of the Lord be with his own works and labors and go thou up and down to pursue thy enemy and be vigilant for the defence of the truth and be also a reprover and rebuker of and wâ—rrier in the name and power of the Lord against truths enemies and adversaries and be a valiant conquerer for subduing that Army of lies and for the treading down false accusations and aspersions cast out against the innocent and the assistance of the Lord answer and go along and make the hearts of his to rejoyce and carry them glad tidings to Israel let them know that thou art come to bring them word that Antichrists man of war is encountered withal by one that is little in his own eyes and the blessing of the Almighty be with his own work and carry on his own cause against all his adversaries and his childrens foâ—s that truth may triumph and the Lord make thee prosperous even to Amen Farewell and be of good cheer and all my dear friends be faithful and valiant for the truth every where And the Lord God of Power be with you now and for ever more Written onely for the clearing of the truth and for the simple ones sake by a servant of the Lord at Underwood Hill in Wotcestershire there finished and made ready to be sent forth this fifth day of the second moneth commonly called Aprill and according to the worlds Account 1655. Instead of a Postscript AN Answer to a Mittimus by which Thomas Goodaire a servant of the Lord was sent from Kederminster where Richard Baxter is cheif Priest to Worcester prison after he had been kept there a certain space and committed for no breach of any known Law but to manifest the enmity and that monster persecution brought sorth by Richard Baxter's ministry at Kederminster who is chief Priest there and accounted the chiefest Priest in Worcestershire and in persecution his ministry is chief in that shiere and begun there first in that County or Shiere to wit at the Town called Kederminster The Mittimus begins thus as followeth and the answer unto it To the Keeper of the Goal for the County of Worcester 1655. Forasmuch as Thomas Goodaire the 25. of this instant March being the Lords day came into the Parish Church of Kederminster I answer no Church it is but a Synagogue of Satan which brings sorth that monster persecution and casts into prison for speaking the truth but it is written Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life as it is written Rev. 2.8 9 10. The true Church of Christ never persecuted any but your Parish Church as you call it hath brought sorth that monster therefore a harlot and not the spouse be you ashamed thereof The true Church is in God 1 Thes 1. and 1. and doth not perish but yours is out of God and so perishing Christ is the head of his body the Church Eph. 2.22.23 but not of a Steeple-house you have told a lye to call that a Church and are found persecuters also and so not of Christs Church it were not of a persecuting nature but such as followed him the Head were of that body which were persecuted John 15.18 19 20 21. 2 Cor. 6. but you have cleared your selves o be none of that Body nor Church that persecute his and shut up in prison as you have done Mittimus At such a time as many hundred of the good people of this Common-wealth were there assembled to worship God Reply The worship of God you know not that are persecutors and lyers there you have shut your selves out of the worship of God for God is a Spirit and they that worship him worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.22.23 24. but you are in the lies and not in the truth and here taken with a lye in your mouth for he came in before your will-worship began or were assemb'ed and did not speak till your Priest had given over and ended and then asked him a Question and he sled and called an Officer c. and so manifested himself to be an Antichristian Minister and a deceiver and he the said Thomas Goodaire came not into your parish Church as you call it at such a time as you were assembled together as you say but was there before you were assembled or your Priest came and he walked to and fro in the room before the Priest came and then sat him down until he had done therefore that saying is a false accusation be ashamed you lyers and blush Mittimus And there misbehaved himself Answer Speaking the truth is no misbehaviour and he spoke the truth but misbehaviour he doth deny and therefore that accusation is false and you are taken venting and hath vented another lye and read who lyers are of John 8.44 and you that are such lyers of the innocent and bends your tongues like your bowes for lyes to cause them thereby to suffer imprisonment be aashamed for ever and read your reward that are such lyars Rev. 21.8 Mat. 25.41 c. But to be short I shall set down the Mittimus as it is verbatim and let the wise-hearted see if there be any breach of a known Law but only filled with lyes and thereby doth not act the part of Justice Righteousness nor Christianity and let Richard Baxter and his partakers be ashamed of what they have done and wo be unto such an Antichristian Minister and Antichristian persecuting Ministry The Copy of the Mittimus To the Keeper of the Goal for the Country of Worcester FOrasmuch as Thomas Goodaire the 25. of this instant March being the Lords day came into the Parish Church of Kederminster at such a time as many hundred of the good people of this Common-wealth were assembled to worship God Reproachful â—â—â—â—ches is a false accusation charged upon the said Thomas Goodaire either against the Priest or Magistrate and no such thing as affront was offered by him neither by uncivil words nor gestures those are false slanders and the word disturbance of peace is but a cover and shuffle but there is no Law transgressed and there misbehaved himself not only by reproachful speeches against the Minister but also by aâ—ronting the chief Magistrate of this corporation by contemptuous speeches and gestures whilst he was in discharge of the duty of his place to the great disturbance of the publick peace and the grief and pertubation of the people there assembled These are therefore in the name of his Highness the Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereof to will and command you forthwith to receive the said Thomas Goodaire into your custody and him safely keep until next General Sessions for the peace to be holden for this County and hereof you are not to
ANTICHRISTS MAN of VVAR Apprehended and encountred withal by a Souldier of the Armie of the Lamb. OTHERWISE An Answer to a Book set forth by one that subscribes his name Edmund Skipp Preacher of the Gospel as he saith to a people at Bodenham in Herefordshire but is found one that is acting Antichrists part disguised but nakedly seen herein discovered in this Answer to his Book called the Worlds Wonder or the Quakers Blazing-Starre And in this Answer he is discovered and proved to be one that is chief in the service of the old Dragon who pretends in his Book to discover the mystery of the Quakers as he calls them and to lay open a dangerous design who is found out that whilst he hath been pretending to be chief in discovering a Plot or Antichrists misterious actings is found himself to be the chief plotter by a Satanical spirit disguised and in the transformings of Antichrist deep in the mystery which he pretended to disdiscover but is here apprehended and taken and also encountered withal as the wise-hearted in the reading with a pure understanding may see and so this may prove to be a means of a greater downfal of Antichrists Kingdom and for the furthering of the truth and setting up of purity in its right place and by this Truth and Error may be clearly known asunder that deceit may thereby be forsaken and Truth embraced and received as it is in Life and Power in the Lord Jesus who hath said Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free Iohn 8.32 Written in Worcestershire by a servant of the Lord the second Moneth called April 1655. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1655. To my Friends and Wel-wishers that desire the welfare of Sion and prosperity of Jerusalem and to all who suffers reproaches and are reviled for righteousness sake in Hereford-shire Worcestershire Warwick-shire and elsewhere under the nick-name of Quakers THe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Bless Preserve and keep you in your faithfulness and obedience to Himself and in your diligent watchfulness and circumspect walking blamelessly before him and lovingly one to another and the Lord God of life and power settle you and establish you by his eternal spirit in the life and Power of Truth that you may walk before him in love and grow up into the pure divine excelency that you may be able to comprehend with all Saints to know what is the heighth and depth and length and bredth of the love of God that you may be comprehended into the infinitness of His incomprehensibleness and be as a peculiar people to bring praise to the Lord and if you be reproached and reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake happy are you reioyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward Dear hearts you that are so accused and slandered by the Serpent and his seed walk in wisdom and blamelesly and you will feel the pure Joy spring up into your souls to fill your understandings Oh! be faithful to the Lord and valiant for the truth that as Antichrist bestirs himself seeking to prop and uphold his Kingdom and to cast out revilings and false accusations as a mighty floud so you may be watchful over him in every place and resist him in the Faith and be able to stand in the gaps and so be keptsafe and be ready to make war against the Dragon that in the Lords strength you may be Crowned with victory and be made to triumph in His strength and all wait in the measure of the grace of God to receive wisdom from above and to be filled with the riches of the grace of God and so every one to walk as you have received the Lord Jesus rooted and grounded in him that the Eternal may rule in you all that you may be made valiant Souldiers to follow the Lamb and fear not the rage nor cruelty of the old Dragon but stand in the pure Being and so as you abide in the measure of the grace of God received you will grow strong and valiant in the Lord and be able to pass over the deceived and to withstand the Deceiver For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 1 John 2 24. So I am with you in the divine Being of love and you may read my name in the Book of life One who suffers with you for the Testimony of the Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and reproached as you are by the name of Quakers R. F. Antichrists Man of War apprehended c. OR A Reply to Edmund Skipp's Book of slander and false Judgment by him called the Worlds wonder or the Quakers BLAZING-STAR MEeting with this Book upon the 28. of the Month called March in my travel in Worcestershire I was constrained to stay a few dayes to return an Answer thereunto for the simple ones sake to clear the aspersions and remove the stumbling blocks throwen in the way to cause the weak to stumble and fall And at the first view of the Book it set seemingly a great face against the truth but through the mercy of God I was made not to matter it but joyn battel against it Therefore Edmund Skipp as thou hast subscribed thy come thou hast abundantly laid open thy folly and shewed thy enmity and despite to the Truth but thou art encountered and thy deceits are discovered and laid naked and bare to any single eye as hereafter will appear I only meeting this Book of thine in my travel and both seeing and knowing that thou hast written it from a spirit of pride and despite to the spirit of Truth and against the Servants of our Lord Jesus by thy spirit of delusion coloured over with shows and pretences of godliness and a feigned humility intruding thy self into those things which thou hast not seen vainly putt up with a fleshly mind with a cover of fallacies and feigned humility and to thy first Doctrine that thou and such pretenders to be nearest the Lamb an speaking of but appears like the old Dragon in wrath against the Truth and Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ who thy self might formerly have lived Pharisee like till thou were discovered but now hast manifested thy wolfish heart and thou art slandering and accusing such as follows the Lamb not in pretences but in reality and purity whom thou revilest under the name of Quakers And thou art constrained to complain because as thou saiest thou hast lost thy society and even as it were now goes a begging to those people thou calls Baptists as in the latter end of thy book doth appear and now that Satan hath got a cheif seat in thy heart and entred into thee through that spirit of delusion thou speaks of thou ventest thy solly in acting his part in reviling the Servants of the Lord and defaming the truth And whereas thou saies that when Satan findeth a people living
Antichristian ministery and speaking the Word of the Lord and reproving sin and deceit which they call railing and reviling as one of the servants of the Lord is now in prison at Worcester upon that account only and for the breach of no known Law sent from Kederminster thither by those under Richard Baxter Minister which is the chiefest Priest in Worcestershire and that Town was accounted great in profession but now like Priest like people Hosea 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 even full of envy and malice against the servante of the Lord which carrieth them forth into cruel persecution but let the wise-hearted know that the chiefest of the Priests when Christ came personally were the greatest enemies of his and did the most both stir up Rulers and people to persecute him and the greatest Professors were cruel and bitter against him And now that Christ is come and coming in the Spirits of his Saints Children and Servants to reprove the world of sin and unrighteousness and to discover the deceivableness of Antichrist and the Antâ—christian minâ—stery the chiefest Priests and many great Professors as well as Richard Baxter Chief-Priest at Kederminster and such now labour to uphold the Kingdom of Antichrist under a dark black cover which cannot hide the baseness of their hearts but lets it break forth into cruelty and persecution but it is too manifest that they are of the bloody City in the pollutions and filthiness and hath disobeyed the voice and heardened their hearts against the truth who have haled out of their Synagogues beat abused and imprisoned such as the Lord sent unto them c. But it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled and that they may manifest themselves to be of that Generation of persecutors and blood-thirsty ones How dangerous a thing it is to reproach and revile the people of God that ever persecuted the righteous seed and wo from God is upon all such Teachers and People and they may read their Example Matth. 23.31 32 33 34.35 But to come to the matter in hand That City which the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of and Rulers Teachers Priests and people And again the servants of the Lord that speaks truth against deceit do not revile but such as speak evil of them and salsly accuse them are the revilers as such was that reproached the people of God and magaâ—â—fied themselvs against them as the Priests and their party do now by and against those the Lords people whom they scornfully call Quakers which obeyed not the voice as in Zeph. 3. Chap. and see what the Lord by his Prophet saith in Zeph. 2. How he cries wo to such a people as are there spoken of verse 5. c. Likewise he tells a wicked people there what the Lord will do unto them and see the cause why Zeph. 2.8 9. This saith he shall they have for their pride because they have reproached and magnâ—fied themselves against the people of the Lord of hâ—sis therefore saith the Lord by His Prophet I will be terrible unto them c. Zeph. 2.10 11. c. Then take heed what you do and consider of this all ye unrighteous ones who reproaches and reviles the people of God under the Nick-name of Quakers The Prophet Zephaniah did not raid nor revile when he spoke to that City when he cried wo unto in and called the Princes within it Roaring Lyons and the Judges Evening Wolves and the Prophets light and â—echeâ—ous persons and said the Priests had poâ—uted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3. because it was so and they had done so yet to the eye of reason a natural man that knows not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.24 he would have been ready to say it had been harsh language and rayling as now in thâ—s generation they call the Spirits language railing and reviling when it tells people of their sins and transgressions but though the natural man say so it is not so for he that so saith and accuseth falsly is the railer and reviler but Edmâ—â—â— Skip and the Priests and Antichristian Ministers and such as are prophane proud and wicked they speak evil of the Spirits language and accuseth falsly and cannot prove their false accusations therefore they are the railers and revilers and not the people which they reproachfully call Quakers and the natural man is not to judg the spirâ—tual man but the spiritual man may judg the natural man it is his Prerogative for he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man and this priviledge have all the Saints and Brethren of Christ Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love 1 Cor. 2.14 15,16 Heb. 2.11 1 Cor. 6.2 But thou art offended The seed of God may judg the seed of the Serpent but the seed of the Serpent is not to judg the seed of God that the righteousseed should judg the seed of the Serpent and thou art offended to have a hypocrite called a hypocrite but Christ gave them that name and called them so them such as are guided by his Spirit may but we and the righteous seed are so taught and guided therefore we may and so follow him for our example Maâ— 23.27 28 29. and we know we are of the righteous seed For God hath sent the. Spirit of His Son-into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father c. Gal. 4.6 7 and Rom. 8.14 And we are to call a lyar a lyar for the Scripture calleth them so and the Spirit of truth spoke it forth 2 Pet. 1.20 21. and we being guided by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 and 1 Ioh. 3.2.4 as such was that called lyars by the name of lyars therefore by the same Spirit may and do we call them so for that is the name which the holy Spirit gave them to call lyars by the name of lyars For be that saith he loveth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar 1 Ioh. 2.4 Kev 21.8 Rev. 22.15 And thou and all such as are offended to have liars called liars seeing the Spirit calleth them so and gave them that name thou and all such art offended at the Spirits teachings therefore judg your folly and the pride of your hearts And thou and all such who are offended Serpents were called Serpents by the Spirit of truth to have a Serpent called a Serpent though they appear like men in the truth but full of hypocrisie and deceit thou and all such are offended at the language of Christ in the Gospel-ministration for he called such Serpents and Vipers As by the Spirit of truth such were so called then with the same Spirit they may be called so that are so now and that is not un-Gospel like but agreeing thereunto Mat. 23.28 29 30 31 32 33. And if thou and the Serpents seed be offended Children of the Devil are called by their Fathers same the Holy-ghost calleth them so to be called by your name your burden you must
bear for the Spirit of truth called your generation so and we being guided by the Spirit of truth dare not change your name except you take up the cross and obey the light that the Serpents head may be by the Power bruised and your nature changed take notice and if thou art offended to have a child of the Devil called by the name of his Father we must call him so for that is the name given them by the Holy-ghost Iohn 8.44 Acts 13.9 10. V pers dogs and fores are to be called by their name being of such a nature for the Spirit of truth gave them such names though in the appearances of a King his subjects And though thou and such in thy nature would not have the Serpents seed called by their names yet seeing the Spirit of truth gave them names like unto their natures therefore being guided by the holy Spirit and knowing their natures we give to them their proper names as the Gospel Spirit aforetime did until we see their change of nature that so they may change their names and if thou would not have a Viper called a Viper yet Iohn the Baptist called the multitude by that name to wit Vipers who came to have been Baptised of him before they brought forth fruits meet of amendment of life Take notice of that and read Luke 3.7 8. which was not railing but words of sound truth and if thou be offended to have dogs called by their names though in the form of men yet the Prophets Christ and the Apostles by the Spirit of truth so called them before and to take off that offence from any simple minde who desires to be informed about those names let them have recourse to those Scriptures Isa 56.10 11. Phil. 3 1 2. Rev. 22.15 And if thou would not have a Fox called by his name though in the form of a man Christ so called one to wit Herod a King and that was truth and no railing True and just judgment is set upon that false Astronomicall and unrighteous judgment of Edmund Skip against the Truth in that Bock called the Blazing-Star and the Rule of discovery he speaks of is of no effect and the truth is clear and stands above his lying deceit So here thy second Rule of discovering that mystery as thou calls it is of no effect Thy judgment is false and thy sayings are weighed and thy Spirit tried and where thou sayes Let all perpl eundestand that such as Christ did call hypocrites were so indeed I Answer so art thou and the Serpent and his seed as both thou and they are to us known as is here largely proved by eâ—perience And to that where thou says Such as these creatures calls hypocrites are the most precious and eminent and faithful friends that the Lord hath amongst the sons of men I Answer They are precious eminent and faithful that are of the Royal seed and such we know and honor in our souls but lyars slanderers persecutors and false accusers are not of that seed and such are enemies to the Children of God but thou art of the Serpents seed and such like that are in the lies slanders inventing evil and devising mâ—schâ—ef â—n your hearts against the righteous seed and accusing of them falsly therefore are you of the Serpents seed and enemies to God and to his seed who are faithful eminent and precious we do not so call as thou hast falsly said and many may and doth witness against thee therefore with the true light art thou seen to be one that regards not what thou out of pride and the presumption of thy evil heart dost say and falsly accuse withal And now let the wise in heart in the wisdom of God by and with the spirit of sound Judgment now Judg of thy false and Astronomical Judgment false accusations and delusions as in thy 11. page is manifested and the Rule of thy discovery of that mystery thou tells of is nul and void and truth stands clear as to the single eyed doth appear and true Judgment stands upon thy false Astronomical Judgment in thy Blazing-Star and Book of lying Wonders Now followeth a reply to thy third Rule as thou calls it of disclosing that secret which thou says is thy own experience A Reply to thy third Rule in thy Book of lying Wonders in order to that particular as thou says whilst thou lay under temptations and that was as thou says about writing a Letter unto some that thou says thou writ unto out of much bitterness of Spirit To which I answer though thou might have some convictions and workings in the mind and not wait to have thy will bound under the cross and that kept under judgment from whence bitterness and passion hastiness and wrath doth arise but run without a true guide to write out of hastiness and forwardness before thou had any true command and so through thy disobedience to the pure and following the fancies of thy brain and the imaginations of thy evil heart giving way to thy comprehending wit and so by straying from the pure and entering into temptation through the carnal in not standing to the eternal the delusions through the mysterious workings of the man of sin might carry thee into the many inventions and up into the chamber of deceit and so delusion get in upon thee notstanding to the eternal but entering into the temptation through the carnal yet that is no ground for thee or a Iudas that betrays the pure to fetch in a multitude to condemn the just and betray the innocent but thy punishment and judgment thou for it must bear as Iudas did who betrayed the just and all who turns from the light to joyn with the darkness to betray the innocent Iudas is there and as his works was Mat. 27.1 2 3 4. so his end but after he turned from the light to joyn with the power of darkness and betrayed the just he did evil his work was evil Gen. 4.7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. so his end was wofull and miserable for he hanged himself Take warning and remember also that when Cain had killed his brother then he cryed out and said his punishment was greater then be could bear but if he had done well he had been accepted as the Lord said but he did evil and was rejected as well as Iudas when he had betrayed and thy light in thy conscience will remember thee of what against the truth thou hast acted and done and as Conscience-Book is opened Answer it will upon thee the judgments of God to be just A Reply to that where thou says We will make known the very truth of this delusion by comparing those kind of teachings of the heart with those that the Spirit of truth was and is wont to bring forth in the souls of his people in this particular c. I Answer Thou art a stranger to the teachings of the Spirit of
subject to the Law of God and so judged with the power that brings forth judgment into Victory The body of sin is first within and those that know Redemption from it victory over it knowâ—â— the Power of God working within Secondly To come to thy sayings they are weighed and thou art seen to stand in thy will and unrighteous false Astronomicall judgment and the Secrets of God that stands in his Counsail are hid from such Astronomers and lyers as â—hou art who art all along catcht with the lye comed out of thy mouth and that which stands with the Divine Power of god stands with his Justice to let his servants bear about in their bodies his true Judgment which bringeth forth Righteousnesse and by the execution of his Justice sin is the reby condemned in the flesh so within their bodies for the body of sin is within and the just Judgement is executed upon it within so through the judgement upon the unjust comes the freedom of the Just by the working of the power of Truth in the Spirits ministration But thy fallacy we deny thy sting in thy tail yet it stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8. For what the Law could not do in that it was week through the flesh God sent his Son to condemn sin in the flesh verse 3. and the freedom from the Law of sin and death is by the Law of the Spirit in Christ ver 2. and that is within in the body which Spirit that worketh within and executes Judgment upon him setting free from the same doth also quicken the mortall body verse 11. and Paul he bore about in his Body so did the rest the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ might dwell in their mortall flesh 2 Cor. 4.10.11 and these workings and actings was within in the body and he said from henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear about in my body the marks of the Lord Iesus It stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh and to let his servants bear about in their bodies both the dying and sufferings of the Lord Iesus Take notice of that Gal. 6.17 and they had the sentence of death within themselves and that was in their bodies and the sufferings of Christ did abound in them 2 Cor. 1. and that was in their bodies and when Paul writ unto the Colossians he Rejoiced in his sufferings for them and was to fill up that which was behinde of the Afflictions of Christ in his flesh c. Coloss 1.24 25. and he knew the mighty Power of God which wrought in him mightily verse 29. the Power of God within and the afflictions of Christ in their flesh and the works of Christ in their body and the knowledge of the terrours of the Lord and the bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord and the sentence of death within them and the condemning of sin in their flesh and the sufferings of Christ did abound within them these things was witnessed by them in their bodies c. which Conditions thou art â—gnorant of and so never came in by the dore which dore and sufferings and the like the people of God now witnesse whom thou Skip doth slander and Revile but as for thy saying If we bear in our bodies and Spirits Gods just and exact Judgment until he have wrought out of us his own satisfastion and recompence c. thou speaks thou knows not what and as I said before so say I still thy fallacy we deny and thy sting in thy taile but we witness to the truth and sufferings with Christs as the servants of the Lord did and by the workings of his Spirit we witness sin condemned in the flesh Judgement brought forth into victory and sanctification by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 1.30 but that point of sophistry is thy own and turns back upon thee again And where thou hast gathered several Scriptures together and art speaking about sanctification and saith in the last place will you consider how Paul doth reckon the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. as in thy 28. page Reply The sanctification we own and witness unto as I said before but we deny thy point of sophistry thou tells of A Point of sophistry denyed and that thou hast any thing to do either to Judge of the people of God or workings of the Spirit that art ignorant of his teachings and art iound to be the false accuser of the Brethren The divine power of God which worketh out the corruptions doth also sanctify the soul and bringeth forth the fruits of the Spirit as is here mentioned witnessed by us whom the world calleth Quakers yet we witness the Power of God which causeth to shake tremble and quake as the holy men of God did which the Scriptures also witnesseth And as we witness their conditions so we witness the fruits of the Spirit effected by the operation of the divine power which branches forth into love without dissimulation c. which love is kind envyeth not vanteth not it self is not puffed up nor revileth nor rejoyceth not in iniquity but is a support both of faith hope and patience and causeth to go comfortably through both afflictions and tribulations 1 Cor. 13. and the same power of life brancheth forth it self by the spiritual operation into joy which is not fleshly but spiritual such a Joy as no man can take away and this remaineth within also according to the saying of Christ Iohn 15.11 and this divine power bringeth forth another fruit of the Spirit in us whiâ—h is called Peace and such a Peace as the world cannot give but such a Peace as Christ giveth unto his spoken of in the 14. of John 27. verse and it brancheth forth into long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness temperance patience godliness brotherly-kindness c. as in Gal. 5.22 23. anâ—wering with 1 Cor. 13. chap. which speaks of the Spirits fruits and likewise agreeing with that Rom. 12. and 2 Pet 1 2 3. c. This we witness unto by the Spirits workings and teachings according to the measure and manifestation of of the Spirit of truth and according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Where thou says first whatsoever journey Satan shall suggest unto them they must undertake if it be a hundred or two hundred miles Page 29. Reply That is false and not true and here thou art charged to be an open lyer and false accuser satans suggestions we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee again and we also deny his service he is thy Teacher and Master who hath so taught thee to lye and falsly accuse and thou undertakes to do his service but thou must receive thy
that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God-in him herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is so are we in this world 1 John 4.16 17. 10. We love him because he first loved us and manifested his love to us to beget our hearts and souls to love and obey him and this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also vers 19 20. 11. By this we know we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous to such as are born of God for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our saith 1 Joh. 5.2 3 4. 12. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that is born of God 1 Joh. 5.5 6. Joh. 3.5 6 7 8 of water and the Spirit not after the flesh nor after the will of man but after the spirit and according to the will of God Joh. 1. but as many as received him to them he gave powers to become the sons of God even to â—hem that believe on his name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men but of God Joh. 1.12 13. and such as are born of God are in the life of faith known the witnesses and he that Believeth â—n the Son of God and is of that birth hath the witness within and the record is there known and witnessed in the life eternal and we do through the mercies of God know the teachings and workings of Gods holy Spirit within us witnessing the faith and the birth and we do not believe and love one another only but we know that the Son of God is come also and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and as they was and said so do we and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternal and no delusion nor deceit but according to the teachings and workings of the spirit of truth and witnessed to by the Scriptures and the servants of truth 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 20. and friends and brethren who are out of the envy and hatred in the divine love and so out of the old life in the new passed by the Lord. Page 28. And where thou sayes They are under the great bondage and slavery which is laid upon them by Satan who captivates them at his will Reply Then it is by the Satanical Ministers and tything and hierling Priests that bondage and bring into prisons for speaking the truth and declaring against their false Antichristian Ministery The servants of Christs bondage by the Ministers of Antichrist as many by their means hath so been brought into bondage and outward imprisonment and could not have liberty to declare and spread abroad the truth because Satan in and by his false deceitful Ministers caused some to be laid hold on and put into prison and thereby acting the divels part brought some into bondage which by the devil in his Antichristian Ministers were laid upon even such servants of God as were Antichrists opposers and so that Scripture were fulfilled where it is said the devil shall cast some of you into prison and ye shall have tribulation for a tâ—me and so the devils Ministers hath in that acted their part to bring into bondage the servants of the Lord take notice or that ye Satanical persecuring Antichristian Ministers who bondage and imprison the servants of the Lord and you that are by them so imprisoned be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life Head Rev. 2.10 And whereas thou says They are made to suffer more cruel and heavy burthens then she Israelites under Pharaon in Egypt Page 28. Reply Then it is by the Satanical Priests and Antichristian Ministers as before and not onely by our bonds and imprisonments but also by causing them to pay the tenths of their yeerly increase of hey and corn The tithing and hireling-Priests false Antichristian Ministers are cruel oppressors of the people of God as Pharaoh was and tithe lamb and wooll money for Marâ—â— and foals money for kine and calves money for eggs and smoak passing the chimmeys and their geese and piggs tithe hemp and flax tithe apples and cherries Easter reckonings and Midsummer dues as they call them and causeth such to pay those things to whom they do no service except to revile them and â—ail against them and such as cannot for conscience sake towards God pay these demands to uphold an Antichristian Ministry captivates or imprisons them at his will and thus they suffer more cruel burthens by them then Israel did by Pharaoh for I do not read that ever Pharaoh did after that manner therefore you Antichristian Ministers be ashamed of your Ministery Page 40. And thou thy self saith in Page 40. That They forsake father and mother wife and children for Christs sake and they endure much affliction persecution opposition and disgrace from the men of the world c. Reply By that thou hast proved them to be none of the world but such as love Christ above all Mat. 10. 37 c Luk. 9.23 c. and art thou offended and all this while slandering and reviling them for their love they bear to Christ by doing his will and following him according to Gospel discipline The people and servants of Christ suffers affliction persecution and reproach from the men of the world for the love they have to Christ by following him and doing his will and reproving of sin rule and doctrine and so suffers for his names sake as such aforetimes did that believed loved obeyed and followed him and it is the portion from the world that His must eâ—pect to be afflicted persecuted and suffer reproach which thou calles disgrace from the men of the world and so here thou hast cleered them to be the chosen people of God that are chosen out of the world to suffer for Christs sake as they do and by this thou hast also cleared thy self to be none of the friends and disciples of Christ but one of the world for they are reproached and slandered by thee and so by the world and therefore thou lovest them not because they are not of the world and makes good the Scripture and saying of Christ who said to his If the world hate you ye know it hated me and so thou hates his and therefore hates him and saith he to his if ye were of the world the world would love its own but thou loves not us because we are not of the world but are chosen out of the world to declare against the evil of it and therefore thou art offended but we must do the will of the Lord and
not our thoughts the Lying Spirit hath told thee so by which thou art deceived and so taught to lie thy Tongue is deceitfull and so is thy heart and now the Spirit of Truth tells thee the same and also witnesseth against thee and thy deceipt And that distrustfull care we deny and know that Christ doth engage his people to leave it but there is a true care which Christ engageth the hearts of his people unto and that we own And the love of Christ teacheth us diligence and faithfulness also which engageth our Hearts and Souls unto him and to do justly love mercy and walk humbly with our God to serve him with Reverence and Godly fear and also to serve our generation in Love by being faithful unto the Lord our Redeemed passing the time of our sojourning here in fear and true care therefore thou open Lyer lay thy hand upon thy mâ—dâ—â— and â—â—ish be ashamed for ever that thou should be to befooled by the Devil as thou art to be his slander-Carryer and sow his seed of distention lies slanders and evil 〈◊〉 and so Labours to harrow it into the fear of enmity and grounds of Prejudice And that saying where thou says Thou hast read 〈◊〉 what an insolent proud Authentick manner the Devil spoke to Christ c. Reply That shall stand for thy self who are the Devils-slander-carrier and Satans Proclaimer and Publisher of lies slanders and deceiptfull wicked evill and filthy aspersions in such a 〈…〉 insolent Authentick manner against the Truth of Christ and his Brethren and friends so against him in them and Reviles the servants of the living God is thy Fore-fathers did Revile our bâ—estâ—d Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ but were joyce in this that we are counted worthy to so suffer for his Names sake Math. 5.10.11.12 and with all knowing this that the servant is not greater then his Lord as he himself hath said therefore we bear it in Remembrance dwelling in his word John 4.1 〈◊〉 John 15.20 And where thou says we own visions and Revelations c Reply That we do not deny if we should we should deny the Spirit of Truth and the Condition of the holy men of God Act. 9.10 11 12. and Act. 10.17 and we also know this that there is no true knowledg of God but by Revelation as Christ himself hath said Who spoke Truth and could not 〈◊〉 and he is also to be beleeved and obeyed who is the way to the Father and the Scriptures bears testimony from his own mouth to the â—â—â—e undeniable and grounded Truth as may be read Matth. 11.27 Luk. 10.22 And where thou sayes so making themselves eithe Prophets or Apostles c The Lord maketh both true Prophets and true Apostles Reply Self we deny and all the Power of darknesse so in that thou hast told another Lie and of our selves we are not able to think any thing as our selves but our sufficiency is of God who maketh both Prophets and and Apostles and so able Ministers of of the New Testament or Covenant not of the Letter but the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life this the Scriptures witnesseth and we witnesse with them 1 Sam. 3.19 20 21. 2 Pet. 1.21 Eph. 4.4.11 12 13. Rom. 12.6 7 Acts. 13. 1 Pet. 4.10 2 Cor. 3.5 6. Gal. 1.11 12. And where thou says Let this be also wel observed these dreamers say not withstanding they pretend it is God by some speciall Revelation or Inspiration be what it wil the Lord must be the Author of it pag. 34. Reply Thy fallacy we deny and therein thou hast uttered another Lie be ashamed and blush and for the Dreamers they shall stand for thy self and such in thy nature and deceablenesse of unrighteous who defile the flesh and despiseth the Spirituall dominion and Government which we witnesse unto by which Spirituall Poner the flesh with the affections and lusts are crucified Gal. 5.24 and with the Spirit and Power of our God are we sanctified washed cleansed and justified 1 Corimb 6.11 therefore we are no Dreamers For we witnesse the Spirituall dominion and Government by which we are preserved in our sanctification by Christ Jesus as such was in theirs that spoak against the dreamers Jude 1.2 and Revelation and Inspiration and the Lords sending according to the good pleasure of his will and the working of his divine power we own but thy pretence and fallacy or sting in thy call where thou says Be it what it will be God must be charged with it that we utterly deny and so testify against this abominable lye and â—â—â—n it back upon thee and the dreamers there remain Observe it well And where thou says Did you ever know a People acted through a more glorious shew or pretence of Righteousness then they are c. Reply Thy shews and pretences is by us denied but to obey Christ in all his discoveries and divine Appearances working unto Righteousnesse and changing from glory to Glory into the pure Image by the power of the Lords Eternall Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17 18. as such afore-time did that we we with the Scriptures do also witnesse and own and as Christ hath said to his Father in the eternall love to his in the glorious appearance and discovery unto such as were changed and changing into the Glory where he saith all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them John 17.10 and the sufferings is not worthy to compared to the Glory revealed within Rom. 8.18 and God who commanded the Light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts through his glorious discovery and divine appearances of Glory and Righteousness to give us the knowledge of his Glory saith the Ministers of Christ and even in the face of Jesus Christ this treasure have we in eathren vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.5 6 7 and the Saints fellowship with Christ in the Glory is to be admired as the Apostle saith to the Thessalonians which glorie appears in the inwards 2 Thessal 1.10 this the Scriptures witnesse and in the fulfilling and changing into glory of Righteousnesse we also witnesse according to the measure and manifestation of his divine appearance fellowship with him in the pure enjoyment of Light Life and Love received from him who is the Lord our Righteousnesse and so made unto us Wisdom and Righteousnesse 2 Cor. 1.30 and with him and the Spirituall operation we witnesse according to his divine Appearance both in Glory and Righteousness as the Scriptures also witnesseth which we do own and with them also witnesse and of Christ according to his pure discoveries of his love according to His glorious Appearance which we do own but thy fallacies and guilded pretences we do deny and thee and thy pernicious wayes disown And where thou say Their throwing off and denying the World and all care and pains thereof for Christs sake
what I â—nâ—w that it is the Lord alone that teacheth his people to profit none teacheth like he who is now my teacher indeed and will be yours if you are made willing and obedient to be tought directed and guided by him who is gathering his out of all Nations kindreds and tongues Ezek. 31.11 which is by Jesus Christ the one and only Priest who is the light of the Gentiles and the light of the world by which he hath enlightened every one that commeth into the world John 1.9 which light shineth into the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not verse 5. Now the world is set in the heart of man Eccles 3.11 of the which world Christ is the light and he that followeth him shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life John 8.12 this is that grace of God that hath appeared unto all men teaching them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. this is the light of Christ who is the word of God in the heart for this word of the living God is not farre off but it is nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth that thou mayst hear it and see it and doâ—t Deut. 30.14 Now therefore friends look not forth after them that say Christ is here or there for they are all deceivers the word is nigh the light is within thee even in thy dark heart although thy darkness cannot comprehend it because thou lovest darkness rather then the light of Iesus Christ which shineth in thy Conscience and lets thee see the evil of thy wayes and calles thee to repentance and to forsake the wicked and live this is the Talent that thou art hiding in the earth for the which thou must give an account to therefore say I unto thee minde that teacher that teacheth to deny ungodliness and this is the light of Iesus Christ in thy Conscience the which light proceedeth from Christ and leadeth all that loveth it John 8.12 up to Christ who is the way the truth and the life the only way and no other way to the Father Now all of you owning this word Teacher and light in your own Consciences you will come to witness Iesus Christ in you the light of life and know him to be the way unto the Father which leads out of the darkness of all the worlds wayes worships forms and fashions and customs and words wayes and actions and come to be gathered in the light unto Iesus Christ who is the light and from the light then to come to witness the Scriptures to be true yea even fulfilled in you by the same spirit as it was in them that did write and speak forth the Scriptures and so witness with them against the same things that were witnessed against then by the Children of the light who had fellowship with the Father by the which they saw that which in measure I witnesse that there is but one way one truth one light one faith one baptisme one spirit one head one high Priest who ever liveth to make intercession for us one Church of the first-born whose names are written in Heaven one God over all who is rich unto all that call upon him in spirit and truth the which worshippers the Father seeketh to worship him who is a Spirit and all his Worships are spiritual but God heares not sinners and he that regardeth iniquity in his heart the Lord will not hear him for there are none but the pure in heart that shall see God whose presence is terrible to all the mâ—kers of iniquity that continue in the unfruitful workers of â—â—â—ness Now all of you see that you keep unto the true guid which iâ— Iesus Christ and follow him and see that you do not turn again to the vomit as the manner of some is who begin in the spirit and end in the flesh Oh leave all for Christ you cannot serve two Masters you cannot be of the world and of Gâ—â— you must witness a separation therefore iâ— love to all your somes that have been professors with me in publick in these parts of the Nation and all others flatter not your selves in your conditions promising your selves liberty whilest you are the Servants of corruption therefore forsake the wicked and live H. S. FINIS
the teachings of the Spirit of Truth and also edifying one another in Love building up into the most holy Faith is well pleasing to the Lord and comfortable one to another and so by letting our Light shine forth to others and bringing forth fruit with an encrease in the graces of the Spirit hereby we glorify our Heavenly Father Iohn 15.5 8. Reply Thy fallacy or sting in thy tail we deny which lies in those words as they fancy it but the waiting and stirring of that which is pure and the immediate teachings of the Spirit we witnesse and own and herein thou hast manifested thy self to all the Children of light to be ignorant of the stirrings workings teachings and actings of the Spirit of Truth and so art in the fancy thou tells of and as thou calls it thy self and in this thou hast cleared thy self to be no Minister of the Spirit nor New Covenant that art ignorant of the immediate teachings of the Spiâ—â—â— but the immediate teachings of the Spirit we witnesse as the Minister of Christs in the Spirituall ministration did who were made able Ministers not of the Letters but of the Spirit as they did witnesse 2. Cor. 3.6 And no Prophesie of the Scripture came in old time by the will of man but holy of men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1.21 and that were not mediate by man but immediate by God and as they waited the holy Ghost immediatly spoke and said Separate me Sarnabas and Saul Acts 2.1 2 3 4. for the work whereunto I have appointed them Act. 13.2 and as Philip was travelling immediatly the Spirit taught him and said Go and joyn thy self to the Charet c. Act. 8 29 30. But thou that art ignorant of the immediate teachings thou art ignorant of the Spirit of God and so thy Ministry is mediate of man and not of God therefore no Minister of the Spirit and the Gospell and in that thou hast clearly also discovered thy self to be an Antichristian-minister and so in the delusions thou speaks of they turne back upon thee and are there to Remain Paul an Apostle and Minister of the Gospell was not made by mediate meanes that is not by man but He was made immediate and that was by God Gal. 1.1 And I certify you brethren that the Gospel which I preach unto you I received it not mediate of man but immediate of God take notice of that Gal. 1. neither was I taught it of man but of God vers 11.12 and by Revelation and that was not mediate but immediate vers 15 16. then foutteen yeares after Paul went up to Ierusalem by Revelation Gal. 2.12.12 the Myistery was made known unto him by the immediate teachings of the Spirit even by Revelation Eph. 3.2 3 34. But thou that art ignorant of the immediate teachings of the Spirit of God doth not know the Father nor the Son for there is no True Knowledge of them but 〈◊〉 â—â—clation Math. 11.27 and that is by the Immediate Teachin◠〈…〉 man knowes the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever 〈…〉 will reveal him Luk. 10.22 take notice of that and all that denies the immediate teachings of the Spirit of God Remember you as well as Edmund Skip have cleared your selves to be no Disciples of Christ nor Ministers of the Spirit but it is good that Fools utter their folly as thou hast done thine take notice and read 2 Tim. 3.8 9. And where thou art Reckoning up many things by thy busie minde in thy 22 23 and 24 pages and judging of their conditions with thy thoughts and summes or gathers some Scriptures together also to busie thy mind about Edmund Skips Confutation who art a Stranger to the life of them as doth appear And thou says the Words of Paul are very much abused by the false interpretation of their enemy I Answer Thou hast whipt thy self with that Rod for thou art their enemy then the words of Paul are very much abused unto them by by the false Interpretations of thee their enemy therefore be thou ashamed and blush thou enemy of the Righteous and abuser of Pauls words by thy false interpretations whereby thou seeks to cover thy lies slanders and false accusations but Antichrist even besools thee and lets thy nakedness appear thy covers will not hide thee but leaves thee bare take notice of this And that which thou calls a Grand Assertion of theirs and thou would have the world to give their judgement of it and that is concerning hell which the wicked go in at c. A Reply to that which thou calls a grand Assertion concerning Hell c. I answer How should the world or wicked give any true judgement concerning it seeing the wicked and all that forgets God shall be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and the naturall man knows not the things that stands in the counsel of God because they are spiritually discerned and so he is not able to judge them 1 Cor. 2.14 and yet thou wilt have the world to try thy expressions and renents thou speaks of they who are in the dark part with thee are not able to judge aright but thou and thy expressions and â—enets are all seen and comprehended with the light and with the light condemned and hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and the proud and wicked Mal. 4.1 and their glory and their pompe and their multitude shall descend into it Isa 5.14 and then wo to all the Lords enemies and adversaries Mat. 25.41 to the end and z Thess 1.6 7 8 9. Rev. 21.8 And that fallacy of thine I deny which thou art to prove if thou canst or else ensnared thou art and taken with a horrible lie and the lake for the liar is prepared and then hell and torment is the reâ—â—ed of such take them a long with thee that are in the mâ—◠〈◊〉 â—orkings of Antichrist willing to be kept in his deceivâ—◠〈◊〉 for the devil that deceiveth them that are spoken of Râ—v 2â— 10 the beast and false prophet and all such are to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstome and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 11. and all who are not found written in the Lambs book of life are cast in thither c. vers 14 15. then take notice of this all ye wicked and ungodly ones And where thou sayes in Brevity thou hast given the mysterious deceit it self I answer thou hast accused with many lies and slanders and those are from the old serpent covered over with smooth pretences but thou art clearly seen and found to be in that mysterious working of Antichrist thou speaks of and so guided by his spirit whose coming is after that manner spoken of even with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 2 Thess 2.9 c. and so in short thou hast cleared thy self from the teachings and workings of God by
Antichrist in hâ—s mysterious actings thou speaks of and though thou be exalted in the delusions by Satans transformings in the working so disguised through that mysterious vail yet thrown down thou must be who art in the delusions and so overcome with deceit by the subtil stratagems of Satan thou speaks of therefore let all that fears God take heed of thee and thy delusions and the mysterious workings of Antichrist by whose spirit thou as well as his Ministers art Acted who art labouring through his deceitful power thou speaks of and working to bring other poor creatures into thy own Region of darkness and valley of death who art under the dominion of the prince of darkness the prince of the power of the air the spirit that ruleth in thee and all the children of disobedience such as thou art 2 Thess 2.9 10 11 12. In thy Pages 25 26. thou sayes They compare their sufferings and Agoâ—ies with those of Christ and they must suffer the wrath of God and the like as he did and yet reckon themselves the servants of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord will prove this to be a horrible lie and delusion because that Christ suffered for his servants and boâ—e the wrath and curse of God for them and made satisfaction to his Fathers law and justice in his own blood and his father was pleased to accept it c. Reply thy comparison and fallacy we deny where thou sayes they compare their sufferings and agonies with those of Christ and say they must suffer the wrath of God as he did The comparison is thy own and the fallacy lies in those words in thy third line as He did we do not say we must suffer râ—â—poâ— that cross at Mount Caâ—vary Christs death of great effect who hath satisfied the justice of God for the breach of the first covenant and now estabâ—â—shed the second to satisfie the fathers wâ—ath and justice for the transgressions under the first covenant as he did therein thou lies and accuseth falsly for he hath satisfied his fathers law and justice by suffering upon the cross at Mount-Caâ—ary for the transgressions that were under the first covenant who through the eternal spirit offered up himself without spot to God and now in the new Covenant he doth purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God and for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Covenant that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receave the Promise of eternall inheritance Hebr. 9 11 12 13 14 15. and we are called not onely to beleeve but also to suffer as they under the New Covenant that beleeved were did who said For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not onely to beleeve but also to suffer for his sake having the same Conflict which ye saw in me and now hear it to be true Philip. 1 29 30. This spoke the Minister of the Gospel The Saints under the New Covenant do witness the sufferings of Christ in tâ—em c. who had suffered and born about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus Read and understand 2 Cor. 4.10 and the same Minister of the Gospell did annex a suffering to beleeving and that in the behalf of Christ Philip. 1.29 and thy comparison and fallacy being taken away we witness such sufferings which thou appears to be a Stranger in and accuseth a people that witnesse the Power of God which worketh out salvation by fear and trembling which the Gospell Minister that spoke to the Philippians of to suffer as well as beleeve in his 2 Chapter 12.13 and also annexed obedience to faith and suffering to both and we know that Christ is the Author of our salvation that obey and serve him and His servants we are as well as sufferers for his Names sake who also is the Author of eternall Salvation to all that obey him Hebr. 5.8 9. this fallacy being taken away Truth we witnesse and a suffering Condition and that according to the teachings of the Spirit of Truth for Christs sake though not as he did upon the Crosse at mount Calvary to Redeem them that were under the Law from under it who fulfilled that Law and Covenant that were but Types and figures of him who took away the first and established the second Such as come not by the dore and through inward sufferings with Christ are strangers to the New Covenant and the theef is seen to be without c Hebr. 10. and as they who witnessed Christ under the New Covenant did witnesse a bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so do we and the life manifest in our mortall bodies as such dâ—d 2 Cor. 4. And as they who were Ministers of the New Covenant and knew the terrours of Lord so do we therefore we perswade men to be Reconciled to God as they did who were his Ambassadours and Fellow-labourers with him 2 Cor. 5.11 and 2. Cor. 6.2 Cor. 2.15 16 17. And we know also that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ as theirs did 2 Corinth 1.5 and thou that art a Stranger to the inward suffering and so accuseth them who witness them thou manifests to all the children of Light whose servant thou art a Theef that hath climbâ— up another way and so never come in by the door and have I charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be noâ—â— of his Ministers that art so ignorant of the Spirits works and teachings and by thy fallacies and living divinations casts slanders and Aspersions upon the Children and Servants of the Lord by thy subtilty and Serpent-tine wit who art that horrid lyer and the Spirit of God proves thee to be so that through a dirty fallacy thou would cast upon the Innocent buâ— it is turned back upon thee to Remain plagues is the Serpents portion but thou art of the Seâ—pents seed a lier and false-accuser and plauges is thy portion silence deceaver and stop thy mouth with the true light art thou seen and comprehended and with the Light condemned And though Christ did make satisfaction to his Fathers Law Christ hath made satisfaction for the Law and there is now condemnation to such as are infreed from and Justice to fulfill that law which had been broken and through the fulfilling of it were his Justice satisfied yet that doth not free from inwards sufferings that law stood outwardly and was fulfilled and the Justice of God satisfied concerning the breach of it but now his Law is written within in the heart according to the tenour of the New Covenant that was given according to the Fathers Promis Ier. 13.13 c. Hebr. 8. So now the Righteousness of the holy Law of the Spirit of Life t is to be fulfilled in us as it was to be fulfilled in them that
did not walk after the flesh but after the spirit and though there be no condemnation to them that are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit who witnesse the Law fulfilled in them and so are led by the Spirit and made more then Conquerers through him that loved them who are sons and heirs of God Rom. 38. Chap. and 1 Iohn 1 22 9. and Gal. 3.29 Gal. 4.6.7 1 Iohn 2.20.27 Yet such as are not sons but bastards The unrighteous who walk in the flesh and fulfiâ—l the lusts hereof are out of Christ and under a state of condemnation luâ— they are now warned and left without excuse happy aâ—e they if thâ—y return to the Lord by forsaking the evill of their wayes but if they do not â—wo c. who walk not after the spirit but after the flesh such as are unrighteous and unrighteousness is transgression of the Spiritual Law Read 1 Iohn 3.4 and verse 10. such are under a state of condemnation take notice of that all the proud and lofty ones al the covetous oppressors lyers swearers false-accusers haters back-biters scoffers scorners coseners cheaters envious and malicious ones Rom. 1.27 29 30 c. and take notice of it all you unrighteous ones of what sort soever and you that plead for a continuance insin yet walk after the flesh Remember you are under a state of Condemnation are transgressors of the Righteous Law ye unrighteous ones therefore return from your unrighteousnesse or else you shall in no wise inherit the Kingdom of God and this I testifie unto you from the Spirit of the Lord say not but that you are warned I am clear from your blood now that I have warned you from the Lord and if you will not take warning to turn from your unrighteousnesse your blood be upon your own head and in your condemnation from God the light of God in your consciences that reproves you for sin will also be a swift witnesse against you and upon you Answer it will the Judgments of God to be just therefore take warning now whilest you have time least you die in your sins and perish and be shut out from God and cast into everlasting burnings and eternall torment also Read and Consider of those Scriptures Rev. 20.10 15 2 Thâ—s 1.8 9. 1 Cor. 5.9.10 Gal. 5.19 20 21. Rev. 14.9.10.11 Mal. 4.1 Rev. 21.8 27. Read Ezek. 33.11 12 13 c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 c. you may see before the Reward of the unrighteous and now you are warned And where thou says It is a most devillishire and delusion to conceave that any who are one with God inâ—â—â—â—ist shall undergo the wrath of God in that manner they speak of by this they make the death of Christ of none effect citing Hebrews the 9. They that are one with God in Châ—â—staâ—e freed from siâ— â—â—d â—o from wrath Reply The death of Christ we witnesse to be of great effect and as before is proved also according to the 9 of the Hebr which witnesseth what before is said but thy conceaving fallacy we deny which lies in these words That any who are one with God in Christ shall undergo the wrath of God in such manner c. we deny the conceit and thy fallacy both and we charge thee to be a lier and false accuser for we do not say that such as are one with God in Christ shall suffer the wrath of God in such a manner there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ as before is said and that we witnesse and who walk in the light Christ is light and such as walk in him receaves the Light of life Iâ—hn 1.9 Iohn 8.12 and he leads to God the Father of Lights and in him there is the love perfected 1 Iohn 4.16 17. and he that walks in the light as he is in the light hath fellowship with the Father and Son and there is a cleansing from all unrighteousnesse and a dwelling in the divine Love and so the Unity is witnessed as Christ hath said Iohn 14.30 and he that abideth in him sinneth not 1 Iohn 3.6 neither can he sin verse the 9. and there is a freedom from sin and unrighteousnesse the cause of wrath and so a freedom from sin A freedom also from wrath to such as are one with God in Christ so this conceit and fallacy being denied and truth set in its Right place the people thou calls Quakers are not in the delusion because not within the compass of thy saying whereby they would prove them so then thy ground being ript up thy fallacy taken away Truth is cleared and thou art ensnared or in the delusion thy self that art in the lies and false-accusaions take notice of this The Serpent and his seed are shut out from God under the wrath and vengeance 2 Thess 1.6 7 8. But ye the Serpent and his seed are in the unrighteousnesse and not in God for there is no fellowship agreement nor concord betwixt them 2 Cor. 6.14.15 but enmity is placed betwixt the two Seeds and such as are of the Serpents seed as thou art must know the wrath and vengeance of God for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlines and unrighteousnes of men who hold the Truth in righteousns Rom. 1.18 take notice of that all ye unrighteous ones as is said before for it is a Righteousness things for God to Recompence to tribulation to the unrighteous and such as trouble his 2 Thess 1.6 7. And where thou says When you have weighed it see whether it can stand with the Lords Justice to call any of his servants to bear so in their bodies and spirits as they do his Iust and exact Judgment untill he have wrought out of them his own Satisfaction and Recompence in that nature The World are not to Judge the Laints but the Saints shall Judge the the World Reply The naturall man knows not the things and teachings nor workings of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 and such thou calls to judge and trie c. For thou calls upon the World to judge and the World trie thy expositions and tenents and the World are not to judge the Saints nor the Spirits workings teachings and actings yet the Saints must judge the World 1 Cor. 6.2 1 Cor. 2.15 therefore thou and the Judges in the carnall are with the Spirit of Truth judged through the eternal with that which sets up Judgment and Justice in the new Creation and we are the wormanship of God in Christ Jesus created again and changed by the operation of his spirit into the pure Image again 2 Cor. 3.17.18 and so we are out of the unrighteousness in the Righteous where the true Justice is set up through the Judgment therefore you cannot Judg us who are in the life of Truth with your earthly carnall mindes which is shut out not being
do not hate our Brethren then thy necessity is taken away and we shall not be under delusion nor a deceaved People neither will the Apostle John render us to be so but on the contrary witnesse with us to be the children of thâ— Lord and Friends and Brethren in Christ and so we are shall thereby be cleared for what thou falsely would charge upon us and doth slander us withall But we whom thou calls Quakers and reviles under that name we know that we are the servants of God and bought with a Price and being called in the Lord we are his free men and so we Reckon our selves also to be Brethren and not the servants of men but of God abiding with him in that calling wherein we are called 1 Cor. 7.22 23 24. and so let every one abide in the same calling wherein he is called of the Lord ver 20. and serve him in what he requires Presenting also their body as a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service Roman 12. and being born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible seeing we have purified our souls in obedience to the Truth through the Spirit we love one another with a pure heart servently according to the Gospell discipline Rule fellowship and doctrine as such did who were of that Birth and Seed 1 Pet. 1 22 23. and so we witnesse as such did that he who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are of him and he is not ashamed to call them his Brethren Hebr. 2.11 12. and we being so born sanctified and taught we Reckon such as are of that Seed and Birth in the Sanctification to be also our Brethren and we do not hate but dearly tender and love them and we also reckon that the suffering condition is not to be compared to the Glory revealed within by comming through the suffering Rom. 8.14 15 16 17 18. and we know that our brethren before who were led by the Spirit did also witnesse the same and we know moreover as the sufferings of Christ do abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Praised be the Lord for the Riches of his Love 2 Cor. 1.5 1 John 3. Then it being that we are of the New Birth in the calling and brother-hood and have acknowledged witnessed that we are Servants of God and Brethren in and by Christ and that we do not hate but love our brethren it must needs be that we are not under any delusion according also to thy saying E. S. Being proved and tried and back-returned thy fallacy taken away and truth set up in its place and therefore thou being sound the subtil Serpent with thy sting in thy tail and envie and hatred thou al false accusers of the innocent are the deluders and in the delusions and wretchednesse thou speaks of and now that we are cleared from thy slanders and thou found the envier and hater and such in the nature the Apostle Johns words witnesseth for us and against such as you are that are in the envie and evil committing sin and so serving the Devil take notice of that and also read 1 John 3.15 and 1 John 3.8 10. It followes from Edmund Skips words that we a People whom he calls Quakers being servants of Christ and brethren not hating but loving our brethren that we are under no delusion nor guided by aspirit of Antichrist c. But we whom he calls Quakers are servants of Christ and brethren and also do not hate but love our Brethren therefore according to that we a People whom Edmond Skip calls Quakers are not deluders nor under delusion c. take notice of that Friends and Christ who are of the Royall Seed and new Birth are set forth and manifested to be the Children and servants of God by their Love to him and one to another that are if the same spirituall Birth and in Vnion with him in the pure divine Light Life and Love Or Some Rules of Love whereby the Children of God are known to to love God and also to Live one another and also of Johns words to witnesse for the Truth Johns words witnesse for the Righteous seed such as are born again are of that seed and sons of God so brethren in Christ who lives in the divine light Life and Love and we may cry out with admiration that are of that Seed and in the divine Love and say with John and John with the righteous Seed who sald First Behold what manner of Love is this that the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the World knoweth us not because it knew him not 1 John 3 1 2. Secondly And saith he ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins and we know the same and in him is no sin at all whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5 6. Then Thirdly little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousnesse is Righteous even as he is Righteous and whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed Remaineth in him so saith the holy Ghost and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 John 3 7 and 9. Fourthly Therefore Marvell not my Brethren if the World hate you it is but what the Lord Jesus foretold of to his John 15.18 19 20 21. and we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3.13 14. Fiftly Now my litle Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but indeed and in Truth and thereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall asure our Hearts before Him â— John 3. ver 18 19. Sixtly This is His Commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment and he that keepeth his commandment dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 Joh. 3.23 24. 7. In this was manifested the love of God to us whom the world now reproacheth for his names sake c. because that God sent his onely begotten Son into the world that we might live through him and herein is love not that we first loved God but that he first loved us and sent his Son to teach us and guide us Joh. 8.12 and to be the propitiation for our sins who being children have them forgiven 1 Joh. 2 1â— And now beloved if God so loved us it is our duty and we ought also to love one another for God is love and if with his love we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us 1 Joh. â— 9 10 11 12. 8. Hereby know we that we dwell in him because he hath given us of his spirit vers 13. 9. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is Love and he
rejoyce in that he hath chosen us out of the world and counted us worthy to do his will in declaring against the deceits of the world and also in that he hath counted us worthy to suffer for his names sake Joh. 15.18 19 20 21. and more especially that our names are written in the Lambs book of life knowing also that the unrighteous and all whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life shall not enter into the holy City nor inherit the Kingdom of God but be cast into the lake that burneth c. as Jesus hath said who sent his Angel to testifie the same Take notice of this all ye persecuters gainsayers and oppressors of the truth and all the unrighteous prophane ones and all under what deceipts soever 1 Cor. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.9 10 11. and Rev. 21.8 27. Rev. 20.10 11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 22.10 11 15 16. And where thou shews thou art offended that truth should be spread abroad thou makes covers to cover over deceit but it is clearly seen and thou art falsly accusing and saying That they pretend that the Lord sendeth them hither and thither that they know not wither to go or to what person till they come to the place or person c. Reply That is false the pretence is thy own and that fallacy or sting in thy tail I deny where thou sayes They pretend the Lord sends them hither and thither they know not whither The wicked bends their tongues like their bows for lies and so shoots their arrows of reproach against the innocent c. thy pretence and fallacy is denied but the Lords sending I own and know and after what manner he sends even as he pleaseth according to the workings in his own councel after the good pleasure of his will And this I do own notwithstanding thy cover from the Lords sending of Moses to Pharaoh and Nathan to David and Ananias to Saul c. Thou art busying thy minde about them and their sending and art a stranger to the life they lived in they was not liars slanderers false accusers nor hypocrites like thee but declared against such as thou and thy generation of evil doers are by the spirit of the Lord in his servants and children declared against now at which thou art sore offended and bends thy tongue like thy bow for lies and shoots thy arrows of reproaches false accusations and slanders out against the truth and would not be told of it again but be thou sure God will meet thee and with his righteous judgements smite thee and such like and then wo to the wicked and such as thou art it shall go ill with you Isa 1.24 2 Thess 1.8 9. Isa 3.11 2. Thy pretence being denyed and fallacy cast out the former sendinâ—s of the Lords servants I own A sting in the tail denyed but the Lords sending of his servants as he pleaseth owned and also the sending of the Lords servants now by the same spirit and power which thou art a stranger unto that speaks against immediate teachings by the Spirit of God which teachings immediate I own and also know the Lords sending when I am sent to person or place as Ananias did when he wâ—s sent unto Paul in the street called straight to that person and place Act. 9.10 11. and as I do so do all witness to the truth who stands in the councel of God and to the truth I witness but thy saying that lay in thy fallacy and sting in thy tail that I deny and backe with the rest of thy lies I return open thy old botle and take them in again into the serpents seat from whence they came that with thee and in thy generation they may remain And where thou sayes Let us return and examine the manner of the Lords sending his servants and prophets upon particular messages I answer Thou hast nothing to do to busie thy minde about them The way and manner of the Lords sending forth his servants is owned according to the working of his power in his own councel after the good pleasure of his divine will and also some times to particular places and persons according to the word of the Lord. yet art an enemy to them and a stranger to the immediate teachings and so to the power by which they were and are sent but the immediate teachings I own as before is said and also the power and spirit by which the Lord sent and now sendeth his servants and the manner of the Lords sending of them as he pleaseth according to the working of his power in his own councel and after the good pleasure of his will he then sent forth his servants and so doth he now and that I also own and those that the Lord sent and stood in his councel they knew whither to go and sometimes the Lord told them to whom to go and what to say and sometimes they were to go to places c. and it should be told them when they came there what to say and sometimes waited after they came there several dayes before it was given what to say or speak c. And as the Lord did then to his servants according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his will so doth he to his servants now according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his divine will but Edmund Skip thou that art a liar slanderer and false accuser of the brethren thou art of the old serpent Rev. 12.15 c. and not in the councel of God but accusing such as are and speaking evil of the wayes and workings of the spirit and power of God then out of his councel and so not sent of him but by the false accuser and the man of sin therefore I take that from thee which thou hast stoln and return it into its right place again and I tell thee plainly the Lord is against such theeves as thou art and as may be read Jer. 23.30 31 32. But to the truth I witness and own and that when the Lord called Moses and made known himself to him he sent him according to the good pleasure of his will and so doth he now such as standeth in his counsel Exod. 3. And when Ezekiel was sent to them of the captivity at Tel-abib that dwelt by the river of Châ—ber he knew whither to go but not what to say neither when he went to them nor at first or present when he came there amongst them and where they was but he sat where they sat and remaied there amongst them seven dayes before it was given him what to say so he to wit Ezekiel the servant of the Lord when he was at that time sent by the spirit of the Lord he knew whither to go but not what to say untill it were revealed unto him Ezâ—kiels seven dayes silence at Tel-abib or given unto him what to say from the Lord to the people unto which he
fail as you will answer the contrary Given under our Hands Seals this 27. of March 1655. Nicholas Pearson Thomas Belamy Something in reply to Edmond Skipps Book which he calles the Worlds Wonder or the Quakers Blazing-Starre who saith he is a Teacher of the Gospel at Bodenham in Herefordshire At his Book the World may wonder but the Children of light doth not for his folly in it they manifest and him to be the Wandring-Starre who is wandered from truth and thou may read in Jude in the end Edmond Skipp that in thy Conscience shall me remember who is called of the World Humphry Smith There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts 2 Pet. 3 3. Babylon is fallen and become the babitation of Devils Rev. 14.8.18.2 BEing moved to write something in answer to the scandalls that hath been cast upon the truth by Edmond Skipp in a Book called the Worlds Wonder or the Quakers Blazing-Starre wherein he hath not only cast many aspersions upon us in these parts of the Nation to wit Herefordshire but also on those yea all of those whom he never saw not heard whom the great and mighty power of God hath raised by the pure life of Christin them to witness and live in which we hear a handful of Babes are but in a little measure yet brought to witness therefore not for our own vindication but for the simple ones sake who ever was carried away in all ages with Scribes Pharisees false Prophets false Apostles through the sleight and craftinesse of men whereby they lay in wait to deceive 2 Cor. 4.2 Therefore take notice that not many wise men after the flesh not many learned not many mighty for the wisdom of this world passeth away and the Lord is now taking the wise in their own craftiness and chusing the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the things that are not to bring to nothing things that are that so no flesh may glory in his sight but that the Lord alone might be exalted in this the great day of his power Isa 2.11 wherein he is risen out of his holy habitation Jer. 2.13 to shake terribly the earth Isa 2.19.21 and bring down the haughtiâ—eâ— of man and laâ— low the haughty looks of man Isa 11. who are going forth like men of Warre in their own strength against the Lord and against the anointed witness the last page of Edmond Skipps Book Psal 2.2 Now that the truth of Jesus Christ may the more appear I shall in this following discourse in bâ—seâ— lay open some of the former and yet-lived-in deceâ—ts of this open enemy and also some of his lies which he hath written against the truth of Christ whom the world knowes not therefore they write speak hate stone whip imprison and â—aâ—â—y say all manner of evill against us wherein the Scriptures are fulfilled by them Matth. 5.11 12. whose Judgement slumbereth not and whose damnation lingereth not Now before I proceed further I give thee a little notice what sort of people he thus hath opened his mouth wide against and it shall be made manifest and that from his own writings which declare us to be the people of God chosen out of the world John 1â— 19 and he to be the persecutor I shall give thee a few short hints but if thou wilt observe his writings thou wilt finde that he himself hath declared that our whole life and practice is proved by plain Scripture and that our lives and practises are the same with them that did write and speak forth the Scriptures but in short see his own words in page 40. Did you ever know people acted through a more glâ—â—â—oâ—s â—â—oâ—â—or appearance of righteousness then they are to witâ—ns their â—â—nying and throwing off the world and all â—care and â—â—ainsâ—â—or Christs sake their forsaking Father and Mother and â—ife and Children Luk. 14.26 Matth. 10.37 though with so much affliction opposition persecution and disgrace from men is not this like the Crosse of Christ and the sufferings of Christ and his Apostles yea even the same their â—avelling so many â—â—iâ—es from place to place Jer. 18.18 and speaking so boldly unto great men â—â—â—â—â—g out against their abominations their writing so many letters and dealing so plainly with men And there are hardly a people to be found that cry out more against Antichrist and all appearance of sin and unrighteousness then they do and in page 41. the whole bulk of their actings hitherto as faâ—â—e as I know or have heard do declare them to be carried forth as Ministers of righteousness page 44. for I am perswaded they dare not tell a lie Now see plainly before thou proceed the darkness ignorance and envy of this man that can persecute in writings and smite with the tongue such a people as he himself in this very darkness cannot chuse but conâ—eâ—s such things by and in who that is not altogether blinds will not see the bâ—â—â—ness darkness and ignorance of this mans confused-Writings See one more page 50. Now these people as farre as I am and ever was able to discern them are indued with a large measure in those things the Apostle mentioned in Heb. 6.4 5 6. I mean many of them that I know that I did take in my former intimacy and acquaintance with them to have received much of the power of truth through Christ and to hare much communion with God and large experiences of his loâ—e but as for others of them they were never judged by me or the rest to be any more then a willing people and for such this Scripture doth not touch them even by this although there might be much more mentioned thou mayst see in measure in the light of Christ what he is that doth tail against such a people whose words lives wayes and actions are agreeable to the Scripture as he confesseth in his own Book The world loves his own and the world delights in its own the world speaketh to the world and the world hears that which is spoken from the earthly heart reacheth the deaf eare and no farther that which is comprehended by the dark minde that is spoken forth by the deceitful Tongue that feeds the deceit that lodgeth in the hearers so one darkness upholds another and the same deceit upholds its own in both speaker and hearer so in both Writer and Reader yea all that write and speak that which proceeds not from the life but from the death being in the state of death is but death speaking to death whereby Serpents are begotten or the seed of the Serpent is increased Now they that are of God heares Gods word and they that hear not his word are not of God for the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are spiritually discerned by the spiritual man that judgeth all things though no man can judge him who is a Child of the day and dwelleth
in the light and hath no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse out of which the Children of the day are delivered and can witness the darkness past and the true light now shining in them but all those who say they have fellowship with light and walk in darkness are lyers and all lyers are shut out of the Kingdom and are estranged from God who is altogether pure hoâ— and righteous just perfect light and those that dwell in him are in he is and they only have the minds of Christ the which all the world and earthly hearts are ignorant of Therefore I shall not put the worldly carnal heart to judge of what may be written by me although I am but yet leaving off the world and entering into a little of that which is eternal which no eye of flesh can ever attain unto and live neither can any but those that live in the same life that speaks aright or understand what is spoken from the life by those that speak aright from the pure life therefore let not thy deceitful heart deceive thee in judging herein for the old heart is deceitful as I shall further make manifest both unto the world and unto the Children of the light not only from what I hear but from his own written words and my knowledge and being witnessed by the light and truth as it is manifested in me whereby something may so plainly appear that eâ—en the world it selfe may see the deceit that alwayes hath been and yet is in this man who now desires all the world to take notice page 23. of his exposition of his lies that he himself hath cast on us who are not of the world therefore the world knoweth us not for we witness against it that the deeds thereof are evill After Edmund Skipp had thrown off his Tithes and convinced of much more which he was waiting to throw off too he then told me not long before he left us that he had not faith to carry him through neither could he beleive but he was confident that the Devil would steal all that he had from him again the which is now too true Woe woe woe from the eternal God to all the Inhabitants of the earth who dwelleth in the earthly darkness being seated in the earth drove out from the presence of the living God and are vagabonds and fugitives in the earth whose Center is in the earthly dark minde woe to all those that put light for darkness and darkness for light woe to all those that go down to Egypt for help in Egypt the pure seed is captivated and kept in bondage in Sodom and Egypt the Lord is daily crucified and put to open shame woe to all the Oaks of Bashan and all the beasts of the field woe to them that build their nests among the Starres for Capernaum that is listed up to Heaven and in its wisdom in its own strength shall be brought down to hell for the Lord God of life and power is risen out of his holy habitation to confound the language of Babel and dry up the tongue of the Egyptian Sea and famish all the gods of the Heathen that know not God whose presence is terrible to all the Children of disobedience therefore woe unto him that striveth with his Maker who ariseth to scatter his enemies and to wound the head of every one that goeth on still in his wickedness Oh the day of the Lord is at hand wherein every man shall receive according to the deeds done in his body then he that hath seemed to wait and now begins to smite his fellow-Servants saying his Master delayes his comming and so eat and drink with the drunken that are drunk indeed with the wine of the fornication of the Whore of Babylon those are Drunkards indeed that are drunk with wine and oâ—ercome but not with strong drink such stagger at the promises and stumble at the corner stone but when that stone shall fall upon them it will grind them to powder therefore be warned of the Lord thou that despiâ—est and wonder for all the works of the Lord are wonderful least thou perish for the Lord is working a work in these dayes that thou canst not believe nor any that live in their own wisdom exalted above the pure wisdom of Christ who teacheth all his to deny all yea even all both wisdom righteousness wit and all carnal comprehensions for they are followers of him who lived not in his own will for saith he I came not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me and saith Not my will but thy will be done and he that is not yet made a fool and so denies his own will and wisdom is yet exalted above the crosse and the son of perdition is exalted above all that is called God sitting in the Temple of God even in the holy place where truth should alwayes be exalted Christ should raign as King and subdue all his enemies under his feet and lead captivity captive that a gift may be received which gift is eternal life and this life is in the son by which gift all that are in the son-like obedience do witness being made heirs with him in the eternal Covenant which is established upon better promises then the first therefore he taketh away the first that he might establish the second which is witnessed in the son-like obedience by the which we are made the righteousness of God through him the which is a mystery to the dark world whole mouthes are now open to speak evil of that they know not calling the great and mighty works of God the delusions of Satan and the conditions now witnessed in the Sons and Daughters that the Prophets and Apostles both passed through to speak of those things they now call the works of Antichrist But he is an Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son now see who is an Antichrist no man knowes the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him he that denies this Revelation denies both Father and Son that is Antichrist Now to know the Father is eternal life and he that saith he knoweth and hath fellowship with the Father and walketh in darkness is a lyer and the Devil is the Father of lies and he that liveth not in the truth which is Jesus Christ he must needs lie because he is out of the truth and tâ—erfore found an enemy to the pure truth as it is in Jesus who is the truth and life it self by whom the world is and shall be judged when the Lord shall come in flaming fire rendering vengeance on all that know him not this day is even at hand yea even now the Lord is comming a swift witness against all unrighteous ones who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness living in their ungodly practises sporting themselves now in the day-time spending their time upon their lusts living in their own wils speaking forth the
the measure of the sufferings of Christ and those that have thus suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin 1 Pet. 4.1.2 Thy second where thou mentions quaking thy lies there we deny but quaking and trembling we witness to be the Saints conditions fulfilled in us who witness the same power of God as they did Jer. 5.22 Isa 66.2 Psal 2.12 In the third thou speakest thy own lies at random In the fourth thou hast declared thy self to be an enemy to the sufferings of Christ calling it a delusion Oh let shame stop thy mouth for ever thou enemy of the Crosse of Christ and thy own soul for although Isaiah prophesied of what Christ in his own person hath fulfilled yet the Members of Christ are to take up his Crosse and follow him and it is written and witnessed 2 Cor. 1.5 for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 1 Pet. 4.13 2 Cor. 4.10 That which thou and the rest of the world doth call our bondage and slavery pag. 18. that was the Saints and is our joy and liberty by which the righteous seed is brought forth in obedience to the living God but it is no wonder that the world hate us for they know us not if we were of the world the world would love his own Iohn 15.18.19 Mat. 5.11 12. In answer to that in page 29. Iesus Christ is unto us the bread of life Iohn 6.33.35.48 and he is unto us the water of life Iohn 4.14 7.37 In page 30. thy lies are made manifest unto all men that knowes us for which of us doth deny to labour with his hands and which of us is it that liveth in idleness nay it is Satan the Father of lies that acts thee to say that we should say It is the language of Antichrist that bids men take care for their Families for we do take care for our Families with all diligence in the sight of God but our Conversation is without covetousness Heb. 13.5 What is mentioned in the third Rule pag. 31.32 33 34. to that I anâ—wer the same spirit that ruled in the Children of disobedience then even in the dayes of the Apostles the same spirit ruleth in thee and others now they stumble at both Prophets Christ and his Apostles and now the same Generation are stumbling at Christ in his Members so all they that stumble stumble at the light and at the corner stone as for the Prophesiers that thou mentions in page 36. I tell thee and them that all Prophesiers that are enemies to possession we do deny to be any Members of Christs Church which is in God 2 Thes 1. Page 37. is another lie yea more then one plainly in saying that we rank our selves with the sinful men of the world who are indeed all under the power of Antichrist from the which thou was never yet redeemed by Christ in thee for thou art astr anger to his life See what thou raisest from supposition or thy if in page 37. see what thou canst witness from those Scriptures fulfilled in thee thou art a Theif and a Robber stealing the Apostles words stealling the word from thy Neighbour thou confesseth that we walk like as the Apostles did in many things as in conversation words and writings in page 40. and 41. thou sayest that the whole bulk of our actions hitherto as far as thou hast either known or heard do declare us to be carried forth as Ministers of righteousness oh let all take notice of this the Devil speaks some truth but in the latter end of page 40. thou art thinking that Satans Kingdom is divided oh filthy conclusion oh meer Babel canst thou open thy mouth and let thy pen run against such a harmless people of whom thou thy self art made to confess such excellent things I shall now leave a little in following of thee in thy confused and deceitful lines and shall turn to that Scripture 2 Cor. 11.13.14 15. for such were false Apostles deceitful workers c. In page 41. elsewhere thou raiseth thy own conceivings as of other things of the Scripture and then amplifie or illustrate upon thy own Imaginations so giving private interpretations of the Scriptures for thy own private ends whereas no Scripture is of any private interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 I shall lay down by plain Scripture who those false Apostles are 1. They are such as preach another Jesus 2 Cor. 11.4 now Jesus is a Saviour Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Mat. 1.21 he maketh an end of sin Dan. 9.24 being dead with Christ Rom. 6.8 the body of sin is destroyed v. 6. he that is dead with Christis freed from sin verse 7. compared with 1 Pet. 4.1 by the which we are made free from sin Rom. 6.18.22 and become the Servants of God so that the blood of this Jesus who is the son of the living God cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7.2.12 because your sins are forgiven for his names sake which name is Jesus a Saviour from sin and we know that he is manifested to take away our sins and he that abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5.6 Rev. 1.5 Now whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1 John 5.1 Now Jesus is a Saviour Christ is God in flesh or the anointing of the true Teacher 1 John â— 17 Now he that can witness a Saviour is brought forth in flesh he is born of God and can witness Christ in him the hope of glory which is Immanuel God with us and those dwell in God and God in them 1 John 4.16 2 Cor. 6.16 now sin is the unfruitful work of darkness God is light 1 John 1.5 Now he that saith he can witness Jesus and is born of God and yrt lives in darkness to wit sin he is a lier now Jesus is one with the Father and dwelleth in the Father now he that dwelleth in the Father hath this hope or faith that purifieth himself even as he is pure 1 John 3.3 and 5.1 and he that abideth in him sinneth not this is Jesus the son of the living God that saveth his people from their sins whom Paul witnessed revealed in him Gal. 1.16 by the which he preached grace and peace to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.3.30 22.16 now there is no other name given under Heaven by which men shall be saved therefore all those that cannot witness this Jesus this Son of God they are false Apostles that speak of a Jesus that they know not like those that went to cast out Deâ—ils in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached Acts 19.13.14.15 16. those were not vagabond-Jewes only but chief of the Priests that did so now all that cannot witness this Christ this Jesus revealed and brought forth in them as the true Apostles did that spoke from the life of Christ in them even all others are false Apostles among whom thou art
seen in the light of Jesus Christ to be and in the world like a raging Sea whose waves casts up mire and dirt continually unto whom there is no peace Isa 57.20 21. a wandering Starre never setled Jude 13. but tossed up and down with every winde of Doctrine from such turn away 2. How you may know them P. 36.9 Abiding in the light that comes from Christ in that light you will see light so comprehend all the Children of darknes for he that followeth Christ who is the light of the world shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life to judge all the false Apostles and all the Children of the night who live in the dark minde in pride covetousness lying making a Trade of the Scriptures which were spoken forth from the light by those that witnessed it but thou that takes up their expressions and livest not in the same life thou art the false Apostle that preacheth another Gospel now besides the foregoing Scriptures thou hast declared thy self to be a false Apostle by thy own writings First in writing thy thinkings and conceivings page 50. yet my former thoughts page 53. I am but in part convinced page 16. methinks page 51. as I conceive such were the false Apostles 1 Tim. 1.7 understanding not what they say nor whereof they affirm but speak and write the imaginations of their own hearts as thou hast done in page 18. the thoughts of my own heart in the which are many devices Prov. 19.21 Secondly In being one of the world and calling thy fellow-Creatures of the world to judge what thou sayest and here thou hast manifested thy self to be a false Prophet entered into the world which the Saints of God never did page 23. and let all the world assure themselves that in page 45. here thou dost wrire thy self as thou art calles thy own to witness the world one with the world therefore we being gathered out of the world are hated and written against by thee John 15.19 I shall forbear to write what I know of thy former and yet continued practises this being sufficient to prove plainly that thou art a false Apostle whose many lies written against us I need not to mention in particular only some few in short that the simple may not be deceived by thee nor the truth suffer altogether under thy scandalls Page 48. Thou biddest the feeble Creatures of the world to judge of spiritual things though the world by wisdom knowes not God 1 Cor. 1.21 page 46. thou sayest that we do lying wonders but hast thou in all those lies and writings of thine proved that any of those which thou callest wonders are lying wonders for it is not thy saying it is a lying wonder that makes it to be so for there were such as thee that said that Christ cast out Deâ—ils through Beelzebub but they were liers and so art thou Thou sayest our works are deceitful page 49. but thou hast no ground for it but the deceit of thy own heart page 18. the which thou callest the world to bear thee witness page 23. page 50. thou fayest we diâ—own the power and spirit of truth which is a lie but thou hast a form of godliness denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 Page 53. Thou sayest thou art in part convinced that peradventure the Lord would have his people walk in some way whereby they might be brought into a perfect unity in heart Oh art thou not here ashamed to let even the world whom thou callest unto so often read thy ignorance what art thou but in part convinced what way leads to unity Oh for shame for shame give over thy profession talk no longer of the Gospel thou hast made thy self manifest to all men Oh hast thou been talking of the Gospel so long and art yet ignorant of the way that leads to unity Oh let shame stop thy mouth and cover thy face for ever but if thou wouldest shift from this and say thou meanest an outward way or form I tell thee there is no way to have fellowship with the Father 1 John 1.3 but in the unity of the faith and the knowledge not a thinking of the Son of God who is the true living and only way unto the Father John 14.6 where is perfect unity even one heart and one way Ier. 32.39 which is away of holiness the Wayfaring men though fools shall not erre therein Isa 35.8 Also in page 53. thou sayest that thou art very sensible that thou hast lost thy comforts and therefore thou dost hope not to give over until thou hast found some way or means of having thy former enjoyments refreshed Why hast thou lost that thou never hadst thou saidst but now that thou was but in part convinced of the way and hadst thou the comforter long agoe and lost him now oh Babylons Merchant the way and the comforter is but one the which is Jesus Christ Iohn 14.6.17.26 Iohn 17.23 I know that if Jesus Christ had been brought forth in thee without which there is no true comfort who is the substance of all tithes types forms and shadows that thou could not unto this day have remained a Parish Priest and so uphold an Antichristian Priesthood halting between many opinions neither according to Aaron Levi nor Christ but living in thy own will and so living above Christ who lived not in his own will for saith he not my will but thine be done Iohn 6.38 And now who will regard thy writings when thou acknowledgeth that the comforter which is the spirit of truth is departed from thee now it appears thou art a lier indeed now thou hast no truth born up in thy understanding thy former injoyments as thou calls it which were indeed nothing but comprehensions got up in the wisdom of the Serpent Oh art thou not ashamed that the world which thou didst soon make up in thy writings should now read thy confusion art thou not ashamed in such a condition as this when thou confessest thy former enjoyments and comforts are departed from thee even now to write against those that thou acknowledgest to have large experiences and much of the power of truth through Christ page 50. Oh take heed least it had been better for thee that a Milstone had been hanged about thy neck and thou cast into the Sea Oh canst thou not look back on him whom thou hast thus pierced to wit the life of Christ in others now thou mayst read with shame and tears that which thy own hand hath written from thy own sinful heart look in page 5. and 8.18 which was then in the apostatized condition without the former comforts as thou calledst it page 53. now thou art found to be a false Apostle indeed Oh remember from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works yea repent ere it be too late Rev. 2.5 Oh though thou canst strive with man there is no striving with thy Maker who will come a
such also as supposes gain to be godliness and those likewise that sollowes pleasures which we deny and turn them back as thou art and the Priests and Antichtistian ministers such as are proud and supposes gainto be godliness which they do not that thâ—u accuseth under the name of Quakers and thou thy self if thou was not blind might see that thou clears them also of that thyself in thy 30 and 31 pages where thou sayes they are made to deny their callings c. but as for giving over labouring and following of wordly business thou says thou could bedy with that and shews thy Reason as thou says â—hat when thou considered that most men are overcome and surfeited with the cares things of this life thou thought as thou sayes that the people of God should be upon the extream on the other hand those then are not they that suppose gain is Godliness c. here thou takes them also according to that saying of thine to be the people of God and yet thou calls them a misted People what confusion is here how confused thou art saying and unsaying building up and throwing down Babylonish and thou cleares them from the cares of the World and for surfeiting with that and yet in the places of Scripture before cited as in 1 Tim. 6.5 6. that is speaking of one that is Proud c. which thing they deny and abhor and also declare and testify against it as Isaiah did that said Wo to the Crown of Pride Isa 28. and by that Scripture which thou art blind in and cannor see what in darkness thou hast done thou hast Ranked them amongst a people that doates about Questions and strife of words and such as follow pleasures c. which things they deny against them testifie and they are no such thou thy self in another place hast confuted thy self therein and cleared themof that in thy 20 Pag. for thou says there they desire to become fools and to be made weak and as thou says thou knowes not what is doth appear thou says thou knowes not what that art so confuted and so consuting thy self in thy own sayings theresore let all the wise hearted take notice of that and judge by what spirit thou art guided even by a Spirit of delusion error and deceipt And to that in thy 19 Pag. where thou says they Reckon it their perfection and bappiness to be deprived of all here thou speakest thou knowest not what a divination of thy own brain and an imagination of thy heart And whereas thou says the Spirit of God doth neither so Act nor teach c. I answer the Actings and teachings of the Sparit of God we own but deny thy sayings who are ignorant both of his actings and teachings as before is proved and as thou thy self in uttering thy Confusion hast made it plainly manifest And where thou art telling of one thing that did very much stumble thee a great while and it was this thou sayes that they said the best things that ever they Received from God mentionag knowledge and faith and high enjoyments must burnt up and destroyed I Reply they that walk in the light stumble not The best things that ever we Receaved from God as Faith Heavenly-wisdom and Spirituall enjoyments is owned c. but they that disobey the light and walk contrary to it they stumble even at noon-day but thou walks not in the light and therefore thou stumbles and would aspire to know the Saints Conditions with thy vain mind but cannot for out of their life faith and enjoyments thou art shut and for destruction to suffer but thy fallacy we deny which Iles in these words of suffering losse of all that we Received of God and where thou says of faith knowledge and high-enjoyments and would charge a Lie upon us saying that we should say we should suffer losse of them thy fallacy we deny but Faith True-knowledge and what we have receaved of God that we enjoy according as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 c. And where thou says that they desire to become fools and to he made weak and thou knowes not what Page 20. Reply Thou hast shot forth thy sting in thy tail or hinder part of thy words in that fall acy or saying where thou says thou knows not what as thou hast said how confused thou art as I said before to say thou knowes not what therefore thy judgment and sayings must needs be false and not true that as thou thy self hath said thou says thou knows not what and an in thy confusion and falshood treachery and deceipt thou hast nothing to do to judge of the wayes of God nor of the people of God And where thou says The Holy Ghost judgeth it meet that all care and diligenoe should be used hath in Reading exhorting one another c Reply What the Holy Ghost teacheth that we do own and also at we are guided thereby to evercising of those Graces A Sting in the tail a satit cy denyed wherewith the Lord hath endued our souls we also own and to he kept diligent in the Spint to understand the mind and will of God in the making sorth of his Love that we may be to the praise of the glory of his Grace and Reading and Prayer that we do own but thy Sting in thy tail fallacy or lying-divination that we deny Reading and Prayer and all Godly exortation according to the teachings of the Spirit of God is now witnessed amonst the people of God by the world called Quakers Which is this where thou says Those beguiled wretches pretend they must not Read or Speak a good word to one-another Reply thy saying in this is all false and thou laid a smooth-ground before it and coloured it over and layes this in the middle to stumble the simple thou subtill Serpent this fallacy we deny and the pretences shall stand for thy self and the begulied and wretches thou speaks of but Reading we own and speaking good words exhorting one another and prayer by the Spirit of Truth and speaking the Truth in Love that we may grow up in Him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of its self in Loves Ephes 4.15 16. And where thou says They say they have no freedom to speak admonish or discowise about heavenly things or any thing whereby they may glorifie God or do good one to another Reply Math. 5.16 This saying is altogether false and not true and thy fallacy we deny but speaking about the things of God and that which may glorifie him that we do own knowing that by obeying