in the false Jews Examinations it is our great mercy that God restrained him from inventing lyes of us for out it had come we must have shared with Lieutenant Collonel Hobson whom here the Gent. present to the world from the Jows mouth a person of credit As a slighter of Ordinances a neglecter of Family Duties For say they the Jew was much pressed by one how he could stand under the power of Lioutenant Collone Hobosons pravers being so long in his Family To which he plainly answered That they used no Family Duties while he was there How Gospel-like had it been if these Gent. had enquired the truth before they had thus published defamed the Lieutenant-Colonel living but ten miles distance I hope he will vindicate himself and shew that he dare not expose himself and Family to that direful curse Ier 10.25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not on thy Name Having thus wounded the reputation of the Lieutenaut-Colonel they are pleased again to let fly at the Administrator and his Allies for crying up the false Jews Confession To which I answer That if it be well weighed by the judicious Reader as the Confession of a Iew it will appear a very full Confession of a Messiah come in the Flesh For the Gentlemen have dealt most unworthily in concealing that part of his Declaration wherein much of the excellency of a work of grace exquisitely counterfeited by him is contained most in juriously breaking off with a Caetera desiderantur When I demanded of M. Hammond whether he would have denied the Iew Baptism upon this Confession He answered Yes because of his many lies But when I replyed That his lies were unknown to me at that time Nay then said he I should have not denyed him And now I suppose the Gentlemen have not forgot any one passage they have let fly every way at the Church of Hexham at the Administrator at their dear Friend at the Lieutenant-Colonel at Captain Everard at the Army and before they have done My dearly beloved and most cordial Fellow-Labourer will be brought upon the Stage by them Really the Administrator hath as good company as he could wish in this alone the Gentlemen have been courteous 'T is no small mercy my dear Brethren and Friends that you and I are counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name who hath suffered the Fathers wrath for us Heb. 10 32 33. 't is one Gospel-mark of illumination Partly whilest yee are made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilest ye became companions of them that were so used And here I present you with the false Iew truly and faithfully as it was written with his own Hand The substance of the Declaration and Confession which was made at the publike Meeting-House at HEXHAM the fourth Moneth the fifth Day 1653. By IOSEPH BEN ISRAEL ROM 11.1 I say then hath God cast away his People God forbid For I also am an Israelite of the Seed of Abraham of the Tribe of Judah Benjamin Men Brethren and Fathers MY purpose is to declare unto this Congregation first my Descent and Education and secondly the great work of my Conversion I verily am a man which am a Iew of the Tribe of Iudah Act. 23. born in Mantua a City in Lombardy a Province of Italy trained up in the Religion of my Fathers and brought up in the choicest learning of my Countrey and having attained unto eight Languages I betook me setiously to the Study of Philosophy where meeting with Plato sirnamed Divine Trinum per unum Socrates and Hermes Trismegistus I found such light in the glorious Mystery of the Triunity that I was wonderfully surprized and amazed and the more that Heathens should come to the knowledge of this most excellent Doctrine O Lord said I how shall those Philosophers rise in judgment against us who have more light even sepher hattorah the Book of the Law the former book rendred them inexcusable but what will become of us who have the revealed Will of God I had not gone three foot-steps in this way but I found Elohim in the plurall number compounded with a singular word Bara created upon which my meditation was much raised to admire this mysterie when passing on a little further I met with Nangas haadam betrolmenu Let us perfect man with our Image Why us but that we should understand the plurality holden forth in the Creator this drew my Meditations first towards the Christians Messiah But now Satan the professed enemy of Christ of al that set their faces towards heaven told me that these were but fancies and delusions of my own brain shall the Heathenish Philosophers be a rule for my Religion no I will follow the Law under which I was born and educated Behold the power of Satans snares and behold the vileness of mine own heart forsaking this blessed light and rejecting all these holy motions returning to my former old waies again But here through the goodness of God I found no rest but very much trouble and anquish of spirit But O the loving kindness of God! whose design graticusly appeared to bring me to the knowledge of himself even from our own way of worship Our Doctors chuse out a place to say every Morning and Evening Shemang Israel Adonay Eloheinu Adona echad Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one Immediately upon this I find thrice Elohenu Jehovah Iehovah the Lord c. O Brethren I cannot express the heart-searchings and movings that were upon me at that instant which with my former Meditations engaged my soul in a firm belief of the blessed Three in One which most sacred Trinity I do invocate as a witness of the sincerity of my heart holding concurrence with my words O Holy of Holies Father Son and Spirit Searcher of the heart and Tryer of the reins be pleased to give strength and courage to avow thee grant that my lips may enunciate truth and deal with thy servant according to the integrity of his heart After diligent enquiry of the Lord Jesus Christ I did in heart confess him as the most high God taking upon him our nature but then Satan sets upon me with fresh and violent temptations which caused me to break forth O my soul it s for thee I care go I back to the Law I lose thee and thy case my body go I forward to those that profess this Messiah and behold gross and abominable Idolatry look upward and behold a just and jealous God the punisher of it look about thee and behold all thy friends ashamed of thee and thy neerest relations our sing thee and the Messiah whom thou believest But can this be the true Messiah whose disciples are so notoriously wicked wallowing in all kind of sin and woful Idolatry In the midst of these perplexities and distractions of spirit I was almost swallowed up of despair And
of our dearest affections to embrace them But it is well known that divers Persons under full convictions as to our opinion as these Gent. term it have been denyed communion with us and desired to wait in the use of means until the fruits fore mentioned shall appear whereas these Gent. do own and receive such in whom neither Faith Repentance Self-denial Knowledge or desire at all appears Their second Consideration That the Administrator calls the distinction of Persons Idols as at a meeting in Newcastle the last year he called them appearances and manifestations Reply These Gent. have no less abused me in this than in their High Commission-like dealing in that Conference at Newcastle where Mr. Hammond would rigidly impose the term Person upon me and when I put him to produce one rule for it which by Scripture he could not he demanded what I would call the Three Persons My answer was that I durst not give any Appellation at all but Father Son and Spirit God being gratiously pleased so to appear or manifest himself to us when suddainly he stopped my speech and spake very loud to the people that I called God an appearance or a manifestation which went for currant amongst that party And the like height of spirit was seen in the same Gent. when I was speaking of God as a Father a Son a Spirit he presently riseth up crying A Son a Son is that Scripture Language Then casting his arms abroad to the people Look ye friends said he this is the Gent. that stands so much for Scripture and now he saies A Son a Son then turning to me he said I must call him the Son I answered A Son and he hotly replyed often the Son not a Son t is no Scripture phrase till at last he sate down silent upon my rehearsall of this Scripture To us a Child is born to us a Son is given Such hath been the carriage of some of these Gent. towards me more like the Lordly Prelates than humble Gospel Ministers But concerning the great charge of calling the distinctions of Persons Idols I have indeed warned Christians to keep themselves from the Idols of mens vains inventions Mat. 15.9 Psal 99.8 because Christ hath declared it to be vain worship and t is that which procures the vengeance of God upon it Now if the Appellation Person be not Scripture t is a meer invention of Man and so an Idol Yes say they we have the Author to the Hebrews and is not he of more Authority than all the Rabbies in the World Reply Undoubtedly he is for however some do question the Authority of this Epistle yet I do firmly embrace it as the very word of Christ But the Author of this Epistle doth not call God a Person the words quoted by the Gen. are these Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the express character of his substance or subsistence These Gent. tell the world of the Administrators non-acquaintance with the Rabbies and that I do not disprove them I shall onely at present make use of our own Writers Crit. Sac. pag. 272. who possibly may help to inform some of them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though it be translated Person for a Person and that some render it Essence others Substance others Subsistence yet all these are improper and that the proper signification of this word is a Foundation or Basis which subsisting of it self bears up other things In 2 Cor. 9.4 it is Confidence In Heb. 11.1 it is Existence In the Scripture it doth signifie A firm and settled perswasion of the mind upon any thing mark it well this is the Scripture signification of the word but saith he It is also used observe it is also used for the Divine essence with a Personal propriety Heb. 13. Thus you see this worthy Author layeth no such weight upon the word person as these Gent do to charge a man with denying the Trinity that cannot own the term Let us a little consider another learned Writer Gheynell Div. Trinun p. 22. who was commended to me with seeming affection by Mr. Hammond who indifferently accepts the word Person or Subsistence and plainly saies that the word which they translate Person is Subsistence Heb. 1 3. Page 81. and in page 84. the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render Subsistence and by way of Analogy Person observe it is by way of Analogy he further holds forth Page 89 that the Fathers did use the phrase of three Hypostases not daring it seems in the purest Primitive times to translate it Person but at last Page 91. they took the boldness to use the word Person I desire to be informed why this word Hypostasis which the Primitive Fathers so long used may not still be kept without translation as well as other * As Thylacceries Mat. 23 5. Anathema Meranath◠words whose proper signification cannot easily be rendred in English But to proceed with Master Cheynell pag. 89 90. you have this sober Christian conclusion We are prompted by the Spirit to explain this Mystery thus the Father Son and holy Ghost are three in subsistence but one in nature no Mystery can be explained with less violence and more sobriety for we are precise in keeping to the very words of Scripture in explaining this Grand Mystery to the plainest of men and therefore they were sentenced of old that did not believe this plain truth But I am sentenced now for professing the truth for when I declared my judgement in this glorious Three in One nothing would serve their turn but the very word Person what the height of spirit was God knows One observation more I shall add from Mr. Cheynell upon Calvin Non minori Religione c. Whatever we think or speak of our own heads concerning God will be like our selves unsavory foolish and vain and yet these Gent. are troubled that their invented word Person should be tearmed an Idol no Language is rich enough no words are significant enough to declare this profound Mystery which the understanding of Men and Angels cannot comprehend nor the tongue of Men and Angels express And therefore I hope that untill these Gentlemen can shew me the word Person in the Scripture I shall enjoy my Christan liberty to adore the eternal Father Son and Spirit according to Christs Word and not after the inventions and rigid injunctions of men There are three that bear record in Heaven 1 John 5.7 the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one Little Children I warn you again keep your selves from Idols Amen Verse 21. The Gent. have prevented me in answering themselves how I came to know that the Jews count it great blasphemy to call God a Person for they presently conclude That I had it from this Counterfeit Jew and truly in this they are right I should hope for some Christian accomodation if I could find these Gen. as ingenuous
man lay Wherefore let holy hearts labour for a right understanding of this excellent mystery 1 John 5.7 13 20 21. Little Children keep your selves from the Idols of mens vain inventions let the holy expression of men divinely inspired be your rule without adding or dimishing Rev. 22.18 19. 3. No sooner hath he conceived with this blessed truth but the grand enemy of the Saints stands before him with fearful temptations Revelat. 22.4 either to strangle it before or devour it so soon as it was born And this occasioned those sharp conflicts in this distressed Jew who was now put very hard to it so that either he must extinguish this Candle of the Lord lighted in his soul and utterly relinquish this glorious doctrine of salvation or else he must forsake all relations and enjoyments and be an exile for ever from that excellent place of his Nativity which is accounted a second Eden even the choice Garden of the world Alas poor seeming Christians how many of you are entangled in these snares of relations and enjoyments which you dare not will not relinquish for Christ so as to make a bold Profession of the despised Truths of a Crucified Redeemer O how will you stand in judgement with this happy Convert who hath forsaken all to follow the Lord Jesus 4. But now behold a stumbling-block surpassing all Satans temptations or snares of relations or whatsoever else could be as a Mountain obstructing his passage towards Sion This is the scarlet coloured Whore sitting upon seven Hills that monstrous strumpet Romish Babylon whose dreadful abhominations stops the advance of this seeking soul he concludes these cannot be the Disciples of the true Messiah that thus wallow in all manner of impiety whoredom murder sodomy theft covetousness pride Pontificial Pride but especially that filthy and detestable idolatry of Image and Picture Worship which the just God so severely punished by a 70 years Captivity of his nation in literal Babylon Ez. 23.27.38 Neh. 13.28 with that other sin of horrible prophanation of the solemn time of Gods worship Let every sincere soul that can either pray Jer. 51.3 preach or bend a Bow lay out it self to the utmost purse person all for the destruction of this Man of sin with his bloody hellish Inquisition that so mightily hindereth the great work of Israels conversion O Daughter of Babylon who art to be wasted destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones Psa 137.8 9. 5. While Romish abominations cause his retreat towards his former legal profession his perplexed Soul acted by the Spirit of the living God to pant and breath after him who hath perfectly fulfilled the Law by contrary motions and struglings like Jacob and Esau in the womb of Rebecca is nigh unto despair even ready to split upon that dreadful Rock In this mount of straights the holy one of Israel appears who having laid so sure a foundation in his precious soul carries it on gloriously to perfection Phil. 1.6 making out unto him the next great mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 While he discovers the gross corruptions of the Jewish Doctors labouring to obscure that serene Prophecie wherin the glory of this Gospel Mystery shines forth the like impiety he discovers in their senceless and gross abuse of the Kingly Prophet Isay 7.14 concerning the sufferings of Christ which serve more to establish him in the faith of the Gospel So having gotten the New Testament of some Popist Priest the chief benefit he ever received from Papists he finds all prophecies concerning the Incarnation Passion Resurrection and Ascension exactly fulfilled in him in whom all promises are yea and Amen 6. Being thus informed of these great mysteries of God he next by reflection upon himself discerns first What he was by Creation Innocent and happy Secondly What he is without a Savior by sin Wretched and miserable Thirdly What he would be Gratious and glorious and seeing Christ the only way to this blessedness he is so gratiously strengthned from on high as to abandon all enjoyments and earthly comforrs and to cast himself upon a naked Christ 7. Hereupon he sets upon a diligent search of a Christ enthroned in the beautiful conversation of a People professing the Faith of the Gospel not after the Traditions and Inventions of men but according to the exact prescription of the King of Saints 8. Taking his life in his hand through dangers and difficulties he visits Germany where finding his hopes frustrate by Hesseu he comes to Hamburg and there the gratious hand of Providence brings the Fame of English Professors to his ear Oh that the increasing glory of our Land may more and more allure the out-casts of Israel to come to the knowledge and profession of the Son of God yea let all that profess the name of Christ labour to adorn the glorious Doctrine of Salvation in this happy Isle that they may never crucifie the Son of God afresh nor put him to an open shame by their miscarriages Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way Deut. 27.18 Mat. 18.7 Esay 57.14 62.10 then woe to Rome the great Mother of Harlots and abhominations woe to Germany woe to Hessen yea woe and alas to English Professors all who call themselves Christians that by any corruption in Life or Doctrine shall prove a stumbling-block to such inquiring seeking souls 9. Englands Renown adds wings to the heightned desires of this distressed Rabby who upon holy resolutions of this high design is vehemently assaulted by Satan who had not forgot his old language in Peter saying Master pity thy self the English permit not any of thy Nation to abide amongst them they have slain thousands and canst thou think to escape But getting victory over this temptation Gen. 12.11 12 13. and imbarking for England he is suddenly surprized by another like the Father of the faithful for the preservation of his life even slavish fear not knowing of the liberty in England to his people he answered to the Mariners That he was an Englishman I shall not I hope either daub with untempered Morter to sow Pillowes under any arm-holes far be it from me to extenuate any sin yet something me-thinks may and ought to be spoken in this matter 1. That it is a received and avowed Principle amongst the Jews that nothing is sin when life is concerned except Murder and Idolatry 2. That this Jew was not yet throughly instructed in Christianity not any Christians he had met with making Conscience of such kind of untruths 3. It was through the same fear that surprized Iacob David Peter and other dear servants of Christ both of old and in our late wars many a precious soul changing his Name c. when life was in danger but this was their infirmity as it was also