〈…〉 OR An Ansvver to the questions of a Gentlevvoman a professour in the Antichristian Church of England about Hearing the Publicke Ministers vvhere it is largely discussed and proved to be sinfull and vnlavvfull ALSO A Iust Apologie for the way of Totall Separation Commonly but falsly called Brownisme That it is the truth of God though lightly esteemed in the eyes of the blinde world With A Challenge to Dispute with them publickly before King Counsell to prove whatsoever J said at the Pillery against them Viz. That the Calling of them all is Jure Diabolo Even from the Divell himselfe By mee JOHN LILBURNE Close Prisoner in the Fleete for the Cause of Christ IOHN 10. Ver. 27.5 My Sheepe heare my voyce For they know not the voyce of strangers Printed in the yeare of hope of ENGLANDS purgation the Prelates dissolution ANNO 1639. The Publisher to the Reader COVRTEOVS READER IT pleaseth the Lord in this latter age of the world to giue vs sundry helpes whereby the man of sinne with all that bloodie Crew is more and more discovered and Gods elect lead as it were by the hand out of Babylon Jf any therefore shutting their eyes against the light remaine notwithstanding vnder the yoake of Antichrist they must make account to feele for it the sorer and heavier wrath of God Touching this Treatise what it is I shall leave it to thy triall and censure and as thou findest profitt by the reading thereof so blesse God for it and be ready to communicate the good which thou receivest vnto the profitt of others Farewell and pray for mee Who is thy truely loving friend and Countrie-man Alvvayes give prayse to God and let him have the glory of all KInd and Loving Christian Freind J kindly salute you in our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Beseeching him that his enlightning spirit the Spirit of Truth may both now and ever be with you and remaine with you and all those that desire to serve and worship God in all his commandements according to his revealed will not according to mens precepts and devices which is odious and abominable to him Math. 15.9 Col. 2. Gal. 4.9.10 Esay 66.3 But now to give an answer to that which you desire J say and that in the words of truth that the thing as it is to me expressed is very false and therefore I have wrong done me by them that doe report it and I would desire you to know of my respected Freind the party that told you who they are that did report it It seemes they say that I have said that I would as soone heare the devill as Doctor Stoughton or M Walker which thing is very false for I never said it nor medled with any particular persons But yet thus much J have said and still doe affirme and maintaine and will at all times be ready to make it good and seale it with my blood That the Prelates all of them are Limbs of the Beast spoken of Rev. 13 2. and also that all those Officers and Ministers that are made by them are all of them Antichristian the best as well as the worst And we have as good warrant to heare or give eare to the worst as well as the best For I proved in my speech that the best of the Ministers calling is as bad as the vvorst of them for they are all sent by the Prelates Christs professed and knowne enemies and they doe preach by vertue of their instituting of them into the Office of Preisthood unto whose power they submit and take an Oath of Canonicall odedience And this doe the best among them as well as the worst that take upon them a Parochiall chardge for they are not sent from Christ to preach the Gospell or by vertue of his power which he hath left in the bodies of his particular not Nationall Churches to choose or ordaine Officers to preach the Word But by vertue of Antichrists power and authority from whom they have as really their calling and power given them to preach as those Officers that were ordained and instituted in the New Testament to preach Christs Gospell had their power from him and this ere long you shall see fully proved though I be never hereafter able to set pen to paper Some thing concerning this I said in my speech as in it you may reade but it was but a little for the maine thing and strength of my Argument was behinde which I could not make knowne by reason of the Gagg But J looke and expect to come there againe or to a worse place and by the strength and might of my God I will come life come death speake my minde freely and couragiously for I am studying to fitt my selfe for it and I doubt not but by the might of the Lord of Hosts who is my strength and refuge to reade them such a Lecture that shall make the Beast roare and blaspheme the God of Heaven for madnesse though I be hewen in peeces when I have done For I feare neither the Devill nor his Agents the Prelates in this cause of my God and the Lord hath sheltred me under the shaddow of his wings Psal 91. under whose protection I am secure and safe from all danger and harme for though it seaze upon me yet shall it not overcome me therefore will I not feare what man can doe unto me for God is my salvation I will trust and not be affrayde for the Lord Iehovah is become my salvation Esay 12.2 Exod. 15 2. I have in part in a briefe way since I was whipped declared my minde and judgement to some freinds because I did feare false reports and I am alwayes ready according to the command of the Holy Ghost to give an answer to every man that shall aske me a reason of the hope that is in me with meekenesse feare 1 Pet 3 15. And J now desire to impart a little of my minde unto you but for my owne part I will perswade no man to beleeve me nor no man whatsoever but only to beleeve Iesus Christ speaking in the Scripture it being the intire and absolute rule of Faith and that unerring touchstone that is able to try gold from drosse neither would I have any to take upon them the profession of that way the truth of which I am fully convinced off and am able to any man breathing for my judgement to give a reason and grounded answer But for others my advice is to them as one wishing well to the soules of all my Fellow Brethren and Sisters Fellow heires of the same Kingdome with me that they would not take up things lightly and slightly but labour to gett inward principles in their owne soules And to gett a ground and bottome for their owne spirits for these things they professe and hold that so they may not build upon the sand but upon the unmoveable Rock the Lord Iesus Christ that shall never be shaken that so they
doth as we may read when the Spies that went from the Tents of Israell at the Lords command to search the Land of Canaan which they were a doing 40 dayes And at their returne they gave out an evill report of it which made the people to sinne and rebell against God and not to give credit to his word Oath and promise which was to bring them into the Land of Canaan to give it to them notwithstanding the greatnesse and potency of the Heathen for the Lord himselfe had promised to cast them out but because they beleeved him not but rebelled against him fearing the strength and power of the Heathen the Lord would make them to wander in the barren and desart Wildernesse 40 yeares For saith he after the number of the dayes in which ye searched the Land even 40 dayes each day for a yeare shall you beare your iniquities even 40 yeares and you shall know my breach of promise Numb 14.34 Ezek 4.5.6 where God saith thus to the Prophet J have laid upon thee the yeares of iniquity according to the number of the dayes three hundred and ninety dayes so shalt thou beare the iniquity of the House of Israel and when thou hast accomplished them lye againe on thy right side and thou shalt beare the iniquity of the house of Iudah 40 dayes I have appointed each day for a yeare So that if we expound the 1260. by these 2 places of scripture reckning as God him self doth each day for a yeare which I verily beleeve is the right meaning of the Holy Ghost We shall finde that the Beasts Kingdome shall endure from the beginning to the end 1260. yeares For I see no ground that these places should be expounded litterally for three yeares and a halfe and no more for it is impossible that Antichrist should doe all these strange things in so short a time that is said he he shall doe fulfill therefore without doubt it must be expounded each day for a yeare for the man of sinne was a working in the Apostles time but the Emperour who letted him kept him out of his seate till he was taken away 2 Thes 2.7 Now during the time of Antichrist the Holy Cittie or the true Church of God is to be troden under foote Rev. 11.2 and to be in a sad and afflicted condition and to be persecuted by the beast and the members of his state Kingdome all that time Rev. 13.7.15 and Chapt. 12. though now and then she should have some breathing and refreshing times And when Antichrists Kingdome growes to an end which blessed be God doth hasten apace the Foggie Mists of darkenesse blindnesse and ignorance which is the smoake that the Holy Ghost saith came out of the bottomlesse pitt Rev. 9. shall in some measure be dispeld and the Beames of Truth and spirituall light shall breake and shine out as is plaine in the 10.14 and 16. Chapters for then the Booke of Life the Holy Scripture is opened which in former ages lay altogether hid and in a manner shutt up in obscurity darknesse as appeares plainly out of the 11. Chapt. Therefore let us not wonder nor think it strange that the eyes of spirituall understanding which is to know see imbrace the naked Truths of God is opened of so few of the great and famous men in the eye of the World but continue still enemies to the bare naked Truths of God for the Kingdome of the Beast is not yet destroyed the smoake of the bottomlesse pitt hath so darkened the Sunne the aire that the spirituall eyes of few mens understandings are opened to see take notice of the intyre Truths of God yet notwithstanding let us take heede that we be not offended stumble to our destruction Luke 20.17.18 1 Pet. 2.8 at the naked wayes and cleare and pure Truth of Christ because they are but few and meane in the estimation of the World that doth imbrace them and professe them for the Church of Smirna though shee were but poore and meane in the eye of the World yet shee was rich in Gods account because she kept close to his naked wayes and Truths Rev. 2.9 whereas on the contrary proud and haughty Laodicea who was full of outward riches and treasures And wanted nothing that might make her glister shine in the eyes of the world yet notwithstanding is odious in the sight of God because she was luke warme and neither hot nor cold for he threatens to spew her out of his mouth doe you your selfe make the application Likewise let us take notice of that thanksgiving which Christ gives to his Father J thanke thee oh Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hidd these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Math. 11.25.26 The naked purity and Truth of the Gospell of Christ is too homely a thing for the great learned Doctors of the world to imbrace stoope and submitt unto for Christ hath said that the professors of it shall be hated of all men yea of their parents kindred and Freinds Luke 21.16.17 Marke 13.12 and are accounted as Sheepe to the slaughter all the day 1 Cor. 4. whose condition is to be afflicted and persecuted here by the men of the world Iohn 15.18.19 and 16.2 â— 33 Heb. 12.4.6.7.8 for there must and will be to the end of the World enmity betweene the seede of the woman and the seede of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 and therefore false Teachers and seducers though they come in the name of Christ and preach part of his Gospell Math. 7.5 and 24.5 yet they are enemies to Christ the purity of his Truth and people though they make a flowrishing show in the flesh yet because they love not the Crosse of Christ which alwaies goes alonge and is inseperable from the zealous and strict profession of him and his Truth Prov. 3.11.12 Heb. 11. Rev. 3.19 nor will they part with their ease pleasure and fatt morsels Esay 65.10 11 12 nor suffer persecution with the people of God for the Truth of God as Moses did Heb 11 25. Therefore they will neither imbrace the purity of the Truth nor willingly let those that would Gal 6 12. Yet for all that though they will not yet all those that desire to approve their hearts and spirits unto God and to glorifie him both in their lives deaths must not forsake his Truth for feare of persecution or losing of their kindred or Freinds Gal 5 11 Math 10 33 Marke 8 34 38 Luke 14 26 for here Christ himselfe saith that he that loveth Father or Mother or his owne life or any thing else more then him shall never possesse nor enjoy him neither here nor hereafter For he saith He that denies him or his Truth before men him will he denie before his Father which is in Heaven Therefore in regard the Gospell of Christ in
his spirituall heavenly wisedome It is the greife of my soule to see people take such paines for that which will not profitt And to lay out their silver for that vvhich is not vvorth the buying Esay 55.2 Beeing very zealous in professing the seeming way of God and yet are full of ignorance blindnesse in the true wayes of God wanting that true spirituall sanctifyed knowledge and cleare insight into the Scripture which is taught by the spirit of God that being true of them which is said in Esay 59. That they grope for the vvall like blinde men yea and grope as if they had no eyes stumbling at noone-day as in the night being in desolate places as dead men not knowing that a deceived heart hath turned them aside being not able to say that there is a lye in their right hand as the Prophet in another place speakes But unto all such in the words of the spirit of God I say behold all you that kindle a fire that compasse your selves about with sparkes walke in the light of your fire and in the sparkes that you have kindled But saith God this shall you have of my hands Ye shall lye downe in sorrow Esay 50.10 Because that it is a shame even in the eyes of the World for a man to be of no Religion Therfore people take upon them the outward forme of Religion but are destitute of the inward power of godlinesse going on in a formall way of Religion with muddy earthie and unsanctified affections but doe not strive studdy labour as they ought to get inward principles true grounds in their owne soules that so they may be built upon that sure unmooveable foundation that never can be shaken But build upon sand hay and stubble as the Apostle speakes And therfore that building will come to ruine when stormes Tempests doth arise as too true experience hath doth will manifest declare for when men are not soundly setled in the true ways they can̄ot possible have that true inward peace which God hath promised to his faithfull ones But their spirits hearts are full of feares distractions in time of danger and calamity I appeale even to the hearts and spirits even of people themselves that are not as yet convinced and settled in the right and true wayes of God Sure I am I am able to speake it by my selfe and doe speake it in the presence of my God who knowes my heart and trieth my reines Rev 2.23 that I have found it true by former experience for the Spirit of God saith there is no peace to the vvicked Esay 48.22 and 57.21 Now while a man is out of the true wayes of God and is in the by-wayes of sinne and wickednesse he cannot truely according to the revealed will of God be tearmed any otherwise then a wicked man Though notwithstanding his soule may be precious to God But we are not to judge according to the secret will but only to judge according to the revealed will of God for secret and hidden things belong to God but revealed things to us and to our children as Moses saith But all those that are members of the Kingdome of Antichrist as all that submit to the Prelates and their Lawes are are out of the true wayes and pathes of God and are in the bye and crooked way of sin and wickednesse And therefore we have no grounded warrant out of the Scripture the revealed will of God to judge or esteeme of them any otherwise but as wicked men who in that estate cannot be possessours of that true and setled peace and spirituall comfort and joy that God doth bestow vpon his faith sevants Now as for the proofe of this argument t is every branch part of it proved in the foregoing discourse but on the contrary I can truelie speake it that my soule had never before that true rest quietnesse and sweete inward spirituall peace that I haue been and am still possessour of since my God gaue me strength might power to shake of that Antichristian yoake and all communion with his lawes subjects And my soule is filled so full of true rest and peace that all my torments and sufferings and the greatnesse and potency of my adversaries the chiefe of which is the Divell the prince of this world working in and by his sonne the Prelate of Canterbury doth not in the least terrifie or trouble mee but I am merry and cheerefull in the midst of the veriety of my sufferings for the Lord makes me to triumph over them all and I know and beleeue that if all the Divels in hell and all his Limbs vpon the earth do bend themselves against me to overthrow me yet they shall never make me sadd for the Lord hath given me a cheerfull and merry heart which whosoever hath Salomon saith hath a continuall Feast Prov 15.15 nor make me feare or be affrayde of them for God is my salvation I will trust add not be affrayde of them for God is my salvation the Lord Iehovah is my strength and my song he also is become my salvation Esay 12 12. And though the youths doe fainte and be weary and the younge men utterly faile yet they that waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall runne and not be weary and they shall walke not be faint Esay 40.30.31 For the Lord is a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heate when the blast of the terrible one is as a storme against the Wall Esay 25.4 and the spirit of God saith that he will keep him in perfect peace whose minde is staied on him therefore in the Lord will I trust for ever For in the Lord Iehovah is everlasting strength Esa 26.3.4 and the Lord saith he keeps his Church and will water it every moment least any hurt it yea J will keep it night and day saith he Now I am a true member of it and therefore haue right and share of the benifitt of this promise and assuredly knowe that the Lord will so keep me though I be in the midst of the fire that mine enemies shall not prevaile nor hurt mee though all men forsake me yet hee will take care of me and provide for me the young lions shall want suffer hunger but they that loue and feare the Lord shall want no good thing But my loving friend am I become your enemy because in publicke I haue spoken the truth let not your anger and displeasure be further incensed against me when you haue read this that is here written J hope you would not haue me who haue begun in the spirit to be made perfect in the flesh Oh God forbid that ever I should so much as entetaine the least thought of that and therefore know that this is my setled resolution which the Lord
hath wrought in my heart And for this I will spend and be spent and be puld in ten thousand peices before I will in the least deny my God and his naked truth or the least tittle of that which he himself by his holy spirit hath made known vnto me 1 Cor 2.10.11.14 And further knowe that all my kindred according to the flesh hath deserted and forsaken me in my present condition But if all my friends yea and Christian Brethren also in the the world should be offended with me for sticking close to my good cause and if they should all forsake me and leaue me naked to the world yea though I starue rott in Prison as I know I shall not for as long as there was a peice of bread in the bakers street Ieremiah wanted not in his distresses and I know Ieremiahs God is my God wil do the like for me as he did for him if need require But if J should be like to starue in Prison yet wil I never in the least by the strengh might of my God feare my enemies or loue my friends so much as to deny the least of his truths for their threatnings or cruelty or for their faunings flattering and deceiueable perswasions for I know if my friends do leaue me and forsake me yet the Lord will stand by mee support and vphold me in the midst of the greatest of my tryalls distresses and afflictions and in due time deliver me from the mouth of the Lyon for he did thus with Paul when he was to answer before Nero for his and Doctrine at which time all forsooke him yet the Lord stood by him and delivered him 2 Tim. 4 16.17.18 And I know he will doe so for me too for he hath filled my soule so full of his strength to strengthen me in my greatest tryalls and of his presence comfort to comfort me in my present afflictions that I know I can liue by faith in every condition whether in hunger of nakednesse in want scarcity in prison or in dungeon or exile or in banishment And in my present afflicted and chained condition I haue and do possesse all that my soule can desire for I haue God Christ his holy spirit and haue rest true peace and ease and though I be in bonds fettered with Irons lockes and chaines yet I am at liberty for my heart spirit is mightily inlarged also I haue full satisfaction contentednes yea the world all 1. Cor 3.22.23 for my outward condition I haue not a troubled thougt about it for it doth not in the least molest me for I can truly with Withers in the beginning of his Motto say Nec habeo Nec careo Nec curo I neither haue nor want nor care for When I haue the least then I haue a feast and I hauing that I know God will cotinue it and for my owne part I neither long for nor earnestly desire more dainties varieties then there is at a feast and I feast every day and therefore haue no want of good things yea did but my enemies truely know in how rich and plentifull a condition I am in they would bite off their fingers ends for to heare of my prosperous and happie estate in the midst of their cruelties for I haue found and got such riches since J came to Prison that I thinke the like is not to be got abroad in the world And of all conditions vnder heaven in my judgement a prison and an afflicted condition for the truth and cause of Christ and the testimonie of a good conscience is the most happie and rich condition for then Gods holy ones grow in I grace and Godlinesse like tall Ceadars in Libanon and get great large experience of Gods goodnesse faithfulnesse and kindnesse as I am able to speake it by grounded experience And though my Adversaries are learned in the Phariseicall Philofical deceiuable learning of the world Act 5.34 22.3 compared with Phill 3.5.8 Coll 2. and haue studdied and beat their braines in their Vniuersities and else where for many yeares together yet in one sixe moneths in a Prison and fettered condition I haue got more true spirituall learning and and knowledge in the misteries of Godlinesse then is amongst them all therefore when they sent me to Prison they did more for me then if they had given me ten thousand pounds for they haue sent me to a heaven vpon earth for so J haue found it And so farr I am from being overcome by their vnheard of cruelty to submitt and make a base recantation as they would haue me which they haue do still exercise vpon me in a high degree that I am ten times stronger then I was at the first and the next act of cruelty that they shall inflict vpon me will make me twenty times as strong as I am and the next act of cruelty after that will make wee as vnmouable as Mount Sion which cannot be moved but abideth for ever Psal 125. 1. Pro. 10.30 And as the hatred dispeasur of my friends which is the greater tryall of the two which J haue incurred from them by reason of my judgment and Conscience I will carrie my selfe by the help assistance of my God like an innocent harmelesse lamb of Christ yet will I never in the least either for their love or displeasure forsake or renounce the least Truth that the Lord in great mercy hath manifested and made known unto me since I came to prison For before J was not only a Novice but a very Idiot in the right wayes of God having muddy affections but wanted inward principles having fiery zeale but it was without grounded spirituall knowledge But now the Lord hath made knowne to me by his spirit the way wherein to serve and worship him And he hath made me by his power and strength as unmoveable as an Iron Pillar or a Brazen Wall And if they doe not in matters of Religion returne unto me J shall I hope fullfill that command of God given unto Ieremy in the 15. Chapt 19. that I shall not in the least returne unto any of them though I be ever accounted by them as an allien and stranger to them Againe I desire to lett you know that upon the pillary I challenged all the Bishopps in England to dispute with them upon this proposition to prove the Popes power and authority from the Devill and that their power authority and jurisdiction and calling in which they stand at this day is from the Pope and so originally from the Devill as well as his But these Episcopall Rabbies who are Cheife members of the Kingdome of Darknesse had no other Argument to convince me with then to put a Gagg in my mouth least I should have shaken the foundation of their Antichristian Kingdome publickly at the Pillary and least the people forsooth should be infected with my speeches which in their account and estimation