his spirit being far from his former temper but in this the Gent. are silent Let the Reader if he can espy one good word for the Administrator throughout all the Gents false Iew but all the Gall and Wormwood they can procure When nothing could be proved against the Iew being ready to depart without a discovery Alderman George Dawson offered that if I would see him forthcoming he should go with me but seriously I found my spirit averse since his late expression when of a sudden after the Gents fierceness had done no good the Almighty searcher of hearts ordered the steps of a man at that instant into the Room with two Lecters the one directed to Thomas Horseley but so worn spelled and written that there was much difficulty in reading of it yet so much appeared that his guilt appeared more than by all the former rugged unchristian dealing yet still he faced it out and subtilly evaded all at length I desired that I might take him into the Garden which was readily granted Mr. Hammond also whispering in mine ear to sift him thoroughly but this the Gent. smother declaring Vntruth 7 That the Iew desired to go aside with the Administrator whereas God knows and some of themselves know that the motion and desire was mine What a naughty spirit is it that sets these Gent. a work concealing all that might render the Administrator any way acceptable and proclaiming all that may any way tend to his disps ragement amongst the rest declaring that they knew not what passed betwixt us which is untrue for I declared to them That I pressed him with all my might by perswasions allurements threatnings to discover the particulars of that guilt I manifestly discerned in him but before I could obtain this some others came to us which made him more reserved so that I set to it singly the second time but all the Gent. comming into the Garden much a mused him Then Mr. Hammond and some others laboured with him but when they could not prevail I was desired the third time to try what God would do who now so mightily appeared in a corner of the Garden neer the River that the wretch confessed his imposture telling me that if his life might be secured he would make known strange things but not daring to promise more than I could perform I called to Mr. Hammond who upon some promises and encouragements had all discovered As that he was no Iew but to act the Iews part was circumcised at Rome That he was Mr. Alexander Ramsey 's Son That he would discover many Popish Plots against England c. After this Mr. Hammond and Mr. Durant desired me as being best acquainted with him to give him some Christian Counsel which I willingly performed labouring to touch or if possibly to awaken his seared conscience and hardned impenitent heart shewing him the just hand of a sin-searching God c. Amongst other things I demanded of him How I should know that he took up Baptism at Hexbam upon any other tearms than he took up Circumcision at Rome id est on purpose to deceive He answered That all he could say was his conversation while he was amongst us And thus much for the discovery of the Impostor with which the Gent. draw to an end of their Narrative onely some passages it seems they had almost forgot They had almost forgot to tearm their dear friend a Stickler whom they say urged this Agument for the Counterfeit triumphingly Did ye ever hear or read of an Emissary from Rome that submitted to the Ordinance of Baptism Ans I suppose that as these Gent. could not name one so they never heard of such an Impostor as this the Pope with his scarlet Conclave and subtil Jesuits and bloody Inquisition are now hatching new projects to undermine and ruine the true Churches of Christ Vntruth 8 A second passage which the Gent. had almost forgot is a most notorious untruth viz. That the Administrator called the Counterfeit to partake of the Ordinance of the Lords Supper and that he dissembled to avoid it Reader there is not one syllable of truth in this almost forgotten passage here are many living witnesses in the Church of Hexham to testifie That the false Jew most earnestly desired the Ordinance and the Administrator by desire of the Church wished him to forbear until he had cleared himself at Newcastle wherupon he most exquisitly acted the part of a dejected forlorn perplexed soul smiting his breast and with tears and trembling for no doubt he can quake professed that his soul did weep even tears of blood for those lyes which he thought no sin when they were spoken Thus the Gent-instead of ours have published their own shame in this great falsehood and not onely this for the false Jew tells them which being to our reproach they publish That he looked upon our Baptism as no more than the washing of his hands but for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that he dissembled to avoid But can these Gent. believe that the Papists have any more esteem of our Ordinance of the Lords Supper than of our Baptism Certainly our Communion is no less contrary to their Masse in all particulars than our Baptism to their Sprinkling Is not the same judgement which the Gent. say is seized upon us justly faln upon themselves being given up of God to believe lies 2 Thes 2.11 and that from he mouth of a known Lyar. Truly although these Gent. judge nothing of God in us yet for the honour of truth they should have enquired of us being but sixteen miles from them before they had Published these gross and slanderous untruths But I proceed to their third passage which was almost forget The Administrator thought to terrifie us in saying This Jew was sent for into the Army Ans I fear that inâ—â—â—ad of this passage the Gent. have almost forgot themselves in usurping the Throne of God boldly intrenching upon his Prerogative Royal Do they know my thoughts God alone knows the thoughts of men How then can they say The Administrator thought to terrifie us I wish the Gent. who boast so much of the knowledge of the heart and thought to read 2 Thes 2.4 10 11. But why should these Gent. be terrifyed with the Army I know not any Professors that fear the Army but such as are principled for persecution indeed it is thought these Gent. have not much affected the Army since Captain Everard and his Brother stirred up their spirits to persecution by a Petition which our Noble Lord General like an excellent Christian slighted But the Gent. do every way abuse me in declaring that I said The Jew was sent for into the Army I said indeed That the Jew was invited into Scotland by a godly tender-hearted Christian commiserating his mean condition Being almost tyred with these Passages which had been as good altogether as almost forgotten I hasten having already answeted to all that concerns us
in Christ onely seeking a Christ without so exquisitely could he act the Hypocrite in all the motions and methods of a work of grace And whereas the Gentlemen desire to know by what Principle he did it I must tell them from a Principle infused by the Prince of darkness transforming himself into an Angel of light the way of all Hypocrites I hope these Gentlemen know that Hypocrites may and do abandon all enjoyments and expose themselves to all dangers and miseries as they think for Christ or else what shall we think of many of those called Quakers and their Fathers the Franciscan Fryars who have undoubtedly begun the work by some such Impostors as our Jew who forsake all and macerate their bodies though as yet I think they are not come to whipping and other Penance I may not question but Iudas had forsaken all as well as Peter neither could these Gent. have been able to discern whether would prove the Traytor any more than their dear friend or I could discern the Jew would prove an Hypocrite And now if the enlightned Saint considering what hath been offered shall observe the Gents conclusion of this their sixth Consideration viz. By this time you know both the Administrator and his Disciple he may easily conclude by what Principle they speak it but I shall leave them to God beseeching him to pitty and pardon them The Genr. passing by my seventh and eight Section to avoid prolixity as they say being desirous onely to point out my grosser mistakes They declare in their ninth Consideration their trouble That I should compare the Jew to the Father of the Faithfull and so harden him in his sins To which I reply That it was upon his professed sorrow for his lies that I pleaded for him but after I discovered his imposture I was as farre from justifying him or mincing his sinnes as from daubing with untempered Morter un ∣ truth 12 or my own reason What the Gent. glance at betwixt their ninth and tenth Consideration I have already spoken to except this one particular upon my second reason That I abuse many gratious Saints which the Jew met with before he came to Lieutenant Collonel Hobson charging them with making no conscience of lyes Far be it from me to charge any one gratious Saint with such abominations I shall desire the Reader to review my second Reason Part. 2 pag. 9. which is this That this Iew was not yet throughly instructed in Christianity not any Christians he had met with making Conscience of such kind of untrnths Now what charge is this I enquired diligently of the Jew what Christians he had met with before he came to the Lieutenant Collonel he told me He had onely been with Mr. Durant at New-castle but stayed not Part. 1 for want of entertainment And for this Gent. when I shall see him humbled for that grosse untruth mentioned pag. 3 I may look upon him as a gratious Saint Now I desire these Gent. to name one gratious Saint that I have perfectly abused by charging him to make no conscience of lyes if they cannot then surely they have perfectly abused me whom they have sometimes owned as a gratious Saint But I proceed to their tenth Consideration wherein they declare That the reports I called false are now evident truths and wonder that my confidence should swell so bigge upon no better grounds than by the Narrative To which I reply my grounds were good I walked by an exact rule which will bear me out 1 Cor. 13.4.7 I might better enquire what should swell the confidence of these Gent to publish such things as they have done for Truths against me from the alone testimony of a known lyar which are notoriously false And whereas they lament my condition 2 Thess 2.1 and the whole Society with me in Communion as given up of God to believe lies 1. Let them consider well that whatsoever dirt and filth they cast in our faces lights in the Face of the Apostles and primitive Christians who were frequently deceived by Hypocrites yet never blamed for admitting them upon their profession let these Gent. produce one example for such kind of dealing as theirs is with me But secondly I shall desire the Reader if he have any light to consider seriously whether strong delusions to believe lyes be a just judgement from God upon these Gent. or upon us 1. The Jew came to us with most exquisite hypocrisie in a melting trembling weeping frame of spirit all his carriage holy and humble before his Baptism his lyes were unknown to us till afterward and then we denyed him communion with us 2. But after he is known to be a notorious lyar these Gent. have so far believed all his relations that might any way defame us that without further enquiry though we are but sixteen miles from them they have published them all to the world Is this like the ministers of Christ Is this to speak and write as the Oracles of God The Oracle of God saith Thou shalt not receive or raise a false report Exod. 23.1 but these Gent. have done both The Oracle of God saith Receive not an accusation against an Elder but before or under two or three Witnesses 1 Tim. 5.19 but one single Testimony and that of a known lyar too hath set these Gents Pens a work to reproach and defame both an Elder and a whole Church This Scripture was urged some moneths since by one of these gent. who having done me manifest injury in a Publique way of persecution I wrote to Mr. Hammond whom I judged more moderate to deal with him about it Whereupon the Gent. wrote to me flatly denying the injury within these fair expressions I expect a Brotherly satisfaction from you which is first a sense of your over credulity and unloving readiness in believing ill of your Brother contrary to 1 Tim. 5.19 Secondly your irregular declaring this offence to another To which I answered That I am able to make good the charge by sufficient witnesses no Jewes whensoever he pleaseth Secondly It was a very publique persecution and therefore I dealt not irregularly But what brotherly satisfaction can these Gent. make for their over credulity and unloving readiness in believing ill of him they term a Brother from the hand of one Witness whom they know to be an Impostor full of Falshood and irregularly declaring all to the World which they can never make good They can never make good That I knew of the many plotted lies of the false Jew before I baptized him They can never make it good That I called the Jew to the Lords Supper and he refused If the Gent. shall reply That the false Iew told them so and thereupon they publish it Hath not God sent them strong delusions to believe lies They can never make it good That I neglected to preach the fundamental truths of the everlasting Gospel and made it my business to preach up Baptism ever since I came to Hexham They cannot make it good That we own Persons as living monuments of free grace only upon closing with our opinion They cannot make it good That I have charged many gratious Saints with making no conscience of lies These
and other gross Untruths of these Gent. being considered I suppose I have more cause to bewail their sad condition as being given up of God to believe to make and to publish lies so that their own Pen drops their own doom 2 Thes 2.11 both in their Title Page and the closure of their tenth Consideration But time and occasions call to a Conclusion And therefore to their eleventh Consideration enquiring Whether the work upon my heart be any better than the Jews I have already answered That if it be not their skil in heart work is as little as they say mine is seeing they have judged me truly gratious Their 12 Consideration I shall leave to my beloved Brother and faithful Fellow-labourer to which he answers That the twelfth Consideration hath as much of the Serpent in it as any of the former For whereas they mention his present station he apprehends it to be inserted by them 1. Either to his disparagement which is the grand design carryed on through the false Jewish Pamphlet and if so he must tell the Gent. it is their weakness so to judge they not knowing wherof they affirm For as the Office relates to a person of no mean quality but one eminent and honorable in his Country so also it is a place of considerable credit and no mean trust though they would present it to the world as despicable 2. Or secondly If they insist upon his Office as an impediment so that he cannot labour in the Lords work this mistake is equal with the former For his Office does not like their fat Lots at Newcastle for which they take occasion in their first Epistle to give God thanks pag. 2. l. 23. make him so corpulent or unwieldy but he can once or twice a fortnight lanch out to preach the Gospel in the dark parts neer adjacent where are divers Parish meeting-houses which stand as so many dark Lanthorns and which these Gents present pomp and greatness will not vouchsafe them to visit no not once in a Summer to hold forth their light to some thousands of poor souls which sit in darkness and may for all them perish without understanding But to proceed As for his great change which these Gent. charge him lately to have professed He doubts not but in the day of the Lord Jesus his appearing it shall appear that he possesses what he hath professed And that it is of a former date than since their Bugbear Articles of Scandals which they say were shown him though he never got a sight of them to peruse them wherein what was of truth he neither then did nor will deny But what he then granted had it amounted to a Charge he makes no question but he should have heard of them long ere now he having appeared in two Publique Disputes with the Administrator against them at Newcastle even before the expiring of their Commission So that concerning these Articles he hath ground to conclude That either there was self-conviction upon these Gent. that they were false or their proof shrunk in and sailed them being ashamed to justify such untruths or there hath been corruptness on some hands since that a business which the world must be made believe was so wicked hath been neer upon 3 years pocketed up in silence and if a truth hath bin withholden in unrighteousnes Any of these being granted which the impartial Reader in reason can't deny there was doubtless no such necessity as these Gent. pretend for him to strike in with the Administrator and his way who came not into these parts for many moneths after to secure him from the stroke of these Gent. Mock-Articles of Scandals they having had time will and power sufficient had they but had sufficiency of truth and integrity to have drawn up a charge against him But by the way let the Reader take notice that the Administrator and his way holds a rod over these Gent. and teaches them moderation He was struck in with the Administrator and his way therefore these Gent. waved their Articles Doth not such an inference well become Gent. that profess to be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth Oh blessed be our God who hath raised up such Professors of the Administrators way as have chained up men of persecuting Prelatical spirits so that they cannot act up to the height of mischief against the truths of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Professors of them as they would But say the Gent. We desire to see further c. Ans They have their desire but upon this condition That he may prevail with them for the like liberty before he lay the weight of infallibility in a work of grace upon any or all their judgements since that experience whereof sundry instances may be given hath taught him that these Gentlemen are not acted by an infallible spirit but are men subject to the like Passions Delusions and Mistakes as he is Optimus ille Qui minimis urgetur S. A. As to their last Consideration the Administrator can through mercy cheerfully bear all the affronts derisions end abuses of it and all the rest though temptations have not been wanting to answer these Gent. Rom. 12.17 18 19. in another way but Christ hath taught me better 1 Peter 2.23 so that when they say I speak in the same Language which the spirit of Satan breathed out of the mouth of my Dear Brother the Counterfeit I can patiently bear it Mat. 10.25 and leave it to the Lord who was tearmed Beelzebub before me and told me what I should meet with But whereas the Gent. confidently tell their Reader That the Counterfeit could never dissemble so handsomely in the Ordinance of Prayer and thereupon deride me thus Yet this is the Saint that the Administrator saies he had not found the like no not in England Let me tell the Reader what I shall punctually prove whensoever I am called to it That this is another gross untruth Vntruth 13 and a farther evidence that the judgement which the Gent. say is fallen upon us hath manifestly seized upon themselves namely To be given up of God to believe lyes Really Christian Reader this wretched Impostor whom these Gent. say at adventure could not dissemble so handsomely in the Ordinance of Prayer could speak sweetly soundly affectionately feelingly in Prayer so as to draw forth the heart exceedingly of such as are richly experienced in the things of Christ But it is manifest how readily yea and greedily the Gentlemen embrace whatsoever the false Jew speaks that may any way wound us wheras all other things that seem to appear for us they brand as Lyes Forgeries Deceits c. The Gent. close leaving the Administrator upon the Stage in his relation of the false Jews joy and spiritual sweetness after Baptism and they affirm its true He was observed to smile as he came out of the water and being asked the reason why he smiled it was as easily believed as spoken by him to be the joy of the Holy Ghost And I shall conclude also with declaring That I am certain these Gentlemen themselves are no other way able to discern or know where the joy of the Holy Ghost and Heavenly incomes are but by the expressions and actions of the party which were not wanting in this exquisite Hypocrite As for his smiling as he came out of the Water it is as easily believed by these Gentlemen it seems as spoken to use their own words But I perceive these Gentlemen little know what it is to be buried in Baptism that can believe a Person baptized is so suddenly in a smiling condition I was as neer to him as any and helping him out of the Water I heard him pray as soon as he could take breath I leave all to the Lord and his Saints it is their work to judge the World let them judge between us whether is guilty of believing Lyes as easily as spoken We in giving credit to the false Jews holy humble Confession when he appeared to us to be adorned with the pure Robes of Snow-white innocence no guilt at all or these Gent. in embracing whatsoever he told them against us after his notorious falshood was detected and they knew him to be an abhominable Lyar Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest doest the same things Rom. 2.1 FINIS
of our dearest affections to embrace them But it is well known that divers Persons under full convictions as to our opinion as these Gent. term it have been denyed communion with us and desired to wait in the use of means until the fruits fore mentioned shall appear whereas these Gent. do own and receive such in whom neither Faith Repentance Self-denial Knowledge or desire at all appears Their second Consideration That the Administrator calls the distinction of Persons Idols as at a meeting in Newcastle the last year he called them appearances and manifestations Reply These Gent. have no less abused me in this than in their High Commission-like dealing in that Conference at Newcastle where Mr. Hammond would rigidly impose the term Person upon me and when I put him to produce one rule for it which by Scripture he could not he demanded what I would call the Three Persons My answer was that I durst not give any Appellation at all but Father Son and Spirit God being gratiously pleased so to appear or manifest himself to us when suddainly he stopped my speech and spake very loud to the people that I called God an appearance or a manifestation which went for currant amongst that party And the like height of spirit was seen in the same Gent. when I was speaking of God as a Father a Son a Spirit he presently riseth up crying A Son a Son is that Scripture Language Then casting his arms abroad to the people Look ye friends said he this is the Gent. that stands so much for Scripture and now he saies A Son a Son then turning to me he said I must call him the Son I answered A Son and he hotly replyed often the Son not a Son t is no Scripture phrase till at last he sate down silent upon my rehearsall of this Scripture To us a Child is born to us a Son is given Such hath been the carriage of some of these Gent. towards me more like the Lordly Prelates than humble Gospel Ministers But concerning the great charge of calling the distinctions of Persons Idols I have indeed warned Christians to keep themselves from the Idols of mens vains inventions Mat. 15.9 Psal 99.8 because Christ hath declared it to be vain worship and t is that which procures the vengeance of God upon it Now if the Appellation Person be not Scripture t is a meer invention of Man and so an Idol Yes say they we have the Author to the Hebrews and is not he of more Authority than all the Rabbies in the World Reply Undoubtedly he is for however some do question the Authority of this Epistle yet I do firmly embrace it as the very word of Christ But the Author of this Epistle doth not call God a Person the words quoted by the Gen. are these Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the express character of his substance or subsistence These Gent. tell the world of the Administrators non-acquaintance with the Rabbies and that I do not disprove them I shall onely at present make use of our own Writers Crit. Sac. pag. 272. who possibly may help to inform some of them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it be translated Person for a Person and that some render it Essence others Substance others Subsistence yet all these are improper and that the proper signification of this word is a Foundation or Basis which subsisting of it self bears up other things In 2 Cor. 9.4 it is Confidence In Heb. 11.1 it is Existence In the Scripture it doth signifie A firm and settled perswasion of the mind upon any thing mark it well this is the Scripture signification of the word but saith he It is also used observe it is also used for the Divine essence with a Personal propriety Heb. 13. Thus you see this worthy Author layeth no such weight upon the word person as these Gent do to charge a man with denying the Trinity that cannot own the term Let us a little consider another learned Writer Gheynell Div. Trinun p. 22. who was commended to me with seeming affection by Mr. Hammond who indifferently accepts the word Person or Subsistence and plainly saies that the word which they translate Person is Subsistence Heb. 1 3. Page 81. and in page 84. the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render Subsistence and by way of Analogy Person observe it is by way of Analogy he further holds forth Page 89 that the Fathers did use the phrase of three Hypostases not daring it seems in the purest Primitive times to translate it Person but at last Page 91. they took the boldness to use the word Person I desire to be informed why this word Hypostasis which the Primitive Fathers so long used may not still be kept without translation as well as other * As Thylacceries Mat. 23 5. Anathema Meranath◠words whose proper signification cannot easily be rendred in English But to proceed with Master Cheynell pag. 89 90. you have this sober Christian conclusion We are prompted by the Spirit to explain this Mystery thus the Father Son and holy Ghost are three in subsistence but one in nature no Mystery can be explained with less violence and more sobriety for we are precise in keeping to the very words of Scripture in explaining this Grand Mystery to the plainest of men and therefore they were sentenced of old that did not believe this plain truth But I am sentenced now for professing the truth for when I declared my judgement in this glorious Three in One nothing would serve their turn but the very word Person what the height of spirit was God knows One observation more I shall add from Mr. Cheynell upon Calvin Non minori Religione c. Whatever we think or speak of our own heads concerning God will be like our selves unsavory foolish and vain and yet these Gent. are troubled that their invented word Person should be tearmed an Idol no Language is rich enough no words are significant enough to declare this profound Mystery which the understanding of Men and Angels cannot comprehend nor the tongue of Men and Angels express And therefore I hope that untill these Gentlemen can shew me the word Person in the Scripture I shall enjoy my Christan liberty to adore the eternal Father Son and Spirit according to Christs Word and not after the inventions and rigid injunctions of men There are three that bear record in Heaven 1 John 5.7 the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one Little Children I warn you again keep your selves from Idols Amen Verse 21. The Gent. have prevented me in answering themselves how I came to know that the Jews count it great blasphemy to call God a Person for they presently conclude That I had it from this Counterfeit Jew and truly in this they are right I should hope for some Christian accomodation if I could find these Gen. as ingenuous