to dissemble if Authority command it then suffer any afflictions to the outward man abusing for his purpose this Scripture Blessed is the barren that beareth not c. As also that Christs yoake is easie and his burthen light And therefore bringeth not his to suffer persecution to the outward man but to doe any thing that Authority commaundeth whose grosse abhominations hath been formerly confuted and we trust our innocency defended against all the accusations of these Children of that olde accuser of the Brethren The Lord discouer their most palpable abhominations and deliuer poore simple soules from their snares Pro. 9.18 for assuredly the Dead are there and her guests are in the depth of Hell Conclusion IF these Familists or any that are not willing to be knowne to be of them doe except against any thing either by word or writing which is here written and say that we wrong them in alledging H. Ns. and the rest their hellish sayings and laying them vpon them we answer them many of these sayings are their owne and all the rest for any thing that we knowe for otherwise they would not disperse their Bookes if they did not approue of the Doctrine contained in them in all things that we know follow their course and we hartily beseech all that shall haue to deale with them that if they be ashamed of H. N. and this his new light or euerlasting Gospell which they so much glory of that they would require them by writing to be published to testifie their abhorring of these his wicked blasphemies otherwise they will not onely confirme all of their holding the same but also giue all occasion to iudge them to bee as they are dissembling hypocrites who hold thinges and yet endeauour to perswade people that they doe not holde them Let them testifie their abhorring 1. FIrst that which H. N. hath written of God That God and Man had one Order Spirit Nature and being that God was all that Man was and Man was all that God was 2. That Christ is the Perfection in the Louely being whereunto their Godded Elders doe attaine Or any power in man whereby hee can keepe the Law without Faith in the man Christ 3. That the true Baptisme is To bee in the loue and her Seruice 4. That the Resurrection of the Dead The Eternall Iudgement and the euerlasting life is in this life before the naturall Death of the body And that the Body commeth to nothing after Death 5. That they ought to prostrate their Bodyes before any Idoll or Idol-seruice at the Magistrates command keeping their hearts to God 6. That the Worship of God standeth not at all in any outward Ordinance or obseruation 7. That if one bee tempted to any Sinne and cry and there come no helpe hee or she is guiltlesse though they commit the Act. 8. That they doe not binde themselues in Matrimony of men nor yet suffer themselues to be bound therein but are like the Angels of Heauen 9. That they ought to confesse before the Eldest in the Family all their euill thoughts wordes and deedes whatsoeuer they be and all that their inclination and Nature draweth them vnto 10. That some of them are come vnto such a perfection that being Godded with God neither in thought word nor deed they can sinne any more 11. That no man maketh any thing his owne or proper to himselfe but all thinges whatsoeuer is in the Loue is free and is as one 12. That any that are ignorant though Idolaters and worshippers of Deuils and iustifying themselues therein may bee saued though they know not nor beleeue in the Blood of the man Christ 13. That H. N M. P. and the seruant of M. P. were raised vp of God to publish these thinges to the world in these latter dayes as an euerlasting Gospell All these thinges hath Henry Nicholas and his followers published being raised vp out of the infernall pit to the deceiuing of them that beleeue not the Truth which Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Eternall Father hath reuealed but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnes being of God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde that they might be damned If they testifie their abhorring of these thinges without scores euasion or mentall reseruation we shall be glad If not let them be content to be called his Disciples whose Discipline they maintaine Wee doe herein as we would be done vnto for we are content that any whatsoeuer shall aske vs a reason of our Faith in any thing and we will render it to them Now the Lord Iesus Christ the great and good Shepheard of his Sheepe disclose and destroy the lyes and snares of this Theefe and robber H. N. and his followers that the soules of all for whom Christ hath payed so deare a price may be deliuered from their destruction and be brought vnto and continued in his Folde to their Immortality of soule and body in Glory euerlasting By the same our Lord and Sauiour to whome with the Father and the blessed Spirit one Eternall and euerliuing God be Glory and Dominion now and for euer Amen PSAL. 111.104 By thy precepts J haue gotten vnderstanding therefore J hate all the wayes of falshood VERS 115. Away from me yee wicked for I will keepe the Commaundements of my God FINIS
A DISCOVERY OF THE ABHOminable Delusions of those who call themselues the Family of Loue. WHEREIN THEIR FALSE CHRIST and false Profession is plainely laide open and all their grosse Cauils cleerely confuted PRO. 28. They that forsake the Law praise the wicked but they that keepe th Law set themselues against them REVEL 2.6 But this thou hast that thou hatest the workes of the Nicolaitans which I also hate Printed M. D.CXXII TO THE READER AMong the many Tares that the Enuious man hath sowen in these last Dayes of the world there are two principall ones by which he so preuayleth among them that acknowledge a Christ that hee bringeth many millions of soules to eternall perdition which wee earnestly beseech may be seriously considered One is a perswasion he worketh in many that if they haue the knowledge of Christ in wordes and doe make a profession of him with their lips mouth and so are accounted Christians by name practising some obseruations which haue a shew of his sacred Commaundements although in deede and Truth they bee the inuentions of Men this they thinke are perswaded is Christianity effectuall and will serue sufficiently to bring them to heauen A second is that when the Deuill seeth he cannot preuayle with diuers in this perswation but that they see Christianity is another thing then a bare profession of Christ then by little and little hee throweth them vpon these fearefull rockes of Familisme to beleeue and be perswaded that true Christianity and the worship of God is onely inward in the heart not at all in any outward obseruatiō or Bodily performance whatsoeuer and that the knowledge of a Christ who by his bodily Death suffered for our sinnes is needlesse which being effectually wrought in their hearts they growe presently to a loathing of the true Christ and the bodily obseruation of all Christs Ordinances for the gathering of his Church for his Ministery for his Worship and for his Church gouernment and all the appertainings thereof hating and contending against all that in the feare of God stand for the maintainance of them And not so onely but also defend with a high hand that men may be saued without knowledge or Faith in the Blood of the man Christ and that Christians ought to subiect their bodyes at the Magistrates commaund in all outward reuerence at any Idolatrous abhomination Mahometisme Papisme or whatsoeuer keeping their hearts to God all which commaunds of the Magistrates they account but Idle vanities as shall be shewed And for the spreading of these and many other most fearefull thinges the Deuill hath raised vp H.N. the most skilfull workman of this Craft and for his Successors though botchers in respect of their Master M.P. who calleth himselfe the mighty Prince of the Hebrewes and his seruant who writeth thus Seruant of M.P. a true Certif cap. 1. sect 10. It is not the pride of our manly being that wee meane to be equall in this or that but onely we meane God to be the very fame in M. P. and the seruant of M.P. that he was in H.N. c. These hauing written diuers Bookes many of which wee haue read by which they haue gotten many Disciples especially such as hauing knowne much truth which vsually is accompaned with the Crosse of Christ haue not onely forsaken that truth wherewith they were enlightened but now doe most wofully blaspheme it whose vniust accusation of vs and proude boasts occationeth the publishing of this little worke And although these especially be delt with yet there are diuers others who will not be called Familists that are deeply tainted with diuers of these things some called the scattered flocke who agree with the former that they may remaine in Babilon A litle booke to the Church of Rome pa. 113. and there mourne tarry c. And what account they make of the Lords Ordinances may appeare by that they write of Baptisme In T.L. aduertis pa. 5.8 which they say is teares teares is the water in Baptisme c. Another sort there are who although they haue not the name of Familists in that they dislike many of their blasphemies yet are dangerously affected with one of their maine grounds They cry out against outward Church Ministery Worship and Church gouernment and feeke and sue to the Magistrate for reformation thereof which when they cannot obtaine they submit and earnestly perswade others to submit to those thinges which being against their Consciences they cry out of onely to auoyde the crosse of Christ and they perswade the people that seeing they haue had comfort in that estate although the thinges they practice be most vile yet they may remaine in the practice thereof and they being reproued for speaking euill of that they practice and submit to they haue Fig-leaues to couer this their naked hypocrisie and when the examples of the Disciples and Churches of Christ are brought to reproue their courses they answer These were inuisible Churches the Elect in the outward Church and diuers such fancies whose courses herein are met withall in this writing following The meane betwixt these we desire to walke in not approuing it sufficient for iustification to haue a Fleshly knowledge of Christ onely or to haue respect to any outward obseruation or bodily seruice where the soule or affection is wanting For in all the Ordinances of Christs Gospell nothing auayleth but a new creature Gal. 6.15 2. Cor. 5.17 Ioh. 3.5 and if any be in Christ he is a new creature none can enter into the kingdome of heauen except he be borne again But we doe abhorre any hypocriticall conceipts which indeed are deceits where the knowledge and Faith of Christ after the flesh and those bodily obseruations that Iesus Christ cōmaundeth is dispised and made of none effect yea where in stead thereof any manner of Idol-seruice is set vp and outwardly reuerenced Christ telleth vs It becommeth vs to fulfill all righteousnes Math. 3. in bodily washing or Baptizing and as often as wee eate that bread of Cōmunion 1. Cor. 11.26 and drinke that Cup we shew forth the Lords death till hee come God hath made our Bodies redeemed them preserueth them Psal 119.113 and will glorifie them so as we will glorifie him with both in abhorring vaine inuentions and louing his Law Christ hath coupled soule and body together and let no man seperate them in his seruice If bodily obseruations be abandoned in the Cōmandements of the first table concerning the worship of God Mat. 23.38 which is the great Commandement and that we may with our bodyes performe any worship why is not the Commands of the second Table our duty towards man abandoned in all bodily obseruations and that our bodyes may steale Whore Lye Murther and what not which thing the oldest Father of this Family doth not sticke at as is shewed Pag. 54. In dealing with this wofull people let none take offence that wee
this Son of God Iesus Christ That no Idolater can be saued is thus confirmed Confounded bee all they that serue grauen Images and that glory in Idols Psal 97.7 1. Sam. 12.21 Num. 25.2.9 For they are not onely thinges of naught and vanity but they bring confusion and curse vnto all that submit vnto them Yea the Lord saith That Idolaters shall no more inherite the Kingdome of Heauen then Adulterers Fornicators wantons 1. Cor. 6.9 Buggerers Theeues couetous Drunkards raylers nor Extortioners But Idolaters with the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and abhominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and all lyars shall haue their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Reuel 21.8 which is the second Death Therefore we are commanded to flye from Idolatry and seperate our selues 1. Cor. 10.14 and touch none vncleane thing and then God will be our God and Father and walke among vs 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and dwell there and wee shall be his Sonnes and Daughters Hauing thus in generall proued that no Idolater can be saued that wee may come a little nearer the thing let vs obserue how far Idolatry doth extend It is sufficiently knowne of many that Idololatria signifieth a seruice of any likenes not onely of God but also concerning the thinges of Gods worship which is truely acknowledged by the annotation in the English Bible in Quarto vpon 1. Iob. 5.21 Babes keepe your selues from Idols The wordes are meaning from euery forme and fashion of thing which is fet vp for any deuotion to worship God And a great aduersary of the Papists saith Dillingham against the Pa◠pa. 37. To serue God as we list and not as he will is Idolatry So that any formes or fashions of Deuotion in Gods worship that is not Gods or besides Gods are Idols and Christs Babes must keepe themselues from them else they will bring them to destructiō as before is proued therefore not onely they that worship stockes and stones as God or as similitudes of God are Idolaters subiect to the Curses pronounced but also all such as in Deuotion to God set vp formes or fashions to worship God by that God hath not commanded and this is plainly proued by those fearefull Iudgements pronounced against all such as worship those mysticall Idols The Beast or his Image spoken of Reuel 14.9 c. Which generally all acknowledge that these worshippers doe in wordes worship the true God For these Scriptures are applyed to those people that in words doe acknowledge both God and Christ yet saith the Holy Ghost These worshippers shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath and bee tormented in Fire and Brimstone for euermore Which estate of confusion all must comeout of that will be saued For as it is a habitation of Deuils Reuel 18.2 so the worshippers therein are worshippers of Deuils Reuel 9.20 though it be in a great mystery and so perceiued of few Next it remaineth to proue that saluation is promised as to Faith in Christ as before is proued vpon Repentance of Idolatry as of all other sinne so also to obedience of Faith not to obedience of the Law but to obedience of the Gospell for that Faith that is not accompanied with Obedience Iam. 2.19 is not onely a dead Faith but it is the Deuils Faith that which shall neuer profit any man to Iustification Obedience to the Law had iustice in it felfe if any could haue kept it but obedience to the Gospell hath iustice in Christ to all that beleeue obey him who hath fulfilled the Law for them and by the workes of the Gospell wee are saued For this is the worke of God which shall inherite eternall life that wee beleeue in Iesus Christ Ioh. 6.29 Which Faith is accompanied with Obedience of * faith Rom. 1.5 16.26 It is written Not euery one that saith vnto mee Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but hee which doth my Fathers will which is in Heauen Math. 7.21 And let it be well obserued that obedience to the Sonne is not properly the obseruing of those morall precepts contained in the second Commandement Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe for that God hath from the beginning written not onely in the Tables of stone but in the tables of mans heart That as a man would another should doe to him Math. 7.12 so he should doe to him againe and not that onely is written in euery mans heart but euen this also that man should loue his Creator aboue all but the manner of this loue consisting in obedience to his Commandements for his worship and seruice that was directed in the Law by Moses and the Fathers If the Gentiles would haue it they must come vnto the Iewes Rom. 3.2 For to them were of credit committed the Oracles of God But now in these last dayes God hath spoken or declared what worship he will haue by his Sonne Heb. 1.2 whome he hath made heyre of all thinges Cōmanding all to heare him who hath shewed what manner of persons he accepteth worship of what his worship is what Ministery he hath appointed and what a Church Gouernment hee hath constituted and all other thinges for the well being of his Church Which is his Body Ephes 5.23 of which hee is the Sauiour who ought to bee obedient to him in euery thing And as the seruant Moses and the Commandements giuen by him was worthy of Honor in that time and euery transgression receiued a iust recompence of reward Heb. 2.2 of which we read of diuers dreadfull examples Leuit. 10.1 1. Sam. 6.19 1. Chron. 13.7.10 2. Chron. 26.16 c. Num. 16. cap. 1. Sā 13.13 c. cap. 15. read Deut. 27.36 So is the Sonne worthy of more honour in his Commandements in these last dayes Heb. 3.3 and soter punishment are they worthy of that doe transgresse them This is the Kingdome Heb. 10.29 and power in Heauen and Earth that is giuen to this Sonne of God to wit Mat. 28.18 to rule ouer the bodyes and soules of men whom he hath redeemed by the scepter of his word This is the gouernment on his shoulder Esa 9.6 Heb. 12.28 Act. 2.30 1. Cor. 15.24 c. and the Kingdome that can not bee shaken On which hee sits for euer to order it euen till hee haue subdued all thinges and deliuer it vp to his Father and they that will not that he shall raigne ouer them by his owne Lawes shall be brought and slaine before him Luk. 19.27 Now if such be the estate of all those that obey not the Sonne in his Lawes as if the Scriptures be true it is then what is the estate and condition of such as in stead of obedience to him contemne his Commandements and submit to mens inuentions for matter of worship to God where now is place for that hypocriticall pretence of
the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kinges of the Nations Raigne ouer them but you shall not bee so c. Lu◠22. Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them into all Truth but promised to send the Holy Ghost vnto them for that end These are his Highnes wordes But the Familists answer vs That Gods worship consisteth not at all in any outward obseruation the which saying of theirs if we ouerthrow a great part of their tottering profession will fall for they cannot deny but we must worship the Lord our God and him onely must wee serue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adoro is not onely taken for to Pray vnto or to beseech but also to Honour with bowing of the Body and the Scripture expresseth the same First Math. 14.10 saith If thou wilt fall downe and worship me Luke saith of the same Luk. 4.10 If thou wilt fall downe before me Math. 8.2 And loe there came a Leper and worshipped Marke saith of the same Mark 1.40 And there came a Leper beseeching him and kneeling down vnto him Luk. 5.12 Luke of the same And hee fell on his face and besought Math. 9.18 It is onely said There came a certaine Ruler and worshipped him Marke explaines it saying Mark 5.22 Hee fell downe at his feete and besought him instantly The same saith Luke Luk. 8.41 not speaking of any other worship Againe it is said Math. 15.25 of the Cannanite shee came and worshipped him saying Lord helpe me Mark 7.25 Marke calles this worship And she fell at his feete Further Marke saith The man possessed when he saw Iesus ranne and worshipped him Mark 5.6 Luke calleth this worship onely this Luk. 8.28 And hee cryed out and fell downe before him Also those wicked Soldiers are said to worship our Sauiour when bowing their knees before him Mar. 15.19 they mocked him By all which and much more that might be alledged it may most euidently appeare that the wisedome of God that knoweth best how to speake and to teach vs accounteth bowing of the Body kneeling or falling downe to be worship Further it is said And there were certaine Greekes that came to Ierusalem to worship Ioh. 12.20 at the Feast Act. 8.27 And the Euunuch is said to come out of Ethiopia to worship And Paul doth say he came to Ierusalem to worship All which teacheth Act. 2◠11 that the performance of those serulces and Sacrifices that with their Bodies were to be performed are counted Gods worship and not only a Spirituall reuerence or adoration which they might haue performed not haue come to Ierusalem This may suffice to proue that any bodily reuerence in matters of God and bodily seruices or Sacrifices are called Gods worship and therefore vtterly forbidden in any Spirituall seruice but onely in the true seruice of the true God Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue This therefore is to giue vnto God thinges which are Gods euen subjection with our soules and with our bodies to those parts of his Spirituall worship which he hath commanded in these last dayes by his Sonne Esa 2 8. This is his Honour which he will not giue to another This the seruants of God knew so well that they would not giue it to others to the greatest Potentates of the Earth notwithstanding all their commands and threats And this through the power of God wee will maintaine vnto the Death and approue our selues to God and all good men to bee neither Rebels to Caesar nor deserue iust taxation but commendation herein of all but hypocriticall and Atheisticall Familists And for what is Caesars wee vprightly acknowledge that all ciuill authority of Magistracy is the blessed Ordinance of God That all ciuill reuerence Honor ought to be giuen to it That Tribute and all other duties are to be payed vnto it Rom. 13. c. That all ciuill commands of it ought to be obeyed And that of Conscience to God whose ministers they are euen from the King to the most meanest Constable And that they may so execute their iust offices that they may notwithstanding walke with Iesus Christ be members of his Church and be faued That they haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill and are ordained of God for the wealth of all wel-doers And this is all that can be Caesars or that wee dare giue vnto any mortall man whatsoeuer So that hauing now shewed what is Gods what is Caesars we confidently affirme that the body may not be seuered from the foule or heart in our obedience to both as these hypocrits the Familists doe suggest In our obedience to man in all Ciuill things that which we doe we must doe of Conscience and not for wrath onely Rom. 13.5 And Seruants and so Subiects be obedient to your Masters according to the Flesh in all thinges not with eye seruice us men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God and whatsoeuer yee doe Col. 3.22.23 Ephe. 6.5.6 doe it heartily as to the Lord and not to men Also with singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ All which teacheth That all our seruice to euery Superiour must be with the heart and of Conscience and not with our Bodies onely and for our obedience to God with our Bodies aswell as our Spirits in all Spirituall or Diuine seruice and that they may not be seuered therein is proued We are bought both soule and Body with a deare price 1. Cor. 6.20 and therefore are commanded to glorifie God with both For our bodyes are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and they are not our owne Vers 19 And the bodyes of Christians are the members of Christ Vers 15 and these members of Christ our bodies must not be coupled to any Harlot whether materiall or Spirituall And wee are commaunded to giue vp our Bodyes a liuing sacrifice Rom. 12.1 wholy and acceptable which is our reasonable seruice of God This is plaine to him that will vnderstand And the Familists teaching the contrary it shall plainely appeare they are not onely most notable hypocrites but also Rebellious against the power of Magistracy Magistrates that take vpon them to Commaund in matters of Gods worship they doe not onely require bodily falling downe but also Reuerence with the soule of heart Dan 3. Did not Nabuchadnezzar require falling downe and worshipping And doe not the Magistrates in Popery and elsewhere where constraint to worship is doe they not require Diuine adoration to their diuine Seruice as they call it let all their Orders for their constrained and stinted seruice be looked into and this cannot be denyed And this being the Ordinance of the Magistrate if it be rebellion not to submit with the body in such diuine worship as they require because they commaund it as the Familists affirme then they are rebellious because they submit not
with their soules seeing the Magistrate requireth aswell the one as the other And hypocrites they are most notably for they not onely practice this but teach it to others they teach and practice that in all outward shew and appearance men should doe that which in deed and in truth they abhorre And if this opinion be true That we ought to be subiect in all matters of Religion with our Bodies at the commaund of the higher powers frō 1. Pet. 2.13 c. or any other Scripture then all perfecution for Religion is established yea it is iust lawfull For it is plaine these higher powers are ordained of God to commaund that which the Saints are required to submit vnto and whosoeuer resisteth them there resisteth the Ordinance of God and shall receiue iudgement for they are the Ministers of God therein for the Saints wealth and haue a Sword giuen them of God to take vengeance of them that resist them therefore we must be subiect for Conscience sake say wee all these are inhumane Ordinances as th' Apostle saith in this place say the Familists in Religious ordinances outwardly bodily which being so then are they Gods Ministers The Turke the Popish Magistrates and all others to command all outward seruice and worship euen what they thinke good and haue Gods Sword to take vengeance on all them that obey them not and it is for the Saints wealth that they thus doe and who resisteth them shall receiue iudgement and are not persecuted but iustly punished If this detestable dreame were true then are condemned all the seruants of God in diuers Ages that rather then they would either with body or soule submit herein at the Magistrates command suffered many great afflictions 1. King 19.18 The seauen Thousand are condemned for not bowing the knee to Baal and in not kissing him with their mouth The three Children in not falling downe and bowing to the Image Dan. 3. The Martyrs of Iesus that suffered beheading because they would not Worship the Beast Reuel 20.4 And all that suffered those cruell torments for not submitting outwardly to that execrable Idol the Sacrament of the Altar in times places of Popery If they might haue bowed or otherwise outwardly with their bodies haue testified subjection keeping their hearts to God then did they all most wickedly and were the onely causes of their owne afflictions which to thinke much more to say were most accursed Againe If it bee lawfull to bow downe which is to worship as before is proued with our bodies to an Idoll who is a Spirituall harlot and yet that we may keepe our hearts to God why is it not also lawfull to bow downe or couple our selues to a bodily harlot and keepe our hearts to God seeing Idolaters shall no more enter into the Kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6.9.10 then Adulterers And seeing the holy Ghost saith He that coupleth himselfe in his body with an harlot is one body with her why is not hee that coupleth himselfe in his body by bowing downe or otherwise reuerencing an Idoll one body with it It cannot be denyed but one is as lawfull as the other And H. Ns. Doctrine will not contradict this if it be considered In his Booke called Documentall sentences Cap. 13. sect 8. speaking of temptations to sinne thus he writeth If they take and lay holde on vs with force and violence and that then although wee cry there commeth not any power or helpe vnto vs for to withstand them in their force and violence and that they euen so rauish vs against our will so are we guiltlesse of the transgressing for we cryed to be released of the tyranny of the euill and there is no helpe come vnto vs of which guiltles transgressing the Law likewise witnesseth where it saith A woman which is violently taken in the Field whereas there is not any helpe and so rauished and although shee haue cryed aloude yet got no helpe shee shall be guil lesse of the transgressing c. So that the rule of these hypocriticall Libertines is come to a good passe with them it is not sinne to couple themselues to Idols which are Spirituall harlots by performing all bodily seruice to them also it is no sinne to them to couple themselues with a materiall harlot if they finde no strength by praying to withstand the temptation An acceptable Doctrine to all Libertines who would not be of this Religion But what truth was euer yet so apparant but the enemy of all truth the Deuill would haue some objection against it and therefore in this his prompt Disciples obiect 1. Cor. 9. From whence they collect this argument If Paul became the all thinges to the all men that he might by all meanes saue some to wit in practicing with his body as the Iewes or as them without the Law the Gentiles in their Ceremoniall worship did at that time worshipping God in his Spirit then ought we to submit to all Ceremoniall worship wheresoeuer wee liue in Turkie Rome c. a part of the all thinges But the former is true Therefore c. That this place they wickedly peruert is most apparant for there is no such thing as that the holy Apostle should practice as the vnbeleeuing Gentiles did in their Sacrifices or seruices seeing himselfe taught so earnestly against it Wherfore my dearely beloued flye from Idolatry 1. Cor. 10.14 The thinges that the Gentiles sacrifice they Offer to Deuils and not to God and I would not haue you haue fellowship with the Deuils Vers 20. yee cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of Deuils yee cannot be partakers of the Lords table and the table of Deuils Vers 21.22 Doe wee prouoke the Lord to anger c. Who can deny this Cup and this Table and these thinges Sacrificed to be bodily practices But th' Apostle in this place hauing proued his power frō Iesus Christ to preach the Gospell he shewes what a feruent desire he had for the promotion thereof for which labour he proueth by many reasons he deserued wages at the hands of the Corinths and that hee had power to require the same but he had not vsed it but Preached the Gospell of God freely therein making himselfe a Seruant not onely vnto them but vnto all men preaching the Gospell vnto all men as they were able to beare it To the Iewes who were vnder the Law becomming a Iew by teaching them the Gospell by the Law and Prophets which was their owne Element that hee might winne them The Gentiles who had not the Law Rō 2.14 As though he were without the Law teaching them God and so the Gospell not by the Law but by the Creation of the world which they were acquainted with as at Athens Act. 17.22 c. That he might winne them that were without the Law To the weake he became weake not giuing strong meat to babes teaching them as they were able
impiety for any of that said members to seek edificatiō of false Prophets in that it giueth that Honor and Matie that belongeth to Christ in his Church to the Deuill* by whose power that false Prophet teacheth and the Lord commanded his people of olde that they being seperated from other people to be the Lords should beware least they be taken in a snare after them Deu. 12.30 c. and least thou aske after their Gods saying how did these nations serue their Gods c. So that Gods people may not go heare which is to enquire of any false Prophet least they be taken in a snare by submitting to that God or that manner which that false Prophet teacheth 8. As the word of God is holy as other Ordinances among the Saints for it sanctifieth Church and all * Ioh. 17.17 Ephe. 5.26 1. Tim. 4.5 so the word of God is more prophaned among and by the wicked then other Ordinances because they take it to warrant their prophane practices and if the Saints of God may not joyne with them in soule or body in any of their prophane courses as before hath bene proued much lesse in soules or bodies may they joyne with them in vsing the word which is most of all prophaned by them Luk. 10.16 Ioh. 13.20 Ioh. 8.44 Rom. 6.16 9. As they that heare Christs Prophets heare Christ and they that dispise them dispiseth him euen so they that heare false Prophets which are the Deuils heare the Deuill and they that dispise them dispise the Deuill Therefore let all that hate the Deuill and would flye from him so doe vnto his Ministers 10. It is the grieuous sinne of any false Prophet to meddle with the word of God and his punishment is fearefull it is no lesse sinne Ezek. 13.9 and 14.10 and shall haue no lesse punishment in any that shal goe to aske or enquire of him for God Vers 7.10 the punishment shall be both alike For it is apparant Gods people may not goe to aske or enquire for God of any false Prophet which they doe that goe to heare with silence else hypocrites that they are what doe they there 11. False Prophets are strangers from God and we are commanded not to heare strangers but to flye from them and it is the commendations of the Saints Reuel 2.2 to examine false Apostles and to finde them lyars the Lords anger is against his people Ezek. 44.8 when they suffer Strangers to take the charge of his Holy things especially of handling the Word which halloweth all the rest and God demaundeth of his Sonnes Pro. 5.20 why they should embrace the bosome of a stranger And what doest thou in the way of Aegipt or what makest thou in the way of Ashur as before 12. Gods people must not goe to the dead to enquire * Deu. 18.11 1. Sam. 28.7 c. Esa 8.19 which false Prophets are * Ephes 1.2 Esa 29.9 c. yea God hath couered them with the Spirit of slumber they are blinde make such blind as heare them and their vision is as the wordes of a Booke sealed vp c. And shall any seruant of God goe to them to aske of God seeing their estates is such and that such thinges are an abhomination to the Lord Deu. 18.12 which will cause him to cast vs out of his sight 13. A false Prophet medling with the Holy word of God poluteth it Hag. 2.13.14 and the Lord will stretch out his hand to cut them off euen all false Priests and Prophets that worship sweare by the Lord Zeph. 1.4.5 and that sweare by Malcham and cōmaundeth his people to cast away all pollutions Esa 30.22 as a filthy cloath and to say get thee hence which doing this controuersie will be ended 14. It is as high iniquity for a false Prophet to meddle with the holy things of God which appertaineth not to him but only to the Saints as it was for Corah and his wicked Company Num. 16. c. to meddle with those thinges of God which appertained not to them but to Aron and his Sonnes and the Lord will no lesse punish false Prophets for their iniquity therein then he did Corah and his Company and as he cōmanded all to depart from the Tents of those wicked men and to touch nothing of theirs least they perish in all their sinnes euen so hath he commanded all to flye from Strangers and false Prophets and not to heare them as at large before hath bene proued least partaking in their sinnes Reuel 18.4 they partake in their plagues And whereas vsually hearing the Scribes and Pharises is alledged for justifying of hearing false Prophets which is formerly taken away yet thus much we heere adde Moses seat was the Chayre of Iudgement Moses was Iudge not Priest and the Pharises were some of them of such Tribes as might not be Priests although some Scribes were Priests sometimes Nehemia 8. And some Priests now are Magistrates which shewes that although Magistrates who of God haue the Chayre of iudgement be corrupt and walke not as they teach yet the people of God must hearken vnto the Law deliuered by them and doe as they say but not as they doe and serueth nothing to proue the hearing of false Prophets For these Scribes Pharises are said to teach truth but not to doe accordingly but false Prophets teach falshood therefore are called false Prophets with plainely sheweth these were no false Prophets Math. 23. for false Prophets may not be heard as is before largely proued And for Phil. 1.15 Some preach Christ through enuy supposing to adde affliction to Pauls bands which was the Apostles ioy that he was counted worthy to suffer for Christ as Mat. 5.12 Act. 5.41 not that he ioyed in the enuious preaching of Christ that was miquity which hee ioyed not in 1. Cor. 13.6 If any obiect that false Prophets preach many excellent truthes therefore may be heard we answer If they were Prophets of Israell speaking sweet words in the name of the Lord and teaching also in some thinges the vision of their owne hearts and not out of the Lords mouth the Lord affirmeth they bring no profit to his people and therfore cōmandeth them not to heare them Nay they bring hurt for they bring themselues and all that aske of them for the Lord to confusion as before is proued Further we say and it is found most true that the more truthes they bring they deceiue the more and inthrall their hearers vnder their bondage For the lesse truthes that false Prophets haue the lesse they deceiue as all may see are most rejected of those that haue any Religion euen so should the cunningest false Prophet be if they should teach falshood only These are their stollen waters Pro. 9.17 7.21 c. and hid bread that allureth the passers by to runne after them and herein is the
of these Principles and shew wherein we differ and leaue them to the iudgement of the Godly wise First concerning repentance from dead workes they teach that none need repent of performing any bodily seruice to any Idoll as before but that they ought to continue therein making all the beholders conceiue they doe as they inwardly and outwardly when as they in their hearts loath detest that seruice And when they are come to the Family they teach they sinne no more For they write That in this Citty of Communalty there is no more euill Spirit land Cap. 33. sect 9. nor euill suspition nor yet sight of euill in them for within the same one doth neither see nor thinke any thing but all good c. 2. Concerning their beliefe of God thus they write See and marke yee beloued H. Ns mans falling away c. sect 1. in the beginning when God made all things well then was the Lord one Lord of his Kingdome and one God of his workes there was also no more but one God and one Man and they were one and had in all one order being and nature For God was all that the Man was and Man was all that God was And elsewhere thus he writeth H. Ns Epist to 2. Daughters of Warwick sect 22 God had Created the Man that he should bee of one life one being one Spirit and of one Nature with God c. If this be the true Eternall euerlasting vnchangeable and incomprehensible God that had no other Order being and Nature then Man let all that know the true God iudge And concerning their beliefe of Christ we haue formerly related that they hold not the Man Christ that was conceiued borne of that Naturall woman the Virgin Mary for that is a thing ought not to be striuen about but the Perfection of H. N. and his fellow Elders of that louely Family or a Power in man whereby they can keepe the Law without Faith in the Blood of the man Christ This is H. N. and his followers Christ 3. Concerning Baptisine This he writeth Let your selues in all your being nature minde and disposition Crying voyce Cap. vlt. sect 11. become renewed through the loue in her Seruice and giue all your vnderstanding captiue vnder the obedience of the Loue and humble your selues so vnder her seruice to the end that yee all may become washed in the Loue with the pure water of the Loue for to become washed with her pure water is the vpright washing and the true Font of the Regeneration or new hirth So that to be captiuated in H. Ns. loue and her Seruice is the vpright Baptisme And where that commeth not to passe vnto them Epist to the 2 Daugh. sect 20. there is not the Christian seruice ministred let them make themselues so like fashioned to the Scriptures as they will And for the Ordinance of water he calleth that Epist sect 11.17 Ceremoniall Elementish and mens owne Baptisme And M. P. that mighty Prince of the Hebrewes as he calleth himselfe saith Iohns Baptisme is full of many great holy graue shewes M. P. burning light Cap. 13. sect 10. but in power weake as Water he can eate no mans meat drinke no Wine ne strong Drinke therefore must his Head be taken off for he shall not gouerne Disciples still we were glad therefore to depart from him for his going out was the comming in of Iesus 4. Touching their opinion of laying on of handes we are ignorant 5. Euang. Reg. Cap. 35. sect 8.9 Of the Resurrection of the Dead Thus they write Behold in this present Day is the Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimony of the Scripture the raising vp and the resurrection of the Lords Dead commeth also to passe presently in this same day through the appearing of the comming of Christ in his Maiesty which resurrection of the Dead seeing that the same is come vnto vs from Gods Grace wee doe likewise in this present day to an Euangelie or ioyfull message of the Kingdome of God and Christ publish in all the world vnder the Obedience of the loue in which resurrection of the Dead God sheweth vnto vs that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the Dead which are fallen asleepe in the Lord rise vp in this day of his Iudgement and appeare vnto vs in Godly glory which shall also from henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ and Raigne vpon the Earth So that all may plainely see the resurrection from the Dead is with these men or rather Deuils to get into H. Ns. Doctrine of the Loue. And because these Godded men that are Godded with H.N. their God doe dye aswell as others and being demaunded what becomes of their Bodies after their death some of their younglings haue answered vs they conceiue their iudgement is that the soule goes into God againe and so becōmeth God and their bodies lye and become as when they were not which opinion may well stand with all their other execrations For if the bodies rise not againe thē no question they may aswell worship an Idol as the true God and commit all their abhominations for after this life there is neither reward nor punishment for the bodies Oh fearefull wickednes Lastly Euang. Reg. Cap. 3. sect 2 3.4 concerning the Eternall Iudgement thus they say When as now in this same day the wicked world becommeth Iudged with the Lords mighty hand which wicked world is reserued or kept in store vntill this same day of the loue to the fire of Hell for to be condemned in the selfe same day of the Loue for euermore to her eternall cursing and iudgement of the fires cruell vehemency And againe Sect. 4. verily now in this same day when as now all vngodly and selfe-wise with all vnrepentant persons and false hearts of the Scripture-learned c. inherite with much smart and griefe in the vehement cruelty of the fire of Hell the terrible condemnation then shall the people of God Spirit land Cap. 27. sect 11.12 namely the whole cōmunialty of the loue c. reioyce them in all loue c. And further thus After this time no time more After the which there is no life more to be wayted for for the same life continueth for euermore This estate of H. Ns. loue and her Seruice it is with the Familists the Christ It is the Holy Ghost the Baptisme the Resurrection the euerlasting Life the eternall Iudgement and all in all Of all which wee are destitute yet herein we haue knowledge that they are abhominations fetcht out of the deepest pit of Hell such as we are perswaded were heuer before vttered by the mouth of any mortall man No maruaile now that H. Ns. Schollers say we vnderstand not one word in all the vniuersall Bible and that we are totally ignorant of the principles of the Family who to set a gloze vpon their wicked forgeries abuse and
peruert Heb. 6. and other holy Scriptures to their owne destruction Hauing now discouered some of H. Ns. principles The summe of the true Faith wee will in short set downe our Faith concerning these 6. Principles Heb. 6. First of Repentance from dead workes we doe beleeue that euery transgression of any Law of God is sinne 1. Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 6.23 and the wages of euery sinne is Death and so a dead worke That no man by reason of weake Flesh can keepe the Law Rom. 8.3 and therefore by transgression becommeth dead in Sinne Ephe. 2.1.3 and so by weake Nature the Childe of wrath For the Law causeth wrath Rom. 4.15 for where no Law is there is no transgression but the power of Gods word contained in the holy Scriptures 1. Cor. 15.34 Ephes 5.14 and not the Reuelations or Dreames of H.N. nor any others awaking man and setting his sinnes in order before him and the fearefull terror of Gods wrath against him Act. 2.37 16.30 Act. 2.38 3.19 causeth man to be pricked in his heart and to cry out what shall wee doe to be saued To which God answereth Repent of thy sinnes confesse them sorrow for them and reforme them But man seeing by the same holy Scripture that this his repentance or any other thing that he can doe cannot appease Gods wrath nor satisfie his Iustice for his sinne he is inuited hereupon to flye vnto Gods Grace by the Redemptiō purchased through the blood of his Sonne who is God ouer all and tooke our Nature vpon him and became Man Dyed for vs and is risen againe in his Body ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession for his seruants euen for all that obey him Heb. 5.9 through whom alone wee haue Redemption euen the forgiuenes of our sinnes 2. Thus by Faith in the Blood of Christ is this Sinner sprinckled in his heart from an euill Conscience Heb. 10.22 and must also be washed in his Body with pure water 3. This is the Baptisme that saueth not onely the washing away the filth of the Flesh but in that a good Conscience maketh request vnto God 1. Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ Yet not onely the good Conscience is Baptisme but also washing with materiall water into the Name of the Father c. For to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen which is the estate of Grace or true Christianity in this life called the Kingdome of Heauen Ioh. 3.5 Ephes 4.5 Wee must haue Water and Spirit Christ hath coupled them together as his one Baptisme and let no man seperate them 4. By laying on of handes wee conceiue is meant the whole ministery of the Church which consisteth of those Offices mentioned in Christs Testament All which are to be entred into by laying on of hands as these Scriptures teach * Act. 6.6 13.3 For other laying on of hands by which extraordinary guiftes were communicated vnto men wee vnderstand they were myracles giuen of God in the primitiue Church for the confirmation of the Apostles authority who taught thinges that neuer before were taught Heb. 2.5 which that they might be credited they did such thinges as neuer men did And if any Familist can doe Myracles as did th Apostles thē might they haue had some colour to write and bring into the world new Gospels as they are not ashamed to doe 5. Concerning the Resurrection from the Dead We beleeue that our soules shall be seperated from our bodies by naturall Death That the Body returnes to earth whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 1. Cor. 15. vntill the day that Iesus Christ shall come againe to Iudge quicke and dead Then shall our Bodies rise againe euen these bodies Ioh. 19.25 c. and with these eyes shall wee see our Redeemer Lastly we doe beleeue and looke for to our great reioycing the blessed appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ to that Eternall iudgement wherein hee shall Iudge both quicke and dead according to their works done in this Flesh 2 Cor. 5.10 whether they be good or euill Reuel 20.12 to an Eternall being to wit Them that by continuance in wel-doing seeke glory and Immortality Rō 2.7 c. 1. Thes 4.17 Rom. 2.8 they shall come to Eternall Life where they shall bee euer with the Lord. But those that are contentious and disobey the Truth and obeyes vnrighteousnes haue done euill and haue not repented thereof They shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation Ioh. 5.29 indignation and wrath shall bee vpon them burning in the Lake for euermore with the Deuill and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Now let all Iudge whether wee be totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. as these accusers doe suggest or rather that themselues are not only ignorant of them for if they were their sinne were the lesse but they deny them and that after their enlightning The 9. transgression they accuse vs of is Ninthly you will not bee reformed by the Light which God hath manifested in these latter times and whereof much is in the Booke of Common Prayer and in the Homilies and in the Booke of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons Answ VVEE hauing asked some of them what Light this is that in these latter times God hath manifested for we conceiue God neuer spake nor euer will after his speaking by his Sonne in these last dayes who by himselfe and his Apostles hath deliuered all the Counsell of God sealing it vp with these sentences If wee or an Angell from Heauen teach any otherwise then we haue Preached Gal. 1.8 9. let him bee accursed And if any adde to what they haue done Reuel 22.18.19 God will adde the plagues written by them or if any take away any of those their wordes God will take away their names out of the Booke of Life we say we hauing asked them concerning these thinges they haue answered vs God hath spoken to the world at three seuerall times First by Moses and the Fathers 2. By Christ and the Apostles And thirdly by an euerlasting Gospell in these last dayes alledging Reuel 14. Which what Gospell should it bee but the Gospell of the Kingdome which H. N. hath published to the world in which many of his poysoned Doctrines is broached concerning which hee hath giuen himselfe a stately stile farre exceeding the Apostles in all their writings full of blasphemies which is this H. N. through the Grace and mercy of God Euang. Peg. Cap. 1. and through the holy Spirit of the loue of Iesu Christ raised vp by the highest God from the Death according to the prouidence of God and his Promises annoynted with the Holy Ghost in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly goods of