Truth speaketh.

Prelate, what I say to thee, I shall say to all thy issue, viz. If thou be not found in the Scriptures of truth, I cannot own thee; for then thou must be of mans invention of lies, and must be outed for ever having share of me; your Anti­quity cannot maintain you, you are not older then the E­pistle of Jude, vers. 4. who wrote of your old Ordination, and your coming in; neither can the approbation of Bishops [Page 5] and Doctors justifie you, for Christ Jesus thanketh his Father that he hath hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to babes. 'Tis not honourableness that will help you, for God will stain the pride of all grory, and bring in­to contempt all the honourable of the earth, Isa. 23.9.

Whereas you pleade your Councils, I cannot own them▪ for the Scripture of truth concludes them under a wo ( Isai. 30.1.) for taking Counsel, and not by Gods Spirit. One thing wherein your Councils are point-blank against the Scri­ptures of truth, is, A Bishop (the Scripture proveth) must be the Governour of a natural family consisting of wife and children, where the spirit of Government must be fruitful in governing his own house well, in these words, A Bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, &c. 1 Tim. 3.2. One that ruleth well, having his Children in subjection with all gra­vity; for if he know not how to rule his own, how shall he take care of the Church of God? Even so must their wives be grave, &c. vers. 4, 5. And in Titus, If any man be blameless, the hus­band of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of ryot or unruly, &c.

But your Councils are so shameless, that they give out their Must be against the Scriptures Must-be; for you say, That a Bishop must be unmarried, and so are all your Priests to be by your Councils Order: Therefore let all men look upon thee as one that vieth it with God himself; and indeed, if the Scripture had not spoken of a false-dealing shameless Clergie, Jer. 13.15. I should have more admired your impu­dency: your daughter Presbytery is not altogether so shame­less, for she puts her May-be against the Scriptures Must-be; for she saith, A Bishop may be unmarried.

And as for your fixing your self in the joynts of honour, riches, strength, cruelty, multitudes, &c. I must by the Scri­ptures of truth tell thee, That the stone, the tryed stone, the precious corner-stone, when he shall lay judgement to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, the hail shall sweep away all your re­fuge of lies, then your contract with hell and death shall not stand, Isai. 28.16. viz. All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. He that contracted with you, will then prove but a bad Pay-master.

[Page 6]And as concerning the people that is with you in con­cord, this very thing is the curse that is upon them, viz. There shall be like people like priest, and both in love with lies: if sometimes the Nation that is called Gods people were in this condition, it is easily believed that Rome and England may be so; It is said of them, The prophets prophesie falsly, the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so: but what will you do in the end thereof? These things con­sidered, I have done with the Prelate.

Truth speaketh.

As I say to thy Mother Prelate, so I say to thee, Except thy Image or superscription be found in the Scriptures of Truth, thou art but of mans invention, which God hateth, Isa 66.3. and also the refuge of lies, which must be swept a­way: Thy Mothers name is MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABO­MINATIONS OF THE VVHOLE EARTH, Rev. 17.1. It is notorious, that she beareth her name in her forehead; which proveth, 1. She is ashamed of nothing. 2. That every one may apparently behold her Abominations in her Forehead. And now let us see how like thy Mother thou art.

[Page 9]1. Thou and thy Mother have all one baptism, which pass from one to another by the Proclamation of Princes, but not by Gods word; which proveth you both to be of Mans Generation and Maintenance; whereas a Proclamation had power to make you both the Religious legitimate Chil­dren one of another: All thy Children were made thy Mothers, by Queen Maries Proclamation; all thy Mo­thers Children were made thine, by King Edward's and Queen Elizabeth's Proclamations. The truth is, you are of such a Brood, and so neer of Kin, that you cannot be con­verted one to another by preaching Faith, Repentance and Baptism, but being both of a nature, and depending both up­on Man, a Proclamation can command the one to be a Chri­stian Protestant upon the Papists Baptism, and the other to be a Christian Papist upon the Protestants Baptism.

In your Infancy, when you were Cozened instead of Christened (as you call it) you were proclaimed Regenerate and born again, made a Child of God, and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven, when you could neither under­stand Doctrine with your hearts, whereby Man believeth unto Righteousness; nor with your Mouthes confess unto Salvation, Rom 10.10. for you could not speak to confess a­ny thing. Is any of your Laws like the Law of God in this, which proclaimeth Faith comes by hearing? How shall they believe on whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? The aforesaid brazen-fac'd Act standeth by thy Mothers Canon-Law, and all thy oldest Priests that took Degrees in the Universitie, though godly in thy esteem) are sworn to observe all the Rights and Ceremonies of holy Church; which Canon Law intendeth the Church of Rome, then consider whose sworn servants thy priests are. And now consider (I pray thee) whether thou hast not a brow of Brass, in not being ashamed, though all the world (that are not Members with thee) behold thy Whoredoms, and thy Abominations written in thy forehead.

Now out with thy Learning, thy Rhetorical Tropes and Figures; call for thy brother Lawyer, and all the power of the Magistrate, and all the lustful Multitude, that loveth to [Page 10] hear and believe lies (thou hast nothing else to feed them with, but what is mix'd with lies: and indeed, Truth would be so bitter, that neither thou nor they could bear it, if you did not sweeten it, or rather fit it to your palate with lies) and see if they all can cover from reproof out of Gods word, by the mouth of poor mechanick despised Christ, and his poor mechanick despised Apostles and Disciples.

Also thou forcest thy maintenance by mans Law, from those that thou sowest no spiritual seed in their hearts: if there were spiritual things betwixt Priest and People, it would make such a product of love, that the Royal Law of Heaven, Christs Church, Saints, Angels, Christ, and God the Father, as would procure the Priests maintenance from their Converts, they need not go to mans Law to get it, if thou hadst some few Converts. Thou dost like him that soweth two or three Lands in a field onely, and yet challengeth the whole field; though there be hundreds of Lands upon which none of thy seed is sown, and suest and undoest thy poor neighbours if they will not yeild thee their increase out of the whole field. Dost thou look for fruit when all thy seed is rotten under the Clods, and bringeth up none? Is not this thy Mothers name written on thy forehead? &c. Will the Scriptures own thee in this? Is it fit that thou shouldst reap that fruit by violence, that came not of thy seed?

Again, did not Jeroboam carry all the ten Tribes from Gods Worship to the calves at Dan and Bethel, onely to save his honour, kingdom and standing? Doth not Edward, George and Richard, and all the godly Priests in England, know. That no Scripture-reproof can lye upon the Baptizer or Baptized, where Faith and Repentance is sincerely pro­fessed before the performance of that Ordinance? And also that there is never a word to say (in Scripture) for their Infants Baptism but a May-be? Upon such an assurance they will not venture to buy twenty pounds worth of Land: And this their May-be is but imagined, and with­out all warrant of Scripture. Do they not now cast the Anchor of their Rhetorick and Learning into any Lie or [Page 11] May-be, to keep their Kingdom their Mother Prelate pre­pared for them by Pope and Councils, they having never a word of God to prove Gods Must-be or commandment for their practice? And doth not all their May bees arise from Popes, Councils and Fathers, whose beings would fall, their honour cease, and none would buy their wares any more, Rev. 18.11. compared with the last words of vers. 13. if they did not ( Jereboam like) hold the People from the worship of God recorded in the Scriptures of Truth?

Have they not procured the Armour of the Magistrates Power to protect them, that none may speak in their pub­lick places, nor speak to disturb them? Oh! what a License is here to tell lies without reproof, while they are going to, or coming from thence! but their own Learned Rhetorical, by man ordained Members; that are fast tied, not by Truth, but by the bonds of their own Livings and greatness, ha­ving entertained that Temptation, which Christ refused, viz. all the Kingdoms of the world, and the glory thereof; therefore His Servants are not payed for His VVork out of the world's common stock, of Honour, Greatness, and Li­vings of a hundred, &c. a year; nor hath Christs Servants the flock of Knights, Ladies and Gentles, in their silk Gowns trailing on the ground, to seek them for their good esteem, as thou hast, even as thy Mother Pope and Prelate hath, for their blessings: But Sion is an out-cast in this world; This is Sion whom no man seeketh after, Jer. 30.7. It is the supposed know­ledge of the learned Pharisees, together with the counte­nance of his brother, and the supposed ignorance of Christs Flock; Doth any of the Pharisees or the Rulers (who are Law­yers) believe on him, but this people who know not the Law, and are accursed? VVhilst thou art overcome with the aforesaid temptation, therein being an enemy to all Righteousness, in not ceasing to pervert the right wayes of God, Act. 13.10. The very thing that becometh Christ, and all that he calleth us to fulfil, Mat. 3.15. which are plain Scripture-Precepts; and in setting thy May-bees in the room thereof. These things considered, I leave thee, Presbyter, to judge thy self by the 13 Chapter of Ezekiel.

Pr [...]sbyter may thus Reply.

I strange at your reproof, being my name is recorded in the Scriptures, 1 Tim. 4.14. I confess that is a proper name, and a name fit for Disciples, made and baptized by Christ or His disciples. I judge thee not for the name thou bearest, but for thy Nature and Generation, as thou art Pope and Prelates Daughter; those that are called by the foresaid name in c [...]pe [...]re, had the nature of the name▪ thy nature is of [...] M [...]er, Mystery, Babylon the great, the Mother of Har­lots, and abominations of the whole earth; my confederates are VVarriors against the Lamb, the place where thou fittest i [...] Peoples, Multitudes, &c. the name aforesaid to thee is the sheeps clothing, that thy wolvish nature is covered with, Mat. 7.15. this nature of thine appeareth cruel, in that thou art a [...] enmity with thy Mother Prelate, and thy Mother with thee; like two Boars with their Tushes in each others sides, whilst both of you desire to lay Gods Vineyard waste; like two wild Beast that are destroying one another, and all that com [...] [...] you: as if you did resemble the two paws of that B [...]ar, sacken of in the Scriptures of Truth, that had three ribs in her m [...]uths Dan. [...] 5. whose ribs they were, is not named intimating, that it matter'd not to her whose sides she tore in pieces, so she might devour much flesh; the three ribs something resembling the treble damage that for­ceth men to great distress, [...] this beast being resolved to tear [...]ll in pieces, rather then to want her Prey.

These sheep of Christ (whose clothing you have put on in that Name) look in their mouths, there is no tooth in their heads that can draw blood of their fellow creatures; their food is that which they can eat without hurting their fellow creatures: a beast, a horse and a sheep may feed in one [...] u [...]e without hurting one another: Their shepherd did not teach them to persecute men for conformity [...]though they had to do with a false deceiving and deceived people, blinde leaders of the blind, Mat. 15.14.) that diffe­red from them, but directs them to let them alone; and [Page 13] when there was men casting out devils, and followed not them, forbid them not, saith their shepherd, Luk. 9.5. Mar. 9.39. As it is against the nature of a sheep to run after a wolf to worry him, so it is against the nature of the Sub­jects of Christs Kingdom, to run after Errours and Heresies with Fire, Sword Death, Prisons and Whips in their hand; there is no such tools in Christs Kingdom; of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end, Isa. 9.7. Here, here in this place, I say, is the food and joy of their souls! whilst this brood of Mystery Babylon have no soul-food or content, except they may have a whip and other tortures in their hand to drive their neighbours into con­formity. Thus going about to build up Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity, Mic. 3.10. and the chief rea­son of this their violence, is, their heart is so fraught with pride and covetousness, that they cannot endure any Mor­decal who will not give them honour, nor any piece of hus­bandry that will not yeild them tenths or composition; and this maketh them ( H [...]man-like) to run to the Magistrate when they conceive themselves wronged in this case. Look to thy self, Presbytery, I may not own thee for the body of Christ, because thou art not recorded in the Scriptures of Truth.

Truth speaketh.

To have a neer Relation to me onely in similitude, will not make thee in Union with me; to be almost a Christian (like Agrippa) is to be no Christian, Act. 26.28. To be al­most in heaven, and go no further, is never to come there; there is many who undertake to counterfeit me, but there is no likeness in all things of me, but my self: but the Counterfeits are in something lame, or in something super­fluous: I agree with all and every command of God in Scri­pture, and there is room for nothing else in me, but what Scripture will own.

The Scriptures of Truth doth not clearly own you, the Scripture clearly owneth, that, upon believing, men and wo­men ought to be, and were baptized, and walk together in Church-order; of this there is many witnesses throughout the [Page 15] new Testament, as Act. 8. and Act. 2, &c. but not one witness that unbaptized persons walked in Church order, or that Infants was commanded to be (or was) baptized: of the first there is certainty, neither thou, nor all the Learned Rabbies in the world can deny it; of the second there is but a May-be, and that from mans inventions.

I charge you all, and all that reads this writing, as you fear God, to search the Scripture, and see if in this particular you can attain to a better proof then a May-be; if thou canst not, be ashamed, and repent, for I look at thee to have more shame in thee, then either thy Grandmother or thy Mother, and presume not above what is written: you need do no more then Scripture warranteth you, it hath enough in it (if observed in Letter and Spirit) to furnish the man of God throughly to perfection and all good works, 2 Tim. 3.17▪ then lay aside all your Ordinances that are grounded upon May-be, though the wisest men that ever were in the world invented them; O consider God will take Vengeance on inventions, though they be of Moses, Aaron and Samuel, Psal. 99.6. to vers. 8. Consider also that mans inventions diverteth him from his Uprightness, Eccles. 7.29.

And whereas yon tell me of chusing Pastors your selves, let me tell you, Pastors and Teachers are given by God, and not chosen by men; and except it be found in Scriptures of Truth, that man is directed to chuse any such Officers, take heed lest thou erect an Idol of thine own invention in so doing, instead of following Gods direction. God knoweth well thou canst nor chuse as God chuseth, for man looketh at the outward appearance ( viz. a man that delivereth well-composed words) but the Lord knoweth the heart; take heed lest those that thou hast chosen (building upon their choice) silence those Pastors which God hath given, and that are gifted by God: Thou art no more able to chuse a Pa­stor for thy self, then a company of School-boyes are to chuse a wise, learned Master: therefore God no where in Scripture put the choice of Pastor into thy hands: I advise thee, take it not: It is true, that a company of men who have followed Christ in the Regeneration, in Faith, Repentance, [Page 16] Baptism, and (in the Form) have the Spirit and Life, have heard and learned of the Father, and have the Son revealed in them; even as the outward skin of the body, and the inwards, as Heart, Mind, Members, are all imbodied, and presented to our Understanding in one Body, so Form and Power, living Faith, and Repentance, and prevailing Prayer, which makes us as Israel, viz a Prince prevailing with God; like as the Tree and Fruit, the Sap and the Rinde, so Gods Order and Life are not to be separated, but are one in ano­ther brought forth: The Form obeyed being the Creatures Duty, Life in the Form being Gods owning or acceptance in the Creature, like a golden Sceptre stretched forth by God, and like a seal of God, set upon the creatures heart, which maketh his heart merry, the joy of the Lord being his strength, Ephes 1.13. Eccles. 8.10. A company of such men (I say) that so have entrance into the Kingdom of God, viz. that have submitted to his Government, receiving the new birth of water and the Spirit in baptism, and all the following com­mands recorded in the written word (that great Charter being their Law, without mixture of mans inventions, and thereby owning Christ to be their Lord, and themselves to be inchartered Citizens, he ruling over them (not like those recorded in Luke 19.14. by the same Charter) have authority to chuse two sorts of Officers for ordering of the outward man: but a Pastor is a higher thing, it is a gift of God, a heart-feeding gift, viz Bishops and Deacons, the one to keep the Church in order, the other to take care of the poors ne­cessities to relieve them; whose bowels of tender-hearted­ness have appeared to their natural Relations; whose wis­dom hath been fruitful in governing by love; these may be chosen by mans Election, if there be any that have the qua­lification the Scripture layeth down, not else; as in Tit. 1.6. If any be blameless. &c.

There is no haste in chusing what God hath not marked out; If God hath not given thee men of such qualifications, as he approveth on, thou hadst better be without Governors lon­ger, then to set up Antichrist in Christs chair: In this sense, He that believeth maketh not haste, Isa. 28.16. viz. to act [Page 17] without his Guiders rule. The name of a Bishop hath the nature of his Office included into it, which is ruling and o­versight; aptness to teach is but a qualification, that any o­ther Member may have, in whom the Spirit of God doth or shall breath, being a truth-evidencing, and forceable con­straint, and cannot stay for leave of Election by man to utter it self, which indeed is a gift of God, or Pastoral Spirit; as Marriage is another qualification wherein the spirit of go­vernment must appear fruitful both in wife and children, and that from conjugal and natural love to the Yoak fellow, and procreated (in which affections Faith appeareth, and for want of them, infidelity, 1 Tim. 5 8.) so that children cannot be wanting to a Bishop, in whose government, the Royal Law (Love) of Gods Church is resembled, Marriage being the Type of Christ and his Church; and it is certain that a batche­lor, or one that hath no children, or one whose wife and children are not qualified according to the word, cannot be chosen, except man will set his May-be against Gods Must-be: And so I leave thee Independant, warning thee to take the counsel of Christ to the Angel of the Church of Laodi­cea, Rev. 3.17.

Truth speaketh.

* [...] resembling God's people [...] great humility, Psal. 17. [...]1. As in the vision of Esdras, the Eagles heads slept until her Feathers had reigned, as in 2 Esd. 12 25. These are they that shall accomplish his wicked­ness, and finish his last end: even so in Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, and abominations of the whole earth, the heads, and subtilest, and strongest of her delusions she hath kept until her last end (which I hope is approaching) that thou who wouldst not receive the Truth in the love thereof, mightst not hear the reproof of thy walk­ing in false forms any longer, in so much that thou couldst not deny, that if forms must be owned, thou must come out of them, and come into the form of godli­ness: Satan hath now cozened thee another way, and thy AS GOD, he hath perswaded thee that all forms must be cast off, and the Law of the Spirit of Life entertained.

O cunning and subtile, (but false delusions) the words of the Prophets, and the Commandment of the Apostles were set in opposition formerly to lusts, 2 Pet. 3.1, 2. but never to the way of Righteousness by any but these last members of Babylon. Peter, in Chap. 2. 1. & 2. hath these words, And many shall follow their pernitious wayes, by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of. Wherein we may per­fectly see, that their wayes and the wayes of Truth, stands in flat opposition one to another. Also in the first verse it is testified, that to bring in these damnable heresies, is to deny the Lord that bought them: but he himself is so far from that opi­nion in verse 21. of the said Chapter, that he chargeth the [Page 19] way of Righteousness, and the holy commandments as the very Centre from which Apostates fall; so that you may be­hold clearly that it is not a Righteousness they are charged for falling from, for that is the secret issues which is betwixt God and the heart; but the way of Righteousness, which is visible to the understanding of Man.

Many of their Leaders, whilst they were able to hold the Antichristian form, they were in the esteem of godly Priests, whose infants Baptism, and learned, specious Pastoral care, so much applauded by wise, sober, rich, silken-coated Profes­sors, then (I say) not being able to resist the clear evidence that the true form of Godliness hath, because they did not love to be disquieted out of the woman Jezabels bed, Rov. 2.22. where they lay in pleasure of imagined Godliness, a­mongst a company of wise, sober Professors, they were then so far from receiving the love of the truth, that they grew into disquietness of mind, and hatred of that form of God­liness that Christ and His Apostles, and their Disciples wal­ked in for many years; even (till the time that Antichrist grew popular) in so high a measure Satan being ready with this Temptation) that they struck hands with this strong de­lusion, and so believed the lies thereof, 2 Thes. 2.11. that they cryed down all forms, that they might be shut of (yea and avenged of) that form, the thoughts whereof so much troubled them: if they knew their own hearts, they would ingeniously confess this.

Therefore, whosoever desireth further satisfaction in this matter, is referred to a Book that the Author hath written, called The Doctrine of the Light, within the natural man, lead­ing to eternal Life, examined by Scripture Light.

Truth speaketh.

I tell thee Church of Christ, as thy name is the house of God, the Church of the living God, the Pillar and Ground of the truth, thou art not in thy order reproveable by Scriptures, 1 Tim. 3.15. And if any Enemy whatsoever undertake to reprove thee, and hath not Christs weapon he fought Satan with, v [...]z. it is written, though he tell thee of standing in the Will of God, or being led by the Spirit, or of an inward Teacher, or of Light within, as if there were some secret thing that passed by peeping and muttering, which right Rea­son cannot be used about the understanding of, they are no better the▪ VVizards or Familiar Spirits; To the Law and to the Testimonies, if there they miss any thing ( viz. in that they hold forth or teach) and speak not according to this word, though they talk of Light within, it is because there is no Light in them, Isa. 8.19, 20. and their light is darkness, Mat. 5.19. fear thou no such Enemies, but live in the nature of rejoycing, there meet thy God, there work Righteousness, Isa. 64.5. viz. That which Christ began and shewed us, when he said, Thus it becometh Ʋs, &c. Mat. 3.5. Take thou no­tice o [...] the continuance of Gods wayes, though the Enemy would tell thee they are ended: and so expect thy Salva­tion.

And against the fear of those that would set a Spirit which teacheth not to obey Scriptures, and follow the examples of Christ and His Disciples in opposition to a Spirit that teach­eth to live in obedience to Scriptures, and to follow the Ex­amples aforesaid, Rom. 15.4. Comfort thy self by Faith in Scripture, and there with patience cast the Anchor of thy hope, Phil. [...].4. Rejoyce alwayes, yea, again I say rejoyce.

[Page 23]And that thy rejoycing may not be in vain, take these Cautions.

First, Take heed that thou miss not of a way within a way, if thou bless thy self in the high way, without the way which is called holy, Isa. 35.8. which holy way is recorded in Job 28.7, 8, 9, 10. Is the turning up all things by the roots, cutting forth rivers among the rocks, discovering every pretious thing, binding the floods from overflowing, bringing forth hidden things to light. The high way being thy duty to walk in, the holy way being the laying of Gods hand upon Christ thy Cove­nant, and doing all thy works for thee, Isa. 26.12. holding thee that thou canst not depart from him, and quickning the desires of thy soul, Psal. 18.17, 18. In all thy acts of obedi­ence, thy Faith must be in the operation of God, Col. 2.12. through which our Duties are living Ordinances performed by two co-workers.

Secondly, Take heed whilst you walk into the way of God, that your great business be to seek God, His Face, His strength evermore, Psal. 105.3, 4. where the Psalmist maketh this the ground of his joy; therefore (if you fail herein) your joy is groundless. In which search love kindleth more and more, as thou comest neerer God; so as the soul groweth sick of love, and cannot cease to press hard after God, Psal. 63.8. because it is upbeld by Gods right hand, till thou know thy self to be set as a seal upon Christs arm and his heart for ever, Cant. 8.6. and then also wilt thou follow on to know the Lord, Hos. 6.3.

Thirdly, Take heed thou be not defiled in the way, Psal. 119.1. for it is less offence to bring a beastly Creature into a hogstie, or any filthy place, then to bring it into a Princes presence-chamber, or a bed of love, where there ought to be nothing loathsome, but all to be lovely, and love pro­voking Objects: So is it less wickedness to have a mind and conscience defiled, in beastly prophaness, then to bring such a minde into the House of God, the Church of the living God, Tim. 1.15. That thy soul may bee deeply ingaged, take notice of the whole Order of persons and things wherein thy communion lies with the Father and his Son [Page 24] Jesus Christ, 1 Joh. 1.3, 4. The whole Order is the innu­merable company of Angels, the General Assembly of the first­born, that are written in heaven, unto God the judge of all, unto Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then the blood of Abel.

In the first place consider, whether the Father and the Son can have communion with thy sins, thy worldly plea­sures, or pursued honours? in a condition where right and strong and pure Objects of eternal love, forceth the heart to a strong purgation, 1 Joh. 3.3. No, no, all thy pleasures, honours, &c. must be thrust from thee, as a menstruous rag.

Secondly, Consider, whether such company can delight to talk with thee of good bargains, the honour thou hast from great persons, the delicates wherewith thy feasts are furnished, and thy new fashions: No, no, I tell thee, the mind that can feed on these things, is too defiled for Gods ways and can take no pleasure in Heavenly food; a pure mind is capable of remembrance of the commandments of Christ and his Apostles, 2 Pet. 3.2. of the enjoyning the commanded loving kindness of God, which hath such warmth and power, that it maketh them become one new heart with this new wine, and Gods Song with them in the right, when God useth their heart, their joy, and their and his own delight to sing his songs with, and their prayer with the God of their life, Psal. 42.8. As if it were said, God the life of his childrens prayer is with them in their act of praying. They need not travel hundreds of miles to present (their Petitions on pilgrimage: the marrying of his body together, and the rejoycing over them, as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his bride, Isa. 52.4.5. proves Gods presence at their heart-working-life. Here, here, I say, is perfection, when God in a perfect way visiteth a perfect heart: the living man is as well able to lay aside his breathing, as these are able to forbear pressing on towards the mark, Phil. 3.14. or to follow af­ter God, having no pattern but the Heavenly Fathers per­fection to imitate, Psal. 36.8. being under the laver of that Blood which was shed by this eternal Spirit, Heb. 9.14. Our perfection is in the life a working, it is yet perfe­cting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1. and whilst we [Page 25] draw our natural breath, the blood of Christ in cleansing will do its work, the fear of God its work, and our Heaven­ly Father will stand for our Pattern, and our Christ will be our life, 1 Joh. 1.7.

There is nothing but it may be yet a perfecting in us, only our purchase by the blood of Christ is perfectly paid, and in that sense it is finished, and our salvation un­dertaken: if either the Tempter were dead, or we our selves stronger then Adam was in his innocency, or the e­vil day and hour of our temptation past, Gal. 6.1. we might speak of such a perfection as admitted of no imperfection; but whilst the Scripture is of use, let him that thinketh he stand­eth take heed lest he fall; and we may (as the case now stan­deth with us) with Paul speak of perfection and imperfe­ction both in one Chapter, Phil. 3. If thou beest undefiled in the way, thy soul will be in this frame: 1. Thou wilt not endure to see the least defilement in thy self, without loathsome apprehensions of thy self, and running to that fountain which is set open for sin and iniquity to wash in, Zech. 13.1. And 2. If undefiled in the way, thou wilt be always a running, and not carelesly sleeping, Heb. 12.1. but rather weeping with thy face thitherward, Jer. 50.5. either for joy, shame, desire, or all these; so strongly will thy heart be ingaged to seek the Lord, Jer. 30.21.

A fourth caution. Take heed that every one of you strive by watching, begging of God, beseeching one another to keep from among you Egyptian bondage; this ruling one over ano­ther with rigor, Exod. 1.13, 14. which might not be one brother over another in the time of the Law. Reason first, because that love which procured the shedding of Christs blood, hath caused his poor Members to be set as a Seal on his heart and upon his arm, Cant. 8.6. and owned them for his people, Isa. 51.16. Therefore if thou hast Gods love shed abroad in thy heart to constrain thee, afford it them out of thy breast.

A second Reason why we should not rule over our Bre­thren with rigour, is, we are, and so was Elias, subject to the like passions that any feeble, brother is, Jam. 5.17. and thou mayest come to be remoted, Gal. 5.1. and it is possi­ble [Page 26] thy temptation may be this, that Satan may move thee to have low, contemptible, yea. (it may be) hateful thoughts of thy brother, and thou mayest have a Spirit of putting a­way, and covering violence with a cloak, Mal. 2.16. there­fore take heed of this temptation.

The third Reason, why not with rigour, &c. Because thou art not godly or Godlike in so doing: for he did not take thee at advantages when he might justly have cut thee off, but waiteth for thee that he may be gracious unto thee, and will wait upon all to that purpose, Isa. 30.11. He cut none off suddenly, in a few days or a week, &c. nor pres­sed thine offences to all advantages, that he might break thee off; he hath given contrary rules to that, to his Apo­stles and Disciples how to move towards their Brethren, Luke 17. the five first verses.

Let my fifth caution therefore be, That for no supposed advantage sake, or fear of disadvantage to the truth, thou darest step from the Rule that Christ laid down, one jot; for if thou dost, it is a judging of the Law-makers wisdom and foresight; as if he did not foresee and provide in his rule for all following effects.

Secondly, It is an exalting of thine own wisdom, in that thou thinkest thou seest cause to be a ruler further then he hath left a rule to guide thee by.

Thirdly, Thou mayest assay (in so doing) to prevent the fruit that God bringeth forth by contrary means. In this case how far might Abrahams imagination have fought against Gods command? He might have said of Isaac, he was the son of the Promise; and the Promised seed is in his loyns, &c. Amongst other Scriptures, I offer to thy conside­ration, Luk. 17. the 5. first ver. where after the position laid down in the 2 first ver. in the 3 following ver. he thus apply­eth, Take heed to your selves (as if he should say, Here will be a dangerous temptation) If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; if he repent, forgive him; if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, and say, It repenteth me, thou shalt forgive him. Where note, that the offenders heart is not to be judged by the offended. God allows thee nothing but his tongue to judge of in this [Page 27] case; it may be his heart may more melt afterwards then at the first turning, by the offended's tenderness or other means: and the offended ought (from bare judg­ment) to forgive him, if he do it as his duty, observing Christs rule; his heart may be opened with more love and tenderness to the Offender afterwards also, then at the first turn. However it is better to walk in self-denyal in this case, and observe Christs rule, then to satisfie thine own offended spirit; however, if thy brothers heart and tongue should not agree in his repentance, God hath not made thee a judg of evil thoughts, Jam. 2.4. And the Apostles answered, The Lord increase our faith: which answer proves they had great need of help to strengthen their faith to this purpose.

A sixth Caution. Take heed of this Doctrine, That Saints do not serve God for salvation, but from the knowledge of salvation. This Doctrine not being rightly divided, hath been a stumbling block to many. Man since Adams fall is cor­ruptly so proud, that nothing but the top of excellency will serve his turn, and therefore to be as gods knowing good and evil, tickled his mind. You shall hardly find one in a society (men are in this point so heightned by the Tempter) that will acknowledge he cometh to God for salvation, though it be at the first hour of the receiving into society. Men under this temptation are not willing to begin to stand without till the good man of the House be risen up, Luk. 13.25. but all judge themselves finders from the self-flatte­ring conceit, before they have enjoyed the Lord Christ by manifestation. Few will own that there may be a conditi­on of darkness in one that feareth God, Isa. 50.10. They had rather in this temptation compass themselves about with sparks, ver. 11, as if all had right to baptism only upon that account that is recorded in Act. 10. viz. Who should forbid water that these should not be baptised, that have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And those that enquired, What shall we do to be saved? had no right, Act. 2. Though it be certain they received the Holy Ghost after Baptism, and also it is certain, that at the first the Disciples served Christ as servants, though after they were owned by Christ upon a more full account, Joh. 15.15. There was a [Page 28] time when Paul knew Christ after the flesh, which must needs be for self-ends, or good that might come to himself there­by; but after that, he knew neither man nor Christ any more after the flesh, but wholly having his spirit of love and de­light exercised upon them, to rejoyce in Christ, and to serve the creature, with the love of Christ shed abroad in his heart.

I would that all who are in Church-fellowship, upon ac­count of Faith and Repentance, and have not as yet at­tained to assurance, would (with understanding) own their condition, it would make them give all diligence to make their calling and Election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. Therefore lest Members should split themselves upon this stumbling-block, shew your selves workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Tim. 2.15.

Caution 7. Whereas Disputes hath been formerly, viz. about that time the Ranters and Quakers first sprung up; some holding it to be their Priviledg (but not their Duty) to serve the Lord; I advise thee to abolish this Dispute from thy Societies, and from your particular spirits: for it is the greatest Priviledge that can be, to have a heart united to fear God's Name, whilst they walk in God's truth, being instru­cted in His way, Psal. 86.11. Here is no liberty from Duty, to walk in God's wayes and in his truth, and yet a heart uni­ted by God, and that to fear His Name; and from this very act is David set at liberty to praise God's Name, Psal. 86.12, 13.

I demand whether it be not a Saints Priviledge to have a heart enlarged by God, and yet it is then to run the way of Gods Commandments, Psal. 119.32. viz. enlarged and set at liberty from the pit of corruption, Isa. 38. from the horri­ble pit, Psal. 40.1. to be bound to Gods love and wisdom, who hath provided Commandments that he knows serveth to unite thy heart to God; he hath commanded nothing but righteous things, which are according to the Divine Nature, that thou art (or art to be) partaker of, 2 Pet 1.4. and thou art (or art to be) joyned to God and one Spirit, that is to say, the breathings, love desire, delight of God is to be thine, and thy souls delight to breath in them, and thus thou art [Page 29] in union with God, in Christ Jesus; so that the same things are now commanded by the Law of the spirit of Life, Rom. 8.2. which was by the Law of Sin and Death, viz. it had been Sin and Death to thee, if thou hadst not done those Com­mandments which the Law of the Spirit of Life hath enabled thee to do; but they are a Law still, and now having a heart set at liberty, the Commandments which were before a bur­den, is now not made grievous by love: and if the love of God be a Saints Priviledge, it is nothing less then to bind us to our Duties; for this is the love of God, that we keep his Commandments, and His Commandments are not grievous to us, 1 Joh. 5.3. Lo, here is no freedom from Duty. Christ Jesus, who said, If the Son make you free, you are free indeed, Joh. 8.36. said also, If ye love me, keep my Commandments. Here you see that love bindeth the freest people in the world to their Duty of obedience, Joh 14.15.

And when Christ proclaimed his yoke to be easie, and his burden light, He did not alter it from being a yoke and a bur­den, Mat. 11.30. but it is a sweet burthen, when there is nothing save a constraining love upon thy heart; it is a sweet yoke when thou art fastened to Christ Jesus and his Saints, to tread one trace by love in keeping such Commandments, as that the things commanded Christ, and his Saints, and thou in the unity of spirit loveth, upon account of the Comman­ders love and wisdom, how can such Commandments be grievous? 1 Joh. 3.4. But if any should further still contend for liberty in this Case, let them know, that sin is the trans­gression of the Law, vers. 8. and whosoever committeth sin is of the Devil, 1 Joh. 2.4. and let all who think they know God (whilst they despise that which He and His Disciples com­manded and practised) let them remember this word writ­ten in 1 Joh. 2.4. He that saith he knoweth God, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a Lyar.

As from this opinion that was sometimes in the Church, (I desire it lurk not secretly there yet) the Ranters and Qua­kers sprung, so also do now those who are zealous in decking their bed of Love, which they (poor deceived ones!) under pretence of peace-offerings and reconcilement to God, in [Page 30] performing the very Vows of their souls, Prov. 7.14. seek to draw Proselites in a bed of solace with love, being so ena­bled (as they think) and covered sufficiently, and beautified as with gifts and graces, vers. 16. that they can hide them­selves and others from the reproof of Truth, whilst they are workers of iniquity; though they say they preach and cast out devils in Christs Name, &c. He that knoweth their works will call them so, Mat. 7.22, 23.

And also they have perfumed their bed with divers spices, Prov. 7.17. and it is too too true, they hold forth the like­ness of some of those spices, but not all; that Jesus Christ in his Visitation of His Spouse, cometh perfumed unto His Spouse-Bed, Cant. 3.6, 7. and these in the good Mans absence will have other pleasures and lusts then to obey their Lord; they have contracted a hatred in His absence to his Rule and Government, and will not have it, Luk. 19.14. and thus these poor deceived ones will be cut off, for making a perfume and smelling to it, in other places then where God and his Peo­ple meet, Exod. 30.35. to 38. which is in God's wayes, while they rejoyce in working Righteousness, Isa. 64.5. viz. in ruleful obedience, where love to Christ is proved by keep­ing his Commandments; and the love of God and Christ, together with their manifestation, is promised.

These Libertines, tell them of walking in the wayes that Christ and His Disciples walked in, and they will reply, If God let them see it, they will obey. May not Solomon's harlots say as well (when the good Man of the house is come home) who will instruct her? for that is Christs practise with His Spouse, Psal. 32 8. she will forsake all her wooed Proselites, and cease to heal, defend and cover them, and will no more counterfeit a perfume to perswade them that Christs favour of his oyntments is amongst them, but but will come to the good man, and walk with Him in obedience to His Com­mandments, and abide in His love, is He hath kept His Fa­thers Commandments, and abides in His love, Joh 15.10. So that if it be truth (as surely it is) they refuse to obey; when the good Man of the house is come home, they must then see it, though they shut their eyes, and blame his absence for [Page 31] their disobedience, whose presence would let them see, and with this excuse fall fast asleep in the arms of him who rules in the children of disobedience; whilst he furnisheth them with all counterfeit evidences of good, as if God were in their hearts all this while, 2 Thes. 2.4. the words are these: So that he, AS GOD, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing him­self that he is God.

And the first evidence that he furnisheth them with may be this, viz. That Christ hath put His beauty upon them: for the beauty of Christ may be put on one, and that by Christ, and yet they play the harlot with it, Ezek 16.14. here is the work of the Prince of the air, in a disobedient heart, to find wayes for Israel to disobey God, and give up a soul to Lust, and so play the harlot, even as if she were opening her heart or her legs, for Christ to take His pleasure in her, and she in Him.

A second evidence of him who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, is, in the pleasure of the Plant which is but a strange slip; It must needs be a strange slip, if your wayes be not those wayes which Christ and His Disci­ples walked in, for three hundred years after Him: your wayes must then be your own, and of your own chusing, and strange from Christs, Isa. 36.34. viz. The teacher with plea­sure to thee and himself, may plant in thy heart with thy con­sent, or with thy soul, a disobedient slip, strange to Gods word, it being not there to be found; and for all thy de­light, thy portion will be desperate sorrow in the end, Isa. 17.11, 12. here is a deceitful work of the ruler in the heart of the children of disobedience.

3. He can make you lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord amongst us? no evil can come to us, Mic. 3.11. he can make thee bless thy self in the name of God, with confi­dence of freedom from evil.

4. Whilst thou art asleep, he can furnish thee with a flatter­ing spirit, that causeth thee to dream, and healeth thee in thy disobedience; and so in your preaching and hearing one a­nother, you have nothing but healing and pleasure, and love to tell one to another in disobedience: whereas he who hath [Page 32] Gods word, will preach it faithfully, Jer. 23.28. and for his pains shall be cast out of your Societies: so unwelcome is the thoughts of obedience (to Christs Commandment) to those who dream they shall be saved without it: Although the true Saint be not only moved to obedience for salvation sake, but for loves sake; and thus by maintaining that which Christ neither taught nor practised in his worship, or at least, by gathering of what Christ taught, by pieces and snatches, and leaving the rest, viz. by taking that which will, and lea­ving that which will not serve the lusts of a proud Society, that thou mayest hold some union with them, thou fightest a­gainst the Lyon of God, and at the best (in this thy dream) dost but think thou eatest; when Truth it self shall awake thee, and thou be convinced of thy disobedience, thou wilt find thy self hungry, Isa 29.7, 8.

And if any strive to awake them out of this their dream, wherein they have neither Truth nor Reason for their pra­ctise, they will say, Let me alone with my Religion, and I will let you alone with yours. Whereas if they would not thus har­den their hearts, but let Judgement come forth to Victory, what violent wrestling would there be in them? what ask­ing and enquiring would their hearts be filled with? what weeping with their faces towards God and his wayes would melt their souls? Jer. 50.5. and not asking (as now they do) with their hearts set against Gods ways, to see if they can find any word (which if it do meet them) it must be by the spirit of delusion, mis-interpreted, to defend them from obedi­ence to God and his ways. Is it not just, that these should have strong delusions, that they may believe lies? 2 Thes 2.11. Will not this properly one day be said unto them, Bring forth the blind people that have eyes? Isa. 34.8.