opened which were blind and now in the Light of Christ the Way is seen which leads unto God the Father of Light and in it all false Prophets and false Teachers they do see and by them cannot be deceived who come in sheeps cloathing and are beautiful outwardly decked with the Saints words but inwardly ravening Wolves And now their covering comes to be taken of which was none of their own and now the Wolf appears ravening against the Lambs of God for the day hath made them manifest and of them the Lambs of God are aware and in innocency are preserved and in the pure Wisdom which is not of this World in it they see and comprehend the Serpents Wisdom subtilty craftiness and snares which for the righteous seed are laid but in the Eternal Light made manifest to the seed a way is seen out of them all and by the Eternal Power of the pure living God of life deliverance out of them all is witnessed Eternal pure living praises to him for evermore Given forth from the love of God to the souls of those who desire to know the truth to take away all stumblings and cut off all occasions from all minds that in the Light of Gheist the truth they may see to be clear from all slanders and false accusations which from the unclean spirits proceeds which goeth out of the mouth of the Dragon to devour the innocent but from the Dragon and all his Floods the innocent are preserved Given forth from him who a witness stands for the truth of God against all deceit R. H. Written from Mondlesham in Suffolk the 29. of the 3. Month 1655. The distance between Flesh and Spirit c. THis is the Word of the Lord to all people as I am moved of the Lord to clear the scandals and false accusations cast upon the righteous seed and as the seed of God in all generations have suffered reproaches from the World so now the same seed where it is brought forth suffers by this generation of evil doers and is afflicted and tormented and shamefully accused now in England whom you call Quakers And you say we deny all the Ordinances of Christ and you say we do not honor the Magistrâ—tes nor are subject unto Authority but are disturbers and breakers of the peace which is false The first accusation You say we deny Repentance Ans. And this is false for Repentance is the gift of God and this gift we have received and his free grace which teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 by repentance we have forsaken sin as it was discover'd to us by the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned us withall and so the mercies of God we have found according to his promise and are sent of the Lord to preach Repentance to all people who would have all men come to repentance and to the acknowledgement of the truth that they might be saved 2 Tim. 2.25 And with the Word of the Lord as they are moved of the Lord do many go now with this Doctrine into your streets into your markets into your synagogues and into your cities to call you to repentance before the wrath of the Lord come upon you and both sons and daughters now are sent to preach this Doctrine amongst you from the Lord and for obeying the Lord herein are they reviled by you and persecuted and falsly accused And thâ—s is left for a Testimony against you from the Lord and shall bear witness against you The second Accusation is That we deny Baptism Ans. The Baptism of Christ we own which all the Saints were baptized into which was by one spirit into one body as in 1 Cor. 12.13 and by this baptism we do witness the washing away of sin not onely the washing avvay the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God But sprinkling of Infants vve deny which there is no Scripture for And all you who from your imagination do imitate Johns Baptism and so go into the vvater and say you are believers and have right to the Ordinances of Christ but you to be believers we deny vvho are not yet come to repentance and your Water-baptism vvhich is but an imitation from the letter for the Lord never sent you forth nor commanded you either to preach or baptize as they did vvhom you go about to imitate vvho are not yet come to repentance nor to the first principle of the doctrine of Christ nor to ovvn the light of Christ in your consciences which should exercise them and lead you to vvait upon God and lead you to repentance And the Faith of believers you know not for the mysterie of Faith is held in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 vvhich you cannot vvitness which hates the Light of Christ vvhich should exercise your consciences and so your minds and consciences are defiled and vvith that mind you talk of faith and of the Ordinances of Christ and of Water-baptism vvhich serveth unto us for a figure as the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 3 21. And Jesus Christ was baptized by John by water that he might fulfil all righteousness Mat. 3.15 And John was a Prophet and Christ is the end of the Prophets and Johns baptism was but a figure for he said he did but baptize with water but Christ is the end of all figures types and shadows and did fulfil them for he fulfilled all righteousness and Johns Ministry and Johns baptism and he that fulfilled all righteousness the same baptizeth which John did bear witness unto and all men came unto him Joh. 3 16 but he baptized none with water But this is a mysterie to thy dark mind which knows not the baptism of Christ nor Johns doctrine nor Jesus Christ the true Light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world vvhich John bore witness unto John 1.9 but goes to hold up the types and figures which Christ came to fulfil and so deniest Christ to be come in the flesh to fulfil all righteousness and so thou art an Antichrist who holds up the figures which Christ came to fulfil and so thou denies the Scriptures and Christ who said he came to fulfil all righteousness and the Saints baptism thou art ignorant of which is by one Spirit into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 And Paul who was a Minister of Christ and preached the Gospel did bring many into this baptism and he was not sent to baptize with water but to preach the Gospel and all the Churches which he preached unto came to witness Christs baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire by one Spirit into one body and were baptized into Christ who was the head of the body Rom. 6.3 and by this baptism we are thus washed from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit but your imitated baptism of water we deny who live in your filthiness of flesh and spirit whose minds and consciences are defiled but the baptism of Christ we
the Word and means of Grace he is setting up that which before he hath been pulling down in p. 123. where he saith That they are justified from all Legal obligations and conditions of their own workings both within them without them And in page 174. he is setting up obligations and conditions of Reading Hearing Prayer Preaching to which he saith Life and Salvation is promised and so would have salvation come by Works which he hath so much declared against before and so makes prayer reading preaching c. not only the means through which salvation comes but the cause for which they are saved saying To Prayer is promised salvation Now to the informing of the minds of people I say That all promises are to the Seed and the fulfilling of the promises is witnessed through its obedience to Christs command and through the Works of righteousness but none can pray so as to be heard of God and accepted but who have first known heard and believed him whom they call upon which none do but who own thâ— Light which Christ hath enlightened them withal which teacheth to pray hear read and preach with knovvledge and understanding Again J.S. in his tvvelfth head concerning baptism vvould go about to prove the sprinkling of Infants to be the baptism and so denyes both Johns and Christs and the manner of them and sets up another vvhich the Scripture doth not mention as sprinkling Infants which vvho reads his Books may see his proofs by consequences he would have the Scripture speak that which it never mentioneth in plain precepts and so would turn the truth into a lye and so by his own rule in the 68. page of his Book shall he be judged Such Messengers as speak more then is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods spirit nor guided by him to what they say But that all people may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures and that vvhich is testified by them is to come to the Light which Christ hath enlightened them withal which Light was before Ordinances were and vvhich Light gives to see the place of Ordinances and their time vvherein they are to be obeyed for the Light comes from the substance of all the divers vvashings and carnal Ordinances and it leads into the one Baptism vvhich is the substance of that of Water vvhich John vvho vvas a prophet vvas the Minister of and Châ—ist said unto his Disciples John verily baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire but he never commanded them to baptize with water but commanded them to go teach all nations baptizing them into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and although some of the Disciples and Paul for a time did baptize with water yet who shall judge their permission in it although Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ witnesseth that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1.17 and thanks God that he had baptized no more of them yet witnessed that they were all baptized with one spirit into one body And J.S. saith To be against Infant-baptism is contrary to Acts 2.28 29. This is false for that Scripture doth not command it nor give president for it let the Reader search if he find any such thing as the Scripture proving Infants baptism but the promise is to as many as the Lord shall call And so he hath fouly belyed the Scripture for if that Scripture be contrary to such who are against Infants Baptism then must he prove from that Scripture Infants baptism to be commanded as prâ—ctised which he cannot do and so is a perverter of the Scripture And it is truth that we do deny brain-imaginations and sprinkling Infants with water But then he rambles over many Scriptures proving the Baptisme of Believers these proofs are impertinent what is this to prove Infants baptisme So that is passed by here as making arguments against believers baptism except one professing that were our present Adversary but in this he is pursued from all the Scriptures he cannot prove in Justice that ever Infants Baptism was either commanded or practised though he craftily wind about never so much in his imaginations and consequences And in the general I answer Much by us hath been written and spoken to this purpose so our judgements in this charge is fully known of which we are not ashamed before men as being fully justified herein in the sight of the Lord. And so as to that particular more need not be said Again in the 12 th Head of Scripture-contradiction as he saith concerning the Lords supper J.S. makes much ado because of our denial of carnal inventions and imitations practised by many in the exercise of that called the supper of the Lord though with one heart and mind we say and witness That Christs flesh and blood is our meat and drink and none have life within them without it yet doth receive it in the spirit and power of God and doth bear out testimony against imitations and false likenesses set up in the World as the wicked and prophane people such as live in pride and wickedness and covetousness both Teachers and people eating a little bread and drinking Wine so many times a year in such a form and manner and way as Christ nor his Apostles never practised such things in and no change wrought among people but both before and after if not in the very time fulfilling all wickedness and unrighteousness in words and wayes and thoughts yet by false suggestion from their Teachers believing vainly themselves to be the better or saints for the practice of such things whereas they do the more thereby vex the Lords soul and grieve his spirit by hypocrisie and deceit this we call carnal inventions and do deny it in the presence of the Lord that it is evâ—l and not accepted of God but condemned in his sight J. S. proves not that any thing which Christ instituted to be practiced among the saints onely ever was practised in the World among such who are not called neither sanctified and this is abomination to the Lord to practise the saints words or ways and have not the spirit of the Father which we cannot see among the people of this age no nor manage them professing to be selected Church-Members but pride and envy abounds among them all and in that spirit of disobedience in which they live to the Ordinances of Christ they have no right to practice that which onely is to be practised among them that have the spirit of the Father and nothing that Christ instituted for his saints do we deny in its life and age but lives are changed and Antichrist hath ruled and even the things which once he instituted your practice of them who are polluted are an abomination to him And this is a full answer in general as to the thing though I pursue him not in every particular word and argument to lay open
saith that Christ ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things to wit with his Light Eph. 4.11 So here he hath answerd himself for if Christ that is ascended doth fill all things with his Light then he doth not make mens hearts void of Light In page 17. he saith That Christ enlightens the world with the knowledge of God as the Prophet of the Church and if so then men want not Light to guide them in the knowledge of their duty and the way to salvation so herein he hath answered himself to his own confusion Again in page 43. he saith That none of the Gentiles not barbarous people who had not the Scripture nor such other teachings as God's People were taught by had the Light within them which might be a â—â—mpleat and safe rule or guide to them for the pleasing of God Ans. In contradiction unto which he saith in page 60. that Christ as the Mediator enlightens with spiritual Light every man that cometh into the World and pag 62. That he enlightens Gentiles as well as Jews with a spiritual Light And page 63. that Christ as the Sun of Righteousness was to enlighten all Nations So then if those latter be true then the former is false for if all that come into the World both Jews and Gentiles be enlightened with a spiritual Light by Christ as their Mediator and as he is the Sun of Righteousness then they do not want a Light within them which is a compleat and safe Rule or Guide to them for the pleasing of God and so by this the Quakers Doctrine is approved and made good instead of being disproved Again that John Tombs may appear to be wise above what is written he goes about to prove many Lights under several names and distinctions as page 12. he saith There are Lights that like ignis fatuus foolish fire lead men into dark places lakes and bogs wherein they that follow them perish Secondly There are lights that for a while lead men in the way and then soon go out and so leave men in darkness and perplexity Thirdly That there is an amazing light that doth by its brightness strike dead and cast down to the Earth Rev. 1.16 17. Acts 22.6.11 Act 9.9 Fourthly Christ is an excelling light not striking dead nor casting down nor blinding Fifthly That there was a light in the law but it was imperfect Sixthly That there is a bodily light in animate bodies Seventhly That there is a natural light of Creatures Eighthly There is a rational light of men pag. 16. Ninthly That there is a Scripture-light and saith he the Word which is written in my Bible shall be my light page 80. Ans. In that which is above-mentioned he appeareth to be puffed up by vain conceits imaginations and distinctions above what is written in the Scriptures of Truth till he manifests himself to be wholly in darkness not knowing what he saith nor whereof he affirmeth For where doth the Scripture speak of any Lights like false fire that leads men into dark places Lakes and Bogs but we read in the Scriptures that he that walks in darkness knows not whether he goes and there is the perishing in the Lakes And where doth the Scriptures speak of such Lights as for a while lead â—â—n in the way and then go out when men are in the way and so leave them in darkness And where do the Scriptures speak of a natural Light and a bodily Light and a rational-Light and a Scripture-Light And whereas thou speakest of an amazing light that by its brightness doth strike down dead and cast down to the Earth and brings Rev. 1 16 17. Acts 22.6 11. Acts 9.9 whereas it saith That the light of Christ's countenance was as the Sun shining in his strength which when John saw him fell at his feet dead and Paul with the light was struck down which Light appearing to John and Paul was Christ yet in the next words contrary to the Scriptures and thy own assertions saith That Christ is an excelling light not striking dead nor casting down nor blinding And so thy words is but as a heap of confusion and contradiction one unto another and to the Scripturâ—â— and so in a few words thou maist be answered even with thy own darkness for if thou knew the Light of Christ in the least measure it would keep thee out of the line of this confusion and then thou would justifie those whom now thou condemns and falsly accuseth to be guilty of thy own devisings Again Another contradiction concerning the Light from page 33. thou saist That light from Christ as Creator is conferred upon all men without exception of any person And to contradict it in p. 37. he saith that the Gentiles are without light And p. 66. that Christ enlightens Gentiles as well as Jews with his spiritual light Ans. So to what end is all thy preaching and printing but to utter forth thy own confusion And dost thou think that all people are blind as thy self that cannot see plain contradiction Nay for the light is risen in which thou art seen if thou hadst more subtilty craft and guile to cover thy self withall than thou hast but thou hast appeared naked that every one may see thy shame Again John Tombs in the 26. page saith that in this life they that are born of the Spirit are flesh whereas Christ saith He that is born of the spirit is spirit Ans. Herein thou art imprudent to place these two contrâ—dictions together and to set thy lye before Christ's Truth to make people believe that although Christ said He that is borâ— of the Spirit is Spirit yet it is not so for he that is born of the Spirit is flesh saist thou and to prove thy lye against his truth saith that the new birth which makes us no longer flesh and blood iâ— that seâ—ce is not the birth of water and of the Spirit mentioned Job 3.5 but the Power of God by which he will raise us up 1 Cor. â— 14 the birth of water nor the Spirit John 3.5 6. is here in this life thâ— other is not till the resurrection Ans. Herein thy proof is as false as thy lye before-mentioned for â—hat which is born of water and of the spirit is spirit and also the power of God bâ— which we are raised up is witnessed in this life whereby the Apostle said they were made members of Christ and were joined unto the Lord by that one Spirit of which they were born And is this the Faith which thou begets people into that they cannot be born again in this life of the Spirit So they have believed and followed thee long enough for they were but in the fleshly birth before thou came amongst them and are so yet and must not be born of the Spirit by thy doctrine while in this life until the resurrection and so that they may believed thee and not Christ thou strivest to keep them from
Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no life in you And this is his Supper in eating of which the creature hath life in himself Therefore fly from idolatry I speak unto wise men judge what I say the cup of blessing which we bless is the Communion of the blood of Christ and the bread which we break is the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.14 15 16 17. For the bread of God is he that came down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World John 6.33 Then said they unto him Lord evermore give us this bread and Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst John 6.34 35. I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world v. 51. But the Jews could not belive this neither can this Priest but saith we own feâ—ding on Christs flesh but deny his Supper and so as blind as they But by the life which we receive in eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud are we manifest to be of those that feed at his Table and cannot have communion at the Table of Devils as the Church of God could not 1 Cor. 10.21 Again He saith that we own baptism with the spirit but deny baptism with water I answer Who come to the baptism with the spirit into one body they are come to the one baptism which the Saints witnessed not laying again the doctrine of baptism which waâ— several but witnessing the one the substance of the other which was necessary to salvation so all those things in which the substance was signified whether circumcision or water is not denied in their time and place when the obedience in them was from the command of the spirit and not from tradition but people now in the ignorance of God and his ways take up things by tradition being both out of the command and out of the substance and such deny the substance where it is witnessed as for this Priest Clapham he hath never ministred water baptism as it was ministred when it was a doctrine from heaven for there is not one in all his Congregation that had first received the holy Ghost nor believed in Christ before he baptised them with water and so both the substance and the figure is denied in him so that in that in which he would accuse another without ground is he upon good ground found guilty And as for denying to give thanks that is false for we are bound in spirit to give thanks always to the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and whether we eat or eat not we give God thanks and this we are come to witness to pray without ceasing and in all things give thanks for so is the will of God concerning us and in us is it fulfilled and we sing with the Spirit and with understanding also but such take Davids conditions which waâ— made manifest unto him in the sure mercies of the Lord to him and sing his deliverances whose soul is yet in the pit and sing his prophesies who never knew the spirit of prophesie in themselves and say they have roared all the day long by reason of their sins when as they have roared all the day long in fulfilling their sins and iniquities and for the scorners to say they have no scornful eye and for the proud to say they are not puft in mind such singing we deny which is without the Spirit and without understanding also For light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart so to the light with which Christ hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world I speak which tends to uprightness of heart and unto holiness without which no man can see the Lord those things which are reprovable are made manifest in the Liâ—ht and that which doth make manifâ—st is light which all who be out of it is in darkness and know not whether they go nor what they profit as many now in these days being kept from the light and gate of truth by the doctrines of men and so never come to read in the Lambs book of life which first all must come to know the vials poured forth upon the earth upon the Beast and his works and his sear which is found standing in all them who be from the light they be enlightned withal But the hour is coming and now is when all they that be upon the face of the earth may see the appearance of the Son of God and may receive his power in the measure which his Father hath given them to receive him in therefore every one who comes to see with the light of the Son of God enter into thaâ— which you see to be of him and out of that which you see to be of the World that so the everlasting righteousness and peace you may possess in your obedience to what is made manifest that you may come to see and favour the things of God from those things that be of the World and as every one walks in the light you will be as a sweet smelling sacrâ—fice unto the Lord and knowing and feeling the power of â—he Lord with it the everlasting door vvill be opened and the vvell-springs of life to the feeding of the plants of God with the uncorruptible food which is every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord vvhich vvill be received as that of God in every particular is kept single Again The Priest in his 3 4 5. Section saith That we deny the doctrine of the Trinity and that we hold equality with God and the soul be â—ne being with God and corrupt the doctrine of justification Answ. For a Trinity of persons there is no such docâ—â—â—ne in the Scriptures neither the vvord three Persons nor Trinity and so three distinct one from another eternally as he hath held forth saying Christ is the eternal Son of God distinct from the Father eternally and the Spirit is distinguished from the Father and the Son eternally This is a Tradition of men taught for a doctrine but no doctrine and in denying of that vve do but deny Claphams tradition but as for the Father Word and Spirit which bear record in heaven these three are one and vvas never separated eternally for Christ in the days of his flesh vvhen he vvas in the vvorld said I and my Father are one and said I in them and they in me that they may be one as we are one John 17.11 22. and so this doctrine of the unity of the Father Word and Spirit
of things as they are made manifest by the Lord to the Light in you I speak that in it you may be able to understand truth in what I say and by the truth to judge of things that differ for such as the Tree is such is the fruit an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit neither can one Fountain send forth sweet water and bitter Now as concerning a Book given forth by John Stelham Priest at Terling in Essex who having an evil eye because God is good and being filled with indignation because God hath mercy on his own Seed whom he hath blessed hath out of the abundance of his heart spoken it forth Now the way to know that which is spoken in darkness is to read it in the light and if his Testimony in any thing as coming from him is to be believed it is that which is concerning his own condition and if his estate and condition be such that in it he can receive the things of God and minister them to others then they may be received but if his condition be such that in it he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God then that which cannot receive cannot minister and so he is to be silents and none to expect the things of God from him being neither fit to reprove nor to rebuke but to be reproved and rebuked as will appear as followeth The ground in him and the heart out of which this abundance of words in his Book proceeds in it as he declares is yet the root of all error and of all sin is in him and seen by him not mortified and that he hath an old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth no good thing a sinful wretch and worm subscribing himself the sinful John Stelham as in his Introduction in pag. 80. and p. 117. Now therefore we having found out the root and the ground to be a root of Errror and the ground of Deceit and a heart wherein dwells no truth nor no good thing therefore from that which is unclean shall we not expect that which is clean to proceed nor truth from that wherein dwells no truth but from the lying heart and deceitful tongue hath the Lord delivered us so that if we be called revilers and be rebuked and a charge laid against us as to contradict the Scriptures of God and be called Antiscriptural Antichristian and Antispiritual we have now learned to know whence it doth proceed even from the lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth and we can bear it because we know that til that heart be taken away and a new heart known wherein is truth we must be reproached and spoken evil of falsly for his sake who hath taken away the old lying heart and hath given us a new heart wherein truth dwelleth and where truth proceeds out from and herein are we manifest from the children of this generation and herein are the two states known and the two conditions of men according to the testimony of Scripture and the parable which Jesus spoke Luke 6.39 Can the blind lead the blind shall they not both fall into the ditch And ver 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh And hereby is the Tree known by his fruits and the heart of the wicked was ever filled with lying and vanity and understanding was hid from them the Lord was grieved with such that did err in their hearts and had not known his wayes Psal. 119 70. Psal. 140.2 and this was an evil which was under the sun that the hearts of the sons of men were full of evil and madnesse while they live Eccles. 9.3 And such a heart was in the Scribes and Pharisees a lying heart wherein dwelt no truth filled with evil thoughts as Christ said Wherefore think you evil in your hearts Mat. 9.4 and out of the heart did arise all false accusations calling the truth blasphemy and the way of it heresie and such who be in the state as John Stelham confesseth he is was never appointed by the Lord to watch over souls But such where Christ did dwell in their hearts and because they were sons God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts Eph. 3.17 Gal. 4.6 and such had truth in their hearts doing the Will of God from the heart and did draw near unto God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water these did not profess the things of God in an old lying heart wherein dwelt no truth but called upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart and said that the end of the commandment was charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned from which some swerved in the Apostles dayes having turned aside unto vain jangling and such desired to be teachers of others but the doctrine is corrupt and the Mysterie of Faith is not held where the heart and conscience is not pure and the Lord is good unto such who be of a clean heart Now as concerning the Scriptures John Stelham's Testimony from the old lying heart wherein dwelleth no truth is this That the Scriptures are the Word of God and truly so called and the Letter and Scripture is all one as p. 3.4 but to contradict that himself he saith in p. 5. the Letter taken strictly is but legal administration using these words The Letter killeth i.e. the bare legal command without a promise of power or pardon as a bare Letter void of strength life and spirit it leaveth all men under a killing sentence and curse Let them that have understanding judge Again as concerning the Letter in page 6. he expresseth himself thus The Spirit is given by it And in the next words saith the Scripture is but instrumental to the Spirit Now mark the Letter taken strictly being legal without a promise of power or pardon void of strength life and spirit the Spirit to be given by this which he confesseth is void of strength life and spirit and is but instrumental to the Spirit whether this be not contradiction and confusion let them that read judge For in reading these things which he hath published many may seal to the confession of his own condition to be truth but that which he hath declared of the things of God to be false for now the Light being broken forth such doctrine cannot be received nor believed that thâ— Spirit is given by the Letter but that which is declared in the Letter was given forth from the Spirit vvhich vvas in them which spoke it forth but people may long have the Letter and think in it to find God and eternal life and may dye in
tares which men gather which must be bound in bundles and cast into the fire for what is the Chaff to the Wheat or what is all such invented words to the knowledg of the Father Son and Spirit which are one which bear record in heaven and are three that beare witnesse in earth the Spirit and Water and the Blood and these three agree in one and when these are known in their witnesse in man what they witnesse unto and what they witnesse againsti within and without such will give them names according to their works and according to the Scriptures The Third head of John Stelhams Scripture Contradiction is concerning the light which every man is enlightened withall which of all things is most hated by all such whose wayes words works are contrary ot it for it being risen in the hearts of the Children of men to give the knowledge of the truth hath in this day made many wiser than their Teachers and now they which have caused people to err are by the light seen and by the Children of light are denyed and they being denyed their envie is up against the light which hath made them manifest and they walk not by the light nor according to the Scriptures buâ— there is a line of confusion comes over them by which now they walk and from which their writings doth proceed as John Stelham in page 52. saith they may affirm agreeable to the Scripture and yet contradict the Scriptures in saying Christ is in every man or that the light in every man leades to the Father saith Christ God or as God is in every man a spark of his god-head-light is in every man but there is not in every man that redemption light which leads to the Father That light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal leads to the Father all who are led by it and believe in it and condemns all from the Father which do not obey it but hate it and speak dispitefully against it who are turned out from God who is light and truth into the confusion saying that the God-head-light is not the Redemption-light but with the light that Lye and confusion is judged for ever and in affirming that the God-head-light is in every mâ—n and then calling it common and old Creation-light Scripture-light pag. 61. and the light of Nature page 74 75 and a legall light page 76. and a created light page 78. and an universal light unto which I say as God is so is his light so is his god-head not created nor natural and as every one comes to know the light which by J.S. is so reviled they shal neither follow nor believe his Doctrine till he can prove when the light of the God-head was created and how it became natural or legal or where he had those names for the Scriptures doth give no such names to the light so by his own rule he speaking more than is in the Scripture is not a Messenger sent by Gods spirit nor guided by it in what he sâ—ith As also in other things as in Pag 64. saying That light without Sâ—ripture is no light Then Enoch's light in which he walk'd wiâ—h God was no light nor Jacobs light nor Isaacs nor Abrahams for they were without these Writings this letter which he calls the Scriptures but they were not without light And thousands have so much light whether they have the Sâ—riptures or not as to see this darkness as to say light though saving light without Scripture is no light did the Scriptures make the light to be light and was the saving light made by that which was written let all take notice turne away from such in another place he calls the Scripture but the declaration that Christ is the Word calleâ—h them a Vessel that the light is put into in p. 43. 44 Now let them of understanding consider judg whether the vessel be the maker of that which is put into it whether Wine that is put into a Bottle be made wine by the Bottle or whether it is not Wine without the bottle Water put into a vessel be not Wâ—ter without the vessel or whether the vessel make it to be Water J.S. saith Every verse of Scripture is a little vessel of light that light without scripture is no light so these things have I laid open that every one may see how the Lord hath turned wise men backward and made their Wisdom foolishness and that they may see how those stumble and fall and are snared and taken whose light is turned into darkness and hovv great that darkness is and novv is the Scripture not denied but fulfilled for now is the Light and Truth come into the World by which they are found to be blind who said they saw and in which they see that vvere blind And now the depths are seen vvhich are covered vvith darkness and Babylon is seen the Mother of Harlots which bring forth in confusion and bind up in ignorance Other confusions and lyes I shall also mention given forth by J.S. in his Book As p. 68. he saith that God was and is the Word according to John 1.1 and in p. 69. he saith The Father is not the Word nor never so called which is a contradiction And in p. 70. saith Christ is more in the Scriptures than in his Saints vvhich is false for greater vvas that vvhich the vvords came from than the vvords vvhich did but declare of the fulness from vvhence they came as all that know Christ wil bear witness unto and against all such that say Christ is more in the words than in them who spake the words Again in p. 73. he saith Christ the Author of salvation to them that obey him speaking in the Scripture saveth by the Scripture which is false and contrary to the testimony of the Scriptures and the witness of them who witnessed his salvation who said By his Life are we saved and by Grace through faith which was the gift of God and not by the Letter and their Witness was true for God and his Works and against all such who are of a lying heart and spirit of error who would make the Letter to be the Light yea more even that vvhich makes light to be light and so greater for that vvhich makes a thing is greater than a thing that is made and would have the Letter to be the Word when as the Letter saith God is the Word and would make the Scriptures to be that by which people are saved as in p. 73. saying Christ saveth by the Scriptures but the Scriptures speak no such thing of themselves for they say there is no other name under Heaven by which men can be saved but by the name of Jesus neither is there such a word written in the Bible that saith men are saved by the scriptures nor that the Light of the God-head is natural as I. S. saith that he may