doth not commit sin but the unbelief is sin Rom 11 20 and Christ is the end of the Law to every one that believes for righteousness sake Rom. 10.4 and yet thou puts both believers and unbelievers under the Law Lodowick Simerell Priest of the new parish of Munckland his Principles and Doctrines Pr. THat it is blasphemy to say that the light in man which reproves of sin is the light of God is perfect is the gift of God Answ Contrary to scripture contrary to Christs words and contrary to the Apostles words is thy doctrine and Principles for every gift of God is perfect Isa 1.17 Isa 49.6 Joh. 1.3 Joh. 4. For Christ is the gift of God and he hath given him for a Covenant of light to the Jews and Gentiles which doth enlighten every man that commeth into the world which every one that doth truth comes to it which every one that doth evil hates the light and will not come to the light because the light will reprove him and so This is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world and men love darkenesse rather then light because their deeds be evill So this light is perfect which doth reprove every man of sin and is from above and it is the gift of God and thou art blind and in darkness that comprehends it not And the light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world Christ Jesus the gift of God him by whom the world was made this light was before any naturall light was made Sun Moon or Stars for all things that was made was made by the light which came a light into the world that all through him might believe for he that believes not in the light is condemned already and he that does believe in the light hath the witnesse in himself to set to his seal that God is true and the spirit of truth that doth reprove the world is perfect and of God The light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightened withall is not conscience for the light was before any thing was made or conscience named So the light is that which exerciseth the conscience towards God and towards man where it is loved and the voice heard but where it is hated and the voice not heard the conscience is seared and the light is their condemnation whose consciences is seared which light was before conscience was The Priest would not have thee and thou to be to a single person and so is the man that would not indure sound words that cannot be condemned thee and thou was the language between God and his Saints and one another and you is to many and thou was to one and this was the language between Jeptha and his daughter and between the Saints and the Kings this shewes thou hast not learned the Accidence nor Bible nor art come to the form of sound words John Castaires called Minister of Glascow his Principles Pr. T Is naturall folkes duty to pray to God and worship him although they sinfully keep themselves under a sinfull necessity to sin against God through ignorance Answ This hath been your worke to keep people in ignorance which you may be ashamed of A natural man cannot worship God for he cannot receive the things of God nor a sinfull man but worship the Devil for he that commits sin serves him and he that serves sin serves the Devill and worships him Iohn 8 34 And Christ said the Pharisees should receive the greater damnation for their pretended long prayers Mat. 23 14 and so he did not justifie them in their long prayers but rebuked them and said Wo unto them who draw near with their lips when their hearts were far off Isa 29 13 And they that pray and worship God must pray in the spirit 1 Cor 14 15 and worship in the Spirit which the Devil is out of John 4 21 Pr If the first Command be in force and if it be in force negatively it is also in force positively thou shalt have me for thy God and oughtest to worship me and if they pray not as they should let them answer for it for it is not sin of it self Answ The children of Israel that the Commandments were given unto knew God but the Heathen knows him not here all may see what measure thou measures withall And further thou sayest if they pray as they should not and yet not sin is praying as they should and as they should not one by this to call upon God with their lips and the heart not right and the prayers and sacrifice of the wicked is justified Prov. 15.8 and if any pray as they should not are they not condemned for it and if in praying as they should not be not sin then they doe as they should Pr. If folks should not pray because they are uncapable then a believer not finding himself in a good frame may let his prayers alone Answ A Believer is ababe of God and his cry is right his prayer is right and his groan is right 1 John 5.1 And every man that cometh into the world being enlightned and coming into the light which hath enlightned him 1 John 1.7 in that he is to watch and pray which leads him beyond naturals which will be accepted in the degree but he that hates the light his prayer is not accepted but is in the hypocrisie Pr. The Apostles bad Simon Magus an old witchcarle pray and now is there any reason to say we are bidding folk sin when we bid them pray although they be grosly ignorant Answ The Apostle bad him Repent Acts 8.22 and he was sensible he had sinned and that which makes a man sensible of sinne brings him to pray aright and turnes him from witchcraft and so thou dost put no difference between the precious and the vile Ezek. 22.26 the accepted and unaccepted And Hen. Foreside who would have had his people to stone the Quakers and calls it Christian zeal he would have his wall up that he might live in safety who murthers and would be preserved in the murtherous estate and would have the powers of the earth to be his Executioners and pack-horses but the Lord is opening of their eyes that they will not execute their malice though he is stirring up the people to do so so all may see this is not the work of our Lord Jesus Christ but the work of the Murtherer and one that makes himself drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 till he reel again in his madnesse And Christ called them that took up stones to stone him of their Father the Devil for doing his lust John 8.44 And thou who would have the people to stone and calls it Christian zeal thou hast manifested thy Father and to be of the Devil who was a Murtherer from the beginning but you are the Serpents and vipers that would kill to fill the measure of your Fathers Mat. 23.32 and persecute
enlightned The Magistrates be in that power which goes over him and is a praise to them that be in the light and the Ministers of God is to bring from under the occasion of the Magistrates sword George Weare being with his friend standing in the field neer Foord meeting-house as they call it he neither speaking nor acting any thing against any man but standing in the fear of the Lord with his friend William Lowry and John Hambleton called Justices committed him to prison where they lay twenty and three dayes and here is his innocency preached The original righteousness was before the fall The original of self-righteousness was that which fell and is in the fall that transgressed And in the Catechism which is tollerated by the general Assembly and in the Catechise of Scotland called A Short Catechism They say that the Word of God is contained in the Scriptures Answ And the Scriptures are writings and it saith God is the Word John 1.1 1 Kings 8.27 Solomon saith The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him and you say he is contained in the Scriptures with his writings and you say there is Three persons and the Scripture doth not speak of Three persons and the Jewes had the Scriptures and knew not Christ the Word of God Then ye tell people of an outward ordinary meanes by which Christ Communicates the benefit of Redemption The word Sacraments the Scripture doth not speak of Three Persons and Sacraments they are Papists words of them ye have learned them the meanes of salvation is not ordinary or outward but Christ is the salvation who is Eternall Heb. 5.9 and they that come to him come to the end of the outward Col. 1.27 Ye say the Sacraments are the Effectuall meanes to salvation and ye say again they are not as they are themselves so here is confusion but onely by the blessing of Christ and his spirit in them How do ye differ from the Papists for they say he is in them and ye say his Spirit is in them and where his Spirit is is not he Oh blinde are ye found out go ye home to your Mother the Papist where Christ Spirit is he is And ye say your two Sacraments is Baptisme and the Lords Supper The Scripture doth not call Baptisme and the Lords Supper two Sacraments which Names you and the Papists adore and worship which you have given to them again you in your Catechize call the First day in the week the Sabbath-day Where did ever any of the Ministers of Christ or Christians un-apostatized call it so are not you come unto the breach and guilty of your owne judgement Of the third Commandment when ye give another Name to the Scriptures then they give themselves in calling them the Word and calling Baptisme and the Supper the Sacraments Exodus 20. Moses saith God spake all these words when he gave forth the Commandements mark words and the words of Christ are Spirit and Life John 6.63 God is the Word John 1.1 and Christ is the Word Rev. 19.13 and the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us John 1.14 And them that had the words of the Scriptures which cannot be broken John 10.35 the Law and the Prophets they knew not Christ the Word before they be brought to the light that Christ hath inlightned them with and they be brought to the Spirit John 5.37 John 8.19 Can the whole world say the Lords Prayer in truth or was it taught his Disciples or to the world doth not people draw nigh to God with their lips that say it Isaiah 20.13 and are not in the light which every man is lighted that cometh into the world withall Can ye say the Lords Prayer which is Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us without Hypocrisie How do ye forgive them when ye would have them persecuted and would have them stoned you that be Teachers of the people and how do ye love your neighbours as your selves and fulfill the Law and the Prophets Mat. 7.12 to do so as you would be done by To ye Presbyterians of Scotland I speak that be teachers whose principles is to stone chop off heads and persecute them that be contrary minded to you would ye have those that be contrary to your mindes stone you to death chop off your heads imprison and banish you and persecute and excommunicate you This is the Law and the prophets to do as ye would be done by as others should do to you so do unto them but Christ who is the end of the Law and the prophets Rom. 10.4 saith his doctrine is to love enemies Mat. 5.44 and saith if men persecute you pray for them and blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that persecute you and despitefully use you that you may be the children of your father which is in heaven who makes the Sun to shine upon the evil and the good and the rain to descend upon the just and the unjust if ye love them that love ye what reward have ye the Publicans and Pharisees do so and the apostatized Christians who are got into the formes of words but out of the life of the Saints of Christ and the Apostles and there they are saluting their brethren onely but saith Christ be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect which you stand against so ye are they that have denyed the one offering which hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 And makes the blood of Christ of none effect which cleanseth from all sin and the new Covenant which blots out all sin and transgression and all upon the earth professors and worshipers that call your selves Brethern and Christians and offerers of what sort soever that have but the name before thou offers be reconciled to thy brother go leave the gift at the alter and be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Mat. 5.24 then will the Lord accept thy offering and all upon the earth that prayeth so that ye doe forgive others that trespasse against you as you would have the Lord forgive you your trespasses Oh how is the beauty of the Church of Presbyterians marred and deformed oh how are they become Cages of unclean birds Synagogues of Sathan Oh how are their Teachers become envious men and murtherers of Cains Stock in whom the eternall life is not abideing That would club stone and chop off heads of strangers servants of the Lord God and Sonnes and Daughters and Excommunicate and put out of their Synagogues these things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended John 16.2 they shall excommunicate you yea the time cometh that they that kill you shall think they do God good service these things will they do unto you because they never knew the Father nor me These things have I told you before that when the time comes ye may remember that I told
THE DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES THE Persecution Imprisonment Banishment Excommunicating of the Saints of God By the Priests and Magistrates of SCOTLAND Contrary to the Doctrine of CHRIST and the APOSTLES Here all may see The Priests of Scotland and their Church and their Persecution Imprisonment and Banishment and Excommunicating of the Saints and Lambs Servants and Children of God which the Lord moved to go amongst them to visit the Seed of God in that dark wilderness-country who has been as Sheep among Wolves Also How pure Religion is turned upside-down and vain Religion got in its place And the pure Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles which saith Entertain Strangers Love Enemies is lost amongst you In stead of entertaining strangers and loving of enemies they Imprison and Persecute and have made their Church unsavory And the Teachers fruits declares to be false who are wrestlers against flesh and blood and strikers at creatures which Christ and the Apostles did not George Weare John Hart William Grey William Stockdale William Mitchell Richard Ismead LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson at the Signe of the Black-spread-Eagle and winde-Mill in Martins-lane near Aldersgate 1659. THE DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES Of the Priests of Scotland c. FIRST These Presbyterian Priests of Scotland which Excommunicate and puts out of the Synagouges knowes not the Father and the Son John 16. so no true Christians for how can they be true Christians that knows not the Son of God nor the Father Secondly They are no Ministers of Christ for Christ saith When they curse blesse ye so they be out of Christs doctrine and teaching not blessing but cursing and giving forth curses and all the people must say Amen to their Curses Thirdly They be out of the Apostles doctrine who saith Blesse and curse not Rom. 12.14 so are no Ministers of Christ that curseth and gives forth their Curses to the people to say Amen to them and here they are shut out of the Apostles doctrine and Christs all people mark and take notice them they are that curse which the Apostle saith Blesse and curse not these are the Cursers and not Blessers that Excommunicate you out of the Synagogues Hugh Archball Priest of Stravan John Hume priest of Lesmahagow William Hambleton priest of Glasford James Durram priest of Glasgow John Castaires priest of Glagow Francis Ard priest of Discert Matthew Mackel Priest of Bothwel Henry Foreside priest of Lingiah James Nesmith priest of Hambleton Robert Semple priest of Losmahagow Thomas Garony Priest of Edenbrough John Burnet priest of Kilbroid A short Relation of the Vnjust sufferings of the People of God called Quakers by those unreasonable cursing Priests who covet after innocent blood as the Reader may finde in this ensuing Treatise WILL. OSBVRNE was Excommunicated by William Sterling Priest because he gave his testimony against him and the rest of the Priests Margaret Hambleton was Excommunicated by Lewis Semerell Priest of New-monkeland for entertaining the people of God called Quakers and the denying the tyrannicall power of the Presbitery John Hutchison was Excommunicated by James Nesmith Priest of Hambleton and the Priest would not give him any account for what he did it George Weare was Ecommunicated by John Hume Priest of Lesmahagow and the rest of the Presbytery of Lenarick for entertaining the people of God called Quakers William Michel John Michel Robert Todd Mary Inglish Elizabeth Lappy Marian Michel these were Excommunicated by Peter Kid Priest of Douglass and the rest of the Presbytery of Lenarick for denying that Matthew Mark Luke and John was the Gospel they witnessing the Power of God to be the Gospel Thomas Jacke Gabriel Hood James Cooke Gavine Scevenson John Hambleton Alexander Hambleton Jannett Hambleton Barbarah Hambleton Jannett Hambleton Andrew Hambleton Jane Hambleton Katherine Hambleton Katherine Hart John Allene James Hambleton William Hambleton Margaret Hambleton John Hart James Actkine John Hart Alexander Hart Jean Hart Gavine Hart John Lacoke Jannett Brown Jeanet Hambleton Andrew Brown Jean Brown Thomas Craiqqe John Torrens Katherina Hambleton Katherina Weare Jeanet Weare These were Excommunicated by Matthew Mackell Priest of Bothwell and the rest of the Presbitery at Hambleton for saying that Priests that preacheth up Sin for terme of life be Ministers of the man of Sinne. James Finly William Gray and many others have been Excommunicated by those Priests in that manner And after those Priests had Excommunicated these aforesaid persons they caused a general Synode to meet at Glascow and made an Order and published it in all their Masse-houses that none of those people called Quakers should have any entertainment and that no people should have any dealing with them in any Civil affaires not to give cursed men work as they styled our Friends and hindring men to work for them and that under pain of Excommunication the extent of which Order is that they should neither buy nor sell eat nor drink with them in the Nation William Stockdale and John Boweram being moved of the Lord to go to Strahavan in Evandale and declaring the word of truth there one a Market-day to the people was oftentimes knockt down with stones and stoned out of the town with violence by the wicked people William Stockdale John Gill and several others having a Meeting in Strahavan a company of the Priests hearers came and fell upon them with staves and stones broke up their Meeting and stoned them above a quarter of a mile out of the town insomuch that some bloud was spilt and many were sore bruised William Stockdale was knockt down in the Steeple-house yard of Damanoy and the people set their feet upon him and pulled much hair off his head insomuch that some of them cried he is kild for he could not speak nor rise off the ground for along time George Weare and several others had their Bonnets taken away from them at a Meeting and they laid it before William Lowery called Justice but he instead of doing Justice threatned them saying If they went to that place to meet again he would have them whipt or else he would whip them himself Richard Gollon Bayliff of Leanarick took away William Michels Bonnet by order of William Jacke priest of Carlooke and the Priest would not let him have it again neither would he let the said William and some others stay in the Town all night although the night was stormy and the Priest and the Bayliff had his Bonnet Mary Inglish for going to ask Peter Kid priest of Douglass why he warned them to the Sessions and did not appear to accuse them there was shamefully abused and beaten by the Priests wife and others here 's the Priests fruits George Fox the yonger Elexander Parker and others had their letters taken from them and broke up by George Monk and the Council of Scotland and never returned to them again also ten pounds worth of true books taken away from the people of God called Quakers by George Monk and the Councell of
words 2 Tim. 3.5 and murthers them that enjoys their life and persecutes them The Devil abode not in the truth John 8.44 Adam and Eve abode not in the truth but transgressed Gen. 3. Cain abode not in the truth when he murdered Abel Gen. 4. The Jews abode not in the truth but crucified the just Jam. 5.6 The Antichrist and the false-Prophets since the daies of the Apostles and the Beast abode not in the truth 1 Iohn 2.19 that made the war against the Saints Rev. 13. And here is the murderers envious and persecutors warring and fighters and their sacrifice God never accepted Gen. 4.5 in all ages and these are them that persecuted those that was in the truth whose sacrifice God accepted to the witness of God in you all I speak that you may see your fall from the truth out of the Prophets life Christs life and the Apostles life so be out of the commands and fallen from God and say that none can keep the commandments that is the Word that shall stand for ever so ye are they that loves not not God Joh. 14.13 1 Joh. 2.4 but are of the Beast and false Prophets that makes war against them that keep the commands of God Rev. 22.11 so that which saith none can keep the Commandements is fallen out of the truth and the Commandments of God 1 Iohn 2.4 Ioh. 8.44 And to him the truth is death and the commands of God in which the Saints live to whom the Commandments are not grievous 1 Iohn 5.3 Thomas Garwine Priest of Edenborough his Doctrine and PRINCIPLES Pr. THat the Childe that is not sprinkled with outward water is in a damnable state and worse then an infidell Answ Now here he and the rest of the Presbyterian Priests of Scotland may say Abraham was in a damnable state Isaac was in adamnable state Jacob was in a damnable state and Joseph was in a damnable state and David was in a damnable state and John the Baptist was in a damnable state which were not sprinkled by a Priest with outward water nor named by the Priest so thou and you with your traditions that say a Child is in a damnable state if ye do not sprinkle it with water and the Apostle bids them not look at the things that are seen and you are in the damnable state and the damnable doctrine teachers of lies and many simple people have been deceived by you and given over to believe you but God hath taken the vail off their hearts that you begin to be seen and their salvation shall they know stands not in elements as though you with your sprinkling Infants with outward water could bring out of the damnable state Oh ye deceivers did not the Apostle say they that were Circumcised Christ profited them nothing Gal. 5.2 ye have long deceived people with your beggerly rudiments and elements and doctrines and traditions Col. 2. hatched up at Schools and never commanded of God and say if people will not observe your traditions or your elements which you call a Papist word Sacrament and perishing they not observing it are in a damnable state and worse then the Heathen and Infidels an Infidel is an Heathen one that knowes not God But your generation says it is blasphemy to say any hath known God and hath seen God and spoken to God so they themselves have concluded to be Heathen The Heathen know not God The Heathen observes traditions and they that know God cannot observe the traditions of the Heathen but obeys the Apostles doctrine and touches not tasts not nor handles the traditions of men and Ordinances which will perish so not saying so they that observe not traditions are not worse then Heathens but they that observe traditions are as the Heathens and be out of the Apostles doctrine in their own traditions and rudiments and are offended at those that will not touch them Robert Semple Priest of Lasmahagow came to George Weare of Saffield to reason with him and he laid down these following things for his doctrine and principles His first doctrine and principles was to prove the lawfulnesse of being called of men master standing praying in the Synagogues going in long Robes and he mentioned Ezras Pulpit of wood upon which he stood and read the Law to the people and for the rest he said nothing for his mouth was stopt concerning these things being found in the steps of the Pharisees Mat. 23. we do grant that Ezra had a Pulpit of wood but you profess your selves Ministers of the Gospel and plesbyterians and are ye sain to run to Ezra in the Law for a Pulpit now you have shewed your selves what you are and brought your deeds to the light but the Priesthood was made by the Law of God so were you never that priesthood changed and the Law changed also by which it was made and pulpit and Tythes ended and Christ the everlasting Priesthood witnessed so thou and you have proved your selves no Ministers of the Gospel Christ Jesus the power of God and the wisdom of God the ever lasting Priest-hood who is the end of Priests Pulpits and Tythes that was true in their place So you that have got up another Pulpit Tythes Temple like Readers of the Law and not like ministers of the Gospel and Priests are separated from the Apostles in the delusion and from Christ the everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7. and are them that Jude 19. and 2 Pet. 2. speakes of That separates themselves having not the Spirit that they were in who witnessed against Pulpit Tythes and Priest-hood and witnessed Christ the everlasting Priest-hood which Pulpit Tythes and Priesthood ye are crying up and so Antichrist George Weare bad him prove his practice for sprinkling of Infants and whether or no they were not to believe before they were Baptized He said the promise was to Abraham and his seed George answered him it was not to seeds as to many but to thy seed which is Christ Robert the Priest said That seed Christ was natural contrary to the Apostles doctrine Gal. 3.16 who said Christ was the power of God 1 Cor. 1.14 15. and Christ the mistery Col. 1.2.7 The first man is of the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from Heaven heavenly 1 Cor. 15. the spirituall man judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 The seed of the woman bruiseth the serpents head Gen. 3.15 and the promise is to the seed and the seed is Christ the power of God And Christ the seed is the spiritual man and so not natural but the Priest said the seed is natural Now let all see in this whether he be not given up to delusion to speak lies in hypocrisy 1 Tim. 4.1 to delude and deceive people for dishonest gain Ezek. 22.13 Which seed he and all the Presbyterians shall finde spiritual to judge them and bruise the heads of them and break their wicked cords and bonds of iniquity which they have laid upon the people Mat. 23. Ezek.
John Hambleton Alexander Hambleton Barbara Hambleton Jennet Hambleton Andrew Hambleton Jane Hambleton Katherine Hart Katherine Hambleton John Allen Jane Hambleton William Hambleton Margaret Hambleton John Hart Jennet Atkin John Hart Alexander Hart Jane Hart Gawine Hart John Lacock Jennet Brown Thomas Craiqqe John Torrens Katherine Hambleton Katherine Weare Jennet Wear were excommunicated by Matthew Mackel and the rest of the Presbytery at Hambleton for these causes as followeth 1. Pr. You affirm that the Scriptures are not the word of God Ans The Scriptures are the words of God Christ is the Word and the Scriptures are not Christ 2. Pr. You affirm that there is no rule according to which a man should walk but the rule within him Ans The Spirit is the rule into all truth and not the Scripture it self Pr. 3. You affirm that every man hath a light sufficient to lead him to Christ within him Ans Yea 2 Cor. 4. the light that shines in his heart will give him the knowledge of the glory of God Pr. 4. You affirm that the Scriptures are not to be preached Ans That is false but they are not to be made a trade of by you Pr. 5. You affirm that there is no blessing pronounced to the preaching of the word Ans Not to you that make a trade of the words but they that preach the word has the blessing for Christ gives the wo to you Matth. 23. Pr. 6. You affirm that the Ministry is no standing Ordinance of Jesus Christ Ans VVe affirm that Christ must preach the Gospel but we deny you who preach for filthy lucre whose Ordination is by man and not by Christ Pr. 7 You affirm that no man that hath faith hath sin Ans VVe affirm that faith purifieth the heart and gives victory over sin which faith you say is not pure and curses them that says it is Pr. 8 You affirm that there is no external means to be followed in order to salvation Ans That which is the means to salvation is eternal Pr. 9. You affirm these to be Ministers of the man of sin and reprobates concerning the faith that sayes whilest a man is on the earth he cannot be set free from sin Ans We say yea we do so which is according to the Apostles Doctrine which says they were made free-from sin and they spake wisdome to them that were perfect and they were sanctified Pr. 10. You affirm no Sabbath Day to be observed Ans Neither do you your selves but what you invent and you do not keep that well neither but Christ the Sabbath we own Pr. 11. You are deserters of all publike Ordinances Ans The Ordinances of Christ we are not but mans Inventions we are Pr. 12. You rail against the Dispensers of publike Ordinances and those that countenance those Ordinances Ans Railing we deny but declaring against any invention of man we own and railing is your own for your Pulpits declares it that they should neither buy nor sell eat nor drink with them in the Nation These Accusations were Extracted and Subscribed by the Priests Clark in this manner following Mr. John Bonave And after the Priests had excommunicated the aforesaid persons they caused a general Synod to meet at Glasgow and made an Order and published it in all their Old Mass-Houses That none of those People called Quakers should have any entertainment and that no people should have any dealing with them in any civil affairs not to give cursed men work as they stiled our Friends and hindering men to work for them and that under the pain of Excommunication The extent of which Order is That they should neither buy nor sell eat nor drink with them in the Nation Peter Kid Priest of Dauglass summoned William Michell and Robert Todd to their Presbytery at Leanarick and when William Michel appeared before them him whom they called Moderator whose name is William Jack Priest of Carlook commanded him to take off his Bonnet and when he refused Richard Gollon Bayliff of the Town who sate amongst them to execute their malice rose up in rage and took it off his head and the Priests would not let him give it him again but keeps it still from him and he staying in Town all night and a friend of his called Richard Ray the Priest and Bayliff of the Town came about the tenth hour of the night to the Inne where they lay and charged the people of the house to put them out notwithstanding they kept one of their Bonnets and the night was very stormy Witnesses of this James White Agnas Forrest And here is the Priests fruits Peter Kidd summoned William Michell and Mary English to the quarter Sessions at Hambleton but did not appear to lay any thing to their Charge when they came back againe Mary English went to him and asked him why he summoned them and did not appear to make known what he had against them but he answered not one word but his wife and servants beat and abused her cruelly Here is your fruits again William Stockdale and John Boweran being moved of the Lord to declare the truth in the Market-place of Strahavan on a Market-day were cruelly abused and many times knockt down with staves and stones and violently drawn out of the town by the wicked people William Stockdale and John Gill with many others having a Meeting in the Grave-Yard in Strahavan on a Market-day a company of the Priests Hearers came and fell upon them with staves and stones and broke up the Meeting and stoned them above a quarter of a mile out of the Town insomuch that some blood was spilt and many was sore bruised Richard Ismead for bidding James Nesmith Priest of Hambleton prove himself a Minister of Christ was apprehended by the Bayliff and was imprisoned in the Tole-booth of Hambleton and after was scarryed to a Justices Court at Glasgow who commanded him to be set in the Stocks and a Gag put in his mouth and a Paper pinned on his Brest and made an Order for him to depart the Nation William Stockdale being moved of the Lord to go to the Steeple-house of Damanoy and as he stood in the Yard declaring the Truth and against their Idolatrous Worship the Priest came who did encourage the people to beat him whereupon some of his Elders and other wicked people violently knokt him down and set their feet upon him and plucked much hair off his head insomuch that some people cried he is kild and if the power of the Lord had not born him up which bears up the heads of his Lambs whom he sends forth in the midst of Wolves when they are persecuted he had died amongst them for he was not able to speak neither to rise a certain time after off the ground William Jack Priest of Carlook said to the people of Lismahagow in his preaching as followeth Beloved If you will contribute and some of you give a six pence and others a shilling that
Commission from Paul for giving people Bread and Wine Paul never gave such a Commission to any neither doth he say he had power to give any Commission but declares himself a servant neither did Paul own any of thy generation of hirelings which drew people from the true foundation but declares against them and bids people turn from them Therefore give over deceiving the people and repent and call not Bread and Wine any more an Ordinance of God which thou sayest you are commanded by man to practise lest thy and their portion be in the Lake where there is Weeping and Wailing and gnashing of Teeth which you cannot escape unlesse ye Repent for ye are such as make the Word of God of none effect by your Tradition and so are to be turned from Reasons why we deny them and the Priests of their Generation FIRST They are such teachers as walk in the steps of the Pharisees which Christ cryed woe against Mat. 23.6 They stand praying in the Synagogues and are called of men master contrary to Christs command who said to his Ministers be not ye called of any man master and because they are such as break Christs command therefore we deny them Secondly They are such as preach another Gospel then the Apostles did and saith Salvation is by the Scripture which is contrary to that which is held forth by the Prophet Isa 49.6 Who said Christ was given for Salvation to the end of the earth and the Apostle said their is not salvation in any other Acts 4.12 And because they preach another Gospel therefore we deny them Thirdly They are such teachers as say the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the foundation for Believers to build upon which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith Christ is the Foundation and cheif Corner Stone Psal 118.22 Act. 4.11 Rom. 9.33 1 Pet. 2.7 Mat. 21.42 And because they hold out another foundation then the Holy Men of God did therefore we deny them Fourthly They are such as take hire for their preaching contrary to Christs command who said to his Ministry Freely ye have received freely give and because they neither receive freely nor give freely therefore we deny them Fifthly They are such teachers who deny that the Grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared unto all men and so would make the Apostle a lyar and a false Minister who saith in the 2 Tim. 11. The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men and because they deny the Apostles Doctrine therefore we deny them Sixthly They are such teachers as deny the Doctrine of perfection which is the Doctrine of Christ who said be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect and Holy for I am Holy which Doctrine the Apostles walked in and spake amongst those that were perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 And labored to present every man in Christ Jesus and because they are not found in this labour that the Apostles was in to present men perfect in Christ Jesus but cryes against it and preaches up sin for terme of life which is the Doctrine of Devils therefore we deny them Seventh They are such Teachers as go into Cains way and running greedily after rewards and covetousnesse Jude 11. contrary to the Apostles who said he covered not mans gold silver nor apparell Acts 20.23 therefore we deny them Eighth They are such as are made Ministers by the will of man and persecute and raile against such as fear God and are of a honest conversation therefore we deny them Nineth They are such Teachers as adde to and diminish from the Scriptures unto whom the plagues of God are due therefore we deny them Tenth They are such as Ezekiel cryes against in Ezek. 34. That feed with the fat and clothe with the wool and make a prey upon the people therefore we deny them Eleventh They are such teachers as uphold a false worship in the I dolls Temples made with hands which Christ sent his Ministers to cry against and do deny the true worship which is in Spirit and in truth therefore we deny them Twelfth They are such Teachers as keepes Drunkards Swearers liars proud covetous and all manner of vile persons in their Assemblies and cast out them that fear God and are of honest conversation therefore we deny them Written by one that Worship God in Spirit and in Truth and do deny all False Worship which men sets up and is also a witnesse for God against all deceit and deceivers known by the Name of Will Stockdale The 26 of the last Moneth called Feb. 1657. THE END