and sleighting the commandment of God, and with pleasure and delight arrogating unto himself a wisdom and knowledge of his own, He fell thereby off from God, was captivated by the spirit of this world, and subjected to the rule of Satan, who so infected him with his spreading poyson, that the same did cleave not onely to himself, but likewise to all his posteritie, whereby they are corrupted body and soul to everlasting death, and become the children of wrath, and are satanicall altogether. Ephes. 2.

Yet seeing God ever good and gracious,Wisd. 1.13.2.3. made not the Death nor took delight in the destruction of the living; but created man to eternall life, and to his Image, that he should be like unto him: But by the devils envie Death came into the world; therefore also God took heartie compassion of Man, and of his Grace repaired this fall by his everliving WORD with the promise of the seed of the woman,Wisd. 10 20. Gen. 3.15. who also afterwards was born man, and became an Attonement-offering; and gracious­ly gave such a light to man,Ephes. 5.2. Ioh. 1. Ioh 8.12. Col. 3.4. 1 Ioh. 3.8. Ose. 13.14. Ioh. 1. Col. 1.15. Ioh. 9.5. Luk. 2 39. Bar. 3.38.4.2 1 Ioh. 5.6.7. whereby he was set upright again, and by the vertue whereof he was to fight against the seed of the Serpent, and overcome the sinfull desires of the same, in the faith of the Covenant: For this womans seed, the essenti­all word of the Father, is the light and life of men, which doth destroy and overcome the works of Satan within them; and this Word which was in the beginning, whereby all things were created, and are conserved, is the light of men, which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world, all namely that receive it, and love not the darknesse of their carnall lust and sinfull affections, as the works of Satan, more then the light, but rather turn from them unto the light, cleave unto it by faith, and suffer themselves to be guided and governed by the spirit of it; such have power to become the sons of God,Ioh. 1.12. and by the gracious inhabiting of this light, which is Christ, to be made partakers of the Divine Nature.Colos. 1.27. For this light, Christ, the essentiall Word of the Father; is the onely Media­tour and the onely means whereby the fall of Adam may be abolished,2 Pet. 1.4. Hebr. 3.14. 1 Tim. 25. the losse recovered, and man again reconciled with God: And this is that day-spring from on high that giveth light to them that sit in darknesse,Hebr. 1.3. Luk. 1.78, 79. and in the shadow of death, that they may walk before God, in holinesse and righteousnes, [Page 3]o all well-pleasing. Who so hath this light in himself,2 Cor. 4.6. Rom. 8. 1 Ioh. 2.27. Act. 15.11. Ose 12 10. Col. 1.19.2.9. Ioh. 1.17.10.11. Ioh. 15.5. 1 Cor. 10.3.12.13. the same is enlightned; and whoso hath his spirit in himself, the same is a Christian and anointed; as likewise the Patriarchs and the Prophets had him, and were saved onely by him; who also did speak by them; With him and in him, is all the ful­nesse of the Godhead, and of him and of his fulnesse, all of us must receive: He is the true Vine, and we are his branches, participating vigour and life of him and his fulnesse, and with­out him none is able to do any thing. He is that spirituall Rock, from whom the Fathers drank their spirituall drink, and all the regenerate to this day, still eat and drink this spiri­tuall meat and spirituall drink,Ioh. 14.6. Eph. 4.21. Rom. 7.6. Ioh. 4.14.7.37, 38. not in a Phantasticall or imagi­narie manner of sensuall reason, but in Truth: For in Christ there is Truth and Reality, and from thence do flow the rivers of living water springing up into everlasting life, out of them that do beleeve in him, and are partakers of his Spirit.

But whoso hath not this Spirit, the same is no Christian;Rom. 8.10. and whoso doth not in Truth eat and drink this spirituall meat and drink, as the right and true bread of Heaven,Ioh. 6.53, 54. 1 Ioh. 5.9. Luk. 16.23. and water of life, the same hath no life in him, but his soul must eternally starve and perish, and his body must become an everlasting Darknesse; and whoso hath not this Light and Word of Life dwelling in his heart as in a living-Temple of God,Ioh. 8.21.24.44. the same is none of Gods, but a vessell of wrath, and of the spirit of dark­nesse, who sets him on to all evill, and at last doth precipitate and cast him into perdition.

Now although this be the onely Truth, and altogether un­deniable according to the verdict of the Scripture of the old and new Testament, and that onely and solely by this light of grace and Truth, all the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles,Act. 15.11. and all other children of God were saved,Act. 4.11, 12. Ioh. 14. Chap. 6.19. and yet are saved to this day; as also indeed there is no other Gospel, none other name or way, wherein we shall or may be saved, but Christ the WORD and Light of life,2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18. who truly and really hath his dwel­ling and aboad in the children of God, and as the well-beloved Son of God maketh them to become gracious sons and daugh­ters of God, and partakers of the Divine Nature. Yet many there are that boast and vaunt themselves the Ministers of the Word, though falsely,2 Ioh. 5.7. Epist Iud. ver. 19. &c. who most impudently and blasphe­mously [Page 4]dare take upon them, to deny and traduce, nay like un­to mad dogs, with fearfull, and execrable barkings, ballings, railings and calumnies, to set upon and persecute this gracious inhabiting of Christ in his faithfull members; warning and ex­horting the simple ones, to beware of such Men, and their Do­ctrine, whom they do call Distracted, Mad, Phantastike, En­thusiasts, Dreamers, Inchanters, &c. as they would do of the Devill himself.

On the other side, they are ready and forward enough to boast and brag much of the story of Jesus Christ,Psal. 12. Iam 2.19. according to their heathenish-Arts and deceitfull-prating; sitting in the Chair of Pestilence,Matth. 7.21. and puffing up themselves, like so many proud and garish Mountebanks talking and glorying of Christ, His Person, his office, how he hath satisfied for mankind; how he hath sent them forth as his own Messengers,Matth. 24. instead of the Apostles;2 Thes. 2.4. that whosoever heareth them, doth hear Christ himself; what they say is the Word of God, and spoken as from heaven; Christ had said: Come unto me all ye, &c. Ther­fore men ought to come unto them, hear them, for where else should they find Him? Yea, that such as heard them, receive the Faith and holy Ghost thereby, and none otherwise. They are forsooth the means, the pipes and conduits whereby God doth save men: by them God takes away the sins of men; By them he makes men partakers of the body and blood of his Son: And he now that beleeveth them in all this, and forsa­king Christ the living Well, doth seek the same in Christs stead at their hands, and doth honour and make much of them for it; He it is, whom they commend for a true Christian, and one that hath the true and saving faith, albeit he live not accord­ingly, nor shew forth such an holy conversation, as Christ commanded, and his Apostles and other Saints of God ap­proved, by being themselves living patterns and examples thereof: O, say they, that matters not greatly, and can do them no harm; let them but acknowledge themselves poore sinners: the Priests have power to pardon, and absolve them in Gods stead, and to take away the sins from them. Christ hath suffered death for them, that they need not live so exact­ly; what had his dying availed else? Let them but be of good chear; and apply his merit to themselves; why the verie [Page 5]Preachers themselves, although they do exhort others to a Christian life and conversation, and sit in the chair of the Apostles, yet they are not able to live thus; But the office which they are in, hath that power and vertue; that men should give heed unto it, and to their preaching and speaking, not to their life and conversation, they were but men themselves, even as others. By this false prating, the true spirituall knowledge of Christ is extinguished,2 Tim. 2.13, 14, 15, 16, 17. 2 Pet. 2. Ezech. 13 10.18, 19, 22. and nothing remaineth but an histori­call relation, together with the hypocrisie and apish imitation; the children of men are utterly turned away from Christ, and caused to walk in their vanities, and the lusts of the flesh and corrupt reason,Gen. 18.21. whereunto they are inclined by their old Ada­micall-nature, and do nothing but devise evill; and it is mani­fest, how, according to the course of this world, they live worse then the Heathen, being altogether ruled, driven, and acted by the spirit of Darknesse,Ephes. 2.12. that hath his work in the children of unbeleef according to his own pleasure; and yet do perswade themselves, by reason of the promises of libertie, their shepherds feed them withall; that for all that they are very good Christians, and have the faith, if so be they do but frequently repair to them in their stone-Churches, Pulpits, and Confession-chairs, and reverence the Ministerie, then all is well enough with them. Thus by the deceit of such men be­ing the instruments of the Devill,2 Thes. 2.9. Ezek. 22.25. and not Pastours but mur­therers of souls, they encourage and strengthen their old Adam in his carnall lusts, and the sensuall desires of their self-love, every where and in all occasions, to seek and advance thereby their own glory, ease and benefit,Eph. 4.17, &c, directly against the commandments of Christ, against the doctrine and examples of the Apostles,R [...] 6.12. Cap. 7.4. &c. Gal. 5.16. Cap. 6.7. 1 Pet. 2.12.4.3. Matth. 16.24. Luk. 17.33. Ioh. 12.25. Ioh. 15.5. 1 Tim. 1.5.6.3. who incessantly insist and urge that the old Adam, that is, the outward man, together with his sinfull lusts and deserts, shall and ought to be subdued, crucified and killed; that man must deny himself, forsake all evill in his heart, and taking his crosse upon him, follow Christ; that we must cease to do evill, fear God and do good, and Christ alone must give the power and strength hereunto, by his Spirit; to whom being sealed by him, we must submit to receive instru­ctions. Tit. 2.12. Gen. 6.2, 3.

Behold and consider now how farre these people are from [Page 6]Christ, and the true faith, and how shamefully they do beguil both themselves and others, with unprofitable imaginations and supposed opinions,Psal. 50.16, 17 conceit and tongue-faith, comforting themselves from without in their imaginarie and Phantasticall apprehensions,Isa. 29.13. Matth. 7.26. Ioh 5.38. with the merit and satisfaction of Christ, stro­king and soothing thereby their old Man, in his sinfull courses; but cannot endure the Spirit of Christ, stro­king and soothing thereby their old Man, in his sinfull courses; but cannot endure the Spirit of Christ, or the inward Word of God in the Heart, as in his Temple; reviling and traducing that gracious inhabiting, despighting and gainsaying the holy Ghost openly;Hebr. 10.29. and thus indeed rejecting the true foundation and corner-stone of the everlasting covenant in their building.

This beloved,Luk. 11.39. is indeed a most false pernitiously and deadly foolish Phantasie whereby these Phantasticall Men, together with all that cleave unto them,Ioh. 17.10.20.23. and seek for light in darknesse, do precipitate and plunge themselves into everlasting Dark­nesse. For he that is not united with God by the inhabiting of Christ,1 Cor. 1.9. Hebr. 3.6. and 6.6. the true and onely light, in a true faith, must remain thus separated from God, and enchained with Lucifer in dark­nesse for ever. Therefore take heed and understand yet at length ye children of men,2 Pet. 2.1. that, when your Preachers do deny and traduce the inhabiting of Christ in the true beleevers, they do speak too presumptuously against Christ and against his members (who by the inhabiting of the Spirit of Christ in them,Ephes. 4.30. or by the participation of the Divine Nature, are truly sealed and new born to be the children of God) and truly the apple of his eye.2 Cor. 1.22.

But of themselves, that deny this inhabiting of Christ, and that Christ doth not dwell in them,2 Pet. 7. Ioh. 8.44. not feeling him in them­selves, and denying the Lord that bought them, it may be tru­ly said (according to the saying of Christ to the Jews) Ye are of your father the devill, and the lusts of your father you will do: He was a murtherer and a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because the truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie he speak­eth of his own. For this is manifest by the likenesse of these Scribes and Pharisees of the New Testament, with these of the Old Testament which had the word of God not dwelling within them, and called Christ a made man and an inchanter; and plainly shewed by their hypocriticall and carnall course and conversation,Matth. 11.30. Hebr. 10.29. and the fruits thereof, that not Christ but [Page 7]Antichrist, which is the spirit of Darknesse, and the Prince of this world, did inhabite them, and wrought such works.

Now consider yet further, dear Man,Isa 61.6: 1 Pet. 2.9. that by reason of and from this inhabiting and anointing, all Christians are children of the light, Priests of the Lord, a royall priesthood and holy peculiar people of God, that ought to declare the power of him that called them out of darknesse to his marvellous light, and washed them through his blood, and made them Priests,Rev. 1.6.9, 10. Rom. 12.18. Gal. 5. Hos. 14.3. Heb. 5.13. Revel. 5.8. Numb. 16. 2 Chron. 26.16. to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, and to crucifie and destroy the works of the flesh, and the earthly members in their lusts; to offer up the calves of their lips, as the fruits of the same; in a praise-offering to God through Christ; and to present the censor of the heart full of the sweet-smelling savour of prayer. For as in the old Testa­ment, none were permitted to be a priest, and to burn incense before God, but Aaron and his sons, that issued from him as from a Rock, so in the new Testament none is a Christian but he that is cut out of Christ the living Rock,1 Cor. 10.4. Cap 3.16. Matth. 16.18. 1 Pet. 1.23. Isa. 8.18. 1 Ioh 5.1.14. Matth. 3.17. Ioh. 1.13. c. 4.24. c. 16.26. Hebr. 5.16. 1 Cor. 6.17. Ioh. 14.16, 17. 2 Cor 4.6. 1 Ioh. 2. and built upon him, and none dare draw neer unto God with his prayer, but he that is regenerated of Christ. And to his throne of grace they all approach with cheerfulnesse, that will obtain mercie from God their heavenly Father, through the same mercie seat, Jesus Christ, by whom as the well-beloved, they are ac­ceptable before God. Ephes. 1.6.

And upon this same ground also, all true Christians are not secular but spirituall men, for they cleave unto the Lord, and are one spirit with him, which Christ hath given unto them from the Father, and thereby sealed them; whereby likewise as by a shewing light, there ariseth in their hearts the enlight­ning from the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, assuring and teaching them inwardly, and not onely making their hearts sure,Gal. 5.16. but working withall the fruits of the Spirit within them, such as are faith, love, patience, peace, kindnesse, meek­nesse, &c. and therefore they are spirituall people, hating the works and fruits of the flesh; such as are, adultery, fornication, uncleannesse, lasciviousnesse, idolatry, sorcerie, enmitie, strife, envie, wrath, hatred, variance, divisions, seditions, murther, drunkennesse, gluttony, pride, ambition, extortion, covetous­nesse, and the like; all which do mark out a secular,Ier. 7. worldly [Page 8]and carnall man, where they are committed. But those that belong to Christ, do crucifie their flesh with its lusts, and de­sires; and as they live in the spirit, so they walk likewise in the spirit; and are in deed and in truth no secular or worldly but spirituall men; however otherwise by their places and offices here, they may be Kings, Princes, Nobles, Citizens or Pe­sants.

Mark then and try thy self, O Man, what fruits there break forth in thy life from within,Matt 5.15.20.22.34.35.23.25.26. and how thy heart is disposed inwardly in its thoughts and affections, whether thou be a se­cular or spirituall person: Let not the prating of those falsely called spirituall or Divines with their outward Church preach­ings, confessions, and communions deceive thee; but go and try now thy own self, whether Christ doth dwell and live in thee, whether thou be in the faith, fit or unfit, exercise love, yea or no,2 Cor. 13.5.6. and let not their pretended difference trouble thee, that they do call themselves the Priests, spirituall ones, and men in holy Orders or Divines, and these of thy Rank and Qualitie the secular and Lay-people. The Devill, as the spirit of Darknesse, hath taught them to devise this difference, whose spirituall creatures they are; for he can likewise transform him­self into an Angel of light,1 Cor. 11.13. and is a spirit; why not then as well also his own Apostles and Ministers? but as he is a spirit of Darknesse, so are they spirituall ones of darknesse, or altoge­ther worldly and carnall, whose belly is their God, and whose glory is their shame; for that is one and the same before God, and their end will be according to their works.Phil. 3.19.

But all true regenerate Christians, are spirituall indeed, and bring forth the fruits of the spirit, let them be for outward of­fice or charge, what they will, Emperor, King, Prince, Noble, Citizen, P [...]sant, Preacher, hearer, they are all of one spirit, one soul,Phil. 1.27. Gal. 3.26.4.5. Col. 3.11. and lay hold on the unity of the spirit; and there is no difference, they be all but one in Christ; there is neither Greek, nor Jew, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, neither Barbarian, nor Cithian, neither bond nor free, neither servant nor master, maid nor mistresse, and so also neither estates spirituall nor secular or temporall, neither Laicus nor Clericus, neither Priest nor Lay, but Christ is all in all, and Love the Bond of Perfectnesse, doth tye and knit them alto­gether [Page 9]into one spirit, also many members of one body, wher­of the head is Christ.

See now and consider the great Phantastery of those,Col. 2, 18.23. that among such as would be the people of God, do vaunt them­selves the speciall Priests the spirituall ones, the powerfull Mi­nisters of Christ, pretending, they teach the others in Christ his stead, provide, revive and comfort their souls, with the as­surance of everlasting salvation, pardon them their sins, which God did take away by their means; nay they were the means; whereby, as by a pipe or conduit, God did impart faith and the holy Ghost unto men, and save them, souls and bodies, ever­lastingly, they must be present by all means, if any doth mean to enjoy a blessed departure out of this world; of them and by them they are fed in their souls with the body and blood of Christ; if they do but pronounce the word of consecration up­on it: and when they administer Baptisme, that the same is the Regeneration; that they themselves are the apple of Gods eye, the Messengers of his mouth; that he that heareth them, heareth Christ himself, and by them God doth teach and in­struct mankind; that God will do nothing without them, un­lesse it were in case of extremitie, then he supplied their part himself, yet not indifferently with all, but with such onely, that had formerly honoured and renounced them and their Ministery; that none ought to stumble or take exception a­gainst their scandalous life, and conversation; but look onely upon their function and upon the word, that it ought to be esteemed a great mercie of God, that he is pleased to give and communicate his graces to other men, by such polluted stink­ing vessels and conduits: that the doctrine is pure and sound still, be the Doctor never so vile and rotten, nay though he were the Devill himself.

Lo the swelling and strange imagination, and the Phantacti­call conceitednesse, thus men are inthralled withall, by the deceit of the spirit of darknesse, who casteth such a mist be­fore their eyes, in their arts and sciences; that they are not able to discern the light of the truth, for the thicknesse thereof;2 Cor. 4.4. but are fallen into these abominable Antichristian blasphemies against God and his Christ, and seducing such as follow them into the same Phantasterie.

Silly and besotted men! how, I pray, shall they be able, to provide for comfort and solace, their or other mens souls, when as we see them to be so carelesse and superficiall in re­gard of their own? Do they not live in all carnall pleasures, in luxurie, uncleannesse, drunkennesse, gluttonie, debo [...]stnesse, in greedie pursuit of vain glory, and filthy lucre, in pride, envy, wrath, hatred, strife, contention, falshood and deceit, walking altogether after the flesh; How can they be spirituall, I pray? they are stark dead in sin, and utterly stranged from the know­ledge of themselves, how shall they be able to shew thee the way to life? How shall they teach thee that knowledge of God, that is proper onely to the anointing, which they have not at all, but slander and deride rather. Their wickednesse and vice, is the very same the Prophets taxed in the Priests and Shepherds, and Christ and his Apostles reproved in the Pha­risees, and the learned among the Jews; therefore read and peruse the same and thou shalt find all things agree with the practise of these falsly termed Divines or spirituall men, and that they prove yet worse in all regard.

Blind-Guides alas!Matth. 23. how should they be able to speak com­fort to any mans soul, and to allay their fiery trials, agonies and temptations,1 Pet. 2.25. Psal. 23. with heavenly cordials; the same lying not all in any mans power, for onely Christ and none but Christ, is the Archshepherd and Bishop,Ier. 31.25. Mat. 11.28, 29. Psal. 107.9. Col. 1.27. 1 Thes. 1.3. Isa. 44.24. Ca. 45.19.22. Isa. 42.8. ca. 41.11. Rom. 1.22. Ier. 23.24. Isa. 57.15, 16. yea the Physitian and the Phy­sick it self of the drooping and distressed souls: they can find no rest in any humaine comfort or babling, but onely and solely in Christ; that uniteth them with God; and gives them life; for Christ is our life, and he in us is that firm and unde­ceiveable hope of everlasting glory. He it is that blotteth out our transgressions, for His sake, and dispelleth our misdeeds, as a cloud, and our sins as a mist. Therefore, turn away thy self from these blind leaders to Christ himself; for it is he that redeemeth thee, and he will give his glory to none other, nei­ther to those self up-start carnall-Idols. He needs no deputie nor Vicegerent; but as he filleth heaven and earth, so he dwel­leth in sin-broken hearts, as in his Temple, and comforteth the spirit of the humble and drooping, and hath not need of any other means or Mediator.1 Ioh. 1.2, 3. Isa. 45.11. Isa. 44.2. And the true Messengers of God do testifie and declare this unto their brethren, and direct the [Page 3]same to Christ himself, as to the well and spring of Life: to Him that made them, and that was with them from their mo­thers wombe; and they do not take upon them to be his Vice­gerents, as if they were able to comfort or save the souls of men.

Who am I? 1 Cor. 3. saith St. Paul. I have betrothed you to a husband that ye should cleave to Christ, as a pure Virgin; & not suffer your selves to be led aside by the wiles of Satan,2 Cor. 11.2. from the sim­plicitie in Christ, to be directed to such or such, or to call your selves after them. Ye shall have no Father on earth, saith Christ, namely, of regeneration, but onely the heavenly Fa­ther, who is the onely true Father,Matth. 23.9. of all that is called children in heaven and on earth. How then can ye call these men the spirituall Fathers of your souls,Eph. 3.15. which yet do more hinder then further you, in coming to the heavenly Father: having taken away the keyes of heaven;Matth. 23.13. they neither themselves will enter therein, nor suffer you to get into it, shutting the gates against you, and frighting you away from it, with their clamours and outcries; lest in any wise ye should draw neer to your heaven­ly Father, without their means and Mediatourship: for do but observe, I pray, how Christ doth answer the Pharisees as they demanded of him, when the Kingdom of God should come;Luk. 17.20. that it cometh not with outward observations or ceremonies: neither shall say lo here or lo there is it, but the kingdom of God is inward and within Man; and St. Paul saith, The king­dom of God doth not consist in eating & drinking,1 Cor. 4.20. Rom. 14.17. 1 Cor. 2.4. nor in great swelling words, or artificiall prating, but in power and in the demonstration of the Spirit of God, it being righteousnesse, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost; that Man is to serve God in this kingdom in spirit and truth, God being a Spirit himself,Ioh. 4.23. M [...]tt. 6.10.23. and requiring such worshippers as do worship him in spirit and truth:Ioh. 24.21. Therefore also Christ hath taught us to seek above all things the kingdom of God, and earnestly to entreat and pray to God, that it may come unto us, and be revealed in us.

Unto this kingdom of God,Col. 1.27.27. Matth. 13.44. 2 Cor. 4.7. Eph. 2.21. which lies already hid within thee, all the faithfull teachers do direct thee, when as they speak of Christ that great mystery within us, how thou art a Temple and dwelling of the holy Ghost; how thou dost carry the treasure in the field, and in an earthen vessell,Deut. 30.11. that the [Page 12]grace may be God through Christ the word of life,Rom. 10.8. which is neer thee in thy heart, and in thy mouth.

What do our Phantasticks pray to this? O, say they, that is not to be understood: these be Pauliniall Phrases, certain usuall experssions: the Kingdom of God ought to be sought with them in their vile stone Churches, where you may hear them make, Cicero like, a number of quaint and curious De­clarations and discourses out of the holy Scriptures, after their manner; according to the Idoll Brain or Glosses of Antichrist and humaine learning, every one as he is taught and principled by those humane sects; Where also in the chancell or quire of their auticular confession, they do forgive the people their sins in Gods stead,Matth. 24. and administer their Sacraments: there there they say, is the kingdom of God; thither men are called and invited to the great supper, by the peal of the Bels, and their pulpits; there they are the stewards of the mysteries of God; what others say of the kingdom of God within Man, that is nothing to them, but Phantasterie, Enthusiastrie, in man there dwelleth nought that is good; how should the kingdom of God be within him? Men ought, say they, to repair and frequent to their Churches, there is the house of God, the gates of heaven, the Citie that he hath chosen, where he hath set up the memoriall of his Name, where the great supper is celebrated, where Christ is cried into men from without.

See, beloved, how these men are carried and hurried by the giddinesse and spirit of Darknesse,Art. 7.48. [...].17.24. Ier. 3.16. [...].7.4. Lies and blasphemies. When the true children of God do speak of the kingdom of God through Christ within them, and prove or redargue that Phan­tasterie, of God dwelling in houses or Churches made with hands; (whereof the Jews were wont so much to boast and glory, saying, here is the Temple of the Lord and the Ark of the Covenant) and indeavour to withdraw their neighbour from such Phantastery to the living God,Isa. 57.15.66. whose Throne are the heavens, and the earth his footstool, and whose dwelling is in a contrite heart; then the spirit of lies doth belch forth in his Phantasticks and giving out, the children of God do for­bid, to come to any Churches or Assemblies. For they are vex­ed, when the word of Christ is cast in their teeth touching the false Prophets in sheeps clothing,Matth. 24. that say, Here is Christ, or [Page 13]He is in the wildernesse, and in the chamber or chappell; and when thereby their Antichristian Phantastery is discovered; But beloved, be not thou daunted with such lies, for the chil­dren of God do not forbid to come to Church, or to frequent the assemblies of the congregations, such, namely, as are ga­thered in the unity of the spirit, this they are falsely slandered withall, by the lying spirit, that swayeth these Phantastiques, onely they do point at the false and fond op [...]nion of these Bab­lers and Idols, that would have men imagine and believe their Phantasteries, as if God had his dwelling and abode in their stony rotten Churches, wherein the screech-owls, Bats, crows, and sparrows nestle; there the kingdom of God were to be met withall, perswading people that there God would hear them in an especiall manner, and what they do propound and tell men in these places, they ought to receive and obey as the Word of God, and there none should dare to controul or gainsay them; thus and thereby laying waste and desolate the living Temples of the holy Ghost, that is, the souls and hearts of men; thereof they say nothing, or at best, but little, and in a very confused and intricate manner.

This indeed is insufferable to Gods children, and directly against the glory of God; that there they should hear of the lies and calumnies of those Phantasticks, and by their silence and connivence, as it were approve and ratifie the same before all the congregation, and to deny Christ and his glory; and therefore they have reason to absent themselves from their meetings, seeing their gainsaying or protesting against them,1 Cor. 14.26. would be held a great sin, although among true Christians, it should be lawfull to every one. But yet they have as good rea­son altogether, to speak against these wayes, thereby to with­draw the straying from such false opinions, that they may possesse their heart with God,Ioh. 4.21. Luk. 17.20. and seek for the kingdom of God, according to the doctrine of Christ, within themselves, not suffering themselves to be tied to any place whatsoever. In the mean while they do not despise the gathering of the congregations together, whether it be a house of wood or stone; or in the open field either; nor do they simply find fault with frequenting of Churches, provided it be done out of a true love to Gods word, and to stir up one another with praiers [Page 14]to the praise of God in the great congregation, and solemne devotions: as likewise that the younger sort may be taught and instructed,1 Cor. 14.23. Hebr. 10.24, 25. Ier. 7.4. the elder exhorted and encouraged in their courses, and erring and stumbling ones, be reclaimed, heartned and strengthened.

Therefore now lay this to heart, and rely on lies no longer when ye hear them say: Here is the Temple of the Lord, we have the true Religion, here is the kingdom of God; but a­mend your lives and doings, dealing righteously one with an­other; and let this be a sure mark and character, when thy Preachers tell thee that the kingdom of God is to be sought with them in their stone Churches, in their Pubpits, in the Chancell of confession, and in the Lords Supper or at the Communion, inveighing and railing withall against those that do not condemne the gathering of the congregations to heart the Word (but onely blame and speaks against the false opinions, and maintain with Christ, that the kingdom of God is within man, and that the Christians are the true Temples and dwelling houses of God the holy Ghost) I say again, be sure then,Luk. 17.20. 1 Cor. 6.19. Hebr. 3.6. that such are the many Phantasticks, and false Pro­phets, Antichristian and diabolicall Teachers; and if thou suf­fer thy self to be deluded, and conceited by their means; that, repairing to them in their Churches, in thy carnall wayes and conditions, and so hearing them, and fetching the pardon of thy sins from them for money, an Alms or some other out­ward respect, thou hast there performed thy service unto God, art reconciled with God, hast been in the kingdom of God, and at his great Supper, and yet dost not find the kingdom of God in thine own heart and soul, but goest on still in the old vanity of thy carnall courses,Ioh. 14.21. 2 Ioh. 5. according to the lusts of this world; then thou art a Phantastick as they, and mig [...]tily deceived, for not those that heart the Word here or there from without, but they that have it in their hearts, that keep and do accord [...]ng to it, and live no more in th [...]mselves and their own desires, but in Christ, in God, and according to the will of God, and likew [...]se do love one another from the heart in all uprightnesse and sin­ceritie; th [...]se are the children of God in whom Christ doth dwell as in his house and T [...]mple,Hebr. 3.6. 2 Cor. 3.16. and guide and govern them by his holy and blessed Spirit.

As for those other, although they shall say, Lord have we not done great deeds in thy Name; Have we not made ex­cellent and powerfull Sermons, driven out Devils; have we not been constant daily and diligent frequenters of the Church, have we not often confessed our selves and gone to receive the Communion, and absolution and pardon of our sins, by thy vicegerents? this is the sentence they shall be doomed withall; Get ye hence ye workers of iniquitie,Matth. 7.21, 22, 23. I never knew you yet; for none shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but such as do the will of my Father.

Now to speak of the Bond of Brotherly love in the Unity of the Spirit, which is the Bond of Perfectnesse, whereby the true children of God do love their very enemies; and do good unto them; for when all things shall cease, yet love is to abide still, and it is the onely infallible character of the children of God, and Christs disciples; But God himself is love,1 Cor. 13. Ioh. 13.34. 1 Ioh. 4 17. and with­out him none can love either God, or his neighbour; There­fore true Christian love proceedeth from the gracious inhabi­ting of Christ, who by his blessed spirit,Rom. 5.4. Ioh. 16. doth powre out the love in our hearts, which overcometh all crosses and afflicti­ons, and can be seperated from God by nothing. Rom. 8.35, 39.

Consider and see now, I pray, whether thou canst trace out love in thy Preachers; Verily, if thou do not sufficiently ho­nour them, and fill their hands;Luk. 20.45, 46. or if thou discover but in the least degree or winke that thou dost not hold and esteam of them, as of the Vicegerents of Christ,Matth. 25. and such as are able to pardon thy sins; or if thou agree and assent not unto their Phantastick opsnions, but endeavour rather to draw and direct both them and thy neighbour out of a tender and brotherly heart, unto that which is good, even,1 Cor. 11.3.5. with Paul to Christ him­self; & not assent to those Men or self-authorized Vicegerents; thou shalt soon discover what love there is in them; and by whom they are inhabited; for they do testifie it by the practise of their abominable slandering; reviling, excommunicating, condemning, irritating and enraging of the silly multitudes that the Word and the Love of God have no dwelling in them.Ioh. 5.41.38. [...] Take a view of Love throughout St. Johns Epistle, and ac­cording to that examine and try both thy self and Preacher, then thou shalt be soon and easily able to discern between up­right [Page 16]Christians, and those Phantasticks or hypocrites: and beware of giving credit to it, that any one can be a Christian that walketh not in love,1. Ioh. 3. for he that loveth not, hath not God abiding in him; and he that hath not Christ in himself, but notwithstanding his worldly course and conversation, presu­meth to comfort himself in the immaginarie conceitednesse of a false-Opinion-saith with the Merit of Christ, the same doth deceive and delude both himself and others. Therefore prove and try thy self, and learn to discern and discover the Phantastery of th [...]se, that conceive they may love both God and their neighbour well enough, without Christs true inha­biting of them.

And by reason hereof now turn thy self unto God, the source or stream and fountain of love;1 Ioh. 4.17. Ioh. 6.44. follow his drawings, whither both M [...]s, the Prophets and all the Apostles, yea Christ him­self, and like [...]ise all sincere and upright Teachers and Preach­ers do lead and direct thee;Psal. 8.5. and so thou shalt find the Love of the Father to arise within thee, by his living Word; and thy heart seasoned and possessed throughly,Rom 5.5. by this Love, as the holy Ghost; without which LOVE, it will be utterly im­possible for thee to love God and thy Neighbour; for all perfect gifts do come from him as from the Father of lights.Iam. 1.16.

One thing more thou art to be minded of, viz. that these modern Phantasts do mightily defame and vilifie, as they con­ceive the true children of God, by terming and calling them, Enthusiasts; But know, that Enthusiasta in the Greek tongue doth signifie a man endewed with divine power, governed and acted by the Spirit of God, as were in former times the Pro­phets and Apostles, and as all Saints and holy persons yet are, according to the measure, which the Spirit vouchsafeth unto them, for which cause the World a [...]so doth account and call them distracted and stark mad f [...]ols and Bedlams.

Whereas indeed these are even they, whom Christ, toge­ther with his Father and the holy Spirit,Ioh. 14.24. is come in unto, ha­ving made there abode within them: that same Spirit teach­eth and lead [...]th them,Ioh. 15.16.18. whom the world cannot receive, neither see him. And he doth dwell in them as in a holy. Temple, and thereby they are partakers of the divine nature,1 Cor. 3.16. 2 Pet. 1.4. and members of the body of Christ, flesh and bone, of his flesh and bone; [Page 17]and by this Spirit that abideth for ever with them,Ephes. 5.30. and leadeth the children of God in the right path, teaching, instructing, chastising, swaying and governing them,1 Ioh. 3. they know assured­ly, that God is and abideth within them. Those now that are thus qualified are the right and true Enthusiasts: and are no­whit ashamed of the Word. As for other matters that are falsely fathered upon them (as if they used to set themselves into some secret corner or other, and wait there for speciall Raptures and Revelations, till some spirit come unto them, and instruct them in this or that, these and such like tales and fables) are the forged lies of the Antichristian Phantasts that neither know themselves, nor Christ, nor any true Christian. The children of God know of no other revelation,Ioh. 14.21. 1 Cor. 1. Gal. 1.12. Ephes. 1.19. Rom. 8.20. but such as Christ and Paul meant, and as is alreadie alledged. He that hath not the Spirit of Christ, nor is acted and guided by him, is none of his and no Christian, but an Antichrist and child of Satan.

Mark therefore and observe well, I pray, since these Phan­tasticks and Raylers do of themselves confesse, that Christ and his Spirit do not inhabite them; nay dare moreover call it Phantastery, when, Paul saith, that these are the children of God, that are led by the Spirit, by whom they destroy the works of the flesh; blasphemously denying and traducing the inhabiting of Christ; it is more then evident, that all their Christianitie, and all their vain glorious babling and prating of Christ, is but a meere Phantastery, an empty windie Word-Selling which hath neither virtue nor substance; and because they are not Enthei, and have not God within them, therefore they are Athei, Godlesse Athists without God; and not being Christs, or anointed and illuminated, they are Antichrists,Matt. 12.30. Revel. 18.2. 1 Ioh. 3.8.10. Act. 5.3. Cap. 13.10. blinded and darkned, and not being a dwelling of Christ and Temple of his Spirit, they are a Babel, the dwelling and abode of unclean spirits, and hatefull fowls, wherein the Devill dwel­leth, who doth likewise appear and shew forth himself from within them, by their outward works of carnall lusts, cove­tousnesse, pride, envie, wrath, crueltie and persecution, what kind of Bud and Antichristian-murthering-spirit doth nestle in their hearts, and what a false spirit doth issue forth in their words, lo, thus they are judged out of their own words and works.

But the time will likewise soon approach, that all these Atheists and godlesse persons, shall become and turn to be the Devils Phantusiasts, when, namely, God shall execute his judgements now upon them as upon the disobedient Jews, when for terror and anguish of heart,Isa. 66.24. 2. Esdr. 13. Psal. 54. they shall lie and lirk in holes, and for the fire of hell kindled in [...]heir hearts, and for the gnawing worm of their conscience they shall giddily tun a­bout, and howl like dogs, that they may not be satisfied, but faint and starve in their souls, because they would not endure Christ the living water and true comfort of the soul,Isa. 52.6. Ier. 2.13. within them, and likewise forbad and hindred others from drinking, offering them water for money out of their own corrupt and stinking puddles.

Thus then beloved, thou hast heard, who are the great Phantasts and Antichristian Juglers now adayes, that do but apishly imitate that which is true, and thus by their Phantasti­call imaginations deceive both themselves and others, and fail of the way everlasting.

Consider now and try thy self well,Matt. 24.5. &c. 2 Tim. 3.1, &c. Rev. 17.13. Matth. 7.15. and beware of the false Prophets and Phantasts, who according as Christ and Paul foretold, are risen in these latter times, not by single or few persons, but in a numerous multitude, pretending his name, and boasting of mighty signes and works; seek them out in Countreys, Cities, Villages, try them well, and beware of them, by their fruits thou shalt know them: he that is not with Christ both in life and Doctrine, and is not led and acted by the in­dwelling Spirit of Christ, to shew forth the living faith in love, and only to look in Christ, but meaneth to sooth up and dawbe over his fleshly lusts, in the wayes of Darknesse, and the old man; with the merit and satisfaction of Christ, saying, here in the wildernes, or there is Christ, and boasts of his Christianity, the same is no Christian, but an Antichrist, a Lyat, a Phantast, a Stage-player and an Ape; whose Christianity consisteth not in the Truth which is Christ, but in a self made-imagination and outward-hypocriticall peevishnesse. Therefore also it is nothing but Phantastery and deceit, whereby men do beguild both themselves and those that follow them, and fall together into the everlasting darknesse.

IEsus Christ, GOD and Man, having accomplished the work of the Redemption of Mankind, hath sent forth his Messengers into all the world to gather unto himself a Church or Spouse out of both Jews and Gentiles.

These dispatched Messengers of God, have accordingly taught men with all care and faithfulnesse, to renounce all earthly lusts and pleasures, to crucifie their flesh, to forsake all men, how wise soever, even themselves and every thing else, that is not God himself, and in pure and single hearted Love, to cleave unto their Head and Bridegroom Jesus Christ, as be­ing betrothed unto him, and to be onely and altogether cor­rected,2 Cor. 11. [...]1.3 ruled, led and taught in all submissive humble obedi­ence, by him and by his Spirit.

But as the Church began already in the Apostles dayes, be­sides their Bridegroom Christ, to honour also his Ministers in his stead, to cleave unto & follow them, and to call themselves after their names, a [...]though the holy men did highly rebuke them for, and earnestly disswade them from it, lest they should be [...]way like E [...]e, [...] Cor. 11. by the Serpent from the simpliciti [...] or pla [...]nesse of Christ; for as much as they ought to be Christs onely a [...]d no Ma [...]s, and that God doth catch the craftie in the World, and con [...]ou [...]deth them with all their w [...]sdom. So after their Departure is this Adultery broke forth publickly, and the [Page 20]Ministers themselves have allured the Spouse of Christ unto themselves with sweet and stately language and shew of their office, and have not addressed them directly onely and solely to Christ their Bridegroome (to wait on his Spirit, for life, power, instruction and government) but have offered them­selves to provide for the Souls, the Comfort of Eternall Salva­tion, in the name and stead of Christ, thereby to win men with soothing and magnificent words unto themselves, according as the Adultery of the Churches and their daughters as well among the Papists, and their partie, as among the rest, even to this very present, is but too manifest.

Whereas it is a known businesse as well in many other places as in Popery, how there hath been devised a spirituall marriage between the Ministers and their Parish Churches, which hath its beginning in the call and ordination, is consecrated, consum­mated and perfected by his saying or singing the first Masse, and by the imposition of hands; Whence also they are not ashamed openly to give out themselves for spirituall Fathers, as who like conduits presume to get spirituall children by their Churches, calling them their Parish Children, Confession-children.

And although some hundred and two hundred yeers ago God raised some Ministers, by whom as by his Instruments he caused his Word to be set forth and published again, and this Adultery to be made notorious and manifest. Yet neverthe­les the Churches would not desist from their wonted fornica­tion, but being set free once out of that painfull Papisticall bro­thel-house of despair, they run, like the Stag, even mad in a wild and unbridled Libertinisme, beginning anew to doat on those Ministers and their followers; sought the comfort of salvation at their hands in stead of Christs, and setting aside their own Lord-Head and Bridegroome (who onely and solely ought to inhabite, rule and make fruitfull the soul) did cleave unto the servants and Ministers, and called themselves after their names. And thereby they have plunged themselves into such horrible Babylonicall division and confusion, that the true knowledge of Christ and of his holy and precious life, is utterly extin­guished, and the true Christianitie turned and changed into a sectarian confusion and most heathenish conversation, where [Page 21]men go on every one according to the lusts and greedy desires of his corrupt Adamicall flesh; for their own glory, lust, love and goods, snatching at, hating, envying, devouring, slander­ing, condemning and persecuting one another, and yet for all that still conceiting they have as good a share and interest in the Merits of Christ as any.

This now is that painted Jesabel, with her glorying and gli­stering outside; that great Babylon, with her so many names of Blasphemies, the Mother of all Whoredom, with whom the kings of the earth do commit fornication; and being made drunk with her cup of Abomination do storme and rage so mightily; and she is carried and supported by the spotted Beast, and the beastly world rule here.

And what are her children, that she brought forth by her Paramours and spirituall Husbands, but Lyons, Bears, raven­ing Fowls, Woolves, Dogs, Foxes, Swine, and the like, who every one and all do what they can to persecute the Lambe.

For having ever resisted the Spirit of God, Satan the old Dragon hath thereby so rooted and strengthened his kingdom and palace in her and in her children; that he governeth and leadeth them at his own and absolute pleasure. Hence it is come to passe that the Bond of Love, according to the unity of the Spirit, is broken asunder among men, and Christ not­withstanding they boast and glory so much of him among all Sects is still crucified by the Learned, in his word according to the spirit and power thereof, and by the Mighty ones, in his members.

And hence also have all the modern Warres and troubles their sourse and beginning, which were hatched and broached by nothing so much, as by the irritating, prating, urging, stre­porous and virulent squeaking before the Kings and Princes of the Earth, of those three Dragon-Frogs, who seek still every one for himself to be in better and higher grace and favour with the Whore then the others.

But now it is manifest and apparent every where, how the Horns of this Beast, wherein this Arch-whore drunk in Saints blood sitteth, I mean the Forces and Armies that are abroad in all parts do begin to persecute this great confounded Whore, devouring her flesh and laying her desolate, as it is put into [Page 22]their hearts, untill the words of God shall be fulfilled upon her.

And God hath broken and cut asunder the Bands, and deli­vereth men every one into the hand of his neighbour, the one to fall by the sword of the other, and the thrones of kingdoms to come reeling down to the ground.

Happy is he that marketh this, and layeth it to heart; that goeth out of Babel, and doth not make himself partaker of her sins, and abominable whoredoms, lest ye receive part also of her plagues.

But the time is at hand that the Lambe of God will grow wrath, and lay down his enemies for his footstool; resisting and severely avenging such long practised Murther, in his Word and Members, and contrarily glorifie upon Mount Si­on; the woman that was thrust forth into the wildernesse; the true Church namely, together with her native Members dis­persed and scattered as yet, among all parts and sects, and so distressed by the brood of the Dragon; when as Babel shall be made the habitation of ghastly fowls. Blessed is he that so watcheth and walketh as that the shame of his nakednesse be not discovered, but that he may appear in white Robes at the wedding of the Lambe.

Glory onely to God.