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he_o be_v dead_a yet_o speak_v so_o in_o like_o manner_n though_o he_o be_v dead_a yet_o he_o speak_v in_o his_o work_n as_o in_o other_o so_o in_o this_o treatise_n they_o god_n have_v give_v he_o a_o gift_n in_o open_v the_o mystery_n contain_v in_o the_o law_n of_o shadow_n many_o in_o these_o day_n be_v trouble_v about_o the_o eat_n of_o blood_n thing_n strangle_v and_o thing_n offer_v to_o idol_n wherein_o i_o doubt_v not_o through_o the_o blessing_n of_o god_n if_o this_o treatise_n be_v read_v with_o a_o single_a eye_n here_o will_v appear_v many_o reason_n deduce_v from_o scripture_n satisfactory_a to_o any_o doubt_a soul_n in_o that_o particular_a who_o own_v the_o scripture_n compare_v spiritual_a thing_n with_o spiritual_a according_a to_o the_o advice_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n 2.13_o to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testament_n 8.20_o wherein_o be_v reveal_v the_o whole_a counsel_n of_o god_n so_o that_o man_n need_v not_o say_v in_o their_o heart_n who_o shall_v ascend_v into_o heaven_n etc._n etc._n 20.27_o as_o if_o the_o lord_n have_v not_o leave_v in_o his_o write_a word_n a_o perfect_a rule_n for_o all_o his_o saint_n to_o walk_v by_o in_o the_o order_n of_o his_o gospel_n and_o to_o resolve_v all_o doubt_n and_o hereby_o satan_n get_v advantage_n to_o ruinate_v the_o communion_n of_o sain_n in_o that_o they_o be_v carry_v about_o with_o every_o wind_n of_o doctrine_n 4.14_o till_o through_o confusion_n they_o even_o deny_v the_o lord_n that_o buy_v they_o slight_v his_o word_n that_o shall_v judge_v they_o one_o day_n call_v it_o a_o dead_a letter_n own_v nothing_o as_o the_o word_n but_o christ_n though_o the_o scripture_n say_v 30.4_o every_o word_n of_o god_n be_v pure_a but_o those_o that_o thus_o slight_a the_o scripture_n believe_v it_o not_o for_o those_o that_o believe_v it_o and_o receive_v it_o not_o as_o the_o word_n of_o man_n but_o as_o it_o be_v in_o truth_n the_o word_n of_o god_n 2.13_o find_v its_o effectual_a work_n in_o they_o as_o a_o light_n shine_v in_o a_o dark_a place_n 1.19_o david_n say_v 162._o through_o thy_o precept_n i_o get_v understanding_n therefore_o i_o hate_v every_o false_a way_n for_o the_o law_n of_o thy_o mouth_n be_v better_a unto_o i_o then_o thousand_o of_o gold_n and_o silver_n i_o rejoice_v at_o thy_o word_n as_o one_o that_o find_v great_a spoil_n also_o job_n also_o say_v i_o have_v esteem_v the_o word_n of_o his_o mouth_n more_o than_o my_o necessary_a food_n if_o gospel-professor_n will_v thus_o esteem_v of_o the_o word_n of_o god_n sure_o there_o will_v not_o be_v such_o distraction_n among_o they_o i_o shall_v say_v no_o more_o in_o commendation_n of_o the_o author_n of_o this_o treatise_n though_o praise_n be_v comely_a for_o the_o upright_a 33.1_o but_o desire_v the_o lord_n to_o set_v home_o what_o be_v here_o write_v to_o the_o heart_n of_o all_o those_o that_o be_v trouble_v in_o this_o point_n and_o preserve_v his_o elect_a from_o the_o dangerous_a error_n of_o these_o time_n keep_v their_o garment_n always_o white_a 3.4_o that_o they_o may_v be_v find_v worthy_a to_o enter_v into_o the_o joy_n of_o their_o lord_n amen_n t._n w._n the_o elder_n and_o brethren_n of_o the_o english_a church_n in_o amsterdam_n to_o mr._n woolsey_n prisoner_n in_o norwich_n wisdom_n and_o grace_n be_v multiply_v by_o christ_n to_o acknowledge_v and_o walk_v in_o christ_n as_o we_o have_v receive_v commandment_n from_o the_o father_n as_o it_o be_v a_o part_n of_o our_o joy_n and_o comfort_n amidst_o the_o many_o affliction_n allot_v we_o in_o this_o life_n to_o behold_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n prevail_v with_o those_o that_o be_v upright_o of_o heart_n and_o tread_v with_o a_o right_a foot_n in_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o same_o so_o it_o be_v no_o little_a grief_n to_o see_v or_o hear_v of_o the_o decline_n of_o any_o from_o the_o strait_a path_n of_o the_o lord_n to_o either_o hand_n of_o which_o sort_n there_o be_v great_a store_n this_o day_n as_o always_o have_v be_v before_o time_n touch_v who_o we_o may_v complain_v to_o the_o lord_n with_o the_o prophet_n *_o 9.3_o thou_o have_v multiply_v the_o nation_n but_o have_v not_o increase_v the_o joy_n and_o you_o which_o in_o your_o late_a letter_n unto_o we_o blame_v the_o diversity_n of_o opinion_n in_o the_o small_a number_n of_o those_o that_o be_v separate_a from_o the_o idolatrous_a church_n ad_fw-la error_n and_o lie_n dissonant_n and_o contrary_a to_o the_o whole_a truth_n of_o god_n and_o true_a liberty_n of_o the_o gospel_n etc._n etc._n shall_v have_v lay_v to_o heart_n your_o own_o word_n and_o spare_v to_o publish_v so_o dangerous_a a_o error_n under_o pretence_n of_o clear_v yourself_o as_o you_o say_v both_o of_o error_n and_o heresy_n but_o as_o all_o the_o river_n of_o damascus_n can_v not_o wash_v away_o naaman_n leprosy_n 5._o so_o neither_o can_v all_o the_o reason_n that_o you_o have_v render_v excuse_n or_o cleanse_v your_o doctrine_n from_o the_o contagion_n of_o heresy_n if_o you_o persist_v and_o go_v forward_o thus_o to_o hold_v yourself_o to_o persuade_v and_o thrust_v upon_o other_o your_o abstinence_n from_o meat_n which_o be_v reckon_v by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n for_o a_o doctrine_n of_o devil_n 1_o tim._n 4.1.3_o touch_v which_o point_n although_o you_o have_v have_v heretofore_o sufficient_a answer_n we_o doubt_v not_o by_o that_o faithful_a martyr_n of_o *_o 10.7_o bless_a memory_n mr._n h_o barrow_n wherein_o as_o you_o ought_v and_o shall_v so_o we_o may_v and_o will_v rest_v without_o make_v further_o reply_n yet_o because_o we_o have_v for_o the_o present_a no_o copy_n of_o those_o writing_n that_o may_v witness_v for_o we_o hereafter_o neither_o as_o we_o think_v be_v they_o send_v unto_o you_o in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o
whole_a church_n then_o at_o london_n we_o have_v now_o write_v brief_o what_o god_n have_v give_v we_o to_o see_v in_o this_o matter_n hope_v that_o this_o joint_a sentence_n of_o our_o church_n confirm_v by_o the_o word_n of_o the_o lord_n will_v take_v effect_n through_o his_o grace_n for_o the_o dissuade_v and_o reclaim_v of_o you_o from_o your_o error_n otherwise_o that_o you_o may_v have_v the_o less_o excuse_n in_o the_o day_n of_o christ_n and_o god_n which_o have_v teach_v we_o from_o our_o youth_n until_o now_o forsake_v we_o not_o even_o in_o our_o old-age_n and_o grey_a head_n till_o we_o have_v declare_v his_o gospel_n unto_o this_o generation_n and_o the_o truth_n thereof_o to_o so_o many_o of_o those_o that_o be_v to_o come_v as_o it_o shall_v please_v he_o 18._o the_o doctrine_n which_o in_o your_o letter_n you_o will_v maintain_v for_o the_o truth_n of_o god_n wherein_o you_o be_v obedient_a unto_o he_o you_o say_v as_o all_o other_o must_v be_v that_o true_o fear_v his_o name_n be_v that_o you_o will_v not_o willing_o eat_v blood_n nor_o thing_n strangle_v nor_o thing_n offer_v to_o idol_n for_o the_o abstain_n from_o blood_n you_o allege_v three_o reason_n 1._o the_o commandment_n of_o god_n to_o noah_n gen._n 9.4_o 2._o his_o commandment_n by_o moses_n to_o israel_n deut._n 12.16_o levit._n 17.13,14_o and_o 3._o by_o the_o whole_a company_n of_o the_o apostle_n elder_n and_o brethren_n at_o jerusalem_n to_o the_o church_n of_o the_o gentile_n act_n 15.23,28,29_o from_o which_o you_o conclude_v that_o it_o remain_v firm_a and_o sure_a to_o this_o day_n as_o any_o other_o testimony_n of_o holy_a scripture_n to_o be_v observe_v of_o all_o the_o faithful_a till_o the_o come_n of_o christ_n after_o this_o you_o make_v answer_n to_o certain_a misallege_n as_o you_o call_v they_o of_o other_o scripture_n against_o this_o truth_n and_o first_o for_o the_o commandment_n give_v to_o noah_n you_o write_v that_o nothing_o have_v be_v or_o can_v be_v say_v against_o it_o whereto_o we_o answer_v that_o we_o have_v cause_n to_o doubt_v of_o your_o fidelity_n when_o you_o affirm_v nothing_o have_v be_v say_v and_o to_o blame_v your_o confidence_n for_o avouch_v nothing_o can_v be_v say_v against_o the_o perpetuity_n of_o that_o commandment_n and_o for_o the_o first_o to_o free_v yourself_o of_o suspicion_n we_o pray_v you_o send_v we_o a_o true_a and_o perfect_a copy_n of_o all_o that_o mr._n barrow_n to_o omit_v other_o do_v write_v unto_o you_o for_o there_o we_o be_v persuade_v something_o have_v be_v say_v against_o it_o for_o the_o late_a we_o wish_v you_o to_o follow_v the_o counsel_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n that_o say_v a_o 12.3.16_o understand_v according_a to_o sobriety_n and_o be_v not_o wise_a in_o yourself_o consider_v that_o the_o word_n of_o god_n b_o 14.36_o come_v not_o out_o from_o you_o neither_o come_v it_o unto_o you_o only_o the_o abstinence_n from_o blood_n command_v to_o noah_n we_o hold_v to_o be_v temporary_a and_o be_v then_o a_o figure_n for_o the_o time_n present_a but_o be_v now_o disannul_v c_o 7.18_o for_o the_o weakness_n and_o unprofitableness_n thereof_o and_o that_o for_o these_o reason_n 1._o because_o the_o other_o observation_n of_o religion_n in_o those_o time_n before_o the_o law_n be_v give_v by_o moses_n be_v for_o the_o outward_a thing_n figure_n and_o shadow_n d_o 12.7_o as_o build_v of_o altar_n offer_v of_o sacrifice_n e_o 7._o difference_n of_o beast_n clean_a and_o unclean_a f_o 28.22_o pay_v of_o tithe_n offer_v of_o g_o 4.4_o first-fruit_n h_o 17._o circumcision_n and_o sundry_a the_o like_a so_o that_o it_o help_v not_o to_o say_v abstinence_n from_o blood_n be_v command_v before_o the_o law_n of_o moses_n and_o therefore_o be_v now_o to_o continue_v more_o than_o it_o will_v help_v a_o jew_n to_o say_v circumcision_n etc._n etc._n be_v command_v before_o moses_n law_n yea_o christ_n himself_o say_v i_o 7.22_o it_o be_v not_o of_o moses_n but_o of_o the_o father_n therefore_o it_o be_v to_o continue_v still_o 2._o we_o understand_v according_a to_o that_o small_a measure_n of_o light_n which_o god_n have_v give_v we_o in_o those_o dark_a shadow_n that_o abstinence_n from_o blood_n be_v a_o figure_n of_o our_o sanctification_n and_o that_o in_o three_o respect_n 1._o the_o first_o concerning_o god_n worship_n and_o service_n which_o that_o it_o may_v with_o the_o more_o holiness_n and_o reverence_n be_v use_v and_o regard_v he_o will_v have_v some_o special_a thing_n not_o profane_v or_o in_o common_a use_n of_o man_n so_o he_o forbid_v the_o make_n or_o use_v of_o that_o holy_a oil_n wherewith_o his_o sanctuary_n and_o priest_n be_v anoint_v exod._n 30_o 23,31-33_n and_o the_o like_a of_o that_o precious_a perfume_n exod._n 30.37_o also_o he_o forbid_v they_o to_o eat_v that_o fat_a of_o beast_n which_o they_o shall_v burn_v on_o the_o altar_n to_o the_o lord_n levit._n 7.25_o and_o that_o the_o blood_n be_v forbid_v also_o in_o this_o regard_n appear_v by_o levit._n 17.11_o for_o that_o the_o soul_n of_o the_o flesh_n be_v in_o the_o blood_n and_o i_o have_v give_v it_o to_o you_o say_v the_o lord_n for_o a_o atonement_n for_o your_o soul_n so_o that_o the_o common_a eat_n of_o any_o blood_n may_v have_v breed_v in_o they_o a_o contempt_n of_o the_o price_n of_o their_o atonement_n which_o be_v in_o figure_n the_o blood_n of_o beast_n but_o in_o truth_n the_o *_o 9.14_o blood_n of_o christ_n and_o for_o as_o much_o as_o this_o sacrifice_n of_o beast_n be_v in_o noah_n time_n and_o †_o 4._o before_o it_o be_v meet_v in_o the_o wisdom_n of_o god_n when_o he_o give_v they_o flesh_n to_o eat_v to_o debar_v they_o of_o the_o blood_n for_o the_o cause_n mention_v the_o second_o respect_n concern_v thankfulness_n to_o god_n for_o the_o use_n of_o his_o creature_n which_o he_o give_v unto_o the_o son_n of_o man_n therefore_o of_o they_o all_o the_o lord_n reserve_v one_o principal_a part_n from_o himself_o that_o thereby_o his_o people_n may_v acknowledge_v his_o goodness_n such_o be_v the_o law_n of_o all_o *_o 23.19_o first-fruit_n deut._n 26._o which_o every_o man_n be_v to_o bring_v before_o the_o lord_n acknowledge_v h_o 5,9,10_o his_o own_o unworthiness_n and_o god_n mercy_n in_o give_v he_o the_o increase_n of_o that_o good_a land_n in_o like_a sort_n they_o be_v forbid_v to_o do_v any_o work_n with_o their_o first-born_a bullock_n or_o sheer_o their_o first-born_a sheep_n or_o eat_v they_o otherwhere_o then_o before_o the_o lord_n deut._n 15.19_o yea_o all_o their_o own_o first-born_a child_n they_o must_v redeem_v and_o the_o very_a unclean_a beast_n they_o be_v to_o redeem_v or_o kill_v exod._n 34.19,20_o every_o tree_n that_o they_o plant_v for_o meat_n they_o may_v not_o eat_v thereof_o the_o first_o three_o year_n in_o the_o four_o year_n all_o the_o fruit_n be_v to_o be_v holy_a to_o the_o praise_n of_o the_o lord_n and_o in_o the_o five_o year_n they_o do_v eat_v levit._n 19.23_o when_o they_o eat_v of_o the_o bread_n of_o the_o land_n they_o must_v offer_v a_o cake_n of_o the_o first_o of_o the_o dough_n num._n 15.19,20_o and_o sundry_a the_o like_a according_o do_v we_o understand_v the_o lord_n mind_n here_o that_o give_v they_o flesh_n to_o eat_v he_o restrain_v the_o blood_n as_o be_v a_o thing_n wherein_o they_o have_v no_o interest_n but_o the_o lord_n for_o that_o it_o be_v the_o soul_n or_o life_n that_o be_v the_o chief_a part_n of_o every_o beast_n and_o so_o their_o restraint_n from_o blood_n to_o be_v a_o occasion_n for_o they_o to_o praise_v the_o lord_n that_o have_v permit_v they_o the_o flesh_n to_o eat_v the_o three_o respect_n concern_v the_o love_n of_o man_n each_o to_o other_o that_o they_o shall_v abstain_v from_o cruel_a affection_n and_o savage_a fierceness_n and_o put_v on_o the_o bowel_n of_o meekness_n gentleness_n compassion_n etc._n etc._n not_o only_o towards_o their_o friend_n but_o also_o their_o enemy_n whereunto_o they_o be_v lead_v by_o sundry_a figure_n and_o teach_v their_o duty_n to_o man_n by_o their_o behaviour_n to_o brute_n beast_n of_o this_o sort_n be_v the_o abstain_n from_o any_o bird_n when_o they_o take_v the_o egg_n or_o the_o young_a deut._n 22.6,7_o the_o help_n of_o their_o neighbour_n yea_o their_o enemy_n beast_n when_o it_o be_v stray_v or_o lay_v under_o the_o burden_n exod._n 23.4,5_o deut._n 22.4_o the_o not_o muzzle_v of_o the_o ox_n mouth_n that_o tread_v out_o the_o corn_n deut._n 25.4_o the_o rest_n of_o beast_n on_o the_o sabbath_n day_n deut._n 5._o which_o such_o like_a and_o that_o the_o lord_n in_o spare_v the_o blood_n of_o beast_n have_v regard_n herein_o to_o the_o blood_n of_o man_n appear_v by_o the_o next_o word_n in_o gen._n 9.5_o say_v and_o sure_o i_o will_v