be Scripture this is charged upon him to be a lye as it is well known through this Nation both in Doctrine and Conversation we own the Scriptures and to deny Matthew Mark Luke and Johns Declarations of the Gospel to be Gospel is no denyal of the Scripture for the Gospel was preached to Abraham which Gospel was and is the power of God before these four men did Declare of it though we deny their Writings to be the very Gospel which is the power of God yet we do not deny but they truly declared of the Gospel and this is to own the Scripture as it speaks of it self to be Let I. S. judge what he will of us and wheras he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture-Gospel the Scripture give no such names to it but saith the Gospel is the power of God and that is the Gospel which we Preach even the power of God unto all people let I. S. judge by consequence what he will And further he would plead for the title of Master from the example of Abrahams servant but this is nothing to prove the lawfulness of a Minister of Christ that they may be called Master for Christ saith to his Ministers Be ye not called Masters and the Spirit of Christ being our rule that leads us in the fulfilling of Christs words let I. S. shuffle as he will Also he lyes of J. N. to say he denyes and grants the same thing to be in the letter for though he say he that believes hath the witnesse in himself which is truth yet he doth not say the letter is the Believers witness which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spirituall understanding of the Scriptures But this he doth in another way than that whereby he inspired the pen-men of the Scriptures Now this is false doctrine For Christ the Way the same to us as to them and not another way of understanding Scriptures nor by another Spirit than that which gave them forth and he saith Christ directed to himself Joh. 5 39. as revealed in the Scriptures and more than that as conveyed by the Scriptures to a Soul Now let the Reader take notice and search that Scripture Whether he hath not added to it yea or nay or where any ever had Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures it doth say the Scriptures testifies of him but it doth not say that he is revealed in the Scriptures nor conveyed by them to a Soul and this is his additional gloss to corrupt the text to undervalue the eternal Spirit of the Father by which Christ is only revealed and received and not by the Scriptures And for E. B. to say That he came not to them with enâ—icing words neither what he had gathered from the Scripture without him But to declare the Word of the Lord and not to speak his own conceivings and imaginations this is true and no contradiction in it though I. S. say these cannot both be true to say That he neither came with what he had gathered from Scripture nor his own imaginations for the Apostles of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Word and Gospel of God which they had received from God and not gathered from Scripture nor in their own imaginations and because he saith both these negatives cannot be true then it is concluded that himself preaches either what he hath gathered from Scripture or his own imaginations and let him chuse to say whether he will and in the next he will be proved a false Prophet and that E B. compiled a Book out of Scripture Collections is false for having the same Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which brings the Scripture to remembrance is not compiling a Book out of Scriptures and I. S. is found a false accuser and E. B. neither a self Contradictor noâ— self curser and these are true words to this generation and owned with the Spirit of God though I. S. in his scornful spirit abuse them he that hath the Word of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord to declare he is reviled and mocked But he that speaks the imagination of his own heart from the Saints conditions he is heard and owned and this is neither Scripture contradiction nor self-contradiction let I. S. judge out of his own heart what he will neither is this self contradiction to ask which of the Saints hâ—d the witness of their souls union to seek in the Letter and yet to affirm the Spirit opens and brings that which is spoken in Scripture to remembrance Let I. S. first answer the query in plainness which is an honest query and not to imply from it his own conceptions to make appear self-contradictions let the sober Reader judge where the contradiction lyes and he saith the Spirit is in the letter and goes about to prove it if he could if the Spirit be in the letter then all must have the Spirit that hath the letter and the Spirit is where ever the Bible is which I do deny for many hath the letter and professes it which knows not the Spirit and many hath the Bible in their pocket which hath not the Spirit there and this will be confessed by I. S. and all his fellows and so he must revoak who â—aith the Spirit is in the Letter and the Spirit gives life but the Letter kill In his proof he saith The written Word viz. the Letter is of greater authority then the Writer mark here Christ was one of them which gave forth Scripture and he was a greater authority then what was written and I say as it is plain to all honest men who can believe truth that the holy men of God who had the Spirit were of greater authority than the Scriptures since hath been which they left behind them But I. S. hath set Christ and all them that gave forth Scripture to be lesse in authority then the Scriptures let wise men judge of this matter he saith They were imperfectly holy that wrote forth the Scriptures and this is an absolute lye for the Scriptures gives this testimony of many of them that wrote it that they were perfect men and he hath also slaundeâ—ed Christ to be impâ—rfectly holy and in his next let him pâ—ove what this Imperfect Holiness is and till then we deny there is any Holiness â—mperfect Further he saith The promises of the Scripture are his Chariot to convey him Spirit whether he pleases to go but where is his proof for such a Doctrine but all that he saith doth not prove that the Spirit is in the Letter though he say to make up the sum of his matter Daily experiences doth demonstrate that the Spirit is in the Letter but where is the man let him answer that thus hath experienced that alwayes when he hath seen the letter and handled the letter hath seen and handled the Spirit the testimony of
one with him are not from being guarded with a Popish Law and these are truly Romes Subjects who are guarded with his Law more than we are Romes Emissaries which secretly he would cast upon us and make the Protector and his Council believe it if their hearts be so hardened But better is thought upon concerning them though I. S. would make them evil suggesting evil into their hearts But a false Prophet is known by his Lyes and Slanders and secret smiting and then he saith He would have some of this Sect * more narrowly watched c. and stigmatized Oh cruelty out of the abundance of the heart his mouth utters like a Pot boyling with anger that cannot contain it within the mouth what lodges in the heart of this man consider what less then in their hearts who were Qâ—een Maries Jesuits and Priests if the Protector and Council would answer the cruel intent of his mind as Queen Mary did theirs Balaam or worse he is for he hath sought inchantment and would curse before they sent for him to do so but it shall return on his own head who is watched against for a Wolf and Devourer and stigmatzed for a Deceiver and false Deviner one who art marked for a false Prophet and known to be so by every one who is taught of God and in the end of all this secretly uttered wickedness and cruelty insinuatingly expressed to suggest evil into the minds of men more honest than himself he wishes for Blessing upon his Highness and Honours that they may discern true Spirits from false such who proceed out of the mouth of the false Prophet from such as proceeds from the Father and from the Son indeed of such a gift of discerning they have need and by the fruits they may try every Spirit and in a just tryal by just judgement are thou tryed and thy spirit is made manifest to be the spirit which proceeds out of the mouth of the Dâ—agon who wars against the Saints and out of the mouth of the Bâ—ast who hath many Heads and many Horns which Beast arose up in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes and thy Spirit is made manifest to be that spirit of the false Prophet who deceive the Nations for thy fruits doth discover thee a lyar aslanderer a perverter of the right way of God art thou proved and such things proceeds out of the mouth of the false Pro and so let them beware of thy Spirit who art not guided by the Spirit of Christ Jesus nor of the Father but a worker of darkness and a reviler of the light of Cstrist calling it false Prophet-like as being led with the Spirit of the Dragon and of the Beast Perverse Principle We have measured thy spirit to be as I have said and he that speaks otherwise speaks a lye and if the Protector and his Council believe otherwise they believe a lye and cannot obtain a blessing though thou with thy lying Spirit pray for them whom God the Father of blessings hears not but is against thee and this is my prayer The Lord rebuke thee and thy wicked tongue and give the Protector and his Council a better understanding than to believe thee else will the Lord make them cursed to themselves and to the Nations of them my heart hopes better things and this might serve for a full Answer to thy whole Book and by this little of thy work that I have viewed turned nto the sight of all art thou discovered to be an enemy to God and a secret envier of his people and by what thou hast said it appears what the rest of the whole matter can be an evil spirit cannot bring forth good works but yet a little further is thy matter unvayled for the sake of the upright And further I. S. after his wicked Presentation to the Rulers of this Nation with lyes and evil Speeches proceeding out of his old heart he writes an Epistle out of the same heart to the Church as he calls them wherein is many words uttered but altogether tasted with that leaven of his malice against Quakers and Quakerism who seems to be the greatest burthen upon his evil heart because truth is among them and if truth go on his deceit will be more made manifest wither and perish and so as subtilly as may be he would defend himself in the sight of his Church that his shame may not appear before them it may be lest his Hire should be abated and he seems to cast a cloak upon them but whether out of pure love to their Souls or for his own Gain and such a sum of Money God knowes however the least Child in the truth dwelling in the light sees his length and can measure his state and knows that good cannot come from an old lying heart and he speaks something of wondring after the beast and false Prophet but hath not described what the Beast is and the false Prophet And I refer the Reader to a Book called The Measure of the Times wherein the Priests of England such as I. S. is reproved according to the Scripture to be the very branches of the same Root of false Prophets which all the World wondered after in Johns time and though he speak much to his Church of Christ without and of his birth blood and his righteousness and justification thereby c. but to all that I say All are Reprobates but such in whom Christ is within them and none are justified but such nor hath any part in the inheritance of God though they may profess never so much of Christ without and what he hath done for others yet except he be within them too to change and renew them and give them power over all their sins their profession of him is vain I am no picker of Quarrels else many of his words might be searched which I run over hastily knowing his voice to be the voice of a stranger and not of Christ who never made use of an old sinful heart to pen Epistles to Churches But into this lets search he saith Christ blessed Infants-Baptism Where or when I ask proof of this and till then I say I. S. hath belyed Christ and the generation of the just Well may he belye us when he hath belyed Christ who could not bless that which there was not there was no Infants Baptism that ever we read of in his dayes sure people will be more wise than to be established through Lyes else their sin be upon them if through hardness of heart they be given up to believe Lyes that they may perish He speaks of a well ordered Conversation Indeed this seems Hypocrisie to exhort others their Churches to that which many of the Independen Teachers have not themselves who are Hirelings and takes Gifts and Rewards for Preaching and is in the way of all the Deceivers of old and they that do these things have not a well ordered Conversation but a Conversing with the
generation of ungodly and when we read the plain words of Christ Luke 17. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you he saith we madly wrest the reading of the words when we neither â—dd nor diminish now he seems to say It is the Kingdom of heaven among you and not the kingdom of heaven within you and so blames the Scripture and confounds the doctrine of many of the Independents who say the Scriptures is believers Rule but he seems to charge the Scripture with false translation and therefore is subject to alteration and so cannot be the rule of Believers according to his own account and thus by wicked men are we blamed when we do not speak according to Scripture language and now as wickedly charged by I. S. for speaking just in the Scripture expressions with madly wresting the words but thus it was before and whatsoever we do now by our enemies must be reviled and our words abused contrary to our innocent intents Then in the end of his Epistle he desires the Prayers of his Church that his Reply may be accompanied with power according to the truth of it Indeed so it shall and no more according to the truth of it which is very fâ—lshoods and deceits so shall the power of the Lord confound it and turn it into folly and confusion as may be seen by a sober man who this following doth with patience read and weigh Then many things is uttered by him in his Epistle to the Reader he seems to shew he saith how R. F. and his Associates have made up A Litter and Fardel of Erronious Divinity and secretly charging us with making up of what we profess from some Writers before us But to this I Answer His reproachful words Litter and Fardel and Erronious we bear with patience rather rejoycing that we are accounted worthy of the reproach for the truths sake from an envious man than to be angry with our reproaches But however let him and all our enemies know what we profess and bear witness of we receive not from man but from God even the Gospel which we testifie of by the revelation of Jesus Christ in us we received it and informs others to the same door which is by our Ministry that they may receive the same and this is but his poor shift to undervalue the power and truth of Jesus in the sight of men who would falsly make men believe That our Doctrines are but the spawn of many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Moderne Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles we bear witness to by the same Spirit and not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus and all these shifts â—aves not the Priests of England from being discovered and their deceits and abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H. N. Jacob B. W. E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them than this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but cross his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgements who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all along in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Asps being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemned him with transgressors and betwixt two theeves And in the end he desires his Reader to receive in Love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God and according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned and not received what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Preverse Principle and that Christ blessed Infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by its fruit and every spirit by its works and words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designes are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavory words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are clear in his sight from these divilish accusations though I. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book and is an accuser of the brethren and is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer and the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical Flots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he saith his words would take away our lives but to raise the unclean spirits against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe hâ—m for none else can to persecute the people and way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters and of having ill Designes which things we stand witness against and seeks the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly and impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is in forging of them and declaring of them and that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being
which ungodly sinners have spoken against him as Jude beareth witness and he also saw and Prophesied of Israel according to the flesh that they should do wickedly and slay him who was the light of the world And much more which is not written in the Bible And that which was manifest unto Paul which he wrote to the Corinthians in an Epostle not to company with fornicators that whole Epistle is not in the Bible 1 Cor. 5. 9. And likewise that which was revealed unto Paul in the dispensation of the grace of God given unto him how that by revelation God made known unto him the mystery which he wrote unto the Ephesians in a few words whereby they when they read they might understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it was then revealed unto his holy Angels and Prophets by the Spirit which Epistle in which that mystery was written is not in the Bible Ephes. 3. 3. And the Epistle which Paul wrote to the Laodâ—ceans which he charged the Colossians to read amongst them and that theirs should be read in the Church of the Laodeceans wherin his thanks and prayers to God was for their stedfastness in the truth wherein he made manifest the unprofitable talkers who went about to draw them from the truth of the Gospel and from their diligence in good works of eternal life as many vain and unprofitable talkers are in the world now doing the same work And whereas I. S. saith That the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians was read as the Word of the Lord in the Church of the Laodeceans Why doth he not as well â—ear witness that Pauls Epistle to the Laodeceans was read as the word of the Lord amongst the Colossians Col. 4. 16 And if he read in his Church the Epistle to the Colossians as the Word of the Lord why doth not he read to his people that which was written to the Laodeceans they both being given forth from one Spirit So let him consider of those things above mentioned and try whether his words will stand unreprovable 67 page saying God might have revealed more than is in the Scripture but he pleased not so to do In that page mentioning Samuel Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles saying All that they have spoken is written both according to what was Written before and for substance the same Answ. What I have spoken and shall here speak may sufficiently make manifest that his words proceed from the old lying heart in which dwells no truth for I have shewed out of the Prophets and out of the Apostles many things which was both revealed and declared which is not in the Bible written And likewise I shall shew farther of the things concerning Christ testified by John and we know that his Testimony is true saying And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it seâ—f could not contain the Books which should be written John 21. 25. So that all is not written which was revealed wrote and spoken which if much more were written which was made manifest by it with that which is written could they not know the Lord their minds being from the light of Christ which doth reveal and make manifest that which may be known of God in them And many who have the Letter and are Ministers of it are sensual having not the spirit nor the word of God nor the testimony of Jesus and their Ministry is but as Chaff to the Wheat and the Lord is against them For what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23. Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces Now many have the letter and know not the word of the Lord as a fire neither is the rock broken with the letter and such use their tongue for it is their own and the power of the Lord is not come over it such cause the People to err and doth not profit them being not sent nor commanded of the Lord for who are sent and commanded of the Lord the Lord useth their tongues to speak his words which he puts into their mouths and such words doth profit the people and not cause them to err being spoken according to the law which is light And the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie and such do witness the Scriptures that as they cannot be broken so they cannot be denied by the Spirit which gave them foâ—th to be a Declaration of those things which was revealeâ— known and believed But they are not that which they are a declaration of the letter testifies of the eternal life but it is not it neither gives it It testifies of the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in the heart which gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God but it is not that light which gives that knowledge It testifies of the Way but Christ is the Way and of the Word but God is the Word and of Redemption but Christ is the Redemption and not the letter though it testifies of Justification and Sanctification but they are wrought by the Word in the grace and power of Christ and so every one who will own the Scriptures as they were given forth to be owned must first own that of God in them which is manifest to work in the Creature that which they testifie of that Christ the power of God they may witness working all their works in them and for them according to the Scriptures But contrary to the Scriptures I. S. from the root of Errour saith That the written letter is the spiritual Arm and Sword of the Spirit and that the very power of the written Letter puts Satan to flightâ— And in the same Page saith That the Devil hath Scripture in his mouth Answ. Let the People take notice and read the Scriptures and see if there be any such thing that the sword of the Spirit was ever in the Divels Mouth for the spiritual Armour which is said to be the Word of God But the Word of God wâ—ich is the sword of the Spirit is that by which he is to be destroyed and is in the mystery hid from him and all that follow his lusts But though the Devil which did not abide in the truth and his Ministers who are out of the truth may take the letter in their mouths as they have done and say its written so but the word of the Lord s not in their mouths which is the sword of the Spirit and such will use the letter in their mouths which cannot cease from sin whose eyes are full of Adultery beguiling unstable Souls their heart being exercised with covetous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are in the Errour of Balaam loving the wages of
unrighteousness and taking them and such have the letter in their mouths but knows not the Word of God which who comes to know it restrains them from all such practises Again I. S. from his blindness and root of Errour and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scriptures is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scriptures is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22. 19. 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee Answ. By this Scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith and not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge and for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them and read their writtings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the Power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World and to the pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which is now declared in Chapters And every one which come to the true ground of Faith must come to the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scriptures was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world that all men in him might believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith Joh. 8. 24. But John Stelham going on in his own devised Fables would pervert the words of truth both in our writings and in the Apostles as it is manifest in his writing of this reviling Rebuke concerning R. F. and I. N. E. B. and F. H. and others which whosoever read their words and his they may discern truth from devised fables without much Reply unto it as in some places he is mingling his own words with theirs joyning a lye to the truth that he may contradict it as false as every one that reads with understanding will see which when they have spoken plain truths which he himself hath often in his Book confessed unto to be truth will afterwards give his meanings to their words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they mean thus c. then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his own meaning then he saith he hath contradicted their words though he have before confessed the truth of their words so he hath not contradicted the words as they were spoken but because they spoke not his meaning with the words therefore the true words must be false in his judgement and bear his rebuke as his Book doth make manifest and adding his lye to the words of truth these two things are his greatest proofs to resist the truth in page 77. he hath mingled his own words with the words of R. F. in which page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R. F. having been speaking of the light which enlighteneth every man which cometh into the world he adds which where it is and it is in every man it reneweth the judgment c he here adding his own and then rebuking it would make people believe lyes that all might be damned who believe not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgement is renewed with the light though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who hate it and who are void of true judgement because they hate the light which they be enlightened withal And also the Apostles words he perverts and gives meanings unto which if he did not they would be a plain testimony with that which he hath set himself to oppose so giving meanings both to their words and our words his meanings must be the ground of his Believers Faith and not the Scriptures as he said before The Apostle Peter speaking of a more sure Word of Prophesie wherein they did well to take heed as unto a light that shined in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the holy Ghost to this I. S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostles words for he doth not exclude heart-prophesie for there was never any prophesie but did proceed out of the heart before it was written in any Book And the Apostle saith Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts and that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and that which moved them to speak Prophesies was in their hearts and the Apostle did not bid them wait till the day-star did arise in the Scriptures but till it did arise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts I. S. saith That is until by the study of the Scriptures more light be cleared up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words and the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in
THE REBUKES OF A REVILER Fallen upon his own head In an Answer to a BOOK put forth by one Iohn Stelham called a Minister at Terlin in Essex Wherein is shewed unto all Spiritual men that he himself is justly proved to be a Contradictor of the Scriptures while he falsly accuses others thereof that are clear and the saying is fulfilled upon him he is fallen into the Pit which he digged for others for even that way which he calls Heresie do we Worship the God of our Fathers By R. H. London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1657. THE REBUKES OF A Reviler Fallen upon his own Head In an Answer to a Book put forth by one John Stelham called a Minister at Terling in Essex VVHereas the antient of dayes hath appeared and the Lord God of Israel and of his holy Seed for ever hath in these our dayes being his own appointed time stretched forth his hand to gather in his Remnant which hath been scattered and starved upon the barren Mountains and he hath made known his arm and power in raising up his righteous branch and in bringing out of Captivity his own Chosen that his own Name may be exalted for evermore and his marvelous light hath he caused to shine forth unto many that have sit in darkness and he hath cryed behold me behold me unto a people that hath not been called by his name yea from this time it shall be said What hath God wrought and who is like unto them that are saved by the Lord a happy people and blessed are they whom he hath chosen for his own Inheritance they dwell in their tents and none can make them afraid for there is no Inchantment against Israel nor no Divination against the Seed of Jacob he that curses them it shall return upon his own head and he that defies them shall surely be confounded in a day for God hath spoken and it shall surely come to pass he hath said and it shall not be revoked They that wait upon him shall never be ashamed but his presence shall go before them and his righteousness shall be their reward Therefore O ye Mountains and Hills wherefore are ye gathered together ye high and lofty Oaks and rebellious Children to what purpose have you set your selves as in Array for Bâ—tâ—â—l against the Lord and against his Anointed in vain have you sought Divination against Israel and to no purpose have you risen up to resist Mount Sion whom the Lord is establishing and exalting above the Dominions of the earth and though many have set themselves and of the wisest too in our age to gainsay the truth which is revealed by subtil Arguments and have travelled in pain to bring forth misty vapors to blind the eye of the simple and have laid and sought so to do stumbling blocks of iniqâ—ity before the people by multitude of crafty productions and lying arguments Wo unto you wise Writers and Scribes you have taken away the Key of Knowledge and have neither entred the Kingdom nor suffered others to enter that would what will be your doom and what will be your judgment O the heavie hand of the Lord will be upon you you damnation sleeps not a moment And whereas John Stelham one oâ—Gogs Army against the Lamb and his followers a falsly supposed and contrarily called and unjustly named Minister of the Gospel hath out of his corrupt wicked old lying heart which he confesseth he hath brought forth a large Piece out of Babylons treasure of falsly collected and falsly framed Arguments whereby he hath sought to offend the way of the Lord but the rather hath burthened his own Soul by his own wickedness and offended himself and made himself unworthy of life eternal and is reckoned in the sight of the Lord and proved in the sight of man to be indeed sinful John Stelham yea he is numbred and truly too among Babylons Children and the Lyars and Hypocrites whose portion is in the lake and not among the Children of the Lord for them he hath set himself to oppose and by his subtilty secretly sought out Inchâ—ntments and endeavouring to curse whom God hath blessed he is accounted among the uncircumcised and shall not die the death of the Righteous neither shall his last end be like unto his except he repent yea God hath kept him back from honour and to shame and disgrace he is already promoted in the sight of all the Saints and all his work is troden down as a branch of a dead tree to be cast into the fire and what though he have travelled full 10 Months or more yet his birth is imperfect and the fruit of an Egyptian Womb which hath obtained neither praise of God nor favour of man and what though his Arguments be many and subtil through the strength of his devilish wisdom whereby he hath descended into the darkness to fetch up his stuffe and invented in his mind and framed in his evil thoughts which hath filled his Volums by his envious pen and what though he hath taken seeming occasion against us by his industry and bent his tongue to utter it as feinedly and zealously as may blind the siâ—gle eye and in as great hypocrisie and pretended Righteousness as possibly may What then of all these things let him take this for an Answer in full to all his many Arguments and to his whole Work and whatsoever is brought forth or may be yet lodging in his sinful heart ever to declare We are of God his Covenant is with us and the whole World lyes in wickedness and he that is of God heareth us and this is enough Reply to all what he hath or can say further against us and this Testimony the Father gives of us who hath chosen us in him before the world was and let him and all our adversaries know That our Religion is in that which keeps unspotted of the world and our acceptance with God is in him who is the light of the world who exerciseth our Consciences in all good things towards God and towards man and though we answer not yet are we no worse and though we answer yet are we no better praise of men approves us not to God nor dispraise of men makes us not sorrowful But our peace is in the Father whether the world do us love or hate or praise us or dispraise And first of all like unto Rehum and Shimshai and their companions he appears with his Dedication much like unto theirs from the same spirit and unto the same end as may be seen Ezra 4. 9 11 12 c. and in the manner of Amaziah Priest of Bethel unto Jeroboam the King with a Message much of that nature as in Amos. 7. 10 11 c. and this man with his feigned flattering titles appears to the chief in Authority for Approbation of his work that men may accept it the more but that 's little worth if God accept
clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience and doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returning from his ungodliness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness and whereas the substance of his matter invented in his mind and brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in twenty two particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scriptures though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our contradiction to Scripture and while we be approved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his sâ—â—nders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God than a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that I. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false Judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and witness of God in every man we appeal for judgment and doth in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans Conscience and begs not belief of any but knows all that be in the light of the Son of God witnesseth to us and feels our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of Godliness reaching to the witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all and though I. S. judge our doctrine to be Scripture contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false Rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his work and judgement doth spring and try if an old Lying heart and sinful wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit no we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the light of the spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him Contradict the Scriptures though by his dark minde so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his forefathers did judge of Christ to be a Blasphemer and a Contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and put them to an end and not destroy them nor contradict them not in the sight of his Father though to their corrupt judgement and Christ tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God who had old lying hearts were sinful wretches even such as John Stelham hath confessed himself to be and therefore his words and judgment and theirs is like to be all of one nature judging truth to be error and the way of God to be Heresie and Blasphemy this the Pharisees did of old and even thus doth John Stelham and his Companions do at this day but why should any be troubled hereat seeing herein Christs words are fulfilled upon us who said they shall speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my names sake and so hath this man done with his light scornful spirit and fulfilled Christs words who because he hath not known the Father nor the Son hath spoken evil falsly against them that follow Christ and this were sufficient answer to his whole Book yet let us see what follows and let the Reader try with all moderation that he may be edified and may know the true spirit from the false and the doctrine of the Gospel from lying visions and may cleave to the truth and escape the error and let none believe hastily things uttered without knowledge out of I. S. deceitful heart FOrasmuch as many of the Servants of the Lord have been moved of the Lord to set forth in order several Declarations of those things which the light of the glorious Gospel shining in their hearts hath given them the knowledge of and for this end are they published that others also may know the certainty and truth of those things which are believed known and enjoyed amongst us not that they can be known by reading the letter in which they are delared but through their diligence and obedience to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them though not for it which is the same light which shined in our hearts and gave us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by which light of the glorious Gospel who are faithful in it to the Lord their understandings come to be opened that they stumble not at those things which are testified in the truth neither at that which is declared in other Scriptures but it being that in this our day it hath pleased the fâ—ther to bring forth in life and power that mercy and truth which the Scripture speaks of by which iniquity is purged out and as it is become a savour of life unto life in those that receive and believe in it so it is also become a savour of death unto that death which remaâ—ns in both Priests and People in this age who hates the light who can scarce hear it named or that people should be turned unto it as the Apostle did turn them from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remission of their sins and be partakers of the inheritance amongst them that are sanctified but when they hear that Preached or Printed which they may do and out of which they cannot receive the remission of their sins then envie riseth up in them and a perverse mind and ungodly Speeches and false Accusations saying that we speak of a natural light and of a natural conscience when as we speak of the true light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world and in which Christs doctrine stood which said to the people and to the Pharisees again and again I am the light of the world as Joh. 8. 12 Joh. 12. 46. but now because the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we declare it freely as we have received it therefore is flouds of ungodliness risen up against us but it is impossible that the seed which the Lord is manifesting his light and power to bring forth should be kept alwayes under the power of death which seed is now terrible in the Lords power and will yet be more terrible as his power encreaseth which is now going forth as an Army with banners for the torment of the wicked is already begun because the righteousness of God is now spreading over the Nations and neither the rulers of the darkness of this world nor all the Printings and Preachings of those who be out of the life of
God can hinder that which the Lord hath begun and is carrying on by his own power though the nations are angry because that by the light of his glorious Gospel shining forth his wrath is revealed upon them for their ungodly deeds that the Scripture which cannot be broken may be fulfilled and therefore it were better for them to be silent and put their mouths in the dust if so be for them there may be hope then to rise up against that wihch is more unchangeable than the heavens and the earth and therefore in vain have the enemies of God and People in all Professions joyned themselves together against the light of truth and the way of the Lord which many in our dayes have fallen upon but is broken to pieces and it hath fallen upon many and grinded them to pouder and nothing shall escape for the day of the Lord is come and it is very nigh to you that hate it a day of darkness and of gloominess of clouds and of thick darkness and now the seed of God is as the morning spread upon the mountains a great people and a strong there hath not been ever the like neither shall there be any more after itâ— even to the years of many generations a fire goeth before them and behind them a flame burneth the land is as the garden of Eden before them and behind them a desolate wilderness and nothing shall escape them the appearance of them is aâ— the appearance of horses and as horse-men so shall they run c. the earth shall quake before them the heavens shall tremble the Sun and Moon shall be dark and the stars shall withdraw their shining and the Lord shall utter his voyce before his Army as he now doth for hâ—s Camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his word for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it And now according as the Prophet Joel Prophesied is it come and coming to pass Joel 2. 2 3 4 10 11. against which seed men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the things of God are risen up who in their first appearance in their writings profess themselves to be that which they are not seeming right unto many through their feigned words and fair spâ—eches deceiving the hearts of the simple for whom Christ died but afterwards in the same writings to those that see they manifest themselves what they are and being so considered as they are seen and known cannot deceive and therefore to all people who desire to be edified and satisfied in the ground and truth of things as they are made manifest by the Lord to the light in you I speak that in it you may be able to understand truth in what I say and by the truth to judge of things that differ for such as the tree is such is the fruit an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit neither can one fountain send forth sweet water and bitter Now as concerning a Book given forth by John Stelham Priest at Terling in Essex who having an evil eye because Gods is good and being filâ—ed with indignation because God hath mercy on his own seed whom he hath blessed hath out of the abundance of his heart spoken it forth now the way to know that which is spoken in darkness is to read it in the light and iâ— his tâ—stimony in any thing as coming from him is to be believed it is that which is concerning his own condition and if his estate and condition be such that in it he can receive the things of God and minister them to others then they may be received but if his condition be such that in it he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God then that which cannot receive cannot minister and so he is to be silent and none to expect the things of God from him being neither fit to reprove nor to rebuke but to be reproved and rebuked as will appear as followeth The Ground in him and the Heart out of which this abundence of words in his Book proceeds in it as he declares is yet the root of all Error and of all sin is in him and seen by him not mortified and that he hath an old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth no good thing a sinful wretch and worm subscribing himself the sinful John Stelham as in his Introduction in page 80. and page 117 Now therefore we having found out the Root and the Ground to be a root of Error and the ground of Deceit and a heart wherein dwells no truth nor no good thing therefore from that which is unclean shall we not expect that which is clean to proceed nor truth from that wherein dwells no truth but from the lying heart and deceitful tongue hath the Lord delivered us so that if we be called revilers and be rebuked and a charge laid against us as to contradict the Scriptures of God and be called Antiscriptural Antichristian and Antispiritual We have now learned to know whence it doth proceed even from the old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth and we can bear it because we know that till that heart be taken away and a new heart known wherein is Truth We must be reproached and spoken evil of falsly for his sake who hath taken away the old lying heart and hath given us a new heart wherein truth dwelleth and where truth proceeds out from and herein are we manifest from the children of this Generation and herein are the two states known and the two conditions of men according to the testimony of Scripture and the parable which Jesus spoke Luke 6. 39. Can the blind lead the blind shall they not both fall into the ditch And vers. 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good And an evil man out of the evil Treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh And hereby is the tree known by his fruits and the heart of the wicked was ever filled with lying and vanity and understanding was hid from them the Lord was grieved with such that did err in their hearts and had not known his wayes Psal. 95. 10. and such their hearts was fat as grease and in their hearts they imagined mischief and studied destruction Psal. 119 70 Psal. 140. 2. and this was an evil which was under the Sun that the hearts of the sons of men was full of evil and madness while they live Eccles. 9. 3. And such a heart was in the Scribes and Pharisees a lying heart wherein dwelt no truth filled with evil thoughts as Christ said Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts Matth. 9. 4. and out of the heart did arise all false accusations calling the truth blasphemy and the way of it heresie and such who be in the state as John
which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many other of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them pass here unanswered yet they may be seen with the mind informed in the truth and all who are of God and of the truth may know that it is a small matter for us to be rebuked or judged to be in confusion who so evidently hath confounded both our words and the Apostles into his own false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gave forth the Scriptures and abideth in us and we know that they cannot be broken but must be fulfilled as they were given forth by the Word which they were given forth from by taking heed unto which the young mans way is cleansed and by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from the Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledge is denyed that which would set up devised fables above Christ the Spirit and Scriptures that by the Spirit is denyed without contradiction and as we shall by the Spirit and by the Scriptures try John Stelhams Doctrine which if he deny them both then by his own Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judg others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60 to try withal is â—his Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say By this then is all that of him before mentioned cast out being both more and contrary to what is in the Scripture as also that which is to be declared as followeth in his second head as he calls it of Scripture Contradiction he is speaking concerning a Trinity and three Persons which words aâ—e not spoken in the Scriptures he naming the Father Son and Spirit by such names as the Scripture never did and so about words and names which the Scripture doth not mention arising out of the Devination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shut the kingdom from men and so hath no ground for the word three Persons from the Scripture but the Scripture in one translation speaking of Christ being the express Image of the Fathers Person and in another translation saith that he is the express Figure of the Fathers substance as he is witnessed to be by those that know him and so till he find the word three Persons and Trinity in the Scriptures let him own his own rule to judge him to be no Messenger sent by Gods Spirit because he speaks more than is in the Scripture who saith The holy Ghost is a Person and this person dwells in Saints though not personally mark this A Person dwell in the Saints not personally all this confusion is as tares which men gather which must be bound in bundles and cast into the fiâ—e for what is the Chaff to the Wheat or what is a I such invented words to the knowledge of the Father Son and Spirit which are one which bear record in heaven and there are three that bear witness in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one and when these are known in their witness in man what they witness unto and what they witness against within and without such will give them names according to their works and according to the Scriptures The Third Head of John Stelhams Scripture Contradiction is concerning the light which every man is enlightened withal which of all things is most hated by all such whose wayes words and works are contrary to it for it being risen in the hearts of the Children of men to give the knowledge of the truth hath in this day made many wiser than their Teachers and now they which have caused people to err are by the light seen and by the children of light are denyed and they being denyed their envie is up against the light which hath made them manifest and they walk not by the light nor according to the Scriptures but there is a line of confusion comes over them by which now they walk and from which their Writings doth proceed as John Stelham in page 52 saith they may affirm agreeable to the Scripture and yet contradict the Scriptures in saying that Christ is in every man or that the light in every man leads to the Father And saith Christ God or as God is in every man and a spark of his godhead light is in every man but there is not in every man that redemption light which leads to the Father That Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal leads to the Father all who are led by it and believe in it and condemns all from the Father which do not obey it but hate it and speak dispitefully against it who are turned out from God who is light and truth into the confusion saying that the God-head-light is not the Redemption-light but with the light that Lye and confusion is judged for ever and in affirming that the Godhead light is in every man and then calling it common and old Creation-light and Scripture-light page 61 and the light of Nature page 74 75. a legal light page 76. and a created light page 78. and an universal light unto which I say as God is so is his light and so is his godhead not created nor natural and as every one comes to know the light which by I. S. is so reviled they shall neither follow nor believe his Doctrine till he can prove when the light of the Godhead was created and how it became natural or legal or where he had those names for the Scriptures doth give no such names to the light and so by his own rule he speaking more than is in the Scripture is not a Messenger sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by it in what he saith As also in other things as in Page 64. saying That light without Scripture is no light Then Enoch's light in which he walked with God was no light nor Jacobs light nor Isaacs nor Abrahams for they were without these Writings and this letter which he calls the Scriptures but they were not without light And thousands have so much light whether they have the Scriptures or not as to see this darkness as to say light though saving light without Scripture is no light did the Scriptures make the light to be light and was the saving light made by that which was written let all take notice and turn away from such in another place he calls the Scriptures but the Declaration that Christ is the Word and calleth them a Vessel that the light is put into in page 43. and 44. Now let them of understanding consider and judge whether the vessel be the maker of that which is put into
fell from the way of life and could not continue in Christs Doctrine no longer and so such things may satisfie people concerning the way of truth for while they are of us all such things is denyed by them but when they go out from us then they become Drunkards Swearers Prophane Adulterers Fornicators and so every evill Work is committed and then they turn to the Priests Doctrine where all such things are and are excused and then the Priests rejoyce and give thanks if any turn from the light of Christ and the obedience of the Gospel into Drunkenness and Prophaneness again where they were before and if they will but swear and respect mens persons and use the rod of violence and persecute and shed the blood of the Innocent and be conformable to the World that is the Priests rejoycing and if any turn from the truth into any act of uncleannesse then they take that as a proof against those that abide in the truth and such a thing is a better proof to them then all the Scriptures and those are they that reâ—oyâ—â— in â—niquity and watch for evill and so they rejoyce in that which we have â—ast out as abomination and these are they that plead for a life in sin while they are here and that say that the Saints glorified in Heaven do yet hope for the Resurrection of their bodies and so not come to the end of their hope though in Heaven whenas the Saints upon earth Witnessed the end of their hope the salvation of their souls Now these may well deny perfection on earth who deny it in Heaven which the Saints we and the Scriptures do witnesse it in both and against all such who are not fit to speak of the things of God Again In his 9th Head of contradiction he speaks of a Waâ—far which yet he himself never came unto and in it he wrests Pauls words and so would turn the truth into a lye saying as if Paul should say thus If sin that wars and fights in me hath no power to condemn me then there is no condemnation to me which words Paul never spake and it is a lye in the ground for it is not sin that is the condemnation but the light which lets men see their sins because men love darkness rather than the light as many in this age have manifested themselves to do and the light shall be their condemnation who are not yet come to the War nor to the Victory which the Scripture speaks of Again in his 10th Head of Contradictions speaking of Repentance as if he would prove that we denyed or disclaimed godly sorrow and his proof is this If we disclaim in dwelling sin in the godly we disclaim godly sorrow Let all people take notice of this If we deny in-dwelling sin we deny godly sorrow this is contradiction in the highest degree but against it this I shall affirm that none comes unto godly sorrow but they deny dwelling sin and they that do not deny in-dwelling sin denies godly sorrow Again John Stelham in his 11th Head of Contradictions to the Scripture in his speaking of the Word and means of Grace he is setting up that which before he hath been pulling down in page 123. where he saith That they are justified from all legal obligations and conditions of their own workings both within them and without them And in page 174. he is setting up Obligations and conditions of Reading Hearing Prayer Preaching to which he saith life and salvation is promised and so would have salvation come by Works which he hath so much declared against before and so makes Prayer Reading Preaching c. not only the means through which salvation comes but the cause for which they are saved saying To prayer is promised salvation Now to the informing of minds of people I say That all promises are to the Seed and the fulfilling of the promises is witnessed through its obedience to Christs command and through the works of righteousness but none can pray so as to be heard of God and accepted but who have first known heard and believed him whom they call upon which none do but who own the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which teacheth to Pray Hear Read and Preach with knowledge and understanding Again I. S. in his 12th Head concerning Baptisme would go about to prove the sprinkling of Infants to be the Baptisme and so denyes both Iohns who was from and Christs and the manner of them and sets up another which the Scripture doth not mention as sprinkling Infants which who reads his Books may see his proofs by consequences would have the Scripture speak that which in never mentioneth in plain Precept and so would turn the truth into alye and so by his own rule in the 68th page of his Book shall he be judged Such Messengers as speak more then is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say But that all people may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures and that which is testified by them is to come to the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which light was before Ordinances was and which light gives to see the place of Ordinances and their time wherein they are to be obeyed for the light comes from the substance of all the divers washings and carnall Ordinances and it leads into the one Baptisme which is the substance of that of Water which Iohn who was a Prophet was the Minister of and Christ said unto his Disciples Iohn verily baptizeth with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire but he never commanded them to baptize with Water but commanded them to go teach all Nations baptizing them into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and although some of the Disciples and Paul for a time did Baptize with Water yet who shall judge their permission in it although Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ witnesseth that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. 17. and thanks God that he had baptized no more of them yet witnessed that they were all Baptized with one Spirit into one Body And I. S. saith To be against Infants Baptisme is contrary to Acts 2. 28 29. This is false for that Scripture doth not command it nor give president for it let the Reader search if he find any such thing as the Scripture proving Infants Baptisme but the promise is to as many as the Lord shall call and so he hath foully belyed the Scripture for if that Scripture be contrary to such who are against Infants Baptisme then must he prove from that Scripture Infants Baptisme to be commanded as practised which he cannot do and so is a perverter of the Scripture and it is truth that we do deny brain imaginations and sprinkling Infants with water but then he rambles over many Scriptures proving the Baptisme of Believers these
of what they falsely accuse us in words for such who walks in the steps of the false Prophets as he and they doth that preach for hire and takes Giâ—ts and Rewards for preaching are contrary to all the true Ministers of Christ and the Scripture and the Spirit that gave it forth condemns them and much as to this we have publickly spoken and written and so here I need say the lesse though much might be said to manifest I. S. folly and vanity though they that plant a vineyard may justly eat the fruit thereof yet what is this to purpose he is a thief that eats of the fruit of that which he hath not planted but is hired thither for so much per Sermon or per annuâ— and plants nothing for the Lord and he that preaches the Gospel may live of it but this shames I. S. and this Generation of Teachers who many of them might begg bread at peoples doors had they not a Law by violence to compell maintenance from them which thing is a very shame to all righteousness which is practised by most of the Priests of England at this day grievous to be related what unjust proceedings are acted upon the poor people by unjust judgements against them for to maintain Ministers so called what is the thing that I. S. pleads for Tithes or a hundred or two hundred pound a year he is a Lyar to say that we contradict the Scripture because we cannot uphold this but must bear witness against it so whilst he falsely charges us with contradicting the Scripture in the very same thing he and his Generation are found in this practise contrary to all the Ministers of Christ that ever was sent by him and in the very practice of the Deceivers Antichrists and false Prophets in making merchandize of people through covetousness in preaching for hire and in seeking for their gain from their quarter and this is the very truth let I. S. and all his fellows read their own contradiction to the example of all the Ministers of Christ in their cursed practise of maintenance which is the greatest oppression this day in England and this is their grief against us because God hath opened our mouths to declare against them and to shew their folly and wickednesse unto all people and when the Law of the Land ceases to maintain them which will come sooner then they expect then may they begg their bread or perish for want and that is all the fruit that their vineyard of wild Brambles will bring forth to them and if every particular of his words should be searched much rottenness might be let forth but in plainness I have spoken as to the truth of things in pleading for truth and in denying his deceits and the oppression of hirelings which I cannot call Ministers maintenance His 18th Head concerning immediate Calling In this we do not contradict the Scipture I. S. is a Lyar herein also but we say such as are called of God are called by his Spirit and lead with it and fulfills the will and work of God in the Spirit and such as are called by the Spirit of God are appoved by all the Saints of God who with the same Spirit bears witness to such as are called by it and speaks by it the Ministry of God is not of Man nor by Man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is not learned by natural arts but received in the Holy Ghost and this the Scripture bears witness to but the Call to the Ministry by naturall learning at Oxford and Cambridge this I deny and trample upon and all your arts and knowledge and humate study and languages is not able to make a Minister of Christ this I do affirm though they approve one another yet are they not approved of God without his Spirit and they that have his Spirit denyes naturall learning as to be made a Minister of Christ hereby and E. B. his words are owned transcribed by I. S. cited page 16. in the warning c. and all that he saith doth not prove that any of the Ministers of Christ were called by the Church or approved unto that work of the Ministry by them who were not called by the Spirit and guided with it he saith the sending of God is two-fold and for this he hath no Scripture to prove it and so holds forth that which the Scripture will not evidence And further he saith he pretends to no such Call of an Apostle if he have not the same Call by the same Spirit as the Apostles had he is no Minister of Christ and in measure he hath confessed to be without the same Call as the Apostles was called with and will not pretend such a Call Again He falsly Charges R. F. with Crucifying the Ministers of Christ which is a Lye and of the Devil though none of us may spare to call Hirelings greedy dumb Doggs and devourers and lazy sheperds and in this we do not contradict the Scriptures nor work offence towards God nor our neighbour And he concludes Who of us we or they shall have the worst of it in Conclusion the day shall declare unto that day we are willing to come by which we and all the blind Priests of England shall be manifest and we know Liars such as I. S. shall not have the better who is to us made manifest already to be out of the way and out of the power and life of God His 19th Head concerning immediate Teaching In this we do not contradict the Scripture as I. S. falsly charges us withal but doth say that we are taught of God and needs no man to reach us but as the anointing of God which abides in us and the promise of God is fulfilled upon us Jer. 31. we are all taught of God from the least of us to the greatest with whom the Covenant of God is established and this is the cause wherefore we let forth our selves to the world who are yet in the unconverted state that they also maâ— come to the knowledge of the wayes and teachings of God in the Spirit and may come into the Covenant of peace where none need to say know the Lord but all these are taught of him yea and immediately too by his Spirit and this we do witness and the Lord doth witness with us though the unbelieving heart of I. S. and his fellows cannot believe it but doth gainsay it as being contrary to the Scripture when as themselves doth contradict the Scripture in denying it so proving themselves guilty of what they do accuse us of falsly but this is that their folly may appear to all men as it doth to us and I. S hath belyed the Scriptures Dan. 9. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. in saying it is contrary to those Scriptures to say the teaching of God is immediate let the Reader try and I. S. saith he is yet to learn the promise of the immediate teachings of God to be
â—n honest man I will believe but not I. S. assertion out of his own heart In his 2d Head of Self-contradiction Concerning hearing the Word this is not contradiction to say they who are of God hear his Word and yet to deny the hearing of such as I. S who is not a Minister of the Word but a professor of the Letter for proud men and covetous men and false Acculers such as I. S. is are we exhorted to turn away from by Paul and this is not a denying our selves to be of God as I. S. would charge us withall because we deny to hear hirelings for we hear Gods Word and his Voice and therefore do we deny to hear Deceivers and this is no self-contradiction nor saying nor unsaying let I. S. judge what he will the Saints shall be my witness and though we say that the Saints teacher cannot be removed into a corner as saith the Scripture and that the Saints will find their teach as they lye in their beds both these are true and not self-contradiction let a sober Reader judge whether he can find contradict on in those words but fain would I. S. have his lyes believed for truth that he might have praise of men for his works hath gained no praise of God and he saith R. F. hath proved not lyes yet against him if it were so let the Reader search whether there be none proved against him now but let him not say like a Pharisee I am no lyar but rather let him repent of his lyes and wickednesse His 3d Head concerning the Light within Wherein much ado he makes as to prove the light of Christ spoken of Jo 1. 9 to be a natural light and he saith the light given to all men even that light spoken of Jo. 1. 9. is a dim light and is cold and insufficient to Salvation and unable to make true discovery of the true Saviour and such like contemptible undervaluing words of the pure light of Christ by whom the world was made who lighteth every man in the World and by this it is known more evidently what Spirit I. S. is of but there is none of us who have received the knowledge of God by the very light of Christ which shines in our hearts can believe him and this is no contradiction to say that every man is lightened by Christ with the true light and yet to say some men are living in a natural condition both these are true for some hates the light of Christ and their deeds are evil and such are in a natural condition but this doth not prove that Christ hath not given them light though they be in a natural condition I leave it to spiritual men to judge though they say it seems strange that some should live a natural condition and yet have the light of Christ given them saith he as if every man brought a Saviour with him into the world This last is his false conception but he is mans Saviour by whose power every man is brought into the World and if I. S. did but understand as we do that some love the light and some hates it such as hates it denyes Christ he that loves it receives Christ who knows this strangeth not I. S. wondring shews his Ignorance who would secretly charge us to be bewitched with a Notion of accounting nature grace which we do not and it is his own condition he that conceives Lyes believes them and tells them is the rather bewitched And further he saith the light in every man is a poor base beggarly scrap to the Gospel treasure these words are uttered in his hastiness and without either fear or knowledge for he that lighteth every man with the true light of life or of condemnation is not base beggarly scraps as I. S. saith it is for it brings to the knowledge of the Gospel treasure and pearle and not other light and thus whilst he thinks to prove us self-contradictors proves himself a villifier and a blasphemer of Christ Jesus the Saviour of the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World Again he would make this contradiction because we say every man in his first state is as a Beast and yet saying every man is lightened but this is not contradiction no more than the former is and then he speaks of natural conscience and secretly charges aâ— if we should say it is potent and victorious at last but this is is a secret slander of his for we say Christ only is victorious and through him are we made Conquerors and not by natural conscience and he speaks of Gospel conviction to be above the conviction of natural conscience but I would know of him where the Gospel conviction works if not in mâ—ns consciences and so in his next let him divide if he can and shew the difference of such convictions Further he would say that this is contradiction to say that every man in his first birth may see himself to be natural and yet to say that the light which discovers natural corruptions is not natural but spiritual both these are true for the light shines in darkness which shews the darkness and is not darkness but light and he that can understand that Scripture Iohn 1 5. shall see the truth of both these to bâ— no self-contradiction Further he saith the Scriptures are a rule above the Saints light and â—nto it and not so their light above the Scripture this is confusion and he knows not whereof he affiâ—ms for the Spirit of God is the Saints rule and that is greater than the Scriptures and the rule of the Spirit of God is above the Scripture but such as I. S. who talks of Scriptures to be a rule and yet acts these things which the Scriptures declare against are but found in deeper hypocrisie for he that is ruled by the Spirit of God walks up in the fulfilling of Scriptures And further I. S. confessed and saith this he knows that he is more brutish then a man and hath not the knowledge of the holy and this is truly confessed his own works manifest his condition to be true and he confesses he never obeyed natural light as he ought and as he might and this is truly confessed for if he had obeyed that light which he calls natural he would not thus have stumbled at him who hath lightened every man And further he charges a deceit when men will put off that for redemption light which is but old creation light let him charge them that are guilty but yet we say that the same is Redeemed by whom the world was created and this is without any deceit and he that lighteneth every man with the light that is but one he is the Saviour of all that receive him in the light and he is the condemner of all that hate his light and this is no self-contradiction but the very truth as it is in Jesus Further I. S. would make it appear if he could
not for we say the same that some mens Consciences are defiled and we do not desire the Laws to be made according to mens several opinions and defiled Consciences but according to the light of Christ Jesus in every mans Conscience which is but one in all and is according to the Law of God and every just Law will be according to it and though I. S. by his own meaning would make it appear contradiction in our saying no Law must be concerning Religion and yet saying all Laws should be according to the light of Christ in the Conscience Now by these words we do not mean that we would not have a Law according to Religion but no Law to limit to or from this or that manner of Religion and this doth very well agree with our saying let all your Laws be according to the light of Christ so by his misinterpretation of the first he makes it appear to be contradictions to the second but it is not so in the light of the Spirit of God And further R. F. saying the law of God answers his Justice and the light of Christ in the conscience answers the law of God which is perfect according to that in the conscience these words I. S. charges with two errors but let the Reader try where the error lyes and not believe I. S. false deduction from R. F. plain words which are simply uttered through subtilty wrested And I. S. speaks as if some would have Magistrates to make Laws to bind themselves from striking at offenders Blasphemers Gospel and Church disturbers c. In answer to this we are not they that would have any Magistrates to bind themselves from striking at offenders who are truly able to judge of offences we own that such should be punished according to the offence but the Magistrates Law reaches but to the outward man to keep that in peace and good order and not to the inward man to bind or limit that And as for Blasphemy and Gospel and Church disturbing we find many Magistrates not able to judge thereof but many on the contrary calling truth blasphemy and reproving of sin in Teachers and people Gospel and Church disturbing and so by false judgement making such offenders which are not and so abusing their power and condemning the Innocent rather then the guilty and these are such as I. S. speaks of where the strong man armed keeps the house and these are rather a terror to well doers then to evill and such Magistrates and such Laws by which the just are oppressed and the hands of the wicked strengthened will the Lord confound in a day to the glory of his name and to the refreshing of all his people who is now every way oppressed by evill men both by Rulers Teachers and People And as for the rest of his Book it s but of the same nature with the former and not worth answering to onely his lyes I do deny and his first following is that all our Doctrines are raised upon the ruines of the Scriptures excellency and authority this is false neither doth his proof at all make it good His second lye is that our corrupt Tenents are built upon false and novel Interpretations and this is two lyes together our Tenents are not corrupt neither do we build any thing which we hold upon false Interpretations His third lye is that it is pride that hath bred and doth feed our opinions and practises and this is also false and to prove it hath wrested some of E. B. words His fourth lye is that unbelief begets and procreates all our errors and our love of error with our derisions of the truth here is many lyes folded up in one which are all denyed with the life of God and the author of them proved to be of the Devil and we proved to be of God who are spoken all manner of evil against falsely for the name of Jesus His fifth lye is that we do subtilly couch many errors under spacious words of truth this lye also I bear Witness against as also against his Sixth wherein he charges us with meer ignorance and wilful blindness about the covenant of Grace c. His seventh lye is that much of mystical Babylon and confusion is in our Writings and wayes this is also a lye and of the devil and also against his eight I bear testimony our Doctrines and practises ends not in Apostacy neither are they blasphemy against Christ as I. S. impudently asserteth so that from the first of his Book to his last his whole Work is born witness against not to be of God but of the devill and in vain hath he striven and his Work shall not accomplish any part of his desire for the Quakers against whom he hath Written cannot be offended in Christ though I. S. have endeavoured for to make their way and Doctrines in the sight of men abominable but his Work shall not prevent the purpose of the Lord nor the gathering in of the upright-hearted from the mouths of devouring Shepheards such as I. S. and the Priests of England who is it that doth not begin to see their deceits and abominations yea thousands do and mâ—ny more shall do so that all their striving to uphold their Kingdom is but in vain for God hath blasted al their glory and he will teach his people himself and govern them by his own Law and order and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and Antichrist and all his ministers shall be confounded and the Beast and the false Prophet shall both be taken alive and cast into the lake Ah John Stelham against whom hast thou set thy self and exalted thy horn against whom hast thou bent thy strength and shot forth thy envie in crafty words of guile who is it that thou hast defied and girded on thy armour against and counted them as nothing before thy uncircumcised strength even against the Lords people hast thou thus done though thou wilt not now know it yet one day thou shalt know it when iniquity is come to an end and transgression finished and thou shalt stand in thy lot at that day and receive according to thy work a just and righteous reward from the hand of the Lord in the day of judgement when every secret work of iniquity shall appear to condemnation and in the mean time the Lord will bring forth good unto his people even from thy evil and all things even thy evil purposes shail work together for good unto such whom God hath called and thy works and purposes which are to trouble them and to break them and to make them appear vile in the sight of men even thy work doth the Lord turn to establish them and to unite them and in the sight of men thy work against us proves us to be of God and thy self to be of the Devil who was a persecutor from the beginning
and thou shalt be scattered in thy imaginations and thy whole work hath God confounded and it shall not accomplish any whit of that end propounded in thy sinful heart which hath brought forth milchief for it 's blasted in the anger of God and men shall neither call it nor the Father of it any more blessed And Friend hadst thou known how little it doth accomplish of thy evil intent thou would have spared thy labour and employed thy service to another end and then had not thy wickedness so greatly appear in the sight of God nor thy shame and nakedness in the sight of men as it now doth by this thy sinful deed brought forth of a cursed womb and conceived in unrighteousness Alas alas man How art thou fallen into the pit which thou hast digged for another And how doth the shame overtake thee which thou hast thought should fall upon us let thy wickedness correct thee and know thou that the Lord will not forsake his people who cannot be offended in Christ though thou cast stumbling blocks of iniquity in the way and would cause them to sin but even so much the more as thou speaks evil against the way of the Lord are they the more upright therein and the more loving and delighting in the path of righteousness and thou hast but the more fully discovered in many things from thy own pen the wickedness and wrath that hath secretly lodged in thy heart and it appears that thy wisdom is devillish and from below deceiving and being deceived and thy path is in craft and subtilty and not in innocency and plain simplicitâ— and â— this manner and by this means chiefly is thy work managed unto an evil end but the Lord hath rebuked it and will do yet more till it appear to all men as it doth to us to be what I have said of it and it shall be a shame to thee and shall not receive prayse neither of God nor man but condemnation in the sight of both and hadst thou known that we are established even on the top of Gods holy mountain and cannot be moved nor shaken by such weak pitiful blasts of confusion and ignorance coming out of thy mouth where poyson lodges under thy tongue sure hadst thou known it thou would have travelled in another path but that thy folly might appear unto all men is thy work sent abroad that they may see what lodges in thy mind even more envie then in the heart of Balaam and more desire of evil to the Lords people than ever was in him and thou fulfils the measure of thy forefathers wickedness till the sum be accounted and destruction follow thou hast too much troubled thy self in labouring and thy reward will not countervail thy pains hadst thou but only spoken against us we should have born it and thou might have been the more excused but in that thou hast spoken against the light of Christ and called it perverse Principle and many other blasphemous words of bitterness against the very truths of Jesus This is the cause wherefore we have answered thee and thou art utterly inexcusable for what thou hast done it is not altogether through ignorance though much ignorance be in it but out of perfect rebellion and purpose of mischief and for Mastery we do not strive with thee but rather wisheth thy repentance than thy destruction and who doth not believe but your kingdom I mean the Priests of England is going down apace and your glory fading as a flower and the Lord will make you a shame to your selves who hath for many ages preyed devouringly upon the upright and through perfect covetousness have made merchandize of Souls and now many hath an eye opened to see your shame and it appears with horrible detestation even the saying is fulfilled As troups of robbers wait for a man so the company of Priests Murders in the way by consent as the Prophet said and as Christ said Wo unto you you will not enter your selves nor suffer others to enter that world Wherefore thou J. Stelham even thou repent of this thy Wickedness for the wrath of the Lord is gone forth against thee and evill hast thou done against God and against his people and against thy own Soul and this thou shalt know one day to thy exceeding sorrow unto which time we leave thee and could have born all thy scandalous rearms without replying again but onely for the sake of the simple that thy neighbours may see thy folly and all men to whom thine and this doth come and we have not been large but in short have in singleness of heart born our testimony once more to the truth of the glorious Gospel which we have received of God and not of man and against thee and thy sinful heart and whatsoever proceeds out of it for thou being evill how canst thou speak good things the Tree must be good before the fruit can be so but out of thy evill heart hast thou brought forth evill and must receive the reward of evill whether thou wilt or no and what if we should go about to shew wherein the Priests of England do contradict the Scripture might not we have a large Catalogue even in all your Worship and in the most of your practises acting contrary to the Scripture and contradicting that Spirit that gave it forth in Doctrine and in conversation in such an enterprise as this might we make your folly sound abroad and as to the contradicting your selves and being of many judgements and opinions and difference in many particulars about the things of God among your selves herein you abound almost above measure and this if need require could I by the strength of Jesus sufficiently make you appear abominable in the eyes of all just men and so think not in thy self that you are free from Scripture and self-contradiction but truly guilty your selves in what thou hast wickedly accused us of falsely which doth but prove thee to be of thy Father who is an accurser of the Brethren and proves us to be of God according to Christs words we are spoken all manner of evill of falsely for the name of Jesus Christ whom we serve and therefore are hated of the world because we are not of it but without much more words I leave this I. S. our adversary to the judgement of the Great Day wherein we and he shall receive according to our deeds and till then is as willing to have dispraise as praise of men who is not a Jew outward but a Jew inward who hath no praise of men but of God who is of the Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World E. B. * viz Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers * viz. Quakers Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Answer Priest Priest Answer Priest Answer Answer Priest Answer Rom. 8.