or liquor to be drunk in this Kingdom but spiritual liquor onely poured out of a spiritual cup into a spiritual body Quest What is the flesh and bloud of Christ which except a man eat and drink he hath no life in him which eating and drinking he that doth it knows he dwels in Christ and Christ in him Whether this be outward bread and wine yea or nay And whether his flesh and bloud can be carried about in baskets and bottles yea or nay seeing at Christs preaching of this the Jewes which had the letter strove about that saying And many of the Disciples murmured and said it was an hard saying who could heare it and turned away and walked no more with Jesus Answ That flesh and bloud of Christ which gives life to Saints must needs be spiritual this is that which quickens when the outward Sacramentall profits little this spiritual flesh and bloud of Christ is his pure nature and vertue which creates life quickens nourishes and feeds the soul of the Christian up in his spiritual life and union with the Father And when this spiritual nature vertue or body of Christ in spirit is given into the soul then the soul can say in truth I know the Son of God is come and hath given me an understanding to know him that is true and I am in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ And this Iesus Christ is the true God unto the Saint and the eternall life of the Saint and in this day the Christian knows that Christ is his by being in him and he is Christs by dwelling in him and he who knows not this hath no true Christ nor life This the Jews of old and the Jews in spirit still looke upon as an hard saying that the very body and bloud of Christ must thus be eaten in spirit otherwise no eternal life give them the flesh that they may be sensible of as for this Jesus in spirit they cannot receive him because they see him not neither know him Quest The cup of blessing which Paul spake of to the Corinthians who were the Temples of the holy Ghost which they blessed which was the Communion of the bloud of Christ and the bread which they brake which was the â—ommunion of the body of Christ whether was this an outward cup and outward bread yea or nay Was that oâ—â— bread which they were all partakers of outward yea or nay The Cup of the Lord and the Table of the Lord which Paul spake of to the Corinthians was they an outward Cup and Table yea or nay The Cup of Devils and the Table of Devils was they an outward Cup and Table yea or nay Answ I answer in brief they are all to be understood of inward and spiritual things though the outward figures and things are not to be contemned so long as the Lord makes them a Table for his weak children to sit with him at to give them out refreshing and comforts in their weaknesse But when the Lord is clearly gone out of an administration then that becomes through Satans getting into it a Table of the Devil which he sets his dark children at to cozen them with a shew and shadow when the truth and life and substance is gone Quest What is the beast which Iohn saw was like unto a Leopard Answ The beast is the wisdom and understanding of the flesh or spirit of man which in the various turnings windings appearances and comings of it forth according to the reason and wisdom and apprehensions of men in the dark world of flesh and bloud is like unto a party coloured or spotted beast such as the Leopard is Hence it 's written can the Leopard change his spots Can the wisdom of the flesh and the bestial man change his fowl and beastly abominations of all sorts which stick and grow up in his nature Besides I have read of the Leopard that it is an exceeding wilde beast that cannot be tamed very furious and malicious against the very image of a man and very cunning and crafty in catching of his prey Such is the nature of fleshly wisdom and fleshly men they cannot be tamed but are still full of fury against the image or true appearances of God in man and very cunning to prey upon the righteous seed seeking to devour the man-childe as soon as ever he appears to be born in the vvorld This is the beast which is like unto a Leopard Quest What is the beast all the vvorld wonders after Answ Some make him the Pope but I never yet found all the vvorld wondring after him though he be the beast in an outward eminent figure and have many vvorshippers and followers in the vvorld But the beast is the fleshly wisdom or spirit of man which is alwayes setting up a false Christ or anointed one in the place and office of Christ unto us either our own righteousnesse or our own wit and carnal reason which teacheth us to depart from God and to subsist of our selves live of our selves be wise of our selves vvorship of our selves So that flesh with all the wisdom and power of it is the beast that all the vvorld willingly wonders after insomuch that they are naturally constrained compelled and overcome to its obedience which is their wondering after the beast Quest What is the beast and what is the number of his name whose name is 666 Answ The number of the beast is the number of a man though to those who are deceived by him he appears as a God that cannot erre yet to the man that hath understanding or his eyes opened through the anointing of God he hath but the perfection and compleatnesse of a man who in the height of all his imaginary compleatnesse and fulnesse in himself and of himself is but a poor empty miserable shadow altogether lighter than vanity This is the number or summe of all the power and wisdom of the flesh It is but an imagination of compleatnesse and fulnesse it is not perfection and fulnesse it self and so it leaves a man where it findes him in a poor miserable imperfect and undone estate And therefore the number of the beast is but 666. it reaches not to the bringing of a man to the number seven or to a state of perfection rest and fulnesse but still leaves in the number 6. or in a state of weaknesse bondage miserie even like a poor wretched sinfull man Quest What is the woman which Iohn saw sit upon a Scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemy Answ The woman is the false Antichristian Cainish Church which rides in Pomp and Triumph upon the stately wisdom and power of the flesh and here cries out what wisdom is like unto mine What power able to make war with mine And in this state and Pomp she rides on crucifying to her utmost skill all the appearances of Christ in the glory and Kingdom of his father or all higher and lower discoveries of
priest-hood he cries out wilt thou believe nothing but Scripture Thus the man can add and take away at his pleasure though such are accursed of God Gal. 1. 8 9. Rev. 22 18. Further applying the speech of Christ unto himself before Abraham was I am I asking him whether he was not ashamed did ever Saint apply that unto himself He answered he understood it of the Spirit that was within him blasphemously applying the Divine Spirit that dwelt in the Son of God to the filthy Spirit of Belial that dwelt in him And yet this man must be perfect sinlesse and infallible But to let him alone with his father the Devil and to come to another with whom I had some dealing by conference and by questions and answers and replies on both sides This man was one Thomas Lawson who had a companion with him This man and his companion I finde contradicting the other in two things 1. Lawcock he owns the sufferings of Christ but not his dying yet another time both his suffering and dying But Lawson scoffs at the sufferings and dying of Christ in the flesh as none of his Crosse as you shall see in his papers Here 's no Harmony you see amongst the Quakers but Quaker against Quaker one against another 2. Lawson's companion told me he was Christ and what he spake was Scripture This Lawson yielded unto by his silence But Lawcock denied this speech and his brethren in it though he said in effect as much when he cried out Before Abraham was I am yet he would not be Christ Still here 's Satan divided against Satan and so it must be that his Kingdom may fall And yet these wretched men delude poor people and say that at the meetings of Quakers in the North when there have been three hundred and five hundred Quakers together they have been all of one heart and one minde and so they are indeed being all under the power of the Prince of the air the Spirit that now works in all the Children of disobedience where I leave them in chains of darknesse to the judgement of the great day As concerning their questions propounded to me in writing I gave them but a brief answer not minding to make any thing publick unto the world knowing mine inability to come forth in print in the midst of such a variety of judgements abroad yet receiving a reply from Lawson full of lying and railings and evil surmisings I was pressed in my spirit to give some satisfaction unto my friends of these mens folly and madnesse as also of mine own experiences in the dealings of God with me so far as concerns the matter in hand And therefore my dear hearts put on the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the midst of all the windes and storms of Satans fury lean to the Rock Christ wherein is everlasting strength to keep you in this hour of temptation and confusion Own the unity of the spirit the seed of God in all your companions in tribulation and make this the bond of peace All ye whose faces are toward Sion fall not out by the way Live in peace and love Though there be a variety of wayes thither according to Gods Divine dispensations yet in all the wayes of God there is an Unity and Harmony as they tend to one point and center of rest and joy in himself Make him thine aim then he is the Sion we are all going unto Be not discouraged by the way though some draw back others grow weary others step aside others revile and blaspheme Look thou to God he is thy father thou art his Son and Heir Let all thy knowledge and wisdom and light and graces and comforts thou hast received from God make thee not great and high and something but little and low and nothing still in thine own estimation Take heed of Thorns and Bryars and Chaffe and this untoward generation of Godlesse shamelesse men And so I commend thee unto him who is able to keep thee from falling and to present thee blamelesse before the Throne of his glory to whom be praise and dominion in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages world without end Thine in the Lord Magnus Byne The scornfull QUAKERS ANSWERED And their railing Reply refuted Quest WHat is the first principle of pure Religion Answ The first principle of pure Religion is the Son of God dwelling in us He is the band of union between God and us or an Emanuell God with us He who lives in this principle is taught to be Religious And so he is bound and tied by love to worship the Father in Spirit who is the Center into which all Religion runnes and where all that is pure stayes Quest What is the Yoke of Christ Answ It s the Fathers work and will This is easy to the Son because of that spirit or principle of love that dwell's in him to his Father which moves him naturally and affectionately to do the will of his Father and to finish his work And this is the yoke that lyes upon every Christian Quest What is the Burden of Christ Answ It s his sufferings under all the weaknesses infirmities and sins of the world from the beginning thereof to this very day who is therefore called the Lambe slain from the foundation of the world This is light to the invincible Spirit of Christ who alone is able to overcome evill with good though the least reproach or suffering be a grievous load and burden to the weak low Spirit of flesh and blood which centers and lives no higher than self and this creation And this is the burden of every Christian which through faith is made light and easy to overcome as it is written Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 1 Joh. 3. 4. Quest What is the Talent which to every one is given to improve Answ It s that measure of the light and truth which is given to and manifested in every man which comes into the world as it is written of Christ He was the true light which lighteth every one who cometh into the world John 1. 9. Quest What is the Crosse of Christ and what doth it tend unto Answ It s the crucifying dying and suffering in the flesh which the head and all the members must and shall passe thorow or be baptized with before they enter into the glory of the Father which tends to the burning up of all fleshly visibilities discoveries enioyments dispensations that are temporall and shadowish that the Father and his Son and Sonnes may live in that oneness of spirit and glory where God shal be all in all Quest Who are they that bring their Talent out of the earth it to improve Answ Those who through the eternall spirit arise from under all the rubbish of the elementary world whence and where all bodies by the strong Word of
God are made and live That soul that is awakened and risen with Christ to live in the light of the inner world or new Creature and to slide from thence forth unto the darke world in the works of righteousnesse and true holiness is the soul that brings his Talent out of the earth it to improve Quest Who are they that hide their Talents in the earth to their condemnation Answ Men that sin away the light and Spirit or promise of the Father made out in their Spirits and consciences by the noble wisdome of God woing and importuning them within in the Center of their souls to turne unto the Lord and so love darkness rather then light to their owne condemnation or rather men who love to live below in flesh and sin and this creation or world rather than above with the Father and the Son making out love and truth and grace in their Spirits to bring them reconciled to God these are they who hide their Talents in the earth to their condemnation Quest Where is it and by what that God speakes unto man Answ God speakes unto man within there he stands in the gate of the soul and by many invitations woings operations which are as so many Angels or messengers of love and life he entreats men to come in and be saved as it is written Looke unto me and be ye saved for I am a God and there is none else This inward speaking of God is backed likewise with outward speakings from the heavens and earth and things that are made from the Scriptures which are a firme testimony and witnesse of the mind of God to man sometimes from Mercies sometimes from judgements sometimes from the words or mind of God put into other mens moneths All which varietie of witnesses declare the one will and mind of the Father which he is pleased more immediately to declare within by his owne voyce Quest What is that which unto the gentiles is manifest shewing unto them what of God may be knowne Answ It is the truth of the Deity or the eternall power and God-head which teaches them by the things that are made to owne and glorifie a Creator and so the unthankefull and stubborne are left without excuse Rom. 1. 20. 21. Quest. What is its operation in all from the rising of the Sun to the going downe thereof Answ The light and truth of the Deity which is manifested to and shewed in every man from the things that are made teaches every man to owne a God and to worship him and so to abstaine from evill and do good which operation being choaked and abused by most hence these wallow in the mire of sin and wickednes and superstitious vanities being given up thereunto by the Lord as a just punishment for their loving darkenes rather than the light of God Quest What is the flaming sword which turnes every way to keepe the tree of life Answ It may be the Administration of the Law within which as a light or flame shewes every man his sin and shame and so as with a sword cuts him off every way in the midst of his best actions performances and obedience from entring into life by his owne power Or the fierceness in the anger of God which turnes every way to keep every uncleance person and thing from entering into the Paradise of God to eat of the tree of life till it be washed and cleansed from its filthines as 't is written Rev. 21. 22. there shall in no wise enter into the holy City any thing that is unclean c. Quest What is the City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt Answ All the unregenerate world which are as Sodom and Egypt full of sin and wickednesse or the Antichristian formal Church which strouts it out with a shew of wisdome learning letter and History as if it were a well built City or a true Church of God but within is Wolvish Envious Dogged full of blood cruelty and persecution against Christ and every appearance of Christ in his saints This is the great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified And in her is found the bloud of Prophets and of Saints and of all that are ssain upon the earth In brief Egypt and Sodom are the kingdome of flesh and darknesse where Christ and the true Church are presecuted and crucified in Spirit Quest What is the language of Egypt Answ Egypt speakes nothing but bondage and warre to the people of God Egypt cannot endure that an holy Church should grow up in his dominions he will murder Abell or the innocent still Egypt is all for himself to manitaine himself in greatnesse and pompe and dominion in the world to rule and be a great potent Lord in the flesh If hee preach or pray or read or hear or appear sometimes as a seeming holy man yet all is ayming at his name greatnesse and credit in the world His heart cannot cleave to and love the Son of God He must persecute and devour the poor and needy in the earth This is the language of Egypt or that which Egypt declares Quest What is the cry of the wildernesse and what is the language of the wildernesse and whether thou wert ever in the wildernesse yea or nay Answ The wildernesse unto some is a state of confusion sin and death where God is not at all remembred minded or known The wildernesse unto others is such a state wherein the soul is awakened by the voice of Christ within to remember and mind the Lord and in the midst of all its confusions to cry and long and wait for his revealing coming manifesting And in this wildernesse I have been and here I have cryed been payned and the Lord hath heard my supplication and delivered me from my feares and brought me out into a wealthy place or into a condition of love joy rest and fullnesse in himself Further the wildernesse unto others is a condition of temptation which the Lord sometimes leades his people into to try and refine them and to make his might and power known in their preservation deliverance salvation Unto others yet the wildernesse is a condition of solitarines and retiredness of spirit where the soul is carried away from the fashions and practises of the world as likewise above the tumults rage and violence of the world sweetly to solace herself in her beloved and to walke in his way which is a way of peace light and holines The cry of the soul in this state of lonenesse is all for God and the will of God it s risen as it were out of the world and gone away from all other company to enjoy a fuller sight of the Lords beauty and to have a more exact communion with his Majestie And this is a wildernesse a gracious heart delights much to be in Quest What is the language of Canaan Answ In Canaan is heard the voice of peace love and meekenesse
Here 's no judging murmuring complaining dividing persecuting murdering These are the wayes of Egypt and Babell In Canaan there is rest from all the works of Egypt and darknesse Here 's unity in the midst of variety Here all are looking into the onenesse into the pure image and nature of the Father and this light keeps harmony and agreement between all the sons of Canaan And so in Canaan there 's joy melody singing Halleluja's Here the world is not mentioned flesh and bloud is not at all remembred with delight the former things are passed away and all is become new God alone is made mention of to be Lord and King and set up upon the Throne for ever Quest What is the vail which divides between the holy and most holy Answ It 's the flesh of Christ and all outward dispensations which divide and keep Saints whilest in weaknesse and bondage though holy in some measure from entring into the most holy into the substance truth it self or into the choisest glory of the father This vail of flesh in Christ was rent when he suffered death or was crucified in the flesh Through which death or rending of the vail of flesh he entred himself and made way also for us to enter into glory Hebâ— 10. 19. 20. Having therefore boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the bloud of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh And when this vail of flesh of letter and shadows and outward dispensations is rent and crucified by the eternall spirit in the true Christian then he the Christian enters into the holiest into the glory and joy of his Father Quest What is the death which over all men is passed and how camest thou to live Answ It 's first the breaking of the body or this earthly Tabernacle which comes upon all without exception for sin Rom. 5. 12. Secondly it's the dying unto Paradise and the Kingdom of God which man hath drawn upon himself by his lusting after and eating of the fruit of the four elements By this lusting and eating he becomes infected poysoned in his minde and will with the fruit of the Sun and Stars And this is the taking and eating of the Tree of temptation and his leaving the Tree of life and the heavenly fruit And thus he becomes an earthly man and dead Death stickes in his minde and soul and man is dead to all feeding upon God and the Son of God who is the Tree of life Man can no more feed upon the fruit which grows upon this Tree of life which is Christ till Christ awake and arise in the center of his soul and carry him through all the Trees of temptation or the pleasures pompe and glory of the outward world into the inward or holy pure element of this spirituall body and pure nature and there awaken him to eat of the Tree of life and live for ever And this is the way whereby I and all the Sons of God come to passe from the spirituall death into the spirituall life in the pure nature of Jesus Christ Quest What is deaths reign from Adam to Moses And to Moses how didst thou come Answ From Adam to Moses there was no law written without all the law was within upon the conscience here was the rule or law which God gave the worlds to walk by Now the world acting against this light and law within kept sin in the world from Adam to Moses for till the law viz. given out by Moses sin was in the world Rom. 5. 13. Now sin alwayes brings men under the reign of death and so death reigned over all from Adam to Moses All had a law given within otherwise they could have had no sin for where there is no law there is no transgression Now mens breaking of this inward law was their sin and this their sin brought them all under the power and reign of death And thus it is still though there had been no Moses to write Gods commands in outward tables or Scripture yet the law being written within upon the conscience by the finger of God we sinning against this law do plunge our selves into the reign of death wrath and condemnation we kindle the Root of the fire and that being awakened makes our Hell or self-comdemnation within because we have sinned against our light Now by this light and law within we come to know Moses and that all the law she hath written are holy just and good because we finde the same within that he hath written without and nothing without but what is in spirit and power within Quest. Who are they which sin not after the similitude of Adams transgression which till Moses death reigned over Answ They are infants in years according to some who although they sin not actually after the manner of Adam yet they have sin and death written in their nature according to the weaknesse of this creation Or they are infants in knowledge who although they have not such full discoveries of the minde of God and such strength to stand as Adam had and so their sin be not so great as Adam which is to sin after his similitude yet they have a plain law within as before which bids them not act or eat that which the Lord forbids They living contrary unto this law fall into sin and death And in this childish condition are we all sound till the Lord quicken and save us Quest Art thou called immediately by the great God of Heaven and earth into the Ministery yea or nay Answ That Ministery I act in I have the anointing of the Spirit which doth sufficiently warrant my call But as for those who are called through Arts and Sciences and mens ordinations without this anointing I know they are the Pillars of Antichrist which I cannot own for the Apostles of Christ My calling teacheth me to renounce my fleshly wisdom and to live upon the grace and love of God commending that manifestation of the truth that is in me to every mans conscience in the sight of Christ Quest Hast thou seen Gods face yea or nay Answ To see the invisible God with carnal eyes I never did nor shall for no man hath heard his voice nor seen his shape but with the enlightned minde I have in some measure seen his face nay his heart in the precious revelations and discoveries of his Son towards me in love which Son is the face and heart and brightnesse of God opened in love wherein he shews and speaks forth plainly his exceeding kindnesse and goodnesse to all his Children This face of God I have thus seen which is more to me than a thousand vvorlds Quest Hast thou heard Gods voice immediately from Heaven and earth yea or nay Answ I have heard his voice as I have seen his face viz. inwardly spiritually which voice of his hath fetched me out of the grave of darknesse sin
deceitfull above all things and knoweth nothing by nature of the spirituall things of God If thou hadst the Lord the just Judge in the midst of thy spirit quickened he would have shaken thee out of thy earthly heaven and digged up that root of bitternesse out of thine heart which springs from the bottomlesse pit in thee which root hath been spared through thine own indulgence to thy self as that within thee beares thee witnesse Repl. Thou tellest me The crosse is foolishnesse to me Answ It is so to reason in me but to faith it 's the power of God and the wisdom of God to thee indeed it is foolishnesse who instead of beleeving in the crosse of Christ makest nothing of the bloud of Christ shed at Jerusalem and so art fondly prying into the mysterie before the foundation be laid Repl. Thou sayest When I am searched into I am found an Alien to the ground of truth and yet through the pride of mine heart I said to such as I had formerly bewitched through my lies in hypocrisie that the questions were low and simple things Answ Thou I say art not capable of discerning either the truth or an Alien from it who hast no other ballance but thine own weak reason and dream to weigh things with As for my bewitching any through my lies let them speak and shew me what errour or sin or mischief I ever perswaded them unto If they came to me they were welcome if they are nearer to God 't is well if further off that 's ill I never did much glory in their company since I found them carried about with winde and fables As for thy questions thou seest I make a sober answer without bitternesse or railing though some of them I found alike and some of them I know not what This I know will grieve thee to see thy glory stained and slighted never so little seeing thou art the Pharisee that gloryest in thy questions Repl. Thou sayest The least measure of the life of the kingdom is hid from me Answ The life of the kingdom begins in the crosse of Christ since this hath had it's power in me to my crucifying and slaying in any measure I have found the life of the kingdom springing up and in this kingdom I have some measure of righteousnesse peace and so it is not altogether hid from me But thou rebellious wretch where wilt thou begin to enter into the kingdom where life is who lookest upon the crosse of Christ as a foolish thing and makest his sufferings and crucifyings in the flesh no crosse no part of his crosse and so swine-like tramplest under thy feet the precious bloud of the Son of God and makest it veil to thee so knowest not where life begins though the crosse of Christ without in the flesh and history thou mayest read and learn exactly too and yet not begin the life of the kingdom without the vertue and power of it crucifie thy self and flesh and arm thee with the minde of Christ to empty thy self of all thy glory and to humble thee at the feet of God to death as Christ did Repl. But thou sayest I use my tongue and say the Lord sayth when I have nothing but the letter and harlot-like trim my self with it and sit in an high seat in my imaginations even above the seed which by the fowls of the aire is devoured Answ The letter of the Scriptures being a declaration of the minde and love of God to man I look upon as one of the choice vessels of the Lords sanctuary and the flesh body and sufferings of Christ to purchase and make peace for us I look upon as a vessel without which the Lords sanctuary cannot be furnished with the Oyle of life or the beginnings of salvation This letter concerning Christ especially together with all the rest of the Scriptures I look upon as a precious mercy and light unto the Sons of men And yet all this without the meaning and fulfilling of Scriptures in us and to us by the anointing of the spirit availes nothing unto our salvation and inward consolation so that letter and history joyned with the spirit of the Lord opening and sealing the meaning and substance to my spirit is the Word of the Lord to me And friend this tongue of mine which thou sayest I use was given me to this end to use against all such as shall no lesse than commit fornication with the letter when it seems to favour their weak imaginations and formes but yet cannot endure to unite with the meaning and mystery couched or vayled under the letter And thus it is with the Quakers in their carnall tremblings Cattle of Tythes Priests the word Master Father the titles of thou you yea nay and the like In these things their souls are drunk with the letter and made they are against all interpretations and meanings put upon the letter though by the Lords spirit but in the great things of Christ and resurrection and judgement and heaven and hell after this life here the letter is prophanely trampled upon slighted abused contradicted and their fancie meanings and sensuall interpretations must be all the Scripture in such matters and so sometimes they are glorying in the letter but cannot endure the meaning and fulfilling at other times they are glorying in the mysterie and meaning but cannot endure the letter See here friends what a nose of wax as the Papists call it ye make of the Scriptures of truth and how they are wrested by you as by all other dark forms and professions onely to uphold your golden image that your own fingers have made This I cannot passe by in you with silence neither that high seat ye seek to creep into even the seat of God crying out lo here lo there I am Christ I am wise I am perfect without all spot All this is so manifest against both letter and meaning of Scriptures that though I should hold my peace the stones in the street would cry out against you And so thou who sayest I harlot-like trimme my self with the letter take heed how thou harlot-like trimmest thy self with Gods glory that others may ignorantly worship thee for God who art a poor broken idoll And take heed how by talking of a light within which I own in it's place thou prophanely despisest what is written in the letter seeing that also is a light that shines in a dark place and so to be owned of us too And take heed how in thy high-flowen lofty spirit thou be not found in that which thou condemnest in another viz. among the fowles of the ayre seeking to devour all the precious seed of God that is sown in any form or people besides thine own Repl. But I would deceive such thou sayest who are going right on their way Answ If by way thou understand a following of Christ in the way of life such I cannot deceive for no man can pluck such out of Christs
hand he and his father are greater than all and sufficiently able to preserve all theirs from all delusions and pollutions of men If thou mean by their way mans way or thy way which is a way of sense and reason and flesh such as are going in this way my desire is to undeceive But in any way of God be as strict and holy as the will or rather as the grace of God shall teach you to be onely have a care that ye begin not in the spirit and end in the flesh and so stick in the washing of the cup or platter or out-side when the heart is proud and lofty and doth all it doth to justifie it self with the proud Pharisee Repl. But thou sayest again I know not the Crosse which is the power of God to them that are saved and the bloud of his Crosse who makes peace I know not and so am unwashed in the bloud of the Lamb a Sow wallowing in the mire that 's my figure I wallow in pride and covetousnesse c. Answ Through the bloud of the everlasting covenant I have seen and believed the love that God hath to me and I own the bloud of his Crosse who hath made peace for me This through faith in it becomes the power of God to save me and this Crosse having its efficacy upon my Soul becomes the ruin of Satans Kingdom in my flesh And now I am not ashamed to tell thee I know no mire I wallow in but that of scandals reproaches accusations slanders from Satan and his Spirit who rules in the dark world and yet through the power and vertue of the Crosse am I freed from fear of this mire and this power carries me forth out of the mire of corruption and teacheth me to die dayly to live more to him and in him who is my life and Saviour And this I know is accepted according to what I have And now who art thou that condemnest It is God that justifies and sets me free from the reign of sin and death though I finde still enough in the flesh within me to keep me humble and low yet thou who wilt needs be my judge know that in the midst of all Satans railings and accusings and condemnings of me by thee I can sweetly behold the Lord causing all these things to work together for my good and easily making void thy condemnations Repl. Further thou tellest me I take upon me to tell what the flaming sword is and ghesse one thing and another thing Answ Here thou art still in the image of thy father either railing or scoffing when thou knowest not what to reply or say It seems thy questions were so deep in thy conceit that none could answer them but by ghessing and so they might be in thy double doubtfull sense Didst thou ever hear of the Oracles of old among the Heathen whither people resorting to ask the event of things the subtle Devil alwayes gave forth his answers in a double doubtfull sense and by this trick he kept up his credit in that blinde generation Just like his answers then are thy questions now alwayes taken in a double sense and when they are answered in the Letter then thou flyest unto the spirit and when they are answered in the spirit then thou flyest unto the Letter and so like thy father between both thou seekest to maintain thy credit among thy blinde friends for that 's thy God thy credit and yet it may be God may open thine eyes I can but ghesse at it seeing thou hast so willingly denied the Lord that bought thee But to thy reply that may be doth not make mine answer a ghesse but lets thee understand that the flaming sword is a real thing in both those senses I named And with this sword God will confound and destroy all proud persons and things for ever And though thou see it not yet my joy is that this sword of the Lord hath kept me from the forbidden Tree and put me in minde of the new and living way of coming to the Tree of life which is by the bloud of Jesus Thus the Law and the fiercenesse of the wrath of God which cuts me off every way from entring into life through mine own power and merits puts me upon the way of the Gospel and free grace which is to enter into life by believing on him who justifies the ungodly and so to be saved by the power and merits of Jesus Christ And though thou tell me of deceit guile covetousnesse hypocrisie doubtfulnesse which the sword takes hold of Yet I tell thee again the sword of the Lord in me hath cut down the Tree where these things grow and I am risen from their power and covet dayly to finde the power of the Crosse to crucifie these things in me more and more that so I may be more freed from all these works which the sword takes hold of and so Jacobs portion even the Lord is still mine for ever notwithstanding all thy ghessing at my pride covetousnesse c. Repl. Another great fault thou findest with me is that I am called of men Master which Christs forbids Answ Sometimes thou art in the meaning and deniest the Letter as in the Crosse of Christ here thou art low in the Letter but deniest or else knowest not the meaning and therefore art thou found in the thing and power of the name Master but grudgest another the form or name outwardly of Master Thou sayest I am called Master and so I am through mans courtesie without any affectation of mine But thou thy self lovest to be the Master and Father of anothers faith the Christ the high one which Christ forbids though thou art a poor drop a worm defiled with errours blindnesse and sins like others of the sons of men Repl. But thou sayest I am telling of the 3. principle of the elementary world of the strong word and much more which I received from the mouth of the Germane vvriter I. B. not from the mouth of the Lord. Answ As for my using an expression which sets forth the life of a truth what matters it whose the words were If I had borrowed an answer out of Behemen I should soon have heard thee set down the place which had been something indeed though I know it as lawfull for me to use another mans words and speeches so as I am made one with the thing in mine own spirit as it was with Paul to use the saying of an Heathen Poet. Repl. But thou tellest me I am telling of the language of Egypt and in the same thing I witnessed against am I found Answ Here thou seemest to confesse contrary to the minde of thy father that I speak a truth yet to save thy credit because thou thy self art guilty of the language of Egypt thou sayest I have got the language of the Israel of God but the Egyptian speaks them Is not this a brave come off But stay notwithstanding this fine
me out of the great City Sodom that he may live and reign in me for evermore But thou tellest me Repl. I have libertie to act unrighteousnesse thou art merry in the flesh thou canst laugh and jeer tender consciences and scorn such as are not in the same fleshly libertie which thee thou canst now oppresse an whole Parish and live by dishonest gain and make merry with Ranters feast drinke hunt card c. Answ There was and still is within me more and more that which hath and doth passe sentence upon these and the like unrighteous acts finde the faithfull and true witnesse judging and pleading in me against these cruell bloudy enemies and what I am guilty of in any of these particulars thou comest too late to be my judge there is one in the midst of my spirit whom thou knowest not he hath rebuked and saved me through his grace and so the lying spirit in thee is cozened of his prey as for my jeering tender consciences I know what it is to grieve and wound such and to offend one of the least of the little ones that believe in Christ I know liberty of conscience is the great interest of all the people of God in the Nation and a thing which I cannot but stand up and plead for according to my light in my generation Neither shall all the indignities and injuries that I meet with from any in the world ever make me to plead for bonds or fetters or burdens to be laid and put upon tender consciences and in this I speak the truth before the Lord I lye not Repl. But thou tellest me I am a Ranter Answ I know blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiven unto men and that it is impossible for those who have tasted of the heavenly gift as many of the Ranters have if they fall away to be renewed again unto repentance and that I have abhorred the blasphemous filthy talk and practice of Ranters I can speak it with comfort to the praise of God my Father and that there are such amongst us I cannot remember it in secret without thinking what a sad judgement of God it is for men to be given up to such strong delusions to believe lies such as these are the shame of our Nation and the great abuse of our present liberty And yet let not the high-minded Quaker glory over these poor deluded Ranters seeing publicans and harlots shall enter into the kingdom of God before the lofty Pharisees Repl. Thou sayest further out of the old bottle I poure out scoffes and yet professe Christ in all Aâ—sw Why hath Satan filled thine heart with nothing else but lying How many scoffes doest thou finde in my papers I sent thee Look see and how many times doest thou finde me scoffing and yet professing Christ in all What thou in the pure Religion in the strength of the light within and yet all along at Satans work remember that if for every idle word surely for every lye thou must give an account at the day of judgement Thou tellest me Repl. Christ is all among them who have put off the old man and his deeds and thou quotes a place Coll. 3. 4. 10 11. I answer Answ Surely then Christ is not all with thee who hast not put off thine anger wrath malice blasphemy lying scoffing which every page if not line in thy vain paper makes abundantly manifest to thy face against thee all these proceeding from the old man in thee makes it plain that Christ is not all in thee and therefore art thou a stranger to the elect of God to the holy and beloved seed who are alwayes putting on bowels of mercies kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse longsuffering forbearing and forgiving even as Christ hath forgiven them in love But to give thee thy due praise thou hast spoken one truth Christ is indeed the glory and fulnesse where he is manifested in power to cast out the strong man and his deeds when I finde it so in thee I shall yield thou hast had a fit of real true trembling But instead of looking home thou art found still at thine old trade and tellest me Repl. I have not put off the deeds of the old man when there was some tendernesse in mee and some desires to come out of pride oppression coveteousnesse all is gone and I am found among the flesh-pots of Egypt and had better never to have been born than to make ship-wrak of that tendernesse once known by me Answ This is but the old lesson over and over and over again like a Quakers Sermon and as heathens prayers full of vain repetitions And by this I know what he is to expect that reveales a secret to a scornfull Quaker Yet know I am so tender still as to abhorre pride oppression coveteousnesse neither do I persecute or deal unrighteously with any as many great pretenders have done with me and still doe at this day But God hath delivered and doth deliver and will deliver me from every snare and gin of unreasonable wicked men and he it is that keeps me from making shipwrak of tendernesse faith and conscience Repl. Further thou tellest me what is done in tâ—e wildernesse there is the way of holinesse known and walked in which the unclean walk not in but the redeemed in which is no erring Isa 35 8. Which way is a way of holinesse which I am not in c. Answ Here 's a good wildernesse indeed but thou hast lost thy way thither and art found erring and wandring in a wildernesse where no water is and so art not found drinking in holinesse from the Lord but feeding upon the weeds of thine own fleshly holinesse exalting thy self not with the redeemed in the Lord but with the imprisoned in a strange land in thine own observations And thou poor worm who sayest I eat upon swines flesh I feed upon the perishing I eat that which dies of it self all these speeches together with all thy paper savour too much of thy swines flesh and of thy feeding upon thy swines flesh which is thine own will and self and form and therefore art thou found in the way of the world clamourous bitter cruell implacable against all that wander not with thee in thy wildernesse of flesh and bloud and now and then thou makest use of a Scripture to cover and hide thy swines flesh which thy spirit too much feeds upon and so no wonder though there be no joy or gladnesse to be seen in thy countenance seeing thou hast no better flesh to feed upon than swines flesh which kils the spirit and so neither thine heart is merry nor thy countenance cheerfull Repl. Further thou tellest me I say in Canaan is no judging and so out of mine own mouth thou judgest me out of Canaan who in my Queries have again and again judged thee Answ In my Queries indeed I desire to see the strength and light thou walkest in neither do I
of the flesh I live and so my latter end is worse than my beginning Answ Though thou say so yet know that I have found out sin by sin and it was well that God did awaken me though by sin It may be thine eyes see not what this means though thou art the seer Further know though I am vile in one sense yet not guilty in the sense of the world neither acquainted with many of those things which they falsly lay unto my charge where I am guilty I have grace in me to trouble me to humble me to groan in me for deliverance to make me more vile then thou canst make me and yet to keep me from returning into Egypt again but to wait for a full power to sin no more which if it might be in thy sense I should be glad but in the sense of the Scriptures I know it shall be made good and what that is thou canst not learn but by enjoyment Repl. And the baptisme in the death of Christ thou tellest me I do not witnesse neither a planting into the likenesse of death for the Crosse of Christ thou knowest not neither doest in it live by which thing this baptisme into his death is witnessed Answ 1. I finde thee still full of condemnation and yet Christ saith he was not sent to condemne the world Joh. 3. 17. but that the world through him might be saved 2. With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of thee or of mans judgement yea I judge not my self but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 3. Thou Hypocrite first cast out the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the moat out of thy brothers eye 4. Remember the death of Christ the Crosse of Christ when thou passest under thou wilt finde work enough at home but thou hast spared thy self pitied thy self slain the just one that thou mightest live and reign thou hast cried out let him be crucified that I may live in his stead and say I am he Where the Crosse of Christ hath had its power there the first man is condemned flesh withers the poor Soul is ashamed of his works and sins But thou art full and rich and high and sayest I am not the man I never Crucified the Lord of glory Judas thou knowest suspected not himself and in this Traitor see thy self and know thy own spirit 5. If I am not as I long to be yet I see the bloud of Christ cleanseth me from all my sin the Crosse of Christ makes me not to spare my self or sin I have Jesus who was dead but is alive in me making void all my glorying in flesh and bloud and he is bearing witnesse to my Crucifying and to his resurrection which is my glory And though thou a man charge me with folly yet he the true God declares me just in himself and he goes on Conquering and to Conquer and what he sees amisse in me he will tame subdue and bring under and tell thee to thy face thou art a Satan is not this a brand plucked out of the fire Therefore friend do not thou fansie a perfect knowledge of the Crosse and yet remain a stranger to the Crosse by living out of the vertue and power of it which makes all flesh as grasse and to wither as the flower of the field It is Christ in me that is my glory and his life in me springs out of his death and mine and makes void all my glory and he by his bloud and power sets me free from the condemnation of sin and the Law and he keeps me alwayes in his eye and he searches my errours and failings out to nail them to his Crosse As for that place thou quotest 1 Joh. 1. 5 6 7 8 9. look upon it better and take the tenth verse too in thy minde and see how thou canst have sin and no sin for so the Apostle saith plainly in all the Saints there 's no sin and yet there 's sin in all otherwise we make God a lyar and his word is not in us Neither is this to plead for sin as thou sayest for there 's a vast difference between saying such a thing is and such a thing out to be That the Saints have sin is a truth written in Scripture and in every mans conscience for there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sins not But that the Saints ought to have sin this the Scripture cries ought against and calls upon us to purge out more and more therefore be not alwayes catching and snarling this is not a Christian practice but let thy sin go thy exalting of thy self go and it may be thou mayest finde out the Crosse of Christ a little more exactly yet and learn better what it is to be Crucified with him and so mayest eat of his flesh and drink of his bloud Thou tellest me Repl. I know not the one baptisme which by the Spirit is witnessed which baptizeth into one body 1 Cor. 12. 13. in this body is no sin into it no deceit enters every sin that is committed is without the body Answ Thy prating words cannot make void my glorying in the Lord to thee I say the one spirit I have which witnesseth the one baptisme which is one in all the Sons of God bond or free The spirit is one the baptisme one the body one but the Members are different and have all need of one another and therefore ought not to murmure or make a rent because every one is not an eye an hand a tongue as thou doest and so sinnest within the body and committest fornication with thy self but a Member against the rest of the body making the body a Monster even all one Member not all the Members one body that thou thy self mightest be head and Members and all and so thou who makest a rent from Christ and a rent from his Members what doest thou but make a division in the body and commit sin within the body crying out of one Member he 's a Baptist of another he 's a Presbyter of another he 's a Prieâ—t And so thou ownest not every Member in its place and lookest not upon that baptisme which is one in all the Sons of God But when thine eye is open to see this thou wilt own a Member though low and weak and love a Member whoever he be and thou wilt seek to draw him indeed more into the Unity to rejoyce more in the Lords works than his own and yet thou wilt leave him in the variety to be usefull in his place to other Members of the body But all this thy great wisdom comprehends not And whereas thou makest as though every Member of Christ were free from all spot and sin because every sin that is committed is without the body 1 Cor. 6. 10. By body in that place is meant the outward Fabrick of every man in particular which ought
bee drowned in thee before thine entrance into Canaan or else thou must look to fall either in the wildernesse with the murmurers or to be drowned in the Sea with the Egyptians Repl. Further thou art telling me I am imagining what the beast is which John saw was like unto a Leopard saying that I have read of the Leopard that is an exceeding wild beast which cannot be tamed very cunning and crafty in tatching of his prey and furious and raging c. Answ For fear thou mightest finde this beast in thy self here thou art stopping and raging thus in thy wonted fury like a mad Pharisee that scorns to learn thou beginnest to teach and say Repl. Who in the light which never changes dwells which comes from God these see the beast where he is and what he is and all his spots discern Answ Here thou hast spoken truth though thou understand it not so as to apply it unto thy self which if thou didst great large spots of the beast would discover themselves in thee but being in the darknesse of thy Fathers minde thou canst not read thy self and therefore art thou seeking to discern the beast abroad in me and sayest in me is his denne And here thou thankest God thou art not as other men are stand by thy self I am holier than thou And so thou comest with much delight to see the beast in me and eatest and drinkest and gluttest thy self with a sight of the beast in me and nothing but the beast canst thou here see in his Denne thus art thou glorying over anothers spots and infirmities which thou thy self makest in thy fancy and then art glad to see in thy brother the beast is too cunning for thee he lies hid within thee and laughes to see thee his vassall and slave I say no more than what thou hast made manifest the beast in thee is in his Denne Thy pride and scoffing and railing against all others are spots and plain markes of the beast in thy fleshly heart dwelling for werâ— thou in the light and overcome by it that would make thee poor in thine own eyes and to condemne thy self in those things which thou condemnest in another and would teach thee to own a God and Christ above thy self This light of the Lord ruling in thee would have kept thee in the fear of the Lord and taught thee to own the Crosse and sufferings of Christ as the price of thy redemption which thou like a vile wretch tramplest under thy feet This light would have taught thee to bewail thine own infirmities and have kept thee low in thine own eyes and have made thee own trembling indeed which thou doest in the letter and flesh but not in truth and spirit and so art given over to strong delusions to believe a lye Repl. Thou tellest me I am covetous Answ I am so indeed by nature but I see the world loves me not it flies away and the Lord teacheth me to be crucified to it and to presse towards himself as my riches fulnesse and highest treasure Repl. Thou tellest me further That which hath led me from the light hath led me from the Lord and the same hath let the world into mine heart where the Sea is flowing even the salt Sea thence the beast ariseth with seven heads Answ The light in which I live hath led me to see the light and in the light I see the Lord and he hath ravished mine heart and caught me up to himself as to mine exceeding joy and though the world were so confounded and divided as to leave me alone yet I am not alone the father is my friend and the son is my companion And I can return unto my Father and Saviour living with me who alwayes takes me in when the world casts me out And this quickens me to live more above where all my treasure is and lesse below or in the creature where I finde confusion and tribulation As for the flowing of the salt Sea whence the beast arises with seven heads this I have seen according to my measure dried up and the beast with seven heads withering for want of his native heat and moisture in me And friend I beseech thee read the meaning of this at home in thy self read the bitternesse in thy self the evil eye that envies because God is good the folly and haughtinesse of thine own heart Here is the salt Sea in which thou art drowned though thou see it not and out of this Sea comes that Monster with seven heads which destroyes some with flatteries others with violence and rage aiming at his own Kingdom and greatnesse whoever perish with him this beast lies covered under all thine Hypocrisie and thou seest him not Further thou sayest Repl. I arm my self with all the wisdom and subtlety of the beast against the truth and with many Horns am I pushing at the Lamb. Answ This I have done in the dayes of mine unbelief when I consulted with flesh and bloud But since the day of the Lord hath begun to dawn in my spirit truth hath been my companion I have ventured all for her and laid my self open to the violence of all sorts of men for the truths sake And that I have suffered no more than I have considering the malice of carnal men and formal men this I look upon as a notable passage of wisdom and providence in God Further know that this truth in me which hath in some measure acquainted me with the will and nature of God my Saviour this teacheth me to plead against the errours and evils and blasphemies and idols of all not against any truth I see in my meanest brethren Neither am I with my Horns pushing against the Lamb no the Lamb is my well-beloved he shall lye all night betwixt my breasts he is my fair one when he withdraws my Soul faints when he appears my Soul lives and is exceeding merry This is he whom I can own in all the Sons of God even in those who cannot own the Lamb in me In all this he is my witnesse though thou know it not But thou sayest Repl. In me is the earth set who am drove from God Gen. 3. 23 24. And upon the earth is the Leopards Denne and foure-footed beasts and creeping things Answ When I was in the earth that indeed drove me from God but God hath lifted me up into Heaven in some manifestation of light and grace and here he keeps me in his own fellowship and presence above the earth and so I can leave the Leopards Denne full of wilde beasts and filthy things for the inhabitans of the earth And friend if thine eye were open thou mightest see how sadly thou art driven out from God and what a fool thou art in all thy professing thy self to be wise and how this hath made thee change the truth of God into alye and led thee away to worship thy self and thine empty companions who are poor creatures more than
must hold his peace for Christ must be all thou must not sacrifice to thine own net either thy righteousnesse or thine unrighteousnesse unto thy self to merit as thou weakly dreamest by thy Crosse though all must be offered up to him that he may reign and in his reign the life and power of the creature stands and whereas I must be a Ranter for talking of high things and doest not thou the same talk of the highest things that can be imagined perfection fulnesse resurrection first and last and art not thou in all this like thy brethren who thou callest Ranters they are full and rich and have need of nothing and know not that they are poor and miserable and naked and have need of all things and art not you the same they have the single eye they are the seers and art not thou the same thou seest all things thou knowest all things they are sinlesse spotlesse in the midst of all their madnesse so thou in the midst of all thy nakednesse and so thou and they are of one and in one father both given over to strong delusions to believe lies because ye have not embraced the truth in the love of it onely with this difference ye are they are over-wicked and ye are over-righteous and yet both these meet in one center of flesh and man and end in one center of sorrow and woe and so both the righteous and the wicked are alike abomination and under condemnation when their righteousnesse as well as their wickednesse springs but out of the first man hence is that of Solomon Eccles 7. 16 17. be not righteous over-much neither make thy self over-wise why should'st thou destroy thy self be not over-much wicked neither be thou foolish why shouldest thou dye before thy time and so as Job speaks God shall destroy both the righteous and the wicked and where then wilt thou appear who gloriest so much in thy Crosse Quest 28. What is the ground of your commission and call to speak and preach and how ye came by it seeing all you speak must needs be Scripture and infallible Answ The ground of our commission and call to preach is Christ revealed in us and by the will of God contrary to the will of man came we into the Ministry Repl. Here according to thine own language thou stealest the Apostles words and makest use of them to deceive the simple but thy shifts are seen and thou thy self has pulled off the cover and manifested by all thy carriage that thy commission comes from another power even thine own will thy proud haughty minde that takest this honour upon thee before thou art anointed of God and therefore thou art found to be a striker brawler of no good behaviour not apt to teach but to scoffe and rail a novice lifted up with pride a little knowledge and wisdom thou hast received formerly but it has perverted thee puffed thee up and so 't is taken away and fallen thou art into the snare and condemnation of the Devil and so all thy preaching which thou art anointed to tends to the bringing up an evil report upon the lowest degree of a man brotherly and orderly humanity much more upon the highest the high profession of Christianity so far thou art from the spirit of a Christian that thou art not a man so far from being a man that thou art below a beast for the Oxe knows his honour and the Asse his Masters Crib but thou regardest not the Lord nor man and yet thy father has deluded thee and told thee thou hast a commission from Christ revealed in thee but when did Christ revealed in any teach them to preach another Gospel and to say 't is a great sin to pull off the hat and to make any shadow of respect to honour fear or reverence any to whom 't is due nay not the image of God in fathers masters aged people and governours contrary to the Letter and meaning both of Law and Gospel and where did Christ say it was a great sin nay the language of Egypt to say you instead of thou and yes instead of yea to wear Bands Cuffs Ribbins or the like so as men did it with gravity surely Christ has something else to declare where he anoints to preach Further where did Christ command to preach up the light of nature instead of the light of grace as if the poor dark world had had light sufficient within and there had been no need of his coming or spirit or Scripture and where did Christ command to preach up the power and freedom and will of man as if man had all already and had no need to be endued with power from an high and where did Christ command to preach up our merits our holinesse our observations or so much as the bloud of our own sins to justifie us in the sight of God and to make his merits and bloud and Crosse a scorn and derision among the Heathen where did Christ thus dishonour himself to exalt proud flesh and man where did Christ call the Scriptures Letter Ink and Paper not known to any till this generation Friend I know notwithstanding all this thou canst not see thy shame but art like an hungry man that dreams he eats but when he awakes his Soul is empty so in thy dream thou eatest and thou drinkest and thou hast passed through all death judgement resurrection not in part but in whole and through thine own poor weak light and power and skill thou art gone up out of Egypt passed through the wildernesse through the Red-sea and hast seen all the Egyptians drowned and hast entred into thy full rest in Canaan and no more doest thou look for that is to come thus art thou high in thine imagination though low enough in thy foundation even building upon the sand of thine own will and though you strike at the very foundations of all society humanity charity Christianity endeavouring to lay all desolute and even with the ground yet thou and thy wandring generation must all have their Commissions from God and be infallible and all that will not believe it must be Anathema Maranatha Alas poor wretches ye have need of pity but ye cannot pity your selves ye have need of grace rich mercy great grace but ye want none I say no more to yee but this the spirit of the Lord cannot stoop to proud mens will therefore remember your Creatour betimes look to the Rock from whence ye are hewen pity Abraham your father and Sarah your mother leave off building up the Babel of your own light power merits will lest ye be made an hissing astonishment and desolation by the Lord of Hosts return to your first husband your first love that we with you may live with him in brotherly-kindnesse and charity seek not to make the breaches wider but rather to repair the breaches and to reconcile people that wander in the dark unto one another in the Lord seek the righteousnesse joy and peace of the Kingdom which comes down from the father walk in the light of the Lord which will reach you to be as the Lord is unto all men according to your measure you receive and so it may be lead some more of your feet out of this cunning snare as for me notwithstanding all your hard speeches which the evil one in ye has uttered against me yet I shall not cease to be your friend before the Throne of grace desiring to see and finde your hearts filled with sorrow and trembling for all your errours and mystical infatuations that so the name of Babylon may not still be written upon your fore-heads who is called Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and of the abominations of the earth but rather the new name the name of God of the new Citie the new Jerusalem which comes down from heaven that so you may see your perfection here in the midst of imperfections and may come to that perfection hereafter which is in the midst of the fulnesse and joy of God FINIS