joyned for so far as a man denies himself in acting or joyning to that which the Manifestation of God's Spirit shining forth in its own Purity in him reproveth so he comes nearer and comes to joyn in some measure to the Spirit of Holiness or the holy Spirit and to receive it and to feel the Power of God in some small Measure though but weakly working in him to the purging out those things which the Spirit lets him see is evil which hath been reproved in him and so in some Measure feels in himself what to wait upon and where to wait and in what even in that which gives every one a feeling of their own Condition within and opens their Understandings How the Spirit of Truth worketh and operateth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed shewed THough God who is a Spirit hath appeared by his manifestation unto all yet all have not received it he that hates the Light hath not received it The Eye-lids of the morning are unto him as the shadow of Death that which manifesteth and bringeth to Light all evil the evil-doer likes it not heeds it not receives it not but still is without God in the world that lies in Wickedness and without the Spirit in death and Dead in Trespasses and Sins a Sepulcher in which the just lies slain in this state God is not remembred there is no Remembrance in the Grave nor thanks in the Pit yet Light shines in Darkness and a man unconverted yet convinced is that Darkness and that which convinceth him is the Light so Light shines in Darkness in man in the greatest Darkness and this may convince all vain Disputers who say every one is not enlightned neither that the Spirit of God hath appeared to all good men have it bad men it 's near them they that bring forth the fruits of Darkness and bring forth the Deeds of Darkness they are lighted yea they that are in Darkness and are Darkness the Light shines in them the Spirit of God shines there in Darkness manifesteth their Darkness here man is Darkness the Ephesians were Darkness in the unconverted Estate yet had Light shining in them Eph. 5.8 the Spirit 's manifestation they had but were not led by it once they were without God in the world but after it was turned unto it shewed them their Darkness and it leading their minds they came to be made Light in the Lord who is that Spirit whose Manifestation hath appeared to all so all are without Excuse for he had not left himself without a Witness and they that have not God's witness to be theirs that is to say to possess it they have no Faith nor Assurance in God at all but that which should bring Assurance of Salvation unto them it assures their Condemnation and also reveals Sorrow Now as every one is turned to the Measure of God's holy Spirit and keeps his Mind unto it he comes to feel and to see its Reproof and so as the Mind is kept still into it it arises in its Purity and shines forth in the Heart in more Brightness still checking man for Disobedience still judging and as it is listened unto it appears in Strength and layes every man's heart open and lets him see how full of Unrighteousness he is how full of Imagination he is how his Heart is full of vain and idle Thoughts and how lust aboundeth in the Heart this makes his Trouble to increase and his Sorrow to multiply and this is alwayes present none can run from it but it follows him and shall pursue every one to the Pit who obey it not and kindle his Torment and whatsoever the mind may run into to take Pleasure for a Moment and the heart be exercised in yet this Measure of God's Spirit is alwayes present to condemn it and judge a man for it so the Strokes of the Almighty are still heavy upon his Back being still in the Disobedience of the Spirit it never bears witness unto any man in that State but God through it still sounds the Alarum of War and Terror in his Heart so that Fear compasseth him about on every Side and though for a Moment the cry may not be heard and through Disobedience it may seem as dead as unto him yet if ever the Mind be but still and a man sober and calm and ever mind what he is doing it appears again and though a man may take up something and perform something which is called religious and pray in Words and read and talk of the Scriptures and may take up some carnal outward Ordinances and there content himself for a time yet still the Witness of God's holy Spirit for that shews him his Hypocrisie and that he seeks a Cover to shelter himself under that he may live in Disobedience and be at Ease in the Flesh but all in vain for there is no peace within but the Measure of God's Spirit still shews him he serves Sin and follows his own Will and in this Will brings forth a Worship and this is Will-worship nay if a man should practice all those things which others who were in the Life performed and were accepted yet this will not satisfie God hath no Pleasure in this no more then if one slow a man or blessed an Idol or killed Baal all is Abomination to the Lord and though a man may sin so far against the Light of Christ in his own Conscience that the Light be to him as though there were no such thing yet all this will not do for the Lord will thunder from his holy Place though thou hast stopped thy Ear as to him and closed thy Eyes yet he will make thee hear and see and will cause his Terror to strike into thy Heart so that Dread shall compass thee about as a Wall and thou shall be afraid for that which thou shalt see and hear and though the Spirit strives long yet being still disobeyed the long-suffering of God comes to an End concerning him that hath been unfaithful and then his Wrath is kindled as Fire which shall burn to the lowest Hell into which all the rebellious and stiff-necked shall be cast and have their Portion forever among all the Children of Darkness therefore all who have been convinced long and still are by God's holy Spirit of the Way of Truth and yet have not submitted to the leading of the Spirit think on this for it 's the Lord's Truth which I declare unto you or else eternal Misery will be your End And if thou still persist on after the Imaginations of thine own Heart and in thy rebellious Will thou quenchest the Spirit and the Motions thereof and though it be Life in it self yet is as dead unto thee who art in the gainsaying resisting that through which God's eternal Power is manifest in them that believe and thou wilt grow insensible and past feeling and become as seared Flesh and be sensless as to the things of God and
forth Fruit unto God and the cursed Ground out of which Bryars and Thorns do arise it kindles a Fire in that shall not be quenched but as there is a Submission unto its pure Operation it burns up and destroyes that which hinders the Growth of the Seed and it purgeth the Hearts of them that have Confidence in it from all Filthiness both of Flesh and spirit and worketh up the Creature into its own Frame and Nature and fashions and makes and moulds all that are in the Faith into the Image of the Father and so the Father's Love comes to be shed abroad in the Heart and as Wrath was revealed through the Spirit and Condemnation so now the PEACE of God comes to be enjoyed and his CONSOLATION shed abroad largely in which there is pure Rejoycing forever Unto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals Assurance of the Father's Love and of Justification with God declared None have the Witness of God's Spirit bearing witness to them and in them who have not believed in the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World by whom alone Life is begotten by the powerful Operation of Christ in them that believe in him who is eternal Light it self whose Word is Spirit and Life by which the new Creature is framed and formed in them that believe unto whom he maketh manifest his Power for unto him who is the Life of men is all Power committed both in Heaven and Earth for nothing was made or created but by him neither is any turned from Sin but by him and by his mighty Power without him is Death in him is Life and the Life is the Light of men So that none but they that are born of the Light and are begotten by him who is Light can have the Spirit of Christ who is Light to bear Witness unto them neither the Assurance of the Father's Love for only they that are born of the spirit and walk after the Spirit are justified by the Spirit of the Lord for the Assurance of his Love is not made manifest to his Enemies but unto them that are born and brought forth in his own Image in his own Likeness and Nature which is pure and incorruptible without Stain or Defilement the holy Seed which is Heir of the Promise who know the living Hope which purifies the Heart and bringeth the Answer of a good Conscience unto them that feel and witness the washing of Regeneration and have known in themselves the clean Water poured forth upon them which hath taken away the Stains Spots and Blemishes and the Defilements for where these are not washed out and the Heart cleansed from them and that believed in wherein God's All sufficiency is felt and his Power made manifest there cannot be Assurance of the Father's Love in the Heart nor in the Soul neither doth the Spirit of the Father bear witness unto such nor assure their Justification but on the contrary where Sin remains unsubdued and not taken away the Spirit of the Father condemneth the Sin and the Creature now is joyned to it and is become one with it for no Sin is brought forth but there is a Consent and an Assenting to the Instigation of the Devil although when a Temptation ariseth either within or without there may be a resisting and a striving against it for a little but the Heart not being kept close to the Spirit the Enemy often enters and so captivates the Understanding then there is an Agreement and a joyning to the Adversary and so the spirit pronounceth the sentence of Condemnation upon him who is joyned to the Harlot and becomes one Flesh and joyned unto strange Flesh which is not the Flesh of Christ the Seed and that which joyned and consented to drink of the Cup of Fornication must drink of the Cup of Indignation and Terror and bear the stroke of divine Justice and lye in Patience under it till that be cut down which hath joyned to Deceit before there can be the Remission of the Transgression or the Creature justified in the sight of God for sin is not blotted out of the Book of God's Remembrance till it be turned from and repented of neither doth the Creature stand clear in the sight of God when God judges in righteous Judgment which the Light in every ones Conscience shall answer Now he that is born of God sins not for the Seed of God remains in him which is Life And as the Creature joyns to that seed which is Heir of the Kingdom and of the Crown Immortal he comes to be made Partaker of its Virtue and Operation which seed is Christ and by his Power by which he limiteth the seed of the serpent and weakens his strength in the Creature as man cometh to believe in his strength unto whom all Power is committed the Covenant with Death is broken and that Agreement that the Creature hath made with Death comes to be disanulled by the Arm and Power of the Lord and so the Creature comes to be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption and the new man comes to live or the new Creature which is born of God which sins not comes to be framed and fashioned in the Image of the Father and the Father's Love is manifest unto him and in him and he hath the Assurance in himself The Babe that is born from above of the Spirit which is from above of which he is born and brought forth of the Just by the Just he is justified by the just God and the just Witness of the Spirit sealeth this in him and he hath the Record of his Justification For there are three that bear Record in the Earth the Water the Blood and the Spirit and he that is born of that which is pure in it self hath the Witness of all these three in himself for they agree in one that which one beareth Witness to and for the other doth the same and the Record Testimony and Witness of all these three hath he that is born from above Moreover there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one So he that is born of the Father and begotten of the Father in Christ the Seed through the Spirit he and he alone comes to feel the Father's Love made manifest in him and is justified in the Sight of the Father and hath the Record of all these Witnesses before-mentioâ—ed in himself so that he hath his Assurance and Evidence near him and in him the seal of the Father the seal of the Spirit And so when the Adversary comes to tempt and to assault and would raise up Doubts in the Mind the Evidence is near which puts him out of all Doubt that he is in the Love of God and blessed forever and happy are all they who have waited for these Things and have felt these Things and are Witnesses of these Things for Flesh and Blood hath not
Merchants of the Earth shall weep and mourn over her for no Man buyeth her Merchandize any more Rev. 18.11 And every Ship-Master and all the Company in Ships and Sailers and as many as trade by Sea stood afar off and they cast Dust on their Heads and cryed weeping and wailing saying Alas alas that great City wherein were made rich all that had Ships on the Sea for in one Hour she is made desolate Rev. 18.17 19. Mystery Babylon THE Mother of Harlots DISCOVERED Her RISE and when With many of Her SORCERIES IN the End of the primitive Times when the Apostles had finished their Testimony committed unto them and had gathered many out of the World and converted many unto God and many were established in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ which purifieth the Heart and giveth Victory over the World and were led to the Beginning before the World was made and the Churches which were in God which had received the Anointing by which they knew all things even the invisible things of God and the Mysteries of his glorious Kingdom which God through the Spirit did reveal unto them which Spirit they had received being begotten of God by which Spirit they called him Father and by which Spirit of Truth which was manifest from the God of Truth in their Hearts they were led into all Truth and became Sons of God and Heirs of the Promise and this Spirit was their Direction and led them to worship God aright to obey and glorifie him and his Name which brought Salvation unto them and into this Spirit they were all baptized by the one Spirit into one Body and in this one Spirit they met and worshipped God and were of one Heart and of one Mind and did know their Director near them and in them and the Time did come when they worshipped neither at Jerusalem nor at Samaria but in the Spirit and in the Truth wherein the Father was glorified and came to see that fulfilled which the Prophets bore Witness of even him in whom all the Prophets end in Christ made manifest in them the Hope of Glory whose Voice they heard from Heaven by which they were quickened and raised from Death to Life by the effectual working of the mighty Power of God which wrought in them that did believe and they were in the Unity of the Faith by which all their Hearts were purified who held it which is a Mystery held in a pure Conscience by which they received an Assurance and were made Partakers of the Promises and became Inheritors of Life Light and Immortality and Heirs of the Promise and Joynt-heirs with Christ and they sate together with him in Heavenly Places and eat with him and drank with him in the Kingdom of God which stood in Power and in Righteousness Joy and Peace and did not look like the Pharisees lo here or there but first felt it as a Grain of Mustard-seed in themselves or as a Corn of Wheat which afterwards springs up as a Blade or as a Ear of Wheat to Ripeness to a full Corn and they did walk from Faith to Faith from Strength to Strength and did appear before God in Sion and the Hebrews were come to Mount Sion from whence God shined out in perfect Beauty who became their Satisfaction and Peace who had revealed his Son in them whom God had made unto them Justification Sanctification and Wisdom and so they knew one God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and one Faith one Hope one Baptism the one Spirit into which they were all baptized into which they all did drink by which all that did believe were sanctified and did receive the Inheritance among the Saints in Light and this was the Church that was in God which was begotten by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus in the lively Faith and in the lively Hope by which their Souls were anchored and they established in the Truth that made free and they had received the Spirit of Prophecy and did speak one by one according to the Revelation of the Spirit which led out of Confusion into Order and they being in the Power of God did walk by its Order in the Order of the Gospel And now was the Woman cloathed with the Sun who had the Crown of twelve Stars upon her Head and the Moon under her Feet who stood in that which was unchangeable and immutable and now was the Man-child brought forth which was to rule the Nations and was revealed to the Church which was in God and he was the Head by which all the Members of the Body were united together in one and reconciled to the Father in one and by his Obedience Justification did come upon all that did believe But since the Woman fled into the Wilderness and the Man-child was caught up unto God the Midnight of Darkness came upon the whole World and the Sincerity was lost and the Image of God lost the Heir caught up out of the World's Sight Faith was lost Hope lost the Spirit lost the Saints Rule and Direction and then the Whore appeared and made all Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and they staggered and reeled to and fro hither and thither having lost the Spirit became all Waters and unstable and all the World wondered after the Beast which then arose after the primitive Times and after the Apostles Dayes and admired him and worshipped him who killed the Woman's Seed and made War against it And then the Whore made Decrees who was gone from the Law-giver and she made Confessions of Faith and Articles of Faith being out of the Power of God who is the Author of true Faith being guided by the Power of the Dragon she made Orders of Worship and gave Directions for Worship having gotten on the free Womans Attire the Outside the Scriptures the Form of Godliness but afterwards became more abominable having both lost the Power and the Form worshipped the Devil's Power and the Dragon's Power and came forth in the Image of him and reached out the Cup of Fornication and made the Nations drunk with her Inchantments and Sorceries and she drunk the Blood of the Martyrs the Blood of the Prophets and them that kept the Testimony of Jesus the Spirit of Prophecy and then prescribed Forms of Worship Forms of Prayer and made Creeds and Faiths and Articles of Faith and many Faiths having lost the Order of the Gospel she made many Orders and sent out many Merchants to carry abroad her Traffick and her Merchandize to the Nations and whole Ships were filled full of it Vessels full of it which went upon the Sea and rode upon the Waters upon Kindreds Tongues Nations and Peoples who received of her Merchandize and bought of several Sorts of Merchandize which the several Merchants traded with who had several Orders prescribed then as Popes Cardinals Jesuites Fryars of many Orders and Monks of many Orders Jesuites of many Orders and all these
now hath Union with unclean Spirits which are cursed from the presence of the Lord forever he that had Union with all God's Creatures hath lost the Union with all being gone out of the power in which all were created and moreover now in Enmity to it and joyned to him who hath the power of Death which is the Devil and now draws Iniquity as with a Cart-rope and Vanity as with a Cord and he who was joyned to the Lord and to the Lamb now joyned to the Dragon who makes War against the Lamb he that had Union with the Seed the Heir of all Things now hath Union with the Seed of the Serpent the first born of Wickedness Heir of Condemnation and everlasting Vengeance who is driven from the Lord's Presence and curst forever and to be tormented from the Presence of the Lord forever Now the World set in the Heart and the Heart gone out after earthly Things even Things that perish and now his Life grew in that and after that which fadeth his Delight on transitory Things in Lust in Pleasure and Wantonness delighting in the Flesh hath forgotten God his Maker and now dishonours him Oh let the Heavens mourn and let the Earth be without Joy let Hills lament and the Valleys be grieved let Gloominess cover the Face of the Deep let the Floods be sorry and Springs lament let all that is movable take up a lamentation and let it be for a lamentation forever Misery is spread over all the Earth is polluted and defiled and all is out of Order disjoynted from the Lord and great Confusion and Perplexity is come upon all and the whole Creation groans and travails in Pain in Grief and Sorrow and all is made subject to Vanity the Oppressor bears Rule the land mourns the lamb is slain the Serpent and his Seed rejoyceth and triumphs all is filled with Violence the Seed suffers the Lord is grieved the Angels mourn the proud and presumptuous are now counted happy and now the Worker of Iniquity set up to be a Ruler and a law-giver now to man and in man who before had the Lord to be law-giver and his King Oh woful Change oh sad State oh deplorable Condition gone from Honour and Glory into perpetual Misery and Contempt And here all the whole Earth and all Mankind may read themselves as in a Glass in what State they are in in the Fall in the first Nature in the Disobedience Time would fail me to express the Misery and the sad State of all Mankind in the Curse yea it is unexpressible and undeclarable and unfathomable and incomprehensible by the Sons of men in the Unbelief but God hath revealed to me by his Spirit that which is now spoak and he shall bear me Record that my Witness is true also that of God in every man's Conscience when the Book of Conscience shall be opened and the Secrets of all Hearts revealed shall bear Witness that this is true How Sin entered and Death by Sin into the World and now Man dead while he lives and all are dead Works that Man brings forth wherein the State of all the Sons of men may be seen and their Works in the Fall NOw the Serpent being more Subtil then all the Beasts of the field in presumption of himself moved without the Power and formed a thing without the Power and began his Work and brought a lye being gone out of the Truth Sin conceived and a Lye conceived he is the Father of it and not the Power he spoke of himself who was gone out of the Light motion or the Powers acting man also his Eye being abroad out of the Life and Power let in the Temptation upon him but if he had stood in the Power as God had ordained him and commanded him and had not moved out of it he would have seen when the Serpent oâ— any other thing had gone out of the Power and have still had Dominion over it and though it was Evil in the Serpent to Tempt who moved without Commandement from the Lord yet if man had stood in the Power he had kept him out and it had been no Sin to him neither condemned should he have been and so that blind Doctrine of the world and the Teachers thereof is a lye who have said and taught that God ordained him to Fall and upon this account that so Christ might be revealed and that his Son might be honoured for if man had not Faln say they there had needed no Saviour This is Ignorance and Blindness he created man in his Image to stand in the Power and ordered and Commanded him so to do and to Glorifie him who made him to stand in the dominion over all the Works of his Hands And this doth not make Christ useless or of no use yea he was of use before and was his Life and the Life of all things and what if I say Salvation the wise will understand the unlearned will say what need their Salvation when there is no Sin yes there needed Salvation and Preservation in that State that he was made in that he might be upholden in that state and saved from any thing that might hurt him in that State so as to weaken him that he might not have Power to fulfill the Will of God and to glorifie his Maker Object But some may say He was not saved and preserved but was Created and left to himself to order himself whether he would stand or Fall Answ. I say whose was the fault that he was not preserved and saved in that state was it in God nay and that he was left to himself is also as false and Unlearned he left him in the Power and in the Dominion everlasting and Commanded him to stand there and he was not to go out of it but to act in the Motion of the Word and in the Power by which he was made which was Christ who was glorified with the Father before the World began I say according to God's appointment and Ordination man was not left to himself but to stand in the Power and authority of the Word wherein man had power to fulfill the Will of God and keep all in Order according to God's appointment but he going out of the Power contrary to God's command giving heed to the Woman and the Serpent who were gone out of the Command before I say he of his own accord going out when the Power commanded him not to Hearken to any such thing but on the Contrary forbad him so let in a Lye and believed the VVoman and the Serpent and so went from his Preservation and Protection and Salvation and so was catched in the Serpents Snare who abode not in the Truth Object But then some may say He had a voluntary Will to do as he would and was not that will good Answ. The will was good in it self as it stood and went out in the Lifes Motion but moving or acting contrary to the Motion
and Vexation unto the Spirit of God in any in the Spirit of Christ which is but one in all I am burdened with them and do bear a Part of their Grief I speak without Ostentation or Glorying for what have I to glory in any but the Lord or to rejoyce in but that which all the World hates because it testifies against it and therefore we are become the Objects of Scorn and Hatred in this World by them that are of it who glory in Sin who rejoyce in Iniquity whose End is Destruction and perpetual Misery and their Rejoycing shall be turned into endless Sorrow and Grief Elected of God our Portion in this World is to be Sufferers in it and by it because God hath chosen us out of it and its Nature therefore we are hated despised and persecuted in our Generation like as all the People of God were in former Generations we cannot be exempted from drinking of the same Cup which Christ the Heir of all things drank neither be exempted from being baptized into his Suffering and therefore Christ told his Disciples In the World ye shall have Trouble and the Apostles and Ministers and Believers in Christ did drink of the same and were baptized into the same Baptism and therefore testified That them that will live godly in Christ must uffer Persecution for the World loves only the Children of it but alwayes hated the Children of God and them that were redeemed out of it and they bore Witness against it and the Works thereof it 's no new thing or strange thing for it 's that Portion which all the Prophets and holy Men of God were Partakers of Christ and the Apostles and all true Believers in every Age and the nearer any came to be unto God in their Life and Practice the more they were hated and the more vilified slandered and evil spoken of sometime by the Jews sometime by the Heathen and now by the Apostatized Christians for the Nature is one through all Ages and Diversity of Names in Profession do not at all alter Man or Men at the Heart the Jews who professed God in Words and cryed up the Temple and Moses and the Law in Words slew the Prophets and laid false things to their Charge Jeremiah when he prophesied against Jerusalem and spake to the Princes and Rulers when they were revolted from God in the Dayes of Zedekiah and denounced Evil against the City and People because of Transgression they put him in the Dungeon and where his Feet sticked in the Mire and said He was fallen away to the Caldeans and did alienate the Hearts of the Jews from them and their Law and despised their Government Christ was accounted a Friend of Publicans and Sinners and had a Devil a Transgressor of Moses's Law though he came to fulfil it and an Enemy to Caesar and a Blasphemer and what not who said so the Elders the Doctors the Rabbies and Rulers of the People and they crucified him as an Evil-doer though none could convince him â—â—â—in the Apostles of Christ as seditious Men Ring-leaders of Sects Authors of Uproars Turners of the World upsiâ—e down as disobedient Enemies to Peace as discontented Men with the present Laws and Customs then established and judged as not fit to live And therefore many suffered long for holding out their Testimony faithfully they had received and last of all suffered Death not as Saints and Prophets but as Evil-doers at last some by the Jews some by the Heathens The primitive Christians of whom the World was not worthy were falsly accused by the Romans Heathens and Pagans in the great Persecutions that arose were evil spoken of and falsly represented and rendered odious and as Objects of Hatred through the Envy of the Devil because they opposed his Kingdom of Darkness Tertullian saith The Heathen commonly reputed the then primitive Christians incestuous men Killers of Children Enemies of all Mankind Enemies against the Gods against the Emperours against the Laws they made an Out-cry upon them it 's not lawful they should live And when any Judgment did befall them Augustine saith it was become a Proverb Our Rain fails us because of these Christians and Eusebius saith The Religion of Christ was called the Heresie of godless Christians Likewise after the Name of Christ and Christians became in Repute and Esteem many Hypocrites and Formalists took on the Name when it was countenanced by the Kings and Princes of the Earth and then turned against them that were more in the Life and Power then they were as the Bohemians and the Waldenses and first Protestants in Germany how were they branded with Heresie and Schism as seditious factious Enemies to the Laws Church and State and to the Princes and how was the Hatred of the Pope and Emperour kindled against them and War raised upon them and many suffered Death in their Account as Evil-doers who persecuted them Likewise come nearer our own Age in the Dayes of Queen Mary how were the best of Men and the best of Christians in that Age censured as Enemies to the Queen 's Lawâ— and Government Enemies to the Church seditious Hereticks and such as were not fit to live and therefore many suffered in the cruel Flames of Fire and did undergo many great Torments and Sufferings and last of cruel Deaths many suffered and by them called Christians and yet slew him and persecuted him in his Members Last of all God hath brought us forth in our Age to bear witness unto him and unto that Life Power and Light by which we are quickned and raised out of the Grave of Sin and Death to live unto him and serve him in Newness of Life and to confess unto his holy Name and Power by which we are saved illuminated and directed and to worship him in Spirit and Truth according to the Manifestation of his Spirit to us and in us and according to the Scriptures of Truth for the Lord God of Heaven and Earth judge and all his holy Angels and all just Men that are anointed with the holy Unction that know Truth from Error whether we hold any thing either in Doctrine or Practice but that which the primitive Christians bear Witness of and also the Scriptures bare witness unto and that which we are perswaded in our Consciences by the unerring Spirit of the Lord which doth give us Assurance of his Acceptation and Peace in our Hearts And how often have we declared our selves both by Word and Writing which is sufficiently manifest unto all who have not wilfully closed their Eyes and stopped their Ears against us that we are of no other Faith Hope or Religion but that which Christ and his Apostles and primitive Christians were of which they did hold forth both in Doctrine and Practice as in Respect of Worship and how peaceably and humbly we have walked towards all Men without seeking the hurt or detriment of any thou righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth knowest and
a Prey no longer they shall find Though their Reward for such things be to come They may be snapp'd as they snapp'd thee ere long Sure Appleby may now its Loss bewail It hath no more such to detain in Goal No Man so fit your Differences to end 'Mongst Lawyers now your Money you may spend None so discreet wherein to put your Trust Your light Esteem declares your Loss is just He well deserv'd why was he disregarded Why was your Love to him so much retarded Oh! Slavery surprized Fear was the Thing Lest you should be counted Rebels to your King The Proverb holds when in Adversities Few Friends appear but many Enemies This is alwayes the temporizing Strain Sight Honesty and Countenance prophane Oh sure thy poor that in thy Prison lies His Loss laments with Sobs and watry Eyes For he to them exhibited Relief And by sweet Counsel often eas'd their Grief He as a nursing Father was to them And all the oppressed that unto him came Yea many a Soul that him to visit came With great Refreshment did return again Those that in Travail Dayes and Miles had spent Him for to see returned not discontent Who ever sought him and returned sad He for all Sorts Relief and Counsel had And what he had he freely distributed So that his Foes his Name have well reputed He never to his Enemies bore Grudge Nor in his Heart no Malice he did lodge He lov'd no Strife but alwayes sought for Peace He cans'd the Love of Friends and Foes encrease There was no State nor no distress'd Condition For which he know not Balm or was Physician Some may object how do I these things know Our frequent Intimacy them did show He certainly was born of the Spirit above His Life declar'd to all he dwelt in Love I well remember when I stood him by At Side of his Death 's Red where he did lye His Weakness great did make my Eyes to run My watry Cheeks he fix'd his Eye upon I from my heart desired God would please Either by Life or Death to give him ease Turning his Eye by his Reply I saw That he was ready but he thought Death slow It breaks my Heart now when I do remember His Care and Love which over all was tender Oh! the Want of him to my Soul is a Loss â—et I contented am to bear the Cross Being God's Pleasure I dare not repine But freely in his Will all Things resign Because I see all outward Comforts fail 'T is Peace with God will only me avail Therefore to that I shall apply my Mind The Residue of those my Dayes behind Desiring to compleat my Course and Faith As piously as I believe he hath That in God's Service I my Life may spend And his Reward my Soul may reap in 'th End Therefore we slight that persecuting Spirit That of Eternal Life would disinherit For who among them now have gain'd their Peace By persecuting him to his Decease But their Reward in the End will sure be Pain Though they at present their proud Will obtain Desist I shall Oh Lord take thou the Praise Throughout my Life of all my Words and Wayes So farewel Reader this I do commend Unto thy View and shall remain thy Friend Thomas Langhorn Thomas Carlton The unchangeable Testament and Will and Counsel of Francis Howgil left to his Daughter Abigail Howgil DAughter Abigail this is for thee to observe and keep and take heed unto all the Dayes of thy Life for the regulating of thy Life and Conversation in this World that thy Life may be happy and thy End blessed and God Glorified by thee in thy Generation these Things I bequeath unto thee and counsel thee ever to observe being the chief Thing alone I have to bestow upon thee which I prize more then outward Riches do thou so also and observe and keep my Sayings and I charge thee before God and by the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ that thou observe what I say the which I am moved of the Lord to leave thee behind and in tender Love and Affection unto thee my Daughter that the Lord may give his Blessing unto thee and make thy Wayes prosperous and thy latter End Peace First of all know this I was never born to great Possessions or did inherit great Matters in this World but the Lord hath alwayes endowed me with Sufficiency and enough and hath been as a tender Father unto me because my Heart trusted in him and did love the Way of Righteousness from a Child I have no great Portion to bestow upon thee of the things of this World yet of that little which I have and that God hath blessed me with something I shall give thee which I shall not mention here but thou wilt know at my Decease but thy dear Mother I rather commend thee unto whom I trust will provide sufficiently for thee unto whom my Heart hath been upright before the Lord she had a sufficient Portion and Dowry when I married her the which I shall be sorry much to lessen or impair and whatever was hers if it please the Lord I decease before her I freely leave unto her as was ever my Intention and Purpose which hath not neither shall alter through the Strength of God as God only knows and bears me record and shall be manifest unto all in due time as it is unto the Lord who hath been with me in the midst of many Troubles Tryals and Sufferings and hath lifted up my Head above my Adversaries because I only trusted in his Name which at all times I found as a Refuge and a present Help in the time of need and so will be unto thee if thou fear his Name and trust in him forever And now dear Child hearken unto the Words of my Mouth and listen unto my Counsel ponder these things I leave behind me unto thee to observe that thy Dayes may be long upon the Earth and blessed and comfortable unto thee and an Honour to God in thy Generation at that time when thou wast born and brought forth was a time of deep Exercise and Trouble with me not from the Lord who alwayes spoak Peace unto me and did sustain me but by Reason of the Adversary of Mankind who alwayes seeks to devour the Good in all and is the Sower of Discord and Mischief in the Hearts of them who fear not the Lord neither abide in his Counsel in whom he enters as any Place is given unto his Temptations and corrupts the Mind but though it was a great Tryal that came upon me the Lord kept my Heart in Uprightness unto him and gave me much Patience so though the Earth had been removed into the midst of the Sea and all outward things had run into Confusion and Nature had changed his Course the Lord gave me a Resolution and Strength as not to be troubled neither offended because he did support me at that time wast thou born and therefore
which saves you not from Guilt and Condemnation for the Word of the true Christ where it is owned cleanseth and takes away Sin and blots it out and destroyes the Root from whence it flows forth and works a new Creation in Righteousness and the Lamb of God takes away Sin in which the Churches of Christ believed and is Glad-tidings to all that do receive it now none can witness Gladness of Soul where there is Guilt which you all affirm is in every Christian while in this World and so you might see that it 's not the true Christ nor the everlasting Gospel you preach but this you cannot bear yet you say he hath taken away your Sin how much is Sin taken away if you say all how comes the Guilt and Trouble that is in you for if it be taken away and his Justice satisfied this was to make God unjust to charge it upon you again but I tell you when his Witness in your Conscience convinceth you and manifests unto you that you commit it and reproves for it I say you cannot witness his Justice satisfied for the Light is just which is one with God and when this condemns you there is no God that will justifie you but you use to say It 's all done in Christ I ask where if it be not taken away and unless you have the Witness of it in you your Faith is vain for he that believes hath the Witness in himself which none hath which walks contrary unto the Light the pure Witness of Christ for this convinceth you of Sin and bears Witness against you Now shew your Witness within you and your Assurance I say unto you while the Testimony of Jesus bears Testimony against you it bears not Witness unto you and so see your Confusion but after you have believed in Christ as you say and have received all his Ordinances if any thing after did judge you and bring Trouble upon you this you used to call a Temptation and so put Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light I say there is no Guilt where Sin is taken away and crucified but Peace and Rest in the holy God who is unchangeable and so his Witness is unchangeable which judgeth and condemns the changeable but you use to say His Love is uncâ—angeable and whom he loves once he loves to the End yea but it is to him who is begotten by the Immortal Word which was in the Beginning which Word leâ—ds to the Beginning again before the Hatred was the Promise is to this Seed not Seeds as to many but the Seed of the Covenant there he loves from the Womb yea the Womb that bears the Seed of Jacob and the Paps that give them suck and where this is known as to Enjoyment Esau is cast out and Ishmael and the Seed of Abraham inherits the Promise and Edom and Moab is laid waste and Amaleck is slain by the Edge of the Sword and the Seed of Evil-doers cut off blessed are they that can witness this in Truth and till this be known the everlasting Love of God is not known which is stronger then Death and Sin is Death and where it is acted and conceived Love is not witnessed nor its Strength but VVrath comes upon the Children of Disobedience are you not Children of Disobedience while you break the holy Law of God in which is Power which is in the Heart and bears witness against you and in you and yet say You cannot believe that ever you shall be able to fulfil it if you fulfil it not you break it and then the Wrath of God abides upon you but then you say If we must fulfil the Law what Use is Christ of I say he who abides forever fulfilled it and fulfils it in them who know him and his Work and this the Scriptures bear witness of and herein Man comes to be justified in God's Sight by Christ who works all our VVorks in us and for us and self becomes dead and because he lives we live also Glory unto him forever and therefore we cannot but lay open the Deceit of Satan and exhort all to come up to Christ out of the VVorks of Condemnation Oh foolish People and unwise when will ye seek after Wisdom and hearken that your Souls may live How long will ye trust to the Imaginations of your own Hearts Verely verely I say unto you The Time is coming your building shall fall and there shall not one Stone be left upon another that shall not be thrown down and the Shame of Ethiopia and Egypt shall come upon you and your old Garments shall be torn off you and you shall walk naked and bare and shall see your Shame and the holy Nation of the Lamb shall rejoyce and your Sorrow the Lord hastens upon you who will not own the Cross of Christ nor the Word of Life which would turn you from Unrighteousness and out of the World and its Nature but you harden your Hearts and bend your Bowes and shoot your Arrows against the Lord and his anointed Ones and take your Paâ—t with all the uncircumcised in the Nations in the Confederacy in the Nation against the Lamb yea even with them against whom you your selves have declared and many of you who have been a Reproach now reproach O! tell it not in Gath never let it come to other Nations shame shame and blush at this you who thus requite the Lord Evil for Good Hath the Lord broken the Band of the Oppressour without And have you not seen the Hand of the Lord against them that were Oppressours cut off in his Wrath and overthrown And are not many of you the highest Professors both in England and Ireland now acting in their Footsteps Even you who profess Separation from the World who have been taken from the Sheep-fold and as you were seeking the Asses and raised from a low Estate in the World now to Places of Dignity and Honour and to bear Rule and to sit as Judges among the People and now have you forgotten that you were Servants under Pharaoh but now have taken up his Power and have forgotten the Afflictions of Joseph and your Fingers are becoming heavier then your Fathers Loyns and now you are joining your Strength with the Canaanites and Egyptians against the Lord where is the Liberty of tender Consciences you have told of and what is become of your Reformation Is it ended in this like Absolon when you are come to be Judges in the Gate act in open Rebellion against the Lord and now would be Judges of him every where and would limit him and ' set a Bound unto him and would break his eternal Decree which stands forever Oh if they who had professed no Love to God had done thus it might have been born but ye treacherous Hearts your Ingratitude and Hypocrisie cannot be born but the Lord God will visit for these Things that you should now act by those Laws you cryed out
have waited for yea come and his Reward is with him and they that see him come find Contentment in him and in his Reward and what is the Reward Joy Gladness Peace of Conscience Assurance of God's Love sealed in their Hearts by the pure Spirit of the Lord the Streams of Life flowing forth continually from the great deep which refresh and keep cool in the greatest Extremity and Heat of Temptation and this is enjoyed by them that have waited and do wait for it even in the Body they bare witness of him and of his coming the Disciples what was their witness The Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding Of what of God of his Day of his Appearance of his Power of his Wisdom of his Kingdom of Hâ—pe of Faith of Assurance of Peace of Joy of Comfort and Consolation what in this life yea a Cloud of witnesses I might bring in former Ages and a Cloud of Witnesses I might bring in this Age blessed be the Lord But my Witness is nearer me that giveth me Assurance and is surer to me then all their Witnesses although they be all true Abraham the Father of the faithful and of the righteous who believed God and was accepted he saw Christ's day and was glad Say literall Professors that 's by Faith yea what else by Faith he and â—ll that ever saw Christ and his day or the Father they saw him by Faith By Faith they saw him who was invisible Isa. 12.2 Behold God is my Salvation he also is become my Salvation what dost thou enjoy it already yea he is become And Simeon who waited for the Consolation of Israel Luk. 2.30 Now let thy Servant depart in Peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation And this he said who knew God's Comfort and Consolation as our Suffering for Christ doth abound even our Consolation in Christ doth much more abound and they were made Partakers of his Divine Nature and sate together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus For heaven is his Throne and they that are in him and enjoy him who is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God know Peace and Rest and Salvation both from Guilt and Act of Sin And the Apostle wrote to the Hebrews After he had purged away our Sins speaking of the Attonement the everlasting high Priest he sate down on the right Hand on the Majesty on high He saw beyond Sin even him who had purged away Sin and this comes to be made manifest unto them and in them that believe by the Spirit of Jesus who is Christ the Lord the Arm that brings Salvation and is the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that believe who begins it in his day and perfecteth in his day for he works in the day as he himself said Hitherto my Father worketh and I worke but the Night cometh when none can work So that he destroys the Work of the Devil which is his Work in man which they that are come to his day feel and see the handy-work of God in themselves and his own works praise him for they onely can and they that are not come to the day know not God's Work in themselves and they who have not yet heeded that in themselves which manifesteth all things reproveable neither that which doth reprove they are not come to know the Appearance of the glimering of Light or of the day yet in themselves which the Saints witness in them even all they that are sanctified Where the Day of the Lord doth appear and how it comes and how it is to be looked for declared THey that gaze abroad whose Eyes are abroad cannot see his Appearance nor his day which appears he that knoweth not wherein it consists knows not how to look for it no more then the Jews who were Scripture-Professors and learned Men knew wherein the Kingdom of God did consist even no more do the litteral Professors whose Faith is founded on the Letter and upon that which is visible know what I say First All must know wherein it doth consist it is eternal Brightness shed abroad through all Things which pierceth through and searcheth the secretest Place even that which is invisible and maketh manifest all things and the Nature of every Thing by the day of the Lord comes to be seen and it appears in the Heart they were to wait for the day to dawn and to break forth in their Hearts and to wait for its Appearance there and that is it which is to be waited for and upon that which maketh Evil manifest and brings it to Light and declares against that which is contrary to its Nature and so the day cometh to dawn Christ the Covenant of Light God's Gift who is sent and anointed of God to preach and to proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord and also the day of Vengeance he proclaims in the Heart for he comes not to bring Peace but a Sword and his Sword is the Sword of the Spirit it 's that which divides and discerns the Intent of the Heart and his day discovers the desperate Wickedness of the Heart and where he finds no Faith in the Heart he kindles a Fire in the earthly Heart and executeth his Vengeance and his day unto such is a day of great Perplexity their Spirits come to be wounded the Heart comes to be made faint and Sorrow comes to fill their Hearts and Trouble to be felt and in this State are all who are unconverted he finds no Faith no Hope in the Heart therefore he comes and takes away Peace Many have talked of the day of the Lord but when it comes to draw near them they will not abide it whatsoever makes manifest is Light Now the day makes all Things in every one manifest and when Deceit is seen and Wickedness brought to Light then they that have done Evil cannot abide but would run to any Thing rather then abide the day or to see the Lord of Life appear in his day to execute Vengeance upon his Enemies and to destroy his Adversaries and to kindle an unquenchable Fire to consume all his Enemies and who have not seen this yet in themselves never have seen the Day of Salvation nor of Gladness and this made the Prophet cry out Who may abide the Day of his coming And many have been Eye-Witnesses of the dreadful Day of the Lord which hath appeared wherein all Peace hath been hid from their Eyes and all that ever came to see the Day of Joy and Gladness first did know the Terror and terrible day of the Lord in themselves therefore said the Apostle We knowing the Terror of the Lord do perswade Men now it cometh not with Observation lo here or there so the Pharisees looked the Kingdom should come when Christ told them it was within them so I say if ever any do behold the bright shining forth of eternal Life thou must wait in that which is pure of God through which
have your Minds stayed that you may adorn the Truth by a chast sober and holy Conversation and your Lives preach and answer the just in every Man that so Truth may be exalted above all Deceit And Friends keep your Meetings on the first Day at your several Places where you might hitherto have waited in Stilness and Quietness but it hath not yet been prized as it ought and you may all yet learn and see all those that run up and down being heady and self-willed that still run after Words and never come into the Obedience of the Truth and now are turned out where they were before nay worse and a Fan will yet come and all that stumble at the Cross shall all fall and they that get above it deny the Power of God But Friends since the Truth hath been declared among you you have not known a Want and that makes the careless and the full now to loath Manna the least of which if you had had in Time past would have been accepted unto you And so now all you who have kept your Garments clean whom the Lord hath preserved out of the Snare of the Enemy below and dwell in Love in Meekness and Peace one with another and grow up in the Wisdom of God and Life of God and now see that all keep in the Fear look to your own every one in Particular that you may savour and discern all Deceit and keep the Faith that so you may see Victory daily and do not talk of things above what you enjoy and let none think of himself above what is meet and he that is least shall be Minister And so the Lord God of Life preserve you all in Uprightness that you may come through all this Mud and Dirt and may find your Strength renewed and the Power of the Lord more made manifest the Desire of my Soul is to the Lord for you all fulfil my Joy in your Obedience to the Truth as it is made manifest in you and the God of Life and Power be with you all who are of an upright Heart I am yours as you continue in the Faith which hath been declared and revealed in as many as have believed F. H. THE Invisible Things OF GOD BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY THE REVELATION OF THE ETERNAL SPIRIT Who was an eye-Eye-Witness of the Wonders of the Lord in the Beginning Wherein is declared the Felicity of all Things in the Beginning and the sad Estate of all Things after the Transgression How all the reformed Churches so called in Christendom are yet in the Apostacy The Estate of the true Church before the Apostacy and her State in the Apostacy and the Glory that shall appear after the Apostacy By one who believes God will shine out of Sion in perfect Beauty again after the dark Night of Apostacy F. H. The Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun and the Light of the Sun as seven Dayes and he will destroy in this Mountain the Face of the Covering cast over all People and the Vail that is spread over all Nations Isa. 25.7 AN EPISTLE TO THE Reader or Readers TO the upright-hearted Reader in all the Regions of the Earth wherein this may come who have walked in the Thick Fogs and Mists which have arisen out of the bottomless Pit which have been raised up since the Transgression which have dimmed your Eyes and hurt your Sight so that you could not behold the pure caelestial Being nor him that dwells in it whose Presence gives Life nor any thing within the Vail because the Vail hath been spread over all Nations and it hath been so thick that it hath been hard for any to rent it and the Night of Apostacy and Darkness hath been so long since the Woman fled into the Wilderness and since the Manchild which was born hath been caught up to God that few or none for these many Ages past have come to see the End of the Night but have mourned without Hope and few or none have seen or have been able to discern the time of the Woman's Return out of the Wilderness again into which she fled and few or none have seen to the End of the times after which she should return Mens Sight in the Apostacy hath been so dim and in the Vexation that when the Man-child which was caught up unto God would appear again few have had Faith to believe or Sight to behold him or an Understanding to discern of the times But Praises be to the Lord God everlasting who hath opened and is opening the Windows of Heaven and showring down his Wisdom as a mighty Rain and his Knowledge as the Morning Dew and an Understanding is pouring forth as the Water out of the Bottles of Heaven and as the Water Spouts so that Ages Times Things Dayes and Years are measured and seen And him that was before all things is beholden by whom all things were made who hath been as in a far Country all this long Night of Darkness but the time is fully expired and now is he returning and his Appearance is as a Morning without Clouds as clear as the Sun and as pure as Christal and now is he scattering the Clouds Fogs and Mists as with the East Wind and his pure Breath clears the Air and by his Arm which is mighty is he renting the Vail of the Covering according to his Promise and revealing himself in his naked Glory that the solitary may rejoyce and the feeble may be comforted and them that have erred may come to a good Understanding what I have writ thou must read me only in that which is invisible and eternal in thy self else I am sealed from thee my Words are a Riddle the Dreamers of this Age in the Apostacy say Immediate Revelation is ceased and not to be looked for yet I must needs bear my Testimony against them all for what I have here written I neither received of Man nor from Man nor Books nor other Words but by the Eternal Spirit who saw these things and was an Eye-Witness of them and God through it hath revealed them in me and to me that I might bear my Testimony of the hidden things of God which are eternal although I have made Use of the Scriptures and the Saints Words and cited some it is not for my sake but thine who readest that so every Truth may be confirmed by two or three Witnesses if thou wait to know and find the Key of David who opens in what I have declared thou wilt see the State of things before the Fall and after the Fall and how all Men in the Fall have corrupted themselves in all Administrations thou wilt see the State of the Church before the Apostacy in the Apostacy and what shall be after the Apostacy and if thou cannot reach into the things as they are declared judge them not before the Day appear in thy self for till then they will be obscure to
World who is a sufficient Saviour Leader Guider and Director of all they that do believe into all Truth and he treads the Wine-press alone and there 's none besides him but thou art climb'd up into the Judgment-seat and say'st Let us see what this Light is and so thou gives Judgment and despiâ—â—â— him like Herod and his men of War that set him at nought and so upon thy Examination and judgment thou hast concluded it Natural Rom. 1.19 22. yet thou sayest it will discover God and then contradictest what thou hast said and saist That it was hard for them to find out the true God by it and bringst a Proof when they knew God they Glorified him not as God but became Vain in their Imaginations c. It 's yet a Question that may be asked thee By what Nature they knew God and did the things contained in the Law seeing the Law is Just and good and Holy and the fault was not in that which led them to know God but in that which led them to become vain in their Imaginations and not to glorifie him as they knew him and so their foolish Hearts came to be Darkned and so thou art one in thy judgment with him whom I met with of late who said The Light which every man was enlightned withal would lead to know God and teach a man that he should not do to others but what and that he would have others do to him it would lead from Lying and Stealing and discover the Creator and God's Omnipotency and Eternity and yet said this Light was to be understood in Opposition to the Light of the Spirit and contradistinct to the Spirits Light And after he had confessed that it would teach all these good things aforesaid he said it was Darkness yea worse then Gross Darkness And so thou Concludest and sayest We should never have known or believed the Covenant of Grace or that we should be born again had not God revealed them to us by the Scriptures Thou runs too fast to lay a good Foundation by what Scripture did God reveal to Adam The Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's head or by what Scripture did Moses see Christ for he must needs see him before he could follow him and what Scripture did reveal unto Abraham Christ and his day wherein he rejoyced And so he that did reveal doth reveal and will reveal Christ the Covenant of Grace and the New Birth by what way as he pleaseth according to his Power notwithstanding all thy limiting And thou sayest To say that every one that comes into the World is lighted with the Light of the Spirit is the falsest thing that can be for then every Heathen hath the Light of the Spirit who never somuch as heard or knows whether there be a Christ or Spirit and thou bringst Ephes. 4.18 that the Gentils understandings were Darkned being Alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that was in them and sayest surely these men were not Born without a Light It is very like that I must be Registred in the Calender as a Blasphemer or a Heretick but however I must not heed that but must indure Reproaches and suffer contradictions from such as thou who call'st the Letter the Light the Letter the Word and the Letter the Gospel as all along in thy Paper is clearly manifest thou contendest for it and so thou art like to condemn and dissallow of the Light in all men in every man or in any man but however thou hast given Judgment That it is the falsest thâ—ng that can be that every one is lighted with the Light of the Spirit And why is it the falsest thing that can be Thou wilt confess that every one is lighted with the Light of Christ and where didst thou learn that great distinction betwixt Christ's Light and the Spirit 's Light we do not say that the Light in every man doth discover Christ unto every man thaâ— cometh into the World but that the Light of Christ waited in believed in and received would discover Christ unto every man is owned the fault is not in the Light but in him that loves it not whoâ—e deeds are Evil and seeing that God is no respecter of Persons Why may not the Heathen and the Gentiles have the Light of Christ or the Light of the Spirit seeing that he who is the Light of the World is given for a Covenant of Light to the Gentiles and to the Heathen whose Eyes are blind to open their Eyes and to open their understandings seeing that both Jew and Gentile are concluded under Sin and there is no difference And if he be not given to the Gentiles or Heathen for a Covenant of Light as well as to the Jew how is it said He is rich unto all is he the God of the Jews and not of the Gentiles also Rom. 2.29 seeing that they that believe in the Light are justified both the Circumcision and Uncircumcision and in Rom. 4.7 8 9. Cometh this blessedness upon the Circumcision only or upon the Uncircumcision also so that it 's evident that Christ the Covenant of Light and Life the Gift of Righteousness who is come into the World for this end that all through him might believe that whoso believeth and receiveth the gift of Righteousness Justification cometh upon all and he who is the Gift of God and Covenant of Light is a propitiation for the Sin of the whole World and the World is taken in Opposition to believers and yet he is come a Light into the World to Convince the World of Sin and of Righteousness and Judgment and them which thou callst Heathens and Gentiles who had not the Law were accused or Convicted which is the Operation of the Spirit compare Rom. 2.14 15. with John 16.8 9. That which was in the Gentiles did accuse or convict them this Christ called the Spirit which Convinced and convinceth Unbelievers And hath not the Grace of God that brings Salvation appeared to all men And who art thou that makest Exceptions and though the Gentiles or Heathen do not know Christ or the Spirit by the Name of Christ and the Spirit yet knowing that which accuseth and excuseth that which Condemneth and Justifieth they have the thing and though the Ephesians being Alienated and Darkned it was not because of the insufficiency of the Light or the Measure of his Spirit but because they were Alienated from it and stangers to it and I say nay these men were not born without Light neither was the Blindness of their Hearts because of its insufficiency but because they loved it not but hated it and so became Alienated and Darkned For sayest thou VVhere the Spirit is there are the Fruits of the Spirit I say the Spirit may be where it is striven against or resisted and gainsayed and there appear little Fruits yet notwithstanding the Spâ—rit hath its Operation in all Believers and Convincement and Reproâ—f is as
truly an Operation and an Effect of the Spirit as Assurance Consolation and Peace is an Effect and Operation of the Spirit to them that believe And then thou concludest If Christ be in all then all must be saved or else Christ must go to Hell I will ask thee a Question go learn what it means though he be not in the Reprobate what is that which reprobates him Christ was in Egypt yet the Egyptians were not saved by him Christ was in Jerusalam and in Galilee and yet not many Galileans nor they at Jerusalem believed in him or were saved by him I will ask thee another Question go learn what it means What is that which damns the damned And what is that that kindles the Fire of Hell upon them And at last when thou hast vilified and mocked Christ and his Light thou cryest with the Jews Away away with this deluding Light and cryes To the Law and to the Testimony and so in the drunken Spirit reeleth and staggers and knowst not what thou sayâ—st didst thou not say a little before That the Law was Light and that which accuseth for Sin and convinceth of Sin and excuseth and bringeth Peace to the Obedient Is not this Jesus's Testimony or the Testimony of Jesus And thou cryest Away away with this as Delusion and this is all the Tune thou playest on thy bad-stringed Instrument Letter is Light Letter the Word and Scripture is the Rule the Scripture is the Gospel and Scriptures the Testimony and Scripture is the Tryal of the spirit and thou hast tryed Christ the true Light that enlightens every Man and with thy falle Judgment hast condemned him And thou say'st Thou wilt try our Spirit and our Fruits and Contradictions and Impiety Falsity and Blasphemy Alas vain Man thou hast condemned the spirit of Truth that convinceth the World of sin and accuseth for evil-doing and excuseth and giveth Peace to them that continue in well-doing and hast condemned this under the Name of Deluding Light and hast cryed away with it away with it and thou that set'st this at nought may'st well set us at nought and if Christ and his spirit be reproached we must bear they Reproaches and at last they will turn upon thy own Head when thy will be too heavy a Burthen for thee to bear Thou tellest us That thou hast been begging of God for an eternal Interest in Christ and that thou hast examined thy Heart whether Christ be in thee or nay but thou tellest us not whether thou hast got Assurance thou may'st beg long enough with that spirit that hates the Light which reproveth thee for Evil and never be heard and thou may'st examine long and never come to true Tryal while thou hatest that and deridest that which should try thee for I am sure if thou either hadst got Interest or had'st known that Christ did live in thee thou would'st not hate him in others nor vilifie the least Appearance of him in any and therefore be low in Heart and talk no more so exceeding proudly for the Lord will thunder from Heaven upon his Enemies pour Contempt upon Princes and make them wander in the Wilderness where there is no Way and will exalt the Horn of his anointed above all Deceit And thou say'st We threw great Reproaches upon the faithful Ministers of Christ that they preach for Hire and Balaam like covet the Wages of Unrighteousness And thou say'st It is true we do receive a Maintenance and such an one as was freely bestowed on us and setled by many Laws And thou say'st If you preached for Hire you wronged your selves much who could get far greater Means or Estates by other Employments then Ministers have and if thou should'st never receive Penny more for thy Labour thou would'st never leave off preaching the GOSPEL so long as thou hast a TONGUE to speak or other Abilities to preach the GOSPEL We do not reproach the faithful Ministers of Christ neither do we say that they Preach for Hire nor go in Balaam's way neither that their Hearts are exercised with covetous Practices for we know it is inconsistent with a true Minister of Christ who hath received freely and Ministers freely and alwayes Labours to keep the Gospel without charge and as for the Maintenance which you say was given you freely and setled by many Laws We must mind you of the Author thereof you cry out of the Pope as Anti-christ of Jesuites Monks and Friars as Idolaters and that which he gave unto his Emissaries and Ministers you have gotten into your Hands as Tythes Gleab lands Oblations Obventions Easter-Reckonings Midsummer dues which were setled by Laws when the Mother of Harlots that Rid upon the Scarlet-coloured Beast which hath Compelled all both small and great to Worship and to pay all the foresaid things in the time of his Reign while Christ's Ministers have been put to Death and the Witnesses slain and yet the aforesaid Popes Maintenance is not Anti-christian with you And with what Face can you or your Parish Ministers say That the Maintenance is freely bestowed upon you whenas there are so many living Examples in this Nation especially within this seven Years which bear Witness against you What Havock and Spoil hath been made by a company of greedy Priests in this Nation of late What haling and Sueing what throwing in Holes and Dungeons What Havock you have made of mens Estates with your Bayliffs and the Bil-men driving away Cows Horses Sheep Swine Pots taken and Pans the poor Peoples Bedding and Apparel which amount to very great Sums some times for three Pounds claiming by force have taken away 20 l. and sometime for 5. or 6 l. drive away Goods worth 40 l. and one lies now in Prison but for a Groat demanded for Tythes so that the very Earth Groans to be delivered of you which will Vomit you out and yet all this forcing must needs go upon the Account of free Maintenance and I know not what Employments you can take up which will be either Serviceable to God or to the Creation by which you can get 2. or three Hundred pound a Year as many of you have and who dost thou think will believe thee or thy Testimony That you will Preach freely if you never receive a Penny How many Parish Steeple-houses in England and Wales stand empty who have but a little Maintenance belonging to them as twenty or thirty Pound per annum who hath had a Call thither to Preach that which you call the Goâ—pel or where there was not something to be got more or less I have not heard of any amongst you called thither although the Number amount to a very great deal I desire from my Heart that you were Tryed a while and that you were left to your Gospel to see how you can live of it and then in preaching freely you would manifest your selves to be something like the Ministers of Christ and till certain proof be had of
The Quakers deny Honour to Superiours and to whom it is due and so blaspheme the Name of God and his Doctrine Ninethly F. H. would never have cryed out of Deceit but a Purpose to deceive the more Tenthly That the Quakers bid open Defiance to the Worship of God Eleventhly That J. N. did say that he was as just and holy and good as God Twelfthly That F. H. said That Christ Jesus was not glorified in Heaven with a real Body Thirteenthly Human Nature is taken for the regenerate Part of Man and the Soul Fourteenthly That the best Men though regenerate bear Nettles Brambles and Pricks Fifteenthly There is an inward Law called the Law of the Spirit of Life which is imperfect and not fit to bear rule but to be ruled Sixteenthly And the Scriptures lead us to the Spirit and encline our Hearts to the Obedience of the rule Seventeenthly And F. H. prefereth Ignis fatuus before the clear Light of God's Word Eighteenthly and lastly when he hath spoken all these Lyes and published them in Print to the World he blasphemously saith in his Epistle to the Reader Have not so much regard to the Authority of the Writer as the Truth of the Matter written by him who was moved of the Lord thus to declare So all these Lyes with many more and all these damnable Doctrines which he hath uttered forth against the Truth these things he would fasten upon the Lord's Motion and so make him the Author of Iniquity and a Cloak for his ungodly Speeches against them who love the Truth as it is in Jesus who have suffered many Reproaches for its sake and have been killed all the Day long by this Generation amongst which R. I. is who hath bent his Tongue to Mischief and his Lips to utter forth Deceit and as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses so hath this R. I. resisted the Truth being a Man of a corrupt Mind and concerning the Faith reprobate but he shall not proceed much further for in what he hath written his Folly will be manifest unto all men and them that fear the Lord will depart out of his Foot-steps which lead to the Chambers of Death and from those dark Paths in which R.I. treadeth which lead into utter Destruction Westmoreland the 15 th of the 4 th Moneth 1660. F. H. To all Friends and Brethren who have been called of the Lord into that Place of New-England to bear your Testimony for the Lord to the answering of his Witness in every ones Conscience FOrasmuch as the Lord through his infinite Love and Goodness which he hath manifested amongst the Sons of Men hath called you and fitted you for his Work and Service which he hath to do you being made Partakers through the Love of God unto you of the like precious Faith with many Brethren which giveth Victory over the World and supporteth all them that keep it in the Day of Tryal My Heart's Desire is that you may all fulfil the Will of God and answer his End in sending you thither that so you may receive your Reward my Heart is drawn out unto you in true Love being sensible of the many Oppositions that you have met with and may meet with by Reason of the Strength and Power of Darkness in those Parts where Satan's Throne is exalted keep all near the Lord and feel his Power in your selves which giveth Dominion and Victory over all the World and over all fading Things which pass away and so you will feel his Strength daily renewed in you to carry you above all Opposition and his Presence to go before you and his Righteousness to be your Reward so will you be preserved in the Peace of God and feel his Life present to refresh you in the Time of Need and as your Tryals and Travails and Sufferings for Christ do abound so your Strength and Joy and Peace and Consolation will also much more abound from his Life manifest and revealed in your Hearts keep in the Power of the Lord over all Deceit and know your own Image in every one to whom you joyn and let no Deceit come near you which may get the Words and not be subject to the Power for those will betray you and rise up in Rebellion against you and glory over you for that only which can receive you through the Cross will stand by you and the other who may receive the Truth in Words into the earthly Part will stumble at the Cross and so get a Knowledge above the Cross these will blow away as Chaff Keep in your Innocency and every one in your own and there you will come to be setled and established as Trees whose Roots are spread in the Earth which cannot easily be plucked up nor a Tempest blow down you know where the Entrance was unto your selves into the Sheepfold into the true Rest thither bring all and keep all down to that to the Measure of God's Spirit through which eternal Life is revealed and the Things of God's Kingdom made manifest and they that would climb up any other Way must come down again and them that walk in any other Way must come back again and they that would strive to enter in any other Thing are shut out forever for you know there is no Communion or Concord with the Spirit of God which is pure and that which resisteth it and gainsayeth it that Wisdom must perish it 's from below that Knowledge must fade away and come to nothing So never heed the Subtilty and cunning Craftiness of the Enemy which would twist and twine every Way to gainsay the Truth and make a Noise in an airy Sound which may satisfie corrupt Minds who vilâ—fie the Truth and set the Corner-Stone at nought look not at them nor never heed that you know in whom you have believed and no other Foundation can be laid then that which is laid already for all to build upon throuâ—h which they that do believe are made a glorious and an holy Habitation for God through the Spirit and any that declare another Way another Door another Life then he that is the Light of Men is accursed So feel hâ—s Eternal Power the Power of his Resurrection in your selves to subdue and bring under all 〈◊〉 Enemies which would hinder your Enjoyment of his Life but he is a tryed Stone and they that have tryed him have found him elect and precious and his Faithfulness Power and Might Love Life and Glory endures forever and ever throughout all the Generations of the Just who are Eye-Witnesses of his Coming Power and Glory which God out of his Everlasting Love and Kindness hath revealed unto Thousands and his Coming is known in Ten Thousands of his Saints and also with them and they with him to judge in Righteousness and to make War with the Sword that proceeds out of his Mouth which slayes the wicked and brings Death and Destruction upon Death that so Life Immortality and Eternity may be brought
is the mighty Power of God alone which must be waited for and believed in and received and made manifest in the Hearts of the People or else they cannot come out of the Apostacy nor see to the End of those Things that are to be abolished and this is that which must be witnessed by every Man that comes to be a living Stone of the holy City and a living Son of the free-Woman and true Member of the Heavenly Jerusalem which God hath caused to descend which is the Mother of all the Saints and the Womb that brings them all forth and the Breast at which they all suck and are satisfied and nourished up to everlasting Life These Sayings are faithful and true and blessed is he that heareth believeth and receiveth them And this is a Testimony of the People called Quakers whom God hath brought out of the Apostacy to the Beginning again to see the Brightneâ—s of the Day of the Lord wherein there is not a Cloud Furthermore it is manifest how many Things have been introduced and brought concerning Worship and Ordinances and are taught to be Doctrines of the primitive Times whenas they be brought in by Men of corrupt Minds in latter Ages which had lost the Faith once delivered to the Saints and had lost the Gospel-Order and compelled People by outward Law to submit unto them and yet all those Things they would fasten upon the Scriptures and bring some Scripture which they pervert as a Cloak and a Cover to blind People withal but I shall descend to some Particulars CHAP. V. Concerning sprinckling Infants AND first concerning Baptizing or Christening Infants as it hath been called which is without prescribed Command or Example commanded or ordained by Christ or his Apostles although many in these latter Ages have wrested the Scriptures thinking thereby to make their own Inventions to be reckoned or accounted to be the Ordinances of God and the main Ground which the greatest Rabbies have given hath been from these or the like Scriptures Go teach and baptize all Nations Mat. 28.19 But this is nothing at all to prove baptizing of Infants here Teaching was to go before Baptizing or Discipling as the Words may be rendered for they were not like to be Discipled which were untaught now Infants not being capable of teaching so are not capable of being made Disciples now to baptize Infants or sprinckle them with Water which are untaught and not capable of being Disciples is a ridiculous Thing and to do it so as the Church of Rome uses it and they who are separated from them is contrary to the Scriptures and there is no mention made of Water at all nor Infants and their other Scriptures they have offered for Proofs to prove this an Ordinance of Christ and why only because Christ took up Children into his Arms and blessed them and because he said Whosoever enters into the Kingdom of God must enter as a little Child these Scriptures have been tendered for good Proofs but the spiritual-minded will judge of the Weakness of them who offer these Things for a Proof But again it hath been said and accounted Orthodox that Baptism came in the Room of Circumcision but how they will prove it is yet unknown to many for the Scriptures make not mention of any such thing for one Type did never type out another but every Type typified a Substance Now Circumcision was a Type or a Figure and cutting off the Fore-skin was a Figure of Circumcision and cutting off the Fore-skin of the Heart now Baptism with Water is a Type or Figure 1 Pet. 3.21 which typed out the spiritual Washing or Regeneration and if Baptism of Infants came in the room of Circumcision then how do they agree in a Parallel the Males were only circumcised and why are the Females now baptized if Baptism came in the room of Circumcision Another Thing which hath been alledged for a Proof is that which Christ spoke to Nicodemus John 3.5 Except a Man be born again of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God from whence it hath been inferred by many that Baptism of Infants was absolutely necessary to Salvation Christ spoke of that which did regenerate and make anew and cleanse the Heart and of the clean Water which the Prophet Ezekiel spoke of which he would pour upon his People visible Water cleanseth not the inside neither doth regenerate but the Water which Christ giveth to every one that thirsteth to drink is the Water of Life and this washeth the inside and cleanseth the Heart and this is the washing of Regeneration which whosoever comes not to know cannot enter in the Kingdom of God because that which is deâ—â—led is shut out but they thaâ— do not loâ—k after the Substance have made an Idol of the Figure but the Church of Rome themselves which were the first Invenâ—ers and Setters up of this human Institution have said That this mâ—st be received by Tradition and not from the Scriptures because it could not be approved as a Commandment witness Claudias Espontiâ—â— a Popish Bishop at a Council at Pysoy in France 1500. and yet this Doctrine hath been held out to the Nations for Catholick and Apostolick which the primitive Churches made no mention of neither the Apostles taught any such Doctrine but was preached up by such who went out of the Light and from the Power into the Nations which became as Waters for the first Ordainer of Baptism of Infants and that they should have a God-father and God-mother was Ignatius Bishop of Rome long after the Apostles Dayes when Rome was got up into Pride claimed Authority over all Christian Churches to impose upon them whatever they listed for Doctrine and such dark things as these have been brought forth whereof mention might be made of many Things and what unsavoury Words as God fathers and God-mothers are used not only amongst them but also amongst the Protestants to this day who is God's Father or who is God's Mother is this Apostolick Doctrine as though God was begotten by Generation indeed is it not Blasphemy to affirm such things and also to hold up such things all which demonstrates these things to be in the Apostacy And therefore you who profess your selves that you are come out of the Apostacy and are reformed Churches for Shame leave off practising and pleading for the upholding such things which the Scriptures do not own or else the Practice of the Saints in former Ages will judge you And it hath been reckoned as absolute necessary to Salvation and therefore Victor Bishop of Rome did institute that the Children might be christened by a Lay-man or Lay-woman in time of Necessity because Infants were often in Danger as Polydore makes mention Lib. 4. CHAP. VI. Concerning the Sign of the Cross and ordaining of Parish Churches LIkewise the Sign of the Cross and the Chrisme are invented things which are in the Apostacy and therefore
Man and all Men and every Church is fallible and subject to Error and with these and the like Words R.E. was extreamly troubled as he saith and knew not how to answer without shuffing Answ. The true Christian Religion stands not only in Name nor in Words nor in conforming or Transforming to this or that outward Practice which the Disciples of Christ were exercised in which divers in the latter days in their old corrupt minds not having their Hearts renewed have taken on the outside and have got the Form and want the Life and the Power and are not partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ and such a bare Profession as this has no certainty nor infallibility in it neither the assurance but that they may be mistaken and may be subject to Err as well as Turks or Jews or any other but the true Christians Religion indeed whom Christ will own as true Worshippers of him stands in Power in Life and in being obedient unto his living commands and precepts which he giveth forth unto his Disciples and manifesteth by his Spirit his Sheep hear his Voice and know it from the Voice of a stranger And he giveth the Knowledge of his will to all that believe in the measure of his eternal Spirit which he hath given every one a Measure of to profit withal and by it to be guided into all Truth out of all Error and this Spirit is infallible and gives certain assurance to all that receive it that they are in that way which is acceptable to God and they feel Comfort unto their Souls coming daily from the presence of Christ who is the Rock of Ages and the sure Foundation upon which his holy Church is founded which is the Pillar and Ground of Truth and they that are living Members are not Grounded upon a fallible certainty or upon a conâ—ectural supposition or a vain hope which is without bottom but upon that which is sure and stedfast lasting everlasting and all men in the unregenerate Estate are Lyars but they that are Born from above are of the Truth and Lye not and are not subject to mistakes because the Seed remains in them and walk in the pure Religion which keeps unspoted of the World and they that have no other Ground for their Religion but only without them and from the report of others are short of the true Foundation for that may be Truth in it self indeed which is not true to another nor he truly partakes of it and here is all the supposing conjectures and mistakes and fallible certainties which it seems R. E. and his lay Gentlemen too when the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree indeed and notwithstanding all the laying claim to infallibility and certainty its but grounded upon a report without and the Traditions of men from Generation to Generation For them that believe but only because of the true report without and cometh not to Witness the thing assured in their own Hearts by the Spirit of the Lord these will not be long of that Faith 't is true many did believe because of the Apostles â—eclaration and report but at last came to feel the Witness of God in their own Hearts testifying the same in somuch that they could say and truly too though we have believed through your Words at the first yet now we have heard him our selves that which giveth perfect assurance which admits of no doubts nor fallibleness for such evidence all true Members of Christ's Church have in themselves which carries divine Authority and satisfaction in it to every particular Believer and so I say with P. E. in this it seems unreasonable to perswade any to receive this or that for a Truth when they that so perswade are uncertain in themselves neither dare say their Judgment is infallible which is that old Protestant Principle indeed and also the Principle of many Sects who differ from the pretended Catholick Church of Rome who Persecuted one another about outward things even as the Heathen about their Idols and yet will needs sit as Judge in Mens Consciences with their fallible Spirit though I speak not of every individual Person neither can I justifie the Roman Catholick Church so called who lays claim to infallibility and whatsoever they Judge to be Heresie must be reckoned as such though never so manfiest a Truth and to place infallibility in men that may Err and have erred from the Spirit I like not neither for this is to give that to men that belongs to God and to make the Judgment of fallible men above the Judgment of the infâ—llible Spirit of God and this I look to be great Ambition and Pride in any to lay claim to the greatest things as infallibility and certainty of assurance and the most free of Error and yet fall the shortest of it of any as hath been made appear by many Learned and Grave Men of former Ages and also if a necessity were might be made appear that the Church of Rome who saith she cannot err have been as uncertain both in their Doctrine and Worship as any yea more one Pope contradicting and throwing down that which another did establish and one Council Decreeing and another disanulling as I could easily make appear but that I would not be Tedious to the Reader in things that have been so manifest neither do I desire to wade out into diversity of matters in so short a Discourse But that which R. E. and his Catholick instructer calleth late wild and loosâ— Opinions that men of different Faiths may be saved and this countenanceth schism and breeds Rebellion as it is said 't is true Faith is but one which is saving and there is no difference in that for the difference is among Men where that is wanting and only have words and Name of Faith and want the Life and Power Neither am I so narrow Spirited as R. E. and his Catholick as to exclude all out of the Faith who may differ in their perswasions in some Circumstantial things if yet they hold Christ the Head and what makes R. E. so virilent as to judge all in Errour and to be out of the true Faith seeing the Protestants and all sorts of separates profess Justification and Salvation only through Faith in Christ Jesus as well as the Church of Rome and it were unreasonably judged in me if I should conclude a man to be no man because he is not so tall as another but I see R E. and his Catholick would have all Shoes made by their Last though they will not fit every mans Feet Faith is the gift of God there are divers Decrees and measures accoding to the mind and good pleasure of the giver so that he that hath received any measure or degree must not be excluded as having no Faith though he attain not to that degree that some do enjoy and the Apostle's Doctrine was That 〈◊〉 one should be perswaded in his own mind and if
of Faith for that had been contrary to the Apostles Commission and their Doctrine for saith the Apostle We have not preached our selves but Christ the Lord and our selves your Servants for his sake And I may say to thee R. E. as Paul said to the Corinthians when they were striving about Men Cor. 3.21 Therefore let no Man glory in Men for all Things are yours or as he saith in Chap. 1. Ver. 13. was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the Name of Paul were they not carnal that so glorified was Peter crucified for us or were we baptized in the Name of Peter is not your visible Church carnal who thus judgeth that Christ intended Peter to be the Foundation of his Chruch for what was he or the rest of the Apostles but Ministers by which many believed 〈◊〉 and if thou hadst been present it is very like would have instructed Christ what to have said and bidden him have spoken after the Grammer Rule and Construction upon that Rock I will build my Church for Peter 's Faith in Christ is too mediate it seems and his Confession too remote and antecedent to be the Rock meant in Mat. 16.18 and therefore Peter must be immediate and the Rock upon which Christ hath doth and will build his Church but as immediate as he was and as sure a Rock as he was when he began to rebuke Christ he turned him about and said unto Peter Ver. 23. Get thee behind me Satan thou art an Offence unto me for thou savours not the Things of God and so say I to R. E. and his Catholicks they savour not the things of God but it is thy private Spirit and your own Interpretations and not the Mind of Christ and how far antecedent is Peter's Confession of Christ the Son of the living God is it not in Vers. 16. and wherein was Peter blessed but in this that it was revealed to him that Christ was the Son of the living God the Rock of Ages and the Foundation of his Church and as for thy visible Church with its two Heads independent Head and dependent Head which sure must have two Bodies where they can be found but that I shall leave to R. E. and I hope from the Grounds that thou hast here laid which did appear so clear to thee that none will be afraid nor judge that such a visible Church with two Heads is to be Rule and Guide to all to whom all are to submit under Pain of Damnation which is to have Peter for its Rock which if he had been living he would have denyed you all as Setters up of Men and Slighters of Jesus Christ the Rock of Ages the Foundation of the Church the Head of the Body the Rule of Life the Judge of Quick and the Dead the Law-giver Director Instructer and Preserver of his Church forever but R. E. goes on and saith It only remains that we consider which among all these Congregations now on Earth which pretend themselves to be this Church of Christ for having once found her and knowing that she is so assisted with the holy Ghost that she cannot teach us an Error we shall no more dispute the Verity of her Doctrine then we would have questioned the Articles of Faith taught by the holy Apostles or the Words of Christ himself wherefore if this Church this infallible Guide shall teach us that Infants ought to be baptized and that it is as lawful to desire the Saints departed to pray for us as to desire the Prayers of them that are alive and that the Body of Christ our Saviour is really and truly present in the Sacrament of the Altar or any other Article of Faith we shall no more doubt it then the first Christians did the Verity of what the Apostles taught them Among all those Congregations on Earth that look upon themselves to be the Church and Spouse of Christ there is one if thy Eye could behold or if thou could'st discern it but before thou canst there is an Eye in thee must be put out and there is a Wisdom in thee that must be confounded and turned into Foolishness before thou canst discern it in its Glory as it is but however that is it undoubtedly which is begotten into the Faith through the Publication of the immortal Word of Life and who are translated from Death unto Life and who have received the Power and Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ and meet in his Name and Power and do witness his Presence among them and have received a Measure of that infallible Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth and out of the Pollutions of the World and are dead unto the World and baptized into the Sufferings of Christ and are crucified with him who keep unviolated his Statutes and Commands without adding to or diminishing from who walk in the Order of the Gospel and are not conformable to the World nor to that which fallen Men set up but to the Power of God that worketh in the Hearts of all that believe to the framing of them a meet Habitation for God to dwell in and abide in the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and are Sayers and Doers speak the Truth and do the Truth and hold the Truth in Righteousness and the Faith once delivered to the Saints in a pure Heart and a pure Conscience who pray in the Spirit and with Understanding who publish the Truth and declare it in the Spirit reaching to the Consciences and to the Witness of God in all that hear who rejoyce only in Christ Jesus the great Power of God and the Wisdom of God and have no Confidence in the Flesh nor fleshly Performances whose Faith stands not in Words but in the mighty Power of God which she hath received according unto the Promise of God this Congregation or Congregations which is one and doth hold the one Head by which all the Members of Christ are knit together in the one Faith by which they overcame the World this undoubtedly is the Church of Christ and the Spouse of Christ But whether R. E. will not dispute against the Verity of her Doctrine I question notwithstanding all his Submission in Words and if this Church should teach that Infants are to be baptized with Cream and Spittle and signed with the Cross as absolutely necessary to Salvation or that it is the Duty of the Saints alive to pray to the Saints departed this World or to teach that Christ's Body which was broken for us and hanged upon the Tree at Mount Calvary that this should now be in a Morsel of Bread and a Sup of Wine and conveyed thither by the Priest and this to be really the Body of Christ if this Church should teach any such Doctrine there were good and weighty Reason to Question seeing that R. E. before hath said that they cannot be infallible who contradict one another and teach two contrary Doctrines and yet say they are both
attestation of God and in the 89. page he saith that Christ answering to the high Priest I am and thou hast said is an Oath And in the 91. page it was enough that Christ denyed not to Swear and from this he imagines that he did Swear and when we enquire what the Oath was it amounts but to this thou hast said I am and where was the attestation of God here named or mentioned or spoken on by Christ were his Words any more then his own Doctrine which he taught before Let your yea be Yea and your nay Nay when the high Priest said Art thâ—u the King of the Jews he answered I am and is this any more then yea though not in the same Syllables and Mat. 26.63 I adjure thee to tell â— whether thou art the Son of God or not and he answered thou hast said And is this any more then yea or I am or it is Truth But indeed if one should traduce A. S. in his Discourse and of his definition of an Oath it is so uncertain one shall hardly know what to pitch upon to be his Judgment sometime it is this and sometime it is that and somâ— time it is neither this nor that sometime he says It is an Oath where God is interposed one while an Oath consists in the ATTESTATION of God another while it consists in saying truly truly and sometimes I call God to witness is an Oath and sometimes thou hast said is an Oath sometime because God is named in a Sentence therefore he concludes it must be an Oath otherwhiles when he is not named it must be an Oath and thus he twines up and down leaving People in the dark and leading them after his Imaginations And I shall conclude the Answer to this reason and neither impute ignorance nor wickedness to the great Apostle nor conclude that Christ's words as he saith doubtless the Apostle did must be understood in a limited Sense and limited only to Creatures and not to all Swearing and why so but because the Apostle said God is witness and I speak the Truth in Christ which is no contradiction of Christ's prohibition Swear not at all His seventh Argument is this If some Swearing be enjoyned in the third Commandment then all Swearing is not forbidden by Christ in these words Swear not at all because he came not to destroy the Law but some Swearing is there enjoyned or else the Law written by the Finger of God in Tables of Stone cannot be vindicated from imperfection and therefore in this Negative precept the affirmative must needs be included thou shalt Reverence the Name of the Lord and Swear by it whensoever it is not vain but necessary which is required by a lawful Magistrate for the Glory of God and for maintaining of Peace punishing Offenders and ending of Controversies and all these are necessary Ends but not attainable at least not so well by any expedient yet put in Practice as by interposition of Oaths so it cannot reasonably be believed that Christ would forbid them being of such important uâ—e Reply The substance of this is answered before but however A. S. how he can make this third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain to prove the continuation of Swearing under the Gospel among Christians we do not see If Bishop Gaudens Words be true as they are who sayes A true Christian's Oath is needless his word being as firm as it page 41. and an evil Man's Oath is worthy of no more credit then a Lyar pag. 17. Since upon that account whosoever Swears by the Name of God Swears in vain and to no purpose whether he be a true Man or one deceitful his word amounting to as much as his Oath And why A. S. mentions the third Commandment to prove Swearing lawful under the Gospel except for the morality of it which he looks upon Christ came not to destroy and doth he look that every Letter Syllable of all the ten Commandments is so moral in all respects unchangeable uncapable of any annihilation by Christ's coming he much forgets himself for all these things contained in the first Table are not so moral or perpetual without some ceremoniality and subjection to alteration by Christ's coming as he imagins if he had but remembred the fourth Commandment the next unto it Remember that thou keep the holy Sabbath day which then was the very 7th day of the Week which God had Sanctified was but a Type and Sign and Shadow and Figure and a Ceremony of the 7th day of the World's rest from its Labour and of the everlasting Sabbath as I said before Heb. 4. and I might as well Argue if the 7th day of the Week was commanded in the fourth Commandment then the seventh Day is not prohibited neither by Commandment example or practice of Christ the Apostles or Primitive Christians and I might add this as a reason because Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it and further I might add the 7th day was enjoyned in the 4th Commandment and they used to call it as moral as the third and therefore it ought to be so under the Gospel or else the Law written in Tables of Stone cannot be vindicated from imperfection and what would all my arguing prove even as much as A. S. his arguing the continuation and necessity of Oaths from the third Commandment and that is nothing at all and the Law of God needs not A. S. nor any Vindication it is Perfect and endures forever Psal. 19.7 and the Ceremonies and Types and Shadows that were joyned with and unto the Substance of the Law do neither add nor detract from its perfection but it is the same in it self forever and though we cannot own Swearing in that Ceremonious way as the Jews did use it till the Seâ—d came unto whom the Law and the Prophets bore witness yet we do not make void the third Commandment we take not his Name in vain but Reverence it and speak well of it and Sanctifie it in our Hearts and as the Apostle said Do we make void the Law through the Preaching of Faith God forbid So do we make void the Law or the Perfection of it by speaking the Truth and bearing witness to the Truth though as I said we cannot own those Typical Ceremonious ways of Swearing as it was in the first Covenant nay it is established and the third Commandment is established for he that speaks the Truth and bears witness in and from the Truth honours God's Name and Reverences it forasmuch as he is called the God of Truth and as we have said being lawfully called before a Magistrate to bear Testimony in any thing wherein the Glory of God or our Neighbour is concerned or the decision of Controversie seeing that true Testimony is a medium that concerns as much to that purpose now as Swearing did under the Law therefore we have still been
God's Creation when all was blessed and at Peace and in Unity and Harmony one with another when Man was the Image of God and you through the rich Mercy and Love of God being called to believe in the Hope and Promise of God and having waited and obtained Life through Jesus Christ whom the Father hath given for Life and the Covenant thereof and of Peace unto all that believe I say it being given unto you of the Father to believe and receive him whom the Father hath sent to restore again all even all receive the free Gift and close therewith according as the Father tenders him unto all believing and obeying his Voice they come to witness Restoration and to be delivered from Darkness and Death and every evil Way and Work into perfect Freedom in due time and to serve the living God in Righteousness and Holiness and to be made Partakers of his precious Promise and of the Kingdom Power and Glory of God that fades not away and of Life eternal and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost now and forever and makes all his chosen Ones who believe in his Name Partakers of his piteous and long Suffering and of his heavenly and spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus to whom be Glory forever and ever Amen I say because the Lord hath chosen you and hath wrought Change in you and brought you out of their Pathes whose Habitations are full of Cruelty all that are in Bondage hate you and your Freedom and your Life and Way and there can be no Reconciliation no Concord in the Ground for as it was of old time even so now since Cain slew his Brother so all the Children of the Flesh of the Bond-woman and of the World hated them that were born of the Spirit and were redeemed up unto God to live unto him and glorifie him forever by shewing forth by a holy Conversation that they were so called and chosen of God I hope the Consideration of these things and the Knowledge of them dwells with you and in your Hearts and you see you are joyned to a blessed Company and an holy Assembly who are gone before and are entred into Rest and have precious Fellowship with them who now remain alive unto this Day who have Fellowship with the Father and the Son and in all our Trials and Afflictions are afflicted with us although you have had Exercises above many and have walked through the Region and Shadow of Death inward and outward yet the Lord hath upholden you unto this Day that you may bear in Mind his great and dreadful and wonderful Works and fear before him land honour him and speak Good of his Name and worship him in the Beauty of Holiness which he hath led you into and glorifie him in his Temple comfort and strengthen one another in the Truth and let not the World neither the fading Glory of it overcome your Hearts but in the Dominion of God stand over the World and its Temptations lest you be entangled that you cannot run with Patience and follow the Lord in the Cross the Dayes of our Pilgrimage go on apace the time is short all outward Suffering will have an End and Wrath shall cease to be any more happy are they that continue in the Patience for this Moment of time we have to follow the Lamb here through the War and Tribulation Victory is at the End thereof in the mean time God by his holy Spirit gives daily Hints of his Love in the inward Man unto all stay'd Minds and Assurance of the Victory which makes me often overlook present Suffering and forget the Afflictions that are past and little to heed present things though they seem to frown because the Light of God's Countenance is lifted up and his Favour and Love and strengthning Power felt in the inward Man which ballances all and weighs down the Scale of present Trouble and Affliction so that hard things are become easie and ponderous things light look not out at Trouble and Hardship but rather admire the great Goodness of God that hath so much restrained the Wrath of Men which was great and hath made some of it to turn to his Glory he hath made void the Intention of the prudent and hath turned Counsel backward and hath frustrated the Expectation of the proud and lofty who took Counsel together even as of old against the Lord and his anointed yet for all this God hath established his Son on the holy Hill of Sion and his Saints reign with him sure you cannot but have taken notice of these things and of the Out-goings of the Lord and have considered his handy-Works and say with me the Lord hath created Deliverance upon Mount Sion and hath appeared to the Joy of the Righteous and his Enemies he is making as the Dust under his Feet and is scattering the Devices of the Sons of fallen Adam and making them as the Chaff of the Summer Floor which the Wind scattereth Friends what shall I'say unto you that I love you ye know that it 's no less neither diminuished to the faithful I now give you to know I often remember you upon my Bed and not only so but before the Lord whom I know hath a Regard unto the Supplications of the upright and their Prayers are as Incense and from whom he smells a sweet Savour and gives them to feel and know it in their Hearts so that they come unto him with Confidence having Access through Jesus our Life and Joy unto whom be Glory and Honour forever and ever Amen Dearly beloved what shall I say to comfort your Hearts and stir up your Minds to the Exercise of his Grace in you but the plenteous Harvest of the Lord is come wherein they that have sown to the Spirit and have walked in Obedience thereunto do reap the plenteous Fruits of Righteousness Peace Joy Assurance and pure and perfect Consolation so that all Cause of Complaint is taken away Glory to the Lord forevermore the Vintage is ripe the Press is full and many Fatts overflow because of Plenty and many are filled with the Fatness of God's House the new Wine is drunk that comes from the pure and living Vine Christ Jesus Clusters of heavenly Grapes are possessed better by far then them the Spies brought from Eshcoll which may animate all your Hearts and encrease your Faith and Hope and further this I say unto you God is ready to give bountifully unto all if you be ready to receive and meet to digest his heavenly Food and I am sure you cannot want any good thing neither will his Consolation be withhâ—lden from you but that which the Prophet Hosea prophesied concerning Israel and the Blessings that should come upon them The Lord shall hear the Heavens and they shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they shall hear Israel the same you shall feel inwardly to the Satisfaction of all your Souls the
Thomas Carlton's TESTIMONY CONCERNING Francis Howgil MAY we lament for the Death of any Man Whose Dayes and Years and Life is as a Span Then sure for this our Friend that 's now remov'd Who was so universally belov'd And if we may his Praise in Poems speak Who universally Mens Good did seek Of what we know we 'll only testifie Because we saw him live and also dye To Appleby this innocent Man was brought The Cause was Envy Malice or else nought By such as thought to had him ruinated And in his Interests themselves have stated But God who hath the Righteous in Protection Nulls and frustrates the Wicked Ones Projection Now our Intent in brief's to give a View What of his Life since that time we well knew Being thither brought a Trap they soon prepared Because he could not swear he was ensnared They so delighted that Oaths should abound That they resolv'd to force Men Nation round And if deny then Prisonment during Life And thus they ruinated Man and Wife And did expose whole Families to Distress Making Wives Widdows and Children Fatherless Yea all confiscate that they did enjoy They by this Edict thought for to destroy I well remember when this Trap they laid And in the same this innocent Man betray'd They did insert it in their weekly News Giving the World their Aâ—l for to peruse And vauntingly to elevate their Glory Said they had snapp'd him in a Premunire Like shameless Men deluding their own Act With their vain Glory when their Trap had snapp'd And if they knew a Man to swear was loath Then call him in and tender him the Oath Thâ— they made Crime enough for to deprive A Man of Liberty Estate and Life Oh inhuman sure they are no Men indeed ' Tâ— Pity England any such should breed They needed not for Oaths they have anew Such as preceding Ages never knew Judge Turner he this wicked Sentence past On him and others whose Bonds yet do last Thinking thereby to terrifie the Just Who could not live in their Excess and Lust But their Designs and Weapons prove but vain Their Purposes and Ends for to obtain Lest I digress I shall return to that Which at this Time I principally aim'd at That is to give a certain true Relation And that indeed with little Reiteration Of this my Friend unto the World's View Who worthy is as after I shall shew My Heart is sad this Subject to indite So is my Hand and Pen the same to write Yet in the Lord I Contemplation find Augments my Joy and satisfies my Mind Because his faithful Course he finished As sacredly as he his Life had led He was a Man with Vertues pure endued He chose the Good all Evil he eschew'd And from a Child religiously affected He many a Soul to the Way of Peace directed The Secrets of God's Kingdom he well knew And them to many a tender Heart did shew He did delight of heavenly things to speak In 'th Fellowship of such as them did seek He lov'd the Company of Man or Child That was not with Iniquity defil'd The Fellowship of such as God did fear He in his Heart and Soul did love right dear He was a lowly meek and humble Mind In that I known no Man he came behind With Wisdom Patience Faith and Vertues pure He was possessed and them retained sure God's everlasting Gospel he did preach his Witness pure in many he did reach A pratling scribling Quaker they him call'd Because he did confound their wise Men all For grave Deliberation he exceeded As grave within as outwardly gray-headed His mild Deportment unto every one Makes many an Heart now sad when he is gone Yea many a Soul to Righteousness he turned Yea as a Star he shone or Light that burned He was well learn'd in the Way and Work of God To what he knew he alwayes faithful stood He was a valiant Souldier for the Lord And well knew how to handle his spiritual Sword Of any Man he never turn'd his Back Nor of his Faith he never made Shipwrack Yea when he shot his Bow abode in Strength His even Hand did bit for Breadth and Length These Things I say and what I say I know For he to me my secret Thoughts did show He was the Minister of Christ to me And did resolve my Doubtings inwardly When not a Word to him I did express Nor he before had never seen my Face Surely he was God's Oracle to me And spoke as though my inward Thoughts he see And since that time I never sought a Priest Neither was troubled with itching Ears at least True 't was the Gift of God in him did open He surely hit if that his Tongue had spoken He was no Accademian as he said But in our Northern Regions he was bred Whereby this Observation may accrew That Jeremiah prophesied true Because he said out of the North should come A Nation that should ruine Babylon Confound her Gods and break her Idols many And desolate make her Land as ere was any As Warriors expert at Babylon they aim Their Arrows sharp and keen shall not return in vain And this my Friend of whom I speak was one Amongst many Worthies more that shot at Babylon Which out of the North arose a Climate that 's so cold Wherein Ezekiel saw a Fire it self unfold Which surely will consume Babylon that whorish Woman And all her Spots unvail by the Brightness of its Coming The Work this Man hath wrought with others moe Ages and Tears to come the Effect will shew The Arrows they have shot right sharp and keen When they are gone will sink in 'th VVhore and Queen Succeeding Ages the Effects may see Her deadly Wound incurable to be Then their Memorial shall blessed stand Who died Captives in their Native Land And now dear Francis thou thy Life compleated A Martyr true that never Foot retreated Thy Fame thy VVorth thy Praise I cannot note Who stood so true and stagger'd not a Jote Children unborn shall praise the Lord for thee When thy heroick extant VVorks they see Now from their nasty Goal thou art released To where thy Joy and Peace shall be encreased Though thou in Mesech for a long Time sojourned And as a harmless Dove in private mourned Being constrain'd in Kedar's Tents to dwell No Mate whereto thy Grievances to tell Nor add Relief to thy oppressed Soul With their vile Deeds and Words that were so foul Was Lot with wicked Sodomites sore vexed Was not thy righteous Soul as sore perplexed Had David greater Cause for to complain Then thou hast had in Appleby to remain Or was the Prophet Jeremiah more oppressed Then thy poor Soul with them hath been distressed But that thou hadst the Lord for thy Relief Who satisfied thy Mind and eas'd thy Grief And now hath heard thy Cry and thy Complaint And thee set free from under their Restraint Let now the Teeth of the Persecutors grind Thee for
are like to be tryed Your Armour is Righteousness on the right hand and on the left your City is free The Gates stand open Day and Night a VVolf Lyon nor any Beast cannot enter no not so much as a flying-Fowl Oh how goodly are thy Tents O thou Seed of Jacob the Elect whom he hath chosen O how pleasant is your scituation The Tower of David Mount Sion stands sure and cannot be moved O! who is a People like unto you saved by our God that lives forever His Love is large he is kind he is long-suffering he is faithful and keeps Covenant and his Promises are Yea Yea He is the Amen the first and the last Come forth my dear Brethren set forth his Praise declare his Name among the Heathen publish his Name among the Congregations let the Earth be filled with his Love and power that his Judgments may be declared and his Statutes that they sound in the Ears of Generations to come O ye that are convinced of the Truth of our God wait in that which doth convince and keep your Minds to it and love it and follow it whither it leads you and it will lead you to know the Gift of God which leads to Repentance from dead VVorks to serve the living God who dwells in the Immortal Light and take heed of looking back at the Pleasures of Sin you have formerly lived in but wait upon the pure Light of Christ Jesus in Patience that so you may see the Enmity which is against God and it slain in you daily that so you may see him that is the Saviour of the Soul and take heed of rebelling against the Lord who hath given you a measure of his true Light to lead you from Sin if you love it unto Righteousness from whence it comes even from the righteous Judge of all the VVorld who judgeth every man ouâ— of the Book of his Conscience and so prize the everlasting Love of God to your Souls that you may see him who lives forever And all Babes who are born again who have suffered and Pangs of Death and know the Indignation of the Lord against Sin and the Terrour of the Lord against the man of Sin who have roared for the Disquietness of your Hearts who have born the Indignation of the Lord and are come to the giving forth of the Law where there is Thundring and Earth-quakes and Terrour and great Hail and Fire and Smoke even such as was not since the Beginning insomuch that you could not bear his Voice and live nor see his Face and live Stand still in Patience and let it have its perfect Work in you and hear the Indignation ye that are in it if you endure the Tribulation with Patience Hope you will see and a Time of Refreshment will come endure the Cross that the mortal and earthly and carnal may be judged and the bad ground shaken and taken away and that you may see the living Hope to stay your Minds upon And ye who are enlivened and do witness the Law of Righteousness set up in you which is a School-master and keeps in the Fear stand in it and keep in the Fear low in Soberness and Calmness and then you will see your Hearts purified daily and the cursed Nature judged which is out of its Course and it bridled and subjected and the Law which is pure and holy and eternal which stands forever in Power and force against the Transgressor to judge all Unrighteousness And so wait that you may see the Lyon tamed and the wild Heifer yoked and the Yoke of Christ born and the wild Colt tamed by him upon which never man sate before then and not till then is Hosanna sung And all wait in your Measures dear Babes that the Milk of the Word you may see and be nourished by it and grow up as living Branches about the Table of the Lord. And all you young men and Virgins that know Virginity keep your Virginity you in whom the Prince of this world is judged and cast out and the righteous Law of God revealed and given forth in which you stand and walk and have Peace from him who is the Law-giver and Judge who hath saved you from your Iniquities and blotted out your Sins for his own Name 's sake you who know the living Water and Spirit of which you are born again and witness the Birth which enters into the Kingdom of God where no mortal or unclean Beast can come Keep in the Life and Power of God which limits all and chains all under that the Life of the Son of God may live and speak in you and be bold In the dread of God stand and that which leads into Slavery keep out And now being made Partakers of his everlasting Love walk worthy of his Love and of the high Calling whereunto you are called who hath created you in Christ Jesus unto Holiness and Righteousness forever that to the praise of his Grace which you are saved by by which you have obtained the Remission of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them that are sanctified So wait in the living Hope and the living Faith in which God is well pleased in which you ask and receive of him and are accepted of our heavenly Father And this Faith ye know which is a present Power and a Shield against all Temptations and a Helmet and as a Fortress by which you are preserved safe standing in it and putting it on in the Day of Tryal My dear Brethren of the everlasting Kindred and Heirs of the everlasting Promise wait all in Patience having received an earnest of the Inheritance that never fades away to the End abide in the Father's Counsel and at Wisdom's Gate Ye know what I say I write not unto you because you know not the Truth but because you know and are made free in your Measures by him who is the Truth and the Way in which all our Fathers and you also have obtained a good Report even of all the Houshold of Faith and take heed of the Glory of the World and look not at Hardship for verily all the Suffering is not worthy to be Compared to that Glory which is revealed and to be revealed unto all that wait and abide in Patience and Faithfulness unto the end but be ye as good Souldiers endure hardship that you may receive the End of your Hope and the everlasting Price and the purchased Possession and the Crown of Glory which God will give unto you in his own Day which is coming on towards you if you continue in the Hope in the Faith and in the Love unfeigned which thinks no ill by which and in which Love we have Victory over the Grave Sin and Death which he hath freely shed abroad in our Hearts unto whom be everlasting Praise forever and ever to him which was dead and is alive and lives for evermore the Mediator of the new Covenant of Life and Peace in which we have Access
Hardness of Heart will come upon thee and thou wilt be as a Stone which cannot be melted and Wo will be unto such where the Spirit of the Lord in them ceaseth to strive with them having so long rebelled against and gainsaid the pure drawing of it that so the Lord is grieved and wearied with their Impenitency that he gives them up to their vile Affection and to follow the Imaginations of their own Heart who received not the Truth in the Love of it but in the Enmity still remain obstinate doing Despight to the Spirit of Grace his long-suffering comes to an End and his fierce Wrath comes to be kindled against such and that which would have led them out of the World into true pure everlasting Peace now becomes their Tormentor and they banished from his Presence and shut up in Eternal Misery where the Fire is kindled by the Breath of the Lord that burns forever the Sentence of Condemnation being past upon them because they had Pleasure in Unrighteousness and have sold themselves to do wickedly and crucifying the Appearance of God in themselves which Appearance though it lives in the Fountain of Life yet crucified by thee who art out of the Life yet lives still forever in it self to be thy Condemnation eternally How the Spirit of the Father worketh in them who are turned to it and have taken heed unto its Manifestation and are in some Measure Partakers of its Power THere are Differences of Administration but the same Lord and there are Diversity of Gifts but the same Spirit and there are Diversities of Operations but the same God which worketh all in all Now the Spirit of Truth which is Life in it self putteth forth its own pure Act not only to convince and detect him that transgresseth its Appearance and manifesteth Evil which hath been committed by Man but also being turned unto and waited in it shews Man when Motions and Temptations unto Sin arise and as the Creature is still and waiteth in that which manifesteth and singly keeps in his Mind to it it sheds abroad its Power and vanquisheth and subdueth those Lusts which do arise and condemns the Ground from whence they arise and it purely draweth the Mind after it and secretly worketh and breatheth forth its pure Life in him that waiteth in Patience and in Stilness not heeding the vain Thoughts and Imaginations that rise in his Heart but rather heeds the Manifestation of the Spirit at whose bright Appearance all the vain Desires come to be extinguished and there comes to be a Hunger begot within to be made Partakers of its Purity and of its Nature for God through the Operation of the eternal Spirit lets forth his Power which turneth and changeth the Heart and cuts asunder and divides betwixt a man and those Lovers that he hath joyned unto and makes a Separation within and carries a man further from those things which the Measure of the Spirit reproves and this leads nearer unto God And so they that do believe in the Measure of God's Spirit come to feel what Repentance from dead Works is and the Works and the Worker are seen and who it is that hath wrought is manifest in the Light and as there is a diligent waiting upon it there is nothing that passeth through the Mind but it discerns and gives a Discerning unto every particular Heart who singly and quietly wait upon it but yet after the Spirit of Truth in some measure be felt and its living Testimony in something yet it may be a long time before there be a clear Distinguishment in the Understanding so that one cannot clearly discern its Movings from all other false Motions and high Imaginations which are above and hence it is that the hasty and forward Minds follow their vain Motions which lead them into Deceit and then the Questioner gets up and then they question all that ever the Spirit hath made manifest unto them before a Vail then is drawn over and the Enemy lodges in the Vail and in the Darkness which is entered and then as soon as any hearken within to that which is the uppermost and doth abound the Enemy that lodges in that presents Motions as to obey this and that and all is Deceit So therefore all are to keep back that they may sensibly feel between the pure Motions and drawing of the Spirit and the vain Thoughts that arise out of the earthly Heart and when any thing doth arise which the Light doth not bear Witness to it 's not to be followed nor heeded but a quiet still waiting that things may be cleared to the understanding and for Want of this many have run out and have brought forth Satan's Work and acted things forwardly in their Will and so have clean lost the true Sence of that which should guide their Minds and have followed the Spirit of Error have caused the pure Spirit of the Lord to be evil spoken of but as there is a keeping back and a quiet waiting out of willing or running and haste it arises purely and stilly in the Heart shines forth in Brightness in the Heart so that it giveth perfect Evidence and full Testimony of it self that there will be no doubting nor questioning of its Motion for it will apparently shew forth it self in its own transparent Brightness with full Assurance of his own Will and then after it be clearly seen and its Motion then keep under all reasoning and keep out all questioning and give not Way to Temptation and that which moves of the Lord of Life will carry thee through in its own Operation and Power to accomplish the Will of God and so thou wilt have Peace being obedient and thy Strength will be renewed for as any is brought to submit unto the Will of God when it is known and comes to obey by Virtue of its own Power that which is contrary unto God's Spirit in thee comes to loose its Strength and to decay and be weakened but as any disobey the pure Motion of God's holy Spirit after it be known the Enemy is strengthned and that which is of the Flesh nourished and the Spirit comes to be quenched that which would give thee Power if thou submittest to it but yet know this the Spirit in it self never loseth its Purity neither can be quenched in it self but will bear its pure Witness against thee and none shall be able to stop its Reproof thus the Diversity of its Operation comes to be known as it is hearkened unto obeyed loved and believed in it puts forth its pure Power and gives Strength and seals Peace to the obedient but disobeyed and resisted it condemns judgeth reproves and seals Condemnation to the disobedient and yet there is no Variation in it self for it is alwayes one and the same But as it operateth upon different Natures or Objects unto which it joyns or stands at a Distance from that is to say the good Ground it causeth to bring
will vindicate themselves and have an evident Witness in every ones Conscience that believes so far as thou hast truly transcribed them and many of those Doctrines and Practices which thou hast set down as Errors the Scripture will bear witness to and the Example of the Saints Evidence and the Judicious will receive with Gladness of Heart and by it thy envious Spirit will be made manifest to all where thy lying Story shall come In thy 30th Page thy Lips being accustomed to utter forth Lyes and Deceit thou proceedest and say'st That the Quakers say that a man is justified by the Merit of good Works and inherent Righteousness and how that we hold the real corporal Presence of Christ in many Places at once and overthrow the Articles of Christ's Humanity and further thou say'st That Christ is Corporally in Heaven But for Proof I expect none from thee for thou speakest as though thy Tongue were thy own and I charge thee to instance where in all our Writings we have said that a man is justified by inherent Righteousness or where thou find'st real corporal Presence or where is it written in the Scripture that Christ is corporally in Heaven yet the man Christ is at the right Hand of God from whence he shall appear to thy Judgment and Condemnation except thou repent and Christ God's Righteousness must be revealed within by which the Saints are justified In thy 31st Page thou tellest of the Actions and Manners of the Quakers and thou say'st They will not put off their Hats before the highest Authority and how they stood covered and Thoued and Theed the Chair-man and Members of Parliament to the great Dishonour of the Authority of England as ever was admitted This shows that the Authority of England hath in times past been out of the Authority of God and in the same Authority which we find mentioned in the Scripture before whom the Prophets Christ and the Apostles were brought before though many of the Magistrates then were out of the Power of God yet they did not reprehend them for Want of Hats or Caps or Bowings or saying Thee or Thou and it seems the Committee and Members of Parliament did count it no Dishonour though thou dost who art a Busie-Body but Fools love to be medling Then thou proceedest on and say'st They will not petition Men no not the greatest Power witness all their Addresses to the Protectors and also tells How a Quaker in Hartfordshire swore against them that pulled down the House where the Quakers met It is not consistent with them that are in the Truth and in the Power of God to come with feigned Petitions full of Flattery and Deceit which answereth not God's Witness but rather the wrong Part which would be courted and flattered which holds under the Just neither can they who are in the Truth make such feigned complemental Addresses as the hireling Teachers from all Quarters of the Nation did to the late Protectors who flattered them and told them they would stand by and lay down all for that which they asserted and called one of them Joshuah and the other Moses and said They committed the keeping of the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ unto them and such like Blasphemies but as soon as the Wheel turned about in the next Moneth call them Traytors Tyrants and Usurpers and these were your stinking Addresses and your feigned Supplications which all sober and understanding People were ashamed of and thy Priests which thou callest Ministers and their Confederates which thou callest Christians have flattered them and bowed under every Deceit and turned with every Wind instance in the Dayes of Edward the 6th Henry the 8th Elizabeth and Mary and Charles and when these were overthrown which you used to call God's anointed then you strike in with what thing soever arises as instance one Parliament after another and then for Protectors and then no Protectors but a Parliament and thus have you flattered each of the Rulers though never so unjust till the Wrath of God hath sunk the most of them because they have hearkened to Flattery and Deceit and had not their Ears open to them with whom the Counsel of God is we have counselled them oft and have fore-warned them in all Plainness and Nakedness of Heart though our Counsel hath been rejected yet God hath fulfilled our Testimony thus far upon them all And as for the Quaker in Hartford-shire who thou say'st Swore against some who did abuse him and the Quakers I do believe he was one of thy own Generation and lately one of your Popish Parochial Congregations instituted first by Pope Dionysius although the man was more moderate then the rest and did grieve to see his Neighbours abused and sober people disturbed and the House broken down and Blood shed and that by the Justification of thy Sir T.H. the man not being convinced of the Unlawfulness of an Oath did give Testimony against the riotous persons and evil-doers and against him who encouraged them in it and shall he be condemned by thee who actest the same thing was it evil in him and is it righteous in thee Although I do not justifie the thing for it is known to many thousands in the Nation that the Quakers will not swear upon any Account lest they should fall into Condemnation but there are none can escape thy slanderous pen who loveth Uprighntess Truth but all thy Smitings in the Dark will at last fall upon thy own pate Further thou goest on and say'st We cry up Liberty of Conscience but are not willing to give it to others because thou say'st many Thousand Times some Ministers have been disturbed by them in their Religious Exercises That Liberty which we would enjoy our selves the same we can and will allow unto all men which is most equitable and though we have gone into the Steeple-houses and old Mass-houses and declared against Idolatry and Deceit Formality Feignedness and Hypocrisie or spoken the Words of Truth and Soberness either in Exhortation Admonition and Reproof this was the manner of the Apostles of Christ whose Consciences were exercised in purity towards God but that which was Order in the Churches of Christ is counted Disturbance by you Mass-house-worshippers and yet you would arrogate unto your selves the Name of a Church and yet are out of Gospel-Order you are for the Liberty of the Flesh and not for the Liberty of a pure Conscience Thou say'st The Quakers are grievous Lyars and thy proof is that Richard Hubberthorn said That the wicked are not to read the Scriptures and E. Burroughs saith The wicked and ungodly are to read the Scriptures and not the godly and thou say'st In this they have not both spoken Truth We know no Lye is of the Truth but of the Devil who abode not in the Truth and we are redeemed out of Lying by the Truth which hath set us free and thou art found the Lyar thy self for both the Words of
R. H. and of E. B. thou hast perverted and not spoken the Truth as afterwards may be made more manifest In the 35th page of thy lying Story thou say'st The Quakers have succeeded much and have prevailed in these Nations and beyond the Seas but thou hopest where-ever thy Book shall arive before them the People will so well know them as to abhor any further Acquaintance with them Here thou hast manifested thy Spirit to be like the envious Jews who crucified the Lord of Life and persecuted the Apostles from City to City sometimes running before them with their Lyes and sometimes after to oppose them and to stir up the Vagabond Fellows and ruder Sort of people to oppose and abuse them yet notwithstanding the Truth prevailed and many believed on the Name of Christ through their Words which they published unto them we have found the like Opposition not only from Strangers but also of our own Country-Men and have had many such lying Stories as thine sent before us and spread over the Nations and yet God hath carryed on his Work notwithstanding all Rage Opposition and Cruelty it hath prevailed and shall prevail for so is the purpose and Will of God and they who shall see thy Book who are but reasonable men will abhor and detest thy envious Spirit and Truth shall be more advanced and that shall be fulfilled the Remainder of the Wrath of Man shall turn to the praise of God Thou sayest They are a very cruel Bloody People if we may Judge the Lyon by his Paw or what is abundantly in their Hearts God will confound thy lying Lips and thy deceitful Tongue whose Blood have we shed can we not say and that of a Truth and have our Testimony by Gods witness in every man that we are clear of the Blood of all men Nay on the contrary hath not our Blood been spilt in your places of Worship which you account Holy and have not many suffered in Bond until Death by the reason of the Oppression of the Blood â—hirsty Priests of this Nation and thou mightst well have been silent if thou hadst not had an impudent Face have not we much to lay to your charge and that truly what dost thou Judge of thy godly Ministers in Lancashire and Cheshire whom thou callst the Valient Captains of Christ's Army which preached up the People into Rebellion upon pain of Damnation And others said except they went to the Randevous it was much if they were saved And others said the Nations must be purged with Blood to shed the Blood of all those that withstood them And others said if God would stand as a Newter they had men enough and such Blasphemous Words and Doctrines were uttered which are too tedious to relate and all this Quarrel they said was against the Quakers Now let the Reader Judge the Lyon by his paw and what is in these mens Hearts by their Words and Actions before mentioned And now to conclude this in thy own wrods what would not these men do if they had Power to their will But the Power of the Lord God preserves the Innocent and is against all the Workers of Iniquity I shall not trouble the Reader with what Priest Ford and Fowler of Readding hath gathered up out of Priests Books which they have Vomited forth against the Way of Truth nor what Tho. Underhil hath licked up and vomits out again which is but that which hath been Vomited up before so that it may be said of them all as the Prophet saith Their Tables is full of Vomit and filthy spewing covers them all all which things hath been answered over and over but that Swine love to be wallowing in the Mire and Doggs love to lick up their Vomit and the Envy of the wicked will not cease till he be cut off nor the evil Eye for watching after mischief till it be put out And now Tho· Underhill and the rest of thy party who resist the Spirit if I would recriminate might not I more justly and truly bring many thousands bad Examples acted by your party who are accounted Christians and charge them all upon you then all these things in thy Lying Story which thou hast brought against the Quakers If I should go from Parish to Parish as thou hast done from one end of the Land to another and so also beyond the Seas and should I rekon up all the Fornicatours and Adulterers all the Thieves and Murtherers all the proud and covetous all the Fighters Brawlers Railers Drunkards cheaters and defrauders and should charge all these upon the Presbyterâ— what a Volume I might make And were not this a just Retaliation wouldst thou count it an equal thing or would it be accounted Just in the sight of sober Men if I should charge the moderate and guiltless with these things before-mentioned then Judge thy self for thy Envy and Foolishness and let thy Mouth be stopped forever for accusing those whom God Justifies In the 38 page in thy Observation on the whole History That one may talk much of God and Christ and of the things of Religion and all in Vain and how the coming in of Unbelief shuts out Truth Faith and Piety and the great danger the Nation is in by being overturn with Hypocrisie and formality in Religion and how many have the form of Godliness but deny the Power He whose Eye is open may see the intent of thy History is to resist the Power of Truth and to strengthen deceit and this shall stand for thy own lot and for the Congregations and Assemblies thou art pleading for who at the best are but in the Subburbs Babylon who talk of God and Christ and of the Spirit and of Religion but all in Vain for nothing is brought forth among you but formality deceit and Hypocrisie and Error and Unbelief and a form of Godliness hath long covered the Nation and Truth Faith and Piety hath been rejected and the Power of godliness but now hath the Lord appeared and hath rent the Vail and manifested the deceitfull Workers and Hypocrites and though thou be observant as to others Foot-steps yet thou hast not viewed thy self neither pulled the Beam out of thine own Eye neither hast discovered thy Envy nor the murderous Spirit that rules in thy Heart from whence all these muddy Waters flow forth and all this Fog and mists arise which darkens the Air which whosoever receives in their understandings come to be Darkned but all that fear the Lord will see out of thy corrupt Heart all this mischief which thou hast long been Treasuring up doth now come forth upon which the day of Wrath will come both upon thee and it Thou saist The Quakers have no reason in the World to Boast of their sufferings as they do for thy have suffered as Evil-doers for being uncivil to Magistrates and disturbing God's People in their Assemblies and for being busie-bodies and some other known Wickedness and all their charginâ— Courts
of this Nation from diverse Parts thereof not only from one Sort of People but all except one viz. the Presbyterians instead of taking off the heavy Yoak thereof the Oppression whereof hath reached Heaven even to the Throne of God and he hath considered it though you would not but instead of removing it have established it for which he was wroth with you you have lost your Crown and he hath laid you by as men who would not accomplish his End and let his People go free and let me tell you it was rashly and proudly done of you after so many valiant Officers who had waded through a Sea of Troubles though I shall not say but they sought themselves too much which I hope God will give them to see They had done great Service for the Nation and considered what might best conduce for the welfare of the Army and for the Nation 's good and Safety and to present it to you desiring your Concurrence therein and though they did send among their Quarters for subscriptions they knowing before hand except it carried some bulk or at least seemed a matter of Concernment you would take less notice of it that you should in your heat and passion being filled with Jealousies vote out these Officers at their return from performing the faithful Service to you the Nation it was an unworthy Gratification and to put in others less capable only to exalt your own Power and rather to draw back to Bondage then going forward to perfect the business aforesaid for these and many more Instances that I might lay before you it was just with the Lord to remove you and not to prosper you and to overturn you because you stood not in his Counsel neither hearkned to them who would have wished you well with whom God's Counsel is and it is just you are turned out and let me advise you and despise not my Counsel for the Counsel of the mighty hath failed take counsel at a Shepherd or a Man of low Degree be you quiet and seek not Revenge neither blow the Sparks nor kindle heat in Peoples Minds neither provoke the Army tâ— Blood-shed but rather diswade them and wait to see what the Lord will do if he will raise up any to perfect that long desired and hoped for End Freedom and Liberty in the things that are just as Men and in the things of God without Imposition and if you live to have your Share among the People in this it will be well and you may have no cause to repent of your being still and quiet though you may have cause to repent of your Rashness and of the things before mentioned X. And you of the English Army who were dissatisfied with the Proceedings of the late Parliament against you I wish there be not too much Self in you in the thing rather for your own Advancement and particular Interest then that the Good Old Cause profest was not carried on by the Parliament according to your Desire and the Peoples Expectations If Self-Interest was the Cause as it is to be feared there was so much of that you will be crossed in your Expectation for that is the thing which hath obstructed the thing intended all along since the thing was asserted that will soon be made manifest and there remains a Ground in your selves which I believe will hinder the End proposed which must be done away before you can do much for God though you may profess and declare in Words much which may take with some for a while yet it will not satisfie long I wish in my Heart Good to you all but there is something stands betwixt you and good things you would like the rest please all Men but that cannot be stand to the Good and let your Actions answer the Witness of God in the worst And you say in your Declaration You have an Intention to take away Tythes and settle some Way for a godly preaching Ministry I say they will need none of the State 's or Common-wealth's Maintenance And if you shall take them away and settle any thing by way of Compulsion upon the People for any Ministry you leave us in Bondage and we must declare against that as against Tythes and we cannot pay neither the one nor the other for Conscience sake And you who are the Committee of Safety newly erected yea many of you have seen or at least might have seen what hath hindered the End proposed you have a Day of Visitation God will try all Sorts of Men if any will be faithful to the End therefore this I say to you and the rest of the Army throw down all those corrupt Laws made about Religion Mass-houses Clerks Wages forced Maintenance and meddle not with it for that thing broke all Parliaments and Councils hitherto and so will it do you if you meddle with it leave all People free without Imposition of any Maintenance to any or else you do nought let everyone be free let every Judgment maintain their own leave People free as to the VVorship of God only to Christ who is Head and Ruler of his Church and Lord over the Conscience and is his alone Right which if you shall not do he will throw you down also Therefore let him have Room and VVay or else that which resisteth will be cut off And this is God's VVord unto you all Take Heed of gratifying any to the imbondaging of others let Tythes and forced Maintenance go down and if for the Good of the Nation or Common-wealth as in Things civil all with a free Heart will most readily and willingly assist you for the Good of the Nation Stand not puzling about Business not worth mentioning nor striving who shall be greatest but remove the present Oppressions and that which is the Cause thereof satisfie the Nation with Deeds Words will not with Things not with Names that will not and it is not a King a Parliament a Protector a Council or Senate we look at will do the Thing Neither People be ye wedded and glewed to Names he that purposeth Righteousness and Equity in his Heart and walks after it is that which God will bless and prosper for when Kings Parliaments and Councils are gone from the Power of God they are for the Thraldom of a Nation and not for its Liberty but this I fore-warn you whatever you do meddle not in the Things of God or about Religion let that alone and you will more readily serve the Necessity which the present Affairs call for and the common civil and equal Liberty of all Men Oh that you had Wisdom and the Counsel of the Lord were with you how soon might Things be established Then would you do more in one Day then in ten while you consult with your Reason and the old corrupt Laws many of which are good for nought but the Fire Thus I have in all Faithfulness cleared my Conscience unto you as the Lord presented
to Lighc in the Hearts of the Sons of Men that they may see his saving Health and feel him and have Union with him who is the Author of Eternal Salvation in all that believe which Salvation God hath shed abroad richly in the Hearts of his People and his plenteous Redemption which many are made Partakers of and therein their Souls are satisfied and their Flesh rests in Hope and their Hearts are filled with Joy and Gladness and he which hath revealed this will perfect his own Work which he hath begun in them that believe and keep the Faith unto the End shall see the Top-Stone brought forth with Shouting and Victory with Joy Therefore Dear Friends and Brethren look not out neither faint when you are tempted and tryed but eye the Lord who is near to deliver and to administer Strength in Weakness of which I do not doubt but you have felt whose Arm is made bare to save and to defend all the upright in Heart in the Hour of Tryal and in the Time of Temptation and your Work shall not be in Vain for that whâ—ch is ministred from the Life shall not pass away unfulfilled but every one shall answer and bear Witness unto it in the Day of the Lord So in the Long-suffering and in the Patience and Meekness all dwell and in Love with one another and bear with one another and strengthen one another and be subject one to another in the Truth knowing your Works are one and the Message one which you have all to bear Witness of impose not upon one another but leave every one free to the free Spirit of the Lord in himself to be directed and guided in his Service and judge all that down which would beget into Strife for that Spirit will not gather unto God but scatter there hath been Hurt done already in that Place in striving and Contention which hath done Hurt for they that should be Builders should not bite one another and devour one another and so come to destroy them selves and others for that which would be greatest must be least and he which is least and Servant of all shall be exalted for with the humble God dwells and the lowly he leads in the Way of Peace for we are not sent to preach our selves neither to set up our selves but the Lord 's Christ who humbled himself to the Death of the Cross and gave his Life a Ransom for many and he is our Example and he alone is to be exalted and to have the Preeminence and they that exalt him he will exalt and they that honour him he will honour and self is excluded and glorying and boasting excluded by all the Children of Wisdom and that alone to be gloryed in which crucifies to the World and leads to Unity with God and Fellowship with Christ in the Eternal Rest. The Arm of the Lord be wâ—th you all and keep you in hâ—s Wisdom that you may finish your Testimony in Faithfulness and be clear of the Blood of all Men and so lay down your Heads in Peace when the Work is finished which the Lord hath appointed unto you that you may come to inherit the Crown of Glory which fadeth not away and be Partakers of God's eternal Excellency which doth excel eternally all the Glory of the World and the Renown thereof which fadeth away We have received divers Letters from divers of you and also we have heard how two dear Brethren have given up their Lives as a Sacrifice unto the Lord whose Life and Death was precious in his Sight in which I heartily rejoyce that they suffered so valiantly and boldly for his Names sake who laid down his Life for them and by it they are redeemed up unto God to live with him in that Life and Love which is everlastingly pure and satisfactory of which I am most certainly perswaded they had an Enjoyment of and Assurance and thereby had Joy and Peace and strong Consolation in him who hath reconciled all Things unto himself in one who is the Head of the Body which he hath redeemed which is his Church by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant by which every Member thereof is compleated and presented Perfeâ—â— in Jesus Christ our Light and Life our Crown and Rejoycing to whom be Glory forever and ever Amen And be tender and watchful over them that are convinced and let all your Lives preach before them and be their Example in all Things and keep them all down to their own that they may feel the Power of the Life immortal which you have born Witness of and exhort all to Stedfastness and not to look out at the Rage of the Enemy for that hath appeared which must conquer which cannot be subject to the Wills of corrupt Men Christopher Hâ—lder is arived here who declared unto us the Affairs of the Gospel in those Parts and all the Letters which came over unto our Hands will be sent carefully as they were directed So the everlasting God of Life Power be with you all is the Prayer of him whom God heareth Who is your dear Brother in the Suffering and Long-Suffering of God and in the Fellowship of the Gspel of Peace F. H. THE DECEIVER OF THE NATIONS DISCOVERED AND HIS CRUELTY Made manifest How he hath deceived the Nations and wrought his Works of Darkness more hiddenly under the Mask of Higher Power Holy Church and so persecutes the Righteous Seed and makes them suffer under the Name of Evil-doers in these latter Dayes More especially his Cruel Works of Darkness laid open reprov'd in Mariland in Virginia and the Sad Sufferings of the Servants of the Lord there by his Cruel Instruments Sent back unto them again that they may view their Work again and repent and be ashamed lest the Wrath of God sink them into the Pit as it hath done many before them who have opposed the Lord. GReat and many have the Tryals and Sufferings been of the Faithful Witnesses of God in all Generations by the Seed of Evil-doers who would not that Righteousness should reign and Truth have the Dominion because then the Glory of their Kingdom that standeth in Falshood and Deceit would be stained and blasted and not be had in Honour and Admiration Therefore the Devil who was a Lyar and a Murderer and an Oppressor from the Beginning hath labour'd by all his Power to deceive Mankind that he might exalt his Throne and Kingdom which consisteth wholely of Iniquity in the Hearts of the Sons of Men that so he might be honoured and worshipped and his Unrighteous Decrees fulfilled and himself admired above the true God which made both Heaven and Earth and all things that are therein who alone ought to be worshipped and honoured above all who is blessed forever whose Kingdom stands in Righteousness Equity Truth and Peace forever Therefore Satan being cursed and banished from the Presence of the Lord forever being full of Enmity Wrath and Rage Murder
they think it is for the Glory of God and the good of their Country as the Jews did thought they did God Service when they shamefully intreated his Servants and Messengers and abused them that were sent unto them in the Name of the Lord and as though making spoil and doing of Violence and devouring and wasting the Estates of their inhabitants would be for the well-being and good of their Country and enrich their Plantations when they that bear a Part of the common charge thereof and have been industrious as for the Benefit of the whole are thus made a prey and a Spol of Verily verily my Heart is grieved and my Spirit is vexed because of these doings Oh! this stains your Glory and causeth the Name of the living God to be dishonoured among them that make no mention of it as you do neither profess Knowledge of him nor Worship of his Name as you do for they may well judge if to bring forth such barbarous actions of Cruelty and Oppression and Violence be the Fruit that Christians bring forth that they will never be Christians for there is a Principle in the Indians and Heathens which abhors this and if these Actions bring Honour to God they may well conclude never to serve your God and that such Oppression should be acted among your own People and upon the People of your own Nation they justly may conclude you to be ignorant and your Government nought Oh! this causeth a bad Savour in the Nations and these are bad Examples to others for this strengthens the Hands of the Wicked and provokes others to Wickedness and also will bring a Judgement upon you for Sin is a Reproach to any People and the Wages thereof is Death and Destruction Therefore Oh you Rulers and Heads of the People who should be for the praise of them that do well and for the help of the upright and for nourishing of the poor and needy repent you of what you have done and confess to the Lord your great evil least his hand be utterly turned against you and you become as chaff before the Wind and as stubble before his Bow be utterly destroyed and cut off consider what you have done how all this hasty furious Work hath not at all advantaged you for there is a Seed that God will gather in those Isles to himself out of the Deceit of the World and out of the vain Customs and Fashions of your Country and out of a feigned Profession without the Life to worship him in Life and Spirit and though you should seek to withstand the Lord as you have done hitherto with a high Hand your Contrivance shall come to nought nay though you would strengthen and harden your Hearts yet more and say in your Hearts as the rebellious Jews of whom the Prophet spoke Though the Bricks be fallen down yet we will build with hewen Stone though what you have done doth not stop that which you would do and so go about to invent further mischief as those uncircuncised Men of New-England have done and should proceed to further Blood-shed at last it would come upon your selves and you would be plunged into misery for the Covenant with death must be broken and the agreement with Hell disannulled and the Strength and Power of darkness overthrown and Innocency Life and Truth set above it all for let me tell you that there is no Weapon formed against this People that shall prosper though you may prevail against their Persons and Estates yet the Spirit which is their Life and Leader is invincible therefore be ashamed and repent and view over your Actions and condemn them and proceed no further to your hurt lest greater Misery come upon you Oh! The cruel Sufferings which this poor People called Quakers have undergone and not for evil doing but for keeping Faith and a good Conscience which many have put away and made Shipwrack of else all these inhumane barbarous cruel works of darkness could never have been brought forth which have shamed their Government and their Profession which all that have any Knowledge of God cannot but abhor and say Oh! my Soul come not into their secrets neither tread in their Paths for these marks are not the marks of them that rule in the Power of God neither these spots the spot of his People but marks of the Beast and marks of the Harlot who hath forsaken her Maker the Lord of hosts and now is gone after other Lovers and the Children that she brings forth are the Children of Fornication and as the Prophet saith As is the Mother so is the Daughter as is the Church so are the Members all corrupted and gone out of the Way so that the Lord hath no Pleasure in them neither his Presence known among them for if it had they would have trembled to have acted any of these cruel things against them who are turned to the Lord out of Cruelty Deceit and Violence which would have been a Blessing to your Country but this is fulfilled He that departs from Iniquity maketh himself a Prey and becomes a Butt for all the Arrows of the ungodly to be shot at but blessed are they that have on the Armour of God they enter not there neither do hurt the Life for by Faith in the Light are all the fiery darts of the wicked one quenched the Bows of the ungodly broken though they be as Steel and their spears snaped assunder the Armies of the Aliens put to flight and the edge of the sword escaped and this Honour have all the Saints who dwell in that which keepeth the Heart clean and do overcome through Faith and through Suffering And therefore all that fear the Lord in that Place heed none of these things for this is the Cup that all must drink of who come to drink of the Cup of Salvation this hath been the Portion which they have had in the World Trouble but in the Life Peace and Christ who hath enlightned you is that Life wait all that you may feel him to be your Portion and then notwithstanding all outward Sufferings you will say and that from a true feeling My Lot is fallen in a fair ground I have a goodly Heritage and this God will give you to enjoy if you continue faithful and stedfast to the End in the Will of him who is near you to direct you and guide you in the Way of Peace and to lift up your Heads above all Opposition and make you more then Conquerors over Death and the Power thereof and over the Grave and over all that which hinders the Love of God from being revealed unto your Souls which as you wait in the Patience strength from the Lord will be administred unto you to carry you through the fire and through the water and through the floods and you shall be preserved and neither burnt nor drowned for his care will be over you who sits upon the floods and the Winds
hasty heady Teachers and Speakers which know not the Lord's Voice cannot profit the People at all and all these tellers of Dreams and dreamers dream in the Night but what is the Chaff to the Wheat but he that hath heard God and knows his Voice and his Word which is a Spirit may speak it freely and that will answer the just in all People and the Witness of God will testifie in all Consciences to the Truth thereof and feels the Power of it and will remember it when the dreamers that dream will be forgotten And all ye that are broken into many Opinions and Sects and divers Judgments wait that you may know that which will unite you to God and one unto another that you may come all to be of one Heart and of one Mind and of one Soul into the Unity of the one Spirit as the Saints of old were in and many there are now unto whom the mind of the Lord is known blessed be the Name of the Lord forever and that you may all come to know him that healeth the Nations and leadeth out of Wars and maketh them to cease to the End of the Earth for VVars saith the Apostle James proceed from Mens Lusts and so wait in the Light which Christ hath given you for Power from God to be revealed in you which killeth the Lusts in your selves That your Swords may be broken into Plow-shares 〈◊〉 your Spears and VVeapons of War into Pruning Hooks then the Occasion and Ground of War is gone then you will come to be Follwers of Christ who came not to destroy mens Lives but to save them and to love Enemies anâ— bless them that curse you and do Good to them that hate you and pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you and this is the Way to conquer the Spirits of your Enemies Therefore stop not your Ears nor slight 〈◊〉 the Day of your Visitation for the joyful Sound of the everlasting Gospel is now to be preached again unto all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and towards you in Germany is that coming wherein Remission of Sins is obtained and Life and Immortality is brought to Light and blessed and happy will you be if you be found worthy to receive it which many Nations and People have put away from them and thereby have made themselves unworthy of everlasting Life And now this is a Message of Love and a free Gift unto you the Princes and People and Rulers in Germany that you may all be warned to be in a Readiness to meet the Lord in his Judgments and also to receive the tender Proffers of Life and Salvation to you and your People Nation Rulers and ruled may be happy and so come to witness Blessedness and Peace in all your Habitations which the Lord hath brought many unto in this the Day of his mighty Power wherein he hath shewed himself in the Earth and made many Witnesses of his noble Acts and of his wondrous Works that he hath done amongst us to the Intent they may be Testimonies thereof that other Nations may be invited to taste and see how good and gracious the Lord is who is the Light of his People and how pleasant the Way is that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and these Things I testifie unto you who have tasted how good and pleasant his dwelling-place is and how precious the Fold of the Lord is and how green and pleasant are his Pastures into which he leadeth his Sheep unto them hath he given everlasting Life and perfect Assurance of his Love forever These Sayings are faithful holy just and true and blessed is he that hath an Ear to hear and a Heart ready to receive understand thaâ— which is now declared of they even they shall be Witnesses of the same Glory in themselves and not only believe because of the Sound and Repâ—â—t thereof but see handle and understand these things in their own Hearts and feel it in their own Breasts So this is God's Visitation of Love to you 〈◊〉 Oh prize it lest it pass over your Heads and you never attain unto the Comfort of that which belongeth unto your eternal Rest and Peace From one who loves the Lord and all the Children of the Light and 〈◊〉 the Salvation and Welfare of all Men who is at perfect Unity with 〈◊〉 the Creation of God F. H. From England the 26 th of the 1 st Moneth 1661. THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY IN THE PRIMITIVE TIMES ALSO A Manifestation how and when the Apostacy came and how long it hath continued in the Church ROME proved to be in it because she differs in Doctrine and Practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles Dayes Published for this End that People may be informed and their Understandings opened to discern the Times and Seasons and see the Difference between the Lamb's Wife and the Mother of Harlots By one who desires that all may come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved and walk in the Light of the Lord. F. H. TO THE Reader or Readers GReat hath been the Wisdom which God hath shed abroad in the Hearts of his People and made known unto his Servants through Ages wherein he hath made known his Mind and Will at sundry times and in divers manners sometimes by Types sometimes by Shadows and Representations sometimes by Dreams sometimes by Visions sometimes by Prophecy there was not the least Ministration but it had a Glory in it and the one living God manifested his Mind unto the Sons of men who feared his Name in every Generation and shewed unto them and signified his mind unto them what he was and shewed unto them how he would be worshipped and they that were obedient unto that which was made manifest in every Age and Ministration found Acceptance with the Lord and the Peace of God in their Hearts After man had transgressed and gone from his Maker and lost the Guide of his Youth and broken God's Covenant then Blindness came upon him and a Vail was betwixt him and his Maker and man increased and grew in an earthly Part and lusted after earthly Things which fed and increased that Part and the Image of God was lost in which the Creature delighted yet notwithstanding such was and is the Love of God towards his Creation and to his Workmanship that he did not utterly cast off man forever but followed him to draw him back again out of the Transgression to have Unity with him who was his Maker and when man was gone unto Darkness the Lord stooped so low as to come near him and to that State he was in and made a Covenant with man when mans Heart was outward upon outward Things and gave him Commands outward and Statutes and Ordinances outward that he might worship therein which were Shadows and Types of some better Things to come and these were the Ordinances of
but for Conscience sake for so the Lord requires which will be acceptable and pleasing in his Sight And all Magistrates who are Christians ought to be Paterns of Holiness and Righteousness to their people and to admonish exhort and reprove the prophane and ungodly and to the Worship of the true God who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in the Spirit and in Truth it is the Duty of every true Christian who is a King and a Priest unto God CHAP. XVII Concerning Oaths in the first Covenant and the Lawfulness thereof and the unlawfulness thereof discovered in the New Covenant in Gospel Times Though Apostates mingle the Ordinances of both together denying all Oaths proved to be no new Doctrine IN the Beginning when God Created the Heaven and the Earth and all things that are therein by the Word of his Power and set the Bounds and the Habitations thereof and separated betwixt Light and Darkness And when man was created in his own Image in the Image of God created he him Male and Female created he them Now the Image of God consists in Righteousness Holiness Equity Long-suffering Patience Goodness Mercy and Truth the Glory thereof is unspeakable man being in this Image there was no Transgression nor Sin nor Sorrow man was bound unto his Maker by the Power in which he was made yea he was in a capacity to Fear Love Honour obey and Worship his Maker from the virtue of that Power and Principle which God had placed in him which some ignorantly call the Law of Nature but that is not the intention of my discourse to contend what it was but to shew that man was at Union with God and bound unto him by that which God had placed in him in which his Wisdom Power and dominion stood to rule over all Creatures Life was in him there was no Death then in this the Obligation stood not in outward written commands or Ordinances but it stood in that which was eternal and Invisible this was before the Transgression here were no Oaths yet nor outward Covenants made nor outward Ordinances But after man had Transgressed and eaten of the Tree of Knowledge of good and Evil and gone from the Power and broken the Covenant he lost his Wisdom and Folly entred he lost his Dominion and Weakness entred he lost his Knowledge and Ignorance entred and an earthly part and a mutable came to have Dominion not that this was Evil in it self being subjected by the Power and Word in its place and in the State wherein it was good but Man being gone from the power and from the Covenant joyned to something out of it and out of the mind and listened to that which should have been ruled over that became a Leader which God never appointed and this led man's Heart from the invisible God of Life and Light who is immutable to lust after Visible things and mutable and earthly things and into instability And so his Heart and mind and affections became more and more to be alienated from the Lord and his understanding more darkned yet such was the love of God unto mankind that he did not wholly cast him off here but followed him with his Mercies and Promised the Seed of the Women shall bruise the Serpent's Head and so it did yet the Adulterers Generation in the Transgressing Nature were great and fast and there were but few before the Flood in comparison to the Multitude who bore the Image of God and few in a Generation as Abel Enoch Seth and the rest went after the Imaginations of their own Hearts and set up Images and Idols and also after the Flood when the Earth began to be replenished the cursed Seed grew faster and many great Nations were ignorant of the True God and made Idols and Images of Wood and Stone of Gold and Silver according to the minds of the craftman and Worshipped them and became in Love with them and swore by them Yet Abraham the Father of the faithful feared the Living God of Heaven and Earth and God was with him in all his Wayes and he hearkned unto his Voice and obeyed it and followed the Lord where he led him and God made a Covenant with him and his Seed forever and gave him a Son in his old Age and said unto him In blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thee and this was fulfilled for Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat the twelve Patriachs and Jacob in the time of Famine went into Egypt and sojourned in that Land he and his Sons and all that pertained to his Family increased and became a great People But after many years the Egyptians afflicted them and multiplyed their burdens insomuch that God considered them and the Covenant he had made with Abraham and his Seed and sent Moses his Servant as a Leader to be a Guide unto them out of that Land and they were brought forth by an out-stretched Arm and great was their Deliverance and he led them through the Wilderness and fed them with Angels Food and at Mount Sinai gave forth a Law and made a Covenant with them sutable to the State wherein they were for their minds were outward and the covenant was outward their minds were changeable and mutable and the Covenant was so also And all these Statutes Ordinances pertained to a party which was aboâ—e the Seed yet they were shadows of good things to come aâ—d every Ordinance in this covenant was but a Figure or shadow of a more Heavenly thing which was but to be in force to wit these Ordinances until the Seed came to be made manifest which ended them all So all Priests Offerings Sabbaths Fasts Feasts Oaths though they were real in their time and all Vows yet the Law was changed which pertained to the changeable party when the Seed of Christ was revealed who is unchangeable The first had an end and continued to the time of Reformation take notice of this this covenant was made to wit the first after the Transgression but when and wherein Christ is revealed and manifest the great Reformer and the restorer they end and he leaves all to the Beginning again out of deformity to be for Transgression to that in which man was bound unto God at the first before Sin entred and to be for shadows was all for the new Moons Offerings Oathes and Sabbaths were given forth to man when there was a Cloud and a Vail and a 〈◊〉 over within that the Glory of the invisible God could not be 〈◊〉 this State nor this Naked and clear Glory but as that part comes to be done away and crucified and subjected and the cloud scattered the Shaâ—ow and clouds outward pass away the Apostle calls the Ordinances outward Shadows And Paul to the Corinthians calls them a Cloud they were 〈◊〉 Baptized into Moses in the Cloud And when the day appears and Chrâ—â—â— who is the Light is manifest the clouds are scattered and ended
lying and hereby they did give sufficient caution against all inconveniences which may come thereby as to Government in general for where a Testification or Assertion is made without an Oath is as sure as if it had been sworn to And Bishop Usher doth esteem that place of Matthew the fifth Swear not all to be a sufficient plea for the Waldenses against Swearing and therefore they who have any Esteem of the aforesaid Authors and of their Doctrine must not condemn the Quakers as for Novelties or for Broachers of new Doctrine for Reynerius one of the popish Inquisition saith amongst all the Sects which are or have been there is not any more pernicious to the Church meaning the Church of Rome then the Waldenses and that for three Reasons 1. Because of their Antiquity 2. Because of their Universality 3. In that they did profess iâ— no Way lawful for a Christian to swear on any Occasion which Doctrine was contrary to the Church of Rome which made Rinerius and Jâ—nsenius two Papists so much envy the Waldenses in this thing about keeping the Commands of Christ and yet notwithstanding all this Cloud of Witnesses both in primitive times and after Ages divers who suffered as Martyrs did hold the same and also the many Testimonies of them who have dyed in the Faith yet many are so wilful and so peevish and so envious against every thing which they cannot joyn unto as that they will brand this Doctrine for Novelty and Heresie let such consider how they will condemn this Doctrine and yet justifie Christ's Words and them that have been reckoned as Fathers and Martyrs and as Orthodox and found in the Faith by all except the Church of Rome who too much imitate the Jews and yet are no Jews and they have been the chief Cryers up of Oathes and Swearing and afterwards give Dispensations to them that break them And therefore all who reckon your selves as Christians keep to the Docrtine of Christ and the Doctrine of the Apostles who were Followers of him and run not back to the Jews Ordinances which continued but till the time of Reformation and you that reckon your selves as Protestants for Shame leave off that Doctrine which hath been brought in by the Apostates who have mingled things together without having Respect either to Time or Age or People and so have run back to the Jews and bring those Commands and Injunctions which pertained to the Jews and lay them as Yoaks upon the Necks of Christians remember what the Apostle said to the Galatians concerning the Works of the Law and concerning Types and Figures Gal. 1.2 If you be circumcised Christ profits yâ—u nâ—thiâ—g and an Oath was a Type as well as Circumcision to the Jews and what if I say of all Swearers who have no better Ground for so doing then the Jewish Oathes which were Types and testifie unto every one that he that takes an Oath and swears at all is bound to keep the whole Law Christ profits him nothing And so let all People who fear the Lord and do believe that they have received Christ in their Hearts the End of the Law for Righteousness not turn back to the changeable Covenant again lest he who is the everlasting Covenant say unto them who hath required these things at your Hand and also raise up his swift Witness to condemn them who transgress his pure and holy righteous Commands and would compel others so to do CHAP. XVIII Tythes in their first Institution unto whom they were due according to the Command of God declared and that Tythes are no Way lawful to be received neâ—ther sought for by any who are Ministers of the New-Covenant and the everlasting Gospel proved out of the Scripture and Antiquity TO omit Abraham's giving Tythes or the tenth Part to Melchizedeck after the Overthrow of his Enemies and Jacob's vowing to give the tenth when he should inherit the Land of Canaan because a voluntary Promise only bindeth him that promiseth and a free Gift from one to another is no Command neither binding to all Generations because Abraham gave the tenth Part to Melchizedeck freely of the Spoil he had taken and that but once not of his Family's Labours or Industries but of the Spoil this was a voluntary and a free thing both in Jacob and Abraham if Jacob had not vowed he had not sinned and if Abraham had not given the tenth Part of the Spoil he had not sinned so this is no Command or binding Example unto future Generations especially of them that pretend they are Ministers of the second Covenant and the Gospel but a very feeble and a poor thing for them to alledge Tythes were never commanded to be paid by the Lord to any but Israel whose Law was given forth 400 Years after the Promise as saith the Apostle neither were ever payable but by the Jews in the Land of Canaan and to Levi's Tribe only and to the Jewish Priests that had no Inheritance allotted them by the Lord of all the Land of Canaan or beyond Jordan but only Tythes or tenth Part among the Brethren and that only according to the Command of the Lord Deut. 18.4 Ezek. 25.13 for the Office of the Priesthood and for the Service of the Tabernacle At the giving forth of the Law after Israel came out of Egypt God chose Aaron and his Sons for the Office of the Priesthood and the rest of the Tribe of Levi for the Service of the Tabernacle God gave unto the Levites by Commandment all the Tenth in Israel for an Inheritance for their Service and the Levites out of their Tythes were to offer up to the Lord a tenth Part of the Tythes and give it unto Aaron the Priest for himself and his Sons and no other portion had the Levitical Priests out of the Tythes but the Tenth of the Tenth as for the rest of the Tythes they were for the Levites that did serve at the Tabernacles and for Strangers for Fatherless and Widdows Moreover the tenth of the Tythes the Priest had the first ripe Fruits of the Ground of Wheat of Barly of Figs Grapes and Olives of Pomegranatâ—s and Dates at what Quantity the Owner pleased a Heave-offering also of Corn Wine and Oyl Fleece were given to the Priests at the 60th part sometime the 50th at the Devotion of the Owner But how comes it to pass that they that pretend another Priesthood then this should receive the tenth of all of unclean Beasts as Pigs and Foâ—ls aâ—d of such things as we never read of tythable under the Law of Eggs Geese and Turnips and the tenth of the Wood for Faggots for the Fire and yet are not of this Priesthood but pretend to be Bishops and Elders in the Christian Church so they cannot distinguish of the Time neither of the Ministration neither of Service and Worship that belongs to each Covenant else they would be ashamed to claim Title to Aaron's Tythes and the Levites
in Unconsecrated Ground forsaking the Sepulchers of their Fathers Hospinian saith that at last it became so Superstitious in being buried in order near the Church that they judged it material even to their Salvation De Orig. Temple Lâ—b 3. chap. 1. The Waldenâ—es said the use of Church-Yards is Superstitious and invented only for Lucre sake and it is no matter in what Ground any one is buried see Usher de Succes Eccles. Christ. chap. 6. And how much there is of this Superstition in England now and what excessive rates are paid for breaking up Ground all is sensible of that it is only one of the Popish Nets which is holden up to get Money by And so I shall conclude these things and say with John Come out of Babylon and be not partakers of her Sins lest you partake of her Plagues for the Hour of her Judgment is come and the time wherein her Filthiness and Loathsomness shall be made manifest to the Nations and her Skirts shall be uncovered and her abominable Practices discovered of which in part I have declared unto all in this discourse that all may see the Abominations and depart out of the Snares that led to Death and these Practices which tend to Destruction THE Rock of Ages EXALTED ABOVE ROME's Imagined Rock ON WHICH HER CHURCH IS BUILDED She proved not to be the only Church of Christ her corrupt Doctrines proved not to be Apostolick but contrary to the true Church of Christ in the Apostles Dayes Also divers Arguments answered which may convince the Papists that they are not the true Church wherein a Book is also answered called A Catechism against all Sectaries newly published by C. M. in the Year 1661. By F. H. a Member of that Church which is coming out of the Wilderness A TABLE of the principal Things contained in this BOOK COncerning the true Religion what it is and where it 〈◊〉 demonstrated The Church of Rome proved to be the false Church The Pope proved not to be the Head of the true Church aâ—d Christ proved to be the Head of the Body which is his Church and the 〈…〉 which 〈◊〉 Church is built Purgatory proved to be an erroneous Doctrine which is held forth by the Papists and their praying for the Dead proved to be another false Doctrine not commanded nor practised by Christ or his Apostles The Papists Doctrine which saith Christ is really and personally in the Mass and in the Eucharist proved to be Blasphemy and great Idolatry The Papists Mass and their Ceremonies proved not to be Apostâ—lical The Papists honouring of Reliques and Images of Saints and praying by Beads proved to be but the Inventions and Traditions of Men and contrary to the Doctrine which the Apostolick Church held forth The Doctrine of forbidding certain Kind of Meats and forâ—idding the Scriptures to be read by all answered Câ—ncerning Miracles Answers to eight Propositions set forth by C. M. in his Catechism aforesaid THE Rock of Ages EXALTED ABOVE ROME's Imagined Rock ON WHICH HER CHURCH IS BUILDED GReat hath been the Havock and Spoil that the Beast which John saw rise out of the Waters made against them in destroying them who received not his Mark in their Foreheads and the Cry hath been long Who is able to make War with the Beast and great hath the Suffering been these many Ages of the Children of Light and still is of the Members of the true Church of Christ which is in God which hath proceeded from her who sate as a Queen upon the Waters which are Nations Kindreds Tongues and People which have been the Seat of Mystery-Babylon the Mother of Harlots who hath held out her golden Cup of Fornication full of Abomination false Doctrine and Error which the Nations have drunk of and the Kings of the Earth have been made drunk with and all have been in Instability and have reeled and staggered up and down in the dark in the Night of Ignorance and have wildered in the Mists of Error and lost the true Foundation and are gone from the Rock upon which the true Church is builded which is neither Peter nor his Successor but Christ the true Foundation which abideth sure and all that believe in him and have their Minds staid upon him know Settlement and Establishment in that which the Gates of Hell prevail not against But blessed be the Lord he is come revealed and made manifest who is able to make War with the Beast and his Followers and a Discerning is given unto his Servants that they can distinguish betwixt the Cup of Fornication and the Cup of Blessing and betwixt the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils betwixt the true Church the Lamb's Wife and Mâ—stery-Babylon the Mother of Harlots betwixt the heavenly Treasurâ— which is communicable to the Saints in Light who are Members of the 〈◊〉 Church and the Merchandize and the corrupt Treasure of the Harlot which the Nations Kindreds and Tongues have been forced to buy 〈◊〉 Reason of the forcing and compelling Power of the Beast and so the Nations have been begotten into a strange Nature into the cruel Nature killing one another about the Forms of Worship and Shadows and the Substance hath been known but to a few neither the Lamb's Nature which is meek and innocent and the Leaves of the Tree of Life which heal the Nations have been known but to a few which is the Cause of all the 〈◊〉 Murders and Massacrees Imprisonments and cruel Torments which the Nations have afflicted one another with who have professed Christianity but have been out of the Life and out of the Nature of the true Church which Christ is the Head of which is Wife unto the Lamb and herein is the true Church manifest from the false the false Church hath propagated and encreased her Number of Members by Force and Awe and Cain's Weapons and many have been forced into a Belief and a feigned kind of Profession rather then by sound Doctrine or answering God's Witness in Peoples Hearts and Consciences but the true Church who is of the Husband's Nature her Weapons have been are and will be spiritual and yet are mighty through God to beat down strong Holds of Sin and Wickedness in People and hath by sound Doctrine and a good Example answered God's Witness in peoples Consciences without forcing to any thing but recommended themselves to every ones Conscience in the Sight of God and would have every one perswaded in their own Hearts by the Lord of the Truth which they believed and not to take things by Tradition and Hear-say as the false Church and her Members have done and so have had no Assurance of God's Spirit in their Hearts for what they did and so Doubts have arisen in the Mind because whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin But God is Opening the Eyes of many and enclining the Hearts of many to seek after the Assurance of God's blessed Spirit in their Hearts for what they
do believe And now Reader I shall present thee with a great Fardel and Bundle of the Whore's Merchandize and of the counterfeit Ware which she hath long deceived the Nations with which hath long laid as mouldy and rusty in this Nation but now new trim'd up and presented again to this Nation as for precious Treasure and it is not to be concealed in a narrow Corner nor put off under-hand so that this Merchant of Babylon hath presented it to publick View with a great Confidence that People that have been tossed up and down and have found no Rest for their Souls at lâ—st may come to make a trial of this Merchandize and see what it will do but lest any should be cheated and deceived with such counterfeit traffick I could not chuse having the Knowldge thereof but declare against the Deceit thereof and to give Warning unto all to beware how they touch taste or handle it lest they be defiled and corrupted by it and their Understandings darkned and their Consciences defiled and the Merchandize is thus tituled A short Catechism against all Sectaries by Way of Question and Answer wherein all the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome are asserted for Infallible and Apostolical wherein also is holden out that the Church of Rome is the only true Church out of which there is no Salvation and some Arguments to prove the same also in this said Book all that are not of the Church of Rome are condemned already as Hereticks and Sectâ—ries wholly to be without Salvation newly published and translated by C. M. and London printed for P. S. 1662. And though we have given publick testimony both in Word and Writing in divers Nations in Doctrine and Practice yet such hath been the Envy of many Professors who have denyed the Church of Rome that they have accused us for holding Popish tenets yet now on the other Hand by this Popish Author we are condemned as Hereticks and Sectaries and to be without Salvation And thus they who have been under the Beast's Power in the Apostacy have tost us upon their Horns from one to another and have pushed us this Way and that Way and every Party and Sect hath reckoned us and joyned us with them whom they judged to be Transgressors but it is a small thing to us to be judged by Man's Judgment for our Judgment is with the Lord and he judgeth in Righteousness and unto him we appeal who in his own Day when Righteousness comes to be revealed in Peoples Hearts they shall come to know us as we are and the Truth which we believe and walk in as it is in Jesus But that such a Heap and Bundle of false Doctrine and superstitious and idolatrous Practices may not go unreproved God hath put it into my Heart to bear my Testimony against it and all the confused Heap of Darkness which is laid down for Catholick Doctrine and to discover the Deceit thereof lest any should be beguiled and led into the dark Paths of Ignorance and Error and should become an Inhabitant of that City which hath shed the Blood of the Prophets and Martyrs where now Christ is crucified First of all the Author saith There is but one true Religion wherein any can be saved Answ. 'T is true there is but one true Religion in the which Salvation is witnessed which is confessed by all who profess Religion and every one will needs lay claim to it and many have contended even by Force and Arms since the Apostacy entered in and have killed and destroyed one ather about the Name or Sound without the Thing it self and all Professors of Religion who are in that Nature are not in the true Religion in which Salvation is witnessed The true Religion standeth in the Power of God and to be exercised in those Things which the Power of God directeth every one in who believe in it and to be obedient unto the Commands of Christ and to keep his Sayings and to follow his Example in Righteousness and Holiness and in that which overcometh the World and giveth Victory over it and keepeth out of the Pollutions of it and this is the pure Religion which purifies the Heart and Conscience from dead Works and teacheth to love Enemies Now the Church of Rome is manifest not to be in the one true Religion but hath departed from this Faith and this Doctrine let all Nations bear Witness where your Religion hath been professed how you have kept this Faith and walked in this Religion if any have dissented from you these many hundred Years and that upon good Grounds as Luther and Calvin which thou art so angry at â—nd bring'st many Calumnies against and slanderous Things and Lyes â—f which thy Vessel is full Now they with all others that dissent from you you have reckoned and do as Sectaries and Hereticks and in case it were really so if you were in the true Religion and in the Faith of Chrisâ— yâ—u would not destroy so many mens Lives as you have done within these thousand Years I appeal to all Nations where your Authority hath been exâ—râ—ised how many have you killed tortured burnt to Ashes and destroyed the Workmanship of God but it may be thou â—udgest such a Distinction as this will cover a little as To hate their Heresie and to love their Person but how you have loved their Persons I hope Englâ—nd hath not yet forgotten instance John Wickliff whose Bones you took up and burnt forty one Years after his Decease and how many Hundreds more have been burnt to Ashes in England in later Years as Hereticks and Sectaries whose Blood yet speaks and cryes for Vengeance upon that City that Church or Religion which hath drunk the Blood of the Prophets and Martyrs So in what I have said the Church of Rome to all unbiasâ—ed Spirits will appear to be out of that one true Religion and that Faith and Doctrine which Christ delivered and so Salvation is not to be looked for amongst Killers and Destroyers And so what I have said may convince the Author of this Book that they are not in the one true Religion in which Salvation is witnessed And this Roman Church hath been alwayes visiâ—le and universal since the Apostles Dayes and Infidels have alwayes been obliged to joyn unto her yet one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisiâ—le and the Marks and Signs of thiâ— Roman Church are four comprized in these Words I believe in the True Church which is One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Answ. That there was a Church at Rome in the Apostles Dayes is not denyed so there was at Antioch at Philippi at Thessalonica at Corinth and divers other Places that I might instance which were as visible as Rome was and as much a City set on a Hill as Rome was and not inferiâ—r in Doctrine Gifts and good Works to Rome at all but as to Prâ—â—edâ—ncy and Antiquity may claim Priority before Rome and if
but in Holes hundreds of Houses burnt Men Women and Children Children taken from their Mothers Breasts and knockt against the Walls toss'd upon Pikes Spears wounded with Swords thrown into Lakes and Rivers stript Naked starv'd in cold Seasons through such like in human and Savage cruelty Commissions given from your Nuntio's and Agents to Rob to Steal even Servants from their Masters even upon this account only to weaken and enfeeble the Sectaries and Hereticks as you stile them to advance your Holiness's Chair and to propagate your holy or rather Unholy Church and Religion which things remain fresh in the memory of many Nations to this Day besides doth not your Church tolerate Stews and Adulterous Houses in the Cities where you have Dominion Besides Pride abounds amongst you more then the Nation beside And so your Church hath neither this Mark nor Sign of Holiness Fourthly As for your Church being Cathâ—lick and Universal you want this Sign also If it be One Universal comprehends all Nations like aâ— all the World in comparison were your Church What is Germany France England Scotland and Ireland nothing What is all the Turks Dominions of your Faith And thou saist In Asia Affrica and America all is coming to an End There is that risen and arising in America which must spread over the Nations the Breath of the Lord bloweth which will daily dry up the Waters which is the Seat of your Church which you so much Boast of And what have you converted all the Indians nay have you not hardned their Hearts against the Name of Christ because of your cruelty and unholy conversation among them So that the Name of Christ and christian is become as Odious unto them as Mahomet is unto you And so you are without this Sign as that you are the true church Lastly That your church is Apostolick if this be the Mark of the true church then you are without this also for you are neither Apostolick in Doctrine nor Practice your Weapons are carnal theirs spiritual their Head was Christ the Light of the World your Head is visible and carnal which darkens the World they turned People from Darkness to Light and to the Word of Faith in their Hearts and to know Christ in them to justifie them But one of your Rabbies told us lately you had no such Doctrine in the church of Rome as Christ in you The Apostles turn'd them to the Anointing and to the Spirit to be taught by it and to be led by it into to all Truth and to worship in it and you turn them to Images Pictures Crucifixes Beads and Altars and so keep People in outward things which feed the Sensual and corrupt part Lastly they said Bodily exercise profiteth little and most of your Worship stands in observing of Days Meats Drinks Washings Sprinklings Altars Tapers lighting and bearing Candles Bowing creeping to the Cross turning wheeling this way and that way in all time and parts of your Worship so that there is no time left for the Heart to be exercised towards God And so you are not Apostolical and so are without this true sign of being the true Church of God But I shall descend to particular things which are asserted and seem to be proved but very weakly But we can expect no Wine but such as is in the Bottle It is asserted by this Author That the Pope is the Head of the true Church in which Salvation is only to be expected And his proof he brings is this Christ hath so ordained it in saying to Peter Matth. 16.18.19 Upon this Rock will I build my Church and Christ hath given Power to him and his Successors to be a Head to rule and govern the Church and as there is an Emperour to be the Head of the Empire and a King of the Kingdom so Peter and hâ—s Successors are the Head of the Church and have the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven to bind and to loose and to remit and to retain Sins The Apostolick Church hath this Doctrine That Christ was given to be the Head of the Body which is the Church which is spiritual though in the World yet not of the World and the Father hath committed all Power in Heaven and Earth to the Son and hath ordained him to be a Leader a Teacher and Feeder of his Flock and to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth and his Glory he will not give unto another But it seemes the Church of Rome hath soared so high in their Conceiâ—s and Imaginations that they judge all this Power to be given unto the Pope Peter's Successor as thâ—y say Now we do not read of two Heads to the one Body which is the true Church Ephes. 4.4.15 And so this is a contrary Doctrine then that of the Primitive Church and Christ who is the Head of the Body he said Lo I am with you to the End of the World And so it is the meer Arrogancy and Pride of the Pope to be called the head of the Church and an intrenching Christ's Power and Prerogative and that ever Peter was called the Head of the Church we do not read and that of the 16 th of Matthew is but a poor Proof to prove Peter to be the Head of the Church for Christ spoke unto his Disciples ver 15. and asked them Whom say ye that I am Peter as one amongst the rest said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and Christ said Upon this Rock will I build my Church viz. Upon him which was reveal'd unto Peter by the Father the Son of God which was the Rock which the Fathers eat of and drank of Christ the Rock of Ages and another Foundation can no man lay said the Apostle then that which is laid already Christ the Rock and Corner-Stone and not Peter for Christ is unchangeable and abideth for ever and so was not Peter though Peter and the rest of the Apostles received Power from Christ yet in the 22 d. and 23 d. verses of the same chapter he was gone out of the savour and discerning and Christ said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things of God and what though it could be proved that Peter was at Rome a Pastor an Elder or a Bishop who fed the Flock and did feed the Flock and so might be reckoned as an Elder and worthy of Honour in respect of his Labour and Diligence in the Work of Christ is the Promise so entailed to Rome or to any Place that the next that succeeds in that Place must needs receive the same Honour when he doth not the same Work which is worthy of Honour neither is in the same Power but this I am sure of though the Church of Rome lay claim unto Peter's Bishoprick as they say yet they have not done his Work And secondly If Peter was at Rome and a Pastor yet he was not a Lord for Christ reproved that when they strove which
Ishmael Judas and all the Seed of Evil-doers as well as the Image of Christ or Peter Paul or Mary for any thing that they know which they have but received by Story and is but as Old Wives Fables which Paul to Timothy reproved And hath the Church of Rome no better Thing to put them in Mind of the Saints Life then a dead Picture or Image made by the Hand of the Crafts-man upon a Wall or a Board or Parchment or Paper this is Idolatry for Christ promised to his Disciples and to the true Church That he would send his Spirit to lead them into all Truth which is an invisible Thing and to bring to Remembrance whatever Christ had spoken and whatsoever was necessary as to Salvation whether the Saints Life and holy Practices which they lived in or whatsoever else as conduced to their Peace and Justification with God and what Images did God make Use of to shew his Miracles by This is but an old Fable formed by the Apostate Christians whose Minds are turned after Shadows and vain Shews and are erred from the invisible Life and worship the Works of mens Hands 2. Though Moâ—es did put off his Shoe 's according to the command of the Lord where God appeared in Power and Glory to him What is this to your purpose as to Create and form places and Consecrate them as Holy and then command Reverence and Honour unto them this is but to Worship the work of your own Hands and though David say in the 99 Psal. 5 vers Exalt the Lord God and worship at his foot-Stool for he is Holy What of all this doth God call Reliques or Images his Foot-stool And if the Author do judge that it was spoken of Zion and Jerusalem outward where Aaron and the rest of the Priests Worshipped doth not Christ say It â—s not at Jerusalem c. But they that â—orship God Worship him in spirit and Truth What! doth not the Church of Rome profess Christianity and Apostolick Doctrine and will now turn Jews or â—mitaters of them What is Rome Jerusalem or Zion And must Pictures invented and dead Pieces of Bones and Wood be recommended unto the Nations as holy things This is contrary to the Apostolick Church and with the Life of God is judged and the Life of the Saints whom you honour in Words and make Pictures of and worship the Works of your own Hands and Crucifie the Life where-ever it appears that they lived in and teach a contrary Doctrine 3. Confession may be made in Words of the true God and talk may be of his wonderous Works and yet People Idolâ—ters the church of the Jews who acknowledge the true God and had seen and heard of his wonderous works they eat and drank and rose up to Play and these were Idolaters and such is the church of Rome who take Peoples minds up with Garments and Vestments with Altars and Canales with Crucifixes and Agnus Dei with Images formed by Painters with a piece of Bread called a Holy Host and Eucharist an Unbloody Sacrâ—fice who neglect the Life and him that is the Head of the Body and his witness in their Hearts and consciences and lead them to worship and honour visible and carnal things and to busie their minds in the exercise of outward things which profit little or nothing at all and so are Idolaters Worshipping the works of your own Hands which Christ and the Apostolick church bore Testimony against for that which the creature's mind goes out after besides or without that which may be known of God in the Heart is made an Idol of and the true God is not minded and them that Honour God's Friends and Saints walk in their Foot steps live their Life and honour their sayings but your church is contrary who would Kill and have killed about these invented Fopperies which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine God accepts not Prayers by number or tale nor for multitude of Words which are without understanding and without the Spirit this Christ counted as Evil and reprehended the Pharisees and said It was like the vain repetitions of the Heathen who thought to be heard for their much babling and the Salutation which the Angel gave to Mary is no prayer And that which is called the Apostles Creed is no prayer and them that are unconverted unto God may prattle and prate over the Words in the unbelief and never have any acceptance of God And though the Prophet did pray seven times a day it was according to the motion of God's Spirit in his own Heart which shewed him his State and necessity and what is this to imitators when they pray not with the same Spirit neither in the same words And what if Mary lived threescore and three Years who gave commandment that Hail Mary should be said threescore and three times over The rest of the Saints are like to have but small shares of worship and honour if she go with all this in a day And what five wounds is that which the Church of Rome dreams of that five Pater Nosters must be said for the honour of With Deceit and Ignorance you wound him every day and your Pater-Nosters do not honor him at all pattred 〈◊〉 over with your polluted Lips who are given to speak Lyes and yoâ—r Tongues to speak Mischief which Christ accepteth not What are you all new creatures that say Our Father which art in Heaven Are you born again Are your Natures changed Sin you not Do you hallow his Name who do not love that which shews your Evil deeds Would you see his Kingdom come which stands in Righteousness Where will you appear Or how will you stand when he appears in his Power and Glory to take Vengeance on all them that will not that he should rule in their Hearts who is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World Would you see his will done on Earth as it is in Heaven when you walk contrary to his Doctrine which the Apostolick Church walked in and set up a numberless number of Traditions and Inventions of Men instead thereof which the Lord accepteth not and you pray not with Understanding 5. As for your Beads which are neither Jewish nor Christian but meer Heathenish as to reckon the number or tale of that which you call your Prayers by and though Kings Popes Cardinals and Bishops do the same this is but a small proof as for Authority Kings have drunk of the Whore's Cup and Popes and Cardinals have usurped Power that Christ never gave as to exercise Lord-ship and be Law-givers unto others for the Lord is the Saints Law-giver and the Saints Life and Judge and he will not give his Glory to another for Kings have drunk of the Whore's Cup of Fornication and Popes have usurped Authority and Cardinals have exercised Lord-ship over mens Consciences yea and over great Kingdoms and States too And if they pray by Beads as others do set
for halting If God be God follow him if Baal be he go after him And therefore let none draw you aside from that you are perswaded of in your Consciences by the Spirit of the Lord neither to joyn with that you know he disallows and in the Obedience you will have Peace and Joy look not at them that draw back for they go to Perdition but rather after them that continue faithful that shall receive Honour Glory Immortality and Everlasting Life In the fresh Heavenly Power of God meet together and worship him as at other Times though the Decree be gone forth and the more because you have been therein refreshed comforted and edified and let none pâ—rswade you from that innocent Duty in worshipping God in his Spirit and assembling your selves together for the strengthning of one another for this is the Will of God and acceptable in his Sight as many of you well know watch and pray lest you fall into Temptation and into the Snare of the Wicked One The God of Heaven and Earth establish all your Hearts that you may glorifie God in your Generation and be a sweet and an odorious Smell unto him in Bonds or Liberty in Life or Death is the Prayer of him who hath besought the Lord and is determined so to do on all your Behalf till the Lord by his Power tread Satan under your Feet that you may triumph and rejoyce and sing over all in Heavenly Rejoycing and Praises unto God and the Lamb that lives forever and for evermore Amen Your Dear Brother in the Patience and Suffering of Christ who abounds in perfect Love to all the faithful Flock of Christ every where F. H. From Appleby Goal the Place of my Rest where my Dayes and Hours are pleasant unto me the 4th of the 5th Moneth 1664. To Friends at the City of LONDON and about it and HARTFORD and READING DEar Friends and Brethren who are called to be Partakers of the Heavenly and Everlasting Inheritance where Thieves cannot break in and steal neither take away your Portion because nothing that defileth or maketh a Lye can enter therein but is prepared through Christ Jesus for all that believe in him and hear his Voice who is given to reveal eternal Life and the Crown of the immortal Glory to all the Heirs of the Promise who are born of the Word which liveth and endureth forever by which all things were made and by which â—ll that receive it are renewed in their Hearts and Minds unto God and are preserved in Purity and Holiness unto eternal Life and upholden in the midst of all Temptations in Uprightness that the Enemy prevail not Grace Mercy Salvation Peace Power Love Joy Life and Immortality be revealed multiplyed and encreased amongst you all saith the God of Life in my Heart unto you all who are Followers of the Lamb in the Day of Tribulation when the Lyon roareth out for his Prey and the Powers of Darkness combine together to make Opposition and War and to fill the Earth with Cruelty and Violence who seek to destroy and make Havock of that which God hath brought forth and hath determined shall live to bear Witness to him and make War and overcome and reign with him in Glory everlasting notwithstanding the Rage of Satan and the Cruelty of his Followers and the Madness of the People whom the God of this World hath blinded yet he hath decreed to exalt his Son upon the holy Hill of Sion and to make all that take Part with him in this Day of Tryal Reproach and Blasphemy victorious and Conquerors of him that hath the Power of Death the Devil and Hell and the Grave and their Triumph shall no more be for Mortality shall be swallowed of Life and he that hath deceived the Nations and sown Discord in the Earth and hath set the Nations at Variance shall be taken and cast into the Lake of Fire and all his Subjects shall partake of the Wine of the Wrath of God and be trodden in the Wine-press of the Wrath without the holy City when they that have been faithful unto the End shall stand upon Mount Sion with their Harps in their Hands and sing a Song of Triumph Glory and Redemption greater then that of Moses in the Day of Israel's Deliverance at the red Sea when God overthrew both Horse and Rider Oh dearly beloved reâ—oyce be glad triumph and glory in that God who out of his Everlasting love hath chosen us a peculiar People to be a Cloud of Witnesses for him in this last Age of the VVorld and that we are counted worthy to suffer with him and to fall into many Snares and Sufferings for him Oh sing rejoyce and be glad let not a faint Heart be amongst you for the Lord is on our Side the God of Jacob takes our Part and will plead our Cause and uphold us that our Enemies shall not glory nor have Cause to boast for greater is he that is with us and in us then he that is in the World and therefore we cannot bow nor stoop to Deceit neither to any false Worship hypocritical Form or false God let us believe in him forever and taste him forever and give up our Lives and all we have into his Hands who hath given us all that he alone may be over all and exalted over all our everlasting living God God blessed forever Oh most dearly beloved Friends you live in my Heart and to hear of your Valour and Obedience to the Truth makes glad my Soul and comforts us all on every Side wherein we rejoyce and give Glory to God and though they proceed severely and strictly with you and make the Battel hot it 's but for a Moment we have a Share with you and many are in Bonds here Men Women and Children Babes old Men and VVomen blind and lame Men and of all Conditions as to Age but all well content and joyful in the Lord blessed be his Name forever and indeed your Faith and Obedience Sufferings and Tryals are come abroad in the Nations and many thereby are strengthned we hear also of the Death of many who are shut up in those nasty Holes who are taken away from the Evil to come whose Blood God will require at this Generations Hands whose Sufferings and Death is precious in the Eyes of the Lord and the Spirit of Life which was in them shall enter into others and fill them that God shall not want VVitnesses The Power of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Your Dear Brother F. H. Appleby Gool the 4th of this 8th Moneth 1664. To all the Beloved Prisoners and Fellow-Sufferers who have lost your Liberty for Christ's sake in Newgate and else-where in Bonds about the City of London and to Friends of Bristol and Hartford whom the World is not worthy of MOST greatly beloved in the Lord God everlasting into whose Bosomes and Hearts my Soul Life and Spirit is poured forth and joyned
been manifest among you above all the people and Families of the Earth in our Generation constrains me thus to write unto you and to stir you unto Faithfulness in this Day of Trial for now Satan desires to win now you within and to sift you without therefore all watch and pray that your Faith fail not which now will be tryed and your Hope and your Love and your Zeal to the Lord and his Truth and whether you will confess him before Men his Way Worship Laws and Statutes which he hath revealed in your Hearts which fallen men oppose and contradict and Sayers gainsay and would not have him to rule nor his Servants to obey so let it be manifest to all you fear God rather then men and love him and obey him above the Precepts of men which are against him and whether you love the things that are above beyond the things that are earthly and whether you will own him his Cross Reproach and Suffering or deny it and have the Liberty of the World which is Bondage and free from Righteousness it 's no time of Reserves concealing hovering or halting for there is an utter Discord betwixt Christ and Belial and so much the more of Christ his Power and Kingdom is brought forth so much the more is the Hatred Envy and Wrath of the Devil kindled who hath deceived the Nations and blinded their Eyes and in his Subjects who oppose the Lamb of God and tread under Foot the Blood of the Covenant so that to one or other each one belongs and which is for each part will be seen for there can be no Concord or Reconciliation Therefore all Children of the Day put on the Armour of Light and have your Feet shod now when we walk through thorny places and be not fearful or doubtful but of believing Hearts stand not aloof off and idle when others are engaged in this spiritual War pull not your Necks out of the Yoak when others draw shelter not your selves when you see others in Jeopardy love not the World when you see others have thrown it off be not entangled in cumbersome Things when you see others throw off all Weights turn not your Backs in the Day of the Lord's Controversie but follow the Lamb This is the Day of Tribulation we have to follow him in our Age like as all the Martyrs and Prophets had in their Age whose Garments were made white in the Blood of the Lamb So all that continue and are not faint-hearted shall receive the Crown the Honour the Reward and shall reign with Christ who now suffer with him Therefore all dear Children of God and Followers of Christ Jesus let the Loins of your Minds be girded up be now ready when the Lord calls who is on my Side who will take Part with me who will own my Reproach who will engage with me who will gather to my Standard of Salvation lifted up and to my Ensign of Righteousness held forth in the World to redeem it anâ— who is ready and not abroad in the Field neither hath to go to the House top but that all may say in their Hearts here am I ready to do thy Will ready to obey thee and follow thee and to suffer for thee for whoso draws back the Lord hath no Pleasure in such he that will save his Life shall lose it and he that will save his Liberty shall lose it in the Spirit and he that will save his earthly Possessions and for the doing thereof will deny that which God hath perswaded him of that he ought to be faithful in he will lose his Inheritance in the heavenly in a Word whoso fails in holding forth that Testimony that they know God requires and is their Duty to render unto him will lose the Testimony of his Spirit they have sometimes felt in themselves and will decay and their Love will wear out therefore whosoever are resigned and given up unto the Lord will be approved and manifest to be on the Lord's part by Obedience to these things mentioned Friends do you not believe it a Duty that every Christian ought to be exercised in to meet together to wait upon him to worship him and to admonish exhort and strengthen one another to pray together in the Holy Ghost and one for another and to edifie and comfort one another and do you not believe God dwells not in Temples made with Hands neither hath any Fellowship with Idols but is worshipped any where and in every Place where the Saints meet in his Name Again have you not been comforted edified and strengthned in meeting and have you not found the Presence of the Lord and his Face and have you not felt his great Power working in your Hearts when you were assembled together in his Name working in you to the opening of your Hearts and quickning and enlivening your Souls unto God and judging down the Evil and have you not felt his living Mercies shed abroad in you and the Springs of Life opened and the holy Seed refreshed and God's Witness reached in all and many convinced and converted unto God in your Assemblies so that all have gone away comforted and refreshed and resolved to continue in the Grace of God the Consideration of these Things dwelling in your Hearts and the Sence of your own present Condition should stir you up and provoak you unto Stedfastness in the Faith and Practice you have received and walked in from the Beginning of the Manifestation of God's Love unto you so that there should methinks need little Exhortation God's Enemies are resolved to do wickedly be you also so to do your Duty they seek by any means to make any fall from their Principles and Stedfastness do you seek to escape their Snares and to be kept clear in your Consciences before God be valiant for the Truth sell it not but all for it that it may be your all and then you shall see your Lot is fallen in a good Place and your Possession is pleasant the Lord calls now to Suffering put now your Necks in the Yoak bear one anothers Burthen and so fulfil the Law of Christ and take heed you give not Ear to that Voice that speaks Save thy Liberty save thy Estate possess thy own and provide for thy self and spare thy self that is the Voice of the Enemy of your Souls So keep over the World and its Spirit let no Slackness appear for that makes Sufferings long and that gives Ground to your Adversaries that they shall prevail and that weakens the Hands of others and strengthens not this confirms our Enemies in their Deceit that we are but as other men and people that have professed God in Summer and fair Weather but will make Ship-wrack of all in a Storm and in Suffering and any turning aside from the holy Commandment of God openeth the Mouth of God's Enemies do not seek every one your own Profit Ease Life and Liberty only but every one another's
Angels Worshipping Relicks worshipping Images Transubstantiation Purgatory sprinkling of Infants prove to us from the Scripture in thy next that these were Apostolical and Infallible Doctrines delivered and taught by the Church of Christ in the Apostles time or in the first hundred Years after Christ and thou will not only gain me but many more to receive and imbrace the Catholick Church of Rome for an absolute Rule and Guide unto which all on Earth ought to be subject unto which if thou dost not we will take it for granted thou darest not lest thou ingage thy self in such a Controversie as thou never ingaged in yet by which thy and your Folly will more and more appear unto all I shall not trouble neither my self nor the Reader any further in traducing R. E. in his multiplicity of Words although the main and weighty Arguments and Reasons as R. E. looks upon them are answered which I commend unto thee and to the Witness of God in every Man's Conscience to try and search out where the difference and weight lies and the Truth and as the measure of God's Spirit in every Man's Conscience doth close with or against if it can what I have said about R. E. his Epistle for unto that I dare stand to the Judgment of and in it as every one believes and walks I bid my Reader Farewell Westmoreland this 18 th of the 5 th Moneth 1665. F. H. A General Epistle To the Dispersed and PERSECUTED FLOCK OF Christ Jesus IN THE DOMINION OF ENGLAND AND All Parts and Regions where this shall come who have believed in Christ the Light of the VVorld and now suffer for his Names sake DEarly Beloved whom God hath called and redeemed out of the World and the Vanities thereof to follow the Lamb in the Regeneration through the Cross and Suffering in this Age wherein the Whore Beast and false Prophet and all that have drunk of her Cup and have received the Mark of the Beast and are led aside to believe Lyâ—s that proceed out of the Mouth of the time serving flattering deceitful Workers of this Generation who are all joyned together iâ— theiâ—â—â—rength and Power to act every Way against the Lamb and his meck Appearance who takes away the Sins of the World and against all them that are made clean through his Blood and are come out of the Pâ—llutions of the Wâ—rld and to make War against the Râ—mnâ—nt of the Seed of God who are begetten again to the lively Hope of Christ Jesus and to the Inheritance that fâ—des not away and to root out and destroy and weary out through cruel Suffering the Saints of the most high that so the Prince of Darkness might rule in his full Power and Authoriâ—y in his Instruments and Servants without Opposition or any Gain-saâ—ing And as God out of his everlasting Love hath redeemed and translated many from great Darkness wherein they have bin hâ—ld in the time of Unbelief into his marvellous Light to walk in it and to bring forth the Fruits of the Day of Light Faith and Righteousness to the Praise and Glory of his Grace who hath called them and translated them for that very End to shew forth his Power and Glory in the Earth who have been quickned and raised by it out of the Grave that they might bear Witness thereunto and testifie of it both in Word and Work against the World and the God thereof who now rules in the Children of Disobedience therefore is his Wrath the more kindled and his Fury great against them that are departed out of his Kingdom and will not yield their Hearts and Necks to be subject any more unto his Yoak by whom they have been enslaved and held Captive under many and divers Lusts which the Wrath of God is revealed against and to be revealed against and because they are made free by the Frightness of the glorious rising of the Sun of Righteousness in his Power and quickning Life in their Hearts which hath broken his Yoak of Bondage and destroyed the Law of Sin and Death which sometimes had Power over them but now being made Conquerors of them through the Power of Christ the old Dragon the Deceiver of the Nations who is out of the Truth labours by all means to bring them back again under his Yoak and his Devices are not a few which are set on Foot at this Day to make all bow unto him which the Children of Light are not ignorant of who are and have been watchful against the mysterious working of his Power within and also without in his Instruments who have received great Power from him to propagate his Kingdom that stands in Wrath Evil doing and Cruelty And therefore all had need to watch and be circumspect that they that are escaped be not ensnared and entangled again lest their Bondage be greater and the Yoak heavier then before Therefore the Lord moveth often in my Heart to exhort all unto Watchfulness and Diligence and so much the more because the Dayes are perilous and the Times dangerous and the Temptations many on every Hand so they that look out are in Danger to be ensnared and let in the Enemy and Fears and Doubts and Unbelief enter and questioning in the Haste Can God deliver or will he deliver or hath he any Regard unto our Afflicâ—ion And because the time seems long and they cannot see to the End thereof their Hearts fail and their Faith is in Danger to be shaken and they lose their States therefore it concerns every one to watch and pray that they enter not into Temptations neither be overcome with the wicked One neither of the fading Pleasure Profit and Ease that the Children of this World do enjoy which is but for a Time and then is the Beginning of endless Misery Therefore all dearly beloved look over all the Sufferings and Troubles and Temptations and Necessities and over the Devil and all his Works to the Beginning and to that have an Eye which was before they had a Being to the Lord God everlasting who made Heaven and Earth have an Eye and let your Eye be fixed on him which destroyes the Devil and all his Works and will reward the Workers of Iniquity according to their Deeds with everlasting Torments Dearly Beloved who have been under great Sufferings Losers for Christ's sake and the Gospel's in this Age like as many faithful Witnesses have been in former Ages I am a Sufferer with you and am sensible of your Griefs Affliâ—â—ions Necessities and Tribulations which are many and do bear and suffer with you all in my Heart and in the true Sence and Feeling of you all dispersed every where where God hath placed you in the Earth my Heart Soul Life and Spirit breatheth forth unto you all and your Burden is mine your Afflictions are mine your Sufferings are mine I do weep with them that weep I am sorrowful with them that are sorrowful and what which is a Grief
take you into my Rest and Peace out of the Reach of the Oppressor Sixthly For the frustrating of the Purpose of them who decreed that unrighteous Decree for Banishment that it may not profit them neither answer their End and Unrighteousness the Lord the Lord hath cut them short of their Purpose and will cut them short of their Hope and in the End bring their Council to nought for that which is formed against the Lord shall not prosper Seventhly For the hardening the Hearts of this Generation who have devised Mischief from the Womb and have gone astray as soon as they were born after so many Warnings and evident Tokens of his Hand against them and of his Displeasure which have been set at nought and yet are resolved to go on to root out the Heritage of God I say that their Hearts might be hardened and their Eyes closed that they may not discern betwixt the End of the Righteous and the Wicked nor see a Difference in their States but as one dyes so dyes the other as to the outward Appearance though you beloved know a Difference both in Life and Death and I do believe many who have laid down the Body and put off this earthy Tabernacle have given great Testimony of God's Love unto them of his Favour Peace and Acceptation in the latter End in this which I have said I am satisfied and therefore could not but signifie the same unto you that we might not sorrow concerning them that dye in the Faith and sleep in Christ as them who are without Hope for these rest from their Labours and their Faith Works and Life shall live and we have and enjoy their Spirit and Life so it is only personal Absence of this earthly Tabernacle that we want so in that be comforted Last of all The Wayes of the Lord are unsearchable but as he reveals them to them that fear him and whatever may be manifest to any other this I am certainly perswaded of that God will have Honour and Glory through all these things as it shall be in the End for the Prosperity of the Gospel of Truth and I am perswaded of this though the Lord should permit many to be destroyed outwardly of all they enjoy yet they are resolved to trust in him forever And though the Day be dark and gloomy and the Devil be let loose to try the Faith of them that dwell upon the Earth and the Wrath of the Wicked be great yet the Bond is set that they cannot pass and though we that yet remain alive to this Day were all dissolved and rowled together in the Dust which is the End of all Flesh yet that Life and Power which we have believed in and that everlasting Truth which we have testified of and suffered for shall never be extinguished or rooted out but shall take up other Persons and Bodies from Generation to Generation while Sun and Moon endureth in this be all assured and comforted in the Lord and chearful in your Sufferings and comfort and strengthen one another in the royal Seed of God all live and dwell which cannot bow to the Seed of the Bond-woman which hath the Promise of Life and Immortality and everlasting Blessedness and all look unto the Lord over all and above all the Rage and Wrath of the Enemy and the Afflictions of this present Life and feel that which is without End The God of Power be with you comfort your in the midst of all your Tryals and preserve you that your Faith fail not is the earnest Desire of him whose Heart is knit unto the Lord and all his suffering People in the everlasting Covenant of Life and Peace pray all unto the Lord without ceasing that you may be able though through the Valley of the Shadow of Death the Peace of God fill all your Hearts that you may rejoyce in the Lord and trust in him forever The 16th of the 8th Moneth 1665. Yours in Life or Death F. H. OATHS NO Gospel-Ordinance But prohibited by CHRIST BEING IN ANSWER TO A. SMALLWOOD D. D. To his Book lately published being a Sermon preached at Carlile 1664 wherein he hath laboured to prove Swearing lawful among Christians his Reasons and Arguments are weighed and answered and the Doctrine of Christ vindicated against the Conceptions and Interpretations of Men who would make it void By a Sufferer for Christ and his Doctrine F. H. Because of Oaths the Land mourneth Jer. 23.10 11 12 c. By Swearing and lying and kâ—lâ—ing and stealing and committing Adultery they break out and Blood toucheth Blood therefore shall the Land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish Hosea 4.2 3. TO THE READER TRuth never had that Advantage nor Countenance from the Men of this World though Wise in their Generation since Sin entered into it to have the Approbation of the World neither of the Powers and Potentates thereof for it alwayes hated the Truth because it bore Witness against the World and the Deeds and Works thereof which ere evil for Wisdom is only justified of her Children and Truth is justified of her Children neither indeed doth it need any other Patron to shelter it self under but the God of all Truth from whence it proceeds neither shall I seek a Shelter neither run to any Mountain or Hill for Safety or Protection nor to the mighty of the Earth as many of latter Dayes have done to patronize their Labours and to make them the more acceptable and to be the sooner and more readily received But seeing the Apostle saith Not many Wise not many Rich not many Noble are chosen but he hath chosen the Weak and Poor and despised of the World who are Rich in Faith and good Works who are Heirs of the Promise and of the the World to come I chuse only to be approved to the Witness of Christ's Light in every Man's Conscience and to the Measure of his holy Spirit which he hath placed in every Man to that only I desire to be either approved or else by it reproved for wholly unto the Judgment of that in every Conscience I appeal and do commend this ensuing Discourse in the Sight of God and the Answer unto A. Smalwood's Book who hath sought to make void Christ's Command for to obey the Command of Men as is manifest in his Epistle Dedicatory to the Gentlemen of Cumberland for it seems by his Epistle they put him on Work to preach and print this Sermon whether upon this Subject or not I shall not determine but however he saith He hath obeyed their Commands though he hath laboured as much as in him lyes to make the Command of Christ void and the Apostles Doctrine by his Arguments which he hath raised to prove Christ's Doctrine one thing and his Intention another and so would blind the Minds of People only to establish the Doctrines of Men and the Traditions of Men in the Apostacy and hath put divers Constructions upon the
as A. S. doth now circumcised and cut off from Christians by Christ And what though God did Deut. 10.20 rank it with his Fear and Service was there any Service or Worship in that Covenant that had not some Sign and Shadow in it and was ceremonial and was to end in the Substance was there not Prayer and Praising and were not these Service and Worship and had these not the Ceremony of Incense and Sacrifice which then attended these Services but the Substance was lifting up of the Heart unto the Lord and making a Melody in the Heart and Circumcision is now that of the Heart Rom. 2. which was outward before the killing of a Lamb at the Passeover was an Ordinance in that Covenant the Substance thereof is Christ the Passeover the other now under the Gospel would be no more then cutting off a Dog's Neck these were all Ordinances of God to be observed and in their day and time they that did according to the Command of God tended to the Glory of God in that first Covenant but in the second under the Gospel whosoever should observe them in the Figure Ceremony and Shadow should much dishonour God and his Christ the Substance and Christ would profit him nothing see that Ceremony of Swearing the Morality that only abides under the Gospel is testifying the known Truth from the Heart with some Attestation of God to witness who is Witness of all we do or say and that no more then Confession or Denial by Yea or Nay which is no Oath is that standing Substance and the moral if A. S. will have it called so that remains under the Gospel which answers that ceremonious Way of Swearing under the Law which is most evidence by the Apostle Paul's rendering of that Term Swearing as it was spoken by Way of Prophesie concerning its Continuance Isa. 45.23 To me every Tongue shall swear under that Term Confessing only under the Gospel Rom. 14.11 Every Knee shall bow every Tongue shall confess to God Confession under the Gospel is made equivalent with an Oath under the Law but this rendering of it A. S. doth not like but would pervert Paul's Words to have it Confession but put to his own Addition by Oath so that his Argument is void Swearing was binding in that ceremonious Way which it was commanded under the Law but not under the Gospel nor among the Christians who are come to the Substance and to confess and speak the Truth in Christ to the Glory of God acknowledging his Power and Omnisciency and his Justice in discerning whether Truth be spoken and in punishing them that speak falsly his Wisdom in discerning the Secrets of all Hearts and A. S. might as well have said That Offerings and Oblations Sacrifice tend much to the Glory of God under the Gospel as under the Law as Swearing but saith he Swearing is a Part of God's peculiar Service that is incommunicable to any Creature the like I say of the former Offering and Sacrifice and Incense were incommunicable to any Creature but was due unto God alone yet it doth not follow as well under the Gospel as under the Law for that were to set up the Figure and deny the Substance so this second Argument is insufficient and the third is somewhat related to it which I now come unto Thirdly The third Argument is That if Christ's Purpose be utterly to abolish all Swearing as an illegitimate Brat of Jewish Extraction not to be admitted into the Christian Church then it must be either as it is repugnant to our Duty to God or else to our Neighbour for into that summary he hath contracted the whole Law Reply We must still distinguish that which was once a duty to be performed under the Law because commanded is not required as a duty under the Gospel and the strength of most of A. S. his Arguments and the rest who contend for Swearing under the Gospel are grounded upon the Mosaical Law though this of Oaths he will needs have to be moral it may be he would contend as much for the Morality of Tythes and Oblations if it had been the subject of his Discourse as for Oaths and them to be jure divino under the Gospel for many such we have met with and he might bring the same Arguments for Tythes and Oblations they are not repugnant unto God but bring Glory to his Name because hereby his Ministers under the Gospel are maintained and are enabled thereby to Preach the Gospel for the Conversion of Souls which addes much to the Glory of God and therefore cannot or are not to be prohibited but these only belonged to the Levitical Priesthood and continued only to the time of reformation viz. to the bringing in of a better Hope and a better Covenant which stood upon better Promises for the Priesthood being changed there is also of necessity a change of the Law Hebr. 6.12 by which Tythes was a duty and they robbed God that detained them Mal. 3.8 But this being ended and fulfilled in Christ the everlasting high Priest who by one Offering perfected forever them that are Sanctified he bid not his Disciples require Tythes as a due or duty belonging to God under the Gospel But freely you have received freely give and what House soever ye enter into that is worthy there abide and eat such things as are set before you for the Workman is worthy of his Meat and this was far more Evangelical conduced more to the Honour of God then Tythes and the Apostles lived more by Faith upon God who provided for them who were employed in his Service so that I argue what was once a duty under the Law that was to be performed unto God is not alwayes a duty among Christians for though Oaths were commanded unto the Jews in that time of Infancy and as being weak and it was permitted them as Jerome saith upon the 5 th Mat. vers 37. to Swear by the Name of God to keep them from Idolatry seeing all other Nations were given to Idolatry and Swear by false God's as Chemosh Ashtereth and Baal he knew their aptness to be led aside with the Customs of other Nations and therefore they were to acknowledge him alone who was the living God and no other and to testifie Truth by his Name as a thing certain and sure and therefore one of their Oathes was as the Lord lives and this among the rest was one of the Precepts of the Law which was added because of Transgression to Swear by his Name which needed not have been added if Sin and Transgression and unbelief had not entered in mark this and this Law of Oathes pertained to that part which was in the Transgression and Variance and Strife and that led to Worship Idols and this continued while that Nature was standing but Christ was revealed and given to finish Sin and Transgression and unbelief and to do away that part that lusted after Idols and
one of you dare own nor dare say your Ministry shall nor never did and so not the same nor hath not the same operation and so is not the same Faith nor Word which they preached And now to you who are called Members in all separated Societies and yet in Babylon and Egypt spiritually so called where the Seed is held in Captivity I say come forth of her and return to your Maker from whence you are erred and cast off your Garments of Self-Righteousness and those Coverings you hide your selves under must all be rent they will wax old yea your Heaven shall wax old as a Garment and your Stars will fall and your Towers will be demolished and all your Buildings will fall and your Strength will fail and Egypt cannot save you why gad you abroad why trim you your selves with the Saints Words when you are ignorant of the Life return return to him that is the first Love and the first-born of every Creature who is the Light of the World which Light will shew you that to return back again is the Way from off the Mountains of Leanness and Poverty where you feed upon Wind and Husks and now return home to within sweep your Houses all the Groat is there the little Leaven is there the Grain of Mustard-seed you will see which the Kingdom of God is like and you will see from whence you have erred from the true Shepherd Christ the Light of the World who hath enlightened you with his Light which Light will shew you Sin and let you see what rules in the Mind and Heart which Light will let you see the Way out of the World and will judge Sin in you and bind it and give you Power over it and this is the true Shepherd and if you say you love him manifest your Love unto him by following his Light revealed in you which leads into the true Separation from Sin unto the Lord to see his Presence near you who will guide you with his Eye the Light is the Eye of the Body and here you will see your Teacher not removed into a Corner but present when you are upon your Beds and about your Labour convincing instructing leading correcting judging and giving Peace to all that love and follow him therefore haste I say come away while the Lord is near at Hand while his Grace shines with you he waits and hath waited long to be gracious and you have kept him out so long his Locks are bedewed with the Drops of the Night his Spirit shall not alwayes strive that that checks and strives against Sin is it in Love follow it let it lye in your Bosom Day and Night make it your Comapanion I pity you I pity you my Bowels are troubled for you I am pained for the Seed's sake therefore all slight not this Love quench not the Spirit put not that which reproves Sin away own it that Sin may be seen and the Man of Sin may be revealed by the Brightness of Christ whose Coming is as Light shines from East into the West discovers all dark Pathes and the twining of the Serpent and the crooked Wayes of the old Dragon by this Light and if thus you wait you will see the day revealed in you which the Scripture speaks of which shall declare all things and make manifest the hidden things of Esau who hunts abroad and is a Man of the Field whose Mind is abroad and you whose Minds are abroad hunting after savoury Meat to please the Flesh withal you are of his Birth you will be laid waste and the Mount in which you dwelt Therefore all prize your time and your Visitation if you will return come that he may heal your Backsliding and receive you if you resist the Light Misery will be your End and you will lye down in Sorrow This have I written in Love to all your Souls who am one who did drink of the Cup of Fornication and have drunk of the Cup of Indignation but now drink the Cup of Salvation where Sorrow and Tears are fled away and yet am a Man of Sorrows and well acquainted with Grief and suffer with the Seed and travail that it may be brought forth of Captivity F. H. The Difference shewn betwixt them that learn of Christ and are taught of him and them that follow the Principle of Darkness that leads into Error HE that stumbles at the Light stumbles at the Door and his Mind is erred from the Truth and he follows his own Will and walks after the Imaginations of his own Heart without a Law or a Guide to his Feet and so falls into Snares and Temptations and into the noisome Lusts which do hurt and annoy the Spirit of Grace which should lead and guide man up to God out of the Fall and Transgression He that sees not with the Light he is blind for the Light is the Eye of the Body and makes manifest the Light of the Body which cleanseth from Sin and leads to the Body where Christ is the Head where the Unity stands in one by which all come to be united by one who is the Light and Life of men and come to the one Baptism and all who wait in the Light that is pure come to know the Name of the Father and the Son which is one and here is the one Baptism seen and received and all that come to be baptized into his Name come to be baptized into his Nature and come to see the Word which was in the Beginning and there is no other Name but the Word which sanctifies and washes So all that know not this Baptism nor this Word nor this Name know not Salvation from Sin but live in the Reasonings and Imaginations and know not that Water which is the Gift of Christ nor the Spirit which is given to every one to profit withal of which a man must be born else he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God and all who deny the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened every one deny the Gift of God which leads to Repentance and so live in Sin Repentance is the Gift of God and this is the Gift of the Father which was promised the Light of the World and all that receive not and believe not in the Light they are in the old Nature and he that is not born of the Light is not born of God for God is Light he that is not born of the Light knows not the Virgin 's Womb where the Man-child is born conceived nor the Day of Christ nor cannot discern his coming but looks for Signs and outward Observations Lo here and there in the outward and is in the Unbelief discerns not the Kingdom where Christ reigns which is not of this World all outward things are of this World and who live and have their Hearts exercised in them know not that which leads to before the World and to the End of the World and know not the true
faithful Witness the Beginning of the Creation of God and all that wait not in the Light wait not in the Grace of God but wait in that which turns the Grace into VVantonness there Christ suffers and is denyed and another is owned and learned of and another Teacher and where the Grace of God is not taught and learned of Ungodliness is not denyed but Ungodliness is denyed where the Grace teacheth and where another thing is hearkened unto and learned of that which is not like God is learned and Deceit is brought forth and the Child of Fornication which must not inherit and all who learn of this Nature they are blind and ignorant of the Will of God and so know not the Doctrine of Christ but their Eyes are without in the VVorld where the falâ—e Prophets are gone out into the VVorld and there are the Errors and the Sects and Judgments which are many and the Opinions which are out of the Unity and there vain Imaginations and vain Thoughts lodge in the Heart and there the Light of Christ is not known but the VVoman speaks which ought to learn in Silence who was first in the Transgression And all you that put the Letter for the Light are blind and call it the Word and the Gospel you err not knowing the Scripture nor the Power of God for the Word of God is the Power of God which is Immortal Eternal and all that which is visible stands in time and cannot lead to know him which was before time in the Beginning And so all you who are in your Earthly carnal Minds imagining a Rule without you and a Word without you you have not learned of him who is entered within the Vail you are hunting upon the wild Mountains and Forrests and know not the Voice of the true Shepherd who saith Learn of me whose Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart and thou that hast not hearkened unto this a Separation thou didst never see but Darkness is upon the Face of the Deep and the Word of God is not known by which the Heavens and the Earth were made and all things therein are upholden by the Word of his Power which Word of Power is seen by them whose Minds are turned within and there the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart are by it discerned and seen which Word is quick and powerful and discerns the Secrets of man's Heart and is as a Hammer to break the Rocks and the hard Hearts and this is Immediate and Eternal and all who know not this your carnal Mind stands wholly in you and your hard Hearts are unbroken and the Mountains are unleveled and you walk in the crooked Waves of the old Serpent in Subtilty and Deceit and stand covered before the Lord and the strait Pathes of Righteousness you have not known Therefore awake out of Deceit and Security all Sorts of People where you have been making your Rest in the Lap of the Adulterer and have drunken of the VVine of Fornication and of the old Dregs of Unrighteousness whereby the whole man in enflamed and the whole Course of Nature is set on the Fire of Hell and Filth and Abomination lodge in the Heart and you talk of the VVord of God and of the Law of God and of the new Covenant and yet never see any thing in you which you can own to guide you which is contrary to your VVills which is the VVill of God All Sorts of Professors whether Presbyters Independents Baptists or of what Name soever you are called by who say you are separated let me ask this what are you separated from and what separated you If you deny the Sufficiency of the Spirit 's teaching alone and it to be the Rule and alone Guide unto God who is separated from Sinners and beholds them afar off I say you who cannot own that which shews you your vain Minds and vain Thoughts and that discerns the Thoughts if you cannot own this the VVord of God you never knew nor the Law written in your Hearts nor the VVord of Separation and all are in your Imaginations and vain Conceivings in your fleshly Minds here and there setting up an Image raised from a dead Letter and founded on your Earthly Imaginations and they stand in the Vallies of vain Hopes and there is no Life in nothing you worâ—hip and set up neither Sight nor Hearing and every one of you worship a dead thing and that which makes not the Comers thereunto perfect but you are all pleading for Imperfection and Sin in the Body and all joyn together to oppose the Life and Power of God which the Saints ought to press after and they that stand in the Counsel do obtain Victory and witness of his Righteousness which is perfect Are not many of you turning into the old Bishops Road who would tye all unto their Idols Temple or Parish-Church so called and are not many of you going about to stop all from hearing any but you under Pain of Excommunication Oh the gross Darkness you are led in and the wilful Blindness who have taken up your Rest in that which is carnal and without where all the Hypocrites may come verily I say unto you your Rest will be but as the leaning upon a bowed Wall or as a Reed of Egypt for the Ground of Iniquity stands whole and the whole Body of Darkness is not removed the Earth is whole the Fallow Ground is not plowed up Thorns and Bryars and fruitless Trees which cumber the Ground of the Lord are not cut down and so the Works of Condemnation you are none of you brought from under but self stands and your Wills are alive which are at Enmity against God only talking of a Christ at a Distance and his Righteousness as far from you as betwixt Earth and Heaven and here is your Justification applying this unto your selves while you are disobedient to the Grace of God in you this is your Faith and your Rest and this Faith all the World hath and this Hope but this Faith cannot justifie nor not one of you hath Assurance who hath but this who doth not witness God's Righteousness brought forth in you which is wrought by the Word of Faith which is incorruptible which justifies and gives Assurance and is witnessed through the Death of the Cross. And therefore I cannot forbear but to declare your Ignorance and shew you your Deceit you lye in and your ragged Vails you hide your selves under for I know your Peace you have is that which will not last And therefore be not secure and careless nor obstinate but lay down your Crowns at his Feet and come out of your Ease and Rest and fleshly Exaltation puffed up by the Wisdom of the Flesh and that which you have gathered in and not Witnesses of the same wrought in you all for the Fire yet a little while and time shall be no longer for the End of time shall come upon