many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Modern Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ the Apostles we bear witness to by the same spirit not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus all these shifts saves not the Priests of England from being discovered their deceits abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H.N. Jacob B.W.E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them then this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but crosse his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgmens who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all alonge in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Aspes being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharises his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemâ—ed him with transgâ—essoâ—s and betwixt two thieves And in the end he desiers his Reader to receive in love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned not reeeived what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Perverse Principle and that Christ blâ—ssed infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by his fruit every spirit by its works words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designs are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavoury words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are cleare in his sight from these devilish accusations though J. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book is an accuser of the brethren is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical plots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he sayes his words would take away our lives but to raise the uncleane spirit against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe him for none else can to persecute the people way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters of haveing ill Designes which thing we stand witnesse against seek the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is forging of them and declaring of them that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returnig from his ungodilness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness whereas the subject of his matter invented in his mind brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in 22 particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scripture though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our cotradiction to Scripture and while we be proved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his slanders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God then a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that J. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and Witness of God in every man we appeal for judgement and do in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans conscience and beg not belief of any but know all that be in the Light of the Son of God witness to us and feel our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of godliness reaching to the Witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all And though J. S. judge our Doctrine to be Scripture-contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his Work and Judgement doth spring and try if an old lying heart and sinfâ—l wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit No we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the Light of the Spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him contradict the Scriptures though by his dark mind so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did judge of Christ to be a blasphemer and a contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and
begets and procreates all our errors and our love of error with our derisions of the truth here is many lyes folded up in one which are all denied with the life of God and the author of them proved to be of the Devil and we proved to be of God who are spoken all manner of evil against falsly for the name of Jesus His fifth lye is that we do subtilly couch many errours under specious words of truth this lye also I bear witness against as also against his sixth wherein he charges us with meer ignorance and wilful blindness about the covenant of Grace c. His seventh lye is That much of mystical Babylon and confusion is in our Writings and ways this is also a lye and of the Devil and also against his eighth I bear testimony our doctrine and practice ends not in Apostasie neither are they blasphemy against Christ as J.S. impudently asserteth so that from the first of his book to his last his whole Work is born witness against not to be of God but of the Devil and in vain hath he striven and his Work shall not accomplish any part of his desire for the Quakers against whom he hath written cannot be offended in Christ though J.S. have endeavoured for to make their way and doctrines in the sight of men abominable but his Work shall not prevent the purpose of the Lord nor the gathering in of the upright hearted from the mouths of devouring Shepherds such as J. S. and the Priests of England who is it that doth not begin to see their deceits and abominations yea thousands do and many more shall do so that all their striving to uphold their kingdom is but in vain for God hath blasted all their glory and he will teach his people himself and govern them by his own Law and order and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and Antichrist and all his Ministers shall be confounded and the Beast and the false Prophet shall boâ—h be taken alive and cast into the lake Ah John Stelham against whom hast thou set thy self and exalted thy horn against whom hast thou bent thy strength and shot forth thy envie in crafty words of guile who is it that thou hast defied and girded on thy armour against and counted them as nothing before thy uncircumcised strength even against the Lords people hast thou thus done though thou wilt not now know it yet one day thou shalt know it when iniquity is come to an end and transgression finished and thou shalt stand in thy lot at that day and receive according to thy work a just and righteous reward from the hand of the Lord in the day of judgement when every secret work of iniquity shall appear to condemnation and in the mean time the Lord will bring forth good unto his people even from thy evil and all things even thy evil purposes shall work together for good unto such whom God hath called and thy works and purposes which are to trouble them and to break them and to make them appear vile in the sight of men even thy work doth the Lord turn to establish them and to unite them and in the sight of men thy working against us proves us to be of God and thy self to be of the Devil who was a persecutor from the beginning and thou shalt be scattered in thy imaginations and thy whole work hath God confounded and it shall not accomplish any whit of that end propounded in thy sinful heart which hath brought forth mischief for it s blasted in the anger of God and men shall neither call it nor the father of it any more blessed And friend hadst thou known how little it doth accomplish of thy evil intent thou wouldst have spared thy labour and imployed thy service to another end and then had not thy wickedness so greatly appeared in the sight of God nor thy shame and nakedness in the sight of men as it now doth by this thy sinful deed brought forth of a cursed womb and conceived in unrighteousness Alas alas man how art thou fallen into the pit which thou hast digged for another and how doth the shame overtake thee which thou hast thought should have fallen upon us Let thy wickedness correct thee and know thou that the Lord will not forsake his people who cannot be offended in Christ though thou cast stumbling blocks of iniquity in the way and would cause them to sin but even so much the more as thou speakest evil against the way of the Lord are they the more upright therein and the more loving and delighting in the path of righteousness and thou hast but the more fully discovered in many things from thy own pen the wickedness and wrath that hath secretly lodged in thy heart and it appears that thy wisdom is devilish and from below deceiving and being deceived and thy path is in craft and subtilty and not in innocencie and plain simplicity and in this manner and by this means chiefly is thy work managed unto an evil end but the Lord hath rebuked it and wil do yet more til it appear to all men as it doth to us to be what I have said of it and it shall be a shame to thee and shall not receive praise neither of God nor man but condemnation in the sight of both and hadst thou known that we are established even on the top of Gods holy mountain and cannot be moved nor shaken by such weak pitiful blasts of confusion ignorance coming out of thy mouth where poyson lodges under thy tongue sure hadst thou known it thou wouldst have travelled in another path but that thy folly might appear unto all men is thy work sent abroad that they may see what lodges in thy mind even more envy them in the heart of Balaam and more desire of evil to the Lords people than ever was in him and thou fulfils the measure of thy fore-fathers wickedness till the sum be accounted and destructioâ— follow thou hast too much troubled thy self in labouring and thy reward will not contervail â—hy pains hadst thou but only spoken against us we should have born it and thou might have been the more excused but in that thou hast spoken against the light of Christ called it a perverse Principle many other blasphemous words of bitterness against the very truths of Jesus This is the cause wherefore we have answered thee and thou art utterly inexcusable for what thou hast done it is not altogether through ignorance though much ignorance be in it but out of perfect rebellion and purpose of mischief and for Masteâ—y we do not strive with thee but rather wisheth thy repentance than thy destruction and who doth not believe but your kingdom I mean the Priests of England is going down apace and your glory fading as a flower and the Lord will make you a shame to
their names in outward appearance but hath a measuring line given unto it and a true ballance whereby voices ways worships and testimonies is tried before they be approved and therewith shall this spirit be tried and voice which is come forth crying Hosanna to the Son of David or a testimony to the Lords Christ which being truly weighed and searched may prove a testimony against the Lords Christ which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world in setting up mans spirit to be the light instead of the Lords Christ. But first let us consider the burden under which this man hath laboured which is as he saith that which is both unnecessary and unseasonable First unnecessary because the same hath been before by better hands so it is not to be admired as a Monster because it hath already been and effected nothing Secondly unseasonable because those are already resolved that Jesus Christ is the true light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world which he would resolve that the spirit in every man is that light and so according to this every man must follow his own spirit instead of following the light which Christ hath enlightned him withal Now this burden thus considered which is both unnecessary and unseasonable having been in his brest above two years all that have received the spirit of judgement and knows the workings of the mysterie of iniquity and can truly read the state of those which are filled with unrighteousness knows that this birth is cursed before ever it came forth and it had been better that it had never been born nor brought forth into the world for it will be to the great aggravation of his sorrow and misery which did conceive it and so long travel in it and at last brought it forth but among the untimely births shall we reckon it which never saw the Sun nor never received blessing from the Father and happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast rewarded us and happy shall he be that takes and dasheth thy untimely birth against the stones Psal. 137.8 9. Against this birth hath the Lord stretched forth his everlasting arm to dash in pieces and this is not the first of Babylons children which in this age and in this City hath been brought forâ—h to the spoil nor the first which this man hath brought forth for he hath brought forth another without a name which is both as unnecessary and as unseasonable as this And so from experience he may say that it is both unnecessary and unseasonable either to conceive or bring forth any such thing against the seed which the Lord hath blessed for there was never any as yet which did strive against the Lord or his anointed ones which did prosper neither shall to the ends of the earth So the burden of this man is searched and judged and fâ—und not to be the burthen of the word of the Lord though he thought it to be so when in him he felt the fire of enmity bâ—yling and bubling up within him as in his Epistle But we have found it to be such a burthen as the false Prophets in Jerusalem did see for the people which was false burthens and causes of banishment Lam. 2.14 But if the fire of the Lord had been kindled in him it would have consumed this birth in the womb before ever it had been brought forth But the hour is coming and now is in which the Lord is fulfilling his promise according to the Scriptures which saith that he will make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieceâ— though all the people upon the earth be gathered together against it Zac. 12.3 And as this was spoken so it is fulfilled and fulfilling that the testimony of God may be sealed up among his children For now is the light risen with which the Lord Christ is gathering into the new Jerusalem the City of the living God and now hath many burthened themselves with it and so burthened that they cannot tell how to unburthen themselves of it But to ease themselves of that burthen which is ready to press them down they break forth into reviling terms and unsavory speeches and false assertions against the light and those that walk in it and will deny both the light and children of light to be spiritual Some calling it natural light some calling it natural conscience some created light some the light of reason and understanding some old creation light some a dim light some the spirit of man and so burthen themselves with it and when they have both spoken and printed such things to ease them of their burthen their burthen growâ— again and so they do not cease to vex and grieve the holy spirit of God from day to day and when they have burthened themselves with the enmity against the light and the works of righteousness proceeding forth from it to the father then they cry the burthen of the Lord the fire of the Lord within them But saith the Lord to such I will destroy that man and his house and the burthen of the Lord shall ye mention no more for every mans word shall be his burthen for ye have perverted the words of the living God of the Lord of hosts our God Jer. 23.36 Therefore is the measuring-line gone forth to measure the false burthens whereby they pervert the words of the living God with their own words and imaginations and unto those which ever were reproachers of the way and people of God the Lord saith I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten Ier. 13.40 So this is written that no man should any more burthen themselves with the burthensom stone whereby they will be broken to pieces if they fall upon it But that every one may come to it that with it they may see their false burthens and the sin which doth so easily beset them and may cease grieving of the spirit of the Lord while his spirit striveth with them and may come to know every man his own word which will become his burthen when it returns again unto him But the word of the Lord goeth forth and returns not empty neither doth it burthen him which it goes forth from when it returns again unto him Although the true burthen of the word of the Lord be known in many before it go forth from them Therefore then seeing that it is an untimely birth and not that which is born of the spirit which is come forth from him to whom I now am to speak Now least others being in the same blindness with him think as he doth that it is a true voice or Hosanna to the son of David or a true testimony to the Lords Christ I shall weigh his testimony seeing that the true voice is gone forth both in the days of his flesh and since in which days he was truly
over the world purifieth the heart and maketh man obedient and faithfull unto Goâ— as he lives in it till he hath fought the fight of it and overcome his spiritual enemy power of darkness which hath led man from his Maker into sin and transgression so as the gift of God did largely shew forth it self in the said servant of Christ by opposing and renouncing Errors stopping the mouths of and many times convincing gainsayers 3. And though his bodily presence and his speech to some seemed weak and contemptible yet we can in the truth bear witness that he was a man both of a solid spirit and quick understanding and delivered weighty things in his ministring as were felt by such as were unprejudiced who were impartial sober and staied in their spirits and the innocency and uprightness of his life and conversation so many have a certain knowledge and can give their testimony thereof that I shall need to say little as to that and he labored for peace unfeigned love and unity in the Truth amongst people witnessing against that spirit and those things in any which would either make division or cause offences or stumblings in any thing contrary to the Gospel of peace and salvation wherein the mystery of the everlasting and true fellowship consisteth and he truly preached the Cross of Christ and true judgment to such spirits as would live in a form and notion of Truth out of the life power and true obedience who though they may profess great matters in words and strain after high things in the carnal comprehension yet are but in the state of such as were dead as unto whom the Gospel hath in judgment beeâ— preached that they might be judged as men in the flesh buâ— live according to God in the Spirit as that follower of Christ and Minister of righteousness R. H. hath held forth who walked in his integrity to the Lord and â—â—tained his first love and habitation in the truth being over all such changeable spirits as would lead from it into any ways or things tending to be get prejudice division or offences in the minds contrary to thâ—â— pure love which stands in the living unchangeable Truth Anâ— this I must needs say touching that man that I never felt more of the presence and love of God accompanying him theâ— I did in that time we were sufferers and conversant togetheâ— in Newgate before his decease And he viz. R. H. was taken away in a time of suffering and tryal for the testimony of a good conscience being in the year 1662. in which many of the Lords people were under persecution especially in the City of London for the exercise of their tender consciences in meeting together in the worship of God as the Saints and true Christians in the Primitive times did and diverse others of the innocent and faithful servants of Christ who were sufferers upon the same account in Newgate London laid down their lives for the â—estimony of Jesus about that time as he did being for the most â—art taken weak and sick in prison and as was judged by the most part their hard imprisonment and deep suffering being crouded together in great companies the hot season in prison â—nd in holes was the occasion and beginning of their distemâ—er and sickness whereon they died before they were discharâ—ed of their imprisonment So as he nor they did suffer nor â—ere taken away for any evil-doing or in wrath or judgment â—ut in the peace and love of God as to them-ward having paâ—iently endured and faithfully finished their course with joy â—nd fulfilled their testimony in faithfulness as seeing him â—hat is invisible having received a crown of glory and life â—hose memorial lives with us and is for ever blessed and â—hus the Lord hath many times taken away the righteous â—â—om the evil to come who through faith have received a â—â—od report and left an everlasting testimony behind them And now blessed are all they that in faith patience and sinâ—â—rity do follow the Lamb unto the end whithersoever â—e goeth â—hether it be through tribulations persecutions or what sufâ—â—rings soever for such are they that keâ—p their habitations 〈◊〉 the power and love of God and such overcome by the blood 〈◊〉 the Lamb and the word of their testimony and shall reign â—ith Christ as victorious Conquerors in his everlasting kingâ—â—m over death and darkness and the power of it and such 〈◊〉 abide in the love of the Truth and Faith of Gods Elect do 〈◊〉 and witness that seed which God will exalt over the earth â—â—â—ore which he will root out and overturn his enemies that his 〈◊〉 plant may take deep root and spread to the ends of the 〈◊〉 And so all friends who have received the love of the Truth and the knowledg of the life and power thereof wherein is immortality to the faithful and obedient Be valiant for the Truth upon earth and live in true love unity and peace always minding and folâ—owing those things which make for peace and feel the true and constant love and fellowship in the Gospel of peace life and salvation And so blessings from on high will fill your hearts and the glory of the Lord will be your rereward in the everlasting inheritance of life with the holy seed which will out-live all its enemies and remain when the enmity of the wicked and the seed of it is removed and gone So the Lord exalt his Name and Truth and promote his Kingdom over all that is contrary to himself that he alone may have the glory and preheminence whose right it is G. W. Waltham in Essex the 27 of the 11 month 1662. Epist. pag. 4. lin 30. for attained read retained pag. 5. lin 16. for so as he read so as neither he Reader this following Testimony was given forth by our dear Friend Edward Burroughs before he finished his testimony by death for the Truths sake which I thought fit here to insert RIchard Hubberthorne was born in the North part of Lancashire and was of very honest Parents his Father was a Yeoman of the Country and had a good Report of his Neighbours for uprightnâ—sse in all his dealings and Richard was his onely Son who was inclinable from his youth upwards to Religion and to the best way always minding the best things and following the company of good men and was never known to be addicted to vice or malignity nor ever following any evil course of life from his Child hood but fâ—â—red the Lord and walked uprightly before him and 〈◊〉 faithful according to the Light and knowledge received in all things and his natural disposition temper was meek and lowly and loved peace among men he was brought up with his Parents in good education according to the custom of the Country and in time of the late Wars he was disposed ro go into the Army and was in Scotland most of the time till the Land was reduced and he
had some office in a Regiment and did sometime preach among his sincere and sober Companions that loved him wel according to his knowledg and judgment at that day and he obtained a good Report amongst such as were lovers of Religion And when it pleased the Lord God everlasting to raise us up to be a People in the North parts and through great Tribulations and extream distresses within and without which we passed through were we raised up of the Lord to be a holy and chosen People This same Person was one among the first of us whose heart the Lord touched with the sence of his Power and Kingdom and amongst us he had the mighty operation of the Power of God experienced in his heart Great afflictions and tribulations for many weeks was he exercised in through the dispensation of the Grace and Spirit of Christ Jesus he was in that state and while therein exercised for many dayes a wonder to all that beheld him as one passing out of the body as one under the deep sence of the hand of the Lord under the operation of his Power thus it was with many of us and particularly with him Till such time as the same Power that killed made alive as wounded also â—eâ—led as brought down also raised up and then being raised up in the holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ he was made a Minister of the Everlasting Gospel to preach Repentance Conversion Salvation and Remission of sins and accordingly went forth in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus the Saviour of mâ—n kind and was a Minister of the glad Tydings of Salvatiâ—n in many parts of this Land and elsewhere to the conversion of many Souls to God for his Ministry was made effectual by the Almighty Power of the Lord to turn many from darknesse to light from the power Satan to God and there are thousands who can in the Spirit of the Lord bear Testimony to the power and verity of his Ministry in many Countreys where he travelled for he laboured much in divers places and was very diligent and faithful in the work of the Lord and suffered imprisonment divers times and was hardly dealt withal and persecuted in Chester Cambridge and in Norwich prisons and other places and he was found faithful in all his Tryals among his Brethren and alwayes ready to do his service in what he was called unto with a willing mind being truly in body soul and spirit given up to the service of the Gospel of Christ Jesus a dispensation of which was committed unto him that he might serve the Lord in his Generation and though he how hath finished his Testimony in this World yet the remembrance of him lives with us in the Spirit of Jesus and he is accounted among the faithful Sufferers a Martyr for the witnesse of the Truth which ever liveth And for the space of nine years he laboured and travelled in the work of the Gospel aforesaid in most of the Counties of this Nation and was well known for his faithfulness among the Churches of Christ He was but little in stature in his outward man and of weak Constitution of body and was slow of speech and often more ready to hear then to speak he made little appearance in the manhood of Excellency or Authority but was contemptible among men yet he was very wise and knew his season when to speak and when to be silent and when he spoke it was with much discretion and deliberation in weaknesse of word many times yet reached perfectly the matter intended by him and his speech was with Graâ—e and in the fear of God and had Authority in the Spirits of men and was of savour and sound judgement though in weaknesse of the manhood expressed for he answered not mens Wisdom in excellent stile of words but the witnesse of God in sincerity of speech he was a Person of sound judgement in divine Mysteries and of good experience in the operations of the power of God and knew the passing through divers conditions of the inward man and was able to speak to many estates of man passing under the dispensations of the Grace of God he could well inform the mind of a person in an afflicted and tossed state of terrour and judgement and his Ministry was often savoury and seasonable and felt in the pure life though his words were plain and homely and no beauty in them to mans Wisdom and God made him and his service a blessing to many who shall speak for him in their own Consciences He was of a loving genâ—le and good disposition and acceptable was his Company to them that knew him and were like-minded a good Companion in all Conditions not soon moved into passion of either grief in Adversity or of joy in Prosperity nor had he a Spirit taking offence upon light occasions against any but watched for Good over all and not for Evil He was a man of peace and loved it and walked peaceably among his brethren in honest kind familiarity And I am perswaded in my Soul according to the experience I had of him for many years he abhorred dissention and strife among Friends and was never the real occasion intendedly by himself of any difference and dissention among brethren and what further is Truth of him I leave it to the just God whose testimony is true and never fails Among many others that were taken from Meetings and sent to Newgate according as ye have â—eard This same Person of whom I am now treating was in like manner rudely and violently taken on the 22 th day of the 4 th Month last out of a Meeting in the Bull at Aldersgate and carried before Richard Brown who used violence to him with his own hands in pulling his Hat down upon his head so that he brought his head near the ground and then he Commirted him to Newgate where he remained till the Sessions and was then indicted among the rest for being at an unlawful Meeting c. as it is said and he being throng'd up in Prison among the rest of us it pleased the Lord to visite him with sickness of body and in 10. dayes space always growing weaker and weaker in that time he deceased and laid down his body in peace About two days before his departure some of his dearest Friends went to visite him and sate by him a space and spoke somwhat to him and asked him if any thing was upon his Spirit he might now speak it to his Friends His answer was That there was no need to dispute matters for he knew the ground of his Salvation and was satisfied for ever in his peace with the Lord God and we know said he one another wel and what each of us can say about those things and spoke no further And the 17 th day of the 6th Month he departed this life and was gathered up to his Fathers the Generation of the just and though he be gone in that
deceit in Westchester and of his free-will hath given me not only to belâ—eve but to suffer for his Name sake who hath called me out of my own Countrey and from my Father's House and to go in obedience to his command whithersoever he shall call me While I was young I girded my self and went whither I would and then I yeilded obedienâ—e to my own will and to the will of man and was a man-pleaser but the Will of God I knew not neither was obedient to his commands but when the Lord was pleased to reveal his Son in me and make known his Will unto me to enlighten me with his true Light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World and by it let me see my self to be a stranger to him and knew him not though I was grown mighty in the Aegyptians Wisdom and was in love with the World and in the favour of men and in a profession and words of man's wisdom exceeded others being in a form of godliness but was ignorant of his Power and his Word but when his Power was made manifest and his Word spoke within me which Word was in my heart and was as a fire or a hammer and this Word being made manifest within me my Conscience being awakened by the Light of God which did convince me of sin and did testifie against all my words and actions and that just judgments of God were revealed from Heaven against that Nature I lived in and the Trumpet of the Lord was sounded within me and the Earth did tremble and the Viâ—ls of the wrath of the Almighty were poured down upon me and the powers of the Earth were terribly shaken the foundation of Wisdom and Earthly Knowledge was shaken and the Judgements of God were upon the outward man and my flesh was wasted off my bones and the bones smote one against another and I knew the Lord to be terrible and this Word powerful in burning up and hammering down the lustful nature I lived in in pleasure and wantonness in pride and fulness which the Word of the Lord was declared against and this Word I witness spoken from the Lord 's own power within me which made my flesh and bones to tremble exceedingly and did cause pain in all my loyns and paleness of face my comeliness was turned into corruption and my joy into lamentation and I was brought to the bed of sorrows where I cryed out in the bitterness of my spirit and I had no ease nor rest day nor night for the hearing of the ear which I did hear and the sight of mine eyes which I did see I heard the sound of the Trumpet the Alarum of War within me terrors wo misery and destruction was upon me in my trouble I cryed in the evening Would God it were morning and in the morning Would God it were evening and the terrors of the Almighty being upon me my acquaintance and familiars stood a far off me for they knew not the power of the Lord nor the Judgements of my God which I do witness to be revealed and made manifest in me and the Lord raised up in me a love to his Word by which all the powers of the Earth did tremble and the Earth it self was shaken by it and by this Word was I called to go and declare it as I had received it from the Lord to those who lived in the same Heathenish nature without the knowledge of God and to declare the Judgements of God against sin and ungodliness as they were made manifest in me And by this Word was I called to forsake Father and Mother Lands and Living to go in obedience to the Lord who commanded me not to take thought what I should eat or what I should drink or wherewith I should be cloathed but cast my care upon him And this I witness the Lord's care and those whom the Lord calls into his Work and who labour in his Vinyard need not complain to the World for want And for yeilding obedience to the Lord and his commands and not giving obedience to the corrupt Will of man who commands me contrary to what the Lord hath commanded do I suffer under the persecution of those who are set in the place of Rulers and Magistrates professing themselves to be Ministers of the Law of England and to act Justice according to that Law and do bear the Names of Major Justices of Peace and Magistrates and say they act according to the Law of the Nation and present Government but they are seen to be in the generation of those who were ever persecutors of the righteous Seed where-ever it is brought forth and the Servants of the Lord in all ages were ever persecuted by that generation professing to be Ministers of Justice But that which is acted is cruelty persecution and injustice and the righteous suffer whom the Law was not made for but for the lawless and disobedient and was added because of transgression The righteous Law af God was to be inflicted upon transgressors breakers of the Law but the unrighteous Law of men is inflicted upon the righteous who walk blameless and are proved no transgressors but in obedience to the Lord do witness a good conversation towards God and towards men our consciences bearing us witness in the sight of God And those who are Rulers of the City and Rulers of the Synagogue under whom I suffer imprisonment say this is their Law That if I will home into my own Countrey aâ—â— to my Father's House and stay there and depart this City I may be free upon this account else I shall remain in prison And this is contrary to the command of the Lord for he hath commanded me out of my own Countrey and from my Fathers house but my own Countrey dwelling and Fathers house the World knows not that which I am called from they know the natural man knows that which is natural And this is contrary to the Law of the Nation for the Law of the Nation doth not confine any to stay at one place nor to be kept from any one City being proved no transgressors nor breakers of the Law But I seek a Country and City whose Builder and Maker is God and truly if I had been â—â—â—dful of the Country I came forth and did love the pleasures delights and flesh-pots of Egypt which I am called from I might have had opportunity to have returned thither but in obedience to the Lord I had rather suffer affliction with the people of God then enjoy the pleasures of Egypt And you who say I have no lawful calling I do witness the same Word of God the true prophets of the Lord were commanded by to declare against all sin and ungodliness by the same Word do I declare against it where I am commanded of the Lord and am called out of the same calling that they were into the same Work of the Lord that they were and so I do
Jesus Christ that was called of men Master In thy answer to this Query thou bringest the Prophets and Priests under the Law called Fathers to oppose Christ's doctrine Thou wouldst compare Oxford and Cambridge to such as the Prophets and Apostles yet thou deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven And here thou hast cleared thy self and Oxford Cambridge from the life of the Prophets for they had immediate revelation And so thou bringest many names as Pastors and Shepherds and Ministers and Apostles and Evangelists to oppose Christ's Doctrine who saith Be not you called of men Master So let all see if they be not under the delusion who say Master is a civil honor and so opposeth Christ's Doctrine Here thou hast shewed thou dost not believe For how can you believe that receive honor one of another and shewest that thou lovest it as the Scribes and Pharisees did and would not part with it and art in thy pride and vain-glory as the Scribes and Pharisees were who say that is a civil honor and respect which Christ cryed wo against And herv thou hast brought thy self and all thy company under the wo and Oxford and Cambridge in the state which Christ pronounced wo against and thou art judged with the same life that gave forth the Scriptures Qu. 4. Shew me by the Scriptures where ever the Ministers of Christ took Tythes of the people or Augmentations In thy answer thou saist The Priests under the Law received Tyâ—hes Rep. There was a time that they received Tythes they might not neglect them as denying their Tythes to the first Priesthood There was a time after Christ when he was sacrificed up that he was preached the unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7. then the Priesthood which received tythes was denyed therefore the wo is come upon thee and all thy generation who receive tythes according to the changeable Priesthood Here thou hast shewed thy self without judgement and rhe love of God and the wo is come upon thee and all thy generation who receive tythes and hold up the changeable Priesthood and so deny Christ come in the flesh They that preached the Gospel who lived on the Gospel denied the changeable Priesthood who received Tythes but for shame you Ministers of Oxford and Cambridge stop your mouths for they must be stopt do not you sue men at the Law and imprison men for Tythes And here you shew you do not preach the Gospel for it will not maintain you for them that preached the Gospel lived on the Gospel There thou thief art taken who hath gotten the Apostles words who art for judgement Qu. 5. Shew me by the Scriptures and what Scripture have you which speaks of the word Sacrament which you tell the people of and deceive the simple Pr. And in thy Answer to this Query thou art confused First thou sayest there is no Scripture for the word Sacrament and yet thou sayest Christ commands it and yet thou sayest there is not such a word in Scripture Rep. Here thou which addest to it hast brought thy self under the plagues and wo. And here let all who are in the Light see if thou art not a deceiver who deceives thy soul. I charge thee again that thou knowest not Christ for thou deniest immediate revelation so thou knowest not his commands nor dost not obey them for none know the Son but to whom he is revealed And here I charge thee to be a deceiver and a deluder of the soul from the Lord. This is in reply to the answer of the fifth Query Qu. 6. Shew me what Scripture you have which speaks that the Apostles sprinkled Infants Thou bringest the Scriptures as Christ saith Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God And this thou bringest to justifie sprinkling Infants for circumcision outwardly was a type of circumcision inwardly So thou hast not a word in the Scripture to maintain it but thou ramblest up and down and perverts many Scriptures in which there is not such a word for it And here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar for Christ never commanded sprinkling Infants neither is it any Ordinance of Christ neither is there any example among the holy men of God that ever it was practised the plagues of God are added to thee Let all people see if there be any word for sprinkling Infants let the scriptures which thou bringest judg thee Luke 18.15 Jer. 15.6 Luk. 1.66.80 Act. 10.47 Here I charge thee with all these scriptures to be a lyar and they shall judge theâ— which thou hast brought for sprinkling of Infants let the Reader of thy Book examine the scriptures and find thee a Lyar and all thy dirty stuff which thou hast gathered from them is to be trodden under foot with the children of the Light who witness baptism and circumcision and new birth born again and all who are here do see thee to be blind deaf and a fool and there thou mayest read thy self Let all people see thee here who art without the life of the scripture who deniest immediate revelation from Heaven which the Apostles witnessed and the Prophets for without God thou art eternally I witness it Qu. 7. Shew me what Scripture you have to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and whether the Apostles did so In thy answer to this query thou bringest the Apostles words which said pray alwayes to justifie standing praying in the Synagogues and having the chiefest place in the Assemblies which Christ cryed wo against And here I charge thee to be a false Prophet who puts no difference betwixt the Apostle and the Pharisees though he said the Temple which Solomon built him it was a house of prayer Christ said there should not be one stone of it left upon another when Christ Jesus was witnessed Stephen for witnessing him was stoned to death And here thou hast shewed thou hast no judgement and errs not knowing the Scripture And as for Christ's whipping them out of the Temple read thy self to the Light in thy Conscience I speak and so all thy praying before thy Sermon and after as thou callest it in the Synagogues in the chiefest place of the Assemblies the wo which Christ pronounced against thy Fathers hath light upon the son thou who art found in the same place let Matth. 23. judge thee the life which gave forth these words the life of these words is upon thee and so all thy prayers are abomination to the Lord God in the state thou art in and the praying of the Saints who were moved by the spirit thou hast cleared thy self from for thou deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven and how canst thou pray and not with the spirit And here let all people judge and see what thy prayers are if thou be not in the state of the Pharisees who deny immediate revelation and to be one that is blind
thou deniest that deniest immediate Revelation from heaven And here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar and false Prophet and that thou art guided by the Father of lies Where thou tells of Elisha's Colledge and saist that it was so full that it was enlarged and bringest in that place of Scripture to colour over thy lyes 2 King 6.1 Let that Scripture be a witness against thee that thou artâ— lyar and a perverter of the Scriptures thou full of all subtilties blush for shame thou lyar is there any mention of any Colledge there Or is there any mention of the Schools of the Prophets where the Word of God was studied in those places of Scripture before-mentioned as thou sayest Let them witness against thee All the Prophets were taught of God and there was no studying for what they spoke at Naioth see if they did not receive the Spirit of Prophesie and spoke by immediate Revelation which thou denies knows not their manner of teaching and learning 1 Sam. 19 20. to the end of the chap. And the Prophesie came not in the old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and the Scâ—ipture is of no private interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 21. Here art thou proved a lyar and a perverter of the Scripture wresting it to thy own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 Now call not Truth railing thou dissembler and enemy of all righteousness the Scripture turns edge against thee and witnesses against thy deceit and filthiness whereby thou seeks to strangle the truth but thou art found out to be among the dogs sorcerers and lyars spoken of in Scripture and art shut out of the Kingdom of God and art no Minister of Christ Rev. 22.15 18 19. Thou Enemy of God how darest thou say that the Prophets studied the Word when no prophesie came by the will of man but by the will of God and no man knoweth the Father but the Son neither knoweth any man the Son but the Father and he to whom is revealed Maâ—th 11.27 And here thou deniest both the Father and the Son and the Prophets and Apostles that deniest immediate revelation for they all bear witness against thee and such as thou art for the Apostle said Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ And all the true Prophets witness that which thou deniest And here I have proved thee a lyar a false prophet and a deceiver perverting the Scriptures and they bear witness with me And thou full of all guile and deceit the word of the Lord shall rise up in judgement against thee and such as thou art Something in reply to thy Discourse of the Spirit as thou callest it FRiend the Spirit of the living God thou hast not for thou deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven who art discoursing of the Spirit and here thou art made manifest but to be in the pretence of the spirit and knows nothing that is revealed with the spirit For thou that deniest immediate revelation from Heaven deniest the spirit of the living God The Apostle saith Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2 9 10. And here thou hast denied immediate revelation from Heaven hast denied the spirit of God and manifested thy self to be in the natural state Therefore I command thee and charge thee in the presence of the living God to be silent and to give over receiving of the people 2. Thou that denies immediate revelation from Heaven thou denies the grace that was to be brought unto the Saints whose minds were to be girded up which grace was to be brought unto them at the revelation of Jesus Chrisr And thiâ— thou hast denied again as all people may see 1 Pet. 1.13 and here thou hast denyed Jesus Christ and his grace who deniest immediate revelation and art in the fashion of the world and a blasphemer 3. Thou that hast denied immediate revelation from heaven hast denied the Spirit to pray withal and so all thy prayers are hyyocrisie 4. Thou that hast denied immediate revelation from heaven hast denied the Son of God For none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him Mat. 11.27 5 And thou that hast denied immediate and miraculous revelation from Heaven hast not denied the Son of God onely but the Father also And thou that haâ—t not the Son of God hast not life Pr. The power is originally from God as the Fountain but conveyed through the Ministry of man as the conduit p. 90. Rep. Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man but by the will of God And here thou art proved to be a seducet and thy Ministry contrary to his here thy spirit is tryed And thou slanders them who hear the voice of God and art scorning them and in a deriding way calls it a deceitful eccho but we know that God scorns the scornful and hath them in derision Pr. For any man to pretend immediate calling from God without the Ministry of man is a new Gospel distinct from Christ and his Apostles and such can be no other then ths dictates of seducing spirits and doctrine of devils p. 9. Rep. Here I take all the children of Light to record to prove and try thy Spirit and Gospel to be of man and whether thy Ministry and Gospel which thou preachest which is of man be of God For Paul said that Gospel which he preached was not of man And here again thou art contrary to the Apostle and thy spirit is tryed to be a seducing spirit and thy Doctrine to be of the Devil who deniest immediate revelation Pr. For thou sayest That which is immediately from God and without the Ministry of man is the doctrine of the Devil and of the seducing spirits Rep. Paul said the Gospel that he preached he received it not of man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ and here thou art contrary to the Apostle and thy self in the state thou speaks of And Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man but by God the Father Thou impudent enemy of God and blasphemer wilt thou say his doctrine was of the Devil who denied man as Gal. 1.1 who said Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man Pr. Therefore there is no need of any such qualifications for the best of us dare not stand to such sublime and eminent gifts of the spirit or to any immediate and extraordinary spiritual gifts p. 93 94. Rep. Here thou preachest up that which is not qualified for we do believe you that you dare not stand to such eminent gifts of the spirit for we have tryed you and know your spirits how can you have the same gifts who deny the
according to that light in the conscience and thou bears the svvord in vain and that in the conscience vvill take hold upon thee and condemn thee and vvil execute the righteous lavv of God upon thee vvho refuseth to act according to that in the conscience but those vvhom you call Quakers act according to that in the conscience and they are no fighters no strikers no drunkards no swearers no oppressors no whoremongers no idolators no fornicators no lyars no scorners no revilers no false accusers not proud not high-minded not thieves not murtherers for they give obedience to that in the conscience which crucifies them to all these things and so the Law cannot take hold upon them and from the Lord do they declare against all these things where they are yet standing which the Law of God takes hold upon And you who are called Magistrates and Justices as you pass through the streets in the Cities and in the Markets you may hear men swear and lye and be drunk in the Ale-houses you pass by them And when any of the servants of the Lord who are sent of the Lord into the Markets or Cities and declare the Word of the Lord against drunkards swearers and lyars who are cheating one another and cozening one another and bid them repent and declare to them the just judgement of God which is to fall upon them and all such whom thou who art a Magistrate hath neglected to act Justice upon and to punish according to the law then they who are drunkards fall a fighting and striking and hales them to thee vvho art a Magistrate who shouldst punish the drunkards and swearers fighters strikers and thou saist they have disturbed the people and broken the peace when they have declared the Word of the Lord against sin ungodliness and all the unrighteousness of men which thou should have punished by the Law And thou art called a Justice of peace and this is thy peace which is kept with drunkards swearers strikers and fighters and is disturbed by the Word of the Lord declared from the mouth of the Lord by his servants against all these things who art not guilty of any of those things And here thou art no Minister of God but an encourager of evil doers and discourager of those that do well vvho declare justice from God against those whom thou should act justice upon and when they are brought before thee thou wouldst have them to honor thee who art a vile person and no Minister of God and no honor belongs unto thee but he who ministers justice from that which is pure of God in the conscience is worthy of double honor because they wil not honor thee vvho acts no justice but according to thy corrupt wil is not obedient to that of God in the conscience thou sends them to prison or out of the City or Markets or stocks or whips them if a drunkard or swearer wil put off his hat to thee and bow to thee and call thee Master thou dost not imprison such an one nor punish him neither with Stocks nor Whips nor counts him any breaker of the peace And here they who break the peace and act contrary to the Law of God are spared and are at liberty and they who keep the peace and do violence to no man they are punished by those who should act Justice in the Land And here iniquity is set in the place of Justice and is at liberty and Truth is imprisoned by the Rulers of the Nation And to all Rulers I speak from the Lord to that in your consciences minding it wil let you see who it is that is not subject to Authority Whether they that are drunk or they who declare against drunkenness Whether thty that swear or they who declare against swearing and deny to swear at all Whether they that fight and strike and beat one another or they who never lift up a hand against any man but declare the Word of the Lord against such things And them whom you call Quakers are no drunkards nor no swearers for Jesus Christ saith Swear not at all but let your yea bâ— yea and your nay be nay and so they abide in the doctrine of Christ and keep the peace of God and are justified in the sight of God and are no breakers of the peace but are subject unto Authority for conscience-sake cannot break the commands of Christ nor do any wrong nor violence unto any man and the peace for they are no fighters nor strikers Rom. 13.45 but they are smitten and striken and they give their backs to the smiter and hide not their face from shame and spitting as the same Seed Christ did who passed before Isa. 50.6 who preached repentance and spoke in cities markets and villages and by the sea-coasts and then all the city vvas in an uproar as it is novv and their peace vvas broken and they vvere disturbed they smote him on the face and buffeted him and imprisoned him lest if he should be let alone all men should believe on him And you are the same generation now for any vvho are sent of the Lord novv to preach repentance to turn you from your iniquities that your minds might be turned to the Light of Christ vvithin you vvhich vvill check you for sin and evil then your cities are on an uproar against them to persecute them and so you fill up the measures of your fathers iniquity A Word from the Lord to all you who are called before the Magistrate to be a Jury who swear before the Magistrates to see the Law put in execution and that you will execute the Law upon Drunkards and Swearers and that you will see that the poor the fatherless and widows be relieved and not see them want and this you swear before the Magistrates that you will see it performed and that none be idle nor wander abroad without a Calling And some of you that swear to punish Drunkards are Drunkkards and have fellowship with Drunkards and you that swear to punish swearers are swearers and here out of your own mouths you are condemned and by the Light of Chrâ—st you are judged who are Swearers you are out of the commands of Christ who saith Swear not at all And you see the Poor the Fatherless and Widows in want and you do not relieve them and you see idle persons without any calling and you do not set them on work but they live in idleness devouring the Creation And herein you do not perform your Vows nor execute the Law which you professe and so acts contrary to the Light of Christ in your consciences Now to the Light of Christ in you all I speak and charge you in the presence of the living God to take heed unto it and it will let you see wherein you have transgressed the pure Law of God and suffered sin to reign unpunished and it will bring the condemnation upon you who
because he said that all strife and contention and revenge was of the flesh and of the Divel and to be condemned with the light which testimony is also true and this testimony can we never deny nor change from And whereas thou bringest his salutation to contradict that where he saith Make war in righteousnesse against Gog and Magog and prepare for the Lord. Herein thou hast manifested thy blindness which cannot see the war which stands in righteousnesse from that which proceeds from the lust but as thou hast imagined carnally of all the things of God which was spoken from the same spirit and so as well may thou make lyes and pervert our words as thou dost the Scriptures and now having published many lyes against us thou makest a profession of thy own condition that all people may see froâ— what thou judgest us to be in delusion thy words are these Now forasmuch as I have not an infallâ—ble spirit infallibly to interpret what may be intended in these revengfull expositions notwithstanding my imaginary faculty might find ground enough of bad consequence in them yet I shall leave them to better judgments as in the ninth page of thy book Ans. Thy now leaving of us to better judgments or to them that have the spirit of truth will not excuse thee for what thou hast done already that hath had nothing to judge us by all this while that thou hast spoken and written against us but evill consequences out of thy imaginary faculty How art thou fallen from what thou seemedst to pretend against us in thy books as if thou hadst known that we had held forth false Doctrine or intended a carnall war because we spake of a war in righteousnesse But now thou speakest plainly that thou hast not the spirit of Truth truly to interpret what we intend in our expressions but leeves it to better judgments Here thou hast manifested thy self a foolish builder it had been lesse shame for thee if thou hadst not begun then having begun in thy imaginary faculties and bad consequences and now confessest thou wantest the spirit of Truth here thou hast proved thy selfe to be the Harlot and fit to be chased out of the Citie who doth raise strife accusations and lyes against the truth of God from thy imaginary faculties and bad consequence being without the spirit of truth Again in thy answer to E. B. salutation thou boasts from thy imaginary faculty and sayst in thy 11. page O thou proud presumptuous ambitious Quaker whence is thy originall thou art not yet seven yeares old and art thou the only people of the whole creation in the favour of the Almighty therefore woe be to them that live to see thee prosperous to a manly age Answ. Our original is before all ages or the number of years and before any imaginary faculties which is thy rule was and this in time being brought forth which before all times was they who are found in their imaginary faculties as thou art the woe comes upon them and thy woe and torment will increase as the truth increaseth as it was from Christ to the Jewes Scribes and Pharises in the dayes of his flesh who questioned the truth of his word from the youngnesse of his yeares as thou dost his truth now having nothing to judg with but thy imaginary faculties having nothing of infallible spirit and yet thou goes on accusing us that we deny all matter and form of worship I say where the spirit of truth is which thou sayst thou hast not there is both the matter and form of the true worship owned and not denied which spirit we have and know both the matter and form but in thy imaginary faculties there is neither And whereas thou sayest that we deny actuall obedience and the authority of the Scriptures that is false for by that authority that gave forth the Scriptures are we daily in actuall obedience to the Lord. Again thou bringest several particulars which thou callest the markes of the Harlot by which she may be known as first in her language which is to speak the word Thou to a particular person in stead of You thou wouldest make the language of the Harlot then all the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did speak the language of the Harlot and then the Scripture is translated in the language of the Harlot which doth not use the word You to any particular person But here thou hast made it more manifest to be without the spirit and to speak from thy imaginary faculties The second mark is her weapons which is saying that people is carnall and in the flesh and that they know not the light of Christ but stumble at the stumbling-stone and are in the cursed ground and that they cannot believe though the truth be declared unto them they having not the spirit but are in their sins And this thou sayest is the weapon of the Harlot Answ. Now these words were all used by the Ministers of the most high God against the Harlot as thou art manifest to be who stumbles at the stumbling-stone as it is written Romans 9.32 John 11.9 10. Here thou may see they which were no harlots told them they stumble at the stumbling-stone and told some that they were carnall 1 Corinthians 3.3 and the Prophets told them they had eyes and could not see eares and could not hear and hearts and could not understand Isaiah 44.18 and this was no marke of a Harlot in the Prophet but they whom he said was so was Harlotted from the Lord and Christ told them that they were yet in their sins and told them they should die in their sins John 8.24 if they belâ—eved not and told them they were of their father the Divell and had not known God but was from beneath John 8. And these thing in Christ was no marke of a harlot but they were harlots whom he so Judged and so thy marks discover thee The third mark Her presumption attempting to share with the Almighty And this which thou calls presumption is to be guided by God and hereby thou doth accuse all the Saints of God for they all did so far presume as to be guided by God and by his spirit and to say that all the children of the Lord should be taught of the Lord and this was no presumption nor no mark of the harlot and they said as he is so are wee in this present World and this was no presumption nor the marke of the harlot but humility if thou were not blind thou would see it The fourth mark is pretending to own the Scriptures and speak much of Religion and yet have nothing in matter form or essence Answ. This hath marked out thy condition that pretends to owne the Scriptures and professeth them and hath not that Spirit which gave them forth being guided by the imaginary faculties and so without the power and effect of that which thou professeth but we by that spirit which gave them forth
put them to an end and not destroy them nor contradict them in the sight of his Father though to their corrupt judgement and Christ tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God who had old lying hearts and were sinful wretches even such as John Stelham hath confessed himself to be and therefore his words and judgement and theirs is like to be all of one nature judging Truth to be Error and the Way of God to be Heresie and Blasphemy this the Pharisees did of old and even thus doth John Stelham and his companions do at this day But why should any be troubled hereat seeing herein Christs words are fullfilled upon us who said They shall speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my Names sakâ— And so hath this man done with his light scornful spirit and fulfilled Christs words who because he hath not known the Father nor the Son hath spoken evil falsly against them that follow Christ And this were sufficient answer to his whole Book Yet let us see what follows and let the Reader try with all moderation that he may be edified and may know the true Spirit from the false and the doctrine of the Gospel from lying visions and may cleave to the Truth and escape the error And let none believe hastily things uttered without knowledge out of J.S. deceitful heart FOrasmuch as many of the Servants of the Lord have been moved of the Lord to set forth in order several Declarations of those things which the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in their hearts hath given them the knowledge of and for this end are they published that others also may know the certainty and truth of those things which are believed known and enjoyed amongst us not that they can be known by reading the Letter in which they are declared but through their diligence and obedience to the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them though not for it which is the same Light which shined in our hearts and gave us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by which Light of the glorious Gospel who are faithful in it to the Lord their understandings come to be opened that they stumble not at those things which are testified in the Truth neither at that which is declared in other Scriptures but it being that in this our day it hath pleased the Father to bring forth in life and power that mercy and truth which the Scripture speaks of by which iniquity is purged out and as it is become a savour of life unto life in those that receive and believe in it so it is also become a savour of death unto that death which remains in both Priests and people in this age who hate the Light who can scarce hear it named or that people should be turned unto it as the Apostle did turn them from darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remâ—ssion of their sins and be partakers of the inheritance amongst them that are sanctified but when they hear that preached or printed which they may do and out of which they cannot receive the remission of their sins then envy riseth up in them a perverse mind and ungodly speeches and false accusations saying that we speak of a natural Light and of a natural Conscience when as we speak of the true Light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World and in which Christ's Doctrine stood who said to the people and to the Pharisees again and again I am the Light of the world as John 8.12 John 12.46 but now because the Light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we declare it freely as we have received it therefore is floods of ungodliness risen up against us But it is impossible that the Seed which the Lord is manifesting his Light and Power to bring forth should be kept alwayes under the power of death which Seed is now terrible in the Lord's Power and will yet be more terrible as his power encreaseth which is now going forth as an Army with banners for the torment of the wicked is already begun because the righteousness of God is now spreading over the Nations and neither the Rulers of the darkness of this World nor all the Printings and Preachings of those who be out of the life of God can hinder that which the Lord hath begun and is carrying on by his own power though the Nations are angry because that by the Light of his glorious Gospel shining forth his wrath is revealed upon them for their ungodly deeds that the Scripture which cannot be broken may be fulfilled and therefore it were better for them there may be hope then to rise up against that which is more unchangeable than the Heavens and the Earth And therefore in vain have the Enemies of God and people in all professions joined themselves together against the Light of Truth and the Way of the Lord which many in our dayes have fallen upon but are broken to pieces and it hath fallen upon many and grinded them to powder and nothing shall escape for the day of the Lord is come and it is very nigh to you that hate it a day of darkness and of gloominess of clouds and of thick darkness and now the seed of God is as the morning spread upon the Mountains a great people and a strong there hath not been ever the like neither shall there be any more after it even to the years of many generations a fire goeth before them and behind them a flame burneth the Land is as the Garden of Eden before them and behind them a desolate Wilderness and nothing shall escape them the appearance of them is as the appearance of horses and as horse-men so shall they run c. the Earth shall quake before them the Heavens shall tremble the Sun and Moon shall be dark and the Stars shall withdraw their shining and the Lord shall utâ—er his voice before his Army as he now doth for his Camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his Word for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it And now according as the Prophet Joel prophesied is it come and coming to pass Joel 2.2 3 4 10 11. against which Seed men of corrupt minds and reprobate concerning the things of God are risen up who in their first appearance in their Writings profess themselves to be that which they are not seeming right unto many through their feigned words and fair speeches deceiving the hearts of the simple for whom Christ dyed but afterwards in the same Writings to those that see they manifest themselves what they are and being so considered as they are seen and known cannot deceive and therefore to all people who desire to be edified and satisfied in the ground and truth
believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith John 8.24 But J.S. going on in his own devised Fables would pervert the words of truth both in our writings and in the Apostles as it is manifest in his writings of this reviling Rebuke concerning R.F. and J.N. E.B. and F.H. and others which whosoever read their words and his they may discern truth from devised fables without much Reply upon it as in places he is mingling his own words with theirs joyning a lye to the truth that he may contradict it as false as every one that reades with understanding will see which when they have spoken plain truths which he himself hath often in his Book confessed unto to be truth will afterwards give his meaning to 〈◊〉 words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they meane thus c. Then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his owne meaning then he saith he hath contradicted their words though he have before confessed the truth of their words so he hath not contradicted the words as they were spoken but because they spoke not his meaning with the words therefore the true words must be false in his judgment and bear his rebuke as his Book doth make manifest and adding his lye to the words of truth these two things are his greatest proofs to resist the truth In page 77. he hath mingled his own words with the words of R.F. in wâ—ich page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R.F. having been speaking of the light which hath enlightened every man which cometh into the World he adds which where it is and it is in every man it reneweth the judgment c he here adding his own and then rebuking it would make people believe lyes that all might be damned who believ not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgment is renewed with the ligbt though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who haâ—e it and who are void of true judgement because they hate the light which they be enlightened withal And also the Apostles words he perverts and gives meaning unto which if he did not they would be a plain testimony with that which he hath set himself to oppose so giving meanings both to their wordâ— and our words his meanings must be the ground of his Believers Faith and not the Scriptures as he said before The Apostle Peter speaking of a more sure Word of Prophesie wherein they did well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place till the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet 1.19 knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the holy Ghost To this J.S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostls words for he doth not exclude heart-prophesie for there was never any prophesie but did proceed out of the heart before it was written in any Book And the Apostle saith Untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts and that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and that vvhich moved them to speak Prophesies was in their hearts and the Apostle did not bid them wait till the day star did arise in the Scriptuâ—es but till it did rise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts J.S. saith That is untill by the study of the Scriptures more light he cleered up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many others of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them passe here unanswered yet they may be seen with the mind informed in the truth and all who are of God and of the truth may know that it is a small matter for us to be rebuked or judged to be in confusion who so evidently hath confounded both our words and the Apostles into his owne false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gaves forth the Scriptures and abideth in us and we know that they cannot be broken but must be fulfilled as they were given forth by the Word which they were given forth from by taking heed unto which the young mans way is cleansed by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from that Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledg is denyed that which would set up devised fables above Christ the Spirit and Scriptures that by the Spirit is denyed without contradiction and as we shall by the Spirit and by the Scriptures trye John Stelhams Doctrinâ— which if he deny them both then by his owne Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judge others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60. to try withall is this Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by GOD'S Spirit nor guided by him to what they say By this then is all that of him before mentioned cast out being both more and contrary to what is in the Scripture as also that which is to be declared as followeth in his second head as he calls it of Scripture Contradiction he is speaking concerning a Trinity and three Persons which words are not spoken in the Scriptures he meaning the Father Son and Spirit by such nameâ— as the Scripture never did so about words names which the Scripture doth not mention arsing out of the Divination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shuâ— the Kingdom from men and so hath no ground for the word three persons from the Scripture but the Scripture in one translation speaking of Christ being the express Image of the Fathers Peâ—son and in another â—ranslation saith that he is the expresse Figure of the Fathers substance as he is witnessed to be by those that know him and so till he find the word three persons and Trinity in the Scriptures let him owne his own rule to judg him to be no Messenger sent by Godâ— Spirit because he speakes more than is in the Scripture who saith the holy Ghost is a Person and this person dwells in Saints though not personally mark this A Person dwell in the Saints not personally all this confusion is as
your selves who have for many ages preyed devouringly upon the upright and through perfect covetousness have made merchandize of Souls and now many hath an eye opened to see your shame and it appears with horrible detestation even the saying is fulfilled As troups of robbers wait for a man so the company of Priests murders in the way by consent as the Prophet said and as Christ said Wo unto you you will not enter your selves nor suffer others to enter that would Wherefore thou J. S. even thou repent of this thy Wickedness for the wrath of the Lord is gone forth against thee and evil hast thou done against God and against his people and against thy own soul and this thou shalt know one day to thy exceeding sorrow unto vvhich time we leave thee and could have born all thy scandalous terms vvithout replying again but only for the sake of the simple that thy neighbours may see thy folly and all men to vvhom thine and this doth come and vve have not been large but in short have in singleness of heart born our testimony once more to the truth of the glorious Gospel vvhich vve have received of God and not of man and against thee and thy sinful heart and whatsoever proceeds out of it for thou being evil how canst thou speak good things The Tree must be good before the fruit can be so but out of thy evil heart hast thou brought forth evil and must receive the reward of evil whether thou wilt or no. And vvhat if vve should go about to shew vvherein the Priests of England do contradict the Scripture Might not we have a large Catalogue even all in your Worship and in the most of your practises acting contrary to the Scripture and contradicting that spirit that gave it forth in doctrine and in conversation in such an enterprise as this might we make your folly sound abroad And as to the contradicting of your selves and being of many judgements and opinions and difference in many particulars about the things of God among your selves herein you abound almost above measure and thus if need require could I by the strength of Jesus sufficiently make you appear abominable in the eyes of all just men and so think not in thy self that thou art free from Scripture and self-contradiction but truly guilty your selves in what thou hast wickedly accused us of falsly which doth but prove ehee to be of thy Father who is an accuser of the Brethren according to Christs words we are spoken all manner of evil of falsly for the Name of Jesus Christ whom we serve and therefore are hated of the World because we are not of it but without much more words I leave this J. S. our adversary to the judgement of the great Day wherein we and he shal receive according to our deeds and til then is as willing to have dispraise as praise of men who is not a Jew outward but a Jew inward Who hath no praise of men but of God who is of the Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World The cause of stumbling removed from all that will receive the truth and from before the eyes of the wise men of London In a Treatise shewing the difference between the Spirit of a man which the Candle of the Lord and the Light which hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world Also shewing that though there be diversity of Administrations yet there is not diversity of Lights and Spirits by which they are ministred And shewing by clear testimony what the more sure Word of Prophesie is which the Apostle Peter exhorts the people to take heed unto until the day did dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts Herein also is a false Hosanna and a false testimony reproved and a false witness is rejected and an untimely birth cast out though for the time of travel it might have been a Monster being above two years but in the end is brought forth for destruction tht Name of him which hath so long travelled to bring forth wind and confusion is one known in the City of London by the Name of John Jackson being by the truth of this following made manifest that so by every motion of the Spirit of Truth and every testimony given from it Understanding and Knowledge of the Truth may be encreased in those that follow on to know the Lord. THe Light is broken forth as the morning and the health of the Nations is in it and is springing forth speedily and the righteousness of the righteous Seed is gone forth before them and the glory of the Lord is revealed to his Seed which now calleth and the Lord doth answer Here am I and the Lord hath made and is making his Seed as a watered Garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not and is raising up the foundations of many generations that people may come to build again upon thus Foundation which they have been driven from especially by their Pastors for saith the Lord Many Pastors have destroyed my Vinyard they have trodden my portion under foot and made my pleasant Portion a desolate Wilderness and have made God's Heritage as a speckled Bird the Birds round about are against her and all the Beasts of the field come to devour Jer. 12.9 10. And now is the Lord come forth against these devourers even as a Lyon bereaved of her young ones for the Lord wil not suffer the spoile of his Heritage any longer but wil dress his Vinyard that it may bring forth fruit unto him And now is the Lord casting out the blind Watchmen and the foolish Prophets which have followed their own spirit and have seen nothing and all such is the Lord casting out and his everlasting fire is he kindling amongst them And now I hear a cry of torment going through the Nation Can any kindle a fire among Serpents and they not be offended and shoot their stings Can any touch the Vipers but they wil swell with venom And when Scorpions are trodden upon wil they not shew forth their strength Can that nature suffer death patiently Nay patience proceedeth from that Seed which slayeth the enmity and destroyeth the man of sin and therefore as we have one Seed to witness for so there is one to witness against and as it is the Work of the Spirit of God to approve the things that are of God so it is his Work also to reprove those things which are contrary to sound Doctrine to the end that every one may know as well what to reject and deny as error as what to own for truth and sound doctrine Therefore of necessity must every one be turned to the Light which Christ hath enlightned them withall that they may discern what they are to approve and what they are to reprove and that judgement is true which stands in the Light and in the measure of the Spirit of Truth To the READER MEN of low degree are
them unto whom he wrote his Epistle for unto him no Word of prophesie was more sure then that which he had seen and heard when he was with Christ in the holy Mount So this may inform your understandings who may have more desire to know the truth then to oppose it and may put to silence the vain disputings by men of corrupt minds who are destitute of the truth always corrupting the words of truth to oppose the life of it as many such there are in these days which the Lord hath and will rebuke sharply that they may be ashamed but all vvho are led and guided by the light of Christ shall knovv the anointing in them and the vvord of faith yea the Son of God He that can receive it vvithout offence let him 5. Object But he that hath opposed us saith in pag. 25. of his Book in the second part That the dawning of the day is rather an evening then a morning Answ. Novv let all vvhich have but knovvn a day and a night in the Creation judge whether the evening or the morning be the dawning of the day or whether the day-star be a fore-runner of the day or of the night then it will not be incredible which I have said before that he calls darkness light and light darknest but in such things our opposers will not receive a good report from those which can give true judgment and to such it is left to judge of those things Obj. Again he saith in page 35. That the spirit of truth was not a Comforter to the Apostles nor a reprover to the world before Christ was ascended and yet himself to contradict himself saith that he was in them before and dwelt in them the same spirit but not in the same measure Ans. Here is Babylon at the height fit to be pul'd down but needs little answering seeing that it answereth it self and for such reasons as these he might well conceal his name And if he could have put this off by hiding his Name for an Hosanna to the Son of Daiud or A Testimony to the Lords Christ then he might well have baosted have gloryed in his shame as if there had been no spirit of discerning in those he calls Quakers nor others but the eye of truth is not yet so blind but we know an evening from a morning a night from a day and a lye from truth and we know also that the disciples had a measure of the spirit of truth while he was with them upon earth and this spirit did both comfort them and did carry them on in obedience to his will and in the power of this spirit went forth into the world and reproved the world of sin because they did not believe in Christ and the devils was subject unto them by the spirit of truth that was in them before Christ ascended and to this there is a Cloud of witnesses So that this from him filling his Book with such things as these is as if a man should fill a Barn with Chaff instead of Corn and deceive others with selling it for Corn. Another contradiction of the same nature is this That the manifestation of the spirit is given to no man for himself buâ— to every man to profit withal to edifie and build up and do service in the body as an hand foot or eye or some other member of the body c. and to contradict this in the next words he saith Not that the spirit or the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man i e. to every individual person forasmuch as some men are sensual having not the spirit therefore no manefestation thereof pag 17. Ans. This is like the former and so to be cast out with it for his distinction of words between every man and every individual person will not cover him for where the Scripture saith every man without distinction that is every individual man and women And the Apostle saith But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withall he doth not say not to every individuall person And this also I say and affirm That to every man is given a manifestation of the spirit to profiâ— withal and he that profits with it by it shall be justified and he that doth not profit with it by it shal be condemned because he is an unprofitable servant this truth shal stand when all confusion shal have an end yet some are sensual having not the spirit Obj. Again in despising the testimony from the mâ—asure of the gift of the spirit of God when they have spoken according to the measure and could not boast themselves above their measure but in their measure witnessing the work of God as it was fulfilled in them such he scornfully reproacheth saying What means those cracks and crannes in their knowedge knowing but in part there is no pieces nor parts nor measures nor degrees in absolute perfection whosoever saith he knoweth perfectly he knows not how perfect his knowledge is and the first of those is called a vain man boasting of that which is not and of a false gift and is like clouds and wind without rain Ans. Herein is Pauls Doctrine as well as ours declared against to be but as cracks and crâ—nnes and a vain boasting of a false gift for Paul saith We dare not make our selves of the number or compare our selves with some that commend themselves but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves are not wise But we will not boast of things without our measure but according to the Measure of the Rule which God hath distributed unto us a measure to teach even unto you for we stretch not our selves beyond our measure not boasting of things without our measure that is of other mens labours Now this measure of which he thus spoke was in Christ so in perfection and there is parts and degrees in Christ and so in absolute perfection so far as every man is in the measure of the gift of God so far he is in Christ so far his knowledge is perfect and abiding in this he abideth in that which is perfect and as he gloriâ—yes in this he glorys in a true gift and none shall make this glorying void Obj. And whereas John Jackson saith of those that say they have but attained in measure he calleth that the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the Oxen which declares plainly that they are not at home they are not in the City but have certain miles to travel before they arrive Answ. This is a false interpretation as I shall leave it unto all of understanding to judge for the bleating of the Sheep and the lowing of the Oxen dâ—d signifie Sauls disobâ—dience unto the commandment of God for which the Lord did reject him But when Paul said he knew in part and prophesied in part and would not boast above his measure this did not signâ—fie his disobedience
the Word and means of Grace he is setting up that which before he hath been pulling down in p. 123. where he saith That they are justified from all Legal obligations and conditions of their own workings both within them without them And in page 174. he is setting up obligations and conditions of Reading Hearing Prayer Preaching to which he saith Life and Salvation is promised and so would have salvation come by Works which he hath so much declared against before and so makes prayer reading preaching c. not only the means through which salvation comes but the cause for which they are saved saying To Prayer is promised salvation Now to the informing of the minds of people I say That all promises are to the Seed and the fulfilling of the promises is witnessed through its obedience to Christs command and through the Works of righteousness but none can pray so as to be heard of God and accepted but who have first known heard and believed him whom they call upon which none do but who own thâ— Light which Christ hath enlightened them withal which teacheth to pray hear read and preach with knovvledge and understanding Again J.S. in his tvvelfth head concerning baptism vvould go about to prove the sprinkling of Infants to be the baptism and so denyes both Johns and Christs and the manner of them and sets up another vvhich the Scripture doth not mention as sprinkling Infants which vvho reads his Books may see his proofs by consequences he would have the Scripture speak that which it never mentioneth in plain precepts and so would turn the truth into a lye and so by his own rule in the 68. page of his Book shall he be judged Such Messengers as speak more then is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods spirit nor guided by him to what they say But that all people may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures and that vvhich is testified by them is to come to the Light which Christ hath enlightened them withal which Light was before Ordinances were and vvhich Light gives to see the place of Ordinances and their time vvherein they are to be obeyed for the Light comes from the substance of all the divers vvashings and carnal Ordinances and it leads into the one Baptism vvhich is the substance of that of Water vvhich John vvho vvas a prophet vvas the Minister of and Châ—ist said unto his Disciples John verily baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire but he never commanded them to baptize with water but commanded them to go teach all nations baptizing them into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and although some of the Disciples and Paul for a time did baptize with water yet who shall judge their permission in it although Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ witnesseth that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1.17 and thanks God that he had baptized no more of them yet witnessed that they were all baptized with one spirit into one body And J.S. saith To be against Infant-baptism is contrary to Acts 2.28 29. This is false for that Scripture doth not command it nor give president for it let the Reader search if he find any such thing as the Scripture proving Infants baptism but the promise is to as many as the Lord shall call And so he hath fouly belyed the Scripture for if that Scripture be contrary to such who are against Infants Baptism then must he prove from that Scripture Infants baptism to be commanded as prâ—ctised which he cannot do and so is a perverter of the Scripture And it is truth that we do deny brain-imaginations and sprinkling Infants with water But then he rambles over many Scriptures proving the Baptisme of Believers these proofs are impertinent what is this to prove Infants baptisme So that is passed by here as making arguments against believers baptism except one professing that were our present Adversary but in this he is pursued from all the Scriptures he cannot prove in Justice that ever Infants Baptism was either commanded or practised though he craftily wind about never so much in his imaginations and consequences And in the general I answer Much by us hath been written and spoken to this purpose so our judgements in this charge is fully known of which we are not ashamed before men as being fully justified herein in the sight of the Lord. And so as to that particular more need not be said Again in the 12 th Head of Scripture-contradiction as he saith concerning the Lords supper J.S. makes much ado because of our denial of carnal inventions and imitations practised by many in the exercise of that called the supper of the Lord though with one heart and mind we say and witness That Christs flesh and blood is our meat and drink and none have life within them without it yet doth receive it in the spirit and power of God and doth bear out testimony against imitations and false likenesses set up in the World as the wicked and prophane people such as live in pride and wickedness and covetousness both Teachers and people eating a little bread and drinking Wine so many times a year in such a form and manner and way as Christ nor his Apostles never practised such things in and no change wrought among people but both before and after if not in the very time fulfilling all wickedness and unrighteousness in words and wayes and thoughts yet by false suggestion from their Teachers believing vainly themselves to be the better or saints for the practice of such things whereas they do the more thereby vex the Lords soul and grieve his spirit by hypocrisie and deceit this we call carnal inventions and do deny it in the presence of the Lord that it is evâ—l and not accepted of God but condemned in his sight J. S. proves not that any thing which Christ instituted to be practiced among the saints onely ever was practised in the World among such who are not called neither sanctified and this is abomination to the Lord to practise the saints words or ways and have not the spirit of the Father which we cannot see among the people of this age no nor manage them professing to be selected Church-Members but pride and envy abounds among them all and in that spirit of disobedience in which they live to the Ordinances of Christ they have no right to practice that which onely is to be practised among them that have the spirit of the Father and nothing that Christ instituted for his saints do we deny in its life and age but lives are changed and Antichrist hath ruled and even the things which once he instituted your practice of them who are polluted are an abomination to him And this is a full answer in general as to the thing though I pursue him not in every particular word and argument to lay open
his folly but our judgement in this is known he that can receive it let him and the belief of the wicked we shall not beg In these things we are approved of God and in the denial of all false imitations and who is he that shall condemn In the 14 th Head concerning Prayer Concerning prayer we do not contradict the scripture in our practâ—ce J.S. is the lyar herein who hath made it a subject to treat two leafs upon for praying in the spirit and by the spirit and in publick and private too we own and do practice as is known to thousands our Enemies can witness for us and according to the scriptures too and not contradicting to it any way But this is the offence against him at which he is troubled that we should deny the prayers of the Pharisees or of such who are in the steps of the prayers of the Pharisees viz. who for a pretence make long prayers and stand praying in the synagogues who are out of Christs and the Apostles Doctrine and the prayers and practices of such we do not deny according to the scripture which saith the sacrifices of the wicked are abomination to the Lord and they shall receive greater condemnation who make long prayers for a pretence as it is manifest concerning many in this genetation and against the praying of the Hypocrites and of Hirelings who pretend to pray in love to souls when as if they had not a great sum of money from the people would not pray among them but seek a place to pray at among such who would give them money and hire and this praying is for a pretence and we do deny it in publick and do not offend God herein though we vex J. S. hereby because some wil not worship the Beast and bow a hat off while he is praying in an idols Temple which he complains of in J.P. though he himself that prayâ— hath a cap on and he confesses himself not wicked mens prayers are accepted publick or private and here he hath condemned all his own praying who confesses he is wicked and sinful and his heart is old and lying let all take notice of this which if he had not confessed it it is sufficiently proved Then why shall he ever hereafter be offended seeing his prayers are not accepted according to his own confession if any tell him so or declare against his praying and before any can truly pray they must receive the Spirit of the Father and them we know who are not led by the Spirit of the Father them and their prayers are to be declared against by the Saints and are condemned in the sight of God And J. S. saith If this counsel be followed viz waiting in the Light till the Spirits leadings be known it makes known nothing of publick Ministers Church-Officers Baptism Lords Supper publick order of prayer nor of Christ as Mediator nor of the Spirit of promise c. The Light that every man hath makes manifest nothing of this he saith he in this is a lyar and as landerer of the people of God who are led by the moving of the Spirit in the Light of the Word Christ Jesus that lighteth every man and owneth the publick Ministry of Christ which is received by the Holy Ghost and Church and Baptism and Christ as Mediator and the Spirit of promise and all these things all the Saints upon earth who have the spirit of Christ shall witness against J.S. herein to be a lyar of the Light and Spirit of God and so is a transgressor and his wickedness may largely be laid open but the least of the children of Light may see his folly and madness who also lyingly saith that Quakers they nourish up people in the Light that every man hath which is the Light of Christ Jesus in opposition to Scripture-Light This is also utterly false and a lye and the Author proved to be of the Devil for the Light of Christ leads up in the fulfilling of the Scripture and not in opposition to it but by his lightness and lyes he is made manifest to be a deceiver of the people and so take thy own words in thy conclusion to thy self thou art he that is alienated from the Scripture and from the Spirit of God also by thy lying spirit of contradiction which is manifest in thy Writings In his 15. Head concerning singing We do not contradict the Scripture herein again thou art a lyar but singing with the spirit and with understanding we own of such as are redeemed out of the World and are not of the World but singing of David's experiences sung in the World by such who are of the World this singing we do deny as it is practised in this generation in Rhime and Meeter in a vain multitude of people where all or most of them do dishonor God in singing Davids words which themselves are out of the life of and in a life quite contrary singing the Law of God is dear to them and that they exercise themselves in it when every moment of time they are exercised in wickedness and cast the Law of God behind them and thus singing lyes and that which is not true to them yet in the Name of the Lord. Other Reasons many may be given why we deny singing in this form and manner and way as singing is practised in this generation but this instance is sufficient to all honest people but cavillers mouths are not soon stopped not by the truth And all J. S. professes as to maintain this manner and practice of singing are all impertinent he proves that the saints sang and were exhorted to it but what is this to the purpose to prove the World must sing who are unconverted which singing we oppose onely and not the saints singing in 〈◊〉 spirit who are moved to it by the spirit O thou lyar Wherâ—fore dost thou say To be against singing Davids words by the World in Rhime and Meeter as we do is contrary to Eph. 5. Col. 3. doth these scriptures hold forth any such thing let the Reader try as that Davids experiences may be sang in the World in Rhime and Meeter nay they do not and so thou art a lyar on the scriptures to be taken notice of and marked for a wrester of the scriptures and in this we have often declared our minds by words and writings that poetry and J. Hopkins and T. Sternolds brain-invention we have denied yet Davids Psalms wâ— have owned and do own them as they were given forth by the spirit of God and not as they are perverted and added and diminished to such a compass of syllables as they are now in practice and thus I have given you a further testimony for and against singing wherein we deny it and wherein we own it and so leaves his muddy stuff and so counts it not worth raking in onely a lye or two or more he is proved in as the Reader may take notice also of