Truth lifting up its head above slander in an answer to Thomas Jackson, late priest of Stoke in Sussex, his lying paper which he left in the north of England / by Francis Howgill ; whereunto is added something by way of letter from another hand to the said T.J. shewing the reasons why it is meet to publish the same at this time ... ; likewise a brief rehearsal of some remarkable passages out of E.B. his book called Satan's design defeated. Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669. 1663 Approx. 52 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 12 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A44811 Wing H3186 ESTC R178363 10741461 ocm 10741461 45609 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A44811) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 45609) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1405:4) Truth lifting up its head above slander in an answer to Thomas Jackson, late priest of Stoke in Sussex, his lying paper which he left in the north of England / by Francis Howgill ; whereunto is added something by way of letter from another hand to the said T.J. shewing the reasons why it is meet to publish the same at this time ... ; likewise a brief rehearsal of some remarkable passages out of E.B. his book called Satan's design defeated. Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669. Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662. Satans designe defeated. 23 p. s.n.], [London : 1663. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. 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Society of Friends -- England -- Controversial literature. 2004-12 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-12 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion TRUTH Lifting up its Head above SLANDER : IN An ANSWER to THOMAS JACKSON , late Priest of Stoke in Sussex , his Lying Paper which he left in the North of England . By FRANCIS HOWGILL . Whereunto is added something by way of Letter , from another hand , to the said T. J. shewing the Reasons why it is judged meet to publish the same at this time . Namely , because He the said Jackson continueth still his old course of Slandering , and private Back-biting the Innocent , by his devised Fables , notwithstanding he hath been privately admonished , and since more publickly reproved in Print , by E. B. wherein his Scandalous Imputations of Popish Tenents , falsely cast by him upon others , are deservedly laid upon himself . Likewise , a Brief Rehearsal of some Remarkable Passages , out of E. B. his Book , Called Satan's Design Defeated ; In Answer to another Manuscript of the said Priest Jackson's , by way of Prophesie , to that remaining part of the Old Parliament then sitting ; threatning their destruction , if they took part with such malicious Priests against the Innocent ; which since in a great measure the Lord hath fulfilled upon them and him . Which may serve for a Warning to this Present Generation : By a Friend to Truth , and an utter Enemy to Persecution , J. S. Printed in the Year 1663. TRUTH Lifting up its Head above SLANDER : IN An ANSWER to THOMAS JACKSON , late Priest of Stoke in Sussex , his lying Paper which he left in the North of England , &c. THOMAS JACKSON , thy Paper which thou lestest in the North of England , with thy brother Parson , I have received ; wherein I find many devised Fables , which thou hast invented in thy corrupt heart , which thou wouldest fasten upon me as my Doctrine and Principles : And coming to London , I also find most part of the same things spread abroad by thee , and sent to some of the late Parliament ; which thou callest , The Tenetns of the Quakers in the North ; which thou sayest , thou hast Recited , and also they Maintained : Thou hast recited for the most part , the deceit of thy own frothy brain ; and thou must not think when thou bringest forth thy own Imaginations , who watchest for iniquity , that the Quakers will maintain those things ; but if thou assert things of thy self , and from thy dark understanding , which thou hast raked up out of the dungeon of confusion , which thou sayest thou hast waded in , as in thy Letter to thy Honourable Sir , to whom thou writest in feignedness and flattery these things , that thou hast charged us with ; thou must stand to thy self ; for that which the Quakers do assert , they will stand to and vindicate , against thee and all Opposers . Thou sayest , Thou hast more soul-refreshing work than to answer my Letter , which I sent unto thee , with the Queries . Forging up of Lyes , and inventing of Mischief , is no soul-refreshing work , but is the work which is brought by him , who is the Father of Lyes , whose work thou hast been working , which shall be made evident to thee , when the Lord shall arise to plead with thee , for all thy ungodly deeds and hard speeches against the Truth ; thou sayest , Thou wast willing to write a few words , that it might appear , whether thou or I were the Lyar ; because I said unto thee , in thy own words , what thou declaredst before near twenty people , after I had spoken two or near hand three hours ; when I know Truth had power over thee , that thou couldest not open thy mouth against what was spoken that day by me ; but after the Meeting , in thy brothers house , thou saidst , That no godly Minister in England would deny what I had spoken then in the Meeting to be Truth : Which words I returned unto thee , when I heard that thou backbited when I was gone , and said , I held Popish Tenents , and thou challengedst me to produce one witness that did confess unto the words before mentioned , as , [ that no godly Minister would deny what was spoken by me to be Truth : ] Now that thou mayest be convinced that thou art the Lyar , and not I ; I give thee four Witnesses , whose hands are subscribed for my Testimony against thee , to the aforesaid words ; that is to say , William Pearson , James Adamson , John Cay , Jane Pearson , with several others : And so thou must either plead thy forgetfulness , or else thou shewest thy self , in thine own words , to have an Impudent face , that darest deny that which thou spakest before many Witnesses ; so there is no way now to acquit thy self , but to confesse and repent of the envy which is in thy heart . Further , thou saist , That I denyed Imputed Righteousness , which thou sayest , is a Popish Doctrine ; thou must reckon that to them , and not to me ; for I told thee then , and now again , Whatsoever was Imputed or reckoned to them that did believe , I owned ; but for thee and the rest of you Parish-Teachers , Imputing or reckoning that unto your flock who are unconverted , which God reckoneth not nor imputes to them , is delusion and deceit . And further thou sayest , that I made the Gifts in the Heathens of the same quality with the Graces in Believers . These are thy own words , and not mine : But that the Light in Unbelievers , and the Light in Believers , is of the same quality or nature ; which is evident by its Operations , and by the Testimony of Scriptures ; this I shall stand unto . Christ saith , I am come a Light into the World. And the World in the Spirit 's account is not taken for Believers , though many of you Parish-Teachers have said so ; but the World are such as are unredeemed and unsanctified , and yet Christ is that true Light which is come into the world ; and that he is the Light of Believers thou wilt not deny . Now this is one and the self-same Christ , one and the self-same Light ; his Nature one , and his Quality one , which is pure , holy and divine : yet the manifestation of this Light is more clear in them that believe , than in them that believe not ; yet this altereth not the quality of the Light : for Unbelievers have also some manifestation , and that is it which convinceth of sin , and sheweth them things reprovable ; for whatsoever things are reprovable , as it is written , is manifest by the Light ; but that the Heathen are reproved , and Unbelievers are reproved , when they sin against that which is manifest in them , as is clear , Rom. 2. and that which reproveth for impurity is of a pure quality , as that which justifieth Purity and Righteousness . But I see , though a prize be put into the hand of a fool , he regardeth it not ; and though I then did declare , and now do , the Wisdom of God , yet thou being in the night perceivest it not . And thou sayest , that I hold falling away from Grace , which is a Popish Tenent : Then in this the Papists are nearer the Truth than thou ; and although a Papist hold it , I must not deny it , because it is true . The Apostle Jude speaks of some , who turned the grace of God into wantonness ; or , more truly rendred , from the grace of God into wantonness , and then walk after their own ungodly lusts , being gone from the grace of God which had appeared unto them , which afterwards they turned their backs upon , and fell from . And the Grace of God , which brings Salvation , hath appeared unto all men , yet all men are not taught by it ; my reason is not , because they want a Teacher ; neither , because Grace is not given to lead them , and to uphold them in Righteousness : but because they love it not , or stand not in his Counsel ; and so , falling from his Counsel , fall into ungodliness . And furthermore , the Apostle saith , as concerning Faith and a good Conscience , they had put away and made shipwrack of it : They could not put Faith away which had none , neither make shipwrack of a Ship , that never had one . And furthermore , Christ said unto his Disciples , Except a branch abide in the Vine , it cannot bring forth fruit ; no more can you except you abide in me . So that it is evident , that there is a possibility for a branch to be cut off from the Vine , and to wither ; and also that there may be a coming unto Christ , and a bringing forth fruit unto God , and yet losing the Power of God , the ●ight and life thereof , by which they have ability to do the Will of God , may wither and die , and so become unprofitable . Thou bidst me reade the Jesuites Writings if I had so much understanding . Thou art more conversant with the Jesuites Writings than I desire to be : it may be thou hast waded seven years in the old Popish Colledges , in which there are great store of such , and what thou hast done since , the Light in thy Conscience will let thee see : Yet I see before the Jesuites or their Writings , and need not to search there in such blackness and darkness . And then thou sayest , Tell me who thou art like ? I say , I deny them all in the root and in the ground : but as for thee and the rest of the Parish-hirelings , you are a stem sprung from the same root , manifest clearly to thousands in England , by very many of your practices , which have been made evident in publick , and so in that I shall forbear . Thou sayest in thy rage , I am given over to a mind without Judgment , because I said unto thee , thou knewest not what the Soul was , because thou said and affirmed it was a created thing , which thing I bid thee prove ; which thing thou did not then , neither yet hast ; and yet most impudently hast set it down as a tenent of mine that I should affirm , when only I desired thy proof : but let the Serpent be blind for me , I shall not feed that which is for destruction ; for thou art not one of those which watch for the Soul , to see it brought out of the grave , or out of death , but for thy gain from thy quarter , and for Iniquity . Thou sayest , Do not Souls go to Hell ? and , can the Eternal Birth go thither ? I 'le ask thee a Question , What was it that delivered David from the nethermost Hell , that brought his soul out of the Pit , and delivered his darling from the devouring Lion ? And what is it that tormenteth the wicked in Hell ? Is it not written , If I go up into Heaven , thou art there : or , if down into Hell , thou art there . Whither shall I go from thy Presence ? or , whither shall I flee from thy Spirit ? Art thou fit to be a Leader of a Flock who art ignorant of what Salvation is preached to ; or what it is that wants Redemption ? I say , thou preachest up the report of Christ , without the knowledge of him ; and thou sayest , Blessed are those that believe thy report , unto whom the Arm of the Lord is revealed . Many have heard thy Report , and such Reporters as thou , and yet know not Blessedness , neither is the Arm of the Lord revealed to them , or in them . Thou preachest him in words , but in works deniest him . Thou sayest , What gracious souls can but bleed , to hear how the Offices of Christ are rejected and denied amongst us , yea , his Blood and Sufferings , as to be onely report or signal thing : Signal thing is thy own words ; and it is evident who deny the Office of Christ , and who deny his Sufferings : for we say , He suffered once to take away sin : but you say , that the dearest Saint of God cannot be cleansed from sin while upon Earrh . We say , that the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin ; and there is no remission without blood : and you say , that none is to expect clensing from all sin in this life . We say , Christ is anointed of God to be a Leader to his People , whose lips only are to preserve knowledge , and the Law is to be received at his mouth , who saith , Learn of me ; and we say , the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy ; and that Christ is to rule as King ; and where sin rules , he ruleth not ; where sin is acted and brought forth , Christ is not King over them : But you say , the acts of sin , or the reliques or remainders thereof must never be subdued , while upon Earth , or done away wholly . We say , according to Christ's own words , Believe in the Light , and this is an Ordinance of Christ : but this you call delusion , and would make it void . So thou mayest take a view of your Doctrines , and let thy heart bleed when thou comest to consider , how thou rejectest the Office , Ordinances , Blood and Sufferings of Christ ; and , in a word , deniest the very End of his Coming , which is , to save his People from their sins . But thou sayest , the Children of the Promise can by Faith glory in him , and rest in him for Eternal Life . There is none knows Eternal Life , but who have the living Faith through which it is revealed ; And the Life is the Light of men : but you deny the Light , and so deny the Foundation of Faith , and the Author of it , and live in a life which is carnal , and take up a rest in these things which are invented in the Apostacy by corrupt-minded men ; which things are polluted , which all them that come to know Eternal Life must rise out of ; for this is not their Rest , but their Rest standeth in him , who subdueth and putteth under that which hath resisted him in all that believe , and then they come to know their Rest. Thou sayest further , What , is it a cankered way to preach Repentance and Faith , and to mortifie the deeds of the body , and to have their conversation in Heaven ? I say , Nay ; But to make people believe that they have repented , and have Faith , and that they are cleansed , and that they are mortified , and that they have their conversation in Heaven , when they are alive to Deceit and to Unrighteousness , and to the Lusts of the flesh , and converse with the worldly lusts , which make war against the soul : I call this Cankered Doctrine , and it eats as a Canker where it is received in . What art thou out of thy wits ? or , hast thou lost thy understanding ? Doest thou look that any have their conversation in Heaven , whilst they are here ? is it not written , No unclean thing enters into the Kingdom of God ? And stands not this as an Article of your Faith , That none is to expect cleansing from all sin here ? What , art thou putting people upon impossibilities , as to converse with God , or have their conversation in Heaven ? What blindness and ignorance is here ! And further , thou sayest , There are many Ministers in England , whom I call Babylons Merchants , which cause both Hell and Rome to shake , and to rage . Alas , what have you done ? The Covenant of Death is not yet broken , the Agreement with Hell is not yet disanulled ; for many are at union with it in their rage and envy , and would kill and destroy for their worldly maintenance , and to set up and establish those Reliques of Popery , and of Rome , which yet are unpurged out , out of the Nation ; as the Popes wages , Tythes , Masse-houses , sprinkling of Infants , and many more things which I might enumerate , which the Devil keeps himself alive in , and Rome hath an interest in ; and you rage and revile , and draw out your carnal weapons to destroy unmercifully them that bear witness against those things ; witness of late the Conspiracy of thy Brethren in Cheshire , Lancashire , and divers other places , who laboured to set all on a fire , and to kill and destroy them , who bore witness against Death , Hell and Rome ; and so your Preaching is to stir up Sedition amongst people , for your own Interest , and for the Interest of Hell and Rome , which is yet unpurged out of the Nation . And what tellest thou of the suffering Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes , to whom you are not to be compared ; many of them bore witness against many of those things , which you are holding up , and pleading for , as Tythes , Hire , and killing for Religion , and throwing into Holes and Dungeons them that cannot comply with you , to the upholding of these and the like deceits , which God will overthrow and confound . And thou sayest , When I will make it appear either by word or Writing , that I have learned which be the first Principles , the Oracle of God , and do own the Person and Offices of Christ , thou wilt answer my Queries . Now I let thee know both by word and writing , that I have learned and know which be they , as Repentance from dead works , and Faith towards God , and the Doctrine of Baptisms , and the laying on of hands , &c. and the Person , Ordinances , and Offices of Christ ( as I have proved before ) I own : therefore see that thou fail not the second time to answer my Queries . And as for the Dishes thou speakest of , I have left them behind me ; I say , they are thy own for the most part ( and not mine ) which thou hast scattered up and down the World to feed the Devil with . As first , That the Scriptures are neither a Light , nor the Saints Rule , neither is it every ones duty to search them . Two parts of this is thy own forged lye : but yet the Saints Rule , and the Son's Rule , is the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures . 2. That the Seed of the Woman is in every one ; Else what should bruise the Serpents head ? or what should destroy the works of the Devil ? And , the seed is sown in stony ground , thorny ground , and high-way ground , and good ground : Go , learn what it means . 3. That the Body which worms eat , shall never rise again . This is thy own forged lye : carry this Dish to the Table of Devils , from whence thou fetcht it . 4. That all who are reconciled unto God , have a measure of that Seed , which was conceived in the Virgins womb by the holy Ghost . Two parts of this is a lye , and thy own words : But all that are reconciled unto God , have Christ the Seed revealed in them . 5. That the Soul is not a part of Man , nor created . This is thy own Assertion , and not mine . The Soul is immortal , and came from God , and is preserved in the hand of the Lord. 6. The Light in every one is a spiritual substance , and a measure of God ; Christ that hath enlightned every man , is a spiritual substance ; and that which convinceth of sin , is the Spirit of God ; and God is a Spirit . 7. That the Talent which was lost , was that which Christ came to save . This thou hast forged up in thy dark mind . But the Sheep that were lost , he came to save ; and they that were hid in Prison-houses , he came to redeem ; and they that were snared in holes , and were for a prey and for a spoil , these he came to save from the Spoiler . Go learn what it means . 8. That the Clouds in which Christ is said to come , are in Man , and so are the Elements which are said to melt . This thou must see thy self before thou see his appearing ; for a Cloud covers him out of thy sight , and therefore thou art gazing and imagining abroad thou knowest not where . 9. That we are justified by the sufferings of Christ in us ; and that Christ as he is the Seed of the Woman doth suffer , and hath suffered from the foundation of the world . They that are justified , know him that hath suffered by them , and in them , and do believe his suffering at Jerusalem ; and by his Life revealed and manifested in them , they are justified ; and by his Righteousness which he hath revealed in them , and which he hath wrought for them , and by receiving of the Gift , Justification comes upon all that do believe . And is this such a strange Doctrine to thee , [ that Christ the Seed hath suffered in all ages by unbelievers ] and yet thou profess thy self a Minister of Christ ? Was he not slain from the foundation of the world ? did he not suffer after at Jerusalem ? hath he not been slain since in Sodom and Egypt , and now suffers by thee who art an inhabitant in that City ? A terrible day will come upon thee before thou knowest his Life revealed , or him to live in thee ; and this thou shalt witness to be true in the Day of the Lord. Answer my Queries , and do not evade as thou hast done , in forging thy own Imaginations , and then send them to me as my Assertions to prove . Thy things I return back to thee , thy Dishes , that thou mayest carry them back again , to the Table from whence thou hadst them ; and be no more a servant to him whose work thou hast been doing , lest misery and perplexity be thy end . Fra. Howgill . Something by way of a LETTER , from another hand , to the said THOMAS JACKSON , &c. FOrasmuch as the Private Admonition contained in the foregoing Letter , sent unto thee in writing by F. H. nor the Publick Reproof by E. B. in his printed Answer to a Manuscript of thine , sent in the year 1659 , to a Member of the Old Parliament , then sitting ; Nor yet the Word of the Lord , therein prophesying against thee , and them ; which hath since in a measure been made good upon thee , and them ; hath taken no good effect upon thee to beget a true Repentance in thee ; But like evil men and seducers , thou growest worse and worse , deceiving and being deceived , still continuing in thy old course of backbiting , railing , and secret smiting the Innocent : And because the Judgment of God hath reached thee in some measure , according to the Word of the Lord by his Servant aforesaid , in his said Answer , even so as thou canst not now vent thy devilish Persecution openly in a Pulpit ; yet still , as I have heard , thou takest occasion , by creeping into houses and corners , when thou canst but get together a company of silly women laden with sins , and led away with divers lusts , then thou takest opportunity to vent thy old Lies and Blasphemies afresh against God , his Name , his Truth , his Tabernacle , and them that dwell in Heaven ; calling the Truths of God , Popish Tenents , and they that hold the same , Hereticks ; when as it is thou thy self and thy Presbyterian Brethren that do hold such things , and not the innocent People of God called Quakers . As witness ; 1. Your denying the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles , which they held forth , preached up , pressed after , and attained unto in this life , viz. A freedom from sin ; and Perfection ; As these Scriptures following do testifie and bear witness unto . How shall we ( saith the Apostle ) that are dead to sin , live any longer therein , Rom. 6. 2. knowing this , that our old man [ is crucified ] with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed , that henceforth we should not serve sin : for he that is dead [ is freed from sin ] ver . 6 , 7. Being then made [ free from sin ] ye became the servants of Righteousness ; for when ye were the servants of sin , ye were free from Righteousness : but now being made [ free from sin ] and become Servants to God , ye have your fruit unto Holiness , and the end everlasting life , ver . 18 , 20 , 22. What can be more plain ? And then again , He that committeth sin , is of the Devil ; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning ▪ For this purpose the Son of God was manifested , that he might destroy the works of the Devil . Whosoever is born of God [ doth not commit sin ] for his seed remaineth in him , [ and he cannot sin ] because he is born of God , 1 Joh. 3. 8 , 9. And so for Perfection . Be ye therefore [ Perfect ] saith Christ , even as your Father which is in Heaven [ is Perfect ] Mat. 5. 48. We speak Wisdom among them that [ are Perfect ] saith the Apostle , 1 Cor. 2. 6. And he gave some , Apostles ; and some , Prophets ; and some , Evangelists ; and some , Pastors , and Teachers ▪ ( what to do ? why mark ) [ for the Perfecting of the Saints ] for the Work of the Ministry ; for the Edifying of the Body of Christ : till we all come in the Unity of the Faith , and of the Son of God , unto [ a Perfect man ] unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ , Ephes. 4. 11 , 12 , 13. And this was the end of the Apostles preaching , to present [ every man Perfect in Christ Jesus ] Col. 1. 28. And this is the end of all Scripture , even that the Man of God [ may be Perfect ] thorowly furnished unto all good works , 2 Tim. 3. 16 , 17. For the Law made Nothing [ Perfect ] but the bringing in of a better hope did ( viz. Christ ) by the which we draw nigh unto God , Heb. 7. 19. For by one Offering he hath [ perfected for ever them that are sanctified ] Heb. 10. 14. What can be more plain ? And ye are come unto Mount Zion , and unto the City of the living God , and the heavenly Jerusalem , and to an innumerable company of Angels ; to the General Assembly and Church of the First-born , which are written in Heaven ; and to GOD the Jvdge of all ; and to the spirits of Just men [ made Perfect ] Heb. 12. 22 , 23. But your denying of this Truth , sheweth you have made a league with Sin , Death and Hell : for as long as you live , you teach others to do so too , telling them they must not look to be free from corruption and sin while they live here . The Consequence of which Doctrine of yours must in the end bring in that Popish Tenent of Purgatory : For , if Perfection and freedom from sin , is not attainable unto in this life , as you say on the one hand ; Nor no unclean person or thing can enter into Heaven the Kingdom of God in the life to come , as the Scriptures of Truth say on the other hand , Eph. 5. 5. Rev. 21. 27. Then tell me when and where must the time and place of cleansing be ? must it not be in a middle place , and a middle time ? between Earth and Heaven , and between this life and the life to come , and so equal to the Papists Purgatory ? If this be not the Consequence of this your Doctrine , let the wise in heart judge . Again witness ; 2. Your maintaining the lawfulness of Swearing now under the Gospel , against the express words of Christ and his Apostles to the contrary , who saith , But I say unto you * Swear not at all , ( what more full ) neither by Heaven , for it is Gods Throne ; nor by the Earth , for it is his Footstool ; neither by Jerusalem , for it is the City of the great King : Neither shalt thou swear by thy head , because thou canst not make one hair white or black : But let your communication , be yea , yea : nay , nay : For whatsoever is more then these , cometh of evil , Mat. 5. 34 , 35 , 36 , 37. And the Apostle James saith , But above all things , swear not , neither by heaven , neither by the earth , neither by any other Oath ; but let your yea , be yea ; and your nay , nay ; lest you fall into condemnation , Jam. 5. 12. which is plain without all exception . And whether is not that an Antichristian and Popish Tenent , to put constructions and meanings , upon plain places of Scripture , contrary to the mind of Christ and his Spirit which wrote them ; which are so plain , that none that are simple-hearted , can oppose or evade . Again witness ; 3. Your former taking , and now pleading for , and justifying that Popish maintenance of Ministers by Tythes , which in its first Institution , in the time of the Law , when it was in full force , was appointed for the Levite ( because he had no part nor Inheritance among his brethren ; and therefore he was not to be forsaken nor forgotten ) and for the Stranger , and the Fatherless , and the Widow , that they might eat and be satisfied , Deut. 14. 27 , 28 , 29. and so there was no lack among them . But you plead for it now under the Gospel , and that by the same Law , which Law Christ hath since ended , and also changed that Priest-hood , and disanulled that Commandment , by which it was both taken and given , Heb. 7. And the Stranger , and the Fatherless , and the Widow , have little or no benefit by it at all from your hands , neither are our streets free from Beggers ; and besides , they are taken by you , who have great Inheritances in the Land , and yearly Revenues besides . Again , in the first Institution of Tythes , they were all to be brought into one Treasury , into the House of God , year by year , for the ends aforesaid , Neh. 10. but you carry it into your own Barns and Houses , and there use it for your own ends ( if not to abuse it , and spend it upon your lusts . ) Again , then the Levites , ( whose right the Tythes then were ) they were to offer up a Tenth part of all the Tythes , for a ●eave Offering unto the Lord , but you do not do so . Again , they were not to eat the Tythes by themselves , in their own houses , or within their own gates , but with the Strangers , and Fatherless and Widows , in the house , and in the place the Lord had chosen , Deut. 12. 17 , 18. But you do carry it into your own barns , and do eat it within your own gates , and do shut out the Strangers , and the Fatherless , and the Widows , so that they have no part nor portion in this matter with you . And thus it was in the time of the Law among the Jewes , about Tythes , when it was in force ; which though you will take as by virtue of that Law , yet you will not pactise in all things , no nor in any thing according to that Law , except in the very taking of them . But now under the Gospel , since Christ , ( as I said before ) hath put an end to that Priesthood , and changed the Law , and disanulled the Commandment thereof ; we do not find , that ever Christ Commanded Tythes to be payd , or ever appointed any set maintenance for his Ministers to receive , which he sends forth to preach the Gospel : Neither was any such practice used in the Primitive times ; but Christ sent them forth , without gold , without silver , and without brass in their purses , and without a Scrip for their Journey , &c. Mat. 10. 9 , 10. And they had as hard a hearted people to deal with then , as any are now ; for who more hard-hearted then Jews ? ( and therefore it is become a by-word amongst us to say , as cruel and as hard-hearted as a Jew ) and yet they lacked nothing , Luk. 22. 35. And Paul , who was an Apostle , not of men , neither by man , but by Jesus Christ , &c. Gal. 1. 1. saith , ( whom all men are to follow , as he followed Christ ) he behaved not himself disorderly , neither did he eat any mans bread for nought : but wrought with labour , and travelled night and day , ( with our hands , 1 Cor. 4. 12. ) that we might not be chargeable to any of you , 2 Thes. 3. 7 , 8 , 9. And is not then the matter of Tythes , now under the Gospel , a Popish Intrusion , which you stand up to maintain for your Bellies sake ? Again witness ; 4. Your calling the Popish Mass-Houses , built of material wood and stone , Churches : when as the Church of Christ is in God , 2 Thes. 1. 1. and is built up of living stones , fitly joyned together by him ; whereof he himself is the chief Corner Stone , elect and pretious , 1 Pet. 2 , 4 , 5 , 6. Again witness ; 5. Your late fleeing from your Flocks , when you saw the Wolf coming , leaving them to be scattered and catcht by the Wolf in the time of their greatest danger ; which proves you to be hireling Priests and Idol Shepherds , and not true Shepherds , whose own the sheep are not ; for then would you care for the sheep , and lay down your lives for the sheep , and for the Truth , the Pasture of the sheep ; and so make good the words of Christ against you , who saith , The good shepherd giveth his Life for the sheep , but he that is a hireling , and not the shepherd , whose own the sheep are not ; seeth the Wolf coming , and leaveth the sheep , and fleeth : and the wolf catcheth them , and scatttreth the sheep ; the hireling fleeth , because he is a hireling , and careth not for the sheep , Joh. 10. 11 , 12 , 13. Yea , and that which is worse ; thou Tho. Jackson more especially , hast not onely , contrary to thy duty , left thy flock , and left off preaching the Gospel , for fear of Persecution ; and so thereby brought thy self under the woe the Apostle pronounces , 1 Cor. 9. 16. who saith there , that a necessity is laid upon me , yea woe is unto me , if I preach not the Gospel ; but also hast , with some others , most treacherously betraied your simple ignorant flocks into the very hands and mouthes of the Wolves ; by perswading them , ( poor silly sheep , whose Faiths are too much pin'd upon your sleeves ) to go to the publick , to the high places , there to hear the Service Book , &c. and those that Preach there in all the Whores Robes , rather than not go to the publick at all ( which some have done to the wounding of their Consciences ) and all this lest peradventure , ( as you fear ) they your Proselytes when they have used themselves to a separation from the publick , may hereafter separate also from you , when the day of your Restauration shall come , which you daily hope for ; or otherwise , it is to be feared , that if you had not many of you taken the Covenant , you would have stooped to and crouched under all the relicks of Popery that are now publickly in use , rather then to have quit your Livings , which now you cannot some of you , ( though too many of your brethren have ) and all because if you should , your more discerning hearers would easily discern your Perjury , and so decline you for ever . And now hast not thou hereby betrayed the souls of the Ignorant , and sold them for bread ; and made merchandise of them for a pair of shoes , and will they not be required one day at thy hands ? Consider and repent , if it be possible , before it be too late . But oh ! you simple-hearted People who have been long hearers of these men , and a long time learning , and not yet come to the knowledge of the Truth ; why are ye so blind ? and see not that these be the men , most of them , that the Apostle speaks of , that have but a Form of godliness , but deny the Power , from whom you are warned and commanded to turn away from , 2 Tim. 3. 5 , 6 , 7. Wherefore , Come forth from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord , and touch no unclean thing , and I will recieve you , and will be a Father unto you , and ye shall be my sons and daughters , saith the Lord Almighty , 2 Cor. 6. 17 , 18. Turn your hearts and minds inward , and look within , For the Grace of God which brings Salvation , hath appeared unto all men , teaching us , that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts , we should live soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world , Tit. 2. 11. Therefore look not for it without you , but look for it within ; your outward Teachers are taken away , and removed into corners , that you may look within for a Teacher that cannot be removed into a corner ; And the Word of God is within ; and the true Teacher which can teach you all things , is within ; and the Kingdom of God is within you ; and Christ the King of that Kingdom is within you too , except ye be reprobates ; and the Temple of God is also within ; therefore have no fellowship with the works or workers of darkness , neither without nor within ; for what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols ? For ye are the Temple of the living God , as God hath said , I will dwell in them and walk in them , and will be their God , and they shall be my People , 2 Cor. 6. 16. Therefore hear the Call of the Lord , for it may be the last time that some of you may hear it , who Calls out of Babylon ; Come out of her my People , saith the Lord , that ye be not partakers of her sins , and that ye receive not of her plagues ; for her sins have reached up to heaven , and God hath remembred her iniquities , Rev. 18. 4 , 50 But to return . Again witness ; 6. Your Popish Ordination to the Ministry , which is of man , and by man , and derived either from the Pope , to the Bishop , and from the Bishop to the Presbyter , and so from the Presbyter to You , or from a Congregation of men , in an University or otherwise ; and so still of Man and not of God , nor separate by the Spirit , unless by such a spirit as can be bought for mony , at the University or elswhere , by being sometime a Student in Arts , Tongues , and Languages , Humane and Natural Sciences ; ( the Seat of the Whore , Rev. 17. 16. ) and for this are you reckoned by men , and do account of your selves , to be set apart for the Ministry , and to be superiour to others , thereby to lord it over God's Heritage ; to be set in the uppermost seat in the Synagogues , and at Feasts , and to be greeted in the Market-place , and called of men Master , and ( Master of Arts ) contrary to the Scriptures ; although you must for all this , study hard for a Sermon , and having compiled one , you must either con it without Book , and so put it to Sale , by repeating it over again , or read it within Book , to make money of it , yea sometimes you sell them two or three times over ; and after this manner do you divine for money and preach for hire ( and own the Name of Divines ) and say , Thus saith the Lord , when the Lord hath neither spoken to you , nor sent you . Therefore read your Portion in Ezek. 13. to the end . Now are not these your Tenents , Popish Tenents indeed ? and these your Practices , Popish Practices indeed , which are practised by you ? Well , I shall leave it to the Judgement of all those that are but a little enlightened in their Consciences , with Christ the true Light , which lighteth every man that cometh into the world , to determine . And now , Dost not thou shew thy self a true Son of the Church of Rome in this matter ? who whore-like , cryest out whore first , and a right Merchant of Babylon , in crying out Error , Heresie , and Blasphemy ; Hereticks , and Schismaticks , Popish Tenents , and Seducers ! when thou thy self art found in the self same thing . Well , read thy state in the Second Chapter to the Romans : Read the whole Chapter with a spirit of meekness and patience ; and if it were possible I would ( or rather the Lord by me ) perswade thee to Repentance , before it be too late ; For the Lord is come , and coming ( according to the Prophesie of Enoch ) in ten thousand of his Saints , to render judgement upon all , and to convince all that are ungodly among them , of all their ungodly deeds , which they have ungodlily committed ; and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against them , Jude 14 , 15. Read the whole Epistle with a sensible heart , and weeping eyes , in fear and trembling ; and remember and call to mind all thy rayling , lying , slandring , backbiting , and malitious reproaches thou hast cast upon all perswasions differing from thee , in secret and in the dark . Remember what thou hast said against , and how vilely thou hast reproached the Author of that Book , called , The Retired Man's Meditations , as also the Baptists , and our Friends . Now thou wilt not , nor canst not Preach in Publick , consider what thou art doing in Private : The Lord seeth thee , and a Book of Remembrance is taken of it , and shortly thou must come to account , and what a sad reckoning wilt thou make , and an account give to him that hath said , The reproaches of them that reproached thee , are fallen upon me , Psal. 69. 9. Rom. 15. 3. And , In all their afflictions he is afflicted , Isa. 63. 8 , 9. And , In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these , my brethren , ye have done it unto me , Mat. 25. 40. And , Whosoever toucheth them , toucheth the apple of his eye . Therefore repent betimes , else horror and terror , tribulation and anguish will fall upon thee , and torment thee without end . And know also , that that which Edw. B. did write unto thee from the Lord , in the Year 1659. ( when part of the Long Parliament was sitting ) in his Answer to thy Manuscript , is Truth still , and thou , if not ●eared , mayest both see it , and feel it made good , upon thy self and others at this day , and the rest hastens apace to be fulfilled . A taste of which , by reciting some of the Passages in that Book , to put thee a little in remembrance thereof , thou wilt find at the end hereof . Now I say , for these Reasons aforesaid , it is judged meet to Print that Letter foregoing , which was sent to thee in Writing so long ago ; for the making thy folly more manifest , and if it might be that thou mayest bethink thy self , and that thy poor deluded Proselytes may see , if it may be , what a deceiver thou art ; who continuest still to whisper thy lyes and envy about , and seekest darkness for thy cover , as being ashamed of the Light , and all because thy case is naught , and thy deeds be evil ; whereas he that doth right , seeks no corners : For every one that doth evil , hateth the light ; neither cometh to the light , lest his deeds should be reproved : but he that doth truth , cometh to the light ; that his deeds may be made manifest , that they are wrought in God , Joh. 3. 19 , 20 , 21. The 12th . Month , 1662. From an utter Enemy to all manner of Persecution for Conscience sake , but a real Lover of thy Soul , J. S. Some Passages of E. B. his Book , in Answer unto Tho. Jackson's Paper , written to all the remaining part of the Old Parliament , then sitting ; as well as to the said T. J. in 1659. Which in a great measure is fulfilled already , and the rest is hastning , to be fulfilled in due time ; Which may serve also for a Warning to this present Generation . THomas Jackson , in the Conclusion of his Paper written to W. C. Member of that remaining part of the Old Parliament aforesaid , saith thus , Worthy Sir , It will be your honour to stand in the Gap , to stop the violence of this hellish Torrent ( meaning those Tenents he falsly chargeth upon the Innocent harmless People of God , called Quakers ) that is so high , that it sounds from Dan to Beersheba , and threatens Judgement to our Israel , &c. To which E. B. Answers thus , Page 16. and Part of the 17. Answ. Here is the concluson of thy matter , which is the sum of it ; A running to the Powers of the Earth for help . What , have you Ministers lost the Lord to be your strength , that you must fly for help to Men , to defend you from the Spirit of God in his People ? Must they make Laws to establish you , and set you up ; is not this the Whore that rode upon the Beast , and that the Beast carries ? Is not here a description of her , out of the mouth of this Author ? Is he crying to you to Persecute the Innocent ? It is true , the Seed of God is risen , the Elect Seed , that is able to make War against the Beast , and against the false Prophets , even with the Word of the Lord , and is he offended that Truth is risen so high ? And would he have some Fire and * Faggots again in Smithfield ? and some Persecution and Banishment , acted upon the People of God ? Is this the standing in the Gap , and stopping Violence , or would ye have it done this way ? Yea , Judgements indeed are threatned to your Generation ; for if God will not destroy you soon enough , you will destroy your own selves ; and Your own Iniquity will be upon you , and the wickedness of the wicked shall slay him . But my Counsel is not only to that particular Member , but to the whole Body of them , that they be wise and take heed what they do ; for the Eye of the Lord is over you , and his Hand can dash you in pieces ; and if you be Oppressors of the poor People of God , sand will not relieve the Opressed , the Innocent , and break the bonds of Oppression , the Lord will break you in pieces ; for this is the Rock that hath broken all before you , [ Persecuting People for Conscience sake ] and if you go on in this way , your Destruction shall be the most lamentable of any that was ever yet before you : Do you not yet see the wickedness of this Generation ? will you yet contend for them ? Surely you might learn wisdom even by their folly ; And if you do not shut your eyes , there needs no more discovery than their own present wayes and works . Wherefore consider the Day of God's Visitation is upon you , make good use of your time , lest the Lord break you down , and never build you up ; and let the Spirit of the Lord have its Liberty , and limit it not , for if you do , you shall never prosper , nor never be made a blessing unto the People under your charge . ☞ Remember you are warned by a lover of your Souls . And Page 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. E. B. saith , And this I say unto you in the Name of the Lord , that whilst that Interest ( of this false Priesthood I mean ) is so much favoured ☞ and defended , you can never prosper , nor the Nations be ever happy under you ; for it is one of the greatest oppressions this day in the Nation , the maintaining and upholding of this Ministry by Tythes and other unrighteous wages ; and the very Land groans under the oppression of this Church and Ministry , which lieth as a heavy Burden upon both Persons and Estates , and Consciences of many good People , even of your dearest Friends ; And though the Lord doth manifestly ( even from Heaven ) shew signal Tokens of his Displeasure against them ; And the Servants of the Lord they also cease not to warn you concerning them ; and their own doings are sufficient Testimony of the Malice of their Hearts against you , and all good men in the Nation ; yet nevertheless some of you seem to shut your eyes , as if you would see no evil in them , and are crying up your godly Ministers ; and some of you despising the man ( as not worthy to live ) that doth but speak against them : And thus are you blinded , and perceive not where the cause lies of your interruption to bring forth Righteousness . I say , it is the favouring of that Interest which stops the Issues of good things ; and while you oppress peoples Persons , and Estates , and Consciences , to uphold this Ministry and Priesthood aforesaid , the ☞ Lord shall never prosper you , nor make the Nations happy under your Charges . And this you shall witness eternally . Therefore , clear your selves ; do not any longer drink the Whores Cup , neither be ye Carriers of her , to execute her wickedness upon the Bodies and Consciences of People ; for it is written , the Beast hath carried the Whore , and we see it hath been thus , as John saw it was to come to pass ; and so clear your selves from her Tyrannies and Oppressions , and leave this false Church and Ministry to themselves ; and if God will not uphold them by his Power , why should you do it ? If these Priests have not yet planted Vineyards that will yeeld them fruit , and if their Flock will not yeeld them milk freely , why should you unjustly impose upon Peoples Consciences , and compel Tythes and Money from them , for the maintenance of these men ? ye ought not to do it ; for while ye compel and force People by Violence , contrary to good Conscience , to maintain ☜ and uphold this Ministry , and Church , and Worship , you do but cause People to drink the Whores Cup , and you are but them which carry the Whore , viz. the false Church . And this is plain-dealing , to tell you the Truth , whether ye will reject it or receive it : wherefore cast them off , and let them not lurk under your wings , &c. They will cry out Heresie and Error of others , that themselves may seem clear , while as the same lodgeth in their own hearts ; wherefore , I say , do not make a false Peace with them , neither do ye flatter with treacherous minds , &c. I say unto you , Better were it for you to lay these men aside , ☜ and their Flatteries and feigned prayers , and to save your selves from their Flattery , than to perish with them . And one of these will come to pass ; for it 's decreed of the Lord , if you uphold them , and oppress peoples Persons and Estates , and Consciences on their behalf , and in their evil cause , for Tythes and Wages to them ; ye shall fall with them , and none shall be able to deliver , neither you nor them , &c. Wherefore , Take heed unto your selves , and be wise , and learn , and do us Justice ; or else God will do us Justice upon you ; if you will not take off our Burdens , and ease our Oppressions , ☜ the Lord will ease us of you , and the Earth shall not be oppressed with you : And if ye will uphold this Priesthood against Equity and good Conscience , the Lord will free good Consciences both from you and them . And this is the Word of the Lord God unto you . ☞ The Open Enemy hath not prevailed against you , but the secret hand of the Lord will not miss you . THE END . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A44811-e1620 2 Tim. 3. 13. 2 Tim. 3. 6. Rev. 13. 6. Heb 10. 1 Heb. 9. 9 , 11. * Though the words [ Swear not at al ] be free enough from any exception , yet ( in regard some of the corrupt sons of Adam say ) this was meant in our communication only , that is , say they , in our ordinary discourse ; But yet liberty is left thereby for Swearing before a Magistrate , being thereunto lawfully called . I say , the Apostle James , as one foreseeing these two Cavils or Exceptions , saith ( to put the matter out of doubt ) neither by any other Oath , and also leaves out the word Communication ; so as there is no room left for any Exception at all . Amos 2. 6. ch . 8. 6. Read diligently and mark these places . Isa. 30. 20 , 21. Joh. 2. 20 , 27. Luk. 17. 20 , 21. 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2 Cor. 6 ▪ 16. Act. 3. 22 , 23. Rom. 10. 6 ▪ 7 , 8. Luk. 20. 46 , 47. Luk. 11. 43. Mat. 23. 6. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. Mich. 3. 11 Ezek. 13. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , &c. Joh. 1. 9 : Notes for div A44811-e3910 * Mark , is he not the same man still ? though he be a Sufferer under a pretence of Conscience , yet his Principle nor Nature is not changed to this day . ☞ mark . Mark , is not this made good to the full at this day ? ☜ Yea surely , a Prophet of the Lord hath been among you . Mark. Mark. Was not this truly prophesied ? Mark. Let this Generation beware ; for there is no resisting the Hand of the Lord.