AS to thy Paper to the Separatists and Anabaptists (as thou calls them) I desire not to be busie in other mens matters; onely this, whereas thou casts it on the separated people, to be nurseries of impiety, and Infidels: I say, thou dost but here mani­fest thy shameless Spirit, who matters not what thou sayest of others, so thou may but seek thy own praise; for all that know any thing of the fear of God, knows, that most of those people have separated from you parish Teachers, upon this very account (to wit) your infi­delity and impiety: and if any amongst them turn so grosly filthy, that they cannot keep them amongst them, left it should shame their Religion; yet these return to you, who forthwith receive them, and boast of them as rare Converts; nay, none so bad in their conversa­tion, but if they have but either Pig or Goose, or ought to be got towards hire, they are yours, and you are their masters; such as no one Sort of people in the Nation will joyn with, but onely you, Pa­rish Teachers.

But it seems thou hast lost some of thine also, as well as the Ana­baptists; and thou prints a Letter, thou saist, thou sent to one of them to reclaim him, under pretence that he desired thy thoughts of us; and thy evil thoughts thou returns him in this Letter.

And thou says, He was a yong and unsetled one; yet tells how much pains he had taken in duty, how much zeal he had professed for God: And that he by so great a work of grace was converted from prophaneness, &c. and thus with thine own shame thou goes about to cover thee, having boasted afore, as though none followed us but separated people, or such as had no Religion, or ever was accounted so to be. And thou goes on to shew him that he must needs be fallen from grace, because he is fallen from your Ministry, and thy Argu­ments are such as these. Are not we those Ministers, and in those Ordinances you despised before Conversion?

I say, The greatest Papist in the world, having begot a Proselyte, if he turn away from him, may as well use that Argument as thou, if falling from any such form, or person be the error; but thou should have first proved thy self a Minister of Christ in thy life, and thy worship as he appointed it, and not changed in matter or manner, then hadst thou said somewhat to the purpose, else, its no error to deny the hireling, and his false worship, and turn to the light of Christ, by [Page 10] it to be guided by all deceits. And says thou, Alass! that ever a man in his wits, should no better know the work of Christ from Satans, nor know, that it is the Dragon whose warfare these men do manage. I say, Thou shameless one, dost thou cause the servants of the living God to be hailed to prison, and suffer them almost to be murthered before thy face, not at all resisting, but the people by thee stirred up to the thing, and for no other thing, but coming to declare to thy face against thy false worship, which God ever sent his servants to do. And faist thou, We manage the war of the Dragon, and do the work of Satan: Is not the war of the Dragon, to devour the Lamb where he is manifest? which ever was the work the hirelings was found in; and is it not the Devil that casts into Prison the innocent, Rev. 2. 9▪ 10. and was ever any under the Gospel found in that work; but such who was of the synagogue of Satan, though they called themselves Jews, as you call your selves Christians, but in the same nature and deeds: And do we manage the Dragons war, who suffer all this at your hands, and much more? prove that in Scriptures, or be ashamed of thy false accusation, and take it to thy self, till thy rage cease, and thou give over devouring the Lambs: Such never take pains with mens souls, who takes care, and lays snares to destroy their bodies: Christs sheep was never such wolves, by their fruits we know them; they who believe these to be Christs Ministers, may soon believe the Devil is God (as thou saist) who would be worshipped and obeyed in you.

Thou further goes on, and tells him, whence this error comes, even from Hellish pride; and to prove this, thou tells him, Where we have spent one hour, thou hast spent an hundred in study and meditation, and prays to God for his Spirit of truth and grace, and that thy Prayers is as earnest as ours, and thy life is much more holy and heavenly then ours, and therefore God is as it were more in­gaged to thee, to make known his truth to thee, then to us; and is not this apparent pride for us to be so confident, that we are wise and beloved in the eyes of God; and, that we run about with the shels on our head, &c. in comparison of thee.

I say, the hellish pride thou hast plainly discovered, where it is. But whose righteousness is all this by which thou hast thus ingaged God to thee, who art but yet praying for the Spirit of truth and grace▪ will God be ingaged with thy graceless lying spirit, which thou uses in this thy Book, wherein thou utters so many graceless un­truths, to ingage the world to thee? thou art mistaken, God will not be so ingaged, nor with that Spirit; he will be served with his own. Thy earnest prayers and righteousness, before the Spirit of truth and grace, and without it; how they ingage God, thou mayest read in 1 Kings 18. from the 16. to the 30. and Luke 18. 11, 12. and there thou may read thy boasting lines, and their acceptance, and thy ingagements, and thy name; We know, God freely gives a mea­sure [Page 11] of his Spirit to every one of us, freely to profit withal; and im­proving that to his praise, we receive more freely; and we are so far from ingagement of God by all we do, that we finde our selves un­profitable servants, but this thou knowest not with thy va [...]n light words, who tells of our running away with the shell on our head: Our head thou knows not, who must break thee to pieces with all thy light boasting vain words: Thou tells of Paul forewarning Timothy to ordain none who was a novice, lest he should be lifted up with pride, and so fall into the condemnation of the Devil; then thou mayest take this back a [...]ain, and apply it, and therein read thy self, and thy end in whom the pride is sound, and not in the Quakers, and they are blinde who cannot see it: And tho [...] saist, Pride is the master sin of the Quakers, and thou proves it, because that we go in a poor garb, and cry our-against pride, as if we were sent from Heaven to perswade men to wear no lace, cuffs or points, and to damn so many Ministers for being called Master: But saist thou, spiritual pride is the most killing, and so goes on railing against us for these things, calling that spirit in scorn, An excellent Spirit, that can trample on all world­ly glory: I say, Blasphemer, thou shalt know when thou hast finish­ed thy rage, that thou hast spoken against the holy Spirit of God, sent from Heaven, which both in Christ and his Apostles did perswade against, and condemn such things, which thou by the spirit of the Devil would uphold, and dost plead for; and thou sets down four par­ticulars, wherein thou wilt prove our language of Hell, and the Devil speaking by our mouthes, and the first is, They affirm them­selves perfect without sin; and this thou saist is unpossible, and they are mad that believe it: I say, That we affirm self-perfection, is but thy lying slander; or that we say we are Christ or God, as thou saist we do, but that we witness perfection from sin, so far as we have re­ceived Christ, we own it as Gods commands and guift, the end of Christs coming, and of giving forth his Ministery; as these Scriptures may witness, Matth. 5. 48. James 1. 17. 1 John 3. 8. Eph. 4. 11, 12. 13. And, that it was the work of the Ministery whereunto they labor­ed, read Col. 1. 28, 29. and thou that Ministers against this, and calls it the Language of Hell, and the Devils mouth, which the Scri­ptures witness, art a Blasphemer and a Minister of Antichrist, and its no railing to judge the tree by its fruit; and when thou hast done, Thou saist, the Devil himself hath less pride then to think himself perfect without sin; and if we have no sin, what need we pray, or what need have we of the blood of Christ? I say, Thy confusion is manifest, who before accused us that the Devil spake this in our mouthes, and now thou art clearing him of it; but what hast thou to do, or he either, with perfection, who art out of Christ, and in your own wills, worldly-pleasing, and envious, murtherers, in rage; what perfection is there, unless perfect wickedness? neither doth per­fection exclude praying and the blood of Christ, for in his blood and [Page 12] prayer it is wrought, and we kept.

Thy second thing is, That we set up our selves above all the peo­ple of God on earth, that we vilifie the most holy and eminent ser­vants of God, and condemn all the Churches of the World. To which I shall say no more but this, That these are three of thy lies rancked up together, lest thou should fail.

Thy third thing is, That we damn all the people of God for 1600. years at least: I say, This may well be matter of offence to thee, to deny all thy Generation since the Pop [...] to this day: therefore thou call'st it unmatchable pride; but [...]or those whom you have tortured▪ martyred and burned, whipt and imprisoned, to this day, who suf­fered for conscience sake, follow [...]ng the Lamb in their measure, them we own, and with them we suffer; though thou say, God had never such a people on earth of these mens ways, yet was this the Church of Christ, whereof he was the head, and is the head, and there it was visible, and there it is to all who are not blinde; but none of these pleaded for honorable Titles, as thou dost, nor none ever did that believed; such was ever out of the faith, read James 2. to the 10, verse, John 5. 4. and 44. and if these be the few Hereticks (thou tells on) that thou says were our Predecessors of old: I say, We can­not but own these in their measure, though we go under the name of Hereticks with them, by the same Generation.

Thy fourth thing is, That which thou callest our proud, scornful, railing Language, which thou saist should put it out of doubt what spirit we are of, to any who are acquainted with Christs Spirit, and of Satan, and are able to judge of Spirits, and know darkness from light. I say, The Language of Christ we use to thee, who a [...]t found in the work of Satan, therefore thou canst not bear it; but thy filthy [...]nclean words thou hast cast upon us in thy Book, which none in Scripture ever used, we shall leave to the judgement of Him that judges Spirits, and to all who know light from darkness: But thou fore-seeing thy self guilty, makes an Objection; It is Scripture Language which they speak, and when thou hast done deceitfully, answerest, saying, The greater your presumptious sin in making so ill an use of Scripture Language, and calls it, serving Satan; and thus thou proves i [...], saying, What if Christ called Judas a Devil, is it therefore lawful to call Peter so: I say, yea, If Peter be found in the Devils work, Matth. 16. 23. much more thou and thy Generation, who none of you yet came so far as Peter, who denyed all to follow Christ; but you will have all you can get, though you deny Christ, and all his Rules, for the getting of it; and such are no faithful ser­vants of Christ, but of their own bellies, and their lusts and pride; as thou goest on still pleading for thy masterhood, saying, Alass, that a Christian should be so ignorant, as not to know that your being cal­led Master, and Lord too, is commonly allowed in the Scripture; and that it is not the Title, but the Lording over mens faith, that is for­bidden [Page 13] I say, All those that know any thing of the Faith of Christ, sees you to be guilty of both, but will give you neither; which saith leads out of respect of persons, and to serve a better master, then he that bears rule by his means: And thou tells thy thoughts of us (saist thou) it was the main advantage that the Reformers had for the ruine of the Papal Kingdom, to perswade men that the Pope was Antichrist; and to disgrace the Popish Clergy, and says thou, They would attempt the destruction of our Church by the same means: I say, Why not? why may not that which lopt off some of your b [...]an­ches, now the time is come, cut up the whole root, being laid to it by the same power, in a great measure? Thou saist, Our first way is to bring people in dislike with their Teachers, without which, we have no hope of succeeding: I say, Why not? you being of those who ever shut up the Kingdom, therefore Christ, his Prophets and Apostles, did ever most cry out against the false Prophets, blinde Guides and Hirelings, who in all ages withstood him, coming to his Kingdom, as you do now with the same weapons in this Generation; and Christs way is not changed, so the same wo against you is pro­nounced, which you must inherit. And whereas thou saist, That the Papists have begotten this present Sect of Quakers: I say, The De­vil is not divided against himself: had we been begot by the Papists, we should have had more favor from you, who are come of that Line, as having hopes of us to have been restored to your former Kingdom, which ever stood so much in multitudes of people, that you might be Lords and Masters over them: And thou says, We have here and there a Papist, lurking to be the chief Speaker amongst us: I say, here thou dost but manifest thy envy and deceit, to us and the Com­monwealth; if thou know such amongst us, and do not produce it, then art thou deceitful to the trust of the Nation; but if thou know none, then art thou a false accuser, and out of thy own mouth art thou judged, who says we are heade [...] with dissembling Fryars; and this thou would make people believe with adding lies, saying that we say, the Pope is not Antichrist, that we undermine the Scriptures, decry the Ministery, unchurch Churches, slight Justification by im­puted Righteousness, draw men to admire our adherent Righteous­ness, set up strength of mans free-will, the exalting of Monastical Community and Virginity, and Alienation from worldly Imployment; All this, saist thou, the Papists hath taught the Quakers, so thou makes them up ten Lies together: And instead of proving us head­ed with Fryars, thou hast proved the Devil thy head, and father; for we confess the Pope to be Antichrist, and all your Popish Clergy of his Linage, and with the Scriptures we so prove it; which Scri­ptures we own, with the true Ministery and Churches, Justification by Christs Righteousness, freely put and given to us; whereby our own Righteousness we deny, and set up the light within us, and wit­ness Revelations, which the hirelings know not, therefore not com­mon, [Page 14] and we witness a judge above Scripture, and before Scripture, which we will not change for the Pope and all his Clergy, which we extol, and do not abstain from worldly Imployments further, then by the Lord we are called, whom we preser before all the world, which is our perfection and freedom from sin in this life, which none of the Popish Clergy can teach us, though you may talk on it; but onely the Spirit of God, which we witness, which the Devil and the hire­lings never befriended.

Thou makes another Objection, That they hold out many certain truths, and cry down pride and drunkenness, and worldliness, and cry up mortification, charity and humility: And in thy Answer, thou saist, So do you as well, and better then we can do; it is common amongst you, and thou hopes a little better maintained: These you say are Points where you agree with the Papists; I say, much like, and to the same effect, but see how it is maintained in your practice; thy crying up humility, is seen in this thy boasting, who says, Thy teaching is better then we can do; were it the gift of God, thou would see it to be free, and he not limited (by thy cannot) but free to give it to whom he pleaseth, without respect of persons. And for thy charity which thou cries up, is that it, by which Thomas Goodair was carryed twice to Prison, for coming into the Idol Temple; if that be it, its preached through the Nation, thou might have sa­ved labour of Printing it; not many of thy Brethren, but they have acted it: And if thy mortification stands in Cuffs and Ribonds, Lace and Points, being called Lord and Master, &c. then it cannot be de­cryed, but thou hast cryed it up in thy Book, and that very strongly: And for your crying down pride, drunkenness, and worldliness, let your Kirks and Markets witness for you or against you, the effect of your crying, and fruits of your Ministery, which have all bent your selves in your Pulpits, to Preach up sin for term of Life in your selves and your hearers; and here, thy crying up Cuffs and Points, and such like stuffs.

And thou bringest against us the Testimony of a Fryar, whom thou calls Master Coppenger, thou saist, of the Franciscan order; I say, by the Mastership thou givest him; he is one of thy Order, whereby you are both distinguished, by the words of Christ to be none of his Ministers, and so fittest for your purpose; and if reason may judge, most likely came over to second your envy, against those you call Quakers; else why did not you keep him, seeing the Law required it, then might it have been proved if he had been a Speaker amongst us; but you shew your selves and your envy in this thing, as in many other, who would force the Testimony of a condemned person, and he not present, nor no two ever see him, by thy own confession, in thy Paper; and yet this you Print so often over, thereby to deprive thousands of their liberty in the service of God, who are faithful, and have made proof of it, having thereto been called, against the [Page 15] Popish Clergy and Bishops; and the Powers they stirred up, as the Nation can witness; and if you were numbered from the first to the last, with your secret actings against us, there's not many of you in the Nation would be found clear of it; though now you be stirring up these Powers against the peaceable people, as you did the o [...]her, as a Generation never well, but when you are in mischief; but our defence is the same against you, who will accomplish his own work, and set his King upon his hill, notwithstanding your Hellish rage.

Thou goes on telling, if any further ask thee, why the Papists are so diligent in those works; and thou sets down many hopes we have to accomplish great things, which words are not worth taking up after thee: But to them all, I shall say this, Whosoever hath but heard of the Blood that hath been shed, and the violence done to the Innocent by your Fore-fathers, the Popish Clergy, before they was denyed in the Nation; also what Blood hath been shed, and misery undergone, to bring down your power set up in the Presbytery in Scotland and England, the two last of these, which we can witness by sad experience: I say, here's small hopes for any that either loves God, or their souls or bodies either, or the Peace of the Nation, to labour in bringing forth such a birth of Vipers; nay, we rather re­joyce, to see the work begun thus far in the Nation, whereby he will rid us of the rest of that brood, and their burthens, which is the greatest oppression that remains in the Nation, though this must be done with suffering, as the other was done with acting; the Lord having drawn forth many to that purpose, against whom you are gathered, as the sand for multitude, yet are we not dismayed, though beset on every side, yet not destroyed, for we know him in whom we have believed.

And thou saist, Consider well of that Scripture Eph. 4. 12, 13, 14. &c. where Christ gave Ministers for edification, unity, and the per­fecting of the Body; amongst which thou hast thrust in thy cursed addition, saying (at last) the perfecting of the body: I say, When must that last be, seeing thou hast denyed any perfection whilest any lives in this world; it seems thou dreams your Ministery must last in another world, else how must you perfect them by your Ministery; or shall death do that which cannot be done, while they are living? So we have considered of that Scripture, and finde you to be none of those Ministers whom Christ gave, nor Ministring for that end, but against it, and so Ministers of Antichrist, blaspheming the work of God; who call his power, at which all flesh shall tremble, the pow­er of the Devil: And saist thou, If you turn to the Quakers, we shall know that you were before an unsetled Novice; and thou brings that of 1 John 2. 19. they went out from us, but they were not of us: I say, What hast thou to do with these words▪ John was no hire­ling, nor Persecuter as thou art: thou art one of those which John forewarns of, who abides not in the Doctrine of Christ; and all that [Page 16] owns John, or his Epistle, must keep thee out of their Houses, and have nought to do with thee▪ if thou read his second Epistle, 9, 10, 11 verses, there thou may read thy self cast out by Johns Ministery, and there [...]s few that comes from thee, need to look for ought but re­proaches, for then the hope of thy gain is lost, further then thou takes by force: And thou falls a praying the Lord to open his eyes, and acquaint him with his great darkness and imperfection: I say, what eye is that which thou would have opened, since thou denies the Light within: Is the man blinde of his bodily eyes, and to what end should he see his imperfection, seeing that thou denys that ever perfection can be attained to? Thy Prayers are an abomination, and they are blinde indeed, that stands in need of such a Teacher, and knows no better spirit to pray with.

Then thou makes an Oration, before thou Answers the Quaeries, wherein thou tells of several Papers, which thou received from seve­ [...]al persons; as one Jane Hicks, Tho: Chandler, and Edward Newway, Richard Farnworth, and Tho: Goodair; but not being acquainted in the business, and seeing nothing herein of moment, but what is an­swered in other places; I shall leave it till more knowledge of the thing.

Then thou goes making a show, as that thou would Answer our Quaeries, and these thou folds up by six together, which thou canst not answer; and sends us to a Book, we know not where, to seek an Answer, which thou calls a Defence of a Petition; yet though thou Answer not one of the six, in what thou falls short in Answering, thou makes up in asking; asking ten, where thou answerest not one: so that instead of answering 24. thou hast asked above threescore; but few of those thou wast asked, hast thou gone about to Answer: but thou begins, as followeth, with our first Quaery, and thy false slanders and lies thou casts upon us, are double to thy Quaeries, as I shall make it appear, if I be called to number them; but I am weary with raking in that filthy puddle, yet thy Queries are answered, and some of thy lies disproved.

OUr 1. Query is, Whats the first Principle of pure Religion? Thy answer is▪ That God is, and ne [...]t, that he is a rewarder of them that dil [...]gently seek him; and thou queries the ground of our asking.

I say the ground of our asking is, that the folly of such Teachers as know net God and his way, may be made manifest, as it is by thy Answer; for the knowledge of what God is, is the substance, ground, and end of all pure Religion: which admits of no second; for it is life eternal. But if thou say thou means believing, there is a God then there is something God hath appo [...]nted as a way to God, which must be learned before God can be known, wherein the creature must be principled, which must turn the mind towards God, before the crea­ture know God, seeing God is not known to the world, till the creature be turned out of the world: So saith Christ, No [...]e knows the Father, but to whom the Son reveals him: such a [...] thou have got the name of God to talk on; but when you should come to principle peo­ple in the way to him, you say, God is it: which if bare saying God is it, be all thou can do, in way of teaching, then you may stop your mouths (if it be not for losing your gain) for all can say that there is a God asJam. 2. 1 [...]. well as thou; yea, the Devil can preach that doctrine, but thou knows if thou had answered this Query to the satisfaction of any honest de­sires, then thou must have confessed to the light that God hath givenJoh. 8. 12. in Christ Jesus, to lead out of darkness, but that destroys the Devils Kingdom; and therefore all his Ministers are deaf of that ear, and so children of darkness, and keep others so.

2. Query, Whether they are a Church of Christ, that beat and per­secute them that witness forth the truth in his name? And to this thou answered, That its possible for a true Church to be guilty of in­juries; but to cover thy guilt in this, thou would rank us amongst Turks and Witches; wherein thou shows how thou would order these injuries done to us, if it were in thy power. And further, to hide thy self from answering, thou bids us ask this question of the Spanish In­quisition, and those who have shed the blood of so many hundred thousand true Christians, &c. I say, we are asking it of the same ge­neration of Priests: who have all along been the cause of shedding that innocent blood, where they could prevail with the powers of the earth, to act their bloody ends under religious pretences, calling that heresie that crosseth their lusts, as its well known, You cease not to presse the Power to it still, and prevail as far as you can, and where [Page 18] you can, and have used many waies secretly and openly, to undermine them where you cannot, and where the Magistrate is not ready to ex­ecute your designs, you have some of the baser sort ready with you, that will do it at your commands: as some of you Priests have set them on, saying, fight lads for the Gospel. Nay, I can make it ap­pear of above 30 of you, who have fought with your own hands, ma­ny of them to the shedding of much blood, even by the high-way, when the innocent have but passed by. And now wherein do you differ from them who shed the blood of the Martyrs, unless it be in this, that they would forbear till they had some shew of authority: which you cannot but fall on with your own hands, shewing your thirst to be greater then ever theirs was, and your selves more shameless: Now if it be not an offence to judge you after Christs rule, then find­ding you to be in the same fruit, we must know the same Generation all along; and we bless our God who hath chained the Devil that he must but only manifest himself in casting some of us into Prison for our tryal, but cannot have h [...]s will further, but to shew what he would do if he had power; Praises to our God for ever.

3. Quaery, Thou says is about Infants Baptisin; And not being able to prove thy practice herein, either by command or example, thou shufles it off with telling of a Book, and asking a Quaery to the Anabaptists, nothing at all to the purpose, yet least thou should be found out of thy fathers work, thou infolds a lie in it, saying, The An­abaptists are our Founders.

And 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Quaeries, Thou saist are all about Tythes, but takes a ready way to escape them; Instead of answering falls a que­stioning, shewing thy self to be one of those, who can sooner start questions then answer them; and instead of answering six of ours, thou sta [...]ts ten of thy own.

Thy first is, Whether we have read any of those Books, that proves that Tythes are still of Divine Right; I say, by no other Divinity then the Popes authority, canst thou nor all his Clergy prove Tythes to Christs Ministers to be by Divine Right; therefore we deny the Pope, his Divinity, his Clergy, and all their lying Books, and challenge thee and all thy Generation to prove it by the Book of Scri­pture.

Thy 2. and 3. Quaeries, Is whether the Scripture doth warrant [...] man to dedicate part of his Lands to God for the service of his Church, and is it not lawful to take what is so dedicated; and thou instances them that sold their Lands in the Apostles times.

I say, suppose that be granted, that a man may freely give his own to God; must the hireling therefore take mens goods against their wills, to maintain such a Ministry and Worship as God never set up, but is denyed by him, and all that ever he sent; nor did the Apo­stles put the price of other mens Lands into their purses, but it was distributed to such as had need; and when your Ministry brings forth [Page 19] the like effect: then take food and raiment freely, as the Apostles did, but in the mean time do not you spoil mens goods by force, and call them Robbers of Churches.

4. Quaery, If our Ancestors having given to the church the Tenths, are not those Church-robbers that now take them away? I say, If my Father had given the Tenth Land in my field to the hire­ling, then had he given his own, and no right had I to have gain­sayed that he should have given what was his, but that he could give the tenth Sheaf, Pig, Goose or Egg, which is Gods blessing and the fruits of my labors, and never was his, that I deny, and he is the thief that takes the fruits of another mans labors against his will; for if▪ I sow no corn, thou hast no sheaf, and if I have no Sow, thou hast no P [...]g▪ &c. so if my labors you take, which never was my Fathers: but who gave you money out of Servants wages, and for smoak pas­sing up peoples Chimneys, Crysomes and Mortuaries, and such like, which you had all from your Ancestor the Pope, from whom you had your first rise, Tythes, and maintainance all your Parish Priests; who so dearly tendred his Children, that least they should want, provided that there should be no profit, but they should be sure of their share, providing you a house in every Parish to sleep in, making you Ma­sters; and this Spiritual Courts to force people to work for you, that you might be sure to have enough, whosoever wanted; and since those fell, you have been hard put to it, and sore, afraid you are, least the earthly powers should leave you, for if they do, your Gospel will starve you; such is the fruits of your plowing and sowin [...], and so your maintenance is as ancient as the Man of Sin, and no elder, and you must fall together as you have stood together.

5. Quaery, If one that bears the bag, prove a Judas or Thief▪ [...] one Nicolas a Deacon, should lead a Sect of Nicholaitans your Prede­cessors: were all the Apostles therefore Thieves, or all the Churches and Pastors greedy Dogs, for taking much more then the Tenth, even mens whole Estates, that gave them to that use?

I say, That the Nicholaitans is our Predecessors, is one Lie, and that the Apostles took mens whole Estates, that's another, so we think it not strange, to suffer with them.

But you that take mens labors against their wills, by force, are much worse then Judas, and more greedy then all the dumb Dogs we read on, who though they were (may be) as covetous as you, yet they were never so shameless as to take it by force, and plead for it, and having got a pretence of a law to cover you, it must not be called Thievery: but a while will that hide you, God [Page 20] is about to lay you open, and the Mountains must not cover you; then woe to you.

Thy 6. is, Whether you ask so much of people as Quakers do: Thou shamelesse man, whom do we ask any thing on? We abhor thy beggerly practice herein, and are fed freely; prove whom we have burthened, or asked any thing on: but may be you will ex­cuse your asking, with taking it by force.

7 Qu. If it be not a wrong to the people more then the Ministers; to have the standing Church-maintenance taken away, why then do people petition so hard for Augmentations, where means is want­ing? or else do worse: I say, because Babylons wares are grown Costly, and the Merchants rich: time was, when 50 pounds would have hired a Priest, which now will not serve under 500, yet his stuffe no better, but much worse; and this must needs be raised, whe­ther the people have it or no, and so they must petition for Augmen­tations: but he is blind who believes this is done to right the peo­ple of their wrongs, which layes so many 1000 pounds upon the peo­ple of this Nation, more then was formerly: you are rightly called leaders of the blind; if your followers see no further, but to believe you herein, you may keep those you have blinded as long as you can, but where the eye is open, you are seen, and your end.

The sum of thy 8. Quaery, If the Rulers may lay Excise or Taxes; why not a settled maintenance for you? I say, because the one is allowed on in the Scripture; but the Magistrate was never to force a maintenance for the Ministry, neither under Law nor Gospel; but God ever took care for them that are his; and are you Christs Mini­sters, that pleads for settled means? Is he grown lesse Careful for his? nay, its you that knowes him not, therefore dare not trust him, but envies such as do.

In thy 9. and 10. Thou tells of God commanding a sufficient maintenance; And asks what Scripture forbids taking of Tythes: And sayes God hath left it to humane prudence to judge what is suf­ficient, before they give it. And thou tells the old lye over again, saying, The Apostles took more then the tenths; I say, out of thy own mouth be thou judged, and thy generation, who takes it where humane prudence judges not fit to give you, even from them, who reap nothing by you, and that God hath commanded any mainte­nance at all for the hirelings, I deny; on any thing [...] by force of Law, for his own, or any other way but freely. And he that reads Heb. 7. with the first verse of the 8^th, may see Tythes preached down, Priests, and Priesthood, that did receive them, though they never had the [...] by force.

10. Qu. Whether Christ enlightens every one that cometh into the world: And thy answer is; All that come into the world of na­ture, he enlightens with the light of nature, and this thou sayes is [Page 21] begotten by the Book of the Creature: And all that comes into the world of grace, he enlightens with the light of supernatural Reve­lation: I say, Thou hast plainly shewed thy knowledge of Christ, and his way of working, who says, That light wh [...]ch Christ enlight­ens the Creatures with, is begotten by the Creatures Book; and this light which is so begotten, which thou calls natural, is all the light the Creature hath till he comes into the world of grace: Then (saist thou) he is enlightned with a supernatural Light. Thou blinde guide, doth any light lead into the world of grace, as thou calls it, but the light of Christ, and is that begotten by the Creatures Book? Art not thou Antichrist, who art setting up another way out of the world, then Christ and his light, who saith, I am the Light of the world, he that follows me, shall not abide in darkness: Was this light natural, or begotten by the Creatures Book? was that a natural light, that Covenant of light that God promised to give into the world, which the Prophets prophesied of, and John bare witness of, saying, This is the true light that enlightens every one that comes into the world: And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men love darkness: Did ever any give such a testimony of the light, which God sent into the world, to call it natural, and say, Its begotten by the book of the Creature? Art not thou a blinde guide indeed, yet being told of it, calls it railing; where thou might as well say Christ railed, who told such blinde guides (who denyed the corner Stone) what they was, yet was they never so blinde as thou, for they did not deny but Christ should be the light of Israel, when he came; but thou says he is come, and yet art setting up a creature light; and to blinde the business with, thou addes a heap of Quaeries: 1. Whether this light be sufficient to leave men without excuse; or is it sufficient to salvation? I say, both to condemn such as love their evil deeds, and to lead to life all that follow it, John 3. 19. and 8. 12. 2. Was i [...] su [...] ­ficient before Christ preached the Gospel, or is it now sufficient to all that never heard the Gospel? If so, is not the Gospel needles [...] ▪ I say, all that believed in him to come, had sufficiently of his light to guide them, in what God then required; but when he was come, then the Gospel was preached to every Creature under Heaven, then all was called to repent, and wait for the Kingdom of God, which was at hand within them, which they did not know who denyed the li [...]ht, yet the light be [...]ng come into the world, was their condemnation; and thus the Gospel is not a needless thing, but the power of God to sal­vation to all that receive it: for as many as received the light, to them he gave power to become the Sons of God, to the rest it is con­demnation. 3. Quaery, If the world have sufficient light, what need they your teaching? I say, to exhort them to that light, to wait and abide in it, it being the hirelings have blinded that eye, this time of the Mystery of Iniquity hath been working, which was [Page 21] began in the Apostles time; and to open this eye was Paul sent, and2 Cor. 4. 6. to turn them from darkness to this light; and this answers thy fifth Query, why Paul was sent to open the blind eyes and turn to light.

4. Query, If all have sufficient light within them, What need there any converting grace? That's converting grace that hath ap­peared to all men, teaching us to deny all ungodliness, and worldly2 Tit. 11. 12. lusts, which such as thou turns into laciviousness, and will not be taught by it, therefore lives in sin, and pleads, So you must do while you live; and thou in scorn bids us rub our eyes, and tells thee, if all have it, why did we pronounce thee to be in darkness? I say, because thou denies the light, and follows it not: so that light that's in thee is become darkness, and great is that darkness, as doth appear: who art lying again, saying, the Papists are our Teachers, but art in the Reliques of their worship thy self; for which we with the light deny them and thee, and your teaching.

Our 11. Query, Whether thou hast seen Gods face? And to this thou utters a deal of confusion, saying, That by the eye of reason, thou hast seen God to be infinite incomprehensible: and saith, none hath seen God; and then asks a Query, Whether he that hath seen God do abhor himself as Job did? and says, is it likely that ever those men had the true knowledge of God, who exalt themselves as having the Spirit, and being perfect men without sin?

I say, Art not thou ashamed of thy folly, who would perswade peo­ple, that having the Spirit, and being without sin could keep from seeing God. Thou blind sot, Can any come to know God but by the Spirit? and where wilt thou have this Spirit if not within? Can he be any of Christs who hath not his Spirit? or can any un­cleanRom. 8. 9. thing stand before God, or come in his sight? But if▪ any wit­ness this Spirit, and sanctification by it, thy filthy mind calls it pride. Blush for shame! Did ever any but the Devil, minister against ha­ving the Spirit, or freedom from siu? How art thou afraid thy fathers Kingdom should fall? Yet being told of this, thou calls it railing, as thy fore-fathers would be ever in the Devils work, but would not be called his Children; but would call God their father, but hated all that was in his work, as thou dost.

12. Query, Whether you have the same infallible Spirit as the holy men of God had, who spoke forth the Scripture? And instead of answering plainly, thou falls a lying again, saying, thou hears the croakings of our Papist guides; and thou wouldst thrust us in with them, because we say the Spirit is infallible; and they say that their Church is infallible: so that for us to say the Spirit of God is i [...]nfa­lible [Page 22] is Popery; but what Religion is thine who cannot bear it, to say the Spirit is infallible? Where must the infallibility be, in your Church, or in the Letter, or in you Priests? It is likest thou intends the last: because you would bind all to believe your meanings; but when thou writes again, deal plainly, and tell us where thou would have it, since it must not be in the spirit. But to the Answer, thou says, the Prophets and Apostles, were guided infallibly in the manner and matter; so that what they writ to the Church was true; but thou hast no such infallibility. I say, if thou had such a Spirit, your Pulpits would have more truth, and thy Book not so full of lies as it is▪ but wilt thou not call it railing, if I tell thee, that thou who hast not that Spirit, hast the Spirit of the Devil? If thou do, yet the truth is no less; for the Spirit of God is but one, and who hath it, hath an infallible guide, in matter and manner if he keep to it. And he that is not guided by this, hath the Spirit of Satan, and I know that so far as any are led by the Spirit, it guides into all truth if it be not erred from.

But says thou, I shall never like such pretenders to the Spirit. I know thou dost not; for that guide leads out of thy Kingdom. Sayest thou, All true Christians are certain of their Fundamentals, yet with doubting.

Here thou hast declared thy damned foundation; but true Chri­stians know a foundation without doubting; and thou falls to com­paring us with the Pope, and would make us like him.

I say, were it not we cry down his Worship, means; and authority, that remains in you, we should not have so much of your malice. Are not you his dear Children, as like as may be? Have you so soon forgot who be got you into your Parsonages, and Masterships, and Or­dained you, and your place, and form of Worship? He is but a young Priest, who was not Consecrated by his Cathedral Order, though now you see the Bishops your Masters are down with the Ma­gistrates and the people. You can talk against them, as they did against the Pope their Master, when the Kings would own him no longer, nor they could not be suffered to pro [...]ess his authority in this Nation, then they would rather turn than fly; and have not you stuck to Episcopal Worship, till you see you were like to be turned out, and then your wisdom would convince you of your error.

Is not he blind that sees not you one with the Papist in the main? Its not getting into their houses, and talking against them that can blind us, when we see their foundation-standing; and not one thing you do, which is as the Apostles or believers did it: But either▪ as the Pope and his Councels invented, or as you have invented since in your Councels: but never came to the Saints form, much less to the power, For shame be silent in this businesse; till you have more hopes of hiding your selves, [Page 24] you have lost your old way of stopping preaching and printing, and now your slandering your Popery upon other mens backs, will but cause all to see you more plainly: people are now grown so wise as they begin to know the tree by its fruit; your words will not serve, your Covering growes th [...]n, it must be rent, and your refuge of lies are a sweeping away, your rowing in your own filth doth but cast dung in your own faces: the truth is living and pure, and will clear it self, and all that abide in it, but shame shall cover the wicked.

And thou calls the Ranters our brethren, but they are your bre­thren and hearers, they come not amongst us, unlesse it be to op­pose, as you do; there is no more Communion with us and you, then light and darknesse; will this cover you who have them with you, preaching to them, and they maintaining you? nay, its well known that there is none so bad in the Nation, but if he have but any thing to adde to your hire, you are for him, and he is one of your Church, and brotherhood; is there either Drunkard, Swearer, or Whoremonger whatsoever, but you will reap his Carnals, with, or against his will, and you will tell him you sow to him spirituals, and such is your seed, and such fruits comes on it, yet thy shamelesse lips will call such our brethren, when we have turned from them for these filthinesses, and you have received them with it, nay, some of you boast of such Converts, when we have denyed them.

13. Qu. What is hells mouth that the wicked go in at? And to this thou sayes it sufficeth thee to know that hell is a state of end­lesse misery, where such as we shall everlastingly bear Gods wrath. I say, that's thy desire to know? but wert thou not blind, thou wouldst know, it is for liars, slanderers, the man of sin, and his disciples, who plead for his Kingdom.

14 Qu. Whether the Bible be the Word of God? and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the Gospel? and whether there were any Gospel before them? and whether they be the light? and to this thou gives not answer, but tells of a temporal Word; so much knowes thou of that word that endures for ever, and a word that is a sign of Gods mind, and such confused stuffe, and tells of a diffe­rent sense betwixt Christ, the Scriptures; and thou sayes it was written that it might be a standing rule, and kept intire, and sure; to the worlds end; but how often have you and your generation altered this rule? insomuch as scarce two of you can agree about it: what is the meaning of it, and how many Copies is there of it? which of them is the standing rule? that which stands most suit­able to your wills and pleasures, and how intire is it kept, [Page 25] when much of it is quite lost; but thou might have said of it, as of the infallible Spirit, if the letter be not it, thou hast none thou knows on, that had been plainer dealing; and thou sayes this word is the Light, but not as Christ is the Light, or the Spirit, for there are many lights, and so with thy many lights thou shews thy self to be ignorant of the one light the Scriptures speaks of, which holds out but one light and word, but thou hast many in the dark-lanthorn of thine imaginations not one like another, and so imagines that Christ, the Spirit, and the Word are not one, nor enlightens all alike; sayest thou, mans reason is the eye, and the Gospel is externall, and the Spirit clo [...]eth these two together, and so breedeth a spirituall illumination, which the word a­lone could not procure, whereas the Scriptures witness the word, by which alone all externalls were made, and the word for reconciling a­gain and making new: but sayest thou, the word without reason and externalls cannot produce; and this is thy word thou preaches, and so it seems by what it produces.

And thou asks some queries, 1. Whether we believe the Scriptures be true; I say yea, then [...]ayes thou, they call themselves the word of God, and thou brings some scriptures to prove it, but not one that sayes the letter is the word, and thou brings Rom. 10. 8. The word is nigh you, even in your heart, and in your mouth; but is the Bible there: and thou brings 1 Pet. 1. 25. The word of God endures for ever, and before called it the temporall word: Thy 2. qu. Will we give you leave to smel the Pope, in our endeavours to d [...]sgrace the Scriptures though our nose be stopt: I say, were thou not stark blind and drunck with envie, thou might see thy own confused scornfull spirit, with which thou hast dis­covered thy folly, who one while will have the word temporall, and another while to endure for ever; and to prove the Bible to be the Word, brings, the word is in the heart, but no wonder thou be blind, who sayes mans reason is the eye.

15. query. Whether you own revelations or no: And to this thou sayes, thou owns all divine revelations, and disowns all diabollicall ones, but in thy 10. page, hath denyed revelations, but the revelations thou own is what is written, but hath not the Devil these also, yes, and can preach them as wel as you, and take them to plead for his King­dome as wel as thou, yet sayes thou, these are able to make men wise to salvation, without any further additions, and when thou hast done, sayes, they must have the Spirit of Christ to help them; but thou might do wel to shew thy opinion, whether the Spirit can make wise to alva­tion without them, it seems to be thy opinion that it is not, by thy for­mer query, where thou asks, whether the light of Christ be sufficient; where your Gospel is not preached, which no Gospel you have but the Letter, which if you had it not, you would be as dumb as those which Isa [...]ab speaks on, and in thy conclusion thou tels of other helps which are o [...] slat necessity besides the Spirit, and thy litterall revelati­ons, which before thou said was sufficient to salvation without any ad­dition, [Page 26] but by thy own words, if there had been no Book thou had had no revelation, and yet in words seems to deny thy father the Pope, who hath kept thee thy revelations, else thou had been without for ought thou knows, yet you cannot beare it to be called ministers of the Letter, and not of the Spirit, and the Apostles was Ministers not of the Letter but of the Spirit; this with you is railing.

19. qu. Is about singing Davids Psalms, and for answer to this thou sends us to a Book of Cottons and Ford, and say thou knows no reason why thou should add any more; a pretty shuffle to get shut of that thou canst not prove; yet though thou have lost thy reason to answer, thou wil ask more queres, 1. If the Scripture be written for our use, why may not we speak to God in Davids words? I say because David would not keep a lyar in his house, may thou who art found a lyar, sing these words; the Scripture was not written by such a Spirit, nor to such a spi­rit, nor doth such learn ought by the Letter, but to cover thy shame, and deceive others, as appears by thy practise.

2 que. They being used by the Church till the Apostles time, where was they abolished? I say is that Church thou means on the Pharisees, such a Church uses them now, though not so wel as they did, for they did not put them into rimes as you do, and when the Saints sung with the Spirit and with understanding, and he that had a Psalm sung his own and not anothers, then was the way of Pharisees abolished: 3. qu. Whether is it more lawful for us to sing in the words of David, or for you to take together all the sharp reproofes in Scripture to rail on me with; I say there is as much betwixt the lawfulness of them, as betwixt truth and a lye, for when we take Scripture language by the same spi­rit that gave it forth to reprove the same deceit in thee, which Christ and his Prophets and Apostles did in the chiefe Priests, Pharisees and Hirelings, then we speak truth, though thou call it railing, but when thou and thy hearers sings Davids words, saying, you have no scornfull eye; you have rored all the day long, your bones hath quaked, you have made your bed to swim with tears, no lyar shall dwel in your houses, &c. are not a nest of lyars all found lying toge­ther? and he that sayes otherwise of you, is a lyar like you.

17. qu. What is the soul of man, &c. And thou sayes it's the cause of our life, I say thou knows not him who is the cause of our life, no more then thou dost the soul, but here thou would deny God to be the cause of life, and put the soul in his stead, as thou hast denyed the spi­rit to set the letter in his stead, so art thou drawing downward as fast as thou canst; but sayes thou, the whole man in Scripture is taken for [...]an the cause of life dye or be de­filed? the soul, so by thy opinion, the man is the cause of life, so thou hast shewed what life thou lives, and what thou knows of the soul, yet thou wilt ask more queries though resolve none; and first thou begins to wrangle with the command of Christ that forbids thy master-hood, saying; is not many words in the Scriptures translated master, of as▪ low and humble importance as ruler, I say the words of Christ was ever in the way of the Hirelings, and Pharisees, and Priests, and their pride, [Page 27] but they could not get them removed, though they was vext at them, and would not have them applyed to them no more than thou, but let his words alone▪ thou must not wrest them out of their place and power, thou canst not bow them but must bow to them, they was given to break thee and thy pride, and not to be broken by thee nor thy teachings.

2, qu. Thou sayes if God bid people obey you as Rulers, and the quakers perswade people to reject you as Serpents, &c. which is to be obeyed, God or the quakers? and whether is the Spirit of God or of the Devil the quakers speaks by? I say, God did never bid people o­bey Hirelings, and such as are out of the Doctrine of Christ (as you a [...]e) but the Spirit of God called such Serpents, and so doth now, which is not the Spirit of the Devil, as the Devil would slander it to be bothMat. 23. 33. then and now, you being now found in the same practise, are reproved with the same spirit.

3. qu. Thou asks, Is it the Ministers or quakers that have the rule over people, and wait for the good of souls? I say the quakers abhors such rule as you bear; and for the good of souls, thou must first know what the soul is before thou can watch for the good of it, nay thou watches to destroy souls for dishonest gain, hirelings was never souls shepheards.

4. qu. Thou sayes if the present Pastors be not true Ministers, tell you who are, and where you may find them, and where they have been from Christ til now? I say those are true ministers and ever was, who wandred to and fro, having no certain dwelling place, of whom the world was not worthy, who ever bore witness against the false Prophets that bear rule by their means, and the Priests that preached for hire, and the people that loved to have it so, and whose manner was to go into the Synagogues, and Idols temples to disprove the hirelings false worship, and call people from them to the true shepheard; and you may find many of these in the most prisons of the nation for so doing▪ by your means, against whom we are sent to witness, and these have been banished to and fro, (since the mystery of iniquity, and the popish priesthood was set) up into corners, but now are come to light, to witness against the mystery of iniquity, therefore do the heathen rage, the man of sin and all his ministers, because his end is near.

5. qu. Thou asks if it will be for the peoples profit, to despise their Teachers and guides? I say you who have despised Christs commands to set up your own lusts, and pride, covetousness, and false-worship, must be despised, and when such guides are discovered, then shal the people profit when they come to be guided with that spirit God hath given to every man to profit withall, which thou wil keep them from as long as you can; that you may fil up your measure, and wrath come upon you to the uttermost, being captivated by the Devil soul and bo­dy, the God of this world having blinded the eye, so that the Gospell2 Cor. 4. is hid from you, and you lost, letting up the Letter instead of it, ha­ving [Page 28] denyed the light, and erred from it, are got up into hardness of heart, imprisoning, beating, and making havock like mad beasts, what ever the Devill did where he reigned, so do you, being the head of the Serpent, which Christ is come to bruise, as he did in his own per­son so he is the same for ever to the same brood, who now are found in the same bloody plots against the seed of God, worse than ever any, seeking the lives of others, for practising that in life which your selves wil preach in words for money, [...]uch a generation of raging beasts was never yet in the world, who seek to devour on every side you, and who departs from sin is your prey, the greatest deceivers thatever yet come; now when you come to be revealed, who would have bel [...]eved that you, who have had so many millions of pounds for teaching people to forsake sin, and now▪ if any declare that he hath forsaken it and is set free, you preach it down as the most dangerous error that ever was, and cry out to drunckards, swearers, thieves and murderers, and whore­mongers, come not near them least you be deceived, and now get up more money for preaching up sin while the world▪ stands, than you took for preaching it down, yet if we tel you▪ you are bringing people into Covenant with the Devil for tear [...] of life, you say we rail on you when you have be got the faith of that Covenant in the whole nation, ask any that ever believes your teaching, if they believe that Christ i [...] able to redeem them from committing sin in this world, and present­ly they are ready to give an account of their faith, nay none can be free he [...]e, but when they are dead in another world they shall, [...]o the faith and covenant is sutable for no less time then till men can sin no longer, and if any have broke this Covenant through the righteous Covenant, they are ready to stone him, yet least thou should be seen in this filth, you cast a mist before the simple, saying you must strive after perfection and freedom, and purity, and to be set free from sin, but once, knowing that unbeliefe is in the bottome, there is little dan­ger of freedome, for the Devil whose work you are doing, knows ful­wel that if he can but have people to believe they cannot be free, he knows they are safe with him for ever comming at it, no faith, no ob­taining, according to every mans faith so shall it be unto them, and that striving which is not in faith to obtain, is selfe-righteousness, butHeb. 7▪ 25. who believes that Christ is able to save to the uttermost? all that come to God by him shall see it so, but this the blind knows not, who would have believed that these Priess that now is, had been the greatest per­secutors that ever was before them, who have preached so long against it? but say you, this persecution of ours is not as theirs was, they per­secuted Christ and such as he sent, but these are wandrers and Vaga­bonds, and disturbs our peace and worships, &c. but the light is come, your mysts wil not hide you, the Sun is risen, and you are seen in the work against the same Spirit, nothing altered but the persons, or pla­ces, or time, where had ever ministers of Christ hand in persecuting a­ny upon any account whatsoever, prove your practise herein: Then [Page 29] thou goes on to tell what that death is that passed upon all men, and thou sayes its the separation of the soul from the body; thou blind for, did not death pass upon Adam til soul and body was separated? this is like thy opinion of the soul; but how canst thou who art in death know what it is? those whom Christ quickned, who were dead, E [...]h. 2. 1. 5. was they such who had no souls? nay, thou must own the Light before thou know what death is, death reigns in lyars and envious ones.

18. qu. What is the Flaming Sword that keeps the Tree of Life & the Cherubims? and this thou answers with calling it a foolish question, and adds a lye to it, saying, we have not seen it, thou sayes it shall suf­fice thee to know there is such a thing (which knowledg is no more in thee but hearsay) but the sight thou puts far off into the world to come, and the Tree of Life also, for thou that never saw the Flaming Sword & Cherubims, never came near the Tree of Life, but as I said before, feeds upon death, thy own cursed carnall knowledg, which God hath forbidden.

19. qu. Whether they that stand praying in the Synagogues or I­dols Temples, and love greetings in Markets, and bind heavie bur­thens on the people, & are called of men masters, be not out of Christs Doctrine? and this falling upon the head of the Serpent, being thy own practise, thou art forced to take thy old crooked winding wayes to get out, and thou begins to question instead of answer, saying if your Temples be Christ Temples, do not we make Christ an Idoll by cal­ling them Idolls Temples? I say, they are not Christ Temples, unless thou mean the Pope be he, whose Temples they are, who builded and consecrated them into the names of dead men and women, and set up in them a dead worship, all which Christ never commanded, but the Temple of Christ is made without hands, and there he dwells, and not in Temples made with hands, hast thou a face to father those upo [...] Christ, wherein you generation of blood-suckers have worshipped in them ever since they was builded? do not they stand witnesses against you, that you are the children of them who slew the Martyrs, and now are found beating in the same SYNAGOGUES, and shedding Blood as far as you can get the same power by which they did it, CHRIST had never such TEMPLES, stop thy MOUTH for SHAME. And thou goes on, and where thou cannot deny but thou art in the steps of the PHARISEES▪ yet sayes thou, I do not love it, they loved it to be called Master, &c. but I do not; wel, tho [...] sayes in words thou loves it not, but come to thy practise, and it wil appear thou who art but one, hast made more ly [...]s and crooked wayes to uphold it in this thy book, then all the generations of thy fathers the Pharis [...]es [...]i [...] that ever was before thee, and dost thou think to cover all this by say­ing thou loves it not, but you have used so long to lead the bl [...]nd, that you would put out the eys of them that see, & thou saies it was pharises pride that was condemned, I say so it is your pride that is your condem­antion [Page 30] nor can thou clear thy self of the very same things they was found in; but least thou should lose all, yet sayes thou, Christ bids them hear the hypocriticall pharisees, and observe to do as they bid you; I con­fess, to plead for hypocriticall teachers is the likest way to get in, to have people commanded to hear you, had not you run so gross til you have lost all also, even the outward form of godliness which they had, and upon that account he bad hear them, because they sate in Moses seat, and read the Letter truly without adding, but you are neither set in Moses seat nor Christs, but run in your own imaginations, till nei­ther Law, nor Gospel-letter wil warrant any one thing of your worship, matter, nor manner, means nor maintenance, as I shall be ready to prove, that not one particular of your worship, you act in your Idolls Temples, nor wages for so doing, can you prove by plain Scripture to be so much as in the form, commanded o [...] practised by Christ and his Saints, and yet calls your selves upr [...]ght and faithful ministers; for shame be silent as to boasting, til you acquit your selves of this charge by plain Scriptures without wresting it; and would you have us bound to hear such under pretence of hypocrites, who have lost both power and shew of Godliness? and sayes thou, it is not being called master that Christ intended; thou lying spirit, would thou make him a lyar like thee, did not he intend as he spoke? or thou takes him to be an hy­pocrite like the Pharisees, whom thou would thrust in amongst with thy consequence; and thou sayes he forbids the name of fathers; I say, he forbids not children and fathers, but such as you, then thou goes on in thy old way, lying, say [...]ng we forbid the owning of any relations, and all affections and respects to them; I say thy father hath fitted thee with boldness to bring forth his work, who dare declare thy own shame to all that know our practise, what dis-affection canst thou charge up­pon any of our relat [...]ons, unless thou accuse us because we cannot af­fect the Devils pride and bow to it in such as thee?

And to plead for this mastership further thou sayes, thou wil tel us something we know not, and that is, that the disciples of the sect-ma­sters of the Pharisees, so gloryed in their masters, that they were ready to go by the ears, and kil one another, and this thou would send us to see amongst them as a strange business, which we see daily amongst you and your disciples, how many Sects and Sect-masters is amongst you Priests and your Disciples, and have been all by the ears as thou calls it, even unto blood, til you have vented all your envie against the Lambs of Christ, as they did then, though thou would put it far off, yet we see it here present, and sayest thou, these called they Rabbies, as the Papists do the Pope, but why wilt thou not read on one wo [...]d further, as your hearers do you, no doubt but this is as true though not so much for thy purpose, who art hiding thy selfe, by accusing o­thers; and so now, that I have set thee in, thou may read on all the rest of thy charge against the Pope, and find thy selfe guilty, and stop thy mouth, and see the Pharisees, the Pope, and thee, and thy brethren, [Page 31] all on a Line, and that it is not words we contend about, but your whole practise, which being found in and condemned, words and mea­nings cannot hide you, and if the Scriptures be not right translated as thou pleads, then is less confidence to be put in any of you who had it in doing, yet thou sayes its a standing rule; thus Babylons Children are clashing▪ one against another, but all against the Stone, by which we see your fruits to be the same with the Pharises, change the letter as often as you will, wo to him that hath no other guide and rule but that which you have so often chopt and changed, and not still wil it please you, thou may wel call it a temporall word, for you wil make it serve all times, or you must want of your wils; its no ha [...]d thing with you to take Pauls words, who wandred up and down in hunger and na­kedness,2 Cor. 11. 27. coveted no mans money nor gold, nor apparell, and was char­geable to none, nor took ought against the will of the owner, &c. and with two or three consequences and meanings from your originall, you wil make it prove you four or five hundred a yeer, and a great house to live in, and this you will not have by favour but force, and yet they are thieves that denies to give you their goods when you ask it, but now when your practise and Pauls are compared, they are as far distant as before, could you bend his life as you do his words to your own, then might ye deceive the elect, but God hath left this a rule for ever, by their fruits shall you know them; so by your works you are so farre from Paul, that you are out-run Balaam and all the false Prophets and greedy dogs you read on in the Scriptures, who ne­ver took it by force under pretence of a Law, taking three for one, as you do, yet this truth which is as clear as the Sun, must be called rai­ling, because it falls upon your deceit, and because a servant calls ma­ster in Scripture, sayes thou, why may not thou be so called, as a mi­nister? thou may as wel say, because a servant doth own his master, why may not I break the commands of Christ? and sayes thou, Paul he was called a wise master builder, I say those words wil not fit thee who would build up thy pride with them; he was Paul a Servant, and not Master Paul, if thou canst own it thou may, if not, let it alone, I say thou must be proved by thy deeds, not with wresting his words, nor was the masters of assemblies Solomon spoke on, such as thou, but of one shepheard, which the hirelings never knew, nor any who would take Solomons words to destroy Christs commands; did thou know him thou would not teach men to break one of the least of them, much more that which hath ever distinguished false Prophets from true, nor is there any one command more plainly expressed, nor more faithfully obeyed by his ministers, then this that thou art teaching men to break, it being now the great controversie with Christ and Antichrist, who should be master, and who should be bowed to, and how loath are his ministers to lose it, as is seen by thy crooked wayes thou takes to keep it, but thou must lose it, and the Lamb must have it, who wil not bow to thee, and Abraham, and Festus and Agrippa, cannot bear the out [Page 32] in breaking Christs command, those was not forbidden as thy practiseIohn 5. 44. is, who art pleading for titles of honour to you Priests as a duty; O shame thou infidel! how canst thou believe thats seek [...]ng for honour from men? was ever any m [...]nister of Christ found in that work? and is not this the greatest thing thou stands for in thy book? is it not seen whole honour thou art seeking against the commands of Christ? nor is he void of the fear of God, who denies thee to be a faithfull Minister of Christ, who ministers against the command of Christ; nor are we so so [...]t [...]sh but we can judge who is in the work of Christ, and who is a­gainst him, with lyes, saying a Minister of Christ is called Master, and that to deny your Greek and Hebrew is to deny Christ, as though a naturall language was Christ, and thou calls some sacred languages, thou [...]dolater, is not every language natural to them who are b [...]ed in them, is not our Engl [...]sh as sacred among the Greeks as theirs is here? but such as thou wil worship any th [...]ng rather then the Spirit; and af­ter all thy lyes in this book, sayes we are not able to charge thee with any c [...]ime, but humaine frailt [...]es, when thou art found full of gross wickedness, as in thy book is laid open, and here thou may receive an answer to thy query, and thou boasts that thou can talk better then we, I say thou makes it not appear in thy book, for it truth had ordered thy tongue, I had not found so many open falsehoods and con [...]usions as I have laid open already, and thou [...]ayes thou would thresh, and dig, and labour, if God would give thee leave; I say, what a God do [...]t thou serve which will not allow of labour, our God condemns [...]dleness, and sayes if any wil not work, neither should he eat; but the God of this2 Thess. 3. 10 World is the God of idleness and fulness of bread, which the Priests of this nation have been known to serve more than any one sort of peo­ple else; and thou sayes our prater is a lyer, fo [...] saying if thou had no pay thou would not preach; I say, prove him a lyar, and shame him, come out and preach freely, and then if he say so of thee, I shall say he is a lyar too, but I suppose thy Godwil not suffer thee to do this, no more than he wil suffer thee to labour, for these must go together; but let me ask the one question amongst all th [...]ne: qu. The Ministers or Christ said follow us, and walk as you have us for examples; but if▪ thou should say so to thine, and all the Parish masters in this nation also, and your hearers should follow you as you do, what a nation would here be, all idle, all proud and covetous, all live on the sweat of other mens brews, all Masters, &c. would not this destroy relations? who would you have to worship you? therefore take heed how you bid them sollow you, I have heard o [...] some of you (may be foreseeing part of this) have been so wise as to say, do as I say, but not as I do, I say this is plain dealing, compared with thee who acts all this, charges God with it, and when thou ha [...]t done, sayes we are not able to cha [...]ge thee with any crime, so thou would have us to charge it upon him who wil not let the labour.

20. qu. Did ever the Lord of Heaven and Earth, or Jesus Christ, [Page 27] bid thee or any of you go and preach to a people? or was any of the Apostles or Ministers o [...] Christ made Ministers by the wil of man: To this thou answers after the old way, and begins another story, telling the Lord called the Apostles by his own voyce, and le [...]t them to call one another to the end of the world, end to prove this untruth thou brings, Mat. 28. 21. which Chapter hath not 21. verses in, but there is not one verse in that chapter, nor in all the book, that sayes that the Apostles was to leave such an order to the end of the world, so that a verse beyond number is fittest to quote for such a ly, but what Apostle was that who least order with the Pope, from whom all the Parish Teachers both in this▪ Nation and many more, have had their ordina­tion and holy order, since the Pops tieme he [...]ves from Peter, and if thou say so tool I shall not believe you, till I see [...]tter proofe than yet thou hast quoted, but thou proceeds to deny any t [...] expect a call from Heaven, and the signes of thy call thou sets down: First, thy competent qualification, yet hast thou nought freely, but so hard to study for it, that thou hast no time to work▪ and that never was Christs call nor qualification: 2. Thy thirst after the good of souls, yet thou knows not what the soul is. 3. The ordination of authorised Church officers, what sort those are, and the rise of them, hath been declared before. 4. The call of the people and their consent over whom he hath set thee; I say none that ever was sent by Christ, ever went to ask consent of the People. 5. The success of thy labours; but how many of thy hearers are set free from sin, yea thy self yet a lyar. 7. Some testimony of the Spirit, yet thou denies any infallibility, and that Spirit with the Spirit of God that never erred is denyed: These seven sayest thou set together, are the signes of Christs call, and thy mission, shew you the like if you can; to which I say, never any of Christs Ministers shewed the like, nor do I neither: and thou tels the old taile over a­gain, that no immediate call since the Apostles, which thou never proved yet, and thou concludes; wil not all this suffice? I say those who know not the Scriptures nor the power of God may trust thee and be sufficed with a lye, but who knows either, sees whence thou art; was not Annanias, and Barnabas, and others in the Scriptures, called im­mediately,Acts 9, 10, 11. and with the power and Spirit by which I am called im­mediately,Acts 13. 2. do I testifie against thee with the Scripture.

21. qu. Whether had any Ministers of Christ an hour glass to preach by, or tooke a Text, and raised Doctrine, uses, Rea­sons, Motives, or a carnall BELL to call people together by, prove these things by plaine SCRIPTURE, or else be silent, and never profess your selves to be Ministers of Christ more; And to this thou answers with telling of Spectacles, Doublet, and Breeches, and such like vain words, but dare not compare your practise with the SAINTS in SCRIPTVRE▪ thou will not be tryed by thy own standing Rule, but sayes these are purposely left by Christ, to be determined of humane [Page 34] providence, what providence is that which is humane providence, toIohn 16. 13. which your worship of God is least, is his worship humane, and your tythes divine? they who worship in truth have the Spirit of Truth, to guide them into all truth in his whole worship, but your humane pro­vidence, hath led you out of that worship in all things, and thou sayes thou can limit thy selfe, and not limit the Spirit, so the spirit and thou are not one, I say I know selfe orders thee, and thy times are in thy own hands, but with Christ and his it never was; the query is of the manner of thy worship, and thou answers did the Apostles preach in Doublets and Breeches? is Doublets and Breeches forms of Gods wor­ship? a man may alter Doublets and Breeches, but may he alter the form of worship which Christ appointed? The Saints meet together sayes thou, and did not stay two or three dayes, therefore why may not I have an Hour-glass? I say they meet together, sometimes stayed whole dayes▪ and sometimes whole nights, as they was moved, and this did not limit the Spirit, but can you therefore set an hour to begin and end for hundreds of years, by a glass, or by a clock either, and not limit the Spirit? if thou knew the spirit and its moving, thou would know to the contrary, Christ would not go to worship at his own time, nor any that knows the Spirit, but they are ordered by it, both for time and manner, but this the wolves never knew; thou sayes if thou had our spirit, thou should be angry at the hour-glass and preach the people out of their places: I say thou art a man pleaser, who keeps an Hour-glass to please the People, and a man pleaser can [...]ot please God, but the hireling must do his work, as may assure him of his wages, if people set you your work, its fit that they should have it done in their own time, and after that manner they like best, this we should not de­ny you, did you not pretend ministers of Christ, but if Christ set a work, its as much reason that he should have the like freedome to order his workmen, seeing he never sends his to the wo [...]ld for counsel nor hire, this we know, though thou dost not: and thou sayes Christ took a Text and applyed it, and this thou would bring to prove your litterall Ministry to be the Ministry of Christ, I say Christ took a Text and said it was fulfilled in him, but if you take no Text but what is fulfilled inMic. 3. 5. you, then you must take only such as Iohn 10. 12, 13. and those Scrip­turesMat. 23. that tel of a Priesthood that were called of men Masters▪ boreIer. 5. 31. rule by their means, cryed peace while people put into their mouthes, but if not prepared wars; that were proud and covetous, taught for flecces, beat and cast out of Synagogues, wolves in Sheeps cloathing, &c. these and such like which sure your practise you must take, and then say this day is these Scriptures fulfilled in your ears, and then read your portion, so take your own, then you are no thieves; for the word of God you have not, nor was it ever preached in your manner, nor for your ends, and your dividing is to cry peace, though God hath not spoken peace in the conscience, and are daubers, and tread the Lambs under your feet, read Ezek. 22▪ 25. 26. and you may [Page 35] see what d [...]viders you are, and what it is you divide.

22. qu Whether are not they that bear rule by their means and seek for their gain from their quarter, and seek for the fleece, and make a prey on the people, and are hirelings, be not false Prophets yea or nay? and are not such to be cryed out against now as they was then? and this being thy own condition, thou art so wise as to let it alone without an answer, if thou had done so with all the rest thou had kep [...] thy self longer covered; thou bids us read Malachi, so we have, and in the second Chapter, first and last, and the rest of the Chapter, we find thy generation and thy practise, and your end comming on a­pace.

22. qu. Whether do you own trembling and quaking which the Scriptures witness? and this thou looks upon to be a curse, or a papist trick, or mot [...]on of the deceiver, &c. showing thy selfe to be one of those spoken of Is [...]. 66. 5. there thou may see thy work and ours; thou Blasphemer, dost thou call that a Papist trick and the power of the de­vil, that all the Holie men of God that ever did declare the way how they came to see God, came through, as the Scriptures can witness, in Moses, David, Daniel, the Prophets and Apostles, but sayes thou, per­fect love casts out fear; what now! art thou talking of perfection, is it not blasphemy to name such a word? art thou now come to perfection? thou art wel grown since thou begun thy book, wherein thou was plea­ding against any possibility of perfection, but in heaven, art thou got so high now? take heed thou deny it no more, least thou shame thy selfe; but its not a lye that wil make thee blush, thou hast cast out that fear, but its selfe love that hath cast it out, for the love of God castsPsal. 2. 11. not out the fear of God, blessed he is that feareth alwaies, but thou artPsal. 72. 5. cursed who hast cast it out.

Last Quaery. Whether do you say you shall be free from the bodyPro. 28. 14 of sin while you are on the earth, and whether shal any be perfect yea or nay? and to this thou sayes; thou believes that in the instant of death when you part with the flesh, you part with all the remnants of sin; I say thou hast made thy confession according to thy faith and co­venant I told thee on before, that is, you must part with your sin when you are dead and can sin no more if you would, and the devil too; but that this Covenant of hel and death should be for any less than tearm of life, thats again [...]t your faith which you have preached, and live in, and against your Covenant too, yet if we do but say that you are mi­nisters of the devil and such as uphold his Kingdome of sin, while peo­ple live, and the world tands you cannot beare it, though we do but declare thy own con [...]ession. And [...]or sinless perfection, thou sayes thou believes the devil bred it, and thou sayes Christ detests it, and never man that had true grace bel [...]eved it; I say, or thy saith that believes the devil bred perfection, I know thou art of that faith that ever called Christ Be [...]zebub, and his works the Devil works, so in that fa [...]th I do not expect any other confession, but thy lye thou layes upon Christ, [Page 36] and the Saints saying Christs detests it, and the Saints believed it not, I shall reprove and disprove by plain Scriptures, Mat. 5. 48. be ye per­fect, even as your fath [...]r which is in Heaven is perfect: Did he com­mand here what he detested? or was this a sinfull perfection he called for? wouldst thou make him a lyar and a dissembler like thee; and for the Saints owning perfection, read Eqh. 4, 12, 13. Cal. 1. 28. Phil. 3. 15. 1 Thess. 3. 10. & 5. 2. Psal. 18. 32. Psal. 101. 2. H [...]b. 10. 14. 1 Cor. 2. 6. Iam. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 7. 1. with many more places, too many to set down here, which all declare their beliefe in perfection, and thee a false witness; preaching such a faith as never any of Gods ministers ever did, nay thou exceeds all the hirelings and false Prophets that ever was, never any of them durst say it was of the Devill before thee, and thou says its the Papists dongue we feed upon: O thou blasphemer! dare thou [...]peak thus of the perfection of God, which he gives to all that wait upon him, and hunger after his righteousness, thou makes it appear thou never knew the good and perfect gift that comes fromIude 11. above, thou runs too greedily after gifts and rewards from below, thou hast blinded that eye that should see perfection; and sayes thou, the fathers Kingdome before had perfect subjects, and so shall it have again when Christ hath perfected us; thou blinde guide, had the first man Adam power to defile in this world? and hath not the second A­dam power to cleanse to the uttermost in this world what is defiled all that come to him? thou showest thy selfe plainly whose power thou art under, none under the power of the Devil could ever witness the power of Christ; stop thy mouth thou false witness, we know the pow­er of Christ and the vertue of his resurrection, and that he is greater in us than he that is in the world, & that he is more able to save than the other to destroy, to cleanse, than the other to defile; but while we believed with thee, we knew no more of it than thou dost; but with that faith which overcomes the world and the devil, and purifies the heart, do we deny thee and thy faith, which lyes under sin and the de­vill, and in league with him for tearm of life, and would have all so too, and thou dost what thou can to withstand, that ever the Father should have such subjects again, as he had before the fall, never while the world stands: The last enemie (sayes thou) is death, which shall then be overcome at the last resurrection, a large time art thou taking for sin and death to reigne, till all men be dead, thou art faithfull for thy God, and art making a league for him, with all that believe thee, even for them and their children after them, til there be not a man left to sin any more, yet must not we say thou art in the Devils work, but we must call thee a Minister of righteousness, though thou never read of such a faith and Ministry in all the Scripture, but thou hast in this thing plainly declared thou knows not the resurrection nor fellowship of it, art who yet in death, and pleading for it, & to compleat thy covenant of sin, least any should deny it or break it, or sup [...]t thee to be pleading for satan, thou concludes thy work with that old refuge [Page 37] of the devill, that is to take the Letter which was written to keep out of sin, and to wrest it to encourage to sin, and thou runs to that one place which all thy Fathers children u [...]e to plead, 1 Iohn 1. If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves; and the Truth is not in us, there fore sayes thou, the truth is not in you quakers, I say Iohn was there shewing to little children, that there could be none free from sin fur­ther then they was in Christ, not in selfe, nor while any thing of self, remained, therefore sayes, if we so think we deceive our selves, and though Iohn say (we) yet was it not his condition, but as he comes down to them to minister to their measures who was not yet cleansed so he saith, (we) whereof he was not guilty, no more than Iames the Apostle was of cursing men with his Tongue, where he saith, there­with bless we God, therewith curse we men, Iam. 3 9. And many other places of Scripture, where they come down to the condition of the weak, yet partake of no mans sin, though such [...]nclean beasts as thee would take these Scriptures to plead for sin so long as the world stands which Iohn wrote that they sinned not; and thou concludes with this question, if you think you are perfect without sin, whether do you also think that you are already in heaven, or perfect glory; for what can keep the soul from perfect enjoyment of God but sin, and to enjoy God perfectly, is to be glorified perfectly; but sayest thou, I have for­got that your brethren think heaven hell is onely with [...]n men; I say, hadst thou forgot that lye, it had been an injury to him whom thou serves, but I find little of that forgetfulness in thy Book, and for perfect enjoyment of God, had not Adam in his innocency perfect enjoyment of God? and Christ in his time when he was upon the earth, though their bodies was upon the earth, and so far as any is covered with Gods righteousness, so far perfectly glorified, but tho [...] and thy bre­thren knows little of this, nor none that ever [...]ought the honour and glory of this world, the prayers of such was ever an abomination, and their profession out of the saith of Christ.Io [...] 5. 44.

Thou proceeds to ask more queries, and thou desires me to speak truly to the point in question; I say, so I shall in plainness, passing by words to no purpose.

And first: Thou sayes, are not they the very same MINI­STERS you raile at, which all the Drun [...]ards, Swe [...]rers, Whoremongers, and sensuall wretches in the COUNTREY do hate and raile at? and are not ye on their side, and p [...]o [...]sses the same SPIRIT, would not all covetous MALIG [...]ANIS have Tythes down as well as you; were not they of the same sort of MINISTERS which the late BISHOPS silenced, is it not then the same SPIRIT, by which you are acted?

[Page 38] Ans. I say railing we deny, and speak the truth against those we find out of the Doctrine of Christ, who are one with drunkards & swearers, Whoremongers, and sensual wretches, and whose Church & hearers is made up or many [...]uch, and who by such are upholden, maintained, and defended, who fight for such a Ministry with clubs, and stones, and stocks, and these are of the same spirit with them and on their side, a­gainst the servants of God, beating in their Synagogues, and hailing out, as they ever did the ministers of truth, who was sent to preach the Gospel, and bear witness against their false worships, whom they raged against with carnal weapons, as they had opportunity, and for hav [...]ng tythes down, they are so pla [...]n against the practise of the saints, by you upholden, that they are blind that sees it not, yea good and bad, except those who have a gain by them; and I cannot blame the enemies o [...] God for wishing that down, which is contrary to God, and for Bishops silenc [...]ng, I say you are in the same work, and would si­lence all the appearance o [...] God had you power, exceeding all the Bi­shops herein, having persecuted and imprisoned more in one yeares space, than the Bishops did in ten; and [...]or such truthes declaring, as the Bishops would have been ashamed to have imprisoned for, yea some of you Priests, proceeding to blood, with your own hands, being more exceedingly mad than ever your fathers was, who would pre­tend a law for that which they did, but you have none for many things you do, so you are acted by the same spirit, but exceedingly heightned in rage, more than ever they was.

Thy second Query is made up of a bundle of lyes, which I shall re­turn thee again from whence they came; as first: That we seduce the people from true teaching. 2 That we contemn the Scriptures. 3. That we prefer some Translation or Language before another. 4. That we maintain free-wil before conversion. 5. Or deny it to be only the fruit of the Spirit in the Elect. 6. That we hold forth any for the fulfilling the commands of God, but Christ only in them that be­lieve. 7. That we make our perfection only in casting off worldly callings, relations, names, or any other thing, but in Christ himself, 8. or that thou hast any thing under our hands that [...]aith so. 9. That we place our righteousness in our own works. 10. That we deny the imputed righteousness of Christ. 11. That we (instead of preaching the righteousness of Christ) we call out for our own formal righteousness. 12. That our righteousness consists in any outward thing or places. 13. That we say no man may call master o [...] mistris any further than Christ fo [...]b [...]ds it, to the devils pride in proud men as pharises, hirelings or the like. 14. That our righteousness lyes in forbidding those things. 15. That we are ignorant of Christs righteousness. 16. That we take the most satannical lyes and slanders to be our righteousness. 17. That the Papists and we conspire together; These seventeen devillish lyes hast thou laid upon us, yet if we so call them the father of them is of­fended, though we have no other name for them by the Spirit of [Page 39] God, which comes not to cover the lyar, but to lay him open, nor gild his works with a fine name; and thou sayes thou could tel many more were it not too tedious, but if thou undertake in plainness to prove but one of these, thou hast telled it wil be more tedious than they are all in telling; and for the Papists denying your Ministry, or confessing the sufficiency of the Light of Christ, or witnessing freedome from sin in him, wherein (by thy confession) they come nearer to the truth in words than you do, though as far off in practise; I say, shall we deny the Truth because they profess it? or the light of Christ and his redemption because they profess it in words? I say nay, nor doth this prove us of the same Spirit with them, for it is the fruits that ma­nifests the Spirit, and not words; and by that we deny both the Papists and you, and all that say and do not, and wherein you say the truth,Mat. 23 3. that we observe, but do not as you do, and so to the point, the questi­on is answered.

Quest. 3. Whether there were ever greater Monsters of ingratitude than these are? who set their hearts and tongues against the Ministers of Christ, that lay out themselves for saving of Souls, through all the scorn and opposition of all sorts of wicked men, with whom these wret­ches joyn against them, yea and make their very study and labour their crime, when it were much easier for us to preach without study, and that I hope with somewhat more truth, sense, and order, then they that so boast of the Spirit.

Ans. The sum of this query hath been formerly answered, that you are not the Ministers of Christ, neither do abide in his Doctrine, but are those with whom these wretches they speak of joyne both in your worship, and to uphold you, and that Ministry which abides not in the Doctrine of Christ, is not for saving of Souls, nor do we make your study your crime, but your whole worship, which by the Doctrine of Christ we deny, and for thy more sense and order which thou boastest on, then we that boast of the Spirit, I say we have nothing else to boast on but that Spirit that was alwayes counted madness and disor­der to thy generation, and thats the Spirit of Truth, which with thy sense and sensuall wisdome thou reproachest, and this is the end of thy study, as appears in thy paper.

qu. 4. Were not these faithfull servants of God that suffered mar­tyrdome under heathen and Arian persecutors, just such Ministers as these men vill fie? or wherein was the difference, and do not these wretches justifie their murders.

Ans. I say no; nor like them, no more than the sufferer is like the persecutor, and therein was the difference and is the difference, they suffered in obedience to that measure of light in their times, and we suffer in obedience to the light of Christ in these times, they suffered by the chiefe Priests in their times, who had got power from the Ma­gistrate; and we suffer by the chiefe Priests who have got power from the Magistrate, and it is not the name of Pope, Bishop, or Priest, that [Page 40] makes just such, or not such, but the practise wherein they are found, and such are the servants of God, who are found in the work of God, & such are the servants of the Devil, who are found persecutors then, and now justi [...]ying their murders, who then acted [...]uch.

qu, 5. Are not the Ministers who [...] these men despise, of the same calling practise as those were that suffered death in the flames in queen Maryes dayes, such as Brad [...], H [...]p [...], L [...]er, Ri [...]ley, Cranmore, Saunders, Philpot, and the [...]e [...]t, were not these called Masters, did they not preach in pulpe [...]s, and take tythes or money for preaching, as their due maintenance, and the other things that the quake [...]s accuse us for, and do not these men just [...]fie the bloody opposers of them, and condemns Gods Saints afre [...]h.

Ans. I say it was for denying of that which was the Popish way [...] worship, according to their measure of Light, that these men then suffered, and being faithful to that measure they were excepted, though the fulness of the Light was not then come, but this is no ground to uphold the rest of their Popish inventions contrary to Gospel wor­ship, and if they thus fared, who did but witness against some bran­ches, what may we expect, who holds forth that light which strikes at the Root? therefore we think it not strange to see your rage greater, if you had power, then theirs was, and it is you that justifies the bloody opposers, and condemns the Saints afresh, as may be seen in the Goals of the Nation, whom you have imprisoned, not having yet an oppor­tunity for blood, and here you are found in the practise that the popish Priests was in, persecuting and not suffering.

qu. 6. Whether ever the earth bore men that did more proudly de­spise others in comparison of themselves, and whether their language savour of the Spirit of the Lamb of God, or can he have any tast of that Spirit of Christ in himself, that doth not even feel that their proud and railing language is of the Devil.

An. Proud & despiteful comparisons we deny, & find thee in that nature in thy 3. qu. Wherein thou says, without study thou canst preach more sense and order, than we that boast of the Spirit, where thou compares thy sense with the spirit, and boasts above it, neither canst thou charge us with any language, but what the Lamb used, and those that was guided by him, and thou that calls that railing and the Language of the Devill, hast no tast of the Spirit of Christ in thee.

qu. 7. Was there ever a Generation known on the earth, that did more arrogantly step up into the Throne of God, and sensure his ser­vants, whose faces they never saw, and who they can charge with no­thing but being Preache [...]s of the Gospel, and that in a Pulpet, having an hour-glass, taking tythes, &c. to be Ministers of the Devil, sons or Perdition, with much of the l [...]ke, though Christ hath said, judge not left ye be judged, and who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own Master he stands or falls.

[Page 41] Ans. This Query is wholly made up of deceit, for they are not the2 Io [...]n [...] ▪ preachers of the Gospel whom we charge; neither in power nor form, but out of the Doctrine of Christ, and the practise of his Ministers, both in maintenance and manner of worship, who preach in pulpets with hour-glasses, and take tythes, &c. and finding them out of the Doctrine of Christ, and practise of his Ministers, they are declared to be the Ministers of Antichrist, and no Servants of Christ, and so they are judged, and Christ never said judge not such, but prescribed a rule whereby we should judg them, even by their fruits ye shal know them▪ so to thy master thou art fallen, and to him thou stands pleading fo [...] his kingdome, and in this fruit I finde thee and know thee, and with the Spirit of Christ I judge thee, though thy face I never see, and th [...] generation that ever judged such, was never known to the earth▪ though they walked on the earth, and by the earth suffered, where [...] is arrogancy that steps up into the Throne of God, and persecutes h [...] servants.

qu. 8. Was there ever a Generation of men on whom the image [...] the Devill was more visible then on these, he is the Prince [...] Dark­ness, Pride, and Malice, and the depth of ignorance and height of pride and malice breaks out so aboundantly in their carriage and discourse, that all that are not utterly blind may see it, it is the work of the de­vil to be an accuser of the Brethren, and so it is the very religion and business of these wretches, to accuse Ministers & godly people to be hy­pocrite lyars, children of the devil, Serpents, vipers, with much the like.

An. There was a generation of men wherin the [...]mage of the devil was the Prince of darkness, & these was they that denyed the light of Christ to be sufficient, were proud and covetous, laid heavy burdens on the people, said and did not, professed God, but brought forth the works of the Devil, and the depth of their ignorance, and height of pride brake out so aboundantly in their practise, that all that were not utterly blind might see it, and it was the practise of Christ and his Ministers to declare these openly to be hypocrites, lyars, children of the devill, serpents, vipers, and much the like; and they did not herein accuse the brethren nor Godly Ministers, nor godly people, but such as wal­ked contrary to God, and to speak the same words to the same genera­tion that▪ are found in the same works by the same spirit, is the same to God, as it was then, and the same to that generation, who are found in their works, if not, prove thou when it was changed, else thou art the accuser of the brethren, and that falsly.

qu. 9. Is it no kinde of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, for such WRETCHES, when they have powred out the most horrid LYES, SLANDERS, RAILINGS and false Doctrines to profess solemnly that all this is from the Spirit [Page 42] of Christ within them, and make God and his holy Spirit the pater of all.

Ans. To be found in the same practise that Christ and his Ministers [...]. [...]. 44. was found in, bearing witness against the same things is no railing, slandring, nor no false Doctrine, being done from the Spirit of Christ within them, is no blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, but obedience to it; and in thee, who knows not Gods holy Spirit to be the author and patern of all, thy author and patern is the Devil, where God is not the Author and Father, the works begotten and brought forth by him, such are of your father the devill, and his works you do, this is that Spirit I told thee of before, who denies God to be thy author and pa­terne, the author and fini [...]her of our faith and works, so must we needs be contrary the one to the other, both in judgment and practise, as far a Christ and Belial, as in our measures we have received him who is the faithfull witness in all Generations, against those wayes you now live in.

qu. 10. Can that man that hath one spark of Grace, believe that he hath no sin? &c.

Ans. I say by grace we are saved, which we have received of God which teacheth us to speak the truth, by which truth we are set free, so far as we know him, and so far we declare our freedome, according2 Cor. 4. 10. to our measures, and he that sees himselfe set free from all sin by thatGal. 2. 20. power, and brought wholly unto Christ, where there is no sin, selfe­shame,1 Iob. 8. 5, 6. the body of sin put off, and nothing living in him but the life of Christ, if he declare this to his praise, he is no lyar, and if such an one abide in Christ, he sinneth not, neither doth such an one say he hath no knowledg of Christ, nor need of the Physician, nor that he wil not be beholding to him for his blood, or to make intercession, neither doth he deny that he hath sinned, but confesses to his praise who hath him cleansed according to his measure, nor is this to say he wil not be beholding to God any more, who stands by faith in his power, and is beholding to him daylie, and to his blood dayly, which as it hath wa­shed so keeps pure from horrid railing, slandering, and other wicked­ness, thy swearing, and drinking thou speaks on; and this is to confess Christ come in the flesh, the just man on the earth that doth good and sins not, who is greater then Solomon, and such deny the Pharisees and Papists, and all that justifie themselves are Lyars, before him, and toHeb. 7. 19. him Solomon confessed; though the Law made not perfect, yet he doth all that come to him, and so presents them to the father, and this isIsa. 59. 19. our standart against the enemy that would overflow us, which the hireling knows not, whose the sheep are not, nor their pasture, who are not wretched, nor under the power of the deceiver, which things thou would charge upon us.

qu. 11. Whether those that deny Scripture to be Gods Word, as these quakers do, and deny that there is any such person as Jesus Christ which suffered at Jerusalem, now glorified in Heaven, in the humane [Page 43] nature, and only cals somwhat that is within themselves, by the name of Christ; I say, whether are not these abominable infidells, having nothing to do with the name of Christians?

Ans. That we deny the person of Jesus who suffered at Ierusalem, now glorified in Heaven in his body, is a lying slander, but thou that de­nies God to be the word, and sayes the Letter is the Word, art igno­rant both of the word and Scriptures, as plainly they shall witness a­against thee, which sayes, God is the word, and the word of God is theIoh. 1. Name of Iesus, as the Scripture declareth, but never takes that nameRev. 19. 11. to its selfe; And the word of God endures for ever: and this is the word1 Pet. 1. 25. which by the Gospel is preached, which is not the Letter; and thou that knowest not the Letter within thee, art the Infidel and Reprobate2 Cor. 13. 5. thou speaks on, who hath nothing to do with the name of a Christian, who art adding thy lyes and slanders, as though only we limited Christ within us, because we witness him in us, so with the Scripture thou art proved to be ignorant of them, and the power of God; from which they were written.

qu. 12. Is it not damnable hypocrisie in the wretches to prate so much of Scripture, and call for Scripture, while they thus deny it to be Gods word?

Ans▪ In this query thou shews thy confusion, one while charging us to prate too much of Scriptures, and call for Scriptures, and yet thy end is to make people believe that we deny Scriptures because we will not own the Scriptures by the name of Christ, who is called the word of God, and in thy seeking occasion to slander, but can finde none; thou shews thy damnable hypocrisie and wretchedness, & denies both the Word and Scripture.

que. 13. Is it not damnable hypocrisie in them to call themselves Christians, when they are infidells, and deny the person of Christ cru­cified to be in Heaven?

Ans. It is damnable hypocrisie and wickedness for thee to continue thylying, saying that we deny the person of Christ cruc [...]fied to be in2 Cor. 13. 5. Heaven, and thou thy self art the infidell, who cannot believe Jesus Christ in the Saints, but calls it a thing within us, but canst not own it by the name of Christ, as in thy 11▪ query, and that faith is Repro­bate,Ioh. 5. 10. and thou that knows not Christ in thee art the Infidell, for he that believes hath the witness in himself.

qu. 14. Is not he a Pagan and no christian, that thinks that the Light which is in all the Indians, Americans, and other Pagans on earth, is sufficient without Scripture?

Ans. I say that Light which the Gentiles had, which brought them to do the things contained in the Law, showing the work of the LawRom. 2. written intheir hearts, was sufficient without the circumcision of the Letter, which the Jews stood so much on, yet brought not forth the same fruits which God accepted, though they could call them Hea­thens and Gentiles, as thou dost the Indians and Pagans, but it the [Page 40] Indeans and Pagans own that Law written in their heart, and come to receive power to bring forth the fruits of it, which thou dost not; I shall say of you both as Paul did of the Jews, Rom. 2. 12, 13, &c. not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified; but art not thou a Pagan, if not worse, who would conclude all in condemnation, but who comes to hear you hirelings, and your expositions of the Scriptures? nay thou art a blas­phemer, above all thou readest on in the scripture, who would make the light of Christ (wherewith he hath enlightned every one that comes into the world) to be insufficient without scripture, and so con­demn all the Saints and their sufficiency, before the Letter was, and soIoh 1▪ destroy Abrahams faith and sufficiency, which had no Letter to add to it, but this is all thou knows of it or its foundation, who denies its sufficiency.

qu. 15. Was that Light in Paul which perswaded him that he ought to do many things against the name of Jesus, sufficient to con­vert him to the faith of Jesus? or did Christ give him needlesly a light from heaven, and by Ananias his Doctrine? or had Cornelius sufficient Light within him before Peter preached unto him? or had all the world sufficient Light within them, before Christ sent abroad his Apo­stles to preach the Gospel unto them? or did Christ send them a need­less light by his Apostles? have those persecutors sufficient light with­in them to cause them to believe in Christ, who think they do God service in killing or reproaching his ministers and people?

Ans. I say Christ hath enlightned every one that comes into the World, which Ball, and thou, and many of thy generation, being exceedingly mad, with envy and rage, running in your own wills, and acting against it, your light is become Darkness, and so great is that darkness, that you are reproaching, persecuting, and kil­ling the people of God now, as he was then, and think you do God ser­vice, yet is the Light in Darkness, though Darkness comprehends it not;Io [...]n 1. 5. and therefore Peter was sent to Cornelius, Ananias, to Paul, and the Apostles to the world, not to give them eyes, but to open the blinde eyes, and to turn them from Darkness to the Light, as is plain, Christ and the Apostles came into the world for that purpose, though Christ was the light before the world was, yet came into the world to open the eyes, Isa. 46 6, 7. and sent his Apostles to that end, at is plaine Act. 26. i7, i8 and to the Light that shun in Darkness was they to turn2 Pet. 1. 19. them, and this was the way by which they knew God, to which they confessed, as is plain in the Stripture, til which time the Gospel was hid, and the CREATURE lost by reason of that DARK­NESS, wherewith the Prince of this World had their hearts blin­ded, 2 Cor. 4. 3. to the 8. ver. and this Light did not perswade Paul to be a persecuter, nor thee neither, but the Prince of Darkness which hath thee blinded, wherein thou appears to be one of those builders [Page 45] who refuses the Corner Stone, and denies Gods covenant, whichIsa. 42. 6. was a covenant of Light, and not of the Letter, and the Law written in the heart, and not in the Tables, which the carnall eye sees not, norMat. 24. 23. 26 thy wilfull minde regards not▪ who art crying, lo here, lo there with­out thee, but saith Christ, go not forth, the word is nigh thee in thyRom. 10. 8. heart, and that word of faith the Apostles preached, which was in peo­ples hearts, but such was not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit, nor did ever say the Letter was the Word, as thou dost, but if the Let­ter be not the Word, it seems thou hath none of the Word, but art one of those who saith, hear the word of the Lord, when theIer. 23. Lord never spoke to thee, but hath stoln it from thy neighbor which is none of the word of the Lord to thee, so thou perverts it, taking the Scriptures to plead for sin which was written against sin, which they that had the word of the Lord never did, and that Light which thou deniest to us, is become the head of the corner, and we witness it sufficient without any other addittion, but thy testi­mony of it is the testimony of an unbeliever, contrary to what Christ commandeth, thereby to be become the children of light; there is the covenant and the promise of it, Iohn 12. 36. Iohn 8. 12. and out of the Light, theres no promise, and all that thou hast here proved is but thy self a child of Darkness, and no otherwayes to be believed, so brings forth thy deeds of Darkness, speaking evil of that thou knowest not, and none can own Ananias DoctrineAct. 9. 10. 11. who denies immediate callings.

qu. 16. If all have sufficient Light within them, what need you go up and down to perswade them, is it needless Light that you bring them, or is it hellish darkness?

Ans. We are sent to declare that Light which is sufficient, which we witness within us, and to draw people from that hellish darkness into which the blinde guides have led them, and from all the dark worshipps set up in the imaginations unto the light of life, which is only sufficient; which bears witness in them against all the Deeds of Darknes, showing what is to be reproved and what is wrought in God, Eph. 5. 13. Iohn 3. 21. so to turn peopleIohn 16. 13. to that Light and Spirit of Truth, which leads into all Truth, is the end of our Teaching, and the enemy of hellish Dark­ness, and that Spirit is in them, and they shall know it who turn to it.

qu. 17. Is it not a most sottish trick of you to go up and down prating and commanding, and yet refuse to shew your commission ▪from God, and to call Ministers to shew theirs and refuse to shew your own, but say it is invisible within you, are you so mad to expect that any should believe an invisible and indemonstrable COMMISSION, and might not we as wel [Page 46] we tel you ours is invisible, but that indeed it is not, or should we be­lieve every one that prates of a commission within him or no? if not, why should we believe you more than others that say the like?

Ans. Our call and commission is invisible as to you, as ever it was to the world, yet herein is it shewed that we are found in the same practise and suffering, that all the Saints of God ever was, for decla­ring against the false worships, and this we refuse not to show in the midst of your envy, in the patience of Christ and his long suffering, in the midst of your bloody persecution, and here is your commission shewed also, and from whom you have it, even him that is within you who is known by his fruits outward, a murderer from the beginning so is the Spirit of God by its fruits outward, a sufferer from the begin­ning, so each tree is known by its fruit, whatsoever you tel us, and thats the sot which cannot see it nor believe it.

qu. 18. Seeing you cry down our Ministry and Churches, tell us which is the the true ministry and Church, and when yours begun? and where it hath been since Christs abode on earth til now? speak plain­ly and let us know, whether you indeed are Papists or Pagans?

Ans. The true Ministry and Church is those who abide in the do­ctrine of Christ, guided by his Spirit, in the way of his worship, and this Church begun to be seperated from the world, first in Abell, and since Christs abode on the earth hath been thrust into corners, perse­cuted and imprisoned, and killed by Cains generation, who was ever worshippers yet in their murderous nature, and here we speak plainly such was Pagans and Papists, though they called themselves Catho­licks, the same are you now, who are found in the same works, though you call your selves christians, and such churches we cry down, and their ministry, who hath their hands in blood and persecution, whatsoever they are called by; and now that we have spoken plainly and truth also, see thou be not angry and call trailing, and plot mis­chiefe against us in secret, as your father Cain did and all his genera­tion, when you cannot do it openly.

qu. 19. Is not that man an infidel and a scorner of Christ that dare say he came into the world and shed his blood to gather onely a few raging quakers [...]n England. 1652 years after his incarnat [...]on, if Christ have no subjects but these, he is a poore King; [...]f Christ have been t [...]ll now without subjects, he was no King, if without a Body, he was no Head, if without a spouse, he was no husband; Therefore shew us what a church Christ had, or confess your selves infidels.

Ans. The nearest comparison as I finde in Scripture whereby to shew what a Church Christ had, since the mystery of iniquity, and Popish Priesthood, and Parish Masters, was set up in the [...]ailing away, may be compared to his Church, from the time that the hirelings and false Prophets begun amongst the Jews to preach for hire, and bear rule by their means, &c. even til Christs comming in the flesh, which Church was sometimes visible, but [...]n a few d [...]spised Prophets, who were sent [Page 47] one after another, to cry down the false worships & covetous practises, and to testifie of his comming, which alwai [...]s suff [...]red by the multitude o [...] Priests and sal [...]e Prophets, who when they came stil conspired a­gainst him, and if thou look back since your lordly authority was set up in your Ministry, you may see they have had their hands in the like practise against those who lived in hope of his appearance, denying their worships, and now it is [...]alne into your hands, who are garnishing their Sepulchers, crying out against your fathers, the Popes, and the Bishops, for their cruelty, but are found deeper in it to your power than ever they was, scarcely ever ceasing to stir any authority of the nation against the Lamb, and his Light where it is made manifest; yea many of your Generation not finding the Magistrate so ready to exe­cute your bloody designes, as you would have them, have shed blood with your own hands, even of the innocent, and they are not a few that are guilty hereof, in the north parts of this Nation, and the king­dome of Christ hath been poore according to thy judgement, yet hath these been his subjects; nor hath he been without a body, nor without a spouse, so thou mayest read what a Church Christ hath, and what a Church he hath had formerly, yet is he not come to save a few raging quakers only, but with ten thousand of his saints is he come to be a­venged of that bloody Generation: and for the Infidell thou tells on, and the scorner of Christ, that is he that cannot believe in him, and his Light to be sufficient: and what a church Christ hath had and hath, we have shewed.

qu. 20. Did not the spirit of the Quakers speak in numbers 16. 3. just as you do now against magistrates, and ministers, and is not God very patient that causeth not the earth to open and swallow you up quick, as it did them? do you understand that the Simonians (or disci­ples of Simon Magus) and the Nicholaitans, whose Doctrine and deeds Christ hateth, Rev. 2. and other gnostick heriticks in the Apostles dayes did deal by them and the Church then as you do by us now; and that the second Epistle of Peter, the Epistle of Iude, much of the first of Iohn, and the second of Iohn, were written purposely against them, besides many other Scriptures, and have you wel considered those Scriptures, and applyed them to your selves?

Ans. That Spirit of Christ we own, is that meek Spirit that▪ was in Moses, against which the Rebellious Levites was then gathered, who would condemn it of too much purity, saying that all the congregati­on was holy, the same which you do now, calling all Christians, and sprinkl [...]ng their Children under the name of believers, and that Spirit which we own, speaks not against Magistracy nor Ministry, such as are appointed by God, though it hath ever testified against the corrupti­on of that Magistracy which by God was appointed, yet canst not thou here shelter thy selfe, who art out of the Doctrine of Christ in all thy Ministry, and was never called by him, and thy spirit we under­stand to be worse than Simon▪Magus, for he believed in the Light of [Page 48] the Gospel, but thou denyest it, and he would have bought the gift which thou would sel if thou hadst it, neither had he a hand in such works of envy against the Truth, as thou and thy generation are found in, though there then was heriticks, who dealt with the Apostlesthen, as you do with us now, and those was and are the heriticks who abides not in the Doctrine of Christ, who are proud and covetous, cannot cease from sin, have hearts exercised in wicked practises, after Cain and Balaam, and of these did Peter and Iude speak of in their Epistles,1 Iohn 4. 2, 3 and Iohn also, who declared that then Antichrist was gone into thei Iohn 5. 9, i0. World, and that was the Spirit of Antichrist who denyed Christ in them, but they that believe hath the witness in themselves, and they that abode not in the Doctrine of Christ, and had the Father and2 Iohn 9. 10, the Son, they was not to receive them into their houses, neither bid them God speed, and wouldst thou be found in these practises, and have us to apply these Scriptures to us, who deny those practises; thou canst not hide thy self here, when thou finds us in those things, apply thou those Scriptures unto us; in the mean time, take thy portion from them, being condemned by them, and we have considered those Scrip­tures, and finde them written against thy generation and your practise and so we apply them unto you.

And for the clearer manifesting what Gospel and faith thou Preaches, I shall lay down these queries following, they being that which every true Minister knows, and very needful to be known to all people.

FIrst, Hath the first Adam power upon earth to defile all that are in him, and hath not the second as much power and vertue to cleanse from all sin all that are in him? if so, then what is the cause men must commit sin and be imperfect while they live in this world?

2. Whether is that new birth spoken on (without which none can be saved) Christ formed in believers, or only a believing that he was manifest in the flesh, 1655▪ years since, and hath not the Devil and reprobates this beliefe latter mentioned.

3. Hath any life eternal in them, but who hath the flesh and blood of Christ in them? and is life eternal known any other way savingly in this world while people live?

4. Is any the Sons of God further then they are guided by the Spi­rit of God in all things? and is not the Spirit of God a sufficient guide to all who have it in all things, without any other help according to the measure received.

5. Whether the Spirit of God in them who have it (according to its measure) be not the absolute Judge of all Spirits, the opener of all Scriptures? and whether needs it any visible thing to add to it, or can any other thing judge it.

6. Whether can any other Spirits judge of Scripture, or any of the works of God aright, but wrests Scripture to the destruction of crea­tures, and calls light darkness, and darkness light, and can any other spirit judg according to God in any thing?

7. Whether the Word of God can be changed, or can it admit of severall meanings, as to one particular thing? is it visible or invisible, [...]r is there any word but one, and whether was that word before the letter, and shall be when the letter is turned to dust?

[Page 33]8. Whether is the least measure of saving faith present power a­gainst the greatest power of darkness, and able to keep out of all sin whatsoever, if the creature abide in it.

9. Whether ever any Minister of Christ had any hand in imprisoning any man for coming into their meeting places; or was any beat in the meeting places where a Minister of Christ was preacher, and was it not the manner of the Apostles to reason and dispute in the Synagogues against their false worship, and was not all persecutors and fighters against God, who opposed them, and is it not the same now where the same Spirits are, and is that the Spirit of God or of the Devil which sayes its no more persecution to put such in prison, than to burn a thiefe in the hand, as thou dost?

10. Where that temple of God is where the man of sins sits, shew­ing himself that he is God, and must not the Light of Israel reveale him first where he is, and then binde him and cast him out, and when he is cast out, whether is not the body of sin wholly put off, yea or nay? or can he return in again unless the creatures mind go out to his tem­tations first, and do not such depart out of the covenant of life and faith, and so make shipwrack of the good conscience?

11. Whether is the light of Christ Spirituall, or can it be known any other way but in Spirit within, and is not the light of Christ with­in the absolute way out of death and darkness, or doth it stand need of any temporall thing to help it to enlighten those who are turned to it, believe in it and love it?

12. Whether is the Gospel Ministry the same it was in the Apostles times, both for matter and manner, means and maintenance? if nor, when was it changed (and by whom) into Steeplehouses, Tythes and great Parsonages, and that order of worship now used, seeing▪ you are erred out of the way of the Apostles in every particular of your wor­ship.

13. Whether may not the Spirit of God (in whom it is) use the same words against false teachers now, as it former hath done against them that was found in the same practise? and is there any plainer tryall of these two Spirits in this world the [...] by their fruits herein, as is found in Scripture; and is it now any more railing and bla [...]p [...]emy than it was then, or by what name m [...]t a lye be called according to Scripture and the practise of Christ?

[Page 51]These queries I have not put forth to keep up strife, but being things much contended about with many, if thou in plainness give an ac­compt o [...] thy faith herein, the difference may be known betwixt us and you Priests, Teachers, and whether of us owns the Saints practise as is declared in Scripture▪ but if thou fold them up by six together, and send us to a book to seek an answer we know not where, as thou d [...]dst in thy last book, or if thou answer them with sleighting and shuf­fling when thou come to the Thing intended, as thou hast done, thou wilt be seen, and thy cover wil discover thee to all the children of light.