one to another is but an Image of what it is in and from God to man so Christ himself in a humane appearance as he was man though he had in him the fulness of the Godhead yet was he but an Image of the invisible God Col. 1.15 or the Eternal Being of the Godhead in its Divine state And all Images are to pass away and be removed day by day 1 Cor. 7 31. For the fashion of this world passeth away and whatsoever passes away must in that state of mortality be a lye in opposition to that which is immortal and true because it abides not always the same but is changeable And as a thing made cannot know that which made it so a lye cannot know the truth nor speak the truth but as it is in the truth no longer known to be a lye but the truth it self 1 Cor. 2.11 As nothing therefore but God who is a Spirit knows God so nothing but the truth knows the truth nor can speak the truth and if any thing of truth be spoken between man and man Mat. 10.20 it is the truth it self that speaks it self through its own image for what one man speaks to another in words is but an Image of the same Being spoken to man by the truth in silence for the word in the sound is but an Image of what is before spoken in the mind all the writings of men in the letter is but an Image of the writings of God in the heart and Spirit So the Scripture called the Word of God which are but the writings of men in an outward testimony John 1.1 2. is but an Image of the true Word Christ that spoke before in them that writ it and witnessed to the word by that which is written 1 Iohn 2 3 4 for what the Word of God to wit Christ speaks in men that man speaks and writes again to men Rom. 1.20 For what we have seen and heard we declare unto you saith Paul and all things in the world visible is but an Image of God Psal 51.6 or the things invisible and so all things as made is but an Image of it self as unmade Adam was first formed then Eve 1 Tim. 2 13 14. and the woman taken out of man is but the Image and glory of the man and lives not but in the man therefore while she abides in the Image and is not the same with the thing imaged she abides in a lye and is in the transgression So in like manner all mankind with the whole creation as coming out of God is but an Image of God as the Son is of the Father and as the woman is of the man and lives not but in God the Father that sends them forth from himself as an Image of himself and as it abides in the Image 1 Iohn 2.27 28. and not in him that made it so it abides in the lye and in the transgression and if any would know the truth in the love of the truth to speak it and live in it they must wait to be taken up in the understanding into that which is the truth as Christ was and therein cease in themselves to stand any longer in the Image but in the substance as Christ did when he did ascend from the Son to the Father and so must become the same with the truth in the truth it self before they can know what the truth is in the understanding of it 2 Cor. 5 1â— Isa 42.16 I n 2. Ephes 1.10 so in the chang of all things in man the woman becomes the man or weakness becomes strength darkness becomes light death becomes life and a lye the truth when the truth hath had its perfect work in making all things free in turning water into wine and bringing all things together in one for the truth is not without a lye 1 Cor. 11.11 12. the man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord So not God without us nor we without him in the truth which truth comprehends Father Son and Spirit will wisdom and power variety in unity and unity in variety the Creator and the creature and so God himself who is the truth in Jesus who is one and all is himself the way in which all men should walk the truth which all men should practice Col. 2.6 and the life which all men should live with Christ in God manifest in flesh as he is God in union with man and man in union with God loving all men as himself doing for all men as for himself which should be the whole life of all men one to another Matth. 5 44 45. living in the truth as it is in Jesus even to walk in him as their path live in him as their life and so to follow his steps in the Lord Jesus Ephes 5.1 2. Acts 17.26 1 Ioh. 10.11 hating none speaking evil of none persecuting none but to be friendly loving kind and merciful to all as flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone being all of one blood and so to forgive one another as God in Christ hath forgiven them And he who goes any other way practises any other thing 2 Cor. 5.18 19. Iohn 14.8 1 Iohn 1.6 7 8. lives any other life then that which is God living in them and all men reconciling the whole world to himself by Jesus Christ the way the truth and the life is so far a lyar and the truth is not in him O how few are there that live this life of God in Christ to be reconciled to all men though enemies love all men though enemies be at peace with all men though enemies and to do for all men as they would do for themselves and as they would others should do unto them why very few yet live in the truth to practise it though most men profess it Therefore all men who live not in the truth are lyars and live in the filthy abomination of the lye as in sin death hell and damnation wrath envy hatred malice persecution revenge and all the works of iniquity and must be taken up into the truth and so cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone there to be purged from all their uncleanness and filthy abomination Rev. 21 8. that hath defaced the Image of God as to men before they can be lovers of God or the truth and cease from persecuting one another All things while it abides in the Image being there in a prison and in darkness is an enemy to the thing imaged because it represents it not perfectly or as it is in Jesus the thing made is an enemy to that which makes it the creature to the Creator Isa 5.9.4 5 6 c. man to God for all men as men and sinners so remaining are haters of God and do oppose the truth in the manifestation But the more truth is opposed
was called The Word of God Rev. 19 11 12 13. and not that the Scriptures were so called And let not us rob God of that honour and title due unto himself to give to the Scripture but what the Scripture saith both of God and it self that let us say also The Scripture also saith 1 Cor. 3.6 Iohn 14.19 Rom 10.8 that the Letter kills but the Spirit gives life which spirit is the Word and the Word is Christ I am come that you may have life saith Christ and because I live ye shall live also And this Word even Christ is nigh us in us yea round about us still teaching of us and giving life unto us which is the work of Christ and not the Scripture But this I will say of the Scripture which is what the Scripture saith of it self that it is an outward testimony of God his mind Christ the Word Faith and Eternal Life Heaven and Salvation to those that do believe but not that it self is either of all these or can give unto us the knowledge of it and that we might know the insufficiency of it Ioh. 9.39.40 Christ in it bids us search the Scriptures for saith he in them you think to have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye may have life Yet this Scripture as it is given by inspiration so it is profitable for doctrine 2 Tim. 3.16 17. for reproof for correction and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all good works and not as it lies in the letter but as it is inspired revealed or made manifest in our hearts and minds by the Holy Ghost for saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people Ier. 31.33 34. and cause them to walk in my statutes of loving one another And the Word of God being once written in our hearts it is then profitable for us to teach reprove correct and instruct us make us perfect in the inward man furnish us fit and qualifie us with gifts and graces unto all good works and no otherwise can it do it for us but as it is within us And this is the honour and praise that I will give to the Word of God and to the Scripture to sum it all up in God in whom I desire to know to live to act and enjoy all things of God and I desire not to speak think act or maintain any thing that I have not the letter for as well as the Spirit the truth and mystery of which letter no man knows till he hath it revealed to him by the Spirit and Internal Word that declares the Father plainly which so far as it speaks in me Mat. 11.27 and declares the mind of God to me I shall not be silent And now my Lord I give you many thanks that you have so patiently heard me and given me liberty to speak for my self Yet before I depart I shall desire to present one Scripture more which I shall but onely read and so leave it to the consideration of this honourable Court Said the Judge I thought you had done Answ If your Lordship desire it I have Said the Judge Nay but we will hear your Scripture Answ It is in the sixth of the Acts from the 8. verse to the end And Steven full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people then there arose certain of the Synagogue which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines Cyreneans Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and of Asia disputing with Steven and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake then they suborned men which said we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God and they stirred up the people and the Elders and the Scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the Councel and set up false witnesses Acts 6.12 which said This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the Customs which Moses delivered us and all that sate in the Counsel looked stedfastly on him saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel And now I shall take my leave according as the Apostles in times past have done who when they had suffered for the name of Christ they departed from the presence of the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name so shall I at this time and as daily in the temple and in every house Acts 5.41 42. they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ so shall not I my Lord cease to do the same so far as God shall enable me and so I take my leave of your Lordship And paying the fees of the Court I was discharged for that time CHAP. IX The Authors second appearing at Worcester before Judge Nicholes and the proceedings thereof also his being bound from thence to Oxford how and for what ANd I standing bound until the next Assizes at Worcester which was then six moneths to come my accusers Ralph Nevil and Giles Collier in the mean time imployed men on purpose to follow me from place to place where they heard I preached or came to enquire into my Doctrine Life and Conversation with endeavours to get something more against me to accuse me at the next Assizes following as my self and several persons well knew And they hearing of some difference in dispute that was between some Ministers and my self at Enstone in Oxfordshire where I had before been and preached they came to an Inn in Enston and sent for the Ministers that differed with me of whom they got a certificate of some particulars which they said I there delivered and which they counted blasphemy And when I appeared at Worcester next Assizes before Judge Nicholes my accusers gave to the Judge their certificate which was as follows First That I should say Christ ayed for his own sins as well as the Peoples Secondly That there was no heaven and hell but what was in man Thirdly That everlasting life should end in this life But no witness sworn to it And my accusers having no witness there they with many fair speeches used to the Judge desired him to bind me to appear at the next General Assizes holden at Oxford to answer to what was in this their certificate and what more they in the mean time could find against me For said they to the Judge that being his own Countrey we shall there by that time get something more against him And the Judge willing to do my accusers a pleasure against me as Festus did the Jews against Paul when he left him bound
one another as a sure testimony of their love to God for the which I have been hated and persecuted by some men of all opinions and religions whatsoever in the world whether Papists Prelates Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists Ranters Quakers and whatsoever opinion else below the truth though I love them all and am with them all and they all with me but a cloud is over them that they see me not neither know me that is they see not my life being not yet reconciled to it yet when this cloud shall be taken away from all and the Sun of Righteousness risen in all Matth 23. â— then shall they see both me and one another and have joy in each other and be at peace with all men as being all brethren of one family sons of one Father heirs of one Kingdom and so see themselves and all men dwelling together in one City or heaven God And this is pure Religion the new Jerusalem the Kingdom of the Lord and end of their journey where the wolf shall dwell with the lamb that is the wicked with the godly or men of all opinions meet and agree in one union and fellowship in the Lord Jesus And where the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lyon and the fatlings together and a little child to wit Christ shall lead them and the cow and the bear shall feed or all men who have been of different judgements shall be of one mind in the Lord their young ones shall lye down together all men shall bring forth their seed unto God and the lyon shall eat straw like the ox or God will tame the wildest of creatures the persecutingst and most devouringst of men or of things in men that all shall be alike in knowledge and the sucking childe shall play on the hole of the asp Isa 11. and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den or he that is sucking at the breast and he that is weaned from the breast of his own Religion and shall not one envy another for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea that is God will so manifest himself that all men and creatures shall be in union together love one another and do unto others as they would others should do unto them this is the Law and the Prophets and this is the Kingdom of the Lord and high calling of God which all men are to press after and not to rest till they are come in to it and is no more nor no less then what I have always declared as that which I received of the Lord yet not that I Richard Coppin as a creature could at any time give to another what I my self have received or teach another what I am taught or do for another what the Lord hath done for me in that case but I onely declare what I have received of the Lord and am taught by the Lord and what the Lord may do for others when the time appointed of the Father shall come for he that gives to me as a creature must give to them as creatures Isa 2 22. and he that taught me must teach them if ever they be taught the truth therefore cease from man whose breath is in hâ— nostrils 1 John 2. for wherein is he to be accounted of and eye him the Lord Jesus or that anointing within you who is the salvation of all men and whom you are to hear in all things for all others besides him that go forth as Teachers of the people are but false Teachers and Seducers according to the Scripture but the Lord alone or this anointing in us is our onely Teacher and men in speaking one to another can do no more as they are men but tell one another what the Lord hath done for them as the Prophet David saith Come hear and I will tell thee what the Lord hath done for my soul and what we have seen and heard we declare unto you saith Paul which declarations of men may conform each other in something which they before have had some little experience of in themselves the Lord working with it though they did not so know it as to utter it which when it is declared to them they may then set their seals to it as truth to them there being in them the same spirit witnessing to the same things which makes them believe it For he that believes hath the witness in himself but if there be not the same spirit witnessing in him that hears as is in him that speaks they cannot believe or set seal to the truth of what is spoken any further then it agrees with their own spirits or opinions but will rather persecute it to the death and also them that shall declare it as they have done to Christ the Apostles and others since that from thence and from â—uch arises all persecutions And so having brought you thus far to shew unto you my proceedings hitherto both of my life and doctrine delivered to the world I shall go on and therein set before you a larger path of my persecution and tryals both at Worcester Oxford and at Glocester as of things considerable from the first beginning to the end as a further testimony to the truth And first of my tryal at Worcester and the proceedings thereunto CHAP. VI. The Ministers malicious proceedings against the Author in Worcestershire to bring him to a tryal His examination before several Justices and Ministers and his being bound over to Worcester Assizes how and for what THe first proceedings of the Ministers against me to bring me to a tryal at Worcester was from my preaching at Emload in Worcestershire where I was desired by some of the Eminentest men of that Parish to come and there to preach where I continued for the space of four days declaring the things which I had seen and heard of the Lord both in publique and private with the desire of the people and the consent of the said Minister of that place But the said Minister finding the people so much adhering to what I delivered and believing in it more then in what he himself usually delivered amongst them he began to be wrath and was troubled and fearing that he should lose his flock or at least the benefit he received of them he sent and caused a dispute or at least a vain jangling to be between some certain Ministers of that Countrey and my self while I was there some of whose names are as follows Eason of Batsford Collier of Blackly Nevil and others as Ministers to the people in their several Parishes but no grace could they minister to the hearers and therefore cannot be said in truth to be Ministers of Christ but of Antichrist as appeared by what they declared to the people as also by their practise for they endeavoured to prove the Law under that administration of Moses to be
Truths Testimony AND A Testimony of Truths Appearing IN Power Life Light Glory Creating Manifesting Increasing and Vindicating it self in the midst of persecution Wherein is discovered what Truth is and also a Lye who knows it and lives in it WITH The Authors Call and Conversion to the truth his practice in it his publishing of it and his several Tryals for the same Viz. 1. Before Baron Wilde at Worcester 2. Before Judge Nicholas at Worcester 3. Before Serjeant Green at Oxford 4. Before Serjeant Hutton at Oxford 5. Before Serjeant Glyn at Glocester Together with The partâ—cular Accusations brought against him in each Tryal and his answers to the same As also the Courts proceedings both by JUDGES and JURIES With an humble Appeal to his Highness Oliver Lord Protector as a general redress for all people By Richard Coppin John 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service Gal. 4.29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now London printed and are to be sold at the black Spread Eagle at the West-end of Pauls the Blackmoores-head at Fleet bridge and at the Seven-stars in Pauls Church-yard 1655. Friends and Enemies THat the truth of those transactions that have past between me and my adversaries may appear it is through the desire of many people here published as a Narrative of what the Lord in these dividing times hath done and will do for the encrease of the manifestation of truth amongst men that through much opposition by men living in a lye against those who live in the truth is the truth made manifest concerning which I have not thought my life too dear to have parted with but with much zeal and love both to God and all people have I been carried on to vindicate the truth of what was manifested to me and declared by me who with much joy went through it I still knowing my self clear and justified in and by the Lord and my own conscience in all things that I have seen known and been made a partaker of in truth and righteousness And if any shall question the truth of what is here written in any part of it it is and will be ready to be proved not onely by my self but by several other persons that have been hearers of and eye-witnesses to the same and that had taken several Copies of what was done in the Courts at my tryals all which was still recorded and kept to this day and now published for the view of all that desire to look into it as an outward testimony bearing witness of the truth against all that is a lye in the world And I do further declare that in all my tryals and proceedings to this day I never feed or bribed any man whatsover to shew me any favour neither did any ever require it of me more then what was due by course of Law to the Clerks of Assizes for I was not to seek to men for any favour but to leave all to the Lord whose own the cause was and who is and will be made manifest in due time to all men as he is and hath been to him who is ready to serve all men in love while he is Richard Coppin SEveral books of the same Author now extant viz. one entituled Divine Teachings in which are three together a second Mans Righteousness examined a third Saul smitten a fourth A Man-child born and to be sold with this The Contents Chap. 1. WHat truth is and what it is not who knows it and lives in it c. page 1 Chap. 2. The Authors life and conversation before and after the day of his conversion c. page 9 Chap. 3. The Authors Call and Commission to preach what and from whence it was The Priests Call and Commission to preach page 15 Chap. 4. The Authors first prosecution of his Commission and his being opposed for the same c. page 17 Chap. 5. The Authors farther proceedings with men in all conditions under their several Forms and Administrations c. page 23 Chap. 6. The Ministers malicious proceeding against the Author in Worcestershire c. page 27 Chap. 7. Of his tryal at Worcester Assizes before Baron Wilde the particular accusations against him and his answers to them c. page 31 Chap. 8. The Authors speech made to the Judge after his tryal page 44 Chap. 9. The Authors second appearing at Worcester Assizes before Judge Nicholas page 48 Chap. 10. The Authors Tryal at Oxford Assizes before Serjeant Green The particular accusations against him and his answers to them c. page 50 Chap. 11. The Authors second appearing at Oxford before Judge Hutton c. page 70 Chap. 12. The Authors humble appeal to his Highness Oliver Lord Protector as a general redress for all people page 71 Chap. 13. The Sufferings of Christ his Prophets and Apostles with the Authors presented to his Highness c. page 75 Chap. 14. A further discovery to his Highness of the malicious practices ignorant censures and illegal proceedings of two Justices and certain Ministers at Stow c. page 79 Chap. 15. The Authors Tryal at Glocester Assizes before Serjeant Glyn. page 85 Truhts Testimony AND A Testimony of Truths appearing In Power Life Light and Glory creating manifesting increasing and vindicating of it self in the midst of Persecution CHAP. I. What Truth is and what it is not who knows it and lives in it that it is always persecuted and by whom that it most appears when it is most opposed and how GOd that made the world and all things therein whose goodness fills heaven and earth is holy Acts 17.24 25 26 27 28 just and good the pure perfect true God not confined to time place person nor thing but comprehends in himself all things that are and all things in him that is pure perfect true just and good so is to him Titus 1.15 and he cannot behold any thing any otherwise then as it is in himself who sees knows possesses and enjoys all things not as man who is a lyar but as God who is true and who is all 1 Cor. 15.28 and all in all in truth and righteousness and whatsoever besides a lye is or may be said by men not to be in God and God not to be in that is a lye and he that saith it is a lyar and no lyar can stand in the presence of God to know Gods presence with him till he be brought from the knowledge of a lye to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus by the appearing of God in Jesus Christ to him 2 Cor. 5.18 19. Therefore that which all men are to be to know to live in and to practice in truth and righteousness that they may no longer be shut out from the presence of God as lyars is the truth as
it is in Jesus or God as he is in Christ reconciling the whole world to himself not imputing to any man sin and transgression and so the Lord Jesus who is God with us is to us the way to the truth the life living in the truth Matth. 1 23. John 14.6 and the truth lived in that in due time will make manifest the freedom of all men in the knowledge of the truth from that which is a lye 1 Tim. 2 3 4 5 6. and bring all men to that which is the truth in himself though in the time of mens falling away from the first Image to have an outward shew or form of godliness without the power they are not brought from the knowledge of a lye as it is in man to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus There is nothing more opposed less known and practised by men living in the knowledge of a lye yet professing truth and godliness Tit. 1.16 then the truth is For they profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work a reprobate as the Scripture saith for all men knowing owning and living in any thing below God do so long know own and live in a lye and so are themselves a lye to themselves hating abominating and opposing the truth which they know not and no lye can know the truth but the truth knows a lye Mat. 11.27 not as a lye but as the truth So no man knows God but God knows man yet not as man but as himself who knows all things in truth and righteousness which truth is himself Isa 45.5 6. for he that is all things cannot know any thing besides himself there being not any thing but himself to be known else how is he all things except a lye and all the known gods of the Nations which men have worshipt and run a whoring after are false Gods and a lye and a lye is nothing in being therefore is one God the truth and all the good that is is him for truth and goodness live together in God who is good and beholds all things good yea very good because he can see nothing but what is himself for there is none good but one that is God Mat. 19.17 and yet the whole creation of God is said to be good by God Gen. 1 31. Chap. 2.1 2. for when he had made all things and finished his work he beheld it and saw it was very good Therefore is God in Christ said to see know understand and judge all things in truth and righteousness as being all in all things to himself 1 John 2.21 John 8.44 though the things in themselves and to men are lyes yet truth in him and to him who is all things and of whom and to whom nothing is a lye for no lye is of the truth but all lyes as lyes are onely of and known by the Devil the great lyar of the world the deceiver of mankind Isa 5 20. that turns the truth into a lye and light into darkness and good into evil ascribing that wisdom power will reason knowledge and understanding unto man which is due to God setting up man in the place of God 2 Thes 2.4 as knowing and being something else besides God out of God that so himself might have a Kingdom this is a lye and the lyar and the Kingdom of darkness unto which lye and lyar as unto the Devil and his Kingdom sin hell and damnation God will not give any place of being out of himself to remain but will turn it again from a lye to the truth from man to himself from Satan unto God for he onely is Acts 26.18 and there is none besides him so that he onely is true and all things in him are truth Therefore to understand the truth we must understand and know God that he onely is that which is to remain and so to understand the truth as it is in Jesus God in Christ manifest in flesh the Original Centre of all things that which makes forms Col. 1 16. Jer 23 24. creates and fills of its fulness all things that were are and ever shall be in the whole Creation world without end himself having neither beginning nor end but is the same yesterday Heb. 13 8. to day and for ever and changeth not Therefore is the truth as being the same still in God one unchangeable immortal incomprehensible unlimited 1 Tim. 6 16 1 Tim 1.17 individual divine being full of wisdom power life light and glory or the whole Godhead acting ruling and governing all things in the world and so the same still at all times in all places and things comprehending in it self all things that are in the world as its own and yet it self not comprehending not comprehended of or confined to any one thing time Psal 50.12 place or person but doth it self make create and bring forth from it self as comprehended in it self all things visible in the world Rom 1.20 as an Image of it self invisible And this is God who when he will can and doth both break in pieces and set together again empty and fill again wound and heal again Hosea 6.1 kill and make alive again all things that are in generation in the world evermore to be changeable in it self as made and unchangeable in himself as unmade and he evermore to do the same as being an unchangeable workman always making Eccle. 1 9. creating and filling all things that are changeable for that which hath been is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun and the best of men and things so created or made in the most pure fine formalists outside appearance of them are but Images of the Image of God placed in man which men would set up to worship and adore as Nebuchadnezzar did his Image Daniel 3. and they that will not fall down before it and submit themselves to it as to men and their Images ways worships and opinions must by the decree of Nebuchadnezzar or the same spirit of him now appearing amongst men be cast into the hot fiery furnace made hot by men that is to say either silenced imprisoned banished or put to death Therefore what are the best of Images to the thing imaged but vanity and a lye being as it is changeable All is vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 1.14 And so the best of things in its first created state is but an image of the most high God which he onely makes to serve its generation and to pass away as we see all things do for man in his upright state before his fall was but an Image of God Religion in the form is but an Image of Religion in the mind and will so Justice and Righteousness in and amongst men acted from
Matth. 5.10 11 12. the more will it increase in power and break forth in the light of its manifestation to those that are opposed and also for the good of those that do oppose though for a time it may be hid from their eyes Those that betrayed and murther'd Christ and his Apostles Iohn 16.2 3. thought they did God service and themselves good and so they did though they knew it not in persecuting reviling stoning and killing blasphemers as they said against God but they knew neither God them nor the blasphemy they charged them with for had they known Christ they would not have put him to death nor crucified the Lord of glory as they did Act. 3.17 18 yet this did bring glory to God and good to all his people for through death did he ascend into the glory of his Father Iohn 14.3 in which glory he returned again to his people to take them to himself that where he was they might be also Iohn 12.32 and saith he If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me not onely Scribes and Pharisees but Publicans and sinners when the Scribes and Pharisees thought it had belong'd onely to themselves as righteous men and not unto sinners Mat. 11.19 and because he was a friend to all even sinners as well as them therefore sought they the more to kill him yet his love was still the same both to them and all others though enemies to him for saith he of those betrayed him and took his life from him 〈◊〉 â—3 34. Faâ—ther forgive them they know not what they do and the more they sought to betray him the more did the people follow him and grew in love with him and men can never do any thing more to the loss of their own honour Religion and self-interests and more to advance the truth in the life and power of it then to oppose it and persecute it â— for then do men â—he more enquire after it and truth will have its perfect work and find out a way to advance it self in the greatest persecution though men never so much oppose it Therefore when men go to stop the current of truth and the mouthes of those that declare it by an outward Law they do but as those that go to make a dam to stop the current of a continual running stream which will suddenly make its way through it and carry all before it Or as those who go to throw oyl and brimstone to quench fire that is burning which the more they do the more it will flame and burn to the destruction of that which is thrown into it to quench it So is it with truth when it arises in life and power to manifest it self Isa 27.4 nothing is or shall be then able to stand against it to hinder the growth and increase of it but it will drive all before it that shall stand in the way of it and as fire among thorns so will it burn waste consume and bring to nothing all that which is abomination and a lye in the world that nothing hereafter shall be seen to stand in the high place of God but himself will there shew himself to be all in all as he is the One and the All the All and the One though not yet manifest unto all men Therefore O man thou that wouldst not have the truth to spread which thou knowest not cease any longer to oppose it if thou canst forbear for through much opposition is the truth made manifest and God would not be said to be a conqueror if there were not something of a lye in opposition to the truth to be conquered for were there no opposition known in men to oppose God there would be in men no need of the knowledge of the coming of God in Christ to men to oppose against that for his coming to manifest himself is to reconcile his enemies to himself and to destroy that which is enmity in them against him for for this purpose was the son of God manifest 1 Iohn 3. â—â— to destroy the works of the devil and men in looking upon God to be at a distance from them through the temptations of Satan do thereby oppose his presence with them for God is nigh them Acts 17 2â—â— 28. with them and in them as one reconciled to them and all things in the world with them though they know it not and this is mans destruction not to know God as God knows man Hosea 4 6. but to live as one without God in the world always fearing of God as an angry God and so kept at a distance from God 2 Tim. 3.7 by being ignorant of God as always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth neither can till they are enlightned by the light of God in their own consciences to see God with them restoring rest and peace to them and himself to be in them the way the truth and the life for them unto the end of which way the knowledge of which truth and enjoyment of which life all men have a race to run and a way to come before they can sit down at the end of their journey and live in the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus CHAP. II. The Authors Life and Conversation before and after the day of his Conversion the manner of his converting and his zeal in searching trying and passing by all the Ways Worships and Opinions of men in their several Forms â—f Religion howmen appeared in it how it all vanished away and ceased as to him and when HEarken my beloved brethren come behold and see the race which you are to run the way which you are to come and the price that is to be woâ— as I will here shew unto you by setting before you the race that I have run Phil 3. 1 Cor. 9.14 the way that I have gone and the price that I have won wherein if the Lord will you may behold the manner and course of my life and the dealings of God with me all along from the time he first created me and brought me forth of my mothers womb to this day and that you by comparing with it the manner and course of your life and the dealings of God with you may see how near a progress you have made to this price Job 42.5 the fathers Kingdom and end of your journey God himself attainable in this life after which there is no more travelling but you are set down and at rest with the son in the bosâ—m of the Father Andâ— when once I came to this state of the measure of the gift of Christin me I then was in a state to see God as he is and the truth as it is in Jesus made manifest in my flesh and so was made to look back upon what I had seen and formerly been from the day of my creation to the day of my
and of which if I would have recanted preferment by some was proffered me but there was one within me which resisted and said Get thee behind me Satan I will none of it neither is it Herod with all the chief of the Priests and Scribes of the people that he had gathered together that can destroy the childe Jesus after once he is born nor could these with all their subtilty destroy that which was born in me or bring me to a recantation of what I had declared that I immediately departed out of these coasts and saw much of God in it for I went strait abroad publishing the same things with boldness both in writing and speaking in several Countreys where I was desired to come And there living in that Countrey of Barkshire where I first began to publish these things a man of eminency in the world whom the Priests knew to be zealous for them and their ways and they having not prevailed with me to write a recantation of those things I held they then prevailed with him to joyn with them in buying up as many as they could get of the foresaid books entituled Divine Teachings in which those things were published that they might spread no farther amongst the people of which books they bought to the value of about ten pounds worth having no other way to stop them and which the Priests would have had him to have burned but he was wiser then so and said that he would rather keep them for waste paper and did not know but that they might yield him his money again if the things should after come in request but however these books are again reprinted and the things therein still maintained by me being the same in me Thus we see how some men out of zeal to their own opinions and others for lucre of gain not yet knowing the truth will endeavour to binder the spreading of truth and so through ignorance and blind zeal will turn persecutors of Christ his Kingdom and the Righteousness thereof This Kingdom of Christ and all things therein as love joy peace life light heaven and salvation in Christ alone I ever since I knew it and tasted of it have not ceased to write of publish and declare in several Countreys Acts 28.30 31. both in publique and private from house to house in their Churches Streets and Market places where the Lord hath been pleased to carry me and where people desired me to come and were assembled together to hear me I never desiring to be chargeable to any to hinder any from coming into the Kingdom of the Lord which is a free Kingdom 1 Cor. 9 12 18 19. neither would I ever yield to take any outward maintenance from any upon that account of preaching for that was but Antichrists hire in Antichrists Kingdom which most men yet have appeared to live in nay the purest Churches of Independents and Anabaptists as well as Prelates and Presbyterians which though they have not all took tythes they have took money or moneys worth and so cannot say as Paul did I have coveted no mans gold Acts 20.33 silver or apparel which is all but Antichrists pay in Antichrists Kingdom to Antichrists servants whose servants all are that preach for gain or hire and not for pure love to Christ and all people John 10.8.10 and Christ saith of the hirelings that they are but Thieves and Robbers and fly when he that is free cometh and this would quickly be maniefest were but tythes and the Priests hire put down and every one have freedom to preach that could I will warrant you that those Preachers that were sent from Oxford and Cambridge would quickly fly from you leave you and preach no more to you and yet you would have more Preachers then are now for then every one that had received any thing of God would freely declare it and this would be according to the Gospel rule which saith When thou art converted strengthen thy brother and As every man hath received the gift so let them administer one to another and not one to forbid another for let one that preaches freely come into the Church or Parish of him that preaches for hire and the hireling will presently forbid the freeman saying this is my house and my Parish or Foxes hole you shall not preach here Maâ—th 8 20. and though the men of the Parish to wit the Master would have him yet the servant forbids him And doth not the servant here exalt himself above the Master the Priest above the people but surely he that exalts himself shal be brought low and he that humbles himself shall be exalted and it is enough that the servant be as his Master and not above his Master though it hath been so hitherto between the people and their Ministers What is the Church but the Town-house in which the Priest the Town-servant is to do the Towns work for which he receives the Towns wages And what if the Master be willing that the servant should sit still and set another to do his work notwithstanding the servant shall still have his wages O but here is a slavish fear in the servant that if another should do his work better then him it would be to his disgrace and more then that if the master should once find that he could have his work done freely he would then hire no more and what would then become of the hireling he must pack up and be gone and so saith Christ The hireling flyeth because he is an hireling John 10.13 14. and careth not for the sheep I am the good Shepherd saith he and know my sheep and am known of mine And sure Christ never preached for hire nor any that ever he sent that ever I read of in Scripture then those that do were never sent by him but by his enemy the Devil or Man of Sin to keep up a Kingdom contrary to his and it is very likely that the Man of Sin is their Master that sent them because they so much preach up sin unpardoned which is the keeping up of his Kingdom in which they live and without which they could not live as to keep up that trade of buying and selling the Word of God for they live by telling the people of their sins Jer. 5.30 31. and some people love to have it so who live in the same Kingdom with them and that love to pay them But in the Kingdom of Christ which is a free Kingdom there is no such thing there is no sin unpardoned therefore no telling the people so neither do the people there love to have it so but there is all sin pardoned for all men past present and to come and those that are sent by Christ and that live in that Kingdom come with that message in their mouthes That all sin is pardoned and all men forgiven Dan. 9.24 sin and transgression finished and everlasting Righteousness brought in
by Christ alone and this is my message which I have to all the world and which I am to deliver freely and for which those that have not the same message to deliver do hate me and persecute me but I passed them all by and would not be partaker of their sins and he that hath kept me hitherto keeps me still that I may not do Antichrists work neither receive Antichrists wages or live by the sins of the people as some others do But some may say Did you never receive any money for preaching I answer I never received any that ever I put in my own purse but where there was money appointed for preaching and no Priest there to challenge it as his propriety that either I must dispose of it or others whom it concerned not must put it in their own purses I gave order that the poor of each Parish might have it as will be witnessed in several places Acts 20.33 34 35. and therefore can say with Paul I have coveted no mans silver or gold or apparel yet of this will I not glory but I will glory in the Lord who hath so far kept me from being a hireling in Antichrists Kingdom that he will rather make all my ways appear more for the abominating and throwing down of all such Antichristian ways of maintenance then for the setting of it up for which the Priests and all Impropriators with all that live in that and the like maintenance that knew me or had heard of me could never abide me but always persecuted me sought for my imprisonment banishment or silencing and also my life While I was thus carried forth in contending for the truth yet was I still ready to spend and be spent for the good of all people even my enemies and was more ready to give then to receive according to my ability 2 Cor. 12.15 Acts 20.35 and so still at peace in my self through all things with Christ in God that ever I undertook and went through by him in all my proceedings to this day CHAP. V. The Authors further proceedings in his dealings with men in all conditions under their several Forms and Administrations That his Doctrine never tended to draw men to any Opinion under any one Form of Worship but to press forwards to the life of God in Christ above the Whorish Religion and Vanities of the World that to lâ—ve in Vnity Peace and Love with all men having peace with God is the pure Religion ANd now the manner of my farther dealings in Judgement and Doctrine with men in all conditions under their several Forms Administrations or Dispensations was still a pressing of them forwards after Christ to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus and not a staying of men any where or endeavouring to draw men to any Form Way Worship or Opinion from Christ neither to rail against any man of any opinion whatsoever but to speak the truth to all shewing what all those opinions of men are and what and where they themselves are while under them and how they are to forsake all and follow Christ be they Prelates Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists or whatsoever opinion else may be found out by man besides Christ all are to pass away and they are to pass them all by as by so many harlots houses Prov. 7. standing by the ways side by which poor souls are to pass before they come to their rest and into which as into so many Ale-houses or Taverns many thousand of poor souls are allured and drawn aside to eat and to drink and commit fornication with the Inhabitants thereof neglecting their journey to Canaan or Mount Sion and where for some time they take up their rest that many pass by them and get into heaven before them while they are feasting with harlots Rev. 17.14 15. the daughters of the great Whore that sits upon many waters and on the mountains of mens holiness eating bread and drinking wine until the Lord come to feast with them there and by a strong hand overcome them pull them down or bring them forth and so lead them on carrying them by all those opinions of men onely to knock at their doors as some have done before look in upon them and behold their devotion but not to go into them Prov. 7.27 lest they should be devoured by them For their house is the way to hell going down to the chambers of death Therefore let not your hearts be inclined to their ways go not astray in their pathes lest you should stay or be seduced by them But say friends come away this is not your rest arise depart for it is polluted and if you stay it will destroy you with a sore destruction Micah 2.10 This say unto them but go not in for if you go in to them the Devil will come and take you make you drunk and there cause you to stay and so make you become Devils with him or them to accuse and persecute eat devour and condemn one another or all that come not in to you and be the same with you in your opinions Therefore I advise you not to stay any where Col. 3.1 2. nor to set your minds desires and affections upon any thing below Christ in the way you are to go to Christ but still in all this your worshipping of God as you call it to press forwards to the mark Phil. 3. for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus where you will then rest be at peace and be satisfied and where you will no more accuse persecute judge devour and condemn one another as you do but where you will be reconciled in love one to another and to all men though your greatest enemies And this is the advice that I give to all men in all that I say unto them to press forwards to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus and I do not go about to set up any thing below the Lord Jesus nor to draw men to any opinion of things besides him but to shew them the vanity and nothingness of all the ways and opinions of men below him declaring what they are in themselves and their places shewing that they are but notions and so mens inventions shadows dying vanities tormenting pleasures things that would perish and come to an end with the using after the commandments and doctrines of men Job 14.14 yet never declared against them so as to forbid any of them that saw their life in them but bid all men to wait till their change come and not to go forth by their own strength or awake their beloved before his time Cant. 2.7 till he shall come with a strong hand and lead them forth and so place them in their own land as in himself And now having shewed them the vanity of all those things I then set before them the love of God in Christ Jesus with exhortations to love
the Virgin Mary and crucified at Jerusalem though he be not yet so fully manifested to and in all men Rom. 8.29 as he was to and in him he being the first born among many brethren or the first appearance of humane nature in whom God did so fully and manifestly appear to be living moving acting and bringing forth himself in the manifestation of his love in power life light and glory yet that God is in all and all are in him as also saith the Scripture for in him we all live move Acts 17.28 Ephes 4.6 and have our being and there is one God and Father of all who is above all through all and in all both in Jews Gentiles Heathens Pagans Turks Infidels or whatsoever else they may be called and there is no difference or respect of persons with God but in the manifestation of this to themselves which none can have till the Holy Ghost even the Spirit of truth comes upon them as it did on him and reveal it to them as it did to him which he hath promised that in due time shal come and bring all things to their remembrance there is no man but hath God in him yea the same God that Christ had though not the same measure of knowledge and understanding till Christ in them hath revealed it And that the Gentiles might come to know this Paul prays for them that they might be strengthned with all might in the inner man that is with all God to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth Eph. 3.16 17 18 19. and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that they might be filled with all the fulness of God even as Christ was to have in them the same mind the same love life and light and so be filled with the same fulness of grace and glory whereby they come unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ to know that as he was so are we in this world and therefore it is no blasphemy to say that God may be as much in them as in Christ considered as a man though it do not yet appear so to them Eph. 4.13 1 Ioh 4.17 as in due time it may and will when God shall be more revealed to them and they more enjoy him in the manifestation Fifthly That the day of judgement was began sixteen hundred years ago Answ My Lord according to Scripture acceptation it was so Iohn 12.13 for said Christ Now is the Iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out Iohn 9 39. and for Iudgement am I come into this world said Christ that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind and this coming of Christ to Judgement according to the Scripture was above sixteen hundred years past and yet is continued to this day though most men are blind and yet see it not which some shall so long as they have eyes of their own to see and ears of their own to hear till they see with the Lords eye and hear with the Lords ear and the Apostle also said that the time was then come 1 Pet. 4.17 that Iudgement must begin at the House of God even with righteous men or men under any form of Religion that had any thing of their own righteousness to trust in besides Christ their righteousness That this day of Judgement did then begin we find for so soon as he was but ascended and had led captivity captive he sent the holy Ghost the Comforter Ioh. 16.7.8 even the spirit of truth which should convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgement and so bring all things to mans remembrance destroying all that is a lye in man by the spirit of Judgement and of burning when he shall appear to sit in man his Temple as a refiner and purifyer of gold and silver Mal 3.3 to purge out all dross sin and corruption and to make man a vessel holding nothing but righteousness peace and joy which work of Judgement was then begun with some coming on to others and is not ended to this day with all neither will so long as sin is in the world raigning in any creature and till we see sin and transgression finished in us as no more to be imputed to us 1 Cor. 15.24 c. we see not an end of the day of Judgement with us till we see Christ to have opened the prison doors broken all bonds put all enemies under his feet set us at liberty and delivered up the Kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all and so much for the day of Judgement that it was began sixteen hundred years ago according to the Scriptures Sixthly That there was no general day of Iudgement Answ My Lord I know no other day of Jodgement as to me then what I have already declared to your Lordship which is to be the same with every creature before it can be finished and this may be said to be A general day wherein all men are to appear before Christ to be Judged by him in love for the time is come c. And though this time of Judgement may be called a day yet this day may be thousands of years before all the world in every man may be Judged all sin and transgression finished as to them and they all set free in the Lord 2 Pet. 3.8 For one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day and did men once taste and feel of the workings of God in and upon their souls in manifesting his love to them for the taking away of sin and transgression from them they would then be satisfied touching this day of the Lord which for my part I am already satisfied in and therefore cannot but declare it and bear witness to it as that which is truth to me and according to the Scriptures and they that know any other let them declare that as I have declared this Seventhly That there was no heaven but in man Answ My Lord Those words do not say there is none at all but that it is in man yet without confinement and this the Scripture also declares therefore if we would know where heaven is let us first know what it is and the Scripture tells us that the Kingdom of heaven is Righteousness Rom 14.17 peace and joy in the holy Ghost and that it is within us for when the Scribes and Pharises came to Christ to demand of him when the Kingdom of God should come as men still do he answered them that The Kingdom of God cometh not with observations neither shall they say lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you and where should the Kingdom of Christ which is a Kingdom of righteousness peace and joy appear to be
directly under the Act of blasphemy in every particular point it could not be found as blasphemy who himself call'd for the Act and comparing it with the Indictment found it not as the Jury had said to be within the Act for blasphemy for which he reproved them repeating the words of the Act to them which was as follows Judge He that shall avowedly affirm and maintain there is no heaven and hell its blasphemy by that Act but that he doth not say but doth acknowledge there is a heaven and hell in man as you see him prove and therefore doth not affirm there is none at all and words spoken by way of private conference in discourse as the witnesses do confess this was it might be only spoken by way of Proposition or Querie to try the Judgements of others and not as his own judgement and then cannot be said to be avowed and affirmed therefore not within the Act however he shall continue bound till the next Assizes to discharge the Law as said the Judge Then I desired liberty to speak a little more before I departed from the Court which was as follows CHAP. VIII The Speech made to the Judge after the Tryal to vindicate his own and other mens preaching without a call from the Vniversity wherein is a true discovery of the word of God and the Scripture what it is Of his taking his leave of the Court. MY Lord I have here been maliciously and falsly persecuted by my adversaries as hath appeared before the Court this day and now is the law open on my behalf against all that have falsly appeared against me but he that is my Teacher teaches me no such thing as to seek revenge but freely to forgive my enemies to love them that hate me and so leave all things to him who will reward every man according to his works For vengeance is mine and I will repay saith the Lord. And the reason why those men do thus persecute me is for the malice they have against me for exercising these gifts that God hath given me for his glory the comfort of my soul and benefit of his people which gifts they know not because they know not him neither will they hear him but speak evil of the things that are taught by him when without him we know nothing Mat. 11.27 and are taught nothing according as it is written That no man knows the Son but the Father nor no man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him So the true knowledge of God is not taught of man Gal. 1 12.15 16. nor by men but comes onely by the revelation of Jesus Christ as that which is most hated by men And when it pleased God to reveal his Son in me as he did in Paul I with him conferred not with flesh and blood as those men do that is I went not to this or that place as unto men to receive orders from them and to know before hand what I should have for my preaching as other men do and have done but I went immediately declaring the things I had seen and heard from the Lord wheresoever I was desired and what I did was freely and in love to the Lord Jesus and his people without any price or reward of men when others who have their gifts from men will look to be rewarded by men and good reason too that men should sell what they buy But those mens gifts are bought therefore do they sell them as other Trades-men do for their own advantage for if they can have but five or ten pound more in another Parish they will leave the one for the other and yet no longer then they pay them will they preach to them without going to Law with them which shâ—ws that they preach not in love to the Lord Jesus and his people but in love to that which the people have and so seek not them but theirs when I for my part in all my practice of preaching hitherto have not sought theirs but them 2 Cor. 12.14 15. and would gladly spend and be spent for them to do them good as they will be ready to testifie And for this am I hated and persecuted by them that know me not nevertheless I cannot but speak the things that I have been taught of the Lord for as every man hath received the gift so let them administer one to another and What is revealed an secret shall be published upon the house tops saith the Lord and this shall I do if God permit The Judge said And you do well in so doing for you may preach wheresoever you are desired so long as you keep close to the word of God and make that to be your rule I answered my Lord I thank you and I shall do so But what do you call the Word of God Said the Judge the Scripture is the Word of God I answered that the Scripture as written in ink and paper is not the Word of God but a dead letter which in the reading and hearing thereof tells us onely in the ear what the Word of God is but cannot teach or tell the mind neither doth it any where say for it self that it self is the Word of God that can teach us but that we are all taught of the Lord who is himself the Word the Unction the Holy one and anointing within us therefore let us not give more honour to the Scripture then the Scripture takes to it self but let honour be given to whom honour is due and glory to whom glory is due and in this we shall give all unto God who is himself the true Word and Teacher as the Scripture declares him to be for saith John In the beginning was the Word Iohn 1.1 2. and the Word was with God and the word was God the same was in the beginning with God and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us that it might teach us all things and saith John we behold the glory of him Verse 14. as the glory of the onely begotten Son of God full of grace and truth which is not the Scripture as written in the Letter but God written in our flesh is this Word Again secondly the Scripture tells us that the word of God is quick Heb. 4.12 and powerful sharper then any two-edged sword peircing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart And this the Scripture cannot do but God himself as the Scripture tells us for it saith That he is the searcher of the heart and the tryer of the reins and the divider asunder of soul and spirit and discerns the thoughts and intents of mens hearts and so the searcher and tryer of all things as saith the Scripture Again thirdly the Scripture tells us of Christs riding upon a white horse conquering and to conquer and that his name
stood and measured the earth he beheld and drove asunder the Nations and the everlasting mountains were scattered the perpetual hills did bow that is the mountains of fear sin death the Devil and mens pretended holiness heaven and happiness which is filthiness when out of its place Psalm 64.6 this shall all be scattered and melt before the Lord as mountains standing between the Lord and us and as so many false gods in the way of the true God which hath been said to last for ever yet these shall pass away and be removed out of their places into no place but fly away from the face of him that sits upon the throne whose name is called Faithful and true and that reigns himself for ever and ever world without end And thus one life ends in another life the life of the old man in the life of the new man or we changed from life to life from glory to glory from one everlasting to another til we can change no more Rev 20.11 which shews that there are more changes then one and more everlastings then one as to men and so more lives then one which men are said to live and be changed from till they are changed from all things into God which is their last change A word of Conclusion to the Iudge AND now lastly I cannot but add a few words more and therein affirm both before God and men that ever since I knew any thing of God my whole design both in writing speaking and walking according to the utmost of my power received of God hath ever been and I hope ever shall be still to set forth the glory of God the advancement of Christs Kingdom peace and righteousness among men and the throwing down of Antichrist the Devil and his Kingdom with all deceivableness and unrighteousness of men and whatsoever else is and hath been contrary to the publike peace of this Nation under which we should be protected and no longer do I desire or shall endeavour to write or speak a word then that it should not tend to this even the advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ without partiality or aiming at any private or self-interest of my own or anâ— others distinct but for the publike good of all men whom I desire and do still endeavour in love to serve being made willing to spend and be spent for them notwithstanding the many reproaches revilings and persecutions I meet withal yet still that I would continue a faithful servant to the truth in all things by which I am made free to serve in love and for which I am not only ready to be bound but to suffer All which particulars according to your Lordships desire I do most humbly present you with before this honourable Court and so leave them to your consideration to do as the Lord of heaven and earth shall direct you who works all things according to the counsel of his own will and will glorifie himself in all things that himself doth And now what shall I say more why let the Lords will be done whether in life or death in freedom or imprisonment according to his own will and pleasure be it into whose blessed arms of mercy love joy and peace I do freely give up my self and shall for ever lodge in his bosom of life and salvation there to rest and abide for ever While I was making my answer my accusers with many others of their consorts did all the time of my pleading interrupt me urging many things to me to insnare me and to incense the Judge and Jury against me till the Judge reproved them for it who after he had heard my answer and understanding it knowing it also not to come within the compass of any late Act of Parliament and withal perceiving the malice of my enemies did as the Lord had directed him who before the petty Jury went forth to consult upon their verdict who understood it not themselves neither what they had to do in such a business being all ignorant men both of the Law and of such things acquainted them with the truth of the business that so Justice and Equity might take place whose directions were according to what follows Judge You of the Jury you have heard the evidence and you have heard the answer of his defence which if what he hath said to us be his meaning it is very good and what I believe my self to be truth and we are to take his sense and meaning upon the words and not anothers the words being his own but should we take the very express words of the Indictment without a qualification of them yet it comes not under the Law or Act of Parliament according to the rule of which Act we are to go as for the first thing that he should say Christ dyed for his own sins it comes not neer it though indeed the second concerning heaven and hell comes something neer it yet not so neer as to be found within the compass of it for the Act saith if a man avow and affirm that there is no heaven and hell but that he doth not and this also was by way of dispute or conference after Sermon as you see the witnesses to the Bill do confess and what is said in dispute cannot be said to be avowed and affirmed for it may fall in by way of an Argument c. And as to the last words that everlasting life should end in this life there is nothing mentioned in the Act against it therefore we are not to meddle with it and you are not to bring him in guilty for any thing he is here indicted it being not within the compass of the Act. And thus with other words to that purpose did the Judge speak to the Jury before they gave in their verdict which none that heard it but thought it had been sufficient to have satisfied any honest Jury in the world had they been but rational men yet it satisfied not these for they malitiously brought me in guilty who were prompt to it by my accusers and others that followed them forth of the Court contradicting the words of the Judge saying that they were not to take notice of what the Judge had said neither of my answer but the Bill Being asked the reason why they brought me in guilty they said they could do no less they were so followed by the Priests from place to place and importuned to it that they could be at no quiet for them unless they did it A wise Jury to be sworn and then swayed by other men but this they did to do the Priests a pleasure against me as Festus did to do the Jews a pleasure against Paul Acts 25.9 Then the Judge examined them what crime they found me guilty of they answered they could not tell what but according to the evidence then said the Iudge doth the thing evidenced come within the compass of the Act who again caused
Highness in his humble Appeal My Lord ACcording to the Declaration of Scripture we find that whatsoever of truth hath at any time been held forth or declared by any to whom God hath made himself known that the publishers thereof were sufferers therein This we find in the truth it self the Lord Jesus for declaring himself in love to men was always a sufferer by men who understood him not Mat 2. for from the first day of his birth that he was but reported to be the Son of God did Herod together with the chief Priests and Pharises send forth after him to destroy him and the more of God or that divine life there appeared in him the more did they seek to take his life away from him not for the envy they had to his person onely but to that life which was indeed the life of God manifested in him which life they knew not For had they known him they would not have crucified the Lord of glory but they knew him not neither would they own his life and power to be of God but rather of the Devil for said they He casteth out Devils through the Prince of Devils Mat. 9 34. c. and Christ himself tells us that so they did by his Prophets that were before him some they stoned and put to death Mat. 5.11.12 others they persecuted even so is it now The like appeared in his Apostles who after their conversion that they were called to the preaching of the Gospel what sufferings stripes bonds and imprisonments did they undergo for their faithfulness therein and thus hath it been ever since to this day with those that have been faithful 1 Cor. 4.9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 in holding forth any thing of the love of God manifest in them by Jesus Christ for the glory of God and peace of all men And now since the day that the Lord Jesus had made himself known to me and I by the power of his living in me as the least and worst of all Saints have been made to go forth proclaim publish and declare freelâ— to the world and sinners the unchangeable love of the Lord Jesus according to that measure of the gift given me by him I have uffered with Christ in exercising the gifts of Christ which according to the manifestation of that life and power in me I have published and declared not for price nor reward of menâ— but freely and in love to the Lord Jesus and his people as can be witnessed by the people of those parts into which I have come And to satisfie any that shall question the truth of what I hold concerning God and the things of God and that have not at all heard me speak thereof and now have any desire to know my principle Of the several Books written by me judgement or doctrine therein I shall direct them to several Books of my writing now extant the one is called Devine Teachings in which there are three together the other Mans Righteousness examined and wherein found too light reproved a third Saul smitten for not smiting Amaleck c. a fourth A Man Childe born or God man fest in flesh And what is therein written is the same that I still am in judgement and for which I have hitherto suffered been indicted falsly accused slandered reproached and reviled and for several Assizes kept bound by a party of the Ministers of England and enemies of Christ who live by the gain they make of the people and who have appeared to be the chief instruments and agents for the promoting of wars and divisions amongst men to advance their own interests with whom I have also had several disputes contentions and controversies about Religion I being ingaged by them who sought thereby the overthrow both of me and the things of God revealed in me but they not prevailing against me have much abused me and several times charged me with blasphemy brought me before Rulers Counsels and Judges of Assizes twice at Worcester and twice at Oxford where they laid their several accusations of blasphemy as they said against me but could never be proved by any Law to be so whereupon according to the will of God I was still delivered both by Law and Judges the Lord enabling me to speak for my self and also working upon the hearts and understandings of the Judges to understand the answer by me made and thereby free me from the cruelty of my enemies though still found guilty by the Juries who themselves understood it not being also prompt by my adversaries as several witnesses can testifie and for which the said Juries were reproved by the Judges in the open Court The particulars of which tryals I shall present to the world more at large hereafter Thus for my faithfulness to the truth have I suffered by my enemies who behind the backs of the Judges did accuse them for injustice concerning my deliverance when according to law and justice they did act and that these my enemies have since vowed by me Acts 23.12 as the Jews did by Paul they would follow me to death as can also be proved by several witnesses for the performance of which vow and to a further discovery of their malice towards me and the truth revealed in me they yet cease not to follow me with endeavours to make good this their evil intentions against me but rather then they will want something whereby to accuse me for which they have watched daily over me Luke 6.7 as the Scribes and Pharisees did over Christ Judge Green one of the former Judges being dead they reported they would again revive some of the former accusations against me and so again bring me to a tryal thereof Their illegal and unjust proceedings will appear in that which follows in the reading of which I shall humbly crave and desire your patience CHAP. XIV A further discovery to his Highness of the malitious practises ignorant censurs and illegal proceedings of two Justices and certain ministers at Stow on the Old inâ— locestershiere March 19. 1653. against the suffering Author My Lord VPon the ninteenth day of March last past being the Lords day I through the desire and earnest request of very many of the Town and Parish of Stow on the Old in the County of Glocester and by several other of the neighbour Parishes and Towns neer adjacent was at Stow where I was to preach to answer the desires of those people that were there and that desired me to come where and at which time I went to the Church or common me ting place in the morning and heard one Mr. Elmes then Minister of Winchcombe preach who there delivering something contrary to truth and having ended his Sermon that the people were departing I with his consent propounded to him a question as follows Sir Inasmuch as by the providence of God and the civil request of many people I am here this day and at this time
conversion which the light of God within me did shew unto me that I repented of and was changed from my former life I lived in the time of my ignorance and which by the light of God in me I shall here shew unto you For when God created me in my mothers womb and breathed into me the breath of life that I became a living soul I was in a state of innocency knowing neither good nor evil or as Adam in Paradise Gen. 2.7 and as all men else are when they are first created and live but I quickly fell from this innocent state of Adam in Paradise to the knowledge of good and evil as to the state of Adam after his fall sinful and wicked and taking my own pleasure in all manner of sports and delights for outward recreation of the creature without any true knowledge of the Creator which for many years I would have gone many miles after caring for no Religion at all neither did I know what it was onely I heard of a God afar off one that lived above the skies sitting in a golden chair and was like my self which the Priests and people did talk of as one that loved those that did well and hated others that did ill and would at the last day come to judge me and all men according to their works but I knew him not but by hear-say according to the common talk of people and that his worship consisted in mens womens going to Church and such like service but not childrens and that this holiness consisted in abstaining from swearing drunkenness thieving whoring and such like sins which sins being not committed by me I thought sufficient to save me being taught so by our Teachers the Priests of those times who themselves as well as others committed all manner of sin and wickedness and who deceived both me and many thousands of souls by their delusions but never taught us of a Jesus all this while neither could they because they knew him not themselves yet God was there with them under this dispensation though vailed and in a cloud Psal 97.2 for clouds and darkness are round about him but these clouds in some measure vanishing as to me I past them by and prest forwards And now having lived for many years in this state of ignorance under the Bishops and Prelatical Government I then came to the Presbyterians who began to reign in the others steads exercising the same authority over mens consciences as the other did and who after some short time I found to rule with as much force and cruelty and to be as tyrannical as ever the others were and that knew no more of God then the others did onely they would talk a little more of Christ and Religion using the outward expressions as a cloak to cover their nakedness and to seduce the people to them but for any true knowledge of Christ and Religion they had none neither any did they practise yet here was God likewise but still in a cloud under darkness that I passed by them also and pressed forwards And I being yet willing to try all things and I hearing of the Independants and Anabaptists starting up as those that would reign in the room of the Presbyterians I would try them also and found them to be cloathed with a more finer habit then either Prelate or Presbyterian for they had gained some finer outside forms of Religion Gen. 3.7 decked over more with Scripture terms as cloaks or figleaves to cover their nakedness and called them the Ways and Ordinances of Christ or at least put that name upon them to take away their reproach Isa 4. though they were still their own and of their own inventions for as used by them they are not according to the institution of Christ in the primitive times as they think they are wherefore they do but cheat themselves others having no true knowledg of God all this while but by hearsay Phil. 3.7 8. and what they gain onely by their outside Forms Ways and Religious duties which they are to count all lost for Christ and in which I beheld them and all the rest of men with all their differing Ways Judgements and Opinions to be in all things superstitious and idolatrous as Paul did the â—â—emans And so 〈◊〉 the space of two years Actâ— 17.21 22 23. beholding this their order in London seeing all to be but disorder and confusion I passed them all be and prest forwards to the mark for the price of the high calling of God in â—hrist Jesus which is a calling above all things whatsoever as of Presbytery Independency Anabaptism and whatsoever calling else any man may now pretend to live yet this is a calling above them all which none of these have yet attained or â—o live In which two years time before mentioned of walking among the Churches in London of Presbyterians Independents and Anabaptists c. I applyed my self much to reading their books searching and trying the Scriptures whether these things they held were so or no and to be so practised by them as they were and contended for which I found them not to be Also in observing duties of prayer was I very frequent morning and evening and as often as I had opportunity and in hearing or writing of Sermons four or five in a day from several men which I spent much of my time after in reading Thus was I in that time while I was trying their ways as zealous as they could be in it even hating loathing and despising all my own and other mens former ways delights pleasures and sports and all delightful exercises which I was not so much for before but then I was as much against counting them all to be but works of darkness while they were so acted yet was my self still though under this dispensation of Grace as blind and as ignorant as ever I was under that of nature though I thought I saw and had knowledge but I found since that all the light and knowledge that I then thought I had of God Christ and the Devil of Heaven and Hell Salvation and Damnation with all things else thereto belonging in that state of ignorance was as carnal as ever and I knew no more of it then I did when I was under the Prelates Ministry only that there was a God afar off and not within me which I still knew but by hear-say as all that were of those opinions did and therefore I may be bold to affirm as also by experience I have known that all the knowledge that Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists and all others under any form of Worship now have of those things while living under the dispâ—â—sation of grace only while seeking the Lord is no more then but by hear-say which they so long give themselves to believe and are in bondage to as to mens traditions and no experience at all have they of these things as to know them in
truth or as it is in Jesus And this was all the knowledge and experience that I had while under that dispensation of grace or the Son of God manifesting yet the same that they had where I then saw the work but a doing not done salvation but a coming and not come and so saw not any thing then made perfect Then after two years were expired of my beholding this their order in London seeing all the ways and opinions of men with all their feigned righteousness for to be but destruction and confusion I prophesied of their downfall which would shortly after come to pass and which I have since in part seen to be fulfilled for I saw that they were not built upon the true foundation Christ as the rock which would stand 1 Cor. 3.11 and was laid by God but upon the foundation and buildings of men Matth. 7.26 27. laid by men on the sands as that which would shake and fall and would not endure the fire even God when he appeared but would with all their Elements melt before him as dross 2 Pet. 3.10 and with all their fair heavens be burnt up before him as stubble and vanish away before him as smoak and as chaff before the wind Wherefore I seeing them to be thus fitted for destruction and prepared for the slaughter I passed them all by that I might not in my profession be destroyed with them and would not go in or be tyed in covenant to any of them being none of them according to the institution of Christ and they being thus weighed in the ballance of the Righteousness of Christ by Christ and there found too light they vanished away and so ceased as to me And after this legal dispensation of the knowledge of Christ in the flesh and the performing duties after the flesh by me was ended with me John 16.25 and Christ appearing in power and glory to me shewing me plainly of the Father I then saw according to that appearance of God to me in the Father what and where God Christ and the Devil was and is also heaven and hell salvation and damnation what and where that was and is I having had the experience of it all within me and so I saw as to my self a death of the one part as of the Devil hell and damnation with all things at the left hand of God and a living of the other part as of God Christ Heaven and Salvation with all things at the right hand of God which was my dying to the one part as to that on the left hand and my living to the other part as to that on the right hand and which was to me the day of the Lord and a restauration of all things to God where and at which time I saw one dispensation perfected in another or grace perfected in glory the Son perfected in the Father or all things made perfect in God the Kingdom of the Son delivered up to the Father 1 Cor. 15.21 and where I saw all my own works which ever I had done under any dispensation before that of Christ in the Spirit to be burnt up and made void to me with all my prayers which I made books which I had read sermons which I had heard besides and below Christ all now appeared to be of no worth unto me Phil. 2.9 3 9. as to do me any good for I had found one Jesus that was ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things and that had a name above every name that was named of things in heaven and of things on earth in whom I was now found without having my own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ who was now become my worth my life my light and my all who had filled me with himself and whom I saw to be all to me and to do all for me and to have given an end to all things besides himself in me which made me now throw away all my books of Presbyterians Independants Anabaptists Acts 19.18 19. and whatsoever else as the believing Jews and Grecians had done before and to forget all things therein and not to know any thing any where or in any thing either without or within me but Jesus Christ and him crucified and so to know my self in him to have made my progress to him in the Fathers Kingdom the end of my journey where I shall no more be travelling but be at rest with the Son in the bosom of the Father Which is the race that all men are to run the way that all men are to go and the work that all men are to do even to deny themselves Luke 9.23 24. and all things of themselves and to follow Christ till they come to Christ if ever they mean to be perfect with Christ for If thou wilt be perfect Mat. 19.21 go and sell all that thou hast CHAP. III. The Authors Call and Commission to preach what and from whence it was the Parish Priests Call and Commission to preach what and from whence that was WHen God in Christ did manifest himself to me for my conversion the redemption of my body and the salvation of my soul to the perfecting of the body of Christ in and to me as that I knew it and was assured of it in my self what and when it vvas I then savv it all to be in him the same to all men as to me though not manifest unto them and according to vvhat I had received of the Lord. I vvas commanded by the Lord in me to publish and declare to all sorts of men vvithout respect of persons or opinions vvith this Commission follovving First that vvhatsoever I did speak or vvrite it vvas to be my ovvn experience in the Lord of God manifest in flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles 1 Tim. 3.16 believed on in the World received up into glory Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever And that I was not to speak or write any thing that should tend to the continuing John 6.27 advancing or setting up of any thing that should perish or come to an end and be in opposition to the Lord â—esus as the setting up of any thing besides him was but that it should always tend to the advancement of his Kingdom as of love joy peace and righteousness among men through Christ and to the throwing down of Antichrist and his Kingdom with all deceiveableness and unrighteousness of men and what I did I was to do it freely and in love and not be chargeable or burthensome to any Rom. 14.17 to hinder any from coming into the Kingdom of the Lord which was a free Kingdom nor to give any liberty to Antichrists Kingdom which was a Kingdom of gain hire and self interest and which consists of buying and selling the word of God and for which work