The scornfull QUAKERS ANSVVERED AND Their railing REPLY refuted BY The meanest of the LORDS Servants MAGNUS BYNE Beware of false Prophets They come unto you in Sheeps cloathing but inwardly are ravening Wolves Believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they be of God Because many false Prophets are gone out into the World LONDON Printed by William Bentley for Andrew Crook at the sign of the green Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1656. To the READER DEar friend I speak to thy conscience in much tendernesse unto thy Soul Learn to fear the great God more and more For blessed is the man that feareth alwayes Wait upon the Lord and he shall renew thy strength Go unto him as unto thine exceeding joy Love all the appearances of his Son as the comfort of Saints in all generations Watch over thine own heart Stand in awe and sin not Let the Lord come into his Temple and Worship him alone Take heed of every gin and snare of the old serpent who is in a great rage because he hath but a short time Be sober and quiet in thy Spirit and hear the Lord speak His word is nigh thee within thee walk in the strength of it and this will keep thee from the paths of the destroyer Long in thy Spirit to see the new Jerusalem the new Heavens and the new earth wherein dwels righteousnesse Let thy moderation be known to all men for the Lord the desire of all Nations is at hand Stand still be calm be meek and thou shalt see his salvation Let thy Spirit groan and travel in pain with longing to see the Lord arising to work For men abused by the old Dragon seek to make void his Law And among all the vanities which I have seen under the Sun take heed of the two foolish blind mad generations of Ranters and Quakers The former of which I have seen the Lord scatter and appear in great wrath to consume rebuking the evil Spirit in them and laying them open to their shame among their enemies The latter of these I have had some dealings with and finde them more furious and raging than all that have gone before them and notwithstanding all their shew of holinesse wisdom humility temperance yet by a little dealing with them I finde nothing but impurity folly pride madnesse even to admiration and wonder in all their doting questions fowl mouthed answers vain janglings railing accusations even as if Satan had left all others and brought all his power along with him to fill their hearts and tongues with all manner of blasphemies and evil speakings against all others but their own deluded party And strange it is to see how Satan in them is divided against Satan Satan rails blasphemes and then to save himself cries out 't is Satan he blasphemes and and rails at in others The Devil mocks jeers scoffs rages in their filthy hearts and tongues and when he is seen and manifested by his carriage to be the evil one presently he condemnes himself and sayes 't is the Devil all my fury is powred out upon 't is him I condemne in men and women not the similitude of God the man or woman to whom I speak Thus the Lyar and the Murderer in these men raging speaks to excuse himself from his lying and murdering by perswading simple people 't is himself he aimes at And yet such a strong inchantment I finde in this mad carriage that some poor Souls are even overcome with their violence and have thrown away not the light and grace of God onely that once appeared in them in shew but even their reason and humanity too and subjected themselves to this carnal yoke for fear of being still condemned by the Devil Take one passage of a great Prophet of their own one Tho. Law-Cock who meeting at one Goodman Matthews house near me was called aside by the woman of the house of good report but almost turned a Quaker to whom the woman in kindenesse said Sir will you eat something which I have provided The Quaker replied What shall I eat with Devils and Dogs and pointing to a Dog There 's thy Companion thy fellow-creature of the same nature with thy self saith the Quaker and shall I eat with thee a Devil a Dog And was not this a good argument at the first meeting to perswade the woman to be a Quaker And when the woman began to reply something to excuse her great sin of asking this man of God as he calls himself to eat he opens his box again and calls her Whore and Harlot and was not this another good argument to perswade her And yet this woman and the man too begins to believe in the Quakers and to admire their light and power lusting after the painted image and innocent spotlesse religion which thâ—se poor deluded wretches have set up and made And as they have dealt with this woman so with some others whom I know prevailing with them and upon them even by the same Magical power of Satans workings in them Therefore it behooveth us all to look to our building upon the Rock to our interest in the holy one of God to our receiving and walking in Jesus Christ the Lord rooted and built up in him that so the gates of Hell may not prevail against us Further a little to lay open this blinde seer Lawcock at one meeting with some Baptists he was demanded whether Christ suffered and died at Jerusalem His answer was That Christ suffered but Christ did not die and yet it was not Christ who suffered neither but that which was born of the Virgin See here his contradictions of himself and his contempt and denyall of the death of Christ And yet afterwards at another meeting being in the presence I charged him with this and he presently cried out Thou lyest I acknowledge Christ both suffered and died and yet this man must be infallible in the midst of all these contradictions against himself Further at the same meeting when I was present and beginning to lay open his folly the Quaker exhorting to meeknesse and silence and the like but presently falling a railing cursing and roaring against Priests and hirelings I asked him in patience how these speeches could hang together we must be meek calm quiet but he must roar and rage At the first dash the man cries out thou lyest thou art a beast and the like and entreating the man to sit down and be meek according to his own speech he foams out his own shame still A litte after wondring at the madnesse of the Prophet at the trouble and torment of the evil Spirit in him I desired him to speak but two words of sense and reason and I would be silent the man roars again Thou art a belly-god thou art a beast And is not this a goodly Apostle Prophet Teacher Let all men judge that will not be like the beasts unreasonable Further desiring a Scripture to maintain something he spake against the
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
and is at a losse in himself then Christ begins to be seen and then Christ is sweet and then he 's the onely Tree out of which life grows and so the Souls feed upon him who is that meat which perisheth not sealed by the father Further thou sayest the Tree of life comes down from heaven which is the hidden Manna and is the new name which none can know but he that hath it Repl. The Tree of life thou sayest comes down from heaven then he is not surely in the natural maâ—â—s thou sometimes dreamest if thou have this Tree in thee this liviâ—g Tree in thee why doest thou not declare him and tell us how hâ—â— the Manna and what the eating is Thou must answer nothing new no reason of thy faith hope but if these things were written in â—â—y spirit in deed and truth thou wouldest surely know that one maâ—â— end why they are given is that we might declare them Furthâ—â— thou sayest the hidden Manna the white stone the new name onely such as overcome have fed on read and know Rev. 2. 17. And yet thou in thy busie minde must needs be enquiring about it thou who art in the bondage of corruption scraping up Scriptures for sin darknesse to remain in man whil'st he is upon the earth that art an enemy to Christ the Tree of life who scoffes at yea and nay his doctrine c. Repl. All this surely do's not declare what Eden is or Paradise is or the Tree of life or the hidden Manna or the white stone or the new name unto all which thou wouldest fain pretend a peculiar interest by thine own overcoming yet canst not declare thy self surely friend if thou sawest the Lord and didst indeed abide in his presence thy foolish nature would not thus appear still in power wert thou in the light and joy of Paradise feeding upon God in thy self and upon God in every thing that is made surely thou couldest not scoffe at any truth of God and call it a scraping up of Scriptures because the Scriptures shew man his manifold errours and infirmities and so thou couldest not deny plain light written in Scripture and every mans experience that knows himself Didst thou know the Tree that the overcomer eats of surely thou wouldst not thus lye down to the Serpents power didst thou live in the Lord and feed upon the Lord who is the Paradise and Tree of life both surely thou wouldest see God in thy fellow-servant and not smite him or murmur because the Lord bears another company besides thy self for surely there 's enough in God for us all And did'st thou know the hidden Manna eat of it this would surely sweeten thine heart make thee forget the bitterness that comes through thy lips didst thou know the pure image the divine nature didst thou see this springing up in thee as a seal of life to thee surely thine heart would not thus retain the old hardnesse the old language having nothing written upon it but the name of the old man though the poor old man know it not or will not see it and so to summe up this and to leave a word or two with thee The Garden of Eden is every where where the Lord is manifested Paradise is the fulnesse and joy that grows up out of this manifestation the Tree of life is God in Christ manifested seen and know the eating is the feeding and living in our spirits upon the verâ—â—â—â— and excellencies as of God who bids all his friends eat and drink abundanâ—â—â— and the hidden Manna is the sweetnesse and inward nourishment the souâ—â—inds in God and the white stone is the purity and reality of the divine naturâ— in us and the new name written upon the stone is the Name of God the natuâ—â— minde will judgment of God the fullnesse of God let out according to oâ—â— measure into our hearts which shews to us the things that are freely given to â—s of God declares us in our experiences to be his Sons Daughters all these things are one in substance in the root being but the new man sprung up in us to bring us into Paradise and joy onely unto us thereis a variety of operations and administrations all which as we overcome so we are acquainted with Quest 25. What is the bottomlesse pit and the smoake that arises from thence and the darkning of the Sun and aire by the smoake and the locusts which came out of the smoake which John saw Answ When thou art come to the sound of the 5. Angels then thou wilt know see the bottomlesse pit out of which comes all the Sorceries Witchcrafts and Enchantments which deceive the Nations Repl. It seems thou hast heard the sound of the 5. Angels and yet hast not seen the Star fallen from Heaven unto the earth and so hast not heard the right sound if thou hast declare it neither hast thou seen the bottomlesse pit and so beholdest not the Sorceries Witch-crafts and Enchantments which come from thence neither the infatuations and strong delusions which God in wrath has given yee up unto and all your brethren in all other dark forms and superstitious vanities those delusions errours idols sins wickednesses abominations which spring up in such a variety abroad in the Nations hast thou not seen neither how all these grow up out of one original the bottomlesse pit of the angry wrathfull Kingdom of Lucifer thy father who has still been soaring up to Heaven but is still cast down unto the earth and the elect seed he cannot he must not deceive totally and finally and yet ought they alwayes to be upon their watch waiting upon their Bridegrom as knowing their own pronenesse unto evil but all yee who are secure and lofty perfect in your observations and imaginations that yee have never so much as a wandring thought prevailing much lesse sin appearing either in your lives or tongues even like your forefathers the Ranters whom yee own not in words but yet in spirit as they are pure holy undefiled in all things so are yee as they are reconciled to all things so are yee and as all that they speak is righteous altogether so all that comes from your idle lips and so yee as they are totally free from all remnants of the old Adam even ye poor wretches are thrown down into all the saddest and strongest â—â—â—usions of the evil one being down as it were at the bottom of the botâ—â—â—lesse pit perverting betraying and deceiving your selves and others with the dream of your high knowledge wisdom righteousnesse 〈◊〉 gifts high lights perfect attainments being found in all the steps 〈◊〉 the Pharisees Jews Priests Elders and Rulers of old who denied and crucified the Lord of glory And when yee pretend most love to Christ within and his light within even then ye most deny and grieve him trampling under your feet the Lord that bought yee making but a
God in his Saints breathing nothing but bloud persecution and blasphemy against the Tabernacle of God and them that dwell in Heaven And so the false and formal Church and Christian are the great vvhore who denies the Lord to be her husband and being married to her own fleshly reason and wisdom she wholly bends the same against every beloved appearance of God by persecution and blasphemy This is the woman upon the Scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemy Quest Whether any come to the opening and fulfilling of Scripture and to see those things which Iohn saw but onely those who have the same spirit which Iohn and the holy men of God had yea or nay And whether he be Christ that hath not the same spirit yea or nay Answ As all Scripture was given by inspiration so onely truely understood and known by inspiration The Letter may be understood by the help of tongues and sciences of study and learning and other mens interpretations so far as these are lights to open the Letter but the spirit and truth of Scripture cannot be seen and known but by the breathings and operations of the same spirit which the holy man of God had And this is the Key of the Lord which hath opened the Scriptures in some measure unto me and through this power of the spirit of the Lord I have seen the Scriptures in some measure fulfilled And this is the power I wait upon to make good and fulfill all that is written within and without he that hath not this spirit to rule over him in love light and life is no true Christian no true Christ or anointed one of God Quest Whether as well he that payes Tythes as he that takes Tythes be not Antichrist holding up the first priest-hood which took Tythe by a Law and denying Christ the unchangeable Priest who put an end to Tythe to the first priest-hood and to the Law Answ If any take Tythes as a Priest of the Tribe of Levi in a way of holding up shadows and figures and carnall ordinances in room of the substance and truth of these and lookes more to his own gain than the things of Iesus Christ this man is an Antichrist that denies Christs coming in the flesh and is a thief and robber that comes not in by the door into the sheepfold but some other way But if a man take Tythes as a Tribute and portion of the earth which the Lord hath reserved and given to him to nourish himself and his family and the Church of God for a Minister must be Hospitable if a man take Tythes though it be for preaching and his waiting upon the Ministery of the Gospel to declare what he hath seen and heard of God aiming onely at the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ in the hearts of the people and take onely for his livelihood in the flesh this man is no Antichrist that denies Christs coming in the flesh for the Gospel holds clearly forth a maintenance and double honour due to the preachers of it And if but a tenth of old were to be given for the nourishing of them that hold forth the shadow surely not a tenth onely but much more ought to be given for the nourishing of them that hold forth the substance And whereas it may be said that Ministers preach up themselves and shadows still not Christ the Lord and themselves the peoples servants for Christs sake and many thrust themselves into the office of the Ministery for a piece of bread and take unto themselves this honour before they are called of God for filthy lucres sake I answer those that are found in this posture I know there is a sad viall of wrath to be poured out upon them as for mine own part I finde all sorts of people rayling on me and speaking all manner of evil of me and though the pretence be Tythes and other grievous things that their hearts have imagined yet the truth is 't is not my Tythes nor infirmities so much as my light and freedom and enlargement that makes my being an eye-sore unto the world For my taking of Tythes I know it is with so much moderation and respect unto all mens conditions with whom I deal that no wise man or honest man can ever say I dealt harshly or unbeseeming a Christian with him in this busines of Tythes But thou takest Tythes Answer Wel I do and for the present I finde the Lord giving me this maintenance as an incouragement from himself and so long as I finde it made clean or sanctified to my use and my spirit not defiled nor divided from God by it and God maintaining my liberty of conscience to serve him in my generation and place so long I shall be free to take it with thankfullnesse well knowing that nothing is unclean of it self but to him who esteemeth any thing to be unclean to him it is uncleaness The scornfull QUAKERS railing Reply refuted Tho Lawson I Have read thy papers and in them art thou seen to be full of lying railing accusing condemning according to the spirit of thy Father who was a Murderer and a lyar from the beginning The truth thou canst not own in another no more than the Jews could in Christ The pride and hautines of thine heart hath deceived thee through hopes to Lord it in thy dark forme where thy folly is manifest to all I call it thy dark form where God is veiled crucified dead and neither scripture nor light within is made any more than a Ladder to helpe thee up into Gods throne and here Lucifer-like thou must needs be in Heaven and there thou seest all the wayes and works that are done under the Sun and here thou canst call all but thine own party flesh Devils Sorcerers and damnest all that wear not thy mark and form and from thy presence they must go into the lake that burns with fire and brim-stone among the Drunkards and Whoremongers Dogs and Murderers and Idolaters and Ranters and Atheists and whosoever loves and makes a lye This is the language that flowes from thy proud pen See read consider thy papers let the light that is in thee be judge and the light that is in all men And yet like the Harlot thou criest out aloud such an one is an Whore I am none The Priest rails scoffes jeers but my tongue is a wonderfull stranger to all this Thus a dark Whorish heart knows no shame Michael durst not bring railing accusation against the Devil but said The Lord rebuke thee He durst not rail against the very Devil knowing that as he is a creature he hath his life and being in God but as hé lives in himself in his own will and pride so he becomes a Devil But this truth thou knowest not through thy darknesse and so art found railing and that not at the Devil onely but men who are made after the similitude of God and yet it may be the Lord
judge any thing in thee but what falls under the condemnation of the light and truth of God and though thou pretendest to a fulnesse of light and knowledge yet I finde thee low and dark by thy frivolous answers which thou givest to what the Soul is what the two witnesses are what the first and second resurrection is what the day of judgement heaven and hell are and many other things propounded to thee which I finde thee unable and unwilling to make out the truth of and therefore art thou angry that thy weak building is so much as questioned And yet thou knowest the Apostles counsel is to us all that we should be alwayes ready to give answer of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and fear but thou having no hope but in this life thy heaven and happinesse here art judged of all men to be most miserable according to what the Apostle saith If in this life onely we have hope in him we are of all men most miserable And so thou miserable wretch art loath to be questioned though thou send questions by the scores to other men Repl. But thou seest mine intent thou sayest I would not have my deeds of darknesse reproved Answ If thou hast received wisdom and power to reprove in the name of the Lord do it as sharply and bitterly as thou canst for let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindnesse let him reprove me it shall be an excellent Oyl which shall not break mine head But to thee I say have a care thou take not the name of God in vain for the righteous one I do not finde in thee reproving seeing thou canst not do it in the patience and meeknesse of Jesus Christ. But thou sayest Repl. Is not that the honour which is given to all the Saints to execute judgement upon the Heathen Psal 149. 6 7 8 9. And all that know not God are Heathen and he that sins hath neither seen God nor known God 1 Joh. 3. 6. That which cleanseth man leadeth man to see God The pure in heart see God and Canaan was a figure of the spiritual rest c. Answ Friend wert thou in the meaning as well as in the Letter of these Scriptures thine eyes would be in thine own head not alwayes abroad like an Heathen in the ends of the earth and so thou wouldest judge and excute vengeance upon the Heathen or carnal man in thy self and then be in a fit posture of wisdom to judge the Heathen or carnal men without bearing witnesse against all their railings and revilings both in thy words and deeds But to look a little upon the places noted by thee This honour have all the Saints to execute the Lords vengeance by the two edged sword of his Spirit upon all the Heathen But thou art found to thy dishonour judging the Sons of God and the Daughters of God to be Heathen and so thy sword is drawn against the Lords anointed ones not against the Heathen And as for the binding of their Kings with Chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron which shall be the honour of the Saints to do I finde this Scripture not yet eminently fulfilled in spirit and power some outward binding I have seen fulfilled in our own land but the firm real strong binding and limiting that shall be by the reigning of Christ in power and great glory in his Saints this shall asswage the malice and rigour of the Kings of the earth against the Church and make them stoop and bend and be willing to bring all their glory to her because they shall see and say the Lord is in you of a truth This day of the Churches power through the presence of the Lord in her in much wisdom knowledge righteousnesse and love to binde the Heathen and their Kings I finde dawning and the desire of all Nations is not far off But yet through the Saints violence and rage one against another in their several forms and imaginations evâ—ry one making hast to have the Crown and Honour of the day to himself â—â—â—t looking so much to the coming of the Lord as to his own advancing above all others of his brethren watching rather upon one anothers infirmities than upon the appearing of the Lord in one another through this weaknesse of the Saints and too much indulgence to their forms I finde the great day of binding to be retarded and prolonged yet the Vision is for an appointed time he that shall come will come and will not tarry And had we but a little more faith patience and quietnesse in our spirits we should soon see the Lord and his salvation Therefore stand ye still and be silent O all flesh wait upon the Lord and he shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light and thy judgement as the noon day It is his nature his power in the Saints that must bind Satan and all the wicked ones of the earth If man onely binde and kill and slay this worketh no deliverance no settlement no peace as we see at this day But when the Lord shall binde and slay and put in prison our enemies then we shall have rest and joy and quietnesse in our habitations Therefore as Bellarmine said when he came to die after all his study and labour to advance free will and mans merits that it was the safest way onely to rely upon Christ so say I after all our vain study and labour each to draw Disciples after himself to make his name and side great and strong the best and safest way will be for every one to rely upon the Lord and to think soberly of himself according as God hath given to every man the measure of truth and faith and then we shall begin to Judge the Heathen indeed and not thus shame our selves before them by our envy and railing and evill speaking one against another Repl. Further thou sayest all that know not God are Heathen and he that sins hath neither seen God nor known God Answ And so say I all that know him not in some measure of light and love are heathens and he that is in bondage to corruption that sins freely and willingly he hath no true sense nor saving knowledge of God upon him or in him and yet through infirmity temptation and weaknesse a Saint who hath a sweet taste and sense of God may be found in that which is sinfull though this man will by no means allow or approve of sin As Paul saith the evill which I do I allow not Repl. And thou sayest that which cleanseth men leadeth man to see God the pure in heart see God Answ All this is truth That which cleanseth and purifieth and leadeth to a sight of God is one power one pure spirit and by cleansing out what is contrary unto it self and making it self plain which is pure it leads the soul according to it's discovery into the spirituall rest where it satiates and fills it self with
I should be a lyar like thy self yet I finde to the praise of Gods rich grace that his sicknesse is unto death his body cannot be cured but by the Word of the Lord I shall destroy him and so in all his appearances he is seen And though thou plead his cause like a man well feed strongly against me yet he and all his Angells must to their place go where I leave thee with him in thy dark imaginations romping up and down to perish in his Kingdom unlesse the Lord arise mightily for thy deliverance But thou tellest me again Repl. I am found in the pollutions of the World in the spots thereof living in disobedience to the minde of Jesus Answ I know there is none can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Though I have not attained unto what I desire yet I have through grace still the victory in the end and I am not in the flesh but in the spirit according to Gods account and here I know all things shall work together for my good and not withstanding all thy hard speeches yet mine own conscience bears me witnesse that with my minde I serve Jesus not my self or any other man in the World and so am not seared Repl But thou tellest me In the children of disobedience the Prince of darknesse rules even the beast which all the World wander after Answ And so say I the whole World lies in wickednesse and are obedient to the Prince of darknesse in fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind and so wee are all till endued with power from on high and fetched out of this grave by the voice of the Son of God Repl. Thou sayest further When my measure I have filled up among the beast of the field and the Lamh have gored with my Hornes apace yet shall a band about my neck be put and tormented shall I be Answ As for the beasts of the field I leave thee to wander up and down with them in the field of the World till the Angell thrust in his sickle into the earth and gather the Vine of the earth and cast it into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God yet I desire thy life rather than thy death And still I say read thine own lesson over in thine own heart I know no band about my neck but the Lords work and will this keeps me from goaring the Lamb this makes me to own the Lamb still and this drives me still whither I with Christ would go into the sweetnesse and fulnesse of God where I can lye down and sleep in peace In mine answer to another of thy questions thou tellest me Repl. I am telling what the beast is and the number of his name whose number is 666. Answ Here I finde thee again shifting and scoffing and the reason is because thou wert discovered to be in the number of the beast this the wisdome of God saw afarre of and gave that answer to thy question as a sword to wound thee though thou spare and hide thy self For look the answer and compare thy spirit with it and see how right thou art in the number of the beast For art not thou one who cries out I am a God that cannot erre yet to the man that hath understanding though thy party be deluded in the midst of all thine imaginary fulnesse in thy self thou art but a poor miserable man that lies in errour this is the number of all thy wisdom 't is but fancie darknesse it is not wisdom and this is the summe of all the wisdom of the beast But thou art telling me Repl. Here is wisdom among them who are in it knit and from on high this wisdom is and was before the world was in it is no sin guile or spot Answ Here thou art lifted up on high to be without sin guile or spot and yet art blinde crafty subtle to say thou hast no sin and so thy sin remained upon the score I know the wisdom of God is high deep incomprehensible and was ever is and shall be ever the same and in this there is no sin or spot But what 's all this to make good thy dream of thine own party of knowing as they are known now and of being as pure in this earthly body as the Saints are in the heavenly Art thou as wise and as spotlesse as the wisdom of God is Ask thine own conscience and stiflle it not But go on Repl. In this wisdom and understanding thou sayest learned is the Vnity out of it the number Answ Well then out of thine own mouth art thou judged not to look upon or be in the Unity but in the number and so to make the number or variety the cause of dividing from the Unity where the Unity is appearing couldest thou be looking upon the Unity and not be telling of the number thou wouldest learn to love the Unity in the midst of variety and not cry out so much upon the variety or number where there is the Unity But to let thee alone in thy fancie though it condemne thy self Repl. Thou sayest That I who out of the light am turned am out of the Vnity and so in loftinesse in scoffing pride covâ—tousnesse fair speeches customes of the world Answ And why may not a Quaker be guilty of all these If but of one in form then of all in spirit And so to apply to thy self this Art thou not still lofty scoffing jeering cousening the simple exalting thy self idleing up and down to live upon other mens labours under a pretence of preaching the Gospel which is not the Gospel but thine own fancie vision and blasphemy many times against the Tabernacle of God and them that dwell in Heaven And are not these some of the ill nay worst customes of the world And so according to thy fine talk of the number of the beast thou art found even thou in his spots living out of the Unity which is the nature and work of God thou seest in others In the number of a man which is the variety of wickednesses in the world these thou art found alive in and making thy self great too in thine imagination at the sight of a number or variety of forms and failings thou seest many of the precious ones of God in bondage too much unto Repl. Further thou tellest me My head plots deceit Answ I could wish mine head were a fountain of tears that I could weep day night for all the deceit in the land for all the abominations that are done in the midst of this untoward generation And I can desire freely the Lord to consume and destroy all the deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse that is nourished in them that perish because they believe not the truth that they might be saved Let them be consumed by the brightnesse and coming of the Lord I have no plots in me against the very worst of men but can let them alone from being
persecuted outwardly knowing that it is judgement and misery enough for God to send such strong delusions as that men should believe a lye Repl. But my heart is in the earth thou sayest Answ In the earth is not my treasure I finde all here vanity and vexation of spirit But in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength and so my treasure being above mine heart and affections are also above Repl. But my compleatnesse is in darknesse Answ Here indeed is the compleatnesse of the world but the Lord is arising to discover this delusion and in him his light and grace is my compleatnesse fulnesse and glory Repl. But to the light which comes from the corner-stone I act contrary and fall not upon it so upon me shall it fall and grinde me to powder Answ Had thy building been upon the corner-stone thou wouldst not in disobedience have denied him to be thy foundation but wouldst by this falling upon him have been broken all to pieces and never thus weakly been sodered up again to act and work for life in thine own power and merits and so to be a Christ a Saviour unto thy self making thy self whole without the bloud of the Lamb which takes away the sins of the world But be sure for this thy disallowing of the stone which is elect and precious thou shalt stumble and fall and be ground to powder for thy disobedience whereunto also thou art appointed As for me let me alone to live and walk in the light of the Lord to be all I am in the grace and righteousnesse of Christ Jesus In my self I am broken indeed my glory is gone and I am nothing But in Christ I am whole and well and need none of mine own power and merits to save me In him I feed upon that which is good upon substance upon the best upon fatnesse and he being my foundation without and within I have an everlasting covenant of grace even the sure mercies of David This I know because he is faithfull Repl. But thou tellest me I am out of the Vnity in the one spirit in the number of the beast the number of a man who professe the Letter declared from the life which life knits the Saints in one peace and thee shall eternally torment who livest in vanity and deniest the way of peace Answ Once more look home to thy self that thou even thou be not found in this number of a beast of a man that art compleat in thy form in thy observations drawn sometimes from the Letter and sometimes from thy fancie in the mystery and yet neither Letter or meaning is any more direction to thee than will stand with thy dark minde and form Therefore see and know that the life the Scripture the Christ the peace which thou art in is not the life out of the original in the one spirit but the life and Christ and peace of form of fansie of man and so notwithstanding all thy pretended Unity and holinesse thou regardest lying vanity and art in a weary land without water As for me my endeavour is to keep the Unity of the spirit in the bond of peace with all lowlinesse and meeknesse and long-suffering forbearing all my brethren in love I know the body the spirit the calling is one the Lord the faith the baptisme is one and that there is one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all A sense of all these constrains me to love the Saints in all this onenesse though in their wayes and walkings without they are divers yet in the substances of things they are all one and of one And upon this account could I freely and faithfully have communion with them preach and pray and enter into fellowship with them though by reason of their too much indulgence to their bodily exercise and outward wayes of walking they are for the most part against communion with any out of their own modell and way and so too much spirit of God I own it as a witnesse and Declaration of the Lords will and mind to man This I professe not out of the life and light of the spirit knowing that that is the living word the kernel the substance which quickens all the body and knits the Saints altogether in that one peace of God And this spirit declared in the Letter is that which keeps me from vanity and frees me from the Law of sin death and condemnation And now to the businesse of Tythes Thou sayes Repl. In my corrupt reason I am scraping up reasons to maintain Tythes but shew no Scripture Answ Here thou art at thine old trade prating and slighting but shewing little reason and yet thou goest on to teach and say Repl. To the Sons of Levi was Tyth paid for their service and the relieving the fatherlesse widdows and strangers Ans And why must not the Ministers of the Gospel have maintenance too for their service Doth the Gospel afford lesse than the Law But to let that passe Thou hast spoken a piece of truth to which I add Thou mayest finde even Levi himself paid Tythes in Abraham Heb. 7. 9. and so Tythes were paid before the Law and Levi were in being as to the Letter so that the payment of Tythes extended further than to the litteral Tribe of Levi And if Abraham and Jacob payed Tythes as it appears they did before the Law Gen. 14. 18 19 20. and Gen. 18. 22. surely they did it by a light within and this light was their Law and this is thine too sometimes though very seldom especially when to part with something from thy self and therefore art thou covetous to rob others of all their glory in inward things to advance thy self and of their property too in outward things and so thou art greedy to keep the tenth of all But to proceed Repl. Thou sayest When Christ came he put an end to that service and to the wages due to that service and that he continued Tythes to the Ministers of the Gospel by a Law that thou bid'st me prove by Scripture command or example Answ That Christ put an end to the Levitical priest-hood that I deny not But that Christ put an end to the priest-hood so as to set up no teaching in the room thereof that I deny But what or who hath he set up Answer Ministers not of the Letter but of the spirit But are your Ministers such Answer those whom Christ anoints and ordains are such for the rest I plead not But where have you Ministers that are such if the thing should be granted any command example or practice for Tythes Answer we have the light within written in the hearts of all Nations which teacheth them to pay Tythes or maintenance unto their Priests at this day this is the light of our Nation to pay Tythe unto their Ministers And this is of as much force still where it guides and rules to teach men what to do as it
was of old before there was a Law for either priest hood or Tythes But doth this light teach men to pay Tythes Answer It doth so it teacheth men to pay Tythes or maintenance unto their Ministers and where this light rules not there the Ministers can get no maintenance without an outward Law especially if he come in the anointing of the Lords spirit A Priest of Baal indeed may get Tythe or maintenance without a Law but a Minister of the Gospell can get none without a Law and so in pleading against Tythe or maintenance for men anointed by Christ to preach thou declarest thy self a friend of Baal and his Priests For doest thou not see how all Sects and forms in the Nation that are separated from the Ministery are almost all so farre blinded in this matter as to joyne with unbelievers worldlings and coveteous wretches to keep their Tythes especially if the Minister be anointed and called of God But where is your light within for Tythes guided by the Scripture Answer look Gal. 6. 6 7. and 1 Cor. 9. 5. to 13. And remember what Christ saith the labourer is worthy of his hire And he that labours saith Paul in word and Doctrine is worthy of double honour nay it is a hard thing to please Christ who hath called us to be Souldiers when we must labour and be intangled with the affaires of this life for a maintenance And who goes to warfare of his own charges That which Ministers have I could desire might be with lesse trouble and care However take all these Scriptures and see whether there be no maintenance or Tythe due to Gospell-Ministers But Christ said freely ye have received freely give Answer Christ in that teacheth us to doe the Lords worke willingly not by constraint or for filthy lucre but of a ready minde to be as free to communicate and distribute the heavenly Treasure as he is to bestow it on us not aiming at our selves and gain but at the advancement of his Kingdom and Gospell in the hearts of men And this the Ministers of Christ are desirous to do through his grace But into whatsoever house ye enter eat such things as are set before you Mat. 10. and Luk. 10. Answer And so we will when we are called to journey up and down the world as the Disciples were to do but being ordained over a particular place we are to feed the people with the word over which the holy Ghost hath made us Overseers and to take such things as are consecrated to us But Christ bid the Apostles take no Tythes Answer And strange it is he should seeing they were to go up and down from City to City and place to place Surely if they had taken Tythes of all they would have been very rich And besides the world being strangers to all knowledge and profession of Christ this would have hindered the advance of the Gospell Yet Paul told the Corinthians that they might be chargeable to them as other Apostles of Christ And yet thou goest on to say Repl. O shame of all Parish hirelings who have a Law to force maintenance from an whole Parish and I who call my self a Minister of the Gospell am not content with the Gospell wages and thou bid'st me prove if ever Minister of the Gospell pleaded for Leviticall wages Answ No friend this I go not about to prove but maintenance is the thing I prove and if thou call that Leviticall thou mayest thy tongue is thine own Neither would I plead for any thing if all did covet to walk according to the light within and without which teacheth that the labourer is worthy of his hire Repl. But Christ blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances Heb. 7. 10. Col. 2. 20. And so I that am subject to these things am in the world and covetous practices Answ But see whether thou thy self be not rather in the coveteous practices of the most wicked of the world in seeking to keep thy Tythes from the labourer who Christ saith is worthy of his hire mark that word hire It may be it may open thine eyes though hirelings in thy account I know the Lord abhorres who labour for themselves not the Lord Yet take heed how thou keepest the hire from the true labourer and that against all light and Law and this present Scripture in that place Heb. 7. 10. The Law of the Priest-hood is changed And so say I and Col. 2. 20. We must not be subject to ceremoniall ordinances as touch not tast not handle not seeing what was ceremoniall God hath blotted out and nailed to the Crosse of Christ and so we are not to place Religion and holinesse and worship in outward things and places and Ceremonies but may be free to that which the Law made outwardly unclean as touch not taste not And yet in this freedom we are not to be without Law to God Repl. But still thou goest on to tell me I am a Thiefe and talkest of the wages of the first Priest-hood which God did not allot to them who were to do the work of the everlasting Priest-hood Answ Yet I tell thee I am no Thief but one come in by the door by the Son of God to preach his Gospell according to the measure of the gift of Christ And no more wages do I receive than the Gospell allowes me in 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. And he is a Thief that keeps back the hire of the labourer and he is a murderer that envies and hates his brother Look to thy self Repl. But thou sayest I am telling of the Lords giving a man Tythes as a portion of the earth to nourish himself and family Answ And why may not the Lord do this And is not the earth the Lords and the fulnesse thereof And doth he not give it unto whom he pleaseth Is not Christ the Heir of all things And wilt thou murmure and tell the Heir he hath done wisely in giving away his Tythes from thee Thou worm know that Christ is the wise disposer of all things and doth all exceeding well Repl. But thou sayest I am not sent of the Lord I am one of those that teach things I ought not for filthy lucres sake Answ Whether thou own me or no is not much regarded of me seeing thou ownest not the Lord himself That I teach things I ought not as thou and others do is false what I preach is the Gospell of grace But thou settest up another Gospell and so art accursed though thou wouldest fain he accounted an Angell That I teach for gain is but thy simple prate I am contented with what I have Tythes or no Tythes if the Lord please God is my wages and he payes me well Further thou sayest Repl. I plead for Tythes sometimes as a gift from the Magistrate sometimes as a gift from the Lord and so thou cursest me from running greedily after the errour of Balaam for gifts and rewards and my God thou deniest who
not made flesh to dwell among us there men and the way form and vvorship that men are in though outwardly never so decked and adorned in shew is but like an house forsaken and left to strangers or like a poor empty cottage left alone where nothing inhabits but the Owl and the Satyr and creeping things but where the word dwells in us with us and the Lord comes down to sit at Table and to keep us company there the men and the way form and vvorship they are under though outwardly never so contemptible are an house filled with glory and kept by the Lord for his friends his mother sister brother and this is an house I desire to dwell in all the dayes of my life to behold the fair beauty of the Lord This house is one in the spirit and the way to it one and the vvorship in it one as being built by the Lord onely for his Saints and set up by his Spirit that where he is they may be also Yet in this house are many mansions higher and lower rooms and Tables spread with meat for Children fathers young men God in every corner of his house condescending to visit all his family and to feed them with food sutable to that measure they are under Friend the whole creation is an house made for the great King to dwell in and all the creatures in this great variety according to their several capacities have the King dwelling in them and with them even so the Church of God which is a new Creation is a Tabernacle pitched by the Lord for himself and every Member of this new building in the midst of this great variety of them has the presence of the Lord in him and with him according to his capacity to receive Now the way hither is one and the light one and the vvorship one as all are brought hither by regeneration and have the Lord to be their light to teach them all that vvorship which is one in spirit and truth But how then comes the variety and diversity I ananswer it flows from the several workings operations and manifestations of the same Lord so that in the original things are one but in their comings sorth to us and in us they are multiplied Grace in the Soul is one one with what it is in Christ but in the coming of it forth in us is various and cloathed with divers names as faith hope love meeknesse patience c. even so light in the Souls of men is one but in the breaking of it forth its manifold and so there is the manifold wisdom of God and hence the actings walkings of the Saints are in a variety as they are more or lesse in a manifestation of the Original and yet this variety leads up into the Unity and teaches all to walk and live and follow Christ in the regeneration This is all the variety I plead for which flowes from the various manifestation of the same Christ and leads up into him as into its root and Center But thou sayest I plead for the Leopards spots in pleading for several forms ways of vvorship Answ I plead for no form tradition or invention of men new or old neither would I have Christians make any form a vvall of separation to divide between them others that are under any manifestation of grace and love all that I say is there are diversities of gifts administrations and operations but the same spirit Lord and God who worketh all in all and is all in all to band and free and let every one that differs from another endeavour to be fully perswaded that 't is light not darknesse the Lord not the flesh that makes the difference though the difference be still in fleshly or outward things and so having nothing but what we have received let every one think soberly of himself according as God has given to every one a measure and what men observe let them do it as unto the Lord not man in honour preferring one another waiting with patience and they shall see all the Towers that men have made fall to the ground and broken in pieces by the stone cut out of the mountain Quest 3. Whether we ought to give Tribute Custome Tythes Rent to those who have an interest in them by the Laws of the Land where we live seeing Christ said render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars Matth. 22. Answ Yea let man have the things that are his and God have the things that are his this said Christ and so say we and Paul sayes render unto all their dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom is due Rom. 13. 7. and this say we Repl. If thine heart and thy tongue herein agree 't is well thou hast witnessed a good confession but doest thou witnesse this indeed Art thou willing to give Tribute Custom Rent to whom 't is due Art thou as Christ was and the Apostles were subject to the Magistrates that are for conscience sake Where then is thine honour where is thy fear to the powers that be ordained of God For there 's no power but of God but seeing thou hast yielded to a duty I 'le leave thee in the performance to stand or fall to thine own Master Answ Further here thou wouldst have a Cloak for thy Tythe in too Parishes which thou hast no due unto he that hath due unto nine sheaves hath due unto the tenth Repl. To this I say I and all I have are not so much mine own as Gods they are more his due than mine and when he calls for any thing I am willing to let it go and when he gives me any thing I am willing to make use of it and to him I must give account for all not to thee as for a Cloak to maintain my Tythes I desire no other then the will of God and what the Scripture allows and the Law commands Thou sayest he who has due unto nine sheaves has due unto the tenth Fy friend what a lying and to strengthen Robbery and oppression too men are prone enough to call anothers due their own and to destroy property which thou seekest by thy lying and murmuring to maintain And further thou sayest Christ is come who put an end to that Priesthood who was to have the tenth in Israel for their maintenance and the fatherlesse vviddows and strangers with the same they were to maintain Repl. That Christ came to put an end to the first Priest-hood and their carnal Ordinances I deny not but about the several Ordinances of Tythes of old I see thou art grossely ignorant Therefore there was a tenth for the poor in Israel and a tenth for the Priest and Levite too and so observe and thou shalt finde 1. That after a man had received the fruits of the earth he was to separate out of it the first fruits these were to be offered unto the Lord who gave them unto the Priest Numb
the Scribes and Pharisees that these things ye ought to have done Nay that the morality ceased and a grieving part of our substance according to Gods ordination unto those that attend upon the preaching of the Gospel this thou findest to the contrary too 1 Cor. 9. 7. to 15. here then is an approbation and an ordination and yet both not sufficient to satisfie men unreasonable Further after a little more prattle thou criest out thou dark minde in the time of the first Priest-hood Tyth was not payed nor received as by any command from Caesar or from any man whatsoever but by commandment from the Lord and in this time who payed not Tythes robbed God Mal. 3. 8 9 10. here is no telling of Caesar nor any man but God himself whose the earth is and the fulnesse thereof Repl. Here thou seekest to perswade the Magistrate not to meddle with Tythes intimating he had no finger in it under the Law indeed I know that the most high ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth but by whom do's he give out Laws rule and govern the world but by his own will in Magistrates and so in all ages there has been polity and government in all Nations and Magistrates chosen by men according to Gods secret instinct and direction in the hearts of men and this choice cloathed with Majesty and Authority from the Lord to maintain Laws and peace in the earth and this power under the Law was for the punishment of all offenders of the Law and so surely for the punishment of those who robbed God in any thing but what this robbing is thou canst not tell and that the Magistrate had no hand in requiring obedience to and observance of the Laws statutes and judgements of God this lies upon thee to prove which because thou canst not do therefore thou must deny the Scripture and say all the complaint was to be made to God in case of injury and oppression under the Law and so none at all unto the Magistrate yet in case of injury the Magistrate is set up thou seest for a refuge to fly unto in the earth and whereas thou sayest he who payed not Tythes robbed God the same may be said of every other command he who kept it not robbed God and the Magistrate was to require recompence or to punish for all this robbery but thy drift is fain thou wouldst have the Magistrates stand for a Cypher and take no eognizance of all the robbery that is done unto God in the Nation of all the blasphemies and unrighteousnesses of men men are not to complain to men but God and so the powers of the Nation must stand still and let all the Laws of God and man be levelled and every one ride upon the Throne of his own will this is the worlds desire indeed because they love not to be governed but all must be governours and the rule and Law must be their own will and power see here where thou art friend in the midst of the vilest and worst of the sons of men fain thou wouldst have none but God to meddle with men and with their actions dreaming though foolishly that if thou couldst escape the authority and punishment of the Laws and of the Magistrates thou couldst easily escape the authority and punishment of God but God sees what every one do's in the dark in the Chamber of his imagery and what are we or what are the Magistrates your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord he sees all the pining and fretting of every one in all this untoward generation and how 't is his goverment they shake of and a King they must have to govern them like all other Nations which is their own dream and will see where thou art and remember thou owe no man any thing but love no Rent no Custome no Tribute no Tythes love will teach thee these things are due therefore cover not anothers portion owe him nothing but love for the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof Quest 4. What is that double honour which is due unto the Elder that rules well and what is the Elder and his ruling well 1 Tim. 5. 17. Answ The Elder that rules well is he that rules in the authority of God over his own will in that spirit which is contrary unto the will of the flesh and that spirit is honoured of God and all good men to whom its due and double Repl. Here 's a Christian Elder a spiritual Elder and I like him and his ruling well as one who begins in the spirit and ends in the spirit and thus the Saints are called Elders Rev. 4. 4. and 5. 5. 8 and these I finde resigning up themselves and all they have unto the Lord falling down and vvorshipping him that lives for ever casting their Crowns and all their choicest Jewels at his feet saying thou art worthy to receive glory honour and power but besides these there is a preaching Elder one anointed to be an officer and servant of the vvord of God in the Lords house and unto this Elder all both high and low that will not rebell against Christ the master must yield obedience and this Elder is mentioned and what his ruling ought to be 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2 3. and 1 Tim. 5. 17 19. and such Titus was to ordain in every City Tit. 1. 5. and this Elder is called a Bishop or Overseer Tit. 1. 7 8. how he must be qualified we there read 1 Tim. 3. 1. to 8. and thus its usual with the Apostle to call such who were to rule over the spirits of men by the power of the Word Bishops Overseers Preachers Elders those were the rulers well that laboured and took pains in the Word and Doctrine not giving heed to fables and Genealogies which minister questions doting much upon their questions and answers to their doubtfull questions whereof comes envy strife railings and evil surmisings the Elders of the Lord must be of another spirit than this questioning generation sober grave wise apt to teach nourished up in the words of faith and of good Doctrine and of good life the Elder that thus rules well though the world own him not love him not rob him accuse him condemne him yet he 's worthy of all due respect and maintenance this Elder thou art willingly ignorant of and no such thing canst thou finde in Scripture because against him and his maintenance thou art filled with indignation as being some stop to thy Kingdom and reign in the dark world Answ The rest of the answer unto this query is like the former all overspread with accusations telling me I am none of the Elders he has mentioned who am covetous conforming to the world its wayes fashions customes inventions abusing my body with cuffs ribbons unnecessaries at which my high big ranting minde may scorn c. Repl. But stay friend whence comes all this from the
with Christ during this spirituall reign with them in this body when Christ reigns with us here this is the first resurrection and when Christ takes us unto himself out of the body then this is finished and this is said to be a thousand years in reference to the Saints in all generations But where 's Satan when he 's cast out of the Saints or out of a particular soul what is he idle or lies still no he goes down to the earth and therefore woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he has but a short time Rev. 12. 12. when Satan is cast out of one he reigns in another and the more he 's imprisoned in the Church and kept from hurting and tempting them by the strong power of God the more he 's tormented and the more he rages in the world and the more subtile and cunning and powerfull he is in the vessels of wrath and so shall gather them together with more subtilty and violence against the holy beloved City because of the great glory that shall be poured out on her that so he and all his followers may reap their deserved ruine and woe at the coming of Christ at the great day of wrath And so to summe up this as the reign of Christ draws nigh finishing so the reign of Satan and as the reign of Christ towards the finishing shall be most glorious so Satan most furious and crafty in the world working more in a mystery transforming himself into an Angel of light by his goodly outward shews and observations getting into the hearts of men saying he 's God and he 's Christ and by this means he shall be more fitted to deceive and prevail with Gog and Magog to gather them together against the Saints and people of God every where being given up as a just punishment from God for following their own vain imaginations I say the Nations shall be deceived as a just judgement of God upon them and vvorship the Dragon and the beast and the false Prophet and in their pride shall think to swallow up all and then receive their final overthrow ruine and woe when a fire shall be kindled in the whole frame of nature to dissolve the world and the works therein and all the wicked of the earth high and low shall say hide us from the face of him who sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Quest 20. What is the last resurrection and the day of judgement which the Scripture speaks of Ans Thou who art ignorant of the first resurrection art inquiring in thy busie minde after the last resurrection which none can know where death reigns though the Scriptures declare of it and so such as you live in your lusts and scoffe at the Doctrine of Christ who is the resurrection and the life the first and last Joh 11. 25. Rev. 1. 17. yet know this that to judgement thou shalt come for the Lord has appointed a day to judge the world by the man Jesus Christ who is the first and the last Repl. Here thou shewest thy self and in thine heart givest no testimony to the last resurrection and day of judgement making as if all were spiritual and onely in this life and so thou errest as they of old who said there was no resurrection nor Angel nor spirit not believing the Scriptures in this nor the power of God to which I adde as the execution of the first so the execution of the last is by one Jesus Christ onely the first resurrection is of the just onely the last of the just and unjust the first of the Saints of God this general of all men and as my faith in the first so of the last is grounded upon Scripture Joh. 5. 24. to 30. verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now it is when they that are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live here 's the spiritual resurrection but it follows Marvail not at this for the hour is coming wherein all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of Christ and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of examination here 's the last resurrection wherein all shall arise either to salvation or damnation what more plain see Acts 24. 15. there shall be a resurrection sayes Paul both of the just and unjust this was Pauls faith and hope and such as deny this Paul disputes against at large 1 Cor. 13. and tells us if the Saints should deny it they are of all men most miserable 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. there Hymenius and Phyletus who said that the resurrection was passed already are compared to a Canker and said to subvert the faith of some hence Christ speaks of a last day and a resurrection at the last day so Math. 25. 31. to the end he describes the manner of it so Rev. 6. 11 12. and 20. at the latter end if these and the like Scriptures will not perswade men to believe a truth from God neither will they be perswaded though one should be raised from the dead Quest 21. What is the new Jerusalem which comes down from God out of Heaven which is as a Bride adorned for her husband Answ The new Jerusalem is the Citie of God the Church of God which Babylon and Egypt would devour now when it appears upon the earth so all that have Ships and Treasure in the Sea are gathered against her who is a Lambe among the beasts of the field under the defence of the shepheard who rejoyces over her as the Bridegroom over the Bride and the day of marriage is coming and come and the Bride is adorned and adorning for her husband who must commit no adultery with Babylons Merchants nor lye down to the great men of the earth therefore their rage is come up and Gog and Mdgog is gathered yet the spirit of the Lord our husband lifts up a standard against them and out of this Citie are all Harlots shut all covetous persons all that conform to the world all that in its customes and abominations live all that wastfully devour the Creatures on their backs and bellies all oppressors all that live by dishonest gain all that make a mock at the Doctrine of Christ c. read where thou art these are Harlots not Citizens Repl. This new Jerusalem comes down from heaven is not in the earth or man before the Lord pitch up his Tabernacle in man 't is not merited or gained by mans light or power 't is wholly out of grace and by Revelation as we see in the case of Paul 't is grace and purâ— love makes man the Citie of the great King not any thing in the first birth Ioh. 3. 3 5. There must be a second birth