that they were of at Munster who followed John of Leydon and thought to build up Sion with blood and beat down its enemies with carnal weapons for though they might pretend to be led by the Spirit within them we know that that which led them into uproars war and bloodshed was not the Spirit of Christ which leads us for it teaches us to love our enemies and to save mens lives and not to destroy And for the corrupt principles and practises of those called Ranters we have given testimony against them which all that have heard and duly weighed in that Spirit that tries all things can witness that we are as far from them as light from darkness but whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation for when the Spirit of Christ doth so work in the hearts of any that they cannot run with the world into rioting and excess then presently they will call it Belzebub Mat. 10.25 or the Devil transformed into an Angel of Light as the Pharisees did unto Christ in the dayes of his flesh and if they called the Master of the house Belzebub no wonder if it be more done to them of his houshold But as for self-mortification voluntary humility and will worship whereof we are accused we know it avails not but those which do by the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh shall finde comfort in so doing and an humble heart Isa 57.15 with a broken and contrite Spirit which doth fear God and tremble at his Word however that be reproached as one of the Devils tricks yet such a one God delights to teach and dwell in Ch. 66.2 and we with whom his Tabernacle is do not worship in our wills but in Spirit and Truth neither do we say that it is a perfect demonstration of humility to cast away band-strings lace and ribbonds though we believe it a duty incumbent upon us to abstain from wearing things superfluous and unserviceable and also from all excess in meats and drinks though we know the Kingdom of God stands not therein yet we desire to be found temperate and in modest apparel 1 Tim. 2.9 according to the good example of the ancient Christians And further I do observe how the Author of that writing with which I now deal hath often misrepresented our doctrines and practise as further may appear by a serious view of his and what follows thereby I perceive he doth not rightly understand us and I am perswaded did never regularly try our Spirits either by a sober hearing of our doctrines declared by our own mouths and pens or by his own view of our practises but hath heard and believed what evil and prejudiced men have maliciously printed and said against us on purpose to slander and render us odious Therefore in answer to what is said against us I shall labour rather for the stopping of slanders and to prevent misconstructions to inform the Reader of the Truth of those doctrines which we do believe and practice then particularly to traduce the Author with whom I have to deal though in many things more I might shew wherein he hath wronged us and given unsound constructions both of Scripture and our doctrines and practices Concerning the Scriptures and concerning the Word Spirit and Light within Concerning the Scripture I say we do not slight them nor cast them off as a dead Letter Paper and Ink but own them which Moses and the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles did write or speak forth as they were moved by the Spirit of God so far as they are free from false transcription and corrupt translation to be the very words and true sayings of God and therefore not to be slighted but read believed and practised by every true Christian but they that are unlearned of Christ 2 Pet. 3.10 whose hearts are not stablished by the grace of God do pervert or wrest the Scriptures out of their right place to their own destruction not rightly distinguishing betwixt the Law and Gospel times nor betwixt that which was abolished for the unprofitableness thereof and that which God hath established for ever and therefore we do direct all to that Word of God which was in the beginning before the Scriptures were written Read Joh. the first of which the Scriptures testifie that it is Life and is the Light of men that shines in darkness even in mens dark hearts shewing the grosness and corruption of their hearts I say this Word which was and is God the Saviour of all them that believe who searcheth all hearts and incomprehensibly dwels in his Kingdom that is in man and doth reprove man for his unbelief and evil deeds we do direct all to wait to knovv this ingrafted Word and hearken to it Luke 17.20 21. that they may not be unlearned but all taught of the Lord that Spirit vvhich holy men of God knevv and did believe in Jam. 1.21 and vvas moved or led by before the Scriptures vvere vvritten that so by this Interpreter one of a thousand people may have the Scriptures opened and feel the povver of God and have faith in the povver and live in the life that the Primitive Christians lived in Act. 26.17 18. and thus to direct people to the Word Spirit or Light of God vvithin is none of the Devils vvork as he saith but the vvork of Christs ancient Ministers neither doth it make void the Scriptures 1 Joh. 1 2 3. but establisheth them in their right place as a true Declaration and the Lord Jesus Christ vvho is that quickning Spirit vvhich doth enlighten every man that cometh into the vvorld in his right place as the foundation which unto all generations standeth sure Joh. 1.9 1 Cor. 3.9 2 Tim. 2.19 neither can our directing people to this foundation Christ the Light vvhich enlightens their consciences have such bad effects as to lay them open to all base lusts error and delusion for all those things are condemned vvith the Light and they that believe and do such things go from and against the Light in their ovvn consciences Concerning the tryal of Spirits I say the Apostle gave forth no such command as that we should try the Spirit of God by the Scriptures for it is most absurd to try the superior by the inferior and no man can rightly understand the Scripture nor discern Spirits whether they be of God or no but by the Light of the Spirit of God within 1 Cor. 2.14 Therefore are they worthily reproved who presume by strength of reason sharpness of wit and humane learning both to judge of the Scripture and of the Spirit of God and its movings in men Jer. 31.33 as the Scribes Pharisees and chief Priests did who in their pride and self-wit sate as Judges of the Law in the letter Isa 8.20 Heb. 10.16 and thereby condemned Christ the Prince of Life and also his blessed Martyr Stephen as blasphemers that were not
because Christ Jesus the great Law-giver in the New Testament hath by plain and express precept wholly forbidden it against which precept no argument conclusion or interpretation whether of Council Synod or private man is good though grounded upon the Law of Moses the words of the Prophets or practice of Gods Servants Saints or Angels for their words and practises are to be reduced to an harmony with his and not his to theirs he being given to be head over all things to his Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all and therefore cannot the example of Saints or Angels and much less the practice of men in strife justifie us in the breach of his command had we no other ground for our denyal to swear but to swear at all is against the Law of the Spirit of Truth that dweleth in us and derogates from the glory of his verity who hath made our yea yea and our nay nay in all things but the Apostle James who writ to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad as if he had foreseen that because of former precepts and customs they would have stood to justifie some swearing contrary to Christs command was very positive and expresly did forbid it above or before all things saith he my brethren swear not Jam. 5 12. neither by heaven nor by earth Mark nor any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation Therefore we cannot swear by heaven nor the things therein nor by earth nor the things therein nor by any other oath though by such Christians as be in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of Christ it be accounted lawful for if we did swear at all we should justly fall with them into the same condemnation Concerning the worship of God and why we separate from them that worship in Temples made with hands First Because we do thus believe and declare that God is a Spirit and dwells not in Temples made with hands Acts 7.48 Chap. 17.24 25. neither is rightly worshipped there and therefore we cannot joyn with them in worship that be erred from the Spirit and from the Truth Mat. 15.8 9. and do in their wills worship in vain having their fear towards God taught by mens precepts and their worship consists not of Gods Ordinances but in divers observations inventions and traditions which are not the Commandments of the Lord from heaven Read Is 2. but rather a loathing to his soul and a grief to his spirit because in matter and manner they are contrary to the Primitive Christians worship For first they did not sprinkle Infants and call that baptisme into the Church that we can finde in the Scripture nor in History for near the first three hundred years neither was it a part of their worship to sing Davids Psalms in rime and meeter as in these dayes men do which are far enough from the condition that David was in when he gave forth the Psalms and besides the Ministers that were allowed among the Primitive Christians did not read Prayers for money nor study Sermons to last an hour and preach them for money neither did the Primitive Christians love to have it so as the titular Christians now do who by their divisions envying and persecuting about worship do make it manifest that they are neither in the same Spirit nor worship in the same manner as the Primitive Christians did and therefore we separate from them which we have sufficient ground to do 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 2 Tim 3.5 though they had the very form of godliness which yet they have not seeing they are out of the power which should crucifie them to the world and the world to them and are conformed like to the world and for the generality of them do live in sensual lusts if not in open Prophaneness but although we cannot for conscience sake joyn with them in their worship because we do in heart believe it is not right yet do we not as he saith Joh 21. to the 24. cast off all worship and Ordinances of God for we are sought out by the Father to worship him in Spirit and in Truth where we have found aceeptance with God at what time soever and wheresoever we have been gathered together to wait upon him whether by day or in the evening as the true Christians were when Paul continued his speech till midnight and sometimes we meet in a believers house upper-chamber field or barn Acts 20.7 8. as the ancient Christians did who were gathered out of the world and separated from the Jews worldly Sanctuary and Heathens Temples and yet were not of those that did creep into houses and separate themselves sensual not having the Spirit no more then we are though by such as accused them and persecuted them we have all manner of evil said against us falsly and are persecuted as they were because for conscience sake we cannot forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but must meet together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 10.25 Mat. 18.20 that we may enjoy his presence and comfort and edifie one another in love Concerning Ministers and maintenance We do say how shall they preach and declare unto us the minde of God except they be chosen and sent of God Rom. 10.14 15. and therefore we do deny to hear such as run and are not sent of God but for lucre and honours sake take upon them to Preach and speak of those things which by wisdom humane learning 1 Pet. 5.2 3 Job 38.2 and natural parts they can never understand but do darken counsel by words without knowledge for the generality of them say that revelation is ceased and that they have no vision in these dayes therefore we wonder not that they and their people are so ignorant of God Mat. 11 27 for none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him neither do we wonder why so many perish for want of true knowledge though we greatly pity to see it so for we know that when the Teachers have no vision as by their own confession they have not the people perish Prov. 29.18 therefore we dare not trust our souls with them though people that have itching ears do chuse them for their Pastors or such Bishops as exercise Lordship and Dominion over peoples consciences impose them upon us for the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bishop of our souls 1 Pet. 2.19 Jer. 3.15 and he hath given us Pastours according to his own heart that feed us with knovvledge and understanding and leads us to living springs and a fold of rest Mar. 10 8 9 10. and them vve do dearly ovvn and esteem for their vvorks sake that be Christ true Ministers vvhom he hath sent and doth furnish and enable by the gift of his Spirit for the vvork of the
and others but we see they are most degenerate from true Nobility and Christian saith and so least deserve it which do so eagerly seek honour one of another Joh 5.44 for to such Christ said how can ye believe rendring that as the reason of their unbebelief And further a King we can call by that title and a Father by that title and those that are our Masters according to the flesh by that title and every one in their place by such titles as are neither false flattering nor blasphemous but such titles as are so we cannot give to any Job 32 21 22. for in so doing God would soon take us away And for curteousness to all both to Superiors and to Equals where is the man or woman among all our neighbours that have been conversant with us that can justly accuse us and shew wherein we have not been curteous and amiable to them unless they count it discurtesie to be reproved for evil or not to have their persons worshipped and adored as God with uncovering the head and bowing the knee which is usual when we approach to him in prayer and if withholding that from men be esteemed discurtesie let them shew where God commanded it or the antient Christians gave it Hester 3.5 6. seeing Mordica denyed to give it when required by a King to Hamnan a person of great place though thereby he did not only endanger his own life but the life of all the Jews throughout the Provinces of Babylon And further if any do judge us not curteous for speaking to them in that language which God and nature hath appointed for distinction betwixt singular and plural numbers viz. Thou to a single person whether Superior or Inferior and You to many then let them come forth and shew the contrary to be a curtesie commanded or commended by God or any of his Saints And for not using divers other vain customs and manners of the Nation in which we live I know we are accused of discurtesie and unmannerliness as for not using the drunkards custom and manner in drinking one to another and pledging those that drink to us and for not using the ignorant peoples custom and manner in saying god even and god-morrow when we meet them and other things wherein people will not be held guiltless for taking Gods Name in vain and using such words as corrupt good manners Ex. 20.7 and therefore we cannot be conformable to them though for it we suffer reproach and sure if the Author of that writing with whom I now deal had met some of Christs antient Disciples he would have said they had gone by men like a Hog or a Cow as he saith we do when they were obedient to Christs command who said salute no man by the high-way and the Prophet said if any salute thee Luk. 10.4 2 King 4.29 answer them not again But in all other things wherein we may do any service to God or our neighbours where is the man that can say we refuse or are discurteous or unneighbourly and from whom have we withholden either rents debts or other customs as he accuseth us which in righteous reason and conscience is due but sure our blameless conversation in these things may by this time have stoped the evil surmizings and gainsayings of our adversaries and therefore I shall commit our cause to the Lord who I am perswaded will yet more and more plead it and clear the innocency of those that love him by the rising of his light which is a faithful witness in all consciences to which we desire more and more to be made manifest And therefore we desire that all sober people may take heed of receiving false informations against us whereby both they and we may be wronged but rather first hear what we declare and hold for and then judge of it and us according to the Light of the Spirit which God gives them and according to the Scriptures of Truth and if by true tryal they finde us hold forth or practice that which is contrary to either let them avoid it 2 Cor. 4.2 for on no mans conscience would we impose any thing which he cannot freely receive no more then we would be imposed upon for it is our principle to do unto all men even as we would be done unto Writ the 24th day of the second Month 1662. THE END