NOw is the time wherein the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is setting up a Kingdom, and exalting his Name in the Earth, and is exalting his own Son upon the holy Hill of Sion, and is discovering the Mother of Harlots, who hath made all Nations drunk with her Fornication, and Iezabel shall be cast into a Bed of Torment, and the fire of the Lord God is come down from Heaven, and is kindled in the Earth, to burn up and destroy, and to consume to ashes, even all those that have worshipped the Beast, and hath his Image, and the false Prophets that have deceived the Nations, and they both shall be taken alive, and cast into the pit; for the Lord is grieved and wearied with this adulterous and viperous Generation, who are offering up that which stinks in his nostrils, and strange fire, and are professing him and his Resurrection, who crucifie him, and put him to open shame, and they deny the end of his coming, and are offering in Cains nature, while they slay the Just, and are in the gainsaying of Corah, who perished in it, and so shall all those that gainsay the Lord in his Way; and now the Lord of Heaven and Earth is proclaming War with the Dragon and his Angels, and they shall be cast out, and whosoever doth resist him in his way shall be broken to pieces as a Potters vessel; and thou Henoch Howet, who would limit the holy One of Israel, and bind him up in thy carnal reason, and stint him in his Way, and Form up things in thy imagination from the Scripture, and walks by Tradition; thou art accusing us among the Papist, but let it stand for thy self, and to that in thy Conscience I speak, and it will let thee see that all thy worship is taken on in thy will, and in that nature in which the enmity stands, and so hath taken on things, and taken up things by tradition from others, and that which was commands to others, who fol­lowed the Lamb whithersoever he went, and no commands to thee, nei­ther doth God require those things of that nature, neither doth he accept it, while the bands of wickedness is not loosed, and the oppressed is not set free, and therefore let all flesh and carnal reason be silent, for God will confound the wisdom of the wise, and they that have divined in their reasons, which is in the curse, and under the curse, shall be mad, now in the day when God is raising up his own Image, and bringing back that which hath long been held in captivity, and now the men of the Earth, Pharaoh, and all the Inchanters of Egypt, and the South-sayers, and the Diviners, and Gog and Magog, among which thou Hewet art found [Page 19] one, and they compass the Camp of the Saints about, but fire shall come down from Heaven, that shall destroy all the Adversaries of the Lord, and Israel shall go free.

1. That which thou calls our first Principle; And first, thou sayest, They oppose the Word Christ, to the written word; and will have a Word that is a discovery spiritual to be the Word, but whatsoever it is they call the Word, it is perfectly false, and not the truth.

Answer. Oh thou Lyar and Slanderer, the Lord will plead with thee, for Addars Poyson is under thy tongue, and thou hast a Whores forehead, that art not ashamed of thy false accusing, let hundreds in the City of Lon­don, who hath heard us, be witness against thee, and thy Lyes that thou hast Printed, and suffers them to be cryed up and down the streets, as thy filthy Songs and Ballads, and runs to disgrace the Truth, but to the Lord, who is righteous, shalt thou give an account; and thou art as Ianes and Iambres, that withstood Moses, and for all thy hard Speeches and fil­thy. Lyes, shalt thou give an Account for to him who is the Searcher of hearts, and that in thy Conscience shall bear witness against thee; and that we oppose the Word Christ to the written word, as thou callst it, I charge it upon thee, that we do not oppose Christ to the Scripture, for Christ is the Word, Iohn 1. and this the Scripture doth not oppose, but bears witness to him who is the Word; and his Name is called the Word of God, and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us, as the Scriptures witness, and the Word of the Lord endures for ever; but he doth not say the Letter endures for ever: but thou that art accusing us that we do not own a form of sound words, here thou shalt be judged out of thy own mouth; where readst thou of a written word in the Scripture? and here thou shalt be tryed by the Scripture, and judged by it, that thou art a perverter of the Scripture; thou wouldst have more words then one, the Word is but one, the Word sanctifies, Sanctifie them through thy Word, but he doth not say the Letter sanctifies; And the Word of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, but the Letter is not from everlasting; and the Scripture had a beginning, and was declared in time, and Prophesie shall cease, but the Word is from everlasting to everlasting; And the Word of the Lord is as a Hammer, and as a Fire, but the Scripture doth not say that it is as a Hammer and a Fire; and yet the Word that he spoke was Spirit and Life, yet the Scripture is not Spirit and Life; and thou that wouldst set up the Letter in the place of God, to try all things, and search all hearts, thou makest an Idol of it, and so opposes God with it, and so would bring that to contend against the Lord, the which they witnessed through sufferings: and I tell thee and all the world, the Word is but one, and all who knows God hears that Word, and it is a Light and a Lanthorn unto their Pathes, but that is invisible and eternal, and what the Saints did witness of this Word they declared, 1 Iohn, and the Scripture is true, and bears true record and testimony of the Word, and they were true Witnesses of the Word of Life that wrote it, and it is a true Declaration or Testimony of those things that are certainly believed, Luke 1. of the which they saw, and heard, and tasted; and all who come to know the Word of the Lord, reads it again, and sees it as it is written: and further, thy en­vy and shame is made manifest, that thou wouldst accuse, and yet thou sayst whatsoever they call the word, it is perfectly false, and not truth; here thou would judge, and yet thou canst not tell what we call the Word, but at last concludes its false whatever it be: and here thou blasphemes, and callest Christ Jesus, in whom is all truth, false; for no other Word I own but Christ; and the Scripture speaks of no Word of God, but one; and thou that wouldst make the Letter the Word, it self shall judge thee; and thou makest much mincing and arguments in thy carnal reason, and sayst the ground of error, is ignorance of the Scripture, and thou bringst Mark and Matthew; alas, I know what Mark and Matthew wrote is true, if thou [Page 20] hadst an ear to hear, the ground of all error is because he is not known, nor his voice whom the Scriptures bear record of; and thou sayst we drive men into darkness, that works upon people to dis-esteem the Scripture, and perswades people to an uselessness of the Scriptures; let all that have heard us in the City of London, or elsewhere, speak, if they heard us say the Scri­ture was useless, or did dis-esteem it; but on the contrary we exhorted them to search if the Scripture did not bear witness to those things we declared, and so let shame cover thy face thou false Accuser; and thou bringst 2 Tim. 3. 17. that it is for the perfecting the man of God, and that its profitable to correct and instruct; this is owned, but its not the man of God thou wouldst have perfected by it, but such Hirelings as thy self hath been, and false Accusers as thou art; and I say it is profitable to us to reprove thee, and correct thee, and read thy portion; a Lyars portion is in the Lake, and as Rom. 15. 4. its not denyed; but as Christ Jesus is witnessed, who is the Comforter, which the Scripture bears witness of, there is comfort and hope; and thou sayst, the Scripture proves the New birth, and teacheth perseverance to the end; It bears testimony of some that did witness the New birth, and that persevered unto the end; but what is this to thee, that never came one step in the way? and as for promises, there is no promise, but condemnation in the Scripture, in such as thee, and read it, The Lyar and false Accusar, and the Envious shall not inherit the Kingdom of God; and there own thy promise and thy portion.

2. Particular which thou callst a mistake, that is speaking to a thing within thee; I would fain (sayst thou) know what can be meant of the thing within men; for there is nothing to be spoken to in man, but man.

Answer. Here thy ignorance, shame and envy is made manifest, that thou that hath pretended to be a Minister, and a Pastor of a Church, and cannot tell what thou hast spoke; to what hast thou ministered, to the Wind? or hast thou ministered to the Devil, and preached glad ti­dings to him, who is in the transgression, and free grace to him that hath walked contrary to God? it is so; and therefore thou, and all who are in that nature, knows not what you speak, and therefore none hath been at all profitted by your Ministery; and blessed be the Lord that its hid from the eyes of the Wise, and revealed to Babes: and thy envious spirit is seen, that it is of thy father the Devil, who is the Accuser of the Brethren, that would lay a thing down as an error, and tells of dashing in peices our Principles, and yet knowst not what they are, nor what we speak; dost thou accuse, and knowst not for what, let shame cover thy face, that ever thou shouldst put pen to paper, or speak of God or Christ, and speakest thou knowst not what, and then thou hast hatched a thing, and concludes there is nothing in man to be spoken to, but man, and before thou knewst not, and so art in confusion; for Christ and his Apostles always spoke to man, thou sayst the Apostle saith, he went and ministered to the Spirits in prison, and to open the bind eye, and to raise the dead, and the dead should hear the voice of the Son of God and live, and he preached liberty to the captive, and is given for a Covenant to open the blind eyes, and unstop the deaf ears, and make the Lame to walk, if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear, but not to feed thy Serpents wisdom do I speak, I will shut thee out, for into it thou canst not enter, but through death, and death wrote the book; and the Apostles were made manifest to every mans Con­science in the sight of God; and the slothfull servant had a talent given to improve, which was anothers, and not his own, and that was required of him, and that will God require of man; and unto that we speak which hears us, and shall witness us eternally, even that which is not in the transgression, neither is of man, but is given to man to improve, and yet is not far from man; but this is a mystery, and it shall be sealed; for without a parable spoke he not to such as thou art, and I know this is a parable; but in the end thou sayst, thou knowst not how they can speak to any light in man, distinct from him, unless they speak unto Satan, or some [Page 21] of his Legions: here again thy shame and ignorance is made manifest, we speak to the ear, and the eye in man, which the god of the World hath blinded, and this is not of man, and yet is not far from man; but [distinct] that is thy own word, I do not own it: bring forth the Blind that hath eyes, and the Deaf that hath ears; did the Prophets speak to the Devil in man; we speak to the witness of God in man, and according to this shall all be judged; if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear; oh thou Blasphemer, dost thou call that which may be known of God, which is manifest in Romans 1. 19, 20. dost thou call this a Legion of Devils, even that which declares the eternal Power and Godhead, but thou art he that calls the Ma­ster of the house Belzebub, and in that nature thou art, and the Lord will re­buke thee.

3. Principle, That thou calls a mistake, that is, The denying the use of Reason in the matters of God, calling it Serpentine.

Answ. The World by wisdom knows not God, and all the disputing and twining, and lavishing of the wisdom of man, and that which thou callst reason, it is corrupted, and is shut out; and who lives in that nature are the unreasonable men that hath not faith: now he that hath not faith, hath not reason, and he that hath faith, hath the Witness in himself; but I see thee, thy witness is without thee, and so thou speaks unreasonably; and all that would understand the mysteries of the Kingdom, must come through death, for Light shines in Darkness, but Darkness cannot comprehend it, and therefore one cryes, lo here, and another, lo there, and with that which thou callst reason, is Scripture torn asunder, and it begets strife, contention, endless disputes and striving for Mastery, which is carnal; and all this we deny: And thou sayst [upon this ground they will not do as the Apostles and Christ himself, who disputed with the gainsayers, Ioh. 6. and Stephen, Acts 6.] and thou bringst in some of the Synagogue of Libertines, and Syrenians, and Alexandrians, and the rest that disputed with Stephen, and they were not able to resist him: let ma­ny hundreds of this City of London, both in publike, and in private, bear witness against thee, if we have not disputed, and have not been ready to give an answer to the gainsayers, though not such a one as they desired, even as Christ our Master did not answer the Iews in their subtil tempting of him; and of those Sects that encountred both Stephen and Paul, truly I must needs say unto thee, we have met with the same Generation in this City, whereof thou are one, and truly more subtil then they were, but in the eternal Light you are all seen, and many though they could not gainsay, yet have resisted us; and after a little, thou pleads not for carnal reason, for this will not suffer any to follow Christ: further, then they can carry their own things, their honours, pleasures, ease and lusts, to that in thy Conscience I speak whether this doth not rule thee and guide thee; it will let thee see thou art pleading for honour, and respecting mens persons, and hath them in admiration, because of advantage, and brings the example of others to prove and uphold thy deceit, which they were neither commanded nor com­mended for to oppose the commands of Christ, and the express Scripture: and thou goes on further and sayst, [God is the Author of memory, and wisdom and reason] but I tell thee there is a wisdom and a reason that God will confound, for by faith we know the heavens were made, and see them upholden, and by faith all things is brought to our remembrance, and it is the Light that convinceth of sin, even the Light of Christ; and so in the eternal Light I see what thou pleadst for, for eating of the tree of knowledge, and there thou art, till thou art become a Fool, and dead to that reason, thou shalt never eat of the tree of Life, and therefore Flesh, be silent: and thou sayst, thou dost not allow that reason that gets only a conclusion, or an argument instead of Christ; and after thou sayst the day is yet to dawn, and the day Star to arise, and thou cryes violently for it: and here what hast thou more for an assurance of thy salvation, then an argu­ment, and a conclusion instead of Christ; for thou confesses the day is not dawn­ed, and then thou are yet in the night, and in darkness, for the day dawns, and the day star arises before Christ be witnessed; but thou knows no such thing, as either Christ, or the dawning, if thou had not others testimony, and that is [Page 22] without; and thou art one Christ spoke of, Since Iohn the Kingdom suffers violence, and many thrust into it; and thou art striving, and are violent; but I say thou shalt not be able till thou layst down thy contending in thy carnal wisdom, and striving, and resisting; but thou must become a Fool, and sit at Jesus feet, but thou art full, and rich and whole, and need no Physitian, and therefore thou must be sent empty away, and when the Book of Conscience shall be opened, thou shalt be judged for what thou hast done against the Innocent.

Now something in Answer to the Fourth Particular, which thou sayest is a Tenent held forth by the Northern people; which is, A denying of the Ascension and Beeing of the Body of Christ.

Answ. O thou Enemy of Righteousness, when wilt thou cease to pervert the right Way of God, who uttereth thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent; God shall judge thee, and between thee & us, whether thou hast not uttered Lyes and false Accusations in the Name of the Lord, and put forth in Writing unto the World for truth, that which is absolutely contrary unto the Truth; God will reward thee, thou full of subtilty, according to thy deeds, who takes part with the Dragon against the Lamb, & goes about by thy lying Slanders, to render the Way of Truth (which thou canst not comprehend in thy serpents wisdom) odious unto all men, but God taketh our part against thee, and will dash thy Lyes and Slanders, and thy Impudent Fore­head in pieces, even by that Power which makes the Earth to quake & tremble, which is become a reproach unto this Generation, many who have heard us since we came to this City (though our Enemies) shall witness against thee, and for us, in this particular; for we have oft witnessed forth, and I do here again witness forth in the sight of God and men, that Christ Jesus is risen, and ascended far above all Principalities and Powers, and the same which descended into the lower parts of the Earth, is also ascended, and raigns over all, subjecting all unto himself, that he may be Lord over all, and in all, and may be glorified by all; and Members of his Body we are (who thou enviously raylst against) and Witnesses of the Body we are whereof Christ Jesus is Head; and because of the Resurrection of the dead Bo­dy, which is ascended, we are called in question, and all Sects & Opinions are trou­bled, and on an uproar concerning us; and I tell thee plainly, we are so far from de­nying the Ascension and Beeing of the Body of Christ, that because of being cal­led to witness it, as being Members of it, we are persecuted and reviled by such as thy self, whose carnal conceptions and imaginations of Truth we do deny, and do testifie unto you all, that through death is the Resurrection and Ascension witnessed, and every one that reads the Scripture is not witnesses of the resurrection of the body of Christ; and all whose witness is onely without them, other mens words, which had the Witness within them, we deny to be true Witnesses, but are found false Witnesses of the Resurrection, and of the Ascension, and knows not Christ, nor his body but by hearsay; and whereas thou bringst many Scriptures to prove his Resurrection and Ascension: I answer, the Scriptures we own to be a true Declaration of the Witness which was in the Apostles of the Resurrection and of the Ascension of Christ; but thee we deny, who are found a Lyar and a Slanderer, and thy resurrection will be unto condemnation, and thy ascension will prove a descending into the Bottomless-pit, for ever to be tormented, except thou repent; and from the Life of the holy men of God thou are razed out, who art found in the way of ungodliness, and thou hast nothing to do to profess their words, who art out of their life, nor no inheritance in their words, but as thou steals them, adding thy own imaginations upon them, and wresting them to thy own destruction, being one unlearned in the Way of God, and in the Doctrine of Christ.

And whereas thou sayst, And thus you see how these men deny the Lord that bought them, if they deny the Body that was crucified for them.

I answer, We deny not the Lord that bought us, for by him can we say we have received the end of his coming, and of his Death and Ascension, even he hath pur­chased us, and set us free from the Power and Kingdom of the Divel, of Lyes, and Slanders, and false Accusations of us, by whom the Man-child is brought forth; and this shall stand for thy own condition, who art a wandring Star, and hath no habi­tation [Page 23] in the Heavens; God will plead with thee, thou who hast set thy self against the Lord, in Slandring and reviling his servants.

Now to thy fift Particular, That we deny the Ordinances of Christ, in which thou sayest, We also deny the Lord that bought us.

Answ. The Way unto God, and unto Everlasting Life, which is Christ Jesus, we do not deny, but are true Witnesses, that same Christ alone which was crucified at Ierusalem, and which God hath raised from the dead, and which is ascended, in him alone is Salvation, and by him also alone are all justified that believe in him; and this we declare freely unto all people, that Christ is the Ordinance of God, ordained by him, for the Salvation of all that believe, and for the Con­demnation of all that believe not in him; and that the Way unto this Christ, is not any outward visible thing, but even that which is manifest from him, leads up unto him, even the Light by which he hath enlightened every one that cometh in­to the World, which is Spiritual, as Christ is Spiritual; and whereas thou sayest, there is nothing that Christ commanded, but we deny it, mentioning only your Baptism, and Breaking of Bread, which is your Idol, and your Image you bow unto; the one Baptism, which is by one Spirit into one Body, into the Death of Christ, we are Witnesses of; and the Bread which we break, is the Communion of the Body of Christ, and we being many, are one Bread; but the beggerly Rudiments of the World we testifie against, being Witnesses of the Substance, and your taking on practices in that nature which is contrary unto Christ, from the Words and Commands of Christ, unto them that followed him, we also testifie against; and in it you are found among the Papists, which walks by Tradition, and not from the Motion of the Spirit of God; and here thou art found a Lyar; for the Commands of Christ is our life, our joy, our peace and glory, and here­by we know that we love him, because we keep his Commandments, and they are not grevious unto us (which is not received by tradition from without us, but by the Eternal Spirit, Christ Jesus revealed in us, which is not contrary to his Com­mands without, but a fulfilling of them; for he is not a Iew who is one out­wardly, whose praise is of men; neither is the Obedience which Christ doth re­quire a conforming the outward man unto an outward thing, which Obedience is your boasting onely, and there only your difference lieth from all the World, in the outward appearance, Pharisee-like; but the ground of enmity, and seat of the Beast is standing within, and you are twofold more the children of the Devil; and God is risen to confound you, and to break your Image to pieces; and he shall have the praise of God who is the Jew inward, whose obedience and circumcision is inward, and who have no confidence in the flesh: And whereas thou exhorts to hear one loving Reproof out of the Scripture, which their Prede­cessors (I mean the Papists) thou sayest would have taken from us in the English Tongue, and these would take from us the vertue of it, that is to say, the sharpness and sweeness of it, by working upon us a dislike to it: I Answer, we do deny thy voice, and though thou mayst bring Scripture in thy mouth to us, it is but as the Devil brought it to Christ, and we deny it from thee; for if thou sayst God lives thou swears falsly; and the Papists they are thy Predecessors, who walks only by tradition as thou dost, from a thing without them, separate from the Life, and both them and thee we do deny, and bears witness against you, to be without God, in the World, in the alienation, out of the Covenant, knowing nothing of him but what you have heard by a Fame and a Report and that we in the least would take from any the virtue of the Scripture; it is a Lye uttered by the Devil in thee: for we testifie unto all, that it shall every tittle be fulfilled, even upon the ungod­ly, and thou shalt know it one day to be fulfilled upon thee, thou Lyar must be cast into the Lake that burns for ever; and this is the sharpness and sweetness which thou must have from it, who art a false Accuser of the Brethren, bearing the Image of the Dragon, the Devil, whose servant thou art, as it is made manifest by thy Writing; and this many will witness with us, that often we do declare upon the just and the unjust the Scripture must be fulfilled, and the righteous must have a Reward, and the ungodly must have their Portion in utter darkness, ac­cording [Page 24] as the Scripture saith; and herein we establish the Scripture in its place, to be a true Declaration of God and Christ, and what the righteous and the wic­ed shall enjoy; but that it is God and Christ, or the Way unto Life, we deny it; for this is its vertue, a declaration of that which the Saints believed, and he that witnesses the same Life and Truth which it testifies of, to be made manifest in him, is a Witness of it, and it is a Witness unto him, and this is the vertue of it; if thou hast an ear thou mayest hear, and that we work upon Any a dislike of the Scriptures, I charge thee to be a Lyar; for to the fulfilling and establishing of it we declare, that every one may walk up in the Life of it, by that which gave it forth, and to be a true witness of it, as they were that spoke it; but thee, and all such we do deny, which adds your imaginations upon it, to sell for money.

And whereas thou sayst by way of Query to us, [Hath the Scripture no power over you? have you a spirit to guide you without a written word; it is out of Gods Government if it cannot be brought to the Law and to the Testimony?]

I answer, Jesus Christ onely hath power over us, and not a Letter without us; and the Spirit by which we are guided, is no other but that which gave forth the Scripture, which Spirit is the Word of God, and which Spirit the Scripture bears witness unto; and this we often say, if we speak or act contrary to Scripture, let us be judged by the Scripture; and we, as Paul did, do commend all that shall search the Scripture, to try whether these things be not so which we declare; and herein we are under the Government of God, who alone hath power over us; but you who have not the same spirit which gave forth the Scripture, neither knows it nor us; but out of the evil corrupt ground thou judgest of it, as thou dost of us, and both thy judgment of it and us is to be judged by the Eternal Light of Christ, which never erreth nor changeth.

And whereas thou sayest [We may be Familiar-spirits for ought thou knowest, what muttering and uncouth howling is among us, which you cannot but impute to be a spirit contrary to the Word, if we will not come to the Word to be tryed.]

I answer, it is true, thou knowst us not, for we are unknown to thy Gene­ration, (though you have the Scripture, which we in our lives and practices, are Witnesses of) as Christ was unknown to the Pharisees, who had the Scrip­ture, which he came to fulfil; and thou art ignorant of the Scripture, and a Scorner of the Power of it, who callst the Power of the Lord uncouth howl­ing; what would you have said concerning David, who lay roaring all the day long even as a man distracted? and concerning Habakkuk, whose belly trembled, and whose lips quivered when he heard the Voice of God? But here you are made manifest, who scorns that which the Scripture bears witness of, and never knew what it was to be pricked to the heart, as they were which cryed out, what shall we do to be saved? and, if thou canst, thou may try by the Scripture, whether this be any other but that which the Scripture speaks of, and not the same Spirit which made the Servants of God to quake and tremble, which the Scriptures speaks of, which this day is become a reproach, even unto them that profess the Scripture; for by the Word of God, which the Scripture declares of shall all flesh tremble and be confounded, and then thy self shall be judged into the Lake that burns for ever, except thou repent.

And whereas thou sayest, How shall you do to try spirits, if we deny both the written Word which is your Rule, and Reason too; for we appeal from both.

Answ. Art thou not ashamed to say, The Scripture is thy Rule, who art found a Lyar and a false Accuser; thy Rule shall try thee, and shall bear witness against thee, when God judgeth thee by Jesus Christ; for neither by the Scripture nor thy corrupt reason, canst thou know the things of God, who art a natural man, in the fall, in the World, without God: But again I say, let any try us, in our lives and in our practices, and if we speak or act contrary to the Scripture, judge us by it; but thy eye is blinded, and when thou feest the Scripture fulfilled, even [Page 25] crying out as a Woman in travel, thou calls it uncouth howling, and a spirit con­trary to the Scripture; and how art thou able to try who art blind and deaf in the mystery of the Kingdom of God, for thy reason must never enter unto God, but is shut out, and in seeing thou seest not, and in hearing thou dost not understanst; and upon thee herein is the Scripture fulfilled.

And whereas thou sayest, We will not have Christ to rule over us, for we deny both his Person and Word, which is the Rule of Life and Love.

I answer, O thou Lyar, God shall judge thee, let shame cover thee, and let thy own Conscience convince thee of thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent, Christ Jesus is our Head, and we are of his Body, and his Word is sweet unto us, even our life and rule of life, and by him we see thee to be an Enemy to him, and from him I judge thee; not his Word, but the spirit of the Devil is thy rule, for he is the Ruler and Father of Lyes and Lyars, and thy Portion thou must have with him in the Lake; and what thou sayest of us it shall stand for thy own Condition, thou wilt not have Christ to rule over thee, who lives in thy lust and carnal mind without the fear of God, which Christ comes to destroy in all that witness him.

And whereas thou sayest, In the Name of God thou proclaimest, That those men that disown the written Word, are not Spiritual men; they may have the Spirit of Anti­christ.

Answ. Thou hast nothing to proclaim from God, but as the false Prophets had other mens words; and also I say, if thou find any that disown the Scripture, we also disown such, and do say they are not spiritual men, but have the spirit of Antichrist, and of this number thou art, guided by the spirit of Antichrist, who art a Lyar and a false Accuser, which is contrary to the Spirit of Christ, and art without Faith, and so art unreasonable in the corrupt reason, without pure and undefiled Reason.

And whereas thou sayest, Who but the spirit of Antichrist durst countermand the Com­mands of our Law-giver the Lord Iesus Christ?

I answ. The Commands of Christ are Spiritual, and in and by the Spirit, and not traditional from the Letter without, and Antichrist may conform to the Com­mand without, as the Pharisees did, and yet be an Enemy to the Life and Substance of his Commands; and this is thy own condition as it was the Pharisees, who said, He destroyed the Law, who came to fulfil it, as thou sayest, We make void and deny the Commands of Christ, when as we are Witnesses of them, and directs all unto the fulfilling of them; and thy spirit here is tryed to be the spirit of Antichrist, the same which was in them which persecuted Christ; and thou raylst and slanderest his Members.

And whereas thou sayest, There were never any men appeared in the World so like those that Peter speaketh of in his second Epistle; and these desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God.

I answ. Peter spoke of such as thou art, for as a Cloud carryed about with a Tempest thou art, and a Well without water, and defilest the flesh, and dispisest the Saints dignity, and speakest great swelling words of Vanity, whilst thou thy self art a Servant of corruption, serving the Devil, by lying and falsly accusing: and that we desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God, thou art a Lyar, for we go about to establish them, and declares of him who is the Substance of them, and God will reward thee according to thy deeds: Who also accuseth us of un­seemly Kissing in Glasiers-hall, thou sayest, if Mr Pope do not belye us.

I answer, This is another Lye which proceeds from thee; let all the honest heart­ed which ever have frequented our Assembly at that Place testifie against thee, and Pope, and your father the Devill, whom by lying you, serve, and that no unseemly Actions have proceeded from us, but Sobriety and Civility; and un­seemly Actions shall stand for thy own condition, they are such as thy self, who commits unseemly brawling, and folly, and vain contending against the Truth in Glasiers-hall, as many Honest-hearted will witness against you, and for us [Page 26] who have seen your base actions, as Scorning and Flouting in that Place; and so here you your selves are guilty of the Wontonness which Peter speaks of, and of aluring through the lust of the flesh, which thou slanderously wouldst cast it upon us.

And thou further sayest, None ever promised to themselves so much liberty as these and the Ranters, in being freed from the power and tryal of the Word.

I answer, Both the Ranters and thee we do absolutely deny, and testifie against you both to be in the enmity against God, and against us who are his Servants: Thou before didst rank us with the Papists, and now among the Ranters; but herein the Scripture is fulfilled upon us, as they have done unto Christ, so they do unto us; he was numbred among Transgressors by the Generation of painted Sepulchers, and whited Walls, as we are by thee; and all liberty which is of the flesh, and to the flesh, we do deny, as many can witness, who are Witnesses of our Ministery; and again I say, he that is able, let him try us by the Scrip­ture; but thou art blind, and hath hardened thy heart against God, and hath neither salt nor savory, and so are good for nothing but to be trodden under foot.

And whereas thou sayest, The Lord bless every one of his from the condition of Chandler, who formerly was the head of a Company of Shakers.

I answer, The day is coming when thou canst not flee the wrath of God, though thou pray, God will not hear thee; and if ever thou hast seen Chandler in this condi­tion, thou mightst have read thy figure in him, weeping, and howling, and gnash­ing of teeth will be thy portion for ever; and I say unto thee, this condition of Chandlers is not come upon him, because he was once a Shaker, by the dread of the Lord upon him, but because he went out from that condition, out of the fear of God into the liberty of the flesh, out of his shaking and fearing state which once he was in, and this he shall witness with me to be true, and against thee, who would reproach the Way of Truth by him, when the Book of Conscience is opened.

And whereas thou further sayest, Their spirit will perswade them that they are not fallen from righteousness, and would therefore justifie them.

I answer, We are gathered up into righteousness, and fallen from vanity, and this the Spirit of God perswadeth us, and witnesseth in us and for us, by which onely we are justified freely, and not by the works of the Law, nor by any outward observance; and herein thou also art a Lyar; who sayst, we are fallen from righteousness, for even the righteousness of God is manifested to us, by which we deny all your carnal outward observances, by which you think to obtain life and righteousness.

Now in answer to thy sixth Particular, which thou calls a heavy and sad offence, which is a denying honour to men, which thou sayst is the example of good men; to which I do answer: God hath commanded to honour him alone, and not to how down to any Creature, and thou hast brought many Scriptures to oppose the com­mand of God, and so art more fully made manifest to be an enemy unto him, which would plead against him, by that which is written from him, pleading the example of good men, which is no example to us to break the command of God, no more then Davids example in comming whoredom, and Iosephs example in swearing by the life of Pharoah, is an example for any to act those things now; and I do utterly deny that any of these Scriptures, which thou hast cited, will prove and maintain your heathenish custom, in your deceitfull way of honouring one another, to please the Devil in one another, which is without the fear of God; and it is a sad offence to none but the Devil, because it weakens and disturbs his Kingdom, of which thou art, as is made manifest, who pleads to uphold it from the Scripture; but vain honour with flattering titles unto any man, we do deny; but yet we honour all men in the Lord, and out of him we honour none, to uphold the pride of man for God will bring it all down, and lay it in the dust, and exalt himself, to reign over you all; and whereas thou sayst, [how far are these men from the holy Writ:] [Page 27] To which I say and answer, thou slanderously wouldst make us to appear odious in the sight of men, but all the upright in heart will see thee, and thy blindness and ignorance, who bringst that Scripture where Christ (in fulfilling the Law of God, which he came to fulfil) worshipped in the Temple, to prove and maintain the worship of man.

Answ. O thou blind Pharisee and perverter of the Scripture, God will plague thee, thou enemy of his truth; who perverts the Scripture, to thy own destruction, and art worse then the Pharisees, who said, he respected no mans person, and they shall witness against thee; and whereas thou speaks of honouring Father and Mother, which thou sayest we deny in this our practice: I answer, I charge thee to be a Lyar, for, as I said, we honour all men in the Lord, and direct all Children and Servants, to obey their Parents and Masters in the Lord; and this many can witness for us, which have more frequented our Assemblies then thou hast done; but this we also testifie, where the obedience to any man stands in opposition to God, the obedience to God is rather to be chosen; and herein he that will not hate Father or Mother for Christ sake is not worthy of him; but thou carnal earthly man art pleading for the Kingdom of the Devil, to honour man above God; and I say how can you believe, that seeks honour one of another? your honour and your heathenish custom we testifie against, yet unto every Ordinance of man we are subject for Conscience sake.

Now to that which you call the seventh mistake, [affording absolute per­fection at one Instant, in admitting of none but perfect men into conjun­ction.]

Answ. It is a mistake in thee, for such a word never proceeded from us, I may say it is rather an absolute Lye invented by thee, to make us odious, then a mistake from us; for thy heart is desperately wicked, and thy torment is kindling by the Breath of the Almighty; many which have heard us will testifie against thee; for we say the Saints have their growth up into a perfect man in Christ, as Christ himself had, and we say also, there is children, and young men, and fathers, as the Apostle said, but thou art not ashamed to utter thy Lies and Slanders, which hundreds in this City will witness against thee for a Lyar; and even the light in thy Conscience will accuse thee to thy face, that thou hast imagined lyes and mischief upon thy bed against us; and whereas thou bringst many Scriptures to prove thy slanders against us to be true: to which I answer, all the Scriptures we own and bear witness unto, by that Spirit from which they were spoken; but thee and thy spirit we deny, for both you and it is of the Devil; and thou hast devillishly added thy imaginations upon them, and wrested them, which I shall not now men­tion, because I do deny the thing which thou assertest, for its an absolute lye, and do say unto thee, God will reward thee thou slanderous tongue: and where­as further thou sayest, [in our perfection, we deny any man, being under frailty, or capableness to sin, to be of our communion.]

I answer, here again thou art a Lyar, these words were never uttered by us, as thou hast set them down; but I say he that sins is of the Devil, and such we have no unity withal, nor such hath no unity with God; for no impure thing enters to him, nor hath communion with him; for whosoever works abomination, is to be cast out, and trodden in the winepress of his wrath, where the portion of Lyars is, among whom thou must receive thy reward; for with such we have no union, who are disobedient children, but with him who in the least measure which he hath received from God, walks up in the Light unto God, we have unity and communion with him. Thou sayst one of us told thee [that which sinned could not be saved.] I answer, it is out of the reach of thy wisdom, and thy vulterous eye shall never see it; I say as the Scripture saith, The soul that sinneth must die, and every man must die for his own iniquity, if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear; and further thou sayest, [that our Doctrine may appear to be utterly against the Scripture thou bringst, Rom. 7. 23.] where Paul was under the Law, and saw a Law in the members warring against the Law of the mind: I answer, his [Page 28] Scripture we own, and are ture Witnesses of it; but there was also a time, that the Law of the Spirit of Life had freed him from the Law of sin and death; but thy ignorance is made manifest, who bringst one Scripture to oppose another, and knowst not the conditions in thy self, from which Paul spoke, and so art ignorant of what he spoke; for I say, there is a time without the Law, and a time under the Law, and a time dead to the Law, and not under it, and all these states Paul witnessed, which we also in our measures are witnesses of, which thou knowst not in thy self, and so wrests Pauls words; And whereas thou sayest, [Yet let not them think that we by this doctrine nourish sin, having brought many Scriptures to plead for sin;] I answer, being guilty in thy self, thou art afraid, and hath a jealousie lest we should lay it to thy charge; and truly concerning thee we think nothing in this matter, for thy heart, and the secrets of it is made manifest in the Eternal Light, by which thou are comprehended, and answered, and by which God will eternal judge thee; therefore repent lest the wrath of God overtake thee, and thou be swept away with the Beesom of destruction, who hath falsly accused and slandered us with lies and false reproaches: but now its the time that Pilate and Herod is made Friends, and Gog and Magog is gathered together to compass the Camp of the Saints about; and even the Priests and their Crew, and the Ana­baptists and their Crew, and all Sects is combined against the Truth, but God is with us, and in him alone can we rejoyce over you all for ever and ever; and in him make our boast all the day long, for this is our heritage; every tongue that riseth up in judgement against us shall be condemned, for the Lord is our porti­on, and even the stone which is become the head stone of the corner; and thou Howet shalt be grinded to powder by it, who hath bent thy bow to shoot at the righteous; therefore consider what thou hast done, and repent, lest God tear thee in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

A Certain Book being come forth into the world, full of Lies and Slanders against the Innocent, called A voice from the word of the Lord, to those grand Impostors called Quakers; to the Author of which Book (who calls himself Iohn Criffith, a Servant of Christ) and to all to whomsoever it may come, I am moved to write something in Answer, that his lies and slanders, and false reproaches may be made manifest, and that he may proceed no further; for as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses, so doth he resist the truth, being a man of a corrupt mind, and reprobate concerning faith, and is not a Servant of Christ, nor a witness for his Name, but a child of disobedience; in whom the Prince of the aire rules.

And first to the title of thy Book, I Answer, the Word of the Lord is powerful, and will cut thee down, thou sensual minded man, it thou knowest not, but takes the words of others declared from the word which was in them. and thou useth thy tongue, and saith the Lord saith it; but I say unto thee, the Lord hath not spoken unto thee, neither commanded thee to speak of his Name: and I charge it upon thee in the presence of the Lord God of Life, that thou art of that Generation which Ieremiah was sent to cry against, Ier. 23. 31. for thou speaks thy imagina­tions upon their words which dwelt in the life of God, but the life thou knowest not, and thy whole Book is no more but an empty sound and voice, and is as the untimely fruit of the womb which will wither and perish away: and one of them I am whom thou calls Quakers, to whom thou sayst, thou directs thy speech; but that we are grand Impostors, I do deny, for we are gathered up into the life which the holy men of God lived in, and are fallen from the world, and from its wayes and nature: and I charge thee here to be a slanderer, and from the mouth of the Lord I do declare unto thee that thou must have a slanderers reward. And whereas thou sayst, thou hast discovered their fleshly and filthy mindedness, together with the judgments of God attending them.

I Answer, Fleshly and filthy mindedness, we have denied by the Power of the Son of God made manifest in us; thou hast laid it to our charge, but thou hast not proved it, nor discovered it, and here again thou are a false Accuser, fleshly and filthy mindedness shall stand for thy own condition; for there thou art in the flesh & filth, living to thy will in the lust of uncleanness, for thou mayst remem­ber thou camest out of the Bowling-Alley to our Meeting, though Pharisee-like thy out-side is painted and made clean, but thy heart is full of enmity and lies, and slanders, and false reproaches, to that in thy conscience I do speak which shall forever witness me, and as for the judgments of the Lord upon thy own head will they fall, and with what measure thou metes it shall be measured to thee again; [Page 50] we are passed from judgment, and from the condemnation, and who art thou thou enemy of righteousness, that shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect.

And whereas thou sayest thou art one that bears witness against those wandring starres.

I answer, this shall stand for thy own condition, a wandring star thou art, and hath no habitation in the Heaven, but speaks swelling words of vanity, thou thy self being a servant of corruption, we have an abiding place, and an habitation in the Lord, and are not wandring; and here again I charge thee to be a false Ac­cuser, and a false witness, who bears Witness of thy self; for the Father bears no witness of thee, but against thee.

Whereas thou sayst the most high God that made the heavens and the Earth, hath moved thee and stirred thee up to bear witness to the Truth, and to witness against the abominable fleshly mindedness, and yet spiritual pride of those grand Impostors called Quakers, by whose sorceries many are bewitched and drawn from the simplicity of the Gospell, to another Gospel, which is not another Gospel, but the vanity of their own minds and their own fleshly and corrupt thoughts which they cry up as Oracles of God.

I answer. The most high God judge between thee and us; whose wrath is kindled against thee, thou enemy of righteousness, and Child of wrath; thou hast belyed the Lord of Heaven and Earth, for to this he moved thee not, for he moves none to utter lyes and slanders, as thou hast done, but the spirit of enmity, and of the Devil, hath moved thee; and to the Truth thou bears no witness, but against the Truth, and against the Innocent; and charges us with fleshly minded­ness and spiritual pride. O thou Lyar and false Accuser, the Lord who takes our part against thee will plead with thee, and render upon thy head according to thy deeds; prove what thou speaks that we are fleshly minded and spiritually proud, or else let thy mouth be stopped and shame cover thee forever; Sorceries and witchcraft, and drawing from the simplicity of the Gospel we do deny; but the plain single Truth we do declare, by which the eye of the blind is opened in many to see your deceits who call your selves Churches and Preachers of the Gospel; which is not the Gospel that the Apostles preached, but an adding your own Imaginations upon their words, who witnessed the Gospel, and it shall stand for thy own condition, thou art in the sorcery and witchraft; who draws people to observe an outward visible thing, from the Light of Christ within them; which leades to the simplicity of the Gospel, which is inward and not outward; and thou art in thy fleshly and corrupt thoughts, crying up the Ordinances and Oracles, of God, which are but carnal and beggerly rudiments of the world, which passeth away; and here thou art seen and made manifest, in the Light of Christ, to be a Hypocrite, who falsely accuses others of that which thou art guilty of thy self; the same Gospel as ever was, do we declare; and not another, which we received not from man, neither was taught it by man: and as the Oracles of God it shall stand forever for a witness against thee, and all the world who doth not believe; for even the Father beares witness of us, and therefore our witness is true; and the righteous God will plead with thee thou Lyar and false Accuser, and here be a witness against thy self that the Lord moved thee not, but the Devil, acting in thy own imaginations, and in the vanity of thy own mind, and in thy one fleshly and corrupt thoughts.

And whereas thou sayest to us thou directs thy speech from the Lord, Thus saith the Lord to thee, O Quaker, thou art fleshly minded.

I answer, It is not the voyce of the Lord to us that speaks in thee, but the voyce of the Devil, and the Serpent which speaks from thee: fleshly minded we are not, but are redeemed out of it, and our mindes are changed and are Spiritual, and 'tis the Spirit of the living God seals unto us, and witnesses in us; and here thou art of thy Father the old Dragon, and Accuser of the Brethren, but it is God that justifies, and who art thou that condemns? and this thy speech is seen and com­prehended, which thou hast directed to us, and it is judged, by the Spirit of true [Page 51] judgment to be a false Accusation and a Lye, and not the Word of the Lord, and into the Lake amongst the false Prophets thou art to be turned, who useth thy tougue when the Lord never spake to thee.

And thou sayest we look upon the Iustitution of Christ Supper with a fleshly and carnal eye, because we say, that the bread and wine which Christ commanded his Disciples to eat and to drink, is carnal.

I Answer, The bread, and wine, is visible and carnal, and fleshly, and not Spiritual, nor Eternal, and in the eternal Light, by the Spiritual eye of God opened in us, we see them, and do own that it was a command of Christ, to stand for its time, and no more, but a carnal figure of a spiritual thing, and the spiritual thing being the Substance bearing witness, the figure is de­nied and declared against, and thou and thy Generation who art acting in those things by tradition, tying and limitting God to a visible thing, (that without it no salvation) art in the sorcery and witchraft, and an enemy to the substance; for Christ never since he was sacrificed brake of the Bread, or drank of the Cup with his Disciples, but new in his Fathers kingdom; and thou who art in the [...]arnal figure, acting those things without the injoyment of Christ, art sensual, and by the Light of Christ art to be condemned and judged with the world, who art without God, and without the injoyment of Christ, in the beggerly rudiments of the world.

Thou sayst, O fleshly minded men whom the god of this world hath blinded because you believe not: and thou sayst, thus saith the Lord, and speaks the Prophet Malachic words.

To which I answer; this again I do deny; the god of the world is cast out, and the eye is opened through judgments and our fleshly minds are judged, and in the Name of Jesus we do believe, and our belief in him hath purified our hearts; to the praise of the Living God, who hath wrought all our works in us, and fo [...] us, do I speak without boasting; and here again I charge it upon thee, that thou art a slanderer and a false accuser; and let shame cover thee who professes thy self to be a Teacher of others, who thy self is not taught of the Lord; but steals Malachis words, and speaks them to us in thine own imaginations, and calls it the word of the Lord; the Lord is against thee thou false Prophet, who prophesies lyes in his Name; and that which thou speaks to us is thy own condition, and that which shall come upon thine own head, for a child of disobedience thou art, and thy eye is blinded by the god of this world.

And whereas thou sayest we are spiritually proud, that give forth our selves to be some great ones; and we say we are Apostles, and are not, but are found Lyars, proud Pharisees, Hypocrites, that say we are Iust, Holy, Humble; and the poor sinful Publicans are more justified then we.

I answer; proud we are not, our God shall judge between thee and us in this thing, for we have nothing but what we have freely received from him: and that we give forth our selves to be great ones; here thou art a Lyer, and a false Accuser again; this we have said, and do yet again declare that we were moved of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to come to declare his mind and his Truth in this City; but this is no boasting, and by that same spirit which was in the Apostles, were we moved, and are guided, and by no other; but who hath found us Lyers since we came, I challenge you, and all thy Sect to prove one lye that we have uttered; or else let shame cover thee, and let thy mouth be stopped; and let thy own heart condemn thee to be found the lyer thy self; and this we testifie against thee, and all the world, that by Jesus, and in him are we made Holy, Just, and Humble, he is made these things in us, and for us; and the Publican state is wit­nessed by us who have passed through the figure and parable into the life and substance.

And whereas thou sayst we that boast of our light within, and faith, thus saith the Lord, and brings Christs words.

I answer, this is another lye, we do not boast of our Light within, but we witness [Page 56] it to be within us, and to have enlightned every one that comes into the world; which thou and thy Generation denies, and so would make Christ a Lyer, and the Scripture a Lye; but against you all, with all the world, we bear testimony, & the Fa­ther bears witness with us, that every man that comes into the world is enlightned by the Light of Christ; which teacheth righteousness, unto all that loves it but con­demn them that hate it, whereof thou art one who utters forth thy lyes and Slanders, and false Accusations against the Innocent; and that Scripture Ioh. 9. we own, and do witness to be fulfilled in us by the coming of Christ; he which did see, is Blind, and he which was Blind now sees; and while we did see, our sin remained, but being Blind we have no sin; but this to thee, and to thy spirit, is a mystery sealed, and never to be known in that nature and wisdom; and here again thou hast used thy tongue false Prophet like, and must receive a false Prophets reward.

And whereas thou sayst, if Christ had not spoke to us in his word, we had no sin, but now we have no cloak for our sin.

I answer, Christs words we own, but here thou art made manifest to all to add to the Scripture (in his word) this thou hast added false Prophet like, and therefore the Lord will add his plagues unto thee as the Scripture saith; be ashamed and blush, thy folly and wickednesse is made manifest, who is not ashamed (to carry on thy designe) to add to Christs words.

And whereas thou sayest we do not only neglect the weightier matters of the law, but t [...] law it self, teaching men so to do; for we said that the Scripture is not the rule of faith and conversation, as one of us taught Sept. 27. in thy hearing, and many others that will witness it.

I answer, here I challenge thee to prove that thou hast spoken, and all thy witnesses which thou speakes of; oh thou Lyer be ashamed to forge such Lyes, and declare them in writing for Truth, we neglect not the weightier mat­ters of the Law, nor the Law, nor teach any so to do; all that ever heard us will bear witness against thee, and they (though our Enemies) shall wit­ness for us, and against thee in this thing; for we declare the Everlasting Gospel, which is the fulfilling of the Law; and this we declare, that the Law must have its thorow operation before the Gospel be witnessed; and one of thy own society said to us, we had preached the Law, and brought men to understand [...] from Grace; now let all take notice of the confusion you live in, and let your own hearts condemn you, and the light in your own consciences convince you, that you are in Babylon, and in confusion, and are no true Church of Christ, where all are o [...] one heart, and one mind: and this again I affirm, as before I did in thy hearing that the Scripture is not the Saints rule, but the Spirit which gave forth the Scripture, as the Scripture it self witnesses, Rom. 8. Faith was before the Scripture was, and therefore the Scripture is not the ground of it, but a Declarati­on of it, and no other faith we own but the faith which Abel had, and which Mo [...] had, which was when no Scripture was written, and that we own to be the Rule of our Conversation, which they walked by, the immediate Spirit of God which was before the Scripture was written; and all you who profess the Scripture to be your rule, your own rule shall testifie against you when the eternal God judges you, and they who witness that to be their rule which gave forth the Scripture, walkes up in the life of the Sdripture more then you all; and you are proved to be but the Iew outward, who boasts of the Ordinances from the Letter, but persecutes them by slanders and false reproaches, who witness the Substance; and your praise is only of men, and not of God; and the same woe which thou pronounces upon us will fall upon thy own head, for this thy grievous slander, that we neglect the Law, and teach men so to do.

And whereas thou brings many Scriptures, and saith, thus saith the Lord.

I answer, the Scriptures we own, and by that spirit which speaks them forth, we witness them to be true, and they are ours; and though you say they are the savour of death to us that perish, yet thou art found a Lyer, for we are saved out of the perishing state, and death is destroyed through death, through faith, and [Page 57] thou hast diminished from that Scripture 2 Tim. 3. 15. false Prophet like again, and so art both an adder and a diminisher, and thou mayst read thy portion in Rev. 22. 18, 19.

And whereas thou sayest, know this thou perverter of the right way of God, thou shalt be judged by the word that Christ spake.

I answer, here thou sets the Scripture in the room of Christ, and art the perverter of the right way of God thy self, for the Scripture saith, all judgement is commited to the Son, and the Scripture is not the Son; and thou didst say and now again writes, that the Scripture shall judge the world; and so I charge it upon thee, that thou art a Blasphemer, who exalts the Scripture above the Son of God, and shalt be judged by the Son into utter darkness, and into the pit from whence thou art come; yet this I testifie, he that receives the Son re­jecteth not those words which was spoken by him; though thou and thy Generation Pharisee-like may make a profession of the words which Christ spoke and yet reject the Son, and all to whom Christ speaks, which receives him not, shall be judged by the word which he speaks; for he speaks eternally, which shall stand eternally; but when did he speak to thee? For this I do declare, thou mayst have those words which he spoke, and yet never have heard his word nor voice; as the Pharisees had those words, which God spake by the Prophets, but never had heard his word, nor seen his shape. Iohn. 5.

And thou sayst quake and tremble at this; that word which you reject and dispise sha [...] judge you at the last day; and sayst, thus saith the Lord, and bringst Christs words, and the Apostles words.

I Answer; The Lord rebuke thee thou Scorner, here thou hast made the filthiness of thy heart known, for out of the abundance thereof thy mouth speaks: here thou art seen to be a Scorner; quaking and trembling we own, it is that which the holy men of God witnessed, but here be a Witness against thy self, that thou art a Scorner of their conditions: what hast thou to do to talk of the Scripture, who art scorn­ing that which it declares of? Here thou art made manifest to be one that hath the form but denies the power, and scorns at it, God scornes thee, thou scornful one; and let all that feare the Lord depart from thee, and see thy filthinesse and search the Scripture whether it testifies not of that, which thou scornes at, and makes a mock upon. And that we reject and despise the Scripture and the words which Christ spake, which thou accusest us of, this is another lye, and a false slander, for the Scriptures we own in their place, and by the Spirit of God sets to our seale that they are true, but that they shall judge the world we do deny: and herein thy ignorance doth appear, and that thou art blinded by the god of this World, which thou wouldst cast upon us: and Christs words, and the words of the Apostles shall fall upon thy own head, for vengeance in flames of fire will the Lord render upon thee, thou Lyar and Slanderer and false Accuser, who art in disobedience to the Gospel of God.

And whereas thou sayst the Lord hath spoken it, and it shall surely come to pass, and bringst many Scriptures.

I Answer, The Scriptures we own, and what is spoken in them shall be fulfiled; but thou Lyar, when did God speak this to thee? the judgements pronounced in them shall fall upon thy own head, because thou art guilty of the same iniquities, as they were of, against whom these Scriptures were decla­ed.

And wheras thou sayst we are those that the Lord before hath spoken of in his word, (and therefore no marvel we would not have men to read it) and cites the 2. Peter Chap. 2.

I answer, I do in the Presence of the living God deny thee and thy false asser­tion, but it shall stand for thy own condition; thou art one in the Generation which Christ spake of, and that was in the Apostles dayes, who hath the form, but de­nies the power, as they had: And I charge thee again with a Lye in thy mouth, who sayst, We would not have men to read the Scriptures; they who have heard [Page 58] us shall witness against thee, that we do direct to search the Scripture, whether our doctrine be not true, and by the Scripture shall our doctrine be tried; how long wilt thou utter thy lyes in the Name of the Lord; the Lord will plead with thee, thou unclean lying spirit; and that which thou pronounces against us, shall come upon thy self: And thou sayst, We through Coveteousness make merchandize of some. We challenge thee, and all the City of London to prove this, thou ly­ing Serpent, God shall plead with thee; we are free and clear in the sight of God, of thy false accusations, and have neither desired, nor sought after any mans Mony, nor Gold, nor Apparel, God is our Witness, and many in this City knows the fame, though thou slanderously, as an Enemy of God, dost accuse us; but I challenge thee in thy reply to this, make it appear what thou assertest, or lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and let shame strike thee in the face for ever; I charge thee, that if thou canst, make it appear plainly in particular, (and do not darkly ac­cuse us) what those damnable heresies are, which we bring in, and wherein we deny the Lord, and what our pernicious wayes are which thou falsly and slanderously accuses us of, and wherein we are fleshly, and despise government, and are presum­tuous, and wherein, or how we speak evil of Dignities, and wherein we are as na­tural bruit Beasts, and what these things are, we speak evil of, which we know not, and what our swelling word of vanity are, and whom we do allure through the lusts of the flesh, and through much wontonness? In the presence of the Lord I challenge thee to prove the particulars of thy Accusations, and not to slander in the dark; though such as these there were in the Apostles dayes, who were turned out from the Light, and the Apostles which dwelt in the Light saw them; and such a Generation there is now, they are seen and known where they are, by them who abides in the Light; but of these thy false slanders upon us, we are clear in the presence of the Lord God, and that portion which thou wouldst give unto us must thou have thy self, for with what measure thou hast meeted, it shall be measured to thee again, even the blackness of darkness for ever, and the Day of the Vengeance of God is at hand against thee.

And whereas thou sayst, We pretend to tremble: [Its true, we pretend the exam­ple of Moses] and thou sayst, O abominable hypocrifie and dissimulation, will that ju­stifie your shaking your hands like Idiots, and your raving like mad-men? Moses was a [...] in whom the fear and dread of the Lord was, who kept his Word, but you despise it; who lo­ved the Law, but you reject it.

I answer, We do not onely pretend to tremble, but oft do we, and have we witnessed it, by the mighty Power and Dread of the Lord upon us, and we walk not by the example of the Servants of the Lord without us, but the same Power we witness which was in them, by which they were made to tremble which thou scornest and deridest, and calls it madness: The holy Men of God were counted (by such as thou art) mad-men, (and were cast out of their Assemblies) which trembled at the Word of the Lord: But that we despise the Word and Law of God, here thou art a Lyar again, and the Plagues of God hang over thy head, for thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent; the same fear of God which was in Moses we witness, and no other, and thou who art without it art a Heathen; and Moses and Ieremiah, and Habbakkuk, which thou speakest of were our example, who walked by the same Spirit, and served the Lord by the same Spirit; but that we served out fleshly lusts, which here again thou accusest us of, I do challenge thee to prove it, but I know thou canst not, and therefore art in the nature of the Devil, accusing the Brethren; and to walk by tradition we deny, which you also would lay to our charge; but the same Spirit by which they were acted, acts us the same way according to its measure; and the same Light in which they walked is our Light, and this Light is the Light of Christ within us, and not without us.

And whereas thou sayest, its true, If we served the Lord, and kept his Word, it would make us to tremble, as it doth those that fear him, but we have rejected the Law of the Lord, and the Word which he hath spoken: And the Lord when he comes to shake ter­ribly the Earth, shall give us our Portion in the Lake that burns.

[Page 59] I answer, Let all the World here take notice of thy confusion and ignorance which utters forth it self through thee; thou before wast scorning of trembling, and now thou art approving of it; and if it be they that tremple which serve the Lord; here be a Witness against thy self, thou servest him not, who art not yet come to tremble, but art in thy high nature, above the fear of the Lord: and here again thou art found a false Accuser, for we reject not the Law of the Lord, nor the Word which he hath spoken, but live in it, and rejoyce in it daily, for in it is our hearts delight: And here again, as thou hast measured to us, it shall be measured unto thee, when the Lord God arises to recompence his Enemies, thy Portion will be the same, as thou hast said, in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone,

And now a few words in answer to that which thou calls, A Caution to all that are called Saints in the Nation, which may concern all people.

I answer, They who are Saints, who dwell in the Light, and walks in the Light, do discern thee to be no Saint, neither will receive any caution from thee, but will testifie against thee; for thy Lyes & slanders and false accusations which thy Book is filled with, and herein it may concern all people, that thy Lyes and Slanders be re­proved and laid open, lest they receive thy Lyes for the Truth; and be deceived by thy subtil Speeches; who brings the Prophets words, and the Apostles words, wrest ing them, and falsly applying them, to make thy Lyes to be received; but all people who love the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them, will see thee, and de­ny thee, and turn away from thee, as having the Form of Godliness without the Power.

And whereas thou sayst, Ye may rejoyce that you live to s [...]e, not only the mystery of Godliness, but also the working of iniquity in the fleshly corrupt and sensual minded men, cal­ [...]d Quakers.

I answer, That name Quakers, was cast upon us by the Heathen; through their scorn and derision, as the name Christians was upon the Disciples; though quaking we own, for all the Holy Men of God witnessed it, and the Holy Scriptures de­clares of it; and here again thou enviously, and maliciously, castest a Slander upon us, Fleshly, Corrupt, and Sensual-mindedness, and the working of the mystery of Iniquity, is destroyed in us by the mighty Power of God made manifest in Jesus Christ, which takes away sin; to the praise of the living God I speak, in clearing the Innocent from thy false Slanders, and it shall stand for thy own condition, fleshly corrupt, and sensual-minded, and the working of the mystery of iniquity; And herein I prove thee to be so by thy Fruits, thy Lyes, and false Reproaches, and envious false Accusations, which is the fruits of the flesh, and of corrupt sensual-mindedness, which fruits do appear in this thy Writing, and as for the Mystery of Godliness, it is hidden from thee, and in that mind and nature thou shalt ne­ver know it; for thou livest in the sight of thy own Pollution, and of thy carnal Ordinances, and not in the injoyment of the Mystery of Christ, which is God­liness.

And whereas thou sayest, Ye may rejoyce, and in nothing be terrified, because the Scriptures did foretel of such, and is fulfilled in these men: And thou bringest many Scrip­tures, where Christ and the Apostles prophesied of the coming in of false Prophets, and Teachers.

I Answer, Though ye do now rejoyce, yet your joy shall be turned into sorrow and howling, and the Lord hath said it; and the day of terror will overtake you, wherein your hearts shall fail you for fear, and your foundation shall be re­moved; and its true, that the Scripture doth foretel of us, and is witnessed in us, That all the Lord's Children should be taught of the Lord; And that the Lord would gather his Flock out of the mouths of all dumb Shepherds, &c. and ac­cording to our growth up in the Life of the Scriptures, they are fulfilled in us; but false Prophets we do deny, though all those Scriptures which thou hast set down we own to be prophesies of false Prophets, those false prophets which Christ pro­phesied of, came in the Apostles dayes, they saw them comming in then, 1 Iohn 2. 18.

[Page 60] And as all these Scriptures testifies which thou hast cited; and since the Apostles, dayes, hath been a great Apostacy, and not a true Church of Christ could be found, and ever since hath the same Generation of false Prophets stood under several forms and appearances, deceiving the Nations: But now the pure Light of Christ shines, discovering to them, who walk in the Light, who they are, and daily more and more clearly shall they be seen, and thou wilt be found in their number, who art a cursed child, in whom the son of perdition is exalted, which utters forth thy Lyes and Slanders sensually, and make it manifest to all, that thou hast not the Spirit of God, but are separated from it, in self-seperation which is abomination unto God, and must be scattered by him.

And whereas thou sayest, Seeing it is so, let you be filled with boldness, and let you contend against those ungodly Ones which are now risen.

I answer, ungodliness we deny, and your boldness shall the Lord turn into weak­ness, and faintness, and your contendings against us shall not prosper, for this is our heritage; every Tongue that riseth up in judgment shall be condemned; you shall all be scattered and driven away as Chaff before the Wind, who sets your­selves to contend against the Truth; for that which is now risen shall confound you all.

And whereas thou bringest many Scriptures, which were Exhortations of the Apostle to the Saints, with exhorting thy Brethren.

I answer, The Scriptures I do own, and that Spirit which spake them forth I witness, but thou art an Enemy to the Power of them; though thou hast the Form of Truth, thy lying and false accusing hath made thee appear to be an Enemy to the Life which the holy Men of God lived in, and so hast cleared thy self from those Scriptures which were written to the Saints, and must own those which were written to the World; The Lyar must be cast into the Lake; the Wicked must be turned in­to Hell; and such as these thou must own to belong unto thee, and these are thy Scrip­tures which thou hast right unto.

And whereas thou sayest, We talk of high enjoyments and great revelations without, above and beyond the Scripture, and that we talk of a Light which is besides the Scripture, but its deep, and thick darkness; and what hath such lights led men unto? even contempt of God, and of all Righteousness,

I answer, Here again thou art found a Lyar, and an Accuser of the Brethren, for what we do declare, the Scripture witnesseth to the same, and we speak of no­thing but what is declared of in the Scripture by the Holy Men of God, and nei­ther without it, nor above, or beyond it, do we speak: I challenge thee (to prove what thou hast asserted) and all the City of London, whether we have spoken or de­clared any thing, but what the Scriptures bears witness to; and the Light which we declare of, is the Light of Christ, which the Scripture saith hath enlightened eve­ry one that comes into the World; and it is not besides the Scripture, so as contrary to it, but the Scripture bears witness of the Light: And here I charge thee with Blasphemy, who calls the Pure Light of Christ thick Darkness, and that the Light of Christ (which is the Light which we declare of) hath led men, or leads any to contemn God, or his Ordinances, or Righteousness; let shame strike thee in the face, thou impudent one, who blasphemously sayes, that the Light of Christ is thick Dark­ness, and leads into contempt of God; let the Light in thy own Conscience con­demn thee, thou Enemy of God; for thy Lyes, and Slanders, and Blasphemy, which in this thy Book thou hast uttered.

And whereas, Thou exhortest to labour to see an excellency in Christ, in the Word of Christ, and in the Church and Ordinances of Christ.

I answer, For the simple Ones sake, that they may not be deceived; none ever shall see any excellency in those things, but who owns and walks in the Light of Christ, which lets every one see themselves first; and your talking of the same, and report of Christ, and of his Word and Ordinance, is not to know the excel­lency of those things, for death in you talks of the same, but the thing in Sub­stance you are ignorant of; and you who stumble at the Light wherewith Christ [Page 61] lighteneth every one; are above the Door, which is the entrance unto the life of these things: And so I exhort all to mind the Light of Christ, and to walk in it, and it will lead unto Christ from whence the Light comes, and it will lead to the fulfilling of Christs Words, and to the one Bread, and to the one Baptism; and the Light is the Door and Entrance unto the Life of those things: But you who hate the Light, and deny it to be in every one, hath but the Husk and outward De­claration of those things, and are without the Life.

And whereas thou sayst, They that are of God will hear John, Peter, and Paul, and the rest that were the Servants of Christ, not the fleshly conceits of those, or any other men; and Christ Sheep hear his Voyce, and a Stranger they will not hear.

I answer, They that are of God, do own the writings of all the Servants of Christ; but many may profess their words, as the Pharisees did the Prophets words, and as thou dost now, and yet not be of God, but children of the Devil; but that our conceits are fleshly, I do deny, for all conceits of the flesh we deny, and bears witness against, and it shall stand for thy own condition, and thy voice is the voice of a stranger, and they that are of God will not follow it: though thou bringst the Saints words in thy mouth, as the Devil did unto Christ; yet in the Light of Christ thou art seen, and comprehended, and from the Light of Christ answered, and by it judged to be without the life of those Scriptures which thou speakst of, and they are to thee but as an empty sound.

And whereas thou cites many more Scriptures, which are exhortations of the Apostles to the Church, and exhorts thy Brethren with them.

To which I answer as before. The Scriptures I do own, but, to thee, thou envious man, they do not belong, for as in this thy writing thou art proved a Lyar, and a Scorner, and a Slanderer, and a false Accuser, and a Blasphemer; out of thy own mouth, be a Witness against thy self, and let all thy whole Assembly bear witness against thee, that the Scriptures which were spoken to the Saints who walked in the light and had denyed ungodliness, do not belong unto thee who art an hater of the light, and lives in the pollutions of the world; but the Scriptures will surely be fulfilled upon thee, The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and the Lyar shall have his portion in the Lake, and he that works abomination is to be troden in the winepress of the wrath of God without the City, and such like. And now somthing in answer to some things in the Epistle to the Reader.

Whereas thou and the rest of you there say, although the light hath appeared, yet there is a Generation of men in the world, that do hate the light, and endeavour to put it out, crying against the Scriptures of Truth; its a dead letter, and against the form of doctrine therein contained.

To which I answer, It is true, the light hath appeared; Christ who is the Light lightneth every one that comes into the world; which light hath appeared in every mans conscience; and there is a Generation which hates the light, and you are of that Generation which say, every man hath not the light, and calls the Light of Christ thick darkness, and endeavour to put it out; and here you have read your own condition, though you make a large profession of the Scriptures (which is not the light, but words declared from the Light) as the Iewes did profess the Prophets words, but persecuted Christ, and spoke against him, who was the light and substance of the Prophets words: and if you know any who cry against the Scripture, and against the doctrine therein contained, we cry and declare against such, for the Scripture we own in its place to be a true declaration of God, of Christ, and of the Saints conditions, but they are not the light, but Christ is the light, as themselves bear witness, nor are they the Saints guide, but the Spirit that gave them forth, as they themselves bear testimony, neither were the Scriptures given forth to give your own imaginations and suppositions upon, but they themselves are doctrine, and are as they speak, he that hath the same spirit which speak them forth, reads them and understands them, and none else.

And whereas thou sayst, Lest that simple plain meaning men should be kept in Babels dark­ness, [Page 62] or the enlightned fall into the errour of the wicked, for that reason your Book came to publick view.

I answer, truly you are deceived, who think to gain into your form, the simple, plain meaning men by Lies, and false Slanders and false Accusation; who are simple and plain unto God, will descern your deceits, and how falsly you have accused the innocent, and will see you to be in Babels darkness; and who walks in in the light wherewith they are enlightned will see you to be in the errour of the wicked, and out of the Truth; and it is well for the Truths sake, that your Book came forth, that thereby your filthiness and deceitfulness, and enviousness might be laid open to the simple. And truly I say unto you, you have, and will miss of your end in putting forth this Book of yours.

And whereas you say you shall be willing at any time to vindicate every conclusion therein con­tained against any that shall oppose.

I answer, I challenge you all in this particular to prove those accusations which you have laid to our charge whom you call Quakers, in many particulars, which before I have demanded; what they are is before spoken of.

And whereas you say, you account that light within (not witnessed by the Scripture without) which some so much talk of, to be deep darkness.

I answer, if you know any who speak of any Light which the Scripture doth not witness of, we with you freely declare against such, and such a light is darkness, but the Light of Christ which we speak of, which hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world, I hope you are not so impudent, but you will ac­knowledge that the Scriptures speaks of this light; and dare not deny, but that the Scripture witnesses that Christ is the Light of the word; for as I said, we freely give way, and desire that all might search the Scripture, whether these things be not so as we declare.

And whereas you say, and exhort to let the Scripture be the rule of faith and practice.

I Answ. Here you would alwayes keep people in darkeness, under your teaching, and would make void the new Covenant which is the Law written in the heart, and the Spirit of the Lord put in the inward parts, to be the rule and guide of the Saints; for who walks by the rule without them, and teaches men so to do, would make void the Covenant of life and peace, where the Teacher is not removed into a corner, which Teacher all that have faith and an holy Conversation do witness, which teaches not contrary to what the Scripture speak but is a teaching and ful­filling of the Scripture, and an establishing of it, though thou and many may pro­fess the teaching of the Scripture and may in your own wills, conform unto it in the outward appearance, as the Pharisees did, and yet be but Hypocrites and deceived as they were; and I say again, that faith was before the Scripture was written, which faith is declared of in the Scripture, which faith comes as is mani­fested by hearing of the word preached, which word is even in the mouth and in the heart, if you have an ear you may hear; and now I advise you all in the Name of the Lord to cease striving and contending against the truth; for verily the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands, will dash your image of many mixtures to peices, and it falling upon you, will grinde you to powder, and your conforming the outward man, to an outward thing, and teaching men so to do, and limitting and tying the Holy one to a visible thing, will not cover you in the Day of the Lord: nay verily, though concerning the Scripture without, you may walk blameless, yet one thing will be found lacking, even the cross of Jesus Christ, by which all sin is crucified in them who walk in it; and I say unto you, that your covering is to narrow, and it will not hide your secret parts: for in the eternall Light of Christ you are seen and comprehended, your beginning, your time, and your end; for though you have the Scriptures, and Jewish like, walks up in the outward appearance of them, crying up the Ordinances and Churches, yet your praise is of men, and not of God, for you are enemies to the life of the Scriptures, as is made appear by your many Lyes and Slanders against [Page 63] us, which you have uttered; and I say return your minds every one within to that in your own consciences which reproves you in secret for your secret iniquities, it will let you see where your hearts are, and how far they are mor­tified to the world, and the love of it, and this light wherewith every one of you is enlightned is the Light of Christ, and it is the Lords true Witness and shall witness for him eternally against all whose deeds are evil, who walk in dis­obedience of it; and all who love it, and walk in it, it leads unto Christ, and into all purity and holiness and uprightness of heart towards God and man; and this light leads unto justification, all t [...]e [...] who are taught by it; and her [...] is your Teacher, loving it; and your condemnation eternally, continuing to hate it. And thus I have answered thy Book, and the Truth is witnessed, and many false Lyes and false Accusations denied and testified against, and thus I rest, waiting for an answer to clear thy self (if thou art able) of those things which I ha [...]e denied, which thou hast charged upon us, for God is my Witness, this I do desire, that Truth may be made mani­fest and imbraced, and Deceit and Errour discovered and denied.

TO all you Called, Chosen, Elected, and Beloved of the Lord, who are of the Circumcision made without hands, of the Seed of Abraham; who are Iews indeed, not after the flesh but in the Spirit; unto whom belongs the Everlasting Promise and Covenant, which God hath, and is fulfilling in you, and establishing with you: We your Fellow-Citizens of the Heavenly Ierusalem which is the Mother of us all; and of the same Body, and of the same Seed, and same Birth, begotten and brought forth by the immortal Word of Life, which lives for ever, do send greeting, and do imbrace you in the Arms of our Beloved, who is, and is to come, God blessed for ever: You who are called Quakers, who are so, not onely in word, nor in shew, but in Life and in Power; whom God hath called & chosen to place his Name in, and to take up his Habitation among, above all the Families of the Earth; the Tabernacle of God is with you, and his Dwelling-place is among you, and onely among you is God known, and his Name is great in your Assemblies.

We who are of the same Root and Off-spring, do bring in our witness, and do set to our seal, That God of a truth is with you, and among you; and he is the God of the living that answers by Fire; he is, I am, and there is none be­sides him, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End of all things.

Praise him for ever ye Redeemed of him; lift up your heads, your Redemer is come; clap your hands, and shout for joy, and let the everlasting Praises of God be in your mouthes for ever and ever: Exalt ye his Name above all gods, and glorifie him in the sight of all the Heathen, and let his marvellous Works stand upon Record from Generation to Generation.

Wonderful hath his Work been among you, and that my soul knows right well; you that were scattered in the cloudy and dark Day, and were a prey for the wild Beasts of the Forrest, and were driven away as lost Sheep in the Wilderness, hath God gathered into the Fold, to lie down by the Springs of Living Water in fat Pastures for evermore.

Your Bread is sure, and your Waters never fails; a Feast of fat things is made unto you, of Wines well refined; the Lord is become the Lot of your Inhe­ritance, and the Portion of your Cup forever.

Your Crowns have you laid down at the Feet of the Lamb, and your lives and liberties have not been dear unto you; and let this never repent you, for now the Lord will exalt you, and Crown you with Immortal Glory.

The Everlasting Day-Star is risen among you, which gives Light unto the Na­tions; and the light of the Sun is as the Light of seven dayes; and there is no need of a Candle in your Dwelling, but the Lamb is the light thereof; fair as the Sun, clear as the Moon; yea, it is he which was dead and is alive, and behold he lives for evermore. Praise him all ye people, praise ye him ye holy Host; let all that hath breath praise him for ever. Who can express his noble Acts? And who can declare his wondrous Works? Oh, my Soul is ravished, and my heart [Page 65] is overcome! let me speak that I may be refreshed, and let me declare his Wonders among all People.

The Lord is our King, our Judge, and our Law-giver, and our Rock of defence; Just is he in his Judgments, who hath avenged us of our Enemies; Mercy and Judgment meet, Righteousness and Peace do imbrace each other. Rejoyce for evermore ye Saints of the most High, and tell it to your Children, that they may tell it to an other Generation what the Lord hath wrought among you, and what his Hand hath brought to pass. Salvation is come, and plentious Redemption, and the dead hath heard the Voyce of the Son of God, and liveth.

Let sorrow and mourning flee away, and be ye comforted ye that have mourned, and be ye refreshed ye that have been weary; for God hath opened the Everlasting Fountain, and the Streams run pleasantly, which refresh the City of our God; He is come and his Reward is with him, even he for whom we have waited; this is he, who is our Life, our Peace, and our exceeding great Reward; the Light of the World is our Saviour, but the Worlds Condemner; our Peace, but the Worlds Torment: Glad-tidings glad tidings, the acceptable year is come; praise ye the Lord ye Sons and daughters of Sion, beautifull is your dwelling place, and aboundeth with pleasant fruit, for you are digged and pruned and enclosed a Garden of lovely branches; let the wonders of the Lord never be forgotten, nor his works never pass out of your remembrance, for he hath wounded and healed, killed and made alive, raised the dead, and slain the living, brought out of captivity and bound with chains, gathered and scattered, brought low and exalted, saved, and condemned; all this hath your eye seen, and your ear heard; and the Heavens and the Earth hath been burned as a scroule, and the indignation of the Lord you have born: But the Winter is past, and the Summer is come, and the Turtle dove, and the singing of Birds is heard in our Land. O magnifie his Name for ever; you are made vessels of honour wherein the everlasting Treasure abideth, which never waxeth old; the voyce of the Bridegroom is heard among you, and how can you have any more sorrow? instead of weeping, rejoycing; and instead of heaviness of heart, fulness of everlasting joy: the Lord hath fulfilled his promise, and made good his word, and his Law and Covenant is with you; and from you doth the Law go forth, and the powerfull Word of Life, and Death soundeth out of your Dwelling and you are Gods only witnesses to testifie of him in the presence of all Nations, some of you by suffering, and some by declaring: Oh endless love, and life, and riches, an eternal Crown is upon your heads, and your suffering (which hath not been a little) is not worthy to be compared with the glory that is and shall be revealed. I speak to you who have an ear to hear, my soul and heart is comforted in you, in the midst of my burdens and sufferings, who is separated from you outwardly, yet joyned and united to you by the Spirit which is unlimited, which doth comprehend all Nations: yea I behold your beauty afar off and my heart is ravished with it, and I am sick of love: let his works praise him forever, which he hath wrought, for his Dwelling is with you in the Light, unto which no mortaleye can approach.

The new Ierusalem is come down from Heaven, and no unclean can enter: but you are made white with the blood of the Lamb, and purged as silver, and purified as gold in the burning, and unto you an entrance is given, and the way is prepared, and the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made her self ready, and the Way of the Lord is pleasant to you, and his Commands are not grievous; no unclean thing can pass over, nor no Lyons Whelps can tread therein, but it is called the way of holiness, where only the ransomed of the Lord do walk; even your Mountain is established upon the top of all hills, and all Nations shall flow unto it. Sing praises for ever, for the Kingdom of endless peace is come, which passeth understanding, and of glory, which on mortall eye can behold, and of life which no flesh can live in. Oh my beloved, come up hither and I will shew you what God hath done from you, he hath rebuked the Sea, and driven back the floods of waters which compassed you about, and he hath scattered your enemies with a whirlwind, and be hath given you to feed upon the flesh of Kings, and of Captaines. Can you [Page 66] call to mind the doings of your God, and his marvellous works brought to pass, and not cry out in praises for evermore, O drink and be refreshed, and eat and be satisfied for ever, and let your soul delight it self in fatness; the planting of the Lord you are, and his own purchased Possession; he hath separated you from the womb, and hath called you out of kindreds, and ye are the Royal Seed of the Off­spring of the Lord Almighty, and all Nations shall call you blessed.

And O thou North of England, who art counted as desolate and barren, and reckoned the least of the Nations, yet out of thee did the Branch spring, and the Star arise which gives light unto all the Regions round about; in thee the Son of Righteousness appeared with wounding and with healing; and out of thee the terror of the Lord proceeded, which makes the Earth to tremble and be removed; out of thee Kings, Princes and Prophets did come forth in the Name and Power of the most High, which uttered their voices as thunders, and laid their swords on the necks of their Enemies and never returned empty from the slaughter. Though I be as by the waters of Babylon, in a strange Land; and as a Pilgrim and Stranger destitute, but not forsaken; as dying but behold I live; yet if I forget thee, let my right hand forget her cunning, and let my Name be blotted out of the Book of Life. O how I love the holy Seed which in my eye is precious! No man can hinder my boasting of thee, for I am sealed among you in the Record of eternal life, to be read among you in the light where I am known to you, and where my unity stands with you in the love and life, which never changes, and you are my Mother, and my Brother and Sister, who doth the Will of my Father; Our God is a consuming fire, and his Habitation is compast about with dread and terror. The Heathen shall see and fear, and the Inhabitants of the Earth shall tremble; o [...] God is everlasting burnings, and it is tempestuous round about his Throne, and he reigns for evermore; and though thou be despised and set at nought, and counted as the off-scouring of all things, and the scorn of the Heathen, yet thy King reign [...] upon Mount Sion, and if he utter his voice all flesh shall tremble, and before him thy Adversaries shall fall, and thy Persecutors shall be confounded, for tho [...] shalt never be forgotten of thy God, but with his arm will he defend thee, and compass thee about, and thy seed shall be increased, and thou Ierusalem shalt be made the praise of the whole Earth, for among you is laid the sure foundation, and the tried stone, Christ Jesus the Light of the world, in whom you have believed, which unto the Nations is a stumbling stone; but unto you precious: bring in your testimony, and set to your seal; is there salvation in any other, but in him who is the Light of the World? Nay there is no redemption wrought but by him, nor no deliverance but through him; his is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, and he is become all in all; and you are no more of this World, but are of the chosen Generation, and of the royal Priesthood, a people, Redeemed, unto whom there is none like among the thousands of Israel and Iudah, whose God is the Lord, whose Sa­viour is the Prince of Righteousness, who covers your heads in the day of Battel, and smites your enemies in the hinder parts; and wounds them in the fore-head.

And now my beloved, let his Name be had in remembrance for evermore, and let his praises be declared throughout Ages to come, and walk you worthy of his everlasting love, wherewith he hath loved you more then your brethren; let his Name be exalted by righteousness, by purity, and by a blameless life, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness and peace, and let your light shine forth into the world, and your good works abound plentifully; for you are as a City set on a hill, and as a lighted candle to shine abroad; and are created unto good works. Let faith, hope, love and unity be increased among you; and let mercy and judge­ment and equity flow down and be established for ever; never to be removed. Let joy, and long-suffering and meekness and temperance spring out; and be you per­fect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Stand upon your watch Tower, and be not shaken nor drawn aside to follow any other gods, nor to bow to any other Image, nor joyn your selves to strangers, and mingle not your seed with the adulterous Generation, nor take not, nor give not in marriage with them; but keep your selves from the Idols of the Heathen, be [Page 67] not defiled with them; but abide in your strength, you know where it lies, by which you may work good, and be perserved from evil; and you need not that any man teach you, for you are taught of God, and are far from oppression.

Ye Children of Light, worship your God for ever, who is light, and in him is no darkness at all, who is the same and changes not, whose mercy endures for ever: Be Followers of the Lamb as undefiled Virgins, and let your soul scorn the glory of Babylon and Aegypt for ever; for you are not your own, but are bought with a price, no more to serve your selves, but the Lord of Israel forever.

Put on your Armour, and gird on your Sword, and lay hold on the spear, and march into the field, and prepare your selves to battel, for the Nations doth defie our God, and saith in their heart, Who is the God of the Quakers, that we should fear him, and obey his voice? Arise, arise, and sound forth the everlasting word of war and judgment in the ears of all Nations; sound an Alarum, and make their ears to tingle. Our Enemies are whole Nations, and multitudes in number, of a rebellious people that will not come under our law, which arise up against us, and will not have our King to reign, but trample his Honour under foot, and despise his Law and his Statutes, and count his Subjects as Slaves and Bond-men. Stand upon your feet, and appear in your terror as an Army with banners, and let the Nations know your power, and the stroke of your hand: cut down on the right hand, and slay on the left, and let not your eye pitty, nor your hand spare, but wound the Lofty, and tread under foot the Honourable of the Earth, and give unto the great Whore double, and give her no rest day nor night; but as she hath done, so let it be done unto her; and give her double into her bosom: as she hath loved blood, so give her blood, and dash her children against the stones, and let none of the Heathen Nations, nor their gods escape out of your hands, nor their Images, nor I­dols, but lay waste the fenced Cities, and tread down the high Walls; for we have proclaimed open War betwixt Michael our Prince, and the Dragon. Your Captains are mighty men, and your leaders are skilled to handle the Sword, and they are riding on before you, Arise worm Iacob, and fear not, but thresh the mountains to dust; for God hath given thee the power of thy enemies to tread upon, and they shall fly before thee, and shalt fall by thy sword; there is none to strong for thee, nor no inchantment against thee; but thou art blessed, blessed world without end. Therefore all ye Lambs of my Father, and ye Camp of the Lords Host, wait upon him to fulfil his Will, for he hath put into your hearts to make war in righteousness against the beast and the false Prophet: and cursed be every one that riseth not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty: the Beast is mighty; and the false Prophet is great; and they keep the Nations under their power. But O thou Beast, and thou false Prophet you shall be tormented together: thou Beast, upon which the false Prophet sits, whom thou upholds by thy Law; and defends by thy unrighteous power, thy power is limited, and it shall be taken from thee, and thou shalt be overcome, and the Lamb shall get the victory, and into the pit and lake of fire shall you be turned to have your resting place.

And thou false Prophet which hath deceived the Nations, and scattered the Inha­bitants thereof, and builded by fraud, and daubed with untempered morter; thy Judgment is past upon thy head already, and the Decree of our God is sealed against thee; thy smoke shall ascend for ever and ever; and of thy sin there is no forgive­ness, nor of thy torment no remission. Over you do we (and shall for ever) re­joyce and sing, and over your god and your King, the Dragon that old Serpent; cursed be he, and his memorial for ever.

Ye Lambs of the true Shepherds fold, with whom my soul resteth, whether ever I behold you outwardly, yet my heart is with you, and I am one of your fold, and I lye down with you under the shadow of the rock, upon the Mountain which the beast can­not touch, where we are safe from all our enemies, and am to you wel known, to be read in your hearts, in the Record of the Lambs Book of Life, and known only to the world by the name of,

THis is chiefly to go abroad into the dark parts of the World, among those called Heathens most especially; but its service reacheth to all men and people upon the face of the Earth: And out of love unto the Creation, and to all People in the World was it written, and is it brought forth in publick, that all that have ears to hear may hear; and it is to be translated into several Languages by any who are moved of the Lord thereunto; for of a truth the Lord is risen among us, and God hath given the Word from his Mouth, and many are they that pub­lish it abroad through the World.

VVHereas we are accused by the Teachers and People of this Gene­ration, That we are false Prophets, and Deceivers; and that we deny the Christ which dyed at Jerusalem; and that we preach another Gospel then the Apostles preached; and that we deny the Scriptures, and the Ordinances of Iesus Christ; and that we hold Free-will, and establish Self-righteousness, and teach Peo­ple to act in their own strength to obtain Life; and that we deny Churches, Ministers, and Magistracy.

To all these false Accusations I Answer. It is no new thing, nor no strange thing to the Children of Light, who are separated from the World, and worldly Wor­ships; and from the works of Darkness, to be accused falsly, and to be standered, by being called Deceivers and Seducers, by the Generation of chief Priests and Pharisees; in which Generation are the Teachers and Professors of this Age, who have a Form of Godliness, but deny the Power. Christ was called a Deceiver and a Blasphemer; and the Apostles were called Movers of Sedition, Hereticks, and Turners of the World up-side down▪ by them who professed in word what [Page 126] Christ was in Substance, and what the Apostles witnessed, and so it is now. We who are scornfully called Quakers, do live in, and declare forth, no other thing but the Substance of what the Priests have preached upon, and the Pofessors have talked upon in their carnal minds by their imaginations. He is a false Prop [...] and a Deceiver which hath not the Word from the Mouth of the Lord, but takes that which the Lord spoke to Another, and calls it his, and us [...] his Tongue and saith, The Lord saith it, when the Lord never spake to him: And here are the Teachers of the World themselves guilty of that whereof they fal [...]y accuse us; for they take the Prophets words, Christs and the Apostles words to talk upon, but have not received the Word from the Mouth of the Lord; and their prophesie and preaching would soon be ended if they had not the Scrip­ture, which is other mens words, and that which was spoken to others, to spe [...] their imaginations from: And these are the false Prophets and Deceivers, which run, and are not sent, which speak to others, pretending they be sent of God▪ but walking contrary to all that ever God sent to declare his Name in fo [...] Generations, and so are known to us by their fruits, having no example from the Prophets, Christ, nor his Apostles for their practice; but do walk in the ex­ample of the false Prophets of Israel, of the Scribes and Pharisees, and of the false Brethren. O foolish People which have eyes and sees not, which have hea [...] and do not understand: Is the Lord changed from what he was? Were they fal [...] Prophets and Deceivers in Isaiah's time, which he was sent to cry out against, which sought for their Gain from their Quarter? And are not your Teachers false Prophets now, which act the same things? Were they false Prophets and Decei­vers in Ezekiel's time, which [...] was sent to cry against, that fed themselves wi [...] the Fat, and clothed themselves with the Wool, and made a Prey upon the Peo­ple? And are not your Teachers false Prophets and Deceivers now, which [...] the same thing? Were they false Prophets in Micahs time, which he was sent [...] cry out against, which preached for Hire and divined for Money, and cry [...] peace to them that put into their mouthes but prepared war against them that [...] not? And are not your Priests false Priests and Prophets which act the same thing [...] Were they Deceivers of the People in Christs time, which he cryed wo agai [...] ▪ which were called of men-Masters, and which had the chief Places in the [...] ­blies, and which stood praying in the Synagogues, and went in long Robes, [...] which loved greetings in the Markets; And are not your Teachers Deceivers of the People now, which are found acting the same things? Were they false Teach­ers and false Brethren in the Apostles time, which they declared against, which through coveteousness with feigned words made merchandise of the People, and went in the way of Balaam, for Gifts and rewards, and preached for filthy Lu­cre, and which Paul saw come and coming in his dayes; which were proud men, coveteous men, self-willed, and fierce men, heady, high-minded men, having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power, which alwayes taught People, b [...] none were able to come to the knowledge of the Truth under their teaching? A [...] are not your Teachers false Teachers now, who walk in the same steps? To [...]e Light in all Consciences I do speak, which will witness the truth: A sottish and ignorant People, which cannot discern who the false Prophets, and Deceivers▪ and false Teachers are; the Lord is the same that ever he was, and his Spirit [...] no whit changed. Was it once an abomination to the Lord in the false Priests and Prophets of Israel, to seek for their Gain from their Quarter, and to feed them­selves with the Fat, and clothe themselves with the Wool, and make a Prey upo [...] the People, and to preach for Hire, and to divine for Money? and are not these thing [...] and they that uphold them abomination to him now? Did the Spirit of the Lord in his Servants declare against these things then, and against them that up [...] them then; and must not the same Spirit, where it is made manifest, declare agai [...] these things, and against them that uphold them now? Was it once an abomi [...] ­tion in the sight of Christ in them, to be called of men Master, and to have [...] chief places in the Assemblies, and to stand praying in the Synagogues, &c. and are not these things an abomination to him now in whom they are upheld? D [...] [Page 127] Christ cry wo against such things, and against them that upheld them then; and must not the Spirit of Christ, where it is made manifest, cry wo against such things, and against them that uphold them now? Were these mar [...]s of false Teachers then, to make merchandise of the People, and to go in the way [...] [...], for Gifts and Rewards, and for filthy [...] and to be proud, cove [...], [...]eady, high-minded▪ self-willed, and fierce men? And are not they false Teachers now which bear these marks? Did the Apostle give warning to beware of such, and to turn away from such? and must not the same Spirit where it is made manifest give warning to beware of such, and to turn away from such now? We wit­ness to have received according to measure, the Spirit of the Prophets [...] which they spoke▪ and the Spirit of the Apostles by which they spoke, which is, Christ made manifest in us, and happy are all they that receive our Testimony. For by the same Spirit of Christ we do declare against these abomination [...] now, as the holy men of God did then▪ for God and his Spirit is the same as ever was, and what he once [...]a [...]ed he hates forever; and no other Christ do we [...]clare forth, which we witness to be made manifest within, but that Christ which dyed at Ierusalem, which suffered by the chief Priests and Elders of the People; he was and is the true Christ, which said, He was the Light of the World; And was the Light which had enlightened every man that comes into the World; and which said, Except a man would deny the World, and take up his daily cross, and fol­low him, he could not he his Disciple; And which cryed wo against them which were called of men Masters, and that had the chief Places in the Assemblies, and that stood praying in the Synagogues, &c. and they who denyed him to be the Light of the World, and which too [...] not up the Cross, and which were called of men Masters, and had the chiefest Places in the Assemblies, and stood praying in the Synagogues, and went in long Robes, these were Antichrists, and [...]ere acted by a contrary spirit then the true Christ.

And here again, I charge all the Teachers and People (in the presence of the Lord God, who deny Christ to be the Light in every one, which reproves for sin) and who are called of men Masters, and stand praying in the [...] and go in long [...]obes, and who uphold such things, and who take not up the dai­ly Cross of Christ, but live at liberty in their wills and desires, that they are An­tichrists, and that their spirit is not the Spirit of the true Christ, which dyed at Ierusalem, but the spirit of a false christ, and so they are guilty of that them­selves, whereof they falsly accuse us▪ and the same Christ do we witness which the Saints of old witnessed, whose blood cleansed them from all sin, and in whose Power they had power over sin, death, and hell.

And here again I charge the Teachers and People, who say, That the Saints must not be cleansed from sin, nor cease to commit sin while they are on the Earth; That the Christ which they profess is not the Christ which dyed at Jerusalem, but a spirit contrary, and not the Christ which the Saints witnessed; and all the People are blind which cannot see these things.

Did the true Christ once say, He was the Light of the World, of every man that comes into the World? And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and Pr [...]ssors now, which say, Every man hath not the Light of Christ in him? Was that the true Christ which said, Except you take up my Cross daily you cannot be my Disciples? And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People that hath its liberty, and live in Pride, in Lust, and Vanity▪ and their own Wills? was that the true Christ which cry­ed wo against them that were called of men Masters, and that had the chief Pla­ces in the Assemblies, and stood praying in the Synagogues, &c, And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People which act and uphold those things: Was [...] the true Christ which the Saints witnessed, by whose Blood they [...] cle [...]sed from sin, and had power over sin, and is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People, which saith, The Saints must not be cle [...]sed from si [...] [...] [...] to c [...]t sin while they are [...] Earth?

Oh blind and ignorant People! who cannot discern between the [...] Christ and Antichrist, which is contrary to Christ, and which leads now to act and [Page 128] speak contrary to what the true Christ once acted and spoke: and no other Gospe [...] do we preach, but that which the Apostles preached, which they received not fro [...] nor by man, but by the revelation of Iesus Christ, which was contrary to man, and which suffered by man for the preaching of it; who preached to the Spi [...] in Prison to redeem the captives, and by which the fleshly man was judged in the [...] that man might live according to God in Spirit; and this Gospl we witness to have received not from man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ, which is con­trary to man, for which we are persecuted and suffer by man: neither do w [...] speak to the wisdom and reason, but we preach to the Spirits in Prison, that the fleshly man may be judged in the flesh, that man may live according to God [...] the Spirit; this will many witness with us, that by the preaching of our Gospe [...] liberty is brought to the captives, and the fleshly man is judgest, and the Spirit which was in Prison is set free.

And here again I charge the Teachers of this Generation, That their gospel which they preach is not the Gospel which the Saints preached, but another gos­pel, and they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us; for they have received their gospel from man, and by man, from the Printers a [...] Stationers, and are made Minister of it by the will of man, at Schools, and [...] ­niversities; and their preaching is in the will of man, a limited time and place neither do they suffer by man, but are set up with man, and feed the wisdom [...] reason of man; and the fleshly man is not judged, nor the captives redeemed [...] their gospel, which they preach; here they are accursed which preach anot [...] gospel, as saith the Scripture: And ye are a blind and ignorant People which can­not see these things; Did they that preached the true Gospel receive it contrary to the will of man? and can it now be received by the will of man? Did they which preached it suffer for it by man? and can they now who preach it, be [...] up by man, who live in the same persecuting nature? Did the true Gospel o [...] judge the fleshly man,) and lead to live according to God in the Spirit? and do [...] it now give liberty to the fleshly man, to live after the flesh in the lust of it, [...] the Teachers and Professor of this Generation do, who profess the Gospel, [...] are discovered not to be come to the Law? And the Scripture we own to be [...] true Declaration of the Life which they lived in which spoke them [...]orth; and [...] the same Spirit from which they were spoken (which we have received) do we [...] to our seals, that they are [...]rue; and the Scripture is ours, who walk in the Life [...] it; proud men spoke it not forth, nor they that sought for their gain from the [...] quarter; nor they that preached for hire; nor they that were called [...] men master, but persecuted them that spoke it forth, and denyed it when it was spoken.

And here again, I charge it upon the Teachers and Professors of this Genera­tion, that they deny the Scripture, and are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us; for they say, None must be perfect upon the Earth; when as [...] Scripture declares of such as were perfect upon Earth: And they say; None [...] be free from sin; when as the Scripture declares of such as were free from sin, and were the Servants of Righteousness: They say, Christ hath not enlightened every [...] the Scripture saith, He is the Light of the World, and hath enlightened every one &c. can they now who live in the same persecuting nature, and walk in the [...] steps as they did which persecuted them who spoke forth the Scripture (as the Te [...] ­chers and People do) own the Scripture in Truth? Their professing of the Scrip­ture is as theirs was, which made a great profession of it in the outward appear­ance, but put him to death who had the Life, and was the Substance of it: They then, as the Teachers of the World do now, denyed the Spirit and Life whic [...] gave sorth the Scriptures.

And the Ordinances of Jesus Christ we own and witness, Preaching, Pray­ing, Baptism, Communion, Singing, and whatsoever was ordained for his Saints to practise in Life and Power; we witness these things in the eternal Sub­stance, having passed through the earthly figures, which was but to stand for its time; by the Eternal have we been led, by the Command of it within us, and [Page 129] got by tradition from the Scripture without us, And we deny all such who have taken up these things in their own wills, by conforming the outward man to the out­ward Letter, and have not entred in at the Door.

True Preaching we own, and do witness, in which is the Cross of Christ, and the Power God unto Salvation or Condemnation, it is foolishness to the World, and its wisdom, now as ever it was; and we deny all speaking of imaginations from the Scripture, which is in the wisdom of the World, and which stands in the will of man limitted to a set time, day or place.

Prayer by Spirit, and in the Spirit we own and witness, which is not limitted to a time and place: And we deny all the Worlds formal customary Preaching and Praying for a pretence.

Baptism we own and witness, which is, With one Spirit, into one Body, into the Death of Christ: And we deny all Baptisms which are imagined and imitated, by conforming the outward man to the outward Letter, which is but a likeness of the the true Baptism.

Communion we live in, which is, In the Light by the Spirit, which will en­dure eternally: and we deny the Worlds imitation, which is in word and decla­ration, and visible carnal things which will pass away.

Singing which is with the Spirit and with Understanding, of the redeemed of the Lord, we own and witness; but the Worlds singing in Rime and Meeter, proud men singing, That they are not puft in mind; and prophane men singing, That the Law of God is dear to them; this singing we deny, for it must be turned into howling, the Lord hath said it.

And here again, I charge it upon the Teachers of the World, That they deny the Substance and Power of what Christ commands his Saints to practice, by up­holding their own imitations, and so deceiving the People; but where the Sub­stance is witnessed, the figure is denyed, and the false imitations are discovered and denied: And mans free-will we do deny, for the will of man shall never enter to God, but leads out from God into the lust, and into the flesh, and, keeps in the power of the Devil; and man hath free-will unto that which is evil, but not to that which is good; and all who follow Christ the Light of the World, must de­ny their own wills, and take up the Cross of Christ, which is to the will, and walk in the Light, contrary to the will, in the strait Way which leads unto Life, which is out of the will of man, in the Will of God, which the will of man doth resist and oppose. And I charge it upon the Teachers and Professors, who do not witness the daily Cross of Christ, that they live in their own free-will, and holds it up, and are led by it, into pride, and coveteousness, and lusts of the flesh, which stand in the will; and here they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us, living in their own free-will, and walk not in the daily Cross of Christ.

And Self-righteousness we have denied, and have seen it in the same Light which Isaiah did, to be as filthy Rags; and we declare against it, and against them which live in it; for self must not be saved, it is accursed from God, it is wholly unrighteous (and makes the best of actions so) and is, and must be cast out from God: Christ Jesus made manifest and revealed in us is our Righteousness, and self is judged and condemned by him, who is made unto us Righteousness; neither do we teach People to labour in their own strength to obtain Life, but do direct People to the Light of Christ within them, which walking in, will be strength to them to lead them to Life; the Light which is of Christ, to which we direct all to wait in, to be taught by; it will lead out of self-righteousness, and from under the power of self, to witness the power of God, to lead, and to act, and to witness Christ Jesus revealed, the Righteousness of God. And the Church which is in God, which is the Body of Christ, whereof Christ is Head, we witness, and are members of it, gathered and joyned by the eternal Spirit, and not by tradition in the wisdom of man. And we deny all the Worlds Chur­ches, whereof they were made members by visible things without, and gathered by traditions (and not by the Spirit) whereof the Serpent is head (and not [Page 130] Christ) and which is the body of antichrist, some of which commits Idolatry i [...] an Idols-temple; and the ministry of this church we deny, for it stands in [...] will of man, and the Ministers of it are such as all the Servants of the Lord wit­nessed against: the Churches, the Ministry, and the Ministers are contrary to God; but the Ministry which is to the Seed, which is out of the will of man, we own and witness, which ministers Life unto life and Death unto death, and di­vides the Word aright, judgment to the fat and to the strong, and feeds the [...] ­gry, and looseth the Bars of wickedness, and breaks not the bruised Reed, [...] quencheth not the smoaking Flax; this Ministry we deny not, but are Friends unto it; and who are Ministers here, we have union withal; but proud men, and such as are called of men Masters are cast out of this Ministry, and are Mini [...] to the body of antichrist, and know not the Mystery of the Ministry of Jesus Christ, which is to the Spirit in Prison.

Magistrates and Magistracy we deny not, but do give respect unto for Con­science sake; for who bears the Sword of Justice, who use their power to be a terror to the wicked, and for the praise of them that do well, are Ministers of God; and we desire that there were more Magistracy here, and that the Magi­strate would more use his power, to be a terror to Lyars, to Swearers, to Drun­kards, to Railers, to false Accusers, and to proud Men, and Oppressors, this [...] are Friends unto; but to such as act by their own wills in corrupt Laws, and [...] thereby violence to the Innocent, and strengthen the hands of Evil-doers, we cannot be subject, but choose rather (then to transgress the Law of God, whi [...] is written in our hearts, by submitting to such mens wills and laws) to suffer by the corrupt wills of men, under corrupt laws for a moment.

And thus I have answered those false Accusations which are cast upon us, and [...] declare it to be the same spirit in the Teachers and People of this Generatio [...] which accuseth us, as it was in the Scribes and Pharisees, which accused Chr [...] and his Disciple; and this the Scripture witnesseth unto; as they did unto him, [...] would they do unto us.

HOw long ye crafty Fowlers will ye prey upon the Innocent, and [...] at him secretly? How long shall the Righteous be a Prey to your tee [...] ye subtil Foxes who seek to devour? The just One (against whom yo [...] Bow is bent) cryes for Vengeance against you in the ears of the Lor [...] yet you strengthen your hands in iniquity, and gird your selves with the zeal [...] Madness, and Fury; you think to swallow up the Harmless, and to blot out t [...] Name of the Righteous, that his Generation may not be found on Earth: Y [...] [Page] shoot your Arrows of cruelty, even bitter words, and makes the Innocent your Mark to prey upon: You dispise the Way of Uprightness; and Simplicity, and the path of craft and subtilty you tread; your Dens are in Darkness, and your mischief is hatched upon your beds of secret whoredoms. When will you cease to grind the face of the Poor, and to oppress the Humble, upon whom you tread in your vain glories, and outward shews of Holiness, as though you were the bles­sed People? And you are exalted above Innocency in your feigned Hypocrisie, and subtilty, and yet are found out with the searching Eye of the Lord, who knows your thoughts afar off to be wicked, and your purposes to be vain; and as with a Whirle-wind will he scatter you, and your name shall rot, and your memorial shall not be found; and the deeper you have digged the Pit for another, the greater will be your own fall, and the more miserable your desolation, which comes upon you suddenly, in a day you expect not: How are the Innocent, and he that is de­parted from iniquity become the Table-talk of the Prophane, and the Song of Drunkards? And how are we become the study-work of the Wise, and of the Lear­ned, and their subject of wicked doctrines: Surely the Diviner is gone mad, and the Wise-men are become Fools, and the heart of the Disobedient is set to do evil; but the Lord taketh our part against our Enemies, and therefore are we preserved, and our Enemies shall be confounded, and Lyars and Slanderers shall fall together, and the Innocency of the Innocent shall shine in its Beauty, and the vails of Re­proaches, and Slanders, and false Accusations shall be clean removed in the day of our God; and for a moment we are willing to submit under the present suf­fering, by slanderous tongues, that we may reign for ever. It is not unknown to many, how that in this day wherein the Lord hath made known his Power, to the gathering of his People, and to the bringing forth of his own Seed to inherit the Land of Peace; how that the powers of Darkness, and the strength of Hell is ri­sen, and joyned in a body to make war against the Lord, and to prevent his pur­pose; and men are sorely disquieted, and all is on an uproar, and to defend them­selves they are come forth, to vindicate their interest in the region of Darkness do they appear; and because their Kingdom is deeply invaded with the face of a dead­ly Enemy, therefore they have put on their strength, and fortified themselves, and shewed their strength and force under several colours; some in open Perse­cution, Imprisonments, and Beatings, and cruel Oppressions, and some in Scorn­ing, and Back-biting, and open Lying, and Slandering; and others appear in the Garments of deep dyed Hypocrisie, and Smite secretly, and Shoot in the Twi­light, between Profession and Prophaness, and forge secret Slanders, and Lyes, and seek the Life of the just One: And thus poor desolate Zion is compassed about with Enemies, and they lay siege against her, to make her an utter destruction (How long Lord, how long? hear and consider.)

And Iohn Bunyan, and his Fellow, who have joyned themselves to the broken Ar­my of Magog. Now in the heat of the day of great striving are not the least of all guilty among their Bretheren, of secret smiting the Innocent, with secret Lyes and Slanders; who have shewed themselves in defence of the Dragon against the Lamb, in this day of war betwixt them: And though some of their Party, which have shewed themselves before in the open Field have come off with loss and shame, and disadvantage; yet needs must the rest appear till they have filled up their mea­sure of wickedness, and so be made a perpetual curse for ever: and they must spend their strength till shame and confusion overtake them, and they be left with­out hope or stay, in the ditch of deep perdition, never more to rise up a­gain.

Friends I have viewed your discourse, and numbred up part of your work, and this is the sume thereof, A corrupted Grain of little value of Babylons Treasure, and if a Merchant of your traffique gain it, he cannot be the richer, yet doth your King (the Prince of Darkness) accept your labour, and your substance; for had you been more learned in his subtilty, and more stockt in his craft, a larger por­tion; and more to the purpose might have been brought in, but with such as you [Page] had, or could procure, from your Neighbours are you come, and have gained a report, and a name in the record of Mischief against the Lamb, and his Followers, whom you have made your subject to treat Lyes upon.

And for the sake of the Simple I have taken in hand to return a few words in an­swer to you, in those things (at least) wherein you mention the Quakers; who be­ing falsly accused, and slandered by you in many things; I am bound in the Law of Righteousness, as a Friend unto them, (at least) to vindicate their innocent Cause against your reproaches, which may be as a stumbling stone in the eye of the upright; & though I know not your faces, yet your spirit is tried & your generation is read at large, & your stature and countenance is clearly described to me; to be of the stock of Ishmael, and of the seed of [...]ain, whose line reacheth unto the murthering Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees; & though you profess Christ in words without you, yet are you found Enemies to him revealed within his Saints (without which there can be no Salvation) and this I find the subject matter of your discourse, and the length of your tedious travel: I shall not transcribe your whole matter, only the heads of some particulars I shall draw into a sum, and write a few words thereunto, not in a large manner.

And in the first Epistle have spoken something, As of God and man together, making up one Christ, who is the Saviour, &c. then thou shamelesly sayst, This is quite contrary to those commonly called Familists, Ranters, Quakers, and others, &c. Either deny Chris [...] to be a real Man without them, blaspemously fancying him to be God manifest in their flesh; or else make his human Nature, with the fulness of the Godhead in it, to be but a type [...] God, to be manifest in the Saints, &c.

1 Answ. Here thou hast (as thy Fore-fathers, the chief Priests and Persecuto [...] did) numbred the Innocent with Transgressors; Quakers with Ranters, between which there is no more union and likeness, then between Light and Darkness, good and evil; and thy secret subtilty more appears, and the wickedness of thy Slan­der, because thou hast joyned in thy Accusation such who may be guilty with the Guiltless; for the Ranters I will not justifie, neither at present the Familists, except I better knew their Principles; nor any others will I vindicate, who are guilty [...] thy Accusation: Though thou art condemned for numbring the Innocent in thy Accusation, and falsly hast secretly slandered the Guiltless, who are free from thy Slanders herein: But yet further I say, If thou darest lay thy charge only upon the Quakers, write thy meaning in plainness, and bring testimony of thy accu­sation, and thou mayst receive a further Answer; and cease to smite with secret Slanders in the dark, lest thou be condemned in the Light with the guilty, for numbring the Innocent with Transgressors, and charging the Guiltless with the Guilty. I dare not plead for Ranters, Quakers, and others, till they be sepa­rated, lest I should justifie the Wicked and condemn the Righteous, but thy wick­ed heart hath joyned them in accusation, that thy Slander may be covered, and some ground thou mayst have in appearance for thy wicked tongue, who hath hatched mischief against the Upright.

And thy second Slander is like-unto the first, where thou again unjustly numbers the Quakers with some high-flown People, and sayest, These high-flown People are i [...] this very like to Familists and Quakers, undervaluing the Lord Iesus Christ, God Man, and though they speak much of Christ, yet they do not savingly and rightly lay him for their Foun­dation, &c.

2 Answ. The sum of this broken confusion is thus much, Two Slanders upon the Quakers undervaluing the Lord Jesus Christ, &c. and not laying him as a Foundation, &c. though thou wilt not through thy subtilty separate the Guilt­less from them who may be guilty in thy Accusation, yet now must I in simplici­ty, in my return to thee, and cannot but openly charge thee to be a secret Shoot­er of Mischief against the Righteous: We prize the Lord Jesus Christ God Man to be precious unto us, and unto all that do believe, and have owned him alone to be the Foundation, whom God hath laid for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth, and in his Light are we saved, and therein do walk; and because hereof are we ha­ted by thee; and the Generation of Hirelings, and false Prophets, who speak [Page] much of Christ without you, but knows him not in you the hope of Glory, and take back to thee thy false Accusations, for thou art faln in the Pit which thou hast digged for another, a slanderous tongue dwells within thy house, and Christ Jesus the Saviour, of all that believe, is thy Condemner, who believes not, but art found a Lyar, and a false Witness, slandering unjustly, and by thy unbelief, and wickedness herein, undervalues Christ Jesus who is pure and holy, and is the Foun­dation of Righteousness and Peace, and not of Wrath and works of Darkness, wherein thou art builded in thy works of Mischief.

And for the rest of this first Epistle, I shall say little to it, only thus much is the mind of the Pen-mans spirit, secretly smiting at the Doctrine of true Faith and Salvation (to wit) Christ Jesus within, and directing altogether without, and afar off, and saying in his heart, who shall ascend, and who shall descend, and is not mindfull that the Word of Faith is in the Mouth, and in the heart, and thus much I say, if they be Reprobate who have not Christ in them, then is it the most profitable doctrine, and thing of greatest concernment to seek for him, and to find him within, seeing many can speak of him without, who are manifest Enemies to him in their hearts and works; and thus much to Iohn Burtons Epistle. Let him go learn what this means.

The next thing that I shall mind is this, in the second Epistle, where a Question is asked, Who are the men that at this day are so deluded by the Quakers, and other per­nitious Doctrines, but those who thought it enough to be Talkers of the Gospel, &c?

This man appears to be of the same spirit with his Fellow, and will more abound in Lyes, in respect of the number, then he that went before; and the sum of this transcribed is, That the Quakers are Deluders, and thou hast joyned them with a Thief also, and numbred the guiltless with the guilty, and hast shot secretly in the dark, and far missed thy aim; for thy bare words are no true witness, and thou must not both slander, and be Witness thy self; though I perceive thou may have the witness of all that walks in the broad-way to evidence falsly for thee. And this is no new invented Lye, for it hath been ever; the Children of God were counted De­ceivers, as in the Scripture we have a cloud of witnesses, and Christ Jesus our Lord was counted so by thy Generation; and as they did unto him, so must you do unto us, and must fulfil their measure of wickedness, as Christ hath said.

Answ. And this is my Answer in full, That way which thou calst Heresie, and delusion, do we worship the God of our Fathers, and are not ashamed of the Reproaches for his Name sake.

Then further thou sayest, They be such kind of people who at this day are car­ried away with the Quakers, namely, loose Ranters, and light Notionists, and here and there a Legallist, which were shaking in their Principles, &c.

Answ. The Substance of this is as much as the wise Scribes and Pharisees said concerning Christ, None believed in him, said they, but a company of poor people, which know not the Law, which were accursed; and doth any of the Rulers believe on him? Friend, though some of all sorts of people be brought to God, yet thou seemst to be offend­ed herewith, that the wicked should be turned from his wickedness, which is no evidence against us, that we are Deceivers, but an evidence against thee, in thy wicked slander, who hath brought forth thy Lies without fear, as though thou shouldst never in this life be put to prove them, nor in the time to come shouldst ever answer for them. But the Ranters, and light Notionists, and Thee we do deny, in that state wherein they and you do stand, till you turn to the Lord by repentance; and whatever you have been in your profession or practice, if you turn from your iniquity; we dare not deny you.

And whereas thou givest this Character of a Notionist, Such a one is puffed up in his fleshly mind, and advanceth himself above others, &c. This is thy own condition, and thou hast read thy own Character, who art pufft up in thy lies and slanders, and advancest thy self above the Innocent, who exceeds thee in faith towards God, and in good works towards men, and whose conversation is in Heaven; but thine is among the Hirelings, under the Marks of all the Deceivers of old, as may after­wards appear.

[Page 137] Then thou goes on, and sets down some of the Lyes which thou sayest the Devil perswads those men to believe.

And first, That Salvation was not fully and compleatly wrought out for sinners, by the ma [...] Christ Iesus, &c.

Answ. Friend, the Devil hath perswaded thee to believe Lyes, which is a degree higher, A Slander is more then a Lye. This Accusation is clearly false, wickedly cast upon us; for there is not salvation in any other, nor is it wrought by any other, but by Jesus Christ fully and compleatly it is brought forth by him unto every one that believes, who receives the Testimony of it in themselves; for if thou have no Testimony of it, but without thee, the Pope and his Idolaters have as much as thou, and may be more; take back to thee thy Lye again with shame and confusion.

Then thou goes on, and sayst, This is another of his Lyes wherewith he deceives; bid­ding them, follow the light that they brought into the World with them, telling them that this light will lead into the Kingdom, &c.

Thou hast here mixed Truth and a Lye together, this is falsly laid down (The light that they brought into the world with them) but this is the Truth of God, and no Lye of the Devil, That to follow the Light of Christ Jesus, wherewith he hath lightned every man that comes into the world, and it will lead into the Kingdom of Peace and righteousness; for, saith Christ, I am the Light of the World, he that fol­lows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life; and this is that which thou wouldst fain call the Lye of the Devil; and therefore to cover thy wicked­ness and impudency, thou hast changed and mixed the terms of words, that thou mayest have a ground for thy Slander; but thou art seen and comprehended, and thy folly appears.

Then thou sayest (we say) It will convince of Sin, Swearing, Lying, Stealing, &c. of Sins against the Law; and this thou makest a thing of little account, to be con­victed of sins against the Law, by the Light of Christ; for there is nothing else that doth convince of sin. (mind that) And this Light thou seems to acknowledge every man hath, and this Light I do affirm to be the Light of Christ Jesus, and to bid People follow this; the Light of Christ to lead into the Kingdom can be no Lye of the Devil; for he which convinceth of sins against the Law leads up into the fulfil­ling of the Law; and though thou and thy Generation would leap over the Law, yet must the righteousness of it in Judgment be fulfilled upon you, and by Christ Jesus in you, if ever you receive the Salvation to your Souls. Learn wh [...]t it means.

Much more thou ramblest over, which I pass by, as being not pertinent to the thing in hand; but Fools love to be meddling, though little to the purpose, and as I have said, thy Maker will not blame thee, for thou hast brought in of thy chiefest substance, though it be but as Clay, and as Dirt (at least that of it which is against the Quakers;) and the substance of many Pages following is this that I have gathered, denying (or at least opposing) Christ revealed within, and in opposition to this quotes many Scriptures, of what he did in his own Person, which Scriptures I own, and the Truth which they bear witness of; yet must we be [...] witness, that without the Revelation of Christ within there is no Salvation: Howe­ver, so much is or may be spoken of him without, as the Pope can do as well as thou, yet are you found to be one Generation, persecuting the Life under the ze [...]l of profession of the words.

Then the next thing that I mind, is a Question which thou hast asked thy­self.

Do not the Scriptures make mention of Christ within, &c?

And I shall ask further, Doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ within, are Reprobates? But thou hast proved deceitful in answering thy self, and shuffled, and I may much fear thou wilt not be faithful in answering mine, however it rests upon thee to answer it, or to stop thy mouth.

Then the next thing is thou sayest, This design of deceiving, the Devil carries o [...], by pretending if they follow what is made known to them from the Light within.

[Page 141] Answ. I observe all thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within, which Christ hath given to every man; and thy whole work is to render his [...]ight odious. But this I further answer. The design of the Devil in deceiving souls, is thy own, and I turn it back to thee, but this is truth as it is in Jesus. He that comes to eternal Life must follow and walk in what is made known by the Light of Christ within.

And thou sayest, Beg of God to convince thee by his holy Spirit, &c.

And thus thou utterest thy confusion, sometime treating for it, and sometime against it, secretly smiting the Just, mixing the Truth with Lyes, that thereby thy Slanders may be covered, and thy deceit hid.

The rest of thy Epistle I pass by, being from the same spirit which thy Lyes are from; and thy Lying Spirit the Children of God cannot own, and therefore must needs deny that which proceeds from it. And thus much in answer to thy Epistle.

Sixteen of thy first Pages are filled with this (to wit) proving that there is a Christ, and that he was promised, and that he was waited for, and expected, &c. To all this I shall say nothing, except thou hadst proved it in opposition to some body; for what is Truth I own by the Spirit of the Lord, as it is Truth in Christ; but as it comes from thy lying spirit, I do not so well own it; I own the words, and I de­ny thy voice, and this is my Answer.

Only I find thee wresting some Scriptures, whether through subtilty, or for want of wit, I shall not judge, especially this hast thou encreased, Revel. 13. 8. and faisly sayst, The Blood of Christ was shed before the World was; and it is, Since the Foundation of the World; betwixt which is great difference, the one being a very Lye, and the other very Truth.

Then thou goest on proving, That he is the Saviour that was born of Mary, &c. which thing we never denied, and therefore I need the less to answer thee, except thou hadst spoken it in opposition to us, which I find thee not altogether, un­til the thirty seventh Page, where thou again secretly smitest, in mixing some Truth with thy Lye.

And thou sayest, How horribly are those deceived, who look on Iesus to be but a Sha­dow or Type?

This is thy Lye, I know not any who do it, and yet thou sayest, Of something that was afterwards to be revealed, &c.

Answ. This hath some truth in it, which is this, The same Christ which was born of Mary, which wrought Righteousness in his Person, by doing, and suf­fering; which was & is the Substance, was afterwards revealed in the Saints: And this is no horrible deceit, to witness Christ revealed, or to wait for him to be revealed within. Then thou sayest, When he was come, then was an end put to the Law, &c. And here I ask a Question, Did Christ Jesus put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law? or doth be justifie that which the Law con­demneth before the work of the Law be finished? What is the meaning of the Scripture, Not one tittle shall fail, till all be fulfilled? What assurance have any that it is fulfilled for them, who are yet transgressors of it in themselves? An An­swer to this may satisfie the simple.

Then thou goest on and sayst, How are they deceived that think to obtain Salvation by following the convictions of the Law, which they call Christ, &c?

Answ. Here thou confessest the Law convinceth, then it is not put to an end, or fulfilled, or taken away, because it yet works; and it is no deceit to mind that which doth convince of sin, to lead to Christ, to take sin away; for the Scrip­ture saith, The Law is a School-Master, to bring to Christ; but thou art in the de­ceived state, who healest up falsly, and daubest with untempered Morter, and wouldst teach People to apply the Promises unto Salvation, while they are in a con­dition of damnation, condemned in the sight of God by the Light in their own Consciences, nor will not own that which discovers sin; and how then can they own him that takes it away, and purges from it by his Blood? which thou sayest is [Page 142] done, but hast no more witness of it, by the fruit of ceasing to commit sin, then the Pope hath, who lives in your sin; then how is it taken away?

Then thou sayest with an impudent Tongue, Its not of works, least any man should boast, as these fond Hypocrites called Quakers would do.

Answ. Thou Slanderer, When didst thou hear any of the Quakers boast, or see them live in Hypocrisie: God shall judge thee thou deceitful heart; but further I answer by a Query, Will that faith which is without works justifie? And must not every one receive according to their deeds; he that doth good, Life, he that doth evil, Condemnation? but such is thy faigned fancy of Faith, who seekest to be justified by it, whilst thou bringest forth the fruits of unbelief.

Then thou speakest of living by Faith, which as thou sayest, Is to apply the Lord Iesus Christ, his Benefits, as Birth &c.

I say, if to talk of him was Faith in him, and to live by his Faith, then few would want him; for many have gotten the words which are without the Life of Righteousness through Faith, and to live by Faith; says not who shall ascend or descend to fetch Christ for Salvation; neither doth it say, When shall he come from afar ot save his People, but Faith speaks thus, What saith the word of the Gospel, which is within the heart, as thou mayst read in the Scripture of Truth; hadst thou but an ear to hear, but thou sayest, Lo here, and Lo there, false Prophet like.

Then thou sayst further, How are they deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the World began, &c?

Answ. Here thou hast discovered thy self more plainly, Did not the Saints own Christ Jesus the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, for Salvation; and is there any other Christ then he who was before Abraham was, and is he not now glorified with the same glory, (mind the same Glory) which he had with the Fa­ther before the World was, according as he prayed? is this deceit, or is it thy grievous ignorance to call it so, to own him as he was before the World was for Salvation? thou ignorant man, that was the very Christ the Son of God, who was equal with the Father, which was in the beginning, and in time was mani­fest in Bethelem, and calls himself the Light of the World; thou hadst better have said nothing, then by multitude of words to lay open thy shame: Friend that spiritual Rock whcih the Fathers did eat and drink of, which followed them, that Rock was Christ the Salvation.

The next thing that I take notice of, is thy exposition upon that Scripture Iob. 4. 3. And thou sayest this is the meaning, Every Spirit that doth not confess that th [...] Christ that was with the Father before the World was, did in the appointed time of the Fa­ther come into the World, took upon him a Body, and was very Man, as well as very God, &c.

Answ. If every spirit be of God which doth in words confess this, then is not the Pope himself antichrist, seeing he confesses as much of this (it may be more then thou dost) neither canst thou justly condemn us for denying this; for we do confess it with our hearts, and not only with our mouthes, as thou and the Pope doth. But Friend, Is every one saved that saith, Lord, Lord? nay, it is only he that doth the will of the Father, and who in many Nations do not con­fess this to be true, and yet there are but few in all Nations in the Way to Life, that shall be saved by Christ Jesus; and it is not much better nor more accepted to confess Christ in words to be come, and yet in works to deny him, then it is both in words and in works to deny him; the one is wicked in Prophaness, the other is wicked in Hypocrisie; the one is a Lyar, the other is a false Wit­ness, and whether of these are most vile, let them who are spiritual judge.

Then thou exhortest, To receive no Christ except God's Christ, &c.

To this I say, The Christ of God is a Mystery not known to the World, and this is he which was in the beginning, whom God gave into the World, to be the Light and Saviour thereof, even he is God's Salvation unto the ends of the Earth; and unto him he is Light, and shall be Salvation and Redmeption where his Person [Page 143] never came; and yet it cannot be said, Here is the Place where the Son of God is not. Let him that reads understand.

Then thy next thing is, proving many things concerning Christ, which I pass by as not having any thing therein against the Quakers, only in one particular, where thou numbers again them with the Ranters, so that I pass by also, lest thou should say I justifie the Ranters, and do rather choose to let the Innocent lie under the suf­fering of thy reproach, whose innocency will appear when thy black vail of Lyes is taken away.

Then the next thing I mind is, where thou seems to reprove the Quakers for wresting the Scripture, Iohn 1. 9. whereby thou sayest, They split themselves, and endeavour to split others, &c.

Answ. Wresting is thy own, and not ours, for we take the Scripture in plain words, without adding or diminishing, as our enemies shall witness for us. Then how wickedly dost thou say we wrest it, when we neither add nor diminish. But thy folly must appear by thy much meddling.

And then thou takest in hand to speak to the thing, and thus thou sayst; Every man, as he comes into the World, receives a light from Christ, as he is God, &c.

Answ. What less hast thou said then we, except thou wilt say, he hath not lighted man as he is Christ, and so divide the Father, and the Son, which is error; for what the Father doth, the Son doth also, and they are equal in power and ope­ration, and cannot be divided.

Then thou sayst, This Light is Conscience, that some call Christ, though falsly.

Answ. Them I leave for thee to reprove, and do deny them, and thee together; if thou hast not falsly made a Lye of some Body, and told thy own Lye, through the wresting of their words, let the Light in thy Conscience judge.

Then thou sayest, This Light will shew a man there is a God, and will discover the eternal God by his works, and it will reprove of sin, and make sin manifest, and by it the un­regenerate man is able to know the sins against the Law are sins against God, &c.

Answ. Also this will the Light of Christ do, wherewith he hath enlightened every man to Salvation, or condemnation, even that Light of which we declare: so that thou hast said no less hitherto, then we in this particular and the Scriptures say. They saw the Eternal Power and Godhead, by that which was made mani­fest of God in them, (mind, in them) which once they knew of God, but turned from it; and the Scripture saith, That which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God, John 16. and also the Scripture saith, That which makes manifest sin is Light, and whatsoever is reproved is made manifest by the Light, even the true Light the Apostle speaks of, Ephes. And the sum of all this which thou wouldst reprove in us, is no more then the Scriptures bare witness of, and which thy self hath uttered and confessed. And Friend, dost thou know this Light that is given of Christ and God, unto every man, is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation unto every one that be­lieves? if thou say it is not, wherein is the blame, in God, or in this Light, or in the Creature? shew if thou canst.

Then thou again sayst, This light surely is that wherewith Christ, as he is God, hath enlightned every one that comes unto the Word which doth convince of sin.

Answ. Thus far thou art forced to confess Truth, (I think against thy mind) and thus far in words only we agree as in this particular; then why dost thou say, By wresting that Scripture, John 1. 9. we split our selves, and endeavour to split others, seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then thou callst wresting in us. I reckon up thy confusion, and leave it for thee to read, and them to whom this may come.

Then thou sayst, The neglect of this (Light) will be sure to damn, though the obedience to the Law will not save them, &c.

Answ. Here again thou hast confessed truth. If the neglect of the Light will be sure to damn, as thou confessest; then I say, surely it is not good to neglect it, that must needs follow, deny it if thou canst; therefore the sum of thy words is the same with us, that every one mind the Light of Christ Jesus, least they be [Page 144] damned for the neglect of it. And Friend, to the second part of the clause, I say, the Law must be obeyed, and the righteousness of it fulfilled within thee, if ever thou come to Eternal Life; if it be not, thou cannot escape damnation. Learn what this means,

Then further thou sayst, Though Christ doth give a Light to every one that comes into the World; yet it doth not therefore follow, that this Conscience (or Light) is the Spirit of Christ, or the work of Grace wrought in the heart, &c.

Here thy confusion is seen at large, who wouldst seem to divide between the Light of Christ, which thou confessest is given to every man, and the Spirit of Christ, and the Grace of God. However thus far I say, the Light of Christ given to every man, is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ, nor to the Grace of God, but one in their nature; and a man cannot possibly love one of them, and hate ano­ther; neither can any obey one of these, and disobey the other; therefore are they one in the union, leading in the same way unto the same end. And where doth the Spirit of Christ give light, or the Grace of God work, or lead, if not in the Conscience? And can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to, to walk to Life, or to come to God by, then the Light of Christ in the Conscience, which thou confessest every man hath that cometh into the World?

Then thou sayst, Heathens, Turks, Iews, Athiest, &c. have that that doth convince them of sin, yet are so far from having the Spirit of Christ in them, that they delight to serve their lust, &c.

Answ. This Query I ask of thee, Do they or thou, or any man serve sin or your lusts, because Christ hath not given you light to discover your sin, or because you hate that Light that is given? answer me. And surely by this which doth convince of sin, is every man in the world inexcusable, so it works for God in all men, either to justifie or condemn. And tell me, is not the Spirit or Light of Christ the only thing which doth convince of sin? Or doth any thing convince of sin contrary, or besides, or without the Spirit of Christ? if nay, then it must needs be that it is from, or by, or something of the nature of the Spirit of Christ, which is in the Heathens. And the sum of thy doctrine is no less in the profession of thy words, then what we say; then why dost thou condemn us? But it seems thy tongue speaks one thing, and another thing is in thy heart, and this is Hypocrisie.

Then thou sayest, Those that are alive to sin have not the Spirit of Christ, &c. But I say it is given to every man, though every man receives it not; and it strives with the wicked man, though he follows it not. And some other vain Arguments thou usest to prove, That every man hath not the Spirit of Christ, which I pass by; only thus much I leave with thee, till thou provest the Light of Christ (which thou confessest every may hath) to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ; I shall say every man hath that which is one in union, and like the Spirit of Christ, even as good as the Spirit of Christ, according to its measure.

Then thou goest on, and sayest, That the Devil might be sure to deceive (or to that purpose) he saith, Turn thy mind inward, and listen within, and see if there be not that within thee that doth convince of sin, &c.

Answ. Thou hast confessed that the Light within which convinces of sin is the Light of God and Christ; and now thou sayest, the Divil, to deceive souls, bids turn to mind the Light within, which doth convince of sin; thou hast, lyed of the Devil: Oh thou blind Priest! whom God hath confounded in thy language; Was ever such a thing spoken, That the Devil can deceive any by the Light of Christ, or that he uses any such doctrine. Friend it is the Voice of the Gospel to bid listen within to the Light, even to the Word of Faith, within the heart, as Paul preached.

But thou further sayst, They are ignorant of the Gospel, who clasp in with these Mo­tions of the Light within, (or Conscience) which doth command to abstain from the evil, and to practice good.

And here thou hast shewed thy blindness and ignorance, more then can be ut­tered, [Page] as though the motions of the Light of Christ in the Conscience, which command to abstain from evil, and to practice good, were another thing then the Light of the Gospel: what, and how doth the Light of the Gospel work, if not in the Conscience, and to command from evil, and to practice good? Surely thou preachest another Gospel then Paul preached: for his Doctrine was, Abstain from all evil, and follow that which is good, and listen to the word within in the heart; but this Gospel thou deniest, and so must needst preach another Gospel, and so art the accursed, as Paul saith.

Then thou sayst, Thus the poor Soul is most horribly carried away head-long, &c. into the belly of Hell, &c. thus much is the sum, by turning the mind within, to the Light which doth convince of sin, and listning thereto, and clapsing with the motions in the Conscience which do command to abstain from evil, and to practice good, and closing with something within (which thou hast confessed is the Light of Christ) hereby, or thus is the poor Soul carried headlong, and at the end of its life doth fall into the belly of Hell, as thou sayst.

Let shame cover thee, if thy heart be not altogether hardned; was ever such Doctrine preached? surely, malice hath carried thee out of sence, else thou wouldst not have uttered these things, but it is answer enough to reckon thy con­fusion up into a sum, and I leave it to every honest heart to read, and judge thereof.

Then thou further sayst, The Devil counterfeits the works of Grace, and makes the Soul believe, if it will be led by what is made known unto it, by the Light or Conscience with­in, it shall do well.

Answ. Wo unto thee that callst good evil, and evil good; Art thou not ashamed to utter thy mind so wickedly, and impudently? doth the Light of Christ within deceive? or is not this Christs Doctrine, I am the Light of the World, he that fol­lows me shall have the Light of Life; and he that walks in the Light stumbles not? and this shamelesly hast thou called the Doctrine of the Devil; but if ever thou knowst God it must be by following, and by being led with the Light within, which God hath made known unto thee, else the Light is thy condemnation eternally.

Then thou sayst, The Devil counterfeits the new birth, by perswading it is wrought by following the Light of the World, &c.

Answ. This Doctrine is as wicked as the former, and from as lying a spirit; but answer me, By what is the New-birth wrought? and how, if not by following the Light of Christ in the Conscience? is there any other way to God but Christ Jesus, who hath lighted every man that comes into the World? and whereas thou beginst to scorn, in thy vain mind, at living upon Bread and Water, and wear­ing no Hatbands, and not speaking except the Spirit moves, &c. The Scorner and the Lyar go together, the Lord rebuke thee thou false deceitfull heart, and lying tongue; it grieves thy lust to know any to live upon bread and water, and it tor­ments thy pride, that any should forsake their pride; and it is easily known of what spirit thou art, and that thou goest on in thy own will, before God leads thee, and scornst to wait till the Spirit of God moves upon thee, or scornst them that do wait; but thou runst, and art not sent, like unto thy Fore-fathers; and therefore thou dost not profit people at all.

Then thou accusest us of sad Blasphemies, and horrible Doctrines, but namest no­thing, and so slanderst without witness; and take back thy own words, for they belong to thee, as is sufficiently proved in this Answer to thy Book, let the wise in heart judge: And thou hast said, Thou wonderst, that the ground do not open and swal­low us up, or else the Devil fetch us away alive, &c. And this most fully discovers thy spirit to be without the fear of God in any measure, who utterst such wicked Lan­guage, for which thou hast no example among all the Children of God; and is not this horrible Doctrine, and little less then sad Blasphemies? It is answer suf­ficient to gather up thy confusion, and send it thee to read; if there be any honesty in thy heart, repent, and cease thy wickedness, lest God smite thee with a Curse, and make thee an Example of Destruction.

Then thou goest on, and hast asked thy self a Question; Is it not the Spirit of Christ that doth make manifest, or convince of Sin? The Question is good, but thou [Page 146] hast consounded it in thy Answer, and not answered plainly, but hast covered Truth under the vail of thy many words: Thou sayst, There are two things that do make manifest, and convince of Sin; first, the Law; and secondly, the Spirit of Christ. I query further, Doth any thing convince of sin contrary to the Spirit of Christ? if not, then that which doth convince of sin is like unto, or one in the Union, or something as good in its Nature as the Spirit of Christ; and thou instancest in Iudas, whom thou sayst was convinced of sin by the Law, without the Spirit of Christ; to which I say, the Law of God is spiritual, and is not contrary, but one with the Spirit of Christ in its union, (at least) and that which let him see Christ to be innocent, was not words, syllables without him, but must needs be within him; so if I should say the Spirit of Christ was not in him, yet was the Work of the righteous Law of God written in his heart, which is spiritual, and Christ Je­sus was not without his own testimony in Iudas, which is Light, by which Iudas was, and is condemned eternally; And though Iudas was at the same time posses­sed of the Devil, as thou sayest, yet there was that within him also, which disquieted, and tormented the Devil, which discovered the Devil with his works, by which he saw his murderous mind, and the Blood of the Just One, I say; it needs must be contrary to the Devil, and to his works, which condemned him; I call it the Light of God, which is spiritual, call it what thou canst.

Then thou goest on, and seems to shew a difference betwixt being convinced by the Law without the Spirit of Christ, and the convincement by the Spirit of Christ, but art confounded in thy discourse.

I say the power of the Law of God is spiritual, and though thou make a little thing of it to be convinced by the Law, of sins against the Law, yet I make it a thing of weight; And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the World, and men love darkness rather then Light, because their deeds are evil; and the Law is Light, as saith the Scripture; and Christ is come to discover and reprove sin; and I put thee to prove in all the Scripture where any such thing ever was distinguished, as something to convince of sin, without, and besides, or contrary to the Spirit of God; and till thou provest it, thus far I have answered thee concerning it.

Then thou sayst, Though some say, they are not only convinced of Sin, but have gotten some power over it, to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law; yet thou further sayst, This may be done as those blind Pharisees, called Quakers, think they do, and be but natural men, &c.

Answ. Thou perverter of the right Way of God; how long wilt thou go on in thy uncleanness, uttering thy wrath against the Simple? It seems, to get power over sin, and to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law is a thing of no value with thee; but is it not further then thou ever camest? let that of God in thy Con­science judge and answer, and shew me if ever any natural man did it through­out the Scripture: And as for the Pharisee, it is thy own, I return it to thee again; thou art called of men Master, and hast the chief Seat in the Assembly, and standst praying in the Synagogues, as they did in Christs time. Friend, how fain wouldst thou clear thy self to make others guilty; but the guilt stands at thy door, and rests upon thy own head, and I rather chuse to be of that profession which ab­stains from those things forbidden in the Law, and to have power over sin, then to live in the transgression of the Law, and under the power of sin: Yet talking of belief in the Son of Mary, whose Name (Mary) I may have ground to judge thou worshipst as the Papists do; and the same I say, much as Paul did, The uncir­cumcision of such who keep the Law, shall condemn thee, in thy false faith, who breakst the Law.

Then thou again confessest, That Christ, as God, hath enlightened every man that comes into the World with the Law which doth convince of Sin; but to this I have spoken, so shall pass it, only mind the Scripture which thy self hast quoted, The Law is Light, then the Light is the Law, and gives the knowledge of sin. Then thou sayst, If the Spirit of Christ convince thee of Sin, then it convinces of more Sins then against the Law. And to this I say, It seem there is some sin, against which there [Page 147] is no Law, by thy confused Story, or that the Law is not against all sin: Friend, shew, if thou canst, any sin which is not against the Law; if thou canst not, Repent, and cease thy confusion.

Then thou speakst against self-righteousness, but hast forgotten to reprove thy self, of thy Lying, and Slandering, and false Accusing; and it is thou that preach­est another Gospel then the Apostle preached; he directed every one to the Word within, in the heart, and turned to the Light within, from darkness; but thou di­rects altogether to a thing without, dispising the Light within, and worshipping the Name (Mary) in thy imaginations, and knowst not him who was before the World was, in whom alone is Salvation, and in no other. Then thou sayest, The Light convinceth of Sins, but of no other then Sins against the Law; as though there were some sins which were not against the Law; but to that I have spoken.

And thou sayst, It doth not shew the Soul a Saviour, or Deliverer, &c.

Answ. Thou art here in a Lye, for the Light which comes from Christ doth ma­nifest a Saviour, and Deliverer, and nothing else; for if the Light of Christ doth not shew Christ, what then can, unto every one that walk in the Light?

Then the next thing thou provest is, That God only is our Saviour, there is none beside him, &c. But how contrary is this to that in page 42. where thou sayest, They are wickedly deluded, who own Christ no otherwise, but as he was before the World was, for Sal­vation: For if God be the Saviour, and there is none beside him, then it is no de­lusion to own him as he was before the World was; and thus I sum up thy confusi­on and contradictions, and leave them for thee to read.

The next thing I observe is, where thou art proving the Resurrection, and slander­est the Quakers with making light of it; but yet again wickedly numbring them with other Infidels, that thou mightst have a cover for thy slander; but I put thee to prove, where they made light of the Resurrection; or else prove thy self a Lyar in the sight of all Just men; thou secretly slanderest, but proves nothing.

Then thou hast raised a Query from Ephes. 4. 10. but hast not answered it; though many words thou hast uttered, yet little to the purpose; and I return thee the same query again to answer; and many other things, and Arguments thou hast made, to which I shall say little, only mind thee of thy carnal sottishness, who speakst of Christ to be four or five foot long; let shame cover thy Lips, thou blind Sot; when didst thou see Christ in that length? hast thou not here spoken of that which thou knowst not, and art a busy body intruding into things, whereof thou art ignorant, but Fools love to be medling, to manifest their own folly, among whom thou art; and much more stuff, which I pass by, as not worth naming; only thy malice is against the Kingdom of Heaven within, and utters thy carnal sensual knowledge of the things of God, which thy imaginations shall never know.

The next thing I observe is, where thou reckonst the Quakers to be the false Prophets which Christ speaks of, which shall be before his coming, and to be the Scoffers which walks after their own hearts lust which Peter speaks of.

Answ. To which I answer; those false Prophets which Christ spake of, came in, in the dayes of Iohn; For, saith he, by this we know that it is the last time; for now are there many Antichrists; and this was before a Quaker was heard of; And if we should diligently search, we should find thee in their steps, through feigned words, through coveteousness, making Merchandise of Souls, loving the wages of unrighteousness, and such were the Scoffers, which Peeer speaks of, among whom thou art found, in thy practice, among them who are preaching for hire, & love the error of Balaam, who took gifts and rewards; and Christ hath said, we shall know you by your Fruits; and the same Fruits that ever were brought forth among the false Prophets of old, grow among you in many things I could instance; but he is wholly blind that sees you not. Before thou wast accusing us of drinking water, and now thou accusest us of walking after our own lusts; but such is thy confusion, thy wrath overcomes sense.

Then thou speaks of some who told thee to thy face, thou usedst conjuration and witchcraft, because what thou preachedst was according to Scriptures, &c.

To which I say, Let the guilty be reproved, for we deny thy Accusation to be [Page 148] true upon any of the Quakers, which some may think thou speakst of; so thy Accusation rests between thee and them, and we are clear; for every Truth which the Scriptures bear witness of, we do own, and do not condemn any for preaching according to the Scriptures.

Then the next thing I observe, is thy crying so loud against Christ within, which indeed is the only thing, without which there is no Salvation; for, Except Christ be in you, you are Reprobates.

And this also I observe from thee, as having traced thy path unto the end, and numbred thy work into a total sum, which is a secret smiting and obscure shoot­ing against the Manifestation or Belief of Christ within, which there can be no Salvation without, as I have proved; and in words only I find thee exalting Christ without, and worshipping the name of (Mary) like the Pope, I have good ground so to judge.

And whereas thou callest the Doctrine of Christ within false Opinions, and take [...] in hand to discover it, as in Page 203. I say to all honest men, who have but any knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture, thou art hereby sufficiently discovered, who callst the chief thing, which is the chief unto Salvation, and without which can be none, false Opinions; God shall judge thee, thou wicked heart; and much more I need not say, but shall leave this to the view of any that are honest to judge; so have gone through thy Book, and passed by many things; only I have spoken to that in which thou hast treated any thing upon us; and the Truth I have cleared from many Lyes and Slanders, and thy Vail of false Reproaches is rent, and our Innocency doth partly appear, and thy vail of Hypocrisie is a little removed, and thy deceitfull heart weighed and seen: And as for the rest of thy Book whicg I have not medled with, thus much I say of it, I suppose you will confess it was all given forth by one spirit, and it is proved some of it is given forth by a lying spirit; then let the Reader judge what the rest of it can be; though the words be true, yet is thy spirit false, and at the best, what thou hast said, is but bearing false witness (as to thy self) of a true thing; I own the words, and I deny the voice; and here I deal plainly with thee.

Thou then askst a Question; Doth not the Scripture speak of Christ within? unto which I further add, answer it as thou canst.

Doth not the Scripture say, Christ is within except you be Reprobates? And is not this thus much; all are reprobate but they in whom Christ is within? Answer i [...] plainness, and darken not knowledge by words without wisdom. And towards the end I find thee making up the sum of thy wickedness with this, numbring the Quakers with Ranters, Sin, Death, and the Devil: I will not bring a railing Accu­sation against thee; but the Lord rebuke thee thou unclean spirit, who hast falsly accused the Innocent to clear thy self from guilt; but at thy door guilt lodges, and I leave it with thee; clear thy self if thou art able. And thy wicked Reproaches we patiently bear, till the Lord appear for us: and we are not greater then our Lord, who was said to have a Devil by thy Generation; and their measure of wickedness thou fulfils, and art one of the Dragons Army, against the Lamb and his Followers; and thy Weapons are Slanders, and thy Refuge is Lyes, and thy work is confused, and hath hardly gained a name in Babylons Record; and by us (so much of it at least as is against us) is cast by as our spoiled prey, and trampled upon in all thy reproachfull speeches, who art unclean, and of more price to us is thy hatred and envy, then thy love can be, except the g [...]und were better in which you stand.

Now a few words I may write in Answer to the Queries in the end of thy Book, which thou directst thus ‘Some Questions to the Quakers, or a few Queries to those possessed with a Spirit of delusion in this Generation.’

Question 1. If (sayst thou) that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him; why say the Scriptures, That some are sensual, having not the Spirit, a [...] Christ saith, The World cannot receive it? John 14.

Answ. Some men are sensual, and have not the Spirit, because they received it [Page 149] not, & some cannot receive it, because they believe not in him from whence it comes, yet is the measure of the Spirit given unto every man to profit withal, as the Scripture saith. And it is given to within him, to reprove him of sin, but few do receive it; and when thou canst learn to distinguish between a thing being gi­ven, and a receiving of such a thing, then thou mayst be answered in thy self. It is one thing in God to give the Spirit, and another thing in the Creature to re­ceive it: He gives it to many that receive it not, to follow it and to be guided by it: thus far I answer, and let them that are led with a spirit of Delusion answer thee further.

Qu. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by, from under the Law; is it by some­thing that is done within them, or by something done without them? If it be redeemed by something that worketh in them, then why did the man Christ Iesus hang upon the Cross in Mount Calvery, without the Gates of Jerusalem, for the sins of his People, and why do the Scriptures say, That through this man is preached unto us forgiveness of sins? &c.

Answ. The Church of God is redeemed by Christ Jesus, which is revealed within all that believe; and Christ Jesus wrought in them mightily, and it was he that wrought in them to will and to do; this is plain according to Scripture. And the man Christ Jesus was hanged upon the Cross on Mount Calvery, because they wickedly judged him to be a Blasphemer, and through their envy persecuted him to death, because he bore witness against them; and as in their account he died, and hanged upon the Cross for an Evil-doer, and this is one ground (at least) why he hanged upon the Cross; and the Scriptures say, That through this man is prea­ched the forgiveness of sins, because there is no other that can forgive sin, nor the blood of any other thing that can take away sin; but the Blood of God, as it is written. And thus far I answer: If thou wilt have more, seek it from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion.

Qu. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is, or was crucified within you, ri­sen within you, ascended within you?

Answ. There is no Scriptures that mention any one of our particular names; and thy Query is raised from thy mis-understanding of us, so I judge; but Christ is within us, that we dare not deny; and he is the Lamb that was slain in the streets of the great City, which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt, (mind spiritual­ly) and he is now risen, and ascended, this we know through Faith in his Name: And I leave thee to receive a fuller Answer from them that are led with a spirit of Delusion (if they will give it thee.)

Qu. 4. Is that very man that was crucified on Mount Calvery, between two Thieves, whose Name is Iesus, the Son of Mary, is he the very Christ of God, ye or nay?

Answ. Yea, he is the very Christ of God, which was before the World was, by whom the World was made, who was made manifest from Mary's womb, and was persecuted to death by the Scribes and Pharisees, in whose steps thou treadst, in asking subtil Queries to insnare the Innocent, as they did; read thy Example, and thy self to be an Enemy to the Christ of God.

Qu. 5. Is that very Man, with that very Body, within you, yea or nay?

Answ. The very Christ of God is within us, we dare not deny him; and we are Members of his Body, and of his Flesh, and of his Bone, as the Ephesians were: They that are led by a spirit of Delusion shall answer the rest of this thy Query, if they will.

Qu. 6. Was that very Iesus that was born of the Virgin Mary, a real man of Flesh and Bones, after his Resurrection from the dead, out of Josephs Sepulchre, ye or nay? for the Scrpiture saith he was, and if so, then did that Man go away from his Disciples, and not into them in his Body, as the Scriptures declare? or did he with that Body of Flesh go into his Disciples, as some fond Dreamers think?

Answ. What the Scriptures speak of Christ we own to be truth, and own him to be what the Scriptures speak of him, and all mens imaginations of him we deny, [Page 150] and their fals [...] interpretations of the Scriptures concerning him; and let the fond Dreamers who are in their thoughts be reproved; for we dare own nothing to be truth but what the Spirit of the Lord bear [...] witness of according to the Scripture, thus far I anwer in behalf of the Quakers; let them who are led with the spirit of Delusion answer the rest which concerns themselves.

Qu. 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the Father before the World was, no other Body but his Church, if you say no, as it is your wonted course? Then again I aske you, What was that in which he did bear the sins of his Chrildren; if you say it was his own Body on the Tree, then I ask you, whether that Body in which he did bear our sins, was, or is the Church of God, yea, or nay? Again if you say he hath no Body but his Church, then I ask, what that was that was taken down from the Cross, &c?

Answ. In this thou hast not only queried, but Slandered; therefore first thy Slander I do remove, It is not our wonted course to say, that Christ hath no other Body but his Church; thou art herein as in other things, a false Accuser, but we say the Church is Christ's Body: And it is sufficient for Salvation to know Christ Jesus to be head in us, and over us, and our selves to be Members of his Body, and what thou intendst by making so many foldings in one Query; it may be judged is to insnare, and in that thou answerest thy self for us in somthing, that thou mayst have a further ground to lay a deeper snare; we do deny thee, and thy spirit, and see thee to be only feeding in thy imaginations upon the report of things without the Life, and thy religion stands in disputes, and controversies, and querying, and many words; but our Religion stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God and towards man, whether we speak or be silent

Thus I have answered thy Queries, or so much of them as concerns us; and as I have said, if thou wilt be further answered, go seek an Answer from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion, and let them answer their part, or else be thou unsatisfied; for I shall not answer them to satisfie thee, nor I may not feed thy Serpents wisdom, nor subtilty, which cannot receive of the things of God, not understand a reason of the Hope of Christ in us, if we declare it to thee: For all throughout thy Book I do observe it is that which thou strikest against, even Christ within, which is our Hope of Glory: And it is that Mystery which long hath been hid from Ages and Generations, but now is made manifest and declared. And though the wise of the World cannot receive it, but speak evil against it, yet is it dear unto us, and so much more precious, because despised by such as thee, and thy Generation. And such things are a testimony to us, and against you; and go thou with them that are led with a spirit of Delusion, for you are one in Nature, and the Children of God, who are redeemed, cannot but deny you together.

THe Lord from Heaven, in this his day, is risen and come forth, to make War with all his Enemies, being the fulness of time, wherein his pur­pose is to cut down, and destroy the man of sin, by the power of his coming; and he must reign, whose right it is; and of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end, and Nations shall flow into it, and Kings shall lay down their Crowns at his Feet, whom God hath appointed to exalt in his Throne of Righteousness and Judgment; and the war is proclaimed in his Name, & the Standard of the Lord is set up before him, to gather together the Nations, to fan them and to try them; and to search and to seek out his own, where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day, and a prey made upon them, by every wild Beast of the Mountain: But the Lord hath opened his Ear to the cry of the Just, and his Bowels are filled with compassion, towards the Seed of his Inheri­tance, whom no man regardeth to take pity upon, but are altogether hardened in their iniquities, and become equal with the Oppressor; therefore in Judgment is the Lord appearing, to work the purpose of his Heart, and to fulfil the intent of his Mind, and will not spare to punish the transgression of the wicked upon his own head; and is already clothed with the Garments of Vengeance, and clad with Zeal as with a Cloak, and hath proclaimed Indignation in the face of the Ungodly; and his Enemies, against whom his wrath is kindled, is joyning battel with him; and Gog and Magog is prepared, to resist the day of Recompence; and the whole body of Darkness, from the head to the tayl is risen to gainsay the Lord, and strive in confusion together; and their armour clashes one against an­other, and they over-run each other, through the confusion of their blind under­standing, and they will not be perswaded unto Reconciliation, but goes on in re­bellion till they be left without strength, as a wounded man, who shall never more vise again, nor recover his deadly blow; for the strength of Aegypt shall fail in [Page 154] the midst of it, and the Warrier finds not his hand in the day of his necessity, but terror is upon his loynes, and fearfulness in his heart, and the wrath remains upon him; and wisdom is become madness, and prudence is hid, and the wise men of this Generation are become foolish, What do ye mean? Ye that have gathered your selves together, all ye Sects and Opinions, and ye that profess the Law of Righteousness, Is your Religion turned into Envy and Wrath, whereby you would slay the Upright? You have made Lyes your refuge, as your last defence to cover your selves from the Storm; but your City is besieged, and fear shall com­pass you about, and the refuge of Lyes shall be swept away▪ For, in vain, and to no purpose do men strive against the Lord, and without effect (as to that which they intend) do they gather themselves together, and band themselves in deaths covenant, to war against the Lamb; for the more you strive the more you are entang­led and the deeper your pit is digged for another, the greater is your own fall into it; for the purpose of your hearts; and the intent of your wicked minds doth the Lord make void, and turneth them upon your own head; and strongly are you bound in your own snare, which you secretly lay for the foot of the Inno­cent, to make the Upright a prey. How long ye men of the Earth will ye [...] counsel together against the Lord? How long shall the Righteous be a prey to your teeth, to shoot your Arrows of Cruelty and Reproach against? When will you give over your Oppression, and Violence, wherewith you think to spoil the tender Grape of the Lords Vintage, and to devour the Seed of Iacob from off the Earth, that you may rule in the kingdom in peace? When will you be weary [...] your wickedness, and cease from your deceivings, seeing the Lord makes you a Curse in whatsoever you take in hand? You travel in wrath, and bring forth no­thing; you strive all the day long, and gather nothing but stubble, and the fire kindles upon it, and makes it a heap of Confusion in a moment▪ When will you learn wisdom, and refrain your selves from vanity? Do you think to persist in the way wherein you walk? can you overcome the Lamb? or can you bring to nought the purpose of the Most High? Will you make your selves equal with him, and will ye gainsay the working of his Power? Nay, you shall fall into everlast­ing confusion, and the remembrance of your destruction shall not suddenly pass away: for the purpose of the Lord shall surely stand, and his Counsel shall [...] be made void; for you are but suffered for a moment, till your measure be [...]ull, and your transgression be finished, that you may be cut off for ever, and [...]id waste as the Wilderness▪ Long hath been the night of Darkness over all Nations, wherein you have played, and sported your selves, as though no eye had seen you, and your works of cruelty had laid hid in your bosomes, but now they do appear, and the day hath made you manifest, and the Light hath discovered you, and now ye are tryed, and weighted, and searched; and the Fire of the Lord is kindled up­on all your works, and the end o [...] them is confusion and misery; and in sorrow shall ye lie down, and no eye shall comfort you, nor no Physitian shall heal your bruise; for with a grievous blow will the Hand of the Lord be upon you, all you who pervert his Way, who have joyned your selves in battel against the Lamb, and his Followers; some of you smiting the Innocent with your hands, and some with your tongues, and in your envy deal cruelty with the Lord's Chosen, who are become a Proverb and Prey to the wicked, and as a Butt to shoot at, against whom you bend your Tongues, and speak bitter things, even from the head to the tayl; the whole body of Darkness is prepared to war, and every member of the great Image is stirred up in its strength, thinking to prevail through subtilty, against the innocency of the Simple, and Lyes are become o [...] Enemies refuge, and their trust is in a broken Reed, which fails their confidence and hope; and we are preserved under the shaddow of the Almighty, and we are delivered out of the snare of our Enemies, and through suffering for a moment, shall reign for ever and ever over the Beast and his Image.

And unto thee Giles Firmin I do write a few words, in answer to thy Book, cal­ed, Stablishing against Quaking; who hast helped up the measure to fulfil the wick­edness of the wicked in adding thy Lyes, and Slanders, and Reproaches unto [Page 155] thy Brethren, and hast cast in thy Mite into the heap of Babylons Confusion, and [...]ast set thy seal against the Lord's People, and hast put to thy hand in the record of Sions Enemies; Whom do you thus strive against? And against whom is your [...]ury thus kindled? What are you doing in your drunken fits of fury, wherein you stagger with the wine of Envy? Surely when you are sober you will consider, [...]nd when you are come to your selves you will be ashamed, and will not open any more your malice and wrath which hath drownded your honesty and civility; and [...]n your knowledge you are as bruit Beasts, which are to be destroyed; you do but ga­ [...]her your selves together that you may be scattered and broken to peices; you are [...]uffered to heap up your confusion, in Lyes and Reproaches, that the Lord may make you ashamed, and judge you out of your own mouths.

And Friend, what hast thou done, and who hast thou established? the wicked [...]n his wickedness, and the unclean in his filthiness, and hast hardened the hearts of the ungodly by thy Lyes and Slanders, least they should turn from their ungod­ [...]iness, and be saved from their sins, and so against quaking for transgression hast [...]hou stablished them herein; and this will be laid to thy charge in the Day of [...]he Lord, who healest up the Wound slightly, and criest Peace, Peace to the wick­ [...]d, unto whom the Lord hath not spoken Peace: And Friend, thou art the man [...]n whom the Prince of Darkness is discovered, which now works in thee, and [...]rom him hast thou sent forth thy pack of Reproaches against the Innocent, and [...]leadest thy own cause, and judgest hereof in the sight of men, and hast sought [...]he praise of men, and not the Praise of God; and so seek to obtain a good re­ [...]ort by flattery, and not by faith; and this sufficiently appears in thy first E­ [...]istle, wherein thou hast given flattering Titles unto man, and in vain hypocri­ [...]ie hast fought a proof to the authority of thy Book, thinking thereby the more [...]o make it of force to do the work, which thou intendest by it; even to [...]oyson the simplicity of the Upright, and to devour the woman which brings [...]orth the Man-Child, by casting floods of evil Speeches and Lyes after her, but [...]hy flatteries are of no worth to thee, nor thy subtil words of guile availeth thee [...]ot herein; for in the Light thou art seen, and by it tried, and thy snare which [...]hou, hast laid will fetter thy own foot, and the mischief thou intendest is fallen [...]pon thy own head, and whilst thou hast thought to discover the Prince of Dark­ness in another, thou hast covered and cloaked him in thy self, under thy feigned words of flattery; but through that vail he is seen, and unto all men shall be made manifest, and the Spirit of the Lord doth judge him, and thy Rock of flattery shall not cover thee from the Wrath of him, whom thou hast set thy self to oppose.

And in thy second Epistle thou sayest, Thou madest one Sermon, to discover this Generation (meaning the Quakers) and thou, sayst thou, found good success of it.

Friend, thou hast more fully discovered thy self, and that abommation which lodged in thy heart secretly, which thou hast not let out into open view, then thou hast in the least measure discovered us, or detected us, or justly reproved us, in Doctrine or Conversation to be contrary to the Saints in Generations past, who are our cloud of Witnesses, as being guided by the same Spirit according to the measure as we have received; but this is rather a discovery to all the Upright that were of God, because we are spoken all manner of evil of, falsly by thee and thy Generation, who are sufficiently proved in all your wayes and worships, to be of the Generation of them that ever persecuted the righteous Seed of God: And as for the success, thou hast found little profit thereof, for the Judgments and Wrath of God will succeed thy Lyes and Slanders; and this shalt thou find, and they that are deceived by thee shall perish together, and this will be the reward of thy duty, which thou sayest called upon thee now to speak. And seven of thy first Pages hast thou filled in pleading for thy own kingdom, and unjustly justifi­ing thy own cause, in Preaching for Hire, and in Divining for Money, and in seeing for thy Gain from thy Quarter, false Prophet like; it well appears that sometime thou hast been bit upon thy sore, and searched where thy guilt hath lodged, and now thou hast endeavoured to heal up the wound, and cure thy self, [Page 156] and hast brought many arguments, and hast sought to clear thy self by guile [...] not by innocency; and hast gathered many Scriptures together, which as th [...] supposest might make for thy purpose herein by preaching of them: How f [...] wouldst thou blind the eye of the Simple, that thou mightst alwayes act thy ab [...] mination, and not be seen; and even as Satan brought Scripture against Chri [...] so hast thou against the Truth, and to uphold thy iniquity.

Thou sayest, It is the great clamour of the Quakers, that you are no Ministers of Chri [...] Isa. 56. 2 Pet. 23. Ezek. 34. Mich. 3. 5 Tit. 1. 11. 2 Tim. 34. 5 because you Preach for Hire; Divine for Money, and are Covetous, &c.

This is true, and I will add much more, which thou hast spared, You are gree­dy dumb Dogs, and can never have enough, every one of you seeking for yo [...] Gain from your Quarter, and through Coveteousness make merchandise of Sou [...] and make a Prey upon the Flock, and feed your selves with the Fat, and cloa [...] your selves with the Wool; and cry, Peace, Peace to them that put into yo [...] Mouthes, but prepare War against them that do not; and are given to filthy [...] cre, and love the Wages of unrighteousness, and go on headlong in the Error [...] Balaam and Cain, having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power; bei [...] heady and high-minded-Men, and false Accusers, and proud Boasters, and Lo­vers of Pleasure more than God, &c. Much more also is true upon you accor­ding to Scripture; for whatsoever the true Prophets and Apostles declared, as [...] giving a description of the false Prophets and Apostles, by their works and sig [...] the same way may truly be said upon you, as being every whit guilty of what [...] ever was charged upon them by the Spirit of the Lord; so that all thy wresting [...] Scriptures will not clear thee and thy Brethren, who have, some of them, said as [...] as thou canst say, in this particular; but Truth stands unmoveable, and you [...] altogether discovered, and made bare and naked; and your shame doth appear [...] thy answer to this which thou callest, The Quakers clamour.

Thou sayest, False Teachers may and have preached freely; then be sure free Te [...] could not prove you to be true Ministers, &c.

Reply, Thou and this Generation of Teachers exceed such in abominati [...] who have not yet so far transformed your selves like unto true Ministers, as [...] teach freely; and your condemnation will be the greater, insomuch as you exc [...] them in wickedness; and it is confessed, that free Teaching would not prove [...] to be true Minsters, for you are false, and deceitful in every account, and [...] nisters of Antichrist, under many considerations more then one; as in your Ca [...] and Worship, and many other things: And thus thou hast laid open thy own [...] ly, that thou mayest be judged out of thy own mouth. For in the Margent th [...] sayest, The Quakers teach not freely, for at one Town thou hearest, that one of the Qu [...] ­kers had about five Pound gathered for him.

Friend, This is a Slander and a false Accusation, and thou hast heard and be­lieved a Lye (if not made a Lye) and thy Lyes will be no refuge for thee in [...] Day of the Lord; for I testifie against them and thee, and him to be no Qu [...] who acted such a thing, if any such was acted. Then thou goest on, and draw [...] many vain conclusions and arguments to no purpose; and bringest the Scriptu [...] 2 Cor. 11. 8, 9. and thinkest this for thy purpose, because of the word (W [...]ges) and now boastest as though thou hadst overcome; but all this will not clear th [...] from guilt, nor prove thee to be a Minister of Christ; he reaped where he had sow [...], and not of the World; he eat the Milk of the Flock, and did not by a Law co [...] pel People to pay him, as thy Generation doth; neither was he chargeable to any, as you are, but made the Gospel of Christ free; and used not his liberty in the [...] things, but you go beyond the liberty of equity, and by a Law obtain your Main­tenance, oppressing the Poor to make your selves rich; living in Pride, Idleness, and Fulness; but Paul did not thus, but was in Cold, Hunger, and Nakedness; and the Wages he took was not to do himself service, but them, as it is evident▪ So Pauls example herein will not cloak thy filthiness, nor cover thy shame; hewas a Minister of the Spirit, and did sow spiritual things, and was no Hireling, as the false Prophets, who through coveteousness made merchandise of souls; and this is thy example, and not the practise of Paul, whom thou wouldst fain make like [...]nto [Page 157] thy self; but he is justified, and thou art condemned in the Sight of God, whose work is not of his nature; he gave freely and might reap where he sowed; but thou makest a Covenant to reap before thou sowest, and sowest not, and so de­ceives the People.

Then thou sayst, We provide for our selves (when we wander up and down) men must provide us Lodging, Food, &c. Are not People bound to provide for you, as well as to entertain us, &c.

Thou alwayes pleadest thy own cause, and so hadst thou need; for the Chil­dren of God cannot plead for thee, but testifie against thee: It is Christ's Do­ctrine, Into whatsoever House ye enter, eat such things as are set before you; but it was ne­ver his Doctrine, Take so much by the year; and if they will give you such a Sum, preach to them; this is the Doctrine, Way, and Wages of Balaam, in which thou art found. Many other Scriptures dost thou wrest, and many a vain Argument dost thou make unto this purpose.

And thou sayest, He that will be a Minister indeed, will say, He findeth all little enough.

For shame cover thy Lips, and stop thy Mouth; thy stuff stinks with raking in, who sayest, That men cannot be sufficient Ministers without Arts, and such poor blind stuff, of which I am ashamed, and pass by it as not worth the mentioning. Then thou goest on in the matter of Tythes, seeing the Rule and Law of Scripture will not fully bear thee out in thy wicked practise of pleading for Hire; [...]goest to the Law of the Nation, and so the Gospel which you preach will not ma [...]n you according to the Apostles Doctrine; but by a Law are maintained, through the grievous oppression of the Innocent, as is witnessed in this Nation; and thou art put to all thy shifts, though but beggarly some of them, to blind Peoples eyes, so that you may have your Hire; and in thy Arguments thou pleadest, That Tythes are no mans own, but the Ministers, &c.

But I say, if poor men did not labour, and improve their time, and strength, and money, you could have no Tythes; so that if the Land was not tilled through poor Peoples labours you might go without; so Tythes are not paid out of the Land, but out of mens labours thereupon; and so you rob poor mens labours, and not the Land, that you may live in filthiness.

And thou sayest, Care is taken for you already many hundred Years before you were born, in setting an Estate. &c.

Yea, the Pope settled Tythes upon his Priests, whose Generation you are of; a poor shameless shift to plead such things, leaving the Rule of the Scripture, and defending your selves both in your Ministry and Maintenance by a Popish [...]aw, which was the supreme Power in the Nation when Tythes were first established in England, but neither the Rule of Scripture, nor of the National Law will make your works justified; all People shall see your nakedness, and God will make you ashamed of your way: And as to particular, Had we lived in the primitive Churches, when the Magistrates were Heathens, &c.

This I shall answer by a Question, Doth not the works of some of the Magi­strates in England (I do not say all) prove themselves rather to be Heathens than Christians, by their unjust imprisoning of the Innocent without [...]ch of any Law, and so to be rather Destroyers of the Church (which is the Body of Christ) then careing to preserve it, and also in giving treble dammage to the Hirelings for Non-payment, thereby wasting and making havock of poor mens Estates, as is in many places to be witnessed, and these are they who are most zealous for you, some of them I leave this Question to be answered, which being but truly answer­ed, will discover whether you who by oppression take Tythes, [...] [...]ho o [...] of the exercise of a pure Conscience cannot pay Tythes, and so are Sufferers, and you Oppressors are Carriers on of the designs of Hell and Rome, as in thy eleventh Page thou speakest.

Then thou sayest, So much for the Ministers Maintenance, &c.

Yea, more then enough, but that thou mightest lay open thy own folly, there­fore wast thou allowed, that thy shame might be fully laid open, and thou uncover­ed, [Page 158] who hast acted thy part as others of thy Brethren before thee, in pleading your own unjust cause of Idolatry, to uphold your grievous Oppression of Tythes and set Maintenances, under which at this day many thousands do sadly groan, and not pittied by you; but though you regard not, the Lord God doth and will avenge their Cry upon your heads, who have made your Ministry and Religion the most grievous Oppression in this Common-wealth, and so are fallen into greater abo­mination than the Heathen, and are higher than they in ungodliness, and deeper in subtilty; and go to the Heathens, and they will shame you; and take thy own counsel, and practise it, as in thy tenth Page: And much more of thy stuff I pass, thus much is sufficient to discover thy deceit in this particular.

Then thou goest on, and from thy Text thy observation is this, It hath been of old, and it is the practise still of the Prince of Darkness, to transform himself into an An­gel of Light, &c.

To which I answer, It is proved by the Scripture, that it hath been of old his practise, and it is proved upon thee, that it is still his practise; and thou art the man upon whom thy observation stands true, who art in thy good words, and fair speeches, and pretences, transformed only in the appearance, and not in the ground, out of gross wickedness into secret hypocrisie, and so makest an Image without Life, and so as Iannes and Iambres, art resisting Truth; yet art thou seen and comprehended, though thou sayest, Satan is never less seen then when he acts as an Angel of Light; which I suppose thou speakest by experience, as being acted therein, undiscovered to the Simple, because of thy hypocrisie.

In thy Page thirteenth, thou sayest, that The Scriptures are the true Light.

Here thy blindeness and error is discovered, who speakest herein contrary to the Scripture, which saith, Christ Iesus is the true Light, 1 Iohn 9. Here th [...] wouldest exalt the Scriptures in the Seat of Christ, and thereby deny him, in say­ing the Scripture is that which he only is, and nothing else, (to wit) The tr [...] Light of the World; which lighteneth every man that comes into the World; and the Scrip­tures are a Declaration of him, and not him.

And thou goest on, and sayest, Because these Quakers [...]each People they must do just­ly, do no body wrong, nor Lye, &c. some take it for granted they come from Christ, &c.

But this thou snuffest at, and makest light of, by which is easily discerned of what spirit thou art; the Scripture witnesseth, He is a Minister of Christ that tur [...] from Darkness to Light, and from sin unto God; and could we but wink at sin, and cloak it as you do, and cry Peace, Peace to them that walks after the imaginations of their own hearts, then should we be loved, and not hated of the World.

And in thy fourteenth Page, Thou reckonest us with the Fryars and Popish Ge­neration, but them and thee we do deny, and that holiness and righteousness which is in the will of man; for because we cannot run to the same excess of riot with you, you think it strange; and therefore thou accusest us (as with a matter of fact) That we drink water, and fast, and wear no Lace, &c. That which tho [...] wouldst make us abominable in by the sight of men doth our innocency and upright­ness appear in, in the sight of God, and his Children.

Then thou goest on in thy confused language, and in that which thou callest thy use, Take h [...]ed that you be not deceived.

To whom dost thou speak, to them that are in the Truth? If tho [...] speakest to thy own flock, thy word might have been, Search, lest you be de­ceived; for we know the whole World lies in wickedness, and this Generation under the deceivableness of a blind Ministry, which leadeth not unto God, but keeps in Darkness, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

And in thy Page ninteenth, Thou hast put forth a Question, which is, How shall we know this transformed Angel of Light, &c?

To which I answer, Where he rules he is not known nor discerned, for the god of the World hath blinded the eye which should make him manifest; and this is true in thee, who art led by him and perceivest it not, and art doing his work [Page 159] and understandest not; but the brightness of the coming of the Son of Man in the Children of the Father, hath discovered him in the World, and in thee; and though thou woulst fain put him among the Quakers, yet he is found in thy own house; thou endeavourest to prove thy Accusation by vain consequence and false conclusions; but our Assertion is proved by the Spirit of God, and stands upon thy head, and shall be witnessed by the Light in thy own Conscience.

Now something in answer to thy Arguments, and false Conclusion. And thy first Argument is, That the Light of the Quakers will not admit of, nor endure the Tri­al, therefore the Light of the Quakers is the light of Satan, &c.

Answ. Thy proposition and ground of thy Argument is a Lye, and so thy con­clusion is to no purpose; for we deny not a Trial, but exhort People thereunto, that they search the Scripture, to see whether these things be not so, and are tried by the Scriptures in Doctrine and Conversation, and proved to be simple thereby, to be in the Truth as it is in Jesus, and are testified of in Scripture by the Holy men of God, who are unto us a Cloud of Witnesses, in our Faith, and Life, and Sufferings, and Tryals, &c. Friend, thou hast fained a Lye upon us, and hast confuted thy own Lye; this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers, if it would stand in trial; neither is thy proof, That w [...] do deny tryal, any wit to this purpose, as I. N. against F. Harris, Page the tenth, which thou quotest, let the ho­nest hearted read; but subtilly hast thou wrested the words, to bring thy false Conclusion and Lye about, to take place among the ignorant People: Thy Lye is condemned, and thy refuge is taken away, and thou art left naked for the De­stroyer.

Thy second Argument is, The Light of the Quakers putteth out the Light of Na­ture; therefore their Light is the light of Satan, &c. Thou sayest by the Light of Na­ture, thou meanest the inward Law; which God set up in the heart of all mankind, ch [...]k­ing many sins against God and man, &c.

Answ▪ What blind confusion is this, which is uttered from thy dark mind? no whit savory, but stuff hardly worth stirring in, and quite contradiction to thy own words, Page fifteen, where thou chargest us with directing to the Light in the Conscience, which thou callest Natural, but we call it Spiritual, and this is it which cheeks the sins against God, which thou sayest our Light puts out, and that we preach any thing for Light which puts out this light (which is the work of the Law of God written in the heart) this Argument is also a Lye, and so thy conclusion is made void likewise; but that the Knowledge, and Wisdom, and Prudency of the natural man, which is corrupted, must be put out, this we own; and the Quakers Light, which is the Light of Christ, shall confound the Wisdom of the World, and be no transgression against God, nor from a light of Satan, but of Christ; and the proof of thy Argument is, as thou sayest, W [...] deny honour to all Superiours, and seemest to be greatly offended with the word (Thou) quo­ting many Scriptures against it, but let the wise in heart judge thee herein; none of all these Scripture, will prove that ever any of the Saints gave flattering Titles unto men, or spoke (You) to a particular Person, which thou art to prove, or else thou sayest nothing, that the word (Thou) to Superiours is any denying of honour due unto them; and herein thy conclusion is also false, being the foundation of thy Argument is a Lye; and thy Argument made up of confusion, saying, That Light is Natural, which is the inward Law set up in the heart, check­ing the sins against God and man, this is one Lye; also saying, That our Light puts out the Light, This is another Lye: Friend, if Lyes would prove us Decei­vers, thou wouldst accomplish it; How easie a thing it is for thee to confute thy own Lyes, when thou hast made them?

Thy third Argument is, Such is the Quakers Light (viz.) which teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures, setting up a spirit in man, which shall not be examined by the Scrip­tures; therefore, it is the light of Satan, &c.

Answ. The first part of thy Argument is a very Lye, and also the last, as thou hast laid it down; our Light teacheth not men to forsake the Scriptures, but in­to the fulfilling of them, to walk in the Life of them; and it teacheth to exalt [Page 160] the Spirit of God in man above all things, and in its fruits and opperation may be examined by the Scriptures, but it self is the Searcher of all things, even of the deep things of God; and this is not the Light of Satan but of Christ, which teacheth men into the fulfilling of the Scriptures, and to exalt the Spirit in man which gave forth the Scriptures, which is the trial of all spirits; and whatsoever conclusion be gathered for an Argument, whereof a Lye is the foundation, as of this, the conclusion must needs be vain, and a Lye, like its foundation. And in thy proof of the major position, thou sayest, The Scriptures are left by God, to be your Light and Rule, &c. And the Scriptures say, Christ is the Light, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (and so the Rule) and so thou hast set up the Scriptures above Christ, and by thy lying spirit crosseth the Scriptures; but thou art accu­stomed to Lye, and so art expert therein: And thou sayest, Christ bids you se [...]c [...] the Scriptures, Iohn 5. 39. It is true, he bids the Pharisees, who had not Christ Word abiding in them, and who had not heard God's Voice, nor seen his Shape, but persecuted Christ, them he bad search the Scriptures; and justly hast thou thr [...] in thy self among the Pharisees, and so art an Enemy to Christ, according to thy own confession: And for the proof of the minor position, thou hast not at at [...] proved by any way of the Books quoted thy proposition, That the Quakers Lig [...] teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures, &c. Let the wise in heart judge. And thou sayst, But to speak truly, The Quakers make nothing of Scriptures, &c. This is the very falsness, and of thy lying tongue, and no truth in it; and a Question here I ask, Whether he be the more guilty of forsaking Scriptures which live the Life thereof, and in the fulfilling of them by the Spirit, or he that talks in words of them, and makes a trade thereof, but lives in Lying and false Accusing, and Pride, and vain Glory, and t [...]e filthiness of the Flesh? This Question being answered, will open the understanding of the simple, and our innocency thereby will appear from all thy grievous slanders, and wicked wrestings of our words. As in Page twenty five, in thy false conclusio [...] of this particular, thou sayest, The Quakers divide the Spirit from the Scripture, &c. Yea, the Spirit, and the Scriptures are low things, though they bear wit [...] to the truth of each other, thus are they divided, That every one that hath the Scriptures hath not the Spirit, and this is no error, nor from a Light of Sa­tan; but thy Lyes are from the Darkness of Satan, and not from the Lig [...] of Christ.

Thy fourth Argument is, Such is the Quakers Light (viz.) which makes the Scrip­ture cross it self, and that in things known by the Light of nature; therefore the light of Sa­tan, &c.

Answ. This is also false in the foundation, and thy Arguments and Confusions made without effect: Friend, whilst thy foundation is a Lye thy Building wi [...] not endure, be sure of that; the Scripture was given forth by one Spirit, and bears witness unto one thing, and doth not cross it self in the Light of the Spirit that gave it forth, though to thy carnal wisdom it may seem so: And for the proof of thy minor proposition, thou sayst we quote that Scripture, Iames 2. Have not the Faith of our Lord Iesus with respect of Persons, &c. to overthrow all re­spect of Persons, &c. Doth this at all prove that our Light makes the Scripture to cross it self? Where is it said in the Scripture, Have the Faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of Persons? Such a one thou must bring, or else thou hast said nothing to this purpose: And thy second Scripture is, That we say as Christ said, Swear not at all: Will this Scripture being quoted by us, prove that our Light makes the Scripture cross it self? What blind confused stuff is this which proceeds from thee, thinking to make us odious and vile, but thou hast the rather made thy self ignorant and blind in the sight of all the Children of Light, who compre­hend thee in thy subtilty; and as to that of Swearing, which thou hast strived in thy Argument to prove the Lawfulness of it, thou hast thereby made thy Argu­ment against Christ's own words, who saith, Swear not at all; and thou art he whose Light (or rather whose Darkness) would confound the Scriptures, to blind the eye of the Simple; and thy conclusion stands true upon thy self; hence thy light is the light of Satan, not of Christ. And thou sayest, The Quakers bid [Page 169] men be guided by the Light of God within, &c. How doth this contradict thy own words, page twenty second, where thou sayest, The Quakers Light puts out this light, the inward Law set up in the heart, &c. when wilt thou be ashamed of thy igno­rance, and stop thy mouth in the dust?

Thy fifth Argument is; Such is the Quakers Light, viz. which takes men off from that Rule which is perfect, and cannot err, and sends them to be guided by a Light which is im­perfect, and may and doth err; therefore the Light of Satan, &c.

Answ. Hast thou given up thy self wholly to lyes, and to make them thy refuge? thy work is to make a Lye, and then to confound it; this is an easie way to prove us De­ceivers, as I said; and in the proof of thy minor Proposition, thou hast fallen short of proving what thou takest in hand, and sayst, The Word of God is perfect, but the Quakers do not send men to the Word, &c. This is false, we preach the Word, and send men to it; even that Word of Faith which the Apostle preached, which is in the heart, and in the mouth, and that Word is perfect, and errs not, and this we send men too, to be guided by it, and to receive faith in it; then thou sayest, The light of Conscience is imperfect, and may err, and takes accasion to speak of that Scripture, 1 Ioh. 8. but to what purpose I know not, except thou wouldst prove that Light of Christ to be imperfect, and err, which we say hath lightened every mans Conscience in the World, and is a perfect Rule in the Conscience, where man is guided by it; and this Light leads up unto Christ, to exercise the Conscience, and he to rule King and Lord in the Conscience, and so to make Conscience one with him in the unity; and this is true wisdom, and no folly as thou accountst it in thy blind­ness, page twenty nine: Then thou goest on, and hast intimated a falsity from I. Ps Query, and then confutes thy own Lye; I. P. doth not say, every man is lightned with a saving Light; but asks the Question to be answered, which for the simple sake, here I do answer, Christ hath lighted every man in the World with the true Light, which is saving Light to every one that believes therein, and con­demning Light to him that believes not, yet is the Light true Light, and no error nor imperfection in it; and they that hate it are such as know nothing of Re­demption, Justification, &c. and a great part of England is in that conditin, though they have heard the report, yet they know it not in truth and righteousness; and this Light is in the World, and the World knows it not; yet doth not this confute that he hath lightned every man that comes into the World, as thou wouldst ignorantly make it appear in the same page: Then thou sayest, If you speak of reason and understanding, so Christ lighteth every one, &c.

Here thou hast confessed Truth with thy lying Spirit; it is the purest reason that every man should serve his Maker, and act nothing contrary to his Maker; this the [...]ight of Christ lights unto, and leads unto; and it is the best understand­ing that gives a man to understand the Way of eternal Peace and Rest for his Soul, if he love the Light, and lets him understand when he acts against his Maker, &c. and this hath Christ lighted every man unto; Then thou sayest, Conscience may err, and provest it from Paul's example of persecuting: If Conscience be not guided by the Light of Christ, it erreth; but it was not the Light of Christ in Pauls Con­science which led him to persecute, but his thoughts and imaginations, which were in the high mind above the Light in the Conscience; then many false conclusions from our words hast thou drawn, through thy wresting of them; thou sayest, as in all our books, the word of God written is made of no account, &c. thy lying tongue will God rebuke, the Scriptures we account of, and set them in their Authority, and bring them as a Witness against thee, and all thy wayes, who art out of the Life of them, thinking thou dost God service in speaking evil of his people; and thy Rules by which thou walkst, is proved by thy works and words to be imperfect and erroneous, and thy darkness is of Satan, and not the Light of Christ.

Thy sixth Argument is, Such is the Quakers Light, that it destroys the institutions of Christ; therefore is the light of Satan, &c.

Answ. Hast thou no foundation but a Lye to place thy. Argument upon? surely, thy time is neer an end, because thou hast no refuge but a lye to fly unto.

[Page 170] Thy major Proposition is not altogether sound, for that light was the Light of God, and of Christ which commanded circumcision, and the seventh day to be kept a Sabbath, and the Worship in the Temple, which was instituted by God, &c. And that was the Light of God, and of Christ also, which led the Disci­ples from these things, to deny them, and bear witness against them, and yet no offence in God, nor no contradiction in the Light of Christ; but this to thy dark mind is a mystery sealed, and I leave it as a Parable to thee.

Then for the proof of, thy minor Proposition, thou instancest, That we de [...] Baptism, and breaking of Bread; yet darest thou not contend for sprinkling of In­fants; (that imagination of man, and no institution of Christ.) But makest use of the Baptist herein, unto whom I perceive thou art an Enemy; what poor shifts art thou fain to run unto now, when thou art likely to be discovered, and ram­bles up and down, wresting our words to blind the eyes of the simple? for you that live in your filthiness, yet professing the Supper of the Lord, it is made manifest you eat and drink your own damnation, and discerns not the Lords Body and while you are of the World, and not come to Repentance, you have nothing to do to speak of the Institutions of Christ, which was to his Church, to be practised therein only, and not among the Children of this World; so thy darkness is of Satan, and not of Christ, and thy Conclusion it is to thy self.

Thy seventh Argument is; Such is the Quakers Light, viz. Which denies agre [...] Work of Christ in the hearts of them who believe in him; therefore it is the Light of Sa­tan, &c.

Answ. What hast thou nothing but a Lye in thy mouth to ground thy Discourse upon, and to draw thy Conclusion from; we deny not the work of Christ in the hearts of them who believe; the proof of this minor position makes it not at all e­vident, when thou hast wrested our words as much as thou canst, much less if the simplicity of our words were used; so it being a Lye in the ground, I need no [...] much pluck down the building, for it fals of it self, as being not so firm as upon the Sand; for we hereunto exhort, that every one may know and witness the work of Christ in the heart to change and translate, and to give power over the World: But among thy many blind Arguments thou sayest, Thou deniest that the Righteousness of Christ whereby a Believer is justified doth dwell in him, &c. The Scripture saith, Ex­cept Christ be in you, you are Reprobates; and where Christ is, there is his Righte­ousness, for they are not divided; and the Word of Faith, which is the Righteous­ness of Christ, is in the heart, as Paul saith: but I have cause to think thou art not much ashamed of being proved a Lyar, because thy impudency hath overcome simplicity and honesty; for when thou hast committed abomination, thou canst not blush, nor be ashamed; but thy shame will the Upright see.

Thy eighth Argument is, Such is the Quakers Light, (viz.) which teacheth men [...]o omit their duty to God; therefore it is the light of Satan, &c.

Answ. Thou Enemy of God, when wilt thou cease thy Lyes, and to pervert the right way of God? we teach no man to omit his duty, neither doth thy witness of thy minor Proposition stand any whit for thy purpose; we are our selves daily exercised in Prayer unto God, and omits it not, as thou falsly accusest; but to bear Testimony against the Sacrifice of the Wicked, prayer, self-righteousness, &c. that it is abomination, and not accepted of the Father, this is no whit to the pur­pose of teaching men to omit their duty, as thou falsly accuseth us; and thy mul­titude of vain Arguments are to no purpose herein; and thou shews a vain wonto [...] spirit. at I. Ns words, whose Exhortation is to wait for the Spirit, which we testi­fie no man can be heard, or accepted of God in what he doth, without it; and this is the Duty of the Children of God, to wait upon the Father to be led by his Spirit, and he who is without the Spirit, hath not received Christ Jesus; and though thou scornst at this, yet of it we are not ashamed; and thy false conclusion is like thy foundation, both to be condemned with the Lyar.

Thy ninth Argument is, Such is the Quakers Light (viz.) which teacheth men to say, they have no sin; therefore the light of Satan, &c.

[Page 171] Answ. In the proof of thy major Proposition, thou sayest, The Light of Christ doth teach, that all his People are freed from the dominion of sin; and Christ Je­sus no where saith, That any are free from the dominion of sin, who are not free from the committing of sin; but the contrary he saith, He that commits sin is Iohn 8. 34. the Servant of sin; and such a one is under the dominion of it, where he is Servant, sin is Lord; so he who is redeemed from the Dominion and committing of sin, and cleansed from all unrighteousness, by Christ Jesus through his Blood; if he saith he hath no sin, he is no Lyar: but if before confession and forsaking of sin, he saith he hath no sin, he deceives himself, according as the Scripture witnesseth unto both these conditions, 1 Iohn 1. 8, 9. Again, He that is born of God sins not, as the same Apostle saith; and if he that sins not, saith he hath no sin, he is no Lyar, but his Light is the Light of Christ, and not of Satan: And thy blindness is seen in that thou sayest in effect, as though some may be free from the dominion of sin, and yet not free from the committing of sin; if thy Light teacheth thee thus, it is contrary to the Light of Christ, which gave forth the Scripture; our Light teacheth from the committing of all sin, and gives dominion over all un­righteousness, and of this Light we are not ashamed: This is the strength of thy Argument, which is answered; so much of the rest I pass by, only may mind thee of thy confusion. Thou sayest, Where s [...]n hath no dominion, that man is perfect, &c. And thou allowest that the Light of Christ teacheth men that they are freed from the dominion of sin; and it is proved that none are free from the dominion of sin, but who are saved from the committing of sin: And the sum of thy doctrine is no more then that which thou wouldst make error in us, though sometimes thou art railing against Perfection, and sometimes owning it under some particular accounts, not under all; and so one while builds up, and another while throwest down, and so art in Babylon. Thou sayest, There are thousands of perfect men in Eng­land, &c. yet thy false conclusion is, because we hold Perfection, Therefore is our Light the light of Satan, &c. I leave it to the simple minde, to read thy con­fusion, and shall rake no longer in it.

Thy Tenth Argument is, Such is the Quakers Light (viz.) Which teacheth men to revile, and throw filth upon the true Ministers, and true Churches of Christ; therefore it is the light of Satan, &c.

Answ. This Foundation is another Lye, and thy Arguments are to no purpose; We revile not, neither do throw filth upon the true Ministers and Churches of Christ; Thy proof of thy minor position gives not evidence of thy assertion; let the wise in Heart judge: So much need not be said, because both thy propositi­on and thy proof is false; Doth I. Parnel, telling Of the Churches being in God, &c. prove that we revile & throw filth upon Ministers? &c. What blindness is this? but yet this will be the Question, Who the true Ministers and Churches of Christ are? for we judge it not, (neither doth the Lord) to be reviling and throwing filth up­on the true Ministers and Churches, to call you greedy dumb Dogs, that seek for your Gain from your Quarter, and can never have enough; and Hire­lings, Isa. 56. Mich. 3. 5 Ezek. 34. Ier. 5. Tit. 1. 11. that preach for Hire, and divine for Money; and Devourers of the Flock, who feed your selves with the Fat, and make a Prey through Covetousness upon the People; acting the horrible filthy thing, which Ieremiah cried against; and to call you evil Beasts, and Slow-bellies, which teach for filthy Lucre, as [...]l did: And much more such like may truly be spoken of you, by the Spirit of the Lord, and no railing against the Ministers of Christ, no more then the true Pro­phets, which spoke the same Language: for who act those things which the Pro­phets of Christ and his Apostles declared against, are no Ministers of Christ; and here we find you in the steps of the false Prophets, and Scribes, and Pha­risees, and false Apostles; (if any ask the particulars, I can give testimony here­of) so that we make a great difference between reproving and condemning false Teachers and Hirelings, and reviling the true Ministers of Christ; prove your selves to be true Ministers of Christ, and we shall joyn with you; otherwise we must set to our seal against you, for your abominations, and shall as justly de­ny [Page 172] your Idol Temples, and Worship therein to be the true Churches of Christ, as we deny you to be Ministers; for your works do make you manifest, even your wickedness is discovered; what rudeness, and wildness, and pride, and vain glo­ry is among you; and Christ never had such a Body, who were made up of such Members; but I do the rather pitty your blind People than you, for you are the blind Leaders of the Blind, and shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men, and enter not your selves, nor will suffer others, This is true upon you, and so are proved to be the Generation of Vipers, and Serpents, and Hipocrites: This is no reviling, but the Language of the Spirir of God, which Christ once spoke to such as you; (I speak of thee and thy Generation) and we own and honour the true Ministers and Churches of Christ, and revile them not; but deny you, and bear our witness against you. Then thou sayest, See what is required by the Apostles Example, to bring you into the Ministry, and prove you have it not. To which I answer, You have not the call of the Apostles, who were called by the imediate Spirit; none of you dare own this that I have yet heard of; neither have you received your Gospel as they did, by the Revelation of Jesus Christ; and thou hast confessed it. In Page fifty one, thou sayst plainly, You own no such Revelation; and so hast manifested thy selfe, to be without the abillities of the true Ministers, in these two particulars, and many more, which might be mentioned; and also in that which the Apostle saith, He that preaches the Gospel shall live of the Gospel. Now by an outward Law you are maintained, through oppression of the Innocent, as before I have proved; for if you had not a Law to defend you in your Mainte­nance, you might starve or beg: So your gospel doth not maintain you, but the Law of the Nation, through oppression of the People. And the Apostle preached Christ Jesus to be the Light which hath Lightened every man that cometh into the World; and this you deny: And much more migh be testified against you where­in you are not only short, but contrary to the true Ministers of Christ. Th [...] thou shamelesly pleadst for the ordination by the Bishops, which I shall pass by, as not worth minding to set pen to paper about it, and in conclusion thou sayest, Th [...] pleadst not for every particular Minister, &c. neither do I plead against any one Minister of Christ, but against hirelings for which thou pleadst, and so thy darkness is of Satan, and not the Light of Christ; take thy Conclusion to thy self, for unto thee it belongs.

Thy eleventh Argument is; Such is the Quakers light (viz.) which brags of the infallible Spirit, and yet cannot speak good sence or reason, therefore is the light of Sa­tan, &c.

Answ. This is also false, and a Lye; whom hast thou heard brag, by word or writing, of an infallible Spirit, but the Spirit of God we say is infallible, and that Spirit we have received in its measure; but thy Lye I bear witness against, and thee the father of it: And thou sayst the Spirit of God speaks rationally, and sence; and thou sayst Satan also can speak likewise; then that can be no clear dis­covery or difference betwixt them, if they speak alike: And thou sayst further, Seeing the witty Jesuits cannot do the business, now try if foolish Quakers can do it, &c. Thou art herein divided from some of thy Brethren, who hath as unjustly as tho [...] accused us to be Jesuits; but any thing you will say which may make for your turn, to uphold the Kingdom of Satan; but your Lyes and Reproaches are unto us great riches, and our innocency will the Lord bring forth in his time, and your wickedness shall fall upon your own heads in a moment: but thy proof of thy minor position testifies no such thing against us, as speaking rational, or non-sence; so thy position is false, that we brag, &c. And thy proof is not for thy purpose, th [...] we cannot speak good sence or reason; so in thy whole business thou art found a Lyar, and the Lyars Portion is the Lake; this is truth, and no reviling; only I perceive thou hast got a catch by some Scriptures being misplaced, and not truly quoted, which may be the Printers fault, for ought I know: But all that ever thou hast spoken proves not the truth of what thou hast asserted, let shame cover thy face.

[Page 165] Thy twelfth Argument is; Such is the Quakers light, (viz.) which affirms sound Believers walking (Evangelically) in obedience to Gods Commandments, to be in a state of Condemnation; therefore it is the Light of Satan, &c.

Answ. Thou being neer at an end, hast left the greatest Lye to the last; When wilt thou be ashamed, and stop thy mouth? thy testimony of Lyes is well nigh finished, and thou bindest up the sum with an abominable one; yet thou confes­sest in thy Margent, We do not say thi [...] in many words, but by consequence, &c. Here let all men take notice of thee, who hast accused us with a thing; and yet confes­sest we say not the thing; thou hast fully manifested thy self, we need go no fur­ther to lay thee open; but thou sayest, By consequence, &c. Friend, if thou might­test be the Interpreter of our Books, its like thou wouldest deal deceifully as thy Generation hath done with the Scripture; but we write not our Books, and leave them for to be expounded by thee, but they are as they speak, simple plain Lan­guage to the ignorant, that thy may be instructed; thou hast manifested thy skil, in wresting our words, sufficiently; we allow thee not to be our Interpreter; we testifie, he who is a sound Believer, and walks in obedience to the commands of God, is in a justified state in the sight of God; but we put a difference betwixt condemning sound Believers, and speaking plainly in reproof of sin, as if we tell the Lyar his portion will be the Lake, and the Proud he shall be as stubble be­fore the fire, and the Wicked shall be cast into Hell; and that no Coveteous, Un­clean, Whoremongers, Drunkards, &c. shall never enter into the Kingdom of God: This Language is not a condemning of the sound Believers, neither is it so accounted in the Sight of God, though falsly judged by thee, and we stand to the Judgment of him, and not unto thy false Slanders. And thou further sayest, and desirest the Quakers, But to tell thee of one man in the Word of God, Heb. 12. 21. Ier. 23. 9. Psal. 88. 15. (meaning the Scriptures) who was Holy, who embraced the Quakers Doctrines, Prin­ciple, and Practises, &c.

David was holy, Moses was holy, Ieremiak was holy, with many more testified of in the Scripture, that were of the same Faith with us, and of the same Doctrines, and Principles, and Practices; for themselves were Quakers, as their own Writings make manifest; and hadst thou been in their dayes, thou wouldst have spoken no less evil of them then of us; for it was such as thou who spoke evil of them, and perse­cuted them; and hence I do conclude thy spirit to be the spirit of Satan, and not the Spirit of God,

Thy thirteenth and last Argument is against our Shaking (as thou callest it) and it is manifest to every one (thou sayest) whence it comes, &c. And railest much against it, and shufflest off, and kicks against the testimony we give out of the Scripture, bringing the like examples of the Servants of the Lord. And thou sayest, We a­buse the examples of Daniel, Moses, and David, to defend these diabolical actings, &c. God shall reprove thy lying Tongue, and rebuke thee with the reproof of his Judgments; yea, many more than these named can we bring to witness for us, in the same actings of the Power of God. which thou most wickedly callest Diaboli­cal, and leavest the Reader to observe thy foolish Story, to which in its place I may answer.

Then thou goest on, and ramblest over a great deal of stuff from an Author like thy self, who wrote a Book against us also, and whose testimony is no better then thine, as being of the same spirit (against the Seed of God) with thee, and his testimony and thine are both for condemnation; thou quotest his Lyes to prove thine, as though his words were of authority with the Scripture; but wreched­ness and subtilty lodges under your tongues; and though you be of several Opi­nions and Judgments in your Worships and Ministries, yet are you joyned, and against us, as Herod and Pilato; and if it was not such a things as would make for thy wicked purpose, thou wouldest scorn to make use of his words, to prove thine; but the shift of the subtil Fox, which would devour the Lamb, is taken notice of in all his actings.

Then thou sayest, No you own no such revolation, (viz) by the foregoing words, [...] you were taught the Gospel by the revolation of Iesus Christ.

[Page 166] And here let all men take notice of thee, to be one that was never sent of Christ, but one who knows not God; for as Christ Jesus saith, No man knows the Father, nor the Son, but he to whom the Son reveals him: And thou having denied the Revelation of the Son of God, hast shut out thy self from his Knowledge: For shame talk no more of the things of God, but let thy mouth be stopped from making mention of his Name, especially on the account of being a Minister; all that know God or the Gospel are ashamed of thee; some of thy own Brethren will not own thee herein▪ some of this I have laid open before. Then thou goest on saying, The pretended revelation of the Quakers, do cross an Article of Faith and Rule of Obedience in Scripture.

This is not the least of thy Lyes: I deny the Slander; the same Truth, and Faith, and Obedience as ever was witnessed in the Holy men of God, which declared forth the Scripture, we own, and bear witness of, and no other: The Revela­tion of Christ in us, in Faith and Obedience is witnessed by Paul, who is our Ex­ample; and thou art the man whose spirit is contrary to Scripture, as is clearly made manifest, and in thee the man of sin is revealed, and the Light which should discover him is vailed; and I may truly say of thee, as thou falsly hast said of us, Surely the Devil is the Authour of thy work. Then in thy conclusion thou sayst, Much more might be gathered out of their Books, whereby it may appear by what spirit these Quakers are led; by the spirit of Satan, scarce trasnformed into an Angel of Light.

Now, to all the honest hearted, unto whom this, and thine may come; even to thy own Hearers, at least unto such who have but moderation in their spirits; and to that measure of God in their Consciences I do appeal; that they by it may judge whether thou hast more discovered the spirit of Satan, in us, by any thing which thou hast in all thy Books justly proved against us to be evil, or sin, or er­ror, (except thy Lyes and Slanders may stand for a testimony) or in thy self: who hast slandered us unjustly, and wrested our words deceitfully, and spoken many [...] grievous untruth of us; and I say to all who read this, and thine, let them ob­serve with an impartial mind; and try all things, and hold fast that which is good; and let not the envy of the wicked one so prevail over you, but search all things with the Light of God, according to the Scriptures, before you judge any thing, least your zeal in your hasty untamed minds and spirits betray the honesty, which may in sobriety be instructed, and you informed the Way of Salvation, which now the Lord of Heaven is discovering to them that seek him in truth and sincerity: And because the Purpose of the Lord is to reveal his Glory, and to discover and condemn the secrets of the well-savoured Harlot, who hath sat long as a Queen in the Earth, deceiving Kingdoms and Peoples; therefore also is He­rod and Pilate joyned together, and Gog and Magog is risen in their Power, to re­sist the Counsel of God, and to disannul his Purpose; but in vain do they strive, and weary themselves to no advantage; for Sions King shall reign, and Ierusa­lem shall be built, and become the praise of the whole Earth; and Nations shall partake of her Glory, and the Armies of Alients shall flee and be discomfor­ted: And all the Lyes and Slanders of the wicked one, shall return upon his own head; and the pit which the wicked digs for the Righteous, it shall swallow the wicked up, and his foot shall not escape the snare: so that I testifie unto all Peo­ple this one thing concerning Jesus, Him hath God given a Light into the World, a Judge, and a Reprover of all the works of wickedness; and with his Light every man that cometh into the World is lightened, with the Light of Life all that believe, and with the Light of Condemnation all that believe not: If you every one turn in your minds from the vanities of the World, unto the measure of the Light given you, a present Teacher in the Wayes of God; this Light will be in you, to direct your steps in Righteousness and Peace; for as it is written, The Lord is the Teacher of all his People, and all the false Teachers and Hirelings will be denyed; and the Scribes and Pharisees, and their leaven, will be born witness against, and the old man with all his deeds will be put off, and▪ the new Man will be put on, which is the Likeness and Image of the Father; and then will you witness the Life of the Scriptures, and in you they will be fulfilled, by [Page 167] the Spirit that gave them forth, which Spirit all the Sons of God are guided by; and this Spirit the World cannot receive, no further then to be reproved by it of sin, and condemned for unrighteousness; and to every one who hath in the least received a measure of the Spirit, and is guided by it; to them only I leave what I have written, and the Writing answered to be judged, as in the sight of God, with an impartial mind. I have not striven for mastery through subtilty and de­ceitful speeches but in innocency I have written to vindicate the Lord's Truth, from the Lyes of his Enemies who make i [...] their work [...] render the Way of Truth odious, lest their deceits should be laid open, and they judged. And this same Giles Firmin hath done his part sufficiently herein, who hath not ceased ly­ing and slandering, from the beginning to the end of his Book, unto which I might have written much more, yet desire not to multiply, words with such as are impudent, and cannot [...] when they have done evil▪ but to the main Particu­lars, a few to each of them I have written, passing by much unsavory stuff pro­ceeding from a light vain spirit, (as is easily discernd by the Children of Light) who hath made both Foundations and Arguments very Lyes, and hath laid things to our charge, which we never knew, nor by word or Writing was ever declared; but thou Giles F. hast filled up thy measure of wickedness, according to thy abi­lity; hadst thou been more subtil, thy work would have been more deceitful: Therefore repeat of thy wickeness, and go not on in thy perverse, way of un­cleanness, lest thou be cut off with an utter destruction, and repentance be hid from thy eyes.

And to the foolish babling story, in the end of thy Book, I do Answer, thou sayst a Minister now in Essex gave the Narration, &c. but hast deceitfully concealed his name, and so he and thou well may, as being ashamed thereof, in laying, slanders too foolish to subscribe his name unto: Yet is Thomas Tillam known, his name and nature; whose Testimony is like thine, and a Minister like unto thee; who was, and is known in all the Parts about Hexam to be a deceitful Fellow; one who prea­ched for Hire, and sought for his Gain from his Quarter, as is well known; who also made merchandise of souls, through coveteousness with feigned words. And though T. Tillam be or was an Anabaptist, and contrary to thee in his Opi­nion, yet if he will but give a bubling Slander against us thou wilt belieive him, and call him a Minister; but his wickedness is well noted,, who for wickedness and filthiness, was cast out and denied of the Assembly whereof he was the Pastor; and stands this day as one cast off by them, who are a little more honest than thou and he, though yet Strangers to us, and Opposers of us: And now in that your deceits are discovered, you flee to any bubble for a strength, and make Lyes your refuge, and yet justifie your selves and condemn the Innocent. And thy last Story is an abominable Lye; and a man that hath honesty in either hand or heart, would be ashamed to utter such things; but in plainness of speech, thy Lyes and Slanders I do deny, and unto thee I do return them again, with true Judgment upon them, and dare not flatter thee, nor speak peace unto the wicked; but to the Light of God in all Consciences I do stand clear, by it to be justified, when all the wicked are condemned.

HOw long, how long shall Gods righteous soul be grieved, and his [...] Spirit vexed with the vain oblations and offerings of them whose hear [...] are far from him, even after their Idols, and in their covetousness, and earthly honours of this vain world, while they honor with their lips and profess love with their mouths in outward observances? How long Lord shall thy Enemies lean upon thee, and say, Is not the Lord amongst us? while they op­press the Innocent, and make a prey upon the Upright, and tread thy glory un­derfoot, and despise thy Law and Ordinances, and set at nought thy Children, and causeth them to suffer grievous burdens, under heavy hands of cruelty, every one smiting with the fist of wickedness? Wilt thou be pleased Lord with a Sacri­fice of the unclean hands, given unto thee from polluted hearts, offered upon the Altars of mens own precepts in set times? Wilt thou be worshipped in mens i [...] ­ventions and traditions, in a set day, of hanging down the head like a Bul ru [...] for a moment? Canst thou accept a fast appointed by the will of man, while t [...] bands of wickedness are not loosed, nor the Oppressed set free? And wilt thou be found in a way decreed by the Children of men, whose way is corrupt before thee? Yea, Lord God, men seeks, but not in thy own Way; and they call upon thee, but not in thy Spirit; and they press towards thee, but not at thy door; they ask of thee the Ordinance of Justice, and they delight in approaching to thee, and they are as a Nation that works righteousness, yet doth their, sins cry aloud in thy ear, and their Oppression and Backsliding calls for Vengeance upon their own heads: When will ye be wise ye Rulers, and learned you Judges of the Earth? for now the jealousie of the Lord burns like fire, and his wrath is kindled more then a little, and yet you do not trust in him; but in the day of your Fast you find your own pleasures, and in the day of your humiliation you hearts are lifted up in vain glory, and you presume in his Presence, and call him Lord, but doth not that which he commands; for the Oppressed is not eased, nor the Cap­tive [Page 173] is not freed, nor the hungry fed, nor the naked clothed; the Lords soul is wearied with you, and your Offrings unto him are as if you cut off a Dogs neck, and your Incense is unto him as if you blessed an Idol; you neglect the Fast which God hath chosen, and make unto your selves a Precept and a Day, in which your work is not accepted, whilst your fear towards him is taught by your own precepts, and they that fear the Lord mourn for you, and they that know his Way wish good towards you, that your eyes might see and your hearts understand that which belongs to your peace; but you despise the reproof of Instruction, and choose your own ways, and do that which is high in the sight of your own eyes; and you weary the Lord from day to day, and he is pressed under your iniqui­ties as a Cart is pressed with Sheaves: And shall not his Soul be avenged upon you, and upon such a Nation as this, whose fear towards him is taught by the Precepts of men, and whose Worship of him is exercised in the vain Traditions of their own inventions? Hear ye Deaf, and look ye Blind, behold the Lord's Hand is upon you, and you know it not; his Judgments are nigh you, and you are not aware, but exalt your own horn, and some of you seek unto your selves a King­dom to rule in oppression over the Poor and Needy, who cry to the Lord day and night under the heavy hand of cruel burdens, which lie upon the Innocent, but you will not touch them with one of your little Fingers: Wo is me for you, for your destruction comes upon you as an armed Man, and your desolation as an unresistable Flood; for you regard not the oppression of the Poor, but make it a thing of nought, you that pass by: Hear and consider ye Parliament of Eng­land, ye are something concerned herein; if you mean to be established loose the oppression of the Innocent, and let the Oppressed go free; for this the Lord requires of you more then your Oblations and set dayes of Humiliation, wherein you make a shew of repentance to the Lord, and hang down the head for a day like a Bulrush, when your hearts are not truly upright to the Lord.

A Declaration I have viewed, proceeding from you, as the first work of your hands; and therein you declare your selves to these three Nations, in seem­ing relentings before the Lord [I wish your hearts were as you profess] and first you say, Such hath been the outgoing of God for his People in this our Generation; that non [...] as men but must say, It is marvelous in our eyes; and none as Christians but must cry out, It is the Lords Doings.

Unto which I shall answer, Indeed true it is, that the out-goings and dealings of the Lord hath been, and are mighty, and are wonderful in this Nation, even for his People, which now are trodden upon, and oppressed, to the shame of some of you; and indeed some of you were partakers in a good degree of his Power and Out-goings with you, while you stood in his Counsel, and then it was marvelous in your eyes, and you could cry out, It is the Lords Doings. But Friends, will you consider how you now stand, and into what ye are fallen; so as that instead of being the Lords People, you are turned Enemies to the Lords People, and he is departed from you, and hardly goes out with you any more: While ye were little in your own eyes ye loved Justice and Judgme [...]t, but now you are exalted and lifted up, and have forgotten the marvelous doing of our God; and Judgment is turned backward; and Equity is fallen, and the hand of oppression is laid heavy upon the Lords Servants: Oh, that you would lay it to heart before the decree be sealed against you, when no time of repentance can be found by you.

And further you say. [He] the Lord hath alwayes been a ready Help in the time of need, and never did his poor Servants seek his Face in vain, neither did he ever lend a deaf Ear to the voice of their weeping.

To which I answer, Verily its true, he is alwayes a ready help for us his Ser­vants in time of need, neither did we ever seek his Face in vain, even when we lay under the grievous oppressions of the Enemy; nor you your selves (some of you) sought not in vain while your hearts were upright with him, but had the Deliverance desired by you out of the hands of all your Enemies, and their [Page 174] necks to tread upon, but it is not so now, inasmuch as you are become va [...] formal Seekers, and Hypocritical Fasters; and a deaf Ear will the Lord lend to you, and to the voice of your weeping, till you remove the Oppression from off the neck of the Distressed; and you shall seek his face and find no answer from him, for the Vision shall fail unto you; and though you howl unto him, and ca [...] upon him, yet will he hide his Face more and more, and leave you to your selves, and will not regard the voice of your crying; and though you have found him a present Help in time of trouble, and of your need in the day of your Integrity, yet trouble and destruction shall come upon you, and no help from him shall you find, till you return to him with all your hearts and spirits, and lay down your own crowns, and exalt him the Lord of Glory, who is now appearing in Power.

And further you say, In the midst of Such unequalled and signal Mercies, how gre [...] hath been and is your ingratitude and unfruifulness.

To which I answer, Truely have you spoken, to your own shame; for your in­gratitude and unfruitfulness exceed many that went before you, which justly were cut off for the very sins of which you are highly guilty; and more may I add unto your confession, How great hath been and is your Oppressions, a [...] Pride, and Vain-glory, and Self-exaltings, and hypocritical Fastings, and Con­fessions with your mouths, when your hearts are far from the Lord; yea, [...] your Mercies have been unequalled, so your sins cannot be numbred, as thou [...] you sinned that grace might abound, or did evil that good might come; or to [...] liberty to your own hearts lusts, from your former Mercies and Deliveranc [...] received.

Then further you say, Should the Lord say unto you, as once he did unto Ephraim, Ephraim is joyned to Idols, let him alone; that same Sentence would be your [...] ­sert; as insensibility is your crime, so it might be too justly made your punishment.

Answer, Yea verily the Lord may say so unto you, many of ye Rulers [...] England are joyned to Idols, let them alone; and that same Sentence is your [...] ­sert, but insensibility is not wholly your crime; for you have had a day of vi [...] ­tation from the Lord, in warning of you by the mouth of his Servants, and y [...] are not altogether unsensible of your crime of great Oppressions, and false Wor­ships, and Idol Shepherds Oblations, which you are joyned unto, and your pu­nishment will justly be the same; for the time comes that it shall be Darkness a [...] Night upon you; and you shall seek the Word of the Lord but shall not [...] it; for God will smite your Idol Shepherds, and break down your Idols Alta [...] of vain Traditions; and the Lord will leave you to your selves to wallow i [...] Darkness, and in the way of Death; and the Servants of the Lord shall le [...] you alone, and shall no more weary themselves with seeking to reclaim you.

And further you say, Who hath been melted with Mercy? Who hath been broken b [...] Iudgments? A sinful Nation; A People laden with iniquity; A seed of Evil-do [...]; Children that are Corrupters: They have forsaken the Lord; they have provoked the [...] ­ly One of Israel to Anger; they are gone away backwards; Why should ye be stricken [...] more? ye will revolt more and more. And further you say, As those sad words do C [...] ­racterise us as filthy as those of Judah; so if that sad destruction should also be our doom, [...] could not but acknowledge the Lord is righteous in all his Wayes.

Answ. Verily few of you have been melted by Mercies, or broken by Judg­ments, but are a sinful Nation, a People laden with iniquity, a feed of Evil­doers; and ye have read your own Character fully; for you have forsaken the Lord, and are Children that are Corrupters, and are gone away backward, an [...] provoke the Holy One of Israel to Anger; and true it is, Why should you he strick­en any more, or warned? For you will revolt, and turn aside more and more; how truly have you numbred up the sum of your own state, even to your shame and confusion of face, and to the justifying of the Lord, when he in Vengeance ap­pears to judge you, and even assuredly that sad denunciation will be your doom, and the same Judgments shall overtake you when the Seed is gathered out from [Page 175] among you, even desolation of Cities, and madness of Prophets, and God will smite you together with confusion, and you shall not bring forth deliverance in the Land, neither shall the Nations have peace in your dayes, while you revolt when you are stricken, and persecute the Innocent when they warn you.

And in the day of your recompence, you shall indeed confess to your condemna­tion, that the Lord is righteous in all his ways; and further you say, How deeply have you grieved your God, in not mourning as you ought, for that profainness and b [...]ness that is so ripe amongst you, even under such means of knowledge and grace, and in not being sensible under, nor making a sanctified use of those rebukes you have of late received.

Answ. Yea, you have, and do daily even in your set days, and times of Fasting, deeply grieve the Lord God, in not mourning and fasting, with a heart prepared to the Lord, but even in hypocrisie, and even for strife and debate: indeed igno­rance, and prophaneness, and barrenness abounds among you, and you are ripe therein to be cut down for the fire, even the more ye are inexcusable, because you have neglected the Messages of the Grace of God, and means of knowledge from the Mouth of the Lords despised Servants, whom you have persecuted, even in cruelty, some of them unto death, and have imprisoned others unjustly, while your false Prophets and Diviners have been set up by you, who have daubed you with untempered Morter; and you have made your hearts unsensible, by hearden­ing your hearts against reproof and rebukes, which some of you of late have re­ceived; the Messengers of which rebukes have been evil and shamefully entreated in your Towns, Steeple-houses, and High-wayes, and elsewhere in your Domini­ons; and how should you but be ignorant, and prophane, and barren, while you cannot receive the Message of Light, but stumbles at Christ Jesus the Light of the World, and cannot believe in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened every one of you, which is the way to knowledge, and to receive righteousness into your Souls, and therein to be fruitfull to the Lord.

And you say, Every individual man hath help [...]d to fill up the m [...]sure of their s [...]; First, in not improving [...]erc [...]s so fully as might h [...]e been to [...]is glory from [...] they were received.

I answer, Indeed I believe not one of you may be excused in the sight of God, but are all guilty in filling up the measure of transgression, and even i [...] not impro­ving mercies to the glory of God; for had you improved the great mercies of your Deliverance and Conquest over your Enemies, the Nations had been in peace and rest before this day; but you strove to glorifie your selves, and sought a King­dom of Riches and Honour to your selves, and who might be the greatest and the highest, to the pleasure of some, and to the grief of others; and you impro­ved mercies to your selves, and not to him that gave them; and therefore is your Dominions filled with distractions, and fears, and troubles are on every side, and your Dominions are as broken Vessels that cannot be joyned together, but are full of wickedness, and false Sects, and Idol-worships, and in your own Councels are you filled with confusions: and thus it is justly come to pass upon you, because of your transgressions.

Again you say, In the s [...] neglect and w [...]t of Activity, Resolution and Integrity in Magistrates, and others impowered therein, for the punishment and suppression of Vice and crying Enormities.

I answer, True, it is a sad neglect; and want of Activity and Integrity in the Magistrates hath been, and is, to punish and suppress vice; and therefore it abounds in all fulness in the very Streets, and it hath been wholly contrary; for Vice hath gone at liberty, while the Magistrates, and such who have been im­powered, have been active, and full of rigour, and no neglect found in them to punish (or rather to oppress and suppress) the Innocent and Meek of the Earth, and even they have done violence to the Harmless, witness most parts of Prisons this day in England, how many have been beat and abused, and haled, and knock­ed down with Staves, in the sight of some of the Magistrates, and how many have been imprisoned for passing on the High-wayes, and through their Towns, and some for declaring against Vice and crying Enormities, which one day must be [Page 176] laid to yours and their charge; for a sad neglect hath been for want of Justice and true Judgment, and they that have been impowered, have turned their power against the Lord, and have been active to lay their Sword upon the guiltless, while the guilty have gone free, witness many who have been beat in your Steeple-houses by violent men, and afterwards committed to Prison, while the Peace-breakers and Violent have gone free; and indeed it is time to lay these things to heart; for till you purge your selves from these iniquities, you shall never be established, nor your Dominions in peace; for these things, and such like abominations are you filled with distractions, and fears compass you about, and that justly from the hand of the Lord, as the Light in your Consciences shall answer in the dreadfull day of account, which cometh suddenly upon you.

Again you say, In the abominable blasphemies vented and spread of late through the Apo­stacy of, and the abuse of liberty, by many professing Religion.

Answ. No doubt but Blasphemy is a crying sin, whereof the Land is guilty, if you were able to judge thereof but rather indeed this cause is not rightly stated; for you call that Blasphemy, which is Truth, such is the grievous ignorance of some of you: And this, I am sure, is your greater sin, condemning the guiltless, rather then suffering the guilty in this particular. Friends, beware, lest your judgment be so corrupted, that you call evil good, and good evil, and thereupon approve the evil, and reprove the good, being given up to hardness of heart, and blindness of mind; and such were the sins of the Rulers in Israel, who persecuted the true Prophets under the account of Blasphemy, and such like, and approved of the Prophets that prophesied falsly, and of the Priests that bore rule by their means; for the People loved to have it so, Ier. 5. My soul wisheth that you Rulers may be wise, and ye Judges may be learned in this particular, lest you go in the way of your fore-fathers to destruction, persecuting the Innocent without cause, through false judgment of the way of Truth, which may be called by you Heresie and Blasphemy, who in the blindness of your minds cannot discern of the things of God; for in that way which the wisdom of the World calls He­resie, do we worship the God of our Fathers: and verily, so much the more I may warn you herein, to take heed for the time to come, because you have some of you been highly guilty of this transgression of late, even in condemning the guilt­less concerning this offence; so that thus for you I may more truly state the particular, In the abominable violence and oppressions acted of late upon the Innocent, and them who have worshipped God in the Spirit, through the wickedness of some Rulers, and the abuse of liberty, by them, which have professed love to God and his Way, through the false judgments, and unsa­voury opinions of many, who have called Truth Error, and the Way of God Blasphemy: And this is your sin, of which, if you that are guilty repent not, and turn from it, and beware of it for time to come, your honour shall fall into the dust, and your fall shall be more deeper into confusion and destruction then any that have yet gone before you; for of late the Lord powerfully hath begun to work, and to vent his Truths through the Mouthes of his Servants, and to bring out of the Apostacy and Blasphemies (which hath reigned since the dayes of the Apostles) the true and pure Religion, which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience.

Again you say, In the little love and tenderness which is even amongst Professors them­selves towards one another, who whilest they contend for things disputeable, lose th [...] which is certain, even charity; without which they become as sounding Brass, or tink­ling Cymbals.

Answ. This is also your sin, and the sin of the Nation, want of love and ten­derness in Professors towards God, and one towards another; and that love which appears, is but the shew, and in the form and likeness of things, and not from the true ground of love and peace; and these are they that hate the Light, and walk not in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath lighted every man that comes into the World, in which the unity of the Saints doth stand, and in which their love is one to another; and they that are out of the Light, are without charity, [Page 177] which is the bond of perfection; and these that know not the Light of Christ, to guide them in the Wayes of God, are in all their profession, and words; and acti­ons, as sounding Brass, and as a tinkling Cymbal, and these are they that are in the Disputes, and Contentions, and Strife about the Letter, drawing their own Consequences and Deductions from it, in their own wisdom, and knowledge, and sensual understanding, and those lose the Substance, and know not that which is certain, Christ Jesus in them, to be Ruler over them; but are as dry Trees, to be plucked up; and all their Profession will wither, and all their pretended love will perish, and their shew of things in the outward appearance will be confound­ed, who know not the Light of Christ to guide them; which Light is the ground of true love and tenderness, and brings to the knowledge of things certain, out of the contention of things disputable.

But further you say, In allowing difference in Forms, more power to divide Christians, then Agreements in fundamentals has to unite them, one of the dangerousest and fruitfulest seeds that hath been sown by the envious One.

Answ. Christians are they that follow Christ Jesus, who are not so only in name, but in practice; and they are one, and cannot be divided as they walk in the Light which comes from Christ, who is the Foundation, or Fundamental Principle of the Religion, which is not in Form but in Power, agreeing in the Foundation, and in the whole building: But Friends, you seem to charge the late Powers of the Nation, if not your selves, yet some part of your Body, which now are in power, with great things, with no less then to be Satans Seedsmen; for if allowing difference in Forms be the dangerousest and fruitfullest Seed that ever was sown by the envious One, as you say it is; then who do you blame, either the fore-going Parliaments, of which some of you have been, and so cannot be clear from that evil, or the Protector himself? and this seem to be a very great charge upon him (whose judgment is appearingly to give allowance unto diffe­rence in Forms) to be the Seedsman of Satan, or to allow the envious One to sow the Seed which you call dangerous; it is not Christians that are divided, but the Sects and false Opinions, men of corrupt minds.

Thus much in answer to the words as they are laid down: but I rather chuse to speak to the mind or intent of the Penmans spirit of your Declaration, which im­plieth an inclining to be against many Forms, and to bind up all into one Form of Worship; and so thereby, though some which is evil would be shut out, yet would the true spiritual Worship of the Saints above all assuredly thereby be exclu­ded, and the tender spirits of People, who truly seek God, would be oppressed: But keep your selves from that evil, I warn you, lest you be broken, and never bound up; and lay no Law, nor make no Law upon Religion; but let Religion defend it self; only lay your Law upon Peace-breakers, and violent men, and bind not mens Consciences to a Worship by your Precepts, either made already, or by such as may be made; if you ease the Oppressed, so God will establish you in peace, if you fulfil his Will herein.

Again you say, In not being fully sensible, though the Lord in the depth of his wisdoms and righteous Iudgments hath for some years last past been overturning several Authorities in these Nations, and hath, as it were, been pouring them from Vessel to Vessel, he hath been pleased ever since his people publickly contended for his Truths, still to set up Rulers who have allowed them the free exercise and profession of them.

Answ. Indeed you are not sensible of the righteous Judgments of God in over­turning several Authorities in the Nation; and therefore you go in the same abo­minations as they did who were overturned, till you also be overturned, as they were: But take heed to your selves lest you be more then poured from Vessel to Vessel, even spilt in the dust of misery, and never more gathered again. Your last part of this particular is false, for we that are in the pure Religion, and in the Exercise of our pure Consciences, have not from some of you our Liberty, but are cast into Goals and Dungeons, and banished out of yo [...] Towns and Ci­ties some of us, by some that have been Rulers set up; if this be doubted by you, examine through your Nation, true testimony may be given; so that here you [Page 178] have spoken better of the Rulers then indeed it is, and would make the Nation believe untruths to establish you; though I condemn not all, but my words are towards the Guilty, that they may repent, lest they perish in their ini­quities, and be cut off in their transgressions, and the Curse be upon you all for the sake of some.

Again you say, In that Athiestical and luke-warm Spirit, too commonly a [...]gst you, whereby not only the Form, but also the Power of Godliness is reproached, and ac­counted as a vain thing; but also too many have fallon from their first love, and others este [...] themselves rich whilst they are miserable poor, and blind, and naked; sins which [...]e the highest aggravated, by being committed in Countries where the glorious Light of the Gos­pel shin [...]s clearest.

Answ. This you have confessed truly to your own shame, in the sight of other Na­tions; your spirit is not only luke-warm unto Righteousness, but it is too [...]m­mon among some of you to be zealous and hot in persecuting the Way of Righ­teousness; and indeed many of you are grosly fallen from your first Love and In­tegrity, and thereby the Power of Godliness is not only reproached by you, but persecuted and counted vile, and they that live in it oppressed; such is your zeal in your dead Form, some of you, that even you count the true Way and Worship of God madness; and you are the men that esteem your selves rich while you are miserable, and blind, and naked, and your sins are aggravated the more and higher, because God gives you warning daily by the mouth of his Servants, who hold forth the Light of the glorious Gospel, and bears witness unto your faces against your Abominations and Idolatries committed by you, yet for all this you continue in your iniquities, and evil entreat the Messenge [...] of Peace unto you souls, and are the men indeed which are Athiestical, ev [...] many by their work, saying in their hearts there is no God, and as truly as yo [...] have confessed your sins, so must you confess the justness of the Judgments of God upon your own heads, if you return not unto the living God, and own the day of your Visitation.

Again you say, In being more dissatisfied that you have not obtained all you aim [...]d [...], then thankful that you have obtained so much as you now enjoy.

Answ. Verily this is not the least of your sins, but exceed some others; f [...]r you aim at that which you shall never obtain till you be thankful, and walk wor­thy of what you enjoy; and this is the way, Ease the Oppressed, and take o [...]f the yoke of the Poor and Needy, and of the Lord you may be heard; and seek not your own honour, for that is the ground of dissatisfaction and unthankfulness among you, and the cause why you abuse the Mercies which you do enjoy, having lost the sence of the former dealings of the Lord with you.

Further you say, All which, with other the grievous sins of these three Nations ca [...] aloud upon all the good People in them, to lie low in the sight of our offended God; and b [...] Prayer and Humiliation (away which in our deepest distresses we have found both our D [...] ­ty and Comfort to tread in) to seek to appease his Wrath; and that he would be pleased f [...] his own Names sake to remove whatever accursed thing there is found amongst us; and the as he is our God, so we may be his People.

Answ. Indeed, many more grievous sins are highly abounding in these three Nations, your own oppressions, and self-seeking honours, and vain glories in your self-performed righteousness, with your persecution of the Innocent by grievous unjust Fines and Imprisonment, not regarding the cry of the Poor, which lie under the heavy hand of Oppression, of you subordinate Rulers; these aboundantly add to the measure of the iniquity of these three Nations, all which abomination cry aloud for vengeance upon the heads of some of you rather then for humiliation; for sin cries not for humility, this is your ignorance; but the good People of God do lie low in his sight, whom you highly offend every day; and they lament you, and suffer under your iniquities, though you reward many of them with pers [...]ution, and hard censures of cruel dealings, till of which your wickedness you repent, and turn from it, all your Prayers, and Humilations, and set Dayes of seeking God in your rebellious hypocritical hearts, shall never ap­pease [Page 179] God's Wrath, but the rather shall add thereunto, and kindle it more aboun­dantly against you: Away with your vain Oblations, and false divining Pro­phets; they are a weariness to the Lord, and his hand is against them, while your hearts are not upright before him; & though sometimes some of you have found God near in deep distress when you called upon him, even when your hearts were in a measure upright with him; yet in vain you now set your selves to seek him, and your cry he will not hear; nor his Wrath shall not be appeased; for you have tru­ly confessed the cursed thing is amongst you, even the Idolatry of the deepest na­ture, both in Teachers and People; and till you repent and remove every burden from off the Innocent, the cursed thing cannot be taken away; but for his Names sake, which is Equity, and Justice, Judgment must he bring upon your heads, and unto you he will be a God of Vengeance, and unto him shall you be a People of his Curse, except you break off your sins by Righteousness, and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the Poor.

Further you say, and this you desire, That he will infatuate the Counsels, and de­feat the designs of those that labour to exalt themselves against the Interest of his Son and his People.

Answ. Friends, you or some of you are the men that seek to exalt your selves (and not it) and therefore against the Son of God and his People; instance the unjust suffering of many of God's People, who know the Son in them to rule them under your Laws upheld by you, and acted in by some of your selves; and you say in your hearts you will not have this man to reign over you, for you own not the Bringers of that Message, but uphold your false Prophts, which speak smooth things to you, and cry Peace while you follow your own wayes; and verily, herein you go to seek God against your selves, to your own destruction, as being some of you the very men guilty of the Abominations which you set and propound to your selves in your Humiliation to pray against: Your Eyes are blind, and your Hearts unbelieving, and ye know not what you do; and your own Counsels and Designs, or so much of them at least, as are against the In­nocent, are sure to be infatuated and defeated, and you shall receive from the Lord the answer of your requests upon your own heads; for you labour against the Interest of the Son, while you seek to bind any mans Conscience to this or that Worship.

Again you say, That he will be pleased in a most special manner to vouchsafe his Presence to those who are entrusted with the Management of the Affairs of these Na­tions.

Answ. If you do his Will, and fulfil his Ordinances of Justice and Equity to­wards all men, not seeking your selves in any thing, but the Lord in all things, and wait on him in his Light, by which Christ lightneth every one of you, to be guided thereby in all your wayes, then his Presence you may enjoy in a special manner, in the managing of all Affairs to his Glory; but if you keep not the Conditions of the Lord in seeking his Honour only, and in denying your selves, his Presence you shall not find with you, but shall be filled with desolations and contentions; and the Nations over whom you are entrusted shall not have Peace nor Deliverance in your days, but they under you shall have Confusion and Oppres­sions, and the special Pretence of the Lord shall not be shown to you or them; and remember this is a Warning to you.

Again you say, That he will appear, the Mighty Councellor experimentally unto them.

Answ. If you stood in his Counsel, and walk in uprightness of heart before him in the Light of Christ Jesus, then will he appear to be mighty in his Counsel with you and for you; otherwise you shall be given up to follow the counsel of your own hearts, which shall never bring forth good, but evil to your selves, and to your whole Nations; and this shall you know experimentally by the Light in your own Consciences.

Again you say, That he would in all things spirit you unto the Work unto which you [Page 180] are called, and give you unity among your selves, even the best Unity, that of the Spirit, in the best Bond, that of Peace; that as you are a People abounding in Mercies, so you may abound in returns.

Answ. The work is great unto which you are called, and shall hardly be accom­plished by you, except you receive the Spirit of the Lord, to be ruled therewith in your own hearts; for if you rule for him, you must first be ruled by him, [Mark] and ordered with his Light, which will condemn every evil affection in you; and this is the Spirit of Unity in the best Bond of Peace, which is most precious, which brings forth a humble walking with the Lord in all righteousness before him; and being led every one in particular with this Spirit, and united to God, and one to another, in not seeking your selves, but the Lord: This is the Way where God's Blessing is received, and a [...] re­turning unto him of praise for his Mercies; but I wish you are not rather ad­ding sin unto sin, and fulfilling the measure more and more of your transgres­ssions, till the Wrath of the Lord break forth against you to confound you for­ever.

Again you say, And that at last through the unwearied goodness of our God these three Nations, after such memorable revolutions, may be setled upon the sure foundations of Truth, Mercy and Peace, and his People henceforth being delivered from their Enemies, may serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of their lives.

Answ. Verily the goodness of God hath been unwearied to these three Nati­ons, in many respects it appeareth, and many memorable revolutions hath come to pass in this last Age, even in cutting down one Power and Authority of Oppression after another, till many great Mountains are removed, and the Nations levelled; and the Lord is now bringing his great Work to pass i [...] overturning once and again, till his Reign and his Kingdom be exalted over all in Truth and Righteousness; and if you shorten not your hand in your Op­positions and Persecutions, your selves shall also be overturned, that God may in Righteousness settle these Nations (which remain as a wavering Leaf, and as an ungirded Vessel, full of strife and distraction, fears and jealousies) eve [...] among your own selves, unsetled in your Wayes and Thoughts in Truth, Mercy and Peace; but in Gainsayings, and Oppositions, and Confusions, stand tot­tering like a rotten Hedge; and the Proud are exalted, and the poor are despi­sed, and they that love Sion are set at nought; and verily you go not the way to settle the Nations upon the true Foundation, but backslides from the Way of Truth: Which is the Foundation, upholding of iniquity, and establishing the false Prophets and Diviners by a Law; and such whom the Lords wrath is against, who upholds the horrible filthy thing, and abominations of the Earth; and confusion is upon them, till they be overthrown, never to deceive the Na­tions more? Therefore hear ye Deaf, and look ye Blind, and understand ye Hard-hearted, love Truth, and Mercy, and Peace in your own hearts, and and depart from Iniquity; and cast away your Idols, and cease from evil, and learn to do well; and put away the evil of own doings, and turn to the Lord in this the day of your Visitation, and to the Light of Christ Jesus, where­with he hath lightened you; take heed thereby to be guided every one in par­ticular, in fear and tenderness, towards God, and towards man; not ruling in Tyranny and Oppression, nor making Laws in your own wills, according to your own thoughts, as some that went before you have done, till they were cut off, as you are Witnesses, who were made in the Hand of the Lord their Ex­ecutioners; and if you follow in any measure their Example of Wickedness, take them for an Example in a cursed end; in love to all your Souls this I write, and not to shame you in your wickedness, but rather that you may repent, and that you may know how to exercise your selves in the Law of God to­wards the Nations, and that every Burden may be removed, and the Oppressed may go free, and the Bands of Iniquity may be broken; and this is the Fast ac­cepted [Page 181] of the Lord, required of him from you, which if you observe with your whole hearts, a Blessing will the Lord made you unto the Nations in this pre­sent Age, and unto your selves for evermore; but if you hearden your hearts against the Lord, and tread in the steps of your fore-fathers, and seek to limit the Holy One, or to bind the tender Consciences of the People of God, then shall you fall into their perdition, and be swallowed up in everlasting confusi­on, and your Memorial shall stink in Generations to come, and shall be a hissing among the Heathen Kingdoms, and deliverance will God bring ano­ther way unto his People, to your overthrow, if you walk not in the Counsel of the Lord.

And whereas upon the considerations and purposes aforesaid, you have order­ed, that a Day be observed and kept for solemn Humiliation, and seeking the Face of God, through the mediation of Christ, in England, Scotland and Ireland. To which, in much tenderness of spirit I desire to say, That if you seek his Face in the hard­ness of your hearts, and in the way of your own precepts, while the yoke of the great Oppressions in the Nations are not broken from off the neck of the Poor, his Face you shall not behold, though you seek it, but in vain shall you weary your selves, and shall travel without issue, as to that which you desire, and his Countenance shall be hid from you, till he shew his Face for evil against you, and not for good; and to you it shall be said, To what purpose are your Oblations, and your solemn Meeting? Who hath required it at your hands? even your own doings and appointed Altars of Inventions, which the Lord can­not accept from you: Therefore give ear ye Mountains, and listen ye tall Ce­dars; if you establish the false Prophets, which makes a prey upon the people, through covetousness, and which acteth the abominations of Israel, in preach­ing for Hire, and divining for Money, and in crying peace to the wicked, by a Law, and maintain them through the oppression of the Poor, in the cry­ing Oppression of Tythes, or otherwise imposing such things upon the tender Consciences by any Act or Statute made or allowed by you, God shall not hear your cry, nor answer your request, nor ever establish you in peace, nor the Nations over which you are set likewise, if you make a Law, or allow such a one to be acted, which any way may tye or limit the Spirit of the Lord in any of his Servants, from reproving the abominations of the Times in Ru­lers, Teachers, or People, in your Streets or Temples, or places otherwise, at any time whatsoever, the Lord will not hold you guiltless; nay assuredly, if you do but hide your face from the Suffering of such, who through the wickedness of some under you, may be afflicted upon such an account, you shall not be alto­gether Innocent, but Gods hand shall be upon you likewise: If any for Con­science sake deny to Swear, upon any account, according to the former vain Customs of the Nations, trained up thereto in ignorance and blindness in humane tradi­tions, and thereupon suffer Imprisonment, or Fining, or otherwise howsoever, by any Order from you, or any subordinate Powers, you shall be guilty in the sight of God of that suffering the Innocent in such a cause; much more shall you be guilty, if by any means, in any cause, upon any condition, men be compel­led by any Authority of this Nation to swear; likewise, if any suffer for not bowing the Hat, or Knee to any of you, or any of your Judges or under Offi­cers, and thereupon be accounted Transgressors, the Lord shall account such things Oppression from your hands, and Tyranny and Cruelty, and you shall not escape unpunished; as the Lord lives, these, and many more Abominations cries for Vengeance against some of you, who have had your hands deeply dipped in such Oppression; and therefore to you this is a Warning to break off these sins by righ­teousness, and these evils by true repentance, lest your Fasts prove only for Strife, and to smite with the fist of Wickedness: Clear your selves, and wash you hands from these Abominations, lest the fruit of them be given you to eat for Food; and let this, oh ye Rulers, be acceptable councel unto you, that the [Page 182] dayes of Happiness may appear, and the long expected and waited for day of Li­berty may yet dawn through this dark night of Bondage which overshadows your heads, that you cannot behold the glory of the Son, and herein shall you be esta­blished, and we shall have cause to bless the Lord for you, and with you; other­wise you shall never be renowned; but all your counsels and purposes shall fail, and be cursed of the Lord, and evil shall be upon you, and upon the Nation for your sakes.

And all you that fear God, listen and give audience, and let the fear of the Lord be before your eyes, and keep your selves pure from the iniquities which the rest love to drink in; and though your power be shorter, and your vote lower then the uprightness of your hearts desire, yet unto God be faithfull, in bearing your Testimony for him, and against all that which, with the Light of Jesus, yo [...] see to be contrary to him, and be awaked unto Righteousness, Judgment and Mercy; the Light is springing over your heads, and the day of the Lord is dawn­ing out of darkness, and a Seed is sown in your Dominions which cannot be roo [...] ­ed out, till it have overspread the Earth, with the precious Fruit thereof; and though it be striven against to be plucked up, yet shall the Branch and Root thereof be everlastingly renowned; for it is of the true Jew, and he that falls before it shall never more rise up again.

THe Lord hath opened my heart to declare; and the words of my mouth shall be the words of Truth, and of a good Understanding, to every one who hath an ear to hear; whose ear the Lord hath opened to hear, and understand things of old, and the state of things as they have been in Ages, and Generations past; and as now the state of things are at this day. Hearken and consider, and let your ears be open to Instruction; For the Word of the Lord is towards you, that your hearts might understand the things that belong to your Peace, now in your dayes, before the time come that they be hi [...] from your eyes, and your eyes be darkened, never more to perceive, but you le [...] to perish, and to dye with the Uncircumcised.

Behold▪ and give ear, ye Inhabitants of the World; see and consider, in what state you are fallen; even in a time of Darkness and Apostacy, wherein thick Darkness covered all the World, and a vail of Ignorance the faces of all [Page 184] People: Death hath reigned King over all, and the Cloud of thick Blindness hath lain on the hearts of all men. O how hath Darkness, Blindness, and Ignorance covered all men, even as a Cloak and a Garment? How hath the Eye been blind­ed, the Ear stopped, and the Heart hardened? So that the Lord God, and his Way, his Truth, and Salvation hath not been manifestly known, heard, not selt, nor witnessed, for Ages and Generation: the words thereof have been pro­fessed, but the Life and Power thereof hath not been enjoye [...]; But men have been deceived with the Form of Godliness without the Power, and cheated with a likeness of things without Life, and have sought the living among the dead, and worshipped Idols, which have been without sence and understanding; and with lying imaginations, and feigned likenesses, hath the carnal part (which ruled in People above the Seed of God) been fed, and with shadows, and out­ward appearances, and the soul hath been starved.

Alas, alas! wo is me, because of these things; my heart within me is broken, and I am perplexed. The shadow of Death hath been the lodging Place of all People, and the vail of Ignorance hath been a Covering, and the darkness of Heart hath been followed for a Law, and a blind Understanding hath been the Guide [...] Ordinances and Statutes, and Death in the beastly power hath ruled as King in all the Dominions of the Earth, and in all mens hearts; and men have been with­out the Wisdom of God, even every eye blind, and every ear deaf, and [...]ry tongue dumb, and every heart corrupt and void of understanding, and every [...] lame, and all men have been altogether imperfect; for the living God hath bee [...] as a Stranger unto the Children of men, less known by men then the Own [...] the Ox, and less perceived then the Crib by the Ass, and all flesh hath corrupted its way before Lord.

Wo is me! when I consider how man, who was planted with the chosen [...], even God's Image, and was a noble Plant, is degenerated into the Plant of a strange Vine unto God, and bring forth wild Grapes, and sower Grapes, w [...]d the Lord's Soul loathes; and thus hath the Vineyard and the Plants th [...] rewarded the Husbandman, with Fruit of a bitter taste, and with the reward corruption; And man is condemned in his transgression, for want of the K [...] ­ledge of God, more then the Ox and the Ass.

Pride, Covetousness, Lust, and Envy, Backbiting, Lying, Drunkenness, W [...] ­dom, Theft, Murder, and all manner of evil and sin against God, more the [...] can be expressed, is abounding and superabounding among men in this Ge [...]e­ration, Iniquity is grown to the full, the measure is up, and the number o [...] transgression is sealed, that the Lord may arise; who hath been pressed as a Ca [...] with Sheaves; and now is the Lord arising, and he hath said, Ah, I will ease [...] of my Adversaries, and be avenged on my Oppressors. And Vengeance belong [...] to him, and he will repay, and will destroy the Vineyard with the Plants and Fr [...] thereof, and the Bryars and Thorns shall be consumed; and he will lay waste, an [...] devour, and confound all his Enemies in a day, when his Indignation goes sorth, and his Sword is made bare, and his Purpose cometh to pass, in rooting out t [...] oppressive seed of Evil-doers, which have filled his Habitation, (wherein he shol [...] dwell) with cursed Children, and a brood of evil Births.

In the dayes of Christ and his Apostles was the Hand and Power of the [...] felt, and the Lord gat himself a Name, and a Glory; and he caused his m [...] ­lous Light to spring forth, and his Day to dawn, and the Day was manifest tha [...] many Prophets and Wise-men had desired to see, but was not in their time fee [...] by them, and his Power was made known, and his Arm was made bare in the sight of many Nations; and in that day his Glory was spread abroad, and [...]is Truth and Way was exalted, and his glorious Gospel was declared through [...] Earth, and the sound of his marvellous Works went forth into all the World Judgment and Mercy was known, and Righteousness and Peace was witne [...] among men, and Life and Immortallity was brought to Light through the Gospel; and the Word of Life by which all things were created, and by which they stand, was handled, seen, felt, and tasted; and the Lord God in that Age was known to [Page 185] dwell with his People; and to walk in them, and his Covenant was established with many, and his Promises were fulfilled; Redemption, Deliverance, and Salvation was revealed, even Christ Jesus the Son God, the Prince of Peace; And Righteousness was made manifest in the Sons of men, and revealed in many who saw God's Glory, and were Witnesses of his Majesty and Dominion, and were gathered unto him in the Bond of Peace, and were his Sons and Daughters, and were led by his Spirit in all his Wayes of Truth and Righteousness. And ma­ny went forth into the World, and declared through Nations the things of Gods Kingdom, which was come to them, and was discovered within them; and the Lord God spake from Heaven by his Son unto them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and with Power. And the Lord was with them whom he called, and made them Wise, and their Word powerful, and their Message effectual, and their Weapons, were mighty through God, and strong Holds were subdued, and the Powers of Death and Darkness were subjected, and the Hearts of thousands were turned to God, and the Gospel was preached in power through the World, and many were brought to God, out of Darkness into Light, and from Satans Power unto God. And the Earth was filled with Light, and the mighty, and the wise, were confounded, and the bonds of cruel oppressions were broken, and they that set themselves against the Lord and his Way were confounded, and scattered, and brought to nought, though they were many in that Generation.

How did all the chief Priests, and Scribes, and Pharisees, Elders of the Peo­ple, and Rulers, and Governours lift up themselves in the Pride of their hearts, and took counsel together, and persecuted the Innocent, and put to Death and Imprisoned the Children of the Most High? How did they in the dayes of Christ persecute and seek for his Life, till they had taken it from the Earth, by their subtil­ty and wickedness? The Apostles and Ministers of Christ were persecuted, some were put to death, and others suffered grievous things for the Name of Christ, and were made a Prey and a Spoil unto Destroyers, whose wickedness encreased against the Way of God, till it was fulfilled in its measure, and the Wicked with their work were dashed to peices; and the Lord gave his Way, and Truth, and Servants dominion and power over all his enemies, and whole Nations were brought to the knowledge of God and his Wayes, and his Name was glorious, and his Kingdom was exalted in the Earth, and many were his People, who were gather­ed by him, and his powerful Word through the mouth of his Ministers, whom he ordained and called, who were Fisher-men, and such like, who were chosen to fulfil his Will, and to do his Work, and not many Wise-men of the World were called, but God chose the foolish things to confound the wise then, as he doth now; and such were honoured by the Lord, and Bearers of his Name, and of his Mes­sage, and Glad-tidings, though they were contemned of men; yet unto such he gave the authority to overturn the wise, and to out-reach the wisdom of this World, for they were learned of the Father, and had the knowledge of his Wayes, though they were unlearned in the Arts and Crafts of men, which stand more in pollicy and subtilty, then in the Fear and Wisdom of God; and in that day the Lord was with his People, while his People were with him, and he loved them while they stood in his Counsel, and he gave them dominion over all their Enemies, and they were a Terror to the whole World, while the Churches stood in the dread and terror of the Lord of Hosts; yea, all bowed under them, and their feet trod upon the high places of the Earth, and they were blessed of the Lord above all People, even till they waxed fat, and were increased in treasures, and thought they had need of nothing, and then they forgat God, and rebelled against him, and became perverse in their wayes, and grew into strange Idola­tries and Errors, and left the Way of Truth, and cast God's Law behind them, and the Power of Godliness ceased, and the form grew, and it was exalted more then Power, and love waxed cold when iniquity abounded; and men became Lovers of themselves, more then of the Lord; and the Lord and his marvellous Works which had been brought to pass were forgotten, and hardness of heart and unbelief entred, and then false Prophets and Antichrist came in, which [Page 186] Christ had prophesied of, and established the form of Godliness without the Pow­er, and subverted many (even whole Houses and Countries) from the simplici­ty of Christ Jesus; so that many became insensible, and grew past feeling of the Power and operation of God, and their minds became blinded, and their ears stopped; and God was grieved who had brought up Children, and they forgat him, and rebelled against him; for the Churches became corrupted, and lost the Life and Power of God, and the Holy Ghost, and became Idolaters, and Wor­shippers of Idols: and as you may read, Paul prophesied that many should de­part from the Faith, and give heed to seducing spirits, and the doctrine of De­vils; and grievous Woves should enter, not sparing the Flock, but seeking to devour it, and would make havock and merchandise of Souls, through coveteous­ness and filthy Lucre; and perillous times would come, wherein there should be a Form of Godliness and not the Power; and in that Generation before, and soo [...] after his decease, this came to pass and was fulfilled; and as you may read in th [...] Revelations, the Churches grew into Superstitions and Idolatries; and the Chuch of Ephesus had lost her first Love, and her Candlestick was to be removed, and so it came to pass; and some in the Church of Smyrna were in the Blasphemy, say­ing, they they were Iews, and were not, but were the Synogogues of Satan; and the Church of Pergamos, some of them held the doctrine of Balaam, and to eat thing [...] sacrificed to Idols, and to commit Fornication, and some held the doctrin [...] of the Nicolaitans, which God hated, and against them would the Lord fight with the Sword of his Mouth; and the Church of Thyatira suffered that Woman, I [...] ­zabel, to prophesie and to teach, and seduced the Servants of the Lord to com [...]it Fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols, and she and her Lovers wer [...] to be cast into a Bed of torment, and her Children should be killed with Death, and all the Churches should know, that God searched the reins and the hearts, and every one should receive according to their deeds; and the Church of S [...] had only a Name to live, but was dead, and her work was not perfect before God, and upon them would the Lord come as a Thief, and they should be in Darkness, and not know what hour he would come; and the Church of the [...] ­odiceans were luke-warm, neither hot nor cold, and the Lord would spew her ou [...] of his Mouth, for she was wretched, miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and the shame of her nakedness did appear: And if any had an ear to hear they mig [...]t hear; these things were spoken by him that lives for ever, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the Amen; so that hereby the Lord's Soul was vexed and his Spirit grieved, and his Wrath was suddenly kindled against them, who were Re­volters and Backsliders from his Way of Salvation, which he had made manifest to them, through the mouth of his Servants; so that his Fury went forth again [...] them to overthrow them, and to break them to peices, and they being turned from his Law and from his Statutes, he gave them up unto their own hearts desire, and brought in the Heathen upon them, to confound them, who broke them as­sunder, and trod down many of their Cities, and gained great Parts of their Do­minions, and made them Slaves by multitudes, and overthrew their Worship, and subjected their Power; even the Turks, and base uncircumcised People, made a Prey upon them, and possessed their Habitations, and set up abominable Ido­latries in the Place where God's Honour had dwelt; and their Dominions and Treasures without became spoil to the teeth of Devourers; for they having lost the Terror of the Lord, he brought up the Heathen to be a terror unto them, whose power was mightier then they, and overcame them, they being without the power of God; and they justly came upon them, according to the Purpose of the Lord, because of their backslidings: And others of th [...], who were not so given up to the will of an outward Enemy, yet were they given up to strange Idolatries and Subversion, and setting up Images, and wor­shipping that which is not God, but abomination to him to this day; so that the holy City, which had been full of Glory; was given to the Gentiles to be trodden down; and under their polluted feet hath it been stamped, and to their mouth hath it been a prey, for such a time, even since these things came to pass unto [Page 187] this day, as you may read; and the Beast and false Prophet hath ruled in oppres­sion, and the great Whore hath made all Nations drunk with the Wine of her For­nication; All the great Men, and Princes, and Nobles, and all the People upon the Earth have been made drunk by her, and touched her uncleanness, and ever since the day wherein the backsliding entred she hath sat upon Nations, and Kin­dreds, and Tongues, and People, and hath been decked in divers colours, to de­ceive the hearts of all people; and all Nations have been deceived by her, and the Beast, and his Power, whose Dominion hath been great, hath upheld Wickedness, by a Law, and established Idolatry by Decrees; and all have been out of the Way, and wandring in Blindness and Darkness, even the whole World have worshipped the Beast, and gone after the false Prophet, which sits upon the Beast, and his power protects him, till they be both overthrown into perdition, and cast alive into the Lake, which now the Lord is coming to do in Power and Dominion; and great Babylon is coming into remembrance before the Lord, and as she hath done, so shall it be done unto her; her Children is dashing against the stones, and her Off-spring is withering away; and the Darkness is vanishing, and the Sun is ap­pearing, and the Beastly Power shall be subdued, and the false Prophet confound­ed; even the old Dragon shall be bound, and chained, never more to deceive: for the Beast hath had a long reign, with his false Prophet, who have prophesied Lyes, and false Divinations, and led away the minds of all People.

For mark, and consider, Christ Jesus, who came into the World with glad­tidings of good things, even with Peace and Salvation; he said the glorious day was come, and even that day which many Prophets and Wise-men had desired to see; but had not seen; the earth was filled with light, as I have said, yet he far­ther prophesied, and said, that the night should come, when no man could work; and that in the last dayes false Prophets should arise, and deceive many, and should come into the World, and should cry, Lo here is Christ, and lo there is Christ, and if it were possible should deceive the very Elect; and the Apostle Iohn in his time, who had been an eye-Witness of Jesus, and had handled, and tasted, and felt the Word of Life, and had been with Jesus, and bore a true te­stimony unto him; in that very Age and Generation he saw the false Prophets and Antichrists come, and coming in, and aluded to the very sayings of Christ; By this we know, said he, that it is now the last time, for there are now many false Pro­phets and Antichrists gone out into the World; they were not of the true Apostles, but went out from among them (being gone out from the Light in their own particu­lars) and beguiled the hearts of the simple, by good words, and fair speeches, and went in Balaams way for Gifts and Rewards, and in Cains way to Envy and Murder, as you may read in the Scripture: So that in Iohns time, the false Pro­phets, which Christ foretold of, were come, and they did deceive many, accor­ding as Christ had said, and they drew many from the Wayes of God, and sub­verted many from the Way of Truth, and made havock of the Flock, and were grievous Wolves, according as Paul said; and truth began to perish from among men, and the Power thereof ceased, and the Apostacy came in, and the form was set up for a season; so that Iohn farther saw, and said the whole World went after the Beast and false Prophet, (whom he saw before was come, and worshipped the Beast, and his Image) but a few whose names were written in the Book of Life: And, as I have said, the whole City, with the outward Court, was trodden down by the Gentiles foot, and darkness surprised all, and wickedness abounded more and more, and the night came upon all, as Christ had prophesied, and the Beast grew in his dominion, till there was hardly any man left to bear witness in the Truth, and in the Power of God, unto the Name of Jesus; but all was subverted into dead Forms, and Shadows, and Likenesses without Life; and the Lord left the Earth, as it were, and covered himself in the Darkness, and became a stranger in the World, and did scarce openly speak by Vision, nor Dream, nor Prophet, but all were in the dark, and Ignorance abounded, and Superstition was exalted; the Saints Spirit, and Life which they were in, and guided by, was lost, and then they began to worship the Saints Names, and Dayes, and Words, without the [Page] Life and Power; and that Nature and that same Seed which had persecuted the Saints to death, and gainsayed the Power, and lost the holy Ghost, turned it self into the profession of the Saints Words, which were left upon Record, and con­formed it self into the Saints Practises, without the Life, Power and holy Ghost. And having lost the Power, from which the Scripture was given forth, and not being guided in the Life which they were in, which spoke it forth; then from the Scripture, in mens own conceptions, and thoughts, and by their reason, with­out Gods Spirit, they set up Likenesses, and Images, and Sects, and Forms, and ma­ny Heads, and many Horns grew upon the Beast which all the World worshipped and went after, for they had lost Christ the one Head, wherein the Union stood, and grew into Idolatry under the many Heads which were upon the Beast, who had many Horns, which pushed one against another, as it is witnessed unto this day; do not the Papists and Protestants (so called) and other Sects risen out of them, push one at another, to break and tear one another? and these have ma­ny Heads: The Pope he is a Head; and the others they have a Head, which every one bowes down under his own Head; the Pope will not bow to the Protestants Head, nor will the Protestants bow to the Papists Head, the Presbyterians and Independ [...], and Anabaptists, and the rest, every one of them bows to their own Head, and will not bow to anothers Head; and all these with their Horns push one against another, to rend one another; and all these are from Christ, and know not him, the one Head of the whole Body, and the one Horn of God's Salvation unto a [...] People; for Christ which is but one is the Head, and the Horn, which all the Saints, who are now gathered out of this Apostacy and dark Night, unto whom the Light again is risen, worship Christ the one Head, and know him the one Horn, which pushes aganist the Devils Kingdom, which hath long been set up, and rul [...] in the Earth among all these, who have many Heads and many Horns, who are a [...] of them (the very chiefest) but in the night fallen, in the Apostacy and Da [...] ­ness, since the beginning of the reign of the Beast, and the coming in of fa [...] Prophets, which came in, as I have said, when the Churches backslided, with the Whore also, who hath made all Nations and People Drunk with the Wine of be Fornication; and the Beast hath reigned over all Nations in his Dominion and Authority, and the false Prophet hath prophesied through all Nations.

And all these came in since the dayes of Christ; for he prophesied that i [...] should be so, as it is come to pass; and they were coming in, in the dayes of the Apostles, as you may read, Paul saw them coming, and largely describes their Character in several Epistles. And Peter, he saw them coming in, and de­scribed them, what such they were, and should be; and Iude he saw them also; and Iohn more fully then any, both in his Epistles and Revelations, as I have [...] ­ed at.

And when the Apostles were taken off the Earth, some by cruel Deaths, and others were banished, then they sprung in more fully, and grew through all Na­tions; and to this day hath the Beast, with his many Heads and many Horns ru­led in Nations, and been worshipped, and his false Prophet hath ever since been defended, and hath riden on the Beast through Nations, and hath deceived Nations with vanity and error; and at this very day the Nations and People are deceived, and lie under Darkness in the slavery and bondage under the authority of the Beast, and subject to the doctrine of his false Prophets.

And as I have said Darkness hath been over all, and fancies and likenesses with­out Life have been bowed under, and the Power being lost, the Form hath been set up, one after this sort, and another after that, according to mens vain con­ceits and apprehensions upon the Scriptures, and not according to the manifesta­tion of the Spirit of God, which fulfilleth the Scriptures, and brings to live the Life of them.

So in divers Colours, and in divers Appearances, and Robes in several forms and shapes of Garments hath the great Whore been decked, who hath sat upon the Beast, having the false Prophet serving as a Boy or Servant, to do whatsoever the Whore listeth; and the false Prophet, this Servant of the Whore, under the power of the [Page 189] Beast, hath moved and turned as the Beast would; and according as the Whore hath changed her self into other Garments, and Colours, even so hath the false Prophet changed his Doctrine, and Prayers, to please the Whore, and to keep people under the Government of the Beast. Its known, in this our day, that some who preached and prayed for the King and Bishops, do now preach and pray for others, even for them who destroyed the King and Bishops; so the false Pro­phets with all his Children, are but the Whores Servants, who hath made drunk Kings, and Princes, and great Men, and People, and Nations, with the Cup of Fornication, and Abomination, in the several Sects and Forms of Worships which have been set up without the power of Godliness; for the Baptism of the Spirit being lost, and not known, then from the Letter by imaginations, were se­veral sorts of Baptism brought forth, as sprinkling of Infants, that dark folly, and vain vanity, which all these Nations have been deceived withal, by the exer­cise of the false Prophet: And when the Gift of the Ministry, through the holy Ghost, which the Ministers of Christ had, was lost, and not any more [...]eceived, then began men to make Ministers, by natural Learning, and Arts, and Languages, and humane Pollicy; and when the gift of preaching by the eternal Spirit was lost, through the coming in of the Apostacy, then began men to study from Books and Writings, what to preach, and say, not having the holy Ghost received in them, without which none are Ministers of Christ; [mark that] and when men had lost, through ignorance, the Knowledge of God dwelling in them, and that their Bodies were his Temple, and that he dwelled and walked in his People, then be­gan they again to build Temples without, and to set up their false worships in them; for having lost the sence of Gods true Worship, which the Saints wor­shipped in, in the Spirit, and in the Truth, then they began to worship in set Dayes; and set Times, and set Places, and outward Observances, which is not the worship of God in the Spirit, and in the Truth, but Superstitious and Idola­trous; and when the Word of God was not received immediately from his Mouth; nor the Gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ, as it was in the dayes of the Apo­stles, then (darkness being come in) they used their tongues, when the Lord had not spoken to them, as the false Prophets did before Christs time; and long have they said the Letter is the Word, and that the Letter is the Gospel, and that it must be re­ceived by the Scriptures, and by natural Learning, and Arts; and that none can be Ministers of Christ, but such who are learned in the Languages, and knows the Original of Scriptures, Latine, and Greek, and Hebrew, nor any of these have re­ceived the Gospel by revelation, or the Word of God from his mouth. And when singing in the Spirit, and with the Understanding was ceased, and not known, then began People to get the Form of singing of Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter; and when the pure power of Godliness was lost, which was in the days of the Apo­stles manifested, and known, then in the Apostacy the deceit grew into the Form of every thing which the Saints had enjoyed in the Power, and so were Shadows set up instead of Substance, and Death instead of Life, and the Form without the Power, which in many Branches sprang forth, some into one appearance, and some into ano­ther; but all under the power of the Beast, with his many heads and horns defended; and until this day, since the dayes of the Apostles, thus it hath been, and those very Teachers, and supposed Ministers, which now are in this, and other Nations, are of that very Root which sprang forth in the dayes of the Apostles, and they are under the dominion of the Beast, and moveable like unto the great Whore; and this may easily be proved, that they are of that Generation of Teachers, and false Prophets, which Christ prophesied of should come, & which the Apostle saw was coming in, in their dayes, & of those which Iohn saw the world to run after; for Christ said, That by their fruits they should be known; and the Apostles they described their fruits, & them by their fruits; and so we seeing their fruit to be the very same now, which the Apostles described was the fruit of them that then were come, and coming; from whence we do conclude, according to sound judgment, that these very Teachers are of the same Generation, and Branches of the same Root which sprang forth then.

[Page 190] And in Pauls Writings you may read, such they were whom he saw, of whom he bad people to beware, and said, perillous times would come, and men should be Lovers of themselves, Covetous, Proud, Blasphemers, Disobedient to Parents, Unthankfull, Unholy, without Natural Affection, false Accusers, Fierce, Despisers of those that are good, Heady, High-minded, Lovers of Pleasures, more then lovers of God, having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power; and such, of whom people were ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth; for people were laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts; and these did re­sist the Truth, as Iannes and Iambres, who withstood Moses, by making likenesses without Life, and they were men of corrupt minds, and reprobate concerning the Faith.

Now it is plain, that these Teachers in this Generation are of that very Stock which Paul describes; such he saw would come, and such we see are come, and by their fruits we know them, as Christ said; and Pauls words are fulfilled; for these Tea [...]hers are lovers of themselves, and covetous, and proud, this is plain to all people; and Blasphemers, who denies Christ to have lighted every man that comes into the World, and therefore they deny Scripture, and so are disobedi­ent and unholy men, and without natural affection, who, many of them, have caused the Innocent to be imprisoned, and some have died in Prison, and they the chief cause of this; and this is without natural affection to the Creatures; and they are false Accusers, and Lyars, and fierce in their Books and Preaching, as is manifest through all this Nation; and they greatly dispise those that are good and prepares war against such as do not put into their Mouthes; and they a [...] heady and high-minded, and lovers of vanities and pleasures; this is evident with­out proof; and they have a Form of Godliness: they say all should be taught [...] God, but when any comes to witness it, and deny their teaching, they cry agai [...] such as Hereticks, and thus they have the words, and the Form, but deny th [...] Power; and they are ever teaching, twenty, and forty years, and more, but no [...] able ever to come to the knowledge of the Truth by them, but all in blindness a [...] darkness still; and people cries out, who have been learning many years fro [...] them, that they do not know the Truth; and its plain, that these Teachers are of that sort, that Paul spoke of, who brings none to the knowledge of the Truth people that follows them are laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts; [...] these have, and do resist Truth every whore; they deny that Christ hath lights every man that comes into the world, and so resists Truth, and denies Scripture and the truth, as you may read, Iohn 1. 9. And they are corrupt minded, ever wicked Persecutors, and Suers at Law, and earthly minded, and covetous, and op­pressors, and are wholly rebrobate concerning the faith: and thus it is plain that the root of these Teachers was springing in the Apostles dayes, and hath grown ever since in this dark night of Apostacy, and hath filled the Nations.

Again the Apostle saw that many should depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of Devils, speaking Lyes in hypocrisie, havi [...] their Consciences seared as with a hot Iron Now these Teachers are of the Stock which is departed from the true Faith; for they are without true Faith, and reprobate concerning it, who are in iniquity, and sin, and the works of the World, which are evil; now Faith purifies the heart from all this; but their hearts [...] not purified, but polluted with Covetousness, and preaching for Hire, and Per­secution, and Envy; and therefore they had not Faith and so are of that Gene­ration which departed from the Faith, after the Apostles time, which they [...] would come; and these do seduce, and their Doctrines are of the Devil, who de­nies the Truth which the Scripture bears witness of, and say, Sprinkling Infants [...] water, when they are two or three dayes old, is Baptism into the Faith of Christ; this is the Doctrine of the Devil, and Lyes they speak in great numbers, and in hypocrisie, and write them forth to the World in great hypocrisie, with feignedness, and pre­tence of holiness; and its plain, many of their Consciences are seared: How do many of them cause the poor people to suffer grievous imprisonment, and spoiling [Page 191] of their Goods, to the ruin of Families almost, for their maintenance, as Tythes, and such like; which if their Consciences were not seared they could not do; al­so some of them cried to the rude wicked People, in their Idol-temples, Fight Lads for the Gospel; and many who have born witness to the Truth, and against their de­ceits, have been beat, and abused, and knocked down, as for dead, in their presence; and their consciences are absolute seared, else they would tremble at these things.

Also the Apostle Peter, he saw false Prophets would come in, 2 Pet. 2. And false Teachers, who would bring in damnable Heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them; and many should follow their pernicious wayes, and through covetousness, with feigned words, they would make Merchandize of people; and they would walk after the Flesh, in the lust of Uncleanness, and despise Go­vernment, and be presumptuous and self-willed, and not afraid to speak evil of Dignities, and they would speak evil of things they understand not, and their hearts are exercised with coveteous practises, and were cursed Children, and they sport themselves with their own deceivings; and these had forsaken the right Way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaa [...], who loved the Wages of Un­righteousness; and these are Clouds that are carried with a Tempest, and they speak great swelling words of vanity, and while they promise to others liberty, themselves are the Servants of corruption: and such were Scoffers, and Mockers, which would come after the Apostles dayes, and they would walk after their own lusts.

And now according to this Prophesie of Peter, who saw false Teachers coming in, he gave these Characters of them, whereby it doth plainly appear that this Generation of Teachers are they, and of that Stock which then came in; for these bring forth the very same fruits which they did, which he spoke of, and we know them by their fruits, as Christ hath said; for these have filled the World with damnable Heresies, as holding forth, That sprinkling Infants with Water, is Baptism into the Faith of Christ; and that a Steeple-House is the Church; and that singing Davids Experiences in the World, among wicked People, in Rime and Meeter, is singing to the Praise of God; and these are damnable Heresies, even to the denying the Lord that bought them; for they deny the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ given to every man, to be the only Teacher, and the only Guide of man; and they that do deny the Light of Christ, with which every man that comes into the World is lighted, to be sufficient to lead to Christ, and to the Kingdom of God, (as these Teachers in this Age do) they deny the Lord that bought them; and many, even whole Nations, all the World, as Iohn saw in the Revelations, have followed their pernicious wayes, and run after their Idolatry and pernicious wayes of Superstitions; and they do make Merchandise of souls through covetousness, with their feigned words; for where they can make their Bargain to have the most money, there they will preach, and no where else; and if any will give them more the next year, they will sell that People, and go to another, for very covetous­ness, by feigned words; and they do walk after the flesh, in the lust of Pride and Covetousness, which is uncleanness of the flesh; and they despise the Saints Government and Order; for they will not suffer the Saints to prophesie one by one in their Assemblies, according to the Saints Government, but do despise that, and persecute it by the government of the Beast, unto whose government they are subject, and not to the Government of Christ and the Saints; and thus they are presumptious and self-willed, presuming to afflict, and cause the Children of God to be cast into Prison, and suffering them to be beat, and abused by their Flock, out of their wicked self-wills; and they are not afraid to speak evil of Dig­nities, and do speak evil of the Wayes of God, and of his Truth, which they understand not; and their hearts are exercised with covetous practises, and are cursed Children; for they make poor People, that have but ten Eggs, give them One, and that hardly can get any Fewel for the Fire, pay them a Fenny for the smoak; with many such other exceeding covetous practises, as suing men two hundred miles to answer for three Shilling, claimed by them for Tythes.

[Page 192] And these sport themselves in their vanity in their own deceiving, and whe [...] they have oppressed People for their Wages, and make People pay them for who [...] they do no work, and force Wages from them that never hired them, which ar [...] unheard of coveteous practises; they sport themselves in their pride and lustf [...]l­ness, and they are out of the right Way, and gone astray from the Wayes of God, which are holy, and are in the way of Balaam, who went after unrighteous Wages, who sought for enchantment against Israel, as these do; and these lo [...] unrighteous wages, by taking maintenance from People by force, unto whom is nothing owing by them; and these are carried with a Tempest of every Wi [...]d, according as the Powers of the Earth blow; these are carried sometimes under such a Government, and sometimes against it, and so are Clouds carried abo [...]t, and are unsettled on the foundation; and they speak great words of Christ, God, and the Scriptures, which are but words stolen by them, because they are not spoken by the spirit of God, but by a lying spirit; and they promise to others liberty, that they shall receive the Kingdom of God after death, and that Christ hath ta­ken away their sins, with such like Promises of liberty, but themselves are the Servants of corruption, living in Pride, and Hatred, and Coveteousness, and these serve sin; and are Servants of corruption; and they are Scoffers, and Mockers, and Walkers after their own lusts, as it is evident in all mens sight; so that accor­ding to the Judgmen [...] of Truth, we judge these Teachers of this Generation, [...] be of the same root which then sprang forth; for these bring forth the same frui [...]s as they in that time did; and in the Apostacy they have over-spread the whole World: And also the Apostle Iude gave a Description of them, according as Pe­ter had done; he saw certain men creeping in, who turned the Grace of God in to Wantonnes; and they were filthy Dreamers, and know nothing but wh [...] they know naturally, as bruit Beasts, and in that they corrupt themselves; a [...] they have gone in the way of Cain, and run greedily after the error of Balaam; a [...] they are Trees whose fruit withers; raging Waves of the Sea, foaming out their own shame; wandring Stars; they are Murmurrers and Complainers, walking after their own lusts, having mens persons in admiration, because of advant [...], and these seperate themselves sensual, having not the Spirit; and of this s [...] which Iude describeth are these Teachers in this Generation, whose fore-fathe [...] crept in, in the Apostles dayes, and these are their cursed Children, which [...] abound in these Nations at this day; and they are filthy Dreamers, studdying f [...]r what they speak, and dreaming without the Spirit of God an hour in a Pulpit, and what they know it is naturally, by natural Learning and natural Arts, and i [...] that knowledge they are also corrupted, in Pride, and Vain-glory, and Vanities, like bruit Beasts in their Apparrel, and Practises, and not like Ministers of the Gospel, nor Saints; and they are in Cain's way, in Envy, and Murder, and Wrath abounding, no People like them; and they do run greedily after Balaams Error, [...]or Gifts, and Rewards, and unrighteous Wages, which they run after greedily; and they are Trees which bring forth cursed fruits, which will wither and fade a­way; and they are like proud raging Waves of the Sea, foaming out their sha [...] in Lyes, and Slanders, and cursed speaking in publique and private; and they have no Habitation in the Firmament of God, but are wandring Stars, and so [...] ­times in one Opinion, and sometimes in another, but the blackness of Dark [...] is reserved for them, and the Judgment of the great Day; and they are Mur [...] rers and Complainers, and can never have enough, but seek for their Gain fr [...] their Quarter, as the false Prophets did in Isaiah's time; and they have mens p [...] ­sons in admiration, because of advantage to themselves, bowing and worshippi [...] mens persons, who will advantage them in their Wages, or Hire, and Mainte­nance, begging favour of the Magistrates, and having their persons in ad­miration, that they may have their advantage in oppressing poor People in Tyt [...]; in this their wickedness is hard to be expressed: and these have separated into self­seperation, some into one Form gathered, and some into another, but a [...] sensual, and in the wisdom which is from below, and without the Spirit of God.

[Page] And thus it is proved that these Teachers of this Age are of the same Generation in their practises, which Iude described to be creeping [...], in his time. And further the Apostle, 1 Iohn 4. he saw that the false Prophets and Antichrists, which Christ prophesied of to come, were come in his dayes, and said, Many false Prophets are gone out into the World, which is the spirit of Antichrist, whereof you have heard, said John, And even now already is it in the World, and they were of the World, and the World heard them; and so are this Generation of Teachers, who succeed them that went forth into the World then; these are of the World, in its wayes, Pride, and Wickedness, Covetousness, and Envy, and all Evil; and th [...]y that are in the evil of the World, in wickedness, hear them, and maintain them; so that accor­ding to Iohn's Description, these Teachers of this Age are of that same flock which came in then; and Iohn further saw, that all the World was gone after them, and worshipped the Beast which was then risen, & run after the false Prophet, which then came in, and sat upon the Beast, and its plain that the World is all run after them, unto this day, which is a day of bringing back again from the false Pro­phet, and from under the power of the Beast; and the Beast, and his Image, and the false Prophet, & his Divinations must down to the ground; and according as Ioh [...] farther prophesied, The holy City which had been trodd [...]n down under the Gentiles feet, for such a time, should again be gained, and the Saints should have the Dominion, and the old Dragon should be chained, and Christ sh [...]ld reign, and his Kingdom should [...]e set up in the Earth, and the Tabernacle of God should be with men; and this is the day that the Lord is restoring again the Way of Peace, which long hath been lost, and the the Power of God is again witnessed, which hath not been known for Gene­rations.

So that of things spoken this is the sum of Truth, and the Word of the Lord God to all People on the Earth; that in the dayes of Christ and the Apostles, it was a glorious Day of Light, and Life, and Power; and the Lord gathered a People which honoured his Name, while they stood with him, and in his Counsel walked; but since the dayes of the Apostles hath been an Apostacy, and Dark­ness over all, and a Subversion upon all, and Night hath been over all, wherein no man could work, as Christ said; and Forms without Power ha [...]e been estabish­ed, the pure Way of God hath not been known in its purity; so that this time wherein all are fallen, is a time of ignorance, of the reign of the Beast, which all the World hath wandred after, and a time wherein the Gentiles feet have trod­den down the holy City; and a time wherein all the World runs after the false Prophet, and are deceived, and made drunk with the Wine of the Whores For­nications.

I say this is the time wherein all the men of this Generation are fallen, and the Scripture is fulfilled; the Night wherein no man can work is upon the World; and further this is the time of Antichrists dominion, who hath exalted himself in the Seat of God, shewing himself to be God; and long hath he reign­ed with the Beast, and the false Prophet, even since the dayes of the Apostles; and these same Teachers of this Generation, which now are in the World are ma­nifest by their fruit, to be of that generation, of that seed, and stock of false Prophets, which Christ prophesied of, should come in the last time after his dayes; and which most of the Apostles saw coming in, in their dayes; by their fruits I say they are known; for these bring forth the same fruits, and bear the same Marks which those described did, in their time; so we see Christ's Prophesie is fulfilled, who said they should come, for they are come; and the Apostles descrip­tions are fulfilled on these, for these Teachers are such as bear the same Chara­cters as is proved, as they said they should bear that would come; and long have the Nations been deceived, and kept under the worship of the Beast, running after the false Prophet.

And we see Iohns Prophesie is fulfilled, who said, that The holy City was given to be trodd [...]n und [...]r the feet of the Gentiles; for so we see it hath been for many Gene­rations; and also we know, the time is now approaching, that the dominion of the Beast is near an end, and the holy City shall the Saints possess, and the Gentiles [Page 194] shall be driven out of it, according as Iohn said, who wrote the last of any of the Apostles, and gave ful [...] testimony of these things, which I have declared [...]f (viz.) of an Apostacy, and reign of the Beast, and false Prophet, and a Subver­sion from the Wayes of God, and this hath been, and is come to pass: Also [...]e prophesied of the gaining of the holy City in again to the Saints, and of a re­storation, wherein new Ierusalem should be made manifest from Heaven, and sho [...]d again be adorned, as a Bride for her Husband, and the Saints should inhabit it, and the Tabernacle of God should be with men upon Earth, and the Lord would dwell for [...]er with his People, and this day is approaching nigh at the doo [...], for the Fig-tree hath blossomed, and we know it is near at hand, the Summer where­in the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed unto all Nations, and they shall [...] that he is the Lord God Almighty, that will take Vengeance upon the great Wh [...]e, who hath made all drunk with the Wine of her Fornication.

And now after the long night of Apostacy and Darkness, which hath been vp [...] the face of the Earth, is the Lord appearing, and his Day dawning, and his Lig [...] breaking forth as the Glory of the Morning; and the Kingdom of God is reveal­ed, and his Dominion is setting up, after the long reign of the Beast, who ha [...] had his Power, and his Seat, and his great Authority from the Dragon, after wh [...] the whole World hath wandred, and him hath worshiped, who hath been saying w [...] is like unto the Beast, who is able to make war with him? His mouth for many Ge­nerations hath been opened in blasphemy against God, and his Name; and he [...] made war with the Saints, and his power hath overcome them, [Mark] overco [...] them, and then himself hath reigned, and the reign of Christ for many years [...] not been known, but over Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations hath the Beast had po [...] ­er, and over them hath reigned for many Ages; and all that dwell upon the F [...] have worshipped him, whose Names are not written in the Book of Life; [...] Earth hath been caused, and them that dwell therein to worship the Beast, and [...] his Wonders he deceiveth them that dwell on Earth, and as many as would [...] worship the Beast and his Image, the Beast hath had power that they should be [...] ­led, and many hath he killed, who would not worship him, and are persen­ted; and both Small and Great, Rich and Poor, Free and Bond, have rec [...] ­ed the Mark of the Beast, and the number of his Name, which is the number [...] a man; he that reads let him understand; these things have come to pass, [...] been fulfilled since the Apostles dayes, in this night wherein no man could wor [...] which Christ said would come; but now the forty and two Monthes, which ti [...] the Beast and his Image was to continue, and so long was his Power to remain [...] make war, and to overcome the Saints.

I say the time is well nigh expired and finished, and the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is risen to make war against the Beast and his Image, who hath reign­ed over the Kingdoms of the World, and the Judgment of the great W [...] cometh, who hath sitten upon the Beast, and drunk the Blood of the Saints, [...] with whom the Kings of the Earth (since the dayes of the Apostles) have com [...] ­ted Fornication; and all the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk [...] the Wine of her Fornication; and all the Merchants of the Earth have been ma [...]e rich through the aboundance of her delicacies; and she hath sat upon the scar [...] coloured Beast, and her Cup in her hand hath been full of abominations, and [...] ness, of her fornication, and her name is Mistery Babylon, the Mother of Harl [...] and all the Kings of the Earth have given their power unto the Beast, and commited Fornication with the great Whore; and she hath sat upon people & multitudes, [...] nations, and tongues, (since the Apostles days) and even some, who have hated t [...]e Whore, and fulfilled the Will of God, and made the Whore naked, yet they gi [...] their power also to the Beast, until the Word of God be fulfilled.

Consider these things you that have an ear to hear; but now the mighty Day [...] the Lord, and the Judgment of the Whore is approaching, wherein she shal be rewarded according to her Works, and doubble shall be given into [...] Cup, and as she hath loved blood, so shall blood be given her to drink, and the Merchants of the Earth shall lament her, whom they have waxed rich by, who [...] [Page 195] glorified her self, and lived deliciouslly, and hath said in her heart; I sit as a Queen, and am no Widow, and shall not see sorrow; but now the one day is dawn­ing wherein her Plagues shall come, death, and mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord that is risen to judge her; and the Kings and Merchants; and all the Inhabiters of the Earth, shall lament her, and cry, Alas, alas! and now are they beginning, for the hour is come that her judgement cometh, and all her Merchants, who have trafficked with the Souls of men shall partake of her Plagues, who have partaked of her sins, and lived deliciously with her, and the fruits that her Soul lusteth after shall depart from her, and all things that are dainty, and goodly, shall depart from her, and she shall find them no more at all when her judgement cometh, and in an hour all her riches are come to nought, and all her Merchants at Land and Sea shall la­ment her; even her that hath ruled over Nations, and sat as a Queen for many Generations, ever since the dayes of the Apostles, until this day; yea, all that have wandred after her, even the whole World shall lament and bemoan her; and such as have served her, and made Slaves of the Souls of men by Merchan­dize and Traffick, shall bewail her, and their gain shall cease for ever; for in one hour shall she be made desolate, and her glory shall fade, and her beauty shall wither, and the Beast that hath carried her shall utterly faint, and the false Pro­phet that hath wrought Miracles in their sight, and deceived the Nations, shall be cast into a bed of torment with her, and the Beast, and the false Prophet shall be taken, and cast alive into the Lake of Fire, to be tormented for ever, day and night, World without end; and the Whore, in whom hath been found the Blood of the Prophets, and of the Saints, and of all that were slain upon the Earth, and the Beast who hath caused all that dwell on the Earth to worship him and his Image, for many Ages, and the false Prophet, who hath deceived the whole world, and many Nations, and made them subject unto the power of the Beast, by his Miracles which he hath wrought in the sight of men; these shall be plagued toge­ther, and tormented together; for the false Prophet and the Beast hath sent forth their unclean Spirits, like Frogs, unto all the Kings of the Earth, and unto the whole World, to gather them to Battel, with their Armies, to make war against him that sits on the white Horse, even the Son of God; and this is the false Pro­phet which C [...]rist prophesied of to come, which long since came, and hath served the Beast and the great Whore for many Generations, and many, even all Nati­ons have been deceived, as Christ said, and led aside, and blinded, and bewitched by him. And, as I have said, these Teachers of this Generation are of them, of their Root and Off-spring, which long have flourished on the face of the Earth.

But the day is at hand, that the Heaven, and the Holy Apostles, and Prophets shall rejoyce over the Whore, and over the false Prophet; for the Lord comes to avenge us on her; and as she hath done, so shall it be done unto her, now in this day wherein Ierusalem shall be builded again, and the holy City which the Ge [...]tiles have trod under foot for forty and two moneths, which time is expired, and near an end, accounting from the dayes of the coming in of the Apostacy, un­till this day, if any have an ear to hear let him hear; this I have received from God I say the holy City shall be measured, and the Gentiles cast out; and she shall be adorned, and as a Bride for her Husband shall she be prepared; and Gods Taber­nacle shall be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his People; and God himself will be their God, and all tears shall be wiped away and there shall be no more death nor sorrow; for the former things are passed away, and all things shall be made new.

And what I have said are the faithful Sayings of God; every one that is athirst shall drink of the Water of Life freely; and he that overcometh shall inherit all things, and shall be called the Son of God, and shall dwell in the holy City, which long the Gentiles foot hath troden under, which shall again be adorned, and prepared as a Bride for her Husband; if any have an ear to hear let them [...]ear. And the Glory of the Lord is risen, and his Day is breaking forth [Page 196] more abundantly, and the Lamb is given for a Light, and all Nations that are save [...] shall walk in the Light of the Lamb, and the King of Righteousness, (who hath been long fled into Egypt, while Herod the Beast, which hath sought his life, and driven the woman into the Wilderness, hath reigned) shall again be set upon the holy Hill of Sion, and rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron, and trample upon the necks of all his Enemies; the Nations have not for many Ages been ruled by hi [...], but the Beast, who hath ruled over Kindreds, and People, and said, Who hath be [...] able to make war again the Beast, and to the power of the Beast hath all Nations be [...] subject, and the Dominion of Christ hath been trodden down and despised, and [...] holy City hath been laid waste, and his Princely Power hath not been felt, nor wit­nessed in the Kingdoms of men for Ages and Times, nor him the one head; and the one horn hath not been known, but many heads and horns have been exalted, a [...] all Nations, and all the Princes, and Kingdoms of the Earth have been subject [...] the Rule and Law of the Beast, and to the Divinations of the false Prophet, & dark [...] hath been over all, and God hath been as a stranger in the Earth, as one not known he hath been worshipped ignorantly, and the inscription every where hath been [...] the unknown God; but now after all this the glorious God of Truth hath appeared, and great, and mighty hath been his Hand and Power in this our day, in rais [...]g [...] a righteous Branch out of the Root of Righteousness, and in gathering his scattered People up to himself, who have been scattered by the Idol Teachers, and deceived by false Prophets, & made a prey upon by the wild Beasts of the Forrest. O how have the People been made a prey upon by their Teachers, and greedily devoured by [...] Shepherd, who have sought themselves, and sought for their gain, every one f [...] his Quarter? for many Ages how have people been led blind, by their blind S [...]p­herds, and none to this day come to the knowledge of the Truth by them? [...] these have run, and were not sent, and therefore the people have not b [...] profitted at all; as it was in Ieremiahs dayes, so it is now, no profit [...] people in the knowledge of the Wayes of God, but leanness, and barr [...] ­ness, and as the Teacher, so his People, all out of the way, in prophaness, [...] wickedness; and prophaneness is gone forth from them into many Nations, y [...] the Lord bringing back his Inheritance, which have been driven away into the desolate Wilderness; yea, and the Lord hath caused his Light to shine out of dark­ness; and unto them that have sat in darkness, and in the shadow [...]f death i [...] the marvellous Light risen, that the Glory of the Lord may be revealed, and God Tabernacle may be with men; and the holy City is preparing, as a Bride for her Husband, and Darkness shall flee away, and Sorrow and Sighing shall no more be known, but Life and Immortality shall again be brought to Light, as it was in the dayes of the Apostles.

This I have received from God; and the Lord shall be known to be the God of his People; and for this cause hath he called and chosen faithful Witnesses, [...] given his powerful Ministry by the gift of the holy Ghost, as it was in the Apo­stles dayes, and now many are called to declare abroad the things which we [...] heard, and seen, and handled; and the Gospel of Christ is received by the Rev [...] ­tion of Gods eternal Spirit, and Son in our hearts; and the power is made mani­fest, and the form of Godliness without the Power is denied and judged; and Christ the one Head is exalting, and the one Horn of Gods Salvation is revealing and the many Heads and many Horns must be broken to pieces, and be confound [...]d in this the day of the Lord; for his purpose is powerful in carrying on his o [...] work against all his Enemies; so that none are able to hinder. But they that set them­selves (even the Beast and his Power, which is now struck at) whose Kingdom is in­vaded, hath raised the force of his power, and the pollicy of his arm; yet shall they be confounded, and no formed Weapon shall prosper against the Lord and his Way, who is now risen to avenge himself of the Beast and his power, and the Whore, and her Fornications, and the false Prophet, and his Divinations, which all must in [...] the Wine-press of Gods dreadful Wrath to be trodden; and all that worship the Beast, and repent not, shall partake of the Plagues of the Beast, and of the Whore; [Page 197] and though the false Prophet gathers Gog and Magog together, to fight against the Lamb, and to compass the beloved City about, yet he shall, and them that he gathers, be broken to pieces, and driven as dust before the Wind, and as Stubble before the Fire; for the purpose of the Lord shall stand. Great Babylon is come into remembrance before the Lord, to reward her according to her deeds; and the Lord will cause his Truth, and his Salvation to be known in the Earth, and his Name and Power is declared in the hearts of his People, to the overturning of all unrighteousness, and though every horn of the Beast push against this, and every Head, with his Members, set it self against it, yet the Counsel of the Lord shall not be disannulled, nor made void; for the Scepter and Dominion of his Son shall be exalted over all the Earth, and the Princes of the World, and the Kings of the Earth shall lay down their Crowns, and become subject; for the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed; and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ; the Kingdom of the Beast must down, and the princely power of Darkness must be overthrown, and Laws, and Times, and Things, and Powers of men shall be overturned, and overturned, till he come to reign in the Earth, whose right it is to reign over Nations and People: And because of this the rage of the Heathen hath been great, and the counsels of the Wicked many, and strong, from the prophane Drunkards to the chiefest professed Teachers of this Age; even all the whole Body of the Beast hath joyned it self against the purpose of the Lord; men of all conditions, from the highest to the lowest, have armed themselves with Mischief to offend the Way of Truth.

This is written, as moved of the Lord, to go abroad through the Nations, that all may understand concerning the times, and the changing of times, how that the Beast hath reigned in Dominion, over Nations, Tongues, and People; and all have worshipped the Beast, and gone after the false Prophet: here all may come to a good understanding what hath been, and what is, and what shall be; how that when the Power and Government of Christ was lost, through departing from the Faith which ruled in the Apostles dayes, then the whole World was as unstable in Wayes and Judgments as a Sea; then out of the Sea one Beast arose, and another after him arose out of the Earth; and all have been caused, both small and great, bond and free, to worship the Beast, and the Image of the Beast; yea, all the Domini­ons of the World have for many Ages been subject to the power of the Beast in all things, and not known the Worship and Power of God, and the pure subjection to him; but the Kings of the Earth, and all her Princes have given their power to the Beast, and have received their authority from him, and acted thereby many of them in great unrighteousness, in injustice, and oppression, and cruelty; in pride, and rebellion, and vain glory; in quarrelling one with another, to the murthering thousands of thousands; and this hath all been brought forth under the power of the Beast, and by it; and his Heads and Horns have exalted them­selves one against another, and smitten one onother, and the great Whore hath made them all drunk, and all People upon the Earth, with envy, pride, wontonness, and all unrighteousness; this hath been since the Apostles dayes, in this Night of Apostacy, wherein the whole World hath been subverted by false Prophets and De­ceivers, and the Kingdom of Christ hath not been known upon Earth for many Ge­nerations, but the Beast hath been established in his Throne of Rebellion against Christ Jesus; his Decrees have been Laws, and Statutes, and he hath made wa [...] against all the Saints, and overcame them, and reigned over them until this time, and trodden down their City, and defaced their Glory; but the blood of the Just hath cried day and night, under the Altar, the Souls of such as have been slain for the Testimony of the Word of God, have cried day and night, How long Lord, how long, when wilt thou avenge our Blood upon the heads of our Enemies, even the Beast, the Where, and the false Prophet? and this hath been for many Ages, even while the Kingdom of Antichrist hath been set up and advanced through the World, and his Power and Authority hath reached over Nations, bond and free, from the Prince on his Throne, to the Begger on the Dunghil, even all have been subjected under the power of the Beast; that nature having ruled within every [Page 198] particular, hath given him the Authority without over all, and admired him, and said, who is able to make war with him. Antichrist hath ruled over all, by inju­stice, oppression, and Tyranny in unrighteous Laws, and through wicked de­crees, old Pharaoh-like, he hath laid heavy yoaks, and oppressive bonds upon the Just; for who would not be subject to him, he hath had power to kill them, and none was able to gainsay; such hath been the greatness of his power, and the strength of his dominion over all, that none have been able to make war against him, he hath been admired in all the World, not any Nation excepted where the government of Antichrist hath not born rule, and there have been none left to bear witness against him, or to stand up against him; for the faithfull Witness [...] have been slain in the Streets of the great City, which spiritually is called, S [...] and Egypt, and all them that have dwelt upon the Earth have made merry [...] their dead Bodies, and rejoyced in their Iniquities over the Slain, and been without a Reprover, and not tormented, nor troubled, but have sent gifts one to another, be­cause they have slain them, who have tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth; and the government of the Beast hath been enlarged, and the whole World have wandred after him, and been in subjection under him, for many Generations; even f [...] forty and two months, he that can read let him understand; so long hath it be [...] given him to make war against the Saints, and to overcome them, and it hath been given him to reign over all people in the Wrath of God, and in his anger, bec [...]se of the Rebellion of all the Earth, and all people in it, but he shall be taken away i [...] Gods displeasure who reigns in his anger over the Nations, who have forsake [...] the Lord, and was given up to the Power of the Beast, to be subjected in Slave­ry, and Bondage, in Pain, Sorrow and Misery; and through Deceit, Craft and Pollicy, and Oppression, and by the Wisdom of this World, and natural Ar [...], and Knowledge, his Government hath long been established, and his Domini [...] hath been upon Earth; Times, and Laws, and Things, and Powers of men have been in his hand, to change, and subvert, and overturn into his own Ima [...] and to transform them like to the Beast; none upon Earth, hath bought, or s [...]d, or judged, or given evidence, or been respected in all the World, that [...] not had the Mark of the Beast, and the number of the names of Antichrist; rich and poor, small and great have receive his Mark, as a Seal of their subjecti­on to the Beast, whose many heads, and many horns, have subjected all by the force of his arm, and he hath blinded the eye, lest men should see him, and cast darkness over all faces, and the false Prophet hath deceived many, a Christ hath said, and all the Earth hath been wandring in the Wildern [...] of Wickedness, and the Long-suffering of the Lord hath been wearied, and he continually provoked to destroy the Nations, who have followed Antichrist, who hath shewed himself in the Seat of God, to be God, and hath sat in the Seat of God, in the Seat of Justice, Righteousness, and of Mercy, and the Abomination of desolation hath long stood in the place where it oug [...] not, for many Ages, and length of Times; and his many Heads, and many Horns hath swayed the World, through the terror of the Beast, who ha [...] made all worship him, and they that would not, he hath killed, who hath car­ried the great Whore, who hath made all men without exception, and all Nati­ons without respect to any, wholly drunk with abomination, and all hath stag­gered, and fallen into grievous iniquities, and the Dragon hath stood ready continually to devour the Child of Righteousness as soon as it was born, and the Woman hath been forced to flee into the Wilderness, that hath brought i [...] forth, and hath fed there for so many dayes, and for a long season hath the L [...]d been blasphemed, even the Name of God, and his Tabernacle, and them th [...] dwell in Heaven.

But now hath the Lord considered, and looked down from his Habitati [...]n, and of a truth he is risen, and hath taken to him his great Power, that he may reign, and put all things under his Feet, and subdue the power of the Beast, and Antichrist; and all their Government, and Rule, and Laws, and Decrees shall be overthrown, and confounded, & all their worship shall be broken; for great Baby­lon [Page 199] is come into remembrance before the Lord, to render her according to her works; the Lamb is now risen, and advanced with his Bow, and his Sword, and he is go­ing forth Conquering, and to Conquer the Beast, and all that have worshipped him: and they that are with the Lamb are called, and chosen, and faithful, & they love not their lives unto death and they shall overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of his Testimony; the Dominion of the Lamb is setting up, and his Power is made manifest; and the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hand is a dashing at the feet of the Image, and against the Beast, and his Power, and against all his Laws and Decrees is he risen; and he will change Times, and Laws, and Powers, and the Kingdoms of this World shall become the King­dom of the Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever; for now the Spirit of Life from God is entred into the Witnesses which have been slain, and they begin to stand upon their feet, and great fear falls upon the great men of the World, and the Devil is cast out into the Earth; who hath sitten in Heaven, in the Temple of God, and deceived the whole World, and his wrath is great against the Saints, and against the Lamb, because he knoweth his time is but short; and the Man-child shall grow; and shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron, if any man hath an ear to hear let him hear; he that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity; he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword; the Purpose of the Lord shall stand who is now ga­thering, and bringing back such as have been driven away and deceived by the Generation of false Prophets, who have deceived the whole World, and all that dwell therein, and the Lord will take vengeance upon them, upon the Beast, and upon the false Prophet; and great Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall be no more at all, but shall be made desolate; and the voice of Harpers, and Musitians shall no more be heard at all in her; but her Glory shall wither, and fade away in a moment; for he that hath a true Weight and Measure is ap­peared to divide, and to give due weight, and measure unto every one; and all the wicked, who will not come from under the worship of the Beast, shall have their part in the Lake that burnes with Fire, and he that is unjust let him be unjust still, and he that is righteous let him be righteous still; here is the dividing of all things as they were in the beginning; the Glory of the Lord is ri­sen, whose name is called the Word of God, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp Sword, and with it be smiteth the Nations, and he shall rule them with an Iron Rod; for his Name is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; and he is gathering his Saints together to the Supper of the Great God, to eat the flesh of Kings, the flesh of Captains, and the flesh of Horses, and them that sat there­on; the Purpose of the Lord shall not be disannulled, though the Beast, and the Kings of the Earth gather together their Armies, to make war against him that sits upon the Horse, who is already gone out to conquer, and the num­berless number of the Saints are gathering together before the Throne of the Lamb, and they have no guile found in their mouthes.

And the day is now dawned, and the night is far spent; Wo unto the World, and to all the Inhabiters of the Earth, who have worshipped the Beast, the Lord is coming to plead with you, and ye that have partaken of the sins of the great Whore shall partake of her Plagues, and she shall be rewarded double, accor­ding to her works; for her sins have reached unto Heaven: The Day of great tribulation is at hand, of Anguish and Destruction, men shall seek death and shall not find it, but it shall flee from them, when the Lord ariseth and the Lamb standeth upon Mount Sion, and his Saints with him, who shall tread down the Hea­then, and cast them out, even as they have trodden down the holy City, and the Worship thereof; and the Kingdom of the Beast, and his Seat, and his great Authority, which he hath received from the Dragon, shall all be thrown down; and the Kingdom of the Son of God with his Government, Scepter, and Rule shall be established in all the Earth, and the utmosts part thereof shall be given him to possess; this is the Promise, and this shall come to pass; and [Page 200] through the whole World Laws, and Decrees, Ministry, and Orders shall be changed and renewed; the Law and Decree of the Most High shall rule over all, and the holy City shall be beautified, and is adorning and preparing for the Saints, and their King to inherit; the Lamb is the Light of the City, and the Temple therein, and all Nations and People that are saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb; for he hath lighted every man that comes into the World, with the Light of Salvation, in all that do receive him; and Darkness shall flee away, the S [...] is risen, and Praise, and Honour, and Glory, and Dominion, shall be given to the Lamb, who shall reign over Nations, and his Saints shall see him, and his Name shall be in their Fore-heads, and there shall be no Night, but Light and Glory, and the Kings of the Earth shall bring in their glory and honour i [...] it; and the Gates stand open, and are not shut; every one that thirsteth, let him come, the cry is unto all; and yet nothing that defileth shall enter: these are the faithful Sayings of the Lord, who is true, and must not long be sealed; f [...]r the time is at hand, and all men shall read, and all that keep the Commandme [...] of God, shall have right to the Tree of Life; and blessed are they, they shall be healed, though now they suffer all manner of evil, for the Name of Iesus, by the Beast, and under his Power, by them that worship him, who must fulfil wicked­ness by persecuting the Innocent, till the Lord be raised out of his Habitation; and the dominion shall be given to them; and they shall have power to bind King [...] in Chains, and Nobles in Fetters of Iron; this is their Honour, and this i [...] their Dignity, and they shall rejoyce for ever and ever, and shall glory in the Lord, and not in this World; and this shall come to pass, as the Lord hath said.

Wherefore all Nations and People, Arise, arise, and be awakened, Prepare, prepare, and make way for the Lord; be removed, ye Mountains; and throw down, ye Hills; and hewn down, ye sturdy Oakes; and cut up, ye tall Cedars; Make way, and prepare, the Path for the Holy One, who is comming to rule w [...] his Iron Rod, and will dash you all to peices: Be afraid and tremble thou Be [...], that hast long reigned over the Earth; and all thy false Prophets and Worship­pers be confounded at this, and bow and tremble at the remembrance hereof; [...] whom you have hated and crucified, and his Saints, whom you have persecuted, shall come to reign over you all; and to him, whom you have set at nought, [...] you be subject to, and ruled by, to all your sorrow; for behold the Lord com­eth with his numberless number of Saints.

And this is a warning to all Nations and People upon Earth; Times and Laws must be changed among you; Governments and Orders must be changed; Un­justice and Oppression shall be removed, and every Yoak and Burden shall be ta­ken off from the neck of the Poor; true Judgment, and Justice, Mercy, and Truth, Peace, and Righteousness shall be exalted; and all the Nations shall have Judges as at the first, and Councellors as at the beginning; and the Poor shall rejoyce when true Judgment and Justice reigneth, and the false Prophet subdued.

And this is a Warning to you all, that you may hear, and consider the Lamb who hath been slain, who is risen to reign, who is the Prince of Peace, of whose Go­vernment there shall be no end; even he hath lighted all man-kind on the face of the Earth; the Light is the Eye, which will let you see all this, and will bring you to the fulfilling of it' a [...] to the good Understanding; and it shall evidenc [...] the truth of this, even the Light of Christ in all men, which is given to guide [...] the Way of Peace.

O LONDON, thou art weighed in an even Ballance, and found t [...] light; thou are measured by an equal Line, and found to short, and t [...] narrow, and thy People cannot stand in Judgment; for abundance of iniquity lodgeth within thee, and thou aboundst in all unrighteousness thy sins are grown over thy head, and with transgression thou art covered, as wi [...] a Garment; from the Head to the Foot thou art corrupted, and there is mu [...] unsoundness in thee: O how doth Pride abound! Lightness, and Wantonness, and the lust of the Eye, and all the works of the Flesh are encreased to a large su [...]; aboundance of Idolatry and Vanity springs out of thee; vain Fashions, foolish Customs, and all manner of evil hath its abiding in thee; yea, the very Seat of Satan is established within thy Wall, and works of unrighteousness do proceed out of thee into other Nations; aboundance of deceitfull Merchandize, and of oppressing Merchants, who grind the face of the Poor, do inhabit thy Borders; thy wayes are evil in the sight of the Lord, and his Spirit is grieved, and his So [...] is vexed from day to day, every moment of time.

Aboundance of Treachery, Flattery, and Hypocrisie, Dissimulation, and Dou­ble-heartedness possesseth thine Inhabitants, from Teachers to People, High and Low, Rich and Poor, you are fulfilling your own wills, and seeking your own plea­sures, and following the counsels of your own hearts, and doing that which is right in the sight of your own eyes; and your hearts are corrupted before the Lord, and the very best of your works are evil, and the purest of your wayes are filthy; and all your Observations, your dayes of Humiliation, and Thanksgi­vings, and all your Worships, and Sacrifices, are abomination in the fight of the Lord; for no good fruit can spring forth, for your root is not the Vine Christ Jesus, who cannot own the Light, with which you are enlightened, and that makes all your profession vile, and not accepted, but it is wholly unfruitfull in [Page 215] the Sight of the Lord. Much Profession is in thee of Righteousness, and Religi­on, and many Forms, and Gatherings of People, which are but as so many Ima­ges, and liknesses of divers sorts, which must be overturned, and overthrown by the roots.

You are all measured with the Line of true Judgment, and your Buildings can­not stand, when the Lord comes to try you, and search, and try you for your life; for though you profess much, yet you perform little; your knowledg puffs you up, and you are not sincere-hearted, but loose, and unsavory are you in your wayes and words: There is much wisdom in thee, and many wise men whose wis­dom is devillish, and it doth not lead to God, it must be confounded and trodden down; for it profits you not in the Sight of the Lord, but in it you are wise to do evil, but to do good you have no knowledge; and the Lord God is forgotten, and his Judgments are not known; Vanity, vanity hath so stolen away your hearts, and after Idols are you run, worshipping strange gods, and following strange lo­vers: Aboundance of subtilty and craft lodges in thee; vain glory excels above measure; Pride, Idleness and fulness of Bread abounds in thee, even as in Sodom, unto whom thou art become equal in trangression. Whoredom, Drunkenness, Wrath, and Envy, Gluttony, and Excess, spending the Creation upon the lust, and all the Works of the flesh, which are ev [...], have their full growth in thee; and in evil art thou fully ripe.

O London! Consider, and be awakened ye Inhabitants thereof; for the Lord is grieved day by day, and his Soul is vexed every moment; the weight of thy Transgression is upon him; thou even makest him to serve with thy sins: Hath there been any evil committed by any Nation, which is not in thee? Hath there been any abomination brought forth, which is not in this day to be found in thee? Oh what Haughtiness, and stretched-out-Necks! Oh what Pride, and Vain glo­ry appears in thee! Even thy Infants are nourished up in vanity; and thy old Men are over-grown with craft, and deceit; thy young Men give their strength to folly; and thy Maidens are trimed in wantonness; all sorts of People are pro­phane in their Way; Old and Yong, Rich and Poor, are abounding in evil; all seeking their own things, and few the things of Gods Kingdom; the Way of Truth is even despised, and they that depart from iniquity are become a Prey to the mouthes of the Ungodly, who are grievously prophane, as though the Lord took no notice, or as though no day of account was to come; so great is the iniquity commit­ted in thee, words reacheth not to manifest it: What Lying, what Swearing, what Vain-talking, and what Scorning, and what Double-dealing appears in thee at every corner? What Pride, what Wantonness, and Wickedness is manifest in all thy Streets; Teachers and People are out of the Way, given to deceit, and to deceiving, Oppressors, and oppressing one another; such is the Devils Pow­er amongst you ruling, it cannot easily be overcome; so deep is wickedness seated in thee, that it cannot easily be plucked up; so strong is the lust of the flesh grown in thee, that it cannot easily be removed: How is the glorious Name of the Lord continually dishonoured and polluted through thy Wickedness, which is grown into a numberless sum. But the Lord will be avenged on all you his Ene­mies, and will meet you with Judgments, Plagues, and Vengeance, and the Wicked shall not escape.

And as concerning all thy Profession of God, and the Scriptures in a blind Zeal, it is but abomination to the Lord; and all thy several Sects, and Gather­ings of People, and separate Congregations, who are not separated by the Spi­rit of the Lord, they are but like so many molten and carved Images, which the Lord will overthrow. All thy Offerings, and Oblations, Preaching, Praying, and Performances God's Soul hath no pleasure in them, but they are a Burden and Weariness to him; and though thou washest thy self never so clean, and makest thy self never so fair through thy own labour, yet cannot thy iniquities be wash­ed away, nor thy sin covered; for thy iniquities are marked before the Lord, and thy sin is written as with a Pen of Iron, and as with the point of a Diamond. All thy Steeple-House Worship is nought but vanity before the Lord. All thy pub­lique [Page 216] Exercises, all thy Saboath keeping, all thy set dayes of Humiliation, and all thy private Duties, and all that ever thou performest unto God, are not regard­ed of him, while the hearts of thy People are not aright in his sight, and up­right before him; so the best of thy Sacrifices are but as the cutting off of a Dogs neck, and the offering of Swines blood; for in thee is found the great Abomina­tion; open Prophainness abounds, and secret Hypocrisie super-abounds, and thou art as abominable in the Eyes of the Lord in thy Hypocritical Profession of Righteousness, as thou art in thy open sins.

In thee is found the Abomination of Israel, Mercy and Truth, Justice and true Judgment is neglected; Do not thy Heads judge for Reward? And do not thy Priests preach for Hire? And dot not thy Prophets prophesie falsly? And do not they divine for money? And do not thy People love to have these things so? Oh how art thou deceived by thy Teachers, & led blind by the blind Leaders! even they that lead thee, cause thee to err; and they that should instruct thee, teache thee vain things: Wo unto them, the Lords Wrath is against them; How do they make a Prey upon the People? How do they feed themselves, and cloath themselves, each one of them having a Quarter, from which they seek their Gain, and through Covetous­ness make Merchandize of souls; [...]he false Prophets of Israel were their Example, and they follow in the Path of Unrighteousness; having run and were never sent of God, and therefore the People are not profited at all, nor turned to God, but from year to year, and time to time, ever learning, but cannot come to the know­ledge of the Truth.

Ignorance abounds in thy old Men, and Rudeness and Wildness in thy Youths, and thy People are without the knowledge of God, and perish for lack of Know­ledg: Thou art even as a wild untilled Garden, which bringeth forth no ple­sant Fruit; thy Vines are as the Vines of Sodom, and thy Fruit is loathsome to the Lords Taste; wild Grapes and sour Grapes are brought forth in thee, which the Lord hath no pleasure in; ye bring forth fruit unto your selves, and not un­to the Lord; ye kindle a Fire and warm your selves with your own sparks; ye sacrifice to your own Net, and ye think to be heard for your much Babling, and your many Performances: Aboundance of the first mans wisdom is among you, it leads you, and guides you, and not the Spirit of God; and through your own wisdom, which is devillish, you conform to the Saints words, and to thei [...] practises in outward appearance, and make your selves like the Saints, and bow unto your own Images and Likenesses, which ye make; and are grown wise, and full of knowledge, but it is not the Wisdom of God, nor the Knowledge that will endure for ever; for you neglect the one thing, which is only needful to Eter­nal Life. Your Buildings are high, but they are not upon the true Foundation; for many of you stumble at the Corner Stone; your sprinkling Infants is a v [...]ry Cheat, and all that believe therein are deceived; and your singing of David's [...] ­periences, in rime and meeter, is a very Lye unto you; your Worship is but Ido­latry, and it will not cover you in the Day of the Lord; though none be like unto thee O London, in Profession, nor any City hardly can compare with thee, in re­spect of the Multitude of thy gathered Assemblies, and self Separates; yet all this will not availe thee, when the Lord searcheth thy heart, which is found not perfect beforethe Lord, but full of vain glory, and lust, and pleasures of the flesh and dissimulation, and guile, which the Wrath of God will be revealed against: A single and an upright Heart is of greater price with the Lord; then all the Performances of Self-righteousness that is done in thee, while your hearts are given to vanity, and continue therein.

Wherefore O London, this is a Warning to thee, Let thy Inhabitants repent, the dreadful Day of the Lord is coming; I have heard the voice of War against thee, and not of Peace, the cry of Howling and bitter Lamentation, and not of glad­ness, nor joy of heart; What wilt thou do in the day of thy Visitation, when the Lord stretcheth forth his Hand to smite thee? To whom wilt thou flee? And where wilt thou be hid, when the Lord shews himself thy Enemy, and appears to take an account of thee? What will become of all thy Treasures? How will [Page 217] thy vaine glory become a stink,? How will the dayes of thy mirth be turned into gr [...]evous sorrow, instead of thy pleasures and delicacies, and mirth, and wan­tonness, shall be Sighing, and Mourning, and woful Lamentation; all thy gods shall not be able to deliver thee, nor all thy Profession shall not justifie thee, nor all thy self-separating People shall not be able to stand in the gap, to stay the hand of the Destroyer, none of thy carved Images shall stay his fury, nor none of all thy several Sects shal be a mountain to hide thee, when the Lord strips thee naked, and layes thee bare, and gives thee to know what is in thy heart, which will come upon thee in a day not looked for.

Wherefore repnet all sorts of People, and turn to the Lord, if there may be mercy found. Cease your Wickedness, ye Wicked, and learn to live Righteous­ly. Wo unto you Drunkards. Wo unto you Whormongers. Wo unto you Covetous. Wo unto you Lyars, Swearers, and Scorners. Wo unto you Dis­semblers, and deceitful Dealers. Wo unto you Proud, and Vain-glorious. Wo unto you lustful People. The Lord will plead with you all, and give unto you the fruit of your doings, and reward you according to your works; his hand shall not spare, nor his Eyes shall not pitty in the day that he comes to Judgment, when he takes vengeance upon all the seed of Evil-doers, and to pluck up the wild branches, and to cast them into the fire. Sackcloth shall be put on instead of gay Apparel, and all thy Idols shall vanish away; as for all thy Profession, where is it? All thy many Sermons, and long Prayers, what is become of them? And all thy publick and private Duties, where are thy? shall it be said. Ye shall all know that there is a God, that will execute judgment and justice, and that will plead with all flesh, and in his sight shall no flesh be justified.

And all ye who thirst for the Lord, and desire after the knowledge of his Wayes, unto whom iniquity is a burden, by you desired to be freed from, who have long sought the Lord, and have not yet found him, who have prayed, and had no answer, and have been weary and heavy laden, and found no rest: I say unto you, Save your selves from this untoward Generation, come ye out of these abomina­tions, that you may be delivered from the Wrath: Fear ye the Lord, and do not offend him in any thing, stand in awe, and transgress not, love Righteousness and Truth, touch no unclean thing and the Lord will receive you; meddle not with their Worships, bow not to their Images, nor sacrifice not to their Idol gods; have no fellowship with them in their prophanness, nor yet in their hypocrisie; but hearken ye to the Voice of the Lord, that ye may know his Judg­ments in your hearts, and his Law and Covenant established with you; depart from all iniquity, and cast away all your Idols, and forsake all your Lovers. Give not your selves to the wayes and pleasures of this World, but give your selves to Chastity, to Soberness, and Meekness, and above all things be upright in heart towards God, and towards man; speak the truth one to another, and let no Guile dwell in your Lips, nor a dece [...]tful Tongue in your Mouth. And cease from all Vain-glory, and vain Customs, and Fashions of the World, which are evil.

And cease from all Men-teachers, which deceive the People by flattering words, who cry Peace when the Lord hath not spoken peace, & daub with untempored Mor­ter, such have not profited you at all, but your soules are starved under your Mi­nistry, and leanness is upon you; though you ever learn of them, yet you cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth by them. Cease from them all, and from all your gathered and self-separate Congregations, and wait upon the Lord that you may know him to be your Teacher, who is the Teacher of all his People, and he teacheth in the perfect Way of Peace and Truth, and giveth Peace unto all that wait upon him, and causeth the heart of the Upright to rejoyce; he taketh away sin, and removes it from his People, and he forgiveth all their iniquities, and healeth all their backslidings, and blessed are all they that put their their trust in him; for he is a God near at hand; for he dwells with his People, and he is worshipped only in the Spirit and in the Truth. He dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, neither is he worshipped in out­ward [Page 218] Observations; his Soul hath no pleasure among any self-separate People, who cry, I am holyer then another, neither is he well pleased with the Sacrifice of the Proud; all their Baptisms, and Fellowships, and Meetings, is but a weari­ness to the Lords Soul; and he hath no pleasure in any of their works, who fol­low their own spirit, and are not led with the pure Spirit of God alone, but un­to every one of s [...]ch will he look, who is poor in spirit, and of a contrite heart, and of a single and upright mind; he giveth regard unto every one that fears his Name, who thirst and hunger after him in Truth and Righteousness, and this is of exceeding great price in the Sight of the Lord, yea, more then all Offerings and Oblations whatsoever, even more then thousands of Rams, and ten thou­sand of Rivers of OYLE. Therefore hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord; and seek him with an upright Heart, and thirst for him as for your daily Food; loose not your precious time, but call upon his Name while he is near, for he is come neer unto many; he stands at the door, if any will open, he will come in, and will dwell with them for evermore.

All sorts of People, be Awakened, be Awakened, How doth the Lord wait to be gratious unto you? He even tarrieth for you, till you return to him, [...] his Soul may have pleasure in you, who hath long been grieved by you: There­fore search your own hearts, and see how you stand prepared to meet the Lord by following of his Counsel, who hath so loved you, and all Man-kind, that he hath given his Son into the World, to be a Light unto you all, and every on [...] of you is lighted by him, and with the Light you will know your evil deeds, and are convinced of them, and reproved for them; and with this Light Jes [...] Christ calleth you Sinners to Repentance, to turn from your evil, that you may be restored.

If you love this Light, you love Christ, who will save you from all your [...] ▪ and from condemnation; If you hate this Light, you hate Christ, and you [...] ­main in your sins to be everlastingly condemned: And thus is the Way of Life a [...] the way of Death set before you all; if you follow the Light of Christ Jesus, it will teach you to deny this World, and all the vanities of it; it will teach you to de­ny your own wills, and the counsels of your own hearts, and whatsoever is con­trary to God in thought, word, or action; and in all things it will teach you to fol­low Jesus Christ, that you may be justified by him: But if you follow not t [...] Light, then you choose your own wayes, to follow your own wills, and yo [...] own lusts, and all temptations, and you deny Christ, and the Way of Truth, and [...] the Wrath of God abides upon you; for you continue in unbelief, and in hard­ness of heart, and are the Servants of sin unto death, if you follow not the Lig [...] which Christ hath enlightened you withal, who lighteth every man that comes [...] ­to the World, that they may believe and be saved. Therefore take heed to the Light, if you be guided by it, you shall not transgress against God, but you w [...] receive the Power of God to overcome all evil; all sin and iniquity will be con­demned in you, and your hearts will be made clean for the Lord to dwell in, who [...] dwelling is in his People; and you must all cease from professing of what you [...] not possess, and from talking of what you do not enjoy, for that is Hypocrisie, an [...] to be judged.

So all ye Professors, be Awakened, Christ without you will not justifie you, ex [...] ye know Christ within you, the Profession of him will not take away sin, not [...] ­stifie in the Sight of God, except you come to witness the operation of his Spirit [...] you, to teach you to depart from all evil, and to lead you into all good.

Therefore come to the feeling of the Spirit of Jesus in you, and the worki [...] of it, which changeth, reneweth, and sanctifieth, and bringeth to witness [...] same Truth to be manifested in the heart, which the Scriptures speak of without▪ and as you receive the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures, so you will u [...] ­derstand the Scriptures, and by no other means; For all your preaching, an [...] talking of the Scriptures without the Spirit is but vain babling, and that mout [...] is to be stopt; for God is not known where the Operation of his Spirit is no [...] felt in the heart, nor he cannot be worshipped in Truth, but where his Spirit lead [...] [Page 219] and guides. Much vain Profession there is in thee O City, in which the Lord hath no delight; and this is the Testimony of the Lord, which I give concerning thee, and do yet once more call unto thee as often I have done, and do seal the Lords Testimony against thee, even against all thy righteousness, and against all thy sin, which are both alike unto God, and both to be condemned. Thou hast been warned, and thy People, and the day of a glorious Visitation hath passed over thee; the Lord hath reached unto many, and stricken many, who have not grieved, but carelesly walked, and slighted the day of their Visitation, and have not hearkened to the Lords Call; Unto thousands hath the word of the Lord been declared, and the Kingdom of God preached nigh at hand, and the very Way of Life and Death hath been set before you; for the Lord hath sent to thee to warn [...]hee, and to shew unto thee what the Counsel of the Lord is; and thousands have been reached with the Power of God, and convinced of the Way of Life [...]nd Peace, who yet continue in hardness of heart, and disobedience, following the [...]ounsel of their own hearts, and the desire of their own minds, which are wholly evil [...]ontinually, and the condemnation of such will be just in the day of the Lord, and greater then theirs to whom the Way of the Lord hath not been known. And yet [...]mongst thy Thousands who are in the way to destruction, the Lord hath a Rem­ [...]ant, a Few among so many, which are precious unto him, and whom his soul de­ [...]ighteth in, who are despised in thee, and set at nought, and cast out of the sa­ [...]our of all men; yet is the Lords Presence amongst them, and his Fear in their [...]earts, and his encrease is unto them, and his Power with them, till all their [...]nemies be vanished as a Cloud; for they are of the true Seed, and of the true [...]irth, which the Lord will bless, though they be accounted as thy Slaves and [...]ondmen, yet are they free in the Lord; and this is the very fulfilling of thy [...]ickedness, and the height of the Transgression of thy Rulers, Teachers, and [...]eople, in that some of them that fear the Lord, and walk with him are perse­ [...]uted in thee; even they are made a Prey unto the Wicked, to the Slanderers, to [...]he Drunkards, to the Scorners, to Unjust and Cruel men; the People of the [...]ord are become a very prey in thee, even as meat for the Devourers. Oh what [...]ilt thou do in the day of thy Visitation, when the righteous Judge numbreth [...]p these things against thee? Thy staff shall fail thee, thy Phisitians shall be of no value' and all thy Comforters shall be miserable at that day. I have truly [...]onsidered thy condition, and measured thy state, and I have often seriously [...]eighed thy wickedness, and pondered what would be the end thereof, & there is no [...]ision of Peace unto thee, but even the day of desperate sorrow, a recompence [...]or all thy works from the Hand of the Lord.

I have often truly lamented thee, and seriously hath thy condition entred into [...]y heart; thy iniquities have often pressed my soul, and my Spirit hath been [...]rieved within me, when I have viewed thy great abomination, and how Thou­ [...]ands in thee wholly perish for lack of Knowledge, and even resists and will not be [...]nstructed, despitefully using such as do warn them, even loving and delighting in [...]heir Abominations.

These things have often made my Heart sad, who have walked in thee as a Stran­ger, and measured thee with the line of true Judgment, and this is thy Height, and [...]ength, and Depth, Iniquity lodgeth in thee, and Iniquity covers thee, and In [...]quity [...]mpasseth thee about.

And this is a Warning to thee from the Lord, in faithfulness declared unto [...]hee, whether thou resist, or receive, thus far I am clear of the Blood of all men in [...]hee, who seeketh not any thing in thee for my self, but seeketh (and hath often) [...]o the Lord for thee, that thy People might know him, and worship him alone, [...]ho giveth unto them all good things, and hath caused the fulness of all good Crea­ [...]ures to abound, and hath given plenty of all things, aboundance of which is [...]pent vainly upon the lust to the dishonour of God who giveth it; How much [...]s vainly spent upon Vanity in Meats, Drinks, and Apparel? Its hard to be [...]eclared what aboundance of the good Creatures of God are vainly destroyed in [...]hee upon the lust in the excess, more then what satisfies pure Nature, your glut­tonny [Page 220] and high minds devour in aboundance the good Creatures which God gives, and he is thereby grieved with you, who hath taken notice of this your sin, which is not the least of your Transgressions, and he will plead with you for it; even in all things great is your wickedness, and the Lord hath numbred it. And above all things that is done in thee, thy deceitful Profession, and Pretence of wor­ship of God, is the Lord most grieved with who hateth all your Meetings of ga­thered Assemblies, which are not gathered by his Spirit; he will confound yo [...] wisdom, and overthrow all your buildings: Wherefore repent ye, and cease from Idols, and all Idolatry, and cease for ever to warm your selves at your own SPARKS; for this shall you have at the Lords hands, Ye shall lie down is Sorrow.

• CHap. 1. A Testimony concerning the true God.
• Chap. 2. A Testimony concerning the Son of God.
• Chap. 3. A Testimony concerning the Spirit of God.
• Chap. 4. A Testimony concerning all mankind.
• Chap. 5. A Testimony concerning the World in general.
• Chap. 6. A Testimony concerning mans Restoration, Redemption, and Salvation, what they are, and by whom they are wrought.
• Chap. 7. A Testimony concerning true Religion, and the true Worship of the true God.
• Chap. 8. A Testimony concerning Iustification and Sanctification.
• Chap. 9. A Testimony concerning the Kingdom of Christ, and how it is to be set up.
• Chap. 10. A Testimony concerning Governors, and Governments, and subjection to them.
• Chap. 11. A Testimony concerning the true Ministry of Christ, and the false Ministry, and the difference betwixt them.
• Chap. 12. A Testimony concerning the Gospel of Christ.
• Chap. 13. A Testimony concerning the Word of God, and concerning the Scriptures.
• Chap. 14. A Testimony concerning the Devil, and Damnation.
• Chap. 15. A Testimony concerning all Creatures that God made.
• Chap. 16. A Testimony concerning the new Covenant, and how man comes to the Knowledg [...] of God.
• Chap. 17. A Testimony concerning Faith.
• Chap. 18. A Testimony concerning what works are accepted of God, and what works are [...] accepted, brought forth by the Creature.
• Chap. 19. A Testimony concerning mans state in the first Adam, before the Convers [...], and his state after Conversion, and what Conversion is.
• Also a Testimony of the Seed of God. Also a Testimony that the Way of Life, and the Way of Death is set before every man. Also a Testimony to all Kings, and Princes, and P [...], that we are not Enemies against, but Friends unto all Civil Government, and wholsom▪ [...] and Customs of any Commonwealth, which is according to God, &c. Also a Testimony [...] Government we declare our selves to be Enemies against. Also a Testimony that we [...] [...] disannul and make void the Covenant or Bond of Relations, &c. Also a Testimony that [...] do maintain, and hold the very same Truth as all the Generations of the Iust did in all Ages. Also a Testimony of our Government, and a Testimony of Quaking and Trembling. Also a Declaration of the full purpose of our hearts, &c.

[Page 241]IN the Name and Power of the Eternal God that made Heaven & Earth, and all things therein; who is the Life of all things, and the Power by which they stand in his Counsell and Fear. I do hereby declare my self unto the whole world, and unto all people upon Earth, that ye may all know the very cer­ [...]inty of those things, which is reported abroad through many Nations, and that [...]e may be informed truly concerning us, from our own mouthes of many things [...]hich cometh to you by false reports and lying informations, concerning a people [...]ppear'd in these late years, and raised up, going under the name of QUAKERS. [...]now ye assuredly that we are of God, and are raised up by him, and called by his Name, and his dreadfull presence goes before us, and his righteousness is our [...]eward. We are such as do fear and worship the true God that made Heaven [...]nd Earth in the Spirit, and in the Truth; he hath placed his Name amongst us, [...]nd made his everlasting Covenant with us, and established it that it cannot be [...]oved, he hath given us his Spirit, and poured it upon us, and we are taught of him according to his promise, and are established in his holy Mountain, where [...]one can make us afraid, for he hath armed us with his power and strength to defend us from all our enemies, that we should bear witness of his Name in all the world, and declare unto all Nations, of his power and Dominion, of his Salva­tion and Redemption, that is in Him, and in his Son; of which we are made [...]artakers and witnesses, and by him have we received the heirship of the everlasting inheritance, and we are of God; and he that is of God heareth us, whom the Father hath chosen and redeemed out of kindreds tongues and peoples, to stand before the Throne of God and the Lamb, and we have sought, and do finde, a City whose builder and maker is God, and we are known to the Lord God Almighty, and approved in his sight: Our light is the light of the Lamb, and our government the government of Jesus, and our Law the Law of the most high, and our Way is the way of peace and truth, he that can receive it let him. This is the Testimony which the Spirit of the everlasting Father witnesseth in us and witnesseth of us unto the whole world.

OF a truth the Lord is arisen, and he hath caused the Light of his coun­tenance to shine forth upon his people, his day is dawned, and the brightness of his glory is shining forth as the Sun at noon day, h [...] everlasting Arm is stretched forth to lead out of Captivity his o [...] chosen, the days of perfect freedom is approaching, he that brings Health, Peace and Liberty to all Nations is come and coming, who will restore the breaches, and subdue all things under himself, that he may raign for ever and ever, who alone is worthy (for he hath all Power in his hand, and he bring [...] to pass whatsoever he will, that all Men and Nations may fear before him, and tremble at his dreadfull Presence, who hath power in his hand) to change Tim [...] and Laws, Orders, Decrees and Governments, the hearts of all men he c [...] turn what way he listeth, and he pulleth down one, and setteth up another, and [Page 257] whatsoever is in his heart to do, his power can bring it to pass: who would not fear before him and reverence his Name? Who would not be afraid to of­fend him? who giveth unto man Breath and takes it away in a moment; all Nations are as the drop of a bucket before his eternal Eye, he dwells in the high and holy place, and his habitation is high above the World; be inhabits eter­nity forevermore, and yet abideth, and walketh, and dwelleth with the children of men, that fear his Name and tremble at his Word; he hath been as a stranger, as one not known, for men have been seperated from him by transgression, and have been ignorant of his ways; he hath been as one hidden for many ages, and hath been worshipped ignorantly, and hath winked in the time of ignorance, but now he calleth all to repentance every where: Blessed are they that wait upon him, that they may know him, and their souls may live, and now the purpose of his heart, is to bring in his scattered people into the fold of peace, where Christ Jesus is the shepherd, and his people shall dwell in safety, and shall be a free people, to worship him, in the Spirit and in the Truth, and every yoke of bondage shall be broken, and the oppressed shall be set free, and Christ shall feign, and his Government, above shall be established over all the World, mans honour shall be laid in the dust, & the pride of all flesh shall be stained, and the Glory thereof shall wither as a flower, the loftiness of all flesh shall be laid low, and the Lord alone shall be exalted, and his people, which now are op­pressed, shall replenish and fill the Earth: All corrupt men and Rulers their strength and might shall utterly fail them, and men that fear God and love righteousness shall take their place, and all things shall be changed, and the World shall be turned up-side down.

But because of this is all the World troubled, and the Heathen is on a rage, and the people do imagine vain things, and men of high degree, and low degree, and of all sorts, have set themselves against the Lord, that they might stop the purpose of the most high, and their hearts within them burn because of envy, and the Devil hath stirred up all sorts of people to work for him, and to uphold his kingdom and his power, he is come down in great rage, knowing that his time is but short, and hath filled the hearts of all his servants with despite and ravening envy against the Seed of God.

The heads of the people, they have conspired together against the Lord, and against his Truth; and have decreed unrighteous decrees, that they might pervent the purpose of the most High. Many of the Rulers and Judges, as mem­bers of the beastly power, rather than of Jesus Christ, have unjustly judged and falsly imprisoned and trodden under foot the meek and upright, who fear the Lord, and walk in his way; even such who have come from under the subjection of the worship and power of the Beast, (which all the World had wondered after) [...]ath the Beast raised his force against. How many hundreds in this Nation have been imprisoned falsly, and suffered grievous abuses unjustly for righteous­ness sake, and not for evil doing, as a testimony against this Generation of Judges and people, and for a testimony that they are of God, who have in pa­ [...]ience born the sufferings, and the cruelties of the wicked; many have suffered [...]he loss of Liberty and riches, and some the loss of life, for the exercise of a [...]ure conscience towards God, and for the Kingdom of Jesus; many have [...]uffered under the power of wicked men, for declaring against sin and iniquity, [...] Townes, Steeple-houses, or high wayes, and for crying against pride, and [...]anity, and idolatry, and coveteousness, and the wickedness of Rulers, Priests, [...]nd People, whose deceits and transgressions hath abounded in this Generation; [...]nd others have deeply suffered grievous cruelties, because they could not swear [...]nd respect persons with hat or knee, and so were witnesses for the Lord and his Kingdom, which stands in righteousness; and against the power and kingdom [...]f the Beast, which stands in iniquity, in fainedness and flattering titles, and [...]isobedience to the Son of God, and many hundreds are woful unjust and op­ [...]ressed sufferers at this day, by false imprisonment and spoiling of goods, be­cause [Page 258] they cannot pay Tythes, that abominable and crying oppression, by which the Beast chiefly maintains his false Prophets, and because the unchangable Priesthood is witnessed, and the changable denied, and Christ the Light of the World followed, therefore is this suffering laid upon the just, and many are sufferers under hard tasks, because they cannot maintain the Idol temples, and Idol worships, and Idol Priests, which the power of Antichrist upholds against the Power of the Son of God, and against the new Covenant of life, where God in Spirit and in Truth is worshipped without respect of places, days, or men, or things; and the True Worshippers, they Worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth, and cannot be subject to days, places, or things, appointed and or­dained by the power of men and false prophets; and how many unjust fines and false indictments have been most illegally charged upon the Innocent, in many Courts and Judicatories through this Nation, and all in the defence of the kingdom of the man of sin; lest his authority should be abated, and the Autho­rity of Christ Jesus exalted; many cruelties have been done, and injustice act­ed both by Rulers and People, against such which no evil could justly be charg­ed against, nor yet the transgression of any just law, by any one of them; O! horrid grievances and cruel oppressions hath been brought forth in this Nation, by such who should have eased the oppressed, and set at liberty the captives, such who should have judged justly the cause of the Poor, and heard the call o [...] the oppressed, have turned judgment backward from the Poor, and equity ha [...] found no place to enter, but Truth hath fallen in the streets, and justice a [...] mercy have perished from among men, and the Poor hath been oppressed, a [...] they that have departed from iniquity have been made a prey to the mouthes [...] devouring Lions, for some of the Judges have been as ravening Wolves, and [...] greedy devouring Foxes, the Lambs of Christ have been chased by the wicked, and his power, for their lives; O how have the oppressed groaned in this Natio [...] under false judgment? to Ages and Generations for ever, may it be record [...] for a witness against this Generation of cruel hearted men, whom the Beast a [...] false prophet hath raised in his defence, and against the Kingdom of Christ Je [...] and them that follow him, how full have the most part of the prisons in all th [...] Land been with guiltless Sufferers under cruel bondage, with unjust dealings; a [...] false judgments, have gone forth from some of your mouthes, you that h [...] been set to judge over the people, who should have been a terror to the wicked, but have rather strengthened the hands of Evil-doers, and been a terror to righ­teousness, so much as is possible, the great Whore which sits upon the Beast, [...] made your Rulers drunk and stagger with envy, and hatred, and persecution, a [...] works of wickedness against the upright; Wo is me for you, what have yo [...] brought sorth? even iniquity by Decrees, and Injustice by Ordinances, a [...] false Judgment by Laws; alas, alas, your Destruction cometh as an arm [...] man upon you, Was ever the like heard, or any persident in any Generati [...] before you, for imprisoning Just men, for declaring against sin and the abo­minations of the times, as you have done many; and for imprisoning men be­cause they cannot put off their Hats to you, and Respect your Persons, and [...] transgress the Law of God, and because they cannot Swear, and so break Chr [...] Command? For this you have imprisoned many, and caused them to su [...] because of this; may not you fear and tremble before the Lord God, a [...] your faces gather blackness at this, when you consider it? Did ever any t [...] were set to judge in the Earth among men so abuse their power, and subvert [...] so quite to another End than wherefore it was committed to them? May [...] Shame cover you all, to commit men to Prison for the exercise of pure Consci­ence towards God, because they cannot Swear, or respect mens Persons, or main­tain Idol-Shepherds, and Idol-temples and Worships, which are Abominatio [...] to the Lord; and for taking peaceable men out of peaceable Meetings, and out of their Travel on the High-ways, and first Whipping them, and sending them to Prison, the example of this which you have done, never went before in any [Page 259] Age, and therefore have you exceeded in Oppression, in Injustice, in Cruelty and false Judgment; all your Fore-fathers the Pope nor Bishops, hardly ever brought forth such things; but the Lord will reckon with you, and plead the Cause of the Oppressed against all you Oppressors; yea, and will give unto you a Recompence of Reward according to your works; ye that have exalted your selves against the innocent, shall be brought down to the dust of misery, and the Saints shall reign and rejoyce over you, when the Kingdom of Christ Jesus the Lamb shall be set up over you all, and your Beastly power dashed to peeces as a Potters Vessel, when he whom you have persecuted, and his Followers, shall rule with a Rod of Iron, and break you asunder; and this shall surely come to pass, therefore consider it, ye that thus deal in your anger against the Lord and his chosen, for the Lamb shall get the victory over the Beast, and over you all that seek to defend him, and that strive under his power; for they that are with the Lamb are Called, and Faithful, and Chosen: O! therefore be awake­ned, be awakened, ye Heads; and Judges, and Rulers of the People, remem­ber and repent, the Lords Hand is stretched forth against all Oppressors, and his Wrath is kindled against the wicked One and his power, to overthrow his dominon which long hath reigned in the Nations, and now though he seeks to defend himself against the Lamb and his Followers by injust dealing, yet the out-stretched Arm of the Lord shall bring deliverance to his Chosen, who have been made Havock upon, in their Liberties, and in their estates, some cruelly suffering in Prison, and others by spoiling of their Goods, and none of these for Evil-doing, but upon false Suspitions, and envious Jealousies, and secret Surmisings, without any ground of occosion given; but by Wickedness have many of you sought occasion to make Offenders, by laying Snares for the Feet of the Harmless and Innocent; you have made men Offenders for a word, and perverted innocent words and actions, that you might make to your self a ground to persecute, and have sought a Cloak to cover your Cruelty in the sight of men, but naked and bare are your hearts made manifest in the Sight of the Lord, who hath looked down from Heaven, and considered these things, and hath regarded the unjust sufferings of his people whose Liberties, and estates, and good names have been spoiled through injustice, by grievous burthens laid upon some, because they could not pay Tythes (that hainous oppression) to satisfie the unmercifullness of cruel men; and many suffers at this day, unjustly in the sight of God, and illegally also in the sight of men; and some suffer the spoiling of their goods, rather by way of robbery and theft, than by just execu­tion of judgment in proceeding of just Law; this can largely be witnessed, and this is brought forth by subservant Officers to you that are set to judge, and you to them are evil examples, and strengtheners of their malicious hands, some of them are not ashamed to take six times the value of what is unjustly claimed for the use of a false Teacher and deceitful Hireling who rides upon the Beast, and make you their servants to oppress the Poor, to uphold them and maintain them in their pride and vanities, but the Lord hath considered these things, and he hath numbred the oppressions against you, wherewith the just have been grieved and oppressed under you, he hath counted this cruelty and recorded all your unjust dealing, which you have (or suffered to be) brought forth, yea the day of account hastens and the tearm draws near upon you, where­in the just and righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth will call you to account who will plead the cause of the Poor, and of the unjust sufferer, and oppressed, against all you Oppressors; for the cry of the Innocent against you, and the begging of the Poor is heard, which calls for vengeance upon you. In the Re­cord of justice, what account will you give to the Highest-power, who rules over Heaven and Earth, for imprisoning just men for crying against sin, and declaring against the wickedness of this Age; this shall be proved against you in the day of the Lord; Is your answer ready, or will not your mouthes be stoped and you speechless, when righteousness it self pleads against you? And what [Page 260] can you plead for fining men, and imprisoning them, for not respecting your persons, and bowing with hat and knee, and because they could not swear; this hath some of you done; will you have any thing to say in the cause of these things, when Christ Jesus comes to reign and his Saints with him, unto whom the government and the authority, and rule shall be given: though now they are persecuted, and as the refuse of men accounted by you, unto whom they are become a prey, to act your oppression and cruelty upon; and because they render nor evil for evil, therefore is the impudency of some men the more encreased, and their hardness of heart enlarged; and because judgment is not speedily executed, therefore are the hearts of some men set in them to do evil. O! what a sad reckoning in that day, and what large indictments and verdicts for your oppression, will be read against you, and proved to be just in the sight of God and men; a sad thing will it be upon you, when laid to your charge by the Lord, for causing men to suffer because they could not swear, nor respect persons, nor uphold the deceits of false Worships and Teachers, nor cease to cry against sin, in your Towns and Steeple-houses. O! be stirred up out of your security; you Heads, and Rulers, and Judges, and Officers, even all you be awakened who have turned your sword against the peaceable, and been a terror to righteousness as much as you could, which you ought not to have been, and so your power you have abused, and subverted it to another end than wherefore it was committed to you: instead of defending the upright you have offended him; and instead of being a terror to the wicked, his hand, hath been strengthen­ed through your wicked presidents; this is the truth, as the Light in all your con­sciences shall witness in the day of the Lord; O! how hath justice and true judgment been neglected, and oppression and cruelty abounded, the like in Generations past hath not been known, but the Lord is now arisen, and hath said, I will ease m [...] of my Enemies, and take vengeance upon my Adversaries, who have done wickedly against him and his people, till the patience of the Lord is near an end, and his long suffering finished, and his judgments will he make known upon his Enemies in this Generation, that Ages to come forever may be warned not to oppress the Innocent, as these have done by false accusations, and unjust judgments, and wicked proceedings; and because of it, the wrath of the Lord is kindled, and his viols of indignation shall be poured upon the Beast, and upon the false Prophet; and all their power shall be smitten in one day.

And O what wickedness hath abounded in the people also, to help up the measure of the Rulers sins, that they may receive their recompence together; how have the people of all sorts abused the innocent lambs of Christ, whom he hath called? What beatings, and stonings, and bruisings, and other abuses, in Towns, and High-ways, and Steeple-houses; its hard to be expressed, and large to be declared: some have been wounded nigh unto death, others bruised till blood have gushed out, and others cast down in the dirt, and punched with feet, and troden upon, and many have been in danger of their lives; some have been knocked down with staves, and their cloaths-rent, and their hair torn off their heads; and some have been pursued after, with throwing stones and dirt at them; and many haled, and tumbled, and lugged, and hurried up and down in cruel manner, to the danger of life, and oppression of the creature; and others have been whipped, and lashed, and put into cruel torment of their Bodies, by Engins framed of purpose to torment the Bodies of the harmless, as Chester and Carlile may witness; and others have been haled before Rulers, and falsly slan­dered to the taking away of life, if the Lord had not prevented more than the mercy of men, and having been unmercifully and unjustly sent to prison, there have they suffered cruelties from the Goalers or their servants, by beatings, or punishings, or threatnings, or cruel words, and casting into Dungeons, and great abuses shamefully acted upon them; and other Prisoners have made a prey upon them, by taking away their cloaths and meat, and beating of them, and a­busing [Page 261] them divers ways, & Murtherers have had more priviledge of freedom in prisons, and in tryals, than these who are Innocent; and those things thus acted contrary to their own Law, have passed without reproof from many in Authority, though it hath been brought to their Door, and in this manner have the Children of God, the Lamb and his Followers been persecuted with­out cause, or any evil works brought forth by them, and legally proved against them; but for well-doing, and not for evil, have the wicked vented their malice against them, that the more the Beast and his power hath fulfilled wickedness, the sooner may be his destruction.

And O what scorning, and reviling, and lying, and slandering, and evil speeches with mockings, and cruel words of envy, and tearms of cruelty against the Innocent, hath this Generation brought forth in this day, where­in the Dragon with his Angels hath joyned battel against the Prince of Righteousness, and they that follow him; and whole Gog and Magog is ga­thered together, to compass the Camp of the Saints about, and to fight against the beloved City, the Judges and Rulers, with their train of subservant officers, as Bayliffs, Clarks, Goalers, Constables, with all that to those belonged, have with a high hand persecuted, and laid oppressions by hard-heartedness, upon the backs of the poor and distressed, and the Scorners, and [...]iers, and prophane wretch­es have bent their tongue against the Just, in uttering lies, slanders, reproaches, back-biting, nick-naming, and false-accusing, and all manner of evil speeches, and false reproaches, and the just have been burthened by all this; and thus they that have been departed from iniquity have been a prey to Rulers to act their injustice upon, and to the people to utter their slanders, and to do cruelty against; and the teeth of evil-doers have been set on edge, to bite and de­vour, and to satisfie their maliciousness upon the sufferings of the upright people; and from the Judge upon his throne, to the begger upon the high-way, all have had their hand dipped in this cause of cruel and unjust persecution, and the Lord hath considered and harkened from his holy Habitation, and numbered up the sum of all your iniquities that he may repay and recompence upon your heads; wo unto you unjust Judges, and corrupt men, who have abused your power. And wo unto all that do oppress by hard dealing, who have offended the just, and defended the unjust: Wo unto all you scorners, lyers, back-biters, and repoachful tougues; the Lord is coming to take an account. Your sins cry for vengeance against you, and though your hands and tongues have been strengthened to speak and act ungodliness, by the evil example of your Rulers, yet your own iniquity shall you bear in the day of the Lord, and though your Rulers and Judges have been strengthened in their unjustness and mercilesness, by the false lying Teach­ers and Diviners of false visions, which have seen vanity, yet their own iniquity shall they bear, and every man shall die for his own sin; Wo unto your Teachers, they have eaten up the sin of Rulers and people, and covered iniquity and trans­gression, by flattering and lying words; they have daubed with untempered mor­ter, and healed up the wound deceitfully, and cryed peace, peace, to the wicked, that have walked in the imaginations of their own hearts, when unto such the Lord never spake peace.

And now whereas the Rulers and people have stretched forth their hands to vex the Lords people, & have through unjust judgment, and grievous oppressions, and unmercifull dealings, troden the Innocent under foot, and made them a prey to their mouth, and divers ways have persecuted in cruel manner the Followers of the Lamb; yet also have the wise men of this World, even the Priests and Teachers, who have led the people, and have caused them to err, and have set themselves as in battel array against the Lord and his way and peo­ple; How have you hardened your hearts, and made your fore-head as brass, against the Word of the Lord, and you have been as the fountain of all this wickedness acted against the Just, and strengtheners of the hands of ungodly men; the Heads and Rulers you have strengthened in their [Page 262] cruelty, of false judgments by your arguments of strife; in subtilty you have been as nursers of all this Persecution and Wickedness, and have interceded for oppression, to cause the Just to groan, whom the Lord hath raised to testifie against you; the Judges they have given regard unto you, and the people they have taken you for examples, who have been cursed presidents to the Rulers and people, who have followed your cruel steps of malice and envy; and from the head to the tail, they have drunk in your, poysonous Doctrines; and made themselves drunk therewith, and out of reason, in their furious zeal of madness, and all have taken council together to slay the harmless from off the face of the Earth; some by false judgment and oppression, and others by cruel abusings, as beatings, and stonings, unheard of, or unequalized in Generations of late. O ye Priests, and Teachers, and Wise-men, and Scribes! how many of you in this Nation joyned hand in hand to betray the Innocent, by your false Doctrines and lying Divina­tions, and have filled, (and sought to do so) the mind of the people with slanders and false reproaches, & lying imaginations, and many conceptions, and jealousies against the people of God; many of you have made it your study-work, to bring forth evil by cunning Arguments, to suggest into the hearts of people, that they might not enter the Kingdom, and even so have you been shutters of the King­dom of Heaven against men, and would not enter your selves, nor suffer others that would.

Wo unto you, you have taken away the Key of Knowledge, and lost it, and multitudes of false Aspersions, and lying Assertions have you brought forth without fear, by wicked consequence and lying productions, that you might take away the key of knowledge thereby, and hide it from men, and lay stum­bling-blocks of Iniquity before the people, to stop the way of the Upright, and you have travelled to seek occasions of evil against the Just, and watched for the halting of the Innocent, that you might glory and rejoyce in their fall, and without any occasion, by words or actious, you have taken offence, and made offences by evil surmisings, to blind the eyes of people, that your Idolatry might not be discovered, nor the Way of Righteousness shine forth. O be ashamed and repent, for to account must you Come, and the sin of Rulers and people, whom you have blindy led, will be charged against you, who have given them wicked examples, of cruelty in your Pulpits; you have spent time in Rail­ing, and Slandering, and Lying, to infuse evil into the minds of men, against the Truth, and many books have you given forth, and sent abroad from your lying Pens, outof your vain studies, of false prophesie, and mens hearts have been filled with your damnable Doctrines of Devils, wherewith the Simple have been poy­soned, and the Innocent betrayed; even great numbers of Books, and lying Scroules have gone through the Nation from some of you, filled with false Di­vination, and intents of evil, against the Way of the Lord and his people, and worse than Balaam, and far exceeding him have you been: you have sought e [...] ­chantments to curse the people whom God hath blessed altogether, and some of you have done it to your evil reward of your evil work: and you have not known that there is no divination against the holy Seed. O [...] what will become of you when the Lord is arisen to plead with you [...] these things, the cruelty and oppression of the Rulers shall be added [...] your account, and the sin of the people which you have swallowed down, it shall be laid to your charge; for you have strengthened the hands of Evil-doers, so that none could turn from his evil way, but have by y [...] been hardened therein, and from you prophaness have gone forth to the ends of the Earth. Woe, woe, is approaching, what account will yo [...] render in the day of the Lord? you will all be speechless in that day, wh [...] the swift Witness doth arise; therefore to all you I am moved to write, who have set your selves to gain-say the Truth, and to write against the people of the Lord, whom you call Quakers, who walk in the Truth, and have received the Truth from the Lord, whom you have reproached and slandered in secret, and al­so [Page 263] in open print, in the face of the World, and have laid many cruel and false Charges and Accusations against them, and to all that hath, or ever shall here­after bend your tongues and pens, to utter wickedness and falshood by writing or otherwise. Repent, and cease your wickedness, for the wrath of the Lord is kindled against you, and take this for an answer in full to all your Books, and false reproaches; we are of God, and he that is of God heareth us, and the whole World lies in wickedness, and we have the Testimony that we please God; and he is our God, and we are his People, and he hath Chosen us, and we have Chosen him, and the Name of the Lord is our strength, and his Cove­nant of Life is with us, and among us hath he fullfilled his promise, and his Spirit is poured forth, and sons and daughters do Prophesie, and one King reigns upon mount Sion, and the night to us is far spent, and the day is dawned, and the darkness of the night, which long hath overshadowed the World, in which no man could work is from us fled, and the marvellous Light is risen, and we are them whom God hath gathered according to his promise, Ezik. 34. from the mouthes of Idol-shepherds which once made a prey upon us, and the Glory of the Lord is revealed, and the time is come of Restoration, and of bringing back out of the captivity of darkness, where all have lain, with a vail of darkness spread over all their faces, and we are eye-witnesses of his glory, and it is given us to taste, and feel, and handle the Word of Life, which lives for ever; there­fore I say unto you all, it is a little thing to us, and not respected, to be reproach­ed by you; our life you cannot reach, nor our glory deface, and you we know to be them who God never sent, but must fulfill your measure of wickedness, till the time of your overthrow, which draws near upon you all, and despisable shall you be to all that fear the Lord, and love his ways, for your nakedness and shame shall be uncovered, and them that have loved you shall be filled with the indignation of the Lord against you, all your writings, and Books, and lyes, and slanders, and false reproaches uttered in publick and private, shall go into the pit from which they came, and shall return upon your own heads, and when your vail of slanders and false aspersions is taken off, then shall we (as we are) appear, and till then all your evill brought forth against us we bear in patience, and love your revilings rather than your praise; wherefore with shame put off your armour, and lay down your crownes, and stop your mouthes in the dust, and bow and Tremble before the Just God, and before the Lamb, who is risen to make war against the Beast, and against you his false Prophets, whose Generati­on must grow feeble, and become weakness in this the day of the Lord; your time is at an end, wherein it was given you to reign, and to seduce and deceive the Nations; and now shall the Son of God be exalted, and the kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of Christ: hear and consider this, all ye that exalt your selves against the Lord and his way, and are established in the throne of unrigh­teousnes, under the beastly power; if any man hath an ear to hear let him hear; the light is risen, and these things are made manifest, and with the light of the World, in all men shall they be witnessed to be truth, and the state of things as they are at this day; and if you can discern the times, and the signes of times, and the changing of times, here you may read and understand; blessed are all that have an ear to hear.

TO all ye Heads and Rulers, Judges and Magistrates, Mayors, Bailiffs, Goalers and Constables, and all others whatsoever, Governors, Priests and People, who have, and do persecute the Children, and Servants of the Lord, the Saints of the most high God, who feareth the Name of the Lord, and walketh in his way, who are not of this World, but redeemed out of it, and are despised a­mong men, as all the Generation of the just every where; to all you Persecuters and violent Doers, this is a Word from the Lord God: Repent, repent, for evil have you done in his sight, and vext his Soul, and grieved his Spirit, and [Page 264] heaped up wrath against the day of wrath, and multiplyed your transgressions, and the measure of your Iniquities are well nigh filled up; ye have set your selves against the Lord, and your hands you have strengthened against his peo­ple, you have rejected the day of your visitation, and you have not regarded the day of your Salvation, you have plainly made it manifest that you are of that Generation which killed the just, and that you are of the seed of evil-doers, the works you have brought forth do plainly declare that you will not have Christ to reign amongst you, nor his Government to rule over you, who have thus persecuted the Innocent without cause, by false imprisonments, and false judg­ments, and hard dealings, and reproachings, and revilings; consider your ways, and what you have done, search your hearts, and let it take place in you all, how have you persecuted the just, how have you stretched forth your hands and dealt cruelly and violently with the meek of the Earth? how have you troden under-foot the poor and needy, and greatly oppressed the upright hearted, who have not rendred evil for evil, but forgiven you, & prayed for you, & wished well unto you, and born in patience (without complaining) [...]ll your injustice and cruelty, and have not sought vengeance against you, even such hath God chosen more than many, and them you have despised and persecuted more than any, and laid heavy bonds of oppression upon them, and doubled their task through your hard-heartedness, least the Seed of God should grow; grieveous yoaks have you laid upon it by false imprisonments, and unjust fines, and illegal proceed­ings, by beatings, halings, abusings, reproaches, and revilings, all manner of evil have been acted and spoken against the Generation of the just by you, and un­der you in your Judicatories and Jurisdictions, in your Corporations, high­ways, Towns, and Goals, and other places.

O! consider what you have done? and suffered to be done under you; lay it to heart what havock of the people of the Lord in their persons and estates, and what cruelty exercised upon them through your rebellious hearts, with­out any evil justly charged upon them, or breach of any Law justly proved a­gainst them, for well-doing, and not for evil have you caused them to suffer: [...] crying against iniquity, and reproving sin in the Gate, & for bearing witness [...] the Truth, and against all unrighteousness which abounds in this Generation; such have you falsly judged to be offenders, and cryed a confederacy agai [...] them, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, and caused the Innocent [...] groan. O! what will you do in the day of your visitation, when the Lord aris [...] to plead with you; to whom will you fly for refuge, and to whom will you cry [...] deliverance? Shall not the Lords soul be avenged upon you, yea from the least of you to the greatest? You shall feel his hand of judgment, even all you who ha [...] had your fingers dipped in the unjust sufferings of the dear Servants of the Lord▪ whom he hath called to place his Name with for ever, who are his faithf [...] Witnesses in this perverse Generation, and by your persecuting of them ha [...] you proved them to be the people of God, in the sight of all Nations; and it [...] for a testimony unto them, that they are of God; and against you, that you [...] of the Devil; and Christs words are fullfilled upon them, to their rejoyci [...] and to your sorrow, who said, The time comes, that they shall speak all [...] evil falsly, and persecute you, and think they do God service that kills you, [...] casts you from among them; and the Devil shall cast some of you into prison. And th [...] things you have done, and fullfilled Christs words against your selves, for [...] witness against you, and to shew that you are Enemies to Christ, and to his King­dom, and that you will not have him to reign (as I have said): Therefore wh [...] he reigneth, he shall say, Bring hither those mine Enemies, and slay them before me.

O! what will the just Judge of true Judgment, the God of Heaven and Earth render unto you, when he ariseth to plead the cause of the poor and needy, and to deliver his Inheritance from under your oppression into perfect freedom? What account will you give in that day, when he brings swift destruction upon [Page 265] you? And wherewith will you answer him when the secrets of your hearts are made manifest, and when the true witness in you all is awakened, which will bring to your remembrance all your cruel and unjust dealing, and all your bit­ter and hard speeches which in your envy you have brought forth against the Lord and against his people? What will be done to you his Enemies, when Christ Jesus, whom you have persecuted, comes to reign in his Kingdom, and subdues the kingdoms of this World, and changeth them into the Kingdoms of the Lord, and his Christ, and the Saints which you have oppressed, receives the Authority and Dominion? It shall be said, All that would not that Christ should reign, slay them before him; when it shall be given to the Saints to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron, and to execute upon the Heathen all the judgments written; for behold all ye stout hearted, the Lord cometh in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World in righteousness, and you shall be con­vinced of all your ungodly deeds; for the Scriptures must be fullfilled; and as you have done, even so will it be done unto you, when the suffering of the righteous is finished, and your wickedness come to an end; when the Lord shall reign, you shall lick the dust off his feet, and all the Persecuters of Christ shall be trodden down as mire, and the righteous shall rejoyce over them, and the Lord shall mock when your fear and calamnity comes, which come suddenly, in a day when you expect not; how shall the Lord pardon you for this? you have sinned against knowledge, and gone on after warning, and hardened your hearts after reproof, and the day of your visitation you have greatly slighted; ye Rulers have abused your power, and ye subjects have abused your subjection; and now consider what God did in Generations past unto the rebellious chil­dren, what he did to Pharaoh and all his Hosts, when his long suffering was fi­nished; how did Pharaoh harden his heart, and his cruel Task-masters oppress the righteous, even as you have done, and they would not let Israel go free to serve the Lord, but they kept them in bondage; and this way you walk, who exercise cruelty as they did, and laid heavy burthens upon the Innocent griev­ous to be born; cruel task-masters have you been over the Heritage of the Lord, and in Pharaohs example of wickedness have you walked, fulfilling his measure of cruelty, and Pharaohs example shall you follow in a cursed end; remember how the loftiness of his heart was bowed down, and how his proud heart was abased in the day that God pleaded with him in his righteous judgments, he and all his task-makers were confounded in a day, and the bondage of the righ­teous was broken in a moment, how was his whole strength of Tyranny over­turned and turned into weakness, the righteous were delivered, and he and all his train overwhelmed in one day, and thus shall it come to pass upon you: Therefore consider this, all ye that fullfill the measure of iniquity, suddenly will the righteous God be awakened to take vengeance upon you, and the just shall not always groan under your bondage, for he that looketh from the Heaven hath pity upon the distressed, for whom now his arm is stretched out to bring deli­verance unto them, and all their enemies will be confounded, who have this long time ploughed long furrows upon the back of the righteous, the oppression; and cruelty, and injustice, brought forth in this Nation, it calls for vengeance from Heaven.

Alas, alas, woe is me for you, you Heads, and Rulers, and Judges of Eng­land, what have you done and suffered to be done (under you) against the inno­cent people of God, who is as dear to him as the apple of his eye? for they be writ­ten on the palms of his hands, and because of the cry of the poor and the needy will the Lord arise and plead their cause. Oh consider, and let it enter into your hearts, the cruelty and injustice that hath been brought forth in this Land, and remember what God did unto all the Persecuters of old, how was their strength consumed, and they overturned and destroyed, what did he to Pharaoh and all his host, who persecuted the Seed of God? how was he de­stroyed and the righteous set free; and what was done to Haman? How was [Page 266] he justly rewarded, who persecuted the Innocent Seed of God? What did God to Herod and all his people who persecuted the Innocent? and remember what he did unto them that persecuted the Three Children, and them that persecuted Daniel, how did they fall into the pit which they had digged for another, and how were they destroyed, and the Innocent delivered, considered and remember these things, ye that suffer the Just to groan by you.

Search through the Records of old, and search what God hath done unto all them that lifted up their hand against Him and his People, and is he not the same at this day, his Hand is not shortened that it cannot save his people, and de­stroy his Enemies, his Ear is not dull of hearing that he should not understand this unjust suffering of his people, though you live carelessely in pleasure upon Earth, while the Innocent mourns, yet doth the Lord regard, though you spend your time in pleasure, and delight your selves in vanities all the day long, yet the Lord hath taken it to heart, and his Spirit is grieved that his Innocent Ser­vants should lye in Holes and Dungeons to be trodden upon, and be accounted as the off-scouring of all things, hardly thought worthy to have a place on the Earth. Oh remember these things, ye that are high minded, and consider what God did to the Bishops and their crew of persecutors in this Nation, your selves are wit­nesses how the Lord overthrew them, and delivered his people in a few years time; and as little as you, did they think, that they whom they persecuted should so soon come to have reigned over them, the Lords Hand was then against Op­pressors as it is at this day, do you think the Lord hath forgotten or that he takes no notice of what is come to pass, how should he forget his People to save them, or his Enemies, that he should not recompence them; but know ye assu­redly that the Lord is the same, and all those things are written in a Book, and remembred by him, and he will judge justly and righteously in his dreadful day; Ah, let it enter into your hearts, serve not your selves altogether in the pleasures of this World, but serve the Lord, and this he requires of you, let the oppressed go free, and break every bond, whereby the Innocent do suffer, and this the Lord requires at your hands; Oh but I feel great hardness of heart, and rather a strengthening of cruel bonds, than a breaking of them, and you appear rather to be given up to work wickedness, and to fullfill the largest measure of them that went before you, than otherwise, unrighteous Decrees are rather established than dis­annulled.

Oh, what will be the end of these things! and what will be your judg­ment when the Lord awakens himself, as out of sleep, who hath left you to follow your own spirits, to try you, that it might be known unto all what is in your hearts; and behold perverseness lodges in them; and while the Lord hath looked for justice amongst you, even the cry of op­pression hath been heard, even a grieveous cry of unjust persecution and violence against the Seed of God, and once you would have been ashamed of those things which now you act without shame; so that which is in your hearts is poured forth in the sight of the World.

Oh ye Rulers of England, the Rulers of the Heathen shall rise up is judgment against you, even they that never professed so much as you have done; they shall be rather justified than you, whose wayes have been more equal than yours, and less cruelty brought forth by them than by you, unto their subjects; and this makes your sin more great, in that many of yo [...] were raised from low estate, and you have exalted your selves more than is meet, and have caused your very equals to groan under you, by the heavy yoak which you have prepared for them; well, but the Lord hath listned and heard, and a Book of remembrance is written, and he will repay into your bosoms; the time is not long when the Lord may scatter you, and give you unto the will of your E­nemies; therefore be awakened, and warned, the day of your visitation is upon you all.

OH England that thou hadst known in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace.

Oh that thy Rulers and people had known how that the Lord hath called unto them.

Oh that they had considered-how that his hand hath been stretched forth all the day long, and he would have gathered them, as a Shepherd doth his flock, but they have n [...] known, neither have they considered, and therefore that which belongs to their peace will the Lord hide from their eyes, the day of their visitation is spending apace, and the night will come, and no man shall be able to work; and because the Lord hath called and you have not heard, therefore shall you cry and the Lord will give no an­swer.

Oh Nation, thou art filled with oppression, and griveous iniquities; and from the Head to the Foot thou bearest marks of great abominations; in thee is found lamentable oppression of the Poor; and great and grieveous Idola­tries; and Gods Rightous Soul is vexed in thee day by day, the Just groans and mourns under the heavy hand of oppressors, many of thy Goales do witness it, where many Innocent and Upright People have suffered un­justly the loss of their Freedom, without any ground, or charge of evil laid upon them.

Oh what have thy Rulers done, Judgment and Justice have they turned back­ward, the cry of the Poor hath not been regarded, and equity hath not found a place to enter.

Who would have thought that you, who have been so high in Pro­fession of the Scriptures, should thus have dealt with them who are in the Life of the Scriptures, this agravates your sin, in that none hath been like you in profession of Religion, and in pretences of Righteous­ness; and yet you have exceeded others in persecuting (and suffer­ing of it) the servants of the Lord, but it is now made Manifest what lodgeth in your hearts; under your fair covers of promises, words and shews, what deep Hypocrisie is this that you should profess Liberty of Conscience, and yet have persecuted hundreds for the exercise of their pure Consciences.

Is not this to be taken notice of, that you should profess that which you do not perform? and will not the Lord plead with you because of it, in his dread­ful day? which is hastening upon you, as a thief in the night, and the wicked shall not escape; do you not think that he whom you persecute in his Members, and his Members, shall surely reign over you? do not you know that he is sufficient to avenge himself of all his Enemies? and do not you believe that he could command thousands of thousands to fight for him, and to revenge his Cause? Hath the consideration of these things no room in your hearts; or are your hearts wholy shut up from all compassion towards the Lords people? Surely to Vengeance will the Lord be awakened, and he will tread you down as mire in the streets; and as you have done, and suffered to be done to the Lords people, even so shall it be done unto you.

THere are only two Seeds in the World, and there are but two and no more; to wit, the Seed of God, and the Seed of the Serpent; and these two are contrary one to the other, in their bringing forth, in their time, and in their ends; they differ in their Nature, in their fruits and works, and in their reward; and these two are at continual enmity one against another, and never was, is, or shall be reconciled, the life of one is the [Page 268] death of the other; and where the one doth live, the other doth dye; and where the one rejoyceth, the other is made sorrowful; and where the one is in Freedom, the other is in Bondage; and where the one is Ruler, the other is a Slave and in Captivity; and thus are they contrary: where the one brings forth fruit, the other is barren; and the one is rewarded with the overthrow of the other, and the one of these is ruling in every creature man and woman, and growing and bringing forth fruit from it self, through the Creature; and the fruits of the one is blessed for ever and the fruits of the other are cursed for ever; and betwixt these two there is no concurrence or agreement in any thing whatsoever, but they differ in likeness, and their fruits differ in appearance; the fruit of the one is love, and peace, and unity; the fruit of the other is hatred, and envy, and trouble, and enmity; the fruit of the Seed of God in the creature, is truth, and righteousness, and faith, and patience, long-suf­fering, and temperance, and joy, and peace in the Lord, with all other things which are good, and just, and pure; but the fruits of the seed of the Serpent are of another nature, as Lying, Theft, Murther, Dissimulati­on, Drunkenness, and Whordoms, Hypocrisie and all Unrighteousness, which is not according to God, but contrary to him; and by these seve­ral Fruits proceeding through the Creature, do we know every Creature, and so judge of him to be the Child of God, or the Child of the Devil in the election, or in the reprobation; for through whom the Fruits of the Seed of God doth spring forth, we know such are not of the De­vil; and through whom the Fruits of the seed of the Serpent do spring forth, we know such are not of God. And these two Seeds are now striv­ing in the Earth, the one against the other, and they in whom the Seed of God rules are persecuted by them in whom the seed of the Serpent rules; for they in whom the Seed of God rules are born of God, and of his Spirit; and they in whom the seed of the Serpent rules are born of flesh, and minds the things of the flesh, which shall not endure for e­ver; and so every one that is born of the flesh, is of the seed of the Ser­pent, or the seed of the Serpent rules in him; and every one that is born of the Seed of God, the Seed of God rules in him; such are persecuted for righteousness sake, by the seed of the Serpent, which is at enmity a­gainst the Seed of God, which cannot fulfill the will of the Serpents seed, nor be subject to his laws; for the Seed of God cannot be subject to the Serpents seed in any thing, but is subject to God, and not to any thing that is contrary to him; but rather suffers imprisonment, and cruelties, and bonds, under the Serpents seed, than in the least to bow to it.

So this is the ground of all persecution and enmity, which is betwixt the two seeds, which seeks the overthrow each of other, but who are of the Seed of God, knows that they are of God, and that the whole World lyes in wickedness; under the government of the seed of the Serpent; and such where he Seed of God is brought forth, hath the testimony in them­selves that they are of God, and have believed in the Son of God who is the Light of the World, and knowes him to be the Foundation and the Rock of Ages, and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against him, nor the enmity of the Serpents seed overcome him, nor they that are Builded on him; and this is a Testimony for the Seed of God, and against the seed of the Serpent in all the World, that it is persecuted of the seed of the Serpent, and spoken all manner of evil of by the World, according to the words of Christ, which are fullfilled upon us to our rejoycing, who are of the Seed of God, and to the trouble of all our Enemies, who are of the seed of the Serpent. And otherwise it cannot be, but that they who are born of the flesh must persecute them who are born of the Spirit; for because of the enmity that is placed between the two feeds, [Page 269] the one cannot love the other, nor have fellowship the one with the other, and which of our Fore-Fathers the Prophets and Disciples of Christ, which were of the Seed of God, were not persecuted, hated, and re­viled, and reproached by your fore-fathers, who were of the seed of the Serpent; and they, no more then you, could receive the Knowledge of God and his wayes, but ever despised the path thereof, and counted the Wisdom of God foolishnesse, and stood in the enmity against God and his people, and all their ways; and they that were of the seed of the Ser­pent ever called truth error, and the way thereof heresie and blalphe­mie.

Ieremiah, Amos, and the rest, were called deceivers and mad-men, and seducers of the people, and evil was done unto them; Ieremiah was put in the stocks, and in the dungeons, by the Rulers of that Generation, who were of the seed of the Serpent; even the Prophets of God who were sent of God, and were witnesses of his Name in truth and righteousness, were accounted and called deceivers, and were persecuted by imprison­ments, and some unto death, as you may read in the Scripture, Ieremiah 20. Amos 7.

These with others, who were sent of the Lord, to bear testimony of God, and against the Rulers; who executed not true Justice and Judgment, but were oppressors of the poor, who judged for gifts and rewards, and a­gainst the false Prophets and Priests that ran and had not been sent, who used their tongue, and said the Lord said, and the Lord had not spoken to them, who prophesied falsly, and preached for hire, and bare rule by their means, and made a prey upon the people; these were of the seed of the Serpent, and did persecute them that bore witness against them, that were of the Seed of God.

The Word of the Lord was even a reproach unto Ieremiah daily, and they smote him with the tongue, and the chief Governour of the Lords house smote him, and put him in the Dungeon: And Amos, who had been no Prophet, nor the son of a Prophet, but a herdsman, he was persecuted by the Priest of Bethel, and was commanded not to Prophesie in the Kings Chappel; And Amaziah the Priest complained to Ieroboam the King against Amos the Prophet: And Ezekiel the Prophet could not be received of the people; for saith the Lord, they will not hear thee, for they will not hear me; and they were a rebelious house, and impudent, and hard-hearted, and would not receive the Prophets words: And thus it was in the time of the Apostles and Christ Jesus, they were persecuted, and some of them put to death for bearing testimony unto the Father, whom they were wit­nesses of, and against the World; what Reproaches, Slanders, Beatings, Buffetings Scornings, Tumults, Uproars, and all manner of evil did they suffer in their Generation by the seed of the Serpent, from the hands of the Rulers, and Priests, and People; Christ was accounted a Deceiver, [...]nd called a Devil, and a Blasphemer; and the Apostles were called Here­ [...]icks, Deceivers, and pestilent fellows, movers of sedition, destroyers of [...]he Law, and turners of the World upside down, and such like: All [...]hese were of the Seed of God that were persecuted, and the Persecu­ [...]ors were of the seed of the Serpent, which brought forth violence, and [...]ickedness, and false judgement against the Innocent; and some were [...]ost cruely put to death upon the false account of being Deceivers and Blas­ [...]hemers.

If you search through the whole Scripture, you may read how the Just [...]ere persecuted, even from Abel, who was of the Seed of God, and all [...]at ever were persecuted for righteousness. sake, were persecuted upon [Page 270] the account of being Evil-doers, and the Persecutors judged themselves to be Righteous.

He was the chief Governor of the House of the Lord, that persecuted Ieremiah, and the people that smote him with the tongue, said, They knew the Law should not perish from the Priest, nor Counsel from the Ho­norable: And it was Amaziah the Kings Priests that persecuted Amos; and it was they that seemed to be religious that persecuted the Prophets; and it was the wise Scribes and Pharisees, and the chief Priests, that hand­led the Law, and that offered Sacrifice, that persecuted Christ and the Apostles.

How zealous were the Jewes in their Traditions and Observations, in their Sabboth-keeping, and in the Dayes of their Humiliation, in their Temple-worship, and in all the Commandments of God? They were zealous according to their own thoughts: yet were they of the seed of the Serpent, and persecuted the Seed of God in Blind-zeal, upon false Judgment; and the Persecutors had a Name to be Righteous, and the Persecuted were accounted Unrighteous; and so Darkness was put for Light, and Light for Darkness; and them that were Well-doers were account­ed for Evil-doers, and them that were Evil-doers, were accounted for Righte­ous.

And such was the blindness of Rulers and people, such as prophesied falsly, and came in their own names were received, for the people loved to have it so when the great abomination was committed; but they that came in the Fathers Name could not be received, but were Persecuted; the Prophets, Christ, nor his Apostles could not be received of the World, but were persecuted in it, and Laws and Decrees were made against them, whereby they suffered unjustly, upon false grounds suspitions and jealousies, for that Way was called Heresie, in which the true God was wor­shipped.

Christ was called a Deceiver; and the wisdom of the World could not receive the knowledge of the things of God; and as it was then, so i [...] it now in every particular, if any man hath an ear to hear he may hear, and a heart to understand, and he may perceive; for now is the Seed of God and the seed of the Serpent at enmity, striving one against the other, and the one persecutes the other in his Generation, as ever it was: we are persecuted upon the false account, and false judgement of being Evil-doers, and Deceivers, and our Persecuters accounts themselves Righteous, and zealous for Gods Wayes; and such as are false Prophets and Decei­vers are accounted true Ministers of Christ, even them that preach for hire, and seek for their gain from their Quarter, and through covetous­ness, by feigned words makes merchandise of souls; such were, and such are Deceivers, and were never sent of God; and yet such in this Genera­tion are accounted Ministers of Christ, and such as are Ministers of Christ, who walk in the Doctrine of Christ, as they have received freely, so do they freely give, and seek not advantage to themselves, but are pre [...] cuted and reviled for righteousness sake, such are accounted and fal [...] judged Deceivers, and so true Judgment is turned backward; Good [...] called Evil, and Evil Good; Deceivers are called Ministers of Christ, and Ministers of Christ are called Deceivers; and thus people in this Generati­on errs in judgment, and persecutes the Righteous, who are of the Seed [...] God.

And it was ever the Ministers of Christ that were presecuted, and never any [...] them persecuted any, nor ever any of the Deceivers were persecuted for righte­ousness sake; but they ever persecuted the Just and sought to the Rulers, and to the Elders of the people for violence to be done unto them that feared the [Page 271] Lord, and witnessed against their wickedness; it was the Chief Priests and them that handled the Law, which caused Christ and the Apostles to be perse­cuted.

Amaziah sought to Ieroboam to have Amos persecuted, and as it was then, so it is now. How doth the Teachers of this Nation seek to the Magistrates to have the Innocent persecuted? and yet these man are zealous for their Performances and Duties in the set-Days of Humiliation and Lectures, and even they think they do God good service in imprisoning the Innocent, they have great zeal without knowledge, as the Jewes had, and they are strict in their Sabboth-keeping, in their Singing and Praying, &c. But yet is Violence done to the Just, and true Judgment and Justice neg­lected; and therefore all that which they perform to God is abomination in his sight.

Oh, what complaining is there, from the Teachers of this Nation to the Magistrates? What crying out for defence, shewing that they want the spi­ritual Armour, and dare not trust the Lord? What plotting and con­triving is there against the Seed of God, by the Seed of the Serpent, who ever was a Persecutor, and never was persecuted? What Lawes and Decrees are there brought forth against the Lords people, as Traps to ensnare their Feet, like as it was in the dayes of old, even like unto Artaxerxes the King, who made a Decree, and gave commandment, that the City of God should not be builded; and this was from the information and complaining of Rhehum the Chancellor and Shimshai the Scribe, who brought certain Accusations to the King against the people of God; and called the holy City, a rebellious and bad City, and that it was hurtful unto Kings, and in danger to endamage the Revenue of Kings.

Here was a Conspiracy by the Scribes and such as handled the Law, with the King against the people of God; and thus is it also now: he that hath but an eye to see may see; How many Petitions have they put to the Rulers against the people of God? What grieveous and false Accusati­ons have they laid to the charge of the Innocent, saying they be Popish­ly affected, and disobedient to Government: so that the seed of the Serpent ever doth hatch evil against the Seed of God, to destroy it from off the face of the Earth; and it was the Wise, and the Learned, and the Rulers, whom the Devil made use of to persecute the Righteous: it was such as Rhehum the Chancellor, and Shimshai the Scribe, and Pashur the chief Governor in the House of the Lord, and it was such as the chief Priests and Elders of the people, and the Wise-men of this World; such as these it was that persecuted the Righteous; and so it is now, Orthodox men (so called) and Justices of Peace, &c. whom the Devil makes use of, to persecute the Innocent, against whom no occasion can be found but concerning the Law of their God, as it was with Daniel, as you may read, in the sixth Chapter of Daniel, and the fifth and sixth Verses, against him they could find no occasion that they might presecute him, but concerning the Law of his God; and it was the President and Princes, and Counsellors, and the Governors which consulted together against Daniel, who was the Servant of God.

And as it was then, so it is also now in this our Generation, they can find no occasion against us (the people of God) either by our Doctrine or Con­versation, but onely concerning the Law and Worship of our God; for there is a Law made against the Law of Christ, and all that will not sware contrary to the Law of Christ, must be counted Evil-doers and Popish Recusants; and punished, and this is not for any Evil in us, but because we cannot transgress the righteous Law of our God; and also another Decree, which takes hold upon them that travell to worship God on the first day [Page 272] of the week, whereby the Innocent doth suffer, and are like to suffer; and not for Evil-doing is any occasion against us, but because we will not stay from the Worship of our God, but are made to travel, that we may meet together to Worship him; with such other Decrees, which sheweth un­to all men that they seek occasion against us concerning the Law of God, not having occasion by doctrine, or conversation, or any other thing; so for righteousness sake are we persecuted, and not for evil-doing; some are persecuted, because for Conscience-sake they cannot stay at their own houses, but are moved by the Lord to declare the Name of the Lord abroad in the Nation; many by a decree are taken and punished, as for vagabonds, and this is an occasion concerning the Law of our God; and Christ was persecuted, and put to death by an unrighteous Decree; for they had an (unrighteous) Law, as they said, and by it he ought to dye; and unrighteous laws and decrees were made against the Apostles, whereby they were commanded to depart out of their Towns, and to preach no more in the Name of Jesus, and by such decrees were the A­postles persecuted. So that this may shew unto all, that our fore-fathers who were of the Seed of God, some were persecuted unto death by un­righteous decrees and statutes, and as it was then, so it is now, he that hath an eye to see may see: the same as ever was is come to pass in the Earth, the seed of the Serpent striving against the Seed of God and perse­cuting it where it is brought forth, by unrighteous decrees: how did the late Bishops of England persecute the harmless? What Laws and Ordinances were then brought forth, whereby violence was done against such as fear­ed the Lord, and then was the seed of the Serpent striving against the Seed of God.

And this is given forth to shew unto all the World the cause of per­secution in its first ground, (to wit) the irrecoverable enmity which is betwixt the two Seeds, the one continually hating and persecuting the other, and seeking the overthrow each of other, and the enmity be­twixt the two Seeds, is the cause of strife, the one being Innocent, and the other unrighteous; so it is not for the persons sake, or any other thing that the Just are persecuted; but it is because of the Seed of God, which cannot bow, nor worship the seed of the Serpent, that is the first cause of persecution.

Again, all may see what unrighteous Laws and Decrees were and are brought forth to persecute the Innocent, whereby they have suffered in all Generations for Righteousness sake, and not for Evil-doing; also it may be seen, that it was the Wise, the Learned, the Presidents and Chancel­lors, and chief Priests, and Scribes, who were and are the very active persons, by whom the Seed of God is persecuted, and even such as were and are zealous in their Observances, and Sabboth-keeping, and such like; it was not the Poor, nor the Foolish only which the Devil made use of to do his work; but it was the Wise, and the Learned, and the Chief in Authority, and such like; it was such in whom the seed of the Serpent ruled, who were the active men against the Servants of God.

Also it was through the evil Counsel of such as were Teachers, and Scribes, and Handlers of the Law; and it was through the false Accu­sations of the chief Priests unto the Governors and Elders of the People, and so it is now at this day, as I have proved; and also the Righteous were persecuted upon the false Judgment of others, and they were falsly adjudged to be Deceivers, and Blasphemers, and Evil-doers; and upon this account were they persecuted, and as being falsly reputed to be destru­ctive to Government, and Revenue of Kings, and upon such like; and [Page 273] that they made void the Law of God, and were Movers of Sedition; and upon such accounts as these, was the Seed of God persecuted, as it it at this day; and all men that read this with moderation may come to the good Un­destanding, upon what account, and by what Instruments, and by what means the seed of the Serpent hath persecuted the Seed of God, even from Cain unto this day.

And this is to go abroad into this Nation, and into the World; and it is given forth from the Suffering-Seed of God, to clear it self in the sight of all men, that not for Evil, but for Good are these Sufferings laid upon it. But behold the Lord heearth and regardeth the Cry of the Poor, and of the unjust Sufferer, and he will remember his Mercy, and his Covenant with his own Seed; and when it passes through the Fire, he is with it, and thought it be afflicted, it cannot be forsaken; though the Lord hide his Face from his people, and suffers most grievous things to be done against them, by the wicked; yet it is but to try them, and to prove them, that they may be found faithfull to him, and the Seed of God shall reign in the Earth; and the seed of the Serpent, and his head shall be bruised, and is bruised already; and it bruis­eth its heel by following after with persecution and cruelty; but the Seed of God shall arise, and is arisen, and praiseth the Living God for evermore.

It plainly appears that the Suffering of the people of God in this Age, is a greater Suffering and more Unjust, than in the dayes of Christ, or of the Apostles, or in any time since: Queen Maries dayes brought not forth a Suffering more cruel, and in many respects, as doth appear; First, What was done to Christ and the Apostles, was chiefly done by a Law; and in a great part by the due execution of a Law; and also the Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes, had more just Ex­amination, and a more Just Prosecution in Law, than the people of God have now; for now it is a matter of Conscience among some of the Magistrates in England to cast men into Prison, and confine them, and to cause their Goods to be spoiled, without any Law, or the due execution of a Law; which is utterly contrary to the Charters of Eng­land, and hereby it appearts the Suffering to be more Unjust, because what the Persecutors of old did to the People of God, they did by a Law, and by the due execution of a Law; but now many are caused to suffer deeply; whom the transgression of no Law, good or bad, can be charged against; and others suffer without the due execution of a Law.

Again, herein it doth appear to exceed the Suffering of the Saints in former Age, in that many suffer now cruel things about trivial foolish matters; as for not putting off a Hat, or for Theeing men; and for deny­ing the foolish circumstance of Swearing; and we do not read that the worst of Tyrants in the Apostles dayes, or before or since, ever cau­sed any to suffer for such things as these, or ever questioned any upon any such small accounts; for hundreds have suffered upon suspition, when nothing at all can be charged against them; and this is contrary to Magna-Carta: And in many other respects which might be named, this suffering is greater than hath been in any Age; for many have suffered in this Common-wealth, which have been faithful, and hazarded all in time of war, for the good of the Common-wealth; and many of them suffer by them, who have been Enemies, and in Arms against the Common-wealth; and herein the suffering appears more intollerable. But doth the Magistrate think to come to account for these things? Yea, the Lord is Just, and his Way [Page 274] is Righteous; What flesh could but be provoked hereby? But the Saints are changed in nature, and are to fullfill the Will of the Lord by Suf­fering: the Cruelty of men is become exceeding great against the Lord, and his people.

Again, hereby the Persecution in this Age appears more to exceed former Ages, because Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion, was never so much promised and professed, as in this Nation at this day; and yet for the exercise of a pure Conscience many are wofull Sufferers, even by such who in words profess Liberty of Conscience themselves; and yet perse­cutes the exercise of it in others, even for not putting off a Hat, or the like, to them; these with many other things, may aggravate the hainousness of the sin of persecution to be great, and more unjust than in-former Ages.

O HOW hath Satan filled the hearts of men, in this Generation (as well as in former Ages) with Envy against the Truth, and with Wrath against the Way thereof; and how hath he filled them with Craft, and deceitfull Subtilty, to offend the Way of the Lord, in all manner [Page 276] of Persecuting, and Evil-speaking against it openly, and also in secret Gain-saying, in Hypocrisie; and how are men armed to defend themselves in their naughtiness, lying hid under the Vail of fair Speeches, and fine Arguments, using the Scripture in the words of mans wisdom, to oppose the Power and Life of Righteousness; even as the Scribes and Pharisees of old, how zealous were they in their Observances, and in fullfilling the Commands and Traditions of their Fathers, having set themselves in Moses Seat, professing Moses, and the Prophets words, and yet persecuted Christ the Life and Substance of Moses, and the Prophets? And as it was then, so is it now; how are Christs words, and the Apostles professed and preached by such who are Enemies to the Life of Christ made manifest in mortall flesh, and secretly opposing the doctrine of the Apostles? who said, Know ye not, that Christ is within you, except you be Reprobates. But the mighty Day of the Lord is come, and coming, wherein all hearts are made manifest, and the secrets thereof discovered; and the light is springing out of darkness, and the Sun is breaking thorow the Clouds to give light to all men and Nations, and the great Whore which hath decked her self in divers colours to deceive, shall be made naked and bare; and the day of great striving is come, and now every man stands up for his Interest, to defend his Possession, for the just Judge standeth at the Door, to enquire by what Law every man holds his Inheritance; and he findeth many holding their Religion; and Pro­fession, by the Traditions of men only, and not by the Revelation of Christ Jesus in them; and such he will dispossess, though they strive against him, yet all is in vain, and though they plead Antiquity, yet that will not prevail; and in that the day of great striving is come, betwixt the Lamb and his Followers, the Draggon and his Followers; every one of that Party appearing with such weapons as the Devil hath armed them withal; and with such Armour as the wicked hath, they come, appearing under divers colours to fight against Zio [...], yet under one Head, and Prince of Darkness, and unto one Purpose, ev [...] that the Seed of Iacob may be rooted out, and that the Way of Truth may [...] prosper, that then the Wicked may go on in their wickedness, without reproof, and ungodliness may be hid under hypocrisie; and above all other means, that is used at this day, to keep up the Kingdom of the Devil, and to offend the Kingdom of Christ; this is Cheif, striving against the Light of the World, opposing it, and denying it, and by crafty Arguments, and cunning Speeches, seeking sutable Scriptures, (as they suppose) to ground their false Argument [...] upon, against this very thing, that the Light of Christ is given to every man that comes into the World, or that the Light which convinceth and reproveth every man of sin within him, is not the Light of Christ, nor worthy to be ta­ken notice of, but natural and such like, and no way sufficient to Life and Sal­vation; if the Unjust men persecute, it is such as walk in the Light of Christ Jesus, that cannot fulfill the wills and customs of m [...]n, and so are not of th [...] World, but contrary to it in all its wayes and work [...] [...]ich are evil; and if t [...] wise men of the World make any Arguments, it is against the Light, wi [...] which Christ lightneth every man that comes into the World; so that all [...] envy of the Devil, whether under this or that colour and appearance, is again [...] the Light of Christ Jesus, and them that walk therein; and if the light be [...] denyed, and not believed in, nor regarded, then may the Devil have wh [...] Possession of the heart of man; and if the Light of Christ Jesus within, [...] owned and loved, and walked in, then Christ is received, and there the D [...] is dispossessed; and therefore it stands him upon, above all other things, [...] possess people against the Light within, which Christ hath given, that then [...] may not be discovered in the heart; but may keep all his goods in peace, a [...] have quiet possession in his Habitation? Well, be it so, though all men of th [...] Kingdom doth gainsay the Light of Christ, by this or that way of wickedness, yet it is precious unto us, and I cannot but earnestly contend for it, against [...] Gainsayers, and yet strives not for mastery to our selves, nor to exalt any thing [Page 277] of our selves, but only the Lord and his truth, which he hath made more dear to us, then either life, or name, or liberty; and though so it be, that this Way be spoken evil against every-where, yet the Lord owneth it, and us who are faithful therein in the presence of our Enemies; to the confounding of the wis­dom of this World. And whereas Iohn Bunion hath formerly set himself divers wayes to oppose the Truth under the account of his great zeal against Error; but especially in a Book sometime since put forth by him, thinking thereby to of­fend the Way of Righteousness; and now a second time hath appeared, with a de­fence upon his former, called A Vindication, &c.

Of the former and his Defence, is more to the laying open his folly, and to the uncovering of his blindness and wickedness, then his first offence given by him, which caused me to write in short four sheets of paper, to clear the Truth from what he had spoken against it.

And now having again a second time appeared in many word, without know­ledge, yet in great zeal, hath brought forth many things reprovable, even Lyes and Slanders, and evil Speeches in abundance, yet with great pretence of holiness, and soberness; and he hath not only belyed me, but the Truth which is my chief, and moving cause, (that the Truth may be clear) of this my second Reply unto him; and not for my own sake in any thing; for I more prize to be accounted a fool, and dispraised in the World, then to be honoured thereby; and when iniquity shall come to an end, and transgression shall be finished, his shall be the Kingdom and the Inheritance of Rest Eternal, that hath kept him­self clean and pure, from a lying and slanderous tongue, and who hath done righteously and fullfilled the Will of God, For it is not every one that saith Lord, Lord, that enter into the Kingdom, but he that doth the will of the Father which is in Heaven; and in that day when the Book of all Consciences shall be opened, and every thing brought to Judgement, then shall the Light in every ones Consci­ence answer the Lord in the justness of his dealings; and even then (if not be­fore) shall this Iohn Bunion know the Light in all mens Consciences is of force, when he shall be judged and then shall he see, he hath wronged the Lord, and dealt evil against his own soul, in speaking evil of what he hath not known, and in giving false judgement of what he hath not understood; and till that day I leave him (without praying for fire to devour him) only may reprove his Lyes Errors, Contradictions and False-dealing, and clear the Truth from his false Charges, and only to the most chiefest things whereof he accuses us, in short I may Reply.

And whereas thou sayst, There is one that hath ventured to stand up against the Truth, and hath published a Book in which there is a great number of Heresies cunningly vented by him, and also many things there falsly Reported of thee, To which I answer, that same Book published, called, The true faith of the Gospel contended for, &c. Shall clear it self from this reproach, that I have not stood against any one truth, or uttered any Heresie or lye against thee; Several Lies and Slanders were proved against him in that Book, which he cannot clear himself of; mark that. but in that Book did witness forth the Truth against many things falsly laid down by thee against the Quakers, and that same Book with soberness read (without partiality and prejudice) doth clear it self from these false Aspersions, and prove thee a Lyer herein, and I leave it to the honest hearted to judge, who reads that Book, while I with pati­ence, and not seeking any revenge, do [...] bear thy reproaches, counting them great­er riches then thy praise.

And Farther thou saist, Only by the way thou thinkest good to mind me of my cloathing my self with the words of the Prophets and Apostles, &c.

Answ. True enough, by the Way, out of the Truth, and out of Christ, who is the Way, hast thou spoken this, and so hast uttered in falsehood, and by, or out of the Way; neither have I cloathed my self, and yet am I clothed with the Life of the Prophets and Apostles, and not only with their words; nor do I fight against them (though thou falsly sayst it) but bears witness unto them, in Doctrine and Conversation, and before all the seed of Evil-doers; and take [Page 278] back thy own words to thy self, who art in that Generation, which hath the words, but are without the Lying per­verting Scripture is an evil life; Life, in the evil life.

Farther thou sayst, I have broken out with a false Testimony of Iohn Burton, and thee, at which thou seemest to be much offended, that I should say thou art joyned with the broken Army of Magog, and hath shewed your selves in the defence of the Drag­on, against the Lamb, &c.

Reply, what needest thou be troubied at this, have I not spoken the truth, and have I not said well herein? for you are joyned with all the wicked in the Na­tion, and as Lyars and Swearers and Drunkards, persecutes with violence; and as the proud and wanton are filled with scorning and singing wicked rimes in the streets, even so also are you come in Print, and all of you against them cal­led Quakers; the Drunkards and Swearers they beat them, and abuse them, and cast them as for dead into Ditches, with stoning in the high wayes, and in the streets beating down with Staves; and the wanton they sing there rimes in scorn in Ale-houses, and Taverns against them; and thou and thy Fellowes and Gene­ration appears in open Print, slandering and reviling them (yet in pretence of zeal for God) and all this you do against us, who have the witness that we are of God, and that the whole World Lyes in wickedness, and now are not you all joyned as an Army, and do you not shew your selves in the defence of the Drag­gon; Lyers and Slanderers is of the Dra­gons party; what wrong I have done you, let the upright in heart judge, whether I have given false testimony against you or no; and though you have noted it for a Lye in the Margent, yet the Lye is thy own, who hath gain-said the Truth herein, and called it a Lye; and I have dealt justly with thee, in the sight of God, and all that know him, and when the Book of thy Conscience is opened, thou shalt also confess to this thing, when thou standest condemned with them, with whom thou art now joyned against us; who have the testimony that we are of God, and worshippers of the Father in the Spirit and Truth, and my words were spoken by the Spirit of the Lord, and that in thy Conscience shall witness them, in the day of the Lord, though now thou opprobriously sayst, I said that desolate Zion is com­passed about with enemies to make her a destructi­on, &c. These are some of the words which he sayes flung into the wind. they are flung into the wind. And whereas thou seemest to be greatly offend­ed, that I should say part of the first Book is a Corrupted grain of Babylons treasure, &c.

But have not I spoken the Truth herein also, when I say, I have numbered [...] part of your work, and this is the sum thereof, that part which I have numbered, viz. your Lyes and false Reproaches against the Quakers, is a corrupted grain; yea, and of Babylons treasure too. I am not ashamed of my words, though thou wouldst defend your work by saying, Your discourse was of the Birth, Righteousness, Death, Blood, &c. And of the second coming of the Son of Mary, &c.

To which I say, these things, and the knowledge of them, by the Spirit of God, is not counted by me Corrupted, nor of Babylon, though now I answer, as in my last; the words I own, but thy voice I deny, and knows it to be the voice of the stranger; and for this saying, have I not, nor never shall have any burthen upon my Conscience, (though thou wouldst say it) but 'tis cleared in the sight of God, even though I say all that thou speakest I deny, or thy speaking of any thing of the Kingdom of God, with thy lying spirit.

And whereas thou art offended, that I should say you are described to be the Flock of Ishmael, and of the seed of Cain, whose line reacheth to the murdering Priests, &c.

And thou sayst, I am very sensorious, and utterest many word without know­ledge, &c.

Reply, Yea, your words doth describe your nature, for by your voice I know you, to be none of Christs sheep, and accordingly I judge, in just judge­ment, and in true knowledge, and doth not falsly sensure, nor utter words voi [...] of knowledge, and my words shall be witnessed by you in the day of the Lord: [Page 279] Envy is of Cains nature and seed, and in that you are; and Lyars are of Ishmaels stock, and you are guilty of that, let the sober Reader try; and you are among the murdering Priests party, and close joyned to them, in Doctrine and practise, especially in writing against us.

Now no wrong have I done you, that thou needest to be troubled, and seek to cover your selves by thy fair words in thy answer, as if you were righteous; but all will not hide you, your works make you manifest to be no less then what I have said of you.

Then farther thou art hot against me, in that I say, you are found Enemies to Christ, revealed in his Saints, and this thou hast noted it in the Margent for false, but thou dost not well to be angry; it is true, what I have spoken, thy own words do prove it, in saying there was nothing in thee, to be taken no­tice of; this was a denying of Christ within, and such as deny him are found Enemies to him within; So the Lye is thy own, who hast denyed Truth, let the wise Reader judge, and thy many words in a pretending Answer will not cover you from the guilt of what I have charged upon you, and not falsly; and what I have said hitherto is true, and not false, though thou feigningly say, Thou marvels I should be so overseen, as to utter so many false things in so little a space; nay, my understanding was open, when I wrot forth that Book, at which thou art so tormented, that it hath caused thee some Moneths travel in anguish to clear thy self, and yet cannot be at rest; and thou art over-seen who resists the reproof of thy Wickedness.

Then thou goest about to justifie thy Brother Burtons words, who wickedly laid it down, as thou impudently goest to justifie it, who joyned in his Accu­sation, and slanders Quakers with Ranters; and this wouldst thou justifie we are one, against my just Answer, which denied them in the fourth page of my first; where I said, Between Quakers and Ranters there is no more union, &c. then betwixt Light and Darkness, Good and Evil; and that Answer stands un­touched by thee, and is true; and in justifying Iohn Burtons wicked Slander, thou art more wicked in comparing the Principles, and sayst, it will appear they agree in one, &c.

Viz. That the Quakers deny Christ to be a real Man: Secondly, that they fancy him to be God, manifest in their flesh: Thirdly, that they make his humane nature with the fulness of the Godhead, to be but a type of God: these thing were charged upon us.

But what a wicked course hast thou taken to clear him, by adding thy own wickedness; let all consider that reads: for doe not I desire in plainness in my first, in these words; if thou darest lay the Charge only upon the Quakers, write in plainness, and bring testimony of thy Accusation, and thou mayst receive a farther answer, but not a word in plain answer to this is returned, though soberly desired, neither time, nor place, nor witnesses evidenced to clear your selves of your first Slanders, which had been more honest, then to have slandered afresh, passing over your first; but it seems you cannot clear your selves in honesty, and so fulfill your wickedness by adding to your Lyes and Slanders, as thou impudently dost in thy comparing the principles of the Ranters with the Quakers.

And to save thy brother from shame and guilt, thou art fallen thy self into the Snare, and justly may be judged, to exceed him in Wickedness; and thou sayst, (with shame to thy self, I repeat it) that the This is a lye; Quakers will not own Christ without them, but thou brings not testimony of this Assertion; till then art thou reckoned, and shall be plauged for a Lyer, which will be forever, for we own him as he is ascended far above all Heavens, who fills all things; yea, and with­out us too: So that instead of proving the first false Accusation, thou adds ano­ther Slander, and the That the Ranters and Quak­ers deny all teaching but the teaching within; and yet con­demnes principle by practice. second thing wherein thou comparest them, is unsound; for though we witness, (yea thousands) that we need no man to teach us, as the Saints did 1 Iohn, yet we cry not down the Ministry of God, but owns, [Page 280] it, and cryes down such by whom people cannot come to the Knowledge of the Truth, though they be ever learning; who Preach for Hire, and goes for Gifts, and Rewards & loves the Wages of Unrightousness; & this was the Apostles Doctrine as it was ours, and is no Heresie (though thou mayst so judge it) for we say by the same Spirit as the Apostles did, they that are of God heareth us who are in the Truth, which is but one, and there is not another; and the Apostles which witnessed, Saints needed no man to teach them, did exhort them; and yet did not condemn principles by practice.

Then thou goest on, and sayst, The Ranters are not for Baptism, and Breaking if Bread; and are not the Quakers the same? But what doth this prove; and thou sayst, the Ranters are they that would profess themselves without sin; and how far short of [...] Opinion are the Quakers? and the Ranters would not own the Resurrection, &c.

And how say you, Do you believe the very Bodies shall rise, &c.

Reply, Friend, this is far short of proving these things upon us, by querying them to us, let the Reader consider: But it may be impudency hath not so wholy eaten out honesty in thee, as that thou darest charge us wholy with these things, but would intrude into us be thy Questions, as though the thing were so indeed, but thou mayst by ashamed of thy work: Is this sufficient proof of evil against us, to ask us whether it be so? what hast thou proved in all this against us (if we were guilty) thinkest thou we will accuse our selves? this is absurdity, and wickedness in thee, falsly to charge us, and to bring no better evidence, but thy bare words; and as we deny the Ranters, so do we thee, and sees you both to be Enemies to the Life of God: But thy last and chie [...] proof (as thou thinkest) that we are one, is, that the Ranters are Sinners, and the Quakers are Lyers; the first I wil [...] not vindicate, but this last) is disputable, and thy proof of it is first, tho [...] sayst, from what thou hast said already, to some pages of my first Book, to which I [...] Replyed, and leaves it to the Reader; only doth say, thou hast not yet proved one Lye against me in the sight of God nor men; thou art the Lyer if thou say th [...] hast, and honest men shall be judge betwixt us: And thy second proof is mo [...] to the discovering thy ignorance then yet hath been: And to clear thy self from my In my first Book. charge against thee (viz) to be a wrester of the Scripture, which yet I stand to, thou art fain into grievous error: my first charge is true upon thee, [...] thou perverted or wrested that Scripture; Rev. 13. 18. in saying the Lamb was [...] before the Foundation of the World; for that Scripture saith since, or from [...] Foundation of the World; hast thou no more sence? art thou and all thy compa [...] so ignorant that you know not betwixt before and since a time? how are you blinded? and yet persists in your wickedness, and will not be reproved; therefore this is a double iniquity in thee, to thy shame remember it; for I have said true, though thou understand it not, in my first Book I said, there is as much difference, betwixt before, and since, in that thing, as betwixt a Lye and Truth; for to say the blood was shed before the Foundation of the World, as thou didst, is a very Lye; but to say i [...] was shed since, or from, is truth, and that Scripture is truth, Rev. 13.

And thou art the Lyar, and Wrester of it, and I have not wronged thee in my first, though thou impudently and ignorantly wouldst clear thy self, and lay iniquity upon me: But further to clear thy self, thou sayst, thou said, in Gods ac­count it was shed, before the World was: and this is little less then Blasphemy, what, is God a Hypocrite, like thy self? to account that for Truth, which is a Lye, as I have proved; O horrid error and perfect blindness! but this will not cover thee, nor thy shame, from the eye of men; where is thy Proof for such a Doct­rine, that God accounts that which is a Lye, for Truth? largely is manifest thy Read the Scriptutes and mark the sence; be­txist be­fore, and from. folly; Repent, if thy heart be not void of shame, for what thou hast spoken he [...] in; and let the Reader understand this difference; thou sayst the Blood of Christ, was shed before the Foundation of the World, according to that Scripture, Rev. 13. I say thou perverts the Scripture, and lyest grosly in the main thing it self; and saith it is* since, or from the Foundation of the World; let the honest judge; and now it is seen the Lye rests upon thy own Head, who wrests the [Page 281] Scripture; and belyes the Lord, and me, and goes on in thy wickedness after re­proof, and take thou the Ranters, they are thy Companinons, in lying, and sinning, and not ours.

And further thou art offended that I should say, and would fain reckon it for a Lye, that all thy work is a secret smiteing, and an obscure shooting against the manifestation of Christ within, which words I own to be truth concerning thee, and am not ashamed of them, though thou say, I say falsly, and when the Book of thy Conscience is opened, thou shalt confess it; only I leave viz. that which you said; there was nothing in any men to be taken notice of; this is a deny­ing of him within. this to be con­sidered seriously, and judged by them who are spiritual, and they shall be my Witnesses; and the Lye is of thee and thy Father, whose wickedness is sufficiently seen by what is said, if I should say no more: Again thou sayst it is an untruth of thee, to say thou art one of those that do preach for Hire, through Covetousness making merchandize of Souls; my words are not so laid down, thou hast wrested them for thy purpose, though it availes nothing: but I said, thou art in their steps, that through covetousness, with fained words, makes merchandize of Souls, and thou art found among them that preaches for Hire; and I have spoken the truth herein, let the Light in all Consciences judge, who are not feared in many things; I might instance that thou art in their steps, and among them that act such things, as further may be proved, and the wisdom of God so fore-saw, to keep me clear, and my words to be defended; though I expected no less from thee, as to this thing, then is come to pass, but the Lye is of thy self, who would deny the the truth is he is in their steps, and among them. Truth: The next thing that thou wilt charge upon to be a Lye, I pass here, the Reader may expect it in its place; and though thou sayst, the Rantors and I, and my Fellows are of the same mind in many things, &c.

To which I Reply, Their practices I deny, and the ground in which they stand, and their false doctrines; yet dare we not deny any truth as it is in Christ; though they, as thou mayst, profess it in words, which is seldom they do, for we have respect unto the Truth, for the truths sake only; but how uncharitable art thou in thy measure and judgement, consider, as if he should say, Iohn Bunion is of the same mind with the Pope in many things; the Pope holds Christ was born of Mary, and was crucified, and raised again, and ascended, &c. And this holds I. Bunion, and is of the same minde with the Pope in many things; and therefore must partake of the same plagues with the Pope, as thou said of us; though thou hast by unequal measure thus judged us, yet I render not evil for evil, but in love to thy soul, shews thee thy folly and weakness.

Then thou goest on having viz. that the Quakers undervalues the Lord Ie­sus, and doth not lay him for their foundation. passed by the two slanders cast upon us, by I. Burton, in your first Book, which I charged you withall in mine, to which not one word as to evidence your slanders, but hath slippen it over, as a foul guilty man, which charge stands upon you both; that you are Slanderers herein, and my first answer I am not ashamed of, though you snarle much about it, and would taint it, or under­mine it: but thy subtilty is to weak, Truth confounds thee and thy simple policy, which is, that we prize the Lord Jesus Christ, God man, to be precious unto us, and hath owned him alone to be the Foundation whom God hath laid, and in his Light we are saved, &c.

As I said in Page 7. against which words thou canst not justly except, nor yet prove the contrary; and yet as a man that loves to hear thy own tongue, thou lays down many things impertinent as to the cause in hand.

But it had been more honest to have helped thy brother Burton, from under my true Charge, and cleared the Truth, if thou hadst been able; but thou hast left [...]im in the dirt under the Charge of a Slanderer; and are unfaithfull to him, [...]nd goes about to inquire what it is (as thou sayst) to lay Christ for a Foundati­on; thou confesses what I have said is fairly spoken, and yet thy envious minde, [...]nd unbelieving heart seems to be offended at my words; and to them that [Page 282] can believe I speak plainly, and doth not beg thy belief, nor any mans, but com­mends my self to every mans Conscience in the sight of God, and knows no other Jesus the Saviour, nor Foundation, then he that Iohn was sent to prepare the Way before, who was, and is, and is to come; who said, I am the light of the World, and now my words are defended to be truth in the sight of them that are spiritual; and thou, and such may hear, but must not understand, who have hardened your hearts, least you should believe, and therefore is given up to Gainsayings, till the Wrath of God break out against you; and let Iohn Burton remember my words, where I said he is fallen into the pit which he digged for another, and he undervalues the Lord Jesus, whose Doctrine is to speak Truth, but he hath lyed and slandered, and so is out of Christ the Foundation, and undervalues him, who keeps not his sayings, but is a Worker in Darkness, and not in the Light: And as to that where I say, thus much is the mind of the Penmans spirit, (of the first Epistle, of the first Book) secretly smiting at the Doctrine of true Faith and Salvation (to wit) Christ within, I have said the truth in righte­ousness, and do own my words, though thou sayst I have done him a great deal of wrong, &c.

But I leave it to be judged by them that are spiritual, and not unto thee, to give false meaning of my words; and doth not he say in that Epistle of some that have been depending too much upon some thing they call Christ, and the Righteousness of Christ within them, &c.

Let the wise in heart judge, whether this be not as I said, even a secret smiting against Christ within, without which as I have said, there can be no Salvati­on, for he that hath not Christ in him, is a Reprobate; and this I speak, not in opposition, but as a testimony of Christ Jesus, that dyed, and rose again, and ascended, who is within, and without also; and if any preach another Jesus, let him be accursed; and repent thou, who art in the wrong doing thy self, falsly charging me; noting in the Margent, with speaking falsly, when I spa [...] the truth; and the false speaking rests at thy door, and is driven thither with the power of truth.

Then whereas thou wouldst justifie thy former wickedness, in charging the Quakers to be Deceivers, against my just Answer The chil­dren of God were ever counted De cenvers by this Genera­tion, but the way which he called delusi­on do we wor­ship, the true God, &c. in page 8. of mine; whic [...] stands free from any of thy vain Argument, and uncontroled; though resisted; but it appears my words sticks close unto thee, and torments thee; and thou sayd, with much confidence, it will easily be proved that we are Deceivers; but thy Ar­guments we shall try.

And (sayst thou) First, the Quakers deny the man Christ Jesus without them, and own Christ no otherways but as he is within, &c.

Reply, How impudent art thou in forging Lye after Lye, and building them up in thy Work one upon another, and a wicked course thou takes to clear thy former Slanders, truly charged upon thee in my first, even by laying another upon it.

Friend, By this thy deceitful Slander, while thou hast thought to prove us Deceivers hath proved thy self one, even a false Accuser; mayst thou not blush to say we own Christ no otherwayes, then as he is within? we own him which was, is, and is to come, who is within us, and without us, as I have said in my first, we own him as the Scripture speaks of him; and it is known [...] the Lord, and in his sight we are approved, whether thou believe it or not; f [...] I beg not beleif of thee, but leaves thy double Slanders to be read, and judged of, by all honest people, and in the interim, know it is a bad way to prove us Decei­vers by thy Lyes, this the rather is a Witness to us that we are of God, and against thee, and thou to be of the Devil, who was a Lyer from the beginning, and [...] his Child succeeds him; in lying.

Thy second proof is, That we are Deceivers, because (sayst thou) [...] do perswade souls that Christ is crucified in them, dead within them, kept [...] [Page 283] with something within them, which was never taught by them that spoke the Scrip­tures, &c.

Reply, These words are falsly laid down, but what thinkest thou of such who might crucifie to themselves Or in them­selves. afresh the Son of God, and put him to open shame, as it is written; this they could not do, above Stars, they being men upon the Earth; and Christ was sent to preach to the Spirits in Pri­son, he that can read let him understand, this Doctrine was preached by them that spoke forth the Scriptures, who had the Spirit of God; but in blindness I find thee, and I think so I must leave thee: and though I do not feed the Serpent, yet my words are plain to him that hath an understanding, and an ear open; and Deceiver belongs to thee, and at thy door it lyes, and thou canst not remove it.

Farther (thou sayst) We perswade souls that that man, that was born of the Virgin Ma­ry, is not above the Clouds, and the Stars, when as the Scripture saith a Cloud received him out of their fight.

Reply, This is another Lye, uttered without fear or knowledge, or honesty, we do not perswade souls to believe any such thing; but bears witness to the truth of that Scripture, that a Cloud received him out of their sight, and we say he is out of their sight and must appear again in sight; and this is a wicked way of thee, to prove us Deceivers, by slandering us, adding more to thy own sin, and the more will be thy burthen, in the day of the Lord, when Plagues and Tor­ment are thy portion, from which thou shalt not flye, though now thou be above shame.

Farther, (sayst thou) We perswade souls not to believe that that man that was crucified, and rose again, &c. Shall so come again to Iudgment, as he went away; and shall raise up men and women out of their Graves, and cause them to come into the Valley of Jehoshaphat; thou sayst we strive to beat souls off from believing this, &c.

Reply, O how swiftly thy lying Tongue runs without fear, as though neither God nor man took notice of thee, or that ever thou shouldst be called to question for them; many Lyes together thou hast here foulded up in one; thy Lyes I deny, and this to be one; hast thou set thy self to tell Lyes! O abominable wick­edness, mayst thou not tremble? when thou considers what thou falsly sayst of us, contrary to my words, who said in the truth of my heart, we own him to be what the Scripture speaks of him, and not otherwise? it seems thou cannot be­lieve when I speak truth; I number up thy Lyes, and returns them back to thee to read; and by all this is it not true, that thou art of the same spirit with thy fellow, and abound more in Lyes? as I said in my first; his was but about three, thine manifold more; but thy Lyes are no testimony against us, that we are De­ceivers, but they shall lie heavy upon thee at one day, when we shall be clear: For in the affirmive.

I further say, that, that Christ Jesus that was crucified, and rose again, shall come (as he went away) to Judgement, and the dead shall be raised, and every man shall receive according to their deeds; and he shal [...] set to judge the Heathen round about, according to Ioel 3. and thy portion in that day shall be Howling and Gnashing of Teeth; for the Lyars Portion is the Lake.

Thou sayst again, the Quakers make no difference between that Light, where­with Christ, as he is God hath enlightned all, and the Spirit of Christ he gives not to all.

Reply, I put thee to prove that they are contrary or divided one against the other; for thus Christ saith, I will send you the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth, which must needs be the Spirit of Christ, and he shall reprove or con­vince the World of sin, and of righteousness; now mark that same Spirit of the Father, and of the Son, who is the Comforter of the Saints is the same, and not another, that doth reprove the World; he that can read, let him understand, [Page 284] the World cannot receive the Comforter, yet have they given to them, that which doth reprove them; which is with the Light of Christ Jesus, of the same, and not contrary, nor divided; if thou hast an ear, thou mayst hear; the Error is in thy self, who art without understanding.

Further, thou sayst, That every one hath that which is like the Spirit of Christ, even as God, as the Spirit of Christ; which thou sayst is desperate blas­sphemy, and cryes out with an out-cry, O wonderfull deceit! &c.

Reply, I would have all to take notice, that thou hast wronged my words, in wresting of them for thy wicked purpose, to have a ground of slander; there is no such words in the tenth Page of my Book, which thou quotest, but in one place; I say, till thou prove the Light of Christ, Iohn 1. 9. (which thou confesses every man hath) to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ, (Mark) I shall say every man hath that which is one in union, and like the Spirit of Christ, even as good as the Spirit of Christ, according to its measure; these words I must own.

But let the sober Reader take notice, how fouly thou hast wronged my words, Till he could prove the light, John 1. 9. to be contra­ry to the Spi­rit of Christ, when he proves this, I may shut my mouth. leaving out the strength of them, to take occasion of slander; whe [...] thou hadst proved the Light of Christ (which in Iohn 1. 9. is spoken of) to be con­trary to the Spirit of Christ, then had been a better season, for this charge against me.

O thou impudent and shameless man! so uniustly to deal against the upright, who envies thee not, but pitties thee; therefore when thou, or any man can prove the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. and Iohn 8. 12. to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ, then I may own the Judgement and charge upon me; but till then thou art proved a Lyar; for the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. that Light is one in union, and not contrary, and is of the likeness of the Spirit of Christ, and as The Wit­ness is as good as the Iudge; in measure. good in its measure; and these words I stand to, to vindicate against all thy Lyes, and wresting of words, and out-cryes, who is an unfit fellow to judge what Blasphemy is, who art so blind, that thou knowest not the difference of words, betwixt before, and from, as I have shewed:

Repent, If so be thou may find mercy.

Then further thou sayst, to cover my self, and deceit, I do apply, that which should be to the children of God, &c. And yet cannot reprehend my answer, which is just and faithful, that the Children of God were always counted Deceivers, and this is true, as thy self confesses, but wickedly saith in thy answer, and most lyingly too, and blasphemy is falen out of thy mouth; The Devil knowes how to take Childrens bread, and cast it to Doggs.

Reply, Now let all consider what thou hast said, Christ Jesus is the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven, the Childrens Bread, and they have no other; Now the Devil cannot take Christ Jesus, who only is the Childrens Bread, and give him to Doggs; O horrid! canst thou behold this, and not be smitten to the heart, what wickedness and ignorance lodges in that heart that can utter these things; Though thou thinkst, thou hast done bravely i [...] thus saying, yet the Wisedom of God turns thy words upon thy own head into confusion and grievous error, I deny it though thou affirm it; that the Devil can take, or knows how to take Christ Jesus, and give him to Doggs.

Further thou sayst, I am grieved, that thou shouldest say none but a Company of Notionist and Ranters, &c. are carried with the Quakers, &c. and sayst thou, this appears in [...] mens sight, &c.

Reply, Thou art a Lyar, I am not greived at thy Slanders and wicked Re­proaches; but rather rejoyces therein, that I am one worthy to bear them; and all men that can see, sees thee a false Accuser herein: For such who have feared the Lord, and served him, and are, and have been honest and upright to God and man, have owned us, and have been neither Ranters, nor such like; [Page 285] and we rejoyce, if any that hath been so, be turned from it unto God, to live in Righteousness, though thou note it for a false thing in the margent. (But to make it appear false thou hast corrupted my words) which are, Though some of all sorts of people be brought to God, yet thou The words seems to be are left out, by him, which cause the strength of my words. seems to be offended herewith; and these my words are true upon thy head, for I ask, notwithstanding some were such, are they such who are in wickedness since they owned us? then why dost thou wickedly (as though thou wert offended at it) up­braid us, that such, or such are carried away with us, as though none else; which is thy Lye uttered in thy hastiness.

And whereas thou art offended, (thou sayst) that I should say, thou are like the Pharisees; whether I spake so or no, however, I own that thou art like them (at least) even one among them.

As further I shall manifest; then thou hast over-leapt (with a false excuse of passing by many railings as thou sayst) which it seems troubles thee that I should truly In my first Book. charge thee to bring sorth Lyes without fear; and that the Ranters and light Notionists, and thee we deny, till you turn to the Lord by repentance; and if you turn from your iniquity we dare not deny you.

And further I truly charge thee, that thou art puft up in thy Lyes and Slanders, and advanceth thy self above the Innocent, who exceeds thee in Faith towards God, and in good works towards man, and whose conversation is in heaven, but thine is among the Hirelings, &c. And this thou hast skipped over, as a deceitful Child, with a poor excuse, which thou mayst be ashamed to call these railings; but that thy heart is void of shame, let the sober Reader judge else; then thou saist I stumble at that, wherein in thy first thou sayst, The Devil perswades these men to believe.

First, That salvation was not compleatly wrought out for Sinners by the man Christ Iesus, &c.

Reply, Here thou art a Lyar again; I stumble not, for I walk in the Light, and doth not stumble; but I reproved thy Lye, and Slander, and said, this Accusation is clearly false, wickedly cast upon us; for there is no Salvation in any other, neither is it wrought by any other, but by Jesus Christ, &c. As page the ninth of my first may be read; but thou hast not at all removed, the true charge against thee, that I charged upon thee, upon these words (viz) a Believer of Lyes, a Slanderer, a false Accuser, which stands true upon thee still, and will for ever, till thou remove it by repentance; for thou canst never clear thy self any otherways; and thou sayst, I have left some words out, but this is but a poor catch; for do I not make an Et caettera at the end of thy words? and if thou wert not too ignorant, thou mightest understand that which follows is in­cluded and conjoyned.

Then thou goest on, and sayst, I am offended that thou shouldst say the De­vil deceives souls, by bidding them follow the Light that they brought into the World with them, telling them, that will lead into the Kingdom &c.

Now my answer to this is sober, and just, Page 10. of my first. as will appear, though thou sayst vainly, I seem to be gravelled, because I informed thy mistake; who said, per­vertingly, either in subtilty, or for want of wit, the light which they brought into the World with them; when as the Scripture saith, Christ is the Light which lighteth every man that comes into the World, Ioh. 1. 9. which Light, as I did, I do affirm, will lead into the Kingdom of peace and rest; and deny it if thou canst; for the Light of Christ, doth reveal Christ, and the Light lighteth every man that cometh into the World; then thou heaps up many words, though thou falsly sayst, I corrupt that Scripture Ioh. 8. yet I lay it down in its own words, and say, that is, or was the true Light, that lights every man that comes into the World, and that Light (which hath so done) will lead all that believes into the Kingdom, for Christ said I am the Light of the World; and though thou ignorantly wouldst seem to say this is error; yet I affirm it, [Page 286] that the same which saith, I am the Light of the World, is he, and no other, which lighteth every man that comes into the World, and this I suppose thou wilt call a filthy error; but the filthiness is in thy own heart, and error too, through ignorance of the knowledge of the things of God, who wouldst fain (if thou could) make it appear, that that Christ which lighteth every man that comes into the World, Iohn 1. 9. is not the same that saith I am the Light of the World, Iohn 8. 12. Thy confused words seems to carry this meaning; let the Reader judge, whether that be not the same Christ Jesus, which Iohn speaks of; Iohn 1. 9. as it is written of Iohn 8. 12. and though thou ignorantly sayst I would have room to broach my folly, yet thou lets out of thy vessel in sides of leaves, of Lyes and Slanders and Folly; and thou sayst, when he said, I am the Light of the World, he was without, he did not mean any light within, and thou presumptuously bids me deny this if I can; to which I say, the same Christ, which said, I am the Light of the World, was he which was before Abraham, who was Light to the Gen­tiles, and lighteth every man in the World; yea, he was and is given to be a Light, where his person (which was supposed the son of Ioseph) never came, and do thou deny this if thou canst, that all men may see thy Folly; for there is not many Christs, but one Christ, which is not only within, but without, not only without, but within, but is all and in all; let him that read [...] understand.

Then thou sayst, the Light wherewith Christ, as he is God, lighted every one, is the Soul of man, which is the Life of the Body, and is a Creature, and hath one faculty of its own Nature called Conscience.

Reply, Now lets try this Doctrine, and consider what thou hast said, it amoun [...] to thus much, that Conscience is of the nature of the Soul of man, and the soul is the Light of Christ, as God.

Therefore thou hast said the Conscience is the Light of God which must needs be without sin; this is more then I have or dare say, I might here fitly ask thee, if thou knowst what the word Conscience signifies in true understand­ing; and yet though thou hast uttered this, that Conscience is a Faculty of the soul, which thou sayst is the Light of Christ, as God, which Light of God must needs be of the nature of God pure, and not impure; yet in the next page thou sayst, Conscience is a poor Dunghill Creature in comparis [...] of the Spirit, &c. and in another page calls Conscience poor, so empty beggerly things, &c.

What now Iohn Bunion; is that which thou hast concluded to be the Light of God, but a dunghill-Creature, and low, and empty, and beggerly in compari­son &c. For shame cease such Divinity, lest all thy Fellows reprove thee; O how doth thy ignorant zeal lead thee into Snares, and trape thy own feet. And to confound thy self, thou sayst, Conscience, which is the Light of God, is Nature it self; then it must needs be that every mans nature (which is sinful say I) it the Light of God; O what horrible Doctrine this proves in its explanation!

Blush, and be ashamed when thou considers; then thou cries out in reproof▪ O wonderful, sayst thou, That men should make a God, and Christ of their Consci­ences! I know none that doth it, nor that ever spoke so highly of Conscience, [...] thou hast here done; yet we say our Conscience bears us witness in the holy Ghost; and this is our rejoycing, the testimony of our Consciences; [...] if our Consciences condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God; and yet makes not God and Christ of our Conscience, as thou secretly wouldst charge us with­all: Then thou goest on, and wouldst seem to prove, but canst not, that somthing besides the Light of Christ convinceth of sin; but thy reach is too short, tho [...] thou wind abroad, and lets thy thoughts into the pit of thy own reason, to bring up a thing to confound Truth, but cannot; for this is thy proof, where they were all convinced by their own Consciences Iohn 8. Now all these I say we [...] men come into the World, and therefore according to Iohn 1. 9. were lighted [Page 287] with the Light of Christ, and thou hast confessed that Conscience is the Light of Christ, as God; which is no less then I have affirmed, then wherefore hast thou waded so farr, when at the end thou art forced to confess my position, thy words being explained, that it is the Light of Christ that doth convince of sin, and can find no other thing besides that; then thou sayst, here is somthing be­sides the Spirit of Christ that doth convince of sin &c.

But yet I say, nothing besides the Light of Christ, as thou hast confessed, and that was that only which I affirmed in the tenth page of mine, about which thou hast made all this stir, and to no purpose, (as to prove any thing convinceth of sin but the Light of Christ) and in that I said, he that convinceth of sin a­gainst the Law, leads up into the fulfiling of the Law, which still I own, though thou wouldst contradict it, but canst not; and I clearly see thou hast not reach­ed the understanding of my words, but answered thy own conceiving, and not my words; for I do not say, or think that righteousness comes by the Law, yet that is righteousness, which condemneth that which breaks the Law; if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear; and as I said it is the Word of Truth, the Righteousness of the Law must needs be fulfilled in Judgment, upon you all, and by Christ Jesus in you, if ever you receive the Salvation to your Souls; and thou hast not yet learned what I mean, and though thou sayst, that for justifica­tion, thou lookst beyond the Law, to the Son of Mary; but I say thou must not look beyond it for condemnation, who art in transgression, and not recon­ciled to God, through condemnation in the flesh, for it will reach you to con­demnation; and thou sayst Thou understandst that I do, in all my discourse disown Christ without, by pretending to a Christ within; To which I say, thy understand­ing deceives thee, who, it may be feared, blinds thy own eyes; that thy Conscience may not condemn thee for slandering, but while I am approved in the sight of God, of those things whereof thou accusest me falsly, and wickedly; I matter nothing what a Lyers Judgements is of me, my Answer to thy Query shall prove me clear, and thee a Lyer herein, that we own Gods Christ as the Scripture declares of him, as I have said, and the darkness of my words is to blind the eye of subtilty, and not to deceive the hearts of the simple (though thou wouldst say it) see if thou now canst tell what I say.

And whereas thou art offended, that I say, many more things in thy Book I pass by, as being not pertinent to the thing in hand; my words are true, for the thing in hand was proving us Deceivers, and that was the most of which I medled withal, or purposed to oppose; and to other things that thou speakest of in short, my answer was, and is the words (or of some of them) I own, and thy voice I deny, without any blaspheming or error, in the view of all the World (though thou wouldst say it) for whatsoever a lying spirit speaks, I deny it to be the voice of Christ, though it may be some of his words; and thy spirit is a lying spirit: And though thou art offended that I should say Fools loves to be medling, yet its true enough, is not he a Fool who is a Lyer and a Slanderer, that understands not betwixt before a time, and since a time, judge in thy own Conscience; and thy fair words, as that it must needs be (sayst thou) That the Saints of God must be called Fool; I say, never presume the name of Saint, but clear thy self of thy Lyes and Slanders, and perverting Scrip­tures, and learn the First principle of Religion; Even that which Condemns thee.

And as to that which I say [...] true, that the Pope can speak as much of Christ without as thou, I own it, and may add; I believe he can speak more then thou of Christ without, and with as good, or better understanding; though both a like far from the Kingdom of God; yet in thy Answer, thou askest me, if I put [...] difference betwixt the speaking of; and beleeving in Christ without; Yea, I do a great deal, for he that believes in him, hath the Witness in himself of him, and his heart is purifyed, and he is a new Creature, which thou art not, but thou I suppose wouldst be reckoned a Believer; nay, for I think the Pope hath [Page 288] both more words, and more good works, and makes as much Conscience of lying and false accusing as thou, for ought as may be understood, of a tree by the fruits, which is our way to judge, as Christ hath given us example; then is that I said thou hast answered thy self a question deceitful, thou art offended, and boasts thy self against me, Charging me to be an Enemy to the truth, and the li [...], in that I did not manifest thy deceit; but now I shall therefore, to stop thy pro [...] boasts in that answer, thou calls it a sad doctrine which saith, follow the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall, and other such like things following that question, which are deceitful, and wicked, and thou thereby art proved the Enemy to truth thy self, and thou and thy words are both deceitful; and there­fore boast not thy self: Then thou answers my Question, which was, doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ are Reprobates? the Question is sound, and of worth to be noted, and in thy answer thou sayst, yet it is true, to which I soberly Reply, then what a condition are all in, that hath [...] Christ within, nor no knowledge of him, but what they have of him as he is without, by the letter without, do thou consider this; and whether it be not of the chiefest prize to Life and Salvation, to wait for him, and seek for him within, seeing all that have not him within are Re­probates.

But farther thou wouldst seem to manifest a great deal of folly in me, when as the folly lies in thy own bosome, and by thy confused words, I understand th [...] groundst thy Answer upon alye, and false understanding, and therefrom bring [...] the false reproof, as if I should hold forth that every man hath received Chri [...] or the Spirit of Christ in him.

This I have never said, but that every man hath the Light of Christ gi [...] him which I say is one in union, with the Spirit of Christ; and I say Christ [...] given to all, but all receives him not; and I see thou understands not my for [...] words that I write in answer to one of thy Queries, thou canst not disting [...] betwixt a thing being given of God, and a thing being received by man, so [...] the folly is fallen back on thee, take it, who understands not my words, [...] opposes thy own conceivings, and false understanding; and though I might [...] truly apply this word folly in that extent, then thou applyed the like word [...] thy self in this same page, yet I leave it to the judgement of the serious Rea­der, and say, thy folly is want of wit in the World, and not for Ch [...] sake: Then thou wouldst defend thy first wickedness, in that thou saidst the Devil deceives Souls, by perswading them to follow the Light within, which all men have; but my answer to it thou hast not reached, in that I said, [...] that comes to Life eternal must follow the Light within which Christ ha [...] given, which stands over thy head for ever to be truth; but yet how bli [...] art thou in confessing the Light within, even Conscience to be the Light [...] Christ as God, and yet sayst, the Devil deceives souls by bidding follow the Light within.

O abominable doctrine! what doth the Devil deceive souls by bidding fo [...] the Light of Christ as God? so Iohn Bunion's doctrine is; let it be noted: [...] see thou thy folly how it is manifest, and thy pittiful evasions are weighed, [...] stead of contradicting my former sufficient answer, which thou could no [...] reach to wrest, or otherwise to answer it, askes a question, which I may ans [...] assoon as thou hast sufficiently replyed to my former answer, and this is in [...] an answer to it; it is heresie to say, that the Light of God (or any Light of [...] or Christ) can or doth deceive the Soul; and though thou stumble at it, I said [...] in saying, that thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within, [...] the Reader judge.

And now to manifest thy ignorance fully; thou hast confessed the Light wit [...] even Conscience is the Light of God; hast not thou cause to repent of [...] absurdities and blindness, who holds forth, that the Devil deceives Souls by the [Page 289] Light of God, seeing thou canst find no Light within man, but that which thou confessest is the Light of God.

Then thou sayes, Thy whole design was first to shew Souls where Salvation is to be bad, namely in Christ without, and yet hath confessed, all that hath him not within are Reprobates, and such have not salvation, by him without; Consider there­fore, without Christ within no Salvation, as I have said, and thou hast confessed it, (Mark it) then to clear thy self from contradiction, which I charged thee with, thou wouldst cast a confusion upon me, in that thou says, I would make a defiled Conscience, the Law and Spirit of Christ to be all one; This is falsly spoken, I have never said, nor thought, that a defiled Conscience is the Law and Spirit of Christ, a Lyer thou art to be noted, and this Lye adds to the number; and yet consider thou hast said (several time) that Consciences is the Light of Christ, as God; and now calls Conscience de­filed; Is the Light of God defiled? Iohn Bunnion, saith so; O horrid! read thou thy confusion, and grievous Error, which is brought to thy Door, and there I leave it; thou mayst Blush, and all thy Witnesses at this; and in that thou callst my Answer Scoulding, against thy Epistle, and persumptuously sayst, The truth of which thou couldst be willing to seal with thy Blood.

Reply, Scoulding I deny, but I have reproved thy Lyes in the Authority of the Lord, and be not so proudly pust up in boasting: what sayst thou? shall thy Blood go for this, that the Quakers are Deceivers, and that the Devil deceives Souls, by bidding them follow the Light within, which thou sayst is Conscience, which thou confesses is the Light of God, and that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was, and that the Scripture say so, and that we deny that Sal­vation was compleatly wrought by the man Christ Jesus, with several other things noted for Lyes; what sayst thou Iohn Bunnion? art thou so desparte as that thou wilt hazard thy Blood upon this account? if it be so, sure the Devil hath great power over thee; cease thy boasting lest the Lord make thee an Example, and though thou wouldst exhort me, thy spirit I deny, and so thy words I judge, and cannot receive good from an evil Spirit: Then thou comes on, falling on thy own foul ignorance again, and wouldst fain clear thy self, but by thy stir­ring thy own wickedness herein, thou makes it cast an odious sight to all that pass by, (we may follow thee a little, seeing thou art not yet weary) and fain wouldst thou make it appear that the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was, and sayst it was, in Gods account; but to this I have spoken, and large­ly shewed thy blindness to all men, and adds this upon thy head; thou art a Lyar and Perverter of Scripture to say, That the Blood of Christ was shed before the World was.

And further thou art a Lyer, to say, That God accounts a thing for Truth which is a Lye; a sad error, and wicked.

And further thou art a Lyar, to say, that I corrupt thy woods: for I had not laid open thy nakedness so fully, if thou hadst not persisted in thy blindness, as now I am forced to do, but enough of this, and more then ever thou canst clear thy self of honestly; and yet to cover thy own shame charges me falsly with folly, to speak evil of things I know not, or else with madness, &c.

Reply, Friend, be not so confident, I know the difference betwixt, before, and since, or from, and know that God accounts not a Lye for Truth (as thou holds out) thy own folly and madness; behold, who commits iniquity in lying on the Scripture, and on God, and on me, and yet persists after a sober reproof, and resists the Reprover, with opprobrious words, let confusion of face cover thy impudent forehead, while I forgive thee, and seeks not vengeance against thee; then through thy mistake of my words, thou hast falsly gathered a subject to oppose, and fights with thy own understanding mightily, and thinkst thou confoundst me, and its thy self; for however thou understands my words, either for want of wit, or otherwise, it never entred into my thoughts, [Page 290] with charging thee to believe that Christ is a tipe; only I charge thee that thou saidst so of others; So that I think this is a mistake in thee for want of knowledge to understand my rehersal of thy words, being transcribed as the shortest, not to fill volumes, and through thy own misunderstanding of my laying down the words, thou heavily, yet vainly charges me with corrupting thy words, which God is my witness I have not done, though thou be guilty herein.

But further, I deal plainly, and slanders not in secret, as thou dost, we do not look on Christ to be but a shadow and tipe, if thou affirm I shall answer further, and as to that (thou sayst) I say Jesus is the sub­stance; to that answer I stand, though thou sayst, Thou doubts I do not sp [...] plainly, &c.

Reply, As I have said I seek not a proof of my faith of thee, nor any man, not do I beg thy belief while I am approved in the sight of God, herein I matter not what a lying spirit doubts of me, so that what vain Arguments, or Queries thou raises from thy own false doubt I pass by, being by the present thing, branching out in things on the by, if I should examine every particular, I might fill a vollume.

And whereas thou hast answered my question, which is; did Christ put an end to the Law for them, who yet live in the transgression of the Law? or doth he justifie that which the Law condemns, before the work of the Law be finished? In thy Answer thou sayst, Christ did put an end to the Law for Righteousness, for all that the Father hath given him, This is little to the Question:

I say that Transgressors of the Law, are not Christs, but Children of Diso­bedience, and Children of Wrath, and such God hath not given to Christ, who are his Enemies, nor Christ to them is not given, but to condemn them is that estate, and thou sayst there are many given to Christ, who yet lives is their sins; the Apostle Iohn saith, he that sins is of the Devil, and hath [...] known God, and such as are of the Devil are not Christs; and in that I sa [...], doth Christ justifie that which the Law condemns before the work of the Law [...] finished, and not one tittle of the Law shall fail, till all be fulfilled? thou hast [...] reached the understanding of my words, for while disobedience stands and the Transgressor lives, the work of the Law is not finished, nor fulfilled, but to that is Condemnation, and not Justification; if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear, for he that transgresseth the Law is an Enemy to Christ, and Christ fulfills not the Law for his Enemies, they must bear their own burthen; and though this thou cannot understand now, yet in the day of Judgement shalt thou feel it, and when the bur­then of thy own Inquity is upon thee, then shalt thou confess to what I have said, and read me in what now thou canst not understand; and in the mean time, I deny that Christ hath put an end to the Law for thee, who art a Lyar, and breaks one, and so is guilty of all.

Many of thy words might be weighed and searched, but I am no pic [...] of quarrels; but to my last Query, thou sayst little to the purpose, which is; what assurance have any, that the Law is fulfilled for them, who [...] yet Transgressors of it, in themselves? but sayst, Assurance comes th [...] believing and obedience to the Law is a fruit of believing, &c. Saying [...] one that hath the hope of the Son of God purifies himself as he (Christ) [...] pure.

Reply, Then he that hath not the fruit, (viz.) obedience to the Law, [...] may judge by the fruit, or for want of fruit is no Believer; and he that is [...] purifyed as he is pure (Christ) hath not the hope of being the Son of God but is without hope, now see where thou art, who yet breaks the Law, and [...] without (thy own noted) fruit of believing, neither is purifyed as he is pure, and so is without hope, this is according to thy own affirmation; if th [...] canst not bear it, blame thy self for laying down such a position, as hath pro [...] [Page 291] thy self to be [...]an Unbeliever, and without hope; and so without God in the World; one that is for condemnation, and to be judged in the state where now thou standst.

And whereas thou sayst, I would lay assurance on obedience to the Law; thou lyest in this also, my words are, the Law must be fulfilled in you by Christ, in Judgement and in Righteousness, if ever you receive Salvation, and these words are true against all thy opposition, neither do I affirm that by the deeds of the Law any flesh living shall be justified (but the contrary) though thou wouldst falsly (yet secretly) cast it upon me, and wickedly callst this my forthy argument, where I said the Law convinceth, and is a School-master to bring to Christ, &c.

But the froth proceeds out of thy mouth, for this Argument comprehends thee, and stands out of thy reach, for all thy detestable speeches against me, and the truth; and the rest of my following words thou hast passed by, where I say, who owns not that which convinceth of sin, how can they own him that takes it away by his Blood? and this is truth; and tell me in [...]ust [...]ess according to my first Query in that page, how is sin taken away [...]om thee, more then from the Pope? seeing neither of you hath the fruit of ceasing to commit sin: And art not thou in the froth, who opposes me, as though (I should say yet never did nor thought) that justification must be sought by the deeds of the Law, and so gathers a false conception, and fights with it, and keeps thy self doing in nine sheets against four, and yet hast passed over many speciall things, almost the chiefest; and though no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the Law, yet must all flesh living be condemned for the trans­gression of the Law by Christ, who freely gives Life to all that believes; if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear; in the next thou seemst (or wouldst at least) to defend thy self from my charge which shall (if it doth not) lie heavy upon thee, which is that I call thee Slanderer, and truly too, from thy words, where thou falsly accus­ed the Qunkers with boasting, and Hypocrisie, and in thy answer thou sayst, I need not be offended, for thou dost not know our fellow, for boasting, in that (thou sayst) we [...]ry [...]p our selves, and condemn all others, &c.

But this is no proof of the former Accusation, but an addition to thy former wickedness, let honest men consider I asked thee when thou didst▪ hear any of them boast, or see them live in Hypocrisie; but not a word to this sober desire, but adds sin to sin, a bad way to clear thy self, and thy God, Be ashamed; for crying up self, we deny, but yet must say, or else say falsly, That we are of God, and the whole World lies in wickedness, and he that is of God heareth us, and is one with us; and this is as the Saints testified, and is neither boasting nor Hypocri­fie; then to my question, which was; Will that Faith which is without works justifie? and thou sayst no, &c.

Then I Reply, what is thy condition and theirs, who are not only without works of faith; but in thy very work of darkness, as Lying and false Accusing, &c. And seeing thou sayst no, Consider, whether thou hast faith, and whe­ther thy works which are like good workes proceed not from the unbeleiving ground, and this I add to my next I asked which thou hast passed by; must not every one receive according to their deeds, in the day of Judgement; and then thou runs out in high words against me, in that I said, if to talk of him (Christ) his Birth, Blood, &c. Were Faith in him, and living by faith, then few would want it; and further I add the Pope himself would have it, and my words are just and honest, without exception or contradiction, but only that something thou must needs say; though thou say many can talk of Christ, that will fall short of Heaven, &c. And asks me a question, and fayst, Is there not enough in them, ( [...]) Birth Blood, &c. to justifie, &c.

I answer the knowledge of all things whatsoever without, will not justifie, except Christ be within, and if he be within, the power of his Life, Blood, Birth, &c. is known and received and felt, and in this I preach, not any [Page 292] other Gospel then the Apostles, who said, Say not who shall ascend or descend to fetch him, (Mark) but what saith it; the Word of Faith (or of the Gospel) which are not divided, is nigh thee in thy mouth, and in thy heart. Rom. 10.

And thou falsly again charges the Quakers with corrupting, (and beguiling m [...]y) by those Scriptures.

Reply. Beguiling is thy own, and corrupting of Scriptures too, as is proved, and whilst thou accuses us falsly in these things, thy self art proved truly guilty, in the sight of all that are spiritual; and as to thy charging me, That the man Christ Iesus is not very pleasant to me, And with Scoulding, &c.

Thy slanders I bear with patience, and thy reproaches which is not for evil, but for Christs sake, who dyed at Ierusalem, and is revaeled in me; and for sh [...] cease to say, Thou art ruled by Scripture a Lyar, and Slanderer, and Preverter of Scriptures, is not led with the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture, but is ruled by the Devil, and is out of Scripture rule: then thou goes on, and wouldst justifie thy ignorant saying, How are they deceived who own Christ; no otherwise then as he was be­fore the World began, &c.

And my Page the 14 of my first. answer to it thou hast not touched, nor truly contradicted, which stands over thee, and is sufficient to all honest people, and Christ we own the same yesterday to day & for ever; and doth believe the Father granted that request, and he is glorified with the same glory that he had before the World was, and though thou tell me of a double meaning, yet in plainness I speak without doubleness, the fault is in thy weakness, and sottishness, and blindness of heart, who kno [...] not that which is infinite and immortal, and eternal, the flesh of Christs body is so.

Then thou falsly charges me again (in that I said) if every spirit be of God which doth in words confess thus (viz.) that Christ was with the Father before the World was (was born and suffered in the flesh and was buried and raised, &c. then is not the Pope himself Antichrist, &c. As (in my fourteenth page) whi [...] putting on a vail and ventering upon thy words.

But I have spoken the truth herein, let that in thy Conscience answer in na­kedness without a vail, the vail is on thy heart, & thou canst not understand me; and so this is thy simple policy to say the vail is on me; and what of that, if [...] ventred on it, it is but in the fear of God, though I should say I deny all th [...] thou sayst, or the speaking of any thing, for I do not own thy voice, though some of thy words be true, and though thou speak words of truth, yet therefore I reprove thee, and sometimes may not let it pass for truth; for Christ is my ex­ample herein, who reproved the Devils, though they confessed him, (Mark that) but the chief part of my words are passed over, and read over again, and see if it is not truth it self, where I said, It is not much better, nor more accep­ted, to confess Christ in words to be come, and yet in works to deny him, the [...] it is both in words and works to deny him, the one is wicked in prophane [...] the other in Hypocrisie, the one is a Lyar, and the other a false Witness, and let the honest Judge; then whereas I said Christ is a mystery; and unto hi [...] he is Light, and shall be Salvation, where his person, supposed son of Io­seph, never came; which words are true, not gain-sayed by thee, though thou ask, Did he obtain salvation for any without that body which he took of [...] Virgin?

Answ. That body which was begotten by the holy Ghost is not so carnal [...] thou supposest, and that spiritual Rock which followed them, saved them, a [...] the same Son of God the Saviour, who was born a Child to them, was the Pri [...] of peace, yea, the everlasting Father, but thy eye sees not this, and therefore th [...] sayst. Here's the place where he is not, and the place where he hath not been, (Now th [...] sayst) Thou passes by many things which thou mightst justly examine, and also many unseemly expressions.

O thou deceitful heart and tongue! is this thy excuse when my words are

[Page 295] Consider of this, when thou hast a better understanding for its yet hidden from thee; then when thou hast thus cried out against my just Answer, thou tells me what I should have said; Alas, poor man! thou reaches not what the knowledge of things eternal is, by that wisdom in which thou art, I need no man to teach me, but the Lord.

Then thou sayst, Iesus Christ hath obeyed the Law, and justified thee, &c.

Reply, Nay hold, repent first, and be turned from thy iniquities, and be­lieve in him, and boast not thy self so proudly; thou art in the transgressions of the Law in disobedience to it, a Lyar, Slanderer, and Scorner, one that the Prince of the power of the Air rules in, a Child of Wrath, and every one shall dye for his own iniquity, and the soul that sins shall dye, and wrath to every one that doth evil, and the revelation of the Judgements of God; Learn what this meanes, or ask them that are of a better understanding then thy self.

Then thou seemst to minde me of some weakness, and cries out, Wonderful foolish­ness, &c.

Because I said, the Light of Christ, given to every man, Ioh. 1. 9. as thou con­fessest, is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ, and to the Grace of God, but is one in their nature (Mark) and a man cannot possibly love one of them, and hate another; therefore one they are, in the union, leading in the same way, unto the same End; and where doth the Spirit of Christ give light, or the Grace of God work or lead, if not in the Conscience? &c.

These are my words, Now let honest men consider, and Iohn Bunnion be silent, what foolishness or wonderful weakness, is in these words, but only to the wisdom which is devillish, which despiseth truth? or what cause was there to blush, when I wrote them? as he impudently saith, who cannot contradict them, nor reprove them, and yet railes upon them: no marvel that thou wouldst pass them, as thou sayst with such a poor shift to evade with a Lye, that thou hast spoken to it already, when as thou hast not medled of these things.

O let not thy impudency so sottishly carry thee, (for thy shame is seen and laid open, its good (in thy light) to pass that which confounds thee, which is past an­swering) so to save thy credit among thy fellows; the cause to blush is in thy self, and its brought to thy own door.

Then thou pleads for the Scripture to be the Rule in opposition to my Question, which is not answered; which was, can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to, to walk to Life, or to come to God by, then the Light of Christ which every man hath given him, &c.

But thou mayst for shame cease pleading for Scripture rule, being thy self art so far contrary to it; for he that walks in the Life of the Scripture, I have union with him, and the Light of Christ is a more surer Testimony, either to witness Justification or Condemnation, then any mans words without, whatsoever; then my other Question was, whether the Turks, Iewes, and thee, and others, do serve sin and lust, because Christ hath not given you Light to discover your sins, or because you hate that Light, that is given? and much to this thou speakest not pertinent, nor answerest in plainness; I leave it to the Reader to judge, and to read my answer Page 17. of my first, which clears truth from all what thou hast said against it in this particular.

Now I come to the next thing, where thou Foolishly chargest me, That my Doctrine is not according to Truth, but a Lye, Charging me to affirm that which the Apostle doth deny; Because I said the Spirit is given to every man, though eve­ry man receives it not; and it strives with the wicked, though he follow it not, &c.

My words herein are Truth, and no Lye, neither contrary to the Scripture, [...]nd let the Reader be judge betwixt us; the Apostle saith the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal; and some of these to whom he [Page 296] writes thus, were wicked, given to incest and idolatry, and other sins; here I prove, it was given to the wicked, and thou confesses the Righteous had it, and there is but these two on the face of the Earth; Now if thou canst find a man that is neither wicked, nor righteous, then thou hast advantage, then some hath not the manifestation of the Spirit; the Saints had the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, and he (the Spirit of Truth) convinced or reproved the World of sin; they that were not Saints, but wicked had it, reproving them; Mark these things, and let honest men judge, while both thou and I am silent, whether thy Doctrine, which denyes that which the Scripture affirms, or mi [...] which bears witness to the same thing which the Scriptures speaks, be to be disowned, let an equal Line measure; the shame, and false Doctrine is fal­len upon thee, and thou art offended (that I should say thou bringst other vain Arguments) with a vapour, saying, Neither I, nor my fellows are able to an­swer, &c.

But I say true, the Arguments are vain, one is, The Devils are convinced, but have not the Spirit, or such like, Now what is this to the purpose, that thou contendst in that wherein no body strives with thee, nor none affirms against thee; and it is a vain Argument to parallel the Devil in such a case, as having the Spirit; but thou art so blind, its hardly possible to let thee see thy igno­rance herein; I may not much strive with thee, onely Ile tell thee of those thing [...] and the sober Reader shall judge; to instance a thing impossible, to pro [...] things possible, are vain Arguments, so that I have herein done thee no wro [...] Then thou cries out of my weakness, and that I Blaspheme, and of a great [...] of ignorance discovered in me, and bidst me be silent, and falsly charges me with Pre­sumption, and such like, &c. Because I said, thus much I leave with thee, [...] thou prove the Light of Christ, (which thou confesseth every man hath) to [...] contrary to the Spirit of Christ; I shall say every man hath that which is one [...] union, and like the Spirit of Christ, even as good as the Spirit of Christ, accord­ing to its measure; these are my words, Page 18. and I own them, and thy an­swer to them is no contradiction, nor just confutation of them; but lyest, [...] saying, I call Conscience, and Nature it self the Spirit of Christ; this is fals [...] never spoken by me, so that thou hast uttered a pack of railing words, with [...] any knowledge or fear of God, instead of a sober Answer; the blasphemy a [...] great deal of ignorance and presumption appears not in my words, they a [...] truth, and thou hast not proved that the Light of Christ is contrary to the Spirit of Christ; Nay, thy simple policy is too short, when thou hadst done so, then had been a time to have cast these opprobrious speeches at me, like venome from a Viper; but the weakness (or strength of error) and blasphemy, and the great deal of ignorance and presumption &c. is fallen at thy door, and there I lea [...] it, clear thy self from it as thou art able, who without any confutation of th [...] words, falls impudently to charge me thus highly and falsly from the words, [...] thou silent, while the Reader judges: Then thou goes about to defend thy first wick­edness, in that thou said, the Devil doth deceive poor Souls, by bidding them listen wi [...] and turn the minde within, and see if there be not that which doth convince [...] sin, &c.

And my Answer to this is sound, and stands over thee, and unreproved by th [...] though many words thou speakest; yet from the Scripture doth not prove, or [...] honest Arguments, that the Devil doth deceive any, by bidding them to tur [...] the Light within, which convinceth of sin; if thou wouldst have cleared thy [...] thou shouldst have proved thy assertion, according to my desire, I asked th [...] was ever such a thing spoken, that the Devil can deceive any by the Light [...] Christ? but to this not a word in proof, but saith, Every man hath not the Spirit [...] Christ, &c.

But further then I Query, Doth the Devil deceive any by bidding the [...] [...] turn in, and listen to that Light spoken of Iohn 1. 9. for that Light am I con­tending for, and not any other contrary to it; then thou sayst, thou denyst.

[Page 293] beyond thy reach either to understand or contradict? thou wants that Spirit which can examine of truth, be it known unto thee; and what are those unseemly expressions? wilt thou slander always in secret, without evidence? and if these be they, in that I said, our innocency will appear when thy black vaile of Lyes is taken away; and this is truth, and is no way but seemly to be spoken to thee, who art an Enemy of God; then thou wouldst justifie thy former slander, who said, we wrest that Scripture, Iohn 1. 9.

And my answer is, we take it without adding or diminishing, which is true, and no Lye, nor wresting of it; neither in thy Reply can I find that thou provest it, though many words uttered, little to the purpose, with adding to thy former slanders, in saying, We would hold that that Light is the Spirit of Christ; this is not spoken in all my Book, but that it is one in union I say, and not contrary to the Spirit of Christ, but witnesseth of it, and to it.

And thou further saith, We say many things, which thou knowest to be Blasphemy; This is another Lye, prove one Blasphemy.

And further thou sayst, Christ, as he is Mediator, doth not enlighten every one that comes into the World, &c.

Reply, Well, thy ignorance and wickedness vents it self forth apace, let any man read that first Chapter of Iohn, and see whether he doth not speak of Christ as Mediator; he saith, He was in the beginning with the Father, and was made flesh and dwelt with the Disciples; and his Life was the Light of men, and the Light shined in Darkness; and that was he which lighteth every man that comes into the World; and he came to his own, but they received him not, but as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the Sons of God, &c.

What sayst thou? Was not this spoken of Christ as Mediator? Consider, and be instructed, rather then let thy Blood go for it; however I leave thy Doctrine and Errors herein to be judged by them that are spiritual, and for shame cease such Doctrine, the more I rake among the filth, the more vilely and odious it ap­pears; and for thy proof of this Doctrine, thou bringst Mat. 11. 25. and sayst, here the Father and the Son are speaking one to another; but what doth this prove, though it be so? doth it any way follow that Iohn did not speak of Christ as Mediator? Iohn 1. what vain productions thou bringst from thy impertinent proofs, let them be weighed, and taken notice of honestly; and thou bidst me understand thus much, That nature which is Conscience, is the Light of God.

I understand thy blindness; if this be so as thou sayst, then mans nature is pure without sin, as the Light of God is; and this is error abominable, contrary to the Scripture, which saith, All by nature are the Children of Wrath; are all by the Light of God (as thou sayst nature is) Children of Wrath? see thy Divinity, and take it as it is truly interpreted, I desire not to wrong thy words; thou givest me to understand the greatest ignorance from those things that lately I have heard, no not the like in England; and it is very true, as I said thy folly ap­pears by thy much medling.

Then thou askst me, What I will have the Light called, wherewith every man in the World is lightned, and because I do not call it the Spirit of Christ, thou (as it were) murmurs; because I have cut of thy occasion, and thou canst not bend thy tongue with any seeming advantage against the Truth; but in that I say the Light of Christ convinceth of sin, which is true, thou on a sudden produces thy bad consequences, and askes, if I call nature the Light of Christ, and such like. &c.

But they all do not prove the contrary, so that which convinceth of sin, is worth minding and taking notice of, by all that ever are saved; and as to that where I say, that which may be known of God was manifest in them, even in them that were given up to work unrighteousness, &c.

I said the truth, which thou are not able to contradict in equity, though [Page 294] thou very ignorantly bendst thy answer (as if I had said) the Knowledge of God was made manifest in them, when I say plainly in my Book; that they [...] turned from the Knowledge of God, and yet that which might be k [...] of him was manifest in them; and this thou canst not deny: And though [...] words, as layed down, are not in the Scripture words, in terms, yet I have [...] said falsly herein, and do not thou be a reprover of that which thou cannnot [...] self deny; then thou sayst, How feeble an argument is this to prove, that every one [...] Spirit, &c.

Reply, Thou blind man, did I go about to prove any such thing or [...] any Argument thereupon; we are about the Light which Christ hath gi [...] or lighted every man in the World withal, which Light convinceth of [...] and is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ; unto this was I speaking, [...] this I stand by, and thou conceives another thing from my words, and [...] against thy own consequences, like a man too irrational to understand co [...] English, &c.

Then thou sayst, Thou passed by other lame Arguments, which I tumble ev [...] [...] blind man in a thicket of bushes.

O be ashamed for ever! thus to evade and shuffle, with such scornful [...] I said, that which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God, Iohn 1 [...]. [...] that which makes manifest sin, is Light, and whatsoever is reproved is made [...] fest by the Light, Ephes. 5. how darest thou call these lame Arguments, tumb [...] over? what impudence is in thy heart, so to say? when thou art put to [...] fusion, then such excuses thou bringst; Well, some may see thy folly: [...] to my Question which was, whether that Light which every man is li [...] withal, is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation to every one [...] believes? if thou say, not; wherein is the blame, in God, in his Li [...] [...] in the Creature; thou sayst, No it is not sufficient; I take it. for an [...] and leaves it to be weighed by the sober Reader, and though there be ve [...] honour, and of dishonour made of the same lump, as thou sayst, yet I [...] Query; is not every mans blood that perisheth of his own head? [...] not the Lord clear from the blood of all men, even though they go to d [...] ction? and if the Reader try thy Book over, he may judge whose Arguments [...] lame.

Then whereas thou sayst, Christ, as God, hath lighted every man that com [...] [...] the World, To which I said, then, why dost thou say we wrest that Scri [...] Iohn 1. 9. seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then what thou callest w [...]ell­ing in us; and this is truth, let all men consider else; that when tho [...] c [...]n­fesses Christ as God hath lighted every man in the World, it is no less then w [...] we say, and that Scripture sayes, which is, That Christ is the true Light, [...] that is he which lighteth every man that comes into the World; and may [...] [...] thou be ashamed to call this so scornfully a glavering Answer, not being [...] clear thy self from my just charge, in that herein I charged thee with co [...] to oppose us, in that which thy self confesseth to be true; consider well o [...] and let not thy blood go for the truth of all what thou sayst, for I de [...] not.

Further thou cries out, Is this all the wit I have, and wonderful ig [...] [...] Because I said it is not good to neglect following the Light, but that [...] one minde the Light of Christ Jesus in them; in answer to thy words, [...] having said, the Light which convinceth of sin is the Light of Christ as [...] which the neglect of, will be sure to damn, as thou sayst; and now let wise [...] judge of my answer; but thou falls heavily on it, proving that obed [...] to the Law will not justifie, and the like, which I do not at all affirm; [...] to that I say, the Law having its opperation upon the disobedient, the [...] comes to be seen, which is he that is the end of the Law, and the Law m [...] him be obeyed or fulfilled in thee, if ever thou be saved from being damned [...] it.

[Page 297] [...] [...]ul bid listen [...]ithin, telling me of making she [...]r for my err [...], &c. T [...] [...]o [...] say, that Paul bids listen within, let the Reader judge from that Sc [...] ­ture [...]. 10. 6. The righteousness of faith s [...]ks on th [...]s [...]se, [...]rs. [...]. (which is the [...] of the Gospel) and vers. 9. what saith it, the Word i [...] nigh t [...], [...] [...] M [...], and in thy Heart; was not that the end of these words, to lis [...] [...] the Word is in the Heart; what saith it there? now the error i [...] thine, [...] [...]e truth; and the Lye is returned to the Founder, who denyes th [...]t P [...]l [...]en within; when its plain he saith, The W [...]d [...] i [...] [...] H [...]t; what [...] it [...]ere?

O that a man professing knowledge and enterprzing such things, should [...]e so [...] and so unable to finish what he hath [...]in; then thou cryest o [...]t [...]sly, and notes it in the margent, for wresting of thy words, in that I [...]d, [...]ou sayst, They are ignorant of the Gospel who clos [...] in with thes [...] [...]s of th [...] [...] [...]in (or Conscience) which doth command to abstain from the [...]ll, and [...] [...] [...]; and thy own words are; How the poor souls through ignorance of the Gospel [...] [...] these motions of its own Conscience (viz.) the motions which convinceth of sin [...]in, which doth comm [...] abstain from this evil, and practice th [...] g [...]dd; so [...]et w [...]e men consider whether I have wronged that intent of thy words; and [...]e not so soon angry; [...]or thou canst not vindicate, that they that closes [...]n with these motions of the [...]science, or the Light of Christ within, which o [...]ceth of sin with­in, which doth command to abstain from-this evil, and [...]o practice thi [...] [...], is ig [...]nce of the Gospel; and do not evade it by words without kn [...]dge, in picking of quarrels, and seeking offences (by different tearms of wor [...] [...]e [...]o occasion justly is given thee. Then my Question thou see [...]est to a [...]swer, which was, what, and how doth the Light of the Gospel work, of not in the [...]ce, and to command from evil, and to practice good [...] this [...] [...]nds over thy head, not confuted, nor fully answered; for the true [...] [...] ­ang of it thou hast not comprehended, but to thy own conception, thou [...] [...] [...]ed as if I should say, that every man hath the Light of the Gospel [...]g [...]n th [...]m to Salvation, which I never said nor thought; so thy answer [...] [...] t [...]e purpose.

Then thou hast passed by full slig [...] (as disable to clear thy God [...] and his Spir [...] that guides thee, which is the Godd of this World) of that great [...] of [...] justly charged upon thee, Page 19. of my last, which a [...] ­ing to [...]e collection is; by turning the mind within to the Light which doth [...] of sin, and listning thereunto and clasping in with the motions of [...] Conscience, which doth command to abstain from evil, a [...]d to [...] [...] and closing with somthing within, which thou confessess [...] the [...] [...]f [...]; these things preceding, then thou, sayst, Hereby, [...] th [...]s [...] [...] [...] [...]ried headlong, and at the end of its life doth fall into the [...]lly [...] [...]; [...] [...] a sum of wickedness set forth by thee, which when thou [...]el [...] [...]t in [...] shall receive the interest upon it, of indignation and vengeance; [...] [...] thou hast slipped it now, it shall their be reckoned on Iohn [...] [...]e. Remember thou owest to prove this before tho [...] be [...]ru any. [...].

[...] again thou criest out, That I have [...]ghtily belyed thee, and the like, [...] of misplacing a word, and saying, The Light of the World, instead [...] Light brought into the World; thou art an unjust Judge, who [...] [...] [...]ers for a word misplaceing; but it is plain, thou meanst by [...] [...] into the World, that Light [...]bu 1. 9. which every man in the [...] [...]ed withall; and if thou do then thou art a Lyar, in saying [...] [...] [...] [...]ook, and in this, The Devil [...] or s [...] the [...] [...]irth by [...] [...] at [...] [...] that Light, and if thou mean not that Light, I [...]n 1. 9. [...] that [...] [...]rit, Iohn 16. (which I say is [...]ot divided) then tho [...] are a [...]yar [...] [...]d now while thou charge me to be g [...]ded by S [...], and [...]o be a [Page 298] Lyer, in the very time hast snared thy self in a Lye, and cannot get o [...], [...] it.

Then thou sayst Thou passes by many rageing expressions, which thou migh [...] [...] with unrighteousness &c.

Reply, I asked thee, by what is the new birth wrought? and how, if [...] following the Light of Christ in the Conscience? is there any other way to [...] but Christ Jesus, who hath lighted every man that comes into the Worl [...] i [...], part of that thou [...] passed by, with thy lying excuse of [...] expressions, of which tho [...] mayst be ashamed to equivocate thus po [...] save thy own credit; the charge of unrighteousness justly falls upon th [...] head.

Thou further sayst, And eates up thy own wickedness, who said then, a [...] it now but most ignorantly, That Satan makes the Soul believe, if it will b [...] [...] by what shall be made known to it, from the Light (or Conscience) within, it [...] [...]ll, &c.

My last Answer to this, is sufficient, onely I ask thee a proof ou [...] [...] Scripture for this Doctrine, that the Devil do deceive any by the Light of C [...] the Conscience within; and till then, minde my words in my last A [...] ever thou knowst God, it must be by following, and by being led with [...] within, which God hath made known unto thee, else that Light is thy co [...] tion eternally.

Then again thou chargest me with corruping thy words, for writi [...] for their; Now a scorner I charged thee to be, from thy words, and [...] yet say of th [...], taking thy words in thy own s [...]nce, as Page 77. of th [...] doth manifest thee, unto the single eye; and thou secretly chargest [...] following our own spiri [...], and speaking by our own spirit; but our own Spirit [...] denyed, and have received the Spirit of the Father, through the Light of [...] whereby every man in the World is lighted to Life, or to Condemnation [...] thou seemst to be highly offended, that I should say, thou dost not pro [...] ple at all, noting it for false in the margent; but thou needst not be [...] gry, though thou say, The people in the Countrey where thou dwellst will [...] contrary &c.

To which I say, thou hast no cause to boast of the fruit of thy Minis [...] they of much profit received by thee, witness a meeting in Bedford, [...] Company of thy cheifest Members, I suppose, uttered much wickedness [...] and Slanders, as many can witness; and witness three of thy Brethre [...] tors of this Book, who say they know that to be truth, which thou has [...] ed, and thou [...]rt proved a Lyer in many things; let them read themsel [...] Witnesses and Lyars, like thy self; and these things being considered, [...] with other things at the end of this, thou hast no cause to boast of thy [...] nor they of their profit, by it in that Country, who art unconver [...] from lying and false accusing, and so art not turned from Satans powe [...] power of God: And as for a carnal Ministry, of which thou speaks [...] are very bad that exceeds thy self in carnality, in thy understanding [...] things that are spiritual: Then further thou goest on seeming to bring [...] of thy former Slanders, having in thy last, falsly accused us with sad B [...] mies and horrible Doctrines, and thou sayst, My speech bewrayeth [...] [...] [...]ns of them, because sayst thou, I say that every man hath the Sp [...] Christ.

O thou lying tongue, when wilt thou cease thy wickednesse! I never sa [...] thought so.

And further thou sayst, I say, there is that in every man which is as [...] the Spirit of Christ, my words are, The Light of Christ, lighteth or is [...] every man that ome [...] into the World, which Light is not contrary to th [...] of Christ, but one in the union, and a [...] good in its nature, according to [...] [Page 299] [...] and till thou prove that that Light Iohn [...]. 9. is contrary to the Spirit, [...] [...] hast not done, stop thy mouth, and take shame to thy self, for be [...] [...] [...]lty thy self of corrupting my words, which thou falsly [...]

[...] things thou sayst, that our society s [...]uld [...], b [...]t I may [...] [...] [...]ge thou art, so slanderous a tongue [...] me, that [...]he [...] [...]ou [...] [...] of [...]

[...] whereas I said, thou art confounded i [...] [...], I said [...], [...]; thou sayst, That Conscience my be se [...], [...], and another [...], [...] is the Light of God; can the Light of [...] [...]ed; or i [...] [...] [...] it forth.

[...], i [...] not this confusion; other thing [...] [...] might collect, but [...]is [...] [...]ficient to prove thee in confusion; and thou [...] th [...] [...] [...] with the Ranters, and sometimes with [...]he [...], [...] [...] [...] of bitterness and envy, yet we bear thy reproaches, and when they [...] taken off, then shall we appear, and thou appear, and be j [...]d, a [...] we [...], by [...]im that is above all. Then thou falsly chargest me with [...]ing [...]at Scr [...], in Iohn 3. 19. Whereas, I neither added [...] [...], [...]ut sp [...] i [...] [...] be seen in my Book. Further chargi [...] [...]e, that I do not under [...] [...] d [...]rence between the Light of the La [...], and the Light of the Gosp [...] [...]

[...], [...] rejoyce in that I am hidden from thee, a [...]d that my [...] [...] [...] [...] to thee; for in that state thou standest the [...]trance [...]to the [...] o [...] God, thou shalt not know, whose wisdom is [...] [...] [...], [...] [...]gh thou sayst the Light of Christ is a saving co [...]ing Li [...] [...] will it [...] [...] a condemning Light, and of all Lyars and Slandere [...], and [...]is [...] [...], though thou art busied up and down, in thy [...]nde, [...] [...] [...] me, from my words, not clearing thy felt from wha [...] I [...] [...] [...]on thee, but accusing me falsly, and this is c [...]me to p [...], [...] [...] [...]ight openly appear, as to that difference of the Law, and Gospel, thy [...] [...]th my knowledge of it, I shall not feed, yet I leave the [...] to [...] Deut. 30. from vers. 11. to 16. And Rom. 10. 7, 8. And [...] [...] [...]id [...] upon thee undone to prove by the Scripture, something [...] con [...]ce [...], and besides, or contrary to the Spirit of God, wh [...] [...]ou [...] [...] [...] do; for though thou sayst (as none aff [...]) the Light in every [...] [...]ience is not the Spirit of God, yet ho [...] do [...] thou proye; [...] [...] [...] [...]ontrary to the Spirit of God, which in my last a put [...], [...] leave it with thee; and then thou wouldst ex [...]se t [...]y [...] [...]ds [...] [...]on called the Quakers fond Hypocrites, but hast [...]ot yet pro [...]ed [...] live in Hypocrisie, and so art a Lyar still, and [...]y [...] [...] [...] [...] a perverter of the right Way of God thou a [...], and in [...] [...] [...]f [...] it shall be proved by thy recompence. Then tho [...] [...]est [...] [...] [...] That a natural man may have power over sin, a [...]d [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] in the Law; and for thy proof thou inst [...] in p [...]l, [...] [...] [...] [...] [...], Phil. 3. Now this was before the Commandment ca [...] [...] God [...] which let him see the Law was spiritual; and this doth [...] p [...]ve that [...] power over sin; for he was an Envy, and so a [...], and had [...] over sin, according as I asked thee, if thou [...]yst he had power over [...].

[...] [...]st to do before he was convicted, while he was a [...]al [...] [...] no si [...] to persecute Jesus; and this would [...]e blasphemy, the p [...] [...]; [...]t this thou hast c [...]ingly slipped, [...]e I [...]ed th [...] get [...] sin, and to abstain from those things [...]idden in the Law, [...] not [...] thou ever came? and because thou wilt not answer, I do, and say [...] concludes, that Iohn [...] sta [...] i [...] not so good [...] P [...]le, while he was [...]er according to his own Doctrine; and thou sayst the Gentiles did by [Page 300] nature the things containted in the Law; true, but that state was not co [...] [...] [...]stined, before the Circumcision; and I ask thee, Is any condem [...] [...] who are ex [...]sed in his light? or is any justified who is accused? [...] [...] [...] [...]d, which thou ignorantly comments upon, where I [...] [...] chose to be of that profession which abstains from those things [...] in the Law, and to have power over sin, then to live in the transg [...] the [...] and under the power over sin, yet talking of belief in the Son o [...] [...]. Let the Reader [...] whether of these Religions is more accep [...] s [...]hn of God, thy Religion is proved to be talking of belief, in th [...] [...] and [...] in the tra [...]sg [...]ession of the Law, a Lyar, a false Witnese, [...] [...], and Backbiting, and such like; thy false belief will not save thee in [...] [...] the Lord.

Then further thou still confessest, that as he is God, Christ lighteth ever [...] [...] come into the Wo [...] then, wherefore dost thou make all this ado, in [...] us, in this particular? yet let's try thy Doctrine, whether it be sound [...] sayst, This Light, wherewith Christ, as God, hath lighted every man, is C [...] and yet sometimes saith, This Conscience is seared, and hardned, and evil [...] is the Light of Christ as God, seared, heardened, and evil? Iohn B [...] it forth; this is thy great Ignorance and Blasphemy; and sometimes [...] This Light is Nature▪ and Nature is corrupted, and sinfull, and in it, [...] [...] dren of [...]th. What is the Light of Christ as God corrupted, and sinful [...] [...] are a [...] by i [...] Children of Wrath? Iohn Bunions Doctrine holds it forth, [...] blindness possessed thee, when thou writst this, yet mayst thou blush at the [...] hereof.

Then thou goest to give a meaning upon my words: in that I said, t [...] is Light, and Light is the Law, which is truth; but I spoke them not [...] to Interpret, with thy lying spirit, but let spirituall men judge of them, [...] much ado thou makes in answering my question to thee, but hits not my [...] at all; I asked thee, and bid thee shew, (if thou canst) any sin which [...] against the Law,; but this thou canst not do, though thou wouldst pro [...] thou couldst, that imbelief is not a sin against the Law of God; then thou [...] of the obedience of the Son, of Mary, imputed to us, &c. But I say, [...] obedience of him without, doth not justifie any, who are in the Na [...] c [...]ty against him, who is not a new creature, nor condemned in t [...] [...] and whereas thou secretly chargest us, with mingling Law and Gospel to [...] I tell thee we know the operation of each, and doth witnes [...] the Minist [...] each, and they are not divided nor oppsite one against the other; but [...] the [...]ing of the other; and though thou saidst, you leap over the [...] Iustification, yet it is too high for thee to leap over for Condemnation [...] member this, and all thy feign'd saith, while in that Nature thou st [...] condemned, is but as the stubble for the fire: Then whereas I charged t [...] preaching another Gospel, then the Apostle preached, and my charge [...] upon thy head, and my proof is found against thee; he directed to the [...] withing in the heart, Rom. 10. what saith it, the Word is in the heart [...] he turned to the Light from Darkness; but thou sayst; who shall ascend [...] hi [...], [...]en [...]st follow him to the Cross without, and to Heaven without, &c. [...] art one that faith, [...]o here, and lo there; but these things thou hast pa [...] with thy lying excuse of quarreling, a many p [...] shirts thou art [...]ain to [...] and in that I said, thou wast a Lyar, in saying, the Light (vit) of Chr [...] God, doth not shew the soul a Saviour, or Deliv [...]; my charge [...] is true, and stands unremoved; and I asked thee, if the Light of Ch [...] not shew Christ, to [...] will in the Light, then what c [...] but thi [...] hast passed also most [...]fully, which stands upon thee to answer, or [...] thy mouth, then thou wouldst excuse thy contradictions charged upon [...] that thou saydst they are wickedly del [...]ed, who own Christ no otherwise [...] as he was before the World; and yet saying God onely is the Saviour, and [...] [Page 301] is none besides him; and all thou sayst clears not thy self, from contradiction herein let honest men be judge betwixt us both, for thou judgest falsely me to be [...]aught, and I am sure thou art naught; and thou wilt not take my judgement. I may not take thine, (let impartiallity judge betwixt us) then thou wouldst ex­cuse thy slanders charged justly upon thee, in saying, that Quakers make light of the Resurrection; and to prove thy wickedness, thou askest us, whether so it be? [...] [...]e enough for us to answer; when thou hast brought evidence of the first a [...]sation; what poor proof is this for to cover thy self, though to add to thy wickedness. Thou sayst, thou knowst we deny it; I ask thee, when it was? or where it was? O thou Enemy of Righteousness, yea, thou shalt arise in the day of Judgement to shame and contempt, and this I affirm, except thou repent of this thy wickedness.

Then whereas thou urgest me, that I should have answered, the Query raised from Eph. 4. 10. better, or confuted thine, &c. Do not boast, but hear what I say, thou sayst in that answer, that Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father in your Nature. Mark now, thy Nature, and your Nature, who are one with thee, is sinfull and wicked, and of the Devil, for so all Lyars are; and it is Blasphemy to say sinfull wicked divillish Nature, such as Iohn Bunions is, and his Fellows, is at the right hand of God in Heaven; O horrible! consider of this, and see what thy begging an answer hath brought upon thee; I deny, though thou affirm it, that thy, and your Nature, which is wicked, or a man in that Nature is ascended into Heaven; and therefore boast not thy self another time. This nakedness of thine might have been covered, but for thy own boasting; and thou sayst, Asts 1. proves it; let the Reader search, If he can find that Christ ascended in sinful wicked Nature, such as theirs is, who are one with Iohn Bunion; and this is another Lye of the Scripture; and though thou with much impudent confidence affirm the Quakers to be Deluders &c. I say from that we rather love dispraise, then praise, and are, as our fore-Fathers were, counted Deceivers, and yet are true; and thou art deceived in thy own heart, in that thou understandst my words, that I should say, as though there were no false Prophets now, because I said they were in the Apostles dayes, which is true, and yet are they now too; even its witnessed by thee, and thy Fellows, who are in their steps, who through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls, and your people are ever learning, and not able to come to the knowledge of the truth, and goes for gifts and rewards, and are false Accusers, and such like. Nay, but understand me better, for I say thou art a false Prophet, and thou art now, though thy root sprang forth in the time of the Apostles of which thou are a Beanch, and thy Fellows; And though I said that Antichrist was in the dayes of Iohn, and this was before a Quakers was heard of; my words I own, p [...]rs that, that the Christians were called Quakers at that day, if thou canst, [...]. I allow not thee to be my Interperter, except I found thee more honest, [...] doth condemn thy meaning upon my words; and though thou sayst, instead of moving our selves no false Prophets, we prove our selves no Christians, be­cause I said (that word) Quaker was not heard of in those dayes. Now con­sider, are they no Christians now, whose title or name without, was not gi­ves or heard of, in the Apostles dayes, then Protestants are no Christians, nor Independants are no Christians, nor Anabaptists are no Christians, be­cause they were not called so in the Apostles dayes; and whilest thou hast thought to prove us no Christians, hast cast out thy self also; then thou art no better then we, and what poor Arguments and vain consequence these are, [...] the wise consider; I did not say, there were no Quakers then, but not a Quakers heard of (viz.) by that name; for there were thousands of Quakers, who trembled and quaked at the Word of the Lord, Moses, and David, Iere­ [...], Isaack Paul with many more Quakers, and Tremblers, though not then [...] called; but as I said, such as thou hast, such thou bringst, and thy Master will accept thee.

[Page 302] Then thou sayst I fling durt in thy face, because I said, if we should diligently search thee, we should find thee in their steps, through feigned words, through coveteousness, making merchandize of Souls, loving the wages of unrighteous­ness. And further I said, among them thou art found, who art preaching [...] hire, and loves the error of Balaam, who went after Gifts and Rewards, o [...]. Now thou seemest to be grieved, and calls this a false Accusation, But lets try the cause admits dispute, Art not thou in their steps, and among them that do [...] things? ask Iohn Burion, with whom thou art joyned close, to vindicate [...], and call him Brother; hath he not so much yearly, 150. l. or more (except t [...] hast some of it.) which is unrighteous Wages, and Hire, and Gifts, and Rewards. What sayst thou, Art thou not in his steps, and among, and with him and then that do these things? if he be thy Brother, and thou so own him, what is [...] in him whom thou vindicates, I lay upon thee; but tell me, who have [...] thee deny him, and the rest of the Independants, in these things, which [...] knowst he doth act? and in thy answer I cannot find thee fully clearing thy [...] by denyal, but sayst, That spirit that lead me out of this Way is a lying spirit; [...] or what Way; I say, out of the way of preaching for Hire dost thou mean? [...]y its a lying spirit in thee, that goes in their steps, and among them that goes in [...] way; and though thou bid me, have a care of receiving by hear say, what I b [...] (said) and received in this, is truth, though thou evade it never so much.

As to that, of some bidding thee throw away the Scriptures, &c, Indeed upon such terms, it might be spoken so as to be owned; a Lyar and a Slandere [...] is an unfit Fellow to meddle with the Scriptures, or to take the Name of the Lord, or of the man Christ Jesus, in his mouth; and I may say truly, what hast [...] (unrighteous person) to do, to take his Name, and truth in thy mouth, hate [...] to be reformed?

And in that I say of thy crying against Christ within, this is true; who said, there was nothing in thee, nor any man (without exception) to be taken not in of, as we may prove by witness, though thou deny it; then, was not Chr [...] within? and what less is this, then to cry against him, when as thou deayd him within, or else concludes he is not worth taking notice of. And tho [...] thou say I falsely speak of thee in saying, thou callst the Doctrine of Christ wa [...] in, false opinions, and take in hand to discover it; but the falseness is in the who hath uttered that which is untruth, and contrary to the Gospel, and [...] denyes it, or would hide thy wickedness; for thou having framed an objecti [...] and speaks of some that are for a Christ within, &c. and then thou sayst, the wilt discover the falsity of such opinions, Now thou dost here reckon the Do­ctrine of Christ within a false opinion, (or among them at lest) let the Rea [...] judge, and be thou silent for shame; but all thou sayst clears thee not, fro [...] what I said of thee, God shall judge thee, thou lying tongue, and dece [...] heart.

Then thou chargest me with folly, and to eat my first words, and to be [...] ble in judgement, and to fight against the Truth, &c. From my question a [...]e doth not the Scripture say, Christ is within, except you be Reprobates? a [...] not this thus much, all are Reprobates, but they in whom Christ is within; a yet because I said the measure or manifestation of the Spirit, is given, to eve [...] man, this thou hast catched at, and wouldst prove it unsound; but truth is o [...] thee, and both these are true; and further, I say that Christ is given unto [...] World, yea to all, but all receives him not, and they that do not receive him [...] Reprobates, though he be given, but not received; and the folly and fig [...] against truth is in thy self, who says it is contrary to the Scriptures to say [...] Spirit is given to every one, thou here lyest of the Scripture as its proved, [...] I do not befool my self in saying the words (or some of them) I own in [...] Book, though I have written against the Book; for though thou speak Ch [...] words and the Apostles words, yet thy voice is the strangers, and thy [...] I deny, what ever words thou speakst, and is not bafooling my self, and [...] [Page 303] I could justly end my discourse, and what is said is sufficient, to manifest thee and me to the honest Reader. And thus far thy weapons of Slanders are broken, and thy refuge of Lyes are layd waste, and this also is cast by, as our spoyled prey of Babyl [...]s treasure, and trampled upon, and know that we are of God, and be that is of God heareth us; and to our God, shall all bow; and before him tremble.

And whereas thou seemest to be greatly offended, and stumbling very much at my answers to thy Queries, because thy carnall conceptions is not satisfied, nor thy vain minde gratified, having as thou thinkst great occasion against me thereby, which causes thy mouth to be opened in va­pouring words aloft, against the simplicity of the Gospel, not under­standing my words; for the things of the Kingdom of God is a parable to thee, and sealed from thee, never to be known in the reason in which thou judgest.

But in short thus I Reply, I did not purpose to answer fully to them, to feed any mans wisdom with my knowledge of the things of Gods Kingdom; for the Queries were not fully directed to the Quakers; so that quench thy an­ger, and according to my answer, go seek a further answer (or else be thou still unsatisfied) from them who are led with a spirit of delusion, for such a direction requires, no full answer from me, nor any of us, who are in the truth, and not in the delusion, neither did I purpose, nor do I at any time, to answer fully to such things as are directed in a great part to others; I am not a servant especially to them that are led with a spirit of delusion, to fufil thy will: But yet the short answers that I gave, (which was not in the behalf of delusi­on) but for the truths sake, I still own though thou cannot understand them, but products many bad lying wicked consequences from them, and my pur­pose was not to feed thy foolish wisdom in answering; nor to satisfie thy reason to receive praise from thee, or any man; for so I know it must be in hearing and seeing, thou must not perceive nor understand, who art of the Generation hardened, and in parable is the Kingdom of Heaven unto thee, and I rejoyce the rather in being a stumbling to thee, in that state wherein thou standed, then that I should have gratified thee; for I seek not, nor receives honour from man, in what I do; but is covered from the Worlds knowledge and know this, if thou cannot receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little leaven, thou shalt never know it; But yet how wicked art thou in this also, though not understanding me, in what I said, yet so fouly wronging me with above 30. false charges and slanders from my words, which thou reaches not the knowledge of, so it will be enough.

Reply, to sum up thy Lyes, and send them back to thee to seek them out, and an evidence for them, and the Querys, and my Answers shall stand, as they are to be judged of by honest men, while we are both silent in our own cause, they are to be seen at large in my first Book, The true faith of the Gospel contended for, &c. in the 26, 27, 28, pages.

And whereas further I speak at the end of my Answers of Christ within the hope of glory and said it is that mystery which long hath been hid from Ages, but now is made manifest and declared, and though the wise of this World cannot receive it, but speaks evil against it, yet it is dear unto us, and so much more precious because despised by such as him, and such things are a testimony to us, and against you, (viz.) our Enemies, &c. As in my 29. Page of my first may be s [...]en; and most wickedly this, or part of it, he calls babling, and says he passes by it.

O horrible impudency! What marvel that he should so belye me, when as he hath called the very Scripture truth, spoken forth in righteousness, bablings? and these things I leave the Reader to Judge of, and all his Lyes thrown upon [...] [...]pudently; and consider, what ground this man hath from my answers to be seen in my first Book to broach out and belch out such a number of Lyes [Page 304] and Slanders, in five sides of paper, not any one of them (charged against me falsly) were spoken by me, or ever in my thoughts to speak, or ground gi­ven by any of my words for such productions, as it is seen what lodges in the heart of such a Fellow, even desperate wickedness, who is without any [...] or honesty, who dare utter such things against the upright, who hates not his Enemies; but while I am clear in the sight of God, from all his false Slanders, I matter not what Iohn Bunion says of me, who is as a man given up to wicked­ness who in less then a sheet of paper hath uttered thirty Lyes, or more, which I may particularly manifest before he can find evidence; a great wickedness? [...] this mans Converts be good, while himself is unconverted? is he a Minister of Christ? for shame let it not be told so; well, I beg not vengeance against him, he leaves my answers to be read, who will clear me from his lying consequences, [...] wickedly conceived, and as wickedly uttered (By one of Gogs Army) against a Mem­ber of Jesus.

Now I come to reckon up his damnable Doctrines, and errors, which are con­trary to the truth; as will manifestly appear to him that is spiritual; some of th [...] damnable without comparison.

Iohn Bunion said, That Christs second coming, is not his coming in Spirit, for [...] coming in Spirit, is no coming. He saith, this (or part of it) is a lye made of hi [...] To this is two witnes­ses. by me; when as several Witnesses, doth testifie in righteousness, that those very words were spoken by him, in Pauls steeple-house in Bedford Town, M [...] 23. 1656. as is witnessed; and yet this man is so impudent, that he de [...] what he spake, (or is ashamed of his words) and so would cast the Lye up [...] me, who is clear, and the wickedness lies at his door; and whereas he would prove that the second coming of Christ, is not his coming in Spirit, I say I will not beg him to believe it, but as he believes, so be it unto him; and all that he saith doth not prove, but that Christ promised, and fullfilled to his Disciples, that he would come again to them, (mark) again is a second time; If any man Iohn 14. hath an ear let him hear. And then he saith, he will not trouble himself to lay this to my charge, in that it was said of him, Christs coming in Spirit is no coming, it may be he repents of what he hath said, being better considered, since he hath al­ready falsly charged me with it, as some in the County of Bedford knows very [...], that he hath falsly charged me, and denyed his own words, spoken by his own mouth.

Also he said, Take notice, that I affirm, that there is nothing in me, nor is any man to be taken notice of, These are his own words spoken by him April 12, 1656. at Patnam, witnessed by three men, who heard it from his mouth, and this charge he doth not fully deny, but in a great measure he assents to it, yet would cover his shame a little with a Lye, in saying, Directly in this f [...] of words he did not lay them down; but this will not serve to hide his Repro­bate state, for to his face it may be testified he spoke the words, as I have laid them down; and therefore consider against whom I am yoaked, against one that is a Reprobate, and without Christ in him, one that hath denyed Christ in him, or else thinks Christ not worth taking notice of. O abominable igno­rance, why should such a fellow take the things of God in his mouth, who hath denyed Christ in him, and the Spirit of Christ? indeed it appears that he doth take notice of nothing in him, else he would have been wounded with the Light in his own Conscience, before he had brought forth thus many Lyes; it seems he takes notice of nothing in him, but is past feeling; damnable do­ctrine indeed, without comparison, that ever one professing to be Minister of Christ, should be so stark blind and wicked; yea, we have taken notice of what thou hast said, and it shall be recorded for ignorance of the greatest sort; but he would evade the thing and give a sence upon his words, and in such a s [...] he owns, and in such a sence he denyes it, but what is this to the purpose, ex­cept he confess it, (at it is) that he is unregenerate, and if so, he confess [...] the [Page 305] Light of God is in him, and then to be taken notice of, if it be but to condemn him.

O blindness to be marked! well, this mans folly hath appeared sufficiently, who confesses this Light in every man is the Light of Christ, as God, and yet saith, he affirms there is nothing in him, nor any man, (regenerate or unrege­nerate) without exception are his words here spoken) worth the taking notice of.

The rest of the particulars charged upon his Fellows is passed by with the excuse of wanting the names expressed, may be he is glad to be ignorant in this thing, but let [...] search; Iohn Burton said, That Christ had two bodies, one out of the fight of the Saints; in Bedford, May 23. 1656. And to this Iob. Bunion confesses, but would excuse it if he could, and would manifest that Christ hath two bodies, clean contrary to the Scripture, which affirms, Ephes. 4. 4. Now no marvel that he gain-sayes me, when as he hath gain-said the Apostle, who said expresly, There is one body, but they say two bodies; let them be ashamed for ever, thus to contradict Scripture.

Iohn Spencly (one of the Testators of this lying Scrole, a Member of the same supposed Church) said, that Christ, and the Word of Life were two things, and so would divide Christ contrary to Ioh. 6. 48. where Christ saith, he is the bread of Life; and contrary to 1 Ioh. 1. 2. The 23d. of the 8th. Month, 1656. Iohn Bunion and one Fer, and Ioh. Child laid down;

1. That God dyed, And that very God, and the everlasting Father dyed, contrary to many Scriptures, as Dan. 4. 34. and 12. 7.

2. They affirmed, That the Word that was in the beginning was crucified upon the Cross, contrary to 1 Peter 1. 23.

3. They affirmed, That Iustification is without obedience, yet say I, None is Justi­fied in disobedience, but all condemned in it, let them mark that; and there is but either in obedience, or in disobedience, and he that is a Believer and justified, is not without obedience.

4. That There is a light which convinceth of sin, besides the Light of Christ, and Iohn Bunion in all his Book cannot prove any is convinced of sin, that hath not the Light of Christ, or that any thing besides the Light of Christ doth convince of sin; so that his confusion doth appear.

5. That There is no saving knowledge, but what comes without from Heaven, contrary to 2 Cor. 4. 6, 7. where it is said the light shone in their hearts out of darkness, I. Child deny'd that the man Christ Jesus had given a Light to every man that comes in­to the World, contrary to Ioh [...] 1. 9.

Also he denyed. That every man was lighted, that they might believe, contrary to Ioh. 12. 36. 35. Ioh. Burton said, That a man might be upon the foundation, and yet [...]y Christ, Now the Scripture saith, Matth. 10. 33. He that denys Christ, shall be denyed of the Father, and the Father denys not any that are on the foundation, as they affirm.

Another of them said, That the Word that was hid in Davids heart was the outward Scriptures.

Another of them affirmed, That he was justified from all his sins, past, present and to [...]; and said, there was Scripture in the Acts to prove it.

Iohn Burton said, That a man is not justified by the Spirit; Iohn Bunion said the 30. of the 11. month, That the Spirit of Christ doth nothing (Mark) with­in [...], as to justification; he affirmed, That the Flesh of Christ is not within any man; then there is no man that hath life in him, if Christs words be true, Ioh. 6. 53. and Christs words is true, and therefore Iohn Bunions doctrine is damnable. He said, That by the Kingdom of Heaven, within the Pharisees, Luke 17. Christ speaks of himself there, as a personal man to be that Kingdom of Heaven; Mark here what the substance of this is; doth he mean that the person of Christ was in the Pharisees?

O horrid blindness! not to be parrelelled.

[Page 306] He said, The best thing in a natural man is Impure, and yet in this Book confesses that the Light of God is in all men, so that must be impure, else Ioh. Bunions doct­rine is a Lye; but the Light of God is pure, and therefore Ioh. Bunions doctrine is a Lye.

He said, that the Scripture, In every place doth not mean as it speaks, and in­stanced that in Peter, not to mean as it speaks, where it is said, yea, a lively stones are built up a spiritual house; and where it is said, [...] Salt in your selves; He asked if a mans belly must be filled with salt, Mark this Expositor, and his blindness and ignorance, and the cause why [...] is silent, And forbears to aggravate sin is, least hard thoughts should be enter­tained against him; Let men judge, whether this be not an unfaithful man to His own Book holds this forth. the Lord, who rather then harsh thoughts should be against him in the wick­ed, he will be silent, and hide and cover sin in sinners. O wickedness in­deed!

He saith, that Christ Ascended into Heaven in our nature, (viz) in his nature, and they that are one with him; and he and they are proved to be in corrupt na­ture, as they will confess it. O what wickedness to hold forth that Christ is at the right hand of God in sinfull nature, as his words holds forth from his own mouth.

Iohn Burton said, That men may depend too much upon something called Christ, and [...] righteousness of Christ within.

He saith, that the Devil Knows how to take the Childrens bread (viz.) Christ Jesus who only is the Childrens bread, and give him to dogs. O s [...]d error and damnable.

He said, That the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light which they brought into the World with them.

And he confesses that Light is the Light of Christ (as God) O unutteri­ble ignorance! can a sober man read this, and not be ashamed, to hold forth, that the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light of Christ (as God)?

He saith, they that follow Christ aright, must follow him without, to the cross, wi [...] for Iustification, or monut Calvery without; they must seek for Iustification without, [...] the Spirit of Christ it leads to Christ without.

Reader, see if this be not near unto Popery, or enquire else what he means, as if he would have people to go a Pilgrimage, and this is contratry to Rom. 10. 6, 7, 8.

He said, That the soul of man is the Light wherewith every man is lighted by Christ as God, and this is the Light that every man brought into the World with him, and the Devil deceives souls by this Light (viz.) by the soul, this is true from his own words, let it be marked by sober men, what damnable doctrines these are, hardly fit to be raked in.

He saith further, That the Devil deceives souls by perswading them to follow the Light within, which he confesses is the Light of Christ, and that all man hath it.

He saith Conscience is the Light of God, and yet in another place saith, Conscie [...] defiled, what concurrence is here, let the Reader judge, to hold forth that the Light of God is defiled, his words plainly shews, to say, that the Law is the Schoolmaster to bring to Christ.

He saith, This is a frothy Argument.

And to make up his wickedness he said, He is ruled by Scripture; con [...] whether those doctrines and lyes be not quite contrary to Scripture; what is pudency is in this mans heart, to say he is ruled by Scripture; he saith, Thy that look upon Compare this dostrine with Heb. 13. 8. and his doct­rine is prov­ed to be dam­nable. Christ no otherwayes then as he was before the World was, be dare [...] bold to say they, are no Christians, but Antichristians, he said. That Contrary to John 1. 9. Christ as he is [...] ­diator, so he hoth not lighten every man that comes into the World, though as he is God, [...] doth, Mark here, he would divide Christ, not to be the same, the Son, as he is [Page 307] the Father; yet he confesses in his Book, What the Father doth, the Son doth also; see what contradiction here is, not worth the raking in? O blindness that may be felt in the grossest darkness he inhabits. He saith, That the Devil hath more experience of the knowledge of the eternal power, and Godhead, then unregenerate men; Mark, the word more signifies something. He saith, The Light of Christ, [...] God, is Conscience, and Nature it self; Mark, nature is sinful, and wicked, and all are children of Wrath, in it so are all by the Light of Christ as God wicked and children of wrath if Ioh. Bunions doctrine be true, let him make it good as he can: O wonderful trash, and muddy stuff, unheard of before. He saith, The Devil deceives souls, by bidding them listen within, and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin, Mark his doctrine well. He denyes, That Pauls bids listen within, contrary to that Scripture, Rom. 10. 8, 9. He said, Conscience may be hardned and seared, and is naturally evill; and yet saith, Conscience is the Light of Christ, as God; see what an agreement is here, the Light of Christ, as God, is hardened, and seared, and evil, else Iohn Bunion must revoke his doct­rine, or else prove this; Consider what stuff this is, which is held forth by him.

He saith, he preaches not for hire; indeed, he had no need to receive money for such doctrines as these.

He saith, Christ is some four or five foot long, This is more then he can, tell.

He reckons the doctrine of Christ within a false, (or among false opinions.

He saith, It is contrary to Scripture to say the measure [...]or manifestation) of the Spirit is given to every man, though Paul saith so plainly to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 12. 7.

Mark, here he hath spoken quite contrary to Scripture, denyed that which Paul affirmed, or else counted Pauls words no Scripture.

He saith, They that are born of God do daily sin, absolute contrary to 1 Ioh. 3. 9. And therefore he would give the Apostle the lye.

Now Reader consider, whether thou wilt believe Iohn Bunion, or the Apostle Iohn, for they are at odds, and speaks quite contrary one to the other.

He saith, That the Light that shews thee there is a God, and that this God is eternal, would lead to life, then might Devils be delivered from damnation, and the Devils knows God as a Creator, &c.

He saith, That the Light spoken of John 3. is the man Christ Iesus, and yet saith, that the man Christ Iesus is not a condemning Light.

Mark, that Scripture saith, that Light was condemnation to them that did evil; he saith, not; who must you believe?

He saith, That the Lyar and Slanderer is an Unbeliver, and his condition is sad.

Consider here, how out of his own mouth he is condemned, who is at large proved a Lyar and Slander; out of his own mouth will the Lord condemn him.

He saith, That a man cannot give a more right description of a false Prophet, then the Prophets, Christ, and the Apostles did give, Reply, In this thou hast truly said. Now lets consider, how thou hast; confessed to thy own shame, and laid open thy own nakedness, the Prophets said such were false Prophets as Preached for Hire, and divined for Mony, and fed themselves, and clothed themselves with the wool, and that used their Tongues, and said the Lord saith it, when God had not spoken to them, and that cryed peace to the wicked; and Christ said, such were Deceivers, who had the chiefest place in the Assembly, and stood praying in the Synagogues, and loved the uppermost rooms at Feasts, and that were called of men Master, and such like; and the Apostle said such were Deceivers, to take gifts and rewards, and lucre, and that loved unrigh­teous wages, and that were Back-biters, and false Accusers, and Covetous, and having a form of Godliness, but denying the Power, who ever taught, and [Page 308] the people were not able to come to the knowledge of the truth, with many other such like. Now this is my appeal to all mens Consciences, in the sight of God, whether thou art not found under some of these Charracters (at least) or whether thou art not one in union and fellowship, with such who act, these things, yea, thou are among them, and not crying against them, and so art guilty of their sin, though not as fully in the act as are some, may be; so that I doubt not, but they who have not hardened their hearts, and blinded their eyes will see, how thou hast condemned thy self in confessing the truth; and the time is coming, that further it will be made manifest concerning thee, only at present thou art sufficiently discovered, to be out of the truth in the way of perdition; and however, though thou hast covered thy self, as much as is possible, from the stroke of thy own hand, and from the guilt of thy own confession; yet Ioh. Burton, thou hast condemned an hundred, I think of Independant Ministers, (so called) thy brethren, who are known to be found guilty of those things, all or most of them, which thou confessest are marks of a false Prophet, and while thou bidst us examine our selves, thou art the man (or among them) that are proved truly guilty.

He saith, He is not come to one of the dayes of the thousand years, of Satans being chain­ed; and this is truly confessed, and so he is in the Reign and Government of the Devil, and Satan is not bound, but at liberty in him, (as it well appears) and Christs reign is not known; and so it must needs be true, that he is of the Army of the Dragon against the Lamb.

Some of the same Members with him said, in Bedford, That they scorned that Light which convinceth of sin, (which the Quakers speak of.)

Further, most falsly I am charged by him with railing against the Lord Jesus, which is absolute false; my words are spoken in fear and reverence of the Lord Jesus. Reader, these things I leave to thee, to be judged of, his false Slander; and his Damnable Doctrines, and wicked lying Accusations, and Contradicti­ons which his nine sheets of paper is filled with, as if he had set himself to lye, and slanders, and speak wickedly against the truth, which is over him, and is a testi­mony against him, and though opposed by him, yet not confounded; but him it confounds, and by it he shall be judged and condemned; and the time comes when further he may be made manifest if this be not sufficient; out of the abund­ance of his heart, hath his wicked Tongue uttered these things, which are but a little of what lodges in him, but let him prove these things first, and then utter more.

AND now Iohn Bunion, thou and thy false Witnesses, and all thy Compa­ny, and brethren in iniquity, Remember and repent for the day of your visitation is upon you, blessed were you, if you could receive it, before it be spent, not to be recalled, and before the long suffering of God come to an end, and you be shut up in utter darkness: And indeed friends the day hastens where­in every man shall receive according to his deeds; he that hath done evil shal not be cloaked, and he that hath done good shall not be uncovered, in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open, and searched with the eternal Eye; the end of my work is to clear the Truth, and the Way thereof, (God is witness) from thy slanderous and lying and perverting Tongue; and only I reprove thee, by the Spirit of the Lord, and so leaves thee to receive thy re­ward from the Just God of righteous Judgement; who upon thy head wil [...] render vengeance in flames of Fire, in his dreadfull day, which upon thee comes suddenly, even when thou and you cries peace, peace, then shall de­struction come as an armed man, from which thou shalt not fly to escape, though now you all be hardened against the Lord, and his Way and Truth, and hath even bent thy Tongue for Lyes, and hath reproached the Innocent, to the pi [...] ­cing of thy own soul, and one day shalt thou know it; therefore bow and [Page 309] tremble before the Lord God, thou and all thy Companions; a Lyar and Slanderer thou art, a Perverter and Wrester of the right Way of God, and of the Scriptures, a Hypocrite and Dissembler, a holder forth of damnable Doctrines, an envious man, and false Accuser, condemning another falsly in what thy self is fully guilty of; these things I lay to thy charge justly in the pre­sence of the Lord God, and upon thy account are they reckoned by him, and pro­ved by testimony in the sight of man (and may be more fully hereafter, if any thing be wanting) and one day shalt thou feel the burthen of them, though now thou be above shame; and all thy Lyes, Slanders, Deceits, Confusions, Hypocrisies, Contradictions, and damnable Doctrines of Devils, with impudency held forth by thee, shall be consumed in the Pit of Vengeance, and then shall the Witness in thy Conscience justifie the Lord (in condemning thee,) and me, to be true in reproving thee; and this I say to thee, and you all, the Living God you know not, nor his Son Jesus Christ; but are Enemies to God, and * per­secuters of the Lord of Life, and shall perish among the Uncircumcised: Ye false Witnesses, and wicked Helpers, you may be ashamed of your testimony subscribed at the beginning of his lying scribble; will you yet say through Grace, those things are true; the rather stop your mouthes in the dust, who hath offended the Lord, more then defended him, or your selves; and be ashamed in the presence of God and man; much more may be said hereafter, to lay you further open, if you yet harden your hearts in your wickedness, but I do rather reprove you, then strive with you, and rather desires your return to God, then your Condemnation by him, and with this I shall end; and by what is said in short is sufficient to manifest you, and Iohn Bunion to all honest people, what Generation you are of, and that you are guided by, a lying and unclean spirit, and that you are doing the Devils works in gain-saying the Way of Truth and Righteousness, by your multitude of Lyes and Slanders, and dam­nable Doctrines; and what ever you account, or falsly judge of me, yet am I true, (though as a Deceiver) and the Lords Servants, and a Witness for him, and against all your Lyes and Slanders, and Wickedness hatched amongst you, and brought forth by a lying Orator, whom you have made your mouth, into the view of the World, even a cursed Birth, and the Father of it, and the Womb that conceived it, and it shall rot, and perish as the dung, and not accomplish any part of the end, of your desire; for so loathsome it is, being truly search­ed, and laid open, that it hath not obtained neither the praise of God nor man, but is defamed by men, and condemned of God: Alas, alas, for thee Iohn Bunion thy several months travel in grief and pain, is a fruitless Birth, and perishes as an untimely Fig, and its praise is blotted out among men, and its passed away as smoak; Truth, is atop of thee, and out-reaches thee, and thy formed weapons cannot prosper, and it shall stand for ever to confound thee, and all its Enemies: and though thou wilt not subject thy mind to serve it willingly, yet a Slave to it must thou be, and what thou dost in thy wickedness against it, the end thereof brings forth the glory of it, and thy own confounding and shame; and now be wise and learned, and put off thy Armour, for thou mayst understand the more thou strives, the more thou art entangled, and the higher thou arises in Envy, the deeper is thy fall into Confusion, and the more thy Arguments are, the more in­creased is thy folly, let experience teach thee, and thy own wickedness correct thee, and thus I leave thee; and if thou wilt not own the Light of Christ in thy own Conscience, now to reprove thee, and convince thee, yet in the day of Judge­ment thou shalt own it, and it shall witness the justness of the Judgements of the Lord, when for thy Iniquities he pleads with thee; and behold as a Thief in the night, when thou art not aware, he will come; and then, woe unto thee that art poluted.

HOW long shall it be, ere the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, and the measure of this Generations iniquity be fulfilled, who rush into iniquity as a Horse into the battel, and who hastens to fill up the largest measure of iniquity of any Generation that ever went before? Is it not plain and manifest to all people that have but an eye to see? How doth the wicked run on greedily, drinking up iniquity as an Oxe drinks water? How doth the Archers of Babylon shoot at the Innocent, and makes the harmless their prey? But this is but for a moment, the end thereof is nigh; and because the De­vils time is but short, therefore he is come down in rage, and hath filled the hearts of many people with raving envy and despite against the Lord and his people, whom the Lord is a gathering out of the mouths of all their Enemies; and the Serpents seed, it bruiseth the heel, but its head is deadly wounded by the Seed of God.

And whereas many hath set themselves in oppsition against the Lord, and their work is become a stink, and a proverb to be laughed at in Generations to come, yet must not the wicked cease their wickedness, till their measure be per­fectly accomplished. And whereas Richard Baxter, a professed Minister in Worcestershire, known to many by his fruits to be a corrupt Tree which brings [Page 311] not forth good fruit, who sends out of his study Lyes and false Reports, and vain Arguments to blind the Eyes of People, that they may not see the Truth, and hath written once and again against the people of God, which he in scorn calls Quakers, some of which writings have been sufficiently answered, and his shame and folly seen openly by all people; yet he (as a man not weary of wickedness) hath sent forth a Paper, which he calls, A Sheet against the Quakers; wherein what was wanting of wickedness in his former, is now fully brought forth out of his Vessel, (a malicious heart) which cannot contain within it self its rage, and fury, and madness against the Innocent; but need must his folly break forth openly, that all men may see it: And in thi [...] his foolish Paper he hath twen­ty four reasons, which he saith, Moves him to conceive that no Christian or reasonable man should be a Quaker, or approve of, or excuse their way; now his Reasons we shall try. But first of all I say, It had been more honest for him to have made a sufficient Reply to have defended his former works, and cleared himself of his former Lyes and Slanders truly charged against him, then to have past that slight­ly, and begin anew to revile; for that Book which he often mentions, and boasts of, called, The Quakers Catechism, was sufficiently answered, and his folly laid open, by a Friend to the Truth, in a Book called, An Answer to the Quakers Catechism, to which Book he never equally replyed to this day, which had been more honest to have cleared himself from what is truly charged against him in that answer, then to have begun afresh to reproach and speak wickedness; and this all people may consider of.

1. His first Reason which he brings forth against the Quakers, is, That they deny, and revile the Churches and Ministers of Christ; and yet said he cannot tell indeed of any Church or Ministry which is to be preferred before those that they do despise.

Answ. To this I answer, This is utterly false; for we do not deny the Church and Ministers of Christ, nor do revile them, or any others whatso­ever, but speaks the truth in nakedness to all people: The Church of Christ we own, and are of it, which are gathered out of the World through the preaching of the Gospel, and seperated from the World, and all its works and wayes, which are evil, and are joyned to Christ the Head, in the Spirit, and one to another, as Members of Christ; and these are born again, and are Redeemed out of the World, and are of the Kingdom of Christ, and of his Church, and Members of his body; and this we own to be a Church, and are of it, who hath no fellowship with darkness, nor no part with the practice of the works of dark­ness. And the Ministers of Christ we own, who have received the Gift of the Mi­nistry by the Holy Ghost, and exerciseth that Gifs by the Holy Ghost, whose call is from God, and their work of God, and their end alone his glory; such we own to be Ministers of Christ, and doth not revile or deny (as he falsly saith) such a Church, and such Ministers of Christ; but this we do, and without of­fence to God too, we do deny and bear our witness against such a people who professeth themselves to a Church, and yet are in the pride, in the wickedness, and in the evil of this World, and not redeemed, clensed, and seperated from the works and iniquities thereof, such we do reprove for their Hypocrisie, even [...]ll them that owns a title to a Church, because they were sprinkled when they were Infants, and hath not another ground; and such who professeth them­selves Ministers of Christ, who hath not received their Ministry by the Gift of the Holy Ghost, neither are led by the Spirit of Christ, but are such as Christ [...]nd the Apostles declared against, such we cannot own to be Ministers of Jesus Christ, but doth reprove them, and deny them; even such who Preacheth for Hire, and hath Gifts and Rewards for Preaching, and set-places for so much a [...]ear, these we disown, and yet doth not offend God herein: And this in honesty [...] do shew to all people, what that professed Church and professed Ministry is which we do deny, and what that Church and Ministry is which we do set up to [...]e preferred, which is a right Ministry, and a right Church: And thus his reason­less [Page 312] reason is overturned, and confounded, and is found to be no sufficient rea­son wherefore a man should not be a Quaker.

2. His second reason is, No wise man can be a Quaker (saith he) because their Religion is an uncertain thing, and so is not the Religion that must save us, &c.

I answer, This again is utterly false, and no man that hath Gods wisdom would speak it; for our Religion which we profess is a certain thing, and we have openly declared it once and again, and this is it, To believe in Christ, and to receive Christ, and to be lead by the Spirit of Christ, and taught in all things to love God with all the Heart, and a mans neighbour as himself; and through the Power of Christ dwelling in man, to do all good, and to be kept from all evil: This in very short is our Religion, and it is a very certain and established Religion, and this Religi­on we all agree in: And this in short is the substance, of our faith, Even Christ in us, believed on, and received by us, This is the Truth, and his lyes is judged; and if he say this is an uncertain Religion, let him give it under his hand, and sub­scribe to it, and he shall have a further Reply.