in this is the discerning and trying of the Spirits which being a faculty that St. John takes for granted all those he writ his first general Epistle to that is all true Believers have already or may have chap. 4.1 and they being made by Christ Priests c. Revel 1.6 5.10 may pretend to the Priests right to discern and to pronounce what is clean and what unclean Levit. 13.17 23. I hope by the mercy of God it belongs to me And therefore I hope that if after having tryed and found that some men have not in them the Spirit of Christ and shewed sufficient reasons and very good grounds for it I pronounce them to be none of the Ministers of God I shall not go for a Reviler of such And truly I have tryed and found that not only some few men among Christians have not the Spirit of Christ but that so many are the false seducing Spirits gone abroad into the World 1 John 4.1 to deny that Christ cometh to men whilst yet in the flesh which Spirits are not of God v. 3. and to speak as St. Paul saith 1 Tim. 4.2 their lies in Hypocrisie that the true Doctrine of Christ and the two Witnesses that do testifie of him seem like to be overcome Revel 11.7 nay to be killed by them nothing but their carcasses the dead letter of Scripture and a dead ineffectual notion of the Holy Ghost seeming now left unburied lying in the Streets of the Spiritual Sodom that is the present Christian Churches v. 8. For what else is allowed them and dispenced among their Members by their own Prophets for instance by the Author of a late Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Bishop of London and by all them that approve hold and teach the same Doctrine who are come to that height of insolence in denying the power and existence of God's Spirit in his Church in changing the truth of God concerning it into lies holding in unrighteousness that which may be known of it Rom. 1.18 19 25. that I think it high time for them who make mention of the Lord not to keep silence Isa 62.6 but with the Rod of their mouth to smite all these Seducers by whom offences do come that the simple may beware and learn to come without them to the knowledge of the truth Prov. 19.25 For my part I declare that reading the said Sermon my Spirit was so stirred up Acts 17.16 that having like Flihu Job 32.11 given ear to their reasons whilst they searched out what to say and waited a good while for an answer to them from some wiser than my self I could hold no longer and seeing none appeared to convince them of falshood I thought it my duty to do it my self lest they should think that they are the people v. 13. 12.2 and lest error should triumph over Christian light and truth Though indeed as a Novice I might have been afraid to proffer my opinion v. 6. against so many grave learned and Right Reverend Fathers in God so called had I not as well as Elihu v. 9. after having thought like him that Days should speak and the old standing Professors should teach wisdom v. 7. found that the famous Doctors are not always the wisest and that these Aged Fathers are not they that understand the Art of discerning best For note It was but a little that I had passed from the Watchmen of the City saith the Soul in the Canticle 3.4 but I found my wishes That is so soon as we pass from the Watchmen or leave them and not whilst we spend the time in consulting and seeking to learn of them as v. 3. our Soul comes to attain to that which it longs after it s own summum bonum the knowledge of God and Christ John 17.3 for it is the gift of God the Watchmen cannot give it since they seldom enter in themselves and keep from others the key of truth and knowledge Luk. 11.52 But on the contrary that they may as St. Paul saith Gal. 4.17 though they exclude others be by them affected cryed up followed after endeavour as for instance this Preacher to suppress it Whence they that relie on them that seek for truth at their mouth that dig for it in their works Nemo dat quod non habet find nothing but vain knowledge and that their bellies are fed as Job saith with the East wind But besides having also found out like Elihu v. 8. that there is a Spirit in man and that the inspiration of the Almighty is that which gives him understanding without respect to his Age or to his Humane Learning and believing that the mouth and wisdom promised Luk. 21.15 Mat. 10.20 which all the Adversaries are not able to resist is given in time of need why should I be afraid to give my testimony and to stand against them all for the truth of the Gospel Therefore though I am neither a Prophet nor Prophet's Son Amos 7.14 not so much as a Graduate in the Schools and High places of your Watchmen and Prophets but a poor obscure Tradesman who am not so much as known among any Christian Sects and am tyed and supported to none and by none of them though briars and thorns be with me and I dwell among Scorpions Ezek. 2.6 yet worthy Master Vicar I am so far from being dismay'd at your and your Bishop's supercilious looks that I will make bold here with the help of God's Spirit not only to answer you in very different terms from those who seeking for praise and applause from other men endeavour to please all men and take care to displease none but to try both your Spirit and of your Lords Spiritual who by their approbation of your Doctrine of Spirits give me cause enough to think that they are of the same mind and to judge and to pronounce call it never so much pragmatical censuring reviling of dignities and rebelling against them that the reason and the cause why you discourse so strangely concerning the Spirit of God is because you are very great strangers to it and meer natural men still who being not able therefore to discern the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 are much less able to teach others what belongs to them Let your reason be never so well improved at your Seminaries of Learning and be you never so much guided by the clue of it they are your words pag. 15. yet except you be born again of the Holy Ghost you are without God's Kingdom John 3.5 Rom. 14.17 and therefore the mysteries thereof are nothing to you but meer Aenigma's Mark 4.11 and you can be nothing but blind leaders of the blind people that hear you There is a Spirit in man And without being Quaker Enthusiast or Fanatick and suppose I were one must men reject truth because they or the Quakers teach it I say that God's Spirit which inspires man with all knowledge and understanding is given to all Christians 1 Cor.
ch 8.3 9.29 Signs being besides to wait only on them that believe Mark 16.17 and to follow their belief of the Word to confirm it v. 20. the word confirming used by Mark importing some kind of precedent believing for there must be some belief before we can suppose a need of confirmation and so the adulterous and perverse generation may seek long enough for signs and yet have none given them but the sign of a Prophet which what it is let them that read understand if they can and what I mean by it for truly when men have an evil prejudiced eye like the old seekers of signs and lack some understanding to pass a righteous judgment and to discern the Spirit of a man by his knowledge and to believe at his words John 4.41 uttered by God's Spirit Act. 2.4 neither would they believe if one arose from the dead Luk. 16.31 and did work al the wonders they should require of him This is plain from the hardness of heart of the Aegyptians Exod. 7.11 12. from the blindness of the Jews John 10.24 25 26. 12.37 and from the blasphemous madness of the Pharisees Mat. 12.24 notwithstanding the wonders they saw by Moses and Christ. And it is evident from the stupidity wherewith this adulterous and wicked generation hath beheld the Prodigies which have of late appeared that they would look upon the wonders of Moses and Christ if one did now shew and work some of them in their presence with the same indifference that is behold and wonder Act. 13.41 and believe them supposed or false lying and insignificant wonders for who considers and looks upon the said Prodigies as the sad presagers of his approaching ruine and would no more lay the same to heart make good use of them desist from their ill courses repent and mend thereupon than Jeroboam who saw his Altar rent in pieces and his own hand dried up and afterwards restored yet returned not from his evil way that he might be destroyed from off the Earth 1 Kings 13.33 34. 1 Sam. 2.25 as are all those Kings likewise who walk in his ways that is who forget that the most high rules in the kingdom of men Dan. 4.25 and is he that gave them one not only when they had none but when all the policy friends power and interest they had could procure them none and who as though their own hand had done this great thing for them trust to their wit and cunning for the preservation of it in their Family 1 Kings 12.26 27. and think by forsaking the Author of their greatness and of their life and being in setting up a Calvish worship of God in Bethel that is a Lip-worship bodily Ceremonies and outward Formalities and Shews in the House of God they strengthen themselves mainly and secure to themselves the quiet possession of their Kingdom for ever against all future revolts But the God against whom there is no counsel and wit Prov. 21.30 and who judgeth in the earth Psal 58.11 laughs at their wise contrivance and warns them by Prodigies that his hand is stretched out and ready to strike at them and tells them before he strikes 1 Kings 16.2 3. For as much as I exalted thee out of the dust and made thee Prince over my people and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam and hast made my people to sin and given them great offence behold I take away thee and thy posterity and I will make thy house like that of Jeroboam which God who turneth the hearts of Princes as he pleaseth avert in his great mercy from some Princes in the World And therefore should the wisdom of God quae nihil agit frustra as is confessed and doth not shew her wonders to gratifie the humour of unbelieving scorners Prov. 3.34 but the wishes and prayers of some lowly humble and meek as those of Hezekiah Isa 38.22 7 8. of Gideon Judg. 6.17 37 39. and others that believed what she said and to make known God's power and his name throughout the earth Exod. 9.16 John 9.3 work Miracles at the demand of such unbelieving and perverse generation it were to their destruction â—uk 11.50 which the goodness and patience of God and the love they that believe have for their Neighbour keep God and the believers Spirit from bringing to pass and from executing yet Judgment upon a Nation For which cause Christ who was come to save not to destroy men Luk. 9.56 being the dumb Lamb of God that did not strive nor open his mouth and utter his voice Mat. 12.19 Act. 8.32 like Moses Numb 16.15 and Elijah 2 Kings 1.10 12. went always away from such as Mat. 16.4 21.17 Mark 8.13 lest by their too long tempting and playing the fool with God his holy Spirit had been so grieved and provoked as to stir up the principle of wrath to devour them From whence observe that the end and occasion of Miracles is not the conviction of the gainsayers of the Faith as our worthy Vicar not only takes for granted but urgeth the scarceness of gainsayers by the Gospel becoming a National Religion in most Countries for an argument of the cessation of all Miracles seeing they are wrought first to confirm the believing of the Word to establish and encourage believers to continue in the Faith when they have once received it and secondly to punish the scorners and opposers them that seek to turn away those that are prepared for Salvation from the Faith them that blaspheme the Name of God and that contribute to the dishonour of it as from Elymas Act. 13.8 10. the two Captains of fifty 2 Kings 1.10 12. Gehazi ch 5.22 Ananias and Saphira may be learned Thirdly that the power or name and glory of God may be declared and known among men throughout the Earth To which it may be added that they serve to keep in awe many men Act. 2.43 as Gamaliel ch 5.39 from fighting or declaring for them that fight against God And truly because Miracles have often been are and shall still be done by deceivers Exod. 7.11 22. 8.7 Mark 13.22 2 Thess 2.9 Revel 13.13 they are no full evidence of a true mission from God nor convincing proofs of the truth of the doctrine set forth by him that shews a wonder and works some Miracles for it though the Vicar saith they are pag. 6. For not only we are not if we believe Christ's advice Mark 13.21 to believe what he teacheth but we are to judge of his mission and of the virtue whereby he works his Miracles by the doctrine he preacheth and to set our reason and the knowledge which we should have of God's will and commands above the authority of all his signs and wonders Deut. 13.3 and if his doctrine be found like that of Master Vicar contrary to the Divine contained in the Scriptures he was for all his Miracles by the Law of Moses before Christ came to save what was lost to be put to
nonsensical and to no purpose contrived without reason or necessity nay repugnant to the end it was instituted for viz. the breaking of the flesh 1 Cor. 11.26 and the communicating to Christs spiritual body ch 10.16 which is done in becoming spiritual men our selves and a very wicked fool to persecute another because he will not be as great a fool as thy self I say that he who eats of this flesh shall live by it and shall by this flesh and bloud the power of our Christ and from on high Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 be quickned and so strengthned that he shall overcome the accuser or Tempter that tempted Eve Rev. 12.11 I mean shall bruise the head of the flesh that creeps and makes our Souls to creep with it Gen. 3.15 like Serpents v. 14. to cleave unto this vile Earth Psal 119.25 and to sink down from God into Hell it self Philip he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also John 14.7 9. for the Son is his express Image and represents him Heb. 1.3 John 1.18 And can therefore the Son of the invisible God who is a Spirit saith he that Son who dwells in the light no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 in the bosom in the throne of the most infinite God John 1.18 Rev. 3.21 be like unto flesh and bloud and sit there and come therence Rev. 3.20 to make us sit there also in the same bodily shape he lived with in the flesh what and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up saith he John 6.62 where he was before how can you then think he shall have flesh and bloud about him since when he was there before he had neither flesh and bloud nor humane shape and body John 5.37 Deut. 4.12 how can the flesh and bloud I had then about me which is not my flesh and bloud John 8.23 but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 which I took upon Earth in the womb of one of his daughters that I might dye therein to deliver you from it v. 14 15. Rom. 8.6 be the true bread from heaven and the meat and drink indeed that makes you live for ever John 6.32 33 38 41 50 54 55 58. Truly if I had still a body of flesh and bloud I could not quicken you and the words that I speak being Spirit v. 63. how can you take them in a carnal sence but if you understood them and knew me saw my glory John 17.24 whereof that in Mat. 17.2 was but a very weak beam that body of flesh and bloud which you so much doat upon would vanish out of your sight Luk. 24.31 Heb. 10.20 2 Cor. 3.14 and then you would understand that I am risen indeed Luk. 24.34 from such body of death Rom. 7.24 and by rising from it or being no more in it made the fitter author of your eternal salvation Heb. 5.9 that is more able to help you and fitter to strengthen you John 16.7 both against the said body and him that tempts you by it 2 Cor. 5.1 4 6. by the power I have in rising unto glory obtain'd of an endless life Heb. 2.18 7.16 whereby you may rule over the tumultuous Nations the lusts that war in your flesh and come out of their bondage into the glorious freedom of the Sons of God v. 15. Rev. 2.26 27. which is rising from the dead and entring in the kingdom of God or your Salvation O you house of Israel both Jews and all Christian Sects come on now for the time past ought to have sufficed you open your eyes and at last walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2.5 Ephes 5.8 sit no longer in darkness and in your shadow of death otherwise under the thick umbraculum which your flesh darkneth and deads your Souls with learn to know me in Spirit and in truth according to mine own essence and nature and look no more upon me as your Antecessors John 6.42 and as the Mahometans and even as you your selves have done and do to this hour John 14.7 for the Jews look for nothing but worldly and temporal blessings for their flesh from Christ to wit to live in plenty glory and prosperity in this life under his reign as when Solomon reigned 1 Kings 4.20 21 24 25. taking accordingly what the Prophets say of the Spiritual kingdom of the Messiah literally as Isa 55.10 and therefore they thought of a visible appearance of Gods kingdom in the days of Christ Luk. 17.20 19.11 And the Turks expect to have all fleshly lusts satisfied by the mediation of their Prophet Mahomet when he comes with God say they to save his true Musulmans or them that truly believe in him and to judge the World So that Christians believing that they shall be one day saved with their flesh and bloud 2 Cor. 5.6 that their Salvation was once performed and perfected in the flesh by Christ as man by his becoming a man and by dying in the flesh when by his incarnation and death without ascending and coming in the Spirit there is no body saved John 3.5 13. 16.7 and that the second coming of Christ will be seen of all appear with observation to the eyes of all the World Luk. 17.20 look on him with the same eyes and in the same manner as both the Jews and the Turks have no higher thoughts of his kingdom than the others have know him still as the man of sorrows humiliated not as sitting from the time of his humiliation on the right hand of power and coming with great glory though he tells them so himself Mat. 26.64 Mark 14.62 and concurring thus with them in a temporal worldly and carnal knowledge of him they do not only bring back his Spiritual knowledge and worship introduced by him and the Apostles to the old bodily and ceremonial worship of God in the Jewish Church but even to a creature worship Rom. 1.25 23. and like the Heathen changing the truth of their God into that which he is not the shape or Image of man they set up an Idol made like unto flesh and bloud the fleshly conceits of him in the holy place their heart thus instead of knowing God as a Spirit in Spirit destroying his Spiritual knowledge and establishing a knowledge after the flesh and also per consequent a worship accordingly a down-right idolatry for Lux intelligendi being in mankind the Lex volendi agendi man willeth and acteth but according to his knowledge worships God as he knows him quia ignoti boni nulla cupido lusts for no more than that which he conceives and knows of him to wit a bodily temporal and carnal good and so continues to be such as he was at his birth that is carnally minded and this carnal mind being enmity against his God Rom. 8.7 Jam. 4.4 man in revolting to it or siding with that party which is in war against God he commits adultery that is falshood against God Luk. 16.13 18. with the great whore worldly