Spirit of God And are the wolves in sheeps clothing worrying the Lambs that comes to witness Christ in them the substance and hath proved and examined themselves and found him and so there people sticking in that they call the sign and keeping people from the substance receiving Christ Jesus in them for these things was to be done in remembrance of Christ until he came now if bread and wine be the body of Christ and his bloud then he is come how do you that in remembrance of him untill he come was they to eate his body and drink his bloud till he come did he go away in the Spirit and leave his body behind answer this whether or no his body did not rise and whether his body be elementary there was a Protestant against you that said the body of Christ was corruptible and you said the bread and wine is the body and bloud of Christ and that will corrupt and so we see you all in the error Pr. He saith the bare form of bread and wine doth change And though the light lead up to Christ they see nothing but that which doth change namely bread and wine Answ. Hear thou hast confounded thy self and all the Papists the whole body of them and confounded your own wisdom and knowledge and your own faith in things you do professe foâ— the body of Christ and his bloud doth not change and yet you say that bread and wine after consecration is the very body and bloud of Christ and hear you say doth change which is not comparable to the body and bloud of Christ that corrupts not nor changes not in this you have confounded your selves and blinded your souls in looking at things which are seen which the Divel and wicked ones out of the light do run into which you poor Creatures are captivated under his power things that are not seen are invisible but things that are seen as bread and wine are visible Pr. Our faith and doctrine is that Jesus Christ hath but one body and that the same body which is in that Sacrament shall come at last to judge us all Answ. The body of Christ which you call the bread after consecration which thou hast confessed is a changeable thing the â—orm of bread that which is changeable is not a judge Christ and his body is not changeable so therefore to judge and shall remain his body when bread and wine ceases So in this thou hast overthrown your own doctrine and faith and foundation and proved your selves to be stones of Babylon who with them builds up and throwes down again Pr. Whereas thou Queriest whether God is able to make one body to be in two or two thousand places at once Answ. The body of Christ is his flesh which he gives for the life of the world which they that eat it and feed upon it are of his flesh and lives for ever and are in more places then one comes to be of his flesh and of his bone and at this the Jewes stumbled that followed him for temporal bread and if temporal bread had been the body of Christ why would he bid them labour not for the meat that perisheth and that he said well in saying this is may body this is my bloud and except ye eat my flesh and drink my bâ—â—ud ye have no life in you but he did not tell the people after they had consecrated bread and wine that it was his body and bloud and he would drink with them in the Kingdom and did Christ eate his own body and drink his own bloud answer these Queries we see that the body of Christ is hid from you all Papists and Protestants and his flesh and his bloud and his wordâ— are spirit and life and that remains and bread and wine it is the elements did it come down from above from heaven after you have consecrated it is it not the wine that came of the grapes and the bread which was baked Christs body which is the bread is above the Manna which is given from heaven much more far above the bread of man Christ the true bread far above Angles-food is the body of Christ which who eates it lives for ever they that eated the Manna the Angels-food perished in the wildernesse many of them and far above mans bread that 's temporal and drink which they may eate and drink and hunger and thurst again and perish and which will perish Which they that decernes the Lords body decernes him that gives every creature its being the word of God by which all things was made and none of the figures nor shadowes nor types are the body of Christ but that which ends them all to you that is the word of the Lord which body was before they were which body is the Church the Piller and ground of truth and bread is not the Church after consecration for the Apostles never told us of that doctrine no vvhere in the Scriptures but you that of the body of Christ be ignorant the Top-stone is laid on your heads and the body of Christ makes us free from the Lavv Pr. We do not teach that bread after the consecration is the flesh of Christ but we say that after Christ had uttered these words this is my body or after the Priests according to Christs command do this in remembrance of me do utter the same words which we call consecration then the substance of bread vanisheth and is no more there but the body of Christ commeth in its place Answ. This again is confusion and you are confused and confounded in your own principles if the bread and wine which you say is not the flesh of Christ after consecration how is his body there and how can you say it is his body And thus you confound your selves Pr. Thou saist thou dost not find any expresse command of the Apostle in Scripture for observing of dayes nor meats nor none of these things as meats or crosses but what the Church shall command and saith but the Church hath commanded us to observe dayes and meats and that a crosse should be made in remembrance of Christs passion and the Images of Christ and his Saints may be set up and honored and that we should invoke the Saints c. and whatsoever the Church commandeth us And this is the sure and unmoveable ground upon which our Catholique faith even to the very least circumstance and ceremony is built c. And the contrary ground is the ground of all Hereticks Answ. We do believe you that all these observing of meats dayes and crosses is set up by your Churches command and all your Tythes Priests Pulpits and Temples amongst you and the Protestants which hath been set up by your Church command which is offended if they be not observed which is set up since the dayes of the Apostles which is Apostatized from the Apostles and the true Church in the Apostacy and are fallen into schisms and
was not the work of the Apostles nor of them that kept the faith of Gods elect that gives victory over the world and so those whom you call bad and those whom you call good are all found one here having drank the whores cup found in the fornication without husband out of the true humility which is Christ the seed that bears the sin and iniquity Pr. You take offence because the Roman faith doth teach it lawfull to punish Schismaticks and Hereticks with the sword but if you will be mad and say that those which seduce mens souls cause schisms and heresies in the Church and disturb the peace thereof must be let alone and may in no wise be punished who can help it Answ. The faith of the true Church did not teach any such doctrine to punish Schismaticks and Hereticks or Seducers with an outward sword but said on the contrary their weapons was not carnall but spirituall Now the carnall weapons who punish them you call Hereticks and Schismaticks whose Church is disturbed by such You shew you have not the power to convince gainsayers stop the mouths of them and make them to confess that God is in you of a truth and this doth shew that you are reprobated from the true faith which the Apostles were in and of Christ who said love your enemies and if any one smite thee on the one cheek turn the other novv the beast and false Prophets and the Anti-christs Mother of Harlots should drink the bloud of the Saints Martyrs and Prophets and kill them which the faith and patience of the Saints did not rise against now again the Lamb and the Saints should have the victory which should slay with the sword which are the words of his mouth not vvrestle against flesh and bloud killing creatures but over-comming with the bloud of the Lamb And here is the faith and patience of the Saints whose Kingdom is not of this world but you that are killing with the sword fire and fagots and inquisition bowing before Images Idols Pictures crosses these be all of this world and Kingdomes of it carnal weapons and carnal things held up by the carnal and not spiritual Now of your speaking of the Magistrates of the higher power which is higher then all Image-makers and Idols which gave them to see before transgression was which Transgresser set up Idols and Images which they in the higher power broke down that was the work of the Magistrates and they had the wisdom to make the true figure and shadow which Christ came to put an end to And they that set up Images Idols since the dayes of the Apostles and Pictures and crosses and holds them up by an outward power and Magistrates and compels others to bow down to them is the worship of the beast and not the worship of God and this I declare in the presence of the Lord God and all the Magistrates that be in Gods fear they will break down your Idols and Images and crossâ—s and crucifixes and masse-houses Schooles and Colledges which you make Priests and Ministers in which they that know the Ministers made by the will of God will do this and the exposition of the Scriptures by your Church we cannot own which is Apostatized from the true Church which bid the Saints keep from Idols which all that be of the true Church are so to do And your Church which is run into Idols Pictures and Likenesses is run into error and is not infallible and so you are gone from the life which gave forth the Scriptures which Peter was in and so run into Idols and must have Images and likenesses to put you in mind of Christ and the Saints And you are gon from the Spirit the holy Ghost which they was in which over-saw the Churches who watched for the Souls and had the rule over the Saints so from this Church are you apostatized its peace which Church is the Pillar and ground of truth the Divel is out of the Pillar and ground of truth he abode not in it and all schismes heresies they cannot disturb the peace of this Church here comes no sword-men here nor carnal weapons nor inquisitions fire nor fagget stockes and prisons nor Idols all such are wâ—thout that deceives Nations and tells them they are a Church which slayes the Sâ—ints Pâ—ophets and Martyrs the same nature slew Christ and his Aâ—ostles and Abel with their carnall weapons for all are one out of the life and power of God striking at creatures wrestling against flesh and bloud in stead of striking at the power that captivates the creatures to the intent that creatures might come to the liberty of the sons of God now you hâ—ving not continued in the Aposâ—lâ—s faith mind and spirit but Apostatized from them you have all lost the guide and rule as they were in both Protestants and your selves that be out of the life and faith that the Apostles was in that led them to give forth the Scriptures so you have been the wolves in the Sheeps clothing destroying one another about outward things and powers but with the power of God and life of God by them that are in the wisdom of God are you all judged to be out of the Kingdom of peace which is the Kingdom of Christ fighting with carnal weapons hailing to the Goals Inquisitions whips stocks houses of correction faggots fires either Protestants or Papists are you here like the Kingdom of Christ his subjects but like Pharisees Jewes and Cain apostatized from the Apostles lost the faith lost the unity lost the Spirit of God which the Saints was in which led them to give forth the Scriptures in which is the unity which is the bond of peace into which all that is called Christendome must come before they be one and all the names blotted out that is amongst them given to them in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and all their prayers is abomination that be out of that unity and to you that is the word of the Lord and the Quaeries thou hast not answered and your prayers is denyed and your peace also for you have not abided in that which the Apostles and the Saints was in which did oversee the Churches but you are turned strikers which the Apostle saith they should not be so And the Apostle saw the comming in of the man of sin and Christ speaks of Anti-christ and the false Prophets coming in with their signs and lying wonders which if it were possible would deceive the very Elect which John saw was come and went forth from them and bid the Saints keep themselves from Idols for they were them that got up Idols which went forth from the Apostles which Apostles bid the Saints keep to the anointing in them and they need not that any man should teach them but as the same anointing teacheth them which is truth and no lye and even as it had taught them so
the life of the world to come 6 Prin. I admit and embrace most firmely the traditions Apostolique and Ecclesiastick and all the other observations and ordinances of the same Church Answ. Your traditions your word Catholique your sprinkling Infants which you call your baptisme does not remit your sins for there is no Scripture for it so Church traditions sprinkling Infants all have got up since the dayes of the Apostles and so the unholy Catholique and Apostolique Church traditions is got up since the dayes of the Apostles and your fruits declare it in the Apostacy from the true Church of the Saints and Apostles and the resurrection Christ you be ignorant of and the power of the world to come that be gone out of the faith that the Apostles were in 7 Prin. I admit also the holy Scripture according to the sense that hath been given by the holy mother Church to the which it appertaineth to judge of the true sense and interpretations of the holy Scripture and shall never take in hand to interpret them then according to the common consent of the Fathers Answ. Your mother which you call the holy Church which gives the sense is the whore from the spirit of God which the Apostles was in and Christ and the Prophets for that is it that knows the Scripture and that was in the Saints that gave it forth and all must have it in them before they know the words again and come into unity with God again of whom they learned that gave it forth and unity with the Scripture and one with another and this both Papists and Protestants are out of the spirit and falling out about the sense of Scripture and your Father and Mother sons which ravened from the spirit of God and so thou and you all teachers from others inventions and your teaching is traditions for Doctrine which are the commands of men but now to the Lord be glory ye are all discovered by his life 8 Prin. More I professe that there is seven truly and properly said Sacraments of the new Law instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and necessary for the salvation of humane people but not all to every one viz. Baptism Confirmation Eucharist penitence the extream unction the Order and Marriage and that they confirme the grace and that among them the baptisme the confirmation and the order cannot be rejected without sacriledge Answ. In this you have shewed your Apostacy again from the Apostles and Christs doctrine which sayes Go preach the Gospell to all nations baptizing them without any limit and Marriage they that forbid that is the doctrine of Devils which is honourable the Bed undefiled in all And the Apostles doth not call them Sacraments neither Baptisme nor Marriage nor the visiting of the sick nor the Lords Supper Your confirmation and order and your penitence whipping and beating your selves for your sins is your own invention a sacrament of your owne making which the Apostle does not call repentance a sacrament or confessing of sin or sorrowing for sin the nature within should be afflicted and circumcised in the spirit which puts off the body of sin and that brought down and not to strike the creature and beat the creature that is as you wrestle with flesh and blood the power of darknesse causes you to do that which guides you within that strikes at the creature which power of darknesse should be struck at that the creature might come into the liberty of the sons of God 9 Prin. I receive also and admit the Ceremonies of the Church Catholique receive and approve in the administration solemnly of all the abovesaid sacraments 10 Prin. I embrace and receive all and every of the things which hath been defined and declared by the sacred holy Councel of Trent touching the sin originall and the justification 11 Prin. I protest likewise that in the masse is offered to God true proper and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and for the dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is truly really and substantially the body the blood with the soule and the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there is made a conversion of all the substance of the bread into the body and of all the substance of the wine into the blood and the which conversion the Church Catholique calls Transubstantiation 12 Prin. I confess also that under one of these one receiveth Jesus Christ all entire and one true sacrament Answ. In these four Principles which ye teach for Doctrine is but your owne traditions and commandements which are learned of one another of men at the Council of Tâ—ent and at your Fathers which is your sin in the apostacy from the Apostles who was not of man nor by man And as concerning Justification ye are ignorant of for where that is known the sin is done away which came by the first Adam And they that believe are passed from death to life And there are some children of believers which is holy yet all by nature children of wrath in the unbelief and your Church is held up by tradition and traditions and vows and oaths which is all in the Apostacy from the spirit where it seems the root of the word protesting is come from your selves who are Apostates and not ftom the Scriptures but you have thrust it in your offering and mass it is but a dead thing it is neither good for the dead nor the living the living do not accept of it but as Cains sacrifice for are not you murtherers and destroyers of one another about Religion sacrifice and traditions as Cain did whom God did not accept his sacrifice And as the Jewes did without the life which gave forth the Scriptures turn against the just and all the Apostates since the dayes of the Apostles which are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God who set up all your lying signes and wonders and traditions and deceive people with them that dwell upon the earth who be from the spirit of God inwardly ravened from it in which spirit God is worshipped which spirit brings to offer living sacrifice And the bread and wine after they have consecrated it which you say is the very body and blood of Christ and soule and it 's divine and that ye call Transubstantiation and he that receives either bread or wine receives Christ Now seeing that this Doctrine and Principle is laid down by you the Council of Trent and tollerated by the great Bishop of Rome the Pope and taught by the Jesuites I shall demand one thing of you out of every Nation and from every Dominion and Island belonging to the Bishop of Rome the Pope Let there come forth a Bishop and a Jesuite and consecrate bread and wine and after consecration and conversion which you call transubstantiation which you say then is the very body blood and soul of Christ which is divine Let that then be set by and kept and let us take of
Inquisitions and this hath been held up by the same nature and the same weapons by which the Heathens held up their Idol gods and the apostate Jews as the apostate Christians from the true faith and from the true Christians of the true Church whose weapons were not carnall but spirituall by whose faith they overcame the world the kingdomes and subdued mountains and quenched the fiery darts of Satan So your overcoming and all other Apostates hath been with outward weapons Gaols Inquisitions and death bound with oaths out of the Covenant of God whose Religion is built upon that who are all the Wolves ravening devourers and so doubts the ground of them in your selves you feel not yet your pasture and fields hath been so large for the Beast to raven up and down in but now the Lord God Almighty with his power will hedg you up and bring you into a narrower compasse And anathematized and hereticks are ye all from the Apostles as the Gentiles from the Jewes but Jewes and Gentiles all come to be one out of the life which gave forth the Scriptures So Christians that be apostatized and anathematized from the life that the Apostles were in be as the Jewes and Gentiles from the life of God and with the life all comprehended amongst the Jewes and Gentiles from the life of the Apostles and true Christians and with the life of God are all judged who be out of the life of the Saints So it is not the professors of the words of the Saints but they that be in the life that are justified they are they who have unity with God and one with another 19 Prin. And this faith Catholique out of which any cannot be saved the which presently I professe of my good minde and hold truly I say promise vow and swear for to retain and confesse God helping most constantly intirely and inviolately untill the last teach and preach as much as shall be possible for me through them that shall be subject to me or shall be in my charge so God me help and these holy Evangelists of God Answ. All swearers are out of the faith of Christ Jesus who said swear not at all and the faith the Ministers of Christ and the Apostles were in who said swear not at all and the Ministers of Christ was not made by oaths nor sworn to preach but you are apostatized from their faith and life that gives victory And the Evangelists all of them was against swearing there is not one example among them all not among the Apostles that they broke the doctrine of Christ in swearing and was made Ministers by oaths but by the will of God which you all are apostatized from them and are held under with the Life and from their faith reprobated and your faith and Catholique is out of that which saves and Church and so come under the condemnation which was the false brethren went out from the Apostles and since the world have gone after them which have had the Scripture and your own traditions and ceremonies the sheeps cloathing which have been fain to binde one another and tye one another by oaths to uphold what you professe which is all out of the Covenant of God and the saving faith you are ignorant of and from it apostatized wch gives victory over the world and your teaching and preaching hath been out of the true faith who multitudes hath gathered after you and so deceived the souls of people telling of a Purgatory and your souls be in it and this is all judged with the true Judge of the world the Bishop of the soul 20 Prin. Ye say that ye ought to honour the Reliques of Saints and that God hath not forbidden Images and that ye ought to honour Images of Saints because their bodies hath been the organs and temple of the holy spirit and that God doth by vertue of their holy Reliques many miracles and because that the honour redounds to themselves that they represent unto us and when one worships the Crosse the honour of the worship redounds to Jesus Christ But the Idols ye say are forbidded which doth represent the false gods which the heathen worship Answ. God hath forbidden to make Representations and Images of Saints and Reliques and the Images of Christ and the Crosse is set up by you who are apostatized from the spirit of God in which spirit God is to be worshpiped and not the Images of Christ nor the Saints nor Crosses for those be all out of the power of God and the crosse of Christ which is the power of God which all must bend to and the Crosses and Images of Male and Female whatsoever they that worship and honour them are as the heathen for Reliques Images and Crosses are set up since the days of the Apostles by you who are inwardly ravened from the spirit of God by the same nature which went astray from the life in the Jews and Gentiles which whâ—n they went astray from the spirit of God they set up Images which displeased God as you that wâ—nt forth from the spirit of God since the dayes of the Apostles inwardly ravened from that who say that after bread and wine is consecrated iâ—'s Christ so are the Antichrist that hath set up the false Christ who cries Loe here loe there and so put him in your chambers deserts and secrets and yet you say he was crucified and rose again and at the right hand oâ— God and say he was before all time and that by him all things was made And yet ye likewise say after ye have consecrated bread and wine which you call Transubstantiation it is Christ and thus you confound your selves And the lying signes and wonders which ye call miracles which ye say are wrought by the Reliques of the Saints is that which John speaks of in his Revelation The beast shall deceive because of his miracles And the Apostle speaks of concerning the man of sin which shall deceive with his lying signes and wonders and to the Reliques ye have given the honour and worship and not to God and so lives in the outward Now Jannes and Jambres could do miracles by the power of witchcraft by the same power the Beast and the false Prophets the mother of harlots Babylon and man of Sin acted to deceive the Nations since the dayes of the Apostles with all which is the mystery of Iniquity she hath sate as a Queen Lady of Kingdomes and hath seen no sorrow but now she will come to lâ—sse of children for the Lord God of heaven and earth will be honoured and worshipped who will not give his glory to any other and not to Images Reliques nor Crosses And the Apostles you are all got up since from them apostatized for when they was adoring of Paul or adoring of Apollo the Corinthians came under rebuke by the Apostles who said Who is Paul or who is Apollo It 's Christ that dyed and was crucified and bid them prove
of many generations is raised up You may fast from meats and drinks for dayes and observe meats and afflict your selves the envious man the man-slayers do thus which would kill and murther and slay in the heart Now this is not the Fast which is required of God but of men while the bond of iniquity is standing whilst strife and debate is do you not make vowes from the Marriage Is not then the cause you so do in the doctrine of the Devils and the forbidding of meats which ought to be used with praise and thanksgiving The Fast of the Lord is coming to be known that he requires which breakâ— the bond of iniquity which is the foundation of many generations and the marriage of the Lamb many are come to know and enjoy the presence of the Bridegroom where they do not fast where they come into the wisdome of God by which all the creatures were created with which they come to use and order the creatures of God to his glory and sees the Kingdome out of meats out of drinks out of the observation of dayes above meats and drinks Your leaders have caused you to erre envy and wickedness hath been in them strong which is by the power of the Lord God comprehended and judged whose sacrifices God hath no respect to who be in envy in Cains way man-slayerâ— therefore haste out of the old life and come to witnesse the chast Virgin which follows the Lamb that to him you may be married and joyned all ye poor captivated ones for the Lord is come and coming to exalt the kingdome of his Son whose Standard shall stand over all the earth and Nations shall be ruled by his Rod of Iron come to know strife ceased and envy ceased and selfishnesse ceased and pride ceased and wickednesse and wilfulness ceased and envy and plots and murther ceased and the bond of Iniquity for this is that which will and doth deceive the simple-hearted for the Lord God with his power is come to redeem Who inlightneth every one that cometh into the world that all men through the light might believe whose day is appearing and glory is revealed So now every one of you that be come into the world having a light from Christ the Saviour of your souls from whence it comes Now this you that be enlightned withal it lets you see your sins you have done as thoughts you think and words you speak and actions you act and wayes you walk with the same light that lets you see this which comes from Christ the Saviour of your souls who hath all power in heaven and in earth given to him the same will give you power to come out of your sins And there you come to receive the Covenant of God Christ Jesus who hath given you the light to see sin he it is that takes away sin and blots out sinne and transgression And now every one of you this is the word of the Lord God to you all heed the light that you are enlightned withall with that you will feel your Saviour for the light lets you see sin the same blots it out the same is the covenant of God the same gives power for all power in heaven and in earth is given to the Son who is to rule and subdue to himselfe all the powers of darknesse and wickednesse The light which you be enlightned withal lets you see your deeds you have done your words you have spoke your ways you have walked in your actions you have acted the same will give you power to stand against your sin and there is the teacher and the same will condemn all of you hating the light which is Christ which hath enlightned you withal and if you go on still in wickednesse the same will become your condemnation at the last Remember when you are in your wickednesse and upon your death beds you were warned in your life-time and this light will let you see when evill thoughts get up in you and evill affections and evill desires and check you and reprove you if you love it and heed it when you are walking up and down when you are fitting still by your selves secretly it will bring you to think upon God and when you are walking up and down abroad yet it is present with you there will be your teacher there will be your condemnation if you hate it The light of Christ who saith Learn of me I am the way the truth and the life This is my beloved son heare you him And there is no way to the Father but by him who doth enlighten every man that comes into the world him by whom it was made all the sons of Adam drove from God in transgression Christ the second Adam the way to God who is the way and the life But man being drove from God from life and from truth so Christ is the truth man being drove from God from Gods righteousness so Christ is Gods righteousnesse drove from God from his wisdome So in a wisdome that is below earthly sensuall and devillish drove from God from his glory there is the first Adams state in the disobedience but Christ the second Adam the obedience the Lord from heaven who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world The light that shineth in his heart which Christ enlightneth him withall it must give him the knowledge of the glory of God and this brings him from things that are seen that are temporall the light that shineth in his heart that gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God with it brings to know all things that be eternall And the Lord is coming to teach his people himself and to bring them of all the worlds teachers and ways to Christ the way And the Lord is coming to break all in pieces that are gathered and are a gathering but not with the power of his Son and with the life of his Prophets and his Apostles such will he break to pieces and dismiss the assemblies who is come and will gather his people with his spirit into the life the Prophets were in Christ and the Apostles were in they shall come to live in the power of an endlesse life and the world where there is no end is known where there is the hungring no more and the thirsting no more the government of him is manifest where there is no end and the Kingdome and the Throne of Christ is exalted So all that afflict your selves and torment your selves and fast and observe days and meats by the commandement of men and not by the commands of God and doctrines of men and wills of men Consider the power of the Creator and come to the witnesse of God in you to the light which Christ lighteth you withall which is the covenant with you A God which breaks all other covenants when you come to the Light all the covenants you have made with men with Death must be broken and will be broken
that is contrary to the Light Then you must know a shame which is to be despised in the sight of all the world in breaking covenants who with them hath made covenants and bound your selves in vowes Therefore come to feel the witnesse of God in you which gives you to feel and see that all the covenants upon earth must be broken that is made from the light the minde that is from it which if you come into the light you will know the marriage of the Lamb your Fast shall cease for God doth not accept your extreams your passions your fast your afflicting your selves for a day while there is prejudice and envy seated among you the man-slâ—yer which shews that you be out of the light and life of the Prophets and of Christ and his Apostles both Magistrates and Ministers and Teachers And the Pope which sits now on high whose arms fingers legs and head is brancht out but with the power of the Lord is compassed and seen the end that he is in and all is but earth and the worshippers but earth and in the earthly things the threshing Instruments must thresh for you lie like a wildernesse for the Lord God of power is coming to plow up and so seed it and that the truth over may passe and Christ in power come to reign who is Law-giver and Judge and to break your wills and bow down your thoughts who will subdue all things to himself Who will reign and to exalt his kingdome whose dread and terror is gone out into the earth All what is done in mans will which he pretends to God he will be judged for it and all your observances and fasts and circumstances and worships who hath required this at your hands saith the Lord Come to truth and singlenesse and innocency then you will see Cain is a vagabond the envious man the man-slayer a murtherer from God a vagabond and fugitive though he built a City And he observed outward things but comes not to witness the spirituall Sacrifice but it shewed that you be in envy and slayes men concerning Religion being another spirit then Christ and the Apostles wherein as iâ— is declared in Scripture with it ye are judged and your reading over prayers cumbers and wearies the just with reading over prayers and praying to names your observing of Images and your earthly Crosses and this keeps you from the life and power of God which is the Crosse of Christ and the Spirit in which you should pray which the Lord knows the mind of G. F. This is to go abroad among the Papists in all the Earth Friend AS thou hast spoke of giving a reason which reason is fathomed and comprehended to be earthly Now there is a reason which flows from the faithful that makes reasonable and that gives dominion over the earthly but this reason is but earthly and stands in the earthly as hereafter will be made appear as thou art brought before the judgement and weighed in the ballance And as for the Church in the days of the Porphet that was in the days of Baal that would not bow to him nor serve him Now it seems there was some that did bow to Baal that had been of the Jewes and remained as in the outward name But those were of the Church that bowed not to Baal to the earthly mark that and those stood in the truth and bowed to the Lord and kissed not Baal and there 's a distinction between the holy kisse and the contrary Now that was invisible that kepâ— them from bowing to Baal and that was invisible that they were gone from viz. these Jews that did bow to Baal As for the seven Churches of Asia that 's agreeable to these words for many got the words of the Church but the Life they fell from Then as for the Church of Rome as for the dissolution of the Roman Catholique Faith which was before Luther and Calvin which is as a dark puddle the smoak of the bottomlesse pit that hath not a foundation but from the foundation Christ fled And Luther and Calvin something there was stirring in them Luther was true in his place but it was but a little but so much as comprehended you and as for their falling from you before Luther and Calvin they were but in your outward Ceremonies For neither you the Church of Rome nor those you beget nor Luther nor Calvin was in the very life that is infallible the Apostles were in and Christ that the Scriptures were given forth from Therefore kill you and slay you that be contrary to you in your Religion and it is the cause of all people running into Sects and heaps upon earth Calvinists and Lutherans because they are not in the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures that hath been lost among you all since the dayes of the Apostles which is now found among them that are called Quakers whom all the Sects upon earth are against that are got up since the dayes of the Apostles and with the spirit that the Apostles were in you are all fathomed as a span You that are the Church of Rome came to be made up of all these rotten members that fell away from the Apostles before the Apostles deceased that got the forme of godlinesse but denied the power that forbid meats and marriage that minde earthly things So you have been the ancientest Apostates and all that have apostatized from you you call Sectaries which you Apostates was the mother of all And so I tell you you are the most ancient in the form of godlinesse and that have denyed the power as your Gaols and Inquisitions declares your fruits And you lye like a barren field unplowed up but now the plough of the Lord is going the servants of the Lord are driving on the horses which will tear your ground And the publique worship that the Apostles were in who were led by the Spirit of God hath been lost since the dayes of the Apostles amongst you for Christ said false prophets should come that were inwardly ravened that were wolves that had the sheeps cloathing which John saw was come and that the whole world were gone after them and so there you lost the infallible spirit and have held up part of the visible form and run into some inventions of your own making and so is become the Mother of Harlots and have brought them forth that are harlots Now that which Christ said should come which false Prophets John saw was come and the whole world was gone after them they made war with the Saints that kept the testimony of Jesus them that had the forme the sheeps cloathing and were ravened from the spirit and so overcame the Saints then power was given to the beast over all kindreds tongues and nations and all that dwell upon the earth should worship him Then the beast and his names and his images and his mark and horns then the Vials and Thunders should come again to
be poured upon him and his seat So the Author of all these sects and names hath been from you that first ravened from the spirit of God all Sects upon the earth would kill one another about their worship which shews the spirit of the Devil and not the spirit of the Apostles So when the Beast had overcome the Saints and killed them and got power over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations And the woman fled into the wildernesse and the man-childe caught up to God And the Dragon made war with the â—emnant of her seed that kept the commands of God and here by this you may see where the Church hath been And the great Whore which went forth from the Apostles and ravened from the spirit of God yet hath had the sheeps cloathing which all Nations hath drank her cup She hath corrupted the earth and made the Inhabitants of the earth drunk and the Kings of the earth hath committed fornication with her and all nations have drunk her cup of fornication She sits upon the waters and the waters are peoples not a people and the waters are nations where the Whore sits and multitudes and tongues Now mark if Nations be waters and Peoples be waters and Multitude waters and Tongues waters And the earth is corrupted and the Inhabitants of the earth drunke and all nations have drunk the cup of fornication and the Kings of the earth hath committed fornication with her Now where is the Church and the Rock all this time when nations peoples multitudes and tongues are waters and the Inhabitants of the earth drunk and the earth corrupted and all nations have drunk the whores cup And the whore cannot be said to be the heathen for the Whore goes from something and there is the ancient visible Church And the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and all nations have drank the cup of fornication and fornication is before you be married And these are them that have drank the blood of the Prophets Saints and Martyrs that have kept the testimony of Jesus But now again the Lamb is brought forth to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron though the Beast and false Prophet and Kings of the earth and the old Dragon make war against the Lamb and the Saints yet the Lamb and the Saints shall get the victory and the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to all nations kindreds tongues and people and life and immortality shall come to light through the Gospel which your old great Grand-father went from in the dayes of the Apostles and so to that that they went from is people now come and coming and the Lambs wife is making her selfe ready and the Saints do sing the Lord God omnipotent reigns and you are all too immoderate spirits you and all other Sects then to be like the Apostles and Christ or to be like the Church of Christ your fallibility and your Idols Inquisitions and Cruelties makes it appear Two Queries being propounded to thee In thy answer to the first Query thou saist That all Churches or meetings of all sorts of men which have not the spirit of God they may erre In thy answer to the second Query thou saist That the Church of Christ or the meetings of those Christians that follow the rule and law of Christ and are always guided by them cannot erre in any truth Reply Your Church the Church of Rome have erred from the spirit of truth and the truth in which there is no errour As instance you have set up Idols and the spirit of truth in the true Church said Keep your selves from Idols as in Johns Epistle And you have made Ministers by men and by the will of man and so gone into your own wills which the Scripture came not by nor which Christs Ministers were not made by and you and all Apostates since are of men and made by men and so you are erred â—rom the spirit of truth that leads into all truth You are erred from the Crosse of Christ the power of God and have set up outward Crosses and falls down to that instead of falling down to the power of God You have erred from the true Image of God the Saints were in and have set up outward Images of wood and stone You have erred from the Saints life and spirit and from the spirits of just men and so from the true Church and so set up the Reliques as pieces of Cloath and old bones So you know after the flesh which the Apostles did not And you are erred from the Rock and falln into the waters as in Revelations And your Idols Pictures and Images have corrupted the earth so you are erred from the true Church and the true Spirit which cryed against Idols in all ages as Moses said in his command to the people and the Apostles Your Church is commanded to make Images and Idols and the Church in Moses time and the Apostles Churches were commanded to keep from them So no true Church you are but apostates but fallible and erred in matter of faith and doctrine and praised be the Lord who hath brought you to the Light And multitudes of instances may be shewed who compares the Church with what the Churches of Christians were in the dayes of the Apostles And thou saist the difficulty is where the Church of Christ is to be found for Papists Lutherans Calvinists Anabaptists Arminians and all schismatical meetings they do claim the title of Christs Church to themselves c. Answ. All these the Roman Church being the mother of the Apostates and all these before-mentioned are started from her her sturdy sons and severall names still in the forme for the light within they are all against and Christ within to reigne and teach and the Law within in the heart and in the mind whereby all comes to know the Lord and the word in the heart and in the mouth to obey and do and the spirit of truth to lead into all truth whereby the Saints have unity one with another and with the Scriptures and with God This the Papâ—sts are run from into Images and Idols and this the Baptists Lutherans and all other Sects are run from into other Images within but with the spirit of truth which leads the Saints into all truth are these comprehended and out of all these sects and sorts are people coming I 'le break your names and marr your Images with the spirit of truth fence your selves never so wisely And so none of these nor you neither are of the true Church but the beast and his names but some of these you calâ— Sâ—cts are neerer the true Church then you for the world who lives in Images and Idols wonder after you who lives in Images and Idols who are apostatized from them keep your selves from Idols As for the Quakers who are risen in the Ancient of dayes in the end of the night of apostacy among whom that's appeared that cannot be shaken
against whom you and all the sects upon eaâ—th appears that are come up since the dayes of the Apostles whom they comprehend and will tread to dust and to powder The seed of God is risen and the top-stone is laid glory to God in tâ—e highest Come out all Sects and Sâ—ctaries to the battel and you are all in the vanity contenders and pretendeders got up since the days of the Apostles the marks are appeared not to be the marks oâ— the Sâ—ints who hath the Fathers name written in their foreheads but you have the mark of the Beast upon you and without the true ground and the true reason of the Apostlâ—s â—re you out of For instâ—nce the true Church taught not to persecute and the true reasonable men that was in the faith for faith gives victory over that nature in particular that would persecute and so doth not lead to kill the Creature for the sake of the nature in it in general And fafth teaches not this Dâ—ctâ—ine but denies it and brings to suffer all things through which mountains are subdued Thou further saist They that are of a wicked life may have a right faith and reproves others that cannot believe it Answ. A wicked man he hath not faith of the elâ—ct of God for faith gives victory over wickednesse and faith purifies and faith makes reasonable and who are of the faith are of Abraham and come out of all these adulterous generations the mystery of Faiâ—h is hâ—ld in a pure conscience Now here you are in the errour you Papists and all Apostates from the Apostles like the Jewes and the Devil that hath a belief but is out of the truth yet may get a belief in the Letter as the Jewes held a belief long in the Letter but kill'd the Son And you have had the Letter and form of godlinesse long but killed the Saints and Martyrs who are reprobated Devils Jewes Apostates Papists from the elect of God for who are of faith â—re of Abraham and who are of Abraham are of the elect of Christ which doth not pertain to Idols And here is the mystery of the Church known the body of Christ which is a top of your flesh and Idols both which is not of the flâ—sh of Abraham nor of the Church All you are but the pretenders of the Spirit of Christ in the apostacy from it since the dayes of the Apostles as your fruits declare your names and Images So I confesse to you it is the ancientest form that hath been since the dayes of the Apostles but had I never known the Papists nor none of these Sectaries we had knowâ— truth We came not through the Popes channels but are come to that which all Apostates ravened from and so you your selves must be put to silence and your mouths stopped which are the evill beasts that tears one another worse then the common beasts which the Apostles speak of which was coming up before his decease How are you learning one another about your meat and husks and worships and images and helps and Teachers and Scriptures which was not the work of them that gave it forth with your horns And how many Images have you upon you and names and marks and what are all these Images and marks but the marks and Images of the beast which is risen since the days of the Apostles Whereas thou Queriest what be all these but sect as Independents Anabaptists and other Sectaries which sayest thou was first of the Church of Rome and thou sâ—yest the Church of Rome cannot be said to be sectaries because it hath been constant since the dayes of the Apostles and all Sectaries springed from it and not you from them Answ. The Roman Church was the first made up of Hereticks Schismaticks and Apostates and Reprobates and Antichrists and false Prophets which Christ said should come Matth. 7. and John said was come and as you may read in Timothy and Titus Reprobate from the faith and erred from the faith and had the form of godlinesse and denyed the power and kept the form and as John said was come and they went after Idols before his decease and he writ to the little children to keep themselves from Idols And Jude saw them crept up before they were aware which went in Corah's Balaams and Cains way that were Murtherers And are not you Murtherers that murther one another as Cain about his sacrifice And Jude saw they turned the grace of God into wantonnesse which should be their teacher and salvation So all these self-separations Apostates Reprobates which went after the doctrine of Devils and forbid meats and marriages and the spirit spoke expresly should depart from the faith and â—ll these have made up the Church of Rome and there 's your visible Church held up by Cains weapons Then as for all these Sectaries springed from you you were like to beget no other children but bastards which is but a false conception brought forth by the will of man which is applyed that God got it and fathers it upon God And as for all these Sects which are sprung of you are like no other wayes but like to a Sea and burst into names which went from the spirit of God you are not like to be kept in unity who ravened from the spirit of God the life of Christ and the Apostles was in and to that which you ravened from are people come and coming which stands a-top of you all They that worship God must worship him in spirit which mortifies all sin and corruptions and they that worship God must worship him in truth in that the Devill abode not in To all the Papists upon the Earth TO come out and try their faith and strength without Cains weapons for there was two that did sacrifice and the one killed the other about the sacrifice and whether of these two was excepted can you read your selves and which was the vagabond It 's said that the Pope and the Church of Rome hath the Key and it 's left to them and ye are the keepers of the Key Now if you be keepers of the Key ye are to open to Nations about you and to render a reason of the hope that is in you if the Lord be sanctified in your hearts you will Are you according to the Scriptures Is the practice of your Church according to the Scriptures Is the spirit of the Lord powred upon you and all flesh Doth your sons and your daughters prophesie And if any thing be revealed to another that sits by you and bids another hold his peace that is speaking for you may all prophesie one by one Or are you not like others and the rest of the Sects that will put them in prison and say they have disturbed you and so shew your selves both Reprobates and Hereticks from the Church and the Spirit that the Apostles were in And can you say Christ is in you male and female Or are you not reprobates and say you
you when you sprinkle your children put salt in their mouths spit in their eares dip their heads in the water and crosse them over the faces 17. What is the death that hath passed over all men 18. What is the tree of knowledge of good and evill 19. What is Anti-christ is not it he which sets up things which Christ has not commanded 20. What is the beast the first and second 21. What is the Dragon 22. What is the Mother of Harlots and her cup which all Nations and the Kings of the earth has drunk of 23 What is the bottomlesse pit 24 What are the locusts 25 What is the first principle of the pure Religion 26 Doth Christ Jesus enlighten every man that comes into the world yea or nay 27 What is it that gives the knowledge of the glory of God and where is it 28 What is the Word 29 What is the Gospel 30 What is the Record 31 What is the Original 32 What is the law and the testimony 33 What is self-righteousnesse 34 Shall a man while he is upon earth have the body of sin put off and be perfect and come to that which is perfect and have his transgressions and sins blotted out yea or nay 35 What is conscience and what is the soul 36. Would you not destroy them that would break down your pictures your Images your Crosses your Crucifixes and throw away your beads would not that lovâ— in you destroy them that should destroy your pictures Crosses Crucifixes Images beads would not the Heathen have done the same to the Jews that had destroyed their Images Groves pictures set up which God never commanded Would not the Jews have destroyed the Apostles for denying the Temple the Altar Sanctuary Tabernacle dayes Priests offerings the outward things which God had formerly commanded but denyed by them that came to witnesse and preach up the body that God had prepared to put an end to them and was not that the love of God in the Apostles and was not that the selâ—ish love that held up pictures Temples Images Idols which God never commanded and was not that the selfish love in the Jews that held up Temple tythes Priests Images similitudes and are not you in the selfish love and is not this selfish love that holds up Temples Tythes Priests Images Crucifixes Pulpits and is not all this in one nature Jews Gentiles and you since the dayes of the Apostles and out of the love that the Apostles were in who witnesse against Jewes Priests tythes and Gentiles and Idols and bad the Saints keep themselves from Idols 1 John 5.21 37. Are not they the false Apostles Ministers and Teachers Antichrist Beast and false Prophets who comes with lying signs wonders and miracles since the dayes of the Apostles and John and who are these describe them that should come with the lying signs and wonders and the beast should work miracles since the dayes of the Apostles 38. Are not they the false Apostles Ministers and Teachers and in the night out of the true day have lost it since the dayes of the Apostles the true Christians which were children of the day that now observes dayes is not this a figure and sign to be in the night was not the true Apostle afraid of some that observed dayes that he had bestowed his labour in vain amongst them and was not this observing of dayes coming up amongst some before the Apostles decease which the true Apostles rebuked and since the dayes of the Apostles have they not spread over Nations observers of dayes and are they not gone into the night and lost the true day 39. Why do you whip your selves with cords or ropes or whips where did the Christians or Apostles do so or did Christ or the Apostles give any such command will you be tryed and have your practises tryed by the Scriptures of Christ and the Apostles 40. Do you own the practice of the Church of the Saints and Christians which the Apostle was amongst that if any thing be revealed to another that sits by let the first hold his peace for ye may all prophecy one by one that all may learne and be edified and comforted the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets and God is the God of order and not of confusion 41. Do you own that Sons and Daughters shall prophecy in this age and that the spirit will be poured out upon them yea or nay 42. Do you own revelation and immediate inspiration as the Apostles had the same now in these dayes as was amongst them yea or nay 43. Do you own trembling and quaking as was amongst the Saints which the Scriptures speak of and the salvation which is to be wrought out with fear and trembling and doth not this work out that nature that beats and striks the Creature 44. What are all your names that you give to your Fryers Monks Jesuits given to them for where did Christ and the Prophets and Apostles do so or give any such names to any as white Fryers black Fryers Jesuits Abbots Monks has not this been set up since the fallâ—ng away from the power and life that the Saints were in who were of one mind and heart and Spirit and Soul and the number of these names got up since 45. From whence was the rise of your Pope Cardinâ—ls Abbots Monkes Pryors Arch Bishops Covents Canons Nunns Jesuites Franciscans Dominicans Carthâ—sians Capuchins Benedictines Mendicants Carmelits gray Fryers black Fryers white Fryers your Regulers and Seculers our Altar Rayles Organs Candlesticks Tapers Lights Torches holy Water Myters Vestments Fonts Surplisses Bendings before Images bowings before the Altar where do ye find these names or things amongst the Apostles or the Saints and Churches which the Apostles were amongst or where did they do so shew a proof of it before their decease in all their Epistles or in all the declaration of Christ or the Apostles for your practise to act or practise any such thing or to give any such names or set up such Orders 46. Where had the Apostles and Saints any Inquisition-Houses to put them in that were contrary to their minds 47. Where had the Apostles and Saints any houses to put men and women into such as ye call Abbies Monasteries Nunneries 48. Where did the Apostles or Saints set up a form that some of them should beg all their life times is it not said I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed beging his bread 49. Where did ever any in the Scriptures wear sack-cloth or hair-cloth except such as of the Lord God were commanded to wear them as a sign 50. Where is it amongst the Apostles and true Churches that were amongst them that they should be distinguished one from another by their habits as every name hath their severall habits amongst you prove me this by Scripture have not you lost the true knowing one another in the Spirit and so know one another by habits
and names 51. Where did the Apostles and Saints that were amongst them the true Church give any such Commands that there should be any dayes set apart for fish to be observed as you do answer me these things out of the Doctrines of Christ or the Apostles or Disciples of the Apostles and the true Church 52. Where was there any amongst the Apostles and Disciples which was the true Church amongst the true Christians that had the name of Pope before their decease or Fryeries or Abbies or Nunneries or Monkes or any such names amongst them answer me by the Scriptures out of the practice of the true Apostles and true Christians which the Apostles were amongst before their decease 53. Where did the Apostles and Disciples take a vow of any Christians or make them to give them a vow that they should never possesse any thing of their own or never marry but put them into houses where they should never come out again and is not that the Doctrine of Devils which was coming in before the Apostles decease forbidding the eating of meats and forbidding of marriage 1 Tim. 4. and from what ground and root has this had its rise 54. What were the false Prophets and Anti christ that Christ said should come in the 7. and 24. of Math. to his Disciples which the Disciples â—aw was come as in 1 Joh. 2. and 4. which went forth from them wch he saith in his revelations all that dwelt upon the earth went after and all Nations drunk the cup of the fornication and the Kings of the earth and all that dwelt upon the earth worshipped the Beast what Kings of the earth were thâ—y that drunk this cup of fornication and all Nations and what Nations were they that cup was this was not it them that ravined from the life which went forth from the Apostles which made war against the Saints and should overcome them for a season that kept the testimony of Jesus the spirit of Prophesy whose names were written in the Lambs book of life slain from the foundation of the world 55. Where did the Apostles and the Church that they were amongst before their decease set up Crosses and did they fill their windowes full of pictures and Images of males and females answer me this by Scripture out of the Apostles practice Now if you say that Joshua bowed before the Arke and Solomon made Images Joshua bowed to the Lord before the Arke and Christ is come the substance of all tipes and figures and shadowes and to him must every knee bow who is a greater then Solomon that built the Temple and Stephen that was stoned to death for witnesing the substance and denying the figure 56. And where did the Apostles and Disciples or the Ministers of Christ Jesus which was amongst the Apostles before their decease consecrate bread and wine or Christ give them any such Commâ—nd to consecrate it tell me out of the Commands of Christ or the Commands of the Apostles before their decease that they practised any such thing amongst the Saints And what Scripture have you or Command from Christ or the Apostles or the Church that was amongst them that speaks of seven Sacraments or any such names that they had amongst them or give forth any such thing to be practised after them let the practice of Christ and his Apostles and the Saints then speak for it or declare it or else you must acknowledge your selves to be besides them and acknowledge it to be but an invention and your own words 57. If your Church be the Pillar and ground of Truth the gates of Hell cannot pervail against it but if the gates of Hell have prevailed and you swallowed up in darkness and in inventions and are fain to hold up your selves with Prisons and Inqâ—isitions and Goales and outward Carnal weapons does not this shew that your weapons are carnal and not spiritual and that you are out of the power of Truth which the Apostles were in I am none of those that you cal your sects separated from you and drove you out of your houses and taken them and call them the Church nor any of them that holds up Tythes or Temple outward which has your Crosses on the end of them nor any of them that holds up Priests which have been made by Schooles and Colledges and has their Temples and Pulpits imitating Ezra or Solomon not Christ who came to put an end to them nor any of them that are taught to call the dayes by the Saints names nor any of them that are taught to call the Colledges by Jesus by Christ by Immanuel by Trinity none of them that ever was learned to call them by these names nor any of them taught by the Heathen to call moneths by the names of January February March April May c. and to name dayes and to call them by such a Saint or such a God or Sun or Moon or Starres But am a witnesse against all the Priests made by Schooles and Colledges by mans will and Tythes and Temples set up since the dayes of the Apostles in the Apostacy and a witnesse against all the Jews Temples Tythes Pulpits Priests and offerings one of them that are the Elect that witness the everlasting Priest-hood and everlasting covenant 58. Are not all these Pulpits Temples Tythes Priests Schooles Colledges made by the will of man and set up by the will of man in the apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and are not you all in the Apostacy from Christ and the Apostles who said when they curse blesse ye and the Apostle sayes my brethren bless and curse not Now you that do curse by your Bell by your Book and by your Candle are not you apostatized from the Apostles Doctrine here who saith bless and curse not and ye curse Did not the Apostle Peter see the Cursers cursed speakers come up before his decease 59. Did the Apostles give the names as Whitsontyde or Easter or Christmas the names of holy dayes are not all these set up since the Apostles seeing the Apostle said he was afraid of them that observed dayes Did not the Jews dote upon the shadow more then the substance dote upon the day more then they did upon Christ But shew what your observing of Whitsontyde Easter or other holy dayes does signify forth and who was the first author of your Church or where the Apostles or the Church before their decease practised or commanded any such thing if not grant your selves Apostates 60. Where did the Apostles or Ministers of Christ or the beleivers before their decease build great Abbies Monasteries and set crosses on the ends of them Nunneries Cloysters build walkes in the ground shew it by Scripture by that prove your practice else acknowledge your selves to have set up these things who be in the apostacy 61 Where had the Apostles or the Saints Bells jangling to call them together like a company of Heathen or