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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	true_a	worshipper_n	5,073	5	12.1898	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65886	A serious account in XXXV evident reasons (to all who desire satisfaction) why the people of the lord, called Quakers, cannot go to worship at those places called churches and chappels, and to inform the magistrates and ministers that such consciencious people (as are separated from these places) ought not to be compelled (from their peaceable meetings) to their worship and churches, so called, being a short discovery of the way, worship, and principles of the true ministers and persecuted people of God, in several exceptions against the practices, worship, and principles of the priests, both of the Presbyterians, and Episcopal-men, and others of the same affinity, in some of which principles the Presbyterians are the rather concerned, but in others of them, both are concerned in the general / by Geo. Whitehead.	Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.	1661 (1661)	Wing W1956; ESTC R20306	27,063	42

A SERIOUS ACCOUNT In XXXV Evident Reasons To all who desire Satisfaction Why the People of the Lord called QUAKERS cannot go to Worship at those places called Churches and Chappels And to inform the Magistrates and Ministers That such Consciencious People as are separated from these places ought not to be compelled from their Peaceable Meetings to their Worship and Churches so called BEING A short DISCOVERY of the Way Worship and Principles of the true Ministers and persecuted People of God in several Exceptions against the Practices Worship and Principles of the Priests both of the Presbyterians and Episcopal-men and others of the same affinity in some of which Principles the Presbyterians are the rather concerned but in others of them both are concerned in the general By Geo. Whitehead London Printed for Robert Wilson at the Sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-mill in Martins Le Grand 1661. THE CONTENTS Of the following REASONS 1. COncerning the true Worship and Meetings which God hath called us to and of what he hath called us from 2. Of the Education of the Priests 3. Of their humane Learning 4. Of Tythes and forced Maintenance 5. Of the Priests Unreasonableness in spoyling mens goods 6. Of their Persecuting and Compelling men 7. Of the manner of their Preaching 8. Of the manner of their Worship 9. Of their Sinning in their best Performances 10. Of the Trade of their Preaching Then the falshood of the Priests and Professors Principles 1. Concerning the Light 2. Their confusion about the Light 3. Of the Offer of Salvation 4. Of the Death of Christ. 5. Of Perfection 6. Of the Priests Exhorting to endeavour after it 7. Of Election and Reprobation 8. Of Original Sin 9. Of the Serpent and the forbidden Fruit. 10. Of Justification and of Sanctification 11. Of the Believer's Faith and its Work 12. Of the Priests meanings upon the Scripture 13. Of the Gospel 14. Of the Foundation and only Rule 15. Of Swearing 16. Of Revelation and Inspiration from Heaven 17. Of Sprinkling Infants 18. Of Bread and Wine which they call the Lords Supper 19. 20. Of the Church and Seal of the Covenant 21. Of Bishops and Presbyters 22. Of the Priests Ordination 23. Of the Common-prayer-Book 24. Of the Priests grosse Ignorance about their Publick Baptism 25. Of the true Church and its Head I. Concerning the true Worship and Meetings which God hath called us to and of what he hath called us from THe LORD GOD of Truth and Righteousness hath gathered us by his mighty Power out of the worlds Ways Worships and Traditions which were never set up by the Power of God and from the Priests and Teachers of the world which are made and set up by the Traditions and Wills of men who preach for filthy lucre and gain which thing was ever abhorred and denyed by all the true Ministers and holy People of the Lord who feared God and hated Covetousness in all Ages as also we are brought by the Power of the Lord God out of the Worlds Temples or Houses which are falsly called Churches and brought into the Worship of God which is in the Spirit and in the Truth Joh. 4. VVhich Worship Christ taught when he foretold the end of that Worship which was at Jerusalem in the Temple which once God commanded to the Jews under the Law which with the outward things that pertained to it and to the Priests and Worshippers in that Temple as outward Musick Instruments Singing Tythes Offerings were all to cease as Figures or Types when a more inward and mysterious Way and Worship in the Spirit was brought in and revealed by Christ to the Saints and Christians of the New Testament who as they grew in the power of God to enjoy the enduring Substance and end of Figures and Shadows they grew out of these outward things that were but as Figures into the knowledge of the glorious Gospel and the Mystery of its Fellowship which outshined and transcended all these shadows under the Law See Heb. 9. chap. 10. which Gospel and Mystery we are come to know and witness to the praise and glory of our God And to this Testimony did the holy Apostles and Ministers of Christ bear large Witness as did the Martyr Stephen when he preached Christ whom the people were to hear in all things and he that would not hear was to be cut off Deut. 18.18 Act. 7.37 and 3.23 and called them stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears who were in their blind zeal for the outward Temple and so witnessing to Christ the substance and end of the Temple He told them The most High dwelleth not in Temples made with hands and for his Testimony he was stoned to death Act. 7.47 48 51. And so we being brought to hear and learn of Christ the Prophet whom the People were to hear in all things lest they were destroyed and being made a spiritual house Church and living Temples in which God dwells and walks according to his Promises 2 Cor. 6.16 who hath brought us out from the Idols Temples false Worships and Teachers we may not uphold nor joyn with that Worship that is upheld in these places which the world calls Churches and Chappels which God never commanded nor set up but the Papists and such as were apostatized from the Life of the Saints into men's Traditions and Inventions neither ought the Magistrate to compel us to these places of Worship against our Consciences but as it is the just duty of the Civil Magistrates to punish evil-doers and to be a praise to them that do well Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2 14. So they ought rather to protect than hinder our peaceable Meetings which are in the Worship into which God hath called us by his Spirit And whether our Meetings be in houses or fields we being brought to meet together in the Name and Power of Christ we meet according to the Example of the People of God and true Christians in the primitive times when they were brought both from the Jews Temple and from the Gentiles Temples and Worships and sometimes met in houses sometimes abroad in the Fields and upon Mountains sometimes by the Sea-side c. as many examples might be mentioned See Matth. 5.1 Joh. 20.19 Act. 10.27 chap. 12.12 and 16.13 and 20.8.20 and 28.30 Heb. 10.25 Mal. 3.16 So would it have been just or righteous to have persecuted these Christians for meeting in houses and to have termed their Meetings Conventicles or to have made any Laws against them for the breaking of their Meetings and for imprisoning them for meeting in houses as many of the People of God have been dealt with for no other cause but for being in their Example and Life And it is as much against our Consciences and the Law of God in us to deny to meet together in the Name of Christ wherein we have long and often met as it was against Peter and John's Consciences to deny to speak in the

sackcloth use to walk Psal. 69.11 12. when many of them do walk in their gaudy Attire and in therr Silks Ribbons and Lace and thus they use Falshood and shew themselves as Mockers of God to whom they sing many more Lyes than these And thus their Leaders cause them to erre Therefore this confused and false Worship at these places called Churches and Chappels which is neither practised with the Spirit of Christ nor with understanding we cannot own it nor joyn with the World in it for the Lord himself hath taught us his Way and Worship which is contrary to the Worlds IX Of their Sinning in their best Performances ALso the PRIESTS have often said in their Confessions that they sin in their best Performances as in their Preaching Praying and Worshipping and that they had need to pray that the sins of their holy Duties and iniquities of their Holy things may be forgiven from which it follows that they may pray for Forgiveness all their life-time and be no better in that they sin in their praying or holy Duties as they confess so that alwayes when they pray or preach they sin and have the sin thereof to crave forgiveness for And therefore it is contrary to our Faith to joyn with them in their sinful worship and performances or to give them money for them for the true Ministers and Saints performed their Duties to the Lord in his Spirit and Truth and preached the Truth as of sincerity and as of God so spake they in Christ in whom is no sin 2 Cor. 2.17 1 Joh. 3.5 X. Of the Trade of their Preaching ANd so we finding the Priests both of the Presbyterians and Episcopal men so called so much in error both as to the manner of their Education to their Ministry and in covetous practices envy pride and false worship we have just cause to deny them who are brought up to be Teachers as natural men to a Trade and make a Trade of Preaching and so serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies And this appears the more against the Priests in that when I queried the Priests and Scholars of Cambridge about their Degrees viz. Why they have these names Batchelers of Arts Masters of Arts Batchelers of Divinity Doctors of Divinity c. To this they answer thus viz. By the same Reason that some are made Apprentices and some Journey-men and some Free-men and some break c. This their Answer is in their Book against us called A Gag for the Quakers And thus the Priests have shewed what Trades-men they are Also Sixty one Priests in and about the City of London in their Seasonable Exhortation as they call it directed to their Congregations They say in the Third Particular That other Causes and Symptomes of God's Wrath hanging over their heads is The frequent disappointment from time to time of all hopes of coming to any settlement in Government in the Nation occasioned by strange Confusions which they say is a clear Evidence that God hath in displeasure darkened their eyes and hid Counsel from them c. From which it follows 1. That the Priests depend not upon the Lord for support and maintenance in their Trade of Preaching but upon the Magistrates 2. And when they think the Magistrates are at any time like to fail them then their hearts begin to fail them and fear surprizes them as when they called Protectors their Parliaments were overturned after which time the Priests made this sad Complaint 3. The Wrath of God hanging over the Priests and God having in displeasure darkned their eyes and hid Counsel from them we may not go to follow them nor seek Counsel at them from whom it is hid But some will object and say We know that the National Ministers are corrupt enough in their Practices and that they are proud and covetous but we must do as they say and not as they do What have you against their Doctrine Answ. Their corrupt and evil practices give occasion enough for them to be denyed and turned away from as the Apostle commanded to turn away from such as have a form of Godliness but deny the power 2 Tim. 3.5 and the Lord hath called to come out from among such and be ye separate and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you saith the Lord But the Priests of the Nation do not only deny the Power of Godliness in their Practices but also the true form of Godliness in their Doctrines and Principles as they are in errors about the principal things that partain to Salvation as is hereafter shewed concerning the Principles of the Priests and Professors both of the Presbyterians Independents and others of the same root who have long been in fashion and esteem in the Nation in many of whose Principles the Episcopal men who for a time have been lesse in fashion are one with them The Priests and Professors Doctrines and Principles are false about the principal things that pertain to Life and Salvation I. Concerning the Light THe Priests and Professors who affirm That All men have not a Spiritual or saving Light of Christ in them and that every man hath not such a Light given him from Christ but that the Light in every man is a natural Light c. This their Principle is contrary to the Scriptures of Truth and to Christ and his Apostles doctrine for as God is no respector of persons who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 So he hath given Christ a LIGHT into the World that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have eternal Life without exception Joh. 1.4 9. chap. 3.16 12.46 Tit. 2.11 Rom. 5.18 And the LIFE of Christ is the LIGHT of men who enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World without respect of Persons whose LIFE or LIGHT is not natural but spiritual the spirit is Life the least measure of which Light is pure and unchangable convincing the Creature of Sin and leading man from Sin where it 's owned in the Love of it and therefore as the LIGHT in every man is spiritual and pure and the least measure of it being the same in kind with the greatest it is saving to them that believe in the Light and condemning to them that wilfully reject and hate it Joh. 3.19 II. Their Confusion about the Light AGain greatly have we seen the Priests and Professors confounded about the LIGHT of CHRIST in every man some of them saying that the Light the wicked have is but a natural or created Light and some of the Priests say it is a blurred Light a dark Light a Light of natural reason c. others saying that the Light that is in every man is both natural and Spiritual when as the LIGHT of Christ in every man that convinceth of Sin and reproves men for Iniquity is Spiritual and unchangeable being of and from CHRIST and leads to Him who is the same yesterday to day and for

silent from their preaching to them to believe if all may not believe and people need not spend their money to the Priests for their deceitful preaching to them for what God hath determined shall come to passe without their Trade of Preaching for Money But this I say that the Saints were elected of God thorow the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth unto obedience 2 Thess. 2.13 1 Pet. 1.2 and their Election stood in the Seed which obtained the Promise which was before the World was And the cause of mens being reprobated is their Disobedience and Rebellion in the Evil seed against that which may be known of God which is manifest in them For even as they liked not to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a Reprobate mind Rom. 1. And many that may be saved and may enter into Rest may come short thorow unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin And some that have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of God if they shall return thither again and be entangled therein their latter end is worse than the beginning See Isa. 1.16 17 18 19 20. Ezek. 18.20 to the end of the Chapter Heb. 4. chap. 6.5 6. 10.26 2 Pet. 2.1 20 21 22. So that the cause of man's destruction doth not lie on God's part nor is the fault his but mens Iniquity and Rebellion against the Grace of God given them and wilfully submitting themselves to the Wicked One who is the Author of all Iniquity VIII Of Original Sin ANd whereas the Priests accuse all men except Christ both the Wicked and the Righteous and the Infants who never actually committed sin to be guilty of Original Sin more or lesse from the first Parents c. To this I say that it was the Devil that was the Author and Original of all Sin and cause of men's being guilty of Sin when they transgress the Righteous Law of God within and are in the state of Adam in the transgression and in that unrighteous nature by which all in that state are the Children of Wrath but it was not barely the first Parents eating of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and so their sinning alone that made men guilty or by nature the children of wrath Though by one man who is the Man of Sin Sin entered into the world and Death by Sin but men being naturally subject to the power of Darkness in themselves and their coming under the nature which brings death and the guilt and causeth the curse upon them For death hath passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 and hath reigned from Adam to Moses over them that have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression But the Righteous who are begotten again into the Divine Nature of the second Adam and come to be of the Seed which the Blessing is to which is of Abraham such are brought to see the Devil and his works destroyed and are come out of the first Adam's state and nature which was in the transgression Gal. 3.9 2 Pet. 1.4 1 Jo. 3. But whereas some of the Priests have affirmed That Infants in the Mother's womb and such as have not actually committed sin are guilty of Original Sin from Adam by Imputation which they say is enough to condemn them To this I answer That Sin is not imputed when there is no Law Rom. 5. and the Law was added because of transgression What then have Infants in the Mother's womb the Law or are they then capable of the Law that was added because of transgression for it is the righteous Law or Light of God within every man that causeth Sin to be imputed where that Law is transgressed So that of this Law the Priests have in this as in many other things shewed themselves to be exceeding ignorant And though the Curse follow the Seed of the Evil-doer and such as are estranged from the womb who are in that rebellious nature which causeth the Wrath to come upon them Yet some were sanctified in the womb and some filled with the Holy Ghost and so sanctified from the womb Jer. 1.5 Luke 1.15 and some were perfect from the day they were created until the Iniquity was found in them Ezek. 28.15 And this Proverb shall not be used That the Fathers have eaten soure Grapes and the Childrens teeth are set on edge but every man shall dye for his own Iniquity every one that eateth the soure grapes his teeth shall be set on edge Jer. 31.29 The soul that sinneth it shall die Ezek. 18.4 So that we have greatly seen the Priests Ignorance about Original Sin and the Imputation of it and their accusing the Righteous as being guilty of it And now with the Light of the Lord who it is that fashioneth the Child in the womb are we come to see the two Seeds and the two Births the one of which is shapen in Iniquity and conceived in Sin and this the Judgment and Hatred of God follows and takes hold upon but the other hath the Lord covered in the womb and written all its Members in his Book when they were not fashioned Psal. 139. And where this Birth is brought forth the Lord maketh him to hope when he is upon-his Mothers breasts for he is cast upon the Lord from the womb Psa. 22.9 10. Now all that come to the Light of the Lord and to witness the Key of David who saw these two Seeds in him before he came to the Victory or had the Evil seed cast out such must come to see and be sensible of these two in them and when each acts or speaks in them before they come to see the Warfare accomplished or the Victory obtained in the Righteous Seed over the contrary And such as can truly discern these and the nature of each Seed they can read what Jacob and Esau is in the Mystery the one of which God loves and the other he hates and here that is seen wherein men are Children of Wrath and that wherein they become Children of God and inherit his Blessing IX Of the Serpent and the forbidden Fruit. ALso the Priests Ignorance and gross darkness hath appeared who have affirmed That the forbidden Fruit which the Serpent tempted Eve to eat of was an Apple From which Dream of theirs the picture of a Snake and an Apple in its mouth in a Tree with the image of a Man and a Woman are set up at the beginning of Bibles and in many other places from which some have imagined that the Serpent which beguiled Eve was a visible Creature or Beast of the field which for that time had power to speak and to present an Apple to deceive Eve withal when as God said to Man and Woman before the Fall Behold I have given you every Herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the Earth and every Tree in the which is the fruit of a Tree yeelding seed to you

reconcile the Scriptures to themselves by their Meanings wherein they intimately accuse the Scriptures to disagree and to be false and imperfect in many things And many of the Priests contradict one another in their meanings upon Scripture when as the Scriptures of Truth were given forth from the Spirit of Truth in the Saints and cannot be broken Joh. 10.35 2 Tim. 3.16 which Spirit is that which must open the Scriptures and give men the true understanding of them Joh. 16.13 and not the Priests confused and invented meanings and senses which proceed from the spirit of Error in them who have denyed that they have the Infallible Spirit or Inspiration in them from Heaven from which the Scripture was given when as it is the Inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding Job 32.8 So that they who have not that have not the understanding of the Scriptures and such we cannot own to be our Teachers who being out of that Spirit which the holy men of God were in it 's evident they know nothing but what they know naturally and in these things they corrupt themselves Jude v. 10. XIII Of the Gospel ALso the Priests have shewed their Error and Ignorance about the Gospel in calling the four Books of Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel when as the Gospel is Everlasting being the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1.16 And the Gospel was preached to Abraham before the four Evangelists were Gal. 3.8 And there is not to be another Gospel preached than that which is the Power of God which the Apostles preached for he that preacheth another is to be accursed Gal. 1.8 XIV Of the Foundation and only Rule ANd the Priests in affirming the Scriptures to be the Foundation and only Rule of Faith and Life and the Word c. They affirm contrary to the Scriptures themselves and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said That another Foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Christ who is the Foundation of Faith 1 Cor. 3.11 though the Priests have preached another and though one while they profess the Scriptures to be their Rule yet another while they set their meanings above them as to reconcile them and act contrary to them and thus shew their Confusion but it is the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth And so the Saints had the Rule of Faith and Life before the Scriptures were written as had Abel Enoch Abraham Moses c. And the Gentiles who had the Law written in their hearts who had not the letter of it without had a true Rule of Life in them as many have who cannot read the Scriptures and whereunto the Saints had attained in the Spirit and Life of Christ they were to walk by the same Rule Rom. 2.15 Phil. 3.16 2 Cor. 10.13 14 15. And the Word was in the beginning and was in the hearts of the holy men of God before they spake forth the Words or writ the Scriptures wherein are the words that God spake which are a true Declaration of those things that were surely believed amongst the Saints but the Word of God liveth for ever and was before the words or writings of Scripture without were Psal. 119.11 Joh. 1.1 Luke 1.1 So that the Priests who have so much shewed their Ignorance about the Gospel the Foundation the Word the only Rule and yet say they are Ministers of the Gospel and of the Word we have sufficient cause never to own them as our Teachers XV. Of Swearing ANd the Priests in pleading for Swearing and teaching men that it is lawful for them to swear chiefly bringing Heb. 6.16 for it and some of them telling people that Swearing is a part of the Worship of God The Priests herein have shewed themselves to transgress Christs Doctrine and teach others so to do and so they have not God 2 Joh. ver 9. for Christ who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the end of the Shadows under it he said to his Disciples It hath been said by them of old time Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths which Oaths were under the Law and in their time were commanded of God and were not vain nor needless Oaths nor by the Creatures But in opposition to these Oaths as ending them Christ said But I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven nor by Earth c. Mat. 5.33 34. Now he that sweareth by Heaven sweareth by the Throne of God and by him that sitteth thereon Matth. 23.22 So that from Christ's Command we are now to swear by neither And the Apostle James as confirming to the same Testimony said Above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay left you fall into condemnation Jam. 5.12 And as to that of Heb. 6.16 where it 's said For men verily Swear by the Greater and an Oath for confirmation is to them an End of all Strife which the the Priests object for Swearing In this they are very dark for the Apostle doth but mention this as a Practice which had relation to the Jewes who were under the Law and such as were in the Strife but he gives no Command for Swearing neither doth he vindicate it any more than he doth receiving of Tythes in his saying here men that die receive Tythes Heb. 7.8 which was but a mentioning that as a practice which the Jews upheld as was the other of Swearing for he witnessed the Commandment disanulled by which Tythes were received and the Priesthood changed by which they were upheld Heb. 7.12 18. So that the bare relation of a Practice is no command for it nor vindication of it And the Oath which God sware to Abraham wherein he makes known the Immutability of his Counsel to the Heirs of Promise is greater than man's swearing to end strife for where that Oath of God is received and fulfilled the Blessing to the Seed is manifested and the Strife is ended and the ground of it removed and of this Oath and Covenant mens swearing to end strife without was but a figure type or shadow And as to the Priests saying that Swearing is a part of the Worship of God From this then it follows that it 's an easie thing for Drunkards and Prophane Persons to be in the Worship of God if Swearing be a part of it for what case is it such cannot swear in either by the Lord or otherwise and then they might as well say it's part of the Worship of God to transgress Christ's Doctrine as say Swearing is part of his Worship Surely this is a bad Worship which the Priests preach and set up for Christ commanded not to swear at all and he is the End of all Strife about which the Swearing was and the End of the Law and of the Oaths under it for

Consciences would compel and force all to be of their Church and to conform to their Worship though it be never so much contrary to their Consciences and though they have counted them Hereticks Deceivers Seducers and what not yet if they could force them outwardly to conform to their Worship they should be received and help to make up their Church and what a confused Church of Hypocrites that would be may be easily judged but I say their lording it over men's Consciences and compelling them to their Worships and persecuting men for their Religion is never the way to convince them nor to gain them to God what outward formality soever they may force them to by an outward Power for it is the gentle meek and tender Spirit of the Lamb that must appear in Ministers and convince and regain People to God and into the love of his Truth or else they are not fit Instruments for God's work XXIII Of the Common-prayer-Book ANd we do not read in the Scripture of a Common-prayer-Book that the Saints ever had to direct them how to pray and to sing for they prayed with the Spirit and sung with the Spirit but the Common-prayer-Book was devised by men since the Apostles dayes much of which is agreeable to the Masse-Book from whence it had its derivation though some of the Ceremonies of the Masse are left out yet after the Preface near the beginning of the Common-prayer touching those Ceremonies that were reserved in their Church it is said that those Ceremonies have been devised by men c. Now we being led by the Spirit of God and therein brought to worship him we must not follow man's devices and invented Ceremonies for they are not truly called the Divine Service but the Service which is in the Spirit of God is divine and not the following of men's Devices And is it not evident that they that set up the Common-prayer-Book were Popish from their saying in their Commination against sinners That in the Primitive Church there was a Godly Discipline that at the beginning of Lent such persons as were notorious sinners were put to open Penance and punished in this world that their souls might be saved c. Was not that Discipline Popery which there they called Godly and which Discipline they much wished might be restored again instead whereof they pronounced several Curses XXIV Of the Priests gross Ignorance about their Publick Baptism ANd what Ignorance is it for Teachers at their publick Baptism to say That God by the Baptism of his beloved Son did sanctifie the flood Jordan and all other Waters to the mystical washing away of Sin when as many are sprinkled or dipped when Infants and washed with outward water who are yet unwashed from their sins as Drunkards Swearers Lyars covetous and prophane Persons And yet to say that Infants by their Sureties must faithfully promise obediently to keep God's Commandments and that they will forsake the Devil and all his works the vain pomp and glory of the world with all the covetous desires of the same the carnal desires of the flesh and that they will not follow nor be led by them and then for them called Godfathers to answer as in the Infants name and say I forsake them all viz. the Devil and all his works when as the Infants are not capable of any such Promises neither do they that promise so for them fulfill what they promise themselves And after they say that the Children have promised to forsake the Devil and all his works c. those called Godfathers and Godmothers must see that the Infants be taught as soon as they can learn what a solemn Vow Promise and Profession they have made what Confusion and Darkness is this And yet notwithstanding all this promising to forsake the Devil and all his works and after that by this Baptism so called they say they are regenerate and grafted into the Body of Christ and say they are made the Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven notwithstanding all this both Priests and People confess that they have offended against the holy Laws and followed the desires of their own hearts and that there is no health in them and cry as they do often Lord have mercy upon us miserable offenders And thus they confound themselves and break their Promises of forsaking the Devil and all his works and of obediently keeping God's Commandments when as they daily break them and so are in the Devil's work who is the Author of all unrighteousness and such Teachers as in whom there is no health are none of Christ's Ministers neither can we own such for our Teachers for who are Ministers of Christ have his Spirit dwelling in them and so have health in them And how can such absolve men from all their sins as they say in their Visitation of the Sick who themselves are miserable Sinners and have no health in them XXV Of the true Church and its Head MUch more of the Priests Ignorance Errors and Superstitions both in their Doctrines and Practices might be shewed which I omit mentioning for the present here being so many Reasons as may satisfie the Reasonable why we cannot joyn with them in their Worships at their Steeple-houses nor own them in their Ministry for the Lord hath united us by his mighty Power and incorporated us into the true Body which is the Church of CHRIST whom he hath espoused and married unto himself to be as a chast wife unto the husband and Christ is the Head and Law-giver to his Church and therefore we cannot joyn with the false Church that is made up of such members as profess they be married to Christ and yet they know neither the true Baptism into the true Church nor the true Communion of the Body which is the Church nor have they ever heard his Voice as to be married to him neither were they ever cloathed upon with the Wedding Garment to wit Christ's Righteousness but are in their own Righteousness and the Traditions and Devices of men which are but as filthy Rags which they have set up without instead of the Life and Mystery of Godliness within and such are in Babylon drinking of the Whores Cup and following the Beast which hath long born up the Whore which hath persecuted and drunk the Blood of the Saints and which is come in Remembrance before the LORD who is confounding Babylon So who are espoused as a chast Virgin to Christ and married to Him and come to know Him their Head and Law-giver must not commit Adultery with the Whore nor drink of her Cup anymore nor joyn with the false Church for Christ is the Head of his Church even as the husband is the head of the wife and the wife is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he liveth so that if while her husband liveth she be married to another man she shall be called an Adulteress Rom. 7. Ephes. 5.23 So that Christ being the Head of his Church as the husband is the head of the wife his Church is not to set up another Head than Christ over it and so neither to own the Pope as Supream Head of the Church nor any man else but CHRIST according to the Scriptures of Truth So blessed are they who own the LIGHT of CHRIST in their hearts that they may follow Him into the City of our God where the Lord God and the Lamb may be their Light and Teacher that they may no more be carried away captive in Mystery Babylon the false Church and her whorish practices neither be any more deceived by her Sorceries nor drink any longer of her Cup. Written in Norwich Castle about the latter end of the second Month 1661. G. W. THE END