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
Luk. 17. the 5. first ver where after the position laid down in the 2 first ver in the 3 following ver he thus applyeth Take heed to your selves as if he should say Here will be a dangerous temptation If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him if he repent forgive him if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turn again to thee and say It repenteth me thou shalt forgive him Where note that the offenders heart is not to be judged by the offended God allows thee nothing but his tongue to judge of in this case it may be his heart may more melt afterwards then at the first turning by the offended's tenderness or other means and the offended ought from bare judgment to forgive him if he do it as his duty observing Christs rule his heart may be opened with more love and tenderness to the Offender afterwards also then at the first turn However it is better to walk in self-denyal in this case and observe Christs rule then to satisfie thine own offended spirit however if thy brothers heart and tongue should not agree in his repentance God hath not made thee a judg of evil thoughts Jam. 2.4 And the Apostles answered The Lord increase our faith which answer proves they had great need of help to strengthen their faith to this purpose A sixth Caution Take heed of this Doctrine That Saints do not serve God for salvation but from the knowledge of salvation This Doctrine not being rightly divided hath been a stumbling block to many Man since Adams fall is corruptly so proud that nothing but the top of excellency will serve his turn and therefore to be as gods knowing good and evil tickled his mind You shall hardly find one in a society men are in this point so heightned by the Tempter that will acknowledge he cometh to God for salvation though it be at the first hour of the receiving into society Men under this temptation are not willing to begin to stand without till the good man of the House be risen up Luk. 13.25 but all judge themselves finders from the self-flattering conceit before they have enjoyed the Lord Christ by manifestation Few will own that there may be a condition of darkness in one that feareth God Isa 50.10 They had rather in this temptation compass themselves about with sparks ver 11 as if all had right to baptism only upon that account that is recorded in Act. 10. viz. Who should forbid water that these should not be baptised that have received the Holy Ghost as well as we And those that enquired What shall we do to be saved had no right Act. 2. Though it be certain they received the Holy Ghost after Baptism and also it is certain that at the first the Disciples served Christ as servants though after they were owned by Christ upon a more full account Joh. 15.15 There was a time when Paul knew Christ after the flesh which must needs be for self-ends or good that might come to himself thereby but after that he knew neither man nor Christ any more after the flesh but wholly having his spirit of love and delight exercised upon them to rejoyce in Christ and to serve the creature with the love of Christ shed abroad in his heart I would that all who are in Church-fellowship upon account of Faith and Repentance and have not as yet attained to assurance would with understanding own their condition it would make them give all diligence to make their calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Therefore lest Members should split themselves upon this stumbling-block shew your selves workmen that need not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth 2 Tim. 2.15 Caution 7. Whereas Disputes hath been formerly viz. about that time the Ranters and Quakers first sprung up some holding it to be their Priviledg but not their Duty to serve the Lord I advise thee to abolish this Dispute from thy Societies and from your particular spirits for it is the greatest Priviledge that can be to have a heart united to fear God's Name whilst they walk in God's truth being instructed in His way Psal 86.11 Here is no liberty from Duty to walk in God's wayes and in his truth and yet a heart united by God and that to fear His Name and from this very act is David set at liberty to praise God's Name Psal 86.12 13. I demand whether it be not a Saints Priviledge to have a heart enlarged by God and yet it is then to run the way of Gods Commandments Psal 119.32 viz. enlarged and set at liberty from the pit of corruption Isa 38. from the horrible pit Psal 40.1 to be bound to Gods love and wisdom who hath provided Commandments that he knows serveth to unite thy heart to God he hath commanded nothing but righteous things which are according to the Divine Nature that thou art or art to be partaker of 2 Pet 1.4 and thou art or art to be joyned to God and one Spirit that is to say the breathings love desire delight of God is to be thine and thy souls delight to breath in them and thus thou art in union with God in Christ Jesus so that the same things are now commanded by the Law of the spirit of Life Rom. 8.2 which was by the Law of Sin and Death viz. it had been Sin and Death to thee if thou hadst not done those Commandments which the Law of the Spirit of Life hath enabled thee to do but they are a Law still and now having a heart set at liberty the Commandments which were before a burden is now not made grievous by love and if the love of God be a Saints Priviledge it is nothing less then to bind us to our Duties for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and His Commandments are not grievous to us 1 Joh. 5.3 Lo here is no freedom from Duty Christ Jesus who said If the Son make you free you are free indeed Joh. 8.36 said also If ye love me keep my Commandments Here you see that love bindeth the freest people in the world to their Duty of obedience Joh 14.15 And when Christ proclaimed his yoke to be easie and his burden light He did not alter it from being a yoke and a burden Mat. 11.30 but it is a sweet burthen when there is nothing save a constraining love upon thy heart it is a sweet yoke when thou art fastened to Christ Jesus and his Saints to tread one trace by love in keeping such Commandments as that the things commanded Christ and his Saints and thou in the unity of spirit loveth upon account of the Commanders love and wisdom how can such Commandments be grievous 1 Joh. 3.4 But if any should further still contend for liberty in this Case let them know that sin is the transgression of the Law vers 8. and whosoever committeth sin is of the Devil 1 Joh.
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
hath provided for me an example viz. to flee to the Authority of Fathers which though they will not clearly serve my turn yet my Rhetorick and Learning together with the help of my brother Lawyer who is my Companion in Learning and a good Orator both in Courts and Countrey yea before Princes he will plead for me The Scribes and Pharisees viz. Priests and Lawyers were ever Companions and Enemies to Christ and his poor Flock However in these two particulars my Brother Lawyer and I differ they though as Learned as I let down themselves to speak as plainly and homely as may be that the Country Juries may understand them and so do justice But I for maintaining my Livings Dignities and esteem amongst men am constrained to hide my self in the words of Art and abstruse Phrases as Divinity and Habits of Grace c. that I may be as slippery as an Eel when plain Country understanding would catch me and have a hole to creep out when the plain simple wisdom and the truth of these Nazaerites hath inclosed me The second thing wherein my Brother Lawyer and I differ They may be in their callings and Disciples of Christ too provided they be not instruments of cruelty but use honest Laws honestly as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus was c. but I if I should be of the Sect of the Nazarites every where spoken against must lose both my Honour and Greatness what great men purchased by flattery and by silence at their vanities and all my fat Livings and let the World judge whether it were wisdom so to do 〈…〉 And the truth is though I be not altogether so honourable in name as my Mother yet I think my self stronger among Hypocrites and self-seeking Professors for by how much I am esteemed Godly by so much those are esteemed ugly that cannot joyn with me And upon this account I have more reason in the eyes of all our Fraternity that seek honour one of another to persecute any saucy Jack that upon pretence of Scripture-plainness is dare reprove us or cast contempt upon our Rhetorical Tropes or figures which are as silk Gowns to honour us before an ignorant Multitude especially if we can foi◠out a little Latin which though this our learning together with Mans Ordination maketh us to stand to it that we are to be preferred before Mechanicks and so are holier then they Isa 65.5 though we be a stink in Gods Nose and a fire that burneth a◠the day maketh us a sweet sent in the nose of an ignorant multitude for because we are Learned they think they may be hold to trust us and so by this very means they think they need not rave into what we say as the Bereans did but take all upon trust and so are kept ignorant and dwell at ease still And now tell me Truth if thou canst approve of these things I shall live bravely both here and hereafter Truth speaketh As I say to thy Mother Prelate so I say to thee Except thy Image or superscription be found in the Scriptures of Truth thou art but of mans invention which God hateth Isa 66.3 and also the refuge of lies which must be swept away Thy Mothers name is MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE VVHOLE EARTH Rev. 17.1 It is notorious that she beareth her name in her forehead which proveth 1. She is ashamed of nothing 2. That every one may apparently behold her Abominations in her Forehead And now let us see how like thy Mother thou art 1. Thou and thy Mother have all one baptism which pass from one to another by the Proclamation of Princes but not by Gods word which proveth you both to be of Mans Generation and Maintenance whereas a Proclamation had power to make you both the Religious legitimate Children one of another All thy Children were made thy Mothers by Queen Maries Proclamation all thy Mothers Children were made thine by King Edward's and Queen Elizabeth's Proclamations The truth is you are of such a Brood and so neer of Kin that you cannot be converted one to another by preaching Faith Repentance and Baptism but being both of a nature and depending both upon Man a Proclamation can command the one to be a Christian Protestant upon the Papists Baptism and the other to be a Christian Papist upon the Protestants Baptism In your Infancy when you were Cozened instead of Christened as you call it you were proclaimed Regenerate and born again made a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven when you could neither understand Doctrine with your hearts whereby Man believeth unto Righteousness nor with your Mouthes confess unto Salvation Rom 10.10 for you could not speak to confess any thing Is any of your Laws like the Law of God in this which proclaimeth Faith comes by hearing How shall they believe on whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher The aforesaid brazen-fac'd Act standeth by thy Mothers Canon-Law and all thy oldest Priests that took Degrees in the Universitie though godly in thy esteem are sworn to observe all the Rights and Ceremonies of holy Church which Canon Law intendeth the Church of Rome then consider whose sworn servants thy priests are And now consider I pray thee whether thou hast not a brow of Brass in not being ashamed though all the world that are not Members with thee behold thy Whoredoms and thy Abominations written in thy forehead Now out with thy Learning thy Rhetorical Tropes and Figures call for thy brother Lawyer and all the power of the Magistrate and all the lustful Multitude that loveth to hear and believe lies thou hast nothing else to feed them with but what is mix'd with lies and indeed Truth would be so bitter that neither thou nor they could bear it if you did not sweeten it or rather fit it to your palate with lies and see if they all can cover from reproof out of Gods word by the mouth of poor mechanick despised Christ and his poor mechanick despised Apostles and Disciples Also thou forcest thy maintenance by mans Law from those that thou sowest no spiritual seed in their hearts if there were spiritual things betwixt Priest and People it would make such a product of love that the Royal Law of Heaven Christs Church Saints Angels Christ and God the Father as would procure the Priests maintenance from their Converts they need not go to mans Law to get it if thou hadst some few Converts Thou dost like him that soweth two or three Lands in a field onely and yet challengeth the whole field though there be hundreds of Lands upon which none of thy seed is sown and suest and undoest thy poor neighbours if they will not yeild thee their increase out of the whole field Dost thou look for fruit when all thy seed is rotten under the Clods and bringeth up none Is not this thy Mothers name
there is no need of conversion to make them Christians who are Christians born by the natural flesh of their godly Parents and so the god of this world who hath bâ—inded their eyes maketh them esteem it a great priviledge to have a perfect dead Act of his supposed Regeneration to be done by force upon their children for they can have no meanes to know or guess that the Spirit is joyned with water in their baptism which is the Instrument or outward Act of their Regeneration Consider how fast the poor Infant is lock'd to presumption when they have either presumption or nothing for the Foundation of their Order or rather Mystery Babylon's Order the god of this world knew well that none could be admitted into the Kingdom of God or government of the Gospel without Regeneration of water and the Spirit and his business in Mystery Babylon is to bring man to invent a form in imitation of God and so keep men that when they come to be capable of believing they should not look after Baptism or Regeneration of Water and the Spirit John â— 5 As Christ hath His Disciples made and baptized so Babylon Mystery hath hers supposed to be baptized too and in this the man of sin exalteth himself above God for God is merciful in forgiving sins and receiving into grace and favour upon Repentance every penitent sinner and therefore hath given Order to His Disciples upon confession of Faith and Repentance to baptize but this man of sin will make men believe that he hath more mercy then God by His word holds forth for he receiveth all in Infancy and needeth neither Faith nor Repentance in receiving his subjects the Subjects of Christs Kingdom have heart-pricking Truth to convince them and bring them to Repentance but Babylons Members are so easily made that they neither knew nor felt when it was done And thus the way is broad and easie that leadeth to destruction Also considering that the keeping of Christs Commandments is a proof of our love to Christ and that the receiving of the Spirit is an effect of obedience Joh. 14.15 16. and knowing that the written word is more surely to be taken heed to then an Act of the Spirit in Transfiguration though Christ Himself be present 2 Pet 2.19 to the end because Satan being a spirit can dissemble a spiritual Act but his mouth is stopped and he reproved with It is written And further knowing that Christ taught duty from the written word and it to be believed and practised rather then the words of one which should rise from the dead Luk. 16.22 I stayed not for Revelation to teach me my duty although I expect Revelation to convey unto us and evidence in us Christ our life but turn'd at Wisdom's reproof expecting after obedience Wisdom's promise Prov. 1.23 And now hating every false way knowing They that err from thy Statutes their deceit is falsehood Psal 119.118 and esteeming thy Precepts concerning all things to be right ver 128. I cannot but say of Scripture record Thy word is very pure therefore my soul loveth it verse 140. and upon this account I took the directions of that Scripture which Paul writeth by inspiration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and proveth it by Isa 52.11 viz. I came out from Babylon Mystery the great her Daughter and Grandchild and touched none of their precedent manners Deut. 12.30 But I say laying aside mans learned mists of darkness and his precedent Examples I took the Doctrine of Christ and His Apostles for my Foundation and their Ensamples for following of Christ for my imitation Ephes 2.20 Truth speaketh I tell thee Church of Christ as thy name is the house of God the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of the truth thou art not in thy order reproveable by Scriptures 1 Tim. 3.15 And if any Enemy whatsoever undertake to reprove thee and hath not Christs weapon he fought Satan with vâ—z it is written though he tell thee of standing in the Will of God or being led by the Spirit or of an inward Teacher or of Light within as if there were some secret thing that passed by peeping and muttering which right Reason cannot be used about the understanding of they are no better the VVizards or Familiar Spirits To the Law and to the Testimonies if there they miss any thing viz. in that they hold forth or teach and speak not according to this word though they talk of Light within it is because there is no Light in them Isa 8.19 20. and their light is darkness Mat. 5.19 fear thou no such Enemies but live in the nature of rejoycing there meet thy God there work Righteousness Isa 64.5 viz. That which Christ began and shewed us when he said Thus it becometh Vs c. Mat. 3.5 Take thou notice oâ— the continuance of Gods wayes though the Enemy would tell thee they are ended and so expect thy Salvation And against the fear of those that would set a Spirit which teacheth not to obey Scriptures and follow the examples of Christ and His Disciples in opposition to a Spirit that teacheth to live in obedience to Scriptures and to follow the Examples aforesaid Rom. 15.4 Comfort thy self by Faith in Scripture and there with patience cast the Anchor of thy hope Phil. â— 4 Rejoyce alwayes yea again I say rejoyce And that thy rejoycing may not be in vain take these Cautions First Take heed that thou miss not of a way within a way if thou bless thy self in the high way without the way which is called holy Isa 35.8 which holy way is recorded in Job 28.7 8 9 10. Is the turning up all things by the roots cutting forth rivers among the rocks discovering every pretious thing binding the floods from overflowing bringing forth hidden things to light The high way being thy duty to walk in the holy way being the laying of Gods hand upon Christ thy Covenant and doing all thy works for thee Isa 26.12 holding thee that thou canst not depart from him and quickning the desires of thy soul Psal 18.17 18. In all thy acts of obedience thy Faith must be in the operation of God Col. 2.12 through which our Duties are living Ordinances performed by two co-workers Secondly Take heed whilst you walk into the way of God that your great business be to seek God His Face His strength evermore Psal 105.3 4. where the Psalmist maketh this the ground of his joy therefore if you fail herein your joy is groundless In which search love kindleth more and more as thou comest neerer God so as the soul groweth sick of love and cannot cease to press hard after God Psal 63.8 because it is upbeld by Gods right hand till thou know thy self to be set as a seal upon Christs arm and his heart for ever Cant. 8.6 and then also wilt thou follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 Thirdly Take heed thou be not defiled in the way
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
hunt him out If they do not rather compell by the Magistrates sword into conformity then convince by sound doctrine the gain-sayers Tâ—tus 1.9 2 Tim. 2.25 and not desire them to be rooted out of their dwellings to be cast into prison to have their goods spoiled for want of conformity to them if they be content not to be chief of all that come forth in the name of God viz. not to give Laws to all so that none may preach without their authority and let Gods authority without mans serve the turn if they can be content that any man cast out Devils Mark 9.39 if they can be quiet in mind to see others preach Christ that have not authority from them and rejoyce in it though he be preached of envy Phil. 1.15 if they be without all the forenamed instruments and acts of cruelty nor have no heart to desire nor sue for power to force conformity to them by the Magistrates sword then they are no members of the Beast that this book pointeth at Hovvsoever none can deny but that some Presbyterians and Independants are held in their forms upon account of riches and honour or for some self-engagements sake although most or all may not be so vvhich I am afraid are there is novv so much light abroad according to Daniels Prophesie Dan. 12.4 that if there vvere such a povver upon them as could make their hearts manifest as one day there shal be some of them must needs ovvn some part of the speeches that are spoken in this book to be the very thoughts of their hearts that they take comfort and have their standings maintained from the causes inserted there and other-some the rest and some all hovvever I am excuseable because the spirit of God out of the mouth of Jesus Christ my master in the undvidiing expression said Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites although some of them proved believers they were then the guides though blind ones teachers of Jsrael a people that God loved somtime as wel as ever he did England also Christ reproving Lawyers spake wo to them in general Luke 11.46 though some of them proved good men as Ioseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus c. then it is possible that England may be as blind led as Israel then was for the Pharisees and Lawyers was as learned then as ours now are therefore Reader take heed that thou let not thy heart rise against this book by unconsiderate prejudice read it ponder it to this purpose 1. Take heed of retaining that spirit that thinks himself wise enough to controul plain commands of Christ in Scripture 2. Also if the plaines and simplicity be that that offended thee in Christs Lawes read Mat. 11.6 and seriously consider whether the practise of the Apostles and Disciples for 300. years after Christ be not a good expositer of the Law and that thou need not go to spirits or Angels for a higher exposition against their plain practises 3. Consider in thy mind whether any Statute recorded in the Scripture can be repealed but by a Statute there also recorded and then take heed of changing Christs Laws upon mans authority 4. Do not believe because the falling away is great that therefore the Law of baptising beleivers is cancelled for if the command were not yet in force there could be no falling from it 2. Pet. 2.21 5. Understand that whosoever falleth away yet are religious must needs have some inventions of man by Satans inward working either that the Rule is not exact enough then meditate Eccles 7.16 or that it is too strait then carry thy meditations to the written Word Isa 8.28 and there pitch down thy Standard for truth 6. If truth of God stir thy mind to trouble and the Word carry a sharp edge rightly applyable to thee take heed that Satan work thee not into the rage of revengeful persecution Psal 76.10 and then thou may come to approve thy self to be a Christian Reader which is the desire of the servant of Christ who is a well-wisher to the whole Creation H. H. A true Reproof of W. S. SIR HAving known your discretion in other things I cannot but wonder that you should seem to suppose that you have any thing like an Answer to H. H. in your Book but much more should I marvel that you should say It is hard to draw Wine out of thy Lees Which is as much as to say It is hard to answer that which you go about to answer And though you see your self blundered in what you are about to answer that you would go on viz to heal those that Truth woundeth but that I consider that when once your heart cometh to engage in error then wilful ignorance tempts God and hardens your hearts against evident truth of God then yours ceaseth to be an outward single disobedience but it is an inward heart working God-tempting though ignorant Error which is not charged in this place of Heb. 3.8 9 10 11 12. with ignorance of God but of his Wayes and in this appeareth a heart of unbelief in departing from the living God when men are wilfully ignorant and have a heart set against his Wayes Wherefore herein you prove your selves to be of the shameless generation spoken of in Ier. 6.10 your spirit is not ashamed to take the Name and Title of God and you are not ashamed to say you are moved by God when indeed you are moved by the Evil One you giving and he taking the Name of God or rather the using your lips to exalt himself above God with 2. Thess 2. and also in that he maketh you his voice by his own Authority to proclaim null the Laws that God made by Jesus Christ and without any Warrant from Christ or his Apostles crying down that vvhich they taught and practised either they or you must needs be of Satan being that the Scripture saith If we or an Angel from heaven teach unto you another Gospel then what we have preached to you let him be accursed Gal 1.8 You say in your Book I deny I am made to stand a witness against thee in the power of the Lord vvhilst I hold up that Gospel What self-exaltation is here What proof is here of your matter Here is great swelling Words do you think your Spirits Authority enough so that he need not to use Scripture to prove his matter by when he is questioned Then he seems in this as in other things to be above Christ by his own exaltation for Christ when he met vvith your spirit in temptation though he be the Son of God yet used Scripture saying It is written and in his Word by the mouth of John appealeth to Record saying There are three that bear record on earth the Spirit Water and Blood and these three agree in one but your Spirit is so far from agreeing that it opposeth two of them wherefore it cannot be the Spirit of God your Spirit cometh forth in
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