prophesie falsly and their Priests bear rule by their means Even them which do lead them and cause them to erre Isa 3.12 and destroyeth the way of their path and the people love to have it so but what will ye do in the end thereof Mark this ye people Hosea 4.9 Behold I will punish them for their wayes and reward them their doings You that have already tasted of Gods vengeance shew ye the Cup to your brethren that if peradventure they may repent and not taste of that indignation which hath passed over your heads as a stream of fury reaching unto your present woe and misery As concerning the reading of the Scriptures by the people of severall of your Nations although it be such unto whom the Priests give licence yet are they not without the limit of the black chain of your Fathers Annotations whose imaginations drew Inferences and conclusions and have alledged constructions and meanings to hold forth their opinions and the draught of their Traditions through their abuse and perverting of the Scriptures that as they have brought themselves under that promise so they tye you with themselves under the condition thereof which John writes Rev. 22.18 For I testifie unto every man that hears the words of the Prophesie of this Book if any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book Under this promise and condition without controversie you are holden who are bound under the frame and fashion of your fathers constructions whose inventions have the dominion over your faith and that of God in you hid under the covert of the product of the iniquity of their life Wherefore all ye simple souls be awakened and feel that in you which with all that ever you have yet heard your breathing souls are not satisfied in secret feel the languishing desire which no mans meanings concerning the Scriptures could fill or preach life unto Feel your hunger that you may come to witnesse the blessing unto that state and condition understand also that if you or your Fathers were in the life of that by which the Scriptures were spoken forth they could not have written meanings upon them neither could your eye be turned to read them or your hearts inclined to receive them for the Prophets and all the Holy men they did mean the same thing which they spake they were far from corruptions in their declarations and spake not words but such as were punctually according to their intentions without any Equivocations and therefore if ye were but in the Life ye would understand the doctrine and so your fathers have erred in the order of their Instruction they have begun at the wrong end and therefore they cannot perfect or bring you to a good end This principal matter concerning your salvation they have neglected they never touched the feeling part of your heart whereby the vail thereof should be rent that you might see with your own eye and hear with your own eare and understand with your own heart but alwayes they bound your sences in the womb of conception of death and never brought you forth unto life and the choycest of your Members are but as dead stocks and Images and how could they lead you unto that where they themselves never entred They are not passed through the vail which is the flesh of Christ as Paul writing to the Brethren who after the manner of men knew not Christ according to the flesh saith 2 Cor. 5.16 Yea although we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more I say your Priests and Pastors they never passed through his flesh to the witnessing of the true entrance into his body as Members joyned unto the one Head which is the new and living way which Jesus by the power of his coming Heb. 10.20 hath consecrated for us who are Redeemed by the purchase of his blood which sprinkleth our consciences from every evil and dead word and work from the world and the unrighteousnesse of their way then how far short think you are ye in the life and practice if your Doctors Priests Pastors and Teachers are ignorant of the Scriptures and of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and his Cross which unto as many as have received is in the true life of the understanding of the truth that is to say the Gospel of Christ Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.18 and the Crosse of the Lord Christ Jesus is the power of God unto salvation which if they were Ministers of the true Church and you Members also thereof then would you be all in one Life to wit in Christ John 14.6 who is the Life which if you were in Christ who is the Life then need you not another thing besides the Life to confirm your understandings in the reading of the Scriptures which by the Life were given forth Can your nations therefore look a little way before you that you may consider it in your hearts and ponder it soberly in your secret meditations however I know the Heathen will kick against and the high obstinate-hearted will desperately resist even such in whole sight the soules of the simple are not of any account neither the glory of the Lord their delight whose praise through criticall Arguments and Sophistry is in gaining dominion and obtaining such mastery thereby to make a boast of their vaine victory yet there is a seed which can receive my testimony which is the Remnant of the Lord which under the iniquities of your Leaders hath been held in Egypt under miserable bondage and cruell captivitie I say look a little way before you with diligence into that which I write concerning you You are not come unto the life of the first principle which leads to the understanding and knowledge of the oracles and mysteries of God and of his kingdome of salvation and so are farre short of receiving partaking and enjoying of the pure life and power of the Spirit of life in the power and the life in your hearts which in the particular unto every true member of the Church of Christ Jesus gives the infallible witnesse and testimony that they are born of the undefiled wombe and incorruptible seed of promise unto life everlasting By which also the Gospel of Christ Jesus was preached to the Spirits in prison and the Scriptures and Prophesies of old 1 Pet 3.19 were given forth and spoken 2 Pet 1.21 which came not by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost Which no minde nor heart of man or understanding of mankinde without the same Spirit can read aright No lyar swearer proud envious thiefe covetous nor Idolater ungodly or prophane person can read them except their own portions from them Mal 4.1 Psal 9.17 viz. The lake is the portion of the lyar the proud shall be as stubble in the day of the
mouth of the deceiver and gaine-sayer but the worker of iniquitie seeketh to hide his head with a cover For the truth sake simply this is given forth by one who hath counted all things losse that he might gaine the truth Your answers will savour of the best Zeale which ye may send directed to be delivered unto Gerrard Roberts dwelling at the signe of the Flowerdeluce in Thomas Apostles in London in England for him whom men call John Perrott THough they say the Lord liveth surely they sweare falsly Jere 5.2 saith Jeremiah All Doctors Priests and Pastors that do preach and declare with their tongues Christ to be the way the truth and the life and yet walk contrary to the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world such are lyers and false swearers for Christ unto them is not the way neither in them is he the truth or the life who walk contrary to the light wherewith they are lightened Joh 8.12 Joh 1.4 I am the light of the world saith Christ which lighteth every man that cometh into the world saith John who was a witnesse of the way and of the truth and of the life who himselfe not his words was neither the way the truth nor the life for his testimony was true concerning Christ who is the way the truth Joh 14.6 and the life Paul Peter Mark Luke Mathew John and Jude they also were witnesses of the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world whose testimony was of Jesus the Christ they were not that Christ neither were their words or writings or Epistles that Christ which they by their words and writings before all men bare witnesse of who is the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world which is the way the truth and the life which is the word of God Joh 1.1 Isa 42.6 of whom and by whom the worlds were made and the Prophets prophesied of things to come to passe which are come to passe and coming to passe which testified of the light which is come into the world and lighteth every one that cometh into the world Isa 49.6 according to the word of prophesie The Scriptures do not say that they are the word but they say that by the word which was in the beginning which was with God and was God the heavens and the earth was made which was before the Scriptures was by which word the Scriptures came to be written which saith that the name of Christ Rev 19.13 who is the light of the world is called the word of God Now all that say that the words of the Prophets and Apostles is the way to life they are out of the way speaking in the darknesse of this world their testimony is false and they are Antichrist for the way is but one and Christ is that way to the father who is the light of the world which lighteth every man that cometh into the world for the Scriptures and writings of the Apostles they were not before the world was neither do they say they were written 〈◊〉 Moses was but the way and the word was unto Abel and Seth and Enoch and Noah Joh. 14.6 and Abraham Isaac and Jacob which was before the Scriptures was and the Scriptures testifies these things saying Christ is the way in witness against those which say the Scriptures is the way and the Scriptures 〈◊〉 Christ is the word in witness against those that say the Scriptures is the word and the Scriptures say that Christ is the life in witness against those that say the Scriptures is the Rule of life and truth and the Scriptures say Christ is the light in witness against those that say the Scriptures is the light and the Scriptures say Joh. 12.46 that Christ is the truth in testimony and witness against all those that say the Scriptures of truth which witnesses against all their deceits lyes which is the sure declaration of truth is the truth These things are written in the Scriptures which declare the way to be one the truth one the life one the word one all one Christ who is the one true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world A measure of which testifieth in every mans conscience against lying and swearing flattering and cheating double-dealing adultery and drunkenness pride covetousness stealing oppression and envie and murder and all sin the light hath shined in every mans conscience and this is the Law of God which was nigh unto Moses which is among the Heathen which have not the Scriptures the Scriptures is not written in their consciences but the light hath shined in all their consciences the same which judgeth the hearts which hath not the Scriptures also judgeth those who professe the Scriptures yet in their lives walk contrary to the Scriptures The light which lighteneth Jew and Gentile is the condemnation both of Jew and Gentile of as many as walk contrary to the light wherewith they are lighteneth and this is the condemnation Joh. 3.19 light is come into the world but men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill Joh. 1.4 But now the light is life to all that love it follow it such as obey the light the light maketh alive the Scripture is not the Spirit which quickeneth you that can but reade the letter do you read the letter and the letter will tell you That the letter killeth but the spirit maketh alive if you believe that the letter is the life then that which you believe is the life tels you that the letter kills 2 Cor. 3.6 which is destruction of the life what profit have you 〈◊〉 by the letter Therefore to the light keep your minds waiting in it that you may be governed by the Light which cometh from Christ by it to be led unto Christ that you may come to know him to be the Captain leader of Israel unto salvation Heb. 2.10 let the light rule your hearts and the affections of your hearts and minds that you may have feeling of the rule of God the light is the measure rule of truth in all your hearts which will lead you into all truth unto life Joh. 16.13 if you love it and follow it but will stand your condemnation even unto the end unto death if you hate it and walk contrary to it Look to Abels rock to Enoch his path to Moses his way to David throne of Judgement to the Prophets hope to the Saints salvation waite to receive this as the foundation of your age 1 Cor. 3.11 12 13. for other foundation can no more lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ the true light of the world which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world and the day shall declare every mans work whether it be gold silver or pretious stone wood hay drosse chaffe or stubble it shall all be revealed by the fire of the Lord God which is already kindled in the earth Therefore whilst you have time Repent
the world in the unrighteousnesse and uncleannesse thereof in fornication and covetousnesse in drunkennesse pride malice and murder lying and swearing vain jesting and foolish talking As a people through the abominable lusts of uncleanness in your lives void of the knowledge or at least wise not considering and laying it to heart how Ephes 5.5 That no unclean person nor Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God being as it were stupified and benummed in your senses so far degenerated from the power of Truth and mystery of Godliness that ye have lost the generall forme and do retain but the least part thereof wherefore among you and upon you the words and prophesie of the Apostle is fulfilled 2 Tim. 3.13 Evill men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived And yet a little while and it shall also be shewn unto you that desire to understand wherein you are fallen below the form of the profession of Godliness as in divers particulars I shall query for the opening of your understandings that by your diligent search in the Scripture with the Light you may see which will effectually make for the manifestation of the ground of your customes and practices in your idolatrous and superstitious worships And this unto you all is held forth for the tryal of your wayes seeing the Lords mighty day is at hand which will rip open and make manifest all hearts and declare and preach that which hath been hid in secret upon the house tops Many of your Fathers were the worshippers of the works of the Philosophers untill the sound of the fame of Christ came among them whose Miracles and Resurrection confounded the depth of the working of their wisdom by which the wise men came to confesse a greater than themselves which suddenly rang through the Nation and so from Nation to Nation from the report and credit of the confession of the Philosophers and learned Doctors the ignorant also in all your Nations joyned with the humane learned and so with one consent they cryed up the name to wit of Christ whereof they had received the report who sometime before that had slaughtered the Apostles who finished their testimonies in the Life and Spirit of Jesus holding forth his name in power whose name in words as the Apostacy came and grew as the deceivers and false Prophets and false Brethren and false Apostles went forth your Fathers the Philosophers and wise men came to confesse mark the time of the coming in of this which at this time ye stand in which had not an entrance by the Doctrine or Example of Peter or life and preaching of Paul but by such as was spoken of should destroy the little flock of Christ and make havock of the Heritage of God concerning whom I have shewn you Johns witness and Pauls testimony and yet furthermore do write Judes and Peters prophesies Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousnesse filthy dreamers that defile the flesh murmerers complainers walking after their own lusts and their mouth speaking great and swelling words having mens persons in admiration because of advantage Such as the Apostles of our Lord spake of should come Mockers who should walk after their own ungodly lusts who are sensual having not the Spirit of Truth To the Church saith Peter 2 Pet. 2.1 There shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies and many shall follow their pernicious ways of whom the way of Truth shall be evill spoken of having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable souls and hearts they have exercised with covetous practices cursed children which have forsaken the right way who are the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitations God hath reserved in the everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day Seeing therefore that the Scriptures are true as is manifest by the coming of these things to passe according to the words of the Apostles prophesies and finding you in the cursed ground and nature of uncleanness bringing forth fruits of iniquity Hereby I know even by your fruits Matth. 12.33 into what stock you are grafted mine instrument hath reached your root And again I say all men upon the face of the earth who have the least discerning may truly understand that ye are in the Apostacy working the unrighteous works of your Fathers who were the first Apostates from the true Faith in whom iniquity wrought in a mystery who when Satan had his end in destroying to the uttermost in the slaughter of all the holy Apostles in like manner as the Jews after they had slaughtered the true Prophets garnished their Tombs in honour of their persons even so also did the Deceiver set your Fathers a work to build Idols Temples and to draw out the Saints Pictures and to do hommage to the Pictures of Christ Mary and the Apostles in honour of their Persons and those things which your Fathers built ye garnished wherein ye witnesse that ye are their children and are filling up the measure of their iniquity and thus the Devil gained his dominion in you and among you by transforming himself in a nearer shape like an Angel of Light in divers other things and Ceremonies and wrought in and among your Fathers as he did in the dayes of old among the sons of men who sought out many Inventions insomuch that the righteous soul of God was grieved with them so that God repented that he had made man for straightway after the spirit of Antichrist had so greatly wrought through the earth as that Nations came under and in subjection to the wills of the Philosophers even to the confessing of the name of Christ outward Your Fathers they entered into divers consultations and what they sought out by their Inventions were set up as Laws and Ordinances and Statutes in the forms of your worships and thus came in as I have said the buildings of Idols Temples the carving of Images the painting of pictures the making of Beads and Crosses of Wood Bone Stone Gold Silver and other dead created things and the Invention of Candles and Lamps and Altars for your sacrifices and all manner of Surplesses and deceitful coverings and hood-winking garments the observations of times and seasons and weeks and dayes and divers other heresies and damnable doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2.3 Forbidding to marry and to abstain from meats which God had created to be received with thanks-giving All these and many more of your customes and Idolatrous worships are neither according to the command of God or of Christ or the president or example of the Holy Apostles through the Witnesse of the Scripture In few words the root of these things was the invention and working of iniquity in