THE SPIRITUALL MAN Iudgeth All Things: OR, THE SPIRITUALL MANS TRVE IVDGMENT: And how by him the hearts of others were, and may be judged by the Spirit of Truth; and also how things by the Spiritual Man were judged of, concerning both Salvation and Damnation, proved by several Scripture examples, according to the Spirit of Truth, which were, and is the guide of the Lords people out of error and deceit into all truth, according to sweet Gospel-promise, Joh. 16.13. Rom. 8.14. ALSO, Something in short, concerning Melchizedeks order of taking the Tythes of Spoils only of Abraham, after the return from the slaughter of the Kings, a free-will offering at one time, and no more, Gen. 14. answering Heb. 7. And in short, of the order of Tythes, by command under the Law, in the Aaronical and Levitical Priesthood, the change of the Law, and Priesthood also, Heb. 7.12. so an end of Tythes: WITH A godly Exhortation and instruction, full of sweet Gospell Truths, to such as have the witness of the new Testament, through the blood of Jesus, and some Mementoes: With something also to stop lies and slanders, that trute may be cleared.
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be sold at his shop, at the Black Spread-Eagle, at the Westend of Pauls, 1655.
To the Reader,
THe caus of my writing this little Treatise, is not as an accusation against any, but to cleare the truth from lying slanders, that the wicked and Rebellious are readie to cast upon it, who evilly intreated and shamefully abused the Messengers of the Lord, especially at Drayton in Leicester Shire, on two days, that one day two Priests, and another day six or seaven Priests did there meet and those called quakers by the world in disdain and reproach, but to us reproaches is great riches, as they was to Moses who was a quaker, Heb. i2.2i. Heb. i1.25,26. On the twelf day of the eleventh Month by the world called Ianuary, and according to their accompt i654. Him that the world calls Georg Fox, went to Drayton to see his Father, and Friends in the flesh, and him that the world calls Richard Farnworth went with him, and coming there they heard that Priest Stephens and others would give them a meeting to dispute with them; notice there had been of it, by the Priests party doth appear, for many people gathered that day together concerning the same, but George Fox and Richard Farnworth knew not of it until at Drayton they came, and hearing thereof, Richard Farnworth went up into the grave yeard, and many people gathered about him, in the mean while, the Priests went into the Idols Temple at Drayton, and some would have forced Richard Farnworth into them, but he refused, and said he was not come to uphold Idols, &c. Then several perswaded him to go into a great house like a Hall, and the dwellers thereof came and said they should be welcome and have the command of the house, and none should barre them, &c. Presently after came him they called George Fox into Drayton grave yeard, and they thronged about him, so for the truths sake they went into that great house like a hal, and there they & the Priests, & Priests party (with others together there met) and after some speech between the Priest of Drayton and him called George Fox, there was a dispute about the spiritual man, but severall times when him called George Fox and Richard Farnworth, when either of them so called, should by the spirit of the Lord have answered, the rude people hailed them violently away severall times, and stopt the mouth of Richard Farnworth with Fists and gloves, and abused him sore, and caused George Fox to bleed, by their Cruell and Savage usage that day: And afterwards on the i7. day of the same Month, there was another meeting appointed at Dayton, and the Priests gave notice of that and many Priests and people there was that day, and very sore with them of [Page] the Priests party was him called George Fox used with violence that day; the Priests party being set on him, to undertake to use him so barbarously and cruelly as they did, but truth triumphs over all deceipts and deceivers, and the enmity of truths enemies, the Priests and their party were abundantly that day made manifest, such is the Fruits of the Priests flock, and that which their ministry effecteth and hath brought forth, and doth bring forth, they may all blush and be ashamed of the same; and Priest Stephens that laughed and rejoyced at the abuse of George Fox, by the wickedness of his own people, and they of his own house, had a chiefe portion therein, let shame strike the wife of priest Stephens, his Son, and Servant, and also himself, and the rest of the priests and their rude people that was there that day, whose wickedness and folly did so much appear, but in that I cease: Read this little answering Treatise concerning the SPIRITUAL-MANS judgment which may cleare thine in the same, and learn to know the ground of truth therein, So I remain thy souls friends and all that love the truth.
This is to go abroad to stop lies and slanders that truth may be cleared &c.
GEORGE FOX, coming to Drayton to his Fathers in the flesh, upon the sixth day of the week, being the twelth day of the eleventh month, and after he had been there a little while, Thomas balls man came to Christopher Foxes house, and said that George had sent Nathaniel Stephens (who calls himself Minister) there a challenge, and he miight come up to that, which they call their Church; for he said they could do nothing til he, called Geerge Fox, came; but as for his sending any challeng to him as aforesaid, that was false, for no challenge was neither by him nor from him sent to the said Stephens, priest of the said Drayton before mentioned; nevertheless, he went up into the Grave Yard, and there fynding many people, but the priest in the Steeple house and the people desyred him to go into the priest, for they said it was cold, and he and others could not endure the cold; then he said a Minister of Christ could endure hardship, hunger, nakedness or cold, and said to the people call him out hither into the yard, then from the people some unsavoury speeches was given to us, and so after a while seeing the priest would not thither come out unto us, we went into a hall neer unto the grave yard, and there two priests, and a great company of people went into the said hall, and for a time there was a great stir amongst the people, whereupon George Fox did exhort them to be quiet and Sit down, and keep their places, it was for their sakes and the truths sake that he was come in thither, and their teacher the aforesaid Stephens having told the old man Georges Father in the flesh, that George had a [Page] familiar Spirit, and there George ask d Priest Stephens of it, who unto him denyed it, and then Christopher Fox told the Priest that he had said so unto him, and he told him where, also in a place in the Field, which he then and there mentioned, yet the Priest impudently denyed it, and then George asked him what he did beleeve, whether he had any such a familiar Spirit; yea or nay; the Priest answered and said, he could not tel, he might have a good, & he might have a bad; then G. told him, here thou hast manifested thy self to be no Minister of God, but a false Minister, for the Ministers of Christ & the New Covenant of God, they could discern Spirits and try them, i Cor. i2. i Iohn 4. And as you may read in Isaiah, he discerned the familiar Spirit, and judged it, Isa. 8. And the Apostle discerned the witchcraft of the witches that had bewitched the Galatians, read Gal. 3. And here thou hast manifested thy selfe to be a blinde guide who can put no difference betwixt the precious and the vile, who hast no salt to savour withall, therefore thou art good for nothing but to be cast out, and troden under foot Mat. 5. then Georg told him that the spirituall man judged all things, and Stephens and the other Priest Chester both denyed it, and said the Spirituall man did not judg all things, and they sought to cover it with their shuf [...]ing and deceit, but could not, for the Scripture in plainess proveth them lyars, for it saith, he that is spiritual judgeth all things, as you may read, i Cor. 2.i5. And here both Stephens and Chester preached another Doctrine, contrary both to the Scripture and Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ, and have shewed themselves false Ministers, which say, the Spirituall man doth not judg all things, and the Minister of God saith he did judge all things; here you have shut your selves out of the ministry of the Spirit of God, and denyed the Scriptures and the record that God gave of his Son; and you have shewed another spirit, contrary to the Apostles, for the Apostle said, the spirituall man did judge all things, and your spirit saith the spirituall man did not judge all things; here your spirit is tryed to be a false Spirit, and proved to be a Spirit of error, and you the false Prophets, i Ioh. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Then it was asked the Priest, whether he had the same Spirit they had, which gave forth the Scriptures, and he said he had not an infallible Spirit as they had, and here I charge thee to have a false and fallible spirit, for thou not having the same spirit that gave forth the Scriptures, then another; So a false Spirit and a spirit of error, and here again thy Spirit is tryed as the Scripture saith, try the spirits, so thou and Chester that have no [...] that Spirit that gave forth the Scripture but you have another contrary to them, and so you have not fellowship with the Father and the Son, therefore you are they that are not to be received into the houses, neither is it to you to be said God speed, least they that do so be partakers of your evill deeds, as may be read, 2. Ioh. 9.10.ii. verses.
And then it was asked the priests what scripture they had to take tythes of the people, then one of them brought a Scripture which said, be subject to every Ordinance of man, when the Apostle witnessed the change of the [Page] Priest-hood that received Tythes, and also the change of the Law, by which they were commanded, which was in the fyrst Covenant under the Law, an Ordinance not of man but of God, and Christ being come the end of the Law, and some blotted out the hand writing of Ordinances which now who hold them up are against the New Covenant, and us who be in it, and that is no ground in saying, be subject to every ordinance of man for you to take tythes; and the Priests brought the 7. of the Hebrews, as Melchizedeks taking tythes, and the leviticall Priesthood, and they desyred George to read that chapter, Heb. 7. and as he was reading they laughed and hooted as they use to do that follow bull-batings thereat, very uncivilly and unsavoury, and so manifested both the priest Stephens and priest Chester to be the false prophers that cause the people to erre by your lyes and by your lightness, and have not profyted them, nor profyts them at all, as your fruits do make it appear, and as you may read, Ier. 23. who was sent to cry wo against such, and in the seaventh Chapter of the Hebrews, the Apostle who spake of tythes to Melchizedek before the Law, and then tythes in the Law, and also the change of the Law, and he spake of the change of the priesthood that was under the Law, and when he had spoken of tythes to Melchizedek before the Law, and then tythes to the Leviticall priest-hood in the Law, for the Law made men [...] High priest, and the Apostle witnessed the change of the Law, and the change of the priest-hood which received the tythes, and now saith the Apostle of the things which he had spoken of before of tythes in the days of Abraham, to Melchizedek before the Law, and tyths in the Law, the change of the Law, and the change of the priest-hood, and so the priest-hood being changed, to whom must people pay their tythes now; here the Apostle was a Minister of the New Covenant, and shewed forth the types and the fygures, and the things in the old Covenant, and the priest-hood that received tythes, and change and some of them. So you teachers and people which bee pleading for things in the fyrst Covenant and priest-hood, that the Apostle witnessed, fulfylled, and denyed, as the Scripture it self doth bear testimony, and here you manifest your selves to be against Christ, and against him, Antichrists.
And very rudely and unsavourly did the people hale him they call George Fox til he bled at that time before the priests face, and the priest said he was his spirituall father, whom he called George Fox, and Goorge he there denyed him, and shewed that the priest was a minister but of the letter and not of the spirit that gave forth the letter he preached, and then he was fain to call for his naturall Father to take him away, and when they could not stop the word, they would have stopped the Mouth with the outward hand, and the priest said he would pray for him, but hee denyed his prayers, for his prayers that is not from the same spirit that gave forth the scripture, is from a spirit of error, and then the priest said, George being come to the light of the Sun, sought to destroy and tread upon his Star light, but that was false for the least measure of light he doth not destroy, but the Darkness that he [Page] calls light, George doth deny, yet the light in thy conscience will witness what he hath spoke when the book of your consciences is opened, and him to be a lover of all your souls, and eternall good.
Nathaniel Stephens the Preist said, that George Fox as he called him, was one of his sheepe, but George he denyed him, and told the Priest he was one of the false Prophets that drove him away, but now he was found who had been lost, and the Lord was his Shepheard, therefore he denyed him the Priest and all Idoll shepheards and such as bore rule by their means which the Lord sent Ieremy to cry against, Ier, 5.30.3i. ahd such as sought for their gain from their quarter, which the Lord sent Isa. to cry out against as in Isa. 56.i0,ii. and such as sought for the fleece and made a prey upon the people, which the Lord sent Ezekiel to cry out against, Ezek. 3 4. And such as hirelings as the Lord sent Micah to cry out against, Mic. 3.1i. And such as Christ cryed wo against, that had the chiefest places in the assemblies, stood praying in the Synagogues, laid heavie burdens upon the people, and were called of men Masters, as in Mat. 23. And the Priests went away from the place, but George stayed after hee had denyed them, their prayers, doctrine and worships, who were proved to be guided by a Spirit of error, as it was made manifest, and George spoke the word of the Lord to the people that stayed after the Priests, and many of their partakers were gone from the place; and then after parted and went to his fathers in the flesh and there stayed that night, and the word of the Lord declared by him, that day shall rise up in judgment against the rebellious, which was and is love to the Souls of all that receive and embrace it, and the way of holiness, without which holiness none shall see God and live; now in your lifetime you are warned, repent and amend.
THE SPIRITVAL MAN Iudgeth all things, OR THE SPIRITUAL MANS true judgment.
NOVV the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3.i7. thererfore the naturall mans judgment, must not stand upon the Spiritual man, but the Spirituall mans judgment stands upon the naturall mans head, for he that is spirituall judgeth all things, and there is his Liberty, yet he himselfe is judged of no man, as it is written and witnessed, i Cor. 2.i4,i5.
The naturall man is carnall, and sold under Sin, and therefore in that state and condition he knows not the things of the spirit of God, and so wanting salt to savour withall, hath no judgment therein.
For the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned, and not carnallie known, i Cor. 2.i4. therefore the Carnall minded man being in death, Rom 8.6. knoweth them not, to be carnally minded is death, and they that are in the flesh, cannot please God, Rom. 8.8. fleshly wisdome, fleshly reason, and fleshly knowledg, which is bruitish, and fleshly disputations are vain, because the vain, worldly, earthly, carnall minde, disputes of things that was was not spoken forth by it, and the earthly sensual wisdome which is devillish and so cursed, it would aspire to know the secrets and things of the Spirit of God, but cannot; for the wisdome of the world is foolishness with God, and the world by wisdome knoweth not God, therefore the earthly sensuall wisdom must be sylent, and not dispute of the things of God, for it knoweth them not, death and destruction speaks of the same, of spiritual things and of the spirituall wisdome but knoweth it not, as it is writen and witnessed; and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, therefore sylence flesh and deceit, Rom. 8.5,6,7,8. Iam. 3.i5. i Cor. i.i9,20. i Cor. 3.i9,20. Iob. 28. Gal. 5.i7. Gal 6.8.
The Spiritual man is born of God the father of spirits, and not by the [Page 7] wil of man, but by the wil of God, such are in Union with God, and by him in his spirituall life and power, hath a right to the Spirituall judgment, and the things of God which are to him Gods free gift, being in his fathers spirit, and hath the spiritual discerning, and of Spirits; therefore who are of the seed royall in the power of the spirit, endued, anoynted in the unction holy, and knoweth all things thereby, i Iohn 2.20. Such may judge the Carnal mind, death, & the enmity therein, for discerning of Spirits is the Spirituall mans proper gift from the father of Spirits, and it is in the spirituall judgment, his prerogative above the nature of carnall minded man, the Spirit of the father dwelling in him, the greater is there enjoyed and witnessed then in the world, 1 Iohn 2.i4. i Iohn 4.4. they in that enjoyment are redeemed from the slaverie, which slaverie the unregenerate are in, therefore indeed and in truth they cannot cry Abba Father, but the regenerate who is in unity with the Iudg of all hearts may, it is his priviledg so to do, and the spirit of the Father speaks through the Son, which spirit, in the word and power thereof is the Iudg of all hearts, and judgeth the Secrets therein, Iohn 3.5,6. Iohn i.i2,i3. 1 Cor. 2. i Cor. 12. Rom. 8. Heb. i2.23. Luk. i2.12.
The holy Ghost is Spirituall and dwelleth within, and speaketh through the Temple, where the promise of the Father is fulfylled, and the new birth witnessed, where the New Covenant is enjoyed, therefore he that reproves the world of Sin and unbeliefe &c. he doth judge the Prince of the world and the carnall minde, and the selfe love and the selfe righteousness in the earthly, sensuall, and carnall minded man, wherever hee sees it as he sits in his Temple, and he sees not as the world sees, they see carnally, but he sees spiritually, and judgeth in the hearts of one as wel as other that which judgment is due unto, and the holy Ghost, he that is spiritual also, dwelleth in the heires of promise, but the world knoweth him not, therefore are they at his true Spirituall judgment now offended, because they neither see him nor know him, but we that are spirituall, and such as are of the seed and priest-hood unchangeable and royall in the end of all Types and Figures enjoy him, in the substance and Power of the eternall Truth, for according to sweet Gospel promise, he dwelleth in us who witness the new-birth, and the holy seed, and according to the Gospel holy unction he doth abide within us, Ioh. i4,15,i6,i [...] i Ioh. 2.20.27. Therefore praised bee the LORD, who hath hid these things, and sweet Gospel enjoyments, and true spiritual judgment and discerning therein, from the wise and prudent of the world, and hath revealed them to us, and who are babes in Christ Iesus of the new-birth in the Covenant of grace according to the royall acception through the sore-knowledg of the predestination in the choice made by election, contrary to the reprobation, which things are a mystery to the Serpents generation, which mysterie in us, i Colos. 27. The world and worldly wise men are strangers unto, and knoweth it not, i Tim. 3.i6. Ioh. i4.20. Neither do they know the Sons of God, now the holy Ghost that dwelleth and abideth in them, as saith the Scripture, [Page 8] therefore are they also ignorant of the Spirit of the father speaking through them that are sons, and so knows not the Spirituall mans judgment, which stands upon the naturall mans head, but are offended thereat, because of the enmity of the Serpents seeds which lodgeth in the ground of prejudice and despite against the spirit of grace, manifest from the evil heart according to the Prince of darkness acting with the carnall minde in which the enmity stands and is brought forth against the truth, and they are in enmity against the children of God also, because of their ignorance of the spirit of truth and knoweth not God the father of the faithfull, nor his Sons that are guided by his Spirit, as it is written and witnessed, Rom. 8.5,6,7.8, & i4,15,i6. discerning of Spirits, is the gift of the spirit of God, i Cor. i2. given to his sons that liveth therein, and are guided thereby, Rom. 8.i4. &c. Then the enmity may be judged by the spirit dwelling in his sons, therefore is he the judge of all hearts by his spirit, and who knows the Iudge of all hearts, and the spirits of Iust men made perfect, as they did, Heb. i2.22,23. The same seed according to the spirit, now may and by degrees doth know the things of the spirit of God as they did, therefore amongst them the hearts Iudge is witnessed, and the true spirituall Iudgement knowne and enioyed, in the discerning and gift in the spirits life also now as was then to judge the carnall minde and the deceipt and enmity in others; carnall minded men and subtill serpents as it did then; God is the same that he was, and his spirit is the same, and the gift in the discerning where it is given, and he enjoyed as he was then, and also according to the promise of Christ, who is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, 2 Cor. 6.i6. Iohn i4.20, i Cor. i2.i0. Heb. 13.8.
They who say Elijah or Elias, and Elisha had not judgment given to them by the spirit of the Lord to know and judge of others hearts and ways, &c. such as say so knows not the word of the Lord, the life of the Scriptures, nor the holy Spirit by which they and the holy men of God were guided, that spoke forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost and not by mans will, as you may read, 2 Pet. i.i9.20.2i.
i King 2i.i8. Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, had the Spirit of prophecie and knew the word of the Lord, i Kings i7. and after he had spoken the word of the Lord to Ahab then King of Israel, i Kings. i7.i. by the Spirit of prophecie; the word of the Lord came to Elijah, and according to the word of the Lord he did, i King. i7.2,3,4,5. And hee were fed by the Ravens for a time, i King. i7.6,7. Afterwards the word of the Lord came to him again, and he did according to it as he he were required in obedience to the same, i King. i7.8. to the end of the Chapter; and after many days in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah again, i King. i8. And he shewed himself again unto Ahab and to Obadiah, which Obadiah, who when Iezebell slew the Lords Prophets, hid one hundred of them by Fifties in a Cave, and fed them with bread and water, because he greatly feared the Lord, [Page 9] &c. 1 King. i8.i,2. to the 16. so according to Elijahs words Obadiah went and told Ahab, and Elijah and Ahab met, and Elijah caused Ahab then King of Israel, to send and gather all Israel unto Mount Carmell, and the Prophets of Baal, 450, and the Prophets of the Groves, 400. which eat at Iezebells Table: and Ahab did gather the people of Israel and the said Prophets together unto Mount Carmell, i King. i8.i6. to the 2i. And Elijah came to all the people and said, how long halt ye between two opinions, &c. here he knew their hearts and unfaithfulness to the Lord, and after that, caused fyre to come down from Heaven, &c. and when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, the Lord he is God, the Lord he is God; after Elijah had tryed baals Prophets and their God, i King. 18.2i. to the 40. And after baals Prophets were slain, and things done by Elijah according to the Counsel and word of the Lord, i King. i8.40. to the end. And he was preserved from bloody minded Iezebell, 1 King. i9.i,2. He, to wit, Elijah fled, and lay under a Iuniper Tree, and requested the Lord, who graciously answered, and his word came to Elijah in a Cave, and he made known to the Lord his minde and complaint, about the digging down of the Altars, and his escaping and preservation with other things, i King i9.3.4. to the end. After all that, and the Lords gracious answer to Elijah or Elias, 1 King. i9. Rom. i1. which Elijah anoynted Iehu and Elisha to be Prophets in his steed, to judge and execute the word of the Lord, i King. i9.i5. to the end, and after he (to wit, Elijah or Elias) had done so as aforesaid, and were returned out of the wilderness, after fyre were come downe from Heaven, and after the tryall of his God the judge of all by his spirit and power, and the tryall of baals and the false Gods of the Heathens, and after Elijah had received the word of the Lord in the Cave, and had made his complaint to the Lord about the digging down of the Alters, and slaying the Prophets, after, and after beheaded, had besyeged Samariah, i King. 20. to the i3. and after by the direction of a Prophet, the Syrians were slaine, i King. 20.i3. to the 31. and for other passages, from the 2i. verse to the end of the Chapter. And after all those things and passages in the i King. 21.i,2. to the i7. after all these things, and as aforesaid, then again the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, arise, go downe to meet Ahab King of Israel, and told him where he was, to wit, in Naboths Vineyard, i King. 2i.i7,18,19. and when Elijah or Elias came to Ahab King of Israel, according to the word of the Lord, and Eliiah coming to Ahab, Ahab said to Eliiah, hast thou found me O mine enemy, and he answered I have found thee, because thou hast sold thy selfe to work evill in the Sight of the Lord, i King. 2i.20. Eliiah by the Spirit and word of the Lord, knew King Ahabs heart, in knowing that he had sold himself to work evill in the syght of the Lord, as to him Elijah said, who in the word of the Lord by his Spirit said, in pronouncing judgment to Ahab and his posterity he said, behold, I will bring evill upon thee, and take away thy posterity, &c. Read, i King. 2i.2i,22. to the end. And hee said by the spirit of the [Page 10] Lord, that there was none like to Ahab, did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, though in his days the judgment was delayed for a cause; so you that work wickedness and do evill in the sight of the Lord, and continue therein, your judgment lingereth not, and your damnation slumbreth not, 2 Pet. 2.
They who say Elisha had not judgment given him by the Spirit of the Lord in the time of the Prophets to know others hearts, and so not knowing could not judge of them, and thereby would deprive the Spiritual man if they could, of his true Spirituall judgment, &c.
I answer, Such as say so, and would do so, as aforesaid, they erre, not knowing the true Spirit of Prophecie, nor the true Spirituall discerning and judgment, nor the Spirit the life of the Scriptures and power of God, which were in the holy men of God, that spake forth the Scriptures by the holy Ghost as they were moved, contrary to the will of man, 2 Pet. 1.21. For Elisha did know others hearts by the Spirit given him of God, and as he did know others hearts by the Spirit given him of God, then the men of God by his Spirit may; therefore Silence subtilty and deceipt, who are strangers to the holy Spirit, and Spirituall judgment, the life of the Saints and holy men of God, which you are out of, that stumbles at the light, and life that gave forth the Scriptures, which light is the condemnation, of all who love the deeds of darkness rather than the light, Ioh. i.9. Ioh. 8.i2. Ioh. 3,19,20,2i. For prove that Elisha did know others hearts, to stop the Cavilling mindes, as Elisha sat in the house, and the Elders with him by the Spirit of the Lord, he knew and discerned the intent of the Kings heart who were out of the house, who sent one to have taken off the Head of Elisha, but before the Messenger came to Elisha to act or do the the thing and evil which were intended in the Kings heart against him, Elisha had such a discerning and knowledg of the Kings heart and intentions, that before the Kings Messengers came to Elisha, Elisha told the Elders of it that sate with him in his house, and he said to the Elders, see ye how this Son of a Murderer hath sent to take away mine head, &c. 2. King. 6. the 32.
Here it is proved that Elisha the man of God knew anothers heart, and what were intended in it, before it were outwardly acted or done; and this were known by the spirit of God given unto him, whereby he discerned the same, and as by the Spirit of the Lord he knew the kings heart that were out of his house, as he sate in his house with the Elders, and also knew what he had intended in his heart, before outward action, by the same spirit and gift of discerning given of God; now others may, but Elisha the Man of God, by the Spirit of the Lord given unto him, did know what was intended in the kings heart against him, and spoke before the Messenger came to acquaint the Elders that sate with him in his house of the same, therefore by the gift of discerning in the Lords spirit, others may as hee did, and no other way then by the spirit, for the manifestation of the spirit [Page 11] is given to such to discerne and profit withall, for confirmation: Read 2 Kings 6.26,27,28,29,30,31,32. and i Corrinth. i2.7. and i0. Verses.
See another example in Scripture, concerning Elisha knowing the heart of another, that so by two or three witnesses Truths may bee established, which are now stumbled at, to wit, that one should know anothers heart; and when Elisha looked upon Hazael, and wept, Hazael asked Elisha why he wept: and Elisha answered Hazael, and said unto him, because I know the Evil that thou wilt do, &c. 2 King. 8.
Here again, Elisha the Man of God, by his Spirit given him, hee knew anothers heart, to wit, Hazaels, in knowing before-hand what hee would act or do, which would proceed out of his heart into such actions as hee mentioned, which was not then outwardly manifested, yet inwardly known and declared of by the Spirit of the Lord through the Man of God, 2 King. 8.i2. And as Elisha the Man of God knew the hearts of others, and what evil were intended in them, and would proceed forth of them, as out of the Kings, and Hazaels, he did, and told Hazael to his face before the things were by him acted and done; then by the same gi [...]t of discerning in the Spirit of the Lord, with it others of the men of God may now discern and know the evil and enmity in wicked hearts of the Serpents seed; therefore the Lord who gives the gift and discerning▪ with his Spirit, is the hearts Iudge as he was: Let all Flesh bee Silent, the carnall minde in which the enmity lodgeth, is offended at the spirituall mans judgement, now as it was; and he that is after the flesh, persecutes him that is after the Spirit, and as it was then, so it is now, enmity being put between the two Seeds, Genesis 3.15. and Galatians 4.28,29,30,3i. 2 Kings 8.i2,13, &c.
Severall examples there is in the Scripture to confirme this Truth, which is so stumbled at by the Children, of DISOBEDIENCE, to wit, That one should know anothers HEART; or, that the SEED of GOD should judge the seed of the SERPENTS; but the spirituall Mans Iudgement stands upon the Carnall minde, and above the Naturall Man; and so hee that is spirituall judgeth all things as saith the Scripture, and the spirituall Mans Iudgement is true.
Hee that in the Spirit of the Lord, with it said to others, I know your thoughts, and your devices, which yee wrongfully imagine against mee, hee speaking the words of Truth then by the Spirit given of the Lord, knew their Hearts and secret Thoughts and Devices therein, &c. And such a one had true spirituall judgement in the same, to enter into others Hearts and secret Thoughts and Devices therein, judging and telling them the evill Devices and wrongfull Imaginations of their HEARTS, before the Actions; and as hee did then, by the same Spirit of God given, now others in the gift and discerning of [Page i2] Spirits, with the Lords spirit may try the Spirits as is required, i Ioh. 4. And know whether they be of God or no, and so know the evil thoughts and devices of evill hearts, which are not guided by the Spirit of God, as Iob did, therefore the Iobs, and servants or sons of God, in the service of God, and with his Spirit may now know the thoughts and devices of others hearts as he did, Iob 21.27. Heb. 5.i4, Malach. 3.i7,i8.
The Iewels of Gold who are in returned, worships God in the Spirit, for he is a Spirit, Ioh 4.24. 2 Cor. 3.i7. And as he is a Spirit, so his Iewels are Spiritual; such as are changed from glorie to glory into the same Image, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3.i8. who in the gift of discerning, i. Cor. i2.i0. given from the Father in the Son, Ioh. i4.20. Ioh. i7.i0. The Prophets end is witnessed, Malach. 3.i7,i8. And the Iewels of God, made up into his Image by his spirit, 2 Cor. 3.i7,i8. They thereby in the Spirits open life by the gift in the discerning according to the Fathers promise, they know them that serve God, and them that serve him not, then such knows others hearts and Spirits, because God is a Spirit, and his worship is in the Spirit, Ioh. 4.23,24. and the truth where the father is enjoyed in the Son, and the Son in the Father, Ioh, i4.6. Ioh. i4.20. And true worshipers or souls that magnifyes the Lord, Luke i 46. And whose Spirits also rejoyceth in the sweet Spirituall union in God the Father, Luke i.47. And the word of life and Power is known in its opperation deviding assunder soul and spirit, &c. Heb. 4,i2. VVhich word is as a fyre in the bones, Ier. 23.29. Ier. 20.9. Here true worshipers are seene and known in the Spirit, and false Power which is a sword, Heb. 4.i2.
And he that bares the sword, must not bare it in vain, but judge and cut down Sin, so quenching the fyerie darts of the Devill by the Spirituall sword, Eph. 6.i6.i7. The beam being cast out within with the true light, the moat or evill in others is seen, and the Saints shall judge the world as it is written, i Cor. 6.i,2. And who judgeth the world, judgeth the unclean hearts, for the world is set in mans heart, as saith the Scripture, and the Spirit of truth being come, reproves the world of Sin, and unbeliefe, and so he reproves mans heart in which it lodgeth and acteth, and the Prince of Darkness and of the world is by the true Spirit seen, and in mens heart with it judged, even with the sword that proceedeth out of the mouth, which is the powerfull word of God, in the life of the eternall Spirit, which Spirit of truth in the eternall power of God, is the judge of hearts, being come and in the Gospell promises [...]nd witnessed, and is the guide out of error and deceipt, into all sweet Gospel truth, and so into the true knowledg of all things, i Ioh. 2.20. And to enjoy the Father in the Son, and the Son in the Father, witnessed in the unction according to sweet Gospell discipline and promise, Ioh. i6.i3. i Ioh. 2.27. Ioh. i4.20. And the Spirit of truth he hath authority according to Gospell promise, to speake what he hears and to hearts, and sheweth to souls the things of the father, in the Sons glorifying o [...] him, who hath received of his and sheweth unto [Page 13] us, so that we enjoy the things that are freely given us of God thereby, i Cor. 2. And descerning of Spirit is his free gift, i Cor. i2. Therefore have we received it of him, as they did that witnessed the mind of Christ, i Cor. 2.i5,i6. And we need no naturall man to teach us, to see, and know, and judge the hearts and things, both concerning predestination, election, regeneration, justifycation, salvation, and Glorifycation, for the naturall man knoweth them not, and things in the reprobation which are for condemnations, I say we need no naturall man to teach us the knowledg and understanding herein, and as aforesaid, but as the Spirituall man, the spirit of truth and holy unction teacheth us and all the Children of God in the same; therefore sylence flesh, for the naturall man knows not the things of the Spirit of God, because they are Spiritually discerned, i Cor. 2.i4, but we who are in the holy unction, do know that the Son of God is come, i Iohn 5.20. And in the unction holy we know the gift of the spirit discerning, and true spirituall judgement also is known and witnessed in the spirits life, and open understanding, where our witness in the son is enjoyed, as there was in the New-Testament, i Iohn 5,6, and i0,ii, verses, where the gift in the Prophets end is amongst the Lords Iewels witnessed, and the unction from the holy one is enjoyed in the New-Covenant, praised be the Lord for the riches of his love, all praise and glory be ascribed unto him, who maketh us through his son to partake of the precious promises and sweet Gospel grace and vertue, i Ioh. 2.20 and 27. 2 Pet. i.3,4.
Nathaniel Stephens Priest at Drayton, and Chester, Priest at VVitherley, who in your dispute about the Spirituall Man, said he did not judg all things, when the scripture plainly sath he that is spirituall judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man, i Cor. 2.i5.
Here you two Priests are found to be two false witnesses, against the truth, and are proved to be two lyars against the spirituall man and his doctrine, and you are lyars against the scriptures, so shewing the spirit of your father the Devill, by which lyars are guided, Iohn 8.44. but read your reward and all lyars like you, Rev. 2i.8. You are they that receives not the things of the spirit of God, because they are spiritually discerned, i Cor. 2.i4. therefore do you not know the spiritual man, nor his true spiritual judgment, who are lyars aginst him, and saith, Hee doth not judg all things, and the Scripture saith, He doth judg all things: VVhat Liars are you against the Truth! bee ashamed of your Lies; see your Errors, and owne your condemnation to be just thereupon.
Q. If the Spiritual man judg not all things, who must judge that which you would not have him to judg? seeing that the naturall man knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither receiveth them, and so not the judgment, and that is one of the things of the Spirit of God, who is the true Judge; but such as you who are in the flesh cannot please God▪ Rom. 8.8. therefore for judgment you are▪
But who are out of the lust of the flesh, and out of the knowledge after the flesh, and are in Christ Iesus, such are in the new things, witnessing the new Creatures, and enjoys the new things, old being passed away, which new things and new Creature, you are strangers unto, 2 Cor. 5.i6.i7. who have shewed your spirit of error to us and to all the children of light, then were it known, i Ioh. 4.6.
You two Priests said you had not an infallible Spirit, nor the same Spirit which the Apostles had, no more you have, therefore have you a fallible false Spirit, the Spirit of error, as you have made it manifest and discovered it upon tryall.
The Scripture saith, trie the Spirits whether they be of God or no; because many false Prophets are gone out into the world, i Ioh. 4.i. And your spirit and doctrine is tryed and proved to be contrary to the Apostles, who had the Spirit of God dwelling in them, and were guided by it, and the Spirituall man judged all things; but you bring a contrary Doctrine to theirs, that saith the Spirituall man doth not judge all things; here you have the lying spirit; you also said you had not the same spirit that the Apostles of Christ had, so a contrary, as it is tryed, therefore are you the false Prophets that are gone out into the world, preaching for hyre, and seeking your gaine from your quarter, and so to be denyed and declared against, as such false teachers was, Ier. 5.30,3i. Isa. 56.i0,ii.
And you that said you had not the same spirit that the Apostles had, your spirit is the false spirit, and not the true, then not the spirit of God; therefore you are to be holden accursed, and also your doctrine that is contrary and by a contrary spirit to theirs, Gal. i,8,9.
The Apostles and ministers of Christ and the New-Covenant, were able Ministers of the spirit, 2 Cor. 3.6. and they had the spirit of God dwelling in them, i Iohn 3.24. i Cor. 2.i2. Rom. 8.i4,15,i6. And they that had the spirit of God, to wit, Christs Apostles, you said you had not the same spirit that they had, then the spirit of error, therefore are you none of Christs Apostles nor Ministers that hath not his spirit, for if any man have not the spirit of Christ, they are none of his, Rom. 8.9. but the Apostles and Ministers of Christ had the spirit of Christ, and were made able Ministers thereby, 2 Cor. 3.6. and by it they knew that they was his, Rom. 8.i5,i6,i7. and you that say you have not their spirit, you have not the spirit of Christ, and so are none of his, for they had his spirit; out of your own mouths are you judged, who have shewed a false spirit, and a spirit of error, whereby you are known, and your spirit tryed and proved to be that spirit of error, and so you that are in the spirit of error, are those false Prophets that are gone out into the world, i Iohn 4.i. who through Covetousness makes a prey upon the people, as such in your nature did, Ezek. 34. Mic. 3.ii. 2. Pet. 2. Iude ii.
And you that say the spirituall man doth not judg all things, when the Minister of the spirit, and spirituall man in his Doctrine said he doth judge [Page i5] all things as by Scripture is proved; here again you ly of the Scriptures, and cross the Spirituall Mans doctrine, and bringeth a contrary doctrine to the Spirituall Mans Doctrine, therefore sylence deceivers and stop your mouths, you are not to be received into the house of believers, but to be holden accursed, as the Scripture saith. 2 Iohn 9,i0,i1. Galathians. i.8.
You two Priests are manifested to be out of the Apostles Doctrine, and false witnesses against the truth of the Spirituall Mans Doctrine, for hee that is spirituall judgeth all things, so saith the Scriptures, and you ly against plain Scripture, and saith the Spiritual Man doth not judg all things, the Spiritual Mans words proves the truth against your error and deceit, for he who was the learned Apostle in the Spiritual truths, doth affirm the truth of the thing, and saith, he that is Spirituall judgeth all things, proved in 1 Cor. 2,i5. And they had an unction from the holy one, who thereby knew all things, proved by sound words in Scripture, i Iohn 2.20. He that said the Spirituall man judged all things, is to be beleeved before you, for he had the spirit of God guiding him, and you say you have not the same Spirit, therefore are you and your doctrine to be denyed, and he thae said the Spirituall man judged all things, is to beleeved before you, for he knew the counsell of God, witnessed by Scripture, Acts 20.26,27,28. but you that have not the Apostles Spirit, as you said you had not, you are out of the Counsel of God also, which they stood in, and therefore are you to be denyed & declared against by such as stand in the counsel of God, as the Gospel ministers did, Acts 20. & 27. who your selves are found lyars of the Apostle that stood in the Counsel of God, and falfe witnesses against his doctrine, that shunned not to declare the Counsel of God, which you are not in, that said the Spirituall man did not judg all things, and the SCRIPTURE saith, Hee doth judge all Things, and is to bee believed, and you are by the life of them judged and denyed, who also said, you had not an infallible spirit, and said, you had not the same Spirit that the Apostles had, then you have the fallible, false lying Spirit, the spirit of error, as it is proved, and as you to the Children of light have manifessed your selves, your dark Caves will not hide you who be in the works of darkness.
Therefore can wee the CHILDREN of LIGHT have no fellowship with your unfruitfull VVORKS of DARKNESSE; but rather reprove them as wee are required, proved Ephesians 5.ii. And woe to you and all such who are covered, but not with the SPIRIT of the LORD, who adds Sin unto Sin, as such in your nature do, and aforetime did, read, Isa. 30.i.
Another Example concerning the SPIRITUALL MANS Iudgement, the SPIRIT of the LORD in STEPHEN the Messenger of GOD, who were full of the HOLY GHOST that SPIRIT in and through him did see the IEVVS hearts, and [Page 16] so far judged them that they were wounded, or cut to the very hearts, such as were out of Stephens Righteous life, for in the Spirit he saw there inwards, and told them they was uncircumcised in hearts, and judging the uncircumcision of the hearts, he judged the seat of enmity and Rebellion, from whence proceeded the enmity that resis [...]ted the Holy Ghost, and so he saw the secrets of their hearts, and were able to judge the deceipt, by the spirit given him of the Lord, and by the same spirit in the gift or discerning, with it others of the Messengers and Servants of God, in the power of the Holy Ghost, may see the uncircumcision of the heart, and reprove and judg the enmity therein, in the hearts of others where it is uncrucifyed, though at it they rage now, as then they did at him.
Stephen, a man full of power and the holy Ghost, said, ye uncircumcised in hearts, ye always resist the Holy Ghost, as did your fathers, so do ye, and judging the uncircumcision of the heart that is judged, which is for condemnation, for who are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, the body of Sin is thereby put off, and the enmitie slaine, for therein lay the enmity, in Sins body, which being put off, there is no confydence in the flesh, but unyon with the Father through the Son enjoyed and witnessed, and things judged by the eternall Spirit, both concerning salvation and condemnation, for such as beleeved not the truth, but hath pleasure in unrighteousness, are for damnation, as in the Spiritual mans doctrine is witnessed, Acts 7.5i. &c. Philip. 3.3. Colos. 2.ii. and Ephes. 3.14,i5,i6. 2 Thes. 2.i2.
Priest Chester, thou said, Peter (though an Apostle) knew not the heart of another; and so thou said a man might know and be able to judg his own heart, but not the heart of another.
And the Priest of Drayton with the affirmed thee same, to manifest your lyes against the truth, and your enmity against the Spirituall mans judgment: Then I took a bible, and read Peters words of sound truth to confute your error, there in that time, & instead of maintaining your cause according to truth you could not, but suffered the rude people to hale me and others away, and they stopped my mouth with hands and gloves, and made one of us to bleed; Oh, shame upon such a profession, teachers, and people, the end is seene, and the fruits of it accursed, that is out of the light and out of the truth, the Lord is against such, for as a Troop of Robbers wait for a man, so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent, proved Hosea 6. and 9. and there is like Priest, like people, as their fruits make it manifest, and as may be read in Hosea the 4. and 9.
And whereas you Priests and lyars, said; that Peter (though an Apostle) yet he knew not the heart of another, and so you would have raised enmity against the truth, saying, one might know their owne hearts, but not the hearts of others, therefore ought they not to judge of the hearts of other men, &c.
Now I shall answer that according to truth, being by Scripture proved, [Page 17] that Peter an Apostle did know the heart of another, and judg the enmity therein, which were conceived against the holy Ghost, and so against the truth, then by and with the same Spirit that was then in Peter, the hearts of others may be seen and known; therefore is and may the enmity be judged in others hearts by the Spirit of truth, as was then: but Peter by the spirit given him of God, he did know anothers Heart, to wit, Annanias, as then I said, til I were haled away by the rude people, and might not then be suffered to plead the truth against your deceipts; let the honest hearted read Peters words of truth, Act. 5. And with his Spirit where it is manifested, to rule the heart, and guide and govern in the understanding, with the gift of the Spirit in the discerning, such may judge your pride and deceipt, who lies against the truth, as then you did.
Read Acts 5. and there Peter knew the hearts of others, and judged the deceipt therein of such by the Spirit of the Lord, that Sinned against the truth and the holy Ghost, and lyed not to men but to the Lord, as Annanias and Saphira did, and Peter said to him, Annanias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie against the holy Ghost, Acts 5.3. And why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart, thou hast not lyed unto men, but unto God, Acts 5.4. Annanias hearing these words, fell down and gave up the Ghost, and great fear came upon them that heard these things &c. Acts 5.5,6. And Peter said to his wife, how is it that ye have agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, behold the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the dore, and shall carry thee out; then fell she down straightway, and yeilded up the Ghost, &c. Acts 5.7,8,9,i0.
Here Peter knew the deceipt of two hearts, to wit Annanias and Saphira, & he knew that Satan had filled their hearts, and that they had lyed against the Holy Ghost, and that they had tempted, the Spirit of the Lord, and as Peter knew it by the Spirit of the Lord, given unto him from the Lord, so others with the same gift from the Lord, in the Revelation upon the Spirituall Rock, on which the Church of God is built, with the same Spirit, others on that Rock may see, and know deceiptfull and evil hearts and Spirits that are not of that Rock, as he did, being the gift of God to discern Spirits, i Cor. i2.i0. Therefore those that have the discerning and gift given for that end to try Spirits whether they be of God or no, the spirit of truth may judge the Spirit of error and deceipt, and Sit where Satan Sits in others hearts, as it did, and the Spirituall man may judge the deceitful heart, and the Servant of the Lord may condemn the lying tongue, it is a gift proper to him from God, according to the Fathers promise, who hath said to his in his word, every tongue that shall rise up in judgment against thee, thou shalt condemn; this is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord, Isa. 54.i7.
Therefore, be not offended at the Spirituall Mans judgment, but let the deceipt of the heart be judged, none are offended at it but such as are guilty, and condemned by the light of God in their own consciences, that [Page i8] answers the judgment to be just, upon all who act contrary to the truth, and loves darkness rather than the light, Ioh. 3.19,20,21. and seeing it is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, to condemn every tongue that shall rise up in judgment against them, Isa. 51.i7. Then there is no condemnation to such as be in the light, and so in Christ Iesus, Iohn 8.12. Rom. 8.i. Therefore they may execute the word of the Lord, and do his service and work, in condemning deceitfull and evil tongues, that riseth up in false judgment against them, with joy may they do it, because of the Lord their righteousness, who hath given them such a gift and a priviledg worh their inheritance, for this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, to i [...]ondemn every tongue that riseth in judgment against them, therefore the [...] [...]ghteous Spirit, may judge the evill heart, and the servant of the Lord according to his word, may condemn the lying tongue that riseth in judgment against him, but the wicked are not to judge the righteous seed, which God hath for ever blessed; yet the seed of God may judge the seed of the serpent, according to the word of the LORD, at this the SERPENT is offended, because by the righteous seed hee is judged and condemned; but there is no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST IESUS; who walhk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. and they that are Christs ave crucifyed the flesh with the affections and lust thereof, Gal. 5.24. And where judgment is brought forth into victory, and the fylth of the flesh pur [...]ed out by the spirit of judgment, and the spirit of burning, Isa. 4. There the hearts judg is witnessed ruler, and the consuming Fire and Refiner, Mal. 3. Heb. i2.23, & 28,29. verses. And he may speak through his Temple, by his spirit dwelling in it, and judg the deceit & deceivableness, Malach. 3.i,2. to the 7. i Cor. 3.i6. & 2 Cor. 6.16. And as he Sits in his Temple, judging the hearts by his spirit so he by his spirit through his Temple speaks in reproof to the world for Sin, and judging the enmity and the feed of the Serpent in any, where the serpents head is unbruised, and so the judgment is the Spirituall mans, and he that is joyned to the Lord, is in union with that one Spirit as the Scripture saith, 2 Cor. 3.i7,i8. For the spirit of the son is in the heart, there crying Abba Father, Gal. 4.6. And the spirit of God dwelleth in such, i Iohn 3.24. And there the Father is enjoyed in the son, and the son in the Father, and Father, son, and saints, in unyon and reconciled together, and the witnesses known in the spirit and the word, Iohn i4.20. i Iohn 5.
Read and understand, for at this none stumbles, where true judgment is known and submitted unto in the spirit and life, the power of truth there is known, and what Christ in the Gospel truth saith, it is not you that speak in such things, but the spirit of your Father, that speaketh in you, where he dwells and walks in hi Temple, as hee hath said he would, 2 Cor. 6.i6. there hee sits Refyner and Iudge, and to this truth that in the Consciences which reproves for SINNE, and judgeth for DISOBEDIENCE, will answer and witnesse the IUDGE of all hearts [Page 19] to be just, and in that one spirit which the world knowes not, that knowes not the spirit as couscience-book doth open; then my witness will me owne, and the spirit of truth, which the world knoweth not, Ioh. i4.17. neither know they them who are sons of God, and guided by that spirit, Rom. 8.i4. Gal. 4.6. 1 Ioh. 3.i,2.
The Prophets and holy men of God, by his spirit given them, they could discern the familiar spirits, and the sorcerers, witches and wizards, and did judge them by the Spirit of the Lord, then by the spirit of the Lord, and the gift in the discerning, others of the men of God may: For thus saith the Lord, I am God, and change not, therefore ye sons of Iacob are not consumed, Mal.3.5,6. Isa. 8. Isai. 44.24,25. Isai. 47.9,i0,11,i2,13,i4. Deut. 18.
And as the Ministers of Christ the spiritual man, and hidden man of the heart, in and with the Lords Spirit, could know where Satans seat in another was, and how Satan had filled the heart to lie against the Holy Ghost, and with the Spirit that manifested it, judged the seat of Satan, and the secrets of the heart, where the Sin was conceived before it was acted, then in and with the fame Spirit, being given to such now as to Peter, on which Spiritual Rock in the Revelation the Church is builded; the pillar and ground of truth, some others in the gift of discerning by the Lords Spirit may know hearts in which deceit lodgeth and acteth, by the spirit they did, and that spirit may judg the enmity which stands against the Truth; but a brother is not to be judged, nor one is not to be set at nought for whom Christ died, yet the enmity may by the Lords Sgirit be judged where it is discovered, and the contrary spirit tryed; therefore none at this are offended that loves the truth, for mercy rejoyceth in judgment; let the pure light of God in all your consciences examine your Hearts, and there be judge: Deceive not your soules, but deal honestly therewith, deceit at the true Iudgment may be offended, but the wo is to that and to the wicked, Isai. 3.ii. and vengeance from God is the reward of all that do evil. Rom. 2.8,9. Therefore take heed of Sinning against the truth, and of lying against the Holy Ghost, as you will answer it before the Lord: Read that example and take warning betime, Acts 5.i,2,3,4,5. &c. Also read Hebr. i0.26,27,28,29,30,3i.
The Lord in his, by his Spirit is the hearts Iudge, and in the true Church, the pillar and ground of Truth, i Tim. 3.i5,i6. and if in the true Church the Lord by his spirit convinced others, and made the secrets of their hearts manifest, that by his Spirit in his Church such were judged of all that were unbelievers, and contrary to them; then in the true Church, which is in GOD the FATHER of our LORD IESUS CHRIST, 1 Thess, i.1. the pillar and ground of the TRUTH, i Tim. 3.i5. Heb. 3.6. by and with the Fathers Spirit given and manifested to discerne spirits, i Corrin. i2.i0. and to profit withal, i Corrinth. i2.7. to some the secrets of others hearts that come amongst them and are Unbelievers [Page 20] and unlearned in the things of the Spirit of God, may with his spirit through his children, be seen, convinced, and judged, now as then, for saith the Apostle, if therefore the whole Church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, new tongues is of the Spirit, a Signe of them that believe and are baptized in the name of Christ, &c. Mark 16.i5,i6,i7. Acts i9.5,6. but if any unlearned in the things of the Spirit of God, and unbelievers come in whilst believers speak with the new spiritual tongues, &c. will they not say that ye are mad, but if all prophecy, and there come in one that believeth not, or unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all, and thus are the secrets of his heart made mnnifest, and falling down he will worship God, and report, That God is in you of a truth, i Cor. i4.23,24,25.
The Gospel Spirit saw Hypocrites under painted outsides, so that they appeared Righteous outwardly, but within were full of hypocrisie and iniquity, and that Spirit pronounced woes and judgment to such; and called them whited Sepulchers, and blind guides, and serpents, and children of the Devill, and those that the sweet Gospell Spirit so called and judged, were in a great profession, and such as were called of men Master, and stood praying in the Synagogues, but laid heavy burdens upon the people, as Priests do now, that are called of men Master, and are proud and coveteous, stands praying in the Synagogues or Idoll Temples, and such the Gospell spirit then judged worthy of damnation, as you may read, Mat. 23. to the 34. and he said that their damnation, would be great, as you may read, Mark i2.38,39,40.
And as the Gospell Spirit did, it is not ungospellike so to do, to such as are in the same nature they was, therefore learn to know who and what they are, that with the Spirit of truth are judged, & you wil see that judgment due from the Gospell Spirit now, to the serpents seed as it was then, Mat. 23. Ioh. 8.44. Mark i2.38. &c.
Peter an Apostle, he judged Simon Magus to be in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity, and he told him, his heart was not right in the sight of God, there he knew and judged his heart, Acts 8.2i,22,23, and Peter called some cursed children, who had hearts exercised with covetous practises; here he knew their hearts, and said they was as naturall bruit beasts, made to be destroyed, and they should utterly perish in their own corruption, 2 Pet. 2.i2,i3,i4. &c. Here by the Spirit of the Lord, he knew the hearts of others, and judged them thereby with sore judgment, even for destruction; and this spirit that did so was not ungospellike, but one with the Gospell Spirit as aforesaid; therefore be not offended at the spirituall mans judgment, for he that is Spirituall judgeth all things, as saith the Scripture.
Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, with his Spirit, discerned the witchcraft and sorcery, and judged it, and said to Elimas, O ful of all subtilty and all mischiefe, Acts i3.i5. And he said thou child of the Devill, thou enemie [Page 21] of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord, &c. Read Acts i3,i0,ii. And Iohn in the Revelations knew by the Spirit of the Lord, that the world wondered, and worshiped the beast, all but who had their names written in the Lambs book of life, and he so far judged, that he knew who should enter into the holy City, and who should not, but be cast into the lake that burneth with Fire and brimstone; did not hee here judge both of things concerning, Salvation and Damnation; consider, and lay it to heart, Revel. i3. Revel. 20. Revel. 2i.27. Revel. 2i.8.
The Ministers of the New Covenant, who were able Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter, 2 Cor. 3.6. They said to some, Yee are our Epistles written in our Hearts, seen there and read, written not with inke, but with the Spirit of the Living God, in the Tables of the Heart; then such as read in the divine writing without inke, in the Heart-Tables, and see one another there, reading in those divine and spiritual Epistles, which are with the holy Spirit written in the Heart-Tables, such knowes one anothers heart, as knows the secrets, by knowing what is upon the Tables in the Hearts, and such as are Epistles written in one anothers hearts, who ees into the Heart-Tables, and so reads in the Heart-secrets, they therefore also know who are not their Epistles, and with the spirit sees the contrary to their spiritual Epistles, and so thereby knoweth good and evill assunder, and knoweth that the world lyes in wickedness, and as by the Spirit, they then did know and judg of those things, others that are in the same Spirit and life of truth, with the same Spirit and truth may now know the same, and judg of truth and error assunder, and no other way, 2 Cor. 3.2,3. i Iohn. 5.18,i9,20. i Iohn 4,5,6.
The Spiritual man and Ministers of the Gospel by the eternall Spirit were able to judg of things concerning Salvation and damnation, and knew the two Mysteries, and who were of old ordained for condemnation, for saith he, in and with the Spirit that ministred thereby, and wrote to them that were sanctifyed by God the Father, and preserved in Christ Iesus and called, Iude i. i Cor. 6.ii. He spoke also of certain that were of old ordained for condemnation, so far he judged of them, Iude 4,5,6. He comprehends old, and also knew what should be in the last time, and told that they should be such as would walk after their owne ungodly lusts, Iude 1.18. 2 Pet. the 3.3. And know you not that the unrighteous and such like shall not inherit the Kingdome of God, as is spoken of, i Cor. 6.9,i0. Gal. 5.i9,20,2i. Rev. 22.15. Rev. 14.10,i1. And they who believe not the truth but hath pleasure in unrighteousness, are for damnation, as it is written in Scripture 2 Thes. 2. to the i3.
The naturall man is not to judge the Spirituall man, neither must the naturall man judge of things concerning salvation and damnation, but the Spirituall man may, therefore that Scripture is full of truth therein, that saith, he that is spirituall judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man, i Cor. 2.i5.
Therefore Priests, and you that are against the spiritual mans judgment stop your mouths, see your error, and own your Condemnation to be just thereupon, the judgment of the spiritual man stands upon you all.
Something to that about Tythes, in answer thereunto, briefely, or in short, &c.
NAthanael Stephens, Priest at Drayton, I heard thee plead for Tythes in the evening, from that of Melchizedeck; whereupon I answered and said, in short, That Melchizedecks Order was no ground for thy error; for Melchizedeck had no command to take tythes, or compell them, neither had Abraham any command, nor known Law, by which he was required to pay them; they was a free-will offering done to Melchizedeck, at one time, and no more, according to that order; not the thenths of Mens Labours, and yeerly increase, but the tenths of spoyls onely, given by Abraham to Melchizedeck, after he had blessed him, upon the returne from the slaughter of the Kings, not stated to Melchizedeck by a knowne Law, nor for succeeding ages, a free-will offering onely out of the spoyles from Abraham to Melchizedeck, King of Salem, at one time and no more, Gen. i4.i7,i8,19,20, &c. answering Heb. the 7.
Then he, and they, who have no blessing for the people, and takes tyths before Enemies be subdued, and claims them by command, yeerly compelling people to pay them by a Law, not the tenths of spoyls of the Souldiery onely, but mens labours, and yeerly increase of Hay, and Corne, Hemp, and Flax, Lamb, and VVool, Eggs, Geese, and Piggs, money for Kine and Calves, Mares and Foals, money for smoke passing up peoples Chimneys, and for Bees, &c. Such are not after Melchizedecks Order, he did not so; then such as do as aforesaid, are in error, as thou art: therefore from that of Melchizedeck to be denyed, and thy ways against testifyed: Neither art thou after the Order of Aaron and Levi, who had a command to take tythes, but thou art not purifyed as they was, nor set apart to do their work and service which they did, that had a command to take Tythes, a peculiar gift onely for their service under that Priesthood, which being ended, and thou out of their work and service, therefore denyed: for the Priesthood being changed, there was of necessity a change of the Law also, and the Gospel is now witnessed, where Tythes were never commanded, but freely preached, according to the Command of him, who is of Iudahs Tribe, which gave no attendance at that Altar, under the Priesthood, in which Tythes were paid, as the Scriptures witnesseth, Heb. 7.12,i3,14. Mat. i0. Act. 20.33,34,35. 1 Cor. 9.i6,i7.i8.
They who had command to take Tythes by a Law, such were to have no other inheritance amongst the Tribes, set apart to do the work required under that Law, and were Aaronicall and Leviticall, and had a store-house to minister out of from the Tythes by that Law, to the poor, the widdows, fatherless and strangers, Num. 18.20,2i. &c. Numb. 4. Deut. i4.29. Malach. 3.i0.
He and they that claims tythes by command or a Law of God, and are not Aaronicall and Leviticall, nor set apart for that service they was who took tythes by command and hath no store-house, neither do their gates stand open for the poor, the widdows and fatherless thither to come, and strangers also to be filled and satisfyed, that there may not be a beggar in the land, as there was not to be a beggar in Israel, but maintained out of the tythes, and such as do not as aforesaid, and the things in that Law and Covenant contained, which was imposed upon them, as to circumcise and offer burnt offerings, and what by the Priests under that Priesthood, were of them required, such as do not are by that Laws end and all that witness it to be denyed, and by that Law such hath not right to tythes, that do not what it of them requires, but to be denyed, who do not their work therein required that had the tythes a peculiar gift for their service only, during that ministration.
But Christ is come the end of the Law and Covenant, in which tythes were paid, and he is the everlasting offering, and end of all burnt offerings and Sacrifyces that were under the Law, are now ended and ceased, and so tythes where the New Covenant is witnessed, and the Priesthood being changed, the Law is changed also, and Christ is the end and sum of the things spoken of in Heb. 7, 8, 9, and i0, Chapters.
Therefore sylence tything Priests, and tyth-mongers, you that take tythes deny Christ come in the flesh, to put an end to the Aaronicall and Leviticall Priesthood in which they were paid, but not in the Gospell, therefore are you denyed, and are no Ministers of Christ, the new Covenant, nor the Gospell, but declared against, by such as witness the unchangeable Priesthood, of which Christ Iesus is head, and the Saints high Priest, praised be the Lord for the riches of his love.
Something of Chester Priest of Witherley, about nakedness.
PRiest Chester of VVitherley, who out of the pride and presumption and evill of thy heart with a lying tongue, said to George Fox maliciously, Sirrah, dost thou heare, the old Fox shall take thee and carry thee to the Goale, and there shall help to kill thee, and to take an Iron and thrust thee thorough; this Iohn Smith doth witness,
Let all the Children of light judge of thy evill heart, and take notice of thy envy and false Prophecy, who art that lying Prophet; thou would have covered it over with zach. i3.3. but there is no mention of Sirrah, not that the old Fox there, nor that hee should rake George and carry him to the Goale, nor that he should do as thou said, but in it thou hast manifested thy lying Spirit, and the envy of thy heart, and to be such a one as said, when the other Priest was reproved for lying, that it was no lye, but a slip with the tongue, but such covers will not hide Serpents their nakedness, from the truth doth appear, and wo to all such that cover but not with the Spirit of the Lord, that they may adde Sin unto Sin as thou dost and such in thy nature, read Isa. 30.i. Mat. 23.33.
Thy foul Spirit and unclean garments are seen, and naked thou are from the truth, and when thou was contending with the young man in the grave yard against one that had been moved to strip and put off here our cloaths, to fygure out such as thou who art naked from the truth, and hath thy cloak of dishonesty, and coverings of deceit to cast off, and all such as thou art; but in vindication of the truth against thy deceit, I told thee Isaiah the servant of the Lord in his days he went naked, in obedience to the word of the Lord to Figure out to Egypt and Ethiopia, what the King of Assyria should do unto them; Isa. 20.3,4,5. And thou lyar said, Isaiah did not act or do the thing, as to go naked and bare-foot, thou said it was but a vision, and not an act done, till there openly I took a bible, and with Isaiahs sound words of truth, confuted thy lies therein, for thou said he did not do the thing, and he said he did do it, to wit, put off the sack-cloath from off his loyns, and the shoe from off his foot and go naked and bare-foot, in obedience to the word of the Lord, Isa. 20.i,2. by Isaiahs words left upon Record in the Scriptures, art thou proved a lyar therein, and thou was proved a lyar in other things, and so manifested thy lying Spirit, who thy self art that false lying Prophet, speaking lyes of the truth, and lyes of Isaiah the true Prophet, and servant of the Lord, thou said hee did not go naked and bare-foot, and hee saith he did go naked and bare-foot, and he is to be believed, for there is [Page 26] this proofe for it, Isa. 20. but none for thine against it, therefore stop thy mouth thou lying Spirit, thou said the Spiritual man did not judge all things, and he saith he did judg all things, and is to be trusted and believed in what he said, there is proofe for his truth, i Cor. 2.i5. but none for thy lyes therein against it, thou lying spirit and false Prophet, that lyes of the true Prophet, and of the Spirituall man; thou art one that preaches for hire, and seeks for thy gaine from thy Quarter, as false teachers like thee did, which the Lord sent his servants to cry against, therefore art thou to be cryed against as such was, Ier. 5.30,3i. Isa. 56.i0,ii. Mic. 3.ii. Ezek. 34.2 Pet. 2. Iude 1i. and that of zachariah, the i3.3. shall stand for thy self, and all such as thou art, and also zach. i3.4.
To Priest Hill and Priest Mousall, &c.
PRIEST HILL, who accused RICHARD FARNVVORTH, because he would not tell him what the soul was, by him was answered again, that he, to wit, Richard Farnworth, had sent severall quaeries to Priest Hill, and Priest VVhetstone to be answered, and the quaere about the Soul was one, answer the quaeres and that in them, it was said to Richard Farnworth again upon the same, that they could not be answered, whereupon Richard Farnworth said to the Priest, do you two Priests return so much in writing under your hands, that you cannot answer them, and acknowledge your ignorance therein, and it should satisfye him, &c.
Priest Mousall that day in Drayton grave yard, out of fury, struck Richard Farnworths bible out of his hand, who would have had Priest Mousall by it, to have proved his practise according to Gospell order, but could not, let shame strike you all in the face and cover your lips.
An Exhortation and Instruction, to all that desire to walk in the way of Truth and Righteousness.
ALL people everywhere, whose desyres are to know the truth, and the way to the Father, take heed to, and minde the pure light of Christ, within you, to stay and guide your minds, and instruct your hearts to be taught the true fear of the Lord, and in it wait to receive the pure wisdome from God the Father of lights, that is the light which discovereth darknesse, and sheweth you Sin and evill, which be deeds of darkness, and the light reproveth you in secret for disobeying it, and acting conrrary to it; turn to the light, and wait upon it for cousell, and joyn to the light, and not to your vain thoughts and imaginations, which are for judgment with the light, and condemnation is upon that which flees the light, and loves the darkness rather than the light, Iohn 3.i9,20,2i. Follow the light and you will thereby be led out of darkness into the light of life, Iohn, 8.12. So will you know the true guide, Iohn. i6.i3. to lead you through the true fear, and the pure wisdome into all truth, that by following the true guide, you may know the true judgment, and judge in the heart, judging and condemning Sin and unbeliefe, and so to wait for judgment to pass upon every evil thought, and upon the devises and imaginations of your evill hearts, and wait in the true judgment to have discerning, i Cor. i2. And salt to savour withal, Mat. 5. That through the judgment the dore of mercy may be known, so will mercy rejoyce in judgment, and sweet nour [...]shing vertue wil spring into your souls, and wait for the power of life to be manifested through the judgment to cut down Sin and purge the Soule with the Spirit of judgment and of burning, and so separate the soul from the body of death, and joyn it to the seed, and the seed to the Lord, to have union in the body of life, thereby wil the witnesses be known, and the Devils Image defaced, and the Image of God restored again, and changed into Gods Image, as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3.i7,18. and then the living soul will be known, and to solace with the quickning spirit, to have the seal set upon the pure heart, the election then conf [...]rmed, and calling so made sure, and the unction known and enjoyed, 1 Iohn 2.20. and the Seed and soul anointed to praise the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Therefore all people consider, and lay things to heart, and with that which is pure in your consciences, examine your selves, whether you bee in the faith, and have the assurance of eternall life, and can witness the Record within you or no; 1 Ioh. 5,i0,11,12. and know you not that Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates, 2 Cor. i3.5. Great is the mysterie of Godliness, Christ within the hope of glory, Coloss. 1.27. This hope that is witnessed amongst the sons and children of God doth purify and cleanse, as the Commands of the Spirit is obeyed, the purging and purifying of the soul is witnessed; behold, what manner of Love is this, that we should be called the Sons of God, who are begotten by the Immortall VVord, and born again not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever, as it is witnessed through the Spirit, and proved by Scripture, 1 Iohn 3.1,2,3. Pet. i,2,3, and 4. verses, i Pet. i.22,23. Oh you that desire to know the Lord God, and the way of Truth and Peace, wait upon the light of Christ within you! Iohn i.9. 2 Cor. 4.6,7. to have a witness of truth raised up into your understandings and a testimony of the love of God sealed to your soules by the eternal Spirit, in the Covenant of Grace through the Lord Iesus, lest you die in your Sins, and your souls perish: now you have time prize it, this is the day of your visitation, and love to your souls, all who loves the light and forsakes it selfe to follow it, to lead you into life and peace; but condemnation is the reward of all that hate the light.
Some MEMENTOES, TO Put in remembrance the People and Priest of what they did, that they may be ashamed and repent.
THe i. day of the ii. month, though they had promised and said, that we should have the command of the house, before we and the Priests went into it to dispute as they called it, and that none should harm us, &c. It was to the conttary, the Priests suffered wilde boys, and rude people to speak many together, that were without the fear of the Lord, and such as were void of understanding of the things of the Spirit of God, for the naturall man knoweth them not, because they are spiritually understood, or discerned, i Cor. 2.i4.
And they haled us away, and stopt our mouths with their hands and and gloves in the Priests presence, and threatned what they would do severall of them, and abused us, and made one to bleed, &c. Here the fruits of the Priests Ministry was made manifest, and their disorder, and envie were shewed, and truce-breakers some of them was, and is, for abused we was and harmed, and had not command of the house as during that time, therefore deceipt spoke in such people as made promises and did not perform them, consider of it, repent and amend, lest vengeance from God be returned upon such as are truce-breakers, disobedient and rebellious, that in the Conscience will answer for truth, and against your deceit, and will witness for me and the truth, as Conscience book is opened.
Some of the Priests in Drayton grave yard the i7. day did to me deny Tythes, whereupon I bad them then declare against them, and others they pleaded for them, see what confusion is here, but how can a Kingdome that is divided against it self stand.
THe seventeenth day, as aforesaid, in the Grave-yard, Priest Stephens said, He would set a boy to undertake George Fox, but hee did not say, hee should undertake neither to dispute, nor argue with him, yet hee undertooke to abuse him. Iudge in this case.
The same day the said Priest Stephens wife was heard to call a man-servant, and bid him go and pull GEORGE FOX down, and sore after that he were abused most shamefully; the Priests Son, and Man-servant shared in that evill, abusing of him also, and the Priest Stephens laughed and rejoyced thereat, and for the same were reproved: Oh shame upon such a Ministery! VVitnesses to this, Iohn Smith, Iohn Barefoot and Io. Hacket.
Some of the Passages betwixt him whom the world calls George Fox, and the Priests in Drayton grave yard, upon the fourth day of the week, being the seventeenth day of the 11. Month.
FIRST, the Priests asked George if he would go into the Church, as they called it, and he said no, for he said, he stood a witness against them all there, let them come and prove their Ministry there in the grave yard, for there he was; for at a meeting a while before in a house, they haled him the said George Fox to and fro, and haled him away from them, and thrust him, and pushed him up and down, until he lost some of his blood in the said house, and so he refused to go into the Steeple-house, but there stood open to declare against their false Ministry, and then Iohn Chester who is called a teacher, came and haled and pushed him the said George rudely, and the Priests wife of Drayton very unseemly, plucked and haled up and downe and scoffed and laughed, and the rude people very boysterously behaved themselves, and threw him down as if they were at a bul-bating, or bear-bating, or some Stage-play; Oh, be ashamed ye Priests and people, your profession stincks before the Lord, and now your folly is manifested, for your voices (I know you teachers) to be the strange voices and the hirelings, that care not for the flock, but are them that push with side and shoulder, and makes a prey upon the people, as you may read, Ezekiel 34. And are them that bear rule by their means, which the Lord sent Ieremy to cry against, Ier. 5.30,3i. And you are such as seeks for your gain from your quarter, which Isaiah was sent to cry against, as in Isaiah 56.i0,ii. And you are hirelings, such as the Lord sent Micah to cry against, Mic. 3.ii. And you are such as Christ cryed wo against, Mat 23. which have the chiefest seats in the Assemblies, stood praying in the Synagogues, and are called of men Master, in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees out of the Doctrine of Christ, and the wo is to you as it was to them, Mat. 23. And you are found in the way of Cain, as your envy was manifest in the grave yard at Drayton, and in the way of Balaam receiving the wages of unrighteousness, it is not a righteous thing that you should oppress the poor people, & through feigned words and covetousness make merchandise of them as you may read, 2 Pet. 2. and Iude ii. who are prophane both Priest and Prophet, as you may read, Ier. 23.1i.
And such priests bore rule by their means as as you do now, and by their lyes, and by their lightness have caused the people to erre, as it was manifest in the grave yard at Drayton, for both the priest and people was prophane and full of lightness and vanity, and when hee the said George Fox had said he would not go into the Steeple-house, then violently the Priests wife of Drayton, and Priest Chester and others violently haled him to have gotten him by force, into the steeple-house, to have made him to have lyed, who had said before he would not go in, and threw him downe in that which is called the p rch, like wicked, bruit, and heathenish people without the fear of God, shouting and crying out, as if they were at a bull-bating manifesting their folly, and such are the fruits of your Ministry, you Priests which were at Drayton that day; Oh, blush and be ashamed of your practises for your religion stinks. And after the said Chester had proclaimed him to be a blasphemer to make him odious to the people, and Stephens Son called him a Heretick, and neither Heresye nor blasphemy could they prove against him, and Chester proved himself to be a lyar, and the false Prophet, as in zach. 13.4. who said the spirituall man did not judge all things, and the Apostle said he did, i Cor. 2.i5. And after that Priest Chester had called him a blasphemer, & Stephens Son had called him a Heretick, and none of those things could they prove against him, then Priest Stephens and his wife and his Son, defyred him, the said George to pray for them; Now all people see what confusion is here found amongst the Priests, and how unstablished they are, who first called him a blasphemer, and a Heretick, and afterward desyred him they called heretick, to pray for them, & when he had proved the Priests by the Scriptures to be in the steps of the false Prophets, and cryed against with the true, as Ifaiah, Ieremiah, Micah, Ezekiel, and proved them out of the Doctrine of Christ, Mat. 23. And proved them out of the Apostles Doctrine, 2 Pet. 2. and Iude. And then the Priests said they would go read the Scriptures, and then they asked him a question, and flew from that when they should have cleared themselves, but could not; and then George said, they had granted themselves to the deceivers, beeing found in the steps of the false Prophets, as all the wise in heart may judge, and they put him the said George Fox, to prove that they was light, and vain, and prophane, and this was proved by your fruits made manifest, and proved in Ier. 23.ii. and 32. verses. And so after a time the Priests got away, and left him the said George in the grave yard at Drayton, who stands a witness against all false teaches, which are made by the will of man, and all the poore people which are deceived, which now cryes up their Dyana, and now their ignorance of Christ doth appear, both Prieist and people who say the Steeple-house is the Church, and are ignorant of the letter of the Scripture, for it saith the Church is in God, the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, i Thess. i.1. And so both Priest and people are judged with the Scripture to be lyars; and so let your mouths be stopped for ever. And as for saying Priest Stephens was adulterer, and the rest, he being found [Page 33] in the steps of the false Prophets, which the true Prophets cryed against, he is adulterated from the Lord, and them all, I stand a witness against them, in the presence of God, and that of God in all your consciences shal answer, the light which Iesus Christ hath enlightned you withall for me, and be a witnesse against you all in the day of judgment, who holds up those things which the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles cryed against, as you may read in those Scriptures before mentioned, and whereas Stephens Son slandered George as an heretick, and lyed, and said none ever knew the thoughts, so he was proved to be of the Devil, a lyar, as you may read, Iob 21.27. And said Elijah did not judge or know the heart, when Elijah did, read, i King. 21.20.2i. And again they called him a blasphemer, because hee said he had seen God face to face. Iacob was no blasphemer, who saw God face to face, as you may read, Gen. 32.30. And the Lord spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend, as you may read, Exod. 33.1i. And Iob saw God as you may read in in the last Chapter of Iob: And here you who cals this blasphemy, do manifest your selves to be ignorant of the Letter. And Priest Swayne said that George had cleered Stephens of adultery, because he said it was in the Land, and this was not at all to cleere him nor any of them who are found in the steps of the false Prophets from God adulterated, and walks in lyes, so both here are judged, and all of them with the Spirit of truth who out of the truth are found.
A discovery of Spiritual Whoredom, Drunkenness, and Lewdness, and Envy, Lightness, and Prophaneness of such Priests and people, as is proved by Scripture, and as their fruits maketh them manifest, &c.
YOUR Teachers is such as go in Cains way, envying the righteous seed, brought forth, who are found of God and into the covenant of life brought, and such the teachers of the world envies, which goes in balaams way, and receives the wages of unrighteousness, who are the scoffers and mockers that the Scripture speaks of, as you may read, 2 Pet. 2. and Iude i1,18. verses. And they are covetous, which hath a form of godliness, but denies the life and power, as you may read, 2 Tim. 3. And through covetousness with feigned words, do they make Merchandise of you, as you may read, 2 Pet. 2.3. And they are such as serve not our Lord Iesus Christ, but their own bellies, and by good words and fair speeches, deceives the hearts of the Simple, as you may read, Rom. i6.i8. The Scriptures are the good words, given forth from the Spirit, which the false Teachers have gotten a form of, and deceives the Simple withall, and uses their tongues and saith, the Lord saith, and the Lord never spoke to them, as you may read, Ier. 23. And the Priests said they have not that Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures, then they have another, the Spirit of error, judged with the Spirit of truth out of their own mouths, and they are such as bear rule by their means, and hold up the horrible and fylthy thing committed in the Land, and the people, love to have it so, as you may read, Ier. 5.30,3i. Like people, like Priest, as you may read, in Hasea 4.9. And they are such as run and the Lord never sent them, for they confess they have not the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture, and so it manifests the Lord never sent them, for whom the Lord sends it is by his Spirit, and therefore they profit not the people at all, who be out of Gods counsell, for both Prophet and Priest are prophane, and they are Prophets of the deceits of their owne hearts, and profess lyes, for they say, the Spirituall man doth not jduge all things, and the Scripture saith he doth, i Cor. 2.i5. And they that adde or diminish, the plagues of God is added to them, as in Rev. 22. and cause my people to erre by their lyes and by their lightness, as their fruits doth make it appear in Drayton grave yard, for much lightness and wantonness, vainness was found in both Priest and people, as you may read, Ier. 23.23. And they are prophaned both [Page 35] the Priests and Prophets, and given to Filthy Lucre, 1 Tim. 3. and are greedy of it, Verse 8. and are proud and perverse, and strife about words, in Railing and evil surmisings, perverse disputing of men of corrupt mindes, and destitute, concerning the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such we are to with-draw, as in the i Tim. 6.4,5. and their wives are slanderers and not grave; as you may read i Tim. 4.ii. and they are drunk, but not with wine as they was, in Isai. 29.9. and they are the mockers, whose bonds are made strong, as you may read, Isa. 28.22. and they have taught their tongues to speak lies, & bend their tongues like bows for lies, but are not valiant for the truth upon earth; their tongues is as an arrow shot out, it speaketh deceit, one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart layeth wait; and as Troops of Robbers wait for a man, so the company of Priests murther in the way, by consent, for they commit lewdness, Hos. 6.9. and they are gone a whoring from God, who is the wise man that may understand this, as you may read, Ier. 9. and their lewdness and their whoredoms which are from the Lord, discovering their nakedness, as you may read Ezek. 23. And they are the daubers with untemperd morter, one buildeth up a wal, and another daubeth with untempered morter: these are Prophets which are like Foxes in the deserts, as you may read, Ezek, i3. with lies they have made the hearts of the righteous sad, v. 22. and they are such as cloath with the wool, & seek after the fleece, & makes a prey upon the people, which Ezekiel was sent to cry against, Ezek. 34. and with for [...]e and cruelty do they rule the people; but the Lord will deliver his flock from their mouths, that they shall be meat for them no longer; but they shall lye downe in a good Fold, and they thrust with Side and Shoulder, as you may read in Ezek. 34. as aforesaid, and they are such as bid peace, peace if they put into their mouths, but put not into their mouths, and they prepare war against you, and are the hirelings that preach for hire, which the Lord sent Micha to cry against, and they are them that build up with blood as in Mich. 3. As your persecution may witness who are found full of envy, and he that envies his brother is a murtherer, and no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him, read 1 Iohn 3.15. And so thirst after the blood of the Saints, to make your selves drunk with it, Rev. 51.4,5,6. VVho go a whoring from the living God, as you may read, Exod. 34.16. And their whorish hearts departs from the Lord, as you may read Ezek. 6 9. And they are such as seeks for their gain from their quarter, which are greedy dumb doggs, which can never have enough, which the Lord sent Isaiah to cry against, as you may read, Isa. 56.i0,1i. And they are such whose hearts are surfetted and drunk with the cares of this life, Luke 2i.34. and are out of Christs doctrine, found standing praying in the Synagogues, and having the chiefest seats there, and are called of men Master, whom our Lord Iesus Christ cryed wo against, as you may read, Mat. 6. Mat. 23 .Your blessings is cursed, and your seed is corrupted and the Lord wil spread dung in your faces, and this commandment is to you Priests, as you may read, zach. 2.i,2,3. and Malach. 2. cap.
WHereas many of the Children and Servants of the Lord God, which are of the world scornfully called quakers, which are termed to be Disturbers of the Peace; Violence to no man wee do, neither do we lift up the hand against any man, as to wrong him, or to strike him, but against all such things we stand a witness and do deny them, and are brought to preach the Gospell freely, as we have received freely, God having given his Spit it unto us according to his Promise; but under violence do we go, beatings, prisonings, stockings whippings, scoffings, stoneings, and all manner of false accusations, and slanders, and evill reports, and cruel usage of men, such as profess Christianity, as though wee were not worthy to live upon the earth; but now is the end of all profession seen, who they are that have the form and not the power: the letter, and not the substance; therefore be ye awakened ye Rulers of the earth, to Righteousness; to the light in your consciences I speak, which comes from the Lord Iesus Christ, it is our witness in you all, and will be in the day of judgement, and all your condemnation that hate it, saith Christ; Oh therefore! fear God, and wait for wisdome from God, that with it you may order the Creation: and then with it you will witness us to bee the greatest friends to Righteousness and Iustice, and to stand against all in justice and Tyranny; from them who love your fouls, and doe see what the sword is to be upon, violence and all false accusers, there is discontent and there is all evill hatchings, and must be ruled by the sword, and that in all consciences shall answer and witness us to be true Ministers of God, who covet no mans Silver, nor Gold, nor Apparell. Therefore you take warning what your sword you do lay upon.