its own single Witness and denieth to be tryed by Scripture or any thing else but it self You try all your matter by that you call the light vvithin the natural man c. of vvhich light your spirit is the transfotmed Angel 2 Cor. 11.14 and things are like to go on in his side in his ovvn Court. We acknowledge the light vvithin the enlightned man vvhich agreeth with the Scriptures Heb. 10.32 compared vvith 2 Tim. 3.17 but not before illumination this is the light that enlightneth every man but vve must not acknowledge it but where it is It is good to answer Tempters by seeing the image or superscription though Tempters are more general It is certain there is something called a light by Christ that is in the unregenerate man and may be darkness Matth 6.23 Surely this must be yours for you own yours there and vvould have all judged by that and neglect Christ and his Apostles rules in Scripture And now to be short Friend you have not found out one particular in all my Writings whereunto you might apply your self as a just matter of your reproof therefore you fell upon me with many foul revilings onely there is a mistake in the quotation I not being at the Presse my self to correct it the place should have been 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. for which mistake you take him in a Snare that reproveth in the Gate and maketh a man an offendor for a word Isa 29.21 yea and that a word mistaken onely and that you do with most foul insultations In matters of the World he that should prosecute his Neighbor for vvitnessing the truth when he onely mistakes â—he place and â—and upon that point would be known amongst men as a cunning Knave As for the matter you made shew to answer you have given it all the go by yet you will be in Print Well according to Solomon in Prov. 26.5 I have answered you and according to his counsel in Verse 4. I shall not answer you except you shew more Wisdom you have asked me no question but what are plainly prevented in my Writings if you had eyes to see it you might see it therefore I refer all to the judicious Reader that shall read both Books Again you make something of the word Carpenters Son but that is your mistaking ignorance for it was he that the Jews vilified by that Name who is the Saviour of the world and Law-giver to Saints and as they reproached his meaness by that Name so you reproach the meaness of his Laws by the Name oâ— outside Law carnal unspiritual things as not high enough for him that exalteth himself above all that is called God or worshipped Therefore the VVord is a proper allusion to you you and the Jews both vilifying Christ and his Laws as too mean for you Again you play upon the word Taking it upon me as my duty you need not for it is a Scripture phrase Gen. 18.31 and whosoever is a VVitness for the Truth taketh up the Cross and upon him Christs burden which to do is my duty the word you see will warrant the phrase and that is more sure then your As God his movings I write against a Spirit and People in disobedience and I bended my writings against the thing wherein the deceit lay I did personally asperse no man but thou hast missed the point though thou comest forth as a man provoked and one in union with that Error I reproved and hast brought forth my Name and dwelling-place that thou mightest reproach me with railing terms upbraiding me with what men had done unto me and art to be reproved by Psal 50 19 20 and Jude 8 9 10. Is not this personal animosity Have you not need to plead for perfection that do such things Do you think your Spirit that hath set you about this is the spirit of God or no You must needs call this either envy or malice or both Is this any proof for your matter that you give folks to think you answer This is as impertinent as all the rest even so is thy calling that light in the natural man of which Christ saith Matt. 6.23 How great is that darkness the light of Christ and averring that I speak against it the Lord will uphold my good Name though thou wouldst blast it and make me content to go through thy evil report and be glad to see thee penitent and obedient to God that thou and I may enjoy that one life and truth together with the Apostles and Disciples and that God-man that dyed upon the Cross and is now with his Father and our Father in heaven which he gave in the dayes of his flesh and now maintaineth Written by an unworthy Servant of God who in Gods perfect way waiteth for visitations of that Spirit that is sent from the Father and the Son by that Man Jesus who is in Heaven in his eternal and unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7.24 H. H. FINIS ERRATA Pag. 4 line 5. for talents read talands l 6. for peak r. beak l. 2â— for Charts r. Church P. 12 l. 4 after the word Disciples r. truth speaketh l. 20. after the word mouâ—hr when that Statute is as the mouth of some inveteraâ—e Clergy-men to hold mens estates in at their pleasure P. 16. l. 15. for Ecclesiasies r Nehemiah
that none can open his eye to discover my vanity but a Sword lyeth on it Zac. 11.17 I beseech you also take notice of the good I have done for this part of the world who are my Vassals I have builded their Churches and dedicated them to Christ or one Saint or other that they may be holy I have divided their Lands into Parishes settled Tithes upon them left no means unthought out that may dignifie or distinguish them but have made all conveniences for ease pleasure and safety that the wit of man can invent Tell me now am not I a better Master to mine then Christ was to his Who suffered his to be under cruel mockings scornings bonds imprisonments savings asunder temptings being slain with swords and wandring up and down in sheep-skins and goat-skins Rom. 16.33 Heb. 11.37 And no marvel for he had no Kingdom of this world as I have But wâ—ilst thou lookest on the Saâ—â—s outward condition thou feelest not his 〈◊〉 of â—…t Prov. 1.10 nor whereon to lay his head he was never born to that honour and riches that I and mine are for he was fain to make shift with a Manger at the time of his birth though we arose from out of his Charts Act. 20.30 we have attained to greater riches and intailments and strong settlements in this world then he or any of his had or will have Truth speaketh Prelate what I say to thee I shall say to all thy issue viz. If thou be not found in the Scriptures of truth I cannot own thee for then thou must be of mans invention of lies and must be outed for ever having share of me your Antiquity cannot maintain you you are not older then the Epistle of Jude vers 4. who wrote of your old Ordination and your coming in neither can the approbation of Bishops and Doctors justifie you for Christ Jesus thanketh his Father that he hath hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes 'T is not honourableness that will help you for God will stain the pride of all grory and bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth Isa 23.9 Whereas you pleade your Councils I cannot own them for the Scripture of truth concludes them under a wo Isai 30.1 for taking Counsel and not by Gods Spirit One thing wherein your Councils are point-blank against the Scriptures of truth is A Bishop the Scripture proveth must be the Governour of a natural family consisting of wife and children where the spirit of Government must be fruitful in governing his own house well in these words A Bishop must be blameless the husband of one wife c. 1 Tim. 3.2 One that ruleth well having his Children in subjection with all gravity for if he know not how to rule his own how shall he take care of the Church of God Even so must their wives be grave c. vers 4 5. And in Titus If any man be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of ryot or unruly c. But your Councils are so shameless that they give out their Must be against the Scriptures Must-be for you say That a Bishop must be unmarried and so are all your Priests to be by your Councils Order Therefore let all men look upon thee as one that vieth it with God himself and indeed if the Scripture had not spoken of a false-dealing shameless Clergie Jer. 13.15 I should have more admired your impudency your daughter Presbytery is not altogether so shameless for she puts her May-be against the Scriptures Must-be for she saith A Bishop may be unmarried And as for your fixing your self in the joynts of honour riches strength cruelty multitudes c. I must by the Scriptures of truth tell thee That the stone the tryed stone the precious corner-stone when he shall lay judgement to the line and righteousness to the plummet the hail shall sweep away all your refuge of lies then your contract with hell and death shall not stand Isai 28.16 viz. All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me He that contracted with you will then prove but a bad Pay-master And as concerning the people that is with you in concord this very thing is the curse that is upon them viz. There shall be like people like priest and both in love with lies if sometimes the Nation that is called Gods people were in this condition it is easily believed that Rome and England may be so It is said of them The prophets prophesie falsly the priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof These things considered I have done with the Prelate Now followeth the speech that may be aptly spokenly sâ—me of that Presbitery that is the Prelates Daughter Truth it is a folly to lye before thee though I may cozen the people with sophistical Arguments my learning being very useful to me for that purpose I have not shaken off my Mothers foundation but have kept her Baptism her sticking to mans Ordination to preach though not wholly in her Order for I tell you truly herein lyeth my pomp my riches my benefice my parish-livings that my Mother Prelate provided for me and is the very Saddle upon which I ride the Beast by the help of my brother Lawyer which Beast some have interpreted to be the great powers of the earth for I know the same spirit that caused the Hierarchies successors to ordain me will cause them to maintain me and all my honours and greatness for indeed I have all the Rulers and great ones power for few or none of the Rulers believe on poor Christ and his poor despised people and therefore I flatter them in their powdered locks and new fashions Rom. 12. gives you no such warrant and their wives in their long trailing Gowns naked Breasts and spotted Faces or if I flatter them not I make my reproofs so soft and so thin as the Tiffany they wear And for their filth of meat and vain talk I smile at them whilst I formally reprove them and I call it not Gluttony and Drunkenness neither do I charge it so strictly upon them to face them with bold reproofs telling them That for every idle word they must give an account at the day of judgment as the poor silly followers of poor Christ do Alas poor souls for their plain dealing the world judgeeth them accursed and turneth them out of doors whereas I can be welcome to great persons and we can call on another godly lying till we think we say truly and both of us together fall upon the back of the poor silly followers of poor Christ by which means it is no disgrace to me upon the earth before the great ones and the lustful ones and the common people though the foresaid poor people by plain proofs cut of Scripture make me naked My Mothet Prelate
in whom the Spirit of God doth or shall breath being a truth-evidencing and forceable constraint and cannot stay for leave of Election by man to utter it self which indeed is a gift of God or Pastoral Spirit as Marriage is another qualification wherein the spirit of government must appear fruitful both in wife and children and that from conjugal and natural love to the Yoak fellow and procreated in which affections Faith appeareth and for want of them infidelity 1 Tim. 5 8. so that children cannot be wanting to a Bishop in whose government the Royal Law Love of Gods Church is resembled Marriage being the Type of Christ and his Church and it is certain that a batchelor or one that hath no children or one whose wife and children are not qualified according to the word cannot be chosen except man will set his May-be against Gods Must-be And so I leave thee Independant warning thee to take the counsel of Christ to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3.17 A Speech that may be aptly spoken by these Quakers who hold forth a stupifying Spirit denying plain Truth and right Reason under the Notion of a higher Mystery and Spirit then plain Scripture and right Reason will admit of which plain Scripture they call Letter and right Reason they call Flesh in contempt notwithstanding that the Spirit of God is promised to be poured into him that turneth at Gods Reproof Prov. 1.23 which Reproof convinceth Reason or else man could not return into Reason among the rest of the Souls Members the Spirit was poured and is wrought upon to order Mans Affairs by Judgement and doth receive wise Counsels when the man of Understanding attaineth to them Prov. 1.5 Truth though we may not talk with thee we are not capable to receive directions by any that is call'd by thy name nor by the writings called Scriptures of Truth for what directions soever we have from without can be but mans teachings and the natural man understandeth not the things of God we are taught by the Light within we are to stand in the will of God and observe the movings and commands of his Spirit Truth speaketh * 〈…〉 resembling God's people 〈◊〉 great humility Psal 17. â—1 As in the vision of Esdras the Eagles heads slept until her Feathers had reigned as in 2 Esd 12 25. These are they that shall accomplish his wickedness and finish his last end even so in Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the whole earth the heads and subtilest and strongest of her delusions she hath kept until her last end which I hope is approaching that thou who wouldst not receive the Truth in the love thereof mightst not hear the reproof of thy walking in false forms any longer in so much that thou couldst not deny that if forms must be owned thou must come out of them and come into the form of godliness Satan hath now cozened thee another way and thy AS GOD he hath perswaded thee that all forms must be cast off and the Law of the Spirit of Life entertained O cunning and subtile but false delusions the words of the Prophets and the Commandment of the Apostles were set in opposition formerly to lusts 2 Pet. 3.1 2. but never to the way of Righteousness by any but these last members of Babylon Peter in Chap. 2. 1. 2. hath these words And many shall follow their pernitious wayes by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of Wherein we may perfectly see that their wayes and the wayes of Truth stands in flat opposition one to another Also in the first verse it is testified that to bring in these damnable heresies is to deny the Lord that bought them but he himself is so far from that opinion in verse 21. of the said Chapter that he chargeth the way of Righteousness and the holy commandments as the very Centre from which Apostates fall so that you may behold clearly that it is not a Righteousness they are charged for falling from for that is the secret issues which is betwixt God and the heart but the way of Righteousness which is visible to the understanding of Man Many of their Leaders whilst they were able to hold the Antichristian form they were in the esteem of godly Priests whose infants Baptism and learned specious Pastoral care so much applauded by wise sober rich silken-coated Professors then I say not being able to resist the clear evidence that the true form of Godliness hath because they did not love to be disquieted out of the woman Jezabels bed Rov 2.22 where they lay in pleasure of imagined Godliness amongst a company of wise sober Professors they were then so far from receiving the love of the truth that they grew into disquietness of mind and hatred of that form of Godliness that Christ and His Apostles and their Disciples walked in for many years even till the time that Antichrist grew popular in so high a measure Satan being ready with this Temptation that they struck hands with this strong delusion and so believed the lies thereof 2 Thes 2.11 that they cryed down all forms that they might be shut of yea and avenged of that form the thoughts whereof so much troubled them if they knew their own hearts they would ingeniously confess this Therefore whosoever desireth further satisfaction in this matter is referred to a Book that the Author hath written called The Doctrine of the Light within the natural man leading to eternal Life examined by Scripture Light Baptist speaketh The Spirit of God having instructed me by the Scripture I fell into a course of reasoning which though Mystery Babylon cryeth down in this her last dispensation being the very thing that Isaiah cryeth up and reproveth the neglect of Isa 44. on this manner There is no word for baptizing Infants in Scripture not no regular account from which that invention can arise it is the very door that the god of this world makes all this part of the world called Christendom of one supposed Faith by leaving no man at liberty to chuse his Religion but maketh the instruments of his generation to be that which giveth him right to the Instruments of his Regeneration and as for the new birth he will have his to presume that from imagination and all this to be done when the party supposed to be baptized could neither assent by understanding to what was done nor dissent by doing any thing but crying which he would have done if they had gone about to kill him as to have christened him as they call it Also herein those err that have schism'd from Popery and Prelacy but hold their baptism of Infants saying That Infants of godly Parents may be baptized by which words they acknowledge in effect that the fleshly copulation of godly Parents giveth right to the children of their natural Body to be instruments of Regeneration so that it must needs follow that
2.4 and let all who think they know God whilst they despise that which He and His Disciples commanded and practised let them remember this word written in 1 Joh. 2.4 He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not His Commandments is a Lyar. As from this opinion that was sometimes in the Church I desire it lurk not secretly there yet the Ranters and Quakers sprung so also do now those who are zealous in decking their bed of Love which they poor deceived ones under pretence of peace-offerings and reconcilement to God in performing the very Vows of their souls Prov. 7.14 seek to draw Proselites in a bed of solace with love being so enabled as they think and covered sufficiently and beautified as with gifts and graces vers 16. that they can hide themselves and others from the reproof of Truth whilst they are workers of iniquity though they say they preach and cast out devils in Christs Name c. He that knoweth their works will call them so Mat. 7.22 23. And also they have perfumed their bed with divers spices Prov. 7.17 and it is too too true they hold forth the likeness of some of those spices but not all that Jesus Christ in his Visitation of His Spouse cometh perfumed unto His Spouse-Bed Cant. 3.6 7. and these in the good Mans absence will have other pleasures and lusts then to obey their Lord they have contracted a hatred in His absence to his Rule and Government and will not have it Luk. 19.14 and thus these poor deceived ones will be cut off for making a perfume and smelling to it in other places then where God and his People meet Exod. 30.35 to 38. which is in God's wayes while they rejoyce in working Righteousness Isa 64.5 viz. in ruleful obedience where love to Christ is proved by keeping his Commandments and the love of God and Christ together with their manifestation is promised These Libertines tell them of walking in the wayes that Christ and His Disciples walked in and they will reply If God let them see it they will obey May not Solomon's harlots say as well when the good Man of the house is come home who will instruct her for that is Christs practise with His Spouse Psal 32 8. she will forsake all her wooed Proselites and cease to heal defend and cover them and will no more counterfeit a perfume to perswade them that Christs favour of his oyntments is amongst them but but will come to the good man and walk with Him in obedience to His Commandments and abide in His love is He hath kept His Fathers Commandments and abides in His love Joh 15.10 So that if it be truth as surely it is they refuse to obey when the good Man of the house is come home they must then see it though they shut their eyes and blame his absence for their disobedience whose presence would let them see and with this excuse fall fast asleep in the arms of him who rules in the children of disobedience whilst he furnisheth them with all counterfeit evidences of good as if God were in their hearts all this while 2 Thes 2.4 the words are these So that he AS GOD sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God And the first evidence that he furnisheth them with may be this viz. That Christ hath put His beauty upon them for the beauty of Christ may be put on one and that by Christ and yet they play the harlot with it Ezek 16.14 here is the work of the Prince of the air in a disobedient heart to find wayes for Israel to disobey God and give up a soul to Lust and so play the harlot even as if she were opening her heart or her legs for Christ to take His pleasure in her and she in Him A second evidence of him who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience is in the pleasure of the Plant which is but a strange slip It must needs be a strange slip if your wayes be not those wayes which Christ and His Disciples walked in for three hundred years after Him your wayes must then be your own and of your own chusing and strange from Christs Isa 36.34 viz. The teacher with pleasure to thee and himself may plant in thy heart with thy consent or with thy soul a disobedient slip strange to Gods word it being not there to be found and for all thy delight thy portion will be desperate sorrow in the end Isa 17.11 12. here is a deceitful work of the ruler in the heart of the children of disobedience 3. He can make you lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us no evil can come to us Mic. 3.11 he can make thee bless thy self in the name of God with confidence of freedom from evil 4. Whilst thou art asleep he can furnish thee with a flattering spirit that causeth thee to dream and healeth thee in thy disobedience and so in your preaching and hearing one another you have nothing but healing and pleasure and love to tell one to another in disobedience whereas he who hath Gods word will preach it faithfully Jer. 23.28 and for his pains shall be cast out of your Societies so unwelcome is the thoughts of obedience to Christs Commandment to those who dream they shall be saved without it Although the true Saint be not only moved to obedience for salvation sake but for loves sake and thus by maintaining that which Christ neither taught nor practised in his worship or at least by gathering of what Christ taught by pieces and snatches and leaving the rest viz. by taking that which will and leaving that which will not serve the lusts of a proud Society that thou mayest hold some union with them thou fightest against the Lyon of God and at the best in this thy dream dost but think thou eatest when Truth it self shall awake thee and thou be convinced of thy disobedience thou wilt find thy self hungry Isa 29.7 8. And if any strive to awake them out of this their dream wherein they have neither Truth nor Reason for their practise they will say Let me alone with my Religion and I will let you alone with yours Whereas if they would not thus harden their hearts but let Judgement come forth to Victory what violent wrestling would there be in them what asking and enquiring would their hearts be filled with what weeping with their faces towards God and his wayes would melt their souls Jer. 50.5 and not asking as now they do with their hearts set against Gods ways to see if they can find any word which if it do meet them it must be by the spirit of delusion mis-interpreted to defend them from obedience to God and his ways Is it not just that these should have strong delusions that they may believe lies 2 Thes 2.11 Will not this properly one day be said unto them Bring forth the blind people that have eyes Isa
34.8 Therefore I advise all men to disclaim any thing in Religion that judgement cannot give thee to understand and hold forth to others when though shalt be asked a Reason of the hope that is in thee to be truth though a Spirit should offer to teach it thee The tongue cannot move beyond the ear being both natural these can both be but ministers of the natural Understanding pen and eye are servants to the same and can shew but utterable things take but away the use of these under a pretence of a Spirits teaching and the natural understanding and his servants are useless and cannot glorifie God which was the end of their Creation VVritten by H. H. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAST IT is to be premised That the VVhore and the Beast and the false Prophet being that they are all appertaining to one Babel or Members one under or in another all of one spirit all of the refuge of lies to which men flee from truth and are to be swept away together and all at agreement with Hell and Death Isai 28.15 to the 19. and all come to an end by one power when the VVhore shall be judged and the Beast and the false Prophet cast alive into the lake that burneth with fire and Brimstone Rev. 19.20 That this Description may the better appear we are first to observe that this Beast is settled by the Dragon who is the Devil and Satan and that this settlement is his invisibility he hath the subtilty of the old Serpent imployed to hide him that he might live And First Let us observe that he is like a Leopard in which sence he is beautiful and his beauty appeareth most to the minde and intellect because the spirit of Satan that is his father his Setler yea and his Life is an applyer of himself to the soul being an inward worker for his deceiveableness of unrighteousness is in them that perish where he causeth delight and glory and seeming happiness to fill the minde but consulteth with Truth and Righteousness Secondly His likeness is never seen nor understood in his tearing actions but as if something else had done them for then he useth a Bears foot and a Lyons mouth Rev. 13. vers 3. Thirdly Consider that when the Scripture speaketh of his mouth being like a Lyon it doth not speak of the Members thereof as tongue and teeth for his teeth hath another likeness where they are described as in Daniel they are called Iron teeth but mouth which includeth all the acting powers therein whose invisibleness is set forth by the supremeness in dominion strength that the Lyon hath over all Beasts and that this best resembleth the Lyon most in his mouth where his lordlyness strength and victoriousness lyeth in the month in the mouth is first a preparing of food for the stomach and the second utterance of the voyce by the stomach the minds satisfaction may be meant and in this his prosperity is great for their eyes stand forth with fatness they have more then their heart can wish Psal 73.7 to 11. Being that this Beast is the imbodyed power of Satan whose name is Abaddon we cannot think that his stomach can digest any thing but destruction and cruelty and all hellish food and Satan-like desiring the destruction of all men and to this purpose this strong mouth worketh Note that his strength in voyce cannot be any thing else but Eloquence which is the enticing words of mans wisdom 2 Cor. 1 17.19 2 Pet. 1.26 and Lies which is the very strong way they prevail in to the destruction of the people Jer. 17.10 Zach. 10.2 take heed Clergie that this word be not a witness against you in this lyeth great strength to keep his dark hidden settlement viz. in Eloquence and Lyes of which he wants neither Look about you to see if you can see him when he is a working and present but with Eloquence and Lyes he will be hidden from you for he is always hid in the present tense that is to say though he yet is he is not which must needs be understood whilst he cannot be seen but it is apparent enough he was then men may see plainly what he hath done in the Preterperfectense for he brings all his blind ones to had-I-wist The words that are written in Rev. _____ was and yet is being there is no Scripture that can shew when this Beasts Creation was or when he was not can admit of no other sence but the very plain words as it is written the words is not being a plain contradiction to the words yet is for one of the twain must needs be a contradiction to the other except expounded Then is not is well understood to mean is not visible being that he is alwayes hid from seeming what he is when he teareth and destroyeth and deceiveth with his Beares foot and his Lyons mouth for if he were known to be what he is the very knowledge of him would take away his strength for then neither Magistrates nor People would do his works his appearings are several one when the confession of Christs Name caused him to rage to the destruction of the Confessors when there was no division of Papists and Protestants being hunted our there the very opposing of the Papists Transubstantiation and other innovations caused him to rage to the destruction of them that engaged against them though both of them confessed the name of Christ and then the Papist might have said unto the Protestant Yea if your sufferings had been for confessing Christs Name as the Primitive Martyrs were then your sufferings had been right and now here in England being hunted thence by day-spring valiant Truth he rageth against those that would have Christs Baptism and all His Gospel-Order so that as Light breaketh forth he followeth that roaring with Lyons mouth and tearing with Bears foot all the children thereof as Truth begetteth them he being spirited by the same Satan or Adversary to Truth that was under the Law So that a man may best know him by the bloody sides he hath torn the ribs out of Dan. 7. and by his past acts of cruelty When Mr. Love was present with his fellow Traitors in the glory of a godly Clergy-man who would have thought that they had a heart to the overthrow of many thousands to raise VVar and Blood-shed onely to advance a Scotish Presbytery which Beast had then a bloody face but now it is hid again under a supposed learned Godliness and how blind was poor England that could not see it to be the cruelty of this Beast when Pulpits provoked their Natives in her own Bowels for Religion to murther one another in which horrid drunkenness Jer. 13.13 Isa 23.33 34. the esteemed godlyest men because they were most believed sent forth most men to this slaughter Let us again look upon this Lyon-like mouth that can be stopped with nothing but the blood and flesh of the flock of the
slaughter Zach. 11.3 4. where the howling of the shepherds and the roaring of Lyons are mentioned both together where Israels Clergy are reputed pitiless slayers and fellers of the flock and hold themselves not guilty saying Blessed be the Lord for I am rich ah poor England how dangerous are acts of cruelty amongst thy shepherds when they are labourers for license to destroy for Religions sake this was the condition of poor Israel who was sometimes as dear in Gods sight as England when it was at the best Isa 22.25 There is a conspiracy amongst her prophets in the midst thereof like a roaring Lyon they have devoured souls they have taken the treasures of their pretious things they have made many widdows in the midst thereof VVe may also look upon our Clergy how they band together to get if it were possible such Parliament-men as might be as teeth in their heads Christ takes no such care to exalt His Gospel by worldly Magistrates it is apparent that these Priests took no care how many widdows they made or of devouring souls witness our Pulpit-VVar to maintain liberty for themselves to lead soules blindly that were blind to destruction but the pretious things they will bave or else they will sue and distress him that dare not for conscience sake pay them for devouring souls and many poor labouring men and widdows and children that are constrained to fit with bread and water pottage whilst their labours and profits are required to feed them and cloath them with the pretious things of our Nation Is this love and pity the Law of Heaven where the servants in the Gospel should live upon giving and receiving no no it is the contending and distressing Law of hell rather take heed good People of such shepherds if you once come to have a glimpse of them search and look farther for if you delight in such hear and observe that he that loveth as well as he that maketh a lie is without the City of Salvation Rev. 22.15 Of the enmity of a Spirit something like this Beast I found in the mouthes of some of our Lincolnshire Clergy who though they had not forty shillings a yeer according to the Statute of Free-hold were swarming to chuse the Knights of the Shire I desire that any of the rest when Truth provoketh them and will not be found to serve their turns be of a better spirit for these could better digest lying then to be reproved for lying About thirty years agon when I was persecuted by the Bishops wandring from my dwelling place I came to Spalding where I did remain a little time where being in the company of two or three Christians I had occasion to look upon the 139 Psal we being only talking together I did read I am wonderfully and fearfully mad instead of I am wonderfully made I not at all being preaching then as the Lyar did report some that failed in their Duty of taking things in the best part reported it notwithstanding at the same time I did correct my self and own the true reading and this report being gotten into the nest of the Clergy and there hatched by hatred scorn brought forth this enlargement that I should preach it as a Doctrine But I know not what It came to pass at the chusing the Knights of the Shire upon Jan. 10. a great company of Priests being got together in Lincoln Castle I coming neer where they were one of them comes by me with a boy-like behavior and cryeth I am wonderfully and fearfully mad to which I said nothing and he past into the crowd of them and another either a Priest or one of their dear Berns seeing the first did not provoke me to speak accused me by the name of this fellow for preaching of that Doctrine but what I could not gather his words were so confusedly uttered onely wonderfully and fearfully mad for there is none of them agreeth in words what the Doctrine was and so turned his back to whom I answered Art thou not ashamed to maintain the Priests lies and then turn thy back when thou hast spoken the words but he turning his face and averting the same the Synod of them turned to me with out-facing countenance to whom I said I stand here to maintain the Truth against the whole Synod of you And whereas I might expect something to be said that might make that which they said probably appear first one of them and then another of them cryed Hout him Boyes hout him all the rest standing silent approving for they did not reprove what the two spake Also Mr. Wood Merchant of Boston told me That one that he looked at to be a godly Minister told him That when some cryed a Hall a Hall I cryed a Halter a Halter which here by my pen and heart in the presence of God I deny for I did not speak those words nor any words to the contempt of Mr. Hall nor had ever in my Life an offended thought at the man Observe if the supposed godly of them bend their tongue like a Bow for lies Jer. 9.3 and the active men among them be so inclined to mutiny as the Reader may judge how dangerous such words were at such a time and place Are they not like to be Members of the aforesaid Beast and like that company of Priests aforesaid that muther in the way by consent for these sought my undoing either by Mr. Hall's hands or the multitudes and to stain my repute according to the interpretation of Christ Mat. 5.21 and also guilty of slander Psal 50.20 and making a man an offender for a word Isa 29.20 21. and shall according to that word be brought to nought consumed and cut off if they repent not H. H. The coming forth and Progress of the Beast hitherto THe holy Scriptures foreseeing Devourers for to grow Amongst out of church of Christ a Eph. 2.2 12 Acts 20.30 Doth truly stile such so As Lyon Bore and Wolfe And dumb and greedy dogs That selfness honors beast-like wealth Doth wallow in like hogs In mire yet still fild with fears Their only loved prey By strength of day-spring valiant truth Should taken be away Their Lepord-like with Lyons mouth do grin b Rev. 13.2 And paw of Bear with Dragons strength stretcht out A child of truth in the act of covering Their worrying paw least men should spie Their naked shameless beastial cruelty With Christ sheeps cloathing whil'st they can deceive c Mat. v 15. With that when not they Magistrate ask leave That they may use his sword and then they 'r bold Though inside wolvish nature men behold To tel truth's children that they must not prate But put into their mouths else they will make d Mica 3.5 War against them whom God doth love they hate From somtimes Church of Christ Did Pope and Prelate spring From Pope and Prelate did This Presbyter begin From Presbyter did Independant fly Yet members still of
one body Made ere they knew in infancie But Scripture Baptist doth them all deny For the good old way that Jesus walked in e Ier. 7.16 And the Apostles taught repenters to begin f Acts 2.38 Hereupon the spirit of the beast rouzeth up himself again Yea thinks the Quakers spirit then will I All that is called God or worshiped deny g 2 Thes 2. For where by order * by making false order I can have no place I must exalt my self to the disgrace * viz. in his deceived ones who exalt the sound of name but have being ignorant of the nature of the law of God and Christ Of God opposing order of his face Though God be the God of order Plainness of truth opposite to the beasts mysticall pretences GOD sent his son in flesh to come True naturall blood to shed And did ordain his death to be In simple man bake't bread And Vine fruit wine that men do drink Which God and man doth chear When in his ord'nance spirit joynd The price of Christs blood dear Shown to hold forth his death for sin Until he come again That is gone up true advocate Our cause for to maintain Where holy God and sinful man By Christ a treaty hold Who takes our prayers and there to God Our miseries doth unfold And doth return into our hearts The fruits of his blood shed True pordon strength comfort and joy By spirit witnessed Who doth with blood and water joyn One witness manifested a Iohn 1.5 8. In Gods one way whil'st men obey Repent and be baptised And then expect pardon of sin And holy spirit Gods gift b 2. Acts 38 Whil'st that our loves is prov'd to Christ In making it our striâ—t For to keep all Gods commandments Where Scripture comfort dwells c Rom. 15.4 With Son and Father manifest Where men are not Rebels a Iohn 14 21. Hereupon the spirit of the beast proceedeth Thinks disobedient spirit I have No share in this strong Saviour I l'e cry down Lawes and holier be Then all that formes do favour In the eyes of those that have the love Of simple truth denyde I l'e serve their lusts and them perswade They need not to be ti'd I strong delusion can command Affections into tears b Ezek. 8 14 And cause men for to lean on God And so free them from fears c Mica 5.11 And cause men to protest to God That they 'l obedient be d Ier. 42.6 Yet his commandments to deny And say it is not he e Ier. 43. i 2 For in right steps of humbleness f Ps 17 11 They shall seem after God to press And though by Christs knowledge they scape Through lusts the worlds pollution g 2 Pet 2 20 Yet Gods commandments turning from They 're fast in my possession Although that they his way forsake They holiness may hold * The strength of delusion lieth in their seeming to themselves others to hold forth their formal holiness For I will spirit them my self Whil'st they 're fearless and bold I can my self transforme Into an Angels light And there maintain the light within The disobedient wight a 2 Cor. 11 14 2 Thes 2. Truth speaketh As righteous they must sure appear Whilst they can have the Skill To seem as Christs Apostles right And preachers of his Will b 2 Cor. 11 13.15 These were so far convinc't As to disclaim prophaneness But love of truth did not receive To bring them to obed'ence c 2 Thes 2 Self-love did them provoke Lest they should damned be Or of salvation be deny'd Prophaneness for to flee Doth it avail saith they To save us let us see All other Scriptures they throw by As useless for to bee Delusion speaks Therefore to them I me sent d 2 Thes 2 11. compared with 10 Verse Such lies they shall believe As me their inward Teacher to Prefer though God they grieve e Gen. 6.6 Before that simple Christ That Scripture-writing gave That men might read know his law And sure instructions have f 2 Pet. 1 19 20 2 Tim 3.17 Truth speaks The Man of God to make perfect And furnish him throughout There is a rule to know Gods will None need of it to doubt Delusion speaketh In mans imagination I le frame a lawless Christ And set my selfe up there as God And in his name be hi'st I le cause these to ascribe to me What ere to God is due And to my inward motions To flye from Scripture-view Remember Ahabs case 1 King 21.23 Truth doth and will conclude When beauteous holiness appears In sweetned-soul the dew of youth to bring Psalm 110 In morning womb it never fears To own its Jesus Lord and King That God-begotten Virgin-born That crosfide flesh was crown'd with thorn Hath saving power and law-giving In person place and time No true man can deny this thing And say he 's without crime That doth salvation to himself apply Whilst that obedience he doth clean deny Though faith and bapti'm in one book be writ Yea in one Chapter and in one Verse too Delusion saith he can the faith out pick And leave the bapti'm for some else to do Thus self-love his salvation minds Whil'st love of righteousnesse thinks fit To hate iniquity betimes The Oyle of gladness with his Christ to get a Psal 45.7 And thinks nothing for himself to imbrace To be too low carnal or base That his Jesus to his Apostles gave For Church direction but will tread the trace With Christ and his Disciples to his grave And knowes when 's left his body then that he From 's bodyes worship not before is free If our great God by such a lowly thing As blew in fringe would Israel mind Of their obedience to their Lord and King b Num 15 38 That they might not to their own heart Nor to their eyes be seeking With spirit of disobedience dark Though light calld go a-whoring Then think not baptism breaking bread Mean Lawes by Christ b'ing uttered Flying to holier spirit they think then Christ That doth and will exalt himself the high'st Within the disobedient child That is by spirit but not by God beguil'd To all Law-givers and Magistrates WIth the submission of a poor worm that is under your feet that you may behold what God hath given to my heart to write a warning to men and that you may avoid all provocations to that horrid sin of building up Sim with blood Micah 3.10 I tender this treatise to your view hoping that you will not despise the words of him that is as much your underling as any maid-servant to her Master though they may Contend with some of you Iob 11.13 Being I am heartily engaged by Christ Jesus my master to disswade all men from adhering to mans inventions or devices in and about the worship of God because they are so dangerous
the Apostle We beseech you to be reconciled to God and not opposite to his gracious pardoning mercy in going about to take from man or to make useless the forgiveness of that blasphemy against the Father and the Son by the lips of Christ now in the dispensation of his Gospel granted and proclaimed Mat. 12.31 for without repentance there is no forgiveness and how can any repent when the sword of the Magistrate hath cut him off Concerning this there hath been something in a former Parliament Paul took not that course he did not flie to the Magistrate to have Hymenus and Alexander cut off but he took a course that made them capable of learning to amend 1 Tim. 1.10 which had not been lawful for Paul to have done had not Christ in his Gospel taken away the rigor of that Law which is written in the 24 of Leviticus and the 16. And upon this Gospel account Christ told James and John they knew not of what manner of spirit they were of For the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9.55 56. when they of Samaria would not receive Christ therefore if any sort of men like these companie of Priests that murder â—n the way by consent that are spoken of in Hos 6.9 for it cannot be thought these Priests took away temporal lives by temporal weapons should tempt you to mend those Lawes that Christ and his Apostles left for Church-government and give punishment for breaking them exceeding the severitie of the merciful Law-givers Edicts which tend to the peoples destruction when Christ the wiser then Solomon and therefore wiser then any prince or Synod that ever was or will be in this world gave only such punishment for breaking his Lawes as tended only to mans salvation neither hurting their persons estates nor liberties The Lord strengthen your hearts and give you courage to resist them who care not that much people perish by youâ— hands yea and by war and bloodshed rather then their Honor and easie fatt-conditions should go down and they should miss to be Lords over mens consciences and Gods inheritance Witness Love's treason There is no fore-sight like Christs nor nothing shall come to pass even to the end of the World which he fore-knew not and upon this account he left sufficient provision for the being and wel-being of his Church The very seed of the Devil when it sprang up Christ would not have his Disciples pull it up lest they should pull up the Wheat also thinking it safer to let manie wicked Imps grow then to venture the destruction of anie poor childe of God Then be not overcome to let anie be destroyed for Christs sake by the petitioners for destruction though those they vvould have destroyed are preseneed unto you for the Devils Ims being you have Christs directions in the case Matt. 13.28 29. I do hereby earnestly supplicate you to consider that England is not more dear in Gods eyes then sometime Israel vvas and may come to be if it bee not alreadie as far falne from grace as Israel vvas vvhen there was four hundred prophets for one Micah 1 King 22.6 When the zeal of Jezabel was such that she maintained four hundred and fifty prophets and four hundred prophets at her table all at once 1 Kings 18 19. and these false prophets that would flatter face-painting Jezabels and wicked Ahabs bare all the sway in Israel at that time when as prisons and threatnings of death for the truths sake was the portion of all the Micah's and Eliah's and to be hid in a Caves and fed with bread and water it is good to have such a holy jealousie as may provoke all that fear God to pray for the Land and the Rulers thereof and to warn our great ones that are Preist-feeders to look to it least their zeal deceive them not and that they be not found of that number that prepare a table for that troope and furnish a drink-offering for that number that are spoken of in Esa 65.11 to 16. and when Christ makes this great discovery their zeal be found no better then Jezabels was it must needs be thought that her Preists were confident else they durst never have joyned issue with Elias about the tryal of their God and his God therefore let the truth advise you not to trust for there is both learned Papists and learned Protestants and one or both of them must needs be in an error but bring all to the law and to the testimonies Esa 8.20 and if they deviate one jot from Scripture and give an invented may be in the room of it beleive them not but take notice that the Scripture is able to furnish a man of God throughly 2. Tim. 3.1.6 and there is no need of mans invented may be to be joyned with it and least our great ones way and their Preists way or peoples way should be a way of wickedness they are intreated to follow Davids example who was as right as any King or great man can come to be now adayes yet he was earnest with God to try him least his way was a way of wickedness Psalm 129.23 It is undoubtedly true that when the Prophets cry out to the Magistrates for harms to their neighbours for religion sake they are not of that spirit of Christ Jesus that came not to destroy but to save mens lives and if poor England or the rulers thereof be willing to hear this complaint then those sad words may bespoken of it as was spoken of Israel Ier. 5.31 viz. The Prophets prophesy falsly and the Priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof And so it is that we being under another spirit then Elias was desire no harm to those destroyers from the Magistrate No no he might be quiet in his civil imployment if our enemies would trouble him about matters of religion no more then we do but we desire that none may be welcome to you that tempt you to keep us from the free plain use of the Scriptures of Christ in the simplicity thereof without spoyling us by Phylosophy or learned troops of figures which are vain deceit when they are used against the truth Iob 2.8 to which Scriptures we appeal utterly and that by the help of the same spirit that wrote them from all inventions of men whether brought forth by Synods or Assemblies of Divines or any others and according to my duty in the name of Christ my Master I warn you in the love of God who is love that you suffer the word of God to run and be glorified in the same uncompoundedness that Christ and his Apostles left it without changing the Laws thereof or giving any other punishment for breaking the Laws thereof then Christ and his Apostles left order for in the Scriptures man can as harmlesly endeavour to change the Orgins and light by