world hate them Iohn 17.14 this word abideth in such as hath overcome the world and greater is he that is in them then he that is in the world 1 Iohn 2.12 13 14. and such are sons 1 Iohn 3. and being sons they are heires of God and joynt heires with Christ Rom 8.16.27 and such have a right to the promises being heires according to the promise and of the seed which the promises are to Galas 3.29 therefore thy fallacy I deny Edmund Skip and witnesse the spirits teachings which thou art a stranger unto as it doth appear the accusations is taken off from Truths friends which thou calls Quakers and now truth is on their side and shineth pure and clear Fourthly That promise made to the waiting people at that time spoken of Malachy 3. was a particuler people and a true figure for there was a time when the adversaties of the Lords people called the Proud happy and they that wrought wickednesse were set up by such enemies and adversaries Malachy 3.15 then they that feared the Lord met often together and spoke one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard them Gods unchandgable Love and Remembrances of his former mercies and loving kindness is sweet and comsortable to his people c. verse 16. but the promise was not upon their acceptation of meeting together in the first place but out of the free love and mercy of the Lord made known unto his own peculier ones which moved them to meet together for saith he I am the Lord I change not therefore the sons of Iacob are not consumed Mala. 3.6 there was a manifestation of Gods love unto them his loving was the moving cause of their meeting together and not their meeting together the moving cause of Gods love to them and so the promise I say to them was not in the first place upon their acceptat on of meeting together but the free love mercy of the Lord which moved them to it and for his loves sake were they accepted their meeting together was not the cause of Gods unchangable love to them but the free love and unchangable of Gods goodness the so mer promises of God remembrances of his loving kindness to them was the cause and their meeting together a fruit of their tobedience to God for his mercy and loving kindness manifested to them and now the promises are to the seed that are in the Covenant and returned to the pure being and in the obedience to the God of Iacob and Israel in the Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17.18 Fistly And that we witnesse who are of the promised Seed The Saints and Servants of the the Lord are witnesses to his teachings and workings by his Spirit And The holy Vnction is the Saints-Teacher and the Spirit of Promise their grade into all Truth and we witnesse the teachings and Covenant of God with his own Seed and according to the promise of the Lord to the Seed as in Isa 48. v. 27. and where he hath said that his Spirit and Words put in the mouth of such there spoken of shall not depart out of the mouth of the seed nor out of the mouth of the Seeds Seed from henceforth for ever saith the Lord Isa 59.20 21. and that spiritual promise of Christ in the Gospell we witnesse which guideth and leadeth into all Truth the Spirit being come which was promised and prayed for Iohn 14.16 17 26. Iohn 16.13 and we also witnesse to the holy Unction which teacheth us all things and we need not that any man teach us but as the Anointing teacheth us which is Truth and no lie as it is written 1 Iohn 2.20 27. And Edmund Skip this power which gave forth the promises and new fulfilles them to the Seed we witnesse to and in therefore Edmund Skip thou that calls the teachings of the Spirit of God and the workings by his Power in and through his children and servants the mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks evill of the Power of God and blasphemes in so saying but thy folly is seen and that for all thy Comparisons and Scriptures under pretences adding thereunto thy fallacies and lying divinations as is manifested to any single eye in thy 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. c. pages And thou art ignorant of the workings and teachings of God and one that blasphemes his Power but thy Judgment thou must bear who art that false accuser of the brethren misapplier of the Scriptures and calls Truth delusion and Delusion truth and so calls evill good and good evill such is thy false judgment crrour and deceipt manifested in thy Astronomical judgement or Blazing-star 1. Whereas thou Edmund Skip falsly accuseth them thou calls Quakers and saith they are filled up with Railing Harsh Some accusations cast off from the Truth and Truth friends by the World called Quakers and turned back upon the Accuser and false accusers to remain and Clamerous language c. in this 13. page but thy saying therein is false and that is largely proved against thee and so the truth from that accusation cleared before and that is turned back upon thee the false accuser and with the false accusers to remain 3. And whereas thou tells of taking Scripture to cover over deceipts withall that we denie and this saying is therein false so turned back upon thee again and with thee and the false accusers to remain the Scriptures we witness to be a true Declaration of the Truth Luke 1.1 1 Iohn 1.3 and we make use of them in their place to witnesse for the Truth and against deceivers and deceipt but for taking them to cover over deceipts withall therein thou lies and hast by that also manifested thy lying spirit and none more guilty of that sin both taking the Scripture to made with all for money and also to cover deceipts and fallacies with all then such as thou art and the priests of the World and not we whom thou accuseth for presently after thou calls them a mislead people and tels what is meident to a mislead people quoting 1 Tim. 6 4. and 4. v. 2 Tim. 3.4 But that misleading we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee and all that are proud traitours heady high minded and lovers of pleasures which things we deny and against them testifie and those Scriptures which thou hast cited tells of such a sort of people Which two places of Scripture clears us and proves such as the Priests and their followers to bring forth the fruits they speak of us their fruits maketh them manifest to be those people thou speaks of not us whom you cal Quakers so according tothatsaying the Priests and their followers are the misled people thou speaks of and there is like Priest like people Hos 4.9 which 2 places of Scripture 1 Tim. 6.4 5. and 2 Tim. 3.4 turnes backwards off from us to you ye Proud-doaters about Questions and Strife of words
which in thy first demonstration thou would charge the Quakers withal who says they are so clearly mistaken that they call evil good and good evil In this thou art charged to be a lyar and false accuser and thy saying is a clear mistake and altogether false therefore as thou art so is it and both evil and so of the Devil not knowing what thou says nor whereof thou affirms saying they and it is thy self and such as thou art And where thou judgeth the Quakers by thee so called with such false judgment and so falsly accuseth them thou may'st be ashamed and blush speaking so vainly and foolishly out of the envy and pride of thy heart which thou would cover with feigned pretences but they will not shelter thee It is thou that art so clearly mistaken in judgment and not they as thou falsly saith that regards not what thou sayest In saying those that thou calls Quakers do judg the wayes practices and actions of all people to be abominable Antichristian and unjust except their own and above all people do they cry out against and disown such who by the world are reproved and disowned as the Church and Disciples of Christ I answer the Church and Disciples of Christ we do not disown nor cry out against therefore in that thou hast again vented thy lie but thee and all false hearted hypocrits and such as pretend to be of the Church and disciples of Christ and are not such we disown cry out against and deny And all that walk in the way to the Father which is but one Ioh. 14.9 such we do not deny cry out against nor disown but al that walk in that way we own even all that are in Christ and walk in him in the lowest degre we do not call that way nor such actions abominable but the way of holiness which the Prophet Isaiah speaks of in Isa 53.8.9.10 and the unclean shall not pass over it but all contrary ways and act ons to puritie and holiness we disown cry out against and deny and all such as say they are Jews and are not but of the Synagogue of Satan such we cry out against deny and disown but the true and right way we own and especially all such as are in that way and all those that are reproached and disowned by the world who are of the Church and disciples of Christ therefore thy lie Edmund Skip is abominable and false and as it is so art thou an abom nable lyer and false hearted hypocrit and one that speak lyes in hypocrisie that hath so regardlesly said Secondly All actions and practises which are in righteousness is by us owned and not denyed knowing this that he that doth righteousness is of God and that is owned but he that doth not righteousness is not of God and that is by us disowned cryed out against and denyed he that doth righteousness is of God and he that doth not righteousness is not of God 1 Ioh. 3.7 and 10. Thirdly In this the children even of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil take notice of this all ye unrighteous ones and thou also who art the lyer and of thy Father the Devil and all such Ioh. 8.44 therefore see what is prepared for such Rev. 21.8 and lying slandering and false accusing is from the evil so of the Devil and that is Antichrist an but Edmund Skip in thy blazing Star thou hast vented thy lies slanders and false accusations to blaze abroad so proving thy selfe to be such a one therefore thy actions are Antichristian actions and thou art an Antichrist and of thy Father as aforesaid and such there are many 1 Iohn 2.18 Then thou and all such are to be cryed against disowned and utterly denyed and though thou may'st be offended because I tell thee the truth but the Spirit of truth doth judg the deceit of thy base heart our own is accepted and the unjust rejected and the way of truth true Church and Disciples of Christ we own and all false ways self-pretended Churches and unrighteous actions we deny against them cry and altogether disown 1. To that which thou calls thy first charge pag. 7. If thou was charged for hypocrisie though thou seek to justifie thy self thy self-justification will not stand good but is null and void therefore of no effect for I have already proved thee to be a lyar slanderer and false accuser of the truth and of the innocent one also that regards not what thou falsly against the truth saith and hast said so a lyar in hypocrisie as before is proved therefore upon thee who art in the hypocrisie and deceit the charge shall stand and as Conscience-Book is opened the light which changeth not though thou alter and change yet the light will then answer upon thee Gods judgments to be just and the woes that are due unto hypocrites to be due unto thee as well as to them spoken of in Ma. 23 who art in the nature turned from the light of which hypocisie doth arise as well as false accusations slanders and lyes Secondly Something now to that which thou calls thy second charge when thou says Thou art charg'd for acting against thy Conscience c. I Answer though thy Conscience may be seared as such that make shipwrack of faith and a good Conscience and now a fleshly confidence be got up in thee and thereby a lying false accusing spirit doth possess thee as the issue of thy heart hath made it manifest and the light in thy Conscience thou art an enemy unto and acts contrary to that which should exercise thy Conscience towards God that is evidently demonstrated to any single eye and in secret the light in thy Conscience which thou art an enemy to it will here for the truth witness the same and also against thy deceit Though thou seek to resist the Cryer it will cry and in thy Conscience against thee testifie and be as a dart at thy heart when Conscience-Book doth open and the light which changeth not will stand firm and be thy condemnat on from God that hates it and walks contrary to it It saith thou should not lye but thou doth lye and art here proved a lyar then thou acts contrary to that within thy Conscience therefore contrary to thy Conscience And the light in thy Conscience saith thou should not falsly accuse any nor judg with unrighteous judgment c. but thou doth accuse falsly and hath accused falsly those thou calls Quakers falsly and also judged and doth judg with false judgment c. which will not abide the tryal nor stand before the judgment seat of Christ but both thou and it are for judgment and in thy condemnation remembered thou will also be of what against the truth thou hast acted and done and acting against the truth and light the light in thy Conscience thou actest contrary to thy Conscience and though thou say thou do not thou art proved a lyar before
left in the snare which thou hast laid and the pâ—t which thou hast dâ—gged and sounder the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist as to the single eye will clearly appear thereby will the innocent by thee called Quakers be cleared though thou and the wicked through plotting mischief be ensnared and seared that all simple hearts may take warning and be preserved who have the living God in any measure truly seared and served by doing his will in departing from the workings of Antichrist by his own power in himself and also though his Antichristian Ministers being as thou art transformed as a Minister of righteousness beguiling the ignorant through the mysterious actings by a Satanical spirit of Antichrist in that mystery of iniquity with thy lying wonders c. 2 Thes 2.9 10 11 12. Now I shall speak to clear the truth from some of thy accusations and slanders that deceit may be cast out and truth stand clear as hereafter will appear First To that in thy tenth page where thou seeks to render the people of God odious which thou calls Quakers and one chief thing thou accusest them withal and lays as a ground to work on and that is thou says their railing and speaking â—uch languages to all sorts of people and Rulers and Magistrates c. which doth as thou says discover a spirit of delusion error c. Now if I prove that that they do not as thou says then thou wilt be found to be what thou would charge them withal and so they cleared and thou left to be known thereby to be guided by a spirit of error and in the delusions and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of But I shall prove that those thou calls Quakers are not as thou says therefore thou art the deceiver and in the delusions c. an the people thou calls Quakers redeemed from such things and stands clear To thy second Rule whereby thou says thou wilt find out where Satan doth colour over and blind this fallacy with some Scripture words and instances And that is first as thou says their rayling and says they count it not railing but a sharp rebuking and reproving men with authority c. quoting Thus 1.13 and 3.15 and those are the places thou says Satan covers himself under and that of Nathan to David when he said thou art the man and that of Christ to Peter when he called him Satan I answer Satan cannot cast out Satan and a Kingdom divided cannot stand thou deceiver and subtil serpent doth or will Satan discover and reprove his own deceivableness No he will not strike at his own Kingdom to root it out The fallacy thou speaks of that is thy own turned back upon thee again and the Scriptures which thou hast cited we witness and own the authority spoken of but they are no covers for deceit as thou says therefore in that thou art the false accuser and lyer against the truth and truths friends thou art a stranger to the life of truth and them and that which thou calls rayling is to tell thee and men of the evil of their ways for in the second place thou says they charge men with hypocrisie aod so take the example of Christ to call men hypocrites here thou shews thou art offended at truth for declaring against the deceit and so art judged out of thy own mouth and by thy own works who art in the hypocrisie and therefore an hypocrite for we cannot follow any better examples then Christ Jesus and his true Prophets and Apostles for we are required so to follow them as for our examples and we do not errâ—n so doing but are accepted for obeying Christ and hâ—s Commands and following him for our example and the eâ—ample of such Eph. 5.1 1 Co. 11.1 and thou art offended at that and that the seed of God should sharply reprove and rebuke the serpents seed and the man of sin and darest thou say there was sin or deceit manifested by Paul forbâ—dding Titus reprove and rebuke with authority or was that any rayling and reviling in him and such to obey the commands of the spirit of truth as Nathan did and such as are sent as he was from God sent to tell David he was the man and Christ Jesus himself to Peter Get thee behind me Satan And as it was no sin nor deceit in them to say so being guided thereunto by the Lords spâ—râ—t then it is not deceit error nor delusion for such now so to say being thereunto as they was guided by the Lords holy Spirit to say so to whom they are so sent and to say as they are by the Lord required but thou and the Serpents seed are offended at the righteous judgment and language of the Spirit of Truth therefore thy sayings against such are false and so thou judgest amiss to call it rayling and reviling speaking against sin and deceâ—t and to speak plainly to Teachers People Rulers and Magistrates according as their Condâ—tâ—ons are c. As I shall prove by several Scripture eâ—amples and then let all the children of light judg and not the world which thou calls to judg of thy sayings who are in deceit as thou art and cannot judg aright but therein thy folly and enmity is discovered and for colouring delusion error and deceits with pretences and seemingly from the Scriptures by-fallacies c. none more guilty of that sin than thou art and the Hireling and Tything-Priests and such false Antichristian Ministers that are in union with Antichrist as thou art being so acted and guided by a Satanical spirit in all his mysterious actings being turned back and according to thy sayings in thy 11. page and the judgments woes c. against Kendal in the North shall stand But that which proceeds from the Spirit of truth and the true Power of the living God in His Sons and Daughters which thou calls rayling is not as thou says but are words of truth therefore thy second Rule for the discovery of the mystery thou tells of is false a lying fallacy so error and deceit therefore thou art a false Judg and so guided by an erronious spirit of delusion to judg amiss of the Saints practice by thy delusion error and deceit Example 1. To speak truth in plainness by the spirit of truth to Priests People Rulers or Magistrates is no railing but according to the Scriptures and practise of the Peop of God as is here by these Examples proved to be a witness for the truth and against E. S. lies error and all decei For first When the Lord sent the Prophet his servant Isaiah to speak to the blâ—nd watch-men and greedy Sheapherds of Israel who had transgressed the first Covenant c. he called them beasts and said All ye Beasts of the field come to devoure His Watch-men are blind they are ignorant they are all dumb-dogs yea they are greedy dogs which have never enough they all look to their own way
17. A fifth Fâ—ample from pâ—â—ct se of 〈◊〉 men of God proâ—â—ing plain speakingâ—o 〈◊〉 no â—ailing and so rickâ—h void Edmund Skip's â—â—e of difreâ—â—â—â— c. Fifthly another Example take notice of to be a witness against the deceit and dying toughes that calls truth railing c which doth also prove that speaking truth against deceit and in plainness to Rulers Magistrates Princes Judges Priests and People is no railing nor reviling as thou Skip says and so thy Rule of discovery as thou calls it is thereby made null and void and thou art he that loth so judg amiss with thy false spirit of tâ—echery and dekeâ—t in thy Astronomical Judgment and â—lazing â—taâ— wherein thou mast set forth thy lying Wonders Let all the wise-hearted take notice That when the Prophet Micahâ— the servant of the Lord was sent by the Lord to the Judges and Priests to tel them of their Transgressions and plainly said that the Iudges judged for rewards and the Priests they preached for here and yet they leaned upon the Lord but the Lord was against such things and sent his servant to tell them of it plainly Micah 3.11 and he also told the Rich-men they was full of violence and the Inhabitants thereof spoke lyes and their tongues was hypocritical and deceitful in their mouths and Micah in so saying did not rail nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth by and with the Spirit of the Lord Mica 3.8 9 10 11. Mica 6.8 9.10 11 12. See also what the Prophet Ieremiah saith Ier. 5.29 39 31. and see what the Prophet Ezekiel saith Ezek 34.9 10. and see what the Prophet Hosea saith in the 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 and in all that they there spoke they did neither rail nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth take notice That then to speak truth against deceit was no reviling and likewise now theservants of the Lord being sent to Cities or Towns and such like places to speak the Word of the Lord to Citizens and people and also to tell the Priests they Preach for hire that do so and to tell the Judges they judg for rewards that do so and tell the Rich-men that they are full of violence and tell the Inhabitants in Cities Corporations Market-towns and Villages in England or elsewhere that their tongues is deceitful in their mouths and they are so c. Such setvants of the Lord that are by His Spirit so sent to such Cities and Towns to tell Magistrates Priests and people what they are and reprove them of their transgressions Truth cleared and the deceit reproved by the Spirit of truth and for their sins and iniquities and forewarn them of the judgments to come eâ—cept they repent and amend and turn to the Lord by forsaking the evil of their waies and the evil of their doings such are not raylers and revilers neither of Magistrates Priests nor people but Servants and Messengers of the Lord and such are those that are so sent by the Lord of those whom the world scornfully calleth Quakers therefore such are no railers not revilers but the Lords Servants and Messengers whom the Lord so sends by His Spirit though the world abuse them and scornfully call them Quakers but saith Christ to his Marvel not if the world hate you it hated me before it hated you c. The People whom the world calleth Quakers art proved to be the People of God of Him sent though by the world despised c. And such are not railers but speaks the words of sound truth though it be by some rejected it was so before and therefore Edmund Skip thy sayings are false and thou judgest altogether amils through the mysterious workings of Aneichrist in his transformings thou speaks of in thee which so makes thee to vent forth his lies and untruths through thee Now all People consider of this and take heed of despising the Messengers and people of God whom the world scornfullyâ—call Quakers and also take heed of rejecting the Counsel of God as thou wilt answer it before the Tribunal seat of Gods Justice and Judgment And now that truth is so cleared to you in that things and as asoresaid call it not railing nor reviling which is sound truth from the Spirit of truth and cleared also by plain Examples in Scripture witnessed aforetime by the holy men of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christs and sealed to or confirmed by us who now live and walk in the Spirit though reviled by the nick-name of Quakers but being of the Divâ—ne-nature made partakers we are not desirous of vain-glory who do deny railing and reviling and provoking or envying one another as such did 2 Pel. 1.3 4. c. Gal. 5.24 25 26. The Prophet Zephaniah was sent to cry Another Example of a polluted and filthy Ciâ—y that received not the correct on of the Lord as the Cities Liechfield Coventry and that Town of Kendal â—ppleby and saith wicked persecuting places did not receive the Instruction c. wo to the polluted and oppressing City and those that said wo to Kendal and Leichfield c. being guided thereunto by the Spirit of the Lord did right in so doing for they are wicked polluted places as well as that polluted City that the Prophet Zephaniah cryed wo unto in his Prophecy and such like who obeyed not the voice of the Lord as that City c. did not take warning and fear And read your Example who have not obeyed the Lords voice in His Servants no more then that polluted City the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of which obeyed not the voice nor received the correction and instruction And saith the Prophet Her Princes within her are roaring Lyons her Iudges are ravening Wolves their Prophets are light and trecherous persons their Priests have polluted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3.1 2 3. And though that City obeyed not the voice nor received the correction and instruction no more than Kendal and Leichfield and such like places Let them take warning and fear and in Judgments remembred they will be by the Lord and know that he sent his Servants amongst them and there were they persecuted and imprisoned as well as at Coventry and a place in Worcestershire called Kederminster and their blood be upon their own heads for they are left without excuse let them take notice of that Richard Baxter Mâ—nister at Kedermâ—nster châ—s-Priestan Worcestershire haâ—h brought forth that monster persâ—ution and haâ—h imprisoned onâ— for the breach of no known Law but under pretence of speaking hard speechâ—es and read Ezek. 33.11 12 13 14 15. and 3.18 19 20 21. And also let all people know that those places are wicked places and guided by a persecuting spirit and at Kederminster and other places as those and such like they have persecuted the Servants of the Lord for the breach of no known Law neither of God nor man but only for declaring against their
the teachings of the Spirit of Truth and also edifying one another in Love building up into the most holy Faith is well pleasing to the Lord and comfortable one to another and so by letting our Light shine forth to others and bringing forth fruit with an encrease in the graces of the Spirit hereby we glorify our Heavenly Father Iohn 15.5 8. Reply Thy fallacy or sting in thy tail we deny which lies in those words as they fancy it but the waiting and stirring of that which is pure and the immediate teachings of the Spirit we witnesse and own and herein thou hast manifested thy self to all the Children of light to be ignorant of the stirrings workings teachings and actings of the Spirit of Truth and so art in the fancy thou tells of and as thou calls it thy self and in this thou hast cleared thy self to be no Minister of the Spirit nor New Covenant that art ignorant of the immediate teachings of the Spiâ—â—â— but the immediate teachings of the Spirit we witnesse as the Minister of Christs in the Spirituall ministration did who were made able Ministers not of the Letters but of the Spirit as they did witnesse 2. Cor. 3.6 And no Prophesie of the Scripture came in old time by the will of man but holy of men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1.21 and that were not mediate by man but immediate by God and as they waited the holy Ghost immediatly spoke and said Separate me Sarnabas and Saul Acts 2.1 2 3 4. for the work whereunto I have appointed them Act. 13.2 and as Philip was travelling immediatly the Spirit taught him and said Go and joyn thy self to the Charet c. Act. 8 29 30. But thou that art ignorant of the immediate teachings thou art ignorant of the Spirit of God and so thy Ministry is mediate of man and not of God therefore no Minister of the Spirit and the Gospell and in that thou hast clearly also discovered thy self to be an Antichristian-minister and so in the delusions thou speaks of they turne back upon thee and are there to Remain Paul an Apostle and Minister of the Gospell was not made by mediate meanes that is not by man but He was made immediate and that was by God Gal. 1.1 And I certify you brethren that the Gospel which I preach unto you I received it not mediate of man but immediate of God take notice of that Gal. 1. neither was I taught it of man but of God vers 11.12 and by Revelation and that was not mediate but immediate vers 15 16. then foutteen yeares after Paul went up to Ierusalem by Revelation Gal. 2.12.12 the Myistery was made known unto him by the immediate teachings of the Spirit even by Revelation Eph. 3.2 3 34. But thou that art ignorant of the immediate teachings of the Spirit of God doth not know the Father nor the Son for there is no True Knowledge of them but 〈◊〉 â—â—clation Math. 11.27 and that is by the Immediate Teachin◠〈…〉 man knowes the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever 〈…〉 will reveal him Luk. 10.22 take notice of that and all that denies the immediate teachings of the Spirit of God Remember you as well as Edmund Skip have cleared your selves to be no Disciples of Christ nor Ministers of the Spirit but it is good that Fools utter their folly as thou hast done thine take notice and read 2 Tim. 3.8 9. And where thou art Reckoning up many things by thy busie minde in thy 22 23 and 24 pages and judging of their conditions with thy thoughts and summes or gathers some Scriptures together also to busie thy mind about Edmund Skips Confutation who art a Stranger to the life of them as doth appear And thou says the Words of Paul are very much abused by the false interpretation of their enemy I Answer Thou hast whipt thy self with that Rod for thou art their enemy then the words of Paul are very much abused unto them by by the false Interpretations of thee their enemy therefore be thou ashamed and blush thou enemy of the Righteous and abuser of Pauls words by thy false interpretations whereby thou seeks to cover thy lies slanders and false accusations but Antichrist even besools thee and lets thy nakedness appear thy covers will not hide thee but leaves thee bare take notice of this And that which thou calls a Grand Assertion of theirs and thou would have the world to give their judgement of it and that is concerning hell which the wicked go in at c. A Reply to that which thou calls a grand Assertion concerning Hell c. I answer How should the world or wicked give any true judgement concerning it seeing the wicked and all that forgets God shall be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and the naturall man knows not the things that stands in the counsel of God because they are spiritually discerned and so he is not able to judge them 1 Cor. 2.14 and yet thou wilt have the world to try thy expressions and renents thou speaks of they who are in the dark part with thee are not able to judge aright but thou and thy expressions and â—enets are all seen and comprehended with the light and with the light condemned and hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and the proud and wicked Mal. 4.1 and their glory and their pompe and their multitude shall descend into it Isa 5.14 and then wo to all the Lords enemies and adversaries Mat. 25.41 to the end and z Thess 1.6 7 8 9. Rev. 21.8 And that fallacy of thine I deny which thou art to prove if thou canst or else ensnared thou art and taken with a horrible lie and the lake for the liar is prepared and then hell and torment is the reâ—â—ed of such take them a long with thee that are in the mâ—◠〈◊〉 â—orkings of Antichrist willing to be kept in his deceivâ—◠〈◊〉 for the devil that deceiveth them that are spoken of Râ—v 2â— 10 the beast and false prophet and all such are to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstome and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 11. and all who are not found written in the Lambs book of life are cast in thither c. vers 14 15. then take notice of this all ye wicked and ungodly ones And where thou sayes in Brevity thou hast given the mysterious deceit it self I answer thou hast accused with many lies and slanders and those are from the old serpent covered over with smooth pretences but thou art clearly seen and found to be in that mysterious working of Antichrist thou speaks of and so guided by his spirit whose coming is after that manner spoken of even with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 2 Thess 2.9 c. and so in short thou hast cleared thy self from the teachings and workings of God by
Antichrist in hâ—s mysterious actings thou speaks of and though thou be exalted in the delusions by Satans transformings in the working so disguised through that mysterious vail yet thrown down thou must be who art in the delusions and so overcome with deceit by the subtil stratagems of Satan thou speaks of therefore let all that fears God take heed of thee and thy delusions and the mysterious workings of Antichrist by whose spirit thou as well as his Ministers art Acted who art labouring through his deceitful power thou speaks of and working to bring other poor creatures into thy own Region of darkness and valley of death who art under the dominion of the prince of darkness the prince of the power of the air the spirit that ruleth in thee and all the children of disobedience such as thou art 2 Thess 2.9 10 11 12. In thy Pages 25 26. thou sayes They compare their sufferings and Agoâ—ies with those of Christ and they must suffer the wrath of God and the like as he did and yet reckon themselves the servants of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord will prove this to be a horrible lie and delusion because that Christ suffered for his servants and boâ—e the wrath and curse of God for them and made satisfaction to his Fathers law and justice in his own blood and his father was pleased to accept it c. Reply thy comparison and fallacy we deny where thou sayes they compare their sufferings and agonies with those of Christ and say they must suffer the wrath of God as he did The comparison is thy own and the fallacy lies in those words in thy third line as He did we do not say we must suffer râ—â—poâ— that cross at Mount Caâ—vary Christs death of great effect who hath satisfied the justice of God for the breach of the first covenant and now estabâ—â—shed the second to satisfie the fathers wâ—ath and justice for the transgressions under the first covenant as he did therein thou lies and accuseth falsly for he hath satisfied his fathers law and justice by suffering upon the cross at Mount-Caâ—ary for the transgressions that were under the first covenant who through the eternal spirit offered up himself without spot to God and now in the new Covenant he doth purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God and for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Covenant that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receave the Promise of eternall inheritance Hebr. 9 11 12 13 14 15. and we are called not onely to beleeve but also to suffer as they under the New Covenant that beleeved were did who said For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not onely to beleeve but also to suffer for his sake having the same Conflict which ye saw in me and now hear it to be true Philip. 1 29 30. This spoke the Minister of the Gospel The Saints under the New Covenant do witness the sufferings of Christ in tâ—em c. who had suffered and born about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus Read and understand 2 Cor. 4.10 and the same Minister of the Gospell did annex a suffering to beleeving and that in the behalf of Christ Philip. 1.29 and thy comparison and fallacy being taken away we witness such sufferings which thou appears to be a Stranger in and accuseth a people that witnesse the Power of God which worketh out salvation by fear and trembling which the Gospell Minister that spoke to the Philippians of to suffer as well as beleeve in his 2 Chapter 12.13 and also annexed obedience to faith and suffering to both and we know that Christ is the Author of our salvation that obey and serve him and His servants we are as well as sufferers for his Names sake who also is the Author of eternall Salvation to all that obey him Hebr. 5.8 9. this fallacy being taken away Truth we witnesse and a suffering Condition and that according to the teachings of the Spirit of Truth for Christs sake though not as he did upon the Crosse at mount Calvary to Redeem them that were under the Law from under it who fulfilled that Law and Covenant that were but Types and figures of him who took away the first and established the second Such as come not by the dore and through inward sufferings with Christ are strangers to the New Covenant and the theef is seen to be without c Hebr. 10. and as they who witnessed Christ under the New Covenant did witnesse a bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus so do we and the life manifest in our mortall bodies as such dâ—d 2 Cor. 4. And as they who were Ministers of the New Covenant and knew the terrours of Lord so do we therefore we perswade men to be Reconciled to God as they did who were his Ambassadours and Fellow-labourers with him 2 Cor. 5.11 and 2. Cor. 6.2 Cor. 2.15 16 17. And we know also that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ as theirs did 2 Corinth 1.5 and thou that art a Stranger to the inward suffering and so accuseth them who witness them thou manifests to all the children of Light whose servant thou art a Theef that hath climbâ— up another way and so never come in by the door and have I charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be noâ—â— of his Ministers that art so ignorant of the Spirits works and teachings and by thy fallacies and living divinations casts slanders and Aspersions upon the Children and Servants of the Lord by thy subtilty and Serpent-tine wit who art that horrid lyer and the Spirit of God proves thee to be so that through a dirty fallacy thou would cast upon the Innocent buâ— it is turned back upon thee to Remain plagues is the Serpents portion but thou art of the Seâ—pents seed a lier and false-accuser and plauges is thy portion silence deceaver and stop thy mouth with the true light art thou seen and comprehended and with the Light condemned And though Christ did make satisfaction to his Fathers Law Christ hath made satisfaction for the Law and there is now condemnation to such as are infreed from and Justice to fulfill that law which had been broken and through the fulfilling of it were his Justice satisfied yet that doth not free from inwards sufferings that law stood outwardly and was fulfilled and the Justice of God satisfied concerning the breach of it but now his Law is written within in the heart according to the tenour of the New Covenant that was given according to the Fathers Promis Ier. 13.13 c. Hebr. 8. So now the Righteousness of the holy Law of the Spirit of Life t is to be fulfilled in us as it was to be fulfilled in them that
subject to the Law of God and so judged with the power that brings forth judgment into Victory The body of sin is first within and those that know Redemption from it victory over it knowâ—â— the Power of God working within Secondly To come to thy sayings they are weighed and thou art seen to stand in thy will and unrighteous false Astronomicall judgment and the Secrets of God that stands in his Counsail are hid from such Astronomers and lyers as â—hou art who art all along catcht with the lye comed out of thy mouth and that which stands with the Divine Power of god stands with his Justice to let his servants bear about in their bodies his true Judgment which bringeth forth Righteousnesse and by the execution of his Justice sin is the reby condemned in the flesh so within their bodies for the body of sin is within and the just Judgement is executed upon it within so through the judgement upon the unjust comes the freedom of the Just by the working of the power of Truth in the Spirits ministration But thy fallacy we deny thy sting in thy tail yet it stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8. For what the Law could not do in that it was week through the flesh God sent his Son to condemn sin in the flesh verse 3. and the freedom from the Law of sin and death is by the Law of the Spirit in Christ ver 2. and that is within in the body which Spirit that worketh within and executes Judgment upon him setting free from the same doth also quicken the mortall body verse 11. and Paul he bore about in his Body so did the rest the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ might dwell in their mortall flesh 2 Cor. 4.10.11 and these workings and actings was within in the body and he said from henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear about in my body the marks of the Lord Iesus It stands with the Justice of God to condemn sin in the flesh and to let his servants bear about in their bodies both the dying and sufferings of the Lord Iesus Take notice of that Gal. 6.17 and they had the sentence of death within themselves and that was in their bodies and the sufferings of Christ did abound in them 2 Cor. 1. and that was in their bodies and when Paul writ unto the Colossians he Rejoiced in his sufferings for them and was to fill up that which was behinde of the Afflictions of Christ in his flesh c. Coloss 1.24 25. and he knew the mighty Power of God which wrought in him mightily verse 29. the Power of God within and the afflictions of Christ in their flesh and the works of Christ in their body and the knowledge of the terrours of the Lord and the bearing about in their bodies the dying of the Lord and the sentence of death within them and the condemning of sin in their flesh and the sufferings of Christ did abound within them these things was witnessed by them in their bodies c. which Conditions thou art â—gnorant of and so never came in by the dore which dore and sufferings and the like the people of God now witnesse whom thou Skip doth slander and Revile but as for thy saying If we bear in our bodies and Spirits Gods just and exact Judgment until he have wrought out of us his own satisfastion and recompence c. thou speaks thou knows not what and as I said before so say I still thy fallacy we deny and thy sting in thy taile but we witness to the truth and sufferings with Christs as the servants of the Lord did and by the workings of his Spirit we witness sin condemned in the flesh Judgement brought forth into victory and sanctification by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 1.30 but that point of sophistry is thy own and turns back upon thee again And where thou hast gathered several Scriptures together and art speaking about sanctification and saith in the last place will you consider how Paul doth reckon the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. as in thy 28. page Reply The sanctification we own and witness unto as I said before but we deny thy point of sophistry thou tells of A Point of sophistry denyed and that thou hast any thing to do either to Judge of the people of God or workings of the Spirit that art ignorant of his teachings and art iound to be the false accuser of the Brethren The divine power of God which worketh out the corruptions doth also sanctify the soul and bringeth forth the fruits of the Spirit as is here mentioned witnessed by us whom the world calleth Quakers yet we witness the Power of God which causeth to shake tremble and quake as the holy men of God did which the Scriptures also witnesseth And as we witness their conditions so we witness the fruits of the Spirit effected by the operation of the divine power which branches forth into love without dissimulation c. which love is kind envyeth not vanteth not it self is not puffed up nor revileth nor rejoyceth not in iniquity but is a support both of faith hope and patience and causeth to go comfortably through both afflictions and tribulations 1 Cor. 13. and the same power of life brancheth forth it self by the spiritual operation into joy which is not fleshly but spiritual such a Joy as no man can take away and this remaineth within also according to the saying of Christ Iohn 15.11 and this divine power bringeth forth another fruit of the Spirit in us whiâ—h is called Peace and such a Peace as the world cannot give but such a Peace as Christ giveth unto his spoken of in the 14. of John 27. verse and it brancheth forth into long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness temperance patience godliness brotherly-kindness c. as in Gal. 5.22 23. anâ—wering with 1 Cor. 13. chap. which speaks of the Spirits fruits and likewise agreeing with that Rom. 12. and 2 Pet 1 2 3. c. This we witness unto by the Spirits workings and teachings according to the measure and manifestation of of the Spirit of truth and according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Where thou says first whatsoever journey Satan shall suggest unto them they must undertake if it be a hundred or two hundred miles Page 29. Reply That is false and not true and here thou art charged to be an open lyer and false accuser satans suggestions we deny and turn thy saying back upon thee again and we also deny his service he is thy Teacher and Master who hath so taught thee to lye and falsly accuse and thou undertakes to do his service but thou must receive thy
that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God-in him herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is so are we in this world 1 John 4.16 17. 10. We love him because he first loved us and manifested his love to us to beget our hearts and souls to love and obey him and this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his brother also vers 19 20. 11. By this we know we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous to such as are born of God for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our saith 1 Joh. 5.2 3 4. 12. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that is born of God 1 Joh. 5.5 6. Joh. 3.5 6 7 8 of water and the Spirit not after the flesh nor after the will of man but after the spirit and according to the will of God Joh. 1. but as many as received him to them he gave powers to become the sons of God even to â—hem that believe on his name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men but of God Joh. 1.12 13. and such as are born of God are in the life of faith known the witnesses and he that Believeth â—n the Son of God and is of that birth hath the witness within and the record is there known and witnessed in the life eternal and we do through the mercies of God know the teachings and workings of Gods holy Spirit within us witnessing the faith and the birth and we do not believe and love one another only but we know that the Son of God is come also and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and as they was and said so do we and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is true God and life eternal and no delusion nor deceit but according to the teachings and workings of the spirit of truth and witnessed to by the Scriptures and the servants of truth 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 20. and friends and brethren who are out of the envy and hatred in the divine love and so out of the old life in the new passed by the Lord. Page 28. And where thou sayes They are under the great bondage and slavery which is laid upon them by Satan who captivates them at his will Reply Then it is by the Satanical Ministers and tything and hierling Priests that bondage and bring into prisons for speaking the truth and declaring against their false Antichristian Ministery The servants of Christs bondage by the Ministers of Antichrist as many by their means hath so been brought into bondage and outward imprisonment and could not have liberty to declare and spread abroad the truth because Satan in and by his false deceitful Ministers caused some to be laid hold on and put into prison and thereby acting the divels part brought some into bondage which by the devil in his Antichristian Ministers were laid upon even such servants of God as were Antichrists opposers and so that Scripture were fulfilled where it is said the devil shall cast some of you into prison and ye shall have tribulation for a tâ—me and so the devils Ministers hath in that acted their part to bring into bondage the servants of the Lord take notice or that ye Satanical persecuring Antichristian Ministers who bondage and imprison the servants of the Lord and you that are by them so imprisoned be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life Head Rev. 2.10 And whereas thou says They are made to suffer more cruel and heavy burthens then she Israelites under Pharaon in Egypt Page 28. Reply Then it is by the Satanical Priests and Antichristian Ministers as before and not onely by our bonds and imprisonments but also by causing them to pay the tenths of their yeerly increase of hey and corn The tithing and hireling-Priests false Antichristian Ministers are cruel oppressors of the people of God as Pharaoh was and tithe lamb and wooll money for Marâ—â— and foals money for kine and calves money for eggs and smoak passing the chimmeys and their geese and piggs tithe hemp and flax tithe apples and cherries Easter reckonings and Midsummer dues as they call them and causeth such to pay those things to whom they do no service except to revile them and â—ail against them and such as cannot for conscience sake towards God pay these demands to uphold an Antichristian Ministry captivates or imprisons them at his will and thus they suffer more cruel burthens by them then Israel did by Pharaoh for I do not read that ever Pharaoh did after that manner therefore you Antichristian Ministers be ashamed of your Ministery Page 40. And thou thy self saith in Page 40. That They forsake father and mother wife and children for Christs sake and they endure much affliction persecution opposition and disgrace from the men of the world c. Reply By that thou hast proved them to be none of the world but such as love Christ above all Mat. 10. 37 c Luk. 9.23 c. and art thou offended and all this while slandering and reviling them for their love they bear to Christ by doing his will and following him according to Gospel discipline The people and servants of Christ suffers affliction persecution and reproach from the men of the world for the love they have to Christ by following him and doing his will and reproving of sin rule and doctrine and so suffers for his names sake as such aforetimes did that believed loved obeyed and followed him and it is the portion from the world that His must eâ—pect to be afflicted persecuted and suffer reproach which thou calles disgrace from the men of the world and so here thou hast cleered them to be the chosen people of God that are chosen out of the world to suffer for Christs sake as they do and by this thou hast also cleared thy self to be none of the friends and disciples of Christ but one of the world for they are reproached and slandered by thee and so by the world and therefore thou lovest them not because they are not of the world and makes good the Scripture and saying of Christ who said to his If the world hate you ye know it hated me and so thou hates his and therefore hates him and saith he to his if ye were of the world the world would love its own but thou loves not us because we are not of the world but are chosen out of the world to declare against the evil of it and therefore thou art offended but we must do the will of the Lord and
rejoyce in that he hath chosen us out of the world and counted us worthy to do his will in declaring against the deceits of the world and also in that he hath counted us worthy to suffer for his names sake Joh. 15.18 19 20 21. and more especially that our names are written in the Lambs book of life knowing also that the unrighteous and all whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life shall not enter into the holy City nor inherit the Kingdom of God but be cast into the lake that burneth c. as Jesus hath said who sent his Angel to testifie the same Take notice of this all ye persecuters gainsayers and oppressors of the truth and all the unrighteous prophane ones and all under what deceipts soever 1 Cor. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.9 10 11. and Rev. 21.8 27. Rev. 20.10 11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 22.10 11 15 16. And where thou shews thou art offended that truth should be spread abroad thou makes covers to cover over deceit but it is clearly seen and thou art falsly accusing and saying That they pretend that the Lord sendeth them hither and thither that they know not wither to go or to what person till they come to the place or person c. Reply That is false the pretence is thy own and that fallacy or sting in thy tail I deny where thou sayes They pretend the Lord sends them hither and thither they know not whither The wicked bends their tongues like their bows for lies and so shoots their arrows of reproach against the innocent c. thy pretence and fallacy is denied but the Lords sending I own and know and after what manner he sends even as he pleaseth according to the workings in his own councel after the good pleasure of his will And this I do own notwithstanding thy cover from the Lords sending of Moses to Pharaoh and Nathan to David and Ananias to Saul c. Thou art busying thy minde about them and their sending and art a stranger to the life they lived in they was not liars slanderers false accusers nor hypocrites like thee but declared against such as thou and thy generation of evil doers are by the spirit of the Lord in his servants and children declared against now at which thou art sore offended and bends thy tongue like thy bow for lies and shoots thy arrows of reproaches false accusations and slanders out against the truth and would not be told of it again but be thou sure God will meet thee and with his righteous judgements smite thee and such like and then wo to the wicked and such as thou art it shall go ill with you Isa 1.24 2 Thess 1.8 9. Isa 3.11 2. Thy pretence being denyed and fallacy cast out the former sendinâ—s of the Lords servants I own A sting in the tail denyed but the Lords sending of his servants as he pleaseth owned and also the sending of the Lords servants now by the same spirit and power which thou art a stranger unto that speaks against immediate teachings by the Spirit of God which teachings immediate I own and also know the Lords sending when I am sent to person or place as Ananias did when he wâ—s sent unto Paul in the street called straight to that person and place Act. 9.10 11. and as I do so do all witness to the truth who stands in the councel of God and to the truth I witness but thy saying that lay in thy fallacy and sting in thy tail that I deny and backe with the rest of thy lies I return open thy old botle and take them in again into the serpents seat from whence they came that with thee and in thy generation they may remain And where thou sayes Let us return and examine the manner of the Lords sending his servants and prophets upon particular messages I answer Thou hast nothing to do to busie thy minde about them The way and manner of the Lords sending forth his servants is owned according to the working of his power in his own councel after the good pleasure of his divine will and also some times to particular places and persons according to the word of the Lord. yet art an enemy to them and a stranger to the immediate teachings and so to the power by which they were and are sent but the immediate teachings I own as before is said and also the power and spirit by which the Lord sent and now sendeth his servants and the manner of the Lords sending of them as he pleaseth according to the working of his power in his own councel and after the good pleasure of his will he then sent forth his servants and so doth he now and that I also own and those that the Lord sent and stood in his councel they knew whither to go and sometimes the Lord told them to whom to go and what to say and sometimes they were to go to places c. and it should be told them when they came there what to say and sometimes waited after they came there several dayes before it was given what to say or speak c. And as the Lord did then to his servants according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his will so doth he to his servants now according to his own councel and the good pleasure of his divine will but Edmund Skip thou that art a liar slanderer and false accuser of the brethren thou art of the old serpent Rev. 12.15 c. and not in the councel of God but accusing such as are and speaking evil of the wayes and workings of the spirit and power of God then out of his councel and so not sent of him but by the false accuser and the man of sin therefore I take that from thee which thou hast stoln and return it into its right place again and I tell thee plainly the Lord is against such theeves as thou art and as may be read Jer. 23.30 31 32. But to the truth I witness and own and that when the Lord called Moses and made known himself to him he sent him according to the good pleasure of his will and so doth he now such as standeth in his counsel Exod. 3. And when Ezekiel was sent to them of the captivity at Tel-abib that dwelt by the river of Châ—ber he knew whither to go but not what to say neither when he went to them nor at first or present when he came there amongst them and where they was but he sat where they sat and remaied there amongst them seven dayes before it was given him what to say so he to wit Ezekiel the servant of the Lord when he was at that time sent by the spirit of the Lord he knew whither to go but not what to say untill it were revealed unto him Ezâ—kiels seven dayes silence at Tel-abib or given unto him what to say from the Lord to the people unto which he
not our thoughts the Lying Spirit hath told thee so by which thou art deceived and so taught to lie thy Tongue is deceitfull and so is thy heart and now the Spirit of Truth tells thee the same and also witnesseth against thee and thy deceipt And that distrustfull care we deny and know that Christ doth engage his people to leave it but there is a true care which Christ engageth the hearts of his people unto and that we own And the love of Christ teacheth us diligence and faithfulness also which engageth our Hearts and Souls unto him and to do justly love mercy and walk humbly with our God to serve him with Reverence and Godly fear and also to serve our generation in Love by being faithful unto the Lord our Redeemed passing the time of our sojourning here in fear and true care therefore thou open Lyer lay thy hand upon thy mâ—dâ—â— and â—â—ish be ashamed for ever that thou should be to befooled by the Devil as thou art to be his slander-Carryer and sow his seed of distention lies slanders and evil 〈◊〉 and so Labours to harrow it into the fear of enmity and grounds of Prejudice And that saying where thou says Thou hast read 〈◊〉 what an insolent proud Authentick manner the Devil spoke to Christ c. Reply That shall stand for thy self who are the Devils-slander-carrier and Satans Proclaimer and Publisher of lies slanders and deceiptfull wicked evill and filthy aspersions in such a 〈…〉 insolent Authentick manner against the Truth of Christ and his Brethren and friends so against him in them and Reviles the servants of the living God is thy Fore-fathers did Revile our bâ—estâ—d Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ but were joyce in this that we are counted worthy to so suffer for his Names sake Math. 5.10.11.12 and with all knowing this that the servant is not greater then his Lord as he himself hath said therefore we bear it in Remembrance dwelling in his word John 4.1 〈◊〉 John 15.20 And where thou says we own visions and Revelations c Reply That we do not deny if we should we should deny the Spirit of Truth and the Condition of the holy men of God Act. 9.10 11 12. and Act. 10.17 and we also know this that there is no true knowledg of God but by Revelation as Christ himself hath said Who spoke Truth and could not 〈◊〉 and he is also to be beleeved and obeyed who is the way to the Father and the Scriptures bears testimony from his own mouth to the â—â—â—e undeniable and grounded Truth as may be read Matth. 11.27 Luk. 10.22 And where thou sayes so making themselves eithe Prophets or Apostles c The Lord maketh both true Prophets and true Apostles Reply Self we deny and all the Power of darknesse so in that thou hast told another Lie and of our selves we are not able to think any thing as our selves but our sufficiency is of God who maketh both Prophets and and Apostles and so able Ministers of of the New Testament or Covenant not of the Letter but the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life this the Scriptures witnesseth and we witnesse with them 1 Sam. 3.19 20 21. 2 Pet. 1.21 Eph. 4.4.11 12 13. Rom. 12.6 7 Acts. 13. 1 Pet. 4.10 2 Cor. 3.5 6. Gal. 1.11 12. And where thou says Let this be also wel observed these dreamers say not withstanding they pretend it is God by some speciall Revelation or Inspiration be what it wil the Lord must be the Author of it pag. 34. Reply Thy fallacy we deny and therein thou hast uttered another Lie be ashamed and blush and for the Dreamers they shall stand for thy self and such in thy nature and deceablenesse of unrighteous who defile the flesh and despiseth the Spirituall dominion and Government which we witnesse unto by which Spirituall Poner the flesh with the affections and lusts are crucified Gal. 5.24 and with the Spirit and Power of our God are we sanctified washed cleansed and justified 1 Corimb 6.11 therefore we are no Dreamers For we witnesse the Spirituall dominion and Government by which we are preserved in our sanctification by Christ Jesus as such was in theirs that spoak against the dreamers Jude 1.2 and Revelation and Inspiration and the Lords sending according to the good pleasure of his will and the working of his divine power we own but thy pretence and fallacy or sting in thy call where thou says Be it what it will be God must be charged with it that we utterly deny and so testify against this abominable lye and â—â—â—n it back upon thee and the dreamers there remain Observe it well And where thou says Did you ever know a People acted through a more glorious shew or pretence of Righteousness then they are c. Reply Thy shews and pretences is by us denied but to obey Christ in all his discoveries and divine Appearances working unto Righteousnesse and changing from glory to Glory into the pure Image by the power of the Lords Eternall Spirit 2. Cor. 3.17 18. as such afore-time did that we we with the Scriptures do also witnesse and own and as Christ hath said to his Father in the eternall love to his in the glorious appearance and discovery unto such as were changed and changing into the Glory where he saith all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them John 17.10 and the sufferings is not worthy to compared to the Glory revealed within Rom. 8.18 and God who commanded the Light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts through his glorious discovery and divine appearances of Glory and Righteousness to give us the knowledge of his Glory saith the Ministers of Christ and even in the face of Jesus Christ this treasure have we in eathren vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.5 6 7 and the Saints fellowship with Christ in the Glory is to be admired as the Apostle saith to the Thessalonians which glorie appears in the inwards 2 Thessal 1.10 this the Scriptures witnesse and in the fulfilling and changing into glory of Righteousnesse we also witnesse according to the measure and manifestation of his divine appearance fellowship with him in the pure enjoyment of Light Life and Love received from him who is the Lord our Righteousnesse and so made unto us Wisdom and Righteousnesse 2 Cor. 1.30 and with him and the Spirituall operation we witnesse according to his divine Appearance both in Glory and Righteousness as the Scriptures also witnesseth which we do own and with them also witnesse and of Christ according to his pure discoveries of his love according to His glorious Appearance which we do own but thy fallacies and guilded pretences we do deny and thee and thy pernicious wayes disown And where thou say Their throwing off and denying the World and all care and pains thereof for Christs sake
and forsaking Father and Mother Wife and Children for Christs sake what a fair colour is this Reply Thy colour we do deny but to the Truth of Christ we witnesse and own and thy Satanicall spirit will not let thee throw off nor deny the World c. for there Antichrist keeps his hold who hurries the hearts of such out after the world to seek the glory love and praise thereof and to deny it is so directly opposite to Antichrist and against his Kingdom that he will not lead creatures out of it and herein thou art discovered in thy colours to be of Antichrist and the world but we are taught first to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall he added as he hath said Matth. 6. Chapter and art thou so much offended that any should so love Christ above all as to follow him in the cross whereby they become crucified to the world and the world unto them and he that loveth father or mother son or daughter more then me saith Christ is not worthy of me Take notice of that Math. 10.37.38 Galat. 6.13 16. but thou art offended that any should love Christ above al their Neighbours as themselves so manifests that thou art an enemy to those that walk according to the Gospell Rule through the Cross who are of the Israel of God who witnesse grace and mercy which is the Priviledge of the Israel of God that walk according to that Rule in the Gospel Gal. 6. v. 16 which thou art offended at them that walk according to the Rule in the Gospell who love Christ above all and their neighbour as themselves and fulfill the Royall Law by doing the will of God and walking in the Light Life and Power of Truth Therefore let all the children of Light that dwell in the divine Love light life power of the eternall Truth judge of thy deceipt Antichrist will not destroy his own kingdom and now he is offended that the Kingdom of Christ in the souls of his Saints is set and setting up which foretells the destruction and downfall of thine and the downfall of the Priests of the World and their Antichristian ministry at which thou art sore moved and like a troubled Sea froming out thy own shame but thou art discovered and thy deceiptfull works laid open and made manifest therefore stop thy mouth who art of the World and the old Sâ—â—pents seed and also Prognosticating Astronomer like but this Astronom call judgment is falss and not true as is proved and laid open to the Publick view Again thou says They endure much affliction opposition and persecution from the World c. Reply Then let all that fears God take notice of that for the World loves its own but the Quakers Reproachfully called and persecuted by the World are not of the World but being in Christ and so Christians they do suffer by the World and men of nature contrary to Christ for Christians did not nor do not afflict one another nor persecute but were so done by informer Ages Hebr. 11. and here thou hast cleared thy self to be no Christian but of the World and so Antichristian and those called Quakers to be Christians and not of the World who are as thou says so persecuted and reproached by the men of the World and thou art one that doth so shamefully reproach Christ Encourageth his to bear the Persecution of the World and speak evill of them and the wayes and workings of God in them c. Yet they being Christians and suffers by thee and the men of the World the Christians aforetime did so suffer and were persecuted by the World as they are now and their Conditions is not contrary but agreeing to the Conditions of Christians friends and servants of Christ before them being compared with Hebr. 11.36 37 38. 2 Cor. 6.4 5 9 7.8 2 Tim. 3.10.11 12. and also compared with that saying of Christ to his where he encourageth them to bear the Reproaches and Persecutions from the men of the World where he saith A warning from the Lord to such as Reproach and persecute under the nick name of Quakers or such as are of the divine nature made partakers if the World hate you it hated me before it hated you if you were of the World the World would love his own but because I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you c. John 15.16 17 18 19. Here Christ hath a chosen People that suffers affliction from the men of the World for his Names sake But the People whom the World reproachfully calleth Quakers they suffer reproaches afflictions and persecutions from the men of the World for Christs sake therefore they are the People that Christ hath Chosen out of the World Take notice both thou and all you that so slander and reproach and also such as persecute Christs Chosen-people whom you scornfull call Quakers and beware what you do against the Innocent be you sure that the Lord Jesus Christ will cal you to answer before him for it consider also of that 25 Chapter of Maâ—h â—â— vers 41 42 43. and so on to 〈◊〉 anâ—â—â—e what you can â—earn out of it and cease your cruelty â—â—ult persecâ—â—â—â— and reproach not the people of Christ so as you do scoâ—â—â—â—tly by you called Quakers noâ— any that â—â—e of the divine nâ—â—â—re â—â—â—de pâ—rtakers 2 Pet. 1.3 4 c. Again thou sayeâ— Thereâ—re 〈◊〉 a pâ—â—ple to be sound that cry out more against Antichristiâ—â— all appreaâ—â—â—es of sin and â—â—â—ghteousness then they do c. Page 40. Reply Also here again thou doâ—st more fully clear thâ—â—â—o be the people of God for they are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness bâ—t rather reprove them 〈◊〉 5 11. and that they do according to thy sayâ—ng The people of God may repove sin and cry out against unrighteousness and â—â—ey aâ—â—â—â—g in righteousness being taught by the gâ—â—â—e of God to deny ungodliness and worldly lusâ—â— and to live righteously soberly and godly in thâ—s present evil wâ—â—ld Tâ—l 2.11 12. they may â—â—stâ—y cry out against sin in all appearances and also against â—lâ—might â—â—sâ—ess whatsoever for the people of God did so bâ—â—ore them that were so taught by the grace of God before them and they that did so cry out against sin in all appearances and unrighteousness of what sort soever were the pâ—â—ple of God and were not delâ—â—ed and they that in the spirit and power of truth do cry out against sin in all appearances and against unrighteousness of what sort soever such are the people of God now and are not delâ—â—â—ed but the people whom the world doth scornfully call Quakers they do so to wâ—â— as the people of God â—forâ—â—â—me did â—â—â—â—g out against sin in all appearances and all unrighteousness wâ—â—â—soever being themselves taught by the grace of God â—â—o deny ungodliâ—ess and worldly luste
seen in the light of Jesus Christ to be and in the world like a raging Sea whose waves casts up mire and dirt continually unto whom there is no peace Isa 57.20 21. a wandering Starre never setled Jude 13. but tossed up and down with every winde of Doctrine from such turn away 2. How you may know them P. 36.9 Abiding in the light that comes from Christ in that light you will see light so comprehend all the Children of darknes for he that followeth Christ who is the light of the world shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life to judge all the false Apostles and all the Children of the night who live in the dark minde in pride covetousness lying making a Trade of the Scriptures which were spoken forth from the light by those that witnessed it but thou that takes up their expressions and livest not in the same life thou art the false Apostle that preacheth another Gospel now besides the foregoing Scriptures thou hast declared thy self to be a false Apostle by thy own writings First in writing thy thinkings and conceivings page 50. yet my former thoughts page 53. I am but in part convinced page 16. methinks page 51. as I conceive such were the false Apostles 1 Tim. 1.7 understanding not what they say nor whereof they affirm but speak and write the imaginations of their own hearts as thou hast done in page 18. the thoughts of my own heart in the which are many devices Prov. 19.21 Secondly In being one of the world and calling thy fellow-Creatures of the world to judge what thou sayest and here thou hast manifested thy self to be a false Prophet entered into the world which the Saints of God never did page 23. and let all the world assure themselves that in page 45. here thou dost wrire thy self as thou art calles thy own to witness the world one with the world therefore we being gathered out of the world are hated and written against by thee John 15.19 I shall forbear to write what I know of thy former and yet continued practises this being sufficient to prove plainly that thou art a false Apostle whose many lies written against us I need not to mention in particular only some few in short that the simple may not be deceived by thee nor the truth suffer altogether under thy scandalls Page 48. Thou biddest the feeble Creatures of the world to judge of spiritual things though the world by wisdom knowes not God 1 Cor. 1.21 page 46. thou sayest that we do lying wonders but hast thou in all those lies and writings of thine proved that any of those which thou callest wonders are lying wonders for it is not thy saying it is a lying wonder that makes it to be so for there were such as thee that said that Christ cast out Deâ—ils through Beelzebub but they were liers and so art thou Thou sayest our works are deceitful page 49. but thou hast no ground for it but the deceit of thy own heart page 18. the which thou callest the world to bear thee witness page 23. page 50. thou fayest we diâ—own the power and spirit of truth which is a lie but thou hast a form of godliness denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 Page 53. Thou sayest thou art in part convinced that peradventure the Lord would have his people walk in some way whereby they might be brought into a perfect unity in heart Oh art thou not here ashamed to let even the world whom thou callest unto so often read thy ignorance what art thou but in part convinced what way leads to unity Oh for shame for shame give over thy profession talk no longer of the Gospel thou hast made thy self manifest to all men Oh hast thou been talking of the Gospel so long and art yet ignorant of the way that leads to unity Oh let shame stop thy mouth and cover thy face for ever but if thou wouldest shift from this and say thou meanest an outward way or form I tell thee there is no way to have fellowship with the Father 1 John 1.3 but in the unity of the faith and the knowledge not a thinking of the Son of God who is the true living and only way unto the Father John 14.6 where is perfect unity even one heart and one way Ier. 32.39 which is away of holiness the Wayfaring men though fools shall not erre therein Isa 35.8 Also in page 53. thou sayest that thou art very sensible that thou hast lost thy comforts and therefore thou dost hope not to give over until thou hast found some way or means of having thy former enjoyments refreshed Why hast thou lost that thou never hadst thou saidst but now that thou was but in part convinced of the way and hadst thou the comforter long agoe and lost him now oh Babylons Merchant the way and the comforter is but one the which is Jesus Christ Iohn 14.6.17.26 Iohn 17.23 I know that if Jesus Christ had been brought forth in thee without which there is no true comfort who is the substance of all tithes types forms and shadows that thou could not unto this day have remained a Parish Priest and so uphold an Antichristian Priesthood halting between many opinions neither according to Aaron Levi nor Christ but living in thy own will and so living above Christ who lived not in his own will for saith he not my will but thine be done Iohn 6.38 And now who will regard thy writings when thou acknowledgeth that the comforter which is the spirit of truth is departed from thee now it appears thou art a lier indeed now thou hast no truth born up in thy understanding thy former injoyments as thou calls it which were indeed nothing but comprehensions got up in the wisdom of the Serpent Oh art thou not ashamed that the world which thou didst soon make up in thy writings should now read thy confusion art thou not ashamed in such a condition as this when thou confessest thy former enjoyments and comforts are departed from thee even now to write against those that thou acknowledgest to have large experiences and much of the power of truth through Christ page 50. Oh take heed least it had been better for thee that a Milstone had been hanged about thy neck and thou cast into the Sea Oh canst thou not look back on him whom thou hast thus pierced to wit the life of Christ in others now thou mayst read with shame and tears that which thy own hand hath written from thy own sinful heart look in page 5. and 8.18 which was then in the apostatized condition without the former comforts as thou calledst it page 53. now thou art found to be a false Apostle indeed Oh remember from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works yea repent ere it be too late Rev. 2.5 Oh though thou canst strive with man there is no striving with thy Maker who will come a
ANTICHRISTS MAN of VVAR Apprehended and encountred withal by a Souldier of the Armie of the Lamb. OTHERWISE An Answer to a Book set forth by one that subscribes his name Edmund Skipp Preacher of the Gospel as he saith to a people at Bodenham in Herefordshire but is found one that is acting Antichrists part disguised but nakedly seen herein discovered in this Answer to his Book called the Worlds Wonder or the Quakers Blazing-Starre And in this Answer he is discovered and proved to be one that is chief in the service of the old Dragon who pretends in his Book to discover the mystery of the Quakers as he calls them and to lay open a dangerous design who is found out that whilst he hath been pretending to be chief in discovering a Plot or Antichrists misterious actings is found himself to be the chief plotter by a Satanical spirit disguised and in the transformings of Antichrist deep in the mystery which he pretended to disdiscover but is here apprehended and taken and also encountered withal as the wise-hearted in the reading with a pure understanding may see and so this may prove to be a means of a greater downfal of Antichrists Kingdom and for the furthering of the truth and setting up of purity in its right place and by this Truth and Error may be clearly known asunder that deceit may thereby be forsaken and Truth embraced and received as it is in Life and Power in the Lord Jesus who hath said Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free Iohn 8.32 Written in Worcestershire by a servant of the Lord the second Moneth called April 1655. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1655. To my Friends and Wel-wishers that desire the welfare of Sion and prosperity of Jerusalem and to all who suffers reproaches and are reviled for righteousness sake in Hereford-shire Worcestershire Warwick-shire and elsewhere under the nick-name of Quakers THe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Bless Preserve and keep you in your faithfulness and obedience to Himself and in your diligent watchfulness and circumspect walking blamelessly before him and lovingly one to another and the Lord God of life and power settle you and establish you by his eternal spirit in the life and Power of Truth that you may walk before him in love and grow up into the pure divine excelency that you may be able to comprehend with all Saints to know what is the heighth and depth and length and bredth of the love of God that you may be comprehended into the infinitness of His incomprehensibleness and be as a peculiar people to bring praise to the Lord and if you be reproached and reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake happy are you reioyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward Dear hearts you that are so accused and slandered by the Serpent and his seed walk in wisdom and blamelesly and you will feel the pure Joy spring up into your souls to fill your understandings Oh! be faithful to the Lord and valiant for the truth that as Antichrist bestirs himself seeking to prop and uphold his Kingdom and to cast out revilings and false accusations as a mighty floud so you may be watchful over him in every place and resist him in the Faith and be able to stand in the gaps and so be keptsafe and be ready to make war against the Dragon that in the Lords strength you may be Crowned with victory and be made to triumph in His strength and all wait in the measure of the grace of God to receive wisdom from above and to be filled with the riches of the grace of God and so every one to walk as you have received the Lord Jesus rooted and grounded in him that the Eternal may rule in you all that you may be made valiant Souldiers to follow the Lamb and fear not the rage nor cruelty of the old Dragon but stand in the pure Being and so as you abide in the measure of the grace of God received you will grow strong and valiant in the Lord and be able to pass over the deceived and to withstand the Deceiver For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 1 John 2 24. So I am with you in the divine Being of love and you may read my name in the Book of life One who suffers with you for the Testimony of the Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and reproached as you are by the name of Quakers R. F. Antichrists Man of War apprehended c. OR A Reply to Edmund Skipp's Book of slander and false Judgment by him called the Worlds wonder or the Quakers BLAZING-STAR MEeting with this Book upon the 28. of the Month called March in my travel in Worcestershire I was constrained to stay a few dayes to return an Answer thereunto for the simple ones sake to clear the aspersions and remove the stumbling blocks throwen in the way to cause the weak to stumble and fall And at the first view of the Book it set seemingly a great face against the truth but through the mercy of God I was made not to matter it but joyn battel against it Therefore Edmund Skipp as thou hast subscribed thy come thou hast abundantly laid open thy folly and shewed thy enmity and despite to the Truth but thou art encountered and thy deceits are discovered and laid naked and bare to any single eye as hereafter will appear I only meeting this Book of thine in my travel and both seeing and knowing that thou hast written it from a spirit of pride and despite to the spirit of Truth and against the Servants of our Lord Jesus by thy spirit of delusion coloured over with shows and pretences of godliness and a feigned humility intruding thy self into those things which thou hast not seen vainly putt up with a fleshly mind with a cover of fallacies and feigned humility and to thy first Doctrine that thou and such pretenders to be nearest the Lamb an speaking of but appears like the old Dragon in wrath against the Truth and Servants of our Lord Jesus Christ who thy self might formerly have lived Pharisee like till thou were discovered but now hast manifested thy wolfish heart and thou art slandering and accusing such as follows the Lamb not in pretences but in reality and purity whom thou revilest under the name of Quakers And thou art constrained to complain because as thou saiest thou hast lost thy society and even as it were now goes a begging to those people thou calls Baptists as in the latter end of thy book doth appear and now that Satan hath got a cheif seat in thy heart and entred into thee through that spirit of delusion thou speaks of thou ventest thy solly in acting his part in reviling the Servants of the Lord and defaming the truth And whereas thou saies that when Satan findeth a people living
so strictly and exactly in that light and power they have received as those thou slanders under the name of Quakers do for this we praise God that he cannot prevail against us by his temptations being kept by that power which in thy first page thou speaks of but after reviles which power of God bringeth good out of evil to us and teacheth those that thou reproaches and reviles under the nick-name of Quakers the Lords sincere ones who are kept by his power through faith unto salvation and preserved against all the stormes and tempests vilifyings slanderings and revilings that beatâ— upon them powred out from the Serpent and his seed under coloured pretences and shooteth out the stings in their sayles yet doth not harme them dwelling in the power of the Lord God and of the Lambe that in such stormes and tempests they turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left being kept and preserved by his speciall power and armed with the Armour of God Eph. 6.10 11 12. c against the tempestuous storms of the wicked and against the fiery darts of the Devil and against such darts of the wicked such as thine are and as thou art that it so toucheth them and makes them that thou reviles under the name of Quakers the Children of the most high admire his continued faithfullness the manifestations of his love to them so that they praise him for his continued goodness and his manifold mercies to them and they can say as such did the Lord is on our side and none shall make us affraid though thou Edmund Skip and the wicked bend your toungs like your bowes for lies and shoot your arrowes of reproaches lies slanders and revilings they doe not touch nor harme us praised be the Lord who upholds us by his power which thou Blasphemes and calls the power of the Devill but be thou assured and all such as thou art that God will visit you and give you your reward according to your works Rom. 2.5 6. who are those that have transformed your selves as the Ministers of righteousness but are not the Ministers of righteousness but of deceipt lies falshood and untruth and so the Ministers of Antichrist working in that mystery of iniquitie with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and calleth the power of God the power of the Devill and the Spirit of truth delusion but God will take vengeance of thee and all such for so doing who hath said He will ease himself of his enemies and be avenged of his adversaries Isa 1.24 Take notice of that And where thou art buifying thy self and puzling thy mind about the Devill in whose snares thou art saying he was created an Angel of light and not of darkness thou hast left it without any proof but thy bare conceit and that is of no effect as in thy 3. page But the Scripture calls him a Prince of darkness Eph. 2. and the Scripture saith The Angels that kept not their first estate but fell are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day Iude. 6. and if the Devil was of those fallen Angels and they so reserved in such chains until such a time how comes it to pass that the Devil is an Angel of light as thou calls him and likewise saith in thy second page That enemie of mankindi is going up and down and compassing the earth as in a nother place to and fro c. going about like a Roaring Lion seeking to devour c. If he was created an Angel of light and one of them fallen Angels that are chained under darkness unto the judgment of the great day and is a Prince of darkness how comes he to appeare now like an Angel of light and how gets he the power to get from under the chaine to go up and down and to act sorth such as thou falsly saith he doth and like a roring Lion seeking to devour and to compass the earth in going to and fro c. as thou saith Is his chaines so long or his power of darkness able to make Angels of light c. seeing thou saies he was so created and so acteth as thou saith who tells of severall passages without any proof but thy fallacies and brain-conceit so in the rest of thy sayings and false slanders cast upon these thou calls Quakers thou hast left them without any proof but thy fallacies and brain-conceits from the Spirit of delusion working upon thy dark heart and fleshly imaginations So thy lies slanders and false sayings is all turned back upon thee again and into the lying generation amongst the old Serpent and his seed where they were invented and from whence they come to remain Open your old bottles and receive in your envie false accusations lies and slanders cast upon the truth and the righteous seed and upon the inocent such as by you are reviled under the nick name of Quakers and take your slanders and false accusations into your mysterie of iniquitâ—e againe truth clears it self of you and casts off your venom and filth Receive it into your brest and evil hearts from whence it came that judgment may pass upon it and learne to be wise this gets not slander-carriers nor slanderers a praise but of the Serpents seed and slanderers againe that with them in the nature and deceivableness of unrighteousness doth remaine and woo to all such Isa 3.11 Rev. 9.2 Thessa 2 9 10 11 12. And in thy fourth page Where thou saies in one of thy generall heads which thou calls Doct. 1. That when Satan findeth a people living so strictly in the light life and power they have received that he cannot prevaile upon them by temptations of a grosse sort such as are those provocations unto open prophaness covetousness pride c. I answer that through the goodness of God by the light life and power of God in which we dwell as we have received we are not only kept by the power of God out of the aforementioned evils but all evil of what fort soever as it is discovered by the light being short out with the power so that Satan cannot insinuate nor get in upon our fouls that dwell in the light life and power received of God whom thou accuseth under the name of Quakers and so dwelling in the light life and power received by which we are kept out of evill we also see the opposers of the truth and such like false accusers as thou art to be out of the power and light serving the Devill And thou art in the condition next following thou speaks of in the latter part of thy thing called a doctrin where thou saith Satan concludeth upon another way by making covers for your pride with a cloak of dishonesty called decency and so for covetuousness called by such good husbandrie or provident care and a cover for your envie and passion under a pretence of zeal and foolish customes covered with cloaks of craftiness called by
and thou that will lye against the truth thou wils not let to lye against thy Conscience who art proved to be such an open lyar and thy sayings in other things is proved to be false as in that also the light against thy will which is thy condemnation is my witness and answer and that shall stand Thirdly To that which thou calls thy third charge c. Where thou say'st thou art charged to be an enemy to the Lords People as in thy 8. pag. and 4. particular thou says thou art c. I Answer that thou art and so the charge is true and not false and so it shall stand and is not by me denyed Thy trumpet is sounded thy seed of dissention east abroad and thy lyes blazes in thy Blazing-Star and thy false accusations and also thy unrighteous judgment against the truth and against the righteous seed is abundantly made manifest to the publick view and thy enmity to the light is seen so to the truth calling the power of it delusion and the like Thou art he that blasphems God in His People and so in His Temple and art a hater of the Truth in hostility against it and in the rebellion amongst such in that nature turned from the light as are haters of the ways and people of God who for their disobedience to the light and truth were and are given over to reprobate minds c. and thou art gâ—ven over to the delusion of Satan and to believe lyes and tell them abroad who art so far acted by a Satanical spirit in the mystery of iniquity that thou hast largely and rashly out of a reprobate sense vented them abroad against the truth of our Lord Jesus Read thy heart and Judg thy self for an open enemy thou art also read thy self amongst such Rom. 1.18 19. Rom. 1.28 29 30. c. 2 Thes 1.6 7.8 9. 2 Thes 2.9 c. Fourthly As for thy fourth charge where thou says thou art charged not to have passed the new birth And fifthly for backsliding thou says c. As for backsliding thou confesseth it partly thy self in thy 9. page and for not passing the new birth that thou hast not but art found in the old and the strong man armed in thee that shall stand for liers slanderers reproachers false accusers nor blasphemers are not born of God but thou art an open lyar slanderer and false accuser of the innocent hundreds may witness against thee that thou falsly accuseth under the name of Quakers therefore let the new birth alone who art blaspheming speaking evil of the power that begets to the newness of life c. The new birth thou hast cleared thy self of not to be the new man but the old then let thou that alone to whom it doth belong for such as are born of God sinneth not 1 Iohn 3.9 and he that committeth sin is of the Devil and not born of God but thou commits sin and that in a high measure so thou art of the Devil and all such therefore not born of God and herein are the Children of God made manifest and the children of the Devil so art thou made manifest to be no Child of God but a servant of sin a false accuser misapplyer of the Scripture a false Judg and an open lyar therefore on the Devil as such are Rom. 1.28 c. 1 Iohn 3.8 Iob. 8.34.44 Rom. 6.16 Rev. 21.8 Firthly And for talking of the new creature and the second Adam and knowledge therein thou art speaking without understanding also questioning thy own knowledge in the same thou speaks of saying if it be so c. so thou speaks without true knowledge or understanding in the same but the knowledge by enjoyment in the second Adam is out of thy comprehension and brain imagination though thou have had some little convictions yet thou art turned into false accusations envy disdain trechery and deceit as thy brother Cain and brother Iudas did whose end was according to his work take thou notice of it and according to the saying thou speaks of the charge upon thee is no blank but stands still and sealed with thy old actions and the backsliding thou speaks of in thy 9. page who art in the delusions and false Astronomical Judgment given over to believe lyes and labours to fill ignorant people with thy false Prophecies and lying divinations in thy Worlds Wonder who art manifested by it to be full of trechery and deceit slanders and false accusations and as I have proved thee therefore instead of mercy Judgment for thee shall stand true just upon thy Astronomical and unjust By these five particulars thou laboured to have brought about thy mysterious workings of that spirit of Antichrist whereby thou art so disguised and hid with covers of delusion and deceit and to have brought the innocent into thy snares from these thou sought to make a ground to charge the people of God to be deluders and in delusion the mystery of iniquity under the Region of Antichrist c. and thou hast laid as it were baits and coloured them smoothly over to take the minds of the ignorant withal and so bewitch them with thy lying divination and false Astronomical Judgment the Serpent hath shot forth his sting in his tayl by thee to strike the simple and thou hast laboured by thy working mysteriously so disguised and transformed as a Minister of truth and righteousnes in some seeming shews and pretences to cast stumbling blocks in the way to cause the weak to fall and be wounded and to catch the ignorant into thy trap with a bait and a snare first laying down a fair seeming shew of truth in appearance covered with some certain Scriptures wrested by thee joyning and annexing thy fallacies thereunto so conjuring by the mystery of witchcraft in the iniquity and lying wonders raising up false accusations and slanders but for the truths sake I shall through Gods assistance labour a little to clear the truth by taking away thy fallacies removing the deceit and setting truth in its place that the honest-hearted may thereby come to see whilst thou art pretending to lay open a mysterious work or design of Antichrist and casting thy mouth-floud after the woman that brings sorth the man-child accusing the innocent whom thou calls Quakers altogether upon unjust grounds so thy covers being taken off the innocent will be cleared whom thou accusest under the nick-name of Quakers and whilst thou art pretending to discover a Satanical plot or unfold his mysterious actings thou wilt be sound the chief plotter in his design and one that art disguised acting deep under a mysterious vail by a Satanical spirit in the mystery of iniquity and so truth being cleared in some measure as hereafter will appear the people called Quakers will be found out of delusion and the mysterious workings thou seeks to charge them withal but they being found in the Covenant of grace and under the power of the Lord thou wâ—lt be
every one for his gain from his own quarter as the Priests of England and Anrichristian Ministers do now and it is no railing nor reviling to tell them so because they do so nor to call them hirelings and blind-guides because they are so and looks for their gains tyths or hire in lieu of them or augmentations bribes gifts and rewards every one lookes to his own way and all for their gain from their quarter out of mens estates one way or another against many of their wills take notice of it and let the wise-hearted consider and see if it be not right and just to tell them what they are and to tell them of their sins is no railing for the Lord saith Cry aloud spare not tell them of their sins and the people of their transgressions Isaiah the servant of the Lord did so and we the servants of the Lord in obedience to the spirit of truth do so now as he did and that is no railing or reviling but words of sound truth Take notice of this and also read Isa 58.1 and Isa 56.9 10 11 Secondly And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord did say so as before mentioned by and with the Spirit of the Lord he did not therein raile nor revâ—le but speak the words of sound truth a-against their deceits and for so doing was justified by the Lord thoughhe might be condemned or judged with false spirits and lying tongues and such was to be condemned for what falsly against the truth and against the Servants of the Lord they said therefore take notice of that and read Isa 54.17 Thirdly then where now any servants of the Lord are guided by His Spirit to call Englands Priests and Antichristian Ministers like thee Edmund Skip and such as Preach for hire and bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their Quarters and places and Parishes where they are though in coloured deceits I say the servants of the Lord being led by His Spirâ—t to call such hypocrites Antichrists and deceivers blind-guides and greedy dumb-dogs such as never have enough but every one looks to his own way and some for tyths some for hire and wages 100 or 200 l. per annum in lieu of them some for large augmentations out of other mens Estates and some for bribes gifts and rewards professing themselves to be Ministers of Christ and the Gospel and not such servants of the Lord as are led by His Spirit as aforesaid and now to cry out agaâ—nst such deceivers and Antâ—christian Ministers as Englands black Priests and high aâ—â—y Notionists and such as before mentioned though they be disguised and colour over their deceits yet with the light are they seen and their deceits discovered And I say such as by the Spirit of the Lord tells them or any others plainly of their sins and transgressions and so what they are such do not raile nor revile though sinners transgressors and deceivers say they do therefore their judgment is false and not true and thy cover Edmund Skip will not hide but leave thee bare that thy nakedness may appear and those that thou calls Quakers are clear See a fourth Rule to clear this more fully because thou makest it such a chief Rule as thou calls it for the discoverng of the Quakers mystery of delusion in Failing c. and free from such accusations and aspersions as thou would cast upon them and salsly charge them withall take notice of this for herein I do not judg amiss Fourthly When Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to speak to a professing people and to the Mag strates Governours or Rulers to tell them and a people who observed much from the Letter of the Scripture which had been true commands of God to some in a present dispensation or under that Legal administration but those that took upon themselves to observe commands according to the Letter of the Scripture and were not guided by a true Spirit to do them Isaiah the servant of the Lord was sent to tell such people and Magistrates or Rulers who did things by imitation that God loathed their sacrifices and that he did not accept of their service nor solemn Assemblies c. and though they made many prayers yet he would not hear them Take notice of that all ye that observe and do things by imitation in your own wills from the Letter and are not guided thereunto by the Spirit which was before the Letter was And moreover Isaiah was sent by the Spirit of the Lord to tell a City that had been beautiful and full of Judgment that now they was full of murtherers and he told that City that had been full of judgment and righteousness and were full of murderers he said A warning to Iudges Rulers and Professors in all places to fear the Lord God and stand in aw of him and not sin their Princes were Rebels or rebellious and companions with theives and how for saith he every one loveth gifts and followeth rewards they judg not the fatherless neither did the cause of the widdow come unto them and he also told them what the Lord would do by such and by his enemies and adversaries Take notice of that Oh ye Judges and Rulers and also Professors and fear the Lord God Likewise read Isa 1.10 to the 25 c And though Isaiah the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit so spake and said to a professing people and Princes Now call not truth railing nor reviling leastyou be condemned of the Lord when you are judged Citizens Rulers and Magistrates he did not in all that sin neither raile nor revile but spoke the words of sound truth And now the servants of the Lord so led and acted by His Spirit with it may so say as they are directed and commanded by the Lord and not in all that sin neither rail nor revile but speak the words of sound truth and not judg amiss though such as are spoken to may reject the Counsel of the Spirit of Truth c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 20 21. Neveri heless the wicked being warned and do not return from their wickeanass his blood will be upon his own bead and the Lords servant is through his obedience cleared and if such as reject the Spirits counsel and judg the servants of the Lord with a false spirit and call truth railing yet it is not and the servant of the Lord by and with His Spirit may condemn the lying tongue for thus saith the Lord Every tongue that shall use up in judgment against thee thou shall condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord and this I witness in and by the Spirit of the Lord for the truth and against thee Edmund Skip and all lying tongues which are condemned by the living truth and the servants of the Lord for your enmity against it and them Isa 54.15 16
Antichristian ministery and speaking the Word of the Lord and reproving sin and deceit which they call railing and reviling as one of the servants of the Lord is now in prison at Worcester upon that account only and for the breach of no known Law sent from Kederminster thither by those under Richard Baxter Minister which is the chiefest Priest in Worcestershire and that Town was accounted great in profession but now like Priest like people Hosea 4.9 and Hosea 6.9 even full of envy and malice against the servante of the Lord which carrieth them forth into cruel persecution but let the wise-hearted know that the chiefest of the Priests when Christ came personally were the greatest enemies of his and did the most both stir up Rulers and people to persecute him and the greatest Professors were cruel and bitter against him And now that Christ is come and coming in the Spirits of his Saints Children and Servants to reprove the world of sin and unrighteousness and to discover the deceivableness of Antichrist and the Antâ—christian minâ—stery the chiefest Priests and many great Professors as well as Richard Baxter Chief-Priest at Kederminster and such now labour to uphold the Kingdom of Antichrist under a dark black cover which cannot hide the baseness of their hearts but lets it break forth into cruelty and persecution but it is too manifest that they are of the bloody City in the pollutions and filthiness and hath disobeyed the voice and heardened their hearts against the truth who have haled out of their Synagogues beat abused and imprisoned such as the Lord sent unto them c. But it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled and that they may manifest themselves to be of that Generation of persecutors and blood-thirsty ones How dangerous a thing it is to reproach and revile the people of God that ever persecuted the righteous seed and wo from God is upon all such Teachers and People and they may read their Example Matth. 23.31 32 33 34.35 But to come to the matter in hand That City which the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of and Rulers Teachers Priests and people And again the servants of the Lord that speaks truth against deceit do not revile but such as speak evil of them and salsly accuse them are the revilers as such was that reproached the people of God and magaâ—â—fied themselvs against them as the Priests and their party do now by and against those the Lords people whom they scornfully call Quakers which obeyed not the voice as in Zeph. 3. Chap. and see what the Lord by his Prophet saith in Zeph. 2. How he cries wo to such a people as are there spoken of verse 5. c. Likewise he tells a wicked people there what the Lord will do unto them and see the cause why Zeph. 2.8 9. This saith he shall they have for their pride because they have reproached and magnâ—fied themselves against the people of the Lord of hâ—sis therefore saith the Lord by His Prophet I will be terrible unto them c. Zeph. 2.10 11. c. Then take heed what you do and consider of this all ye unrighteous ones who reproaches and reviles the people of God under the Nick-name of Quakers The Prophet Zephaniah did not raid nor revile when he spoke to that City when he cried wo unto in and called the Princes within it Roaring Lyons and the Judges Evening Wolves and the Prophets light and â—echeâ—ous persons and said the Priests had poâ—uted the Sanctuary c. Zeph. 3. because it was so and they had done so yet to the eye of reason a natural man that knows not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.24 he would have been ready to say it had been harsh language and rayling as now in thâ—s generation they call the Spirits language railing and reviling when it tells people of their sins and transgressions but though the natural man say so it is not so for he that so saith and accuseth falsly is the railer and reviler but Edmâ—â—â— Skip and the Priests and Antichristian Ministers and such as are prophane proud and wicked they speak evil of the Spirits language and accuseth falsly and cannot prove their false accusations therefore they are the railers and revilers and not the people which they reproachfully call Quakers and the natural man is not to judg the spirâ—tual man but the spiritual man may judg the natural man it is his Prerogative for he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man and this priviledge have all the Saints and Brethren of Christ Praised be the Lord for the riches of his love 1 Cor. 2.14 15,16 Heb. 2.11 1 Cor. 6.2 But thou art offended The seed of God may judg the seed of the Serpent but the seed of the Serpent is not to judg the seed of God that the righteousseed should judg the seed of the Serpent and thou art offended to have a hypocrite called a hypocrite but Christ gave them that name and called them so them such as are guided by his Spirit may but we and the righteous seed are so taught and guided therefore we may and so follow him for our example Maâ— 23.27 28 29. and we know we are of the righteous seed For God hath sent the. Spirit of His Son-into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father c. Gal. 4.6 7 and Rom. 8.14 And we are to call a lyar a lyar for the Scripture calleth them so and the Spirit of truth spoke it forth 2 Pet. 1.20 21. and we being guided by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 and 1 Ioh. 3.2.4 as such was that called lyars by the name of lyars therefore by the same Spirit may and do we call them so for that is the name which the holy Spirit gave them to call lyars by the name of lyars For be that saith he loveth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar 1 Ioh. 2.4 Kev 21.8 Rev. 22.15 And thou and all such as are offended to have liars called liars seeing the Spirit calleth them so and gave them that name thou and all such art offended at the Spirits teachings therefore judg your folly and the pride of your hearts And thou and all such who are offended Serpents were called Serpents by the Spirit of truth to have a Serpent called a Serpent though they appear like men in the truth but full of hypocrisie and deceit thou and all such are offended at the language of Christ in the Gospel-ministration for he called such Serpents and Vipers As by the Spirit of truth such were so called then with the same Spirit they may be called so that are so now and that is not un-Gospel like but agreeing thereunto Mat. 23.28 29 30 31 32 33. And if thou and the Serpents seed be offended Children of the Devil are called by their Fathers same the Holy-ghost calleth them so to be called by your name your burden you must
bear for the Spirit of truth called your generation so and we being guided by the Spirit of truth dare not change your name except you take up the cross and obey the light that the Serpents head may be by the Power bruised and your nature changed take notice and if thou art offended to have a child of the Devil called by the name of his Father we must call him so for that is the name given them by the Holy-ghost Iohn 8.44 Acts 13.9 10. V pers dogs and fores are to be called by their name being of such a nature for the Spirit of truth gave them such names though in the appearances of a King his subjects And though thou and such in thy nature would not have the Serpents seed called by their names yet seeing the Spirit of truth gave them names like unto their natures therefore being guided by the holy Spirit and knowing their natures we give to them their proper names as the Gospel Spirit aforetime did until we see their change of nature that so they may change their names and if thou would not have a Viper called a Viper yet Iohn the Baptist called the multitude by that name to wit Vipers who came to have been Baptised of him before they brought forth fruits meet of amendment of life Take notice of that and read Luke 3.7 8. which was not railing but words of sound truth and if thou be offended to have dogs called by their names though in the form of men yet the Prophets Christ and the Apostles by the Spirit of truth so called them before and to take off that offence from any simple minde who desires to be informed about those names let them have recourse to those Scriptures Isa 56.10 11. Phil. 3 1 2. Rev. 22.15 And if thou would not have a Fox called by his name though in the form of a man Christ so called one to wit Herod a King and that was truth and no railing True and just judgment is set upon that false Astronomicall and unrighteous judgment of Edmund Skip against the Truth in that Bock called the Blazing-Star and the Rule of discovery he speaks of is of no effect and the truth is clear and stands above his lying deceit So here thy second Rule of discovering that mystery as thou calls it is of no effect Thy judgment is false and thy sayings are weighed and thy Spirit tried and where thou sayes Let all perpl eundestand that such as Christ did call hypocrites were so indeed I Answer so art thou and the Serpent and his seed as both thou and they are to us known as is here largely proved by eâ—perience And to that where thou says Such as these creatures calls hypocrites are the most precious and eminent and faithful friends that the Lord hath amongst the sons of men I Answer They are precious eminent and faithful that are of the Royal seed and such we know and honor in our souls but lyars slanderers persecutors and false accusers are not of that seed and such are enemies to the Children of God but thou art of the Serpents seed and such like that are in the lies slanders inventing evil and devising mâ—schâ—ef â—n your hearts against the righteous seed and accusing of them falsly therefore are you of the Serpents seed and enemies to God and to his seed who are faithful eminent and precious we do not so call as thou hast falsly said and many may and doth witness against thee therefore with the true light art thou seen to be one that regards not what thou out of pride and the presumption of thy evil heart dost say and falsly accuse withal And now let the wise in heart in the wisdom of God by and with the spirit of sound Judgment now Judg of thy false and Astronomical Judgment false accusations and delusions as in thy 11. page is manifested and the Rule of thy discovery of that mystery thou tells of is nul and void and truth stands clear as to the single eyed doth appear and true Judgment stands upon thy false Astronomical Judgment in thy Blazing-Star and Book of lying Wonders Now followeth a reply to thy third Rule as thou calls it of disclosing that secret which thou says is thy own experience A Reply to thy third Rule in thy Book of lying Wonders in order to that particular as thou says whilst thou lay under temptations and that was as thou says about writing a Letter unto some that thou says thou writ unto out of much bitterness of Spirit To which I answer though thou might have some convictions and workings in the mind and not wait to have thy will bound under the cross and that kept under judgment from whence bitterness and passion hastiness and wrath doth arise but run without a true guide to write out of hastiness and forwardness before thou had any true command and so through thy disobedience to the pure and following the fancies of thy brain and the imaginations of thy evil heart giving way to thy comprehending wit and so by straying from the pure and entering into temptation through the carnal in not standing to the eternal the delusions through the mysterious workings of the man of sin might carry thee into the many inventions and up into the chamber of deceit and so delusion get in upon thee notstanding to the eternal but entering into the temptation through the carnal yet that is no ground for thee or a Iudas that betrays the pure to fetch in a multitude to condemn the just and betray the innocent but thy punishment and judgment thou for it must bear as Iudas did who betrayed the just and all who turns from the light to joyn with the darkness to betray the innocent Iudas is there and as his works was Mat. 27.1 2 3 4. so his end but after he turned from the light to joyn with the power of darkness and betrayed the just he did evil his work was evil Gen. 4.7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. so his end was wofull and miserable for he hanged himself Take warning and remember also that when Cain had killed his brother then he cryed out and said his punishment was greater then be could bear but if he had done well he had been accepted as the Lord said but he did evil and was rejected as well as Iudas when he had betrayed and thy light in thy conscience will remember thee of what against the truth thou hast acted and done and as Conscience-Book is opened Answer it will upon thee the judgments of God to be just A Reply to that where thou says We will make known the very truth of this delusion by comparing those kind of teachings of the heart with those that the Spirit of truth was and is wont to bring forth in the souls of his people in this particular c. I Answer Thou art a stranger to the teachings of the Spirit of
the Lord and speaks evil of the work that he is and hath been pleased to bring forth in the souls of His People and now thou art found a false accuser of such as witness the Spirits teachings and the bringings forth of the truth of God in their souls and thou art one that cannot put a difference between the precious and the vile but call truth railing and reviling as before is proved and calls good evil and evil good and so hath no salt to savour withall And where thou says these people are mistaken in their judgment that they accuse falsly and that must needs be a delusion c. I Answer It is thou that art so mistaken in thy false Astronomical Judgment as I have proved therefore thou art in the delusion and mysterious workings of Antichrist thou speaks of and thou must needs be mistaken in thy false Astronomical Judgment and so in delusion and guided by a Satanical Spirit that doth so accuse and condemn a people for what thou ought not and calls the workings of the Spirit of God by his power in his Servants the delusion of Satan c. as in thy 40. and 41. page and so thy sayings being false are turned back upon thee again with thee to remain and in the reproachful false accusing and lying generation from whence they came And where thou says that when they are made to write abundantly unto men charging them without knowledge of truth They are not able to make good their wrongful accusations c. I Answer as for that fallacy which lies in those words without knolwedge of the truth that we deny and therein thou art a lyar and charged to be so and also a false accuser speaking without knowledge of the truth as it doth appear in thy false Prognostication or Astronomical Judgment as thou calls it and for wrongfull accusations that we also deny they are thy own who art not able to make good by sound truth what thou accuseth withal as is before proved and thou art left with the charges standing fast upon thee and true judgment set upon the head of thy false Astronomical judgment and so thou art thereby out of the teachings of God which thou speaks of that art the lyan slanderer and false accuser of the brethren For the Spirit of God and his teachings we witness according to his Promises Ier. 31.31 to the 3â— Isa 54.13 14. whereby our souls are established in righteousness according to his teachings by his Spirit in the new Covenant Heb. 8 and the Spirit of God teacheth his servants in another way contrary to thy will and many slanderous aspersions and false accusations And where thou says quoting Malacy 3. vlt. they shall discern between the righteouss and he wicked between them that serve God and them that serve him not I Answer Wee witness the Promise of the Lord fulfilled and now we discern and know the righteous from the wicked and so see thee and all false accusers to be servants of sin so of the Serpents seed therefore no servants of God nor in his righteousness but out of his wisdom and teachings who are so slanderous and despitefully wicked take notice of that But again thou sayest if any shall say That Promise and the Promise of being guided by the Spirit into all truth are Promises made to some particular men as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles they shall find in reading that place it was speken to all the people of the Lord upon that great acceptation the Lord had of them upon their meeting together c. 1. I Answer The Promises of Gods love and mercy are to Abraham and his seed but not to the Serpent and his seed and false accusers are of the Serpents seed and hath no right to those Promises but thou and such like in the deceivableness and false accusers like thee are of the Serpents seed and so hath no right unto these Promises therefore art thou and the Serpents seed ignorant of the gifts and teachings of the Spirit of God Secondly That Promise of being by the Spirit guided into all truth The Promises of Gods blessings and happiness are to his own seed and they all chosen people beloved of God and by Christ gathered out of the world to whom He giveth h s word and Spiâ—â—t and the world â—â—teth them was not then given neither were it given upon that account as thou saiest of the acceptation that God had of the meeting of the Jews in the first Covenant often together for Christ was not then come in the flesh so that Promise was not made for it were by him given to his Disciples before his departure from them for when he had told them of his leaving them and going to the Father He said unto them a particular people to wit his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye my Disciples believe in God believe also in me Iohn 14.1 and I go to prepare a place for you ver 2. and saith he after that to them I will pray to the Father and he shall send you my Disciples and Friends the Comforter and he shall abide with you for ever Iohn 14.16.17 Then that Promise was not given upon the acceptation of the meeting of those Jews spoken of in Malachy 3. seeing Christ was not then come visibly and after he was come and had suffered many things before his departure from his Disciples he told them he would pray to the Father for that Promise Ioh. 14.16 26. which was that Spirit that should guide into all truth Ioh. 16.13 and when Christ prayed for them he prayed not for the world Ioh. 17.9 and he gave them his word not the Letter but the Spirit which is the Word Ioh. 17.17 which Word was their sanctification ver 17. so one with the Spirit and Word of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Christ himself is the Word for so is his name he is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 and he is the Sanctifier and sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Hebrewâ—s 2.10 11. and that Promise was not made as thou say st Edmund Skip and therein thou hast also manifested a lying pirit in that and also shewed that thou art not acquainted with the teachings of the Spirit of God nor the work of Sanctification thou speaks of and let all the children of light take notice of this Thirdly to come to the place of Scripture again because thou sayes those promises was not made to the particular people I say none knowes the right to the promises but the rightcous seed and they are one people singled out from the world who are heirs of God and joyntheirs with Christ c. Iohn 17.9 10 11. Iohn 15.18 19. and the promises of blessing and happiness are to them therefore the promises of blessing and happiness are to the Righteous feed separated from the world chosen out of it by Christ Iohn 15.18 19. to whom he giveth his word and therefore doth the
such also as supposes gain to be godliness and those likewise that sollowes pleasures which we deny and turn them back as thou art and the Priests and Antichtistian ministers such as are proud and supposes gainto be godliness which they do not that thâ—u accuseth under the name of Quakers and thou thy self if thou was not blind might see that thou clears them also of that thyself in thy 30 and 31 pages where thou sayes they are made to deny their callings c. but as for giving over labouring and following of wordly business thou says thou could bedy with that and shews thy Reason as thou says â—hat when thou considered that most men are overcome and surfeited with the cares things of this life thou thought as thou sayes that the people of God should be upon the extream on the other hand those then are not they that suppose gain is Godliness c. here thou takes them also according to that saying of thine to be the people of God and yet thou calls them a misted People what confusion is here how confused thou art saying and unsaying building up and throwing down Babylonish and thou cleares them from the cares of the World and for surfeiting with that and yet in the places of Scripture before cited as in 1 Tim. 6.5 6. that is speaking of one that is Proud c. which thing they deny and abhor and also declare and testify against it as Isaiah did that said Wo to the Crown of Pride Isa 28. and by that Scripture which thou art blind in and cannor see what in darkness thou hast done thou hast Ranked them amongst a people that doates about Questions and strife of words and such as follow pleasures c. which things they deny against them testifie and they are no such thou thy self in another place hast confuted thy self therein and cleared themof that in thy 20 Pag. for thou says there they desire to become fools and to be made weak and as thou says thou knowes not what is doth appear thou says thou knowes not what that art so confuted and so consuting thy self in thy own sayings theresore let all the wise hearted take notice of that and judge by what spirit thou art guided even by a Spirit of delusion error and deceipt And to that in thy 19 Pag. where thou says they Reckon it their perfection and bappiness to be deprived of all here thou speakest thou knowest not what a divination of thy own brain and an imagination of thy heart And whereas thou says the Spirit of God doth neither so Act nor teach c. I answer the Actings and teachings of the Sparit of God we own but deny thy sayings who are ignorant both of his actings and teachings as before is proved and as thou thy self in uttering thy Confusion hast made it plainly manifest And where thou art telling of one thing that did very much stumble thee a great while and it was this thou sayes that they said the best things that ever they Received from God mentionag knowledge and faith and high enjoyments must burnt up and destroyed I Reply they that walk in the light stumble not The best things that ever we Receaved from God as Faith Heavenly-wisdom and Spirituall enjoyments is owned c. but they that disobey the light and walk contrary to it they stumble even at noon-day but thou walks not in the light and therefore thou stumbles and would aspire to know the Saints Conditions with thy vain mind but cannot for out of their life faith and enjoyments thou art shut and for destruction to suffer but thy fallacy we deny which Iles in these words of suffering losse of all that we Received of God and where thou says of faith knowledge and high-enjoyments and would charge a Lie upon us saying that we should say we should suffer losse of them thy fallacy we deny but Faith True-knowledge and what we have receaved of God that we enjoy according as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 c. And where thou says that they desire to become fools and to he made weak and thou knowes not what Page 20. Reply Thou hast shot forth thy sting in thy tail or hinder part of thy words in that fall acy or saying where thou says thou knows not what as thou hast said how confused thou art as I said before to say thou knowes not what therefore thy judgment and sayings must needs be false and not true that as thou thy self hath said thou says thou knows not what and an in thy confusion and falshood treachery and deceipt thou hast nothing to do to judge of the wayes of God nor of the people of God And where thou says The Holy Ghost judgeth it meet that all care and diligenoe should be used hath in Reading exhorting one another c Reply What the Holy Ghost teacheth that we do own and also at we are guided thereby to evercising of those Graces A Sting in the tail a satit cy denyed wherewith the Lord hath endued our souls we also own and to he kept diligent in the Spint to understand the mind and will of God in the making sorth of his Love that we may be to the praise of the glory of his Grace and Reading and Prayer that we do own but thy Sting in thy tail fallacy or lying-divination that we deny Reading and Prayer and all Godly exortation according to the teachings of the Spirit of God is now witnessed amonst the people of God by the world called Quakers Which is this where thou says Those beguiled wretches pretend they must not Read or Speak a good word to one-another Reply thy saying in this is all false and thou laid a smooth-ground before it and coloured it over and layes this in the middle to stumble the simple thou subtill Serpent this fallacy we deny and the pretences shall stand for thy self and the begulied and wretches thou speaks of but Reading we own and speaking good words exhorting one another and prayer by the Spirit of Truth and speaking the Truth in Love that we may grow up in Him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of its self in Loves Ephes 4.15 16. And where thou says They say they have no freedom to speak admonish or discowise about heavenly things or any thing whereby they may glorifie God or do good one to another Reply Math. 5.16 This saying is altogether false and not true and thy fallacy we deny but speaking about the things of God and that which may glorifie him that we do own knowing that by obeying
did not walk after the flesh but after the spirit and though there be no condemnation to them that are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit who witnesse the Law fulfilled in them and so are led by the Spirit and made more then Conquerers through him that loved them who are sons and heirs of God Rom. 38. Chap. and 1 Iohn 1 22 9. and Gal. 3.29 Gal. 4.6.7 1 Iohn 2.20.27 Yet such as are not sons but bastards The unrighteous who walk in the flesh and fulfiâ—l the lusts hereof are out of Christ and under a state of condemnation luâ— they are now warned and left without excuse happy aâ—e they if thâ—y return to the Lord by forsaking the evill of their wayes but if they do not â—wo c. who walk not after the spirit but after the flesh such as are unrighteous and unrighteousness is transgression of the Spiritual Law Read 1 Iohn 3.4 and verse 10. such are under a state of condemnation take notice of that all the proud and lofty ones al the covetous oppressors lyers swearers false-accusers haters back-biters scoffers scorners coseners cheaters envious and malicious ones Rom. 1.27 29 30 c. and take notice of it all you unrighteous ones of what sort soever and you that plead for a continuance insin yet walk after the flesh Remember you are under a state of Condemnation are transgressors of the Righteous Law ye unrighteous ones therefore return from your unrighteousnesse or else you shall in no wise inherit the Kingdom of God and this I testifie unto you from the Spirit of the Lord say not but that you are warned I am clear from your blood now that I have warned you from the Lord and if you will not take warning to turn from your unrighteousnesse your blood be upon your own head and in your condemnation from God the light of God in your consciences that reproves you for sin will also be a swift witnesse against you and upon you Answer it will the Judgments of God to be just therefore take warning now whilest you have time least you die in your sins and perish and be shut out from God and cast into everlasting burnings and eternall torment also Read and Consider of those Scriptures Rev. 20.10 15 2 Thâ—s 1.8 9. 1 Cor. 5.9.10 Gal. 5.19 20 21. Rev. 14.9.10.11 Mal. 4.1 Rev. 21.8 27. Read Ezek. 33.11 12 13 c. Ezek. 3.17 18 19 c. you may see before the Reward of the unrighteous and now you are warned And where thou says It is a most devillishire and delusion to conceave that any who are one with God inâ—â—â—â—ist shall undergo the wrath of God in that manner they speak of by this they make the death of Christ of none effect citing Hebrews the 9. They that are one with God in Châ—â—staâ—e freed from siâ— â—â—d â—o from wrath Reply The death of Christ we witnesse to be of great effect and as before is proved also according to the 9 of the Hebr which witnesseth what before is said but thy conceaving fallacy we deny which lies in these words That any who are one with God in Christ shall undergo the wrath of God in such manner c. we deny the conceit and thy fallacy both and we charge thee to be a lier and false accuser for we do not say that such as are one with God in Christ shall suffer the wrath of God in such a manner there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ as before is said and that we witnesse and who walk in the light Christ is light and such as walk in him receaves the Light of life Iâ—hn 1.9 Iohn 8.12 and he leads to God the Father of Lights and in him there is the love perfected 1 Iohn 4.16 17. and he that walks in the light as he is in the light hath fellowship with the Father and Son and there is a cleansing from all unrighteousnesse and a dwelling in the divine Love and so the Unity is witnessed as Christ hath said Iohn 14.30 and he that abideth in him sinneth not 1 Iohn 3.6 neither can he sin verse the 9. and there is a freedom from sin and unrighteousnesse the cause of wrath and so a freedom from sin A freedom also from wrath to such as are one with God in Christ so this conceit and fallacy being denied and truth set in its Right place the people thou calls Quakers are not in the delusion because not within the compass of thy saying whereby they would prove them so then thy ground being ript up thy fallacy taken away Truth is cleared and thou art ensnared or in the delusion thy self that art in the lies and false-accusaions take notice of this The Serpent and his seed are shut out from God under the wrath and vengeance 2 Thess 1.6 7 8. But ye the Serpent and his seed are in the unrighteousnesse and not in God for there is no fellowship agreement nor concord betwixt them 2 Cor. 6.14.15 but enmity is placed betwixt the two Seeds and such as are of the Serpents seed as thou art must know the wrath and vengeance of God for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlines and unrighteousnes of men who hold the Truth in righteousns Rom. 1.18 take notice of that all ye unrighteous ones as is said before for it is a Righteousness things for God to Recompence to tribulation to the unrighteous and such as trouble his 2 Thess 1.6 7. And where thou says When you have weighed it see whether it can stand with the Lords Justice to call any of his servants to bear so in their bodies and spirits as they do his Iust and exact Judgment untill he have wrought out of them his own Satisfaction and Recompence in that nature The World are not to Judge the Laints but the Saints shall Judge the the World Reply The naturall man knows not the things and teachings nor workings of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 and such thou calls to judge and trie c. For thou calls upon the World to judge and the World trie thy expositions and tenents and the World are not to judge the Saints nor the Spirits workings teachings and actings yet the Saints must judge the World 1 Cor. 6.2 1 Cor. 2.15 therefore thou and the Judges in the carnall are with the Spirit of Truth judged through the eternal with that which sets up Judgment and Justice in the new Creation and we are the wormanship of God in Christ Jesus created again and changed by the operation of his spirit into the pure Image again 2 Cor. 3.17.18 and so we are out of the unrighteousness in the Righteous where the true Justice is set up through the Judgment therefore you cannot Judg us who are in the life of Truth with your earthly carnall mindes which is shut out not being
According to the eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord ver 11 being now no more Strangers Forreiners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Ephes 2.18 19 20. for which cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and in Earth is named Eph. 3.14 15. And whereas thou says that some of them go naked and they have a colour from that of Saul and also saith they neevr knew the mind of the Lord so discovered by any of his servants either under the new or old Covenant c. pag. 35. Reply A Reply to that about going naked which thou hath accused some withall and says they bring in a cover for that from Saul Here thou hast shewed that thou art a busie bodie about other mens matters and also ignorant of the minde of the Lord discovered to Isaiah the Prophet one of his Servants undâ—â—â—â—e old Covenant to whom the word of the Lord came saying 〈◊〉 thy sackcloth from off thy loynes and thy shoe from off thy 〈◊〉 â—nd he did so and walked naked and bare-foot 3 years in obeâ—â—â—ce to to the minde and will of the Lord Isaiah 20. chapter See and take notice here was an example And the Lord so far Discovered his minde that he commanded the same thing to be acted and done which were Performed according to the Word of the Lord Therefore in that thou hast manifested thy Spirit of Errour as well as in the rest of thy sayings slanders and false accusations Secondly And thou says As for that of Sauls stripping off his cloathes and lying down naked amongst the Prophets there is nothing in that Place doth prove it to be the will of the Lord c. Reply Saul at that time was guided by a Spirit of Prophecy and that was according to the will of the Lord for no Prophecy of the Scripture came in old time by the will of man but by the will of God 2 Pet. 1.21 but Saul was then a Prophet guided by a Spirit of prophecie according to the will of the Lord and at that very time when he stript off his cloathes and day naked before Samuel all day and all night 1 Sam. 19.23 then Saul having at that time the Spirit of God and prophesied till he came before Samuel where he stript off his cloathes and then prophesied also which were according to the will of the Lord at that same time when he lay naked among the Prophets and as Balams Asse did speak to reprove him for his madness and folly so thou having manifested thy madnes and folly art Reproved and Judged for thine who art in errour delusion and filthy deceipt but are lest naked and bare as Saul was and now all thy Covers will not hide thee thy skirts is discovered take shame to thy self and beware how thou utters thy folly as thou hast done And whereas thou says if they cannot see the servants of Christ that walk according to the manifest Rules of the Gospell to be the servants of Christ but reckon them to be the servants of sin hypocrites c. as thou says they do commonly why then thou says they prove themselves to be blind and led forth by a lying and deceavable spirit of delusion by Antichrist c. pag. 37. Reply Now if we can see and know the servants of Christ that walk according to his Spirit 〈◊〉 manifest Rule in the Gospell and so do not reckon them to be blind servants of sin nor hypocrites c. and do not as thou sayes commonly call them so then we do not prove our selves to be blind nor led forth by a lying and deceaveabl spirit neither of delusion nor Antichrist c. as in thy 37. page The Serpent catcht or taken in his own snare devieâ— But we whom thou calls Quakers do see and know the servants of Christ that walk according to Gospel rules and do not reckon them to be servants of sin nor men in the darkness and hypocrisie c. neither do we commonly call them so then we do not prove our sâ—â—â—es to be blind but in the light Joh. 8.12 nor led forth by a lying and deceivable spirit but by the manifestation of the Spirit a rule in the Gospel to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and also led by that spirit which is the Saints guide into all truth John 16.13 a Rule in the Gospel and so we are led by the Spirit of God which is the Saints guide Roman 8.14 Galat. 4.6 7. therefore we whom thou calls Quakers are not in delusion nor guided by the Spirit of Antâ—christ we are hereby cleared and thou ensnared and so thou art he that hast proved thy self to be blind and led forth by a lying Spirit therefore in that delusion of Antichrist thou speaks of and art acted and guided by his Spirit and amongst such as thou ranks together like unto the men of the world that do not know the servants and Disciples of Christ from his professed enemies according to his saying but speaks evill of the men you know not and of the things and workings of the Spirit of God and so there needs no further proof then your own open and Professed mistake who your selves are Ranked with the carnall and sinfull men of the World so that there is like Priest like People Hos 4. v 9. who are all under the Power of Antichrist and so without God in the World and the poor deluded Creatures thou speaks of according to thy 37. pag. The Covenant the Promises we witnesse but the Alienation and slanders aspersions and false accusations and lies as well in the 37 page as in other parts of thy Book that we deny turning them back upon thee and thy generation again though thou be made to cast away Tythes thou art strong in thy false accusations and lyes and so art in the deceivablenesse with the rest that took them though thou be in another colour disguised take notice of that therefore do I turn thee amongst the Serpents generation for Lyers and slandererers deceavers and false accusers therefore thou are of that generation and of the Serpents seed whose head is in the unbruâ—sed And whereas thou says if these poore deluded wretches of whom we are speaking shall judg themselves to be the servants of Christ and reckon them to be the servants of Christ also then they are brethren and if brethren and yet hate their brethren they must needs be under delusion and the words of the Apostle John will render them to be Liers and deceaved People c. pag. 37 38. Reply Now upon this Reckoning and Account as thou leaves it toour judging rnd reckoning of our selves so I say if we know that we are the Servants of Christ The wise taken in his own craftinesse and the Innocent art clear thâ—reby and reckon our selves Brethren and so love one another and
do not hate our Brethren then thy necessity is taken away and we shall not be under delusion nor a deceaved People neither will the Apostle John render us to be so but on the contrary witnesse with us to be the children of thâ— Lord and Friends and Brethren in Christ and so we are shall thereby be cleared for what thou falsely would charge upon us and doth slander us withall But we whom thou calls Quakers and reviles under that name we know that we are the servants of God and bought with a Price and being called in the Lord we are his free men and so we Reckon our selves also to be Brethren and not the servants of men but of God abiding with him in that calling wherein we are called 1 Cor. 7.22 23 24. and so let every one abide in the same calling wherein he is called of the Lord ver 20. and serve him in what he requires Presenting also their body as a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service Roman 12. and being born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible seeing we have purified our souls in obedience to the Truth through the Spirit we love one another with a pure heart servently according to the Gospell discipline Rule fellowship and doctrine as such did who were of that Birth and Seed 1 Pet. 1 22 23. and so we witnesse as such did that he who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are of him and he is not ashamed to call them his Brethren Hebr. 2.11 12. and we being so born sanctified and taught we Reckon such as are of that Seed and Birth in the Sanctification to be also our Brethren and we do not hate but dearly tender and love them and we also reckon that the suffering condition is not to be compared to the Glory revealed within by comming through the suffering Rom. 8.14 15 16 17 18. and we know that our brethren before who were led by the Spirit did also witnesse the same and we know moreover as the sufferings of Christ do abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Praised be the Lord for the Riches of his Love 2 Cor. 1.5 1 John 3. Then it being that we are of the New Birth in the calling and brother-hood and have acknowledged witnessed that we are Servants of God and Brethren in and by Christ and that we do not hate but love our brethren it must needs be that we are not under any delusion according also to thy saying E. S. Being proved and tried and back-returned thy fallacy taken away and truth set up in its place and therefore thou being sound the subtil Serpent with thy sting in thy tail and envie and hatred thou al false accusers of the innocent are the deluders and in the delusions and wretchednesse thou speaks of and now that we are cleared from thy slanders and thou found the envier and hater and such in the nature the Apostle Johns words witnesseth for us and against such as you are that are in the envie and evil committing sin and so serving the Devil take notice of that and also read 1 John 3.15 and 1 John 3.8 10. It followes from Edmund Skips words that we a People whom he calls Quakers being servants of Christ and brethren not hating but loving our brethren that we are under no delusion nor guided by aspirit of Antichrist c. But we whom he calls Quakers are servants of Christ and brethren and also do not hate but love our Brethren therefore according to that we a People whom Edmond Skip calls Quakers are not deluders nor under delusion c. take notice of that Friends and Christ who are of the Royall Seed and new Birth are set forth and manifested to be the Children and servants of God by their Love to him and one to another that are if the same spirituall Birth and in Vnion with him in the pure divine Light Life and Love Or Some Rules of Love whereby the Children of God are known to to love God and also to Live one another and also of Johns words to witnesse for the Truth Johns words witnesse for the Righteous seed such as are born again are of that seed and sons of God so brethren in Christ who lives in the divine light Life and Love and we may cry out with admiration that are of that Seed and in the divine Love and say with John and John with the righteous Seed who sald First Behold what manner of Love is this that the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the World knoweth us not because it knew him not 1 John 3 1 2. Secondly And saith he ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins and we know the same and in him is no sin at all whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5 6. Then Thirdly little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousnesse is Righteous even as he is Righteous and whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed Remaineth in him so saith the holy Ghost and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 John 3 7 and 9. Fourthly Therefore Marvell not my Brethren if the World hate you it is but what the Lord Jesus foretold of to his John 15.18 19 20 21. and we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3.13 14. Fiftly Now my litle Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but indeed and in Truth and thereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall asure our Hearts before Him â— John 3. ver 18 19. Sixtly This is His Commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment and he that keepeth his commandment dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 Joh. 3.23 24. 7. In this was manifested the love of God to us whom the world now reproacheth for his names sake c. because that God sent his onely begotten Son into the world that we might live through him and herein is love not that we first loved God but that he first loved us and sent his Son to teach us and guide us Joh. 8.12 and to be the propitiation for our sins who being children have them forgiven 1 Joh. 2 1â— And now beloved if God so loved us it is our duty and we ought also to love one another for God is love and if with his love we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us 1 Joh. â— 9 10 11 12. 8. Hereby know we that we dwell in him because he hath given us of his spirit vers 13. 9. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is Love and he
Serpent shoots forth his sting in those words saying he was commanded by his enemy so to fast under the pretence of a friend thy pretence is false and the enemy and his commands we do deny and thee the Conjecturer Prognosticator and Astronomer with thy lying wonders in thy false and Astronomical Judgment and thy prodigious Comet with its scintillations and spâ—rklings thou tells of and also thy little great wonder and lyes and false accusations and slanders who art he that Satah hath transâ—ormed like to an Angel of light who art venting thy lyes and malice because thy false Apostle ship is now discovered and thy Antichristian transforming being fitting for his highest attain mens â—nd making and made able to deceitful works as thou hast learned by Antichrists methodical way in his School and art learning that Philosophical Maxime thou rests of and by thy Philosophy and vain deceit deceives poor ignorant creatures acting â—n that mystery of iniquity and sophistry plagues upon it and wo and â—â—â—geance from God is the reward of thy Satan cal work who art â—oâ—â—gly promoted by him as to be his Nuntio Thou declarer and publisher of horrid lyes slanders and false accusations wo and vengeance expect for thy reward and the lake is prepared for sorcerers inchanters witches lyers and such like Rev. 21.8 thy filthiness we deny thy sting in thy taile Rev. 1.9 and also thy deceiâ— ablenefs slanders false accusations and horrid lye and lyers are for the burring lake and such like take notice of that Secondly But obeying the commands of the Spirit we own for such are Christs friends as keeps his commands and watching fasting and prayer we own according to the reachings and commands of the Spirit of truth and with Gospel discipline and Doctrine but all that which is contrary to the truth of the Gospel that we deny and the Devil doth not nor will not so strike at his own Kingdom of lust as to set any six or seaven daies to fast for thereby lust it becomes weak and it as a means of rooting lust out that great evil on fruit of the Devil and as Christ hath said some sort and so it may be said of this sort it goes not out but by fasting and prayer and herein thy Judgement is false and not true and thou contemns the power of truth and the works of the Spirit of God and one while saith if it was be thou calls Nayler or another that he had a command of God so to d◠〈◊〉 thou sayest he said he had then he did well that kept the command and obeyed and art thou offended at that thou art offended at truth if thou be but thou art therefore ignorant of the teachings and workings of the Spirit of truth and so ignorant of Christs commands and yet taketh upon thee to Judge the truth with thy false mind and out of thy false heart and hath also manifested the same in accusing him falsly that thou hast but a conjecture of be it Nayler or Fox and so with the truth art thou judged and thy lying tongue condemned by the Spirit of truth according to the heritage of the servants of the Lord Isa 54.17 Thirdly For fasting which thou contemns and derides such as do it in obedience to a true command and so in obedience to the Lord for thou says in pag. 44. thou art perswaded they dare not tell a lye c. and if they dare not tell a lye c. as thou says then God teacheth them to deny lying and speak the truth and so to obey the teachings and commands of the Spirit of truth and it is God that teacheth truth and no lies for no lye is of the truth therefore in thy sayings thou hast ensnared thy self and by thy words art thou judged to be unstable like a wave of the Sea foaming out thy own shame and manifesteth thy confusion that says for thy own ends as in pag. 44. thou art perswaded they dare not lye yet further thou sayest they are deluded by Satan How confused thou art the Devil hath no truth to speak then not to teach â—â—â—â—ther to speak truth and not lye for there is no truth in him 〈◊〉 when he speaketh a lye he speaketh it of himself for there is no truth in him John 8.44 then not for any to receive from him therefore they speaking truth and no lye whom thou accusest they are neither taught of him nor deluded by him Take shame to thy self and blush that so lieth of them and accusest also for fasting and when they had confirmed the souls of the Disciples and had prayed with fasting they commended them to God on whom they believed Acts 14.21 22 23. and they gave them to fasting and prayer 1 Cor. 7.5 and were in fastings often and they approved themselves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watchings and fastings 2 Cor. 6.4 5. here in judging fastings that were done in obedience to a command of the Lord to be a command of Satan thou therein hast judged the spirits action judged the practice of the Saints Servants of the Lord and art ignorant of the conditions of the aforesaid approbation of the Ministers of the Gospel and so hast manifested thy Antichristian spirit of trechery delusion and deceit according to thy gradations as thou hast been taught methodically in thy master Antichrists School who art one of his Antichristian false Apostles and Schollers trained up in error delusion and deceit by him whose coming is with signs and lying wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish 2 Thess 2.9 10 11. And where thou says for that deceit of theirs in giving over all care and Callings and then honest employments in the world they are made to misapprehend the teachings of Christ in Matth. 10.37.38 Reply We do not misapprehend the teaching of Christ in Mat. 10.37 38 but witness thereunto and in that thou art proved a lyer And for that fallacy which is laid down in that word All Care and Callings and honest employments that is also false and is so proved before therefore thou art charged with another lye thy mouth is full of such stuff which thou hast learned in the Antichristian School where thou hast learned thy art of lying and deceit he ashamed and blush And thou Sophister saiest being given over to lyes where thou wrests and twists about with thy fallacies and deceivable spirit that we think Christ doth engage his people to leave all care and diligence Reply Thy fallacy thou hast laid down in thy saying all care and diligence which we deny and here thou art found with another lie in thy mouth silence deceit thou cannot by a lying-spirit enter into our thoughts that saist They think Christ doth engage his people to leave all care and diligence Here again I charge thee with another Lie for it is
of the Lord be with his own works and labors and go thou up and down to pursue thy enemy and be vigilant for the defence of the truth and be also a reprover and rebuker of and wâ—rrier in the name and power of the Lord against truths enemies and adversaries and be a valiant conquerer for subduing that Army of lies and for the treading down false accusations and aspersions cast out against the innocent and the assistance of the Lord answer and go along and make the hearts of his to rejoyce and carry them glad tidings to Israel let them know that thou art come to bring them word that Antichrists man of war is encountered withal by one that is little in his own eyes and the blessing of the Almighty be with his own work and carry on his own cause against all his adversaries and his childrens foâ—s that truth may triumph and the Lord make thee prosperous even to Amen Farewell and be of good cheer and all my dear friends be faithful and valiant for the truth every where And the Lord God of Power be with you now and for ever more Written onely for the clearing of the truth and for the simple ones sake by a servant of the Lord at Underwood Hill in Wotcestershire there finished and made ready to be sent forth this fifth day of the second moneth commonly called Aprill and according to the worlds Account 1655. Instead of a Postscript AN Answer to a Mittimus by which Thomas Goodaire a servant of the Lord was sent from Kederminster where Richard Baxter is cheif Priest to Worcester prison after he had been kept there a certain space and committed for no breach of any known Law but to manifest the enmity and that monster persecution brought sorth by Richard Baxter's ministry at Kederminster who is chief Priest there and accounted the chiefest Priest in Worcestershire and in persecution his ministry is chief in that shiere and begun there first in that County or Shiere to wit at the Town called Kederminster The Mittimus begins thus as followeth and the answer unto it To the Keeper of the Goal for the County of Worcester 1655. Forasmuch as Thomas Goodaire the 25. of this instant March being the Lords day came into the Parish Church of Kederminster I answer no Church it is but a Synagogue of Satan which brings sorth that monster persecution and casts into prison for speaking the truth but it is written Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life as it is written Rev. 2.8 9 10. The true Church of Christ never persecuted any but your Parish Church as you call it hath brought sorth that monster therefore a harlot and not the spouse be you ashamed thereof The true Church is in God 1 Thes 1. and 1. and doth not perish but yours is out of God and so perishing Christ is the head of his body the Church Eph. 2.22.23 but not of a Steeple-house you have told a lye to call that a Church and are found persecuters also and so not of Christs Church it were not of a persecuting nature but such as followed him the Head were of that body which were persecuted John 15.18 19 20 21. 2 Cor. 6. but you have cleared your selves o be none of that Body nor Church that persecute his and shut up in prison as you have done Mittimus At such a time as many hundred of the good people of this Common-wealth were there assembled to worship God Reply The worship of God you know not that are persecutors and lyers there you have shut your selves out of the worship of God for God is a Spirit and they that worship him worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.22.23 24. but you are in the lies and not in the truth and here taken with a lye in your mouth for he came in before your will-worship began or were assemb'ed and did not speak till your Priest had given over and ended and then asked him a Question and he sled and called an Officer c. and so manifested himself to be an Antichristian Minister and a deceiver and he the said Thomas Goodaire came not into your parish Church as you call it at such a time as you were assembled together as you say but was there before you were assembled or your Priest came and he walked to and fro in the room before the Priest came and then sat him down until he had done therefore that saying is a false accusation be ashamed you lyers and blush Mittimus And there misbehaved himself Answer Speaking the truth is no misbehaviour and he spoke the truth but misbehaviour he doth deny and therefore that accusation is false and you are taken venting and hath vented another lye and read who lyers are of John 8.44 and you that are such lyers of the innocent and bends your tongues like your bowes for lyes to cause them thereby to suffer imprisonment be aashamed for ever and read your reward that are such lyars Rev. 21.8 Mat. 25.41 c. But to be short I shall set down the Mittimus as it is verbatim and let the wise-hearted see if there be any breach of a known Law but only filled with lyes and thereby doth not act the part of Justice Righteousness nor Christianity and let Richard Baxter and his partakers be ashamed of what they have done and wo be unto such an Antichristian Minister and Antichristian persecuting Ministry The Copy of the Mittimus To the Keeper of the Goal for the Country of Worcester FOrasmuch as Thomas Goodaire the 25. of this instant March being the Lords day came into the Parish Church of Kederminster at such a time as many hundred of the good people of this Common-wealth were assembled to worship God Reproachful â—â—â—â—ches is a false accusation charged upon the said Thomas Goodaire either against the Priest or Magistrate and no such thing as affront was offered by him neither by uncivil words nor gestures those are false slanders and the word disturbance of peace is but a cover and shuffle but there is no Law transgressed and there misbehaved himself not only by reproachful speeches against the Minister but also by aâ—ronting the chief Magistrate of this corporation by contemptuous speeches and gestures whilst he was in discharge of the duty of his place to the great disturbance of the publick peace and the grief and pertubation of the people there assembled These are therefore in the name of his Highness the Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereof to will and command you forthwith to receive the said Thomas Goodaire into your custody and him safely keep until next General Sessions for the peace to be holden for this County and hereof you are not to
giveth no discovery of the deceit but rather covers it all Answ By vertue of the pure light that proceeds from the Father we see thee live in that which thou calles light which doth not discover unto thee the abominable practises thou art in to wit pride thou dost usually call thy own Child Mr. Benjamin Skippe a proud practiâ—e seldom heard of the love of the world deceiving the people upholding the worship of the Beast painted over with the Saints words an enemy to the Saints life as doth now more fully appear 6. Thou writest so largely of the Devil as it thou were acquainted with all his secrets both what he is doing and what he will do Answ The things of God thou art a stranger to for they are hid from thine eyes and all such wife ones of the Devil the world and the flesh who are in the first nature as thou art 7. Thou writes of what the Devil will bring us to Answ 1. It is neither thee nor the Devil in thee that knoweth what we are much lesse what we shall be 2. If thou and the accuser of the brethren in thee have ought against us at present that we walk not up to the present discovery of the pure light as it is in measure brought forth in us then I charge thee to speak 3. Thou hypocrite first cast out the beam that is at present in thy own eye before thou go to cast the supposed mote that thou thinks may fall into our eyes hereafter In the close of this Answer I write a tender letter in loâ—e to his soul now let any that live in the light compare these severall answers with that in his pag. 7 8 9. In answer to that which thou callest railing and reviling language in page 10. the Devil hath alwayes brought up his Children with so much manners that they must not tell a lier he lies nor a Thief he is a Robber or if any tell the proud of their pride or the covetous of their covetousness then this is called railing read the Scriptures cited by him this is fully cited Tit. 1.13.3.15 c. see how thou condemns the practice of Christ both in his Person and Members in pag. 11. To that which thou calles thy experience in pag. 11. I tell thee thou hast had much experience of deceit being alwayes in it but thou had never any experience of the powerful workings of God in us only thou was made by the light to see thy filthiness in some measure and then presently thou went forth from the counsel of the Lord and acted and spoke in thy own will the which was deceit indeed running before the light the which I mourned over and often complained to my friends who can witness the same page 12. The Scripture cited by thee Mal 3. they shall discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not the promise being in measure fulfilled in us we discern thee still to live in thy own will and wisdom therefore when thou halted between two opinions long at last one of our friends was made sharply to reprove thee the which thou couldest not own and therefore left us that had undergone burthens upon our own spirits for thee in condescending unto thee in tender love desiring that thou mightest be made at last to witness the work of the Lord in thee unto which thou art still a stranger and now an enemy unto In thy page 13. thou mentions a Scripture as to us 1 Tim. 6.4 5. they there are discovered by their covetousness for they suppose that gain is godliness and canst thou in the least accuse us of covetousness if thou canst spare not to speak the truth but else let shame cover thy face for so many lies and comparing us with those in this Text. Aske the light in thy own Conscience whether thou hast not looked after gain witness thy Tithes thy looking after another Parsonage to that thou hast witness thy Physical Office thy questioning what to do for more maintenance although thou hast told me that thy Lands was 10 l. per Annum 2 Tim. 3.4 that is thy own portion witness thy many Instruments of Musick in thy house page 16. thou writest of faith but thou knowest not that faith that purifieth the soul he that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure he that believeth is entered into his rest hath ceased from his own works as God did from his the which faith thou art a stranger unto for thou hast writ â—â—y own lies and the deceit of thy own heart and thy carnal â—â—oughts the which thou callest the world with whom thou art to judge witness page 9. line 11. and 7.18 and thou thinkest in pag. 16.51.56.57 Page 17. Thou sayest that we esteem The more our hearts are brought off the dealings of God and prayer and spiritual exercises the more pure and perfect the which thou knowest to be a lie witness thy own words after the meeting at Clifton where thou sayst thou saw such a spirit of prayer as thou never had seen before to which those that were there can yet testifie and we witness growth in grace and knowledge 2 Pet. 3.18 and walk from grace to grace leaving the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6.1 forgetting those things which are behind we presse forwards for man in his own wisdom cannot finde out the Lord who is a spirit John 4.24 and regardeth not the wise in heart Job 37.23.24 therefore if any man will be wise let him become a fool that so he may be found in the wisdom that is from above Jam. 3.17 Next thou sayes that we desire the perishing of the former wayes of God this is another of thy lies for all the wayes of the Lord are righteous Psal 145.17 so in page 18. Satan acts thee to call that Scripture dangerous Phil. 3.7.8 if thou call Pauls experiences dangerous it s no wonder that thou callest ours so too but we know that all Scriptures are written for our learning the which we are searching Next thou wilt show the thoughts and but the thoughts of thy own heart which is thy old sinful heart witness thy own hand page 5. line 11.12 therefore from thy wicked heart thou being ignorant of the spirit dost in page 24. even jeer at speaking by the spirit in opposition to all the holy men of God 1 Pet. 1.21 therefore thou art an enemy to prayer in the spirit Ephes 6.18 the which we witness therefore in the light of Jesus Christ thou art calling thy own company to wit the world to try thy exposition of thy own lies that thou hast cast upon us in page 23. and the last in thy second rule page 23. there thou denyest the sufferings of Christ being ignorant of it in thy own soul but we know that if we suffer with him we shall be glorified with him so we are made willing to fill up
swift witness against all deceitful workers who live within the power of what they speak or write much more against those that write filthy abhominable lies Oh if thou love either Christ or thy own soul return return unto the light of Christ in thy own conscience which will let thee see the deceit of thy own sinful heart out of the abundant deceit thereof thy pen hath run so largely in confusion now I charge thee in the presence of the living God in as much love to thy soul as ever that thou return to the light of Christ in thy own conscience and mind that which checks thee in secret I tell thee man in love there is something yet in thee which will witness me to be true See one more page 64. where for thy own defence not for the defence of the truth thou saiâ—â— thou wast necessitated to fly unto the practices and truths of other men to wit Baptists where it is plain thou had not the spirit of Christ to fly unto and speak from as the true Apostles had witness one Acts 6.10 therefore thou art both seen in the light proved by Scripture and thy own Writings to be a false Apostle and a false Minister 3 Cor. 11.13 14 15. much more might be said and proved both from thy writing and actings but I desire the good of thy soul by this which is sufficient at present to prove thee at present to be one of the wondering Startes Iude 13. A word to all Professors in the world BEing it was ordered of my Lord God and Father of lights that something must go forth in print as from me who am the least of all Saints I was even as freely engaged in my spirit out of tender love to your souls to present a few lines from that measure of spirit which is brought forth in me Oh my friends my friends the hour is not only comming but now is witnessed in me that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Iohn 5.25 and the voice of the true Dove is heard in our Land to wit this earthly Tabernacle that is made the Temple of the living God who is now fulfilling his promises in us that walk not after the flesh but after the spirit even in us is the Lord establishing his new and everlasting Covenant even the sure and certain mercies of David which is by the life of Iesus Christ in us fulfilled and witnessed whereby we have fellowship with the Father and one in measure brought to live in him and he in us where we have joy and rest and eternal peace which passeth all understanding and all the worlds comprehension where all the Children of the light meet and see face to face for the Lord hath brought again Sion who is become the perfection of beauty out of the which God now shineth Psal 50.2 and is become our glory and we his Isa 46.13 Oh prayses prayses be unto him who hath redeemed us out of Nations kindreds and tongues to serve the living God in newness of life and not in oldness of Letter that so now we may offer up eternally living and eternal sacrifice and prayse for evermore who hath in measure redeemed us from the world and out of all darkness that is therein and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son and made us partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light which is the eternal light of life for God is light and in him is no darkness at all and all those that live in him are Children of the day who walked in the day even the pure light in the which there is no occasion of stumbling our feet being guided in the path of peace which is the true and living way in which the wafaring man though a fool shall not erre Isa 35.8 which is a pure way of holiness leading up into the full enjoyment of the Father who hath long waited to be gracious unto us and now in the day of his love and power hath gathered us in his arms of love and brought us home unto himself who were before the out-casts of Israel wondering with you from Mountain to Hill but did not finde rest unto our souls but now the great and mighty power of the Lord hath raised up his own seed in us now indeed we are made by the life of the Sonne in us to cry Hallelujah unto him to him alone be all honour glory and obedience and eternal prayses forever even for ever and ever for he that was lost is found he that was dead is alive and behold he liveth for ever more Now my friends the whole world lieth in wickedness and all the world by wisdom knowes not God the natural man perceiveth not the things of God which are hid from the wiâ—e and prudent even from the readers of the Scripture from Scribes Pharisees Priests yea the Princes of this world for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory who is crucified daily by the same spirit that now ruleth in the Children of disobedience even in the Scribes Priests and people that live in the same Nation where the learned ones of the world are 〈◊〉 all those that walk in darkness to wit pride to covetousness 〈◊〉 love of the world hatred variance strife sedition heresie baâ—â— biting heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then the over of God scoffers walking after their own ungodly lusts raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame who accounts gain godliness whose eyes are full of adultery feet swift to shed blood eares open to all deceit whose mouthes are full of cursing and bitterness the poyson of Aspes are under their lips their throats an open Sepulcher who imagineth mischief lying altogether deceitful and desperately wicked who can know it such as these are the fruits of the flesh in the which all the world lies therefore I witness against the world that the works thereof are evil Now in the world there are Sects Schismes Judgements and Opinions there they are heaping up teachers to themselves having itching eares and according to the number of their fansies so are their wayes of worship according to the number of their imaginations so are their Gods for there are many Gods and many Lords but the living God is not known by the world for it by wisdom knowes not God no man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him now he that hath the Son revealed in him is born of God and he that is born of God overcometh the world and sinneth not he that sinneth hath not seen him but this is a hard saying who can bear it the world cannot for the world hears its own they that are of God heareth Gods word ye hear them not therefore ye are not of God Now friends all you that have looked after me and other men for teaching now I can write unto you
what I â—nâ—w that it is the Lord alone that teacheth his people to profit none teacheth like he who is now my teacher indeed and will be yours if you are made willing and obedient to be tought directed and guided by him who is gathering his out of all Nations kindreds and tongues Ezek. 31.11 which is by Jesus Christ the one and only Priest who is the light of the Gentiles and the light of the world by which he hath enlightened every one that commeth into the world John 1.9 which light shineth into the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not verse 5. Now the world is set in the heart of man Eccles 3.11 of the which world Christ is the light and he that followeth him shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life John 8.12 this is that grace of God that hath appeared unto all men teaching them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. this is the light of Christ who is the word of God in the heart for this word of the living God is not farre off but it is nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth that thou mayst hear it and see it and doâ—t Deut. 30.14 Now therefore friends look not forth after them that say Christ is here or there for they are all deceivers the word is nigh the light is within thee even in thy dark heart although thy darkness cannot comprehend it because thou lovest darkness rather then the light of Iesus Christ which shineth in thy Conscience and lets thee see the evil of thy wayes and calles thee to repentance and to forsake the wicked and live this is the Talent that thou art hiding in the earth for the which thou must give an account to therefore say I unto thee minde that teacher that teacheth to deny ungodliness and this is the light of Iesus Christ in thy Conscience the which light proceedeth from Christ and leadeth all that loveth it John 8.12 up to Christ who is the way the truth and the life the only way and no other way to the Father Now all of you owning this word Teacher and light in your own Consciences you will come to witness Iesus Christ in you the light of life and know him to be the way unto the Father which leads out of the darkness of all the worlds wayes worships forms and fashions and customs and words wayes and actions and come to be gathered in the light unto Iesus Christ who is the light and from the light then to come to witness the Scriptures to be true yea even fulfilled in you by the same spirit as it was in them that did write and speak forth the Scriptures and so witness with them against the same things that were witnessed against then by the Children of the light who had fellowship with the Father by the which they saw that which in measure I witnesse that there is but one way one truth one light one faith one baptisme one spirit one head one high Priest who ever liveth to make intercession for us one Church of the first-born whose names are written in Heaven one God over all who is rich unto all that call upon him in spirit and truth the which worshippers the Father seeketh to worship him who is a Spirit and all his Worships are spiritual but God heares not sinners and he that regardeth iniquity in his heart the Lord will not hear him for there are none but the pure in heart that shall see God whose presence is terrible to all the mâ—kers of iniquity that continue in the unfruitful workers of â—â—â—ness Now all of you see that you keep unto the true guid which iâ— Iesus Christ and follow him and see that you do not turn again to the vomit as the manner of some is who begin in the spirit and end in the flesh Oh leave all for Christ you cannot serve two Masters you cannot be of the world and of Gâ—â— you must witness a separation therefore iâ— love to all your somes that have been professors with me in publick in these parts of the Nation and all others flatter not your selves in your conditions promising your selves liberty whilest you are the Servants of corruption therefore forsake the wicked and live H. S. FINIS