thereof All natural and artificial abilities nay Divine qualifications before Ordination are silent by that question of the Apostle Rom. 10.15 How shall they preach except they be sent It was a mutinous speech of Korah Dathan Numb 16.3 and Abiram who said unto Moses You take too much upon you since all the Congregation is holy Numb 16.3 ver 32.35 Their Divine qualification did not license them to invade Moses's chair or sacrilegiously usurp the Priest-hood they paid dear for that usurpation when the fire came out from the Lord and consumed the most forward of them and the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed Corah and all his company a fair warning any man would think for lay-persons to beware how they intermeddle with the Ministerial Function if they do it maliciously let them remember the curse of Corah if they have more fair but mistaken purposes let them remember what was the sad portion of Vzzah for his over-bold approach to the Ark of God 2 Sam. 6.6 7. which belonged to the Priests Office § 24 All Offices Arts and profitable Sciences all great and publick things and imployments are distinguisht in the Societies of men by proper and peculiar Professors Artists and Ministers How then should we think that Religion which is the Art of Arts may ly in common and be exposed to the profanation of every rude illiterate and unskilful mechanick to be unhallowed by the rude intermedlings of undiscerening persons and not rather separate from profane and vulgar touch by select distinct and qualified persons for that end by God ordained In Religion it is true that all have a common interest and so they have in the Laws also and by the same reason that the one by the same the other also may be dispensed by all men promiscuously without order without distinction which must necessarily end in confusion 'T is true that under the Gospel all true believers are Priests unto the Lord and have spiritual sacrifices to offer 1 Pet. 2.5 9. But it is one thing for a man to be a Priest to himself another thing to be so to the whole Church Revel 1.6 Rom. 12.1 It is one thing to offer up our selves a living sacrifice acceptable unto God another thing to represent the Congregation unto God All ordinary and private devotions may and are to be done by private persons but the solemn ritual and publick Worship of God must be left to the publick Minister There is no good man but wisheth with Moses I would all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Numb 11.29 Numb 11.29 But it is one thing to be qualified as the Prophets of the Lord another thing sacrilegiously to invade their Office Being qualified they may do the Office of Prophets privately to themselves and their familie both by prayers for and with them and also by teaching and instructing them But in Gods house and in the presence of the whole Congregation to dispense the sacred mysteries of Salvation is only peculiar to the Stewards of his house nor may others presume to intermeddle therewithall § 25 No man taketh this honor to himself but he that is called of God Heb. 5 4. as was Aaron who was called of God but consecrated by Moses Exod. 28.1 2. agitatus a deo consecrationis principe saith Dionysius God was the principal Author and Moses the Minister of his Consecration Heb. 5.5 so likewise Christ did not glorifie himself to become High Priest but he was personally chosen and sent or in his own language sealed of the Father Joh. 6.27 and sent into the world that is ordained to be Priest and Prophet of the world The Apostles of Christ received their Commission from him Matth. 28.19 Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing c. And that we might understand that they had by virtue of this Commission power to Commissionate others to be their successors in all succeeding Generations of the Church it follows And lo I am with you until the end of the world with you your selves until you have fulfilled your course and served your own Generation and with you in your successors until the end of the world and more plainly in those other words of their Commission Joh. 20.21 22 23. Joh. 20.21 22 23. As my Father hath sent me so send I you and when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the holy Ghost whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained which spiritual power and spiritual gifts communicated to the Apostles was not sure to expire with them except we will also say all Ecclesiastical Discipline and Government ended with the Apostles and that all scandals and offences herefies and errors sins and vices are left remediless and without cure or at least without a Physitian to prescribe administer and apply to wounded Consciences and sin-sick Souls their proper salve and medicine As my Father hath sent me so send I you and as I have sent you Act. 14.23 Titus 1.5 so you are to send others and this we read they did They ordained Elders in all Churches and gave Commission to whom they ordained to Ordain others The Ordination was theirs but the power was from above and so the Apostles themselves acknowledged in the very first instance of Ordination when they chose Matthias in the room of Judas They prayed saying Thou Lord shew whether of these two thou hast chosen Act. 2.24 Act. 2.24 God chooses and man ordains God cals the person to the Office and man instals him therein The power is Origninally from God as the Fountain but conveyed through the Ministry of man as the Conduit § 26 All power is given unto me both in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.18 19. Go ye therefore c. But because there is no man how sacrilegiously soever he invade the Ministerial Office but will pretend a call and a power from God thereunto and he that is most bold and forward to publish his follies in this kinde is also apt to mistake his boldness for a call from God he may fancy a call from above when it is only a noise in his own head or a deceitful eccho of his own heart therefore we must know this call from God to so high honorable an Office as to be ordained for men in things pertaining to God is either extraordinary or ordinary the first beginning of a lasting necessity is extraordinary and 't is made ordinary in succession and by the lasting continuation of a fixed and determinate Ministry as Adam at the first was extraordinarily formed immediately created by God himself but all mankinde since ordinarily by the mediation of parents so the the Apostles of Christ who received the first issues of the Evangelical Ministry were extraordinarily called but all that have
the people of and so deceive the simple Q. 6 Shew me what Scripture you have which speaks that the Apostles sprinkled Infants Q. 7 Shew me what Scripture you have to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and whether the Apostles did so Q 8 Shew me by the Scriptures where the Apostles went into the world and gave the people of the world Davids Psalms to sing in meeter these things which you now practise answer them by the Scriptures or the Apostles practises without consequence or imagination Q. 9 Whether a man shall overcome the body of sin while he is upon the earth or no. Q. 10 Whether the curse be not upon him that preacheth an other Gospell then Christ and the Apostles yea or no Q. 11 Whether any naturall man can preach the Gospell or no. Q. 12 Whether that any of the Ministers of God was made Ministers by the will of men or no shew me it by the Scriptures Q. 13 Shew me it by the Scriptures whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man teach him but the Lord or no. Q. 14 Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chiefest places in the Assemblies stand praying in the Synagoges called of men Masters which Christ did forbid his disciples to act such things and cryed Woe against those that did act them Q. 15 Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devill and no Ministers of Christ which do not abide in the doctrine of Christ Q. 16 Whether they be not seducers which draw people from the anointing within them and tell them they must be taught of a man when as the anointing teacheth them and they need no man teach them but as the anointing teacheth and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Q. 17 Whether they do not bewitch the people which draw them from the spirit within to serve the ordinance of the world and traditions of men without as the Galatians were bewitched Gal. 3.1 Q. 18 Whether they be not deceivers which tell the people those are the Ordinances of God which God never commanded and draw men from the spirit within them to follow their imaginations and inventions Q. 19 Whether you have the same spirit which was in Christ the Apostles and Prophets which gave forth the Scriptures seeing you are contrary to the Scriptures and follow your own inventions and traditions and so erre from them Q. 20 Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did first Baptize and then preach faith and repentance twenty or thirty years after Q. 21 Whether ever Christ or the Apostles did retain 100 or 200. l. a year for preaching the Gospell Q. 22 What Scripture is there to limit God to a place calling it a Church whereas the Church is in God 1 Thess 1.1 Q. 23 What Scripture is there to have a Clark to say Amen and have groats a peece of the world to maintain his trade Q. 24 What Scripture is there for taking money to bury the dead Q. 25 What Scripture is there for taking 10 or 20 s. for preaching a funerall Sermon Q. 26 What Scripture is there for taking money for marrying man and woman Q. 27 When did any that was sent of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospell sue men at the Law If thou be a Minister of Jesus Christ which exerciseth a pure conscience towards God and towards Man clear thy self from the guilt of these things and answer them in writing by the Scriptures or Saints examples or else in silence confessethy self to be guilty and one of those that Christ cryed woe against acting the same things now as they did then filling up the measure of thy fathers iniquity which said they were Jews and were not but were of the synagogue of Satan Thou sayest they must be learned men and brought up in Scholasticall wayes and by that meanes they must open the Scriptures because thou sayest they were first given forth in Greek and Hebrew which you call the Originall and therefore ignorant men cannot understand them but must have your meanings interpretations and dimensions of your own brain and thus you deceive the simple But answer me this question Whether the Scriptures as they are written in English be true as Christ and the Apostles spoke them forth and if they be true as they are in English what need any other language be learned by an English man to know them R. H. THE QUAKERS Severall Questions WITH The Answers Returned R. H. FOR what relative title to give you without offence I understand not I received you paper of many strange scrupulous Questions And though it be most true that one fool may aske more Questions then 100. wise men can answer as the common proverb goes yet we are taught by a more authentick proverb Prov. 26.5 sometimes to answer a fool in his folly lest he be wise in his own conceite I say not this to upbraid your person but with reflexion on the follies and errours displaid in your severall questions which will appear I beleeve in the following answers if you read them as becomes a good Christian without prejudice partiality or obstinacy of minde but with the spirit of meeknesse 1 Thess 5.21 and a desire to try all things and hold fast that which is good Quest 1 Whether your Gospell be the same which the Apostles preached and if it be why go you to Oxford or Cambridge when the Apostle saith the Gospell he preached was not after man-neither was he taught it by man Answ We preach the same Gospell the Apostles preached but do not attain the knowledg and understanding of this Gospell by the same means the Apostles were eye-witnesses and ear-witnesses of the sayings and doings of Christ which is the sum of the Gospell the mysteries whereof they understood by immediate revelation from heaven being both publickly visible Act. 2.1 2 3 4. and miraculously inspired with extraordinary gifts of the Spirit inabling them both more fully to understand and more powerfully to preach the Gospell then any mortall man could ever hope for since But we do neither pretend to any such sublime and eminent gifts neither do we or ought we to depend upon any such immediate and miraculous revelation from heaven Schooles they had at Bethel 2 King 2 3. at Jericho v. 5. and Elishas College was so full that they inlarged it 2 King 6.1 and at Naioth 1 Sam. 14.20 and upon the hill of God 1 Sam. 10.5 10. but do use those ordinary means and helps which God in his mercifull providence hath in all ages afforded his people viz. by study and industry in the Schools of the Prophets Neither go we to Oxford and Cambridge to learn the Gospell we preach but to learn the knowledge of those tongues and languages arts and sciences which are that externall means enabling us to understand and open the meaning of the Gospell by the good
which is the way to his eternall Kingdome hereafter our Saviour expresly teacheth saying Joh. 5.3 Except a man be borne again of water and of the holy Ghost he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God 2. That Children are of the Kingdom of God and to be admitted unto Christ himself expresly affirmes and strictly charges all men not to oppose it saying Suffer little Chrildren to come unto me Luk. 18.15 and forbid them not for of such also is the Kingdome of God If they must come unto Christ we must not stop up the way against them by denying them the seal of admission And if the Kingdome of God belong unto them surely the privileges of the Kingdome also whereof Baptisme is one 3. That Infants are in some measure capable of the Spirit of God is manifest from the example of the Prophet Jeremiah and of John Baptist Jer. 1.5 6. Luk. 1.66 80. And if they be capable of the inward Baptisme which is the holy Ghost much more of the outward which is water for can any man forbid water saith Peter in the like case that these should not be Baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we Act. 10.47 4. That Children are capable of being received and admitted into the Kingdome of Christ himself doth intimate saying Except ye receive the Kingdome of God as a little Child ye shall not enter therein so that receive it they may though they know it not For as the sin of the first Adam is imputed to children and they are defiled therewith though they understand it not so the righteousnesse of Christ the second Adam may be and we beleeve is by Gods secret and unknown way communicated to Infants though they know it not As to men born deaf and fools and such as are not capable of understanding for to such God forbid we should deny the mercies of God through Christ Quest. 7 Shew me what Scripture you have to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and whether the Apostles did so Answ That we are both to pray and preach the Gospell there are so many Scriptures to prove that I need not name any and we pray both before and after Sermon because 1. 1 Thess 5.17 We are commanded to pray continually 2. Because prayer is the more chief and principall part of Gods service for it is written Mat. 21.13 My house shall be called the house of prayer to all Nations 3. That by prayer and devotion we might obtain the assistance and blessing of God both First upon our Labours in opening the Scriptures and Secondly upon the peoples duty in learning and attending thereunto the prayer before Sermon refers to the one and after Sermon to the other And in this question I must also further tell you you confound publick and private prayer and thereby pervert and misapply the words of our Saviour When thou prayest thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites Mat. 6.5 for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues c. that they may be seen of men in which place our Saviour forbids only private prayer to be offered in publick places out of vain-glory and oftentation to be seen of men and you falsly apply them against publick prayer which is both commanded and practised by publick persons and in publick places and to the end that they may be both seen and heard of men see for this the example of the Levites both for preaching Neh. 8. 9.3 4. Neh. 8. and for publick praying with a loud voice standing up upon the stayres that they might be heard Rom. 15.4 Neh. 9.3 4. Now what is written aforetime is written for our learning And that the Apostles did both pray inpublick for and with the people Act. 20.36.21.5 and also preach in publick and in the Synagogues of the Jewes is more then once or twice exprest in the Scriptures Quest 8 Shew me by the Scriptures when the Apostles went into the world and gave the people of the world Davids Psalmes to be sung in meeter The things that you practise answer them by the Scriptures or the Apostles practise without consequence or imagination Answ Touching the use of Psalms in meeter let me tell you because I see you understand not the nature of Psalms that they are not properly called Psalmes if not sung in verse and meeter and for Davids Psalms as you too scornfully call them know that they are the very dictates and breathings of Gods holy Spirit therefore are we commanded to be filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves in Psalms and Hymnes Eph. 5.18 19. c. And whereas all things in all Psalms are not at all times applyable to all persons yet there is something in every Psalme applyable to every person either by way of instruction or devotion and what in this or that Psalme is not applyable to our present condition may be hereafter and therefore it 's fit they should be used both for present devotion and benefit and also for the future that we may be thoroughly furnished with instructions and devotions against the time of need And for the Apostles practise herein t is sufficient we have their command for surely what they commanded others they practised themselves you may see they did so Act. 16.25 At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sung Psalmes unto God But herein you demand an answer without consequence or imagination you might as well have said without reason or judgment which is all one as if you should bid me read your paper of Questions without my eyes Quest. 9 Whether a man shall over come the body of sin whiles he is upon the earth or no. Answ T is not possible wholly and altogether to subdue * It is overcome but not wholly a conquered enemy may trouble there is still a war Rom. 5.23 and the warfare endures untill death Rev. 2.10 the body of sin whilest we are in this world for t is therefore called the body of sin because there will be some reliques of sin some rebellions of the flesh against the spirit whilest we carry this body of flesh about us and are composed of flesh and spirit As a tree whilest there is life in it will bring forth fruit so the flesh whilest it is quickned with spirit of life 1 King 8.46 Job 14.4 Prov. 20.9 1 Joh. 18.10 Eccle. 7.22 will bring forth some kinde of fleshly fruits or other which is clear from manifold texts of Scripture Quest 10 Whether the curse be not upon him that preacheth another Gospell then Christ and the Apostles preached yea or no. Answ T is most true there is a curse and a heavy curse too will fall upon them that either preach another Gospell Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. or else pervert and poyson the truth of this Gospell which we have received from Christ and the Apostles And I would to God neither you nor any of your sect
succeeded them have been admitted by an ordinary vocation because the succession is but of ordinary necessity now for any man to pretend to an extraordinary calling and immediate from God without the Ministry of man is to pretend also to a new Gospel and new Revelations distinct from what Christ and his Apostles have delivered and such can be no other then the dictates of seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils and indeed such a pretence of immediate and extraordinary power and commission from above can in a fixed and setled Ministry by ordinary means have no other end and issue but to belye the Spirit of Truth cousen the too credulous souls of the people when ever they have a minde to it now is it a meer pretence of folly to expect or rely upon an extraordinary calling or abilities by immediate infusion from heaven without the use of means as to the Ministerial Function since by ordinary and common means they may be supplyed for it is all one as if we should expect men to be created and by the hands of God immediately as Adam was at the first or being so formed to be fed and nourished with food from heaven without any care or industry for provision here upon earth § 27 This call to the Ministerial Office under the Gospel both extraordinary in the Apostles and ordinary in their successors as it is in it self a grand inestimable gift of the holy Ghost and the prime of them conferd by our Lord in his triumph over our ghostly fots and victorious ascension into Heaven Ephes 4.11 for then he gave some to be Apostles some Prophets c. So it hath also other gifts of the Spirit attending as necessary contributaries to the accomplishment thereof that this gift may be compleated and fitted for the edification of the body of Christ â—ers 12 through the work of the Ministry which proportionable to the two-fold calling are either extraordinary or ordinary also extraordinary they were even plentiful and miraculous in the persons of the Apostles viz. in such a measure and after such a manner as no mortal men could ever hope for since and very good reason there is that it should be so For the Apostles charge was much greater and their task more difficult then any mans either was or can be since They had all mankinde to instruct and principle in the doctrine of Christ the stiffe obdurate and incredulous Jews to convert the fulness of the Gentiles to bring in both the rude Barbarians and learned Graecians to master and subdue The whole world was their Diocese the world sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death devoted to the service of sin and Satan the Prince of darkness Now to master and subdue the whole world Act. 26.18 and to turn all men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the living God required sure gifts and endowments more then ordinarily powerful and effectual even such as were extraordinary and miraculous and whereof none of their successors none that ever followed them since in the Ministerial Office could possibly hope to be partakers for all Ministers since have but an handful of men in comparison to deal withall and these broken to their hands being born and brought up in the holy Christian Religion As therefore there is no need of any such extraordinary qualifications so neither do we the best of us do not dare not stand either to such sublime and eminent gifts of the Spirit or to any such immediate and extraordinary infusion of spiritual gifts § 28 The spiritual gifts of the Apostles differ from those of their successors in two respects 1. In respect of the measure or extent of them 2. In respect of the manner of acquisition First for the measure the Apostles were filled with the holy Ghost Act. 2.4 Act. 2.4 filled as full as they could hold they were endued with as many eminent gifts for the execution of the Apostolical Function as they were capable of but we even the best and ablest of the sons of men are not so full but they could hold much more their 's was a Baptism with the holy Ghost Act. 1.5 ours is at the best but a Rantism they were washed washed as it were all over with the Spirit we but sprinkled with his gifts they had the anoynting of the holy One more plentifully we in a smaller scantling they were anoynted above far above all their fellows and successors who received ordinarily but an Hin to their Epha Their Unction was like the Oyntment poured upon â—â—al 133.2 the head that ran down to the beard and all others since but like the thin droppings upon the skirts of the garment § 29 Secondly for the manner the Apostles were endued with their fulness of spiritual gifts miraculously their Inspiration did publickly and visibly appear to be by miracle and immediate from Heaven Act. 2. But we as we can pretend unto no such extraordinary gifts so neither do we pretend unto or depend upon any such extraordinary and immediate infusion of spiritual gifts but ordinarily and in the use of means even by much study labor and industry in the ways of wisdom learning and knowledge we do acquire our qualifications according to the command of the Apostle to Timothy we study for them 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.15 Study to shew thy self approved a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth and yet Timothy sure had less need to study for his gifts then any of us as having more of immediate Inspiration then the best of men can hope for since § 30 And yet though we study to be qualified for the work of the Ministry our qualifications are stil the gifts of the Spirit all our wisdom and knowledg is from above even as of Daniel and the three children it is recorded that God gave them knowledge and understanding in all learning and wisdom Dan. 1.17 Dan. 1.17 And yet it is said before vers the 4. that they were brought up and instructed in knowledge and that 〈◊〉 and among the Heathen too and weâ—â— taught the learning and tongue of the Gâ—ldâ—â—nt So our humane learning tongues and languages so much declared against by the ignorant are the Handmaids to spiritual and Divine wisdom and knowledge and both the one and the other though acquired by instruction and study in the Schools of the Prophets are yet of Gods merciful donation they are still the gifts of the Spirit And that first because from the Spirit of God it is that we have mindes capable and mindes inclinable to use the means for the attainment of such gifts for even our natural endowments and moral qualifications are gifts of the Spirit perspicacity quickness of wit ripeness of judgement together with a studious diligent and industrious minde in the search and dexterity in the discovery of the several ways of learning and knowledge
the holy Jesus but follows its owne carnal and corrupt dictates and conceits being thereunto raised and moved by that grand Impostor the spirit of Delusion § 39 Besides mans owne carnal spirit there is also A spirit of the world opposing and poysoning the truths of Gods Spirit The Apostle distinguisheth and opposeth these each to other Cor. 2.12 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have not received the spirit which is of the world but the Spirit which is of God which spirit of the world he calls a little before the wisdome of the world and of the Princes thereof vers 6. and opposeth the same to the wisdome of God vers 7. And what else can be this wisdome of the world but those humane policies so frequent in the world whereby men steer their actions to their worldly ends and interests with this spirit of the world are all such possest who having set up and enshrined the world in their hearts do thereupon ground their Religion and thence deduce all their reasons arguments and religious conclusions so that they can finde in their hearts to be thus far religious and to close with this or that sect society and opinion in Religion as it stands with their worldly profit pleasure credit preferment or the like It was from the dictates of this spirit that Jeroboam the Son of Nebat made Israel to sin pulling down the holy and true Religion established amongst the people by the laws of God and erecting two golden Calves at Dan and Bethel which became a snare unto the people who were thereby inveigled into idolatry the cause of their utter ruine and extirpation in the end 1 King 12.28 29. And what other Spirit was it that moved this wicked Usurper thereunto but that of his owne worldly respects and interests there was no other way as his worldly spirit dictated to him to uphold his present estate and new gotten Monarchy so we read 1 King 12.26 1 King 12.26 c. And Jeroboam said in his heart Now shall the Kingdom return to the house of David c. Rather then the people should return to their obedience to their liege Lord Soveraign religion must down and the true worship of God be laid in the dust to make way for superstition and idolatry to be set up the Priests of the Lord shall be discarded and the lowest of the people exalted to that dignity and to make the Office more contemptible every one that list may take up the trade and consecrate himself to be a Priest of the high places 1 King 13.33 1 King 13.33 It was this very spirit also that stirred up the High-priests and Pharisees to take counsell against our Saviour to put him to death for say they If we let him alone all men will believe on him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Romans will come and take away our place and Nation Joh. 11.48 It was this spirit also that stirred up Demetrius the Silversmith with the rest of the Crafts-men of the like occupation against St. Paul and his companions and the holy Christian Religion preached by them his pretence was Religion such a kinde of Religion as it was viz. Lest the Temple of the great goddesse Diana should be nothing esteemed and her magnificence whom Asia and all the world worshipt should be destroyed but this Religion was blown by the wind of his own worldly ends his profit his gain which he got by making silver shrines for Diana was in danger to be lost and therefore it was now time for to stir not so much for the maintenance of her honour as his own profit Act. 19.27 Act. 19.27 And 't is this spirit of the world that possesses the greatest part of the world generally and for the most part men measure and square out their Religion by the rule of their profit or pleasure or preferment or credit and esteem amongst men or indeed at the best by the rule of self-preservation so far perhaps they will sail by the wind of Gods Spirit as the sea of this world is calm peaceable pleasant and the navigation gainfull or at least not chargeable but if any tempest arise any gusts of trouble or opposition against the truth blow in the face of its professors if any damages or dangers pursue them in their course they presently tack about and will sail no longer by the heavenly wind of God but by the earthly wind of their own worldly ends and interests not by the wind which blows from heaven but by that which ariseth out of the caves and hollows of an earthly minde suffering themselves by this wind to be tossed to and fro Jam. 1.6 and driven to be of this or that or any Religion that shall cost them nothing 2 Sam. 24.24 nothing of charge trouble or danger ebbing and flowing in this worlds vast sea as the tyde either of prosperity or adversity danger or security makes for or against them But this sense sure is such a spirit as blows quite crosse and contrary to the spirit which guided and directed the Apostles for they finished their course over the troublous sea of this world to the celestial Canaan by sailing in all weathers encountring all oppositions and passing through all storms that met and opposed them In afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in prisons in tumults in labours by watchings by fastings c. 1 Cor. 1 Cor 6.4 5 6. Aug. 6.4 5 6. And yet in all these difficulties still saith the Father The yoke of Christ is easie and his burthen light nay there is ease peace and comfort to the soule in the midst of all the troubles dangers wants or necessities that can in this life encounter us whilst the holy Ghost secretly by his comforts both cheers our spirits and fills the sails of our desires with the hopes of arriving safe in the end at the harbour of eternall peace and felicity § 40 Since then that grand malignant spirit the enemy of our salvation working by these two Familiars 3. Gen. mans own deceivable spirit and the spirit of the world doth thus many wayes counterfeit poyson pervert and consequently obstruct impede and overthrow the workings of the spirit of grace as an Antidote against this poyson of the serpent and that his countermines prevail not to the subversion of our souls we must make use of that friendly admonition of the Apostle never so necessary to be observed and practised as now Dearly beloved 1 Joh. 4.1 beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or no for many false Prophets are gone out into the world The admonition is twofold First negative Beleeve not every spirit Secondly positive try the spirits and there is one generall reason given for both because many false Prophets are gone out into the world He then that shall be so credulous as to give heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit of truth and