had commanded when the everlasting Offering was come and against the outward Temple but thou art blinde and canst not see it Pharise like but thy minde is seen to be contradictory who wouldst contradict the truth and doth not see the end of God in fulfilling his Types and Figures and when they are fulfilled he doth contradict them and therefore do we contradict thee which actest these things God never commanded that which God had commanded was contradicted as Circumcision and the outward Temple and the Sabboth and all the Priests were denyed with them who had received Iesus Christ and here thou hast shewed thy self to be a blinde Pharise which knowest not the precepts nor commands of God but followest thy own imaginacions and thy own invencions which I have charged thee withall formerly and here I charge thee to be a blinde Guide Matth. 23. 16. and therefore came the Apostle to contradict all the Jews who held up the Figures after the substance was come but thou art blinde as the Pharises were and worse for when the Apostles had received the substance they contradicted the Pharises which held up the Types and Shadows which God had commanded and killed them that did witness the substance come but thou natural brute Beast who knowest nothing of God nor his truth must be consumed by unquenchable sier thou speakest of an Assembly of Christians coming together to worship God but a company of the world may come and thou joynest with them here thou shewest plainly that thy worship is no tru worship of God for they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Iohn 4. 23 24. for such are they which he seeks to worship him but not in the Steeple-house the mighty day of the Lord is coming and God that made the world doth not dwell in Temples made with hands therefore come down thou painted Beast which deceivest the people God will overturn thee and thy worship and all such as thou art and them who are of God God is sending them forth to give you the Cup double that ye have given to them thou sayst an Assembly of Christians coming together to worship God are not bound up so close but a company of the world may come in and joyn with them here thou shewest that thy Assembly are all of one spirit and here thou shewest plainly that thy spirit and their spirit is the spirit of the world and not the spirit that was in the Apostles and Saints which sayd What concord hath Christ with Belial and what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 Cor 6. 14. and here thou hast raced thy self out of the tru worship of God and I know thy spirit is not bound up but it is at liberty in the world in the broad way and therefore with them it can joyn and so here thou shewest thy self to be of a contrary spirit to them that preached the Word the Ministers of the Word are not Ministers of the Letter wherein it doth appear that thou art a Minister of the Letter a wrester of it those who are the Ministers of the Word speak forth freely and testifie against such hierlings as thou art who art bound up in thy form and set place and against all thy customary praying and singing for the preaching of the Word is to declare freely to all it is not bound up but such as thou wouldst limit it who doth keep poor simple people in bondage under thee I do believe God hath a people which is in captivity under thy dark imitated Forms and such as thine and who are misled by such as thou art for we were all under such blinde Guides as thou art until God of his infinite love did shew us his way and his light and your ways therefore in the presence of the Lord God do we testifie against all such practises as thine and for the simple ones sakes who are under such blinde Guides as thou art do we let forth our selves that they may see how such as thou bewitchest them and keepest them from worshipping the living God by thy imaginacions Gal. 3. 1. Thou bringest a place 1 Cor. 14. 23 24. to maintain singing of Davids Psalms in a Meeter but in that Scripture there is no such thing in it here again thou openly shewest thy self to be a perverter of the Scriptures and a wrester of it what communion hath the believer with the unbeliever here thou shewest thy self to be one of Babylon full of confusion and confused in thy words contrary to the Scripture and a wrester of it for the world knows not God by all its wisdom Thou sayst that your Congregacion is required to speak good of God O you Generacion of Vipers how can you being evil speak good things Mat. 3. 7. Here thou crossest Christs words thou wouldst have the Generacion of Vipers to speak good things An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit how can you speak good of God that speak nor good of his people the Pharises when they met together did they speak good of God when they sayd Christ was a Devil and gathered together with the chief Priests and sought to put him to death Iohn 11. 53. and in this generacion thou art taking counsel against Christ and against his anoynted incensing the rude multitude against them and is this speaking good of God Query 9. Whether a man shall overcome the body of sin while he â—â— on the earth yea or no Priests Answer There are divers and several victories over sin as first a victory over the dominion and reigning power of sin Rom. 6. 14. this is not given by the power of man but by the power of grace there is a victory over the condemning presence of sin sin cannot so hurt any elect Vessel as to throw him into â—ell and eternal wrath and condemnaâ—ion Rom. 8. 1. There is a victory over the being of sin in the flesh and whatsoever curse thou sayest on me for the same I must profess that I am of the minde that victory â—s not fully enjoyed while we are on the earth for then and not before when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. and the Apostle cals the body of sin the body of death Rom. 7. 24. A Reply to the Priests Answer Friend thou bringest so many Scriptures which is to the throwing down of thy own self as Rom. 6 14. and thou desirest to be satisfied to the contrary to thy belief for thou believest that man shall not be made free from sin as long as he is here and here I will shew thee that thou hast a lying spirit for in Rom. 6. they sayd they were made free from sin for while they were servants of sin they were made free from righteousness and here thou shewest a contrary spirit to that which was in the Apostle and thou desirest to be fully satisfied in those Scriptures in Rom. 7. 18.
God hast none who crucifiest Christ now who art he that frustratest and quenchest the Spirit who must be consumed with the breath of his mouth and destroyed by the brightness of his coming thou queryest whether there be a power in every man as to be saved if he will here thou subtlety who art ditted full of Eearth hast shewed forth thy ignorance of the power of God 2 Tim. 3. 4 5. Man in his will would be saved as thou wouldst but the power of God is contrary to thy will and destroys it which saves and as many as receives Christ to them he gives power to become the sons of God Iohn 1. 12. but here thou son of perdicion hast made manifest thy self not to love Christ nor receive him therefore thou wantst power and there thou hast shewed thy self to be that wicked and slothfull servant which hidest thy Talent in the Earth Matth. 25. 26. and there is that Light and Power in every man which if he take heed to it and wait within there he shall finde his Saviour 2 Pet. 1. 19. but if he hate this pure Eternal Light it shall condem him eternally whose deeds are evil Iohn 3. 19. as thine is and so all stumbling is by being disobedient to the Light as the Iews who stumbled at Christ who sayd he was the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into world so thou dost now at the same Light which shall be thy condemnacion eternally thou shalt witness me it is the same Light as ever was to that which should exercise your consciences do I speak which will witness me and condemn you though God is greater than Conscience 7 Query Whether there shall be a general Resurrection of all flesh all summoned to one place and to what place to receive a tru and du Sentence of Iudgment yea or no Answ Christ Iesus is the Resurrection of the just and unjust some to salvacion and some to condemnacion the same that saves the same condemns Matth. 25. 31 32 33 34. And thou desirest to know the place it is the day that God will judg thee and the world in righteousness whom he hath ordained thou busie fellow who art querying of others condicions of the world without thee but it is that thou Fool mightst utter forth thy folly and here thou hast made it appear and in thy Queryes thou art little wiser and there is a place where thou shalt finde a Judg and his Trumpet is sounding but thou art deaf yet and canst not hear it and the Sumpter-horse is gone forth 8 Query Whether may the Scriptures by the Spirit of God be opened and unfolded and expounded to the People yea or no Ans Here thou Serpent art full of subtlety High-Priest like under a colour comest and wouldst be taught but in thy other Queryes thou art teaching and judging and thou didst shew thy selfe to be one that didst not know the Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the world and what dost thou talk of opening the Scripture who hates the Light and stumblest at it and art disobedient to the Spirit Col. 3. 6. to it thou art an Enemy Ephes 5. 6. but it is that thou mayest be kept in the high place of wickedness Ephes 2. 2. but by them who dwell in the Light thou art comprehended and taken in the snare and art without the Truth of God and an Enemy to that which should guide thee and to be a Cloud without water Iude 12. and the same Spirit where it is made manifest and lived in and walked in and not the lusts of the flesh it opens the Scriptures in the People and fulfils them for it is the same that gave them forth and where this is witnessed it needs not be queryed whether it opens the Scripture to the People or no for it doth open them in the People and to the People but thou art without the Gate of Truth what is this to thee one that art without stumblest at the Light a Childe of Disobedience whom the wrath of God abides upon Iohn 3. 36. but it is the Serpent that would be wise and wouldst paint thy self with other mens words who pretendest to have the Spirit but art a Deceiver in the world in thy Fathers Kingdom and Dominion and this shalt thou see when thou ownest the Light which is thy condemnacion and witnessest me to speak the truth George Fox FINIS Certain QUERIES given forth from one Robert Lucas of Kellet in Lancashire who is wise in his own conceit professing in words that he knows something but iâ— here found out to know nothing but what he knows naturally as a bruit Beast and in those things hath corrupted himself as Iude 10 and that through his wrath bitterness envy and malice against the wonderfull and mighty power of God which he hath manifested in his People which now makes the Devil to rage persecute and blaspheme and to set all his Servants a work to tempt to minister Questions to despise falsly accuse and to slander and contemn all those who are redeemed from the Earth and are Servants to the living God and walk in the Truth judging and condemning and overturning all those who profess the Truth in words but walk contrary which Questions were propounded to one who is despised of the Despisers for the Truths sake whose name among men is Richard Hubberthorn but are answered by the Spirit of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord as followeth I Have here received a Paper whose name subscribed to it is Robert Lucas in which are many unlearned Queryes proceeding from the subtle minde Serpent-like which minde is full of mischief and dark about Questions and strife of words 2 Tim. 2. 23. being full of darkness and in them are many temptations yet because thou Fool shouldst not be exalted in thy pride and foolery a few things in Answer I have given forth to the uttering forth of thy foolery thou that hast been a Professor so long and art querying what Faith is and whether Faith be attained by hearing the Word preached and whether all men have not Faith and whether it is possible to please God without Faith and thou queryest how Christ is in man and whether any be elected to Salvacion and whether all men be conceived in sin and queryest how it is done away after thou hast shewed forth thy foolishness thy blindness and thy ignorance as not knowing any thing thou hast made a Profession of Christ and here thou shewest thou knowst him not for shame give over thy Profession and lay thy hand upon thy mouth and be silent but to us the uttering forth thy folly is serviceable as it is written Fools are uttering forth their folly and thou hast shewed thy self to be one Prov. 13. 16. 1 Query What Faith is Answ Faith is the Gift of God and that which asks the question is without and shall never know it for thou art a Reprobate concerning it the Faith
so it is not another meaning to the Scripture but their own meaning though covered and veyled till cleared and opened and yet thou goest on and sayst we give another meaning to them which if thou canst charge me with and make it good spare me not if not this in the paper is of no validity for it was given to me but that the Apostle's meaning was often dark to a weak eye before expounded thou must needs confess if thou shalt but view two or three for a trial and clear up the meaning of the Apostle in Rom. 5. 14. A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayest what a man can doe is one thing and what hee doth or desires to doe is another thing here thou shewest thy selfe to bee compleat in thy selfe And thou sayest that no man can give an exposicion besides the meaning of the Scriptures and thou thinkest we should be quiet we cannot let thee be quiet who livest in thy thinkings and deceivest peeple with thy imaginacions whom God is come to scatter and God is against thee who art giving exposicions upon the Scriptures and wouldst have them who live in the power of the Scriptures to let thee alone but thou art hee who wrests the Scriptures 2 Pet. 3. 16. who ever was denyed therefore thou art discovered to them who live in the power of them all Scripture is vayled and covered from thee and so thou wouldst give a meaning to them and so under a colour make peeple beleeve it is the same meaning but thou art discovered who sayst I charge thee I can dost thou not say the Scriptures are dark I charge thee to have spoken a Ly and art a lyar and dost not see the Scriptures at all and all thy imaginacions of them are lies thou sayst the Scriptures are dark to a weak ey here I charge thee to be a Lyar before the Living God the darknesse is in thy selfe and not in the Scriptures Luke 11. 33. 34. therefore thou dost wrest the Scriptures and dost make a Ly upon them and turnest them into a Ly Ier. 5. 22. O thou enemy of God tremble before him thou hast nothing to doe with the Scriptures Friend thou wouldst have mee to vieu one Scripture or two for a tryall the Scriptures we know but thou sayst they are dark thou art full of darknesse and they are as they speak he that can receive it let him he that hath an ear may heare what the Spirit sayth thou wouldest have me to give Exposicions upon the Scriptures as thou dost whom the plagues are aded to for as it is written the plagues are added to â—hâ—m that addeth to the Prophecy of this Book Rev. 22. 18. and there is thy porcion but wee know the Scriptures and own them as they speak but all thy Expositions of them wee do deny for with them thou dost bewitch the peeple but the plagues of God will be poured upon thee for thou dost neither know the Scripture nor God but art a lyar and of thy father the Devil Iohn 8. 44. Thou dost also bid me clear up the meaning of the Apostle in the fift chapter to the Romans verse 14. so heer I charge thee again that thou dost wrest this Scripture for men of corrupt mindes do wrest them and so thou art but the Scriptures are clear it is thy corrupt mind and heart that must be cleared Let the Scriptures alone thou hast nothing to do with them thou vayn man dost thou talk of clearing up the Scriptures who art full of filth and corrupcion woulst thou have that cleared which was spoken from the Spirit of the Lord thou blind hypocrit and Pharisy all peeple who walk in the light may see how thou hast uttered forth thy folly and record against thee 4 Query Shew me by the Scriptures where the Ministers of Christ ever took Tythes or Augmentacions of the world Pr. Answer I shall answer but for my selfe seeing the paper was sent to mee in particular and my Answer is that I take no Tythes no nor Augmentacions from the world and that thou knowest well enough but that thy Kainish nature in thee to use thy own expressions hath made thee blind it is not any Augmentacion unlesse it have somthing added to what I had before now thou knowst I have nothing besides it nor before it from any of you all All I have is a Gift from the State and why may not I take a Gift from the State call them the world or what thou wilt as well as George Fox and James Nayler take a Gift from the world among you I know not but I would willingly be resolved in this A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayst thou takest no Tythes nor Augmentations of the world but thou confessest thou takest a gift who goest in the way or Balaam for gifts and rewards Iude 11. and art in his generation so art one of these filthy dreamers which Iude speaks of therefore wo unto thee who shall perish in the gaynsaying of Core 1 Pet. 3. 16. O thou false accuser where canst accuse either George Fox or Iames Nailer of taking gifts of the world as thou dost here thou wouldst make them like thy self and a colour for thy own filthiness by accusing George Fox and Iames Nailer because they bear testimony unto the truth and testifie against thee and thy gift that thy deeds are evil and wouldst fetch up the Apostles to maintain thee in thy filthiness Acts 20. 33. he did eat no mans bread for nought and so coloured Beast wouldst colour thy self with the Apostles words to maintain thy self in the generation of Balaam which the Apostle cried wo against and wo is thy portion therefore own it and there is thy resolve Priests second Answer to the fourth Query Besides God hath said The Earth shall help the Woman and did the Woman reject that help because t is from the Earth Answer me He hath said Kings shall be nursing fathers and Queens nursing mothers to his people shall Gods people then refuse to take their fatherly and motherly kindness Answer me Are we not to be thankfull and take their refreshing as from Gods hands for he stirs up their hearts to it whosoever they be that do it Paul did not run away and refuse kindness when it was offered him by the Barbarians Acts 28. 7 10. neither did he refuse a lodging from them which no question was of some value A Reply to the Priests Answ Thou wouldst be answered whether the Earth helpeth the woman yea or no. Answ Yea the earth doth help the woman against all such Dragons as thou art the Scripture we do witness is fulfilled and Kings and Queens which are nursing fathers and mothers thou art an enemy to Isai 49. 23. and knowest not but as a Thief hast gotten the words of the Apostles and so with them wouldst maintain thy gift O thou blinde Pharisee are these thy meanings that thou wilt give to the Scripture
did shew forth Christ which was the substance he finding him riding in his Chariot and thou Beast dost wrest this Scripture and pervert it and so takest a place of Scripture and raisâ—st Doctrines Poynts and Uses as thou callest them and what thou conceivest and imaginest of it and so sellest it for money and so makest an hours talk of it and art in one of these Text a moneth or more and speakest thine own inventions of it Did they do so O thou Blasphemer Philip had not a set wages of him but he was moved of the Lord to go to the Eunuch when he was going to Jerusalem to worship so if any were moved of the Lord to come unto any of you who are going to worship and reading of the Scripture and should shew you the substance of it such as thou art would fall a raging for it takes away your Trade we do witness that which Philip did but we deny thee to be in Philips place but onely Antichrist like hath gotten his form O thou Enemy of all Righteousness who hath wrested many Scriptures and perverted them to thine own way Acts 23. 6. to maintain thee in thy filthiness and to make a cover for thee but thou art discovered with all who are uncovered and stand naked before the Lord God Almighty Prayses be to him for him And above all thou sayst thou hast Christ for an example for taking a Text the words which Christ spoke he said it was fulfilled Luke 4. 17. Isai 61. 1. and if thou take his words for an example Is thy Text which thou speakest fulfilled then why dost thou ly so long in a Text Christ said his was fulfilled that day who said the Lord had anoynted him to preach Luke 4. 21. which thou art not nor â—anst witness and Christ did not take it and raise Doctrines Reasons Uses Tryals and Motives and have a set time and a set wages and preach out of it a moneth or more as thou dost but sayd it was fulfilled that day which thou couldst never witness nor yet say O thou impudent and brazen-faced how darest thou take Christ for an example to maintain thee in thy silthiness Christs words we own to be tru and to be fulfilled prayâ—ed be the Lord for ever which thou hast nothing to do with but wrests them with thy corrupt carnal minde to thy own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. but as the Prophet did speak of the Merchants of Babylon as thou art one of them in the mystery of Witchcraft and so with thy craft dost deceive simple ones and the Scriptures I know cannot err from that which gave it forth and thy spirit I know to be the spirit of errour which is the same that ever deceived the Nations and we witness the Scripture in our hearts as Christ did And as touching thy Belief we deny it for thou neither believest Christ nor us for if thou wert of God tou would own us as they sayd who needed no man to teach them but the anoynting 1 John 2. 27. but that thou art without and in the world an Antithrist and there I leave thee Whereas thou dost accuse us of a profane spirit it is the profane minde and spirit in thee which judgest the spirit of truth so because it doth shew that which the profane nature cannot bear and whereas thou dost accuse that we finde fault with your often calling and seeking to God that is false for we would have all to call upon the Lord while he is near and to seek him while he may be found Isai 55. 6. and that is the intent of all our writing and printing or coming to your Steeple-houses or coming abroad for your souls good which you shall eternally witness though your corrupt filthy mindes do reject it but thou Hypocrite and Pharise and Enemy of all Righteousness all thy prayers we utterly deny for they are abominacion to the Lord and all thy blessings are cursed as in Mal. 2. Your praying in the Synagogues as the Pharises did Christ did deny and we also do deny the same and so will every one where Christ is risen deny thee and such as thou art for he is but one the same to day yesterday and for ever whom thou art an Enemy to and in the Generacion of them that ever were so Friend thou sayst thou art jealous that we are acted by a spirit of Satan and dost accuse us to be like those spoken of in Mal. 3. these are thy companions eternally I witness it and there thou art present now among them in the same nature and one that walks out of the commands of God as I have proved before and out of the commands of Christ following thine imaginacions and therefore are we all witnesses against thee that thou art in the Sorcery in the Witchcraft and in the Adultery and in the corrupt seed whose blessings are cursed the same light sees it now and sees thee in the same Generation And whereas thou dost accuse us concerning Prayer thou gatherest many Scriptures in thine imaginacions the Saints prayed continually and from them Scriptures thou imitatest a Form and accusest us who live in the praying continually and to thee it cannot appear in thy carnal form neither dost thou know our spirit for it terrifies thee nor the spirit of the Apostle and we do witness the condicion that the Apostle speaks of praying continually and in every thing giving thanks 1 Thess 5. 17. 1 Tim. 2. 8. But this thou canst not witness to be fulfilled to that which should exercise thy conscience do I speak which shall eternally witness we for thou art dead and the dead cannot prayse God and that which should prayse God in thee is in the Grave and none in the Grave can prayse him Isai 38. 18. and thy carnal minde in thee is limiting God in thy carnal form and custom and with a pretence of thy Prayers Pharise like which is but mocking God and hatefull and abominacion to him and all who are of him thy Prayers and spirit will be denyed by them and thou accuser art without in the world among the false accusers 2 Tim. 3. 3. and thou must deny all thy prayers and all thy customs and all thy worship and all thy imitated Churches as thou callest them and all thy praysings and all the worlds ways before ever thou knowest God or us Qu. 8. Shew me by the Scriptures where the Apostles went into the world and gave the world David's Psalms to sing in Meeter these things that ye practisâ— answer them by the Scripture or the Apostles practise without consequence and imaginacions Priests Answer That the Apostles went into the world that is up and down in several parts of it is clear by all their Epistles That the Apostles Commission from Iesus Christ in their going forth to preach to all Nations was this Teaching them to observe all whatsoever I have commanded you is as clear Matth. 28. 20. That the
not this condicion but art in the world among Antichrists false prophets and Beasts and yet thou wouldst be busy among the Saints condicions but this I say to thee All who are come out from among such as thou art need not any man to teach them but as the Annoynting But they who do not continu they turn from the Annoynting and he that denieth the Father and the Son is a Lyar and an Antichrist he that hath the Son hath the Father also therfore we do know thee to be Antichrist who should come Friend thou speakest of Speaking and Hearing what is not agreeable to the Anoynting be silent O flesh for thou knowest nothing of the Anoynting thou art one of those whose mouth must be stopt thou art one of those dumb Prophets who hast nothing from the Anoynting but denyest it but onely thou hast got the form of words to make a Trade of it and denyest the thing it self Query 16. Whether they do not bewitch People that draw them from the Spirit within to observe the Ordinances of the world when as the Apostle sayd They did bewiteh you that drew you to observe Circumcision which was the command of God when he who was the substance of those Types and Figures was come Priests Answer The Lord rebuke this lying spirit that is amongst you who is that which goeth to draw people from the Spirit within to observe the Ordinances of the world name them and blame them those that are lead by that Spirit of God and have him in good earnest do make use of the Ordinance of Christ in a more spiritual manner not to draw them from the Spirit but but to draw them into the Spirits likeness possession and enjoyment the Lord rebuke that prophane Spirit among you that dares to call the Ordinances of Christ the Ordinances of the world that cares not what dishonour you put on Christ his Truth his Waies his Servants The Lord judg and let all the Lords People judg whose Eyes are open whether they do not bewitch poor creatures that carries them from beginning in the Spirit to end in the Flesh Gal. 3. 1. 3. from the Gospell to the Law from Justificacion by Faith to Justificacion by works from loving the Appearance of God to Strife Malice Hatred and to the Appearance of Sathan from Peace to a constant restlesnesse either in their own Spirits or outwardly troubling others by Writing Printing braâ—en-faced-Rayling and Reproaching without heeding whether they speak Truth or a Lye A Reply to the Preists answer Thou art he that goes about to draw people from the Spirit within them to observe thy carnall Tradicion and Imitacion and to observe the Ordinances of the World and it is thy Spirit which is that Lying Spirit which thou mencionest which the Lord will rebuke and must rebuke for thy Lord and God I do deny for the living Lord God of Heaven and Earth thou knowest not no more than a naturall bruit Beast Jude 10. for thy God is the God of the World and he is thy Lord and the Lying spirit rules in thee as thou hast made it to apear thou art he therefore I name thee and blame thee Camelford and the Lord will blame thee and rebuke thee Freind none of the Ordinances of Christ dost thou know for all thy Preaching is of thy selfe Christ never commanded it nor never commanded thee nor thy Praying nor thy Singing Christ never conmanded it but it is the Invencion of thy Brain and the invencion of man and to the Ordinances of Christ thou art an Enimy Thou dost openly show thy selfe to be a witnesse against them who are the Ministers of Christ and who abides in the Ordinance of Christ that witnesse against such as thou art but all the Ordinances of Christ Iesus we witnesse and own but thou to them art an Enimy therfore thee and all thy Ordinances do we deny and all that which thou calst spirituall manners for this is but thy Gloss and Colour that thou mayst appear beutifull with thy spirituall nocion but thou art discovered Praises be to the glorious Lord God Almighty for ever Thou sayst thou dost not draw them from the Spirit but drawst them into the Spirits likenesse here thou hast made a graven Immage and the likenesse of a thing and the Lord forbids that thou shouldst make to thy self any graven Immage or the likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven or in the Earth and here thou hast showed thy spirit to be a contrary spirit in this thou showest thy self to be a Lyar for thy worship is not so much as the likenesse of a spirit for the Spirit is one and it we own but thy likenesse of Spirit we deny Thou sayest again the Lord rebuke that Lying-spirit and I say to thee thy Lord we deny and the Lord God of Heaven and Earth doth now rebuke thee thou Lying-spirit for him thou knowest not and calest it a Lying-spirit for thou prayest to thy Lord to rebuke the Spirit of truth which shall confound thee and thy Lord here thou hast shewed forth thy prophanesse and blasphemy and it is made manifest what God thou servest even the God of the world Thou sayst let the Lord judg and all whose eyes are opened The Lord doth judg and hath judged and all the Lords people doth judg whose eyes are opened they judg thee and all such as thou art in Righteousnesse and see thee clearly Prayses be to the glorious Lord God The day from on high dâ—th spring A question thou askest whether they do not bewitch poor creatures that turn them from beginning in the Spirit to end in the Flesh Ans yea I say they do and thou art one for as thou saydst before in thy Query when thou askedst whether the Light was sufficient to lead people to heaven without any more adoe thou shewest all thy doings tend to draw People from the Light into the works of the Flesh and from waiting to be justified in the Spirit and to lead them into condemnacion and there thou art one that bewitches the people who know not the Spirit but those who are led and guided by the Spirit and walk in it deny thy Freedom in the flesh and thy liberty and all thy carnall Ordinances and Tradicions And it is thou that drawest people from the Apostles doctrin and from the Law of God within and from Justificacion to the Law of works into thy carnal imitated way but the Law of Faith and the Law of God and the Teachings of the Spirit this we witnesse and own as that which the Apostles was taught by and by this we seek to bring all People from under thy carnall teaching and we deny it all and thee both And whereas thou dost accuse us for drawing people from the Appearance of God to Strife Mallice Envy and Hatred and to the Appearance of Sathan herein thou hast shewed thy selfe to be a false accuser 2 Tim. 3 â— and a Lyar in
a day of power and vengeance Ier. 51. 6. will come upon thee which thou shalt not be able to resist though now thou art querying and canst not tell whether man can resist or no by thy Query thou hast shewed forth thy subtlety Serpent like the children of Israel which had tasted of the mighty power of the Lord when they murmured they were destroyed Numb 14. 28 29. but this thou knewest not but art shutting up the Kingdom of Heaven against men as these did who were called of men Masters which stood praying in the Synagogues which Christ cryed wo against in Matth. 23. reade thy porcion there who hated Christ and there thou art for shame give over professing thy self to be a Minister of God who knowst not the power of God but art querying whether any man can resist it yea or no. Query 1. Who were they the Apostle spake this word to Ephes 2. 12. Answ They were they that were made nigh by the bloud of Christ whom thou art an Enemy to and without God in the world in the generacion of the Pharises and a childe of disobedience Light shines and Darkness doth not comprehend it the god of the world hath blinded thy eys Rom. 11. 8. and thou hast shewed thy self to be a Tempter Query 2. Whether you dare own this as a truth made out by the Spirit of God in the Apostle Answ We do witness in us what the Apostle speaks by the same Spirit that was in the Apostle therefore we witness against thee who hast nothing but the Letter and the lying spirit to be thy witness and we do witness what the Apostle sayth He that believeth hath the witness in himself 1 Iohn 5. 9 10. and this do we own therefore tremble before the Lord thou childe of the Devil Psal 99. 1. and blasphemer and Enemy of Righteousness who art querying without Query 3. If so whether your opinion is not contrary to truth and so a Ly Answ Opinions we do deny and here thou hast shewed forth thy dark minde thou canst not witness that ever thou wert in the Light for darkness cannot comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. and there thou art for thy minde is full of confusion and frivolousuess and the Lye speaks in thee and there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding and that which should exercise thy conscience thou art an Enemy to and to the Apostles life thou art an Enemy and knowst it not though thou canst and dost make a Trade of his words and Christs words and the Prophets words O thou false-hearted dissembling Hypocrite the Plagues of God are due to thee and that is thy porcion Rev. 18. 8. Query 1. Whether there be not a time that men are darkness Ephes 5. 8. Answ Thou art in darkness and the man of sin is darkness and the Light shines in darkness and thou dost not comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. Thou hatest the Light thou childe of darkness and therefore thou art in darkness which Light shall condemn thee Iohn 3. 19. the righteousness of God is revealed upon thee in flames of fier thou childe of disobedience Query 2. Whether there be a possibility to hide Christ the Son of Righteousness quite under a cloud where he really is Answ Thou Enemy of God thou dost hide the Talent in thee under the clod of earth in thee If thou hast an ear thou mayst hear 1 Pet. 3. 19. the Ministers of God they speak to the spirits in Prison and the Prisoners shall come out of Prison Art thou a Teacher and shewest thy self to be so sottish and to be ignorant of the Form and must be taught the Letter therefore thou shewest thy ignorance because the son of perdicion is above all that is called God in thee 2 Thess 2. 3. Thou blinde Hypocrite was not he in Egypt while Herod was King and out of Egypt have I called my Son sayth the Lord Who hast thou preached all this while or who hath sent thee to preach Here thou hast shewed that thou never knewst Christ nor Christ never sent thee O thou dark dumb Prophet thou wert speaking of the Prophet and of Grace which hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. 11 12. which thou turnest into wantonness for this Grace is the Saints Teacher those who are taught of it deny thee and thou art one that keeps the Light in Prison in thee and the Devil is exalted above all that is called God in thee who art for condemnacion and destruction as it is written Query 3. Whether the Devil be stronger than Christ the flesh than the spirit or where dost thou finde he was ever a Prisoner in Satans chains Answ We witness that he was in Satans chains and is in thee else how could they crucifie him afresh thou Enemy of Righteousness who hast shewed forth thy ignorance and thou art he that keeps him in them here thou shewest thy self to be ignorant of the Letter but art one of them that imprisons the truth Christ sayth I was in Prison and is kept in Prison by thee and ye visited me not Matth. 25. 43. The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison Rev. 2. 10. And Christ sayth Saul why persecutest thou me and in that generacion thou art persecuting but in all these things thou shewest thy self to be ignorant of the life and power within but art querying without with thy busie minde looking with the eye that cannot see and hearkning with that ear which cannot hear which shews that thou never knewst Christ but dost imprison him The same which discended did ascend which sayd He had overcome the world Iohn 16. 33. If thou hast an ear thou mayst hear but thou art he that quenches the spirit and despisest prophecying who lives in the lusts of the flesh who art for destruction and the fier doth not the Letter say he was taken from Prison from Judgment and was he not in Prison when Barnabas was delivered when a company of rude fellows came from the high Priests such as thou art to take him and lead him to Prison and he it is which is imprisoned still the cause of it is thou and such high Priests as thou art Mark 15. 1. which stir up the rude company to bring him to the Magistrate and to the Prison still Matth. 26. 59. O thou Enemy of Righteousness dost thou inquire whether Christ was in Prison thou art born after the flesh and persecutest him who is born after the Spirit here thou art answered Query 1. Whether it be not a needless expression to speak of drawing the soul to Christ if Christ be so near us as in us a Teacher and Leader already Iohn 6. 44. Answ Thou Enemy the Tempter and Serpent Christ hath called thee to repentance and thou hast been convinced with the Light which is Christ but thou livest in the flesh and in the filthiness in the mystery of iniquity who wouldst have the Scripture to be answered without thee who art an
Apostle speaks of thou knowest not but art an enimy to it neither knowest thou the Milk that was given to the Flock but thou art one of them that fayl with thy Feet Ezek 34. 18. that hast nothing but the Husk which is fit for nothing but the Swine but as a Theif wouldst be up in the Apostles Condicion The Apostl spoke the Truth which thou art out of and to the flock he spoke of it and the Vineyard thou art an enimy to and that with all thy power and might wouldst wrest the Scripture but thou art thrust out and discovered with them who are within and seen by us and so I bid thee Farewell unto Perdicion thou must go Query 3. Whether the Apostles did not give a tru Exposicion of the 9 verse in the forecited â—hapter and in the 10 verse And if so then he that Plougheth and Thresheth may do it in hope and expectacion of outward preservacion in his labour not to have his mouth muzelled Answ Thou wouldst not have thy mouth muzeled the mouth of the false Prophets must be stopped as the Apostle saith Evil Beasts Slow-bâ—llies whose mouths must be stopped Tit. 1. 11 12. and thou art one of them who takes the Apostles words for thy carnal ends and wouldst have Exposicions upon his words who perverts his words and sayst he gave Exposicions who spoke plainly and thou showest thy self to be one of them that the Apostle spoke unto Query 4. Whether there be not the same equity that those that wait on the Gospell should have maintenance as well as those that wayted on the Temple and on the Altar Aensw They that waited on the Altar lived upon the Altar and they that preached the Gospel lived on the Gospel 1 Cor. 9 13. but repent thou knowest neither but art a deceiver and makest a Trade upon the Scripture but praised be the Lord God who hath given a Light to discover thee and to draw from under thy bands for thou neither waitest upon the Altar nor canst not witness the Gospel but only that Scripture thou bringest to maintain thy gift which thou confessest thou receivest worse then Balaam 2 Pet. 2. 15. Query 5. Whether the Ordinances of Christ in this be out of Date yea or no Answ Christ is the same he was where he is made manifest and his Ordinances the same but thou art one that dost deny them and disobey them Did not Christ command his whom he made Teachers Mat. 23. 8. 10. that they should not be called of men Masters and that they would not have the cheifest place in the Assemblies for they were all Brethren Come down thou painted Beast and proud Pharisy who ever wast an enimy of Christ Wo is thy Porcion for thou art out of date with them for thou dost not observe them Query 6. Whether simply taking of Wages make a Hierling yea â—r no Answ Thou robest the World whereas the Apostle saith he robed the Churches 2 Cor. 11 8. and thou robst the world for the Church of God is the ground and Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. Thou blind Sot and coloured Beast doth not wages make a Hyerling thou canst not deny but thou art an Hyerling thou receivest a gift Balaams wages of unrighteousness therefore Wo is thy Porcion VVhat hast thou to do with the Apostles who spoke against gifts Query 7 If so How could Paul be excused from being a Hierling he taking wages as well as others Answ Art thou as Paul was or wouldst thou make him like thy self who robest the world and he took of other Churches O thou filthy Beast who slanderest the Church of Christ and the Apostles with thy filthy minde who wouldst make the Apostle an Hyerling like thy self who hast nothing to do with the Apostle nor the Church of Christ but as a filthy fellow thou makest a trade upon the Letter and other mens Condicions to deceive withall but thou art discovered to be worse than Balaam who denyed the gift of Baalack though he loved it Num. 22. 18. but all thy Pleading and Querying is for the gift showing thy self to be worse than Balaam Query 8. Whether the worlds wages doth not imply some kinde of contract between them yea or no because he had wages of other Churches for preaching to those of Corinth Phil. 4. 17 18. Answ Thou askest whether Paul did well or no in receiving a gift of the Phillipians thou wrestest his words in saying he received a gift for saith he in the Scripture not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that may abound to your account But I have all Phil. 4. 17 18. How fain wouldst thou make the Apostle like thy self an Offender so thy eye is blinded with a gift as it is written and here I charge thee to accuse the Apostle falsly Query 9. Whether if Paul received a gift why may not others supply their necessaries Answ Paul sayd not because I desire a gift in the same verse which words thou pervertest but that fruit might abound for he denyed Balaams gifts Thou enimy of Righteousness how darest thou slander the Apostle who was a tru Minister of God all thy end in thy Querying is for thy gift to maintain thee in Balaams Seat here I charge thee by the Lord to be a perverter of the Scripture who art in the way of Kain Iude 11. I can scarce compare thee to Balaam for he denyed the gift which thou pleadest for and wrestest the Scripture to maintain it and therefore Wo is to thee who lovest the wages of unrighteousness but thou art one who servest not the Lord Iesus Christ but thy own Belly and by good words and fayr speeches deceivest the hearts of the simple Rom 16 18. Phil 3 19. Query 10 Whether David was not in a heavenly condicion while on the Earth as well as any of you being a man after Gods own heart Acts 2 34. Answ He was in that heavenly Condicion which thou shalt never see David we witness and his Condicion whom thou art an enimy to and with thy aspiring mind wouldst know but it is the subtle Serpent which is shut forth which Christ cryed Wo unto you Serpents which paint your selves with the Prophets words Math 23 33 and so thou art painted and wouldst be painted and Wo is thy Porcion as t was theirs Math â—3 33. Query 11 What Heaven is this that he is not ascended into Answ â—hou wouldst know what Heaven David is not ascended into thou never knâ—west Davids Condicion that he was in that Minde of thine must first know Hell where the wicked are turned into Psal 9 17. Thou hast nothing to do to know where David is ascended for thou never knewest his first estate nor thou art not brought into his Condicion but he that knowes the Heaven of heavens knows what heaven it is he that hath an Eare let him hear but thou art in the generacion of them that hated David Query 3. If not
but thou neither ownest Prcepts Law nor Command nor Statutes nor Ordinances therefore a busie fellow thou art querying whether we own them or no that thou mightst accuse for if thou didst own them thou wouldst own us and Christ but thy Precepts and Commands we deny and Doctrines and Ordinances for they are not to be tasted touched nor handled for they are to perish with the using of them Col. 2. 21 22. Query 3. Whether it be not the work of Satan on your spirits to endeavour to stop the greatest part in the world from giving that to God which he calls for Answ It is the work of God to stop the mouths of the world that we witness and it is the work of Satan to open the mouths of the world and he opens their mouths who keeps open thy mouth whose mouth must be stopped Tit. 1. 11. and that which the world gives to the living God is abominacion for the whole world lyes in wickedness and thou wouldst have the worlds mouth kept open and that which is abominacion to the Lord God set up but the Lord is coming in power to throw down the abominacion and to stop the mouths of the world which thou wouldst justifie and set open shewing thy self to be a Freind of the God of this world It is the work of God to stop the mouths of the world Freind thou wouldst have an Answer to these Scriptures and Queries Roâ— 7. 18 25. 1 Iohn 19. Query 1 Whether thou dost own the Scripture for a Truth Answ We witness the Scripture to be a Truth and thee to be a Lyar not knowing any thing of them Query 2 Do you not deceive your selves in saying you have no sin Answ Here thou errest in not knowing that Epistle which thou bringest to accuse us withall for the same that gave it forth sayd If ye confess your sins he is faithfull and just to forgive and to cleanse you from all uncleanesse 1 Iohn 1. 9. here thou hast shewed thy selfe that thou art not come yet to the confession of thy sinns therefore farre short from cleansing from all thy filthinesse of Flesh and Spirit but blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is making manifest himself to destroy the works of the Devill 1 Iohn 3 8. and here thou shewest that Iesus Christ is not made manifest to thee and that the works of the Devill are yet standing in thee O thou enimy of God and Righteousness what hast thou preached all this while to poor ignorant blind people now thou hast shewed here that thy Faith is vain and that thou art yet in thy sins as the Scripture shews plainly He that beleives is born of God and cannot commit Sin 1 Iohn 3 9 Query 3 How canst thou justifie thy self to be in the Truth and the Truth in thee when thy words make it a very Token and Signe that the Truth is not in thee Answ Thy Token and thy Signe is without thee and here thou shewest thy self to be in the generacion of the Pharises looking for outward Signes and outward Tokens and sayst how can we justifie our selves Thou dark Sot did ever Truth come to justifie Selfe Truth ever comes to condemn Selfe Here thou hast showed forth thy Confusion in this Query and in thy dark minde If we say we have not sinned we deceive our selves and make him a Lyar and the Truth is not in us 1 Iohn 1. 10. But where Iesus Christ is made manifest he is made manifest to destroy the works of the Devill and he that sinneth is of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. Here are the Children of God made manifest and the children of the Devil for he that commiteth Sin never knew God if we had not sined we had needed no Saviour and here thou showest thy self to be a Child of the Devil and never knewest God but standest for the Devils Kingdom making thy self manifest not to be in that condicion as they were that spoke forth the Scriptures but art without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. hating those now who have the life of them made manifest and Jesus Christ who is come and made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil this I witness to be fulfilled and the taking away of sin and the cleansing from all unrighteousness therefore I clear my conscience Prayse to the glorious God for ever who is coming to lead poor simple People from their blinde Guides for to the children of God ye are discovered to be the children of the Devil Query 1. Are the Scriptures owned for a Truth yea or no. James 3. 2. Answ Here thou hast shewed forth thy busie minde one question had been enough to have asked whether the Scriptures be tru yea or no We witness the Scriptures to be tru and we witness thee to be a Lyar and erring from the Scripture not knowing them Matth. 22. 29. Many Scriptures thou hast stollen to maintain thee in thy sin and to uphold the Devils Kingdom who livest wholly in offences and bringst them into the same offences like thy self and wouldst make the Apostles offenders like thy self for the Apostle sayth Whosoever offends not in words the same is a perfect man and able to bridle the whole body and whosoever hath not power over his own tongue his Religion is vain James 3 2. and here thou shewest thy Religion to be vain Query 2 Is there a greater Priviledg or Freedom now for Christians than there was for the Apostles or Brethren in those times if so discover it by Scripture Answ Here thou hast shewed thou knowst nothing for thou art desiring to know their Priviledg which minde in thee never shall for the same Priviledg the Apostles did enjoy we enjoy and the unity is but one Ephes â— 13. and the same word they did enjoy we do enjoy and the same Christ we enjoy and the same God they did enjoy we do enjoy here thou wouldst make two which shews thou art in the conâ—â—sion there is a greater Priviledg and Freedom now than there was then yet the same and in thy query thou hast shewed thou knowest nothing of Scripture and again thou sayst that as for what any of us say besides or above it or against it thou weighest it not And all Scripture is for the perfecting of the man of God Ephes 4. 1â— which we witness but thou shewest thou knowst nothing of the Scriptures but hast spoken besides it and against it as oft I have shewed thee in thy former Writings and Queries and added to it and perverted it therefore are the Plagues du to thee and are thy porcion Clear thy self if thou canst let that in thy conscience clear thee but it cannot I know thou wouldst be satisfied if we can what are the Reasons that so many questions should never be answered till our days though God had still a People in the world and where didst thou see such questions put forth before for the darkness
has reigned long and Gods People did ever stand against such things thou mayst reade of many Martyrs that suffered Death who witnessed the truth against the pretended truth for the dark time and power of Babylon hath long reigned and the works of the Beast but now God is raising up Light in Peoples hearts 2 Cor. 4. 6. by which ye are descended that profess the Scripture to be your Rule and Touch-stone to try withall for the queries are put forth to you that ye might see your selves 1 Cor. 4. 5. that there is no Scripture for what you act and that you might shew forth your filthiness and here in thy queryes and writings thou hast made it appear openly the dark power that hath reigned in thee hath been an upholder of this Babylon that never knew any thing of the life of the Scripture come to be opened to thee but now thy torment is but beginning and so fare thee well and if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear Rev. 2. 11. but thy carnal filthy blinde minde in this will not be satisfied nor never must but must first know destruction and is for desruction which is an Enemy to God therefore do we not flatter thee nor few Pillows under thy arm-holes that thou maystly soft Query A question thou askest Which is most likely to be Antichrist and of the Devil he that preaches a Power in all men to obey Answ Now here thou shewest thy self openly to be Antichrist and of the Devil and knows not the first Principle for Jesus Christ sayth I am the light of the world that enlightens every one that comes into the world he that loves the light brings his deeds to the light that the light might prove them and he that walks in the light there is no occasion of stumbâ—ing and the other he hates the light because his deeds are evil and the Light will reprove them Iohn 3. â—â— The Light is the condemnacion of the World which Light is Christ who sayth He is the Light here thou hast made thy self openly to be blinde and one of the children of disobedience who disobey the Light and wouldst have all others to disobey it and to follow thy imaginacions and so thou dost not onely deny it thy self but thou wouldst have all others to deny it For the Grace of God which bringeth salvacion hath appeared to all and teacheth us the Saints to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. this is the Saints Teacher but thou shewest thy self to be blinde and ignorant of the Letter this Grace hath appeared to all freely and this Grace of God is the free Teacher but such as thou art in the world turns this grace into wantonness and sets up Teachers without you and so denyes the Grace of God to teach and so lives in ungodliness and unrighteousness and tempts God for Grace when the Grace of God hath appeared to all and here thou shewest thy self to be a Tempter of God Iames 5. 5. and void of grace and understanding turning it into wantonness which should teach thee and drawst ot hers from it Query Another question thou askâ—st Who is more likely to be Antichrist and of the Devil he that sayth he is Christ and the Light of the world or he that preaches that false Christs should come Answ The same that sayd false Christs should come the same Christ sayd he was Christ and the Light of the world this Christ and this Light we witness here thou callest Iesus Christ Antichrist and hast shewed forth thy blasphemy Iames 2. 7. Thou blasphemer how darest thou profess thy self to be a Minister of Christ and blasphemest Christ 2 Tim. 3. 2. and questionest whether he that sayth he is Christ be not of the Devil or no and here thou hast shewed thy self to be in the generacion of the Iews that blasphemed Christ and called him Devil Iohn 10. 33 36. for the same Christ we witness made as manifest as ever and thee to be a Reprobate without Christ and thou hast made thy self openly to appear to be a Reprobate without God and Christ in the world Ephes 2. 12. Query Another question thou askest who is like to be the man thou speakest of he that sayth he is equal with God and Christ or he that preached Christ the Head Ans Here in this question thou hast openly shewed thy self not to have the same minde the Apostle had for sayth he I would the same minde were in you that was also in Christ Iesus who thought it no robbery to be equal with God and yet made himself of no reputaâ—ion Phil. 2. 5. and here thou hast shewed thy self that thou hast neither the minde of Christ nor his Apostles but art an Antichrist and an Enemy against them that witness these things which the Apostle said I would that ye were of the same minde and again the Apostle sayth Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son 1 Iohn 1. 3. and he did write to others that their fellowship might be with them and he that hath the Father hath the Son also and he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and he that is joyned to an Harlot is one flesh and there thou art harloted from all the Saints Christ and the Apostles and hast shewed thy self to be an Enemy against them who are in the same minde and condicion as the Apostles and Saints were here be thou a witness against thy self that thou art witnessing against the life of the Saints he that preached Christ witnessed the Head and the Members and wished the same minde to be in them as was in Christ who thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2. 6 7. which thou art ignorant of but thou hast shewed thy self that thou neither knowest the Head nor the Members nor the Body but wouldst seek to take the preheminence from Christ who hast got the chief place in the Assembly and art called of men Master but Christ sayd Call no man Master on earth for you have one Master even Christ Matth. 23. 7. and there thou hast taken the preheminence which Christ sayth He that will be greatest must be servant to all Matth. 23. 8 11. but thou art got above all in the place of them that the Wo was preached to and there is thy porcion own it FINIS Certain QUERIES occasioned by a Printed Paper of Richard Farnsworth sent to be answered and no Name subscribed From dark mindes which be full of subtlety not knowing the first Principle 1 Query WHether that Light within unto which thou exhortest all to attend be in unbelievers as well as in believers yea or no. Answ Friend in this first Query thou wouldst know whether the Light be in others which shews forth thy dark minde which cannot comprehend the Light neither hast thou the Light which the Scripture speak of Iesus Christ sayth I am the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the