THis is given forth to all Friends and Brethren who look upon themſelves to be Elders and Teachers of others, who think that they have both a right and a power to be Judges in the Churches called Quakers, in matters of Religion, Principles, and Practiſes; which thing only belongs to God, in the Worſhip of God in matters of Conſcience.

Friends, I do deny that man hath any Rule, Power, Dominion, Government, or Authority, either given or committed unto him from the Lord, as pertaining to the Conſcience in things relating to the worſhip of God; for all Power in Heaven and Earth, Rule, Authority, and Dominion, belongeth unto Chriſt the Light, the inviſible power which dwells in all Men and Women as pertaining to the Conſcience; and all Glory and Honour, Praiſe and Thanksgiving is to be given by man to Chriſt the Light which is in them, becauſe he is the only Redeemer, and the Saviour of the Souls, and the Salvation of the ends of the Earth; and ſo there is no glory to be given to man, although he be born of the Light; but all is to be given to Chriſt the Light in Man, unto whom alone it doth belong, who is the true Miniſter, and hath power in himſelf to teach all the Sons and Daughters of men, who hear his voice and obey him. Wherefore, whoſoever doth exalt Chriſt the Light, who is the true Miniſter, before themſelves, by Chriſt the Light within ſhall thoſe be exalted, otherwiſe, by the Light within they muſt be overturned; for it never was Antechriſt in the heart nor yet Antechriſt in thoſe which meet together to wait upon God in true ſilence, the which brought in falſe Doctrine, Errour, and Hereſie among us Quakers, or other Sects whatſoever; but it was Antechriſt in the Prieſts and falſe Prophets, which was the inſtrumental cauſe by the which the Jews of old were lead into Errour; and it was Antechriſt in thoſe heaps of Teachers, that lead the Churches of the Gentiles into errour in the Apoſtle Pauls days, and ſo read down from the Apoſtle Pauls days to this day, ever ſince the night of Apoſtacy came over the Churches of the Gentiles; and it hath been Antichriſt in and among the Gentiles Teachers, the which hath had dominion over all, both great and ſmall, who have given their power to the Beaſt.

Friends, This is my Judgement, Faith, and Belief, that whatſoever is written to the Churches called Quakers, by either Man or Men, Elders or Bodies by way of Exhortation, Advice, or Counſel, or Admonition, or by way of dehortation, or for warning them of Evil in matters of Conſcience, which thing belongs to God, it ought to be written to the Churches, both in, and by, and from the Holy Ghoſt, which is Gods infallible Spirit, and the word of Eternal Life, and alſo the Spirit of Revelation, yea and all Declarations, all Preachings and Prayings in the Churches called Quakers whereſoever, it is the Holy Ghoſt which is to ſpeak in every Veſſel; ſo that no Man or Woman is either to Pray or Preach, or cauſe any thing to be Printed and ſent among the Churches, but what comes in and from the Holy Ghoſt, otherwiſe it is not to be owned by the Churches, for Moſes he received the Law from the mouth of God, before he delivered it to the Children of Iſrael, and Paul he wrote his Epiſtles to the Churches of the Gentiles, in, and by, and from the Spirit of Revelation, and John he was in the Spirit of the Lord when he wrote to the ſeven Churches of Aſia. Wherefore your Paper to the Churches, it is not to be own'd by the Churches, in as much as it was written from a ſight, or a ſence, and from the ſenceable part, and not in and from the Spirit of Revelation: now whatſoever is written declared, or given forth in the ſight, or in the ſence, or from the ſenſible part, it is not to be owned, for the ſenceable part is that which hath been in the tranſgreſſion with the woman, with all her ſights and ſenſes, in every viſible man, and this is ſhe which feeds upon the fruit the which the tree of knowledge bears; for things being opened to her in the underſtanding, by the Spirit of Truth, ſhe having received the ſights and the openings, Antichriſt being near, the mind not being kept in the Watch, his work is, to draw the mind from him which openeth, into the myſteries which are recorded in the Book of the Scriptures, which myſteries are opened to the Woman by the Spirit of Truth, and thus Antichriſt has cheated thouſands; for the Woman is the ſole mind or heart in every viſible Man and Woman, which is accompanied with an underſtanding part, and a knowing part, and a ſenſible part, and an affectionate part, and a comprehending part; for it has been the work of that old Adverſary which is called the Devil, in ages paſt to ſteal the mind from him which openeth into thoſe things, the which are opened by the Light within that is to ſay, to draw the mind and inward ſenſes from the Light into the Letter, and from the word into the words, and from him which openeth, into the things which are opened; and if Antichriſt hath thus but once captivated the mind, then he will ſoon finiſh his work, and the Creature ſhall not diſcern it for the preſent; for Antichriſt he will bring a Vail over the underſtandings of Men and Women, and yet they for the preſent cannot perceive it; and thus the Woman, which is one with the ſenſible part, both in the Male and in the Female, ſhe having received the things which were opened by the Spirit of truth, ſhe aſſuming authority to her ſelf to ſpeak in the Church, not from him which opens, but from thoſe things which are opened, Antechriſt being transformed in the mind and underſtanding: Now this Woman ſhe is not permitted by the Law, which is Light, not to ſpeak in the Church with a vocal voice, neither is ſhe to pray in the Church, but ſhe is to return to Chriſt, who is the Light within, who daily diſcovers her ſtate and condition unto her, and alſo makes manifeſt her ſin; and her place is to obey the Light, and to be made willing to dwell in ſilence, until the Light within hath redeemed her from under the power of death and darkneſs within, and then the power which hath redeemed her, he is to ſpeak in the Church, and not the Woman; but her place is to wait at the feet of Chriſt the Light within; for ſhe is neither to preach nor pray in the Church, although ſhe be redeemed: but if ſhe lacks any thing, ſhe is to ask her Husband at home; for there is an inviſible woman in every viſible man, and there is an inviſible man in every viſible woman; and the man Chriſt Jefus, who is the Light of the world, he is in them both, and it is he which is to ſpeak in the Church, and not the woman, for her place is to be obedient, and in ſubjection to her Husband; for the firſt viſible man God formed of the duſt of the ground, and God created and made the firſt inviſible man Adam a living Soul, and he was under the dominion of the heavenly power and ſpirit, and then he was a heavenly man; but he lending an ear to the Serpent when he ſpake in the woman, and by his receiving of his counſel, the Serpent beguiled him, as he had done the woman, and ſo he loſt the enjoyment of the heavenly power, and ſo he became like the woman, he being brought under the dominion of the earthly ſpirit and power, and ſo he loſt his habitation in God, and was brought under the power of death.

Friends, I do not own the judgement and opinion of thoſe Miniſters, nor yet their ſuperiority, who ſaith, he that is not juſtified by the witneſs of God in friends, is condemned by it in himſelf: now Juſtification is by Chriſt alone, who is the head in every member, and the only rule for them to walk by; and if they ſin againſt him, then he is their reprover, and alſo their condemner and chaſtiſer.

And again, you ſay in your paper, that none are to miniſter, but thoſe who are reconciled to the Church, and have the approbation of the Elders. Now the Scripture ſaith, that God was in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf, and not to the Church, I do remember no ſuch Scripture. Now Chriſt the Light within, he will not give his power and authority out of his own hand to any man or men; for unto him alone is all Judgement in Heaven and Earth committed in matters of conſcience; but you ſay it is abominable pride in any who will not admit of any Judgment to take place againſt them whom you do look upon as an offender; but I ſay, all power both to judge and to condemn, and alſo to juſtifie and to reconcile, it properly belongs to the Light, who is the head in every member: Wherefore this is my teſtimony, that you never received your authority from God, who is the Light within, neither will the Scriptures juſtifie your authority: Wherefore I would have you in Gods witneſs ſeriouſly to conſider, what you have done in putting that writing of yours upon record, for that may prove as great a ſnare to the generation of the Quakers in ages to come, as the authority of the Church of Rome hath been to the Papiſts in ages and generations paſt, and is to this day.

And Friends, this I have further to bear my teſtimony againſt, that is, your impoſing ſuch Books upon Friends, as you ſhall think good to put to print. When theſe Books came firſt into the Country among the Churches called Quakers, then every member was left free, either to buy them, or to let them alone; and if Friends did not buy them, nor they could not be ſold to others, then they were to be returned to the quarterly meeting again, and then the thing was well; but now it is not ſo: for now the Churches muſt take them off, and that which is almoſt as bad, is this, that the money which is gathered as collection amongſt us, for the relief of the poor, out of that money the books muſt be paid for, and ſo the old Engliſh Proverb is fulfilled, the poor muſt pay for all. Friends, this is a thing I do believe, was ſcarce ever heard of, that ſome ſhould print packets of ſeveral books, and injoyn others to buy them: Friends, in theſe things you do not only put a yoak of Bondage upon your Brethren, but you alſo rob God of his honour, whoſe right it is alone both to rule and raign in the Churches, and to have the dominion over them, becauſe that he by his inviſible ſpirit and power at firſt did gather them; for there is ſo much of his ſpirit and power both manifeſted and given to man and woman, that if they hear the ſpirit, and own Chriſt the Light within, and believe in him, and obey his voice, that then he will manifeſt his power, in the redeeming their Souls from death to life; for it is not Chriſt the Light in me which can redeem neither man nor woman; neither is it Chriſt the Light in any man or men, neither Churches nor Bodies which can redeem my Soul from death to life; wherefore your dictates and impoſitions is no rule for me to walk by, except that Chriſt the Light in you can do theſe things following for me, which Chriſt the Light in me, is able to do for me, and alſo for all that hears his voice and obeys him. For Chriſt the Light within me is able to bruiſe the Serpents head, and he is able to break down the partition Wall that ſeparates between God and my Soul, and he is able to open my underſtanding, and to open the book of the Scriptures, and alſo rend the vail of my underſtanding, and he is able to make me wiſer then all my teachers, he is able to cleanſe my Soul from ſin, and to give me true reſt and peace, and he is able to ſanctifie both Soul and Body, he is able to redeem my Soul to himſelf, and to keep me in the greateſt hour of temptation that can come upon me, and the Light within is able to reconcile both man and woman to God again, and Chriſt the Light within is able to lead him into captivity who hath captivated my Soul, and he is able to give life to my Soul, and to raiſe it from under the power of death and darkneſs, and to tranſlate it into the Kingdom of Light and Life, he is alſo able to break, and he is alſo able to bind up that which he hath broken, and to heal that which he hath wounded, and to convince the whole world of ſin, and he is able to Juſtifie both man and woman.

If either Men, Miniſters or Elders, Bodies or Churches, are able to do any of theſe foregoing things for me, then ſhall their dictates and impoſitions be a rule for me to walk by.

Now I do believe, that God who is Light, and ſhews unto man his thoughts, that he is infallible, and that there is no fallibility attends him, but there is a fallibility attends all thoſe who are regenerated and born of the Spirit of God who is Light, and that it is poſſible for them to err from the Light again, the enemy which is the power of darkneſs preſenting to them the fruit of the tree of knowledge whilſt they are in Eden, their minds taking delight in it, and they feeding upon it, the enemy hath power to draw their minds out of Eden again.

Wherefore I do believe, that I ought not to ſubject my ſelf to what the Church impoſeth; for then I muſt believe, that it is God in them which doth impoſe thoſe Yoakes of bondage upon their Brethren, and alſo that the Church is infallible, and cannot erre, which thing I do not believe, for then I muſt believe theſe ſeveral particulars following.

Firſt, I muſt believe that they are as infallible as God is, and that it is as impoſſible for them to erre, as it is for God to erre. Secondly, That no man nor woman ſhall ever attain to any higher meaſure of the grace of God then they, and that they are come to the higheſt Revelation that can be attainable by the Spirit of God. Thirdly, And that there is no more to be made known by the Spirit of God, in the Sons and Daughters of men, but what is already made known to them. Fourthly, Or if there be any thing more to be revealed by the ſpirit of God, that God will make it known to them, and to none elſe: the which thing I cannot believe.

Friends, I would have you ſeriouſly to take into your conſideration ſome of your Doctrines and Principles which are commonly preached amongſt us, how they can ſtand with Gods Soveraignty, Dominion, and Glory, that either the Seed or God ſhould ariſe in man.

Whether the Light or Spirit, Seed and God, be not all one and the ſame thing? And how came this Seed of God to be under, or beneath in man? And by what ſhall this Seed or God in man, be raiſed again? and from whence ſhall that power come, the which ſhall raiſe up God or the Seed in Man into his Dominion again, if he hath loſt his Kingdom in man, ſeeing that you preach, that the Seed, of God muſt be raiſed in man?

And whether the appearance of God in man, to man by his Spirit, be not for the quickning and raiſing of man, both Soul and Body, out of a ſtate of bondage and captivity; and not for the raiſing of God or the Seed out of bondage or captivity, for the Light or the Creator hath not been in bondage and captivity, but the whole Creation that God made in man, that hath been both in bondage and captivity, being under the power of Darkneſs, for God hath not loſt, but the Goſpel hath been hid in God, whilſt man and woman hath been loſt.

You ſee, and if you can either vindicate or juſtifie ſome of your Doctrines or Practices, and alſo your Authority, either by the ſpirit of truth, or the Scriptures of truth, or the form of ſound words, otherwiſe it is high time for you to lay aſide your preachings among the people called Quakers, and come and ſit down with them in ſilence again. Let the Eleven Elders, or any of them, or any that join with them, write me an Anſwer for the vindication both of your Authority, Doctrines, and Practices.

For man in the beginning was created in the Light, and the Darkneſs was near him, but yet the Light had dominion over him, and it was his habitation; but Adam went out of Eden in the day of his tranſgreſſion; and then God curſed the Serpent, and he alſo judged man for his diſobedience, and he was driven out of the Garden becauſe of his ſin and tranſgreſſion: but ſtill God kept his dominion in the Garden over man to his condemnation; and he placed the flaming Sword at Edens gate, to keep the way of the tree of Life, againſt the firſt man Adam, ſo long as he did abide in a ſtate of ſin and tranſgreſſion.

Friends, the Kingdom of Heaven is within all men and women, and Heaven is above Hell, and the Light is above Darkneſs, in all the Sons and Daughters of men, and Life is above death, and truth is above error; and God that made the world, is in the world, and above the God of the world; and the Light is the higher power, and Gods Throne is above the Devils in all the Sons and Daughters of men, yea in the wickedſt of men, the ſeed in both man and woman, it is both God and Chriſt, and it is above the ſeed of the Serpent in all, as he is in himſelf, and his dominion is over all, who is God bleſſed for ever.

The ſeed is to redeem, and not to be redeemed, the ſoul is to be awakened, and to be quickned by the ſeed that never ſinned, and to be raiſed from under the power of death, and to be brought up into dominion by the ſpirit of Life over the power of death; for the ſeed within muſt bruiſe the Serpents head within, and deliver the Soul from under the power of death within: for the ſeed is to quicken, and not to be quickened; and God is to raiſe, and not to be raiſed: Gods Throne is eſtabliſhed in Juſtice and Judgement in wicked men over them to their condemnation, becauſe of their ſin and tranſgreſſion, and his Throne is alſo eſtabliſhed in love and mercy over them that obey him.

The Light is to deſcend, and the day ſpring from on high is to viſit the ſouls of the Sons and Daughters of men, for they are to be lifted up by the arm of Gods power revealed from Heaven, for man had his habitation in God once, but man loſt his habitation in God, but God kept his habitation in man: for the power of God in man, he is above the Devils power in man; for God that made man is in him, and man is not above his maker, nor the Creature is not above his Creator. God who made all things by the word of his power, and man alſo in his power, this God was never diſthroned, but man was diſpoſſeſſed of his habitation in God, in the day of his tranſgreſſion againſt God; for the Mount Sion is above Mount Sinai, and the heavenly Jeruſalem is above the houſe of Bondage, and God who is the Judge of all, he is in all, yea and above all, that is in man, or ever was in man, who is God comprehended in himſelf, bleſſed for ever, Amen.

For God never loſt his Kingdom nor Dominion in man, although the Devil and man both loſt their firſt habitation in God; and the Devil is never like to enjoy his again; but there is hopes for man and woman, through their believing in the Light, and receiving of the truth, for them to receive life again: Wherefore I do own the Light, the Life, the ſpirit and power in man to be both the reſurrection and the life, as he is in himſelf, and he is alſo both man and womans redemption, as by his power within their ſouls comes to be raiſed from death to life again; but I deny the reſurrection of the power and ſpirit of God in man or woman, or that ever the ſeed, which is Gods ſpirit and power, that it ever came under the Devils power in man or woman, or that ever the Devil had dominion over God; wherefore God is not to ariſe in man nor woman, but we are to be raiſed by the arme of his power revealed from Heaven within, for the man-child hath been caught up to God in this long night of Apoſtacy which hath been over the Gentiles; wherefore Chriſt the Light within, ſtands in need of no bleſſing, for he is everlaſtingly bleſſed and happy in himſelf, without either beginning of days, or end of life; and there is a bleſſing to be revealed from Heaven in the ſeed, unto all that believe in God and obey him, which is Chriſt the Light within; for Friends, the Light in man was never blinded, neither was the ſeed by the earthly power never covered, but the Light hath all along diſcovered mans ſin unto him, neither hath mans mind been blinded, ſo that he could not ſee, nor yet behold that glory, the which was to be revealed in the Light, and his mind alſo was blinded, ſo as he could no way find power againſt ſin, that ſo he might eſcape the wrath which was due unto him for his ſin and tranſgreſſion.

For Friends, the power of darkneſs, which is the Devil, ever ſince the day he was caſt down from Heaven, he could never get up into Heaven ſince, although he may have aſſumed to do ſuch a thing, but he had power to draw our firſt Parents out of Heaven, but it was by their yielding to his temptation, that it came to be ſo with Adam and Eve, and ſo he got the dominion over both their Souls and Bodies, and all that God had made by his power within them, and if the Serpent could never get up into Heaven again, then I am ſure he could never get above Heaven, nor yet above the Seed, nor yet above the Life which is the Light in every man and woman; but the Devil hath had dominion over us both Souls and Bodies; for we being by ſin and tranſgreſſion made partakers of his nature, were Children of wrath as well as others. Wherefore the Seed is not to ariſe in man, nor yet to be brought up into his Kingdom, except God had loſt his Kingdom and power in man, the which he never did: and if he had loſt his Kingdom and power in man, from whence ſhall that power come, that ſhall bring him up into his Kingdom and power again: but man and woman they are to be awakened by the Lords Trumpet, which from Heaven within hath ſounded, and the Souls which have been dead as to God (and buried in the grave of ſin and death, which both was and is, the power of darkneſs, which is the Devil) they are to hear the voice of the Son of God (from within) who have ſlept the ſleep of death under the power of ſin, they are to ariſe from the dead by hearing and obeying the voice of the Son of God within, and ſo read Lazarus the Figure, who had been buried four days, how the Trumpet ſounded from Heaven, and Lazarus was raiſed, and ſo muſt we be raiſed, by the ſame voice, ſpirit, and power, muſt we come both to feel and witneſs Chriſt the Light within, to be our reſurrection and our life, by feeling and receiving his power revealed from Heaven within, to the raiſing of our Souls out of the grave of death and ſin, the which both our Souls and Bodies have been buryed in; for it is we that are to be raiſed from under the bondage of corruption by the Spirit that never ſinned, nor yet ſaw corruption; for its we that have been ſown in weakneſs, that are to be raiſed by the arm of Gods power revealed; for its we that have been ſown in diſhonour, which are to be raiſed up by the ſpirit of Glory; for its we that have born the image of the earthly man, who are to bear the image of the heavenly man, as our Souls come to be raiſed from death to life again: for it was the firſt man Adam who was made a living Soul, that was degenerated, and by reaſon of his ſin and tranſgreſſion from the life, was alienated, and he alſo by the power of death was captivated; therefore it is the firſt man Adam that is to be both awakened and quickned, and raiſed by the arm of Gods power revealed from Heaven within; and he muſt alſo receive power from the ſecond Adam, who is a quickening ſpirit, and the Lord from Heaven, by which he comes to be made willing to put off the old man and his deeds, which is the power of darkneſs. And ſo the firſt man Adam comes to be reſtored to God again, by his putting on the new man, as he witneſſes, being regenerate and born again of the ſpirit of God.

And ſo here followeth a relation of ſomething that paſſed between Thomas Manning the Baptiſt and I, and alſo a declaration of the ground and main difference that aroſe between ſome of the Quakers and I, before I did diſown the body of the Quakers; it was, becauſe that I ſaid, that I did not own Juſtification nor Condemnation by Chriſt, that dyed without the gates of Jeruſalem.

And here followeth the Copy of a Paper, the which Giles Barnadiſton gave to me, ſignifying, that both he and others did diſown my words, and alſo my anſwer to the paper which he gave me, the which were all ſent to the quarterly meeting at Ipſwich; And alſo the anſwer that they ſent me, and alſo the ſeveral particular cauſes; for the which I both did and do, diſown my ſelf to be a member of the Body or viſible Church called Quakers.

And alſo 23 Queſtions or Queries for any of them to anſwer, who queſtion the work of God in me. I will ask them one Querie, and let them anſwer me; and let them ask me another, and I ſhall anſwer them; any of thoſe who look upon themſelves to be in the Miniſtry, and own the Authority or Superiority of the Eleven Elders.

Thomas Manning,

I own Salvation by no other Chriſt, but by him that dwelt in that Body when it was upon the Earth, who, through the Eternal Spirit, offered up his Body a Sacrifice once for all, that ſo he, by the Grace of God, might taſt death for every man, and ſo became Eternal Salvation to all them that obeys the meaſure of his ſpirit revealed in the Light of Chriſt which is in them; and ſo I own him to be the Chriſt and the Saviour to the ends of the Earth: and this both was, and is Chriſt the Light within, the hope of Glory.

Jeffery Bullock.

This teſtimony of mine, as concerning him who both was and is the ſalvation of the ends of the Earth, was owned both by William Dewsbery and Robert Duncon, who are two as ancient Friends as moſt are in England, and as well approved of in their Miniſtry by Friends.

Jeffery Bullock,

I have received thy teſtimony and declaration of thy Faith, but as ſoon as I looked on a few words, I ſoon eſpyed thy Subtilty. Thou ſaiſt, that thou owneſt Salvation by no other Chriſt but by him that dwelt in that body when it was upon the earth, how canſt thou prove that Chriſt in that body, to be Chriſt without that body; for both that body and ſpirit in that body, maketh that man Chriſt Jeſus. For if that ſpirit in that body, be Chriſt without that body, then that Eternal Spirit dyed upon the Croſs, becauſe Chriſt dyed for our ſins according to the Scripture; but I think thou wilt not ſay the Godhead is dead, becauſe thou ſaiſt, it is revealed in every man; ſo then, if that ſpirit in that body, be not Chriſt without that body, but both body and ſpirit make that man Chriſt Jeſus. And thou owneſt ſalvation by that ſpirit onely without that body, thou owneſt not ſalvation by Chriſt. O Jeffery! why wilt thon deny the Lord that hath bought thee with his own blood, and bring upon thy ſelf deſtruction? for the Godhead dyed not, as I have told thee, but that body was made a curſe by dying that curſed death upon the Tree, to take off the curſe from them that believe that ſacrifice for ſin, which was a ſweet ſmelling ſavour to the Lord. By which body offered up, he hath for ever perfected them that are ſanctified; which ſacrificed body and offered up bloud, if thou reject, how canſt thou have thy curſed ſins pardoned, thy defiled conſcience purged; for without ſhedding of bloud there is no remiſſion. But I will tell thee my Faith, I do own ſalvation cometh alone by that man Chriſt Jeſus, the only Son of God, who was born of that Eſpouſed Virgin Mary, who was Crucified at Jeruſalem; by which curſed death, he did there make an attonement for all, and full ſatisfaction to God the Father, for the ſins of all that believe in him from the heart, and obey his holy will revealed in his word, the holy Scriptures of truth that are able to make the man of God wiſe unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 2.24. Heb. 10.14. Joh. 20.31. Mat. 7.24,25. Gal. 3.13. I could mind thee with many more Scriptures, if thou wouldſt hearken thereunto.

The holy Spirit of God I own and eſteem; for it is that which, Firſt, made me to ſee into my ſins, and my curſed eſtate by ſin, according as is made known in the Scriptures of truth. 2ly. It did ſhed the love of God abroad in my ſoul, how that Chriſt had dyed for my ſins. 3ly. He did help me to lay hold upon the hope ſet before me, without whoſe help I can do nothing. 4ly. He did work in my Soul a cruel hatred againſt all known ſins, in thoughts, words, and works. 5ly. He did work in my Soul a great love to my God, and to his Son Jeſus, to his Children, to all known good, in words and works, in my ſelf and others. 6ly. He did aſſure me of redemption of my ſoul, and forgiveneſs of my ſins through the bloud of my Lord Jeſus, that was ſhed upon the Croſs for me. 7ly. He did ſeal home the promiſes of Eternal Glory to my Sonl, promiſed in the Scriptures of truth to the Sons of God. 8ly. He did work in my Soul holy reformation, and godly reſolutions, to do and obey whatever my God ſhall make known unto me to be his will and mind by his ſpirit and word the Scriptures, and that unto death. 9ly. It did fill my Soul with praiſes to the God of my life night and day, praiſing him in the ſpirit, admiring his love to my ſoul, in redeeming it with ſo great a price, as the blood of his own Son. 10ly. The holy ſpirit did alſo comfort me and quicken me, and made me greatly to rejoyce, with Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory; the which ſpirit of my God ſtill is with me, and giveth me that peace no man can take from me; by whoſe help, my deſire is to my God, I might ſtill be preſerved, and hold faſt the precious faith which I have attained, through the Grace of God, and my Lord Jeſus Chriſt, until he ſhall come in flaming fire, to render vengeance upon the wicked, and puniſh with everlaſting deſtruction from his preſence, them that obey not the Goſpel of Chriſt; and be admired of them that believe.

Thomas Manning.

This Teſtimony of mine is owned by God the Father, by his Son Jeſus, by the holy Spirit, by the holy Scriptures, by the holy Prophets, by the holy Apoſtles. Thou proveſt thine by two of thine own Friends, God the Father I know, his Son Jeſus I know, his holy Spirit I know, the holy Scriptures I know to be the mind and will of God; but who theſe thy Witneſſes be I know not; but if they be Angels come from Heaven, if they deſpiſe the blood of my Lord Jeſus Chriſt, or declare any thing contrary to his will revealed in the Scriptures of truth, I do not own them.

Thomas Manning,

I received thy paper, and thou ſaiſt, as ſoon as thou hadſt looked on a few words, thou ſaidſt thou ſoon eſpied my ſubtilty, Friend, I had no ſubtilty in my heart, but I plainly wrote the things I own; thou askeſt me how I can prove Chriſt in that body, to be Chriſt without that body: I can prove it both by Pauls teſtimony, and alſo by the ſame ſpirit of God the which Paul did prove it by, who told the Corinthians, the Fathers drank of the Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Chriſt; and he alſo told the Coloſſians, that the myſtery which had been hid from ages and generations paſt, was Chriſt within, the hope of glory, and alſo Chriſts viſible appearance came in that preſent age; but his inviſible appearance had been hid from ages and generations paſt; for Chriſt was with his Church in the Wilderneſs.

Again, thou ſaiſt, that body, and ſpirit in that body, maketh that man Chriſt Jeſus. Now the ſpirit in that body was the Godhead, and thou ſaiſt, that the Godhead dyed not, and thou ſpeakeſt true, for ſo ſay I: ſo then it was only that part which the Holy Ghoſt took from the woman, the which died, and not the Godhead which both was and is the ſpirit of God; for it was God and the Woman that made the viſible man Chriſt; for he was made of a Woman, made under the Law, as ſaith the Scripture; for Mary ſhe knew no viſible man.

Now curſed be that ſpirit that ſhall deny the blood of Chriſt, or the end for which Chriſts body was offered up, and blood was ſhed: for I do believe that all the world were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and that all men were freed from their outward offerings for ſin, by that one offering; and that after the ſhedding of the blood of that viſible man Chriſt upon the Croſs, there was to be no more outward killing the ſacrifice, nor yet ſhedding of blood for remiſſion of ſins.

But this was not the fleſh and the blood which Chriſt ſpeaks of when he was upon the earth, when he ſaid He that eateth my fleſh and drinketh my blood, he dwelleth in me, and I in him: and he was then upon the earth, as a man, like one of us, ſin only excepted, when he ſpake theſe words. So Friend, if thou knoweſt no other body, nor blood to feed upon, but that which dyed and was ſhed out of Chriſts body without the gates of Jeruſalem, thy Soul may periſh, for all the knowledge which thou haſt of the Scriptures. Now Chriſt, in the days of his fleſh, exhorted people to believe in the Light, and to bring their deeds to the Light, that ſo they might be made Children of the Light; for he knew that they were Children of the Darkneſs, and God he is Light, and ſhews unto man his thoughts, who ſaid, look unto me all yea ends of the earth, and be ſaved, and ſome of theſe words were ſpoken by the Lord in his Prophets before Chriſts body came into the world, and the ſame that ever was, the Saviour now is, and not another; for God is not changed, neither is his ſalvation changed.

Again, thou ſaiſt, thou know eſt the Father, and thou knoweſt the Son, the holy Spirit. Friend, conſider well what thou haſt written; and let Gods Spirit in thee try thy words, whether thou haſt thy knowledge of God, and his Son, and holy Spirit, in and from the Spirit of Revelation, for Chriſt ſaith, no man knows the Father ſave the Son, and he to whom the Son reveals him; and Paul ſaith, it pleaſed God to reveal his Son in him; ſo then there is no true ſaving knowledge, of neither Father nor Son, but in and through the Spirit of Revelation: ſo conſider, and let Gods witneſs judge in thee, whether thy knowledge ſtands in the Light, or in the Letter, in the myſtery, or in the hiſtory, in the word, or in the words, the which were given forth from the word, for the words were given forth in time, from the word which was before time was. And ſo remember what the Jews ſaid to Chriſt (who had the Scriptures before the Gentiles) how they ſaid, that they were Abrahams Children, and God was their Father, and they were Moſes his Diſciples, and that God ſpake to Moſes. But they ſpeaking concerning Chriſt, ſaid, as for this fellow we know not whence he is; and theſe were the blind profeſſing Jews who had the Scriptures; but they had neither heard the voice of God at any time, nor yet ſeen his ſhape, as Chriſt in plain words tells them; and yet how great was their boaſting; and all this while they had but a blind zeal, for a vail of thick darkneſs was over their minds and underſtandings.

Again, thou ſaiſt, the holy Scriptures thou knoweſt to be the mind and will of God, then thy ſoul, and mind, and underſtanding, they muſt be in the myſtery and ſpirit of God which gave forth the Scriptures; and if it be ſo with thee, then I would deſire thee to tell me theſe following queſtions.

1. What is Eden? and where is it? and what was the Garden wherein God walked? 2. What is the tree of knowledge, and where it is? and what is the fruit it bears? and from whence doth the fruit come? and what is that which feeds upon the fruit which the tree of knowledge bears? and what were the eyes that were open in Adam and Eve after ſin and tranſgreſſion by them were committed?

And what were the Books which are to be opened? and how many Books to be opened? and what is the Vail which Paul ſpeaks of, which is to be done away? and what is the enmity which God hath put betwixt the Woman and the Serpent?

Jeffery Bullock.

Friend, Pauls Miniſtry ſtood in the Spirit, and not in the Letter, and he deſired only to know Chriſt according to the ſpirit, but not after the fleſh; for that which is born of the fleſh is fleſh; and that which is born of the ſpirit is ſpirit, as ſaith the ſpirit of God.

This following was given me (from the Quakers) to ſubſcribe, which I refuſed to do, for reaſons inſerted.

FOr the clearing of the precious truth of God, profeſſed by us his people called Quakers, from the occaſion of reproach and ſtumbling, given by Jeffery Bullock, his pernicious doctrine, in affirming, That he neither expects Juſtification nor Condemnation by that Chriſt that dyed, or was put to death at Jeruſalem: Theſe are to certifie all Friends, and Friendly people whom it may concern, that we teſtifie againſt this Doctrine, as ſtated by him, as both pernicious and Antichriſtian, and contrary to plain Scripture, and the conſtant teſtimony faithfully born amongſt us from the beginning; for neither do we profeſs and preach two Chriſts, nor yet own Juſtification by any other Chriſt, or in any other Name, but by and in the Name of that very one Chriſt of God, to whom the holy Prophets and Apoſtles gave witneſs in the ſcriptures of truth, who was miraculouſly conceived by the Holy Ghoſt, overſhadowing the Virgin Mary, and was Crucified, and put to death in the fleſh (without the Gates of Jeruſalem) but quickned by the Spirit, whom God raiſed from the dead, 1 Pet. 3.18. We muſt confeſs with the holy Apoſtles, that even by him, (to wit that very Chriſt) all that believe, are juſtified from all things from which they could not be juſtified by the Law of Moſes, Acts 13.30,39. and that remiſſion of ſins, Juſtification, and Salvation, as then preacht in the name of the ſame Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and by his Eternal power and ſpirit of God, ſo the ſame is conſtantly believed and witneſſed amongſt us. And although the beſt fenſe that we can ſuppoſe, or gather, as aimed at by the ſaid Jeffery Bullock, is, that it is not only by the ſuffering and death of Chriſt, nor by a mere literal knowledge of him, as after the fleſh, that men can be either compleatly juſtified or ſaved from ſin and death, any more then the Apoſtles or primitive Chriſtians were; but by his life, ſpirit and power, operating in them. And ſo by a living and ſpiritual knowledge of Chriſt, as after the Spirit; which though the truth of this we cannot but own and juſtifie, yet this cannot excuſe the aforecited Doctrine, as laid down, which denies both Juſtification and Condemnation by that Chriſt that dyed; for that ſuppoſeth another Chriſt for that end, and ſo two Chriſts. And therefore the ſaid J. B. ought to ſee his error, and call back and recant of his words, which have given occaſion of ſtumbling in Sudbury. Whereas, the very Chriſt, the Son of God, is but one, though he hath often and variouſly manifeſted himſelf from the beginning, as both before he came in the fleſh, and in the fulneſs of time in the fleſh, viz. that body that was prepared for him to do the will of his Father in; and ſince in ſpirit for the everlaſting comfort and ſalvation of all them who believe in his name and power, which by his divine Light within is livingly revealed; And we confeſs, that this Son of God, our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt our Lord was made of the Seed of David, according to the fleſh, and declared to be the Son of God, with power according to the ſpirit of holyneſs by the reſurrection from the dead: Rom. 1.3,4. And that that very Chriſt that came of Iſrael, as concerning the fleſh, is God over all, God bleſſed for ever, Rom. 9.5. So that he is truly and inſeparably God and Man, according to the Scripture: And even that very Chriſt who was crucified and ſlain, hath God lifted up with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, Acts 5.30,31. And God will judge the the world in righteouſneſs, by that man whom he hath ordained, Acts 17.31. So we muſt confeſs with the Apoſtles, that to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom are all things, and we him: And further, we cannot own any ſuch Doctrine or Words, (by whomſoever ſpoken) as tend to undervalue the ſufferings, death, and blood of Chriſt, Rom. 5.10. for not only a reconciliation was declared and made through his death, but all his ſuffering and his being the one univerſal Offering and Sacrifice, did contribute to mans redemption, and the ſalvation to all that truly believe in his Name, Heb. 2.17. though without the waſhing of regeneration, and being born again of the living word and ſpirit of life, none do really partake of eternal ſalvation, or that redemption which is obtained through the blood of Chriſt, who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity.

This is a true Copy. Giles Barnardiſton: John Cutler. William Welch. Joſeph Ridlesdale. Samuel Cooper. John Cornwell.

Friends, What you have written in contradiction to my words, it is both Romiſh and Antichriſtian Doctrine, and contrary to the Scriptures of truth, and form of ſound words.

Now it is no where written in the Scriptures, that we ſhall either be Juſtified or Condemned by that Chriſt which dyed without the Gates of Jeruſalem; but it is written, by Grace ye are ſaved, and by Grace ye are juſtified; and it is alſo written, by the Light of the world ye are condemned; and not by Chriſt that dyed without the Gates of Jeruſalem.

Now the ſame ſpirit which quickned that body of Jeſus when it lay under the earth, yea, and the ſame God that raiſed up that body, do I own to be both my Juſtifier, and alſo my condemner, if I ſin againſt him. Yea, the ſame God which raiſed up Lazarus out of the Grave, who dwelt in Chriſts Temple when it was upon the Earth, the ſame God do I own ſalvation by, that is he the which both did and doth, ſhew unto man his thoughts, who ſaid, look unto me all ye ends of the Earth, and be ſaved; for I am God, and there is none elſe; and he did not bid the ends of the earth look to him that was to come, but unto him who was already in them, and did ſhew them their thoughts; and this was not Chriſts outward viſible appearance, but it was Gods inviſible power which was in the Sons and Daughters of men: the fulneſs of which power and ſpirit, dwelt in Chriſts body when it was upon the Earth. And this is God who was in the beginning, and alſo before the beginning, and alſo without beginning of dayes, or end of life; and this is the ſalvation of the ends of the earth, who never dyed, otherwiſe you muſt conclude the Godhead dyed, as well as the viſible man Chriſt; the which is blaſphemy for any to affirm; and it is quite contrary to the Scriptures, the which ſaith, that he, through the Eternal Spirit, offered up himſelf a ſacrifice once for all; and he alſo gave up his Soul an Offering for ſin: And I do alſo believe, there is ſomething of God in me, that is both without beginning of days or end of life; and this is a meaſure or manifeſtation of the Spirit of God, the fulneſs of which dwelt in Chriſts body when it was upon the Earth; and this is both my God and Saviour, and Juſtifier, if I obey him, and alſo my condemner if I ſin againſt him. Now the Law of Moſes that was never written to the Gentiles, neither had the Gentiles any command from God, for the obſervation of it, therefore the Gentiles they could never be Juſtified by it, becauſe they had no command for the keeping of it; but on the contrary, the Gentiles were reproved by Paul for 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 the obſervation of it▪ Now God was in all thoſe viſible appearances amongſt the Jews, yet it was by his inviſible power by which he wrought thoſe ſigns and wonders amongſt the Egyptians; and it was by his inviſible power, by the which Aarons rod budded, the pot of Manna was preſerved: And it was the Lords inviſible Glory which filled the Tabernacle, and unto Iſrael he appeared as a Fire by night, and as a cloud by day; and after this God ſpake to Moſes within the cloud, and after theſe things he inviſibly appeared, ond dwelt in Solomons Temple; and then at laſt, the Holy Ghoſt overſhadowed the Virgin, and God prepared a Temple for himſelf by his inviſible ſpirit and power, the which Temple was the Son of God, by generation from God; in which Temple there dwelt the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily; and when the Son of God, or the Lamb of God, had finiſhed his teſtimony in this world, he then did, (through the Eternal Spirit which dwelt in his Temple) offer up himſelf a ſacrifice once for all. Then was all outward Temple worſhip ended; for the glory of God out of Solomons then departed; For then the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain, and alſo the worſhip was ended, although the Lord once gave the Jews a command for the obſerving of it. But as for the Gentiles, they never had no command from God for the practiſing of thoſe things; therefore what they did, they did it by imitation, and not by commandment.

Now Chriſt he was not the Son of David, as by generation from David, as he was a viſible man; for Mary ſhe was a Virgin, and knew no viſible man: but Chriſt he was the Son of David by generation from God, he being begotten by the ſpirit of God in the Womb of the Virgin, and this was the ſpirit of God in David, from which ſpirit David received power to be regenerated and born again; and this was the fleſh of David, and this was Davids Lord.

For Chriſt he was not the Son of a viſible man, but he was the Son of a viſible woman, he being begotten by an inviſible power and ſpirit: now if ſalvation be by that Chriſt that dyed without the Gates at Jeruſalem, then are all the Gentiles periſhed that were in the world before that body came into the world; for I do not read, that ever any of the Gentiles ſaw the coming of that viſible man Chriſt, whenas the world had continued near four thouſand years before he came into the world: yea, all the Jews that were in the world before that body came, and did not ſee the coming of that body, nor own it when it did come, they likewiſe are periſhed; yea, all both Jews and Gentiles, the which have been in the world ſince thoſe dayes, who have not owned him to be the Chriſt and the Saviour of the world, who dyed without the Gates of Jeruſalem, they likewiſe are all periſhed; but, and if ſalvation be by him that ſhews unto man his thoughts, and reproveth man, and alſo convinceth him, and condemneth man and woman for their ſin, and ſheweth unto them their ſtate and condition, then the Saviour and Salvation of the ends of the earth, hath been both within man and woman ever ſince the day of their firſt creation.

For, although the Lord came in Abraham, and begot the type in Sarah, when it ceaſed to be with Sarah after the manner of women, even ſo the Lord, when the fulneſs of time was come, he, by the Holy Ghoſt, overſhadowed the Virgin Mary, and he begot the Antetype in her, who was the end of all Types, without her having any knowledge of a viſible man, but theſe things did but little concern the Gentiles, although we have the hiſtory of them, only all the world was freed from their offerings for ſin by that one offering; and alſo they were outwardly reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and ſo there was to be no more outward offerings for ſin, but we muſt be redeemed, juſtified, and alſo ſaved by a meaſure of the ſame life that dwelt in the Son; in which life, the Son of God offered up his Soul and Body to be crucified to the death, a ſacrifice once for all, then no ſalvation to the Souls of the Sons and Daughters of men, by him that dyed without the Gates at Jeruſalem, but in and by him alone, who was both without beginning of dayes, or end of life, a meaſure or a manifeſtation of which ſpirit, is given to every man, wherein alone ſtands mans Condemnation, Redemption, Juſtification, Life, and Salvation, Reſtauration, and Sanctification; and this Salvation was in the world before Chriſts body came; and the ſame that ever was the Saviour, now is, and not another: ſo he that dyed without the Gates at Jeruſalem, was the man in the myſtery, the myſtery being in him, he being one with the myſtery, was comprehended by the myſtery; and ſo he was the Chriſt of God, being one with the Spirit of God, but it was the womans part that dyed, that was his Soul and Body; for it was Eve that had been in the tranſgreſſion: but the mans part, which was the Godhead that dwelt in that body, he never ſinned, nor yet ſaw corruption; therefore he never dyed, and that both was and is he, which ever liveth, and was without beginning of dayes or end of life.

Now Chriſt, as he was a viſible man, and made of a viſible woman, made under the Law, he internally dyed, as to his Soul and Body, and did put an end to all outward external ſacrifices and ſervices. But the Chriſt, the myſtery, the light, the life, and the word of eternal life, and the ſalvation of the ends of the earth, the which dwelt in that body, he never dyed. Now I do deny, that ever any man or woman, either was or ſhall be, redeemed from death to life by that blood, the which was ſpilt without the Gates at Jeruſalem, or that ever any did drink of that outward blood, or that ever any were inwardly cleanſed from ſin by that outward blood, and what are all outward cleanſings, if ſo be the heart and conſcience be defiled. Wherefore every one that comes to be inwardly cleanſed, it muſt be in and by the receiving and enjoying a meaſure of the ſame life, the fulneſs of which life dwelt in Chriſts body when it was upon the earth, the which ſpirit God hath poured forth upon all the Sons and Daughters of men, wherein alone, Life and Salvation, Juſtification and Condemnation is placed, and this is Gods own ſpirit, and the inviſible man Chriſt, whom God hath by his own right hand exalted in the Sons and Daughters of men, both as a Prince and a Saviour. Firſt as a Prince, in manifeſting his power to condemn both man and woman becauſe of their ſin and rebellion, and diſobedience againſt him: And ſecondly, as a Saviour, both to redeem them, juſtifie them, and alſo to ſave them, if they come to have their minds turned to him, and to believe in him, and obey him.

Now it is the mans part, wherein the firſt man Adam was created, the which God hath exalted as a Prince and a Saviour, that is he which never ſinned; and not Eve the womans part, which by the Serpent was lead into ſin and tranſgreſſion, that part hath not God exalted as a Prince and a Saviour; for ſhe was to be redeemed both Soul and Body; and ſo it was Eve the firſt woman which was in the tranſgreſſion, and not God, who made the firſt man Adam a living Soul, which Soul was lead into tranſgreſſion, by yielding to the councel of the Serpent in Eve, the firſt woman; for there is a Soul, or an inviſible woman, the which God did make and place in every viſible man; and this is ſhe that hath born the image of the earthly man, and hath been one with the Serpent, and now ſhe is to be begotten, regenerated, and born again of the Spirit of God, who is the heavenly man; and this is the ſeed, the which every inviſible woman, in every viſible man, is to bear, which ſeed alone hath power to bruiſe the Serpents head in every viſible man and woman; and this muſt be done before ſhe can truly bear the image of the heavenly man again.

For Eve ſhe was a viſible woman, but ſhe conceived and bore the firſt inviſible man, who was that ſon of perdition; and the power of darkneſs, which brought death over all that God had made in the Sons and Daughters of men, as to the inviſible creation of God; but the Lords promiſe both was and is, that he would create all things new, and the Lords new Creation it is inviſible; for although Mary did bear that viſible man Chriſt, who was begotten in and by an inviſible power and ſpirit; yet ſhe ſtood in need of God to be her Saviour: for ſhe ſaith, her ſoul did magnifie the Lord, and her ſpirit did rejoyce in God her Saviour; and I do believe, that after ſhe was delivered of that viſible man Chriſt, that ſtill her God and Saviour did remain in her, although that viſible babe was outwardly ſeparated from her; and ſo I do believe, that whatſoever was given forth in time among the Jews, as concerning all outward worſhip, in time it was ended when Chriſts body was offered up, and the belief and faith of all, muſt ſtand in the myſtery of that Light and Life which God hath now in the Gentiles revealed; and Antichriſts faith and belief, which he hath brought in among the Gentiles in this night of Apoſtacy, that muſt be overturned both root and branch, by the Light which God hath revealed.

Friends, I do believe that this writing of mine, that it is written from the teſtimony of Jeſus in me, and I would willingly hear your Judgement as concerning it, at our next monthly mans meeting at Sudbury; for it is generally reported amongſt many of the chief Inhabitants of this Town of Sudbury, that I am diſowned by the Quakers, or at leaſtwiſe ſhall be, if I be not already, becauſe of my blaſphemous Doctrine. And that Giles Barnardiſtons Wife did tell Dr. Bucher further, that the blaſphemy that I held, ſhe trembled to hear it. This Dr. Bucher told me; ſo I reſt your Friend,

Jeffery Bullock.

Friends, What you have written in contradiction to my words, it is both Romiſh and Antichriſtian Doctrine, and contrary to the Scriptures of truth, and form of ſound words.

For it is no where written in the Scriptures, that we ſhall be either juſtified or condemned by that Chriſt which dyed without the Gates of Jeruſalem; but it is written, by Grace ye are ſaved, and by Grace ye are juſtified; and it is alſo written, by the Light of the world ye are condemed, and not by Chriſt that dyed without the Gates of Jeruſalem,

Now that there is two Chriſts, it is plain according to the Scriptures; for there is both the true Chriſt, and Antichriſt. Now Chriſts viſible appearance among the Jews, he was called Chriſt, who through the eternal ſpirit in offering up his body, he ended all the viſible diſpenſations among the Jews; but it was Gods inviſible appearance throughout all ages, the which brought unto the Sons and Daughters of men, ſalvation to their Souls, and he is called Chriſt within, the hope of glory, and the myſtery that had been hid from ages and generations paſt. Now the Prophets they did foreſee the coming of that body, which was the Son of God, who was to be the end of all thoſe bodily ſacrifices by which the Jews did expect remiſſion of ſins. Now the ſame God that raiſed up Lazarus when he was dead, and alſo raiſed up Jeſus, or the body of Jeſus, do I own to be both my God and Saviour.

Now as concerning the Law of Moſes, it did not at all belong to the Gentiles; but the Gentiles were juſtified by the Law written in their hearts; and ſo muſt we, or elſe we muſt be condemned: for the Law made nothing perfect, as to the Jews, who had a command for it, therefore the Gentiles could have no advantage by it, who had no command for the obſerving of it; but on the contrary, they were reproved by Paul for obſerving the Jewiſh Ceremonies: but where the Diſpenſations began, there they alſo ended.

Now we do no where read of the name Chriſt before that viſible appearance came into the world; but God ſaid, look unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be ſaved, for I am be that ſhews unto man his thoughts; and he did not bid them look unto him that was to come, and this was God, who prepared a body for himſelf, the which was the Son of God by generation from God, and as a Son he was obedient to the will of his Father, even unto the death.

Now Chriſt, he neither came of David, nor yet of Iſrael, not according to the fleſh, not as to his outward appearance, as he was a viſible man; but he came of David and Iſrael both, according to the ſpirit; and this is the ſpirit whom God hath exalted both as a Prince and a Saviour, firſt as a Prince, to manifeſt his power, to condemn both man and woman becauſe of their ſin and rebellion, and diſobedience againſt him; and ſecondly, as a Saviour, both to redeem them, and juſtifie them, and alſo to ſave them, if they come to have their minds turned to him, and to believe in him, and obey him; for the Virgin Mary knew no viſible: but now, far be it from me, and curſed be that ſpirit that ſhall undervalue the ſufferings, death, and blood of that holy, juſt, and innocent Lamb of God; but yet I do not believe, that ever any were redeemed from ſin, or purified, cleanſed, purged, ſanctified, or ſaved, by that viſible body that dyed, or blood which was ſhed, without the Gates of Jeruſalem.

Now Paul, he that was the Apoſtle of the Gentiles, he defired to know no Chriſt after the fleſh: Now the Jews in the days of Chriſts fleſh ſaid, that they were Moſes his Diſciples; but as for this fellow, we know not whence he is. Now in the Apoſtles dayes there was certain Phariſees that had believed, who taught the Brethren, that except they were circumciſed, and kept the Law of Moſes, they could not be ſaved, Acts 15. Now the Church of Rome ſaith, that we muſt be juſtified, and alſo ſaved, by that Chriſt that dyed at Jeruſalem; and ſo ſaith the Prieſts of England, and ſo alſo ſaith the body of the Quakers.

And Friends, Antichriſt he ſtrives to bring in his Doctrine, and alſo to be head over all thoſe inviſible appearances that comes from God; but the ſpirit of truth ſaith, that Condemnation, Juſtification, Redemption, and Sanctification, and Salvation, it is by God alone, who is Light, and ſheweth unto man his thoughts.

Now Pauls teſtimony was in the ſpirit, and not in the letter, but the Phariſees, the life of their teſtimony it was in the Letter or Law of Moſes, who with their Doctrine bewitched the Churches, and led them into errour, as you may read Paul to the Galatians, and alſo to the Corinthians, how he tells them, that Satan was tranſformed in his Miniſters; for the Book of the Scriptures both was and is, the fruit which the tree of knowledge bears, both in their days, and alſo in ours, they being opened by the ſpirit of truth.

Friends, it behoves us all to look to our ſtanding, for Antichriſt is already come in amongſt us, and Satan is already transformed into an Angel of Light amongſt ſome of our Miniſters, as certainly as ever he was amongſt the falſe teachers in the Apoſtles days; and if you will not believe what I have written, then mind well the writing of thoſe Brethren which call themſelves the Eleven Elders, to the Churches called Quakers, and ſee if they do not put themſelves into equal power and authority with God. Friends, firſt the form, and then Antichriſt appears in the form; but if there be no conformity to the form, then there is no unity to be enjoy'd with them that uphold the form. So Friends, my dear love is remembred unto you all, who expect life and ſalvation from God, who is Light, and is inviſible, and not from any viſible appearances, although they were good in their time.

I have written you an anſwer to a paper that was given me by Giles Barnardiſton in ſhort, and I have alſo ſent you another more at large.

The Anſwer from the quarterly meeting at Ipſwich, the 28th. of the firſt Month, 1676.

In the Quarterly Meeting, the papers ſent by Jeffery Bullock of Sudbury, were publickly read; and the meeting of Friends did unanimouſly own the paper given thee by Giles Barnardiſton, and alſo ſubſcribed by other Friends to be ſound, and according to the Scriptures and Doctrine of truth held forth by us; but as to thine in anſwer to it, the whole Meeting did unanimouſly judge it to be erronious, and contradictory to it ſelf, and full of Confuſion and Darkneſs, and thy ſpirit manifeſt to be wrong. Given forth from the Quarterly Meeting, to be ſent to Jeffery Bullock in Sudbury.

I do diſown my ſelf to be a Member of the viſible Church called Quakers, for theſe particular reaſons and cauſes following; neither do I deſire to have unity, nor to ſeek to have peace with the Church in thoſe actions wherein they ſet up themſelves as Judges among, or above their Brethren, as the Eleven Elders called Quakers, have done.

Firſt, I diſown all ſuperiority of men, Miniſters, or Elders, in the Churches called Quakers, or any who aſſume Authority to themſelves above the reſt of the Members, to judge and determine things in matters of conſcience, the which thing only belongs to God in every ones own particular. 2. I diſown my ſelf to be a member of that Body or Church, which ſaith, He that is not juſtified by the witneſs of God in Friends, is condemn'd by it in himſelf. 3. Which ſaith, That none are to Miniſter or Preach, but ſuch as are reconciled to the Church, and have the approbation of the Elders and Members. 4. Again, I do diſown both the cenſures and judgement of that body or Church, who look upon themſelves, that they have both a right and power to judge of errours, and yet have not power to convince the parties of their errors, before they paſs judgement upon them for thoſe things which they call errors; for Chriſt, he convinceth both man and woman of their evils, before he either judgeth them, or condemneth them for their evils. 5. Again, I do diſown my ſelf to be a Member of that Church, who will not admit me to take the liberty of my Conſcience, in matters of Doctrine and Principles in the Worſhip of God, the outward life and converſation, that being blameleſs, and I being ſatisfied in my own conſcience, that the thing is both right and true, which I do own. 6. I diſown my ſelf to be a Member of that Church, who will not admit me to believe and ſpeak, what God by his Spirit makes manifeſt in me; for the Articles of your Church, Faith, and Belief, they are concealed from me; ſo that in plain Engliſh words, with ſenſe I cannot them neither read nor underſtand: ſo that I queſtion, whether this practice of the Church doth not ſurpaſs plain Popery; for they have given forth the Articles of their Faith, as concerning Doctrine. 7. I diſown the reſurrection of the power, or the ariſing of the Seed, or God in man, or that ever the Seed or God, was either in Captivity or Bondage, or that it was ever loſt, or that the Light in man was ever blinded, or the Image of God defaced, or that the Seed hath been under the corrupt heart of man, or that ever Darkneſs were over it, or that ever God loſt his Kingdom in man, as he was in himſelf. 8. Again, I diſown that to be any true Miniſtry for God, who in their declaration, do exhort both Friends and other people to come to a ſenſe, and to wait in a ſenſe, and to abide in a ſenſe, and continue in a ſenſe; for God is not a ſenſe, neither is his ſpirit a ſenſe; for the ſenſes are things that were made by the power of God; and in the power which made them they are to be exerciſed; and ſo ſuch Doctrine, it is not only unſound, but it is contrary to the Scriptures, and alſo the ſpirit of truth and form of ſound words; for it is old Antichriſts Doctrine the which Sathan brought in among his Miniſters, in this long night of Apoſtacy among the Gentiles, when the Churches loſt the injoyment of the Grace, Manifeſtation, or Revelation of the Spirit of God, then they preached from a light and a ſenſe; for the Beaſts of the Field, they have both ſenſes and knowledge; and what preheminence hath a man above a Beaſt, if he be not in God that made him; for all things the which a man enjoys below the Light, they are accompanied both with vanity, and alſo vexation of Spirit: for there is no other God, Saviour, Angel, nor Spirit, to be known in and amongſt the Sons of Men; but the Light that ſhews unto man his thoughts: beſides, the Spirit and Power of Darkneſs, and what God made in man in the day of his firſt Creation. 9. Alſo I diſown my ſelf to be a Member of that Church who are gone from Chriſt, the Light of the world within them, the power which God revealed from Heaven in this our age and generation, wherein alone Life and Salvation, Juſtification and Condemnation, is to be known, and are returned back again to the profeſſors Chriſt and Saviour, who dyed without the Gates of Jeruſalem, who make it their work to declare againſt all ſalvation, both by God and Chriſt the Light within, the which, the profeſſors of this our age and time do. 10. I diſown all yoaks of bondage, dictates or impoſitions whatſoever; I diſown your printing of ſeveral Books, and impoſing them upon all Friends Meetings throughout this Nation, and enjoyning them to take them off; a thing that I never heard of before amongſt any people. 11. I diſown your enjoyning one Friend to match with another Friend, or elſe you will not admit them to come together; whenas God hath made all Nations of one blood: and ſo remember, that Moſes took an Ethiopian woman to wife, contrary to the command of God, and yet God juſtified him for it; and he alſo condemned both Aaron and Miriam for ſpeaking againſt Moſes for ſo doing. Again, the two Sons of Naomy, they either of them took a Moabitiſh woman to wife, and I never read they were reproved for their ſo doing; and Ruth ſhe proved a good woman.

So Friends, I leave you to the witneſs of God that is in you; for I little thought that ever Antichriſt would have appeared with ſuch an old Vizard, as to raiſe up a body of Judges among us Quakers, in matters of Religion and Conſcience, whenas we had ſuffered ſo much already by outward Judges, becauſe we made uſe of the liberty of our Conſciences in the things of God. Friends, a thing which was never practiced among the primitive Chriſtians.

Friends, 1. What is the Tree of knowledge, as it is in it ſelf? and what is the fruit it bears? and from whence doth the fruit come? and what is that which feeds upon it, ſeeing it is deſirable to make one wiſe? and whether the fruit be all the ſame now as it was in the beginning? 2. What was the Eden wherein the firſt man Adam was placed? and what was the Garden wherein God walked after Tranſgreſſion entred, when he ſpake to Adam in the cool of the day? 3. What is the Enmity which God put between the Woman and the Serpent, and between his Seed and her Seed? and what was or is the Woman? 4. What was the Man that was drove out from God into the Earth becauſe of Tranſgreſſion, ſeeing the viſible body did remain in the viſible Creation, after his tranſgreſſion, as viſible as it did before? 5. What is the Image of God? or what is the Soul of Man; for there is a diſtinction between them; for the one hath been Corrupted by the man of ſin, but the other never ſaw Corruption, nor yet never conſented to ſin? 6. Whether Death had any Dominion in the Tree of Knowledge before Tranſgreſſion? or whether he took his Dominion in the Tree of Knowledge by mans tranſgreſſing the Commands of God? 7. And what were the Eyes that were to be opened in Adam and Eve after the Devils temptation had entred them, and they had broken the Command of God when they became as Gods? 8. Whether the Seed of God, that never ſinned, hath been under the bondage of Corruption, and ſo is to be redeemed from under Corruption, although he never ſinned, nor yet ſaw Corruption; for the Seed is God himſelf? and whether it is not the Soul of Man that hath tranſgreſſed, that is, to be redeemed by the Seed, and not the Seed to be raiſed, nor yet redeemed, it being both God and Chriſt? 9. And whether the Lamb of God was ſlain before the foundation of the World, or ſince the foundation of the World? or what was the Lamb of God, or is the Lamb of God, which was and is ſlain, ſeeing that Chriſt is without beginning of dayes or end of life, and he is the ſame now that he was in the beginning, and he ever lives, and never dyeth? 10. What is the partition Wall? and what doth it ſeparate betwixt? and where is the place it ſtands? 11. What is the Vail, as it is in it ſelf, which is over the underſtandings of people who are in outward profeſſion? 12. And how ſhall a man rightly underſtand, and come to have a certain knowledge in himſelf, manifeſted unto him, whether his Soul feeds upon the fruit of the Tree which Knowledge bears? or whether it feeds upon the Tree of Life? or how he ſhall really come to underſtand, whether his Soul be under the Dominion of Life? or whether Sathan be Transformed in his Mind, Knowledge, and Underſtanding? 13. Whether there be a will or power, in either Man or Woman, to believe in Chriſt the Light within, or to receive the truth, they having loſt their firſt ſtate wherein they had power, but now are found under the power of darkneſs by the Light, and in a ſtate of degeneration from God? 14. When is that Reſurrection to be known that Chriſt ſpeaks of, when they neither Marry nor are given in Marriage; but are as the Angels of God ſeeing our viſible Bodies ſhall ever abide in the duſt? and what is that honourable Marriage the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, where the Bed is not defiled through Luſt? 15. And what is the Dead that is to be raiſed in the Sons and Daughters of Men, ſeeing the Son of God never dyeth, but the dead is to hear his voice and live? and how ſhall the dead come to receive power to ariſe? 16. And what are the Two witneſſes that John ſpeaks of, which the Spirit of Life is to enter into before they can bear a true Teſtimony for God? 17. Whether the Two Adams are not in the World, yea, and the man of ſin too, who is the Son of Perdition? and whether ſomething of theſe Three are not to be found in every Man and Woman? 18. And whether the Woman that hath been in tranſgreſſion, both in the Male and Female, ought not to be kept in ſilence, although redeemed out of tranſgreſſion; and ſo the power of God to ſpeak in all, and ſhe to be kept under ſubjection by the power that hath redeemed her; and ſo all to feel the Woman kept in ſilence, until the power of God is declaring the work of God in them, which power hath redeemed her? 19. What was the work of the Spirit and power of God in Chriſts Body, whilſt his Body was upon the Earth? and what is the work of the Spirit of God in our Body whilſt we are upon the Earth? and whether the power of Darkneſs were not in his Body, yea or nay? 20. Whether the power of Darkneſs, which is the Original of ſin, be not in every Child when it is firſt born and come into the viſible World, and the power of God alſo, and yet the Child not guilty of Original ſin? 21. Whether a Man or Woman may not receive the truth, and ſo by it come to have their minds, knowledge, and underſtanding, Baptized with the Holy Ghoſt, and yet after this, Sathan may transform himſelf in the hearts, minds, and underſtandings of ſuch, as before had received the truth? and whether ſuch may not have a ſtrong perſwaſion begotten in their minds, that they are feeding upon the Tree of Life, whilſt they are declaring of words to others, and yet all this while they are but a feeding upon the Fruit that the Tree of Knowledge bears, or upon the Scriptures, that were given forth from the word of life in the days of Old? 22. And whether the power of Darkneſs doth not remain in a Man or Woman, as he is in himſelf, after that they are Regenerated and born of the Spirit of God? 23. What are the Books that are to be Opened, which John ſpeaks of? and how many Books are there to be Opened?

This Book is given forth by one who hath born the name of a Quaker about 20 years, or more, and he ſtill owns the Light in every Man, to be the only rule for man to walk by; but I own my ſelf to be neither Prieſt nor Prophet, Apoſtle nor Elder, Paſtour nor Teacher, Biſhop nor Deacon; but an Informer againſt Antichriſt in his Miniſters.

This Book is not to be Sold, but freely given by the Author (he having freely received this Teſtimony from the Lord)

Jeffery Bullock.