An Answer to John Gilpins Book.

TO thee, Oh John Gilpin! and all the subscribers of thy booke whose folly in it is made manifest: out of you: which books, thou & you subscribers have directed to the world: they are the best to receive it, and believe it, for the world loves their own, and will receive their own, which lies in wickedness, where the lying wonders is, and such are given over to believe lies; for to the Children of light his book is not directed, but to the world, and the world receives it which hate Christ, and all the Children of light, as Iohn saith, which light brings to see all Gilpins signes and lying wonders, his butter-flies and his Swal­lowes, and his filthy Dreame, sand all his running up and down, and all his imitations and crosses, and all his mu­sick, which must be turned into howling and sorrow, and wayling, and gnashing of teeth, which is denied by all the Children of light. The man of sin hath exalted himself, above all this is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God fits in the Temple of God, that he might be re­vealed in his due time, whose coming is even after the coming of Satan with all power and lying wonders and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in him and them that perish, because that they and he did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved: for this cause hath God gi [...]en him and them up to strong delusions that they should believe lies, that they all might be dam­ned together, who believe not the truth, but take plea­sure in unrighteou [...]ness, for to the world hath Iohn Gilpin and the rest of the sub [...]cribers, directed their book: they are of the world, and the world heareth them, therefore speak they to the world, and the world heareth them; and the whole world lyeth in wickedness: they who are Chil­dren of light are not of the world, we which are in the [Page 2] light are of God, and he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us, hereby we know the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of error. So, marvell not my brethren, if the world hate you, and persecute you, as many of the subscribers to Iohn Gilpins book, hath done, persecuted many, imprisoned many, for we know we have passed from death to life, because we love the bretheren, but he that loveth not his brother, abideth in the death and who so hateth his brother, is a murderer, and hath not eternall life abiding in him: so ye Children of light, who see Iohn Gilpin and his subscribers, where the man of sin is re [...]ealed, the Son of perdition, comprehended, all you are with the light, which is your condemnation: remember in your life-time, you are warned, and you are in secret read this: now, bretheren in the light, be not ye so soon sha­ken in your minds, neither by his books nor words, who hath given heed to fables, & swerved[?] from the truth, and turned aside, and so now directs his book to his own, who heareth and receiveth it. He that hath an eare let him heare, and understand he that hath an eye, for over to Satan is he turned and delivered, and so with the wicked judged who are both with the light condemned, which from his lies and fables, the Children of light are escaped: are not they of the world that do persecut[?] the, Children of light? are not they of the world, that are given over to be­leive lies? are not they of the world that heareth the world? are not they of the world, that sends their writing to the world? and doth the world heare the Saints, and doth not the world love her own, and did not ever the world hate the Children of light? was Iohn Gilpin come to that power that made the Devills to tremble, and you who worship the beast whom all the world wonders after to blaspheme, and doth the beast blasphem the power of God, yea or nay? was that the power of God that made the Devills to tremble in Iohn Gilpin, yea or nay? Answer, else confess in your silence guilty, and let your mouths be stopped for ever: is it the power of God that makes the Devills to tremble, and doth not the world call this the [Page 3] power of the Devil, and so abuse the power of God, nay or yea?

Having seen a book wherein the life and conversation of Iohn Gilpin by severall hands certified that Iohn Gilpin hath ever walked as becomes the Gospel[?], I have knowne him this 12 or 14. yeares, and this I can say and lie not, he was never owned in the least, of any that had a pro­fession, but was of the sort which ran to all excess of riot, a common Drunkard, a Cocker, a Gamster, as some of those is, which hath given testimony of his Gospel-con­versation: but if this be their Gospel conversation, it with the light of Christ is denied, and in judgment neither it nor they can stand, but with the light is to be condem­ned, and with the Children of the light to be denied and seene to be out of the Gospel. It is not the boasting Spi­rit that lodgeth in the enemies of God (that can hurt the truth) which casteth out floods of water to destroy the truth, for in safetie is it kept, neither those high swel­ling words can hide him from the wrath of God, that is revealed, to be powred forth upon all unrighteousness, and, know thou lier, that my testimony is true and shall stand: and this I declare to all in the presence of him that knoweth, that I lie not, that as I was passing down the high street in Kendall, betwixt the place called the new Brigging, and the lower Wel, John Gilpin was passing on the street, in that place I sae him drunk: but they being so large in their exposition of things, they may do the like of his drunkenness: these are the signes which I shall declare, which will be a sufficient testimony that he was drunk, first that he reeled to and fro, secondly turning to a side of the street standing talking to a woman, was not able to stand without wandering. Thirdly, his face inflamed scarse able to look with his eye, the woman speaking to him but he could not speak plain, and the woman prayed God to bless him. Thou sayest, thats true, that informati­on was given in against him, but not on oath. Reader, take notice that nothing will pass currant with them, un­less it hath the stamp of an oath: see here they are not in [Page 4] the doctrin of Christ, that would have men to sweares but out of the light they are shut, and with the light is to be damned. And as for his friends, I charge them with alie; they never came to me, and told me any such thing, as that it was a gross forgery; neither did I give them any such answer, as that he was drunk with sin, though it was his sin to be drunk, so let all that nameth the Name of the Lord, depart from iniquity & the light mind that brings into purity, so thou mayest stand in thy integrity, so wilt thou see the beast and the false prophet, and their, ly­ing wonders and with the light of Christ they will be con­demned. ( Robert Wharton) I having occasion into the fields upon my comming back, over the neither brigg, I meet with Iohn Gilpin, and I set my eyes upon him, and I understood the man was drunk, & immediatly his Wife[?] comming out of his own house, she desired him to go in, and he refused, and she began to strugle with him, and so with much to doe she got him in, and as for what he was formerly I well know, he was a common Drunkard, a Cocker, a Gamster, and with such like actions and pra­ctices brought his Wife and Children to penury and want.

And for the heads and cheefest of your witnesses, which here confirms your lies and reports upon hearesay, be­cause you report it,

I Who is known by the name of George Taylor of Kirkby Kendall, in the County of Westmorland, do declare in the presence of the Lord God, against Iohn Archer (who is called one of the Justices of the Peace, for the same town and County, and one of the cheefe witnesses) that he is a detestable Blasphemer, a notorious liar, and persecutor of the Saints: for he was not ashamed to main­tain, that the light of Christ spoken of (in Iohn) was natu­rall, that none was redeemed from strife, and that the light in Cain led him to slay his brother. And though for writ­ing and declaring against these abominations, he caused me to suffer imprisonment above twenty daies, yet the [Page 5] same now I am willing to Publish for the truths sake and to seale the same testimony, if it were with my blood, a­gainst Iohn Archer whose name and nature stinkes in the nostrills of the Lord God.

ANd for Edward Turner, that Cavalier, who is given to drunkenness, swearing, and cursing, for which or some of these he should have suffered a fine in the time of his be­ing Major, when he witnessed the relation of another drunkard, Iohn Gilpin to be true, and he should have had his goods distraind upon not paying his fine, had not Iohn Archer for love to wickednes and to robb the poor passed by it.

ANd the said Iohn Archer Justice of Peace (so called) A man being brought before him for swearing and other mildemeanors, and being convicted, and his fine set which came to fifty shillings, Iohn Archer through the so­licitation of his brother in Law, Roger Bateman, being a great man in the Country, took only two shillings six-pence instead of two pounds, ten shillings, and so became a Breaker of the Law, and a Robber of the poor.

VVHereas there is a slander put upon them whom the world scornfully calls Quakers by one as it is made manifest of their own, as concerning a Mare, all such beasts and beastly tricks and works of the flesh, we abhor and deny whom the world scornfully calls Quakers, though such a one came among the Quakers to their meeting certain times, but since he left off comming to their meeting, it is near a quarter of a year, so with the light all such acts and actors is eternally condemned with the light from them whom you who are of the world [...]ornfully calls Quakers whole unitie is in the light which condemns all such practices, as is aforementioned contra­ry to it, Iohn Bisbroune and Christopher passing on the way in a place called the new Close, the man before menti­oned▪ [Page 6] who did that beastly act, as it is said, before he had done that act passing on the same way that Iohn & Christo­pher Bisbrowne were in, and yet going the same way, as they came fled the way and would not meet them, and then when they were gon past, he came into the same way againe: and near a quarter of a year before that Iohn Bis­brown, was moved to speak to him and told him that he was Esau and that the wild nature had head in him, before mentioned, who was one of them without, who acted contrary to the light, as it is said of them that are without: and when Iohn Bisbrown spoke to him and told him, he was Esau and that the wild nature had head in him, then, the witness rose in him, of whom the report goes, and he did blush, and was shamefully accused in him­selfe, and could scarce look any freind in the face, and this was neare halfe a yeare since, and therefore ye slander­rers would put your slanders upon the Children of light: with the light you slanderers and all such beasts and beast­ly acts, which are of the world, are condemned with the light▪ from the Children of light, praises be to the Lord God; for them it doth not touch, for in the light they dwell▪ & with the light are you comprehended; which light is your condemnation and with the light we deny all such actions, and your slanders, who are to be condem­ned with the light, to the light in all your consciences I speak which shal witness me eternally▪ & you condemne & your slanders: and to you this is the word of the Lord: this is to goe abroad into the world, that they may own their owne, among the Esaus and Ismaels, where the wild na­ture hath head, which is hated of God, and cast out from God, who is light, and all the Children of light. A coppie of this is to goe amongst them, who are wild in nature like him upon whom the report goes, and all take warn­ing this is the day of your visitation that are from that ge­neration which is untowards God, ye may be kept pure[?] and not potted in that which condemns it. And though his name be Bisbroun [...] yet not of the Bisbrowns, that dwe [...]s in the truth. I charge you all in the presence[?] of the [Page 7] living God, to walk wisely to stop all slanders and reports▪ and in that dwel which condemns them al, & to you this is the word of the Lord,

This Bisbroun was denied of friends, neare a quarter of a yeare, before any such accusation was laid to his charge.

Iohn Archer, who hath slandered those thou calls Qua­kers, make it appeare, and prove thy slander, I com­mand thee in the presence of the living God, that he is one of them, thou scornefully calls Quaker, for them thou slan­dered with the thing called Buggerie. If thou canst not prove it, acknowledg thy selfe to be a slanderer, a back­biter, a rale bearer, and a busie-body, openly to all the world, for with the Children of light thou art seen, and judged: the thing hath been learched out, and long before about a quarter of a yeare, there was one of them you scornfully cal'd Quakers, was moved to tell him he was Esau, and the wild nature was head in him, and after he fled the way, and would not meet them whom the world calls Quakers, as Iohn Bisbrown, and his brother, in Arne­shead, who are witnesses against him, upon whom the re­port goes, and he durst scarce look any of them in the face whom you scornfully calls Quakers, and this long before, there was any such report, for we deny him, who are one of your own, and wilde Esau like, who durst scarcely look any of them in the face, whom ye call Quakers, but fled the way, as many of you do, and such may come hinging among us, as some of you do but all such we deny, and where any defect is found amongst such, you would cast it upon them, who dwells in the truth, (as you did your freind Gilpin) but them it doth not touch, but he was not so far, as your freind Gilpin, who after forsook them, you scornfully call Quakers, and turned drunkard, and him you published in print, to be a convert, and a firebrand snatched[?] out of the fire, and one delivered out of Satans chaines, who turned drunkard, so that there was a war­rant granted out for him, an [...] he fled upon it, and this thou Archer, caused to be put in print, to be published in [Page 8] the nation, and blessed thy God, for thy convert but thy convert, we utterly deny, (whom thou scornfully nick­names, Quakers) and his practices before mentioned, with the light he is eternally condemned, which light they dwell in, whom thou [...]cornfully calls Quakers: Freinds search him, and declare his condition in writing, and if he will not answer, stick it upon the Cross, that truth may be exalted, and deceipt confounded, for he is one for con­demnation, upon whom the report goes; before the re­port went of him, one that separate from freinds, and se­parate from truth long before, whom truth raignes over, and all that are in it, whom you scornefully call Quakers for there is no other truth, but what they are in, for it is but one in all, the same as ever was.

Hugh Bisbrown, whom Archer faid was one of the cheefe heads, was never known to speak amongst freinds, in that way you speak of: for shame stop your mouths who say he was one of the heads whom Christopher Bisbrown was moved to speak to his brother about, to keep him from coming among the Lords people while he used such loose company, some while before he left off coming to meet­ings. And Alice Bourrough▪ was moved to tell him in the power of the Lord, he turned the grace of God into wan­tonness, for all his life shee saw[?] nothing but loosness in him, and great hardness of heart, though he came hinging, and loose by sometimes to meetings.

As for Killner and Fell the two witnesses of James Mil­ners prophesie, that time, James was denyed when his mind was forth where Kilner and Fell is, but Milner now being recovered from that state which they witness against, for we witness against those things which he was in, which now he is recoverd out of which enviously now is publish­ed by these two witnesses, whom we witness against, they being enemies to the truth as it is in Jesus[?], but these are them that doth report to them that doth report and so it is published to the Nation, by such as doth result the truth as Iannes and Iambres did, who hath the form of Godliness but denies the power.

[Page 9]A Paper have I received who writes his name to it Ro­bort Drury, who was a freind to a man that himself made away. Freind, the lies that the man and his witnesses spoke in Wollies house we denyed, for he heard him not speak these words which he witnesseth, and his witnessing before and so he was a liar[?], and they was liars. And thou now seeks to justify a lyer, and so it was no slander, nor no lies in hypocrisie which was written forth for the truths sake, that they that dwell in the truth, should not be slandered with such a fellow: for freinds being slandered with him after he was dead, for the truths sake it was written forth. And thou that seekest to justify him and his lying wit­nesses, take heed of the just judgment of God falling upon thee. And to that in thy conscience I speak. And him whom the world calls George Fox, did witness the thing that the lier and the false accuser had said he had spoken before in his hearing, which he had not spoken the words and so he was a lier, and his witness false, and thou false, that justifies him. And that in thy conscience will beare testimony against thee, though after before many witnes­ses, he did witness it, but not as carnally spoken, and thou who dost now appeare in the same nature, take heed, take warning, for Iudas he did see him to be, and Iudas end came to him. And wo to that man that doth betray the just & the wo is to thee, for he was not slandered, who tur­ned from the light & wilfully betraied the just, which light is your condemnatiō, which now seek to justifie the unjust & the betrayer. But in the power of the Lord, we are kept above al your slanders, and accusations. And William Drury let thy mouth be stopt, and thy lies covered, the thing whom the world calls George Fox did witness, is witnessed but he spoke it not as a Carnall creature, if thou this canst receive, thou mayest, that in thy conscience is his witness, and thy condemnation. And before many witnesses it was confessed, that which he had not spoken before him, that witnessed against him, therefore to him it is a lye and [Page 10] thou art a false accuser, who seeks to justifie him; And ut­ters forth hy lies in hypocrisy for the truths sake was the Note written forth, because freinds were slandered with him after he was dead, and so the mist which thou casts be­fore peoples eyes, and the dirty stuffe which comes out of thee, the truth cannot be darkened with it. But clearly thou and he is manifested to the Children of the light. And Judas was his name, and Judas end was scene, and take thou heed who goe about to justifie him, for there men see what your profession is without the substance, And the truth being cleared the witnesses fled, and thou wouldest not have had Judas, to have had his name then when it was given him: let that in thy conscience beare testimony and condemne thee, who would have had him to have had another name, and have made him better then he was, and there thou maiest see now what thou hast set up. And the godly freinds are not saddened, who are in the Image of God, who see the end of such as contrary to the light do act, which thou seeks to justifie. But the day hath declared his fruits, and thine. Therefore thou hast[?] time, now repent, and thy time prise it, least God sud­dainly cut thee off. And this is in love to thy soul, from him who is a freind of it; And that which was writ in the Paper, was truth, and not a lie, not a slander in it, and that in thy conscience will beare testimony to it, which is thy condemnation, And that which (him the world calls) George Fox did speak forth was proved before many living witnesses, and that which they witnessed, they was liers, for before to them he had not spoken it. So let that in thy conscience be a witness against thee, to be in the same nature against the truth as he was who with the light are to be condemned. And lies, and false accusati­ons and slanders we all deny, for them we see are come out of thy own Botle, and thither we do return them (which out of thy Paper are come)therefore▪ for the truths sake have I written forth a few words to thee, from them whom by the world are scornfully called Quakers.

[Page 11]The man that cast himselfe away, he came to a place where there was a meeting of people. And he was set up of the world, and the world heard him; and he carried a­way lies, and brought witnesses to witness with him lies, against one whom the world calls George Fox; and came in­to Gainsbrough in Lincolnshire, to one Edward Wall [...]es house with his witnesses, where many people were gathered to­gether, and fauned upon him whom the world cals George Fox, and said he loved him, but he put him off him and was moved to lay, thou art Iudas, and some people said he should not have done so▪ the world would nickname him, and still he was moved to say, he was Iudas, and then to mannage his lies before the people, when he was opposed, he called his witnesses, & the witnesses started up to witness the lyes, and then the truth was witnessed by him, though he had not spoken it before, and the witnesses of the lies fled: but he that was calld Iudas, remaineda Iudas as the issue of it hath made manifest, for no other name could hee that the world calls George Fox, call him by, at that time, but Iudas: and so he was, and hath made it manifest, and since the terror hath been upon him, and he came hinging a­mongst freinds for a shelter, but his end was Iudas his end who hanged himself, so he whom the world calls George Fox did not wrong him, in giving him that name, Iudas who brought lies and false witnesses against the truth, and the innocent. Therefore take warning to you all that op­pose the truth, and cast lies and slanders upon it; you may continue a while, but destruction is your end, though such may hing among friends for time, and be partaker of Iudas, Ministry, and to cry against the Priests with the same na­ture that is in the Priests; with the light that is eternall, both it and they and them are to be condemned, which light never changeth. Therefore to the light in you all freinds did I speak which never changeth, that with it your minds may be kept up to Christ, and God, who never changeth: so if you do turne from the light which never changeth, to the changeable, there is the Iudas the Son of perdition, which is condemned with the light, and to you [Page 12] this is the eternall word of God; And he that turnes from the light of Christ, which he hath enlightened him withall, from the unchangeable Preist, to the changable, he is the Son of perdition, and Iudas is his way to perdition, and Christ is not his way; who turns from the light, turneth from Christ, and despaires, and with the light which comes from Christ he is condemned, but Iudas is his way to per­dition. But who dwells in the light, and walks in the light, is led out of all desperation; which light condem­neth all the world which hates the light, and lies in des­peration, and doubts: the Iews which had not the life of what they professe in words, they despaired, and they doubted. Iudas when he forsook Christ, and turned from the light to the changeable Preists, so despaired and hang­ed himself; with the light which comes from Christ, is all these things seene, for this is the condemnation, the light: therefore a warning to you all, that do prosess what you are not in the life of, Cain when he turned from the com­mand of God despaired, who was in envy: So all you who lie in envie, and in Cains way turne from the commands of God, who do despaire, and all you that hath the Scrip­tures and not the life that gave them forth, you doubt and despaire as the Iews did, and all you that turns from the light, which Christ Jesus hath enlightened you withall, whereby you see sin, and evill, and uncleanness; and so turne in to the evill unto the changeable Preists from the unchangeable; Iudas, is your way to perdition, and not Christ, and to you all, this is the eternall word of God: to the light of Christ in you all I do speak, which will witness mee, and condemne all you that hate it.