hate the motions of the flesh Qu. But what reason is there that other men should oppresse me Ans. Still to let you see your owne unrighteousnesse to others therefore other unrighteous men are suffered to deale unrighteously with you to let you see that the wayes of unrighteousnesse brings nothing but paine and when you are brought to this the spirit which hath beene sleighted by you is now owned and honoured Secondly Reason suffers the flesh of other men to tyrannize over you for a time that in the day when he will sit upon the throne all flesh may be silent before him and confesse his Justice to be righteous upon them for their unrighteousnesse one to another Now Reason suffers all these things to be that the flesh may forsake himselfe he seeing in Reasons light that he being nothing but envy and misery to himselfe and so may returne to the spirit and submit thereunto in whom his life and peace lyes Qu. And what is the end that Reason hath in all this Ans. To destroy the powers of the flesh which leades creatures into divers waies of opposition one against another and to bring all into pure experience of that sweet rest and peace that is in the unity of himselfe the one spirit Qu. Is Reason to be seene in every creature Ans. Yes Qu. What Reason is to be seene in a Horse Ans. Reason carries him along to eate his meat that he may doe worke for the use of man Qu. But the horse doth not know this Reason that rules him Ans. No Neither hath any creature that priviledge to see and know that Reason rules him but man Therefore he is said to be the Lord of creatures because he knowes how to govern them by reason that is within himselfe Qu. But all men doe not see and know Reason to rule in them Ans. No Therefore some are called unreasonable men and though they are in the shape of men yet their actings are like their horses and they know the spirit that rules them no more then their horses But now when a man knowes that this King of righteousnesse Reason doth dwell in him and rule in him to which all the powers of his flesh are made subject which indeed is Christ dwelling in the flesh Now he may be said to be a perfect man for he acts like a man righteously and so as the Father lives in him he lives in the Father Qu. Who is he that cals men to an account for their unrighteousnesse Ans. It is the mighty spirit Reason who is King of righteousnesse and King of peace wherefore art thou proud saith Reason Wherefore art thou covetous Wherefore art thou envious and bitter spirited against thy fellow creatures Wherefore art thou unclean Ans. The Flesh answers It is to please my selfe Qu. Reason answers Didst thou make thy selfe that thou shouldst live to thy selfe Or did not I the Lord make thee to live unto me I tell you when Reason puts these questions to the heart the heart will be struck dead Qu. What is it to walke righteously or in the sight of Reason An. First When a man lives in all acts of love to his fellow creatures feeding the hungry cloathing the naked relieving the oppressed seeking the preservation of others as well as himselfe looking upon himselfe as a fellow creature though he be Lord of all creatures to all other creatures of all kinds and so doing to them as he would have them doe to him to this end that the Creation may be upheld and kept together by the spirit of love tendernes and onenesse and that no creature may complaine of any act of unrighteousnesse and oppression from him Secondly when a man lives in the knowledge and love of the Father seeing the Father in every creature and so loves delights obeyes and honours the Spirit which he sees in the creature and so acts rightly towards that creature in whom hee sees the spirit of the Father for to rest according to its measure And whereas before he exercised outward senses to follow creatures now he lives in the exercise of his spirituall senses and hee doth rightly and he knowes wherefore for his soul now sees feels tasts smels and hears the Father spiritually in all things and so doth all things in love and cheerfull obedience to the Spirit that discovers all things to him inwardly whereby he is made able to doe acts of righteousnesse outwardly This man that is thus drawn up knowes what it is to live in community with the Globe and to live in community with the Spirit of the Globe In the next place I said that Jesus Christ at a distance from thee will not save thee and that it is not the humane flesh but the Spirit in that body that is the Saviour and the Seed that must bruise the Serpents head in mankind And hence they say I deny Christ Therefore I shall give accompt here unto by these questions Qu. What is Jesus Christ I answer He is a man taken up to live wholly in the Father or a meek spirit drawn up to live in the light of Reason And here note two things 1. That Jesus Christ that dyed at Jerusalem by the hands of the Jewes he was the first in whom the Father did appeare bodily to dwell in and that humane body was the Lambe that answered all the types of Moses Law But that body tooke its name from the spirit that dwelt within it Qu. What was that Spirit Ans. He was the spirit of meeknesse and humility which saved humane flesh from all distempers that ariseth from pride or covetuousnesse and this is the Child Jesus a Saviour for he destroyes the covetuousnesse and pride in flesh frees the creature from all distempring fears and passions and rules King in meeknesse and quiet humility 2. He was the spirit of the Father that lived in the exâ—rcise and use of all the spirituall senses and therâ—fore as the Father was said to live in him so he was said to live in the Father Qu. But shall not that humane body of Christ save me by his death Ans The Spirit in that humane body is the Saviour The flesh profits nothing the patient death of that humane body declares the exellent power of the Spirit within it to be the alone Saviour of humane flesh from the curse and power of darknesse that workes and rules in it and so hath taken it prisoner And therefore when the same Anointing or Spirit that was sent downe into that body is sent down into yours changing your vile bodies and making them like that glorious body killing all the cursed powers in the flesh making your flesh subject to the Spirit now you are become one with Christ and with the Father which is your salvation Qu. But shall I not looke upon that body which was called Iesus Christ and expect salvation from him Ans. Jesus Christ at a distance from thee will never save thee but a Christ within is thy
of hypocriticall and deceived flesh let his profession be what it will be Therefore professors look to your selves both priests and people there is light broke out that will lay open the hipocrisie of your private actings to the view of the whole creation and you shall not cover your shame doe all you can Thus much for the second part in prayer Thirdly prayer lies in words or utterance but this is the remotest part of prayer Now words among men should be the declaration of the heart among men but oftentimes they are not for men have good words many times in prayer which they have got by tradition which their hearts are strangers to and so they draw nigh God with their lips but their hearts are removed and this hypocriticall darknesse hath at this day overspread pulpit worship and almost all family worship But our God hath left us a remnant on earth whose hearts wait upon him or else we had been as Sâ—dom here in England before this day Quest But when shall I use or speak words in prayer Ans. When the power of the Spirit within doth give words to the mouth to utter for he that speakes words before the Lord and not from his power speakes he knowes not what and his prayer is the vain babling of the heathen that thinks to be heard for their much speaking Qu. We all know that without the heart words of prayer are nothing and there is no man that makes conscience of his wayes dares speake unlesse he feel his heart upright Answ This is the language in professors mouths but they neither know nor practise their own words for let me tell you and your heart shall bear witnesse that I speake truly that many times when you are put upon it to pray as you call it you find your self empty of words now you will not wait upon the Father till he give words of knowledge but the pride of the flesh will put you on and force words out of your mouth though they appear ful of confusion to your selves and likewise to the standers by and tels you what will others thinke of thee if thou neglect to pray or preach as thou hast been accustomed and so shame of men within thee puts thee upon speaking a multitude of confused words before the Lord But Reason tels thee when thou comes before the Lord let thy words be few and faithfull Qu. But must I use no words at all in prayer Answ I tell thee when the power within thee gives words to thy mouth to utter then speak and thou canst not but speak but he that speakes before the Lord whatsoever he be learned or unlearned before he hath received power from on high that man offers the sacrifice of a fool not considering what he doth Well thou hast now heard what prayer is both in the heart and in the mouth and in the hand These words shall not die they are sincere milke which once a wearied soul did suck from the Fathers owne breasts of love and wherein he now walks and finds true rest in the Father they are words of truth and sobernesse Therfore though thou go on in thy customary way of praying words in the pulpit and in families yet know that thou art left without excuse and thou shalt be brought before the King and condemned for thy hypocrisie to the shame and torment of thy whole man Lastly they say I deny the ordinances of God and that I live above all Ordinances which is my pride Hereunto I shall give this accompt First that I doe walke in the dayly practise of such Ordinances of God as Reason and Scriptures doe warrant Secondly that the Clergie and professors of England in their publike worships doe practise their own inventions which neither Reason nor Scripture doth warrant and yet they call them Gods Ordinances by which practise they are the men that deny God and Christ and turne the Scriptures into a lie First then the Ordinances of God which Reason and Scripture doth warrant and in which I dayly walke in are these First I pray continually calling upon the name of the Lord in the manner I declare before and for that search these Scriptures and let Reason be judge Eccl. 5.1.2 1. Cor. 14.15 Esay 29.13 Psa. 66.18 Mat. 6.5.6 2. Cor. 13.5 Psal. 4.5 Act. 1.4.8 Psal. 52.9 Gal. 5.19.22 Secondly I speak to others as accasion â— tendered from the restimony within mâ—selfe of what I have heard and seene and received from the Father and let Reason bâ—â—udge Act. 4.20 1 Cor. 11.23 Act. 8.30 Ps. 51.12.13 Act. 2.14 Mat. 5.1 c. Luke 4.21 Iohâ— 11 Thirdly It is my endeavour and practise to doe to others as I would have them do to me for this is to act according to the creaâ—ion of a man the chief Ordinance let Reason be judge Mat. 7.12 Rom. 12.20 Mat. 25. â—5 Esay 1.16.17 c. 1 Joh. 3.17 Rom. 14. â—0 Deut. 1.16 Esay 33.15 16. Fourthly if I have knowledge peace or â—ny good I rejoyce to see the Father breathâ—ng forth love in the strength I receive there â—rom I am ready as occasion is tendred to out forth my hand to refresh others and â—ereby I give the Father thanks And if I want any of those refreshments my self my heart frets not but is quiet and made to wait upon the Father patiently till he give me such things I want in his own time Psa. 9.14 Act. 15.31 Luke 22.32 Psal. 123.2 Zeph. 3.8 Gal. 5.5 Esay 8.17 Fiftly I can without grudging suffer oâ—hers to walk to that measure of knowledge they have received though it differ from mine yet holding forth my light with tendernesse to such as I see of meek spirits and can without rashnesse for I know what I speak condemne where I see a heart lifted up in pride waiting upon the Father til he destroy the Serpent and then make us all of one heart and one spirit Rom. 12.10 1 Peter 4.10 Psal. 37.7 John 7.34 1 Cor. 6.2 Rom. 14.5.12 Sixtly I doe and can breake bread with any in whom I see but the least measure of the Father rising up that is I can eate and drinke with them in any house where I meâ—t with them speaking of the things of the Father to them and hearing them speak to me for this is to break bread from house to house in singlenesse of heart this is the communion of Saints in that particular let Reason judge Act. 2.46 Judg. 13.15 Gen. 18 4.5 Joh. 21.5 c. Act. 16.34 Seventhly for Baptism I have gon through the ordinance of dipping which the letter of the Scripture doth warrant yet I doe not presse any one thereunto but bid every one to waite upon the Father till he teach and perswade and then their submitting will bâ— found for I see now that it is not the materiall water but the water of life that is the spirit in which soules is to be dipped and sâ— drawn up into the one spirit and
the one spirit this makes the second man perfect for corruption and curse is removed and the whole earth is filled with holy breathing all acting and living in righteousnesse And this is Jesus Christ the second man They say I deny the Gospell and the doctrine of it hereunto I give this accompt Qu. What is the Gospell Ans. It is the Father himselfe that is the Word and glad tydings that speaks peace inwardly to poore soules Qu. But are not the writings of the Apostles and Prophets the Gospell Ans. These writings are the report or declaration of the Gospell which are to cease when the Lord himselfe who is the everlaststing Gospell doth manifest himselfe to rule in the flesh of sonnes and daughters Qu. But did not Paul say This is the word of the Gospell which we preach and so left those words in writing Ans. It is true his writings are the word of it or the report of it but it is not the thing it selfe for when it was reported that the Father would dwell in the flesh and destroy the Serpent this report savoured sweet But when man comes to see and feel and know that the Father dwels and rules in him This is farre more sweet This is to enjoy the Gospell himselfe The word of life within and this shall never cease but endures for ever Qu. But how doe you know that this is the Gospell Ans. I know it by the testimony that is within my selfe and by the sweet peaceable and soule-satisfying rest that I have through communion with the spirit The Lord our righteousnesse In the midst of the mad rage of the world Secondly For satisfaction to the world I desire all men to take the Record and search those Scriptures for they are they that doe testifie of the truth hereof as well as they testified of Christ after the flesh to be the Lambe And this is the mystery and testimony of the Scriptures The spirit dwelling and ruling in flesh The declaration or report of words out of the mouth or pen of men shall cease but the spirit endures for ever from whence those words were breathed as when I have the thing promised the word of the promise ceases Qu. What is the lively testimony or appearance of the everlasting Gospell to dwell in flesh Ans. I answer Justice and Judgement are the two witnesses or the manifest appearance of the spirit or the pure light of Reason teaching a man both to know what is righteous and to doe righteously And when these two rule in man then is flesh subject to the spirit Qu. But I have heard men say That the Scripâ—ures are not onely the word of God but God himselfe for the word and spirit goe together as I the beginning was the Word and The Word was God Ans. If that very written word were God himselfe truly God then would mightily be torne in pieces every day by the bad interpretations of imaginary flesh But I answer The spirit himselfe is the Word This is the power that tooke flesh and dwelt amongst us And the Scriptures are the testimony of those men to whom this secret was revealed by which testimony within they were made able to give First A report that such a mystery as God manifest in the flesh should break forth and appeare in the world in a child that should be borne of a Virgin and so all the writings of the Prophets foretold the coming of the man-child the Messiah The Lambe of God And so when the Pharisees told Christ he was a deceiver He answered I am he and unlesse that you believe that I am he you shall dye in your sinnes and search the Scriptures of the Prophets and you shall see that they tesâ—ifie of mee that I am the Messiah the Man-child the Lamb that am to answer all Moses types and the Prophet whom the Father hath sent For I came not to doe my owne will but the will of him that sent me Secondly The writings of the Apostles doe justifie the Prophets and declare posiâ—ively this is the Christ the Son of the Faâ—her well-beloved we ate and dranke with â—im we saw him and heard him and were â—ye-witnesses that the Rulers of the Jewes â—lew him and that the spirit raised him from the death Qu. But doe the Apostles writings report no â—ore but this Ans. Yes As they declared when they â—aw and heard how the spirit dwelt bodily â— that humane flesh or single man Jesus Christ So they have declared by the same â—estimony that the same spirit that ruled in â—im should in the latter dayes be poured out â—pon sonnes and daughters and shall spread â— the earth like the shining of the Sun from â—ast to West And this is that which this mouth and â—en of mine doe testifie of to all that heare â—ee that the same spirit that hath layne â—id under flesh like a corne of wheat for an â—ppointed time under the clods of earth is â—ow sprung out and begins to grow up a â—uitfull vine which shall never decay but â— shall encrease till he hath filled the earth â—his is the Kingdome of God within man This is the graine of mustard seed which is little in the beginning but shall become a mighty tree This is the fire that shall dry and burne up all the drosse of mans worke and turne all things into his owne nature This is that spirit which is broke out that will bring mankinde into one heart anâ— one minde For assure your selves I know what I speake The Thorne bush is burning but the Vine is flourishing The Ashes of the Thorne bush is laid at the root and feet oâ— the Vine and it growes abundantly Now search the Scriptures for this likewise for they doe testifie of the sending oâ— the spirit into the flesh of sons and daughters and they testifie of the utter destruction of the man of sinne the flesh with all hiâ— curse power inwardly and outwardly Now he that doth jeere the spirit or denies thaâ— the spirit shall come and rule in flesh in sonâ— and daughters as he did in that one man Jesus Christ is an Antichrist and a Traitor to the Father let him be whom he will Therefore leâ—rne to put a difference betweene the Report and the thing Reported of The spirit that made flesh is he that is reported of The writings and words of Saints is the report These reports being taken hold of by corrupt flesh that would rule are blemished by various translations interpretations and constructions that King flesh makes â—ut those sons and daughters in whom the â—pirit rests cannot be deceived but judgeth â—ll things They say I deny the doctrine of the Gosâ—ell I shall give this account to that Q. What is the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Ans. What Jesus Christ is I have shewed â—efore The doctrine or report of hâ—m is â—his That mankinde shall be by him reâ—onciled to his Maker and be made one in â—pirit
with him that is that the curse shall â—e removed and the power of it killed and consumed And that created flesh by that mighty power the man of truth should be made subject to the spirit that made it so â—hat the spirit which is the Father may beâ—ome all in all the chiefe ruler in flesh And truly this is but according to the â—urrent of the whole Scripture that in the â—ay of Christ every one shall be made of one â—eart and one spirit that is all shall bee â—rought in to acknowledge the Father to â—bey him walke humbly before him and â—ive in peace and love in him This is the â—octrine of Christ and the Gospell This is â—lad tydings to heare of But when you are â—ade to enjoy this doctrine as yours then you shall know what it is to know the Son and what it is to be set free by the Sonne therfore wait upon the Father till he makâ— forth himself in you Qu. I waite that 's true but I must use the meanes Answ That which you call meanes doth harden your hearts and blind your eyes iâ— shuts you out from sweet enjoyment thaâ— is to run after men for teachings I speakâ— not rashly I speak what I know and yoâ— shall finde before your soules taste of truâ— peace that whosoever takes those Scriptures and makes exposition upon them from theiâ— imagination and â—els you that is the worâ— of God and hath seen nothing That they are the false Christs and false Prophets anâ— their way of teaching is meer deceit both to your soules and to your purses for now in this day of Christ which is begun and which will have a greater appearance ere long in the great world Men must speak their own experienced words and must not speake thoughts For thoughts and studies and imagination of flesh are the men that are found gathering sticks upon this sabbath day and these are stoned to death by the Power that is arising in some already and shall be stoned to death in all that the Lord alone may be exalte in this day of his Power Qu. Must I use no meanes at all or what meanes must I use An. These 3 first let your chief endeavour be to act according to your creation that is to doe as you would be done unto by all creatures as I have shewed and I le tell you this is as needfull a gospell doctrine to be practised as any I know for the present for I le assure you the world is at such a passe yea and among imaginary professors especially that I know not who I can say is a sincere hearted friend so that I am sure the sonne of man at his coming finds no faith in earth neither in my flesh nor in the flesh of other he brings it with him and gives it to us Secondly waite upon the Father with a meek spirit for his teaching And you shall find it a very hard thing to performe these â—wo meanes for the flesh is both very unâ—ighteous to seek it self and it is very hasty â—o have all knowledge peace and experience â—n a sudden it s so proud and hasty it will â—ot wait Thirdly if you would hear other men â—peak you may doe two things First read the record and there see what the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets your fellow servants were but do not alter their words by forceing a meaning till the Father teach you Secondly if you would hear then acquaint your selves with such as can speake from a testimony within for as they received what they have from the pure teachings of the Father so this second hand teaching will be pure teaching to you but be sure you do not prefer this second hand teaching before the first for now the everlasting word and gospel must reveale himself to you or else you cannot be satisfied I have now discharged my service to the Father in this declaration remember what is tould you despise not the Fathers meanes by preferring the way and meanes of the flesh above the wayes of the Father They say I deny the Scriptures because I say that the Scriptures were not appointed for a rule to the world to walke by without the spirit but were the testimony of the Father in those men that writ them for the comfort and benefit of those that are drawn up into communion with the same spirit And to this I shall give this accompt Qu. What is the Law and Testimony which if a man speak not according to it it is because there is no light in him An. This Law and Testimony to which I must have recourse for my comfort is not the words or writings of other men without me But the spirit of the Father in me teaching me to know him by experience and when I can speake purely what I doe see and heare from the Father this is the Law and Testimony within me from which I speake and if I speak not from this Law within I have no knowledge in me Qu. But are not the Scriptures the Law and Testimony of the Father Answ It was the Law and Testimony of the spirit which rested in and upon the Prophets and Apostles for they writ what they saw in vision and they spake what they heard by voice speaking to them spiritually Qu. But are not those Scriptures the Law and Testimony for people to walk by in these dayes Answ No For this is to walke by the eyes of other men and the spirit is not so scanty that a dozen or 20 pair of eyes shall serve the whole world but every sonne and daughter as they are called children of light have light within themselves The same spirit that fils one fils all and makes the whole number of them according to their severall measures to be of one heart and one mind Qu. But may not men take these Scriptures and spend construction upon them and hold forth those constructions to others as perfect light by way of office An. I answer no neither reason nor Scripture allowes any man to speake any words but what he knowes positively to be truth And he that spends constructions thereupon speaking from his imagination he speaks from the flesh and devill and so he makes himself to be a traytor to the father inholding forth that to be truth which is no truth And a thief robber and unrighteous dealer with the Prophets and Apostles First in taking their words as his own and secondly in expounding their meaning and so putting his own meaning upon their words But yet he that hath the same spirit may speak the same word where the Father hath given him the same sight and experience for no man can safely tell another this is a positive truth of God till he have the same testimoniall experience within himself as the penmen of Scripture had and this I am sure all that stand up to teach by way of office have not therefore it is clear that the power that
sets up such teachers is not from the Father commanding but from the flesh being suffered by the Father for a time that when he comes to throw downe his enemies flesh may be shamed and he honoured That man that cannot speak the testimony of the Father no other way but from his book as he reads or from the mouth of another what he heares as the publike teachers doe speake by hearsay and not from experience and so declares himself to be a false Christ a false prophet that runs to teach others before he have any discovery of God within himself Qu. But are not the Scriptures the truths of God An. Yes for they declare that the spirit was the mighty governour of the flesh of those that writ them and so the truths of God the great governour in the pure experience of those penmen And I shall demand of you how you know that these Scriptures are the word of God in the sense you call them but the testimony of the spirit within your selves I say there is no way to know but by the spirit himself seeing there are so many expositions upon them which without doubt hath varied the copies if it were possible to see those very writings from the prophets and Apostles own pen which is not to be seen But when the spirit comes in he must nay he doth and will declare his own meaning And so the spirituall man judges all things and he himself is judged of no man he can judge the flesh and passe righteous judgement because he sees and knowes whâ—t the flesh is The flesh cannot judge him for if he doe it is not righteous judging but rash censure Qu. What use is to be made of the Scriptures An. First they are or may be kept as a record of such truths as were writ not from imagination of flesh but from pure experience and teachings of the Father Secondly we are taught thereby to waite upon the Father with a meek and obedient spirit till he teach us and feed us with sincere milk as he taught them that wrote these Scriptures Thirdly when I look into that record of experimentall testimony and finde a sutable agreement betweene them and the feeling of light within my own soule now my joy is fulfilled And every man and woman may declare what they have received and so become preachers one to another For the Scriptures doth but declare the sending down of the spirit and how he shall rule in the earth in the latter dayes but they doe not declare every particular measure and beame of the spirits ruling for this the sons and daughters are to declare by their particular experiences as they are drawn up Qu. But when I read the Scriptures and findes a perswasion in my heart that they are true may I not owne them as a truth and speak them as a truth and speak them to others An. You may deliver the same words you reade which you are perswaded of but to passe construction and the meaning by way of office teaching others this you cannot do There is an imaginary perswasion grounded upon thoughts or as he conceives but this is a sandy foundation and deceiveth all the world Secondly there is an experimental perswasion grounded upon sight and feeling of the spirit of truth ruling king within him and this is the rock that will never fayl Qu. But did not the Apostles and Christ take texts of Scripture and expound them as Philip did to the Eunuch and Christ from the 61 Esay An. They did not preach and expound any text customarily as the parish gods do but such particular Scriptures as the oportune time and occasion served to declare Christ to be the lambe of God or the greaâ— prophet which the Father promised to send So that all the Scriptures of the ancient prophets which they spake from was only to make it appear that the Messias was come but they did not preach in setled parishes forcing the people by the hand of the magistrate to come and hear them and give them a maintenance for so doing under pain of punishment the Scriptures knowes no such custome or way to be used therefore whosoever lives in such a practise denies the Scripture and are enemies to Jesus Christ But now if any one take Scriptures that speak of the spirits ruling in flesh and so proves the truth of the Scripture by his own testimony or witnesse within himselfe this may be done but for any other way of expounding Scripture I know none neither will nor doth the Scripture warrant any other but what advances the spirit and throws down the flesh by the speakers own experience Qu. But may not the powers of a land compell their people some to preach and others to hear Scriptures expounded as the manner is in England An. I answer That power that compels is the little horne or dragon wheresoever it sits and that expounding is a flat denial of those Scriptures and treason against the spirit liberty is to be given to every one in the case for the kingdome of Christ hath an interest herein Lands and Kingdoms are most commonly governed more by the wisdome of the flesh then of the spirit and why because the spirit gave that power into the hand of flesh for a certain time and when the flesh is judged for his action the Lord wil condemn him for his unrighteous cruell self-seeking and oppressing government over his lambs and sheep The Powers of the Land punished Christ and his Apostles for holding forth their testimony of the Father which was within them but they did not compell any to hear them or to follow them it is an â—asyer thing for magistrates to be breaking forth against such as speak from a pure testimony then against such as speak from imaginary studies of the flesh both in regard of the powers of the flesh within them blinding their eyes and because of so many envious spirits against truth that will be flattering the magistrate and telling him tales of slander on purpose to incense him against the sincere hearted in the land because they hate them through ignorance that is in them not knowing the Majesty of the Lord that is in his servaâ—ts whom they despise Qu. What must the powers of a Land doe then in the matters of Religion as they call it An. First they must suffer every one that will quietly to keepe the record in their houses or to rerd it or speak of it one to another and they that find their own experience to suite therewith speaking from a pure testimony and walkes in all acts of righteousnesse towards his fellow creatures It is the charge which the Father hath put into the hand of the Magistrate to protect these from their oppression of unreasonable men Secondly if any man walk unrighteously towards his fellow creature in civil matters the Powers of a land must punish him according to the nature of his offence and so to be a