual way of speaking in the Scripture so called see Tractâ—… 9. Authors Duplic Puncto 2 Num. 13. 14. 15. Again a few leaves after puncto btâ—… num 6. and num 5. Immediately preceeding he saith that which moves the Mind to give one assent to Truth objectively or by way of Object is Medium cognitum a known Midst it must be known and apprehended by the Mind that it may move it to assent but that which moveth effectively upon the part of Subject or Power which he calleth Revelation Ex parte Subjecti is Medium incognitum an unknown mid'st because saith he these helps upon the part of the subject may co-operate to produce one assent of Faith although they are not felt or known by us Let the Reader take a view of these places where he shall see that I have truly set down his Doctrine and his very words in that paper concerning Immediate Revelation and Tract 9. Quest. 8. Num. 5. He saith they falsly assert that we believe the authority of the Scriptures for or because of the inward testimony of the Spirit for we believe saith he the Divine Authority of the Scripture not for another thing but for the Scripture it self because that act of Faith whereby the Authority of the Scripture is believed leaneth upon the Scripture it self as it 's principal Foundation Some will say saith he some Orthodox Theologues speak far otherwayes for they most frequently affirm the Scripture authority to be believed for or because of the Inward Testimony of the Spirit â—…o which he roundly answereth and I desire the Reader to mark the answer whereby he may perceive either their or his Deceipt whereby they give poor people to believe that they deny not the Spirits Testimony or inward Teaching but when it comes to the point their false cover is taken off and they falsly deny it although saith he they speak otherwaies yet they think not otherwise for that word for or because of Latine propter is ambiguous and sometimes importeth a respect to the effective cause of assent but sometimes yea more often to the objective cause or Foundation upon which the assent of our mind leaneth c. This Robert Barron after long debate with the Iesuit Turnbull contending against the Papists That the authority of the Church of Rome is not the formal Object or Foundation of Faith or believing of the Scriptures cometh at last to refute their Doctrine which he calleth Errour and saith that it is most easily refuted who maintain the formal Object of Faith i. e. its Foundation to be the inward Revelation of the holy Spirit properly so called and for the Revelation of this Dectrine which Num. 6. he most of all condemneth he bringeth five Arguments Num. 8. Punct 6. Tract 9. And I find it fit to set them down also Word by Word Translated into English out of the Latin in which his book is writ that the Reader in whom the true discerning in any Measure is opened may see the blindness of this man in the things of God notwithstanding of all his Letter knowledge and what a woful condition this poor Nation has been in these many years for all their high pretences to be the most glorious and most purely reformed Church in the Earth and yet this Doctrine of Immediate Revelation wereby alone God can be sufficiently and saveingly known hath been by them and yet is by the present generation accounted so ridiculous that by this Man R. B. called Doctor of Divinity in Aberdeen and of great fame for his learning at home and abroad it is most of all condemned even more than the Popish Doctrine of resolveing their Faith in the Authority of the Church of Rome so that Scripture is fulfilled upon them Isa. 29. 13. 14. His Arguments are as followeth To every one of which as they ly in order I shall return a few words of answer which I hope shall satisfie the discerning and indeed they are so weak frivolous and vain that little or no answer is required were it not that fools some times are to be answered in their folly least they should seem wise in their own eyes as Solomon speaketh First saith he This way of knowing the Truth of the Doctrines of Faith viz. By the internal Revelation of the holy Spirit properly so called is Extraordinary and Prophetical as is Manifest of the aforesaid and consequentially the truth of the Christian Doctrine formerly and commonly is not so made known unto the Faithful Answ. This way of Internal Revelation Prophecy so called hath alwayes been not only Extraordinary but altogether shut up from the unbelieving and such who stuck in the Letter but it hâ—…h alwayes been common to the true Christians and Saints in all ages being the New Covenant Dispensatory which lâ—…eth not for ever Isa. 59. 21. That it was Prophetical i. e. Imparted to the Prophets is granted but it follows not that therefore it is not the common priviledge of all Saints who were to have the like precious Faith with them and though it was rare in the days of old yet God hath poured cut according to his Promise Ioel 2. 28 29. Largely upon Sons and Daughters of his Spirit whereby they Prophecy Secondly saith he who imbrace this Errour they confound the gift of Faith and the gift of Prophecy for the most noble kâ—…nd of prophetical Revelation is that which is by Intellectual speaking or illumination as Thomas and Suarez teach Answ. 1. Who imbrace this supposed Errâ—…ur but indeed Truth Do not confound the gift of Faith and the gift of Prophecy the spirit of Faith and the spirit of Prophecy is one but the opperations different 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. Now if by the gift of Prophecy he understand as he seemeth to do the inward Manifestation or speaking of God Immediately to the mind Faith is hereby wrought viz. God this speaking or Manifesting the truth Immediately in the Mind is the cause of Faith and so as the cause and effect are different so the Prophetical Revelation and the Faith of what is Revealed are different opperations For because God
Revealeth in Man these he believeth But if he or any other would thus reason then every one who have the gift of Faith must have the Prophetical Revelation and so all believers are Prophers and do Prophecy Answ. 2. All Saints have the same Spirit and Word of Prophecy in some measure more or less that the Prophets had who ever directed people to the same Spirit and Word in their hearts from which they spoke that they might in themselves hear the same Word and Spirit whereby the true Faith comes and such who turned in their minds to this Word and Spirit in them or rather by the drawings thereof were turned by it believed the Prophets Testimonies and all others did not believe but rejected their Testimony as false and seigned I shall not need to cite Scriptures for this or produce reasons having done both at large in the fore-going Treatise but whereas they say then all should be Prophets and Prophecy who believe Answ. 3. All the Saints must know the sheepherds voice in them and witness Christ Jesus the great Prophet Prophecying or speaking in them and must carry his Testimony which is the Spirit of Prophecy Revel 19. 10. compared with 12. 17. But we do not say neither followeth it from our Doctrine That all are called forth as Prophets to Prophecy or Minister or Teach or have the gift of utterance given them only this we affirm That none ought to Minister or Teach but who witness the Internal Call and furnishing of the holy Spirit given them what to speak Immediately from it self and inwardly revealing the truth of these things in them whereof they declare and they who Prophecy or Preach of Faith ought to believe themselves and to have the same Spirit of Faith according to that 1 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith believe therefore we speak and so speaking a Prophecying of the effect or consequent of Faith in all whom God calleth thereunto Thirdly saith he This opinion too openly favoureth the Swendefieldians Anabaptists and others vaunting of Internal Breathings or Inspirations and enthusiasms for saith he that Internal Revelation which is upon the part of the object and which is ever by Supernatural and disjoynedly Infused representations truly and properly is Enthusiasme Answ. Lo how the fleshly denies the Inward Breathings or Inspirations of Gods Spirit whereby alone the understanding is opened and the true Wisdom and Life received but what saith he here against it but that the Swendefieldians and Annabaptists maintain this Doctrine and vaunt themselves to be Inspired but this will not prove it false though they had not been Inspired more than when the false Prophets in Ieremiah's daies said They were Inspyred by the Spirit of God that therefore Ieremiah was not Fourthly saith he Hence it followeth that the whole Church that is all the faithful are ruled by new Revelations Answ. What evil is this or rather is it not a blessed dispensation for all who believe to walk after the Spirit and to Witness God dwelling and walking in them as he hath promised It is observable how both this man and all his brethren take it for granted rather it hath passed all along among them as a Principle then that ever any of them could prove it That there no Immediate Revelation and upon this sandy Foundation they have built their Church Ministry Worship and Ordinances which is now a falling and great is and shall be the fall thereof but this we say and certainly know such who can receive it let them all true Christians have the dayly and hourly Manifestations Revelations and Influences of the Life eternal fresh and new from the Fountain as the Israelites gathered the Manna new from Heaven every day c. Fifthly saith he Internal or Immediate Revelations cannot make us more certain of the Divine Authority than the outward Revelation viz. the Scriptures therefore if the outward is not to be believed for it self neither the inward and so either an infinite progress or vitious Circle must be committed Answ. The Antecedent is Manifestly false and therefore it concludes not truly for what man of the meanest discerning will not acknowledge that God Immediately Revealing or speaking in Man whose voice is full of heavenly vertue sweetness and holiness which his Sheep by their heavenly nature hear and discern from the voice of a stranger maketh him more certain than when he has but a report from another Writ in the time of my Imprisonment in the Tolbooâ—…h of Aberdeen in Scotland where I was shut up ten Months for no other cause but my Testimony to the Truth The 3d. of the 6th Month 1668. G. Keith Errata or faults escaped in Printing PAge 10. Line 13. for annull read animal p. 12. l. 27. for God r. of God p. 25. l. 33. for stuffe r. strife p. 17. l. 15. for light r. life p. 52. l. 9. for misery r. mercy p. 88. l. 25. for swords r. words p. 92. l. 31. for him 1. her p. 109. l. 15. for darkness r. drunkenness p. 137. l. 3. for none r. is there none p. 121. l. 21. for Christians r. Christians have p. 126. l. for with r. â—…ot with THE END Prov. 5. 2. and 3. 2 Cor. 4. 6.