A collection of the several writings and faithful testimonies of that suffering servant of God, and patient follower of the Lamb, Humphry Smith who dyed a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus, in Winchester common-goal the 4th day of the 3d moneth in the year 1663.

THE Wandering-Star DISCOVERED, And his False Light Comprehended and made Manifest.

Or something in Answer to a Book called, The Duakers Blazing-Star; Or, The Worlds-Wonder: Set forth by Edmund Skipp, who calls himself A Preacher of the Gospel at Bodenham in Herefordshire. But is sound and seen by the Light of Christ, and proved by his own Writings to be out of the Light of the Gospel, and to be him∣self wandered from the Truth, and is now amongst the rest of the Wandering Stars, mentioned in Jude, v. 13.

With a Word to all Professors.

BEing moved to write something in Answer to the Scan∣dals that have been cast upon the Truth by Edmund Skipp, in a Book called, The Worlds Wonder, or the Quakers

Blazing-Star; whereing he hath not only cast many Aspersions upon us, in these parts of the Nation, to wit, Here for dshire, but also on those, yea, all of the same People whom he never saw nor heard, whom the great and mighty Power of God hath raised by the pure Life of Christ in them, to witness and live in, which we (here a handful of Babes) are but in a little measure yet brought to witness; therefore not for our own Vindication, but for the simple Ones sake, who ever were carried away in all Ages with Scribes, Pharisees, false Prophets, false Apostles, through the sleight and craftiness of men, whereby they lay in wait to deceive, 2 Cor. 4. 2.

Therefore take notice, that not many Wise men after the flesh, not many Learned, not many Mighty; for the Wisdom of this World passeth away, and the Lord is now taking the Wise in their own craftiness, and chusing the Foolish things of the World to confound the Wise, and the things that are not to bring to no∣thing things that are, That so no Flesh may glory in his sight, but that the Lord alone might be exalted, in this the great day of his Power, Isa. 2. 11. wherein he is risen out of his holy Habitation, Zach. 2. 13. to shake terribly the Earth, Isa. 2. 19, 21. and bring down the Haughtiness of man, and lay low the Haughty looks of man, Isa. 2. 11. who are going forth like men of War in their own Strength, against the Lord, and against the anointed, witness the last page of Edmund Skipps Book, Psal. 2. 2.

Now that the Truth of Jesus Christ may the more appear, I shall in this following Discourse in brief, lay open some of the stromer and yet-lived-in Deceits of this open Enemy, and also some of his Lyes, which he hath written against the Truth of Christ, whom the World knows not; therefore they write, spake, hate, stone, whip, imprison, and falsly say all manner of Evil against us, wherein the Scriptures are fulfilled by them, Mat. 5. 11, 12. whose Judgment slumbereth not, and whose Damnation linger∣eth not.

Now before I proceed further, I give thee a little notice what sort of people he thus hath opened his Mouth wide against, and it shall be made manifest, and that from his own writings which declare us to be the People of God, chosen out of the world, John 15. 19. and he to be the Persecutor, I shall give thee a few

short hints; but if thou wilt observe his Writings, thou wilt find that he himself hath declared, that our whole Life and pra∣ctice is proved by plain Scripture, and that our Lives and Pra∣ctices are the same with them that did write and speak forth the Scriptures: But in short, see his own words in page 40. Did you ever know People acted through a more Glorious show or ap∣pearance of Righteousness, then they are? (to wit us) their denying and throwing off the World, and all care and Pains for Christs sake? their forsaking Father and Mother, and Wife and Children, Mat. 10. 37. Luke 14. 26. though with so much Affliction, Opposition, Persecution and Disgrace from men: Is not this like the Cross of Christ, and the Sufferings of Christ and his Apostles? (yea even the same) Their traveling so many miles from place to place, and speaking so boldly unto great men, crying out against their Abominations, their writing so many Letters, & dealing so plainly with men: (Jer. 18. 18.) And there are hardly a People to be found, that cry out more against An∣tichrist, and all appearance of Sin and Unrighteousness than they do. And in page 41. The whole bulk of their actings hitherto, as far as I know, or have heard, do declare them to be carried forth as Ministers of Righteousness, page. 44. for I am perswaded, they dare not tell a Lye.

Now see plainly, before thou proceed, the Darkness, Ignorance and Envy of this man, that can persecute in writings, and smite with the Tongue such a People as he himself in this very Dark∣ness cannot chuse but confess such things by and in; who that is not altogether blind, will not see the Blindness, Darkness and Ignorance of this mans confused Writings?

See one more page 50. Now these People, as far as I am, and ever was able to discern them, are indued with a large measure, in those things the Apostle mentioned in Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6. I mean, many of them that I know, that I did take, in my former Intimacy and Acquaintance with them, to have received much of the Power of Truth through Christs and to have much communion with God, and large experience of his Love: But as for others of them, they were never judged by me or the rest, to be any more than a willing People; and for such, this Scrip∣ture doth not touch them. Even by this, (although there might be much more mentioned) thou mayst see in measure, in the Light of Christ, what he is that doth Rail against such a People whose Words, Lives, Ways and Actions are agreeable to the Scrip∣ture, as he confesseth in his own Book.

The World loves his own, and the World delights in its own, the World speaketh to the World, and the World hears that which is spoken from the Earthly Heart, reacheth the deaf Ear, and no farther; that which is comprehended by the dark Mind, that is spoken forth by the deceitful Tongue, that feeds the De∣ceit that lodgeth in the Hearers; so one Darkness upholds another, and the same Deceit upholds its own in both Speaker & Hearer: So in both Writer and Reader, yea, all that write and speak that which proceeds not from the Life, but from the Death, being in the state of Death, is but Death speaking to Death, whereby Serpents are begotten, or the Seed of the Serpents is encreased.

Now they that are of God, hear God's Word, and they that hear not his Word, are not of God; for the natural man per∣ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are spiritu∣ally discerned by the spiritual man that judgeth all things, though no man can judge him who is a Child of the day, and dwelleth in the Light, and hath no fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness, out of which the Children of the Day are delivered, and can witness the Darkness past, and the true Light now shining in them: But all those who say, they have fellowship with Light, and walk in Darkness, are Lyars, and all Lyars are shut out of the Kingdom, and are estranged from God, who is altogether Pure, Holy and Righteous, Just, Perfect, Light, and those that dwell in him, are as he is, and they only have the Mind of Christ, the which all the World and earthly Hearts are ignorant of.

Therefore I shall not put the worldly carnal Heart to judge of what may be written by me, although I am but yet leaving off the World, and entring into a little of that which is Eternal, which no Eye of Flesh can ever attain unto and live; neither can any but those that live in the same Life that speaks aright, or understands what is spoken from the life, by those that spake aright from the pure life: Therefore let not thy deceitful Heart deceive thee in judging herein; for the Old Heart is Deceitful, as I shall further make manifest, both unto the World, and unto the Children of the Light, not only from what I hear, but from his own written words, and my knowledge; and being witnessed by the Light and Truth, as it is manifested in me, whereby something may so plainly appear, that even the World it self may see the Deceit

that always hath been, and yet is in this man, who now desires all the World to take notice (p. 24.) of his Exposition of his Lyes, that he himself hath cast on us, who are not of the World, therefore the World knows us not; for we witness against it, that the Deeds thereof are Evil.

After Edmund Skipp had thrown off his Tythes, and convin∣ced of much more, which he was waiting to throw off too, he then told me not long before he lest us, That he had not Faith to carry him through, neither could he believe; but he was con∣fident, That the Devil would steal all that he had from him again; the which is now too true.

Wo, Wo, Wo, from the Eternal God to all the Inhabitants of the Earth, who dwell in the earthly Darkness, being seat∣ed in the Earth, drove out from the presence of the living God, and are Vagabonds and Fugitives in the Earth, whose center is in the earthly dark Mind: Wo to all those that put Light for Darkness, and Darkness for Light: Wo to all those that go down to Aegypt for help in Aegypt, the pure Seed is captiyated and kept in Bondage; in Sodom and Aegypt the Lord is daily crucified and put to open shame: Wo to all the Oaks of Bashan, and all the Beasts of the Field: Wo to them that build their Nests among the Stars; for Capernaum that is lifted up to Hea∣ven, and in its wisdom, in its own strength, shall be brought down to Hell; for the Lord God of Life and Power is risen out of his holy Habitation, to confound the Language of Babel, and dry up the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea, and famish all the gods of the Heathen, that know not God, whose presence is terrible to all the Children of Disobedience: Therefore Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker, who ariseth to scatter his Enemies, and to wound the Head of every one that goeth on still in his Wickedness. Oh! the Day of the Lord is at hand, wherein every man shall receive according to the Deeds done in his Body; then he that hath seemed to wait, and now begins to smite his fellow-Servants, saying, his Master delays his coming, and so eat and drink with the Drunken that are drunk indeed with the Wine of the Fornication of the Whore of Babylon, those are Drunkards indeed, that are drunk with VVine and overcome, but not with strong drink, such stagger at the Promises, and

stumble at the Corner-stone; but when that Stone shall fall upon them, it will grind them to Powder: Therefore be warned of the Lord, thou that despisest and wonderest (For all the Works of the Lord are Wonderful) lest thou perish; for the Lord is work∣ing a Work in these dayes that thou canst not believe, nor any that live in their own Wisdom, exalted above the pure Wisdom of Christ, who teacheth all his to deny all, yea, even all, both their Wisdom, Righteousness, Wit, and all carnal Comprehensions; for they are Followers of him, who lived not in his own Will; For, saith he, I came not to do mine own Will, but the Will of him that sent me; and saith, Not my Will, but thy Will be done: And he that is not yet made a Fool, and so denies his own Will and Wisdom, is yet exalted above the Cross, and the Son of Perdi∣tion is exalted above all that is called God, sitting in the Temple of God, even in the Holy Place, where Truth should alwayes be exalted. Christ should reign as King, and subdue all his E∣nemies under his Feet, and lead Captivity Captive, that a Gift may be received, which Gift is Eternal Life, and this Life is in the Son; by which Gift, all that are in the Son-like Obedience do witness, being made Heirs with him in the eternal Covenant, which is established upon better Promises then the first; there∣fore he taketh away the first, that he might establish the second, which is witnessed in the Son-like Obedience, by the which we are made the Righteousness of God through him, the which is a My∣stery to the dark World, whose Mouthes are now open to speak Evil of that they know not, calling the Great and Mighty Works of God, The Delusions of Satan, and the conditions now witnessed in the Sons and Daughters, that the Prophets and A∣postles both passed through, to speak of those things, they now call The Works of Antichrist.

But he is an Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son: Now see who is an Antichrist; No man knows the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son reveals him: He that denies this Re∣velation, denies both Father and Son (that is an Antichrist.) Now to know the Father, is Eternal Life; and he that saith, He knoweth, and hath fellowship with the Father, and walketh in Dark∣ness, is a Lyar; and the Devil is the Father of Lyes: And he that liveth not in the Truth, which is Jesus Christ, he must needs

Lye, because he is out of the Truth, and therefore found an Enemy to the pure Truth, as it is in Jesus, who is the Truth and Life it self, by whom the World is, and shall be judged, when the Lord shall come in flaming Fire, rendering Venge∣ance on all that know him not: This Day is even at hand, yea, even now the Lord is coming a swift Witness against all un∣righteous Ones, who hold the Truth of God in Unrighteous∣ness, living in their ungodly Practices, sporting themselves now in the Day-time, spending their time upon their Lusts, living in their own Wills, speaking forth the Saints Words, but are Enemies to the Saints Conditions. Oh! consider, consider, the Lord is Just in all his Wayes, and he is come to judge the Earth with Righteousness, he will plead with all Flesh, before him all Faces shall gather Paleness; and in him, who is pure Light, are all the Secrets of all Hearts laid open; for nothing hideth from him, who is a God of consuming Fire, and of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity: Oh be ashamed and confounded, all ye In∣habitants of the Earth and of the Sea, for the Devil is come down unto you, and rageth, because his time is but short.

To thy first in page 6. where thou sayest, It must needs be the Spirit of Antichrist and Delusion, that doth mis-inform the Heart.

I Answer; The Heart it self is deceitful, and out of the a∣bundance of thy Heart, thy mouth speaketh, page 8. or else thou wouldest not speak, as though a Deceitful Heart might be mis∣informed by a delusion; for Deceit and Delusion is but one, which lodgeth in the Hearts of all the Children of Disobedience, who are all in the Death, the Curse and the Fall, unless they come to witness Restoration, the Stoney Heart taken away, and a New Heart given, which is by the putting off the Old Man with his Lusts and Corruptions, and the New Man put on, which after God is created in Righteousness, and true Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

But in the Light in thy own Conscience, see when ever thou couldest witness thy Redemption, and thy heart free from Delusi∣ons, as thou speakest, or from the power of Darkness, when thou by thy own Relation to me, went from one Parsonage to an∣other, and that not without thy Gown (as thou callest it) upon thy back, that thou hast looked upon as it was indeed Anti∣christian;

and then after at Bodinham, thou didst sue the poor Peo∣ple for Tythes, to my knowledge, witness one poor man thou didst sue for one Shilling, and wouldst have constrained the poor man to have paid Charges for that one Shilling, if I and some other had not spoke to thee, after thou hadst often refused the one shilling without Charge, though the Light let thee see. Tythes to be con∣trary to Christ, yet then lived contrary to the Light in thy own Conscience, as thou wast made to confess in my hearing, and hun∣dreds more, that thou hadst acted in it contrary to thy Conscience two years; and before that time thou didst confess unto me, and to others; How thou wast going to take counsel of men, how to sue for thy Tythes, and the Lord met with thee, yet the Devil had like to have taken thee off of the work of the Lord again, divers times, as thou confessedit, Then thou layest groaning under the burden of thy Tythes; yet thou resolvedst to keep them another year, yet I had thoughts to the contrary, and was made to tell thee at J. B's house in Hereford, on the sixth day, that thou wouldest e'er long roar a∣gainst thy Tythes like a Lyon; and on the next first day after it was so, and thou wast made to acknowledge the Lord in it, and sent thy Man with those few words to me; Brother Smith, the Lord hath done a strange Work in me this Morning, and I shall alter strangely this day therefore pray earnestly for me and make what haste thou canst to come unto me. Now this is that which thou now callest Delu∣sion; for this was the greatest Power that ever thou couldest wit∣ness; but thou wast made to see by the Light, the Emtiness of thy own words, both in Speaking and Prayer before, as thou callest it; witness that in Margarets Grave-Yard, where thou spokest words, the which were a burden to thy Life, & after acknowledg∣edst, That it was nothing but Flesh, though thou didst strive much in thy own strength: And at Len. thou toldest the whole Assembly, That thou hadst long spoke after the manner of men; but now they must ex∣pect no more such from thee; and that thy Praying was as dead as Ditch-Water; but now thou shouldst wait to Pray in the Spirit, and speak by the Spirit; and the like at Cliston: And then thou wast convinced, that thou must leave all, even Glebe-land too, and so live on thy own Land, and build on thy own Land, as thou callest

it; and thou then wast convinced of more Deceit in thy Heart; therefore thou wast not at all freed from Deceit, but always lived in the Antichristian state, where thou art yet, witness thy own hand in page 5 where thou confessest, Thou hast got a sinful Heart; which is a Heart in Sin, and full of Sin; and we know, that none but the Pure in Heart shall see God; but Sin is of the Devil, and is the Work of Darkness; and none that walk in Darkness have fel∣lowship with God, 1 John 1. 6. Here thou discoverest plainly, that the Old Heart is not yet taken away; therefore thou wast not at all, nor yet is free from Delusions: Therefore for shame leave off thy judging the Hearts of of others, as thou hast; read E. S. p. 6, 11, 19, 16.

And as for the five Charges which thou mentionest, p 9. and saying, That if we had had more Accusations against thee, its like thou shouldst have had them; and in saying, The first Charge was Hypocrisie, in pag. 7. I answer, That that which was written by me in answer to thy Deceitful Lines first sent to us, I shall for the sake of the simple set down plainly, in the same order, as it was written by me, having a just Copy of it by me; and then let the tender spirited read thy Lyes in thy own Book.

A true Copy of the Answer sent by me and the rest, to thy Letter and Accusacion.

1. You said, you would tell us truly, &c.

Answer; There cannot be a true discovery of Truth brought forth in these that are yet in the fallen estate, as thou art.

2. That there is a Mystery of Iniquity in us, that we see not.

Answ. The Mystery of Iniquity is not discovered, but by the pure Light and Life of God, as it is freely given forth from God, the which Light all the Children of Light live in; but thou livest in the dark ways of the World, and livest not in this pure Light to judge by.

3. That the time is come, that thou shouldst dis-burden thy self of the discovery of Truth.

Answ. Thou hast laid aside too much Truth; that which con∣vinceth

of thy Evil is now a burden unto thee; but we disown all that disown the Truth.

Mark,

• ...4. That the Devil is an Angel of Light, and his Nature is to act in the Light.
  • Doth the Scripture say, that the Devil's Nature is to act in the Light?

Answ. Thou art imagining what the Devil is without thee, but thou knowest but little of his actings in thee, although thou art his Servant, and livest in his Light (as thou callest it) but the Light of Life thou art a stranger unto.

5. The Light, as it is acted in the Soul, giveth no Discovery of the Deceit, but rather covers it all.

Answ. By virtue of the pure Light that proceeds from the Fa∣ther, we see thee live in that thou callest Light, which doth not discover unto thee the abominable Practices thou art in (to wit) Pride (thou dost usually call thy own Child Mr. Benjamin Skipp) (a Proud practice, seldom heard of) the love of the World, de∣ceiving the People, upholding the Worship of the Beast, painted over with the Saints words, an Enemy to the Saints Life, as doth now more fully appear.

6. Thou writest so largely of the Devil, as if thou wert acquainted with all his secrets, both what he is doing, and what he will do.

Answ. The things of God thou art a stranger to; for they are hid from thine Eyes, and all such wise Ones of the Devil, the World and the Flesh, who are in the first Nature, as thou art.

7. Thou writest of what the Devil will bring us to.

Answ. 1. It is neither thee, nor the Devil in thee that know what we are, much less what we shall be.

2. If thou, and the Accuser of the Brethren in thee, have ought against us at present, that we walk not up to the present discovery of the pure Light, as it is in measure brought forth in us, then I charge thee to speak.

3. Thou Hypocrite, first cast out the Beam that is at present in thy own Eye, before thou goest to cast the supposed Mote that thou thinkest may fall into our Eyes hereafter.

In the close of this Answer, I writ a tender Letter in love to his Soul. Now let any that live in the Light compare these se∣veral Answers with that in pag. 7, 8, 9.

In Answer to that which thou callest Railing and Reviling Lan∣guage,

in pag. 10. the Devil hath always brought up his Children with so much pretence of Manners, that they must not tell a Lyar he Lyes, nor a Thief he is a Robber; or if any tell the Proud of hsi Pride, or the Covetous of their Covetousness, then this is called Railing; read the Scriptures cited by him, this is fully cited, Tit. 1. 13. c. 3. 15, &c. See how thou condemnest the Practice of Christ, both in his Person and Members in pag. 11.

To that which thou callest thy Experience, in pag. 11. I tell thee, thou hast had much Experience of Deceit, being always in it; but thou never hadst any experience of the powerful Work∣ings of God in us, only thou wast made by the Light to see thy Filthiness in some measure, and then presently thou wentst from the Counsel of the Lord, and acted and spoke in thy own Will, the which was Deceit indeed, running before the Light, the which I mourned over, and often complained to my Friends, who can witness the same.

Pag. 12. The Scripture cited by thee, Mal. 3. They shall discern between the Righteous and the Wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not; the Promise being in measure fulfil∣led in us, we discern thee still to live in thy own Will and Wis∣dom: Therefore when thou haltedst between two Opinions long, at last one of our Friends was made sharply to reprove thee, the which thou couldest not own, and therefore left us that had under∣gone burdens upon our own Spirits for thee, in condescending unto thee in tender love, desiring thou mightst be made at last to witness the Work of the Lord in thee, unto which thou art still a Stranger, and now an Enemy unto.

In thy pag. 13. thou mentionest a Scripture, as to us, 1 Tim. 6. 4, 5. They are there discovered by their Covetousness; for they suppose, that Gain is Godliness. And canst thou in the least accuse ••s of Covetousness? if thou canst, spare not to speak the Truth, but else let shame cover thy face for so many Lyes, and comparing us with those in this Text. Ask the Light in thy Conscience whether thou hast not looked after Gain, witness thy Tythes, thy looking after another Parsonage to that thou hadst, witness thy Physical Office, thy questioning what to do for more Main∣tenance, although thou hast told me, that thy Lands was 10 1. per Annum; 2 Tim. 3. 4. that is thy own Portion, witness thy many

Instruments of Musick in thy House. Page 16. thou writest of Faith, but thou knowest not that Faith that purifieth the Soul; he that hath this Hope, purifieth himself as he is pure; he that believeth is entred into his Rest, hath ceased from his own Works, as God did from his, the which Faith thou art a stranger unto; for thou hast writ thy own Lyes, and the Deceit of thy own Heart, and thy carnal Thoughts, the which thou callest the World (with whom thou art) to judge, witness pag. 9. line 11. & 7. 18. and thou thinkest in pag. 16, 51, 56, 57.

Page 17. Thou sayest, that we esteem, The more our Hearts are brought off the dealings of God, and Prayer, and Spiritual Ex∣ercises, the more pure and Perfect: The which thou knowest to be a Lye; witness thy own Words, after the Meeting at Clifton, where thou sayest, Thou sawst such a Spirit of Prayer as thou never hadst seen before; To which those that were there can yet testifie; and we witness growth in Grace and Knowledge, 2 Pet. 3. 18. and walk from Grace to Grace, leaving the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, Heb. 6. 1. forgetting those things that are behind, we press forwards; For man in his own Wisdom can∣not find out the Lord, who is a Spirit, John 4. 24. and regard∣eth not the Wise in Heart, Job 37. 23, 24. Therefore if any man will be Wise, let him become a Fool, that so he may be found in the VVisdom that is from above, James 3. 17.

Next, thou sayest, That we desire the Perishing of the former Wayes of God. This is another of thy Lyes; For all the Wayes of the Lord are Righteous, Psal. 145. 17. so in page 18. Satan acts thee to call that Scripture dangerous, Phil. 3. 7, 8. If thou callest Paul's Experience dangerous, its no wonder that thou callest ours so too: But we know, that all Scriptures are written for our Learning, the which we are searching.

Next, thou wilt show the Thoughts (and but the Thoughts) of thy own Heart, which is thy old sinful Heart, wituess thy own Hand, page 5. Line 11, 12. Therefore from thy wicked Heart, thou being ignorant of the Spirit, dost in page 24. even Jeer at speaking by the Spirit, in opposition to all the Holy Men of God, 1 Pet. 1. 21. Therefore thou art an Enemy to Prayer in the Spirit, Ephes. 6. 18. the which we witness: Therefore, in the Light of Jesus Christ, thou art calling thy own Company

(to wit, the VVorld) to try thy Exposition of thy own Lyes, that thou hast cast upon us in page 23. and the last in thy Second Rule, page 23. there thou denyest the Sufferings of Christ, be∣ing ignorant of it in thy own Soul; but we know, that if we suffer with him, we shall be glorified with him: So we are made willing to fill up the measure of the Sufferings of Christ; and those that have thus suffered in the Flesh, have ceased from Sin, 1 Pet. 4. 1, 2. Thy Second, where thou mentionest Quaking (thy Lyes there we deny, but Quaking and Trembling) we witness to be the Saints conditions fulfilled in us, who witness the same Power of God as they did, Jer. 5. 22. ••sa. 66. 2. Psal. 2. 12.

In the Third, thou speakest thy own Lyes at random.

In the Fourth, thou hast declared thy self to be an Enemy to the Sufferings of Christ, calling it A Delusion: Oh let Shame stop thy Mouth forever! thou Enemy of the Cross of Christ, and thy own Soul. For although Isaiah prophesied of what Christ in his own Person hath fulfilled, yet the Members of Christ are to take up his Cross and follow him; as it is written and and wit∣nessed, 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the Sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ, 1 Pet. 4. 13. 2. Cor. 4. 10.

That which thou and the rest of the VVorld doth call our Bondage and Slavery, page 18. that was the Saints, and is our Joy and Liberty, by which the righteous Seed is brought forth in Obedience to the Living God. But it is no wonder that the World hate us, for they know us not; If we were of the World, the World would love his own, John 15. 18, 19. Matth. 5. 11, 12. In Answer to that in page 29. Jesus Christ is unto us the Bread of Life, John 6. 33, 35, 48. and he is unto us the Water of Life, John 4. 14. and 7. 37. In page 30. thy Lyes are made manifest unto all men that know us; For which of us doth deny to La∣bour with his Hands? And which of us is it that live in Idle∣ness? Nay, it is Satan, the Father of Lyes, that acts thee to say, that we should say, It is the Language of Antichrist that bids men take care for their Families. For we do take care for our Families with all diligence, in the sight of God; but our Conversation is without Covetousness, Heb. 13. 5.

What is mentioned in the third Rule, page 31, 32, 33, 34, To

that I answer; The same Spirit that ruled in the Children of Disobedience then, even in the dayes of the Apostles, the same Spirit ruleth in thee and others. Now they stumble at both Pro∣phets, Christ and his Apostles; and now the same Generation are stumbling at Christ in his Memembers; so all they that stumble, stumble at the Light, and at the Corner-stone. As for the Professors, page 36. I tell thee and them, that all Professors that are Enemies to Possession, we do deny to be any Members of Christs Church, which is in God, 2 Thes. 1.

Page 37. Is another Lye, yea, more then one, plainly in saying, That we rank our selves with the sinful men of the World, who are in∣deed under all the Powers of Antichrist, from the which thou wast never yet redeemed by Christ in thee; for thou art a stranger to his Life.

See what thou raisest from thy Supposition, or thy [If] in pag 37. see what thou cast witness from those Scriptures fulfilled in thee; thou art a Thief and a Robber, stealing the Apostles words, stealing the word from thy Neighbour; thou confessest, That we walk like as the Apostles did in many things, as in Conversa∣tion, Words and Writings. In pag. 40 and 41. thou sayst, That the whole Bulk of our Actions hitherto, as far as thou hast either known or heard, do declare us to be carried forth as Ministers of Righteousness. Oh! let all take notice of this, the Devil speaks some Truth: but in the latter end of pag. 40. thou art thinking that Satans Kingdom is divided: Oh filthy Conclusion! Oh meer Babel! Canst thou open thy Mouth, and let thy Pen run against such a harmeless People, of whom thou thy self art made to confess such Excellent things?

I shall now leave a little in following of thee in thy confused and deceitfull Lines, and shall turn to that Scripture, 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14, 15. for such were false Apostles, deceitful Workers, &c.

In pag. 41. elsewhere, thou raisest thy own Conceivings (as of other things) of the Scripture, and then amplisiest or illustratest upon thy own Imaginations, so givest private Interpretations of the Scriptures, for thy own private ends, whereas no Scripture is of any private Interpretation, 2 Pet. 1. 20.

I shall lay down by plain Scripture, who those false Apostles are.

1. They are such as preach another Jesus, 2. Cor. 11. 4. Now Jesus is a Saviour; Thou shalt call his Name Jesus; for he shall save his People from their Sins, Mat. 1. 21. He maketh an End of Sin, Dan. 9. 24. Being dead with Christ, Rom. 6. 8. the Body of Sin is destroy∣ed, Vers. 6. He that is dead with Christ, is freed from Sin, Vers. 7. compared with 1 Pet. 4. 1. By the which we are made free from Sin, Rom. 6. 18, 22. and become the Servants of God: So that the Blood of this Jesus, who is the Son of the living God, cleanseth us from all Sin, 1 John 1. 7. ch. 2. 12. because your Sins are for∣given for his Names-sake; which Name is Jesus, a Saviour from Sin; and we know, that he is manifested to take away our Sins; and he that abideth in him, sinneth not, 1 John 3. 5, 6. Rev. 1. 5. Now whosoever believeth, that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, 1 John 5. 1. Now Jesus is a Savior, Christ is God manifest in Flesh, and anointed the true Teacher, 1 John 2. 17. Now he that can witness Jesus Christ to save him from Sin, he is born of God, and can witness Christ in him, the hope of Glory, which is Emanuel, God with us, and those dwell in God, and God in them, 1 John 4. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Now Sin is the unfruitful Work of Darkness, God is Light, 1 John 1. 5. Now he that saith, he can witness Jesus, and is born of God, and yet lives in Dark∣ness, to wit, Sin, he is a Lyar. Now Jesus is one with the Fa∣ther, and dwelleth in the Father: Now he that dwelleth in the Father, hath this Hope or Faith that purisieth himself, even as he is pure, 1 John 3. 3. and 5. 1. And he that abideth in him, sinneth not: This is Jesus, the Son of the living God, that sa∣veth his People from their Sins, whom Paul witnessed, revealed in him, Gal. 1. 16. by the which he preached Grace and Peace to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 1. 3, 30. and 22. 16. Now there is no other Name given under Heaven, by which men shall be saved. Therefore all those that cannot witness this Jesus, this Son of God, they are false Apostles, that speak of a Jesus that they know not, like those that went to cast out Devils in the Name of Jesus, whom Paul preached, Acts 19. 13, 14, 15, 16. Those were not Vagabond-Jews only, but chief of the Priests that did so: Now

all that cannot witness this Christ, this Jesus revealed and brought forth in them, as the true Apostles did, that spoke from the Life of Christ in them, even all others are false Apostles, among whom thou art seen in the Light of Jesus Christ to be, and in the World, like a raging Sea, whose Waves cast up Mire and Dirt continual∣ly, unto whom there is no Peace, Isa. 57. 20, 21. a Wandering Star, never settled, Jude 13. but tossed up and down with every Wind of Doctrine, from such turn away.

II. How you may know them.

Pag. 36. 9. Abiding in the Light that comes from Christ; in that Light you will see Light, and so comprehend all the Children of Darkness; for he that followeth Christ, who is the Light of the World, shall not walk in Darkness, but shall have the Light of Life to judge all the false Apostles, and all the Children of the Night, who live in the dark Mind, in Pride, Covetousness, Lying, making a Trade of the Scriptures, which were spoken forth from the Light, by those that witnessed it; but thou that takest up their Expressions, and livest not in the same Life, thou art the false Apostle that preachest another Gospel. Now besides the foregoing Scriptures, thou hast declared thy self to be a false Apostle, by thy own Writings.

First, in writing thy [Thinkings and Conceivings] page 50. yet my former Thoughts, page 53. I am but in part convinced, page 16. Methinks, page 51. As I conceive, such were the false Apostles, 1 Tim. 1. 7. understanding not what they say, nor whereof they affirm, but speak and write the Imaginations of their own Hearts, as thou hast done in page 18. The thoughts of my own Heart, in the which are many Devices, Prov. 19. 21.

Secondly, In being one of the world, and calling thy fellow-Creatures of the World to judge what thou sayest; and here thou hast manifested thy self to be a false Prophet, entered into the World, which the Saints of God never did; page 23. And let all the World assure themselves that, in page 45. Here thou dost write thy self (as thou art) calls thy own to witness, the World, one with the World, therefore we being gathered out of the World, are hated and written against by thee, John. 15. ••••. I

shall forbear to write what I know of thy former, and yet con∣tinued Practices, this being sufficient to prove plainly, that thou art a false Apostle, whose many Lyes written against us, I need not to mention in particular, only some few in short, that the simple may not be deceived by thee, nor the Truth suffer altoge∣ther under thy Scandals.

Page 48. Thou biddest the feeble Creatures of the World, To judge of Spiritual things, though the World by Wisdom knows not God, 1 Cor. 1. 21. page 46. thou sayest, That we do Lying Wonders, But hast thou in all those Lyes and Writings of thine proved that any of those which thou callest Wonders, are Lying Wonders? for it is not thy saying it is a Lying Wonder, that makes it to be so; for there were such as thee, that said, that Christ cast out Devils through Belzebub, but they were Lyars, and so art thou.

Thou sayest, Our Works are Deceitful, page 49. But thou hast no ground for it, but the deceit of thy own heart, page 18. the which thou callest the World to bear thee witness, page 23. 50. Thou sayest, We disown the Power and Spirit of Truth (which is a Lye) but thou hast a form of Godliness, denying the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3. 5.

Page 53. Thou sayest, Thou art in part convinced, that per ad∣venture the Lord would have his People walk in some way, whereby they might be brought into a perfect Unity in Heart. Oh! art thou not here ashamed! O let even the World (whom thou callest unto so often) read thy Ignorance! What! art thou but in part convinced what way leads to Unity? Oh! for shame, for shame, give over thy Profession, talk no longer of the Gospel, thou hast made thy self manifest to all men! Oh! hast thou been talking of the Gospel so long, and art yet Ignorant of the way that leads to Unity. Oh! let shame stop thy mouth, and cover thy face forever! but if thou wouldest shift from this, and say, Thou meanest an outward way or form. I tell thee, there is no way to have fellowship with the Father, 1 John 1. 3. but in the U∣nity of the Faith, and the Knowledge (not a Thinking) of the Son of God, who is the true living, and only way unto the Father, John 14. 6. where is perfect unity, even one Heart and one way, Jer. 32. 39. which is a way of holiness: The Wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein, Isa. 35. 8.

Also in page 53. thou sayest, That thou art very sensible, that thou hast lost thy Comforts, and therefore thou dost hope not to give over until thou hast found some way or means of having thy former. Enjoyments refreshed.

Why! hast thou lost that thou never hadst? thou saidst but now, That thou wast but in part convinced of the way; And hadst thou the Comforter long ago, and lost him now? the Way and the Comforter is but one, the which is Jesus Christ, John 14. 6. 17. 26. chap. 17. 23.

I know, that if Jesus Christ had been brought forth in thee, without which there is no true comfort, who is the substance of all Tythes, Types, Forms and Shadows, that thou couldst not unto this day have remained a Parish Priest, and so upheld an Antichristian Priesthood, halting between many Opinions, neither according to Aaron, Levi nor Christ, but living in thy own will, and so living above Christ, who lived not in his own Will; for saith he, Not my Will, but thine be done, John 6. 38. And now who will regard thy writings, when thou acknow∣ledgest, That the Comforter, which is the Spirit of Truth, is de∣parted from thee: Now it appears, thou art a Lyar indeed; now thou hast no Truth born up in thy Understanding; thy former Enjoyments (as thou callest it) which were indeed nothing but Comprehensions got up in the Wisdom of the Serpent.

Oh! art thou not ashamed, that the World should now read thy Confusion, which thou didst soon make up in thy Writings? Art thou not ashamed in such a condition as this, when thou con∣fessest, thy former Enjoyments and Comforts are departed from thee, even now to writ against those that thou acknowledgest, to have large Experiences, and much of the Power of Truth through Christ, page 50? Oh! take heed, lest it had been better for thee, that a Millstone had been hanged about thy neck, and thou cast into the Sea! Oh! canst thou not look back on him, whom thou hast thus pierced, to wit, the Life of Christ in others? Now thou mayst read with Shame and Tears that which thy own hand hath written from own sinful Heart, look in page 5, 8, and 18. which was then in the apostatized condition, without the former Com∣forts (as thou calledst it) page 53. Now thou art found to be a false Apostle indeed. Oh! remember from whence thou art fallen

and do thy first Works; yea, Repente'er it be too late, Rev. 2. 5. Oh, though thou canst strive with man, there is no striving with thy Maker, who will come a swift Witness against all deceitful Workers, who livewithin the power of what they speak or write; much more against those that write filthy Abominable Lyes. Oh! if thou lovest either Christ or thy own Soul, return, return unto the Light of Christ in thy own Conscience, which will let thee see the Deceit of thy own sinful Heart out of the abundant Deceit thereof, thy Pen hath run so largely in Confusion. Now I charge thee in the presence of the living God, (in as much love to thy Soul as ever) that thou return to the Light of Christ in thy own Conscience, and mind that which cheks thee in secret.

I tell thee (man) in love, there is something yet in thee, which will witness me to be true. See one more page 64. where for thy own defence, not for the defence of the Truth, thou sayst, Thou wast necessitated to fly unto the Practices and Truths of other men, to wit, Baptists; where it is plain, thou hadst not the spirit of Christ to fly unto and speak from, as the true Apostles had, wit∣ness one, Acts 6. 10. Therefore thou art both seen in the Light, proved by Scripture and thy own Writings, to be a false Apo∣stle, and a false Minister, 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14, 15. Much more might be said and proved, both from thy Writings and Actings, but I desire the good of thy soul, by this which is sufficient at present to prove thee to be one of the Wandering Star, Jude 13.