she is not the true Church Secondly Again A.S. saith and diabolically affirmeth in the second Page of his pretended Reconciler of Religions that the true Church is composed of both good and bad wheat and tares which I do abominate to acknowledge and is blasphemy in him to affirm for the true Church is built of Living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 elect and precious or as A.S. affirmeth of living believers but no living believers can be truly called the bad nor the tares but elect and precious and all that are living or precious are the good therefore the true Church is built of the good only Thirdly But if the Church of Christ which A.S. in his second page affirmeth is the kingdome of Christ be composed of both good and bad then according to his own affirmation the kingdome of Christ is part good and part bad which is horrid blasphemy in A.S. to affirm Oh grosse darknesse and confusion Are thou a Member of that Church that calls it self the light of the world Oh dark dull gloomy light the Lord God Almighty bring all his people out of that dark Cell that they may walâ— in his marvellous light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world which makes all things manifest of what sort it is Fourthly But if you say that Christ likened the kingdome to a net that was cast into the Sea which gathered of all kinds I answer he did so yet when it came to land there was none composed or gathered into the vessels but the good only and the bad were cast away Matth. 13.48 Therefore the true Church is not composed of both good and bad but of the good only Fifthly But if you object that the tares and wheat were both to grow together in the field I answer they were so untill the harvest and the field is the world Mat. 13.39 but the true Church is not of the woâ—ld Joh. 17.14 but when the reapers were sent forth which were the Angels that had the Gospel to preach Rev. 14 6. who went to disciple people and to baptize them into the true Church Mat. 28.19 Their commission was to compose or gather the wheat only and to seperate the tareâ— from it and to bind them in bundles for the fire Mat. 13.30 and therefore the true Church is not composed of both wheat and tares but of the wheat only Sixthly Farther If you say that there was some in the true Church in the Apostles dayes that were false brethren and these were bad I answer Though they were amongst them yet they were not of them as the Apostle said 1 John 2.19 Therefore the true Church is not composed of both good and bad but of the good only But to râ—tuâ—n to the fifth part of A.S. his argument where he saith that the Church of Rome is known to the world in her Bishops Pastors and Believers c. and therefore she is visible Answ Although that proves her visible yet it doth not prove her to be the true Church but the contrary for the true Church that was the light of the world was not known to the world John 17.14 but the visible Church of Rome is known to the world as A.S. himself affirmeth therefore she is not the true Church but the contrary Again the true Church wrestled not with flesh and bloud neither was her weapons carnal but spiritual and she wrestled with spiritual wickednesses that were in the high places and broke down the strong holds of iniquity 2 Cor. 10.3 4. but the Church of Rome wrestles with flesh and blood and kills mens bodies about Religion as the whole Christendome knoweth and the spiritual wickednesses are still standing in her as afore proved and as all the world sufficiently knows therefore she is not the true Church Sixthly The infallibleness of the true Church of which Christ is supreme head and governour I do not go about to deny but that the Church of Rome is infallible that I do deny For First Although A.S. hath affirmed that she hath alwayes remained since Christs time unto this day without interruption c. yet he never proved it neither can he do it for as before I have said we never read that the true Church in Christs dayes was found in such things neither was such things then found in her as is now found in the Church of Rome and which the Church of Rome is now found in by which it is clear that she hath not alwayes remained since Christs time in the state she now stands Secondly But if she hath alwayes remained since Christe time to this day without interruption aâ— A.S. saith she hath then she cannot possibly be the true Church for the true Church was interrupted since the Resurrection and Ascention of Christ and yet remained as hereafter I shall shew and in the Apostles dayes her interruption began and some of the Apostles foresaw it and said of your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things Acts 20.30 and when they were arisen they withstood the truth as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8 so here the interruption of the true Church began and after this John saw the Dragon interrupting or persecuting her into the Wildernesse where she had a place prepared of God that they might feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes Rev. 12.6 13.14 ver concerning which I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter so on this wise the true Church was interrupted since Christs days But A.S. saith that the Church of Rome hath alwayes remained since Christs time without interruption Therefore she is not the true Church Thirdly And whereas A.S. farther saith that the Church of Rome shall alwayes remain to the end of the world and therefore she is infallible I answer He hath not at all confirmed that by any proof neither hath he any farther proof than his own affirmation except he would produce that saying of the Mother of Harlots viz. I sit as a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow Rev. 18.7 And indeed what would be a very pittiful Argument to prove the Church of Rome infallible but none other can he produce except he could first prove her to be the true Church which he is never able to do his best argument by which he hath undertaken it being already confuted Therefore we have no more cause to believe his affirmation than we have to believe the sayings of the forementioned mother of Harlots for they are both alike to us and though she said she should see no sorrow yet John who was in the spirit of the Lord said that in one day her desolation should come Rev. 18.8 And although A.S. saith that the Church of Rome shall alwayes remain to the end of the world yet I say in the name of the Lord and by the same spirit that John was in That the one day of which John spake is already dawned in which the desolation of that Great Whore
of Rome are baptized and sanctified in Christ and that all her Institutes and Cerimonies c. are holy and therefore she is holy Answ I deny iâ— and he cannot prove it for all who are baptized into Christ and are sanctified in him have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and doth live holy and have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2.16 But the Church of Rome hath not the mind of Christ neither doth she live holy as afore proved Therefore she is not holy And as concerning her Institutions and Ceremonies as Bowing to Images and Altars and such things we never read that the holy Church in the Primitive times did practice such things therefore we have no ground to believe they are holy 3. That the true Church is Catholick or Universal I shall not go about to deny but I do deny that the Universality of the Church of Rome is a sufficient Argument to prove her to be the true Church for consider 1. What Church is more universal then the great Whore the false Church who hath a name written MISTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH Rev. 17.5 Who sits upon the many waters which are Nations Kindreds Tongueâ— and Peoples Rev. 17.15 And did not the Whole world wonder after the beast that carries the Whore Rev. 13.3 And did she not sit as a Queene over them all with her fair profession or golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication Rev. 18.7 and 17.4 And did not all the inhabitants of the earth and the Kings of the earth drink of the wine of her fornication and commit fornication with her Rev. 18.3 17.2 Mark how universal was this great Whore the false Church and how confident she was for she said in her heart that she should see no sorrow Rev. 18.7 And did she not glorâ—fie her self and reign over the kings of the earth Rev. 17.18 mark this thing Is not this the very state of the Church of Rome now at this day doth she not reign over the Kings of the earth and over the inhabitants of the earth and hath she not so done long even for many ages Witnesse Fox his Acts and Monuments the first Volume which copiously relates the Authority she hatâ— exercised over Kings and how Pope Aarian made Fredricus the Emperour hold his stirrup while he got up his horse yea and shent him for his pains because the poor Emperour not being us'd to that work held his stirrup on the wrong side of his horse And again Did not the greâ—t Whore which John spâ—ke of drink the bloâ—â— of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.6 And was she not to have blood given her to drink And hath not the Church of Rome drunk the blood of many thousands of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Surely the Histories of many generations past will testifie she hath Therefore she is not the true Church but the Whore And have not many Nations gone into her and committed fornication with her and doth she not sit upon many waters the Peoples Kindreds Tongues and Nations and this kind of universality she makes use of as an argument to prove that she is the true Church which may be truly said to be a part of her witchcrafts and sorceries with which she hath long bewitched the Nations even all this long night of Apostacy in which Antichrist hath reigned who hath blinded the invisible eye in people and with this same pittiful shallow stuff she would fain still blind that eye which God hath opened in us But blessed be the Lord the day is dawned which makes all things manifest Secondly And farther consider what a slender or blind Argument it is to plead universality to prove the Church of Rome to be the true Church Surely A.S. did not consider that they are many who goes in the broâ—d way that leadâ— to destruction and that the whole world wondred afâ—eâ— the beaâ—â— that carries the Whore the false Church neither did he consider that they are but few who finds and walks in the straight way which leads unto life â—or had he considered these things he would have been ashamed to have produced such an Argument to prove the Church of Rome to be the true Church But it s clear that the universal Church of Rome sits upon the many waters and reigns over the Kings of the earth and goes in the broad way Therefore she is not the true Church but the Whore Fourthly Again That the true Church is Apostolick and built upon the foundation of the holy Apostles and Prophets Eph. 2.20 and was propagated through the world by the Apostles that I acknowledge but that the Church of Rome is Apostolick or had her beginning in Christ and his Apostles as A.S. affirmeth or that she was propagated through the world by the Apostles in that discipline Ceremonies worshipping of Idols or Images Murthering the people of God c. in which she now stands that I doe deny and its abomination in A.S. to affirm it For consider First When or where did Christ or his Apostles begin the practice of bowing to Images or worshipping Idols or when did any of them bow to an Altar of wood or pray with a string of beads or pray to Saints or carry a silver or wooden Crosse about with them or murther any because they were not of their Faith The Church of Rome cannot prove that ever Christ or his Apostles began or practised any of these things nor that they were in being in their dayes we defie them but they are inventions set up in the false Church in the dark night of Apostacy that hath been over the Nations since the Apostles dayes and are practised in the Church of Rome to this day Therefore she is not Apostolick but Apostate like Fifthly That the true Church or the Members of it is visible I shall not deny and that she is the Light of the world I do confesse but that the Church of Rome is the true Church or the Light of the world because she is visible that I do not acknowledge but deny for although the true Church or the Members of it is visible yet so is the Whore also But then some will say How are they theâ— to be distinguished First I answer By theâ—â— fruits as Christ said men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles Matth. 7. â—6 neither can one 〈◊〉 send forth biâ—ter water and sweet James 3.12 nor a good tree 〈◊〉 bâ—ing forth bad fruit But the visible Church of Rome bringâ— forth bad fruits and sends forth biâ—â—er waters as the Cruelties exercised by her and the Murthers she hath acted for ages past testifieth and as the Idolatries exercised in her to this day as before mentioned witnesseth For such things was never exercised by nor in the true Church in Christs nor the Apostleâ— dayes therefore though the Church of Rome be visible yet her fruits testifieth that
the Church of Rome shall come and as surely as when Sodom was overthrown the Cities round about it were overthrown also 2 Pet. 2.9 Jude ver 7. so certainly when this great City Babylon is overthrown and made desolate the suburbs thereof shall be overthrown and made desolate also The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and therefore she must fail in her prophesies and cease in her being which as A.S. saith the true Church cannot Fourthly And farther the Church of Rome is variable in her Judgments as the diversities of Councels that she hath held concerning matters of Faith beareth witnesse for the following General Counsel hath oft times excluded that which was concluded on by the former and surely both cannot be inâ—â—llible they being quite contradictory one to the other Read the 15th chapter of F. H. his book entitled THE GLORY OF THE TRUE CHURCH DISCOVERED c. wherein the contradictions of the General Counsels which the Church of Rome hath held are sufficiently made manifest so that I need not trouble my self to insert them here and thereby its evident enough that the Church of Rome is not infallible Fifthly Again if A.S. or any other could prove that the Church of Rome had alwayes remained since Christs time yet as aforesaid that is not a sufficient argument to prove her infallible or that she cannot fail nor cease For consider the Dragon that old Sâ—rpent called the Devil who was a murtherer from the beginning who gave power to the beast that carries the Whore that drinks the Saints blood that said she should see no sorrow waâ— before the dayes of Christs appearance in the flesh yet the Dragon is not infallible But the Church of Rome is upheld by the Murtherer or carried by the Dragons power in the beast as the Murthers acted by her beareth witness therefore she is no more infallible than the Dragon is Seventhly And as to the 7th part of A.S. his Argument wherein he saith the true Church is inerrable and then saith that the Church of Rome is this inerrable true Church for all the Sectaries Schismaticks and Hereticks in the world saith he could never yet shew wherein she erred nor ever shall Therefore she is inerrable Answ 1. I answer although the Hereticks could not prove that the Church of Rome hath erred yet there are many who are members of the true Church of which Christ is Head and supreme Governour alone that can prove wherein she hath erred and doth still grosly erre from the Doctrine Practice and Discipline of the true Church as it stood in the Apostles dayes for the Apostle in his dayes said let every man be fully perswaded in his own conscience Rom. 14.5 and did not go about to force people to conform to such things that they were not perswaded of in their consciences nor to compell them by outward laws to conform thereunto but the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should walk or act according as they are perswaded in their own consciences but goes about by outward laws to compell them to conform to that which she calls her holy Ordinances and Institutions which many for conscience sake towards God dare not conform to because they know them to be invented Idolatries and they who cannot for conscience sake submit to her impositions or drink of her cup of abominations then to be sure she will drink their blood Witnesse the blood she hath drunk for above this thousand years past of them that could not for conscience sake towards God conform to her Ordinances And therefore she hath erred from that spirit which was in the true Church and from the Apostles Doctrine and is still in the errour Secondly In the true Church in the Apostles dayes every one as he had received the gifâ— of the spirit of God so he might administer 1 Pet. 4.10 an◠〈◊〉 Prophets might speak two or three and if any thing was â—ealed to him that stood by he might speak and the first shouâ—â— be silent 1 Cor. 14.29 30 31. But this is not the order of the Church of Rome as is sufficiently manifest to all Christendom therefore she hath erred from the Apostles Spirit and order and is still in the error And thus I might produce many more arguments to shew wherein the church of Rome hath erred and doth erre only my desire is to be as brief as may be so that satisfaction may be given for which I doubt not but this is sufficient as to that particular 8. And as concerning miracles in the true Church I do confesse and beâ—r witnesse that there are miracles wrought in her daily but that all miracles are an argument sufficient to prove a people to be the true Church that I do not acknowledge but deny For First the Magicians of Aegypt could by their Sorceries or Inchantments imitate those things in the sight of the Aegyptians that Moses and Aaron did by the power of God Exod. 8 7. and he false prophet he wrought lying miracles before the beast that carries the Whore insomuch that he caused fire to come down out of heaven in the sight of men Rev. 13.13 14. and chap. 19. ver 20. And this the Whore might have said was done in confirmation of her faith and doctrines as A.S. doth yet neverthelesse it was done by the Dragons power who was a murtherer from the beginning For he gave power to the beast that carries the Whore to do such things Rev. 13.2 and therefore the miracles in the Church of Rome if now there be any is no infallible evidence to prove her to be the true Church Well 2. But then it may be some will say that this is harsh judgment and how can you tell but that the miracles wrought in the Church of Rome are wrought by the power of God or how can you distinguish between miracles wrought by the power of God and miracles wrought by the dragons power Answ I answer we have an infallible way to judge in this particular For all miraclâ—s wrought by the murdering power are not wrought by the power of God but by the Dragons power for the Dragon that old Serpent who is called the Devil was a murderer from the beginning but Christ the power of God is not a murdering power for he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9.56 Therefore the miracles wrought by Christ the power of God are not wrought by a murdering power But the miracles â—n the Church of Rome if now there be any are wrought by a murdering power for the many murders she have acted sufficiently testifieth to the whole Christendom that a murdering power rules in her By which its clear that the mirâ—cles wrought in the Church of Rome if there be any are wrought by the Dragons power and not by the power of God So that my judgement concerning the miracles in the Church of Rome is not harsh but according to the spirit of truth and sound
of the Spirit of Christ in his inward parts which all ought to obey and submit unto For the persecuting Jews who were uncircumcised in heart and ears and did alwaies resist the holy Ghost they professed as great zeal for God and his cause as the Apostate Christians now do and they looked for the coming of the Messiah of whom all the Prophets prophesied and profest they would adore him and reverence him c. and said that if they had been in the daies of their fathers they would not have slain the Prophets Mat. 23.31 who prophesied of the coming of Christ and so they had seemingly a great zeal for God and his truth But alas a murdering spirit was found in them for notwithstanding they professed that they would not have killed the Prophets yet they killed the Son who was the end of the Prophets And although the Prophets signified the time when Dan. 9.24 and the place where the Messiah should be born Mic. 5 2. yet when he was come according to the Prophets which they profest These professing Jews would not own him nor receive him Joh. 1.11 because he reproved their hypocrisie and their murdering spirit Joh. 8.40 But they crucified and slew him And this is the very state of the Apostate Christians at this day for who is there now amongst them but wiâ—l profess as great love to Christ as the Jews in Christs dayes did to the Prophets who prophesied of him who is there now amongst them but will say had we been in Pilats daies we would not have crucified Christ nor delivered him up to be crucified aâ— the Jews said of the Prophets yet notwithstanding their so saying they do as the Jews did for now in this day of his spiritual appearance which they professe they look for and expect they are found persecuting of him in his Members under the same pretence that the Jews persecuted him in their day viz. as a Blasphemer c. And so the Persecutors were in all ages bâ—inded by the god of the world who was a murtherer from the beginning and though they could see the iniquities of their fathers and predecessors in persecuting and killing the Prophets yet the envy of their hearts was such that they could not see their own iniquities in persecuting and slaying the son who was greater than the servants whom their fathers slew so as I said before it is not a profession of Christ and his Ordinances or zeal for his cause that makes people true Christians neither is God worshipped upon any of those mountains where the persecuting and destroying one another is but the worship of God consisteth in obedience to that spiâ—it of truth which condemns all those works of darknesse and cruelty and in his own mountain of holinesse where nothing hurts nor destroys Isa 11.9 And such is the Father now seeking to worship him that will worship him there and is now gathering his sheep from off the barren mountains upon which the Whore siâ—s where they have been scattered in the dark and cloudy day of Antichrists reign and where the wars and fightings are even to his own holy mountain where they shall learn war no more Isa 2.4 And this is the work that the envious and murtherous one opposeth and bestirrâ— himself with all his force and might in his instruments of cruelty and men of war arming of them with all kind of weapons that possibly he can form to fight against this appearance and work of God for so it hath been that since we who are reproachfully called Quakers were raised up to be a people to bear testimony for the name of the Lord and of the working of his spirit and power we have alwayes been even as a But for all the Archers of Babylon even from every mountain to shoot at And our sufferings hath not been only in our persons and estates as the spoyling of our goods and scourgings and cruel mockings and imprisonments many unto death as this Nation to her anguish must be made to know but even all sorts of Babylons Meâ—chants or they that trades in every part of her or within her subburbs have oft made it their business to write and print against us endeavouring thereby as much as in them lay to render us odious to our own Nation and to Nations about us under pretence that we were Papists and Jesuits and that we propagated Jesuitical principles c. but they being almost if not altogether weary of that work finding it to be to no purpose for the truth which we professe hath still got ground and flourisheth through all these things now at last the Papists or Jesuits themselves who I perceive have a secret hope of a day once more in this Nation they begin to put out their heads and to print against us and so both Protestants and Papists even every head horn of the Beast after whom the whole world wonders are â—â—uâ—d pushing against the Laâ—o and the Saints Rev. 17.14 For of late a cerâ—ain Pamphlet accidentally came to my hands written by a perfect Roman Catholick who subscribed his name A.S. in which he seems to shew himself sensible of the great distractions that are throughout the whole Christendome about the true way of worship and conâ—eâ—ning the true Church and fiâ—st states a Question viz which is this Church c. and afterwards makes it his businesse to prove the Church of Rome to be this true Church and that by divers Arguments by him stated in a Syllogistical manner And I also finding the Author of the aforesaid Pamphlet therein smiting at the people of God called Quakers and endeavouring to render them odious by affirming they are led by a deluding spirit c. I found my self somâ—what concerned to return a brief reply to his chief Arguments therein produced by which he haâ—h in vain endeavourd to accomplish the aforesaid work by him undertaken A.S. His first Argument produced to prove the Church of Rome to be the true Church consisteth of nine particulars as followeth viz. That is the true Church and no other which is one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church which is visible infallible inerrable in which is power of miracles out of which none can be saved But the Româ—n Pontificial that is to say the faithful people dispersed all the world over in communion with the high Priest Bishop or Pope of Rome is such and no other Therefore the Roman Pontificial alone is the true Church Reply To which I reply that the true Church of which Christ alone is Head and Supreme Governour is in it self one holy Apostolick Church c. I shall not go about to deny but as touching that grand Question by A.S. stated before his Argument here inserted viz. which is this Church c. I answer this is a thing indeed disputable amongst many yea amongst many thousands yet not at all questionable nor yet doubtful unto me for I am well satisfied therein and in all other
reason Thirdly but for all A.S. in his Epistle Dedicatory hath made such a great noise about miracles wrought by a Roman Catholick Priest in and about London and Westminster yet when he comes to prove that the Church of Rome is powerful in miracles then he doth just as much as nothing but takes an easie way to get out from that thing which seemingly he undertook to go thorow with by referring of us for a witnesse of his affirmation to nostre dame de Loretto nostre dame de montague nostre dame de hall and to the whole world c. Now what a pittiful proof or witnesse is this which A.S. directs us to For as the Apostle saith the whole world lies in wickedness 1 John 5.19 and wonders after the beast by whom lying miracles are wrought Rev. 13 3. So that the miracles which the world bears witnesse to are lying miracles for the world knows noâ— Christ nor his Church 1 Joh. 3.1 by whom true miracles are wrought for when Christ wrought miracles amongst the world they did not bear witnesse to him but said he did it by the Prince of Devils Mat 9 34. So that the witnesse that A.S. calls for confirmeth my forementioned affirmation viz. that the miracles in the Church of Rome are wrought by the Dragons power in the beast and false prophet that the whole world wonders after Fourthly and for nostre dame de loretto and the rest mentioned they signifie nothing as to our satisfaction in this particular because they are altogether unknown to us neither can we attain to a certain knowledge of them if we would for the information of the Church of Rome is to us no satisfaction so as I said before that A.S. for matter of proving his affirmation hath done just as much as nothing only made a shew like a cloud without rain But methinks if there were so many miracles wrought daily by a Roman Priest about London c. as A.S. seems to make a noise of he should have instanced some of them particularly for our satisfaction but seeing he hath not instanced any we have just cause to believe that there are none at all Ninthly So to proceed to the ninth part of A. S. his first Argument viz. Out of the true Church none can be saved I answer that thing I do not at all deny for all that are saved are of the true Church but that none can be saved out of the Church of Rome that I do deny for the Church of Rome is not the true Church but the Whore that drinks the blood of the Saints as afore-proved therefore out of the church of Rome people may be saved Wherefore let all who expecteth or desireth salvation make hast out of this great City Babylon And run for your lives towards Jerusalem the holy City the true Church the Lambs wife in whose light the Nations of them that are saved must walk Rev. 21.24 lest you perish within the borders of Babylon whose desolation shall certainly come in one day Yea Death and Mourning and Famine â— for strong is the Lord who is now arisen and judgeth her Well But if the Church of Rome say that she doth not drink the blood of the Saints but the blood of hereticks c. and therefore she is the true Church 1. I answer so or to that effect said the destroyers and murderers in all ages even they that put Christ to death they did it not in their own account as he was the Son of God but as a blasphemer and the Apostles were persecuted as spreaders of heresie and shedders of sedition and not as Saints and servants of the Lord in their adversaries account Act. 24.5 and thus the murthering persecuting spirit hath in all ages as at this day sought to shelter it self but this covering must now be ript off for the power of God is arisen that rends the vail of darknesse and the day is dawned that makes all things manifest 2. And farther If they were hereticks c. whose blood the Church of Râ—me drinks yet that doth not argue that she is the true Church but the contrary for the true Church did never drink the blood of hereticks nor persecute any because they were hereticks but the greatest punishment that ever Christ appointed for hereticks was that they should account them as Publicans and Heathens Mat. 18 17. 3. So its clear that Christ the power of God and the true Church that had the mind of Christ did never kill nor persecute any because they were hereticks or did not believe nor yet because after they believed they made shipwrack of faith But laboured in the spirit of love and meeknesse to restore them and to convince them by sound doctrine but if they refused to receive admonition or to submit to the Church after due admontion given then they let them receive the punishment aforesaid and refused to have fellowship with them and this was the greatest punishment that ever the true Church inflicted upon any though they were rebellious and this was the way to make true believers of people which force and compulâ—ion by penall laws will never do Though its true compulsive laws may make many of them hypocrites who fears man more than God but they who fears not man that can kill the body and can do no more but fears the Lord God almighty above all such will not bow to the compulsive Laws of men which violates the righteous Law of God in their own hearts no more then Sbadrach Meshach and Abednego would bow to the image that Nebuchadnezzar set up though for their stedfastnesse they suffer the pangs of death as many of their predecessors have done whose blood the Church of Rome hath drunk Thus much in brief to the nine particulars of A.S. his first Argument by which I perceive he thought he had infallibly proved the Church of Rome to be the true Church but what his Argument is worth for his purpose let all who reads this Judge And the next thing he undertakes is to prove Peter to be the rock or foundation upon which Christ builds his Church and to accomplish this design he rambles through several languages into which the Scripture hath been translated and in the conclusion he saith a great lie to Peter then Christ said upon thee I will build my Church c. when neither of the several Languages which he makes use of to prove it saith any such thing according to his own interpretation of them and indeed its blasphemy in A.S. to affirm it But then he saith that Christ is the primary rock and Peter the secondary rock Reply But how can that be that Peter should be a secondary rock for A.S. cannot prove that God ever ordained or appointed a secondary rock to build his Church on neither do we in all the Scriptures read of a secondary rock once mentioned for the Apostle affirmeth the contrary saying Another foundation can no man lay
then that which is already laid 1 Cor. 3.11 which is Jesus Christ So he is the first and the last the beginning and the end and A.S. his affirmation is nothing worth for his purpose nay it 's worse then nothing for it discovers his deceit and ignorance though I perceive his intent and aime was to gratifie his Master the Pope by pleading his Supremacy under pretence of setting Peter above the rest of the Apostles when indeed its manifest enough that his intent was to set up the Pope as Lord and Master over Gods heritage Gentile like contrary to that saying of our one Lord Christ viz. be not many masters for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren Mat. 23 8. So that Peter was not set up as a visible head over the Church of Christ as A.S. saith the Pope is over the Church of Rome neither was Peter above other of the Apostleâ— but a fellow servant with them and they all fellow workers together with Christ 2 Cor. 6 1. and Paul was not at all inferiour to Peter in relation to his spiritual authority for he himself said yet not boâ—stingly but truly that he came not behind the very chiefest Apostles 2 Cor. 12.11 So that Peter was no more the rock then Paul was and what was Paul or what was Apollo or Peter either But Ministers by whom the Church believed 1 Cor. 3.5 so it was not the work of the Apostles to set themselves one above another for they abased themselves that the Lord Jesus Christ might be exalted Neither did they preach themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord and themselves servants c. 2 Cor. 4.5 by which it appears that the Pope doth not truly succeed Peter in the same spirit that he and the rest of the Apostles were in who had the spirit and mind of Christ who made himself of no reputation Phil. 2.7 but the Pope truly succeeds those whom the Apostle saw would come that should be covetous boasters and prâ—ud blasphemers 2 Tim. 3.2 as doth appeare by his preaching up himself and his boasting of his great power and superiority witnesse Fox his Acts the first Volume pag. 1023. and so on where you may read at large how several of the Popes of Rome have sufficiently declared themselves to be covetous boasters and proud blasphemers and have also laid themselves open enough to the view of all who have an eye to see so that I need not produce any farther Argument to prove the Pope a proud blasphemer Then next A.S. in his third chapter undertakes to prove That neither all sects nor any one of them is the true Church c. Whose Cause I am not engaged in nor intend to plead therefore I shall let that passe But his fourth and fifth Chapters contains several Arguments by which he undertakes farther to prove the Church of Rome to be the true Church together with some Queries propounded To which I intend to return a brief and sober Answer 1. First A. S. saith That which was once the true Church is now c. But the Roman Pontificial was once the true Church c. I answer I do not deny but that there was a true Church at Rome in the Apostles dayes but that the Church now at Rome is therefore the true Church that doth not follow for as I have before proved the true Church in the Apostles dayes was far different both in Discipline and Practice from the Church of Rome that now is But then A.S. saith If the Roman Pontificial did fall what Church did she fall from If she did faile when c I answer Paul in the first Chapter in his Epistle to the Church of Rome spake of some who when they knew God did not glorifie him as God but became vain in their imaginations and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible man and so not likeing to retain God in their knowledg God gave them up to a reprobate mind and they were filled with unrighteousness fornication and wickedness covetousness envy murther c. Rom. 1.21.23.28 29. And is not this the very state of the Church of Rome at this day is she not now filled with these things Surely yes Thousands of thousands must acknowledg it if they consider it and speak the truth Oh the murthers acted by her and the blood she hath drunk as before hinted and the adulteries committed within her borders Indeed these and many other her abominations are innumerable as she her self full well knows therefore she is indeed falne and deeply revolted from that pure spirit in which the true Church stood in the Apostles dayes Thence she is falne and the time when she fell was when she began to enter into these aforesaid abominations that is now found in her Well 2. But then A.S. saith That if the true Church be infallible she must have alwayes remained without interruption since Christs time to this day c. I answer although the true Church be infallible yet it doth not absolutely follow that she must have always remained without interruption unto this day for as I have already proved the true Church was interrupted by the Dragon and was persecuted into the Wildernesse but she did not fail but remained there and had a being there a place prepared of God for her concerning which I shall have occasion to speak more fully shortly 3. But A.S. saith That no other Church on earth hath remained unto this day without interruption besides the Roman Pontificial and therefore she is the true Church I answer no she is not therefore the true Church but the Whore for as I have already proved the true Church was interrupted and yet remained 4. But then said A.S. If any can say that there hath remained any other Church on earth since Christs time unto this day without interruption and error let him tell what was she or what is she where was she or where is she what is her name what Bishops Pastors and Believers had she or yet hath she what Emperors or Kings did adhere to her or now do what general Councils did she hold what Hereticks did she condemn what Accademies did she errect or confirm what Churches or Monastries did she build c. And then said he To these and such like Interrogatories all the Schismaticks Sectaries and Hereticks in the world cannot answer Answ To which I answer Although all the Sectaries in the world cannot answer those questions yet there are many who are members of the true Church not of the Church of Rome that can answer them and first I say there hath remained another Church since Christs time to this day besides the Roman Pontificial thaâ— now is though not without interruption yet the true Church as before proved was interrupted And as to those questions viz. What was she or what is she c. I answer she was in Johns day a wonder in Heaven a woman cloathed
with the sun that and there she was and the Moone was under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve stars Rev. 12.1 And having brought forth a man child that was to rule all Nations with his rod of Iron the enmity of the Dragon then arose who sought to devour the man child but being by the hand of God prevented of his purpose on the man-child ver 5. he then cast out his flood of persecution after the woman ver 15. of whom this ruler was born and drave her into the Wildernesse whither she fled from him to her place prepared of God that they might feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes Rev. 12.6.14 and there she hath been and there she hath fittâ—n aâ— in a sollitary place and in a mourning state and condition out of which she is now returning and is now coming up out of the Wilderness and is descending from God as a Bride adorned for her husband Rev. 21.2 and her name is the Bride the Lambs wife the holy City ver 9. new Jerusalem And now is Jerusalem shaking her self from the dust of the earth in which she hath been trodden of the Gentiles and now is she putting on her beautiful garments and now doth the solitary begin to rejoyce and the barren that did not bear begins to break forth into singing Isa 54.1 And the things that many Prophets desired to see and could not see is now seen and revealing glory to God in the highest The day is come which we have waited for we will be glad and rejoyce in it and now the time times and half a time is expired in which the true Church hath been fed in the Wildernesse and now is the forty and two months expired also for which time the holy City hath been trodden under foot of the Gentiles Rev. 11.2 in which time the beast had power given him to continue Rev. 13.5 and the Whole world wondered after him and worshipped him and in that time it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and he received power over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations that all that dwelt upon the earth should worship him whose names were not written in the book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world if any man have an ear let him hear Rev. 13.7 8 9. And this was the time that the true Church was in her mourning state which now begins to be over Glory to God for ever the day of rejoycing is come And for her Bishops Pastors and Believers that she had I answer Christ was and is her Bishop and chief Pastor 1 Pet. 2.25 And the rest after the Apostles dayes were they that fed her in the Wildernesse and her Believers were those that had the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.17 whose blood the Whore drunk And they are now her Believers whose blood the Whore thirsts after And as to that question viz. What Emperors or Kings did adhere to her or now do Answ I answer On this wise did the Pharisees Query with those Officers whom they sent to take Jesus and bring him unto them saying Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him Joh. 7.48 Well what Emperors or Kings did adhere to him at that time Was he not therefore the true Christ because the Rulers of the world and the Pharisees rejected him And what said the Apostle to the true Church in his day You see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighthy nor noble c. but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise c. that flesh might not glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.26 27. And farther the Apostle who preachâ— Christ said That he preached the wisdom of God in a mistery which none of the Princes of the world knew c. 1 Cor. 2.7 8. By which it appeares that none of the Princes of the world knew Christ the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 And the true Church was in the world as Christ was for the Apostle said as he is so are we in this present world 1 Joh. 4.17 And the world knows us not ver 1. because it knew not him So that notwithstanding the Princes of this world knew not Christ when he was amongst them and although the Rulers believed not in him nor did adhere to him when he was come yet that did not argue that he was not the true Christ And notwithstanding iâ— was so that the true Church was unknown to the world and was composed not of many wise men after the flesh nor of the Nobles of the earth but was persecuted by them as she is at this day yet she was the true Church for all that And seeing it was so that the Princes and Rulers did not adhere to her in the time of her flourishing state when she was cloathed with the Sun how can it be expected that they should adhere to her in her persecuted state and in her mourning wildernesse-state for a rich man shall very hardly enter the kingdom Mat. 19.23 but there is more in them words And moreover seeing the Kings of the earth committed fornication with the great Whore and went into her how then can it possibly be expected that they should adhere to the true Church Surely all who have a spiritual eye open may be hereby satisfied as to this particular And farther as to that Query viz. What general Councils did she hold and what Hereticks did she Condemn Answ I answer she hath not been in a capacity in her wildernesse state to hold general counsels as in the time of her flourishing state yet the mighty God hath alwaies been her wonderful counsellor Isa 9.6 and the members of her hath stood in and held to his counsel according to the manifestation thereof received by them Not loving their lives unto death as the Church of Rome well knows who have drank the blood of many of them or shall know to her sorrow and pangs And as for the true Churches condemning hereticks the Church of Rome knows that those members of her whose blood she hath drunk did alwaies condemn those heresies that are healed and the idolatries acted in the Church of Rome and did alwaies give testimony against her superstitious inventions and denied to have fellowship with her therein and looked upon her as reprobated from the true faith as Fox his Acts copiously relates and this was a great condemnation as the Spirit of Christ gave commission to the true Church to passe upon hereticks And again as to that question viz. What Academies did she erect Answ I answer A peoples Erecting of Accademies is not an argument sufficient to prove them to be the true Church for what Academies or Universities did the Apostles Erect or confirm or attain the knowledg of God in Was it not the light that shined in their hearts
that gave them this knowledg 2 Cor. 4.6 And was not this light the Law that was the Apostles Schoolmaster till Christ Gal. 3.24 And is not the Law which is light Pro. 6.23 written in the hearts of all people And is it not a sufficient Schoolmaster now to bring people who are taught by it unto the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Christ as it did the Apostles then What need then is there of erecting Academies for people cannot attain to the knowledg of God by Natural learning 1 Cor. 1.21 Nor thereby be made true Ministers of Jesus Christ Yet I am not against having an outward School house or some convenient place for the educating or bringing up of children in Natural Learning which is good in its place but that any can thereby be brought to the knowledge of God or made true Ministers of Jesus Christ that I cannot own Neither was this way of making Ministers by natural learning or setting of them up by man in being untill people had forsaken the right way and went into Cains way and Balaams and then the envy and murther began amongst the profest Christians and then they could not endure sound Doctrine but heapt up to themselves teachers according to their own hearts lusts who knew nothing but what they knew naturally as bruit beasts c. and this the Apostle Paul foresaw and wrote of to Timothy 2 Tim. 4.3 and Peter prophesied of them also 2 Pet. 2. and John and Jude saw them come 1 John 2.18 Jude 10.11 so that by natural learning and ordination of man no true Minister of Christ was ever made or sent forth but contrariwise the Apostle Paul was made a Minister viz. not of man nor by man nor yet by natural learning but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.1 so we do not understand that in the Apostles dayes they did erect Academies or that they had any need of them and indeed I cannot but look upon it as an ignorant question to be proposed by A. S. upon this account But to his next Query viz. What Churches and Monasteries did she build Answ I answer this is as ignorant a question as the former and great foolishnesse to ask what Churches the Church built however this I say they who were Members of the true Church did build up one another in their most holy faith Jude 20. And as for Monasteries or Monk houses we hear of no such thing that was in being in the Apostles dayes neither do we believe that there is any need of them for we do not read in the holy Scriptures that ever the true Church in any generation built such places but we know that many such places have been erected and built within the borders of the great City Babylon since the Apostacy began and since the right way was forsaken and many other Superstitious inventions and Idolatries as before hinted hath been set up relating to the beasts and Dragons worship all which God hath determined to throw down and when the desolation of all these things cometh and the seven Mountains upon which the Whore sits comes to be laid waste according as hath been prophesied in ages past Isa 42.15 And when the great Whore comes to drink the cup of Gods fury which is already filled into the hands of the Saints of the most High to pour out unto her Rev. 12. I say then shall she know that God hath spoken by me and that I have herein declared the truth according as I received it from and by the spirit oft he Lord. And thus much as to his Queries But then he speaks of another clear and easie way to find out the true Church to try all Churches by the true Catechisme and see which of them all sayes it truly believes it rightly c and that which doth is the true Answ I answer to try all Churches by their Doctrine and practice and see which is most agreeable to the Principles Doctrines and Practice of the true Church in the Apostles dayes is indeed a way that I do very well approve of and if all controversies betwixt you and us might be decided after this manner laying aside all carnal weapons carnal laws prisons fires and the like which hath been the weapons that the Church of Rome hath defended her self with for many ageâ— past and doth at this day I say then it would be indeed well and we shall be very willing to engage with you wiâ—h spiritual weapons bring the best you can form or find out but for carnal weapons we are redeemed from them and the weapons of our warfare are spiritual so I say upon equal termes we shall be very willing to dispute the matters with you that are in controversie betwixt us and they who are found either you or us in Doctrine life and practice to be most agreeable to the true Church in the primitive times shall be owned and acknowledged to be the true Church now at this day And they who are detected to be in the steps practises and Doctrines of them whom the holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles testified against shall be concluded to be the false Church now at this day and upon these termes as I said before we shall be very ready and willing to joyn issue with you at any time or place that you wiâ—h us shall agree upon And whereas A.S. saith that all the Schismaticks Sectaries and Hereticks in the world cannot truly say that prayer that Christ taught his Disciples viz. Our Father which art in Heaven c. for said he they are continually doing the works of the Devil and are his children and consequently cannot truly call God Father I answer therefore the Church of Rome cannot call God Father for she is and long hath been doing the works of the Devil the murtherer as before proved therefore she is of her father the Devil and cannot call God father in truth and in righteousnesse Then A. S. rambles through several other particulars in which he controverts with Sectaries c. whose cause I am not concerned to plead only this small hint before I have given to prove the Church of Rome one of those Sects who cannot speak the fore-mentioned words truly and so I shall leave the Sectaries with whom A. S. controverts to plead their own cause for the thing that was chiefly in my heart when I took in hand to write this brief reply was to prove the Church of Rome not to be the true Church and the chief Arguments by him produced to prove her the true Church I have already in brief answered Again A. S. in his 6th Chapter makes it his business to prove the Church to be the Judge of all controversies in matters of faith and saith that not every man nor human reason nor the private spirit nor the Bible is this Judge and to prove it he quotes Matth. 18.17 where Christ said tell the Church c. Ans To
which I answer That the Judgement of the true Church of which Christ is Head in matters of faith I do not deny for being governed in all things by the Head Christ to whom all Judgment is committed John 5.20 the Judgement thereof must of necessity be true for the strength of Israel cannot lye and ought to be submitted unto by all But the Church of Rome being not the true Church she being not governed by the invisible Head Christ to whom all Judgment is committed as before proved Therefore she is not Judge of controversies in matters of Faith And the true Church to whom Christ said he that heareth you heareth me were such as heard Christ and in whom the spirit of the Father spake Mat. 10.20 But the Church of Rome doth not hear Christ as hereafter I shall prove therefore they who heare the Church of Rome do not hear Christ But surely when A.S. began this work of deciding controversies he had forgotten that the Church was the only Judge in that particular and not every man nor the private spirit for had he considered that he being but a particular man would not have undertaken the Churches work as appears by the Title of his book he hath for he calls it A brief Decider of all controversies in matters of Faith which book we have cause to judge is his own only work and not the Churches in which we find him condemning himself for the thing which he is doing for as appears by his aforesaid Title himself undertakes to decide controversies and in his 6th Chapter he affirmeth that the Church is the only Judge or decider of all controversies But this is that his confusion may the more appear as it hath done in many other things as may be seen in this small Treatise and surely if the Pope have no better servants than A. S. to do his work for him he had better keep them idle than to employ them in such a work for in the end they will bring more shame to him than they will honour for such like confusione and other abominations hath already made the very name of the Pope an ill savour to all true Christians And one thing more in A. S. his 6th Chapter I cannot well omit to observe where he saith the spirit inspireth when he will and you hear his voice but cannot tell whence from God or the Devil he doth come or whither to heaven or to hell he doth go and then saith so is every one that is born of the spirit and to prove this he quotes Luke 9.55 where Christ said ye know not what spirit ye are of Now consider the blindnesse and ignorance or else the wilful wickednesse of A. S. who jumbles a deal of Scriptures together blasphemously wresting of them to his own destruction or at least to the destruction of his own work in hand thinking thereby to blind the minds of people and with his good words mixed with blasphemies and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple as his predecessors have done in the long night of Apostacy which hath been over all nations since the Apostles dayes But it s in vain for him to strive to accomplish his end for the day is dawned unto many and there is an eye opened in many thousands in this Nation of England that gives them to see over and beyond all this Babylonish or confused trumpery and stuff and have a feeling of that which was before Babylon was and shall out last Babylon to the praise of God and to the glory and honour of his name who is blessed for ever Well Although it was so that Christ said unto his Disciples you know not what spirit ye are of yet consider the time when he spake these words was it not before they were born of the spirit although called to be Apostles for Christ said unto them you must be born again John 3.7.8 and that he would send them the spirit of which he said they must be born which should lead them into all truth John 16.13 and he did not say as A.S. doth that they should not know whence from God or the Devil the spirit came or whither to heaven or to hell it went oh horrid blasphemy in A. S who saith so is every one that is born of the spirit as much as to say that he that is born of the spirit knows not whether he be from God or the Devil or whither he shall go to heaven or to hell oh wickednesse indeed Christ said no such thing as A.S. doth although that blessed worthy saying of our Saviour and Lord Christ was and is very true viz Marvel not that I say unto you that you must be born again for the wind bloweth where it listeth and men hears the sound thereof but cannot tell from whence it cometh nor whither it goeth adding even so is every one that is born of the spirit John 3.7 8. Mark they that were born of the spirit were unknown to the world for said the Apostle after they were born again the world knows us not So although they were in the world and men saw them yet the world knew them not no more than they knew from whence the wind came and whither is went which they heard the sound of and indeed so is the state of the true Church in the world at this day And the Apostles did know from whence the spirit came and of what spirit they were after they received the spirit of truth and were born of it for Christ told them John 14.16 that he would pray the Father and he should send them the Holy Ghost the Comforter John 16.7.13 which should abide with them for ever and they did receive it and were led by it into a heavenly habitation Eph. 1.3 for they were made to sit together iâ— heavenly places in Christ Jesus so it s hereby clear that the Apostles knew from whence the spirit came and whither it led them and it s also plain that A.S. either wilfully or sottishly wrests the words of Christ and by his additions to them would make them import another thing than was intended by him of purpose to divert people from being led by the spirit of God or to disswade them from adhering to the leadings of it under pretence that they cannot tell whence from God or the Devil it doth come or whither to heaven or to hâ—â—l it goeth when indeed Christs words in themselves importeth quite another thing as above shewed Wherefore let all mind and obey the spirit of truth which will lead into all truth and condemn sin in the flesh and will lead out of all unrighteousnesse and errours and heresies which the Church of Rome is full of and that spirit which condemns the abominations of the Whore and all sin and unrighteousnesse that is the spirit of God and comes from God through the Son of his love who is the light of the world that lighteth every man that cometh
into the world and leads up to God the Father from whence it comes all who are taught and guided by it but condemns from God all who in unbelief or in rebellion do despight unto it and disobey the motions thereof But to return to the matter concerning the Churches being Judge First I find A.S. in the beginning of his seventh Chapter saying Methinks I hear a Quaker whispering the Light that is in thee is the Judge of all controversies and the law and rule according to which thou must walk Answ I answer Yea the people called Quakers do believe and say that the light which every man is enlightned with is the law and rule according to which every man ought to walk and is the Judge in all controversies in matters of faith for as before All Judgement is committed to the Son John 5.22 who lighteth every man that cometh into the world so all Judgement being committed to the light that lighteth every man the light that is in every man must of necessity be the Judge of all controversies and this I farther adde that all who are baptized into Christ hath put on Christ and all who are by one spirit baptized into one body though they were sometimes darknesse are made light in the Lord and so they being in him and he in them are all one even as Christ and the Father is one and he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one by which its clear that Christ in his Church who is light with him is the onely Judge of all controversies and indeed this supernatural Light is the true touchstone by which all spirits may be tried whether they be of God or not for as the Apostle said whatsoever makes manifest is light Ephesians 5.13 so that without this touchstone none can try spirits because an evil spirit may speak good words Again Christ is in all things to be the Example of all believers and he lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1.9 so every man being enlightened with the light of his spirit who is to be our example in all things it must of necessity be that the light that is in us is this Judge and the law and rule according to which all ought to walk Secondly But then A.S. replyes that the light that is in thee tells thee that thou must hear Christ and Christ tells thee that thou must hear the Church c. Answ I answer Yea the Light that is in us teacheth us to hear Christ who hath enlightened us and also to hear his Church with whom he dwells and that hears him and in whom his spirit speaks so as I said before I shall not go about to deny the Authority of the true Church but the usurped authority of the Church of Rome I do deny usurp'd I say because she hath been and here is sufficiently proved not to be the true Church to whom Christ gives power and authority both to bind and to lose therefore her authority is usurp'd and she is not to be heard but to be turned away from Thirdly A.S. saith If you object that the spiritual judgeth all things and the spiritual is judged of no man I answer that the godly spiritual judgeth all things c. But I deny that you or any other Sectaries in the world is godly spiritual for as St. Augustine saith they have not the Holy Ghost that are out of the Church Reply To which I say that as A.S. hath coâ—fessed That the spiritual man judgeth all things its according to my own belief but what doth this avail the Church of Rome who as I have proved is not godly spiritual but is sensual and devilish and is not the true Church but the Whore for although as he saith The godly spiritual is judged of none yet the Whore is judged of all who are godly spiritual and although A.S. denyeth that thâ— Quakers are godly spiritual yet he is never able to prove his affirmation for though they have not the holy Ghost who are out of the Church yet it doth not follow that they have it not who are out of the Church of Rome except she could be proved to be the true Church The contrary whereof I have already proved for the people called Quakers though they are out of the Church of Rome are led by that spirit which teacheth them to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world as thousands of their Neighbours can bear witnesse therefore the people called Quakers are godly Spirituall Again That Prophet which is of God is godly spiritual Jer. 28.9 and that Prophet which speaketh a thing and the thing come to pass that Prophet is of God But the people called Quakers have prophesied several things as to the late overturn'd Powers of this Nation with divers other things which accordingly came to pass as to their sorrow they were made to know therefore they are of God and godly spiritual 4. A. S again saith If you say know ye not your selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Câ—r 13.5 I answer the true sence and meaning of this place is this c. So here A.S. is again undertaking that which himself saith is the Churches work for saith he in his eighth chapter the Church is the alone interpreter of all Scriptures and yet he himself who is but a particular man is here undertaking to give an interpretation or meaning to the forementioned Scripture by which it is plain that he condemns himself in the thing he is doing 5. Again fifthly he saith That the spirit of God saith Hear the Church but the spirit of the Devil contradicts and saith Hear not the Church but Christ alone for of Christ saith he it s written This is my beloved Son him hear ye behold how the Devil pleads for Christ of purpose to deceive Christians c. Ans To which I answer That I think I need not say much to convince all that reads but A.S. his own words that he is either grosly ignorant or else abominably wilful wicked for who can believe that the Devil will plead for Christ or perswade people to hear Christ and disswade them from hearing of the Church certainly if he would perswade people to hear the greater he would not disswade them from hearing the lesser And how can people pâ—ssibly be deceived that hears Christ and obeys him I cannot believe that its the spirit of the Devil that perswades people to hear Christ but rather that its the drawings of the spirit of the Father that invites them to come unto the Son and to heâ—â— him for Christ said None cometh unto me except my father who hath sent me draw him Joh 6 44. But A.S. contrarywise in effect saith That the Devil draws people to come unto Christ and to hear him By which he hath manifestly shewed that he is of â— contrary spirit unto Christ Therefore A.S. is an Antichrist and
concern me to answer his charges against them but shall leave them to answer for themselves Although there are indeed many things contained in the remaining part of his book from which I might lay open much of the deceit and ignorance of A. S. and the abominations of the church of Rome But the generality of people being already so fully satisfied concerning her and the confusion and ignorance of A. S. also being herein so fully manifested already I look upon it as superfluous at present to inlarge on this account and indeed if never a word had been said the very fruits brought forth by the church of Rome in the view of all Nations are enough to forewarn them of adhering to her for can a man touch pitch and not be defiled But for all that hath been said It may be some will say that grand question propounded by A.S. in the second Chapter of his booke Remaines yet unanswered viz which is the true Church c. First To which I answer that is the true Church and no other whose fruits makes manifest that they are governed by the invisible head Christ and that continues in the doctrine of Christ and his apostles and that are found in the same order or discipline in their Assemblies that the true Church was in the primitive times and that have the same way of ordaining ministers that the true Church had And that lives soberly righteously and godly in this present world as the true Church did But the people called Quakers are such as hereafter I shall prove Therefore the people called Quakers are the true Church Secondly It is manifest by the fruits of the people called Quakers that they are governed by the invisible head Christ for Christ commandes his followers not to sweare at all which command the aforesaid people observes and keeps as this nation of England full well knowes Againe Christ came not to destroy mens lives but to save them and commanded his followers to love their enemeis And it is manifest that the people called Quakers have the mind of Christ because they seek not the destruction of any but the preservation and good of all and that they love even their enemies who hates and persecutes them because they are ready to assist or be helpfull to them upon all occasions or opportunities in any thing that may tend to their present and future well-being therefore they are governed by the invisible head Christ againe Christ commanded saying whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do ye unto them Mat. 7.12 which command the aforesaid people observes and keeps as thousands can beare witness for them Therefore they are governed by the invisible head Christ and are the true Church Thirdly Againe the people called Quakers continues in the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles for Christ preacht the doctrine of perfection saying be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect Math 5 48. And the Apostle preacht the same doctrine Heb. 6 1 and laboured to present every man perfect in Christ Col 1 28 having received guifts for that very worke Ephes 4 11 12 And the people called Quakers do preach the same doctrine of perfection and laboures in the power and spirit of the â—ord to present people perfect in Christ as the Apâ—stles did as thousands can beare testimony by which it sufficiently appeares that they continue in the doctrine of Christ and his apostles and therefore they are the true Church But this Christian doctrine is now opposed by all the Antichristian Ministers throughout the whole Christendom or by all Babylons merchants in every parte of her teritories who Ignorantly produce many good words to oppose this doctrine 1. As first they urge Solomons words viz There is not a just man upon the earth that doth good and sineth not Therefore say they people cannot be perfect But alas they do not discerne the signes of the times neither do they consider the time and season when these words were spoken for at that time all were gon out of the way and there was none that did good Psa 14 3. and they had forsaken the Lord and knew not so much of him as the oxe did of his owner Isa 1 3 and were in the transgression of gods covenant which he made with their fathers Ier 31 32 so that although there was none without sin at that time yet it doth not follow the people can never be free from sin no more then their being then Ignorant of God doth argue that people should never come to the knowledge of him the contrary of both which may be easily proved by plaine scripture for at that time when Israell were strangers unto God and were all gon out of the way and none amongst them did good c. even then did God promise that the day should come in which he would make anew covenant with the house of Judah and with the house of Israell who were in the transgression of the first covenant Jer 31 31 and that he would finish transgression and make an end of sin Dan 24 which had hid his face from them and by which they were made strangers to him Isâ— 59.2 and that he would Remember their Iniquities no more and that they should all know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31 34 by which it is evident that alâ—hough in the prophets days they were all in transgression and had not the knowledge of God the purpose of God was to bring them into a better state which the true Chuâ—ch in the apostles dayes were witnesses of for the apostles said Heb. 11 4â— God having provided some better thing for us that they without us could not be made perfect and although some of them had been Idolators and had lived in the pollutions of he world yet they were washed and clensed yea and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.10 11 and so though they were some times Ignorant of God yet God caused the Light to shine out of darknesse in their hearts to give them the Light of the knowledg of Gods glory in the face of Christ who dwelt in them 2 Cor. 4.6 Gall. 2.20 so that both sin and Ignorance was don away in them through the power and coming of the Lord Jesus and so they did not alwayes remaine in their sins but was freed from them as the apostle testified Rom. 18. 8.2 Secondly But then Antichrists ministers saith that if they were free from sin why did the apostle say that if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 John 1.8 I Answer he did not say so because people could not be made free from sin but he said so that they might not sin 1 John 2.1 and consider who they were that he then wrote to for he sometimes wrote to children and sometimes to young men and sometimes to fathers in the