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AFter this mans blindenes was restored, then he saw much mur∣muring &c. An•• yet you could neuer se rightl•• into your selues, for if you cold then should you perceue that you your selues, the Papists, Anabaptistes, Pe∣lagians, and Libertines are those that
make the rebelliō, and are cause of the dissention and disobedience to spiritu∣al and temporall gouernors. And fur∣ther you saw no peace should be on earth, or continue without the seruice of loue. The doutfull significatiō of this word Loue is often confounded amōg your Familie, sometime you woulde haue it taken for God, sometime for Christ, and sometime for your wholl doctrine and profession, and sometime for a property or vertue proceeding frō God: but to take it simply as I thinke you mean it for the order and manner of your doctrine and seruice of God: Then we aunswere, that Christ his peace we haue inioyed in his church, and it hath contynued with his church since his assention, and yet I confesse that such was his pleasure, to afflicte his church, to suffer wicked persons to persecute the same, yet his peace the church neuer wanted. Therfore your sight was very dimme, when you saw such things.
Moreouer you saw that no king∣dome
should prosper which is agaynst the loue: Kingdoms and nations haue prospered, and do prosper by the pro∣tection of the almighty, with his bles∣sing, and yet are against your Familie of loue. Therfore cleare your specta∣cles, and looke better vpon the matter, for surely I thinke you were in some dreame whē you writ this. And wher as you would haue vs beleeue y• king∣dome and seruice of the loue, is y• king¦dome of God the father, the sonne and the holy Ghost, this you haue brought in to make the world beleeue that your Familie of loue is nothing els but the true doctrine sent from God, but you herein deceue your selues and others, for the doctrine taught among you, is strange, and no where to be found in the word of the Lord: and your Au∣thor HN. geueth testimonye on••ly of himself, without warrant from God, or his word, therfore your doctrine in the Familie of loue is not from God the Father, &c.
If you say that others also geue te∣stimony
of HN. his doctrine, & name vnto vs it is your Fidelitas, who in deede in his booke chapter 2. sex. 8. say∣eth as followeth.
You shal furthermore vnderstād▪ that the iudgement which the God of heauen hath declared through HN. vpō earth, & set forth through the same his minister, is very true, & that also the same iudgement, pro∣nounceth and declareth the right forme and state of all what is in hea∣uen and vpon earth, of all what is Gods and mans, spirituall and hea∣uenly, and of all what is naturall, right, and reasonable: And that no such wonderfull workes coulde be wrought nor brought forth by any man, vnles God were with him, &c.
In deed this fellow Elder Fidelitas, testyfieth much of your HN. But whe∣ther his testimony be true, let vs exa∣mine it a litle. If the iudgemēt which God hath declared through HN. be ve¦ry true, thē was there no truth before. For, HN. teacheth such a doctrine as
was neuer heard of in the world since the creation, especially the doctrine how man is godded with God &c. and tha•• man and God had all one order, being and nature. Also the doctrine of pe••••e••••••on to be in this life attayned vnto, and that the law is possible to be kept, all which if it be very true what ••N. hath declared and set sorth, then doth the holy Ghost in the scriptures teach vs contrary, as shall appeare more ••n treating of the particularities of these poynts.
Moreouer if we would geue credite to this Fideli••as, he would haue vs be∣leeue that N••. pronounceth, and de∣clareth the right state of all, what is in heauen and vpon earth, what is Gods and mans, spiritual and heauenly, na∣turall right and reasonable &c. Belike he thought his bookes should neuer haue been perused by any, but of such as are drowned in the drowsie dremes o•• this fantastical doctrine. One More of ••u••••er, in ••••••ng ••••wardes dayes, and one 〈…〉〈…〉 of Manchester, in
this our Quéenes dayes, tolde of such vayne and friuolo••s matters, but they were punished as Lunatikes.
And whereas your Fidelitas, sayth that no such works could be wrought by anye, vnlesse the Lord were with him, this is as strongly affirmed as the other part is monstrous and vn∣godly. For I praye you examine what are the works that HN. hath so notably brought forth, which doth ma∣nifest y• God is with him. His bookes peraduenture you mean••. What his bookes are, and out of what spirit they procéed, is easely perceiued. A simple wit hauing such a guide, could deuise agaynst Christ his doctrine as fine rid¦dles as HN. hath published: & should carry a more shew of truth then his bookes do. For schollers and children are able to confute his follies suffici∣ently: they cary such absurdities with them, both against the Scriptures of God, and against all common reason, and nature.
The kingdome of Israell shal be
set vp again, & the childrē of loue shall raigne therin (you say) but when shall this your prophesie take place you tell vs not. In deede Dauid George tolde vs before the like prophe••y, that the true house of Dauid should be erected, and the children of loue should raigne therin. Why delite you your selues with such speaches? For in this worl•• these thinges according to the letter, ••hall not happen, but they are spoken to assure vs of the resurrection, and to shadow the ioyes of the kingdome of heauen, whereby our harts should be lifted vp with expectation of his pro∣mise.