outward Observations consist the many Antichrists St. John saw who said You have heard that Antichrist should come and now are there many Antichrists Even all Man's Prescriptions and Impositions not being the Spirit 's teachings are Antichrists the many false Spirits which do not feed but devour the Flock of Christ by bringing in the Old Law and other beggarly Rudiments and Inventions of Man's Wisdom which is the Whore and false Prophet which serves to no other end than to raze out the Revelation of God in the Consciences of Men to crucifie the Lord of Life the Spirit of Christ in resisting his Spirit of Grace and speaking evil of the Spirit which is the highest Blasphemy not to be forgiven in this World nor in the World to come Allelujah Thus the Universal Church of Rome may know by examining themselves whether they are in the Apostacy in the fall with Peter or whether they are in the Restoration with Peter when the Church of Rome was so renowned and guided by the Spirit and Revelation of God Or whether led by Traditions Prescriptions and Impositions of Man and as the Universal Church of Rome may know whether they are built on Christ the Rock Peter's Faith that never failed or on Peter's Person that so easily fell against which the Gates of Hell prevailed even so may every individual Person in the Church of Rome know whether they be in the true Faith of Christ or in the false Faith for the true Faith worketh by Love purifieth the Heart and destroys the Works of the Devil in Men it worketh Miracles it removeth Mountains of Sin crucifieth the Flesh with its Deeds and raiseth the Soul dead in Trespasses and Sins out of the Grave enabling the Soul to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Thus wonderfully doth Faith in Christ the Gift of God work in every one that truly believes Read Acts 15.9 Mat. 17.20 Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.9 Heb. 12.2 Mark 16.17 1 John 3.8 Allelujah By this time your selves may answer Dr. Bayley's Challenge who saith The Church of Rome was once an excellent flourishing Mother-Church This Church saith he could not cease to be such but she must fall either by Apostacy Heresy or Schism To which I answer Christ's Church in Jerusalem and in Antioch were Mother-Churches before Rome and in Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippe Colosse Thessalonica and the Church among the Hebrews were all flourishing Christian Churches but now not visible as to Man's Eye And how was Rome the Mother-Church whilst the Popes kept their Residence in Avignon for seventy Years together Nevertheless God knoweth who are his amongst them all for as St. Peter saith Acts 10.34 All of every Nation Sect and People those that fear God and work Righteousness are accepted with him whether Jews or Gentiles Barbarians or Scythians they are all one in Christ the Truth they that walk in the Truth walk in Christ Jesus and such the Truth makes freely accepted with God Allelujah Though I take not upon me to know Whether the present Church of Rome are Members of Christ's Body whereof himself the Spirit of the Father is only Head or the Synagogue of Satan the Children of the Devil their Father in whom he rules and guides who do his Work Yet this I declare That every one in themselves may perfectly know whether they belong to the True or False Church to God or the Devil If you do but examine your selves Whether Christ the Word in the Heart the Revelation of God by the Spirit of Truth the Light of Christ his Spirit of Grace be Head in you leading you into Truth and Righteousness bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit which Fruits are evident read Gal. 5.22 Ephes 5.9 Or whether the Spirit of Satan be Head leading into Lying Swearing Whoredom Fornication Adultery Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Hatred Variance Wrath Strife Pride Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers Drunkenness Revilings and such like Now your own selves every one in particular know these things to be Fruits of the Flesh proceeding from Man in the Fall unregenerate and are Earthly Sensual and Devilish And know ye not to whom you yield your selves Servants to obey his Servants ye are whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience to Righteousness also that the Wages of Sin is the death of the Soul and he that soweth to the Flesh shall reap Corruption for if ye live after the Flesh your Souls shall die but if through the Spirit you mortify the Deeds of the Flesh you shall live Finally my Brethren whether the Spirit of God that revealed to Peter the Things of God be Head in you or the Spirit of Satan which Ied Peter into the Fall into the Schism into Heresy into the Apostacy be Head which Spirit is the Spirit of Antichrist the which exalts many Inventions his Prescriptions and Traditions above the Inspiration and Revelation of God So try your selves examine your selves Know you not your own selves that unless Christ the Spirit of the Father be in you you are Reprobates as concerning the true Faith and cannot think a good Thought much less work a good Work and that it is he by his Spirit of Grace which is given to every one to profit withal that works all good in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure as it is written Phil. 2.13 Isa 26.12 Rom. 8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 12.7 2 Cor. 10 11. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Gal. 5.16.22 13.5 And whether the Court of Rome hath not used as much worldly Policy to obtain Soveraignty and Dominion in the Earth as any Earthly Prince whatsoever he that will resolve this Question let him read the History of the Council of Trent and other French Histories written by Members of the Gallical Church And whether with their good Words and fair Speeches they have not got into the Hearts and Consciences of simple People perswading them to believe the Pope to be Head of the Church and Vicar of Christ And when the Net hath thus catched and brought into this Faith is it not easy to make Merchandice of such Souls and also to command their Bodies and Purses who believe Peter's Key can open and shut Heaven when and to whomsoever Peter's Vicar and Successor pleaseth And what hath thus bin got by Peter's Net hath it not bin kept and added to by Man's Carnal Weapons which are not the Weapons of Christ nor of his Apostles nor Followers read 2 Cor. 10.4 John 18.36 as by woful experience many Emperors Kings and Princes in Europe have found to their great loss both of Blood and Treasure in pursuing and subduing the Waldenses and Albigenses Excommunicated An. 1250 and in acting against John Husse Jerome of Prague John Wickliff and Sir John Oldcastle as also against the Protestants in Germany Holland and Flanders with those Massacred at Paris by the then called Holy League and since by the inhumane Massacre in Ireland 1640 even against all those that have adventured
of Christ in the Sanctified which Sanctified are the only true Church of Christ You also say The only difference between the Old and New Testament is that in the Old lies hid the New by an Allegory Which is a Truth to him that hath an Ear to hear what the Spirit in the Letter saith Allelujah On Rom. 4.8 you say The words Imputed or Reputed do not diminish the Truth of Justice and that Justice is not reputed to them that are not made Just and Righteous Which is also a most real Truth On Gen. 22.1 you say There is as much difference betwixt Christ's Divinity and his Humanity as was between Isaac and the Ram and as is 'twixt Elesh and Spirit for what is born of Flesh is Flesh c. The Book Ecclesiasticus you say teacheth to contemn this present evil World and that things Earthly and Sensual are insufficient to give Peace and Rest to our Souls and that true Felicity consisteth not in Natural Knowledg gotten by Wit and Natural Industry nor in Riches Honour Pleasures nor in Authority or Dominion nor in any thing that is Sensual or Carnal but only in the Eternal and Internal fruition of God in our Souls which is procured by Free Grace which enables us to decline Vices and to pursue the ways of Vertue which lead to Beatitude all which are Truths most clear and excellent Allelujah Before Leviticus in which Book saith St. Jerome all Sacrifices Aaron 's Vestments and the whole Levitical Order almost every Syllable breaths forth Heavenly Sacraments I say even as the whole Creation doth breath forth God's Omnipotence his Grace and loving Kindness to Mankind Allelujah Zach. 1.3 When the Scripture saith Convert c. we are admonished that we have Free-Will and when we answer Convert us O Lord to thee and we shall be converted we confess that God's Grace preventeth or enableth us and when he commandeth any good of us it is either to humble or enable us in the performance as James 1.17 Heb. 13.21 which Doctrine is true for we have no other free-will to good but what God giveth us in by and through his Holy Spirit of Grace which appears to and in every Man Allelujah On Gal. 6.16 you say The New Creature is the true Faith and Work of Grace in the Hearts of the Faithful and is the Faith first delivered to and in the Saints A Speech most true Allelujah 1 Cor. 12.3 you say No Man can say Jesus is our Lord but by his Spirit within us which enableth us to be obedient to his Commands and to do the Will of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven for by Christ strengthening us we can do all things pleasing to God our Heavenly Father Allelujah On Heb. 12.28 you say Grace is the only means enabling us to serve and please God Tit. 2.11 And that Man 's free-Will is begot and worketh freely by free-Grace Also you say Free-Will is in Man for that no Sin can be committed without consent of free-Will nor can any Work merit or please God but what is wrought in Man by the free Grace of God's Holy Spirit Thus by Grace we are saved not of our selves it is the free Gift of God to every one Allelujah You say Elias is alive and shall be a fore-runner of Christ's second coming I say Elias in Spirit is alive and now preacheth Repentance and forgiveness of Sins to all that amend their Lives according to God's Holy Word written in every Man's Heart the Volumn of God's Book wherein his Will is known that it may be done here on Earth as in Heaven Allelujah You say also That Enoch is yet alive and shall preach in Antichrist's time with Elias This is also a Truth if you speak this of the Spirit of God that was in Enoch for as Elias's Spirit in John the Baptist's Time preached Repentance and forgiveness of Sins to all that truly repented and forsook their Sins preparing the way for Christ to be begot and born in us So did that Spirit of Elias preach Repentance to the Disobedient in the days of Noah As in this day the same Spirit of Elias preacheth Repentance to all that are dead in Trespasses and Sins Even so likewise Enoch the seventh from Adam in Spirit is alive who shall and now doth as you say preach in Antichrist's time for Christ the Word incarnate the Resurrection and the Life is now preaching in the Sanctified the Resurrection from the Dead to and in all that have bin crucified with Christ and are risen with him from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness Allelujah Which Word Incarnate or Word in the Heart is God's Preacher to all the World and is the Gospel of Christ preached for the Obedience of Faith to and in all Nations and all Religions whatsoever so that all Men may believe and by obeying may be saved Amen Allelujah As it is written Deut. 30.11 to the 15. with Rom. 10.6 to the 9th Rom. 1.5 2 Cor. 10.5 Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 1.22 Gen. 22.18 Deut. 13.4 Dan. 7.27 Isa 1.19 Job 36.11 12. You say Christ in Soul descended into Hell to deliver all just Men Which is a Truth if you mean Christ in Spirit as he is the Light of the World descends into every Man's unclean heart to cleanse and purifie it and so leads Captivity captive bringing the Souls of the Faithful once dead in Trespasses and Sins out of Death out of the Grave out of Hell into Abraham's Bosom where they sit and sing Allelujah You say Sin is always the cause of Reprobation Which is also a Truth most clear for it is our Sins that separate us from God and with-hold good things from us And in our Obedience or disobedience to the Word of God in our Hearts stands Life and Death Election and Reprobation for according to their Works shall every one receive whether they do good or evil Allelujah On Col. 3.9 you say The New Man is an inherent quality of Justice and Righteousness in our Souls and not only an Imputation of Christ's Righteousness but a Work of God's free Grace enabling the Faculties of our Souls to work freely the thing that is good and righteous A Truth most clear and excellent Allelujah 2 Cor. 1.5 you say All the Saints Sufferings and Afflictions are Christ's Sufferings by reason of the Conjunction and Vnion that is betwixt Christ the Head and the Sanctified his Members Allelujah You say Adam was created in Grace and Innocency which he lost only by Disobedience yet by Repentance is saved And thus it is with all the Sons of Adam He that sins against the Light of Christ in his Conscience eats the forbidden Fruit and so sins after the similitude of Adam 's Transgression and is not saved out of Transgression but by Repentance and laying hold of God's Spirit of Grace which obeying brings through the flaming Sword or Sword of the Spirit that turns every way to cut down Sin
and Iniquity in whomsoever it is found so that no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven or eat of the Tree of Life placed in the midst of God's Paradise the Hearts of the Sanctified Allelujah You say The Church of Christ is Vniversal and consists of all Nations So say I as I am a Priest of God to the Nations having Christ Jesus in me my Priest my Prophet and my King that amongst all Nations all Sects and sorts of Religions whatsoever they be called Jews Barbarians Heathens or Christians such as walk in the Light of the Lord wherewith every one is enlightned are accepted with him and they are God's Temple and Church in whom he dwells Allelujah You say The Children of the Church are the Spiritual Seed of Abraham Which Seed I say is Christ who dwells in the mortal Bodies of the Saints who convinceth of Sin and sanctifies them from committing Sin so that where two or three are met in his Name his Spirit of Grace there is He in the midst of them and thus is He with his Body the Church to the end of the World Allelujah Clergie Men you say ought not to serve for temporal Rewards and that they may not exercise that Holy Function for filthy Lucre And so say I that those that Preach and Pray what is prescribed them by Man for Temporal Rewards are not the Ministers of Christ but Anti-christs Ministers for the Ministers of Christ as they receive the Spirit of Grace Christ the New Covenant the Word in the Heart freely so they give freely and not for filthy Lucre but from a ready and willing mind to the saving of Souls and not for gaining the Fleece Allelujah You say Jews shall be converted at the end of the World I say As the Christians are converted so are the Jews who receive and obey God's Covenant of Light the free Gift of God the Word in the Heart the New Covenant God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah You say A Conscience guilty of Sin tormenteth the Sinner So say I That the Light of Christ wherewith every one is enlightned being disobeyed is the Tormentor and the Condemnation read John 3.19 The Mysteries of Christ are as you say high things above natural Capacities So say I for the Natural Man perceiveth not the things of God which are only spiritually discerned Therefore I advise all unregenerate Men not born again of the Spirit which quickneth and createth the New Man in us in that state not to meddle with the things of God as Vzza who was smitten of God for the Spirit of God only and alone knoweth and searcheth the deep things of God for no Man knoweth the Father Son or Holy Ghost but by the Inspiration and Revelation of God Allelujah Read John 3.3 Mat. 11.27 1 Cor. 2.10 11. On 1 Cor. 1.12 you say Schism is to leave the Spirit of God in his Church and adhere too much to Man's teaching which is a Truth For Man's teaching leads into Division and Disputes about Words and Forms Sect against Sect for some outward Observation which Man sets up wherein the Kingdom of God doth not consist which Disputes have ever proved the Scab of the Church in all Times but the Spirit 's teaching every one submitting to the Commands of God the Word in the Heart leads into Unity Peace and Rest with God and one towards another Allelujah On 1 Cor. 12.13 you say Christ the Head and the Church his Members make but one Body So say I Christ in the Saints is the one Head one Body one Faith one Baptism and the only one true Church of God Allelujah On John 4.12 13. you say The Water wherewith Christ baptizeth is living and spiritual Water So say I That John's Baptism was with material Water the which is Man's Baptism and only cleanseth the outward Body and representeth the inward cleansing but Christ's Baptism is as you say with living Water which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire which cleanseth and purifieth the Heart Soul and Spirit of all true Believers Allelujah On Rom. 10.5 c. you say The Justice of the Law of Moses went no farther than the saving of the Outward Man I say Moses preached Christ the Law and Word in the Heart the New Covenant read Deut. 30.11 18.18 19. Jer. 31.31 33. with Rom. 10.6 c. Heb. 8.8 c. the which circumciseth the Heart and createth a new Heart and a new Spirit within the which redeems and saves the Soul from Sin and teacheth truly the way to Life everlasting Allelujah Thus you see I have not only read your Bible but also considered the Arguments Tables and Marginal-Notes thereupon Likewise I have read many other of your Books written and approved of by the Roman Church viz. 1. Thomas of Kempis of the Imitation of Christ 2. Cardinal Cusanus his First Second and Third Rule of Perfection and his Idiot with others of the like Divine Nature 3. The Holy Court and the Angel of Peace to all Christian Princes By Nicho. Causine 4. Devout Essays By Walter Montague Esq 5. Charroone of Wisdom 6. Essays of Lord Michael Montaigne 7. Fiat Lux with an Epistle in Answer to Dr. Owen 8. The Lost Sheep returned Home By Dr. Thomas Vane 9. Abridgment of Christian Doctrine by Question and Answer By H. T. printed at Doway 1664. 10. A Manual of Controversies demonstrating the Truth of Catholick Religion by Scriptures Councils and Fathers of the first Five hundred Years and by common Sense and Reason c. By H.T. printed at Doway Anno 1654. 11. Dialogues of William Rushworth printed at Paris Anno 1648. 12. Roman Catholick Doctrine in Answer to Dr. Pierce his Court Sermon 13. The Victory of Truth for the Peace of the Church to the King of Great Britain Written by Monsieur de la Militera Answered by Dr. Bramhall 14. A Treatise of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass By R. T. Anti-Demolin 15. Heaven Opened and the Pains of Purgatory Avoided by the very great Indulgencies of the two most Illustrious Arch-Confraternities the one of our Blessed Lady called the Rosary the other of the Seraphical Father St. Francis called The Cords of the Passion printed Anno 1663. 16. The last Apologie in behalf of the Papists and answered in the behalf of the Protestants These sixteen Books with other Historical as the Council of Trent Platina c. I have read and considered both pro and con The first two of these sixteen Books I have read with great delectation of Mind which I apprehend were written by a Divine Spirit and do recommend them to all that are partakers of the Divine Nature Allelujah The five next I apprehend to be written by Wise Men lovers of Wisdom and well worth the reading by Men of Knowledg and Understanding The last nine I apprehend were written to set forth and to defend the present Roman Faith and Church to maintain by Argument and Dispute That the
present Church of Rome is the only True Church of Christ and all others that differ from her are Schismaticks and Hereticks good for nought but to be destroyed in Body and Soul concerning which I do most humbly crave leave to examine by the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles intending what I find to proceed from God's Holy Spirit of Truth which are the Things of God to treasure up in Joseph's Storehouse the rest proceeding from Man unregenerate in the fall meerly humane and what was learnt of Man in the Schools or from the Letter I intend to return back again as your own Mony in your own Sacks In the first place I must needs commend the Christian Spirit of him that wrot Fiat Lux who saith He was bettered by reading Quakers Anabaptists Books c. which shews him a Man that could receive Truth from any Man or Sect try all things and I hope receive and hold fast that which is good in every Man of all Religions Further he saith All Sects maintaining their own Opinion none condescending to others destroy all Love and Charity which wanting no Religion is any thing worth but in Charity Love and Patience he saith all Sects are pleased Also he saith Difference for Opinions is neither pious nor rational He also saith That none is fit to judg of all Sects that is of Any nor is the Atheist meet Further he saith The Spirit of Christ or Charity the Love of God being departed all Forms of Religion are but a meer Romance He also saith Truth is found in Vnity not in Division And I say Till all come to the Unity of the Spirit given to every Man to profit with there can never be Unity Also he saith That the Soul of Man is Immortal Intelligible and Rational and that Moderation Love and Charity is the Image of God in Man and that right Reason doth not cast away Christ but is one with him Also Whosoever brings to Vnity is blest though but an Owl or Fool as the Spirits Preaching is accounted foolishness by unregenerate Men Also he saith All Sects fight against each other till Christ be set up the Teacher in all These and the like I take to be Maxims of Truth meet to be considered and received In the next place the Roman Writers assert The Pope of Rome to be Head of the Church of Christ here on Earth and Christ 's Vicar as being Peter 's Successor on whose Person you say Christ 's Church is built proved out of Matth. 16.16 17. To which I make return and say That Peter's Person was not the Rock whereon Christ's Church is built but the Spirit of God which revealed to Peter the things of God as will most evidently appear by the Reasons following viz. First For that no Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him Mat. 11.27 Gal. 1.12 16. 1 Cor. 2.10 1 Pet. 1.13 So it is the Revelation of God the Father gives the Knowledg of God the Son and it is the Spirit of Christ in the Saints revealing the Father and the Son which is the Rock whereon Christ's Church is built against which the Gates of Hell can never prevail Matth. 16.17 Besides had the Church bin built on Peter's Person had it not fallen into Hell when Peter's Person became Satan an Adversary to Christ and against him when he savoured more the Things of Man than the things of God read Mat. 16.23 and this was after Peter's Faith the Revelation of God was called the Rock And what became of the Church and Peter the Rock when Peter denied and forswore his Master Mat. 26.69 c. Had not then the Church of Christ fallen into Hell if Peter's Person had bin the Rock whereon it had bin built And I pray tell me What think you had become of the Church of Christ had it bin built on Peter's Person when Peter dissembled and would have brought in the Old Law which stood in divers outward Observations wherein the Kingdom of God doth not consist And was not this to bring in the first Covenant and to deny Christ come in the Flesh the Second Covenant Christ the Word in the Heart and Revelation of God in Peter before his Fall which is the Rock God builds his Church on against whom the Gates of Hell shall never prevail but when a Church savours the Things of Man more than the things of God the Gates of Hell will surely prevail against that Church And this Revelation of God was the Rock before Peter's Person was and before his Fall was and after his Fall was and is that Rock whereon all the People of God stand and are built an Habitation through the Spirit for God to dwell in Allelujah And do not you think St. Paul that great Apostle of the Gentiles did well in withstanding and reproving Peter to his Face even in the face of all the Congregation for endeavouring to bring in such a Heresy and Schism into the Church of Christ as to withdraw from the believing Gentiles and so by his Example to set up the Observations of the Old Law which stood in outward things which was to deny Christ the New Law the Word of Grace in the Heart God's everlasting Covenant of Light and Life to Jew and Gentile which certainly was and is a most pernicious Doctrine wherewith all the Jews were drawn from the Faith of Christ insomuch that Barnabas was also led aside by their dissimulation And for those who had run well and begun in the Spirit for them to imagine they ought to be made perfect by the Observation of things outward and carnal was a most damnable Heresy which Peter and the rest of the Jews and Barnabas first begun to divide the Church of God the Head from the Members was doubtless a great Schism and falling from the true Faith first delivered to the Saints which stood in the Revelation of Christ the Spirit 's teaching Allelujah When Christ bid Peter feed my Sheep you say Peter received Supremacy over the rest of the Apostles and was made General Pastor of the Church And where Christ said to Peter I will give thee the Keys of Heaven and what thou bindest in Earth shall be bound in Heaven and what thou loosest on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Was Peter's Key think you Carnal or any thing else but the Revelation of God's Spirit to Peter before his Fall which surely is the Key of David which openeth the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God which no Man can shut And have not all true Believers born of the Spirit the same Key and Authority to bind and loose as Peter had read John 20.22 23. So that you see the Power of the Keys and the feeding Christ's Sheep stands in receiving the Holy Ghost and not in Peter's Person as Peter himself afterwards confessed read 1 Pet. 5.2 Acts 20.28 saying to the Disciples Feed
Darkness to Light save those only that are born of the Spirit and so have Christ the Word in their Hearts as Paul had and all true Ministers of Christ have Read Gal. 1.15 16. 2.20 Eph. 2.10 Col. 1.27 2.6 3.16 2 Cor. 13.5 Thus learn to know Christ as all the truly sanctified know him not after the Flesh as he was the Son of Man nor after the Letter which kills but after the Spirit which begetteth Christ the new Man in us who is the only true Agnus Dei that takes away the Sins of the World of all that believe in him and that saves his People from their Sins as he did the Virgin Mary Luke 1.47 giving and encreasing Grace in them working all their Works in them and for them perfecting Holiness in all that love his Appearance which Work of Grace in our Hearts is our Sanctification Justification and Salvation Allelujah Thus being faithful to God in administring the things of God as you receive them from him on God's Name and in his Strength go on and prosper convert all Nations to Christ the Word in the Heart God's Covenant of Light to all the World to Christ the Rock and Revelation of God to Peter on which his Church is built which Spirit of Grace guided the Church of Rome when she was so much renowned into Truth and Righteousness which Spirit of Truth gave St. Peter Repentance and led him out of his Fall where the Gates of Hell prevailed into all Truth and made him an able Minister of Christ not of the Letter but of the Spirit in which Spirit he faithfully served his Master in feeding his Sheep with Spiritual Food Christ the Bread and Water of Life from Heaven Allelujah And know that no Man can please God save Christ the new Man in the Saints who is created after the Image of God in Righteousness and true Holiness And the first Step towards Heaven and true Christianity is to be born of the Spirit for no Man can please God nor go to Heaven save he that came from Heaven even the Son of God in Man which always is in Heaven Read John 3.13 Also know that every Motion in Man's Heart to Good is the Inspiration and Revelation of God as every Motion to Evil proceeds from the World the Flesh and the Devil which Trinity is but one evil Spirit that rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience for of our selves we cannot so much as think a good Thought and without Inspiration and Revelation we can never know God the Father nor God the Son but by the Inspiration of God the Holy Ghost Nor can we know or act aright in the things of God but by the Revelation of his own Spirit a measure whereof is given to every one to profit withal Nor can we please God nor attain Salvation but as we are born of his Spirit and led by his Spirit into Truth and Righteousness as it is written Mat. 11.27 John 3.3 6.44 1 Cor. 2.10 11. Gal. 1.15 16. 1 Pet. 1.13 1 John 3.24 with 1 Cor. 6.11 17. 12.7 2 Cor. 3.3 6. Gal. 5.16 Eph. 2.22 3.16 1 Pet. 12.11 For the natural unregenerate Man tho never so knowing in Literature and other worldly Knowledg as to please the Ear and Understanding of a Man knoweth nothing of the things of God nor understandeth the Scriptures meaning nor Gospel of Christ nor can he preach it because these things are only spiritually discerned And he that wanteth this Spirit of God in him to be his Prophet his Priest his King to reveal the things of God to offer Prayers and Praises to God and to lead into Truth and Righteousness is no Minister of Christ nor true Christian neither can such a one ever inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Read Luke 4.18 8.10 24 45. Rom. 10.8 1 Cor. 2.10 11. 2 Cor. 3.6 4.3 4 6 7. Gal. 1.11 12. 1 Thess 1.5 3.8 1 Pet. 1.11 12. With John 3.3 Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Joh. 3.3 After this manner you having Christ the Bread and Water of Life in you then may you feed Christ's Lambs otherwise not and your selves being converted and turned from Darkness to Christ the Light in your selves then you may convert others else not And all that profess themselves to be Ministers of Christ be sure you feel God's Spirit to be your Commission both to begin and carry on that Work else all Preaching and Praying will be but vain and you cannot profit the People at all but must lie down in sorrow under all your own Kingdlings and Conceivings either from the Letter or what you have learned from Man in the Schools c. Thus you having Christ the Truth in your selves being born of the Spirit he will teach you to preach Truth and lead you into all Truth to the saving not only of your own Souls but also of the Souls of those that hear you Even so Amen Allelujah And there is but one thing needful to make the Church of Rome as much renowned now as ever which is That all forsake the Wisdom of the Flesh and walk in the Wisdom of the Spirit of Grace the Word in the Heart given to every one of all Religions to be their Teacher and Leader into the Way of Truth and Righteousness Allelujah Thus there are and have bin in all Ages and of all Opinions and Religions Witnesses of Christ's Birth who are begotten and born again of the Spirit which crucifieth Sin in us and of his Resurrection which createth the New Man in us in which Body of Christ the Spirit of Light which came from Heaven the Sanctified arise and ascend into Heaven and there sit even whilst their Mortal Bodies are here on Earth at the right Hand of God the Father in the Unity and Fellowship of Christ the Son and Blessed Spirit where are Pleasures for ever-more Allelujah Read Ephes 1.3 2.6 Heb. 12.22 1 John 4.17 Psal 16.11 Job 36.12 In the Unity of which Spirit of Grace Love and Charity I most humbly take my leave and in it rest one with all the faithful Seed of Abraham who are begot and born again of the Seed and Spirit of God and led by the same Spirit into Truth and Righteousness Allelujah In which Spirit of Truth I remain a Friend to the Vniversal Catholick Church of Christ throughout all the whole World amongst Jews and Gentiles yea a true Friend to the Souls of all Men whilst I am and when I am no more ROBERT RICH. To the Episcopal Protestants the most Reverend Arch-Bishops the Right Reverend the Lord Bishops the Reverend the Priests Doctors and Deacons and all Degrees of the Clergy and Laity of the Church of England ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah TO you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit and so are initiated into the Church of Christ made Members of his Body Spiritual through sanctification of the Holy
sprinkled from evil Works to serve the Living God are with faithful Abraham happy and blessed Allelujah Notwithstanding the Disciples had received the first Fruits of the Spirit yet they were to go to Jerusalem and there wait in that Spirit till they were indued with a fuller measure of the same Spirit from on High then they went forth converting many thousand Souls turning them from Darkness to Light from the power of Satan to the Power of God his Spirit in themselves and as they had received the Spirit freely so they gave the Spirit read Act. 2.1 2 3 4. 33.37 38 39 41. 19.3 4 5 6. 1 Tim. 4.14 6.20 2 Tim. 1.9 10 14. Tit. 3.5 6. In the Power of which Spirit the Disciples did not only do the Works and Miracles Jesus did but greater when as Dr. Jeremy Taylor saith Christ was risen in them Thus by the foolishness of the Spirit 's Preaching it pleased God to save those that believe and obey the Word in the Heart as Doctor Taylor saith which Word Incarnate is God's Preacher to all the World and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah Singing Psalms Likewise be pleased to consider Whether the Psalms now sung in Parish-Churches for Matter and Form be the same sung by the Saints in the Primitive Times who sung that they witnessed to be true with understanding of the Spirit making melody in their Hearts to the Lord And whether those that sing what they cannot witness true in themselves do not sing lies in hypocrisy yea or nay And whether any can in Truth sing the 131 Psalm that is not born of the same humble and meek Spirit that was in Christ Jesus O Lord I am not puft in mind I have no scornful eye I do not exercise my self in things that are too high But as a Child that weaned is even from his Mothers Breast So have I Lord behav'ed my self in silence and in rest And whether any that have not entred into or gone through the New Birth can sing the 17th Psalm verse 3. Thou hast well tri'd me in the night and yet could'st nothing find That I have spoken with my tongue that was not in my mind And for the works of wicked Men and paths perverse and ill For love of thy most holy Name I have refrained still Psal 42. vers 3 4. The tears always are my repast which from mine eyes do slide When wicked Men cry out so fast where now is God thy Guide Psal 102.4 5 6 7 8. And as an hearth my bones are burnt my heart is smitten dead And withers like the grass that I forget to eat my bread c. Thus was David Crucified with Christ and buried with him in Baptism which none can truly sing but those that are partakers with Christ in his Death and Sufferings Allelujah Also Psal 6.2 c. For I am weak therefore O Lord of mercy me forbear And heal me Lord for why thou know'st my bones do quake for fear Psal 22.14 15. But I drop down like water shed my joints in sunder break My heart doth in my body melt like wax against the heat c. Psal 31.1 4 5. O Lord I put my trust in thee let nothing work me shame As thou art just deliver me and set me quite from blame The Psalms following can no Man truly sing but those that are born of the Spirit and have Christ the New Birth in them Such only as are risen with Christ can sing the triumphant new Song of Moses and the Lamb and of Simeon and Mary the Virgin Allelujah Psal 18.4 6. The pangs of death did compass me and bound me every where The flowing waves of wickedness did put me in great fear I thus beset with pain and grief did pray to God for grace And he forthwith did hear my plaint out of his holy place Vers 18 19 20 21 22. He brought me forth in open place whereas I might be free And kept me safe because he had a favour unto me For that I walked in his way and in his paths have trod And have not sinned wickedly against the Lord my God c. Verse 22. But pure and clean and uncorrupt appear'd before his face And did restrain from wickedness and sin in any case Vers 28 29. For by thy help an host of Men discomfit Lord I shall By thee I scale and over-leap the strength of any Wall c. Vers 31 32 33 34. The God that girdeth me with strength is he that I do mean That all the ways wherein I walk did ever-more keep clean c. He did in order put my hands to battel and to fight To break in sunder bars of brass he gave mine arms the might Thou teachest me thy saving health thy right hand is my tower Thy love and familiarity doth still increase my power And Verse 38. For thou didst gird me with thy strength to war in such a wise That they be all scatter'd abroad that up against me rise Vers 41 42 43 44 45 46. And still like dust before the wind I drive them under feet And sweep them out like filthy clay that sticketh in the street Thou keep'st me from seditious Folk that still in strife are led And thou dost of the Heathen Folk appoint me to be Head c. Vers 48 49. And for this cause O Lord my God to thee give thanks I shall And sing out praises to thy Name amongst the Gentiles all c. Allelujah Psalm 23. to the end My Shepherd is the living Lord nothing therefore I need In pastures fair and waters calm he sets me forth to feed c. Psal 4.1 7 8 9. O God that art my Righteousness Lord hear me when I call Thou hast set me at liberty when I was bound in thrall c. Psal 42.7 8. One grief another in doth call as Clouds burst forth their voice The floods of evil that do fall run over me with noise Yet I by day felt thy goodness and help at all assays Likewise by night I did not cease the living God to praise Verse 9. I am perswaded thus to say to him with pure pretence O Lord thou art my guide and stay my rock and sure defence Allelujah Psal 59.16 17. But I will shew thy strength abroad thy goodness I will praise For thou art my defence and God at need in all assays c. Psal 119.11 Within my heart and secret thoughts thy words I have hid still That I may not at any time offend thy Godly Will Vers 13 14 15 16. My lips have never fear'd to preach and publish day and night The judgments all that did proceed from thy mouth full of might Vers 22 55 56 57 67. Lord turn from me rebuke and shame which wicked men conspire For I have kept thy Covenant with zeal as hot as fire Vers 105 167 168. Even as a Lanthorn to my feet so doth thy Word shine bright And to my paths where-ever I
can hold forth the blessing of Peace and Establishment to the World and I am perswaded God hath fitted you for such a Work as this therefore I beseech you suffer a word of Exhortation Be faithful to the Testimony of the Lord with which he hath inspired you stand forth in the Name and Power of that Spirit which dwells in you lay by all carnal Ends and self Interests and come forth in the nakedness and simplicity of the Love of God in which you will breath out the blessing of Peace amongst us O let not Sion be built up any longer with Blood nor her Mourners wander about in the Defarts to seek for shelter and safety let the searchings of your Hearts and the yearnings of your Bowels be for the Breaches and Divisions that are among the People of God 'T is You that the great expectation of many of the Lord's People in this Nation is now towards Our Wounds Breaches in the Circumstantials of Religion are too wide and extensive for a formal outward and literal Ministry to heal and cement We have languished in Divisions too long already under these Physicians 't is only a Spirit-Ministry with evidence demonstration and power that proceeds from an innate Principle of the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts that can compose all our Differences satisfy all Parties and Interests and settle us upon a sure Foundation of Peace Rest and Happiness If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies fulfil ye the Joy of the People of God in these Nations that ye come forth with the like Mind and Spirit in your Ministry amongst us and in the Power of the same Love preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace I know there is wisdom and largeness enough in the Love of God to accomplish these noble Ends and the witness of this upon your Hearts must necessarily strengthen your Faith in this Ministry for certainly that Love so ample that can redeem the World when and where 't is witnessed by the Spirit will appear large enough to cover all our Infirmities abate all our Contentions and quiet all the Clamours that abound among us If thus you can appear and stand forth this day as indeed Priests unto God and true Ministers of Christ Jesus you shall worthily be called The Healers of our Breaches and the Restorers of our Paths to dwell and walk in with love and pleasantness one towards another In which Spirit of Universal Love and good Will I Rest a Friend to you and the Souls of all whilst I am and when I am no more R. R. To all Teachers Preachers and Dispensers of the Word and Sacraments under the Dispensations of those called Presbyterians Independents and Anabaptists ROBERT RICH a Servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God which Gospel was promised and preached by the Holy Men of God ever since the Foundation of the World was Laid as in the Scriptures of Truth you may read Gen. 3.8 15. 12.1 3. with Gal. 3.8 Deut. 30.11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 10.6 8. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Heb. 8.8 to the end Isa 52.7 with Rom. 10.15 Isa 61.1 with Luke 4.18 9.6 Mark 16.15 2 Cor. 4.4 6. 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.12 25. In the power and strength of which Gospel the Word in the Heart or Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts doth R. R. send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah TO you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit who have Christ Jesus the New Man in you and are Members of his Body Spiritual through Sanctification of the Holy Spirit of Grace you in him and he in you made perfect in one to you Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven which Spirit of Light begat Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good-will towards his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved me in the Year 1666 to send to the People called Presbyterians Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst their Poor that were in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity The like Sum I also sent to them called Independents As likewise to those called Anabaptists to be distributed to the Poor that were amongst them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for Thirty pieces of Silver but from one that witnessed the Resurrection from the Dead one who had long crucified the Lord of Life in my Self and by many and often Transgressions had slain the Witness of God his Holy Spirit of Grace and Light which oft cried in me Why wilt thou die Return to me the Light and Life of the Soul and thou shalt live At length I hearkened to the Voice of the Son of God in me in obedience to which Voice my Soul came to live in whose Life I have Rest Peace and Joy in the Lord my Saviour Allelujah Thus by the Incarnation or indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace and Revelation of Christ in me I came to see what Peter saw Acts 10.34 35. Matth. 16.17 That of all Nations and Religions those that feared God and acted righteously towards Man are accepted with him Also by the same Revelation of God's Spirit I understood the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath sent and given his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light to be the Life of the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith every one is enlightned both Jew and Gentile that cometh into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him who is the Way the Truth the Life and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah As you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 30.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 c. with Rom. 10.6 8. Heb. 8.8 to the end John 1.4 9. 8.12 12.46 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word incarnate in the Heart moved on the Face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which Tabernacle God pitched in me in whose Light I saw Light which gave me freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions which Light opened my Understanding so as to know Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Presbyterians Independents
the Ostrich in the Wilderness O let it be timely considered by you how degenerate you are grown from that Love Meekness and Simplicity to which you at first pretended Are not you the Men that have in your Doctrine exalted the Measure of God in all Men as the only Guide and Director in that to abide and by it to be led and not by any outward Prescriptions or Impositions whatsoever And are not you the Men that now not only impose and prescribe on others but also condemn and censure your Innocent Brethren as Heathens and Infidels because in Conscience they cannot subject themselves under the Yoke of your Prescriptions Are you so presumptuous as to conclude all knowledg and discerning in the Things of God and all Spiritual Judgment is given into your Hands that you usurp the Keys of the Kingdom and will let none in but those who stand in conformity to your carnal and literal Impositions Is G. F. and the Body of his Friends of greater Authority than Peter who was an Elder and Pillar of the Church whom nevertheless Paul withstood because he did not walk uprightly according to the Truth of the Gospel but endeavoured to compel the Gentiles who had their Law within themselves to live after the manner and form of the Jews whose Law stood much in outward Observation from the Letter as doth G. F's Comely Order And are G. F. and his Friends so bold and daring as to condemn the Generation of the Just that went before you in other past Ages under their various Dispensations and all those Worthies in our present Time who cannot own your Practices or submit to your Precepts by concluding them none of the Body of Christ because noneof your Membership Is the Body of Christ now shrunk and narrow'd into G. F's Tribe of Members and Ministry are these the Lips only that preserve Knowledg are you the only Men that fear God and work Righteousness and must we forsake the inward Testimony to ask the Law from your Mouths Can any thing be more prodigious and destructive to the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus than this Doctrine or present it self with greater horror and amazement to the minds of all rational and sober Men and all that truly fear God than the injunction of a necessary submission to G. F. and his Tribe of Proselytes under the penalty of being no otherwise esteemed than Heathens and Infidels Do not you in these things apparently cloath your selves with the Livery and Character of Him who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or worshipped by creating a Dominion over your Brethren and the movings of God in them and claiming a Power to judg of all Differences prescribing Rules and Orders and putting Yokes upon the Necks of your Disciples to the stifling of their Consciences wounding their Peace and destroying that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free If this be the Spirit which you at present stand in as your several forementioned Papers do plainly import I dare boldly challenge all that have gone before you from the Pope himself downward to all Sects and Opinions extant in the World to produce if they can a greater Instance of swelling Soveraignty over the Minds and Consciences of Men than you have erected And certainly had you a Secular Power but framed and fitted to your Rule Ecclesiastical Supremacy the World would soon feel that the Finger of your Church-Censures would bear an equal weight at least with the Loins of those Persecutors which have bin your Predecessors Now all this considered can you in soberness conceive that this frame of Spirit in that absolute Dominion which you claim to your selves over all others will render you the Healers of our Breaches and the Restorers of our Paths of Peace Can you think that this Arbitrary and Haughty Government will invite the Nations and Languages of all Sects and Opinions to lay hold on your Skirts which desire to be led by you because the Lord is with you Or do they not rather with dread and horror behold you while you so heavily impose upon others in such Circumstances and Indifferencies wherein the Kingdom of God doth not consist and make those Rules and Prescriptions of equal value with Divine Institutions Witness the Hat c. the outward Garb imposed upon your Proselytes Your Set-times when to begin and when to end your Religious Exercises notwithstanding your pretence of the immediate guidance of the Spirit Your manner of greeting one another with many things of the like Nature To all which an exact conformity is required upon the penalty of a Censure from G. F. and his Eldership Now dear Friends can you in the cool of the Day of God upon your Spirits believe that this violent and rigid sort of Practice will render your Feet beautiful upon the Mountains or will attract the Hearts of any wise or ingenuous People towards you No surely your experience may otherwise inform you that since this violence of Esau against his Brother Jacob hath appeared amongst you the Curse of Babylon hath overtaken you Isa 47.9 to the end even the loss of Children and Widowhood which will certainly come upon you in their perfection as the Witness of God ariseth amongst those that you have so heavily yok'd and burthen'd with your own invented Prescriptions I have done with you when I have told you That the Dispensations in which God administers Himself to the World at this day do most naturally call for a more sober moderate tender and loving Spirit amongst Christians than this wherein you are exercised You cannot but observe how the Lord of Hosts is pleading with the World in the dreadful Manifestations of his Power by Plague Fire Sword c. how He turns the Earth up-side down and makes it reel to and fro like a Drunkard and the Foundations of the World are out of Course divided and broken both in their Civil Policies and Religious Practices Fear the Pit and a Snare have laid hold on the Inhabitants of the Earth there is no Establishment in their Paths and the way of Peace they know not Yea this is the day of Jacob's Troubles and for the Divisions of Reuben there are great searchings of Heart God is now pleading in Judgment with the People that have bin called by his Name searching Jerusalem with Candles Zeph. 1.12 c. and Judgment is already begun at the house of God He is about to judg the Spiritual Pride and Exaltation the Cruelty and Oppression the Hypocrisy and Formality that hath mingled it self with all the fair and beautiful Professions of those that have bin called Christians And what will you say my Friends if in Israel's Skirts be found the Blood of the Souls of the poor Innocent Jer. 2.34 c. Now if this be the proper Work of the Almighty at this day as certainly all that are not either blinded with Carnal Interest or lull'd into a formal Security must needs