witness praised be the Lord for evermore who hath in his Light led us to himself and hath shewed the deceits of him to us and of all such as he is he is in the generation shutting the Kingdom of Heaven against men neither entring himself nor suffers others to enter that are entring Through the Power of the Lord made manifest am I bold to declare against him who walks not in the Doctrine of Christ and therefore is an Antichrist and doth deceive you professing himself to be sent of God and walking contrary to the Truth of God a Hypocrite saying and not doing Ye my Country men be not deceived by him try him by the Scriptures see how he walks according to the Declaration as they did who were Ministers of Christ not by the will of man but his Ministry is by man and according to man and had his Call from man as it is known to you all but they who were true Ministers witnessed the contrary neither received they their Gospel from man but by the revelation of Jesus The true Ministers of Christ sent sorth by Christ witness now the same thing for Christ is the same that ever he was which is now made manifest in the Saints and his Ministry is the same which is not by man but contrary to man be not deceived God will not be mocked for he is terrible and his day is powerful and dreadful that shall come upon the Heathen and upon the workers of Iniquity and upon all Dissemblers and Hypocrites all your carnal Worship and Ordinances and Observances is but mocking of God and dissembling with him and is but an imitation an imagination of the Mind of fallen man imitated by you and your Minister droven by the imaginations from the true Worship of God which the Saints in former generations was exercised in who were led not by imagination as you are but by the Spirit of God as all the servants of God are Now as ever was true Baptism I own which is by the holy Ghost and with Fire and the Baptism with one Spirit into one Body do we witness but that which your Chief Priest and false Hireling holds up I deny it it is not of God but is an imitation and is abomination in the sight of God and therefore from God do I Declare against it and against your Hireling that upholds it among you True Communion of Saints I own for we have Union and the Bread which we break is the body of Christ and the Cup which we drink is the Blood of Christ by which we are nourished and fed up to Eternal Life for he that eats not Christ's Flesh and drink his Blood he hath no life in him he among you that can receive it let him but your Communion I deny for it is Heathenish and no more but an imitation having proceeded out of the imagination of the Proud Your breaking of Bread and drinking of the Cup is abomination and God never commanded it and this doth your Pharisee uphold sitting in the seat of Christ and of the Saints as the Pharisees did in Mose's seat saying and not doing True singing I own with the Spirit and with Understanding singing in the Spirit making Melody in the heart to the Lord this singing was and is among the Saints in the Church of Christ this is well pleasing to God for it is not an imitation nor by tradition as your singing is but it is true Sacrifice the song of the redeemed ones which none can learn but the redeemed ones of the Lord who is come and coming to Zion with songs and everlasting Joy upon their heads but your singing is Carnal Traditional and Heathenish and is an Imitation and is not with the Spirit of Jesus but with the spirit of the World with the spirit of Drunkards Swearers Lyars Mockers Scorners Coveteous ones with the spirit of Wrath Envy Malice with the spirit of Cain with the spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees and chief Priests who persecuted the Saints which sang in Truth in former Generations and now the deceit is turned into the form of singing and they that live there persecutes them that sings in the Power for thus it was ever they that lived in Profession of the Word outwardly persecuted them that lived in the Power of which was professed and there you and your Hireling is but know that the Lord will take an account of you and give unto every man his reward according to his deeds You and your Priest have got the form of Baptism of the Communion of Singing and of a Church but the Power and Substance of these Ordinances you know not for they are hid from all vulturous eyes and from the generation of the Pharisees and Serpents who are called of men Master and which have the chief place in the Assemblies as your Hireling hath and who is called of men Master as they were which Christ cryed Wo against True preaching of Jesus Christ Crucified we own and do witness for the preaching is out of the will of man out of Form and Custom and is foolishness to the wisdom of the World now as it was ever this is not with the inticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and the preaching of the Word of Faith which is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that preaching we do own for Faith comes by the hearing of this Word preached And the Prayer with the Spirit of Truth we do own for that is not in word to be seen of men but led to that not by Custom Form and Tradition but by the Eternal Spirit which proceeds from God which hath free recourse to God which God heareth and doth accept for their iniquity is purged out of the heart and is not regarded for he that regards iniquity in his heart God will not hear his Prayer but the Preaching and Praying of your Hireling I do deny for they are abomination to the Lord for his preaching leads from God stands in his own Will in his own Time in Form Custom and Tradition and your souls are not refreshed by it neither is true Faith known among you for how can he being evil speak good things A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit said he who cryed Wo unto them that said and did not in which generation he is how can he teach and direct towards true Religion being he denies the Corner Stone the first Principle of Religion which is the Foundation which no other can any lay the Light of God which hath enlightened every one that comes into the World which he denies to have enlightened every one Poor people I do pitty your souls God is my witness to see you lie in darkness in ignorance and blindness and in deadness under your dead Hireling and under his dead traditional Preaching your wisdom reason and dark minds
Abstain from all evil and follow that which is good and listen to the word within in the heart but this Gospel thou deniest and so must needst preach another Gospel and so art the accursed as Paul saith Then thou sayst Thus the poor Soul is most horribly carried away head-long c. into the belly of Hell c. thus much is the sum by turning the mind within to the Light which doth convince of sin and listning thereto and clapsing with the motions in the Conscience which do command to abstain from evil and to practice good and closing with something within which thou hast confessed is the Light of Christ hereby or thus is the poor Soul carried headlong and at the end of its life doth fall into the belly of Hell as thou sayst Let shame cover thee if thy heart be not altogether hardned was ever such Doctrine preached surely malice hath carried thee out of sence else thou wouldst not have uttered these things but it is answer enough to reckon thy confusion up into a sum and I leave it to every honest heart to read and judge thereof Then thou further sayst The Devil counterfeits the works of Grace and makes the Soul believe if it will be led by what is made known unto it by the Light or Conscience within it shall do well Answ. Wo unto thee that callst good evil and evil good Art thou not ashamed to utter thy mind so wickedly and impudently doth the Light of Christ within deceive or is not this Christs Doctrine I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall have the Light of Life and he that walks in the Light stumbles not and this shamelesly hast thou called the Doctrine of the Devil but if ever thou knowst God it must be by following and by being led with the Light within which God hath made known unto thee else the Light is thy condemnation eternally Then thou sayst The Devil counterfeits the new birth by perswading it is wrought by following the Light of the World c. Answ. This Doctrine is as wicked as the former and from as lying a spirit but answer me By what is the New-birth wrought and how if not by following the Light of Christ in the Conscience is there any other way to God but Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that comes into the World and whereas thou beginst to scorn in thy vain mind at living upon Bread and Water and wearing no Hatbands and not speaking except the Spirit moves c. The Scorner and the Lyar go together the Lord rebuke thee thou false deceitfull heart and lying tongue it grieves thy lust to know any to live upon bread and water and it torments thy pride that any should forsake their pride and it is easily known of what spirit thou art and that thou goest on in thy own will before God leads thee and scornst to wait till the Spirit of God moves upon thee or scornst them that do wait but thou runst and art not sent like unto thy Fore-fathers and therefore thou dost not profit people at all Then thou accusest us of sad Blasphemies and horrible Doctrines but namest nothing and so slanderst without witness and take back thy own words for they belong to thee as is sufficiently proved in this Answer to thy Book let the wise in heart judge And thou hast said Thou wonderst that the ground do not open and swallow us up or else the Devil fetch us away alive c. And this most fully discovers thy spirit to be without the fear of God in any measure who utterst such wicked Language for which thou hast no example among all the Children of God and is not this horrible Doctrine and little less then sad Blasphemies It is answer sufficient to gather up thy confusion and send it thee to read if there be any honesty in thy heart repent and cease thy wickedness lest God smite thee with a Curse and make thee an Example of Destruction Then thou goest on and hast asked thy self a Question Is it not the Spirit of Christ that doth make manifest or convince of Sin The Question is good but thou hast consounded it in thy Answer and not answered plainly but hast covered Truth under the vail of thy many words Thou sayst There are two things that do make manifest and convince of Sin first the Law and secondly the Spirit of Christ. I query further Doth any thing convince of sin contrary to the Spirit of Christ if not then that which doth convince of sin is like unto or one in the Union or something as good in its Nature as the Spirit of Christ and thou instancest in Iudas whom thou sayst was convinced of sin by the Law without the Spirit of Christ to which I say the Law of God is spiritual and is not contrary but one with the Spirit of Christ in its union at least and that which let him see Christ to be innocent was not words syllables without him but must needs be within him so if I should say the Spirit of Christ was not in him yet was the Work of the righteous Law of God written in his heart which is spiritual and Christ Jesus was not without his own testimony in Iudas which is Light by which Iudas was and is condemned eternally And though Iudas was at the same time possessed of the Devil as thou sayest yet there was that within him also which disquieted and tormented the Devil which discovered the Devil with his works by which he saw his murderous mind and the Blood of the Just One I say it needs must be contrary to the Devil and to his works which condemned him I call it the Light of God which is spiritual call it what thou canst Then thou goest on and seems to shew a difference betwixt being convinced by the Law without the Spirit of Christ and the convincement by the Spirit of Christ but art confounded in thy discourse I say the power of the Law of God is spiritual and though thou make a little thing of it to be convinced by the Law of sins against the Law yet I make it a thing of weight And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love darkness rather then Light because their deeds are evil and the Law is Light as saith the Scripture and Christ is come to discover and reprove sin and I put thee to prove in all the Scripture where any such thing ever was distinguished as something to convince of sin without and besides or contrary to the Spirit of God and till thou provest it thus far I have answered thee concerning it Then thou sayst Though some say they are not only convinced of Sin but have gotten some power over it to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law yet thou further sayst This may be done as those blind Pharisees called Quakers think they do and be but natural men
that believe and through the word of Life are they handled tasted seen and felt near at hand in power and not in words onely Many professes them in words and what others enjoyed of these things but have not felt in themselves the working of the eternall Spirit neither have the witness in themselves of being restored to God again and of being redeemed by him from under the Devils power neither are saved by Christ from sin and transgression and so are not nor cannot be saved from condemnation and wrath for who abide in their sins and in the state unreconciled to God hath not any part or portion in these things which belongs to their peace and without the knowledge of which by the working of the eternal Spirit all mankind is everlastingly miserable CHAP. VII Concering true Religion and the true Worship of the true God this Testimony I give unto the whole World THis is true Religion to be kept pure and clean from all evil and from all that which would defile in the sight of the Lord and to walk in his fear in all things this is Religion to do good and to do no evil and to speak the truth and to do the truth in all things and to do unto all men as a man would be done unto and to love God withall the heart and the neighbour as self and not to love the world and ways and pleasures of it nor to use deceit in words or actions this is true Religion and the true Worship of God to be led with his Spirit in all things and to be guided in the truth at all times on all occasions this is acceptable and well pleasing unto God above all words and outward conformity and set times and days and observances for the Worship of God is not in these things but is without respect of days places or things this Religion and Worship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam who hath lighted every man that comes into the World that all men through him might believe and by him have their consciences purely exercised towards God and towards man in all things whatsoever and this is our Religion and Worship of the True God he that can receive it let him CHAP. VIII Concerning Justification and Sanctification this testimony 〈◊〉 give unto all People JUstification is freely by Jesus Christ in the sight of the Father and not by the works of mans own righteousness and such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the ways of truth and righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and it is the new man that is justified and not the old he that is born of God and none that are born of the flesh such cannot please God neither can such be justified by him for they are not taught of him nor saved nor restored nor redeemed and therefore are not justified nor cleared from condemnation in the sight of the Lord but who lives in iniquity and sin and the wayes and works of the World which are evil by Christ Jesus are condemned and not justified though in words they profess him yet of justification by him they have no part and sanctification is by the working of the eternal Spiri◠in the heart of the Creature which purgeth out and taketh away all unrighteousness and all the works and fruits of darkness it witnesseth against and witnesseth unto Jesus who takes away all sin and destroyes the works of the Devil that man may be holy and pure in the sight of his Maker and every one that hath the witness of his justification hath the operation by the eternal Spirit of sanctification and all that receives Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that cometh into the World receiveth sanctification and justification by him and he unto us is made so of the Father he that can receive it le◠him CHAP. IX Concerning the Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up this testimony I give unto all the World THE Kingdom of God and of his Son is not of this World but is fro◠above and stands in righteousness and in truth in mercy and in peace i◠true judgement and justice and this Dominion is from everlasting to everlasting and it reacheth beyond all the World and its Government is love and unity and everlasting peace and is perfect liberty to the Just and bindeth and chaineth the Unjust in it there is on oppression but perfect freedom from all unrighteousness and it consists not in word but in power to the bringing down of the Kingdom of the Devil and to the breaking off the bonds of all injustice and all ungodliness which is the Kingdom of Satan which hath long ruled i◠the World that Kingdom whereof Christ is King which stands in Righteousness no unclean thing can have any part therein and this we believe it shall be set up and advanced in the earth but not by might of man or arm of flesh nor the multitude of an host neither by policy nor craft nor by revenge but by the arm of the Lord alone through the suffering and patience of his people and by faithful witness bearing unto Jesus Christ by doing and by suffering by doing his Will in all things in a pure Life and Conversation and upright walkking in the sight of the Lord and by patient suffering under the injustice and oppression of men and of their unjust Government and Laws till they be overturned and confounded and further we give testimony that suffring in patience under the cruelty and oppression of the Devils government and kingdom more reaches to overthrow them than the rising to rebel in any way of outward offence toward them or defence from them and the Kingdom of Christ is near to come and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and none shall have any part therein but they that are redeemed out of kindreds tongues and people this we believe he that can receive it let him CHAP. X. Concerning Governours and Governments and Subjection to them this testimony I give to the World GOvernours Rulers and Magistrates we own and do respect in the Lord and yet cannot respect any mans person whatsoever such as be a terrour to all evil in their Government and that fears God and hates covetousness and delights in Equity in Justice and true Judgement and gives diligent heed to try the cause of the poor and will judge justly without respect of men who justifies the good and gives praise to the Well-doer such Government and Governours we reverence where Sin and Iniquity is kept under Drunkenness Swearing Murther Quarrelling and all the ways and works of the flesh are terrified and a Wel-doer praised and justified this Goverment of men reaches to the witness of God in every man and that answers to the justice and righteousness of all such Governours and Government and these witness that
have I not spoken the truth and have I not said well herein for you are joyned with all the wicked in the Nation and as Lyars and Swearers and Drunkards persecutes with violence and as the proud and wanton are filled with scorning and singing wicked rimes in the streets even so also are you come in Print and all of you against them called Quakers the Drunkards and Swearers they beat them and abuse them and cast them as for dead into Ditches with stoning in the high wayes and in the streets beating down with Staves and the wanton they sing there rimes in scorn in Ale-houses and Taverns against them and thou and thy Fellowes and Generation appears in open Print slandering and reviling them yet in pretence of zeal for God and all this you do against us who have the witness that we are of God and that the whole World Lyes in wickedness and now are not you all joyned as an Army and do you not shew your selves in the defence of the Draggon what wrong I have done you let the upright in heart judge whether I have given false testimony against you or no and though you have noted it for a Lye in the Margent yet the Lye is thy own who hath gain-said the Truth herein and called it a Lye and I have dealt justly with thee in the sight of God and all that know him and when the Book of thy Conscience is opened thou shalt also confess to this thing when thou standest condemned with them with whom thou art now joyned against us who have the testimony that we are of God and worshippers of the Father in the Spirit and Truth and my words were spoken by the Spirit of the Lord and that in thy Conscience shall witness them in the day of the Lord though now thou opprobriously sayst they are flung into the wind And whereas thou seemest to be greatly offended that I should say part of the first Book is a Corrupted grain of Babylons treasure c. But have not I spoken the Truth herein also when I say I have numbered 〈◊〉 part of your work and this is the sum thereof that part which I have numbered viz. your Lyes and false Reproaches against the Quakers is a corrupted grain yea and of Babylons treasure too I am not ashamed of my words though thou wouldst defend your work by saying Your discourse was of the Birth Righteousness Death Blood c. And of the second coming of the Son of Mary c. To which I say these things and the knowledge of them by the Spirit of God is not counted by me Corrupted nor of Babylon though now I answer as in my last the words I own but thy voice I deny and knows it to be the voice of the stranger and for this saying have I not nor never shall have any burthen upon my Conscience though thou wouldst say it but 't is cleared in the sight of God even though I say all that thou speakest I deny or thy speaking of any thing of the Kingdom of God with thy lying spirit And whereas thou art offended that I should say you are described to be the Flock of Ishmael and of the seed of Cain whose line reacheth to the murdering Priests c. And thou sayst I am very sensorious and utterest many word without knowledge c. Reply Yea your words doth describe your nature for by your voice I know you to be none of Christs sheep and accordingly I judge in just judgement and in true knowledge and doth not falsly sensure nor utter words voi◠of knowledge and my words shall be witnessed by you in the day of the Lord Envy is of Cains nature and seed and in that you are and Lyars are of Ishmaels stock and you are guilty of that let the sober Reader try and you are among the murdering Priests party and close joyned to them in Doctrine and practise especially in writing against us Now no wrong have I done you that thou needest to be troubled and seek to cover your selves by thy fair words in thy answer as if you were righteous but all will not hide you your works make you manifest to be no less then what I have said of you Then farther thou art hot against me in that I say you are found Enemies to Christ revealed in his Saints and this thou hast noted it in the Margent for false but thou dost not well to be angry it is true what I have spoken thy own words do prove it in saying there was nothing in thee to be taken notice of this was a denying of Christ within and such as deny him are found Enemies to him within So the Lye is thy own who hast denyed Truth let the wise Reader judge and thy many words in a pretending Answer will not cover you from the guilt of what I have charged upon you and not falsly and what I have said hitherto is true and not false though thou feigningly say Thou marvels I should be so overseen as to utter so many false things in so little a space nay my understanding was open when I wrot forth that Book at which thou art so tormented that it hath caused thee some Moneths travel in anguish to clear thy self and yet cannot be at rest and thou art over-seen who resists the reproof of thy Wickedness Then thou goest about to justifie thy Brother Burtons words who wickedly laid it down as thou impudently goest to justifie it who joyned in his Accusation and slanders Quakers with Ranters and this wouldst thou justifie we are one against my just Answer which denied them in the fourth page of my first where I said Between Quakers and Ranters there is no more union c. then betwixt Light and Darkness Good and Evil and that Answer stands untouched by thee and is true and in justifying Iohn Burtons wicked Slander thou art more wicked in comparing the Principles and sayst it will appear they agree in one c. Viz. That the Quakers deny Christ to be a real Man Secondly that they fancy him to be God manifest in their flesh Thirdly that they make his humane nature with the fulness of the Godhead to be but a type of God these thing were charged upon us But what a wicked course hast thou taken to clear him by adding thy own wickedness let all consider that reads for doe not I desire in plainness in my first in these words if thou darest lay the Charge only upon the Quakers write in plainness and bring testimony of thy Accusation and thou mayst receive a farther answer but not a word in plain answer to this is returned though soberly desired neither time nor place nor witnesses evidenced to clear your selves of your first Slanders which had been more honest then to have slandered afresh passing over your first but it seems you cannot clear your selves in honesty and so fulfill your wickedness by adding to your Lyes and Slanders as
Truth and turned from it and were unfaithfull to the Lord. FOrasmuch as in these our dayes the God of Truth hath made manifest his Name and Truth in the hearts of his people and hath gathered the minds of thousands into it to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth in which he is accepted and of this Truth which is but one and there is not another are we made Witnesses and Ministers of and hath the Testimony in our selves that we are of God and are a good savour unto him in them that believe and in them that perish and we have the Testimony that he that is of God heareth us and we know the whole World lies in wickedness and who are in the Truth in the Light and in the Life have followship one with another in Holiness and Righteousness in that which comprehends the World and condemns all the works thereof which are evil and this Truth and Worship and Fellowship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam whose Kingdom and Rule is not of this World but from Heaven who according to his Promise in his Counsel hath made known his Power to the raising up a righteous Branch a royal Priesthood a peculiar People zealous of his Name to shew forth his Praise and Glory in Justness and Righteousness in Love Mercy and Peace and works of Purity having our Conversation in Heaven and since that Day of the Manifestation of this Truth of the Gospel of Peace and Salvation which is the same now as was in the beginning which is in Christ Jesus the Light of the World who is the same to day yesterday and forever and changeth not I say since that very day hath the Lord prospered his Truth to the renewing of many into his Image and Likeness and to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to God by the Mouthes of his Ministers and through great Sufferings and Tribulations and Afflictions and Labours hath the Lord honoured his Name and his Truth in Nations and given it a praise among all that fear him and hath honoured it and exalted it in the sight of the Heathen to the confounding of the Wise and Mighty and to the bringing out of the Captivity of Darkness Sin and Death wherein in times past all have walked while Strangers from the Life of God so that thousands who have received the Truth are established in it and cannot be moved nor shaken but are built upon the sure Foundation their Faith standing in the Power of God with whom the Arm and Presence of the Lord God is defending and preserving continually and unto such the Truth is precious and the Way of the Lord and his Name and Honour is dear yea more then life or liberty or any other thing which passeth away who for the Truth 's sake as is it in Christ Jesus do daily give up themselves to suffering and to reproach for well-doing and not for evil and loves not life unto death that the Lord God and his Name and Truth may be honoured so that in the Truth which is received and learned of the Father daily do we walk in all Purity and Holiness of Life answering the Mercy and Love of the Lord in the exercise of a good Conscience both towards God and man in Patience and Long suffering and Wisdom towards all to the putting to silence of Gainsayers rendring love and mercy toward our Persecutors and are set in our hearts to fulfil the will of God in all things And now whereas that the Scriptures may be fulfilled some may and have denied the Truth which once was received and loved to the making shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience abusing the Mercy and Grace of God which to them appeared and follow the counsel of their own hearts and not the Lord having lost the feeling of the Spirit of the Father and are and may be separated from us in the self-separation through an evil heart of unbelief that it may be made manifest they are not of us though they arise from among us and may by disorderly walking contrary to the Truth cause the Truth to be evil spoken of giving occasion thereby to the Enemies of God to blaspheme his Name and Truth in the Earth and may be a stumbling to the weak and an offence to the Way of the Lord before the Simple through their Disorders and Confusions raising the rage of the wicked against the Lambs of Christ being not led in the Wisdom of God but in the Confusions taking liberty to their own hearts desire ful filling the will thereof without the Fear of God above the Cross of Christ in the nature uncrucified and speaking high Words in the presumption and not in the Light and Power of God and acting in the vanity of the Mind in the pretence of Truth and moving of the Spirit such things as Truth and the Children of it who are guided with the Spirit cannot justifie but is judged and denied and cast out from among the Children of Light who walk in the Truth and do try the Spirits whether they be of God Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God this is written to go abroad among Friends and others to inform and shew unto all that the Truth and we that are in it and Ministers of it do stand clear from all such who act and speak out of the Truth and contrary to it in the Disorder and Confusion and not in the Fear and Counsel of God and with the Truth such are judged and denied and fellowship with them we have not nor of their works do approve though such once owned us and were convinced of the Truth and received the Seed of the Kingdom into the unprofitable Ground yet being separated from us and gone out from the Truth and are not subject to it and its Government but are unruly and disorderly we and the Truth do such deny and the spirit that rules them being not the Spirit of Christ Jesus and such have done evil against their own Souls and against God and are Troublers of the Righteous Seed and have and do dishonour the Lord and his Truth in the sight of the Heathen causing the right way to be reviled and reproached and evil spoken of through the offence by them to the making sad the hearts of some whom God hath not made sad and even more especially in that they pretend to the Truth in their words but in works deny it and profess to be in it yet secretly condemning and openly reviling the Ministers of Righteousness which God hath blessed and doth daily bless with his eternal Power to the turning many unto God and to the strengthning of the weak and feeble which we with many others do witness to be the Ministers of Life and Reconciliation and there is no other and are established in it and cannot be moved by the temptations of the Devil though the wicked one may revile for a moment to
winnow some and to try them and to draw the hearts and minds of others into a Snare out from the obedience to Christ Jesus which do become Mockers and Despisers and Subverters of the simplicity of the Gospel of Peace and of the Ministers and Ministry thereof which is the Power of God unto Salvation and there is no other though some harden their hearts through unbelief and blind the Eye till they be past feeling through rebellion against the Truth which they hold in unrighteousness and not in the Power of God having made the offence of the Cross to cease yet boasting in the Liberty of Christ while they are unmortified having run from the Judgment and not truly came thorow it in the finishing of Condemnation and that spirit that goes out of the Cross is subverted and seeks to subvert others from the Truth as it is in Jesus and that spirit is denyed fellowship with though it have the conformity in the Hypocrisie Wherefore this is the Word of the Lord God unto you that err after that spirit Be awakened be awakened and remember and repent and come to your first work to that which condemneth you lest the Lord by his hand of Wrath and Judgment upon you make you an Example and of Misery and Destruction to all that shall hereafter deny the Lord and his Truth Hear and consider to the Light in you all I speak have you another Truth then that which hath been known and declared from the beginning is there any other way to Life then which we have been Witnesses of who have not handled the Word of God deceitfully amongst you nor sought yours but you nor preached our selves but Christ Jesus and hereof we have the witness in our Consciences in the Holy Ghost and is there any other Salvation then that which God hath manifested which is Christ Jesus the Light of the World Be awaked and consider Wherefore then do you separate your selves disoderly and resist the Word of Life which once begat you towards the Lord Consider what you are doing and whither you are walking the End of your way is Perdition and that is accursed which preacheth another Gospel How do you dishonour the Lord in the sight of the Heathen before whom you discover your Nakedness and your Shame doth appear having put off and cast aside the Armour and Weapon of Truth whereby you might have been defended But Scorners and Fools take occasion through your disorders and confusions to blaspheme the Name of the Lord and it is through you Be stirred up and consider and search your hearts and come to the tryal ye that vex the Lord's Soul and grieve his Spirit lest it cease to strive with you and you be wholly given up to fulfil wickedness till there be no place nor time of repentance found and this is a warning to you all in the Presence of the Living God that you may return to your first love to fear before the Lord and to walk in his Truth if there may be mercy and to fulfil his Will which is the Light which you are lighted withal by Christ Jesus who is the Lamb of God the Way the Truth and the Life the Author and Finisher of Faith and there is not another And know this ye that deny him that is given yea unto you all he will deny you before his Father and of all your Blood I am clear thus far whether you resist or receive who am the Lover of your Souls sometimes loved of you while you were Lovers of the Truth and am now a Witness for the Lord and his Truth and against that spirit which leads you in the Rebellion against the Government of Christ which is Order and Peace out of which you have erred to the piercing of your own Souls and though you now exalt your selves against me and the Truth and boast your selves as though you reigned yet in the day of the Lord shall the Light in you all which is now darkned bear witness to me and of my faithfulness in reproving you and the Truth is for ever dear to me and my soul delights no less in it though you rebel against it in the heady exalted presumptuous high wilful spirit which is not subject to the Government nor Authority of the Ministry of Christ but Truth is over you all and the Mountain of the Lord is established above you all and all your words and works and boastings and feignedness and disorders are denied and in them we have not fellowship but the contrary and do in the Authority of the Lord even by the same Authority which hath begotten us unto God and called us and carried us in his Work unto this day deny you all in the ground and state wherein you stand till repentance and turning from whence you are fallen to the Light which Christ hath lighted you withal And all faithfull Friends this is the Word of the Lord God to you hear and fear walk in the Truth which you have heard and learned and received of the Father in it dwell and live and know there is no other then that which is made manifest which is sure to you all and cannot deceive nor be deceived and be not shaken in mind nor troubled though some deny the Lord but let their fall be a Warning to you to be more watchfull to be kept to the Lord lest you be tempted and dwell in the Mountain of Holiness which no Beast can touch where is a hiding place to preserve you in the time of tryal And I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God of Life let your minds be setled and hearts staid in the Truth which is the Foundation of God and know the Armor of God to gird you up to God where no offence is taken against Christ nor against the Way of Truth but the Power of God doth remove that which would be offended and tramples upon that which gives the offence and in this you will be preserved until the day of Salvation and beware of that spirit that boasts above the measure and of that which makes the offence of the Cross to cease for there hardness of heart and unbelief enters and so another is followed then the Light and another joyned to then Christ Jesus and there is the way to perdition who goes from the Light within them they deny God and his Truth and follow the imaginations of the soolish heart and runs in rashness and in the forwardness and that ground receives the unclean spirit in again with seven worse and the latter end is worse then the beginning and this Truth doth not change which is the begotten of the Father but is the same for ever So in it all be faithfull and fruitfull to the Father in your Places and Callings shewing forth in all wisdom and pure conversation among yoâ—… Enemies to the putting them to silencâ— when they speak evil of you and be Examples of Holiness one to another that
brought forth in the Earth and all that do well will have Praise and live in Rest and Peace and all Evil-doers whatsoever may stand in awe and be afraid of God and just Men and the Execution of Iust Laws Concerning Religion we believe That it is only the Spirit of the Lord that makes men truly Religious and that no man ought to be compell'd to or from any Exercise or Practice in Religion by any outward Law or Power but every man ought to be left free as the Lord shall perswade his own mind in doing or leaving undone this or the other Practice in Religion and every man of what Profession in Religion soever ought to be protected in Peace provided himself be a man of Peace not seeking the wrong of any mans Person or Estate And we believe That to oppose false Opinions and unsound Doctrines and Principles seeking to convince them that oppose themselves by Exhortation or sharp Reproof by word or writing ought nor to be counted a Breach of the Peace or to strive about the things of the Kingdom of God by men of contrary Minds or Judgments this ought not to be punishable by the Magistrates and their Laws for we believe the outward Laws and Powers of the Earth are only to preserve mens Persons and Estates and not to preserve men in Opinions neither ought the Law of the Nation to be laid upon mens Consciences to bind them to or from such a Judgment or Practice in Religion And we believe that Christ is and ought only to be Lord and Exerciser of mens Consciences and his Spirit only must lead into all Truth And we believe That Obedience and Subjection in the Lord belongs to Superiors and that Subjects ought to obey in the Lord those that have Rule over them and that Children ought to obey their Parents and Wives their Husbands and Servants their Masters in all things which are according to God which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God But where Rulers Parents or Masters or any other command or require subjection in any thing which is contrary to God or not according to him to such causes all people are free and ought to obey God rather then man and we believe That herein God will justifie them being guided and led by his Spirit in all that which is Good and out of all that which is Evil. Again We believe concerning Election and Reprobation That there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation a state chosen of God and a state rejected of God and that all Man-kind are in one of these states all that are elected are elected in Christ and all that are out of him are in the state Reprobate bringing forth fruits of Death and Darkness being Children of Wrath and Disobedience in the alienation and separation from God in the Transgression unreconcil'd to God the Enmity ruling in the Heart being in the Fall and not restor'd to God again but ignorant of his Power and of his Wisdom having the Understanding darkened that they cannot see nor perceive the things that are Eternal and in this condition his best Works are Sin and whatsoever he doth he cannot be accepted of God for he is dead to God and alive to all evil bâ—inging forth all his works out of that Ground which is cursed This is the condition of all Mankind upon the face of the Earth in the first Adâ—… and this is the state of Reprobation and all that abide herein are rejected of God and â—…ll never inherit eternal Life but go inâ—â— Perdition yet have all such a Day of Visitation that they may return out of the state of Reprâ—…tion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ledge and desâ—…sing the Love of God â—â—ey conâ—… iâ—â—he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath of Gâ—…d abides upon them â—…t they tâ—…t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrath for they believe in the Light and becâ—…â—…ldren of the Light and are renewed in Mind and Hâ—… and receiâ—… the Love of the Father and become planted into Christ the second Adâ—… 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to bring forth Fruit â—nto the Father and â—ll their Fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—om 〈◊〉 grâ—…d which is â—…ssed for they are led by the Spirit of thâ— Faâ—…r and â—…ch are in the state of Election who are â—ade Heâ—rs with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eveâ—… Inheritance that never fades away And this we faithfully believe That â—…cy is not shewed to the Reprobate nor Judgment to them that are chosen of God And this is to go abroad in the World that all pâ—…ple mâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whâ—◠〈◊〉 have receiv'd of God and they that believe this and walkâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father shall be saved but they that belieâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be condemned because they do not believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be â—…tten 〈◊〉 in â—…rt this is given forth by one that hath believed and received the Knowledge of thâ—se things from God A Friend unto all People E. B. Some of the PRINCIPLES OF THE QUAKERS Scornfully so called by men VINDICATED And proved Sound and True and according to the SCRIPTURES In Opposition to the False Charges and Lying Reports given forth against the Truth in two Printed Books put forth by one Philip Taverner a supposed Minister of the Gospel in Middlesex near Uxbridge And hereby Truth is Manifested and Discovered and the Controversie determined by the Judgment of Truth between Philip Taverner aforesaid the Accuser and Edward Burroughs Defendant of the Truth who contends for the Faith of the Gospel and for the Word of God in the Heart against all such Gainsayers as have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power and many such are in this Age. WHereas P. Taverner one of Truth 's Opposers whether throâ—… Ignorance or Subtilty I now determine not hath again appear'd against me and the Truth in Print as in Vindication of himself and his former Work who about four Moneths ago gave a false Relation of a Dispute but instead of mending the matter he hath made his own cause the more vile as may appear to such who take a perfect view of the Proceedings from the beginning to the end thereof Now the intent of this my Reply is to clear the Truth further and to take off his false Aspersions which he hath cast upon my innocent words in my former Book in answer to his first And as for the rest of his Book which hath no relation to mine nor to the Dispute I shall pass it by The Title of my first Book was Something of Truth Made Manifest c. To which sayst thou A plausible Title to cover a Railing and Bitter spirit under that it may walk in the World less suspected c. Reply My words are truth for in 〈◊〉 â—â—ok Truth was made â—â—â—ifest to â—…y in relation to the former Dispute to the Satisfaction of many and as 〈◊〉 â—…ing anâ—â—â—â—â—erness of spirit I do deny only I am zealoâ—â— for the
I say would not many Sects ere this day have prevailed one against another had not the Powers of the Earth stopped and limitted whom they would and given liberty to set up whom they would But now the Light of the Day is arisen and hath appeared and the Lord is making a Way to establish his own Religion by his own Power and he is gathering his Seed who shall wax stronger and stronger and shall prevail through all Opposition through all false Sects and false Worships of the Earth and they shall wax weaker and weaker and shall never be established in Righteousness but they and the Power that upholds them shall be broken together and this will the Lord bring to pass in his Day And thus I have shewed you what true Religion is and how it cannot be established and how it may be and what the Authority of earthly Rulers is and how far it extends and do shew that true Religion cannot be settled thereby but by the Lord alone it must and that it is the Work of Christ's Ministry and not of earthly Power by violent Laws to establish Religion And this is a testimony from the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to ye Rulers and Parliaments that make Laws and minister Laws meddle not with Religion to establish one Sect or Sects and to limit and throw down others but fear the Lord God and wait for his Wisdom and remember that that hath been a Rock whereupon many before you have been split and brought into confusion even when they have gone about to limit or stop or establish Religion how have they been confounded and never had success from the Lord to such endeavors for the Lord hath never shewed countenance for many Generations to such as have attempted to make men religious by outward Laws and to settle Nations therein by outward Laws Wherefore now be wise ye Rulers and kiss the Son for the Wrath of the Lord is already kindled and he will break in pieces and dash Babylon's Children against the Stones and confound the great Whore the false Church and all false Sects her Daughters who have been brought forth and set up in Nations ever since the Woman the true Church hath been fled into the Wilderness and the Beast hath carried the Whore born her and upheld her and she hath journeyed through Nations upon the Beast and the Beast hath defended her if any man hath an Ear let him hear and this is a Visitation to ye Rulers and to all that make Laws and minister Laws By a Friend to Righteous Men. E. B. Satan's Design DEFEATED In a Short Answer to a Manuscript sent by a Priest out of Sussex to a Member of this present Parliament full of railing Accusations whereby he hath secretly smitten the Innocent by a secret desiring the Persecution of the People of God But herein his Folly and Madness doth appear that while he hath accused others falsly himself is found guilty of the same thing With Invitations of Love to the present Authority that they may save themselves from being the Executioners of the Priests malice least the Lord destroy them A Certain Paper being come to my hand which is said to be written by one Priest Iackson and sent to a Member of Parliament containing divers Particulars charged as Errors upon the dispised People called Quakers wherein he saith he hath set down some of their Tenents which they maintain unto which Manuscript I am moved to write something in answer as to clear the Truth from his foul Aspertions which he casts upon it to the intent that the said Member of Parliament and the whole House may be better satisfied and resolved wherein they doubt of every Particular that the Truth may appear when as the foul Vail of the Darkness and Slanders is removed That the Holy Scriptures are not the Word of God nor the Saints Rule of Faith and Life neither is it the duty of every one to search them Answ. The Holy Scriptures that were given forth by the Spirit of the Lord as holy men of God were moved they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise Luke 1. 1. and that which the Saints had handled and tasted of the Word of Life that they declared forth in Words and Writings Acts 1. 1. and the Scriptures as they were given forth by the Spirit of God are a true Declaration of what is to be believed and practised in relation to eternal Salvation It is a true Testimony concerning God and his mighty Works and of Truth and Righteousness and it is a Testimony also of the Devil and what he is and of his Deceits and Errors and Uâ—righteousness so the Scriptures are Words given forth by the Spirit but Christ is the Word that was before the Scriptures were for in the begining was the Word of God and the World was made by it and the Word shall endure for ever and Christ's Name is called the Word of God And though the Scriptures are profitable and were given forth to be read and to be fulfilled yet they are not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life unto the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures that is the Rule and Guide the Teacher and Leader into all Truth and them that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and if you walk in the Spirit saith the Apostle you shall live and as many as walk acording to this to wit of the Spirit Peace is upon them and so the Spirit of God is the Rule of the Saints Faith and Life and the Spirit leads them to walk in the fulfilling of the Scriptures and according to them And as for all the Priests in England who do profess the Scriptures to be their Rule out of their own Mouthes will God judge them who are found walking contrary to the Scriptures in Life and Doctrine and Practises while they cry it up for their Rule and condemn all that will not say as they â—ay And the last part of this Proposition is utterly false for we never do assert that it is not the duty of every one to search them but we bid every one search the Scriptures and every one ought to search them but yet we say that none understands them but who have the Spirit that gave them forth nor none can profit thereby but by the Spirit that gave them forth which works the same Truth in the Heart which the Scriptures without declare of and this I do affirm they are the Words of God and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Faith and Life to the Saints and all men ought to search the Scriptures and to believe what is therein written and to receive and enjoy Christ who is the Substance and the End of all Things the first and last the beginning and ending and in him the Scriptures are fulfilled and finished They do deny the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Christ
hearts and it was that Light that gave them the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God but thou hast discovered thy self to be a Stumbler at the stumbling-stone and hath taken offence at the Light like the Pharisees who professed the Scriptures as the Priests of England do but were ignorant of the Life the end of the words and knew not Christ the Substance but the Stone at which you stumble will break you to pieces and grind you to powder even Christ the Light of the World that lighteth every man that cometh into the World That the Soul is a part or measure of God as they speak and not a part of man but uncreated and so is that Light which is in every one Answ. The Soul is immortal and God is immortal for God breathed into man the Breath of Life and he became a Living Soul as saith the Scripture and the Soul is related to God for what a man works against God it is against his own Soul for all Sin is against God and against a man's own Soul And God who hath all Souls in his hand who is the Creator and gave Life into the Soul that is immortal and can never die though Death hath passed over it and hath reigned over all from Adam till Moses and Christ is the Light of the World that gives Life unto the Soul and he raiseth up the Soul out of Death and Misery and brings the Soul to rejoyce in God its Saviour and Christ is the Souls Bishop its Pastor and Feeder and who knows Christ knows him that was before the World was made and sees to the beginning and to the ending and his Soul rests in God that is over all That the Light in the Heathen who never heard that Iesus Christ died at Jerusalem is the same for the quality of it with that which is in the most godly Person onely there is a difference in the quantity And men are reconciled to God by following of it This Light they say is the sure Word of Prophesie and that it is sufficient to lead out of all Sin unto God Answ. The Testimony of Iohn is that Christ is the Light that lighteth every mâ—n that cometh into the World and if every man then the Heathen who hath not the relation of Christ's Life and his Death at Ierusalem yea and it is the same Light that is in the Heathen the same in nature and kind as it is in the Saints for the Comforter the Spirit of Truth is one in it self and the same though it comforteth the Saints and reproveth the World and the Wicked for their sins And men are reconciled to God by Christ for he was in God reconciling to himself and none are reconciled but who walk in the Light and follows it for who walks in the Light the Blood of Christ cleanseth them 〈◊〉 all Siâ— and they are reconciled and none else And the Word of God is in the Heart as the Scripture saith Deut. 30. Rom. 10. and that is the Word of Prophesie and that Word is sufficient to lead out of all Sin unto God if men believe in Jesus and receiveth him and the Spirit of Truth leadeth into all Truth all that follow it That Christ as man is not in Heaven yea that he hath ceased to be man and conseqâ—…ly to be Mediator and when I told them he should come in the Clouds in like 〈◊〉 as he ascended and that at his coming the Elements melteth one of their 〈◊〉 told me that the Clouds were scattered and the Elements melted in him Answ. Christ Jesus is ascended into Heaven and sits at the right Hand of the Father yea he is ascended far above all Heavens as saith the Scripture But that is utterly false whereas thou sayest we say he ceased to be man that is â—y Lye and so I pass it And we believe according to the Scriptures that 〈◊〉 shall come in like manner as he ascended and at his coming the Elements shall melt And it is not error for a man to say the Clouds are scattered and â—â—e Elements melted in him for Clouds are Darkness and covers the face of the Sun many times as thou mayest behold in the Firmament But Darkness is yet over thy Heart and the Elements are not melted away and therefore thou art in thy Imaginations putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and calling Evil Good and Good Evil. That the Bodies of Men shall never rise again after death and that the day of Iudgement is come already and that now the Saints do judge the World Answ. We do believe the Resurrection according to the Scriptures For if onely in this Life we have Hope we were of all men most miserable And we believe that the Dead shall arise again after death and every one shall receive according to the Deeds done in the Body they that have done Evil shall arise to Eternal Condemnation and they that have done Good to Eternal Salvation in the day of Judgement And the Lord cometh with and in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World and the Saints upon Earth do receive the Spirit of Judgement and do judge the World even all things for the spiritual Man judgeth all things even in this present Age if thou canst receive it thou mayest They are utterly against Water-Baptism and administring of the Lord's Supper with Bread and Wine because they say they have the Substance of all within Answ. As for Baptism and the Supper of the Lord we do own it and it is practiced of us in the Life and Power of God but as for your Baptism that is to say sprinkling of Infants calling it the Baptism into the Faith and that they are made Members of the Church thereby and that it is a Seal of Regeneration as you say in your Common-Prayer-Book and Directory that we do utterly deny and do say it is no Ordinance of God neither was it ever commanded by him or practiced by his Saints but is an Institution of the Whore of Rome and England received it by a Popish Institution and your practice of it is Idolatry and not any part of the true Worship of God And as for your breaking Bread and drinking Wine in that manner and form as it is practiced in the Church of England among the Unconverted and Unregenerated that we utterly deny also to be of God or to be ever commanded of him or practiced by his Saints and this is neither Heresie nor Error in us but true bearing witness against your Idolatrous Wayes and Practices with which the Nations are deceived whom the Whore causeth to drink her Cup even all people have drunk her Cup and she hath drunk the Blood of them that would not and she hath long sate upon Nations Peoples and Multitudes but now she is made bare and discovered and all you her false Ministers And whereas the Author doth say These are some of the
and I have not spared my own Life to serve you but have given out plentifully of the Lord's Treasure that you might be made rich and I have given out from my Life of the Lord's Substance that you might be fed and nourished and I have kept nothing back of the whole Counsel of God which was needful for you to know and for all this the Lord is unto me at this day a sufficient Reward and of you I desire nothing to my self but do sincerely desire of the Father for you all That Love and Faith and Purity and all the Works of the Spirit may plentifully abound in you all that 〈◊〉 Father may be glorified through your bringing forth much Fruit. Wherefore my dear and beloved Friends Look unto the Lord who hath begotten you to himself let his Fear be before your Eyes and his Judgments in your Hearts Oh! keep near the Lord at all times for it s he that preserves his People it s he that leads them and goes before them it s he that feeds them and refreshes them at all times for its be alone and there is not another that gives you Peace and Strength Wisdom and Knowledge and all good things he is â—ot streightened to any of his that sincerely wait upon him he is the Portion of his People and the Inhaeritance of their Souls and he causeth all them 〈◊〉 trust in him to lie down in Safety and none can make them afraid Therefore oh my Friends I say again and again Love the Lord and his Way and be Faithful in the Truth unto the End love not your Life nor â—â—y other thing for his Service sake but give up all things of this World that you may receive all in the Lord be watchful against all your Enemies that you be not overcome of the Devil but resist him in all his Apâ—… that you may not be defiled nor lose your Peace with the Lord 〈◊〉 is to me and I hope to you of greater price then all other things whatsoever and this I have said among you in Faithfulness and at this present do charge yoâ— all To dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to â—ear one with another and to walk in Wisdom one towards another and to be Examples of Righteousness one before another that it may be known that God is amongst you of a Truth and he is my Witness nothing without me can more add to my Joy then to know of your Welfare in the Lord and of your Stedfastness in the Faith of Christ Jesus and for this my Heart wisheth as much as for any other thing besides And though I be outwardly separated from you according to my Father's Will who gave his Enemies power over my outward man to cast it into Bonds for a moment yet am I present in Spirit amongst you and my Love and Life salutes you all in the Fear of the Lord and though the outward man may suffer yet am I in perfect freedom and in perfect Peace and in every respect perfectly well in the Lord who is my Strength my Armour and my Crown and in his Authority I yet once more beseech you all even for the Lord's sake That ye take heed to the true Light Christ Jesus who lighteth every one of you which Light leads to Christ who saveth and redeemeth from Sin and Death and from all the Wayes and Works thereof and this ye know who are God's Witnesses of his Love and tender Mercies and of the Faithfulness of his Servant Moreover my dear Friends All disorderly Spirits who are out of the pure Fear and Wisdom of God my Life doth judge and with the Power such I do deny who are not Simply in the Power of God and them that seek themselves in any thing amongst you my God shall judge and who are rash in Judgment and forward to utter words and bring forth Fruit and not in due season such are a Burden to the Lord's Soul Therefore take heed I charge you all to the guiding and moving of the pure Spirit of God alone for that will stand and its Fruits will never wither and whatsoever is otherwise brought forth among you the Lord will confound and it shall not profit the people This is to be read amongst you in the Fear of the Lord. E. B. To Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. TO the Seed of God and to all that are begotten of him by the Immortal Word in Barbadoes Virginia New-England and that wayes even to all that have felt and tasted of the Word of Life Grace Mercy and Truth be multiplyed amongst you Dear Friends dwell in the Truth and walk in it that ye may be a sweet Savour unto God and may have Unity with him and one with another in his Life and Spirit and wait that you may have Victory over the World and the Spirit of it in you which hath captivated your minds in the Luâ—ts of this Creation and which hath led you in By-pathes of Iniquity while you were Strangers unto God and without his Knowledge But now having received Grace and Mercy from God and his Word hath entred into your hearts whereby you are begotten into the Hope of Eternal Life and are changed now the Lord requires of you to be Faithful in his Work and Valiant for his Truth that you may obtain the Promise and be made free from Sin and become the Servants of Righteousness and feel the Word and Power of God in your Hearts which will crucifie you daily to the World and make you alive unto God that he may live in you and walk in you and work all your Works for you and this is the Everlasting Covenant where God works in the Creature both to will and to do and man lives not but Christ lives in him and speaks in him and this you must wait for to be Witnesses of in your own Consciences For what is the Profession of God with the Lips and the Profession of the Scriptures while men do not walk by the Spirit aâ— gave forth the Scriptures and enjoy God in their Hearts so you must all wait to be Possessors of the Substance Christ the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending him must you feel in you to destroy the Devil and his works and to change you into the divine Nature which is like unto God and this is Salvation God with us destroying the Enmity and reconciling man unto himself by overcoming Sin and Transgression and your hearts must be cleansed by the Word of God and that which is contrary purged out and this is the New Covenant where the Heart is circumcised and the Body of sin put off and the Creature freed from the burden of Iniquity and then there is clearness and freeness where sin is remitted and washed away and no burden lying upon the Conscience but the Heir of God born the Redeemer which maketh free from the Devil and Sin and they are the Sons of
Just and Sober Men and to your condemnation in the Sight of God who takes notice of your wickedness and unseemly behaviour which you may call to mind and remember that you may repent of your ungodly words and cruel speeches and rude bruitish gestures which appeared in you without any Fear of God to your shame be it spoken and like Priests like People all out of the way in folly and vanity erring through Lightness and Wantonness not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God but perverters of the one and despifers of the other the sin of the Priest will be charged upon the People because you love to have those things so and uphold him in his wickedness and the sin of the people will be charged upon the Priests who through Lyes and Lightness cause you to err and profits them not at all but is a blind Leader of ye blind People till both fall into the Ditch together who close your Eyes that you may not see and shut your Ears lest you should Hear and harden your Hearts that you may not understand and your Destruction is of your selves and your Blood is upon your own Heads who scorns to be reproved and despiseth the Way of the Lord and will not receive his Truth in the Love of it that you may be saved but is a blind willful and stiff-necked people some of you who have hearts and cannot understand Is these the fruits of your long Profession Railing Mocking Scorning Laughing Hooting Foolish and Vain Words Nick-naming and Reproaching these things abounds openly among you to your shame especially at such a time when Meekness and Soberness and Moderation had much better become you to have been brought forth by you your Priests exceeding the rest in vileness and some of your Rulers hardly being clear remember your work and call to mind your words and ways and let shame cover your heads from the highest to the lowest of you and thou proud wild reproachful professeâ— Minister cease thy vain presumptious boastings against the Innocent and now when thou puts off thy armor if thou hast gotten a victory glory or rather hide thy face for shame and stop thy mouth in the dust whose Lightness and Wildness hath super-abounded some of thy fellows who may be ashamed of thee in thy words and behaviour whereby thou art sufficiently proved to be one that was never sent of God if we had no other testimony Thy proud presumptions boast against the Quakers was with soberness and in the Fear of the Lord answered to thy shame in the sight of all such whose hearts are not altogether hardned and given up to believe Lies and to do Wickedness that they may be damned that believe not the Truth and first as to the manner of the dispute on his part were his Railing Envious Reproachful unsavory filthy words of God or of the Devil with much impudency many times uttered in the discourse as Villain Sirrah Wretch Blasphemer Rogue and such like lying words of Bitterness more like the words of a brawling Drunkard then for a Minister of Christ and were his booting laughsing and clapping his hands and rude and unseemly gestures and behaviour of God or of the Devil more like in appearance to a Stage-player then to a Minister of Christ to his shame I mention it consider and answer these things and let that of God in your Consciences judge to which I stand to be approved in meekness and he to be reproved and condemned in his filthiness and bruitishness in the Sight of God may not you who owned him in that discourse be ashamed of him in these his words and actions which appeared who boastingly gave a Challenge to dispute of the things of God and then to mannage it in Rudeness and Wildness without any Fear of God in Lying and Slandring and at the end when things came to the head for Tryal to run away and not to stand to the end though several times he was charged to it I appeal for Answer to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences not like a Minister of Christ in any measure he appeared but as one that knows not the Living God nor his Law and Fear nor Judgements and an unfit fellow upon tryal I found him to dispute the Precious things of God and through some Nations I have hardly met with a worse which caused me to be the more silent then otherwise I would for I chosed rather to be accounted a fool by silence then to offend the Just Law of God by giving holy things to Dogs or casting Pearls before Swine in which nature he and some of you appeared who fasly Slandered the Innocent with the name of Jesuite and such like crying away with him with Bitter and Cruel words and gestures pushing with your hands and crying a Prison were the fittest or such like even like unto your fore-Fathers the Pharisees who persecuted Christ under the account of themselves being righteous and he a blasphemer and they laid snares for him to entrap him in his works as you did who when I would not answer according to your provoking that you might ensnare me would hardly suffer me to answer any thing to clear and defend to the Truth against the boast of the Wicked but by Hooting and Laughing and Clapping of Hands and Foolish Jeastings and unreasonable Rudeness prevented me from speaking and them that would have heard from hearing as much as you could even as bruit Beasts or Heathens and not like civil people much less like godly Christians nor like such as would or could soberly debate the Truth of God to edification and truly may I say I fought with Beasts at Reading after the manner of men but all was to make your selves and your pretended Minister manifest and all could not be so blind but might understand his wayes and words not to be guided by the Spirit of God but by the spirit of the Devil who is the Father of such Works and Conâ—… as was brought forth by him in the Meeting in many uncivil actions and reproachful words of envy And also as to the matter of dispute on his pâ—â—t managed was but a vain contention boastingly uttered without the Fear of the Lord in a proud presumptious spirit and a Snare laid in the mid'st of his Questions and Arguments to entrap the Just but in vain was the Snare 〈◊〉 in the sight of the Bird and I chose rather to appear a Fool to your wisdom then to be made a prey upon by you and caught in your deep-laid Snare for we are learned to be as wise as Serpents and deeply did he and sâ—â—e of you fall into the Snare of Confusion and Wickedness and False Doctrines as would have been laid open if he had durst to have staid or you to have heard The Principal Question was whether the Scriptures are the Word of God which he affirmed but could not prove by plain Scripture â—â—to which much might have
worships and Idolatrous Practices and Ordinances and in her false Ministry and false Doctrines and she was set up in Nations by the force of cruel and violent Laws and men and is upheld by Oppression and Injustice at this day and yet all this she doth under the Name of Holy Church and useth the Name of Christ as if she were his Wife and yet hath other Lovers and by such means hath this great Whore deceived the World But now the Day of the Lord is come upon her and the hour of her Judgement is at hand and all that have taken pleaâ—â—â—e with her shall mourn and bitterly lament because of her Judgements which cometh in a day but we are delivered from her Judgements because the Lord hath called us from her abominations and we can no more drink her Cup of false Doctrines and Practices all which are Idolatry and to be Judged of the Lord though she should drink our Blood as she hath done the Saints before us But I say the Lord hath led us out of this Babylon He hath delivered us from this great City and made us Spiritually free from its abominations and Idolatries though not outwardly free from her oppressions and cruelties And though this great City hath Ruled over the Kings and great men of the earth and subjected many Nations through its wickedness and violence yet certainly its ruin is near to come Else my Hope is lost my Life is smitten and the Lord hath not spoken by me And the Lord will Reward this false woman this false Church that hath deceived the Nations even according to her deeds as she hath done to others so shall others do to her measure for measure and much more might we say concerning her but the Lord hath opened our eyes and we see her abominations and she cannot deceive us And this is the loving kindness of the Lord unto us for which he is worthy to be praised by us for evermore And in that ye have received the Truth and do know the Truth live in it and walk in it in all faithfulness and be not fearful and unbelieving as though the Lord were not with you though ye suffer much for his Names sake for he is not wanting unto that man that doth fear his Name and that walks in his Way but for the deliverance of all such will he appear he will free the oppressed and the afflicted people he will save even by his out-stretched Arm Wherefore let our eye be unto the Lord in all estates and conditions whether of sufferings or otherwise for from him Salvation cometh and not from the Mountains of the Earth and keep your Meatings in your several places and be faithful in all things that your Consciences may be kept void of offences both towards God and men that no disobedience nor load of iniquity may be upon you but that in the sight of God you may feel clearness and freedom of Soul and Spirit from the burden of all transgression that you may know the Remission of all sin and all iniquity may be blotted out and no guilt of transgression may lie upon you but you may enjoy Peace in your Consciences in the Sanctification and Justification of the new man and this is the heavenly Life even upon Earth And when you are met together in the Name and Power of the Lord mind his presence amongst you for that is life and will make your Meetings profitable and full of Vertue to your Souls and the Lord will instruct you in all that which is good and Christ will be your Minister of Peace and Comfort and his Spirit will lâ—â—d you into all Truth and by his Word even the speech of God in your hearts you will be quickned in Spirit and your strength and Peace in God will be renewed day by day and walk in all Wisdom and in the fear of the Lord one towards another and towards all people that your Righteous and innocent life and your Holy Wayes and Works of Truth may have Evidence in the hearts of your Enemies that you are of God by the shining forth of your light before them and that the Devil nor all your Enemies may have ought against you saving concerning your God and the Worship of him and the matters pertaining to good Conscience and then if any suffer afflictions and tribulation by wicked men if it be for Righteousness sake and concerning the Law of your God and the matters of his Kingdom in such suffering the Lord will be with you and not forsake you but he will give you Dominion and carry you through it all in Patience and Faith which gives you Victory over all Enemies And nothing shall come to you nor happen on you in the anger of God but all afflictions shall be turned to your Comfort and by Persecutions and Tribulations the Lord will but try you and not destroy you you being delivered from his wrath and from that which is the Cause of it And therefore Friends it being much upon my Spirit I do lay it upon you to be mindful in this very thing that you walk in all Wisdom so that your Enemies have nothing against you to cause you to suffer for but onely for Truth and Righteousness sake and concerning the Law and Worship of your God and then if the wicked one take occasion against you to inflict his wrath upon you by wicked men because of the exercises of your Consciences towards God thereby shall the Lord take occasion against your Enemies to destroy them in his season and he will deliver you and for this Cause doth the Lord plead with the wicked in his wrath even because of the unjust sufferings of his People for that alwayes drew down the wrath of the Lord upon Nations and Rulers and for this Cause hath many been destroyed and in our sufferings must be filled up the measure of the iniquities both of Rulers and people in this Nation that the Lord may over-turn them with his hand when their measure of oppression is finished and the burden of its guilt falls upon them Therefore let us have Patience towards all men in all Conditions and Faith towards God at all times for therein is our Armour of Defence and our Weapons to resist all our Enemies and giving up into the Eternal Will of the Father whether in Life or Death in Tribulations or in Rejoycing and giving our Power wholly to the Lord and nor unto any other knowing That not one Hair of our Head can fall without him whose Power is over all and through â—ll So that if we Live it may be unto him alone and if we suffer and dye it may be for him and herein Peace shall be with us in whatsoever cometh to pass upon us if we can receive all things as from the hand of the Lord and Live in the feeling of that Power which doth all things or suffereth all things to be done And blessed is he that is not
but that over all you will be preserved in faith and victory I am now according to the Will of the Father in Ireland it is some weeks since I arived at Cork City in much peace and safety with my dear Companions it having been long upon my spirit to visit the Seed of God in this Nation even of love have I felt it in me and not of constraint but of a willing mind and free spirit and not of force and after the time of patience and waiting for many dayes to see my way clear for it the Lord hath ordered it and brought it to pass acceptable unto me and many here and this is the time which this visitation must be effected for till now my way was not clear and but that this Journey hath laid upon me I should have rejoyced to have been present among you either in testimony by suffering or otherwise but this is the will of God and it is in my heart to pass through this Nation and to visit the Seed of God by the Love and Word of the Father as he gives of his Life and Strength and opens the way before me I perceive in this Land Friends are generally well and truth grows in victory and dominion and the Lord is adding to the numberless number of them that must stand on Mount Zion and through the rage of men and above it all the little Flock is preserved in its beauty and the Seed sown in weakness and afflictions is received and quickned in much power which is my joy About Bristol I continued about two moneths in much precious service for the Lord and truth had good authority over all great acceptation in the hearts of many and some convinced and others edified and confirmed as many can witness in the spirit and until after the time of the Fâ—ir I was not clear of that City but imediately after I was free and my way made very convenient and clear to this place and the hand of providence ordered all things very well on that behalf as I do hope in the continuance of the power and presence of the Lord with me through this work and in his power I am committed even to do or suffer all things for his Name sake and that by vertue of his own life that dwells in me And the Lord preserve all the Brethren like-minded that the work of the Lord may be fulfilled and finished by us Amen County of Cork the 21th of the 6th Moneth 1660. E. B. A PRESENTATION of Wholsome Informations unto the King of England c. Being a Defence Pleaded and also appealed unto Him even to the Testimony of the Spirit of God in His own Conscience In Answer to a certain Accusation charged before Him in a Printed Book called The thrice happy Welcome of King Charles the Second by one George Willington of Bristol City against Us whom in derision the Accuser calls Quakers And also herein are laid down divers Considerations in Answer to a Petition directed to the King by the same Author in the Book aforesaid concerning Church-Government and concerning the making and sending forth Ministers and concerning the True Prophets and True Ministers and the False and how they are distinguished in their Call Maintenance and Fractises and that none ought to suffer death of Body or be killed or spoiled in Person or Estate though they may err in their mindes in the knowledge and Judgment of spiritual things All which is soberly presented to the King and His Council for Them to consider The Epistle to the King and his Council KNow ye That it is Righteousness Iustice Mercy and Truth and the fear of the Lord God it is the doing hereof and the walking herein in which you onely may be truly honourable I say if you do these things if you fear the God of Heaven and depart from all Iniquity and if you be doers of Iustice and Mercy and if ye break the yoke of cruel Oppressions and let the oppressed go free then are you worthy to be honoured both in the sight of God and men if so be that you are possessed with the nature I mean with Righteousness Iustice Mercy and Truth then you deserve the name but not otherwise for if Unrighteousness Injustice and Falshood dwell with you and be brought forth by you then are you not honourable to God neither can his servant in feignedness and flattery give the name unto you but and if I should give flattering titles unto you I should provoke the Lord to wrath against me though yet I gained your favour but I have rather chosen to speak the truth from my heart in Righteousness and to be well-pleasing unto the God of Heaven then with flattering Lips and a deceitfull Tongue be a man-pleaser while I grieve the Spirit of the Lord and the chief desire of my heart is to keep my conscience clear in all things though I should gain the displeasure of you and the most eminent accounted of men And if you shall say who art thou I must answer That I am a Servant of the great God of Heaven and Earth him I fear and before his presence I tremble I fear not him that can but kill the Body I flatter not any by feigned words for I regard not the love or hatred of this World I have not learned to practise a flattering tongue nor can I use it towards you or any upon the Earth but words of truth and righteousness are my delight and the dialect of my native Countrey and the characters thereof are not in the eloquency of words of mans wisdom but to demonstrate by the Spirit of the Lord in plainness and soberness with more respect to please the Lord then to please men Thus am I known among my Familiars and thus I desire only to be known unto you not in words only but in substance not in flattery but in an upright heart And this my present occasion thus to write unto you is even in as much as we have been accused even to the King by one George Willington of the City of Bristoll in a Book of his directed to the King even therefore is it that I have taken in hand to answer and publish a defence against his Charge with some sober Considerations chiefly laid down and directed even to the King that he may consider them and my hopes are that he and you of his Council will read and consider the Defence as well as the Charge against us assuredly knowing that it is good reason and equity for you so to do and may prove also of good consequence to you so to do for if the King should receive mis-informations and thereupon proceed in Iudgement Oh what pits and snares of danger did he run himself into even to destroy himself Now to the intent that he and you may be better informed in some particulars concerning us about which we are charged and accused and that you might know the truth and
to say Occasion is Wrongfully taken against us to destroy us and we are proceeded against contrary to the End of Just Government which is To preserve the Peaceable and not to destroy them and contrary to the KING 's former Promises who hath said We should not suffer for Matters of our Religion and Conscience living Peaceably in the Land And if we suffer because we cannot Swear at all such our suffering is for our Conscience sake and we are therein Persecuted Unrighteously as Innocent People and without just Cause And we must commit this our Cause to God who regardeth the Oppressions of his People and will avenge their Cause in his season And for the present this is all I have to say and present concerning this Case of Swearing and concerning the Oath of Allegiance CHAP. II. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning our Meeting together to Worship God 1. WE do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ and in his Power and Spirit and we do come together in the Fear of God to wait upon him and to receive the Teachings of his Holy Spirit and his Council to direct us in all our Wayes how to walk Righteously towards God and Men and in our Meetings we practice our Hearts and Minds in Godliness and speak of the Things of the Kingdom of God in Preaching the Word of God and in Prayer to Him according as his Holy Spirit guideth us which is given us of God to lead us into all Truth according to his Promise Iohn 16. 13. and that we may edifie one another in the Wayes of Holiness and Truth for the benefit of our souls and this is according to the Scriptures For they that feared the Lord met often together and spake one to another and edified one another And this is our Principle That it is our Duty to God-wards to meet together and that he requires it of us and for the exercise of our Consciences to him it hath been alwayes and is our Practice to meet together in the Exercise of the worship of God as aforesaid and not for any other End as in Contempt of Authority or to Plot or Contrive or to Meditate Evil against the King or his Government or any of his Subjects we have no such end I say in meeting together But our alone only and absolute End in our Meeting is to worship the Lord our God and to serve him and to wait upon him in obedience to his Will and for good Conscience sake as our Duty towards him 2. And this our Practice of Meeting together for the End and Cause mentioned if it be in publick Houses or more private in Upper Chambers or in the open Fields on what day soever is Lawful and Just in the sight of God and is according to the Example of the Primitive Saints and provable by the Scriptures as in Acts 1. 13 14. And when the Disciples and Saints returned from Jerusalem they went up into an upper Chamber both Men and Women and Waited upon the Lord and continued with one accord in Prayer and in Supplication And in Acts 20. 7. 8. The first day of the â—…k the Saints met together and Paul preached unto them and continued his Sermon till Midnight holding forth the Matters of the Kingdom of God And they were met in an upper Chamber from whence Eutychus fell down And Acts 28. 30 31. And Paul remained two full Years preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in his own hired House in Rome and he exhorted the Saints Not to neglect meeting together as the manner of some was whom he reproved Heb. 10. 25. By which Testimonies with divers others that might be given it is manifest that the Saints of God in former Ages did meet together to worship God and to wait upon him in Prayer and Preaching as the Spirit of the Father taught them that dwelt in them And sometime they met publickly and sometime more private and sometime on the day time and some in the night season and they met separate from the Synagogues and wayes of publick Worship among the Iews according to the Will of God and as it was ordered amongst them And thus it is manifest That our Meeting for the Worship of GOD at this Day though they are separate from the Way of Publick Worship of the Kingdom and are in more private Houses are justifiable being after the Example of the Saints and according to the Scriptures of Truth and therefore our Meetings are according to the LAW of GOD Just and Lawful 3. And forasmuch as by Reason of the late Insurrection of some few Persons in London our Lawful Assembling of our selves together in the Worship of God is under present Restraint and Prohibition and by Proclamation forbidden under the Denomination of Seditious and Unlawful Meetings and our Friends Imprisoned and persecuted for that Cause of Assembling themselves to wait upon God Now in this Case this I plead unto the King That we are no manner of way guilty of that Insurrection upon which the Proclamation of forbidding our Meetings was grounded and therefore ought not to suffer with the guilty being Innocent from the very Occasion of that Proclamation And for the King to prohibit our Meetings for and because of the ill Use that others made of theirs this seems a Condemning of the Innocent with the Guilty which is no way just in the sight of God nor men but altogether unequal that we should suffer for other mens Fault though such did abuse their Liberty and pervert the End of their Meetings into rising up with Carnal Weapons against the King so did not we neither in Intent nor Action and therefore our Meetings ought not to be prohibited for the Cause of other mens Faults and Miscarriages in that Case And also We have the King's Promise divers times That we should not suffer for our Religion while we acted nothing against the Peace of the Kingdom and Government which yet we never have done nor made any ill use of our Meetings nor of the King's Promises nor forfeited them and therefore according to his own Promises we ought to have our Meetings and enjoy them without Restraint because we have not forfeited the benefit of his former Promises in that behalf nor ever made use of our Meetings to Plot or Conspire against the Government to its Harm or Detriment and because of our Innocency herein the Benefit of his former Promises are yet in force unto us to protect our lawful Meetings and not to prohibit them And though upon Suspition only our Meetings have been Restrained and our Friends Imprisoned by the late Proclamation yet we being proved Innocent and without Guilt of that which occasioned it the KING and Council may and ought in Justice and good Reason to Reverse and Revoke that part of the Proclamation related to us as being Innocent that we may enjoy our lawful Meetings according to the Scriptures and Example of Saints and according to
though some may profess good Conscience and cry for Liberty thereof in their false Sect and Religion not taught them by the Spirit of Christ yet the Civil Magistrate ought not to punish and use Violence to such for their Religion but if they do they persecute and the Lord will lay it to their charge But yet this is safe for all first to obtain true Liberty of Conscience to God-wards and to receive the Spirit of Christ to be taught only by it in the Exercise of Conscience and Religion that they may not err in Conscience and Judgment in spiritual Matters nor suffer Wrongfully under pretence of Righteousness sake whenas it is not truly so CHAP IV. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion TO all ye that are of divers Judgments and Opinions in and concerning Spiritual Matters who are divided about Faith Doctrine Worship and Church Government some of you holding one thing some another different and contrary to that being diversly divided in mind and heart concerning the matters that are one in themselves to which you all assent as to the things in themselves and yet are different contrary minded about the self-same things To you all I am moved to write that so ye may be informed perfectly First What the Cause is of your Divisions and why it is thus amongst you And Secondly Of the bad Effects and Fruits such Divisions have brought forth And Lastly The Meant and Way of Reconciliation that ye may come into Love and Peace and Unity with God and one with another in all things pertaining to his Kingdom First The Cause of your Divisions and of the Diversities of Judgments and Opinions that are amongst you concerning the Things and Matters of God's Kingdom is Because you want the Spirit of God to guide you and it is not the Rule of your Knowledge and Iudgment and you wanting the Spirit of God in which is Unity among Saints therefore is it you are so divided and divers and different and contrary one to another in these things it is because ye want the Spirit of God I say which only teacheth the true Knowledge of God and gives an Understanding in all his Wayes and Matters It is the Spirit of God that teacheth true Faith true Doctrine and true Worship and all things about Church Ministry and Religion and if that you had the Spirit of God in you and were taught and guided by it it would teach you into one Faith and one Truth and into the true Worship and into the true Church-Government and you would be in Unity and Peace And if you all had the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and by which Spirit the Saints of God were guided in dayes past it would teach you into Unity and to be of one Mind one Heart and one Soul in all the Matters pertaining to God's Kingdom in Faith Worship Doctrine and all things else If you had the Spirit of God I say and were taught by it then you would have Unity with God and one with another in all his Wayes and there would have been no Division nor Contention amongst you about spiritual Matters but because you want that therefore you have Strife and Division amongst you even throughout all Christendom Here 's a Nation and a Kingdom holding such a Faith and Worship and there 's another People holding Faith and Worship contrary to that and here 's one Sect of People and there 's another different in Faith Judgment and Opinion and this is a Shame to whole Christendom That all should profess Christ Iesus and Faith in him and Salvation by him and his Doctrine and Worship and yet be in strife division and in great contentions concerning the same some holding and practizing one manner of Faith Worship and Doctrine and others holding contrary and different and this shews that ye are all fallen from the Life of Christianity as it was held in the Apostles dayes amongst the true Churches for they were of one heart mind soul and spirit as it is written they were of one Faith of one Worship of one Doctrine and had one way of Church-Government and this continued amongst the Churches of Christ till there were some that had Erred from the Spirit of God in their own Consciences and then they also Erred in Faith in Doctrine and in all other things relating to God and these were the Apostate Christians that had erred from the Spirit and divided themselves from the true Church and differed in Judgment amongst themselves and this was because they had erred from the Spirit of God which would have kept them in Unity with God and one with another for the Spirit is the Bond of Peace and the Seal of the Covenant of Love amongst the Saints So now All ye who are divided in your Knowledge and Iudgement and are in contention one with another about the matters pertaining to God's Kingdom you are the apostate Christians and you are without the Spirit of Christ The first apostate Christians erred from the Spirit and so became divided from the true Faith and from the true Worship and also among themselves and you never yet received the Spirit of Christ that you might come into Unity and Fellowship with God and one with another and that is the Reason of all your Divisions in Religious matters because you have not received the Spirit of Christ to teach you and to unite your Hearts to God and one to another but you having the Scriptures traditionally by discent through Ages which do describe and declare of that Faith and Doctrine and of the Worship and Church-Government which were among the Saints of old which they held and practised and from the Scriptures which declare of the things from thence you take up a Conceit and false Judgment and an Imitation and a false Conformity and then each sort of you call that your Faith and Church-Government and some after one manner of form and some after another and thus you are divided because you want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit did work true Faith in the hearts of them that gave them forth in dayes of old and it taught them Worship Faith Doctrine and all things concerning Gods Kingdom for the Spirit led them into all Truth and now you wanting the same Spirit that wrought in them and taught them and you having but their words to wit the Scriptures from thence in the Wisdom which is below and in the carnal Reason and in the first mans understanding each Nation takes up a conceit that it is so and so and takes up an Imitation of Worship and Church-Government according to their own sensual wisdom and according to the breadth and depth of their Conceits and then imitates and that severally and diversly and in a divided manner and this is amongst Kingdoms and amongst Neighbours and Brethren this Division in matters of Faith Worship and Doctrine and Church-Government
Separation from GOD being in the State of Enmity against Him till the Lord Jesus Christ the good Shepherd of ISRAEL found you out in the Estate of Darkness and brought you Home from your strayed Condition even unto the Sense and Feeling of his Power and Spirit in you which called you out of the Wayes of Sin and Death and also changed you and regenerated you into the Inheritance of a better Kingdom and Glory than that which is of this World And ye now know Christ Jesus to be your Shepherd his Spirit to teach you his Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification to dwell in you being Partakers of the same through the Eternal LIGHT which once shined in Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it but now it is risen in much Glory and Power and Death and darkness is swallowed up of Life and Light and the Fruits thereof subdued These things are True and Faithful unto many let all such Rejoyce and be Glad in the Lord who have thus seen his Day and tasted of his Power and are Witnesses That the Kingdom is come which never fadeth away 2. Consider what the Tender Dealings of God towards you and his Gentle Leadings have been since he hath called you out of your formeâ— strayed Estate Hath not his Light shined upon your Tabernacles with much Clearness perswading your Hearts fully of his WAY and TRUTH Have not your Hearts often been Refreshed and Souls truly Comforted by the Refreshing Presence of the Lord Hath not the Way of Life been made so clear unto you and the way of your Peace so perfectly discovered that no Occasion hath been left of Unbelief or Stumbling unto the Upright in Heart Surely the Lord hath not been wanting to you in any of these things but he hath so reached Home by his Word and Spirit to your Hearts and Consciences with such full Convictions and perswasions in the Wayes of Salvation that no sincere Heart can doubt or waver concerning the Things pertaining to his Soul's Peace and Comfort 〈◊〉 For so Large and Evident hath God's Testimony been unto you even since he first called you by his Grace that no Man having Sense and Experience thereof but must bear witness That the Lord hath been Good Long Suffering full of Mercy and Righteousness towards all that feareth him I am perswaded ye know these things and that the Taste and Vertue of the Lord's Mercies and Power remaineth stedfest in your Remembrance and Enjoyment even his Mercies and Loving-kindness that have been made manifest to you since ye have known the Lord who hath â—â—d you by the Hand as a Father doth his Children and carried you in his Arms of Preservation and born you on his shoulders in all your Afflictions insomuch that through his Power and Wisdom only we are yet alive and the Adversary hath not prevailed against us though his Attempts have often been great to Destroy us 3. Consider what iâ— now your present state and standing How is it with your inward Man In what Life and Strength and Dominion is he Is he â—â—â—ong over all the Corruptible or is he Weak under Corruption Is he in â—â—e growth of a Perfect Man of the Stature of Christ Jesus Is he so begotten and born in you that Life hath swallowed up Death Hath he Victory over the Grave And doth he Raign in you even the New Man the Spiritual Man the Immortal Man Christ iâ— you Is he come in Power and Dominion to dwell with you Deâ—rly â—â—loved mind each particuâ—… in what state you are and what is your present standing to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye had Faith in God and Love to God and Boldness for God And are ye firâ—ly continued therein Or Is any such Weakened and Decreased in these things Is your Love grown cold and your Zeal lost and your Confidence decayed If it be thus with any their present state is not â—â—ght before the Lord but they must Repent and return to their first Love and return again to the Witness of the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 in them that their Strength may be renewed for they only that dwell with the Lord in Faithfulness and abide in Covenant with him 〈◊〉 see his Glory and be fed daily with the Bread that comes down from Heaven and refreâ—… with the Fountain of endless Mercies if so be ye be perfect with the Lord after your inward Man Strong and Lively and Zealous Faithful and constant having a clean Heart and a pure Conscience guiltless and undefiled before God this is to be perfect with the Lord and if ye are thus blessed are you if ye be encreased daily in the Love and Life of the Father if your inward Man grow in the Wisdom and Power and Knowledge of the Creator if ye receive the assurance of Eternal Life in your selves if this be your present State Oh happy People Who is like unto you because ye are saved of the Lord 4. What is the present work of God in your own hearts Ye must alwayes feel the Word of God abiding in you even the Word in the heart hear that Word and do it alwayes and your souls shall live by the Word of God that Word beats down whatsoever tempts and draws from God which would defile you and load your Consciences and vex the Spirit for if any obey the Temptations they become darkned unbelief enters and the fruits of it grows and then there is a falling from the Lord and a departing from his way of Salvation therefore mind the Power and Spirit of Christ in you and be constant and faithful therein that you may be Preserved unto the finishing of the WORK of the Lord in you that at last ye may sit down in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus in places of Peace and Comfort and Assurance for ever where the Lord is enjoyed all in all which you must wait for to be accomplished in you according to the promise and you must witâ—â—â—s the work of Christ in you he must work in you by his Spirit Regeneration Reconâ—…on Sanctification Justification and all good things 〈◊〉 it is not sufficient to profess that Christ in his Person hath 〈◊〉 the works of God but every one in particular must witness at thâ—â— day the work of the Spirit of Christ in his own heart even the Work of Reconciliation and Salvation that ye may in each mans particular receive the Knowledge and Experience of the Lords Work of his Love and Life and Salvation and Redemption in particular for though never so large Testimonies in general should be given to you or received by you concerning Christ Jesus and his Salvation yet the particular feeling of 〈◊〉 Love and Power of the Lord God in your own hearts must you staâ—â— by in the Day oâ— Tryal for that alone can uphold in the Day of Trouâ—… even the Testimony of the Spirit of Christ unto Salvation felt in each particular heart And seeing the Lord hath brought you to the knowledge
the unity of Saints a departing and absenting from such an one and a depriving of him of the peace and comfort joy and felicity of the Assembly of God's People and Servants a turnning from such in Converse and Fellowship and a separating from them and judging them by the Spirit of Christ Jesus and this is rejecting an Heretick and delivering him to Satan according to 1 Cor. 5. 4 5 6. When the Church The Saints were met together with the Spirit of God and the Power of the Lord Iesus Christ such a one as had erred from the Truth and sinned against it and was truely an Heretick should be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit might be saved Delivering unto Satan what is that but to let him be cast out into the wicked World reputing him as such an one and that he partake not of the sweet heavenly and blessed Union and Fellowship of Saints in their Assemblios and converse with the God of Heaven in his Spirit and Life not to be numbred among the righteous nor a partaker with them in the holy Union of the Elect to pass judgment upon him eternally in the estate he is now in having both erred from the Truth and rejected and despised the reproofs and Admonitions of the Church of Christ and as such to give him up to Satan to give him up to that Spirit that hath led him aside from the Truth and hardned his heart against it to deliver him up to it seeing he refuseth to be reclaimed from it and hath chosen to follow it rather then the Truth let him be left unto delivered up unto that Spirit even unto Satan in the wicked World let him be cast out thither among the unclean and not reckoned among the record and line of the faithful People and separated from and cast out so as he expresseth it vers 11. If any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous a Railer a Drunkard c. with such a one not to accompany no not to eat and this is to deliver a Heritick to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh and is the proper punishment of Heresies and Hereticks according to the Apostles Advice and Precept but not to kill or punish the persons of men by corporal Afflictions and Penalties on the Bodies and Estates for their Error sake this the Apostle gave no Commission for but that such as erred from the Truth and walked contrary in Principle or Practice should be rejected and delivered up unto Satan in the way and manner before declared Again in Matth. 18. 16 17 18. it is signified by Jesus Christ to the self-same purpose in these words If thy Brother trespass go and tell him alone if he repent forgive him if not take one or two or more with thee and tell him again if 〈◊〉 still neglect to hear tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let such a one be unto thee as hath offended and rejected Reproof and Admonition again and again as an Heathen man and Publican In which words of Christ is truely signified the right and proper way of proceeding towards Hereticks and Offenders even that they be first again and again admonished and reproved and if they resist the same then to be cast out separated from and not enjoy the union and comfort of the Saints amongst them but as an Heathen man and Publican but here is not a word signified of laying corporal Punishments Burning or Banishing persons for their Errors sake and though they may offend no proceedings of this kind are authorised by Jesus Christ or his Apostles in their day but in another way and manner as I have shewed is the proper way ordained of God to deal with Hereticks according to the Testimony of holy Scriptures signified by Christ and his Apostles in the Primitive Churches 9. This is Punishment according to the nature of the Offence for as the Offence is Spiritual erring in the mind from the Truth and a going astray from the Spirit of Christ in a man 's own particular so the Punishment is answerable thereunto even to be separated from the Truth and not to enjoy the Vertue Peace and Comfort of it nor to be partakers thereof amongst the faithfull People And this is truly according to the Iustice of God whose Wayes are just and equal altogether and hath appointed just Rewards for Transgressors according to the nature and merit of the Fact and Deed that is evil and 't is righteous and just that men that sin against their own Souls should be deprived of the Peace and Comfort thereof that all that do depart from the Truth once known and sin against the knowledge thereof â—hould be no more a partaker of the Vertue and Felicity of the same and that they who offend the Lord's People and revolt from the union thereof should be cast out from them rejected of them and not enjoy the Blessings and Peace with them even that all they that will not hear the Repooofs of the Spirit of God nor be drawn with the gentle movings thereof should be judged and condemned with the same and not inherit the Assurance of the Saints And this is God's Iustice That all that love Evil and walk in Iniquity and despise the Lord should be cast out into the sinfull World to have their Portion with the Ungodly and all the Workers of Iniquity and this is just Punishment according to the nature of the Offence of Error aad Heresie for in my Iudgment and I have the Spirit of just Iudgment in this Case it is great Punishment and sufficient for a man that hath once tasted of the Vertue of God's Presence among his People to be cast out from the Feeling and Enjoyment of that Life Vertue and Assembly where it is enjoyed this is Punishment and a Wound to the Soul and Conscience for a Person that hath been turned from Iniquity and witnessed the Peace of Christ in the Church to be left in Iniquity and to witness the Wrath and Anger of God daily smiting him in his spirit and upon his heart this is indeed great Punishment And to have the holy Spirit of Christ in his People now to judge and condemn him whom sometimes it hath comforted and refreshed and to be dis-united and separated from that Spirit and Power amongst the Saints which once gave Life and Joy amongst them This man thus judged and condemned by and thus separated and dis-united from the Spirit and Power of Christ and his People is punished and afflicted sufficiently for his Error and Heresie even in his Conscience Soul and Spirit he is wounded grieved pierced vexed and punished though yet his outward-man and his person be not corporally afflicted by Punishments but he is afflicted within he is dealt withal by the Anger of God in his Conscience he is separated into Darkness and from the Light and Glory of God in the Assemblies
Worldly Government for so much as hath been brought forth in any Government in any Nation at any time of Unrighteousness Injustice Oppression Idolatry false Worship and Persecutions and of any othor Evils even so much of Antichrist's kingdom government and power hath been in that Kingdom and Government and that Kingdom and Government wheresoever in what Nation and Country soever hath been Antichristian even in so much and by so much as Injustice Wickedness Cruelty Persecution or any Acts of Sin and Wickedness have been or are brought forth into action in that Government And thus it is manifest what and where Antichrist's Government is Now I shall briefly shew Who the Subjects of his kingdom are 1. All the ungodly unrighteous and unconverted Persons in general throughout the World are the Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom all the Sons of fallen Adam in Transgression all that are in the first Birth in degeneration in the alienation and separation from God even all that are wicked and do wickedly that are in the Enmity against Christ and unholy unsanctified and unregenerate these are aâ—â— of Antichrist's kingdom Subjects of it and Servants to it and it rules in them and over them and Antichrist is their Ruler in all these their wicked wayes and in this their present state and condition 2. All Hypocrites that profess God in words and in Works deny him that make a shew of Religion and Worship when their Hearts are far from the Lord that with their Mouthes profess much Love to God and with their Lips honour him but are departed from his Fear and stand not in his Counsel all such are Subjects of the Goverments of Antichrist even all false-hearted and dissembling Hypocrites that profess more of God then they know of him by the operation of his Spirit that have an outward conformity in appearance of Worship and duty to God-wards and their hearts are not conformed to the Power of God by his Spirit all such are of the government of Antichrist and his kingdom and power dwells in them and they are under the dominion thereof 3. All Idolaters false Worshippers Hereticks and erronious Persons such as cry up Church and Ministry and profess Faith and Godliness and yet are not guided by the Spirit of Christ nor led of it into all Truth these are Subjects of the aforesaid Government of Antichrist even all they that are sensually-minded and have not the Spirit of Christ guiding them in the Way of Righteousness and Truth who are not converted and born again and renewed into the Image and Likeness of Christ Iesus and yet practice Holiness and Duty to God-wards in outward appearance and are in the profession of the words of Christ and his Prophets and Apostles but have not the same Spirit and Power of the Lord Iesus Christ as the Prophes and Apostles had these are covered with Sheep's-Clothing and profess Christ and his words but are against Christ and contrary to him in kind and nature and all such are of the government of Antichrist and he governs them and rules over them 4. All Backsliders and them that have forsaken the right Way of the Lord all that are turned against the Truth of God which once they knew and believed and were convinced of and sometimes professed these are all Subjects of Antichrist's raign and authority even all the Unfaithful and False-hearted who are treacherous to God and men and unconstant unchangeable Time-servers Hypocrites who have denyed Christ before men and turned against him and his Saints such are under Satans power and he works in their hearts and Antichrist deceives them and they are under his power and dominion and are Subjects of his government 5. All Persecutors of the Saints all violent and cruel Men all that persecute such as are contrary-minded to themselves are of Antichrist and Subjects of his kingdom even all that kill and burn and destroy for difference of Faith and Religion who themselves profess Love to God and his Way and yet will persecute others and destroy them by cruel dealing and that would not suffer any to live but themselves and will not do to others as they would be done unto but hate the Neighbour and persecute Brother and impose upon his Conscience in things against good Conscience and are violent Doers all such men are Subjects to Antichrist's kingdom in all Nations throughout the World Therefore let all consider This is the Day of the Lord God will discover and destroy Antichrist and his kingdom let the Wicked and Ungodly turn from his evil way lest God destroy him with perpetual Destruction Lastly 'T is the Property of such who are Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom to profess and cry up much of Christ in words of what he said and did of his Life of his Death of what he hath been and what he shall be and do deny the present enjoyment of Christ to that Antichrist is an Enemy he can well away with it to speak of Christ at a distance but he cannot bear it if any hold forth a present enjoyment of Christ That Christ takes away sin and forgives it and that his Blood cleanseth from it and that he is the Iustifier and Redeemer and Saviour the Profession of all this in words from the Letter without and that they are things true in themselves Antichrist can bear and make a shew of in Profession but if any of the Saints of God do witness these things and shall testifie in the Power of the Lord the enjoyment of these things and that they are at present in this Life possessed to wit Christ now lives in us and is come and his Blood hath clensed from sin and he hath forgiven it and he hath justified redeemed and saved I say if any do witness these things in present enjoyment and that they are now in this present time witnessed in the Spirit of Christ and not onely professed from the Letter without but experienced by the Work of God within Antichrist opposeth this and gainsayes present enjoyment And such indeed are Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom who have the profession of Christ in words but no present enjoyment of him but want his Nature and are in the Nature contrary to him and feed upon Reports of things done by him without and upon the expectations of what he shall do hereafter and in this present state are without Christ and are Sinners and Transgressors against the Life of Righteousness unconverted and unregenerated by Christ all such as these are the Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom And as concerning the Rise and Fall of Antichrist the Beginning and Ending of his Kingdom these things in season may be declared if God permit E. B. A Hue-and-Cry AFTER THE FALSE PROPHETS AND DECEIVERS Of Our AGE And a DISCOVERY of them by their WORKS and FRUITS And who they are in this Age that follow the same spirit and act the same things as did the false Prophet in former Generations FOrasmuch as in
Heathen and under the barren dry and empty Ministry of Man which stands in the will of man and have proceeded out of the carnal inventions and imaginations of fallen man and is not according to God nor to the practice of the Saints in former Ages and Generations To you all do I clear my conscience in the presence of God by declaring to you in writing being that I cannot have freedom through the subtilty of the Serpent who doth work alwayes to prevent the living Truth to be declared and the deceits of himself to be discovered and made manifest to declare in word among you I have been sent by the Lord moved of him to come and to declare to you the Word of the Lord to the directing of your minds where to wait to attain the true Knowledge of the Lord and to that one Thing needful the Eternal welfare of your souls and to lay open the deceits of the Serpent who doth work in the cursed deceitful Ministry which is upheld by you whereby your souls are kept in the death and only your dark minds fed and nourished by the painted and Serpent-like expressions and declarations coming out of the carnal wisdom and brain knowledge of your Hireling who walks in the way of the false Prophets of Israel which the true Prophet called greedy dumb Dogs four several times hath the Lord by his Eternal Spirit working in me moved me to come into the Congregation and Assembly he himself is the Witness that I came not of man nor by the will of man but contrary to the will and desires of man wherein stands the true Ministry of God now as it was ever the true Prophets Ieremiah and Ionah witnessed the same and the Apostle Paul and as it is known to you unto whom I speak that I could not have liberty to declare to you the Truth from God who came not to you with entising words neither what I had gathered out of Scripture from without me neither to speak my own imaginations and conceivings as your false Hireling doth but to declare the Word of the Lord to the convincing your dark understandings that you might see the deceits by which you are and have been led that your souls might have been redeemed up to God out of the imagined worships of the World to worship in Spirit and in Truth Hear ye the Word of the Lord ye people all your carnal traditional Ordinances and Observances is abomination to the Lord all your praying and praising is odious in his sight for all your worship is an imitation and an imagination of the dark mind of man and was never commanded by God therefore consider all ye people what you are doing and reject not the Lord nor his Everlasting Truth but prize your time and now seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon his name while he is near Your souls are kept in the death under your dead Minister and under his dead Doctrines dead Reasons Points and Uses which he speakes from the Saints conditions and experiences but is an enemy to the substance and to them in whom the same conditions are made manifest in the power of Truth and he doth make manifest himself to be in the same generation of them who had the form of Godliness but denies the Power having the Letter as the Pharisees had but persecuting the substance as they did All people consider whether he be not in the generation professing God and Truth in Word as the Scribes and Pharisees were but persecuting the Son of God who is the Substance of Truth where he is born and made manifest he is in the generation of them who professed Abraham's freedom and that God was their Father but were of their father the Devil for his workes they did they said and did not as he doth as it is made manifest he is a whited Wall a painted Sepulcher which Christ the Son of God cryed wo against who was and is the Light by which all Deceivers Hirelings and false Teachers are discovered and cryed out against The Light which is Christ do I witness to be made manifest in me from God the Father of Light daily leading me up to him to live in Purity and Uprightness praises be to him for ever in which Light I see your Teacher to be a Hireling a greedy dumb Dog seeking for his gain from his Quarter one that God never sent but hath run and was not sent therefore doth he not profit you at all and from this Light which is Christ do I declare against him as knowing him that he hath not the Word of the Lord but the Letter Freely do I declare against him as knowing him to be a Deceiver and an Antichrist being once I was deceived by him but now through the rich Love of my Father who hath made himself known to me hath shined by his Eternal Light in my heart do I see him and all such to be Antichrist and no Minister of Christ from the mouth of the Lord I do declare it that you are led blindly by him your blind Guide and you are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Living Truth by his Ministry He layes heavy burdens upon you He is in the generation of them who had the Law and Prophets but persecuted him who came to fulfil the Law and who hath the substance of the Prophets He hath the Conditions and Experiences of the Saints in the Letter but who are brought to witness the same Conditions and the same strait Way in which they walked He is an enemy to all people to you from God I do declare it he is one that God never sent to speak his Word to you he calls good evil and evil good and puts Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and therefore wo is his Portion and wo is the Portion of all that upholds him What will ye do in the end thereof He doth bewitch you to observe That calling is an Ordinance of God which he never commanded Poor people your souls lies in the death under the power of darkness and corruption under your dead Minister and under his dead carnal Observances and your dark Minds your Wit and Reason is only fed and so the enemies of the Lord are strengthned by him and you remain in ignorance and in blindness and cannot attain the true Riches for Christ only is the Way to the Father the Light in every man which leads to the Father but this Light he denies as having enlightened every one that comes into the World as several times he hath done to me in Argument Here he makes Christ a Lyar and doth not know the first Principle of Religion nor the Light which leads unto God but is a Heathen and knows not God for this is the Light which all the Servants of God in all Generations witnessed and which Light we do now
is only fed and strengthned by his preaching and you all are but building upon the Sand hearing but not doing and we who have suffered the loss and have witnessed the destruction of that building do now Declare freely against it where it is standing for we know the depth height and breadth of all your profession and of all your carnal Worship and Observances and the Word of God is as a fire which will burn up and as a hammer which will beat down all your imagined Worships and carnal Ordinances And his Praying is abomination to the Lord for it is as theirs was which the Son of God cryed Wo against which stood Praying in the Synagogues and which made long Prayers and the Praying of all such we do Deny for their Prayers is as the Scribes and Pharisees was who were called of men Masters as they are now and who were sayers and not doers as your Hireling is therefore all you people consider and diligently weigh these things If I declare unto you the Truth own it without respect of Persons If I speak a Lye let me be accounted as accursed for ever and all you simple ones who are seeking the living among the dead who are in the simplicity seeking after the Truth and yet are bewitched to observe that which God never commanded and to seek God in that Way which he was never found in for Christ alone is the Way to the Father and he is but one from generation to generation in all generations for your sakes do I lay open the deceits of your Hireling and chief Priest who is in the way of Balaam following the wages of unrighteousness and do advise you as from the Mouth of the Lord to cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils and to cease from all your customary carnal observances which God never commanded but is only an imitation and an imagination your souls are kept in death under the power of Corruption Pride Drunkenness Coveteousness Oppression and Earthly-mindedness Wontonness and the lustful Nature ruling is head in you and among you are that generation that draws neer God with their mouths but your hearts goes after Covetousness and are far from the Lord ye worship an unknown god and are Persecutors of the true God and of his Servants as ever it was in all generations by Priest and People as it is now with you and your Priest they that professed Truth in word persecuted them that witnessed the Power the horrible filthy Thing is committed among you and you love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof you are in the generation of your fore-fathers who spoke good of the false Prophets but persecuted the true Prophets so it is now among you he that hath the Word of the Lord from the Mouth of the Lord to declare unto you him you revile and mock and scorn and persecute but he that speaks the imaginations of his own heart from the Saints conditions him you own and hear and here you shew your selves to be them which Christ spoke of which would receive them that come in their own name but will not receive him that cometh in the Name of his Father Repent and turn to the Lord lest his Judgments come upon you and destroy you with an utter destruction the Day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful which will come upon the wicked and upon all the Workers of Iniquity Be ashamed ye Heathens you maintainers of the greedy dumb Dogs and upholders of the horrible filthy Thing the persecutors of the righteous Seed the contemners of the just the generation of Serpents who cryes let Barrabas go free ye generation of Hypocrites who professes God but persecutes the Son of God where he is made manifest of this Generation in which you are shall all the Righteous Blood-shed be required even from Abel Repent and cease from all your former wayes and doings from Pride Drunkenness Coveteousness and Oppression from Lying Swearing from Mirth and Wontonness and vain Pleasures for the Day of the Lord cometh that shall burn as an Oven and the Proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble fully dry for the Lord will be avenged of his enemies and render vengeance in flames of fire upon all that know not God and that obeys not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who can stand when he appears Who can dwell with everlasting burnings even he that doth righteously and that is purged from iniquity But then wo unto you all Hypocrites and Professors and to the wicked and prophane ones ye shall all partake of the righteous Judgment and drink of the Cup of the Lords Fury and Indignation for your iniquities are seen and your transgressions are not covered from the Lord all your Profession will not hide you from the presence of the Lamb for in your Sacrifices are found deceit and in your Offerings lodges iniquity the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it therefore be ashamed of all your profession and of all your Glorious Carnal Ordinances for the Lord is coming to uncover you and to make you and your profain Hireling manifest for God is Pure and Holy and no iniquity dwells with him nor none that works wickedness therefore stop thy mouth thou Hireling who preacheth for hire and divines for money and leans upon the Lord and useth thy tongue and saith he saith it when the Lord never spoke to thee Thou art in the Generation of the Scribes and Pharisees and be ashamed ye upholders of him for now every Tree that brings not forth good fruit must be hewen down the Lord hath said it his Word is as a Fire which will burn up all the wicked his Word is sharper then a two edged Sword which will cut down and wound the head of the wicked ye Mockers and Scorners ye Swearers and Lyars ye Proud and Coveteous ones ye Merry-hearted and Wonton ones dreadful is the Day that shall come upon you the Lord will make his Power known and Glorifie himself in your destruction except you repent and turn to the Lord Ye hard hearted ones and rebellious ones the Plagues of God is to rest upon you therefore prize your time and repent and fear the Lord God Almighty and lay aside your vain wicked wayes and confess your sins and forsake them for such shall find Mercy All ye People mind the Light of God within you and hearken to that which shews you what is sin and evil which shews you your proud minds your carnal coveteous desires and affections which checks and reproves you for your ungodly deeds this Light shines in Darkness but the Darkness cannot comprehend it This is the Light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World which Light is Christ he that follows this Light walks not in darkness but hath the Light of Life he that hates this Light stumbles
their Quarter and so did Ieremiah Ezekiel Micha and Malachy cry against Hirelings and against those that said the Lord saith it and he never spoke to them and against them that preached for hire and that diviâ—ed for money and that taught for the Fleece and yet leaned upon the Lord as your Pharisee doth saying Is not the Lord among us And from this same Light do we declare against all such and seeth them to be abomination to the Lord now as they did then praised praised be the Lord for ever for now the abominations of the Whore is made manifest that sitteth upon many waters that hath made all Nations drunk with the Wine of her fornication and now is the Judgment of the Whore come and the day wherein she must reckon to drink the wine of the Wrath of God and he who was and is this Light cryed Wo against them that said and did not and against them that had the chiefest places in the Assemblies and that were called of men Masters This same Light do I witness to be made manifest from God the Father of Light and am not ashamed to declare it before men for he that denies Christ before men he must be denyed by Christ before the Father and this Light lived the Saints in and spoke from who were called Mad-men and deceivers of them that professed Truth in Word but persecuted them in whom the Son was born and made manifest in which Generation you and your Priest daily makes manifest your selves to be therefore repent and come down ye high minds and lifted up spirits for the Lord is against you and hearken to the Light of God in you and wait in it according to measure and cease from all your formal customary traditional worshipping and from all your dumb Teachers who are Antichrists and denies the Light as having enlightened every one this Light is the only Way to the Father which all must who comes to God follow and walk in for he that walks not in this Light walks in darkness and stumbles and knows not whither he goes and there are all Priests and People in darkness and ignorance who walks not in this Light therefore love the Light and obey it it will separate you from all filthiness and corruption and lead you into purity and holiness without which none shall see God and here is your Teacher alwayes present with you which teaches to deny ungodliness and the wicked wayes of this World he who walked in this Light by this Light saw all the World to lie in wickedness but said they were of God and all that were of God heard them who dwelt in the Light but he who disobeyes this Light follows the blind Guides of the World as you do and sets up Teachers to themselves having iching ears and that ministry is of man and by man called to the ministry by the earthly Powers by earthly Magistrates or at Oxford Cambridge or Newcastle all this ministry who is here called is by man and their gospel is of man which the true Gospel is not and he that hath the Word of God to declare from God his call is not by man neither doth he go to man to be approved for he that preacheth the true Gospel consulted not with flesh and blood and so it is now the same thing do we witness and to be Ministers of the everlasting Gospel called not by man but by God praised be the Lord for ever from Generation to Generation who hath revealed himself unto babes and hath hid himself from the Wise and Prudent of this World stop your mouthes ye Ministers which is by man which Gospel is according to man for now the Lord is arising whose Angel is gone forth preaching the everlasting Gospel Sing praises to the Lord for ever ye Redeemed ones who are brought from under the empty dead deceitful Ministry which is by man to be true witnesses of the true Ministry which is of God Therefore be ashamed ye upholders of the deceitful Ministry which is but the Ministry of witchcraft by which your eyes are darkned and under which your souls doth lie in blindness and ignorance under the power of witchcraft and sorceries Be confounded ye Back-sliders who once heard the Word with joy and received it who were once among us yet not of us who hath chosen the glory of this World rather then the everlasting Truth and hath fold your birth-right of the Everlasting Inheritance for the satisfying of your earthly minds with the earthly treasures Hear the Word of the Lord ye sloathful servants who not abiding to wait upon God eats and drinks with the Drunkards and beats your fellow-servants and are now become Haters Mockers and Revilers suddenly will the Lord come and cut you all assunder and give you your Portion in the Lake that burns with fire except you repent Repent you Back-sliders and consider ye that forget God now while you have time before the Lord â—wear in his wrath that ye shall not enter hearken to that which convinceth you of your filthiness the Light of God within you which shall eternally witness us to be true which Light shall be your Condemnation because you love darkness rather than Light ye are returned with the Dog to his vomit and with the Sow to the wallowing in the mire your latter end is worse then your beginning and the Parable is fulfilled upon you for lying against the Truth will the Lord plead with you and wo will be your Portion for ever for the Lyars shall not enter into the Kingdom of God therefore all people fear the living God and prize your time and see where you are his servants you are unto whom you do obey all must give an account to the living God and must receive according to what is done in the body in such an hour will the Master come which you are not aware of and will take account of your stewardship for God hath given unto every one a Talent therefore spend not away your time in wickedness and in a deceitful Profession of God feeding your dark minds with the dead formal Preaching of your dead carnal blind Pharisee but hearken to the Light of God within you and improve every one his Talent the good and faithful servant improves his to the honor and riches of his Master but the sloathful servant hides his in the earth living in the filthiness saying he hath no power now see which servant you are and read your selves within how you stood covered in the presence of the living God for wo unto him that is covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord the servants of God brings forth fruit unto God bears the image of their Father and the servants of the Devil brings forth fruits of darkness and bears the image of the Devil which is glorious to the carnal eye and feeds the carnal mind
The Seed of the Woman is but one in all generations and the Seed of the Serpent is but one which ever was is ruling and reigning in the Children of Disobedience who are disobedient to the Light of God within them and betwixt these two Seeds is Enmity the one against the other each Seed is known by its fruit the old bottle pours out old Wine the new bottle new Wine therefore all people sink down to within and call in all your wandring thoughts imaginations and affections and desires and see which seed is head in you and see what your desires and affections goes out after for where your hearts are there is your treasure see what you do possess of God in your Souls and what you are made witnesses of for he that believeth hath the witness in himself and Faith is the Victory over the world he that can receive it let him Dear people I have freely Declared to you the Truth and from the love of God shed abroad in my heart to your Souls and for the Seed sake in you which lieth in death captivated under your Wisdom and Reason have I spoken the Word of the Lord which if you own it and abide in it shall be the savor of Life and in eternal joy shall you witness me to be true in what I have Declared but if you harden your hearts and kick against the Truth and against what I have Declared shall be the savor of death unto Death and in eternal torment and misery shall ye witness me in what I say for to that which should exercise the Conscience do I speak in every one of you and to that in you have I cleared my Conscience and have freed my Spirit this is the day of your Visitation the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Remember that you have been shewed the Deceits which you live in and have been warned of the misery and desolation that shall come upon you except you lay these things to heart and turn to the Lord. Farewel By him who is dispised and had in derision among you who is not greater then his Lord and therefore is contented to be called a Blasphemer and a Seducer as he whom I serve was by them of your Generation E. B. TO all you my Country people of every degree who are Inhabitants in Underbarrow have I cleared my Conscience and have freely Declared to you the Word of the Lord and have laid open the Deceits of your Deceitful Ministry and Ministry and have directed you to that in every one of you which leads unto God and which is the way to the Father which is the true Light which hath enlightned every one that comes into the World which light all who loves and follows walk not in darkness but walks up to God out of the Fall from under the Curse into the Being but all who hates this Light and follows the imagination of their own brains and of the divination of their Hirelings and Pharisees this Light shall be their condemnation because they walk not in it even this Light which is come into the World in every man even the witness in the Conscience which is placed by God shall for ever witness against you and against all your false worships and Hirelings and shall bear testimony to what I have in this little Volume declared to be true when the Book of Conscience shall be laid open for to every mans Conscience am I made manifest in what I have to you declared as concerning your Hireling whom God hath never sent but is in the way of the false Prophets and Pharisees for he that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Iohn 1. 9. but is an Antichrist and of the Devil And as concerning the Light within you that Light will bear witness to it self that every one of you to whom I speak hath this Light which shews you sin your lying swearing pride and wicked wayes covetousness and wantonness to be sin this is the true Light which is as ever was foolishness and a stumbling block to the wise ones This is the Light which your Pharisee denies to have lightned every one and this Light shall for ever witness me to be true and shall witness this poor people among you who are despised and contemned by you and scornfully called Quakers to be the servants of God whom I do own as my Brethren in the sufferings of Jesus who are my joy in the Lord. Now all people every where to you all a word from the Lord though I have spoken in this small Volume as moved by the Lord of Heaven and Earth to the Inhabitants of Underbarrow as declaring against their false Teacher and false Worships which they uphold now freely and plainly do I declare against all thy Teachers O England who are one in the same generation with him in the Seat of Christ and of his Apostles professing themselves to be sent of God but walking contrary to his commands in the same footsteps which the Scribes and Pharisees walked in which were persecutors of the Son of God and which he cried wo against they who said and did not as all these thy Teachers do who are called of men Masters as they were and have the chiefest places in the Assemblies as they had and prayed standing as these thy professed Ministers do Now the same Light which ever was which is Jesus Christ is now born and made manifest which is witnessed among the Saints in which Light I see all thy Teachers O England to be drunk with the Wine of her that hath deceived the Nations who sits upon a scarlet coloured Beast and is arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and hath the golden cup in her hand full of abominations whose name is written in her forehead Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abomination of the Earth And in this Light to I declare against them all which are in the generation of the false Prophets of Israel which seeks for their gain from their Quarter and which steals the word from their neighbor and have taken the words of the Prophets of Christ and of his Apostles and selleth the divination of their own brain upon the Scriptures which the holy men speak forth freely to the poor blind people and teacheth for the Fleece and if ye stop not into their mouths they prepare War against you and which are called of men Master which Christ forbids Against all these freely as from the Lord I do Declare to be no Ministers of Jesus Christ but are Seducers and blind Guides and are Antichrists and leads the poor blind people in the wayes of death and destruction for they are no Ministers of Christ that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ these have run but have not been sent by God and therefore is not your Souls profited by them but are in the dark heathenish nature as by
things unto your Idol-god hath been your defilement and pollution in the sight of the true God to Images and Pictures have you bowed and have worshipped the Saints Dayes and Names and bowed to their likeness of mans inventions but have slain their life and trodden under foot their nature and glory and buried their righteousness and knowledge in the grave of your wickedness and ignorance and in imaginations have you rested and in vain superstitions have you hoped honouring the Name of Christ and killing his Life the Womb of Darkness are you shut up in upon Earth and it will be your bed for ever in Hell and Death and your Purgatory will deceive you and your cleansing will never come Defiled defiled and loathsome are you in the pure Eye of Light which the secret of your deceit searcheth and your darkness feeleth and shall judge you for ever Rome Italy France and Spain and your Dominions to all your Kings Princes Bishops Priests Jesuits Prelates and Friers and Nuns and whole train of Idolators The Cup of my Vengeance is towards you and the Dreggs thereof you shall drink and my overflowing Whirlwind of Wrath as an inresistable Flood is against your Banks and my Fire of eternal Fury shall burn through your Stubble and my everlasting Light shall make search and inquisition for the blood of my Elect which is found in thy skirts Thou abominable Harlot of loathsome adultery Tremble tremble at my dreadfull living presence ye Worshippers of dead Images the day of repentance is well nigh past your long Idolatry will my long patience turn into everlasting Misery and Judgment and Nations shall see your shame and in the sight of your Lovers shall you be tormented And this from Authority by my Spirit of Glory is sent you a Warning and is the voice of a Trumpet which gives a certain sound against the mighty dreadfull Day of the Lord which upon you is coming to make you a Desolation for ever and ever and the Eternal Decree is sealing against you never to be altered To all you called Protestants of the Eldest sort THus saith the Lord my controversie is against you and my hand will be upon you you have a strong taste of the Bottle wherein the Wine of Fornication is and your scent is leavened with the first vessel of abomination you are seated in darkness pitched upon six of the first Mountains under another Branch of the first Tree Ignorance and are thildren of the first womb begotten in another appearance of the Whores Beauty and are more comly in stature then your eldest Brethren and little is your difference to be discerned from the first Beast in your appearance and nothing at all in the ground you say you believe for Eternal Life but your unbelief will bring upon you everlasting death your talking of Christ and his righteousness imputed which you profess will not cover your infidelity and filthiness for you are in the enmity against his Life the working of the first for life and your believing for life springs both out of one ground and while you say you eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ in the figure you kill and cruifie him in the Substance and art partakers of thy Sisters sins in Whoredom and Idolatry and must partake of her plagues Wo wo will be your Inheritance in the Pit of Earth for ever instead of a heavenly glory which you dream oâ— above the Sky I have armed my Armies to do my work herein which hath in part and will fulfil it to break you to pieces the intents of your heart have been known to be always against my people neither could you bear any appearance oâ— me but blasphemes my Name and Truth in every discovery you have loved darkness upon Earth and in its Chains shall you be bound in the Lake for evermore To all you that are called Presbyterians and Independents THe Lords controversie is against you for you are a higher branch of the first tree deeper rooted in the cursed ground of fleshly and sensual wisdom and the Womb of your conception is the first Whores daughter more comely decked and your Cistern holds the Wine of Fornication at which you drink in a measure her abomination and where you say you believe for Justification and applies the Promises for Savation your works of Wickedness and Hypocrisie will bring Damnation and gains the promise of Condemnation who are in pride and high-mindedness and double-heartedness which is the condition of that promise and you are found wanting every whit the conditions of the Promise of Eternal Liâ—e you have reformed the outward man into the obedience unto another likeness of the Truth without the Life and are as vile in the inward in hypocrisie and self-exalting and hath covered your selves with the Saints words and laid up more in store of the report of their riches then your fore-fathers and now you are become Worshippers of the form and words of the Saints and are grown in the knowledge more then some of your Fathers Children but in extolling the Saints words you limit their Spirit and keeps in Death their Life which was not of the World neither in appearance nor ground and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in secret and separate you put him to death openly and among the multitudes your hearts are full of bitterness against my Remnant whom I have called and aloud you cry Heresie and Error and Blasphemes my Name and loaths the Honey-comb in your full stomachs you worship the same God as your fore-fathers did only in another appearance more refined through stronger wisdom and appears in the reformed old man thinking him to be the new man and deceives your Souls hereby and are zealous in your blindness in your will-worships and feigned humility which is without the knowledge of God and you depend upon your imaginations thinking to have life in the Scripture as they did which put Christ to death and will not come to Christ that you may have liâ—e you are in the knowledge gathered from without you which is natural and in it you are corrupted and some of you are bruitish in your knowledge and are thereby pufft up into pride and vain-glory your separation from the World is sensual and self-separation and differs but a little in your appearance and nothing in the ground for the cursed ground stands within untilled and unbroken and you worship God ignorantly at a distance and feeds upon the report of a thing done many hundred of years ago and your Faith doth not give you victory over the World for it is set in your hearts and the vanities of it without is followed pride and oppression and fulness Some of you are hot and furious in your blind zeal and cannot endure sound Doctrine your fruits will wither and all your knowledge will perish and all your hopes and expectations will fail and all your praises and prayers and all
of Christ Jesus wherewith he hath lightned every man that comes into the world and it will lead into the Kingdom of Peace and righteousness for saith Christ I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life and this is that which thou wouldst fain call the Lye of the Devil and therefore to cover thy wickedness and impudency thou hast changed and mixed the terms of words that thou mayest have a ground for thy Slander but thou art seen and comprehended and thy folly appears Then thou sayest we say It will convince of Sin Swearing Lying Stealing c. of Sins against the Law and this thou makest a thing of little account to be convicted of sins against the Law by the Light of Christ for there is nothing else that doth convince of sin mind that And this Light thou seems to acknowledge every man hath and this Light I do affirm to be the Light of Christ Jesus and to bid People follow this the Light of Christ to lead into the Kingdom can be no Lye of the Devil for he which convinceth of sins against the Law leads up into the fulfilling of the Law and though thou and thy Generation would leap over the Law yet must the righteousness of it in Judgment be fulfilled upon you and by Christ Jesus in you if ever you receive the Salvation to your Souls Learn whâ—t it means Much more thou ramblest over which I pass by as being not pertinent to the thing in hand but Fools love to be meddling though little to the purpose and as I have said thy Maker will not blame thee for thou hast brought in of thy chiefest substance though it be but as Clay and as Dirt at least that of it which is against the Quakers and the substance of many Pages following is this that I have gathered denying or at least opposing Christ revealed within and in opposition to this quotes many Scriptures of what he did in his own Person which Scriptures I own and the Truth which they bear witness of yet must we beâ—â— witness that without the Revelation of Christ within there is no Salvation However so much is or may be spoken of him without as the Pope can do as well as thou yet are you found to be one Generation persecuting the Life under the zeâ—l of profession of the words Then the next thing that I mind is a Question which thou hast asked thyself Do not the Scriptures make mention of Christ within c And I shall ask further Doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ within are Reprobates But thou hast proved deceitful in answering thy self and shuffled and I may much fear thou wilt not be faithful in answering mine however it rests upon thee to answer it or to stop thy mouth Then the next thing is thou sayest This design of deceiving the Devil carries oâ— by pretending if they follow what is made known to them from the Light within Answ. I observe all thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within which Christ hath given to every man and thy whole work is to render his â—ight odious But this I further answer The design of the Devil in deceiving souls is thy own and I turn it back to thee but this is truth as it is in Jesus He that comes to eternal Life must follow and walk in what is made known by the Light of Christ within And thou sayest Beg of God to convince thee by his holy Spirit c. And thus thou utterest thy confusion sometime treating for it and sometime against it secretly smiting the Just mixing the Truth with Lyes that thereby thy Slanders may be covered and thy deceit hid The rest of thy Epistle I pass by being from the same spirit which thy Lyes are from and thy Lying Spirit the Children of God cannot own and therefore must needs deny that which proceeds from it And thus much in answer to thy Epistle Sixteen of thy first Pages are filled with this to wit proving that there is a Christ and that he was promised and that he was waited for and expected c. To all this I shall say nothing except thou hadst proved it in opposition to some body for what is Truth I own by the Spirit of the Lord as it is Truth in Christ but as it comes from thy lying spirit I do not so well own it I own the words and I deny thy voice and this is my Answer Only I find thee wresting some Scriptures whether through subtilty or for want of wit I shall not judge especially this hast thou encreased Revel 13. 8. and faisly sayst The Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and it is Since the Foundation of the World betwixt which is great difference the one being a very Lye and the other very Truth Then thou goest on proving That he is the Saviour that was born of Mary c. which thing we never denied and therefore I need the less to answer thee except thou hadst spoken it in opposition to us which I find thee not altogether until the thirty seventh Page where thou again secretly smitest in mixing some Truth with thy Lye And thou sayest How horribly are those deceived who look on Iesus to be but a Shadow or Type This is thy Lye I know not any who do it and yet thou sayest Of something that was afterwards to be revealed c. Answ. This hath some truth in it which is this The same Christ which was born of Mary which wrought Righteousness in his Person by doing and suffering which was is the Substance was afterwards revealed in the Saints And this is no horrible deceit to witness Christ revealed or to wait for him to be revealed within Then thou sayest When he was come then was an end put to the Law c. And here I ask a Question Did Christ Jesus put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth be justifie that which the Law condemneth before the work of the Law be finished What is the meaning of the Scripture Not one tittle shall fail till all be fulfilled What assurance have any that it is fulfilled for them who are yet transgressors of it in themselves An Answer to this may satisfie the simple Then thou goest on and sayst How are they deceived that think to obtain Salvation by following the convictions of the Law which they call Christ c Answ. Here thou confessest the Law convinceth then it is not put to an end or fulfilled or taken away because it yet works and it is no deceit to mind that which doth convince of sin to lead to Christ to take sin away for the Scripture saith The Law is a School-Master to bring to Christ but thou art in the deceived state who healest up falsly and daubest with untempered Morter and
the iniquities which the rest love to drink in and though your power be shorter and your vote lower then the uprightness of your hearts desire yet unto God be faithfull in bearing your Testimony for him and against all that which with the Light of Jesus yoâ— see to be contrary to him and be awaked unto Righteousness Judgment and Mercy the Light is springing over your heads and the day of the Lord is dawning out of darkness and a Seed is sown in your Dominions which cannot be rooâ—ed out till it have overspread the Earth with the precious Fruit thereof and though it be striven against to be plucked up yet shall the Branch and Root thereof be everlastingly renowned for it is of the true Jew and he that falls before it shall never more rise up again And this is by a true Lover of your Souls in faithfulness to God given forth 〈◊〉 your sakes who fear the Lord. EDWARD BURROUCH A Measure of the Times AND A Full and Clear Description of the Signs of the Times and of the Changing of the Times and of the Reign of Antichrist who hath long reigned and of his down-fall which is at hand And of the Kingdom of Christ which is now setting up in the Earth Shewing unto all People in all Nation what the State of things have been in Ages past and what the State of thing are at this present day and also what shall be the State of things hereafter which suddenly cometh to pass the time is at hand for times are changing and renewing and the Kingdoms of this World shall be translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God And also here is manifest concerning Teachers of this Age and the Root from whence they sprang who are manifest to be of that stock of false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come and which the Apostles saw was coming in their dayes and how that the night of darkness hath been upon all for many Generations and how that the Beast hath reigned over Nations and Kingdoms and his false Prophet hath deceived the whole World who have all worshiped the Beast and wandred after him who have warred against the Saints and overcome them and the whole Earth hath been made drunk with the Abominations And also The Restauration is described which shortly cometh wherein Christ shall Reign whose right it is and shall change Laws and Decrees and the Lamb shall be the Light of all Nations and there shall be no need of any other light when the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of Christ and he alone shall bear the Government and no other King for he shall rule all Nations with his Iron Rod and the Kingdoms of the Beast shall be overthrown and his power subdued and they that have given their power to him shall be ashamed and all the Kings of the Earth shall lay their Crownâ— down at the feet of the Lamb and the numberless number of the Saints is gathering and the Dominion shall be in their hands and their King shall possess the uttermost parts of the Earth THe Lord hath opened my heart to declare and the words of my mouth shall be the words of Truth and of a good Understanding to every one who hath an ear to hear whose ear the Lord hath opened to hear and understand things of old and the state of things as they have been in Ages and Generations past and as now the state of things are at this day Hearken and consider and let your ears be open to Instruction For the Word of the Lord is towards you that your hearts might understand the things that belong to your Peace now in your dayes before the time come that they be hiâ— from your eyes and your eyes be darkened never more to perceive but you leâ—â— to perish and to dye with the Uncircumcised Behold and give ear ye Inhabitants of the World see and consider in what state you are fallen even in a time of Darkness and Apostacy wherein thick Darkness covered all the World and a vail of Ignorance the faces of all People Death hath reigned King over all and the Cloud of thick Blindness hath lain on the hearts of all men O how hath Darkness Blindness and Ignorance covered all men even as a Cloak and a Garment How hath the Eye been blinded the Ear stopped and the Heart hardened So that the Lord God and his Way his Truth and Salvation hath not been manifestly known heard not selt nor witnessed for Ages and Generation the words thereof have been professed but the Life and Power thereof hath not been enjoyeâ— But men have been deceived with the Form of Godliness without the Power and cheated with a likeness of things without Life and have sought the living among the dead and worshipped Idols which have been without sence and understanding and with lying imaginations and feigned likenesses hath the carnal part which ruled in People above the Seed of God been fed and with shadows and outward appearances and the soul hath been starved Alas alas wo is me because of these things my heart within me is broken and I am perplexed The shadow of Death hath been the lodging Place of all People and the vail of Ignorance hath been a Covering and the darkness of Heart hath been followed for a Law and a blind Understanding hath been the Guide 〈◊〉 Ordinances and Statutes and Death in the beastly power hath ruled as King in all the Dominions of the Earth and in all mens hearts and men have been without the Wisdom of God even every eye blind and every ear deaf and â—…ry tongue dumb and every heart corrupt and void of understanding and every 〈◊〉 lame and all men have been altogether imperfect for the living God hath beeâ— as a Stranger unto the Children of men less known by men then the Ownâ—… the Ox and less perceived then the Crib by the Ass and all flesh hath corrupted its way before Lord. Wo is me when I consider how man who was planted with the chosen 〈◊〉 even God's Image and was a noble Plant is degenerated into the Plant of a strange Vine unto God and bring forth wild Grapes and sower Grapes wâ—…d the Lord's Soul loathes and thus hath the Vineyard and the Plants thâ—… rewarded the Husbandman with Fruit of a bitter taste and with the reward corruption And man is condemned in his transgression for want of the Kâ—…ledge of God more then the Ox and the Ass. Pride Covetousness Lust and Envy Backbiting Lying Drunkenness Wâ—…dom Theft Murder and all manner of evil and sin against God more theâ— can be expressed is abounding and superabounding among men in this Geâ—eration Iniquity is grown to the full the measure is up and the number oâ— transgression is sealed that the Lord may arise who hath been pressed as a Caâ—… with Sheaves and now is the Lord arising and he hath said Ah I will easeâ—… of my Adversaries and be
Apostacy then began men to study from Books and Writings what to preach and say not having the holy Ghost received in them without which none are Ministers of Christ mark that and when men had lost through ignorance the Knowledge of God dwelling in them and that their Bodies were his Temple and that he dwelled and walked in his People then began they again to build Temples without and to set up their false worships in them for having lost the sence of Gods true Worship which the Saints worshipped in in the Spirit and in the Truth then they began to worship in set Dayes and set Times and set Places and outward Observances which is not the worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth but Superstitious and Idolatrous and when the Word of God was not received immediately from his Mouth nor the Gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ as it was in the dayes of the Apostles then darkness being come in they used their tongues when the Lord had not spoken to them as the false Prophets did before Christs time and long have they said the Letter is the Word and that the Letter is the Gospel and that it must be received by the Scriptures and by natural Learning and Arts and that none can be Ministers of Christ but such who are learned in the Languages and knows the Original of Scriptures Latine and Greek and Hebrew nor any of these have received the Gospel by revelation or the Word of God from his mouth And when singing in the Spirit and with the Understanding was ceased and not known then began People to get the Form of singing of Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter and when the pure power of Godliness was lost which was in the days of the Apostles manifested and known then in the Apostacy the deceit grew into the Form of every thing which the Saints had enjoyed in the Power and so were Shadows set up instead of Substance and Death instead of Life and the Form without the Power which in many Branches sprang forth some into one appearance and some into another but all under the power of the Beast with his many heads and horns defended and until this day since the dayes of the Apostles thus it hath been and those very Teachers and supposed Ministers which now are in this and other Nations are of that very Root which sprang forth in the dayes of the Apostles and they are under the dominion of the Beast and moveable like unto the great Whore and this may easily be proved that they are of that Generation of Teachers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come which the Apostle saw was coming in in their dayes of those which Iohn saw the world to run after for Christ said That by their fruits they should be known and the Apostles they described their fruits them by their fruits and so we seeing their fruit to be the very same now which the Apostles described was the fruit of them that then were come and coming from whence we do conclude according to sound judgment that these very Teachers are of the same Generation and Branches of the same Root which sprang forth then And in Pauls Writings you may read such they were whom he saw of whom he bad people to beware and said perillous times would come and men should be Lovers of themselves Covetous Proud Blasphemers Disobedient to Parents Unthankfull Unholy without Natural Affection false Accusers Fierce Despisers of those that are good Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power and such of whom people were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth for people were laden with sins and led away with divers lusts and these did resist the Truth as Iannes and Iambres who withstood Moses by making likenesses without Life and they were men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the Faith Now it is plain that these Teachers in this Generation are of that very Stock which Paul describes such he saw would come and such we see are come and by their fruits we know them as Christ said and Pauls words are fulfilled for these Teaâ—hers are lovers of themselves and covetous and proud this is plain to all people and Blasphemers who denies Christ to have lighted every man that comes into the World and therefore they deny Scripture and so are disobedient and unholy men and without natural affection who many of them have caused the Innocent to be imprisoned and some have died in Prison and they the chief cause of this and this is without natural affection to the Creatures and they are false Accusers and Lyars and fierce in their Books and Preaching as is manifest through all this Nation and they greatly dispise those that are good and prepares war against such as do not put into their Mouthes and they aâ—â— heady and high-minded and lovers of vanities and pleasures this is evident without proof and they have a Form of Godliness they say all should be taught 〈◊〉 God but when any comes to witness it and deny their teaching they cry agaiâ—… such as Hereticks and thus they have the words and the Form but deny thâ—… Power and they are ever teaching twenty and forty years and more but noâ—… able ever to come to the knowledge of the Truth by them but all in blindness aâ—â— darkness still and people cries out who have been learning many years froâ— them that they do not know the Truth and its plain that these Teachers are of that sort that Paul spoke of who brings none to the knowledge of the Truth people that follows them are laden with sins and led away with divers lusts 〈◊〉 these have and do resist Truth every whore they deny that Christ hath lights every man that comes into the world and so resists Truth and denies Scripture and the truth as you may read Iohn 1. 9. And they are corrupt minded ever wicked Persecutors and Suers at Law and earthly minded and covetous and oppressors and are wholly rebrobate concerning the faith and thus it is plain that the root of these Teachers was springing in the Apostles dayes and hath grown ever since in this dark night of Apostacy and hath filled the Nations Again the Apostle saw that many should depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in hypocrisie haviâ—â— their Consciences seared as with a hot Iron Now these Teachers are of the Stock which is departed from the true Faith for they are without true Faith and reprobate concerning it who are in iniquity and sin and the works of the World which are evil now Faith purifies the heart from all this but their hearts 〈◊〉 not purified but polluted with Covetousness and preaching for Hire and Persecution and Envy and therefore they had not Faith and so are of that Generation which
faith whereby they may continue boldly witnessing to the end And this is a true Testimony of the Father and of the Son witnessed by us who are called of God in whom his Power is made manifest TO all the Children of Light every where who fear and love the Lord who are begotten of God and unto whom he is known in the Spirit and in the Truth this is a Testimony of the Fathers love unto you Grace Mercy and Peace from him that lives for ever the God of Light and Life be multiplied in you all that you may daily be renewed in strength and girded with Truth and armed with the whole Armour of God and may be kept by his Power until the day of Salvation to walk in the Government and subjection to Jesus Christ witnessing the Power and Presence of God in you and amongst you giving you power to fulfil his Will in all things and that in all righteousness and out of all evil you may be led and preserved unto the end and in the end to shew forth the praises of God in this Generation as a people called of him and redeemed by him for his great glories sake even so Amen and Amen Dearly beloved be not ignorant but this know This is the Message which came unto you which is true and faithfull and everlasting That the true God is Light and in him is no darkness at all and this is the Message of Peace and Reconciliation and of glad Tidings unto all that have sought the Lord which we received of him and you have heard and there is not another to be declared and all that have received it are gathered up to God and are in Covenant with him and one with another and are in that which reconcileth and joyneth unto Christ Jesus the Husband and second Adam who is the Lord from Heaven the Prince of Peace the Saviour and the Deliverer who is made manifest in power and condemneth the Transgressor and slayeth the Enmity and raiseth the Life out of death and this is he who kills and makes alive even the God who is Light who brings down one and sets up another who makes war against the mighty and gives peace to the pooâ— and besides him there is none he searcheth mans heart and trieth the reins and â—noâ— the thoughts and every Creature is manifest in his sight who gives to every one according to his doings and this is he who standeth in the Congregation of the Righteous even in the midst of us and sitteth Judge among the gods unto him must all the gods of the Earth bow and the Inhabitants of the Earth must tremble before him and unto him every Tongue shall confess and the Light in every man shall answer when he ariseth to Judgment who is a swift Witness to condemn or justifie all the children of men upon the face of the Earth This is the God of Truth whom we worship and who will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth who is the God of Abraham and his Seed for ever and with him there is no change nor shadow of turning and he hath made known his Name and his Power and his wonderful Works in this his Day and hath caused his Voice to be heard in the Earth and the Dead hath heard and now liveth And his Name is exalted on high amongst all that fear him and obey his Voice and he hath given his Son a Covenant of Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World with the true Light of Life or Condemnation that all who receive him may come to the knowledge of the Father whom to know is Life eternal And this is the Christ the Saviour in whom we have believed and whom we preach who is the Way the Truth and the Life the Foundation of God which cannot be moved the Word of God is his Name and there is no other Name given for Salvation This is he who was dead and is alive and lives for evermore and there is no other to be looked for if any preach any other let them be accursed and if any bring any other Message let them not be received And all you who have believed in this Christ Jesus who is the Light of the World and who have received the knowledge of this God who is Light himself and that searcheth your hearts I exhort you and warn you all in his Presence that lives forever to wait upon him and to fear before him and to walk with him for ever in uprightness of heart which is of great price in his Sight and forget not his righteous Judgments which he hath made known least you wax fat through Mercies and rebel against him and become disobedient and gainsaying and so be destroyed from being a People but be stayed upon the Lord and let your hearts be established with Grace and be not tossed nor shaken with any wind of Doctrines of men which is not from the Life of God nor reacheth to the Life in you but begets into Idolatry to worship other gods then he who is Light and be not troubled at Temptations nor at Sufferings nor at Reproaches nor any other thing but stand in the Counsel of God and in his Long-suffering and wait patiently upon him in your own measure of the Grace of God received which is sufficient for you to preserve you that Victory over Death and over him that hath the power over it you may receive to trample upon all that which is contrary to the Life of God within you and without you neither be you troubled nor offended in Christ if any among you deny the Lord and backslide from his pure Way through an evil heart of unbelief and so become disobedient Children and vex the righteous Soul such shall bear their own burthen and condemnation in the day of the Lord and shall know that Truth changes not but is the same for ever though the Deceitful-hearted through unbelief depart from it and choose their own wayes and despise the Counsel of the Lord to their own destruction but be ye more watchful and faithful and valiant for the Truth upon Earth unto the end that you may be found faithful Witnesses unto the Name of the Lord in this crooked Generation and may receive the fulfilling of the Promise of God and may witness God within you the Emanuel the Saviour God with us and this is the whole Salvation and there is no other to be expected or witnessed then this That God dwells in us and walks in us according to his Promise and all that know this need nor go forth to the right hand or to the left but Salvation is come unto us he that taks away sin and saves from it and from condemnation and who witnesseth this are begotten by the Word of God and born of the immortal Seed and are new creatures but now there is no condemnation but the reward of righteousness and peace to us who are not in the Flesh but in
the Spirit and here we witness the Lord is our God and we are his People and he seeth no sin in us who are born of him nor remembers iniquity but his Covenant is with us and the Kingdom is become the Lords and his Dominion is set up where God is all in all where the Prince of Darkness is cast out and this is the End and Substance of all Ministrations which we bear witness of and I do exhort all you that are called of God every where patiently to wait in the way of the Lord and in his Judgements to receive this and to possess it within you that you may be Worshippers of God and Doers of his Will and may have the Witness that you are accepted of him and may know your Calling and Election sure where nothing that defileth can enter but that may be taken away and removed and him you may feel and witness whom Satan hath nothing in who is the Second Adam and cannot be overcome but is greater then the first Adam who was overcome though innocent and is lost from the Presence of God but he in whom there is no sin and who cannot transgress comes to seek and to save that which was lost in sin and to bring back that which was driven away by sin and he is greater then Innocency and overcometh the Devil and is called the Son of God and to him that overcometh who is the Light of the World is all Power given of the Father And know him in you all to be greatest who is not of the World nor cannot bow to the Devil to give you dominion and authority over all the World and the Powers of Hell and Death even he who sealeth up the old Dragon in Perdition never more to deceive And who witnesseth this knoweth the Election which it is not possible to deceive or be deceived and as every one of you have received him who is the Lord from Heaven so let your Faith stand in him and walk in him and let all your Conversations be ordered by him in all pure and blameless walking iâ— the sight of your Enemies that it may be manifest that you are Branches in him and that you have received power to become the Sons of God and that you are Heirs of the Inheritance which shall not fade away And all you that witness this your eye is open to see God and you are clensed from sin by the Word of God and you have received the peace with God and glad tidings from him in your own Souls and this is Salvation by the second Adâ—… herein be established and setled and look not for another for there is not any besides this Saviour and this Salvation but if any preach another believe hiâ— not and if any cry Lo here and lo there is Christ without you go not after them nor follow them but know him within you which is greater then all yea If we our selves or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Jesus then he that lighteth every man that cometh into the World or any other Salvation theâ— God with us let us be accursed for this is the Gospel of our Salvation Christ Jesâ—â— within us the hope of Glory the Power and Wisdom of God to rule and reign iâ— us by which we are changed from death to life and translated from the power of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son And now all Friends and Elect of God who are called and faithfull you that have received this Testimony which God hath given of the Son and which thâ— Son hath given of the Father which in faithfulness hath been testified in this Generation I exhort you all in the fear and Counsel of the Lord take heed to thâ—â— which you have believed and heard and learned of the Father which is tâ—â— Truth as it is in Jesus and shall abide for ever and be not removed from yoâ—… hope nor given to change but mind the Life of God in you all which is immortal and is but one and it answereth to the Lord in Judgments and in Mercies and one to another in that which is righteous and just and witnesseth against all the works of the World which are evil and not wrought in God Ye that know this which is of the Father in you dwell in it and walk in it and be not shaken out of it nor removed from it for it is the Way of Peace unto everlasting Rest where there is no sorrow but Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost and every one in particular have Salt in your selves to savour withal that you may resist the Wicked One in all his Temptations and may not joyn to any thing which is out of union and contrary to the Life of God and to the Truth which you have received that you may never be betrayed of your Hope nor of the Simplicity which is in Christ Jesus in which the Father is well pleased and let the Light of the World guide you in all things that your works may be wrought in God never to be condemned nor you to suffer loss knowing this first That none are justified by him but them that are led and guided by him and to whom he is a Saviour he is also a Teacher and he is given to Teach in all the Wayes of Truth And now let your fellowship be in the Life and Power of God and know not one another in words only and in shews and in outward appearance but witness one another in the Spirit and in the Truth and have communion there in breaking the Bread of Life that Christ Jesus may be seen to be the Head in you and you Members to serve him and one another all receiving Wisdom from the Head and Vertue from the Vine Christ Jesus that you may abound in Love Mercy and Peace and all the fruits of Righteousness unto the Father and dwell in the Fear and Counsel of God and be subject to his Will not despising the Cross which is the Power of God which slayeth the Birth that is born of the flesh which is not Heir of the Promise but walk in the Cross daily that your Understandings may be kept open to try and discern all spirits whether they be of God and believe not every spirit for lying spirits may arise among your selves and go forth from the Light who are not in the Truth but in the Feignedness and Hypocrisie with false Visions and lying Imaginations handling the Word of God deceitfully and corrupting and perverting the pure Way of God having the Form but not the Power having left the Power and gone from the Light and such utter the Words of Truth without the Life and are but as the Chaff to the Wheat and they are to be denied and resisted and not joyned to lest innocency and simplicity be betrayed and your Faith made void and so you destroyed from the Life of God and Death surprise you and Darkness enter into your
Dwellings and so Unbelief and Doubting and Murmurring and Lustings after evil arise in you and you be perverted from the Worship of the true God and grieve his Righteous Spirit by bowing to Idols and following of other Lovers and so the true God who hath brought you out of Aegypt and made manifest his Power in you be forgotten and the Faith of his Son made Ship-rack of and your latter end be worse then the beginning and the Name of the Lord be dishonoured by you and then wo unto you his Wrath shall suddenly break out against you Wherefore hear and fear and hearken unto the Word of the Lord He hath caused his Light to shine forth and his voice to be heard he hath proclaimed his Name amongst you and hath caused his marvellous Light to approach when you sate in Darkness in the Land of the shadow of death when you were lost he sought you and when you were driven away and scatterred he found you and brought you home when you were in your blood and no eye pittied you he had Mercy upon you and bound you up and healed you when you were dead he said unto you Live and it was so when you were led captive by the Devil under the power of death he broke the Chains and set you free and when there was none to help nor to save his own Arm brought deliverance and salvation and the Way of Life and Peace he set before you And now all this hath his own Arm accomplished that you should be a Praise unto him for evermore now if you walk in the Way which he hath set before you and keep his Covenant which he hath made with you and fulfil his Will and walk in Righteousness in Love and Unity in Meekness Lowliness Humbleness and in Soberness and Watchfulness and in Fear of his Name then shall his Presence never forsake you nor his outstretched Arm cease to defend and preserve you but he shall go before you and be your Reward and he shall be your God and you shall be his People and shall dwell in him and he shall be your Hiding-place and he will be to you a Father and you shall be his Children and his Blessing and Peace shall remain in your Habitations for ever and ever but if any of you turn aside for a thing of naught after vanity and deny the Way of Righteousness and forget the Lord and kick against him and follow the way and counsel of your own hearts and worship other gods and joyn your selves to Strangers and commit Adultery with other Lovers and make the Cross of Christ of none effect and turn from the Light of Christ within you and fulfil your own wills and the desire of your own minds and go out of the fear of the Lord into the liberty of the flesh which is not the Liberty in Christ Jesus and so seek your selves and strive for mastery to be one above another and so surmise evil one against another and the bond of peace be broken and vain contention and strife appear then shall the Rod of God smite you and his Wrath be suddenly kindled against you and you shall not prosper but his Countenance shall be hid and the terrors of the Lord and Lamentations shall possess you and Peace shall flee far from you and such shall be cast out of the Camp of the Lord and shall have no part in the Inheritance but the Blessing shall depart and the Curse shall enter till utter destruction yea and if any of you deny the Lord unto whom his Way is made manifest he will deny you and you shall have no part in him but Vengeance in Flames of Fire will he render upon the Disobedient manifold more then if his Love and Way of Peace had not been made manifest to you and the Light of the World is your condemnation for evermore if you turn from it And in the Presence of the living God I warn you all Believe not that spirit neither follow it which brings any other Message then what hath been declared from the beginning Believe not him which crieth Lo here or Lo there is Christ without you or that draweth from the measure of Christ within you to hearken to or to be taught by any other thing for that spâ—â—â—t is not of the Father which preacheth any other Christ then he that is the Light of the World and lighteâ—â— every man that cometh into the World or bringâ—â—â— any other Message then that God is Light in himself and hath given his Son a Light into the World and this is the true Testimony of the Father and of the Son and he that testifieth any other Message is to be judged and denied he is not a Worshipper of the true God bâ—â— out of the Truth and in the Error and a Deceiver being deceived Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which ministreth to others that which it hath not learned oâ— the Father but hath the words without the Power and liveth not in the Power of what it ministreth forth in words nor is it what it declareth but is in the outward Shews in the Hypocrisâ—â— and Feignedness and reacheth not the Life of God but vaileth and covereth it and that spirit is not of the Father but is to be denyed and judged and not received nor believed Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which is at liberty in the flesh and maketh the offence of the Cross to cease which is exalted out of the Fear of the Lord in the liberty of the earthly which crucifieth the Life and darkeneth the Eye and that spirit will boast of Joy and Peace and Experience and Knowledge and speak high words in the airy Wind and that would lead yoâ— out of your conditions to glory above the Cross till you be past feeling of the Life and that spirit begetteth into Feignedness and Hypocrisie and into the Loâ—e of the World which passeth away and beware of that spirit for it is not of the Father but to be condemned Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which is hasty and forward and rash for that goeth out of God's Counsel and betrayeth the Just and striveth to be greatest and to be above the Weak and despiseth him and would be Master and not a Servant and would rule and not be ruled in the meek and lowly Government of Christ and that spâ—â—it will judge out of thoughts rashly and unsavourly and condemn another in secret in what it self is guilty of beware of that spirit for it is not of God but to be judged with the Life of God Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which seeks it self to have praise of men and to be accounted and would beget into divisions and would have Parties to it self and respects persons and glories in gifts and knowledge and parts more then in the Giver and admires men more then he that gives the encrease and feeds of the knowledg
they seek their Gain and through Covetousness make Merchandize of souls â—he false Prophets of Israel were their Example and they follow in the Path of Unrighteousness having run and were never sent of God and therefore the People are not profited at all nor turned to God but from year to year and time to time ever learning but cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth Ignorance abounds in thy old Men and Rudeness and Wildness in thy Youths and thy People are without the knowledge of God and perish for lack of Knowledg Thou art even as a wild untilled Garden which bringeth forth no plesant Fruit thy Vines are as the Vines of Sodom and thy Fruit is loathsome to the Lords Taste wild Grapes and sour Grapes are brought forth in thee which the Lord hath no pleasure in ye bring forth fruit unto your selves and not unto the Lord ye kindle a Fire and warm your selves with your own sparks ye sacrifice to your own Net and ye think to be heard for your much Babling and your many Performances Aboundance of the first mans wisdom is among you it leads you and guides you and not the Spirit of God and through your own wisdom which is devillish you conform to the Saints words and to theiâ— practises in outward appearance and make your selves like the Saints and bow unto your own Images and Likenesses which ye make and are grown wise and full of knowledge but it is not the Wisdom of God nor the Knowledge that will endure for ever for you neglect the one thing which is only needful to Eternal Life Your Buildings are high but they are not upon the true Foundation for many of you stumble at the Corner Stone your sprinkling Infants is a vâ—ry Cheat and all that believe therein are deceived and your singing of David's â—â—periences in rime and meeter is a very Lye unto you your Worship is but Idolatry and it will not cover you in the Day of the Lord though none be like unto thee O London in Profession nor any City hardly can compare with thee in respect of the Multitude of thy gathered Assemblies and self Separates yet all this will not availe thee when the Lord searcheth thy heart which is found not perfect beforethe Lord but full of vain glory and lust and pleasures of the flesh and dissimulation and guile which the Wrath of God will be revealed against A single and an upright Heart is of greater price with the Lord then all the Performances of Self-righteousness that is done in thee while your hearts are given to vanity and continue therein Wherefore O London this is a Warning to thee Let thy Inhabitants repent the dreadful Day of the Lord is coming I have heard the voice of War against thee and not of Peace the cry of Howling and bitter Lamentation and not of gladness nor joy of heart What wilt thou do in the day of thy Visitation when the Lord stretcheth forth his Hand to smite thee To whom wilt thou flee And where wilt thou be hid when the Lord shews himself thy Enemy and appears to take an account of thee What will become of all thy Treasures How will thy vaine glory become a stink How will the dayes of thy mirth be turned into grâ—evous sorrow instead of thy pleasures and delicacies and mirth and wantonness shall be Sighing and Mourning and woful Lamentation all thy gods shall not be able to deliver thee nor all thy Profession shall not justifie thee nor all thy self-separating People shall not be able to stand in the gap to stay the hand of the Destroyer none of thy carved Images shall stay his fury nor none of all thy several Sects shal be a mountain to hide thee when the Lord strips thee naked and layes thee bare and gives thee to know what is in thy heart which will come upon thee in a day not looked for Wherefore repnet all sorts of People and turn to the Lord if there may be mercy found Cease your Wickedness ye Wicked and learn to live Righteously Wo unto you Drunkards Wo unto you Whormongers Wo unto you Covetous Wo unto you Lyars Swearers and Scorners Wo unto you Dissemblers and deceitful Dealers Wo unto you Proud and Vain-glorious Wo unto you lustful People The Lord will plead with you all and give unto you the fruit of your doings and reward you according to your works his hand shall not spare nor his Eyes shall not pitty in the day that he comes to Judgment when he takes vengeance upon all the seed of Evil-doers and to pluck up the wild branches and to cast them into the fire Sackcloth shall be put on instead of gay Apparel and all thy Idols shall vanish away as for all thy Profession where is it All thy many Sermons and long Prayers what is become of them And all thy publick and private Duties where are thy shall it be said Ye shall all know that there is a God that will execute judgment and justice and that will plead with all flesh and in his sight shall no flesh be justified And all ye who thirst for the Lord and desire after the knowledge of his Wayes unto whom iniquity is a burden by you desired to be freed from who have long sought the Lord and have not yet found him who have prayed and had no answer and have been weary and heavy laden and found no rest I say unto you Save your selves from this untoward Generation come ye out of these abominations that you may be delivered from the Wrath Fear ye the Lord and do not offend him in any thing stand in awe and transgress not love Righteousness and Truth touch no unclean thing and the Lord will receive you meddle not with their Worships bow not to their Images nor sacrifice not to their Idol gods have no fellowship with them in their prophanness nor yet in their hypocrisie but hearken ye to the Voice of the Lord that ye may know his Judgments in your hearts and his Law and Covenant established with you depart from all iniquity and cast away all your Idols and forsake all your Lovers Give not your selves to the wayes and pleasures of this World but give your selves to Chastity to Soberness and Meekness and above all things be upright in heart towards God and towards man speak the truth one to another and let no Guile dwell in your Lips nor a deceâ—tful Tongue in your Mouth And cease from all Vain-glory and vain Customs and Fashions of the World which are evil And cease from all Men-teachers which deceive the People by flattering words who cry Peace when the Lord hath not spoken peace daub with untempored Morter such have not profited you at all but your soules are starved under your Ministry and leanness is upon you though you ever learn of them yet you cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth by them Cease from them all and from all your gathered and
self-separate Congregations and wait upon the Lord that you may know him to be your Teacher who is the Teacher of all his People and he teacheth in the perfect Way of Peace and Truth and giveth Peace unto all that wait upon him and causeth the heart of the Upright to rejoyce he taketh away sin and removes it from his People and he forgiveth all their iniquities and healeth all their backslidings and blessed are all they that put their their trust in him for he is a God near at hand for he dwells with his People and he is worshipped only in the Spirit and in the Truth He dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped in outward Observations his Soul hath no pleasure among any self-separate People who cry I am holyer then another neither is he well pleased with the Sacrifice of the Proud all their Baptisms and Fellowships and Meetings is but a weariness to the Lords Soul and he hath no pleasure in any of their works who follow their own spirit and are not led with the pure Spirit of God alone but unto every one of sâ—ch will he look who is poor in spirit and of a contrite heart and of a single and upright mind he giveth regard unto every one that fears his Name who thirst and hunger after him in Truth and Righteousness and this is of exceeding great price in the Sight of the Lord yea more then all Offerings and Oblations whatsoever even more then thousands of Rams and ten thousand of Rivers of OYLE Therefore hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord and seek him with an upright Heart and thirst for him as for your daily Food loose not your precious time but call upon his Name while he is near for he is come neer unto many he stands at the door if any will open he will come in and will dwell with them for evermore All sorts of People be Awakened be Awakened How doth the Lord wait to be gratious unto you He even tarrieth for you till you return to him 〈◊〉 his Soul may have pleasure in you who hath long been grieved by you Therefore search your own hearts and see how you stand prepared to meet the Lord by following of his Counsel who hath so loved you and all Man-kind that he hath given his Son into the World to be a Light unto you all and every onâ— of you is lighted by him and with the Light you will know your evil deeds and are convinced of them and reproved for them and with this Light Jesâ—… Christ calleth you Sinners to Repentance to turn from your evil that you may be restored If you love this Light you love Christ who will save you from all your 〈◊〉 and from condemnation If you hate this Light you hate Christ and you â—â—main in your sins to be everlastingly condemned And thus is the Way of Life aâ—â— the way of Death set before you all if you follow the Light of Christ Jesus it will teach you to deny this World and all the vanities of it it will teach you to deny your own wills and the counsels of your own hearts and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word or action and in all things it will teach you to follow Jesus Christ that you may be justified by him But if you follow not tâ—… Light then you choose your own wayes to follow your own wills and yoâ— own lusts and all temptations and you deny Christ and the Way of Truth and 〈◊〉 the Wrath of God abides upon you for you continue in unbelief and in hardness of heart and are the Servants of sin unto death if you follow not the Ligâ—â— which Christ hath enlightened you withal who lighteth every man that comes â—â—to the World that they may believe and be saved Therefore take heed to the Light if you be guided by it you shall not transgress against God but you wâ—… receive the Power of God to overcome all evil all sin and iniquity will be condemned in you and your hearts will be made clean for the Lord to dwell in whoâ—â— dwelling is in his People and you must all cease from professing of what you 〈◊〉 not possess and from talking of what you do not enjoy for that is Hypocrisie anâ— to be judged So all ye Professors be Awakened Christ without you will not justifie you exâ—… ye know Christ within you the Profession of him will not take away sin not â—â—stifie in the Sight of God except you come to witness the operation of his Spirit 〈◊〉 you to teach you to depart from all evil and to lead you into all good Therefore come to the feeling of the Spirit of Jesus in you and the workiâ—â— of it which changeth reneweth and sanctifieth and bringeth to witness 〈◊〉 same Truth to be manifested in the heart which the Scriptures speak of without and as you receive the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures so you will uâ—derstand the Scriptures and by no other means For all your preaching anâ— talking of the Scriptures without the Spirit is but vain babling and that moutâ— is to be stopt for God is not known where the Operation of his Spirit is noâ— felt in the heart nor he cannot be worshipped in Truth but where his Spirit leadâ— and guides Much vain Profession there is in thee O City in which the Lord hath no delight and this is the Testimony of the Lord which I give concerning thee and do yet once more call unto thee as often I have done and do seal the Lords Testimony against thee even against all thy righteousness and against all thy sin which are both alike unto God and both to be condemned Thou hast been warned and thy People and the day of a glorious Visitation hath passed over thee the Lord hath reached unto many and stricken many who have not grieved but carelesly walked and slighted the day of their Visitation and have not hearkened to the Lords Call Unto thousands hath the word of the Lord been declared and the Kingdom of God preached nigh at hand and the very Way of Life and Death hath been set before you for the Lord hath sent to thee to warn â—hee and to shew unto thee what the Counsel of the Lord is and thousands have been reached with the Power of God and convinced of the Way of Life â—nd Peace who yet continue in hardness of heart and disobedience following the â—ounsel of their own hearts and the desire of their own minds which are wholly evil â—ontinually and the condemnation of such will be just in the day of the Lord and greater then theirs to whom the Way of the Lord hath not been known And yet â—mongst thy Thousands who are in the way to destruction the Lord hath a Remâ—ant a Few among so many which are precious unto him and whom his soul deâ—ighteth in who are despised in thee and set at nought and cast out of the saâ—our
of all men yet is the Lords Presence amongst them and his Fear in their â—earts and his encrease is unto them and his Power with them till all their â—nemies be vanished as a Cloud for they are of the true Seed and of the true â—irth which the Lord will bless though they be accounted as thy Slaves and â—ondmen yet are they free in the Lord and this is the very fulfilling of thy â—ickedness and the height of the Transgression of thy Rulers Teachers and â—eople in that some of them that fear the Lord and walk with him are perseâ—uted in thee even they are made a Prey unto the Wicked to the Slanderers to â—he Drunkards to the Scorners to Unjust and Cruel men the People of the â—ord are become a very prey in thee even as meat for the Devourers Oh what â—ilt thou do in the day of thy Visitation when the righteous Judge numbreth â—p these things against thee Thy staff shall fail thee thy Phisitians shall be of no value ' and all thy Comforters shall be miserable at that day I have truly â—onsidered thy condition and measured thy state and I have often seriously â—eighed thy wickedness and pondered what would be the end thereof there is no â—ision of Peace unto thee but even the day of desperate sorrow a recompence â—or all thy works from the Hand of the Lord. I have often truly lamented thee and seriously hath thy condition entred into â—y heart thy iniquities have often pressed my soul and my Spirit hath been â—rieved within me when I have viewed thy great abomination and how Thouâ—ands in thee wholly perish for lack of Knowledge and even resists and will not be â—nstructed despitefully using such as do warn them even loving and delighting in â—heir Abominations These things have often made my Heart sad who have walked in thee as a Stranger and measured thee with the line of true Judgment and this is thy Height and â—ength and Depth Iniquity lodgeth in thee and Iniquity covers thee and Inâ—quity â—â—mpasseth thee about And this is a Warning to thee from the Lord in faithfulness declared unto â—hee whether thou resist or receive thus far I am clear of the Blood of all men in â—hee who seeketh not any thing in thee for my self but seeketh and hath often â—o the Lord for thee that thy People might know him and worship him alone â—ho giveth unto them all good things and hath caused the fulness of all good Creaâ—ures to abound and hath given plenty of all things aboundance of which is â—pent vainly upon the lust to the dishonour of God who giveth it How much â—s vainly spent upon Vanity in Meats Drinks and Apparel It s hard to be â—eclared what aboundance of the good Creatures of God are vainly destroyed in â—hee upon the lust in the excess more then what satisfies pure Nature your gluttonny and high minds devour in aboundance the good Creatures which God gives and he is thereby grieved with you who hath taken notice of this your sin which is not the least of your Transgressions and he will plead with you for it even in all things great is your wickedness and the Lord hath numbred it And above all things that is done in thee thy deceitful Profession and Pretence of worship of God is the Lord most grieved with who hateth all your Meetings of gathered Assemblies which are not gathered by his Spirit he will confound yoâ— wisdom and overthrow all your buildings Wherefore repent ye and cease from Idols and all Idolatry and cease for ever to warm your selves at your own SPARKS for this shall you have at the Lords hands Ye shall lie down is Sorrow A WARNING to you all sorts of People YE Merchants and Traders and Trafickers and all ye that Buy and Sell bâ— plain and upright hearted and Lye not Swear not Dissemble not for gaiâ— unto your selves for that is cursed of the Lord and the gain that is thereby received but speak the Truth every man to his Neighbour flatter not such with whom you deal by feigned words of guile whilst secret over-reaching lodgeth iâ— your hearts to make a Prey upon your Neighbour or Brother for this is evil in tâ—… sight of the Lord but speak the Truth in all things and let your yea be yea aâ—… your nay nay in all your common occasions for whatsoever is more is evil aâ—… what is advantaged unto you through Deceit or Lying or multitude of vaâ—… Words it shall be a Curse unto you and not a Blessing unto you or to yoâ—… Children Let the Truth guide you in all your dealings one with an other aâ—… let the Fear of God be in your Hearts in all your Enterprizes both by Sea 〈◊〉 Land I Warn you all seek not by any evil means to enrich your selves neithâ—… oppress one another in any thing wherein you deal for you know not how loâ—… your time shall be upon Earth nor how soon the day of account will coâ—… wherein every word and every work shall be brought to Judgment yea for every Idle word shall ye give an account and all those words are idle which are not spoken in the Fear of the Lord therefore live and act in the Fear of God that yâ—… may be blessed in all that you do And all ye whom the Lord hath blessed with Riches and Encrease see that yâ—… abuse not that which God hath blessed you withal but in all things that it be 〈◊〉 to the Glory of the Lord and not wasted in excess upon the lust of your oâ—… minds for the Creation is the Lords and all things are given by him and takâ—… away at his Pleasure and he maketh rich and he maketh poor whomsoever he will Therefore every man be content with his own and covet not one anothers nor defraud one another to enrich your selves for it is cursed of the Lord. And all ye Handicrafts People and Labouring People fear ye the Lord continually and use no deceit nor craft nor pollicy in what you do in Labour seek not to blind mens eyes by fair outsides neither to cozen and cheat the Simplâ— by slighty work but let the Truth Guide you and that will teach you to dâ— for all men as ye would they should do for you and this is acceptable in the Sight of God Let your Commodities be just and right and let all your laboâ—… be with a single heart and do all things as in the Sight of the Lord and theâ—… you cannot do evil if the Fear of God be before your eyes and the evil in all things will be denied and the corruption that is entred into in all Callings anâ—… Trades will be judged out and be Examples one to another of Truth and Righteousness and cozen not nor cheat not one another nor use not many words not vain jestures but own the Lord to be your Teacher which will teach you Truth to do it and to speak it in all things And
others which we have not received from man but from God are 〈◊〉 purposed in the Lord to declare abroad and he hath put it into our hearts to 〈◊〉 his Will herein for he hath spoken who can but prophesie and he hath given 〈◊〉 word and many are they that publish it in faithfulness against the kingdom 〈◊〉 the Man of Sin which hath long been exalted in the Earth over the Seed of 〈◊〉 which the Lord is now a gathering and establishing his Covenant with and Ierusalem that hath long lain waste shall be made the praise of the whole Earth 〈◊〉 the Gentiles which hath polluted her shall be cast out and the Saints shall Rejoyâ—â— over all their Enemies And know you assuredly from us who know the Lord that God is doing greâ—â—â— things in the Earth he is begun to work and his arm shall bring it to pass he will overturn and overturn till he come to reign whose right it is who will change times and things even that which cannot be believed though a man declare it unto you is the Lord bringing to pass the Eye shall bless that sees it and the Heart shall praise that can understand and behold the Lord comes quickly and they are blessed that wait for him whose Reward is with him and his glorious Work is before him to be wrought by his own hand without the help of any other who needs not the help of man and he that doth oppose him shall be overthrown confounded and destroyed And again All ye Kings Princes Rulers and People whatsoever know ye assuredly that we are not Enemies against but Friends unto all Civil Government and to all just and righteous Orders and Decrees and wholsome Laws and Customs of any Common-wealth and no way are we destructive to or Destroyers of the Peace and Welfare and wholsome Laws which is according to God of any Nation whatsoever But are Preservers of the Peace of all people and wait in patience for the establishment of Justice and true Judgement and that Righteousness may spring forth and the Government of all Nations may be according to the Law of God Neither are we such who makes void the just Government of any Nation or City Neither are we such who through evil purposes plot or conspire or contrive Evil in our Hearts against any Governours or Government whatsoever but wish Peace and Truth and the Fear of the Lord unto all men and Nations and desire not the overthrow or evil to any people or their Government but are subject to just Government everywhere by obedience to it and subject to evil Government by suffering in patience under it so that righteousness alone we wait to see set up through the World and for that cause suffer patiently under our Enemies not seeking revenge against them nor envying the persons of any but pity our enemies and desire their Repentance rather than their Destruction Yet this we give all to know that the Lord will be avenged on all them who hate the Way of Righteousness and all that oppose the Lord and his Way and despise his Truth which he hath revealed they shall be confounded and broken to pieces and shall confess to the Lord and his Way and his Truth in the day of their Destruction Again let all the Earth know that against all unrighteousness injustice oppression whoredom murder and drunkenness and all sin whatsoever we do declare and acknowledge our selves to be Enemies against all sin and they that commit it and we cannot hide Sin and Iniquity in any but give our testimony against it and against all that live in it whatsoever without Respect to men or places and cannot flatter any man in his Transgressions but say that Lying Swearing Drunkenness Covetousness Jniustice Dissimulation Hypocrisie Murder and Envy Lust of the Flesh Pride and Wantonness and all the works of the Flesh whatsoever are contrary to God and of the Devil and they that lives in them and brings them forth are the Servants of the Devil and must not inherit the Kingdom of God who brings forth those works which grieves the Spirit of God and vexes his righteous Soul and this is that Government onely which is the Government of Sin and Death which we declare our selves Enemies to which is of the Devil and not of God and this is that Government which we testifie against and war against by the Sword of the Spirit of God and by his Power and not by the carnal weapons or subtil conspiracies or violent Insurrections for this way and by this means shall not the Government of Satan be overthrown or the Kingdom of Christ ever exalted Again let all the World know that we are not such as disanul or makes void the Covenant and bond of Relations or teach any so to do or give any example by our practice to any subjects to be rebellious to their Governors or children to be disobedient to their Parents or that servants be undutiful to their Masters But on the contrary do say and affirm it that it is the duty of Subjects to be obedient and subject in the Lord to their Rulers and Governours whether Kings Dukes or others who have rule over them and also that Children should be obedient to their Parents and Servants to be dutiful and subject to their Master in the Lord in all things and that Husbands and Wives live in all unity and peace in the Lord Provided onely where Rulers Parents or Masters or Husbands require of their Subjects Children or Servants or any other whatsoever requiring of their Relations that which is unjust and contrary to God and his righteous Law in such a case we say that Subjects Children Servants and all other whatsoever are free and we say where man requires any thing contrary to God and God requires another thing contrary to man the obedience to God is rather to be chosen and the obedience to all mâ—… is to be denyed and this is our judgement which is acording to truth and iâ— the mind of God concerning subjection and obedience and the duty of Relations one to another And lastly Know ye assuredly that we do not hold and maintain any thing by conversation or doctrine but the very same Truth in word and practice 〈◊〉 all our fore-Fathers did but bears witness of the same Salvation by the same Christ as they did and are not setters forth of strange gods for no other God is worshipped by us than he which Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the rest of the servants of the Lord in every generation worshipped served and obeyed neither are we such as do maintain Heresie Error or Idolatry or the worship of any strange god though hereof we are accused falsely yet against us cannot it be proved truly and this we give the whole world to know that no other end or purpose or design is in our hearts but onely to fulfil the will of God in all things as it is to us made manifest Even
who have done evil against the Lords People as a gift unto them from a Friend OF a truth the Lord is arisen and he hath caused the Light of his countenance to shine forth upon his people his day is dawned and the brightness of his glory is shining forth as the Sun at noon day hâ—… everlasting Arm is stretched forth to lead out of Captivity his oâ—… chosen the days of perfect freedom is approaching he that brings Health Peace and Liberty to all Nations is come and coming who will restore the breaches and subdue all things under himself that he may raign for ever and ever who alone is worthy for he hath all Power in his hand and he bringâ— to pass whatsoever he will that all Men and Nations may fear before him and tremble at his dreadfull Presence who hath power in his hand to change Timâ—… and Laws Orders Decrees and Governments the hearts of all men he câ—… turn what way he listeth and he pulleth down one and setteth up another and whatsoever is in his heart to do his power can bring it to pass who would not fear before him and reverence his Name Who would not be afraid to offend him who giveth unto man Breath and takes it away in a moment all Nations are as the drop of a bucket before his eternal Eye he dwells in the high and holy place and his habitation is high above the World be inhabits eternity forevermore and yet abideth and walketh and dwelleth with the children of men that fear his Name and tremble at his Word he hath been as a stranger as one not known for men have been seperated from him by transgression and have been ignorant of his ways he hath been as one hidden for many ages and hath been worshipped ignorantly and hath winked in the time of ignorance but now he calleth all to repentance every where Blessed are they that wait upon him that they may know him and their souls may live and now the purpose of his heart is to bring in his scattered people into the fold of peace where Christ Jesus is the shepherd and his people shall dwell in safety and shall be a free people to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth and every yoke of bondage shall be broken and the oppressed shall be set free and Christ shall feign and his Government above shall be established over all the World mans honour shall be laid in the dust the pride of all flesh shall be stained and the Glory thereof shall wither as a flower the loftiness of all flesh shall be laid low and the Lord alone shall be exalted and his people which now are oppressed shall replenish and fill the Earth All corrupt men and Rulers their strength and might shall utterly fail them and men that fear God and love righteousness shall take their place and all things shall be changed and the World shall be turned up-side down But because of this is all the World troubled and the Heathen is on a rage and the people do imagine vain things and men of high degree and low degree and of all sorts have set themselves against the Lord that they might stop the purpose of the most high and their hearts within them burn because of envy and the Devil hath stirred up all sorts of people to work for him and to uphold his kingdom and his power he is come down in great rage knowing that his time is but short and hath filled the hearts of all his servants with despite and ravening envy against the Seed of God The heads of the people they have conspired together against the Lord and against his Truth and have decreed unrighteous decrees that they might pervent the purpose of the most High Many of the Rulers and Judges as members of the beastly power rather than of Jesus Christ have unjustly judged and falsly imprisoned and trodden under foot the meek and upright who fear the Lord and walk in his way even such who have come from under the subjection of the worship and power of the Beast which all the World had wondered after â—ath the Beast raised his force against How many hundreds in this Nation have been imprisoned falsly and suffered grievous abuses unjustly for righteousness sake and not for evil doing as a testimony against this Generation of Judges and people and for a testimony that they are of God who have in paâ—ience born the sufferings and the cruelties of the wicked many have suffered â—he loss of Liberty and riches and some the loss of life for the exercise of a â—ure conscience towards God and for the Kingdom of Jesus many have â—uffered under the power of wicked men for declaring against sin and iniquity 〈◊〉 Townes Steeple-houses or high wayes and for crying against pride and â—anity and idolatry and coveteousness and the wickedness of Rulers Priests â—nd People whose deceits and transgressions hath abounded in this Generation â—nd others have deeply suffered grievous cruelties because they could not swear â—nd respect persons with hat or knee and so were witnesses for the Lord and his Kingdom which stands in righteousness and against the power and kingdom â—f the Beast which stands in iniquity in fainedness and flattering titles and â—isobedience to the Son of God and many hundreds are woful unjust and opâ—ressed sufferers at this day by false imprisonment and spoiling of goods because they cannot pay Tythes that abominable and crying oppression by which the Beast chiefly maintains his false Prophets and because the unchangable Priesthood is witnessed and the changable denied and Christ the Light of the World followed therefore is this suffering laid upon the just and many are sufferers under hard tasks because they cannot maintain the Idol temples and Idol worships and Idol Priests which the power of Antichrist upholds against the Power of the Son of God and against the new Covenant of life where God in Spirit and in Truth is worshipped without respect of places days or men or things and the True Worshippers they Worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and cannot be subject to days places or things appointed and ordained by the power of men and false prophets and how many unjust fines and false indictments have been most illegally charged upon the Innocent in many Courts and Judicatories through this Nation and all in the defence of the kingdom of the man of sin lest his authority should be abated and the Authority of Christ Jesus exalted many cruelties have been done and injustice acted both by Rulers and People against such which no evil could justly be charged against nor yet the transgression of any just law by any one of them O! horrid grievances and cruel oppressions hath been brought forth in this Nation by such who should have eased the oppressed and set at liberty the captives such who should have judged justly the cause of the Poor and heard the call oâ— the oppressed have turned
foolish matters as for not putting off a Hat or for Theeing men and for denying the foolish circumstance of Swearing and we do not read that the worst of Tyrants in the Apostles dayes or before or since ever caused any to suffer for such things as these or ever questioned any upon any such small accounts for hundreds have suffered upon suspition when nothing at all can be charged against them and this is contrary to Magna-Carta And in many other respects which might be named this suffering is greater than hath been in any Age for many have suffered in this Common-wealth which have been faithful and hazarded all in time of war for the good of the Common-wealth and many of them suffer by them who have been Enemies and in Arms against the Common-wealth and herein the suffering appears more intollerable But doth the Magistrate think to come to account for these things Yea the Lord is Just and his Way is Righteous What flesh could but be provoked hereby But the Saints are changed in nature and are to fullfill the Will of the Lord by Suffering the Cruelty of men is become exceeding great against the Lord and his people Again hereby the Persecution in this Age appears more to exceed former Ages because Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion was never so much promised and professed as in this Nation at this day and yet for the exercise of a pure Conscience many are wofull Sufferers even by such who in words profess Liberty of Conscience themselves and yet persecutes the exercise of it in others even for not putting off a Hat or the like to them these with many other things may aggravate the hainousness of the sin of persecution to be great and more unjust than in-former Ages Alas how is the Sword of Iustice turned backward and the Innocent smitten and persecuted and that for Righteousness sake and not for Evil-doing By a Friend to the Suffering Seed of God EDWARD BURROUGH Truth the Strongest of all Witnessed forth in the Spirit of Truth against all Deceit And pleading in Righteousness it s own Cause to the understanding of the Simple against a very great number of Lyes Slanders Perverting of the Scriptures Contradictions and false Damnable Doctrines held forth by the INDEPENDANTS And is a Reply to Bunion's second Book called A Vindication c. Wherein what was wanting in his former of fulfilling wickedness is now appeared by his adding sin unto sin against God and against his own soul. Reader THOU hast here a very great number of Lyes and Slanders and Unjust-dealings and False-doctrines c. Laid open and reproved in plainness and not in hypocrisie and of contention there is not suddenly an end being begun therefore seeing the unbelieving heart of Iohn Bunion cannot believe me when I speak the truth in justness nor may I believe his Lies and Slanders uttered in hypocrisie what is laid down is left to thee soberly to judge of betwixt us while we are both silent And this know the one is a Deceiver and the other is as a Deceiver yet true and thus mayst thou weight things equally First considering of many Lyes and Slanders truly charged upon him in my first of which he is guilty from his first and he hath not at all cleared himself of them in his second which an honest man ought to have done before he had gone further for I soberly desired witness of what he said But be hath added to the number of his wickedness and not proved justly what he hath said against us And it is not for his sake for little thoughts I have of his conversion but thâ—…â—…ther that he will be hardned nor for may own sake as if I were unsatisfied concerniâ—…m that this is written but to undeceive the simple of what his wickedness may falsly suggest into the mind as if all were truth that he spoke if his wickedness were not reproved Again Consider that I have cleared the Truth of my words which he hath wrested and thereby taken occasion against the Truth by answering his own conceptions and not my plain words so my words which are words of Truth being defended all his Reply is made void So I have not so much desired to answer every particular of his words as to vindicate my own words and the Truth from his false Slanders and Accusations O HOW hath Satan filled the hearts of men in this Generation as well as in former Ages with Envy against the Truth and with Wrath against the Way thereof and how hath he filled them with Craft and deceitfull Subtilty to offend the Way of the Lord in all manner of Persecuting and Evil-speaking against it openly and also in secret Gain-saying in Hypocrisie and how are men armed to defend themselves in their naughtiness lying hid under the Vail of fair Speeches and fine Arguments using the Scripture in the words of mans wisdom to oppose the Power and Life of Righteousness even as the Scribes and Pharisees of old how zealous were they in their Observances and in fullfilling the Commands and Traditions of their Fathers having set themselves in Moses Seat professing Moses and the Prophets words and yet persecuted Christ the Life and Substance of Moses and the Prophets And as it was then so is it now how are Christs words and the Apostles professed and preached by such who are Enemies to the Life of Christ made manifest in mortall flesh and secretly opposing the doctrine of the Apostles who said Know ye not that Christ is within you except you be Reprobates But the mighty Day of the Lord is come and coming wherein all hearts are made manifest and the secrets thereof discovered and the light is springing out of darkness and the Sun is breaking thorow the Clouds to give light to all men and Nations and the great Whore which hath decked her self in divers colours to deceive shall be made naked and bare and the day of great striving is come and now every man stands up for his Interest to defend his Possession for the just Judge standeth at the Door to enquire by what Law every man holds his Inheritance and he findeth many holding their Religion and Profession by the Traditions of men only and not by the Revelation of Christ Jesus in them and such he will dispossess though they strive against him yet all is in vain and though they plead Antiquity yet that will not prevail and in that the day of great striving is come betwixt the Lamb and his Followers the Draggon and his Followers every one of that Party appearing with such weapons as the Devil hath armed them withal and with such Armour as the wicked hath they come appearing under divers colours to fight against Zioâ— yet under one Head and Prince of Darkness and unto one Purpose evâ—… that the Seed of Iacob may be rooted out and that the Way of Truth may 〈◊〉 prosper that then the Wicked may go on in
whereas I said Christ is a mystery and unto hiâ—… he is Light and shall be Salvation where his person supposed son of Ioseph never came which words are true not gain-sayed by thee though thou ask Did he obtain salvation for any without that body which he took of 〈◊〉 Virgin Answ. That body which was begotten by the holy Ghost is not so carnal 〈◊〉 thou supposest and that spiritual Rock which followed them saved them aâ—… the same Son of God the Saviour who was born a Child to them was the Priâ—… of peace yea the everlasting Father but thy eye sees not this and therefore thâ—… sayst Here 's the place where he is not and the place where he hath not been Now thâ—… sayst Thou passes by many things which thou mightst justly examine and also many unseemly expressions O thou deceitful heart and tongue is this thy excuse when my words are Consider of this when thou hast a better understanding for its yet hidden from thee then when thou hast thus cried out against my just Answer thou tells me what I should have said Alas poor man thou reaches not what the knowledge of things eternal is by that wisdom in which thou art I need no man to teach me but the Lord. Then thou sayst Iesus Christ hath obeyed the Law and justified thee c. Reply Nay hold repent first and be turned from thy iniquities and believe in him and boast not thy self so proudly thou art in the transgressions of the Law in disobedience to it a Lyar Slanderer and Scorner one that the Prince of the power of the Air rules in a Child of Wrath and every one shall dye for his own iniquity and the soul that sins shall dye and wrath to every one that doth evil and the revelation of the Judgements of God Learn what this meanes or ask them that are of a better understanding then thy self Then thou seemst to minde me of some weakness and cries out Wonderful foolishness c. Because I said the Light of Christ given to every man Ioh. 1. 9. as thou confessest is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ and to the Grace of God but is one in their nature Mark and a man cannot possibly love one of them and hate another therefore one they are in the union leading in the same way unto the same End and where doth the Spirit of Christ give light or the Grace of God work or lead if not in the Conscience c. These are my words Now let honest men consider and Iohn Bunnion be silent what foolishness or wonderful weakness is in these words but only to the wisdom which is devillish which despiseth truth or what cause was there to blush when I wrote them as he impudently saith who cannot contradict them nor reprove them and yet railes upon them no marvel that thou wouldst pass them as thou sayst with such a poor shift to evade with a Lye that thou hast spoken to it already when as thou hast not medled of these things O let not thy impudency so sottishly carry thee for thy shame is seen and laid open its good in thy light to pass that which confounds thee which is past answering so to save thy credit among thy fellows the cause to blush is in thy self and it s brought to thy own door Then thou pleads for the Scripture to be the Rule in opposition to my Question which is not answered which was can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to to walk to Life or to come to God by then the Light of Christ which every man hath given him c. But thou mayst for shame cease pleading for Scripture rule being thy self art so far contrary to it for he that walks in the Life of the Scripture I have union with him and the Light of Christ is a more surer Testimony either to witness Justification or Condemnation then any mans words without whatsoever then my other Question was whether the Turks Iewes and thee and others do serve sin and lust because Christ hath not given you Light to discover your sins or because you hate that Light that is given and much to this thou speakest not pertinent nor answerest in plainness I leave it to the Reader to judge and to read my answer Page 17. of my first which clears truth from all what thou hast said against it in this particular Now I come to the next thing where thou Foolishly chargest me That my Doctrine is not according to Truth but a Lye Charging me to affirm that which the Apostle doth deny Because I said the Spirit is given to every man though every man receives it not and it strives with the wicked though he follow it not c. My words herein are Truth and no Lye neither contrary to the Scripture â—…nd let the Reader be judge betwixt us the Apostle saith the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal and some of these to whom he writes thus were wicked given to incest and idolatry and other sins here I prove it was given to the wicked and thou confesses the Righteous had it and there is but these two on the face of the Earth Now if thou canst find a man that is neither wicked nor righteous then thou hast advantage then some hath not the manifestation of the Spirit the Saints had the Comforter the Spirit of Truth and he the Spirit of Truth convinced or reproved the World of sin they that were not Saints but wicked had it reproving them Mark these things and let honest men judge while both thou and I am silent whether thy Doctrine which denyes that which the Scripture affirms or miâ—… which bears witness to the same thing which the Scriptures speaks be to be disowned let an equal Line measure the shame and false Doctrine is fallen upon thee and thou art offended that I should say thou bringst other vain Arguments with a vapour saying Neither I nor my fellows are able to answer c. But I say true the Arguments are vain one is The Devils are convinced but have not the Spirit or such like Now what is this to the purpose that thou contendst in that wherein no body strives with thee nor none affirms against thee and it is a vain Argument to parallel the Devil in such a case as having the Spirit but thou art so blind it s hardly possible to let thee see thy ignorance herein I may not much strive with thee onely I le tell thee of those thingâ—… and the sober Reader shall judge to instance a thing impossible to proâ—… things possible are vain Arguments so that I have herein done thee no wroâ—… Then thou cries out of my weakness and that I Blaspheme and of a great 〈◊〉 of ignorance discovered in me and bidst me be silent and falsly charges me with Presumption and such like c. Because I said thus much I leave with thee 〈◊〉 thou
Spirit is given to eveâ—… man this thou hast catched at and wouldst prove it unsound but truth is oâ—… thee and both these are true and further I say that Christ is given unto 〈◊〉 World yea to all but all receives him not and they that do not receive him 〈◊〉 Reprobates though he be given but not received and the folly and figâ—… against truth is in thy self who says it is contrary to the Scriptures to say 〈◊〉 Spirit is given to every one thou here lyest of the Scripture as it s proved 〈◊〉 I do not befool my self in saying the words or some of them I own in 〈◊〉 Book though I have written against the Book for though thou speak Châ—… words and the Apostles words yet thy voice is the strangers and thy 〈◊〉 I deny what ever words thou speakst and is not bafooling my self and 〈◊〉 I could justly end my discourse and what is said is sufficient to manifest thee and me to the honest Reader And thus far thy weapons of Slanders are broken and thy refuge of Lyes are layd waste and this also is cast by as our spoyled prey of Babylâ—â—s treasure and trampled upon and know that we are of God and be that is of God heareth us and to our God shall all bow and before him tremble And whereas thou seemest to be greatly offended and stumbling very much at my answers to thy Queries because thy carnall conceptions is not satisfied nor thy vain minde gratified having as thou thinkst great occasion against me thereby which causes thy mouth to be opened in vapouring words aloft against the simplicity of the Gospel not understanding my words for the things of the Kingdom of God is a parable to thee and sealed from thee never to be known in the reason in which thou judgest But in short thus I Reply I did not purpose to answer fully to them to feed any mans wisdom with my knowledge of the things of Gods Kingdom for the Queries were not fully directed to the Quakers so that quench thy anger and according to my answer go seek a further answer or else be thou still unsatisfied from them who are led with a spirit of delusion for such a direction requires no full answer from me nor any of us who are in the truth and not in the delusion neither did I purpose nor do I at any time to answer fully to such things as are directed in a great part to others I am not a servant especially to them that are led with a spirit of delusion to fufil thy will But yet the short answers that I gave which was not in the behalf of delusion but for the truths sake I still own though thou cannot understand them but products many bad lying wicked consequences from them and my purpose was not to feed thy foolish wisdom in answering nor to satisfie thy reason to receive praise from thee or any man for so I know it must be in hearing and seeing thou must not perceive nor understand who art of the Generation hardened and in parable is the Kingdom of Heaven unto thee and I rejoyce the rather in being a stumbling to thee in that state wherein thou standed then that I should have gratified thee for I seek not nor receives honour from man in what I do but is covered from the Worlds knowledge and know this if thou cannot receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little leaven thou shalt never know it But yet how wicked art thou in this also though not understanding me in what I said yet so fouly wronging me with above 30. false charges and slanders from my words which thou reaches not the knowledge of so it will be enough Reply to sum up thy Lyes and send them back to thee to seek them out and an evidence for them and the Querys and my Answers shall stand as they are to be judged of by honest men while we are both silent in our own cause they are to be seen at large in my first Book The true faith of the Gospel contended for c. in the 26 27 28 pages And whereas further I speak at the end of my Answers of Christ within the hope of glory and said it is that mystery which long hath been hid from Ages but now is made manifest and declared and though the wise of this World cannot receive it but speaks evil against it yet it is dear unto us and so much more precious because despised by such as him and such things are a testimony to us and against you viz. our Enemies c. As in my 29. Page of my first may be sâ—en and most wickedly this or part of it he calls babling and says he passes by it O horrible impudency What marvel that he should so belye me when as he hath called the very Scripture truth spoken forth in righteousness bablings and these things I leave the Reader to Judge of and all his Lyes thrown upon 〈◊〉 â—â—pudently and consider what ground this man hath from my answers to be seen in my first Book to broach out and belch out such a number of Lyes and Slanders in five sides of paper not any one of them charged against me falsly were spoken by me or ever in my thoughts to speak or ground given by any of my words for such productions as it is seen what lodges in the heart of such a Fellow even desperate wickedness who is without any 〈◊〉 or honesty who dare utter such things against the upright who hates not his Enemies but while I am clear in the sight of God from all his false Slanders I matter not what Iohn Bunion says of me who is as a man given up to wickedness who in less then a sheet of paper hath uttered thirty Lyes or more which I may particularly manifest before he can find evidence a great wickedness 〈◊〉 this mans Converts be good while himself is unconverted is he a Minister of Christ for shame let it not be told so well I beg not vengeance against him he leaves my answers to be read who will clear me from his lying consequences 〈◊〉 wickedly conceived and as wickedly uttered By one of Gogs Army against a Member of Jesus Now I come to reckon up his damnable Doctrines and errors which are contrary to the truth as will manifestly appear to him that is spiritual some of thâ—â— damnable without comparison Iohn Bunion said That Christs second coming is not his coming in Spirit for 〈◊〉 coming in Spirit is no coming He saith this or part of it is a lye made of hiâ— by me when as several Witnesses doth testifie in righteousness that those very words were spoken by him in Pauls steeple-house in Bedford Town Mâ— 23. 1656. as is witnessed and yet this man is so impudent that he deâ—â—â— what he spake or is ashamed of his words and so would cast the Lye upâ—â— me who is clear and the wickedness lies at his door and whereas he
them and with a good Conscience they cannot swear but do deny it upon all Conditions because Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and the Apostle doth exhort above all things not to swear and therefore it is a matter of conscience unto many and not a matter of purposed wrong towards any man and though here it may be objected But for want of an Oath a just man may loose his just Cause because Judgment depends upon witness by oath to that I answer that is because the Law is not according to Christ by which the Judgment comes but is unjustly grounded upon the breach of Christs Command viz. swearing and whether ought the man to be blamed or condemned as a Transgressor who keeps Christ's Command and cannot swear at all upon any Tearms or whether that Law ought not to be corrected and regulated to be according to the Law of Christ and all that which is contrary in the execution thereof to be condemned and removed that a just man's witness may be given and taken upon occasion without an Oath and his just cause may go on against his Enemies by just judgment grounded upon the naked truth in plainness testified without swearing this is to be considered and though it be again obiected but many say some makes more Conscience and are more afraid to testify falsly upon Oath then upon bare words without an Oath so to have the truth known wholly that is the end of the Oath to this I answer a man that truly and uprightly fears God will be as much afraid and make as much Conscience of speaking falsly as of swearing falsly and out of a good Conscience will testifie as truly as if he swore and for others who fears to swear falsly and doth not so much fear to speak falsly without Oath this is because there is a greater punishment to such and it is accounted a greater offence among men to swear falsly then to speak falsly and for the correcting of that the punishment and offence should be changed and such as testify falsly without Oath may be accounted Offenders and punished as such who swears falsly and this will bind the wicked in a sufficient fear and cause them to be afraid of testifying falsly even as much as of swearing falsly if the testimony in causes among men of such evil persons who cannot make Conscience of lying nor speak the truth without swearing it ought the rather to be had and to be done by binding by a Law and punishing if he testifie a Lye then by causing him to continue in the breach of Christs command but however still I say such who out of a good and tender Conscience do deny to swear ought not to be persecuted and punished as great Offenders for while this is done the Law and good Government is perverted and authority is greatly abused to another end then wherefore it was ordained of God and that Law and authority must needs be unjust which oppresseth or punisheth the excercise of a good Conscience as for evill doing and this shews the blindness and ignorance of men in authority to whom the Law is committed who discerns not neither makes a difference betwixt things done in the Fear of God and in the excercise of a good Conscience towards him and things done out of an evil minde to evil inteâ—ts purposely and wilfully to do wrong and injury to mens persons and estates for all Magistrates ought to learn this and to distinguish that their power and authority may justifie the one and condemn the other that true justice and sound judgement may spring forth in the Earth and in the Nations that all the Upright and Well-doers may rejoyce and live in rest and peace and all the Workers of Iniquity and such as do Evil may be afraid and fear to offend just men and just Laws and thus would the Name of the Lord be great in the Earth among men and such a Government renowned for ever and such Magistrates would be a praise to Generations after them and a blessed example to Ages to come But now some may say and object how shall this be known and who can tell and discern of such Causes and who it is that do their Works out of the exercise of a good Conscience and who do their Deeds out of an evil Minde and to an evil intent and so is wrong dealing and worthy of punishment this is a doubtful Cause may some say and difficult to be known and understood But to this I answer and say To all such as have the Spirit of the Father and are led thereby and in their Judgement guided therewith this is an easie thing to discern and an easie matter to know and find out and such as cannot discern and distingush in such Matters have not the Spirit of God nor the spirit of true and sound Judgment neither is indeed ordained of God nor fit to judge the People nor the honour of a Ruler and Judge belongs not to such a one who cannot find out a matter nor know and judge between the precious and the vile how to justifie the one and how to condemn the other and indeed this is the reason and cause of so much Injustice and Oppression brought forth at this day because the spirit of sound Judgment is wanting and such as are set to judge hath it not to try and discern and give Judgment by it and therefore Light is put for Darkness and Darkness for Light and good is called Evil and Evil Good and true Justice and Judgment is perverted and turned backward and the guiltless is condemned guilty But I say if the work be done by a man out of a good Conscience and as a matter of Conscience then he doth it in the Fear of God and in the cross to his own will and in meekness and tenderness of heart not seeking himself in what he doth but is willing to suffer for the Truth sake and for what he doth and will not resist Evil or the false Judgments of men but patiently and quietly bears all things for the Lords sake and in all what he doth or suffers he gives the glory to the Lord who works his works in him and gives him strength and patience willing to suffer for them But again I do answer by men that have the spirit of sound Judgment to rule and guide them this cause is easie to be discerned and the difference may be known betwixt a thing done out of a good Conscience and for a good Conscience sake and a thing done out of an evil mind and purpose and to an evil end to the wrong and injury of another for the ground from whence the works do proceed are contrary and the spirit by which the works are wrought are contrary and the purpose and end to which they are wrought are contrary and the spirit of God and of sound Judgment may and doth put a difference betwixt the ground acting and end of
Members of one Head and mind always the Testimony of Truth its self and walk therein and you cannot stumble Have not respect to Persons but to the Truth only for Persons may change but the Truth abides for ever So let not an evil Eye look at Evil when it comes to pass to take occasion thereby against the Truth for then you stumble and fall but I say again have respect only to the pure Testimony of Truth which is sure and cannot err nor alter though man may change and err and that is the Testimony which is held forth for Salvation evon the Testimony of God with whom there is no shaddow of turning Therefore all take heed unto your selves that you give not nor receive any offence against the Lord and against your own souls but know the Seed of God in which stands the Election where the Covenant of God is sure and unalterable and a Birth you must all know to be brought forth in you which must inherit and that is it which is born of the Spirit which doth obtain the Promise it is not that birth which is of the Flesh which works by willing and running and thinking that obtains not the Promise of God neither is Salvation shewed unto it but in Patience and in Long-suffering is the Victory received over all the Powers of Darkness which make war against the Kingdom of God So all Friends dwell in that which lets you see before the World was and that stops and limits all Strife in the mind and gives you victory over it and none must glory in the Flesh for that glory must be confounded but let him that glories glory in the Lord in the Spirit and not in the Flesh And take heed that none of you abuse your liberty which is in Christ Jesus neither turn it into fleshly Bondage and thereby the Just comes to suffer and the fleshly part comes to rule above the Seed of God but dwell in the Cross which suppresseth every high Thought and whatsoever is against God in the first motion and thereby you will be preserved from the Enemy which watcheth for Evil against you and seeks occasion against the Way of the Lord but mind that which keeps you pure for it is the pure in Heart that sees God and it is him that is of clean Hands and of a pure Heart that inherits God's holy Mountain And as concerning all your Afflictions and Sufferings and Tryals and Persecutions and whatsoever is laid upon you by the Lord or by Men I say bear all things patiently and endure all things in Long-suffering these things are but for a moment and they are not worthy to be compared with the Price of God's Inheritance and if you dwell in the Counsel of the Lord all these things will be turned unto your good in all Tryals and Sufferings the Lord's Arm will be revealed and these things must come to pass that Truth may appear in its beauty in Victory over all that which doth oppose it and vengance is the Lord's and he will repay for he doth enquire after our Blood though no man lay it to heart or consider the cause or unjust Sufferings of the Innocent who are become a Prey to the Ungodly and unjust Men till God arise to plead our Cause And all Afflictions and Sufferings are but for to try and prove they are not to confound or destroy the Lord's People and therefore in patience they must be born and the Life of God felt which gives Dominion over all these things And receiving all things as from the Hand of the Lord then in all things your Peace will remain and God's Testimony will witness Peace and acceptance with God And of all Injustice and Abuses and Cruelty acted upon you by any at any time keep account of it and draw it up in short and plain words the occasion and manner of it and at every Quarter Sessions let a true Declaration of all unjust Sufferings be presented in prudency and singleness of heart to the Justices or Grand-Jury by such as are wise and faithful and appeal to the Witness of God in them in such Causes that that of God in all Men may witness for us Let this be done as cause is seen at every Sessions in the Wisdom and Authority of God that in all things Justice and true Judgment may be sought after and in Patience waited for till the Lord alone our King and Judge and Law-giver comes to reign over all his Enemies when all that now suffer for him shall reign with him A Servant to the Churches of Christ E. B. To the Elect and Chosen Seed of God in London TO the Elect and Chosen Seed of God most dear and precious who are redeemed to God and joyned in Covenant with him and have tasted and felt and heard of the Love and Peace of the Father and to all the Faithfull and Called of God who are Partakers of the Power and Presence of an Endless Life in particular unto you the Flock of God in and about London who fear the Lord and wait upon him and over whom he is the chief Shepherd The Salutation in the Father's Love by me a Brother and Companion unto all the Children of Sion and chiefly unto you a Friend in Heart and nothing more desiring for you then your encrease in God and that Grace Peace Love and Fellowship from the infinite Father of Heaven and Earth may be largely encreased and aboundantly multiplied amongst you and in all your hearts that you may shine forth in the Beauty of the Lord and the Garment of Righteousness and Truth may be spread over you all and that the Spirit of Holiness may rest upon you that the fruit thereof may greatly abound in you and spring forth from you whereby the Father who hath begotten you may be glorified through the Nation and among his Saints through the World and my Soul wisheth that the Fear of the Lord be amongst you and his terror upon all your Enemies Amen DEarly Beloved and much desired after in the Lord the Spirit of the Father in upon me to put you in remembrance of these things of the greatest price which belong unto your Peace which have been hid from you in the time of Darkness but now are reveal'd unto you whereof your Eyes have seen your Ears have heard your Hands have handled and your Hearts have perceived and now be not unmindful thereof but take heed unto the precious Treasure of Life Eternal which the Father hath given unto you I mean the Knowledge of himself who is manifest to dwell in you and to walk in you and to lead you and to guide in all his Wayes of Peace and Truth and this is that Treasure more desirable and of greater price then the Glory of the whole Earth yea it is Peace to the soul and Gladness to the heart and Refreshment to the life to feel and witness the Teaching of the Spirit of the Father
this is my only Plea which I have often and may by the Spirit of the Lord alwayes clearly demonstrate and I do indeed wave all the multitude of Arguments that have been or can be made by the Lawyers in this Business and not by words of man's wisdom but by Truth must I be justified And I do here again return to my first manner of proceeding and stand to the naked simplicity of Truth and I have no other defence to shelter under neither do I chuse any nor no other Weapon to resist my Enemy with but the Word of the Lord which is Truth and if Truth will not justifie me I will not be justified and if it will condeâ—… me my Mouth shall be stopped for by the Truth I stand and if I fall fall for it in this matter and therefore you my Judges patiently hear few words again as to the beginning of the matter betwixt Richard Mayo and me which is thus He sent for me by a Messenger to come to him anâ— being come to him he challenged me to speak what I had against him and again under his own hand he challenged me to dispute either in publique or private with him and he again bad me call him Deceiver if I durst and upon all these four particular Invitations and Challenges and also knowing him to be guilty as I am still able to prove I did say to him That he held forth Damnable Doctrine and Error and that he was a Deceiver and this was the beginning of the Controversie Whereby I would have you to take notice how Unrighteously he hath dealt with me first to invite me and challenge me several times and then for speaking the Truth of him which I am able to prove to Arrest me Imprison me and thus to prosecute me Is not this Unchristian-like and not like a Minister of Christ And this I proved in your Court His challenging of me And also I have manifested divers particular Saying of his which do appear to all sober men to be damnable Doctrine and Error And for the manifesting of my innocent Cause further and that you may know that you ought not to condemn me neither câ—… you with a safe and good Conscience in the sight of God and to lay the Truth as plainly as I can before you therefore I do here insert the particulars to you again which I proved in the open Court against Richard Mayo which I do say is damnable Doctrine and Error all or some of them at least 1. That Paul as a Minister of Christ exhorted Saints the Corinthians to follow and obey a Light which was not Christ nor the Light of the Gospel 2. He did exhort the people of Kingstone as a Minister of Christ in his Preaching to them To follow and obey a Light which said he is not Christ nor the Light of the Gospel 3. He said That a man may be a Righteous Man and not a Godly Man without distinction 4. Also at another time before that Richard Mayo affirmed That the Light of Christ which every man is lightened withal John 1. 9. is Carnal and Darkness 5. He did affirm under his own hand That Christ was not the Word that David walked by 6. He affirmed That the Devil is the Power of God 7. He affirmed That the Gospel is not the Power of God no more then a Rose Cake is which he laid his hand on in the Window at that present of his so saying 8. He affirmed If one man murder another he did it by the Power of God Now hereby it may appear to you if you do not wilfully harden your selves against the Truth and the Righteousness of my Cause that I have done Richard Mayo no Wrong only I have spoken the truth of him I said He held forth damnable Doctrine and Error which saying is truth and I had a good Cause to speak it for he invited and challenged me divers times to speak it and then when this is considered by you let your Consciences judge what wrong I have done him seeing it doth appear I have spoken the truth of him and had good Reason so to do Ye my Judges at whose Door my Cause which is Innocent lies despised and ready to be condemned come but to plainness and honesty in your own hearts and be not passionate towards me but use Meekness and let the Sincerity of your hearts tell me whether I have lyed or spoken truth But if you do the worst that can be done against me I must and have already committed my Cause to God and I doubt not but he will avenge my Cause and recompence my Adversaries in his Season Now again consider If Richard Mayo did make his Invitations to me on purpose to ensnare me as it may be justly supposed that he did that he might have occasion to execute his Malice upon me then you ought not to give Judgment against me and to be his Executioners for if he hath laid his Plot to ensnare me how can you justly give him power over me And he hath no power over me except you give it him by unjust Judgment and you can but give him power over my Body for my Spirit is at Liberty and in dominion over you and him because I have the Truth on my side and it is hard for you to strive against that for it cannot be buried but the Truth of my Cause will alwayes live to vex its Opposers But and if his Challenges to me were not to insnare me but for Information supposing himself to have been clear from all damnable Doctrine and Error then he had done well to have owned my words as a Reproof and to have repented and not to have held forth any more such Doctrine And you ought not for my reproving him to condemn me for r eproving any man for Evil ought not to be condemned Good Men will not do it neither would he were he not an ungodly man prosecute me thus violently and thus continually beg your Judgment of 100 l. against me for reproving of him and declaring against his false doctrine which he delivers to the people when as himself invited me to speak to him And the Lord knows the Souls of people are so dear to me that where I hear false doctrine held forth which would destroy the innocent Souls I cannot but reprove it lest people receive false Dostrine for true to the Destruction of their own Souls and upon that account I spoke in this Cause Wherefore take you into Consideration what Mayo's End was in inviting me and do not you fulfil his evil purpose which I believe if he had power over me would execute his farthest Cruelty upon me I have good Reason to believe it for many cruel threatning words have proceeded from him already against me but the Lord can deliver me from them all but if he will not He will give me Patience to bear it whatsoever is suffer'd to come to me But if any shall
doubt and cannot receive these things and believe that these particulars are damnable Doctrine and Error as they are laid down in themselves and if what is spoken already be not sufficient I may upon any just Opportunity prove unto you and unto all men in the sight of my Enemies That these particulars held forth by Richard Mayo and alledged by me before you are damnable Doctrine and Error And if I could be convinced to the contrary by him or any man in sober Arguments according to the Scriptures and if he shall be able to prove that these things are true and found and saving Doctrines then may I confess That I have wronged him which never can be done Therefore can I never confess without lying against my Conscience that I have wronged him but God justifies me and just Men and my own Conscience excuses me from all wrong in this matter and here or hereafter shall you and he know it also that I am without Offence to him in this Cause And if I suffer be it upon you that are my Judges and the Guilt of my Sufferings will be upon you one day For for the Truth 's sake am I not afraid nor ashamed to suffer whatsoever you lay upon me And whereas it is chiefly pleaded by my Adversary and his Council That he is damnified and much endangered by the speaking of my words And because I said He held forth damnable Doctrine Therefore say they he is in danger to lose his Place and so He and his Wife and Family cannot tell how to live c. These things they plead and upon this account beg Judgment against me because he is or may be in danger to be damnified To this I reply and Friends I would have you to consider He hath not yet proved to you the Dammage of the value of Two Pence nor is he in any outward Estate worse by loss of any thing outwardly by any thing that I have spoken and it is unjust to condemn me in an 100 l. upon supposed Danger and Dammage which may come while as he hath sustained none at present And further I say unto you I have had no Intentions of Evil against him nor Purpose in my heart to endanger or damnifie him in any outward thing God is my Witness but that nakedly and simply I spoke the Truth of him And if speaking the Truth to him doth endanger him and damnifie him according as they plead then is he a bad man and an evil person and not well worthy of your taking part with him if you be just Men as yet I kâ—…w nothing to the contrary nor worthy of giving your Judgment against me for him If the speaking Truth to him can so endanger him then consider you what a man he is for speaking of the Truth can never hurt an honest Man nor damnifie a good Man for honest Men rejoyce in the Truth and the speaking of it is an Honour to them But the speaking the truth may indeed damnifie a bad Person as to discover his Wickedness and to prevent him of more Wickedness which he may intend but speaking the truth cannot damnifie a good Man And if it be so that Richard Mayo because of his badness be damnified by my speaking the Truth to him must I therefore be condemned for speaking Truth or ought you to do it Let that of God in you answer Will you justifie his false doctrines and condemn me for reproving him Did ever any good Men or just Iudges of old condemn any man for speaking the Truth Or will you shame your selves in the sight of Wise-men by acting contrary to a good Conscience Which if you do condemn me for speaking the truth I do and must tell you while I live That your Iudgment is Unjust and you act contrary to a good Conscience and are Unrighteous Iudges and that you commit the great Abomination in justifying the Wicked and condemning the Righteous And is it not a Shame to him that professeth himself to be a Minister of Christ to plead The Loss of his Livelihood and of his Calling and the Poverty of his Wife and Family c. because of my speaking the Truth to him Never any of Christ's Ministers pleaded any such thing Were not they reproached and much spoken against And they were called Deceivers and Seditious Men and such like And did they proceed on this manner as he hath done against me Nay They forgave their Enemies And if I had spoken falsly of him as I have not he ought not to have done thus if he had been a Minister of Christ as he professeth And doth his Livelihood and his Place and his Maintenance of himself and his Family depend upon my forbearing to speak the Truth For he pleads That he is damnified and endangered in all these by what I have spoken And I still testifie and all good Men know that I have given no Offence saving then speaking the Truth And rather then he shall be damnified by my speaking the truth of him will you unjustly damnifie me for speaking the truth Is this the Way of JUSTICE to condemn the Truth that I have spoken to save the Guilty from supposed Danger Consider of this and save your selves from Unjust Iudgment lest the Lord justly judge you and condemn you This I shew in short and much more I might as to the Unjustness of the Action prosecuted against me and now I come to shew something of the unjust Proceedings in this matter against me in the time of my Tryals and other times and some part thereof I here lay before you that you and all may see I have had as unjust Proceedings against me in the matter as an unjust Action at first brought upon me At my first appearance in my first Answer I demurred to the jurisdiction of your Court and shewed That your Court and Judicatory being Temporal you could not in that Court take Cognizance of this Cause being of a Spiritual Dependancy and ought only to be try'd in spiritual Jurisdiction by spiritual Judges if there were any such and shewed out of the Laws of England reasonably that your Court had no power to try this matter But one of the Bailiffs Iohn Forth said which should have been my equal Judge They would over-rule that and they would try the matter without shewing any just Reason out of the Laws against my Argument grounded upon the Laws and they did over-rule me in that And the Court-day before the Tryal when the Jury-men were to be chosen and nominated I told them That the Jury-men should be such as had the Gift of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost in them or else they could not try the Matter because it was Doctrine that was to be try'd which none could try but by the Spirit of God neither could I cast my self into the Determination of any in this Cause but such And the Bailiffs Obadiah Wicks and Iohn Forth answered If they were men that
the Lord God may dwell amongst you and may never have cause to with-hold his presence from you which is Life and Peace and Rest for ever And believe not every spirit but dwell in that which discerns spirits and if any say Lo here or lo there is Christ go not after them without you for you have not been so taught but know the Christ of God the Lamb of God within you and follow him and obey his voice and be established all of you on this sure Foundation whom God hath laid and no man can lay any other and if you build thereupon and thereby you sâ—…ll never suffer loss but your Work shall abide the Fire and in the Fathers House your Bread you shall receive and never shall hunger noâ— Thirst but the Life will be refreshed and increased daily and you Lamps will alwayes shine and you shall never be darkned not stâ—…ble for that which stumbles is out of the Truth and the ground stands to receive the seed of Satan who is a Devourer of the Simplicity and the Betrayer from the Truth Therefore I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God that you hold fast the Faith and Hope which you have received through the Gospel that you may never be moved 〈◊〉 the Grace of God and from the Love that hath abounded in you â—…t may be found watching in the Door with your Light shining when the Bridegroom cometh and behold he cometh quickly and his Rewâ—…d is with him blessed are they that tarry for him This is the Testimony of my Love unto all the Seed of God who am as a Deceiver and yet true and as not known yet well known unto the â—…d E. 〈◊〉 To such as have Backslided from the Truth WHEN the Life in you all doth arise it shall witness me and answer the Word of the Lord unto Life or unto Death Friends all you to whom the Word of the Lord came and â—…n whom the Way of Truth was made manifest hear and consider How â—…t hath the Love of the Father been unto you How many and infinite have been his Mercies from day to day often visiting you with his Power and with his Presence yea when you sate in Darkness and in the shadow of Death his marvellous Light appear'd unto you and when you were held captive in the covenant of Sin and Death he stretched forth his Hand to redeem â—… he loved you while you knew him not and he brought Deliverance out of a â—…nge Land where you were strayed among Devourers and scatter'd and gâ—â—e aâ—â—ray as Sheep without a Shepherd yea when you were dead in Transgression he said unto you Live and he also bound you up when no eye pitty'd you even then when you were Enemies to him walking in the Vaâ—â—tâ—en of your own hearts and knew not him who lives forever who had been sougâ—â— by you but not found in that very day he sent to visit you with his Eâ—… Gospel of Peace and Truth to gather you unto himself I am a 〈◊〉 and he caus'd his powerful Voice to be heard and his Name to be 〈◊〉 among you and his Truth was declared in the Demonstration of the â—…rit and the Power of the Lord was made manifest in you to the bringing of you from Darkness to Light and from Death which had reign'd over you 〈◊〉 know a Measure of the Life of God Yea the Way of Life Eternal was set 〈◊〉 you that you might not perish but live and his Witness in you all 〈◊〉 iâ— but one the Word of the Lord reacheth unto you by the Mouthes of 〈◊〉 â—…ts to the revealing of Sin and judging it by his Righteous Law 〈◊〉 in your hearts causing his Terror to be known among you and his â—udgments reached your hearts and in that day beautiful was his Presence 〈◊〉 you and precious was his Truth among you in your first Love and his Liâ—â—t and Power and the Knowledge of his Ways were pleasant to you and the Sâ—…l of the Kingdom of God which you receiv'd with Joy grew up in you and â—…per'd at that day and the Lord loved you his Presence was with you â—…g his own Children whom he begat by his Everlasting Word that you 〈◊〉 be a Praise unto him forever And when the fear of the Lord and his Jâ—â—gâ—â—nts were placed among you and your Hearts were broken and while you were of a hungering Soul and thirsty after the Lord then was it well with you and the Day of Peace dawn'd unto you and the Word of the Lord was â—weâ—t unto you and he was gladly receiv'd that came in the Name of the Lord. Bâ—t O how have some of you lost your first Love and are again darkened and ready to faint and to turn aside for a thing of nought And how do such grieve the Spirit of the Lord and vex his Righteous Soul and are become a Sâ—â—deâ— to him in dishonouring his Name the envious man having entered â—nd sown his Seed in some of you and brought forth Strife and Divisions and Disorders among you which are not of the Father nor of the Truth and Prejudice and Evil-Surmisings and secret Jealousies one against another is risen in you all which is to be condemned with the Light for the Fire I judge it all under my Feet in the Power of the Lord God and am in that which reigns over it all and through these things Unity is decay'd and Love is waxed cold and there is fainting in the way and the Zeal for the Name of the Lord perisheth which ought to be among you and Rendings and Tearings Biting and Devouring one another and striving for Mastery there is which ought not to be which the Wrath of God is against all this is out of the Light out of the Wisdom and Counsel of God My Spirit is vexed and my Heart is troubled within me because of these things not for my self but for you and for the Glory of the Lord over whom I am jealous with a Godly Jealousie that you may not perish nor his Glory be dispised among the Heathen What mean you thus to deal against the Lord in dishonouring his Name in the sight of the Enemy even to the wounding of your own souls and to the piercing of the hearts of the Faithful who have watched over you and been Messengers of Glad-tidings unto you from the Lord Every one of you in particular be awakened and stirr'd up and fear before the Lord and come to the Light which the Son of God has lighted you withal and search your own hearts and try your selves that the ground of these things may be seen and condemn'd and remov'd and Love may yet spring amongst you to the Lord and one to another O Friends Consider It was one Father that begat you into the Truth which is but one by one Word of Life which is not divided and you were begotten unto him and not unto your selves And Christ Jesus which is
Pride would have appear'd and hadst thou had a better Heart less of Unfaithful Dealing would have proceeded from thee But as I have said Evil shall fall upon himself that hatcheth it for another But why dost thou say Faithful Account in the Title Page Signifying to the World that all in it is true and nothing of Truth wanting in relation to that Dispute and yet in thy Epistle sayst Thou dost not undertake to set down the multitude of words that that day was fill'd withal and pag. 29. sayst That a third man of the Company made a large Discourse concerning the Person justified but relatest not one word what was said by him and here thou hast not dealt faithfully nor given a faithful Account And pag. 31. thou sayst E. B. at such a time did multiply many words but dost not relate his particular words and so hast not in this dealt faithfully nor given a faithful Account And also in many other things thou hast not related what was spoke at all and thus thou hast contradicted thy self in saying A Faithful Account and yet confessing in effect Unfaithfulness And thy own words being compar'd together prove a contradiction in thy own Mind and Pen for to give a Faithful Account as thou sayst thou hast is to relate the whole Truth and not to keep any back neither to speak more then the Truth by adding thereto any thing But again thou sayst Thou undertakest not to relate the multitude or every particular of words neither dost relate what particular words such a one and such a one spake but sayst He said so and multiply'd many words not saying what his words were And therefore thou hast heaped a Contradiction upon thy own head and it shall remain till it hath made thee ashamed And now as to the particulars upon which the Dispute depended so far as they are truly laid down in my words and in my intent and meaning I am ready to justifie them yea at any place or time convenient or before any Auditory whatsoever upon lawful Occasion but as thou hast laid them down or some of them thou hast wronged me and the Truth and either not understood my meaning or subverted and perverted my words to thy own Advantage And whereas in the Epistle thou sayest I would not own them viz. The Particulars laid down to be mine at first and yet owned every one of them in the Discouse c. Answ. I did not own them but how and how did I own them but thus The Objector had laid down some of the Particulars not in my words which made them vary from the intent of my meaning and others of the Particulars he had laid down utterly false and so I did deny them as coming from him but as to the substance of some of the Particulars I did own having laid them down according to my own honest Meaning in my own sound Expression of words and thereupon I engaged a Dispute upon the Particulars having first denied them as laid down by him and in his corrupt Expressions and then owned them in the simplicity in the words as by me uttered I mean some of them but some I altogether denied And as to speak of that Text Ioh. 5. 39. By which sayest thou I endeavoured to skin over what I spoke but to no purpose I do deny thy words for that same verse shall stand a Witness for me and against thee in all the World and that verse shall prove that some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints and the Truth it self is my Covering and I need no other thing to skin over as thou scornfully speakest And whereas thou sayest There was just matter of Reproof in the Dispute in both Parties c. Answ. Whilst thou hast condemned others thou hast judged thy self who was of the one Party a strong Contender for the Priests Party and having now accused both Parties wouldst clear thy self to be of neither but canst not for it is known thou didst take their part and in the Title thou sayest The Discourse was betwixt a party of them called Quakers with Mr. Philip Taverner c. where thou dost own thy self to be one and reckonest thy self the foremost Master of the Disputants And now upon better considerations I think when thou hast searched into their Folly with whom thou wast joyned thou wouldst absent thy self to be none of them but a third Party But let me tell thee What Disorder Prejudice and Passion as thou speakest of that was amongst the Priests thou hast a part in and must own their Sin and their Condemnation for thou art also guilty And that there was any Passion except pure Zeal for God and his Truth which thou mightest falsly so call or Prejudice or such like amongst us I do deny it and know thee to have born a false Testimony and all thy Covers as if thou wert a Moderator or the like in thy speaking will not hide thee nor cover thee from what I have said of thee But as to the things in particular I now come and may shew what my words are and the Ground of them and how I laid them down and upon what Occasion in the first Meeting whereupon the Dispute did arise and I do not here go about to give a perfect Relation of that Dispute for my Memory hath not contain'd what passed but as to the intent and meaning of my words I would give all the true knowledge thereof and how far I do own the Particulars charged against me First As to that The Scripture are not the WORD of God because the Devil spoke something and Pharoah something which is there written Answer There is some truth in this but my words were drawn up by him at the shortest and the most for his own Advantage laid down by him For I do remember That in the first Meeting I was speaking concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures which are a Declaration thereof and shewing the difference betwixt the Word and the Letter and Scriptures for the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was made by it and it endureth forever But the Scriptures were not in the Beginning for Moses was the first that wrote any thing of the Scripture who was long after the Beginning neither was the World made by them neither can they endure forever and therefore the Letter the Scriptures are not the Word of God which the Scriptures call the Word for also in the Scriptures are written what the Devil spoke and what Pharoah and other Wicked Men spoke and therefore they are not the Word of God but as I have said a Declaration of the Word and what is written of is the Word but the Scriptures the Writings are not but a Testimony and Declaration of the Word Much more as to this might be said and was spoken by me at the Meeting which is not particularly related and this is sufficient to
any honest man that is Spiritual who hath an Understanding to judge hereof Now I suppose themselves none of them are so ignorant as they will say The Scriptures are that WORD which was in the Beginning and which shall Endure forever But say they the Scriptures are another Word a Declarative Word or such like termes Now when we dispute or contend with any about the Word of God we dispute what that Word is which the Scripture saith is the Word and do deny that Word to be the Scriptures Writings though still we do own the Scriptures a Declaration of that very WORD of GOD and that the Scriptures in any place do call themselves the Word or signifie so much I do deny it and it is left for any of our Opposers to prove it that can if they do I will confess it to be the Word and revoke all that I have spoken to the contrary And as for thy Deductions and Consequences drawn from my words I do deny them for they are not to me but will turn upon thy self for thou sayest A strange kind of Assertion as if nothing of the Mind Will and Counsel of God were declared in the Scripture And whitherto can be the tendency of such giddy Doctrines then to a weakening of the Authority of the Scriptures and begetting Slightings and undervaluing Thoughts and that the effects may be lightly esteeming the Scriptures These and such Deductions hast thou drawn through thy Ignorance from my words from all which I am clear as having no Intent to any such things nor any Intent but to testifie to the Pure Innocent TRUTH And thy Deductions are far more ignorant and impudent then my Assertion is strange and let thy Consequences be what they will from my words the truth of my words will justifie me in the Sight of God and his Saints for I do honour the Scriptures above other Writings and give them the Authority and Esteem and Respect due unto them and more I dare not And some of thy pages I pass over as not worth taking notice of only I do say Thou hast wronged me in not relating so much as was spoken by us by far and in relating more then was spoken by thee or thy Party And the next thing I note is this where R. G. said he would and went about to prove That the Letter is the Word of God but was not nor is ever able to prove and thou hast changed the words of his Argument in thy Relation from what they were as he laid them down in the Dispute from called to owned for thus his words were laid down at that time said he That which Christ and the Apostles called the Word of God is indeed the Word of God but Christ and the Apostles called the Scriptures the Word of God Ergo. Now I denied and do yet that it can be proved That ever Christ and the Apostles called the Scriptures the WORD of GOD and neither do thy Proofs now nor his then of the minor Proposition prove That the Scriptures viz. the Writing were ever called the Word although it be true that the Pharisees made the Word of God of no Authority by their Traditions But that Scripture doth not say That the Letter is the Word which thing he was to prove or else he said nothing to the purpose And as to the other Scripture 1 Thes. 1. 13. that will not prove that the Apostle called the Letter the Word for it was the Gospel which they received as the Word of God and not the Letter The Gospel is the Word of God not denied by me but sealed unto but the Gospel is not the Letter and Writings but the Gospel is the Thing written of and that is it which the Apostle means to be the Word of God for that is the Word which he preached to the Thessalonians and which they received And so thy Arguments and Proof of thy minor Position is deny'd and so the major Position falls to the Ground And by this nor any other Argument can all you Priests of England prove the Letter of the Scriptures to be the Word of God which thing R. G. took in hand to prove but could not and would have cry'd against it in me as a great deal of Heresie for denying it but Error is fallen upon his own Head The next thing I note is in pag. 13. where thou wouldst seem to cover over R. G. thou sayest his words were not That I had the thing signified in my hand when I had the Bible but that I had that which declares of it Now to justifie him in Evil thou hast wronged me and the Truth for he did say when I held up my Bible I had in my hand the thing herein signified upon this very Occasion I holding up my Bible in my hand and saying to this very effect That in my hand I had the thing which did signifie in words of such and such things but I had not the thing signified And Richard Goodgrom made answer and said But I had the Thing signified and this some can witness Whereupon I made answer and said If it be so that I have the Thing signified in my hand then I have God and Christ and the Spirit and Heaven and Hell and Men and Beasts and all things that herein are written of and then he saw the Folly of his own Ignorance I perceive And much more might be related as upon this Subject which was said on both Parties which I desire not much to recollect only what I have said I can certainly remember and can justifie it And I must confess that Philip Taverner hath done pretty fairly though in some things he hath not done so And no was to the next thing charged against me in the Relation being placed the second though it is the third That evil Motions not consented to were not sin In the first private Meeting I remember my words were laid down thus and so I own'd them in the Dispute That Temptations or Motions unto evil are not sin to any man who doth not consent and obey to serve Temptations or evil Motions and they are not sin to the man except they be consented to by the man and this was proved in the Example of Christ who was tempted of the Devil and had motions to do evil yet did not consent nor commit sin for he resisted and overcame the Tempter and so the Devil's Motions and Temptations which were sin in themselves yet they were not sin to Him And this Proof then they could not deny neither can any sober or upright Man And so in the Dispute the thing was put to a farther Question thus But are not those Motions which arise out of a Man 's own Heart Sin except they be consented to To which I was willing to speak something and to own the very TRUTH and to justifie that there is a State wherein Evil Motions may rise out of a Man 's own Heart which are
poor man Must I be judged upon thy own meaning nay or must thy interpretation be the judge upon my words We have no such law my words stand true as I have laid them down to be received by such as are Spiritual and such as love to raise constructions falsly where there is no just ground their judgment I do deny and Charity will teach P. T. to judge upon the best sence and so let him own my words as truth and judge himself for his false construction of true and upright words onely this I take notice of saith P. T. A perfect Conformity to the Law of God in our own Persons though not wrought in our own strength but in the Strength and Power of Grace the Spirit working all in us and for us is no other then the Righteousness of the Law I need not much strive to confound this black Doctrine by many Arguments or multitude of words for the thing as laid down in his own words is vile and abominable to the understanding of any spiritual man for say I if it be the Spirit working in us and for us not in our own strength then is it God that worketh in us both to will and to do and the fulfilling of the Righteousness of the Law in us and not the Righteousness of the Law wrought by us and if it be in the strength and power of Grace and not in our own strength then it is the work of Christ in us and the Work of God's own Righteousness in us and any man that knows the least of God in Truth will witness to this and against his imagined Doctrine held forth by P. T. I might demand a Proof of him from Scripture where it is said or signified That the working of the Spirit all in us and for us and the working of the power of Grace in the Creature is reckoned to be our own righteousness the Righteousness of the Law and my words stand true from which he draws his false Consequences and layes down his dark Assertions and my own words I do own which are Such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the Wayes of Righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and in these words there is neither Contradiction nor unsoundness though he hath ignorantly charged them with both but the words shall stand for a Testimony against him and all his false deductions and he and all shall know That God justifies the Righteous and condemns the Wicked and that it is the New Man that is justified and not the Old And let Righteous Men judge what can be in such a mans heart who can draw so bad Consequences from such upright words But further he goes on and hath transcribed more of my words as Christ Iesus the Son of God is the Light and Life of the World and hath enlightned all mankind that cometh into the World with the true Light c. now saith he How do these agree with man's State in the first Adam In transgression is a State of perfect Enmity and Death reigns in every man and he is possessed with blindness and unbelief c. I say these do very well agree and they are both true for Death reigns in every man and he is in Unbelief and Ignorance and in a State of perfect Enmity against God as he is in the first Adam yet Christ hath lightned him and the Light of Christ shines in Darkness in him and the Darkness comprehends it not and he is enlightned that he may be changed from Death to Life and from Ignorance to Knowledge and though he walk in Darkness and is in Blindness and in a State of Enmity it is because he does not walk and believe in the Light which Christ hath lightned him withal and in my words there is no disagrement nor contradiction the Darkness is in his own Mind who cannot comprehend the Light nor the words that proceed from it Further he questions upon my words of having the Witness in themselves of being restored again First whether none are restored again but such as have the Witness in themselves I answer all that are restored again and do believe hath the Witness in themselves and none do believe nor are restored but they have the Witness of it Secondly he queries whether all are restored but some want the Witness in themselves I answer All are not restored nor do believe and such want the Witness in themselves that are not restored to God but them that are restored want it not And again he queries whether the Light which is in all is sufficient without any thing of further Grace superadded to bring up every Man to believe in Christ c I answer The Light which every man is lightned withal by Christ is sufficient to bring up every man to believe in Christ that loves the Light and walks in it and unto such is Grace added and increased daily for as every man improves the Measure of the Gift of God so it is increased the Light is increased Grace is increased Faith is increased but still the Light of Christ in it self is sufficient Again from my words to wit The Spirit is given to be the Guide and Rule of Life to the Children of God from whence he queries whether the Spirit is so given to be a Guide and Rule of Life to the Saints that they have no more need to attend upon the Scriptures I answer It is promised that the Spirit shall lead into all Truth and such do own the Scriptures but not as their Teacher for the Anointing dwells in them and they need no man to teach them but as that Anointing teacheth all things and they have no need of the the Scripture to teach them for all the Children of God are taught of God and need not any other Teacher nor need not to say one to another know the Lord and yet all such do own the Scriptures to be the Testimony of that which they believe and have received Again from my words to wit The Light of Christ in every one shall give testimony to the truth of what I speak unto which I do commend my self from this he queries can these be Witnesses to me and of the Truth in me who are ignorant of the Life and Power of the Creator c. who are following the counsel of their own hearts which are evil c I answer Yes the Light of Christ in such shall judge one day and to it I commend my self and by it one day shall be approved though now the Wicked hate the Light yet doth it witness against them and for us that we are of God though its true they cannot judge between Light and Darkness between Truth and Error yet the Light in them which shines in their darkness does judge and put a difference and when the Book of Conscience is opened it
Truth so well agreed that it is possible to wrong us both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. pag. 4. Rep. That he wronged me it appears in his not relating all that I said 〈◊〉 the Dispute the Ground of this Quarrel not by half and more I kâ—… and in relating more then himself spoke by far And let sober men judge â—…ther he did not here wrong me in relating a thing that passed between us 〈◊〉 relating much more then ever he spoke and much less then I spoke if the truth of that Matter were it wrong or right Matter and my self also be not by this kind of Doctrine wronged I appeal to all honest People whilst both he and I 〈◊〉 silent so the False-Dealing and Wrong in his first Book is upon him still according to my Charge unremoved And the Lye in this his last Book in that he saith I say Falsly when I have spoken the Truth which is a Lye in the highest degree in saying when I spokâ— the truth That I spoke Falsly and his Proof in that the Truth and I do not agree is because I said in my first The Saints have no need of Scriptures to teach them but the Spirit of the Father leadeth and teacheth into all Truth Rep. My words are justifiable for It is the Spirit that leadeth into all Truth John 16. and the Saints need no man to teach them but they have the Aâ—â—inting within them and they know all things by the Unction 1 John and the Spirit of the Father is given them by which the Scriptures were given forth And the Lord is the Teacher of his People and they need not any to say to them Know the Lord Ier. 31. Ye they that witness this do not make the Scripture of none effect but own it in its place yet not as their Teacher for then they should deny the new Covenant Ier. 31. and then something besides the Spirit leads into Truth and they have something to teach them besides the Anointing but if this be all the Proof that can be given against me That I and the Truth do not agree I doubt not but â—ll Spiritual men will see the Emptiness and Weakness of the Witness against me and will be more confirmed rather then shaken that I and the Truth do fully agree though P. T. speaks otherwise falsly against me and as if I had contradicted the Apostles words which he quotes against me who saith Whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning which Scripture I do own and no way contradict it s the Error of his Judgment which so judgeth for even they for whom the things that were written were for their learning yet they were led into all Truth by the Teachings of the Spirit and they were taught of the Father and what was written to them was not written because they knew not Truth or to teach them Truth 1 Iohn 2. 21. let him learn what this means The next thing he notes is whereas I said I then proved meaning at the Dispute bâ—… Scriptures That some were perfect in this life 1 Cor. 2. 5. even perfect without sin John 1. 47. 1 John 3. 7. And to gainsay this he hath brought 2 John 1. 8. If 〈◊〉 say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us and saith he Who speaks truth in this E. B. or the Apostle as if I had spoken contrary to the Apostle Solomon also saith he tell us There is not a Iust Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not which also he brings as a Witness against what I have affirmed Rep. It s true I held forth a state of Perfection to be waited for and attained â—â—to upon Earth and I am not ashamed of my Principle neither is it found too light For that Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 5. doth testifie that some were perfect upon Earth in the dayes of the Apostles and if they were so the same is to be waited for and witnessed in this Age for the Hand of the Lord is not shortened And that Scripture 1 Iohn 3. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not and 〈◊〉 is born of God doth not commit sin vers 6 9. doth clearly manifest there is a â—â—â—te upon Earth free from sin wherein Power is received and felt over all Temptations and over the Devil even such an estate That the Wicked One canâ—…â—â—ch such that are born of God and this was the thing I held forth and do vindiâ—…e against all Opposers That the Saints may wait for and witness upon Earth to have power over sin and over its Temptations and free from the committing of sin by the Power of the second Adam living and dwelling in thâ—â— And thus must thou believe P. T. or else thou believest not Scripture â—â—â— that any are born of God or abide in Christ if thou believest not that tâ—… confess thou errest in Judgment who art unbelieving of what the Scriptâ—… bears witness of Therefore tell me plainly if thou believest That there â—…y that are born of God and abide in Christ then must thou believe 〈◊〉 do not commit sin elâ—e thou deniest the Scripture And what I held forth herein I do not contradict the Apostle nor Solomon's words for its true the Apostle said If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves but art thou so blind that thou dost not see he speaks there of a state before Confession of Sins and the words saith the Apostle If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us 〈◊〉 Sins and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness so I do agree with the Apostle's words and do not contradict them For I do say If any say they have no sin before they do confess their sin and forsake their sin and be cleansed from it I do say they are Lyars and the Truth not in them and I also say If that after a maâ— hath confest his sin and be cleansed from it and hath his sin forgiven him and witnesseth that he is born of God and does not commit sin I say he 〈◊〉 the Truth also and the Truth is in him And though Solomon did say There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sins not yet is my affirmation true notwithstanding for Solomon forgat the Lord and his Heart went after many strange Women and became a Transgressor and in that state did not know the Birth born of God which doth not commit Sin for he was but under the Administration of the Law which doth not make perfect as pertâ—… to the Conscience and peradventure in that state he being erred from God he did not see any that did not sin These things will be plain to some though perhaps thou mayst shut thine eye against them and Solomen was not our Example in Conversation I am sure nor hardly in Doctrine And thus I 〈◊〉 weighed thy Text which thou seemest to say before I have not weighed and my Principles are proved sound and
meant not Ours by enjoyment but Ours 〈…〉 the Prophet speaks when 〈…〉 Righteousness that Christ works in us by his Spirit and the Power of his 〈◊〉 is Ours by enjoyment in the second Adam as the Gift of God to us but 〈…〉 in the first Adam in the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈…〉 and that was the strength of my Query where that Righteousness 〈…〉 us by the Spirit and Strength of Christ and not in our own is called our â—â—â—â—teousness ours as in the first Adam But I see thou hast not understood 〈…〉 of my Query for weakness of Understanding and then how should 〈◊〉 rightly answer it Also I Queried How Christ working Righteousness in us by the Power of 〈◊〉 not by our own strength can be called the Righteousness of the Law 〈…〉 Now I meant the Righteousness of the Law in the Flesh and not 〈◊〉 Spirit I know the working of Christ 〈◊〉 in us to will and 〈◊〉 do by 〈…〉 and Strength and power of Grace is the fulfilling the Righteouâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the Law 〈◊〉 Christ in us but it is not the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈…〉 But to this thou hast not answered 〈…〉 conceiving and not the innocency of my Queries And whereas he stumbles and is offended because I said No 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 in any word or work but what they are led unto by the Spirit and those Words 〈◊〉 the Spirit leads unto 〈…〉 no other words or works And from 〈◊〉 would falsly 〈…〉 Iâ—â—â—ification by Works and by something 〈…〉 I say No 〈…〉 shall no Flesh living be justified 〈…〉 that moveth and leadeth 〈…〉 and Works of Truth and Righteousâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Words and Works which he is 〈…〉 and this is not 〈…〉 Apostle's words which he seem◠〈…〉 against me 〈…〉 While we were sinners Christ dyed for us 〈…〉 justified by his Blood â—… This is not 〈◊〉 what I say for we do 〈◊〉 the Blood of Iesus to justifie but yet not 〈◊〉 are not cleansed by it and 〈◊〉 by the Spirit into all Truth but it is 〈◊〉 are justified only who are led into all Truth by his Spirit such are 〈◊〉 by his Blood in the Spirit and 〈◊〉 from Wâ—â—â—â— who are born of the 〈◊〉 Word but they 〈…〉 are not justified nor saved â—… Then he Querieth Whether I 〈◊〉 Pardon of Sin out of Doors 〈◊〉 I answer No for they that are 〈◊〉 into all Truth by the Spirit 〈…〉 are pardoned and forgiven and 〈◊〉 no more but blotted 〈…〉 cannot be read for they are â—leased from it and commit noâ— sin Then he asketh Whether 〈…〉 Causes of Iustification the one â—… Reâ— I say 〈…〉 and the Work of Righteousness is in God 〈◊〉 free Love and Mâ—â—â—â— which is ovâ—◠〈…〉 Works and they receive the 〈◊〉 of it and the Gift of it that are led by the Spirit as the Effect thereof 〈◊〉 none else Though he asketh Whether Forgiveness of Sin hath its rice from 〈◊〉 Christ worketh in us or from what Christ hath done and suffered for us I say 〈◊〉 soever Christ hath done and suffered with 〈…〉 while man hath not receâ—â—â—â— Christ nor the Work of Christ in him but remains in the first Adam in Traâ—â—gression the true Work and Ground of Iustification he knows not nor 〈◊〉 not neither knows the Mediator-ship between God and him Then 〈◊〉 the conclusion of this matter P.T. saith 〈◊〉 for to â—â—ow E.B. 〈◊〉 the Truth are not so 〈…〉 forsake 〈◊〉 c. Rep. Hold Friend come back again What 〈◊〉 thou proved yet any thing against me save that I hold the Tâ—â—â—â— Thou hast 〈◊〉 a Coâ—â—â—â—sion too soon without sound Evidence and thou 〈◊〉 not be Iudge in thy own Cause neither hast thou prov'd me and the Truth to disagree 〈…〉 may judge It appears thou art the man that seemest to be Righteous in thy own eye 〈◊〉 none falsly herein for who can clear themselves from the Guilt of it of that Generation if any I condemn them not but can P. T. do it ask his Neighbours Hath not he sums of Money by the Year Tythes or other Wages for preaching try him a little give him nothing for a Year or two and then if he preach to you and never complain for want of Wages and Money then I 〈◊〉 believe he is clear and then he may better boast than he can now And as for 〈◊〉 vers of that function in that Country they have casâ— men into Prison where they yet lie and taken suit of them at Law and taken their Goods because some could not for Conscience sake give you Hire and Tythes and Money and 〈◊〉 â—hese free or guilty of my Charge let the Lord judge and all his Saints He saith He doth not plead for all who go under the name of Ministers in England he fears there is many of them no better then Wolves in Sâ—â—ep's Clothing â—â—c Then why doth he not come out and cry against them but remain â—â—â—â—â—gst them 〈◊〉 their Practice For wherein can he clear himself of anyone thing which they are guilty of which he confesses are Wolves in Sheep's Clothing Was not his Call the same 〈◊〉 theirs â—â—d is not his Practice in Ministry and Maintenance genâ—rally the same with theirs If he hath ought to say to clear himself we will answer further 〈◊〉 otherâ—ise all men shall Judge That while he accuseth some of England's Ministers to be VVolves in Sheep's Clothing himself is found also guilty except I say he can make appear a perfect difference between â—his Call Practice and Maintenance and theirs which he is never able to do or to justifie that he is not of the same nature and by the same spirit but contrary to theirs that he accuses and 〈◊〉 to be â—â—lves in Shâ—â—â—â— Clothing and I have as much groâ—â—â— to suspect him to be one of the Wolves in Sheeps Clothing as he has ground to suspect his own Companions and 〈◊〉 to be such And in that he saith 〈◊〉 of the Quakers have been found guilty of Blasphemy and that some of them are found vain light Personâ— or â—eady and high-minded Rep. He doth here secretly charge and prove nothing for Blasphemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come out of and have deny'd all lightness after the Flesh and High-mi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if any such come among us they are deny'd and are not of us till 〈◊〉 be converted to God and turned from all evil But this his secret charge against others is but that himself may seem clâ—â— Then he asks Are all guilty of preaching for Hire and divining for 〈◊〉 and â—â—ds me Not condemn the Generation of the Righteous and then â—â—nfesses 〈◊〉 take that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which they have given by Persons and justifies it and saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Preaching for Hire c. pag. 19. of his last Râ—p All that I 〈◊〉 to be guilty are so for I charge not the 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 the Country People ask them how many of their Teachers are 〈◊〉 and have not Money
Heart and tries the Reins who is a God Great and Mâ—…ty and giveth unto all Creatures Life and Breath and he will change at 〈◊〉 〈…〉 all the Children of Men and bring them to an Account before his 〈…〉 Seat wherefore let all Flesh tremble before him and let all the earth 〈…〉 〈…〉 his Presence who changeth and subdueth and over-turneth at his Pâ—… and brings men to destruction who have rebell'd against him â—…fore thou Pope chief Bishop at Rome this is unto thee from the Mouth of â—… Come down come down lay down thy Crown subject thy self 〈…〉 before the Lord God of Vengeance lest 〈…〉 come upon thee and crush â—… and thou shalt know that this hath the Lord spoken in the day â—…ry flaming Sword which is already drawn enters into thy Bosom 〈…〉 thy Honour and Renown Behold I have heard the Voice of Houlâ—…er Lamentation I have heard the Voice of War and not of Peace I 〈…〉 I have seen the Strong become Weak and the Mighty become Miserabâ—â—â—…ud and Honourable brought into Contempt yea I have seen her thâ—… a Queen and has said She never shall see Sorrow I have seen the losâ—â—…n and Widdowhood come upon her even in one day I have seen her Bâ—…â—…ed into Bitterness I have seen her Honour brought into Contempt I 〈…〉 Whore that has made all Nations drunk with her Fornications tâ—… the Golden Cup in her hand I have seen the Cup of Indignation pâ—… her to drink I have seen her cast upon the Bed of never-ceasing â—… I have seen the City that was full of people that was the Glory of I â—… that made all Nation rich with her Traffick and Merchandize I 〈…〉 that City laid desolate and dis-inhabited and made the Sorrow of the 〈…〉 Earth and I have seen the smoak of her burning ascend forever and this is 〈◊〉 must shortly come to pass and if thou hast an Ear to hear thou mayst 〈…〉 and these things are true and faithful and they shall not fail but the Wâ—… shall know the Majesty Dread and Terror the Vengeance and Indigâ—… of the Almighty This is assented unto by many and written and subscribed by one that hath a Nâ—… not seen nor known of the World but known among Men by the name of Edward Burroughs Return your Answer to me or any of the People called Quakers for me in London from whence this is sent being written the 24th of the 8th Mon. 1658. A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY Concerning the True Worship OF GOD VVhat it is in it self and who are the True WORSHIPPERS In Opposition to all the False Worship in this Nation which is Idolatry which is discover'd in its Foundation and in its Manifestation not to be ever commanded of God or practized by his Apostles and Saints but it is declar'd to consist chiefly of such things and practices as had their first Beginning and Ordination in the Church of Rome whereby the Hypocrisie of this Generation doth appear in denying and crying against the Papists Idolatries and yet are found in the practice of the same thing in their Church Ministry and Worship which were first instituted by the Pope's Authority FOrasmuch as there is in the World a great Controversie among people concerning the Worship of God one crying This is the right Worship another That is the right Worship And people in these Nations are divided about the Worship of God and divers one from another in their Performances and Practices of Worship one sort worshipping after this manner another after that and there is great strife through the whole Nation about this matter and a great dis-satisfaction among people which is the right Worship and who are the right Worshippers and Thousands are desiring after the right Worship of God and to become Worshippers of him as he requires Therefore now it is upon me to shew unto all the World what the true Worship of God is in it self and who are his true Worshippers First The Worship of God in it self is this It is a walking with God and a living with him in Converse and Fellowship in Spirit and Truth for he is only worshipped therein and to do the Truth and speak the Truth This is the True Worship of God where the Mind is guided with the Spirit of Truth and the Presence of the Lord felt at all times and his Fear in the Hearts of people and his Councel stood in and his Covenant felt which unites to the Lord in Spirit this is the True Worship of God and it is without respect of times or things And now none upon Earth can thus worship God but who are changed and renewed in heart and mind and born of the Spirit and led thereby where the Body of Sin and Death is put off such as are redeemed out of the World and out of all its wayes and nature such only can worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and such is the Father seeking to worship him now in this present Age And there is never a one upon Earth that can worship God as he requireth who remain unchanged and are in the Transgression unrenewed and unconverted such cannot worship the True and Living God but that which they perform and practice as the Pretence of his Worship is Idolatry and Abomination and the Lord hath not required it at their hands for none can walk with God nor have unity with him but who are renewed and changed nor none can do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things but such who are led by the Spirit of Truth and such are in the Covenant of God and true Worshippers of him and all that is contrary is not the Worship of God but Idolatry as I have said And now as concerning this Worship practiced in England in these Steeple-Houses Churches so called it is not the Worship of the Living God but Superstition and Idolatry for people have not learned it by the Teachings of the Spirit neither doth the Spirit lead them therein but it standeth in Form without Power and in the Inventions and Traditions of the Fathers and there is not in it the manifest Presence of God neither do you Worshippers meet with the Lord nor enjoy his pure Life and Presence in your Practices and the substance of your Worship as it is now practized is made up of Inventions some part of your own and some part brought along from the church of Rome And is it not great Hypocrisie in you to profess a denyal of the Church of Rome and yet be found practizing some of the same things as your Worship which the Church of Rome first instituted and practized as her Worship Shall we instance unto you some particular things Was it not by the Authority of the Church of Rome that these Houses in which you worship which you call Churches were first set up and made Worshipping-places for them And is it not a little while since that the Mass and old Popish stuff was therein
upon me many dayes I passed to Dunkirk And that which I found upon me chiefly was to visit and warn the Papists the Iesuits and Fryars and that Company of Idolaters and to sound the Mighty Day of the Lord among them and to proclaim it in the Pope's Borders and to warn them of the Day that is at hand upon them by the Word of the Lord and to sound forth among them the Everlasting Gospel of Truth and against all their Idolatrous Wayes Worships and Practices which I have often felt the weight and burden of before ever I saw outwardly what their Wayes or Practices are which when I saw their Idolatrous Practices and Worships and heard their Doctrines and what they profess I found it to be according to what I had seen and felt in the Light that trieth all things And about the sixth day of the third Moneth 1659. I with Samuel Fisher who was moved to go with me shipped from Dover and came into Dunkirk the next day and being Strangers upon Earth as the Generation of the Righteous Seed ever was we waited in the Will of the Lord to be guided by his Wisdom what to do and how to be guided to act and speak to his Glory So the next Morning the Town Mayor came to us in the Street and required an account of our coming and our Names and from whence we came to which we gave him sober Answers and a reasonable Account And that day it much spread over the Town of our being come thither which wrought no small Cogitations in the Hearts of many as what our Business was and wherefore we were come so that the Deputy Governour Colonel Alsop with the Council of Officers sent for us that Night the chief Governour not being in Town so we went to them who did kindly intreat us and examine us concerning our coming thither and what our Business was there and such like to which we gave them Answers and staid with them in Discourse some Hours and the Deputy Governour much pleaded to us the Danger of our staying in the Town and feared the Division that might grow amongst them through us and withal much desired us to depart the Town supposing as he said the great Danger that might incur unto the Garrison through our stay But our Answer was in much plainness If he desired us we could not receive any such Desire and if he commanded us we could not obey his Command in that case neither could we depart the Town but in the Will of God according to which Will we came thither and having many words and much reasoning with them that Night we parted from them And the next Morning I was moved to write this Letter following and to give them all a sober Account of our coming and what our Work is in this World wheresoever we come which Letter was delivered to them and read by many of them but to it we received no Answer according as the latter part did require as may be seen Dunkirk the eleaventh of the third moneth English account 1659. To the Deputy Governor and the Officers of the English Army in Dunkirk these FRiends we the Servants of the Lord are Lovers of all your Souls and wisheth well unto you in the Lord that Truth and Peace and Righteousness may be among you and in your Hearts and we are Travellers in the Labour of the Gospel of Christ Jesus for the Elect Seed â—ake having received the glad Tydings of Life and Eternal Salvation into our Hearts through the Revelation of Christ in us who is our Hope of Glory and the Lord hath manifested greatly his Power amongst us and revealed the Riches of his Grace in our Souls to our own everlasting satisfaction and peace with God and also he hath made us Ministers of his Grace and of his Word to many others to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power to God and of him we are called and ordained by his Spirit into this his Work to preach the everlasting Gospel to the Nations and to war against Antichrist the Whore and false Prophets who came up since the dayes of the Apostles and have reigned over all the World for many Generations and this is our work in the World to fight the Lamb's Battel with his Spiritual Weapons and Armour and to follow him whithersoever he goeth and to give up our â—elves in his Service to do or suffer for him whatsoever he calleth us unto and in this hitherto hath the Power and mighty Presence of the Lord God been with us and is with us unto this day and great is his Name amongst us his People and to be praised for evermore And of this hath God given us the sure Witness in our selves even the Testimony of his good Spirit which bears us witness in our own Consciences that these things are true whether men believe or reject our Testimony for we are not Ministers of Man nor by man's will neither do we stand to man's Judgement to be approved or disapproved thereby but to the Witness and Testimony of God's Spirit in every Conscience we do commend our selves where ever any of us do come in the simplicity of Truth in the demonstration of the Spirit and not by words of Man's Wisdom and in the Day of the Lord shall we be justified herein by him and by his Witness in all mens Consciences and in the mean time we do suffer all things patiently and in the meek and quiet Spirit of the Lord And as for us two in particular who are now come into the Town of Dunkirk as we have in some part declared unto you already and so here I again say unto you not being ashamed nor unwilling to give you an account of our coming for we came to be made manifest openly in the sight of all men in our Doctrines Principles and Practises which are of and from the Lord and fully agreeing in all things with the Scriptures of Truth which were given forth by the Spirit of Truth as the holy Men of God were moved and as we have said to you we still testifie we were moved of God and by his Spirit to come unto this Place in love to the Souls of People and it is the Lord God that hath sent us and not Man and whether you believe us herein or do reject us the Testimony of God is sure and remains with us and for the Truth hereof we are not afraid to do and suffer but can do and suffer in the strength of Christ whatsoever is put upon us though chiefly our coming was so far as the Lord shewed us in relation to these Popish Idolaters to discourse with their Iesuites Friars and Priests and to discover to them the Errors óf their Wayes and the falsness of their Worships and to testifie unto them in the Fear and Power of the Lord concerning their Church that it is not a true Church of Christ but a false
them again at other times in discourse with the chief of all the Fryars of the Company called Recolects also and did in the Power of the Lord declare Truth unto them and against their Idolatry until such time as some of them were so offended with us not having much wherewith to an swer in Truth to defend themselves they of the Company called Capuchins grew light and scornful and very wicked and did in a manner deny us the liberty any more to come unto them And we were with each Company of Fryars two several times and as for the Iesuites we had much upon us to visit them in their Colledges but we perceived that the chief Rector of the Colledge of Iesuiâ—â—s had heard of our being in the Town he did refuse to discourse with us and we went once into the Colledge and could not be admitted to speak with him And about a Week after we came into the Town the chief Governor Lockhart coming home he sent as he said to the Iesuites Colledge that they should admit us to come to speak with them and as we found it from the Lord upon us at a convenient season we went again to the Colledge and were for some hours in discourse with the chief Rector of the Colledge who appeared at the first very high and subtile and crafty and did in his heart reject us and the simplicity of the Gospel but Truth and the Word of the Lord had dominion over him and before the Truth he and they all are as weak as Water many things were disputed upon which the particulars now cannot be related but in about three hours time he grew weary pretending other business and would stay no longer with us and so we parted demanding of him whether he would admit some more discourse at some other time which he did refuse so we were not admitted to come to him any more whereupon these following Propositions I was moved to give forth and send among them as a Charge upon them in the Name and Power of the Lord and they were given and delivered in Latine up and down among the Iesuites and Fryars in the Town unto which to this day I never could receive an Answer therefore my charge lies upon them to this day as a Testimony from the mouth of the Lord against them of which they can never clear themselves And we were moved to visit the Nunns and went to their Place and before many words were spoken to them through a Grate for we might not see them and to speak to them both at once they asked If we were of the order of those called Quakers and they perceiving we were such said They might not hear us because we were such and presently passed away and refused to suffer us to speak to them and therefore we had very small time with them onely gave our Witness against them and passed away To all ye Iesuits Priests and Friars and to all you in general of the Romish Church in and about Dunkirk FRiends in dear love to all your Immortal Souls I am moved to lay these things before you that you may read and consider them in the Fear of the Lord God for as much as for some dayes I have been in this Town according to the Will of God and having rightly observed your Religion in its Original and in its present standing and in its practises and having truely examined some part of your Faith and Doctrines and the manner of your Worships and your Ordinances and the Orders and Discipline and Government of your whole Church and in the Spirit of the Lord having laid all things to the Line of true Judgement and equally measured them hereupon I do from the Lord and by his Spirit propound and assert these things unto you First That your Church is not the true Church of Christ the Lamb's Wife and Elected Spouse but is degenerated in her Faith and in her Doctrines and in her Worships and Ordinances in her Orders Discipline and Government from what the true Church of Christ was in the Apostles dayes before the Apostacy 2. That the Constitution of your Church and the chief part of your Worship and Ordinances and the way and manner of your Discipline and Government are of Man and set up and standeth by the will of Man and are not after God nor according to him but are after the Traditions of Man learned and practised therein which is Idolatry and are not in the Commandments of Christ nor in the Example of his Apostles non according to the Scriptures but without the Spirit of God being set up since the dayes of the Apostles and since the Apostacy came in which hath overshadowed the whole World 3. That there hath been over the World for Generations and many Ages since the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches a general declination and falling away from the true Faith and Doctrines and from the Worship and Ordinances and from the Discipline and Government that was amongst the Apostles and practised in the true Churches of Christ in their dayes and your Church is in that declination and falling away 4. That Antichrist the Beast and the Whore and false Prophets have reigned over the World for Generations the Antichrist that hath opposed Christ and been exalted in the Temple of God and been worshipped as God the Beast that hath killed the Saints and warred against them and had power over Kindreds and Tongues and the World hath wondred after him the Whore whom the Beast hath carried she hath sate upon Peoples Multitudes and Nations and drunk the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs and she hath corrupted the Earth and caused all to drink her Cup of Fornications And the false Prophets have overspred the Nations and deceived them and you and your Church are the Peoples the Multitudes and the Kindreds that the Beast hath received Power over and the Whore hath sate upon and the false Prophets deceived 5. That the true Church of Christ the Lamb's Wife the elected Spouse and the beloved City who brought forth him that was to rule the Nations hath been fled into the Wilderness and been fled into the Place of Mourning and Desolation for a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and the Gentiles Feet have troden down the holy City the Lamb's Wife and had power over her for forty and two moneths and though she hath not been prevailed against nor overcome so as to be extinguished from having a Being yet her Being hath been in the Wilderness in Mourning and Desolation and she hath not appeared in the Glory and Excellency which once she had but hath lost her Garments and her Attire and her Heir and Husband separated from her and caught up to God and to his Throne and in this time of the Desolation and treading down of the holy City the Lamb's Wife and the reigning of the Beast and the Whore hath your Church been extant in her glory and power
which hath been of the false Woman and not of the Elect Spouse that is married to the Lamb. 6. That forcing and compelling of Persons by any outward Law and Authority to be of such or such a Religion and to conform to such a Way of Worship is the Worship of the Beast and of the Whore and not the Worship of God and to kill and persecute Persons for the exercise of Conscience and because they will not be of such a Religion and cannot conform to such Worship is of the Devil and the Dragon and not of God nor according to him and that your Church herein is not Successor of the Apostles and the true Church of Christ but is of the Beast and the Whore which Iohn saw was to come in his time and which we see are come in our dayes and have ruled for Generations and I affirm that Persons so made conformable by force and violent Laws to such a Religion and Worship are but two-fold more the Children of the Devil and are not at all converted to God thereby but becomes Idolaters whom God will judge 7. That none upon Earth are true Members of the true Church of Christ having a portion in the Inheritance of Eternal Life but such who are gathered out of the World by the preaching of the Gospel and are changed and renewed by the Power of the Lord God in the Heart and are led by his Spirit within them into all Truth and are joyned unto Christ the Head and gathered into the Eternal Unity of the Infinite Body by the same Spirit and Aâ—ointing dwelling in them and of such onely doth the true Church of Christ consist now in this present time as it did in the Apostles dayes but of such Members doth not your Church consist in this present Age neither is it in the Order and Government of the Spirit of Truth but in the Form without the Power therein was its beginning and its standing at this day 8. That the time is at hand and the Day of the Lord draws near and the fulâ—ess of time is approaching wherein great Babylon shall be thrown down and fall to the Ground and the Lord will be avenged on her and will render Judgâ—ents unto her and the Beast and Whore and false Prophets unto whom the Kingdoms of the World have been subject shall be taken and cast alive into the Lake and the Devil and Satan shall deceive the Nations no more but the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ whose Kingdom shall be revealed in Power and great Glory in the hearts of his Chosen And the Church of Rome and all the false Sects and Churches upon the Earth will the Lord God overthrow and his true Church shall be gathered out of the Wilderness and the Beauty of new Ierusalem of the holy Church the Lamb's Wife shall be as Glorious aâ— before she fled thither and before she was troden down of the Gentiles and the Lord God Almighty shall be known and his Tabernacle shall be with men These things I assert to you in the Name of the Lord and the truth thereof is certain and should be ready to argue and dispute these things with any sober Person amongst you upon equal tearms and to prove the Infalibility hereof by the Spirit of the Lord and according to the Scriptures wherefore consider of them in Patience and Meekness and believe in the Light of Christ which is in your Consciences which Christ hath lightened every man that cometh into the World withall that you may come to the knowledge of the Truth and out of all false Wayes and if any of you will return an Answer hereunto in behalf of your whole Body and can be able to clear your selves in Writing from what is charged upon you it shall be gladly received by me and a Reply iâ— Meekness returned to you for the further mâ—nifestation of Truth that Truth and Righteousness may clearly appear and be embraced and all Deceit and and false wayes of Antichrist may be confounded and denyed and who are in the Truth shall be confirmed and who are in the Error may have Warning now in the Day of the World's Visitation The Lord is coming to Judgment who will judge the Secrets of all Hearts and the whole World in Equity Dunkirk the 20th of the 3d Moneth 1659. By a Friend unto Righteousness and a Lover of all Souls E. B. These Propositions were sent to them in Latine This was sent to the chief Rector of the Jesuits Colledge in Dunkirk in Latine FRiend thy wisdom and thy knowledge is earthly and sensual and thereby canst thou not know the Things of the Kingdom of God thou canst neither learn them thy self nor teach them to others for thou art but a blind Leader of the Blind And thus saith the Lord God unto thee The Fruitless Tree is standing in thee that brings forth no Fruit unto God and the Head of the Serpent is not broken in thee that deceives the Soul nor the Body of Sin put off that burdens the Just and the Sword shall cut thee to pieces even the Sword of the Lord it shall slay thee And Friend The time is at hand that the Lord will make thee know that thou art and hast been in thy Life time a Dishonour to him and that thou hast not served him but thy self and the Devil and thy Heart is not right in his sight but is corrupt and deceitful for thou art tryed and measured and thou art found wanting in all things and God will judge thee and the Witness in thy Conscience shall answer his Judgments and all thy Idolatrous Practices and Profession of Religion and Church and Ministry thy many Prayers and thy Works of Righteousness all this shall not hide thee from the Wrath of the Lamb though now thou art hardened â—nd utterly unsensible yet the Stone shall fall upon thee that will grind thee to Powder and thou shalt not escape but the burden of thy own Iniquities shall weigh thee down into Perdition except thou speedily repentest Therefore fear and tremble before the Lord God and remember thou art warned by one that seeks the Peace of Souls but makes War by the Sword of the Spirit against the Kingdom of the Devil and Antichrist in whomsoever it stands And Friend answer me this one Query What is that Whore that hath sate upon Multitudes and Peoples and what is that Golden Cup in her Hand and what are the Abominations and Fornication of which her Cup is full which she hath caused the Kings and People to drink and with which she hath deceived the World Answer me this and subscribe thy Name E. B. ANd now this I have to say concerning the Church of Rome to them and to all the World as having been in a measure an eye and an ear Witness of their Idolatrous and false Wayes Practices and Doctrines never having in all my dayes
charged against them whereby the Lord hath been offended But all things and places of men must be new moulded and corrected and purged and regenerated that true Judgment may flourish and Righteousness and Truth prosper as in the Beginning and this will the Lord suddenly bring to pass by his own Power and if thou opposest it thou shalt not prosper but be cut off and taken out of the way For the Spirit of the Lord hath been provoked to Wrath because of these things and his Anger is kindled against the Nations and he hath overthrown and yet will once more overthrow till he comes whose Right it is to Rule whose shall be the Government and Kingdom and all his Enemies shall be slain And as for the publick Ministry as now it is in its present estate we certainly know and testifie from the Lord unto thee and to the whole Nations that it is not the same Ministry of Christ which the Apostles had nor by the same Power and Spirit but is wholy degenerated in Call in Practice and in Maintenance and in all things from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the true Churches before the Apostacy and it is as now it stands in degeneration not of God nor in the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus nor hath it the same End and Effects as the Ministry of Christ once had but it s tasted and tainted with the Spirit of Antichist which long hath ruled in the World and it s become a grievous Oppression in the Nations and people are not converted nor turned to God from their evil wayes but remain unprofited and to say no more of it though much I might say what I affirm of it I may prove by the Scriptures against the wisest of them before thee if thou pleasest viz. That as now the Ministry stands it is not perfectly the same Ministry the Apostles had but is degenerated from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy and if ever God toucheth thy heart thou wilt see it so when the Spirit of Christ is chief Judge in thee thou wilt witness this to be true and then may not thy Power uphold any thing which is contrary to God when Government is purged and made pure from all its present Degeneration Again There are many and divers sort of Sects and Gatherings of People and Professions in Reliigion of several contrary Judgments and Opinions Worships in these Nations and these People over whom thou art set to rule are divers and divided in their Wayes and Minds and Professions of Religion some looking for and seeking after Christ in such a manner and others after another manner all crying Loe here is Christ and thus he will come and loe he is there and so will he appear and some are inventing and supposing such a Government to be best and others contrary to that and many are as distracted in their thoughts not knowing what to seek or what to look after some are for such a Government and Religion and others for another and peradventure each one of these may seek to thee for Protection against such as oppose them commending and justifying their own Way and Sect and Form and Religion against all others and craving Laws to maintain themselves and their Sect and to stop and limit all other Ways as Heresie because differing from them and they will each of them turn and rest the Scriptures from the mind of the Spirit that gave them forth to prove their own Opinions and Professions to be right against all others but now thou mayst know that the Scriptures were given forth by the one Spirit of God and is the Testimony of one Truth of one Saviour of one true Worship and one only true Religion and not many and diverse Wayes and them that are of divers Judgments and Worships and Religions and yet all plead Proof from the Scriptures for what they profess and practice all such pervert the Scriptures and wrest them who are thus divided and unsettled in Religion and they shew that none of them have the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit leads into all Truth and in it is the true Worship of God and the true Profession and Practice of true Religion and that Spirit only understands its own words in Scripture but all these divers Sects and Heaps of People that are divided in Worship and about Religion have not the Spirit of God that gave forth Scriptures to lead them into all Truth and guide them in the perfect Way and pure Religion which the Apostles and Churches of Christ were in in their dayes but all these many Sects that are thus divided are risen up since the days of the Apostles and are of another spirit and of a false Religion And as for such called Ministers they will be hurrying about thee and flattering thee with fair and crafty words and smooth Petitions and Requests for Protection and Establishment from thee and for large Maintenance and Stipends and Tythes and possibly they may complain to thee against such as cannot give them Hâ—re and Tythes but may reprove their Evil and Covetousness and Wickedness begging for Laws against such and crying out against Error Herisie because some may be mov'd to cry against their Deceits Oppressions and for the like causes they will run about thee and seek their own Advantage and this we know their nature and spirit is such and hath been for many Ages But now Friend Do thou stand in God's Authority out of and over all such Teachers and Sects and come not under any of them that have the Form of Godliness but want the Power who are in the Apostacy from the Life and pure Religion that the Apostles were in nor believe them not that shall say Lo Christ is â—â—rt or Lo he is there or Who shall ascend to fetch him from without or When shall be come from far to save his People Go not thou after any of these but he arken to the Word of God in thy heart and know that Christ is within thee else thou art reprobate neither do thou take in hand to exalt any one of these Sects or some of them above others neither defend maintain any of them against others of them nor tollerate not one of them above another for if thou dost it will betray thee and the Nations Peace and set all spirits on Fire about thee and while one is pleased and may pray for thee others will be vexed against thee and curse thee wherefore be not troubled about these things nor cumber not thy self about Religion how to establish it for it is God's Hand only to establish his Worship and Religion it belongs to him as he will and not as man by his Policy and Wisdom but stand free from them all and neither establish any nor persâ—â—ute any Sect whatsoever but let them all have their couâ—se and
season they will fall and perish of themselves and the Good Old Way and Truth and the pure Religion only will remain and let them cry one against another and rebuke one another and meddle not thou with that but only let thy Laws and Authority preserve mens Persons and Estates from the Wrong one of another that all men may live peaceably under thee and no man wrong his Neighbour's Person or Estate and that 's only thy Place to rule in outward Affairs but not to Rule over any mans Conscience to compel him to such a Worship or to limit from such a Worship in Religion that belongs not to thee but to the Lord who alone will be the Ruler and Guide and Exerciser of his People's Consciences and if thou dost meddle therein thou shalt not prosper nor be blessed in thy Deed So leave the establishing of Religion to the Lord and let all these Sects manifest if any of them have the Spirit and Power of God in them and with them and let them shew their Weapons of the Spirit for only such as have the Power and Spirit of God in them will overcome and such will be increased and grow and thou nor none can hinder and such that want the Power and Spirit of God in and with them may flourish in their Form for a while but they will be blasted and wither and it s in vain for thee or any to uphold such or endeavour to establish them but if thou meddlest on these accounts it will undo thee and confound thee therefore be wise and know what the Lord requires of thee perfectly for if thou leavest that undone which God requires then shalt thou be condemned and if thou dost that which he requires not then shalt thou not be free And this is written in Love to thee to inform thy mind how to walk towards the Lord and the People over whom he hath set thee And as for the maintaining of Ministers Let that alone also and be not troubled about it for it was ever the false Prophets and Deceivers that preached for Hire and went after Gifts and Rewards and sought Money and Gifts of people and they that do the same now were never sent of God nor are they such as shall convert people to God for who are true Ministers of Christ will not seek to thee nor to men for Wages nor Tythes nor Money but live of the Gospel and not compel great sums of Money from people to maintain them in their Families in Pride in Fulness and Idleness such things are great Oppressions in this Nation and a horrible filthy thing in the Sight of God and because thereof will the Lord's Judgments come upon the Land If thou wert but rightly sensible what casting into Goals and what suing at Law of poor People and what spoiling Peoples Goods by Restraint and all for and about Tythes and Priests Wages it would make thee admire the Wickedness of that Generation but do thou let them alone for they do shame themselves and undo themselves and lose the Hearts of all good People by their own doings and stand over them all in God's Authority and know a measure of the Spirit of God in thy own heart and thereby thou wilt discern and try and judge of the spirits of all men and their Religion and the Spirit will lead thee in the pure Religion to worship God in Spirit and in Truth So let not thy mind be cumbred at all about establishing Religion nor about maintaining the Ministers but be faithful to what the Lord requires of thee and learn his Will and do it and then thou wilt be Blessed and Honoured in this world and in the World to come And Friend Know thou that the Lord is doing of a great Work in these Nations he is raising up a Seed to serve him and to worship him aright and the God of Heaven is setting up a Kingdom over all the kingdoms of the World and he hath a Controversie with all sorts of people in as much as Corruption and Degeneration is entred amongst all and all must be purged of all Orders of men and the Evil cast out the Work of the Lord is Great and Mighty and he requires no help of thee nor any man whatsoever for his own Arm will bring it to pass yet he would not have thee to gain-say his Work and strive against it and seek to quench what the Lord is bringing forth if thou dost it then shalt thou be condemned and the Lord will speedily execute his Judgments and Remove thee and overthrow thy Power and Authority into Destruction wherefore be passive in this matter and look thou at the Lord and protect and defend mens Persons and Estates from Wrong but meddle not with their opinions and professions in Religions to exalt any of them nor yet to persecute them And thus Friend according as it lay upon me from the Lord I have written this unto thee in dear and pure Love God is Witness and I have cleared my Conscience to thee thus far and if thou fall by thy own Transgression it will lie upon thy self I have warned thee and I am clear and if thy Fall comes remember thou wast advised Who am a Lover of Iustice and True Iudgment and a Friend to this Common-Wealth and to thee wisheth well in the Lord E. B. London the 18th of the 8th Moneth 1658. This was delivered to him in the Eighth Moneth 1658. To the Protector and his Council THE Lord God will shortly make you know that we are his People though we be accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter yet our King of Righteousness will break you to pieces if you harden your Hearts and Repent not And seeing that Love will not draw thee neither the Gentle Leadings of our God have any place in you yet Judgment shall awaken you and his heavy Hand of Indignation shall lie upon your Cousciences and you will be scatterred and distracted to pieces E B. This was written in White-Hall in the Tenth Moneth 1658. to Richard and his Council For the Parliament YE that sit in Counsel that are assembled for the Nations Good hear ye the Word of the Lord God which is towards you all Rememember the Cause of God and of his People remember the Groanings of the Poor and give ear to the Cry of the Oppressed and relieve the Guiltless Sufferers and break the Bonds of Iniquity and let the Oppressed go free do this lest you perish And remember the Old Good Cause that is decayed and hath long been laid waste let it be once more revived in the Nations that God may bless you Remember the first Engagement which was for Freedom and suffer not the Exercise of pure Conscience to be trodden down by Oppressors but seek ye seek ye the Glory of the Lord and the Safety of his People and the Freedom of such as are oppressed and be not ye Oppressors nor Adders to the Sufferings of the
that you would learn more Wisdom and that your people would come to receive the Spirit of the Lord into their Hearts whereby they may be led into all Truth and into the Covenant of God where there is no Unbelief Ignorance Prophaneness nor Confusion but Peace Love and Unity altogether and if you and they did come into this you might be happy and the Judgments of the Lord would be removed Now I come to some Particulars which you do promise for your selves First That you will use all holy Endeavours to keep Cod and his Truth among you Secondly That you will be more diligent in watching over your Flocks Thirdly That you shall endeavour the Establishment of your Congregations against Popish Delusions To all which I Answer You must first make clean your own hearts and you must first Repent of your own Iniquities before you can heal others and you must first learn Obedience to God in your own hearts before you can truly instruct others therein And indeed there is need enough for you to mourn before the Lord and to fast and to confess your Sins as you say for the Lord has been long departed from you and his Presence from your Assemblies and that is the Cause of Deadness and Dryness and Barrenness among the people because God's Presence is wanting among you and you had indeed need to be more diligent in watching over your Flocks for you have been negligent therein and have fed your selves and not them and you have sought theirs and not them it s partly evident and it is time for you now to amend and to put away the Evil of your Doings but first before you dispence the Word to others you must feel the Word in your own Hearts to be as a Fire and as a Hammer in you and you must know another Foundation for Ministers than you have long stood upon even the Lord Jesus Christ must be your Foundation and you must cease to Preach for Hire and to Divine for Money and then should it be better with you and your Flocks would have comfort in you if you had received freely from the Lord and ministred freely to them but while you do it for Ends to your selves they can have no good Hopes nor Confidence in you And whereas you exhort your Congregations in divers Particulars First To take heed of false Teachers trying their spirits and holding fast that which is good especially to beware of Popish Insinuations c. say you Ans. Your Exhortation is good in it self but you should have demonstrated more plainly how false Teachers should be known comparing their Fruits now with what they were in the dayes of old when the Scriptures were written and that had been a good way to have discovered false Teachers That Mat. 16. mentioned by you bids them beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Christ said They were such as were called of men Master stood Praying in the Synagogues loved uppermost Rooms at Feasts went in long Robes and of such Christ bids beware and of such now the People in London are to beware where-ever they are for such as do these things are in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ cryed Wo against and the true Prophets cryed against such in their days as preached for Hire and that sought for their Gain from their Quarter and such you ought to cry against now as seek for their Gain from their Quarter except the guilt of these things in your selves stops your Mouthes from crying against them in others and the Apostles cryed against such as went for Gifts and Rewards such as taught for Filthy Lucre and such as made Merchandize of People for Gain for themselves such the Apostles and Christ declared against and such you ought to declare against But the People of your Congregations may say Who are such now and Where are they That I leave to their Consciences to judge who they be and where they are now and whether there be any of them in this City now and in the Nation that are called of men Master and love uppermost Rooms at Feasts and that preach for Hire and Money for Gifts and Rewards seek for their Gain from their Quarter teach for filthy Lucre and Gain who are found in these things now such are false Teachers who ought to be taken heed of I shall not now say it is any of you but I shall leave it to you and to your Peoples Consciences to whom your Exhortation is And as I have said before let all Popish Inventions and Popery be first cast out of this Nation and then if you joyn with us against it through the Spirit of the Lord we will endeavour the keeping of it out and that it shall no more enter in amongst us into this Nation And you say That your Knowledge here and all other Graces here are imperfect To which I say Then you are imperfect Saints imperfect Ministers But what do you mean by here I suppose that you mean upon Earth Now there are none of the Graces of God that are imperfect but the Grace of God is perfect in it self and the Spirit of God is perfect and every Gift of God is perfect as say the Scriptures Now that you should say the Graces of God are imperfect this is Error even abominable Error and you shew unsoundness in Judgment even in the things of God and hath belyed the Graces and Gift of God which in their measure are perfect And thus I have looked over your Exhortation and thus I have returned to you again not but that I know it is the Duty of Christ's Ministers to exhort their Flocks and that Exhortation in it self is good but when I find where Lyes and false Accusations are against the Quakers whom I dearly love and own upon that account and not otherwise have I engaged with you and what I have done it is not rendring Evil for Evil but rather to reprove your Evil and to undeceive your Congregations who might otherwise take all for true that you have said if it were not reproved Again You exhort your Congregations That they manifest Sincerity not only by hatred of Error but by a Love of the Truth c. Answ. Sincerity of Heart is indeed precious especially where the Spirit of the Lord is the rule of Judgment and doth mannage that Sincerity but where a false spirit rules in the Judgment the Sincerity is often betrayed into a Zeal against the Truth and against the Wayes of the Lord rather than otherwise and thus it was with the Iews whose Sincerity through their Error of Judgment was turned into Zeal and Bitterness against Christ And thus it is to be feared it is with many in your Congregations who may have a Zeal without Knowledge and be short of true Discerning between what is Truth and what is Error I speak not this of all but of some for it s no small thing to discern between Truth and Error
especially in this day wherein there are so many Ways and Professions of Church-Ministry and Worship and yet all professing the Scriptures are their Rule of Faith Worship and Practice and seeing that all Sects do profess Proof from Scripture for what they hold forth what Ground have the people to believe you more than others or others more than you for where people receive Doctrine or Religion by Report from others without the Evidence of the Spirit of God in their own Hearts this is not receiving of the Truth unto Eternal Life wherefore I exhort your Congregations That every one amongst them may wait upon the Lord to have a feeling and discerning in their own hearts and that each one may be led and taught oâ— the Spirit of God which leads into all Truth that they may deny all false Ministers and false Worships and may worship God in Spirit and Truth though the ministration of his own Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences and thereby will they discern between Truth and Error and will love the one and hate the other Thirdly You exhort That they keep themselves unspotted from the prevailing Corruptions of these back-sliding Times c. Answ. Concerning the Times many are ignorant but this is certain at the present Time wherein we are is the Lord disquieting of men and its the latter dayes of Antichist's Raign and Government that hath been in full Power and Authority for many Generations and Babylon that great City her Ruin is threatned because of her Abominations that have been many and great for the whole Earth hath been corrupted as it s written and now the Call of the Lord is That every man come out of Babylon and deliver himself that he may not partake of their Plagues and happy are they that are made clean unspotted from their Sins that they may not be found covered with her Garments for the Day of the Lord is come and coming upon Babylon and all Back-sliders from God and his Wayes Now Babylon is that great City which hath ruled over the Kings of the Earth and in her hath the Blood of Souls and of all just Men been found Fourthly You exhort To endeavour a Healing of those sad Breaches and Divisions which have been amongst you c. Answ. Now the sad Breaches and Divisions which are indeed at present in this Nation cannot be healed but as the Cause and Ground thereof be removed which is the Sins of Rulers Teachers and People and this is the Cause wherefore the Lord hath brought Distraction amongst them Oh what Ambition and Self-seeking hath been among the Rulers What judging for Gifts and Rewards What neglect of Mercy and Judgment amongst them And oh how have they oppressed the Poor and trodden down the needy and because hereof is the Righteous God vexed And oh what Covetousness and Greediness of Gain â—re the Teachers guilty of How do they Preach for Hire and Divine for Money How have they unreasonably caused men to be imprisoned and their Goods to be spoiled for Wages and Tythes and Hire Oh how hath Covetousness and Idolatry and Superstition abounded amongst the Teachers in this Nation Oh abominable have been their Sins their Oppressions and Self-seekings and because of these things hath the Lord brought Distractions amongst People and the Sins of Rulers and People cry for Vengeance from the Lord and till these Iniquities be removed by Repentance and forsaken the Fruit and Effect thereof shall never cease but Breach upon Breach will the Lord make till the Rulers and Priests repent them of their Iniquities God's Hand will be upon them both in Judgment and for their sakes that divine for Money and preach for Hire and judge for Rewards will the Lord make the Nation as Heaps and as a Ploughed Field Therefore let all people Repent of their Iniquities and return to the Light of Christ in their own Consciences and become Followers of the Lamb and this is the perfect Way of healing of all Breaches inwardly and outwardly Fifthly You exhort To be diligent in the Spiritual and Conscientious Performances of Family-Duties c. Answ. Men must first be awakened and enlivened unto God before they can act for God in Holy Duties and as for Duties performed in pretence unto God traditionally and without the Teachings of the Spirit of God is but Idolatry and the Nation is weary of such a Religion which they have received and held traditionally for thereby the Soul Immortal cannot be nourished unto Eternal Life and while you teach Duties towards God by that Rule while you teach Praying Singing Repeating Catechizing by Tradition and Immitation without the Leadings of the Spirit of Christ in them you do but teach Idolatry as long hath been taught in the Christian Nations the doing and performing such and such things as Christian-Duties and Practices and the Forcing and Compelling of doing such things upon People in the unregenerate state and unconverted nature this Religion and such Performances of Duties have been of Babylon and of Antichrist and a Cheat upon Peoples Souls whereby many have been murdered and slain in that great City and the Form of Godliness without the Power hath been practiced while Duties have been performed unto God without the Teachings of the Spirit of God and such their Consciences are blinded and the Lord abhors their Sacrifices And people must first come to feel the Word of God in their Hearts to regenerate them before they can perform any acceptable thing to God and therefore do not teach People to be Hypocrites do not teach them such and such Performances in the corrupt Nature without the Teachings of the Spirit of God in their own particulars for if you do you make them but two fold more the Children of the Devil and such Duties performed in that nature shall not cover nor hide from the Wrath of the Lord which is coming upon all Hypocrites Sixthly You exhort That they would cause their Children and Servants to submit to Catechizings and train them up in the reverence of Godly Ministry c. Answ. It may be enquired into what you mean by cause them to submit how cause them by Force and Imposition upon their Consciences by outward external personal Punishments or Threats Is this your Meaning Will you set up Religion by Violence And must Children and Servants be compell'd by Restraint and Force This is not the right Way to promote Religion and the Worship of God nor to make Children and Servants truly Religious it was the Beast that received power from the Dragon that caused all to worship both Small and Great Children and Servants and this causing to worship was in the time of the Apostacy when the true Church was fled into the Wilderness and all the time ever since have Nations been caused and compelled to such and such performances and practices of Religion and Worship and such causing I am jealous your Meaning is whereby you would force and compel such manner
and divers practises thereunto pertaining it is not the true Worship of the True and Living God though never so zealously practised because it cannot be believed that the Authors and Composers of it were moved led and guided by the Holy Spirit of God in their very Institution and forming of it and whatsoever is brought forth whether in Faith or any practise in any kind of Profession and practises in any way of Religion and not onely by the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which is only in Spirit and Truth and consists onely of such practises moved unto and guided in by the Spirit and the true Worship of God is not otherwise neither for matter nor manner but in what things and after what manner as the Spirit of God leadeth unto and guideth in for the Father seeketh such to Worship him as Worship in Spirit and Truth 4. As for the Method and Form of the matter it is not according to the example of the Holy Scriptures nor agreeing to the practise of Worship held forth by the Apostles but different from and partly contrary to the Spirit that was in the Saints and their example of Worship as in many circumstances pertaining to the orders of Common-Prayer-Book might be instanced but even some of the Practises themselves and the manner of performing them are for the most part Invention and Tradition traduced into the World long since the Apostles days and they are not according to the Scriptures nor example of the Saints Worship in the Church of Christ in their days and therefore the Matter in it self partly and the Method of it are not the true Worship of the Living God which is not after the traditions of men as the manner of performance of Common Prayer-Book is when as the Worship of God is in and by the Spirit of God as before witnessed 5. And as for the Practice of it in this Nation as by Imposition and force upon pains penalties as it was practised for many years together as so held forth it was not the Worship of God but Abomination to him as I have shewed and that Worship which is practised by any people being forced upon them is but Hypocrisie and deceit and outward conformity in such Worshippers and God requires it not of them and such was the Worship in the Common-Prayer so called for there were many who did bow and conform thereunto even because of the terror of men even many in the Ignorance of their Consciences and some against their Consciences and contrary to the Light thereof and some were persecuted because they could not conform all which was Abomination in the sight of the Lord even the consequence of the thing was as evil as any part of either matter or manner also even while many conceited themselves in their Ignorance that they had Worshipped God and done well while they had onely performed such Worship forced upon them and which the Lord never required at their hands and that cannot be the true Worship of the true and Living God which can be performed by a People without the Spirit of God by which alone and without it God cannot be Worshipped and the practise of Worship after the order of Common-Prayer did many thousands if not most perform without the Spirit of God whereby it fully appears that in the practise of the Book of Common-Prayer the Worshippers did not Worship the true and Living God but walked only in a part of the Form of Godliness but had not the Power 6. But as for the Practise of it as now in England without Imposition upon all by force and penalty but by some out of supposition that it is the best way of worship and that willingly and neither forced upon them nor they forcing it upon others as thus practis'd is not so great Idolatry nor of so bad effects as if it were violently forced upon all but if any suppose it to be the best way of worship and be so perswaded such may more equally have their Liberty in the exercise thereof while they allow Liberty to others to follow what worship as they are preswaded and as it is unjust to impose by violence that or any other Form of worship upon people so it is unjust to impose penalty or punishments on the Bodies or Estates of any for their conformity to the Book of Common-Prayer or any other kind of Worship for as it is contrary to God to compel by force to that Practise of Worship so it is unjust to stop by force from that Way of Worship or to inflict Penalties upon the Persons or Estates of any because thereof for though many exceptions may be justly made by sound Arguments against that way of Worship in matter manner and effects as I have said yet none ought to be afflicted in Person or Estate for the error of their minds while their error extends not to destroy the Person and Estate of another for all force by violence that hath been put on the Bodies and Estates of men about Church-Worship Ministry and Religion of any kind hath been Antichristian and not of God even for many Generations 7. And therefore them that read the Book of Common-Prayer and all other sort of Worshippers that are either perswaded by the Spirit of God or suppose in their hearts of the Verity and Truth of their Way let them all have their Liberty in their way of Worship without force or restraint by outward Laws while they impose not one upon another violently for the true Worshippers ought not to be persecuted for their Worship but if they are it will confirm them in the truth of their Way the false Worshippers ought not to suffer affliction of Persecution nor loss of Estate though they do err in their Minds and Judgments about Worship in spiritual things but if they are afflicted because thereof it will harden them in their evil wayes and not convert them nor turn them from the evil of their wayes for men are converted to the right way and out of that which is evil by the Spirit of God and through perswading of the Conscience inwardly and not by force or violence put upon their Bodies or estates outwardly never any were converted to God by such means And this is my Answer to the Objection and my judgment of the case inquired into The Book of Common Prayer so called partly the Matter it self and the Method of it and the Manner of its performance is not the true Worship of the True and Living God no not the free Practise there of without Imposition much less the Practise of it by Imposition and force for that is altogether Abomination and hath with it woful effects upon whatsoever People it hath been or shall hereafter be forced and violently Imposed This is given forth for the Satisfaction of all that desires in this Matter The 5th Moneth 1660. E. B. A Postscript AND some set up the Institution
of Calvin or Form of Prayer as these have now the Common-Prayer and both the one and the other have cast off the POPES Form and brought in their own get into a Form of words a Forâ— of worship without either Life or Power The PAPISTS in some things that they begin to do will say In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And the Protestants or them who call themselves of the reformed Church that are come off from the Papists some of them when they go about to do a thing will say Our help is in the Name of the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Here both the one and the other have a Form of words but out of the Name the one as well as the other out of the Life out of the Power and Authority of our Lord Iesus Christ. Therefore what they do how can it be done in his Name which themselves are out of Though they may be in the words and do a thing in the words But that is not a doing it in the Name for to do things in so many words in their own Time and Will that which themselves have brought in is one thing But to do it in the Name Power and Authority of the Lord Iesus Christ is another for words is not the Name nor the Power and the Kingdom stands in the Power not in words Therefore all people see what you do that it be done in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ the true Light of the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World in his Light in his Power then that will bring you to cease from your own words and following your own ways doing it in his Power in his Strength out of your own words your own ways and your own wills in his Name For what hath form or words either one or the other hitherto produced or brought forth without Life or Power Hath your long Profession and Forms of the words brought any of you yet into the possession of the things Or will it ever do If not What serves it to Who hath required it to have it done And is it not his right alone who is to be worshipped to direct himself how he will be worshipped Or is not all other service and worship in the will And so Will-worship that is not of his own direction or appointment And the Scripture saith John chapter 4. as you may read God is a Spirit and he will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth Mark that He who is a Spirit will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth that which the Devil abode not in for into a Form of words Drunkards Swearers Lyars Prophane Persons unrighteous which are shut out of the Kingdom may get into words in such a worship out of the Spirit but that is not the worship which God requires And is it not equal that he alone direct how he will be worshipped that is to be worshipped And thou art so to perform thy service towards him that of him it may be accepted and so it is rightly done when done as he hath appointed it as he hath directed And Obedience is more than Sacrifice whom thou art to obey if thou wilt do him service who is worshipped or served in the Spirit and in the Truth whose Will then comes to be done and not thine who will be so worshipped and so served But otherwise is it not thine own will and not his that is done Therefore whosoever will come to worship the KING the LORD of HOSTS must come to worship him in his own way not in their ways to bow down to his Light to bow down to the measure of his Spirit in them for the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal Otherwise will not People Teachers and Professors be always in the profitless condition Ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth E. B. TO THE BELOVED and CHOSEN of GOD in the Seed Elected Particularly in LONDON And elsewhere who have seen the day of Christ and received the Message of Peace and Reconciliation in these last Dayes of his Glorious Appearance THe dear salutation of my life salutes you all in the most pure and dearest love with which I am beloved of the Father and with which also at this present my Heart is filled and issueth forth towards you and the whole Body of the elected Ones and the remembrance of you in the Lord is very precious unto me as I see and behold and have fellowship with you in the Immortal Life which the Father hath begotten in you and in me and in which my knowledge is of you and my unity with you and therein only is the remembrance of my dearest love unto you and in which I hope I am also known and remembred of you even in the spiritual Relation and Heirship of Immortality being fellow Citizens of the heavenly Ierusalem and Children of her conception and bringing forth Now my dearest Friends seeing you have believed in the Light and Life of men even in him that was and is and is to come and have also tasted of that all Fulness that is in him you have a Witness in your selves even of the Spirit of the Father which is greater then all and you need no other Testimony but that of the Spirit That the Lord is good and full of Grace Truth Mercy Peace and Joy even the Fountain and Treasure of all Vertue and Blessedness in this present time and hereafter I say If you have tasted and felt of Immortal Life and if the Fountain hath been opened in you and you have seen his Glory and received of his Treasure then the Evidence dwells in you of eternal blessedness and no man needs to teach you of these things nor to say unto you know the Lord if you dwell in him and go no more forth yet bear with me a little that I may speak and be refreshed not to diminish from what Testimony you have in you but the rather to add towards it for my witness is not another but the same which ye enjoy which is faithful and true and this I say Oh how great how mighty and powerful is the Lord our God everlasting and infinite he is that eternal Spirit that filleth all the Creator and beeing of all things that are the life and vertue in all and the invisible Substance greater then all he is in himself the immeâ—â—rable and infinite Fulness the Fountain of Life of Mercy and Righteousness and Peace and of all Vertue and of every good Thing who can declare his beginning or end he is without Time Place or thing yet gives beeing to all and is present in all yet not known saving of himself and by his own Spirit yet he effecteth all things and worketh whatsoever he will who can utter his wonderous Works Who can number his Mercies Who can account his Infiniteness who can
may escape the way of Destruction and Confusion therefore is it that the Lord hath put it into my heart thus to write unto you and not for another end nor of my self have I done it but as I found the drawings of that Spirit of the Father which leadeth into all truth to which I was made willing to be obedient without respect to any thing saving the Lord and that you might be advised in some things in present controversie occasioned as aforesaid and there are a few things towards you upon my spirit which well deserves your consideration as followeth First That there is an Eternal God who is great and mighty above all and â—e alone ought to be the fear of you and all man-kind for whatsoever he will it cometh to pass whether in Heaven or Earth he planteth and plucketh up he buildeth and throweth down he exalteth and abaseth whether Kingdoms Governments or Men Kings or Princes as he will and what time soever as he pleaseth he is onely wise in Council and mighty in Power if he purpose who shall prevent him he is the Being of all things that are and before him are all mankinde upon Earth even ye your selves as Dust and Ashes and Vessel of Clay and your Breath is in your Nostrils and he that gave it can sâ—â—n take it away from you and in a moment dissolve your seeming glorious substance into its first being And this eternal God hath overturned and changed Powers and Authorities Rulers and Governments in these Nations of late years even to the amazement of the Inhabitants who must confess that the God of Heaven hath pulled down and set up whom he would and taken the Government from and given it unto whom soever he hath pleased and he hath given unto many a day and a time to try them whether they would rule for him and he tried one sort of men after another to prove them if they would exercise Righteousness and Truth Iustice and Mercy and right Iudgement in the Land but when the Lord tryed them they have all proved deceitful and unfit men for the Lord to exalt his name by but they have neglected Iustice and true Iudgment and the cause of the Fatherless and the Widdow have they not regarded as they ought to have done but great oppressions and persecutions have abounded in their dayes and they have forgotten the Lord and his Iudgements and sought themselves and not the Lord and been ambitious and self-ended and they have exalted themselves in their Pride and Covetousness and this hath been the path of many that have sitten in the Throne even till the God of Heaven hath been provoked against them to confound them and overturn them even when their measure of oppression and unrighteousness of Injustice and Persecution was fulfilled and when the measure of one was finished the Lord brought that down with shame and another was set up to raign till it had fulfilled its measure of that which went before it that it might be brought down even as the other and all this the God of Heaven hath effected by his power that all the Earth might take knowledge that he can do whatsoever he will and that he hateth and abhorreth Injustice and Oppression Cruelty and Persecution and that his Vengeance and Iudgements are extended forth against such Rulers and Governments by whom and in which Persecution Cruelty and Injustice are brought forth and because hereof hath he overturned and confounded Rulers and Governments and these things have been visible in our eye 2. Consider that you are now set in the Throne and are raised up out of your suffering condition and you are become the Rulers and Potentates in our Nation divers having been cast out before you and unto you a day and time is given to try you and prove you what you will do and whether you will rule and govern alone for the Lord and answer the end wherefore the Lord hath restored you which if you do and walk in the Fear of the Lord and forsake your Iniquities and do Iustice and Righteousness in the Earth then the Lord make you happy and a blessing in the Kingdoms But if so be ye walk in the wayes of Oppression and just Iudgement Mercy and Truth be wanted in the Land through you and you run on as others before you in Pride Ambition vain-glory and Covetousness and have no respect to the God of Heaven and his Heritage then the God of Heaven shall reprove you and deep confusion shall come upon you and as with a whirle-wind shall you be overthrown and you shall know that there is a God that can do whatsoever he will even he shall deface your glory and turn your Sun into Darkness and your Day shall become a Night of Misery Oh therefore say not in your Hearts that our Mountain is strong and we can never be moved neither think in your selves that your force is great and your number many and none shall be able to prevail against us but rather consider that there is a secret and an eternal Hand that can remove your Mountain and overcome all your might and power and subdue your Number and turn all your Wisdom and Policy into Folly and Madness These can his Hand do even the God of Heaven who is greater then all if he smite none can heal you and if he kill none can make alive if he beâ—… your enemy to fight against you there is none that can deliver you out of his 〈◊〉 all flesh is as grass that is soon cut down and withered and the strength of 〈◊〉 sons of men are as a Reed that is soon shaken and bruised 3. Consider how that you are placed in your present state between good and 〈◊〉 between doing the will of God and the will of the Devil that ye should do the one and forsake the other and in the doing of the one or the other dependeth the Blessing or the Curse the Love or the Hatred of the Almighty and you are in your day that is given you to prove you time is taken from others and given to you even by the Lord that gives and takes time and power according to his own pleasure and no man hath assurance of time unto himself but it cometh and goeth at the pleasure of the Almighty and time â—nd power is now given unto you for a moment Consider what the God of Heaven reâ—…ires of you in this your day and if you fulfill the will of the Lord then you may be happy but if otherwise then other effects shall follow upon 〈◊〉 and let not the King say in himself that because I am the true 〈◊〉 and to me onely it belongs to govern these Kingdoms and I may goverâ—â— as I will without correction as though therefore he might rule according to his own pleasure and the Lord take no notice I say let not this enter into any of your hearts but let the King know assuredly that these
in your own Consciences you are in a condemned condition and you cannot be justified of the Lord while you are accused by the Light within you of such and such sins and that you are guilty of them and sorsake them not for the God of Heaven condemneth and justifieth men according to the Witness of the Light in their own Consciences for it is Gods Evidence to bear witness for God and to accuse or excuse every man in his sight and according to its evidence God justifieth or condemneth all the Children of men III. Again Whosoever will be saved must be born again of the seed of God and must be changed and renewed in Mind and Heart and Spirit and old things must pass away and all things must be made new and a new Nature must live in you and the Image of God must be brought forth which is in Righteousness and true Holiness which is like unto God and this is the new Creation which every one must witness to be wrought in them that ever â—â—â—â—ers into Gods Kingdom For saith Christ Except a man be born again he canâ—â—â— enter into the Kingdom of God for it is not a profession of Religion made with the Lips nor the practises of Duties and Ordinances taken on and performed in the old nature and a holding of truth in unrighteousness this is not the way of Salvation but it is the regenerating and making like unto God being his Image of Justice Truth and Righteousness it is this in which men may be saved everlastingly IV. Again Whosoever will be saved must receive the Spirit of God and it must dwell in them even the Spirit of the Father and they must be taught by it and led into all Truth to do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things even the spirit of Truth must be received to teach and to lead in all the wayes of God it alone must teach and all the Hireling-Teachers of the World must be turned away from by whom peoples souls have been deceived all such as have run and God never sent them that have cryed up Tâ—â—ching and Ministry and through whom people have not received the Spirit of thâ— Father all such Teachers must be denyed their Church and Ministry and the Spirit of the Father must only teach and lead and you must walk in the Spirit and not after the Flesh for if you walk after the Flesh in the wayes and works of it you are in the state of Condemnation and not of Salvation and the Spirit of God doth not teach you but you are out of the New Covenant of God in which Covenant all are taught of the Lord and in Righteousness are they established the Spirit of God is put within them and the Law of God is written in their hearts and they need no man to teach them but as the Spirit teacheth and this is the New Covenant of Peace with God into which all must come to witness this or else they cannot be saved V. Again all that will be saved must be sanctified cleansed and purified from all Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Word of God whereby every Heart must be made clean and every Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lamb and the body of sin and death must be put off and the bondage of Corruption must be broken and Iniquity must be forsaken and turned from and siâ— must be judged in the Flesh and Purity Holiness and Righteousness must live and reign in all that will be saved and Sin and Transgression and the guilt of it must be removed and you must shew forth the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness and must be pure as he is pure in kind and quality and you must walk in Holiness and Righteousness being freed from Corruption and from the Wayes of Sin and Death being sanctified in Body Mind and Spirit by the Word of the Lord and Sin must be blotted out and Transgression must be covered and Iniquity must be remembred no more and in all things you must cease to do evil and learn to do well if ever you will be saved VI. Again whosoever will be saved must witness Christ revealed in yoâ— â—â—d â—e must live in you and you must be Followers of him wheresoever he goâ—s â—â—d your Bodies must be the Temples of the Living God and God must walk 〈◊〉 you and dwell in you according to his Promise and he must be your King your Judge and Law-giver your Teacher Father and Master and he must be 〈◊〉 in all unto you even God the Father who is blessed for ever you must â—â—ow him near you and feel his Presence in you to be your Joy Life and â—eace and you must have fellowship with him in spirit and must worship him 〈◊〉 Spirit and by the Spirit without respect of Dayes Times or Places every one that will be saved must come into this and witness it for this is the way of the Salvation of God VII Again whosoever will be saved must live in the Power of Godlinâ—ss and must deny all Forms of Religion without the Power all Profession of Scriptures Ordinances Church-member-ship Praying and Preaching which is not in the Power of God and by his Spirit must be denyed and that part that holds it that holds the Form of Godliness without the Power must be crucified and every one must come into the Power of the Spirit of God and must witness that to work in them to will and to do and no more professing the Things of God but as they are witnessed by the work of his Spirit in their hearts you must not hold Truth any longer in unrighteousness nor make a profession of it in your your unrighteous minds no more talking of Justification and Redemption nor of any of the matters of Gods Kingdom but according as they are witnessed by the working of the Spirit of God in the heart and every one must feel in himself the evidence and Testimony of the Spirit of God to witness the Truth in his heart or Conscience of what he professeth with his mouth VIII Again Whosoever will be saved must witness the Scriptures of Truth fulfilled in themselves the things that they have read of without them must be wrought within them wrought in their hearts by the same Spirit as gâ—ve forth the Scriptures they must pass through the same conditions as the holy men of God did and the same truth that the Scriptures declare of must be revealed in the heart by the same Spiâ—it that gave forth the Scriptures and none must profess more than they do enjoy from God and all flesh must be silent from speaking of the things of Gods Kingdom which they have not seen handled rasted and felt by the working of the Spirit of God in their Consciences and this is to witness the Scriptures fulfilled when you have experience of the same conditions and of the same operations and manifestations which the Servants of the Lord passed through
New Birth and â—ll such are out of the right way in the way of Error if they have the Form of Godliness but want the Power though they may have Mass or say Common-prayer once a week oâ— oftner yet all this is but Abomination and Deceit whilst they practise Iniquity Hatred Back-biting Lying Drunkenness and the like they that act these things the Plagues of God will be their portion and Misery their end and their Profession in Religion will not save them The Day of the Lord is at hand ye Hypocrites ye false Christians ye â—â—at profess God with your Lips and your Hearts are far away Therefore repent ye and treâ—ble before the Lord lest hâ— smite you with Vengeance and forsake your false Religions both your Mass and your Iâ—…s of Prayer and be not Idolaters in professing love in your mouthes and honour with your Lips wâ—ilst your hearts are departed from the living 〈◊〉 and now come to learn the true Religion Depart from all Iniquity and do not Lye nor Swear nor be Drunk nor Steal nor Murder nor Envy but love the Lord with all your hearts and your Neighbour as your selves And this is the true Religion in which man may be saved and live in Soberness Meekness and â—â—nesttâ—y and speak every man Truth to his Neighbour and live in love 〈◊〉 with another and be kind and gentle and bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit of God Cease to do evil and learn to do well and depart form all â—â—iquity and follow after Righteousness This is true Religion and in it â—ou may â—e saved this is the right way all that walk in it shall have Peace and Blessing from God and all that walk contrary Damnation is their portion Therefore you Papists and Protestants so called turn from your Hypocrisie and learn this way and cease from your false worships that are after the Forms and Traditions of men and not after the Spirit of God and learn to worship God in the Spirit that you may be saved You have a Light from Christ in your Consciences which lets you see what sins ye are guilty of and it reproves you for your sin If you believe in the Light and walk in it that is the right way then you will deny what is evil and follow what is good in your Conversations but if you follow what is evil and act contrary to the Light in your Consciences and repent not Vengeance in flames of fire will be youâ— portion This is the day of your Visitation the Army of the Lamb is gone forth and the Sword of the Spirit is drawn amongst them that will wound your Consciences and God will smite you with the words of his mouth ye Rocks and Hills and Bryars and Thorns and fruitless Trees the God of Heaven will hew you to pieces and pluck you up and cast you into the fire to be consumed Repent for the Day of the Lord is at hand By one that seeks the Good of all men E. B. A VINDICATION OF The People of God CALLED QUAKERS Directed Unto Roger Boyle Called Earl of Orrery Charles Coote Called Earl of Mountrath Theophilus Iones Called Sir Theophilus Iones Being an Answer to a Book dedicated to them by one George Pressick of Dublin In which Book many Lyes and Calumnies are presented against the Innocent People of God And this is for the clearing of the Truth that no Lye may rest upon it And for the Satisfaction of all Sober People in Ireland and elsewhere With a Word of Good Advice to the Chief Governours there THere is Irreconcileable Ennity between the two Seeds to wit the Seed of God and the Seed of the Serpent and these two are alwayes opposite and contrary one to the other in Nature Fruits and Effects and the seed of the Serpent is alwayes persecuting the Seed of God in every Age and Generation and they in whom the seed of the Serpent is living and ruling are alwayes projecting and contriving mischief and hatred against the People and â—â—â—vants of the Lord in whom the Seed of God liveth and reigneth as it is written He that is born of the Flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit Thus it hath been in all Generations and thus it is at this day Great is the â—â—â—â—sition that is made by many in Lyes and Slanders in Reviling and Reâ—…hing in Imprisoning and Persecuting and in all manner of evil works 〈◊〉 words against the innocent People of God called Quakers How have the hands of ungodly men been lifted up to smite that People by many kinds of abuses and how have their Tonges been set on fire to reproach and revile and slander in all kind of evil-speaking and all this for Righteousness-sake and not for any evil doing For who is the man and where is he that can justly charge Evil upon that People either in Doctrine Faith or Practice or in any â—â—ing relating to their Religion to God-wards or in relation to their Conversations and walking towards men It is true we have not wanted Accusers to every Authority but such and such things have been falsly charged against us and that to every Power that hath been since we were a People under whom we have been a suffering People even from all that ever have sitten in the Throne since the Lord raised us up to bear Witness of his glorious Name and Truth in the World Now the present occasion of this my present work is Forasmuch as we now stand accused of great and heinous Crimes in the view of this whole Kingdom of Ireland and more particularly before you three in a Book called A brief Relation of some remarkable Passages of the Anabaptists in Germany c. published by one George Pressick of Dublin and dedicated in a special manner to you that his Work may pass with the greater Credit and his Slanders and Calumnies be received for undoubted Truths Now that the Innocency of the Upright may be cleared and that no Lye may rest upon the Truth nor that you neither any others may receive Falshoods for Verities because of our silence therefore it is that the Lord hath put it into my Heart to defend the Cause of God and his People by returning plain and sober Answer to the principal part of his Book wherein we are concerned and falsly Charged and for the end that the false Accuser may be reproved and his Calumnies returned into his own evil and malicious Heart from whence they came and that you and all men may be truly informed and prevented if possible of being seduced into the belief of Falshoods lest that your Hearts and Hands should be stirred up to act or do in your Authority against the People whom God hath blessed and from the ground and cause of Mis-informations and false Accusations without better Testimony which would be a way to destroy your selves and to bring the unjust Sufferings of the Lord's People upon your own Heads which would draw
charging all this upon us Answ. 1 That we do boast of talking with God or of Revelation This is another of his false Accusations for we boast not nor do we glory in any thing saving in the Lord and this is no Error but that which we must acknowledge unto or else deny the Truth to talk with God and God with us in and by his own Spirit for all the Saints have converss with God and union and fellowship with him in his own Spirit as the Scriptures do declare and as for Revelations we do acknowledge according to Christ's Words that we had never known the Father nor the Son but by Revelation For none known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him as it is written and all such as have not converss with God and that have not Revelation are not in the Way of Eternal life but are ignorant and without God in the World and neither know him nor have fellowship with him 2. As for killing all the Wicked this is another false Charge for it is not our Principle to war against the Persons of any Men and kill them with carnal Weapons about Church and Ministry and Religion as the Papists and Protestants do one against another but it is our Principle to war against the evil spirit in men and to smite that with the spiritual Sword of God's Word and we would have mens wickedness killed and their Persons saved and their Souls delivered and this is the War we make even till men be changed by the Power of God and all things made new even a new World and a new Earth we do expect according to the Lord's Promise so that it is no error to expect a new Earth and a new World for there is a new Creation which the Saints do witness created anew in Christ Jesus to bring forth good fruits unto the living God and all that do not witness this are in the transgression of the old Creation which brings the Wrath of God Again The Accuser tells a story of one that professed the Gift of discerning spirits and to know the Elect from Reprobates and that made holiness consist in speaking little and living homely and sordidly as our Quakers do saith he Answ. 1. As for discerning of Spirits that is a Gift which the Saints of God do receive in all Ages for the Apostles said to some was given the discerning of spirits by the manifestation of the Spirit of God So to profess discerning of spirits is no error in us though it be stated as a great error before you by an ignorant man who knows not what he saith nor whereof he affirms And its possible to know the Elect from Reprobates by their fruits and works for the Children of God who are the Elect are known by their holy and Righteous works and fruits and the Children of the Devil who are the Reprobates are known also by their works and fruits of unrighteousness which they bring forth and this the Scriptures bear witness of 2. As for speaking little and living homely and sordidly If he means by homely and sordidly plainly and without superfluity this is also works and fruits of holiness and its better to speak little than to utter multitude of vain words and its more justifiable to God and just Men to be plain and homely as he saith in Apparrel than superfluity of naughtiness in vain Attire and more holy for true holiness consists in the Power of God which crucifies all idle words and all superfluity in Apparrel and whatsoever is not like God And was but this Accuser as wise as he is envious he would never be seen to scorn the Quakers scornfully so called with speaking little and wearing plain and sober Apparrel but Fools love to be medling to manifest their own folly as it is written Again The Accuser telleth another Story of Muntzer how he did exhort some that were on his part viz. Anabaptists to kill every Mothers Son for a Sacrifice to the Lord and saith he by this we may gâ—ess if Anabaptists and Quakers should get the upper hand what they would do c. Answ. 1. As for the Quakers getting the upper hand we strive not for it by carnal Weapons to have victory over mens Persons though we know the Lord will give us victory and dominion over the Beast and over the false Prophets for the Lamb shall get the victory and they that are with him who are called and faithful and chosen but this victory is spiritual and obtained spiritually and thus we believe the Lord will give us the upper hand even victory over â—ll our Enemies 2. But what a wicked envious siâ—rmise and suggestion is here coutched under as if the Quakers if they had victory would kill every Mothers Son for a Sacrifice and that they would make War c. The Lord rebuke his slanderous Tongue who hatched Mischief in his mind against the Innocent and presented you with forged Lyes and Surmises and imagined guessed cruel and evil things against us who are far otherwise Principled than as he suggesseth but all this his own doings doth but manifest the folly of his own Heart and 〈◊〉 own wickedness for we are of the Spirit of Mercy and Peace and not of Murder and War not to kill mens Persons but to war with the Spirit of God against spiritual Enemies that mens Iniquities may be slain and their Persons and Souls saved Again The Accuser pag. 4. tells a long story of Micher Hopman and others with him what things they held As they condemned the Baptism of Children they would not take an Oath they pulled down Magistrates they undertook to kill all Princes they taught that in their Churches all were holy and that it was lawful to have many Wives that all Learning is prophane and that mean men are fittest to expound Sâ—riptures and there must be no ordinary calling in the Church but every man must speak as he is inspired And thus it is saith the Accuser with the Quakers and Popish Agents who are their Ring-leaders have been endeavouring in these three Nations these eight or nine years by-past c. Answ. 1. It is to be considered that all these things are fully charged upon us as being guilty thereof and so to every particular I shall answer As to that of the Baptism of Children we do say there is neither Command nor Example for it in all the Scripture God never commanded it nor did the Apostle ever practise it in their dayes but it is a Tradition of the Church of Rome introduced into the World long since the Apostles dayes and except better ground can be shewed for the Practice of it than bare Tradition it is lawful to deny it as being no Ordinance of God in his true Church except I say that it can be proved that God ever commanded it or the Apostles and Saints practised it till which be done it is no error to deny the
One to such and such kind of Persons whom they name Clergy-men as if they knew all Religion and might only Preach and all besides themselves might be in Ignorance and know nothing nor can be fit to speak of the Matters of God's Kingdom which is contrary to the Scriptures and Example of Saints in former Ages As for the 13th and 14th Doctrines about Baptism of Infants I have spoken somewhat to it in my Answer to the fourth Doctrine so here I pass them Then Semper Iidem goes on and saith Who sees not among these the principal Tenets of our Anabaptists Fifth-Monarchy-Men Levellers and Quakers c Answ. As for the Anabaptists Fifth-monarchy-men and Levellers so called I shall not now plead their Cause but shall leave it to themselves to do it against Semper Iidem neither shall I condemn them with him or justifie them against him But as for the Quakers so called I have a few word to plead for them against their Adversaries though I shall be brief at this time They are neither Rebellious Seditious Hereticks nor Phanaticks though accused at this time of these things and accounted by the Author of Semper Iidem as such though neither he nor any of their false and envious Accusers that have ever risen against them can prove any such matter nor ought against them saving That they are an Innocent and Harmless People towards all people and though Sufferers by Injustice and Cruel Imprisonments under all Authorities yet not Rebellious nor Seditions against any but Peaceable and Quiet under all this is their Practice since they were a People And as for their Principles of Faith and Worship and Doctrine and Religion they are according to the Scriptures and Example of the Saints in former Ages and not ever yet convicted by any either Protestants or Papists of Error False Iudgment or Heresie though all manner of Evil hath been spoken against them in that Case yet never to this day truly detected or reprehended concerning the same And they desire no better way to be made manifest in their Doctrines and to be approved or disproved therein through the World than to have free Egress and Regress among the Papists and Protestants and all others in the Way of sober Arguments and Disputations and Reasoning out the Truth of what they hold and profess and if they can possibly be convicted that their Way and Doctrines and Religion are not found Verities but Errors then it is time to forsake them But all the Persecution that is already or can be acted upon them will never make them change their Minds till Death nor renounce the things which the Spirit of God in their own Hearts doth bear witness to the truth of And therefore let the Church of Rome lay down her Cruel Weapons of Persecution by Burning and Destroying of such as differ from them in Religion and let her admit of Disputations and sound Arguments to uphold her self thereby if she be able and to Confute and Convince such as are contrary minded to her even the Quakers so called if she can and let her cease her Fire and Faggot and Inquisition-Disputation of Murders and Cruel Tortures against such whom she calls Hereticks and let her appear in the soundest Arguments of Reason and Scripture and Antiquity that she can adorn her self withal and the Quakers so called will not doubt nor fear to advance towards her and meet her and answer her in the same for the true and legal Tryal of both that all the World may see and understand the difference between these two and whether the Papists Religion or the Quakers Religion is of more Reason Verity and Antiquity and the Quakers are willing to try this Case with the Papists engaging upon the adventure of certain Proof or Disproof of their Religion in the view of the whole World And this is the most I shall say at present on their behalf and in the mean time till this be performed let the Church of Rome and all her Members cease to persecute and accuse such whom they know not but by the Evil Reports of others and the Tenets and Principles of the Quakers so called will be justified where the false Christians cannot stand nor appear in Judgment Then Page 7. The Author of Semper Iidem complains of some Phanaticks as he calls them that nick-name what they dislike saith he They call the Church a Steeple-House the Surplice a Rag of Popery the Organs Grumbling-Pipes c. Answ. As for the True Church it is in God 1 Thes. 1. The People of God that are regenerated and sanctified wheresoever come together are the true Church of Christ for the Church was in Aquilla's House as it is written So that it is the People that are the Members of Christ the true Church and not the House or Place wherein they assemble at any time And as for calling the publick Meeting Places which some call Churches Steeple-Houses this is no Error for the Form Fashion and Service of the Place prove it to be so A great House made of Wood and Stone and a Steeple with Bells in it erected at the End of the House may properly be called a Steeple-House without Error and cannot at all be called a Church but in Error And as for the Surplice which the Priests put on this is without Question an Invention of the Church of Rome because there is no such thing in the New Testament nor was there any Surplices worn by any of the Ministers of Christ in the Apostles dayes but is an Invention introduced into the World by the Church of Rome and so is and may be called A Piece or Rag if you will of Popery And as for Organs and the Practice of them as held forth for the Worship of God there was no such thing among the Apostles neither did the Saints of the Primitive Church hold forth the Worship of God by playing on the Organs but the true spiritual Gospel-Worship is more heavenly and spiritual even in the Spirit and in the Truth is God worshipped as Christ said and not by outward Musick on Organs and such like but this is also an Invention of the Church of Rome since the Apostles dayes And Organs having Pipes of different sounds may be called Grumbling-Pipes without Offence Again Page 11. It is charged as a great Error in some that held It was not lawful for a Christian to take an Oath Answ. To deny all Swearing and taking of Oaths is according to the Doctrine and Command of Christ Jesus who hath said Swear not at all so it s manifest that the false Christians accuse and condemn such for Hereticks as abide in the Doctrine of Christ and keep his Commands And thus both Papists and Protestants are found in Error and Heresie themselves and breaking the Command of Christ and walking contrary to his Doctrine in Swearing and taking Oaths and condemning such as Hereticks as cannot take an Oath for Conscience sake and so
into Bondage in Conscience to God-wards by Laws or Men but enjoyeth Freedom and Liberty therein as much in Sufferings and in Persecutions under all the Cruelty of Men as in doing and practices when they are not persecuted for in Sufferings the Conscience is exercised and hath its Liberty in Patience and Forbearance and at Liberty of Persons in practice it is exercised and hath its Liberty in doing and performing whatsoever the Spirit of the Father moveth and leadeth unto And thus where God hath freed the Conscience and it is Free and at Liberty in him and to him nothing without can bring it into Bondage or Captivity but in all Conditions and in all Exercises whether doing or suffering the pure Conscience is in Liberty in it self and in perfect Freedom in God through all over all and beyond all But now there hath been a great Cry among many that have professed Righteousness and Religion For Freedom of Conscience and begging and craving from the Powers of the Earth to Tolerate Liberty of Conscience and that they might have the Liberty of their Conscience in Religion And thus some have been looking too much without for Liberty of Conscience from Men and from Powers without them before their Consciences were set free by the Lord within the Bond of Iniquity broken and that Burden of Iniquity and Guilt done away which hath been a Burden Bondage upon the Conscience For as I have said No Man nor Powers of the Earth can truly Free or give Liberty to the Conscience which is bound by the Cord of Iniquity within But 't is evident The Cry for Liberty hath not been so much for the Exercise of Conscience truly so as for the freedom each one of their Sect and for their Liberty in the practice of their own Worship and Conformity and thereupon have divers men of divers Sects sought to the Powers of Men and of the Earth to grant them Liberty of their Consciences whenas it hath been rather for the Freedom to and Defence of their Sect and of their Practices in their Worship than for Liberty of Conscience truly so for while they have cryed for Liberty from without yet Sin and Iniquity and Transgression have lain upon their Conscience within and they have sought from Men for the Liberty of their Sect to practice their own Worship which they have called Liberty of Conscience And to this Intent by some hath been the Cry for Liberty of Conscience that their Sect and their own Wayes of Worship might be defended from the Violence of others who have opposed their Practices and Worships for People of divers Wayes of Worship and of divers Sects have all been at Strife one with another and divided one against another and yet all professed good Conscience and cryed for Liberty thereof from the Powers of the Earth not but that the Powers of the Earth ought to grant free Liberty of Conscience in the Exercise of every Sect of Religion and to suffer all to profess and practice their Religion while they walk justly and Peaceably in a Land But here hath lodged the Deceit and Deceivableness of the spirit of Satan in the Hearts of men from the least to the greatest of all those divers false Sects and Worshippers they have therein zealously gone on and pleaded for their Sects and Worship though never so gross or dark and contrary to Truth under the denomination of Freedom and Liberty of good Conscience and the very Title and Name hath been the Colour and deceived many while a false Worship and false Sects have gone under the Name of Liberty of good Conscience and Thousands have been deceived and blindly led into such a false Sect and into such a Profession to act and perform with great Zeal false Practices in a false Worship falsly supposing it to be out of a good Conscience and that they have acted in the Liberty thereof yea and many may suffer great and grievous things and some the loss of their Lives for the very Practice of false things and false worships in a false Sect and yet under the name of good Conscience and for Liberty of Conscience as they may profess and believe But this may seem strange to be spoken to some who may enquire how it comes to pass and how this may be That many may suffer great and grievous Cruelties and some the loss of their Lives for the Practice of false Things and the Exercise of false Worships which they may suppose to be out of good Conscience and for good Conscience sake whereas it is not truly so nor rightly so But how happeneth this may some say I Answer This cometh to pass after this manner Because Conscience is made of that and of the Things and Performances which God requires not and so there is a great Zeal in the doing and performing of such a Practice and such a Worship whenas the Lord doth not require these things at their Hands and this is because the Mind and Heart and Conscience is dark and not truly informed nor guided with the Spirit of Truth and of the Father but a false spirit ruleth and leadeth the Conscience and it is not exercised with the Spirit of the Father that leadeth into all Truth So I do acknowledge that Conscience may be mis-led and mis-guided and mis-informed and Conscience may be made of doing such and such things which the Lord doth not require and there may be a Fear not taught of the Lord nor received by the sence of his Presence but only received into the Heart by the Precepts of men Example of others Custom of Times or the like and here the Conscience being not truly informed nor guided by the Spirit of the Lord there is a false Fear and Zealousness in the performing of such things which the Lord doth not require nor his Spirit lead into the practice of but only the Traditions and Precepts of men hath placed a false Law and Commandment which requires a false Obedience which many whose Understandings are blinded and being without true Knowledge they zealously perform and practice as the Worship of God thinking themselves bound in Conscience to practice such things and not to leave them undone whenas the Lord and his Righteous Spirit leadeth not to them nor yet his Just Law doth require the doing thereof but only a false Law and Commandment is received by Precepts and Traditions of men or from looking upon the Practice of others By such means as this there is a false Fear in a blind mis-guided Conscience and a Zeal without true Knowledge And thus it was amongst the Iews in the Prophets dayes They Sacrificed their Children and cut themselves and caused their Children to pass through the Fire and did many things zealously whenas saith the Lord Who hath required these things at your hands for they come not into my heart And Paul witnesseth the same of the Iews in his dayes and bore them record that they had a Zeal
of his truth so in conversion and regeneration that many can say the Way of the Lord is so made manifest that we look not for another nor are doubtful of the Way of Eternal Life therefore be established stedfast and constant in that way not easily moved nor tossed too and frô with men nor new Doctrines nor changeable things but approve your hearts in uprightness before the Lord by being faithful to the end faithful I say to be and do according to the measure of Light and Grace and Knowledge that God hath already committed to you that ye may not offend against the Grace of God but may glorifie the Lord in your Souls and Spirits being joyned in your hearts and married to the Living God and the Lord becomes Your Husband according to the Promise but if any be of a changeable Spirit such will receive Temptations and go out of the Covenant of God and abuse the gift of God if their heart be not meek and lowly and humble and perfect in the sight of God though there may be a taste of the Love of God yet there can be no assurance of it if the heart be not aright before the Lord and faithful and constant in his Truth and therefore all must wait to receive the assurance of Eternal Life in themselves even such an assurance of Life and Peace and Joy and Comfort that there can be no departing away being established in the Heir-ship never to loose the Crown Heirs of the power of God of his Wisdom of his Righteousness inheriters and Possessors of the Eternal Life that ye may dwell in the house forever not onely as Servants but as Sons not onely as such that have tasted of the Love of God but as such as are born Heirs thereof and must inherit the same forever Now dear Friends if this were my last unto You more then this the Lord hath not to say by me and last of all in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus I charge all the Saints to be faithfull to the Principles and Doctrines which Ye have heard and received and been taught of Christ through his Gospel Oh be not inconstant and unfaithful in those Principles and Doctrines which the Spirit of God hath perswaded your Consciences of the truth of for if any are unfaithful they deny the Lord of Life before men and must be denyed of him before the Father therefore let us put on strength and courage to be faithful and constant in life or death to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes and if we must suffer for our profession and practice of those truths which God hath perswaded our Consciences of the verity of we shall never be ashamed nor confounded before the Adversary though we gaom Tribulations Persecutions yea death it self for the Name of the Lord and his Truth yet we shall obtain the Crown of Glory which never fades away and verily all the Suffering and afflictions of this Present time are not worthy to be compared to that weight of Peace and comfort which is and shall be revealed amongst us And as concerning our Obedience to Government ever since we were a People Ye know what our Principle and Practise in that case hath been even to obey all men in all things either by doing or suffering if at any time ye are required to do any thing by any in Authority which is not agreeing but contrary to the Scriptures example of the Saints and the Spirit of Christ in your own consciences then ye are to suffer whatsoever if it be death it self rather then to obey and submit to the doing of that which is contrary to a good conscience this hath ever been our Principle and Practise since we were a People agreeing with the practise of the holy Prophets Apostles and Martyrs in all ages who rather did suffer grievous oppressions and persecutions then to obey any command of men in power by doing any thing contrary to the testimony of the Spirit of God in their own particulars let us all be like-minded this day not to do nor bend nor be in any wise contrary to the Spirit of Christ that dwels in us but rather suffer whatsoever may be imposed then to sin against that Light and knowledge of the Spirit of Christ which he hath given us but let us keep a clean heart and a pure Conscience to God-wards and therein we shall triumph over all in our inward Man though our outward man be afflicted and in this we shall have peace and comfort in God over all our Adversaries And as concerning your meetings the Lord hath given you the testimony of his Spirit in you for the verity and righteousness thereof though ye should suffer persecution for the same yet ye have the Spirit of Christ testifying in your hearts that this Way and Practise of meeting together as our practise hath been is of God and he Justifies us in the same and we have sufficient of assurance by the holy Spirit to stand faithful in that practise of assembling together to Worship God First we have the testimony of Scriptures and example of Saints in the Apostles daies to prove this practice of Meeting together The first Christians they met together in this manner and way as we do now they met in private houses and from house to house separate and apart from the Publique Synagogues and all other Sects and it is clear that we have the example of Saints and Scripture Proof for this our practise of meeting together 2. We have our own experience for these divers years how that the Spirit of the Lord hath moved our hearts to assemble together and the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ hath been amongst us and we have tasted of the goodness and love of the Lord being so met together how often hath the Lord met with us and his countenance shined upon us and our souls have been refreshed strengthened and comforted in this practise of meeting together these things are true and may confirm us in this practise of meeting together and to be faithful to the end 3. We have the full perswasions of the Spirit of God lively and fervent in our hearts at this moment that we ought not to neglect the Assembling of our selves together but that God requires it of us and it is his will that his People meet together to worship him in Spirit and Truth separate from all the world even in one Spirit and in the Name and power of Jesus I hope ye are all like-minded herein and that the Spirit of Christ perswades your Consciences in the Truth of that practise therefore be faithful unto God herein and sin not against the testimony of Scriptures and example of the first Christians nor against your own experience nor against the admonitions of the Servants of the Lord who are the first fruits unto God since the Apostacy and have again and again in the Name and Spirit of Christ exhorted you to meet
together wherefore be faithful to perform your duty to God in that particular whatsoever sufferings should be infflicted upon you by the men of this World And as concerning refusing to take any Oath ye know it hath been our Principle and practise so to do since the Lord hath given us knowledge of his wayes and the spirit of the Lord that dwels in us perswadeth our hearts to deny all swearing both as it was practised under the Law according to the command of God and in the Types and Figures and as it is practised among the Christians since the Apostles daies which is as now practised Idolatry and Superstition And I say the Spirit of Christ doth confirm our hearts in this trutâ— even to deny all swearing and also we have the express command of Christ and of the Apostle Iames forbdiding all swearing by Heaven and Earth and all other Oaths which bears witness to the truth of our refusing to swear at this day likewise we have the Testimony of many holy Martyrs and Prophets since the Apostles daies who denied to swear on any wise who suffered for such their Testimony All which evidences may justly confirm the hearts of Gods people at this day faithfully to hold out their Testimonies of refusing to swear at all seeing we have a cloud of witnesses that testifie with us the express Command of Christ and the Apostle thâ— Testâ—â—â—â—â— of 〈…〉 divers â—ges who suffered for the same and the present 〈…〉 Spirit of Christ in our own Hearts All which are sufficiâ—â—t to give Courage and Boldness under all Sufferings and Afflictions that we may 〈◊〉 withal for refusing to Swear Well Friends Be faithful to God in these and all other things which God hath given you Light and Knowledge in and I do 〈…〉 Conscience and not to sin against the Light and Knowledge that God hath given you either by denying to profess and practice that Truth which the Lord hath perswaded your Heart of or by conforming to anything which ye know is not of the Truth and this is the Way of Eternal Peace with God But if any shall through the Temptations of the Adversary and for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this World deny the Lord and renounce good Conscience â—… such must bear the Burden of the Lord's Anger because 〈…〉 Revoltings from the Wayes of God True it is This is a Day of great Tryal yet the Lord is strong and gives Strength unto all his People that 〈◊〉 upon 〈◊〉 And let us be mindful what our Controversie is and â—… this Day our Controversie is for the Lord and his Truth to Do Faithfully and Suffer Patiently whatsoever the Will of the Lord is unto us and not to renounce and deny the exercise of our pure Consciences in those things that God hath perswaded our Hearts of the Truth of For if any this Day should be Unfaithful either by doing what they should not or leaving undone what they know they should do If any deny the Lord and his Truth and conform to the false Ways and Worships of men such lose the Controversie and give the Cause of God into the hand of your Enemies which is a fearful Abomination and the Controversie is with that spirit which opposeth us in these things which we know are of the Lord. It is with that spirit that we must contend contend I say by the Spirit of the Father in Long-Suffering and Patience and Good-will towards all men and not with the Weapons of this World in envy to any even with that spirit which doth oppose our meeting together to worship God and would impose Oaths and Things upon us contrary to our Consciences And these things are the main Matters of Controversie this day which the Spirit of Christ in us must oppose being imposed on us by the spirit of the World So all Friends are to mind to be Faithful to the Spirit of Christ and its perswasions and against that spirit which is not of him For the Opposition is between the two spirits and none must say the things required to be forborn or to be done are but small matters in themselves and may be done or not done without Offence this kind of Reasoning may be dangerous and may easily divert from the Obedience of Christ for we are not to look so much at the things in themselves which are required to be done or to be forborn as at the spirit which doth impose upon us in such cases against pure Conscience if the spirit be not of God we must not obey it in the least things for this is indeed the matter of Conscience not so much particular things or actions as the spirit that is not of God where it requires things against good Conscience for whatsoever that spirit requireth be it little or much in respect of the Action it must not be obeyed and that for Conscience sake for this is a good Conscience that cannot do nor conform to any thing which the spirit that is not of God enjoyes though therefore suffering be inflicted on the outward man And last of all I do advise and exhort That ye have Love and Unity in the Spirit of the Lord and one with another that oneness of Heart and Soul and Spirit may be amongst us being bound up in the holy Covenant of the Father even willing to do or suffer one for another and in this Spirit of Unity the Lord will bless us and make us strong and able to go through joyfully all our Afflictions but if any Strife or Division be in the Body it weakens the whole if one Member vex another through discord this is not of the Father but contrary to him this is not for the safety of the Body but bruises it and wounds it and maâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—fflict the Sâ—… 〈◊〉 the Righteâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 outâ—…d Enemies â—nd Stâ—…â—…d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may sooner work 〈◊〉 â—…throw than 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from men O◠〈◊〉 therefâ—… 〈◊〉 Brother to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to many and 〈◊〉 Servant to all let me entreat and beseech That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fo◠〈◊〉 thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisâ—…â—…ed you and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…minded in all things even one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ther 〈◊〉 the Son are one and so shall 〈◊〉 Blessings o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frâ—â— yâ—◠〈◊〉 deâ—…r 〈◊〉 The Lord haâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—…ll 〈◊〉 with his Riches and Treasure â—nd are noâ— we Veâ—…s of Honour is not his Name in ou◠〈◊〉 heads 〈◊〉 not we the Flock of â—is Foâ— therefore let us Honour him by the Works of Trâ—â—h 〈◊〉 Love of Mercy and all the Works of Righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uâ—…o the 〈◊〉 thereby proving that we are true â—â—â—ches in Christ the 〈◊〉 let 〈◊〉 give up to suffer all things Patiently for the Testimony of his Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Hearts if we Live let it be to him only and if we Dye let
it be for hiâ—… hâ—…g the Sâ—… of â—â—is Good Spirit in uâ— That whether we Live or Dye we are the Lord E. B. Antichrists Government JUSTLY DETECTED OF Unrighteousness Injustice Unreasonableness Oppression and Cruelty throughout the Kingdoms of this WORLD Wherein Antichrist hath had his Seat and great Authority for many Generations in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of True Christianity Shewed and Declared First In the Case of Imposing upon Conscience in Matters Religious by Force of outward Violence or Pains and Penalties on the Persons and Estates of Men which is proved Unrighteous and Dangerous and of Antichrist c. Secondly In the Case of Heresie shewing what it is in it self who a Herteick is who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that To Kill Burn Bannish or to punish Hereticks as such corporally is of Antichrist c. Thirdly Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivableness what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom The EPISTLE Dedicated to all the Rulers of what degree soever in the so called Christian World O Friends in the perfect Love of God Almighty towards your Souls and Bodies and towards all Mankind which Love is as a Fountain opened in my Heart and kindly issueth forth in Soul-breathing-desires of Good unto the whole Creation In this Love joyned with an Humble Meek and Lowly Temper of Spirit do I present this little quantity of Substance unto you not so much for your approof of my Work as if I craved your Licence and Approbation for this small Piece to pass under your Iustification as is usually the manner of such Epistles thus directed but much more for your serious and weighty Considerations of the Cases though Briefly yet Truly unfolded which are things of very great moment to you and wherein all of you from the Least to the Greatest are less or more concerned And I do present this Work unto you as Wholsome Advice and Good Councel for you which ye ought verily to read and receive as such rather then to Flatter you by begging a Pass-port from you that this may be read and received where it shall come for the Truth and Verity of it the Weight of the Matter contained and the Soundness and Substance demonstrated shall plead its own Worth for acceptation in the Hearts and Consciences of all sincere Men. The Truth and Verity Weight and Substance of Matter I say these Termes I may justly present this small piece under the denomination of unto you and all the World True it is I do not study pleasing Stile nor have I endeavoured to clothe and trim the Matter with Flattery Curious Termes Words of Man's Wisdom or some Rare Method that it might appear more in Shew than in real Substance as the way of too many Writers have been in such Cases Nor do I promise to please the Wordly Wisdom in Men by a Delightful Sound so much as to answer the sincere Consciences of Men by Sound Truths declared more in Homely broken Terms of Speech than in the rarity of Phrase or well-compacted Rhetorick For I have alwayes desired to be known and approved of God and those that fear him in Sincerity Humility and down-right Truth and for this I study daily and labour alwayes even to have Praise Peace and Comfort of God rather than men in what I am and in what I do And therefore it is my desire that ye would look beyond the Method containing to the Matter contained and that your Eye may be fixed on the Substance intended which is verily and in Truth That ye may be informed the Way of your Peace and Happiness in this World and in that which is to come and may never hereafter Impose by Force and Violence in the Matters of Faith and the Worship of God upon the Consciences of any through Penalties and Punishments upon Men's Persons and Estates but that ye may allow and tollerate freely Liberty of Conscience in all Religious Matters and may not by Cruelty Destroy Men in their Persons or Estates upon the account of their being supposed to be or if really Hereticks and because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Spiritual Matters These are the Particulars for substance held forth unto you and all the World and I have judged it most proper to direct these Cases to your View and Consideration as being the Persons most chiefly though not wholy concerned Therefore blame me not but rather receive my Love though but little in Quantity yet real in Quality and that ye will find one day when ye have truly tryed the Effects of the two Cases plainly laid before you which are Imposition upon Conscience and Free Liberty of Conscience These are the two Causes which will have their different and contrary Effects upon all the Rulers in the World Peace Blessings Prosperity and Happiness are the Effects of the one Cause and Wars Tribulations Contentions Misery Sorrow and the Curse are the Effects which have and will unavoidably follow the other Cause and this ye will all find in the Experience of Time and Transactions coming to pass in the World And therefore I cannot but in homely plain words as my manner is assert the Causes and the Effects of the Causes unto you again and again for the very End to Inform you Advise you and Warn you to follow the Good and to forsake the Evil to do the Right and hate the Wrong that the Effects of Righteousness and Liberty of Conscience even Peace Love Mercy and Prosperity may ever be with you and the Effects of Cruelty and Oppression and Imposition upon Conscience which will be your Misery Downfal and Destruction if ye continue in the Cause which works this Effect may be turned away and ye delivered Wherefore O ye Men Be Advised be Warned this is the Day of the Lord's Dawnings we have seen his Power and Glory he hath wounded us and healed us he hath killed and made alive he hath Proclaimed Liberty in eur Squls and Consciences from Death and Darkness from the Grave and Hell and he hath set his People free from Bondage to serve Him with a pure and perfect Heart And if ye Mortal Men made of the Dust of the Ground whose little measure of Breath is in your Nostrils will not approve of and joyn with this Blessed Work of the Lord but shall gain-say his Doings and set your Power against his Power and will not let the People go free in the Exercise of their Consciences in Holy Performances whose Consciences God hath made free then shall the Most High reward your Opposition with his Cup of Vengeance and he will make you know He is the Lord against whom ye thus raise Contention and he will dissolve your Substance and bring down your Glory and subdue
received and so is divided in whole or in part from the true Church of Jesus Christ and from being a Member of the same and not only so but hath received also and doth hold some False Principles Opinions and Practices either different from or contrary to the Truth of the Gospel before believed in known and professed such a man is a Heretick though generally yet truly described Not such as are Heathens Unconverted who never believed yet in the Gospel such who have alwayes resisted the Truth and never yet were convinced of the Way of the Lord nor ever tasted of his Word and Power but have alwayes been Strangers to the Israel of God and Enemies to the Church of Christ such are not properly called Hereticks though they do err in Mind Heart and Practice but such only as have believed in Christ and Professed his Truth and been of the Church and yet are fallen away from the perfect Truth into some false Principles and Practices and are become unsound in Judgment and erroneous in their Understandings and have forsaken the Way of Truth in whole or in part and are corrupted and lost their Love to God and his Wayes and are obstinate and hardened against the Truth which once they believed and with False Doctrines Principles and Practices do gainsay and oppose the Truth and them that are stedfast in it These are Hereticks and truly so called Men that have erred from the Faith that have made ship-rack of it and of a good Conscience that are turned against the Lord and his People and gainsay the Truth that once themselves have believed and professed These are Erroneous Men and Hereticks and such Hereticks there were in the Church and among the Corinthians and there were such who did creep into the Church and privily brought in Heresies amongst them as before is proved And these Hereticks were such as had once been amongst the true Members of the true Church and been convinced of the true Jesus and had sometimes walked with them but were departed from them and had forsaken the Truth and received false Principles and Opinions and therefore they were truly nominated Hereticks and all such at this day are truly so called And this is the Description in general of a Heretick 4. Now I come to declare who are the true Judges of Heresie and Hereticks Not every man can judge in this case in his own Thoughts Imaginations and Suppositions who are Hereticks and who are guilty of Heresie though it hath been the practice for many Generations amongst the Apostate Christians to reproach traduce and accuse one another to be Hereticks and each sort and sect of false Christians to judge censure and condemn others that are not of their Judgement and Opinion but different from them to be Hereticks and Erroneous and this hath been usual among many but this is not the true Judgement not the way to try and judge truly who Hereticks are by one Sect and sort slandering and accusing others to be such because they have not conformed to their Way and Principles but been different from them true Judgement hath not been brought forth in this case on this wise but rather Envy and Enmity hath judged and men's thoughts imaginations and jealousies have falsly judged in this matter and no sound judgement determined who have been Hereticks for men have judged of one another by their private jealousies and evil conceivings and censured one another to be Hereticks without the Spirit of sound discerning and just Judgement and all that Judgement brought forth in that case without the infallible Spirit of Christ Jesus which is onely true Discerner and Judge in the matter hath been false Judgement and men have judged one another falsly upon envy and evil suppositions and without the Spirit of the Lord and it hath often happened by reason hereof That such so judged for Hereticks have been more righteous and more in the truth then they that have so judged them and the Judges have been more out of the truth and more Hereticks themselves then they whom they have falsly Judged And this might be made appear through several Times and Ages since the Apostles dayes among the false Christians 5. None are able to dilcern of Heresie nor to try and judge justly who are Hereticks none but they I say that have the infallible Spirit of God in them to guide them and have infallibility and perfect certainty of Judgment and Knowledge in that case of Heresie none else are rightly able to judge who are Hereticks but such I say as have the infallible Spirit of Christ and are infallible and certain in their Judgments these onely and none else are able to judge they onely are competent Iudges in this case of Heresie and who are Hereticks and if any judge in that Case it is but out of Envy and Enmity and in the evil Suppositions and Conceivings as aforesaid and must needs be false and unjust Judgment if they have not the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of Judgment to discern by and determine with in that Case for no man nor men may or can justly judge another in the matter of Heresie as a Heretick by their own thoughts or suppositions out of their enmity and for their self-Interests but the Judgement in that matter must be just equal holy and true and onely by the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is infallible and gives infallibility of Judgement and discerning into all cases and things for it was Christ Jesus and his Apostles and the Saints that had the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of judgement that could onely judge justly of such things who were Hereticks and who were not and it was not the Iews nor Pharisees that could justly discern or judge in God's Spiritual matters but they alwayes judged of Christ and his Apostles and of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God falsly and unjustly in their evil suppositions and envy and this was because they had not the infallible Spirit of Judgement nor the certain infallible knowledge and discerning of different things in Spiritual Cases and so it is now at this day amongst them called Christians there is none can discern truly nor judge justly what Heresie is nor who is a Heretick but such as are guided by the infallible Spirit of God and have infallibility of Judgement nor none can make Laws whereby justly to judge of Heresie and Hereticks but them who have the same infallible spirit of God guiding them and have received infallibility of Judgement So both the Law-makers and the Judges of the Law must be infallible in knowledge and judgement in this case of Heresie otherwise the Law made for that purpose and the Judgment given by that Law are both False and Unjust and not according to God and his Truth but are to be justly judged and condemned of the Lord God in his day and season 6. Now it remains to be enquired into Whether there is any
of his People he is at a distance from the Lord God and the Spirit which should comfort him doth daily vex and judge him and the people among whom he should be saved he is separated from and cast out to Satan is now among the Sons of Belial the Children of Wickedness and Ignorance that must be condemned And this man is now rejected of the Saints that once was embraced of them and thus he is punished for it is the greatest Punishment and Vexation for a man that hath once tasted of God's Love Mercy Peace and Blessings amongst God's People and to be forsaken of God and without his Love in his Anger in his Judgment and in the Curse amongst the Wicked without Peace and Blessings amongst the Saints this is Punishment indeed from which the Lord deliver all his People that fear him Yet notwithstanding this kind and manner of Punishment pertains to Hereticks as such most properly and not to be destroyed in Person or Estate by outward Penalties this I onely mean and intend where the Error of a man and his Heresie in his Mind and Judgment doth only extend to the hurt of his own Soul and against God and not to the harm of his Neigbours Person or Estate in that Case he ought only to suffer as before-mentioned To be delivered up to Satan and to be rejected c. But if his Error and Heresie do extend further then onely against God and his own Soul even to the wronging injuring and defrauding of his neighbours person and estate and outward wrongs or evils or violence or visible mischiefs be committed as Murders or other the like visible crimes against men to the injuring of others then I forbid not outward external punishments to be corporally inflicted upon the person and estate of such a man but it ought to be done and that by Laws of men provided for the same end even such a mans Error in such his wrong dealing may justly and lawfully be punished with death banishment or penalties according to the desert of the crime if his sin and error be against men let men deal with him and punish him accordingly If his offence and error be onely against God and his own soul let God deal with him and punish him by his wrath in his Conscience which one day will be executed upon all that err from the Truth and tribulation and anguish shall be upon his soul that doth evil as it is written But it is utterly unlawful and sin against God for men to kill burn or banish men for the error of their minds and judgments in Spiritual matters while they do walk justly and truly as men in the things pertaining to men and are not injurious to the Persons or Estates of any by reason of such their Error but they only sin and err against God and their own Souls to the hurt thereof and not man by any outward Punishments or Violence executed upon their Persons but God and his People in the way and manner of the Spirit of Christ as afore declared ought for such their Errors and Heresies to deal with them and proceed towards them in respect of Punishment for the same Lastly These things are but said in general concerning Error and Heresie how they are to be judged and Punished and by whom and to manifest that there is Error and Heresie Hereticks and Erroneous Persons in the World for as I have said before it was not now my work to ennumerate the particular parts of Errors and Heresies that are held in Principle Doctrine and Practice in the World at this day they are so many and large but yet more particularly thus I would in brief define Hereticks and Heresie That man whatsoever he be is in Error in all parts of his Principles and practises held and maintained by him in point of Religion and Worship of God especially that is not Perswaded of the Truth and verity of his Way by the holy Spirit of God and led guided and taught in the performance and practice thereof by the same Spirit of Jesus if the holy Spirit of God dwell not in him and doth not preswade the heart in the belief of the Truth and teach and lead the man in the practice of it such a man even that man Errs and is in Error in all what he is and what he doth in point of Religion and Duty to God-wards and that because the Spirit of Truth and Righteousness is not the only Leader and Teacher in the things professed and practised but either Traditions Example of others or Custom of Places and Times or something else besides the Spirit of God which only perswades into the belief of Truth and teaches into the performance of the same and thus is distinguished and known A man that is Erroneous in his Faith and Practice not taught and perswaded by the Spirit of Christ in what he is and in what he doth he is in Error and in a degree of Heresie erring in Mind and Judgment and Conscience in Principle and practice and subject to err in all things Now as for the Case of Error and Heresie as the matter hath stood in distinguishing of Hereticks and Heresies in judging of the same and in proceeding with Hereticks in the manner aforesaid for many Generations in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes all this hath been wrong and not in the Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus but Men Cases and Proceedings all have been perverted from Truth in that matter because the spirit of darkness and ignorance hath ruled and not the Spirit of God in the Hearts of men and the spirit that is not of the Father which Spirit of the Father is only pure perfect and infallible because it is of God and can truly judge and determine in these Cases has been Lord and Judge in this matter and men out of their Envy and Hatred one towards another have judg'd one another to be erronious and Hereticks and proceeded against them thereupon and such as have differ'd in Iudgment or Opinion one Sect and Sort from another and would not conform to one another in their Wayes Practices and Religion it hath been common for all different sorts of men to cry out one upon another and against each other Heresie Heresie Hereticks Erronious Persons and the like and proceeded against one another men against men differing from them and sect against sect contrary to it self and especially that sect or sort of People that hath had the Government of Nations and Countries in their Power could and hath easily proceeded against all others dissenting upon the account of Error to the destroying of many absolutely through envy hatred and prejudice and not upon the Truth Soundness and Verity of Judgment in that matter and this hath been common for many Ages Sometimes according to the occasion offered Papists have destroyed Protestants and sometimes Protestants have destroyed the Papists on this account of Heresie and Error All which
there is much Difference amongst men concerning this Matter and 't is the general way of People one sort to accuse another that are different from them in Profession and Religion That ye and ye are of Antichrist but this hath been for the most part in Enmity and in the Spirit of Wrath and Contention and is not from true Judgment and Knowledge now therefore it remains to be made manifest according to the Gift of Grace Knowledge and Understanding what Antichrist is in himself and how he appears in the World seeing we have proved That there is such a thing as Antichrist now Ruling and Raigning somewhere amongst men throughout the Nations of the Earth 3. Antichrist is not as some suppose a particular visible Person upon Earth Distinct and Divided from all other Persons as if none besides such an one were Antichrist but Antichrist is rather an Invisible Spirit a spirit I say dwelling in Persons even in many Persons throughout the World which makes them all of Antichrist or to be many Antichrists according to 1 Iohn 2. 18. There are many Antichrists saith Iohn whereby we know it is the Last Time So that it is plain There are in the World many Antichrists many Men of Sin or many Sinful Men many Sons of Perdition and Ungodliness not onely one man that is such but many men in the World even all such in whom the spirit of Antichrist or Antichrist that spirit dwells and walks they are all Antichrists or of Antichrist because of that spirit of Antichrist which doth possess them and rule them in the Wayes of Sin and Death in Idolatry and false Wayes and in opposition to and against Christ Jesus the Lord of Life even all the Deceivers in the World all that are erred from the Spirit and Power of CHRIST and are not of the true Church Gathered into his Name and Power but bringeth another Doctrine than that of Christ and his Saints and truly confesseth not in Word and Practice unto JESUS come in the Flesh all such are Antichrists and of Antichrist according to 2 Iohn 7. even all the Apostates who profess Christ and his Truth and his Church and are not in the Spirit and Power of Christ but in the Form of Godliness without the Power professing God in Words but in Works denying him all such are Antichrists by reason of that spirit of Antichrist which dwells in them and into which spirit they are leavened and moulded and are one with it and bring forth the Fruits of it in the World and therefore they are Antichrists more than one even many Antichrists as I have said 4. Antichrist in himself is the Man of Sin the Son of Perdition which is indeed and in Truth the very Devil in his Nature and Kind and in his Power and Spirit and of him and yet not divided nor distinct from him but is him to wit the DEVIL as he is in himself And he is against Christ and wholy contrary to Christ and bringeth forth Fruits and Works to the Dishonour of Christ and opposeth Christ and is in all things of a contrary Nature and Quality to Jesus Christ. And he is called Antichrist to wit before or against and contrary to Christ. And this is Antichrist in himself An Adversary to God an Enemy to all Righteousness a Perverter of the Wayes of God a Hater of all Good a Despiser and Persecutor of God's People and indeed a certain Spirit and Power Distinct Divided and Separated from the Living God and his Son Jesus Christ and contrary in Nature and Quality in Fruits and Effects And there is no Fellowship in any thing between Christ and Antichrist but they are divided and separated one from the other contrary and opposite one to the other in all their Wayes and Works and in their Kinds and Natures For as I have said Antichrist in himself in his nature and kind is the Devil and no other he is the Man of Sin the Sinful Man that conceiveth and worketh all Evil the Son of Perdition the Son that is lost from God and Reprobate forever he that is fallen diverted and cast out from the Presence Glory and Power of the Creator he that is sealed unto Vengeance in the Wrath and Enmity against God and Christ Jesus as being contrary irreconcilably to the Nature and Works of Christ. This is said of Antichrist as what he is in himself as that particular spirit and not of the many Antichrists which are only Vessels retaining this one spirit and Members of him through his Power dwelling in them and by which they are one with this spirit and one in Action and bring forth the Works and Fruits of it For 't is possible some that are such in their present standing even under the power of Antichrist may be converted and turned from him and changed into another Nature and so saved But as for the Antichrist in himself as such he is the Devil and sealed up in the Anger of God never to be redeemed nor saved nor changed into another Nature 5. Though Antichrist in himself be the Devil yet his Appearances in the World are divers and many and he appears in outward and visible Actions amongst men diversly somtimes he appears in the way and form of open Prophaneness by the Works of Men in all manner of Unrighteousness and Iniquity for all Sin of what kind soever in every appearance of it is of the Devil and Antichrist even all prophane Wayes and Works of Evil Men Lying Drunkenness Whoredom Double-dealing Envy Malice and every Evil Work and Word brought forth by the Sons of Adam in the Fall are all of Antichrist and the Devil and is his visible Appearance in the World though sometimes his Appearance is in another way and manner even in a way of seeming Righteousness and Holiness and in the Profession of Christ and Christianity and pretence of Faith towards God and Worship of God and crying up Church and Fellowship in the same and Forms of Godliness as if Antichrist were a Saint and Servant of God thus and after this manner doth Antichrist appear in the World amongst men now in these latter dayes since the Apostles time in the Apostacy of Christianity Antichrist I say though the Devil in himself yet hath he often appeared as a Saint upon Earth in the pretence of Holiness Righteousness Worship and Religion such hath been his Policy and Deceivableness that he hath put on the Appearance of Gospel Doctrine Ministry and Ordinances and covered himself thereby that he might the better beguile entangle and deceive Mankind in the Form and Profession of a Saint and Member of the true Church he hath put on the Sheep's-Clothing hath made use of the Saints words and Practices and hath exalted himself in the Temple of God as if he were God shewing himself to be God and hath been lifted up above all that is called God according to 2 Thes. 2. 4. and Christ himself said to his Disciples
found or whensoever you see him or meet with him or if such a one be amongst you or pass by you let him be suspected taken deemed and judged for a false Prophet and Deceiver without respect of his Name and Title in his Profession of Religion Again Christ Jesus prophesied and said That Deceivers and false Prophets should come who should have the Sheep's-Clothing but inwardly Ravening Wolves And John said The false Prophets were already come into the World in his dayes even the false Prophets and Antichrist whom Christ said should come and the False Prophets and Deceivers that Christ said should come John saw were come into the World in his dayes Now who is it and where are they that are Wolves in Sheeps cloathing that are those Antichrists that Christ said should come and Iohn said were come Even such are they that have the Outside viz. Christ's words and the Apostles words and the Saints practices they have the Sheep's clothing but inwardly are the Wolves in the evil nature and their evil nature is covered with the Saints words and practices and such are the Wolves in Sheep's clothing that have the outside of the Sheep but want the Nature of Christ and are in the contrary nature And to all people that are upon the Earth I do appeal and ask where are they that are such now and who are they whether they be Papists or Protestants or whomsoever else that are such that have the outside the sheeps cloathing but inwardly are wolves of a devouring nature such are they that Christ said should come and Iohn saw was come And such are Ministers of Antichrist whosoever they are and such are in the World and have over-spread it since the Apostles dayes and whole Christendom hath been deceived by such Wolves in Sheeps clothing even by such as have got the Outside the Saints words and Practices but wanted the Life and have been in the Evil Nature and not in the Nature of CHRIST JESUS And such now in this Age are to be taken judged and deemed false Prophets and Deceivers Wolves in Sheeps cloathing and Ministers of Antichrist E. B. TO THE Friends of Truth In and about LONDON DEarly and well-beloved in Christ our Life and Glory The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and at this time quickeneth my heart into the lively remembrance of you all herewith sending the hearty and fervent Salutation of my dear and perfect Love unto all the Faithfull amongst you for the Fathers Love filleth my heart and hath raised up my spirit into an holy frame and temper of gladness and rejoycing of great joy and comfort in the remembrance and feeling sence of what the Lord hath wrought and made manifest among his People and the fulness of his Love and rejoycing floweth out in praising and magnifying the Lord our God for evermore Oh what hath the Lord wrought for us in our day How hath his out-stretched Arm been made bare again and again for our Salvation and Deliverance How many have his Mercies been and how numberless have his Lovingkindnesses been shewed to us How hath his power and wisdom been discovered amongst his People by which we are quickned and revived into the Life of Righteousness and Peace to be Servants and Heirs of the Everlasting Father the Lord of Heaven and Earth being called by him out of Darkness into his marvellous Light And how glorious is the Light that hath appeared upon our Tabernacle and shined in our hearts and that hath led us in the Way of Peace and taught us in the Path of Righteousness Thus and much more hath the hand of the Lord wrought for us having raised us up to be a Poeple that in times past were not a people but now he hath formed us for himself and created us for his praise having gathered us as a Shepherd doth his Flock from our strayed estate in which we were strangers and afar off inhabiting in death and darkness but now raised up to sit together in heavenly places and to feed in the fat pastures of his fulness that filleth all in all This hath been effected by the Hand and Power of the most High who hath also preserved us unto this day through many tryals and tribulations and again and again when our enemies have risen up against us to destroy us even then hath the Lord been our defence and confounded our Persecutors so that we yet live blessed be the Name of the Lord the remembrance of which infinite tender Mercies from the Father that we have received have a Heavenly influence upon my heart at this time which causeth me to say What manner of Love is this Oh the hight and depth and infiniteness of the same the Beauty thereof hath ravished my heart the Strength thereof hath overcome me and the Vertue thereof hath overcome me and the Vertue thereof hath filled my Soul And this is the present frame of my spirit full of Love and Good-will to the Lord God and to all his Saints and particularly unto you unto whom my spirit desireth in the Lord the increase of Peace and Mercies and Blessings and all Heavenly Vertue unto you all for I am under particular Engagements unto you more then unto many 1. Because my labour and service in the work of the Gospel hath been more amongst you then amongst others even for divers years have I been conversant among you in the administration of the gift of the Gospel by dispensing the Word of Life to the Converting of some and to the Strengthning and Confirming of others in the way of the Lord. And let the Just God bear witness of that faithfulness and integrity and sincerity of heart in which he hath carried me amongst you while many precious dayes I have passed away with you and have not sought yours but you nor do I desire ought concerning you but your Faithfulness to the Lord and your growth and establishment in the Wisdom of Christ Jesus and that blessings and Peace may ever rest with you And seeing it is thus that some of my precious years in the service of God have been spent amongst you therefore is my heart and spirit engaged to you-wards even while I live to advise you and exhort you and to pray for you that you may be sound in the Faith and established in the Truth and Confirmed in the Possession that never fades away 2. In respect of that place of your outward Residence that great City I mean where Satans Seat is and where wickedness abounds and many temptations and provocations which may attempt to draw you from the Lord I do know the dangers are many which may easily be met withall in that place There is both the love glory and excellency of this World near unto you and also the terrours threats losses and persecutions of this evil World even dwelling with you all which may work upon some many fears and doubts and begat temptations to the denying of the Lord and
seeing the danger is such to you-wards in that place even more then to some others therefore is my soul engaged to admonish and instruct and Pray for your preservation unto the end that ye may walk as the Lords and to his glory 3. And also my desires are for you that blessings and Peace may be multiplied unto you and that you may walk in the Wisdom and Power of the Lord in this respect that Truth may be honoured and crown'd with dominion and Authority and good report in that great City by your faithfulness and patience and diligence and all the fruits of righteousness for as many temptations do attend you as I have said before so also many eyes are upon you beholding what you are and what you do and what will become of you and if you Walk in Faithfulness and Righteousness and be preserved unto the Lord in boldness and valour for his Names sake this will magnifie the Truth and crown it with honour and strengthen and comfort many that are weak and be a joy to all the upright and it will confound your Enemies and put them to shame and limit the unreasonable spirit of the power of darkness when our enemies see your just faithful righteous and inoffensive manner of walking in all things And therefore for this cause my heart is engaged to pray for you seeing the eyes of many are upon you to mark your wayes and doings and what will be the end And now dearly beloved as by the free grace and kindness of God ye are called unto this Calling and are renewed and changed into the Life of Righteousness so it is by the same Grace and Power of the Father that ye must stand and be preserved unto the end for by Grace and Faith we all stand even through Diligence Faithfulness and Watchfulness in the same Grace being obedient unto its teachings and fruitful in its motions and walking by its Rule in meekness and lowliness of heart in sincerity and godly Fear not being or doing any thing of our selves distinct or divided from this Grace but being and doing all things through the Grace of God dwelling in us and this is the highest Perfection of Saints Every ones highest state admits of Watchfulness and Faithfulness and Obedience and to Hearken to the Lord and do his Will in all things and whatsoever is of our selves and related to the outward World may be kept in Subjection by his Power that he alone may Rule and be exalted in Heaven and Earth and in all things what we are and what we do And wait upon the Lord that ye may be established and settled in the Truth and that ye may be confirmed therein forever as being natural Heirs of the possession of Grace and Truth to do and walk and live according to his will being so inherited never to go forth any more and able to say Nothing can separate us from the Love of God not Death nor Life nor any other thing For I would put you in mind and ye also know it How that many have been touched in their Heart with the sense of the Lord and his Love yea and many have enjoyed of the good Gift of God and walked with us for a time that have not remained unto the End but have started aside from the Lord and been overcome with the Temptations of this World even to the forsaking of the Way of Truth and Righteousness and such have dishonoured the Lord and forfeited their Peace and Inheritance in God and become hardened in their Hearts and dead to God and the Latter-end of such hath been worse then their Beginning though yet for a time such walked with us and tasted of the good Gifts of God yet are become Reprobate because their Hearts have not been firm and constant and sound and approved to God but of an Evil Frame and Temper of Spirit Ambitious Vain-glorious Self-seeking and such like which spirit could not retain the Gift of God but abused it and perverted it from it proper End And therefore dearly beloved it is exceeding precious to have a Heart and Spirit tryed and approved of the Lord a good and honest Heart an upright and contrite Spirit for that will abide in Faithfulness unto God through all Tribulations and Tryals if the Heart be right in the sight of God whatsoever the Knowledge be or whether the Gifts be little or great yet the Lord's Presence is there and such are blessed so that it s not enough only to have a touch and taste of the Loving kindness of God but every one must be established therein in an approved Heart and tryed Spirit which can endure all things and not be shaken nor moved and its only that kind of Spirit which is Meek and Lowly Sincere and Upright which is established in the Truth and which only can remain unmovable And according to the ancient Doctrine of Christ which ye have believed every one must look to your own particular standing and must feel your own particular Joy Peace and Comfort and must receive the assurance of Life in your own Souls for it is an Everlasting Word Every one must stand by their own by what they feel and enjoy of Eternal Life in their own Hearts that only is every ones Security and Assurance in the Kingdom of Peace and Glory And it is the height of Perfection To have the Seal of the Spirit of God in our Consciences witnessing to us That we are the Lord's and Blessed are they that have this Testimony even that of the Spirit of the Father which is the Everlasting Comforter against all Sorrow and the Perfect Seal against all Doubts and the sure Guide against all Opposition This is the Office of the Spirit of the Lord and its Work in the Hearts of his Children Therefore my Advice is to you as from the beginning Look to your own to your own Measure of the Gift of Grace and Truth that only stands when all Wandrings after men and things fall and in that is your security as I have said And let your Conversations and Walkings be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ in all Faithfulness and Righteousness that you may be an Honour to the Lord in your Generation for this only have we to do in this World even to shew forth his Praise and Glory who hath created us in Christ Jesus All things in relation to Truth are well in these Couâ—…ies the Dominion of Truth is set up over the Heads of the Wicked and it is a Terror to its Enemies and the Joy of all Good men and Friends are Faithful in the Power of the Lord and look over this World to the World that hath no End and their Hope and Confidence is in that and Meetings are generally quiet and the Presence of the Lord is amongst his People And thus to the Grace Power and Wisdom of the Lord God are ye committed who is the only Preserver of his Children Grace and Peace
The MEMORABLE WORKS Of a SON of THUNDER AND CONSOLATION Namely That True Prophet and Faithful Servant of God and Sufferer for the Testimony of JESUS Edward Burroughs Who Dyed a Prisoner for the WORD of GOD in the City of LONDON the Fourteenth of the Twelfth Moneth 1662. The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Psa. 112. 6. And they that be Wise shall shine as the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars forever and ever Dan. 12. 3. In the sight of the Unwise they seemed to dye and their Departure was taken for Misery and their going from us to be utter Destruction but they are in Peace For though they be Punished in the sight of Men yet is their Hope full of Immortality Wisd. 3. 2 3 4 5. 5. 4 5. Being Dead yet speaketh Heb. 11. 4. Printed and Published for the good and benefit of Generations to come in the Year 1672. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY To the People of God In Derision called QUAKERS The Publisher of this Volumn wisheth all Peace and Prosperity in the Lord. Dear Friends I Having had much Exercise and care upon me in Collecting and for the Publishing these Books in this Volumn at length after much Travel Diligence for the effecting this Impression they are through the Assistance and Providence of God as I may well say brought forth and finished for you and your Children and such as are moderate and well-affected who shall desire any of them The reason why this Work hath been so long unfinished was partly the difficulty of Printing and partly it being also thus voluminous and weighty and partly since I began the Printing of this many other things of Truth 's Concernment intervened which required expedition in the publication howbeit this Work hath long lain as a matter of weight upon my spirit to use my utmost endeavours for its accomplishment and greater desires thereof could not be in any of you then in my own particular I having Travelled both to answer and serve Truth as also the desires of many Friends herein whom also I have been willing and desirous to serve in that true Love which stands in the Life and Truth of our God who requires faithfulness of us all that we may remain living Witnesses in our several Places this short time of our Pilgrimage and in the end lay down our Heads in Peace and Assurance of a Crown of Life and Glory as our Everlasting Reward for this is the End that crowns all The Diligence and Works of the Faithful And I having been an Eye and Ear Witness of the Faithfulness Valour and Courage of this Faithful Servant and Prophet of the Lord E. B. in his powerful Testimony and effectual Ministry which the Lord did bless with a very Glorious Success unto me and many more have found my self the more oblieged for the divulging of these his Works which though many of them were given forth in the time of his Youth soon after the Lord first raised him up and when the discovery of Truth was in its infancy both New Strange and a Wonderment to many in our Age it being after such a long time of Darkness and Night of Apostacy yet the Power of the Lord which then broke forth was very Mighty both in him and his dear Companion in the Gospel Fr. Howgill who were sent in the beginning amongst us in this City of London where though they met with much Opposition and Gain-saying by perverse spirits and formal Professors of all sorts who denied and resisted the Power of Codliness yet the Lord so accompained these his two faithful Servants and Ministers of Righteousness as to the confounding the wisdom of the Wise and stoping the Mouthes of many contentious Opposers and convincing of Gain-sayers yea the Lord did manifest and perfect his Strength through Weakness even through Instruments dispised and coutemptable in the Eyes of the Proud and Exalted of the World out of the Mouthes of Babes did the Lord ordain Strength and through Simplicity did his wisdom speak both in this his faithful Witness E. B. and divers other in the beginning So that let none contemn the honest Plainness and harmless Simplicity of any of his first Writtings or Books here inserted for many are living Witnesses that the Power and Wisdom of God did then even while he was young and tender every way appear and shew it self in him through such plainness and Simplicity to the confounding and overturning the wisdom of many that were high and lofty who conceited themselves wise with their opposition of science falsly so called And it may not be unnecessary for Friends and their Children to read and peruse these Testimonies Informations and Vindication of Truth where they are in way of Controversie with many others of like nature given forth by the Servants of the Lord in Truth 's Vindication the Perusal and Reading thereof may be of Service both to you and yours you being in the Light and Inspiration of the Almighty which gives Understanding from which all Scriptures or Writings that are given are profitable to the Man of God for his Accommodation and ought not to be slighted whether they be in plain Testimonies or in Vindications and Answers For though many are come to a particular Satisfaction in the true Light which is the Rule of the Understanding and know so much of Christ as to die for him yet cannot so well dispute for him though that be necessary and few given up and accomplished for that Service therefore there may be need for more to apply their hearts to Wisdom as to be furnished in every respect to stand up for the Truth against its Opposers to convince Gain-sayers and stop the Mouth of Iniquity where ever it opens it self against the Righteous to pervert the right Wayes of God and his Truth since the Labours and Works of this valiant Souldier of Christ are here manifest to your view and to continue on Record as permanent Monuments of his Service for the Lord and as Tokens of God's Love to many it being also apparently manifest how plainly and eminently many of his Prophesies came to pass and were fulfilled upon the Heads of the persecuting Powers Rulers and Government of O. C. and others of that Affinity who trod in the same Path who resisted God's Power in not removing Oppression from off the Innocent It is not my place much to endeavour B's applause in many words because I cannot add to him or what he hath done thereby nor yet to his Faithfull Companion Francis Howgill or his Works which many do also desire might be Collected and Published as these are for indeed he also wrote many weighty things and of much Service to the Truth which would be a very conderable Volmun that will require both much Care Charge and Industry to publish in Print and therefore it would be of much Service to Truth if Friends would so consider the
Iacob is coming out of Egypt that will replenish the whole Earth and the seed of Esau shall become bondmen and wherefore are you gathered together and to what purpose have the wicked spent their strength to oppose what the Lord is bringing to pass shall not all our Enemies be broken to pieces and will not the Lord grind them to Powder will he not marr their Beauty and stain their pride will he not bring down their crowns and corrupt their glory and stain it with his Fire of Wrath and make them ashamed of their Wayes and Doctrines Hear this ye Priests and howl and lament for the misery that is coming upon you the Lord hath laid you naked and made you bare and you are seen as you are and the Elect is risen amongst us which ye cannot deceive but alas wo is me how have you caused the people to err and how have you led the blind out or the way and how is truth fallen in your Streets and you have daubed falsly with untempered Morter and have cried peace to the wicked and condemned the righteous and all this hath vexed the righteous soul and the Lord will now arise and is risen and you shall not resist and escape the stroak of his hand which will come upon you and bruise you as a Milstone for you have caused the wicked to rejoyce and the righteous to mourn and you have made sad his heart whom God hath not made sad have not you fed your selves with the fat and clothed with the Wooll and have not the peoples souls been starved and leanness been upon them all your plants are dry and barren trees that bring forth no good fruit and your people are like a Wilderness that is untilled and unploughed and undressed and your flocks are like wild Asses upon the Mountains that are untamed as rude as the Horse Mule that know no Bridle and now it is seen what the end of your Ministry is and what fruit it hath brought forth the Lord hath taken notice and he hath beheld how you have loytered and lain idle and the Nations lie yet like fallow ground that bears no fruit and mens hearts are untouched with absence of Gods Word and there is no sound true and perfect sence amongst your people of the dealings of the Lord nor of the operation of his Spirit but they remain in great Blindness and Ignorance void of the Knowledge of God for ye have not caused them to hear his Word but you have told your Dreams and your false Visions and you have spoken Imaginations of your hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord neither have you stood in his Counsel nor hearkened to his Voyce and therefore people remain unprofited but what they and you know it s naturally and not by the Spirit of the Father but as dry Trees you are not taught of the Father and as rough Goats in the nature of Swine that is polluted in the silth of the World and in the nature of Dogs and Lyons devouring one another and biting one another and killing one another which things were not in the Churches of Christ and we have a great controversie with you and that from the Lord we have tried you searched you and discovered your Foundation and it s not sound nor will not stand in the trial we have fetcht your Line from the first original and we have found out your beginning and we find yours of that Race which Christ prophesied of that should come which should deceive many having the sheeps cloathing but inwardly revening and which Iohn saw was come and went out from the Apostles and true Churches which went from the truth and went into the World and had the Form of Godliness without the Power here began the Race in the Apostacy of the Churches and when they Apostatized from the true Faith then came your original up and the World went after them and all that dwelt upon the Earth worshipped the Beast that hath reigned through all this time of Apostacy which hath been since the dayes of the Apostles and we find your original goes no further then to the false Brethren and false Apostles which went out from the true Apostles and run for Gifts and Rewards and preached for filthy Lucre and through covetousness made merchandize of souls seeking mony and gain to themselves I say we find your original begins there and your Line goes no further and never came your first rise so far as the true Apostles you were not in your beginning of their life nor birth nor cannot be reckoned from their original for you succeed not them but you truely succeed the false Apostles and false brethren which Christ prophesied should come after his days and Iohn saw was come and coming in his days and we find you of this stock and Generation and now you are discovered to be contrary to the true Apostles and agreeing with the false Apostles in Call in Practice in Maintenance and in all things and the Line of true judgement is laid upon you all and you are measured and found too short and weighed and sound too light and we will deal truely with you in judgement first we do hold controversie with you as concerning your Call your Ministry it agreeth not with but is contrary to what the Apostles Call was they were called by power from on high and were made Ministers by the Gift of the holy Spirit received from God and their Ministry was an absolute Gift from God and not to be bought and sold for mony and they were anointed of the Father by his Spirit of promise and to Preach the Gospel but your Call is at Schools and Colledges in such and such Orders which are attained through natural industry such and such Arts and Sciences and Degrees having been so many years brought up in studying natural Arts natural Languages this is your Ordination and your Call having no respect to receive or to wait for the Gift of the holy Spirit to be made Ministers thereby and this is different from the Apostles and true Ministers and equal and according to the false Prophets and Deceivers Secondly Again you are not according but contrary to the true Ministry and Ministers of Christ in Practise for they were led by the Spirit of the Father which dwelt in them and they preached the Gospel by the Spirit and spake as the Spirit gave them utterance and went up and down the World through Nations converting People to the Knowledge of the Truth and what they had handled tasted seen and felt of the Word of Life in them that they declared to others and preached the Gospel which they had not received from man nor by man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in them but your Practices are not such but contrary for the spirit of this World leads you and it you follow in all your Works in your Preaching Praying and in your whole Worship in Form
and the Lord appeared daily to us to our Astonishment Amazement and great Admiration insomuch that we often said one unto another with great joy of Heart What is the Kingdom of God come to be with men And will he take up his Tabernacle among the Sons of Men as He did of old And what shall we that were reckoned as the Out casts of Israel have this Honour of Glory communicated amongst us which were but men of small Parts and of little Abilities in respect of many others as amongst men Howbeit thus it seemed good unto the Lord to chose the weak things and the foolish things of this World as to the aspect of men that no Flesh might glory that no man because of his Parts might glory or because of his strength or wisdom might glory but that the Glory which is his might only be given to him Unto whom be the Glory of all his Works forever and ever Amen And from that Day forward our Hearts were knit unto the Lord and one unto another in true and servent Love not by any External Covenant or External Form but we entred into the Covenant of Life with God and that was as a strong Obligation or Bond upon all our spirits which united us one unto another and we met together in the Unity of the Spirit and of the Bond of Peace treading down under our Feet all reasoning questioning debating and contending about Religion or any part or parts or practice or practices thereof as to any external thing and we waited at time and times as God did grant us Oportunities and the more we had and could obtain from our necessary Occasions of this present life the better we were and the more we were confirmed and strengthened in our Hope and Faith and holy Resolutions were kindled in our Hearts as a Fire which the Life kindled in us To serve the Lord while we had a Beeing and to make mention of his Name and Power whilst we did live and to hold forth that Testimony which was committed to us in the sight of Men and Nations by Doctrine by Practice by a holy Conversation and mightily did the Word of God grow amongst us and the desires of many were after the Name of the Lord. Oh happy Day Oh blessed Day the memorial of which can never pass out of my Mind And thus the Lord in short did form us to be a People for his Praise in our Generation Howbeit after all this and much more which time would fail me to write of neither is the purpose of my spirit bent that way at this time we did come through very great Tribulations extream Distresses great Perplexity and passed out oftentimes hungry and hard put to it both within and without yet such was our love to the Lord and such servency in our hearts That we rather chosed to dye and to undergo every Difficulty than to dishonour or deny the Name of Christ in the midst of suffering because of that Taste that we had of his Goodness and immortal Life revealed in our Hearts this Young Man of whom I am speaking had his share though but a Youth at that time of 16. or 17. years of age Because of the I ruth which crossed all the world's wayes his nearest Relations even his own Parents cast him off as an Alien and turn'd him out from their House as not to have any Part or Portion therein as a Son nay not so much as a hired Servant which this young Man bore very patiently without Murmuring or Complaining having a taste of that then which was better then all the World and through conversing with his people and amongst them the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding entred into his Heart and the Spirit of Knowledge and sound Judgment came to be seated in his Reins and the Spirit of Prophesie came upon him like as it did upon many more through the Holy Ghost's Power and Operation and he spake of the wonderful things of God among them that believed and was one of the first among us which the Lord opened the Mouth of to shew forth his Praise and to speak of the things of his Kingdom to as many as he met with who waited for the Consolation of Israel for the Riches of the Gentiles and to as many as desired and hoped after Eternal Life At last the Lord signled him out and commanded him to go forth into Countries unknown to him as he did some more besides upon whom he laid a necessity to preach the Gospel freely without Money without Price without Tythes Augmentations Gifts or Rewards and in that he was as faithful a man none exeeeding him in his Generation for those things were an abhorrency to his heart and where he met with any such Hireling Shepherds and deceitful Workers which had gull'd the Nations and cheated the people for dishonest Gain and kept them in Blindness the Indignation of the Lord was kindled in his Heart and the Sword of the Lord was very Sharp in his Hand and whomsoever he met with which walked after this sort they were sure to feel the weight of his Weapon and the force of his Blow by which many have been deeply wounded that they have grinned like Dogs on him as greedy Dogs indeed because of their present Wound and Blow that he did give them and though he was but young in years yet he was full of fortitude and true valour The Lord oftentimes when he exercised him in such War as this hath filled his Quiver full of polished Shafts and made his Bow to abide in strength and he was as dextrous and as ready handed as any that I knew in his day against the Dragon and his power against the Beast and his Followers and indeed he was very even-handed and had a special good Arm and seldom mist the Mark God had fill'd his Mouth with Arguments so that he hath often made a breach in the Face of an Host. And it was my lot which I cannot but say fell in a good ground to be his Companion and Fellow-Labourer in the Work of the Gospel whereunto we were called for many years together And oh when I consider my heart is broken how sweetly we walked together for many Moneths and Years in which we had perfect knowledge of one anothers hearts and perfect unity of spirit not so much as one cross word or one hard thought of discontent ever rose I believe in either of our hearts for ten years together but our Souls were bound up in unity and peace having the frame of our hearts bent after one and the self same thing to wit the propagation of that Truth by which Liberty was obtained and Salvation received through Jesus Christ the true Light of the World seeing through his Light the whole World to lie in wickedness a necessity lay upon this person of whom I am speaking being constrained by the Spirit of the Lord
by which he was made an able Minister of the Everlasting Gospel to preach Repentance Conversion Salvation and Remission of Sins and accordingly he went forth in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus the Saviour of Mankind and was an able Minister of the glad Tidings of Salvation in many or most parts of this Land and also he travelled through again and again the whole Nation of Ireland and in some part of Scotland and some part of Flanders and his Ministry was made effectual through the Almighty Power of God in turning many from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God there are many thousands who are living in the Body and alive in the Truth who can in the Spirit of the Lord bear Testimony to the Power and Verity of his Ministry in many Countreys where he travelled for he laboured much in divers places even in the heat of the day though he began early in the morning and in the beginning of his Travels and Labours it was his share to break up rough places and untilled ground and to walk amongst many Bryars and Thorns which scratched and pricked and teared and travelled with some other not without great opposition and he often trod the pathes and wayes which had not been occupied in the Truth and where darkness had the Dominion and was as a covering he brake through as an armed man not minding the opposition but the victory and the good of all souls though to my knowledge his sufferings and tryals have not been small nor his exercise a little on the right hand and on the left in travels often oftentimes buffetted sometimes knocked down by unreasonable men who had not Faith loaded with Lyes Slanders Calumnies and Reproaches often in Weakness yea in Deaths often in Watching Fastings and Temptations often in Straits and Necessities in Perils among rude Multitudes in Perils in Idol-Temple in Perils in Streets and Markets where the Lord did move him often to go in the beginning of his time besides the exceeding weight of service from Weeks end to Weeks end insomuch that he had seldom many Hours of repose and often suffered by those spirits who lost their first love and rose in opposition He was very diligent and faithful true hearted and valiant and the Yoke at last came to be easie unto him though no ease at all in the Body as to the outward man for he made the Work of the Lord his whole business without taking so much Liberty unto himself or about any outward occasion in this World as to spend one Week to himself to my knowledge these Ten Years He had ventured himself often for the Bodies sake and a great care I know was in his Heart that them that he had ministred unto and others that had believed in the same Truth might thrive and prosper and might walk as becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was of a manly Spirit in the things of God he hath engaged himself often upon the Lords account singly in great Disputes when there were many Opposers he hath stood in the Door and in the Gap against all his Enemies for the worthy Name of God and taken the whole weight of things upon his own Shoulders that others might be eased though often to the weakening and almost destroying of the outward man yet doing all in love to the Lord and for his peoples sake he did it with Cheerfulness and it was a Grief to him if any opportunity was missed of doing good He was a man of no great Learning in natural Tongues which men so much applaud yet indeed his Heart was full of matter and his Tongue was as the Hand of a ready Scribe and yet he had the Tongue of the Learned having had experiment of the Work of the Lord and being acquainted with many conditions which God had carried him through he could speak a word in season unto all who declared their conditions unto him or otherways in his publick Ministry he was very plausible and elegant in his speech and indeed had the Tongue of a learned Orator to declare himself to the Understandings and Consciences of all men with whom he conversed by which many received great profit and their Understandings came to be opened for his words ministred Grace to the Hearers and his words were forcible and very pleasant as Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver This young Man of whom I am speaking was one of the first with some others who came to the City of London where he met with no small opposition both from Professors of divers Forms and also Prophane who heeded no Religion at all and the Way of Truth seemed contemptible and without form or comeliness to them all which made the Opposition so great and the Labour so hard that notwithstanding it pleased the Lord to reach unto the Consciences of many and many were prickt to the Heart so that they cryed out what shall we do to be saved And God made his Ministry very effectual to the conversion of many in the City of London whereby a great change was wrought in the hearts of many and many hundreds brought to know the Lord their Teacher which are as Seals unto the Word of Life through him unto this day And many hundreds I may say thousands heard the lively Word of God declared by him and were convinced of the Way of Truth though still remaining in the Disobedience to that of God in their own hearts unto which he declared and many have lost their day which they had of hearing and receiving the things of God for now he is taken away which might have been a help unto them while they had time and all such are not worthy of him He continued in this City very much at time and times betwixt eight and nine years together preaching the Word of God and speaking of the things of his Kingdom to all that looked after it and great watching travel and exercise in the Work of the Lord and his earnest desire was That all might have come to know God's Salvation and the Redemption of their Souls And his great diligence was known unto many that his only rejoycing was in the prosperity of the Work of the Lord and the increase of Faith amongst them that did believe And his heart was much drawn towards this City and oftentimes hath he said to me when sufferings did come for the Gospel sake which he knew would come I can freely go to that City and lay down my Life for a Testimony of that Truth which I have declared through the Power and Spirit of God which in the end indeed came to be his share and will for ever be his Crown who loved not his life unto death for the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in the same year 1662 being pressed in his spirit to go visit them who were begotten unto the Faith of God's Elect at the City of Bristol and in divers other
our way to the promised Land which belongs to the Saints in Light we would eat our own Bread and Drink our Water and what we needed and keep our Consciences clear in our Generation we must to that which God hath promised and if we cannot have away God will make one for us and that you that set your selves against the Lord in the end shall be sure to know and feel though we shall never lift up carnal Weapon nor draw Sword neither use Bow nor Spear for God hath taught us to love our Enemies and out of these things we are come and to the end of Wars and to be for it yet God's purpose shall be fulfilled and he hath wayes enough to plead the cause of his people and he will do it and wo to all their Enemies And do you cry out of Popery because of cruelty and persecution And will you be found in the same Foot-steps and in the same nature Oh! let it never be said nor thought that ever the Church of God or true Christians did Drink the Blood of the Saints or cast them into prison for that is Babylon the Mother of Harlots that doth so Therefore be informed and warned set not Bryars and Thorns in Battel against the Lord neither stubble before devouring Fire for if you do a Consumption will come upon you and your Name and Memorial shall rot dye wither and melt away as Snailes and Glory shall rest with and upon the Heads of the Sufferers of Christ for ever Reading the 22. of the 12. Moneth 1662. By one who hath chosen rather to Suffer with the People of God called Quakers then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season or to be reckoned as a Prince amongst the Uncircumcised Francis Howgil GEORGE WHITEHEAD HIS TESTIMONY AND ACCOUNT Concerning Edward Burroughs ANd as for E. B. our dear Brother and Companion in Travel Suffering and Consolation for the Everlasting Gospel's sake in his day his Testimony lives with us He was a Preacher of Righteousness and one who travelled for the Redemption of the Creature from under the Bondage of Corruption and proclaimed Liberty to the Captives in the Power and Authority of God and therein was a true Witness against Oppression and all the Antichristian Yokes imposed in the Night of Apostacy upon the Persons and Consciences of People and truly and valiantly he held sorth the Liberty of Conscience and vindicated it to the great men of the Earth in things appertaining to God in matters of Religion and Worship against the persecution and compulsion which had its Original and Rise from the Power of the Beast which hath made War against the righteous Seed that men might be left free to the guidance of the infallible Spirit of God which is not to be limitted in these matters and not be compelled nor brought under the corrupt wills of men nor their failible judgements nor invented Forms in these cases And the Name of this Minister of Righteousness is written in the Lambs Book of Life and all the Enemies of his Life can never be able to blot it out nor extinguish his Memorial Oh! the remembrance of his integrity uprightness and sincerity hath deep impression upon my heart and that tender love and affection in God's Truth which he was filled with towards all the upright who are lovers of peace and unity in the Lord is never to be forgotten by us who are yet remaining in the Work of the Lord and the Everlasting Gospel for which he hath left a glorious Testimony the glory of which shall never be extinguished but thousands shall praise the Lord our God because thereof yea even the Seed that 's yet in the lower parts of the Earth where darkness covers it and the child that 's yet unborn in many that 's curiously framed in the Mothers Womb whose Members are written in the Book of God shall glorifie the Lord on his behalf And this Testimony many have already concerning him that though his Body is dead his Spirit liveth in the immortallity of that Life that is immutable and shall never die not wax old and is felt among the Righteous who walk in their integrety and constancy to the Lord. And this faithfull Servant of the Lord and valiant Souldier of the Lamb as in his day was evidently apparent as to live to him was Christ and to die was Gain And though in his time many were the Sâ—fferings and Afflictions which his life went under and his upright spirit suffered by both from his open Enemies and Persecutors in the World because of the valour and courage for the Truth of God and from deceitfull and transforming exalted spirits which burthen the holy Seed but now his Life is caught up above them all and is out of their reach in the transcendent and unspeakable Glory in the Everlasting Habitation and Firmament of God's Power where he hath shined and doth shine among the Stars that have kept their Habitations as one that hath turned many to Righteousness and that hath overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony with those holy Prophets and Martyrs who rejoyce over Babylon and her Abominations in whom their blood is found and against whom he was a faithfull Witness and valiant Warrier whose living and absolute Testimony therein God hath blessed made prosperous and will fulfil to the uttermost And though he be ceased from his Labours his Works do follow him which will be had in living remembrance and precious esteem among the Upright when his Persecutors shall be broken and laid low in the desolation and ruin of Babylon and all that continue in Enmity and Deceit and all the deceitfull spirits that have burdened his righteous Soul shall fall and their blossom wither and come to nought And if any of his Persecutors or Oppressors be yet so impenitent and obdurate as to triumph and be elevated in an exalted or prejudiced spirit because of his death and in their exaltation and pride of heart say He was taken away in Judgment or in Wrath. To such in Gods Fear I answer That thousands of the Servants of the Lord are of another perswasion not questioning but it was in God's tender Love as to his own particular that he was removed out of the Earthen Vessel in which he though a man as in the prime of his years endured great Travels in his time for the Truth 's sake and the gathering of many into the Way of the Lord and in which his Travel was the greater when the time of his dissolution drew near to be dissolved because of his Sufferings and the extremity of his Sickness occasioned thereby which many others were pertakers of who suffered Persecution and Imprisonment by unreasonable men in this City of London for the Cause of God and a good Conscience as chiefly for their meeting together singly in the Worship of God But this I testifie in the Lord as in him I have felt that
his being removed was in Judgment from the Lord against his Persecutors who desired and sought his Destruction and what they have done against him hath greatly added to the fulfilling of their Iniquities That the Blood of the Righteous which cries for Vengeance may be avenged to the utmost upon them who would not suffer the Righteous to have a Beeing amongst men nor lay to heart their being taken away from the Evil to come And they who in a byast or prejudiced spirit of Enmity are listed up because of his Decease they were not worthy of him nor of his Testimony and they have cause to Mourn and Lament amongst those that have pierced the Just and slighted and despised the Messengers of Truth and Righteousneds whom God hath therein Honoured and God will debase such and their vainglory unto the Dust and exalt the Testimony and Life of his faithful Witnesses over all their Heads But we who have been well acquainted with the deep suffering of the Righteous Seed and with the worth of true Unity in the weighty Body and Spirit of Christ and therein do behold the Glory and Compleatness of the City of our God which is at Peace within it self cannot but prize the Ministers of Righteousness and every Member of the same Body and oh how blessed and precious is the Memorial of the Righteous in our eyes and how deeply is my Soul affected with that comfortable Communion and those many and living Refreshments that we have enjoyed one with another even with him and others who have finished their Course Well however in this I am satisfied That though we be left in Travel and our Dayes have been Dayes of Affliction and Suffering for Christ and the Gospel's sake as in the World yet in him whom the Prince of this World hath nothing in we have Peace being come into Communion with the Spirits of Just Men who are the Family of God written in Heaven and called by one Name both in Heaven and Earth and the God of Life is their Portion and his Glory is the Rereward of his Called and Chosen and Faithful Ones who have dealt their Bread to the Hungry and brought the Poor to their House even to the Habitation of the Righteous where the Living Bread is received and the Heavenly Mansions lived in and enjoyed by all who abide in the Truth and retain their first Love and Habitation therein in which True Fellowship is enjoyed and the Prosperity of the Elect Seed known Blessed be the Name of our God forever and ever London the 12th day of the 1st Moneth 1663. George Whitehead JOSIAH COALE HIS TESTIMONY Concerning The Servant of the Lord and Minister of Jesus Christ Edward Burroughs FRiends a necessity is upon me and I am even constrained and pressed in my spirit to bring in and give my Testimony concerning my beloved Brother before mentioned that it may remain and stand upon record for Ages and Generations to come And this first I say and declare unto all people unto whom this shall come That he was a man endued with the Almighty Power of God which lived and reigned in him and the Treasury of pure divine heavenly Wisdom was opened in him c. and understanding in the things that relate unto God's Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness and in the things that concern the Everlasting peace and well-being of all mankind was plentifully manifested unto him by the good Spirit of God which I may say he had received in a plentifull Measure And this many can testifie unto and his own Writings which remain upon record will in a large Measure manifest the truth thereof And this Spirit dwelt plentifully in him so that thereby he was able to instruct many in the Way of Life Peace and true Holiness and if any were afflicted in spirit or mind by reason of the Wiles of the Enemy of their Souls or if they met with any difficulty in their journey as they passed from Death to Life he was a man able through the large experience that he had of the dealings of the Lord and also of the Wiles of Satan having followed the Lamb in the Regeneration to administer a word in season to their refreshment and comfort and for their establishment in the most precious holy Faith and this I know the Witness of God in thousands must and shall testifie unto who are the Seal of his Ministry And moreover he was a man that was able through the Wisdom and blessed Gift of God that was in him to convince and stop the mouths of all Gain-sayers of the Truth which he with us professed and lived in And it is well known to many that he was never backward but alwayes ready and willing to appear in a way of publick conference as in vindication of and against any that should oppose the blessed Truth of God which he held and professed and also to manifest the Grounds and Reasons wherefore we deny and dissent from the National Priests of the World and their traditional Ways of Worship and the hypocritical Professors thereof who have not the Life and Substance of what they profess in words And these things it is well known unto many he was oft exercised in and he did not go about in Corners nor creep into dark Places hiddenly nor secretly but preached the Truth of God and Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ boldly and openly even upon the House-top and his valour for God's Truth on Earth was well known unto many and his voice was as the found or ratling of the Charriots of God's Host upon the tops of the Mountains and was oft uttered sorth in the Name of the Lord even like Thunder and the Voice of the Son of God was uttered forth through him by which the Dead was raised the Witnesses are now alive let them bring in their Testimony that the truth hereof may be confirmed His Doctrine dropped as the Oyl of joy upon the spirits of the Mourners in Sion His life extended it self as a sweet Stream into the hearts of the Children of Light that thirsted after Righteousness He was one of the Cloud of Witnesses that dropped down the Dew upon the tender Plants of God He pleaded the Cause of the innocent suffering Seed and earnestly contended with the Powers of the Earth of all sorts in the behalf and for the freedom of the suffering people of God He fore-prophesied unto them that were in Authority in the dayes past of their destruction and of their overthrow because of their deceitfulness to God and their false and cruel treacherous and merciless dealings towards his people who had made many fair Promises both to God and Man in the time of their adversity That they would grant free Liberty of Conscience in things relating to the Worship of God and that Oppression should be removed and the like but in the time of their prosperity when they were waxen fat and grown great and lived at ease and in Pleasures
thy self and to that in thy Conscience I speak and it will let thee see that all thy worship is taken on in thy will and in that nature in which the enmity stands and so hath taken on things and taken up things by tradition from others and that which was commands to others who followed the Lamb whithersoever he went and no commands to thee neither doth God require those things of that nature neither doth he accept it while the bands of wickedness is not loosed and the oppressed is not set free and therefore let all flesh and carnal reason be silent for God will confound the wisdom of the wise and they that have divined in their reasons which is in the curse and under the curse shall be mad now in the day when God is raising up his own Image and bringing back that which hath long been held in captivity and now the men of the Earth Pharaoh and all the Inchanters of Egypt and the South-sayers and the Diviners and Gog and Magog among which thou Hewet art found one and they compass the Camp of the Saints about but fire shall come down from Heaven that shall destroy all the Adversaries of the Lord and Israel shall go free 1. That which thou calls our first Principle And first thou sayest They oppose the Word Christ to the written word and will have a Word that is a discovery spiritual to be the Word but whatsoever it is they call the Word it is perfectly false and not the truth Answer Oh thou Lyar and Slanderer the Lord will plead with thee for Addars Poyson is under thy tongue and thou hast a Whores forehead that art not ashamed of thy false accusing let hundreds in the City of London who hath heard us be witness against thee and thy Lyes that thou hast Printed and suffers them to be cryed up and down the streets as thy filthy Songs and Ballads and runs to disgrace the Truth but to the Lord who is righteous shalt thou give an account and thou art as Ianes and Iambres that withstood Moses and for all thy hard Speeches and filthy Lyes shalt thou give an Account for to him who is the Searcher of hearts and that in thy Conscience shall bear witness against thee and that we oppose the Word Christ to the written word as thou callst it I charge it upon thee that we do not oppose Christ to the Scripture for Christ is the Word Iohn 1. and this the Scripture doth not oppose but bears witness to him who is the Word and his Name is called the Word of God and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us as the Scriptures witness and the Word of the Lord endures for ever but he doth not say the Letter endures for ever but thou that art accusing us that we do not own a form of sound words here thou shalt be judged out of thy own mouth where readst thou of a written word in the Scripture and here thou shalt be tryed by the Scripture and judged by it that thou art a perverter of the Scripture thou wouldst have more words then one the Word is but one the Word sanctifies Sanctifie them through thy Word but he doth not say the Letter sanctifies And the Word of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting but the Letter is not from everlasting and the Scripture had a beginning and was declared in time and Prophesie shall cease but the Word is from everlasting to everlasting And the Word of the Lord is as a Hammer and as a Fire but the Scripture doth not say that it is as a Hammer and a Fire and yet the Word that he spoke was Spirit and Life yet the Scripture is not Spirit and Life and thou that wouldst set up the Letter in the place of God to try all things and search all hearts thou makest an Idol of it and so opposes God with it and so would bring that to contend against the Lord the which they witnessed through sufferings and I tell thee and all the world the Word is but one and all who knows God hears that Word and it is a Light and a Lanthorn unto their Pathes but that is invisible and eternal and what the Saints did witness of this Word they declared 1 Iohn and the Scripture is true and bears true record and testimony of the Word and they were true Witnesses of the Word of Life that wrote it and it is a true Declaration or Testimony of those things that are certainly believed Luke 1. of the which they saw and heard and tasted and all who come to know the Word of the Lord reads it again and sees it as it is written and further thy envy and shame is made manifest that thou wouldst accuse and yet thou sayst whatsoever they call the word it is perfectly false and not truth here thou would judge and yet thou canst not tell what we call the Word but at last concludes its false whatever it be and here thou blasphemes and callest Christ Jesus in whom is all truth false for no other Word I own but Christ and the Scripture speaks of no Word of God but one and thou that wouldst make the Letter the Word it self shall judge thee and thou makest much mincing and arguments in thy carnal reason and sayst the ground of error is ignorance of the Scripture and thou bringst Mark and Matthew alas I know what Mark and Matthew wrote is true if thou hadst an ear to hear the ground of all error is because he is not known nor his voice whom the Scriptures bear record of and thou sayst we drive men into darkness that works upon people to dis-esteem the Scripture and perswades people to an uselessness of the Scriptures let all that have heard us in the City of London or elsewhere speak if they heard us say the Scriture was useless or did dis-esteem it but on the contrary we exhorted them to search if the Scripture did not bear witness to those things we declared and so let shame cover thy face thou false Accuser and thou bringst 2 Tim. 3. 17. that it is for the perfecting the man of God and that its profitable to correct and instruct this is owned but it s not the man of God thou wouldst have perfected by it but such Hirelings as thy self hath been and false Accusers as thou art and I say it is profitable to us to reprove thee and correct thee and read thy portion a Lyars portion is in the Lake and as Rom. 15. 4. its not denyed but as Christ Jesus is witnessed who is the Comforter which the Scripture bears witness of there is comfort and hope and thou sayst the Scripture proves the New birth and teacheth perseverance to the end It bears testimony of some that did witness the New birth and that persevered unto the end but what is this to thee that never came one step in the way and as for promises there is no
of knowledge and there thou art till thou art become a Fool and dead to that reason thou shalt never eat of the tree of Life and therefore Flesh be silent and thou sayst thou dost not allow that reason that gets only a conclusion or an argument instead of Christ and after thou sayst the day is yet to dawn and the day Star to arise and thou cryes violently for it and here what hast thou more for an assurance of thy salvation then an argument and a conclusion instead of Christ for thou confesses the day is not dawned and then thou are yet in the night and in darkness for the day dawns and the day star arises before Christ be witnessed but thou knows no such thing as either Christ or the dawning if thou had not others testimony and that is without and thou art one Christ spoke of Since Iohn the Kingdom suffers violence and many thrust into it and thou art striving and are violent but I say thou shalt not be able till thou layst down thy contending in thy carnal wisdom and striving and resisting but thou must become a Fool and sit at Jesus feet but thou art full and rich and whole and need no Physitian and therefore thou must be sent empty away and when the Book of Conscience shall be opened thou shalt be judged for what thou hast done against the Innocent Now something in Answer to the Fourth Particular which thou sayest is a Tenent held forth by the Northern people which is A denying of the Ascension and Beeing of the Body of Christ. Answ. O thou Enemy of Righteousness when wilt thou cease to pervert the right Way of God who uttereth thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent God shall judge thee and between thee us whether thou hast not uttered Lyes and false Accusations in the Name of the Lord and put forth in Writing unto the World for truth that which is absolutely contrary unto the Truth God will reward thee thou full of subtilty according to thy deeds who takes part with the Dragon against the Lamb goes about by thy lying Slanders to render the Way of Truth which thou canst not comprehend in thy serpents wisdom odious unto all men but God taketh our part against thee and will dash thy Lyes and Slanders and thy Impudent Forehead in pieces even by that Power which makes the Earth to quake tremble which is become a reproach unto this Generation many who have heard us since we came to this City though our Enemies shall witness against thee and for us in this particular for we have oft witnessed forth and I do here again witness forth in the sight of God and men that Christ Jesus is risen and ascended far above all Principalities and Powers and the same which descended into the lower parts of the Earth is also ascended and raigns over all subjecting all unto himself that he may be Lord over all and in all and may be glorified by all and Members of his Body we are who thou enviously raylst against and Witnesses of the Body we are whereof Christ Jesus is Head and because of the Resurrection of the dead Body which is ascended we are called in question and all Sects Opinions are troubled and on an uproar concerning us and I tell thee plainly we are so far from denying the Ascension and Beeing of the Body of Christ that because of being called to witness it as being Members of it we are persecuted and reviled by such as thy self whose carnal conceptions and imaginations of Truth we do deny and do testifie unto you all that through death is the Resurrection and Ascension witnessed and every one that reads the Scripture is not witnesses of the resurrection of the body of Christ and all whose witness is onely without them other mens words which had the Witness within them we deny to be true Witnesses but are found false Witnesses of the Resurrection and of the Ascension and knows not Christ nor his body but by hearsay and whereas thou bringst many Scriptures to prove his Resurrection and Ascension I answer the Scriptures we own to be a true Declaration of the Witness which was in the Apostles of the Resurrection and of the Ascension of Christ but thee we deny who are found a Lyar and a Slanderer and thy resurrection will be unto condemnation and thy ascension will prove a descending into the Bottomless-pit for ever to be tormented except thou repent and from the Life of the holy men of God thou are razed out who art found in the way of ungodliness and thou hast nothing to do to profess their words who art out of their life nor no inheritance in their words but as thou steals them adding thy own imaginations upon them and wresting them to thy own destruction being one unlearned in the Way of God and in the Doctrine of Christ. And whereas thou sayst And thus you see how these men deny the Lord that bought them if they deny the Body that was crucified for them I answer We deny not the Lord that bought us for by him can we say we have received the end of his coming and of his Death and Ascension even he hath purchased us and set us free from the Power and Kingdom of the Divel of Lyes and Slanders and false Accusations of us by whom the Man-child is brought forth and this shall stand for thy own condition who art a wandring Star and hath no habitation in the Heavens God will plead with thee thou who hast set thy self against the Lord in Slandring and reviling his servants Now to thy fift Particular That we deny the Ordinances of Christ in which thou sayest We also deny the Lord that bought us Answ. The Way unto God and unto Everlasting Life which is Christ Jesus we do not deny but are true Witnesses that same Christ alone which was crucified at Ierusalem and which God hath raised from the dead and which is ascended in him alone is Salvation and by him also alone are all justified that believe in him and this we declare freely unto all people that Christ is the Ordinance of God ordained by him for the Salvation of all that believe and for the Condemnation of all that believe not in him and that the Way unto this Christ is not any outward visible thing but even that which is manifest from him leads up unto him even the Light by which he hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World which is Spiritual as Christ is Spiritual and whereas thou sayest there is nothing that Christ commanded but we deny it mentioning only your Baptism and Breaking of Bread which is your Idol and your Image you bow unto the one Baptism which is by one Spirit into one Body into the Death of Christ we are Witnesses of and the Bread which we break is the Communion of the Body of Christ and we being many are one Bread but the beggerly
thy ignorance is made manifest who bringst one Scripture to oppose another and knowst not the conditions in thy self from which Paul spoke and so art ignorant of what he spoke for I say there is a time without the Law and a time under the Law and a time dead to the Law and not under it and all these states Paul witnessed which we also in our measures are witnesses of which thou knowst not in thy self and so wrests Pauls words And whereas thou sayest Yet let not them think that we by this doctrine nourish sin having brought many Scriptures to plead for sin I answer being guilty in thy self thou art afraid and hath a jealousie lest we should lay it to thy charge and truly concerning thee we think nothing in this matter for thy heart and the secrets of it is made manifest in the Eternal Light by which thou are comprehended and answered and by which God will eternal judge thee therefore repent lest the wrath of God overtake thee and thou be swept away with the Beesom of destruction who hath falsly accused and slandered us with lies and false reproaches but now it s the time that Pilate and Herod is made Friends and Gog and Magog is gathered together to compass the Camp of the Saints about and even the Priests and their Crew and the Anabaptists and their Crew and all Sects is combined against the Truth but God is with us and in him alone can we rejoyce over you all for ever and ever and in him make our boast all the day long for this is our heritage every tongue that riseth up in judgement against us shall be condemned for the Lord is our portion and even the stone which is become the head stone of the corner and thou Howet shalt be grinded to powder by it who hath bent thy bow to shoot at the righteous therefore consider what thou hast done and repent lest God tear thee in pieces and there be none to deliver By one who is zealous for the Name of the Lord of Hosts called EDWARD BURROUGH Answers to several Queries Put forth to the despised People called Quakers by Philip Bennett who calls himself a Minister of Christ but is found a Deceiver Also Answers to several other Queries put forth by Iohn Reeve who lives in the City of London who calls himself The last Messenger and Witness unto the true God but is found a false Witness and a Lyar and a Perverter of the right Way of God A Paper being received which was directed to Rich. Roper and to his Quaking Friend which words comes from the dark carnal mind quaking and trembling which the Saints and holy men of God witnessed we own and witness therefore we do deny thee and all thy dark Divinations WHereas thou Philip Bennett in thy Note which thou hast written to Roper in Answer to a Letter which he wrote to thee wherein he charges thee to be a Lyar and a false Accuser and charges thee to bring any man to witness what thou hast spoken by them whom thou sayest denyed that Christ that dyed at Ierusalem and who they were that denyed that Christ that suffered at Ierusalem or else acknowledge thy self to be a Slanderer and in thy Paper thou gives no Answer at all to these words but sayest thou callest the Congregation to witness but doth not mention one in all the Congregation that will witness it whereupon the Lye rests upon thy head and thou found to be the Lyar and the Slanderer and the false Accuser And whereas thou sayest thou hast sent queries concerning that matter thy queries makes thee manifest what thou art many of thy own Tribe and Generation if they saw thy queries would be ashamed both of thee and of thy queries for hundreds there are in the world that know nothing of the true and living God and yet would see thee and thy queries not to be worth answering yet lest thou shouldst boast in thy filthy ignorance and darkness and for clearing of the Truth to the simple Something in answer to them 1 Quer. Whether was the Word made flesh or the Son of God made of a Woman more or oftner then once Answ. In this first query thou hast manifested what thou art to all the Children of Light and where thou art and what spirit thou art of a Reprobate a child of Darkness thou art thou mightest have spared the other nineteen queries for in this query thy spirit is tryed and in the Eternal Light seen and known Thou askest whether the Word was made Flesh any more or oftner then once which makes it plainly manifest that thou knowest noâ—â—â—at thou askest and that thou dost not know nor canst not witness the Word to be made Flesh once but art one of the Antichrists and Deceivers which Iohn speaks of that are entred into the World which cannot confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh and therefore thou queries whether the Word was made Flesh any more or oftner than once which query comes from thy dark polluted mind who is out of the Light and a Stranger to the Life and without God in the world amongst the false Prophets Antichrists and Deceivers which are in the world and in the Light of Christ which condemns the world ye are all seen known and made manifest and are turned away from by these who dwell in the Light which Light condemns thee and all thy Generation eternally and the Word made flesh we witness which dwells amongst us and we behold his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father according to the Scripture whereby we witness thee and all thy Generation to be in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft deceiving and betraying the Souls of the Simple the Light of Christ in thy Conscience will tell thee so for that thou must be obedient to and witness before thou witness the Word to be made flesh once for thou art Darkness it self and the Light in thy Conscience if thou wouldst let it rise will be thy condemnation and when thou canst witness the Word to be made flesh once then thou wilt know whether the Son of God was made of a Woman any more or oftner than once But thou art the Dragon that wouldst devour the Man-child which the Woman hath brought forth who shall rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron and her Child is caught up to God and to his Throne and thou the Dragon and thy Angels are cast out into the Earth and therefore dost thou persecute the Woman which hath brought forth the Man-child but thou art overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony and for thy other nineteen queries thou hast conjured them up in thy black Art out of the Bottomless-pit which is to be turned into perdition if thou hadst an ear thou mightst hear or a eye thou mightst read but thou art blind 2 Quer. Whether did the Man Christ Iesus the Son of God slain in
stands in time and in the airy Philosophy and imagination and thy great words etetnity and eternities shall stand thee in no stead for that which is Eternal was before thou wast and shall be when thou art brought down to the pit with all thy imaginations And so that thou mightst not glory any more in thy shame I have answered thy Queries and for the simple ones sake that they might not be stumbled by thy stumbling queries who dwellâ— not in the Light EDWARD BURROUGH An Answer to a Book called Choice Experiences Given forth by I. Turner Also the Copy of a Letter sent to the Assembly of those that are called Anabaptists in Newcastle I Have met with a Book called Choice experiences given forth by one J. Turner who by Iohn Spilsbery in his Epistle is called a Daughter of Syon and her self declareth in the 109. pag. of her Book of being brought out of Babylon into Syon but all along through her Book heâ— language is one and the same before her comming out of Babylon and in Syon as she saith her language is the language of Babylon wholly and she is yet a servant in bondage in Babylon unto the Mistress of Witchcraft and never came to witnesâ— freedom in Syon for I know her voyce it s the language of her City where she now dwells which is in confusion in Babylon And whereas she declares of some particulars which she calls Decâ—its whereby she was deceived in the 109. pag. in that which she calls the fifth note of experience concerning notions and pretended spiritualities in which Satan transforms hiâ—self into an Angel of light and how the Lord was pleased to recover her out of deceit I answer It is plain to the spiritual man which discerns of truth and deceit that she is yet deceived and unrecovered out of deceit and here I charge her that she belyes the Lord for he hath not recovered her out of deceit for she hath resisted him in that work as is made appear in her Book and she is now in notion and not in power and in pretended spiritualities and not really in the Spirit and Satan is now transformed in her into an Angel of light by which she is deceived and whereas she talkes of her choice experienâ—es death yet raigns in her and is no whit subdued I speak as in the presence of the Lord who am moved to lay open her deceit to the simple who doth blaspheme the God of Heaven in his Saints in calling Truth error and calling that deceit which by the Spirit of the Lord I own to be truth and calls those corrupt Principles which were owned by the Servants of the Lord in former Generations and which are owned now by them which witness the same Spirit which Spirit of Christ she makes appear she knows not who hath denied him and salvation by him within Whereas she speaks of Satan envying her happiness and waits his opportunity to catch her as a Fish in the Water covering his book with a baite of Mystery and spirituality I answer She is yet in the power of Satan he hath already catched her with his covered hook which is covered with a very fair out side a fair Form of Truth a likeness of it with the likeness of a Church and of a Baptism and of a Fellowship c. is she beguiled already and is unhappy through the opportunities which the Devil hath waited over her for she it under the curse lying in the fall and enmity And whereas she speaks Of having escaped him in his former appearances as a Devil yet now transforms himself as an Angel of light I answer She hath not escaped him as a Devil and here she is a Lyar for his appearance is in her in lying and in speaking evil of those things she knows not and he is transformed in her as an Angel of light but she knows it not but lyes in darkness in the mystery of iniquity in notion and the pretence of spirituality And she saith Those that are so deceived are the fittest Agents to promote his Kingdom I answer Here it is made manifest she who is deceived by the Devil doth much promote his Kingdom by strengthening the hands of evil doers who through her writing hardens their hearts against the truth Whereas she speaks Of Satans drawing persons by corrupt principles which they would have trembled at the thought of before they had such principles I answer This is her own condition she is drawn by Satan to follow corrupâ— principles which if she did see she would tremble at the sight of them And she saith God was not onely pleased to keep her from such things but to discover the way by which persons are brought to such things I answer Here again I charge her that sâ—e belies the Lord which is Blasphemy for he hath not kept her from corrupt Principles he would but she hath resisted him and the discovery from God to her will be plagues and wo for death and darkness raigns which makes manifest themselves in her which is her discovery She speaks of avoiding those ways and forewarning others to avoid them likewise I answer She hath not avoyded the wayes of darkness but hath chosen them and hath avoyded the way of truth as is made manifest who hath denied salvation by Christ within and as she hath avoyded the way of truth her self so she casts a stumbling-block in the way of the simple to avoyed it likewise Whereas she speaks of discovering Satan under these vails and saith by barkening to the voyce of the Tempter she was deceived and beguiled by him in some particular things I answer Satan is not yet discovered to her but lyes under his vayle in Flesh deceiving her and by her bearkening to the voyce of the Tempter she is now deceived by him not in few things but in many I speak it as in the presence of the Lord who shall judge of her and me And she speaks of ever being humbled in the presence of God for it I answer When the dreadfull God shews his presence she cannot stand but shall be confounded who doth here speak to the dishonour of his Name True humility she knows not for the man of sin is exalted in her above all that is called God And whereas she speaks of beginning to be somewhat confused in her judgement and she speaks of not being swallowed up with confusion I answer She is in confusion and hath never been out of it as to every single eye may appear she is not only somewhat in confusion but is rowled and swallowed up in it and it is long since it began in her Whereas she speaks of being weak in Principles I answer It it true the Principle which is of God is and hath been weak in her for it is over-powred by the Principle of Deceit which is not weak but strong and which rules and Guides her in her own will Whereas she speaks of being with a
calls them deceitfull Principles she hath chosen the way of Death rather then the way of Life and hath taken her self to follow shaddows and likenesses and neglected the Substance which is Christ within the hope of glory her latter end is worse then her beginning and the Parable is fulfilled upon her And she speaks in the 126. pag. of Satan being discovered under his vail and in particular as to that of being saved by a Christ within and not by a Christ without and the Lord was pleased to shew her it was quite another thing differing from the Gospel and that it was attended with this evil consequence to overthrow the whole Gospel and to deny the Lord that bought them I answer I charge her here as in the presence of God with belying the Lord and with horrible Basphemy who saith That that which the Saints and servants of God witnessed who Preached the Gospel and established it Christ within manifested is quite another thing differing from the Gospel and that it is attended to overthrow the whole Gospel O horrible Blasphemy and belying the Lord who saith that the Lord was pleased to shew her it did ever he shew any Lyes all take notice of this wicked and horrible Blasphemer the Lord rebuke that unclean spirit of Antichrist in her She goes on and saith then secondly as to that of waiting for a power to Pray and that here was no command but from within concerning both these the Lord was pleased to shew that it was not according to his minde but a meer invention of Satan and that it was attended with this evill consequence to slight Scriptures and Commands of God and to expose the soul to Satans deceivings to walk by the imaginations of their own heart instead of the motions of the Spirit I answer The Saints waited for the moving of the Spirit which was power in them to help them to pray they knew not to Pray as they ought without it and this command and help they had not without them but within them And I again here charge her with belying the Lord and with notorious Blasphemy who saith that that which the Saints witnessed waiting for the power of the Spirit to Pray is not according to the minde of the Lord but an invention of Satan and she is not ashamed to say the Lord shewed her and the same which they witnessed who spoke forth the Scripture and which walked in the Commands of God tends to slight Scriptures and commands of God and to expose the soul to Satans deceivings this is Blasphemy and Error and corrupt Principles and she which hath denyed waiting to be led by the motions of the Spirit is led by the imaginations of her own heart is under the power of Satans deceiving and speaks contrary to what the Scripture speaks and so slights it and the Commands of God she hath Blasphemed the God of Heaven and accordingly will the Lord requite her And thus have I for the simple ones sake declared the truth and every single eye may see who it is is led by corrupt principles and what I have written shall she eternally witness to be true and all her co-partners And I pass by the rest of her Book as not worth answering for it is nothing but airy imagination and confusion and death yet raigns in her and in her Book is spoken out by her and she knowes not the Baptism of Saints nor Communion nor the true Church of Christ to that witness in her conscience do I declare and when it shall arise it will eternally witness me Whose Name in the Flesh is EDWARD BURROUGH The Copy of a Letter c. FRiends for so I call you I was moved of the Lord to come into your Assembly to declare the truth from him concerning you as by the eternal Spirit was revealed to me and I do acknowledge it it was a mercy from the Lord that I had that small liberty which I had to clear my Conscience amongst you and to discharge my duty in obedience to the Lord and to every ones Conscience am I made manifest whether you will hear or you will forbear truely Friends there is somthing among you which I own and which is owned of my Father but yet many things hath he against you and as I said I now again say from the mouth of the Lord that your Covering is too narrow to hide your shame and your bed too short to stretch your selves upon Now friends the Ordinances of Iesus Christ which you act in you say in obedience to him I do not speak against but do witness them in life and power neither do I judge such amongst you who have entered in at the door by the Principle of God to the Ordinances if any such but you I do declare against and do judge by the infallible Spirit who have in your own wills thrust in your selves and acted by imagination and immitation from the Letter without and not having received the Command from Christ into your selves such I judge to be in deceit deceived by the Serpent which deceives the simple by the likeness of a thing and you that limit the Lord to any outward visible thing that without such can be no Salvation you I judge again to be in deceit and my judgement shall stand for nothing is available that which God once commanded nor that which was not commanded but the new Creature which is born of the immortall Seed contrary to the will of man Truely Friends you are acting in darkness and there is no seperation in you betwixt the precious and the vile betwixt the clean and the unclean for that which did convince you of false Hirelings and of their deceitful worship which is owned of my Father in you hath not been obeyed by you but your minds have been drawn forth from within to obey a thing without and herein have you been bewitched from the obedience of the truth within to obey the letter without as they were which the Scripture speaks of and you are acted in another form and likeness then you were before and which some are acted in yet but by the same spirit and you have a zeale I beare you record but it is not according to knowledge I declare against that spirit by which you are now acted as knowing it to be the spirit of Antichrist and that which is owned by my Father in you is oppressed by you by your wisdom and reason which stands above and is head and rules amongst you which is for destruction and for the Lord to accomplish his wrath upon and happy were you if you knew the day of vengeance which is the acceptable year of the Lord but you are yet full and rich and think you have need of nothing and have a name that you live but you are dead and empty and miserable your form is corrupted and you seek the living among the dead and you act in the form but walks at liberty
in your own wills despising the daily cross of Christ which if you walked in would bring down the high minde and high nature in you and through the Cross that which is low in you would be exalted and the witness of your Ordinances would you have within which you are seeking in the letter without And now Friend to the◠who wert the Speaker when I was present among you thy Name I know not but by thy nature and spirit thy spirit is the same which they speak from which thou seems to deny as false spirits and by that spirit hast thou been deceived and now it workes by thee to deceive others and that spirit infallibly by the eternal Spirit do I judge for the time is come that by the Saints the great Whore must be judged which hath made all the men of the Earth drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and which hath deceived the simple And whereas thou didst Quaery what one thing I will deny as untruth which you had spoken I answered then as now I do I do deny thy voyce and spirit for 〈◊〉 is the voyce of the stranger and not of Christ and though you sweare by that spirit The Lord lives I say surely thou swearest falsely and the false Prophets which used their tongues and said The Lord saith it when the Lord had not spoken unto them spoke the same words of the true Prophet but he that had the true spirit judged the false spirit and so it is now And therefore Friend out of love to thy soul I do advise thee to be silent before the Lord and wait upon him till he manifest himself to speak in thee and by thee for Friend thy Ministry is in the will of man and thou ministers death unto dead minds and the Ministery which is to the Seed thou art ignorant of to that in thy conscience I speak which shall witness for me before the Lord who is appearing in his power to utter his thunders and all Flesh shall tremble at his presence and all Forms of Worship will he dash to pieces at his appearance And yours which is the purest Form shall be broken to pieces that he may rule who is without form and comeliness Now Friends for the Seeds sake have I spoken and written to you and to that in your consciences have I cleared my conscience in the presence of the Lord which you shall Eternally witness whether you will hear or forbear By a Servant of the Lord who is named of the World Edward Burrough An Answer to a Book called A Voice from the word of the LORD by one Iohn Griffith against us whom the World calls Quakers wherein his false Accusations is denied and he proved to be a Slanderer and the Truth cleared from his Scandals A Certain Book being come forth into the world full of Lies and Slanders against the Innocent called A voice from the word of the Lord to those grand Impostors called Quakers to the Author of which Book who calls himself Iohn Criffith a Servant of Christ and to all to whomsoever it may come I am moved to write something in Answer that his lies and slanders and false reproaches may be made manifest and that he may proceed no further for as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses so doth he resist the truth being a man of a corrupt mind and reprobate concerning faith and is not a Servant of Christ nor a witness for his Name but a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the aire rules And first to the title of thy Book I Answer the Word of the Lord is powerful and will cut thee down thou sensual minded man it thou knowest not but takes the words of others declared from the word which was in them and thou useth thy tongue and saith the Lord saith it but I say unto thee the Lord hath not spoken unto thee neither commanded thee to speak of his Name and I charge it upon thee in the presence of the Lord God of Life that thou art of that Generation which Ieremiah was sent to cry against Ier. 23. 31. for thou speaks thy imaginations upon their words which dwelt in the life of God but the life thou knowest not and thy whole Book is no more but an empty sound and voice and is as the untimely fruit of the womb which will wither and perish away and one of them I am whom thou calls Quakers to whom thou sayst thou directs thy speech but that we are grand Impostors I do deny for we are gathered up into the life which the holy men of God lived in and are fallen from the world and from its wayes and nature and I charge thee here to be a slanderer and from the mouth of the Lord I do declare unto thee that thou must have a slanderers reward And whereas thou sayst thou hast discovered their fleshly and filthy mindedness together with the judgments of God attending them I Answer Fleshly and filthy mindedness we have denied by the Power of the Son of God made manifest in us thou hast laid it to our charge but thou hast not proved it nor discovered it and here again thou are a false Accuser fleshly and filthy mindedness shall stand for thy own condition for there thou art in the flesh filth living to thy will in the lust of uncleanness for thou mayst remember thou camest out of the Bowling-Alley to our Meeting though Pharisee-like thy out-side is painted and made clean but thy heart is full of enmity and lies and slanders and false reproaches to that in thy conscience I do speak which shall forever witness me and as for the judgments of the Lord upon thy own head will they fall and with what measure thou metes it shall be measured to thee again we are passed from judgment and from the condemnation and who art thou thou enemy of righteousness that shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. And whereas thou sayest thou art one that bears witness against those wandring starres I answer this shall stand for thy own condition a wandring star thou art and hath no habitation in the Heaven but speaks swelling words of vanity thou thy self being a servant of corruption we have an abiding place and an habitation in the Lord and are not wandring and here again I charge thee to be a false Accuser and a false witness who bears Witness of thy self for the Father bears no witness of thee but against thee Whereas thou sayst the most high God that made the heavens and the Earth hath moved thee and stirred thee up to bear witness to the Truth and to witness against the abominable fleshly mindedness and yet spiritual pride of those grand Impostors called Quakers by whose sorceries many are bewitched and drawn from the simplicity of the Gospell to another Gospel which is not another Gospel but the vanity of their own minds and their own fleshly and corrupt thoughts which they
cry up as Oracles of God I answer The most high God judge between thee and us whose wrath is kindled against thee thou enemy of righteousness and Child of wrath thou hast belyed the Lord of Heaven and Earth for to this he moved thee not for he moves none to utter lyes and slanders as thou hast done but the spirit of enmity and of the Devil hath moved thee and to the Truth thou bears no witness but against the Truth and against the Innocent and charges us with fleshly mindedness and spiritual pride O thou Lyar and false Accuser the Lord who takes our part against thee will plead with thee and render upon thy head according to thy deeds prove what thou speaks that we are fleshly minded and spiritually proud or else let thy mouth be stopped and shame cover thee forever Sorceries and witchcraft and drawing from the simplicity of the Gospel we do deny but the plain single Truth we do declare by which the eye of the blind is opened in many to see your deceits who call your selves Churches and Preachers of the Gospel which is not the Gospel that the Apostles preached but an adding your own Imaginations upon their words who witnessed the Gospel and it shall stand for thy own condition thou art in the sorcery and witchraft who draws people to observe an outward visible thing from the Light of Christ within them which leades to the simplicity of the Gospel which is inward and not outward and thou art in thy fleshly and corrupt thoughts crying up the Ordinances and Oracles of God which are but carnal and beggerly rudiments of the world which passeth away and here thou art seen and made manifest in the Light of Christ to be a Hypocrite who falsely accuses others of that which thou art guilty of thy self the same Gospel as ever was do we declare and not another which we received not from man neither was taught it by man and as the Oracles of God it shall stand forever for a witness against thee and all the world who doth not believe for even the Father beares witness of us and therefore our witness is true and the righteous God will plead with thee thou Lyar and false Accuser and here be a witness against thy self that the Lord moved thee not but the Devil acting in thy own imaginations and in the vanity of thy own mind and in thy one fleshly and corrupt thoughts And whereas thou sayest to us thou directs thy speech from the Lord Thus saith the Lord to thee O Quaker thou art fleshly minded I answer It is not the voyce of the Lord to us that speaks in thee but the voyce of the Devil and the Serpent which speaks from thee fleshly minded we are not but are redeemed out of it and our mindes are changed and are Spiritual and 't is the Spirit of the living God seals unto us and witnesses in us and here thou art of thy Father the old Dragon and Accuser of the Brethren but it is God that justifies and who art thou that condemns and this thy speech is seen and comprehended which thou hast directed to us and it is judged by the Spirit of true judgment to be a false Accusation and a Lye and not the Word of the Lord and into the Lake amongst the false Prophets thou art to be turned who useth thy tougue when the Lord never spake to thee And thou sayest we look upon the Iustitution of Christ Supper with a fleshly and carnal eye because we say that the bread and wine which Christ commanded his Disciples to eat and to drink is carnal I Answer The bread and wine is visible and carnal and fleshly and not Spiritual nor Eternal and in the eternal Light by the Spiritual eye of God opened in us we see them and do own that it was a command of Christ to stand for its time and no more but a carnal figure of a spiritual thing and the spiritual thing being the Substance bearing witness the figure is denied and declared against and thou and thy Generation who art acting in those things by tradition tying and limitting God to a visible thing that without it no salvation art in the sorcery and witchraft and an enemy to the substance for Christ never since he was sacrificed brake of the Bread or drank of the Cup with his Disciples but new in his Fathers kingdom and thou who art in the â—arnal figure acting those things without the injoyment of Christ art sensual and by the Light of Christ art to be condemned and judged with the world who art without God and without the injoyment of Christ in the beggerly rudiments of the world Thou sayst O fleshly minded men whom the god of this world hath blinded because you believe not and thou sayst thus saith the Lord and speaks the Prophet Malachic words To which I answer this again I do deny the god of the world is cast out and the eye is opened through judgments and our fleshly minds are judged and in the Name of Jesus we do believe and our belief in him hath purified our hearts to the praise of the Living God who hath wrought all our works in us and foâ— us do I speak without boasting and here again I charge it upon thee that thou art a slanderer and a false accuser and let shame cover thee who professes thy self to be a Teacher of others who thy self is not taught of the Lord but steals Malachis words and speaks them to us in thine own imaginations and calls it the word of the Lord the Lord is against thee thou false Prophet who prophesies lyes in his Name and that which thou speaks to us is thy own condition and that which shall come upon thine own head for a child of disobedience thou art and thy eye is blinded by the god of this world And whereas thou sayest we are spiritually proud that give forth our selves to be some great ones and we say we are Apostles and are not but are found Lyars proud Pharisees Hypocrites that say we are Iust Holy Humble and the poor sinful Publicans are more justified then we I answer proud we are not our God shall judge between thee and us in this thing for we have nothing but what we have freely received from him and that we give forth our selves to be great ones here thou art a Lyer and a false Accuser again this we have said and do yet again declare that we were moved of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to come to declare his mind and his Truth in this City but this is no boasting and by that same spirit which was in the Apostles were we moved and are guided and by no other but who hath found us Lyers since we came I challenge you and all thy Sect to prove one lye that we have uttered or else let shame cover thee and let thy mouth be stopped and let thy own heart condemn thee to be
shake terribly the Earth shall give us our Portion in the Lake that burns I answer Let all the World here take notice of thy confusion and ignorance which utters forth it self through thee thou before wast scorning of trembling and now thou art approving of it and if it be they that tremple which serve the Lord here be a Witness against thy self thou servest him not who art not yet come to tremble but art in thy high nature above the fear of the Lord and here again thou art found a false Accuser for we reject not the Law of the Lord nor the Word which he hath spoken but live in it and rejoyce in it daily for in it is our hearts delight And here again as thou hast measured to us it shall be measured unto thee when the Lord God arises to recompence his Enemies thy Portion will be the same as thou hast said in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone And now a few words in answer to that which thou calls A Caution to all that are called Saints in the Nation which may concern all people I answer They who are Saints who dwell in the Light and walks in the Light do discern thee to be no Saint neither will receive any caution from thee but will testifie against thee for thy Lyes slanders and false accusations which thy Book is filled with and herein it may concern all people that thy Lyes and Slanders be reproved and laid open lest they receive thy Lyes for the Truth and be deceived by thy subtil Speeches who brings the Prophets words and the Apostles words wrest ing them and falsly applying them to make thy Lyes to be received but all people who love the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them will see thee and deny thee and turn away from thee as having the Form of Godliness without the Power And whereas thou sayst Ye may rejoyce that you live to sâ—e not only the mystery of Godliness but also the working of iniquity in the fleshly corrupt and sensual minded men calâ—d Quakers I answer That name Quakers was cast upon us by the Heathen through their scorn and derision as the name Christians was upon the Disciples though quaking we own for all the Holy Men of God witnessed it and the Holy Scriptures declares of it and here again thou enviously and maliciously castest a Slander upon us Fleshly Corrupt and Sensual-mindedness and the working of the mystery of Iniquity is destroyed in us by the mighty Power of God made manifest in Jesus Christ which takes away sin to the praise of the living God I speak in clearing the Innocent from thy false Slanders and it shall stand for thy own condition fleshly corrupt and sensual-minded and the working of the mystery of iniquity And herein I prove thee to be so by thy Fruits thy Lyes and false Reproaches and envious false Accusations which is the fruits of the flesh and of corrupt sensual-mindedness which fruits do appear in this thy Writing and as for the Mystery of Godliness it is hidden from thee and in that mind and nature thou shalt never know it for thou livest in the sight of thy own Pollution and of thy carnal Ordinances and not in the injoyment of the Mystery of Christ which is Godliness And whereas thou sayest Ye may rejoyce and in nothing be terrified because the Scriptures did foretel of such and is fulfilled in these men And thou bringest many Scriptures where Christ and the Apostles prophesied of the coming in of false Prophets and Teachers I Answer Though ye do now rejoyce yet your joy shall be turned into sorrow and howling and the Lord hath said it and the day of terror will overtake you wherein your hearts shall fail you for fear and your foundation shall be removed and its true that the Scripture doth foretel of us and is witnessed in us That all the Lord's Children should be taught of the Lord And that the Lord would gather his Flock out of the mouths of all dumb Shepherds c. and according to our growth up in the Life of the Scriptures they are fulfilled in us but false Prophets we do deny though all those Scriptures which thou hast set down we own to be prophesies of false Prophets those false prophets which Christ prophesied of came in the Apostles dayes they saw them comming in then 1 Iohn 2. 18. And as all these Scriptures testifies which thou hast cited and since the Apostles dayes hath been a great Apostacy and not a true Church of Christ could be found and ever since hath the same Generation of false Prophets stood under several forms and appearances deceiving the Nations But now the pure Light of Christ shines discovering to them who walk in the Light who they are and daily more and more clearly shall they be seen and thou wilt be found in their number who art a cursed child in whom the son of perdition is exalted which utters forth thy Lyes and Slanders sensually and make it manifest to all that thou hast not the Spirit of God but are separated from it in self-seperation which is abomination unto God and must be scattered by him And whereas thou sayest Seeing it is so let you be filled with boldness and let you contend against those ungodly Ones which are now risen I answer ungodliness we deny and your boldness shall the Lord turn into weakness and faintness and your contendings against us shall not prosper for this is our heritage every Tongue that riseth up in judgment shall be condemned you shall all be scattered and driven away as Chaff before the Wind who sets yourselves to contend against the Truth for that which is now risen shall confound you all And whereas thou bringest many Scriptures which were Exhortations of the Apostle to the Saints with exhorting thy Brethren I answer The Scriptures I do own and that Spirit which spake them forth I witness but thou art an Enemy to the Power of them though thou hast the Form of Truth thy lying and false accusing hath made thee appear to be an Enemy to the Life which the holy Men of God lived in and so hast cleared thy self from those Scriptures which were written to the Saints and must own those which were written to the World The Lyar must be cast into the Lake the Wicked must be turned into Hell and such as these thou must own to belong unto thee and these are thy Scriptures which thou hast right unto And whereas thou sayest We talk of high enjoyments and great revelations without above and beyond the Scripture and that we talk of a Light which is besides the Scripture but its deep and thick darkness and what hath such lights led men unto even contempt of God and of all Righteousness I answer Here again thou art found a Lyar and an Accuser of the Brethren for what we do declare the Scripture witnesseth to the same and we speak of nothing
enviousness might be laid open to the simple And truly I say unto you you have and will miss of your end in putting forth this Book of yours And whereas you say you shall be willing at any time to vindicate every conclusion therein contained against any that shall oppose I answer I challenge you all in this particular to prove those accusations which you have laid to our charge whom you call Quakers in many particulars which before I have demanded what they are is before spoken of And whereas you say you account that light within not witnessed by the Scripture without which some so much talk of to be deep darkness I answer if you know any who speak of any Light which the Scripture doth not witness of we with you freely declare against such and such a light is darkness but the Light of Christ which we speak of which hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world I hope you are not so impudent but you will acknowledge that the Scriptures speaks of this light and dare not deny but that the Scripture witnesses that Christ is the Light of the word for as I said we freely give way and desire that all might search the Scripture whether these things be not so as we declare And whereas you say and exhort to let the Scripture be the rule of faith and practice I Answ. Here you would alwayes keep people in darkeness under your teaching and would make void the new Covenant which is the Law written in the heart and the Spirit of the Lord put in the inward parts to be the rule and guide of the Saints for who walks by the rule without them and teaches men so to do would make void the Covenant of life and peace where the Teacher is not removed into a corner which Teacher all that have faith and an holy Conversation do witness which teaches not contrary to what the Scripture speak but is a teaching and fulfilling of the Scripture and an establishing of it though thou and many may profess the teaching of the Scripture and may in your own wills conform unto it in the outward appearance as the Pharisees did and yet be but Hypocrites and deceived as they were and I say again that faith was before the Scripture was written which faith is declared of in the Scripture which faith comes as is manifested by hearing of the word preached which word is even in the mouth and in the heart if you have an ear you may hear and now I advise you all in the Name of the Lord to cease striving and contending against the truth for verily the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands will dash your image of many mixtures to peices and it falling upon you will grinde you to powder and your conforming the outward man to an outward thing and teaching men so to do and limitting and tying the Holy one to a visible thing will not cover you in the Day of the Lord nay verily though concerning the Scripture without you may walk blameless yet one thing will be found lacking even the cross of Jesus Christ by which all sin is crucified in them who walk in it and I say unto you that your covering is to narrow and it will not hide your secret parts for in the eternall Light of Christ you are seen and comprehended your beginning your time and your end for though you have the Scriptures and Jewish like walks up in the outward appearance of them crying up the Ordinances and Churches yet your praise is of men and not of God for you are enemies to the life of the Scriptures as is made appear by your many Lyes and Slanders against us which you have uttered and I say return your minds every one within to that in your own consciences which reproves you in secret for your secret iniquities it will let you see where your hearts are and how far they are mortified to the world and the love of it and this light wherewith every one of you is enlightned is the Light of Christ and it is the Lords true Witness and shall witness for him eternally against all whose deeds are evil who walk in disobedience of it and all who love it and walk in it it leads unto Christ and into all purity and holiness and uprightness of heart towards God and man and this light leads unto justification all tâ—eâ— who are taught by it and herâ— is your Teacher loving it and your condemnation eternally continuing to hate it And thus I have answered thy Book and the Truth is witnessed and many false Lyes and false Accusations denied and testified against and thus I rest waiting for an answer to clear thy self if thou art able of those things which I haâ—e denied which thou hast charged upon us for God is my Witness this I do desire that Truth may be made manifest and imbraced and Deceit and Errour discovered and denied By one who is a Witness against the Deceits of the World called Edward Burrough TO THE Camp of the Lord IN ENGLAND TO all you Called Chosen Elected and Beloved of the Lord who are of the Circumcision made without hands of the Seed of Abraham who are Iews indeed not after the flesh but in the Spirit unto whom belongs the Everlasting Promise and Covenant which God hath and is fulfilling in you and establishing with you We your Fellow-Citizens of the Heavenly Ierusalem which is the Mother of us all and of the same Body and of the same Seed and same Birth begotten and brought forth by the immortal Word of Life which lives for ever do send greeting and do imbrace you in the Arms of our Beloved who is and is to come God blessed for ever You who are called Quakers who are so not onely in word nor in shew but in Life and in Power whom God hath called chosen to place his Name in and to take up his Habitation among above all the Families of the Earth the Tabernacle of God is with you and his Dwelling-place is among you and onely among you is God known and his Name is great in your Assemblies We who are of the same Root and Off-spring do bring in our witness and do set to our seal That God of a truth is with you and among you and he is the God of the living that answers by Fire he is I am and there is none besides him the First and the Last the Beginning and the End of all things Praise him for ever ye Redeemed of him lift up your heads your Redemer is come clap your hands and shout for joy and let the everlasting Praises of God be in your mouthes for ever and ever Exalt ye his Name above all gods and glorifie him in the sight of all the Heathen and let his marvellous Works stand upon Record from Generation to Generation Wonderful hath his Work been among you and that my soul knows right well
restored again to serve and worship and glorifie the living God who made Heaven and Earth and all things therein THis is chiefly to go abroad into the dark parts of the World among those called Heathens most especially but its service reacheth to all men and people upon the face of the Earth And out of love unto the Creation and to all People in the World was it written and is it brought forth in publick that all that have ears to hear may hear and it is to be translated into several Languages by any who are moved of the Lord thereunto for of a truth the Lord is risen among us and God hath given the Word from his Mouth and many are they that publish it abroad through the World TO all the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the whole World this is the Word of the Lord God the Power that made you and that made Heaven and Earth and all things therein your State and Condition consider How that you are all drove from God your Maker and from the knowledge of him and of his Wayes which are Life and Peace and are in Darkness Blindness and Ignorance separated from that Power that made you and in the enmity against it and are Enemies to it in all your wayes and words where the sorrow anguish wo and trouble is But the second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Power by whom all things were made who is called Christ Jesus hath lightened every one of you with the true Light which shines in your hearts in darkness to give you the understanding of the knowledge of him that made you and of his Salvation and Redemption and of eternal Life if you love the Light with which you are all lightened And first The Light measureth every mans state in true Judgment and with it you may all see your selves in the state wherein you now stand which is a state separated from God and the state wherein man was created which was blessed Therefore search and consider your State and Condition in him that is the Light of the World of the dust of the Ground were you made and into man was breathed the Breath of Life from the living Power which formed all things and man was made a living Soul and brought forth into the World in the Image and Likeness of the Power that made him every one in particular that be come into the World for Male and Female in the Image of the Creator created he them without sin or evil And man was a noble Plant wholly a right Seed planted with the choicest Vine and placed in Paradise the Garden of the Creator and there was set to bring forth Fruit and to glorifie and honour him by whom man and all Creatures were made for man was made perfect and upright set in the Counsel of his Maker without sin or spot or evil in his sight and was the glory of the Creator and was made for his glory and Power and Wisdom was given unto man to rule and govern in Dominion in Righteousness and in Wisdom over all living Creatures and was Lord over all things and had rule and authority over all the Creation and was Steward over all things which the Creator had made who made all things for man and made them subject unto him to be ordered and governed by him and used to his Glory by whom they were made and in that day when man was in the Counsel of him that made him and was subject to his Will he was blessed above all Creatures and unto him were 〈◊〉 Creatures blessed and not any thing was evil that was made but good in hiâ— Sight that made it and good unto man that was to use it he being brought forâ—â— in the Image of the Creator and had a measure of his Wisdom and his Poweâ— to teach him and to lead him in the exercise of all Creatures and was in perfeâ—â— freedom over all things to rule in the Wisdom of God And this was the staâ—… of man before transgession which state was blessed and not subject to the cuâ—… of misery or sorrow nor trouble nor torment but man disobeyed the Power that made him and went from its Counsel and contrary to its Will and grievâ—… it and vexed it till it became his Enemy to fight against him and to curse him for he had transgressed against it by feeding on that part which he should not with the knowledg of things and so became wise and lost Uprightness and touched that which the Power that made him had forbidden and so his mind and heart adulterated from the Creator into the visible glories pleasures and things which were less then himself and so he became unprofitable to his Maker by transgressing against him and only profitable to himself to feed and nourish and delight and please himself in the outward Creation and forgot the Power that made him and thus being with his mind turned into the Earth there the evil entred and the Devil overcame him with his temptation and the power of the earthly darkness gained dominion over him to sway his affections desires and lusts into vanities of the Earth and he lost his dominion over the Creatures and they gained dominion over him to serve and worship them and to please himself with them who became captive with his mind to be ruled by them in vanity and in evil And thus man became unprofitable to his Maker and unfruitful in the Garden and kept it not undefiled and being turned from the Covenant wherein he was set into his own willing and desiring in the outward Creation the evil defiled him and he became evil and a fruitless Tree that cumbred the Ground and an enmity was placed in him by disobedience and all things became evil to him and the door of all misery and sorrow was opened and let in the curse upon him inwardly and outwardly for he became dead in transgression to the Life and Power and Wisdom of the Creator and every moment was subject to die in this World also And through transgression of the Power that made him he was cast out of the Creator's Garden and out of his Love to labour under the curse in unprofitable Ground and also out of his own dignity and honour and dominion was he cast and became Heir of death and Child of wrath and an Enemy in his mind unto the Creator and an enmity was placed in him against the Power that made him and rebellion in his mind from which all the works of unrighteousness proceed and innocency was lost and man became hurtful to himself and to all Creatures and grieved continually the Power that made him and was drove from the presence and feeling of his Creator into insensableness And in this state unto this day are all ye the Sons and Daughters of the first Adam in the enmity against the Power that made you every moment transgressing it and death reigns over you all and the power of
Earth the Arm of that Power which made all things stretched forth it self to save the Creatures which were made and that same Power which is transgressed is the Redeemer of all mankind though it is offended and burdened and pressed as a Cart with Sheaves by transgression against the Creator and that is the Power which works out Salvation and Deliverance by slaying the enmity and condemning iniquity and removing the cursed ground out of mans heart that the evil fruits may cease which it brings forth and by this Power all must be saved that ever are saved and delivered from wrath And this all men have been ignorant of and not felt nor known nor tasted of the Life and Power of the Creator though it hath been near unto every one and all men and Creatures live move and have their being by it and sustenance from it and yet man transgresseth it and grieveth it and is not led by it Therefore all People upon Earth consider your condition and state and hearken to the Power that made you a measure of which moveth in the hearts of all mankind upon the face of the Earth and it moveth against the evil and against the defiled and transgressing part in every mans heart that is come into the World and this Power by which all men were made and which they have transgressed against a measure of it from the Father is made manifest to all mankind upon the face of the Earth and convinceth of the evil of Murder and Adultry and such like and condemneth the works which are evil in every particular man whether Heathens or Christians so called and unto all People here is the Way to be restored into covenant with your Maker a measure of his Power in you secretly moves upon you and calls to you to return to it to be led and guided by it in fear and obedience and subjection to it from which you have been driven and against which you have transgressed and this Power the Creator hath sent his Son into the World and given him a Gift unto all mankind and he hath given Light and Understanding to every particular man to know Good from Evil Truth from a Lye Right from Wrong Justice from Injustice and Equity from Falshood And this Power of the Son of God in you doth witness to you and accept you when with it you be guided and when according to it you speak and act and it justifies the good and the right and the equal and excuses all men in that from condemnation but against Lying and Wrong-dealing and Deceit and Injustice it testifies and when you do these things you transgress against that Power that made you which should save you and justifie you and excuse you and with it you are accused and condemned and it brings trouble upon you and the curse of misery and sorrow And this Power in you will search your hearts and try your reins and let you see your thoughts and make manifest unto you the state and condition of mankind who is become Enemy to his Maker in following that which brings death upon which the Wrath remaineth till there be a returning unto the Power by which man was made a measure of which as I have said moveth in the hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Adam in all the World And now if every one of you do turn your minds from the World and from the glories and vanities thereof and from the evil which hath possessed you in thoughts and actions and if you stand still for a moment from willing and desiring to your selves and after the World this shall you find secretly moving in you which shall draw you towards the Creator to enjoy him and to see his Glory which none that are still in transgression against him can ever partake of or behold and if to that you hearken within you and heed it and follow it which witnesseth to that Power that made you to be great and mighty and wonderful this will shew that you are short of his Glory And it will condemn evil in you in all thoughts words and actions which proceed out of the cursed ground in which the Creator hath no pleasure and this will take away the vail which is spread over you all and open the blind eye and unstop the deaf ear and bring you to hear and see and understand the things which are eternal which belong unto your peace and if you all come to be guided by that which moves in you all against evil it will lead you up to its self to be renewed and changed out of the evil and from under the Devils power under which every man hath been subject which power hath been out of Truth into the Image and Likeness of the Creator and to be restored to his Inheritance to enjoy Rest and Peace forever And this is the Word of the Creator of Heaven and Earth to you all and to all mankind this is the way unto Redemption and Salvation and unto the Blessing out of all Sorrows and Troubles and Afflictions and Torments and Woes and Miseries which are the Portion forever of all that disobey this Power which moves against evil in you which is the Power of him that made all men and things which move in your hearts against all that which the Creator never placed in you but which are fruits of Darkness I say unto you all This Power in you must you own and believe in and follow and be guided by it and beaâ— its condennation and judgment upon all that which is contrary to it if ever you be restored to the blessed State and all Anger and Wrath and Murder and Lying and Dissembling and Whoredom and Drunkenness and Brutishness and Beastliness and Wontonness Backbiting and Theft and all these things whatsoever must be condemned in you for who act these things are Enemies to the Creator and are led by the Power of Darkness which is the Destroyer of you soul and body and the cause of the curse upon you and the ground of all sorrow and sufferings and afflictions and troubles which come upon that Part in you which is in transgression against the Power of God for there is a birth born of the flesh which brings forth and goes after fleshly wayes fleshly joyes and delights and pleasures and fleshly words and vanities which murder the Just and blind the Eye and grieve your Maker and this birth must not inherit eternal Life but all that ever do inherit must be born again of another Seed and into another Nature where all the former things are passed away for all glories of this World will wither and all your joyes and pleasures will come to an end and you will be left miserable and wretched Therefore Oh Earth Earth and all the Children of Adam in the whole World be Awakened be Awakened stirred up to consider of your state condition for the Creator of all things is risen to gather his People
of the Temples in the Chappel and in the Kings Court and his example doth witness to our practises as the example of the Wicked in their wickedness do witness your practice whom you succeed in oppression And also you may read through the Scriptures how the children of God who were called of him were hated and persecuted by the seed of Evil-doers they slew the Prophets and persecuted them that were sent unto them David was a Scorn and a Reproach and a Hissing to his Enemies and Job was mocked of his Friends and counted a Mad-man and many of the Servants of the Lord suffered cruel deaths under the Hands of the Oppressor and they that were Sufferers and were mocked scorned and persecuted are our Example and the Mockers and Persecutors are your example Christ and the Apostles in their time were Sâ—fferers and you may read how Herod and Pilate and the Officers and chief Priests caused Christ to suffer unjustly by Imprisonments and Scourgings and Sufferings and revilingâ— though no evil could be justly laid to his charge and he is our Example in the like things and as they did unto him so you do unto us as being of the same Seed and thâ—â— he â—aid And Herod and the cruel Officers and chief Priests are your example of whose seed you are brought forth fulfilling their measure of wickedness and cruelty in this your day and time and oppressing the just with cruel bonds of iniquity And you may read how the Apostles were persecuted through the whole Book of Acts and put out of their Towns and Stoned some unto death and were forbid to speak any more in the Name of Iesus and were thought to be men not worthy to live upon the Earth were called Pestilent Fellows and Movers of Sedition and Turners of the World upside down and these were our example who had left their Callings Countries and Relations and gave themselves to be spent for the Lord's sake and declared against the false ministry which preached for Hire and Gifts and Rewards and against them that had the form of Godliness but not the Power and went into the Idol Temples and declared against them and against their outward traditional worships In these things and many more we follow them as an Example even as you follow the wicked in their cruelty and oppression Nero and Festus and Caesar and such like who were Enemies unto God as you are and brought forth the same works as you do being of the same nature and following their example so that now as ever He who is born of the flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit And the wisdom of this World is enmity against God and cannot receive the things of God's Kingdom Therefore repent when you have read your example of wickedness then read your example in the cursed end of wrath from the Lord God which came upon the Persecutors of old as it will come upon you The Vengeance of God you cannot flee his fierce Wrath will come upon you and Weeping and Howling and Lamentation and Misery will be your Portion O tremble to think â—pon your ignorance To what purpose have you made a profession of the Scriptures who â—…tifie those things and those men which it plainly declares against and condemns those practices and those men which it plainly witnesseth of Repent and take warning betime before the Decree of the Lord of Host be sealed against you for I have cleared my Conscience in letting you see your own ignorance and blindness ye Magistates and People And thus you are left without excuse whether you will hear or forbear By one who is a Labourer in the Vineyard who is not known to the World though named of the World EDWARD BURROUGH THE TRUE FAITH OF THE Gospel of Peace Contended for in the Spirit of Meekness and thâ— Mystery of Salvation Christ within the Hope of Glory Vindicated in the Spirit of Love Against the secret opposition of Iohn Bunyan a professed Minister in Bedfordshire Or an Answer to his Book called Some Gospel Truths opened c. Wâ—… in also he hath mixed many Lyes and Slanders and hath secretly gainsayed the Way of Truth and Doctrine of Salvation under the account of Error and Heresie as the Generation of chief Priests ever did Or A Return of Truth in simplicity in the denial of his false Accusations aâ—… his dark Vail of false Reproaches taken off and the Innocency of the Upright appearing With some Queries given forth for him to answer that Truth may further appâ—… and Deceit may be ashamed where ever it is found READER UNto whom this may come especially you in Bedfordshire for whose sake chiefly tâ—… sent forth after the false Reproaches of a professed Minister among you who hath 〈◊〉 called himself in his Title Unworthy as is proved in this Return wherein the 〈◊〉 hearted may see that I have not striven for Mastery by multitude of words nor many 〈◊〉 Arguments to obtain a name but in simplicity of heart have born my Witness against 〈◊〉 Lyes and Vindicated the Truth as it is in Iesus not in a curious mind but in the simpliâ—… of the Gospel And unto you that are honest in any measure towards God and towards 〈◊〉 I leave this and his to be judged with an impartial mind and what is made manifest to be Tâ—… let it be owned by you and this is the end wherefore it is given forth that Truth may be 〈◊〉 braced and Deceit condemned and the Light of the World may be followed which leads 〈◊〉 eternal Life and without which there is no Salvation E. B. HOw long ye crafty Fowlers will ye prey upon the Innocent and 〈◊〉 at him secretly How long shall the Righteous be a Prey to your teeâ—â— ye subtil Foxes who seek to devour The just One against whom yoâ— Bow is bent cryes for Vengeance against you in the ears of the Lorâ— yet you strengthen your hands in iniquity and gird your selves with the zeal 〈◊〉 Madness and Fury you think to swallow up the Harmless and to blot out tâ—… Name of the Righteous that his Generation may not be found on Earth Yâ—… shoot your Arrows of cruelty even bitter words and makes the Innocent your Mark to prey upon You dispise the Way of Uprightness and Simplicity and the path of craft and subtilty you tread your Dens are in Darkness and your mischief is hatched upon your beds of secret whoredoms When will you cease to grind the face of the Poor and to oppress the Humble upon whom you tread in your vain glories and outward shews of Holiness as though you were the blessed People And you are exalted above Innocency in your feigned Hypocrisie and subtilty and yet are found out with the searching Eye of the Lord who knows your thoughts afar off to be wicked and your purposes to be vain and as with a Whirle-wind will he scatter you and your name shall rot and your memorial shall not be
wouldst teach People to apply the Promises unto Salvation while they are in a condition of damnation condemned in the sight of God by the Light in their own Consciences nor will not own that which discovers sin and how then can they own him that takes it away and purges from it by his Blood which thou sayest is done but hast no more witness of it by the fruit of ceasing to commit sin then the Pope hath who lives in your sin then how is it taken away Then thou sayest with an impudent Tongue It s not of works least any man should boast as these fond Hypocrites called Quakers would do Answ. Thou Slanderer When didst thou hear any of the Quakers boast or see them live in Hypocrisie God shall judge thee thou deceitful heart but further I answer by a Query Will that faith which is without works justifie And must not every one receive according to their deeds he that doth good Life he that doth evil Condemnation but such is thy faigned fancy of Faith who seekest to be justified by it whilst thou bringest forth the fruits of unbelief Then thou speakest of living by Faith which as thou sayest Is to apply the Lord Iesus Christ his Benefits as Birth c. I say if to talk of him was Faith in him and to live by his Faith then few would want him for many have gotten the words which are without the Life of Righteousness through Faith and to live by Faith says not who shall ascend or descend to fetch Christ for Salvation neither doth it say When shall he come from afar ot save his People but Faith speaks thus What saith the word of the Gospel which is within the heart as thou mayst read in the Scripture of Truth hadst thou but an ear to hear but thou sayest Lo here and Lo there false Prophet like Then thou sayst further How are they deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the World began c Answ. Here thou hast discovered thy self more plainly Did not the Saints own Christ Jesus the same yesterday to day and for ever for Salvation and is there any other Christ then he who was before Abraham was and is he not now glorified with the same glory mind the same Glory which he had with the Father before the World was according as he prayed is this deceit or is it thy grievous ignorance to call it so to own him as he was before the World was for Salvation thou ignorant man that was the very Christ the Son of God who was equal with the Father which was in the beginning and in time was manifest in Bethelem and calls himself the Light of the World thou hadst better have said nothing then by multitude of words to lay open thy shame Friend that spiritual Rock whcih the Fathers did eat and drink of which followed them that Rock was Christ the Salvation The next thing that I take notice of is thy exposition upon that Scripture Iob. 4. 3. And thou sayest this is the meaning Every Spirit that doth not confess that thâ— Christ that was with the Father before the World was did in the appointed time of the Father come into the World took upon him a Body and was very Man as well as very God c. Answ. If every spirit be of God which doth in words confess this then is not the Pope himself antichrist seeing he confesses as much of this it may be more then thou dost neither canst thou justly condemn us for denying this for we do confess it with our hearts and not only with our mouthes as thou and the Pope doth But Friend Is every one saved that saith Lord Lord nay it is only he that doth the will of the Father and who in many Nations do not confess this to be true and yet there are but few in all Nations in the Way to Life that shall be saved by Christ Jesus and it is not much better nor more accepted to confess Christ in words to be come and yet in works to deny him then it is both in words and in works to deny him the one is wicked in Prophaness the other is wicked in Hypocrisie the one is a Lyar the other is a false Witness and whether of these are most vile let them who are spiritual judge Then thou exhortest To receive no Christ except God's Christ c. To this I say The Christ of God is a Mystery not known to the World and this is he which was in the beginning whom God gave into the World to be the Light and Saviour thereof even he is God's Salvation unto the ends of the Earth and unto him he is Light and shall be Salvation and Redmeption where his Person never came and yet it cannot be said Here is the Place where the Son of God is not Let him that reads understand Then thy next thing is proving many things concerning Christ which I pass by as not having any thing therein against the Quakers only in one particular where thou numbers again them with the Ranters so that I pass by also lest thou should say I justifie the Ranters and do rather choose to let the Innocent lie under the suffering of thy reproach whose innocency will appear when thy black vail of Lyes is taken away Then the next thing I mind is where thou seems to reprove the Quakers for wresting the Scripture Iohn 1. 9. whereby thou sayest They split themselves and endeavour to split others c. Answ. Wresting is thy own and not ours for we take the Scripture in plain words without adding or diminishing as our enemies shall witness for us Then how wickedly dost thou say we wrest it when we neither add nor diminish But thy folly must appear by thy much meddling And then thou takest in hand to speak to the thing and thus thou sayst Every man as he comes into the World receives a light from Christ as he is God c. Answ. What less hast thou said then we except thou wilt say he hath not lighted man as he is Christ and so divide the Father and the Son which is error for what the Father doth the Son doth also and they are equal in power and operation and cannot be divided Then thou sayst This Light is Conscience that some call Christ though falsly Answ. Them I leave for thee to reprove and do deny them and thee together if thou hast not falsly made a Lye of some Body and told thy own Lye through the wresting of their words let the Light in thy Conscience judge Then thou sayest This Light will shew a man there is a God and will discover the eternal God by his works and it will reprove of sin and make sin manifest and by it the unregenerate man is able to know the sins against the Law are sins against God c. Answ. Also this will the Light of Christ do wherewith he hath enlightened every man
to Salvation or condemnation even that Light of which we declare so that thou hast said no less hitherto then we in this particular and the Scriptures say They saw the Eternal Power and Godhead by that which was made manifest of God in them mind in them which once they knew of God but turned from it and the Scripture saith That which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God John 16. and also the Scripture saith That which makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reproved is made manifest by the Light even the true Light the Apostle speaks of Ephes. And the sum of all this which thou wouldst reprove in us is no more then the Scriptures bare witness of and which thy self hath uttered and confessed And Friend dost thou know this Light that is given of Christ and God unto every man is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation unto every one that believes if thou say it is not wherein is the blame in God or in this Light or in the Creature shew if thou canst Then thou again sayst This light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every one that comes unto the Word which doth convince of sin Answ. Thus far thou art forced to confess Truth I think against thy mind and thus far in words only we agree as in this particular then why dost thou say By wresting that Scripture John 1. 9. we split our selves and endeavour to split others seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then thou callst wresting in us I reckon up thy confusion and leave it for thee to read and them to whom this may come Then thou sayst The neglect of this Light will be sure to damn though the obedience to the Law will not save them c. Answ. Here again thou hast confessed truth If the neglect of the Light will be sure to damn as thou confessest then I say surely it is not good to neglect it that must needs follow deny it if thou canst therefore the sum of thy words is the same with us that every one mind the Light of Christ Jesus least they be damned for the neglect of it And Friend to the second part of the clause I say the Law must be obeyed and the righteousness of it fulfilled within thee if ever thou come to Eternal Life if it be not thou cannot escape damnation Learn what this means Then further thou sayst Though Christ doth give a Light to every one that comes into the World yet it doth not therefore follow that this Conscience or Light is the Spirit of Christ or the work of Grace wrought in the heart c. Here thy confusion is seen at large who wouldst seem to divide between the Light of Christ which thou confessest is given to every man and the Spirit of Christ and the Grace of God However thus far I say the Light of Christ given to every man is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ nor to the Grace of God but one in their nature and a man cannot possibly love one of them and hate another neither can any obey one of these and disobey the other therefore are they one in the union leading in the same way unto the same end And where doth the Spirit of Christ give light or the Grace of God work or lead if not in the Conscience And can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to to walk to Life or to come to God by then the Light of Christ in the Conscience which thou confessest every man hath that cometh into the World Then thou sayst Heathens Turks Iews Athiest c. have that that doth convince them of sin yet are so far from having the Spirit of Christ in them that they delight to serve their lust c. Answ. This Query I ask of thee Do they or thou or any man serve sin or your lusts because Christ hath not given you light to discover your sin or because you hate that Light that is given answer me And surely by this which doth convince of sin is every man in the world inexcusable so it works for God in all men either to justifie or condemn And tell me is not the Spirit or Light of Christ the only thing which doth convince of sin Or doth any thing convince of sin contrary or besides or without the Spirit of Christ if nay then it must needs be that it is from or by or something of the nature of the Spirit of Christ which is in the Heathens And the sum of thy doctrine is no less in the profession of thy words then what we say then why dost thou condemn us But it seems thy tongue speaks one thing and another thing is in thy heart and this is Hypocrisie Then thou sayest Those that are alive to sin have not the Spirit of Christ c. But I say it is given to every man though every man receives it not and it strives with the wicked man though he follows it not And some other vain Arguments thou usest to prove That every man hath not the Spirit of Christ which I pass by only thus much I leave with thee till thou provest the Light of Christ which thou confessest every may hath to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ I shall say every man hath that which is one in union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure Then thou goest on and sayest That the Devil might be sure to deceive or to that purpose he saith Turn thy mind inward and listen within and see if there be not that within thee that doth convince of sin c. Answ. Thou hast confessed that the Light within which convinces of sin is the Light of God and Christ and now thou sayest the Divil to deceive souls bids turn to mind the Light within which doth convince of sin thou hast lyed of the Devil Oh thou blind Priest whom God hath confounded in thy language Was ever such a thing spoken That the Devil can deceive any by the Light of Christ or that he uses any such doctrine Friend it is the Voice of the Gospel to bid listen within to the Light even to the Word of Faith within the heart as Paul preached But thou further sayst They are ignorant of the Gospel who clasp in with these Motions of the Light within or Conscience which doth command to abstain from the evil and to practice good And here thou hast shewed thy blindness and ignorance more then can be uttered as though the motions of the Light of Christ in the Conscience which command to abstain from evil and to practice good were another thing then the Light of the Gospel what and how doth the Light of the Gospel work if not in the Conscience and to command from evil and to practice good Surely thou preachest another Gospel then Paul preached for his Doctrine was
the end and numbred thy work into a total sum which is a secret smiting and obscure shooting against the Manifestation or Belief of Christ within which there can be no Salvation without as I have proved and in words only I find thee exalting Christ without and worshipping the name of Mary like the Pope I have good ground so to judge And whereas thou callest the Doctrine of Christ within false Opinions and takeâ—â— in hand to discover it as in Page 203. I say to all honest men who have but any knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture thou art hereby sufficiently discovered who callst the chief thing which is the chief unto Salvation and without which can be none false Opinions God shall judge thee thou wicked heart and much more I need not say but shall leave this to the view of any that are honest to judge so have gone through thy Book and passed by many things only I have spoken to that in which thou hast treated any thing upon us and the Truth I have cleared from many Lyes and Slanders and thy Vail of false Reproaches is rent and our Innocency doth partly appear and thy vail of Hypocrisie is a little removed and thy deceitfull heart weighed and seen And as for the rest of thy Book whicg I have not medled with thus much I say of it I suppose you will confess it was all given forth by one spirit and it is proved some of it is given forth by a lying spirit then let the Reader judge what the rest of it can be though the words be true yet is thy spirit false and at the best what thou hast said is but bearing false witness as to thy self of a true thing I own the words and I deny the voice and here I deal plainly with thee Thou then askst a Question Doth not the Scripture speak of Christ within unto which I further add answer it as thou canst Doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates And is not this thus much all are reprobate but they in whom Christ is within Answer iâ— plainness and darken not knowledge by words without wisdom And towards the end I find thee making up the sum of thy wickedness with this numbring the Quakers with Ranters Sin Death and the Devil I will not bring a railing Accusation against thee but the Lord rebuke thee thou unclean spirit who hast falsly accused the Innocent to clear thy self from guilt but at thy door guilt lodges and I leave it with thee clear thy self if thou art able And thy wicked Reproaches we patiently bear till the Lord appear for us and we are not greater then our Lord who was said to have a Devil by thy Generation and their measure of wickedness thou fulfils and art one of the Dragons Army against the Lamb and his Followers and thy Weapons are Slanders and thy Refuge is Lyes and thy work is confused and hath hardly gained a name in Babylons Record and by us so much of it at least as is against us is cast by as our spoiled prey and trampled upon in all thy reproachfull speeches who art unclean and of more price to us is thy hatred and envy then thy love can be except the gâ—und were better in which you stand Now a few words I may write in Answer to the Queries in the end of thy Book which thou directst thus Some Questions to the Quakers or a few Queries to those possessed with a Spirit of delusion in this Generation Question 1. If sayst thou that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him why say the Scriptures That some are sensual having not the Spirit aâ—â— Christ saith The World cannot receive it John 14. Answ. Some men are sensual and have not the Spirit because they received it not some cannot receive it because they believe not in him from whence it comes yet is the measure of the Spirit given unto every man to profit withal as the Scripture saith And it is given to within him to reprove him of sin but few do receive it and when thou canst learn to distinguish between a thing being given and a receiving of such a thing then thou mayst be answered in thy self It is one thing in God to give the Spirit and another thing in the Creature to receive it He gives it to many that receive it not to follow it and to be guided by it thus far I answer and let them that are led with a spirit of Delusion answer thee further Qu. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from under the Law is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If it be redeemed by something that worketh in them then why did the man Christ Iesus hang upon the Cross in Mount Calvery without the Gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his People and why do the Scriptures say That through this man is preached unto us forgiveness of sins c. Answ. The Church of God is redeemed by Christ Jesus which is revealed within all that believe and Christ Jesus wrought in them mightily and it was he that wrought in them to will and to do this is plain according to Scripture And the man Christ Jesus was hanged upon the Cross on Mount Calvery because they wickedly judged him to be a Blasphemer and through their envy persecuted him to death because he bore witness against them and as in their account he died and hanged upon the Cross for an Evil-doer and this is one ground at least why he hanged upon the Cross and the Scriptures say That through this man is preached the forgiveness of sins because there is no other that can forgive sin nor the blood of any other thing that can take away sin but the Blood of God as it is written And thus far I answer If thou wilt have more seek it from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion Qu. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you risen within you ascended within you Answ. There is no Scriptures that mention any one of our particular names and thy Query is raised from thy mis-understanding of us so I judge but Christ is within us that we dare not deny and he is the Lamb that was slain in the streets of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt mind spiritually and he is now risen and ascended this we know through Faith in his Name And I leave thee to receive a fuller Answer from them that are led with a spirit of Delusion if they will give it thee Qu. 4. Is that very man that was crucified on Mount Calvery between two Thieves whose Name is Iesus the Son of Mary is he the very Christ of God ye or nay Answ. Yea he is the very Christ of God which was before the World was by whom the World was made who was made
and what is that which chains him and whether art thou come to one of the dayes of the Thousand years yea or nay Quer. 12. Whether dost thou know any Christ or preach or profess any Christ who hath not lighned every man that comes into the World with the true Light of Life or of Condemnation and is he not a Deceiver that exhorts People for Salvation to any other thing then the Light of Christ yea or nay And how hath Christ enlightened every man in the World if not within him These Queries with some more in my Answer I put forth to thee that Truth may be cleared from all Slanders of envious tongues and shall leave my work and thine to be weighed in the Ballance of Righteousness to be considered of by every honest heart to whom they do come and God shall be the chief Judge betwixt us in his day A Postscript ANd now seeing we have taken in hand to discover and lay open the deceits of Deceivers that all men may come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved and led out of the snare of the crafty Fowlers these things further we shall add which are contrary to the Doctrine of the true Gospel First Iohn Burton said in a Discourse with some Friends That Christ had two Bodies and one of the Bodies was out of the sight of the Saints Secondly Iohn Bunyon said Christ's second coming 〈◊〉 not his coming in Spirit for his coming in Spirit is no comming Thirdly Iohn Bunyon said upon Discourse Of the Word of God being in the heart in the presence of divers People That there was nothing in him nor in any man to be taken notice of Fourthly One of their Brethren said That Christ and the Word of Life were two things Fifthly Some others of the same Members in the Market of Bedford said That they scorned that Light which we meaning the Quakers speak of which is the Light that convinceth of sin which Light they confessed to be in every man in the same discourse which was with some of them called Quakers Much need not be said as to the laying open of these particulars for by the words themselves the wickedness and ignorance of the broachers of them are fully seen to every one who is spiritual and to them I leave this to be judged onely this I shall further say They have not spoken onely that which cannot be proved by Scriptures but some of the particulars are also contrary to the Scriptures and are damnable Doctrines of Devils as might be largly laid open in the third and fifth particulars But I delight not in raking in such unsavory Stuff but do trample over it and return it to the Authors Having summed up their Wickedness into a Sum I leave it for to be weighed by themselves and others and if any question the truth of the particulars charged against them sufficient Testimony may be given by such who were â—aâ— Witnesses By one who hath chosen rather to suffer affliction with the despised People then to enjoy the pleasures of sin EDWARD BURROUGH Stablishing Against Quaking Thrown down and overturned and no Defence found against it Or an Answer to a Book called Stablishing against Quaking put forth by Giles Firmin a professed Minister in Essex WHEREIN His many Lyes and Slanders are rebuked and witnessed against and all his thirteen Arguments confounded and clearly confuted and he manifestly proved a false Prophet in several particulars as in his Call and Maintenance And while he hath thought to discover the Prince of Darkness in others he is found secretly lodging in his own house and powerfully working in him and is found truly guilty himself of that whereof he falsly accuseth the innocent People called Quakers who are Gods faithful Witnesses against this subtil Generation though for a moment they are a Prey to the seed of Evil-doers and a Reproach to lying Tongues THe Lord from Heaven in this his day is risen and come forth to make War with all his Enemies being the fulness of time wherein his purpose is to cut down and destroy the man of sin by the power of his coming and he must reign whose right it is and of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end and Nations shall flow into it and Kings shall lay down their Crowns at his Feet whom God hath appointed to exalt in his Throne of Righteousness and Judgment and the war is proclaimed in his Name the Standard of the Lord is set up before him to gather together the Nations to fan them and to try them and to search and to seek out his own where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day and a prey made upon them by every wild Beast of the Mountain But the Lord hath opened his Ear to the cry of the Just and his Bowels are filled with compassion towards the Seed of his Inheritance whom no man regardeth to take pity upon but are altogether hardened in their iniquities and become equal with the Oppressor therefore in Judgment is the Lord appearing to work the purpose of his Heart and to fulfil the intent of his Mind and will not spare to punish the transgression of the wicked upon his own head and is already clothed with the Garments of Vengeance and clad with Zeal as with a Cloak and hath proclaimed Indignation in the face of the Ungodly and his Enemies against whom his wrath is kindled is joyning battel with him and Gog and Magog is prepared to resist the day of Recompence and the whole body of Darkness from the head to the tayl is risen to gainsay the Lord and strive in confusion together and their armour clashes one against another and they over-run each other through the confusion of their blind understanding and they will not be perswaded unto Reconciliation but goes on in rebellion till they be left without strength as a wounded man who shall never more vise again nor recover his deadly blow for the strength of Aegypt shall fail in the midst of it and the Warrier finds not his hand in the day of his necessity but terror is upon his loynes and fearfulness in his heart and the wrath remains upon him and wisdom is become madness and prudence is hid and the wise men of this Generation are become foolish What do ye mean Ye that have gathered your selves together all ye Sects and Opinions and ye that profess the Law of Righteousness Is your Religion turned into Envy and Wrath whereby you would slay the Upright You have made Lyes your refuge as your last defence to cover your selves from the Storm but your City is besieged and fear shall compass you about and the refuge of Lyes shall be swept away For in vain and to no purpose do men strive against the Lord and without effect as to that which they intend do they gather themselves together and band themselves in deaths covenant to war against the Lamb for the
He findeth all little enough For shame cover thy Lips and stop thy Mouth thy stuff stinks with raking in who sayest That men cannot be sufficient Ministers without Arts and such poor blind stuff of which I am ashamed and pass by it as not worth the mentioning Then thou goest on in the matter of Tythes seeing the Rule and Law of Scripture will not fully bear thee out in thy wicked practise of pleading for Hire 〈…〉 goest to the Law of the Nation and so the Gospel which you preach will not maâ—…n you according to the Apostles Doctrine but by a Law are maintained through the grievous oppression of the Innocent as is witnessed in this Nation and thou art put to all thy shifts though but beggarly some of them to blind Peoples eyes so that you may have your Hire and in thy Arguments thou pleadest That Tythes are no mans own but the Ministers c. But I say if poor men did not labour and improve their time and strength and money you could have no Tythes so that if the Land was not tilled through poor Peoples labours you might go without so Tythes are not paid out of the Land but out of mens labours thereupon and so you rob poor mens labours and not the Land that you may live in filthiness And thou sayest Care is taken for you already many hundred Years before you were born in setting an Estate c. Yea the Pope settled Tythes upon his Priests whose Generation you are of a poor shameless shift to plead such things leaving the Rule of the Scripture and defending your selves both in your Ministry and Maintenance by a Popish â—aw which was the supreme Power in the Nation when Tythes were first established in England but neither the Rule of Scripture nor of the National Law will make your works justified all People shall see your nakedness and God will make you ashamed of your way And as to particular Had we lived in the primitive Churches when the Magistrates were Heathens c. This I shall answer by a Question Doth not the works of some of the Magistrates in England I do not say all prove themselves rather to be Heathens than Christians by their unjust imprisoning of the Innocent without â—…ch of any Law and so to be rather Destroyers of the Church which is the Body of Christ then careing to preserve it and also in giving treble dammage to the Hirelings for Non-payment thereby wasting and making havock of poor mens Estates as is in many places to be witnessed and these are they who are most zealous for you some of them I leave this Question to be answered which being but truly answered will discover whether you who by oppression take Tythes 〈…〉 â—ho oâ—â— of the exercise of a pure Conscience cannot pay Tythes and so are Sufferers and you Oppressors are Carriers on of the designs of Hell and Rome as in thy eleventh Page thou speakest Then thou sayest So much for the Ministers Maintenance c. Yea more then enough but that thou mightest lay open thy own folly therefore wast thou allowed that thy shame might be fully laid open and thou uncovered who hast acted thy part as others of thy Brethren before thee in pleading your own unjust cause of Idolatry to uphold your grievous Oppression of Tythes and set Maintenances under which at this day many thousands do sadly groan and not pittied by you but though you regard not the Lord God doth and will avenge their Cry upon your heads who have made your Ministry and Religion the most grievous Oppression in this Common-wealth and so are fallen into greater abomination than the Heathen and are higher than they in ungodliness and deeper in subtilty and go to the Heathens and they will shame you and take thy own counsel and practise it as in thy tenth Page And much more of thy stuff I pass thus much is sufficient to discover thy deceit in this particular Then thou goest on and from thy Text thy observation is this It hath been of old and it is the practise still of the Prince of Darkness to transform himself into an Angel of Light c. To which I answer It is proved by the Scripture that it hath been of old his practise and it is proved upon thee that it is still his practise and thou art the man upon whom thy observation stands true who art in thy good words and fair speeches and pretences transformed only in the appearance and not in the ground out of gross wickedness into secret hypocrisie and so makest an Image without Life and so as Iannes and Iambres art resisting Truth yet art thou seen and comprehended though thou sayest Satan is never less seen then when he acts as an Angel of Light which I suppose thou speakest by experience as being acted therein undiscovered to the Simple because of thy hypocrisie In thy Page thirteenth thou sayest that The Scriptures are the true Light Here thy blindeness and error is discovered who speakest herein contrary to the Scripture which saith Christ Iesus is the true Light 1 Iohn 9. Here thâ—â— wouldest exalt the Scriptures in the Seat of Christ and thereby deny him in saying the Scripture is that which he only is and nothing else to wit The trâ—â— Light of the World which lighteneth every man that comes into the World and the Scriptures are a Declaration of him and not him And thou goest on and sayest Because these Quakers â—each People they must do justly do no body wrong nor Lye c. some take it for granted they come from Christ c. But this thou snuffest at and makest light of by which is easily discerned of what spirit thou art the Scripture witnesseth He is a Minister of Christ that turâ— from Darkness to Light and from sin unto God and could we but wink at sin and cloak it as you do and cry Peace Peace to them that walks after the imaginations of their own hearts then should we be loved and not hated of the World And in thy fourteenth Page Thou reckonest us with the Fryars and Popish Generation but them and thee we do deny and that holiness and righteousness which is in the will of man for because we cannot run to the same excess of riot with you you think it strange and therefore thou accusest us as with a matter of fact That we drink water and fast and wear no Lace c. That which thoâ— wouldst make us abominable in by the sight of men doth our innocency and uprightness appear in in the sight of God and his Children Then thou goest on in thy confused language and in that which thou callest thy use Take hâ—ed that you be not deceived To whom dost thou speak to them that are in the Truth If thoâ— speakest to thy own flock thy word might have been Search lest you be deceived for we know the whole World lies in wickedness and this Generation under the deceivableness of
a blind Ministry which leadeth not unto God but keeps in Darkness ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth And in thy Page ninteenth Thou hast put forth a Question which is How shall we know this transformed Angel of Light c To which I answer Where he rules he is not known nor discerned for the god of the World hath blinded the eye which should make him manifest and this is true in thee who art led by him and perceivest it not and art doing his work and understandest not but the brightness of the coming of the Son of Man in the Children of the Father hath discovered him in the World and in thee and though thou woulst fain put him among the Quakers yet he is found in thy own house thou endeavourest to prove thy Accusation by vain consequence and false conclusions but our Assertion is proved by the Spirit of God and stands upon thy head and shall be witnessed by the Light in thy own Conscience Now something in answer to thy Arguments and false Conclusion And thy first Argument is That the Light of the Quakers will not admit of nor endure the Trial therefore the Light of the Quakers is the light of Satan c. Answ. Thy proposition and ground of thy Argument is a Lye and so thy conclusion is to no purpose for we deny not a Trial but exhort People thereunto that they search the Scripture to see whether these things be not so and are tried by the Scriptures in Doctrine and Conversation and proved to be simple thereby to be in the Truth as it is in Jesus and are testified of in Scripture by the Holy men of God who are unto us a Cloud of Witnesses in our Faith and Life and Sufferings and Tryals c. Friend thou hast fained a Lye upon us and hast confuted thy own Lye this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers if it would stand in trial neither is thy proof That wâ— do deny tryal any wit to this purpose as I. N. against F. Harris Page the tenth which thou quotest let the honest hearted read but subtilly hast thou wrested the words to bring thy false Conclusion and Lye about to take place among the ignorant People Thy Lye is condemned and thy refuge is taken away and thou art left naked for the Destroyer Thy second Argument is The Light of the Quakers putteth out the Light of Nature therefore their Light is the light of Satan c. Thou sayest by the Light of Nature thou meanest the inward Law which God set up in the heart of all mankind châ—â—king many sins against God and man c. Answ What blind confusion is this which is uttered from thy dark mind no whit savory but stuff hardly worth stirring in and quite contradiction to thy own words Page fifteen where thou chargest us with directing to the Light in the Conscience which thou callest Natural but we call it Spiritual and this is it which cheeks the sins against God which thou sayest our Light puts out and that we preach any thing for Light which puts out this light which is the work of the Law of God written in the heart this Argument is also a Lye and so thy conclusion is made void likewise but that the Knowledge and Wisdom and Prudency of the natural man which is corrupted must be put out this we own and the Quakers Light which is the Light of Christ shall confound the Wisdom of the World and be no transgression against God nor from a light of Satan but of Christ and the proof of thy Argument is as thou sayest Wâ— deny honour to all Superiours and seemest to be greatly offended with the word Thou quoting many Scriptures against it but let the wise in heart judge thee herein none of all these Scripture will prove that ever any of the Saints gave flattering Titles unto men or spoke You to a particular Person which thou art to prove or else thou sayest nothing that the word Thou to Superiours is any denying of honour due unto them and herein thy conclusion is also false being the foundation of thy Argument is a Lye and thy Argument made up of confusion saying That Light is Natural which is the inward Law set up in the heart checking the sins against God and man this is one Lye also saying That our Light puts out the Light This is another Lye Friend if Lyes would prove us Deceivers thou wouldst accomplish it How easie a thing it is for thee to confute thy own Lyes when thou hast made them Thy third Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures setting up a spirit in man which shall not be examined by the Scriptures therefore it is the light of Satan c. Answ. The first part of thy Argument is a very Lye and also the last as thou hast laid it down our Light teacheth not men to forsake the Scriptures but into the fulfilling of them to walk in the Life of them and it teacheth to exalt the Spirit of God in man above all things and in its fruits and opperation may be examined by the Scriptures but it self is the Searcher of all things even of the deep things of God and this is not the Light of Satan but of Christ which teacheth men into the fulfilling of the Scriptures and to exalt the Spirit in man which gave forth the Scriptures which is the trial of all spirits and whatsoever conclusion be gathered for an Argument whereof a Lye is the foundation as of this the conclusion must needs be vain and a Lye like its foundation And in thy proof of the major position thou sayest The Scriptures are left by God to be your Light and Rule c. And the Scriptures say Christ is the Light the Way the Truth and the Life and so the Rule and so thou hast set up the Scriptures above Christ and by thy lying spirit crosseth the Scriptures but thou art accustomed to Lye and so art expert therein And thou sayest Christ bids you seâ—â—câ— the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. It is true he bids the Pharisees who had not Christ Word abiding in them and who had not heard God's Voice nor seen his Shape but persecuted Christ them he bad search the Scriptures and justly hast thou thrâ—â—â— in thy self among the Pharisees and so art an Enemy to Christ according to thy own confession And for the proof of the minor position thou hast not at at 〈◊〉 proved by any way of the Books quoted thy proposition That the Quakers Ligâ—â— teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures c. Let the wise in heart judge And thou sayst But to speak truly The Quakers make nothing of Scriptures c. This is the very falsness and of thy lying tongue and no truth in it and a Question here I ask Whether he be the more guilty of forsaking Scriptures which live the Life thereof
and in the fulfilling of them by the Spirit or he that talks in words of them and makes a trade thereof but lives in Lying and false Accusing and Pride and vain Glory and tâ—e filthiness of the Flesh This Question being answered will open the understanding of the simple and our innocency thereby will appear from all thy grievous slanders and wicked wrestings of our words As in Page twenty five in thy false conclusioâ—… of this particular thou sayest The Quakers divide the Spirit from the Scripture c. Yea the Spirit and the Scriptures are low things though they bear witâ—… to the truth of each other thus are they divided That every one that hath the Scriptures hath not the Spirit and this is no error nor from a Light of Satan but thy Lyes are from the Darkness of Satan and not from the Ligâ—â— of Christ. Thy fourth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which makes the Scripture cross it self and that in things known by the Light of nature therefore the light of Satan c. Answ. This is also false in the foundation and thy Arguments and Confusions made without effect Friend whilst thy foundation is a Lye thy Building wiâ—… not endure be sure of that the Scripture was given forth by one Spirit and bears witness unto one thing and doth not cross it self in the Light of the Spirit that gave it forth though to thy carnal wisdom it may seem so And for the proof of thy minor proposition thou sayst we quote that Scripture Iames 2. Have not the Faith of our Lord Iesus with respect of Persons c. to overthrow all respect of Persons c. Doth this at all prove that our Light makes the Scripture to cross it self Where is it said in the Scripture Have the Faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of Persons Such a one thou must bring or else thou hast said nothing to this purpose And thy second Scripture is That we say as Christ said Swear not at all Will this Scripture being quoted by us prove that our Light makes the Scripture cross it self What blind confused stuff is this which proceeds from thee thinking to make us odious and vile but thou hast the rather made thy self ignorant and blind in the sight of all the Children of Light who comprehend thee in thy subtilty and as to that of Swearing which thou hast strived in thy Argument to prove the Lawfulness of it thou hast thereby made thy Argument against Christ's own words who saith Swear not at all and thou art he whose Light or rather whose Darkness would confound the Scriptures to blind the eye of the Simple and thy conclusion stands true upon thy self hence thy light is the light of Satan not of Christ. And thou sayest The Quakers bid men be guided by the Light of God within c. How doth this contradict thy own words page twenty second where thou sayest The Quakers Light puts out this light the inward Law set up in the heart c. when wilt thou be ashamed of thy ignorance and stop thy mouth in the dust Thy fifth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which takes men off from that Rule which is perfect and cannot err and sends them to be guided by a Light which is imperfect and may and doth err therefore the Light of Satan c. Answ. Hast thou given up thy self wholly to lyes and to make them thy refuge thy work is to make a Lye and then to confound it this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers as I said and in the proof of thy minor Proposition thou hast fallen short of proving what thou takest in hand and sayst The Word of God is perfect but the Quakers do not send men to the Word c. This is false we preach the Word and send men to it even that Word of Faith which the Apostle preached which is in the heart and in the mouth and that Word is perfect and errs not and this we send men too to be guided by it and to receive faith in it then thou sayest The light of Conscience is imperfect and may err and takes accasion to speak of that Scripture 1 Ioh. 8. but to what purpose I know not except thou wouldst prove that Light of Christ to be imperfect and err which we say hath lightened every mans Conscience in the World and is a perfect Rule in the Conscience where man is guided by it and this Light leads up unto Christ to exercise the Conscience and he to rule King and Lord in the Conscience and so to make Conscience one with him in the unity and this is true wisdom and no folly as thou accountst it in thy blindness page twenty nine Then thou goest on and hast intimated a falsity from I. Ps Query and then confutes thy own Lye I. P. doth not say every man is lightned with a saving Light but asks the Question to be answered which for the simple sake here I do answer Christ hath lighted every man in the World with the true Light which is saving Light to every one that believes therein and condemning Light to him that believes not yet is the Light true Light and no error nor imperfection in it and they that hate it are such as know nothing of Redemption Justification c. and a great part of England is in that conditin though they have heard the report yet they know it not in truth and righteousness and this Light is in the World and the World knows it not yet doth not this confute that he hath lightned every man that comes into the World as thou wouldst ignorantly make it appear in the same page Then thou sayest If you speak of reason and understanding so Christ lighteth every one c. Here thou hast confessed Truth with thy lying Spirit it is the purest reason that every man should serve his Maker and act nothing contrary to his Maker this the â—ight of Christ lights unto and leads unto and it is the best understanding that gives a man to understand the Way of eternal Peace and Rest for his Soul if he love the Light and lets him understand when he acts against his Maker c. and this hath Christ lighted every man unto Then thou sayest Conscience may err and provest it from Paul's example of persecuting If Conscience be not guided by the Light of Christ it erreth but it was not the Light of Christ in Pauls Conscience which led him to persecute but his thoughts and imaginations which were in the high mind above the Light in the Conscience then many false conclusions from our words hast thou drawn through thy wresting of them thou sayest as in all our books the word of God written is made of no account c. thy lying tongue will God rebuke the Scriptures we account of and set them in their Authority and bring them as a Witness against thee and all thy wayes who art
untruth of us and I say to all who read this and thine let them observe with an impartial mind and try all things and hold fast that which is good and let not the envy of the wicked one so prevail over you but search all things with the Light of God according to the Scriptures before you judge any thing least your zeal in your hasty untamed minds and spirits betray the honesty which may in sobriety be instructed and you informed the Way of Salvation which now the Lord of Heaven is discovering to them that seek him in truth and sincerity And because the Purpose of the Lord is to reveal his Glory and to discover and condemn the secrets of the well-savoured Harlot who hath sat long as a Queen in the Earth deceiving Kingdoms and Peoples therefore also is Herod and Pilate joyned together and Gog and Magog is risen in their Power to resist the Counsel of God and to disannul his Purpose but in vain do they strive and weary themselves to no advantage for Sions King shall reign and Ierusalem shall be built and become the praise of the whole Earth and Nations shall partake of her Glory and the Armies of Alients shall flee and be discomforted And all the Lyes and Slanders of the wicked one shall return upon his own head and the pit which the wicked digs for the Righteous it shall swallow the wicked up and his foot shall not escape the snare so that I testifie unto all People this one thing concerning Jesus Him hath God given a Light into the World a Judge and a Reprover of all the works of wickedness and with his Light every man that cometh into the World is lightened with the Light of Life all that believe and with the Light of Condemnation all that believe not If you every one turn in your minds from the vanities of the World unto the measure of the Light given you a present Teacher in the Wayes of God this Light will be in you to direct your steps in Righteousness and Peace for as it is written The Lord is the Teacher of all his People and all the false Teachers and Hirelings will be denyed and the Scribes and Pharisees and their leaven will be born witness against and the old man with all his deeds will be put off and the new Man will be put on which is the Likeness and Image of the Father and then will you witness the Life of the Scriptures and in you they will be fulfilled by the Spirit that gave them forth which Spirit all the Sons of God are guided by and this Spirit the World cannot receive no further then to be reproved by it of sin and condemned for unrighteousness and to every one who hath in the least received a measure of the Spirit and is guided by it to them only I leave what I have written and the Writing answered to be judged as in the sight of God with an impartial mind I have not striven for mastery through subtilty and deceitful speeches but in innocency I have written to vindicate the Lord's Truth from the Lyes of his Enemies who make iâ— their work 〈◊〉 render the Way of Truth odious lest their deceits should be laid open and they judged And this same Giles Firmin hath done his part sufficiently herein who hath not ceased lying and slandering from the beginning to the end of his Book unto which I might have written much more yet desire not to multiply words with such as are impudent and cannot 〈◊〉 when they have done evil but to the main Particulars a few to each of them I have written passing by much unsavory stuff proceeding from a light vain spirit as is easily discernd by the Children of Light who hath made both Foundations and Arguments very Lyes and hath laid things to our charge which we never knew nor by word or Writing was ever declared but thou Giles F. hast filled up thy measure of wickedness according to thy ability hadst thou been more subtil thy work would have been more deceitful Therefore repeat of thy wickeness and go not on in thy perverse way of uncleanness lest thou be cut off with an utter destruction and repentance be hid from thy eyes And to the foolish babling story in the end of thy Book I do Answer thou sayst a Minister now in Essex gave the Narration c. but hast deceitfully concealed his name and so he and thou well may as being ashamed thereof in laying slanders too foolish to subscribe his name unto Yet is Thomas Tillam known his name and nature whose Testimony is like thine and a Minister like unto thee who was and is known in all the Parts about Hexam to be a deceitful Fellow one who preached for Hire and sought for his Gain from his Quarter as is well known who also made merchandise of souls through coveteousness with feigned words And though T. Tillam be or was an Anabaptist and contrary to thee in his Opinion yet if he will but give a bubling Slander against us thou wilt belieive him and call him a Minister but his wickedness is well noted who for wickedness and filthiness was cast out and denied of the Assembly whereof he was the Pastor and stands this day as one cast off by them who are a little more honest than thou and he though yet Strangers to us and Opposers of us And now in that your deceits are discovered you flee to any bubble for a strength and make Lyes your refuge and yet justifie your selves and condemn the Innocent And thy last Story is an abominable Lye and a man that hath honesty in either hand or heart would be ashamed to utter such things but in plainness of speech thy Lyes and Slanders I do deny and unto thee I do return them again with true Judgment upon them and dare not flatter thee nor speak peace unto the wicked but to the Light of God in all Consciences I do stand clear by it to be justified when all the wicked are condemned By a Friend to Israels Common-wealth called EDWARD BURROUGH THE Crying Sins Reproved WHEREOF The Rulers and People of England are highly guilty WITH Additions to their own Confessions held forth by them in a Declaration of their own bearing date Septem 23. wherein these three Nations are called to a Day of solemn Fasting c. With meek Exhortations to this present Parliament that they take heed to themselves lest they make the Guiltless to suffer upon the account of Blasphemy or Error c. while the Evil-Doers go free and the false Prophets defended HOw long how long shall Gods righteous soul be grieved and his 〈◊〉 Spirit vexed with the vain oblations and offerings of them whose hearâ—â— are far from him even after their Idols and in their covetousness and earthly honours of this vain world while they honor with their lips and profess love with their mouths in outward observances How long Lord shall thy
avenged on my Oppressors And Vengeance belongâ— to him and he will repay and will destroy the Vineyard with the Plants and Frâ—… thereof and the Bryars and Thorns shall be consumed and he will lay waste anâ— devour and confound all his Enemies in a day when his Indignation goes sorth and his Sword is made bare and his Purpose cometh to pass in rooting out tâ—â— oppressive seed of Evil-doers which have filled his Habitation wherein he sholâ— dwell with cursed Children and a brood of evil Births In the dayes of Christ and his Apostles was the Hand and Power of the 〈◊〉 felt and the Lord gat himself a Name and a Glory and he caused his mâ—…lous Light to spring forth and his Day to dawn and the Day was manifest thaâ— many Prophets and Wise-men had desired to see but was not in their time feeâ— by them and his Power was made known and his Arm was made bare in the sight of many Nations and in that day his Glory was spread abroad and â—is Truth and Way was exalted and his glorious Gospel was declared through 〈◊〉 Earth and the sound of his marvellous Works went forth into all the World Judgment and Mercy was known and Righteousness and Peace was witneâ—… among men and Life and Immortallity was brought to Light through the Gospel and the Word of Life by which all things were created and by which they stand was handled seen felt and tasted and the Lord God in that Age was known to dwell with his People and to walk in them and his Covenant was established with many and his Promises were fulfilled Redemption Deliverance and Salvation was revealed even Christ Jesus the Son God the Prince of Peace And Righteousness was made manifest in the Sons of men and revealed in many who saw God's Glory and were Witnesses of his Majesty and Dominion and were gathered unto him in the Bond of Peace and were his Sons and Daughters and were led by his Spirit in all his Wayes of Truth and Righteousness And many went forth into the World and declared through Nations the things of Gods Kingdom which was come to them and was discovered within them and the Lord God spake from Heaven by his Son unto them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with Power And the Lord was with them whom he called and made them Wise and their Word powerful and their Message effectual and their Weapons were mighty through God and strong Holds were subdued and the Powers of Death and Darkness were subjected and the Hearts of thousands were turned to God and the Gospel was preached in power through the World and many were brought to God out of Darkness into Light and from Satans Power unto God And the Earth was filled with Light and the mighty and the wise were confounded and the bonds of cruel oppressions were broken and they that set themselves against the Lord and his Way were confounded and scattered and brought to nought though they were many in that Generation How did all the chief Priests and Scribes and Pharisees Elders of the People and Rulers and Governours lift up themselves in the Pride of their hearts and took counsel together and persecuted the Innocent and put to Death and Imprisoned the Children of the Most High How did they in the dayes of Christ persecute and seek for his Life till they had taken it from the Earth by their subtilty and wickedness The Apostles and Ministers of Christ were persecuted some were put to death and others suffered grievous things for the Name of Christ and were made a Prey and a Spoil unto Destroyers whose wickedness encreased against the Way of God till it was fulfilled in its measure and the Wicked with their work were dashed to peices and the Lord gave his Way and Truth and Servants dominion and power over all his enemies and whole Nations were brought to the knowledge of God and his Wayes and his Name was glorious and his Kingdom was exalted in the Earth and many were his People who were gathered by him and his powerful Word through the mouth of his Ministers whom he ordained and called who were Fisher-men and such like who were chosen to fulfil his Will and to do his Work and not many Wise-men of the World were called but God chose the foolish things to confound the wise then as he doth now and such were honoured by the Lord and Bearers of his Name and of his Message and Glad-tidings though they were contemned of men yet unto such he gave the authority to overturn the wise and to out-reach the wisdom of this World for they were learned of the Father and had the knowledge of his Wayes though they were unlearned in the Arts and Crafts of men which stand more in pollicy and subtilty then in the Fear and Wisdom of God and in that day the Lord was with his People while his People were with him and he loved them while they stood in his Counsel and he gave them dominion over all their Enemies and they were a Terror to the whole World while the Churches stood in the dread and terror of the Lord of Hosts yea all bowed under them and their feet trod upon the high places of the Earth and they were blessed of the Lord above all People even till they waxed fat and were increased in treasures and thought they had need of nothing and then they forgat God and rebelled against him and became perverse in their wayes and grew into strange Idolatries and Errors and left the Way of Truth and cast God's Law behind them and the Power of Godliness ceased and the form grew and it was exalted more then Power and love waxed cold when iniquity abounded and men became Lovers of themselves more then of the Lord and the Lord and his marvellous Works which had been brought to pass were forgotten and hardness of heart and unbelief entred and then false Prophets and Antichrist came in which Christ had prophesied of and established the form of Godliness without the Power and subverted many even whole Houses and Countries from the simplicity of Christ Jesus so that many became insensible and grew past feeling of the Power and operation of God and their minds became blinded and their ears stopped and God was grieved who had brought up Children and they forgat him and rebelled against him for the Churches became corrupted and lost the Life and Power of God and the Holy Ghost and became Idolaters and Worshippers of Idols and as you may read Paul prophesied that many should depart from the Faith and give heed to seducing spirits and the doctrine of Devils and grievous Woves should enter not sparing the Flock but seeking to devour it and would make havock and merchandise of Souls through coveteousness and filthy Lucre and perillous times would come wherein there should be a Form of Godliness and not the Power and in that Generation before and sooâ— after his decease this
filthy Dreamers and know nothing but whâ—â— they know naturally as bruit Beasts and in that they corrupt themselves aâ—â— they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam aâ—â— they are Trees whose fruit withers raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame wandring Stars they are Murmurrers and Complainers walking after their own lusts having mens persons in admiration because of advantâ—… and these seperate themselves sensual having not the Spirit and of this sâ—… which Iude describeth are these Teachers in this Generation whose fore-fatheâ— crept in in the Apostles dayes and these are their cursed Children which 〈◊〉 abound in these Nations at this day and they are filthy Dreamers studdying fâ—r what they speak and dreaming without the Spirit of God an hour in a Pulpit and what they know it is naturally by natural Learning and natural Arts and iâ— that knowledge they are also corrupted in Pride and Vain-glory and Vanities like bruit Beasts in their Apparrel and Practises and not like Ministers of the Gospel nor Saints and they are in Cain's way in Envy and Murder and Wrath abounding no People like them and they do run greedily after Balaams Error â—or Gifts and Rewards and unrighteous Wages which they run after greedily and they are Trees which bring forth cursed fruits which will wither and fade away and they are like proud raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their shaâ—… in Lyes and Slanders and cursed speaking in publique and private and they have no Habitation in the Firmament of God but are wandring Stars and soâ—â—times in one Opinion and sometimes in another but the blackness of Darkâ—… is reserved for them and the Judgment of the great Day and they are Murâ—… rers and Complainers and can never have enough but seek for their Gain frâ—… their Quarter as the false Prophets did in Isaiah's time and they have mens pâ—…sons in admiration because of advantage to themselves bowing and worshippiâ—… mens persons who will advantage them in their Wages or Hire and Maintenance begging favour of the Magistrates and having their persons in admiration that they may have their advantage in oppressing poor People in Tytâ—… in this their wickedness is hard to be expressed and these have separated into self-seperation some into one Form gathered and some into another but aâ—â— sensual and in the wisdom which is from below and without the Spirit of God And thus it is proved that these Teachers of this Age are of the same Generation in their practises which Iude described to be creeping 〈◊〉 in his time And further the Apostle 1 Iohn 4. he saw that the false Prophets and Antichrists which Christ prophesied of to come were come in his dayes and said Many false Prophets are gone out into the World which is the spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard said John And even now already is it in the World and they were of the World and the World heard them and so are this Generation of Teachers who succeed them that went forth into the World then these are of the World in its wayes Pride and Wickedness Covetousness and Envy and all Evil and thâ—y that are in the evil of the World in wickedness hear them and maintain them so that according to Iohn's Description these Teachers of this Age are of that same flock which came in then and Iohn further saw that all the World was gone after them and worshipped the Beast which was then risen run after the false Prophet which then came in and sat upon the Beast and its plain that the World is all run after them unto this day which is a day of bringing back again from the false Prophet and from under the power of the Beast and the Beast and his Image and the false Prophet his Divinations must down to the ground and according as Iohâ— farther prophesied The holy City which had been troddâ—n down under the Gentiles feet for such a time should again be gained and the Saints should have the Dominion and the old Dragon should be chained and Christ shâ—â—ld reign and his Kingdom should â—e set up in the Earth and the Tabernacle of God should be with men and this is the day that the Lord is restoring again the Way of Peace which long hath been lost and the the Power of God is again witnessed which hath not been known for Generations So that of things spoken this is the sum of Truth and the Word of the Lord God to all People on the Earth that in the dayes of Christ and the Apostles it was a glorious Day of Light and Life and Power and the Lord gathered a People which honoured his Name while they stood with him and in his Counsel walked but since the dayes of the Apostles hath been an Apostacy and Darkness over all and a Subversion upon all and Night hath been over all wherein no man could work as Christ said and Forms without Power haâ—e been estabished the pure Way of God hath not been known in its purity so that this time wherein all are fallen is a time of ignorance of the reign of the Beast which all the World hath wandred after and a time wherein the Gentiles feet have trodden down the holy City and a time wherein all the World runs after the false Prophet and are deceived and made drunk with the Wine of the Whores Fornications I say this is the time wherein all the men of this Generation are fallen and the Scripture is fulfilled the Night wherein no man can work is upon the World and further this is the time of Antichrists dominion who hath exalted himself in the Seat of God shewing himself to be God and long hath he reigned with the Beast and the false Prophet even since the dayes of the Apostles and these same Teachers of this Generation which now are in the World are manifest by their fruit to be of that generation of that seed and stock of false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come in the last time after his dayes and which most of the Apostles saw coming in in their dayes by their fruits I say they are known for these bring forth the same fruits and bear the same Marks which those described did in their time so we see Christ's Prophesie is fulfilled who said they should come for they are come and the Apostles descriptions are fulfilled on these for these Teachers are such as bear the same Characters as is proved as they said they should bear that would come and long have the Nations been deceived and kept under the worship of the Beast running after the false Prophet And we see Iohns Prophesie is fulfilled who said that The holy City was given to be troddâ—n undâ—r the feet of the Gentiles for so we see it hath been for many Generations and also we know the time is now approaching that the dominion of the Beast is near an end and the holy City
and his Arm shall watch over them to overthrow them all and to make them desolate that the Just may be delivered And all you who suffer any where Imprisonment or Finings or reproaches or any other thing because ye cannot Swear for Conscience sake nor respect Persons according to the vain Customs of the Heathen but are redeemed out of the Customs and Superstitions of men which are of the World and are evil and not of God nor justified by him you suffer for Righteousness sake and for Christs sake and are Witnesses for God herein against the Superstitions and Wickedness and Pride and High-mindedness of men and the Lord is with you if you be ruled in his Wisdom and are faithful to him and he will lift up your heads till his and your Adversaries be confounded And I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord who suffer for Righteousness sake in these things or in any other who are moved of the Lord to bear witness of the Truth and against the deceits of the World be not exalted in the flesh in your sufferings lest you forget God Nor be not cast down into sorrow lest ye be overcome of the Devil but dwell in the measure of the Power and Life of God which is above all and more then all and feel Gods living Arm to stay your hearts to watch to his own in you to refresh you continually And resist the Devil on every hand with the Armour of Light and Truth that your Life may be preserved in Dominion over all things even the Life which is not of this World in you may not be vailed nor overcome for to enjoy the Life of God with you is enough if you pass through the Fire and through the Water it keeps you and carries you above all this I witness and it is more then all outward Freedom or Liberty or Riches or Treasure of this World and walk herein in Boldness and Faithfulness and Patience as you have us for an Example in Christ Jesus who are in Jepardy every hour often in Tryals Sufferings and Dangers and love not our lives unto death for the Testimony of Jesus which we hold and that his Name and Truth may be exalted in the Earth but as the Lord moves are carried through Nations among Lyons and Devourers such as seeks our life for their Prey and yet the Lord is with us our Defence and Arm and Preserver above all Therefore look you at the Lord in all Affliction and Distress and know his Reward with you that your Burden and Yoak may be easie and not hard for his Presence makes all things joyful And know that it is for the Name of the Lord and for his Honour and for his Kingdom which God will set up through suffering for this cause are ye called to suffer and your Life nor liberty nor any other thing is not to be measured nor compared herewith So uâ—to every one of you I am moved to write and to warn you all in the fear of God be content and long-suffering and patient and finish you Testimony with rejoycing if ye seal it with your Blood and dwell with the Lord in his holy Habitation of Peace out of respect to time or places or things and give up your selves that his will in you may be fulfilled And think it not strange though you have fiery trials neither be moved at any Suffering without you or troubled in spirit neither let it break your peace nor fellowship with God by any impatiency or murmurings or temptations for then will your sufferings be grievous to you and the Enemy within and without will have ground against you to overthrow you and know it is that which ever was in all Ages and no new thing for the Seed of God to suffer by the Seed of Evil-doers for the wicked alwayes strengthened their hands in cruelty against the Righteous and laid heavy burthens upon the Just and caused the Innocent to groan under them for a time till iniquity was fulfilled that they might be broken and the Oppressed delivered and alwayes the Lord exalted his Name by the sufferings of his people as we have a Cloud of Witnesses of our Fore-fathers that went before who did bear witness to the Name of the Lord through faithfull suffering so it is no strange thing hath happened unto you but that which is common to all the Saints who enter the Kingdom through tribulation blessed are you if you be faithfull unto the end that you may reap the reward of your works of your sufferings and patience even the Crown of Life that never fades away so the Lord God of Life preserve you And all Frieds every where I am moved to warn you Dwell in love and unity and fellowship one with another in the Light and in the Spirit of the Father and fulfil the Law of Christ and bear one anothers burden and suffer with one another that none be oppressed among you in any thing whilst others are free but that the burden of all things and the care of all things in relation to the Truth be equal among you according to every ones freedom and as every one is moved of the Lord so to administer to one anothers necessities as Members of one Body to the honouring of the Head and spreading of the Truth that there be no complaining but equallity and justness and the Government of Christ ruling among you and his Wisdom in all things Feed no excess nor the lustfull devouring mind in any neither suffer the Distressed to perish for want but reach one to another in love and like mindedness suffering for one another and all caring for the Truth above all things that God may dwell among you and be known that he is in you of a truth And in this the Wisdom of God guide you all Amen By a Companion in Tribulation to all the Saints every where EDWARD BURROUGH THE Testimony of the Lord CONCERNING LONDON Witnessed in Truth and Faithfulness to the Consciences of all People in it that they may return to the Lord and Repent Also the Great Abominations discovered of this People who draws near God with their Mouthes and professeth Self-Separation when as their Hearts be far from the Lord. VVith a VVarning to all sorts of People in it what the Lord requires of them O LONDON thou art weighed in an even Ballance and found tâ—… light thou are measured by an equal Line and found to short and tâ—… narrow and thy People cannot stand in Judgment for abundance of iniquity lodgeth within thee and thou aboundst in all unrighteousness thy sins are grown over thy head and with transgression thou art covered as wiâ—… a Garment from the Head to the Foot thou art corrupted and there is muâ— unsoundness in thee O how doth Pride abound Lightness and Wantonness and the lust of the Eye and all the works of the Flesh are encreased to a large suâ— aboundance of Idolatry and Vanity springs out of
thee vain Fashions foolish Customs and all manner of evil hath its abiding in thee yea the very Seat of Satan is established within thy Wall and works of unrighteousness do proceed out of thee into other Nations aboundance of deceitfull Merchandize and of oppressing Merchants who grind the face of the Poor do inhabit thy Borders thy wayes are evil in the sight of the Lord and his Spirit is grieved and his Soâ—â— is vexed from day to day every moment of time Aboundance of Treachery Flattery and Hypocrisie Dissimulation and Double-heartedness possesseth thine Inhabitants from Teachers to People High and Low Rich and Poor you are fulfilling your own wills and seeking your own pleasures and following the counsels of your own hearts and doing that which is right in the sight of your own eyes and your hearts are corrupted before the Lord and the very best of your works are evil and the purest of your wayes are filthy and all your Observations your dayes of Humiliation and Thanksgivings and all your Worships and Sacrifices are abomination in the fight of the Lord for no good fruit can spring forth for your root is not the Vine Christ Jesus who cannot own the Light with which you are enlightened and that makes all your profession vile and not accepted but it is wholly unfruitfull in the Sight of the Lord. Much Profession is in thee of Righteousness and Religion and many Forms and Gatherings of People which are but as so many Images and liknesses of divers sorts which must be overturned and overthrown by the roots You are all measured with the Line of true Judgment and your Buildings cannot stand when the Lord comes to try you and search and try you for your life for though you profess much yet you perform little your knowledg puffs you up and you are not sincere-hearted but loose and unsavory are you in your wayes and words There is much wisdom in thee and many wise men whose wisdom is devillish and it doth not lead to God it must be confounded and trodden down for it profits you not in the Sight of the Lord but in it you are wise to do evil but to do good you have no knowledge and the Lord God is forgotten and his Judgments are not known Vanity vanity hath so stolen away your hearts and after Idols are you run worshipping strange gods and following strange lovers Aboundance of subtilty and craft lodges in thee vain glory excels above measure Pride Idleness and fulness of Bread abounds in thee even as in Sodom unto whom thou art become equal in trangression Whoredom Drunkenness Wrath and Envy Gluttony and Excess spending the Creation upon the lust and all the Works of the flesh which are evâ—â— have their full growth in thee and in evil art thou fully ripe O London Consider and be awakened ye Inhabitants thereof for the Lord is grieved day by day and his Soul is vexed every moment the weight of thy Transgression is upon him thou even makest him to serve with thy sins Hath there been any evil committed by any Nation which is not in thee Hath there been any abomination brought forth which is not in this day to be found in thee Oh what Haughtiness and stretched-out-Necks Oh what Pride and Vain glory appears in thee Even thy Infants are nourished up in vanity and thy old Men are over-grown with craft and deceit thy young Men give their strength to folly and thy Maidens are trimed in wantonness all sorts of People are prophane in their Way Old and Yong Rich and Poor are abounding in evil all seeking their own things and few the things of Gods Kingdom the Way of Truth is even despised and they that depart from iniquity are become a Prey to the mouthes of the Ungodly who are grievously prophane as though the Lord took no notice or as though no day of account was to come so great is the iniquity committed in thee words reacheth not to manifest it What Lying what Swearing what Vain-talking and what Scorning and what Double-dealing appears in thee at every corner What Pride what Wantonness and Wickedness is manifest in all thy Streets Teachers and People are out of the Way given to deceit and to deceiving Oppressors and oppressing one another such is the Devils Power amongst you ruling it cannot easily be overcome so deep is wickedness seated in thee that it cannot easily be plucked up so strong is the lust of the flesh grown in thee that it cannot easily be removed How is the glorious Name of the Lord continually dishonoured and polluted through thy Wickedness which is grown into a numberless sum But the Lord will be avenged on all you his Enemies and will meet you with Judgments Plagues and Vengeance and the Wicked shall not escape And as concerning all thy Profession of God and the Scriptures in a blind Zeal it is but abomination to the Lord and all thy several Sects and Gatherings of People and separate Congregations who are not separated by the Spirit of the Lord they are but like so many molten and carved Images which the Lord will overthrow All thy Offerings and Oblations Preaching Praying and Performances God's Soul hath no pleasure in them but they are a Burden and Weariness to him and though thou washest thy self never so clean and makest thy self never so fair through thy own labour yet cannot thy iniquities be washed away nor thy sin covered for thy iniquities are marked before the Lord and thy sin is written as with a Pen of Iron and as with the point of a Diamond All thy Steeple-House Worship is nought but vanity before the Lord. All thy publique Exercises all thy Saboath keeping all thy set dayes of Humiliation and all thy private Duties and all that ever thou performest unto God are not regarded of him while the hearts of thy People are not aright in his sight and upright before him so the best of thy Sacrifices are but as the cutting off of a Dogs neck and the offering of Swines blood for in thee is found the great Abomination open Prophainness abounds and secret Hypocrisie super-abounds and thou art as abominable in the Eyes of the Lord in thy Hypocritical Profession of Righteousness as thou art in thy open sins In thee is found the Abomination of Israel Mercy and Truth Justice and true Judgment is neglected Do not thy Heads judge for Reward And do not thy Priests preach for Hire And dot not thy Prophets prophesie falsly And do not they divine for money And do not thy People love to have these things so Oh how art thou deceived by thy Teachers led blind by the blind Leaders even they that lead thee cause thee to err and they that should instruct thee teache thee vain things Wo unto them the Lords Wrath is against them How do they make a Prey upon the People How do they feed themselves and cloath themselves each one of them having a Quarter from which
the true God that made Heaven â—nd Earth in the Spirit and in the Truth he hath placed his Name amongst us â—nd made his everlasting Covenant with us and established it that it cannot be â—oved he hath given us his Spirit and poured it upon us and we are taught of him according to his promise and are established in his holy Mountain where â—one can make us afraid for he hath armed us with his power and strength to defend us from all our enemies that we should bear witness of his Name in all the world and declare unto all Nations of his power and Dominion of his Salvation and Redemption that is in Him and in his Son of which we are made â—artakers and witnesses and by him have we received the heirship of the everlasting inheritance and we are of God and he that is of God heareth us whom the Father hath chosen and redeemed out of kindreds tongues and peoples to stand before the Throne of God and the Lamb and we have sought and do finde a City whose builder and maker is God and we are known to the Lord God Almighty and approved in his sight Our light is the light of the Lamb and our government the government of Jesus and our Law the Law of the most high and our Way is the way of peace and truth he that can receive it let him This is the Testimony which the Spirit of the everlasting Father witnesseth in us and witnesseth of us unto the whole world CHAP. I. Concerning the true God this Testimony I give to all People upon the Earth THe true God he is a Spirit and is infinite eternall and everlasting the Creator of all things and the life and being of all things and the power by which all things stand all Creatures have a being in him and by him and without him no creature is or doth move upon the face of the earth this is he whom we worship and fear and doth obey and he brings to pass by his counsel whatsoever he will and nothing can prevent the purpose of his mind but his counfel stands for ever and he is the righteous Judge of all things and before him must all mankinde come to Judgement and the living and the dead by him must be judged he is a rewarder of every one according to their deeds whether they be good or whether they be evil His Greatness Power Majesty and Dominion is over all and beyond all ruling above all in the power of his own will and who may say what doth he his eye seeth all and his presence filleth all and no creature can be hid from his sight he is near at hand and afar off he searcheth mans heart and and tryeth the reins and shews unto man his own thoughts he justifieth the righteous and condemneth the wicked he is light it self and in him is no darkness at all This is the true God whom we worship and this Testimony I give of him unto all people upon the face of the whole Earth CHAP. II. Concerning the Son of God this Testimony I give unto all the World THE Son of God who is called Christ the Prince of Peace and Righteousness he is one with the Father in power and dominion and was with him before the world was and by him the Father created all things and without hiâ— was not any thing made that was made he is Heir of all things and is the Priâ—â—â— of the Kingdom of Righteousness of Peace and Truth and he is the Word aâ—â— Power by which all things doth consist and is the Salvation of mankind and thâ— very life of the World he inherits life and immortality and is the Redeemer Saviour Deliverer and Restorer of the Children of men he is the very Wisdom and Poâ—er of the Creator and the Father doth nothing without the Son and by him anâ— through him the Father brings all things to pass by him the Father will judge the whole Earth and all the Children of Adam therein and this Christ Jesus the Son of God is the Life and Light of the world and hath enlightened all mankind every 〈◊〉 that cometh into the world is lighted by him with the true light of life or condâ—â—nation and what the Son doth the Father doth also and he is at his right 〈◊〉 exalted and is the very express Image of the Father and is the Fathers gift iâ—â—â— the world and is given to all mankind that they may have life by him and all 〈◊〉 receives him hath life and salvation but many receives him not and they 〈◊〉 receive him not perish even because they do not receive him whom the Father 〈◊〉 given into the world for he is the arm alone of Gods salvation and he is the â—â—â—der of his people CHAP. III. Concerning the Spirit of God this Testimony I give unto the whole World THe SPIRIT is with the Father and with the Son and its present eveâ—â— where and filleth all places and is for ever and ever and trieth all thinâ—â— and revealeth the things of the Father and of the Son unto all that doth belieâ—â— in the Son and makes manifest and searcheth into the deep things of God 〈◊〉 it witnesseth the Salvation of the Just and the condemnation of the Unjust it is not absent from any place nor contained in any one place the Father and the Son works all things through it and brings all things in Heaven and Earth to pass by it and it works in the Hearts of the Children of men and in every one it witnesseth of the Father and of the Son to the Justness Greatness Righteousness and to the power of the Eternal Creator that made all things by the Son through his Eternal Spirit which is one with the Father and with the Son and is the Worker of their will and mind in all things it worketh in the Wicked to reprove them and to witness against them and that God is angry with them 〈◊〉 sheweth and it worketh in the Righteous and witnesseth the Love and Mercy and Peace of the Father unto them He that can receive it let him this is the Testimony of the Spirit of God and it leadeth into all Truth and out of all Evil all that are guided by it and it is given to be the Guide and Rule of Life to the Children of God CHAP. IV. Concerning Man and all Mankind this Testimony I give unto all Nations and People MAN was created and brought forth in the Image of God and was without sin or evil brought forth to do the will of him that created him and was Lord over all Creatures to use them to the glory of the Creator and all Creatures were to serve him but man transgresseth against his Maker and offended him and dishonoured him and became degenerate and grieved his Maker continually and was drove out from the Presence of the Lord and he is now a Child of Disobedience and of Wrath and an Enemy in his mind
they are of God but the witness of God in every man beareth witness against all unjust men and Laws and Rulers and Governments which strengtheneth the hands of the wicked and oppresseth the just where the making and execution of Laws are in the power of proud men and covetous men who fears not God neither hates covetousness neither doth respect the cause of the poor but rules by their Wills and Tyranny and not by just Laws in Righteousness but makes unrighteous decrees to oppress the poor and innocent letting the wicked go free such who upholds unrighteous Worships and Teachers by oppression and causes the Innoccent to suffer and makes them Offenders because the exercise of a pure conscience towards God and men such Rulers and Government we cannot be subject to for Conscience sake but do rather fulfull the Law and Will of God though we transgress their wills and unrighteous laws and yet doth not rebel against them nor seek defence from them but patiently suffers under them and bears their injustice and cruelty without seeking any revenge but leaves vengeance to the Lord to whom it belongs and this is our Judgement in full the Government and Laws which we cannot obey nor fulfil for Conscisake we chuse rather to suffer under them for disobedience to them than to transgress the righteous Law of God written in our hearts by obeying them so that what we cannot obey for Conscience sake for Conscience sake we resist not but suffers under that the punishment of it patiently and herein are we subject to every ordinance of man for conscience sake in fulfilling of the good the just and righteous and in patience suffering under the cruelty and oppression of the unjust and unrighteous and this we do and teach every where subjection to every Ordinance of man and are not destroyers of true Government or rebellious against just Governours but are exalters of true Justice and Judgement in the Earth CHAP. XI Concerning the true Ministry of Christ and the false Ministry and the difference betwixt them this testimony I give unto all the World THE true Ministry is sent of God and is the gift of the holy Ghost and it stands in the Power of the Spirit of God and not in the words of mans wisdom of that wisdom which is from below and it brings people to the knowledge of God which is life eternal and it turns people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the Power of God it is freely received of God and freely given forth of us it proclaims Peace on Earth unto such as are of a broken and upright heart and it proclaims war against all the wicked upon Earth it is a good savour unto God in setting the way of life and the way of death before all people the Ministry of Christ is free and cannot be bought nor sold for money it is without hire and gifts and rewards from any man which is given freely into the World and it ever was and is persecuted by the Generation of the unjust and by the powers of the Earth he that comes in the Fathers Name cannot be received of the World but the World is at enmity against it in this Generation as ever was it converts people unto the Knowledge of God and many did and many do receive the Knowledge of God thereby though some thereby be hardened against God unto destruction and the Word of the Lord and the Ministry returns not in vain unto God but all by it arâ— left without excuse the Witness of Christ in every Creature being reached to which gives Testimony to the Power and to the Truth of the Ministry of Christ but the false Ministers and Ministry are not such for their Ministry is received by natural Learning and Arts and is not the Gift of the holy Ghost but stands in the wisdom of mans words and not in the Power and Life of God it profits not the people at all neither do any come to the Knowledge of God thereby neither is turned from Darkness to Light but Teachers and people continues in the power of Satan and in the unconverted estate the Witness of God not reached to to bring to the understanding of things which are eternal but people are ever learning by it and never coming to the Knowledge of the Truth but the Blind leads the Blind and like Teachers like People all out of the Way given to Iniquity and unrighteousness and such are they who preaches for Hire and divines for Money and seeks for their gaiâ— from their Quarter and through covetousness by feigned words make merchandize of Souls going for Gifts and Rewards and teaching for filthy Lucre having settled places and so much a year these are not the true Ministers of Christ but false Ministers of Autichrist and Deceivers and were never sent of God and do never bring any to the Knowledge of Gods and such we beâ—â— witness against to be of the Devil and that for many Generations the World hath been deceived by them who hath had the form of godlines but not the Power and Christs words and the Apostles words without the Life and they have served themselves and not the Lord Jesus but now they are made manifest with the true Light which approveth the Ministry of God and disapproveth such who are Ministers of Antichrist and all that are in the Light and walk in the light can receive this testimony which is given by the Spirit of God to that Ministry which is sent of him which doth fulfill his will and against the false Ministry which is not of God which runs and was never sent of him CHAP. XII Concerning the Gospel of Christ this is my testimony unto all the VVorld THE Gospel is the Power of God and it is sent of him into the World to reconcile people unto him that have been in the enmity agaiâ—â—â— him 〈◊〉 is Peace to the Poor in spirit and judgement to the Fat and to the high minâ—â—â— and it is to be preached to every creature male and female under Heaven without respect of Peoples Nations or Generations it is the manifestation of the Love of God to the whole World to gather people out of all unrighteousâ—â—â—â— into the living Way of Life Peace and Truth to walk with God in Purity and Holiness and to deny the World and all its ways and works and worships which are evil and by it some are brought to God and to salvation and life eternal and some through it are hardened against God that they may be destroyed and condemned who are Reprobates and believes not in him from whom the Gospel comes and it cannot be received by any other way or means than by the revelation of Jesus Christ in the hearts of his people and many have the letter which knows not the Gospel nor hath received it and this Gospel which is everlasting have we received from God and this is the sound of it which we
give in the World unto the World Fear God and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgements is come and this is the everlasting Gospel of Salvation he that can receive it let him CHAP. XIII Concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures this testimony I give unto all the World THE Word of God was in the beginning before any Creatures were made and by it all things stand and remain unto this day and the Word endures for ever and by it all things in Heaven and in Earth are brought to pass which God doth and it is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without end and the Word is powerful dividing and discerning all things even the secret thoughts of every mans heart it is as a two edged sword and as a fire and like a hammer to cut up to burn and to beat down the Word of the Lord reconciles man again to him and this Word is in the mouth and in the heart and the Servants of the Lord handled tasted saw and felt the Word of Life and from it spoke forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost through the eternal Spirit and it is an Declaration of the Word of Life which was in the beginning and endures for ever and it declares what the Saints received believed and enjoyed and none can understand it without the same Spirit that gave it forth and to such who have the same Spirit the Scripture is profitable the Word of God which was in the beginning and which endures for ever is not the Scripture which was not in the beginning neither can it endure for ever but the Scripture testifies of that Word that Word witnesses to the Scripture and they are not contrary one to the other but gives witness each of other but many hath the Scripture that hath not the Word neither knows it but they that have the Word cannot but own the Scriptures and this is the Truth as it is in Jesus Testified to all the World by us who doth deny them that hereof gives any other testimony CHAP. XIV Concerning the Devil and Damnation this Testimony I give to all People THere is a Devil which is out of the Truth who abode not in the Truth but is a Lyar from the beginning and the father of all evil doing and the author of all unrighteousness and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word and action he is the enmity against God and against all good and by his power subverts creatures and things to another end than wherefore they were created even to the dishonour of the Creator he is the god of this World the prince of darkness and he rules King in all the childern of the first Adâ—â— who are in evil he was the cause of the first transgression and is the cause of disobedience to God to this day in all people who are led by him moving aâ—â— them to Envy Wrath Pride Whoredom Drunkenness Theft and Murther and all the works of darkness sin and death he is the Fountain and Root of 〈◊〉 these and the Leader and Ruler in the exercise of them and of every evil woâ—â— and work whatsoever which are contrary to God he abode not in the Trâ—â—â— and he hath led all mankind out of Truth into all deceit and unrighteousness and into every evil way and he dwells in darkness inhabits in thick darkness and is out of the Light and is separate from the Presence of God for ever boâ—â—â— in chains of darkness and ignorance and unbelief and he hath power in the earthly part of man and a law in the members and he possesses him that is born of the flesh his covenant is with him who is not born of the Seed of God who cannot sin such are in covenant with God renewed into his Image but such as are not hath the Divil power in to captivate and lead their minds into vanity and their affections and desires into all that which is evil by which the Spirit of God the Creator of all things is grieved and his soul vexed and all murther and deceitful works of the World and all whatsoever is contrary to God iâ— words thoughts or actions is of the Devil that wicked one and from him and all that follow his movings and worketh evil thereby they serve him aâ—â— obey him he is their god and their King and they are his people and hiâ— subjects he is their father and they are his children he is their root and they are his off-spring and brings forth fruit unto him and serves 〈◊〉 worships him and not the true God that made all things and all such 〈◊〉 be cast into utter darkness with him and shall have their portion with him in 〈◊〉 bottomless pit of darkness for ever and ever where there is no end of woe anâ— sorrow and misery for in the anger of God there the worm diâ—â— not 〈◊〉 the fire is not quenched and out of that there is on redemption for the â—â—clean and all such who are led of him who is out of the Truth and in evil are judged and condemned and damned by him who is the Truth who judgeth righteously and as he hath not ceased to work evil and to draw the children of men into evil for he continually tempteth to lead from God into Rebellion against him And they that are led by him are destroyed and he shall not cease sorrow wo and misery for ever as he hath not ceased to work evil he liveth and moveth in the anger of God his beginning was in it and all his works are in it and it shall be the reward of him and all that obey him in the separation from Gods everlasting Presence for ever and ever CHAP. XV. Concerning all creatures that God made this Testimony I give unto all the World ALL creatures that God made in their creation and beginning was very good in his sight that made them and unto man that was to use them and no Creature was evil or defiled in its Creation but mankind transgressing against his Maker he become evil and did evil in the sight of the Lord and he being possessed with evil and corrupted he makes all Creatures evil in his exercise of them corrups them and perverts them to another end than wherefore they were created and by the Creatures dishonours the Creator â—…o should have honoured him by them and they are become a curse unto man and not a blessing though in themselves are neither cursed nor evil nor defiled but is become so unto man because of his transgression and disobedience for he being in the curse and defiled all things are so unto him and in his exercise of them he is wicked abusing them upon the lust to satisfie his devillish mind and ruling over them in oppression and cruelty and hard heartedness and not in the Wisdom of God as he ought and he subverts them out from their pure vertue
feeding his lust in pride and voluptuousness with that which should keep him from hunger and nakedness and so pleasing the lust in all things more than satisfying pure nature and this ought not to be for it is out of the Covenant of God in which all Creatures were made and in which they stand except the Creature man who is degenerated out of Gods Covenant and subverts all things to his own end and not unto the glory of God while he continues in that state unreconciled to God but man being restored and redeemed and renewed again into covenant with God through the condemning of the evil then all Creatures to him are restored and made blessed the curse being removed out of his own heart the Creatures are no longer cursed to him but good and decent and enjoyed and received in the Covenant of God in the life and vertue by which they were created and by the wisdom which they were made man comes to order them and exercise himself in them and no more are they spent upon the lust nor on the vain minde nor ruled over in oppression but all that is condemned and all Creatures are seen to be the Lords and the Whole Earth is his and the fulness thereof and the abuse of all Creatures is ceased and they are enjoyed in their pure vertue to feed and to cloath the Creature and not to be destroyed upon the lust but for the healths-sake are they used to the glory of of the Creator and unto the end wherefore he Created them and are pure as they were in the beginning and the blessing is felt which is more than all creatures CHAP. XVI Concerning the new Covenant and how man comes to the Knowledge of God this Testimony I give THE Covenant of God is Unity betwixt God and man and a binding each to other to serve each other the one is bound to obey and submit and worship and the other to blesse and keep and lead and perserve this Covenant is established with his own Seed for ever and there is no Teacher but God all is taught of him from the least to the greatest who are in this Covenant his just Law is written in their heart to condemn all transgression and his pure Spirit is put into the inward parts to be the rule and guide of life in all things and none need to say know the Lord but all knows him in the Spirit and worships him and obeys him and follows him in Spirit and in Truth and such are come into Peace and Reconciliation with God and the Covenant with Hell and Death is broken and in this Covenant there is no Priest nor Offering but Christ Jesus the high â—…iest of God the one Offering for sin he takes away sin and makes intercession and in it is no Temple but our bodies are the Temple of God and he dwells in us and walks in us and there is no circumcision but the circumcision of the heart which is the putting away of all the uncleanness of the flesh nor in it there is no means of salvation but Christ the onely way the Truth and Life and none comes to the Father but by him he Declares of the Father and there is no Light but the Light of the Lamb all that are Saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb and there shall be no need of any other light no need of the Light of the Sun nor of the Moon nor of Candle but the Lord is unto them an everlasting Light and God alone is their Glory and this Covenant is for ever and cannot alter nor change but is sure unto the Seed of his own Inheritance but he that is born of the Flesh hath no part in it who is shut out from the Knowledge of God who is not known to the wisdom of this World which is Foolishness with God and the Knowledge of God is received no other way but onely by the revelation of Jesus Christ and by the Working of the Spirit of the Father in the heart he opens the blinde Eye and unstops the deaf Ear and changeth the heart and causeth it to understand and he removes that which hath stood in the way betwixt God and the Creature which hath caused ignorance in the Creature that the Lord could not be seen nor perceived Christ Jesus the second Adam Lighteth every man and at Mankind that cometh into the World with the true Light but some hates the Light and they will not come to the Light least their Deeds should be reproved and their Deeds are evil and they are in a condemned State and such cannot receive Christ nor the Knowledge of God but such who love the Light with which Christ hath enlightned them they bring all their Deeds to the Light and walk in the Light and their Deeds are wrought in God never to be condemned And such as loves the Light receives Christ and the Knowledge of God which is eternal Life and none comes to the Knowledge of God and of Christ any other way but through the Light of Christ and by the Operation of the Spirit of God and evil is condemned out of the Heart and the Heart is made clean by the Word of God and the Knowledge of God is received into the clean Heart and not into the impure for without Holiness none shall see God nor ever come to the Knowledge of him neither can the Knowledge of God be received by the Traditions of men or any outward Observance in the will of man but only by the Teachings of the eternal Spirit is the living God known in the Creature CHAP. XVII Concerning Faith this Testimony I give unto the VVorld FAith is the Gift of God and by it Christ is received and enjoyed it is the Substance of things hoped for and the very Evidence of things not seen gives the Creature to believe God in all what he hath promised all that which is acted and spoken in it is well pleasing unto God and that which is done without is sin it is the strengh of the Creature to act for God in all things It is that whereby the World is overcome and all the Powers of Hell and death it is the Armour against the Devil and the defence of all the Children of God by it they overcome all their Enemies and through it they reign over all the World it carries through all Sufferings and Tribulations with Joy and Patience Faith is an Act of God in the Creature through it Peace and Righteousness and the Crown of Life is received from God by Faith all things are received that are received of God by any of his Children He that hath Faith sees and feels the Lords Presence at all times and through Faith we do and suffer gladly for the name of Christ in all things and this is thus far our Testimony given by the Spirit of the Father of those things of which we have received the knowledge from God who hath given us his
this is the resolution of our hearts and the full purpose of our minds to give testimony through the World as we are moved both by writing and declaring of these Truths which to us is known from the Lord that truth and righteousness may come to reign and this may we do 〈◊〉 the Lord provideth way for us not fearing the face of any man nor being afraid of the threatning of high looks and that we may finish the testimony given 〈◊〉 of God our life nor any other thing is dear unto us and all ye people every where for your sake is this written to come abroad amongst you to give yoâ— warning and true information of the work of the Lord and what he is about to do that you may hear and understand and may receive the knowledge 〈◊〉 those things which belong to your peace and may be saved with an eternal Salvation or otherwise through this are you wholly left without excuse if yoâ— perish And unto this was I pressed in spirit for many days that all the World may be satisfied what we are and what we hold and what the purpose of the Lord is and I whom God hath warned do warn all people upon the face of the Earth that you prepare prepare to meet the Lord for his coming and his day is nigh at hand and his judgements shall be revealed in the Earth all flesh shall tremble before him and all the Inhabitants of the World shall be confounded at his presence The Proud shall be abased and the Poor shall be exalted the High and Lofty shall be brought down and the Meek and Upright shall be set up Truth shall reign as King and Deceit shall utterly be confounded they that now suffer all manner of evil for the Name of Jesus shall possess everlasting Freedom and the Dominion shall be in their hands and they that now cause the Just to suffer shall go into endless captivity the Seed of God shall spring forth and flourish but the seed of Evil-doers shall never be renowned And betwixt these two Seeds is an eâ—mity put and they can never be reconciled each seed hath his fruit the one iâ— cursed and the other is blessed and each Seed is known by its fruit and must receive from the Lord accordingly And this is the Testimony of the Servants of the Lord and the Witness which they give unto all the World of those things which we have handled tasted heard seen and felt blessed are all they that can receive it We are known to God in the Spirit and one to another in his Life and are known in the World by the name of Quakers cast upon us through the derisioâ— of the Heathen But Quaking and Trembling at the Word of the Lord by the Servants of the Lord we do own when the power of God reacheth to the Witness of God in the Creature which brings condemnation upon all high looks and upon the lofty nature which causeth the earthly part to tremble we do own and many of us do witness the Quaking and Trembling which is by the operation of the Spirit of God and the several operations by the one Spirit we own which brings down proud flesh whose honour God will lay in the dust and bring it to everlasting contempt and when this comes to pass Quaking shall not be a strange thing nor the Name reproached as it is at this day by the proud spirits of men who knows not the work of the Lord nor the operation of his Spirit Moreover and beside all this let all the World know that our Conversion Life and Practice is one and the same with what we hold forth in words and that we give as large a Testimony of God amongst us by pure Conversation as Doctrine and do deny them who gives Testimony in Words only and answers not in their Conversation for that is Hypocrisie our souls loath it it is abomination in the sight of the Lord where he is profest in words and not walked to in purity and righteousness of life for Righteousness being brought forth in the heart works of righteousness will spring forth in the World and where Righteousness springs not forth in the World and the fruits of the Knowledge of God it shews that righteousness is not in the heart and that God is not known Also concerning our Government it is according to Christ whom we own to be Head amongst us and no other head we have or do bow unto and we are but Members of his Body joyned to him through the Spirit as Head over us all and the greatest of us is but a Member of Christ who is the Head alone and we have not another neither can we be subject to any other Government but his or to obey any Government but what is justly according to his whose Government must be set up in the earth and for it we wait and labour and travel and counts nothing hard but all things are easie to us for this prise which is before us even the Government of Christ to be set up and all Governments of men establisht according to it and this is our Testimony which we give forth in Words and Practice and if it be required can Seal it with our Blood And this is written for no other end but that you may be certainly informed what we are and what we hold and what the Lord hath done and what he is about to do in all the Earth who is risen and hath said Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries Given forth by a Servant of the Lord EDWARD BURROUGH THE VVofull Cry OF Unjust Persecutions and grievous Oppressions of the People of God in England through the Injustice of some of her Rulers and the Wickedness of Teachers and People who hasten to fulfil the Measure of their Fore-fathers Cruelty With a Lamentation over them all who reward the Lord evil for good and is a Warning to them all for Repentance shewing that the coming of the Lord is nigh And this may serve for an Answer in full to all such who have Persecuted by violence by Word or Writing the innocent people in scorn called Quakers With a Short Addition which shewes unto all the ground of Persecution in its first cause and the enmity which is betwixt the two Seeds is clearly discovered Reader THis is sent abroad into the World that all People may see what is brought forth is this Generation against the Innocent who suffer cruel things for well doing and not for evil and the words of Christ are fullfilled who said As they have done unto me so will they do unto you And the time comes that whosoever kills you he will think that he doth God good service And this is now come to pass according as he hath said to our rejoycing and to the sorrow of all our Enemies And as any is moved herein this is to be given to the hands of the Persecuters and of them
dawned and the darkness of the night which long hath overshadowed the World in which no man could work is from us fled and the marvellous Light is risen and we are them whom God hath gathered according to his promise Ezik. 34. from the mouthes of Idol-shepherds which once made a prey upon us and the Glory of the Lord is revealed and the time is come of Restoration and of bringing back out of the captivity of darkness where all have lain with a vail of darkness spread over all their faces and we are eye-witnesses of his glory and it is given us to taste and feel and handle the Word of Life which lives for ever therefore I say unto you all it is a little thing to us and not respected to be reproached by you our life you cannot reach nor our glory deface and you we know to be them who God never sent but must fulfill your measure of wickedness till the time of your overthrow which draws near upon you all and despisable shall you be to all that fear the Lord and love his ways for your nakedness and shame shall be uncovered and them that have loved you shall be filled with the indignation of the Lord against you all your writings and Books and lyes and slanders and false reproaches uttered in publick and private shall go into the pit from which they came and shall return upon your own heads and when your vail of slanders and false aspersions is taken off then shall we as we are appear and till then all your evill brought forth against us we bear in patience and love your revilings rather than your praise wherefore with shame put off your armour and lay down your crownes and stop your mouthes in the dust and bow and Tremble before the Just God and before the Lamb who is risen to make war against the Beast and against you his false Prophets whose Generation must grow feeble and become weakness in this the day of the Lord your time is at an end wherein it was given you to reign and to seduce and deceive the Nations and now shall the Son of God be exalted and the kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of Christ hear and consider this all ye that exalt your selves against the Lord and his way and are established in the throne of unrighteousnes under the beastly power if any man hath an ear to hear let him hear the light is risen and these things are made manifest and with the light of the World in all men shall they be witnessed to be truth and the state of things as they are at this day and if you can discern the times and the signes of times and the changing of times here you may read and understand blessed are all that have an ear to hear TO all ye Heads and Rulers Judges and Magistrates Mayors Bailiffs Goalers and Constables and all others whatsoever Governors Priests and People who have and do persecute the Children and Servants of the Lord the Saints of the most high God who feareth the Name of the Lord and walketh in his way who are not of this World but redeemed out of it and are despised among men as all the Generation of the just every where to all you Persecuters and violent Doers this is a Word from the Lord God Repent repent for evil have you done in his sight and vext his Soul and grieved his Spirit and heaped up wrath against the day of wrath and multiplyed your transgressions and the measure of your Iniquities are well nigh filled up ye have set your selves against the Lord and your hands you have strengthened against his people you have rejected the day of your visitation and you have not regarded the day of your Salvation you have plainly made it manifest that you are of that Generation which killed the just and that you are of the seed of evil-doers the works you have brought forth do plainly declare that you will not have Christ to reign amongst you nor his Government to rule over you who have thus persecuted the Innocent without cause by false imprisonments and false judgments and hard dealings and reproachings and revilings consider your ways and what you have done search your hearts and let it take place in you all how have you persecuted the just how have you stretched forth your hands and dealt cruelly and violently with the meek of the Earth how have you troden under-foot the poor and needy and greatly oppressed the upright hearted who have not rendred evil for evil but forgiven you prayed for you wished well unto you and born in patience without complaining â—…ll your injustice and cruelty and have not sought vengeance against you even such hath God chosen more than many and them you have despised and persecuted more than any and laid heavy bonds of oppression upon them and doubled their task through your hard-heartedness least the Seed of God should grow grieveous yoaks have you laid upon it by false imprisonments and unjust fines and illegal proceedings by beatings halings abusings reproaches and revilings all manner of evil have been acted and spoken against the Generation of the just by you and under you in your Judicatories and Jurisdictions in your Corporations high-ways Towns and Goals and other places O! consider what you have done and suffered to be done under you lay it to heart what havock of the people of the Lord in their persons and estates and what cruelty exercised upon them through your rebellious hearts without any evil justly charged upon them or breach of any Law justly proved against them for well-doing and not for evil have you caused them to suffer 〈◊〉 crying against iniquity and reproving sin in the Gate for bearing witness 〈◊〉 the Truth and against all unrighteousness which abounds in this Generation such have you falsly judged to be offenders and cryed a confederacy agaiâ—… them and strengthened the hands of the wicked and caused the Innocentâ— groan O! what will you do in the day of your visitation when the Lord arisâ—… to plead with you to whom will you fly for refuge and to whom will you cry 〈◊〉 deliverance Shall not the Lords soul be avenged upon you yea from the least of you to the greatest You shall feel his hand of judgment even all you who haâ—… had your fingers dipped in the unjust sufferings of the dear Servants of the Lord whom he hath called to place his Name with for ever who are his faithfâ—… Witnesses in this perverse Generation and by your persecuting of them haâ—… you proved them to be the people of God in the sight of all Nations and it 〈◊〉 for a testimony unto them that they are of God and against you that you 〈◊〉 of the Devil and Christs words are fullfilled upon them to their rejoyciâ—… and to your sorrow who said The time comes that they shall speak all 〈◊〉 evil falsly and persecute you and think they
their wickedness without reproof and ungodliness may be hid under hypocrisie and above all other means that is used at this day to keep up the Kingdom of the Devil and to offend the Kingdom of Christ this is Cheif striving against the Light of the World opposing it and denying it and by crafty Arguments and cunning Speeches seeking sutable Scriptures as they suppose to ground their false Argumentâ— upon against this very thing that the Light of Christ is given to every man that comes into the World or that the Light which convinceth and reproveth every man of sin within him is not the Light of Christ nor worthy to be taken notice of but natural and such like and no way sufficient to Life and Salvation if the Unjust men persecute it is such as walk in the Light of Christ Jesus that cannot fulfill the wills and customs of mâ—n and so are not of thâ—… World but contrary to it in all its wayes and workâ—…â—…ich are evil and if tâ—… wise men of the World make any Arguments it is against the Light wiâ—… which Christ lightneth every man that comes into the World so that all 〈◊〉 envy of the Devil whether under this or that colour and appearance is againâ—… the Light of Christ Jesus and them that walk therein and if the light be 〈◊〉 denyed and not believed in nor regarded then may the Devil have whâ—… Possession of the heart of man and if the Light of Christ Jesus within 〈◊〉 owned and loved and walked in then Christ is received and there the Dâ—… is dispossessed and therefore it stands him upon above all other things 〈◊〉 possess people against the Light within which Christ hath given that then 〈◊〉 may not be discovered in the heart but may keep all his goods in peace aâ—… have quiet possession in his Habitation Well be it so though all men of thâ—… Kingdom doth gainsay the Light of Christ by this or that way of wickedness yet it is precious unto us and I cannot but earnestly contend for it against 〈◊〉 Gainsayers and yet strives not for mastery to our selves nor to exalt any thing of our selves but only the Lord and his truth which he hath made more dear to us then either life or name or liberty and though so it be that this Way be spoken evil against every-where yet the Lord owneth it and us who are faithful therein in the presence of our Enemies to the confounding of the wisdom of this World And whereas Iohn Bunion hath formerly set himself divers wayes to oppose the Truth under the account of his great zeal against Error but especially in a Book sometime since put forth by him thinking thereby to offend the Way of Righteousness and now a second time hath appeared with a defence upon his former called A Vindication c. Of the former and his Defence is more to the laying open his folly and to the uncovering of his blindness and wickedness then his first offence given by him which caused me to write in short four sheets of paper to clear the Truth from what he had spoken against it And now having again a second time appeared in many word without knowledge yet in great zeal hath brought forth many things reprovable even Lyes and Slanders and evil Speeches in abundance yet with great pretence of holiness and soberness and he hath not only belyed me but the Truth which is my chief and moving cause that the Truth may be clear of this my second Reply unto him and not for my own sake in any thing for I more prize to be accounted a fool and dispraised in the World then to be honoured thereby and when iniquity shall come to an end and transgression shall be finished his shall be the Kingdom and the Inheritance of Rest Eternal that hath kept himself clean and pure from a lying and slanderous tongue and who hath done righteously and fullfilled the Will of God For it is not every one that saith Lord Lord that enter into the Kingdom but he that doth the will of the Father which is in Heaven and in that day when the Book of all Consciences shall be opened and every thing brought to Judgement then shall the Light in every ones Conscience answer the Lord in the justness of his dealings and even then if not before shall this Iohn Bunion know the Light in all mens Consciences is of force when he shall be judged and then shall he see he hath wronged the Lord and dealt evil against his own soul in speaking evil of what he hath not known and in giving false judgement of what he hath not understood and till that day I leave him without praying for fire to devour him only may reprove his Lyes Errors Contradictions and False-dealing and clear the Truth from his false Charges and only to the most chiefest things whereof he accuses us in short I may Reply And whereas thou sayst There is one that hath ventured to stand up against the Truth and hath published a Book in which there is a great number of Heresies cunningly vented by him and also many things there falsly Reported of thee To which I answer that same Book published called The true faith of the Gospel contended for c. Shall clear it self from this reproach that I have not stood against any one truth or uttered any Heresie or lye against thee but in that Book did witness forth the Truth against many things falsly laid down by thee against the Quakers and that same Book with soberness read without partiality and prejudice doth clear it self from these false Aspersions and prove thee a Lyer herein and I leave it to the honest hearted to judge who reads that Book while I with patience and not seeking any revenge doâ— bear thy reproaches counting them greater riches then thy praise And Farther thou saist Only by the way thou thinkest good to mind me of my cloathing my self with the words of the Prophets and Apostles c. Answ. True enough by the Way out of the Truth and out of Christ who is the Way hast thou spoken this and so hast uttered in falsehood and by or out of the Way neither have I cloathed my self and yet am I clothed with the Life of the Prophets and Apostles and not only with their words nor do I fight against them though thou falsly sayst it but bears witness unto them in Doctrine and Conversation and before all the seed of Evil-doers and take back thy own words to thy self who art in that Generation which hath the words but are without the Life in the evil life Farther thou sayst I have broken out with a false Testimony of Iohn Burton and thee at which thou seemest to be much offended that I should say thou art joyned with the broken Army of Magog and hath shewed your selves in the defence of the Dragon against the Lamb c. Reply what needest thou be troubied at this
thou art in their steps and among them that act such things as further may be proved and the wisdom of God so fore-saw to keep me clear and my words to be defended though I expected no less from thee as to this thing then is come to pass but the Lye is of thy self who would deny the Truth The next thing that thou wilt charge upon to be a Lye I pass here the Reader may expect it in its place and though thou sayst the Rantors and I and my Fellows are of the same mind in many things c. To which I Reply Their practices I deny and the ground in which they stand and their false doctrines yet dare we not deny any truth as it is in Christ though they as thou mayst profess it in words which is seldom they do for we have respect unto the Truth for the truths sake only but how uncharitable art thou in thy measure and judgement consider as if he should say Iohn Bunion is of the same mind with the Pope in many things the Pope holds Christ was born of Mary and was crucified and raised again and ascended c. And this holds I. Bunion and is of the same minde with the Pope in many things and therefore must partake of the same plagues with the Pope as thou said of us though thou hast by unequal measure thus judged us yet I render not evil for evil but in love to thy soul shews thee thy folly and weakness Then thou goest on having passed by the two slanders cast upon us by I. Burton in your first Book which I charged you withall in mine to which not one word as to evidence your slanders but hath slippen it over as a foul guilty man which charge stands upon you both that you are Slanderers herein and my first answer I am not ashamed of though you snarle much about it and would taint it or undermine it but thy subtilty is to weak Truth confounds thee and thy simple policy which is that we prize the Lord Jesus Christ God man to be precious unto us and hath owned him alone to be the Foundation whom God hath laid and in his Light we are saved c. As I said in Page 7. against which words thou canst not justly except nor yet prove the contrary and yet as a man that loves to hear thy own tongue thou lays down many things impertinent as to the cause in hand But it had been more honest to have helped thy brother Burton from under my true Charge and cleared the Truth if thou hadst been able but thou hast left â—im in the dirt under the Charge of a Slanderer and are unfaithfull to him â—nd goes about to inquire what it is as thou sayst to lay Christ for a Foundation thou confesses what I have said is fairly spoken and yet thy envious minde â—nd unbelieving heart seems to be offended at my words and to them that can believe I speak plainly and doth not beg thy belief nor any mans but commends my self to every mans Conscience in the sight of God and knows no other Jesus the Saviour nor Foundation then he that Iohn was sent to prepare the Way before who was and is and is to come who said I am the light of the World and now my words are defended to be truth in the sight of them that are spiritual and thou and such may hear but must not understand who have hardened your hearts least you should believe and therefore is given up to Gainsayings till the Wrath of God break out against you and let Iohn Burton remember my words where I said he is fallen into the pit which he digged for another and he undervalues the Lord Jesus whose Doctrine is to speak Truth but he hath lyed and slandered and so is out of Christ the Foundation and undervalues him who keeps not his sayings but is a Worker in Darkness and not in the Light And as to that where I say thus much is the mind of the Penmans spirit of the first Epistle of the first Book secretly smiting at the Doctrine of true Faith and Salvation to wit Christ within I have said the truth in righteousness and do own my words though thou sayst I have done him a great deal of wrong c. But I leave it to be judged by them that are spiritual and not unto thee to give false meaning of my words and doth not he say in that Epistle of some that have been depending too much upon some thing they call Christ and the Righteousness of Christ within them c. Let the wise in heart judge whether this be not as I said even a secret smiting against Christ within without which as I have said there can be no Salvation for he that hath not Christ in him is a Reprobate and this I speak not in opposition but as a testimony of Christ Jesus that dyed and rose again and ascended who is within and without also and if any preach another Jesus let him be accursed and repent thou who art in the wrong doing thy self falsly charging me noting in the Margent with speaking falsly when I spaâ—… the truth and the false speaking rests at thy door and is driven thither with the power of truth Then whereas thou wouldst justifie thy former wickedness in charging the Quakers to be Deceivers against my just Answer in page 8. of mine whicâ— stands free from any of thy vain Argument and uncontroled though resisted but it appears my words sticks close unto thee and torments thee and thou sayd with much confidence it will easily be proved that we are Deceivers but thy Arguments we shall try And sayst thou First the Quakers deny the man Christ Jesus without them and own Christ no otherways but as he is within c. Reply How impudent art thou in forging Lye after Lye and building them up in thy Work one upon another and a wicked course thou takes to clear thy former Slanders truly charged upon thee in my first even by laying another upon it Friend By this thy deceitful Slander while thou hast thought to prove us Deceivers hath proved thy self one even a false Accuser mayst thou not blush to say we own Christ no otherwayes then as he is within we own him which was is and is to come who is within us and without us as I have said in my first we own him as the Scripture speaks of him and it is known 〈◊〉 the Lord and in his sight we are approved whether thou believe it or not fâ—… I beg not beleif of thee but leaves thy double Slanders to be read and judged of by all honest people and in the interim know it is a bad way to prove us Deceivers by thy Lyes this the rather is a Witness to us that we are of God and against thee and thou to be of the Devil who was a Lyer from the beginning and 〈◊〉 his Child succeeds him in
lying Thy second proof is That we are Deceivers because sayst thou 〈◊〉 do perswade souls that Christ is crucified in them dead within them kept 〈◊〉 with something within them which was never taught by them that spoke the Scriptures c. Reply These words are falsly laid down but what thinkest thou of such who might crucifie to themselves afresh the Son of God and put him to open shame as it is written this they could not do above Stars they being men upon the Earth and Christ was sent to preach to the Spirits in Prison he that can read let him understand this Doctrine was preached by them that spoke forth the Scriptures who had the Spirit of God but in blindness I find thee and I think so I must leave thee and though I do not feed the Serpent yet my words are plain to him that hath an understanding and an ear open and Deceiver belongs to thee and at thy door it lyes and thou canst not remove it Farther thou sayst We perswade souls that that man that was born of the Virgin Mary is not above the Clouds and the Stars when as the Scripture saith a Cloud received him out of their fight Reply This is another Lye uttered without fear or knowledge or honesty we do not perswade souls to believe any such thing but bears witness to the truth of that Scripture that a Cloud received him out of their sight and we say he is out of their sight and must appear again in sight and this is a wicked way of thee to prove us Deceivers by slandering us adding more to thy own sin and the more will be thy burthen in the day of the Lord when Plagues and Torment are thy portion from which thou shalt not flye though now thou be above shame Farther sayst thou We perswade souls not to believe that that man that was crucified and rose again c. Shall so come again to Iudgment as he went away and shall raise up men and women out of their Graves and cause them to come into the Valley of Jehoshaphat thou sayst we strive to beat souls off from believing this c. Reply O how swiftly thy lying Tongue runs without fear as though neither God nor man took notice of thee or that ever thou shouldst be called to question for them many Lyes together thou hast here foulded up in one thy Lyes I deny and this to be one hast thou set thy self to tell Lyes O abominable wickedness mayst thou not tremble when thou considers what thou falsly sayst of us contrary to my words who said in the truth of my heart we own him to be what the Scripture speaks of him and not otherwise it seems thou cannot believe when I speak truth I number up thy Lyes and returns them back to thee to read and by all this is it not true that thou art of the same spirit with thy fellow and abound more in Lyes as I said in my first his was but about three thine manifold more but thy Lyes are no testimony against us that we are Deceivers but they shall lie heavy upon thee at one day when we shall be clear For in the affirmive I further say that that Christ Jesus that was crucified and rose again shall come as he went away to Judgement and the dead shall be raised and every man shall receive according to their deeds and he shal◠set to judge the Heathen round about according to Ioel 3. and thy portion in that day shall be Howling and Gnashing of Teeth for the Lyars Portion is the Lake Thou sayst again the Quakers make no difference between that Light wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned all and the Spirit of Christ he gives not to all Reply I put thee to prove that they are contrary or divided one against the other for thus Christ saith I will send you the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which must needs be the Spirit of Christ and he shall reprove or convince the World of sin and of righteousness now mark that same Spirit of the Father and of the Son who is the Comforter of the Saints is the same and not another that doth reprove the World he that can read let him understand the World cannot receive the Comforter yet have they given to them that which doth reprove them which is with the Light of Christ Jesus of the same and not contrary nor divided if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear the Error is in thy self who art without understanding Further thou sayst That every one hath that which is like the Spirit of Christ even as God as the Spirit of Christ which thou sayst is desperate blassphemy and cryes out with an out-cry O wonderfull deceit c. Reply I would have all to take notice that thou hast wronged my words in wresting of them for thy wicked purpose to have a ground of slander there is no such words in the tenth Page of my Book which thou quotest but in one place I say till thou prove the Light of Christ Iohn 1. 9. which thou confesses every man hath to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ Mark I shall say every man hath that which is one in union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure these words I must own But let the sober Reader take notice how fouly thou hast wronged my words leaving out the strength of them to take occasion of slander whe◠thou hadst proved the Light of Christ which in Iohn 1. 9. is spoken of to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ then had been a better season for this charge against me O thou impudent and shameless man so uniustly to deal against the upright who envies thee not but pitties thee therefore when thou or any man can prove the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. and Iohn 8. 12. to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ then I may own the Judgement and charge upon me but till then thou art proved a Lyar for the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. that Light is one in union and not contrary and is of the likeness of the Spirit of Christ and as good in its measure and these words I stand to to vindicate against all thy Lyes and wresting of words and out-cryes who is an unfit fellow to judge what Blasphemy is who art so blind that thou knowest not the difference of words betwixt before and from as I have shewed Repent If so be thou may find mercy Then further thou sayst to cover my self and deceit I do apply that which should be to the children of God c. And yet cannot reprehend my answer which is just and faithful that the Children of God were always counted Deceivers and this is true as thy self confesses but wickedly saith in thy answer and most lyingly too and blasphemy is falen out of thy mouth The Devil
of Christ without and with as good or better understanding though both a like far from the Kingdom of God yet in thy Answer thou askest me if I put 〈◊〉 difference betwixt the speaking of and beleeving in Christ without Yea I do a great deal for he that believes in him hath the Witness in himself of him and his heart is purifyed and he is a new Creature which thou art not but thou I suppose wouldst be reckoned a Believer nay for I think the Pope hath both more words and more good works and makes as much Conscience of lying and false accusing as thou for ought as may be understood of a tree by the fruits which is our way to judge as Christ hath given us example then is that I said thou hast answered thy self a question deceitful thou art offended and boasts thy self against me Charging me to be an Enemy to the truth and the liâ—â— in that I did not manifest thy deceit but now I shall therefore to stop thy proâ—… boasts in that answer thou calls it a sad doctrine which saith follow the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall and other such like things following that question which are deceitful and wicked and thou thereby art proved the Enemy to truth thy self and thou and thy words are both deceitful and therefore boast not thy self Then thou answers my Question which was doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ are Reprobates the Question is sound and of worth to be noted and in thy answer thou sayst yet it is true to which I soberly Reply then what a condition are all in that hath 〈◊〉 Christ within nor no knowledge of him but what they have of him as he is without by the letter without do thou consider this and whether it be not of the chiefest prize to Life and Salvation to wait for him and seek for him within seeing all that have not him within are Reprobates But farther thou wouldst seem to manifest a great deal of folly in me when as the folly lies in thy own bosome and by thy confused words I understand thâ—… groundst thy Answer upon alye and false understanding and therefrom bringâ—… the false reproof as if I should hold forth that every man hath received Chriâ—… or the Spirit of Christ in him This I have never said but that every man hath the Light of Christ giâ—… him which I say is one in union with the Spirit of Christ and I say Christ 〈◊〉 given to all but all receives him not and I see thou understands not my forâ—… words that I write in answer to one of thy Queries thou canst not distingâ—… betwixt a thing being given of God and a thing being received by man so 〈◊〉 the folly is fallen back on thee take it who understands not my words 〈◊〉 opposes thy own conceivings and false understanding and though I might 〈◊〉 truly apply this word folly in that extent then thou applyed the like word 〈◊〉 thy self in this same page yet I leave it to the judgement of the serious Reader and say thy folly is want of wit in the World and not for Châ—… sake Then thou wouldst defend thy first wickedness in that thou saidst the Devil deceives Souls by perswading them to follow the Light within which all men have but my answer to it thou hast not reached in that I said 〈◊〉 that comes to Life eternal must follow the Light within which Christ haâ—… given which stands over thy head for ever to be truth but yet how bliâ—… art thou in confessing the Light within even Conscience to be the Light 〈◊〉 Christ as God and yet sayst the Devil deceives souls by bidding follow the Light within O abominable doctrine what doth the Devil deceive souls by bidding foâ—… the Light of Christ as God so Iohn Bunion's doctrine is let it be noted 〈◊〉 see thou thy folly how it is manifest and thy pittiful evasions are weighed 〈◊〉 stead of contradicting my former sufficient answer which thou could no 〈◊〉 reach to wrest or otherwise to answer it askes a question which I may ansâ— assoon as thou hast sufficiently replyed to my former answer and this is in 〈◊〉 an answer to it it is heresie to say that the Light of God or any Light of 〈◊〉 or Christ can or doth deceive the Soul and though thou stumble at it I said 〈◊〉 in saying that thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within 〈◊〉 the Reader judge And now to manifest thy ignorance fully thou hast confessed the Light witâ—… even Conscience is the Light of God hast not thou cause to repent of 〈◊〉 absurdities and blindness who holds forth that the Devil deceives Souls by the Light of God seeing thou canst find no Light within man but that which thou confessest is the Light of God Then thou sayes Thy whole design was first to shew Souls where Salvation is to be bad namely in Christ without and yet hath confessed all that hath him not within are Reprobates and such have not salvation by him without Consider therefore without Christ within no Salvation as I have said and thou hast confessed it Mark it then to clear thy self from contradiction which I charged thee with thou wouldst cast a confusion upon me in that thou says I would make a defiled Conscience the Law and Spirit of Christ to be all one This is falsly spoken I have never said nor thought that a defiled Conscience is the Law and Spirit of Christ a Lyer thou art to be noted and this Lye adds to the number and yet consider thou hast said several time that Consciences is the Light of Christ as God and now calls Conscience defiled Is the Light of God defiled Iohn Bunnion saith so O horrid read thou thy confusion and grievous Error which is brought to thy Door and there I leave it thou mayst Blush and all thy Witnesses at this and in that thou callst my Answer Scoulding against thy Epistle and persumptuously sayst The truth of which thou couldst be willing to seal with thy Blood Reply Scoulding I deny but I have reproved thy Lyes in the Authority of the Lord and be not so proudly pust up in boasting what sayst thou shall thy Blood go for this that the Quakers are Deceivers and that the Devil deceives Souls by bidding them follow the Light within which thou sayst is Conscience which thou confesses is the Light of God and that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and that the Scripture say so and that we deny that Salvation was compleatly wrought by the man Christ Jesus with several other things noted for Lyes what sayst thou Iohn Bunnion art thou so desparte as that thou wilt hazard thy Blood upon this account if it be so sure the Devil hath great power over thee cease thy boasting lest the Lord make thee an Example and though thou wouldst exhort me thy spirit I deny
and so thy words I judge and cannot receive good from an evil Spirit Then thou comes on falling on thy own foul ignorance again and wouldst fain clear thy self but by thy stirring thy own wickedness herein thou makes it cast an odious sight to all that pass by we may follow thee a little seeing thou art not yet weary and fain wouldst thou make it appear that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and sayst it was in Gods account but to this I have spoken and largely shewed thy blindness to all men and adds this upon thy head thou art a Lyar and Perverter of Scripture to say That the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was And further thou art a Lyer to say That God accounts a thing for Truth which is a Lye a sad error and wicked And further thou art a Lyar to say that I corrupt thy woods for I had not laid open thy nakedness so fully if thou hadst not persisted in thy blindness as now I am forced to do but enough of this and more then ever thou canst clear thy self of honestly and yet to cover thy own shame charges me falsly with folly to speak evil of things I know not or else with madness c. Reply Friend be not so confident I know the difference betwixt before and since or from and know that God accounts not a Lye for Truth as thou holds out thy own folly and madness behold who commits iniquity in lying on the Scripture and on God and on me and yet persists after a sober reproof and resists the Reprover with opprobrious words let confusion of face cover thy impudent forehead while I forgive thee and seeks not vengeance against thee then through thy mistake of my words thou hast falsly gathered a subject to oppose and fights with thy own understanding mightily and thinkst thou confoundst me and its thy self for however thou understands my words either for want of wit or otherwise it never entred into my thoughts with charging thee to believe that Christ is a tipe only I charge thee that thou saidst so of others So that I think this is a mistake in thee for want of knowledge to understand my rehersal of thy words being transcribed as the shortest not to fill volumes and through thy own misunderstanding of my laying down the words thou heavily yet vainly charges me with corrupting thy words which God is my witness I have not done though thou be guilty herein But further I deal plainly and slanders not in secret as thou dost we do not look on Christ to be but a shadow and tipe if thou affirm I shall answer further and as to that thou sayst I say Jesus is the substance to that answer I stand though thou sayst Thou doubts I do not spâ—… plainly c. Reply As I have said I seek not a proof of my faith of thee nor any man not do I beg thy belief while I am approved in the sight of God herein I matter not what a lying spirit doubts of me so that what vain Arguments or Queries thou raises from thy own false doubt I pass by being by the present thing branching out in things on the by if I should examine every particular I might fill a vollume And whereas thou hast answered my question which is did Christ put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth he justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law be finished In thy Answer thou sayst Christ did put an end to the Law for Righteousness for all that the Father hath given him This is little to the Question I say that Transgressors of the Law are not Christs but Children of Disobedience and Children of Wrath and such God hath not given to Christ who are his Enemies nor Christ to them is not given but to condemn them is that estate and thou sayst there are many given to Christ who yet lives is their sins the Apostle Iohn saith he that sins is of the Devil and hath 〈◊〉 known God and such as are of the Devil are not Christs and in that I saâ—… doth Christ justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law 〈◊〉 finished and not one tittle of the Law shall fail till all be fulfilled thou hast 〈◊〉 reached the understanding of my words for while disobedience stands and the Transgressor lives the work of the Law is not finished nor fulfilled but to that is Condemnation and not Justification if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear for he that transgresseth the Law is an Enemy to Christ and Christ fulfills not the Law for his Enemies they must bear their own burthen and though this thou cannot understand now yet in the day of Judgement shalt thou feel it and when the burthen of thy own Inquity is upon thee then shalt thou confess to what I have said and read me in what now thou canst not understand and in the mean time I deny that Christ hath put an end to the Law for thee who art a Lyar and breaks one and so is guilty of all Many of thy words might be weighed and searched but I am no picâ—… of quarrels but to my last Query thou sayst little to the purpose which is what assurance have any that the Law is fulfilled for them who 〈◊〉 yet Transgressors of it in themselves but sayst Assurance comes thâ—… believing and obedience to the Law is a fruit of believing c. Saying 〈◊〉 one that hath the hope of the Son of God purifies himself as he Christ 〈◊〉 pure Reply Then he that hath not the fruit viz. obedience to the Law 〈◊〉 may judge by the fruit or for want of fruit is no Believer and he that is 〈◊〉 purifyed as he is pure Christ hath not the hope of being the Son of God but is without hope now see where thou art who yet breaks the Law and 〈◊〉 without thy own noted fruit of believing neither is purifyed as he is pure and so is without hope this is according to thy own affirmation if thâ—… canst not bear it blame thy self for laying down such a position as hath proâ—… thy self to beâ—an Unbeliever and without hope and so without God in the World one that is for condemnation and to be judged in the state where now thou standst And whereas thou sayst I would lay assurance on obedience to the Law thou lyest in this also my words are the Law must be fulfilled in you by Christ in Judgement and in Righteousness if ever you receive Salvation and these words are true against all thy opposition neither do I affirm that by the deeds of the Law any flesh living shall be justified but the contrary though thou wouldst falsly yet secretly cast it upon me and wickedly callst this my forthy argument where I said the Law convinceth and is a School-master to bring to Christ c. But the
froth proceeds out of thy mouth for this Argument comprehends thee and stands out of thy reach for all thy detestable speeches against me and the truth and the rest of my following words thou hast passed by where I say who owns not that which convinceth of sin how can they own him that takes it away by his Blood and this is truth and tell me in â—ustâ—ess according to my first Query in that page how is sin taken away â—â—om thee more then from the Pope seeing neither of you hath the fruit of ceasing to commit sin And art not thou in the froth who opposes me as though I should say yet never did nor thought that justification must be sought by the deeds of the Law and so gathers a false conception and fights with it and keeps thy self doing in nine sheets against four and yet hast passed over many speciall things almost the chiefest and though no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the Law yet must all flesh living be condemned for the transgression of the Law by Christ who freely gives Life to all that believes if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear in the next thou seemst or wouldst at least to defend thy self from my charge which shall if it doth not lie heavy upon thee which is that I call thee Slanderer and truly too from thy words where thou falsly accused the Qunkers with boasting and Hypocrisie and in thy answer thou sayst I need not be offended for thou dost not know our fellow for boasting in that thou sayst we â—ryâ—p our selves and condemn all others c. But this is no proof of the former Accusation but an addition to thy former wickedness let honest men consider I asked thee when thou didst hear any of them boast or see them live in Hypocrisie but not a word to this sober desire but adds sin to sin a bad way to clear thy self and thy God Be ashamed for crying up self we deny but yet must say or else say falsly That we are of God and the whole World lies in wickedness and he that is of God heareth us and is one with us and this is as the Saints testified and is neither boasting nor Hypocrifie then to my question which was Will that Faith which is without works justifie and thou sayst no c. Then I Reply what is thy condition and theirs who are not only without works of faith but in thy very work of darkness as Lying and false Accusing c. And seeing thou sayst no Consider whether thou hast faith and whether thy works which are like good workes proceed not from the unbeleiving ground and this I add to my next I asked which thou hast passed by must not every one receive according to their deeds in the day of Judgement and then thou runs out in high words against me in that I said if to talk of him Christ his Birth Blood c. Were Faith in him and living by faith then few would want it and further I add the Pope himself would have it and my words are just and honest without exception or contradiction but only that something thou must needs say though thou say many can talk of Christ that will fall short of Heaven c. And asks me a question and fayst Is there not enough in them 〈◊〉 Birth Blood c. to justifie c. I answer the knowledge of all things whatsoever without will not justifie except Christ be within and if he be within the power of his Life Blood Birth c. is known and received and felt and in this I preach not any other Gospel then the Apostles who said Say not who shall ascend or descend to fetch him Mark but what saith it the Word of Faith or of the Gospel which are not divided is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart And thou falsly again charges the Quakers with corrupting and beguiling mâ—y by those Scriptures Reply Beguiling is thy own and corrupting of Scriptures too as is proved and whilst thou accuses us falsly in these things thy self art proved truly guilty in the sight of all that are spiritual and as to thy charging me That the man Christ Iesus is not very pleasant to me And with Scoulding c. Thy slanders I bear with patience and thy reproaches which is not for evil but for Christs sake who dyed at Ierusalem and is revaeled in me and for shâ—… cease to say Thou art ruled by Scripture a Lyar and Slanderer and Preverter of Scriptures is not led with the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture but is ruled by the Devil and is out of Scripture rule then thou goes on and wouldst justifie thy ignorant saying How are they deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the World began c. And my answer to it thou hast not touched nor truly contradicted which stands over thee and is sufficient to all honest people and Christ we own the same yesterday to day for ever and doth believe the Father granted that request and he is glorified with the same glory that he had before the World was and though thou tell me of a double meaning yet in plainness I speak without doubleness the fault is in thy weakness and sottishness and blindness of heart who knoâ—… not that which is infinite and immortal and eternal the flesh of Christs body is so Then thou falsly charges me again in that I said if every spirit be of God which doth in words confess thus viz. that Christ was with the Father before the World was was born and suffered in the flesh and was buried and raised c. then is not the Pope himself Antichrist c. As in my fourteenth page whiâ—… putting on a vail and ventering upon thy words But I have spoken the truth herein let that in thy Conscience answer in nakedness without a vail the vail is on thy heart thou canst not understand me and so this is thy simple policy to say the vail is on me and what of that if 〈◊〉 ventred on it it is but in the fear of God though I should say I deny all thâ—… thou sayst or the speaking of any thing for I do not own thy voice though some of thy words be true and though thou speak words of truth yet therefore I reprove thee and sometimes may not let it pass for truth for Christ is my example herein who reproved the Devils though they confessed him Mark that but the chief part of my words are passed over and read over again and see if it is not truth it self where I said It is not much better nor more accepted to confess Christ in words to be come and yet in works to deny him theâ—… it is both in words and works to deny him the one is wicked in prophaneâ—… the other in Hypocrisie the one is a Lyar and the other a false Witness and let the honest Judge then
are not in the Scripture words in terms yet I have 〈◊〉 said falsly herein and do not thou be a reprover of that which thou cannnot 〈◊〉 self deny then thou sayst How feeble an argument is this to prove that every one 〈◊〉 Spirit c. Reply Thou blind man did I go about to prove any such thing or 〈◊〉 any Argument thereupon we are about the Light which Christ hath giâ—… or lighted every man in the World withal which Light convinceth of 〈◊〉 and is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ unto this was I speaking 〈◊〉 this I stand by and thou conceives another thing from my words and 〈◊〉 against thy own consequences like a man too irrational to understand coâ—… English c. Then thou sayst Thou passed by other lame Arguments which I tumble evâ—… 〈◊〉 blind man in a thicket of bushes O be ashamed for ever thus to evade and shuffle with such scornful 〈◊〉 I said that which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God Iohn 1◠〈◊〉 that which makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reproved is made 〈◊〉 fest by the Light Ephes. 5. how darest thou call these lame Arguments tumbâ—… over what impudence is in thy heart so to say when thou art put to 〈◊〉 fusion then such excuses thou bringst Well some may see thy folly 〈◊〉 to my Question which was whether that Light which every man is liâ—… withal is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation to every one 〈◊〉 believes if thou say not wherein is the blame in God in his Liâ—… 〈◊〉 in the Creature thou sayst No it is not sufficient I take it for an 〈◊〉 and leaves it to be weighed by the sober Reader and though there be veâ—… honour and of dishonour made of the same lump as thou sayst yet I 〈◊〉 Query is not every mans blood that perisheth of his own head 〈◊〉 not the Lord clear from the blood of all men even though they go to dâ—… ction and if the Reader try thy Book over he may judge whose Arguments 〈◊〉 lame Then whereas thou sayst Christ as God hath lighted every man that comâ—◠〈◊〉 the World To which I said then why dost thou say we wrest that Scriâ—… Iohn 1. 9. seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then what thou callest wâ—…elling in us and this is truth let all men consider else that when thoâ— câ—…nfesses Christ as God hath lighted every man in the World it is no less then wâ—… we say and that Scripture sayes which is That Christ is the true Light 〈◊〉 that is he which lighteth every man that comes into the World and mayâ—◠〈◊〉 thou be ashamed to call this so scornfully a glavering Answer not being 〈◊〉 clear thy self from my just charge in that herein I charged thee with coâ—… to oppose us in that which thy self confesseth to be true consider well oâ—… and let not thy blood go for the truth of all what thou sayst for I deâ—… not Further thou cries out Is this all the wit I have and wonderful igâ—… 〈◊〉 Because I said it is not good to neglect following the Light but that 〈◊〉 one minde the Light of Christ Jesus in them in answer to thy words 〈◊〉 having said the Light which convinceth of sin is the Light of Christ as 〈◊〉 which the neglect of will be sure to damn as thou sayst and now let wiseâ—… judge of my answer but thou falls heavily on it proving that obedâ—… to the Law will not justifie and the like which I do not at all affirm 〈◊〉 to that I say the Law having its opperation upon the disobedient the 〈◊〉 comes to be seen which is he that is the end of the Law and the Law mâ—… him be obeyed or fulfilled in thee if ever thou be saved from being damned 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 â—…ul bid listen â—ithin telling me of making sheâ—â—â—r for my errâ—â— c. Tâ—…â—o 〈◊〉 say that Paul bids listen within let the Reader judge from that Scâ—…ture 〈◊〉 10. 6. The righteousness of faith sâ—…ks on thâ—…s â—…se â—â—rs 〈◊〉 which is the 〈◊〉 of the Gospel and vers 9. what saith it the Word iâ— nigh tâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mâ—… and in thy Heart was not that the end of these words to lisâ—… 〈◊〉 the Word is in the Heart what saith it there now the error iâ— thine 〈◊〉 â—…e truth and the Lye is returned to the Founder who denyes thâ—t Pâ—…lâ—…en â—…en within when its plain he saith The Wâ—â—d 〈◊〉 i◠〈◊〉 Hâ—…t what 〈◊〉 it â—…ere O that a man professing knowledge and enterprzing such things should â—…e so 〈◊〉 and so unable to finish what he hath â—…in then thou cryest oâ—t â—…sly and notes it in the margent for wresting of thy words in that I â—…d â—…ou sayst They are ignorant of the Gospel who closâ—… in with thesâ—â—…s of th◠〈◊〉 â—…in or Conscience which doth command to abstain from the â—â—ll and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and thy own words are How the poor souls through ignorance of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these motions of its own Conscience viz. the motions which convinceth of sin â—…in which doth commâ—… abstain from this evil and practice thâ—â— gâ—dd so â—et wâ—â—e men consider whether I have wronged that intent of thy words and â—e not so soon angry â—or thou canst not vindicate that they that closes â—n with these motions of the â—â—science or the Light of Christ within which oâ—…ceth of sin within which doth command to abstain from-this evil and â—o practice thi◠〈◊〉 is igâ—…nce of the Gospel and do not evade it by words without knâ—…dge in picking of quarrels and seeking offences by different tearms of worâ—…â—…e â—o occasion justly is given thee Then my Question thou see â—…est to aâ—swer which was what and how doth the Light of the Gospel work of not in the â—…ce and to command from evil and to practice goodâ— this 〈◊〉 â—…nds over thy head not confuted nor fully answered for the true 〈◊〉 â—…ang of it thou hast not comprehended but to thy own conception thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ed as if I should say that every man hath the Light of the Gospel â—…g â—n thâ—m to Salvation which I never said nor thought so thy answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tâ—…e purpose Then thou hast passed by full sligâ—… as disable to clear thy Godâ— and his Spirâ—â— that guides thee which is the Godd of this World of that great 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 justly charged upon thee Page 19. of my last which a â—…ing to â—…e collection is by turning the mind within to the Light which doth 〈◊〉 of sin and listning thereunto and clasping in with the motions of 〈◊〉 Conscience which doth command to abstain from evil aâ—d to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and closing with somthing within which thou confessess 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—…f 〈◊〉 these things preceding then thou sayst Hereby 〈◊〉 thâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ried headlong and at the end of its life doth fall into the â—…lly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sum of wickedness set forth by thee which when
confuted thine c. Do not boast but hear what I say thou sayst in that answer that Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father in your Nature Mark now thy Nature and your Nature who are one with thee is sinfull and wicked and of the Devil for so all Lyars are and it is Blasphemy to say sinfull wicked divillish Nature such as Iohn Bunions is and his Fellows is at the right hand of God in Heaven O horrible consider of this and see what thy begging an answer hath brought upon thee I deny though thou affirm it that thy and your Nature which is wicked or a man in that Nature is ascended into Heaven and therefore boast not thy self another time This nakedness of thine might have been covered but for thy own boasting and thou sayst Asts 1. proves it let the Reader search If he can find that Christ ascended in sinful wicked Nature such as theirs is who are one with Iohn Bunion and this is another Lye of the Scripture and though thou with much impudent confidence affirm the Quakers to be Deluders c. I say from that we rather love dispraise then praise and are as our fore-Fathers were counted Deceivers and yet are true and thou art deceived in thy own heart in that thou understandst my words that I should say as though there were no false Prophets now because I said they were in the Apostles dayes which is true and yet are they now too even it s witnessed by thee and thy Fellows who are in their steps who through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls and your people are ever learning and not able to come to the knowledge of the truth and goes for gifts and rewards and are false Accusers and such like Nay but understand me better for I say thou art a false Prophet and thou art now though thy root sprang forth in the time of the Apostles of which thou are a Beanch and thy Fellows And though I said that Antichrist was in the dayes of Iohn and this was before a Quakers was heard of my words I own pâ—…rs that that the Christians were called Quakers at that day if thou canst 〈◊〉 I allow not thee to be my Interperter except I found thee more honest 〈◊〉 doth condemn thy meaning upon my words and though thou sayst instead of moving our selves no false Prophets we prove our selves no Christians because I said that word Quaker was not heard of in those dayes Now consider are they no Christians now whose title or name without was not gives or heard of in the Apostles dayes then Protestants are no Christians nor Independants are no Christians nor Anabaptists are no Christians because they were not called so in the Apostles dayes and whilest thou hast thought to prove us no Christians hast cast out thy self also then thou art no better then we and what poor Arguments and vain consequence these are 〈◊〉 the wise consider I did not say there were no Quakers then but not a Quakers heard of viz. by that name for there were thousands of Quakers who trembled and quaked at the Word of the Lord Moses and David Iereâ—… Isaack Paul with many more Quakers and Tremblers though not then 〈◊〉 called but as I said such as thou hast such thou bringst and thy Master will accept thee Then thou sayst I fling durt in thy face because I said if we should diligently search thee we should find thee in their steps through feigned words through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls loving the wages of unrighteousness And further I said among them thou art found who art preaching 〈◊〉 hire and loves the error of Balaam who went after Gifts and Rewards oâ— Now thou seemest to be grieved and calls this a false Accusation But le ts try the cause admits dispute Art not thou in their steps and among them that do 〈◊〉 things ask Iohn Burion with whom thou art joyned close to vindicate 〈◊〉 and call him Brother hath he not so much yearly 150. l. or more except tâ—… hast some of it which is unrighteous Wages and Hire and Gifts and Rewards What sayst thou Art thou not in his steps and among and with him and then that do these things if he be thy Brother and thou so own him what is 〈◊〉 in him whom thou vindicates I lay upon thee but tell me who have 〈◊〉 thee deny him and the rest of the Independants in these things which 〈◊〉 knowst he doth act and in thy answer I cannot find thee fully clearing thy 〈◊〉 by denyal but sayst That spirit that lead me out of this Way is a lying spirit 〈◊〉 or what Way I say out of the way of preaching for Hire dost thou mean â—y it s a lying spirit in thee that goes in their steps and among them that goes in 〈◊〉 way and though thou bid me have a care of receiving by hear say what I bâ—… said and received in this is truth though thou evade it never so much As to that of some bidding thee throw away the Scriptures c Indeed upon such terms it might be spoken so as to be owned a Lyar and a Slandereâ— is an unfit Fellow to meddle with the Scriptures or to take the Name of the Lord or of the man Christ Jesus in his mouth and I may say truly what hast 〈◊〉 unrighteous person to do to take his Name and truth in thy mouth hateâ—… to be reformed And in that I say of thy crying against Christ within this is true who said there was nothing in thee nor any man without exception to be taken not in of as we may prove by witness though thou deny it then was not Chrâ—… within and what less is this then to cry against him when as thou deayd him within or else concludes he is not worth taking notice of And thoâ—… thou say I falsely speak of thee in saying thou callst the Doctrine of Christ waâ— in false opinions and take in hand to discover it but the falseness is in the who hath uttered that which is untruth and contrary to the Gospel and 〈◊〉 denyes it or would hide thy wickedness for thou having framed an objectiâ—… and speaks of some that are for a Christ within c. and then thou sayst the wilt discover the falsity of such opinions Now thou dost here reckon the Doctrine of Christ within a false opinion or among them at lest let the Reaâ—… judge and be thou silent for shame but all thou sayst clears thee not froâ— what I said of thee God shall judge thee thou lying tongue and deceâ—… heart Then thou chargest me with folly and to eat my first words and to be 〈◊〉 ble in judgement and to fight against the Truth c. From my question aâ—…e doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates aâ—… not this thus much all are Reprobates but they in whom Christ is within a yet because I said the measure or manifestation of the
the Assembly and stood praying in the Synagogues and loved the uppermost rooms at Feasts and that were called of men Master and such like and the Apostle said such were Deceivers to take gifts and rewards and lucre and that loved unrighteous wages and that were Back-biters and false Accusers and Covetous and having a form of Godliness but denying the Power who ever taught and the people were not able to come to the knowledge of the truth with many other such like Now this is my appeal to all mens Consciences in the sight of God whether thou art not found under some of these Charracters at least or whether thou art not one in union and fellowship with such who act these things yea thou are among them and not crying against them and so art guilty of their sin though not as fully in the act as are some may be so that I doubt not but they who have not hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes will see how thou hast condemned thy self in confessing the truth and the time is coming that further it will be made manifest concerning thee only at present thou art sufficiently discovered to be out of the truth in the way of perdition and however though thou hast covered thy self as much as is possible from the stroke of thy own hand and from the guilt of thy own confession yet Ioh. Burton thou hast condemned an hundred I think of Independant Ministers so called thy brethren who are known to be found guilty of those things all or most of them which thou confessest are marks of a false Prophet and while thou bidst us examine our selves thou art the man or among them that are proved truly guilty He saith He is not come to one of the dayes of the thousand years of Satans being chained and this is truly confessed and so he is in the Reign and Government of the Devil and Satan is not bound but at liberty in him as it well appears and Christs reign is not known and so it must needs be true that he is of the Army of the Dragon against the Lamb. Some of the same Members with him said in Bedford That they scorned that Light which convinceth of sin which the Quakers speak of Further most falsly I am charged by him with railing against the Lord Jesus which is absolute false my words are spoken in fear and reverence of the Lord Jesus Reader these things I leave to thee to be judged of his false Slander and his Damnable Doctrines and wicked lying Accusations and Contradictions which his nine sheets of paper is filled with as if he had set himself to lye and slanders and speak wickedly against the truth which is over him and is a testimony against him and though opposed by him yet not confounded but him it confounds and by it he shall be judged and condemned and the time comes when further he may be made manifest if this be not sufficient out of the abundance of his heart hath his wicked Tongue uttered these things which are but a little of what lodges in him but let him prove these things first and then utter more AND now Iohn Bunion thou and thy false Witnesses and all thy Company and brethren in iniquity Remember and repent for the day of your visitation is upon you blessed were you if you could receive it before it be spent not to be recalled and before the long suffering of God come to an end and you be shut up in utter darkness And indeed friends the day hastens wherein every man shall receive according to his deeds he that hath done evil shal not be cloaked and he that hath done good shall not be uncovered in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open and searched with the eternal Eye the end of my work is to clear the Truth and the Way thereof God is witness from thy slanderous and lying and perverting Tongue and only I reprove thee by the Spirit of the Lord and so leaves thee to receive thy reward from the Just God of righteous Judgement who upon thy head wilâ— render vengeance in flames of Fire in his dreadfull day which upon thee comes suddenly even when thou and you cries peace peace then shall destruction come as an armed man from which thou shalt not fly to escape though now you all be hardened against the Lord and his Way and Truth and hath even bent thy Tongue for Lyes and hath reproached the Innocent to the piâ—â—cing of thy own soul and one day shalt thou know it therefore bow and tremble before the Lord God thou and all thy Companions a Lyar and Slanderer thou art a Perverter and Wrester of the right Way of God and of the Scriptures a Hypocrite and Dissembler a holder forth of damnable Doctrines an envious man and false Accuser condemning another falsly in what thy self is fully guilty of these things I lay to thy charge justly in the presence of the Lord God and upon thy account are they reckoned by him and proved by testimony in the sight of man and may be more fully hereafter if any thing be wanting and one day shalt thou feel the burthen of them though now thou be above shame and all thy Lyes Slanders Deceits Confusions Hypocrisies Contradictions and damnable Doctrines of Devils with impudency held forth by thee shall be consumed in the Pit of Vengeance and then shall the Witness in thy Conscience justifie the Lord in condemning thee and me to be true in reproving thee and this I say to thee and you all the Living God you know not nor his Son Jesus Christ but are Enemies to God and * persecuters of the Lord of Life and shall perish among the Uncircumcised Ye false Witnesses and wicked Helpers you may be ashamed of your testimony subscribed at the beginning of his lying scribble will you yet say through Grace those things are true the rather stop your mouthes in the dust who hath offended the Lord more then defended him or your selves and be ashamed in the presence of God and man much more may be said hereafter to lay you further open if you yet harden your hearts in your wickedness but I do rather reprove you then strive with you and rather desires your return to God then your Condemnation by him and with this I shall end and by what is said in short is sufficient to manifest you and Iohn Bunion to all honest people what Generation you are of and that you are guided by a lying and unclean spirit and that you are doing the Devils works in gain-saying the Way of Truth and Righteousness by your multitude of Lyes and Slanders and damnable Doctrines and what ever you account or falsly judge of me yet am I true though as a Deceiver and the Lords Servants and a Witness for him and against all your Lyes and Slanders and Wickedness hatched amongst you and brought forth by a lying Orator whom you have
Letter and no Rule of faith and so do we The Papist cryâ—… down our Church and Ministers saith he The Iesuits cryes up free-will and sufficieâ—â— Grace to all and a common sufficient Light to all and so do we saith he The Papiâ—â— extenuate imputed righteousness in setting up inherent righteousness and the Papist plâ—…e most in external abstenances and observances and so do we saith he c. To all this I answer what is truth we hold and maintain in the power of God and may not deny it though the Papists may hold the same in words which seldom they do for we hold the truth for the truths sake and dare not deny the truth though the Devil confess it in words but he hath falsly compared us with the Papists and Jesuites for we do not hold free-will in the creature neither do we extenuate imputed righteousness neither do we place most in external â—bstenances and observances herein Richard Baxter hath belyed us But whâ—… I should measure him by his own rule and should say that the Jesuites and â—…yars are his Leaders Why because the Papists say Christ was born of Mary and did many Miracles and dyed being Crucified of the Iew and was buryed and rose again and so doth Richard Baxter say and all the Presâ—…t â—…ians in England and therefore may we conjecture they do buâ—…sts or open Infidels as he saith concerning us But furâ—… sprinkling Infants is baptizing into the faith of Châ—… be free from sin while they are upon Earth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agaâ—… error and thus doth Richard Baxter and his â—…ny and therefore by his own Arguments he may be judged that the Jesuitâ—…s and â—…yars are 〈◊〉 Leaders and that he prepares people to be Papists but I will not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uncharâ—… 〈◊〉 judge him so by this rule as he hath falsly done us though 〈◊〉 do know in the Light of God there is a greater concurrence in Doctrine and â—…cticeâ—…sation between many of our Accusers and the Papists then there is between Papists and us and the Light of Christ in all Consciences shall answer me in the day of Gods righteous Judgements and the Papists and him we do deny and see them to be of one spirit though differing in appearances and what we are it is by Grace and not of our selves and what we do it is through Christ and not by our selves and to God we appeal for judgement and tramples upon all mens vain conceiving false judgements Lyes and Slanders and turns them back to them again where they were hatched 11. His eleventh Reason He saith Our Doctrine are self-contradictory and therefore they cannot be of God c. Ans. To this I answer This is false our Doctrines do agree in one and are not self-contradictory though falsly he may judge of this as he may judge of other things if he had been in Christs time likely he would have judged his words self-contradictory who said Except you eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no Life in you and yet at the same instant of time said The Flesh profiteth nothing with many other such instances as might be brought Why but Ric. Baxter tells you We say all men have a sufficient light within them and goes up down preaching it with great zeal This is no more then the Apostle Iohn did who told the Saints they needed no man to teach them but as the Anointing in them and yet preached unto them and wrote Epistles to them but bid Iohn contradict himself let wise men judge And Iohn said Christ lighteth every man that comes into the World with the true Light and no more then he did do we contradict our seves herein for we follow the same example and we say the Saints have the Anointing in them and needs no man to teach them and yet do we exhort them as the Apostle Iohn did And he asks what do we peach If darkness who would have such Teachers if light what needless labour is this when all men have sufficient light already c. To all this I answer We preach light that all should believe in it and thereby should be lead out of darkness and the light is sufficient being believed in by the Creature but all are not lead by it sufficiently neither doth receive Christ And we may ask him now and say If he preach darkness as it is likely he doth rather then the light because he smites at preaching the light that hath lighted every man that cometh into the World and so in effect denies the Lord that brought him then who would have such a Preacher but if he preach the light and not that Light which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World which is Christ and is sufficient as it seems by his own words he doth not because he condemns us for it then is he a Minister of Antichrist according to his own confession But whatever he judges we are sent to turn people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God and herein we do as the Ministers of Christ did but that we revile the Ministers of Christ as blind Guides as saith he this false is again but such we bear witness against who preacheth for Hire and oppresseth the Common-wealth and are in the steps of the proud Pharisees and all people that follows them are in darkness as the Pharisees were and in the way of Damnation because they are not in the truth who follows not Christ and yet such people are lightened with the light of Christ and that is their Condemnation because they believe not in it and it is sufficient to the Condmnation of all such 12. His twelfth Reason Saith he Consider also how sutable their Doctrine is 〈◊〉 the interest and pleasure both of the Papist and the Devil why saith he they damn all the Ministers and Churches of CHRIST c. To this I answer A lying Tongue is but for a moment though he makes Lyes his refuge yet they shall be sweept away Of the Ministers and Churches of Christ are we and such as are so they we own and are one with them though this man saith otherwise and it doth little appear that our Doctrine is sutable to the interest and pleasure of the Papists for we find them our Enemies and Gods Enemies and bears our witness against them as against the Devil and do say that they are his off-spring and that the Priests of England are their off-spring such as are open Lyars especially But if we should reckon we should find their Doctrine more agreeable to the Papists in many things then ours are as I have instanced concerning sprinkling of Infants and other things but doth it follow that the Papists and we agree because the Papists declare against them out of cruelty and wickednesse and out of a murderous mind to divert people into Idolatry and wicked superstition and we declare against them out of love to peoples souls
that they should not always be deceived and alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the Truth and hath no other end to our selves God is our witnesse but that people may be converted to the knowledg of God and as I said before though the Papists may hold some truth in words and cry against some sort of people out of a wicked end yet may not we therefore deny the truth as it is in Jesus neither must be silent is declaring against sin and wickednesse and let him say what he will concerting any advantage the Devil reaps by us it will but be the overthrow of his very kingdom Why but saith he If we do but unchurch all the reformed Churches the Papists will give us a fee I say it is a hard thing to unchurch them that never were truly churched and that we seek to unchurch such as are the Churches of Christ this is utterly false and the Papists fee and his reproach we trample upon them both together and let him take the Papists fee as he pleads for it for it was they first that took tythes for a fee and it is he now that strongly pleads for them to be maintained in his Ministry by them 13. His thirteenth Reason Saith he the Doctrine and practice of the Quakers is contrary to the experience and holy nature of the Saints why saith he they have sound a renewed light and life by the Scriptures and Ministry which the Quakers make so light of c. To this I answer this is as false as the rest for with all the Saints that ever were upon earth both in Doctrine and Practice we agree with them and as 〈◊〉 the peoples sakes of England I wish his words were true and that they haâ—… indeed found a renewing light and life by this Ministry but though he may boast of it now in the day of Gods righteous judgments it shall be found otherwise when it shall be tryed that the renewing hath been but in form and appearance from one likenesse to another and not a renewing from death to life and though there hath been sometimes appearing a zeal and a desire after him in the Ministry of England in times past yet from this day hath the Lord forsaken them and such as were sober and sincere in what was made manifest are now become Revilers and Reproachers Slanderers and Persecutors of the People of God and from hence-forth shall they not boast of many being Converted by them from sin unto the way of Righteousness But further he saith We tell the people that their Ministry doth the people no good and none are the better for it If we do we tell them true And though he saith The experiences of many thousands doth confute this yet say I the experiences of ten thousand times so many more shall confirm it It is true there may be thousands like himself which will not stumble to belye their own souls as he hath done of us yet betwixt him and I in this matter God shall be our Judg who hath not sent this Ministry and yet it hath run therefore it doth not nor shall not profit the people at all He saith It is quite contrary to the nature of Saints to damn and reproach the Saints and call them the children of the Devil This is true but it is not contrary to the nature of the Saints to reprove Hypocrites such as profess that which they do not enjoy and speak that which they have not received from the Lord but steal from other mens words such are many of the Teachers of England and it was the way of Christ and his Apostles soundly to reprove such And this is our way and we do not reproach the Saints nor damn them and yet to the wicked which are not Saints we dare not cry peace but do say The wicked and such who forget God shall be turned into Hell And for this David is our example 14. His fourteenth Reason He saith The Quakers are unlikely to be better then other men seeing they are so notoriously proud and thus this pride doth appear Saith he It is the supposed Spirit of God and the extraordinary holiness and inspiration and abilities that they are proud of and saith he They proclaim themselves perfect without sin And this is the pride he chargeth us with c. To which I answer We say that in Christ we are compleat as the Apostles said to the Churches and do not boast of it neither are proud of it more then the Churches were but in the Lord we will glory and in him rejoyce again and again and it is that which we press after and exhort all to press after to be perfect in him who takes away our sins and gives power over the temptations of the Devil And he saith We pretend to know mens hearts Yea we do know that the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things and by mens words and works we do know their hearts to be evil that acts and speaks wickedness For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh And if we should say we do not know mens hearts that acts and speaks wickedness we should be Lyars but as I said What we are it is by grace in Christ and we boast not of it in the flesh but our glorying is onely in the Lord in Spirit that our names are written in the Book of life And as for our crying against Deceivers which he so much stumbles at it is but the practice of Christ and his Apostles as may be read through the Scriptures and yet we do it not no more then they did in self-exaltation though he would charge us with it 15. His fifteenth Reason Saith he They plainly discover a persecuting spirit Why saith he what man can in reason think but that they run up and down the World to bring Ministry into hatred c. To this I answer Little of this doth appear that our spirits are persecuting spirits for we pray for our Enemies and do forgive them that do evil intreat us and renders to no man evil for evil for if we had sought vengeance or prosecuted the good Laws of England against those that had wronged and robbed us and unjustly caused us to be put in Prison many might have deeply suffered by true Justice before this day if we had not forgiven our Enemies and blessed them that hated us Such hath been the cruelty acted upon us that many might have been arraigned for felony if we had sought the prosecution of the good Laws and not forgiven our Enemies Why but the main thing is because we are moved to go up and down the World and declare against the false Ministers and holding forth that Ministry and truly applying it to many of the Teachers of England But let all the World know this is not from a persecuting spirit not more then Isaiah did it and Micah and the rest of
the Prophets and Apostles who did zealously give their testimony against such as went for gifts and rewards as the Teachers of England do but this is that which he is offended at and calls it a persecuting spirit which is not so but in love to peoples souls that they may deny the evil and follow the good And that our Ancesters have persecuted to death as he saith This is also a lye and of the Devil for our Ancestors were the Saints who were called of God and were not of the World even as we are not of the World and we are persecuted but seeks not to persecute any and gives our witness faithfully against this Generation and against the sins both of Teachers and people and this I suppose is it even our zeal for the Name of the Lord against unrighteousness which he falsly calls a persecuting spirit 16. His sixteenth Reason is Some Interrogatories saith he What reasonable man should turn Quaker that sees the common fruit of their Doctrine whâ—â— good do they do where-ever they come but saith he hate both godly Teacher and people c. Ans. To this I answer The fruit of our Doctrine is begetting people to the Knowledge of God and a converting them from sin and death and from the wayes and works of unrighteousness to be the Servants of the Lord and every spiritual man doth see this to be the fruit of our doctrine It doth condemn unrighteousness and bring war and a sword upon Earth as Christs Doctrine did And this is the good where we come many are changed from wickedness rudeness and ungodliness to live soberly righteously and purely in this present World without offence towards God and men For to say We make people both to hate godly Teachers and people this is utterly false for we endeavour to bring people to the true Teacher Christ Jesus and to have fellowship with the Saints It 's true in the World our Doctrine doth make division and doth set a man at variance and doth set Father against Son and Son against Father even as Christ did and his Doctrine so he saith we do But again he belyes us in saying We bring people into confusion and abominable error or that we cast people into a malicious mood or tincture of bitterness this is also false and this is my Answer He that doth the will of our Father knows of our Doctrine whether we weâ—â— of God or of our selves and to all the World besides we are unknown and desires to be manifest to every mans conscience in the Sight of God and not to that wisdom which is of this World And though he scorn at such who are made to cast off their Points and Lace yet is not this more then any fruit that his Doctrine hath brought forth for as 〈◊〉 do so did the Apostle exhort against all superfluiâ—â— of naughtiness as Points and Lâ—… are and it seems that such as depart from iniquity become a prey to such wicked menâ— slandering and scornful Tongues and a matter to makes Books of to send into the World 17. His seventeenth Reason Saith he It is no great encouragement to us to turn Quakers when we consider who are their followers very few experienced sober Christians turn to them saith he but such who are ignorant and ungrounded and raw professors c. Answ. To this I answer Let no man take encourgement from without to turn Quakers or to own the Way of Gods Salvation But let every one feel a Measure of God in his own heart converting him from sin unto righteousness and drawing his mind from the vanity and hypocrisie of this World to the truth and singleness of heart And he appears to be of the spirit of the Pharisees who said None but a company of poor people which were accursed followed Christ and so saith he in effect None but such as are ignorant and such like But what if there were not any other but such who owned the Way of the Lord this is a confirmation of it rather then a cause of objecting against it when such who are ignorant are brought to the Knowledge of God But yet his words are false for it is known that very many honest humble sober 〈◊〉 and people who have all their dayes been sincere towards God in what they have known of him have and do own us and indeed all that ever owâ—â— God and Salvation shall own us for we are of God and he that is of God heaâ—… us and the whole World Lyes in wickedness And such as are self-conceited and in pride and wise in their own eyes and in the wickedness of the World such are his followers and not ours though be falsely say it for such as follow Christ have we fellowship with and not with such as walk in darkness 18. His eighteenth Reason Saith he It is an evident Iudgment of God upon these people that turn Quakers and a punishment for their former sins c. Ans. To this I answer The Lord God his Angels and all his Saints and Servants I call to record against thee and they all shall witness that it is Mercy and not Judgement upon them that owns the way of the Lord And them that owned the Quakers in truth and sincerity have and do witness a remission of their former sins and forgiveness of them by Jesus Christ and not a punishment for them And Rich. Baxter may please himself and some others with his reasonless Reasons as these are yet they are not worthy of the name of Reason they be so senceless and utterly false And though he rails against the Anabaptists as well as against us yet any man whose eye is open sees his folly and turns it upon his own head and he may conceit himself in these things for a moment but the day of the Lord will declare it otherwise and that upon us Mercy and Peace shall be and not Judgement nor Wrath. 19. His ninteenth Reason Saith he They are already in division among themselves as the contention between Nayler and Fox and their followers do shew To this I answer Though an occasion may come and be taken against the truth yet wo unto him by whom it comes and to them who do receive it for the Testimony of Truth abids for ever But as about that division he speaks of it hath been answered by writings several times and now I say It happened but as a Tryal to the Lords People and not to destroy them though the Enemy boasts himself because of it yet the Lord knows how to preserve his in the midst of Temptation But these things are now at an end though a Temptation presented it self yet it overcame not and truth is the same and the Testimony thereof doth never change and all these Refuges which the Wicked flyes unto shall not cover them when the Lord appears 20. His twentieth Reason And saith he To make all their delusions more odious wickednesse they father it upon
the Saints and Churches of Christ look upon them that acted those things to be Ministers of Christ but on the contrary declared against them to be Deceivers So that all you People and you professed Ministers that act those things that the false Prophets acted and all you People that love to have it so and give Hire to your Ministers for Preaching and consent unto it none of you are of the Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because this part of your Practice in Religion is not according but contrary to Scriptures Now substracting all these in these Nations from the whole which practiseth and professeth these things mentioned for Ordinances of God and for his Worship none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because these things which you Practice for Religion is not held forth in all the Scriptures by any example or command likewise you are of the greatest number of people in all these Nations and that Practice and Profession of Religion which the greatest number follow and exercise themselves in cannot be the true Christian Religion because the Scripture saith Few are in the straight way that leads to Life to wit in the pure and true Religion but many are in the Broad way that leads to destruction and such that are the greatest number who are in the broad way are not in the Religion in the purity thereof as it is held forth in the Scriptures likewise many of you who Practice those things mentioned for Religion are yet unconverted to God but live in wickedness in the Pride and Vanities and in all the evil of this World in Double-dealing in Drunkenness in Whoredom and in the Works of Darkness therefore you are not of the true Christian Religion neither do your walk with God in Purity and Holiness neither are you changed by Christ into his Image nor are guided by his Spirit neither do you live to God in any thing but to this World in all things and your Religion is manifest not to be according to the Scriptures but contrary And so let all people consider whether or no you must be maintained in your Religion Come forth and plead your cause all ye that are called Presbyterians and Independants and all others stand up and prove if you can your Practice in Religion to be according to Scriptures but seeing no man is able to prove these things mentioned which is practiced by you for Religion to wit Sprinkling of Infants and singing David's experiences in Rhime and Meeter and Worshipping God in set-places as Idol-Temples and preaching for and giving great sums of Money for preaching with other things practiced by you for Religion neither were these things ever commanded in Scriptures neither is there any example for the practise of these things in Scripture by any of the Lords people and therefore you cannot justly own a Title in the Protectors Oath to be maintained and upheld by vertue thereof in these your practises of Religion for it appears he is but bound onely to uphold and maintain that Religion which is according to Scriptures and not them who practiceth those things for Religion which are not according but contrary to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that are called gathered Churches who holds sorth for Doctrine that the Scriptures are the Word by which the World was made and that the Scriptures are the Foundation and that the Scriptures are the Way to Salvation and that the Letter and the Spirit are unseparable and that the Scriptures are both the Writings and the thing fignified and that except a man be Baptized with Water he cannot be saved with such like Doctrines which have been held forth by some professing themselves to be of the Church of Christ all you are manifest not to be of the Christian Religion because those Doctrines are not according but rather contrary to the Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Practice in the Exercise of Religion is but by Imitation from the Scriptures and you are not led by the Spirit of of the Father in what you speak and practice you are not of the true Christian Religion which the Scripture speaks of for the Sons of God and who are of the true Religion are led by the Spirit of God and not by their own Thoughts and Imaginations and the Traditions of men And all that are not led by the Spirit of the Father are not of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and not any that are such can justly own to be protected in their Religion because it is not according to the Scriptures Likewise All ye that do profess the things of God and Christ and that you are Members of the Church of Christ and profess Righteousness and Truth in words and yet live in Pride and the Vanities of this World and in Unrighteousness and the Customs of the Heathen which are vain and are not cleansed from Unrighteousness nor freed from the Body of sin and death neither do answer your Profession with a Conversation shewing that you are not guided with that Spirit whose words you do profess All you are Hypocrites and live in Hypocrisie none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures For the Exercise in true Religion sheweth forth in Life what is prosessed in words Come try your selves and prove your selves all sorts of people for now your Religion is to be try'd what Name soever you go under And all you that practice and profess those things for Religion for which there is neither Command nor President in Scripture your Religion is concluded not to be according to Scriptures and so no Title or Priviledge can any of you justly own of being upheld or maintain'd by the Protector 's Oath But as I have said For sprinkling of Infants and singing of David ' s Experiences in Rhyme and Meeter c. there is neither Command nor President in Scriptures and therefore you that practice those things which I have mention'd for Religion are not of the true Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures which is to be protected Likewise all ye that persecute by Reproaches or Revilings and Cruelty or that cause the People of God to be persecuted many of you there are in these Nations which profess Religion yet are Envious Persons and Persecutors of the Innocent Hereby it is manifest that you are not of that Religion which is according to Scriptures for the Saints never persecuted any but were themselves persecuted for Righteousness sake so you are not to be protected in such Exercise because it is not according but contrary to the Scriptures for you have no Example from the Saints for professing and practizing Religion and yet persecuting such as are of the true Religion whose Consciences are truly exercised towards God and towards all men Now seeing that it is discovered in part who it is that
in the Earth by the Institution of the Lord that Righteousness should go free and the Wicked be bound and limited Now such as handle the Law and are Executors thereof who are ordain'd of God to judge and govern the People ought to be Just Men fearing God and walking in his Law and hating and denying every false way that people may receive Examples of Righteousness and holy and lawful walking from their Conversations And they that are set to govern the people ought to have the Spirit of true and sound Judgment to try into the Root of all Causes whereby they may be able to discern of different Causes and to give just Judgment in all things and such will judge by equal Measure for God and not for man but without respect of Persons and such will be a Terror to Transgressors and will strengthen and encourage them that do well and then the Execution of the Law will answer the End wherefore it was added for because of Transgression was the Law added to slay the Transgression and to bind under the Trangressor and to make him stand in awe and be afraid for the just Law reacheth to the just Witness of God and answereth it in every man and he that walks in the Law of God and hath his Heart therein exercis'd the Law of Man hath no power over him to condemn him but it justifies him and defends and preserves him from all Wrong but who doth not walk in the Law of God but is exercis'd in Evil and transgresseth the Light and pure Law of God in his Conscience by doing Evil and by wrong and unjust Dealing then the Law of man takes hold upon him and binds him and judges him and condemns him for the Evil done by him contrary to the Light in his own Conscience which answereth to the just execution of the Law in condemning of him And this is the Work of the Law in the hand of faithful Executors who justly executeth the just Law in defending and preserving the Iust and Innocent Men from Wrong-doing and in condemning and judging the Ungodly and Evil Men for Wrong-doing whereby the Witness of God in them both may answer to the just Government in defending the one and in condemning the other and this is a good savour to God where the Iust Laws are justly executed by just men But where Unrighteous Men are in power and the Execution of the Law in their hands that are themselves Transgressors such will not judge for God but the good Laws will be subverted unto wrong ends from their proper vertue and the hands of the Wicked will be strengthen'd and the Evil-doers will escape unpunish'd and the Innocent will suffer and Justice and true Judgment will be turn'd backward for when the Wicked bear rule the People cannot rejoyce nor Justice and true Judgment cannot be receiv'd from men who are themselves unjust and unrighteous for though the Laws may be good and just yet the Executioners thereof being Evil and themselves Transgressors worthy of Condemnation by the Law The Transgression of the Law in others cannot justly be judged by such who are themselves guilty of Judgment and therefore the Laws will be subverted and Justice and true Judgment neglected because such as handle the Law know not God but are in the Transgression of the Righteous Law and of the Judgment thereof are themselves guilty So therefore they that handle the Law should be men justified by the Law and free from the Transgression that they may the more justly punish reprove and condemn it in others and may minister Justice and true Judgment through the Law to all people under them And no man ought to be respected in Judgment but every man's Cause ought to be heard the Poor as well as the Rich and their Matters diligently sought into And all ought to receive just Judgment from Just men by the just Law for the Law is a defence about all the Righteous to defend and preserve them in Peace and Freedom from all their Enemies who are to be limitted by the Law as I have said And they that are reconciled to God whose consciences are exercised towards God in all things they are not under the Law nor the Law hath no power over them for the Law is fulfilled in them by Christ who teacheth them in all things to walk without offence towards God and all Men in Truth and in Righteousness to God and all Men and such the Law of Man is to defend and not to judge them to justifie them and not to condemn them and to be a praise to them and not a terror and such set to seal that the Law is just and good and holy who walk in Justness in Goodness and Holiness and doth not transgress the good Laws of any Nation but walk void of offence towards all for they walk not in the Flesh but in the Spirit and are Doers of the Law and not Breakers of it and so come not under the guilt of condemnation in any thing but are justified in all things for the Light of Christ leadeth them into all Truth and so out of all Condemnation their Wayes are righteous and pure and their Works are just and equal towards God and all Men and they seek not the wrong of any mans Person or Estate but seeks the Good of all forgiving their Enemies and praying for them and seek not Vengeance upon their Adversaries but they bear all things patiently and such are the Servants of God and not Transgressors of his Law nor the just Laws of Man and if such do suffer by a Law that Law is unjust and so is that Magistrate that executes that Law and that suffering is not for evil-doing but for a good Conscience sake and the Innocent can rejoyce in such suffering but the Executioners thereof shall howl and weep So that in all Ages there was such suffering which was not for evil-doing but for the exercise of a pure Conscience and such Sufferings there are at this day and this is because the Unrighteous and the Unjust bear rule which subverts the Law and turns true Judgment backward and oppresseth the Seed of God and rules over it in Tyrany and this is where Darkness rules in the Heart and Ignorance in the Mind and true Judgement is wanting for Light is called Darkness and Darkness Light and Good is put for Evil and Evil for Good and Truth is called Heresie and Error is called Truth and because of this the Righteous are judged unjustly and falsly condemned and the Guilty are set free and thus is Judgment turned quite backward where the Seed of Enmity ruleth above the Seed of God and such a Government is not blessed but made a Curse unto that Dominion where it is seated and this is because such are set to rule and govern who are not ruled and governed by the Lord but are in the transgression of the Just and Righteous Law and are Unjust Men
thereof and in this same Spirit is the Father alone worshipped and by it God is known and his Promise is fulfilled it witnessing in all things unto the Father and is the Earnest of the Inheritance which fadeth not away and by it know we the deep things of God which the World by wisdom knoweth not and thereby are we seal'd and bound up in Covenant with the Father This is known to you that are Children of the Light and hereof you have the Witness in your selves and of God you are approved and not of men And all ye my Brethren who are call'd into the Work and Ministry of the Gospel unto whom the Word of the Lord is come and the Gospel of Christ to you committed Dwell in the Life of God and feel his Power and Authority and live in the same Life of which you minister to others that you may bring People to God and may effectually turn them from the dominion of sin unto the Dominion of Christ Jesus People may be guided out of Darkness in the marvellous Light Cry aloud spare not proclaim the Mighty Day of the Lord in all the Earth and fear ye not neither be ye dismay'd at the Face of any man but be bold and valiant for the Truth upon Earth and give your Testimony as you have receiv'd from God and preach Christ Jesus the Light of the World unto all People that they may receive him and be converted and live For Blindness and Darkness hath cover'd the whole Earth and all have gone astray from the Lord as Sheep without a Shepherd Therefore awake ye them that sleep and cause the Deaf to hear and the Dead to rise that such as have been stray'd may be gather'd for this is the fulness of time he is now seeking his Sheep that have been lost and bringing them Home that have been stray'd and you as Instruments in the Lord's Hand hath he chosen into this Work Therefore get on the Strength of the Lord and preach the Gospel of Peace even the Power of God that Sinners may be converted and the Wounded healed and the Weak may be strengthned and they that are ready to dye may be restored to Life and Salvation This is the Work of the Lord whereunto you are called therefore all who unto it are called be faithful unto the end and not only by word but by Life and Conversation also hold forth the Way of Life For you must feel that in your selves of which you minister to others and you must hold forth the Life the same which you minister in words and thereby shall you be made manifest to that of God in all People and God's Testimony shall answer for you And see that in all things you divide God's Word aright not crying Peace to the Wicked nor healing up the Wound falsly but that true Judgment in all things may be brought forth by you to all people Judgment to the Fat and Bread to the Hungry they that are Naked must be clothed and they that are falsly covered must be made bare Improve the Gift which God hath given you to him only and not unto your selves Be not hasty to utter words before the Lord but wait for Power from on High that the Way of God unto Salvation may be faithfully and truly held forth by you unto all people And faint not though your Burdens and Tryals be many but bare all things patiently love not your lives unto death that the good Work of the Lord may be accomplished which he hath begun by us and made prosperous and powerful in our hands unto this very day you have the Witness of this Our Cause is good we seek Truth and Righteousness that it may be established in the Earth and people may be brought unto God unto this God hath called us and hath owned us in it and will never forsake us for the Work is his and the Power is his and whatsoever he will he bringeth to pass and therefore why should we doubt or be weary For we shall see the Travel of our Souls the Scattered shall be gathered and a Remnant of the Seed shall be brought in which is scatter'd in every Nation as dry Bones unable to live How shall we hide that Treasure which God hath given us from them that perish for want thereof Or How shall we rest satisfied till the scatter'd Sheep be brought Home to the Fold Our Hearts are troubled to see so many Thousands walking in thick Darkness and to see the Seed of Israel devoured by the Destroyer Therefore my Brethren let us put on strength the Lord is with us let us make War in Righteousness for the Lord against all the Powers of Darkness let us continually be armed to do and to suffer all things for the Name of the Lord that People may be instructed in the right Way we know no man can have power over us but what is given them from above and all that which comes to pass against us is not worthy to be compared with the Crown of Glory and that Inheritance of which we have already received the earnest and sealed with the spirit of Promise and the Fathers Name is written upon us therefore in all things unto which he hath called you be faithful and obedient that his Work may be accomplished And all ye Children and Babes in Christ that are begotten of God and are thirsting and seeking after him in Truth and Righteousness he whom ye seek is coming to raign amongst you and his Dominion shall be set up and enlarged and the desire of your Hearts shall be fulfilled Righteousness and Truth shall meet in one and Judgment and Mercy shall be exalted Wait upon the Lord and feel his Power and his Presence continually that you may grow as Plants of Righteousness and may partake of the Heir-ship with Christ being crucified to the World and become dead to all its Wayes and no more you to live but Christ to live in you through the Light which he hath lightned you withall hath he given you an entrance into the Inheritance of the Father And as you walk in the Light you grow into Fellowship with the Father and with the Son Abiding in the Son you cannot sin for he keeps you from the wicked One and he hath no power over you that abide in Christ who is the Power of God which is the Salvation of all that believe and a Condemnation of all that believe not therefore all you that are convinced everywhere hearken to the Voice of the Lord that your Souls may live and mind the Power of God and the workings thereof in your Hearts which conquereth Hell and Death and subdueth all the Powers and Wayes thereof and every one be obedient to the Lord as Children of one Father that of his fulness you may receive and be filled therewith and meet together in every Place and as the Day approacheth exhort one another that you may grow up in Unity as
leading into all Truth and preserving out of all Transgression Wherefore I beseech you all let this be your whole desire and the full practice in your life and then shall the Countenance of the Lord shine upon you and his Face shall make you glad if in all things you look unto him for Counsel and wait upon the teaching of his Spirit which dwelleth in you which the Father hath given unto you because you are his Children and this he requireth from you that his own Spirit in you which hath begotten you may be the root and moving cause of all your works and words and herein will you receive acceptance with him and Peace from him and righteousness in him and everlasting joy by him continually and and this is the Inheritance unto which you were begotten Heirs to possess for ever wherefore let your love unity and felloship be in the Spirit and let your Knowledge Judgment Meeting and Waiting be in the Spirit and let your ministring and receiving be in the Power of God and in the Spirit and so shall you never suffer loss nor condemnation but all your works shall abide the Fire and shall not be consumed when the tryal of all things come and the Foundation of every work is discovered And I say again if the Spirit of Life even the Spirit which quickens to God the second Adam who is the quicking Spirit be your Guide your Leader and Teacher in all things then you shall have perfect Peace with God and your Fellowship will be encreased and his Presence shall go before you and his Righteousness shall be your Justification and Desence and his Covenant of Life and Peace shall be confirm'd unto you and there shall be no more going forth but the Tabernacle of God shall remain with you alwayes and his Habitation shall be in you forever and the Promise of the Father shall be sealed unto you and his Mark and express Image written in your Fore-heads and that quickning shall live in you and not you unto your selves and hereby shall all know that he is your God who liveth in you in Power and Dominion and that you are his People who liveth unto him in Truth and Righteousness and this is the Covenant and the Promise to be waited for by you all that you may be married to the Lord in Righteousness and Loving-kindness and your Maker may be your Husband and you subjected under his Power to rule over you and to govern you in the Way of Peace And now dearly Beloved mind that Word of God which hath begotten you from Death to Life and to be Heirs of his Inheritance of Life and feel the Word which is quick and powerfull dwell in your hearts alwayes dividing in you betwixt the precious and the vile and as a Hammer and a Fire alwayes beating down and burning up that ground and fruit which is in the disobedience from which the cause of Condemnation doth spring and so shall you be saved from every appearance of evil shall not be overcome thereby nor led captive at the will of the Enemy but shall be saved from Sin and the Wages thereof and no condemnation shall be unto you if your hearts be kept clean and undefiled by the Word of God which is pure and sanctifieth and is but one in all his Children and it begetteth unto one Life and to be of one Mind and Soul and by it only dwelling in the Heart is the encrease of God received though by the ministring of it one may Plant and another may Water yet it is my Father that gives the encrease who is greater then all unto whom the Ends of the Earth must look for Salvation and unto him must you all look for to pertake of encrease of his hidden Treasure daily that you may be refreshed as the Heritage which he hath chosen and may grow therein as Plants planted by his own right Hand growing from strength to strength in him and renewing your strength in him and may not fain nor be weary And forasmuch as mighty hath been the Power and Presence of the Lord amongst you and his Love great unto you and caused his voice to be heard when you were Dead to raise you unto Life and many of you have had the taste and feeling thereof who have seen the Way of Life before your face that you should walk therein and live I do warn you all in the Name and by the Spirit of the Lord therein to continue unto the end having your Faith established in the Power of God and your building standing on that true Foundation which can never be moved nor shaken but that perfect victory over Death and the Grave and the powers of Darkness may be trodden down through the obedience of the Cross whereby victory is obtained over all the World and the Affections and Lusts thereof condemned but such as goeth from the Cross perceiveth not the Power of God neither can overcome but are overcome of the Enemy and shipwrack is made of Faith Truth and a good Conscience and the latter end of such is worse then their beginning for the Lord is dishonoured and their condemnation will be great Wherefore my Friends be watchfull and be armed with the strength of Christ Jesus and feel his strength in you to resist the wicked One that he may not touch you to betray you of your Life and Peace and bring you into condemnation for I am not ignorant of the many temptations which are near unto you in that place Wherefore I say again feel the Strength and Arm of God reaching to you by which you may do all things and dwell in his Life and Power and that ye may overcome by the Word of God and by the Testimony of Jesus and then will your Peace be encreased and your Fellowship with God and Angels shall minister unto you as you overcome the Enemy which would subvert your minds from the obedience to the Truth and then your rest in God will be sweet unto you as you dwell where nothing can make afraid Sin and Transgression being removed far from you not having a place in you but the Life reigning which Satan hath nothing in and this is the freedom of the Sons of God who are redeemed unto him to live in him who being dead to sin cannot live any longer therein but are washed and separated from all the works of Death Death having lost his sting it cannot hurt nor wound you and the Grave having lost its victory it cannot overcome you who do witness this for Transgression is hid and Iniquity is put under and Life it self reigns through Righteousness over all and here the Seed is brought forth in which there is no Iniquity seen nor Transgression charged against it for it sins not but rules over the Sinner and fulfils the righteous Law of God and doth his Will in all things and for this you must all wait to feel God's Promise perfectly fulfill'd in
you and sealed unto you by the Eternal Spirit And again Friends feel the Life of God in your own particulars even the Bread of Life which comes down from Heaven which nourisheth the Birth which is immortal unto eternal Life never to taste of death and therein have Fellowship in the Covenant of Life and be at peace with God and one with another for that is blessed of the Lord where Brethren dwell in unity shewing love kindness and subjection one to another being of one spirit and like-minded serving one another in love not exalting your selves nor accounting your selves above another for that must come down with shame but every one approve your selves to God in all things and be known to him and not unto the World but let his Spirit witness for you and approve you and not man and the work of the Spirit springing through you let be the Evidence unto all people that you are by Grace what you are and this is well-pleasing unto God that his Spirit witnesseth for you and that Love Unity and Humility be amongst you and none think of themselves above what the Spirit of the Lord witnesseth and worketh in them and this a sweet savour will be amongst you to the Lord you being kept in his Wisdom and Counsel in good order and subject unto him walking as Examples of Righteousness to edifie one another and to be a strength one to another and in all your Conversations to be manifest to God's Witness in all people and thus shall you have praise of God and be approved of him and he will justifie you in the sight of all your Enemies I write this unto the Faithfull who do not minister Self but Self your Servant for Jesus sake And as concerning disorderly spirits who are not subject to the Wisdom of God nor to the Law or Christ such have no part with us but are judged with the Life of God and cast out and such as are not faithfull in the Lord's Treasure and hear the Word but do it not having the words without power and hold the Truth in unrighteous such have no reward in God but their iniquity stands uncovered and their transgression is manifest and not hid for Death reigns through disobedience and they are not circumcised in heart but live in the flesh and their portion is of this World and the Inheritance of Life is not their Heirship for the birth which should inherit is not brought forth but an untimely birth which receiveth not the Possession of Life But Friends dwell in the dominion over such and in peace abovâ— them and be not troubled but believe in the Truth and bear all things patiently and be not offended in Christ though hitherto you have seen occasion of stumbling yet the Lord will remove them and the Path of Life hath been plain before you for to such as walk in the Light there is no occasion of stumbling but Offences are seen through and beyond and the ground thereof judged and therefore be diligent in the Work of God that is his Work which his Spirit calleth you unto and that is his Worship which his Spirit leads you in which exerciseth your hearts always to God and keep your Meetings in the dread of the Lord over all your Enemies that the Weak may be strengthned and the Lambs sed and watch over one another as the Family of God among whom his dwelling is who is the good Shepherd that keeps his Flook and feedeth them into eternal Life whose Presence and Arm be amongst you for evermore Feel Christ the Power and Wisdom of God to reign in you and govern you all Farewel E. B. This is to be read in the Fear and Wisdom of God in all the Meetings â—f Friends in and about London TO â—harles Fleetwood Steward Robert Hatton Recorder Sackford Gunstone Henry VVilcock Bailiffs Being Judges in the Court of Kingstone upon Thames â—he state of the Controversie laid before you depending in your Court between Richard Mayo Plantiff and Edward Burrough Defendant FRIENDS THE Innocency and Truth of my Cause doth lift up its Head unto all People and stands justified in the sight of God and all just Men and in Justice and Righteousness it cannot be conâ—emned or judged guilty by any man And it is upon me yet once â—ore to state it before you that you and all men may see the counteâ—ance and favour thereof for it dares shew its Face unto you and all â—eople though much already hath been written and spoken about it which you have not taken notice of as you ought to have done but â—et many are informed in the truth of the matter and what hath been â—poken is not in vain though my just Cause lies always at the Stake and hardly thought upon by you and vilified and evil spoken of before you â—y my Adversary who alwayes seeks false Judgment against me to â—stifie himself in his iniquity and to condemn the Guiltless But the Lord knows and just Men know and the Witness of God in your Consciences may shew you That I have not wronged Richard Mayo â—or spoken of him any thing saving the truth and because thereof â—nd without any other Cause am I thus prosecuted by him in his â—leading before you and begging of you for false Judgment which if â—e should obtain it and you should give it yet should I be clear in the â—ight of the Lord though by you I may deeply suffer And your own â—nrighteous Judgment if it proceed from you will return one day upon your own heads and the weight of your own Iniquity shall the Lord â—ay upon your own Consciences in the Day when he judges the secrets of all Hearts And to God I have appealed in this thing who justifieth me because of Truth and then who shall condemn me while Truth is on my side and I not convinced to the contrary Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God I say unto you Take heed what you do in this Matter but deal impartially in the sight of the Lord in the Examination thereof and try whether I have spoken the Truth or whether I have spoken Falsly and hearken to my PLEA which I have often asserted before you and do yet once more lay before your view and I do appeal to the Light of your Consciences and let that justifie me or condemn me And this I testifie as my sufficient Plea unto you which no man hath truly answered before you That I have spoken nothing but the Truth of Richard Mayo my Adversary to this I stand to be justified and if I be condemned it is for this this resteth with me forever and if I fall I fâ—… for it viz. For speaking the Truth and if I stand I stand by it and no man whatsoever can convince me to the contrary and hereof am I invincible and if you condemn me for this to wit For speaking the Truth it will be upon you and I am clear And
could take the Evidence that I spoke my words against Richard Mayo they were sufficient to try the Matter Whereby it doth appear that they had unjustly determined in themselves not to try the Doctrines but to have a Verdict against me however Again Some that were called to be of the Jury were heard to say before they saw me or ever heard the Matter If I came into their hands they knew well enough what to do with me Hereby it doth appear they were not equal men but malicious and prejudiced against me And moreover In the very time of the Tryal some of the Jury at the Bar said They would not believe any thing or take any Witness for Testimony which any of these on my part that were called Quakers spoke And this was also the Witness of their malicious and envious spirits against me who were rather as a Party against me then my Equals And were not these unjust men for the Tryal of such a Matter And moreover When all his Witnesses could not say enough to give colour for a Verdict against me one of the Bailiffs Iohn Forth by name who was one of the Judges upon the Bench proffered to come down off the Bench and swear as a Witness against me and when some spake against that he sent for a man into the Court out of the Town Iames Levite by name and whispered with him upon the Bench and told him what he should swear and he went to the Bar and took his Oath against me That I followed Richard Mayo with Reviling Language in three several Rooms in Bailiff Gunstone ' s House Which I do testifie was a false Oath before the Lord and all men and many know that I speak the Truth and that that man took a false Oath who was sent for into the Court and told by one of the Judges what he should swear I suppose Bayliff Gunston himself knows that this was a false Witness and are not these unjust Proceedings I appeal to your Consciences and upon such proceedings as these was a Verdict gained against me by much ado in above three hours time and the Foreman of the Jury himself said he would not have brought a Verdict against me but onely for the man's Oath Iames Levite which as I have said swore falsly being sent for and told by another man what he should say Again when the Fore-man of the Iury said they could not try the Cause and desired it might be referred the said Bayliff Forth on the Bench cryed no and told Richard Mayo he should have a Verdict first and ought my Judge thus to have spoken No he appeared to be rather a Party against me then my equal Judge and to all sober men these Proceedings may appear to be unjust And I hope some of you will make more conscience of your doings then to pass Judgment upon such an Unrighteous Verdict And moreover the Iury did not try the Cause which onely ought to have been tryed which was whether I had spoken truely or falsly of Richard Mayo that is to say they ought to have tryed and that was the thing in controversie between us whether these particulars alledged by me against Richard Mayo were true and sound Doctrine or damnable Doctrine and Errors for if the Particulars mentioned be true and sound Doctrine which were affirmed by Richard Mayo then I have wronged him and I must confess it and assent to your Judgment but if the Particulars be false Doctrine and Error then I have done him no wrong for I have spoken nothing but the truth and for that how can you condemn me And this was the Cause to be tryed which the Jury themselves confessed they did not try and therefore the Matter is not yet tryed in truth neither have I had a legal Tryal before you and then how can you give Judgment against me being the Action it self is so unequal and the Proceedings so unjust also and the Matter yet not fully tryed Do but consider of these things in the coolness of your spirits and let not me receive worse dealing from you because I am a Stranger neither because I am a Quaker so called but deal justly and truely for I desire nothing else of you but true Judgment for that will justifie me and clear me and respect not Persons but have respect to the Law of God which commandeth you to hear and judge the Cause of the Poor and the Strangers without respect of Persons and if you give regard to the Law of God in this Matter you cannot give Judgment upon this Verdict which is unjustly brought in by partial men as is manifest and you must either wholly arrest Iudgment or at least you must bring it to a new Tryal else you do me much wrong and injustice and all good men will so judge of it And further divers sufficient reasons hath been shewed by men of knowledge in the Law first against this Action and also against the Proceedings herein which might be reasons to you not to go on in Judgment against me but to clear me and even in your own way as I may say you have been dealt with and you have been shewed my Innocency so that if your Hearts be not hardened you cannot go any further against me but go contrary to the truth of my cause and contrary to your own Law also and though it was the dear love and respect of Friends to the Truth in freeness of their love to me more then any desire of mine or my knowledge I do own their love and justifie it yet much that hath been spoken in forms and tricks of Law and puntillio's of Law I do wave and let it pass and keep always to the naked truth of the Matter as before laid down And therefore if any Jury shall upon their Oaths justifie Mayo's Doctrines to be true and sound Doctrine and if you your selves upon your Oathes dare give Iudgment that Richard Mayo's Doctrine is not damnable Doctrine and Errors then I must lie patiently under your Judgment and under the breach of such Jury-mens Oaths and of your own Oaths also and therefore I demand of you according to right and justice let me be cleared otherwise let me first have a fair Tryal before I be condemned which yet I have not had because the Matter was perverted from that whether I had spoken the truth upon which the true Issue dependeth and upon no other thing Whether I spoke malitiously was a straining of the Cause to a wrong head and perverting it from its proper Issue and hereby was the just Cause of the Innocent clouded over and rejected and vilified and even betrayed into another meaning more then it ought to have been but it can shew its face above all this and Truth cannot be daunted though it may be vailed and lie hid for a season and though I be condemned by the Prejudiced and unfaithful Jury for speaking malitiously yet the Lord bears me witness to
the contrary that I have no malice in me against any man and I love your Souls better then that you should endanger them to destruction and to everlasting burning by giving Iudgment upon your Oaths against me upon this Verdict in this Cause which is thus unjust and unequal in it self and in its Proceeding also for if the Jury had tryed whether I had spoken the truth or whether I belyed Richard Mayo then it would easily have been known whether I spoke maliciously for if I belyed him and if his Doctrine be true and sound and not Error then may it be easily judged that I spoke maliciously because I spoke not the truth but if his Doctrines alleadged by me be not true and sound Doctrine but damnable Doctrine and Error then I have not belyed him but spoken the truth in love and not maliciously for Truth and Malice goes not together and till this be tryed to wit whether I have spoken truly or falsly who shall be able upon their Oathes without forswearing themselves to give it upon their Oathes that I spoke maliciously nay how shall any men lawfully swear that one speaks malitiously it is a hard cause to swear that any man speaks in malice for who enters into the heart of another man to know the thoughts save God and his Spirit And this I say at least and safely too that that Jury which gave into the Court upon their Oaths that I spoke my words maliciously against Richard Mayo have greatly endangered the forswearing themselves and the breach of their own Oaths and some of them know before this day that they did transgress therein against God whom God suddenly after cut off with Judgment and took off the Earth by death and though they that are yet living may be insensible of their own wickedness yet let all good men fear to dye out of this Body with that burden upon their Consciences as some have and others of them may have in this particular for breach of Oaths and though they have given it to you upon their Oaths that I spoke maliciously yet â—wo will be unto you if you shall upon your Oaths justifie they have done well and condemn me falsly upon their false Verdict and if you do condemn me it is upon their false Verdict because I spoke maâ—iciously against Richard Mayo and you cannot do that but you forâ—wear your selves and act contrary to your trust who are set in place to â—udge justly by what doth appear to your view and cannot nor dare not I know upon your Oaths say that I have spoken falsly and maliciously against Richard Mayo but and if you do one day you will feel that you have spoken against your own Oaths and Consciences and against God and against your own Souls And this is all that I can lay before you as to this Particular to warn you that you do judge justly and that you condemn not the innocent and just Cause of the Upright but that you may save your selves from the anger of the Lord who will be avenged upon all false Swearers and Unrighteous Judges that judges not in righteousness the Cause of the Poor and of the Stranger and the Cause yet remains before you to shew your selves just or Unjust Righteous or Unrighteous Judges in this Matter And whereas Richard Mayo and some of your selves spake to me to confess I have wronged him and would have me to acknowledge that I am in a fault and that I have spoken wrong of him yea it was said to me if I had not wronged him could I not confess that I had to preserve my self c To this I must answer Nay I cannot confess contrary to a good Conscience and contrary to Truth that I have wronged him if my life stood upon it as it is but my liberty at most for God hath given me to make Conscience of my words and to keep it void of offence towards him and all men and to confess that which is false to be true would stain a good Conscience in the sight of God and his People and that I may not do no not for my own preservation and the Lord deliver me from the Judgment of such who would have me confess that which I am not guilty of for that is all one to say I am clear when I am guilty as to say I am guilty when I am clear and I rather chuse to suffer what may be imposed upon me then to transgress the Truth in my own Heart and if I should say his Doctrine were sound and true Doâ—â—rine and not Damnable and Error I do believe the Witness in your own Consciences would rise against me and many more would say I then spoke falsly then doth now for I hardly ever heard any no not your own selves say that his Doctrines alledged by me against him are sound and true Doctrine neither can you in good Conscience say it So I say I cannot lye against my Conscience what ever comeâ— of it for to walk with the Lord and to have his Peace and not to lose his Presence is of more worth to my Soul that is immortal theâ— all the Sufferings that you can lay upon me can be dammage to my mortal Body for my life and soul you cannot touch but therein am I free though outwardly entangled amongst Bryars and Thorns which woâ—… pierce me and seek to catch me and if there be no other way for me to be preserved but by confessing contrary to my Conscience that I have wronged Richard Mayo I freely give up my self to suffer rather then to be preserved by such means and you do evil in putting such a thing upon me and expecting it from me which I cannot give bâ—… transgress the Law of God and offend him and my own Conscience and if you defer the determination of the Matter upon such hopes that I may confess that I have wronged Richard Mayo I desire you would not defer it one moment longer but let me be quitted of your Temptation for it is your Temptation and not true love for I cannot confess any such thing though I do acknowledge it hath now depended in your Court and at your door near two years and I should be glad that it were ended justly because I am not a man given to Suits of Law neither do I love it though it be so that I am fallen into it to offend any man or be offended in that way by any yet may I not use any unlawful means or any indirect way to obtain an end of this business but the rather I am content with what the Lord suffereth to come to pass though it be the very greatest Malice of my very devouring Enemies and because I would have Peace with all men and have all men reconciled to God and one to another to live in love and unity one with another upon that account I would this business were ended and though I do not doubt my Cause nor am
but one the same to day yesterday and forever who is the Foundation of God and abides forever was preached unto you all to be the Way the Truth the Life and Salvation and there is none besides him why then are there Divisions amongst you and some for one and some for another And herein are you carnal and your minds abroad and not'staid upon him which gives the increase and all this is to be judged with the Life of God Wherefore I beseech you in the Fear of the Lord as you love him and his Glory yea as you love your own souls Come to the Light which lets you see all this and condemns it and strive not one with another nor exalt not your selves one above another but let all that be condemned and all your evil Surmisings and foolish Jealousies separate Worshippings Backbitings be brought to Judgment and let condemnation pass upon it all never more to appear to hinder your Fellowship with the Lord and know the Life of God in you all which is but one which is not at strife nor divided and let that arise that all Vails may be taken off and Hardness of heart judged and the Countenance of the Lord may shine upon you when that exalted spirit which has appear'd in some is brought down of which I charge you all to beware lest there be a total departing from the Lord and his Name be reproached through you among the Heathen and it had been better for such they had never been born Therefore I say unto you all lay it to heart till the Judgments of the Lord take it away and purifie your hearts from all these things which ariseth out of that which is not of the Father that my joy may be renewed who have been in travel for you tell Christ be formed in you that he alone may rule in you over all those things which are at enmity against the Life and hinders your growâ—â— And if you yet harden your heart against Reproof who are stubborn well the Lord will ease him of his Adversaries and break you as a Potter's Vessel And though you oppress the Life of God for a moment yet my Peace with him â—â—â—ll these things never take away but over all these things I tread am not offendâ—â— in him who is my Peace forever And though those things cause sadness of heart yet the Lord giveth no cause of Sorrow to them that are faitful to him but will arise to confound all Deceit and Deceitful Workers who err from his Way and count the Knowledge of his Wayes a Burden and of you all though you perish I am clear who am not hated of the Lord though falsly judged by his Enemies over whom I trample as the Dust and the Living God gives Victory over you all I am not of this World E. B. Something of TRUTH Made Manifest In Relation to a Dispute at Draton in the County of Middlesex in the first Moneth last In Opposition to the False Account given of it by one Philip Taverner in his Book stiled The QUAKERS ROUNDS OR A Faithful Account c. FOrasmuch as one who hath I suppose ambitiously stiled himself Mr. Philip Taverner hath taken in hand to set forth to the view of the World an Account and Relation of a Dispute hapning in the eleaventh Moneth last at Draton near Colebrook to which Relation I am a little engaged to write something by way of answer thereunto that all people may know the Truth and being the Truth is somewhat concerned herein that is the Reason wherefore I have taken in hand to write a little by way of answer to his Relation being without any prejudice towards the man as concerning any Wrong he hath done to me though me as well as the Truth he hath wronged as may appear to such who desire to know the Truth It 's true a publique dispute I had the time and place mentioned with a company of Priests and this same Philip Taverner was one of them and the occasion of the Dispute was thus I being a few weeks before at a Meeting with some Friends in the said Town one Richard Goodgroom in his relation mentioned was present at the hearing of what was spoken but at that time did not object any thing though afterwards in London and other places he went up and down in a backbiting manner and gave forth That I had held forth blasphemous Doctrines or the like whereupon I much desir'd a Dispute for the tryal of those things and it was accomplished and that day the Truth was much made manifest and Deceit confounded And as to all the things objected against me by Richard Goodgroom which he would have seemed to have taken great occasion thereby as if some great matter of Heresie and Error had been utter'd by me I say the very Truth of all these things was demonstrated according as I had laid them down and his Arguments against them made of none effect And though such as hardened their Hearts might go unsatisfied and in greater Unbelief then they came yet I am sure the Upright-hearted and such as desired the knowledge of the Truth were wholy satisfied and this many can give Testimony of with me And though by his Relation it may appear otherwise to some yet wherein he hath related falsly it shall fall upon his own head and his Folly shall truly more appear in the End then he would have or seem to cause any in me to appear at this present and so he might with more Credit to himself been silent then to have meddled in that wherein he hath shewed himself so imperfect For I believe That this same Philip Taverner hath given a Relation of four times as much as he did speak at that Meeting and hath related as though he spake that which he never uttered by so many times fo much as I have said and hath not related so much by many times as was spoken by me and them of my part as many may witness Which Work of his seems not to be perfect neither yet altogether honest as sober Men may judge but such a thing must redown more to his own Dishonour then to the Truth 's Disadvantage And first As to the Title of his false Relation which is stiled The Quakers Rounds or A Faithful Account c. To this I answer That the very Frontispiece and Title of his Book savours of a vain light scornful spirit and so every Spiritual Man may judge of it to be so But why dost thou Philip Taverner say A Faithful Account but that to confirm Falshood with audacious words having a shew of Confidence upon it thereby the more easily to enter ento the Hearts of the People as if it were irreprovable coming also from the hand and under the hand of a Mr. Philip c. having so stil'd thy self to make thy Fame great and to publish thy Work under a seeming Authority but hadst thou had more Humility less
shall justifie us and condemn our Enemies Again he queries whether I make the Holy Ghost and the Eternal Spirit two I answer no they are one neither do I seem to make them two it is want of knowledge in him who cannot understand but raiseth Objections where there is no cause Again from my words this is acceptable and well pleasing to God above all words and outward conformity c. from this he questions whether the doing the greater things of the Law is acceptable where the less are neglected I answer no for every tittle of the Law less and greater must be fulfilled by Christ in us in whom we are accepted and thus I have returned a few words to the consideration of people and particularly to the people of Draton and the Country there about to whom I direct my speech thus All ye people who are scattered as Sheep without a Shepherd and know not Christ the Everlasting Shepherd to lead you and to rule you Cease oh cease from all your Teachers without you who are dumb Shepherds which do not gather you to God such are they that preach for Hire and divine for Money and that take Gifts and Rewards for preaching who through Covetousness by feigned words do make Merchandize of Souls Such do keep you alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth under their Teachings your Souls are starved under them and you perish for want of true Knowledge and Death raigns amongst you and many are in the broad way that leadeth to Destruction but few in the strait Way that leads to Life and Iniquity and Wickedness abounds amongst you and like Teachers like People for from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to Covetousness Jer. 6. 13. Great Ignorance hath blinded your Minds and great Darkness is over your Hearts and your Teachers do deceive you and they cause you to err and you give your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which doth not profit even as the people of Israel did so do you and in their Transgressions do you walk and your Teachers are in the steps of the Pharisees they are called of men Master as the Pharisees were they stand praying in the Synagogues and Temples as the Pharisees did and they have the chief Seats in the Assemblies as the Pharisees had and they even shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men as the Pharisees did and will not enter in themselves nor suffer them that would Cease from all your outward Priests and hearken to the Voice of the Lord which breaks down that nature which is contrary to God and raiseth up the Seed which is Heir of God's Kingdom and turn your minds to the Light in you which Christ hath lightened you withal which Light shines in your Consciences and convinces you of your evil Deeds it reproves you for Vain words and Ungodly speeches it will let you see what your hearts go after and what your love goes out unto and if you love that it will lead you to Christ and he will be revealed in you to teach you and to give you the Witness of Peace and Reconciliation with God The Light is your Eye by which you may see God it will lead you out of all idolatrous worships and works and from your false worships which are an Abomination to the Lord and you must be converted and changed into a new Nature and you must put off the Old man and his Works before you can worship God aright for he is worshipped in Spirit and in Truth only and such the Lord is now seeking to worship him Therefore cease from your Steeple-house-worship which is in the Traditions of men and not in the Spirit of the Lord and that worship must be confounded for its Root is corrupted and its Branches will wither and the Breath of the Lord is kindled against it If you love the Light of Christ and walk in it there is your Teacher and if you hate it there is your Condemnation The next day after the Dispute this was written and sent in a little time after to Draton and up and down that ways Richard Goodgrom FRiend hath not thy Ignorance Folly and Wickedness towards me now appeared And is it not manifest in the sight of many people And now thou mayest cease to boast and also to backbite for the time to come and no more secretly to surmise behind my back to the raising of unruly spirits against me so much as in thee was possible and hadst thou been more crafty and more subtile more Mischief thou mightest have done but the Innocent is delivered and thou art taken in the Snare thou laidst for another and false doctrine is prov'd to proceed forth of thy mouth And thou and thy Company may be ashamed when you consider the managing of your Work against me who many times appeared immoderate in speaking many at once confusedly and also were unreasonable in not being satisfied with just Answers but it shews your Blindness and Unbelief who cannot understand the Truths of the Gospel of Christ but contend against them though in the end you are forced to confess to them as was sufficiently witnessed that day of the Dispute and thou in particular who reproachedst me behind my back in divers places where I have heard of it by my Friends whom thou judg'dst had not been so yet they have discover'd the naughtiness of thy heart both in the Country and in the City Thou hast given forth that I had preached false doctrine and such like wicked reproachful back-biting language behind my back not like a man faithful to God and thy Neighbour but one that hath surmised Evil against the Harmless And thou mayest remember all these things thou objectest against who wouldst have made a great matter of them against me yet are they sufficiently prov'd to the Understanding of many honest People And if thou and thy Company will be blind it is because you harden your hearts against the Truth and I am clear in the sight of the Lord and all shall know that have an Ear to hear That what I profess preach and practice are the saving Truths of Iesus Christ though they may be branded to be Heresie by such as thee who may call Light Darkness and Darkness Light and put Good for Evil and Evil for Good And at a convenient Opportunity I may take in hand to prove That thou thy self hast held forth that which cannot be justified by the Scripture but are condemned thereby Many things fell from thee in my hearing which I may object against and prove the contrary and I shall not go behind thy back as thou hast done to slander thee but I shall rest contented and wait the opportunity to lay open thy Nakedness and Weakness in the sight of all people And whatsoever thou judgest The Scriptures the Writings and the things written of are two things
〈◊〉 Truth to speak plainly by reproving them that gain-say it and to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God in every mans Conscience 〈◊〉 I desire to be manifest and seek not 〈◊〉 worâ—… to covâ—â— Eâ—… thâ—◠〈◊〉 may not be sâ—… 〈◊〉 â—â—ou 〈◊〉 â—…y to 〈◊〉 â—…t but let all my Enemies sâ—…ct wâ—…at thâ—…â—…ill 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stand approved and noâ— of man 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 â—ew inâ—…rd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of man but of God And as for railing Language and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—inst thee I have used none but spoke the truth in Plainness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ing thou â—…est to stâ—… at is whereâ—â— I sâ—…d I suppose thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d thy self Mr. Philip Tavernâ—â— â—nd â—â—ou now 〈◊〉 to hide 〈◊〉 sâ—… from the force of my words to the sight of the World◠〈◊〉 appears 〈◊〉 to â—…ke upon thee with some Shame and thou sayest Thâ—… 〈◊〉 not preâ—… Mr. before thy Name but the Stationer did it who sayst â—â—ou wâ—… pleased to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man with that Title c. Rep. Noâ— instead of clearing himself he hath shewed moâ—e guilt of Ambition 〈◊〉 â—efore and my words were I supposed and not an absolute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith and had not I good Reason to suppose it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was his Aâ—…n being also contrary to the express Command of Christ Mat. 23. 〈◊〉 inâ—…eed I hardly ever read any Superscription like to it by the greatest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of men as men accounâ— and it is a thing far above Humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—ming any man much less one that professeth himself to be a 〈◊〉 of Christ to subscribe himself oâ— be with his consent Mr. such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems to cover himself from Ambition because saith he he did it 〈◊〉 himself but another I say I shall not charge him here with Falshood but I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is very unusual for any man to add any thing to another mans Book without his knowledge I never knew it done by any Stationer who hath had 〈◊〉 knowledge of their Wayes but yet he acknowledges it was done in Honour to him to subscribe him Master and here he hath justified the thing and 〈◊〉 that he is indeed guilty of Ambition who confesseth that it is an 〈◊〉 to him to be subscribed Mr. by another for he saith The Man that 〈◊〉 â—â— Honoured him with that Title And here men may take notice what Honour â—â—is my Adversary looks after even the Honour that Christ forbiddeth who 〈◊〉 â—â— his Ministers Be not ye called of men Masters but the man hath honourâ—… 〈◊〉 Taverner with titling him Mr. as he saith Tâ—â— next thing treated proves also that he is Ambitious for he pleadâ— much the lawfulness of Titles of Civil Respects as he calls it and this is all to justiâ—… the Title of Master to himself and thereupon hath wrested divers Scriptures 〈◊〉 though the Unbelieving Greeks used the word Master or Iohâ—…â—2 â—2 〈◊〉 â—e hath quoted is this an Example sufficient for Christians to break the â—…and of Christ Mat. 23. 10. Neither are any other Scriptures a Warrant 〈◊〉 thy man so to do though for a whole Page he treats only as for the lawfulâ—… of â—â—ch Titles yet in the end would shut guilt from his own Door that he 〈◊〉 not Titles for he saith This he speaks not that he would have it so done to 〈◊〉 And this his seeming to justifie himself proves himself guilty knowing that he had given truly occasion for People to judge he would have it so and in the end would blind the minds of the Simple with words of seeming Humility that he would not have it so done to him as if he cared not for it And whereas I said in my first That I am without any Prejudice towards the man viz. P. T. He saith I must give him leave to question it first from my Railing Words against him secondly from my Scornful Pitty expressed c. saith he Rep. I have no Prejudice against him God is my Witness and he may queâ—… what he will who is in the Unbelief for its manifest by his former that he questions where he hath no just occasion shewing much prejudice in himself for he said in his first Relation commenting upon some of my words If by such words I meant so then it was truth but if I meant so then it was false And 〈◊〉 not this a perfect sign of prejudice in him who had not just occasion to except against the words as they lay nor could not condemn them but upon giving his own Interpretation of them first Whereupon I said in my first Answer p. 14. Alas poor man must I be judged upon thy own Meaning c. and yet in 〈◊〉 words I shewed no scornful Pitty to him though he falsly supposeth it and sâ—… it and so while he cannot believe that I am without Prejudice against him 〈◊〉 hath shewed himself guilty of prejudice towards me and my words to be seeâ— and justly believed by many And whereas he saitâ— It s doubtful howâ—… I own the Authority of the Scripâ—… because I say in my first We through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hope have had Hope saith he Now it seems because I place my words 〈◊〉 have had Hope his unbelieving doubtful Heart questions whether I own the â—â—thority of Scriptures and would falsly conclude That through the Comfort of the Scriptures we have no Hope now and saith he Are you now flown so high that you need not c. pag. 3. And therefore I may now answer further Yeâ— through the Promise of the Lord declared in Scripture we have Hope 〈◊〉 this present That God will bring down and overthrow all such that deceive the 〈◊〉 who are made Ministers by man and of man at Schools and Colledges and all this set Maintenance by Tythes and casting people into Prison and spoiling their Goods to maintain Ministers as at this day in the Nation many Hundreds have been cast into Prison and many Hundred Pounds worth of Cattel 〈◊〉 Bedding and all kind of Goods have been distrained for to maintain the Ministry I say We have Hope according to the Scriptures That God will being down all this and your preaching for Money and bargaining with people 〈◊〉 so much the year and your preaching what you have studied for from the Scriptures by a Glass in a Steeple-house where the Mass used to be said God will confound all this and poor people shall be delivered from the Mouthes of those Deceivers that make a Prey upon them and preach for Hire and seek for their Gain from their Quarter and these things with many other we hope for at present Wherefore think not in thy self we now do not hope for we 〈◊〉 do and and have had Hope through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures Whereas I charged P. T. in my last That he had wronged both me and the Trâ—â—â— in his Relation c. which he saith in his Answer is false and he saith He 〈◊〉 not apprehend me and the
more theâ— the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them that opposed the Truth nor no Weapon shall I use against thâ—m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Spiritual and the Sword that goes out of the Lamb's Mouth 〈◊〉 the many Scriptures which he quotes page 23. â—o neither say nor sigâ—… 〈◊〉 the Letter the Writings are the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ed though Mâ—… 〈◊〉 5. 5. â—…id He would 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Lord did he then shew 〈◊〉 Letter the Writings the Scripture I say No therefore he did not 〈◊〉 Writings and the Letter the Wâ—rd of God as you affirmed â—nd sâ—… 〈◊〉 prove but thoâ—â—…test 〈◊〉 anâ—â—rovest â—othing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though mâ—ny times the Word oâ— the Lord came to such a Prophet and to 〈◊〉 Prophet as thou 〈◊〉 proved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iâ—â—l and others yet did the Wrâ—… and the Letter come to them or that which the Letter and Writings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let Wise Men judge That noâ— all thou caâ—st â—ay doth not prove 〈◊〉 Writings the Letter is â—…e 〈◊〉 of God or thâ—…â—…ver any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—hat 〈◊〉 better Proof be given which I neâ—â—◠〈◊〉 need not revoke any 〈◊〉 that I have said contrary viz. Thâ—◠〈◊〉 Letter 〈◊〉 tings are the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called But still I say The 〈◊〉 tings and Letteâ— are not the Word 〈◊〉 the â—â—ing wriâ—â—en of is the Word 〈◊〉 that lives forever Then 〈◊〉 that I charged R. G. with saying whâ—â— I had my 〈◊〉 in my 〈◊〉 the Dispute I had the â—…ing signified in my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which thiâ—◠〈…〉 first Relation had much â—â—â—â—â—fied but now he seeâ—… to acknowledges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and excuses it by supposing it was A Slip of his Tâ—… the higheâ—â—â—…tter of 〈◊〉 in it 〈◊〉 â—s for the words 〈◊〉 only 〈◊〉 self but diâ—… others do will 〈…〉 them spoken by R. G. 〈◊〉 Fellow Dâ—…tant and had he or 〈…〉 a Sâ—… of the Tongue 〈◊〉 had gone no â—…ther 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—◠〈◊〉 in thy 〈…〉 lation gave a wrong Account thereof and had laid down the thing quiâ—◠〈…〉 wise then he spoke it this made the matter more a Transgression and thy 〈◊〉 count to be false neither am I reaâ—y to catch words from the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 ponâ—â—t as thou chargeâ—â— me buâ— that Charâ—â—â—… â—…â—…ust needs make use of it to shew the Folly 〈◊〉 sâ—â—h men that will so do 〈…〉 of their own Moutheâ— often and by their own words to confound them 〈…〉 â—…hou have me to give away 〈◊〉 just Cause through neglect of hearing 〈◊〉 â—…ing notice of such fouâ— words as to say I had the Thing in my hâ—…d that was 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Bible when I 〈◊〉 the Bible in my hand and so â—et Deceit a top on me 〈…〉 of reproving Evil I am otherwise taught do thou judge what thou 〈…〉 my Principles are found to agree with the Scriptâ—re for it 〈…〉 shall be â—…ed by 〈◊〉 words and by his words shall 〈◊〉 be condemned 〈…〉 â—…y Answers to his Qâ—eries raised from some words of mine writâ—… 〈◊〉 The Standard c. My Answer sayst thou is little else 〈…〉 thing over again c. Now I say Itâ— needless here to tranâ—… 〈◊〉 and Anâ—…rs over again but let them be looked in my first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Something of Truth Made Manifest c. wheâ—… it may be seen that 〈…〉 sufficiâ—â—t and laid down to the satisfaction of all reasonable 〈…〉 be resolved though thou sayst Thâ—â—â— i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evidence of Truth 〈…〉 first but dost not at all discover the falsness 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 any partiâ—…ar 〈…〉 been right for thee to have â—â—â—e and not to â—ave charged evil 〈…〉 my Answers and prove nothing but 〈…〉 believe him exâ—… 〈…〉 â—is words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oracle for them â—…t â—â—â—e recâ—â—ved the good 〈…〉 cannot believe him 〈…〉 Conclusion he charges me 〈◊〉 â—…sh kind of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Wâ—… can be in the 〈◊〉 of sâ—ch 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 so ba◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 sâ—… 〈◊〉 wâ—â—ds when in his former he 〈◊〉 â—…luded That I 〈…〉 Doctrine and weakened the 〈◊〉 o◠〈◊〉 Scriâ—… to 〈…〉 â—…ng thoughts of them and such 〈◊〉 because I â—…d affiâ—…d the 〈…〉 saying The Devil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scriâ—… 〈…〉 I not Reason to question what is in his heart who had the boldness 〈…〉 â—o 〈◊〉 evilly against me as he dâ—d 〈◊〉 proving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—o what I said And in that I did charge Darkâ—ess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—pon 〈◊〉 I do and may still till he Repenâ—â— for doth he not accuse me falsly in 〈◊〉 things as in saying My Principles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 light c. but proves not partiâ—… his Charge and in his first Book accused us as if we had a Pope in our 〈◊〉 which words are both Lies and Scornful and are not thâ—â—â— things true 〈◊〉 that he is in Darkness and Blindness and so my Charge is 〈◊〉 false upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saith He will not judge E. B. â—astily c. 〈◊〉 Hast not thou falsly judged me already 〈◊〉 many things as I have shewed 〈…〉 the Lord in time may let thee see thy judgment is false and awaken thy 〈…〉 to Repentance and then shalt thou confess I have done thee no 〈…〉 but the Wrong-Dealing lies at thy Door so that by what is said the 〈…〉 thy Book is a Lye and utterly false which is Some Principles of Edw. â—… called a Quaker Examined and found too light 〈…〉 Now in this I shall not be Judge altogether in my own Cause but leave 〈…〉 the view of sober Men and require their Judgment when they have read 〈…〉 â—…erly over what one particular instanced by him is proved to be unâ—ound 〈…〉 light for according to the Testimony of the holy â—en of God in Scripâ—…â—â—â—reby may I confirm the Truth of what I have and do hold forth and to 〈…〉 â—…ns Conscience do commend my self to be approved in the sight of God 〈◊〉 good Report or bad Report of men I regard not but trâ—â—d over them both 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rein the Truth is wronged I am bound to give my Evidence for it and 〈…〉 opposers and that is the very end of this my present Work to contend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth and not for Mastery though Truth doth give me Mastery over 〈◊〉 and to hold forth the same Faith Light and Truth which the Apostles 〈…〉 before the Apostacy which hath been clouded in all this dark Night of â—…cy which hath been over the World for many Ages since the Man-child 〈◊〉 â—…ght up to God and the Woman â—â—ed into the Wilderness spoken of in the Revelations but now the Light is made manifest and the Glory of the Lord is revealing and the Day is dawned and the Night is over to â—…y and the subversion of this Ministry now in England is clearly seen from 〈…〉 Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles And now as concerning this Controversie between Pâ— Tâ—â—â—â—â—â—r and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whoever is not satisfied herewith but desires a full and true Account of the 〈◊〉 may peruse his first Book called
Church come up in the Apostacy and these things we have to argue with them if the Heads of them will admit dispute otherwise to charge these things upon them from the Lord and by his Authority and if they do any of them receive our Testimony and turn from their Idols and be converted unto the Truth they may be happy but if they shall reject our Testimony and not believe the Truth then shall they the more be fitted for Destruction and the Day of their Destruction the sooner approacheth and the Lord shall be clear of their Blood and our Reward shall be with us from God for our Testimony shall not return to us in vain but shall accomplish its end wherefore it is sent and the Word of the Lord by us shall either convert to God and to the Truth that they may be saved or shall through rejecting of it harden the Heart against God and against the Truth that they may the more justly be condemned and the Lord and his Servants be the more clear and no other thing saving this do we promise to our selves as the success of our endeavours and not so much in relation to the men of our English Nation are we come though the Gospel of Salvation is freely come to them also that they may be freed from the Captivity of Sin and Death and we may not work nor cause any disturbance or grief to any of them further then what they may take at us for the Truth 's sake or for declaring it in the fear of God and without any just cause given by us to any of you or them though we dare not promise to you nor our selves what we will do or what we will not do onely this we say if the transgression of any just Law can be charged upon us we refuse not to suffer what shall be imposed and this we do believe that the Lord will so keep us and order us by his Spirit of Truth and carry us in Meekness and Righteousness towards you while we stay amongst you be it weeks or moneths that you will have no just occasion against us by any Offence justly ministred by us and if you do take occasion against us without any just cause given be it upon your selves to your own Shame and Condemnation in the sight of God and men for we are clear onely this we do give unto the Lord and cannot unto Men the exercise of our Consciences and to be obedient unto the Teachings of his Spirit in all things as he shall guide and lead us and if he commands to do or not to do any thing and you the contrary we must obey him though we disobey you for its better to obey God then Man and when he bids speak in what Place or Season soever we may not be silent for to keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God in all things by Obedience to him is our care and study and that which we are given up to do and if you set your selves to gain-say this it will turn to your own destruction for no other promise then this can we make for our selves but to do and speak amongst you as the Lord our God shall move us and lead us and this Testimony we do bear for the Lord he doth not move us nor lead us to any thing saving to what is Just Good and Holy which may tend to the Happiness and Peace and Welfare of your Souls and Bodies also and in the Father's will we stand and as we came in his Will so we cannot submit to stay or go at any Man's will save the Lord 's alone And as concerning our coming and staying and Work here this is a sober account to you which may satisfie you and any sober and reasonable men And as concerning our being with you yesternight many things passed from some of you and your Ministers chiefly to which I had a great desire to have answered and to have cleared the things objected against us but time and his patience afforded not the opertunity therefore now this I do propound about the Call to the Ministry which was the thing in dispute to which I then could freely have spoken whether he will give me and us a fair meeting in some publick Place that is convenient for your selves to hear and be judge between us to discourse this Matter viz what the true Call to the Ministry is which is truely according to the Scripture and that to be laid down first and then to compare his Call to his Ministry and also his Call to Dunkirk with what the true Call is which is allowed of and approved in the Scriptures and also to compare our Call to the Ministry and even our call to Dunkirk with what the true Call of Christ s Ministers was as declared in the Scriptures that it may be seen whether his Call or our Call is the most different from or agreeable to the Scriptures and even the Light in your own Consciences shall be Judge between us in this Cause and upon such an Issue upon a just Determination would we gladly joyn tryal and such a Meeting upon such Grounds and Proceedings may tend to satisfie your selves and many more and such a Meeting I do fully desire with your consent and concurrence who may preserve the people in Peace and Soberness that all may be â—dified in the things of so great moment as this is For if he can prove his Call to the Ministry to be such as was the Apostles and Ministers in the true Christian Churches before the Apostacy then shall we own him and not deny him but if he cannot do this and if we can do it on our own behalf in the Power and Spirit of the Lord then may you and all men judge who are the true Ministers of Christ and who are the Deceivers And this manner of proceedings would deside all Doubts in you about us and we shall be clear in manifesting the Truth concerning the true Ministry and the false and the difference between them in their Call in their Practice and in their Maintenance And this is sent to you to read and consider of in the Fear of God as the Testimony of our Love to you and the Truth that you may take heed to your wayes and we would receive first your Answer whether you do consent and will allow such a Meeting and secondly his Answer whether he will undertake such a Dispute and we further are ready to clear all Doubts that may remain in you about us who are your Friends and desire your Prosperity and Faithfulness in what the Lord calls you unto By Edward Burroughs Samuel Fisher. And the same day we went to the Capuchine Fryars and had some Discourse with the chiefest of them in their Garden concerning the Light of Christ that every man is lighted withal and we did declare to them of the Mighty Day of the Lord that was at hand upon them and the Lord
Poor nor the Laws regulated nor the liberty of pure Consciences altogether allowed but these Dominions are filled with cruel Oppressions and the Poor groan everywhere under their heavy Hand of Injustice the Needy are troden down under Foot and the Oppressed cry for Deliverance and are ready to faint for true Justice and Judgement the Proud exalts himself against the Poor and the High-minded and Rebellious contemns the Meek of the Earth the Horn of the Ungodly is exalted over the Lord's Heritage and they that are departed from Iniquity are become a Prey to Oppressors and the Crâ—â—â— hearted deal cruelly with the Innocent in these Nations and such whom the Lord hath freed in their Consciences from false Worships and Teachers and from the Wayes of Sin and Death are made Slaves and greedily preyed upon by unjust men through casting into Prisons and Dungeons and unjust Fines and Illegal Proceedings and Beatings and Abusings and Woundings and Bruisings hard to be expressed and large to be declared even the Hands of the People over whom thou art set to rule are full of Blood Merciless and Cruel and neither feâ—t God nor are subject to the just Rule and Government of Men and the Mouthes of many of thy subservant Rulers and Governours that have their Power from thee are as the Teeth of young Lions and the Upright and Hâ—rmless are devoured and made a Spoil of by them through Policy and Oppression both in their Persons and Estates if I perish I must speak the Truth my life is not dear to me for the Truth 's sake many who should have judged in true Justice and Righteousness the Cause of the Poor have been as Bryars and Thorns to ensnare and pierce the just Man and have perverted Judgement and â—uâ—nâ—d it backward and Equity hath hardly had place to enter most of the Prisons this day in all thy Jurisdictions have and doth testifie the unjust Judgement and the great Oppressions and Cruelties of some in Authority who have used or rather abused thy Name and made it a Cloak for their Hard-heartedness O my Heart is troubled and my Bowels pained at the remembrance of this how doth the Poor cry under the heavy Hand of Oppression and the Needy lament for want of true Judgement and the Oppressed groan for want of Deliverance And these things are thought upon by the Lord though not considered by thee as they ought to be and because of this will he arise to plead the Cause of the Innocent against him that is too strong for him and will dash to pieces his Enemies and break the Jaws of the Devourers and the Righteous shall not alwayes be a Prey to the Teeth of the Ungodly O Friend when wilt thou consider the Oppression of the Poor and hearken to the cry of the Oppressed within thee and without thee when shall it enter into thy Heart this cause of the unjust Sufferings of the Lord's People from which thou canst not altogether be excused for it is acted in thy Name though not by thee O let thy Ear be opened unto the Cryes of the Oppressed in the Prisons and let the Cause of the Innocent come before thee and let thy heart be pierced at the Consideration of these things which are come to pass in thy day contrary to the expectations of many and see if it be not contrary to thy own Promises sometimes vowed by thee let the Light of Christ in thy own Conscience answer and some of the multitude of the grievous Oppressions of which the Land is full have been laid at thy Door and brought unto thee but scarcely found an encrance upon thee and this aggravates the Crime of of thy Transgression in that thou knowest of these things and wonderful is it to consider that even thou with whom the Power of the Lord hath sometimes been should now suffer that people with whom the Power of the Lord is to be persecuted and thy name to be a cloak for it how many in all parts of this Nation have been and are at this day grievous sufferers under cruel bondage concerning Tythes that great Abomination and Idol and cause of heavy groanings the bodies of many just men violently surprized and cast into Goals and Prisons unjustly and some illegally their cruelly suffering the loss of their Liberties and the enjoyments of their Families and honest Assemblies and others have their Goods spoiled and made havock upon almost to the ruin of Families by unreasonable men through unjust Judgment and cruel dealings of some in Authority for so much unjustly challenged by the Priest or Impropriator it may be they distress five times so much to the great shame of the Government of a Christian Nation as may appear in a Book called The Cry of the Oppressed and how many are ready even to faint under the hard Oppression of maintaining Hireling Teachers and Idol-Temples many for that cause being unjust Sufferers in Bodies and Estates by cruel imprisoment and spoiling of Goods the very cry of this Oppression reaches unto Heaven against thee who suffers it and against the Idol-Shepherds who are the ground of it who make a prey upon Gods Heritage and the Lord God will be avenged upon them and they and their Staff shall utterly perish wo unto them and to the Idol-Worships of which the Land is full which they uphold which causes the hearts of the Righteous to mourn because of the Seed of God which is in Captivity under them again many are unjust and wofull Sufferers because they cannot swear on this or that occasion though in all causes they speak the truth and do obey Christ's Commands even such are trodden upon by unjust Fines charged upon them and imposed Oppressions the Example of which never went before many parts of this Land is witness of this and this is by the corruptness of some that bear rule under thee who rule not for God as they ought but turns the Sword of Justice and doth unjustly thereby and grieves the Lord and dishonours thee Again some suffer long and tedious imprisonments and others cruel Stripes and Abuses and danger of life many times from wicked men for reproving Sin and crying against the Abomination of the Tiâ—â—â— which the Scriptures also testifie against in Streets or Temples or 〈◊〉 Places some having been sent to Prison taken on the High-Way and no 〈◊〉 charged against them and others committed being taken out of Peaceable Meetings and whipped and sent to Prison without transgression of any Law 〈◊〉 or unjust wholly through the Rage and Envy of the Devil and such who have perverted Judgement and Justice and some in Prisons have suffered superaboundantly from the Hands of the cruel Goalers and their Servants by Beatings and Threatnings and putting Irons on them and not suffering any of their Friends to visit them with Necessaries and some have dyed in the Prisons whose Lives were not dear to them whose Blood will be reckoned on account against thee one day
and hazarded Life and Liberty for Conscience sake to enjoy Liberty of Conscience which they cannot now possess because of thee but are cast out for the Exercise of their pure Consciences this Thing the Lord is grieved with and with thee because of it For thou didst not obtain this Victory of Peace and Freedom by thy own Sword then why should it be thus improved to thy own Ends Consider of it for this makes the Nations more unhappy and less blessed when such who delight in true Justice and Judgment are cast out of their Places and so deprived of giving their Judgment among men and absolutely this will make thy Army less prosperous and more unblessed when such who fear the Lord and against whom thou canst not justly charge Evil are cast out and despised and this in time thou mayst see to thy Sorrow And as thy Friend I â—ay this before thee and do in plainness tell thee If thou thus utterly denyst the People of God in the day of thy Prosperity and thus wholy cast them out of thy service they cannot stand by thee nor own thee in the day of thy Trouble and such as thou cleavest unto may be a broken Staff in thy time of need Ah Friend these things do shew that thy heart is not right in the sight of the Lord and that Justice and true Judgment Righteousness and Truth is even despised in this Land and not sincerely owned by thee when as such who fear the Lord are thus cast out of Judicatories in thy Government and out of Defence in thy Armies What! is this the end of that long travel in Wars and of so many fair Promises of Liberty of Conscience that just Men should thus be dealt withal The Heathen Kingdoms may Mock at this that while some have pretended Liberty of Conscience are become Persecutors of such whose Consciences are justly exercised and as I have sometime said to thee much Injustice and great Oppressions and cruel Persecutions continue daily to be acted in thy name which is numbred up against thee upon account because of hiding thy Face from the Cry of the Poor as one without Bowels of Compassion unto such who have truly served with thee in a faithful Service for the Common-Wealth who many of them now are grievous Sufferers under thee Consider of these things and search what will be the End of them the Lord open thy Understanding that more of the Wisdom of God may guide thee and less of the policy and wisdom of Man which will betray thee of God's Kingdom and may in the end cast thee down in this World also E. B. The Original of this was delivered to his Hands in the Fifth Moneth 1657. FRIEND IT is upon me and also I am pressed in spirit thereunto to give thee even unto thee Oliver Protector the perfect measure of thy Dominions and how they stand in relation to thee as concerning the Affections of the people towards thee whereby thou mayst understand thy own Condition and the state of thy Government as I have viewed it in true Judgment and marked it upon serious consideration and what I write is in perfect Love unto thee however thou mayst judge of it and of these things it will be well fâ—â— thee to consider now while it is time ere it be too late Many Enemies thou hast which watch over thee for Evil and not for Good who would Rejoyce in thy Overthrow And first There are a People scattered through all these Nations who are full of Wrath and ravening Envy towards thee in whose hearts to this day there is continual Hatred and evil Surmiâ—â—ng lodgeth against thee and all thy Off-Spring and I believe without any further knowledge that daily Advantage they seek against thee by subtil Conspiracies and secret Plottings of Maliciousness in their Hearts seeking by all means if it be possible how to be revenged and not slipping any Advantage how to revenge themselves and promote their Cause and of these scattered under thy Goverment are not a few but rather the greater number who thus stand in Affections to thee with no better purpose of good towards thee then to destroy thee by any means if it were in their power and to take away thy name in Reproach such is the Cruelty and Desperateness of some of them their own lives are not dear unto them to take away thine I have felt the strength of their Rage against thee which carries them above sence or fear to fore-go any Danger that they might see their desired End of thee Their Malice towards thee is so seated in their wrathful Hearts that it cannot easily be quenched I know the Lord hath blasted them and their endeavours to this day and thou hast had Dominion and Power given thee of God to bruise and to break them to pieces for because of the Wickedness of that Generation which was grown to the full did the Lord raise thee up as a Plague upon them because of their Unrighteousness Oppression and Tyranny and they were made as Slaves and Bondmen under thy Power and without the Lord can they not at any time do any thing against thee but what and if for thy Wickedness in the Sight of God he should make them Instruments in his hand to accomplish his Wrath upon thee even like as he made thee once his Instrument to overthrow them and such hath been the Lord's Doings even to overthrow his Enemies one by the other and to use the Wicked as a Rod in his hand to break them one against another like Potsherds and by that which comes to pass in these Nations thou seemest no less then to tread in their steps and in a measure already goest on in their way in Oppressing through Tyranny or suffering it the People of God whose Cause the Lord will assuredly plead against thee one day who now suffer under thee in Patience and who can tell the Purpose of the Lord or what he may bring to pass concerning this thing in raising up the Wicked to be a Plague to Wickedness and in suffering the Oppressors to overthrow Oppressions This is by me in Love to thee in sincerity declared and by thee with Soberness and in the Fear of God it is to be considered Again there is another People scattered through all these Dominions who are not thy Friends nor Wishers well unto thee or thy Government who secretly murmer against thee and envy thee and even seek God against thee and thy Government which they judge to be not according to God and bow not to it in Love though they are forced to submit for a time hoping continually if not hatching other wayes of Rule and Government to the overthrow of thee and thine and these are more Honest and Upright and Just in the Sight of the Lord then the former and indeed they are not nor their Purposes accursed of the Lord for many of them have been Sufferers and faithfully served their Nation
of that People even till my Lord hath confounded them and brought them into Confusion for there is the weight of Blood of Tyranny and Oppression lying upon the Nation in that People's Cause and my Lord will revenge them in his Season and though they are not weary of their Sufferings but are in the Patience which beareth all things yet the Nation can never be happy nor its Government ever blessed while this People are held in Bondage and their Sufferings are deeply considered of the Lord and the Season thereof is expiring towards an 〈◊〉 aâ—d when this cometh to pass then Wo unto the kingdom of Antichrist and to the Whore and false Prophet even when their strength is dryed up by which they have made War against the Lamb and his Followers yea Wo unto them Great Fearfulness shall be upon all the World when the King of that People Reigns upon the Earth and the time is at hand blessed is the Man that waitâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it and blessed is he that is not offended in his Coming but is preparâ—◠〈◊〉 receive him in his Appearing which suddenly cometh upon all the World And thus I have told the Lord's present Message unto you which I received from him and thus far I am clear and whether you accept it or reject it my Peace and Reward is forever with him who am a Subject of his Kingdom and a Frieâ—â— to this Nation however otherwise judged by ignorant Men. Edw. Burroughs The 9th Moneth 1659. To the PRESENT DISTRACTED AND Broken Nation OF ENGLAND And to all her INHABITANTS A Presentation and Declaration from the Seed of God and from the People called Quakers with their Sense and Knowledge published concerning the present Divisions and Confusions come to pass in the Land with Mourning and Lamentation over it because of its Breaches and the Causes thereof laid down and discovered And also Good Counsel and Advice held forth how Peace and Unity may be restored and how the present Troubles may be Removed OH poor distressed Nation and full of Troubles How art thou broken and divided How hath Divisions and Distractions compassed thee about and entred into thy Bowels And how are thy Inhabitants and thy People divided even to hatred one against another and how are they filled as with Mischief one towards another even as it were thirsting for the Blood of one another Oh! How are thy Rulers and thy Subjects thy Great Men and thy Poor confounded amongst themselves And how is the Wisdom of thy Wise men turned into Folly and their Union into present Contention and how do they seek the Overthrow one of another and how do they lie in wait to be avenged one against another And how are the Hearts of many filled with Envy Contention and Revenge and Love Peace and Unity are far away Meekness Patience and Long-suffering which ought to be among thy People seem to stand afar off And oh Nation this is the Day of thy Trouble and the beginning of thy Sorrows And forasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God Almighty to bring and suffer things thus to be brought to pass as if he would make our Nation a Heap and suffer Destruction upon it and having suffered the Rulers and Great Men to overcome and break down one another and to rend and tear one another from oâ—â— the Throne pulling down others and setting up themselves even through their Ambition and Vain-glory and for corrupted Ends to themselves whereby this our Nation is brought into present Confusion and many are begotten through these â—hings into Fury Heart-burnings and Maliciousness as if men were ready to devour each one his Neighbour and their Brother about Government and Ruâ—e being greatly divided and distracted in this matter some crying up one way of Religion and Church and Civil Government and some crying up another way being each one sort of People seeking themselves and the prosperity of their own Interests and to have their own desires accomplished but few seeking the Lord and to advance him in Truth and Righteousness And because of this there is no Establishment in the Earth but Strife and Contention and Heart-burnings in the Bowels of the Nation and great want of True Love True Unity and True Peace and all the contrary doth abound among the people because of which the Nation is subject to present Misery even to Blood-shed and Murders and liable also to greater Judgments which may also come upon it because of these things all which we have deeply considered â—â—th Mourning and with Breakin gs of Heart on the behalf of the Nation the Land of our Nativity We have seen we have seen the Cause of thy Distractions to be the Sins of thy Rulers and People and we have seen the effect of them to be doleful and miserable unto thee except the Hand of the Lord turn it backward And oh How do we Mourn and Laâ—ent to see the Out goings of Men and the present Condition of the People and Rulers in this the Day of their Trouble Alas they do not behave themselves towards the Lord that his Judgments may be turned away they do not seek him in Truth and Righteousness they do not turn unto him with all their Hearts neither do they tremble at his Word but they the rather reject his Counsel and despise his Visitation and they seek themselves and exalt their own Horn and love the Honour of this World and their hearts are hardened and the great men seem to be utterly insensible of what the Lord is a doing but seek great things for themselves and each one rejoying of another's Fall and glorying in their Advantages one over another one sort being first down and another sort comes up boasting themselves over the Fall of their Enemies and not knowing that their time also is but very short And thus is our poor Nation tossed to and fro through the Ambition of men who even make a Prey upon the poor peoples Persons and Treasure for their own corrupted Ends and thy Rulers have not had respect unto the Counsel of the Lord but seem to refuse the Way of Peace and even add Fewel to the Fire of God's Wrath by heaping up one Transgression upon another and they receive not the Instructions of the Almighty Behold Oh Nation Great Trouble is upon thee and the Men that should Rule thee and which have pretended to Govern thee they do not walk in the Way of thy Peace neither do they bring healing to thee These things we have considered and thus we Lament over thee and over thy present State Oh Nation how art thou like an ungirded Vessel that is ready to fall one piece from another and how art thou like a Body without a Head and all thy Ioynts out of order and what Confusion art thou fallen into which is thy present state and art even as a Widdow without a Husband and art even left comfortless unto this day and ready to devour thy self through the Envy
is a Parliament what is a Protector and what is a Council or any other sort of men while the Presence of the Lord is not with them and while his Spirit and Authority is wanting to them What can any of these bring forth none of all these whatsoever if the Lord be not chief in them and amongst them and his Counsel their only Guide shall be any otherwise unto this Nation then as a broken Reed to lean upon and no more then a Shaddow which shall not save the people from the heat nor from the storm this we know and this we declare in the Name of the Lord. And we are not for Names nor Men nor Titles of Government nor are we for this Party nor against the other because of its Name and Pretence but we are for Iustice and Mercy and Trust and Peace and true Freedom that these may be exalted in our Nation and that Goodness Righteousness Meekness Temperance Peace and Unity with God and one with another that these things may abound and be brought forth aboundantly such a Government are we seeking and waiting for wherein Truth and Righteousness Mercy and Iustice Unity and Love and all the Fruits of Holiness may abound and all the contrary be removed cast out and limitted And we are not for such and such Names and Titles of Government that promise fair things and perform nothing but if a Council if a Parliament if any one Man or a number of Men whatsoever shall have the Spirit of the Lord poured on him or them and shall be anointed of the Lord for such an End and Use to Govern this Nation under such only shall the Nation be happy and enjoy Rest from such men fitted of the Lord and called by him and under such a Government of Truth and Righteousness shalt thou O Nation enjoy Rest from all thy Travels and under such a Government shall the Righteous rejoyce and the whole Land sing for Joy of Heart when Tyranny and Oppression shall be clean removed Strife and Contention and Self-seeking utterly abandoned and when Peace and Truth flows forth as a Stream and the Lord alone rules in thy Rulers and he the Principal amongst them and under such men and such a Government only and not under any other shalt thou O Nation be happy and thy people a free People Wherefore O Nation when wilt thou begin to look to the Lord when wilt thou begin to set up Him and not man when wilt thou mind his Power and Presence in and through men more then any men themselves when shall it once be O ye people of our Nation that ye will seek after him to be the principal and chief Power among you Oh! let your eye be turned to the Lord alone that he may deliver you and bring Salvation and Freedom and look no more at men but only as they are in him guided by his Spirit only expect good from men as they are guided by the Lord and then shall you not ever any more be deceived as long you have been with Parliaments with Councils with Armies nor any others for in these have you trusted and not in the Lord from these have you expected great Things without him whenas alas what shall men accomplish or what can they bring forth while they reject the Counsel of the Lord and his Word as hitherto they have done and therefore hath he broke them and confounded them yea and he will break them and crush them under his Rod even till they come to learn his Judgments and know him the alone Power and give Honour to him that doth whatsoever he will and he will overthrow it once and again even till he comes whose Right it is to Rule and he is at work in this his Day and because of Iniquities doth he visit with Tribulation and through great Tribulation and overturning of Men and Powers will he advance his own Kingdom and Government and the end of all these things shall bring forth his Glory and men that will not honour him by dealing Righteously in their Day upon Earth they must honour him in their destruction at their Latter-end and let not men glory one over another while some are put down and others set up but let them all know they have but each sort their hour and their end will come even as others for an everlasting Kingdom and Government will God setup that must rule over all and this is the hope of a poor dispised people though for present hated of all and sought to be destroyed by all yet our Souls are anchored and staid even in the sure Promises of our God in this the day of the Nations trouble and though we are poor and rejected of all and have nothing to glory in among any party or sort of people but even in our Reproaches and Sufferings which we sustain from all yet have we perfect rest in God and satisfaction over all these distractions we know him in whom we have believed and we trust in the shadow of his Wing and we are not of a doubting heart concerning what can come or whomsoever do rule for this we know though all seek after our blood yet he can deliver us if he will we know him that can do all things and if he save none can destroy if he bless none can curse him we know and in him we rest and we give our power in all things to him not unto mortal man whose breath is in his nostrils who must perish as the dung we cannot be afraid of their horror nor can we be drawn by their love but we trust in his Name and under his defence shall we be saved we give our power to him to be defended and preserved by him alone and we are well content with our Sufferings and murmur not our Sufferings are our present Crown but yet Wo unto that Authority which maketh us to suffer and wo 〈◊〉 the men upon whom God shall charge the guilt of our Oppressions and wo unto that Spirit that is found acting against Gods Anointed Behold ye Mountains of the Earth behold ye Rulers and ye People the Lord hath blessed his People and every Tongue that riseth up in witness against them shall be condemned and every Weapon that is formed against them shall be broken this is our hope in this gloomy day and the hope of a Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace which must be set up is our refreshment in this day of trouble and let not our Enemies glory over us forthough we be very poor yet shall we be made rich and though we have no carnal weapon yet shall we conquer and thus have we declared our selves in much plainness and sincerity to our Nation whom we love and whose present condition we pitty and and lament over and we are Friends to an appearance of good that may come forth in Truth and Sincerity and as Righteousness do appear in any we are ready to joyn with
it in our Prayers and Desires yea and otherwise even that which hath the Image of our God upon it whenever it shall appear we shall rejoyce therein and be glad to see it prosper For for the establishing of Righteousness in the Earth have we laboured and it cannot be charged upon us That we have sided with one or another for we have beheld all hitherto out of the Right Way as we have said but we truly seek the general Good of our Nation and though we are accounted so and so yet we have not lost true Reason nor Understanding but we well know what is wrong and what would be right even in way of Government but the time appears not to be yet when Innocency and Simplicity of Heart can be embraced for men are yet too wise in their own wisdom and cannot receive the Counsel of the Lord that they may prosper and therefore are they and must they be confounded amongst themselves and dashed one against another till they learn the Way of Righteousness and Truth The substance of this was given forth the Twentieth Day of the Tenth Moneth 1659. being moved of the Lord by his Spirit thereunto through Edward Burroughs A PRESENTATION TO LONDON Being an Answer to the Young-Men and Apprentices returned to some part of their Petition and Address directed by them to the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council Assembled And this is directed to them for their better Information and to the Citizens of London for their better Satisfaction if the Lord shall so work upon their Hearts as to bring them to Moderation and the Spirit of Meekness fit for his INSTRUCTIONS WHereas you say It hath pleased the God and only Wise God for yours and the Nation 's Crying-Sins to manifest his Displeasure for many years together against these Nations and yet you say this Honourable City hath been no great Sharers in the Calamity which your Brethren in other parts have suffered c. Answer Friends it s very true because of yours and the Nations Crying-Sins the Lord's Displeasure is against you and the Nation and his Judgments bang over your City and the Nation even because of your Crying-Sins O! the Pride the Hypocrisie and Double-dealing and Wantonness and all other the abominable Wickedness which abounds among you which are your Sins which indeed is the Cause of God's Displeasure against you and the Nation which he will shew one way or other upon you for Iniquity is full But seeing that your Sins have provoked the Lord is it not now time to come to Humility and Repentance and to forsake your Sins that the Displeasure of the Lord may be turned from you or Is it a time for you to be envious and to seek Revenge upon Men and to make Insurrections and Tuâ—â—lts and Bloodsheds and so to add Sin unto your Sins It s not a time for you to proceed thus for hereby you will gain God's Displeasure more unto you and not turn his Wrath away And its true this City hath been wonderfully preserved from the Miseries and Calamities which have come upon some in this Nation and therefore its time for you to answer the Lord's Love unto you by Meekness and Fear and Righteousness and not to abuse his Mercies by opposing the Work of the Lord and setting your selves to fight as against him in his Proceedings though the time is at hand even because of your own multiplyed Iniquities when you may bring Calamity and Misery upon this City and it may partake of the Nation 's Tribulations and Sorrows And then you complain of the general decay of Trading But what can you attribute that unto but to your Sins also For there hath been so much Double dealing Deceit and Wickedness in the way of your Trading that it is just with the Lord to turn your former Mercies into a present Judgment in that respect but in this case you ought to be contented and to be still and not to murmur against God nor against any others in the Nation but the rather to Repent that the Wrath may be turned from you And whereas you seem to make an Appeal to your Lord Mayor Aldermen Common-Council-Men of this City as if they should be Instruments for the settling of the Three Nations and for the removing of the Troubles and for the Peace of the Church c. Answ. Alas my Friends These Troubles Distractions and Miseries that are approached and which further may ensue is the Fruit and Effect of yours and the Nations Sins and cannot be removed nor remitted but as you and the Nation repenteth and turneth from your Sins so that you take a wrong course to remove the Judgments of the Lord from you and this Nation for its certain That Repentance from sin that removes the Judgment for sin and it s not adding one sin to another neither is it in the hand of those to whom you do appeal to remove the Judgments of the Lord for what are they but Mortal Men like your selves and Transgressors with your selves and have a part in the Sins acted by you and must have a part in the same Judgments though you stir them up to improve themselves and their Tallent for the Peace of the Church as you say whenas alas its Jesus Christ only that must keep his Church in Peace by his good Spirit and not Mortal Men with Mortal Weapons Though you say The Discharge of their Trust may make these Nations Happy or leave them Miserable To which I say If they be faithful to their Trust then they will keep your City in Peace and doubtless they would be blessed therein but yet the Happiness of these Nations dependeth not upon them nor upon what they can do for while many are supposing that they improve their Trust its possible they may be persecuting Righteousness under the Name of Heresie and persecuting Christ in his People under the Name of a Deceiver false Prophet this hath often come to pass in this City and Nation men have improved their Power and Places to the Dishonour of God and the persecuting Christ in his Members while as they have been thinking they have been punishing Sin Heresie and Error and in such cases some have improved their Tallents not truly for God but rather against him But whereas you say You humbly present That the Priviledges of the Gospel the Faithful Preaching and Dispencing of God's Holy Word and Sacraments with the Labour of so many of his Faithful Servants in the Ministry and you humbly desire the Ministry may be Countenanced and Encouraged the Universities upheld and maintained c. Answ. Alas my Friends What do you think concerning the Lord God Surely you have low Thoughts of him and little Belief in him Do not you think he will maintain the Priviledges of the Gospel and the faithful Preaching and Dispensing of his Word and his faithful Ministry without you Do you think that he hath forgotten to be Gratious or that his Power
not first challenged us to Disputes I had not had this Occasion thâ—â— to proceed now and in what I have done I refer it to the Iust Witness of God in the honest People in Reading and to all elsewhere FOrasmuch as great hath been the Debate for these divers years of late between the Lamb and his Followers and Antichrist and his Followers and the one of them hath been opposing the other in their own Power and Authority and great is the Debate at this day between these two Kingdoms which is endeavouring the Overthrow one of the other and all the strength and power of Antichrist is put forth in Defence of his kingdom by Persecution Injustice False-Imprisonments Beatings and Whippings and Spoiling of Goods and Persons and Railings Accusings Slanderings Reproachings by these wayes and proceedings doth Antichrist strive at this day for the upholding and maintaining his own cause and kingdom and by this means and these Weapons mentioned doth he seek to defend himself his Church and Ministry and Ordinances these are his Weapons and Armour by which he opposeth and fighteth against the Lamb and his Followers whom the Lord hath raised up for this end and they have within these few years more then ever for many Generations made an Invation and Inroad upon Antichrist his kingdom and government and the great City Babylon and the Seige is raised that hath long been laid against the Holy Seed and the great City Babylon is taken her Walls are scaled and her Gates broken and her Strength defeated and her Merchants spoiled of their goodly Treasure for the Day of the Lord is come and the holy Seed is he leading out of the spiritual Sodom and Egypt and Mystery Babylon the Great hath God remembred for her Iniquities and her Cruelties and Mercilesness and all her Abominations will God avenge upon her head and this doth come to pass and not by the multitude of an Host of men nor yet by humane Policy and Wisdom nor yet by carnal Weapons nor by Goals nor Prifons nor Persecutions these are not the Lamb's Weapons but these are Antichrist's and the Dragon's Armour and Weapons which he makes War by against the Lamb and his Followers even at this day in every Nation But the Lamb's Weapons are Truth Patience Long-suffering Meekness and down-right Sincerity of Heart and Tongue and by these things shall Antichrist be slain and these Weapons shall Conquer his kingdom Love shall overcome Hatred Meekness shall overcome Wrath Truth shall overcome Deceit and Falshood and God shall overcome the Devil But more particularly Great hath been the Opposition and Debate made one against the other and the Battel between Christ and Antichrist hath principally been held forth between the Ministers of the Church of England on Antichrist's part and the People called Quakers on the other part no man in the Nation can be so Ignorant how the Controversie hath depended betwixt these two and what Weapons they have used the one against the other and also it is in part known the Success of them both and how the one of them to wit the Ministers so called have had on their part the strength of Men the Magistrates Power the Rude Multitude and Humane Craft and the Serpent's Policy not any of these things have been wanting to them but yet a little Seed hath sprung up in the Nation on the other part unexpected by many which hath had Sincerity and Truth in it and the Lord hath been with it and he hath blessed it though but little and very small in its beginning yet it is prospered into a Kingdom for God's Might and his Authority dwelleth in it before whom all Nations of the Earth must Fear and Tremble But yet more particularly my present Occasion of demonstrating these things are as followeth and the Engagement that lies upon me hereunto is not out of any Personal Enmity that I have against any but my Intent is For the Discovery of the Truth that men may imbrace it and for the laying open the Deceits of Antichrist and his Kingdom that men may come out of Babylon and may not partake of her Sins nor of her Plagues and this matter now in hand chiefly concerns the people of the Town of Reading for their Satisfaction concerning the Wayes Practices Doctrines and Proceedings of Christopher Fowler one of their Ministers with whom I have been joyned in opposion two several times in dispute with him and the third time was appointed for our meeting upon Discourse as hereafter is related but he not appearing at the time and place according to appointment and he notwithstanding yet continues in opposition to and Reproaching of the Truth of the Gospel which I profess and contend for therefore upon this account do I thus eâ—gage with him and not for Centention sake but for the open vindication of Truth and Righteousness and sound Faith and Doctrine held forth by us and opposed and gain said by him The first opposition that fell out between him and me was at a meeting challenged by himself in that Town about the ninth Month in the year 1657 and I shall at present forbear his detestable and Abominable Practices and Spâ—â—ches against me and the Truth at that Meeting for indeed the remembrance of it is much passed from me but many in that Town may well remember to 〈◊〉 day how he hooted and clapped his hands in the Palpit as if he had been Hâ—nting on a Mountain and also his ungodly speeches and revilings towards me as calling me Dog and Villain and such like names and when some of his own people reproved him for such words he said The worst words he had in his Mouth was to good for me and indeed such was his carriages and words towards me at that time far off civility and not like a sober Heathen much less like a Christian or Minister of Christ and here follows what was written to him and to the Major and whole Town and sent the next Morning after the dispute which is some account of that dayes proceeding and finding a Copy of it by me I thought meet here to infert it Friends Rulers Priests and People of Reading A Few words to clear my Conscience to you all in the sight of God I send among you occasioned by this dayes Meeting ye people be ashamed of your Priests and ye Priests be ye ashamed of your People and all of you together cover your Lips and hide your Faces and be ashamed of your Profession in Religion or to make mention of the Name of the Lord in that nature in which you stand whose Lightness and Foolishness and Rudeness and Wickedness exceeds some others yea many with whom I have â—ad to do in Disputes you excel in unreasonableness in words and Behaviour manifesting your selves some of you not to be Civil Men much less Christians and this very day much of your Vanity Bruitishness and Unâ—â—vility appeared to your shame in the Sight of all
The Scripture was the Foundation of Foundations but when he heard this he ran away and fled like a Hireling and would not stay and I was and am ready in the Presence of God and any sober men to prove this to be false Doctrine and of the Devil and him to be no Minister of Christ who holds it forth And all you sober minded men may be ashamed of him who managed his work with so much wickedness and impudency while he staid and when it came to the very trial then he run away and would not stand though I desired him hereby did his guilt appear is flying the tryal and this is the substance of the Business though not every particular word and I have gathered it up to send you and him that when you see it and consider and read what you have done you may be ashamed of him and of your own unreasonableness And further He is already proved and may be more largely hereafter to be one that God never sent both by Conversation and Doctrine and no Minister of Jesus Christ and not only in the House but when we were come forth such was your Violence to the stopping of us when we were pasting and had not the Mayor prevented it our Suffering from some of you had been more then it was let the Fear of God strike you and let his Light search Wicked and Ungodly Hearts and repent of your doings and cease to do Evil and turn from your Deceiver if you love your own Souls and learn the Way of Righteousness and Peace which you have not yet known for in the broad way you are and the end of it will be unto your everlasting Destruction And to you this is a Warning and a Visitation from the Lord by a Lover of your Souls who is true though by you called and counted a Deceiver and this in Love to your Souls is sent unto you E. B. Here also followeth certain Queries to Christopher Fowler the same time to which he never yet could give any Sober Answer therefore I here insert them that he may yet give his Answer Christopher Fowler SEeing thou art a man so irrational and so unsober to speak and fairly to debate things in Discourse and thy Auditory so rude and inhumane in Behaviour and words therefore to thee these few Queries I propound to try thee whether thou wilt shew the spirit of a Man by writing more then by speaking seeing therein I have tryed thee to be more like a Wild Inhumaine Creature than a Sober and Upright Christian. Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was framed by it and it shall endure forever hence I query of thee I. Whether the Scriptures be the very Word of God yea or nay Seeing the Scriptures were not in the Beginning neither was the World framed by them neither can they endure forever hence I query of thee II. Whether the very Word of God be Scripture yea or nay Seeing it is confessed that which is written of and declared of in the Scriptures is the Word of God and the Truth which shall endure forever hence Iquery of thee III. Whether the Scriptures the Writings and the Thing or Subject declared and written of are not two distinct things so as one may have the one and not the other yea 〈◊〉 nay Seeing God and his Word Will and Mind is Eternal Infinite and Endless hence I query of thee if thou hast an Understanding answer IV. Whether God his Word Will and Mind is or can be contained or holden in Scriptures and Writings or but only part of the Declaration of him of his Word Will and Mind yea or nay Seeing such were false Prophets which preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for Gain from their Quarter hence I query of thee V. Whether by this Rule art not thou proved a false Prophet who preachest for Hire and takest Hire for Preaching and hast a Quarter reading of some part of it from which thou seekest Gain answer in Plainness Seeing every Tree is known by its Fruit as Christ saith hence I query VI. Whether by this rule thou that bringst forth the same fruits as the false Prophets did viz. Lies Lightness Pride Covetousness and false accusing art not the same Tree viz. a false Prophet Seeing they were false Prophets who ran and were not sent and did not profit them the people at all but clothed themselves with the Wool and prepared War against them that put not into their Mouths c. hence I query of thee VII Whether by this rule thou art not proved a False Prophet who canst not prove that thou art sent of God neither are the people profitted by thee but are rude and wanton and wicked and thou preparest war against them that put not into thy mouth by suing them at law for Tithes c Seeing Scorning Lying Slandering Envy Hatred Lightness c. with much more of which thou art guilty are the fruits of the flesh and of the Divel hence I query of thee VIII Whether by this rule art thou not proved to be no Minister of Christ but of the Devil and a Servant to him and a Liver to the Flesh and not in the Spirit in whom these Fruits of Darkness and of the Flesh are abounding Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the beginning and Christ Jesus is the Foundation and no other can be laid hence I query of thee IX Whether by this rule thou art not proved a Deceiver and thy Doctrine false and Error and contrary to Scripture who said the Scriptures are the Word of God which were not in the Beginning and said that the Scriptures which are not Christ are the Foundation of Foundations and whether this Doctrine of thine doth not deny Christ and so art proved to be Antichrist answer according to Truth Seeing thou confessest thou hast Hire for Preaching yet sayst thou preachest not for Hire hence I query of thee X. Whether any of the People of Reading would give thee so much a Year if thou didst not preach to them and if no then whether they do not give thee so much and thou receive it because thou Preachest unto them or did they give thee so much before thou preachest or will they give thee any when thou dost cease to preach to them try them when thou wilt and prove thy self a true Prophet by Preaching some years and receiving nothing and till then I charge thee to be a false Prophet Seeing the Ministry which Christ Jesus sent by the Apostles did bring people that they needed no man to teach them but as the anointing within them hence I query of thee XI Whether by this rule thy Ministry is proved not to be of Christ Iesus nor thou sent of him by which none can come to this condition that they need no man to teach them produce any one if thou canst and so a Ministry of Anti-christ
more clear opportunity for I cannot be at Okingâ—â—â— the day mentioned by thee because my service is already determined for that day and for some other reasons also in my own breast Let me have a plain answer from thee that I may dispose of my self is the Lord guides me for his service This is all for present I do desire who am a Friend to all that love the Lord. Reading the 19th of the 10th Moneth 1659 E. Burroughs But to this Letter his Answer was he would not meet me at Reading for there was no need of Dispute there and therefore it is my present work at this time for to answer his ten Particulars in writing and to make them publick to â—ll that all may judge of this matter And indeed but that for these teâ— particulrs Charges and that truth may be clear from those Charges in his ten Particulars I believe I had not thus proceeded in this publick manner but because â—e ceaseth not to speak evil of the Truth and yet will not come forth fairly to Tryal neither will answer me any Queries in publick but keeps a secret reviling and reproaching therefore do I thus proceed Answer to the first Position Thy Major and thy Minor are both lame and both false and thy so conclusion falls to the Ground for the Quakers do not pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but they in sincerity say that Christ is the Word of God Io. 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. and the Scriptures are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise and this Testimony is according to the Scriptures Luke 1. 1 Acts 1. And it is not Heresie nor Blasphemy to deny the Scriptures to wit the writings to be the Word of God but the truth written of and those things declared of in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 â—he Word of God and not the writings which are Scriptures But this iâ—â—â—â—the◠〈◊〉 to before mâ— so I pass it Answer to the second Position Thy Major Position is uâ—â—â—â—ly 〈◊〉 and not grounded upon any part of the Scriptures so that the Niâ—… and the Concluâ—â—â—â— are both denied and cast out for a man mâ—y sâ—y That Chrisâ—â—â—e Foundation of Faith and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Life for thus the Scriptures say and a man may lawfull deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faâ—â—â— and Rule of Life and neither be Heretick nor Blasphemer was the Apoâ—â—â—e a Blasphemer and a Heretick who said No other Foundation could be laid but thâ—â— which was laid already which was Christ And was he a Heretick and a Blasphemer that said The Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and exhorted to walk â—y the Rule of the Spirit and are the Quakars Blasphemers and Heretiâ—â—s who â—old forth that Truth the Apostles held forth and who walk by the Spirit wâ—… according and not contrary to the Scriptures O thoâ— Perverter of the right way of God who hast falsly accused the Innocent in thy illiterate Logick Answer to the third Position In this thou hast falsly accused but yet let us câ—â—sider thy words There was a Nature in that Maâ— Iesus Christ that was born of tâ—e â—â—â—gin that was subject to cold heat thirst and hunger and subject to be tempted of the Devil and this nature was not God whose nature is Infinite Eternal Unmeasurable me sâ—bject to hunger nor thirst nor to heat and cold nor subject to temptations so that a man may say lawfully and be no Blasphemer that there was a Nature in him which was â—ot God and yet the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him too and he is the Everlasting Father and the Father is in him and he in the Father and thus by a sound interpretation of the Word God by Nature thy Major and Minor and Conclusion are all made void Answer to the fourth The good works of the Saints are wrought in God and by his Spirit and its God that works in them to will and to do and all such Works are worthy Works glorious Works and blessed Works even unto Eternal Life as the Scripture saith Glory Honour and Peace be unto every man that â—orketh good Rom. 2. 7 10. And no man by Faith without Works is justified for Faith without Works is dead and a dead Faith doth not justifie This is our Faith and the Faith which the Apostles were of and we are neither Hereticks nor Papists no more then were the Apostles and thy argument is vain and falls to the ground and hath no weight in it unto sober Minds though Self-righteousness is altogether Abomination to the Lord and justifieth not any man Answer to the fifth Position A man may deny the Sprinkling of Infants and the administration of Bread and Wine as is held forth in your Assemblies and be neither Antichristian nor a Heretick for the Institution of sprinkling Infants and administring of Bread and Wine among unconverted people was never ordained of God nor practised amongst the Apostles if thou sayst it was prove it out of the Scriptures or else stop thy Mouth and to deny such Ordinances and Practices which God never commanded nor the Saints of forâ—er Ages ever practiced is not Antichristian nor Heresie but thu do the Qakers and tâ—â—â—â—fore they are not Antichristian nor Hereticks upon this accompâ— and tâ—â—â— thy Position is not worth any thing for the end proposed by thee but thy Weakness and Folly is made manifest and thy idolatâ—ous Prâ—ctices so much plâ—â—â—ed for by thee are denied and opposed by the Spirit of the Lord. Answer to the sixth Position As for the sin of Infants we do not say That Infants in general that is to say every particular Infant that is 〈◊〉 hath been horn into the World has Sin for some were fillen with the holy Ghost and some were â—â—â—ctified from their Mother Womb and what Sin had such And the Scriptâ—re speaks That the Unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Beliâ—ving Hâ—… eâ—se 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Câ—ildrâ—â— unclean but now are they holy And what sin had these So that â—â—y maâ—… is proved defective and so thy minor and thy conclusion is worth nothing though as to the general part we do believe there is a nature whereby all are Children of Wrath in Degeneration Answer to the seventh This is a false Accusation thy minor Proposition and is a Lye and so thy Conclusion is utterly false Answer to the eighth As for the Christian-Sabbath we do not deny that for Christ is the Saints Rest and the Seventh day of the Week is the Iews Sabboth and not the Christian-Sabbath and so this is but a false Accusation as the rest And as for the first day of the Week which you observe for Sabboth you have neither binding Example nor express Command in Scripture for that practice Answer to the ninth As for the singing of David's Psalms in Rhime and Meeter and in the Custom as practised amongst you we do utterly deny to be any Ordinance of
of Worship and Practices upon people And what do you mean by Godly Ministry Will you admit of just Tryal according to the Scriptures whether yours be that Godly Ministry or no for all sorts of Christians Papists and Protestants and all others they will say That they are in the right Way and their Ministry is the Godly Ministry but the fruits of many prove the contrary and we cannot believe that yours is the Godly Ministry except you will prove it to us by and according to the Scriptures Now it is certain That the Ministry of the Apostles was the true Godly Ministry and if yours agree with theirs then we will confess That yours is the true Godly Ministry Therefore tell us plainly do you agree with them in your Call and in your Maintenance and in your Practices and in your Fruits and Effects in your lives and Conversations and in your Doctrines Are you justly according to and do you agree with the Apostles in all these things shall we lay you to the Line that you may be judged This is but as a hint at things whereby you might justly be tryed for if you agree not with the Apostles in these cases mentioned then it is evident that your Ministry is not the true Godly Ministry but hereafter we may have a better occasion to try you And thus the principal part of your Exhortation is answered and if you can receive it in Love TO all you Sixty One Teachers in London under whose hands your Exhortation passeth this I say to you in the Fear of the Lord God Oh ye Men consider and let it enter into your hearts the Day of the Lord is at hand upon you and an Account of your Stewardship must you give and his Reward must you have whom you have served and you must reap the Fruit of what you have sown Oh look upon your Flocks and see what a condition they are in Oh what Pride and Vain-glory is abounding amongst them Oh how doth Wickedness spring forth from them Are they like unto Sheep of Christ's Fold or Are not they appearing outwardly Christians when as the evil nature is uncut down in them Oh what Wickedness abounds in this City What Double-dealing and Dissimulation What Lying and Swearing and Drunkenness Oh high are all the Fruits of the Flesh grown amongst your Flocks Your Vineyards are not dressed as they ought to be there are aboundance of corrupt Trees and fruitless Branches which cumber the Ground Oh! it makes the Heart of the Righteous sad to walk in the Streets and to view the Abominations that are daily brought forth by a people professing Scriptures Church Ministry and Christ. Oh! it burdens the Just and grieves the Righteous Soul to consider how high Iniquity is grown among the Sheep of your Pastures whom ye should have fed with Knowledge and converted unto the Fear of the Lord had you been Messengers sent of God the very Iews and Heathens they blaspheme against Christ through the Abominations brought forth among Christians that have the Name to live but are dead Oh! let it enter into your Hearts and smite you that your many years Ministry should have so little effect for your Vineyard is like untilled Ground unploughed and unbroken up Oh! there is much Hard-heartedness amongst your People and their Hearts go after Covetousness even while they profess God with their Lips Oh! the Righteous mourn in secret to see the Prophanness the Scornings and Reproaches that are brought forth in your City And Oh the Idolatry that aboundeth let it repent you that you have been so sloathful and never more seek the Fleece but seek the Flock that 's gone astray from the Lord who is the true Shepherd whose Voice hath not been obeyed and many Pastors have destroyed the Vineyard and many Shepherds have fed themselves and not the Flock Oh consider the Day of the Lord is at hand and he will visit with his Rod You and your Flocks prepare to meet the Lord for his Kingdom is nigh to come which will be a terrible Day to all the Workers of Iniquity And as for this your Exhortation I say As for Exhortation in it self Ministers ought to exhort their Flocks so such a thing in it self I do commend and not oppose but when I had read and seriously considered the Aim and Intent of your spirits in your Exhortation I found it secretly and in a measure openly opposing and striking at and secretly smiting the People of the Lord whom you have Reproached by the name of Quakers who are dear to the Lord and he careth for them though you see no Beauty in them but account them altogether vile and in as much as you lifted up your hands against them upon that account was it upon my spirit to return something in Answer for the Information of many that they might be Undeceived and not in Envy towards any but in Love to all to both you and your People and you have occasioned this upon your selves though you are reproved And not as a man of Strife or Contention have I proceeded but as one that desireth the further Manifestation of Truth and that no false Accusation may rest upon it which you have secretly brought forth with which the Lord is not well-pleased that you should set your selves in Opposition against his People and if any of you shall receive a just Reproof and repent it may prove to you an Advantage or much Good and be not so Proud as to say in your hearts What aâ—t thou weak man that reprovest us or Wherefore art thou so bold thus to deal with us but rather fall under just Reproof for in Uprightness of Heart have I proceeded towards you and not in mine own but in the Will of the Father And oh that your Flocks would also consider among whom there are many that are zealous in their way Oh that their Zeal and Judgments were guided by the Spirit of the Lord then should it be well with them Oh that they would be meek and humble and learn the Fear of the Lord Oh that every one of them would consider and turn from their Iniquities and become Followers of Jesus Christ then should the Glory of the Lord be revealed unto them and Peace and Truth and Righteousness should be unto them and their Families and their City if they would come into Covenant with God and be taught of him and be exercised by his Law in their Hearts then should the Countenance of the Lord be upon them and then should they discern between Truth and Error between the Ministers of Christ and Deceivers Oh! there is a Pitty for many poor souls which are zealous in their way of Religion without Knowledge and they think they do God good service while yet their Consciences are not exercised by the Spirit of the Lord but a false spirit that rules and leads and may hold the Truth in unrighteousness and they know not but that they do
behold his Invisibility Who can reach his endless Beeing He filleth Heaven and Earth and of his Fulness every Creature in Heaven and Earth receiveth and by him doth subsist though it is only given unto Man-kinde to behold and perceive of him it is only his Gift unto his Saints that fear him to understand of his Wayes and in us he hath opened of his Fulness and Treasure even in our Hearts and the divine Mystery of this Infinite God is revealed and discovered in the Hearts of the Sons of Men whom he hath chosen and he hath given us to enjoy and possess in us a Measure of that fulness that is in himself even a Measure of the same Love and â—ife of the same Mercy and Power and of the same divine Nature and a Measure of the same heavenly quality and property which is in him in all fulness dwelleth in us his Saints by measure even in all that are born of him in whom the Immortal Birth is brought forth which is of his own nature and is Immortal Spiritual Holy Meek Merciful even as the Father for the quality of him that hath begotten is in us that are begotten of him we bear his Image and are of the Father Partakers of his Substance Immortal and Infinite and are one with him in Nature and Fellowship and perfect through him that dwells in us and hath changed us into his likeness these things ye know if ye be born from above and if the Immortal Birth live in you and you be constant in the Faith then are you Heirs through it of the everlasting Inheritance of eternal Life and already have received the Earnest and Assurance thereof and all are yours because you are Christ's and he is God's and you have the Father and the Son And this Life and Immortality is brought forth in us and Infiniteness it self dwells with us and eternity possesseth us and Fulness it self is shed abroad â—n our Hearts and we have the Treasure of Life of Wisdom of Knowledge and of divine Fulness in our Tabernacles of Clay which also are sanctified by his Word and Power to be fit Habitations for the eternal God to dwell in And oh what love is this with which we are beloved by him Oh what Mercy is this of which we partake from him Who are become the Sons of God and Children of the most High in whose earthen Vessels dwells Immortallity and Life and Infinite Substance being gathered into his Shepherds Fold of defence where we have Immortal Food and are established on the holy Mountain where nothing can destroy and are at rest and peace and under the shadow of the Rock of Ages that Hell nor Death nor wrath of Man can terrifie Oh what Eye hath seen this what Ear hath heard it and what Heart hath perceived it and not admired the loving-kindness of the Lord who among you are Witnesses of this that sayes not great and Infinite is the Lord and Immeasurable in Mercy and Truth and Righteousness Oh Friends if you know these things and if ye receive daily of this Fulness and if the Measure of that Immortal Life be risen in you and hath raised up you with it self into its own fulness which once was descended out of its own fulness of eternal Rest and Strength and was manifest in its Measure in poverty and weakness in your Hearts in the feeling of Afflictions and Wrath because of Sin but it descended to suffer all and to bear Transgression that you might be raised with it into its Life and Glory and Fulness and if this be finished and effected in you Oh then how shall you not live to his Glory and Praise in your Generation and in Love and Peace and Unity with himsel and one with another and magnifie him in Soul and Spirit that hath called you and chosen you and now works all your works in you and for you and you live by him because he lives in you But though it is thus that some are entred into the Rest and have received of his fulness and have the Testimony of Life and Assurance in the Father and are risen with Christ yet are you and we and all the Children of the Father so set and placed in this Creation as that there is an Enemy to be ruled over and also a service to be fulfilled by us for the Lord that hath chosen us and therefore watchfulness and faithfulness is required from us and unto this I cannot but exhort you all even to walk in the Fear of the Lord in watchfulness and faithfulness in Humility and Meekness in Truth and Justice and in every good thing and that you fulfill the Will of the Lord in all things whatsoever the Motions of his own Life draws you unto that every Member of his Infinite Body which is highly exalted at his right Hand may be preserved in dominion over Sin and Death and also may shew forth the Honour and Glory and Praise of him who is the Head even Christ whose vertue hath an ointed every Member and is shed abroad through the whole Body I say Friends of every Member is required the duty and service thereunto partaining according as it is placed of him that the Treasure of Life may shew forth its vertue in one manner or another through you all in all well-doing to the glory of him who is God above all and that in the sight of your Enemies whom you know watches for evil and would rejoyce in any occasion against you that they might speak evil of the Lord because of you you may walk without offence in the answer of a good Conscience and if you walk as such as are the Lord's you will cut off all occasions from them that seek it and they will be confounded and you preserved in the blessedness and peace everlasting and you will grow in Immortallity and into the knowledge and fulness thereof more and more till you know the Father even as you are known of him And be not unmindful of the Word of the Lord which begat you which first entred into your Hearts and wrought mightily in you to the wounding and destroying of Death and Enmity and remember the Travel of the dayes past and the Indignation which once you felt because of Sin through the Word of God and the Word endures for ever of which you are begotten and if any appearance of Iniquity or motion thereunto arise in you into desire to be fulfilled the Word will quench it and give you dominion over Sin and Death and save you from the effects thereof for the Word changes not but is the same alwayes but if man change and pervert his Way into Iniquity it reproves and corrects and so delivers him for this Word keeps clean the Heart and it sanctifies and also keeps in subjection the mortal man with all his thoughts desires and actions and destroyes the Man of Sin the sinful Man by whom the whole Creation hath been corrupted and
Christ and his sake we bear all things having Prophesie and Example before us of the same things that came to pass between the Men of this World and the People and Saints of the Most High And for as much as one that subscribes himself George Willington of Bristol City hath publickly appeared in Print even in the Work aforesaid with his Accusations and Reproaches against the People of God whom he in scorn calls Quakers in his Book called The thrice Welcome of King CHARLES the Second c. Because of which his Accusations are the very present Occasion of this my present Work and that his Accusations may be turned backward and the minds of Men even of King Charles may be better informed for he hath accused us to the King and being we are somewhat concerned in this matter being thus reproached and that to the King who hath yet little knowledge of us and our Principles therefore it is upon me to give reasonable Answers to that Part of his Book wherein we are concerned and accused lest that the King to his own hurt should receive such Accusations for Truth when as they are otherwise and so be induced to proceed upon Reports if the Charge should not be answered And first I shall affirm and prove it in its season That this same Man whose Accusations I am now going to answer hath proceeded in the same spirit of all the false Accusers beforementioned and he hath lifted up his voyce in contempt of the Lord's People and hath rendered an evil Report of the Lord's Elect and though we forgive our Enemies him and such as he yet will the Lord plead with and give unto them according to their Deeds and we only may reprove them and leave Vengeance to the LORD our GOD unto whom it belongs Now though we are and have been thus proceeded against ever since we were a People even falsly reproached and all manner of evil spoken against us foâ— the Name of Christ by them whose Hearts are filled with Fury and Rage against us yet we are known in our integrity unto the Lord who hath placed his Nâ—me with us and we know one another in Faithfulness and Truth and Righteousness and I hope we have a Witness in many Consciences even of our Enemies and also of many in Bristol that as to our Doctrines Practises and Conversations they are according to the Truth and answerable to the Scriptures and justifiable even of the Witness of God in all sober-minded People even of them that have not yet joyned themselves to us and we are known to that in many even to the Witness of God in their Consciences to which in all we daily commend our selves in Doctrine Practise and Conversation that thereby onely we may be known and approved and we praise not our selves neither do we boast of what we are sâ—ving in the Lord yet from time to time we do and can make our Appeal in the sight of God to the just Principle of Him in all Men and even to the King before whom we now stand accused by this our Enemy do I make this desire though yet we are in a great measure Strangers to him in Doctrine Practises and Conversation that he may in all Cases of this and other Matters shew Moderation and the Spirit of Meekness and may first try all things and then he may judge the more justly for we are not afraid to be tryed before him and all the World in any Matter of Doctrine or in any Part of our Religion and we should judge it greatly honourable in the King to hear our Answers as well as our Enemies Accusations and to the Witness of God in him we can appeal for determination in any matter that is or may hereafter come in controversie before him concerning us And it is most certain that the proceedings of George Willington in this case of his accusing us to the King is not in love to Us nor to the King and his Government but altogether contrary as upon divers found Reasons I might â—emonstrate and may in its season and his present work against us is from old in-bred Enmity and Malice against us who would have us destroyed if it were in his Power for he hath formerly manifested himself in writing Reproaches and Slanders against us which were sufficiently answered and hereproved and refuted to his great shame among all sober People to which he never yet replied as being too Ignorant and too weak ever to clear himself from what is charged against him in the Answer given to his former Book but now as I have said out of and from that bitter old long-seated Enmity and devouring Malice he hath again appeared in Print against us supposing himself to have so excellent opertunity more then ever before to have his devouring mind satisfied of us and therefore hath he in haste presented the King with a Welcome partly of Reproaches and Accusations against the People of God but his Heart hath deceived him in this case for we shall live and not die God will preserve us and no man shall destroy us Now it had been a Welcome of love far more to the King to have sought his Mercy and Meekness towards all at his first enterance into the Government and the rather to have stirred him up thereunto then to seek to provoke him to rigour and wrath against any to destroy them as this Welcome of Willinton's tends unto which is not true love to the King but rather a preparing a Net for to entangle him and to lay stumbling Blocks of Iniquity before the Feet of the King that he might be destroyed and fall and never rise And let the King consider this for if he be provoked by any means to dâ—stroy or seek to overthrow the Innocent People of God that same shall be a Net to entangle him to destruction and a stumbling Block to fall upon and be everlastingly broken So that hereby the Welcome of Geo. Willington doth appear to be not of love but of ignorant hatred to the King and indeed it is such especially that part of it now under hand that it deserves reproof more then acceptation even from the King if he rightly consider the ground and end of the Author in his Accusations against us notwithstanding his seeming fawning and Flatteries by which he appears to be some Pick-thank or some News-teller or rather Tale-carrier for some hope of Promotion or Reward But I wish better to the King then that he receive or accept of the false Informations of this Author our Accuser or of any such like lest that he ensnare himself and be taken and stumble and fall in receiving mis-Informations instead of Truth and thereupon proceed in judgement or censure unjustly which is a way to destroy himself Let him take heed to himself I desire better for him and that he may shut his Ear against evil Informations and may never have his Heart opened to the sheding of Blood
and Over-reaching your Neighbours your Riches so gotten shall never prosper noâ— be blessed to you but shall be a Curse to you and your Children And your Covetousness will God plague Ye that have gotten Goodt and not by Right shall leave them in the midst of your dayes Wo unto you Carnal Minds all the Treasures of them are corruptible your Lands Gold and Silver are fading Treasures The Day of the Lord's Judgments are at hand upon you and the Rod of his Wrath will smite you and ye shall have Poverty and want instead of Fulness and Excess and ye shall have Leanness and Barrenness and God will plead with you in the way you have sinned against him The Time of your Visitation draws near Wo unto you Merchants Traders Buyers and Sellers that have been Double-Dealers and Double-Tongued and dealt deceitfully in your Commodities with your Neighbours Wo unto ye that have got Gain by Double-dealing and by feigned and flattering Speeches have beguiled one another and sought to out-reach in your Bargaining every man his Brother these things have ye done O ye Covetous Men ye have even robbed the Poor by your Craft and Guileful-dealing by your smooth and flattering Tongues and if any amongst you could not use Fraud and Dissemble such have been your Prey and Scorn and it s your Use to discommend a Commodity when you buy it and to praise it when you sell it and ye make a fair out-side to please the Eye and ye use multitude of words and fair speeches and decâ—ive the Simplâ— and get Gain by Oppression Craft and Deceit Wo unto you Repent of this your sin Cleause your Hearts you Sinners and purifie your Hearts you Double-minded I charge you by the Lord Give over your Double-dealing and deceitful Merchandize cease to Lye and Defraud cease your Flattery and Feigned words and speak the Truth every one to his Neighbour and come out of your Iniquities use not a bad Conscience any longer for its a fearful Abomination against the Lord But mind the Light of Christ in you which will convince you in your Consciences of your noughty and sinful wayes and that Light will exercise your Consciences to do the Truth and speak the Truth to your Neighbours in all things and this is Blessed and the Gain that is thereby gotten is not a Curse for ye ought in all your wayes to reverence the Lord and respect him that he should lead you and guide you in your exercise of all Earthly things For the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and it ought to be exercised to his Glory and there is suffient in this Creation for all People and therefore covet not Earthly things one from another neither oppress nor over-reach one another about them neither treasure up Earthly things while the Poor want for if ye do you hide your selves from your own Flesh laying Field to Field till there is no Place for the Poor and Wo unto such the Day of the Lord will be upon you But learn the Wisdom of God how to be ordered and how to order all things of this Creation and be in Unity and good Agreement amongst your selves and do not fall out nor strive nor contend nor envy one another about Earthly things but if ye have much or if ye have little be contented with what you have and do not grind the Hearts and Consciences one of another to get Earthly things for they will fade and perish away and seek not after that which perisheth but after that which is unto Eternal Life For the Day of the Lord is at hand and his Judgments upon all Oppressors Double-dealers and False-hearted Flatterers that are Covetous of Earthly things Wo unto all ye Drunkards and Swearers Whoremongers and Prophane Persons the Judgments of the Lord are upon you unawares ye that destroy the Creation upon your Lusts that are rnn into the Excess of Wine and Beer and that covet it excessively and that drink till ye inflame your selves and spend your time in it ye are like the Beasts of the Field and like the Swine that wallow in Filthinefs ye pervert the right use and End of the good Creatures of God and spend them upon your Lusts and have not regard unto the Living God and one sin even begets another Drunkenness begets Swearing and prophane Words and Whoredom and beastly Affections and thus ye add sin to sin and heap up one sin upon another conâ—â—ary to the Light in your own Consciences and thus ye serve 〈◊〉 â—…il and Satan committing Iniquity with both hands as it were by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and swearing and taking the Name of the Lord in Vain and 〈◊〉 Spâ—â—â—â—es and falling out one with another and your Minds are eâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 the Lord and 〈◊〉 abuse your selves and your 〈◊〉 Bodies which were made fâ—â— the service of God and not 〈◊〉 whorâ—… 〈◊〉 and ye slay your own soulâ— by your own Iniquities and mames provoke the Lord to destroy both Soul and Body Wo unto you 〈◊〉 â—lagues of God are your Portion and Misery your â—nd here and hereafter 〈◊〉 of your Iniquities and turn from them left the Lord find you in 〈◊〉 Iniquities when he comes to Judgâ—ment 〈◊〉 if you continue in them 〈◊〉 can never be pardoned but you siâ— unto death and the Lord will come â—pon you suddenly for ye that followed Drunkenness and Propâ—â—â—ess you live contrary to the Light in your own Consciences and you sin against your knowledge against that Knowledge that God hath given you and this is your greatest sin even because ye do the things which ye know ye shoulâ— not do 〈◊〉 the Light in your Consciences doth sheâ— you that these things are evil before you do them but ye doing the things contrary to the Light in your 〈◊〉 Consciences this makes your Crime 〈◊〉 and your sin uâ—pardonable 〈◊〉 â—e continue in sin and prophaness contrary to the Reproof of God's Spiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 your own â—nsciences Wherefore ye prophane Persons cease to do evil â—est the Lord's Judgements come upon yâ—â— suddenly to your Dâ—struction and the Lord smite you and you never be healed Wo unto all ye â—â—ypoâ—riâ—iâ—â—l and deceitful Profâ—ssors of Religion that hold the Truth in Unrighteousness thâ—â— have a talk and a shew of Religion and that have the Name of Church-members and of Worshippers of God but are 〈◊〉 in Sins and Trespasses ye that are Christians by Name but want the Nâ—â—ure who are Wolves in Sheep's cloathing that have Christ's words the Prophets and Apostâ—â—s words but want their Spirit and Life Wo unto you the Dâ—â— of the Lord is at hand upon you ye Hypocrites ye that serve God with your Liâ—â— and with your â—outhes profess much love whenas your Hearts are full of â—â—â—y Covetousâ—â—â—â— and Earthly-mindedness ye are the Apostate Christians thâ—â— have taken the Form of Godliness upon you but want the Power ye preach and pray and hear sermons and keep Sabbath Dayes and perform Duties 〈◊〉 ye
which he would bring upon others Again The Accuser chargeth us That we would neither have King Magistrate 〈◊〉 Ministers but of our selves c. Answ. 1. I have before mentioned what kind of Rulers and Government we would have even such as are just men and men of Truth and Righteousness and that hate Covetousness and every evil Way and such are of us even such we would have to reign as are approved of God who would be a praise to them that do well and a terrour to Evil-doers and that would only rule and reign for the Lord exercising and executing his Righteous Laws by the Spirit of God and such will be blessed in their Authority 2. And till such only rule and bear the Sword of Justice in the Earth we do know Peace and Happiness can never be in the Kingdoms of the World but divisions and confusions will arise and be brought forth for it is the only blessedness of a Government in any Nation when the Authority it self is just â—ad according to God and when such as bear the execution thereof are just Kings Righteous Magistrates and Ministers of Justice that will judge for God and not for man and we seek not the Place of Government in this World nor do we intrude our selves into such Places though this we say while that spirit reigns and rule in the Nations of the Earth which is not of God but contrary to us Peace and Happiness in good Government amongst men through the World can never be though we are truly subject to whatsoever Authority is set over us by doing or suffering Then the Accuser speaks of teaching the Wayes of Righteousness and saith according to this the Quakers have gone through Ireland and he speaks of God's Wrath following for hardness of Heart and this saith he is just like the Quakers Doctrines now Answ. That the Quakers scornfully so called have gone through Ireland and through many other Nations of the Word to teach and preach Truth and Righteousness this is true and without occasion of an evil Charge against them for so doing and the Lord hath prospered us and been with us to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and we have Testimony in the Consciences of many for the truth of our Doctrines and Practices and this is not Error nor Heresie to proclaim the Wrath of God because of the hardness of Peoples Hearts for that is the Portion of all hard-hearted men and we are not ashamed of this Doctrine for it is according to the Scriptures of Truth and but that this Accuser is given up to blindness of mind he would never have mentioned these things against us nor used our Names in reproach in this matter And lastly whereas he saith some of the Quakers say they are Jews and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan and thou chargest Iames Naylor with â—â—ying that he was Christ and that one should say George Fox was Iohn Baptist and such false Prophets and Prophesies we have heard too much of c. Answ. 1 That they say they are Iews and are not are such as have a Name to live but are dead who say and do not but we are not such so this his Charge is false and wicked and of the Synagogue of Satan he doth manifest himself to be by his accusing of the Brethren And as for Iâ—…s Naylor he never said he was Christ through this hath been cast as a foul Reproach upon him by others yet it never was proved against him lawfully noâ— any thing tending thereunto saving that he said Christ was in him as 〈◊〉 iâ— in every Member of his Body according to measure And as for the story of George Fox there are many such lying stories that have gone abroad in these Nations in opposition to the Truth of God made manifest but over all these things Truth â—ath gotten the victory and the Lord's Work must prosper in the Earth and all Lyâ—rs must be confounded and have their Portion in the Lake And this iâ— our Portion from the World as Christ said They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name sake but great shall be your Reward in Heaven And this is for a Testimony against them that our Enemies are of the Devil and for a Testimony to us that we are of God And thus I have returned our Defence before you against his several Lyes and Slanders and it s left to the Witness of God in your Consciences to be Judge in this Case between us and him and if you be cloathed with the Spirit of moderation and meekness and will judge according to Equity I doubt not but the Cause is clear against our Adversary who wrongfully and to a wicked and evil intent hath hatched Mischief against us and brought it forth before you and we desire nothing of Revenge towards him for his evil work but do leave him to be rewarded of the Lord who will justly give him and all men according to their Deeds And now I have a few Considerations to present unto you three in particular as such in that capacity who bear rule in this Land 1. Consider how that you are set in Place and Authority and ought to judge and govern for God alone and to be a Terror to all Evil-doers and a Praise to all that do well and the living God requireth of you To do Iustice Truth and Righteousness in the Land to hear the cry of the Widow and Fatherless and to judge uprightly the Cause of the Poor without respect to your own self-ends and ye ought to be meek and humble men in your Places of Care and Trust which iâ— committed unto you and take heed that your hearts be not lifted up in the honour of high Places and so Iudgment Mercy and Truth be neglected and Oppressions and Cruelties be brought forth 2. Consider that if ye do Iustice and Righteousness and walk humbly with the Lord and exercise Mercy and Truth in the Land and hear the Cry of the Poor and deliver the Afflicted then the Lord can make you a Blessing to your selves and to the People But if you be proud and exalted and ambitious and vain-glorious and exercise Cruelty and Oppression and tread down the Poor and vex the Needy and grieve the Lord God by your Iniquities then God will cast you down and lay your honour in the Dust and make you a Curse and a Reproach and your Names and Memorial shall be a stink and the justice of the Lord's Hand shall effect it 3. Consider that ye are Men and not God and your strength flesh and not spirit and there is a God greater than all who is above all who can suddenly in a moment save his People and destroy his Enemies and he can break you down and never raise you up he can turn his Hand upon you and all man-kind as the Potter doth with his Clay even tread
it hath been in my Heart divers times to declare the Substance of these things unto you but at last I have chosen to write my Mind to present to you concerning the Matters very needful for you to be informed in and it is for your sakes as well as theirs that I have done it that you may not run on to act any thing against them upon Suspitions and Accusations of others without hearing our Defence and therefore it is for the avoiding and stopping of Persecution in the Land for this Cause have I taken in hand Submissively and not Presumptiously to state this Plea before you and I must leave it to your Considerations and cannot impose my Faith upon you to believe as I believe but having laid the Truth before you I shall leave it to the Lord to work Faith and Love and Iustice Mercy and all good things in your Hearts that you may bring them forth in the Exercise of them in the World London the 10th day of the second Moneth 1661. I am a Lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Righteousness E. B. A Just and Righteous PLEA presented unto the KING of England and his COUNCIL c. CHAP. 1. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance 1. WE do acknowledge our selves to be free-born People of this Kingdom of England the Land of our Nativity and we do assert That we have just and lawful Right and Title as such to possess and enjoy our Lives Liberties and Estates both by the Laws of God and Man having never unto this day since we were a People forfeited our Birth-right as men by any Rebellion Sedition Contempt or otherwise but have alwayes been and are a People exercised in the Law of our God by walking justly towards all men and doing to others as we would be done unto and have been and are a Peaceable People under every Government and Authority that hath been over us since the Lord raised us up And I do hereby declare That we now are and shall be Faithful Innocent and Peaceable in our several Stations and Conditions under this present Government of King Charles the second whom we acknowledge supream Magistrate and Governour over this Kingdom and for Conscience sake we are obedient and submissive to him as such in all his Commands either by doing and performing of what he justly requireth or by patient suffering under whatsoever is inflicted upon us in the Matters for which we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake when any thing is required of us different from the just Law of God And to this Subjection to the King and his Government we are bound by the Law of Righteousness and such hath ever been our Principle and Practice and is unto this day even to be Quiet and Peaceable and Patient under every Authority that is set over us and not in Unrighteousness to Plot or Contrive or Rebel against any Government or Governours nor to seek our own Deliverance from Injustice and Oppression in such a way And we are perswaded to seek the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority by all just and lawful Means and not to Rebel against him with carnal Weapons and so far as his Government is in Justice Mercy and Righteousness we declare true and Faithful Subjection and Obedience thereunto and wherein it is otherwise we shall be subject by patient suffering what is unequally imposed upon us and yet not Rebel in any Turbulent way of Conspiracies and Insurrections For our Principles are not for War but for Peace with all men so much as in us lie neither may we render Evil for Evil to any but are to be subject to the King and his Government Actively or Passively upon the Conditions aforementioned And we renounce all Forreign Authority Power and Jurisdiction of the Pope or any else from having any Supremacy whatsoever over the King oâ— any the good Subjects of England And this we Declare Acknowledge and Testifie in the Fear and Presence of God to whom we and all Mankind must give an Account and that without secret Equivocation or any deceitful mental Reservation 2. But as for all Oaths and Swearing we utterly deny for Conscience sake towards God because Christ Jesus hath commanded Not to Swear at all Mat. 5. And the Apostle saith Above all things my Brethren Swear not Jam. 5. And it was the Principle and Practice of divers holy Martyrs even some of the Protestant Church since the Apostles dayes in all Ages Not to Swear at all in any Case so for Conscience sake and according to the Example of Saints in former Ages we do refuse to Swear in this Case of Allegiance to the King and in all other Cases whatsoever and we cannot Swear at all Though the Truth and Verity of all Things in all Cases so far as known to us and as Occasion requireth we can acknowledge and testifie with Yea and Nay as in the Fear and Presence of God and with true Intent and Meaning to discover the Truth as is needful to be known And in this manner we acknowledge just Allegiance to the King and his Government that we shall live Peaceably and not Plot nor Rebel against him according to the Law of God and a safe Conscience but without any Oath or Swearing at all for we may not break the Command of Christ nor walk contrary to the Example of the Apostles and Saints by Swearing though we suffer the Loss of all because thereof And it is our known Principle and Practice ever since we were a People that in no Case whatsoever though of great Dependancy oft times to our selves both in respect of Advantage to us and also in avoiding of Sufferings we have not taken any Oath nor Sworn at all whereby it is manifest that our refusing chiefly to take the Oath of Allegiance is not because it is that Oath but because it is an Oath and for Conscience sake we cannot Swear at all 3. And thus the state of our present Case about this Oath of Allegiance is different from some others from all such who can swear and take Oaths in other Cases to whom taking of an Oath in it self is not matter of Conscience but as for us we make Conscience of an Oath in it self and that upon just Ground as we are able to demonstrate and therefore our Refusal of this Oath of Allegiance gives no Ground at all of Doubt or Suspition concerning us as if we would not live peaceably and quietly under this Government or as if we would Rebel against or Plot to destroy the King's Person or Authority and so deny to take this Oath as if we would leave our selves clear to proceed in such wayes this Judgment cannot justly be given of us because we deny to Swear at all in all Cases which if it were not so but that we could Swear in other Cases and not in this then we might justly be the more suspected
know the Iustice of God's Iudgments executed upon them And therefore happy will the King be if he keep himself clear and put far from him this Enomy Persecution Three Considerations I have to present unto the King for Conclusion 1. THe Strength and Safety and Prosperity of the King and his Government stands in the Union good Affection and Love of his Subjects and the People of these Kingdoms one to another and to the King and the more that the People of the Kingdoms are in Love and Union and good Affection one with another and to the King the more strong and safe and prosporous thereby is the King and his Government and the more like for a long and happy Continuance and Establishment And it is the Love and Union and Affection of the Sober and Grave and Just and Upright People and of the Meek of the Land that is the King's Strength and Safty and will much tend to his Prosperity and to the Establishment of his Government and Authority and the King's Safety and Strength and Prosperity doth not depend upon the Affections and Acclamations of the Ruder Sort and of the Wild Multitude though such profess great Subjection and cry up the King and his Government and drink his Healths and Swear the Destruction of all his Enemies and have much Love and great Union for the King and are for him to serve him and Swear Fidelity and Engage themselves very highly in Words and Gestures for the King yet the King and his Government is no whit the safer nor more strong nor prosperous because hereof For his Prosperity and Establishment dependeth upon the Love and good Affection of the Just and Upright and Temperate and Meek Men of the Kingdoms and not upon the Love of the Rude Multitude such cannot be a Blessing to him in their Vaunting and Boasting and Rudeness nor can he stand by them but must stand in the Establishment of his Government by the Love of such as fear the Lord and depart from all Iniquity by the good Affection of such and their Faithfulness and Love may the King be happy and blessed Therefore let him strive to please such and to gain their good Affections to be united to him and this may add to his long Continuance 2. It is the doing of Justice and Truth and allowing all Just and Equal Liberty to all People under his Authority that will gain upon the Hearts of all Just and Good People And as Righteousness Mercy True Judgment and Truth is brought forth in the Land and all the contrary limitted in the King's Government this will gain much upon the Hearts and Affections of all good People to be united in Love one to another and to the KING And this is the way of the King's Prosperity and to make his Government established if so be that he exercise his Rule and Authority in Love and Meekness and Equal Iustice and Mercy and love Righteousness and Truth and hate and deny all the contrary and limit it then the spirits of all People in the Kingdoms would be subjected and subdued under his Power and he should Rule over them and his Kingdoms be Established prosperously and this is the Way of an Happy Government But if so be the KING put on Rigour and be Fierce and Cruel and think to subdue all under him by Will and Force without shewing Justice and Reason to answer the Consciences of his Subjects in all his Proceedings this way can never be prosperous nor Establish him in his Authority but it will work the contrary Effect For if Oppression be brought forth and Heavy Yoaks laid upon the Back of the Poor then will the Wrath of God and of Men be kindleed against him and Murmurings Strifs and Contentions will arise in the Minds of Men against him and the Oppressions of the Poor will reach unto Heaven and God will hear and Revenge their Cause So that it is Ruling and exercising Authority in these Kingdoms in Justice Righteousness Love and Good Reason that must gain the Hearts of People unto right Subjection to make the King and his Government Happy and Established and Rigour Force and Cruelty will never make the King happy but will work contrary For the People are Wise and Understanding will not long bear any degree of the Yoak of Slavery 3. Inasmuch as the People of these Kingdoms are divers and divided and contrary in Judgment one to another in many things and so are dis-united into several Opinions and Parties the King ought to Rule in Wisdom and Love over them all and to shew Equal Justice and Liberty and to eaâ—rcise Righteousness towards them all alike notwithstanding their Difference in Religion and Judgments for if he shall give Liberty to some and Oppress others if he do joyn with one Way and promote that and the men of one Judgment be tollerated and all other Wayes and all others that are different in Judgement be persecuted and oppressed and sought to be destroyed this is not the way for the King to prosper nor to be established to perpetuity for there seems to be no one Way so strong or any one sort of People so many for the King to cleave to and allow and seek to destroy all the rest because there is of other sors of people that ballance that sort in opposition and so the King and his Government seems not secure if he take hold of any one sort of People only to stand thereby in opposition to all the rest persecuting of them because there are many of other Sects that will be discontented and murmur if not more So that the King's Safety is and the Prosperity of his Government and the Establishment of it seems to be By giving Equal Liberty and Iustice and shewing Love and Tenderness to all of all Iudgments and then he may stand by all and none will oppose him but all will be ready to defend and preserve him For he may stand established and be happy in his Government by engaging all sorts to him through Love and Righteousness and Liberty towards all but he cannot according to my Iudgment be established nor prosperous if he choose only the Men of one Judgment to stand by and cleave only to that and persecute and seek to destroy all the rest that are different and so only make one Party his Friends and dis-engage all others in Love and Affection this seems I say not the Way of Prosperity Let the King consider it and the Lord give him a Right Understanding By a Friend to Iust Authority E. B. PERSECUTION IMPEACHED As a Traytor against God HIS LAWS and GOVERNMENT And the CAUSE of the Ancient MARTYRS Vindicated against the Cruelty inflicted upon them by the Papists in former Dayes Being a Brief ANSWER to a Book called Semper Iidem Or A Paralel of PHANATICKS c. lately published by a Nameless Author Wherein is contain'd a Relation of the Martyrdom of many such as Dissented and Opposed
Fined and taken out of their own Houses and Meetings to Goals and Prisons as it is at this day upon the Occasion of that Insurrection whereof they were clear and innoâ—ent both to God and Men though they are dealt withal as Plotters Conspirors and Rebellious when as hereof they are not guilty And this is all that I shall say at present as about that Insurrection and the Occasion of Semper Iidem its Publication And whereas Sir Iohn Oldcastle and Sir Roger Acton with divers others are mentioned and their Death 's related whom this Author saith were put to death for Treason and Rebellion and making Insurrection Concerning the Carriages and Death of such I shall say little nor can I justifie any in so doing neither in Ages past nor in this present Time if they were put to death only upon that Account for rebelling with Carnal Weapons and rising up in Conspiracies against the Authorities which they were under or for Evil-doing to their Neighbours I say such neither in this Age nor in Ages past do I justifie nor will vindicate their Practices nor condemn their Death but shall leave them to be justified or condemned of God according to their doings and according to the end and intent of their Hearts in their Proceedings but many others are mentioned in Semper Iidem who suffered and were put to Death burned and killed only for and because of their Principles and Practices in Religion while yet they lived peaceably and were of a harmless Conversation amongst Men the Persecution and Death of such upon that account I do condemn and do charge it to be Murder in the sight of God of such who were burned and destroyed because of their difference in Religion from the Church of Rome when as no Unrighteousness nor Double-dealing as to men could be charged and proved against them such I say as died and suffered for that Cause have been murdered by the Power of Antichrist among the Apostate Christians and the Blood of such will the God of Heaven avenge one time or other Now I come to search some Particulars which are stated pag. 3. which it s said John Wickliff held which Doctrines the Author of Semper Iidem seems to say are Errors by his condemning such for Hereticks as held them for Truths THe First That the Sacrament of the Altar is nothing but a piece of Bread This the Lollards so called are said to affirm for which the Papists condemn them as Hereticks Answ. As for the Sacrament of the Altar so termed by the Papists we find nothing of it in all the Scriptures not Sacrament of the Altar nominated only we find That Christ took Bread and brake it and gave it to his Disciples not as Himself for He only gave it them to eat in remembrance of Himself As oft as ye do it saith Christ do it in remembrance of Me. Where it is manifest that there is a distinction to be made and a separation in expression to be put between that Bread which Christ gave his Disciples to eat and his own Body for they were to eat the Bread not as Him but in remembrance of Him and this shews that the Bread which Christ gave his Disciples was Bread to be eaten in Remembrance of Him and so it is no Error but sound Truth to affirm That the Bread called the Sacrament of the Altar by the Papists is but indeed a piece of Bread and may safely so be called But suppose it were Error in men so to believe and say yet it is Murder Cruelty and not of Christ but of the Wicked One so to deal with them for their Error sake as before-mentioned Doct. 2. That Priests have no more Authority to administer Sacraments then Lay-men Held by the Lollards Condemned as a great Error by the Papists Answ. As for the Name and Order of Priests we find none such among the Apostles in the Christian-Churches in their dayes Pastors and Ministers and Prophets and Teachers we find but not Priests by that Name as a particular Order of Men in the Church saving that all the Saints are called Kings and Priests unto God neither do we find such a thing As consecrating a piece of Bread into a more holy quality then it was in it self before nor any Commision given by Christ to a particular Order of Men to administer Bread to the People as his Body we read that the Saints brake Bread when they were met together and some time from House to House but that there were particular Persons by an Office among them that did administer the Bread in the Form and Manner as among Papists we read not of this in all the Scriptures And as for Lay-men as Papists term them this word we have not in all the Scriptures but Saints we have of divers growths but the Papists have made many Inventions of Offices Titles and Names in their Church for which they have no Example at all in the Scriptures Doct. 3. That all things ought to be in Common Opposed by Papists as a great Error Answ. It is a great question what signification may be put upon the Word Common so I shall not vindicate for Truth the Doctrine as it lies and leave the Interpretation of the Word Common to my Adversaries and so I pass it only do mind that it is said in the Acts That they that believed had all things Common Though the Word Common there I understand not Absolute but with Restriction Doct. 4. That it is as lawful to Christen a Child in a Tub of Water at home or in a Ditch by the Way as in a Font-stone in the Church Opposed by the Papists as a great Error Answ. As for the Baptizing of Infants by dipping or sprinkling and calling it the Baptism into the Faith and into the Church as practised and held by the Papists we have cause to question the Lawfulness of the Thing in it self at any Place For we find no Command or President of Christ nor among his Apostles in the pimitive Churches for this thing of Christening Infants and therefore we question whether the Thing in it self is lawful at any Time or Place suppose the Papists could prove the Thing lawful and that it ought to be done by vertue of any Command or Example of Christ or his Apostles then again we question why not as lawful to be done at any other Place as in a Font-stone so called Of what holiness or purity is that more than other Places and of whose invention is it of all the Christians since the Apostles dayes seeing we find nothing at all of it in the Scriptures But suppose the Principle to hold indeed absolute Error the Papists yet do still wickedly in racking men and burning them because thereof Doct. 5. That it is as lawful at all times to confess unto a Lay-man as to a Priest Opposed by the Papists as great Error Answ. As for that manner and form of Auricular Confession so called
of Conscience and their Hearts will be dis-engaged in Love and Affection to you-wards and this will be infallibly the Effect of Persecution for Conscience sake as King Charles the first saith in his Meditations A charitable Connivance and Christian Toleration often dissipates their Strength when rougher Opposition fortifies and puts the Dispised and Oppressed Party into such combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their persecutors c. 10. Consider if ye force Worship and Religion and cause men to conform against their Judgments how dangerous is this to destroy mens souls and to lead 〈◊〉 even to destruction For seeing ye affirm not the Infallibility of your Worship and Religion and yet will impose them and so engage mens Souls in depandancy for Salvation upon things and wayes uncertain and which GOD giveth not the Faith to believe in I say how dangerous is this to ruin souls for in no way can the soul be secure but in the faith which God works in the heart in the Obedience of Infallible TRUTH So ye 〈◊〉 mens souls upon a Rock and it is unreasonable as before mentioned that men should be forced into the profession and Practice of uncertain and fallible Religion and that they should be forced by you into that which may be evil for which not you altogether but themselves must bear the punishment in the Day of the Lord and except ye could affirm and prove the infallibility of your Church which is impossible there is no Equity nor Right Reason for it That you should impose upon others any more than others should impose upon you For as King Charles the First said in his Meditation He desired not any should be further Subjects unto him then he and all of them might be subject unto God c. 11. Consider if ye allow not liberty of Conscience but persecute about the same ye walk in the way and after the example of some of the Heathen Rulers and of the false Christians and shews that ye allow of the cruel persecutions by the Church of Rome and ye follow their example who persecute unto death such as they call Hereticks and if ye do persecute for matters of Conscience then ye allow the very deeds of the Heathens who persecuted the Christians for their Religion sake and ye justifie Papists in persecuting the Protestants and ye plainly demonstrate unto all the World by your works and fruits that ye are of Antichrist if ye impose on mens Consciences by force in the matters of Religion and persecute good Conscience about the same for it was the Antichrist and the Beast that first forced all to worship and violently engaged all into a conformity and killed and persecuted all that would not worship according to the Image Rev. 13. as ye may read And it was not Christs way nor the practice of any of his primitive Churches to impose and force on the persons and Consciences of men concerning their Church and Religion to cause all into a conformity thereunto and destroy and persecute all that would not This was not the way of Christ and his Apostles in their daies but they left Religion free and said they were not lords over mens faith nor lords over Gods Heritage neither did impose upon any in doubtful cases of conscience much lesse compel against mens Conciences for the Apostle left the practice of doubtful things as every one was perswaded in his own mind to do or not to do without imposing by force or directions of persecution about the same Therefore if ye do not allow free liberty of Conscience ye are out of the Doctrine Example of Christ and his Apostles and follows the way and example of Antichrist Heathen Rulers and cruel Papists to your great dishonour 12. Consider if ye allow not liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion but impose and persecute about the same It must inavoidably tend to destroy and expel Trading Husbandry and Merchandize in these Kingdoms for a great part of Trading and Husbandry depends upon such kind of persons whose principles are for toleration in Religion and hates persecution and violence in that case this ye will find true on examination and if liberty of Conscience be not allowed such will be exposed to great afflictions some to imprisonment and some to poverty and some to flee into other Countries to the destruction of their Callings and Trading and the hands and industriousnes of such people will be weakned in these Kingdoms if they cannot enjoy their just liberty in temporal spiritual cases and the effects thereof will work wofully in this very respect even to dis-enable both the hearts and hands of Husbandmen and Trades and expose these Nations to want and poverty and to enrich their enemies 13. Consider If Liberty of Conscience be deny'd and Persecution be introduc'd about the same all these and many more woful Consequences and Effects will follow infallibly to the ruin of these Kingdoms even Wars and Bloodsheds and Discontents and Murmurings and all evil things will be the Product of the aforesaid Cause viz. Of denying Liberty of Conscience in Religious Matters for in a word it will tend to and may effect the Overthrow of you and Ruin your Government and Authority for the great and mighty God of Heaven and Earth will be provoked against you and his Wrath will go out like a Devouring Flame upon you if that ye limit the Holy One and will not suffer him to exercise his proper Right in being King in mens Consciences to exercise them in all the Wayes of his Worship and Matters of his Kingdom but do oppress impose and persecute about the same this I say will infallibly work the Kingdoms ruin and expose you and your Government to the Indignation of the Holy Lord God who is tender of his Honour and will not give it to another and he loveth and effecteth the Cause of such whose Consciences are truly tender towards him and though ye persecute such and seek to destroy them and for a time exercise great Afflictio and â—â—â—ressions upon them for the matters of their Conscience yet the God of Heaven will appear for such in his season and deliver them and avenge their â—ersecuâ—ors And therefore all ye Rulers consider and lay these things to heart lest ye provoke the Lord against you by destroying the People whom he regards and that not for evil doing but for the Caâ—es of Conscience and because they cannot relinquish their profession and principles of their Religion and how and conform in things against their Light and Knowledge 14. Consider If ye allow not Liberty of Conscience what exceeding danger 〈◊〉 run your selves into even to destroy just men and righteous as Hereticks and erroneous and may promote Hereticks as Church-members both which are great Abominations in the Sight of God and this Danger ye bring upon your selves for ye are not infallible Judges who are Hereticks and
which was and is and is to come without Beginning or End and this Mystery reacheth it self forth more or less in every Creature upon the Face of the whole Earth and is the Life and Beeing and Substance of all things and all Creatures upon the face of the earth whether movable or inmovable is a Partaker of this Mystery this Mystery is vailed and hidden secretly in under all things that have a Beeing and whatsoever the Creature brought forth even in the greatest appearance thereof and its goodness and vertue in what form or apparance foever is but the Production or the manifestation of the Mystery God for the life of every Creature and the vertue of every Creature is a Mystery and proceedeth out of the great Mystery of God who is Life it self Vertue it self Goodness it self and Being it self and is the Goodness and the Vertue and the Life and Being of all Things and Creatures upon the face of the Earth so that every thing that hath a being even the Wicked and Ungodly are not without this Mystery in some manner or other for by Him every Creature is and hath its first being But now more perfectly doth the Mystery of God appear in his Servants and in his Children who are born of Him and begotten by Him and they have the sence and feeling and understanding of this Mystery more than any other Creatures and this is their Glory and Crown above all other Creatures upon the face of the whole Earth for they only I say who are redeemed to God and born of the Spirit they are them that have the sence and feeling and understanding of this Mystery even of the Mystery of God infinite endless and eternal And though this Mystery he hid in all other Creatures and manifesting it self through them yet this Mystery is not known to them nor understood of them nor of any other Creature I say besides the Children of the Lord in whom this Mystery is only revealed for they are them through whom more manifestly and plainly this Mystery is made manifest and to them revealed and known and felt in their Understandings and they have the enjoyment thereof who know God and are known of him and are entered into Covenant with him into Everlasting Covenant of Ioy and Peace and through them doth this Mystery display it self even in the sight of all Creatures in works of Righteousness of Purity of Goodness of Mercy of Truth of Peace and of Wisdom in their exercise of all things and in this manner and by these fruits and effects doth the Mystery of God shew itself forth through his Children in whom the Mystery is opened that is hid in all other Creatures And this is the Crown of the Children of the Lord that are born from Heaven and from above that the Mystery of God is felt and enjoyed by them and more manifest to them than in any other Creatures And to know this Mystery of God is Life Eternal and to have the understanding of his Leadings of his Judgment of his Mercy and of his Counsel and of the operation of his Power to feel this in the Understanding this is Ioy and a Crown of Glory where the Mystery of God is revealed in Spirit And as for the Mystery of the Devil it is darkness and in darkness and it shews it self forth in the Ungodly and in the sons of Adam in transgression and in such only doth this Mystery of Iniquity and of Sin and of the Devil display it self forth in all unrighteousnesse and sin and that which is contrary to the Creator in works words and thoughts All these things are the manifestation of the Mystery of the Devil and its fruits and effects who is out of the Truth who is vailed and covered and hidden in the hearts of the Ungodly and in the hearts of the sons of Adam in the Fall This Mystery was not from the beginning as the other but when the Devil went out of the Truth and had led Man's mind out of the Truth and taken possession of the heart of Man and become Ruler and Lord there having gained Authority over Man through Man's obedience to him then began this Mystery to discover it self and act it self through the Creature and this was since the beginning And though no other Creature be an Agent to manifest forth this Mystery but Man yet Man in his exercise of all Creatures or all Creatures through the exercise of Man in transgression there is shewed forth this Mystery of Iniquity that secretly lurks in the spirits of ungodly men which spirit of unrighteousness the Mystery of the Devil leads Man into all sinfulness of drunkenness and uncleanness and such like and hath polluted the Earth and defiled all Creatures through Man's exercise in them and this is truly an appearance of the Mystery of the Devil yet he hath other Appearances and other makings-out of his Mystery to wit in a way of seeming Righteousness and seeming Holiness and seeming Purity and these shew the Mystery of Unrighteousness the Mystery of the Devil who deceives the Soul that is Immortal of the enjoyment of the Creator who is the desire of the Immortal Soul and so through a form and likeness and appearance of a thing is the Soul Immortal deceived and beguiled with that which hath appearances in it but no Life nor Substance And though the Mystery of Iniquity be but one in it self yet it manifests it self divers wayes sometimes in open Prophaneness and Wickedness and sometimes in seeming Righteousness and Holiness and in a form of Religion without power But the Lord is arisen to confound the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity and will discover it and destroy it for it is the Mystery of Iniquity that worketh in the Children of Disobedience that are Strangers to God and through the operation of this Mystery are People kept at a distance from the Lord and out of Unity and Covenant with him and this Mystery of Iniquity worketh hiddenly not known but in the Eternal Eye which sees through the spirit of Creatures and comprehendeth and fathometh over the nature of things and can judge beyond the appearance even in the ground before the action appeareth for while people are professing and acting Holiness and Righteousness visibly and yet not changed by the Power of the Lord nor renewed in nature mind and spirit from the first Adam to the second the Righteousness and Holiness brought forth in that state is but the acting of the Mystery of Iniquity and the Woolf putting on the Sheep's-Clothing and this God will judge and all Appearances without Life and all Shews without Substance all this will the Lord judge and confound and bring to nought for it is but the working of the Mystery of the Devil who is out of the Truth And this Mystery hath more abounded since the dayes of the Apostles then in Ages since the Beginning inasmuch as this Mystery hath operated and displayed
Hereby and in this Way is true Conversion wrought in the heart to the turning men from all Error unto the Truth and from all false Worships and Heresies and Evil Wayâ—s unto the true Christian-Worship and Conformity to holy Church and Religion This I say was the Way among the primitive Christians â—…d Apostles of old and is the same among the true Christians in this Age and they that would conform others and are conformed themselves otherwise in this Case of Religion and Worship to God-wards are not in the Example of Christ and his Saints but out of the Life and contrary to the first Christians and President of the Holy Scriptures as hereafter is manifested The Way and Practice of Imposing Religion and Conformity in Worship and Church-Government by Force as aforesaid is so far from being according to the Practice and Example of the Apostles and the primitive Churches of Christians that they are even contrary to the Commands and Exhortations of CHRIST and his Apostles and Example of the Scriptures 1. As in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Mat. 13. when it was desired of the Servants that they might go and gather out the Tares that the Enemy had sown from among the Wheat it was commanded to the contrary by the Husbandman even that they should suffer the Tares to grow among the Wheat till the Harvest and not pluck them up lest they hurt the Wheat thereby Now though there be an invisible Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven secretly signified in this Parable more then may here be said yet 't is also clearly signified That Christ would have no Imposition nor Violence used upon thâ— Tares nor that they should pluck them up by Force but that the good Corn and the bad 〈◊〉 grow together in one Field till the Harvest And thus much this Parable bears the Proof of Suppose there be Heresies and Hereticks and Prophane Persons that are not in the Truth but in Errors who are bad Corn even as the Tares to the Wheat in that Kingdom City or Family where there is also converted Saints and holy Persons and true Members of Christ who are as the Wheat to the Tares yet such Hereticks and Prophane Persons that are in Error ought not to be plucked up violently to wit Imprisoned Bannished and put to Death Burned and Destroyed from amongst the Righteous though they grow amongst them even in the sâ—… Field The converted Saints ought not I say to destroy by â—â—nnishment or Death the Hereticks and Unconverted and Unconformable Persons from amongst them but they are to let them live even grow amongst them in the same Field in the same Kingdom City or Family till Harvest And thus much the Parable may truly signifie Even a Liberty to live for the Tares the bad Corn the evil Persons among the Wheat the Righteous Persâ—… without being imposed upon by Cruel Force and Outward Violence to compel into Conformity 2. As in the Case among the Saints and true Believers where some believed 〈◊〉 might 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 others did 〈◊〉 Hâ—…s and some esteemed one day above 〈◊〉 â—nd otheâ—â— esteemed every day alike Rom 14. Here was some difference in Judgment and Practices amongst the Believers about Mâ—â—ts and Dâ—â—es abouâ—â— which thiâ—… there hath been much Imposition and Force used in the World since the Apostle dayes Well But what doth the Apostle Paul 〈◊〉 and advise in this Case Doth 〈◊〉 threaten Violence towards any of them or signifie any forcible Commands or Impositions to be used to bring them into Conformity and Unity in the things and Matters about which they were divided No no but this is his advice to the Church of Christ of which he was a true and able Minister Iudge not one another about such things nor do not impose any Practice upon thy Brother for to Christ Iesus â—…is Master every Believer stands or falls And saith the Apostle Lâ—â— every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind vers 5. And hereby it is manifestly proved That in the Churches of Primitive Christians the Saints and true Christians were not imposed upon by Commandments of Mâ—n or outward Laws in the matters of their Religion and Practice of Conscience there was no signification of force to be used for Conformity but whâ—â—y contrary even every Believeâ— had the Liberty of the Spirit of Christ and as he was by that perswaded in his own mind to do or leave undone in such cases and every one was to mind the Teachings of the Spirit of Christ in himself for to that he was to stand or fall and not to impose upon another no not so much as to judge his Brother in any case of difference in Judgment or Practice but they were to leave one another to the Perswasions of the Spirit of Christ in their own minds 3. As in the Case where the Apostle exhorted the Saints to be Like-minded â—â—il 3. But saith he If any 〈◊〉 Otherwise-minded God shall reveal even this unto you By which Saying it is mâ—nifest That the Unity and Conformity of Saints in Mind and Practice was not by Imposition or any outward Force threatned or exercised upon their Persons or Estates but contrary-wise if there was any Difference in Mind and Practice amongst any of them that was to be amended and Unity made up when God revealed the same Truth in all as he had done in some if any were not so minded in any thing as others were they were not to be imposed upon but let God reveal the same and bring into Conformity this was the Apostle's Counsel And vers 16. Nevertheless whereunto we have already attained let us walk by the same Rule that is to â—â—y so far as the Rule of the Spirit of Christ is made manifest or in whâ—â— measure the perfection thereof is attained unto let every one walk in the same measure and by the same Rule and if any have not the self-same measure of the Spirit and know the self-same things let such alone without imposing upon them leave them to walk in the measure of Light and knowledge that they have received though it be not the self-same measure that others have received and if they want any Knowledge or be in any thing otherwise-minded God shall reveal the same unto them even the same thing as they grow in the same measure of Grace and Knowledge And here is the perfect Way of Unity and Conformity as the Primitive Christians were exercised in the true Faith and Worship and true Christian Religion in their dayes And so to impose by Force upon Paint and Forfeitures in Religious Matters is clearly contrary to all these Scriptures and to many more in the New Testament 4. In that Case 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. where the Apostle exhorts the Elders To take â—â—e Overâ—â—ght of God's Flock not by Constraint or Force but Willingly not for 〈◊〉 by Lucâ—â— but of a ready Mind neither 〈◊〉 being Lords â—ver God's Heritage which câ—…ly signifies against
Punishment pertaining to Hereticks as such for such Heresies held by them Being first convicted truly thereof as aforesaid by the true Church of Christ in whom there is infallibility of Judgment Knowledge and discerning in that case for in the true Church of Christ doth infallibility of true Judgment and Knowledge dwell and every true Member of the true Church hath its particular Measure of the infallible Spirit of Christ whereby he is certainly perswaded of the Way of Truth in which he walks and knows and believes the infallibility of the Truth he professeth and is certain and secure of the Way of his Peace and Assurance in God which he hath received and believed and also hath certainty and infallibility of Judgment and Discerning who are out of the Truth and in the Way of Error and are Hereticks such are infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the true Church of Christ and by every Member of the same according to his measure of the same Spirit and Gift of Knowledge and Discerning by it And to such as are so convicted by the infallible Spirit of Christ for such their Heresies there is a Punishment pertaining for Hereticks were to be punished in the Apostles dayes according to Paul's Instructions 1 Cor. 5. 5. which was That such a one as had erred from the Truth which once he knew should be delivered up unto Satan for the Destruction of his Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Here was a Punishment described by the Apostle for this Heretick that had erred and gone from the Truth and acted against it though once he believed in it and knew it And again Tit. 3. 10. he exhorts and advises That a man that is a Heretick after the first and second Admonition should be wholy rejected and turned away from and judged with the Holy Spirit of God And thus it is clear there is such a thing as dealing with men that are Hereticks and punishing them for such their Heresie according to the Apostle's Doctrines and Instructions And without all controversie such as do err from the Faith which once they have received and turn from the Truth in principle or practice must not escape unpunished but must receive the sentence of just Judgement from God and from his Saints that continue faithful 7. But what kind or nature this punishment is of in what way and manner such as are Hereticks may be and ought to be punished is doubtful to many and is a case at this time to be inquired into for that way and practice of punishing such as have been supposed to be Hereticks as among the Christians so called for many generations to wit the way and practice of burning banishing killing imprisoning and afflicting corporally the persons of them that have been called Hereticks for their heresies and laying forfeitures and penalties on their bodies and estates as hath been the practice of Papists and Protestants towards one another since the Apostles dayes this way and practice hath not been of God nor by any example or precept of the Apostles or first Christian Churches established in their dayes they did not practise or prescribe such dealing towards them that were truly Hereticks and were erred from the Faith and Truth of Jesus Christ not Killing Burning Banishing and Prosecuting the Persons of Hereticks this was not the way of the Spirit of God among the Primitive Christians they did it not nor gave institution for the doing of it at any time but this way of dealing towards Hereticks in such cruel proceedings as hath been in practice for many Ages is of Satan and Antichrist and is down-right Murder Robbery and Wickedness in the Eye of the just God while one Sect or Sort of Christians so called have punished and enviously persecuted another Sort different from them as Hereticks with grievous Afflictions in Body and Estate even unto Death and Banishment this hath not been of God nor true Christian-like but of the wicked one and Cruelties and Murders before the Lord neither are the same proceedings at this day in any part of the World where they are extant any just legal Righteous Christian-like way of proceeding according to Apostolical example but are of Antichrist and of the Wicked one as I have said And this Way and Practice of proceeding towards Hereticks hath been so far from effecting the return of any to the Way of the Lord that have been erred from it as the end of proceeding toward Hereticks should effect that the way and practice of Killing Banishment and Persecuting by violence Hereticks so called hath hardned men in their evil way and made such as have been Hereticks more bold confident and obstinate in their Way Heresie and Errors and many that have been more righteous and clearer from Heresie then such as have so judged them have been destroyed by cruel dealing and many others have been destroyed in their Iniquities and Errors by being so proceeded against And thus true Judgment and Justice in this case have been perverted and turned backwards and because of Ignorance and Cruelty the Righteous have suffered unjustly as the Wicked and the Wicked have suffered by unjust proceedings and thus the Way of Righteousness hath not been known in the Earth but Error upon Error one evil upon another hath come onesin added to another among the Sons of men in the Apostacy amongst the false Christians 8. But the perfect Way of the Lord in proceeding towards such as are truly Hereticks so discerned and infallibly judged to be by the true Church of Christ is this Let such first be admonished advised instructed and warned again and again to beware return from and renounce such false Principles Doctrines and practices held by them and this in the spirit of Christ Jesus in perfect love and in meekness and in the wisdom of the Lord God such I say as are erred from the way of the Lord and from the faith of Christ once received into error ought thus in the first place to be dealt withal by the Way of Admonishing Instructing Warning and Reproving that there may be a Returning and Repentance towards the Lord and his Truth again from whence they have erred and if such shall not receive the Instructions Reproofs and Admonitions of the true Church of Christ then such Hereticks shall be rejected and cast out according to Titus the 3. 10 11. saith the Apostle A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself here is the Description of the punishing of an Heretick if he will not receive Admonition after being given him again and again but doth harden his heart against the Church and against the truth of Christ and will not repent but persicts in his errors and heresies and that after reproof and admonition then he is to be rejected rejected what is that but a casting out from
appears in the World then he transforms into the Likeness and formal appearance of the Way of the Lord and his Truth and when the Devil cannot kill Christ so but that Christ will rise again appear and live for ever contrary to all the malice and enmity of the Devil then rather then he will submit to be no more he will transform himself and take upon him the Name of Christ of his Honour and Glory and profess him in words and seem a Friend to Christ and his Kingdom And this he doth that he may live still in the World and by deceiveableness beguile the sons of men into perpetual destruction 9. And the very work of Antichrist this day in the World is to deceive beguile seduce and betray the World and all mankind 't is his only work and calling as I may say to deceive 't is his nature and property to work deceitfully and thus it ever was with him it hath been his Property and his Work in all Ages and in every Age since the beginning of the World to deceive and beguile to lead men from God and to lead them into Perdition this I say hath ever been his work in the World and by the means aforesaid to wit by transforming and changing himself into the likeness of Righteousness and Verity and putting the pretence of Goodness Vertue and Holiness upon his Actions and Doings though never so evil and unrighteous he hath always I say by this means and in this way deceived the World by appearing as a Saint as a Well-doer as an Angel of Light pretending Wisdom Righteousness and Vertue and colouring his Deeds thereby as is proved in the Case of the first deceiving of Eve What said Satan to the Woman Not that I am such a one and do intend to deceive thee with Falsity but Thou shalt be as God Thou shalt be wise of thy self and know and be and do as God Here was a fair pretence by which he deceived the Woman And the false Prophets and false Apostles in the dayes of old did not deceive the World into an absolute denial of God and Christ and Truth but did deceive them into the false Profession of the same holding out the Form of Godliness without the Power and by feigned words and good Speeches did deceive the hearts of the Simple and by false Doctrine and Ordinances and Form of Religion did the Antichrist deceive the World in dayes past as he doth at this day For if he did appear to be as he is in his own nature and property a Devil Deceiver and wicked one a Leader to Perdition and Destruction and should vindicate himself as such and entice and tempt People as such then none would believe him nor follow his Wayes for none would willingly be destroyed But he appears not as such in the World but alwayes transforms himself into the Likeness of God and Goodness still pretending the same And by this means is he more capable to deceive mankind for he cannot so readily deceive and lead men to Perdition in his own proper Nature if he appear as he is such but therefore he appears contrary to what his own nature is and transforms himself And thus doth Antichrist deceive the Christian World so called at this day even by his false Wayes of Religion false Worship false Doctrine false Humility false Faith and false Church pretending Zeal and Sanctity and such like Herein and hereby generally doth Antichrist that Man of Sin deceive and beguile the World unto Perdition and Destruction Oh! how many thousands of Peoples of Nations and Countries are at this day deceived on this wise thinking they are in the Truth and true Way of Religion Faith and Worship professing and performing these things with much Zeal as if they were indeed the wayes and Ordinances of Christ when as they are but false feigned formal and of Antichrist and deceivable to the souls of men even Shews without Substance Forms without Life and Power of Antichrist and not of the true Christ. And thus and after this manner with the very likeness of Righteousness and appearance of Godliness and profession of Faith and duty to God hath Antichrist deceived the World and doth at this day delude Nations to the perdition of thousands And Antichrist doth not generally deceive men in his works and appearance as he is in his own Proper Nature but in his appearance and works transformed and changed into another likeness even into the likeness of Truth and Righteousness By this means and way Satan Antichrist and that Man of Sin doth delude and deceive the Nations of the World 10. What the Works of Antichrist are by what is said doth partly appear His Works are all deceivableness to deceive and delude the World to lead mankind captive in the wayes of sin and death unto the destruction of their souls and to be cruel and hard-hearted envious malicious and perverse a hater and persecutor of goodness and good men and to murder and work wickedness to do all evil and to oppose gain-say and deny all good This in general is the work of Antichrist though as to particulars I now intend not to mention saving as I have before shewed to impose upon Conscience in Religious matters by outward force and violence is a main principle work of Antichrist and to kill and destroy Persons on the account of Heresie and Error and to use violence and cruel impositions in Spiritual Cases contrary to the Spirit of Christ Jesus These are works and wayes of Antichrist which he brings forth in the World as also the promoting of all the false and Idolatrous Worships and false Church-Governments in the World and in short every evil work and word brought forth amongst the sons of men are the Works of the Devil and Antichrist which he seduceth the World into the working and doing of and to consider the state of the World as it is at this day and how it is deceived in many grievous and abominable wayes of Error Superstitions Idolatries and Wickedness it makes the hearts of the Righteous sad and mournful because of the deceivableness of the working of the Mystery of Iniquity of Antichrist that Man of Sin in the World who deceiveth Mankind with the appearance and shew of godliness and leads the Children of Men in the wayes of Ignorance Death Blindness and Error yet holds them under a false pwerswasion of safety and security as if they were in the right way and walked in the pathes of Happiness when indeed and in Truth they are beguiled and deceived and nigh unto the pathes of perdition Oh! how hath Antichrist prevailed in these latter Dayes since the dayes of the Apostles and deceived the World with the very Formal Profession and practice of such Doctrines and Things as the Apostles held and Practised in the Power of God in their dayes But now Antichrist he holds the Form in his False Spirit and hath the appearance and likeness of
Apostles Nor have they heard the Voice of God speaking to them But take Chapter and Verse and say Hear the Word of the Lord when the Lord never spoke to them nor sent them Who is it now and where are they that are guilty hereof and that cry Peace to the Wicked when the Lord speaks no Peace to them and that are light vain persons and covetous and greedy persons and that see Vanity and daub with untempered Mortar that cry Peace unto People and say they shall have Peace by Christ while yet they kill Christ and are not Changed by Him Where are there such now by whom People are not converted to God although they preach time after time Let all People bring in their Witness For whosoever are such at this day whether they be Papists or Protestants Anabaptists or Quakers so called or whosoever Such I say are led by the spirit of the false Prophets and are in their way and practices and all such are to be judged deemed and taken for Antichrists Ministers false Prophets and Deceivers without respect of Persons or Titles of Religion 3. They were false Brethren and false Teachers that taught for filthy lucre that professed they knew God in words and in works denied him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate who had a Form of Godliness but denied the Power and were heady and high-minded men and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God that were ever teaching and never able to bring people to the knowledge of the Truth And such were false Prophets and false Teachers that through covetousness and feigned words did make Merchandize of People that beguiled unstable Souls and that had hearts exercised with covetous practices being out of the right way and following the way of Balaam who loved the Wages of unrighteousness These and such as these were Deceivers and false Teachers in the Apostles dayes Tit. 1. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 5 7. 2 Pet. chap. 2. Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants or of what Sect soever they be that do these things that teach for filthy lucre that profess God in words but in works deny him and that live wickedly and are disobedient to God and have the Form of Godliness but want the Power and are heady and high-minded men and love pleasures under whom people are ever learning but not able to come to the knowledge of the Truth and that through Covetousness and feigned words make Merchandize of people that are unstable men and do exercise themselves in covetous practices and are not in the right way but do follow the way of Balaam who loved unrighteous Wages Whosoever are such whether they be Papists or Protestants or Quakers or whomsoever they be they follow the Spirit of the false Prophets and are in the way of the false Teachers and are Ministers of Antichrist even false Prophets and Deceivers And now to all people whatsoever I appeal for Evidence to the Witness of God in your Consciences that you may judge in this case Where are they now and who is it are there not some such present amongst you this day in your Cities and Towns and Countries even such as teach for filthy lucre that will preach where they can get gain for preaching but not otherwise and that Profess God and Christ with their lips and shew much love but deny God in works who live unholy lives and in evil wayes and give bad Examples to People and that are reprobate to good works and that have the Form of Godliness but not the Power and that are heady and high-minded and ambitious persons and that are teaching many years together and People cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth by them but are alwayes ignorant and wicked And do not your Teachers exercise covetous practices among you and go in the way of Balaam for Gifts and Rewards viz so much for a Sermon and for a years Preaching Such who are made Ministers by man and not by the Lord and who do not profit the People at all Whosoever they are that are such now in this Age are False Prophets and Deceivers and follow the spirit and walk in the steps of the Deceivers of old and whosoever they are whether Papists Protestants or any others they may lawfully be taken judged and deemed to be false Prophets Ministers of Antichrist and Deceivers 4. The false Prophets and Deceivers in the dayes of old were feigning and flattering men and cryed peace to the wicked and cryed Peace peace to every one that put into their mouthes but Prepared War against every one that did not Micah 3. 5. And they respected mens persons and held mens persons in Admiration because of Advantage Jude 16. Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants or any else that are Feigners and Flatterers and that cry Peace to the Wicked and cry Peace to them that put into their Mouthes but are Bitter and Angry and Perverse against such as will not or cannot give them Hire and Money for Preaching and that respect mens Persons and turn every way from one kind of Worship to another and have mens Persons in Admiration for their own Gain and Advantage whoever are such now in this Age are false Prophets and Deceivers And therefore all People bring in your Evidence Who are such now and where are they that are flattering men that cry Peace to all that will give them Means and put into their Mouthes and that Admire the Persons of Great Men and that respect the Persons of Great Men for Advantage If there be any such now amongst you whether they be Papists or Protestants Anabaptists or Quakers so called you may justly take such and let such be deemed judged and reputed false Prophets Seducers and Ministers of Antichrist And now all People upon Earth try learn and examine your Teachers and Ministers lay them to the Line of Iudgment For if they are such as are here described if they bear these Marks and Fruits declared and if they follow the same spirit and do as the false Prophets of old did according as 't is declared in the Scriptures then may you justly judge them to be Deceivers and false Prophets and Ministers of Antichrist For whosoever they be that are amongst you as Preach for Hire and that have a Quarter from whence they seek their Gain and Divine for Money and go a Preaching for Gifts and Rewards and that teach for filthy Lucre and that are Covetous Persons Heady and High-minded Persons and Ambitious Men that do not profit the People at all nor turn them from sin by their Preaching and that Prophesie Lyes and that are Flatterers and Changeable Persons and will turn from one Way to another and have mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage Whosoever he be that is one of these above described who hath these Marks and Signs upon him of this Physiognomy of this Nature and Feature as before described wheresoever such a one shall be
against you that Imprison us for that Cause And let the Lord God Angels and just Men give their Judgment in this Case we a poor Afflicted people do appeal to you for just Sentence of Judgment between us and our Opponents Secondly Let our Neighbours give their Judgment though we do refuse to take any Oath because of the Commands of Christ and his Gospel as aforesaid yet what harm hath this ever yet been to any of our Neighbours let them speak or what detriment ought this to be to any of them they will tell you Though we cannot formally take an Oath yet we are ready at all times to do the Truth and to speak it on all good occasions as much as if we did Swear upon a Book and they can trust us upon our words as much if not more then they can do any that Swear upon their Oaths and therefore they shall give judgment that according to their best knowledge we ought not to be Imprisoned and Banished though we cannot Swear formally upon a Book being the Truth is not suppressed nor yet the administration of justice ought to be obstructed for our refusing to Swear Thus the Neighbourhood bears witness for us and against such as deal hardly by us and Persecute us because hereof Fourthly We are accused as Heinous Offenders and imprisoned because 't is supposed We do not submit to obey the known Laws of the Land but break them and will not conform to the Church pay Tythes take Oaths leave meeting together c. though we know the Laws of the Land command these things Plea First As to submitting to all known Laws of the Land this is known to God and our Neighbours that our Principle and Practice is and ever hath been to submit to every Government and to submit to all Laws of men either by doing or by suffering as at this day we resist not the greatest of Afflictions and Tribulations that can be imposed on us and this is well known to our Neighbous and all People that we are submissive to all Laws of Men by patient Suffering without Resistance even when any Law requires any thing of us which we cannot perform for Conscience sake that Law we fulfil by patient suffering resisting no man noâ— rendring Evil for Evil to any And the Judgment of the Scriptures which are according to both Law and Gospel and the Presidents of Saints justifie us in this Case in chusing patiently to suffer the greatest Penalties of the Law rather than to obey by doing any such Law as requires things contrary to our pure Consciences as in the Example of the Three Children Dan. 3. who were commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image at what time soever they heard the sound of the Musick upon the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which Commandment they could not obey nor could Truth fall down to worship the Image but rather chused to suffer the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which accordingly was done unto them Again in the Case of Daniel chap. 6. who was commanded To make no Petition to any God or man for Thirty Dayes save to King Darius upon the Penalty and Affliction of being cast into the Lyons Den But Daniel did rather chuse to suffer the Penalty to be cast into the Den of Lyons than to obey the Commandment and was cast into the Lyons Den. By these Examples of holy Men with many more that might be given out of the Scriptures 't is evident That Righteous Men will rather chuse to suffer than to obey any Law of Men contrary to their Consciences So the Law of God and Example of Saints and holy Scriptures give Judgment for us in this Case of rather chusing to suffer than to obey Laws contrary to our Consciences and consequently must needs condemn such that Persecute and Imprison us because they require Obedience of us in Things against our Consciences Secondly Though we do disobey Laws and cannot actively obey every Law of man when it requireth and commandeth things contrary to a good Conscience yet herein also are we justified by the Law of God Example of Saints and holy Scriptures and they give Judgement for us and consequently against our Enemies in this Case and in particular in the two Examples before mentioned in Daniel the Three Children were expresly commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image and Daniel was also required by the King's Decree Not to pray to any God or Man save to King Darius yet all these Holy Men of God did absolutely disobey the Law and Decree so requiring of them and did contrary to the Commandment for the three Children did not how nor Daniel cease to pray to his God but prayed as at other times and yet were justified of God in so doing Also the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 4. 18. were commanded To Preach no more in the Name of Iesus but the Apostles did disobey their Commandment and went on and preached in the Spirit and Power of Christ contrary to the Commandment of the Rulers and appealed to them Whether it were not better to obey God than man Many Examples we might collect out of the Scriptures that the Servants of God did disobey the Commands of Kings and Rulers and could not obey by doing any Command contrary to God but rather choosed to suffer Afflictions and Death it self than to obey such Laws and Decrees as required any thing contrary to a pure Conscience and this is our case at this day we cannot obey by doing any thing against our Consciences but must break the Laws of men and disobey their Commandments rather than break the Law of God and sin against their own Consciences whatsoever we suffer because hereof and yet the Examples of Saints and Scriptures justifie us in this behalf And let all our Enemies cease to cry out Rebellious and Disobedient to Laws and Government for we are not such as do wilfully and obstinately disobey any Laws of Men but for Conscience sake and that we may not sin against God nor offend his Witness in us therefore we cannot obey Laws contrary to our Consciences whatsoeveâ— we suffer which we resist not nor rebel against any in this Case So that our Principles and Practices are to obey every Law and Government either by Doing or Suffering And though we disobey such Laws as are not according to the Law of God and rather do chose to suffer yet herein we are justified by the Law of God and the holy Scriptures Thirdly And as for our Conversations among men in respect of our daily walking and converse with them in our dealing in respect of Honesty and Faithfulness and Truth and Justness in Works and Words our Neighbours shall give Witness for us We will not justifie our selves 't is God that justifies us and the Law of God Gospel of Christ Scriptures Examples of Holy Men our
is a Heretick who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that to kill burn banish or to punish Hereticks as such Corporally is of Antichrist c. p. 859. 3. Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivabless what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom p. 868. A Hue-and-Cry after the false Prophets and Deceivers of our Age Being a short and full Discovery of them by their Works and Fruits p. 879. The Case of the People called Quakers once more stated and published with Answers to the Accusations charged upon them p. 888. Several Epistles written to Friends in Truth A Word to the Brethren and Companions in Tribulation by the World scornfully called Quakers page 12 13. To the Camp of the Lord in England Shewing 1. The Work of God which hath broke forth in this Nation p. 64. 2. And where it first arose p 66. 3. And iâ— exhorts to put on the Armor of Truth and to keep the Watch-Tower p. 66 67 Several Epistles to Friends in Truth in London at their first Convincement from p. 64. to 76. Containing these Exhortations following viz. 1. To dwell in the Iudgements of the Lord and to abide in the Counsel of God p. 68. 2. To mind the Light which keepeth out of all perishing things and discovers aâ— Deceivers and to keep to the Cross of Christ and to do nothing Rashly p. 69 70 71. 3. To keep in Lowliness p. 73. 4. Sheweth what the Living Hope is p. 75. The First General Epistle and Greeting of the Fathers's Love to all the Saints Being to all such as are found worthy to suffer for the Truth 's sake an Exhortation to the strengthening of their Faith whereby they may continue boldly witnessing to the End Also an Exhortation to try the Spirits and the Marks of the wrong spirits made known p. 204. to 213. An Epistle to Friends in Westmoreland and Cumberland Exhorting all to know a Hiding-place in God and to put on the Armour of Light c. p. 364. The Second General Epistle to all the Saints Being an Exhortation 1. to the Brethren who are called into the Work and Ministry of the Gospel 2. To all the Babes and Children in Christ to live in Unity and to bear their Afflictions and Sufferings with Patience p. 368 369. To thâ— Elect and Câ—â—â—sen â—…ed of God iâ— London Câ—…aining Exâ—…tations to be watchfull and to keep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disâ—…erly spirits p. 373 374. To all Friends that are moved of the Lord to go into other Nations p. 386. The Third General Epistle to all the Saints Being an Exhortation to seek the Glory of God above all p. 387. Two Epistles to Friends in London Being a Testimony against deceitful spirits and such as profest the Truth and turned from it and were unfaithful to the Lord p. 392. An Epistle to Friends in London concerning how to proceed against disorderly spirits 543. To the Churches in New-England Barbadoes and other Islands Exhortations to be obedient to the Light and to dwell in the dâ—ily Cross c. p. 546. An Epistle to Friends in London Exhorting to dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to be Examples of Righteousness c. p. 547. An Epistle to Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. p. 548. The Fourth General Epistle to all the Saints Exhorting To feel the Immortal Life begotten of the Father in them and to dwell in it alwayes that they might not be overcome by Tryals and Temptations p. 662. To the Friends of Christ in London Exhorting to live in Patience in all Tribulations and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes p. 690. To the Beloved and Chosen of God in the Seed Elected particularly in London and else-where Exhortations to mind the Word which first begat them and none to be troubled at the Dayes and Seasons p. 700. An Epistle to all his dear Companions in the Travel and Labour of the Gospel of Christ and in the Faith and Patience 〈◊〉 the Sufferings for his Name 's sake p. 764. The Fifth General Epistle Being a tender Salutaion of perfect Love unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most high containing Exhortations to Friends 1. To consider their former Estate p. 839. 2. The tender Dealing of God towards them since p. 840. 3. To consider what their then present State and Standing was p. 841. With several other weighty Things very necessary to be often read and kept in mind by Friends To the Friends of Truth in and about London Which Epistle sheweth wherein every oxes Preservation standeth and that in the highest Estate there is need of Watchfulâ—â—ss c. p. 884. THE END 1 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 27 Psal. 8. 2. 1654 Act. 6. 58. from 51. Isa. 56. 10 11. Ier. 1. 6. Ionah 〈◊〉 3. Gal. 1. 1. Isa. 66. 3. Ioh. 9. 21. Prov. 15. 9. Isa. 55. 6. Mat. 2. 5. Ioh. 8. 44. Mat. 23. 3. 27. Mat. 2. 5. Isa. 5. 20. Ier. 5. 31. Ier. 23. 24. Ioh. 14. 6. Mat. 23. 13. Gal. 1. 1. 12. Gal. 6. 7. Mal. 4. 1. Mat. 3. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 14. Ior. 6. 53. 1 Cor. 14. 15. Eph. 5. 19. Rev. 14. 3. Isa 35. 10. Amos 6. 5. Rom 2. 6. Mat. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 18. 21. 1 Cor. 2. 4. Rom 10. 8. 17. Isa. 66. 18. Mat. 12. 34. Mat. 7. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 11. Ioh. 1. 9. Mat. 7. 29. Ier. 23. 29. Mat. 6. 5. Luk. 24. 5. Ioh. 14. 6. Isa. 2. 25. Isa. 29. 13 Ezek. 33. 31 Ier. 5. 31 Luk 6. 26. Ioh. 5. 43. Ezek. 14. 9. Pro. 21. 15. Amos 5. 18. Mat. 23. Isa. 25. 6. Mal. 1. 1. 2 Thess. 1. 8. Mal. 3. 2. Isa. 33. 14. Ier. 9. 25. Ier. 7. 20. Rev. 6. 16. Hab. 1. 13. Psal. 102. 7. Mic. 3. 11. Ier. 23. 31. Mat. 3. 10. Heb. 4. 12. Ioel 2. 2 to 12. Exod. 7 8 9 Chap. Rev. 14. 7. Pro. 28. 13. Ioh 1. 5 9. Ioh. 8. 12. Ioh. 11. 9 10. Iude 1. 4. Tit. 2. 11. Ezek. 34. from 2. to 9. Mic. 3. 5. Ioh. 1. 7. Ezek. 22. 6. Is. 56. 10 11. Rev. 13. 10. Ezek. 34. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Rev. 3. 20. Col. 3. 8 9. Mat. 24. 48 to 51 Ioel 2. 12. Na. 1. 16. Isa. 2. 12. Ioel 2. 2. 1 Iohn 1. 7. Ioh. 4. 24. 1 Thess. 1. 1. Iohn 3. 19. Iohn 14. 6. Mat. 23. 4. Isa. 56. Ier 23. Ezek. 34. Mich. 3. Mal. 2. Rev. 17. 1 2 3. Mat. 23. Mat. 10. 33. Acts. 26. 24. Iohn 14. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 10 11. 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 1 Ioh. 4. 6. 2 Tim. 4. 3. Gal. 1. 16. Mat. 11. 25. Rev. 14. 6. Nahu 3. 4. Mat. 13. 20. Mat. 24. 48. to the end Psal. 50. 22. Iohn 3. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. Rev. 21. 1. Rom. 6. 16. Rom. 2. 6.
thou impudently dost in thy comparing the principles of the Ranters with the Quakers And to save thy brother from shame and guilt thou art fallen thy self into the Snare and justly may be judged to exceed him in Wickedness and thou sayst with shame to thy self I repeat it that the Quakers will not own Christ without them but thou brings not testimony of this Assertion till then art thou reckoned and shall be plauged for a Lyer which will be forever for we own him as he is ascended far above all Heavens who fills all things yea and without us too So that instead of proving the first false Accusation thou adds another Slander and the second thing wherein thou comparest them is unsound for though we witness yea thousands that we need no man to teach us as the Saints did 1 Iohn yet we cry not down the Ministry of God but owns it and cryes down such by whom people cannot come to the Knowledge of the Truth though they be ever learning who Preach for Hire and goes for Gifts and Rewards loves the Wages of Unrightousness this was the Apostles Doctrine as it was ours and is no Heresie though thou mayst so judge it for we say by the same Spirit as the Apostles did they that are of God heareth us who are in the Truth which is but one and there is not another and the Apostles which witnessed Saints needed no man to teach them did exhort them and yet did not condemn principles by practice Then thou goest on and sayst The Ranters are not for Baptism and Breaking if Bread and are not the Quakers the same But what doth this prove and thou sayst the Ranters are they that would profess themselves without sin and how far short of 〈◊〉 Opinion are the Quakers and the Ranters would not own the Resurrection c. And how say you Do you believe the very Bodies shall rise c. Reply Friend this is far short of proving these things upon us by querying them to us let the Reader consider But it may be impudency hath not so wholy eaten out honesty in thee as that thou darest charge us wholy with these things but would intrude into us be thy Questions as though the thing were so indeed but thou mayst by ashamed of thy work Is this sufficient proof of evil against us to ask us whether it be so what hast thou proved in all this against us if we were guilty thinkest thou we will accuse our selves this is absurdity and wickedness in thee falsly to charge us and to bring no better evidence but thy bare words and as we deny the Ranters so do we thee and sees you both to be Enemies to the Life of God But thy last and chieâ—… proof as thou thinkest that we are one is that the Ranters are Sinners and the Quakers are Lyers the first I wilâ— not vindicate but this last is disputable and thy proof of it is first thoâ—… sayst from what thou hast said already to some pages of my first Book to which I 〈◊〉 Replyed and leaves it to the Reader only doth say thou hast not yet proved one Lye against me in the sight of God nor men thou art the Lyer if thou say thâ—… hast and honest men shall be judge betwixt us And thy second proof is moâ—… to the discovering thy ignorance then yet hath been And to clear thy self from my charge against thee viz to be a wrester of the Scripture which yet I stand to thou art fain into grievous error my first charge is true upon thee 〈◊〉 thou perverted or wrested that Scripture Rev. 13. 18. in saying the Lamb was 〈◊〉 before the Foundation of the World for that Scripture saith since or from 〈◊〉 Foundation of the World hast thou no more sence art thou and all thy compaâ—… so ignorant that you know not betwixt before and since a time how are you blinded and yet persists in your wickedness and will not be reproved therefore this is a double iniquity in thee to thy shame remember it for I have said true though thou understand it not there is as much difference betwixt before and since in that thing as betwixt a Lye and Truth for to say the blood was shed before the Foundation of the World as thou didst is a very Lye but to say iâ— was shed since or from is truth and that Scripture is truth Rev. 13. And thou art the Lyar and Wrester of it and I have not wronged thee in my first though thou impudently and ignorantly wouldst clear thy self and lay iniquity upon me But further to clear thy self thou sayst thou said in Gods account it was shed before the World was and this is little less then Blasphemy what is God a Hypocrite like thy self to account that for Truth which is a Lye as I have proved O horrid error and perfect blindness but this will not cover thee nor thy shame from the eye of men where is thy Proof for such a Doctrine that God accounts that which is a Lye for Truth largely is manifest thy folly Repent if thy heart be not void of shame for what thou hast spoken heâ—… in and let the Reader understand this difference thou sayst the Blood of Christ was shed before the Foundation of the World according to that Scripture Rev. 13. I say thou perverts the Scripture and lyest grosly in the main thing it self and saith it is* since or from the Foundation of the World let the honest judge and now it is seen the Lye rests upon thy own Head who wrests the Scripture and belyes the Lord and me and goes on in thy wickedness after reproof and take thou the Ranters they are thy Companinons in lying and sinning and not ours And further thou art offended that I should say and would fain reckon it for a Lye that all thy work is a secret smiteing and an obscure shooting against the manifestation of Christ within which words I own to be truth concerning thee and am not ashamed of them though thou say I say falsly and when the Book of thy Conscience is opened thou shalt confess it only I leave this to be considered seriously and judged by them who are spiritual and they shall be my Witnesses and the Lye is of thee and thy Father whose wickedness is sufficiently seen by what is said if I should say no more Again thou sayst it is an untruth of thee to say thou art one of those that do preach for Hire through Covetousness making merchandize of Souls my words are not so laid down thou hast wrested them for thy purpose though it availes nothing but I said thou art in their steps that through covetousness with fained words makes merchandize of Souls and thou art found among them that preaches for Hire and I have spoken the truth herein let the Light in all Consciences judge who are not feared in many things I might instance that
unless saith he I have more then an ordinary Art of hiding my self c. To which I answer Iesuites I deny and all of that Fraternity and whatsoever savours of Popery yet am I hidden from people and what I am he knows not neither the World for from that Wisdom am I hid neither can I manifest my self to that Wisdom that is devilish and knows not God nor the least of his Sons and Servants for in all those things of which we then discoursed the depth thereof could hardly be spoken of because of the darkness of peoples understandings And especially concerning Justification I was very sparing and could hardly freely declare my self yet what I spoke was a great satisfaction to many then present though the one half that I spoke is not truely related though so much as is related shall stand a sufficient Witness for me and against them that oppose me and that my words and meanings were honest This was the thing charged upon me That no man was further justified then he was sanctified Now my intent and meaning in this was honest and as about this Particular much was spoken which now I do not recollect to repeat onely P. T. hath hinted in short at things how they passed and my words shall be for ever witnessed That Sanctification is a Witness of Iustification and no man can further know himself to be justified then he is sanctified nor justified then he is restored And had P. T. but laid down my full answers as I spoke them at that Dispute there would have been no need to have written any thing in answer onely I do remember I did stand to manifest that the New Birth Sanctification and Justification were all agreeing in one and not one without another and that Christ wrought Righteousness perfectly without us and also fulfilled Righteousness in all that believe and no man is justified by the one of these without the other and that hath not the other and they hold the contrary and R. G. did publickly affirm that a man was justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the work of Sanctification which I denyed and must always deny that any man who is not born again but is in the old nature and not sanctified but is in the Pollutions of the World is justified by Christ's Righteousness neither can he in that State till he be born again and Sanctified have any benefit or manifestation of Justification by Christ and this all men shall witness though because of this I now may be falsly judged And though R. G. did openly testifie that Christ justified Sinners as Sinners yet say I all that are justified are justified through Faith and Faith doth purifie the Heart as was largely spoken by divers of us at that Meeting which is not particularly related which definition of our Justification they could not except against for we never were nor are ashamed to declare what we hold concerning Justification which is through Faith in the Blood of Christ the Seed of the Covenant and though at that time they made much jangling yet to no purpose as to convince us of any Error or any sober men there present of any Error in us as concerning that thing And whereas it is related as if I should say We are men brought up at Plow-tayle and understand not Schollar-like terms my words were not thus spoken but upon the occasion of their speaking words which is not in Scripture Language as inherent Righteousness or the like Whereupon I desired them to keep to the Form of sound words and of Scripture Language that people might understand what they spoke for said I ye are Schollars as you profess and some of us were brought up at Plow or Cart and may be do not understand Schollar-like terms though I did not mean all of us and what some of us do understand as to that I shall not now speak yet this I say the least of us do understand betwixt Truth and Error and betwixt that which is Righteous and that which is Unrighteous and in that is more peace then in the knowledge of Arts or Tongues and our knowledge in that is as Dung and Dross in comparison of the other And as to Justification upon which Subject we contended a long time though they foolishly charged us with it we do deny utterly the works of man and the works of man's righteousness as in relation to our Justification and that it is only and wholly by the Grace and Gift of God and the Righteousness of Christ who is revealed in all that believe in him by which Justification comes yet say we That Faith without works is dead and will not justifie a man but by that Faith which brings forth works even the works of God in us and through us by that Faith are we justified and according to the Apostle's words so we believe not by works of Righteousness which we have done nor by a dead Faith without Works but by a living Faith which worketh in us are we justified let vain men deduct what they may this is truth in the sight of the Lord and all men These indeed are the Particulars upon which the Controversie depended and having been some hours together they were willing to depart and R. G. would give little hearing to me when I charged him with something uttered by him at divers times in my hearing which I should have proved to be unsound Doctrine and Error had he had that patience to have stayed and whereas P. T. doth speak of having a Pope in our Bellies with such like scornful words which a discreet man would not have defiled his Mouth withal but that he must shew himself to be of that Generation of Priests who persecuted the Innocent in every Age and for his telling of our Error and recovering of our feet out of the Snare and delivering us from the Delusion its true his words stand but upon a supposition and that supposition stands upon the Report of others as he seems to intimate which is but a thing far off true credit for what Error and Snares and Delusion did P. T. convince us of in five hours discourse not any at all but the rather was forced to confess to the most part of what we delivered then what need was there to utter these his words in writing as if he had heard some great Matter of Delusion or Error but all these his words I do bear and if he hath harboured such thoughts of us as it appears too much by his words let him cleanse his Heart by Repentance lest his intended evil bruise his own head And whereas he hath commented upon a Book called A Standard lifted up which Book I own and that which is therein written and himself is forced to own what himself objects against and comments upon If saith he E. B. means so and so then his words are truth but if so and so then it is Pope-like or such like Alas
these things that you should have bin awakened to true Iustice and Iudgâ—â—â—â— and this the Lord requires of you though the guiltless Sufferers have born all these things without complaining yet ought you to have judged justly according to their deeds such as caused such Cruelty and unjust Sufferings that for time to come the like might not have been brought forth but the free Subjects might live in Peace and Rejoyce under the Government and all Perverâ—ers of Iudgment and Iustice might stand in awe and be afraid so should you be a Praâ—se to Ages after you And likewise many who are at this present remaining in Prisons in divers parts of this Land some upon one false Accusation and evil Surmising and some upon another for a good Conscience sake the Cause of whom hath often been laid before you which seemed for the present to have some entrance upon you yet little is brought forth by you as ought to be in that cause for though none of any such do complain unto you who have and do unjustly suffer yet the Lord doth require you to set the Oppressed and Falsly-Imprisoned at Liberty and to bring true Judgment forth upon their Persecutors Also There is another Suffering great and grievous growing upon many if it be not prevented Many faithful and approved Men are dispossessed of their Freedom which truly belongeth to them by the Law of God and man in divers Cities and Corporations because for Conscience sake they cannot Swear by kissing the Book and laying the hand upon it according to the vain Tradition in such Causes formerly used though to deal justly towards God and man in their Craft and Science they are bound by the Law of God yet because they will not Swear and so break Christ's Commands are they threatned and their Windows shut up and dispriviledged of their Trading whereby they should maintain themselves and Families in the Creation and this one thing tendeth to the Destruction of many as in this World and no little hurt will thereby grow to the whole Nation in a Generation of time and it is required of you by the Lord to prevent these Sufferings though many can fore-go their own Freedom in this World and their Lives also rather then break the least Command of Christ and thus are many faithful People made a very Prey to their Enemies and in divers manners it is brought forth upon them For many also suffer deeply in the House of Correction for reproving Sin and others are grievously spoiled in their Estates because for Conscience sake they cannot pay to maintain a professed Minister or uphold a Steeple-house for it is a common thing for a Priest to take or have it done Four or Five times so much by Distress as any way he can prove a pretended Due And many other Sufferings there are which are only for Conscience sake as because some cannot put off a Hat to a Magistrate or the like which give an ill savour to the Government in which they are acted without Reproof Ah my Friends Be awakened to Justice and true Judgment to relieve such unjust Sufferers and to throw down all such hainous Oppressions and Oppressors that the Lord may yet make you and your Government blessed after his Long-suffering to you which hath been great for Justice and true Judgment in a Government is the Happiness thereof and the Foundation for a long continuance and on the contrary Cruelty and Injustice and Oppression being brought forth the more is the Government unhappy and accursed and the sooner will the Lord overthrow it and bring it to a desolate End And therefore my Friends let this great Enemy to your Persons Government and whole Nation to wit Persecution for Conscience sake be speedily removed lest the Anger of the Lord break forth against you and repentance be too late for this know In all Ages the Lord stretched forth his Hand and in his time he quickly avenged himself for his People's sake after their Innocent Sufferings born by them for a season and he is the same and changeth not and the same will he bring to pass Therefore I say again Be awakened and let that deadly Enemy be removed out of the Land as you tender your own Safety and Honour and the Glory of the Name of the Lord and his People's Peace even this very Enemy to wit Persecution for Conscience sake for it doth and will obstruct all your good Purposes at Home and Abroad it eats away the Affections of all good People from you and it eats out your Strength and Valour and it consumes the Weakness of all your Enemies verily it is an Enemy that will work your Destruction speedily both in this World and in the World to come that of God in you all shall witness me in the Day of the Lord. I am your Friend and these things do I write as a Friend unto you as to warn you of that secret enemy so much reigning and rebelling in this Nation which indeed may work a greater Destruction upon you then any forreign Invader and this in time you may witness to your Grief and Sorrow If something by you be not done to suppress it all health and peace I wish unto you in the Lord and thus far am I clear from the blood of you and all men come life or death E B. The several Coppies of this were delivered to Oliver and his Counsel in the 12th Moneth in the year 1657. To the Protector Friend THe Salutation of my life wisheth well unto thee in the Lord and most especially that thy precious Soul may be redeemed out of death to God and live that thou mayst have a Rest and Habitation in him when this World is no more Now whereas it is a general out-cry among the Teachers and People of this Nation and also is doubted and hath been sometimes objected by thy self That the People called Quakers are Deluded and Deceived and in Error and such like And now if it be possible that thy self and others may be resolved concernus put therefore all thy Objections and Doubting into plain Positions or let the wisest of thy Teachers do it for thee and whatsoever thy self or any for thee can object against us or what thou doubtest of or stumblest at either in respect of our Doctrines or Practice let the matter be stated in plain words in Positions or Queries and if God permit a sufficient answer thou mayst receive to remove all conscientious Scruples and to confound all subtil Alledgments and Evasions whereby hereafter forever thou mayst be altogether inexcusable of all doubting or speaking against us or suffering evil to be done or spoken against us upon that account And this am I moved to give forth and send to thee that thou mayst be satisfied and all things tried and made manifest in the sight of all men and that all rash judgment and false supposition which lodgeth in the hearts of many may be confounded and brought to
nought and let it be left off to cry out Deceivers and Heresie c. and causing any to suffer upon suspition thereupon but bring all things to light and true Judgment that what is proved to be the Truth may be owned and not persecuted any more for we are willing to be made manifest to all men and if any thing be objected against us which may not be sufficiently answered and resolved to sober men then our Enemies are more free and hath whereof to glory in against us but and if all occasion of stumbling be removed by Answers according to the Scriptures and our Principles Practices and Doctrines thereby vindicated then let all the Teachers and all our Adversaries shut their Mouthes from biting at us and railing against us and accusing of us to thee and let thy Ear be shut from believing Lyes against the Innocent and let none suffer in thy Dominion under the cruelty of men upon such a ground And hereof I shall be glad to receive an answer and to joyn issue in this Cause and in the mean time and alwayes am a Lover of thy Soul but a witness against all Oppression E. B. This was delivered to his hands at Hampton Court in the 4th Moneth 1658. For the Protector Friends Know that there is a God that doth whatsoever he will all power is in his hand and he bringeth to pass the Counsel of his own heart and he rules in the kingdoms of men and bringeth down and setteth up he killeth and maketh alive and he changeth times and seasons and Governments and bringeth to nought the counsels of men for all power in Earth and in Heaven is in him and all his doings are right and his wayes are equal and thou and all Mankind are as Clay in the hand of the Potter he can honour and exalt as he pleaseth and he can mar and break to pieces and dishonour whensoever he will wherefore be humble and low in heart before him for he is the highest power that subdueth all things under his feet if he wound who can heal and if he kill there is none can make alive and know thou it is the Lord God Almighty that doth this in whose hands are the Issues of life and death and he it is who can break thee down and build thee up who can wound thee and restore thee and bring thee to destruction and say unto thee return and to know him that doth this belongs to thy eternal peace Wherefore hearken thou to the Word of the Lord that thy soul may come out of death and live and fear the Lord God before whom thy heart is naked and bare who can mould thee and change thee and fulfill his pleasure upon thee even according to his own will and who shall say what doth he and now come to consideration and let thy heart be more upright before him and chuse his way and counsel that he may bless thee and seek his face to behold his countenance that thy soul may be satisfied by his Word and the Milk of the Word may nourish thee unto life Immortal and mind his pure presence which is life even God with thee Christ the Emmanuel to dwell with and walk in thee which is the promise of the Father and first come to the Principle of God and feel the Word of God in thy heart that will beat down the nature into which Temptations enter and the Word will bring thee to war against and overcome all thy Enemies which would defile thee or betray thee and it will bring thee to know a Birth Immortal born in thee and a Crown Immortal received from God that dies not nor fades not away and then he that rules over Heaven and Earth will be thy Shepherd to feed thee and thy Teacher to guide thee and thy Counsellor to direct thee in all things and thy immortal Soul will be satisfied with the Bread that cometh down from Heaven which the Father giveth and the Covenant of God and the Mercies of David that are sure will be revealed and his Promise fulfilled in thee and Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel which is the Power of God which destroyes and puts off and confounds the first man and his knowledge and wisdom and his sin and righteousness all which is in Transgression against the Life of God and the Gospel the Power of God being received it will raise up the Seed of God in thee and bring thee to know the second Adam the Image of the Father which the Devil hath nothing in but he overcomes the Devil who hath been the Lamb Slain by Transgression since the Foundation of the World and he it is that comes out of death that must take away thy sin and destroy it and cover thy nakedness and create thee anew and give thee acceptance in the Father whereby thy soul in him may be refreshed and a habitation in him thou mayst have when this World is no more and for this thou oughtest to wait above all things And Friend thou hast need of the Wisdom of God which is from Heaven to guide thee in all thy affairs that by it thou may be preserved from the will of thine Enemies and from all that hate thee that their Eye may be blinded that watch for Evil and their Wisdom and Policy confounded and brought to nought that hatch Mischief against thee So feel a Measure of the Wisdom of God in thee to guide thee in Dread and Authority and thy Enemies will be afraid for to walk in the Fear of the Lord and in his Wisdom and Authority in Justice Truth and Righteousness that will make thee a greater Terror unto thy Enemies then all Worldly Policy and Craft the Nations will over-reach thee if thy strength be there and if Judgment Justice and Righteousness be neglected by thee how should the Lord Honour thee and Defend thee Nay he will bring Dishonour and give thee into the Will of thy Enemies For want of Truth and just Judgment causeth the Land to Mourn and her People to sit as a Widdow comfortless wherefore love Judgment Truth and Righteousness and walk therein and thou wilt leave a Praise behind thee and a Witness to other Ages that thou hast served the Lord in thy Generation and then thy Memorial shall never dye nor thy Name come into Reproach among the Heathen Wherefore let all Oppression be removed and let the Just go free and let Judgment and Righteousness run down and be thou a Praise and a Blessing to all that do Well and a Terror and a Dread to all the contrary Arise and stand up for the Lord and he will give thee Strength and Victory and will make thy Horn as Iron and thy Hoof as Brass to push down and tread under the high places of Idolatry in all the apostatized Churches both Papist and others out of the Life of the Apostles and as thou comest into the Life the Apostles were in