Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	holy_a	lord_n	spirit_n	8,095	5	5.0560	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91119	A testimony of the Light within. A glorious truth, which all the holy men of God did bear testimony unto, and from which they spoke forth the Sciptures, and the end of all preachings and writings was to bring to Light within, to worship God in spirit and truth, and to Christ within, the hope of glory. The truth cleared from scandals, and some of the errors and false doctrines of two Cornish teachers laid open and testified against. With a description of the true ministers of Christ, and of the free ministery both under the law and Gospell administration; ... Also a testimony of the dawning of the glorious day of the Lord, ... Here is likewise, in short, declared the differences between the old Covenant, ... & the new covenant, ... Given forth from Christ the light within in love to the souls of all people, ... that they may have union with me in my fathers love ... whose name according to the flesh is Alexander Parker. Written chiefly to the inhabitants of the town and parish of Austell, in the county, of Cornwall, but may serve for any others who are in the same nature and condition with them.	Parker, Alexander, 1628-1689.	1657 (1657)	Wing P385; Thomason E909_6; ESTC R203124	42,617	54

thou didst this day to some of the people out of thy envious spirit spoke unto them to take me away because I had my hat on my head when thou thy self hadst a Cap on and thy fellow-Priest and severall others that had their heads covered and yet wouldst condemn and judge me for that which thou and others were guilty of and so stirred up the people to do evill O shameless man It grieves my Spirit to see such actions amongst you Are these the fruits of thine and others Ministery when in meekness and innocency as a Lamb I came among you as that of God in thee shall one day witnesse thou thy self who should have been an example of good unto the people was the first that did appear in envie against the innocent and went about to stir them up to cruelty and rage and to hale me out of your Assembly when in innocency I stood and heard thy partner and brother in Iniquity untill he had ended his frothy and airy lying stuff as I shall prove by the severall things was uttered by him that he hath denied the new Covenant this by Scripture I shall clearly prove and do charge him to be one of the Antichrists that the Apostle speaks of which should come in the last time And when I stood up to speak and to clear the truth from his lies and slanders thou and he like two hirelings fled away and when I called after you and charged you to stand yet you both went away and left me among a company more like Dogs than Men raging and swelling haling rending punching with their feet and so the Scripture is fulfilled which Christ spoke Behold I send you forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves This was fulfilled this day in thy Assembly who behaved themselves like savage wild and bruit Beasts And this is the nature and the image which thou hast begotten them into your fruits make you manifest to be no Christians but Brutes and Heathens In the cool of the day consider do not wilfully close thine eye nor stop thine ears nor harden thy heart against pure innocent Truth lest God give thee up to a Reprobate mind It is the same Jesus as ever was and the same Truth which thou and other do oppose And surely if thou dost not with speed repent and turn to the Lord utter darknesse will come upon thee thy Talent shall be taken from thee and into the pit of misery shalt thou be turned which is the portion of all envious bitter persecuting spirits I have something further to say unto thee and thy partner concerning his stuff delivered by him this day either come up to Laurence Growdons or else appoint some other convenient place where I and other of my friends may freely come and as you are faithfull to your God fail not Send me thy Answer by this Bearer Austel 7. day of the 9. month 1656. By a Servant of Jesus known to the world by the name of Alexander Parker On the first day of the Week in the evening I and my friend Laurence Growden did passe down to Vpcots house and coming in amongst them Ieer 23 31 Rom. 1 25. Iob 4 7 I found them very light and vain making a scoffe at what was spoken and turning truth into a lye but the Lord will plead the cause of the innocent Then Vpcot accused me and said I denied the Word and I denied Prayer and I denied the Sacraments And my answer was I own the Word and I own Prayer but the Sacraments I did deny there was no such Scripture that speaks of Sacraments Then he said I did contemn the Ordinances and that was because I stood and sate in the Steeple house with my head covered Rom. 2.3 when as both the Priest and severall of them that were there had their heads covered and yet would condemn me for that which they were guilty of but as for keeping on my Hat in contempt it is false but for conscience sake I could not bow to their Image seeing their hypocrisie and dissimulation and feigned humility making a shew of holinesse outwardly unto men Prov. 15 8. Isai 1 1â— Ier 6 20 when they are full of hypocrisie and sin within the Prayers Sacrifices of such arean abomination to the Lord. After I having some discourse with Halls about something spoken by him he not being able to stand before the Truth he would have shuffled off and said not onely by the light within and would have put in that word onely which was not spoken by him in the Steeple-house but his words were plainly proved that they might not be guided by the light within He affirmed likewise that the Scriptures were the rule of life and the way to salvation and the will and mind of God All which things I answered to at that time and owned the Scriptures to be a Testimony and an outward declartion of all these the rule of life and the way to salvation and the will and mind of God but the Scriptures themselves are not the Rule of Life nor the way to salvation nor the will and mind of God which I shall prove by Scripture There is but one Rule of life and that is the Spirit of God which is life and gives life and makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and this is the Comforter which guides and leads into all truth Iohn 14 26 15 13. Iohn 6.61 2 Cor. 3 6. Rom. 8 2. 1 Cor. 2.11 All who obey and give up to be guided by it which the world cannot receive But there is no life in the Scriptures it is a dead Letter and none can understand it but as they are led and guided by the quickning Spirit For though Christ bid the Jewes search the Scripture he doth not say there is life in them or that they were the Rule of Life though they thought to have eternall life in them but they would not come to Christ that they might have life Iohn 5 39 40 Iohn 14.6 Iohn 1.4 2 Pet. 1.21 22. Heb. 13 8. Acts 14.12 1 Cor. 2.16 Acts 4.32 who was the life and his life is the light of men and this Life and Light and Rule was within the holy Men who spoke forth the Scripture and the rule of life is the same now which is spirituall within which the Scripture declares of but is not it Secondly the way to salvation is but one which is Christ Jesus who saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life and there is no man can come to the Father but by me but the Scriptures are not Christ so not the way to salvation but a testimony of the way Thirdly the mind of God is pure and spirituall and was within the holy men that gave forth the Scriptures and they were all of one minde but there are many that have the Scriptures but have not the mind of God neither are they all of one mind but many minds

example for its innocency and shewes that all must become as innocent as little children for whosoever doth not receive the kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein But what example is this for any one to sprinkle waâ—er on the innocent childs face or what advantage is it for a proud covetous heady high minded sinfull carnall man to take the innocent little child which is not capable of believing what can his prayers or any thing he doth John 9.31 profit or advantage the innocent child Read without prejudice and let that of God in your consciences judge There is one Lord one Faith one Baptism and that one Baptism I own which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Eph. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.21 Gal. 6.15 1 Cor. 12 13. Heb. 10 22. 1 Pet. 3. 21 For it is neither dipping or sprinkling or not dipping or sprinkling that avails any thing at all but a new creature for that is not the baptism which is outward with the water but baptism is that of the Spirit having the heart sprinkled from an evil conscience the body washed with pure water and as many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ and in Christ all are one Gal. 3.27.28 And for their Sacrament which they tell people of I deny the Scripture knows no such word as Sacrament but the Supper of the Lord I own and witness which is a spirituall eating and drinking of the Body and Blood of Christ whereby we being many are one bread and one body For the cup of Blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ John 6.56.63 John 8.12 the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ for we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.16 This bread is Iesus Christ the light of the world as you may read Iohn 6.35 I am the bread of life I am the living bread that came down from above he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever and he shall not hunger and they that drink of this cup shall never thirst but it shall be a Well of living water springing up unto eternall life John 4.14 But I say That the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Divels and not to God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with Divels ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Divels 1 Cor. 10.21 Now for a company of profane sinfull people as drunkards swearers lyars scoffers scorners proud lofty John 8.44 1 John 3 8. John 6.70 high-minded ones Whoremongers Adultereâ—s Covetous cruell oppressors and the like for these to meet and eat bread wine and call it a communion I do it deny to be the Communion or Table of the Lord but the Table of Divels Likewise their standing praying before and after their Sermons as they call them and their pulpit and their taking a Text as they call it and add to it the divination of their own brain and speak forth their conceivings and not the word of God these and all or most things that are used and practiced by them in the steeple-house or Idol-Temple are contrary to the practice of the Ministers of Christ and they are to be turned away from for they do not neither shall they profit the people at all for if they had stood in the councell of God they should have turned the people from the evill of their wayes but they run and the Lord never sent them therefore they shal not profit the people at all Jer. 23.32 Thus I have declared and laid open their deceits and contrary walkings to the holy men of God and cleared the truth from their lies and slanders and do deny them and all their way of worship John 4.24 Col. 3.16 John 1.3 1 Cor. 3.3 Phil. 3.3 and do own the worship of God in Spirit and Truth and the Ordinances of God in Spirit preaching praying and singing with the Spirit and with understanding singing with grace and making melody in our hearts to the Lord and Baptism and the Lords Supper and the Scripture in the life and spirituality of them and the Gospel of peace and glad tidings and the word of life and reconciliation I own and witness which separates from sin and joyns to the Lord to be one with him in Spâ—rit where a I the children of God have union even in the pure Spirit and love of God and are written in one anothers hearts not with paper and ink but with the Spirit of the living God and are taught of God and worship him in Spirit and rejoyceth in his love and patience for evermore Awake awake all people awake to righteousness and sin not 1 Cor. 15.34 Eph 5.14 Râ—m 13.12 Luke 21 27 28. Isai 4. chap. 2 Cor 4.6 arise from your dead sleep of carnall security put off the works of darkness and put on the armer of light stand up from the dâ—ad that Christ may give you light For now is the Lord appearing and arising in his mighty power for the redemption of Sion and to put an end to sin and finish transgression his day is dawned and the glorious light of the everlasting Gospel is broken forth and shines in the hearts of the Lords people the Lord is gathering his scattered-flock together in this his day where they have many years been feeding upon the dry husks and running from mountain to hill and from hill to mountain all this cloudy dark day Now is the Lord coming to bring back again that which was driven away and to seek and to save that which was lost and bring his sheep into the fold of the the true shepheard where the sheep shall lie down in peace and feed together in one fold and the Lord alone will be the Teacher and Feeder of his Flock and no ravenous beast shall pluck them out of his hand for he is the good shepheard that will lay down his life for his sheep John 10 1â— and will not flye when the Wolfe comes to devour the Lambs but he doth preserve them all and carries his lambs in his arms and gently leads out all that are with young all his tender babes he seeds with milk and nourishes the tender plants with the water of life and this is the Lord bringing to passe in these our days glory be to his name for evermore he is fulfilling his promises made of old gathering his people into union and fellowship with himself Jer. 23 5 6 7.8 Isai 55 3.4 Psal 2.1 2. Acts 13.40 41 John 15.18 19. where they shall all rejoyce together and be one in the everlasting covenant of love and life

A TESTIMONY OF THE LIGHT WITHIN A glorious Truth which all the Holy Men of God did bear testimony unto and from which they spoke forth the Scriptures and the end of all Preachings and Writings was to bring to Light within to worship God in Spirit and Truth and to Christ within the hope of Glory The Truth cleared from Scandals and some of the Errors and false Doctrines of two Cornish Teachers laid open and testified against WITH A Description of the true Ministers of Christ and of the free Ministery both under the Law and Gospell Administration and how those that preached for Hire and filthy Lucre were testified against both by the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Wherein the Nationall and Parish Teachers in England and else where who preach for Hire and set Maintenances and sue people at Law for Tythes and Maintenance are clearly proved by severall Scripture examples to be contrary to Law and Gospel both in Doctrine Practice and in the steps and wayes of those whom the true prophets Christ and the Apostles testified against Also a testimony of the dawning of the glorious day of the Lord and his appearing in power in the hearts of his people which makes the world to wonder and formall Professors to rage and persecute the appearance of Christ in power with severall Scripture Examples shewing how the Lord sent his Servants to testifie against such who had the Form but not the Power of Truth And how the Servants and Messengers of God in former ages and generations who were in the Life and Power of Truth were hated and persecuted by those who had the Form but were not in the Life of Truth as they are now in this Generation Here is likewise in short declared the difference between the Old Covenant where the Law Temple Sabbath Circumcision and other Services were without and yearly offering up Sacrifice for sin but did make nothing perfect the new covenant where the Law and Spirit and Circumcision and the life and and substance of the shadows are witnessed within and sin and iniquity done away and the bringing in of the better Hope known which makes perfect which is Christ within the Mystery and hope of Glory Also an Exhortation to all people to cease from Man and all their carnall and dead Observations without them which doth not satisfie and to turn their minds to the true light and wait for the appearance of Christ within who gives rest and peace and satisfies the hungry thirsting Soul With a few words to those Dear ones who are torn to see the deadness of the formall profession who are waiting upon God whose faces are turned Syon-wards Given forth from Christ the light within in love to the souls of all people who are groping in the dark without that out of death and darkness they may be brought turned to the true light that they may have union with me in my fathers love who am redeemed and brought forth of Pharoah's Court and do count it greater riches to suffer affliction with the despised people of God rather than enioy the pleasures of sin for a season Whose Name according to the Flesh is Alexander Parker Written chiefly to the Inhabitants of the Town and Parish of Austell in the County of Cornwall but may serve for any others who are in the same Nature and Condition with them London printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1657. To all You to whose Hands this shall come OR To whom soever it shall be committed to to read AND To all in whose hearing it shall be read IT is not that I desire to be seen in Print that was the cause of my writing of that which here doth follow if otherwise I might have been cleared But thus it was upon the sixth day of the weeke being the seventh day of the ninth month 1656. there was a Lecture so called at the Town of Austel in Cornwall and as I lay upon my bed in the morning of the day aforesaid the living power of the Lord did arise in me and a great burden fell upon me and waiting in the fear of God where the secrets of the Lord are known it was laid upon me to go to the Steeple-house at the place aforesaid and I knowing the terror of the Lord durst not withstand nor consult but gave up my self in obedience to the Lord and to his protection though I knew the people to be a wicked gainsaying rebellious people yet I knew him who limits and sets bounds to the raging Sea that it cannot passe its bounds and my life being given up in the service and work of the Lord not fearing what man could do unto me in the power and dread of the Lord I went to the Town and so into the Meeting-place where were two of the professed Teachers and in meekness and patience I waited though under much burden of Spirit untill the Priest had ended his confused gathered in imagined stuffe And afterward I standing up to speak and to clear my Conscience and the Truth from his Lies and other things spoken at that time by him both the Priests began to pass away and would not stay though in the Name of the Lord I charged them to stay and answer for I had some thing to speak unto them but notwithstanding all this they would not stay but went away and left me amongst the rude and ungodly people where like ravening wolves they haled and punched both me and other of my friends that were there that so it was I could not clear my Conscience nor ease me of that burden which was laid upon me concerning them though much was spoken at that time but little received after a little time without much harm I and my friends came away But my burden was not taken off though some of my friends seeing their rudeness perswaded me to let them alone and not to come any more amongst them But on the first day of the week afâ—er our meeting was ended I passed down to the Town with some friends and having written to the Priest after one Letter was burnt another was delivered to him though at that time he would not read it neither was very free to speak with me Yet notwithstanding though there was little freedom I passed to the Priests house accompanied with one of my friends where coming to the house I found them very light and scoffing and little freedom I had to clear the Truth though much was spoken it was but like water cast into the Sea And after some little time I shaked off the dust of my feet as a testimony against them and came away But I was not eased of my burden though I laboured to put it off seeing I had been amongst them but it lay still upon me and I waited on the Lord and on the second day of the week at night lying on my Bed I was commanded to write and so

in obedience to the Lord I have written what was given to me which here is committed to the view of the world Read with a single eye and examine those Scriptures that I have set down both in the Margine and other places and then try those men whom you have long looked upon to be Ministers of the Gospell and you may see them both in Doctrine and practice to be contrary to the Ministers of God mentioned in Scripture and in the steps of the false Prophets and false Apostles which the true Prophets of Christ and the Apostles testified against That which I have written it is not in envy to any of their persons God is my record it would rejoyce my heart that any one of them might turn from their wickedness and unchristian practices and cease deceiving and making Merchandize of poor Souls and lay down their Crowns at the Feet of Jesus and learn of him that their Souls might live and though I be hated of them and others for my love in dealing plainly not daring to speak peace to the wicked whom the Lord hath not spoken peace to but freely declaring the Truth as it is in Jesus owning the least appearance of Truth in any where ever I see it and cherish it but do witness against all hypocrisie and outside seeming holinesse and hyocriticall Professors it is abomination to God and the very prophane ones and the Publicans shall enter the Kingdom before such I say if I be hated for this my love in speaking and writing in plainness not respecting any mans person I have peace with God in what I have here written which I value much more than all the dearest love or greatest hatred and frowns of men So I do admonish all who read this or any other not to be hasty to judge nor to speake evill of things you know not but receive in love what you can reach unto and see to be truth and do not rashly censure that to be error which at present you do not well understand but try all things and hold fast that which is good From Tregangeeves in the Parish of Austell in the County of Cornwall the 15. day of the 9. month called November 1656. Writen by one who is a lover of the Truth and tenders all those who love the Truth in sincerity of heart who wait for the appearance of Christ in Spirit who am known to the world by the name of Alexander Parker A Testimony of the Light within a glorious Truth which all the holy Men of God did bear Testimony unto and from which they spoke forth the Scriptures and the end of all Preachings and Writings was to bring to Light within to Worship God in Spirit and Truth and to Christ within the hope of Glory TO all you People in the Town and Parish of Austel young and old high and low rich and poor Priests Professors and prophane ones of what sort or degree soever to you all am I moved of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to write and clear my Conscience whetheron will hear or forbear but chiefly to you who are breathing and hungring after righteousness in whom there are true desires and thirstings after the Waters of Life for you doth my Soul travail and for your sakes and the pure Truth which is daily slandered by false and back-biting tongues do I freely declare and write these following lines it being so the people of their Town and Parish many of them being so rude and bruitish that I cannot have liberty to speak by word unto you but they are ready to lay hands violently upon me and others of my dear friends who in meekness and innocency have come amongst you they have been haled forth and abused by the rude multitude as I my self was upon the sixth day of the week being the seventh day of the ninth moth called November 1656 when I was in your publick meeting-place and heard one of your Teachers whilest he uttered forth the Divination of his own brain that which by his study and labour he had composed and patched up and so spoke forth his conceiving and imagination and not the Word of God Now I having heard and having had some discourse with your Teacher William Vpcot and another of his Coat and being that divers reports and many slanders are cast upon me and my friends both by the Priests and others as that I deny Christ the Scriptures Prayer and the like which things are false and their accusation I do deny as to my own particular all their lies and slanders I do not value they are as dust under my feet and I stand clear and innocent in the sight of God and all just men and their lies and slandeâ—s doth not touch me at all I know it is the portion of the Children of God to be reproached and reviled scoffed and scorned this is but a fulfilling of Christs words who was hated of the world and persecuted and put to death by the professing People and saith Christ as they have done unto me so they will do unto you if ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore do they hate you but blessed are ye when men revile you Ioh 15 18 19. Mat 5 11 12. and persecute you and shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you these Scriptures are fulfilled in these daies upon this Generation and truly I can rejoyce in all this and count it joy that I am counted worthy to suffer for my Lord and Masters sake knowing this Acts 5 4â— 2 Tim. 3.12 Heb. 11 26. that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution so their reproaches to me are great riches and truly for my own part I should be silent and bear all these things patiently But for the Truths sake and for their sakes who are tender hearted I shall declare and lay open some of their Deceits and Errors who profess themselves to be your Teachers I shall not speak by hear-say from others but what I have seen and heard with my own eyes and ears in tenderness and love to your Souls and not in envy to their persons Rom 13.8 Mat. 5.44 Acts 13.14 15. Joh 16 2. Mat 12 33. Jude 11. 1 John 3 12 15. 2 John 9. Acts 21. 27 28 29 30 31. Luke 10 3. Mat 6 5. for I owe to no man any thing but love my desire is that they might turn from their wickedness and live and so I shall declare and leave it to you to consider and with the Light of Christ in your Consciences rightly to judge John 7.24 According to the will of God as I was moved by the living power contrary to mans will upon the sixth day of the week being their Lecture day so called I

in the Lord Jesus Christ And this makes the heathen to rage and the world to wonder at the mighty works of the Lord our God But it is no new thing to be reproached by the world who knowes not God For saith Christ If ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth it hate you While we were of the world we were loved of the world 1 Pet. 1.14 when we were alive in the old nature and did partake with them in their wayes of worship and in their vain conversation being one with them in vanity and run with them to pleasures and vain delights in vain and foolish jesting and idle and vain talking our tongues being our own and our wild natuâ—e not being tamed but we could do as they did and speak our own words and think our own thoughts and do our own works no knowing the Crosse of Christ nor bearing his yoak but were at ease in the flesh and in the carnall liberty feeding upon perishing things and created objects loving the world and the things of it and delighting in and loving the Creature more than the Creator I say when we were in that condition one with the world in most things then were we esteemed and loved of the world and they spake well of us if we did not crosse their wills but even then though we could talk of God and Christ and Scriptures we were strangers from God and Christ Eph. 2.1 2 3. Gal. 1.15 16. and from that pure life that the holy men of God lived in that spake forth Scriptures but then it pleased the Lord to manifest himself unto us and revealed his truth within us our understanding was opened by his pure light shining within whereby we saw the deceits of the world and their worship and the hypocrifie and dissimulation of professors Priests and people and that their religion was but a shew and shadow and meer outside seeming colour and talk of words and names Isai 29.13 drawing neer to God with their lips and mouthes when their hearts were after the things of the world and there was no life appearing nor fruits of righteousness from a true ground brought forth but pride and self-love and covetousness every one seeking themselves and to advance themselves by fraud and deceit guile and hypocrisie yea and all manner of wickedness we saw acted amongst them which did grieve our spirits and wâ—s a burden to our tender consciences and we separated from them and could not partake with them neither in their wayes of worship as it is established nor in their conversations but we seeing in the light of the Lord 2 Cor. 6.1 that they are out of the way and their worship doctrine and practices are contrary to the pure worship of God and the doctrine and practices of the holy men of God declared of in Scripture Tir. 1.16 as I have shewed before We seeing these things for Sions sake we cannot hold our peace but in love to the souls of all people do declare and testifie against the world and the unrighteousness of it and against the deceits and hypocrisie of the Parish Teachers and Hirelings of these times and against all the formall and carnall professors who in words profess God but in works deny him and for this cause are we hated reviled reproached beaten whipped stocked stoned and sent up and down the Countrey as Vagabonds and abused and sent to prison and this is manifest at this day in England the war is begun already betwixt the Beast and the Lamb but the Lamb shal get the victory though all joyn hand in hand against the innocent it shall all be in vain they shall not prevail Rev. 17.14 Mica 4.1 2. Mat. 5.10 11 12. John 16.20 21. Psal 30.35 2 Pet. 1.19 Rev. 21.23 24 Heb. 11.26 but the Lord over all shall be exalted and his kingdom shall be established in righteousness and the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and it shall be exâ—lted above the Hills and people shall flow unto it and though we now be persecuted and hated and troubled on every side yet it shall not be long for the Lord will plead the cause of the innocent and though sorrow and trouble may endure for a night yet joy will come in the morning when the glorious day of the Lord doth dawn within and the day-star doth arise in the heart then shall darkness be expelled and all the children of the Lord shall walk in the light of the Lord and rejoyce in his presence and reproaches to us are great riches for we know it is our portion from the worldly and carnall professors those who have the name and form of godliness but are not in the life they are and were ever found persecuters of the life where ever it did appear As in the time of Moses administration when the Lord did appear darkly as it were under types and shadowes Mar. 23.31 John 5.35 John 1.14 and the people for a time were held under that administration And in the times of the Prophets more light was discovered and they saw through the shadows and declared against them and those who were in the types and shadows persecuted the Prophets The Law and the Prophets were untill Iohn and amongst all that were born of women there was not a greater than Iohn for he was a burning and a shining light and this was a greater light than the prophets yet the least in the kingdom is greater than Iohn And in the admistration of the Gospel when the fulness of time was come when Christ was manifest in the flesh who was the end of the Law and the Prophets Those who had the form of the Law and the Prophets words Mat. 26 3.4 Mark 15 15. Col. 1.20.21 22 23. they persecuted Christ the life of the Law and the Prophets as many do now in these our days who have got the words of Christ and the Apostles and cryes up names and words as the Ordinances of Christ and the Church of Christ and the Ministers of the Gospel and notwithstanding all this are persecuting the appearance of Christ and his life that is now manifest in his people as it was in former times under the Law those that multiplied their Sacrifices and burnt offerings but their hearts were far off and the bond of iniquity was not broken nor the oppressed set free but they lived in their sins and so were testified against by the Prophet as thou mayst read Isaia chapter 1. The Ox knoweth his Owner and the Asse his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider a sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evill doers children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the holy one of Israel to anger they have gone away backward The whole

in the of the house of the ruder sort 2 Thes 1 7 8 9 10. did threaten mischief against me but neither of the Priests nor any other did reprove them for it but did encourage them rather in their wickedness but the Lord God of power is now appearing and will render vengeance in flames of fire upon all that know not God Psal 111 2 3 Rom 11.33 Rom 1 21 to the end and that do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe read 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. and truly his work is wonderful and marvellous in our eyes his waies are past finding out by any worldy wit or wisdom as it is written the world by wisdom knows not God for the preaching of the Cross of Christ is foolishness to worldly wise and Scripture-learned ones but unto all that believe both Jews and Gentiles Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men for saith the Apostle Ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are Christ Jesus the beloved son of God when he chose himself disciples and Ministers he did not choose them by their greatness in the world nor by their great learning and Scripture knowledge he did not choose him disciples of the great Doctors and learned Rabbies of those times neither of the Rulers nor chief of the people and this made the Rulers and chief Priests to rage and despise and called him a Carpenter Mark 6 3. Jo 7 48 49. Mat 26 3 4. Acts 4 13. Mat 4 18 21. and those that followed him a cursed people that knew not the Law and the Rulers and chief Priests took counsel against Christ to put him to death such as were of great esteem in the world he did not choose but he choosed ignorant and unlearned men and despised ones in the worlds account many of them Fisher men such did Christ make-choice of 1 Cor. 2 cha that the power might be of God and not of man that no flesh should glory in his presence but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. And when Paul came to the Corinthians he came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto them the testimony of God for saith he I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ and him crucified and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling but now trembling is despised and made a mock and a scoff at in your Towns streets and villages and most places the Children of God who fear God and tremble at his word are made a mock and a by-word under the name of Quakers it is become their Table talk and at their Ale-houses and Taverns and indeed most places where they come the children of God are become the reproach and as a by-word amongst them every one giving their censures Jer 6 10. Mat 10 22. Jam 3 15. one crying one thing another crying another thing and all are in confusion but these are them whom the Lord doth love and regard who tremble at his word as it is written in the prophets Heaven is my Throne Isa 66 1 2. and Earth is my footstool what house will ye build unto me saith the Lord or what is the place of my rest hath not my hand made all these things and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look to and regard he that is of a meek and a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word But such are now reproached and beaten and whipped and stocked and sent up and down the Country as Vagabonds Prov. 19 29. Prov 10 6 7. Phil 2 12. and abused and sent to prison but God will plead the cause of the innocent and the scoffers and scorners he will judge and bless and preserve them that love righteousness that work out their salvation with fear and trembling And further Paul declares that his speech and his preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that their faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God howbeit saith he we speak wisdome amongst them that are perfect yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought but we speak the wisdome of God in a Mistery even the hidden wisdome which God ordained afore unto our glory And this wisdome and this mistery the Lord hath revealed unto us for his Names sake that we might be to him a praise and a glory and an honor in walking answerable and worthy of his love in all humility and godly conversation and we cannot partake with the world in their waies of worship Ephes 4 1 2. Col 1 10. Ephes 5 11. Jam 3 15. Tit 1 16. Rom 1 18. which is carnal invented intheir faln estate by their carnal wisdome which is earthly sensual devillish the root and ground of sin and the body and many branches of the cursed Tree is alive and not killed and they live in sin and pleads for a continuance in sin while they live on the earth such are they who profess God in words but in works deny him and such are they who hold the truth in unrighteousness gathering in the Saints words the Scriptures which were given forth from pure life and spirit within these they gather into their unrighteous minds and talks of God and Christ with their vain minds but deceit and iniquity lodgeth in their hearts Mat 23 28. such a Worship and a formal profession we do deny and against them do testifie and cannot joyn with them nor have fellowship with them and therefore are we hated and reviled and made a prey upon and so the Scripture is fulfilled which saith Isa 59 15. they that depart from iniquity are become a prey to this generation 1 Cor 2 9 10 and this wisdome and mistery is hid from the worlds eye and from their ear they cannot see nor hear nor understand the things of God as it is written eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea

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