which words it is plaine that some did not discerne the Lords Body but did take it as common eating and drinking and that the Lord was angry for so practising that Ordinance but the faithful Souls that come rightly qualified discerne the Lords Body and eat the Lords Body and drink his Blood and therefore for to say that shall perish to wit the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ is Blasphemie it is my Souls desire that as the Lord hath made me sensible would make me more and more sensible of the Wretched Blind and Lame condition of such Souls that speak evil of the Body and Blood of the Lord Oh that my words might be acceptable that I might perswade some poor Souls from perverting the right way of the Lord that the Body of Christ doth not perish see Psal 16.10 Neither thy Holy one to see Corruption which all agree is ment of Christ and that the Blood of Christ doth not perish 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 1.18 Where the Apostles doth oppose the Blood of Christ to corruptable things as things that perish with the using Oh that private Indignity Emulation and Hatred they have to the Blood of Christ which I have cause to say not only from what is here said but from an other Testimony from one Rob. Gresinham who I am sure they do own said he doth thou think that the Blood of Christ that thou mightest have taken up in thy hand can wash away Sin there is one besides my self to testifie this if out of the abundance of the hearts the Mouth speaketh then surely there is very Low and Contemptable thoughts of the Blood of Christ in the heart of that Person that dares speak such Contemptable words surely the Fountaine from whence such streams do Flow is not a pure Fountaine and is much contrary to what the Apostle Peter beleeveth he calleth it pretious Blood consider this you that forget that Fountain that you was washed and cleansed by if you was ever washed Who hath washed us in his Blood Revel 1.5 I would fain know of thee oh thou high Flown talker whether the Apostle Paul Gal. 2.21 22. When he exhorteth from whence I suppose you borrow your Expression Notto Touch Taste Handle which all are to perish with the using whether he meaneth the Ordinances belonging to Moses house as the Ordinances belonging to Christs house or those that God did command by Moses surely I beleeve have ground so to do that they are those that was commanded by Moses for saith the Apostle they were such that were against us such as Christ nailed to the Cross and if so then is it not wresting the Scripture to apply it to the Ordinances of Christ in the Gospel and whereas you say we rest in shaddows it is possible it may be true in some that profess the Truth they may hold it in unrighteousness as the Apostle saith some did in his time but this I can say that those that the Lord hath intrusted with the work of the Ministry do Perswade Exhort and Entreat poor Souls that have laid a good Foundation That they goon to Perfection according to that Heb. 6.1 2. And this there Exhortation in the fear of God hath not come in Word only but in Power and Strength upon our Souls so that many can say with the Apostle Paul Phil. 3. From the 10. To the 15. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after c. And further I press towards the Mark of the high Calling in Christ Jesus and therefore I would perswade all that own that Paper that if they know any that are in such Condition to be perswading them not to rest in it for it is dangerous to hold the Truth in Unrighteousness likewise not to lay it as a general Aspertion upon all that walk in the way of the Lord and are as much for purity of Life as purity of Ordinances and do desire to keep the Forme and Power together and not to disjoyne that which God hath joyned lest they be found Sinners I would have no Soul to think because I am upon this Subject that I am not for purity of Life as well as Obedience to the Ordinances of Gods House I am as free to bear a Testimony against an evil Conversation as corrupt Principles yet not to let them pass but to contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints he further saith We are in the true Water and Blood which washeth the Soul and Baptiseth Dippeth and Plungeth the Conscience and cleanseth it from all Sin which leads into the Heavens where God dwelleth and we eat and drink the true and real Body and Blood of the Lamb hereby we know it because it nourisheth us and giveth us Blessed growth in the Life and Inocency of the Lamb which was with God before shaddows were and henceforth we in it have passed and left them all as Images of Gold and Silver to be cast to the Moles and to the Batts for ever It hath made me affraid to speak sometime against such a People that should declare such things as being washed from Sin as being lead and having Blessed growth in the Life and Innocency of the Lamb and such like expressions but upon consideration I am confident both to speak and to Write although I desire to own any thing of the Lord in any profession whatsoever becauss I find the Apostle Paul prophesing there should be a people Declaring things that are not so concerning their own State and Condition 1 Tim. 4.2 Speak Lyes in Hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot Iron Speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie That is declaring they have Communion with God and are washed from Sin and have Growth in the Innocency of the Lamb such like when it is not so that Persons may have a high Estemation of them when it is not so neither is those things found in them and I will prove he speaks Lyes in Hypocrisie although I do remember that Water is put for the Spirit as John 7.38 39. He that beleeveth on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water but this he speaks of the Spirit But when John speaks in that place that he alludeth unto 1 Epistle of John 5.8 There are three that bare Record on earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood That it cannot be the Spirit not that I beleeve he hath the Spirit no for this I â—estifie that he that hath the Spirit of God saith not that he hath cast the Ordinances of God to the Moles and to the Batts for evermore my reason is this because the Spirit is one of the other two and therefore it is undoubtedly Truth that it is not the Spirit therefore it must be Water that is used in Baptisme and if so is not his words a manifest Lye when they disown make void and declare as useless that Ordinance of Baptisme nay say themselves here passed
TRUTH UINDICATED Being An ANSVVER To the high flown Fancies of John Perrot known by the name of a Quaker in a Paper with this Inscription to all BAPTISTS every where or to any other who are yet under the shadows and watry Element and are not come to Christ the substance Wherein is laid open the airy vain Foolishness if not Blasphemousness of his words covered over with ambiguous and doubtful tearms unto all unbiazed and rational men But I will come unto you shortly and will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but the power Cor. 4.19 Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 Epistle of John 9. Take heed that the Light that is in you be not darkness Luke 11.35 By Randall Roper a Servant of Christs LONDON Printed for the Author 1661. To the Reader ALthough I am not ignorant of the prejudice which a Subject of this nature hath upon the minds of many men and likewise conscious of my own inability to such a work yet notwithstanding I shall not omit Writing according to the measure of the Tallent that the Lord heth given me in regard of that encouragement that I have met with from the Lord to this work since I first thought on it I shall intreat and beseech thee in the fear of God to read with an unbiazed affection and not to be rash in judging but on the contrary be fond like those Bereians that were more noble than those of Theselonica and the reason is there rendred because they searched the Scriptures whether those things were so or no alledged by the Apostle Paul Acts 17.11 I am nesessiated to say as Laban said to Jacob in an other case it must not be so done here the short volume that I intend to comprize what I shall write at this time is such that it will not bear a long Epistle and therefore I shall with as much brevity as I can give you my reasons of answering that Paper although I think there is abundance of folly at the best if not lies as shall be made manifest first reason that constrains me is the restless condition of the People called Quakers in giving them up and down to People that they think there is any hope to work upon together with that high confidence they have of it as an Oracle of God and that which cannot be answered when it is nothing less than the senseless Prophane and divised words of a brain-sick-apostate Secondly that high estimation they have of the Author of that Paper insomuch that I have been told of two of his judgment which I am sure they will own that he had as great a measure of the Spirit as ever man had and that he had talked face to face with God as a man talketh with his friend and several other things of a like tendency which would be too tedious to insert which I have cause to think nay believe are lies therefore my Friends who ever you are that desire to abide in the Doctrine of Christ having respect to all his Commandement that you may experience Communion with the Father the Son you have cause to praise him magnifie the name of your God that hath so given up and in the way of his justice which men hath so honoured that as he is a rageing wave of the Sea so he hath foamed out his own shame Secondly we have cause of sorrow that any poor souls that aims at the glory of God should follow such Teachers And so I shall leave but shall continue my Prayers that the Lord would keep his Children and Babes from that deceit and that the Lord would grant some that are already turned after Satan Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth which is the end and aim of him that desireth truth may flowrish and that errour and darkness may be done away RANDAL ROPER TRUTH UINDICATED Being An ANSVVER To the high flown Fancis of John Perrot known by the name of a Quaker GOd who at sundry times and in divers manners hath in times past spoken to our Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last daies spoken unto us by his Son even the Lord Jesus who hath told us that false Prophets should arise Mat. 24.24 and by the Apostle Peter whom he did in a special manner Authorize to feed his Lambs and Sheep John 21.15 who hath told us that as there were false Prophets among the people even so there shall be false Teachers amongst you who privately mind that shall bring in damnable Hericises denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow those preniscious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of whether this Scipture is not in a great measure fulfilled by the People called Quakers I will leave the impartial Reader to Judge for those that deny the Doctrine of Christ do privately and covertly deny Christ but they do deny the Doctrine of Christ therefore do privately deny Christ that they do deny declare as useless the Doctrine of Christ is manifest and shall be made manifest and that the truths of the Gospel is evill spoken of by reason of them experience doth testifie is it not the cry of the People you first turn Annabaptist and then Quaker you do not continue in what you first take up But because I design brevity I shall come to the words of this subtil deceiver who is pleased rather with emminancy of words then pregnancy of reason That you may know his words they are in a different caracter from mine which I am necesesiated to insert because I may not beat the air if any be offended at my writting by way of argument I know not any way to demonstrate things beter than that in this critiall age if I did I would take it the Auther of that Paper is confident in his assertions but proveth nothing but I do intend to prove what I say by the Scriptures of truth and in order to the words I shall take this way First by taking a Veiw of the exprese words by him spoken and shall give particular answers Secondly I shall answer that which I apprehend to be his drift and aime in what he saith and that is to lay low extenuate and make void the two Ordinances of the Gospel to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper or breaking Bread and drinking Wine in remembrance of Christs death not to be used by such as are come to Christ the substance wherein I will shew the duration continuation of Baptisme and the Lord Supper untill Christ shall come himself or personally which is all one and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit into the hearts of his people doth not put an end to those two Ordinances and shall answer some Objections First then he begins with this inscription To all
not way to that Spirit of errour that will be getting up in you and let my words be acceptable unto you to this end to own the Scriptures of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles which is able to make the wise to Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 and not to contemn them as is usual as one said to me which I am sure they owne when I said I had the word of God the Scriptures of Truth in me he asked me whether I had ink and paper in my heart Oh that such expressions might cease from amongst you I would fain know from any one of you whether all the Commandements contained in Scripture whether spoken by the Lord himself or by his Prophets or by his Son Jesus or by his Apostles which are not yet abrogated by the death of Christ are not the duty of the People of the Lord to observe and obey and whether the Commandements of God are of less vertue because they are written then if Jesus Christ did immediately speak them unto us and whereas you say we have passed through and left them this is no wonder if I may be certain in any thing what you mean by your expressions I may in this that you mean Baptisme other Ordinances of Gods House for the little number receiving Tenth and the few of them that do receive the Truth continuing in it it is an argument to me we are in the Truth rather than otherwise for saith Christ Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luke 12.32 It is not only so now but it was in the time while Christ was personally present many left him and walked no more with him John 6.66 And this is what is prophesied of 2 Thes 2.2 Let no man deceive you for that day shall not come except there come a falling away and saith the Apostle to Timothy some shall depart from the Faith but let us inquire into the reason which the Servant of the Lord Paul gives The first Reason 2 Thes 2.11.12 Is because they received not the Truth in the love of it and this hath been the reason of some falling away and receiving strong delusions for it hath been confessed to me by one of that Principle that she did submit to the Truth to wit Water-Baptisme because others did submit to it because it was in fashion and if any of your Consciences condemn you in this God is greater than your Consciences and knows all things repent of that your wickedness The second Reason which the Apostle rendreth of persons falling away of receiving strong delusions is because they had pleasure in unrighteousness it is possible that some may receive the Truth in the love of it and yet in time loose their first love and take pleasure in unrighteousness and so loose their peace and so run to airy notions of things that they may get peace which is not the true peace of God and this I find not only by the Scriptures of Truth but from their own expressions some of them hath said to me that they had not peace though at the first they had it and that they lived contrary to their consciences for some years before they received that which they call Truth Oh! that they would juslifie the Lord in his giving them up to believe strong delusions and take shame to themselves for doubtless the Lord will not be mocked for what they sow that they shall reap and though the way of God is at this day called Herisie and hath been so in daies past yet know this that Herisie is a fruit of the flesh as well as prophaneness in conversation and if you live and allow your selves in it you shall dye not only a natural death but the second death dear souls who are much upon my heart that have no ends but to glorifie God in what you do know this that the Devil can transform himself into an Angel of light and this I say to you by the word of the Lord that if men have never so much outward holiness upon them if they perswade you to forsake any of the Commandements of God do not believe them as you will answer it at the great day of the Lord read Galatians the first Chapter and let your Souls tremble at the word of the Lord now that it is the word of the Lord or the mind of the Lord which is all one which the Apostle Paul writeth see 1 Cor. 14.37 If any man think himself to be a Prophet or a spiritual man let him acknowledge the things that I write to be the Commondements of the Lord. Oh! that you of the Ministry as you are called would consider of this Scripture and not to appropriate that to your own Books which you will not allow the Scriptures and for you that say you went away because of the carnality of some Professors you ought to indeavoured their reformation and if not to have dealt with them according to the rule of Christ in that case and not to have forsaken the truth upon that account return return to the Lord and the Truth and you will find many amongst the Baptists as willing to own any thing that is of God as you can be to perswade them He further saith for know ye where God is present there needs not arepresention of him by any thing and where the eterual Fountain of all vertue is set open there needs not digging of other Wells for Water turn therefore to the light within the Conscience which is able to Baptise and wash your Souls from all Sin and make Rivers of living Water flow out of your belly which light is the alone Salvation of God he that loveth it and obeyeth it shall know it In answer to which I know not any Baptist that doth practise or doth set up any thing to represent God but hath renounced those hidden things of darkness and if so doth he not beat the Air when those persons that he writeth to doth not own any such thing but if he means where God is present there needs not outward forms in his Worship as Water in Baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper then it is not true as to Baptisme that there must be Water I might give you many Scriptures yet I shall only give you but one because it is full pregnant Acts 10.47 Can any forbid Water that these should not be Baptised which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we For Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper see Mat. 26.16 He took Bread and so likewise the Cup compared with Luke 22.19 20. And therefore let none deceive you with vain words and whereas he saith turn to the light within which is able to Baptise wash from all sin and further saith it is the alone Savation of God such an exhortation we find not in all the Scriptures of Truth if every man is to turn to
now I have with as much speed as I could come to the end of what I promised only I have a short word or my mind in shortness to speak unto two sorts of People to the People called Quakers Secondly to those that are under the profession of the Truth according to the mind of God contained in Scripture First then to the People called Quakers if any of you answer what I have writ in writing do not wrest my expressions for I have dealt ingeniously with you in answering that Paper though it would be better for you to be silent then to speak evil of the way of God if you do I shall not promise you to answer truly friends God is my witness that what I have written is in tenderness of Spirit towards you I beseech you to consider of it and do not please your selves with airy conceits but meditate in the Law of the Lord that so you may hold fast the form of sound words I do hope and beleive the Lord hath a remnant amongst you that fear the Lord and do what you do in the integrity of your Souls which that prophesie shall be fulfilled upon Isa 29.24 They also that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding and those that murmured shall learn Doctrine This I have faith in shall be accomplished upon some of you when many amongst you shall discover themselves what they are now privately then you that have erred in Spirit shall understand that is you shall see that the Devil can and hath transformed himself into an Angel of Light and you that murmured at the way of the Lord shall then learn Doctrine Dear Souls whom I love that have no corrupt ends but only have the honour of God in your eye have respect unto al the Commandements of the Lord and be not lead by the errour of the wicked be no longer deceived by false Teachers who as much as in them lies makes the Commandements of God of none effect read and consider of that text of Timothy that thou maist have such an esteem of the Scriptures as holy men had of old 2 Tim. 3.15.16 and you that are called the Ministry I do exhort you from the Lord who hath made me sinsible of the losse of Souls cease from perverting of the way of the Lord Oh be careful what you say and Preach lest the Lord lay the blood of poor Souls upon you I am not unsensible of that high confidence that you have of your selves aâ— being such that canno err Let me perswade you to lye low in your selves and tremble at the Word of the Lord his saying precepts and Commandements contained in Scripture lest what I have said be as a witness against yâ—ur in the great day of the Lord when persons shall not be judged by what they have supposed light but by the Words of Jesus Christ content not your selves with morality but worship God in Spirit and not only so but in Truth and trust in nothing below the blood of Christ to make attonement for sin this I speak not to stir up prejudise against you but to warn you of the danger which will come upon you if you repent not and shall continue my prayers for such of you that are in the lemits of a Christians duty to pray for And unto you my Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ do not make a wrong application of what I have said do not think you are in a safe condition barely because you are in the profession of the Truth of the Lord no friends do not trust or lean there for know this if thou hast been Baptised and if thou eat and drink at Christs Table yet if thou work iniquity thou wilt be shut out of the kingdome Oh my Friends do not hold the Truth in unrighteousness as some did in dayes past but answer the end of the Ordinances of the Lord it is possible that some may be in that condition that professe the Truth as the professing People of the Lord wherein the 7 of Ier. who was punctual in the observation of outward things and yet gave way to several evils do not rest in such a condition but remember from whence you are fallen and do your first work Oh my Friends let your lights shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven and let not the enimies of the Truths of God have no just accasion to speak evil of the way of God by reason of you but study to adorne your profession and unto you my Friends which are a pressing after the Mark of the calling in Christ Jesus go on in that work until you perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord and esteem of the Ordinances of the Lord never the worser because men that seem to have outward holiness upon them speak against them see the 2 Cor. 11.13.14 15. but do and say as the holy David in Psalm 119.126 127 128. I love thy Commandements above gold yes above fine gold Therefore I esteem thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way which that we mâ—y all do is and shall be the prayer of him that is willing to serve you in the Gospel of Christ according to the Tallent the Lord hath given me faithful is he that hath promised who hath began a good work in us and will carry it on to the day of the Lord. THE END ERRATA EPistle Page 2. l. 10. r. and for him Epistle Page 2. l. 11. r. him for and Page 8. l. 22. r. arreyes for errour Page 14. l. 1. r. that for what