Truth Ascended OR The Annointed and Sealed of God defended IN AN ANSWER Written by Richard Farnsworth AS A TESTIMONY AGAINST A Conterfeit Commission And all Injustice and false Judgement done and pronounced under pretence of the same LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. Truth ascended or the Annointed and sealed of God defended c. Lodowick Muggleton THough thou pretend to be the chosen Witness of the Spirit and the last that ever shall speak by Commission from God and to be the chief Judge in the World ordained of God to give sentence upon men and women spiritual and eternal and what shall become of them after death and saist That in obedience to thy Commission thou hast already cursed and damned many hundreds of people both body and soul from the presence of God elect men and Angels to Eternity and pretend'st to go by as certain Rule in so doing as the Judges of the Land do when they give Judgement according to Law and saist That no infinite Spirit of Christ nor any God can or shall be able to deliver from thy sentence and curse c. as appears in a Sheet of paper dated Aug. 10. 1662. written by thee in answer to Edward Bourns to Dorothy Carter and also four sheets dated Novemb. 3. 1662. written by thee and directed to Thomas Highfield in Nottingham for Samuel Hooton and W. S. I am bold on the behalf of the Lord once again to bear my Testimony against thee and against thy pretended Commission and the Doctrine thereof and shall make it appear that it ought not to be entertained by any man or woman upon earth because it is contrary to truth and that thy judgment ought by all to be reversed undone and made void because it is contrary to truth and that thy judgement ought by all to be reversed undone and made void because it is erroneous and false for thou art no chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth neither hast thou received any Commission from Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witnesse as hereafter appears 1. That there were chosen Witnesses of Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witnesse is certainly true Acts 10.38 39 40 41. Acts 5.31 32. Acts 1.8 2. That they had a Commission from Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness or that he Commanded them to preach to the people is as true Acts 10.42 But that thou either art or dost so I do deny 3. They who were chosen Witnesses of Christ whom God the Father annointed sealed and sent and had a Commission from the Spirit and Power of Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness in testifying on the behalf of Christ their Testimony stands as an evidence against thy pretended Commission and the Doctrine thereof because they say on the behalf of Christ that he commanded them to preach to the people and to testifie to them that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead Acts 10.42 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10.43 But thou dost not so by thy pretended Commission and the Doctrine thereof who instead of preaching to the people and testifying to them that Christ is chief Judge ordained of God to judge the quick and the dead thou wouldst dis-throne him to set up thy self in his stead whereby it appears That thou art not a chosen Witness of the Spirit of Truth and that thy pretended Commission is a counterfeit thing by which thou presumes to give judgement contrary to Truth which makes it evident That thy doctrine and judgement is false and being so it ought not to be entertained or received by any but to be denied and against testified by all that love the Lord Jesus 4. By their Commission they were to preach to the people and by the same Commission and the Doctrine thereof they were to testifie to them that Christ was ordained of God to be the Judge both of quick and dead but thou art not Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness therefore it is evident that thou art not chief Judge ordained of God to judge the quick and the dead though thou presume to say that the dead after death shall never see any other God or Judge but the remembrance of that sentence which you the pretended Witnesses of the Spirit did pass upon them in this life which is a false Doctrine and contrary to the Doctrine of Truth left upon record in Scripture where it is said That the Father hath given authority to the Son to execute judgement and all that are in the grave shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation as it is written John 5.26 27 28 29. and Christ shall give judgement upon them Matth. 25.31 32 33 34.41.46 And as thou wouldst exclude Christ from that great office and work and assume it to thy self so thou wouldst exclude his Officers and deny him of them to set up thy self alone in their places and stead because thou falsly saith No man knows the Scriptures but thy self and that no man can truly interpret the Scriptures but thy self and that none ought to officiate the Office of a Minister Messenger or Ambassador of Christ but such as are appointed by John Reeves and thy self which assertions or doctrines of thine are false and not true for this I say That the only knowledge and right of interpreting Scriptures belongs not to thy self but to the Lord Jesus and his blessed Spirit who is the true Judge and hath power to open mens understandings and can give them the true knowledge and right understanding of Scriptures Luke 24 32. 24.45 And the Gospel is preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as it is written 1 Pet. 1.11 12. and the holy Ghost hath a true power and right Authority without John Reeves and thy self to make overseers over the Flock of God to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20.28 and to appoint Ministers Messengers or Ambassadors of Christ and to call to the work of the Ministry Acts 13.2 4. And they who by the Holy Ghost are called to the Work of the Ministry may with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven preach the Gospel without the appointment of John Reeves and thy self Take notice of that for as every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ as it is written and left upon Record in Scripture 1 Pet. 4 10 11. 5. The chosen Witnesses of Christ who had a Commission
from his blessed Spirit they were anointed 2 Cor. 1.21 and sealed of God 2 Cor. 1.22 but so art not thou therefore thou art nothing like unto them and they who are annointed and seal d of God as such were they may be Ministers Messengers and Ambassadors of Christ now without the appointment of John Reeves and thy self neither art thou at all owned by the Doctrine of their commission to do as thou dost and pretendest to do under pretence of thy pretended commission it takes no notice of thee and such as thou art to appoint to so great and glorious a Work though thou presume in thy imaginations to be greater then either Prophets of God or Apostles of Christ yet thou never approved thy self to be a Messenger Minister or Ambassador of Christ as they do and did who are and were annointed sealed and sent of God as aforesaid 6. For the Ambassadors who had a commission to preach and were annointed and sealed of God 2 Cor. 1.21 22. and had the Ministration of reconciliation given unto them 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. a glorious Ministration 2 Cor. 3.8 9 10 11. which is the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.5 6. their sufficiency was not of any like John Reeves and thy self but of God who made them and hath the same power now without John Reeves and thy self to make able Ministers of the New-Testament they approved themselves as the Ministers of God not by reviling cursing and damning but on the contrary in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in labours in watchings in fastings by pureness by knowledge by long-suffering by kindness by the holy Ghost by love unfeigned by the Word of truth and by the power of God See 2 Cor. 6.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. And the Messengers of Christ whose sufficiency is not of John Reeves and thy self but of God who by virtue of his blessed power and spirit are made able Ministers of the New-Testament and are spiritually annointed and sealed of God they stand approved to God as the Ministers of God according to Gospel-order and the dispensation of the Gospel which is the Ministration of the Spirit but thou hast not so approved thy self who fled from Chesterfield to Bakwell for fear of a few stripes or a whipping when the same was but threatned against thee for thy false Judgement and Doctrine in reviling cursing and damning whereby it is evident that thou art nothing like an Ambassador of Christ and very unfit to appoint to that work and that thy pretended Commission and the greatnesse of thy pretended power is nothing worth Take notice of that 7. The Ambassadors of Christ who were annointed and sealed of God and had the Ministration of Reconciliation given unto them that glorious Ministration of the Spirit wherein they approved themselves as the Ministers of God which thou hast not done they were so far from reviling cursing and damning and rejoicing therein as thou dost that they forgave in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2.10 and by manifestation of the Truth commended themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.1 2. but thou dost not so who art so full of reviling cursing and damning whereby it 's apparent that thy pretended Commission Power and Doctrine thereof is nothing like unto theirs though thou falsly saist it 's as true and of a more higher nature then theirs was in their time thou hast lyed therein and hast born a false Testimony which makes it evident that thou art no chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth 8. The Ambassadors of Christ who were annointed and sealed of God and had the glorious Ministration of the Spirit given unto them by virtue of their commission of the Spirit and the doctrine thereof they commanded for to prove all things and hold fast that which is good and to try the spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the World 1 Thess 5.21 1 John 4.1 to the end that they might not entertain the Doctrine of any false Prophet nor bid such God spead as abide not in the doctrine of Christ lest they become partakers of their evil-deed 2 John 9.10 11. but by the Doctrine of thy pretended commission thou denies that viz proving of doctrines and trying of spirits saying That neither the Light of Christ within nor no man upon earth can or ought to judge of the Doctrine because thou saist that neither the Light within nor no man upon Earth can or ought to judge of the Doctrine of a Prophet who hath a Commission from God and saist That there neither is nor ever shall be any such Prophet but thy self whilst the World doth endure which is a false assertion or doctrine of thine but hereby it is manifest that thou art against trying of spirits and proving of Doctrines and so art against the reception thereof because Judgement in point of Doctrine is in order to the reception of Doctrine And for want of judgement in that respect they may be deceived who take doctrines upon trust without judging trying thereof how should spirits be tryed and doctrines be proved or how should the Doctrine of Truth be performed which commands to try and prove them if none can or ought as thou falsly saist to judge of the same Whereby it appears that thou art not the chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth and that thy doctrine is contrary to the doctrine of truth and ought not to be received by any man upon earth and it is evident thereby that thy pretended commission is a counterfeit thing invented to beguile and deceive withal and not at all owned by the commission and doctrine of the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus who were and are annointed and sealed of God 9. The Ambassadors of Christ and chosen Witnesses of the Spirit who were annointed and sealed of God they were workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 and did pray in Christ's stead 2 Cor. 5.20 but thou dost not so who instead thereof goes about reviling cursing and damning the beloved people of God who preach from the Scriptures and Light within and by virtue of the power which they have received of God Devils are cast out and as thou saist much good is done by them who ought not to be reviled and cursed by thee as they are whereby it appears that thou art no chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth nor an Ambassador of Christ neither art thou annointed and sealed or sent of God to go about reviling cursing and damning the beloved people of God as thou dost for they who were the chosen Witnesses of the Spirit and Ambassadors of Christ did not so but thou hast exceeded Balaam in that who refused to curse those whom God had blessed And the Ambassadors of Christ annointed sealed and sent of God they approved themselves as the chosen Witnesses of the Spirit annointed and sealed of God
who being defamed did entreat and being persecuted did suffer it and not flee as thou didst for fear of a whipping threatned against thee for thy mis-behaviour in reviling cursing and damning the chosen Witnesses of the Spirit annointed and sealed of God did not so but being reviled did blesse and by the Doctrine of their Commission said Bless and curse not 1 Cor. 4.12 Rom. 12.14 whereby it is evident that thou art not a chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth neither art thou annointed and sealed or sent by the God of Truth thy pretended Commission and the doctrine thereof and Judgement performed thereby is erroneous and false which is Antichristian and it is no railing to tell thee the same and reprove thee and thy deceit 10. The true Witnesses of the Spirit and Ambassadors of Christ by the Father of mercies and God of all comfort they were comforted themselves in all their tribulations that they might be able to comfort them that were in any trouble by the comfort wherewith they themselves were comforted of God 2 Cor. 1 3 4. but so art not thou by thy reviling cursing and damning them who are blessed beloved and justified of God wherein thou hast exceeded Balaam as aforesaid whereby it appears that thou art nothing like an Ambassador of Christ or the chosen Witnesses of the Spirit who were annointed and sealed of God neither is there the like Truth Power Virtue and Consolation in the doctrine of thy pretended commission that were in theirs Thou hast grievously lyed in saying That the Doctrine of thy Commission is as true and of a more higher nature then the Prophets and Apostles was in their time but hast made no such proof of thy sayings or Doctrine as they did of theirs But thou art reprehended and the truth and power of the Commission and Doctrine of the annointed and sealed of God is defended and the truth of the Gospel is over and above all thy errors lyes and false judgement ascended By all which hath been said it remains true 1. That thou art no chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth 2. That thou art not the chief Judge in the World ordained of God to judge the quick and the dead 3. That God may without John Reeves and thy self make able Ministers of the New-Testament 4. That they who are made able Ministers of the New-Testament whose sufficiency is not of self but of God they may officiate the Offices of Ministers Messengers or Ambassadors of Christ without the appointment of John Reeves and thy self who hath nothing to do to appoint to so great and glorious Work 5. That thou art not annointed sealed and sent of God to revile curse and damn the beloved people of God 6. That thou art no Ambassador of Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness 7. That thou hast received no Commission from the God of Truth to pass the sentence of eternal death and damnation upon the souls and bodies of men 8. That the only knowledge and right of interpreting Scripture belongs not to thee 9. That thy Judgement and Doctrine is erroneous and false And 10thly That thy Judgement and Doctrine ought not to be entertained by any but to be reversed and denyed by all that love the Lord Jesus And whereas thou saist Thou art the chief Judge in the World and in passing the Sentence of eternal death and damnation upon the souls and bodies of men saist Thou goes by as certain a Rule as the Judges of the Land do when they give Judgement according to Law I say Thou hast lyed therein and hast born a false testimony in that respect as well as the rest as hereafter is evident First Because thou art both Judge Accuser and Witness thy self and dost condemn and give Judgement at thy will and pleasure contrary to Truth having no certain known Laws either of God or the Land as a rule of direction to guide and lead thee in the wayes of right Justice to give Judgement upon the bodies of men and women nor cannot manifest a commission to put any known Laws in execution upon them thou goes not by so certain a Rule in so doing as the Judges of the Land do when they give judgement according to Law for they neither are nor pretend to be both Judges Accusers and Witnesses neither do they go without certain outward known Laws as a rule of direction to guide and lead them to give Judgement accordingly and they can produce a commission whereby they are impowered to put the same in execution but so canst not thou Whereby it is evident that thou hast not cognizance or lawful authority to pass the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women Therefore thou art no true and competent Judge in that matter take notice of that 2. Thou goes not by so certain a Rule when thou presumes to pass the sentence of death and damnation upon the souls and bodies of men as the Judges of the Land do when they give judgement according to Law for Cook upon the confirmation of the Charters of the Liberties of England saith This Clause is worthy to be written in Letters of Gold viz. That our Justices Sheriffs Mayors and other Ministers which under us have the Laws of the Land to guide them shall allow the said Charters in all their points which shall come before them in Judgement and here it is to be observed That the Laws are the Judges Guides and Leaders according to that old Rule Lex est exercitus Judicum viz. The Law is the Judges Army Tutissimus Doctor Viz. The safest Teacher Or Lex est optimus Judicis Synagogus viz. Their best Synagogue And Lex est tutissimus Cassis viz. Their safest fortress There is an old Legal word saith he called Guidagium viz. Guidage which signifieth an Office of guiding Travellers through dangerous and unknown ways Here it appeareth that the Laws of the Realm hath this office to guide the Judges in all causes that come before them in the wayes of right Justice who never yet mis-guided any man that certainly knew them and truly followed them Cook part 2. Inst fol. 566. Whereby it is apparent That the Judges of the Land have certain outward known Laws as a Rule of direction to guide and lead them to Judgement when they give it according to Law but thon Lodowick hast no certain outward known Laws either of God or the Land as a Rule of direction to guide thee in the ways of right Justice and to lead thee to give judgment upon the bodies of men accordingly whereby it is evident thou hast nothing to do to pass the sentence of death and damnation upon them And the souls in the Fathers hands thou hast nothing to do withal neither dost thou go by so certain a Rule to give judgement upon the bodies of men as the Judges of the Land do when they give judgement according to Law Mind how thou art confuted and taken with a
lye in thy mouth Behold how the pretended most knowing and wisest of men is taken in his own craftiness Let no man deceive himself for the wisdom of this World is foolishness with God for it is written He taketh the wise in their own craftiness and again The Lord knoweth the thoughts of tht wise that they are vain 1 Cor. 3 18 19 20. Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth thou art taken with the words of thy mouth Prov. 6 2. The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips Prov. 12.13 and so art thou take notice of that 3. Thou goes not by so certain a Rule to give judgment and sentence of death and damnation upon the souls and bodies of men as the Judges of the Land do when they give judgement according to Law for by the Law which is a Rule of direction to them it is enacted That no man from thenceforth shall be attached by any accusation nor fore-adjudged of Life nor Limb c. against the form of the great Charter and the Law of the Land 5 Edw. 3.25 Edw. 3. Cook part 2. Inst fol. 48. But thou Lodowick fore-judges the souls and bodies of men from the presence of God elect men and Angels to Eternity contrary to the Law of God and the Law of the Land whereby it appears that thou goes by no Legal Rule neither according to the Law of the Land nor the Law of God for thou saist That the sentence and curse which thou pronouncest upon the souls and bodies of men is not from the Scriptures or Light within then not according to the Law of God and as before is proved it is quite contrary to the Law of the Land What then is thy Rule of direction to give judgement upon the souls and bodies of men seeing thou pretends to be the chief Judge in the World and gives not thy judgement and sentence according to the Law of God Produce us thy Law and commission if thou canst now thou art put to it for thou neither goes by the Law of God either without or within nor by so certain a Rule as the Judges of the Land do when they give judgement according to Law therefore thou goes not according to the Law of the Land and it is evident That thou goes not according to the Law of God as aforesaid Seeing then that the Judges of the Land have certain outward known Laws as a rule of direction to guide and lead them to give judgement upon the bodies of men and an outward commission to impower them to put the same in execution and thou pretends to be a Judge to pass the sentence of death upon men and women and pretends in so doing to go by as certain a Rule as the Judges of the Land do when they give judgment according to Law and hast no certain known Laws either of God or the Land as thy rule of direction to guide and lead thee in the ways of right justice to give judgement upon them nor can manifest no true commission to put any known Law in execution It remains certainly true That thou art no competent Judg to pass the sentence of death upon men and women thy pretended Authority is but an usurped thing whereby thou wouldst destroy and oppresse them and it 's said That every oppression against Law by colour of any usurped Authority is a kind of destruction and it is the worst oppression that is done by colour of office Cook 2. par Inst fol. 48. And thy proceedings are no better then oppression against Law both of God and the Land and is done by colour of Office under pretence of chief Judge and in obedience to thy pretended Commission Therefore the acts of injustice done by thee in condemning the souls and bodies of men as aforesaid is oppression against Law and the worst kind of destruction And if injustice be so hateful a thing in the eye of the Law that it deserves to have judgement in a high measure turned backward upon it especially when it is done by colour of office to make the parties offending examples to others that Justice may also turn back into its course how much more hateful a thing is iujustice then in the eye of the Lord especially when it is done by colour of Office Doth it not deserve to have his just and righteous judgement in a high measure turned backward upon it to make the parties offending examples to others that they may fear to do the like and that his Justice may stand and remain in its course but we are sure that the judgement of God is according to truth against them which commit such things Rom. 2.1 2. And by the Law of God it is declared That if a false witness do but rise up against a man to testifie against him that which is wrong then both the men between whom the controversie is shall stand before the Lord and before the Judge that shall be in those dayes and the Judge as his duty is shall make diligent inquisition to find out the truth or falshood of the evidence and behold if the Witness be found out to be a false Witness and hath testified falsly against his brother then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother so shalt thou put away the evil from among you and those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you thine eye shall not pity but life shall go for life eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand Deut. 19.15 16 17 18 19 20 21. or the like judgment was to be executed on a false Witness that had been due to the nature of the offence of him that he was an evidence against if his Testimony given in evidence against him had been true whereby God hath signified his high displeasure against injustice done by colour of office for if a false evidence had been taken for truth and the judgement grounded upon the evidence it had been false judgment as thine is and false judgement is not owned by the Law of God who commands to execute true judgement and to shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother Zech. 7.9 Mic. 6.8 and forbids to wrest judgement Exod. 23.6 saying also by way of command Thou shalt not raise a false report put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous Witnesse Exo. 23.1 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Exo. 23.2 Keep thee far from a false matter the innocent and righteous slay thou not for I will not justifie the wicked Exo. 23.7 Likewise see Moses charge to the Judges Deut. 1.16 17. they were commanded to judge the people with just judgement Deut. 16.18 they were forbidden to wrest judgement and were not to pervert the words of the righteous Deut. 16.19 And that which is
if he owned Moses Law and if he had denyed it then they would had an occasion against him which they sought for They pleaded Fact saying Master This woman was taken in Adultery in the very act Joh. 8.4 Then they pleaded Law saying Now Moses in the Law commanded that such should be stoned Joh. 8.5 But what saist thou This they said tempting of him that they might have to accuse him John 8.6 And they continued asking of him John 8.7 shewing how earnest they were to have had an accusation against him they tempted him for that very end and to see if he would deny putting Moses Law in execution upon that woman which they had taken in Adultery and brought before him to accuse unto him But Jesus himself who was chief Judge ordained of God and had power or authority given him to execute judgement John 5.22 27. he did neither accuse the offender nor countenance those bloody accusers that brought her before him though they pleaded both Law and Fact unto him as aforesaid who teacheth by his example in that case That it is not the duty of a Court to accuse any though a known offender nor to countenance bloody accusers but rather to mollifie their rigour as Christ did in the same case who in great wisdom answered their question and said unto them He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her Joh. 8.7 or put Moses Law in execution upon her but those accusers were none of them without sin because they sinned in tempting of Christ and the Witness of God in their own conscience testified the same unto them whereby they were convicted and thereupon went out one by one beginning at the eldest even unto the last and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst John 8. ver 9. First By which wise answer of his he put a stop to their cruelty against the offender and thereby he delivered her from their cruelty and took her into his mercy who knew better how to deal with her then they would have had him Secondly He by that gracious wise answer unto them put a stop to their subtilty and crost their intent which they had in their minds in their temptation against him Thirdly He hath shewed by that wise answer unto them That criminal persons are no competent Judges to condemn others for that which themselves are guilty of 4. He also by that wise answer unto them preserved himself out of their snare for he thereby owned Moses Law in its time and place which if he had then denyed they thought to have had an occasion against him or whereof to have accused him and having preserved himself out of their snare and taken the woman sinner out of their cruelty into his mercy as aforesaid He then as a gracious and merciful Judge looked upon her with an eye of compassion saying Woman where are all those thine accusers Hath no man condemned thee Joh. 8.10 She answered and said No man Lord. And Jesus to manifest his mercy and the pardoning power which remained with the God-head he said Neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more Joh. 8.10 11. And as a merciful Judge he forgave her that offence and set her free and gave her commend to abstain from sin for the time to come saying Go and sin no more as much as to say let mercy held forth in forgiving thy offence that is past engage thy heart against sin and unto God for the time to come But though thou Lodowick pretend to be the chief Judge in the World thy example doctrine and practice teacheth quite contrary to the doctrine and example of Christ whereby it appears and is plainly made manifest That thou art not ordained chief Judge in his stead First Thy Example Doctrine and Practice teacheth to be both Judge Accuser and Witness contrary to the Law of God and the Law of the Land Secondly To condemn at a distance without any due course of Law or orderly proceedings before thou have the parties and their Accusers face to face before thee to hear what they can say Thirdly To condemn at will and pleasure contrary to any known Law either of God or the Land 4. It teacheth not the preservation of any known Law but rather the destruction of all known Laws both of God and the land 5. Thy example doctrine and practice teacheth to condemn the bodies of men and women without any known law either of God or the land as a rule of direction to guide and lead in the ways of right Justice to give judgement upon them accordingly Lastly Thou teachest thereby That if judgement or sentence be given pronounced or past though never so contrary to truth it ought not to be redressed or reversed undone and holden for nothing which is quite contrary to the law of the land And we are sure that the judgement of God is according to truth Rom. 2.2 but thine is not so whereby it is evident that it is not the judgement of God It appears and is evident first That thou art an unlawful Judge because thou presumes to pass the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women without cognizance or lawful Authority so to do 2. That thou art a foolish unwise Judge because thou passest the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and woman at a distance from thee without having them and their answers face to face before thee Thirdly That thou art an unjust Judge because thou passest the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women contrary to truth without any known laws either of God or the Land as a Rule of direction to guide and lead thee in the ways of right justice to give judgement upon them accordingly 4. That thou art a cruel unmerciful Judge because if thy sentence be once pronounced and past though it be never so erroneous and false thou wouldst have it impossible for any God to reverse and undo the same or to deliver therefrom Seeing that it is so it remains certainly true That thou art no true and competent Judge neither ordained of God nor man to pass the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women and it remains as true That the souls in the Father's hand thou hast nothing to do withal First Because Christ giveth to them eternal life and they shall never perish John 10.28 Secondly Because no man is able to pluck them out of the Father's hand as it is written John 10.29 And thirdly Because the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them Likewise it remains true That thou art not the chosen Witness of the Spirit of Truth and that thou hast not received thy pretended Commission from the God of Truth to do as thou hast done and pretendest to do by colour thereof First Because thou denies Almighty God himself Secondly Because thou denies Christ Jesus of his Offices Thirdly Because thou denies him of his Officers
as Messengers Ministers or Ambassadors Fourthly Because thou denies the holy Scriptures Fifthly Because thou hast lyed against God and Christ and hast born a false Testimony of them and of the true Prophets of God and Apostles of Christ 1. As to the first That thou denies Almighty God himself is evident by thy own Doctrine because thou saist That the dead after death shall never see any other God or Judge but the remembrance of that Sentence which you the pretended Witnesses of the Spirit did pass upon them in this life which is quite contrary to the doctrine of Christ and the Scriptures of truth John 5.26 27 28 29. Mat. 25.31 32 33 34 41. 2 Pet. 2.9 2. And as to the second that thou deniest Christ of his offices is evident against thee by thy own doctrine in three particulars First Thou deniest Christ as chief Judge ordained of God to set up thy self in his stead because thou saist Thou art ordained chief Judge in the world to give sentence upon men and women spiritual and eternal and what shall become of them after deaâ—h contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Scriptures of truth Mat. 25 31 32. c. Ioh. 5.26 27 28 29 30. Acts 10.42 17.31 2 Tim. 4 1 1 Pet. 4.5 and as before is proved Secondly Thou deniest Christ as he is the Saviour of men and the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him in whom eternal life is to be had because thou accounts that there is no eternal life to be had but in the faith of thy doctrine saying There is no eternal life to be had but in the faith of the doctrine or declaration of a Prophet who hath a Commission from God saith There neither is nor ever shall be any such Prophet but thy self whilst the world endureth In answer to the which I say That the holy Scriptures which were spoken and declared from the movings of the Holy Ghost in the holy men of God 2 Pet. 1.20 21. were better doctrine declaration of Prophets of God then thine who had a better commission or authority from God then ever thou hadst And concerning their declaration Christ said to the Jews Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have life Iohn 5.39 40. And Christ said to his Disciples I am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me Ioh. 14.6 And the Ambassador of Christ hath declared and said That the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord as it is written Rom. 6.22 23. then not in the faith of thy doctrine And Christ doth give unto his sheep eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of his hand Ioh 10.27 28. And the Messengers of Christ have declared and said This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 Ioh. 5.11 then not in the faith of thy doctrine He that hath the Son hath life eternal though he deny thy doctrine and he that hath not the Son hath not life eternal though he may have faith in thy doctrine By what hath been said it is evident and remains certainly true 1. That Christ Jesus is the Saviour of men and the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him Acts 5.31 32. Heb. 7 25 Heb. 5.9 and is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him 2. That he is the way to the Father without which no man can come unto him Iohn 146 3. That the gift of God is eternal life which Christ doth give unto his sheep that they may never perish Rom. 6.23 Iohn 10.27 28. 4. That eternal life is not in the faith of thy doctrine or declaration but in Christ the Son according to the Record that God hath given For he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life as it is written 1 Iohn 5.11 12. Thirdly Thou deniest Christ as he is the Advocate with the Father and the propitiation for the sins of the whole World because thou saist That no infinite Spirit of Christ nor any God can or shall be able to deliver from thy sentence and curse which is contrary to truth and the holy Scripture where it is said My little children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them as it is written Heb. 7.25 3. And as to the third That thou deniest Christ of his officers is evident by thy own doctrine because thou falsly saist That no man ought to officiate the Office of a Minister Messenger of Ambassador of Christ but such as are appointed by John Reeves and thy self contrary to the Scriptures 1 Pet. 4 10 11 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. Acts 13.2.4 Acts 20 28. Acts 10 19 20 21. Acts 11.12 21. Acts 10.42 43 2 Cor. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Cor. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. and as before I have proved 4. And as to the fourth That thou deniest the holy Scriptures I prove against thee by thy own doctrine first because thou saist That the words which Christ said to his Disciples Bless and curse not concerns not thee nor any man upon earth at this day contrary to the Doctrine of Christ where it is said Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and teach men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 5.17 18 19. and one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass till all be fulfilled Secondly Thou deniest the holy Scriptures because thou saist The dead after death shall never see any other God or Iudge but the remembrance of that sentence which you the pretended Witnesses of the Spirit did passe upon them in this life contrary to the Scriptures as before I have proved Thirdly Thou deniest the holy Scriptures because thou saist Thou art chief Iudge ordained of God to give sentence upon men and women spiritual and eternal and what shall become of them after death contrary to the Scriptures and as before I have proved Fourthly Thou deniest the Scriptures because thou saist That no man ought to officiate the Office of a Minister Messenger or Ambassador of Christ but such as are appointed by John Reeves thy self contrary to the Scriptures and as before I have proved
for so great glorious a work 7. That the deceit ought to be silent or that the Deceiver thou Lodowick ought to let Truth stop thy mouth like a false Prophet as thou art whose mouths must be stopped according to Tit. 1.11 Postscript Or Concerning Error c. IF none know the Scriptures but thy self then not those that are appointed by John Reeves and thee to the work of the Ministry And as Christ said to the Sadduces when they came to ask him whose Wife she might be in the resurrection which seven brethren had had to wife because they all had her in answer thereunto he said Ye err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Matth. 22.23 24 25 26 27 28 29. So say I to thee That those who are appointed by John Reeves and thee to the work of the Ministry they err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God because thou saist No man knows the Scriptures but thy self Therefore inasmuch as they err not knowing the Scriptures they must needs err in their expositions meanings pretended preachings and interpretation of Scriptures so that their pretended preaching of Scriptures is error 2. Their meanings and conceivings of the Scriptures is error 3. Their expositions and pretended interpretations of Scriptures is error And inasmuch as they err not knowing the Scriptures they also err not knowing the power of God from whence the holy Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 And so their whole work about your pretended Ministry is no better then error and must needs therefore be very unprofitable and not fit to be owned Lodowick IN thy pretended Answer bearing date May 8.1663 to a Letter of mine to thee entitled False judgement reversed and against testified thou saist Thou shalt first commend me for setting my name to it And secondly For setting down thy words so truly and punctually that it makes thy Commission and Authority to shine the more bright and clear In answer thereunto I say It may appear unto all that hears of the same That I have not perverted or wronged thy words or writings and also That thou owns thy sayings and hast not repented of thy errors and blasphemies but still persists therein and rejoiceth in the same and therefore all to whom this may come to be heard seen and read may take notice what thou art and be aware of thee and thy deceit Thou saist That thou art as true an Ambassador of God and Judge of mens spiritual estate as any ever was since the Creation of the world thou only saist it but leaves it as proofless as the rest but I do deny it therefore prove it if thou canst And whereas thou saist If you Quakers and others can satisfie your selves that there never was any man commissionated of God to bless and curse then you shall all escape that curse that I have pronounced apon so many hundreds and I only shall suffer for cursing others without a Commission from God I say in answer unto thee What is all this to the purpose Admit that we grant that God did commissionate under the Law to bless to curse what is that to thee must it necessarily follow that thou art so commissionated We are satisfied by the Lord and assured to the contrary and we know that we shall escape that curse which thou hast pronounced and are satisfied That thou shalt suffer for cursing so many hundreds without a Commission from God as thou hast done And whereas thou saist That thy Commission is no pretended thing but as true as Moses the Prophets and Apostles Commission was I do deny it prove that if thou canst or else let it be granted for true That thou hast taken upon thee to lye in the Name of the Lord that thy pretended Commission is but a counterfeit thing as doubtless it is and therefore thou maist expect a punishment proportionable to thy offence And whereas thou saist That no man can come to the assurance of the favour of God now in these dayes but in believing that God gave this power unto John Reeves and thy self As first That thou hast power given over all other Gods and infinite Spirits what soever 2. That thou hast the pardoning power and the damning power 3. That thou hast the keys of Heaven and of Hell and that none can get into Heaven except thou open the gates 4. That thou hast power to remit their sins who receive thy doctrine and to retain and bind their sins more close upon their consciences for their despising or not receiving of thy doctrine 5. That thou hast power to bless and curse men and women to eternity 6. That it is not the Light of Christ within nor the Scriptures no nor God without that shall deliver from under thy sentence and curse 7. That thou art single in doctrine knowledge judgement and power above all men either Prophets or Apostles since the beginning of the world or that shall ever be hereafter whilst the world doth endure 8. That thou art the only Judge of the two seeds now in these last dayes 9. That there is no true Minister Messenger nor Ambassador of God in the World at this day but thy self neither shall there be any sent of God after thee to the worlds end 10. That God will have men and women justified and condemned no other way but by man like themselves And 11. This power saist thou hath God given unto me and in this regard I am the only and alone Judge what shall become of men and women after death neither shall those that are damned by me see any other God or judge but me I say if these be not errors lyes and blasphemy what is Let God and his people by the Spirit of his Son sent into their hearts judge in this case whereby it may appear what spirit thou art of and what thy pretended Commission is made up of even of pride presumption lyes errors false judgement delusion and blasphemy as is apparent And through the assistance of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I hope I shall ever be ready to testifie for the Lord against thy deceit whilst I have breath as thereunto moved directed by the Lord. And though thou say That a God without thee spoke to thee by voice of words to the hearing of the ear when he gave thy pretended Commission unto thee yet thou saist That no person condemned by thee can make his appeal unto God neither by himself nor by any other and why thy reason is Beâ—ause saist thou God is not in this world at all I say if it be true That none can make their appeal to God neither by themselves nor by the Lord Jesus that are condemned by thee because thou saist God is not in this World at all where was he then when thou received thy pretended Commission seeing thou saist thou received it from a God without thee that spake by voice of words to the hearing of the ear Or is it not a fiction on imagination of thy brain that thou hast received and art so confident in and therefore a strong delusion And whereas thou saist That because I am not under the sentence of thy Commission by verbal words or writing thou shalt give answer unto my Letter for saist thou I never give answer in writing to any one that is under the sentence of my Commission I say That 's a ready way to shuffle off a sound answer or passe by with a lame Reply or passing false judgement at a distance instead of vindicating making good what thou art charged withall and it seems to the end that thou maist slip off and leave thy matter as proofless as before thou sends me a Bill of Excommunication or Execration and passeth sentence to exclude thy self from writing any more in answer unto me A shuffling trick of deceit indeed But this I am bold in the Lord to testâ—fie unto thee That thy judgement is false and erroneous both as to matter and manner and is a sign and token of a false Judge that never was sent of the Lord for who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect seeing it is God that justifies And it is apparent that thou art a false Judge because thou condemns God's Elect under pretence of judging the Serpents Seed Thou art a Deceiver indeed and I am bold to tell thee of it and do testifie against thee and thy judgement I value not it is but like ashes under the soles of my feet and will never trouble me because it proceeds from an Antichristian spirit and will never be laid to my charge by the Lord. Therefore silence Deceiver and give over thy deceit for what I have said in vindication of the Truth and in opposition to thy deceit shall stand over thee in the sight of God and his people that are guided by the Spirit of his Son sent into their hearts And truly I admire that Dorothy Carter or any that are sober and consciencious people should not abhor thy delusion and wicked abomination for assuredly it is not of God but of the Devil and this is my faithful Testimony concerning the same and I am not ashamed to own it under my Name R. Farnsworth THE END