ONE BLOW AT BABEL In those of the PEPOLE CALLED BEHMENITES. Whose Foundation is not upon that of the Prophets and Apostles, which shall stand sure and firm for ever; but upon their own Carnal Conceptions, begotten in their Imaginations upon Jacob Behmen's Writings, etc. They not knowing the better part, the Teachings of that Spirit that sometimes opened some Mysteries of God's Kingdom in Jacob, have chosen the worse part with Esau, according to the predominancy of that Spirit which ruled in them when they made choice of their Religion, as it doth in other the hearts of the Children of disobedience. By JOHN ANDERDON.  
LONDON, Printed in the year 1662.   

One blow at Babel, in those of the People called Behminites, whose Foundation is not upon that of the Prophets and Apostles, which shall stand sure and firm for ever, etc.  
KNow ye not, that the stone cut out of the Mountains without hands, is laid to the foot of all the Images set up in all the earth? Before whom Dagon shall fall, and Bell shall be confounded, and all the gods of the Heathen shall be dashed in pieces, and none shall stand though never so excellent and glorious in the sight of men, for God hath determined, that the Image of his Son Christ Jesus the Light of the world, the fairest of ten thousands (though hitherto more marred than any man's) shall be set up, made manifest and brought forth in this the day of God 's power, by the operation of his Eternal Spirit in the hearts of men, which changeth them into the likeness of his glorious Body, prepared to do the will of God, and bringeth forth fruit to the praise and glory of his Grace for ever. And whither wander you in your imaginations, inventing and setting up strange gods in your minds, according to your own hearts lusts, & fall down & worship the works of your own hands, the Image that ye have set up, that can neither go nor speak, but are altogether dead, and without life, being form out of the dust of the earth, with your Mediums and borrowed instruments, not according to the lively pattern & workmanship of God in Christ Jesus the hope of glory, but according to your carnal inventions, the Masterpiece of your Form and Image that ye have created to yourselves, grounded upon some misunderstood expressions, or imaginary conceptions of jacob Behmen's writings, the tendency of whose spirit ye can never fathom, nor see rightly to judge of, until ye come to the Light (that thing so despicable in your eyes also) which gives the true understanding of the things of God, and through Judgement brings men to sound and pure reason, and discretion to judge and discern between the operation of spirits, and shows what is imaginary, and what is true; which lets us see and fathom the ground and bottom of your errors and delusions, and from whence your rise is, and what your end is, though you may propose great things to yourselves, as if ye were a people more excellent than others, because there sometime appeared an excellent spirit in Jacob Behmen in some things, and ye are of his Judgement: But alas! alas! the Conclusions that you have drawn to yourselves from his Writings, will not profit you; neither doth it make you any jot the more excellent, that ye can talk much of him, and his Books and Writings, being not come to the right Spirit in which is life, which brings men out of dead forms, and vain imaginations, and by its immediate teachings and power leads them up to God, and teacheth them how to worship in spirit and truth. What advantage would it be to us if we were able to speak with the tongue of men and Angels, if we through the strength of memory were able to dispute and talk of all the lives of the holy men of God, and say that we are of such a man 's judgement, and knew not that unerring, infallible Spirit of God to lead us thereto? What is all else that is done by way of imitation of others, but traditional, and such knowledge as puffeth up, and maketh men Pharisaical, as if they knew much, when in truth they know nothing yet as they ought to know; and such a people may pay tithe of Cummin and Aniseed, be strict and zealous in formalities, and neglect Judgement, Righteousness and Mercy, the weightier matters of the Law. And friends, this I must tell you, That until ye have felt and known the Spirit of Judgement and Burning to pass upon you as Fuller's Soap, and as a Refiners fire, to cleanse your earthen Vessels, ye are not fit for the Lord's use, neither do you serve him in your Ordinances (as you call them) with acceptance, but toil and labour in your vain minds to bring forth nothing but abominations: It's no better, whatever your conceits are yea, and your ways are as grievous and burdensome to the Lord's Spirit, as the way of profaneness, for Hypocrisy is a most hateful thing unto the Lord, and to profess Religion by way of tradition, without the Spirit of Life to lead and guide men therein, is no better than to Sacrifice Swine's blood, and the cutting off a Dog's neck in this the Day of the Lord. Therefore deceive not your own souls by your imaginary righteousness, and self-separation, which exceeds not that of the Scribes and Pharisees, which enter not God's Kingdom, but will be shut out as an unclean and unholy thing, amongst the dogs that are without the Gate of that City wherein dwelleth that righteousness which God hath chosen and appointed, and is wrought by his own Eternal Spirit: But the ground of your Image is from that root which is evil, of the Enemies planting, and can never bring forth fruit unto God. There is a right seed sown by God in the hearts of men, but some falls on the highways side, and Satan immediately cometh and catcheth away the Word out of their hearts, and so becomes their Head, and leadeth them to do that which is evil, yet many times under a pretence of Religion, Righteousness, and Zeal for God: And here the Devil works in a Mystery.  
And thus friends, I may deal plainly with you, there was sometime in you (I believe) a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and from that desire, as not knowing the way to attain thereunto, you separated, and searched holy Writings, as ye judged, to find out this way, and not keeping to the Light in your own Consciences, down to that which begat the desire, which also shows the way, (and ye should have taken heed unto it, as to a Light shining in a dark place, until the day had dawned and the daystar had arisen in your hearts, which would have given you the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ) ye wandered in your imaginations to find out this way without a Guide, and so erred and went astray from that which would have manifested the way to you, and in you, and laid hold on that which seemed most suitable to your judgements and understandings, which were darkened; and by how much the more zealous and real ye were in your intentions, by so much the more firmly ye stand united and joined to that way which in your ignorance ye have chosen, and it may be somewhat the more fastened to it, because it may challenge a priority of images set up in these latter days wherein the Mystery of Iniquity hath wrought under so many divers colour, and forms of Heavens and Heavenly things. And do ye think that when ye made choice of this your Religion which ye now hold, that the Spirit of this world, the Prince of the power of the air, had not the greatest interest and overruling power in you? Or were ye come to know the voice of the true Shepherd in you, from the voice of that false prophet which sat in God's Judgement-seat in your hearts, and perverts the right ways of the Lord; if ye are not through God's righteous Judgements upon the Prince of this World in you, come to discern and know the true voice of God's Eternal Spirit, from the Spirit of Error and Delusion in you, which presents itself (when God's work is to be done) to draw the mind after it, to follow after shadows instead of substance; how can ye have confidence that ye are in the right way, and are not deluded and drawn away with the error of the wicked? And being built upon that foundation, the more abominable your profession is, it being a branch also of Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots, who sometimes appears in the dress of the true and chaste Spouse, but all to this very end, to hide her Hypocrisy and Deceit, the filthiness of her hearts Fornications and Whoredoms.  
And what is all the talk and profession of Religion in the world without the present teachings and motion of God's Spirit, but dead works, and the covering of Antichrist? And all your talking of God's Kingdom, of Salvation and Redemption by the Blood of Christ, while sin and iniquity lodgeth in your hearts, is no better than to account the blood of Christ an unholy thing to cover the Serpent's Head in you: And the Devil can say, that Christ is the Son of God, and this hurts not his Kingdom; but when the Axe comes to be laid to the root of that tree in man which bringeth forth evil fruit, than all the world is an uproar, and the Devil rageth against this Work with all his strength and subtleties, for this strikes at the root of his Kingdom; and whosoever knows the destruction thereof in them by the power of God, which is Christ Jesus the Light of the world, they must know many sore combats and bitter conflicts, and the righteous judgements of the Lord God must be poured out upon the man of sin in them; that through the Cross of Christ, the power of God, man may be made willing to forsake the Devil and all his works, and so being brought from under Satan's power into the power of God, they may come to know that Seed raised in them which bringeth forth fruit unto God, it being that which redeems out of the fall, from under the curse, and is blessed for evermore.  
Verily Friends, the work of Regeneration is not an easy work to flesh and blood, but is to be known through much sore travel of soul, yea such pains and pangs doth truly accompany that Birth, as the pangs of a woman in travel; and this is not a notional thing only, but truly and really to be felt in the creature, and through death life is to be known: Therefore deceive not yourselves to think that ye are the people of the Lord, and in a good state and condition, when it is otherwise with you; think not I say that ye are come to the substance, but are catching after shadows which will not profit your souls. And this is my testimony to you from the Lord, That ye are not in the truth of God, but out of the way of his salvation, yea in that which grieves his Spirit, under Death's power ye are, what images or likenesses soever ye frame to yourselves, and bring forth, and what services soever ye perform, and not from the present teachings of God's Spirit, are but abomination in the sight of the Lord. And the more ye do struggle and strive in your unregenerate nature, and utter words without knowledge, the more are your understandings darkened, and alienated from the life of God, and the Commonwealth of Israel, and are enemies to God in your minds by reason of wicked works, and the spirit of bondage is over you, which crucifies the just. Therefore repent and return from the evil of your ways, that you may be redeemed from the vanity of your minds, and know a change wrought in your hearts by the Word of God, which is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder between the soul and the spirit, the joints and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, which Word liveth and abideth for ever.  
And think not I say, that your imaginations from Jacob Behmen's Writings about baptising of Infants, have any more authority or ground from the Scriptures of truth given forth by the Spirit of God, neither is it of more advantage to you, than the Crosses set up by Papists in the Highways, and on the top of Steeple-houses, are to destroy sin, and save your souls, which were set up in the days of Apostasy from the truth; for here is the rise and ground of Images, when men went from the truth of God within, than the Devil which draws the mind into visible things of this world where he works) persuades them to set up some likenesses without, which may please the carnal and sensual part, to feed that Birth which is of the flesh, and stands at enmity against God, and so in the apostasy, when people forsook the Cross of Christ the power of God, that destroys sin in the flesh, than instead of that, up comes all sorts of Crosses without, and so the like of other pictures and images set up and worshipped by men of corrupt minds; and instead of the new birth spoken of in the Scriptures, which is of Water & the Spirit, without which none can be saved, which is irksome & grievous to such as are grown old in sin and iniquity; therefore a more easy invention is found out, to make children Christians by sprinkling a little water upon them, before they know the right hand from the left; and so under the Name of Christians, live in the abomination of Heathens all the days of their lives, which profiteth them so much as the talking of God's salvation doth profit him that lives in sin and iniquity, which is only so much as for a man to have a name that he lives, while he is dead.  
And as for your Mediums that you work by, they are little less than new Saviour's which ye have begotten in your carnal imaginations and reasonings about the things of God, not knowing him who is the way, the truth and the life, who is that Bread which came down from God out of Heaven, upon which he that is born of God feeds, and is nourished up unto eternal life; but that which is born of the flesh, savours the things of the flesh, and feeds upon that which must die and come to an end, and comes not to know the body and blood of Christ to be meat and drink indeed; and except ye eat his flesh and drink his blood, ye have not life in you: But this is too hard a saying it may be, for you who have said so long on Husks, upon that food which perisheth, that ye cannot relish that food which liveth and abideth for ever: And have you that life in you, or else ye are dead in sins and trespasses: And is that Fountain of water opened in you, that springeth up unto everlasting life? Or else ye are dry and barren, and without fruits unto God. And do ye eat his flesh? and do ye drink his blood? and are ye lead by his spirit? Or else ye are none of his. And where then is the Man Christ, the Body prepared to do the will of God? Or else you are using your Mediums as dead works, to attain this new and living way, and so seek the living amongst the dead, to get qualifications into your souls, as Simon Magus would give money for the gift of the Holy Ghost, a corrupt price for a heavenly purchase. And is the Body and Blood of Christ too hard for you, and unsuitable to that birth which ye are of, and therefore is most agreeable to that ye feed upon, Bread and Wine, and plead for Bread and Wine as those that know no better food, but that which feeds that birth which is after the flesh, and must die, and lives upon shadows after the substance is come? And what birth do you feed with your bread and wine, is it not that which lusteth, and ought not to be satisfied? For that birth which is of God, hungers and thirsts after the living presence of the Lord, & is therewith only satisfied. Therefore try and examine well this matter, whether ye are in the Faith of God, and elect in that nature which pleaseth God, or else your eating and drinking, and sacrificing, is no better than the ploughing of the wicked, which is sin.  
And as for your Mediums and working-Instruments that ye use as necessary for the conveyance of God 's Grace and virtue into your souls, introduced by way of example from the Miracles done by Moses and the old Prophets, by Christ and the Apostles, by outward means, ye being not in the same power of God by which the noble acts of the Lord were done: In you it tends to no other end but to set or keep up somewhat of men 's inventions above the present teachings and power of God, which is the beginning of false worships, and leads to set up the Creature above the Creator, and to exalt that birth which is after the flesh, above that which is of the Spirit; for whence comes all the worshipping of Saints, and the Heavenly Host (as they call it) amongst the Church of Rome, as the means and way to get into God's favour, but from him who first taught people to worship strange gods, and to set up the traditions of men above the Commands of Jesus Christ, who saith, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will refresh you; he who faith, I am the way, the truth and the life, appointed of God unto salvation; and there is not another Name under Heaven whereby men can be saved. But in days of old there was a people that disigently searched the Scriptures which testified of him, and thought therein to find life, but would not come unto him who hath the words of eternal life, that they might receive life from him; but would have it in their own way from the Scriptures as their Mediums: And what is the end of all their attainments, but only this, they grew wise to do evil, and crucified the Lord of life.  
And what can ye with all your Mediums do, as to the destroying of sin, & saving your souls, more than the sons of Sceva, the Vagabond jews, the Exorcists could do to cast out Devils by way of imitation, in the name of that Jesus whom Paul preached, whom they knew not to be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; and there is not another Mediator between God and Man, but Christ Jesus the Light of the world, unto whom ye must all come, as to that Original Fountain of Life from whence all good doth flow; and wait to know his voice in you, which will teach you the way of God more perfectly, and not to boast of other men's lines, but to come down out of all your imaginations, in the silence of flesh to wait to hear his voice, who is able to instruct you in the way of life, and teach you to do the will of God in earth as it is in Heaven; and whatever ye do without him, it's no better than Cain's Sacrifice, which finds not acceptance with God: And all your treasuring up of wisdom and knowledge in your unregenerate nature, which is not from the present teachings of God 's Spirit, (who knows what is fit for you will profit you no more than the Israelites gathering of Manna beyond God 's command, did profit them, and it is no better than the treasuring up of wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of God 's just Judgements upon all ungodly men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Therefore come down to him who is meek and lowly in the heart, unto the appearance of Christ Jesus in you, who is come a Light into the world, and follow him who reproveth the world of sin, that by it ye may be lead into all truth. And know assuredly, that until ye come to the Light, to walk in the Light, ye are not the children of God, but abide in darkness, and the Prince of this world rules in your hearts, as in other the children of disobedience. And let not the shame of the Cross affright you also from the Crown of the Kingdom, which cometh not by observation, but is within you; and the Word nigh, in the heart and in the mouth, which discovereth to man his thoughts, will only show you the way; and unless ye come to know Christ in you the hope of glory, all other hopes are but as the hope of the hypocrite, that shall perish.  
And as to the necessity that ye seem to place in your Mediums of Water, Bread and Wine, as if a man could not be saved without them, by way of Query something farther proposed.  
1. Whether ye own Transubstantiation, and judge it to be the body and blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin, and so set up the Creature above the Creator?  
2. Or whether ye use them as signs and figures of good things to come, as not knowing him come who is the Substance?  
3. Or whether ye use them as helps to salvation, accounting the blood of Christ the Light of the world, insufficient to destroy sin, and to save your souls?  
4. Or whether ye have notset up an imagination in your minds about the way of God's Salvation, and resolve to have salvation in your own way, and to oppose that which is contrary to it, as men do that know not the present teachings of God's Spirit?  
5. Or whether do you think that Christ hath left the work of God's salvation to any Creature, and is not the same yesterday, to day and for ever, the alone Saviour of the world?  
6. Or whether the Mystery of God's Kingdom be hid from you, and so it's beyond your Capacities, and therefore with them that perish, you'll feed upon mortals, upon that which must die, and reject him who is the Word of God, that liveth and abideth for ever, that Bread which came down from God out of Heaven, Christ Jesus the Light of the World, the only way to the Father?  
Try and examine well these things, and let the witness of God in your own consciences be answered in every particular, that so you may no longer live under Death's power, but repent and be converted unto the power of God, which is only able to destroy sin, and save your souls, as witnessed by  
your Friend in truth, john Anderdon. Bridgewater the 26. of the 7th. Month, 1661.  
FINIS.