of things as they are made manifest by the Lord to the Light in you I speak that in it you may be able to understand truth in what I say and by the truth to judge of things that differ for such as the Tree is such is the fruit an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit neither can one Fountain send forth sweet water and bitter Now as concerning a Book given forth by John Stelham Priest at Terling in Essex who having an evil eye because God is good and being filled with indignation because God hath mercy on his own Seed whom he hath blessed hath out of the abundance of his heart spoken it forth Now the way to know that which is spoken in darkness is to read it in the light and if his Testimony in any thing as coming from him is to be believed it is that which is concerning his own condition and if his estate and condition be such that in it he can receive the things of God and minister them to others then they may be received but if his condition be such that in it he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God then that which cannot receive cannot minister and so he is to be silents and none to expect the things of God from him being neither fit to reprove nor to rebuke but to be reproved and rebuked as will appear as followeth The ground in him and the heart out of which this abundance of words in his Book proceeds in it as he declares is yet the root of all error and of all sin is in him and seen by him not mortified and that he hath an old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth no good thing a sinful wretch and worm subscribing himself the sinful John Stelham as in his Introduction in pag. 80. and p. 117. Now therefore we having found out the root and the ground to be a root of Errror and the ground of Deceit and a heart wherein dwells no truth nor no good thing therefore from that which is unclean shall we not expect that which is clean to proceed nor truth from that wherein dwells no truth but from the lying heart and deceitful tongue hath the Lord delivered us so that if we be called revilers and be rebuked and a charge laid against us as to contradict the Scriptures of God and be called Antiscriptural Antichristian and Antispiritual we have now learned to know whence it doth proceed even from the lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth and we can bear it because we know that til that heart be taken away and a new heart known wherein is truth we must be reproached and spoken evil of falsly for his sake who hath taken away the old lying heart and hath given us a new heart wherein truth dwelleth and where truth proceeds out from and herein are we manifest from the children of this generation and herein are the two states known and the two conditions of men according to the testimony of Scripture and the parable which Jesus spoke Luke 6.39 Can the blind lead the blind shall they not both fall into the ditch And ver 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh And hereby is the Tree known by his fruits and the heart of the wicked was ever filled with lying and vanity and understanding was hid from them the Lord was grieved with such that did err in their hearts and had not known his wayes Psal. 119 70. Psal. 140.2 and this was an evil which was under the sun that the hearts of the sons of men were full of evil and madnesse while they live Eccles. 9.3 And such a heart was in the Scribes and Pharisees a lying heart wherein dwelt no truth filled with evil thoughts as Christ said Wherefore think you evil in your hearts Mat. 9.4 and out of the heart did arise all false accusations calling the truth blasphemy and the way of it heresie and such who be in the state as John Stelham confesseth he is was never appointed by the Lord to watch over souls But such where Christ did dwell in their hearts and because they were sons God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts Eph. 3.17 Gal. 4.6 and such had truth in their hearts doing the Will of God from the heart and did draw near unto God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water these did not profess the things of God in an old lying heart wherein dwelt no truth but called upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart and said that the end of the commandment was charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned from which some swerved in the Apostles dayes having turned aside unto vain jangling and such desired to be teachers of others but the doctrine is corrupt and the Mysterie of Faith is not held where the heart and conscience is not pure and the Lord is good unto such who be of a clean heart Now as concerning the Scriptures John Stelham's Testimony from the old lying heart wherein dwelleth no truth is this That the Scriptures are the Word of God and truly so called and the Letter and Scripture is all one as p. 3.4 but to contradict that himself he saith in p. 5. the Letter taken strictly is but legal administration using these words The Letter killeth i.e. the bare legal command without a promise of power or pardon as a bare Letter void of strength life and spirit it leaveth all men under a killing sentence and curse Let them that have understanding judge Again as concerning the Letter in page 6. he expresseth himself thus The Spirit is given by it And in the next words saith the Scripture is but instrumental to the Spirit Now mark the Letter taken strictly being legal without a promise of power or pardon void of strength life and spirit the Spirit to be given by this which he confesseth is void of strength life and spirit and is but instrumental to the Spirit whether this be not contradiction and confusion let them that read judge For in reading these things which he hath published many may seal to the confession of his own condition to be truth but that which he hath declared of the things of God to be false for now the Light being broken forth such doctrine cannot be received nor believed that thâ— Spirit is given by the Letter but that which is declared in the Letter was given forth from the Spirit vvhich vvas in them which spoke it forth but people may long have the Letter and think in it to find God and eternal life and may dye in
his Testimony is true saying And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the World it self could not contain the Books which should be written John 21.25 So that all is not written which was revealed wrote and spoken which if much more were written which was made mâ—nifest by it with that which is written could they not know the Lord their mindes being from the light of Christ which doth reveale and make manifest that which may be known of God in them And many who have the Letter and are Ministers of it are sensual having not the spirit nor the word of God nor the testimony of Jesus and their Ministry is but as Chaffe to the Wheate and the Lord is against them For what is the chaffe to the wheat saith the Lord Jeremiah 23. Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer breaketh the rock in pieces Now many have the letter and know not the word of the Lord as a fire neither is the rock broken with the letter and such use their tongue for it is their own and the power of the Lord is not come over it such cause the People to err and doth not profit them being not sent nor commanded of the Lord for who are sent and commanded of the Lord the Lord useth their tongueâ— to speak his words which he puts into their mouthes and such words doth profite the people and not cause them to err being spoken according to the law which is light And the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie and such do witnesse the Scriptures that as they cannot be broken so they cannot be denied by the Spirit which gave them forth to be a Declaration of those things which was revealed known and believed But they are not that which they are a declaration of the letter testifies of the eternal life but it is not it neither gives it It testifies of the light of the glorious Gospel shining in the heart whih gives the light of the knowledg of the glory of God but it is not that light which gives that knowledge It testifies of the Way but Christ is the Way of the Word but God is the Word and of Redemption but Christ is the Redemption not the Letter though it testifies of Justification Sanctification but they are wrought by the Word in the grace and power of Christ and so every one who wil own the Scriptures as they were given sorth to be owned must first own that of God in them which is manifest to work in the Creature that which they testifie of that Christ the power of God they may witness working all their works in them and for them according to the Scripture But contrary to the Scripture J.S. from the root of Errour saith That the written letter is a Spirituall Arm and Sword of the Spirit and that the very power of the written letter puts Satan to flight And in the same Page saith That the Devil hath Scripture in his mouth Answ. Let the People take notice and read the Scriptures and see if there be any such thing that the Sword of the spirit was ever in the Divels Mouth for the spiritual Armour which is said to be the Word of God But the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit is that by which he is to be destroyed and is the mystery bid from him and all that follow his lusts But though the Divell which did not abide in the truth and his Ministers who are out of the truth may take the letter in their mouthes as they have done and say it s written so but the word of the Lord is not in their moutheâ— which is the sword of the Spirit and such will use the letter in their mouthes which cannot sease from sin whose eyes are full of Adultery beguiling unstable Souls their heart being exercised with coveteous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are in the Error of Baalan loving the wages of unrighteousnesse and taking them and such have the letter in their mouthes but knows not the Word of God whâ—ch who comes but know it restraines them from all such practises Again J.S. from his blindnesse and root of Error and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scripture is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scripture is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22.19 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee â—xcellent things in Councels and Knowledg that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee An. By this scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them read their writings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World the Pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which now is declared in Chapters And every one which coms to the true ground of Faith must come co the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scripture was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the Word that all men in him might
sent by us to bring others to the knowledge of God through it and this is no self-contradiction let J.S. say what he will Further J.S. doth instance E.B. his calling mans light natural and carnal in the Warning c. and would cal his contradiction to some who deny the light of Christ to be natural and carnal as the Priests of England terme it but this is no contradiction for though we do deny that the light of Christ Jesus is natural and carnal and doth not allow any so to call it yet the light of man by which carnal men do judg of carnal transgressions is natural E.B. doth never say that the light of Christ is natural and carnal but the light of Mâ—n is so he saith and in this Instance there is no contradiction neither in any parts of the words following which are transcribed and much might be said as to the occasion of those words being uttered when E. B. was in prison falsly as many have been since who was one of the first that by imprisonment was a sufferer for the name of Jesus in the North part of England before J. S. was troubled with any of us but it is sufficient what is said to the mans light by which carnal men judg of any thing is one thing and the light of Christ Jesus which is spiritual mens guide is another thing E. B. spake of mans light and J.S. foolishly opposes him as if he spake of the light of Christ Jesus and so opposes his own conception And further J. S. asserts That Scripture light is the standing rule for faith and manners so are not immediate revelations and teachings Here he hath set up the Scriptures above the Spirit of God and above the Revelation of Jesus Christ the Saints were led by what the Spiâ—it revealed and taught Christ said he should teach into all truth and they that were the Sons of God were loved by the spirit of God and that was their rule to be led by in their Faith and manners But yet see a Hypocrite J.S. is he that pleads for scripture to be the rule and yet is acting in many things contrary to the scriptures as at large may be instanced neither is in all the scripture the scripture called light but scripture saith Christ is the light Further he saith There is sufficient light in the scripture to guide men to salvation Mark his Doctrine whether he hath not preached another thing than Christ to be the way and whether he hath not made Christ and the blood of Christ of none effect without which no salvation But he saith there is sufficient in the Scripture to lead men to salvation and neither Christ nor his blood is in Scripture let it be moved Further he saith The scripture was given by the spirit for a rule this we desire a proof of by plain scripture and till then we deny it And further he saith The spirit gives out himself by scripture and yet he saith he never said the scripture did give the spirit and this is an absolute contradiction as may be noted so J.S. is taken in the snare contradicting himself in one quarter of a sheet of Paper and hath not at all proved us to be self-contradictors concerning any of these things mentioned by him Further he saith in his 8 th Head That our possessing perfection and quaking after Moses Example cross shins on the other but wherein he doth not shew neither can the honest-minded read any contradiction in it but only it seems J. S. hath set himself to cavel Further he saith We contradict our selves concerning Quaking and trembling from this confession That the same power that made Moses to quake and tremble the same power we witnesse but wherein doth this contradiction appear in these words let honest men try the cause and J. S. be silent And whereas he instances J. P. standing in an evil cause and of I. P. he may be silent whose bloud he or his Generation fought after and now might they well be quiet of him their wills being stifled by drinking his blood as it were but that wicked men must add to their own wickedness till it be fulfilled that they may receive their reward and I. P. was bold as is the children of God and though J. S. would clear himself and his company from what was done to I. P. yet by the effect it appeared that there was enough envy in them towards him and the truth and though his body be in the ground yet the Spirit of the Lord which guided him stands alive a sufficient witness against them and all their cruell and wicked dealing and let J. S. judgement be what it will neither concerning growth of Grace nor forms of Religion nor fruits of the Spirit do we at all contradict the Spirit of God neither doth he prove us in these things whereof he accuseth us in strife and debate except against such as J.S. and the Devils Kingdom neither in emulation hatred scoffs or any of these things which the Lord hath redeemed us from though we be falsly accused in these things as in many other by him and whereas he would prove their preaching in their method Points and Reasons and Uses from the example of the Saints in former ages he falls far short in effecting his extent for he cannot prove that they studied for what they spake nor that in such a way they delivered what they said an hour by a glass c. as the Priests of this age do also if it were they preached in the like manner as the Apostles did yet not by the same spirit but by the spirit of error and for a wrong end that is the thing which makes their manner abominable when as they are not guided with the same Spirit of the Apostles and their preaching in their method of points and particulars is rather an art of preaching by humane policy and not the gift of preaching by the Spirit of God neither do we concerning humility and love contradict our selves but are in humility love towards all men even such as wrongs us we seek no revenge against and herein doth our humility and love appear yet cannot we respect any mans person with hat or knee and that is it which J. S. I suppose is offended with In his 13 th Head concerning Ordinances He charges us with self-contradiction because we say we own praying c. and yet hath given over Family prayer morning and evening and at meals but this is no contradiction for we own praying in the Spirit of God bur do deny it without the Spirit and this is no contradiction he may as well say it was contradiction in Christ to cry against the prayers of the Pharisees and yet to teach his Disciples to pray and to pray himself this is the same cause of ours which he foolishly charges with contradiction and as I have said the prayers of the Wicked we deny and yet doth own
Lord R. H. According as vve read in the Scriptures That the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding so by its inspiration is an understanding given us of the things of God Lord. Then one of the Lords said How do you know that you are led by the true Spirit R. H. This we know because the Spirit of truth it reproves the world of Sin and by it we were reproved of sin and also are led from sin unto righteousness and obedience of truth by which effects vve knovv it is the true Spirit for the spirit of the vvicked one doth not lead into such things King and Lords Then the King and his Lords said It was truth King Well of this you may be assured That you shall none of you suffer for your Opinions or Religion so long as you live peaceably and you have the Word of a King for it and I have also given forth a Declaration to the same purpose that none shall wrong you nor abuse you King How do you own Magistrates or Magistracy R. H. Thus vve do ovvn Magistrates Whosoever is set up by God whether King as Supream or any set in Authority by him who are for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well such we shall submit unto and assist in righteous and civil things both by body and Estate And if any Magistrates do that which is unrighteous we must declare against it only submit under it by a patient suffering and not rebel against any by insurrections plots and contrivances King Then the King said That is enough Lord. Then one of the Lords asked Why do you meet together seeing every â—ne of you have the Church in your selves R. H. According as it is written in the Scriptures the Church is in God Thes. 1.1 And they that feared the Lord did meet often together in the fear of the Lord and to us it is profitable and herein we are edified and strengthened in the life of truth King How did you first come to believe the Scriptures were truth R. H. I have believed the Scriptures from a child to be a Declaration of truth when I had but a literal knowledge natural education and tradition but now I know the Scriptures to be true by the manifestation and operation of the Spirit of God fulfilling them in me King In what manner do you méet and what is that order in your méetings R. H. We do meet in the same order as the people of God did waiting upon him and if any have a word of exhortation from the Lord he may speak it or if any have a word of reproof or admonition and as every one hath received the gift so they may minister one unto another and may be edified one by another whereby a grovvth into the knowledge of the truth is administred to one another One of the Lords Then you know not so much as you may know but there is a growth then to be admitted of R. H. Yes vve do grovv daily into the knovvledge of the truth in our exercise and obedience to it King Are any of your Friends gone to Rome R. H. Yes there is one in Prison in Rome King Why did you send him thither R. H. We did not send him thither but he found something upon his Spirit from the Lord whereby he was called to go to declare against Superstition and Idolatry vvhich is contrary to the Will of God Kings Friend said There were two of them at Rome but one was dead King Have any of your Friends been with the Great Turk R. H. Some of our Friends have been in that Countrey Other things were spoken concerning the liberty of the servants of the Lord which vvere called of him into his service that to them there vvas no limitation to Parishes or places but as the Lord did guide them in his Work and Service by his Spirit So the King promised that we should not any ways suffer for our Opinion or Religion and so in love passed away R. H. His Answer to John Horn. J. H. IN thy Answer to my Queries thou seemest to be resolved to say something although it be absolutely contrary to the truth and to that which thou knowest to be Truth as will appear in what follows In answer to my first thou sayest Christ in his Spirit ascended up to Heaven when his Body was upon Earth Is this an answer to the Question Is the mind or Spirit called the Son of man according to John 3.13 which came down from Heaven And no man doth ascend up to Heaven but the Son of man which was then in Heaven So by this thy Answer it appears then that the Spirit is the Son of man and that there is no other Son of man that ascends into Heaven but the Spirit then what becomes of that body thou speaks of if the Spirit only be that Son of man In thy Answer to the second and third Queries thou provest in thy way that Mary did that which was forbidden by Christ when she held him by the feet and worshipped him but in Mat. 28.9 there is no forbidding of her to touch him but this is plainly manifest that thou art in a snare and cannot tel how to get out and yet thou wilt be saying something though thereby thou more ensnares thy self but this Scripture thou wilt once know fulfilled The Wicked shall be silent in darkness When thou shouldst answer to the fourth thou tellest of its being a secret and of prying into things above what is vvritten although the ground of my Query is grounded upon that vvhich is vvritten in Luke 24.4 To the fifth thou saist That the Women did distinguish which was Christ vvas certain but hovv they did so is a foolish curious Question What certainty is there that they did knovv vvhen thou knovvest not hovv but this is like the rest of the Priests doctrine beating the air and leaving all people in uncertainties and yet would be paid for so doing but the Lord hath made thee manifest with the rest that you cannot deceive much longer To the sixth thou sayest the two Angels were seen visibly but were not Bodies nor Persons of men but in thy answer to the fourth saist that they both saw them as men and heard them speak and had two individual Forms Now if thou wert but simple and not wilfully blind thou mightest be the more excused In thy answer to the seventh thou art more lost and confused then in all the rest for when thou shouldst answer who were the eleven Disciples that were met together mentioned Luk 24.33 thou saist that Thomas might occasionally be gone out Ans. If he was gone out then the eleven was not together as Luke 24. Again thou saist that Matthias was chosen before the Evangelist wrote his Book What darkness and ignorance is this Thou art not questioned when the Book was written nor when Matthias was chosen but who was the eleven that was together
Rep. Here I charge thee to be a lyar and a blasphemer in the presence of the lâ—ving God let all people read these Scriptures and see if there be any such thing in them and whether thou hast not misapplied thâ—se scriptures when the spirit saith It câ—ucifieth the deeds of the flesh and walking in the spirit the lusts of the flesh iâ— not fulfilled and here I charge thee to be a lyar and of the Devil who was a lyar from the beginning and in his generation thou art Qu. 17. Whether they do not bewitch the people who withdraw them from the spirit within to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men without as the Galatians were bewitched Gal. 3.1 Pr. I must tell you that there is not onely a holy and good spirit within and that in too few but there is also an evil and seducing spirit within and that in too many even the spirit that doth bewitch men and draw them aside from the doctrines and commands of the spirit of truth and to strive by all means to draw the people off from giving heed to seducing spirits it is not to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men as you pervert the Text but to obey the command of Gods true spirit who foretelling of false Prophets and false Spirits often in the word commands exhorts and admonishes to beware of such not to give heed to such and not to believe every spirit but to trie them Rep. Here in this answer thy spirit is tried which I have given to all people to read with a single eye that all may see what confusion here is in it First thou sayest that the seducing spirit draws from the seducing spirit and in the seducing spirit thou art and from the spirit of life with the spirit of life thou art judged to be out of the doctrine of Christ nor is not guided by the holy spirit Qu. 18. Whether they be not seducers which tell people these are the ordinances of God which God never commanded as sprinkling Infants telling people of a sacrament which there is no scripture for and draw them from the spirit within to follow your imaginations and inventions Pr. But for sprinkling Infants I have already given you the grounds of it out of Scripture Rep. Here again I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar theâ—e is not such a word in the scripture to bear it out nor a word of a sacrament which there is no scripture for let all read the scripture throughout and see if they can find such a word in the scripture so let all people judge thee to be a lyar and a seducer and in the Devils invention which calls that an ordinance of God which is invention and imagination Pr. We are not blind-folded to follow the dictates of the spirit within Rep. Here I charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be in the flesh and to follow the flesh for who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God and thou that dost not follow the dictates of the spirit thou dost not follow the commands of God and what hast thou to do to talk of clearing it by the Scripture when there is no Scripture for it and when the Scripture witnesses against the works of the flesh which thy spirit stirs up Que. 19. Whether you have the same spirit which was in Christ the Apostles and Prophets which gave forth the scripture seeing you act contrary to the scriptures and follow your own inventions and traditions and so err from them Pr. Our Ministerial actions are agreeable to the Scripture Rep. Here I charge thee to be a liar for in thy answer to the former Querie thou sayest you do not follow the dictates of the spirit within and art holding up sprinkling infants which there is no scripture for and so walk contrary to the scripture and to them that were led by the spirit which gave them forth Que. 20. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did first baptize and then preach faith and repentance twenty or thirty years afterwards Pr. Christ himself was not capable of faith and repentance Rep. Here I charge thee to be a liar and a slanderer for he was capable of faith and repentance and the baptism which the Apostles baptised withal what hast thou to do with it who art holding up sprinkling infants which there is no example for in the scriptures nor in all the Apostles practice Therefore silence flesh for thou knowest nothing of the wisdom of God which the Apostle speaks of but art in the state of Simon Magus who art buying and selling the letter worse then he for he would have bought the spirit which the Apostles denied so thou art denied with the same spirit but the Saints baptism we own and the believers and the promises which is to the seed thou hast cleared thy self from who saist Christ was not capable of faith how could he be above it and not capable of it and the life that I live is by faith of the Son of God â—â—ith the Apostle which thou hast cleared thy self from Que. 21. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles received 100. or 200. pounds a year for preaching the Gospel Pr. Many of the Apostles converts sold their estates and brought it and laid it down at the Apostles feet Rep. Here I challenge all the Oxford and Cambridge Teachers in England how many of their Converts have sold their estates and laid it down at your feet but you Teachers and they are so earthly minded you are fit to sue them at the law and imprison them as Lancaster and Kendal Goals may witness where many suffer now because they will not pay tithes and so you shew you preach another Gospel so let Christ and the Apostles judge you all to be without their doctrine and your converts as thou callest them to be without the Apostles and Christ let their example judge you all and so you shew that you never sowed spiritual things but only as a custom and a cloak thou bringest these words for the Apostle did reap carnal things where he sowed spiritual things Que. 22. What scripture is there to limit God to a place calling it a Church when as the Church is in God 1 Thess. 1.1 Pr. You cry down all distinctions as savouring of humane â—earning whereby the naked truth might be clearly and distinctly seen aâ— it is in it self Rep. Here let all people take notice whether humane learning can open the naked truth Here thou wouldest make people believe that humane learning was before the naked truth and again let all people take notice and see if the meeting in a steeple-house in England be a Church when so many hath been moved of the Lord to come into meeting places among them and something hath been revealed to them and they have spoken and he that was the pretended Teacher which was in the chiefest
as for William Jenkins Priest in Black Fryars in London who put forth his Epistle for the vindication of Clapham's Book building his hopes upon it that it would be of singular service to the establishing of those that were wandering and against us now â—t is turned to the contrary for it is of singular service unto us for making your deceit manifest unto the people from your own principles and so those who consider the things therein published the answer to them wâ—l labor to find a better foundation to build their faith upon they will see that they have long enough taken your words for a ground of their faith which now the truth hath destroyed that so every one may be brought to the true Foundation him that hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world this is my desire to the Lord for those that read it that with the measure of God in them which hath no end but that God may be glorified they may both read understand then they wil see what the wisdom of God is hid from what it is revealed unto the nature of the fruit of every plant will be known for the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that winneth souls is wise For this end have I written to cut off the occasions of stumbling from the weak that the way of life may be kept clear to all who desire to walk in it and in all them that come to the way of life to walk in it answering that of God in them is my labour answered and my reward received R. H. MY Kingdom is not of this World neither do I receive honor from men saith the Son of God John 18.36 who treadeth the Wine-press alone without the City Isa. 9.6 and of the people there is none to help him and the Government is upon his shoulders who is the Prince of the children of Light and none of the Rulers of the darkness of this World is any Officer in his Kingdom which stands in righteousness neither have they who be not guided with his Light any power from him eitâ—er to bind or loose in his Kingdom but they who be in his Light and in it walk who be the Saints of the most high God this honor have all they to bind their Kings in chains and their Nobles in fetters of Iron and they be in the power which is over the power of the Rulers of this World and such do witness Christ to be their Mediator between God and man even the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 who thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 7. yet took upon him the form of a servant who said I and my Father are one and of him the Father gave record and the record that God gave of his Son is eternal life and this life is in his Son and this life is the Light of men with which all men are enlightened John 1.4 and he hath enlightened every man that cometh into the World He preached to the World with Authority that every man in him might believe and they that believe might not perish but have everlasting life in themselves and they that believed not in him who had enlightened them was condemned already and here was authority in his doctrine which the Pharisees had not in their doctrine Joh. 3.18 for they knew not the Light which Christ had enlightened every one withal which they that believed not in it were already condemned with it and so their doctrine stood not in that which did save and condemn and so it was not in the authority of the Spirit as the doctrine of the Teachers of the World is now out of the authority not turning people from darkness to light which if they do not believe is condemned already And a doctrine is crept into the World which is pernicious and damnable being against the Light and is with the Light condemned Of which sort is one Jonathan Clapham of Wramplingham in Norfolk whose violence and rage is such againâ—t the Truth that he hath not spared even the foundation of it having charged both the Father Son and Holy Ghost falsly as I shall make it appear And he hath also falsly accused the Apostle Peter and the Church of Corinth in his Book called A full discovery and confutation of the wicked and damnable doctrine of the Quakers But he haâ—h more discovered himsâ—lf than us and more confuted himself than us as will appear in that which followeth As first in his Epistle directed to the Protector the honor which God will not give to another than Christ hath he given to another from Christ and so denied the Power and Work of the Son of God as Mediator saying That the Magistrate is an Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediator in his Political Kingdom And he saith also in the same Epistle That the Magistrate must not be an Officer in the spiritual Kingdom of his Church To which I answer Christ hath not a Political and a Spiritual Kingdom for the Kingdom of Christ the Heir of God is but one which stands in righteousness My Kingdom is not of this World saith Christ John 18 36. Now Clapham confesseth That the Magistrate is no Officer of Christ's spiritual Kingdom of his Church Now to say that Christ hath a spiritual Kingdom and a Kingdom of Policy or Political Kingdom is blasphemy against the Son of God and wil be taken notice of by the higher Powers And to say That the Magistrate is an Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediator is blasphemy also for what Magistrate in this Nation or what Priest or people besides thee dare own any to be joined with Christ as Mediator Was there ever any such a thing heard from any that professe to know the Scripture to tell of Christ having a Political Kingdom in which the Magistrate must be an Officer but not in the spiritual Kingdom of his Church Then why dost thou so often in thy Book press the Magistrate to exercise his Power to defend the Church as thou callest it This thy confusion I lay open for the peoples sake that they may be wiser than their Teachers Again the Priest saith That Christ is the eternal Son of God distinct from the Father eternally c. And that the Spirit was distinguished from the Father and Son from eternity as in page 17. of his Book and that there is three Substances and but one Divine Being Ans. Here thou hast shewed thy self to be brutish in thy knowledge and to have no more understanding than a Beast which perisheth Therefore let all People take notice that Priest Clapham hath exhorted to try mens doctrines by the Scripture therefore by the Scriptures he is charged to prove any such thing as that the Son of God is distinct from the Father eternally or that the Spirit was distinguished eternally from both the Father and the Son Now this I also affirm that the Devil
Jews a stinted Form although they speak contemptuously of the Lord Jesus Christ which before you have said you will not tolerate their persons because they speak contemptuously of the Lord Jesus Christ and now you say you wil tolerate because they are a stinted Form How must the Jews be converted who have spoken contemptuously and reproachfully of the Lord Jesus Christ calling him a Deceiver a Blasphemer and that he had a Devil seeing you will not tolerate their persons until they be converted And how shall the Heathens that worship false gods be converted seeing their persons must not be tolerated And what must be done with those many hundreds of Congregations in England which worship God in the Spirit and yet do deny the Scriptures as Words and Writings of the Old and New-Testament to be the Word of God but do confesse them to be a Testimony of the Word and of him who is the beginning and end of the words in whom and by whom they all come to be fulfilled to the Saints What must their persons be done with seeing they must not be tolerated But you may say That those things was spoken in your haste or at least in your fear whereby you were surprized in the Uproar of the rude Boys and Apprentices of London But a little fear entering into the Hypocrisie doth try your spirits and cause you to bring forth the intents of your hearts as in your paper is manifest To the last you say Forasmuch as we are charged to murder and destroy those that differ from us in matters of Religion We do not only abhor and detest it as a cursed practice but we hope we have approved our selves both in this City and the Nation to the contrary notwithstanding the great provocation of some who have endeavoured our ruine For that we desire is just liberty to men as men that every man may be preserved in his own just rights and that Christians may be preserved as Christians though of different apprehensions in some things of Religion in the prosecution whereof our lives shall not be dear unto us when we are thereunto lawfully called The designs of our adversaries in these calumnies are to mis-represent us to some people fearing God and also to incense the rude Multitude against us purposely to provoke them if possible to destroy us Ans. In what you have before expressed you have more given than taken away the occasion of this Charge against you by your instancing the not tolerating of such persons before-mentioned for if you did as you say desire the just liberty of men as men then every man without respect to Apprehensions Perswasions or Worships as a man and person should be tolerated that those who are Christians might inform them of the true God when they worship false gods And hereby you give great occasion unto those that seek occasion from you when you with a general consent cry against the tolerating the persons of so many sorts of people about differing from you in Religion And as for some of them whom ye would accuse as irregular many by experience can witness that neither Weapon nor Tongue formed against them can prosper and the time may come when you may be glad to be upholden with a little of their strength and not to reject those whom God hath doth and will own for his people in the midst of their Enemies for God hath made them even as eyes to behold the spirits of men and the changings of their ways and to give them a reproof in due season when they darken Wisdom and confound their matter by words without knowledge in false fears and haste when they are out of patience and out of Faith in God as the Baptists here have done and the fearful and unbelieving cannot accomplish the righteousness of God neither will he bring forth his intended Work by them but such as are of a true Spirit that look only at the glory of God and setting up of his Truth who are come to the spiritual Weapons and do not wrestle with flesh and blood but with the powers of darkness and with spiritual wickedness and such as are not false accusers of others but seek the good of all men such will the Lord honor and exalt in his Work and they shall perfect his praise So Friends you have been hasty to utter words before the Lord for which his reproof justly comes upon you Therefore let your words be few mind the fear of the Lord God which is the beginning of wisdom and that will slay your false fears from which unsavoury and unsound words hath proceeded for your Religion is vain while your tongue is not bridled for it is better to be still and keep silence then to utter words from the line of confusion that is stretched over you thereby to get a name in the Earth which Line all people walk in but those who are led by the Spirit of God to speak words that cannot be condemned for it is the Spirit of the Lord God and his Power which must slay the enmity in you which is the ground of your prejudice and hard speeches against the Lambs of Christ which when that is slain within then those evil fruits of the lips will cease without and then the fountain of Life will open in you which brings forth fruits of another nature and when the fruits of your lips is truth righteousness and peace then wil you have fellowship with the Father and the Son and with us who walk in his Light A Copy of a Paper sent to the Council of State in the Year 1659. LEt every one that will minister the Gospel do it freely according to the example of the Apostles and the Ministers of Christ. And do not you go about to provide any maintenance for any Ministers of any sort in the Nation for in that you wil but lay a yoke upon the Disciples necks and an imposition upon tender Consciences which cannot do any thing but what they do freely as unto the Lord and let every one that will preach the Gospel live of the Gospel and not upon any setled or State maintenance for thereby you will but set up another Image and continue the same oppression of tythes though under another name upon the people and will neither ease nor satisfie the people at all for the cry of the honest and godly people of this Nation is to have a free Ministry and free maintenance and are willing fâ—eely to maintain those that minister unto them the Word and Doctrine and are not willing that the Civil Magistrate should meddle with that which relates to spiritual things in this case and so every sort of people in the Nation freely maintaining their own Ministry puts an end unto all troubles suits complaints and petitions of that kind in which the Nation hath long been burdened and troubled with which with much ease and satisfaction to all people this way may be ended and