A faithful discovery of a treacherous design of mystical Antichrist displaying Christs banners, but attempting to lay waste Scriptures, churches, Christ, faith, hope, &c. and establish paganism in England. Seasonably given in a letter to the faithful in and near to Beverley. Containing an examination of many doctrines of the people called Quakers in Yorkshire, together with a censure of their way, and several items concerning the designs of God, Satan, and men, in these things, recommended to the consideration of them who are in good earnest for Christ.

But that we may take the foxes, and the little foxes that spoil our vines which began to have tender grapes let's yet make search and see how for the driving on the great design of overthrowing the Gospel as administred by Man, and weakning the Authority of the holy Scriptures, they seek to perswade all Men, that that light in them is the Gospel, and the sure Word of Prophecy, to which they would do well to take heed, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in their hearts.

It may be the Accuser of the Brethren will say we are zea∣lous in our own cause, though our Consciences tell us we ought to be angry (yet without sinne) when we see the way of life stopped up from the children of men, which we doubt not to demonstrate to the seeing eye, in reference to the Gospel it self, and its ministration.

First then to manifest that this assertion puts men quite be∣side the way of Salvation; We pray you to consider, that if it be not the voice of the Gospel, but of the Law mans heart, who hath no more light than the eternal Word enlightens him with (as every one that cometh into the world) then who so bids him seek righteousness, peace and life, in attendance and obedience thereto, puts man beside the way of life, Rom. 9. 32. Rom. 4. 5, 14. Gal. 2. 16, 21.

But that it is the voice of the Law, and not the Gospel, hath been proved before by sundry couched Arguments, as, that Scripture and experience makes the moral Law the Counter∣pane of the Law ingraven in every mans Conscience, Also that Man naturally establisheth his own self-righteousnesse, which is of the Law. Beside the book of Natural Conscience is the Creation and Providence, which administer in themselves to the discursive faculty the knowledge of the Godhead as bind∣ing Man to glorifie God as God, not as Father, Saviour, or

Redeemer. Should we here grant, that he that walks up to the Law or light of Nature, shall have the light of Grace or Gospel revealed to him, (although we never read nor knew the Gospel bestowed on any Person or People upon that ac∣count, or the Spirit received by the works of the Law) yet we do more than doubt whether ever there stood before the throne of Glory, or shall, any such who without Gospel-light and grace, did obey the Law, please God, or rightly approach unto him; for we know that faith in Jesus, as dying for us, and rising for our justification, is the first stone in the spiritu∣al building, and the Fountain of Love (Man loving God be∣cause he is first beloved of God) without which mans speci∣ous works, & most upright worships are abhominations threapt on the Lord. Wherefore the Lord builds not on the first Adams foundations or Covenant of works (on which the higher man builds the more losse he suffers when he is brought to Christ) but layes a Foundation in Sion, even Christ, in the Law of Faith or Covenant of Grace, and thereupon builds all things new.

Secondly, Moreover we add, that if this Position take a∣way the true and proper ministration of the Gospel, it must needs shut up the Kingdom of God from Men. For what are good tidings if they be not told?

But to the best of our understandings by this Assertion is the ministration of the Gospel taken away. For we do not know that ever the gospel was published or promised to be made known, without the ministration of man, or without hearing; But rather as Jesus Christ said, I am with you in teaching to the end of the world; so intended he teaching to be to the end; also it was the Apostles care that the truth might be committed from one to another from age to age, 2 Tim. 2▪ 2. likewise the promise is Isa. 59. the last verse, that the Word should not depart from the mouth of Jesus Christ and his seed, and his seeds seed for ever, and that the Spirit should accompany the word in the mouth of the seeds seed or successive Saints from age to age.

We confesse, that though reading the Scriptures or Scripture Truths in books may be a means of Faith through the Holy

Ghost working therewith, yet this may be fitly comprehended under hearing of the Apostles and Prophets by their writings, by which they being dead, yet speak, and doth still confesse the Gospel administred by Man, and not by any other Creatures, or by secret communication of light to the mind by God imme∣diately, which these Assertors affirm, and we shall have fur∣ther occasion to examine.

We contend not herein for any particular sort of Men, or them who do most readily call themselves the Ministers of the word of God, though we shall alway acknowledge the Order and Offices of the Church of God, but our chief contention is for the Gospel as administred by Man, whether in word or wri∣ting, as not knowing how any should believe unlesse they hear the Testimony of the Apostles (John 17. 20.) or their Word.

For truly, we should bear more easily the laying aside of Man or his Ministration (though none may adventure to do it but Christ) who hath declared his mind as we have observed and shall) if these that advance themselves above him who is the true Christ did not aim to beguile you of the Scriptures themselves, even while you are looking on, and think not so.

Wherefore while they say this Light or Gospel is within you, they proceed to say it is the sure word of Prophe∣cy.

Is then a Prophetick light in all men? or what doth it prophecy? of life and righteousnesse for sinners in a Media∣tor, or of Death because of disobedience? or if this be the light that shines in a dark place, what is the day-star and the Sun of righteousnesse, if this be Christ, as was before affirmed by them? But as the legs of the lame are not equal, no more are these parables; but that we may shew their distance from the truth rather than from themselves, we beseech you to con∣sider that by this means,

Either first, The Scriptures are laid aside, not onely as not useful, but as not true Scripture to you, nor truth to you, if they be not particularly dictated in your hearts after the same manner as to them that wrote them. Thus they call it a

dead letter (which word was applied to the Law) whereas though the ink and paper be dead, yet the Truth or meaning of those words is called the Power of God, and hath a Maje∣sty, Authority and Grace above the words of man stamped upon it, and is said to convert, comfort, quicken and make wise the soul, which is done no otherwise than by the conjun∣ction of the Word with the Power of God, Psalm 119. 50. 105.

Surely the Scriptures were written for our learning, and are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ, and may be used for Doctrine, Reproof, Correction, and Instruction in righteousnesse, that the Man of God (or a man who from God, or for God, is to attend upon the work of the Ministry ) may be perfect, throughly furnished to e∣very good work. As for the expected dictating the Scrip∣tures by the Spirit to us as to the writers, it is groundless, but we shall touch on that afterward.

Secondly, But if the evidence of Truth constrain them to return to the word of the Scriptures as binding in it self and useful, yet by their Doctrine the Scriptures are turned into Al∣legories, and so their frothie conceipts, and catches of wit, are established as the sure Word of Prophecy. Thus doth the deceiver suck the Eggs, and lay them in the nest again; and while they allow the Scripture a nominal authority, yet it must not be heard but as their conceivings put a sense upon it; and (in short) thus is the Scripture judged, but is not ad∣mitted to judge spirits and apprehensions; but if they speak it must be an oracle▪ and as the Pure testimony of Jesus (or the light in them) which must be credited, but not disputed; of this more in the sequel. This calls to mind a sentence in one of Luthers Letters;

varily (saith he) God must in∣cessantly be implored with fear, humility, and earnest suppli∣cation that we may have his assistance and protection; o∣therwise truly it may soon come to pass that the Devil will present before our eyes such a Phantasm, that we should swear it were the true Holy Ghost it self, as not only those an∣tient Heretiques, but in our time also examples which have been and still are great and dreadful do forewarn.

This

he wrote concerning this Generation that we contend against, which began to his Time.

Some dare not quite lay aside the Scriptures, neither turn it into Allegories, yet do not look in them to learn, because they think it is to build up themselves in Carnal knowledge, which darkens the workings of the Spirit, and again, because they judge that none can open its seals but the Lamb, and therefore they'l not meddle▪ at least not to search for under∣standing therein, until the Spirit in them open it to them.

But let us consider,

1. Jesus Christ spake many things to his disciples which they understood not at that time untill after his resurrection, and the fulfilling of them: which doubtlesse he would not have done, if his wisdome had not judged it meet to trea∣sure up knowledge in their memories for hereafter, though they had not the present understanding of them, or present be∣nefit by them.

2. Our blessed Saviour calleth them fooles and slow of heart because they did not believe All that the Prophets have spoken (which taxeth them for negligence, non atten∣dance, and willful ignorance of the Scriptures, though the seals were not opened to them) and beginning at Moses he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concern∣ing himself, v. 27. which was a teaching of knowledge from the letter of the word, and he opened their understand∣ings that they might understand the Scriptures, which they had surely (as they ought) read before.

Likewise it is observable that the Lord seeing the Eunuch Acts 8. 32, &c. reading a Scripture in a conscientious way, for he was a worshipper of God, v. 27. though he under∣stood it not, v. 30. sent unto him Philip to open that Scrip∣ture, and from that to preach unto him Jesus: so will God do with others in the like condition.

3. Instruction of children in the Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3. 14, 15. was commended as a way blessed of God. In this way seeds are sown, which spring up it may be by way of remem∣brance long after, for conversion or further increase in know∣ledge, which they sooner make when they have the spirit, if

they keep in memory what they read or heard in the time of their ignorance.

Most true we find it, its not having but eating the Book doth us good▪ and the word doth not profit us without faith; neverthelesse searching, reading, hearing the Scriptures is mans duty; faith and understanding is the gift of God, yet ordina∣rily in this way, Prov. 2. 4, 5.

But to conclude, Concerning the real word of Prophecy which signifyed beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory which should follow, that was in due time fullfilled in its kind, the same Apostle saith, 2 Pet. 1. 17, 19.

1. Its more sure than a voice from the excellent gl ry, at least to others, and more argumentative.

2. More to be attended than the words of one risen from the dead, Luke 16. 31.

3. Nay our Lord Jesus himself said, that if they believed not Moses Writings, he did not expect they would believe his Words, Iohn 5. 47.

Notes

• Joh. 1. 9.
• Rom. 2.
• Phil. 3. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Rom. 1. 20.
• Gal. 3. 2.
• Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 4. 24, 25. 2 Pet. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 5.
• Phil. 3. 6. Isa. 26. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 17
• 2 Cor 3. ch.
• 1 Cor. 1. 18
• Rom. 15. 4. 1 Tim. 3. 15, 16.
• (Any Christian not exclu∣ded.)
• Luk. 18. 34.
• Luk. 24▪ 25▪
• Ephes. 6. 4. 1 Tim. 4. 6.
• 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11. 2 Pet. 1. 19.