A short But a Strict Account Taken of BABYLONS MERCHANTS VVho are now Forcing the Sale of their Old Rusty Cankered Ware upon the People of these Nations And a stretching them out by their Line which as they say is the Scriptures in the New Testament as they call Themselves Christian Ministers Also a comparing them with those that spake them forth as their Examples that all People may see with whom they run Paralel By one that hath fed upon the Whores Flesh these many Years Handed to him by these Merchants and their Brethren But now Witnesseth it in him Consumed by Fire RICHARD CRANE LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Signe of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1660. To the READER READER WHoever Thou art or to whose hands this may come to be Read be not hasty to Judge or Censure before thou hast with that which is just of God in thy Conscience weighed the thing and then with that moderately Judge and Honestly in the sight of God search the Scriptures which maketh mention of a Christian Ministry and Ministers and see if amongst them all a Paralel be found of our Ministrie of England in this Generation who calls themselves Ministers of the Gospel and of Christ Jesus either in Call Doctrine Practice Maintenance Life or Conversation and if by true search and by measuring and compareing them they be found neither to answer Rule nor Example spoken of in the Scriptures of Truth where mention is made of Christian Ministers thou wilt and must with me conclude that they are to be denyed for such as is found in the Words and not in the Life are false Being compared with them who in the Life spake the words that they now Read and Preach out of the Life which is Abomination and a Lie For the Scriptures that were spoken forth by the Apostles and Ministers of Christ Jesus through the motion of the Eternal Spirit were not left upon Record for that end for to be a Foundation to build Inventions and Imaginations there upon And so declare and Preach People into the Words but not into the Life of the Words which the Ministers of Christ did For they said be ye followers of us as we are of Christ Jesus So here the Life and Words were not seperated but went together now the Life and Words are divided and so the form of Godlinesse but not the Power is held forth And such as are Ministers of the Form we are commanded to turn from and not own in the least Now if they be found Paralel with Antichristian Ministers which were such as had the form but denyed the Life let them be esteemed even such as they are for that is a thing just and equal to say or speak of men even as they are and no otherwise being the Tree is known by his Fruits I have not the least hatred or prejudice upon me to these mens persons who calls themselves Christian Ministers the Lord God bears me record but to that which works the wonders of deceit and lyes in the Creature I have absolute enmity with and it is that which in the fear of the Lord God I testifie with my Life Soul and Spirit against and my whole strength that the Creature may know to witnesse Redemption from the Bondage with which it is Captivated and may come to be set free which cannot be done till the mind come to be turned to a measure of Gods Spirit manifest in the Creature by which thou wilt see and know what is thy duty in short both to God and man as he hath unto thee made it known that is to do justly love Mercy walk Humbly with thy God Mic. 6.8 And professe what thou wilt I tell thee except thou comes to have thy mind turned to the Light of Christ Jesus which is his manifestation in thee thy profession will not hid nor cover thee from the day that is coming upon all Hypocrites both Teachers and Hearers and all Drunkards Swearers Whore-mongers Lyars and all profane Persons whatsoever which is for the Lake of Gods fearful vengence except true Repentance be witnessed and the evil turned from R. C. GO to now ye Merchants of Babylon who are now in this day bringing forth and exposing to Sale your old Cankered Rusty and moth-eaten ware unto the People of this Nation of England for in the Light of the Lord God I have beheld you which maketh both you and your confused ware manifest Rage not neither be you angry if you be brought to your Rule which you say is the Scripture and to your examples which are they that spake them forth and you thereby measured and compared First you call your selves Christian Ministers if so we will see whether you run paralel with the Christian Ministers in the Scriptures of Truth mentioned if you do then you are to be owned if not then to be denyed The Disciples who were followers of Jesus was sent forth into his Ministry and his comand was Provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brass in your purses nor Scrip for your journey neither two Coats neither shoos nor yet staves for the work-man is worthy of his meat and whatsoever Citie they did enter they were to enquire who in it was worthy and there abide till they went thence and they did so Mat. 10. And they were freely to give as they had received and when they returned they were asked if they lacked any thing and they said nay now what is your Rule for your indenting with people in a Parish and saying I will be your Minister provided you will give me so much a year and if they will not give it you you will be none of their Minister but looks out for a better Market Is your Rule for this in Scripture and where is your example for so doing do you answer your examples the Disciples of Jesus you dare not say you do then why are you to be owned Christian Ministers answering neither Rule nor example in Scripture neither are you Gospel Ministers for the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God and the Power of God you never knew neither witnessed and the Gospel of Jesus owns no such Ministers as you neither doth the true Church of whom Christ is Head and whose Faith he is defender of know any such as you are to Minister unto them and where is your Rule in Scripture for the compelling your false maintenance by Tythes and sueing men at Law and not only so but casting into Prison and taking treble damage did ever the Ministers of Christ do so Read the Scripture and see Christs Comand was Sue no man at the Law and these pretended Christian Minsters they take no notice of that as though his comands were not to be observed in this generation you take not them the Apostles speaks of for your examples that wandered up down in sheep-skins and Goat-skins lye in dens and Caves of the Earth and had no certain
had as much to say in it as most of you all whatsoever we are comanded to call no man Master for One is our Master even One that you know not for if you did you would dread and fear him and we do ordinarily call men by those names as they call themselves in their writings if it be truth and if you run not paralel with the above mentioned in Scripture being found in the same life and practice let that which is Just of God in you Judge for I have laid you to your direct line Read Mat. 23. the chapter through And the Scriptures of truth maketh mention of such as were Blind guids and that if the blind lead the blind they shall both fall into the Ditch now perhaps you will say you run not paralel with the blind guides there spoken of but I shall make it appear know you wherefore they were called blind they had eyes as well as you and yet they were so because they could not see him who was come in the figure or flesh to fulfill and put an end to all that they did profess and practice in their worship and Religion according to the Cerimonies of the Law and because they had been worshipping in the types shaddows and cerimonies which held forth Christ till he came in the figure or flesh and when he was come and all these things in him fulfilled and ended yet these that took upon them to be Teachers Instructors guides of the people could not see him but continued still in those things which in him was fulfilled and ended now were not these blind guides justly so called and were not they that were led by them blind also answer me and did not the blind lead the blind and was not the Pit the end of their journey and did not these blind guides seduce people from the Doctrine and faith of Christ which said which of the Rulers have believed on him was not this blind seducing but perhaps you will say we cannot paralel with them for we are Christian Ministers we believe he is come and hath fulfilled what is here mentioned but I deny you are either Christs Ministers or yet believers for if you were his Ministers you would feed his flock and not destroy them not Lord it over them as you do if you believed in him you would do his works but doing neither you are neither Christian Ministers nor believers The Scripture of truth maketh mention of seducers Johns Epistle 1 2.26 27. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you but the anointing of the Father which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught ye you shall abide in him now you that are Ministers of Confusion I aske you is this Scripture true or is it false if it be true as I think you dare not be so impudent as say the contrary then your ministry is at an end and utterly to be denyed of all that have received the anointing for they have received that which is truth and no lye you deny the Light of Christ within which is the anointing of the Father therefore your preaching is a lye seducing and Antichrist and utterly to be denyed for as the blind guides saw not Christ when he came in the flesh to end and fulfill all their worships which stood in the Cerimonies of the Law so you blind guides in this generation see not Christ come in spirit to lead and guide and instruct his people by the pure measure of his light manifested in this age generation and all that hath received this they have no need of your teaching and therefore let all flesh be silent before the Lord. And as the blind guides did of old so do you now for they persecuted Christ in the flesh and you persecute him in spirit where ever he appears either in Male or Famale and the blind guides would go on in their way that was in their Temple worship and observing dayes and offering Sacrifices though their house were left unto them desolate and so do you go on in your way though the witness of God rise in you to condemne you for so doing yet I put a vast difference between the Jews worship and yours for it was true as it was once comanded of God and it was a type of Christs coming in the flesh but yours was never comanded of God therefore a lye but invented of them that were enemies to the appearance of Christ every way and I desire to know of you one thing that is what your worship is a type of being you are enemies to the coming of Christ in spirit and cannot indure him where ever he appears and what it is that must fulfill it but this is a Doctrine you cannot endure to hear of it is as the pangs of Death to you what to speak of having your Doctrine to come to an end how will those sayings be fulfilled then 〈◊〉 allwaies learning never able to come to the knowledge of the truth For this will please you better that you may be ever teaching though betwixt the Womb and the Tomb people be never the better but much the worse and them that hangs on your Doctrine to the end they are undone for ever Now Read your selves paralel with the blind guids And as to all your trinketts and inventions not worth nameing and even as it were numberless hath God chosen or required this at your hands to be his worship if he have then without doubt he hath chosen you to be Ministers of it but I am sure he hath neither chosen this for his worship neither you for his Ministers for this is the worship God hath chosen even spirit and not art and invention and so likewise his Ministers that he hath chosen are poor weak dispised Ones which is to the confounding of you and your Doctrine The Scripture maketh mention of one Simon which used sorcery and witch-crafts read Acts 8 9. In some things you paralel him for he used sorcery and bewitched people But he believed and continued a season and he profferd money for the gift of the Holy spirit that he might do as the Apostles did but he was cursed with his money because he would purchas the gift of God with it which is not to be done now had it been possible that the gift of God could have been bought with money however Simon had bought the truth and it is no doubt but he would have made sale of it again he would have sold the truth though his end was cursed because it was for gain now you are found not to be of Simons mind for you are far from buying the truth for you buy lyes sell them again and hath them and sells them again many times over now Simons Condition was
more innocent and harmless then yours for there was a place of repentance found for him and an exhortation unto it verse 22. Truly I cannot say so of you I desire I could The Scripture maketh mention of one Elymas a sorcerer being by interpretation so called Acts 13.8 And with him you run paralel for the Deputy having received the faith of Jesus he with stood the Apostles and sought to turn him away from it but he was struck with blindness which was his reward and you do as your Brother did for if any especially Rulers or men in Authority do come to own the truth as it is manifest in them by the Light of Jesus Oh what stirring and striving by reviling and reproching by shifts and lyes do you make to smother and stifle it and what calumnies aspersions and slanders do you cast upon the Ministers there of calling of them Seducers Deceivers Heathens and Jesuites with many other filthy names to turn the minds of any who have received it from it again and not so contented but calls the Light within damnable Heresie damnable Blasphemy a Doctrine of Devils Popery and so forth now is not this Elymas like or worse for it may be he might not cast so many slanders upon the Apostles and the faith as you do upon them now who Minister in the faith but Elymas withstood the Apostles to turn the Deputie from the faith who knoweth but Elymas might have a great part of his gain from that Deputie it is very probable that before he received the faith of Jesus at the Apostles preaching he might believe Elymas his sorcery and so truly Elymas might receive much pay for it of him for Sorcerers and deviners such as Elymas and you are gives not your comodities Gratis But are payd for them to purpose as Thousands of my Friends in England and other parts can witness though they receive none of your sorcery yet you take by violence their goods and money from them like Theeves and pretends a Law for it Truely in this you outstrip all your Brother-hood mentioned in Scriptures both in old and new Testament as ever I read of I have read of some who took the wages of unrighteousness But I know not whether by force or nay as you do I never read of any that took treeble damage as you do and yet wo was pronounced against such who took such wages and if wo were their portion what will be yours who exceeds them in all their wickedness and abominations surely surely Hell hath enlarged her lips wide for you and it was high time for Elymas to withstand the Apostles and the Faith being the Deputy had received it and stand up for his God which had received such a knock as could not be recovered but by turning the Deputy who had received the Faith from it again What a condition was Elimas in his socery would not serve for the Truth was received therefore his God must famish And truly so it is with you for if any comes to receive the Truth then comes your sorcery and deceit to be made manifest and though formerly it hath been accounted good ware whilst no better was known But now that is a risen in people in this Nation which hath laid open all your deceits and false cheats and rips up all your deceitful coverings and hath turned your inside outward I speak not this only of you who are now the Merchants of the time but I speak of all and of all orders whatsoever called or known by out of the Life of Truth which the Lord God hath manifested by his Light You are all utterly to be denied in the sight of God for ever and as to most of your brethren which you have supplanted and turned out of their Markets and Shops a while since they pleaded more right to them then you now you plead more right to them then they and so one brother supplanting another You need not deal so cruelly with them as many say you do they are your brothers for you have all one Mother and hath sucked all one breast and so you are all of one nature and they are as ready in the work of persecution and as active as you can be Therefore according to the equity of that they might joyn with you in your trading as some already hath done for they are very diligent and handâ—e and if they may not be allowed to be shop-keepers let them be shop-sweepers for rather then sit our they will do any thing I know they are stiffe and proud but they must acknowledge you to be their Eldest brother and your Father doth so compute you But know this assuredly you are brethren in iniquitie and your whole lives practices and professions being condemned by the Spirit of God and the Apostles and Scriptures stands in a lie and so to be denied of all that fear the Lord You are even discovered and known to be as you are viz. Antichrists Deceivers Socerers and ravening Wolves and you rage and your fury is kindled and casts out whole floods of slanders and reproaches after the Truth because your God which is your belly is in danger to be starved and famished for you know not neither will you know any way of preparing your sacrifices for your God but that cursed way that is by extracting of them from the drops of sweat that runs from other mens faces for you abominate and abhor labour and the Scriptures which saith In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread and he that will not work shall not eat you seldom or never make use of and so you may offer fat Sacrifices unto your God which is your belly obtaining them at those rates but know assuredly as you have taken and wrung the drops of sweat from the faces of such as have had no dealings with you especially the Lord God hath put them with their Tears also up into a bottle which he keeps for a perpetual memorial of their Innocent sufferings your cruelty and tyranny injustice therefore Flames Flames Flames of fire is prepared by the Lord to consume you as dry stubble In the Light of the eternal God I have beheld you and all your actions and take them all together and Rake the pit of confusion and bind up your stuff in a bundle and indeed there is no paralel nor never was that ever I could read of or hear amongst any Ministers Christian or Antichristian or amongst sober Trades-men or Artists whatsoever but you out-strip all of them in your way of wickedness if I should paralel you with Salvage Beasts I could not truely do it I think be they never so fierce for they stand in kind Beasts of prey answereth the end of their Creation and so doth all other Creatures of the Salvage kind but men of prey such as you are is quit out of kind and not to be paraleld by any thing that draweth breath Oh what shall I