Saul's errand to Damascus, with his packet of letters from the high priests against the disciples of the Lord, or, A faithful transcript of a petition contrived by some persons in Lancashier who call themselves ministers of the Gospel breathing out threatnings and slaughters against a peaceable & godly people there, by them nick-named Quakers : together with the defence of the persons thereby traduced against, the slanderous and false suggestions of that petition, and other untruths charged upon them : published to no other end but to draw out the bowels of tender compassion from all that love the poor despised servants of Jesus Christ, who have been the scorn of carnal men in all ages.

James Naylers Answer, and Decla∣ration, touching some things charged upon him, by the men aforesaid.

HAving heard of divers untruths cast upon me, by some of the Priests in their high places, though I stand only to the Lord in respect of my selfe; yet left any that love the truth, should be led on by these salfe reports to speak evil of those things they know not; I shall lay open the truth, as it is revealed in me, touching those things whereof I have bee; falsly accused.

First, Concerning Jesus Christ, that he is the eternal word of

God, by whom all things were made, and are upholden; which * 1.1 was before all time, but manifested to the world in time, for the * 1.2 recovery of left man: which Word became flesh, and dwelt a∣mongst the Saints, who is the same, yesterday, to day, and for * 1.3 ever; who did and doth dwell in the Saints; who suffered, and rose again, and ascended into Heaven, and is set at the right hand o God, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth, * 1.4 who fill all places; is the light of the world, but known to none but to those that receive and follow him, and those he lead up to * 1.5 God, out of all the ways, works and worships of the world, by his pure light in them, whereby he reveals the man of sinne; * 1.6 and by his power casts him out. And so prepares the bodies of the Saints a fit Temple for the pure God to dwell in with whom dwells no unclean thing? and thus he reconciles God and man: * 1.7 and the image of God which is in purity and holinesse, is re∣newed: and the image of S••••an, which is all sin and uncleanness, is defaced: and none can witness Redemption, further then Christus thus revealed in them, to set them free from sin: which * 1.8 Christ I witness to be revealed in me in measure, Gal. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 13. 5 Col. 1. 27. * 1.9

2. Concerning the Scriptures, That they are a true Declara∣tion of that word which was in them that spoke them forth, and * 1.10 are of no private interpretation, but were given forth to be read and fulfilled in the Saints, as they were given forth by the * 1.11 Holy Ghost, without adding or diminishing; and were not given forth for men to make a Trade on to get money by: but as they are they are profitable for Doctrine, for reproofe, for cor∣rection, * 1.12 for instruction in righteousness, that the may of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work But they who trade in the Letter, and are ignorant of the M••••••••y▪ deny all perfection: and none can rightly understand the Scriptures but thay who read them with the same spirit that gave them forth; * 1.13 for the 〈…〉〈…〉 man understands not the things of God, for they are spiritually discerned.

3. Concerning Baptisme: the true Baptisme is that of the spi∣rit, with the holy Ghost, and with fire: Baptized by one spirit into onebody: not the washing away the filth of the flesh, but

the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection * 1.14 Jesus Christ; without which no other Baptism can save us, they being out figures or shadows; but this Baptism of Christ * 1.15 is the substance, whereby we are baptized into his death; and those that are bapized into Christ have put on Christ.

4. Concerning the Lords Supper: The true Supper of the Lord is the spiritual eating and drinking of the flesh and blood * 1.16 of Christ spiritually; which the Spirituall man only eateth, and is thereby nourished up unto carnall life: without which * 1.17 eating there can be no life in creature, profess what you will; and all who eat of this bread, and drink of this cup have reall communion in Christ the head, and also one with * 1.18 another, as members; and are of one heart, and one minde, a compleat body in Christ. Now the world who take onely * 1.19 the outward fignes, and are not brought in discerning of the Lords body, eat & drink domnation to themselves, become guilty * 1.20 of the body and blood of Christ; and cals this a Communion, but lives in envy, strif, and debate, fighting, and going to Law one with another, for earthly hings.

5. Concerning the Resurrection: That all shall arise to give an account and receive at the last day according to their works, * 1.21 whether good or evill. These bodies that are dust, shall turn to * 1.22 dust, but God shall give a body as pleaseth him; that which is sown in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption; it is sown a * 1.23 naturall body, it is raised a spirituall body; and as we have borne the image of the earthly, so we shall hear the image of the * 1.24 heavenly: but flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of hea∣ven; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption; for we * 1.25 must be changed. But they who cannot witnesse the first Resur∣rection within themselves, know nothing of the second, but by heatsay; and therefore, say some of your Teachers, that Christ * 1.26 is in Heaven with a carnal body. Now that Christ who is the si si it fruits, should be in Heaven with a carnall body, and the Saints with a spirtuall body, is not proportionable.

6. Concerning Magistracy: It is an Ordinance of God, Or∣dained for the punishment of evil doers, and an encouragement for them that do well; Where Justice and righteousnesss is the

head, and ruleth with out partiality, that Land is kept in peace; and those that judge for the Lord, I honour as my own life, not with a sluttering honour, putting off he hat and bowing of the knee, which is the honor of the world, having mens persens * 1.27 in admiration because of advantage for self ends; but from my heart, for conscience sake, as to the power which is of God, not to mens persons, for the Scripture saith, he that respects per∣sons commits sin, and is convinced of the Law as a transgressor; and the Apostle Iames commands the Saints, not to have the * 1.28 faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of * 1.29 persons for saith he such are partial in themselves, and become Iudges of evil thoughts: And saith Paul, Let every soul be subject to the higher power; for saith he, there is no power but of God: the * 1.30 powers that be are ordained of God: and that whosoever resistesh the power, resisteth the Ordinance of God: and faith. We must needs be subject, for conscicence sake: and therefore though the * 1.31 Prophets wer often sent by the Lord, to pronounce judge∣ment against unjust men, who had the power committed to * 1.32 them, and did not judge for God, but for self- ends; yet they ne∣ver attempted any violence against them but used ••••l means to perswade them to leve mercy, do justice and walk humbly with * 1.33 God, that they might be established, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the wrath of God tru∣ned from them; for those that be of Go, cannot rejoice in the sufferings of any, but would have all to turn, and find mercy.

7. Concerning the Ministery: The true Ministers of Jesus Christ * 1.34 have always been, and are still, such as come not by the will of * 1.35 man, but by the will of God, neither are they fitted to the work by any thing of man, but by God alone: for the true Ministry it the gift of Iesus Christ, and needs no addtion of human help * 1.36 and learning; but as the work is spiritual, and of the Lord * 1.37 so they are spiritually fitted only by the Lord, and therefore he chused Herdsemen, Fishermen, and Plowmen, and such like: and as he gave them an immediate Call, withon the leave of man: so he fitted them immediatly without the help of man: * 1.38 and as they received the gift freely, so they were to give freely: And when ever they found any of the false Ministery, that taught for hire, cryed out against them, and pronounced woes a∣gainst

them, and shewed them that they lay in iniquity, because * 1.39 they thought that the gift of God could be bought and sold for * 1.40 money: and Christ calls them hirelings, and saith they care * 1.41 not for the sheep: and Micab cryes out against the Priests that taught for hire; and (saith he) they build up Sion with blood, * 1.42 and Jerusalem with in quity: and Jeremiah cryed out against * 1.43 the Priests in his days, that hear rule by their means, and calls it a horrible thing; and saith that, from the least of them to the * 1.44 greatest, they are all given to covetousness: And Isiah cryes out against those in his days, and calls them greedy Dogs, that can never have enough; and saith he, they all look for their gain from their quarter. And Peter saith, of such as should come, * 1.45 that they ••hrough covetousness should make merchandize of the people; and saith they have hearts exercised with covetous practi∣ses, * 1.46 who have for saken the right way, and have followed the the way of Baalam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness: And * 1.47 Jude cryes Wo unto them, for they go on in the way of Cain in his * 1.48 murder, and run greeddy after the error of Balaam for re∣ward But those that were sent out by Christ, counted & their gain to make the Gospel without charge; nei he ever had they any set * 1.49 means but went about, having no certain dwelling place; never were masters, but servrnos to al for Christ, sake: nor ever * 1.50 went to Law for Ty••hes, or any other earthly thing.

Now all people try your Priests by the Scriptures, whether they be of God or of the world, and never think to hear the * 1.51 Word of the Lord from their mou••hs, who walk con rary to the Scriptures: for such were never sent of God: for had they * 1.52 been sent of God, they would abide in his doctrine: and saith Iohn. Such have not God, but he that abideth in the Doctrine of * 1.53 Christ, hath both the Father and the Son. And if there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, you are forbidden to receive them into your house, or bid them God speed: her of you do, you are partakers of their evil deeds. And unto the wicked saith God, What ha•••• thou to do to declare my statuter, or that thou should'st * 1.54 take my Covenant into thy mouth? seeing thou hat st instruction, and castist my Words behind thy back, and art a partaker with the Thief, the Adulterer, E••••l-speaking, Slandering and De∣ceit; * 1.55 and such as these, think God to be like themselves.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rev. 19. 13.
• * 1.2

  1 Ioh. 1. 2, 3, 4 5.
• * 1.3

  Ioh. 1. 14.
• * 1.4

  Eph. 1. 20.
• * 1.5

  Ioh. 8, 12.
• * 1.6

  2 Thess 2. 8.
• * 1.7

  1 Cor. 3. 16, 17.
• * 1.8

  2 Cor. 5. 18. 19.
• * 1.9

  Col. 3. 10.
• * 1.10

  2 Pet. 1. 20. 21.
• * 1.11

  Rev. 22. 18.
• * 1.12

  2 Tim. 3. 16. 17.
• * 1.13

  1 Cor, 2. 14, 15.
• * 1.14

  Acts 1. 5.
• * 1.15

  Gal. 3. 27.
• * 1.16

  Mat. 26. 26. 28.
• * 1.17

  Iohn 6. 51. 53, 54, 55; 56.
• * 1.18

  1 Cor. 11. 24. 25.
• * 1.19

  Col. 2. 10.
• * 1.20

  1 Cor. 11. 27, 28, 29.
• * 1.21

  Iohn 5. 29.
• * 1.22

  1 Cor. 15. 38.
• * 1.23

  1 Cor. 15. 42, 43, 44.
• * 1.24

  Rev. 2. 6.
• * 1.25

  1 Cor. 15. 20.
• * 1.26

  1 Cor. 15. 47.
• * 1.27

  Jude 16.
• * 1.28

  Jam. 2. 9.
• * 1.29

  Iam. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4.
• * 1.30

  Rom. 13. 1. 2.
• * 1.31

  Rom. 13. 5.
• * 1.32

  Hosea 5. 12.
• * 1.33

  Mica 6. 8.
• * 1.34

  2 Pet 1. 21.
• * 1.35

  Eph. 4. 7. 6. 11.
• * 1.36

  1 Cor. 12. 7.
• * 1.37

  1 Pet. 4. 10. 11.
• * 1.38

  Mat, 10. 8.
• * 1.39

  Acts 8. 20
• * 1.40

  Ioh. 10. 13.
• * 1.41

  Mica 3. 10
• * 1.42

  Ior. 5. 30, 31.
• * 1.43

  Ior. 6. 13.
• * 1.44

  Isa. 56. 10. 11
• * 1.45

  2 Pet. 2. 3.
• * 1.46

  2 Pet. 2. 14. 15.
• * 1.47

  2 Cor. 11. 15
• * 1.48

  Jude 11.
• * 1.49

  1 Cor. 9. 16. 17. 18.
• * 1.50

  1 Cor. 4. 11.
• * 1.51

  1 Iohn 2. 3. 4, 5. 6.
• * 1.52

  2 Ioh. 9. 10.
• * 1.53

  2 Ioh. 9. 10, 11.
• * 1.54

  Psal. 50. 16. 17.
• * 1.55

  Psal. 50. 21.