A testimonie of the touch-stone, for all professions, and all forms, and gathered churches (as they call them), of what sort soever to try their ground and foundation by and a tryal by the Scriptures, who the false prophets are, which are in the world, which John said should be in the last times / by Margret Fell ; also, some of the ranters principles answered. Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702. 1656 Approx. 86 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A41061 Wing F636 ESTC R13179 12033608 ocm 12033608 52821

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A41061) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 52821) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 562:21) A testimonie of the touch-stone, for all professions, and all forms, and gathered churches (as they call them), of what sort soever to try their ground and foundation by and a tryal by the Scriptures, who the false prophets are, which are in the world, which John said should be in the last times / by Margret Fell ; also, some of the ranters principles answered. Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702. [2], 36 p. Printed for Thomas Simmons ..., London : 1656. Errata: p. 36. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.

eng Society of Friends -- Doctrines. 2006-01 Assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

A TESTIMONIE OF THE TOUCH-STONE, FOR ALL Profeſsions, and all Forms, and Gathered Churches (as they call them) of what ſort ſoever to try their ground and foundation by. AND A TRYAL by the Scriptures, who the Falſe Prophets are, which are in the world, which, John ſaid ſhould be in the laſt times by Margret Fell. ALSO, SOME OF THE RANTERS PRINCIPLES Anſwered.

Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Behold I lay in Sion for a foundation, a ſtone, a tryed ſtone, a precious corner-ſtone, a ſure foundation,

Iſai. 28.16.

The ſtone which the Builders refuſeth, is become the head of the corner.

Pſa. 119.22.

Now therefore are we no more ſtrangers, and forreigners, but fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and Houſhold of God, and are built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Ieſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner-ſtone,

Eph. 2.20.

Vnto you therefore which believe he is precious, but unto them which bee diſobedient, t •• ſtone which the Builders diſallowed, the ſame is the head of the Corner,

1 Pet. 2.9.

LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the ſign of the Bull & Mouth neer Alderſgate. 1656.

TO all the Profeſſions of the World: And to all the forms which all the profeſſors lives in. To the light in all your conſciences which comes from Jeſus, who is the fathers Covenant of light and life. The Lamb, who is the light of all the Nations that are ſaved, which now ſhines in all your conſciences: to this in you all do I ſpeak, that with it you may ſearch and try your ſtanding, and ground, and foundation. The Church is in God the father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; Chriſt Jeſus the corner ſtone, who hath ſaid, upon this Rock I build my Church.

Paul writ to Timothy how to behave himſelf in the houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God the Pillar and ground of Truth. For ſaith he, without controverſie great is the myſterie of godlineſs, God manifeſted in the fleſh, juſtified in the ſpirit, ſeen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up to glory.

Now Profeſsors look about you, and ſee where your footing, and where your foundation is; who do profeſs a God and a Chriſt afar off, and denies the light of Jeſus Chriſt which manifeſts him in the fleſh. How can you know him, or confeſs him in the fleſh; who denies him to be manifeſted in you? What ground have ye to build upon, when you know nothing of him, but what ye have from a profeſſion without you? Oh conſider ſeriouſly! and turn your minds to the light, which will let you ſee your foundation to be rotten and ſandy: which ye flooliſh builders are building in your imaginations, Babel in the Air, profeſſing the Scriptures without, which were declared and ſpoken from a living and eternall principle within. And this ye take and build upon. But where is your foundation? where is your ground? where is your root, who denies the corner ſtone, the light Jeſus Chriſt, the light and Rock of ages, which all the Prophets, and Apoſtles, and holy men of God is founded and built upon? A profeſſion of this will ſtand you in no ſtead, for the holy ſeed is riſen, the ſubſtance of all, and the life of the Scriptures which ſpoke them forth is manifeſted The word which was in the begining, which was with God, which word was God: he who was dead is alive, whoſe name is called the Word of God, who lives for evermore. This word which we have ſeen, which we have heard, which our hands have handled: this we declare unto you, by which Word the World was made, and without which nothing was made which was made. This is manifeſted, and witneſsed praiſes, living praiſes be to the living God. And this is he that will break to pieces all your rotten profeſſion you cannot ſtand before him: his rod of Iron, where he rules, will daſh you all to pieces ye potſheards of the earth, who have ſet up the Image whoſe head is of gold, whoſe breaſt is of ſilver, whoſe feet is part Iron and part Clay. The little ſtone cut out of the Mountain without hands, ſticks at his feet, and overturns his foundation, you and your Diana ſhall fall, and ſtone ſhall become a great Mountain, the mouth of the Lord of Hoſts hath ſpoken it; and you who take the words ſpoken from the life of God, and profeſſeth them, and God and Chriſt without you, and ye proſecute the ſame life which gave them forth, which now is made manifeſt in his people.

Ye make up the meaſure of your fore-fathers, which ſhew the Prophets and ye garniſh their Sepulchres: ye are in their ſteps that killed the prophets, that beat the ſervants and would alſo kill the heir, your fruits makes ye manifeſt. Ye are the graves which men go over, painted Sepulchres, with words and profeſſions of their outſide, but within are full of rotteneſs, and dead mens bones. The Candle of the Lord God is lighted by which he ſearcheth Jeruſalem, and hath found you out; the day of the Lord which is coming upon you, which makes all things manifeſt. This will lay you open, To the light in all your conſciences do I ſpeak, that to it you may learn to ſee what ye know of the living God there, there he is unknown to you yet, as he was to the Athenians, whom ye ignorantly worſhip, though he be not far from every one of you. Therefore put him not far off you, but call upon him while he is near, and ſeek him while he may be found. If ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts while it is called to day. Now you have time prize it, this is the day of your viſitation; your profeſſion without you will not ſerve you, it ſtrikes in the Lords noſtrils, and all your righteouſneſs ſhall be ſpread as dung upon your faces, it is as filthy rags, and as the early dew it ſhall paſs away, and never be mentioned. He is come who convinceth the world of ſin, of righteouſneſs, and of Judgement; therefore your righteouſneſs which is not the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt is condemned by him, who is the righteouſneſs of the father, and the expreſſe Image of his glory. The glorious brightneſs of his coming makes manifeſt the man of ſin, which hath ſo long ſitten in the Temple of God, exalted above all that is called God in you; it is time to come wherein he is revealed. Therefore ceaſe from your abominations and outward profeſſions of forms and colours without the life, and power, and purity of truth it ſelf. For the glorious light makes you manifeſt, and all your covers is too narrow, the roe from the living God is to them, and all coverings which is not his pure ſpirit it is to be rent. And though ye may ſeem fair on the outſide, this will not hide you, he who ſearcheth the heart, and tryeth the reins is come, before whom all ſecrets is bare and naked.

Therefore turn into the meaſure of the light which ye have received from the fountain of light, and ſee what ye have there in poſſeſſion. There you will finde your houſe unſwept and unclean, and the woman that had loſt the groat, ſought without, but ſhe found it not, till ſhe came to ſweep her own houſe, and there ſhe found it. This Parable ye muſt read within: Jeſus Chriſt likened the Kingdome of heaven unto a Merchant man, who was ſeeking for goodly pearls, who digged deeply in the earth and found it, but when he had found it he was to ſell all and buy it. And again, be likeneth the Kingdome of heaven to a little leaven which a woman hid in three meaſures of meal, till it was leavened: though ye have the letter without you, yet theſe parables ye have to learn. Now turn to the light, and there you will come to ſee, learning there in the light ye will come to ſee and know the myſteries of God, which to the world is parables, and to all you who denies the light ſhall be ſhut for evermore. Though ye may get all the words of the whole Scripture in your brains and comprehenſion, ſo long as ye deny the light, and turn your minds from the light, and ſeek to know theſe things without you, ye ſhall never know them, but they ſhall be as a book ſealed unto you, the depth and the myſteries of them ye ſhall never know, eternally ye ſhall witneſs me; Therefore as ever ye deſire to know the myſteries of God, which is hid from all the world, and the worlds profeſſion, though never ſo high, turn to the light, wait in the light, keep your minds within to the light, and walk in the light, which checks you, and convinceth you of ſin and evil, and diſcernes the thoughts of your hearts, and lets you ſee the out-goings of your minds, and diſcerns every ſinful luſt, even in the very appearance and riſing of it, this is that which the Lord God teacheth in this his day; which Teacher never is removed into a corner, who hearkens diligently, and turns their minds to it.

This is the eye which is blind in all the world, though they have eyes they ſee not, and eares they hear not, and hearts they do not underſtand; the God of this world hath blinded this eye, and his Miniſters would keep it blinde and ſhut up, and denies it to be a teacher ſufficient. And ſo your leaders cauſeth you to erre, who are blinde, and leads you that are blinde, and ſo ye may follow them, till ye both go into the pit. But eternally if ever ye come to know the living God, ye muſt turn your minds to the light which is in you, which Chriſt Jeſus ſaith, take heed that the light that is in you be not darkneſs; for then how great is that darkneſs. And ſo all your blinde guides which keeps your minds from this light, which is in you. So your minds being from it, it is to you darkneſs, and ſo then how great is that darkneſs. But turning your minds to this light, and joining your mindes to it, and hearkening to it; then will ye come to ſee this blinde eye opened. And the blinde man which hath been born blinde from his birth will come to ſee, and his eyes will be anointed with eye-ſalve; which thoſe blinde guides which leads you from the light, never knew. And this ye ſhall eternally witneſs to be truth: If ye turn your minds to the light, then will ye come to ſee what I ſpeak, and witneſs me to be true, and all your blinde guides Lyars, who denies the light, and would not have you to minde the light, but hearken to them who hates the light, and loves darkneſs rather then light, becauſe their deeds are evil. But the light is riſen, glory for evermore, which is their condemnation and hath found them out, who are the theeves and Robbers who have gone before, and climbe up another way. But Chriſt Jeſus ſaith I am the door of the ſheep, all that ever come before me are theeves and Robbers. I am the door, by me if any man enter, he ſhall be ſaved, ſaith Chriſt Jeſus who is the light. And theſe theeves and Robbers who denies the light, draws from the door Chriſt Jeſus, by which all that ever are ſaved enters, who is the good ſhepherd, and who hath given his life for the ſheep. But he that is an hire ing and not the ſhepherd, whoſe own the ſheep are not, ſeeth not themſelves to be the wolves; for they are blinde, the God of this world hath blinded their eyes, who denies the light, and ſo they leave the ſheep and flie. And the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael which Chriſt Jeſus is ſent to ſeek and to ſave they know not, but lets the wolf deſtroy the ſheep in every boſom of their flock. But now is the ſhepherd of the ſheep come, whoſe own the ſheep are, who is the good ſhepherd, and knows his ſheep, and is known of them; who hears his voice, and knows his voice, and he puts forth his own ſheep; he goes before them, and the ſheep follow him, for they know his voice, and a ſtranger will they not follow. Glory and praiſes be to the living God for ever; who is redeeming his ſheep from under the mouths of the wolves and devourers, who hath ſcattered them upon every mountain and hill in the cloudy and dark day.

But now is the light of the glorious Goſpel riſen, and beautiful upon the mountains is his feet, that brings glad tydings of this Goſpel that publiſheth peace, that ſaith unto Sion, thy King reigneth. To all who deſires to know the way to Sion doth this voice cry to turne your faces thitherward. To the light of Jeſus Chriſt, who comes riding upon an Aſſes colt, to the joy and rejoycing of all Sions children. Therefore turn again all you who are wandring from mountain to hill, ſeeking reſt, but finding none. Turn to the light in every one of your conſciences; this is the word of faith which we preach which Moſes taught Iſrael; and the Apoſtle Paul the Romans, which is nigh in the mouth, and in the heart: here is your teacher if you hearken to the pure light which ſhews you the deceit of your hearts and your unclean thoughts, from which proceeds uncleanneſs, which the light makes manifeſt, which will reap you up, and reprove you in ſecret. The Lord God of life and power is fulfilling his everlaſting Covenant in this his day; he is writing his law in the heart, and putting it in the inward parts, that none need ſay know the Lord, but all who turn to the meaſure of God ſhall know him, from the leaſt to the greateſt of them. And by no other way or name under heaven ſhall ye know the living God, but by this pure light and law written in the heart. Here will ye come to witneſſe the Lord to be your God, and your King, and your Law-giver, which all the profeſſions of the world is ignorant of; therefore to this pure meaſure of God in your inward parts have your minds: that ye may come to witneſs cleanſing and purging within, that ye may come to ſee the uncleanneſſe which proceeds out of the heart, which defiles the man, Mat. 15.18, 19. For out of the heart cometh evil thoughts, murthers, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falſe teſtimony, ſlanders, theſe are the things which defiles a man.

How will you teachers and you profeſſors who looks without you, and turns from this which ſhould cleanſe you within? How do you look, that that which is without you ſhould cleanſe from this uncleanneſſe within. Let that of God in your conſciences now ſee how you can be cleanſed by this, when ye turn from it. But now if ye turn to the light which makes theſe things manifeſt, and dwell and abide in it, then will ye abſtain from them, and ſo come to witneſſe cleanſing. For he that walketh in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth from all ſin. And Chriſt Jeſus ſaith, Luke 6.45. A good man out of the treaſury of his heart bringeth forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the treaſury of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for out of the abundance of his heart his mouth ſpeaketh. And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I ſay? Whoſoever cometh to me, and heareth my ſayings, and doth them, I will ſhew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an houſe, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a Rock, and when the floods aroſe, the ſtreams beat violently upon the houſe, and could not ſhake it, for it was built upon a Rock. But he that heareth and doth, is like a man that without a foundation built an houſe upon the earth, againſt which the ſtreams did beat violently, and immediately it fell, and the fall of that houſe was great.

Now profeſſors here's your building, eternally you ſhall witneſſe this Parable fulfilled upon you, the tempeſts and ſtorms is coming upon you, your houſe will be beaten down, it cannot ſtand, for ye have been ſayers a long time, and not doers of the word; your houſe which ye have built is without foundation, it is not founded upon the rock Chriſt Jeſus. Ye who denies the light, he ſaith into you, why call ye me Lord, & do not the things which I ſay? upon him ſhall ye be beaten to pieces; and all your prefeſſion. It is known and ſeen, ye are made manifeſt, ye cannot hide your ſelves.

Therefore let the time paſt of your lives ſuffice, and repent while ye have time, leaſt the whirl-winde of the Lord come upon you, and deſtroy you ere ye are aware; and remember that ye are warned in your life time: Ye who, talkes of faith, where is your foundation? who denies the light Chriſt Jeſus the corner-ſtone, whoſe blood waſheth, and cleanſeth, and purgeth away the filth of the daughter of Sion. What will your faith advantage you who are yet in your ſin? Is not that faith vain which doth not purifie the heart? The Apoſtle Paul ſaith, Now the end of the Commandment 〈◊〉 Charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conſcience, and of faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1.5. And again he ſaith, Holding the myſterie of faith in a pure conſcience, 1 Tim. 3.9. And the Apoſtle John ſaith, For whatſoever is born of God, overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith, 1 John 6.4. Now ſee your faith hath overcome the world, and given you victory over ſin, elſe never talk of faith; for ye are yet in your ſins, all who is of the faith by which the juſt lives, denies your faith: for ye who are alive to ſin, crucifies and ſlayes the Juſt. et who is in the faith of God? the juſt lives by his faith: And ſo now here ye may read your faith by your works. For the Apoſtle James ſaith, What doth it profit though a man ſay, he hath faith, and hath not works; that faith cannot ſave. See what compariſon James makes, James 2.16. Even ſo faith, if it hath not works is dead being alone. Yea, a man may ſay, thou haſt faith, and I have works; ſhew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Now ſee how blinde ye are, who reads theſe Scriptures and profeſſes them, and yet talks of faith, and lives in your ſins. Oh the righteous God will plead with you, for all your deceit and hypocriſie. Thou believes there is a God, thou doſt well; the devils believe alſo and tremble. Therefore know Oh vain man, that thy faith without works is dead. And what is thy works, who art yet in thy ſins? Is not ſin the work of the devil? Oh that ever ye ſhould be ſo blinde and befotted! Will the fig-leaves of your profeſſion cover your nakedneſſe? Nay, the Lord hath found you out, and all your coverings is too narrow. And your faith which is holden with reſpect of perſons, which the Apoſtle exhorts from, the Lord God abhors. But if ye had true living faith as a grain of muſterd-ſeed, ye might ſay to this mountain be thou removed into the Sea, and it would be ſo. But to you whoſe faith is dead, who are yet in your ſins, this is a myſterie.

Therefore repent and turn to the Lord God, and believe in the light, which is riſing and ſhining in your conſciences; he it is who is the reſurrection and the life: whoſoever believeth in him, though he were dead, yet ſhall he live. Therefore hearken diligently to the Prophet which the Lord is raiſing in this his day, and believe in the light: For whoſoever doth not hearken to this Prophet is to be cut off. Turn to the light and believe, and hearken diligently that your ſouls may live. Why will ye give your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which profiteth not? The pure everlaſting fountain of life is ſet open, and the voice is calling to every one to come. All that thirſteth to come and buy wine and milk without money; they that have been ſold for nought ſhall be redeemed without money. The blood of the everlaſting Covenant, which brings again the Lord Jeſus from the dead, is poured forth, and ſhedding for the redemption of Iſraels ſeed. Therefore all turn to the voice that calls ye, this is the way, walk in it: And that which turns and draws your minds towards God, the light which cometh from the father of light turn to, and there will ye witneſſe a living hope, which was that hope which Paul the Apoſtle was called in queſtion for, the reſurrection of the dead, who was a Miniſter of God, who watched for the ſoul, which your Miniſters of death knoweth not, nor hath no hope of; but their labor is to keep you in the death. But if ye wait in the light of Jeſus Chriſt, who is the reſurrection and the life, which is the myſterie which is Chriſt in you the hope of glory. For this is he which is the bringing in of a better hope, by which ye draw nigh unto God. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifies himſelf, even as he is pure, 1 John 3.3. And the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, Bleſſed be God, and the father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus from the dead, 1 Pet. 1.3. And •• is is none of the hypocrites hope; for the hope of the hypocrite doth periſh, and the hypocrite hath no right nor intereſt in the oe and living hope, which is the promiſe of the Lord, to the heirs of his promiſe. The Immutability of his councel, confirmed by in oath; that by two immutable things, by which it was impoſſible for God to lye, we might have a ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us; which hope we have as an Anchor of the ſoul, both ſure and ſteadfaſt. But this is nothing to the diſſembling hypocrites and profeſſors of the world, who deny the light Chriſt Jeſus, the ſecond Prieſt, and hath ſet up a Prieſt without them, and hath a Church without them, and I hope without them, and a rule without them, and a guide without them.

Theſe are none of the heirs of the promiſe, for the Promiſe and Covenant of God is within, and the ſecond Prieſt, the unchangeable Prieſt, which is ſurely of a better Teſtament, and bringeth in a better hope; who is the Covenant made with an oath, who is the refuge for the righteous to flie to, which is the hope ſet before them. But this is a myſterie to all ye carnal profeſſors, who are yet in your ſins and your uncleanneſſe, and yet will tell of faith, and hope, and God, and Chriſt: But your root is rottenneſſe, your ground is curſt and corrupt, and your chaffe is to be burnt. The fire is kindled which cannot be quenched, and the day of the Lord is come, which burns as an oven, and all your filthy profeſſion, and deceitful rotten hypocriſie ſhall be as ſtubble. And though ye give your goods to the poor, and your bodies to be burnt, and do not believe in the light, and turn to the light, and walk in it, it is nothing; for ſo long as you do not walk in the light, ye know nothing at all of Charity, which ſuffereth long, which envieth not, which vaunteth not it ſelf, puffeth not up, rejoyceth not in iniquity, but rejoyceth in the truth. This ye are far from, who are in your envy, wrath, malice, perſecution, pleading for ſin, againſt perfection, and againſt the light which diſcovereth and makes manifeſt all ſin and uncleanneſſe; your profeſſion of God and Chriſt in word, when in works ye deny him, will not ſerve you; the Lord abhors all your profeſſion and hypocriſie. Therefore give over your deceitful diſſembling, and turn to that which rips you up, and layes you naked and bare before the Lord God, from whom you cannot hide your ſelves. And to the light of Chriſt come to be tryed and ſearched, the tryed ſtone which layeth judgement to the line, and righteouſneſs to the plummet, for Sion is redeemed through Judgement, and her converts with righteouſneſs. Therefore give over deceiving of your ſouls; for he that doth righteouſneſs is righteous, even as he is righteous. And all ſin and uncleanneſſe the light condemns: And if your hearts condemn you, God is greater. Therefore do not deceive your ſouls, but ſearch and try your own ſelves, for if ye know not that Chriſt is in you, ye are Reprobates. And ſo all forms, and all profeſſions try your own ſelves, and to the light come to be tryed, and there you will ſee your rotten profeſſion will be too light: and do not deceive your ſouls, but now ye have time prize it, while it is called to day; conſider, and do not forget God, leſt he tear you to pieces, while there be none to deliver you.

And this is in love to all your ſouls, which ye ſhall eternally witneſſe to be truth. If ye turn to the light which is my witneſſe, and if ye hate the light, and turn from the light, the light is your condemnation. And when the books of conſcience is opened, and all Judged out of them, then ſhall that witneſſe of God in you witneſs me, that this is love to your ſouls. And ſo whether ye hear or forbear, I have cleared my conſcience, and the Lord is clear of your blood.

And your foundation and bottom I know and comprehend, but the Rock which ye know not ſhall break you to pieces, though ye have the outward writings and declaration which was ſpoken from another ſtate, and condition then ye are in. And theſe words ye take and make your own, when as ye are in another condition, and of another ſeed, then that which the promiſe is to. For it is not to ſeeds, as to many, but to one ſeed, which is Chriſt the light, and corner-ſtone, which ye builders refuſeth, & yet ye account it railing to be called Theeves and Robbers, though ye have nothing but what ye ſteal from others. Ye take Moſes words, who was a ſervant of the Lord, ſent to bring Iſrael the ſeed of God out of bondage; and ye who are the Egyptian task-maſters with his words keeps the ſeed in bondage. To Moſes ſtate ye never came, which brings out of the houſe of darkneſs, you who denies the light, and yet you will profeſs Moſes word. Now let that of God in all your conſciences, which is juſt and equall, judge whether ye be not theeves and robbers in this, yea, or nay?

And ye take the Prophets words which received the word from the Lord, which the Lord ſpoke to them; and ye profeſſe theſe words, and ye ſlay the Prophet which the Lord promiſed to raiſe 〈◊〉 unto Moſes, which he hath ſaid every one ſhall hear, who bringeth the ſeed out of Egypt; and with theſe words ye crucifie the juſt, and garniſhes his Sepulcher: and ſo ye are found the painted Sepulchers, which hath ſlain the righteous, which Chriſt ſpeaks of.

Now ſee if ye be not the blinde guides and hopocrites in this, which Chriſt Jeſus cryed woe againſt, to them whom he found in the ſame ſteps as ye are in, who had Moſes and the Prophets words, which writ of him, and propheſied of him, but he told them they knew them not: For if they had known Moſes, and the Prophets, they would have known him. And ſo ye go beyond thoſe in Chriſts time, and exceed them in hypocriſie and deceit; for ye take Chriſt Jeſus his words which he ſpoke before he was offered up; and ſince he is riſen again, and ye profeſſe them, and with theſe words ye deny the light; which he hath ſaid he is the light, and which John, who was the faithfull witneſs, and more then a Prophet, witneſſed of him, which he witneſſed to be the greateſt that was born of women; and Chriſts teſtimony, and Johns teſtimony ye deny, who denies the light. And yet ye take theſe words, and profeſs them, and perſecute the light and life that ſpoke theſe words. Now to that of God in your Conſciences, which cannot bear falſe witneſſe nor lye, do I ſpeak; let all that try you, and examine you whether you do not exceed the Scribes and Phariſees, who crucified Chriſt Jeſus, who had writings of him, that he ſhould come, yet when he came, they did not know that it was he, and ſo they crucified him under the name of a Blaſphemer and Prince of Devils. But ye ſay and profeſſe that he is come, and profeſſe that that was he which they crucified, and ye profeſſe that he is riſen again, and yet ye perſecute and deny his light and teſtimony, where it is riſen and made manifeſt. Now ſee whether ye be not blinde indeed, when as ye go about to oppoſe, deny, and perſecute that which ye your ſelves profeſſe.

Now ſee what a God this is ye ſerve, who keeps ye ſo blinde in your profeſſion, that ye perſecute thoſe who poſſeſſeth that which ye your ſelves profeſſe. Ye exceed all that ever went before you, that ever was read of, and yet ye are ſo blind, as ye do not ſee your ſelves. For thoſe whom ye perſecute and oppoſe, ye have nothing againſt them, but that they witneſſe and profeſſe, that which ye blinde hypocrites poſſeſſe, but knows nothing of. So ye make clean the outſide with an outward profeſſion, and a form, and an Image, and a likeneſſe, but your inſide is ſin, uncleanneſſe, filthineſſe, envy, wrath, malice, ſtrife and perſecution; this is of the Devils Kingdome of ſin, and this is the inheritance and poſſeſſion which ye poſſeſſe. Though ye profeſſe a God and a Chriſt from Records without you, yet your poſſeſſion and inheritance is the Devils Kingdome of ſin. Let that of God in your conſciences, which is pure, now examine and try you, and ſearch you, and ſee if ye be not found in ſin and uncleanneſſe, and denies being free from ſin and perfection and purity; and plead for ſin and the Devils Kingdome, and yet profeſſe God and Chriſt. Oh that ever ye ſhould be ſo abominably blinde and fottiſh! Do ye look upon the pure and holy God, who cannot behold iniquity, with whom dwells no unclean thing, to be like your ſelves?

And ſo likewiſe ye take the Epiſtles and writings of the Apoſtles to the Church of Chriſt, which is in God, and which is the houſe of God, the ground and pillar of all truth which is built upon the rock Chriſt Jeſus. And ye take the words which were written to theſe who were born of the immortal ſeed, to which the promiſe of God is; and ye who live in your ſin, and filthineſſe, and uncleanneſſe, takes theſe words and profeſſeth them, and makes them your own, as though they were ſpoken to you when as ye never knew their condition nor the Apoſtles, which was their Miniſter, and begot them into the everlaſting truth by the immortal ingratted word of God.

And this ye who denies the light which the Apoſtles preached, who was a Miniſter of the Spirit and not of the Letter. And this ye profeſs to be yours; and here you build your neſt in your forms; and here ye ſit decked with the words of the Saints with your unclean 〈…〉 , and perſecuting the righteous ſeed, which theſe were ſpoken to, oppoſing and denying the light which they were gathered into.

But your day of lamentation and howling is coming upon you ye cannot eſcape; the righteous God hath found you out; the acceptable year of the Lord is proclaimed, and the day of vengence of our God is come; and the Prince of the world is come to be judged; and the day of the Son of man is come, in which he is lifted up; and where he is lifted up he draws all men after him. Praiſes be to the living God for ever. And your Covenant with hell and death is diſanulled, and your refuge of lyes and diſſimulation will be ſwept away; the overflowing ſcourge is coming upon you. Therefore as ye love your ſouls give over your diſſembling and vain imaginations, and hypocriſie, and vain deceit, and ſee what ye have, and what ye know ye do enjoy in the light and in the life and in the power of the living God; for our Goſpel ſtands not in word, but in life and power. And he is manifeſt, who is the power of God unto ſalvation unto all that believe. And this Goſpel is not hid, but to thoſe that are loſt.

Now if ye turn your minds to the light of Jeſus Chriſt, which is the light of the glorious Goſpel, ye will ſee that this Goſpel hath been hid from you, and from your profeſſion. But if ye wait in the light, then will ye come to know the power, and the power will raiſe the life. And he that walketh in the light ſhall not abide in darkneſs, but ſhall have the light of life. And ſo give over profeſſing words which was ſpoken from the light and life and power, and ye your ſelves without light, without life, without power in a 〈◊〉 .

Nay, this will not ſerve, this is an abomination unto the living pure God; and all this wil he burn and conſume with the ſpirit of his 〈◊〉 , and with the brightneſſe of his coming. Now ſee what ye have that will anſwer to the fire; for nothing will ſtand in his preſence, who is a conſuming fire, but that which will abide the fire. And this ye ſhall eternally witneſſe to be truth.

And ſo in this I have cleared my conſcience, and laid before you your houſe and building which is without foundation. And if ye turn your minds to the light, it will let you ſee you have no bottom nor foundation that can ſtand. Oh that ever ye ſhould be ſo ignorant, ſottiſh, and blinde in this the day 〈…〉 grace of the everlaſting God, which hath appeared unto all men; which is ſo ſounded forth in your ears, and yet ye will not come to ſearch and examine where your foundation, and root, and bottom is. If ye will but turn your minds to the light, ye will ſee that you have nothing at all, but that which is none of your own, which will ſtand ye in no ſtead; which was written and ſpoke to others. Oh that ever ye ſhould be ſo blinde, as to look upon this to be yours in this glorious day of light, when it is ſo clearly manifeſted, and the Goſpel freely preached to every Creature: and that ye ſhould be ſo careleſſe of your own ſouls, as not to come to a ſearch. Oh what will ye do in the end, when the juſt and righteous God calls ye to an account; who hath ſent forth his Miniſters and meſſengers to preach the glad tydings of the Goſpel to the poor, liberty to the captives, and yet ye as deaf adders will not hear: yea, the Lord God ſeeth you, and knoweth your Rebellious ſtiff-necked, and uncircumciſed heart and ears; and he will reward you according to your works. And then your profeſſion in words, where you have neither bottom nor foundation, will not ſerve: for the ſword of the Lord is drawn, which cuts down all fruitleſſe trees and groundleſſe profeſſions; and your forms and covers is to be ripped off, and ye will be found naked, miſerable, and blinde.

Therefore now ye have time prize it, and harden not your hearts while it is called to day, but repent and turn to the Lord, who waits to be gracious, who will not give his honour to another, but will be inquired of. Turn to the light which cometh from the father of light, which draws your minds towards God; and let this be your teacher, and leader, and guider.

And here ye will come to ſee your blinde guides which Chriſt Jeſus cries woe againſt, who hath ſo long devoured the flock, and ſcattered them: who draws them from that by which the Lord teacheth his people, which is the light. The witneſſe of God, which witneſſeth for God againſt all ſin and uncleanneſſe. And this they draw people from, to look out at them, who are the deceivers and betrayers of your ſouls. Therefore as you love your ſouls, turn from them, and lay your foundation in the light; for this is the door which every one who enters, goes in at; and whoſoever climbs up another way is a thief and a robber; and this ye ſhall eternally witneſſe. And ſo to the light turn and there wait, and there will ye ſee the betrayers of your ſouls: And if ye do not turn to this light, this light ſhall be your condemnation for ever, and ſhall finde you out one day; and this ye ſhall eternally witneſſe, whether ye will hear or forbear.

None ownes the truth as it is in Jeſus, but who owns the light which he hath lighted them withall; who lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Nor none owns the truth, but who owns the light that they are lighted withal, which comes from Chriſt Jeſus the light and life, who is the way to the father of life. Nor none ownes the way to the father, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, but ſuch as ownes the light which comes from him. And none cometh to the Father but by the Son; and none cometh to the Son, but who owneth the light which from the Son doth come; who lighteth every man that cometh into the world. None heareth the Prophet Chriſt Jeſus, him by whom the world was made; who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, none heareth him, but who heareth that, and owneth that which the Prophet hath enlightened withal; who ſaith learn of me. None learneth but ſuch as are turned to the light, which from him doth come. None receiveth the word in the heart, but ſuch as receiveth the light which they be lighted withal, who cometh from him who lighteth every man that cometh into the world; Chriſt Jeſus who is called the word of God. He that receiveth the light, ſhall receive the word, and he that heareth not this Prophet, he heareth not the light, he is lighted withal, that cometh from the Prophet, whoſe name is called the Word. He that heareth not this Prophet ſhall be cut off from among the people; be heareth not the light he is enlightned withal: If he make a profeſsion of all the Saints words declared from the light, yet he is cut off from among the people, and with the light condemned.

A tryal of the falſe Prophets.

I Am the light of the world, and doth lighten every man that cometh into the world ſaith Chriſt Jeſus, John 1.9. And the Prophet Iſaiah, who propheſied of Chriſt Jeſus, ſaith, I the Lord who hath called thee in righteouſneſs, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, Iſaiah 42.6.

Now all people ſee where you are, and try your teachers what they lead you into, which draws you from the light which Chriſt Jeſus hath enlighted you withall; who ſaith he that walks in the light ſhall have the light of life: And John ſaith, That in him was life, and the life was the light of men, John 1.4. Now try your teachers which draws you from the light by the Scriptures, which they take to ſpeak unto you, and as they ſay is their rule. Let it likewiſe be your rule to try them by.

And ſearch the Scriptures, and examine them honeſtly, and ſee whether ye be not deceived by them which draws, you from the light, which is and ever was the Saints teacher, and ever ſhall be. And John ſaith that he was not light, but he was ſent to bear witneſſe of the light, which is the true light which lightens every man that cometh into the world.

Now all people try and ſee your teachers, whether all your Prieſts of England be not witneſſes contrary to John: He bears witneſſe to the light that lightens every man that cometh into the world; and they bear witneſſe againſt the light, and ſay he doth not inlighten every one that cometh into the world: And tells people they muſt look after them for means and ordinances, and ſo blinds poor people, and keeps them in ignorance and darkneſſe. But all people as ye love your own ſouls ſearch into the Scriptures, and try them by the Scriptures which ye call the Word, and your rule to walk by, and you ſhall finde them the deceivers and the Antichriſts and falſe Prophets, which they tell you ſo much of, that ſhould come in the latter dayes. John ſaith, Many falſe Prophets are gone into the world. Now try your teachers by this, and ſee whether they be not in the world, not ſeparated from the world, but draws from the light, which ſeparates from the world, and leads out of the world, but they witneſſe againſt the light, and pleads for ſin, and for the Kingdome of Antichriſt, which is of the world. And John ſaith, this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkneſſe rather then light, becauſe their deeds are evil; for every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither bringeth he his deeds to the light leſt they ſhould be reproved; but he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifeſt whether they be wrought in God. Now all poor people, ſee whether theſe be not the falſe Prophets which are entred into the world, which draws from the light, which is the worlds condemnation? And whether theſe be not the deceivers and Antichriſts which John ſpeaks of, which are entred into the world? which doth not confeſſe Jeſus Chriſt to be come in the fleſh, but doth deny the light, and doth perſecute and call them deceivers and falſe Prophets, which do witneſſe him come in the fleſh, and walks in the light which he hath enlightened them withall. Theſe they ſtock, and priſon, and cauſe to be beat in their Synagogues, as all did that went before them, which ever perſecuted the righteous ſeed, who denies the light. The ſame John which ſaith, falſe Prophets and Antichriſts and deceivers are gone into the world; ſaith, Theſe things have I written unto you concerning them that ſeduce you; but the annointing which ye have received of him abideth in you; and yee need not that any man teach you, but as the ſame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth and is no lye; and even as it hath taught you ye ſhall abide in him, 1 John 2.26, 27. Now all people, ſee who be the falſe Prophets, whether John, and they who witneſſe the anointing, or your teachers, which draws from the annointing. Chriſt Jeſus ſaith, I am come a light into the world; that whoſever believeth in me ſhould not abide in darkneſs. This ſame Chriſt ſaith in Mat. 7. Beware of falſe Prophets which comes to you in ſheeps clothing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves; by their fruits ye ſhall know them. Now try your teachers by this Scripture, and ſee whether they have not been cloathed all this while with the ſheeps cloathing, the Saints cloathing, the words and a profeſſion of Chriſt. But now when the ſheep comes who knows his voice and will not follow ſtrangers, ſuch as they; Now ſee if they do not appear outwardly to be ravening wolves; what they were before inwardly their fruits do make them manifeſt: therefore let that Scripture try them. The ſame Chriſt Jeſus ſaith unto the diſciples, who came unto him privately on the Mount of Olives, Mat. 24. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you, for many ſhall come in my name, ſaying I am Chriſt, and ſhall deceive many. Now try your teachers, and ſee if they have any thing but a name, and a profeſſion of Chriſt, who draws from the light, when as Chriſt Jeſus ſaith, I am the light. And Chriſt ſaith, then ſhall they deliver you up and kill you, and ye ſhall be hated of all Nations for my names ſake. Now ſee whether theſe Prieſts of yours be hated and killed, which drawes from the light, or thoſe who witneſſe Chriſt Jeſus who is the light, which ſaith many falſe Prophets ſhall ariſe, which ſhall deceive many. And try if they be not them, who ſaith, loe here is Chriſt, and loe there; but Chriſts command is, believe them not, for there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts and falſe Prophets, and ſhall ſhew great ſigns and wonders, in ſo much, that if it were poſſible, they would deceive the very Elect. But the Elect, who dwells in the light which comes from Chriſt Jeſus, they cannot deceive, in it they are ſeen, and known, and tryed, and made manifeſt to be deceivers, to be the falſe Prophets and Antichriſts, and with the light which comes from Jeſus they are condemned with the world, and turned from withall the children of light. Therefore poor people, who are out of the light, you they do deceive. But thoſe whoſe minds are turned to the light and abides in the light they cannot deceive. And Chriſt Jeſus ſaith, woe unto you when all men ſpeak well of you, for ſo did their fathers of the falſe Prophets, Luke 6.26. Now try them by Scripture, and ſee whether this woe be not upon them, and whether they be not of the falſe Prophet. And Peter ſaith 2 Pet. 2. But there were falſe Prophets among the people. Now try them by that Chapter, and ſee whether theſe be not the falſe Prophets which denies the light which comes from Chriſt Jeſus, their Lord that bought them, and through covetouſneſs ſhall they with feigned words make merchandize of you. Let that in your conſciences now try and ſearch them by the Scripture. The ſame Apoſtle in the foregoing Chapter ſaith, ye have alſo a more ſure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn; and the day-ſtar ariſe in your hearts; knowing this firſt, that no propheſie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, for the propheſie came not in the old time by the will of man, but holy men of God ſpoke is they were moved by the holy Ghoſt. Now ſee whether Peter, and thoſe that draws to the light be the falſe Prophets, or them that denies the light and hates it. Read the 2 Tim. and the 3. Chap. Try them by that Scripture, and ſee if they be not found them that the Apoſtle ſpeaks of there, having a form of godlineſſe, but denying the power, and he ſaith, from ſuch turn away. And ſee if they be not of this ſort which creeps into houſes and calls them Churches, when as the Apoſtle ſaith the Church is in God, and leads captive ſilly women laden with divers luſts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now ſee and try your teachers by theſe Scriptures, and ſee what ye have learned of them all your dayes, that ye have followed them, what you can witneſſe of God or of Chriſt made manifeſt in you: nay, that in your conſciences will confeſſe that ye do not know this outward Scripture, which makes them manifeſt to be the falſe Prophets and deceivers, who draws from the light which gave forth the Scriptures. Even in the knowledge of the outward letter you are blinded by them. Read the 2 Pet. 3.3. ſee if you and they be not found thoſe ſcoffers walking after your own luſts, ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming, and read Jude, and try them, and ſee if they be not found there under the woe that he ſpeaks of, whether they run not greedily after gifts and rewards, and ſo periſh in the gain-ſaying of Corah. And let that in your conſciences which is of God, which reſpects no mans perſon, read and examine thoſe Scriptures, and try them, and ſee whether they be not erred from the light, and ſo draws others from the light, which is and ever was the Saints teacher, and ever ſhall be; from which all the holy men of God ever ſpoke, as they were moved by the holy Ghoſt, and from which light all the Scriptures were given forth, which theſe deceivers takes into their mouths, and draws people from the light that gave forth the Scriptures, and ſo betrayes their ſouls. Therefore all people, to the light in your conſciences which Chriſt Ieſus hath enlightened you withall; turn within, keep to it, and go not forth, nor look not outward; and it will let you ſee the deceivers and betrayers of your ſouls. And if you be faithfull and obedient to it, it will let you ſee your Saviour. Falſe Prophets is in the world, and Antichriſts is in the world, and the deceivers is of the world, and thoſe that do not confeſſe Chriſt come in the fleſh, is of the world. But thoſe that dwells in the light, which Chriſt Jeſus hath enlightened them withal; this leads out of the world, out of the worlds wayes, faſhions, and cuſtoms; and this makes a ſeparation from the world; and this leads up to God. And this light is the condemnation of the world, and the condemnation of all the falſe Prophets and deceivers and Antichriſts which are in the world. And who is faithful and obedient to the light witneſſeth Chriſt made manifeſt, and come in the fleſh, and theſe are no Antichriſts. And theſe are they that goes forth to bear witneſſe againſt the falſe Prophets and Antichriſts which are in the world. And theſe are they that are ſtockt and beat, and impriſoned and perſecuted by thoſe which is of the firſt nature, which is Cains, who ſlew his brother, and this is of the world. And by this generation all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt ſuffer perſecution; and it is our joy and rejoycing not only to believe on him but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake.

All poor people who are in the dark world, blinde, led with the blinde guides; beware and look where you are, leſt both you and they fall into the ditch. And try your leaders by the Scripture, who are pleading for ſin and tranſgreſſion, and telling you that you ſhall not be free from ſin, nor perfect while ye are upon earth. Now is that fulfilling which the Apoſtle Paul ſpoke of, 2 Tim. 3. And the perillous times are come, and woe unto you if ye do not hearken unto the warning of the Lord God, who calls unto you for repentance. And to return to the light of Chriſt Jeſus in your conſciences. And to turn from that ſort which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, having a form of godlineſſe but denying the power; of this ſort is your teachers, which are to be turned away from, which creeps into houſes, and leads ſilly women captive, and ſo keeps you ever learning, and tells you none can be perfect while they are here upon earth. And ſo they plead for ſin and againſt Chriſt Jeſus and the Apoſtles and Prophets, and all the holy men of God. For Chriſt ſaith, be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect, Mat. 5.28. And again, Chriſt ſaith unto the young man which asked him what he lacked yet, if thou wilt be perfect, ſell all that thou haſt, and give to the poor. And again, the Apoſtle ſaid, he preached wiſdome among them that are perfect. And when he parted with the Brethren he bid them be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one minde, 1 Cor. 2.6. & 2 Cor. 10.11. And your teachers tells you that you muſt never be perfect, but that you uſt ſin ſo long as you are upon the earth; and ſo they are Miniſters of Antichriſt and upholders of ſin, and the Devils Kingdom.

Try them by the Scripture, and you ſhall finde them contrary to the doctrine of Chriſt and of the Apoſtles, and not to have received the gifts which he gave to the Prophets, Apoſtles and Evangeliſts, for the perfecting of the Saints, as ye may read Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. And the ſame Apoſtle went about warning every man in all wiſdome, that he might preſent every man perfect in Chriſt Ieſus. Now ſee your leaders and teachers if they have not another ſpirit then Chriſt and the Apoſtles had; who makes it their trade to plead for ſin and againſt perfection, which all that ever were ſent of God preached and prayed for, as the Apoſtle did night and day, praying exceedingly that he might ſee their face, and might perfect that which was wanting in their faith, 1 Theſſ. 3.10. And the Apoſtle Peter prayed that they might be perfect when they had ſuffered a while. And the Apoſtle ſaid, who was a miniſter of Chriſt, that the Scripture was given forth by inſpiration of God, that the man of God might be perfect: and here your teachers are found to be denyers of the Scriptures, and not ſo much as Miniſters of the Letter; who pleads againſt it, & the end it was given forth for: and ſo are found to be Miniſters of Antichriſt, and out of the practice of all that ever taught for God. Noah was a Preacher of righteouſneſſe, and he was a perfect man. Abraham was a friend of God, and God ſaid unto him walk before me, and be thou perfect; and Lot was a juſt man, and the Lord delivered him. And Iob was a perfect and juſt man: And David ſaith, mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace, Pſal. 37.37. And Solomon ſaith, that the upright ſhall dwell in the Land, and the perfect ſhall remain in it, Prov. 2.21. And again he ſaith, That the righteouſneſſe of the perfect ſhall direct his way, Prov. 11.5. Now all people ſearch the Scripture, and try theſe deceivers and betrayers of your ſouls; and let them be witneſſes againſt themſelves that they teach, nor you receive nothing of God from them; for whatſoever is of God in the leaſt meaſure is perfect. The firſt principle that comes from God is perfect; every perfect gift is from above, Jam. 1.17. And the Apoſtle ſaid, as many as be perfect be thus minded: and the Apoſtle ſaith again, we are glad when we are weak, and ye are ſtrong; and this alſo we wiſh, even your perfection, Phil. 3.15. And again he ſaith, Let us go on unto perfection. Now ſee your blinde guides, whether they be not the Miniſters of the myſterie of iniquity, and under the dark power, who pleads for ſin, and againſt perfection; which all that were ſent of God preached for, and prayed for, and laboured for the perfecting of the Saints, and the perfecting holineſſe in the fear of the Lord, 2 Cor. 7.1. Eph. 12.

An Anſwer to the Ranters Principles.

THe Word of the Lord to you Ranters every where, where this may come; who are of the Generation whoſe hearts are turned away from the Lord God, and ſerves the gods of the Nations: your root beareth gall and wormwood, and ye are under the curſe, and your bleſſings are curſt, though you may bleſſe your ſelves in your hearts; ſaying, I ſhall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my heart, and adde drunkenneſſe to thirſt: But the Lord will not ſpare you when his anger kindles, and his jealouſie ſhall ſmoak; then all the curſes that are written in the book ſhall lye upon you, and your name ſhall be blotted out from under heaven, Deut. 29.19, 20.

RANTERS.

And whereas you ſay, God is darkneſs as well as light, and that there is but one power, &c.

Anſw.

That is Blaſphemy, and thy meſſage is for the Prince of darkneſſe, and thou art in the Land of darkneſs, and the ſhaddow of death, where thy light is darkneſſe, where thou art driven from the light into darkneſſe, under the curſe, ſeparted from God, under the power of the Prince of the Air, which rules in the children of diſobedience, and there thou ſhalt have thy portion. And he who is the meſſenger of the living God, who declares that which was from the beginning; which he had heard, which he had ſeen; and handled the word of life, which bears witneſſe unto the living God; this is the meſſage that he declares; that God is light, and in him is no darkneſſe at all, 1 John 1. And thou that ſaith this, knows not him who is the Covenant of light, who is given a light to enlighten the Gentiles; but art one that doth evil, and hates the light, neither cometh to the light, leſt thy deeds ſhould be reproved, and therefore thou art for condemnation with the light. And the Apoſtle ſaith, what Communion hath light with darkneſſe, 2 Cor. 6.14. and thou ſaith God is darkneſſe as well as light; and thou ſaith there is but one power, but thou ſhalt find another power then that which thou acts under, and for, and in, which ſhall overturn and confound thee and thy power, and turn thee into the bottomleſſe pit, which art the beaſt which hath ſeven heads and ten horns, and upon thy head is the names of Blaſphemy, and thou worſhippeſt the Dragon, and gives thy power unto the Beaſt; and thou ſpeakeſt great things, and blaſphemies, but thy power is limitted, Rev. 13. from the 1. verſe to the 7. and thou brings two Scriptures, Col. 3.11. and Eph. 1.11. which neither of them belongs to thee, nor none of thy generation, who art an enemy of God, and all righteouſneſſe.

RAN.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, nothing is contrary to the one power, which is God; nothing works againſt him, nothing oppoſes him, nothing is contrary to his will; whatever is done, it is his will.

Anſw.

That is likewiſe falſe and blaſphemy; thou and thy power is contrary, and acts contrary to the power of God, and therefore doth thou and thy power give life unto the Image of the beaſt; that the Image of the beaſt ſhould ſpeak, that the Image of the Beaſt ſhould ſpeak, and doth ſpeak in thee. And thou worſhips the Dragon, which gives power unto the beaſt, Rev. 13.15. and thou exerciſeth the power of the firſt beaſt, whoſe deadly wound was healed; and this thy power is contrary to the power of God, and the power of the living God ſhall binde and chain thee, and the Dragon whom thou worſhips, and ſhall caſt thee into the pit. And thou nor none in thy nature, nor of thy ſpirit nor power, doth the will of God: for he that doth the will of God enters into the Kingdome, which thou nor none of thy generation ever ſhall. For he that doth the will of God, is he whom God hath ſent, of whom it is written in the volume of the book; loe I come to do thy will oh God: and it is his meat and drink to do the will of him that ſent him. Which thou knows nothing of, but art an enemy to him, and all who are of him; and acts in thy filthy will, which is of the fleſh, luſt, and uncleanneſſe, wallowing in thy filthineſſe. But thou art ſhut out from God, and all who are of him, for by the will of God, we are ſanctified through the offering of the body of Jeſus Chriſt once for all, which thou art an enemy to, and art ſhut from for ever.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, Man in his Carnall apprehenſions of God, calls one thing good, and another thing evil. But in him all things are good, for all things are of him.

Anſw.

Thou dark blinde ſot, Thou art in thy carnal apprehenſions, and ſo neither knows the good nor the evil, but art under the woe, and art him which calls evil good, and good evil, and put darkneſſe for light, and light for darkneſſe, that puts bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter, Iſa. 5:20. And thou enemy of the living God, knows not what is in him, neither art thou of him, but art in thy ſins, and filthineſſe, ſeparated from him, and all who are of him. And thou brings a Scripture in the 2 Cor. 5.18. which is nothing to thee, who art in thy filthineſſe and uncleanneſſe, for who the Apoſtle ſpoke to there, it was the New-creature, where the old things were paſt away, and all things were become new. And thou art in thy old ſins, and old filthineſſe yet, and Chriſt Jeſus, who is the reconciliation of all things that are of God, is thy condemnation, and ſhall be thy deſtruction for ever.

RANT.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, While man calls one thing good, and another thing evil, he ſees not with the eye of God, who ſaw all things very good.

Anſw.

Thou art blinde from thy birth, and doth not ſee with the eye of God, and therefore doth not know the good nor the evil. And who ſees with the eye of God, ſees thee to be evil, and that ſeed which cauſeth the evil, and brought the curſe upon the earth for thy ſake, and the creature under the bondage of corruption, who goes upon thy belly, and duſt doſt thou eat, and the eye of God turns thee the wicked into hell, & all that forget God, which is thy place of torment which thou ſhalt find, and to thee nothing is good.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, all things are reconciled to the one power which is God, earth and heaven, light and darkneſſe, good and evil.

Anſw.

Thou who art for torments and flames would be reconciled to God, but thou ſhalt finde the wrath of the Lamb, who is come to Torment thee before thy time, Mat. 8.29. & weeping and wailing thou ſhall finde Mark. 5.7. Lu. 8.28. And no reconciliation to God there is for thee, who art drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and worſhippeth the beaſt and his Image, and receiveth his mark in thy fore-head. Therfore ſhall thou drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and ſhall be tormented with fire and brimſtone, in the preſence of his holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb, Rev. 14.8, 9, 10. And this thou ſhalt eternally witneſſe, who would have light and darkneſs reconciled together. And thou brings a Scripture in the 2 Cor. 5.19. To wit, that God is in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf. But to Chriſt Jeſus, by which all things are reconciled, thou art an enemy of him, and of his truth, and of all righteouſneſſe. For if light and darkneſs had been one as thou ſaith, Chriſt needed not have come to reconcile the world to himſelf, ſo thou haſt brought this Scripture to thy own deſtruction to make thy blaſphemy more manifeſt.

RANT.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, that which is evil to one, is good to another, one mans light is anothers darkneſſe; one man accounts it ſin to obſerve a day, and another accounts it ſin not to obſerve a day, and the third is free to both, either to obſerve, or not to obſerve, for he is brought into the Liberty of the Sons of God, and is free to all things.

Anſw.

That which is good to thee is evill to all who are of God and abominable art thou, and that which thou lives in, to God; and all who are obedient to his will. And the light that is in thee is darkneſſe; and ſo how great is that darkneſſe: and thou art in bondage and ſlavery of ſin, and thy filthy luſts and uncleanneſs, & ſervant to them, and ſo thou art not ſo much as obſerving a day, or not a day unto the Lord. But art the ſervant of ſin and uncleanneſſe; ſpeaking great ſwelling words of vanity, and allure through the luſts of the fleſh through much wantonneſſe; thoſe who were clean eſcaped from you, who lives in error, and ſo while ye are promiſing your ſelves liberty, you your ſelves are the ſervants of corruption, 2 Pet. 2.18, 19. For of whom a man is overcome, of the ſame he is brought into bondage. And the liberty of the Sons of God, thou nor none of thy ſpirit ſhall never know. And thou who haſt liberties to all things, art ſhut out from the liberty of the Sons of God, which is purchaſed by the Son of God, who bindes and chains thee and thy liberty.

RANT.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, Man in his Carnall apprehenſions of the one power, which is God, calls one thing clean, and another thing unclean; but in the ſight of God, all things are good and clean. But to man that eſteem and apprehends a thing to be evil, to him it is evil; but in the ſight of God, all things, and all wayes are clean and good.

Anſw.

Thou who art carnal, and in thy apprehenſions, knows not the power which is of God, nor favours the things which be of God, and that which puts the difference betwixt the clean and unclean, and makes the ſeparation betwixt the precious and the vile, to this thou art an enemy; but this hath found thee out, and hath ſeparated thee, and all of thy ſpirit from God, and all who are of him; on the left hand amongſt the Goats thou art, and all of thy nature, and of thy ſpirit is for the fire and deſtruction; and the ſword of the Lord ſhall cut thee down root and branch, who art the curſed tree, that cannot bring forth good fruit, and in the ſight of God thou art filthy, polluted, and unclean, who to thee is a conſuming fire, and thou art before him as ſtubble. Thou brings a Scripture in the 14. Rom. 14. where the Apoſtle ſaith, There is nothing unclean of it ſelf; but to thee who art art unclean, filthy and polluted there is nothing clean; but all is defiled by thee, who lives in the luſt of uncleanneſſe.

RANT.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, Whatſoever hath been done in darkneſſe may be done in the light; as ſwearing, lying, drunkenneſſe, cheating, which being done in the light, are done in faith, and what is of faith is not ſin.

Anſw.

Here thou haſt made it manifeſt, that thy light is darkneſſe, that thy faith is vain, who art yet in thy ſins; and that thy God is the god of the world, and that the Devil, who is the father of lyes, and of oaths, and drunkenneſſe, and of all ſin, is thy God. And ſo as I ſaid to thee before, thou and thy god is to be bound and chained by the Angel, who hath the key of the bottomleſſe pit, and art to be caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone, where the Beaſt and the falſe Prophet are and ſhall be tormented day and night for ever, Rev. 20.10.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, One power act all things, which appear ſometime in darkneſſe and ſometimes in light, ſometimes in glory, ſometimes in ſhame as to the Creature, yet in God light and darkneſſe, glory and ſhame is one. I the Lord do all theſe things; ſo one power.

Anſw.

That power that acts thee is limitted, and bound, and chained, and comprehended, and thy compaſſe is known and ſeen, with that which was before thee and thy power was, which ſeals thee up in thy torment for evermore. And thy glory is thy ſhame, and thy God is thy belly, who mindes earthly things. And thy power acts in the darkneſſe, and with the light which never changeth, which comes from Jeſus, who is the light of the world, thou art condemned into the pit of darkneſs, and from God, who is the father of light, thou art ſhut for ever eternally, who doth all things by his power.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, All things that be are brought out by one wiſdome; which inventions all that are found out by one wiſedome are found out. And no invention oppoſeth this wiſdom, every invention being found out by this wiſdom.

Anſw.

Here thou ſerpent is ſpewing forth thy poyſon and blaſphemy indeed, which would lay the deceit and ſubtilty of the ſerpent, which lodgeth in thy boſom, upon God. But the Lord God lifteth up his hand againſt thee, to overthrow thy ſeed, who hath joyned thy ſelf to Baal-Peor, and provoked the Lord to anger with thy inventions, and the plagues ſhall break in upon thee, for the Lord will take vengence upon thy inventions, who art defiled with thy own works, and goes a whoring after thy own invention, Pſal. 99.8. & 106. Pſal. 28.39. And the righteous God will be avenged on thee for thy blaſphemy; and thou brings a Scripture in Prov. 8.12. where Solomon ſaith, I Wiſdom dwells with prudence, and finds out knowledge of witty Inventions. Oh thou blaſphemous Beaſt, this is a myſterie to thee which lives in thy luſts and uncleanneſſe. He ſaith in the next verſe, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate. Doſt thou ſo, who art pleading for all manner of vileneſſe and filthineſſe? Oh thou abominable wretch, who lives in that which Solomon hated.

R.

And thou ſayeſt, Men in their dark knowledge of the one power in his ſeveral workings, ſay one number worſhips one God, the god of the world; another company a God which is not of the world, when as God is but one, working according to the good pleaſure of his will,

Anſw.

Thou who art in thy dark knowledge, under the Prince of the power of darkneſſe, doth not know, nor never ſhall know the eternall power of the living God, but to thy deſtruction; for he is come and made manifeſt, which reproves the world of ſin, and of righteouſneſſe, and of Judgment, John 16.8. and now is the time that thou and thy God is judged, and thy number, as thou calls them, who art of the number of the Beaſt, Rev. 13.18. And the one God, which was before thee and thy god was, thou knows not, which ſhall be God when thou art in the lake.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, God loves, and takes pleaſure in all things in darkneſſe as well as in the light, for darkneſſe and light is both alike to him.

Anſw.

That is falſe and Blaſphemy; for in thee, who art darkneſſe, God doth not take pleaſure, neither love; for God hath no pleaſure in wickedneſſe; neither ſhall evil dwell with him. The fooliſh ſhall not ſtand in his ſight; he hates all the workers of iniquity, and will deſtroy all them that ſpeaks lyes. The Lord doth abhor the bloody and deceitfull man; God hath no pleaſure in fools, Pſal. 5.4, 5, 6. Who is there among you that would ſhut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine Altar for nought; I have no pleaſure in you ſaith the Lord of Hoaſts; neither will I accept an offering at your hands, Mal. 1.10. And thou brings a Scripture in the 139. Pſal. 12. which Scripture thou ſhalt witneſſe upon thee fulfilled; for thy darkneſs ſhall not hide thee nor cover thee; for the Almighty ſhall finde thee out: and the wrath of the Lamb. Thou who doth live in pleaſures on the earth, and art wanton, and nouriſheth thy heart, as in a day of ſlaughter, and haſt condemned and killed the Juſt, Jam. 5.5. And thou ſhalt receive the reward of unrighteouſneſs as they that count it pleaſure to riot in the day time, 2 Pet. 2.13. who art a lover of pleaſures more then a lover of God, and art ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, 2 Tim. 3.4. & Tit. 3.3.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, one power doth all things, evill and good, being ſo to the low apprehenſion of man, but all alike in God.

Anſw.

That is falſe and blaſphemy, that power that acts thee doth evil, and cannot be good, Mark 1.18. And thou art the evil and not the good, who calls the evil good and the good evil; and thou art he that hateth the good and loves the evil, Rom. 3.12. & Micha 3.2. And thy reſurrection ſhall be for damnation, John 5. 29. And thou brings a Scripture Amos 3.6. which is fulfilling; the Lion is roaring, and the prey is taking, and the bird is fallen into the ſnare, and the trumpet is blowing in the City and thou art afraid; and the evil that ſhall be done unto thee, the Lord doth it.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, Darkneſſe may be made light, as the one power makes himſelf known, who is light, and all whoſe deeds are light, though darkneſs to the Creatures preſent apprehenſion.

Anſw.

Thou who art darkneſs it ſelf, and ſo an enemy to the light and a hater of the light, thou ſhalt never ſee light. And to thee the eternall power of the living God is made known for thy deſtruction. For where Chriſt is made manifeſt, he is made manifeſt to deſtroy the works of the devil; and thou art vain in thy imaginations, and thy fooliſh heart is darkened.

R.

And thou brings a Scripture, Iſaiah 42.16. where it is ſaid, I will bring the blinde by a way they know not; I will lead them by pathes that they have not known, I will make darkneſs light before them, and crooked wayes ſtraight.

Anſ.

Here let the Scripture confound thee, who art yet blind and unled into the way; and the pathes that thou art in leads to deſtruction; and the way of peace thou knows not: But art in the crooked wayes of filthineſſe and uncleanneſs, and art not yet come to be aſhamed of thy graven Images, and molten Images which thou calls thy Gods.

R.

And whereas thou ſayes, What doth holineſs ſave, or ungodlineſs deſtroy as you apprehend them to be.

Anſw.

Holineſs ſaveth that which thou the ungodly deſtroyes; and the Lord God who is a jealous God, his anger is kindled againſt thee, and will deſtroy thee from the face of the Earth. For he that defiles the Temple of God, him will God deſtroy, and miſerably will he deſtroy the wicked men, Mat. 21.41. And thou that makes the members of Chriſt the members of an harlot, and ſaith meat is for the belly, and the belly for meat; but God ſhall deſtroy both it and thee; and the body is not for fornication but for the Lord, 1 Cor. 6.13, 15. And now we know what hath with-holden that he might be revealed in his time; and the myſtery of iniquity doth already work in thee, onely he who letteth will let, untill he be taken out of the way, and then ſhall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord ſhall conſume with the ſpirit of his mouth, and ſhall deſtroy with the brightneſs of his coming; that they might all be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs, 2 Theſſ. from the 3. to the 13. And here is thy portion, and this thou ſhalt finde fulfilled and witneſſed to thy deſtruction. For thou Son of perdition, and man of ſin is revealed.

R.

And thou brings a Scripture in the 12. Eccl. 7. where it is ſaid, duſt goeth to the earth, and the Spirit to God that gave it.

Anſw.

But he that ſpoke this lived not in filthineſs and undeanneſs; for he ſaith that which thou lives in is vanity, which thou filthy beaſt would ſet up, which was pulled down in him. Neither doth thou know thoſe conditions he ſpoke before he ſaid theſe words. But to thee they are a myſterie, and thy ſpirit doth not return to God: for to the place of torment amongſt the devils and damned in hell doth thy ſpirit return, where is weeping, wailing and gnaſhing of teeth.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, That which befals the ſons of men, befals beaſts, they have all one breath, all go to one place, is the one dyeth, ſo dyeth the other; all are of the duſt, and turn is the duſt, and what preheminence hath a man above a beaſt?

Anſw.

Thou art as the beaſt that periſheth, who art in the place of Judgement where wickedneſs is, and the place of thy righteouſneſs, where iniquity is, which is all in the wickedneſs and tranſgreſſion. And now is the time that God is judging thee, and thou art made manifeſt to be the beaſt and the falſe Prophet which is to be turned into the Lake. And this befals all the ſons of men who are in the beaſtly nature thou lives in, and all who are in that nature, that worſhips the beaſt, and goes all into one place of torment, as thou ſhalt finde. But that which is prepared for the lake ſhall not return to the duſt; though thou would have it ſo: and thou beaſt, and thy ſpirit which is of the beaſt, that goes downward to the earth. Thou knows not the ſpirit of a man that goes upward. For thou art he whom the decree of the moſt high is gone forth againſt, and thy portion is with the beaſts of the field, and thou art driven from the Sons of men. And thy heart is made fat like the beaſts, and thy dwelling is with the wilde Aſſes, the 5. Dan. 21.

R.

And whereas thou ſayeſt, Man in his carnall apprehenſions of God accounts one thing lawful, and another thing, unlawful calls one way godly and another way ungodly. When as there is no ſuch thing, for he that is in the liberty of the Sons of God, to him all things are lawful as they were to Paul.

Anſw.

Thou who art in thy carnall apprehenſions of God, is in the world without God, and thou art alive without the Law, not come to know the Law yet, but art dead in ſins and treſpaſſes. And thou that lives in pleaſure art dead while thou lives, and thou lives unto ſin, and ſo art free from righteouſneſs, & the Law which is holy, juſt and good, ſhall cut thee to pieces; and thou art not yet come to know the Law, nor what is lawfull, which every one paſſeth through before they come to know the liberty of the Sons of God: which Law cuts down all thy carnall apprehenſions of God. Oh thou blaſphemer, doſt thou ſay that there is no ſuch thing as lawfull and unlawfull, godlineſſe and ungodlineſſe? would thou lay waſt the Scriptures, and make void the righteous Law of God which takes hold of the tranſgreſſor? and would thou trample upon the blood of the New-Covenant, and count it an unholy thing? Oh the day of vengence is coming upon thee, and the Lord God is cloathed with vengence againſt thee, and all ſuch as thou art.

And thou who ſits at the Table of devils, art ſhut out from the liberty of the Sons of God, and knows not the condition that Paul had paſſed through. For when thou knows that, it will be death and deſtruction to thee. And this thou ſhalt eternally witneſſe, before ever thou come to know the living God.

R.

And whereas thy ſayeſt; This is the liberty that the Sons of God are to ſtand faſt in, and to thruſt out that which would ſhew any evil in any thing whatſoever: ſeeing in God all things are lawfull, and for every thing under the Sun there is a time and a ſeaſon.

Anſw.

Thou blaſphemous beaſt that thruſts out all that would ſhew any evil in any thing, who art in thy fleſhly liberty, and luſt of uncleanneſs, and all manner of filthineſs; thou art ſhut out from the preſence of God, and all that are of him, with that which ſhews ſin and evil: and that ſhews and knows thee to be for deſtruction and condemnation in the lake that burns. And this limits thy liberty, and cuts it ſhort. And the liberty of the Sons of God, thou nor none of thy ſpirit ſhall ever know, which is purchaſed by Jeſus Chriſt, which thou art a crucifier of, and an enemy to, and this was the liberty the Apoſtle exhorts to ſtand faſt in, which bindes, and chains thee, and condemns thee; and who is in this liberty, ſees thee the devils bond-ſlave; And what is in God thou knows not, neither knows thou what God is. And thou art under the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, lying wallowing in thy earthly luſt and unncleanneſs, and the earth is curſed for thy ſake, and the living God hath curſt thee above all the beaſts in the field.

R.

And whereas thou ſayes. One councell orders all, and one wiſdome effects and determines all, and of one all learn knowledge and wiſdome, and this councell nothing reſiſts. This councel were they ordered by, who crucified the Son of God.

Anſw.

Thou art the Rebellious, ſtiff-necked and uncircumciſed, who art not ordered by the Councel of the Lord. And in that thou ſaith, one Councel orders all; thou art a Lyar, and the Lord witneſſes againſt thee: wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Amaziah, and he ſent unto him a Prophet; and it came to paſs as he talked with him, the King ſaid unto him, art thou of the Kings Counſel, forbear; Then the Prophet forbore, and ſaid, I know that God hath determined to deſtroy thee, becauſe thou haſt done this, and haſt not hearkened to my Counſel, 2 Chron. 25.15, 16. Here is the Kings Councel, and Gods Counſel. And Solomon ſaith, But ye have ſet at nought all my Councel, and would have none of my reproof. I will alſo laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh, Prov. 1.25. to 30. And thou art one of the wicked Councellors that doth imagine evil againſt the Lord, and he will make an utter end of thee, and all of thy ſpirit. For though ye be folded together as thorns, & are drunken as drunkards, ye ſhal be devoured as ſtubble fully dry, there is one that come out of thee that imagines evil againſt the Lord, a wicked Councellor, Nahum 1.11, And thou haſt made it manifeſt that thou art one of them that took Councel together to put him to death. And thou who crucifies him, rejects his Councel, Luke. 7.30. And thy wiſdom is carnal, ſenſual and divelliſh, James 3.15. 1 Cor. 1.19, and by the wiſdome of God, thou and thy wiſdom ſhall be deſtroyed.

R.

And thou ſayeſt, He that hath faith and liberty to do all things, to him nothing is unclean nor unlawfull, to him every thing is pure.

Anſw.

Thou who haſt liberty to do all things art unclean, filthy and polluted, and art without faith, and thy liberty is bondage; and from the living God thou art driven to under the curſe and bondage of Corruption, and thou that art ſervant to ſin, art free from Righteouſneſs, Ro. 6.20. And to thee who art in the luſt of uncleanneſs, acted by the dark power, and to thee who art unclean and impure, nothing is pure, whoſe conſcience is defiled; and thou brings a Scripture in 1 Tit. 15. where it is ſaid, To the pure all things are pure. Oh thou Blaſphemer, what is this to thee, who art defiled and filthy? Doth not the Apoſtles words follow. But unto the unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their minds and conciences are defiled. They profeſs that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and diſobedient, and unto every good work being reprobate, and there thou art.

R.

And whereas thou ſaith, The ſeed of the ſerpent is curſed, and no bleſſing belongs to it, and the ſeed of God, God will ſave, God will ſave his own; what doth mans doing advantage him, or not doing disadvantage him?

Anſw.

Here thou ſerpent haſt made thy ſelf manifeſt to be the curſed ſeed indeed, who hath twined, and twiſted about, tempting into ſin and tranſgreſſion all thy paper through, and pleaded for luſt, filthineſſe, and uncleanneſs, and liberty of the fleſh, which luſteth againſt the ſpirit; and now at laſt thou haſt uttered forth thy blaſphemy and confuſion, and laid thy ſelf open to all. If thou wilt have two ſeeds, the ſeed of the ſerpent, and the ſeed of God. In this thou haſt overturned and confounded all that ever thou haſt ſpoken in thy paper before. So thou art judged out of thy own mouth, and all that thou haſt pleaded for before, thou haſt overturned by this.

Before thou ſaid God was darkneſs as well as light, and both being alike to him, and all acted by one power, and good and evil one, and ſin, and holineſſe one, and all things that be are wrought by one wiſdome. And ſaid invention is found out by that wiſdome. And whatſoever hath been done in darkneſs, may be done in the light; and that God loves and takes pleaſure in all things.

And now thou ſayeſt, the ſeed of the ſerpent is curſt; theſe are thy own words: And here thou art found with lyes and confuſion in thy mouth, and ſo thou ſerpent art curſt. And all lying is of the devil; & he is the father of all theſe Blaſphemies that thou haſt uttered. And thy actings doth not advantage, for thou treaſureſt up wrath againſt the day of wrath, and the wrath of the Lord God will finde thee out, and the plagues of God thou ſhalt witneſſe, for they are thy portion.

R.

And whereas thou or ſome of thy ſpirit hath ſaid that there was nothing betwixt you Ranters, and the quakers, only they did not ſee all things to be theirs, ſo were in bondage; but they would grow up to you.

Anſw.

Them whom thou calls quakers doth utterly deny thee, and all of thy Principles, and all the Ranters is by us denyed; and your Practiſes we abhor. And in the eternall light which never changes do we ſee you and know you. And with that which was before the world was; do we try your ſpirits, and comprehend your bottom and foundation, and Race you out from the preſence of the Lord, and all who are of him; And in the dread and power of the living God, do we Judge and try you and your God, which is the God of the world and the Prince of the Air which now is come to be judged; and do judge and condemn both him and you into the Lake which burns. And this is from the quakers which you ſay is not yet come to you, but is from you ſeparated eternally.

M.F.
Errata.

Page the 2. l. the 22. for ſhew, r. ſlew, l. the 32. for learn, r. turn, p. 3. l the 10. for it is time to come, r. his time is come, p. 11. l. 30. for let al that try you, r. let that try you, p. 12. l. 8. for profeſs, r. poſſeſs, l. 9. r. profeſs

FINIS.