that believe and through the word of Life are they handled tasted seen and felt near at hand in power and not in words onely Many professes them in words and what others enjoyed of these things but have not felt in themselves the working of the eternall Spirit neither have the witness in themselves of being restored to God again and of being redeemed by him from under the Devils power neither are saved by Christ from sin and transgression and so are not nor cannot be saved from condemnation and wrath for who abide in their sins and in the state unreconciled to God hath not any part or portion in these things which belongs to their peace and without the knowledge of which by the working of the eternal Spirit all mankind is everlastingly miserable CHAP. VII Concering true Religion and the true Worship of the true God this Testimony I give unto the whole World THis is true Religion to be kept pure and clean from all evil and from all that which would defile in the sight of the Lord and to walk in his fear in all things this is Religion to do good and to do no evil and to speak the truth and to do the truth in all things and to do unto all men as a man would be done unto and to love God withall the heart and the neighbour as self and not to love the world and ways and pleasures of it nor to use deceit in words or actions this is true Religion and the true Worship of God to be led with his Spirit in all things and to be guided in the truth at all times on all occasions this is acceptable and well pleasing unto God above all words and outward conformity and set times and days and observances for the Worship of God is not in these things but is without respect of days places or things this Religion and Worship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam who hath lighted every man that comes into the World that all men through him might believe and by him have their consciences purely exercised towards God and towards man in all things whatsoever and this is our Religion and Worship of the True God he that can receive it let him CHAP. VIII Concerning Justification and Sanctification this testimony 〈◊〉 give unto all People JUstification is freely by Jesus Christ in the sight of the Father and not by the works of mans own righteousness and such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the ways of truth and righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and it is the new man that is justified and not the old he that is born of God and none that are born of the flesh such cannot please God neither can such be justified by him for they are not taught of him nor saved nor restored nor redeemed and therefore are not justified nor cleared from condemnation in the sight of the Lord but who lives in iniquity and sin and the wayes and works of the World which are evil by Christ Jesus are condemned and not justified though in words they profess him yet of justification by him they have no part and sanctification is by the working of the eternal Spiri◠in the heart of the Creature which purgeth out and taketh away all unrighteousness and all the works and fruits of darkness it witnesseth against and witnesseth unto Jesus who takes away all sin and destroyes the works of the Devil that man may be holy and pure in the sight of his Maker and every one that hath the witness of his justification hath the operation by the eternal Spirit of sanctification and all that receives Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that cometh into the World receiveth sanctification and justification by him and he unto us is made so of the Father he that can receive it le◠him CHAP. IX Concerning the Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up this testimony I give unto all the World THE Kingdom of God and of his Son is not of this World but is fro◠above and stands in righteousness and in truth in mercy and in peace i◠true judgement and justice and this Dominion is from everlasting to everlasting and it reacheth beyond all the World and its Government is love and unity and everlasting peace and is perfect liberty to the Just and bindeth and chaineth the Unjust in it there is on oppression but perfect freedom from all unrighteousness and it consists not in word but in power to the bringing down of the Kingdom of the Devil and to the breaking off the bonds of all injustice and all ungodliness which is the Kingdom of Satan which hath long ruled i◠the World that Kingdom whereof Christ is King which stands in Righteousness no unclean thing can have any part therein and this we believe it shall be set up and advanced in the earth but not by might of man or arm of flesh nor the multitude of an host neither by policy nor craft nor by revenge but by the arm of the Lord alone through the suffering and patience of his people and by faithful witness bearing unto Jesus Christ by doing and by suffering by doing his Will in all things in a pure Life and Conversation and upright walkking in the sight of the Lord and by patient suffering under the injustice and oppression of men and of their unjust Government and Laws till they be overturned and confounded and further we give testimony that suffring in patience under the cruelty and oppression of the Devils government and kingdom more reaches to overthrow them than the rising to rebel in any way of outward offence toward them or defence from them and the Kingdom of Christ is near to come and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and none shall have any part therein but they that are redeemed out of kindreds tongues and people this we believe he that can receive it let him CHAP. X. Concerning Governours and Governments and Subjection to them this testimony I give to the World GOvernours Rulers and Magistrates we own and do respect in the Lord and yet cannot respect any mans person whatsoever such as be a terrour to all evil in their Government and that fears God and hates covetousness and delights in Equity in Justice and true Judgement and gives diligent heed to try the cause of the poor and will judge justly without respect of men who justifies the good and gives praise to the Well-doer such Government and Governours we reverence where Sin and Iniquity is kept under Drunkenness Swearing Murther Quarrelling and all the ways and works of the flesh are terrified and a Wel-doer praised and justified this Goverment of men reaches to the witness of God in every man and that answers to the justice and righteousness of all such Governours and Government and these witness that
them and with a good Conscience they cannot swear but do deny it upon all Conditions because Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and the Apostle doth exhort above all things not to swear and therefore it is a matter of conscience unto many and not a matter of purposed wrong towards any man and though here it may be objected But for want of an Oath a just man may loose his just Cause because Judgment depends upon witness by oath to that I answer that is because the Law is not according to Christ by which the Judgment comes but is unjustly grounded upon the breach of Christs Command viz. swearing and whether ought the man to be blamed or condemned as a Transgressor who keeps Christ's Command and cannot swear at all upon any Tearms or whether that Law ought not to be corrected and regulated to be according to the Law of Christ and all that which is contrary in the execution thereof to be condemned and removed that a just man's witness may be given and taken upon occasion without an Oath and his just cause may go on against his Enemies by just judgment grounded upon the naked truth in plainness testified without swearing this is to be considered and though it be again obiected but many say some makes more Conscience and are more afraid to testify falsly upon Oath then upon bare words without an Oath so to have the truth known wholly that is the end of the Oath to this I answer a man that truly and uprightly fears God will be as much afraid and make as much Conscience of speaking falsly as of swearing falsly and out of a good Conscience will testifie as truly as if he swore and for others who fears to swear falsly and doth not so much fear to speak falsly without Oath this is because there is a greater punishment to such and it is accounted a greater offence among men to swear falsly then to speak falsly and for the correcting of that the punishment and offence should be changed and such as testify falsly without Oath may be accounted Offenders and punished as such who swears falsly and this will bind the wicked in a sufficient fear and cause them to be afraid of testifying falsly even as much as of swearing falsly if the testimony in causes among men of such evil persons who cannot make Conscience of lying nor speak the truth without swearing it ought the rather to be had and to be done by binding by a Law and punishing if he testifie a Lye then by causing him to continue in the breach of Christs command but however still I say such who out of a good and tender Conscience do deny to swear ought not to be persecuted and punished as great Offenders for while this is done the Law and good Government is perverted and authority is greatly abused to another end then wherefore it was ordained of God and that Law and authority must needs be unjust which oppresseth or punisheth the excercise of a good Conscience as for evill doing and this shews the blindness and ignorance of men in authority to whom the Law is committed who discerns not neither makes a difference betwixt things done in the Fear of God and in the excercise of a good Conscience towards him and things done out of an evil minde to evil inteâ—ts purposely and wilfully to do wrong and injury to mens persons and estates for all Magistrates ought to learn this and to distinguish that their power and authority may justifie the one and condemn the other that true justice and sound judgement may spring forth in the Earth and in the Nations that all the Upright and Well-doers may rejoyce and live in rest and peace and all the Workers of Iniquity and such as do Evil may be afraid and fear to offend just men and just Laws and thus would the Name of the Lord be great in the Earth among men and such a Government renowned for ever and such Magistrates would be a praise to Generations after them and a blessed example to Ages to come But now some may say and object how shall this be known and who can tell and discern of such Causes and who it is that do their Works out of the exercise of a good Conscience and who do their Deeds out of an evil Minde and to an evil intent and so is wrong dealing and worthy of punishment this is a doubtful Cause may some say and difficult to be known and understood But to this I answer and say To all such as have the Spirit of the Father and are led thereby and in their Judgement guided therewith this is an easie thing to discern and an easie matter to know and find out and such as cannot discern and distingush in such Matters have not the Spirit of God nor the spirit of true and sound Judgment neither is indeed ordained of God nor fit to judge the People nor the honour of a Ruler and Judge belongs not to such a one who cannot find out a matter nor know and judge between the precious and the vile how to justifie the one and how to condemn the other and indeed this is the reason and cause of so much Injustice and Oppression brought forth at this day because the spirit of sound Judgment is wanting and such as are set to judge hath it not to try and discern and give Judgment by it and therefore Light is put for Darkness and Darkness for Light and good is called Evil and Evil Good and true Justice and Judgment is perverted and turned backward and the guiltless is condemned guilty But I say if the work be done by a man out of a good Conscience and as a matter of Conscience then he doth it in the Fear of God and in the cross to his own will and in meekness and tenderness of heart not seeking himself in what he doth but is willing to suffer for the Truth sake and for what he doth and will not resist Evil or the false Judgments of men but patiently and quietly bears all things for the Lords sake and in all what he doth or suffers he gives the glory to the Lord who works his works in him and gives him strength and patience willing to suffer for them But again I do answer by men that have the spirit of sound Judgment to rule and guide them this cause is easie to be discerned and the difference may be known betwixt a thing done out of a good Conscience and for a good Conscience sake and a thing done out of an evil mind and purpose and to an evil end to the wrong and injury of another for the ground from whence the works do proceed are contrary and the spirit by which the works are wrought are contrary and the purpose and end to which they are wrought are contrary and the spirit of God and of sound Judgment may and doth put a difference betwixt the ground acting and end of
all works for it is the ground from whence all works do spring and the end unto which they are brought forth that makes all mens works good or evil to be justified or to be condemned and where the Measure of the Spirit and Power of God is the Ground of and Leader in a work that work as I have said is done in the Fear of the Lord and in uprightness of heart and in love and tenderness and meekness and patience without seeking or exalting self but the Glory of the Lord is only sought by that man in all such his works But on the contrary where an evil heart and mind brings forth works to an evil end and to the wrong of others such works are maliciously and wilfully and enviously and peevishly done in forwardness and headiness and not in the Fear of God nor in uprightness of heart but with a double mind and in secret or without the Counsel of God seeking himself in his works and not the Lord and such works are wicked and wrought by wicked men who transgresseth both the Law of God and of men and must receive according to their deeds and the Law that is equal must pass upon them which the Light of Christ in their own Consciences may answer to when they are condemned for their ungodly works against which Light they act and that is the reason and cause wherefore their works are evil and to be condemned by the Law for who acteth according to the Light of Christ and is led thereby fulfilleth the Law or it is fulfilled in him and his works are wrought in God and are the testimony unto men that he is of a good conscience and for a good Conscience sake his works are done and such men and works are not to be condemned but justified And this is for Instruction to all them that bear Rule who are Magistrates and Governours and Judges of the people that they may now be wife and learn wisdom how to judge righteously and justly among people that they may fulfil the Will of God in what he hath called them unto even that they may cherish and defend and strengthen such as do well and all whose pure Consciences are purely exercised may live in peace and rest under such a Government and all Evil-Doers may be bound limitted and judged and may stand in awe and be afraid and thus Justice and true Judgment would be advanced and Equity would run down as a mighty Stream and the Nation would be blessed and yeild content and satisfaction to her Inhabitants and hereby might the Rulers and Judges gain unto themselves a good report and an honour and renown would the Lord crown them withal in Generations to come Wherefore all ye Rulers and ye that are set to judge the people be now awakened to just Judgment and to a sound discerning and put on the spirit of true Judgment even the Spirit of the Lord that you may receive it to be taught in all things how to walk with God that you may answer his call and the End of your Authority in judging justly all sorts of men rendring to every man according to his Deeds even Condemnation and Judgment to Evil-Doers and a Praise and Defence to all that do well And this is written in love to you all shewing you how to put a difference betwixt the Precious and the Vile between the Just and Unjust that you may be the more happy if this you observe not leaving your names a Reproach and a Scorn to after Ages which is the effect which doth follow all such as pervert Justice and turns true Judgment backward with Misery and Destruction upon themselves and Posterity for evermore A True and Faithful Exposition of some part of the Laws of ENGLAND ALL ye Magistrates Justices of the Peace Mayors and all other Ministers of the Law and all ye to whomsoever the Law is committed I warn you all to take heed to your selves that ye fulfil the Will of the Lord in judging Righteously and executing true Justice and Judgment and let not Envy nor false Suspitions nor Jealousies have any place in you but with a single Eye try all things and with an upright Heart judge for God and not for man and beware of causing the Innocent to suffer whose Consciences are exercised towards God though they be contrary to the World in their Wayes and Judgments for if you cause such to suffer you do not execute true Judgment but subvert the Law and the Lord will require that Suffering of his People at your hands Now consider The Law was not made for a Righteous Man but for Transgressors such whose Consciences are not exercisd towards God and such your Sword is to be laid upon to be a Terror to them and not to the Innocent for they should have Praise that do well And you must take heed lest you abuse your Power to another End then wherefore God hath ordained it for the Law was added because of Transgression to slay the Transgressor and that is the End of the Law Now you must take heed of causing any to suffer upon bare Suspition or Evil Jealousies when as no Transgression is truly charged nor justly proved against them before you And you are not to be both Accusers and Judges of any one in any Cause You have a late Act for the taking up and punishing of idle lâ—â—se and dissolute Persons such as are Vagrants and wandering Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars Now this Law is good if it be duly and justly executed upon such as are truly guilty herein and it is right that sturdy Beggars and Rogues and idle and disorderly Persons should be taken up from wandering and set on work in some good Imployment in the Creation which may maintain themselves and prevent them from worse things But now you must take heed of judging any to be such who are not really so for many of the Servants of the Lord now as it was in Generations past are moved to leave their own Country and Dwellings and Relations and go abroad in the Nations to preach the Gospel of Christ and to bear witness of his Name in the World to the turning of People from the wayes of Sin and Death to the Way of Righteousness and Truth and it may be such cannot give you an Account or sufficient Cause of their travelling abroad so as to satisfie you For that is lawful in the sight of God which you may not judge to be so for God's Wayes are not man's wayes neither are his Thoughts as man's thoughts Therefore I say unto you If you cause any such of the Servants of the Lord to suffer by that Law you abuse your power and subvert the Law for such are not Vagabonds nor idle dissolute Persons nor Rogues nor sturdy Beggars no more than Christ was who had no where to lay his head and the Prophets and Apostles were some of which had no certain dwelling place but left
thereof and in this same Spirit is the Father alone worshipped and by it God is known and his Promise is fulfilled it witnessing in all things unto the Father and is the Earnest of the Inheritance which fadeth not away and by it know we the deep things of God which the World by wisdom knoweth not and thereby are we seal'd and bound up in Covenant with the Father This is known to you that are Children of the Light and hereof you have the Witness in your selves and of God you are approved and not of men And all ye my Brethren who are call'd into the Work and Ministry of the Gospel unto whom the Word of the Lord is come and the Gospel of Christ to you committed Dwell in the Life of God and feel his Power and Authority and live in the same Life of which you minister to others that you may bring People to God and may effectually turn them from the dominion of sin unto the Dominion of Christ Jesus People may be guided out of Darkness in the marvellous Light Cry aloud spare not proclaim the Mighty Day of the Lord in all the Earth and fear ye not neither be ye dismay'd at the Face of any man but be bold and valiant for the Truth upon Earth and give your Testimony as you have receiv'd from God and preach Christ Jesus the Light of the World unto all People that they may receive him and be converted and live For Blindness and Darkness hath cover'd the whole Earth and all have gone astray from the Lord as Sheep without a Shepherd Therefore awake ye them that sleep and cause the Deaf to hear and the Dead to rise that such as have been stray'd may be gather'd for this is the fulness of time he is now seeking his Sheep that have been lost and bringing them Home that have been stray'd and you as Instruments in the Lord's Hand hath he chosen into this Work Therefore get on the Strength of the Lord and preach the Gospel of Peace even the Power of God that Sinners may be converted and the Wounded healed and the Weak may be strengthned and they that are ready to dye may be restored to Life and Salvation This is the Work of the Lord whereunto you are called therefore all who unto it are called be faithful unto the end and not only by word but by Life and Conversation also hold forth the Way of Life For you must feel that in your selves of which you minister to others and you must hold forth the Life the same which you minister in words and thereby shall you be made manifest to that of God in all People and God's Testimony shall answer for you And see that in all things you divide God's Word aright not crying Peace to the Wicked nor healing up the Wound falsly but that true Judgment in all things may be brought forth by you to all people Judgment to the Fat and Bread to the Hungry they that are Naked must be clothed and they that are falsly covered must be made bare Improve the Gift which God hath given you to him only and not unto your selves Be not hasty to utter words before the Lord but wait for Power from on High that the Way of God unto Salvation may be faithfully and truly held forth by you unto all people And faint not though your Burdens and Tryals be many but bare all things patiently love not your lives unto death that the good Work of the Lord may be accomplished which he hath begun by us and made prosperous and powerful in our hands unto this very day you have the Witness of this Our Cause is good we seek Truth and Righteousness that it may be established in the Earth and people may be brought unto God unto this God hath called us and hath owned us in it and will never forsake us for the Work is his and the Power is his and whatsoever he will he bringeth to pass and therefore why should we doubt or be weary For we shall see the Travel of our Souls the Scattered shall be gathered and a Remnant of the Seed shall be brought in which is scatter'd in every Nation as dry Bones unable to live How shall we hide that Treasure which God hath given us from them that perish for want thereof Or How shall we rest satisfied till the scatter'd Sheep be brought Home to the Fold Our Hearts are troubled to see so many Thousands walking in thick Darkness and to see the Seed of Israel devoured by the Destroyer Therefore my Brethren let us put on strength the Lord is with us let us make War in Righteousness for the Lord against all the Powers of Darkness let us continually be armed to do and to suffer all things for the Name of the Lord that People may be instructed in the right Way we know no man can have power over us but what is given them from above and all that which comes to pass against us is not worthy to be compared with the Crown of Glory and that Inheritance of which we have already received the earnest and sealed with the spirit of Promise and the Fathers Name is written upon us therefore in all things unto which he hath called you be faithful and obedient that his Work may be accomplished And all ye Children and Babes in Christ that are begotten of God and are thirsting and seeking after him in Truth and Righteousness he whom ye seek is coming to raign amongst you and his Dominion shall be set up and enlarged and the desire of your Hearts shall be fulfilled Righteousness and Truth shall meet in one and Judgment and Mercy shall be exalted Wait upon the Lord and feel his Power and his Presence continually that you may grow as Plants of Righteousness and may partake of the Heir-ship with Christ being crucified to the World and become dead to all its Wayes and no more you to live but Christ to live in you through the Light which he hath lightned you withall hath he given you an entrance into the Inheritance of the Father And as you walk in the Light you grow into Fellowship with the Father and with the Son Abiding in the Son you cannot sin for he keeps you from the wicked One and he hath no power over you that abide in Christ who is the Power of God which is the Salvation of all that believe and a Condemnation of all that believe not therefore all you that are convinced everywhere hearken to the Voice of the Lord that your Souls may live and mind the Power of God and the workings thereof in your Hearts which conquereth Hell and Death and subdueth all the Powers and Wayes thereof and every one be obedient to the Lord as Children of one Father that of his fulness you may receive and be filled therewith and meet together in every Place and as the Day approacheth exhort one another that you may grow up in Unity as
meant not Ours by enjoyment but Ours 〈…〉 the Prophet speaks when 〈…〉 Righteousness that Christ works in us by his Spirit and the Power of his 〈◊〉 is Ours by enjoyment in the second Adam as the Gift of God to us but 〈…〉 in the first Adam in the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈…〉 and that was the strength of my Query where that Righteousness 〈…〉 us by the Spirit and Strength of Christ and not in our own is called our â—â—â—â—teousness ours as in the first Adam But I see thou hast not understood 〈…〉 of my Query for weakness of Understanding and then how should 〈◊〉 rightly answer it Also I Queried How Christ working Righteousness in us by the Power of 〈◊〉 not by our own strength can be called the Righteousness of the Law 〈…〉 Now I meant the Righteousness of the Law in the Flesh and not 〈◊〉 Spirit I know the working of Christ 〈◊〉 in us to will and 〈◊〉 do by 〈…〉 and Strength and power of Grace is the fulfilling the Righteouâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the Law 〈◊〉 Christ in us but it is not the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈…〉 But to this thou hast not answered 〈…〉 conceiving and not the innocency of my Queries And whereas he stumbles and is offended because I said No 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 in any word or work but what they are led unto by the Spirit and those Words 〈◊〉 the Spirit leads unto 〈…〉 no other words or works And from 〈◊〉 would falsly 〈…〉 Iâ—â—â—ification by Works and by something 〈…〉 I say No 〈…〉 shall no Flesh living be justified 〈…〉 that moveth and leadeth 〈…〉 and Works of Truth and Righteousâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Words and Works which he is 〈…〉 and this is not 〈…〉 Apostle's words which he seem◠〈…〉 against me 〈…〉 While we were sinners Christ dyed for us 〈…〉 justified by his Blood â—… This is not 〈◊〉 what I say for we do 〈◊〉 the Blood of Iesus to justifie but yet not 〈◊〉 are not cleansed by it and 〈◊〉 by the Spirit into all Truth but it is 〈◊〉 are justified only who are led into all Truth by his Spirit such are 〈◊〉 by his Blood in the Spirit and 〈◊〉 from Wâ—â—â—â— who are born of the 〈◊〉 Word but they 〈…〉 are not justified nor saved â—… Then he Querieth Whether I 〈◊〉 Pardon of Sin out of Doors 〈◊〉 I answer No for they that are 〈◊〉 into all Truth by the Spirit 〈…〉 are pardoned and forgiven and 〈◊〉 no more but blotted 〈…〉 cannot be read for they are â—leased from it and commit noâ— sin Then he asketh Whether 〈…〉 Causes of Iustification the one â—… Reâ— I say 〈…〉 and the Work of Righteousness is in God 〈◊〉 free Love and Mâ—â—â—â— which is ovâ—◠〈…〉 Works and they receive the 〈◊〉 of it and the Gift of it that are led by the Spirit as the Effect thereof 〈◊〉 none else Though he asketh Whether Forgiveness of Sin hath its rice from 〈◊〉 Christ worketh in us or from what Christ hath done and suffered for us I say 〈◊〉 soever Christ hath done and suffered with 〈…〉 while man hath not receâ—â—â—â— Christ nor the Work of Christ in him but remains in the first Adam in Traâ—â—gression the true Work and Ground of Iustification he knows not nor 〈◊〉 not neither knows the Mediator-ship between God and him Then 〈◊〉 the conclusion of this matter P.T. saith 〈◊〉 for to â—â—ow E.B. 〈◊〉 the Truth are not so 〈…〉 forsake 〈◊〉 c. Rep. Hold Friend come back again What 〈◊〉 thou proved yet any thing against me save that I hold the Tâ—â—â—â— Thou hast 〈◊〉 a Coâ—â—â—â—sion too soon without sound Evidence and thou 〈◊〉 not be Iudge in thy own Cause neither hast thou prov'd me and the Truth to disagree 〈…〉 may judge It appears thou art the man that seemest to be Righteous in thy own eye 〈◊〉 none falsly herein for who can clear themselves from the Guilt of it of that Generation if any I condemn them not but can P. T. do it ask his Neighbours Hath not he sums of Money by the Year Tythes or other Wages for preaching try him a little give him nothing for a Year or two and then if he preach to you and never complain for want of Wages and Money then I 〈◊〉 believe he is clear and then he may better boast than he can now And as for 〈◊〉 vers of that function in that Country they have casâ— men into Prison where they yet lie and taken suit of them at Law and taken their Goods because some could not for Conscience sake give you Hire and Tythes and Money and 〈◊〉 â—hese free or guilty of my Charge let the Lord judge and all his Saints He saith He doth not plead for all who go under the name of Ministers in England he fears there is many of them no better then Wolves in Sâ—â—ep's Clothing â—â—c Then why doth he not come out and cry against them but remain â—â—â—â—â—gst them 〈◊〉 their Practice For wherein can he clear himself of anyone thing which they are guilty of which he confesses are Wolves in Sheep's Clothing Was not his Call the same 〈◊〉 theirs â—â—d is not his Practice in Ministry and Maintenance genâ—rally the same with theirs If he hath ought to say to clear himself we will answer further 〈◊〉 otherâ—ise all men shall Judge That while he accuseth some of England's Ministers to be VVolves in Sheep's Clothing himself is found also guilty except I say he can make appear a perfect difference between â—his Call Practice and Maintenance and theirs which he is never able to do or to justifie that he is not of the same nature and by the same spirit but contrary to theirs that he accuses and 〈◊〉 to be â—â—lves in Shâ—â—â—â— Clothing and I have as much groâ—â—â— to suspect him to be one of the Wolves in Sheeps Clothing as he has ground to suspect his own Companions and 〈◊〉 to be such And in that he saith 〈◊〉 of the Quakers have been found guilty of Blasphemy and that some of them are found vain light Personâ— or â—eady and high-minded Rep. He doth here secretly charge and prove nothing for Blasphemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come out of and have deny'd all lightness after the Flesh and High-mi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if any such come among us they are deny'd and are not of us till 〈◊〉 be converted to God and turned from all evil But this his secret charge against others is but that himself may seem clâ—â— Then he asks Are all guilty of preaching for Hire and divining for 〈◊〉 and â—â—ds me Not condemn the Generation of the Righteous and then â—â—nfesses 〈◊〉 take that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which they have given by Persons and justifies it and saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Preaching for Hire c. pag. 19. of his last Râ—p All that I 〈◊〉 to be guilty are so for I charge not the 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 the Country People ask them how many of their Teachers are 〈◊〉 and have not Money
the Day of your Visitation Edward Burroughs This was delivered to them in the Fifth Moneth 1659. TO THE PARLIAMENT Of the Common-Wealth OF ENGLAND The present Authority of these Nations Assembled at WESTMINSTER A Presentation by a faithful Friend to the Nations in the Name and by the Spirit of Jesus Christ King of Righteonsness and Peace That you may take off Oppression and free the People from all their Cruel Bonds that have been imposed upon their Bodies Estates and Consciences in the dayes of the Reign of Antichrist that Truth Justice and Righteousness may come nigh unto us and the Kingdom of the Son of God set up among us that you and we may at last be free Subjects of Christs ' Kingdom where Righteousness Truth and Peace may run down and be established in the Earth for evermore FRIEND IT is acknowledged that the Lord God who rules over all in the Kingdoms of Men hath done Great and Honourable Things by you and with the Face of your Authority in your dayes and since your first appearing on the Throne Mighty Things have been brought to pass in our Nations by the Hand of the Lord insomuch that many Mountains have been abased and many sturdy Oaks have been cut down and many cruel Laws have been made void and even the Way of the Lord and the Way of the coming of his Kingdom hath seemed to be prepared For the kingdom of Antichrist and the Beast and the Whore the false Church hath in many things received a mortal Wound in this Nation and there hath been divers times the fair Blossoms of the Glorious Appearance of Truth Righteousness and Peace and there have been many fair Promises and Pretences made by many of you like as if the Kingdom of Jesus had been at our Door ready to have entred our Nations whereby many good Hopes we have had to have been made a perfect free People ere this day from the Chains of Antichrist and the Whore the' false Church and from every Branch thereof and that we might have sitten together in Peace and Unity and in Freedom from all the Opressions of our Enemies But Alas alas This Glorious Work of Reformation hath bin interrupted before our eye and the precious Buds and good Appearance of Glorious Fruits have been withered and blasted in our sight so that our good Hopes have perished and our Freedom hath been intercepted through the Evil-dealing of many unfaithful men so that Antichrist's kingdom hath not been utterly rooted out nor the oppressive Laws of the Whore the false Church wholy broken down but the rather have seemed to be revived again and the Kingdom of the Son of God hath been warred against and Truth Righteousness and just Judgment hath been kept out of the Throne and the Lamb and his Army and Followers have been opposed by open and secret Rebellion so that though there hath been appearances of good Things now and then yet ever and anon Clouds and Darkness have overshaddowed the Nations again and the good Hopes of Faithful People have been driven backwards and Reformation stopped and your own Vows Promises and Pretences have remained unfulfilled and we are yet an Oppressed People and the Cause of this hath been from some unfaithful men that have neglected the good Work of the Lord once intrusted with them and have sought themselves and their own Honours and Interests and have sitten down at Ease and Rest in the Flesh glorying in the Spoil of their Enemies and thereby have they become unfaithful and unprofitable in carrying on the Lord's Work for some have been of a sincere Mind for a season and made a good Progress towards the attaining a Kingdom of Righteousness and the removing of all Oppressions yet when they have begun to seek themselves in this World and to take unto themselves the Honours and Titles and possessions of their Enemies whom the Lord cast out before them and so have become guilty of their Enemies Sins then they have been choaked and the good Work of the Lord by them could not prosper but it hath fallen in their hands even because of their Apostacy whom the Lord hath removed in his Wrath which to you all may be Examples that ye follow not their steps For for these Causes I tell you hath the True Reformation been turned backward and the Work of the Lord remained unfinished insomuch that Oppression Injustice and Tyranny yet remains upon the People and Ten Thousand lie groaning under the Yoak and Bondage of Antichrist and of the Whore the false Church in Persons Estates and Consciences and are ready to depart out of all good Hope and Confidence That they shall never see through you the finishing of that long since begun good Work of Perfect Reformation and Freedom from all Oppressions And amongst the many Great Oppressions and Cruel Burdens yet remaining in our Nation there is at this day one particular Oppression abounding under which Thousands of the free People of the Lord of these Nations lie unjustly suffering in their Bodies Estates and Consciâ—nces to wit This way of forced Maintenance of the Ministry by Tythes and Money and Yearly Stipends which many are violently forced to pay through Oppression and contrary to Equity and because hereof is God not well-pleased with you but his Wrath is kindled already for the Cry of the Unjustly Afflicted under this one Oppression hath entred into his Ear and he will be avenged speedily even because of the Oppression of his People in this very particular who cannot out of a Good Conscience pay Tythes or Money or any other thing contrary to Equity to the maintaining of this Ministry and these Ministers which they receive no benefit by neither are under their Ministry And forasmuch as this way of maintaining Ministers and Ministry by Force is wholy Antichristian and of the Whore the false Church and never was in the true Churches of Christ in the Apostles dayes neither did ever Christ or his Apostles give Institution or Example for such way of Maintenance to Christ's Ministers but being that this way of forced Maintenance by Tythes and Money and Yearly-Stipends is come up long since the Apostles dayes and is the very Institution of the false Church of Rome and was first practized by her Authority in our Nation and by the same Spirit at this day this Oppression remaineth amongst us and likewise it is wholy unreasonable That one sort of people should be compelled to maintain anothers Ministers whom they do not hear nor receive their Ministry And also this way of maintenance is one of the greatest Oppressions in our Nation and many Hundreds of my Brethren have suffered great Oppression thereby some the loss of Estates and many the loss of their Liberties some the loss of their Lives also insomuch that this Oppression is fully ripe to be cut down and removed out of our Land Wherefore it lies upon me from the Lord to request it of you and to
Separation from GOD being in the State of Enmity against Him till the Lord Jesus Christ the good Shepherd of ISRAEL found you out in the Estate of Darkness and brought you Home from your strayed Condition even unto the Sense and Feeling of his Power and Spirit in you which called you out of the Wayes of Sin and Death and also changed you and regenerated you into the Inheritance of a better Kingdom and Glory than that which is of this World And ye now know Christ Jesus to be your Shepherd his Spirit to teach you his Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification to dwell in you being Partakers of the same through the Eternal LIGHT which once shined in Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it but now it is risen in much Glory and Power and Death and darkness is swallowed up of Life and Light and the Fruits thereof subdued These things are True and Faithful unto many let all such Rejoyce and be Glad in the Lord who have thus seen his Day and tasted of his Power and are Witnesses That the Kingdom is come which never fadeth away 2. Consider what the Tender Dealings of God towards you and his Gentle Leadings have been since he hath called you out of your formeâ— strayed Estate Hath not his Light shined upon your Tabernacles with much Clearness perswading your Hearts fully of his WAY and TRUTH Have not your Hearts often been Refreshed and Souls truly Comforted by the Refreshing Presence of the Lord Hath not the Way of Life been made so clear unto you and the way of your Peace so perfectly discovered that no Occasion hath been left of Unbelief or Stumbling unto the Upright in Heart Surely the Lord hath not been wanting to you in any of these things but he hath so reached Home by his Word and Spirit to your Hearts and Consciences with such full Convictions and perswasions in the Wayes of Salvation that no sincere Heart can doubt or waver concerning the Things pertaining to his Soul's Peace and Comfort 〈◊〉 For so Large and Evident hath God's Testimony been unto you even since he first called you by his Grace that no Man having Sense and Experience thereof but must bear witness That the Lord hath been Good Long Suffering full of Mercy and Righteousness towards all that feareth him I am perswaded ye know these things and that the Taste and Vertue of the Lord's Mercies and Power remaineth stedfest in your Remembrance and Enjoyment even his Mercies and Loving-kindness that have been made manifest to you since ye have known the Lord who hath â—â—d you by the Hand as a Father doth his Children and carried you in his Arms of Preservation and born you on his shoulders in all your Afflictions insomuch that through his Power and Wisdom only we are yet alive and the Adversary hath not prevailed against us though his Attempts have often been great to Destroy us 3. Consider what iâ— now your present state and standing How is it with your inward Man In what Life and Strength and Dominion is he Is he â—â—â—ong over all the Corruptible or is he Weak under Corruption Is he in â—â—e growth of a Perfect Man of the Stature of Christ Jesus Is he so begotten and born in you that Life hath swallowed up Death Hath he Victory over the Grave And doth he Raign in you even the New Man the Spiritual Man the Immortal Man Christ iâ— you Is he come in Power and Dominion to dwell with you Deâ—rly â—â—loved mind each particuâ—… in what state you are and what is your present standing to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye had Faith in God and Love to God and Boldness for God And are ye firâ—ly continued therein Or Is any such Weakened and Decreased in these things Is your Love grown cold and your Zeal lost and your Confidence decayed If it be thus with any their present state is not â—â—ght before the Lord but they must Repent and return to their first Love and return again to the Witness of the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 in them that their Strength may be renewed for they only that dwell with the Lord in Faithfulness and abide in Covenant with him 〈◊〉 see his Glory and be fed daily with the Bread that comes down from Heaven and refreâ—… with the Fountain of endless Mercies if so be ye be perfect with the Lord after your inward Man Strong and Lively and Zealous Faithful and constant having a clean Heart and a pure Conscience guiltless and undefiled before God this is to be perfect with the Lord and if ye are thus blessed are you if ye be encreased daily in the Love and Life of the Father if your inward Man grow in the Wisdom and Power and Knowledge of the Creator if ye receive the assurance of Eternal Life in your selves if this be your present State Oh happy People Who is like unto you because ye are saved of the Lord 4. What is the present work of God in your own hearts Ye must alwayes feel the Word of God abiding in you even the Word in the heart hear that Word and do it alwayes and your souls shall live by the Word of God that Word beats down whatsoever tempts and draws from God which would defile you and load your Consciences and vex the Spirit for if any obey the Temptations they become darkned unbelief enters and the fruits of it grows and then there is a falling from the Lord and a departing from his way of Salvation therefore mind the Power and Spirit of Christ in you and be constant and faithful therein that you may be Preserved unto the finishing of the WORK of the Lord in you that at last ye may sit down in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus in places of Peace and Comfort and Assurance for ever where the Lord is enjoyed all in all which you must wait for to be accomplished in you according to the promise and you must witâ—â—â—s the work of Christ in you he must work in you by his Spirit Regeneration Reconâ—…on Sanctification Justification and all good things 〈◊〉 it is not sufficient to profess that Christ in his Person hath 〈◊〉 the works of God but every one in particular must witness at thâ—â— day the work of the Spirit of Christ in his own heart even the Work of Reconciliation and Salvation that ye may in each mans particular receive the Knowledge and Experience of the Lords Work of his Love and Life and Salvation and Redemption in particular for though never so large Testimonies in general should be given to you or received by you concerning Christ Jesus and his Salvation yet the particular feeling of 〈◊〉 Love and Power of the Lord God in your own hearts must you staâ—â— by in the Day oâ— Tryal for that alone can uphold in the Day of Trouâ—… even the Testimony of the Spirit of Christ unto Salvation felt in each particular heart And seeing the Lord hath brought you to the knowledge
since under the Gospel did and do look to be justified by without any other works Answ. Here again thou art replying thy former sottish queries which rises out of thy dark mind concerning the Body of Jesus as the Devil did about the Body of Moses let thy mouth be stopt here for the Body of Jesus thou knowest not nor what it consists on and the offering of it up thou knowst nothing of but what thou knowest and hearest by the outward Letter that it was offered up at Ierusalem and the sacrifice for sin thou knowest not and thou art none of the Saints neither under the Law nor under the Gospel but are without in the world in the Broad-Way blind leading the Blind into the Ditch and for thee the Body of Christ is no saisfaction And thou Reprobate what hast thou to do to talk of believing for that is the condition of the Saints they do believe and are justified and their works thou knowest not thou disobedient one upon whom God will render vengeance in flaming fire 9. Quer. Whether there be not another righteousness by which the Saints are justified in the sight of God than that which Christ works in them and by them Answ. There thou accursed art made manifest who preacheth another Gospel and wouldst have another righteousness than that of Christ here thou Beast to whom the Plagues of God is due and upon whom his wrath must be accomplished here thou hast made thy self manifest thou who wouldst have another righteousness than the Righteousness of Christ which he works in the Saints and by them and so thou wouldst be justified and live in thy sin but thou art shut out from God for ever and we witness justification by faith and the just shall live by his Faith 10 Quer. Whether doth sanctification or justification in order antecede holiness of life or justification by faith go before or whether doth not God love man ere man loved God Answ. Here thou dark blind Hypocrite hast shut thy self out from the knowledge of God in any measure oh that People should ever be so blind as to look for to learn any thing at such a one as thee but sin and filthiness and what hast thou been teaching them all this while that neither knowst Sanctification nor Justification yet but art querying whether goes before let all people judge if thou art not a Teacher of Laciviousness Sin and Uncleanness and how darst thou mention a holy life or justification by Faith and knowst neither Justification nor Sanctification And thee man which art Cain God doth not love nor accept thee nor thy Sacrifice and for Justification by Faith thou knowst nothing of it which we own and witness and thou who art in envy dost not love God 11. Quer. Whether the Iustice of God be not fully satisfied for all the Sins of the Elect ere Christ appeareth to their Souls or Holiness appeareth in their Lives Answ. Here thou full of all subtilty art comprehended and with the Light of Christ thou art seen and with the Life judged and condemned who wouldeâ—t lay sin to the charge of the Elect when the Scripture faith Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who shall condemn The Soul that sinneth shall dye Thou Sorcerer Doth the Elect of God sin Shall the Elect dye To that in thy Conscience I speak 12. Quer. Whether the holy Lives or holy Works of the Saints be not excluded from the Act of Iustification from the Guilt of Sin Answ. Thou dead Beast hast made it manifest that thou art a Stranger from the Life of God and is excluded from the holy Life of the Saints and their Works who art querying whether this be not excluded from Justification Oh that ever thou shouldest open thy mouth or take upon thee to speak of the Scripture Doth not the Apostle say 1 Pet. 1. 18. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain Conversation but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot who verily was ordained before the Foundation of the World was but was manifest in these last times for you who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead Now let all people read this Chapter and try thee who knowest nothing of Jesus Christ but as thou hast heard of him that he was crucified at Ierusalem and so thou art unredeemed from thy vain conversation and so art not justified before God nor never shall be but those that can witness Redemption by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ as all the Saints of God do are justified and by the same that they are justified thou art condemned into the Lake for ever 13 Quer. Whether is that righteousness which is wrought by the Saints every way answerable to the justice of God Answ. There again thy blindness is made manifest is there any righteousness but that of Jesus Christ and is not that every way answerable to the justice of God but such polluted filthy Beasts as thou wouldst have another righteousness as thou speakst plainly in thy ninth query but all thy righteousness we deny and the righteousness of Jesus Christ we own and witness whose righteousness shall be revealed upon thee in flames of fire 14 Quer. Whether none be accounted righteous in Gods sight in whom there is any corruption or failing or who do not fulfill the Law and answer every demand of justice Answ. Here thou polluted beast hast made it manifest what thou hast been driving at all this while in thy queries which is that thou wouldst have corruption and filthiness to be accounted righteous in Gods sight that so thou mightst lye and wallow in thy sins and filthiness but Iohn saith that he that commits sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinned from the beginning and for this purpose the Son of God was made manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil and thou man of sin wouldst have it to stand but those that loves God keeps his Commandements and they are not grievous and God doth not accept any where there is any failing or who do not fulfil the Law and answer every demand of justice and he doth reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished 1 Pet. 2. 9. and chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and there thou art 15 Quer. Whether a soul be justified before God by the non-imputation of sin and the imputation of the righteousness of the Person of Christ to his Faith or by a righteousness wrought by Christ in the Person justified or to be justified Answ. Here stop thy mouth thou Sorcerer which art gathering up here a heap of confusion which is fit for nothing but to be turned with thee into the bottomless pit from whence it comes wherein thou talkest of imputation and non-imputation and
to 〈◊〉 in them that so they do not need any man to teach them but People 〈◊〉 ever learning so long as they live and never able to come to the knowledge of 〈◊〉 Truth and People are not profited at all And in this thing they disagree 〈◊〉 shew another spirit then the Apostles were guided by even the spirit of 〈◊〉 christ 15. Again the Ministers of Christ were low poor meek sober humble men 〈◊〉 as did not exalt themselves nor maintain themselves in Pride and Fulness by 〈◊〉 ceiving of poor Peoples labours But the Teachers of this Age are Proud 〈◊〉 Heady High-minded Self-willed and Exalted spirits living in Idleness Pâ—… and Fulness and receive of the Labours of poor People And herein they 〈◊〉 gree for the Apostles were often in Cold Hunger and great Sufferings and 〈◊〉 plexities but these are as fed Horses the Proudest of all people and the 〈◊〉 Covetous of any men and all men must Bow to them and call them Maâ—… which is quite contrary to Christs Command And thus they shew another 〈◊〉 then what the Ministers of Christ were guided by and if another spirit it 〈◊〉 needs be the spirit of the Devil for either the Spirit of Christ leads men 〈◊〉 spirit of the Devil And now seeing that the Teachers of this Age bring forth fruits contrary to 〈◊〉 Ministers of Christ it shews that they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ cause in their Calling in their Ministry in their Maintenance in their Life 〈◊〉 Conversation and in their Doctrine they are not the same but quite contrary the Apostles and Ministers of Christ What can we conclude of them We have 〈◊〉 cluded already that such are Deceivers whose works are of another nature 〈◊〉 who are guided by another spirit then the Ministers of Christ were for Câ—… saith Every Tree is known by its Fruits and this is sufficient what I have said 〈◊〉 if need require it may further be made to appear in the sight of the whole Woâ—… and sufficiently proved that they differ in all these things mentioned and many more and are not one with the Apostles neither in Call nor Practice 〈◊〉 Maintenance nor in Doctrine nor in Conversation nor any other thing 〈◊〉 do disagree and are quite contrary so as it is concluded these are not the Miâ—…sters of Christ though they profess themselves to be so because they bring forth fruits quite contrary to the Spirit of Jesus which the Spirit of Jesus did and doth reprove And seeing they are not guided by the Spirit of Jesus because their fruits are contrary to it then must they needs be guided by the spirit of Antichrist and so are the Ministers of Antichrist and do his works by his spirit And further I shall shew wherein they do agree with the false Prophets and false Apostles and wherein they are like unto them in their Ministry and Practice and Doctrine and Conversation and if the Marks of Deceivers fall upon them in the sight of all people why should they not bear it And if the same works be proved to be acted by them which the false Prophets and Deceivers acted then why should â—t be thought a thing incredible among men that these are Deceivers 1. First the false Prophets run and were not sent and they did not profit the people at all for they stood not in the Counsel of God and so they turned not any from their iniquity bâ—t rather strengthened the Hands of the Evil-doers so that none could turn from their wickeâ—…ess and they spoke a Vision of their own hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord and they said still to the wicked The Lord hath said ye shall have Peace and to every one that walked after the Imaginations of his own heart they cryed No Evil shall come upon him and the Priests and the Prophets were prophane as you may read Ier. 23. And this is a fit parallel for the Teachers of this Generation they can shew no Call from God nor by his Spirit neither are People profited by them as experience doth shew and teach through this Nation and they do cry Peace to the wicked and count all Christians and followers of Christ that are but sprinkled when they are Infants though they live in wickedness and from them as from the Prophets of Israel is prophaneness gone forth into many Nations and a wicked example of evil these give to all Nations neither do these speak from the Mouth of the Lord but a Vision of their own heart and what old Authours say and at the best but what the Saints of the Lord said before them and this is no more as done by them then â—â—eâ—ling of the Prophets words or the word from their Neighbour Again you may read how the false Prophets used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it when tâ—â— Lâ—rd â—â—th never spoken to them but only what they had stole from others who were the Prophets of the Lord and this is a fit example to the Teachers of this Age and a trâ—e pâ—rallel between them for these dare not own that ever they heard the voice of the lord immediately nor that they spoke from the mouth of the Lord immedâ—…ly but use their Tongues and say The Lord said so by such a Prophet when 〈◊〉 themselves have not received the Word from the Lord and the Lord was 〈◊〉 â—…ch who prophesied Lyes as did the false Prophets of Israel as the Teachers of â—â—is Age do as it is manifest and the Lord is against them And herein do they agree and concur with the false Prophets in their Call and are in concord wiâ—h the Deceivers of old 2. Again the false Prophets and blind Watch-men of Israel they were ignorant 〈◊〉 they were greedy dumb Dogs that never could have enough and they looked to their own 〈◊〉 and every one sought for his gain from their Quarter and they were drinkers of Wine 〈◊〉 strong Drink and boasted that tomorrow should be as this day Isa. 56. And this is 〈◊〉 â—it parallel with the Teachers of this Age for they are blind Watch-men and do not discover to People the wickedness of their wayes and no less can be said of tâ—â—m then that they are greedy dumb Dogs for they all look to their own way and every one of them hath a Quarter a TOWN or a PARISH from which they seek their Gain and some of them are Lovers of Wine and strong Drink as daily experiences witness And herein the Teachers of this Generatiâ—…n â—…e proved to succeed the false Prophets in the same works and shew they are 〈◊〉 by the same spirit because they so fitly agree and concur in their works and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plain to all men that are but reasonable much more to them that are spiriâ—… 3. Again the Deceivers such as were false Prophets Preached for Hire and 〈◊〉 for Money and yet leaned upon the Lord and said Is not the Lord among us And tâ—…e
give in the World unto the World Fear God and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgements is come and this is the everlasting Gospel of Salvation he that can receive it let him CHAP. XIII Concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures this testimony I give unto all the World THE Word of God was in the beginning before any Creatures were made and by it all things stand and remain unto this day and the Word endures for ever and by it all things in Heaven and in Earth are brought to pass which God doth and it is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without end and the Word is powerful dividing and discerning all things even the secret thoughts of every mans heart it is as a two edged sword and as a fire and like a hammer to cut up to burn and to beat down the Word of the Lord reconciles man again to him and this Word is in the mouth and in the heart and the Servants of the Lord handled tasted saw and felt the Word of Life and from it spoke forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost through the eternal Spirit and it is an Declaration of the Word of Life which was in the beginning and endures for ever and it declares what the Saints received believed and enjoyed and none can understand it without the same Spirit that gave it forth and to such who have the same Spirit the Scripture is profitable the Word of God which was in the beginning and which endures for ever is not the Scripture which was not in the beginning neither can it endure for ever but the Scripture testifies of that Word that Word witnesses to the Scripture and they are not contrary one to the other but gives witness each of other but many hath the Scripture that hath not the Word neither knows it but they that have the Word cannot but own the Scriptures and this is the Truth as it is in Jesus Testified to all the World by us who doth deny them that hereof gives any other testimony CHAP. XIV Concerning the Devil and Damnation this Testimony I give to all People THere is a Devil which is out of the Truth who abode not in the Truth but is a Lyar from the beginning and the father of all evil doing and the author of all unrighteousness and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word and action he is the enmity against God and against all good and by his power subverts creatures and things to another end than wherefore they were created even to the dishonour of the Creator he is the god of this World the prince of darkness and he rules King in all the childern of the first Adâ—â— who are in evil he was the cause of the first transgression and is the cause of disobedience to God to this day in all people who are led by him moving aâ—â— them to Envy Wrath Pride Whoredom Drunkenness Theft and Murther and all the works of darkness sin and death he is the Fountain and Root of 〈◊〉 these and the Leader and Ruler in the exercise of them and of every evil woâ—â— and work whatsoever which are contrary to God he abode not in the Trâ—â—â— and he hath led all mankind out of Truth into all deceit and unrighteousness and into every evil way and he dwells in darkness inhabits in thick darkness and is out of the Light and is separate from the Presence of God for ever boâ—â—â— in chains of darkness and ignorance and unbelief and he hath power in the earthly part of man and a law in the members and he possesses him that is born of the flesh his covenant is with him who is not born of the Seed of God who cannot sin such are in covenant with God renewed into his Image but such as are not hath the Divil power in to captivate and lead their minds into vanity and their affections and desires into all that which is evil by which the Spirit of God the Creator of all things is grieved and his soul vexed and all murther and deceitful works of the World and all whatsoever is contrary to God iâ— words thoughts or actions is of the Devil that wicked one and from him and all that follow his movings and worketh evil thereby they serve him aâ—â— obey him he is their god and their King and they are his people and hiâ— subjects he is their father and they are his children he is their root and they are his off-spring and brings forth fruit unto him and serves 〈◊〉 worships him and not the true God that made all things and all such 〈◊〉 be cast into utter darkness with him and shall have their portion with him in 〈◊〉 bottomless pit of darkness for ever and ever where there is no end of woe anâ— sorrow and misery for in the anger of God there the worm diâ—â— not 〈◊〉 the fire is not quenched and out of that there is on redemption for the â—â—clean and all such who are led of him who is out of the Truth and in evil are judged and condemned and damned by him who is the Truth who judgeth righteously and as he hath not ceased to work evil and to draw the children of men into evil for he continually tempteth to lead from God into Rebellion against him And they that are led by him are destroyed and he shall not cease sorrow wo and misery for ever as he hath not ceased to work evil he liveth and moveth in the anger of God his beginning was in it and all his works are in it and it shall be the reward of him and all that obey him in the separation from Gods everlasting Presence for ever and ever CHAP. XV. Concerning all creatures that God made this Testimony I give unto all the World ALL creatures that God made in their creation and beginning was very good in his sight that made them and unto man that was to use them and no Creature was evil or defiled in its Creation but mankind transgressing against his Maker he become evil and did evil in the sight of the Lord and he being possessed with evil and corrupted he makes all Creatures evil in his exercise of them corrups them and perverts them to another end than wherefore they were created and by the Creatures dishonours the Creator â—…o should have honoured him by them and they are become a curse unto man and not a blessing though in themselves are neither cursed nor evil nor defiled but is become so unto man because of his transgression and disobedience for he being in the curse and defiled all things are so unto him and in his exercise of them he is wicked abusing them upon the lust to satisfie his devillish mind and ruling over them in oppression and cruelty and hard heartedness and not in the Wisdom of God as he ought and he subverts them out from their pure vertue
hope of Salvation and his Shepheard to feed him and perserve him at all times though he may be tempted yet he is not overcome for God is his strength though he may be tryed yet he is not forsaken of the Lord though he may be cast into the Fire it is not to consume him for the Lord is with him all things he receives as from the Hand of God and all Creatures he enjoyes in the Covenant with God and Peace is in all his ways for it is the Lord that works in him both to will and to do of his own Good Pleasure and this is the state of the new man brought forth in Conversion which is a turning of the Creature from the power of Satan which rules in every man before Conversion to the Power of God which is the Ruler of every man that is truly converted and this is the Truth as it is in Jesus which I have received from God he that can receive it let him and if any have an Ear let him Hear what the Spirit saith this Conversion of the Creature is wrought by the Spirit of God through the Ministry sent of him and even for this cause have we received the Ministry of God through the Holy Ghost that we might publish these things abroad that all people may come to the knowledge of them and may taste and handle and feel of the same Word of Life in themselves which will reveal the Knowledge of these things to them that they may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son And now be it known to all the World and to all people in it that the Lord hath raised up a People and brought forth a Seed to bear witness of his Name and of his Dominion and Power in all the Earth and of these Truths with many more which are but one in Christ Jesus hath God given us the perfect Knowledge of even wrought them in us and revealed them to us by the eternal Spirit and as that same Spirit doth and shall move in us do we and shall we bear witness of these Truths unto all People upon Earth whatsoever both by Doctrine and Conversation holding forth the Testimony unto others which we have received of God that Christ may be exalted and his Kingdom set up in the World And in comparison of this that we may serve God in our Generation by bearing witness of these things which we have heard and seen nothing of this World our Liberty our Life not any other thing whatsoever is dear unto us yea even for this cause that the Name of the Lord may be testified of do we give up our selves continually to suffer all manner of evil in words or works and we love not our lives unto death that Truth and Righteousness may be exalted and this is the cause wherefore we pass through many Dangers on every hand and are in perils often and we are not nor cannot be afraid of the face of any man even that the Lord alone may be exalted whose name and Honour and Truth is more dear unto us than any other thing and for it have we forsaken all and counted it as nothing in comparison of the Knowledge of Christ and his Truth herein declared and witnessed to the whole World to whom it shall come and the Light of Christ in every one shall give testimony to it unto which I do onely commend my self and these truths to be witnessed And know ye assuredly that God who is just and righteous in all his Ways it is he that setteth the Way of Life and the way of Death before every man and he hath appeared in this Generation and he hath caused his voyce to be heard in the Earth and he hath set the way of Death and the Way of Life before you and all that perish it is through unbelief and because they do despise the Way which God hath prepared who hath prepared a Way for life and Salvation unto 〈◊〉 People that all may come to Life and Salvation and may not perish and he hath not shut out any Creature before he was brought forth into the World but giveth to every one that cometh into the World a Day of Visitation and a time 〈◊〉 Repentance and Returning that healing may be received from the Lord wâ—â— is the Restorer of lost man and there is not another so that if man perish 〈◊〉 is of himself and not of God who hath so loved Mankind that he hath giveâ— his Son his own Wisdom and his Power into the World that all that doth receive him Christ Jesus may have everlasting Life and they that receive him not they perish because of unbelief whereby they are hardened for destruction and unto such our Gospel the Gospel of God is hid whose Eye iâ— blinded by the God of this World that they cannot see the things which be eternal nor believe in him from whence Life comes and such are stumbling at Chriâ—â— the Foundation and therefore shall be broken and must not inherit the Kingdom of God and unto such though they be wise in the Kingdom 〈◊〉 this World are we become Fools for Christs sake and our Testimony cannot be received by them nor approved of them even them that seek after a Sigâ— and them that seek after Wisdom to such we are not known nor can our Testimony be acceptable to them which is not with enticing words of mans wisdom 〈◊〉 in the demonstration of Gods Spirit and in simplicity of Truth which is of grâ—â—â— Price with the Lord even above knowledg and all wisdom which is of this Worâ—â— which comes to nothing but the Lord will confound that and bring it to nothing for the World by its wisdom doth not know God neither can it receiâ—â— the things of God but is Foolishness in the Sight of God and the wisdom of tâ—â— World Must be offended in him and in the Testimony which is given of him 〈◊〉 the Princes of this World and the Wise men must stumble and fall the poweâ— of the Earth must be offended at him that they may be confounded and brougâ—â— to nought all the Heathen shall rage and the People shall imagine a vain thing But what of all this the Testimony of the Lord is true which he hath given us 〈◊〉 bear of his Name of it we are not ashamed before the face of the whole World and we are armed to suffer for it and not onely to subscribe to the truth of 〈◊〉 with our hand or to declare of it with our Tongue and Pen but also if we 〈◊〉 called to it may seal it with our blood Wherefore this is sent among you all Rulers Teachers and People in all the World this is sent among you as to giâ—â— you the certain knowledge of what we hold and bear witness to which is received of us from God and born witness of to you by his Spirit even those thingâ— with many
judgment backward from the Poor and equity haâ—… found no place to enter but Truth hath fallen in the streets and justice aâ—… mercy have perished from among men and the Poor hath been oppressed aâ—… they that have departed from iniquity have been made a prey to the mouthes 〈◊〉 devouring Lions for some of the Judges have been as ravening Wolves and 〈◊〉 greedy devouring Foxes the Lambs of Christ have been chased by the wicked and his power for their lives O how have the oppressed groaned in this Natioâ— under false judgment to Ages and Generations for ever may it be recordâ—… for a witness against this Generation of cruel hearted men whom the Beast aâ—… false prophet hath raised in his defence and against the Kingdom of Christ Jeâ—… and them that follow him how full have the most part of the prisons in all thâ—… Land been with guiltless Sufferers under cruel bondage with unjust dealings aâ—… false judgments have gone forth from some of your mouthes you that hâ—… been set to judge over the people who should have been a terror to the wicked but have rather strengthened the hands of Evil-doers and been a terror to righteousness so much as is possible the great Whore which sits upon the Beast 〈◊〉 made your Rulers drunk and stagger with envy and hatred and persecution aâ—… works of wickedness against the upright Wo is me for you what have yoâ—… brought sorth even iniquity by Decrees and Injustice by Ordinances aâ—… false Judgment by Laws alas alas your Destruction cometh as an armâ—… man upon you Was ever the like heard or any persident in any Generatiâ—… before you for imprisoning Just men for declaring against sin and the abominations of the times as you have done many and for imprisoning men because they cannot put off their Hats to you and Respect your Persons and 〈◊〉 transgress the Law of God and because they cannot Swear and so break Chrâ—… Command For this you have imprisoned many and caused them to suâ—… because of this may not you fear and tremble before the Lord God aâ—… your faces gather blackness at this when you consider it Did ever any tâ—… were set to judge in the Earth among men so abuse their power and subvert 〈◊〉 so quite to another End than wherefore it was committed to them May 〈◊〉 Shame cover you all to commit men to Prison for the exercise of pure Conscience towards God because they cannot Swear or respect mens Persons or maintain Idol-Shepherds and Idol-temples and Worships which are Abominatioâ— to the Lord and for taking peaceable men out of peaceable Meetings and out of their Travel on the High-ways and first Whipping them and sending them to Prison the example of this which you have done never went before in any Age and therefore have you exceeded in Oppression in Injustice in Cruelty and false Judgment all your Fore-fathers the Pope nor Bishops hardly ever brought forth such things but the Lord will reckon with you and plead the Cause of the Oppressed against all you Oppressors yea and will give unto you a Recompence of Reward according to your works ye that have exalted your selves against the innocent shall be brought down to the dust of misery and the Saints shall reign and rejoyce over you when the Kingdom of Christ Jesus the Lamb shall be set up over you all and your Beastly power dashed to peeces as a Potters Vessel when he whom you have persecuted and his Followers shall rule with a Rod of Iron and break you asunder and this shall surely come to pass therefore consider it ye that thus deal in your anger against the Lord and his chosen for the Lamb shall get the victory over the Beast and over you all that seek to defend him and that strive under his power for they that are with the Lamb are Called and Faithful and Chosen O! therefore be awakened be awakened ye Heads and Judges and Rulers of the People remember and repent the Lords Hand is stretched forth against all Oppressors and his Wrath is kindled against the wicked One and his power to overthrow his dominon which long hath reigned in the Nations and now though he seeks to defend himself against the Lamb and his Followers by injust dealing yet the out-stretched Arm of the Lord shall bring deliverance to his Chosen who have been made Havock upon in their Liberties and in their estates some cruelly suffering in Prison and others by spoiling of their Goods and none of these for Evil-doing but upon false Suspitions and envious Jealousies and secret Surmisings without any ground of occosion given but by Wickedness have many of you sought occasion to make Offenders by laying Snares for the Feet of the Harmless and Innocent you have made men Offenders for a word and perverted innocent words and actions that you might make to your self a ground to persecute and have sought a Cloak to cover your Cruelty in the sight of men but naked and bare are your hearts made manifest in the Sight of the Lord who hath looked down from Heaven and considered these things and hath regarded the unjust sufferings of his people whose Liberties and estates and good names have been spoiled through injustice by grievous burthens laid upon some because they could not pay Tythes that hainous oppression to satisfie the unmercifullness of cruel men and many suffers at this day unjustly in the sight of God and illegally also in the sight of men and some suffer the spoiling of their goods rather by way of robbery and theft than by just execution of judgment in proceeding of just Law this can largely be witnessed and this is brought forth by subservant Officers to you that are set to judge and you to them are evil examples and strengtheners of their malicious hands some of them are not ashamed to take six times the value of what is unjustly claimed for the use of a false Teacher and deceitful Hireling who rides upon the Beast and make you their servants to oppress the Poor to uphold them and maintain them in their pride and vanities but the Lord hath considered these things and he hath numbred the oppressions against you wherewith the just have been grieved and oppressed under you he hath counted this cruelty and recorded all your unjust dealing which you have or suffered to be brought forth yea the day of account hastens and the tearm draws near upon you wherein the just and righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth will call you to account who will plead the cause of the Poor and of the unjust sufferer and oppressed against all you Oppressors for the cry of the Innocent against you and the begging of the Poor is heard which calls for vengeance upon you In the Record of justice what account will you give to the Highest-power who rules over Heaven and Earth for imprisoning just men for crying against sin and declaring against the wickedness of this Age this shall be proved against you
and so thy words I judge and cannot receive good from an evil Spirit Then thou comes on falling on thy own foul ignorance again and wouldst fain clear thy self but by thy stirring thy own wickedness herein thou makes it cast an odious sight to all that pass by we may follow thee a little seeing thou art not yet weary and fain wouldst thou make it appear that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and sayst it was in Gods account but to this I have spoken and largely shewed thy blindness to all men and adds this upon thy head thou art a Lyar and Perverter of Scripture to say That the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was And further thou art a Lyer to say That God accounts a thing for Truth which is a Lye a sad error and wicked And further thou art a Lyar to say that I corrupt thy woods for I had not laid open thy nakedness so fully if thou hadst not persisted in thy blindness as now I am forced to do but enough of this and more then ever thou canst clear thy self of honestly and yet to cover thy own shame charges me falsly with folly to speak evil of things I know not or else with madness c. Reply Friend be not so confident I know the difference betwixt before and since or from and know that God accounts not a Lye for Truth as thou holds out thy own folly and madness behold who commits iniquity in lying on the Scripture and on God and on me and yet persists after a sober reproof and resists the Reprover with opprobrious words let confusion of face cover thy impudent forehead while I forgive thee and seeks not vengeance against thee then through thy mistake of my words thou hast falsly gathered a subject to oppose and fights with thy own understanding mightily and thinkst thou confoundst me and its thy self for however thou understands my words either for want of wit or otherwise it never entred into my thoughts with charging thee to believe that Christ is a tipe only I charge thee that thou saidst so of others So that I think this is a mistake in thee for want of knowledge to understand my rehersal of thy words being transcribed as the shortest not to fill volumes and through thy own misunderstanding of my laying down the words thou heavily yet vainly charges me with corrupting thy words which God is my witness I have not done though thou be guilty herein But further I deal plainly and slanders not in secret as thou dost we do not look on Christ to be but a shadow and tipe if thou affirm I shall answer further and as to that thou sayst I say Jesus is the substance to that answer I stand though thou sayst Thou doubts I do not spâ—… plainly c. Reply As I have said I seek not a proof of my faith of thee nor any man not do I beg thy belief while I am approved in the sight of God herein I matter not what a lying spirit doubts of me so that what vain Arguments or Queries thou raises from thy own false doubt I pass by being by the present thing branching out in things on the by if I should examine every particular I might fill a vollume And whereas thou hast answered my question which is did Christ put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth he justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law be finished In thy Answer thou sayst Christ did put an end to the Law for Righteousness for all that the Father hath given him This is little to the Question I say that Transgressors of the Law are not Christs but Children of Disobedience and Children of Wrath and such God hath not given to Christ who are his Enemies nor Christ to them is not given but to condemn them is that estate and thou sayst there are many given to Christ who yet lives is their sins the Apostle Iohn saith he that sins is of the Devil and hath 〈◊〉 known God and such as are of the Devil are not Christs and in that I saâ—… doth Christ justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law 〈◊〉 finished and not one tittle of the Law shall fail till all be fulfilled thou hast 〈◊〉 reached the understanding of my words for while disobedience stands and the Transgressor lives the work of the Law is not finished nor fulfilled but to that is Condemnation and not Justification if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear for he that transgresseth the Law is an Enemy to Christ and Christ fulfills not the Law for his Enemies they must bear their own burthen and though this thou cannot understand now yet in the day of Judgement shalt thou feel it and when the burthen of thy own Inquity is upon thee then shalt thou confess to what I have said and read me in what now thou canst not understand and in the mean time I deny that Christ hath put an end to the Law for thee who art a Lyar and breaks one and so is guilty of all Many of thy words might be weighed and searched but I am no picâ—… of quarrels but to my last Query thou sayst little to the purpose which is what assurance have any that the Law is fulfilled for them who 〈◊〉 yet Transgressors of it in themselves but sayst Assurance comes thâ—… believing and obedience to the Law is a fruit of believing c. Saying 〈◊〉 one that hath the hope of the Son of God purifies himself as he Christ 〈◊〉 pure Reply Then he that hath not the fruit viz. obedience to the Law 〈◊〉 may judge by the fruit or for want of fruit is no Believer and he that is 〈◊〉 purifyed as he is pure Christ hath not the hope of being the Son of God but is without hope now see where thou art who yet breaks the Law and 〈◊〉 without thy own noted fruit of believing neither is purifyed as he is pure and so is without hope this is according to thy own affirmation if thâ—… canst not bear it blame thy self for laying down such a position as hath proâ—… thy self to beâ—an Unbeliever and without hope and so without God in the World one that is for condemnation and to be judged in the state where now thou standst And whereas thou sayst I would lay assurance on obedience to the Law thou lyest in this also my words are the Law must be fulfilled in you by Christ in Judgement and in Righteousness if ever you receive Salvation and these words are true against all thy opposition neither do I affirm that by the deeds of the Law any flesh living shall be justified but the contrary though thou wouldst falsly yet secretly cast it upon me and wickedly callst this my forthy argument where I said the Law convinceth and is a School-master to bring to Christ c. But the
leading into all Truth and preserving out of all Transgression Wherefore I beseech you all let this be your whole desire and the full practice in your life and then shall the Countenance of the Lord shine upon you and his Face shall make you glad if in all things you look unto him for Counsel and wait upon the teaching of his Spirit which dwelleth in you which the Father hath given unto you because you are his Children and this he requireth from you that his own Spirit in you which hath begotten you may be the root and moving cause of all your works and words and herein will you receive acceptance with him and Peace from him and righteousness in him and everlasting joy by him continually and and this is the Inheritance unto which you were begotten Heirs to possess for ever wherefore let your love unity and felloship be in the Spirit and let your Knowledge Judgment Meeting and Waiting be in the Spirit and let your ministring and receiving be in the Power of God and in the Spirit and so shall you never suffer loss nor condemnation but all your works shall abide the Fire and shall not be consumed when the tryal of all things come and the Foundation of every work is discovered And I say again if the Spirit of Life even the Spirit which quickens to God the second Adam who is the quicking Spirit be your Guide your Leader and Teacher in all things then you shall have perfect Peace with God and your Fellowship will be encreased and his Presence shall go before you and his Righteousness shall be your Justification and Desence and his Covenant of Life and Peace shall be confirm'd unto you and there shall be no more going forth but the Tabernacle of God shall remain with you alwayes and his Habitation shall be in you forever and the Promise of the Father shall be sealed unto you and his Mark and express Image written in your Fore-heads and that quickning shall live in you and not you unto your selves and hereby shall all know that he is your God who liveth in you in Power and Dominion and that you are his People who liveth unto him in Truth and Righteousness and this is the Covenant and the Promise to be waited for by you all that you may be married to the Lord in Righteousness and Loving-kindness and your Maker may be your Husband and you subjected under his Power to rule over you and to govern you in the Way of Peace And now dearly Beloved mind that Word of God which hath begotten you from Death to Life and to be Heirs of his Inheritance of Life and feel the Word which is quick and powerfull dwell in your hearts alwayes dividing in you betwixt the precious and the vile and as a Hammer and a Fire alwayes beating down and burning up that ground and fruit which is in the disobedience from which the cause of Condemnation doth spring and so shall you be saved from every appearance of evil shall not be overcome thereby nor led captive at the will of the Enemy but shall be saved from Sin and the Wages thereof and no condemnation shall be unto you if your hearts be kept clean and undefiled by the Word of God which is pure and sanctifieth and is but one in all his Children and it begetteth unto one Life and to be of one Mind and Soul and by it only dwelling in the Heart is the encrease of God received though by the ministring of it one may Plant and another may Water yet it is my Father that gives the encrease who is greater then all unto whom the Ends of the Earth must look for Salvation and unto him must you all look for to pertake of encrease of his hidden Treasure daily that you may be refreshed as the Heritage which he hath chosen and may grow therein as Plants planted by his own right Hand growing from strength to strength in him and renewing your strength in him and may not fain nor be weary And forasmuch as mighty hath been the Power and Presence of the Lord amongst you and his Love great unto you and caused his voice to be heard when you were Dead to raise you unto Life and many of you have had the taste and feeling thereof who have seen the Way of Life before your face that you should walk therein and live I do warn you all in the Name and by the Spirit of the Lord therein to continue unto the end having your Faith established in the Power of God and your building standing on that true Foundation which can never be moved nor shaken but that perfect victory over Death and the Grave and the powers of Darkness may be trodden down through the obedience of the Cross whereby victory is obtained over all the World and the Affections and Lusts thereof condemned but such as goeth from the Cross perceiveth not the Power of God neither can overcome but are overcome of the Enemy and shipwrack is made of Faith Truth and a good Conscience and the latter end of such is worse then their beginning for the Lord is dishonoured and their condemnation will be great Wherefore my Friends be watchfull and be armed with the strength of Christ Jesus and feel his strength in you to resist the wicked One that he may not touch you to betray you of your Life and Peace and bring you into condemnation for I am not ignorant of the many temptations which are near unto you in that place Wherefore I say again feel the Strength and Arm of God reaching to you by which you may do all things and dwell in his Life and Power and that ye may overcome by the Word of God and by the Testimony of Jesus and then will your Peace be encreased and your Fellowship with God and Angels shall minister unto you as you overcome the Enemy which would subvert your minds from the obedience to the Truth and then your rest in God will be sweet unto you as you dwell where nothing can make afraid Sin and Transgression being removed far from you not having a place in you but the Life reigning which Satan hath nothing in and this is the freedom of the Sons of God who are redeemed unto him to live in him who being dead to sin cannot live any longer therein but are washed and separated from all the works of Death Death having lost his sting it cannot hurt nor wound you and the Grave having lost its victory it cannot overcome you who do witness this for Transgression is hid and Iniquity is put under and Life it self reigns through Righteousness over all and here the Seed is brought forth in which there is no Iniquity seen nor Transgression charged against it for it sins not but rules over the Sinner and fulfils the righteous Law of God and doth his Will in all things and for this you must all wait to feel God's Promise perfectly fulfill'd in
unless saith he I have more then an ordinary Art of hiding my self c. To which I answer Iesuites I deny and all of that Fraternity and whatsoever savours of Popery yet am I hidden from people and what I am he knows not neither the World for from that Wisdom am I hid neither can I manifest my self to that Wisdom that is devilish and knows not God nor the least of his Sons and Servants for in all those things of which we then discoursed the depth thereof could hardly be spoken of because of the darkness of peoples understandings And especially concerning Justification I was very sparing and could hardly freely declare my self yet what I spoke was a great satisfaction to many then present though the one half that I spoke is not truely related though so much as is related shall stand a sufficient Witness for me and against them that oppose me and that my words and meanings were honest This was the thing charged upon me That no man was further justified then he was sanctified Now my intent and meaning in this was honest and as about this Particular much was spoken which now I do not recollect to repeat onely P. T. hath hinted in short at things how they passed and my words shall be for ever witnessed That Sanctification is a Witness of Iustification and no man can further know himself to be justified then he is sanctified nor justified then he is restored And had P. T. but laid down my full answers as I spoke them at that Dispute there would have been no need to have written any thing in answer onely I do remember I did stand to manifest that the New Birth Sanctification and Justification were all agreeing in one and not one without another and that Christ wrought Righteousness perfectly without us and also fulfilled Righteousness in all that believe and no man is justified by the one of these without the other and that hath not the other and they hold the contrary and R. G. did publickly affirm that a man was justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the work of Sanctification which I denyed and must always deny that any man who is not born again but is in the old nature and not sanctified but is in the Pollutions of the World is justified by Christ's Righteousness neither can he in that State till he be born again and Sanctified have any benefit or manifestation of Justification by Christ and this all men shall witness though because of this I now may be falsly judged And though R. G. did openly testifie that Christ justified Sinners as Sinners yet say I all that are justified are justified through Faith and Faith doth purifie the Heart as was largely spoken by divers of us at that Meeting which is not particularly related which definition of our Justification they could not except against for we never were nor are ashamed to declare what we hold concerning Justification which is through Faith in the Blood of Christ the Seed of the Covenant and though at that time they made much jangling yet to no purpose as to convince us of any Error or any sober men there present of any Error in us as concerning that thing And whereas it is related as if I should say We are men brought up at Plow-tayle and understand not Schollar-like terms my words were not thus spoken but upon the occasion of their speaking words which is not in Scripture Language as inherent Righteousness or the like Whereupon I desired them to keep to the Form of sound words and of Scripture Language that people might understand what they spoke for said I ye are Schollars as you profess and some of us were brought up at Plow or Cart and may be do not understand Schollar-like terms though I did not mean all of us and what some of us do understand as to that I shall not now speak yet this I say the least of us do understand betwixt Truth and Error and betwixt that which is Righteous and that which is Unrighteous and in that is more peace then in the knowledge of Arts or Tongues and our knowledge in that is as Dung and Dross in comparison of the other And as to Justification upon which Subject we contended a long time though they foolishly charged us with it we do deny utterly the works of man and the works of man's righteousness as in relation to our Justification and that it is only and wholly by the Grace and Gift of God and the Righteousness of Christ who is revealed in all that believe in him by which Justification comes yet say we That Faith without works is dead and will not justifie a man but by that Faith which brings forth works even the works of God in us and through us by that Faith are we justified and according to the Apostle's words so we believe not by works of Righteousness which we have done nor by a dead Faith without Works but by a living Faith which worketh in us are we justified let vain men deduct what they may this is truth in the sight of the Lord and all men These indeed are the Particulars upon which the Controversie depended and having been some hours together they were willing to depart and R. G. would give little hearing to me when I charged him with something uttered by him at divers times in my hearing which I should have proved to be unsound Doctrine and Error had he had that patience to have stayed and whereas P. T. doth speak of having a Pope in our Bellies with such like scornful words which a discreet man would not have defiled his Mouth withal but that he must shew himself to be of that Generation of Priests who persecuted the Innocent in every Age and for his telling of our Error and recovering of our feet out of the Snare and delivering us from the Delusion its true his words stand but upon a supposition and that supposition stands upon the Report of others as he seems to intimate which is but a thing far off true credit for what Error and Snares and Delusion did P. T. convince us of in five hours discourse not any at all but the rather was forced to confess to the most part of what we delivered then what need was there to utter these his words in writing as if he had heard some great Matter of Delusion or Error but all these his words I do bear and if he hath harboured such thoughts of us as it appears too much by his words let him cleanse his Heart by Repentance lest his intended evil bruise his own head And whereas he hath commented upon a Book called A Standard lifted up which Book I own and that which is therein written and himself is forced to own what himself objects against and comments upon If saith he E. B. means so and so then his words are truth but if so and so then it is Pope-like or such like Alas
strange and horrid Opinions which they have audaciously invented c. Answ. It is no strange thing that Truth be called Heresie and Error and that it be branded with a Name of strange and horrid Opinions and such like but we do acknowledge that in that Way which is called Heresie do we worship the True and Living God and wo will be unto them that put Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light But when these particular Things and their Answers are truâ—ly read and weighed then let spiritual Men judge for this Author must not be Judge in his own Cause whose judgement is corrupted and his wayes Abomination And it hath been the Work of that Generation of those called Ministers I mean for these seven years to cry out to the Magistrates and to send one Paper after another of this nature to them but what hath it advantaged them for hath not the Lord turned their Wisdom backward and even the Way which they have thought to destroy the Heritage of the Lord the Lord hereby hath made his Heritage more glorious and so theâ— have striven against the Lord and altogether in vain and their doings shall they eat the fruit of and receive the reward of their own Work And whereas the Author further saith Such as have saving work in their Souls and that kâ—â—w God and Christ c. cannot but bless God for keeping them from the great Blackâ—â—ss and Darkness that hath invaded the Souls of these deluded Wretches Answ. They that know the saving Work in their souls and that know God and Christ in Truth and Righteousness and that call upon him with an upright Heart we are all one with them and they with us And they alone that walk in the Light that Christ hath enlightned them withall are kept from the Darkness that doth invade the Deluded and as for thy envious reflection 〈◊〉 yâ—â—r deluded Wretches and such like these words are to thy self for they have no entrance into our Dwellings the Lord hath saved us by his right Hand and we bear them as his Reproaches for Righteousness sake And whereas thou sayest It is very sad that after so much preaching of the Gospel so many should take those things for new Lights which are but antiquated Errors c. Answ. It is very sad indeed that the Ministers of this Nation should have so fair a Profession upon them and should put the Nation to so much charge by giving them Tythâ—s and Stipends and Money and have spoiled peoples Goods and cast their Bodies into Prisons even of many hundreds that would not pay them And yet the Nation should be left in Darkness and like an untilled Wilderness notwithstanding all the Profession of preaching the Gospel for the Nation hath been like an untilled Field and like People like Priâ—â—â— like Shepherd like Sheep as it is especially amongst them where Shepheâ—â—s and the Sheep are risen in Rebellion against the Nation and have joyned with 〈◊〉 old Caveliers But this shews that your preaching hath been for Enâ—â— to your selves and for Money and that you have been Ministers of the Letter and not of the Spirit nor of the Power of God for had you been in the Life and Preachers of the true Gospel the Nations had been as a Garden at this day and not like an unploughed Field as we see they are people abounding in Ungodliness and in all Pride and Vanity which is a shame to Christianity Now People and Ministers have made a shew of the Gospel but have been without the Power in the Form of godliness and have had the Form but resisted the Power And indeed the Ignorance of the People will lie upon their Ministers who have been crying Peace to them that have walked after the Imaginations of their own Hearts and have not turned the Wicked from his wicked Way and the Scriptures are fulfilled upon them They have run but God hath not sent them therefore the People have not at all been profited by them But the Light of the Glorious Gospel is risen in mens Hearts aâ—d your Folly and Vanity is discovered and that makes you rage and swell as a foaming Sea now when your shame is seen you are casting out Slanders and Reproaches thinking thereby to seduâ—e the Minds of people thinking alwayes to keep the Magistrates on your side and to ride upon them and that they will establish you in Freedom and destroy them that are against you but the Lord is opening their Eyes to behold your Deceit and Madness and you will be left unto your selves and fall into the Pit that you have digged for others And whereas this Author doth further compare this poor People which he in scorn calls Quakers with several pestilent Hereticks as he calls them that have disturbed the Church and saith he They agree with the Adamites and Pharisees and Sadduces and with the Mannâ—chies with the Jews Turks Servebus and with the Soscinians and many more which he names and saith we agree with them and 〈◊〉 is to render us odious and as abominable as he câ—â— to mâ—n in Authority To all which I do answer What we do profess and practise for Religion we have not been learnt by Man nor been taught it by Men not our Gospel noâ— Religion but we have received it from the Lord and of him are we taught and by the Spirit led into all Truth and though thou hast done as the Pharisees did they reckoned Christ with Transgressors and crucified him betwixt two Thieves so though thou hast compared us with such and such whom thou callest Hereticks and it is possible many of them might be so And so thou hast shewed the spirit of the Pharisees and of the Murderers that denyed Christ and we are known unto the Lord what we are though not unto mortal Mans wisdom that perisheth And to whom shall we more truly compare the Ministers of England Are they not like those which Isaiah cryed against That sought for their Gain from their Quarter that were Greedy Dumb Doggs and like them that Ieremiah cryed against that said Thus saith the Lord when the Lord had never spoken to them nor sent them and are not you all like them that Micah cryed against chap. 3. That preached for Hire and divined for Money and that prepared War against those that would not put into their Mouthes as you do at this day and are not you like them that Ezekiel cryed against that made a Prey upon the Flock and made Merchandize of Souls and fed themselves with the Fat and did not feed the Flock but ruled over them with Force and Cruelty and are not you like those that Christ cryed wo against That were called of men Master that went in long Robes and loved Greeting in the Markets and uppermost Râ—oms at Feasts for you act those things that Christ cryed Wo against the Pharisees who did the same things and are not you like them that Paul spoke of That were
single Eye be watchful that all things in good Order may be kept amongst you that the Name of the Lord may be a Renown and his Truth kept without Blemish and your Authority in the Truth may be known a Terror upon the Wicked My dear Friends whom I judge to be Honest and Faithful this was I moved to write to you as the dear Remembrance of my dear Love and I do from the Lord commit it to you to fulfil the will of God in these things and the Lord bless you all with Wisdom and Counsel and with Power and Strength and the Lord give you Authority that you may reign with all them that come amongst you in the Name of the Lord and over all them that come in their own name The Lord bless you with a perfect Understanding in these things and my Spirit even the Spirit of the Father be upon you all to teach you perfectly in all things My Love and Life is amongst you who desires nothing more then the Prosperity of the Lord's Truth amongst you The Grace of God be with you all Amen This is to be read amongst you when you are met together whom the Lord hath set to order things in his Wisdom and this is to all the Faithful amongst you Kingstone 1659. E. B. To the Churches in New-England Barbadoes and other Islands TO the Seed of God and to all that are called of him and unto all you that are hungering and thirsting after the Lord in Truth and Righteousness in New-England Barbadoes Mevis and the rest of the Islands where the Lord hath a People to gather the Father's Love through me doth slaute you all whose Faces are set towards Sion abundantly desiring for you in the Spirit of the Father that Grace Mercy and Truth from God may richly abound amongst you and in all your Hearts that at his coming who hath given to every one of you a Measure of his Treasure he may receive his own from you with encrease that you also may enter into the Reward which is Eternal Life unto all that are called and are found faithful Wherefore arise and awake all ye that have been scattered and strayed from the Lord and come forth thou oppressed Seed of Israel out of the Darkness and Bondage and Oppression with which thou hast been loaded for many Ages whilst a long Night of Darkness and Blindness hath been over thee I say Awake and come forth for now thy Light is risen and the Glory of the Father shall rest upon thee and thy Bonds shall be broken and thy Oppression shall cease for thy King shall Reign in Righteousness over all his Enemies and they shall become his Foot-stool and his Dominion shall be enlarged to the utmost parts of the Earth Dearly Beloved be assured of this That the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is doing great things his Day-spring from on High hath visited us and his Light hath shined into our Tabernacle and his Arm hath taken hold of Strength to Redeem the Oppressed People and he hath reached forth to us from his holy Habitation out of his Everlasting Loving-kindness and hath caused us to reach forth to others from his own Life revealed in us that they may know what God hath done for his People and may also receive of the same Salvation and may taste handle and feel of the Life which is manifest of which we are Witnesses and the Lord hath spoken who can but declare and he hath lifted up his Standard to gather the Nations that he may search and seek out his Sheep and this I declare unto you and withal am willing to discover and make manifest the Way and Means whereby the Lord doth bring â—â—â—vation to his People and love constrains me knowing the Lord hath a Seed amongst you unto which my Testimony will be acceptable wherefore all people turn ye turn ye for the Lord calleth unto you harken unto his Testimony which speaketh in you even the Light of Chriâ—â— Jesus with which every one of 〈◊〉 are enlightened and search your Hearts and feel what the Lord witnesseth unto you and what his Testimony in you giveth evidence of for who walks in Pride in Wickedness in Vanity and in the Pleasures of the World and acteth against God's Witness in their Consciences such are in a State to be condemned of the Lord because they act that and speak that which is reproved with the Light shewing that they are in a State unreconciled to God their Works shewing them to be evil Trees that cumber the Ground who are to be hewen down and cast into the Fire and therefore be not deceived in your selves neither let any man deceive you with a Profession or Conceit of a Justification by Christ while yet Iniquity and Transgression and the Evil of the World are lived in and not wholly denyed for to the Wicked there is no Peace from God but the Wicked are condemned by him and the Light in their own Consciences is witness against them Therefore all come to the Light which Christ hath lightened you withal which will manifest unto you your own Condition and whether it be justified or condemned of God and believe not against the Light nor hope not against God's Witness for they that do so their Faith and Hope is vain but what the Light testifies in you that believe And all you that may find your selves sinners loaden with Iniquity and that are the Servants of Sin and have no power over Temptations believe in that Light which gives you to see this and wait till the Power of God be made manifest in you to cleanse your Hearts and to judge out all Unrighteousness for Christ hath not taken away your Sins while you daily bring them forth into the World by Action but whose sins he hath taken away them he hath washed and cleansed from their sins and given them power to resist and overcome all Temptations wherefore wait upon the Lord all ye that are afflicted because of your sins the Day of a great Deliverance is approaching and mind the Light which lets you see Sin that is the Gift of God's Love unto you which will draw you from the love of the World and crucifie your Affections and Desires which go after it and if you mind the Light of Christ in you it will judge and condemn every Motion that ariseth in the Heart towards Evil and the Temptation being judged you will not fall into Sin but will be preserved from Sin and that which doth preserve you from the committing of that Sin unto which you are tempted doth blot out and forgive all the Sins that ever you have acted and that will witnes Reconciliation and Peace with God unto you as you come to be changed and renewed in your Hearts and Minds to be created in the second Adam his Image to bear and to follow his Spirit And Friends search your Hearts and let the Lord search you and judge you for him must
been in these Nations for divers years and how he hath proceeded to overthrow and overturn Powers and Authorities Princes and Rulers and made them of no account before him and though the Instruments which God hath used in that matter in plucking down Men and Powers have been as much corrupted as those that have been overturned and whenas the measure of Iniquity in one was filled up the Lord threw that Power down even as it were by the Iniquity of another and because of the Oppressions of Rulers amongst us the Nation hath groaned and been left without a Comforter from any man and could not repose Confidence in its Princes and Rulers and this was that the Nation might look unto the Lord and that through him they might be saved and expect healing from him alone and in all these Overturnings you need not fear but the Hand of the Lord hath been in them and his Arm hath suffered and even brought these things to pass and therefore why should you murmer against God be unsatisfied in what he hath done for it s he alone and not another that must settle a happy and lasting Peace both in Church and State and he that must establish true Religion and reform the Laws and secure our Liberties and preserve our Lives and encourage all Vertue it is the Lord that will do all these things for this Nation and it s not any other in whose Hand the Salvation of a Person or a Nation is and how he shall do this and by what means leave that to the Lord limit him not to or from any thing for if the Nation can be but patient and still he will bring to pass these things in his day and season Wherefore O Nation and City Be still be still and be patient under the Hand of God which is upon you combine not Mischief one against another nor desire the overthrow one of another but be still be still this is the Word of the Lord to you be at quiet in your spirits and wait upon the Lord to receive what he brings forth For O ye Apprentices and Young-Men of London your rude proceedings in these causes will but destroy your selves and your City if you proceed any further for what is a multitude of men but as Bryers and Thornes in battel before the Lord if he purpose a Work you cannot prevent it and if he prevent a Work its vain for you to endeavour it these things are in the Hand of the Lord and Nations are unto him as Clay in the hand of a Potter but now I do not speak as your Enemy for I love your City wish it well Alack neither will I justifie the Army nor the men that you oppose in opposition to you for their ways are corrupted I know and their own Ends they seek and they are for Condemnation some of them and their Iniquities are fully ripe and God will bring them down but yet let you them alone the Lord will deal with them and he can execute his Judgement with his own Hand without you and if you can be but quiet for a little season it will make for your Peace hereafter but if your spirits rage and swell you may work Misery unto your selves and to your City but you cannot redeem it from Misery So do no talk of the Church as if you would Fight to uphold it leave that to the Lord for Christ will look to that to Govern it and Preserve it out of all and from all its Enemies and it belongs not unto you but that which the Lord requires of you is Patience and Submission to his Will and to be still till he appears with Salvation and Deliverance to this City and Nation to deliver them from all Oppression and Oppressors whose Coming is at hand and blessed are all they who are found in Patience at his Coming London the 10th Moneth 1659. TO THE Present Assembly MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER The Consideration of a Servant of the Lord upon the Present State of Affairs presented unto you for to read and consider as Informations unto you concerning present Proceedings in this Nation FRIENDS ALL these Overturnings and almost wonderful Changings that do come to pass in this Nation they are all effected through the Justice of the Lord's Hand and his Hand and Power is in and over all these things and it all Particulars which have happened since your first appearing on the Throne were accompted what hath come to pass but hath been accomplished and suffered to be by the hand of the Lord But particularly of the present state of things and this last Interruption which happened unto you Was it not a just Reproof upon you from the Lord though effected in Ambition and by corrupted Instruments For have you not promised great things unto this Nation in matters of Freedom and Liberty But what have you done Even left this Nation travelling under great and sore Vexations and undelivered from the Bondage of Oppressions though you have had time oftentimes put into your hands wherein you might have done good things for the Lord and for this Nation and Righteousness might have been established amongst you and in the Nation but you neglected many precious dayes and effected not many good things It would be large to instance the particular Oppressions that yet remain almost upon all sorts of people in this Land which might have been removed long ere this day had you bin faithful to God But because from day to day you have been rather careless and served your selves more then the Lord therefore hath he suffered you to be interrupted once and again and reproved by a Generation of men as unfaithful as your selves Well But to pass all this though much may be said you are now again at the stern of Government and on the Throne and I dare not but say it is of and by the Lord and that he hath done it contrary to the expectations of many and what his End is in it remains with him but I am sure one Cause is that you may execute part of his Wrath upon that Treacherous Generation of Hypocritical and Deceitful men some of the Army I mean some of whom have been deceitful to God and treacherous to the Nation and who have been fearful Hypocrites by a shew of Religion more then others and have mocked God as it were and his People I need not say to you how that many of them were raised up from a low Estate and instead of servnig the Nation became their Lords and Oppressors they have abused the Lord's Mercy to them and exalted themselves and became as great Oppressors and as grievous to the Nation as ever they were that went before them and some of them took the very Titles and Estates of their Enemies and followed their evil spirit also though the Lord was Long-suffering to them and gave them a day and put opportunity into their hands wherein they might have done good
Charles Stuart who is Proclaimed King and to all You that are called and known by the Name of Royal-Party and Cavaleirs and who have Suffered in your Cause and for your Principles Friends THe Lord God who is greater than all that doth whatsoever he will hath given you a Day and you are raised up again out of your Suffering State Oh that you would consider the end of it and wherefore the Lord hath done and suffered it to be done and that you would make right use and improvement unto God and this Nation of this your Deliverance and Promotion for certainly there hath been an absolute purpose in the Counsel of the Lord that these things should be thus and his hand hath even suffered it to be accomplished even in a strange and marvellous way through the confounding of your Enemies and giving of them up to the folly of their own hearts in their Councils that they should destroy themselves and bring in you over their heads and make you a Mountain and break down their Mountain and make it as a low Valley and certainly these things are in the Justice of the Lord's hand and it will be well for you if you can consider it and acknowledge it You have been a suffering People it is true for these divers years and Originally your suffering was partly just as from the Lord for there was a great measure of Iniquity and Oppression fulfilled in this Nation on the part of Kings and your Sins were great against God wherefore the Lord was Just in bringing Affliction and Tribulation upon you to humble you and he might justly raise up others to reprove you and to subdue you before them for a season and thus far even because of your Iniquities which were great in the sight of God your Sufferings and Afflictions were Just But as for those that the Lord made use of in the Execution of your Afflictions they are not justified in all what they did towards you but they went beyond in Violence and Cruelty upon you what the Lord called them unto and thereby they brought a great measure of guilt of Injustice and Cruelty upon their own Consciences in proceeding towards you beyond Justice and Equity Though some of them might be more sincere and upright in the beginning of these things when they began to War against you yet it too well appears that many of them soon lost the Just Cause and began to have respect to your Estates and Titles of Honour more than to free the Nation from Oppressions and Vexations though they pretended much thereunto yet so it was that they became fouly corrupted in their way and though they Subdued you yet did they not free the Nation but became Oppressors themselves no less than others before them and they possessed your Riches and Titles yea and in great measure Unjustly and then were exalted in Ambition and Vain-glory and began to strive amongst themselves who should be the greatest and set up this and the other and some cryed one way of Government and others another and they pulled down and set up as they would and cast down and exalted whom they would and thus they continued for some years rowling up and down in Confusion and yet the Nation under very great Oppression and Vexations each one crying his Burden was the greatest while they were exalted in their Pride and Riches and lived at ease not remembring the end wherefore they were first raised nor keeping to sincere Principles but caused them to suffer deeply that were faithful to the Lord and walked with him in sincerity and all this while you were as asleep and not thought upon by them as if ever you should call them to an Account but they thought that their strength was great and their number many and therein they gloried having no true respect unto the Lord and because thereof the Lord justly confounded them in their Counsels when their measure was full and made them weak as Water and you are now justly raised up to reprove and correct them even those that have abused Gods Mercies to them and that have forgotten God and sought to exalt themselves forever and had no respect unto the Lord and his People though these things are not said of them to upbraid them nor to kindle your Fury against them to add Misery upon their Affliction but they have already been told of their Treachery and what would come to pass And Oh that they could now humble themselves before the Lord and confess to the justice of this their Affliction they might yet partake of his Mercy through great Judgments And as for you Oh that you would consider these things and by whose purpose you are restored and from what cause and for what end it is accomplished Oh that you would mind what your Work now is and that you would not exceed your permission for you are raised up for an end and there is a Work for you to do Oh that you could do it with respect unto the Lord it should be the better for you Oh those men that have long sate as Princes in this Nation and pretended and vowed and promised Reformation in Church and State but they have not done it as they ought but as great Oppressions and Injustice as great Superstitions and Idolatries both in Church and State were continued and carried on in their dayes as in dayes before them Oh how abominable have these things been multitude of words might demonstrate but now their Reproof and judgment is come and their Fall is just upon them who should pitty them or mourn for them seeing they have deserved all this and much more which has yet happened unto them as some of them may confess and those things their Treachery Unfaithfulness and Oppressions I mean must needs be avenged one way or another How often hath it been foretold them yea it hath been often said unto them That God would bring them down and destroy their Power they have been told that these things were not right neither could they escape unavenged and it now appears as if the day were come and if you must be their Executioners and must execute the Wrath upon them who shall prevent you or say unto you stay your Hand Or rather who of them that see these things shall not be patient while you take vengeance for the Lords sake and for the sake of his People whom they have long vexed and oppressed Nay who of the Lords People shall not say Let the Lord's Will be done and his Justice executed upon his Enemies If this be your work that you are called to must it not go on till it be finished They have been hard-hearted and Oppressors towards others and by a hard-hearted People may not the Lord justly deal with them and be a Plague unto them in that very manner that they have sinned against him for this is usual with the Lord even to destroy Oppressors by the Wickedness of
others and often he rebukes the Sin of a People by a People as bad as themselves he may justly give unto Men from the Hands of others what they love in their own Hearts and even as those Men have loved Pride and Ambition over others and Oppression and Hard-heartedness towards others even so and much more may justly be done unto them and that according to the Will of the Lord and if this be your Work designed you by the Eternal Hand who shall prevent you But yet Oh that you would consider and that you would have respect unto the Lord lest you out-go the end of your Restoration You would indeed be happy if you could forgive your Enemies if you could reward them Good for their Evil and you would be happy if you could not exceed the measure of your Permission be not too hard-hearted towards them but shew Mercy And Oh you must take heed lest you cause the Righteous to suffer with the Wicked and that you cause not the Innocent to Groan and Mourn in your execution of God's purpose upon the Ungodly you must be aware lest while you punish Offenders you smite not them that are free Oh that you had hearts this to understand and that you could walk in the path of fulfilling God's pleasure and not go further I mean though you may be raised to be a Plague upon Hypocrites and Disobedient and Treacherous men and to avenge God's Cause and his Peoples but you are not raised to be Oppressors of the Lord's People nor to destroy his Heritage this is not your Work God hath not called you to destroy and persecute them that fear his Name and tremble at his Word though you have power to be avenged on your Enemies And Oh that your Hearts could understand this that you might distinguish in your Proceedings between executing of Justice upon Transgressors and Persecution for Conscience sake the one you have to do but the other is forbidden you of the Lord and you ought not to do it for if you persecute any for good Conscience sake or because they are of such and such an Assembly of People and worship in such a Way if you inflict Tribulation upon any because hereof or because they are such or such in their Profession and Religion then you persecute for Conscience sake and you go beyond the End and by the Path for which you were raised and if you turn your Hand and Power to persecute for good Conscience-sake then you divert the End and Purpose of this your Restoration and the Lord will require it of you if that you go beyond his Permission and Assignment and beyond his Pleasure in persecuting his People and so turn your Power to a wrong Use and End O then the Lord shall suddenly confound you and he will find out Instruments that shall fulfil his Wrath and Justice upon you as he hath found you fit to execute Wrath upon others and therefore do not O do not persecute any for Conscience-sake if you have nothing against them but concerning their Faith and Worship and their Religion do not lay your Hand upon them nor let them be touched for if you do the Lord will take it as a heinous Offence against him and in this life or hereafter he will plague you for it and you shall not escape unpunished and therefore I say once more to you as the advice of your Friend Let no Man be persecuted for his Faith and for his Religion-sake but make a difference between inflicting Wrath upon Offenders that have been Hypocritical and Deceitful and that have made themselves rich through the ruins of others and that will bow to any thing or any kind of Worship for their own ends and between such as have a Principle and do stand by it and are humble and acted in the Principles of Sincerity and follow that way of Religion which they suppose and are perswaded is the best and the rightest all such ought to have Liberty under you in their Profession and Faith and Worship and ought not to be persecuted while they live peaceable as men with one another and towards all men and the God of Heaven requires it of you and your Standing or your Fall the Blessing or the Curse unto you depends hereupon and this you shall find to be true unto you in the day of God's Righteous Judgments O therefore be not stout against the Lord but fear and tremble before him let his Dread be upon your Spirits and do not offend him nor provoke him against you and this Nation lest he tear you to pieces and number you for Destruction lest he overturn you suddenly and deface your Glory in its morning Oh how happy would you be if you would regard the Lord and reverence him and take him before you and not go beyond in any thing what his Purpose and Pleasure is who hath given you this one Day to try you if so be that any of you shall learn his Fear and turn from your Iniquities that you may be blessed and not confounded Oh therefore consider what the Will and Purpose of the Lord is towards you and wherefore you are raised up may fulfil his purpose and not your own Oh then this Day should be made happy unto you but the contrary works I mean if you do Oppress and Persecute and seek to destroy his Heritage and rule in Oppression and Tyranny then the God of Heaven shall cut your Day short and deliverance he will bring to this poor Nation without you even contrary to you and his hand shall be turned upon you and your Mountain though never so great and high shall be laid low and an Infant of the heavenly Birth shall leap over it and shall say Where is that lofty Babel that exalted it self against my God And as for us we are a very poor contemned and despised People even since we were a People unto this very day and have nothing at this present not heretofore to glory in from any Power that hath ruled but the Power Spirit and Presence of God in our Tribulations Afflictions Persecutions and unjust Sufferings these things have been our Portion even from all all have troden upon us in Contempt and Scorn and accounted us as Sheep for the slaughter and we have not to glory in any Government that hath been since we were a People we cannot justifie one or another but we say they have all been Oppressors and we have groaned with deep sighs to the Lord under the Burden of their unrighteous Dealing and herein we assent with you if you say they have been unjust Men we say the same and if you say their Government hath been Oppression and Unequal we say the same if you say you have suffered Cruelly and Unrighteously by them we say the same if you say they have Ruled by Will and Force more then by Law and Equity we verifie the same and if you can say you have suffered
the Cause wherefore the Wrath of God may justly come upon the whole Nation it self if these things be not speedily repented of and forsaken And whether the Life and Practise and Subjection of an upright QUAKER so called whose Principle is to obey all just Commands and patiently to suffer under all that which is unjust and that lives in Meekness and Fear and Soberness and Love towards all Men whether or no such Men and such Practises are not more Honourable and Blessed in the sight of God and Men than this kind of Rudeness and Wickedness Singing and Drunkenness Ringing and Swearing and hanging Ribbins and Feathers about themselves and their Horses and many other things which are said to be done in honour to the King and his Government But whether there be not a Principle in your Consciences which doth rather condemn your selves than justifie you for these things and rather justifies a Sober Life and is not that more blessed Quer. 12. Whether or no all that cry you up and your Government do it really and out of good Conscience and from Principles of Sincerity Or whether they are turned to you in Feignedness and Hypocrisie and to save their Heads and Estates which some of them have gotten even such as have been your Enemies and Preached and Prayed and Fought against you and now cry you up and pray for you but whether can you trust that these will be faithful to you that thus deny their former Ways and Religion and Worship And whether thus to deny their Principles their Faith their Religion their former Oaths and Engagements is commendable and Justifiable in the sight of God and you Or whether a Quaker so called that will stand to his Principles and not deny his Faith nor Religion though he suffer for it nor will bow and bend in Hypocrisie under every sort of Men is not more justifiable and condemnable in the sight of God and your Consciences also I say do not they condemn these Hypocrites that have fought against you and prayed against you and yet bow under you with deceitful Hearts in the time of their danger Quer. 13. Whether or no you do not believe and know in your Consciences that the QUAKERS so called are a Sober Innocent and Harmless People and of an upright Conversation dealing justly towards all and such as do not Envy the Persons of any nor Plot and Project Mischief towards you or any And whether if you should proceed to persecute and seek to destroy such a People concerning whom you have such a witness in your Consciences Iustifying them as aforesaid would not be greatly unjust in the Sight of God and the very Cause to provoke God to destroy you and your proceeding if so be that you persecute them for their Conscience-sake while they live Soberly and Uprightly as men and injureth no mans Person or Estate by their Religion Quer. 14. Whether or no you do not believe or may not have just Cause to believe that your present Proceedings are not and may not prove to be the very natural Cause of Outward Visible external Judgements upon you and the Nation even Iudgments of Pestilence and Famine And do not you proceed in the very path hereof Is not your spending the Creation in such Excessive manner in Eating and Drinking and wasting the good Creation after this manner as you do Whether is not this a natural Cause to bring want and Poverty and also oppressing your very bodies with Excessiveness in Drunkenness Inflaming your selves through Excessiveness of Wine and Beer and through the abounding of uncleanness and through excesse and as well Defiling and Oppressing your very Persons as wasting the Creation by so doing Whether this is not a very Natural Cause to bring and beget Pestilence and Famine besides your provoking the Lord through this means as being works in themselves hateful and abominable in his sight and for which Cause he may justly bring Wrath and Judgements even Plague and Famine if there were no other Cause for it And whether you ought not seriously to Consider of this thing and to Turn from these Transgressions which are Natural Causes of great Judgements and also provokes the Lord to hasten and inflict Judgement Oh that the Sober minded among you would lay this to heart Consider these Queries in the Spirit of Soberness for they are worth your regarding and be not high-minded nor wicked in your way least the Lord who hath all Power in his hand meet you and bring you down and destroy your Cause which he can do if you provoke him This was written in the middle of the 3d Moneth called May 1660. E. B. TO THE Friends of Christ IN LONDON DEarly Beloved and much Respected in the Lord who are of the Election before the World began in everlasting Love do I often remember you and your Remembrance is Pretious and Pleasant to me even because the Lord hath chosen you and called you into his marvellous Light and formed you a People for himself to shew forth his Praise and herein I do behold you very often for I have seen you as a few pleasant Plants in a great Forest of fruitless Trees and I have seen you as a speckled Bird among the Birds of the Wilderness and even as a choice Virgin are you among Harlots in that great City even as a few righteous Persons whom the Lords regardeth amongst a Multitude of thousands of ungodly Men thus have I seen you and thus doth the Spirit bring you into my remembrance with earnest desires to the Lord God for you that you may be preserved through all Times and Seasons and over all this World that you may be alwayes unto the Lord as a pleasent Garden bringing forth Fruits of Acceptation unto him wherein his Soul may be delighted Now dear Friends live in the Seed of God and walk in the Faith which overcometh the World and feel your Election in Christ Jesus and grow up into it daily that you may have the Seal of Assurance of Mercy and Peace and Favour with the Lord God and wait that you may receive the Promise of the Father even of the same eternal Life the same Spirit the same Power of the same heavenly Vertue into your Vessels as was in Christ Jesus in whom dwelt the fulness of all things and in us the Fulness is manifest by measure and this is the everlasting Comforter that will abide with you for ever even the Appearance of Christ Jesus in Spirit God with us and the knowledge of him as he was before Abraham and this Life Immortal born in us and this Knowledge revealed to us is everlasting and remains for ever and if ye be gathered up into this to know him and to be in him that was in the beginning then are you builded upon the Rock and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against you neither can the Flood of Death break in upon you And Friends walk in the Love of the Lord
in your own Consciences you are in a condemned condition and you cannot be justified of the Lord while you are accused by the Light within you of such and such sins and that you are guilty of them and sorsake them not for the God of Heaven condemneth and justifieth men according to the Witness of the Light in their own Consciences for it is Gods Evidence to bear witness for God and to accuse or excuse every man in his sight and according to its evidence God justifieth or condemneth all the Children of men III. Again Whosoever will be saved must be born again of the seed of God and must be changed and renewed in Mind and Heart and Spirit and old things must pass away and all things must be made new and a new Nature must live in you and the Image of God must be brought forth which is in Righteousness and true Holiness which is like unto God and this is the new Creation which every one must witness to be wrought in them that ever â—â—â—â—ers into Gods Kingdom For saith Christ Except a man be born again he canâ—â—â— enter into the Kingdom of God for it is not a profession of Religion made with the Lips nor the practises of Duties and Ordinances taken on and performed in the old nature and a holding of truth in unrighteousness this is not the way of Salvation but it is the regenerating and making like unto God being his Image of Justice Truth and Righteousness it is this in which men may be saved everlastingly IV. Again Whosoever will be saved must receive the Spirit of God and it must dwell in them even the Spirit of the Father and they must be taught by it and led into all Truth to do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things even the spirit of Truth must be received to teach and to lead in all the wayes of God it alone must teach and all the Hireling-Teachers of the World must be turned away from by whom peoples souls have been deceived all such as have run and God never sent them that have cryed up Tâ—â—ching and Ministry and through whom people have not received the Spirit of thâ— Father all such Teachers must be denyed their Church and Ministry and the Spirit of the Father must only teach and lead and you must walk in the Spirit and not after the Flesh for if you walk after the Flesh in the wayes and works of it you are in the state of Condemnation and not of Salvation and the Spirit of God doth not teach you but you are out of the New Covenant of God in which Covenant all are taught of the Lord and in Righteousness are they established the Spirit of God is put within them and the Law of God is written in their hearts and they need no man to teach them but as the Spirit teacheth and this is the New Covenant of Peace with God into which all must come to witness this or else they cannot be saved V. Again all that will be saved must be sanctified cleansed and purified from all Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Word of God whereby every Heart must be made clean and every Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lamb and the body of sin and death must be put off and the bondage of Corruption must be broken and Iniquity must be forsaken and turned from and siâ— must be judged in the Flesh and Purity Holiness and Righteousness must live and reign in all that will be saved and Sin and Transgression and the guilt of it must be removed and you must shew forth the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness and must be pure as he is pure in kind and quality and you must walk in Holiness and Righteousness being freed from Corruption and from the Wayes of Sin and Death being sanctified in Body Mind and Spirit by the Word of the Lord and Sin must be blotted out and Transgression must be covered and Iniquity must be remembred no more and in all things you must cease to do evil and learn to do well if ever you will be saved VI. Again whosoever will be saved must witness Christ revealed in yoâ— â—â—d â—e must live in you and you must be Followers of him wheresoever he goâ—s â—â—d your Bodies must be the Temples of the Living God and God must walk 〈◊〉 you and dwell in you according to his Promise and he must be your King your Judge and Law-giver your Teacher Father and Master and he must be 〈◊〉 in all unto you even God the Father who is blessed for ever you must â—â—ow him near you and feel his Presence in you to be your Joy Life and â—eace and you must have fellowship with him in spirit and must worship him 〈◊〉 Spirit and by the Spirit without respect of Dayes Times or Places every one that will be saved must come into this and witness it for this is the way of the Salvation of God VII Again whosoever will be saved must live in the Power of Godlinâ—ss and must deny all Forms of Religion without the Power all Profession of Scriptures Ordinances Church-member-ship Praying and Preaching which is not in the Power of God and by his Spirit must be denyed and that part that holds it that holds the Form of Godliness without the Power must be crucified and every one must come into the Power of the Spirit of God and must witness that to work in them to will and to do and no more professing the Things of God but as they are witnessed by the work of his Spirit in their hearts you must not hold Truth any longer in unrighteousness nor make a profession of it in your your unrighteous minds no more talking of Justification and Redemption nor of any of the matters of Gods Kingdom but according as they are witnessed by the working of the Spirit of God in the heart and every one must feel in himself the evidence and Testimony of the Spirit of God to witness the Truth in his heart or Conscience of what he professeth with his mouth VIII Again Whosoever will be saved must witness the Scriptures of Truth fulfilled in themselves the things that they have read of without them must be wrought within them wrought in their hearts by the same Spirit as gâ—ve forth the Scriptures they must pass through the same conditions as the holy men of God did and the same truth that the Scriptures declare of must be revealed in the heart by the same Spiâ—it that gave forth the Scriptures and none must profess more than they do enjoy from God and all flesh must be silent from speaking of the things of Gods Kingdom which they have not seen handled rasted and felt by the working of the Spirit of God in their Consciences and this is to witness the Scriptures fulfilled when you have experience of the same conditions and of the same operations and manifestations which the Servants of the Lord passed through
suppose impossible things to manifest the truth of our Principle our Principle is not to be insolent tyrannical nor to be Usurpers over God's People to enslave but far the contrary even that Justice Mercy and Truth may sit in the Throne and that Peace and freedom may be held forth unto all that no Usurpers nor Tyrants but Iust Men and men that fear God and hate Covetousness and every evil Way that such alone may sit in Judgment whom God calleth to that Place who will rule in Righteousness and Justice and regard the Cause of the Poor and Needy we would that such onely ruled who were ruled by the Lord who would be a Blessing in the World and to all People not desiring more Liberty to our selves than what we would give unto all others in all just Ways This is our Principle as to matters of outward Authority among men and not as this false Accuser hath suggested out of his evil Heart 6. As to the matter of your suppressing us which your Applauder saith you have been instrumental to do This is as false as the rest for we are no more suppressed than before you exercised your present Authority but are every way in as much liberty of Persons and otherwise as in their dayes before yours and are no way suppressed nor fearful of it So the Author of such Lyes hath but flattered you and fawned upon you in telling you ye have suppressed us whenas its nothing so but and if it had been in your hearts or be at this day to suppress us and to hinder us of our Liberties and to persecute us the Lord shall plead our Cause against you and give no success unto your Work but it shall be turned to our Renown and to your Overthrow and the secret hand of God shall confound you and break your Purposes and deliver his People out of your Mouthes Thus it shall come to pass ifthat your Hand sshould be stretched forth to hurt us who are Gods Heritage and the Sheep of his Fold And thus much in answer to his Epistle Now I come to a second Accusâ—tion of his stated in his first page in these words We may see from whence Anabaptists Quakers Ranters and Levellers all had their Original namely from the Papists c. Answ. 1. As for the Anabaptists Ranters and Levellers I leave them to plead their own Cause and though we are accused with such yet there is much difference in Iudgment and Practice between us and them though I believe they are all further from Popery both in Iudgment and Practice than is this Accuser of them but yet they shall answer for themselves and I shall onely mind the matter I have in hand which is to clear the People of God called Quakers from the Accusations charged falsly against them whom I know to be innocent from these false Accusations 2. That we did arise from the Papists or that they are our Original in Dâ—ctrine Faith or Practice this is utterly false for between us and them is perfect separation and we are of another spirit and divided from them as appears every way even by their persecuting of us for our Testimony bearing against them and their Religion and they have written against us and we against them divers Controversies and they have imprisoned divers of our Friends in their Dominions for giving Testimony against their Wayes by all which it doth appear that we are not of the Papists line nor arisen from them for if we were of Them they would love Us and not persecute Us and that herein we are falsly accused as in other Things And this is an old out-dated Accusation and is of no Account for now we are otherwise known through these Kingdoms and we are manifest to the Consciences of men in the sight of God to be such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways 3. And as for our Original It is the Lord God alone that hath raised us up and planted us a People that were not a People in times past and not from the Apostate Christians neither of Papists nor Protestants so called are we sprung but are of the Apostles Line and of the Stock and Race of the true Christians that believe in Christ and follow him and in every part of our Religion both in Faith and Practice and in Conversation we are agreeing with the holy Apostles being witnessed unto by the Scriptures in all that we profess and Practice and the Lord hath raised us up out of the Apostacy into which all Christendom hath been fallen since the Apostles dayes whilest Antichrist hath reigned over the World and we are as the first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb since the fâ—lling away from the true Faith and Truth and Righteousness is our Original and Christ Jesus it our Foundation on whom we are builded and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against us and this Testinony the Spirit of God giveth for us and in us in contradiction of the false Accusations of all our Enemies 4. And if it be an offence to be risen from the Papists and if all that be evil which they are the Original of then the Protestants so called are in the Offence and their Ministry and the chief part of their Church-Government Worship and Ordinances are evil for did not the Protestants spring from the Papists and did not the Papists institute the Way by which the Protestants Ministers at Schools and Colledges And was it not they that first Instiuted sprinkling of Infants and calling it Baptism into the Faith and into the Church And was it not the Papists that first taught the Protestants to keep holy dayes as Christmass and Candlemass so called and many other particular things relating to the Protestant Church Ministry and Worship were originally ordained and first practiced by the Church of Rome and Papists and so while this false Accuser is charging others himself and the men of his Way are found guilty of the same things and the Papists may justly say to the Protestants that they are false hearted to them in denying of them and their Church when as their Fathers were the Instituters of the principal parts of the Protestants Worship and Ordinances and so they like unnatural Children have denyed their Mother that bred them up and ordained them a way of making Ministers and maintaining them and many other parts of their Religion But because she hath not been the National Interest for these many years therefore the Church of the Protestants have denyed the Church of Rome though originally they rose out from them The next thing in his Book I take notice of is where he seemeth to charge us with boasting that we talk with God and God with us and have Revelations and as if God commanded them to kill all the Wicked and to make a new World a Sect in Saxony saith the Accuser arose that held this and the Quakers now are like them which is as much as
which he would bring upon others Again The Accuser chargeth us That we would neither have King Magistrate 〈◊〉 Ministers but of our selves c. Answ. 1. I have before mentioned what kind of Rulers and Government we would have even such as are just men and men of Truth and Righteousness and that hate Covetousness and every evil Way and such are of us even such we would have to reign as are approved of God who would be a praise to them that do well and a terrour to Evil-doers and that would only rule and reign for the Lord exercising and executing his Righteous Laws by the Spirit of God and such will be blessed in their Authority 2. And till such only rule and bear the Sword of Justice in the Earth we do know Peace and Happiness can never be in the Kingdoms of the World but divisions and confusions will arise and be brought forth for it is the only blessedness of a Government in any Nation when the Authority it self is just â—ad according to God and when such as bear the execution thereof are just Kings Righteous Magistrates and Ministers of Justice that will judge for God and not for man and we seek not the Place of Government in this World nor do we intrude our selves into such Places though this we say while that spirit reigns and rule in the Nations of the Earth which is not of God but contrary to us Peace and Happiness in good Government amongst men through the World can never be though we are truly subject to whatsoever Authority is set over us by doing or suffering Then the Accuser speaks of teaching the Wayes of Righteousness and saith according to this the Quakers have gone through Ireland and he speaks of God's Wrath following for hardness of Heart and this saith he is just like the Quakers Doctrines now Answ. That the Quakers scornfully so called have gone through Ireland and through many other Nations of the Word to teach and preach Truth and Righteousness this is true and without occasion of an evil Charge against them for so doing and the Lord hath prospered us and been with us to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and we have Testimony in the Consciences of many for the truth of our Doctrines and Practices and this is not Error nor Heresie to proclaim the Wrath of God because of the hardness of Peoples Hearts for that is the Portion of all hard-hearted men and we are not ashamed of this Doctrine for it is according to the Scriptures of Truth and but that this Accuser is given up to blindness of mind he would never have mentioned these things against us nor used our Names in reproach in this matter And lastly whereas he saith some of the Quakers say they are Jews and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan and thou chargest Iames Naylor with â—â—ying that he was Christ and that one should say George Fox was Iohn Baptist and such false Prophets and Prophesies we have heard too much of c. Answ. 1 That they say they are Iews and are not are such as have a Name to live but are dead who say and do not but we are not such so this his Charge is false and wicked and of the Synagogue of Satan he doth manifest himself to be by his accusing of the Brethren And as for Iâ—…s Naylor he never said he was Christ through this hath been cast as a foul Reproach upon him by others yet it never was proved against him lawfully noâ— any thing tending thereunto saving that he said Christ was in him as 〈◊〉 iâ— in every Member of his Body according to measure And as for the story of George Fox there are many such lying stories that have gone abroad in these Nations in opposition to the Truth of God made manifest but over all these things Truth â—ath gotten the victory and the Lord's Work must prosper in the Earth and all Lyâ—rs must be confounded and have their Portion in the Lake And this iâ— our Portion from the World as Christ said They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name sake but great shall be your Reward in Heaven And this is for a Testimony against them that our Enemies are of the Devil and for a Testimony to us that we are of God And thus I have returned our Defence before you against his several Lyes and Slanders and it s left to the Witness of God in your Consciences to be Judge in this Case between us and him and if you be cloathed with the Spirit of moderation and meekness and will judge according to Equity I doubt not but the Cause is clear against our Adversary who wrongfully and to a wicked and evil intent hath hatched Mischief against us and brought it forth before you and we desire nothing of Revenge towards him for his evil work but do leave him to be rewarded of the Lord who will justly give him and all men according to their Deeds And now I have a few Considerations to present unto you three in particular as such in that capacity who bear rule in this Land 1. Consider how that you are set in Place and Authority and ought to judge and govern for God alone and to be a Terror to all Evil-doers and a Praise to all that do well and the living God requireth of you To do Iustice Truth and Righteousness in the Land to hear the cry of the Widow and Fatherless and to judge uprightly the Cause of the Poor without respect to your own self-ends and ye ought to be meek and humble men in your Places of Care and Trust which iâ— committed unto you and take heed that your hearts be not lifted up in the honour of high Places and so Iudgment Mercy and Truth be neglected and Oppressions and Cruelties be brought forth 2. Consider that if ye do Iustice and Righteousness and walk humbly with the Lord and exercise Mercy and Truth in the Land and hear the Cry of the Poor and deliver the Afflicted then the Lord can make you a Blessing to your selves and to the People But if you be proud and exalted and ambitious and vain-glorious and exercise Cruelty and Oppression and tread down the Poor and vex the Needy and grieve the Lord God by your Iniquities then God will cast you down and lay your honour in the Dust and make you a Curse and a Reproach and your Names and Memorial shall be a stink and the justice of the Lord's Hand shall effect it 3. Consider that ye are Men and not God and your strength flesh and not spirit and there is a God greater than all who is above all who can suddenly in a moment save his People and destroy his Enemies and he can break you down and never raise you up he can turn his Hand upon you and all man-kind as the Potter doth with his Clay even tread
not doubting but he is sufficient to say something in the Case only may mind him with many others of his Principles and Familiarity how they have cryed out Phanaticks against such as have differed from them and this not long since and now themselves are under the same Reproach by others as they have reproached others and now he and they are reckoned the Modern Phanaticks and no better 3. What can possibly be the Author's Intent in his proceedings First in relating of the burning destroying and martyring of the Martyrs whom he wickedly calleth Aâ—â—ions Phanaticks And then Secondly in intimating the Protestants now living to be Phanaticks by this Paralel the purpose and end of the man must needs be That he would have Fire and Faggots up again Burning and Martyring up again in England and all that shall differ from that Man's Way whom we find by Calculation to be chiefly a Papist should be burnt martyred and destroyed now again as in the dayes of Queen Mary this effect would follow and this Semper Iidem is but a little Item or Intimation before-hand cryed up and down London to prepare its own spirit where it shall meet with it into Fary and Rage even to the destroying of all the Protestants And as this 〈◊〉 â—â—dem may possibly work such an effect among the People of that spirit 〈◊〉 love to murder and burn for difference in Religion It may also and ought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an effect in the other Party to be considerate and diligent and to reâ—…d the signs of the Times even the sign of Semper Iidem which seems to be â—…tle Black-stur predicting a bad Effect if the course of Heaven alter it not again And Semper Iidem is indeed to be taken notice of in London because the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 for above an hundred Years nor any one ever durst to appear 〈◊〉 such a publication of villifying the Protestant Martyrs with Reproaches and 〈◊〉 of Rebels Seditious men and Phanaticks as this Nameless Author 〈◊〉 done which gives us cause to say The Times are changed and may yet 〈◊〉 further if the Effects of Semper Iidem be not diverted for the Effects of his work is to bring all to the Fire Faggot and Martyrdom that shall differ from the Church of Rome of whom the Author is a Member as by all signs â—â—d tokens doth appear Thirdly I shall now shew how this spirit in the Papists that burnt the Martyrs which is the same spirit that endited Semper Iidem that is again moving its Countenance now adayes I shall shew how that spirit was not nor is of Christ but of Antichrist and the Devil 1. IT was not the way of Christ and his Apostles neither did they give Command or President for it to kill burn or destroy their Enemiec and such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hereticks as the false Christians 〈◊〉 and as the Papists did in Queen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who burned and destroyed many hundreds of the Protestants who 〈◊〉 them in their Profession and Practices of Religion and this was not 〈◊〉 way for he commanded To love Enemies and not to kill them and it was 〈◊〉 He did Good for them them did Evil 〈◊〉 him and so did his Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was no such thing in the Churches of Christ in the Apostles dayes as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 burning of Hereticks and putting them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Crâ—â—â— Torments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his Apostles did convince 〈◊〉 sâ—…rs by Love and 〈◊〉 Doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 walk peaceably towards all their Enemies and did not sâ—â—k their 〈◊〉 not to be revenged 〈◊〉 their Persecutors but the Papists and 〈◊〉 contrary to Christ's Doctrine and Example do burn and kill and destroy their Enemies such whom they judge to be in Error though yet their Iudgment be utterly false and their killing and burning grounded upon such Iudgment and this hath been the Papists way of proceeding as is related in Semper Iidem wherein is mentioned the burning and destroying of a great number of such as they then called Hereticks whom Semper Iidem now calls Antient Phanaticks and he hath justified their Martyrdom to be Right and condemned the Martyred as Phanaticks and this is published in London 2. All Persecution about Religion and killing and burning for difference in matters of spiritual things hath been and is of the Devil and Antichrist both in the Papists and other false Christians though it hath long been practised in the World for to destroy the Workmanship of God the Persons and Creatures by Fires and Cruel Torments This is not of God but of the Devil especially when it is done upon such an unjust occasion as to destroy mens Persons by cruel tortures for the Error of their Minds This is of the Beast and Dragon spoken of in the Revelations For the Beast killed all that would not worship him Revel 13. for it was the Dragon that persecuted the Woman the true Church and made War with the Rèmnant of her Seed and cast floods out of his Mouth after the Woman had brought forth the Man-Child and he persued her into the Wilderness and then he gave power to the Beast his Seat and his great Authority as you may read and then that Beast to whom the Dragon gave Authority forced all to worship him and killed all that would not worship him and made War against them and overcame them And so it is manifest that this Practice which the Papists and false Christians have used of burning and killing all such as will not worship after their manner is of the Devil the Dragon and Antichrist and hath no foundation in God but is of the wicked One to all Intents and Purposes And thus I have shewed the Papists Practices in Queen Maries dayes and at all times before and since of burning and destroying of such as differ from them in religious Matters are of the Devil and Antichrist though the Author of Semper Iidem seems to justifie the Death of the Martyrs and hath reproachfully villified them about an hundred years after they are dead by the scornful Name of Phanaticks Fourthly I shall now shew something concerning the Cause of the Publication of Semper Iidem which the Author saith is from the late Insurrection in London and comparing them with their Predecessors he thought fit to publish the same as in his Epistle NOw in answer to this As for the Insurrection in London I shall not justifie it nor speak a word in vindication of the said Persons Proceedings but shall leave them without giving my Judgment upon them further than this That it was an Evil Occasion administred against such as were no way guilty thereof who are deeply suffering this day Imprisonment and Persecution and their Peaceable Meetings broken up and they violently dealt withal in many particulars and onely upon the occasion of that Insurrection aforesaid And how Unjust it is let all the World judge that any should suffer for the Faults of others And how Unequal it is that many should be Imprisoned
the rest but the Presbyterians and Episcopals and all of that way and these Professions stand in Reputation and are accounted Phanaticks and Hereticks even William Pryn himself and this is manifest by the Author of Semper Iidem who hath reviled and reproached all the People of England publickly and openly For seeing the Antient Martyrs the Fathers so accounted of the Church of England are villified as Phanaticks Then must needs follow that the Church of England even in the way of Episcopacy as being in their own account the Successors of the Martyrs in some things at least are also Phanaticks and such as Semper Iidem saith the Old Phanaticks were for the men being reputed Phanaticks who were as the Fathers then needs must the Children be the same and this deserves serious Consideration by the Protestants of England 3. Consider how the very Cause it self of Protestants in this their long Contest for these many years with and against the Church of Rome is now weakened and even as it seems in a way of losse and decay being now reproached and held under publick scorn in England by Semper Iidem I say the very Cause of the Protestants is new struck at and beat against and sought to be destroyed being already defamed and reviled as appears by the discourse of the nameless Author who hath rendred the Antient Martyrs that promoted as much as they could the Protestants Cause against the Church of Rome and dyed for it many of them sealing the Cause with their Blood as Hereticks Erroneous Rebels and Phanaticks and hath also rendred Fox and his Acts and Monuments who hath hitherto in England been counted a true Reporter and Historian of the PROTESTANTS Sufferings as invalid as possible even that he is a Lyar and his Chronology Untruths and hath justified Queen Mary and the Papists who put the Martyrs to Death And these things considered duly and justly how is the Protestants Cause it self struck at and weakened and as it were the very Victory given to the Papists against the Protestants in this long Quarrel between them ever since Henry the Eighth's dayes and long before 4. Consider How the Papists Cause seems to be reviving in England and how bold the Members of the Church of ROME are of late dayes growing as to appear so publickly in Print justifying their own Cause as good as Queen Mary and the Papists in her dayes in Martyring and Burning the Protestants and condemning the Martyrs of the Protestants as Hereticks and Phanaticks This I say is great Boldness in the Papists more than hath been for this Hundred of Years and a Sign of a Reviving and Recovering of their Cause more than hath been for many Years who durst not any of them appear so publick as the Author of Semper Iidem hath done with that Boldness and Courage to justifie the Papists Cause and condemn the Protestants For if such a Discouse as Semper Iidem had been brought forth and published in the dayes of Queen ELIZABETH which were Darker Dayes then these are it is possible it would not have been suffered to be cryed up and down LONDON but Restrained and Condemned for the Fire But now the Papists have taken Confidence to themselves and are of better Hopes than formerly even that they shall have Fire and Faggot again and to Burn and Destroy such as differ and dissent from them whom they may call Hereticks and Phanaticks And this I observe from the spirit of Semper Iidem 3. Consider The Nature and Constitution and Disposition of the spirit of the Church of ROME how that it is not Changed but the self-same that ever it was viz. A spirit of Murder and Cruelty that hath Killed and Martyred such as have Differed from them and been Contrary-Minded in Religious Matters and it would work and bring to pass the same still if it had its Power without Limitation in ENGLAND The Papists I say would Burn Kill and Torture such as they judge Hereticks and all that cannot Bow and Bend and Conform to their Wayes and Injunctions and Religion this they would be at again in England if it were in their Power as it was heretofore I say This ought to be considered even the Cruelty of that spirit and what Danger there is in it to give way to the Exaltation of that spirit and to embrace it in the least whereby to give it occasion to get into the Power and Judgment-Seat for if it doth then Fire and Faggot and Killing and Burning about Religion will openly appear again and this seems to be manifest by the Constitution of the spirit of Semper Iidem which may give Good and Wholsome Cautions that the spirit of the Papists is still a Cruel Spirit and would Destroy all that Differ from their Way if they had Power and that that spirit is not to be Hugged and Embraced nor set highest lest the Effect of it proves Woful to England by bringing forth again what it once did in Renewing Fire and Faggot for this is the Disposition of the spirit of the Romish Church as is apparent by Semper Iidem 6. Consider how Careful and Vigilant the People of England ought to be to wait and attend the Motions of the Spirit of the Church of Rome lest it insinuate it self into Authority and get its intended Advantage and Purpose against the Protestants and their Cause and advance it self against them and promote its own Interest and Destroy and overturn theirs For without all Controversie that same spirit is now at work to agitate its Desires and according to its old course its Hatching and Contriving how to promote it self and destroy all that 's contrary it is Undermining and secretly Surmizing its Opponents Overthrow that it self may be exalted For that spirit is diligent in its way to take the least Occasion for its Self-advantage as is manifest by Semper Iidem and therefore the People of England ought also to be Careful and Diligent in their Cause to Preserve themselves and their Interest from the defeat of the Church of ROME and they ought to watch against that spirit to keep it in subjection under Authority and Command and not to exalt it into Command over them lest they be subjected to the Idolatries and Oppressions and Persecutions of that spirit to their own Destruction both of Persons Estates and Religion for that spirit will attempt alwayes to Rule and if it Rule then will follow consequently An Utter Overthrow of the Protestants PERSONS and CAUSE that will be the Effect of the Authority of it though it bear hand in hand in seeming Love and good Agreement with the Protestants till it hath gained its desired end over them which is To promote it self and subdue by Burning and Cruel Tortures all that which is contrary to it Let the People of ENGLAND consider this Matter now while it is time and be Watchful over the Motions of that spirit and not put Confidence in it too far nor to
it be for hiâ—… hâ—…g the Sâ—… of â—â—is Good Spirit in uâ— That whether we Live or Dye we are the Lord E. B. Antichrists Government JUSTLY DETECTED OF Unrighteousness Injustice Unreasonableness Oppression and Cruelty throughout the Kingdoms of this WORLD Wherein Antichrist hath had his Seat and great Authority for many Generations in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of True Christianity Shewed and Declared First In the Case of Imposing upon Conscience in Matters Religious by Force of outward Violence or Pains and Penalties on the Persons and Estates of Men which is proved Unrighteous and Dangerous and of Antichrist c. Secondly In the Case of Heresie shewing what it is in it self who a Herteick is who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that To Kill Burn Bannish or to punish Hereticks as such corporally is of Antichrist c. Thirdly Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivableness what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom The EPISTLE Dedicated to all the Rulers of what degree soever in the so called Christian World O Friends in the perfect Love of God Almighty towards your Souls and Bodies and towards all Mankind which Love is as a Fountain opened in my Heart and kindly issueth forth in Soul-breathing-desires of Good unto the whole Creation In this Love joyned with an Humble Meek and Lowly Temper of Spirit do I present this little quantity of Substance unto you not so much for your approof of my Work as if I craved your Licence and Approbation for this small Piece to pass under your Iustification as is usually the manner of such Epistles thus directed but much more for your serious and weighty Considerations of the Cases though Briefly yet Truly unfolded which are things of very great moment to you and wherein all of you from the Least to the Greatest are less or more concerned And I do present this Work unto you as Wholsome Advice and Good Councel for you which ye ought verily to read and receive as such rather then to Flatter you by begging a Pass-port from you that this may be read and received where it shall come for the Truth and Verity of it the Weight of the Matter contained and the Soundness and Substance demonstrated shall plead its own Worth for acceptation in the Hearts and Consciences of all sincere Men. The Truth and Verity Weight and Substance of Matter I say these Termes I may justly present this small piece under the denomination of unto you and all the World True it is I do not study pleasing Stile nor have I endeavoured to clothe and trim the Matter with Flattery Curious Termes Words of Man's Wisdom or some Rare Method that it might appear more in Shew than in real Substance as the way of too many Writers have been in such Cases Nor do I promise to please the Wordly Wisdom in Men by a Delightful Sound so much as to answer the sincere Consciences of Men by Sound Truths declared more in Homely broken Terms of Speech than in the rarity of Phrase or well-compacted Rhetorick For I have alwayes desired to be known and approved of God and those that fear him in Sincerity Humility and down-right Truth and for this I study daily and labour alwayes even to have Praise Peace and Comfort of God rather than men in what I am and in what I do And therefore it is my desire that ye would look beyond the Method containing to the Matter contained and that your Eye may be fixed on the Substance intended which is verily and in Truth That ye may be informed the Way of your Peace and Happiness in this World and in that which is to come and may never hereafter Impose by Force and Violence in the Matters of Faith and the Worship of God upon the Consciences of any through Penalties and Punishments upon Men's Persons and Estates but that ye may allow and tollerate freely Liberty of Conscience in all Religious Matters and may not by Cruelty Destroy Men in their Persons or Estates upon the account of their being supposed to be or if really Hereticks and because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Spiritual Matters These are the Particulars for substance held forth unto you and all the World and I have judged it most proper to direct these Cases to your View and Consideration as being the Persons most chiefly though not wholy concerned Therefore blame me not but rather receive my Love though but little in Quantity yet real in Quality and that ye will find one day when ye have truly tryed the Effects of the two Cases plainly laid before you which are Imposition upon Conscience and Free Liberty of Conscience These are the two Causes which will have their different and contrary Effects upon all the Rulers in the World Peace Blessings Prosperity and Happiness are the Effects of the one Cause and Wars Tribulations Contentions Misery Sorrow and the Curse are the Effects which have and will unavoidably follow the other Cause and this ye will all find in the Experience of Time and Transactions coming to pass in the World And therefore I cannot but in homely plain words as my manner is assert the Causes and the Effects of the Causes unto you again and again for the very End to Inform you Advise you and Warn you to follow the Good and to forsake the Evil to do the Right and hate the Wrong that the Effects of Righteousness and Liberty of Conscience even Peace Love Mercy and Prosperity may ever be with you and the Effects of Cruelty and Oppression and Imposition upon Conscience which will be your Misery Downfal and Destruction if ye continue in the Cause which works this Effect may be turned away and ye delivered Wherefore O ye Men Be Advised be Warned this is the Day of the Lord's Dawnings we have seen his Power and Glory he hath wounded us and healed us he hath killed and made alive he hath Proclaimed Liberty in eur Squls and Consciences from Death and Darkness from the Grave and Hell and he hath set his People free from Bondage to serve Him with a pure and perfect Heart And if ye Mortal Men made of the Dust of the Ground whose little measure of Breath is in your Nostrils will not approve of and joyn with this Blessed Work of the Lord but shall gain-say his Doings and set your Power against his Power and will not let the People go free in the Exercise of their Consciences in Holy Performances whose Consciences God hath made free then shall the Most High reward your Opposition with his Cup of Vengeance and he will make you know He is the Lord against whom ye thus raise Contention and he will dissolve your Substance and bring down your Glory and subdue