The Baptist and Independent Churches (so called) set on fire by a bright shining light revealed from heaven their pastors and teachers scorching in the flame of it, gnashing and blaspheming God in his temple ... / by ... Thomas Morford.

6 The rash Judgement of William Lee Baptist Teacher, Governour of Waterford reproved and found false, and so proved according to the Law and Testimony; wherein also is a true testimony, of the operation of the eternall power and Spirit of the Lord, in the work of regenerati∣on, &c.

On the 4 day of the 6 month 1659. I being at And. Richets house, then Mayor of Waterford, about my releasing out of pri∣son being, then a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus. And there being present he called Colenell William Lee, and William Lamb a Baptist Pastor, this did occasion some conference about the things of God: I earnestly contending for the faith of Gods Elect once delivered to the Saints; which gives victory over sin and bearing my testimony to Gods righteous Law and Spirit of Truth in man; which largely afore is proved by the Scriptures of truth, for all men by it to be guided; having re∣ceived a measure thereof; this was the substance of what I there declared. That of God in them bears me record; which is the everlasting truth of God.

But William Lee Teacher, and William Lamb Pastor, strongly opposed me, crying out, The Ordiances of Christ: The Ordinances of Christ: to wit, the Supper of the Lord, and water Baptism, which stood in time, and were Ordinances of God and Christ; But had a limitation of time, and are ended in Christ the everlasting substance, to every one that believes and follows, as will be proved by the Scriptures of truth;

So he call'd Colonell Will. Lee, governour and Baptist Teach∣er, affirmed in the presence of Will. Lamb Pastor, the Mayor and Aldermen so called, and severall Captains and other men of qua∣lity in the worlds account, both Baptists and Independants—That I was absolutely damned and did not believe the truth; nor abide in the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ—

Now I appeal to Gods witness in the consciences of all who cry out that the Quakers do Judge; when did any of the Qua∣kers (that are so in truth;) give such rash Judgement as to say any man was absolutely damned; which is a secret belonging onely to God, except the unbeliever confess it out of his own mouth; or that the fruits of his Life make it appear?

But blessed be the Lord God and Father of Light, through his eternall Love in Christ Jesus, I do believe, and follow the Truth, which is Christ Jesus the Light of the world, that Light∣ed every one that comes into the world; and am dead with Christ, buried with him in Baptism in measure, and cannot bee subject to Ordinances that perish in the using; and he that be∣lieves

and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And this testimony I give to all the world, and sons of men, on the face of the whole earth. I do believe that Jesus Christ the Saviour of the souls of mankind, was the eter∣nall Son of God, born of a Virgin; whose name and interpre∣tation I truly in my measure witness, even the Emmanuel, God with us; who made a good confession before Pontius Pilate, that he was Crucified and Buried, and by the mighty Power and Glory of God the Father of Life, was raised again, and ap∣peared unto his Disciples and was received up to eternall Glo∣ry, and Glorified with the Father, with the same Glory he had before the world began; And much more do I believe in him and of him; according as it is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth concerning him, which I may not now declare.

And this Testimony I give for the Lord God, and his truth, unto all who have breathings after Christ, and are hungering and thirsting after his righteousness; But are gazing abroad and seeking him in outward observations, &c. that Christ Jesus the second Adam, the quickning Spirit, is come the second time without sin unto salvation, in his chosen thousands: Therefore turn in your mindes to that of God in you, Rom. 1.19. and re∣member the woman that lost the groat and could not find it, untill she had Lighted a Candle (the Candle of the Lord is the Spirit of man: the Light of Christ Lightneneth it) and swept her house, and when she found it, she called her Neighbours and rejoiced; read the Parable who can.

And I can truly say, as Paul did, he is come to save sinners of which I was chief; which lived in Pride, Lust, Vanity, blas∣pheming his holy name, but have obtained mercy because it was in the time of ignorance and unbelief; not through works that I have done, but of his everlasting free Love; Yet have born his Just and Righteous Judgements, and deeply have drank of the cup of his fierce wrath and indignation; and can truly say, I am washed, cleansed, sanctified and Justified (in my mea∣sure) by the water, the blood and the Spirit; which three agree in one, in the work of regeneration, and so through the faith of God; which works by love, am brought in obedience to the Doctrine of Christ, and his commands, and in it to abide, and

this is his Doctrine: Blessed be the poor in Spirit, blessed be the meek, blessed be they that mourn, &c. Thou hast heard that it hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy selfe; but I say unto you swear not at all; and when thou prayest, be not like the Hypocrites which stand praying (in Pulpits) and call no man master, neither be ye called of man master; and Love your enemies, give to him that asketh, and from him that would borrow, turn not away, that you may be children of your heavenly Father; for he maketh his Sun to shine on the evill, and on the good, and sendeth rain on the Just and unjust: and he that looketh on a woman to Lust after her, hath alrea∣dy Committed adultry with her in his heart, &c. And lay not up for your selves treasure in the earth, where the moth and Canker do cor∣rupt; but lay up for your selves, treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust do corrupt, nor thievs break through and steal. And I say unto you, saith Christ, swear not at all, but in all your Commu∣nications, let your yea, be yea, and your nay be nay; for whatsoever is more then that, cometh of evill; and take no thought what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithall ye shall be cloathed; and take no thought for to morrow, But first seck the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, &c. And be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect; and his Ministers bid try all things, and hold fast that which is good, flee youthfull Lusts of Vanity, abstain from every ap∣pearance of evill, quench not the Spirit; but if any thing be revealed to him that stands by, let the first hold his peace, &c. Now whether thou William Lee and ye Baptists, which cry out, the Ordinances of Christ, and the Commands of Christ, be in the obedience to those weightier Commands and Ordinances, which is fulfilled through faith, mercy, and Judgement upon the head of the transgressor, I say whether you Baptists, or we despisedly called Quakers, be in the obedience to those Commands, &c. And many other which might be mentioned, of Christ, and his Ministers, and a∣bides in their Doctrine: Let that of God in all Judge, which the least of those, or any of his Commands knowningly or will∣fully I dare not disobey, if I might gain the whole world, God is my record, I lye not, And he that saith he knows God (mark that you Baptists) and keepeth not his Commandements, is a lyar, and the truth is not in him, 1 Jo. 2.4. So the truth of Christ, and his Doctrine, I do believe, and abide in: through his mercy and Power.