A WARNING AGAINST THE DECEIT OF Setting Up Man's Reason, As JUDGE in Spiritual Matters.  
First written in Latin, by a German Noble Man, A. V. F. and Printed 1644. Then translated into Dutch, and Printed at Rotterdam, in the Year, 1674. And now Translated into English, and Printed  
By a Lover of Truth, S. Crisp.  Coloss. 1. ver. 21, 22, 23. And you that were sometimes alienated, and Enemies in your Minds by wicked Works; yet now hath he reconciled, In the Body of his Flesh through Death, to present you Holy and Unblamable and Unreprovable in his sight. If you continue in the Faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a Minister. 
PRINTED in the Year, 1677.   

TO THE READER.  
Courteous Reader,  
THIS short TREATISE with which thou art here presented, is a Fruit of that pure living three of Righteousness, which in all Ages hath Afforded Food and Refreshment to the whole Heritage of God in all Nations; and whosoever in the darkest Times have truly waited to be fed and nourished by it, have always found it to give them Wisdom and Courage to appear for God against his Enemies, and the Lord by his Divine Power hath been their Support, and enabled them to endure the Reproach and Contradiction of Evil Men, and at last crwoned their Sufferings and Testimonies with Honour and Esteem, among whom this Author, Abraham Van Frankenburgh: Though he were, as to this World a Man of Honour and Repute in his Days; yet because he could not run along with the Current of the Corruptions of his Times, but bore Witness against them, could not be free from the Reproaches and Reflections of Ungodly Men, but was by their fallen and corrupt Wisdom rendered as an Heretic, and Dissenter from their Churches and ways of Worship that then were in Fashion in those Countries; howbeit he was secretly supported by a Divine Hand, and wrote many Good and Godly Testimonies upon divers Subjects, which as yet have not been seen, that I know of, in our English Tongue, nor in any other than in Latin; till of late I finding one to have taken the Pains to Translate this little Piece into Dutch, thought myself engaged to mine own Nation, to let my Country Men have the View of it in our own Longuage: Although it hath pleased God, in his unspeakable Love to us, to raise up, even in our Nation, the glorious Testimony of His Power in a larger Measure since this was Written, according to the prophesy of this Author: Yet there is Comfort and Service to all the Upright in Heart, to behold the Ancient Glimmerings of that Blessed Day Spring, with which we are visited. And it may serve to stop the Mouths of those who upbraid the Work of God in our Day, and the People that are his Workmanship with Novelty, when they see Testimonies to the same Truth, of Ancienter Date than they would allow unto the Discovery and Preaching of it.  
For my part, I can faithfully declare, that I have not altered nor added One Sentence, but, with an Impartial Mind, Translated it as I found it, having nothing in mine Eye but an Universal Benefit to the Men of this Nation and Language: And my Desire is, That it may be red with a Single Mind, and be received by every One as a Check to that Querking Witty Part that would seek to show itself in the Divine Things, and go about to Establish Truth by that which is not born of it. And I farther desire, That all may take the Warning here given, and never attempt the exalting their Natural REASON and PARTS, when they have to do with Divine and Supernatural Things: But that the Dread and Fear of GOD may rest upon all, and the Leadings of His Holy Power may be minded above all; so shall His Holy Name not be taken in vain, but shall, by His own Divine Pure Meanings and Leadings be made glorious over all; which is the Labour and Travail of him, who is thy Friend and Well-wisher, whether thou be at present Friend or Enemy, for I am a Lover of all Men, and above all of the TRUTH,  
S. CRISP. London, this 8th of the 12th, Month, called February, 1676.   

A WARNING against the Deceit of setting up MAN's Reason as Judge in Spiritual Matters.  

CHAPTER, I.  
NO Man of sound judgement will deny but that it is highly needful to examine the Foundation upon which the many Sorts of Christians of our Days do rest and depend; and in particular, that Light whereby those are lead, who are called the Reformed: And also that natural Reason which some are not ashamed to boast of as their only Leader: and especially in such a time as this, in the which Men have rejected the true, living, and inward Knowledge of God, and His Anointed; and also of his Holy Spirit, having never known the true and certain Operation of it in Man, in their own Particulars; but have placed their Reason in the midst of the Temple of God, in place or stead of GOD, and his Divine Light, as woeful Experience doth witness; as also the Writings of many, amongst which, especially one lately given out, Answering for the Idol REASON.  
Therefore it were to be wished, that this Idol were at one time or other brought to the Day, and convinced of his falsehood and Deceit by the true Light of Truth, which is the true and right Reason: I mean our Lord Jesus Christ, who is manifested by the Word he thro' the Holy Prophets and Apostles hath spoken to be that Essential Word of GOD that is living and powerful in all those that believe on Him; and is that Reason which is Everlasting with the Father, by whom all things were made, which in time appeared, and at last became Flesh; not to walk after the Flesh, nor those that lived in it; but that he, for our sakes, might crucify the Flesh in itself first, and afterward in them who truly believe in Him, who were, thro' Sin, dead in the Flesh; and that he might make them alive in the Spirit, and in a Spiritual Life and Reason, which is Christ in vs.  
And it seems not to be without a particular judgement and Providence of GOD, that they themselves, who are the great criers up of Man's Reason, have in their public Writings so notably dressed themselves in the great Whores Colour, that all that are honest may clearly see them; for they have set their Reason( thro' their whole Writings) to be the Judge of Scripture, and of all Controversies thereof, above Faith and above All; yea, above the Light, and above the Manifestations and Teachings of God's Spirit: what is this but the manifest, and most destructive Idol Antichrist, and is that Spirit which sets up and exalts its self above all that is Divine.  
Had the Author of the aforesaid Answer meant the Reason of the New-Born or Regenerate Man, he had said something like; but then he must have distinguished first, what the Reason of the Regenerate Man is, and whether it be that same which is now adays used amongst People in their Teachings and Disputations: but the daily Experience, and the Works of most Men witness the contrary: But seeing he doth not distinguish, it appears clearly that he means that Reason which we receive from our Parents in the Fleshly Birth; which Reasom is no other than the Old Natural and Carnal Man, and is come forth from the Old Natural and Carnal Man.  
Now the scripture teacheth, that the Old Man must be put off and Crucified, and not set for Judge in Matters of Dispute, and much less to be holden for the Highest Light, and especially too in the Opening and Discovering the Holy Scriptures: but the Scripture saith, It is corrupted in the Concupiscience and Lusts, and is Blind in the Things of God, and counts them Foolishness: And again, The Natural Man understands not the things of God, nor of his Spirit. And it is certain, Flesh and Blood shall not enter the Kingdom of God; nay, The Wisdom of the Flesh is Death, and is not subject to the Law of God, nor can be, but is Enmity against God. Now if we must subject the Scriptures, and all Religious Matters of controversy, to the Reason of the Old Blind Fleshly Birth, then is the greatest and most hurtful Antichrist set up, and all the powerful Workings of the Essential Word of GOD, and also of the written Word, and the whole Aim and Purpose of Christ's Merits and Sufferings, and all that He hath done for us, is at once laid wast and overturned: and Faith itself, which is the only Means of coming to the Righteousness, Light and Power of Christ, and so to the New Birth and Eternal Salvation, must thereby be made subject to the judgement of Our Reason, and so be corrupted, and be made unfit to take heed to the working of the Light of God in us; and that which ought of right to be Lord over the Reason, must be made shamefully to serve contrary to all true Grounds and Principles of Divinity, and contrary to the express Testimonies of Scriptures, and of Christ Himself: And hereby would the Principle and Foundation of our Faith and Salvation be overturned, and turned to a Damnation, though it were given us for our Preservation; and in Conclusion, all certain Knowledge of Salvation must cease, and all Divine Teachings which God hath given in by his Holy Spirit, would be changed for Vain Philosophy; yea, at last to a Devilsh Cunning and Knowledge, as we daily to our Sorrow do already find it.  
I may not therefore forbear to warn all Christians in general, and especially those called Reformed, of this Universal Peril, which the general Preaching of Divinity at this Day stands in, that they may shun this alluring and corrupted Reason, which in show is sharp and cunning. And to show you before your Eyes the Cursedness of this Great IDOL, and according to my small measure, to bring you again to the Simplicity of the Faith, and to a subjecting you to the Light of understanding in Obedience to Christ and His Word, let all godly Souls, who do in their Hearts mind Christ, the True Faith, and the New Birth, and who seek after the Asurance of their Salvation, not in themselves, nor by their Considerations in the Fleshly Reason; but in God, His Word, and Power: I say, let such be Judge in this matter; for my part, it is enough for me to have made a Beginning in this Work, God shall at one time or other make manifest, and reveal more and greater things, and bring forth some that shall fall upon this Idol with a stronger hand. In the mean time, Men may see how Luther, a Restorer of Gospel Light, hath, in all his Writings, discovered and made manifest this Idol, and hath pulled off her Whores Mantle, and shewed all her Adornments to the whole World, and hath lustily beaten her with the Weapon of God's Words, and hath set up a far better and Diviner Principle in her place, namely, The Faith in which we through God's Light are enlightened: It is this through which we are enlightened, justified, new Born, and made living Members, wherein we also come to be founded upon God, and His Word, and to place our Rest upon Christ Jesus.   

CHAP. II.  
THE Heart of Man is desperately wicked, and who knows it? And all the Inventions and Thoughts of an unregenerate Man are daily wicked, who will trust them? And indeed all the ways of a Man are pure in his own Eyes, but the Lord weighs the Spirits; we see what is become of the most part of the wise Men among the Heathen, by their making such Use of their Natural Reason; how they are become Vain in their Imaginations, and how their Foolish hears are darkened: we see also how Paul forewarned and exhorted the Colossians to beware of Philosophy, which is built upon Carnal Reason, and is not subject to Christ.  
Shall we then trust the Government of Our Understandings upon this Light? Shall we set up this to be Judge in Holy Things, and things concerning our Salvation? Shall we measure the Holy Scriptures, and the Openings and Applications thereof by this measure? Shall this be the Rule of the Mysteries and Unsearchable Wisdom of God? Shall we conclude and limit the Endless and Infinite Wisdom of the Infinite God, in the Corrupted and Defiled little Shop of our Corrupted Understanding? What shall we Answer God with when he searcheth us as he did Job? And when he Queries with us in the Whirlwind? Or when he comes to talk with us, and deal with us in his fierce Anger?  
Christ Jesus learns us quiter of another manner, when he saith, Verily, verily I say unto you, except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven: and again more powerfully saith, Except a Man be born again of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God; and presently he gives the Reason, saying, That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. How doth the Doctrine of the fore-named Author, and of all those who set Man's Reason, without Distinction, to be Judge of the Truth of Scriptures, and the great Principle of Knowledge in Divine Matters, and in Disputes about Religious Things; I say, how doth this accord and agree with the Teachings of Christ Jesus. O ye blind Leaders of the blind! And how doth this your Doctrine agree with your Arguments against the Roman catholics, when you tell them, That the Scripture must be the Decider of Controversies in Religious Matters? Then comes he forth with his Reason, and gives a judgement concerning the Scripture, and concerning the Theological Dispute. Doth it not herein plainly appear, That the Use you make of the Scripture is but only according to your own liking; and to give your Opinions a colour and pretence of Truth in the Eyes of Men, that the Word and Spirit of God might not be Lord, and have Dominion over you. And doth it not hereby appear, That you are as much in Ignorance concerning the True Knowledge of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and of the Holy Scriptures, as the rest of the World are, only desiring to pass among plain silly People, as Learned Men; and so have your Wages, and your Reward in this World. O ye Hypocrites!  
Where is now the Mind of Christ, which the not having of, Men are none of his? Where is now Christ himself within you? and where is the true Faith which hath Power to bring down all high things that exalt themselves against the Knowledge of God: and which led Captive every Thought into the Obedience of Christ? Shall Our Reason judge of the Divine Oracles which the Holy Ghost hath brought forth through the Mouth of the Saints, when as the Men of God spake them not in their own Wills, but as they were lead by the Spirit. How shall our Corrupt Reason discern the Mind of God, and the Mind of his Spirit, which stands in quiter another Principle, and belongs to another Kingdom? Shall Man judge of God? Is it not sitter that God be the judge of Man in the most inward of his Conscience, in his Reason, and in his Spirit?  
Now I say farther, that if a Regenerate Man should alone depend upon his Reason, otherwise than as his Reason hath a true Dependence upon that Eternal Reason and Divine Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, Joh. I. ver. 9. as the absolute Decider of Questions touching Divine Things. He would do great Wrong and Dishonour to God the Father, who is the Creator, and to Christ his Son, who is the Saviour and Redeemer, and to the Holy Ghost, who is promised to be a leader into all Truth, and is the only worker of the Regeneration. And such an one would soon set himself, who is but a Creature for God: his own Reason for the Divine Reason, and the Workings and Motions of his own Spirit, for the Workings and Motions of the Spirit of God; and so never come to know that Regeneration that gives a sight and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, because such are not subjected with all their Light, Reason, Power, and Motion under God: And there lurking still a secret Deceit under that, such are not given over in their whole Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength, to the Light and Operations of God: Therefore, according to the Words of David, cannot their Unrighteousness be forgiven, nor their Sins covered, but are still imputed wholly to them, Psal. 32. v. 2. For they only are reckoned Blessed, whose Sins are forgiven, and whose Unrighteousness is covered, in whose Spirit remains no Deceit. But after this Manner abovesaid, should Men retain still in themselves the greatest and most Spiritual Antichrist, which is called I, or self, which is a Cursed and Damnable Idol before God, and all his Saints.  
Yea farther, such a Regenerate Reason that sets itself up as a Judge, and continues not in Subjection to God and Christ, and his Word,( of whom the whole Scriptures bear witness) nor is not faithfully resigned out of himself, nor continues not in the Root of his Regeneration which bears him, namely, in Christ Jesus, nor in the Vine, into which he was once grafted; such may well assure themselves, that they are fallen from their Regenerate State, if ever they had it: and have therewith lost that Light and Power, and that Ability by which they were able to see and discern right and true things.  
For whoever exalt themselves in their Gifts, ought to consider that the Root should bear them, and not they the Root, and that although they be grafted in, they may again be broken off, and may, as an Unfruitful Branch, be flung into the Fire; as we see it happened from the beginning unto the Fallen Angels.   

CHAP. III.  
SO then, even the Reason of the Regenerate standing of itself, and not in Christ, the Root of the Regeneration, hath not Power nor Authority to Judge of Scriptures, nor of the Disputes about the Divine Truth: And when it simply of itself takes it in hand; is condemnable, and guilty of doing great Wrong and Dishonour to the Divine Majesty. How little then doth it become a Christian Divine, or a Man of sound Brain, to give that Authority to the Unregenerate Reason, which, being but Flesh, is blind, and an Enemy to God.  
And know this assuredly, That God will not give His Glory to another, nor His Honour to the Carved Image of Man's Reasons; neither will He dwell in the Imagination, nor Disputations of your Idol, but in the Hearts of them who Fear Him, and tremble at his Commandments. And that wonted Stoutness, in which Men,( alas!) have dared to wrest the Clear Words of God so vainly and shamefully, must be left off, in which they durst withstand that Clear Revelation that is in themselves, and make them as if they were the Words of some inconsiderable Man, which they might turn this way, or that way, or which way they pleased; so greatly is the Fear of God, and the true Faith become could, since this selfish Reason hath gotten in her head.  
Tell us then unfeignedly, If Divinity hath no higher Principle than Philosophy, nor doth not differ in the Foundation of it, what real difference will there at last be found? For if it be as you say, That the Object makes the Dfference; then there is no real Difference: for the Object is outward, and does nothing towards the discovering of a difference in things; but it is the inward Light and Motion within, that makes the true Difference: And while you are setting up your Reason in the Divinity, it appears clearly that you stand in the Light of Heathenish Philosophy, and differs not from them, but make Use of their Writings as a Rule for all your Contention, and distinguisheth thereby both the Scriptures, and your Own Controversies; and so such must be reckoned among them, spoken of in the first of the Romans: For that they are more fallen Inwardly, than those Heathens were fallen Outwardly, as their Works do daily witness.  
I say then in few Words, that such as do erect another Judge, in Matters of Religion, than God, and His Spirit in Our Consciences, without His Holy Testimonies, are fallen from God, and are not continued in the Sound Reason, CHRIST: And that you have not known God, nor those whom Jesus Christ hath sent; nor know not the True Working of the Holy Spirit in you; but are overturning the Foundation of Faith, and are fallen from it: For that is not of Visible Things( which are the very Objects of the Unregenerate and Unlightned Reason) but is concerning Things that are far above Carnal Comprehension. But such shut out the working of the Holy Ghost, which goes far above all Understanding, and above the Principle of it in our Regeneration; without which no Man can see, nor enter the Kingdom of God.   

CHAP. IV.  
BUT on the contrary, Reason saith, That Reason, and the Grounds and Rules thereof are of Necessity to the searching out the Things that are Evangelical. But how far this her saying reacheth, is manifest by what is before said; namely, That this Whore is divided from the Church of God, and gives her self out for a Prophetess; and until this very Day takes upon her to Preach and to deceive the simplo People of God, leading them to Whoredom, and to eat that which is offered to an Idol; and this is the true Jezabel, and the inward and original Babylonish Whore her self, who is the Mother of all Whoredoms, Abomination and Error from God: And that this most hurtful Idol might not be forsaken, therefore she seeks to overturn all principles of true Repentance, and of the Knowledge of God and of ourselves, and of all right understanding of the Testimonies of Holy Scriptures, and of the true and pure Oracles of God, by quenching the Spirit; and then seeks to work Men into a belief of the sound words of Christ, while they are wresting and perverting his pure Doctrine, according to their own will and pleasure. This is she that speaks against the Spirit of God, and hath unto this day shut up the way of Regeneration in People, and the way of coming to Christ's Spirit, that they might not receive it, and consequently might not come to die with him, and not to Live with him.  
It is upon this Root that all the Evil that is this Day among the Christians is brought forth, who do not only domineer and lord it over such as speak against them in a public manner about the Crucifying the Old Man, and the quickening in the New Man, &c. Then presently comes every Man forth with his Reason, and serves himself, therewith to wrest and pervert the Scripture, and to make the Commands of Christ of no effect.  
They say, that the Reason is of necessity to the Gospel; whenas the Gospel depends upon the Faith, and not upon any words of Man's Wisdom, wherewith Men may seem to establish Truth: Hath not fallen Man need of Light, yea, of the lightest Light, which is the true Reason by which all things were made, and by which the Grounds and Foundation of the Gospel was laid; that Light I say, which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World, and that Spirit that is to led us in all Truth, against which all that strive, against Truth shall never prevail: Which Light, although it shines in Darkness, namely, in the Fleshly Reason, yet that Reason comprehendeth it not.  
These do the greatest dishonour to the Gospel, and do Sin against the very first Principle and Foundation thereof: Who set their corrupted Manly Reason for a judge in Controversies touching the defence of the Gospel; whenas it is but their own armor wherewith they have Armed themselves to Combat with their Adversaries.  
Paul describes the Christian armor to be after another sort, Eph. 6. v. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. and in the 2 Cor. 10. v. 4, 5. there it appears to be other Weapons, and a quiter other Spirit that we must receive, than the Spirit of Aristotle and other Philosophers; for the Kingdom of God stands not in Words nor Disputes, but in the manifestation of Power and Spirit.  
The objects of Faith are things invisible, which are only discerned thorough the Power of God, and not thorough Mens jangling and disputations; but they are visible to the eye of Faith, but not to Fleshly Reason, until Men come to be Regenerate they are hidden; Faith is always busy about hidden Treasure: God himself dwells in that Light which is for Carnal Man un-approachable, until he be once dead in himself, and quickened again in Christ through Faith, and enlightened with the Light of Regeneration, by which he may see God and his Kingdom.  
John said, No Man hath seen the Father, but the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him unto you: Now this Son is known and received by Faith, and not by Reason: No Man knows the things of God, save the Spirit of God. But your Reason is not the Spirit of God, yet you think thereby to find out the things of God, and to raise Disputes and Judgments thereupon. But if you had received the Spirit of God, then you would know that to Judge you, and your work with a Righteous judgement, and not according to the blind judgement of your own Reason, which you have set up above the Spirit of God.  
It is nothing else to this Day, but the Spirit of this World; for you have not yet received the Holy Ghost, as your Works make manifest.  
Now see what Reproach you do to the Gospel of Christ, who Preach Faith in Christ, and speak of things that are invisible, and that are far above Mans Understanding; and then tell us, that these things cannot be defended and maintained but by Reason; giving no regard to the words of Paul, who said, that we were Aliens in our Minds, and Enemies to God in the Wicked Works: How do you think to defend the Truth of the Gospel by such means.  
It is very true, that you may make shift to defend your Sects and Opinions( that are come forth out of your own fallen Wisdom and Reason) against other Sects and Opinions; but the true Gospel of Christ Jesus, nor the Power of it, you have never known, as your Works bear witness.   

CHAP. V.  
IT is not needful that true gospelers Dispute, but it is needful that they do Believe, and that they show forth in their Lives those things in Life and Power which they do Believe; for the Kingdom of Heaven stands not in the enticing, or convincing words of Man's Wisdom, but in Power, and in Testimony of the Spirit.  
Antichrist will never be rooted out with the same Weapons by which he hath gotten so great a Dominion, his Kingdom is but thereby enlarged. The Weapons of our Warfare are Spiritual, not Carnal, but mighty through God, to pull down Strong Holds, and to bring to nought all Wicked Counsel, and every high thing that is set up against the Knowledge of God; and every Vain Imagination is hereby lead Captive to the Obedience of Christ Jesus.  
I grant, that the pure uncorrupted Principle of Reason is able to overcome all falsehood whatsoever; but is this Principle uncorrupt in Men since the Fall, and before the Regeneration? Or can the Unregenerate make use of it? Is not their Reason blind till they receive the promise of the Spirit. Now the uncorrupted Reason is nothing less then the Eternal Word, the Son of God himself: That Light that shines in Darkness which is not by it comprehended: Yea, this is that Life which is the original of Man's Life, but not known by Reason, nor felt by that which is Carnal, until it is brought over into the Kingdom of Faith; and through a death unto Self, comes over unto the quickening Life of Christ in us; the which verily, the Reason can never bring to pass; for that it never goes beyond the Circumference of Nature, yea, in the Unregenerate of Corrupt Nature.  
Why, see what Reason could bring to pass before the Fall; surely it abode not in the Truth, but by disputing with the Serpent, was soon fallen from the true and simplo meaning of the Command of God to the subtleties of Satan, from the Faith to Unbelief, from the obedience of God's Command to her own Will; which is happened after a more Spiritual manner to the gospelers of our Days; through a great lust in disputing they are deceived; for if Men come once to dispute about God's Words, it is a sign of Unbelief; for a Believer is content with the Words as they are, although they are far beyond his understanding.  
The time will come, that the true Reason shall by Christ and his Spirit be Revealed in his own time; for he is the true Word, and the only true Reason enlightening every Man that comes into the World, and from him must the true Art of Reason be learned, and not from Aristotle that deceiver, and others like him: but none are willing to learn of Christ, because he teacheth the Crucifying the Old Man( of whom the Unregenerate Reason is a piece) and teacheth the quickening of the New Man; but such as learn these things of him, are reproached as a company of Brainless heretics, and Fanaticks.   

CHAP. VI.  
NOW let us go see a little what you have all this time brought to pass with your Reason, and disputing against the Papists, and against one another? Are you not so much the farther gone out of the Doctrine of Christ, and from his Commands? While you have been busy about things that were without you, have you not forgotten the things that are within you, and given no heed thereunto, as your Unregenerate Heart, and your Corrupt Reason, that you have set above all that is of God, by which you have spent your time in splitting of Hairs, about the simplo plain Words of Christ Jesus.  
And have you not herein behaved yourselves as Men, when you are not as yet Children in Christ; but have built up a New Babel, far worse than the Old? and your Pride and Ignorance hath increased, under pretence of prosecuting a good matter, which you have taken up with a bad intent; and this is the very cause why your Adversaries Eyes are not opened to see their Errors; for they see you walk in the same.  
What Blind Man, think you, being reproached by another Blind Man for being Blind, will choose him to be his Leader? And while you are yet Unregenerate, and set the Reason for the decider of differences in Religion, and of the Scripture, which you interpret as you please, how, I say, can you come to see the Kingdom of God, having not received the Holy Ghost which is promised to be our leader into all Truth? How should you see the Truth, or walk in it? Do not you reproach the work of the Spirit, and call it Deceivableness, and the work of Brainless Men; and hereby as much as in you lies, you quench the Spirit in yourselves, and in others?  
You are no true Preachers of the Gospel of Christ and his Apostles, but every one of his own Sect: The Gospel of Christ, and of Paul, and Peter, and John, must be, and is, preached quiter of another manner: You have but chosen out of their Preachings what likes you best, according to the Reason of the Old Man; and as for the rest, you are either silent, or say little of it, and that which you even say, is but after a perverting manner; so that all unbiased and rational Men see how you use to wrest the Scripture, and make it of no force, contrary to the express meaning and words of Christ; who said, the Scriptures cannot be broken. They are the Preachers of God's Word, who Preach the Word of the Lord rightly, without wresting and perverting, and without flattering the Fleshly Old Man that should be Crucified: What is the word Sanctification among you, but an empty Name, which serves for a Cloak, for hypocrisy and Hypocrites, who shall have no part in the Kingdom of God; and however you drive it on with Words, yet your Works witness against you.  
That is not the one thing needful to know how to resist an Adversary, whose Principles perhaps, if rightly understood, may be better than yours, but the only thing needful is, to know the New Man, the New Creature; for if any Man be in Christ, he is a New Creature; and over every one that walks by this Rule, is Blessings, and over the whole Israel of God.  
What have you brought forth, in that you have stirred up so many Zealots, and now have made them worse than yourselves, and fitter for the Damnation of Hell? see what Fruit you and they have brought forth? had it not been better to have gathered together a few( that were good) in the Spirit, and to have taught them the sound Doctrine and Commands of Christ Jesus, and not your sly, subtle, invented Disputations, and Knowledge that puffeth up, but edifies not; why have you not furnished your Disciples with true Divinity, and the Commands of Christ? Wherefore have you always mingled your own sour Leaven among them? Why have you not set before them the true pure Apostolical Milk; and learned them to labour and endeavour after Perfection; as Christ and Paul, &c. did learn.  
The judgement of God draws nigh, and the Harvest comes in, which you can never stand, nor they that follow you; verily, the Day and the Fire shall make Manifest, and Reveal what your Doctrine is, and upon what Foundation it resteth.   

CHAP. VII.  
BUT first let us consider how you have overcome the Papists, while you yourselves are more overcome with 'vice and Wickedness than many of them, though you have presumed to Judge them  
It is no Victory nor Gain in God's Eye for a Man to draw many to his Sect; for if so, Mahomet hath outdone you all; for he hath brought a greater part of the World to be subject to his yoke, than any of you: But had you first overcome yourselves, and had offered up yourselves as a Sacrifice to the Lord, and conquered those Vices in yourselves, in which they still lye, and also the true ground and root of their Ignorance of God: Covetousness, Pride, Self-Will, Unchastity; the Spirit of this World; the Flesh, and the Reason, that exalts itself against God: Had you put off the Old Man with his Lusts and Affections, and had put on the New Man, that is Created after God in true( not in your own-made dead) Righteousness, you had done well; but this your Righteousness in you, brings forth nothing in you that's like the Righteousness of Christ, but Exaltation, Worldly Honour, Hatred, Bitterness among one another, lies, Deceit, and such things; concerning which it is said, that they that do such things, shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  
You are separated from them in Opinion concerning their Outward Worship; but in regard of Inward Worship, you have shut up your Hearts much more against Inward and Divine Operation then they; for they do maintain more of the Inward Divine Presence and dwelling of God in Man then you. Oh ye Hypocrites! so far are you estranged from, and made empty of that Divine Substance, and true indwelling of Christ Within; for which he took Man's Flesh and Nature upon him, and joined it to himself.  
But the prophesy of John is fulfilled in you, The Light shined in the Darkness, and the Darkness comprehended it not: He came unto his own, and his own received him not: You have the Door of God's Kingdom open to you; but you will neither go in yourselves, nor suffer those that would: What answer think you will you make to that great heap of People whom you have deceived and beguiled with your Vain Disputations.  
Behold the time comes that your House shall be left you Desolate, because ye have slighted the Day of your Visitation.  
But you can stand in your lofty and exalted judgement over those who lived a Godly Life in old time, in the thickest Darkness, who found the Gate to the Kingdom very Narrow, but found more of the Divine Substance, and indwelling of Christ in them, than you do, who have found out so wide a Gate as you think: And shall not they who took so much Pains and Labour to enter the Kingdom, and yet could not enter; I say, shall not they rise up in judgement against you in the Day of Christ's judgement.  
And if you have more Knowledge than they, and misuse it, are you not then worse than they, who had not that Knowledge, and yet endeavoured with so great Labour and Travail to enter the Kingdom of God, as it were by force, making it suffer Violence, when as you reject it, when offered to you.  
Was not the Religious, yet erroneous, Belief of those in old time, better than your could and Evil Corrupt Faith, which will not led you to touch that with your Finger, which they with all their Hearts took upon them.  
And to speak more particularly to you, what has your Reason done for you against Popery? You have cast off their Ceremonies: But doth the Kingdom of God stand in Ceremonies? 'Tis true, you have cast off that sharp yoke which they laid upon the Flesh, and have as it were made the strait Gate Wider, and the Narrow Way Broader But what Advantage have you hereby brought to the Inward Man? Have you not hereby strengthened the Fleshly, that it might with the better pretence Oppress that which is Spiritual, and so hinder the Regeneration in you? Have you not deceived People, in calling them to a Liberty of Conscience? Except that Liberty be in Christ, who alone makes free indeed; first by Faith( and not by Disputing and Reasoning in the Corrupt Nature) and then by his Doings and Walkings, his Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension, through all which we must not in Words, but in dead, walk with him: Have you not there I say, thus deceived the People with the promise of Liberty, that's a false Liberty, and made them worse, and more incurable than they were before? As your Fruits, now they are grown Ripe, do bear witness.  
You say, you have called People to Liberty, but to this very Day are you speaking against the true Liberty.  
I testify unto you, that you can never by your Reason, bring any one to true Freedom; for the Reason itself is a Handmaid unto Sin, except it be first dead upon the across of Christ, and there have learned Sobriety, and Subjection to the Obedience of Faith: So it is better to learn to believe, than to dispute; for a Man is by Reason more and more estranged from God, and from all Spiritual Workings, and made more an Enemy to God, except his Reason be enlightened, and governed by a greater Light, even by the Spirit of God, which is Christ's Spirit.  
But let us search out another Part of your Work against the Papists, in the Point of Justification; which is a thing wholly Spiritual, and not understood but by the Spirit of God: But you have taken up Reason for your armor, and will not suffer Faith, nor the Holy Ghost to be concerned, though this matter is directly contrary to the Reason of Man in his corrupt State and Nature. So that it appears clearly, and your Works and Doings prove it, That you do not to this Day understand that Point yourselves as it is: For now in this hundred Years Reformation, we cannot see that you have attained to the Regeneration, nor received the Holy Ghost, nor can we see the Justification in Christ dwells in you; because we see the World, the Flesh, and your own Will, and Self not dead yet; neither live ye to God, neither have you as yet offered yourselves up to God, for a living Sacrifice in the Faith of Jesus Christ, neither have you subjected your Reason to the across, as it appears sufficiently in your Lives, Disputes, and in all other things; so that we may see how you and your Disciples have set Justification directly against Regeneration: And as any Man will set himself against Regeneration, how bravely he can help himself with your Point of Justification. Whereas Justification comes to us, neither by Imputation, nor non-Imputation; but is bestowed upon Man out of the deep Mercy of God, through the indwelling of Christ, who in us, and( not only without us) brings forth the Righteousness, or rather the fulfilling of the right of the Law unto Justification.  
So that you through your vain Disputations have robbed yourselves of the right Aim and Purpose, and also of the true Fruit of Justification, and have lost the matter, and never rightly known it; and then have set up the Empty Word as an Idol in the Church, and given it Power to possess your Hearts, and to bring in an idle Imagination of a Justification: So that as it was of old to them under the Law, so is happened to you under the Gospel; that which was given for Life, is become Death unto you.  
And this may thank your Reason, that will not submit to Christ, nor to his Word and Spirit; but hath exalted its self as a Lady, and as a Queen upon a Throne, and now hath brought you to Blindness and Darkness, and how great will this Darkness be.  
Complain not that your Disciples are so perverse, and do not come to true Repentance for their Sin; for itis you that have taken the true Foundation of true Repentance out of their very Hearts, and have put this your Point of Justification, and several other fleshly Doctrines, according to your Fleshly Reason, in the stead of it: And what have you now brought them into such a sweet Sleep, that you can by no manner of Means wake them out of it again?  
You say, you are gone from the Traditions of Men, to the Holy Scriptures; but why did you not go over rather to God and his Commandments, to Christ and his Spirit, of which ye talk so much? verily even as far as your Reason and the old Man would led you. And as you now, and the Jews of old use to deal with Christ singing Hosana, and in mockery making him King, and then crucify him.  
Wherefore have you presumed that Power to wrest the Holy and Blameless Sentences of God, and turn them to your liking? Wherefore do you suffer your Reason thus to Lord it? Ye Hypocrites, do you not think that God sees all your Deceit and Hypocrisy in the innermost of your Hearts? You cannot deceive the All-seeing God, nor escape his revenging Eye.  
Now that which is worst of all, is, You have not in earnest denied the Traditions of Men as such, but only those that were Point of Popery, and Popish Tradition, them you say you have decried, of which there are many of them( setting aside the Superstition, and bringing them to the true and first Aim of them) are better than those Traditions which you have placed in their rooms; for instead thereof, you have placed many things according to the Desires of your Disputing Minds, bringing forth less Love, less Fear of God, and more Security and Liberty to the Flesh, and Love to the World than theirs did; so that you have broken down one Idol, and then set up another that hath less Substance in it then the first, only covered with a Cloak made of Scripture Words, and above all with your Disputations and Janglings; you that have set up your Carnal Reason for a Judge in Controversies of Religion, have taken away the Popish Idols, and dumb Wooden Images, which were before but without you in your outward Houses of Prayer: But why have you set up this Whore her self; namely, the Carnal Reason, in God's Temple, which is the most hurtful Idol of them all, and proceeds from your own Heart, which belongs to her?  
Wherefore have you not done away the Idols, and Abominations out of your Hearts, which belong to the inward Man, as namely, the Unbelief, Pride, Hatred, Strife, and the Works of the Flesh? And why is not the Root, and Original of all these done away? Namely, Self-Knowledge, Self-Will, the Wisdom of the Old Man, and the Imaginations of your vain Knowledge. The Philosophy of Aristotle, and the Idols of the Heathen, what do these among you, which are of your own Carving, and set up in the midst of your Church?  
Surely you would have all People Worship them, and therefore you exalt them so high that they may be worshipped: Do you think the Lord doth not see and know them, how bravely soever you deck and cover them? Cleanse first the things that are inward, then cleanse the Cup and Platter, and things that are outward: But all these things shall fall in their due time; for the Lord cometh to judgement, who shall root out all your Idols.   

CHAP. VIII.  
IT is enough for the present to have touched upon these few things. Tell me then now, whether you do think that those that are of your Sect shall be saved? If you do, then you are just like the Papists, in that you, as well as they, reckon that Salvation can be attained by your own Works: And so you must be reckoned with that Sort that seek for Salvation, by being a Sect, and not by being in Christ, and in Him regenerated; do but see whether your Reason, and vain Disputes are come, and how you are turned, not from the Pope to Christ, but from one Sect to another.  
Tell me now again, if you think a Man, through the Strength of Reason can be converted to Christ? Verily, he may thereby be Converted from one Sect to another, and from one Opinion to another, but never to Christ, there needs quiter another Means and another Spirit to the true Conversion to Christ: the Regenerate Reason may indeed do something in this Work, as it stands in Subjection to Christ, and His Spirit, nor then neither, as in itself considered; but as God makes use of that Reason, that is, subject unto him.  
Those things that are comprehended by Reason, are not above Reason; and therefore reach not the things that really belong to the Kingdom of God, but only the Words and Imaginations of it; but the Power and true Understanding thereof such can never attain.  
Now then you may see that it is impossible for any Man, Papist or other, to be truly Converted to Christ by the Strength of Reason: Wherefore then do you Dispute against them with the Weapons of your own Reason?   

CHAP. IX.  
YOU need not object against me that Golden Sentence of Paul, Rom. 12. where he exhorts the the Romans to that reasonable Service; for that reasonable Service is not as you imagine, nor in that Reason for which you pled: But it is that Service which your Fleshly Corrupt Reason most of all ●●uns; for that Service stands in giving up the Body for a Holy, Living, and acceptable Offering to God; in which Service, surely many of the Godly Papists in former Times have gone beyond you, as their Works and Histories do witness. And although most of them are very much grown could in such things; yet at this Day many of them cumber their Minds more about bridling the Lusts, and chastising the Body, than you do, and are far less fast to their Worldly Goods than you are.  
If you should object, and say, The Martyrs were of your Religion; you ought to know, that they never endured Martyrdom upon the Foundation of Carnal Reason; for if they had, then they were Martyrs of Reason, and not of Christ; we see that many wise Men among the Heathen, who have, with a free Will, offered themselves up to their Gods, and given up their Lives. It is the Cause wherefore, and the Spirit whereby a Martyr Suffers, that makes him a Martyr.  
God forbid I should in the least lessen the Testimony of the Faithful Martyrdom of the Godly and Faithful Witnesses: I only say, if they were true Martyrs, their support in their Martyrdom was the Power of God, and not their Reason; but was the Work of Faith, and quiter contrary to the Work of Corrupt Reason; and if there was any of your sour Leaven mingled in them, which they, as a Poison, had in simplicity taken in, yet that Straw, by the Fire of Martyrdom was burnt up, and they cleansed of it; and manifested the Power of God to be stronger in them than Satan's Leaven, and their own Weaknesses or Imperfections: 'Tis true, that there has been Martyrs among you, who for speaking against the Pope of Rome, have, for their Testimony, suffered the Death of their Outward Bodies; but there has also been several, in whom the Principle and Foundation of the true Faith, and true Service of God hath appeared,( not for this or that Sect) and have sealed their Testimony by Death.  
But where be the Martyrs now among you for your Testimony, who in the Regeneration, and following Christ in the Spirit, can forsake all that is Worldly and Bodily, as the Martyrs of the first Church have done, whose Reason was not set aloft, but was lead Captive to the Obedience of Christ, when the Church was not yet poisoned?  
Who is there among you that will be a Fool to the World, to obtain the true Wisdom? Who among you thinks it of necessity to crucify the World and the Flesh?  
Again, Doth the Reasonable Service of God stand in forming yourselves after the manner of this World? Where is that reasonable service of God that stands in the transforming by the renewing of the Mind? Don't you live after the Laws of this World; and above all things, seek the World's Communities and Friendships? Are not all these things, and your whole Life and Actions, after the manner of this World?  
But may be you will say, we have Reformed the state of the Church: Oh, Reformed! But wherefore have you not Reformed yourselves, and your Old Man? And why Reform you not to the Commands and Doctrines of Christ, which your Reason cannot Comprehend, nor your Will does not like of? Do you think your Churches are Reformed, because you have rejected the Ceremonies of Popery, and cast out their Dumb ston, and Wooden Images?  
But how is it in your Hearts? And how stands it with the Inward and Outward Man? and in the setting up your Reason to be Judge in Spiritual matters? Do but look into your Assemblies, and see how this lifts up a Fleshly Heart in your Hearers, which is strengthened in their Lives? Don't you all live after the Principle of this World? Verily, while you live after the Reason, you live after the Spirit, Figure, and Principle of this World.  
For after Reason is fallen; it is governed by the Influence of the Stars, and Spirit of this World, and can no way be made free from it, until it be Slain through the Law and Gospel, and become subject to Christ, and made Living again through his Spirit, and brought in Obedience to the Dominion of the Divine Light: No other way can it be Redeemed from that Image of this World.  
Paul learns us, that the reasonable Service stands in the Transformation by the Renewing of the Mind: How can the Mind be renewed by a Principle that is Old and Corrupt, Namely, our own Reason, which is an Enemy to God, and suffers itself to be lead by the adulteress, that is estranged from God, and hath always, and doth still, Daily commit Whoredom with God's great Enemies; Namely, the Flesh, the World, and the Serpent?  
Now if the Mind must be Renewed, it must be set upon a certain New Ground, and in a certain New Light, whereby it can be Renewed; and that is the Ground of Faith, which teacheth to Believe, against Hope and Carnal Reason, as Abraham, Sarah, and many others have done, who subjected their Reason to God in the Faith; and this was that New Light through which their Reason was enlightened, not of themselves, but by the Spirit of God; which surely none will ever attain unto, until they deny themselves, and follow Christ.  
Now where it comes to be so, there will follow that which Paul says, that Men may prove what is the Will of God, and what is good and acceptable in his Sight; but how should Miserable Man, who is fallen from God, and Understands not the things of God, nor his Spirit, be able to do that, especially seeing that this kind of proving is hateful to the Flesh; and the very word Perfection, is very unacceptable to their Ears? but in mean time, they have presumed upon so many of their acceptable and good things, that they have filled themselves with all manner of Sin, and continue in them; and notwithstanding, dare to call themselves followers of the Good, Righteous and Acceptable to God.  
Behold a little, and Examine yourselves, see if you serve God with that reasonable service which Paul in that place describes; Don't you wholly do the Contrary? But what Reason is that which Paul there speaks of? Verily, it is not Yours which you so much exalt in your Divinity; but it is the Divine Reason, and the Art of Reason which Christ teacheth after, that the Reason of the Old Man, through Faith, is Slain, and risen again in a New Light and Life; and the Man made indeed Reasonable, according to the Reason of God and his Image; and no more according to the adulteress, which is fallen from God to the Devil, and hath by Generation, sent forth that her Poison in the Flesh.  
I tell you farther, that if your Reason did stand in the same Innocency that Adam's did, and had the same Powers that his had before the Fall, and you should but Eat of the Fruit of the Theological Disputations that are lately given forth, you would commit a greater Fall, then ever Adam did.   

CHAP. X.  
BUT let us again turn to the Controversies that are between the Reformed and the Papists; of which I say, in Christ, in general, that they are not such as make a Man Damnable, except that he knows better, and be Convinced in his Conscience, and after that in Stiffneckedness and Wilfulness against God, and the Faith in Christ, continues in them; for our Salvation stands not in great Knowledge, but in Faith in God, and in his Fear, and in the Love, and the New Creature, which is Christ in us; neither doth it stand in an outward separation from the Assemblies and Ceremonies of others who Profess Christ, nor in having hatred against them, but in our separation from the World, the Flesh, and the Sin.  
Verily, you have retained Inwardly that, out of which Popery sprung, and have added a great deal to it; Namely, the Love of the World, and of the Old Birth, the Ease of the Flesh in this Life, the Philosophy, and the Art of Deceiving, and deceit of Words; and many things that are good among them you have rejected, as in Discipline; and many Godly Exercises, and strict manner of Living which Christ Commanded, when he said, Sell all, and follow me; and many other things, whereof you will be both Accused and Convinced by those Men of God that shall assist him in his judgement, against whom you will not be able to stand.  
Why have you taken away the Doctrine of Self-denial, and of all that is dear to us in this World? Durst you speak against Christ? Is it not clear, that that is one of his Commands; without the fulfilling of which, no Man can be counted worthy of him, nor be truly called his Disciple? Do you think that the misusing this Command hath put an end to it? Or, don't you deal worse with this Command than the Papists themselves, while you wholly reject it? And indeed, so you have done with all the rest of the Commands of the Lord, that do not savour and taste to your Flesh, and your Reason.  
Again, Does it become them that call themselves Evangelical, and Disciples of Christ, that they make preparation to go to War to Fight for Christ against the Papists? Well! be assured, that except you Repent, and with your whole Heart, and whole Soul, and with all your Mind, and with all your Strength do return to the true Living God, and to Jesus Christ his Son, you are in his Sight not one whit better than the Papists, but in some respect worse; for as you have received greater Talents, and have made no other use of them than you have done, so you shall receive greater judgement.  
How much better would it have been, and more agreeable to the Faith in Christ,( tho' not to the Old Man the Serpent, and the whole Generation of Vipers that are within you; and in a word, with yourselves which I know appears strange to your Reason) that you might thereby have been Redeemed, and set at Liberty from the Devils, wherewith you are so fast holden, though you know it not, neither will know it? for then you might have come to have dyed with Christ in the Flesh, and have known a Contrite Spirit, and have been ashamed of your own Blind Foolish Disputations, and to have left off Living in your own Self-hood, and so have been butted to the World, and all that is Worldly; and then you might have come to be made alive again, and have known a Resurrection to a new Life and Light that is in God; and so you might have come to know the Power of God put upon you, and to have been Gifted with his Spirit, and to have seen in his Divine Light, what that was that is only needful, and which were your real Enemies; and in what the true Faith in God and Christ stands; and what is the Spiritual armor and Christian Weapons of War; and what that Image of God is, after which we must all be formed; and what the right Aim of our War in the Light of God is, which is not seen in the Darkness of the Carnal Reason?  
Then you would have been fit for the Lord's War, and would have gathered a Church for Christ, and not for Antichrist that calls himself Christ( and is served by you more than Christ) your Assemblies would have been quiter of another manner; it may be they would not have been so great; but they would have had no need of the Weapons of Sin: For Christ's armor would have been sufficient for them.  
For God is mighty enough, when he will, to preserve and defend them that are his, if you come but to Repentance for your Sin, and believe in God, and did not fly to the Refuge of the Weapons of the Impenitent; which Weapons clearly give you to see, that you intend not Repentance: For you will by Killing and Slaying of your Neighbour and Brother, defend yourselves from the Righteous Chastisements and Wrath of God; but if you were Christians, why do you not rather Suffer, if it be Death itself, for the Commands of Christ's sake, who hath absolutely forbidden us the use of such Weapons? Verily, in so doing, you will be Happy, and your Worship and Service of God would indeed be Reasonable, according to the Reason of the Kingdom of God, and not according to the Reason of the Men of this World, who, according to the Lusts of the Flesh, are Corrupted and Blind in Divine matters.  
Having thus with a few Words discovered and shown these things, it shall be sufficient for this Time: God shall Open and Reveal, at one time or other, greater things, and the Light of his Countenance shall shine upon us, and he shall be seen in the Heaven, in the Ark of his Covenant: But in the mean time, O you that are Upright! think of the Words of our Saviour, when he said, The Light of the Body is the Eye; if therefore thine Eye be single, thy whole Body shall be full of Light; but if thine Eye be Evil, thy whole Body shall be full of Darkness: If therefore, the Light that is in thee, be Darkness; How great is that Darkness? farewell.   
A. V. F.   

N. B. See the Testimony of Luther to shun the Reason in Spiritual matters, Impostilla Ecclesiastica, First Part, page. 137, 138. Printed at Wittenberg; upon the Words of Isaiah 60. in a Letter to Epiphan. And the Glory of the Lord is arisen, for behold the Darkness shall cover the Earth, and gross Darkness the People; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his Glory shall be seen upon thee.  
Also Helmont's Dawning of the Day, or the New coming up of right Medicine, Chapter the second, Printed at Rotterdam, 1660. by Johannes Narranus.  
THE END.