thou hast shewed forth thy ignorance not to discern the Lords Body and to be of them that would make a division in the Body that is spoken of in the Scripture for the Body of Christ is but one as it is written being many members yet one Body 1 Cor. 12. 20. and Christ is the Head and Members of this Body and liveth in it I in thee and thou in me that they may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee Iohn 27. he that can receive it let him but thou art he who doth not discern the Lords Body therefore thou eatest and drinkest damnacion to thy self 1 Cor. 11. 29. and to thee it is a mystery and damnacion thou must know and with that Eye thou shalt never see it for it is evill as Herods was who sought after the Child to worship him but would have slain him Matth. 2. 13. he that raiseth the Body he is the judg of the world in flames of fier and in flaming fier and in vengeance shalt thou know and in judgment 2 Thes 1. 7. 8. who art without in the world querying about his body who is the Resurrection John 11. 25. and in this Query thou hast shewed forth thy dark mind which is full of Confusion and thy self to be ignorant of the Body of Christ and with thy fleshly understanding which is for destrukcion thou wouldst know it and this minde which hath asked this Question but the Righteousness of Faith speaks on this wise not to say to fetch Christ from above or descnd into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what sayth it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of Faith which wee preach Rom. 10. 6. 7. 8. wherein thou hast showed thy self that gavest forth these Queries that you never heard this word of Faith preached to you and he is the Head and the Saints are the Body Eph. 4. 15. and in him we live who sit with Christ in heavenly places Eph. 2. 6. and his body is but one and he lives in it for ever whom the Heavens must receive untill the time of Restitucion of all things Acts 3. 21. but you dark Sots this is a mystery to you as Christ is who is the Head of the Body and this Body of Christ which thou desirest to know thou shalt never know nor see for thou art for judgment and condemnacion ordained of Old Iude 13. and in darkness thou livest who art dead in Sins and Trespasses Eph. 2. 1. and who art querying after Christ whether he be a particular Person showing forth the same minde that was in the Iewes who knew not Christ but queried whether he was the Carpenters Son or no Math. 13. 55. who was not born by the will of man and is born now but not by the will of man him you know not nor cannot se Iohn 1 13. nor believe where he is made manifest and he is but one in all his Saints who is their Head Rom. 7 4. and their Life who comes into the World from above and redeemes and makes free from Sin and the Law with the Body of Christ he that hath an Eare may hear to us it is plainness who are in the Gate and Fold but to you it is a mystery who live in the mystery aâ— Iniquity who are without the Gate and Christ is the Resurrection and the Judg Iohn 11. 25. that shalt thou finde when he comes upon thee to render vengance in flames of fier Iohn 5 22. who art a Childe of Disobedience 2 Query With what Bodies shall the Saints arise with and dwell and live in for ever shall there be given to every particular Saint a particular Body Answ Whereas thou wouldst know with what Body the Saints shall arise In that Body which Christ doth live in for he is the Saviour of the Body he is the Head of the Body he is the Resurrection and the Life of the Body and his Body is but one So wee are many members yet one Body Cor. 12. 20. and here thou hast showed thou dost not discern the Lords Body but art under the Damnacion Thou Fool whereas thou wouldst know whether there shall be given to every particular Saint a particular Body and with what Bodies they shall arise as they said in the Corinthians with what Bodies shall they come and how should the dead be raysed Paul makes answer Thou fool that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die and that which thou sowest thou sowest not that Body that shall be but bare grain it may chance of Whear or of some other grain but God giveth it a Body as it hath pleased him and to every seed his own Body All flesh is not the same flesh but there is one kind of flesh of Men another flesh of Beasts another of Fishes and another of Birds there are also Celestiall Bodyes and Bodies Terrestiall but the glory of the Celestial is one and the glory of the Terrestiall is another There is one glory of the Sun another glory of the Moon and another glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another Star in glory So also is it in the Resurrection of the dead if thou hast an Eare thou mayst hear but thou Fool art never the wiser here but thou art a Conjurer and livest in Conjuracion Ier. 27. 9. Zach. 10. 2. 3 Query With what Bodies shall the wicked arise with natural or spirituall Answ With thy corrupt naturall spirituall wickedness to Condemnacion with that Body doth the wicked arise that thou livest in thou Enimy of God shalt finde it and the Eye in thee shall see destruction and eternall Condemnacion who queriest with what Bodies the wicked shall arise thou art risen high in thy spirituall wickedness Ephes 6. 12. who livest in the corrupt nature and high art thou risen in it whose Judgment is appearing and Judg stands at the door and lingers not whose damnacion slumbers not 2 Pet. â— 3. If thou hast an Eare thou mayst hear and there read thy Porcion and thy Answer to the Query 4 Query Whether is there or shall there be a Locall Place of Heaven and Hell to be inhabited and dwelt in for the Saints to enjoy and the Wicked to suffer in with their Bodyes And how shall they be tormented with materiall Fier and Brimston or how And if every Saint and Devil have a particular Body must there not be a particular Locall Place Can Bodies be no where Must they not rest and stand upon some place the Saints singing Hallelujah to the Highest for evermore Answ In thy Query thou hast uttered forth thy Confusion who hast joyned Heaven and Hell together and whereas thou wouldst know whether there is or there shall be a Locall Place of Heaven and Hell here thou shewest forth thy blindness in that thou knowest neither Heaven nor Hell and in the Locall Place as thou calst
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
and art one of them that art ever learning and led away with divers lusts never able to come to the knowledg of the Truth 2 Tim. 3. 7. Faith is that which leads out of the World up to God from all the Worlds Teachers 1 John 5. 4. and denyes all them as Christ did and doth who are called of men Master and stand praying in the Synagogue and which lay heavy burdens upon the People which Wo was pronounced upon Matth. 23. and is upon all such now he that hath an ear to hear let him hear the mystery of Faith 1 Tim. 3. 8. 2 Query Whether is Faith obtained by hearing the Word preached Answ Hast thou been a Hearer so long and art querying whether Faith cometh by hearing of the Word preached Rom. 10. 17. it shews forth thy subtlety Serpent like thou feedest upon Dust which is the Letter and the Word thou never heardst the Word which is God and Faith is the gift of God and comes by the hearing of the Word and the Word became flesh John 1. 14. but thou art in the generacion of them that ever persecuted them that heard this Word where it spoke forth and as for thee thy Faith is vain thou art yet in thy sins 1 Cor. 15. 14. 3 Query Whether have all men Faith Answ No thou hast none but art vain in thy imaginacions but as I sayd before thou art a Reprobate concerning the Faith 2. Tim. 3. 8. and thou art one of them that art unreasonable 2 Thess 3. â— which have not Faith which the Apostle prayed to be delivered from and thou that doubts art damned already Rom. 14. 23. 4 Query Whether is it possible for any man to please God without Faith Answ Thou canst not please God for thou hast not Faith for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14. 23. and all that ever thou dost is sin all thy Profession all thy reading all thy hearing and all thy praying is abominacion to the Lord for they are not offered up from the pure heart but thy heart is rotten filthy and corrupt and all thy hearing and all thy pratling of that thou callest the Word by it thou shalt never get Faith which is the Gift of God but it is all the Serpents meat which feeds thee thou Serpent which art cursed above all the Beasts of the Field who in these Queryes hast shewed forth thy subtlety and temptations Matth. 22. 35. who wouldst have us to deny the Scripture but it is ours we own it Heb. 4. 15. and thee we do deny for thou art without the life of it as the subtle Serpents were which tempted Christ canst thou deny it but thou holdest up such as have the chiefest place in the Assemblyes and stand praying there and with pretence make long Prayers and lays heavy Burdens upon the People and called of men Master which Christ forbids and these are thy Teachers of the Word and Ministers of the Gospel as thou callest them but ye are Antichrists and Enemies to all the commands of Christ O thou blinde Hypocrite and dark Beast why dost thou question things contrary to the Scripture but thou wouldst make a Lye of it as ever thou and thy Fathers did John 8. 44. 5 Query How is Christ in man Answ O thou carnal man and Enemy of Christ dost thou query how Christ is in man thou art of the same minde with the Jews which doubted whether that was the Christ yea or no Light shines in darkness and darkness doth not comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. I am the Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the world Iohn 1. 9. and that Light shall condemn thee who stumblest at it being without God in the world it shall be thy condemnacion the Light for thou walkst in darkness and knowst not whither thou goest but art led with thy blinde Guides and both shall fall into the Ditch together Matth. 15. 14. 6 Query Whether Christ as Christ be in all men Answ No in thee and thy dark understanding there is no room for Christ for thou art one of them that hates the Light which Light is Christ which hath enlightned every one that comes into the world which is the condemnacion of thee and all the world and thou art one of the Builders Mark 12. 10. that buildeth and stumbleth and rejecteth the Corner-stone Acts 4. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 7 8. who livest above the Light in thee in thy vain imaginacions which Light should guide thee to the Father which Light thou stumblest at and hatest and dost not obey so in flames of fier will he render vengeance upon all such as thou art who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1. 8. and do not wait for his appearance 7 Query Whether hath God elected any to Salvation Answ We are elected to Salvation we have the witness within us prayses be to the glorious Lord God for ever who hath elected and chosen us before the foundacion of the world but thou art ordained of old for Condemnacion and for Perdicion among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate one that hates Christ and art blinde doting about Questions and strife of words 1 Tim. 6. 4. in that untoward generacion which the Apostle prayed that the Saints might be kept from I know thy spirit it is tryed to be the spirit of Antichrist and the spirit of Error which is in the world which the Wo is to and that is thy porcion read Iude 11. 8 Query Whether hath any man or but onely he that is elected to Salvacion a sufficient Light in himself to lead him to Christ Answ Here thou stumblest again at the Light asking whether every man have a sufficient Light to lead them to Christ when Christ sayth I am the Light of the world Iohn 8. 12. and enlightneth every one that cometh into the world Iohn 1. 9. One he loves the Light and walks in it and is a Childe of Light and there is no occasion at all of stumbling Iohn 11. 9. the other he hates the Light because his deeds are evil and will not come to the Light lest the Light should reprove him Iohn 3. 19 20 21. which Light would lead to the Father of Light living in it and taking heed to it which Light shall condemn thee and all who hate it whose deeds are evil there thou art to be condemned by the Light which would teach thee and draw thee out of the World and from all the Teachers of the World and would lead thee up to Salvacion but thou hatest it therefore it is thy Condemnacion that lovest Darkness more than Light following thy own imaginacions which are raced out from God for ever and which Light shall be thy Condemnacion from God Iohn 3. 19. 9 Query What is original sin Answ That which thou livest in is the Root and Author of all Sin so if thou canst read thy self thou mayst know what Originall Sin is as thou calst
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.
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
and is all the righteous bloud shed and in that nature which thou wouldst know these things in it was ever hid from who have the chiefest places in the Assemblyes and called of men Master Matth. 23. 7. and in that generacion thou art which the Wo was ever preached to try thy self for to that in thy conscience which should exercise it do I speak 2 Cor. 4. 2. and when it doth appear it will witness me 2 Cor. 5. 11. the time is coming and now is that not at Ierusalem in your highest profession of Christ nor your highest glorious nocions of him which you live in nor none of your Steeple-houses nor none of your Exercises as you call them nor the daintiest Dish you have will be meat for the tru worshipers of God for they have run to this Steeple-house and that Steeple-house and to this mountain and that mountain and here is a dainty Dish and there is a dainty Dish sayth the Harlot which hath long deceived the simple ones but now all you Harlots are discovered which have deceived the Nations and now Abraham shall arise who is the Friend of God whom thou knowest not but art in the generacion of them who professed Abraham and freedom and God to be their Father but were of their Father the Devil Iohn 8. 44 4â— doing his work who was a Murderer crucifying the just who are in the fall and not come to the beginning for thy Father was a Murderer since the beginning and Dives must be turned into Hell and the Dives with your dainty Dishes must be layd low and you who profess the New Ierusalem will be found to be in the old Ierusalem where the Lord Iesus Christ was and is crucified in your Ierusalem now in the highest place of Worship the tru worshipers of the Father in Spirit and Truth witness it to be so and the time is come that the Scripture is fulfilled and the words of Christ Iohn 4. 23. Praises Praises to the Eternall glorious God of Heaven and Earth for ever and ever who now hath made his Power known by which we see the Deceits of you all 6 Query Whether it be not Gods Ordinance that the inward living spiritual powerful word of God whereby all the Saints of God are taught and the tru inward spirituall Worship of the Saints should in the outward appearance of them be held forth in earthen vessels as under a form of Speech or word yea or no Ans Freind in this Query thou hast uttered forth thy weakness and thy ignorance in the form of the Letter doth appeare yet Serpent-like thou art full of Subtilty but thy nakedness doth appeare openly The word of God is as a Fire and cannot be limited no not with thy carnal Reason It is as a Hammer to beat thee to peices and as a Sword to cut thee asunder whensoever thou comest to know this powerfull word of God And this is the word which the Prophets spoke from who cryed Wo against all them that sayd the Lord sayth and he never spoke to them and cryed against all them that bear rule by their meanes Ier. 5 30 31. the horible filthy thing is committed in the Land which is and was held up with Preist and People but now the same living spirituall eternall Word is made manifest and is preached abroad against all you Hyerlings and greedy dumb Dogs which have not a word from the Lord but seek for your gain from your quarters and get up into the cheifest place of the Assemblies and are called of men Masters and stand praying in the Synagogues he that is the Word cryed Wo against all such and them that had this Word he bade them not to be as they were Math. 23. 8 9 10. And this Word is made manifest in the Saints which is declared abroad but thou who livest in Appearance and wouldst see things in Appearance in thy carnall wisdom and Reason â—hou art shut out from this knowledg for to thee it is death to thy carnall minde therefore freely do I publish the Eternall Truth abroad and as knowing you that you have not a word from the â—ord but are in that generacion of those that did shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men neither go in your selves nor suffer others laying heavy burthens upon the People and will not toutch them with one of your fingers but what you do you do it to be seen of men making broad your Philacteries and devouring Widdows houses Math. 23. 45. who art desolate from Christ who hast got the Form of Christs words but art in the steps of the Scribes and Pharises who had got the form of Moses and the Prophets and were enemies and strangers to the Life of God Moses and the Prophets and their Form you have got in your comprehension in the earthly vessel and that 's your heavenly Treasure but now you are tryed with what you hold forth in a Form of words but the word of God is powerfull and in him is no Form but thou art a Theif and a Robber who stealest the Prophets words Ier. 23. 30. who art without who knowest not the Word nor the Lord nor the tru Ministers of the Word shutting out thy self in the dark world and Querying whether the Word should be held forth in earthen vessels if thou hadst an Eye or if thou hadst an Eare thou mightst hear and see it preached dayly but as I said to thy first Query thou knowst not the Light whith enlightneth every one that commeth into the world but art ignorant deaf and blinde one that hates the Light that makes thee let forth so many stumbling Queries for hadst thou the Light thou wouldst not stumble but be as a Citty set upon a Hill but thou art without who hast shewed forth such a dark minde but that minde is for destrukcion for if thou didst walk in the Light and love it it would lead thee to the Day which would let thee see all things and there would be no ocasion of stumbling but thou art him that hates the Light so all thy Preaching as thou callest it leads from God being blinde and leads the blinde and must both go into the Ditch together but we who are Ministers of the Eternal Word see it and dwell in the Light and declare freely without a Bag or a Staffe without Brass and Silver or two Coats for the workman is worthy of his meat freely you have received freely give Math. 10. 8. therefore we do deny your preaching and for the simple ones sake who are in the Simplicity who have been ensnared by you who are in the Subtilty and such as you are who have let forth these Queries for we know your Spirits though you have not let forth your names so who are in the simplicity seeking after the Truth for their sakes have I let forth my self and shewed forth your folly Query 7. Whether the Idols Temple and the Worship that 's done therein
it which is cast out from God and shall never enter into God where thou and all you are who are disobedient to the Commands of God and stumble at the Light because it will overthrow thy Pride and High-mindedness who art Lucifer-like tempting with thy Queries as the Serpent did Eve Gen. 3. 5. So here thou art cursed and cast out Eternally 10 Query Whether all men are conceived in Sin Thou art conceived in all Sin and livest in Iniquity What hast thou to do to meddle with other men stop thy mouth with that thou evil-Beast and Slow-belly whose mouth must now be stopt Tit. 1. 10. 11. 12 11 Query How is it done away It is done away in destroying of thee thou Man of Sin and Enemy unto all Righteonsness and Son of Perdicion whom Iesus Christ shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and destroy with the Brightness of his Comming 2 Thes 2. 8. but this thou man of Sin putst far from thee verse 3. but this shalt thou know before thou know thy Sin taken away and witness thy Queries to be vain thou dost not yet know Sin taken away but livest in Iniquity and Sin which thou wast brought forth in and as a Theif thou hast named Christ but not departed from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. and Christ comes to destroy the work 's of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. 12 Query Whether is it a Righteousness in Christ imputed unto us by Faith Or a Righteousness of Works in our selves by which wee are justified before God Answ Here thou hast tempted to thy own destruction for thou art not yet come to know the Righteousness of the Law of Works in thy selfe nor the state of the first Covenant and the Faith of God thou art a Reprobate to which justifies alone without imputacion Rom. 3. 28. and thy imputed Faith we utterly deny which Faith is dead without Works and thou art dead both to Faith and Works and thy imputacion to thy dead Works without thee we do deny Rom. 4. 5. 6. for that is your Cloak for your Sin and Filthyness Abraham to whom the imputacion was spoken he was come from his Fathers house which thou art not and he was a Freind of God which thou art an Enimy to Rom. 4. â—2 and God will wound the Head of all his Enemies Psal 68. 21. for thou hast not Faith we are witnesses against thee The Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 22. this we own which was witnessed of by the Law and Prophets therefore we are witnesses against thee and all thy blinde Guides to be without the Faith of Jesus and the Prophets the Law and not yet come to see the Death reign in thee which hath passed over all men and there thou art as it is written Death reigned from Adam till Moses and Death and Destruction saith wee have heard of the fame thereof with our Eares and this is thee Iob 28. 22. and thou mayst read the Chapter through it is servâ—cable to thee 13 Query Whether a man may keep the whole Law Answ Thou askest a Question whether a man may keep the whole Law as though thou wast affraid and durst not keep the Law if I should say yea thy Master would be angry with thee for thou and thy Master sayth nay Our Master Christ Iesus is the end of the Law and fulfileth the Law in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit which makes us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 12. and we love God because we keep his Commandements 1 Iohn 5. 23. and to us they are not greevious and God saith if yee love me keep my Commandements 2 Iohn 1. 6. 1 Iohn 3. 14. and thou askest a Question whether a man may keep his Law here thou hast shewed thy self to be one that hath cast his Law behinde thy back for God cals for the walking in and keeping of his Law and thou queriest whether a man may keep it or no therefore thou hast cast away the Law of God and despisest the word of the holy One of Israel Esay 5. 24 14 Query Whether Christ is an Advocate for all Beleevers if some be without Sin Answ Thou full of all Subtilty and full of Sin and Tempter Christ is the Advocate for all Beleevers and doth take away their Sins and destroyes the works of the Devil which are yet standing in thee therfore dost thou stumble at the Scriptures and here hast thou shown forth thy Envy Kain-like I know the intent of thy Queries and the mischeif of thy minde who art in the Generacion of Kain seeking to slay the Righteous Seed which cannot Sin but thou that Sinnest art of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. 9. and ther is no Mediator for thee but thou art for Destruction for thou that sinnest art of the Devil and never knâ—wst God but art a Transgressor of the Law 1 Iohn 3. 4. To that in thy Conscience do I speak 15 Query Whether is the Blood of Iesus Christ that was shed upon the Cross at Ierusalem the Price that bought us Answ In the Query thou pervertest the Scripture and the same minde thou hast there that the Pharises had The Blood of Christ is but one as ever t was by which we are redeemed from our vain Conversacion and by which all are redeemed Ephes 1. 7. which thou makest light of who livest in thy vain minde and Conversacion for this Blood is our Witness and Seal by which we are redeemed but not at Ierusalem only but made manifest in us Glory Glory to the Lord God for ever who hath begotten us from the Dead and brought us again by the Resurrection of Jesus and the same dost thou seek to crucifie now Math. 3. 34. the same minde being in thee as was in them that crucified him at Ierusalem and the Saviour thou lookest for at Ierusalem his Blood is upon thee as it was upon the Jewes and the Price of Blood thou knowest not no not in the first Covenant nor the Blood of Lambs and of the Goatâ— which was a figure of the Everlasting Covenant which makes perfect but thou art one of the filthy Swine wallowing in the Mire and without are Dogs Rev. â—2 15. 16 Query Whether is Faith counted for Righteousness to him that beleiveth Answ Faith is Righteousness and was counted to Abraham for Righteousness Rom. 4. 9. and is so still with them who are of Abraham And the Righteousnesse of Faith speaks on this wise not to say in thy heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ from the dead But what saith it the Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart this is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. and this we witness and are witnesses against thee and all thy Train who are Reprobates concerning the
Faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. and know not Abraham but draw out from the Word within for where Faith is it is walked in and it purifies the heart and brings to walk in the Steps of Abraham but thou as a busie Fellow art querying whether Faith be counted for Righteousness to him that beleiveth wherby thou wouldst have an addicion to the Scripture or wouldst have it wrested or wouldst thou have us to speak contrary to the Scriptures for it we witness and the Righteousness of Faith we witness Rom. 4. 11. 12. 13. 16. and if thou shouldest say the same we know thee to be a Lyar as they that did swear God lived and swore falsly because we know thee to know nothing of it but as the history speaks who hast showed thy self here to be an Antichrist one of them that hath the Form but not the Power which ever is to be turned away from 2 Tim. 3. Iohn 4. 17 Query Whether hath not Christ Ordained a Ministry in his Church Answ Christ is the Minister to the Church Heb. 8. 2. he is the Head of the Body and Saviour he is the Members and the Head of the Body the Church Col. 1 18 19. he hath Ordained a Ministry but it is that which thou art an Enemy to what is it to thee what is in the Church of Christ for thou art an Enemy to the Church of Christ for thou art in the worlds Assemblies and among the Hyerlings going in the way of Cain and after the Error of Balaam Iude 11. which the Wo was to and among them which are called of men Masters which are pearkt up into the cheifest place of the Assemblies which were Enemies to Christ which bee cryed Wo against Math 23 Read thy Porcion and thy Church there 18 Query Whether did the Apostle Paul command Timothy to Ordain Ministers by laying on of hands and whether Timothy himselfe was not so Ordained Anws Whereas thou wouldst know whether Timothy Ordained Ministers by laying on of hands the same that made him a Minister the same Ordained other Ministers by laying on of the same hand if thou hast an Eare thou mayst heare for it is one Word of Life which the same hand layd on what their Eyes saw what was from the beginning 1 Iohn 1. 1 2 3 which was made manifest which was the Word of Life which was made manifest even from the begining which they did declare but Freind what is this to thee for the maintaining of thy Imitacion and the likeness of it and thy laying on of hands which thy Ministers imitate who walk out of the Steps of Christ and of the Apostles and are made Ministers by the wâ—ll of man and your laying on of hands is by the will of man and your Ordinacion stands cut by the will of man which is all Carnall and we do deny it all as the Apostles did who denyed the carnall commandements Col 2 22 23 19 Query Whether hath not Chrst Ordained a Maintenance for that Ministry Answ They that Preach the Gospel live of the Gospel 1 Cor 9 14 and freely they have received freely do they give Maâ— 10 8 and he that ministers spirituall things to the Brethren they minister unto him carnall things Rom 15. 27. but Freind what is this to thee to maintain thy Church and thy Ministers who bear rule by their means and who goest in the error of Balaam receiving the wages of unrighteousness Jude 11. and who su men at the Law that will not pay them A horrible filthy thing is committed in the Land Jer. 5. 30 31. by those who profess themselves to be Ministers of the Gospel which it is slandred by you all and Iesus Christ his worthy Name is dishonoured and blasphemed by you all and these are the Ministers of thy Church who are ordained by laying on of your hands who walk contrary to Christ and the Apostles for they did never su men at the Law here under a colour thou askest whether Christ hath not ordained a Maintainance for that Ministery whereby thou wouldst have a Cloak to maintain the Ministers of the World which seek for their Gain from their Quarter Ier. 5. which the Lords Prophets cryed against and seek for the Fliece which Ezekiel cryed against Ezek. 24. 2 3. and Hierlings which Micah cryed against Micah 3. 11. and them that loves the wages of unrighteousness which the Apostle cryed Wo against Iude 11. and the Wo is upon thee now which standest up for Balaam with a colour 20 Query Whether were Tithes payd before the Levitical Priesthood and when and how dost thou prove by Scripture they were taken away Answ Abraham payd Tithes and the Levites received Tithes and they that are the sons of Levi who receive the Offices of the Priesthood have a Commandment to take Tithes of the People according to the Law that is of their Brethren but the Priesthood being changed there is also a necessity of changing the Law Heb. 7. 12. and here is a proof for thee and here I prove thee to be under the Curse and to stand up for the Law and to be a Deceiver and an Antichrist because thou deniest Christ come in the â—lesh 1 Iohn 4. 3. and there thou art holding up that which Christ came to put an end to and here I will prove all your Teachers as yâ—u call them to be without Christ and that Christ never sent them for whom he sent forth he sayd unto them Freely ye have received freely give and what a stir is here for your Tithes and Gifts and Augmentacions you make it manifest where your heart is for you are wrangling for these things which are earthly and su men at the Law contrary to Christs command and the Apostles practise who coveted no mans Gold nor Silver God was their witness and here you are raced out from Christ and from all the servants of God for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly Rom. 16. 18. whose glory is their shame who minde earthly things Phil. 3. 19. evil beasts and slow-belleys whose end is destruction 21 Query Whether did Christ command his Disciples to baptize with Water and whether did they baptize with Water Answ Here thou hast shewed forth thy subtlety that thou art ignorant of the Letter what dost thou reade in the Letter Christ sent them forth and bade them Go teach all Nacions baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28. 19. the Baptism and Water we witness Iohn 3. 5. for the Water is a witness which the Apostles baptized withall 1 Iohn 5. 8. He that hath an Ear let him hear but thou hast none neither didst thou ever come to this Baptism Christ did not send forth his Disciples to sprinkle a little durty Water upon Childrens faces as your filthy Dreamers do and tell them it is an Ordinance of Christ who are Lyars of him for Christ
Cor. 11. 29. and there thou art 27 Query Whether the Scripture beeing Carnall and the Letter Killing as you say wee may read them without danger Answ The Letter which killeth 2 Cor. 3. 6. is dangerous for thou takest it here to warr withall against the Saints with thy Carnall minde giving out thy Carnall Exposicions upon it and the Ministers of the Letter are the Ministers of Death which is to Condemnacion and you take it to make a Trade with it and with what the Prophets Christ and Apostles sayd and again you take it to make a Trade upon it so that some have 30 some 40 some 50 some 60 some a 100 pounds a year where was ever such things practised or heard of amongst all your Fathers the false Prophets you do exceed them all in wickedness and Paint your selves and are Hyerlings and get up in the room of Christ you seem like Christ in words having painted your selves with Christs words and the Apostles words but Christ cryed Wo unto such whited wals and here you read with danger who speak of them and speak a Lye Ier 5 2. because you speak not what is in you because you speak of your selves and it is dangerous to read that and to make a Trade of that which the Prophets Christ and the Apostles spoke forth freely and to give meanings to it contrary then it is and to raise Poynts Tryalls and Motives and Uses here is adding and the Curses and Plagues are added to him that adds to the Prophesie written in this Book and there you are for destruction is your Porcion Rev. 22. 18. But I say blessed is he that doth read and doth understand and he that doth neither add nor diminish for he walks in the Paths of the Prophets of Christ and the Apostles and in the Steps of Abraham and the Apostle said I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read among all the holy Brethren but you are Ignorant and unlearned 2 Pet 3 16 and you wrest the Scriptures to your own destruction Psal 56 5 and to you it is dangerous to read or speak of it who know not the Life of it even as the Pharises who were learned in the Letter but knew not Christ and some of the Apostles who were not learned men in the Letter did not wrest the Scriptures as the same Peter was learned in the Life though not in the Letter but you are in the state of the Hypocrits and Serpents which garnish the Sepulchers of the Righteous Fill yee up the measure of your Fathers yee Serpents yee generacion of Vipers how can you escape the Damnacion of Hell Matth 23 2â— 23 and the Letter is carnall and killeth and Dust is the Serpents meat Gen 3 14 and that is thy meat and Cursed is the Serpent which beguiles and thou art he look not for him without thee for he is in the Letter and you get the Letter into your mouths and come and say The Lord saith when he never spoke to you Wo is unto you and the Harlot which is dect with so many Colours and there you are read your own Porcion destruction he that hath the same Spirit that gave the Scriptures forth reads them without Conceivings or Imaginacions and witnesses them fulfilled but thou art Proud and livest in thy Imaginacions and Conceivings and thou Conceivest of the Letter and whatsoever thou buildest must be scattered Luke 1 51 52 so to thee it is dangerous 28 Query Whether they were written for our Instruction and are profitable that we may be throughly furnished Answ They are for the perfecting of the Man of God for the furnishing of him through Faith in Christ Jesus and they were written to instruct them whom they were written to which had an Eye to see them and an Eare to hear them and an heart to understand whom the Apostles spoke to for instruction till the ends of the world was come and they are for instruction to instruct to admonish but not to make a Trade of but Freind to thee I speak in this Query thou art a Tempter and that minde in thee knowes nothing of them that they were not spoken forth to instruct for that is for destruction for look within thy self and thou wilt see thou art full of Corrupcion and the man of Sin and he it is that talks and prattles of the Scripture who must be consumed but wee witness that they are for the perfecting of the man of God through Faith in Christ Iesus for to Convince and to Reprove and to Instruct but not thee thou man of Sin and Son of Perdicion who sitest in the Temple of God above all that is called God and gattest the form of words and deceivest the Simple as a coloured Beast and the Plagues of God are thy due and Porcion for thy instruction they were not written who walkest contrary to the Commands of God who art exalted above all that which is called God in thee in whom the Mystery of Iniquity lodgeth and the Son of Perdicion which shall be destroyed 2 Thess â— 29 Query Wherefore doth Christ command Iohn to write to the Angell of the Churches in the Revelacions and not teach Immediatly himself seeing you tell us that God Immediatly teacheth his People and that all men have this Teacher within them Answ Thou Enemy of Christ and of all Righteousness what hast thou to do to question Christs commanding Iohn thou full of all subtlety and busie fellow what hast thou to do to question Christ who art exalted above all that is called God here thou shewest thou would not have him to reign the same that spoke to Iohn was immediate and that which Iohn spoke was immediate if thou hast an Ear thou mayst hear what Iohn spoke to the Church but I see thy intent in thy Query to me thou art discovered for in thy Query thou wouldst have a Cloak to keep up the Teachers of the World and your imitated Churches who walkest in the path contrary to Christ and all his Apostles God immediatly doth teach his People by his Spirit by which he draws them up to himself into the everlasting Covenant Heb. 8. 11 by which they need no man to teach them 1 Iohn 2. 27 and every one is enlightned with the Light which is Christ but all such blinde Guides as your Teachers are who draw People from this Light within them to hearken to their imaginacions of the Letter without you such I say do bewitch them and draw them into the uncleanness and into the flesh that the fruits of it shews it self Gal 5. 21 drunkenness fighting wrangling quarrelling railing disputing and slandering envying persecuting lying swearing and taking the Name of God in vain idle talking and foolish jesting scoffing scorning and mocking and all manner of filthiness and uncleaness and these are they that are led from their Teacher within them which is the Light by you blinde Watchmen Isai 56. 10 11 12 from the