left in the snare which thou hast laid and the pâ—t which thou hast dâ—gged and sounder the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist as to the single eye will clearly appear thereby will the innocent by thee called Quakers be cleared though thou and the wicked through plotting mischief be ensnared and seared that all simple hearts may take warning and be preserved who have the living God in any measure truly seared and served by doing his will in departing from the workings of Antichrist by his own power in himself and also though his Antichristian Ministers being as thou art transformed as a Minister of righteousness beguiling the ignorant through the mysterious actings by a Satanical spirit of Antichrist in that mystery of iniquity with thy lying wonders c. 2 Thes 2.9 10 11 12. Now I shall speak to clear the truth from some of thy accusations and slanders that deceit may be cast out and truth stand clear as hereafter will appear First To that in thy tenth page where thou seeks to render the people of God odious which thou calls Quakers and one chief thing thou accusest them withal and lays as a ground to work on and that is thou says their railing and speaking â—uch languages to all sorts of people and Rulers and Magistrates c. which doth as thou says discover a spirit of delusion error c. Now if I prove that that they do not as thou says then thou wilt be found to be what thou would charge them withal and so they cleared and thou left to be known thereby to be guided by a spirit of error and in the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of But I shall prove that those thou calls Quakers are not as thou says therefore thou art the deceiver and in the delusions c. an the people thou calls Quakers redeemed from such things and stands clear To thy second Rule whereby thou says thou wilt find out where Satan doth colour over and blind this fallacy with some Scripture words and instances And that is first as thou says their rayling and says they count it not railing but a sharp rebuking and reproving men with authority c. quoting Thus 1.13 and 3.15 and those are the places thou says Satan covers himself under and that of Nathan to David when he said thou art the man and that of Christ to Peter when he called him Satan I answer Satan cannot cast out Satan and a Kingdom divided cannot stand thou deceiver and subtil serpent doth or will Satan discover and reprove his own deceivableness No he will not strike at his own Kingdom to root it out The fallacy thou speaks of that is thy own turned back upon thee again and the Scriptures which thou hast cited we witness and own the authority spoken of but they are no covers for deceit as thou says therefore in that thou art the false accuser and lyer against the truth and truths friends thou art a stranger to the life of truth and them and that which thou calls rayling is to tell thee and men of the evil of their ways for in the second place thou says they charge men with hypocrisie aod so take the example of Christ to call men hypocrites here thou shews thou art offended at truth for declaring against the deceit and so art judged out of thy own mouth and by thy own works who art in the hypocrisie and therefore an hypocrite for we cannot follow any better examples then Christ Jesus and his true Prophets and Apostles for we are required so to follow them as for our examples and we do not errâ—n so doing but are accepted for obeying Christ and hâ—s Commands and following him for our example and the eâ—ample of such Eph. 5.1 1 Co. 11.1 and thou art offended at that and that the seed of God should sharply reprove and rebuke the serpents seed and the man of sin and darest thou say there was sin or deceit manifested by Paul forbâ—dding Titus reprove and rebuke with authority or was that any rayling and reviling in him and such to obey the commands of the spirit of truth as Nathan did and such as are sent as he was from God sent to tell David he was the man and Christ Jesus himself to Peter Get thee behind me Satan And as it was no sin nor deceit in them to say so being guided thereunto by the Lords spâ—râ—t then it is not deceit error nor delusion for such now so to say being thereunto as they was guided by the Lords holy Spirit to say so to whom they are so sent and to say as they are by the Lord required but thou and the Serpents seed are offended at the righteous judgment and language of the Spirit of Truth therefore thy sayings against such are false and so thou judgest amiss to call it rayling and reviling speaking against sin and deceâ—t and to speak plainly to Teachers People Rulers and Magistrates according as their Condâ—tâ—ons are c. As I shall prove by several Scripture eâ—amples and then let all the children of light judg and not the world which thou calls to judg of thy sayings who are in deceit as thou art and cannot judg aright but therein thy folly and enmity is discovered and for colouring delusion error and deceits with pretences and seemingly from the Scriptures by-fallacies c. none more guilty of that sin than thou art and the Hireling and Tything-Priests and such false Antichristian Ministers that are in union with Antichrist as thou art being so acted and guided by a Satanical spirit in all his mysterious actings being turned back and according to thy sayings in thy 11. page and the judgments woes c. against Kendal in the North shall stand But that which proceeds from the Spirit of truth and the true Power of the living God in His Sons and Daughters which thou calls rayling is not as thou says but are words of truth therefore thy second Rule for the discovery of the mystery thou tells of is false a lying fallacy so error and deceit therefore thou art a false Judg and so guided by an erronious spirit of delusion to judg amiss of the Saints practice by thy delusion error and deceit Example 1. To speak truth in plainness by the spirit of truth to Priests People Rulers or Magistrates is no railing but according to the Scriptures and practise of the Peop of God as is here by these Examples proved to be a witness for the truth and against E. S. lies error and all decei For first When the Lord sent the Prophet his servant Isaiah to speak to the blâ—nd watch-men and greedy Sheapherds of Israel who had transgressed the first Covenant c. he called them beasts and said All ye Beasts of the field come to devoure His Watch-men are blind they are ignorant they are all dumb-dogs yea they are greedy dogs which have never enough they all look to their own way
Serpent shoots forth his sting in those words saying he was commanded by his enemy so to fast under the pretence of a friend thy pretence is false and the enemy and his commands we do deny and thee the Conjecturer Prognosticator and Astronomer with thy lying wonders in thy false and Astronomical Judgment and thy prodigious Comet with its scintillations and spâ—rklings thou tells of and also thy little great wonder and lyes and false accusations and slanders who art he that Satah hath transâ—ormed like to an Angel of light who art venting thy lyes and malice because thy false Apostle ship is now discovered and thy Antichristian transforming being fitting for his highest attain mens â—nd making and made able to deceitful works as thou hast learned by Antichrists methodical way in his School and art learning that Philosophical Maxime thou rests of and by thy Philosophy and vain deceit deceives poor ignorant creatures acting â—n that mystery of iniquity and sophistry plagues upon it and wo and â—â—â—geance from God is the reward of thy Satan cal work who art â—oâ—â—gly promoted by him as to be his Nuntio Thou declarer and publisher of horrid lyes slanders and false accusations wo and vengeance expect for thy reward and the lake is prepared for sorcerers inchanters witches lyers and such like Rev. 21.8 thy filthiness we deny thy sting in thy taile Rev. 1.9 and also thy deceiâ— ablenefs slanders false accusations and horrid lye and lyers are for the burring lake and such like take notice of that Secondly But obeying the commands of the Spirit we own for such are Christs friends as keeps his commands and watching fasting and prayer we own according to the reachings and commands of the Spirit of truth and with Gospel discipline and Doctrine but all that which is contrary to the truth of the Gospel that we deny and the Devil doth not nor will not so strike at his own Kingdom of lust as to set any six or seaven daies to fast for thereby lust it becomes weak and it as a means of rooting lust out that great evil on fruit of the Devil and as Christ hath said some sort and so it may be said of this sort it goes not out but by fasting and prayer and herein thy Judgement is false and not true and thou contemns the power of truth and the works of the Spirit of God and one while saith if it was be thou calls Nayler or another that he had a command of God so to d◠〈◊〉 thou sayest he said he had then he did well that kept the command and obeyed and art thou offended at that thou art offended at truth if thou be but thou art therefore ignorant of the teachings and workings of the Spirit of truth and so ignorant of Christs commands and yet taketh upon thee to Judge the truth with thy false mind and out of thy false heart and hath also manifested the same in accusing him falsly that thou hast but a conjecture of be it Nayler or Fox and so with the truth art thou judged and thy lying tongue condemned by the Spirit of truth according to the heritage of the servants of the Lord Isa 54.17 Thirdly For fasting which thou contemns and derides such as do it in obedience to a true command and so in obedience to the Lord for thou says in pag. 44. thou art perswaded they dare not tell a lye c. and if they dare not tell a lye c. as thou says then God teacheth them to deny lying and speak the truth and so to obey the teachings and commands of the Spirit of truth and it is God that teacheth truth and no lies for no lye is of the truth therefore in thy sayings thou hast ensnared thy self and by thy words art thou judged to be unstable like a wave of the Sea foaming out thy own shame and manifesteth thy confusion that says for thy own ends as in pag. 44. thou art perswaded they dare not lye yet further thou sayest they are deluded by Satan How confused thou art the Devil hath no truth to speak then not to teach â—â—â—â—ther to speak truth and not lye for there is no truth in him 〈◊〉 when he speaketh a lye he speaketh it of himself for there is no truth in him John 8.44 then not for any to receive from him therefore they speaking truth and no lye whom thou accusest they are neither taught of him nor deluded by him Take shame to thy self and blush that so lieth of them and accusest also for fasting and when they had confirmed the souls of the Disciples and had prayed with fasting they commended them to God on whom they believed Acts 14.21 22 23. and they gave them to fasting and prayer 1 Cor. 7.5 and were in fastings often and they approved themselves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watchings and fastings 2 Cor. 6.4 5. here in judging fastings that were done in obedience to a command of the Lord to be a command of Satan thou therein hast judged the spirits action judged the practice of the Saints Servants of the Lord and art ignorant of the conditions of the aforesaid approbation of the Ministers of the Gospel and so hast manifested thy Antichristian spirit of trechery delusion and deceit according to thy gradations as thou hast been taught methodically in thy master Antichrists School who art one of his Antichristian false Apostles and Schollers trained up in error delusion and deceit by him whose coming is with signs and lying wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish 2 Thess 2.9 10 11. And where thou says for that deceit of theirs in giving over all care and Callings and then honest employments in the world they are made to misapprehend the teachings of Christ in Matth. 10.37.38 Reply We do not misapprehend the teaching of Christ in Mat. 10.37 38 but witness thereunto and in that thou art proved a lyer And for that fallacy which is laid down in that word All Care and Callings and honest employments that is also false and is so proved before therefore thou art charged with another lye thy mouth is full of such stuff which thou hast learned in the Antichristian School where thou hast learned thy art of lying and deceit he ashamed and blush And thou Sophister saiest being given over to lyes where thou wrests and twists about with thy fallacies and deceivable spirit that we think Christ doth engage his people to leave all care and diligence Reply Thy fallacy thou hast laid down in thy saying all care and diligence which we deny and here thou art found with another lie in thy mouth silence deceit thou cannot by a lying-spirit enter into our thoughts that saist They think Christ doth engage his people to leave all care and diligence Here again I charge thee with another Lie for it is
every one for his gain from his own quarter as the Priests of England and Anrichristian Ministers do now and it is no railing nor reviling to tell them so because they do so nor to call them hirelings and blind-guides because they are so and looks for their gains tyths or hire in lieu of them or augmentations bribes gifts and rewards every one lookes to his own way and all for their gain from their quarter out of mens estates one way or another against many of their wills take notice of it and let the wise-hearted consider and see if it be not right and just to tell them what they are and to tell them of their sins is no railing for the Lord saith Cry aloud spare not tell them of their sins and the people of their transgressions Isaiah the servant of the Lord did so and we the servants of the Lord in obedience to the spirit of truth do so now as he did and that is no railing or reviling but words of sound truth Take notice of this and also read Isa 58.1 and Isa 56.9 10 11 Secondly And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord did say so as before mentioned by and with the Spirit of the Lord he did not therein raile nor revâ—le but speak the words of sound truth a-against their deceits and for so doing was justified by the Lord thoughhe might be condemned or judged with false spirits and lying tongues and such was to be condemned for what falsly against the truth and against the Servants of the Lord they said therefore take notice of that and read Isa 54.17 Thirdly then where now any servants of the Lord are guided by His Spirit to call Englands Priests and Antichristian Ministers like thee Edmund Skip and such as Preach for hire and bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their Quarters and places and Parishes where they are though in coloured deceits I say the servants of the Lord being led by His Spirâ—t to call such hypocrites Antichrists and deceivers blind-guides and greedy dumb-dogs such as never have enough but every one looks to his own way and some for tyths some for hire and wages 100 or 200 l. per annum in lieu of them some for large augmentations out of other mens Estates and some for bribes gifts and rewards professing themselves to be Ministers of Christ and the Gospel and not such servants of the Lord as are led by His Spirit as aforesaid and now to cry out agaâ—nst such deceivers and Antâ—christian Ministers as Englands black Priests and high aâ—â—y Notionists and such as before mentioned though they be disguised and colour over their deceits yet with the light are they seen and their deceits discovered And I say such as by the Spirit of the Lord tells them or any others plainly of their sins and transgressions and so what they are such do not raile nor revile though sinners transgressors and deceivers say they do therefore their judgment is false and not true and thy cover Edmund Skip will not hide but leave thee bare that thy nakedness may appear and those that thou calls Quakers are clear See a fourth Rule to clear this more fully because thou makest it such a chief Rule as thou calls it for the discoverng of the Quakers mystery of delusion in Failing c. and free from such accusations and aspersions as thou would cast upon them and salsly charge them withall take notice of this for herein I do not judg amiss Fourthly When Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to speak to a professing people and to the Mag strates Governours or Rulers to tell them and a people who observed much from the Letter of the Scripture which had been true commands of God to some in a present dispensation or under that Legal administration but those that took upon themselves to observe commands according to the Letter of the Scripture and were not guided by a true Spirit to do them Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to tell such people and Magistrates or Rulers who did things by imitation that God loathed their sacrifices and that he did not accept of their service nor solemn Assemblies c. and though they made many prayers yet he would not hear them Take notice of that all ye that observe and do things by imitation in your own wills from the Letter and are not guided thereunto by the Spirit which was before the Letter was And moreover Isaiah was sent by the Spirit of the Lord to tell a City that had been beautiful and full of Judgment that now they was full of murtherers and he told that City that had been full of judgment and righteousness and were full of murderers he said A warning to Iudges Rulers and Professors in all places to fear the Lord God and stand in aw of him and not sin their Princes were Rebels or rebellious and companions with theives and how for saith he every one loveth gifts and followeth rewards they judg not the fatherless neither did the cause of the widdow come unto them and he also told them what the Lord would do by such and by his enemies and adversaries Take notice of that Oh ye Judges and Rulers and also Professors and fear the Lord God Likewise read Isa 1.10 to the 25 c And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit so spake and said to a professing people and Princes Now call not truth railing nor reviling leastyou be condemned of the Lord when you are judged Citizens Rulers and Magistrates he did not in all that sin neither raile nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth And now the servants of the Lord so led and acted by His Spirit with it may so say as they are directed and commanded by the Lord and not in all that sin neither rail nor revile but speak the words of sound truth and not judg amiss though such as are spoken to may reject the Counsel of the Spirit of Truth c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 20 21. Neveri heless the wicked being warned and do not return from their wickeanass his blood will be upon his own bead and the Lords servant is through his obedience cleared and if such as reject the Spirits counsel and judg the servants of the Lord with a false spirit and call truth railing yet it is not and the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit may condemn the lying tongue for thus saith the Lord Every tongue that shall use up in judgment against thee thou shall condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord and this I witness in and by the Spirit of the Lord for the truth and against thee Edmund Skip and all lying tongues which are condemned by the living truth and the servants of the Lord for your enmity against it and them Isa 54.15 16
17. A fifth Fâ—ample from pâ—â—ct se of 〈◊〉 men of God proâ—â—ing plain speakingâ—o 〈◊〉 no â—ailing and so rickâ—h void Edmund Skip's â—â—e of difreâ—â—â—â— c. Fifthly another Example take notice of to be a witness against the deceit and dying toughes that calls truth railing c which doth also prove that speaking truth against deceit and in plainness to Rulers Magistrates Princes Judges Priests and People is no railing nor reviling as thou Skip says and so thy Rule of discovery as thou calls it is thereby made null and void and thou art he that loth so judg amiss with thy false spirit of tâ—echery and dekeâ—t in thy Astronomical Judgment and â—lazing â—taâ— wherein thou mast set forth thy lying Wonders Let all the wise-hearted take notice That when the Prophet Micahâ— the servant of the Lord was sent by the Lord to the Judges and Priests to tel them of their Transgressions and plainly said that the Iudges judged for rewards and the Priests they preached for here and yet they leaned upon the Lord but the Lord was against such things and sent his servant to tell them of it plainly Micah 3.11 and he also told the Rich-men they was full of violence and the Inhabitants thereof spoke lyes and their tongues was hypocritical and deceitful in their mouths and Micah in so saying did not rail nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth by and with the Spirit of the Lord Mica 3.8 9 10 11. Mica 6.8 9.10 11 12. See also what the Prophet Ieremiah saith Ier. 5.29 39 31. and see what the Prophet Ezekiel saith Ezek 34.9 10. and see what the Prophet Hosea saith in the 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 and in all that they there spoke they did neither rail nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth take notice That then to speak truth against deceit was no reviling and likewise now theservants of the Lord being sent to Cities or Towns and such like places to speak the Word of the Lord to Citizens and people and also to tell the Priests they Preach for hire that do so and to tell the Judges they judg for rewards that do so and tell the Rich-men that they are full of violence and tell the Inhabitants in Cities Corporations Market-towns and Villages in England or elsewhere that their tongues is deceitful in their mouths and they are so c. Such setvants of the Lord that are by His Spirit so sent to such Cities and Towns to tell Magistrates Priests and people what they are and reprove them of their transgressions Truth cleared and the deceit reproved by the Spirit of truth and for their sins and iniquities and forewarn them of the judgments to come eâ—cept they repent and amend and turn to the Lord by forsaking the evil of their waies and the evil of their doings such are not raylers and revilers neither of Magistrates Priests nor people but Servants and Messengers of the Lord and such are those that are so sent by the Lord of those whom the world scornfully calleth Quakers therefore such are no railers not revilers but the Lords Servants and Messengers whom the Lord so sends by His Spirit though the world abuse them and scornfully call them Quakers but saith Christ to his Marvel not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you c. The People whom the world calleth Quakers art proved to be the People of God of Him sent though by the world despised c. And such are not railers but speaks the words of sound truth though it be by some rejected it was so before and therefore Edmund Skip thy sayings are false and thou judgest altogether amils through the mysterious workings of Aneichrist in his transformings thou speaks of in thee which so makes thee to vent forth his lies and untruths through thee Now all People consider of this and take heed of despising the Messengers and people of God whom the world scornfullyâ—call Quakers and also take heed of rejecting the Counsel of God as thou wilt answer it before the Tribunal seat of Gods Justice and Judgment And now that truth is so cleared to you in that things and as asoresaid call it not railing nor reviling which is sound truth from the Spirit of truth and cleared also by plain Examples in Scripture witnessed aforetime by the holy men of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christs and sealed to or confirmed by us who now live and walk in the Spirit though reviled by the nick-name of Quakers but being of the Divâ—ne-nature made partakers we are not desirous of vain-glory who do deny railing and reviling and provoking or envying one another as such did 2 Pel. 1.3 4. c. Gal. 5.24 25 26. The Prophet Zephaniah was sent to cry Another Example of a polluted and filthy Ciâ—y that received not the correct on of the Lord as the Cities Liechfield Coventry and that Town of Kendal â—ppleby and saith wicked persecuting places did not receive the Instruction c. wo to the polluted and oppressing City and those that said wo to Kendal and Leichfield c. being guided thereunto by the Spirit of the Lord did right in so doing for they are wicked polluted places as well as that polluted City that the Prophet Zephaniah cryed wo unto in his Prophecy and such like who obeyed not the voice of the Lord as that City c. did not take warning and fear And read your Example who have not obeyed the Lords voice in His Servants no more then that polluted City the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of which obeyed not the voice nor received the correction and instruction And saith the Prophet Her Princes within her are roaring Lyons her Iudges are ravening Wolves their Prophets are light and trecherous persons their Priests have polluted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3.1 2 3. And though that City obeyed not the voice nor received the correction and instruction no more than Kendal and Leichfield and such like places Let them take warning and fear and in Judgments remembred they will be by the Lord and know that he sent his Servants amongst them and there were they persecuted and imprisoned as well as at Coventry and a place in Worcestershire called Kederminster and their blood be upon their own heads for they are left without excuse let them take notice of that Richard Baxter Mâ—nister at Kedermâ—nster châ—s-Priestan Worcestershire haâ—h brought forth that monster persâ—ution and haâ—h imprisoned onâ— for the breach of no known Law but under pretence of speaking hard speechâ—es and read Ezek. 33.11 12 13 14 15. and 3.18 19 20 21. And also let all people know that those places are wicked places and guided by a persecuting spirit and at Kederminster and other places as those and such like they have persecuted the Servants of the Lord for the breach of no known Law neither of God nor man but only for declaring against their
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
the Lord and speaks evil of the work that he is and hath been pleased to bring forth in the souls of His People and now thou art found a false accuser of such as witness the Spirits teachings and the bringings forth of the truth of God in their souls and thou art one that cannot put a difference between the precious and the vile but call truth railing and reviling as before is proved and calls good evil and evil good and so hath no salt to savour withall And where thou says these people are mistaken in their judgment that they accuse falsly and that must needs be a delusion c. I Answer It is thou that art so mistaken in thy false Astronomical Judgment as I have proved therefore thou art in the delusion and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of and thou must needs be mistaken in thy false Astronomical Judgment and so in delusion and guided by a Satanical Spirit that doth so accuse and condemn a people for what thou ought not and calls the workings of the Spirit of God by his power in his Servants the delusion of Satan c. as in thy 40. and 41. page and so thy sayings being false are turned back upon thee again with thee to remain and in the reproachful false accusing and lying generation from whence they came And where thou says that when they are made to write abundantly unto men charging them without knowledge of truth They are not able to make good their wrongful accusations c. I Answer as for that fallacy which lies in those words without knolwedge of the truth that we deny and therein thou art a lyar and charged to be so and also a false accuser speaking without knowledge of the truth as it doth appear in thy false Prognostication or Astronomical Judgment as thou calls it and for wrongfull accusations that we also deny they are thy own who art not able to make good by sound truth what thou accuseth withal as is before proved and thou art left with the charges standing fast upon thee and true judgment set upon the head of thy false Astronomical judgment and so thou art thereby out of the teachings of God which thou speaks of that art the lyan slanderer and false accuser of the brethren For the Spirit of God and his teachings we witness according to his Promises Ier. 31.31 to the 3â— Isa 54.13 14. whereby our souls are established in righteousness according to his teachings by his Spirit in the new Covenant Heb. 8 and the Spirit of God teacheth his servants in another way contrary to thy will and many slanderous aspersions and false accusations And where thou says quoting Malacy 3. vlt. they shall discern between the righteouss and he wicked between them that serve God and them that serve him not I Answer Wee witness the Promise of the Lord fulfilled and now we discern and know the righteous from the wicked and so see thee and all false accusers to be servants of sin so of the Serpents seed therefore no servants of God nor in his righteousness but out of his wisdom and teachings who are so slanderous and despitefully wicked take notice of that But again thou sayest if any shall say That Promise and the Promise of being guided by the Spirit into all truth are Promises made to some particular men as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles they shall find in reading that place it was speken to all the people of the Lord upon that great acceptation the Lord had of them upon their meeting together c. 1. I Answer The Promises of Gods love and mercy are to Abraham and his seed but not to the Serpent and his seed and false accusers are of the Serpents seed and hath no right to those Promises but thou and such like in the deceivableness and false accusers like thee are of the Serpents seed and so hath no right unto these Promises therefore art thou and the Serpents seed ignorant of the gifts and teachings of the Spirit of God Secondly That Promise of being by the Spirit guided into all truth The Promises of Gods blessings and happiness are to his own seed and they all chosen people beloved of God and by Christ gathered out of the world to whom He giveth h s word and Spiâ—â—t and the world â—â—teth them was not then given neither were it given upon that account as thou saiest of the acceptation that God had of the meeting of the Jews in the first Covenant often together for Christ was not then come in the flesh so that Promise was not made for it were by him given to his Disciples before his departure from them for when he had told them of his leaving them and going to the Father He said unto them a particular people to wit his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye my Disciples believe in God believe also in me Iohn 14.1 and I go to prepare a place for you ver 2. and saith he after that to them I will pray to the Father and he shall send you my Disciples and Friends the Comforter and he shall abide with you for ever Iohn 14.16.17 Then that Promise was not given upon the acceptation of the meeting of those Jews spoken of in Malachy 3. seeing Christ was not then come visibly and after he was come and had suffered many things before his departure from his Disciples he told them he would pray to the Father for that Promise Ioh. 14.16 26. which was that Spirit that should guide into all truth Ioh. 16.13 and when Christ prayed for them he prayed not for the world Ioh. 17.9 and he gave them his word not the Letter but the Spirit which is the Word Ioh. 17.17 which Word was their sanctification ver 17. so one with the Spirit and Word of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Christ himself is the Word for so is his name he is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 and he is the Sanctifier and sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Hebrewâ—s 2.10 11. and that Promise was not made as thou say st Edmund Skip and therein thou hast also manifested a lying pirit in that and also shewed that thou art not acquainted with the teachings of the Spirit of God nor the work of Sanctification thou speaks of and let all the children of light take notice of this Thirdly to come to the place of Scripture again because thou sayes those promises was not made to the particular people I say none knowes the right to the promises but the rightcous seed and they are one people singled out from the world who are heirs of God and joyntheirs with Christ c. Iohn 17.9 10 11. Iohn 15.18 19. and the promises of blessing and happiness are to them therefore the promises of blessing and happiness are to the Righteous feed separated from the world chosen out of it by Christ Iohn 15.18 19. to whom he giveth his word and therefore doth the
world hate them Iohn 17.14 this word abideth in such as hath overcome the world and greater is he that is in them then he that is in the world 1 Iohn 2.12 13 14. and such are sons 1 Iohn 3. and being sons they are heires of God and joynt heires with Christ Rom 8.16.27 and such have a right to the promises being heires according to the promise and of the seed which the promises are to Galas 3.29 therefore thy fallacy I deny Edmund Skip and witnesse the spirits teachings which thou art a stranger unto as it doth appear the accusations is taken off from Truths friends which thou calls Quakers and now truth is on their side and shineth pure and clear Fourthly That promise made to the waiting people at that time spoken of Malachy 3. was a particuler people and a true figure for there was a time when the adversaties of the Lords people called the Proud happy and they that wrought wickednesse were set up by such enemies and adversaries Malachy 3.15 then they that feared the Lord met often together and spoke one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard them Gods unchandgable Love and Remembrances of his former mercies and loving kindness is sweet and comsortable to his people c. verse 16. but the promise was not upon their acceptation of meeting together in the first place but out of the free love and mercy of the Lord made known unto his own peculier ones which moved them to meet together for saith he I am the Lord I change not therefore the sons of Iacob are not consumed Mala. 3.6 there was a manifestation of Gods love unto them his loving was the moving cause of their meeting together and not their meeting together the moving cause of Gods love to them and so the promise I say to them was not in the first place upon their acceptat on of meeting together but the free love mercy of the Lord which moved them to it and for his loves sake were they accepted their meeting together was not the cause of Gods unchangable love to them but the free love and unchangable of Gods goodness the so mer promises of God remembrances of his loving kindness to them was the cause and their meeting together a fruit of their tobedience to God for his mercy and loving kindness manifested to them and now the promises are to the seed that are in the Covenant and returned to the pure being and in the obedience to the God of Iacob and Israel in the Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17.18 Fistly And that we witnesse who are of the promised Seed The Saints and Servants of the the Lord are witnesses to his teachings and workings by his Spirit And The holy Vnction is the Saints-Teacher and the Spirit of Promise their grade into all Truth and we witnesse the teachings and Covenant of God with his own Seed and according to the promise of the Lord to the Seed as in Isa 48. v. 27. and where he hath said that his Spirit and Words put in the mouth of such there spoken of shall not depart out of the mouth of the seed nor out of the mouth of the Seeds Seed from henceforth for ever saith the Lord Isa 59.20 21. and that spiritual promise of Christ in the Gospell we witnesse which guideth and leadeth into all Truth the Spirit being come which was promised and prayed for Iohn 14.16 17 26. Iohn 16.13 and we also witnesse to the holy Unction which teacheth us all things and we need not that any man teach us but as the Anointing teacheth us which is Truth and no lie as it is written 1 Iohn 2.20 27. And Edmund Skip this power which gave forth the promises and new fulfilles them to the Seed we witnesse to and in therefore Edmund Skip thou that calls the teachings of the Spirit of God and the workings by his Power in and through his children and servants the mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks evill of the Power of God and blasphemes in so saying but thy folly is seen and that for all thy Comparisons and Scriptures under pretences adding thereunto thy fallacies and lying divinations as is manifested to any single eye in thy 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. c. pages And thou art ignorant of the workings and teachings of God and one that blasphemes his Power but thy Judgment thou must bear who art that false accuser of the brethren misapplier of the Scriptures and calls Truth delusion and Delusion truth and so calls evill good and good evill such is thy false judgment crrour and deceipt manifested in thy Astronomical judgement or Blazing-star 1. Whereas thou Edmund Skip falsly accuseth them thou calls Quakers and saith they are filled up with Railing Harsh Some accusations cast off from the Truth and Truth friends by the World called Quakers and turned back upon the Accuser and false accusers to remain and Clamerous language c. in this 13. page but thy saying therein is false and that is largely proved against thee and so the truth from that accusation cleared before and that is turned back upon thee the false accuser and with the false accusers to remain 3. And whereas thou tells of taking Scripture to cover over deceipts withall that we denie and this saying is therein false so turned back upon thee again and with thee and the false accusers to remain the Scriptures we witness to be a true Declaration of the Truth Luke 1.1 1 Iohn 1.3 and we make use of them in their place to witnesse for the Truth and against deceivers and deceipt but for taking them to cover over deceipts withall therein thou lies and hast by that also manifested thy lying spirit and none more guilty of that sin both taking the Scripture to made with all for money and also to cover deceipts and fallacies with all then such as thou art and the priests of the World and not we whom thou accuseth for presently after thou calls them a mislead people and tels what is meident to a mislead people quoting 1 Tim. 6 4. and 4. v. 2 Tim. 3.4 But that misleading we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee and all that are proud traitours heady high minded and lovers of pleasures which things we deny and against them testifie and those Scriptures which thou hast cited tells of such a sort of people Which two places of Scripture clears us and proves such as the Priests and their followers to bring forth the fruits they speak of us their fruits maketh them manifest to be those people thou speaks of not us whom you cal Quakers so according tothatsaying the Priests and their followers are the misled people thou speaks of and there is like Priest like people Hos 4.9 which 2 places of Scripture 1 Tim. 6.4 5. and 2 Tim. 3.4 turnes backwards off from us to you ye Proud-doaters about Questions and Strife of words
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
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
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
such breeding and manners and a fained pretence of humilitie for secret dissimulation flattery and deceit c. And so Satan in those and all other of his deceits by â—â—iâ—â—ing himselfe for your dispositions and capacities if it be to transsfome himselfe into the likness of God which are thy words and as it were to act the part of God seemingly amongst you under fair pretences fine words seemingly self-denying actions so that at least Satan or the Devil as thou saies may insinuate himself into your understanding and affections and 〈◊〉 leave any thing unattempted that may if it be but in probability as thou saies serve to seduce instead of theirs your poor souls this maketh him according to thy saying so disguise himself as an Angel of light amongst you and by you high notionary Priests and false Antichristian Ministers in your false doctrine and Antechristian Ministrie working through that mysterious vaile as thou saies amongst you and under which be would not be seene to be himselfe yet though he so work and â—ct and have wrought and a long time acted amongst you now praised be the Lord with the true light you are seen and your vaile will not hide you those that dwell in the light and life received who are preserved our of Satans snares whom thou calls Quakers such sees both him and you and declares against â—â—s and your mysterious actings through the vaile thou speaks of in your mysterie of iniquity at which thou art troubled And though Satan be so disguised amongst you in your notions and new inventions yet with the light both he and you are seene to a appear in your colours and the true light declares your works and his of what sort they are which amongst you hath a long time lien hid and the worâ—â— of darkness which Antichrist hath wrought through that mystery of iniquity by suiting himselfe according to your dispositiâ—â—s and capacityes as thou saâ—es into likenesses like truth but is â—ot truth a shew but not the substance so that he sitteth and hath sitten long upon the hearts and minds of such because as thou saies he could amongst you no otherwise prevaile and now with the light your mystery and mischief invented against the truth and those you call Quakers is seen and with the light comprehended and all your filthiness poured forth is back into your filthy unclean and mischievous generation returned take it to your selves again who are in that trechery delusion and Apostacy thou speaks of and the poor beguiled wretches stands for your selves who are under that power of Satan thou speaks of and transforming your selves out of one invention form image or likeness into another As thou art Edmund Skipp who art as it were going a begging to the people called Baptists because thou saies that through the mysterious workings of Antichtist the society thou had communion with is now wholly broke off And from thy Antichrist an delusions and those disguised Angelical and mysterious operations of Satan thou speaks of if they be broke off they may now boldly declare against such delusions and deceits being taken â—nto light life and pâ—wer of truth and if they do not yet I do and wâ—tneâ—s against thy delusions and Antichrist an spirit and Doâ—â—â—â—â— as hereafter will more clearly appear who act in the false Antâ—châ—â—st an mysterious actings there spoke oâ— in thy Astronomicaâ— Jâ—dgmâ—nt as thou calls it upon 2 Câ—â— 11.13 14 15. and which is â—ow â—o much practised by yoâ— dâ—â—gâ—ised and Satanical Ministers some in one invention and some â—n another lâ—ke Dyers and Tayloâ—â— often in new colours and learning new fashions to pâ—ease lustâ—ul and câ—â—â—ons minds w thal but aâ—l your covers and cloaths of dishonesty now will not hide you but leave you bare to a single eye Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love who brings your deeds of darkness and hâ—dden thâ—ngs to light To thy first demonstration as thou calls it in page 6. First It mâ—st needs be â—spâ—â—t of delusion and Antichrist that doth â—nstead of theirs misinform thy heart and so maketh it judg amiss of things as thou hast done and hereafter will more clearly appear to any single eye and thou hast by that spirit of delusion and of Antichrist made manitest thy Astronomical and false Judgment but such are div ners therefore saith the Lord I will nâ—â—kâ—th m mad as may be read Iâ—a 44. for it is He that frustrateth the tokens of lyars and thou art a lyar therefore thy token 's frustrated and it is the Lord also that maketh diviners mad that tuâ—neth wise-men backward and maketh their knowledg foolish as thâ—ne is and such like Isa 44.25 who by thy false and Astronomâ—cal judgment as thou calls it hast judged clear amiss and called evil good and good evil and so thou owns and approves what thou ought not and condemns by thy false and Astronomicall judgment what ought to be owned and approved the light stands a witness against thee which lâ—ght is thy condemnation that hates it and acts so against it and contrary to it And secondly That base deceit of Antichrist thou speaks of which is brought forth is not sound in the hearts of those people thou calls Quakers they deny it but it is found and brought forth by Antichrist in thy heart and the hearts of such as thou art thy Astronomical Judgment is false and hath deceived thee and thou thy self art found in that deceit â—irmingeham â— G. who artiso clearly mistaken in judgment as R. G. and such like in their deceiveableness are that calls good evil and ev l good and such as calls the Power of God that reformeth the heart and redeems the soul to God and worketh our pride covetousness theft whoredoms drunkenness lying swearing cursing cheating defraud wâ—tcherast hatred variance wrath strife and worketh out of sedition and the works of the flesh as 1 Cor. 6.9 10. and Gal. 5.19 20 21. â—nto sanctification and purity as in 1 Cor. 6.11 and into the fruits of the spirit whereby the flesh is crucified with the affections and lusts thereof so that there is a living and walking in the spirit and spiritual communion with the Father by such in the spiritual life of sanctification and purity Gal. 5.23 24 25. And grace and peace is thereby multiplyed through the knowledge of God and of Iesus our Lord according as His divine power giveth 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. 1.2 3. This power and work of grace wrought by the Spirit of God in the hearts and souls of those you scornfully call Quakers is witnessing and witnessed the Spirit of God also wirnesseth the same with our spirits Rom. 8.14 15 16. Gal. 4.6 and wirnesseth against your lying spirits and against all such as call this work delusion c. Here Edmund Skâ—pp thy Astronomical judgment is abominable false
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
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
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
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
and to 〈◊〉 righteously soberly and godly in this pâ—eseâ—â— evil world as the people of God â—â—â—â—ime were therefore the people of Gâ—d 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 Quakers are â—ot deluâ—ed not deluâ—ers bâ—â— children and servants of God and may câ—y aloâ—d and â—ell the people of their sinâ— and transgressions as the Lords Prophet dâ—d who was nâ—t deluded nor no deluder Isa 58. and as the true Apostle said so do it Know you not that the unrighteous and such like shall not 〈…〉 the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 â—â—o and wo to the â—â—oâ—n oâ— of pâ—â—â—e Isa 28. and to the wicked â—t shall go â—ll with them Isa â— 11 Take notice of that and cease to do evil and sâ—â—ve not the devil These people thou sayes if they be observed well are such 〈◊〉 people that would seem to be very â—â—â—mâ—eless in their whole carriage taking away thy cause or fallacy that they will 〈◊〉 speak words that be evil The people of God are of a blameless carriage and conversation Page 41. Reply Thy cause or fallacy being taken away these people thoâ— would accuse upon a false ground they are so blameless a people in their whole carriage that they will not speak an evil word then they are not guided by an evil principle but a good and it is to be observed that when they speak their words are altogether good take notice of that for thy fallacy I deny and set truth in its place and so the whole carriage of those people thou calls Quakers are according to the carriage of the people of God in fornier ages recorded in Scripture who was to let no evil wordâ— nor corrupt Communication proceed out of their mouths but that which was good Eph. 4.29 30 31 32. and why art thou offended at them for practising that which the Minister of the Gospel did exhort unto in his doctrine here thou hast manifested them to be Christians and thou thy self Antichristian and hath learned thy Antichristâ—an doctrine in the School of Antichrist being taught by his subtilty in that methodicall way and his gradations thou speaks of who by thy fallacies would conjure and so raise up as thou hast done gradually first slanders then aspersions and lies and after that many false accusations thy master old Antichrist and thee his Scholar and all thy fallacies lies slanders and false accusations we deny though thou have learned a deceitful work methodically in Antichrists School being taught by his subtilty in his gradations And again thy cause and fallacy being denied thou sayes They will not use labour pains or care that shall be evil pag. 41. Reply Thy cause and fallacy being there denied as in the other then not neglecting but doing that which is honest Just and good we are not in a vain shew of will-worship nor neglecting our bodies where thou wrests that Scripture which speaketh of the body in another manner and order Col. 2.23 neither do we seem to go beyond the servants and Ministers of Christ but witness with them Take notice what thou hast written and behold thy folly But we do not neglect doing that which is honest good and just but do that which is right and just in the sight of God and also speak to the edifying of the Body in love and so speak that which is good that speaking the truth in love we may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth unto the effectual working of the measure in every part maketh encrease of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Eph. 4.15 16. And so now it is made manifest that the bulk of thy hitherto actings declares thee to be beguiled by Satan in this nature being deceitful transformed like himself and art carried on to lie slander and salsly accuse as thy master Antichrist doth who is cast down for he is the salse accuser of the brethren and in his School thou hast â—eamed the same and where thou sayes thou hast nâ—t any thing more of concernment to amplifie c. he ashamed of what thou hast done and if thou be pricked at thy heart remembered of what against the truth Satan hath taught thee to do then thou art and be sure thou shalt be as thy works is so will thy reward be who treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgements of God who will render to thee and to every one in thy deceivableness according to your deeds Rom. 2.5 6 and 8. And not knowing any thing more of that deceit thou art in that thou shouldst Amplifie thou sayes thou will hasten to a period onely thou sayes this master peece is yet behinde A Reply to that called Satans Philosophical maxime of E.S. in pag. 41. 42. which thou calls Satans learned Philosophical maxime by which thou art ready to blaspheme for thou saies this master peece of work is yet behinde thou means thou sayes of making those creatures mechanical able to do deceitful works with their hands as the Apostles did by laying their hands on the sick c. page 42. How darest thou say the Apostles did deceitful works by laying on of their hands or darest thou call that which was the great power of God Satans Philosophical maxime and if the Lord so manifest or have manifested his power through and by his servants laying on of their hands as he hath done but how darest thou call that power Satans Philosophical maxime and that he should make any able to lay hands on the sick and recover them as the Apostles did and as Christ said should be done Mar. 16.16 17 18 19 20. If thou dare call this power mechanical or the great power of the divel and if thou darest say that the Apostles laid their hands on the sick to recover them and if thou dare say that such as by that power do lay their hands on the sick and work a healing and loving effect as that power by the laying of the Apostles hands did and now I say if thou do call this Satans Philosophical maxime and that it is his mechanical power or in short the great power of the devil to do so and that hath by the Apostles done so if thou call this power that wrought and worketh its effect by healing through laying on of hands the great power of the devil I say thou art then the greatest blasphemer that Satan hath or one with them that blasphemes the holy Ghost spoken of Mat. 12 31 32. in in that high measure And I demand charge and â—emmand thee in the presence of the Lord or any that dare say so to shew by plain Scripture where ever it saith that any by the great power of the devil or through Satans learned Philosophical maxime did ever receive from him such a power as to lay their hands on the sick and recover them c. or
else for ever be ashamed and confounded Satan would have given money for that by Simon Magus but he and his money was to perish that thought to buy the Holy Ghost or receive the great power of God thereby Act. 8.18 19 20. The Holy Ghost was given by the power of God through the Apostles laying on of hands Act. 8.17 and Satan could not get it neither with money nor without it when he laboured for it and healing was a gift of God given by his power to his Apostles and it could not be bought neither did Satan ever receive that power it was alwayes kept from him and given to the Apostles of Christ onely Mar. 16.18 19 20. and though some of Satans friends would have cast out the unclean spirit they could not Satan never received that power nor never can therefore seeing thou hast so laid open thy deceit in thy false Astronomical judgement as thou calls it the worlds wonder but I say lying wonder invented in the mystery witchcrafts in the iniquity but thou art known to be of the dark power to be amongst the Antichrists false Prophets and Satanical Ministers in the transformings yet the power of healing by laying on of the hands he cannot purchase for thee nor give unto his for take this granted and seeing thou art so carried on to lie blaspheme and speak evil against Christ and his power therfore let all the world and all who hath any care of their souls take heed of thee or hearkening to thy lying divinations I warn them from the Lord as they will answer it before his judgement seat in the terrible day of his wrath wherein the strong man shall cry bitterly Zeph. 1.14 c. And also let the world and all that hath any care of their souls take heed both of thee and all such as thou art and let them take heed and give over following or hearkening to any such Antichristian Ministers whose end will be as their works are and as thine is for they are evil so will thy end be now that they are warned from the Lord by his spirit in his servant it is good for them that they turn from thee and all such deceivers in the deceivableness of unrighteousness as thou art so in regard there hath been so much of thy deceit made manifest and thy falshood discovered all along in thy book I know the wise hearted will see it and judge it and I having also warned the world and all that desires to fear God and serve him of thee and such like to beware Take warning and turn from thee and such as thou art least they and you fall together into the pit let them fear and amend and so I shall draw towards an end For that in thy 46. page where thou hast been telling the Baptized people thou had a Communion with a society of people which is now as thou sayes wholly broke off from thee I say they being guided by the light of Christ to see into that Mystery of iniquity thou art in and so know thy subtilty and sophistry It was a part of their duty to leave thee and break off from thee and thy deceivableness and now if they abide in the light and be faithful to the reachings thereof it will be another part of their duty to declare against thee and thy deceit and no more to have any fellowship with thee nor thy unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them and thee Eph. 5.11 And though thou be fâ—attering the baptized people and tell them thy conceivings of their way and thy hindrances and now even as it were goes a begging unto them let them see if thy own ends be not the cause of the flattery and if thy necessity would not cause thee to fly thither for they own ends to have a hypocrites seal amongst them and a cover to shelter thee under let them take heed what they do and how they keep company with thee as they will answer it before the Lord all such amongst them as desire to fear him now that they are warned and thy deceit so discovered and if they take counsel of God they will drive thee back and keep from thee and out of the delusions and ecclipses mystery of iniquity Astrology and star-gazing and not believe thee in thy lying words in that Astronomical judgement thou calls the worlds wonder or the book called the Blazing star And now a few words to thy last page or that called the word to a Book which thou calls The worlds wonders Where thou are telling in thy book it may expect a hue and cry to be sent after it very shortly Reply Thou the thief art guilty and fear surpriseth the hypocrits heart for thou sayes to thy book It may not expect from thee any defence by raising and Army of reasonings argumentations and disputings neither by thy pen not word Reply Thou hast filled it so full of lies and falshoods that the devil in thee cannot enable thee to defend them for truths and so thou hast left them to be broke through and scattered and thy lies and falshoods being turned back upon thee again thy burden thou must bear for now truth strikes at thy deceits and hath proved them to be as a mighty flood come out of the mouth of the serpent whereby Antichrist hath been casting forth all manner of opprobrious lies and disgraceful speeches and blasphemy against the Lamb and the woman that hath brought forth the man-child yet the child is caught up and both the woman and child is preserved and the Dragon he is now encountred and beaten back to lye in his hole who hath sent forth his book like a Goliah even in the defiance of the truth but not able to defend it self nor thou to help it and him who hast spoken to it great swelling words out of the pride of thy heart saying go forth in thy own strength like a mighty man of war even Goliah like and now goes David or a souldier belonging to Israel in the spirit and of the Army of the Lamb one of the servants of the Lord hath met thy Goliah or man of war and taken his sword and cut off his head not by the arme of flesh nor in his own power and strength but in the power and strength of the Lord. And I say now praised be the Lord who hath guided hand and heart and hath set truth above over the deceit and preserved his servants from the enemies fiery dart and doth so much assist his people as to take their part and set them free from their enemies that they may prize his great and glorious name And now I say to this my book Go thou forth not in my name power or strength as a man but in the name power and strength of the Lord to do his service and so from me in the same Go thou forth in the power of the Lord and be victorious and the blessing
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
giveth no discovery of the deceit but rather covers it all Answ By vertue of the pure light that proceeds from the Father we see thee live in that which thou calles light which doth not discover unto thee the abominable practises thou art in to wit pride thou dost usually call thy own Child Mr. Benjamin Skippe a proud practiâ—e seldom heard of the love of the world deceiving the people upholding the worship of the Beast painted over with the Saints words an enemy to the Saints life as doth now more fully appear 6. Thou writest so largely of the Devil as it thou were acquainted with all his secrets both what he is doing and what he will do Answ The things of God thou art a stranger to for they are hid from thine eyes and all such wife ones of the Devil the world and the flesh who are in the first nature as thou art 7. Thou writes of what the Devil will bring us to Answ 1. It is neither thee nor the Devil in thee that knoweth what we are much lesse what we shall be 2. If thou and the accuser of the brethren in thee have ought against us at present that we walk not up to the present discovery of the pure light as it is in measure brought forth in us then I charge thee to speak 3. Thou hypocrite first cast out the beam that is at present in thy own eye before thou go to cast the supposed mote that thou thinks may fall into our eyes hereafter In the close of this Answer I write a tender letter in loâ—e to his soul now let any that live in the light compare these severall answers with that in his pag. 7 8 9. In answer to that which thou callest railing and reviling language in page 10. the Devil hath alwayes brought up his Children with so much manners that they must not tell a lier he lies nor a Thief he is a Robber or if any tell the proud of their pride or the covetous of their covetousness then this is called railing read the Scriptures cited by him this is fully cited Tit. 1.13.3.15 c. see how thou condemns the practice of Christ both in his Person and Members in pag. 11. To that which thou calles thy experience in pag. 11. I tell thee thou hast had much experience of deceit being alwayes in it but thou had never any experience of the powerful workings of God in us only thou was made by the light to see thy filthiness in some measure and then presently thou went forth from the counsel of the Lord and acted and spoke in thy own will the which was deceit indeed running before the light the which I mourned over and often complained to my friends who can witness the same page 12. The Scripture cited by thee Mal 3. they shall discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not the promise being in measure fulfilled in us we discern thee still to live in thy own will and wisdom therefore when thou halted between two opinions long at last one of our friends was made sharply to reprove thee the which thou couldest not own and therefore left us that had undergone burthens upon our own spirits for thee in condescending unto thee in tender love desiring that thou mightest be made at last to witness the work of the Lord in thee unto which thou art still a stranger and now an enemy unto In thy page 13. thou mentions a Scripture as to us 1 Tim. 6.4 5. they there are discovered by their covetousness for they suppose that gain is godliness and canst thou in the least accuse us of covetousness if thou canst spare not to speak the truth but else let shame cover thy face for so many lies and comparing us with those in this Text. Aske the light in thy own Conscience whether thou hast not looked after gain witness thy Tithes thy looking after another Parsonage to that thou hast witness thy Physical Office thy questioning what to do for more maintenance although thou hast told me that thy Lands was 10 l. per Annum 2 Tim. 3.4 that is thy own portion witness thy many Instruments of Musick in thy house page 16. thou writest of faith but thou knowest not that faith that purifieth the soul he that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure he that believeth is entered into his rest hath ceased from his own works as God did from his the which faith thou art a stranger unto for thou hast writ â—â—y own lies and the deceit of thy own heart and thy carnal â—â—oughts the which thou callest the world with whom thou art to judge witness page 9. line 11. and 7.18 and thou thinkest in pag. 16.51.56.57 Page 17. Thou sayest that we esteem The more our hearts are brought off the dealings of God and prayer and spiritual exercises the more pure and perfect the which thou knowest to be a lie witness thy own words after the meeting at Clifton where thou sayst thou saw such a spirit of prayer as thou never had seen before to which those that were there can yet testifie and we witness growth in grace and knowledge 2 Pet. 3.18 and walk from grace to grace leaving the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6.1 forgetting those things which are behind we presse forwards for man in his own wisdom cannot finde out the Lord who is a spirit John 4.24 and regardeth not the wise in heart Job 37.23.24 therefore if any man will be wise let him become a fool that so he may be found in the wisdom that is from above Jam. 3.17 Next thou sayes that we desire the perishing of the former wayes of God this is another of thy lies for all the wayes of the Lord are righteous Psal 145.17 so in page 18. Satan acts thee to call that Scripture dangerous Phil. 3.7.8 if thou call Pauls experiences dangerous it s no wonder that thou callest ours so too but we know that all Scriptures are written for our learning the which we are searching Next thou wilt show the thoughts and but the thoughts of thy own heart which is thy old sinful heart witness thy own hand page 5. line 11.12 therefore from thy wicked heart thou being ignorant of the spirit dost in page 24. even jeer at speaking by the spirit in opposition to all the holy men of God 1 Pet. 1.21 therefore thou art an enemy to prayer in the spirit Ephes 6.18 the which we witness therefore in the light of Jesus Christ thou art calling thy own company to wit the world to try thy exposition of thy own lies that thou hast cast upon us in page 23. and the last in thy second rule page 23. there thou denyest the sufferings of Christ being ignorant of it in thy own soul but we know that if we suffer with him we shall be glorified with him so we are made willing to fill up
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
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
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
Saints words but are enemies to the Saints conditions On consider consider the Lord is just in all his wayes and he is come to judge the earth with righteousness he will plead with all flesh before him all faces shall gather blackness and in him who is pure light are all the secrets of all hearts laid open for nothing hideth from him who is a God of consuming fire and of purer eyes then to behold iniquity Oh be ashamed and confounded all ye Inhabitants of the earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down unto you and rageth because his time is but short To thy first in page 6. where thou sayest it must needs be the spirit of Antichrist and delusion that doth misinform the heart I answer the heart it selfe is deceitful and out of the abundance of thy heart thy mouth speaketh page 8. or else thou wouldest not speak as though a deceitful heart might be misinformed by a delusion for deceit and delusion is but one which lodgeth in the hearts of all the Children of disobedience who are all in the death the curse and the fall unless they come to witness restoration the stony heart taken away and a new heart given which is by the putting off the old man with his Iusts and corruptions and the new man put on which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. But in the light in thy own Conscience see when thou couldest witness thy redemption and thy heart free from delusions as thou speakest or from the power or darkness when thou by thy own relation to me went from one Parsonage to another and that not without thy Gown as thou callest it upon thy back that thou hast looked upon as it was indeed Antichristian and then after at Bodinham thou didst sue the poor people for tithes to my knowledge witness one poor man thou didst sue for 1 s. and would have constrained the poor man to have paid charges for that 1 s. if I and some other had not spoke to thee after thou hadst often refused the 1 s. without charge thou the light let thee see tithes to be contrary to Christ yet then lived contrary to the light in thy own Conscience as thou wast made to confess in my hearing and hundreds more that thou hadst acted in it contrary to thy conscience two years and before that time thou didst confess unto me and to others how thou was going to take counsel of men how to sue for thy tithes and the Lord met with thee yet the Deâ—il had like to have taken thee off of the work of the Lord again divers times as thou confessed then thou layest groaning under the burden of thy tithes yet thou resolvest to keep them another year yet I had thoughts to the contrary and was made to tell thee at Jo. Ba. his house in Hereford on the sixth day that thou wouldest ere long roar against thy tithes like a Lion and on the next first day after it was so and thou wast made to acknowledge the Lord in it and sent thy man with those few words to me Brother Smith the Lord hath done a strange work in me this morning and I shall alter strangely this day therefore pray earnestly for me and make what haste thou canst to come unto me now this is that which thou now calles delusion for this was the greatest power that ever thou couldest witness but thou was made to see by the light the emptiness of thy own words both in speaking and prayer before as thou callest it witness that in Margarets Graves yard where thou spokest words the which were a burthen to thy life and after acknowledged that it was nothing but flesh though thou didst strive much in thy own strength and at Len. thou toldest the whole assembly that thou had long spoke after the manner of men but now they must expect no more such from thee and that thy praying was as dead as ditch-water but now thou shouldest wait to pray in the spirit and speak by the spirit and the like at Cliston and then thou was convinced that thou must leave all even Glebe-land too and so live on thy own Land and build on thy own Land as thou callest it and thou then was convinced of more deceit in thy heart therefore thou wast not at all freed from deceit but alwayes lived in the Antichristian state where thou art yet witness thy own hand in page 5. where thou confessest thou hast got a sinful heart which is a heart got in sin and full of sin and we know that none but the pure in heart shall see God but sin is of the Devil and is the work of darkness and none that walketh in darkness have fellowship with God 1 John 1.6 here thou discoverest plainly that the old heart is not yet taken away therefore thou wast not at all nor yet is free from delusions therefore for shame leave off thy judging the hearts of others as thou hast Read Skipp page 6.11.19.16 As for the five charges which you mention page 9. and saying that if we had had more accusations against thee its like thou should have had them and in saying the first charge was hypocrisie in page 7. I answer that that which was written by me in answer to thy deceitful lines first sent to us that which I shall for the sake of the simple set down plainly in the same order as it was written by me having a just Copy of it by me and then let the tender spirited read thy lies in thy own book A true Copy of the Answer sent by me and the rest to thy Letter and Accusation 1. YOu said you would tell us truly c. Answ There cannot be a true discovery of truth brought forth in those that are yet in the fallen estate as thou art 2. That there is a mystery of iniquity in us that we see not Answ The Mystery of Iniquity is not discovered but by the pure light and life of God as it is freely given forth from God the which light all the Children of light liveth in but thou livest in the dark wayes of the world and liveth not in this pure light to judge by 3. That the time is come that thou shouldest disburthen thy self of the discovery of truth Answ Thou hast laid aside too much truth that which convinced of thy evil is now a burthen unto thee but we disown all that disown the truth 4. That the Devil is an Angel of light and his nature is to act in the light make Doth the Scripture say that devils nature is to act in the light Answ Thou art imagining what the Devil is without thee but thou knowes but little of his actings in thee although thou art his Servant and livest in his light as thou callest it but the light of life thou art a stranger unto 5. The light as it is acted in the soul