Ansvvers to severall queries put forth to the despised people called Quakers, by Philip Bennett, who cals himself a minister of Christ, but is found a deceiver; answered by them to whom they were directed. Also, ansvvers to severall other subtil queries put forth by one Iohn Reeve, who lives in the City of London, who cals himself the last messenger and witnesse unto the true God, but is found a false witnesse, and a lyar, and a perverter of the right way of God. / Answered by Edward Burrough, and Francis Howgill, who are witnesses unto the truth against this subtil serpent-like generation.

Answers to several other subtil Queries put forth by one Iohn Reeve who lives in the City of LONDON, who cals him∣self the last Messenger and Witnesse unto the true God, but is found a lyar, and a perverter of the right way of GOD.

A Certain Writing is come to our hand, called an Epistle from the Mighty JEHOVAH, or Jesus the onely LORD, and God of the Elect Israelites, from one, whose name is subscribed Iohn Reeve Pilgrim, who cals himself the last Messenger, and Witnesse unto the true God, unto which, for the sake of the simple, we, (as one Spirit) are moved of the Lord of heaven and earth to write something in answer, that so his folly may be made manifest, and his ig∣norance and blasphemy laid open, unto the simple hearted, who have been long de∣ceived by such through their false voice, lo here, and lo there; Friend, to thee, who hath subscribed this Writing, who cals thy self the last Messenger, and witnesse unto the true God, I Answer, The Lord of hosts, and God of the Elect Israelites, doth not accept thy testimony and witnesse; for thy spirit is made manifest not to be the Spirit which came from God, and which dwels with God, which bears true witnesse unto God, but the spirit which is driven out from the presence of God into the creation, and into the visible world, and that is the living spirit, and bears not true witnesse unto the true God, but is a spirit which beares witnesse to the ima∣ginations of thy own heart, which looks upon, and declares the living God, as if he were carnall, and a creature-like substance; and here the Scripture is fulfilled upon thee, thou thinks he is altogether such a one as thy self; and for the true God thou art no Messenger, nor hast received any Message from him, for thy spirit is known, and he never delivered his Message unto it in any generation, but kept his secret sealed up from it; and friend, here I charge thee in the presence of the true spiritual God, that thou be-lies the Lord of hosts, who sayes thy Epistle is from him, thou uses thy tongue, and saith, the Lord saith, When, saith the Lord? I have not spoken unto thee; & of that generation thou art which Ieremiah cryed against; and therefore let all flesh be silent before the Lord, and call not thy own imaginations his Word, but thou who hast a dream, tell thy dream for a dream, and he that hath the Word of the Lord, let him speak it faithfully; and though thou call thy self the last Messenger, and witnesse unto the true God, yet I say unto thee, verily the Lord hath a Witness which was before thee, which hath been slain in the streets of the great City, which the Lord will bring forth after thee, which will bear true witnesse of the true God, & against thee, and thou who hast been alive, shall be judged by him which hath laid slain, & he will eternally condemn thy testimony and message; Friend in the light of Christ, which hath lightened every one that comes into the world, thou art com∣prehended,

and seen, thy beginning, thy time, and thy end, and with it thy testi∣mony and Message is denyed, for thy testimony is such, and if thou swear the Lord lives, thou swore falsly, and further, thou sayes, by inspiration of the holy Spirit thou was moved to present this Epistle: I answer, the language of the holy Spirit is like it self, pure and spirituall, but thy language is carnall and sensuall, and so is thy spirit; the Saints which spake by the inspiration and moving of the Spirit, curs∣ed not that which God had blessed, as thou dost, neither did they say the Elect was defiled as thou dost, neither did they speak of God as a carnall substance, as thou dost, but said that God was a Spirit, and here be thou a witnesse against thy self, that thou speaks not by the inspiration and moving of the holy Spirit, but speaks thy imaginations, and lies in the Name of the Lord; and whereas thou sayest in this confused age, there hath appeared variety of Spirits pretending to be sent by the everlasting God, yet they are at war with all their power to overthrow one another, that their own opinions may bear rule; I answer, Among the many pretenders thou speaks of, thou art one; and it is true, you are at war with all your power en∣deavouring to overthrow one another, that your own opinions may bear rule, and though there be among you variety of opinions, yet by one Spirit you act, for the kingdome of the Devil is but one, and yet divided, and it is at war with it self, and therefore it cannot stand, and you cannot overthrow one another, but one is ap∣pearing to overthrow you all, and all your opinions, for all you pretenders are made manifest by your fruits, and thereby men may try you, for nothing is to be gathered from you but opinions and ayery imaginations, some of you speaking of a God, and Christ afarre off, to believe in, others of you speaking of a God and of a Christ within, and afarre off to believe in, thus you feed people by your own imagina∣tions, and some of you pretends Revelation, others of you denying Revelation, and thus you strive to set up your own opinion, but you live all in one nature, and are of one generation, and he that walks in the light sees you all, and comprehends you all, and judges all your opinions, and are redeemed out of all your vain im••dgina∣tion into the life of God, acting and speaking as the Spirit acts and speaks, and seeks to exalt Christ, and him to bear rule, that all opinions may be by him thrown down, and that by him people may be brought out of a confused age, into the land of r••st, and peace, and righteousnesse to serve the true Spiritual God, in the Spirit, and by the Spirit of his own Son; and further, thou sayes, some there are takes upon them to speak of a God, and of a Christ in the invisible heavens, above the starres; but are uncapable to demonstrate how Christ by his spirituall Word lives in mens hearts, and how he reigneth visibly in glory with his Elect Angels: I answer, there are not some but many, which lives in, and speaks forth their own imagina∣tions, upon God and Christ, and one of them thou art, thy spirit is tryed, God who is a Spirit, dwels in the Spirit of his Son, even in the high and holy place, and with him also who is of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at his Word; but this by thy vulterous eye is not seen, neither can any demonstrate how Christ dwels in the heart▪ but he who witnesseth it through death, and where he reigns his glory is with him, and his Elect Angels, this I witnesse, but to thy carnall eye it is invisible, and by thy carnall wisdome he can never be known, Christ and his spirituall word is not to be divided, though thy sensuall spirit would divide them, but by the flam∣ing sword thou that speaks art divided from both, and shalt know neither but to thy condemnation; and further thou sayest, others there are which speaks of an eter∣nall Spirit, or Christ onely in the consciences of men, as if there were no Creator •••• Christ at all visibly reigning upon his Throne of immortall glory; I answer,

They who talke of an eternal Spirit, or Christ in the conscience by hear say, o•• •••• other mens words, without (as thou dost) and doth not in life and power wit∣nesse it, from the Father within, made manifest, such are denyed by them who witnesse the eternall Spirit dwelling with the contrite heart, which Spirit is the Creator which dwels also in the high and holy place, and reigns upon his Throne for ever, and who do in power witnesse this, sees and judges all y••ur carnall ima∣ginations, and conceptions of the living God in your carnall minds, where he dwels shall no unclean thing enter, but is without to be troden in the wine-presse of his wrath for ever and ever, and by him shall thy carnall conceptions be consumed, even by the breath of his mouth, for he is eternall, and his Throne is eternall, and by the carnall eye shall never be seen; and further thou sayest, there are, who through unbelief that ever any living creature had a beginning, they affirm there is no God or Christ at all, but perishing nature, of this sort are innumerable, witnesse the lives and conversations of people every where; I answer, All who do witnesse the eternall Spirit made manifest, to rule and guide all such, doth deny and declare a∣against, for nothing was without beginning but the eternall Word, which was the beginning of all things, and which will be the end of all things, even the destructi∣on of the wicked, and the salvation of them that believe, who are born of the im∣mortall seed, and redeemed out of the perishing nature into the image of God, and such do set to seal there is a God, who will reward every one according to his works, and beares witnesse against them, who in their lives and conversations denies God, as all do who do not witnesse the eternall Spirit of Christ ruling in the consciences, but talkes of a God in imagination at a distance, and such are innumerable, and saith in their heart, there is no God, and such are the fools the Scripture speaks of, and whereas thou beseeches to consider of these ensuing particulars; I answer, They are considered, and by them thy ignorance is made manifest, and thy folly disclosed, and thy blasphemy, who cals thy self the last witnesse.

1 Quer. In thy first particular thou queries, Whether these men were sort forth by the eternall Spirit to preach, which in the least cannot demonstrate what the onely true God is in himself; and how he is a distinct being from all living creatures, and how he reigns in the Elect by a created Word, voice of spirituall motion onely.

Answ. Those men were not sent forth by the eternall Spirit to preach, who have not received it, and such knowes not God, what he is, no•• where he is, but in their imaginations imagines him to be like a creature, by being i•• a creature by place or habitation, God is a Spirit, and he is not distinct from living creatures, for in him living creatures lives, moves, and hath their beings, and he is not far from them, nor distinct from them as he spake, who was sent by the eternall Spirit to preach, he reigns in the Elect not by a created word, voice, or a created spirituall motion, for the Word which lives in the Elect, from which voice and motion pro∣ceeds, is not created, but is uncreated, even as God is uncreated, for God is that Word, and here thy ignorance appears, by calling the Word which lives in the Elect a created Word, or voice, or motions, and here be a witnesse against thy self that thou speaks from darknesse, and not from light, which darknesse cannot comprehend the shining of the light, and this discovers thee more to be a false witnesse, and not the true witnesse of God, and therefore thy portion must be portion of false wit∣nesses, read what it is.

2. Quer. In thy second particular thou queries, Is not this an infallible demonstra∣tion

to men, that a man is sent forth by the eternall Spirit, if he have received a gift from the holy Ghost, to demonstrate what the true Creator was in his own distinct Essences, Nature and glory, from all eternity in time, and to all eternity, and wherein Elect men and Angels differ in their natures, and glory, distinct from their Creator in their Persons.

Answ. He that hath not received a gift from the holy Ghost in some measure, is not sent forth by the eternall Spirit, or God of all truth, this is infallible, and such knowes not what the Creator is, but by imagination, and carnall conceptions of him, and such in the Light of Christ is seen, and by it judged, and among such thou art, to that in thy conscience I speak, which will witnesse me, he that hath re∣ceived the holy Ghost, turnes people from the power of Satan to the power of God, and knowes the Creator, and the dwelling of him in the heart, for as the Scripture saith, the word is nigh, but let all flesh be silent, he who is in time, knowes not him which was before time, and shall be when time shall be no more; he who knows the Creator which inhabiteth eternity, is redeemed out of time, into the Habi∣tation of the Almighty, but this to thy dark minde and spirit is unknown, if ever thou know it, it must be through death, the nature and glory of the Elect differs not from the Nature and glory of the Creator, for the Elect are one with the Crea∣tor, in his nature enjoying his glory, which was from eternity unto eternity, he that reads let him understand, thy word distinct Essence, I deny, for the Elect is not distinct from the Creator, but lives by the dwelling of the Son in him, and with the Son the Father dwels also, if thou hast an ear, thou mayest hear.

3 Quer. In thy third particular thou queries, What that angelicall serpent was in his creation, which the Scripture speaks of, and how he came to be cast out of his glo∣ry, and how he overcame innocent Eve, and how he entered into her wombe, and changed her pure seed into his nature of unclean reason? And thou askes, What think you, Was not that man Cain the first murdering, lying devill that ever was? And is there any devill but proud, vain-glorions, unmercifull men and women?

Ans. That same which speaks in thee is that same serpent which the Scripture speaks of, and if thou have the spirit of Moses, thou knowes what he was in the crea∣tion; for Moses saw his creation by that spirit which was before he was, and if thou know his creation in thy self, then thou may know him without thee, but yet he lies under his vail deceiving thee, and is not deceived by thee; and by the same which thou lives in he was cast out of his glory, even disobedience, and he overcame ino∣cent Eve even as he overcomes thee, by promising what he fulfilled not, and by presenting that which was visible, and so her minde was led out, as thine is, and by her consenting, he entered and got power, and set up his habitation, which is now standing in thee, and so she became the likenesse of himself, her minde and lust st••ayed into the visibles, out from the Creator who is invisible, and spirituall, and she now lives under the curse, and brings forth cursed children, such as thou art who puts forth these queries, and this child was begotten by him who deceived her, and he is the father and prince of all you, who are wells without water, clouds with∣out rain, and wandering starres having no habitations in the heavens, the blackness of darknesse is reserved unto you for ever, ye who speaks great swelling words of va∣nity (that ye are the last witnesses and Messengers, &c.) but you your selves are servants of corruption, and to the last part of thy querie: I answer, before Cain who is a lying devill was a child, he was a father, and if thou hast an ear, thou mayest hear, the proud, vain-glorious, unmercifull men and women, who bears his image

must with him be tormented in the lake which burneth (by the kindling of the breath of the Almighty) for ever and ever; and here thou art answered, though not to the feeding of thy wisdome, but in the light by which thou art comprehended, which light will eternally condemn thee who hates it.

4 Quer. Thou queries What condition Adam was formed in, and how he came to fall from his estate, and what sin it was they committed (Adam and Eve) and where∣by the Elect and Reprobate are defiled.

Ans. Adam was created in the image of God, and God breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul, but eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evill, therein he turned from the Command of God and did dye, if thou hast an ear thou mayest hear, and thou that queries hast eaten of that tree, and thou shalt never know in what condition he was created in, but through the death: for a sword is set at Edens gate to keep the tree of life, which will cut thee down, before ever thou know or can witnesse his estate, and as for the Elect being de∣filed, here thou makest thy self manifest, that thou never knew what the Elect was, for the Elect is born of God, and he that is born of God sins not, and the promises of God are to the Elect, and election obtains it, and the Elect was never defiled: if thou hast an ear thou mayest hear, that which is defiled shall not enter into the holy City, and here thou hast manifest thy ignorance, and art that reprobate thou speaks, which is ordained of old for condemnation, which is the transgresser which is cast out, thou hast no communion with the Elect, for thou art defiled and art without the gate, to be trodden in the wine-presse.

5 Quer. What that heavenly glory is, and where it is that the Elect wheat of Christ shall eternally enjoy, who are the seed of Adam, and not of Cain?

Answ. What that glory which the Elect which thou spoke of in thy fourth querie shal inherit which was and is defiled, it is to be in hell, in utter darknesse for ever and ever, where all the unclean are, and thou would know where it is, it is without the gate of the City, among the dogs and whoremongers, and lyars, and deceivers, and whatsoever is defiled shall be trodden in the wine-presse of the wrath of God for ever and ever, where is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. But as for the Elect wheat of Christ, which thou sayest is the children of Adam, thou speakest thou knowes not what, the first man is of the earth earthly, and he begate his image, and that which is earthly shall never inherit, but are to have their portion with Cain, where thou art that hath uncovered thy nakednesse, but the Elect and the wheat shall be gathered in∣to the barn, and they are not, nor ever were they defiled, but shall reign with the Lamb in the new Jerusalem for ever and ever, where no unclean thing can enter, nor nothing that destroyes or defiles in that holy mountain of the Lord, if thou have an ear thou may hear.

6 Quer. VVhat that painfull and shamefull death in utter darknesse, and where it is, that is reserved for the reprobate, who are the seed of Cain, and not of Adam, or blessed Abr••ham.

Answ. Thou that queries shalt surely know, it is Tophet, prepared of old even for the King, the burning of it is as fire, the breath of the Lord doth kindle it, it shall be destruction for ever and ever, to that which hath given forth these queries, and it is to be separated from God for ever among all idolaters, and adulterers, and liars, the unbelieving, the abominable, and the fearful, in the lake of fire▪ where the worm di∣eth not, nor the fire goeth not out; as for Adam thou knows nothing of him; the first birth that he begate was Cain, who slew his brother, who hath his portion with Cain, and not with Abraham, the promise was not to the transgresser, nor to Adam who

eat of the tree of knowledge, the promise came upon; in the day thou eatest thou shalt dye, he was driven from the presence of the Lord into the earth in the curse, the promise was to Abraham, in Isaack is the blessing, not in Ishmael; and here thou sh••ws thy ignorance, but it is but like the former, when thou joynes the Elect and reprobate together, light and darknesse, and in Babylon thou art, but in that which was before Babylon was, thou art seen, and as for those dark spirits thou ••peaks of, who minde nothing but their lusts, condemning the glorious things of eter∣nity, because their carnall reason cannot comprehend them: see at home, for in the light of Christ thou art seen, that thou knowes nothing of eternity, but by thy dark imaginations, and naturally as a bruite, to the light of Christ in thy conscience I speak, which will let thee see it is so.

7 Quer. Are there not deceived persons, and utterly ignorant of the true God, who judge men and women in darknesse, if they a••k them Questions about the needfull things of eternity: is it not because they went before they were sent, and so are of a bitter spirit for want of spirituall light to satisfie the ••ender Christian querier.

Ans. All who dwell not in this light, which is pure and eternall, are ignorant of God, and never knew God, such judging shall be judged, and by the light which sees and comprehends all darknesse thou art seen, but the spirituall man judgeth all things, and he is judged of none, and all judgement is committed to the Son, and where he i••made manifest he speaks, and judgeth righteously, and those men and women who would be asking questions of eternity, and never came to the first prin∣ciple to be guided by it, the light which leads to eternity, all such men and women are in darknesse, and that minde which is in the earth and in the naturals shall never know; and therefore they are judged to be in darknesse, and darknesse cannot comprehend the light, Christ and his Disciples answered and judged that spirit which would have had a sign; and called them adulterers, and which spirit we witnesse to the praise of God; and to thee that put forth the queries, I speak to thee in the pre∣sence of God, whether thou put them forth in simplicity and art ignorant, or would know, or in the pride of thy heart, and subtilty to tempt, the light of Christ will let thee see, but thou art rich and full, therefore thou must be sent empty away, all who queries from that nature that would know, but never come to obedience, that is to be judged, & judgment must thou witness, and for a bitter spirit of envy that shall stand for thy self, and that thou wants spiritual light is made manifest, which curses that which God hath blessed, as I have seen under thy own hand, far remote from this City, and that thou hast cursed them soul and body to all eternity, which thou never heard nor saw, let shame strike thee in the face, and stop thy mouth, for thou cannot put a difference betwixt the precious and the vile, but curses thou knows not what, and speaks to that thou knows not: But as for them who have a desire to know the way to the Father, we are ready to give an answer, and to impart of the gift we have received, and doth not break a bruised reed, but the fat we f••ed with judgement, and there thou art answered.

8 Quer. It is not an infallible demonstration unto them who have a discerning spirit, that tha•• man hath no commission from the true Spirit to preach or speak to a people, when for fear of his ignorance being discovered, or for fear of losing his hearers, he shall coun∣sell them to strike close to the Word of God, or to hearken to the light within them in their consciences, without what that is in the conscience, or what will be the issue of it, if men be obedient to it, or disobedient to it: and to beware of false Prophets, and not think∣ing in the least himself to be that false prophet, and thus borrowing Scripture language which we are the true Messengers of the Gospel, doth he not in his power hinder his hear∣ers

from reading the glorious things revealed unto, the two last witnesses, and so thou saith, it is clear that the Spirit is not in them which was in Paul, who gave them leave to try all.

Ans. Here thy infallible demonstration is made manifest to be fallible and lying, when thou laies that down to be a sign of them that have no commission from the Spi∣rit, and not to have the Spirit, because they exhort them to cleave close to the Word of God, and to minde the light which shines into the conscience of every man, which is the light of Christ; here thy Spirit is tryed, that thou hast not the same commission as they had, who spoke forth the Scripture, and so thou Preaches ano∣ther Gospel, for the Word of God endures for ever, and by the Word which is eternall, and which was in the beginning, who tryes all things, who searches all things, comprehends all things, and judges all things, he that cleaves not close unto, that builds upon another foundation; and by the Word which endures for ever, thou art seen, not to have that word, neither knowes what, nor where it is, neither hath cleaved to it, and so art raced out from the life, from the foundation, and the Apostle who had his Commission not from man, nor by man, he exhorted those he had preached to and wrote to, to take heed to the sure word of Prophesie, as unto a light that shined in a dark place, and to wait in it, till the day did dawn, and the day Star did arise; and for distinguishing of that in the conscience what it is, he that is not separate from the darknesse knows not how to do it. But this I say unto thee, as we declare unto all, the Light which shines into the conscience is the light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withall, and it is spirituall like himself, and eternall, and it leads out of sin, and declares against all iniquity, and he that comes to own it, and to be guided by it, it leads out of sin to know the Crosse of Christ, which is a Mistery to thee, and it leads to the eternall Word, which was in the beginning before sin was, and it will judge all thy imagi∣nations and vain conceivings, and it leads to the inheritance incorruptible out of corruptible; if thou have an ear to hear, thou may hear, it is that which will let thee see thy vain frothy imaginations, which thou hath of God, and will condemn all thy vain imaginations, and hating it, it will be thy condemnation, and there is the issue of it, and all such as steals other mens words, and the true Prophets words, and never knew the life that was in them, all such we deny, and shut them up within utter darknesse, where they, thou and both are, and for the glorious things that thou and thy partner, which call your selves the two last witnesses, it is manifest that your mysteries are as in thy book, and thy queries, where thou puts Elect and repro∣bate together, and as for tryall of spirits, we give liberty and exhort all that may try, and we direct them to that to try by, which is is infallible and eternall, where∣by they may see and comprehend thee and all who have not the Spirit. But that they should try, who hath nothing to try with, let all such be silent for ever, for none understands the Spirit but the Spirit with which we see thee, and all who stands in their imaginations ignorant of, therefore stop thy mouth in the dust, and be silent.

9 Quer. Doth not they that speak to a people that declares against all appearances, which are contrary to his way, discover himself unto a true discerning Spirit, not to be of the Lord, unlesse they can demonstrate a spirituall Commission that he hath received from heaven, by voice of words through the glorious mouth of the Lord, so that no mortall man can disprove him, though few for want of understanding receive him.

Ans. The way that leads to the Father is but one, which is Christ, and he that de∣clares from him, made manifest in him, declares against all Sects, and Opinions, and that which thou cals appearances, and the way is one, and the Tru••h one, where

there is no rent nor division, and he that dwels in the life hath discerning, and he that witnesses the annointing discernes, he is able to judge and discern, and in that thou art seen, who would sit on the throne, but thou must come down and lick the dust, dust is the serpents meat, and they who had their Commission from God, and hath their Commission from God, now they were made manifest to every mans consci∣ence in the sight of God, and this we witnesse, this the Scripture witnesseth, and he that believes hath the witnesse in himself, and the father bears witnesse, and they witnesse the voice of the Lord, which is spirituall speaking to them, and they declare from that which is spirituall to the consciences of gainsayers, and this is witnessed; but thy voice of words is carnal, and is denyed, and who art thou made manifest unto, that which is mortal cannot discern and disprove thee, but that which is immortal can, and they who are guided by the immortall denies thee, and will receive none of thy testimony, because it is not the same which the holy men of God witnessed, and doth now witnesse, which voice shakes the wildernesse, and rents the rocks, and makes the earth to reel to and fro, but to thee this is a mystery and sealed.

10 Quer. Again he that speaketh of an invisible spirituall God, or Christ living in the consciences or spirit of men, thou sayeth, he questions the truth of all the Scripture re∣cords concerning the life, death, and resurrection, and aseension of the blessed body of Christ into the throne of his immortall glory; and d••th he not que••••ion whether the consciences of the Saints being sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, which died without the g••••es of Je∣rusalem, are purified from the pollution of the flesh and Spirit, doth he not question the resurrection of the souls and bodies out of the eat••h at the last day.

Ans. Here again, thou hast made thy sha••e and thy ignorance manifest and knows not so much as the Letter of he Scripture, Paul in Apostle of Jesus Ch••ist, notby the will of man, and Minister of the everlasting God, he witnessed the Son of God revealed in him, and he ••••i••, kn••w ye 〈…〉〈…〉 Christ ••s in you, or else you are rep••••••ates, and ••h••i••t is no•• divided, and he tha•• is joyned to the Lord is ••••e Spirit, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my Father are one, ••••d w••••••e Christ dwells the Father dwells, and if thou have •••• e•••• to hear ••hou may h••••••, and if the ••••••e Spirit be not in you that raised Christ 〈…〉〈…〉 he ••••••d, you are 〈…〉〈…〉, and he that declared these things speak of a spi••i••ua••l Christ, and an invi〈…〉〈…〉 God, and who ••••all ascend up to heaven, the word is nigh, in thy mo••t•••• and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heart, and this is the same Christ that suffered without the ga••e at Jerusalem, and no other wh••••h Paul travel∣led till he was born in them, if thou have an ear th••u may hear, and the Apost•••• did not question the Scripture records, for they spoke it and recorded it, and th••y wit∣nessed the life of Christ, and his death, and resu••rection, and a••c••nsion, and witnes∣sed him ascended above thrones, and dominions, and to sit at the right hand of the Father, and witnesse the same Christ made manifest in us, and his resurrection, not because Paul said so, we have seen it, and are witnesses of it, the same that ever was, the same that did ascend, the same did ascend; this is a riddle unto thee, and seven seals is upon it, and thou that queries shall never see them opened, and they who had Christ in them, and the Father, the Son supping with them, they had their consci∣ence sprinkled, and none else for his bloud thou knows not, and so I say unto thee, thou art not sprinkled, nor thy conscience purified from dead works, and they who know Christ in them, and no more after the flesh come to know his resurrection, he is the resurrection, he is the first and the last, who knows him risen, and have seen him witnesse the first day and the last, what speaks thou of a last day, that never came to the beginning, and so thy soul lies in death, and in chains, and in utter darknesse and therefore lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and see where thou ••••t,

and the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures thou cannot witnesse.

11 Quer. If after death there is no bodily resurrection, for the spirits of men to pos∣sesse an immortall glory to eternity, or to suffer an eternall devill like shame, according to their deeds, whether good or evill. Is it not one of the vainest things in the world▪ to discourse of God, righteousnesse, unlesse it be for earthly gain amongst men.

Ans. There is a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust, the just into everlasting life, and the unjust into everlasting shame and contempt, and every one shall receive according to his works, whether they be good or evill, but this a mystery hid, for none knowes it, but through death, but what knowes thou who art yet alive in sin, what shall be in the resurrection which is after death, which whoever comes to know the resurrection, knowes the e••d of all things; therefore it is not taking their words, nor thy own imaginations, that is faith, nor if thou know Christ no nearer than Jerusalem, nor no nearer than above the starres, thou knowes not where, but through thy dark imaginations, this is not to Christ risen from the dead, see therefore what hast thou seen in thy self: But thou art dead whiles thou lives in that nature, and at the resurrection contempt and shame will be thy portion, and turn in thy minde to that which shews thee sin, and witnesse the body and sin destroy∣ed within, and then, and not till then, shalt thou know how it is in the resurrection.

12 Quer. Thou raises a question from Pauls words to the Athenians, thou was be∣fore condemning them that stole other mens words, and here thou hast stolen a Query, and thou askest what think you did that spiritual Creator, dwell and live in the Athenians consci∣ences or did his glorious person visibly appear in the highest heavens.

Ans. The Athenians to whom Paul spoke worshipped the work of their own hands, as ••his generation doth their own imaginations, and that God whom ignorantly they worshipped at a distance, which God lived in Pauls conscience, Paul declared unto them, and they looked as thou dost carnally, thinking God to be carnal and at a distance, but he ••aid he, was not at a distance from every one of them, for in him they lived, moved, and had their being, and this was the God which Paul preached of, which Creator, we witnesse, lives in the high and holy place, and with him also that is of a humble and a contri••e spirit, and trembleth at his Word.

13 Quer. And thou sayest, what think you, can there ••e any living Spirit without a bo∣dy, or person to display its life, in, or from, and must not the Creator of necessity be a glorious personall substance, and thou sayest doth not these men that worship an in••inite Spirit with∣out any bodily f••rm, living in mens consciences, onely gl••ry in a God of their own ima∣ginations, instead of honouring the onely Lord of all life, the man Jesus, yesterday, to day, and for ever?

Ans. That which is not possible with men is possible with God, which God is a Spirit as Jesus Christ saith, and a spirit hath not flesh and bone, nor a created body, but displays it self as it pleases, contrary to thy will, and the will of all men; and thou who would by thy reason ••y the Creator with a necessi••y to a personal being, are void of the knowledge of God, and led by thy corrupt reason, which shall never know God, and all those who worships God in spirit, worships an infinite Spirit, which Spirit inhabiteth eternity, and lives in the consciences of the Saints, and this is not to glo∣ry in an imagination, but a witnessing of the same eternall Truth, which he Saints witnessed which spake forth the Scripture, for they witnessed Christ dwel••ed in them, and the same God they w••rshipped, whose temple they were, and not another, and we the same witnesse, and this to the honour of the Man Jesus, who was yesterday, to day, and for ever.

14 Quer. The eternall Spirit, Creator, and alone everlasting Father, which dwels

essentially in the glorified body, as our Lord Jesus his eternall Son, and virtually reign•• in all the Saints, Elect men and Angels, be record between me and you world without ••••d, whether this Epistle shall not be sent to you, and all the chosen that shall peruse it, principally for the establishing of your tender spirits upon that eternall spirituall Rock Jesus Christ God and Man in one distinct body, or person glorified, and ••••••ly ho∣noured with all spirituall praises from Elect men and Angels when this world is consu∣med into ashes, and all time or times is swallowed up into eternity or eternities.

Ans. The eternall Spirit, which is the everlasting Father, which thou saith is es∣sentially in the Son, thy word essentially I deny, and thy voice, yet Christ and the Father is one, and the same Spirit that dwels in the Son dwels in the Father which is one, I and my Father is one, the same dwels in the Saints, thy word vir∣tuall I deny, the same that dwels in the Father and in the Son, the same dwels in the Saints, not distinct nor divided, for he that hath seen the Father hath seen the Son, and he that hath the Son hath the Father also, and Christ is divided, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one, and he that is joyned to Christ is one spi∣rit, and not distinct nor separate: if thou have an ear thou may hear, and that eter∣nall Spirit, which is the Father and the Son, which dwels in the Saints, is judge of thee, and by that Spirit I judge thee, that this Epistle came not from him to none of the chosen, for they who are chosen deny thy voice, and what dost thou speak of E∣lect and Angels, with whom God dwels, when in thy fourth Querie thou said, they were defiled, and the holy Ghost saith, he dwels with no uncleannesse, and so speaks confusion and Babylons language, which is the land of thy nativity, from whence all these things have been spoken by thee, and all that shall ever be established with thy declaring, or thy Epistles, shall be thrown down, for the Rock shall beat thy image to pieces, and therefore leave off thy speaking of him, and of thy distinct body, and of his glory, for when he shall appear in his glory, instead of thy praises, thou shalt howl and lament, and wish the mountains to cover thee, and he who is out of time shall consume thee to ashes, who stands in time and in the airie philosophy and imagination, and thy great words eternity and eternities shall stand thee in no stead; for that which is eternall was before thou was, and shall be when thou art brought down to the pit with all thy imaginations: And so that thou might not glory any more in thy shame, we have answered thy Queries, and for the simple ones sake, that they might not be stumbled by thy stumbling Queries, who dwels not in the Light.

FINIS.