Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	know_v	love_v	true_a	9,910	5	5.1266	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41067	A touch-stone, or, A perfect tryal by the Scriptures, of all the priests, bishops, and ministers, who have called themselves, the ministers of the Gospel whose time and day hath been in the last ages past, or rather in the night of apostacy : they are tried and weighed by the Scriptures of truth, and are found out of the life and power of the scriptures, and out of the spirit and doctrine of them that gave them forth, and quite contrary to their principle and practice, both Papists and Protestants : unto which is annexed, Womens speaking justified, &c.	Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702.	1667 (1667)	Wing F639; ESTC R7178	82,431	96

hardness as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 2. And when he writes to Titus he saith To Titus mine own Son after the common Faith for this cause left I thee at Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting Tit. 1. And again he saith to Timothy Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity Till I come give attendance to reading and to exhortation Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. I would know which of the Bishops hath received such a Gift as this and whether by making proof of this Gift of Prophesie that is in them they have attained to these Titles of Lord-Bishops and Reverend Fathers in God But since we find the Scriptures so much contrary to these Titles it must needs follow that they have received their Titles from men But Timothy and Titus were made Overseers of the Church of God by the Holy Ghost but no Lord-Bishops and so was the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles And James the Apostle speaks expresly My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of Persons For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold Ring or goodly Apparrel and there come also a poor man in vile Rayment and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay Cloathing and not to him that is Poor Are ye not partial in your selves c. But if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the Law as transgressours Jam. 2. Here the Apostle gives perfect judgement against the respecting of mens persons which most men do because of advantage but with Christ Jesus and his holy Apostles you see it was not so and therefore those that take upon them the name of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ should follow their examples and not go quite contrary And this I look upon to be sufficient for the proof of the first head which is their Titles The Second is their Qualifications State and Condition First Christ Jesus said to those he preached unto Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoak upon you learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11. This is contrary to highness and haughtiness And when he preached his first Sermon in the Mountain and his Disciples came unto him He opened his mouth and taught them saying Blessed are the poor in Spirit Blessed are they that Mourn Blessed are the Meek as you may read Mat. 5. And likewise when he sent forth his Disciples he said Behold I send you as Lambs in the middest of Wolves be ye therefore wise as Serpents but harmless as Doves Mat. 10. And when he had sent out the seventy by two and by two he said unto them Go your wayes behold I send you forth as Lambs among Wolves Luke 10. This was one Quality of those that Christ sent forth they were Meek they were Harmless Secondly They were such as were to go into Sufferings as he said unto them in the next verse Beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Counsels and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my Names sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles and ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake Mat. 10. Mark 13. 9. And when Peter rebuked his Master when he told them that he was to go to Jerusalem to suffer He turned and said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan c. Then said Jesus unto his Disciples If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me Mat. 16. And when he told them that tho Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the Elders and Chief Priests and Scribes and be slain and raised again the third day and he said unto them all If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9. Mark 8. And according to this the Apostles of Christ went through many hardships and sufferings as may be read at large throughout the Book of the Acts. And the Apostle Paul saith to the Corinthians And I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or wisdome declaring unto you the Mystery of God for I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified and I was with you in weakness and fear and in much trembling For Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect for the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness 1 Cor. 1. and Chap. 2. It is many ages since those that took upon them the Preaching that which they have called the Gospel were in this state and condition for the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God which makes to tremble as the Apostles did hath been an offence unto them and is mocked and scoffed at by them to this day Thirdly They were also such as were to live in Love and of this Christ himself gave them an example when he took a Towel and girded himself and poured water into a Bason and began to wash the Disciples feet and said Ye call me Lord and Master and ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye ought also to wash one anothers feet And a new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another John 13. and Chap. 15. And the Apostle saith when he wrote to the Thessalonians but as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another and indeed ye do it towards all the Brethren But we beseech you that ye increase more and more 1 Thes 4. And the Apostle John saith He that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in darkness He that loveth his brother abideth in the Light 1 John 2. And again he saith This is the Message that ye have heard from the beginning that we love one another not as Cain that slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous But we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren He that loveth not his brother abideth in death whosoever hateth his brother is

a murderer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal Life abiding in him Hereby perceive we the love of God because he hath laid down his Life for us We ought also to lay down our lives for the Brethren Chap. 3. And so this is contrary to what hath been the practise of those that have taken upon them the function of the Ministers of Christ for many hundreds of years for though they have professed Christ and Christianity yet they have been killing and slaying and murdering one another as many examples might be instanced in ages past Those that call themselves Papists and those that call themselves Protestants one killing and slaying and murdering another and yet all professing and confessing themselves to be Christians and would profess the Scriptures Christ and the Apostles words and in doing thus one to another they have thought they have done God good service and so have fulfilled Christ's words who saith Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service and these things will they do because they have not known the Father and me John 16. And this may suffice for the second head which is their Quallifications The third is their Call For Jesus when he came and spake unto his Disciples he said unto them All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even to the end of the world Mat. 28. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preaceh unto every creature he that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned And again he saith Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on high and he blessed them and they worshipped him and they returned to Jerusalem Luke 26. Which is rehearsed again in the first of the Acts and fulfilled in the second Chapter and the Spirit was poured upon them plentifully and there were some then that mocked and said These men are full of new Wine but Peter stood up with the eleven and said These men are not drunken as ye suppose but this is that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel It shall come to pass in the last days saith the Lord I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall prophesie and whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord in that day shall be saved This holy Spirit the Apostles received when they were met together also Paul the Apostle who was made an Apostle after them he also was separated for that work by the holy Ghost for as the Apostles were met together with the Church at Antioch as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost departed c. Act. 13. And so the Apostle writes himself when he wrote to the Romans Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God And again when he wrote to the Galatians he wrote thus Paul an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead and all the Brethren which are with me unto the Churches of Galatia And he saith further I certifie you brethren that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ But when it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. And again when he wrote to the Ephesians when he was a Prisoner of Jesus Christ he wrote thus to the Gentiles Ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of the Gospel of God which is given me to you ward how that by Revelation he made known unto me the Mystery as I wrote unto you in a few words which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit Ephes 3. I do not know neither have I heard that the Ministers and such as take upon them to teach People neither those that are their Lords Bishops and Arch-Bishops that they have had their Calls after this Order for there have been other wayes and meanes used for many hundred of years together as Schooles and Colledges and Universities and Nurseries of Learning which they call their Mothers with a heap of Stuffe which are better known by them that exercise themselves in them than the Revelation of Jesus Christ is and the Ministers they make are by men and of men and they will have them Fitted and Ordained according to their Wayes and Orders But if any one have received the Revelation of Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit if any such have a Word to speak from the Lord they must not be received nor admitted this is not according to their Order this they call an Heresie and a Sect any that speak and meet together and worship the Lord God in his Spirit and in his Truth such are taken notice of and are brought under the Whip and the Scourge and are apprehended and cast into Prision if they do but pretend the Teachings and Leadings of the Spirit of God and if they have not freedom in their spirits to pay them Tythes or to maintain their Steeple-houses presently they are brought into the Bishops Court and if they cannot for Conscience-sake swear and take an Oath then presently they are cast into Prison But of this more hereafter And thus it is truly manifested that the order of their Calling is not according unto Christ nor his Apostles for Christ saith expresly All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him Mat. 11. And again Christ saith It is written in the Prophets They shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me not that any man hath seen the Father save he that is of God he hath seen the Father John 6. This may be sufficient to prove the Third head which is their Call which is contrary to the Apostles The fourth their Worship and the manner of it And first for the Worship it self Christ when he spake to the woman of Samaria and she told him That their Fathers worshipped in that Mountain of

obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle 2 Thes 2. This Scripture the Papists and many others make a Cloak and a Covering for teaching their Traditions because the Apostle bids them hold fast the Traditions that they had taught them by their Gospel which in the words before he saith was to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ the which they had good reason to hold fast for if they let that go they were not like to attain to such another But there is no comparison between these and the Traditions of the Priests in the Apostacy either Papists or others for through their teaching of their Traditions they have done nothing but brought people into a body of darkness and into a heap of ignorance keeping them ignorant both of the Scriptures and all that is good For if people had but liberty to look into the Scriptures they would soon be wiser then their Teachers and see their gross darkness But they tell them they cannot understand them they must be expounded by learned men and so will not let the Light of Christ arise in Peoples hearts nor never direct their minds to it but keep them in darkness and make a Trade of the Scriptures for their own advantage and so deceive poor peoples souls And these Scriptures may serve to prove this Particular of the fourth Head which is concerning their Worship which is their matter and manner of Preaching The second particular of that head is their Prayer which is also contrary to Scripture-example they having Prayars formed and made by men as all their other Worship is and so read their Prayers in Books and set any fellow or school-boy to read it if he have but the name of Curate or Clark if he read but that in the Book they account it Praying And if any of the greater sort as Bishops Deans Vicars or Parsons if they pray they either pray in a Book or else they have a Prayer formed up and made and prepared before hand that they pray And many times they set wild and wanton Boyes with Priest and Clark and all the People to sing their Prayers and this they account and call Praying When Christ Jesus was in his Sermon in the Mount that he was teaching the People several things as was said before as concerning Alms and many other particulars in which he bad them not to do as the Pharisees did he also spake to them that they should not pray as they did for they prayed standing in the Synagogues And saith he When ye pray use not vain repetitions as the heathens do Be not ye therefore like unto them for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven c. And so he giveth them several particular heads what they should pray for and after he had done that he rehearseth these words again If ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will forgive you but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses Mat. 6. And again he saith unto one of his Disciples who desired him to teach them to pray He said unto them When ye stand praying forgive if ye have ought against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses but if you do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses Mark 11. 25. Now how the Bishops and all their Officers which they imploy under them forgive those that trespass against them is manifested by their Courts they keep as also all the Papists Bishops Priests and Jesuites that make this Prayer be said over so often by their People how they forgive those that trespass against them is also manifested by their Inquisitions Wracks and Tortures and yet this Prayer they make their ground for all their Forms and forming up of prayers which is quite contrary to the Apostle's practice and doctrine for he saith We are saved by hope but hope that is seen that is not hope but if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and he that searcheth the heart knoweth the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8. And this Spirit is he that knows the minde of Christ and the will of God and therefore the Apostle saith I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with understanding also 1 Cor. 14. For the Spirit saith he searcheth all things even the deep things of God for what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man that is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man save the Spirit of God for the natural man knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him because they are spiritually discerned So how can these natural men that read a Prayer in a Book pray unto God that know not the things of God and what effect can such Prayers have Indeed David saith That the Prayers of the Righteous avail much if they be fervent But can their Prayers avail that are unrighteous and know not the things of God neither have any fervency in them But the Apostle saith We know the mind of Christ and therefore he saith Be kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another not slothful in business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rejoycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in Prayer Rom. 12. 12. And again Peter saith As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified 1 Pet. 4. So here is a great difference between this sort of praying that the Apostle here mentions and that which is called the Common-Prayer which indeed is common and may be common to any that have eyes and can read it as also all the Paternosters and Ave-Maries of the Papists though they call that which Christ taught his Disciples the Paternoster but he did not call it so though they patter it over and teach all People to patter it over but he did not so with those he taught it but he told them they should not use vain Repetitions nor vain bablings and he taught them in the holy Spirit of the Lord and so directed them that they might learn it in that

burdens grievous to be born But this is contrary to Christ and his Apostles Doctrine and Example as hath been shewed already Moreover the Apostle Paul when he writeth his second Epistle to the Corinthins chap. 1. and relateth the sufferings and hardships that they had passed through how that they had the sentence of death in themselves he saith Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us in God who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts not that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy for by Faith ye stand Here the Apostle did not bind them and limit them nor called them to Courts to keep them under oppression and penalty in those things that were contary to their Faith and Principles this was contrary to Pauls practice for when he called the Elders of the Church of Ephesus unto him he said unto them Ye know that from the first day that I came unto you after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befel me and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house testifying both to Jews and Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ And when he goes on mentioning his sufferings he saith None of these things move me neither count I my self dear unto my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God Take heed therefore unto your selves and to the whole Flock of God whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers and feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20. Here the Apostle gives them no Commission to oppress or bondage those that they were Overseers over but to feed them and to watch over them For saith he after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter among you not sparing the Flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things therefore watch and remember c. This hath been fulfilled and largly manifested Wolves and Devourers have had a large time since that day Also the Apostle Peter saith thus The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. Here is a perfect Example and Rule for all the Overseers of the Church of God Moreover when the Apostle writes unto his Son Timothy he saith That the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a Pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned Also he exhorts him First of all that supplications prayers and intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty and so he goes on exhorting this Bishop but never biddeth him set up Courts nor be a Lord over Gods Heritage for he saith This is a true saying If any man desireth the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good work a Bishop must be blameless the Husband of one Wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach I believe our Bishops are wanting here because they Hire and Imploy so many petty Teachers under them but he goes on Not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetons now our Laws and Courts signifie the contrary of this not a Novice lest being lifted up with Pride he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil Moreover he must have a good report of those that are without holding the mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience So the Apostle goeth on exhorting the Bishops and Deacons that they may know how to behave themselves in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Ground and Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 2 3 chap. So he goes on exhorting them what to Teach and Preach and how to order the Church in the 4th and 5th chapters concerning the Elders Elder-men and Elder-women Younger-men and Younger-women as also Servants he directeth him how to go by way of Exhortation to them all and saith If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is proud knowing nothing doting about Questions So he goeth on dehorting them from those things But thou O man of God saith he flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love and patience meekness fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eternal Life whereunto thou art called and hast professed a good profession before many Witnesses I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ O Timothy keep that which is committed unto thy Trust chap. 6. Here is a weighty and a hard Charge laid upon Timothy the then Bishop and Overseer of the Church but here is nothing of making of Laws and setting up Courts and oppressing people and keeping them in Bondage and Slavery for when he writeth his Second Epistle to Timothy he saith My dearly beloved Son Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the Gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound minde That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us This thou knowest that all they which were in Asia be turned away from me yet he doth not bid him Arraign them nor call them up to Courts nor Cite them nor Excommunicate them nor cast them into Prison but he exhorts him to be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus and he layeth down how he should teach the people and commit

Wherefore I beseech you be ye Followers of me For this cause I have sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved Son and faithfull in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my Wayes which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church 1 Cor. 4. And again when the Apostle Exhorteth the Philippians in his Epistle To let nothing be done through Strife or Vain-glory but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better then themselves Look not every man to his own things but every man also to the things of others And so he goes on opening the Mystery of the Sufferings of Christ But he saith I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you that I also may be of good comfort when I know your State for I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your State for all seek their own not the things that are Jesus Christs but ye know the proof of him that as a Son with a Father he hath served me in the Gospel him therefore I send unto you c. Phil. 2. And again when he writeth to the Thessalonians he saith We sent Timotheus our Brother and Minister of God and our Fellow Labourer in the Gospel of Christ to Establish you and Comfort you concerning your Faith 1 Thess 3. Thus ye see that this Timotheus who was the Bishop and Overseer of the Church of God in the Apostles dayes was a Faithfull Labourer and Minister of Christ Jesus and much trusted in and approved of by the Apostle for he laboured with him in the Gospel as a Son laboureth with his Father And it is strange that the Bishops that have been in these later Ages should call themselves by that name since they have both derogated from their Doctrine and Principles and added what their own dark minds and inventions would invent for in that they have erected unto themselves a supremacy and a superiority above others which they have practised and Lorded over peoples Faith and Consciences for many hundreds of years together under which many thousands have groaned and suffered even until death and shedding of their blood and in all these things they have quite contradicted Christ Jesus his Doctrine Practice and Example as also all his holy Apostles after him for he and they were alwayes sufferers as hath been shewed already and as we shall shew hereafter But they were never Oppressors nor layers of Yoaks and Burdens upon the Consciences of Men and People but they alwayes preached Liberty and Freedom to others though they suffered themselves and there was their Cross that they took up when they followed Christ And so those Church-Governors as they call themselves that have been Blood-shedders that have been Oppressors and Persecutors they have no Example neither from Christ nor none of his Apostles and so let the Blood that they have shed for so many hundreds of years return upon their own heads Let Babylons Merchants have blood to drink for they are worthy for they have been made drunk with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus so the Cup that they have given to others let them have it double for they learned none of this from Christ nor from any of his Apostles For Christ when he sent his Messengers and they entred into a Village of the Samaritans and they received him not because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem and when his Disciples James and John saw this they said Lord wilt thou that we command fire from Heaven and consume them even as Elias did But he turned and rebuked them and said Ye know not of what manner of spirits ye are of for the Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9. 55 56. And to save mens lives he laid down his own Life and shed his own pretious Blood as he saith himself He hath laid down his Life for his Sheep and they shall never perish Yea he hath laid down his Life for his enemies For the Apostle saith Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good and edification For even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God Rom. 15. And again the Apostle saith All things are in God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation to wit That God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. Here is no violence nor cruelty used neither bondages nor snares laid upon mens Consciences for the Apostle saith Give no offence in any thing that the Ministry be not blamed but in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God In much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses in Stripes and Imprisonments in Tumults in Labours in Watchings in Fastings by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Ghost by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the Right Hand and on the Left by Honour and Dishonour by Evil-report and Good-report as Deceivers and yet True as Vnknown and yet Well-known as Dying and behold we Live as Chastened and not Killed as Sorrowful and yet alwayes Rejoycing as Poor and yet making many Rich as having Nothing yet possessing All things 2 Cor. 6. Here is a Ministry of God indeed which is quite opposite and contrary to what hath been set up and practised in the Christian world Also read 2 Cor. 11. and likewise in Chap. 4. the Apostle saith Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received mercy we faint not For if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them And this Gospel hath been hid all this time of darkness for the god of the World hath blinded the minds of all that have not believed in the Light of the glorious Gospel and so they have been lost from it and kept from it by the Ministers of darkness who have preached the divination of their own brain and not from the Light of the Lord. But the Apostle saith We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake these are not Lord-Bishops nor Pope-Holiness for saith he God who commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in

immediately he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost Acts 12. This with much more might be instanced concerning this Generation of men of their cruelty and oppression joyning with the Heathen Monarchs in the crucifying and persecuting of Christ Jesus and all his holy Apostles and all the Primitive Christians But we never heard of any Bishops neither in the time of the Kings of Israel nor in all the four Manarchies before Christs time neither in the dayes of the Apostles nor in the Primitive times there was no such Bishops as had Courts and Laws to make people to Swear and to imprison them if they would not such as there could not be Kings without there were Bishops For Christ Jesus nor none of his Apostles sought not after neither looked after Earthly Kingdoms for he said His Kingdom was not of this World neither could his Servants fight And the Apostles said The Weapons of their warfare were not Carnal but Spiritual neither did they wrestle with Flesh and Blood but with Spiritual Wickednesses And so they that are true Christians and of the same Faith and Principle that Christ Jesus was of they desire not Caesars due nor right but give unto Caesar that which bears his own Image the outward earthly Image and the money that bears the Superscription of Caesars Prerogative this they can give unto Caesar and not wrong any man of his outward Propriety or Prerogative for they seek not after earthly Crowns nor Inheritances but after heavenly The Apostle when he wrote to Timothy exhorted That first of all Supplications Prayers and Intercessions might be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable to God who would have all men to be saved This he wrote to him that was a Bishop which if any man desireth the Office of he desireth a good work for it is no more then to be an Overseer of the Church of Christ and not to look after carnal means or carnal maintenance neither to be a burden or an oppression to the People nor to be upholden by men or the Powers of the Earth such Bishops and Overseers of the Church of God as Timothy and Titus were and all those holy Apostles the Scriptures mention we should be glad of Such as are lovers of Hospitality lovers of Good Men not given to Wine not greedy of filthy Lucre but Patient not a Brawler not Covetous for the Apostle saith The love of Money is the Root of all Evil which while some have coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows Such things as these the Apostle exhorted Timothy and Titus from which many of the Bishops in our dayes and for the last twelve hundred years and upwards it is to be feared they are fallen into Demas his way and trodden his paths and have forsaken the Apostles Spirit Doctrine and Principle and have embraced this present world and here hath been the misery of these Ages last past But this is that which Christ Jesus foresaw which he mentions Matth. 24 and 25 Chap. As also the Apostle Paul foresaw when he told them That grievous Wolves should enter into the Church not sparing the flock Acts 20. 29. 2 Pet. 1. 2. 1 John 2. 18. All these had a true sight of the dayes of darkness and night of Apostacy that was coming on As also the Revelation of Jesus Christ which he sent and signified by his Angel to his servant John he saw the Beast rise out of the Sea and out of the Earth and power was given to him for forty and two moneths and this power began at Rome which is the foundation of the Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Power and here was the first Bishop that was called his Holiness and his Children are called as high as they can but Timothy and Titus were not such who made war with the Saints and overcame them and power was given unto him over all Tongues Kindreds and Nations and his power was to endure above twelve hundred years And one of the seven Angels that had the seven vials shewed him the judgment of the great Whore with whom the Kings of the earth had committed fornication and the Inhabitants of the earth had made themselves drunk with the wine of her fornication And he saw a Woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured Beast full of names of Blasphemy having seaven Heads and ten Horns which Beast he had seen before Chap. 13. And when John marvelled the Angel said unto him Wherefore dost thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and of the Beast that carrieth her Chap. 17. And so He that hath wisdom may reade and count the number of the Beast for it is 666. And this Proverb which hath continued so long No Bishop no King hath risen out of the Bottomless-pit and must go into Perdition for there were no such Bishops in the times of the four Monarchies before Christ neither among the Primitive Christians that had Ecclesiastical Courts and tossed poor people up and down and caused them to swear contrary to Christ's command which they have nothing to do with wrangling among them for getting of money The Apostle saith They should be no Brawlers And now this usurping power is gotten up under the Profession of Christianity and because it is upholden by Monarchial Power it hath hatched a Cockatrice into the minds of People No Bishop no King but this we can say That Kings have reigned by the Power of the Lord God and may reign as long as it pleaseth him and God sent his Prophet to anoint a King So can we say that this usurping Power hath been alwayes against and contrary to the power of the Lord God and hath ever been the Oppressour of the Innocent and the Just and Gods Heritage and People have alwayes been Sufferers in all Ages by this Power and this generation of Priests hath been the cause of all the Saints sufferings they stoned the Prophets and slew them before Christ and ye may see how they used Christ and his Apostles And now in the Apostacy O the Inquisitions the Racks and the Tortures the Courts Citations and Imprisonments that have been and are continually imposed upon poor People so that the very misery of Nations cometh by these Usurpers and their Superiority in having Power and Oppressors and Layers on of Burdens grievous to be born that upon this Generation might come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth from Abel Mat. 23. 35 36. But the Lord is coming to Redeem his People and his Flock out of their covetous mouthes and bloody hands and the Lord hath sent the Spirit of his Son into the hearts of his People and his Light is risen in their Consciences and the Lord will Teach them all Himself and set them free from the bondage and slavery of these Taskmasters and he hath committed all Power in Heaven and Earth unto his Son and he hath all Times and Seasons in his hands and it is good for Kings that are set up by the Lord to fear him that by his Power they may stand and not uphold that power that God will throw down for he is come to Reign and Teach his People himself Read Isa 21. THE END First Theit Titles which are your Holiness Lord-Bishop your Lordship and your Gra●e contrary to Christ and his Apostles Secondly Their Qualifications contrary to Christ and his Apostles who were 1st Meek Lowly and Humble 2. Suffering and taking up the Cross 3 Love and Charity to all men Thirdly Their Call contrary to Christ and his Apostles which was by special command and revelation in Christ Jesus Theirs of men and from men The true Worship it self discovered Fourthly Their Worship contrary to Christs example and all his Apostles 1. In Preaching 2. In Praying 3. In Singing Studying and Divining contrary to Christ and his Apostles and contrary to the Levitical Priesthood The second particular of their practice is binding and limitting people to their Worship by citing them to their Courts The Third Particular of their Practice in causing People to Sware contrary to Christs and the Apostles Commands Practice and Doctrine The fourth particular of their practice is Sprinkling of Infants without ground from Scripture The Anabaptists Baptism with outward water condemned Tythes contrary to Gospel-Maintenance Long Robes and Surplices Hoods Tippets are contrary to Gospel Ornaments