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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	holy_a	spirit_n	trinity_n	2,812	5	9.9722	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84758	Dæmonium meridianum. Satan at noon. Or, Antichristian blasphemies, anti-scripturall divelismes, anti-morall uncleanness, evidenced in the light of truth, and published by the hand of justice. Being, a sincere and impartiall relation of the proceedings of the commissioners of the county of Berks. Authorized by the ordinance for ejection, against John Pordage, late minister of Bradfield, in the same county. Published for the vindication of justice, and satisfaction of the conscientious, in the name, and by the order of the said commissioners and assistants. With some notes, and animadversions upon a book of the said John Pordage, initiuled, Innocency appearing, &c. / By Christopher Fowler, minister of the gospel at S. Maries in Reding.	Fowler, Christopher, 1610?-1678.	1655 (1655)	Wing F1692; Thomason E840_1; ESTC R207466	137,560	179

was made flesh from whence I did maintain and publish that Christ was God coequall coeternall and coessentiall with the Father contrary to all those blasphemous and execrable opinions which deny Christ to be God so that now I hope the mere uttering of such expressions by way of dispute before an understanding and judicious Committee doth not make me a transgressour according to the true sens● and meaning of this act Ans 2. Concerning the persons in Trinity I do here professe and avow from the sincerity of my heart that I believe the Trinity of persons as an article of my faith viz. That there are three persons distinct from each other the person of the Father the person of the Son the person of the holy Ghost yet not so as to prejudice the unity in essence and so I believe the unity as not to confound the Trinity of persons I 18 See the first animadversion where it is affirmed by a judicious and pious person as upon oath the Dr said that God in Christ and Christ in Saints is the Trinity in unity and unity in Trinity asserted from John 17. never uttered any such expressions in that way as to give any just ground of suspicion of my denying the Trinity But I remember about four years since before the Committee of Berks Mr Fowler or Mr Gilbert I remember not which desired the Committe to give them liberty to ask me two or three questions amongst the rest they ask me whether there were three persons in the deity I answered them I believed the Trinity as it is recorded 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost Thus you see I believe the Trinity but do you believe the Trinity of persons said they I replyed I find not the word persons in the text but to put you out of doubt I do not stumble at the word person and this afterward I told to the above mentioned Mr Grip in a private conference some yeares since to whom I affirmed that I found no such expressions as persons of Trinity in the Scripture and that the word person being a schole term was * And why difficult it being the most apt plain significant term that is persona denote● only substantiam primam intelligentem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any substantiam singularem whether living or dead the fathers Greek and Latine agreed to use the word person as signifiing an underst●nding subsistent There is no term so safe so full Three properties is very improper and dangerous Three qualities absurd and more dangerous Three manifestations Familisticall and hellish Three persons most suitable specially when we adde infinite divine a person in all authours generally denoting a substance living intelligent very difficult to be apprehended by common capacities but I never spake this to prejudice the true notion of the persons in the sacred Trinity which I do cordially believe but only to shew that ordinary Christians should not be too curious in prying into the deep mystery of the three persons in the Trinity but rather content themselves with what the Scripture plainly affirms of the Father Son and holy Ghost as distinct and yet one But to conclude this answer pray consider what hard measure it is thus to pick out a broken sentence out of a long discourse and so to accuse one without relating the circumstance which might serve to clear what otherwise may seem very strange to prejudiced persons The proofs of these Articles The aforesaid Mr John Tickhill of Abingdon This Deponent saith that he heard the Dr deliver before the Committee of this County at Reding that Christ was not God and that he was not Jehovah and being crosse examined he further saith the Dr did endeavour in dispute with great seriousnesse to maintain and defend as his judgement that Christ was not God and that he was not Jehovah and that there was no such expression of the Father mentioned in his this Deponents definition of blasphemy as is mentioned in the Drs answer but saith that his definition was that 19 Observe the Deponents definition of blasphemy and judge whether the Dr did not study an untruth blasphemy was an evill speaking against God derogating from his glory either in his name nature word or works and that the Drs immediate words thereupon were 20 Let the magistrate hearken ruling in the fear of the Lord and let the reader hearken and be astonished at it and grieve what can be more wickedly asserted by the Dr and more punctually proved by any Deponent Hark! he answereth blasphemy is an evill speaking against God and in his paper chargeth me with blasphemy against Christ * That as if is the breath● of the bottomlesse pit as if Christ were God hereupon we began a hot dispute about the Godhead of Christ the Deponent asked the Dr if Christ were God who did deny it and put the Deponent upon proof of it whereupon he cited that Scripture John the first In the beginning was the word the word was God To which the Dr replyed he is 21 he is called God so the Arrians of the founder of whom Arrius the godly Emperour Constantine said that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epiphan lib. 2. Tom. 2. Haeres 69. a wicked interpreter the picture of the Divell called God but he is not Jehovah then the Deponent replyed he is Jehovah which the Dr likewise put him to prove then he cited that Scripture his name shall be called Jehovah our righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 and as he remembers the Dr did disallow of that proof as being out of the Old Testament then the Deponent cited that Scripture Rev. 1. He that was is and is to come as being of the same purpose with Jehovah Thomas Trapham Esq one of the Committee sworn and examined deposeth That to his remembrance the word Father was not mentioned in Mr Tickhills definition of blasphemy and he saith the Dr did then deny * Did Dr Pordage speak in the sincerity of his heart as he pretends in his answer to these articles and others that such a thought never entred into his soul let the consciencious judge Christ to be God which he this Deponent acquainted Mr Blagrave with to which Mr Blagrave said if he deny Christ to be God we must take a further course with him then the Dr answered * Why was there not a course taken with him when he denied Christ to be Jehovah Christ is not Jehovah and when Mr Tickhill had confuted him in that argument then he said he was not God the Father The aforesaid Susanna Grip. This Deponent further saith that the Dr came into her kitchin at another time and as she thinks he then came from the Committee and the Dr then said whereas Ministers speak of persons in Trinity there is no such thing there are three that bear record in heaven but there is no such thing as

S. Paul but of his sorrow who sees any evidence The truth is from his visions he saith he ●s come to virginity from thence to the bestiality of marriage from thence either it must be his pleasure that the wo●ld shall end with this generation which is more then impiously absurd or else he must be for community which is more then probable though more then 1 Some Indians punishing adultery with death even in th● greatest without mercy Paganish or else women to bear children otherwise then by men which is more then a Bedlam fancy The premisses considered though we do perswade our selves we have not known the tithe of his abominations and the pranks of Sathan amongst him and his we have ground to believe that his visions were nothing else but Erburies prophesies Mary Gadberries lights poor Gilpins inward voice and the silly womens being taken up into heaven at Newbery with many other small pieces of visioners in the nation collected into one volume and in somewhat a fairer dresse presented by Sathan at Bradfield and printed by him in London for Giles Calvert stationer to the c. Before we shut up this we would desire the reader to afford us a little of his time and patience to read these four considerations First The divine scriptures there is excellency sufficiency and profitablenesse to edification exhortation comfort to convince to convert to confirm all which the blessed spirit works by these as it pleaseth him we know the scriptures can do nothing without the spirit and we are certainly perswaded the holy spirit will do nothing without the scriptures The promise of grace is of both these sc my word and my spirit Isa 59. last which promise relates to gospel times as to the more clear and plentifull vouchsafement of both and blessed be God it is at this day in some measure fulfilled amongst the Lords chosen ones therefore we have reason to believe that the pretended visions of heaven amongst this kind of men are reall delusions of hell designed to thrust out the scriptures As for the onelynesse and fulnesse of the scriptures we offer amongst many that might be offered these few First 2 Thessal 2.1.2 Now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus that ye be not shaken in mind 2 Paul observes th●ee wa●es of deceiving 1. the pretence of revelation 2. the smoothnesse and subtilty of expression 3. the forgery of testimony neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us and that they might not be deceived by either of these he layes down the word as a sure rule and guide The next is that 1 Timothy 6.3 If any man teach otherwise upon what pretence soever and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus and to the doctrine which is after Godlinesse he is proud c. The third is that full text 2 Tim. 3. last All scripture is given by the inspiration of God c. where we have first the authority secondly infallibility thirdly usefulnesse for doctrine c. and fourthly the end that the man of God even Timothy may be furnished and that throughly and that to all good works The last we will mention is that of Peter 2 Pet. 1.19 We also have a more sure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 piscator or most sure word of prophecy The Apostle prefers the voice of God in the scripture above the voice of God upon Mount Tabor and upon this reason the Jewes to whom he writes might possibly question that of Mount Tabor but they never questioned the truth of God in the scriptures And because this argument from the fulnesse of the scripture is profitable in it self and seasonable and direct to our present purpose we had thoughts to shew the judgements and experience of the saints in it but for fear of tiring our reader we will confine our selves to two eminent ones of former and later times The first is Austin how doth he raise and intend all his faculties to discover the glory of the word it is saith he Austin ser 38. ad Fratres in eremo more sweet then hony more pleasant then bread more soft then oyl more pure then silver more precious then gold the meat of angels the dainties of Archangels the glory of the Apostles the confidence of the Patriarchs the hope of the Prophets the crown of Martyres the doctrine above all to be beloved the breasts for the faithfull the wisdome out of the mouth of the most High the queen of all sapiences the science of sciences therefore legite attendite there we find that God is length for eternity breadth for love height for Majesty depth for wisdome it enlightens the mind purifies the heart strengthens faith conquers the devil contemns the world with much more The other is Luther I have saith he agreed with God Luth. loc com class 4. p. 76. pactum feci cum D●o meo that I might not have visions or Angels I am contented that I have the Bible which is abundantly enough to grace and glory this I believe here I acquiesce and I am certain I cantot be deceived Instead of inspiration we have the doctrine of the gospel and in the place of visions we have the Sacraments which shew forth Christ many Fanaticks have set upon me with their visions and revelations boastingly but I answer I would rather have Davids understanding in the word then the visions of the prophets The second particular is this That these visions and revelations have been an old shift of Sathan and a cheat formerly and so down to this day The Gnosticks of them the Valentinians and Cerinthians with others these were horrid railers against Jesus Christ scoffers of the Apostles kennels of all noisomnesse and filth not to be named non-sensicall wresters of that which they pleased to allow for scripture yet they gave out they received ther doctrine by revelation from heaven and it is observable that when Cerinthus was driven to a non plus he said it was revealed to him by Christ and so downwards to the Papacy where we have revelations and visions enough to fill a dung-pot Dr Reynolds in his conference with Hart saith that of these Papisticall visions some were reall some forged the first were from the devil but both first and last were for the devil And after when God raised up Luther with an excellent spirit and the light of the gospel began to dawn and shine in despite of Sathan the Pope the Emperour and beg●n to spread not only to some towns but Dukedomes and Provinces the devil had no way to help himself but by the trances and revelations of that wicked crew in Germany who * Odio implacabili nos insectantur plus quam papistas they said there were two true prophets David and King John the Tailor and two false prophets the Pope and Luther maligned Luther with a most deadly hatred by far

with new tongues they shall lay hands on the sick God will bring them to glory and God the Father will deliver up to them the keyes of his everlasting Godhead To conclude This never enough accursed doctrine of a typicall Christ did spread like a gangrene in Calvins time a little after in England by Henry Nicholai born in Amsterdam an ignorant man but a crafty hypocrite and one that had a kind of deceiving violence in his smooth language of love since that in New-England by Gortyn and his disciples and then again in England very lately Mr Rutherford who is good at surveys and viewing gives a most shrewd guesse that the tokens of this soul-plague are to be seen upon the books of Mr Saltmarsh c and now at this day this plague-mark is visible to every eye and creeping about many hearts Is it not a sad thing that persons should take in such notions of Christ that do altogether destroy Christ that blaspheme his person reproach his bloud deny his purchase and that make his infinite love and grace to poor sinners to signifie just nothing in which notions a man cannot be godly while he lives and must be damned when he dies for the rise progresse growth and continuance of found godlinesse flowes from the right knowledge of Jesus Christ Do we not see these figure-makers and makers of types which God never made which never came into his heart what shadowy empty creatures they are the Socinians and Familists have nothing for the soul reall in this world their light is darknesse their sublimated notions froth their words bubbles their holinesse mere varnish their austerity Pharisaisme their fasting and prayer when they do it a device to entrap souls their publick demurenesse private loosnesse their comfort a delusion What they shall have in the next world in case of finall impenitence which the Lord of mercy forbid is reall indeed but what is it but a sence of wrath and guilt of sin even against this now blasphemed Jesus Christ a worm of conscience a lake of fire the gnawings of heart which are really so grievous that no heart can think or guesse and all this without remedy without ease even for ever and ever The eighth and ninth Articles of the first charge First That Christ was not God Secondly That Christ was not Jehovah Adde to these the fifth article of the last Charge viz. That one speaking to him of the glorious persons in Trinity he replyed persons in Trinity there is no such thing and again there is no such thing as persons in Trinity The Drs answer to these are as followeth That Christ is not God that Christ is not Jehovah I do acknowledge that such expressions were uttered by me but I hope the bare expressions of such * H●bemus confitentem It had bin far better said such horrid diabolicall blasphemies then such negations this is very improper and so mincing what Christian heart can bear it negations do not make me come within the guilt of the act for it must be known what words preceeded such expressions and what followed to say in preaching there is no God doth not make the preacher guilty of atheisme if the words going before be but annexed the fool hath said in his heart there is no God so do but joyn these words with the 15 What former you should have said with the latter this is put in as a miserable wretched shift say that such a blasphemer is an adulterer yet joyn these words with it viz. he goes a whoring after his own inventions this is not culpable former Christ is not God the Father Christ is not Jehovah Jehovah taken strictly for the person of the Father the first person of the glorious Trinity I say add but these words and there is nothing blasphemous or culpable in such expressions Though I do acknowledge that such expressions fell from me viz. that Christ is not God that Christ is not Jehovah yet I never avowed or maintained such propositions they were only uttered by way of * False they were the points disputed on dispute and that upon this occasion Mr Daniel Blagrave then being chair-man of the Committee demanded of Mr Tickhill what blasphemy was he answered an evill speaking against God the 16 Untruth so thick a man may feel it read the proof Father * Who heard you reply so neither the chairman nor your brother nor Mrs Pocock a studied untruth I replyed a lame definition of blasphemy had Mr Tickhill said evill speaking against God which is a word implying the Trinity in unity there had been no occasion given of contest for the ground of the expressions arose from the weaknesse of his definition of blasphemy in that he said blasphemy was evill speaking against God the Father to which I replyed his definition of blasphemy doth not reach to that for which he accuseth me for what he chargeth me with is not * What is this but a deliberate consulting of a whole series of untruthes blasphemy against God the Father but against Christ God the Son I have uttered no evill speaking against God the Son but seemingly to my accuser in saying that his imputative righteousnesse would prove a saplesse righteousnesse to all those that had not the fiery deity in the center of their souls burning up their lusts and corruptions Mr Tickhill then replyed to that Committee pray take notice that the Dr denyeth Christ to be God which I prove out of John the 1.1 Who can make sense of this stuffe the Dr wants a good memory read the proof To which I replyed Christ is not God the Father but God the Son Christ is Jehovah and so called the Lord our righteousnesse said Mr Tickhill to which I replyed Christ is not Jehovah if you take Jehovah for the personality of the Father this is the truth as the whole Committee of Berks then present can testify and I was then by their vote cleared of all the unworthy aspersions and dismissed and 17 Untruth the business dismissed but you were never discharged since upon proof of witnesses dismissed and that after a full hearing by the Committee of plundered Ministers I humbly conceive that if the former act did expressely adjudge and condemn evill speaking against Christ yet my delivering such expressions in an ex tempore dispute viz. that Christ was not God or Jehovah did not make me obnoxious to the guilt or penalty of that act because pag. 980 and 981 they only shall be condemned as guilty who shall avowedly professe maintain or publish in words or writing such and such execrable opinions c. Which I never did nay I professe avowedly the contrary and declare in the sincerity of my heart that the thought never entred into my soul to deny the Godhead or deity of Christ and I have avowed maintained and published by preaching that Christ is God out of John the first and twelfth The word

mind Animad 10. Upon this Doctors pretence of Holinesse height of mortification abstractednesse from the world living on the tree in the midst of Paradise c. Ans This is not the way of Gods Saints Abraham is dust and ashes Jacob lesse than the least mercy Job abhors hims●lfe David cryes out Lo●d who am I Peter calls himselfe a sinfull man and Paul the least lesse than the least of Sa●nts Thus did not the Fathers or Martyrs boast of but complaine against themselves The richest Mines lye lowest and the deepest rivers make the least noise But he must praise himselfe or else who will that knowes God and how how should he be like his predecessors of ancient and later times As Simon a Epiphan contr haer pag. 18. Tom. ● lib. 1. Magus a horrid blasphemer of Christ a sink of filthiness and Lust a man of very slender parts and a shallow judgement and so fell to deceive the people by Magicall tincturation as the Doctor phrases it he bewitched the people of Samaria This wretch gave out that he was some great one he called himself the power of God and gave out that he came downe from on high and the people presently said so even from the least to the greatest they said this man is the great power of God Acts 8.10 yet Peter tells him he was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity ver 23. he kept a Harlot whils he lived and was brui ed to pieces when he dyed The false Apostles and b Idem Haer. 31. pag. 56. Tom. 2. lib. 1. Gnosticks by what name soever distinguished from their severall ring-leaders how did they vaunt themselves as the knowing men of the world and the spirituall ones soaring in their notions they had their mysticall stuffe and unintelligible words but very Caterpillars of Hell upon every green herbe let the * Gal. 3. Phil. 3. 2 Pet. 2. 1 John 2. Jude the whole Epistle Apostles Paul Peter John and Jude be considered speaking their unerring judgement of them they called them Witches Dogs ungodly wanton bruit-beasts presumptuous ignorant cursed Children Antichrists Lyars filthy Dreamers despisers of Government for whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever This vaunting of heigths hath ever been the way of Heretiques Epiphanius observed long since that the Gnosticks of all sizes and all the rest Dignitate c. they boasted themselves with honourable titles to convey their poysonous Doctrines and Calvin of late sub praetextu nominis c. they labour to raise an esteem to themselves and so to seduce the simple under the pretence of sanctity Thus did Antonius Pocquius hear him speake for himself as one raised of God in these Last dayes thus we are now taught of God I understand nothing for God is my understanding thanks be to God by the spirit of renovation I am raised from the Dead I am quickned with Christ called with Angels I am past the Law an heire of Immortality our Soules are the secret dwellings of Divinity the world is burnt up in me by fire c. You will say what was this Pocquius sure a holy man yes if you will take his own word but heare what Mr. c Furcifer nebulo impius infal x poreus very often Calv. Instr ad lib. cap. 23. his censure of Pocquius Calvines censure was of this high-flown Meteor this Sathan transforming himselfe into an Angel of light Calvin terms him a rake-hell a villain ungodly unlucky a Swine c. yet Calvin was a man of singular patience and meeknesse insomuch as Epiphan said of himselfe that he did compell himself to write the blasphemy and filthiness of Heretiques for the good of future generations so did he even force himselfe to rehearse the ungodly and uncleane practises of the Libertines to name their persons and to set such deserved brands upon their names for the glory of the Lord Jesus and saving souls from being taken in the snare of the Devil David George of Delph in the Netherlands an Impostor a pattern both of detestable Heresies and abominable filthinesse ●parbemius in his naration of the Original of Sects pag. 21. he gave himselfe out for the Christ of God he called the Scriptures imperfect nay childish and carnall he cozened his Disciples of their Money he pretended persecution for the sake of Christ as this Doctor doth in his book and although a man would think that no person could be so irreligious or irrationall to entertain his horrid Doctrine yet a very great multitude were seduced by this vile wretch his meanes of seducing were these three 1. A crafty way of instilling his opinion into others creeping into mens mindes by little and little through subtile and wary insinuations for he would not reveale his horrible mysteries but to those who were totally his owne 2. by counterfeiting a comely majesticall kinde of countenance but 3. and chiefly by an outward shew of a holy life and a mortified conversation and his frequent and seemingly * M●re austere than any Gapucian fasted three dayes together Ruther Sur. cap 4. fervent pouring out his prayers unto God at last when his Vizard began to be torne from his face by some of the Netherlands who knew him who fled to Basil for succour this wretch partly through the gnawings of a tormented conscience and partly through fear of the civill Magistrate pined away and died miserably in the year 1556. Henry Nicholas whose Blasphemies are justly accursed to the pit of Hell and whose secret whoredoms and filthinesse were at last detected yet how did this man pretend austerity holinesse perfection giving out in his gibberish that he was anointed in the hoary age of the holy understanding at the beginning he watched divers nights and fasted and prayed and praised and then came to visions and thence to the Devill Faustus Socinus that wretched Caitiffe and incarnate fiend who made it his businesse to confute that inveterate figment as he calls it more then Satanically of the Deity of Jesus Christ yet this man also pretends much meekness modesty using towards those that did detest and oppose him the sweet compellation of Brethren and that in such a sweet way as many now adayes do language it toward blasphemers he would commend Luther Oecolampadius others and as it were by a side winde of their commendations saile into the port of his own ample praises he † Dr. Cheynect rise and groath of Socianisms pretended to be a reformer of the reformers nay of the reformation it selfe he looked on other men and gave it out amongst his Proselites as low men as the Doctor calls the Ministers of a narrow stamp he saith that God in this last age intends to make many new and glorious discoveries and slily intimates as though he were the man ordained of God to erect the temple of Christ many more might be named but these are too many and truly we should admire at

our own folly in being so copious upon this subject but that we cannot chuse but stand amazed at the indiscretion of many professors especially in such a day of plentifull light who doe unawares plead for and give countenance to horrid Blasphemers because they walke under the notion and shew of holinesse and pretended mortification as if we had no Bibles to informe us that Wolves devouring wolves should come in Sheeps cloathing and false Prophets should carry their matters with so much speciousnesse that they should bid faire nay and should doe it too if it were possible namely deceive the very elect the Devill is never so much a Devill as when he is white he knowes full well that he can doe nothing to any purpose for his owne Kingdome but in that colour we desire to have a raised esteem of the least dram of true holiness we say that Rubies and all that can be named or imagined are not comparable to it we say as Luther that one single gratious worke is more worth than the whole world onely it is a trouble to our Soules to see people cheated into and hardned in damnable opinions by such shewes and pretences we believe there can be no reall holinesse without the sound and right knowledge of Jesus Christ we conclude this for these dayes with that of d Adversus Francisc p. 570. Calvines in his dayes they have mortification often in their mouths but their mortification is this viz. they have no sense of good or evill Animad 11. As to the Phrase and Language used by the Doctor as for example The fiery Deity burning in the center of the Soule the Godhead mingling it selfe with our flesh the divine union the divine transportation into the glory of the Majesty p. 76. the essentiall essence of love fixation in the love of the holy Ghost divine tincturation eyes fixed upon the being of love the pure life of virginity with many more We desire the Reader to observe that this hath been the guise of Blasphemers and Familists old and new Valentinus in his * Mens in●●●●●b●lis magn●●●●e in b l●bilibus ●●nominatorum supersalestium Epiph l. 1. Tom. 2. Hae● 3● Epistle begins high with swelling unintelligible words thus The unabolishable mind to the in magnitude unabolishable of unnameable supercelestiall secrets I will make mention to you with a fardell of nonsensicall stuffe of his males and females and his triginta saecula This Blasphemer was as errant too at Allegorizing as our Doctor he proves his thirty Ages or Worlds most clearly by the Parable of the Labourers sent into the Vineyard thus Some were sent at the first houre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These they called wonderfull ineffable Mysteri●s some at the third some about the sixt hour others at the ninth some at the eleventh houre Now compute 1. 3 6. 9. 11. and these houres put together make thirty and this among his Sect was as cleare as the Sun to prove his triginta saecula Just as R. Higgs one of the Doctors Disciples and Witnesses when one told him he could not beleeve Abrahams family in that Text to be his Family in him viz. his will and affections Oh said Higgs to him It is cleare as the day so that Pontius Pilate must condemne Christ in us and the Jews put him to death in us all very cleare This Allegorizing and Quakerisme bids faire to drive the Scriptures out of the world the very hopes whereof will make the damned Fiends keep Holy-day in Hell when men thus abuse the Scripture and bewitch the simple It calls to our mind a saying of an Ancient Whosoever speaks the Scriptures in another sense than he that wrote it that man * Austin de Doct. Chr. lib. 1. cap. 37. speaks a lie though he speak the Scripture And againe for this frothy language of Seducers What * Idem de Doct. Chr lib. 4 c x. profit saith he is there in the sublimity of words which are not understandable by the hearers when there is no other cause of speaking if they understand not what we speak for whose sake we speak that they may understand He that teacheth should avoid all words that doe not teach Quintinistae peregrina c. the † Velut cerculatores errones ex Bohemia Cornicantur Quintinists use a strange and uncouth language with which they doe so chough it that there is no more perspicuity in their words than in the chanting of birds and this they doe a malitiously to circumvent novices ●●●●in adv 〈◊〉 cap. 7. 〈◊〉 516. for they reveale not the mysteries of their abominations which lay under the covert of their swollen language but to their own who are bound to them by Oath of Secresie under these they lay hid like theeves in a thicket their novices stand amazed at the sublimity of their words which Peter and Jude compare to bubbles and froth See more So H. Nicholas thus H. b Rutherfords Survey Antichrist cap. 9. pag. 56. Nicholai through the holy spirit of the love of Jesus raised by the highest God from the dead anointed by the holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Jesus Christ illuminated with the spirit of heavenly truth the true light of perfect being godded with God or the spirit of his love c John Knewstubb in his confutation of H. N. This form of writing is an evident note of a seducing spirit There are Quakers at Bodenham who suffer extreme tortures of body visible to the reporter and many others very often so extreme that if God did not limit the Devill their inwards would burst out trembling and quaking in their agonies as though their flesh would part from their bones and ligatures they call these d The Quakers blazing star by Edmund Skippe teacher at Bodenham pag. 22. agonies the fiery triall and they say it is the power of the Holy Ghost burning up and destroying their corruptions purifying them as gold tryed by the fire seven times They tell you how much joy and pleasure they have mixed with their torment that they could wish to be in it even for ever and ever This they call the drinking of the Cup the undergoing the wrath and curse of God as Christ did most blasphemously and say they must be brought to suffer as Christ did untill there is nothing left them but the pure seed of God Thus reckoning as far as I can determine saith he by their words that upon this account they must be e Just like the Doctor not by the saplesse righteousnesse of another but the fiery deity burning in the center of the soul justified before the Lord. This testimony is unquestionable because of an eye-witnesse and eare-witnesse Like to be seduced into this way by Sathan but delivered out of it by the Lord Christ The Quakers at Reding had the same language of Christ suffering death from the eternall Love and the holy Ghost

burning up their lusts and what were these but Blasphemers saying 1. Your Ministers tell you that Christ died for your sins if so then you may live in them 2. That the Scriptures were not the Word of God 3. That Solomon was a foole for saying To every thing there is a season Eccles 3.1 2. And this is their common principle but the times wil not yet bear it Thus e Cal. ad Lib. cap. 9. pag. 519. Quintinus Porcus ille unumquemque Apostolorum aliquo scommate notavit vacans Paulum vas fractum Joannem juvenem stolidum Petrum abnegatorem Domini Matthaeum foeneratorem We are loth to English it Animad 13. Upon the Doctors pretended great Temptations by severall applications of the Devills to him in the shape and cloaths of Everard and of a Gyant with a Sword in his hand and a great tree lying by him and a great red Dragon with red Eyes and Teeth and a long Taile pag. 73. of his books for three weeks together Observe that temptations of Satan are either ordinary or extraordinary 1. Ordinary are injections to ordinary sins as Sathan tempted David to number the people and the Devill entred Judas to betray the Lord Christ these are frequent and hardly discernable from our own lusts and therefore in this case it is the truest and safest course to lay all the blame upon our own Soules let no man by the way of extenuation say that when he is tempted he is tempted of the Devill his striking fire could never harme us were it not for the tinder and lint of our own base hearts thus did David I have sinned saith he and I have done exceeding foolishly Nay thus did Judas I have sinned in betraying innocent blood and thus doe the Damned in Hell let us doe it as David did Graciously 2. Extraordinary and these are of three sorts 1. Of Blasphemy such as is not to be named against God Christ the holy Spirit Saints thus tempted would not in cool blood consent to such a thought for 1000. worlds one of the best wayes in this case is the more they are tempted to Blaspheme the more to lift up God in his glory and to magnifie him infinitely above all so to beat the Devills weapon down upon his owne head Though they finde a pronenesse in their nature sometimes to close with such temptations yet this they gain by it even to hate their owne base nature 2. Of violence to lay violent hands upon our selves or our relations this also is very terrible and will make a man sweat for fear and ask a Saint in this case or let him ask his own heart whether he would doe such a thing or no and he would tell you no he would rather choose to be torn in pieces with wilde Horses or be buried alive than doe it and yet it is so violent that they will say sometimes they must doe it The Lord keep such from the evill one 3. Vnreasonable temptations as that a man is not the same person he was that he must shew himselfe as guilty of some notorious fact of which he never was guilty with many more there are many Saints goe to Heaven that never feel them and those that doe feel them God makes them gainers by them exceedingly some learne more in this School than by any books in the world the Devill is but Gods Scullion incomparably better it is to live under these temptations though for the present grievous than to enjoy in a state of since all the pleasures and treasures of a 1000. worlds the frownings of a Father are better than the kisses of an enemy the bitterest Physick how much better is it than the sweetest poyson by these sullyings and besmearments of dark temptations God makes the vessels of mercy to shine the brighter The Lord Christ out-shoots the Devill in his owne bow what he intends for the greatest mischief Christ converts into a soveraigne good Blessed be God But now this Doctor doth not tell us in the least what his temptations were of what kinde they were nay in his book he saith nothing where he had a fit opportunity to declare himselfe of temptations but of a conflict between him and a great Dragon and that he was assisted by the Angels and pag. 76. he saith the great conflict was between the dark world and the Devils thereof afflicting them with dreadfull shapes poysonfull smells and the light world and the Angels thereof relieving them with odoriferous perfumes Angelical harmony c. We deny not but God may suffer the Devill to appear to a Saint but first it is very rare secondly such Saints have been Gods reall ones thirdly if so yet not to fight and contend with Satan mouth to mouth fourthly for a short time not twenty dayes together fifthly they have not an Angel standing by them in their own shape to support them the battell of Saints is within which through grace they fight with spirituall weapons under their Captain the Lord Christ through whom they are more than conquerors as he hath conquered for them by his death so he doth conquer in them by his spirit The Doctor in his answer to these Articles concerning apparitions quoted with much confidence the Lord Lawrence as a friend to this way he must quote him to this purpose or to no purpose and indeed therefore to no purpose because to this purpose that learned Gentleman saith nothing that we can find towards it the hearers much admired and his favourites much simpred at the naming of such an eminent person if he be not of the * Sure this honourable and Leraned Man is not for a visible converse with Angels nor the apparitions of Devils in the shape of Giants Dragons Villains in order to temptations Doctors judgement why did he abuse him to name him before the Commissioners and the Country if he be why did not he prove it in his Printed Book in this indeed he was tempted to deceive The truth is the Articles and Depositions in the Relation considered the result of all his pretended temptations will be this that the Devils spitting fire at him and other Devils under the notion of Angels supporting him was to this purpose That by this meanes he might more deceivingly and plausibly spit fire at Jesus Christ which the Doctor hath done both before and since his Apparitions and Visions and therefore his quoting for his defence the temptations of the Lord Christ Mat. 4. is wicked and borders upon Blasphemy and his quoting of Job Job 6.4 is very impertinent and ignorant Job saith in that Text The Arrows of the Almighty stick in me and the venome thereof drinketh up my spirits by Arrows figuratively we are to understand afflictions inward and outward which like Arrows were upon and in that holy man swift sudden sharp secret wounding afflictions described 1. By the Efficient The Arrows of the Almighty 2. By the Effect They did heat and burnt