Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	lord_n	see_v	5,685	5	3.6798	3	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04901	A confutation of monstrous and horrible heresies, taught by H.N. and embraced of a number, who call themselues the Familie of Loue by I. Knewstub. Seene and allowed, according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.	Knewstubs, John, 1544-1624.	1579 (1579)	STC 15040; ESTC S108097	192,800	286

I pray you of that which is written in the eightienth chapter of this booke where of purpose he haÌ„dleth that matetâ— historie of Christ at large There hee hath these wordes Consider ye beloued how that there is shewed vnto vs and geueÌ„ vs to vnderstand through the speaches of the Angel Gabriel which hee vsed with Marie that at the same time wheÌ„ the holy Ghost came through the power of the most highest vpoÌ„ the Virgin Mary procreated the true seed of promise the time of procreating of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh turned it selfe about to wit that the holy true seed of AbrahaÌ„ should not froÌ„ thencefoorth be conceiued of the flesh but of the holy Ghost through the power of the most highest in the beliefe And that the same should eueÌ„ so be borne out of the true faith of Abraham For the seed out of the faith of Abraham out of the pure Virgin Mary is the true seed of promise to the blessing of al generatioÌ„s of the earth And thus from that time forth the Genealogie of the seede of Abraham according to the fleshe ceassed with the beleeuers For the vpright children of the beliefe which had their discent out of the seede of the faith of Abraham and the pure Virgin Mary as also from the holy Ghost were knowen to be the true seede of Abraham because the same seede was the seede of the promise of God the Father was likewise in his mind according to the spirit the likenes of God his father also spirit and spirituall of the godly nature and being And according to the will of GOD wholly minded with God. You see that the woordes of the Angel vnto the Virgin Marie to perswade her touching the worke of the Lorde within her to witte that the holy Ghost shoulde come vppon her and the power of the moste high shoulde ouershadowe her are by this Authour wrong by way of Allegory vnto all the faithfull that shall come after Christ who are made by his doctrine to come out of the pure Virgin Mary to be the very true seed of promise ioyntly together for the blessing of all generations of the earth For the seed saith he out of the faith of Abraham and out of the pure Virgin Mary is the true seed of the pramise to the blessing of al generatioÌ„s of the earth These be his owne wordes And immediatly after least that any shoulde thinke this was spoken of one onelie and therefore of Christ alone continuing the same matter he speaketh in the plural number and saieth The vpright children of the beliefe which had their discent out of the seede of the faith of Abraham and of the pure Virgin Mary as also from the holy Ghost were knowen to be the true seede of Abraham because the same seede was the seed of the promise of God the father CaÌ„ any thing bee added to this blasphemie to ioyne many to make vppe this seede of promise by whom shoulde come the blessing of all the generations of the earth When as the Apostle sayeth in the third to the Galathians which place is here alleaged by him That the promises were made to Abraham and his seede which was Christ and not to his seedes as speaking of manie If any man either for want of knowledge or through aboundance of good will woulde here gladly become a proctour for H.N. and affirme that he meant nothing lesse by this speach of blessing all generations of the earth then to declare the way and meanes of our saluation besides that the whole chapter is occupied about Christ and therefore about our saluation and that it is the phrase of speache which the holie Ghost vseth to expresse that matter by The places which are quoted in the margent out of Genesis and the Epistle to the Galathians directly dealing for that worke of our saluation doe leaue no colour for this excuse All the grounde that hee hath of this blasphemous doctrine is a blinde ignoraunt and altogether vnlearned descanting about the names of men wherein consisteth the deapth of all his diuinitie For when once hee hath with allegories as it were with hot irons seared the word taking away thereby the life and natural sence of the same then beginneth he to rattle the drie bones and to descant vpon bare names as best liketh himselfe without anie helpe at all giuen vnto his interpretation from the circumstances of the place matter that is inhande resting onely vpon a childish ridiculous deriuation of the words from the Hebrues For because as hee saieth in that chapter Galilie signifieth a turning either winding about He will haue this doctrine established therevpon that the procreating of the true seede turned it selfe about to witte that the holie and true seede of Abraham which according to his doctrine all he faithful are shoulde not from thencefoorth be conceaued of the flesh but of the holie Ghost What daunger lurketh vnder this doctrine Is it not proper onely to that one man Iesus Christ alone to be conceiued by the holy Ghost Howe then dare H.N. secretly insinuate that Christ had no other kinde of conception but that whereof all the faithfull are partakers together with him Now if hee meant no mischiefe herein what neede hath hee to set his turning about from Galilie to tell vs that the true seede of Abraham shoulde not from thencefoorth be conceiued of the fleshe For if he haue relation vnto regeneration Who is ignorant that the worke therof not onely since Christ but before his comming hath beene alwayes wrought through the holie Ghost and neuer performed by fleshe Marie after the like maner of interpretation signifieth with him a doctrice For that is his owne woorde in this Chapter wherevppon he gathereth that the true seede is brought foorth by the most highest in the beliefe that is by himselfe who onely in his owne iudgement teacheth purely and so consequently they all are borne of the pure Virgin Marie that are brought by his doctrine and instruction which onely he holdeth for pure to ioyne with him in his faith and religion Thus blasphemously doth he deale through grosse ignorance ioyned with intollerable arrogancie pride to ouerthrowe the grounde woorke of our saluation As for these woordes which in the ende of this his speache are spoken of all the faithful after Christ The same seed was the seed of the promise of God the Father was likewise in his minde according to the spirit the likenesse of God his Father also spirit and spiritual of the godly nature and beyng and according to the will of God wholly minded with God Whether they eueroch vppon Iesus Christ or attribute any other diuinitie and Godhed vnto Christ then they are perswaded the faithful after him be all pertakers of I leaue it to the consideration of the learned that feare God without any other speache thereof then that here all the

same For when he cannot abide that they should anie longer enioy so much credite by his word as the shew bare professioÌ„ would yeeld vnto them which is al that they would require â–ª but that he wil haue theÌ„ turned out of their clouts and laid naked in their shame doth he not from heaueÌ„ by such iudgements preach declare the maiestie and might of his word Is not that the great seale sent from heauen into the earth to be set vnto the worde for the authorizing thereof For seeing they would not reuerence it brought vnto theÌ„ vnder the Lords owne hand and seale of signes miracles they haue forced him by bringing these heauie iudgements vppon them for the further confirming of it to set his seale the second time vnto it Should not all men nowe feare to prophane it when there is here among vs a mark of such maiestie set vpon it Should not euerie man now examine what rereuerence he doth beare vnto it when he seeth for the freeing of it from contempt so great plaine a print of authoritie to be ioyned vnto it Let people now take heed how they cherish that humor within themselues which cannot beare any other teaching of the woord then that which is so interteyned of the eare that it can not bee hired so much as once to vewe and visite the heart Let those feare who cannot digest the word vnlesse with eloquence and wit curious questions prophane hystories and fables the power and strenght of it bee so allayed as nowe there is no more any maiestie in it And seeing we haue such sensible iudgement among vs against them who like not the simplicitie of the worde but will feed of speculations and mysticall matters let them who minister the worde take heede they feede not that affection in them by laying on such painting and colours as may rather make them wonder at the workemanship then take any profite by the worke Let them teach and exhort with wholsome doctrine not onely planting knowledge in them but earnestly calling vpon them to keepe their knowledge in a good conscience and so much the rather because wee see before our eyes what a daungerous shipwracke they haue made euen of knowledge who haue gone vnto the sea with it in the riuen vessell of a corrupt conscience Let them styrre them vppe to haue their reckoning in a readinesse seeing the Lorde hath alreadie begonne to visite the contempt of his woorde Let them vrge them likewise to seeke for iudgement in the word whereby to discerne spirites that seeing nowe we bee sought and sifted that way by Sathan we may be found sufficiently armed likewise on that side against him lest wilful ignorance should bee punished in vs with obstinate errour Let vs prouide that those may be ioyned togither which the Lord cannot abide to put a sunder that zeale for lacke of knowledge doe not degenerate either into some daungerous schisme or superstition neither yet knowledge for want of zeale affection either into vnprofitable curiosity or els into some horrible heresie Touching those who be of opinioÌ„ that these heresies will vanish away of theÌ„selues because the matter is so grosse the men be so vtterly vnlearned and therfore would neither haue sword nor pen pulled out against them They are to be required that they woulde vouchsafe to haue their iudgemeÌ„t waied by the word so should they find it lighter then the wind For doth not the Apostle tell vs that want of affection and loue towards the truth pulleth the eyes of our knowledge out of our heads procureth belief credit vnto manifest lies vntruthes insomuch that where this iudgmeÌ„t of god entreth the greatest vntruthes shal not be receiued waueringly in opinion but coÌ„stantly in beliefe strong perswasioÌ„ now with what affection the gospel is receiued of many among vs whether with so good an affection as will warrant vs that way I think in this behalfe a good confession is much better then an euill defence And touching the want of learning in the patrons of these heresies who knoweth not that Alexander the Copper-smith wrought more woe vnto the Apostle S. Paule by hindering the course of the gospel then any either eloquent Orator or subtile Philosopher For when simple men such as be artificers thrust forth themselues with as much boldnes as blindnesse to be guides for others vnto God forthwith that is fathered by the multitude vpon the miraculous extraordinarie worke of God and therefore they will haue all of them who haue atteined vnto knowledge by ordinarie meanes of necessitie yeelde and giue place to their better superiour My purpose was at the beginning to haue dealt onely with his booke intituled Euangelium Regni but finding it stand often vpon one thing as what order can confusion affoord vnto vs I thought I should better prouide for the Reader if I should examine his iudgement vpon euerie seueral article of our beliefe which he hath set downe in his first exhortation and withall for the better vnderstanding thereof should cite these places out of his Euangelie where hee handleth the same matter and that so largely as it may easily appeare vnto all men that neither I haue missed of his meaning nor yet dealt vnfaythfully by suppressing any trueth in my allegations Where he doth vsually pester his margent with plenty of authorities as if nothing but scripture might at any time be heard out of his mouth It is a bayte layde for the simple who either cannot or will not examen the matter For falshoode wil as wel guard the trueth as those authorities defend the cause he hath in hande I haue perused them one by one which are alleaged to warrant his calling where I am sure hee bringeth foorth the best euidences that hee hath because it toucheth his freehold let them be viewed that is the treatise which I first deal withal and as they deserue so let the rest be beleued Wherin vnlesse I should ouermuch abase H.N. I can no better match him then with S. George as the papistes doe describe him For as S. George loueth to bee alwayes on horsbacke albeit he neuer ride So H.N. hath great liking to be mouÌ„ting in the margent vpon the autorities of the sacred worde albeit they neuer step forth with him to speake so much as one woorde for him I haue added next vnto that before I enter to examine the articles of the beliefe his iudgement of originall sinne taken out of the 5. Chapter of his Euangelie because those only were the matters which that booke had more and besides that doctrine which is handled in his exposition vpon the Creede His words be wrapped in such darknesse and obscuritie as doe geue euident testimony of his minde that he meaneth to deceiue As for the parts of his arguments they be at such variance with in theÌ„ selues that the coÌ„sequens can by no right be denied the good abearing against his antecedent

confes or acknowledge almighty God to be a true and liuing God a mighty spirit a perfect light and a true beeyng doth our beliefe in God import no more then a bare acknowledging or confessing of him to be a true and liuing GOD VVhat comfort or confidence can we haue from hence seeyng that the Diuels as was saide before are felowes with vs at all this consolation who knowe by miserable experience that he is a mightie spirite and a liuing God VVhy doth not H. N. in his explanation of these articles of our beliefe vse that forme of speaking which the Churche receiueth The Church of God saith I beleeue in God the Father almighty which hath more in it then to say I confesse that there is a GOD and Father almighty or that the same is a liuing God and mighty spirit For faith or beliefe hath not onely in it a knowledge of the minde but also a comfort or confidence of the hearte reposed in that partie whom we trust Which to be so if for the resolution thereof wee had no helpe from the scriptures yet woulde our common speache lende vs sufficient light For we are not woont to haue a trust or confidence in any man so soone as we know the man or vnderstand generally what is the disposition and qualitie of that man which may peraduenture be of that sorte as nothing can make more for the withdrawing of our hearte and affection from him But when we haue good knowledge of such a special good disposition towards vs as we may safely commit our selues vnto then are we sayde to haue a confidence or trust in him Nowe for this speciall good will of God to vs warde wee haue not onely his bare woorke but also a plaine couenant of his As appeareth in Genesis I will establish my couenant betwene mee and thee and thy seede after thee in their generations for an euerlasting couenant to be GOD vnto thee and vnto thy seede after thee which is more plainly and plentifully set foorth in the Epistle to the Hebrues After these dayes sayeth the Lorde I will put my lawes in their minde and in their heart I will write them and I will be their GOD and they shall be my people I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more For this cause the Gospel which is the glad tidings of our saluation is called by the Apostle The doctrine of fayth to giue vs to vnderstand that fayth feedeth not vpon a bare knowledge of the Lord but hath for diet the large and liberall prouision of his promises conteyned in the Gospel where is plentifull confirmation of a most louing league betwene the Lorde and vs and of a speciall loue liking and good will that hee beareth vnto vs euen to shewe foorth all louing and fatherly dealing towardes vs not for some short tearme of tyme but by an euerlasting couenaunt to continue the same for euer Herevpon it is that in the Epistle to the Romanes it is giuen foorth as an effect of fayth that the faythfull doe alreadie glorie vnder the hope of the glorie of GOD knowinge that seeing they are alreadie entred into league fellowshippe and communion with the Lorde and that by an euerlasting couenaunt wherein the Lorde standeth bounde to remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more It can not bee hee shoulde cutte off that course of his kindenesse which hee hath alreadie entred into The Apostle likewise in his Epistle to the Ephesians affirmeth that fayth causeth boldenesse and maketh our accesse vnto GOD to bee with confidence And why Euen because as the Prophet sayeth wee are betrothed vnto the Lorde and hee hath maried himselfe vnto vs for euer in righteousnesse in iudgement in mercie and in compassion so that wee are to assure our selues of all goodnesse and compassion at his handes as beeing our ioynture that hee hath assured vnto vs for euer For the league is made betweene him and vs that wee shoulde bee no more as forreyners and straungers but Citizens with the Saintes and of the householde of God that as the honour of our welfare shoulde bee his so shoulde the studie and care thereof in like maner lie vpon him This I confesse requireth knowledge For howe shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard Yea and that also from his woorde Let thy louing kindnesse and thy saluation come vnto me according to thy promise sayeth the Prophet And againe O Lorde thou hast dealt graciously with thy seruant according to thy woorde For we are not set at libertie to conceyue of the Lorde whatsoeuer liketh vs but charged to looke after that which is pleasing in his eyes whereof hee hath giuen vs notice by his woorde Notwithstanding euerie thing conteyned in the woorde cannot truelie bee sayde to bring foorth this fayth but his free promise of grace and mercie is the true mother thereof For doeth any man then knitte our heartes vnto him when wee see nothing but heauie lookes and heare of nothing beside fearefull and heauie woordes or rather when his fauour is amiable and his woordes assured pledges of a minde that meaneth nothing but peace and prosperitie wealth and happinesse vnto vs Doeth the Apostle in the place before alleaged inquiring howe that aniâ— man shoulde beleeue in him of whome he hath not hearde stay as satisfied when once hee commeth to that poynt of hearing Doeth hee rest before the glad tidinges of peace and the glad tidinges of good thinges be heard of by that Messenger whose feete bee full of beautie and whose comming is most acceptable Hee driueth fayth from ignoraunce and blinde deuotion vnto the hearing of the woorde and yet findeth no perfect rest there before the gladde and good tidinges thereof bee made knowne and assured vnto the faythfull Albeit then fayth haue in it knowledge and can not bee without certificate from the woorde yet is not that all for vnlesse there bee setled in our heartes a comfort from his free and sweete promises we haue not what to repose our harts vpon And therefore as they are deceyued who mainteine a fayth without the knowledge of the woorde so is H.N. and whosoeuer else that will vpholde fayth to bee a knowledge onely without comfort or confidence from the promises of the worde That description helpeth greatly for the confirmation of this matter which the Almightie maketh of himselfe when hee affirmeth him to bee strong mercifull gracious slow to anger and abounding in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercy for thousandes forgiuing iniquitie transgression and sinne not making the offender altogither innocent but visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon children vpon childrens children vnto the thirde and fourth generation Wherein albeit the later woordes at the first sight may seeme to signifie the Lordes euerlasting wrath towardes the wicked yet if wee remember that in the former Chapter

teacher and Prophet is likewise very great for who can make vs doubt or make any question of it howe wee should knowe the wil of God generally or his affection towards the beleuer perticularly when the sonne himselfe to whom as being neerest vnto him the wil of the father is wholy and altogeather made knowen hath opened the same in his Gospel Who dare nowe tell me that as one who hath no iudgement or discretion I am wholy to put ouer my selfe in matters of fayth to Councelles fathers and consent of nations when I am taught too beleeue that Christe Iesus is annointed Prophet and Teacher aswell inwardly to perswade by his spirite as outwardly to teache and set downe a true rule of righteousnesse according as it is written in Iohn But yee haue an ointement from him that is holy and know al things These things touching his name and office I haue vttered more at large because H.N. with one breath passeth from the creation of all thinges by Christ vnto the woorke of our redemption as if they had not onely both one workeman but also were both of them nothing els but one the same worke nay which more is as if the comming of Christ in the fleshe and his suffering had been onely to answeare a duety that was laid vpon him by some couenant from the creation which stoode him self vpoÌ„ to answere for his own benefite whereas the Scripture laieth out at large the matter of our saluation as the most speciall and principall thing that it handleth A thing so seueral and sundred from the creation as that the sonne of God hath not onely nowe another matter in hande but also a newe name and another nature a diuerse office and a distinct condition H.N. notwithstaÌ„ding al these good words is not of opinion that Iesus Christ is God for then here especially he woulde haue beene plaine and laide out the matter at large not onely for that necessarie occasion is offered him by the mention that is made of the onely sonne of God but also because our redemption which is the matter he hath in hand could not be accomplished by any that was but man onely For what iust satisfaction coulde a mortall man make for offences committed agaynst the high maiestie of GOD when offences growe to be greater or lesse as the partie offended is in place and dignitie higher or lower According as wee see that an euill woorde spoken against a Prince hath in iustice greater punishment then the same woorde ought to haue being spoken but against a priuate man Nowe when so great a person as the only begotten sonne of GOD and GOD him selfe hath humbled him selfe in our nature for vs and beene obedient euen vnto that most slaunderous death of the crosse for our cause no man can deny but that suche a sacrifice is able to weigh with all the sinnes of his seruauntes For that obedience hath estimation and desert from the person who did perfourme it Howe daungerously then dealeth this Familie as much as in them lieth to shake out faith beside the iniurie that they doe offer vnto his Maiestie when they deny the Godhead of Christ seeing no man is able to bring that price wherewith sinne may be sent away as answered in desert and our consciences rest vpon as in a sufficient discharge against the same Moreouer who not beeing the Almighty him selfe had beene able to preuayle against death and to breake through the iron barres and mightie chaines of the graue which yet is but the prison of the body onely and not that darkest dungeon and safest ward that Sathan hath where the soule is imprisoned when sinne ceaseth vpon the conscience Nowe the gates of both these prisons were to be opened and that so wide as infinite multitudes beside him selfe might safely passe thorowe them nay they were to bee broken vnto so small sheuers as it were impossiible euer after to make them of strength able to bee kept shut against the feeblest of his seruauntes But I knowe you are desirous out of H. N. his bookes to knowe what hee thinketh of Christe seeing I doe so constantly affirme that hee denieth him to bee GOD and haue before referred you for your further satisfaction touching his opinion heerein vnto this place and likewise what you may safely say by warraunt from his owne writings that he beleueth Christ to be By the doctrine of H.N. Christ is no one man but an estate and condition in men common to so many as haue receiued his doctrine that they are growen thereby to perfection nowe sinne no more Which estate hee calleth the true light or true beeing and perfection For proofe whereof I referre you vnto the xiii Chapter of his Euangelie or ioyfull message of the kingdome towarde the ende of second section there hee hath these wordes This same true light is the annointed with the holy ghost which annointed in Hebrue is named Messias in Greeke Christus Hee was also in times past called of certaine Rabbins amoÌ„g the Iewes the Lorde his Sabboth And they say that the same annointed is the seuenth day in the Paradize of God wherein God resteth from all his woorkes and is the perfectioÌ„ the which also is very true for this same Messias or annointed is the Sabboth day which the Lord hath commaunded to be alwaies had in remembrance that we when the same commeth might rest therein hallow or sanctifie the same wherin the law the seruice of the Priesthood of Aaron out of Leui and the elders testament doth ceasse hath accomplished his seruice For the same annointed which commeth at that time out of heauen with his annointing of the holy Ghost in the spirite and is the very like being of the godhead it self he is a Priest of the most highest higher and greater of dignitie then was Aaron because hee bideth euerlastingly and is a minister of the spiritual heauenly goodes This same true light which H. N. bringeth ye see he calleth it the annointed with the holy ghost Messias Christ the seuenth day the perfectioÌ„ to cloke his horrible heresie the better that it might not be espied hee speaketh of this his estate of perfection in the Masculine gender as if it were a man and saith as you haue hearde before he was also in times past called of certayne Rabbins among the Iewes the Lordes Sabboth and likewise he speaketh of this estate as yf it were a man when he sayth he is a Priest of the most highest higher greater of dignitie then was Aaron This horrible blasphemie is yet more plainely laide out in the viii ix x. sections of this same chapter wher he speaketh thus Oh alas how grosly haue then certaine wise of the world and Scripture learned ouerreached them herein which haue without diuersitie forsaken the lawe and the seruice of the elders Testament and of the Priestes office after the ordinance of Aaron and set backe the same

of the Actes of the Apostles touching the holy ghost appearing in clouen tongues like fire was nothing else but the appearing of this his Christ after the spirit These are his wordes touching this matter His disciples therefore were mindfull of all this and what he had said vnto theÌ„ remained within IerusaleÌ„ waiting coÌ„cordably with supplication praier for the promises of the father vntil that christ after the spirit appeared vnto them out of the heauenly being The subtiltie of that ancient enimie vnto mankind may here euidently be seene for albeit heaueÌ„ be not further distant froÌ„ the earth then the meaning of H.N. is from the truth of the doctrine set forth in this coÌ„mon Creede these articles of our belief yet to colour his craft withall he keepeth him to the same words which the church vseth professing the christ rose the third day froÌ„ the dead saue that he interlaceth some odde words which cannot wel be discerned but by theÌ„ that are well acquainted with his bookes vnder the which he conueyeth all his corrupt doctrine Here hee sayeth that the God of AbrahaÌ„ hath raysed vp this his sonne Iesus hauing relation in these wordes this his sonne vnto that Christ which he describeth And likewise when he affirmeth that Christ rose euen so the thirde day from the dead by this speach euen so hee caryeth vs from the resurrection in the fleshe vnto the rising in the spirite according as himselfe hath imagined of the matter and yet is hee content to make mencion of the thirde day as if there were no ill meaning in the man when as indeede this rising the thirde day must bee euen so as hee meaneth that is nothing so as the truth is Where the scripture affirmeth that Christ appeared in the flesh after his resurrection vnto his disciples and shewed vnto them his handes and his side and that hee willed Thomas who had affirmed he woulde neuer beleeue his resurrection vnlesse hee shoulde put his finger into the print of the nayles and his hande into his side to put his finger where the nayles had beene and his hande into his side H.N. to mainteine his doctrine of the resurrection in the spirite affirmeth that he shewed vnto his disciples nothing else but the victorie ouer sinne death deuil and hell as if he had declared vnto them howe by his suffering passion he came by the victorie ouer sin death the deuil and hell to the ende they might follow him in the same footesteppes and so become partakers of the like victorie with him Which thing in plaine woordes hee professeth in the next Section Heere he setteth foorth the matter not altogither so plainely and yet clearely enough to him that is anie thing acquainted with his subtile writing and craftie manner of speaking These bee his woordes in this place Hee appeared or made manifest him selfe to his friendes which loued him shewing vnto them thorowe his suffering and death of the Crosse the victorie ouer the sinne death deuill hell the fleshe and the worlde What plainer proofe can be brought not onely that Christ did rise in the fleshe but also that he rose in the same flesh wherein he suffered then this euen now alledged out of the Gospel after saint Iohn for the Apostles see his handes and his side Thomas putteth his finger into the place where the nayles had beene and his hande into his side which thing H. N. shall neuer bee able to wipe away by any mystical interpretation whatsoeuer inasmuch as our Sauiour Christ reproouing the want of fayth in Thomas and that he was so hardly led to beleeue his resurrection before his senses were satisfied sayth vnto him Thomas because thou hast seene me thou beleeuest blessed are they that haue not seene and haue beleeued In the second of the Actes saint Peter proueth that Christ must be raised vp concerning the flesh and bee set vpon the throne of his father and that he should not bee left in the graue neither should his flesh see corruption and that Dauid long before as he was a prophet did both foresee foretel this therfore seeing he was a prophet knew that God had sworne with an othe to him that of the fruit of his loines he wold raise vp christ coÌ„cerning the flesh to set him vpoÌ„ his throne he knowing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh shuld see corruptioÌ„ This testimony of the apostle cannot agree with H. N. his Christ For his flesh must necessarily bee left in the graue and see corruption because when his Christ after the fleshe is dead hee neuer resumeth or taketh vnto him againe that estate but as hauing for euer done with it riseth vp in the spirite and continueth in the same being for euer after an illuminate elder who neither can erre in iudgement nor offend anie more in conuersation So that death or the graue do still keepe that possession or power which once they had of his flesh neither will he that they yeelde it vnto him anie more againe As for the true Christ it was impossible for death to keepe and continue that holde which once it had of him as appeareth in the Actes The Lord if it be his good will giue this Familie to see what a Christ H. N. hath brought vnto them that they refuse no longer the true Christ and onely comfort of all Christians for this miserable Christ whome the graue hath closed vp and holdeth all that euer it had of him For their Christ after the spirite was neuer in the graue and their Christ after the fleshe by H. N. his owne testimonie doeth neuer arise after that once he hath beene in the graue How shall these men bee euer able to gette out at the doores of death when their Christ and Captaine is yet groping and to this day hath not founde the gate that leadeth out of the graue H.N. Wee confesse that no man can become partaker with all the holie ones of God and beleeuers of Iesus Christ of the resurrection of Christ nor of the resurrection from the dead or yet rise vp with the holie ones of God and Christ but such as indeuour themselues in the beliefe vnder the obedience of the loue of Iesus Christ to become implanted into Christ the gracious worde of the Lorde and euen so then to die with Christ in his like death as also to lay away slay and burie through the death of his crosse the sinne in the flesh whereby they may euen so out of the second birth from the dead become renued in the spirit of their minde in Iesus Christ For therethrough wee all obteine and enioy in the vpright righteousnesse and holinesse which GOD esteemeth the making aliue from the dead namely with all the righteous and holie ones of God in the day of the

and baptism he shall become saued but who so beleeueth not hee shall according to the worde of Iesu Christ become coÌ„demned 35. For that cause let no maÌ„ boast him to be a christiaÌ„ that hath not in the vpright faith receiued the true tokens of the Christianitie that is that beareth or carieth not the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost essentially and liuingly in him otherwise he shall assuredly in this same day of the loue of the righteous iudgement before al the holie ones of God which are compreheÌ„ded in the communialtie of the loue bee founde false and lying For the woorde that the Lorde Iesus Christ hath spoken shal iudge him in this same newest day Answeare H.N. proceedeth nowe to the sentence of euerlasting condemnation which hee thundreth out agaynst all howe many soeuer who shall not nowe in this present day of the loue beleeue this doctrine which he hath here published and professed What sentence hee himselfe lieth vnder I leaue it vnto the Lorde but if there be any place left vnto prayer for him I pray God hee may be so truely touched with repentaunce as that curse may be turned from him which wayteth for so many as by damnable doctrine shall leade blinde and simple soules out of the way In the meane time we stande assured from the mouth of the lorde that the curse which is causelesse shall not come The true Churche of Christ acknowledgeth the holy Ghost to be God equall with the Father and the Sonne because the Scripture geueth libertie and freedome vnto him in distributing of graces and giftes vnto the children of god According as we reade in the former Epistle to the Corinthes Al these thinges worketh one and the self same spirite distributing to euerie man seuerallie as he will because in like maner it ioyneth him with the father and the sonne makinge but one God of those three persons as it is written in the first Epistle of Saint Iohn There are three which beare recorde in heauen the Father the worde and the holy Ghost and these three are one Wee doe assuredly beleeue that the holie Ghost will bee our comforter vnto the ende as well in woorking the woorkes of sanctification in vs as in making strong and sealing vp vnto our spirite the assurance of saluation and euerlasting life bringing all that to passe in our weakenesse which the Lorde hath promised in his woorde For the which ende he is sent from the Father and the Sonne into the world Which effectes are many in number and merueilous for the great workemanshippe thereof in such frailtie as wee are forced to feele and confesse to be within our selues For what a wonderful worke is this in flesh and bloud to haue a wise and vnderstanding heart in the will and word of his God The Apostle setteth this sight of God his goodnesse towardes vs which is offered in the Gospel farre aboue the reach eyther of sense or reason attributing it onely to the holy Ghost The things which eye hath not seen neither eare heard neither came into mans heart hath God prepared for them that loue him but God hath reuealed them vnto vs by his spirit for what maÌ„ knoweth the thinges of a man saue the spirit of a maÌ„ euen so the things of God knoweth no maÌ„ but the spirit of god What a rare work is this in like manner to geue vnto men who are priuie to themselues of manifolde offences and great wretchednes the confidence and boldenesse to call God Father making a full reckoning of his fauour and good wil towards them which thing is notwithstanding wrought in the seruants of God by the spirit of God as the Apostle witnesseth because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirite of his sonne into your hartes which crieth Abba Father Of what difficultie likewise is that woorke to quicken this not dull but dead disposition within vs in the wayes of the Lorde his lawes and in the woorkes of his commaundementes yet doeth the spirite of God performe it in vs as wee reade in the Epistle to the Romanes If the spirite of him that raised vppe Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raysed vp Christe from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirite that dwelleth in you Moreouer that passeth the power of man in our afflictions to be guided vnto God and to haue beside the matter the acceptable maner also of mourning and groning ministred vnto vs which proceedeth from the spirite of God as it is written to the Romanes Likewise the spirite also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as we ought but the spirite it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed but he that searcheth the heartes knoweth what is the meaning of the spirite for he maketh request for the faultes according to the will of God. And howe woonderfull is the Lorde by this woorke of his spirite in vs who are yet kept from our Countrey kingdome and oftentimes so euill intreated and so litle regarded that not onelie men but the Lorde himselfe seemeth to reckon of vs as vnwoorthie of any welfare here vppon earth to haue notwithstanding within vs a good earnest of our inheritance in heaueÌ„ eueÌ„ the spirit of God who hath also to name Comforter for these and like effectes of consolatioÌ„ after that ye beleued ye were sealed with the holy spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritaunce for the redeÌ„ption of that libertie purchased to the praise of his glory As for H.N. his holie Ghost there are no suche thinges to bee had from him for concerning the earnest and assurance to be made for our inheritaunce what vse can there be thereof when once wee are entred vpon the same nowe by H.N. his doctrine euerlasting life is in this life and in this estate of perfection which he professeth therfore when possession is taken there is no longer place for anie pledge or earnest of assurance and therefore H.N. his holie Ghost cannot bee he which the Scripture setteth foorth and maketh knowen by the propertie of a pleadge or earnest Beside this when H.N. his holie Ghost is once come they are past praier for sinne they haue not to pray against it beyng no sinners and goodnesse they want not beyng perfect and therefore he is not that holie Ghost which the Scripture speaketh off that helpeth their infirmities who know not what to pray as they ought making request with sighes and grones that cannot be expressed H.N. The nienth Article Wee beleeue one holy Churche a communialtie of holie ones which is the conioyned bodie of Christ or incorporated through the loue to Christ and that the shedding forth of the holy Ghost commeth to passe vnder the obedience of the loue vppon the same For through the holie Ghost wherewith shee is in

testifieth shoulde be perfourmed of our Lorde Iesus Christe in his comming to iudgement And forasmuch as they cannot bryng one title to prooue those things vnlesse it be amongst men starke mad and deceiued with the enchauntment of false libertie For none can lay anye other fundatioÌ„ then that is laide which is Iesus Christ and these things not being proued all their dreames must fall it followeth then that the doctrine of Christ muste bee holden as perfect that it is a meere blasphemie and deceipt of the deuill whatsoeuer they vnaduisedly or vainely boast of a greater perfection of their doctrine then the doctrine of Christ whatsoeuer they promise of the libertie of Ecclesiasticall congregations Now in that they obiect that the holy Ghost was promised which should lead them into al trueth it helpeth theÌ„ nothing at all for the scripture which testifieth the holy ghost to be promised the same also testifieth that the promise is fulfilled in the disciples of christ If one part of the scripture is to be beleued it is meete that the other also be receiued That therfore which was perfourmed of Christ Iesus in the disciples 1500 yeeres agoe and more they vaynely dreame to be differred vnto their time The Apostles were led by the holy Ghost into all truth asmuche as was necessarie for mans saluation and the same spirite doeth yet seale confirme the same trueth in the hartes of the faithfull And the same scripture also testifieth that the holy Ghost wyl deliuer nothyng differing from the mind and doctrine of Christe but altogeather the same Soo Christ said to his disciples That Spirite of trueth which proceedeth from the father that beareth witnesse of me And agayn It shal teach you al things which I haue tolde you Also He shall glorifie me for hee shall receiue of mine and shewe it vnto you So the Apostle Peter calleth the holy Ghoste whiche GOD hath geuen the witnesse of Christ And Paule agreeing in the same saith None speaking by the spirite of GOD calleth Iesus Execrable And no man can say that Iesus is the Lorde but by the holy Ghost As though he should say here by a man may knowe whether any be led by the spirite of God or no to wit yf hee loue Christ and his doctrine and studie to promote it In vayne therefore vnder the pretence of the holy ghost is any other doctrine then of the Lord Iesus Christ hoped for seeing that it is the office of the holy Ghost to beare witnesse of Christ to glorifie him to teache his woordes and to declare those thinges which he hath receiued of him But if the aduersaries wil yet further saie that there is mention made in the Scripture of an imperfect and perfect doctrine and an imperfect one to be deliuered to the Apostles which at the length shoulde giue place to a more perfect according to that For we know in part we prophesy in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shal be abolished Also Nowe we see through a glasse darkly c. We answere that the Apostle conferreth not the doctrine or Apostolicall knowledge with any other which euer shoulde bee reuealed in this worlde For in these last dayes God hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne that not without cause the time of Christ might be called the last houre the vttermost and very last time the ende of the world to wit because that by him the last declaration of the wil of God shoulde be made but hee respecteth the worlde to come after the resurrection in heauen where mortalitie being put of that which is in part shal be abolished And in the same place the scripture speaking of that perfection of man calleth vs backe to the comming of Iesus Christ vnto vs from heauen So the Euangelist Iohn When Christ sayth he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him for because wee shall see him as he is And Paule to the Philippians vseth these words We looke for from heauen the Sauiour euen our Lord Iesus Christ who shal chaunge our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie Also to the Coloss When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shal you also appeare with him in glorie And in the Epistle to the Corinthians disputing of the glorie of the faithfull he willeth them to looke vnto the comming of Christ And least that any shoulde thinke that the apostle spake of any other time then of the last resurrection they write that they also shall come to the perfect knowledge sight of god Then saith the Apostle I shall see face to face now I know in part but theÌ„ I shal know euen as I am knowen Also he shall change our bodies We shal see him as he is c. But if the Apostles had respected that time which our aduersaries will haue they had bereft themselues of perfect knowledge Our aduersaries therefore are deceiued who after the manner of impacient men wil haue that time of perfection to come before the season and woulde drawe it vnto this worlde But this perfection of knowledge which Paul speaketh of differeth not by nature and of it selfe from that vnperfect doctrine and knowledge but onely it differeth in manner as well in enioying as also in vnderstanding it For now we haue neede of sundrie helpes to atteine to the knowledge of God and to this knowledge may alwayes in this life some thing be added but in the life to come the same knowlege which here is had of him out of his worde shal not bee changed into any other but shal be made perfect by a newe meanes and shall bee had by the onely beholding of god Onely therefore the meanes of obtayning this knowledge shal be diuers and the reuealing more full Because God shal be all in all And that which the Apostle writeth to the Hebrues Therefore leauing the doctrine of the beginning of Christ let vs be led forwarde vnto perfection not laying agayne the foundation of repentaunce from dead workes and of faith toward God of the doctrine of baptisme in laying on of hands of the resurrection from the dead of eternal iudgement He declareth not that there shal at length come a time in this worlde in which there shal be reuealed a more perfect doctrine then that of Christ the Apostles But he calleth the doctrine of the generall mystery of the priesthood of Christ a certayne perfect doctrine in comparison to the first principles of the Catechisme As are the profession of amendement of life of faith in God the doctrine of baptisme and the laying on of hands the article of the resurrection of the dead of the iudgement to come which are as it were the chiefe principles of religion which generally ought to be knowen and vnderstood euen of children when as al do not so perceiue the

12. b. q. Rom 7. b. r. Rom. 7. b.c. Å¿. Iere. 30. c. t. Eccle. 5. a. Rom. 2. a. u. Psal. 5. a. x. Apo 3 c. y. Ephe. 5. b. z. Psal. 32. a. Prou. 28. b. a. Psal. 45. b. 139. c. Prou. 1. a. 3. c. 14. Eccle. 4. a. 32. c. Heb. 13. b. b Mar. 1. Actes 2 d. d. Mat. 6. d. Luke 11. a. e. Prou. 3. b. Heb. 12. b. f. Iohn 8. d. Rom. 6. c. g. Mat. 11. c. 28. h. Mat. 1. c. i. Apoc. 2â— a. k. Ioel. 2. a. Amos. 5. b. l. Sop. 1. b. Mala. 4. a. m. Pro. 29. Heb 1.2 b. n.. Mat. 25. d. o. Bar. 3. b. p. Psal. 89. d. q. Ephe. 5. d. r Psal. 89. d. Prou. 3. a. Heb. 12. b. Å¿. Matth. 5. a t. Gal. 4.5 a. u. 1. Pet. 1. b. 2. 2. Pet. 1. a. Heb. 11.33 Iam. 2.23 Rom. 4.35 Man bringeth him selfe vnto Christ by this doctrine of H. N. Rom. 6.11 Agust epist. 89. Iohn 6.44 x. Mat. 18. b. y. Mat. 16. b. Rom. 6. a. z. Galla. 3. â— a. Iohn 1. a 3. a. b. Mar. 1. a. a. Math. 1. a. c. Luke 1. d. 2. b b. Math. 16. b. 17 Rom. 1. a c. Col. 1. b. Hab. 1. a. d. Gen. 1. c. Ihon. 1. a. e. Heb. 1. a Gen. 1.2 Matth. 1.21 Iohn 17 Hebrues 9.24 Psalm 110. Esay 61. Luke 4. Iohn 1.18 Esay 9.6 Math. 28.19 1. Iohn 2.20 Rom. 5.15 Messias and Christ is the state of perfection with H.N. Christ is that estate when men leaue the written worde and betake themselues to reuelations Our seconde birth or regeneration is our Sauiour according to the doctrine of H. N. The oldest father of the familie is Christ This doctrine of H.N. because it leadeth to perfection is sometime called Christ H. N. his opinion of Christ Christ is not God. Adam and Christ after the flesh are one with H.N. H.N. calleth the seconde birth Christ the Godhead Gods true being it self Reue. 17.4 f. Esa. 7. b. Matth. 1. c. Luke 1. d. g. Luk. 2. b. Gal. 4. a. h. Gen. 22 b. Rom. 4. b. Gal. 3. b. Christ is so often conceiued of the holie Ghost as any shall haue profited wel in this doctrine of H.N. q. Ephes 2. d. The Gospell after H.N. Cha. 18 Section 10. Euang. 18. Euan. 18.10 Christ not Abrahams seede after the flesh but only as he foloweth the faith of Abraham Euang. 18. Section 3. Euang. 18. Section 9. Gâ—lla 4.4 Rom. 9.5 Heb. 2.16 Heb. 1.15 i. Colo. 1. b. k. Esa. 53. a.b. l. Matth. 27. b. Luke 23. 1. Timo. 6. b. m. 1. cor 15. a. 1. Pet. 2. c. n. Heb. 1. a. o. Esai 53. b. The newe testament is heauen and the seate of the most highest Esay 53.5.6 Rom. 5.9 2. Cor. 5.21 p. Phil. 2. â— q. Hebr. 12. â— That Christ which H.N. hath brought into the worlde was a sinner in his yong yeares VVhen and how Christ is put to death H. N. is Christ Christ in his yoÌ„g yeares was a sinner Christ suffered for his own sinne VVe must make the purchase of our owne righteousnesse by our selues The doctrine of H.N. is the crosse wherevppon Christ died H.N. is Iudas his illuminate elders be the Scribes and Pharisees By the doctrine of H.N. Christ himselfe had the greatest benefite by his own death Mat. 26. â— Mar. 14.8 Matth. 26.3 1. Cor. 5.7 They that crucified Christ in the flesh wrought thereby their owne saluation Luke 22. r. Phil. 2. a. 1. Pet. 2. c. Heb. 5. b. Å¿. 1. Pet. 2. c. t. Rom. 6 a. Phil. .3 b. v. Rom. 6. a. Colos 2. b. x. Ephe. 4. c. y. Act. 4 b. 1. Iohn 2. a. z. Esai 26. c. 1 Cor. 15. â— 1. Thes 4 b. a. Matt. 24. d. Luke 17. c. Act. 1 b. b. Ephe. 4. b. Col. 2. b. c. Mat. 1 â— Ephe. 5. c. d Mat 18.4 Mat. 16. b. e. Heb. 9. b. Heb. 7.26 Mortification is our iustification according to the doctrine of H.N. Heb. 10.110 Heb. 7.23 Num 21. g. Luke 17.7 1. Cor. 15.17 Ephe. 2.4 Verse 5. f. 1. Peter 1. â— 3. c. g. Rom. 11. c. h. Matt. 10. d. Luke 12. â— i. Rom. 6. a. b. 8 1. Cor. 15. f. Colloss 2 b. k. Rom. 6. a. l. 2. Cor. 4. b. Gala. 6. b. m. Rom. 6. a Gala. 5. c. Colloss 3. a. Mat. 24. a. Iohn 8. c. o. Iohn 10. c. p. Rom. 6. a. Esay 53. The estate of H. N. his Christ was nearer vnto glorie and more honourable in the time of his suffering then euer it was before a. Matth. 28. a marke 16. a Luke 24. a b. c. Actes 1.2.3.4 b. Iohn 20.21 Acts. 10. e. 13. d. e. 1. Cor 15. a c. Rom. 6. a. b. c. 1. Cor. 15. f. According to the doctrine of H.N. Christ sicteth not in our nature that is in the flesh at the right hand of his father but onely in Spirit The holy Ghost is Christ Iohn 20.20 Iohn 20.27 Iohn 20.29 Actes 2.30.32 The flesh of H. N. his Christ is left in the graue and seeth corruption Actes 2.24 d Rom. 6. a. Phil. 3. b. e Rom. 6. a. b. c. 2. Peter 4. a. f Iohn 3. a. Rom. 6 a. g Ephe. 4. e. h Luke 1. g. Ephe. 1. a. i Rom. 8. b. k Esay 26. e. Ezec. 36. c. 37. b l Ose 13. b. Iohn 5. c. m Rom. 6. g. Rom. 8.33 1. Cor. 15.17 Rom. 5.25 Rom. 8. â— Ephe. 2 6. Collo 3. Ephe. 4.8 n. Mark. 16. b. Luke 24. f. Actes 1. b. n. Mark. 16. b. Luke 24. f. Actes 1. b. o. Phil. 2. a. Collo 3. a. Heb. 12. a. p. Mark. 16. b. Actes 1. b. q. Psal. 116. a Ephe. 1. c. r 1. Cor. 15. c. Å¿ Num. 14. c. 1. Cor. 15. c. Euangelie 16.10.11.12 How H.N. his Christ hath ascended into Heauen t. Acte 1. b. v. Mat. 16. d. 24.25 Acte 10. c 2. Tim. 4. a. 1. Peter 4. a. x. Luke 21. 1. Thesta 4. a. Iude. 1. b. y. Esay 3. b. Sapien. 3. a. Mat. 19. c. c. 2. Thessa. 1. a z. Acte 17 d. Iude. 1. b. Here in this life is the fulnesse of eternall life The dead shal rise and liue in H.N. and in the illuminate elders euerlastingly and raigne vpon the earth Iohn 5.29 a. Iohn 14. c. 16 1. Iohn 5. a b. Ioel. 2. c. c. Acts. 2. c. 10. c d. Mat. 19. c. e. Luk. 22. c. 24. f. Mat. 19. Rom. 6. 1. Cor. 2.11 Rom. 8.13 Those of the family which dye before they be elders and come to perfection be damned for euer by the doctrine of H. N. Rom. 8.9 g. Actes 1. a. h. Iohn 3. a. 7. 1. Actes 2. c. k. Apo. 21. a. l. Actes 2. a. Ephe. 1 c. 2. c. m. Gen. 12 a. 22 n. Actes 10. e Ephc. 1. b. 4. d. o. Mat. 28. b. Actes 1. a. 2. a. 10. e. p. Iohn 3. a Sinne is subdued in vs before we haue the holy Ghost Rom. 7 q. Mat. 24. a. Luke 21. a. r. Mar. 16.

the like practise of counterfaiting Papists who make shew of religion hauing sworne hearts to the Pope whose dispensation either they haue or trust in some reconciling reliques and ceremonyes from Rome for these causes I thought it some danger to lay open suche blasphemyes such escapes of an euill and erronious conscience which beginning long agoe in the ancient heretiques the Priscillanistes Montanists Pelagians Anabaptists and Catharists c. and hauing been long time buried in the botome of Hell are not thence to be raked any more Also I thought it almost impossible to meet with such an inconstant and slippery serpent that hath so obscure wordes now to hide and now to conuay her poyson thereby to auoyde the wholesome remedy by the worde and iust punishment by the magistrate But my good brother these my doubts grew from the eye I had to their will and way finding the Serpent so subtile to charme others yet him selfe to shut his care so against the trueth that he will not heare the voyce of the charmer charme hee neuer so wisely and that it is as hard to finde out his way as the way of a Ship that hath sayled through the sea For afterwarde considering that Antichrist did bring as he thought to perfection the mystery of iniquitie in the working force of Satan in all powers and signes and lying woonders and in all deceit of vnrighteousnesse as S. Paul prophesied we in these last ages haue clerely seene and that notwithstanding God hath already almost altogither consumed that man of sin with the spirit of his mouth which is his word preached in the Gospel I acknowledge with praise to God the father in Iesus Christ for that sword of the spirit that two edged swoord that it is able either to heale or to wounde to death all aduersary power be it either in al impietie of heresie or in all corruption of maners Yea if H.N. were freed from all his sinne and washed from all corruption If he in deede were as he is in the fancie of his familie an angell from heauen or by an other transubstantiation more then an archangell or that which they affirme and I dare not write yet teaching otherwise then we haue receiued from the holy Prophets and Apostles he is to be holden accurssed and his Gospell of the kingdom with all other his doctrine to be had in abhomination They that pray are thus to pray against such heresies they that write are so vpon occasion to write and Magistrates are in a zeale of Gods house to put on that minde that the holy trueth may bee exalted and all heresies rooted out to the glory of GOD and the preseruation of his Churche from those damnable waies wherein many not esteeming nor seeking the trueth are sooner destroyed then they can feare destruction Therfore you haue doone wel in the Lord drawing out that sworde of the worde of God to make a separation betweene thought and thought betweene practise and practise betweene secret open paths of errour and contempt betwene ioynts and marrow betwene soule and spirit that all the outgoings escapes and dennes wherein these heresies either lye in waite and worke against the trueth or hide themselues from discouery may be discouered and the bright face of the trueth appeare to the great glory of God ouerthrowing of al error coÌ„uerting those of that family of Loue whom he hath loued and in mercie will conuert deliuering their eyes from blindenesse and feete froÌ„ falling and to stay those that might for want of the voice of the trumpet sodenly fal into the enemies hand to be caried away into the miserable captiuitie of those heresies and to the second death that followeth theÌ„ as their iust reward Also the Magistrate by such a manifest discouery of those blasphemies against God against his Christ against his worde shall more more see into the great danger of their horrible sect and find necessary cause to ioyne with the worde to cut it off lest in the end they with their brethreÌ„ the Anabaptists exalt themselues asmuch against the holy and necessary authoritte of magistrates as they doe already against God and his word by whome Princes raigne receiue their blessed peace and safetie Against which Magistrates this practise they haue vsed and still doe vse abusing their holy place of Iustice they recant in woordes without recantation in heart as I noted before holding it for a rule that they ought not to destroy the Temple of GOD whiche is say they in a grosse and absurde interpretation our body and therefore we will not be brought to persecution and death Making a rule against the rule of Christ and against the most wonderfull practise thereof in him selfe and his holy Martyres who loosing their life heere haue found it in heauen and hauing their bodies burnt to ashes in hope they looke for the ioyful resurrection of the same bodyes at the comming of Iesus Christ Therfore my very good brother I thanke God for your labours praying his maiestie to blesse them that the offenders may see and repent their offence that others yet free may remaine by such instruction free for euer from those and such heresies and may be more more armed against error with the trueth and comforted therein to their saluation Praying also that God would continue with increase that spirit of zeale and wisdome in the heart of our most excellent soueraine the Queene other in authoritie vnder her to represse those fantasticall and erronious spirits being indeed the true succession of those ancient Catharists Puritans who thought themselues not to sinne but actually to bee possessed with absolute holinesse and purenesse For so those thinke of themselues and plainly affirme it of their illuminate elders But howsoeuer they seduce some goodly and zealous men women of honest and godly conuersation placing them at the porch of their Synagogue to make a shewe of holinesse and to stand there as baites and stalles to deceiue others yet alas who can without blushing vtter the shame that is committed in the inwarde roomes and as it were in the heart of that Synagogue of Satan These are the things I haue thought touching the booke and a testimonie of my greate ioy touching the same And besides the good I haue already noted this confutation shal testifie to all ages at large that the blessed gouernment of our gratious soueraigne the Queenes maiestie suffereth neither Papists nor other heretiques to goe vncoÌ„futed or vnpunished howsoeuer first in great abundance of singular clemencie it pleaseth her to seeke their saluation draw on their effectuall conuersation Which blessed fruite of that singular clemencie the Lord God graunt in Christ Iesus and a perfect peace to this Church for euer Amen Yours assuredly in the Lorde W. C. Â¶ A Confutation of monstrous and horrible heresies taught by H. N. and imbraced of a number who call them selues the Familie of Loue. Â¶ The Title

loth a man to looke vpon the ioyntes of it while no member hath dewe proportion and place but is either looking backewarke when it shoulde see streight forward or else starting aside when it shoulde stande vpright For the conclusion doeth alwayes looke a cleane contrarie way from the Antecedent If by Hipocrates those two children were truelie iudged to bee brethren of one birth and the nearest in blood that coulde bee who were obserued alway to laugh and weepe together alwayes to be sicke and whole together Then may wee safely say by warrant from the rule of contraries that H. N. his Antecedentes might marrie with his conclusions for anie kindred that is betweene them for the one shall no sooner beginne to laugh but the other will bee sure to weepe If the one seeme to builde vppe anie thing the other will doe what in him lyeth to cast downe the same Heauie is the hande of God against them who haue refused to beare loue vnto his trueth euen so heauie as to bee giuen vp to bee strongly setled in the beleefe of open and manifest lyes As wee see it fall out with this Familie who receyuing sometime the trueth but refusing to reserue it in loue are nowe so throughly perswaded of manifest lyes that when before their eyes they fall a sunder burst in peeces and starte one parte from another by violent rushing agaynst the trueth yet bee their eyes so blinde they doe not see it and their heartes so hardened they will not beeleeue others telling them of it The Lorde in mercie keepe vs farre from that sinne whiche causeth his hande to bee so heauie vpon vs and graunt vs in affection to bee so linked to the trueth that the eyes of our mind may be alwayes cleare to discerne aswell the spottes of corrupt doctrine as the defilementes of wicked conuersation H. N. For to publish nowe in the last time out of the same grace and heartie mercifulnes of God through the same holie spirite of the loue of Iesus Christ good tidings or a ioyfull message of the kingdome of God vnto all people which sit in the darkenesse and haue a lust or longing after the true light and to bring vnto the beleeuers a great light of the true being of Iesus Christ And the glorious day of his godly clearnesse as also to expresse that God hath pitied the generations of mankinde and that Iesus Christ hath not left vs as Orphants but as our faythfull father for to beget vs a newe out of the safe making water or Doctrine of his seruice and out of his holie spirite of loue Also to iudge vs with his righteousnesse and to bring vs into his rest is come againe vnto vs according to his promises to the ende that they all which loue God and his righteousnesse and Christ and his vpright being mought presently enter into the true rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect and inherite the euerlasting life Answere H. N. continueth his speach touching his office and affirmeth that he is appointed to publish good tidings or a ioyfull message of the kingdome of God vnto all people which sit in darkenesse and therefore applieth that vnto himselfe which is in the Prophet Esay of healing the broken hearted and preaching deliuerance vnto the captiues and recouering of sight vnto the blinde Which our Sauiour Christe pronounceth to haue beene fulfilled in him selfe when hee came to Nazareth vpon a Sabboth day and had the Booke of the Prophet Esaias deliuered vnto him If H. N. had remembred that it is said in that place The spirit of the Lorde is vpon me and therefore hath the Lord annoynted me and sent mee to preach good tydings vnto the poore And thervpon made first sufficient proofe that the spirit of the Lord had stirred him vp and inabled him to preach the glad tidinges to the people he might haue better been borne with all But it is apparant by that which alreadie hath beene saide if no more shoulde bee added thereunto that the spirite whiche speaketh in him is a spirite of errour and delusion whiche hath so wholie possessed him as there is nothing now beside most blasphemous and hereticall doctrine to be heard proceeding from his mouth If H. N. had any simple and sincere meaning in him or any portion of that spirit which was in the Apostles hee should after the example of the Apostle Paule in this his purpose to perswade men of his calling that it is lawfull and from God long before this time haue communicated with them that were the chief accompted as pillers of the Church touching the Gospel which he preacheth and setteth forth Which thing S. Paul thought to be so necessary that hee affirmeth him selfe did performe it lest by any meanes he shuld haue run in vaine And if he had beene of opinion that all the world from the beginning vnto the appearing of his doctrine had beene seduced hee should then haue taken profitable paines in making a plaine confutation of the errors and heresyes that be holden contrarie to his doctrin throughout all christian countryes But this secret winding in of him selfe into the heartes of the simple vnder the pleasant speach of loue without either true ioying with them or plaine confuting of theÌ„ sauoureth more of the serpents subtletie then of the doues simplicitie His charge is also as he saith to declare That God hath pitied the generatioÌ„ of mankind that Iesus Christ hath not left vs as Orphants but as our faithful father to beget vs anewe and to iudge vs with his righteousnes to bring vs into his rest is coÌ„e againe vnto vs according vnto his promises â–ª to the end that they al which loue God his righteousnes might enter presently into the true rest which God hath prepared froÌ„ the beginning of his elect inherite the euer lasting life This hereticall doctrine is so ful fraught with violent wresting of the word of God therby to establish most horrible blasphemies That a maÌ„ can not so sone begin the cure of any one parte but the danger almost desperate of an other doth violently hale him forth to giue a helping hand vnto that Now H.N. as one that in his owne opinioÌ„ hath preuailed so farre as to match him selfe with God the father and Christ euen in titles most proper vnto them will enforce the holie Ghost to bring forth his euidence shew how he alone could come vpon the Apostles the faithful immediatly after the ascentioÌ„ of Christ For he chalengeth that promise which our sauiour Christ made vnto his Apostles in Iohn for the sending of a comforter vnto them and not leauing of them comfortlesse to be now verified at the breaking out of this doctrine which hee hath broched nowe of late If Iesus Christe had deferred his comforte so long a time after his Resurrection I doe not see but the Church

faithfull as one head are saide to be the likenesse of God his Father to be also of the godly nature and beyng and finally to be according to the will of God wholly minded with God then the which I doe not remember that I haue founde in all his woorkes any greater thing geuen vnto Christ By this which hath bene said it is euideÌ„t that this heresie of the familie of loue touching Adam and Christ is the selfe same with the heresie of the Pelagians For Augustine doth reporte the opinions of the Pelagians to haue bene these 1. Peccatum Adae ipsum solum laesit The sinne of Adam hurt onely himselfe 2. Infantes nuper nati in illo statu sunt in quo fuit Adam ante praeuaricationem Infantes are in the same state that Adam was before his fall 3. Adam siue peccaret siue non peccaret moriturus esset Adam if he had not sinned shoulde notwithstanding haue died 4. Dei gratia secundum merita nostra datur The grace of God is giuen according to our desertes 5. Filii Dei non possunt vocari nisi omnino absque peccato fuerint affecti They cannot be called the children of God vnlesse they become altogether without sinne Touching their opinion of the grace of God in an other place Augustine doth report it to haue bene this 6. Hoc solum ad dei gratiam pertinere contendunt quod cuÌ„ libero arbitrio et non peccandi possibilitate creati sumus This is al which they giue to the grace of God that we are created with free wil possibilitie or power not to offend Where he openeth their opinion touching infantes more plainely in these wordes 7. Paruuli non indigent gratia saluatoris eo quÃ³d nullum ex Adam contagium damnationis contraxerint Infantes neede not the grace of a Sauiour because they haue no damnable contagion or infection from Adam Nowe these opinions doe necessarily followe of that doctrine which H.N. hath here deliuered touching Adam and Christ which in effect all of them not onely I my selfe but diuers others haue hearde some of the chiefe men of this familie affirme and constantly mainteine Whereby we may playnely discerne that they lie vnder an heauy iudgement of God in that so plaine testimonies of the scriptures cannot preuayle with them for the chaunginge of so corrupt opinions Is it possible in playner speach to proue that lyfe came into the world by one to wit Christ and that we are iustified by the righteousnes of one man than the Apostle doeth in the epistle to the Romaynes Whose words touching that matter are these As by the offeÌ„ce of one man the fault came on al men to coÌ„demnation so by the iustifiing of one the benefit abounded toward al men to the iustification of life Here we see it confirmed that one benefite by one man doeth bring iustification vnto all that are iustified This is the Gospel of Iesus Christ and the doctrine that wee haue from him but H. N. his Gospel setteth foorth many benefites of good doctrine and good life proceeding from many men euen so many as haue bene founde to feare GOD as causes of iustification and righteousnesse vnto all that shall be holden as righteous before the Lorde Thus ye see this horrible heresie of Pelagius to be reuiued agayne by H. N. and his family albeit somewhat subtilly for feare of beyng espied and therefore he hath gotte him both a newe name and a newe coate My hope is all this subtiltie notwithstanding that he shal nowe finde the Churche of GOD the same in affection towarde him and his doctrine that he hath tried it to haue beene in former times Sure I am there is cause he shoulde haue vs more seuere against him theÌ„ euer Pelagius had them For there is more poysoÌ„ in his opinioÌ„ touching Adam and Christ then yet ye haue heard yea more then euer Pelagius powred out as shall God willing playnely appeare when I come to open his opininion of Christ In the meane time this I will say referring you for the proofe thereof vnto that place that Adam with H N. is no man but an estate of men yet subiect vnto sinne and Christ likewise is with him no man but a condition of men altogether void of sinne Therfore al his young disciples be Adams all his illuminate elders be Christs H.N. In his first exhortation Chapter 7. The first article of the Christian faith WE beleeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen earth we confesse or acknowledge that the same is a true and liuing God a mighty spirit a perfite cleare light and a true being And that the same being is GOD the Fathers name and his loue it selfe Answeare THe Diuels themselues will confesse no lesse of the almighty they doe acknowledge him to be a true and liuing God a mighty spirite a perfect cleare light and a true beyng and yet haue no comfort or trust in him but shake and tremble at the remembraunce of him Pagans heathen men will confesse thus muche and yet notwithstanding are voide of all comfort or true confidence in the Lorde Touching the great multitude of testimonies that are mustred here in the Margent and ready for the defence of this confession when I compare it with the small or no number that before came foorth in the defence of Pelagianisme for the discent of sinne onely by imitation I may well say as did Aristippus of Dionisius his liberalitie Tuto Dionisius liberalis est his enim qui multis indigent pauca mittit Platoni vero qui nihil accipit plurima Dionisius sayeth Aristippus I dare geue you my warrant for it mainteyneth all this his liberalitie wel enough For Plato hath the most of these giftes that ye see goe from his dore sent him because he taketh nothing As for those that haue need of manie thinges and therefore like to receiue if any thing finde be offered marke it when you will you shall them tempted of him with verie few That God is a true and liuing GOD a mightie spirite is so playne and confessed of all that it may well refuse these so manie giftes of defence which here bee offered by H. N. But that desperate and more then pyned cause of Pelagius to haue sinne not to be originall in vs for all this his feasting heere departeth from his gates not releued so much as with one crum of breade nay which doth more bewray the want of all conscience and feare of God in him it is so cunningly couched that he is to looke neerely vpon it who shal after the second or thirde reading finde out his opinion and meaning therin and yet for all that it is a principall point of H.N. his religion and the chiefe ground worke wherevppon standeth a great parte of his monstrous corruption But to let that alone what meaneth H. N. in the profession of his faith to say We

he take something for their standing other benefit he hath none by them This true essence and being of God which H. N calleth his loue is not according to his doctrine any thing that the Almightie hath proper and peculiar vnto himselfe in that he is God but that which all the faythfull are possessed of and that not in some little measure but so as there dwel liue or rule no other thing in all there spirite thoughtes mind and soule but alone this true godhead with his louely being of the vpright loue For these are his owne words in his first exhortation Chap. 15. and Section 26. The true freedome verily is this that the maÌ„ through the ministratioÌ„ of the gracious word is wholy released purged or purified froÌ„ all wicked nature which hath raigned ouer him that there dwel liue nor rule any other thing in him namely in al his spirit thoughts mind soule but alone the true godhed with his louely being of the vpright loue yea to be so wholy replenished with all vertues of God that there flow nothing in him but the spirituall heauenly and liuing waters And because H.N. his doctrine tendeth to establish a kinde of loue which in his opinion is the true beeing diuinitie and deitie of God therefore he calleth also his counsell and instruction this true being For thus he speaketh in his first exhortation Chapiter 12. Section 54. If yee stand minded to feare the Lorde to bee obedient to his lawe that passeth foorth presently out of the true Sion his word that passeth forth presently out of the heaueÌ„ly Ierusalem giue ouer your selues after my counsaile and instruction according to it al as the Lord hath reuealed the true being vnto me out of Sion and Ierusalem wholy and altogither so will I then in like maner euen out of the heartie loue stand seruiseable so much as I may in the Lorde vnto you dayly and at all times thervnto to the end you should feare the highest God and might learne to knowe his righteousnesse For his righteousnesse is the loue the true being and the euerlasting life Speaking as you heare of his doctrine and exhorting them to the imbracing thereof hee calleth it the true being when hee sayeth according as the Lorde hath reuealed the true being vnto mee And in the ende he concludeth that the righteousnesse which he teacheth is the loue the true beeing and the euerlasting life So that the Deitie and beeing which H. N. giueth vnto GOD is no other then that which mortall men attaine vnto For the righteousnesse which they perfourme by his doctrine is as he sayeth the loue the true being and euerlasting life And forasmuch as this true being is no other thing with him then that loue which by his doctrine manie are made partakers off therefore in the beginning of his Euangelie H.N. affirmeth himselfe to be godded with God in the spirite of his loue and likewise sayeth that he was the true light of the perfect being And in his first exhortation Chapter 17. Section 5. The Childe confesseth of the Father and eldest Elder that the moste highest hath reuealed the possession of his moste excellent Maiestie in him and that with the same being of the perfect Godhead he hath made a godly dwelling with him This doctrine doeth vtterly ouerthrow the true diuinitie deitie of God it robbeth him of his true essence and beeing and couereth him with no other essence nature or being then is found in man it setteth the creator among the creatures and it matcheth the the creature with the creator The Lord if it be his good wil open their eyes that they may see it giue them harts that may blush and be ashamed of such blasphemie that eâ—that they may receiued in true repentance or otherwise if they will still harden their hearts that wee may see them laid downe in their confusion and couered with their owne shame H.N. In which name of the father wee are plucked Section 3 thorowe the seruice of his holie and gratious word vnder the obedience of the law of the Lorde of the beliefe of Iesu Christ and of the loue of the holie ghost by the father to the loue of his onely sonne Iesu or Sauiour the very like beinge or substaunce of his Godhed and euen so baptised or washed in the same name of the father Which plucking of the father and baptising in Section 4 the fathers name hath the foregoing by vs in the administration of the holie word vnder the obedience of the loue with the Law or ordinaunce of the Lorde And with his correction or discipline wherewithall we euen so as in an enmitie against the sinne beecome preuented and infourmed to an incorporating in the godlie righteousnesse For euen so in the becomming baptised in the name Section 5 of the father doth the Lord chastise or nurtur with his lawe euery man which hee plucketh or receiueth vnto him where through it becommeth than all made manifest in the man whatsoeuer becommeth chastised by the light or through the light Section 6 Through which fatherlie discipline in the becomming manifest of the sinne we are in seeing perceiuing in the light all the horriblenes of the sinne togither with Deuils and the fleshes lying craftie deceitful or false nature and Gods indignation and wrath ouer the same ouer all such as are of one minde therwith Section 7 When we nowe finde our selues guiltie in al and become in such sorte chastised by Gods grace through his light of the fatherlie loue so beare wee at that time greife sorrowe and anguish or affliction for the sinnes cause and confessing the same sinnes with humble heartes in the seruice of the holie word vnder the obedience of the loue of the father wee become wholy inclined and goodwilling to hate to leaue and to lay away or to mortifie the sinnes and all what is vngodly and to that effect we doe as than wholly giue ouer our selues in the counsaile of the holie worde and of the elders in the seruice of the loue To the ende that God the fathers name according to the requiring of the seruice of his loue might become hallowed and magnified in vs. Section 8 And euen so in the familie or communalty of the Loue wee obtaine grace and fauour before God the father and his sonne Iesu Christ become through the seruice of the holy woorde and of the fatherlie correction kepte and led foorth euen vnto Iesus Christ the sonne of GOD the father For to become iustified released or made free through the name of the sonne vnto whom God the father hath giuen all power both in heauen earth from the sinne â–ª and from her kingdom of the death of the Deuill and of all wicked spirites namely to our preseruation in the godlinesse in the

as a thing vnneedefull not once distincting vnto whom the seruice after the ordinaunce of Aaron is yet necessary nor yet with whom the same at the appoynted time ceaseth or leaueth of but haue al for the most parte cried Christ Christ and we are Christians and attributed to themselues much freedome ere euer the time of the appearing of Christ or the annointing of the holy Ghost was come to passe or fulfilled with them in the accomplishing of the olde Testament Oh that they yet nowe awaked and tooke heede in the woorde of the seruice of loue vnto this gratious time and gaue eare vnto the same that they might vnderstande their safemaking and so then bee rightly and according to the trueth brought to the true beyng that is vnto Christ You heare that hee complayneth greately of the Scripture learned that they haue altogether and generally leaste the Leuiticall Priesshoode and seruice after the ordinaunce of Aaron forbidding it vnto all without exception when as the time of the appearing of Christ is not yet come to passe with many because they haue not taken heede in the woorde of the seruice of loue vnto this gracious time and therefore hee wisheth in the tenth Section that they yet woulde nowe awake and take heede in the woorde of the seruice of loue vnto this gratious time that so they might rightly and acording to the trueth bee brought to the true beyng that is as he saieth vnto Christ for these be his owne woordes in this place And so then be rightly and according to the truth brought vnto the true beeing that is vnto Christ So that nowe you see clerely by receiuing effectually this his doctrine men are made that true light whereof he spake before in this chapter when as he saide And this same true light is the annoynted with the holy Ghost which is named in Hebrue Messias and in Greeke Christus In the sixth Section hee declareth when men may be saide to come to this true being and perfection which he calleth Christ To witte when the law and seruices doe chaunge with the beleeuers out of the letter and seruiceable woorde into the reuealing of the holie spirite of Christ For then as hee sayeth in that Section The honourable Priest is come vnto them who teacheth not after the maner of Aaron by requiring them yet to obserue the will or righteousnes of the law but after the maner of Melchisedech bringing with him the blessing the accoÌ„plishing of the law the saluation of life the annointing of the holy Ghost these be his words Where now theÌ„ the law the seruices do in such wise change by the beleeuers of the annointed to witte out of the figures into the true beeing and out of the letter and seruiceable worde into the reuealing of the holy spirite of Christ there is also then by these same the Priest his office chaunged for Christ the honourable Priest coÌ„meth vnto them from the right hand of God the Father out of the heauenly beeyng which hath or vseth not his seruice after the maner or ordinaÌ„ce of Aaron which is yet a teaching and requiring to obserue the will or the righteousnesse of the lawe of the Lorde but after the maner or ordinance of Melchisedech with bringeth with him the blessing the accomplishing of the lawe or of the Lorde his will the saluation of life and the annointing of the holy Ghost to a pleadge of the godly inheritance to an euerlasting treasure or riches of God and reigneth in the righteousnes of the same See the miserie of this mischiefe hee will haue Christ to bee an estate in man which leaueth the written woorde which hee calleth the letter and hearkeneth wholly to the reuelation of the spirit which banisheth Aaron that is that estate which is carefull to doe the will and commaundementes of God and resteth resolued that they haue already accomplished the lawe and sinne no more And this is that true seede of promise whereof wee heard before out of the eightienth chapter of this booke which is not as he sayeth conceiued of the fleshe but of the holy Ghost through the power of the most highest in the beleefe this seede out of the faith of Abraham also of the pure virgin Marie is as he saith in that place the true seede of the promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth And this seede he calleth the vpright children of the beliefe Albeit I haue set downe the wordes before yet it shall not be amisse to recite the place againe worde for worde as it lieth there Consider ye beloued howe that there is shewed vnto vs and geuen vs to vnderstand through the speches of the Angel Gabriel which he vsed with Mary that at the same time when the holy Ghost came through the power of the most highest vpon the Virgin Marie and procreated the true seede of promise the time of the procreating of the seede of Abraham according to the fleshe turned it selfe about to wit that the holy and true seede of Abraham should not from thenceforth be conceiued of the flesh but of the holy Ghost through the power of the most highest in the belief that the same should eueÌ„ so be borne out of the true faith of AbrahaÌ„ for the seed out of the faith of Abraham out of the pure virgin Mary is the true seed of promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth And thus from that time foorth the Genealogie of the seede of Abraham according to the fleshe ceassed with the Beleeuers for the vpright children of the belief which had their discent out of the seed of the faith of Abraham and of the pure Virgin Mary as also froÌ„ the holie Ghost were knoweÌ„ to be the true seede of Abraham because the same seede was the seede of the promise of God the Father was likewise in his minde according to the spirite the likenes of God his father also spirit spirituall of the godly nature being according to the will of God wholly minded with God. It appeareth likewise plainely in that his booke which is intituled The Prophesie of the spirit of loue chapter xv v. Section that this state of perfection which is there called the seconde birth is Christ Iesus the Lord and sauiour These be his woordes O ye holy ones of God thou louely communaltie of loue feare not but be nowe of good cheere vpon the earth against all your enimies For beholde your GOD commeth to be auenged on all your enimies for to lay them that they may bee troden downe vnder the feete of your Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ and euen so in your second birth out of the holy spirite of the loue of Iesus Christ to transporte or yeeld ouer the iudgement and dominion vpon the earth vnto you and your Sauiour Iesus Christ to the ende that yee with him and he with you and your sauiour Iesus Christ and with his

of Christ after the flesh The second borne as he affirmeth in the eleuenth Section holdeth himselfe in stilnesse and obteyneth through the prudence of the holy Ghost the blessing of the promises In the nienth Section he calleth it the Godhead the truth Gods true being it selfe the inheritaunce of all spirituall and heauenly goodes the true seede of the beliefe that becommeth borne in vs according to the spirite inheriteth the promises of God the Father And in the twelfth Section and last line thereof hee calleth it Christ these be his woordes The seconde birth which is not minded according to the fleshe but according to the spirite of the heauenly trueth obteineth the victorie beareth rule with God and bringeth foorth the name of Israel or Christ it selfe By this which hath bene saide it appeareth euidently that H.N. his Christ is that estate of man or men which liueth as it best liketh not beyng nowe any more vnder the gouernement of the written woorde which he calleth the seruiceable letter hauing let the rayne loose vnto reuelations so that nothing shall now be good but that he thinketh to be good neither shall any thing be euill of it selfe vnlesse he iudge it to be euill For he is now the rule himself to make by his reuelation what construction soeuer he will of the worde so it be not according to the letter and naturall sence of the same for that is with him the first borne which cannot inherite the promises It shall now be now be no great hard matter by the light wee haue had from these former places to finde out the poyson that lyeth vnder the sweete wordes with he geueth Christ in his confession For confessing Christ to bee the very like beeing of God his Father wee may soone perceiue what he meaneth when hee calleth the seconde birh wherof so many be partakers as shall inherit the promises Gods true being it selfe the very like being of the Godhed it self which are his owne words in the xiii chapter of his Gospel and fifth Section Confessing likewise that God the Father by Christ hath made and accomplished all his woorke what is this more then that he attributeth in the xiii Chapter of his Gospel and thirde Section to this estate of his illuminate Elders and perfect men who bee come to the seconde birth which he calleth in that place The Lorde his Sabboth the seuenth day in the Paradice of God wherein God rested from all his workes So that then they are saide to rest as hauing accomplished all their woorkes when this their estate of perfection wherevnto he giueth this name of Christ is come vnto them And in the like sence hee saith That Christ beareth all things with the word of his power and maketh the purging of our sinnes through him selfe For that estate vnderstandeth the worde after the spirit therefore hath it in that power whereby it beareth and doth all thinges and that estate likewise freeth them from all daunger of sinne in as much as it wholly purgeth and cleanseth them from the same This so wicked horrible monstrous construction and meaning vnder so greate good words doth plainly declare that H.N. and his family are children of that great Whoore described in the seuenteenth chapter of the Reuelation which giueth foorth all her abhomination out of a Golden Cuppe H.N. The third Article 14. We beleeue that the same sonne of GOD is conceiued of the holie Ghost through the power of the moste highest and borne of the holie Virgin Mary 15 We confesse that this same sonne of God which is conceiued of the holie Ghoste and borne of the holie Virgin Mary is the true and promised seede and borne to the blessing of all generations of the earth according to the promises Answeare In this Creede so ful of new straunge matters maruel not if H.N. adde some thing new and straunge in words We say in our common Creede as of a thing paste That Iesus Christ was conceiued of the holie Ghoste In H.N. his Creede ye heare wee are taught to say as of a thing present that he is conceiued of the holie Ghoste whereby hee putteth vs in remembraunce of this newe Christ which he hath brought into the world whom because he hath imagined to be nothing else but a perfection in the minde of so many as haue bene or shall bee inheritours of the promises he cannot say that his conception is altogither paste for so often as any are brought on to that estate which H.N. setteth forth in his doctrine so often in his opinion is Christ conceiued of the holy Ghost as appeareth in the eighteenth chapter of his Euangelie which place is already set downe before and alleaged by me And albeit enough hath beene spoken to him that will vnderstand for proofe that H.N. taketh Christe to bee but a course in life and conuersation which so many attaine vnto as shall auoyde the wrath of God or as himselfe speaketh a walking in the louely beeing yet I thinke it not amisse to adde vnto the former one testimonie more because this place we now haue in hand is occupyed aboute that matter In the twelfth Chapter of his first exhortation Section 22. and 34. these be his wordes If ye wil not that the wrath of GOD should come or fall vppon you so deale faithfully before GOD and his holines and walke with your spitite in the louely and vertuous beeing fasten your minde thereto and builde your righteousnesse theron for that is an eternall fast standding foundation wheron all GOD his Prophetes and holy ones haue builded and is Christe him selfe This walking with their spirit in the louely and vertuous beeing he calleth as you heare Christ himselfe and those who keepe this course of life and walk in the louely beeing how many so euer doth he speake of heere in the singular number as of one person and one seede when he saith This same sonne of GOD which is conceiued by the holy Ghoste and borne of the holy Virgin Mary is the true and promised seede borne to the blessing of all generatioÌ„s of the earth As also he speaketh in his Euangelie or Gospel when he saith The vpright children of the beliefe which had their discent out of the seede of the faith of Abraham and of the pure virgin Mary as also from the holie Ghoste were knowen to bee the true seede of Abraham because the same seede was the seede of the promise of GOD the father and was likewise in his minde according to the spirit the likenes of God his father also spirite and spirituall of the godly nature and beeing and according to the will of God wholly minded with God. Nowe touching the humanitie of Christe hee is so farre from thinking that Christ is a person now did take fleshe of a Virgin called Mary that woondering at the madnesse of them who haue defended that he saith thus Euangely eighteen and

and minde with the vpright righteousnesse and holinesse For this is the right procreation to the renewing of the spirit and minde of the beleeuers and is also the true newe Testament which God hath promised to errect with his people which new Testament is the very true that God himself witnesseth in his people which are obedient vnto him out of faith in the seruice of his worde and bringeth euen so vnto them in the spirite of their minde the true God seruice of the spirituall and heauenly goodes and writeth according to his godly and heauenly trueth his lawe institutions and rites in the beeing of their inwarde minde In such sorte worketh the Lorde the holie one in Israel and bringeth forth euen so his children sonnes daughters seruants and handmaidens vpon which he in these last dayes poureth forth his spirit and remembreth no more their sinnes for they are a reconciled people vnto him which doe in all his wil. Beholde and consider such is the newe testament with his children for that same newe Testament is in his children the heauen the seate of the most hyest also spirit and life for that cause it is with his children heauenly spirituall and liuingly minded which children of the new testament loue not the worlde nor that which is in the worlde in asmuch as that the newe testament is wholy and altogether of God also the loue the life and the vpright beeing of the holie Ghost it selfe The state of his young scholers which he calleth the beliefe inasmuch as they hope for the perfection becommeth as hee saith with childe through the holy Ghoste and bringeth foorth a new creature according to the very like beeing of the heauenly Godhead and illuminateth the beleuers in their spirit and minde with the vpright righteousnesse and holinesse He calleth his doctrine likewise The true new testament all those vpon whom the spirit is powred forth in this sorte now in these last dayes he affirmeth of them that the Lord remembreth their sinnes no more rendring this reason because they are a reconciled people vnto him which doin all his wil. He affirmeth heere in like maner that these his children of the new testament loue not the worlde nor the things in the world and will haue this to be the cause and occasion thereof for that the new testament is wholy and altogither of God the loue the life the vpright being of the holie Ghost it selfe of such vertue operation that so sone as a man hath had a few receites therof all his worldly humours are forthwith voided thereby and he as cleare purged of them as if hee neuer had beene infected with them and which is yet more he sayth that this new testament is in his children the heauen the seate of the most highest also spirit and life for they be his owne words euen in this place You see then according to the doctrine of H.N. that our obedience whervnto we be brought by it beareth our sinnes in vs because when in all things wee doe his will wee stande as a people fully reconciled vnto our God and therefore wholy and altogether discharged of all daunger for our former sinnes For according to this doctrine when once we haue ceased to sinne sinne likewise ceaseth to lay anie thing to our charge and thus this obedience beareth our sinnes in vs This doctrine is confirmed by the Prophet Esay in his 53. Chapter if we will beleeue H.N. for that place is alledged by him for it Wherin he plainly bewrayeth vnto al the worlde that the spirite of darkenesse euen palpable blindnesse doth possesse him For if a man should come prepared to speake agaynst that poynt of hauing our sinnes answered and borne in our selues it were not possible to speake more plainly and more effectually against it then doeth the Prophet in that place For is it possible to adde anie thing plainer then this speach We like sheepe haue gone astray we haue turned euery one to his owne way and the Lord hath layd vpon him the iniquitie of vs all he was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquitie the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes wee are healed Such grosse blindnesse is a iust punishment from God vpon theÌ„ which are offended and stumble at the cleare light that nowe shineth in the Gospel and so blinde guides are meete Scholemaisters for so manie as loue darkenesse more then light Could H.N. the seede of Satan iustifie our sinnes to be borne in our selues as from the Prophet euen in that place where he in plaine wordes sayeth that the iniquitie of vs all are laide vppon another if the Prince of darkenesse had not bereft him of al iudgement and pulled cleane out of his heade the eyes of vnderstanding We did iudge him to haue beene plagued of God saith the Prophet but it is cleare and out of all doubt he hath borne our infirmities and caried our sorrowes Neither is the Prophet more plaine in this case then is the Apostle Paule in the Epistle to the Romaines where he setteth the righteosnesse of one man for the making of many righteous against the disobedience of one vnto the making of manie sinners Can the righteousnesse of one man make manie righteous if this doctrine of H.N. be true that our sinnes are borne in our selues and our righteousnesse not layde vp in another for vs but resteth in our owne breastes within vs In the second Epistle to the Corinthes the Apostle doeth yet more plainly declare himselfe to haue a contrarie spirite to H.N. in that hee is flatte contrarie in speach For he affirmeth Christ to be a sinner in vs and vs to be righteous in him our sinnes to be imputed vnto him and his righteousnesse to be reckoned ours our sinnes to be borne in him and so he to be made sinne for vs and we righteousnesse in him For he made him to bee sinne for vs sayth the Apostle which knewe no sinne that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him If he be made sinne for vs then are not our sinnes borne in vs if we be righteous before God or the righteousnes of God in him then not in vs but in him are our transgressions both borne and buried and our righteousnesse wholie and altogither purchased If the Sacrifices for sinne appointed to make reconciliation had beene eaten as were other then H N. and other heretikes shoulde haue had some colour to bleare the eyes of their Disciples withall touching this doctrine to haue their sinnes borne in them and their righteousnesse wrought by themselues but the sacrifices for sinne whose blood was brought into the tabernacle of the Congregation to make reconciliation in the holie place beeing figures of that alone Sacrifice by Christe by expresse woordes were forbidden to bee eaten and receyued into men Wherein the holie Ghost no doubt made a special Prouiso against this daungerous doctrine

of saying I beleeue in Iesus Christ if we wil become scholers vnto H. N. we are to say I work Iesu Christ The matter that ministreth vnto vs faith and comfort in Iesus Christ is that he being God equall with his father hath notwithstanding abased himselfe in our nature and for our saluation vnto the estate of a seruant wherein he hath humbled himselfe vnto all reproch contempt anguish and bitternesse of paine both in soule and bodie in the time of his life and vnto all infamie and slander by his death For his death was the death of the crosse and his graue was giuen him with the wicked and the wicked had their will of him insomuch that the Prophet saith He was famous for his miserie and affliction This is that loue and friendship which the Apostle saith hath no fellow or match to be found among men For who hath beene found to offer himselfe to an infamous death for his friend the sonne of God doth it for his enemies For he was counted among the transgressours Here is the ground worke of our faith and comfort that when there was no religion or feare of God in vs and therefore deadly enmitie betwene him and vs yet so great was the good will he did beare vnto vs that himselfe would wade throughout all those raging waues to saue and preserue vs that were vnder the water of euerlasting destruction Here is the triumph of Christians in whom religion is in trueth begonne and his feare truely entered and therefore hatred banished and they truely reconciled that if his death were able of enemies to make friends his life which is of much more efficacie power shall well be able where friendship is begonne to continue it for euer If that which is weaker hath done the greater worke the stronger will bee much more able to goe thorowe with the lesse labour H. N. his Christ cutteth of all this comfort For his estate in suffring was not abased and lower then before it had beene but better and nearer vnto glorie H. N. his Christ was not equall with God before the time of his passion and humiliatioÌ„ but an vtter enimy vnto god For the time of his humiliation and suffering is from his first entrance into the familie vntill he become an illuminate elder before which time in his opinion hee is a straunger nay an vtter enimie to God and all godlinesse Here is then no argument of good will by abasing himselfe from a better estate vnto a worse whereby comfort especially commeth vnto vs Besides H.N. his Christ suffereth for his owne benefite for hee coulde not come to euerlasting ioy and his perfect estate vnlesse he should die in the flesh And this vtterly killeth all comfort for what argument of good will towardes vs can wee haue from another in that matter whereby himselfe is either the whole or at the least the greatest gayner Moreouer shall his death by reconciling of vs to God which is the greater worke from the weaker instrument put vs in assured hope to be safely kept by his life vnto eternall glorie when wee are both by our owne death suffering to rid vs from the daunger of our sinnes reconcile vs vnto our God and by our life to continue and preserue our selues vnto glorie Howe fearefull is the fall of H.N. and his familie that haue forsaken the true Messias that bringeth so great comfort vnto mankinde to imbrace so cursed and comfortlesse a Christ H.N. The fift Article We beleeue that the God of Abraham hath raysed vp this his sonne Iesus from the dead and that hee euen so the third day rose againe from the dead and appeared or made manifest himselfe vnto his friends which loued him shewing vnto them through his suffering and death of the Crosse the victorie ouer the sinne death deuill hell the flesh and the worlde Answere The resurrection of H.N. his Christ answereth vnto that doctrine which he hath deliuered before touching his death For as that was nothing but a passing out of the flesh or letter of the law which is a condition common to the Nouices and yong ones in H.N. his schoole so this is the resurrection when a man is come into the spirit or that estate of perfection which his illuminate elders are pertakers of That which hath beene spoken of before may sufficiently satisfie vs touching H.N. his opinion that thus he thinketh and not otherwise of the resurrection yet shall it not be amisse to adde one testimonie out of his Euangelie where of purpose he handleth the resurrection of Christ it is in the. 22. Chapter where he speaketh thus Now wheÌ„ Iesu Christ was fouÌ„d faithful in the death of his crosse til vnto his burial to a true Passeouer out of the flesh into the making aliue according to the spirit was also through the power of God his father raised vp froÌ„ the death and made aliue againe and that he had shewed himselfe in his making aliue vnto his disciples for that they should stedfastly beleeue so was he then wholy taken vp from the eyes of their fleshe and he set himselfe according to the spirite at the right hande of God his father in the heauenly being and entred euen so as the true high Priest when as the seruice had perfectly ended his course according to the true being in the holy into the most holy his disciples therefore were mindful of all this and what he had said vnto them remained within Ierusalem wayting concordably with supplication and praier for the promises of the father vntil that Christ after the spirite appeared vnto them out of the heauenly being the most holy in the holy in spirituall and heauenly powers like as hee after the Spirite and according to the trueth of the heauenly Godhead is an euerlasting and true Christ of GOD. He is plaine as you heare in this point that Christ his resurrection and making aliue was according to the spirite for he sayth that Iesus Christ was founde faythfull in his death of the crosse to a true Passouer out of the flesh into the making aliue according to the spirit He is likewise as plaine in this that his sitting at the right hand of God is in spirit spiritual For those are his very words as you haue heard he set himselfe according to the spirit at the right haÌ„d of god his father in the heaueÌ„ly being More ouer he is of opinion that he is not a true Christ but as he speaketh imagineth of him that is according to the spirit For touching this point these are his words He after the spirit and according to the trueth of the heauenly Godhed is an euerlasting and true Christ of God. And that in this absurd doctrine heaueÌ„ earth might come togither and a mingle mangle made of all things hee shameth not to affirme that Christ is the holy ghost and that the doctrine which is deliuered in the 2.

his is ascended into heauen sitting at the right hand of God his almightie father but with this cautioÌ„ that it is like as the scripture mencioneth therof that is as his owne head shall imagine the Scripture to speake when it is transformed from the true and naturall sence into allegories and mysteries of his owne making And therefore after his woonted manner louing to make his Commentarie darker then the Text which hee hath taken in hande to open and explane hee saith That his Iesus hath taken in the heauen raigneth ruleth essentiallie in the heauenlie being that is that beeing free from sin the knowledge of the worde after the letter he is now become altogether heauenly spiritual inspired with knowledge immediatly froÌ„ God himself For his Christ after the spirit is him selfe and all that his number who are by obedience vnto his doctrine growen to such perfection that now they sinne no more beeing replenished with the fulnesse of the holie spirit of Christ as himself speaketh And that he meaneth no other ascending into heauen â–ª neither any other taking in of the heauen is euidently proued out of his Euangelie chapter 26. and 10 Section Beholde when as now the law of Moses was in such wise as is said fulfilled or accomplished and had no longer seruice with the death of the sinne and with the beleuers of Christ which through the lawe were dead vnto the law but the spirit of Christ which made the diseassed beleeuers of Christ aliue againe in righteousnesse out of the death of Christ so had then also the Priesthoode in his Images figures and shadowes after the manner of Aaron no more ministration with the liuing in Iesu Christ neither yet gaue it any clerenes more with them because the heauenly clearnesse of Christ and his vpright beeing of loue wherein the disciples of Christ were comprehended excelled farre away all cleerenesse of the figuratiue seruices for that cause the priesthood of Aaron chaunged also with the Disciples of Christ and ceassed by them for with them there was a spirituall heauenly priesthood appeared in vpright righteosnesse and euen so was the same with his seruice established on Christ after the spirit the true light which is an high Prieste that bideth for euer at the right hand of God in the heauenlye beeing whose seruice of the spitituall heauenlie ministration commeth not to passe in the letter nor in the figures but in the verie true beeing Beholde euen so was Christ after the spirit in his office or seruice a minister of the very true and heauenly goods among his disciples and beleeuers and hath when hee had taken in the Heauen multiplied him selfe through his seede of the holie Ghost out of the heauenly beeing to the increasing of his generation the vpright seede of Abraham according to the promises and euen so became Christ fruitfull vpon earth in many thousandes of his Saintes all which he through his death made free or iustified froÌ„ the sinne made them aliue through his holy Ghost taking them vp from the earth and assembling them vnto him at the right hande of God his father in the heauenly beeing He affirmeth as you heare in the 10. Section that when the lawe of Moses was accomplished by the death of sinne and had resigned vnto the spirit of Christ which made the deceassed beleuers aliue again in righteousnes theÌ„ had the priesthood after the manner of Aaron no more ministration with these liuing neither gaue it any more clearnes vnto them this is his reason because the heauenly cleerenesse of Christ wherein the disciples of Christ were comprehended excelled farre away all cleerenesse of the figuratiue seruices The same reason hee rendreth in the next Section saying that the priesthood of Aaron ceassed with the disciples of Christ for that vnto them there had a spirituall heauenly priesthood appeared who was with his seruice established on Christ after the spirit which is an high Priest that bideth for euer at the right hand of God in the heauenly being In the 12. Section continuing his speach of those to whome nowe the heauenly Priesthood had appeared hee calleth them Christ after the spirite and affirmeth that when he had taken in the heauen he multiplyed himselfe thorowe his doctrine which he calleth his seede of the holie Ghost for beeing perfect they may publiquely teache and professe to the increasing of his generation the vpright seede of Abraham according to the promises and so became Christ fruitfull vppon the earth and assembled many vnto him at the right hand of God his father in the heauenly beeing This is the taking in of the the heauen or the ascending into Heauen of H.N. his Christ and the sitting at the right hand of God his father euen to become heauenly minded and inspired from aboue in all fulnesse with this knowledge and obedience which H.N. requireth in this his seruice of loue Heere is neither hope nor comfort for vs in any other man beside our selues neither is any consolation opened either from the ascencion of Christ either else for that he sitteth at the right hande of God his father only this is confessed that the number of his perfect ones are become inclosers and haue taken in the heauen so that there is no portion of heauen and other true happinesse to be hired or otherwise had vnlesse a man renounce the knowledge of the worde after the letter become voyde of all sinne and perfectly illuminated with thefull cleerenes of H.N. his doctrine The greatest comfort that I see a man who would willingly become a disciple can haue by H. N. his doctrine is that though his religion be very highe and mysticall yet his Heauen is very lowe euen heere vppon Earth among vs For this ascention of his Christe and sitting at the right hande of his father is performed in this life when the disciples become once comprehended of this his heauenly cleerenesse and of his vpright beeing of the loue When shall we once come to the bottom of this dungeon of darkenesse How hard is it when once a man hath giuen way to heresie to finde that stoppe which shall make him stay and recouer himselfe Howe great is the goodnesse of our God that hath armed vs with cleere and plaine doctrine out of his woorde against these and the like daungers and hath left vnto vs the knowledge of his Christ to our exceeding great comfort and consolation insomuch that euery article of our beliefe addeth something to the consolation of a christian For albeit our hope be great in that we heare of him who went downe into the graue in our sinnes that hee is risen againe and so acquite of that danger and iudgement which he lay vnder for the same yet is it much more when we vnderstand that the Lord hath not so left him and caste him of who was the whole dealer doer for vs but hath receiued him into heauen his owne

but neuer when men are dealt withall according to desert And because the Prophet Dauid had ascribed blessednesse to that man to whom the Lorde imputeth not his sinnes and it was written likewyse that Abraham his faith was imputed vnto him for righteousnes hee is not afrayde to set it downe as an assured trueth that our iustification commeth by mercy and fauour and not by merite and desert So that the naturall signification of the woorde doeth carry away iustification from works and geueth it by good right vnto fauour and grace Wherin this is also woorth the obseruation because wee are about the force and credite of the naturall sence and Historie of the woorde that the Apostle layeth great weight vpon the circumstance of time which the Historie doeth yeelde vnto him insomuche that because righteousnesse was imputed vnto AbrahaÌ„ as appeareth in Genesis by that historie before he was circumcised he concludeth that iustification standeth by fauour and mercy alone and needeth not to be vnderpropped by woorkes for that Abraham before circumsicion which was with them as is baptisme with vs the entraunce into religion and seruice of God the first beginnyng to obey to the woorde and wyll of GOD was reckoned of God him selfe as a righteous man Yf there be suche weight in the woords and circumstances which are the least part of the history then doeth H.N. as was sayde before offer great wrong vnto vs who in his Allegories drowneth not only circumstances and the naturall signification of words but also the proper sence of Histories and whole sentences when they are set togeather The Heretiques in all tymes haue by Allegories vpholdeÌ„ their errors And Allegories in al ages haue been theyr strongest instruments to woorke with all Epiphanius maketh mention of a beastly sort of Heretiques who by Allegories maintayned the sinne of the Sodomites not onely as a thing that might be suffered but as a duetie that must be doone most shamefully racking to the defence of that shamelesse opinion these woordes of our Sauiour Christe Verily I say vnto thee thou shalt not come out thence tyl thou haue payde the vttermost farthing The Heretiques called Priscillianistae who taught that it was lawful to lie and forsweare in causes of religion thereby to hyde theyr religion and shameful life from the daunger of theyr aduersaries by Allegories did auoide whatsoeuer out of the Scripture was brought agaynst them These bee the woordes of Augustine touching those persons and that matter in suos sensus Allegorizando vertunt quicquid in sanctis libris est quod eorum euertat errorem Whatsoeuer is founde in the Scripture that ouerthroweth theyr errour by an Allegoricall exposition they make it to maintayne the same And the Anabaptistes nowe in our dayes with Allegories as it were with Rackettes doe tosse the Scriptures too and fro like tennes balles to serue their turne withall And who knoweth not that Allegories are the hookes wherewithall the Romishe Churche hath pulled vp theyr Purgatorie and suche other pelfe of theirs Hierome sayth of Origen that by his Allegorizing hee made his owne wit Sacramentes of the Churche These bee his woordes Origines liberis Allegoriae spaciis euagatur ingenium suum facit Ecclesiae Sacramenta In as muche as in an Allegory there is one thynge spoken and an other ment the Heretiques of all times haue drawne the scriptures generally without any respect into Allegories that whatsoeuer the woordes bee they might haue libertie to make a meaning therevnto of and for themselues and that without any helpe at all from the matter that is in hande Nowe the Allegories and figuratiue speaches vsed in the Scriptures muste haue their meaning made manifest and beaten out by the circumstance of the places from whence they are taken and by helpe from the matter which is in hande neyther may any place in the Scripture be vrged in an Allegoricall sence vnlesse the same taken litterally and in the Gramaticall sence shall establishe some thing repugnant eyther to faith or Charitie Â¶ A plaine proofe that the darke and obscure forme of writing which H. N. vseth is an euident note of the Spirite of errour and deceite THe greate obscuritie darkenes of speache which H. N. vseth in al his workes bewraieth his doctrine spirite suficieÌ„tly if we had no other matter to charge him withal For the truth is simple and plaine Ethnickes could by the light of nature sufficiently see into such things One of them touching that matter saith thus Veritatis sermo est simplex apertus nec variis indiget explicationibus ambagibus sed iniusta causa cum per se sit morbida necessario indiget astutis pharmacis The truth sayth he is simple and plaine needeth not varietie of windlaces and fetchinges of matters about the bushe but an euill cause in that it is sicke and diseased hath neede to haue a cunning plaister conueied vnto it An other of them hath these woordes Simplex sententia est communis ac omnibus vsitata nihil admodum profundi astutÃ© cogitati habens aut etiam aliud quid celans That phrase and forme of speaking hath simplicitie in it which is common and vsed of al hauing in it nothing craftily deuised neither cloking some other thing then is professed I leaue it to the iudgemeÌ„t of euery indifferent man whether H. N. his stile were able to abide euen this touchestone geuen vs of the Ethnicks to trie the trueth withal for what strange words hath he deuised froÌ„ that the scripture vseth to expresse the same thing by And how doth he after once he hath begon a thing by continual winding in of words drawe a man so far froÌ„ the place wher he was that hardly can he get home againe Moreouer how craftily doth he vse the worde and name of Christ for all that meane no other thing thereby then that estate of perfection which himself hath deuised so that if heathen men hauing no other euidence then that whiche the light of nature doeth geue them might bee permitted to passe vpon him hee woulde vndoubtedly bee founde guiltie euen by them of false and corrupt doctrine In the worde of God which is a rule of all righteousnesse vnto vs the borowed speaches which bee most obscure be taken from matters vsuall and commonly falling out in the life affaires of men For who knoweth not what the Lorde his meaning is when he calleth himselfe eyther away a doore or a vine And if al the similitudes parables and borowed speaches in the Scriptures bee examined they shal be founde to haue bene drawen and deriued from such matters as the people then were well acquainted withall This simplicitie plainnesse of the woorde which is a rule to al them that are guided by that spirite which spake in the same is very plainly proued out of the Prouerbes of Solomon vnder the person of wisedome Al the wordes of my mouth are righteous

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