A Shield of the Truth, OR The Truth of God cleared from SCANDALS AND REPROACHES Cast upon it By scandalous and reproachful tongues, which the Devil in all ages did make use of, whereby he blasphemed the truth of God, striving to present it odious 
Heb. Io. 33. Psal. 102. 6. 1. Cor. 3. 13. Rev. 9 Rev. 12.  in the eyes and ears of all people, that so he might uphold his own kingdom: but the day hath made him manifest, & the Lord is come, & is coming to make war with him, and bind him, and cast him into the bottomeless pit and all who bears his Image, and under his dominion is.  
Written from the Spirit of the Lord, by one who suffers amongst the 
Gen. ●1. ●  little flock of Christ who go under the name of Quakers, so called by the stock of Ishmael, who is known to the world by the name of James Parnel.  
It is written, they shall put you out of the Synagogues, yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you, shall think he doth God service. 
Ioh. 16. 2.  And those things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me, for if they had known him they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  1 Cor. 2. 8. 
But fear not little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom, and the time cometh that all your enemies shall be 
Luk 12. ●1 Isa. 51. 7. ●.  your footstool, the promise is to the faithful & obedient whose kingdom is not of this world,  John 18. 36. 
London, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be sold at his shop at the black Spread Eagle at the West end of Paul's, 1655.   

To the READER.  
REader, to thee whosoever thou art, I shall clear my conscience, and to all people, to the light of God in all your consciences I speak, which is one in all in the behalf of a depised 
Jer. 32. 37, 38, 39, 40. 1. Pet. 2. 25. Rev. 14. 4. 5. 1. Cor. 15. 49.  people with men, yet not with God, who are scattered abroad, in several Countries, yet one in the Lord, whom the Lord hath chosen out of the generation of the Children of this world out of all sects, forms, and opinions, into the light of life to bear his Image, and so to bear his cross, and because they have not the same Image, with the children of this world, but are chosen out from amongst them, their fellowship, their kindred, 
2 Cor. 6. 14. 1 Pet. 4. 8. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Bzek. 2. 2.  and acquaintance, and breeding, manners, customs, fashions, words, ways and worship, for light can have no fellowship with darkness, and so the Devil who goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour, who is the god of the World, who ruleth in the children of disobedience, hath stirred up all who bear his image. who under his dominion is, to persecute slander, revile, and reproach all who bears the Image of 
Rev. 13. 14. 15.  God, who testifies against him and all who bears his image, so as he hath done in all ages, from the beginning, so it is now, that he may uphold his Image and his kingdom, so the beast is making war with the lamb, and now is the war begun, but the lamb shall get the victory, praises, praises to our God for ever; and so for the truth's sake, and the good of all tender 
Rev. 19  consciences, I shall clear my conscience, in the clearing of the truth from the scandals, false accusations and reports, which is cast upon it by the Priest and people who bear the image of the beast, lest any who are unsettled, and ungrounded in the 
2 Pet. 2. 14.  truth, should by giving ear to those false reports, and scandals and accusations, turn from the light, and so lose their convincement, and get up into hardness of heart, and lose their part in the promised land; for there is a company of Priests, in all parts of the Nation where the truth comes, who are the Devils greatest agents, who are daily plotting and inventing, and seeking every way, to blot the Image of God out of the Nation, by writings, by prinlings, by petitioning to Rulers and Magistrates, with all the false aspersions and scandals, they can get together to present the truth of God odious to all people and likewise in their pulpits do the same, as it was in the time of Christ 
Matth. 16. 21. Chap. 29. Acts 4. Acts 5. Isa. 33. 22. Rom. 8▪ 31. 32. to 37. Isa. 54. 18.▪  and his Apostles, but we have but one Ruler and governor to petition to, and to rely upon, from whom we have our Image, even God over all, who knoweth the hearts of all, who is our witness, and our justification, then who art thou that condemnest or lays any thing to the charge of God's Elect, but he hath promised, no weapon formed against him, shall prosper, for his work he will carry on by his own unlimited power in despite of the beast and his image.  
And so Reader I charge thee and all people in the presence of the Lord before whom thou must come to judgement, to take heed of speaking avill of that you know not, lest you speak evil of God's Elect, for it is a fearful thing to enter into the hands of the living God, for if those be cursed that doth not receive the 
●eb. 10. 31. 32. Matth. 25. 41. 42. 43.  Messengers of Jesus Christ, how much more them that reviles them, and persecutes them, he that hath an ear to hear let him hear, for in as much as thou dost it to one of his, thou dost to him.  
J. P.   

A Shield of Truth, OR The Truth of God cleared from Roports and false Accusations, &c.  
1. COncerning the name Quakers, by which the world scornfully calls us.  
As for the Quaking and Trembling caused by the unresistible power of the Lord, I own, which the holy men of God witnessed before us in all ages, Isaac the seed of the promise trembled, Moses the Servant of God quaked, and 
Gen. 27. 33. Heb. 12. 21. Ier. 23. 9 Hab. 3. 16. Dan. 10. 7. Acts. 9 6. Psal. 22. 14. Job 4. 14. Ezek. 12. 18. Prov. 19 29. Prov. 3. 33. 34.  trembled, Jeremias the Prophet of the Lord, his bones shook, Habakkuk, his belly trembled, and lips quivered when Daniel heard the voice, he fell down and trembled, and David the King were as if his bones were out of joint, and the rest of the holy men of God quaked and trembled, and so it was no new thing but that which was from the beginning, which all the holy men of God witnessed, though new to the World, who live in darkness: and for this cause are we scornfully called Quakers, but the scorners God will judge, and the righteous God will bless, who work out their salvation with fear and trembling. 
Phil. 2. 12.   
2. We are accused, to be the false Prophets, and false teachers, and deceivers that are foretold of in the Scriptures, to come in the last times, but saith Jesus Christ, you may know them by their fruits, and so we desire to be judged according to our fruits.  
Jesus Christ said, beware of false prophets, that appear 
Matth. 7, 15, 16. 17, 18.  to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly ravening wolves, you shall know them by their fruits, do men gather grapes of thorns, and figs of thistles, a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, pride is a fruit of the corrupt tree, now see wheher we or your teachers be guilty of this, who go in double cuffs and boot-hose tops, with great store of points & ribbons, which are of no use but for the satisfying of the proud mind, & also following the new fashions & inventions of the world, they and their wives and children, decking and adorning themselves according to their proud minds, to make the creature seem something in its own eyes, and in the eyes, 
1 Pet. 3. 3.  of others, and those are the outward signs of pride, which lodgeth in their hearts, and they are called of men Masters, and have the chiefest places in the assembies, uppermost rooms at feasts, and love greetings in the markets, such 
Mat. 23. 5. 67.  Christ declared against. See whether these be outward signs of pride, yea or nay, but you will say that one may have as proud a heart in plain apparel, I Answer, but where pride is, it will vent forth its self, either less or more, according to the outward ability of the creature, but it shows itself the most in apparel; but the light of God makes manifest the heart where lies the root.  
Covetousness is a fruit of the corrupt tree, see whether your Teachers be covetous yea or nay, who have some fifty, some sixty, some an hundred or two hundred pounds in the year, more or less, as they can get it, and some have money for smoke passing up the chimneys, and for pigs, geese, eggs and chickens, and many other such like things, which are too tedious to reckon, but your herelings will reckon them, when they come to take them, to seek for their gain from their Quarter, and this gain they make of the letter which was spoken forth freely by the true 
Isa. 56. 11.  Prophets & Apostles of God, where there is the greatest benefices there will they be, so are like the false prophets which Ezekiel declared against who seek for the fleece and regard not the flock, now see whether your teachers be covetous or we, who have left our countries, our lands and livings, and possessions, and have forsaken all and have not where to lay our heads, but as the Lord provides for us, neither covets any man's silver nor gold, gifts, or rewards, for freely we have received, freely we give, for we come not to seek yours, but you, God is our witness, and our 
Acts 20. 33. 2 Cor. 12. 14▪  justification, then who art thou that condemnest?  
Drunkenness is a fruit of the corrupt tree, now see whether we or your teachers be guilty of this, he that hath an eye to see let him see.  
Envy is a fruit of the corrupt tree, now see whether your teachers be guilty of this, who sue men at the law for their own estates, and earthly things and trifles, though 
Matth. 5. 4.  they be of their own flock, or we who sue no man at the Law, but are sued by them, because we cannot maintain them, in their pride and idleness, by the sweat of our brows, contrary to the Scripture, which saith he that will not work, let him not eat, and if they did administer to us 
2 Thes. 3. 10.  spiritual things they would reap our carnal; now see if these be not the ravening wolves in sheep's clothing, for so long as we put into their mouths they cried peace, peace, 
Mich. 3. 5▪  and told us we were Christians when we were heathens, and knew not God, so sewed pillows under out armholes; and appeared to us in sheep's clothing, but now that we are reduced into the flock of Christ, by Christ, our eyes are opened, and now we see that we profited nothing by them, but were deceived by them, so we cannot 
Ezek. 13. 18▪ 19  put into their mouths nor maintain them any longer in their deceits, but testify against them, and so they sue us at the Law, and hale us before Magistrates, and takes treble damage, and appears ravening wolves, and would destroy us and our families, and would live upon our estates by compulsion, and an outward Law, and some of us they cause to be put in prison, and call us heretics, deluders, and deceivers, false prophets, and yet could live on our estates, and covet our silver, and gold, and estates, and by law and Justices Warrants strains upon them, and so seeks ours, and would destroy us, like the false prophets which Hosea declared 
Hos. 6. 9  against, who as a company of robbers wait for a man, so the company of Priests murders in the way by consent, and also the false teachers which Peter foretold of, 
2. Pet. 23.  who through covetousness, with feigned words make merchandise of the people, or we who are made merchandise of, though we take none of their stolen wares, and make merchandise of none, God is our witness, and so if these be not the false teachers which Paul foretold of to come in the last times, covetous,▪ proud, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away, for of this sort are they that creep into houses, who lead silly women captive, full of sin and corruption, & divers lusts, ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth: now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do they withstand the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, 2. Tim. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9  
Now see if your Teachers be not lovers of their own selves, who seek for the fleece, and regard not the flock, but feed with the fat, and cloth with the wool, and live by the sweat of others brows, living at ease, devouring the creation, and spending it upon their lusts, they and their wives 
Ezek. 34.  and Children, nourishing their hearts as in a day of slaughter, and of changeable minds, according to the government 
Jam. 5. 5.  of man, that they may save & shelter themselves under the power and will of man, as the false prophets did, by which they stood and were upheld, and the same that prayed for the King and Realm, and the same prays now for the Lord Protector and the State of England. Now see whether these be false Prophets, or we▪ who have forsaken our outward livings, and estates, and countries, and acquaintance, and comes into strange countries, and light 
Mat. 10. 16. 17.  among dogs, and wolves, and heathens, as Christ saith, he sends us forth as sheep among wolves, which are of the priest's flock, and suffers our bodies to be stocked and stoned, reproached, reviled, imprisoned, and shamefully entreated, and loves not our lives unto death for Christ's sake, he is our witness and only Protector, in whose power we stand and are upheld, contrary to the will of man, and see whether we or your Teachers be covetous as it is before proved, and proud as it is before proved, and see if they be not boasters, who boast that they are the Ministers of Christ, and sent of God, when as they are come but from Oxford and Cambridge, approved by the will of man, and boasts of 
Acts 8. 20.  gifts, and sells them for money, when the Scripture saith the gift of God is not to be bought with money: And they boast they are the mediate means ordained by God, when as they are ordained by their parents or some other, and their means are immediate, and the Apostles immediate, 
Gal. 1. 16. John 14. 6.  and the way is but one saith Christ; he that hath an ear to hear let him hear: and see if they be not Blasphemers, who say they are the Ministers of Christ, and some of them drunkards, some proud, some covetous, and are evil examples to all that follows them contraty to Christ, or his Apostles, 
Phil. 3. 17. 1 Tim. 2. 2.  who said walk as you have us for examples, and here they abide not in the doctrine of Christ, and so hath not God, as in 2 John 9 and this is blasphemy, to say they are the mouth of the Lord, but are the mouth of the Devil, teaching lies and blasphemies, telling the people that are of their flock, they are Christians and of the flock of Christ, when as they are all manner of unrighteous persons, who live without God in the World, and tells them their children are the flock of Christ when they are sprinkled on the face with a little water, when as they grow up in all manner of ungodliness, without the fear of God, or the knowledge of God, and they are heathen that know not God; and this is blasphemy to say Christ is the head of 
Jer. 10. 15. Col. 1. 11. Ver. 24.  heathens, for he is the head of his flock, and they tell people that a house of Lime and Stone is the Church, when as the Church is the body of Christ, and this is blasphemy, now see whether we or your teachers be more like deceivers, liars, and blasphemers, and let every one's life preach him forth, and judge him, and see if they be not lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God, who delight in music, in bowling, in carding, and dicing, and hawking, and hunting, and all manner of pleasures and delights, now 
Phil. 1. 18. Rom. 8. 5.  see whether they or we be like Apostles, who never used any such thing, but all their delight was in the work of Christ, but they that are of the flesh mind the things of the flesh, and they that are of the spirit the things of the spirit: Now see if they have not a form of godliness, but deny the power and life which the Apostles lived in, therefore from such turn away, and if you find that our lives be contrary to what we profess, from us turn away also, but of this sort are they who creep into houses, and leads silly people captive; now see if they do not creep into steeple-houses, and say that's the place and nowhere else, and leads silly people captive, laden with sins, and divers lusts, ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth: some learns thirty, some sity, some sixty years, and above, and still full of sin, and as dark and blind, and ignorant of the things of God as ever, and they will teach you shall never be made free from sin, so long as ●● are upon the earth; and here they set up their rest in the devil's kingdom: And if you do allege we creep into houses, I answer, the Apostle witnessed the same where he said I 
Acts 20. 20.  have taught you publicly from house to house, and our meetings are public to any who will come amongst us, 
Acts 16. 13. Mat. 18. 20.  sometimes in no house but in the fields or commons as the Apostles witnessed, and we find the Lord amongst us being gathered in his Name according to his promise, now see by their fruits if your teachers be not the deceivers which are foretold of in the Scriptures, who as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do they withstand the truth by all the ways they can, as it is before proved; for Jannes and Jambres were the magicians of Egypt, that imitated 
Ex. 7. 11. 12  Moses, so those University men by their magic Arts, inventions and imaginations, and studying old Authors hath gotten the form of the Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles words to trade with, but denies the life and power, and so are traitors to Christ who are men of corrupt minds and reprobates concerning the faith, but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest to all men; now he that desires to see may see, and let all who are wise hearted judge.  
But if you do allege they have been long, and have reigned long, and we are now come up, and it is a new way, and we come to breed divisions and dis●ention?  
I answer, the more is their shame, and by that the more they are seen to be those that run, and the Lord never sent them, therefore they profit not the people at all, who have 
Jer. 23. 31.  reigned so long, and wrought no better reformation in the land, but it flows as much in iniquity and all manner of ungodliness as ever, and the people that are taught by them as ignorant and as dark to the things of God as ever, and here they would keep them by an outward power but the day hath made them manifest, and the Scripture fulfilled, 
1 Cor. 3. 13. 1 John 2. 20.  which the Apostle spoke of, who said it was the last times then, and since they have continued, you may know them by their frnits, they profess Christ in words, but in life deny him, and the mystery of iniquity hath reigned a long time, and there hath been a time of cruel darkness, and all 
Titus 1. 16. Rev. 13. 34 ver. 12.  the World hath wondered after, and worshipped the beast and his Image and he hath reigned, and by him the false Prophet hath reigned, which hath deceived the Nations, but now light is risen out of darkness and shines forth now in these latter days in the sons and daughters of men, according 
Rev. 16. 30. Joel 2. 28, 29  to the promise of God, whereby the wiles of Satan are made manifest to the glory of God, and now is the separation, the Sheep from the Gorts, the Wheat from the tares, and Christ is come to set at variance father against son, and son against father, and wife against the man, and the man against the wife, and to turn the world upside 
Mat. 10. 35.  down; and this is the cause why the world rages, and this is the condemnation of the world, light is come into the 
Acts 17. 6.  world, and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, and so to those who are in darkness it is new, but we witness it is no new way, but the same which 
J●hn 3. 19  was▪ is, and is to be for ever, and the same signs follow, but the adulterous generation cannot see it, but they that believe shall see and be healed, and though the beast and false prophet, and those that bear the mark of the beast, doth now make war with the Lamb and the Saints for to uphold their kingdom; yet the Lamb the King of the Saints shall overcome, and to him the Nations shall bow, and the beast and false prophet, and all that bear the mark of the beast into the lake for them prepared of old shall go; and for this 
Phil. 2. 10. Rev. 19 20. Is. 30. 33.  end we are come out of our countries, and outward habitations and possessions to preach to every conscience the eternal truth as it is in Jesus the everlasting Gospel, as we have received it freely, freely we give, and as we preach the Gospel we live of the Gospel, and this is our end and no other end, God is our witness.  
We are accused to deny the Scripture, which is false; for we witness the life thereof and by the same do we witness the Scriptures to be truth and serviceable in its place, and was written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world is come, and to us it is given to know, but to the world in parables; and he that would go about to unfold 
1 Cor. 10. 11. Luke 8. 10▪  the parables to the dark minds, by the serpentine wit and imagination, he must be kept out of the Scripture, and he who takes the Scriptures and makes a trade of them, professing to interpret them, and so gets a living by them which was spoken forth freely he is a deceiver and must be shut out of the Scripture; and who reads or takes the Scripture to talk or discourse of, and is ignorant of the life, must be kept out of the Scripture; for all those runs in with their serpentine wit and imaginations, wresting them for their own ends, adding and diminishing to their own destruction, and so he must be shut out of the Scripture; for hence arises all these sects and opinions in the world, running into the Scripture, with their wit, imaginations, and dark minds, one imagining one way and another another way, and one of this opinion and another of that opinion; but opinions is no assurance but are fallible, and every one out of the way because they want the life which is the mystery; and this is the difference between all sects and opinions and the infallible truth; and so they come not in by the door, but are climbing up another way, and so are shut out of the kingdom; but the same which gave them forth the same can open them, and to it they are no mystery nor 
Joh. 10. 1.  parable, nor needs any meaning; for they are of no private interpretation, nor came not in the old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, neither can the will of men open them, 
2 Pet. 1. 20. 21.  but the same which spoke them forth, the same can open them, and spoke them forth freely, so let him that hath a dream tell a dream; and he that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully: What is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord? so he that hath the letter let him speak the letter, and he that hath the life let him speak the life; what is the husk to kernel, and what should swine do with 
Jer. 23. 28. Joh. 1. 1.  pearls, whose life is in husks and there they feed? he that can receive let him; the same which gave it forth, the same can open it: and he who saith the Letter is the Word is a deceiver and errs, not knowing the Scripture; for the Scripture saith, that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word of the Lord came to the 
Jer. 1. 1. Jer. 2. 1. Jer. 1. 4. 8. Ezek. 1. 3. John 1. 14▪ Rev. 19 13. Heb. 4. 12. 13  Prophets, and they spoke from the Word of the Lord, and the Word became flesh and dwelled amongst the Apostles, and they saw the glory thereof as the glory of the only begotten son of the Father full of grace and truth, and the Word is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword; and the Word is immortal, and this the Apostles in whom the word dwelled bare witness of, and hath left it upon record, and we witness the same, the word is, the same which was, is, and is to be for ever, and who putteth the letter, for the word is blind, and putteth the shadow for the substance, and must be shut out of the Scripture, and he who saith the letter is the light is in darkness, and errs not knowing the Scripture, which declareth of the light which John came to bear witness of, who was not the light, but testified of the light, which was the true light, which inlightneth every one that cometh into the world, he was in 
John. 1. 6. 7. 8 9 10. 11. 12.  the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, nor knows him not, and he came unto his own, and his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them he gives power to become the sons of God, and this we witness, and by the same light do we discern and testify against him to be in darkness and blindness, and is a deceiver, who putteth the letter for the light, and so draws people's minds off from the light within them to the letter without them seeking the living amongst the dead, 
Joh. 5. 39 40.  thinking to find life in the letter without them, as the Pharisees did, and will not come unto Christ, that they might have life, and also that must be shut out of the Scripture, as the Pharisees were, and he also saith the letter is the rule and 
Luk. 1. 73. 19 15. Joh. 16. 13. Rom. 8. 14.  guide of the people of God, is without, feeding upon the husk, and is ignorant of the true light which was before the Letter was, which all the children of God were and are guided by, and spoke and speaks the letter from which was before the letter was, and with this the letter witnesseth and who is guided by this cannot walk contrary to the letter nor deny it, but they know how to use it in its place, and 
Joh. 7. 15.  see in what condition it was spoken, and it witnesseth with them both in words and actions, and they that have this, have 〈◊〉 the mystery within, though they cannot read the letter without, nor ever learned, as it was with Christ, which confounded the Scribes and Pharisees, and 
Mat 11. 25. Mat. 13. 11  they who are never so learned without, and can read and understand all tongues and languages without, and doth not read the Scripture within, only feed upon the husk, and are ignorant of the life which is the mystery which is hid from the wise and prudent, and revealed unto the ignorant, 
Job. 7. 48, 49  as it was from the Scribes and Pharisees, and high Priests, and was revealed to those whom they counted ignorant and cursed, and knew not the Law, and they who take the Letter to be their rule, cannot walk according to it, because they are ignorant of the light, which opens and leads into the life which they who spoke them forth lived in, but drunkards, and swearers, and proud and wanton, 〈◊〉 and covetous lustful envious ones, and all manner of unrighteous persons will take the letter to talk of, and say it is their rule and guide, but are out of the life thereof, and so by it are condemned, and those are the swine that are feeding upon the husk without, and have gotten the form, 
Luk. 15. 15. 16.  but are out of the life and power, and put the shadow for the substance, and so lives in darkness, and knows not whither he goeth, but they that read with the single eye may understand, for the Scripture is within, and was read within before it was read without. Now silence all the study and wisdom of man.  

We are accused to deny the Baptism.  
The Baptism we own which is the Baptism of Christ, with the Holy Ghost and with fire, but we deny all other, for there is but one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God, and Father of all, and they who would have one Baptism 
Mat. 3. 11. Ephes. 4. 5, 6.  outward, and another inward, would have two Baptisms, when the Scripture saith the Baptism is but one, and whosoever hath the Baptism outward, are the same they were before, but the Baptism of Christ makes a new creature, and this I witness, for I received water upon my face, as my Parents told me, which they called Baptism, but I grew up 
Rom. 6. 3.  an heathen, as all other children▪ do, and no new creature, though my parents were counted believers amongst the world and their Priests, but now I witness the Baptism of 
1 Cor. 12. 13 2 Cor. 5. 17.  Christ by one spirit into one body, and now I witness a new creature, old things are past away and all things become new: And now I see the other to be formal imitation, and the invention of man, and so a mere delusion, and 
Mat. 15. 4.  all are heathens and no Christians, who cannot witness this Baptism, who can witness this denies all other; for the Scripture saith, the Baptism is but one, and who can witness this are believers, but who cannot witness this are no belivers; and so it is that water or no water, availeth nothing but a new creature; for all by nature are the children of wrath, and except they be born again they cannot enter; and as for the Baptism of Water which the Apostles used, it being a command of Christ for its time, the power went along with it, and the Disciples received the Holy Ghost when they were baptised, but none can witness this, who sets their selves of acting or imitating the Apostles, and so takes it up by imitation, and their ground is the letter, and are not guided to it by the same spirit which guided the Apostles, and so they are the same after water as before, and so now water or no water availeth any thing, but a new creature; for water was but for its time, though many in darkness have now gotten the form, and are groping in it for life, but wants the life and power, and so from such turn away.   

We are accused to deny the Supper of the Lord.  
The Supper of the Lord we own, which is the body and 
Joh. 6. 54. 55. 56. 57 Acts 4. 32. 1 Cor. 10. 16.  blood of Christ, which the Saints feed upon, and this is eternal food and life, and here they all feed upon one, and are of one heart and mind; and here is pure and eternal union and communion, and this is not carnal but spiritual; for Saints are spiritual, and their communion is spiritual and eternal; and this we witness, who are of one heart and one mind, who are in the new Covenant, and herein we discern the Lord's body, and here all drunkards are shut out, and all liars, adulterers, proud, covetous, lustful, and 
1 Cor. 6. 9 10  envious ones, and all backbiters, revilers, extortioners, and all deceitful and unrighteous persons are shut out of the new Covenant, and are without feeding upon the husk and shadow, which is carnal, for the bread which the world breaks is carnal and natural, and only feeds the outward carnal body, and goeth into the belly, and so passeth out into the dunghill, and so likewise the cup which they drink, and so the communion and fellowship of the world passeth away, but this is no nourishment to the soul, but still the soul lies in death, and here is no communion, but natural, outward and carnal, of several minds and hearts, full of filthiness and uncleanness, which is the table of Devils, eating and drinking their own damnation, not discerning the Lord's body, which is spiritual, which the natural 
1. Cor. 10. 2●. 1. Cor. 11. 29. 1. Cor. ●. 14.  man discerns not: And here stands the world's communion and fellowship, which is carnal; and cross but their carnal wills, and it is turned into envy, and for earthly trifles they will go to Law, and cozen and cheat, and defraud one another for earthly trifles, and like people like Priest; but if they lie in wait for revenge of one another, than they will not take their Sacrament, as they call it: And here the devil hath as great hold, for he that envies is a murderer; and 
1. Ioh. ●. 15.  here is the difference betwixt the world's communion▪ and the Saints communion; life and death; for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life: and here they are without feeding upon the husk 
Rom. 8. 6.  & shadow without, and would destroy the life and substance, where it appears, both Priest, people and Rulers, and so have a form of godliness, and denies the life and power, from such turn away; for it is a mere delusion 
2. Tim. 3. ●.  to take the shadow for the substance.   

We are accused to deny all prayer.  
The prayers of the wicked we deny, and God denies, for it is abominable, for Cain the wicked 
Pro. 15. 8. Gen. 4. 34. 5▪  one, who was out of the commands of God, who was the first birth, he offered up a sacrifice of the earth, but GOD had no respect to it, but Abel the second birth, who was the righteous, his sacrifice God had respect to, so the prayers of the faithful and 
1. Pet. 3. 12 Iam. 5. 16. Pro. ●58. 29  righteous, God doth accept, & they avail & what comes from his own, which is the second birth, his own 
Exo. 40. 12. 13. Luk. 1. 3. Haba. 1. 13. Matth. 12. 34. Job 14. 4. Gen. 3. 15. 2. Sam. 2. 22.  pure, & what comes from it is pure, & God who is pure, doth receive that which is pure, but he receiurs nothing which is polluted or unclean, for he is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity; for his sacrifice must be without spot or blemish, and that which comes from an unclean heaet is sported and defiled, and unclean, for nothing that is pure can come forth of an unclean vessel; but who can witness the second birth, and that the seed of the woman hath bruised the serpent's head, which is the first promise, and faith which purefieth the heart, then that which comes out is pure, proceeding from a pure single heart, and this prayer God receives, and he hath respect to it, and this we own and witness, and this comes from the second birth, which is pure, for the first birth is unclean and out of the command of God in the fall, in the wrath, in the peevishness, and perverseness, and frowardness, Cain like, and the seed of the serpent is first in every one, and rules the head, but the promise is the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head, so you who are not come to this are still in the fall, and are not come to the first promise; so all your self-acting and imitating, thinking to merit with your prayers and praises, singings, and duties, and worships, and traditions, which are all in vain, and you are sacrificing to an unknown God, a sacrifice of the earth 
Joh. 4. 22.  from the first nature, which God hath no respect to▪ and the flaming sword is set against that, to keep from the tree of life, for both drunkards, and swearers, liars, proud, covetous, and all manner of unrighteous 
1. Sam. 15. 22. Isa. 1. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17  persons are offering up sacrifices, and are in their formal worships and duties, thinking that is sufficient to pacify for our sins, and yet doth not repent▪ but saith the Lord, bring no more vain oblations, away with your new Moons and Sabbaths, they are abomination, 
Pro. 22. ●6. Jer. 2●. 12. 13. Matth. 6. 21. Rom. 8. 26.  and my soul loathes them, when you spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you, yea when you make many prayers, I will not hearken, your hands are full of blood, wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to evil, learn to do well, so it is the heart that the Lord requireth, and where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, and saith the Apostle, we know not how to pray as we ought, but as the spirit maketh intercession with sighs and groans, and this is more acceptable to God from an honest single heart, than the long prayer of the Pharisees.   

We are accused to be destructive to the Ministry.  
The true Ministry of Christ we own and witness, and the Ministers and Messengers of Christ, we own and witness, but those who have gotten the letter and form to trade with which was spoken forth freely and denies the life and power, those we deny, their Ministry, and all those who go to get human learning, and are certain years as it were serving a prenticeship pretending to study Divinity, and when their time is expired, they go amongst ignorant blind people, and gets a certain place, and a certain wage, and so sells that which they have studied and gotten into the brain, and those which receives it, gets it into the brain, and so they live upon dust, which is the serpent's meat, feeding upon the tree of knowledge both Priest and people, 
Mich. 3. 10.  death feeding death, and with the notion begets into the notion, and feeding the carnal mind with the carnal letter, and this is the cause why drunkards, swearers, liars, proud, covetous, envious, wrathful and contentious ones, and all unrighteous persons hath gotten the letter to talk of, or discourse of, though in the Alehouse or tippling house, but this Ministry works no reformation, only hath the form, and leads into the form, and denies the life and power which is neither to be bought nor sold for money, so from such we turn away who come by the will of man, and approved by the will of man, and are upheld by the will of man, and not by the Will of God, and their call and ministry we deny, which is mediate, and formal imitation and the invention of man, and so a mere delusion, and this is the cause why the land so overflows with iniquity, and all manner of ungodliness and no 
Jer. 23. 29. 30. 31. 32.  better reformation wrought amongst them, their ministry is so dark, and dead and cold, and yet the land full of teachers, and yet the people lost for want of teaching, and so they spend their moneys for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which profiteth 
Isa. 35. 2.  not.  
But who can witness an immediate call by God, from their outward callings and countries, lands, liveings and possessions, into several conuntreys, to preach 
Mark 16. 25. Amos 3. 7. 8. Amos 7. 14. 15 Gal. 1. 11, 12. 1. Cor. 1. 17, 18. 19, &c. Cap. 2. ●. Pet. 1. 21. Acts 2. 4 &c.  the free Gospel as they have received it, by the immediate inspiration of the spirit, and speaks it, and speaks it forth as they are moved by the Holy Ghost, and as the spirit gives them utterance, freely as they have received it freely, by which ministry many are convinced, & as they abide in it are converted, as many in the Nation can witness to the honour and glory of God, who are now new creatures, and this call we own and witness, and this ministry we own and witness, which is immediate, and stands in the Will of God, and such covets no man's silver nor gold, neither could be hired to a certain place, but travels from place to place, and hath no certain dwelling place, and such are the true 
Acts 20. 3●. 1. Thes. 9 6. as in Acts.  Ministers of Jesus Christ, who makes the Gospel free and without charge, and this we own and witness, and for the testimony of this true ministry some of us are imprisoned, some stoned, some stocked, whipped and shamefully entreated▪ as vagabonds and deluders, and wanderers, and raisers of sedition, and pestilent fellows, and esteemed not worthy to live in the Nation, both by Priest and people, and rulers who are out of the commands of God, and are vagabonds and fugitives from God, who go in the way of Cain to envy and murder the innocent, and because we declare against 
Acts 24. 5. 6. Acts 22. 22. Witness the town of Cambrige the well head,  all who comes not in by the door, but seeks to climb up another way by their study, inventions, and serpentine wisdom, and knowledge, and so are theius and robbers, and those are they which are now so set up and extolled in England, with great augmentations▪ and benefices, by the arm and will of flesh, now heads of England, and such Ministers, and their ministry we deny, for the hand of the Lord is against them, but 
Ioh. 10. ●  this which we own is no new call, nor no new ministry, but the same which was with the Prophets & Apostles and all who God sent witnessed, and here is the difference of the Ministers of the world and the ministers of Christ the one comes by the will of man, the other by the will of God▪ and the one is upheld by the will of man, the other by the will of God contrary to the will of man, and the one of the letter, and the other of the spirit, and the one hath the form and shadow, and the other the life and substance, and the effects and fruits of their ministry makes them manifest, but from 
2. Tim. 3. 5▪  such turn away, who have the form, but not the life and power, for they are mere deceivers, and witches, bewitch people from the truth, holding forth the shadow instead of substance, and what is the shadow to the substance, or what is the chaff to the wheat, he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear and understand▪   

We are accused to deny all Magistracy and government.  
I answer, this is false, for we own it in the place, 
1. Ioh. 3. 4,  for whilst there is transgression, there must be a law, and while the Devil hath power over man, there will be transgression, so the law was added, because of transgression, and the devil was the 
Gal. 3. 29.  cause of it, so there must be a law without to keep those who are without the fear of God in subjection▪ else they would destroy one another, and Cain would destroy Abel, for this is the devil's work, and so for 
1. Pet. 2. 14.  this end was the law given forth to curb evil doers, and to preserve and encourage them that do well, and it was according to that in the conscience, just, holy, and good, according to the will of God, and serviceable in its place, and true Government, according to the law of God, is serviceable in its place, 
Rom. 7. 12.  and all Magistrates who fear God, and hate covetousness, and are guided by the light of God in the conscience, and executes the law in its place, without partiality and respect of persons, and such are serviceable in their place, and this we own, and honour and are subject to for conscience sake, but the 
Rom. 4. 15 Rom. 8. 1▪ Gal. 5. 23. Rom. 8. 8. 2. Sam. 23. 3. Pro. 28. 15. 16. Pro. 25. 18. Pro. 29. 10 Isa. 14. 15. Iam. 2. 9  righteous are from under the outward law, for they are a law unto themselves, neither is there need of any law amongst them who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit, for against such there is no law, but he that walks after the flesh cannot please God, neither know how to rule, nor govern, who cannot witness his own will, subjected by the law of God in the heart, but is guided by his own will, and stands in his own will, and such winks at deceit, and rules with partiality and respect of persons, and so transgresseth the law of God, which respects no man's person, and also gives forth laws in his own wills, which takes hold of the righteous, persecutes the righteous▪ and countenances and encourages the heathen, who 
Hos. 4. 18.  know not God, so Cain slays Abel within them, and they suffer Cain to slay Abel without them, and the wicked and ungodly hath more liberty in the Nation than the righteous, and so the land abounds with iniquity, oppression and treachery, because such corrupt Magistrates wink at deceits for carnal ends, and upholds iniquity, and oppression; and treads truth under foot, and this is the cause why the lands so abounds with all manner of ungodliness, and deceit, falsehood, tyranny, oppression, and perscution, and yet full of Magistrates, and officers, and corrupt Magistrates puts corrupt Magistrates in office, and so they bear with, and winks at one another, and feeds and nourishes up deceit amongst them, unless they cross one another's will, and then they are as much in deceit on the other side, seeking and preventing the law for revenge, and such as these upholds these corrupt Ministers, and false prophets which the Nation swarms of, and they can have a law to maintain their deceit, and uphold them 
Est. 3. Dan. 1, 3. Isa. 23. Isa. 5. 27. 10. Psal. 82. 1. 3.  in oppression, and so the beast upholds the false prophet, and they combine together against the simple; and so the law is made a stalking horse to deceive the simple, and they will pervert and wrest the law out of its place, and act contrary to their own law against the righteous, and such Magistrates, and such government, we honour, but denies, and testifies against it, as the Prophets of God always did, for by such Magistrates and government did the righteous ever suffer, and for the same testimony of a pure conscience, I have and do suffer, by such corrupt Magistrates, and hundreds more in the nation who are redeemed out of 
Zeph. 3. 3. Hof. 4. 18.  transgression, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, and Haman who stood in his corrupt will would have destroyed Mordecai, because he crossed his will, and could not bow to him, and also Pharaoh and Nebucadonezer, and Herod who headed John who stood in their own wills, but the hands of the Lord they did 
Mar. 6. 17, &c. E●t. 3. 8.  not escape, and so corrupt Magistrates say we deny all magistracy and government, as Haman did, but Christ comes to fulfil and end all outward laws and government of man, and he himself reigned, for as truth and righteousness grows the law is fulfilled and passeth away, and the lion and the lamb lie down together, and this is the cause why corrupt Magistrates beat down the truth as much as they can, and so to uphold themselves, but God will deliver his own, and Pharaoh will he plague and confound, but such Magistrates as are guided by the light of God in the conscience, and rules and governs by it, without partiality, or respect of persons, in singleness of heart, discharging their 
Rom. 13. 3, 4.  consciences before the Lord, and executing the law in its place, and such Magistrates, and such government we own and honour in our hearts, for such are a terror to evil doers, and for the praise and encouragement of those that do well, and such bears not the sword in vain, but stands in the Will of God, which is a cross to their own wills and rules, for God and not for themselves, and this government is of God, and not of man, nor after the will of man, neither takes hold of any tender conscience, nor oppresses it, but stands in the place where it is set; and some such Magistrates there hath been in the Northern parts of this Nation, who witness the law of God set up in their hearts, and feared God and hated covetousness, and testified against those who did not; and so corrupt Magistrates sought to put them out, so let all who are single hearted judge who are destructive to true Magistracy and government.  
We are accused to be destructive to all Superiority and Honour, Breeding and Manners, because we cannot put off our hats, nor follow the fashions of the world, nor respect any persons, but speaks the plain word thou to any one▪ Rich or Poor.  
In the beginning when God made Man, he made him to be 
Gen. 1. 26, 27 28.  Lord over all creatures, but not Man to be Lord over Man: Yet he was to be servant to God, and when he had disobeyed the command of God, God spoke to Adam, and Adam spoke to him, and God thoued Adam, and Adam thoued him, and here was the plain language betwixt God and Adam. And when God appeared to Moses in the Bush, God thoued Moses, and Moses thoued him; and this was the plain language which ever passed betwixt God and his people in all 
Ex. 4. 10, 11, 12, 13. Acts 9 5, 6.  Ages: and thou that disdains to be thoued, would exalt thyself above God, who thou's God in thy formal prayers, and scorns to take it thyself; therefore thou must come down as Lucifer did: but it is Lucifer in thee that is exalted, who must not be honoured, but must be cast down into the pit, and it is he who is head in man who would be honoured, and would be superior, and would be above God, and calls this Manners 
2 Thes. 2. 4.  and Breeding to bow to him and honour him, and he hath vented ways whereby he is honoured and exalted and worshipped, and he calls this Manners and Breeding, and who can honour him the most, and exalt him the highest, those he saith is the best bred, and of the best breeding, and those he calls Noblemen and Gentlemen, and the other he calls Yeomen and Common people, and inferiors, though they all honour him, but they observe it not so much as the other; but their minds is more set upon the earth and earthly things, to get wealth & riches, and those he calls provident careful people; but he that seeks preferment in the world, and would be exalted and set up▪ seeks to get his breeding in as excellent manner as he can, that so he may get in favour with Lucifer that sits in the Courts and high Palaces; and so long as he pleases Lucifer he 
Obad. 3. 4.  will set him up, but both he and Lucifer must be cast down into the pit together: and here is the ground of the world's Superiority, Nobility, Gentility, Honour, Breeding and Manners; and here they Lord over one another by their corrupt wills, and here is the ground of all Tyranny and Oppression; Rackings and Taxings, and Wars and Imprisonments, and Envy 
Jam. 4. 1. 2. 3.  and Murder, and the Persecutions of the Righteous▪ all arises from proud Lucifer, the Lust in man, who would be honoured; and all this is in the Fall and under the Curse; but Mordechai could not bow to him in Hamon, and therefore he sought to destroy him, and informed the King against him, and all the Jews in the Nation, and said they were a scattered people, and their Laws were diverse from all people, neither did they observe the Law of the King: Then he set up a pair of Gallows for Mordechai, but Hamon was hanged on his own 
East. 6. 1. 2.  Gallows, and was cast down to nothing, and Mordechai is exalted in his stead: So there is a time that Mordechai despised and Hamon exalted; and there is a time that Hamon is cast down, and Mordechai exalted; and there is a time that Esau 
Gen. 25. 3. Exod. 11. 9  reigns over Jacob, and there is a time that the elder serves the younger; and there is a time that Pharaoh rules and oppresses the Israelites, but there is a time of Israel's deliverance, and Pharaoh drowned in the sea: So there is a time that Antichrist sits in the temple of God as God, and saith he is God, and Christ lieth low in the Manger; but there is a time that 
2 Thes. 2. 4. Rev. 19  he must be cast down into the pit, and Christ alone exalted. He that can receive it let him; but in all Ages the children of God could not bow to Lucifer nor his Image; and this was 
Dan. 3.  the cause why Shadrach, Mesech, and Ahednego was cast into the fiery Furnace; and this was the cause why Daniel was cast into the lion's den, but by the hand of his God, whom he alone 
Dan. 16.  worshipped and honoured, he was delivered and exalted, and his Adversaries cast down in his place; and this was the cause why the Prophets were always persecuted and imprisoned, and the Apostles, who came to turn the world upside 
Acts 7. 6.  down; and this is the cause now why the Ministers & Messengers of Jesus Christ are imprisoned, stoned, stocked, whipped, and shamefully entreated, whom the Lord is pleased immediately to call from their outward callings, and countries, and 
2 Cor. 5. 16. 17.  sends them abroad into several Countries to preach his name, no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit; and who▪ knows him, must know him no more after the Flesh, but after the Spirit; and those come to turn the world upside down, being crucified to the world, and the world to them; and these cannot 
Gal. 6. 14.  honour Lucifer, nor bow to Lucifer, nor worship his Image, though there was a time when they did, but that which was done in Egypt, when they knew not God, but now Lucifer and his Image is cast down, and Christ alone exalted, and the pure and perfect Law is witnessed, which respects no man's person, but God alone honoured and exalted, and this we witness; for amongst us there are no superiors after the Flesh, but Christ is the head, and amongst those who was redeemed 
Col. 1. 18.  out of the world, there were no superiors but only Christ the Head, and all the rest fellow servants; and he that would be the greatest should be the least, & he that respects persons 
Mat. 20. 25. 26. 27.  commits sin, and the Angel would not suffer John to bow to him, but said he was his fellow servant; and this we witness, who are redeemed out of the kingdom of the Devil▪ from amongst the children of this world into the kingdom of the Son, who are crucified to the world, and the world to us, by the spiritual cross of Christ, in which we joy and glory, amongst whom there is no partiality, nor respect of persons, 
1 Cor. 12. 12. 13. Acts 4. 32. Rom. 6. 4. 5.  but all in union in one, though ten thousand; and here God alone is King, and he alone is honoured, exalted, and worshipped, no more after the flesh but after the spirit; for we have no other God in whom our heart's delight; and here proud Lucifer and his Image is cast out, and here all his honours is thrown down, and his breeding and manners, and fashions and customs, and words and ways, and worships which are after the Flesh and not after the Spirit, whereby he sets up himself, and causeth his Image to be worshipped; and this is the cause why rages in his kingdom, wheresoever we come, and saith we are destructive to all Superiority and Magistracy, and Ministry, and Honour, Breeding, and Manners, and turns the world upside down; for he knows where Christ comes he 
Rev. 19  comes to take his kingdom from him, and cast him down into the pit, and there he must be tormented quick, and all who bears his image or his mark; and these are some of his marks, which he calls Nobility, Gentility, honour, breeding, manners and civility.  
But true Nobility we own, the seed of God is noble wheresoever it is born up, and who can witness to the head of the Serpent bruised, and the seed of God born up to reign and rule, there is true Nobility, there is true Gentility, no more after the flesh but after the spirit: and this is to be honoured: for honour is due to this both in Magistrate or Minister, Fisherman or Ploughman, herdsman or shepherd, wheresoever it rules without respect of person, & here fear to whom 
Rom. 13. 7.  fear, honour to whom honour; and this is no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit: And here all the true Prophets of God were Noblemen and Gentlemen, sprung of the noble seed, though of the Nobles and great ones of the earth they were disdained and reproached, because according to the 
1▪ Kings▪ 19 19 Amos 7. 24, 15. Deut. 32. 3. Deut. 37. 5.  world they were of low degree, some of them ploughman, some herdsmen, some shepherds, and therefore they persecuted them and destroyed them, yet they were gentle and bore all. Christ was noble, sprung of the noble seed, though of the Great ones and Nobles of the earth he was disdained, reproached and scorned to be the King of the Jews, because according to the world he was of low degree, and supposed to be a Carpenters son, so they spit upon him and disdained him, and crucified him, yet he was gentle and bore all. The Apostles were noble, sprung of the noble seed, though 
Mat. 13. 55, 56, 57  of the Nobles and Great ones of the world they were despised, and disdained, and reproached▪ because according to the world they were of low degree, some of them Fishermen and the like, and came to turn the world upside down, so they were dispersed, persecuted, and killed, yet they were gentle and bore all: But those were all noble sprung of the noble seed, and so is all now who are of the same seed: and those were all gentle, sprung of the gentle seed, and those have the nature but not the name, and to those belong the true honour, not after the Flesh but after the Spirit: for they denied the 
Acts 7. c.  honour of the world, and therefore Christ said, I receive not honour from men: and said to his Apostles, Be ye not called Masters, 
Mat. 23. 8, 9, 10, 11.  wither call any Master upon earth: and though the Princes of this world exercise dominion one over an there, yet it shall not be so amongst you, but be that would be the greatest amongst you, let him be your servant: and said he, How can ye believe which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only; and here the true honour is no more after the 
Joh. 5. 44.  Flesh but after the Spirit; and here you who are giving and receiving outside earthly honour, you are in the unbelief, out of the doctrine of Christ, cringing, and bowing, and honouring, and exalting the Devil, and worshipping the Beast and his Image, which all the world wonders after and worships, Rev. 13.  
And as for Manners and Breeding, courtesy and Civility, 
Mat. 7. 12. Ezek 8. 16.  Learn to do as you would have all to do unto you, and speak every one truth to his neighbour: And let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth▪ but such as is good for the use of edifying; for evil communication corrupts good manners; but let your yea be yea, and nay be nay; for whatsoever is more is evil: and breed▪ your children so, and here is good Manners and Breeding, courtesy and Civility; and who are of the right 
Mat. 5. 37.  noble seed hath this Manners & this Breeding, but the Nobles and Great ones of the earth want this Manners & this Breeding, and both Priest and People of all sorts, according to the world: And here is the ground of all true Nobility, Gentility, Majesty▪ Honour, Breeding, Manners, courtesy, and Civility, no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit; for the natural man minds natural things, and the spiritual man spiritual things, but the natural man receives not the things of God: and this we own and witness, and the time is coming and now 
Rom. 8. 5.  is, that before this seed every knee shall bow, & every tongue confess, and the Kings and Nobles of the earth shall be bound 
Phil. 2. 9▪ 10 11. Psal. 149. 8.  in Chains and Fetters of Iron: and here is also the ground of the Nobility, Gentility, Superiority, Honour, Breeding, and Manners of the world, which is after the Flesh but not after the Spirit, sprung from proud Lucifer, the Lust that reigns in man, & are not yea and nay, but calls it manners to say nay, and take it, or do it: and so they have the name, but not the nature, and so are Bastards and no Sons, who are not sprung from the noble gentle seed: and to those Honour is not due, neither can we bow unto them: for if we should, we should set the Devil in the room of God, and give unto him that which is due to God, which when we were blindness through 
Rev. 13. c. Rev. 149. 10.  ignorance we did, & so worship the Beast & his Image, which all the world worships and wonders after; for they that are proud and lofty, which is the Image of the Devil, for the Devil is the father of Pride, and in gay attire, those the world worships and wonders after, and extols and exalts into high places: but since the Lord hath opened our eyes, this we cannot do, but testifies against it wheresoever we come 
Rev. 18. 6.  both in words and actions, and so we are destructive to the world's Superiority, Nobility, Gentility, Honour, Breeding and Manners, which is after the Flesh, and not after the Spirit, therefore the Devil hates us in the Nobles and Great ones of the world, but we give unto Cesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's, but we cannot give unto 
Mat. 22. 21.  Cesar that which is God's, but fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is due: He that hath an ear to hear let him hear, and understand: For, saith the Lord, if I be a Master where is my fear? If I be a Father where is my honour? Mal. 1. 6.  
And now something concerning the partiality that is among the children of this world in their Breeding and Manners.  
First concerning the word thou or thee, which all those which are their Priests and Teachers knows, that thou is the proper word to one particular person, and is so all along the Scriptures throughout to any one, without respect of persons; yea to God himself; and the word you is the proper word to more than one, but not to one; and so it is all along the Scriptures throughout. As for example, at all times when the Apostles spoke to Christ they used the word thou or thee unto him, and when he spoke to more than one of them, he used the word you or ye: but if he spoke but to one, he used the word thou, or thee, as in Mat. 16. 14, 15, 16, 17. verses: And also Paul thoued King Agrippa and King Agrippa thoued him, as in Act. 26. 27, 28 verses, and so all along the Scripture; and so it is plain, that now it is an invention of proud Lucifer in man to exalt himself, as it will plainly appear; for amongst the Great and Rich ones of the earth, they will either thou or you one another if they be equal in degree, as they call it; but if a man of low degree in the earth come to speak to any of them, than he must you the Rich man, but the Rich man will thou him: Nay you shall find it so betwixt Priest and People: If a poor Labouring man come before one that you call a Minister, though he be one of his hearers, & one who helps to maintain him according to his ability, yet he must you the Priest, and the Priest thou him; and here the heathen Lord over one another 
Math. 20. 25 Prov. 22. 7. 1 Cor. 9 19  by their corrupt wills; but this is contrary to the Apostles and Ministers of Christ, who made themselves servants to all, and yet those will call themselves the Ministers of Christ; and the word Minister signifies a servant, and they are masters, and so they have gotten the Name but not the Nature, and so are Bastards and no heirs, who are not sprung from the gentle seed, and yet they are hired as servants of men, and yet bears rule by their means as masters over those that maintains them: 
Jer. 5. 30. 31.  so that he that hath an eye to see let him see the deceits of the professed Ministers of England.  
And now as concerning the putting off of the hat, which is another invention of proud Lucifer, whereby he is honoured and worshipped, and exalted in man; but the Scripture doth not speak of any such fashion used in any Age, but Man hath found out many inventions since the Scripture was recorded; and now it is so, that it is a fashion throughout the Land, whereby one man is exalted above another; for if a poor man come before a rich man, it may be the rich man will move his hat, that is called courtesy and humility; but the poor man must stand with his hat off before him, and that is called honour and manners, and due respect unto him; but if the rich man do bid him put it on, it is counted a great courtesy, and 
Prov. 1. 23. Prov. 19 4.  he gets honour to himself there to be counted a courteous man. But this difference or respect of persons was never ordained by God but by the Devil, whereby he exalts himself in man; but James the Apostle of Jesus Christ witnessed against it, as in Jam. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. and so on; and said, He that respects persons commits sin; for there is no respect of persons 
Acts 10. 3. 4.  with God: and therefore saith James, howl ye rich men; and here your professed Ministers abides not in the doctrine of 
2 Joh. 9  Christ, and so hath not God, but the Devil and his Ministers they are whom they exalt. And now you shall see the partiality of the names in this your breeding and manners: First, from a poor man to a rich man it is called honour and due respect and manners; from a rich man to a poor man it is called courtesy and humility, but amongst the Rich and Nobles of the earth it is called courtlike breeding, but of those of lower degree it is called country breeding, and amongst the lower sort of the world it is called neighbourhood and civil respect one to another; and so the Devil hath covers for all his deceit, and so he is honoured and exalted both in Court and Country, but the highest in the Court, and therefore they have the highest title: But woe unto them that hides their sin, 
Isa. 30. 1.  and covers with a covering, and not of the spirit of the Lord: But this is the riches of the world, & the devil that makes so many degrees, as between Dives and Lazarus, and Hamon and 
Luke 16. 19, 20. Acts 17. 26.  Mordechai, for the Lord hath made all the Nations of the earth of one mould and one blood, but we who are redeemed out of his kingdom he calls us clowns and fools, and saith our Religion is built upon such small and frivolous things, & stumbles at straws, and leaps over blocks, this saith his wisdom, but it is even death to him to bear these straws, especially where he is the highest exalted; for it pulls down all his honour, and therefore do Rich men and Great ones of the earth, and Rulers, and Priests, and Pharisees, persecute and oppress us, and draw us before judgement seats, and would root us out of 
Iam. 2▪ 6. East. 3.  the Nation, as Hamon would have done by Mordechai and the scattered Jews, because they cannot bear those straws; but I say whatsoever it is that comes to be forbidden in the Conscience, it becomes a weight and a burden, though it be never so small a thing in the eye of a Pharisee, so set none despise 
Ezek. 4. 10.  the day of small things, but some will call it stubbornness, obstinacy, pride, and presumption, but the same nature would have called so in Mordechai, who could not bow to Hamon as the rest did that sat by; and so let every one take heed of speaking evil of that you know not, lest you call good evil and evil good: for the woe is pronounced against such, but 
2 Pet. 2. 12. Jude 10.  they that were after the Flesh, always, in all Ages persecuted them that were after the Spirit; And so it is, not many mighty, nor many noble, nor many wise after the flesh are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and the weak to confound those that are mighty, that no flesh should glory in his presence, 1 Cor. 1. 26, 27, 29.  
We are accused that we say we are perfect without sin. I answer: Man was perfect without sin before the Fall, or else he could not have been the Image of God; for God is pure 
Gen. 1. 27. Gen. 3. 24.  and perfect, and he made man after his own Image, pure and perfect without sin, but when he sinned he defaced his Image, and lost his pure estate, and was drove out of paradise, and became the Image of the Devil, for sin is the Image of the Devil, and here all sin is in the Fall, and who are in the Fall are in the devil's kingdom, which is impure, and imperfect, and unclean, but God promised the seed of the woman shall 
Gen. 3. 15. Luke 4. 18. Mat. 10. 11.  bruise the serpent's head, and Christ the seed said he was come to preach deliverance to the captive, and to heal the broken hearted, and to seek that which was lost, and to bring again that which was driven away, and this was his work, to redeem to man that which man had lost. Now consider what man hath lost, and I shall leave this as query with all both Priests and People, who deny perfection from sin here, whether Christ is but a p●rt of Redeemer, or a perfect and full Redeemer, and which is the place betwixt heaven and earth where man shall be made free or cleansed from sin, if not upon the earth, seeing that no unholy, nor unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God? But who can witness this, hath passed 
Rev. 21. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 5.  through death, and that hath none who plead for sin, neither can they witness Christ come, but for some simple one's sake I shall speak more clearly of this, for it is a great delusion of the Devil, to keep people in sin, to tell them, they shall never be made free from sin so long as they are upon the earth, and brings this Scripture to maintain it, He that saith he hath no sin deceiveth himself, and is a liar; but he tells them Christ died for all, and if they can but lay hold on him by Faith, he will not impute their sins unto them, though they sin daily; for the righteous man sins seven times a day, and all the holy men of God sinned; and so he takes Scripture to maintain his kingdom, and this he delivers by the mouth of his Ministers, which he sends abroad to deceive the Nations, leading people in blindness, full of sin and corruption, ever learning, and never comes to the knowledge of the Truth, nor never shall do for them, and here he carries them to an easy delightsome way to the Flesh, but the end is death, and so heals them up in their sin with a feigned formed faith which perisheth; 
John 8. 13.  and here they settle upon the Lees, and set up a rest in the devil's Kingdom, which is sin; and here many are merely blinded and hardened, and all tenderness of Conscience is done away: But you shall find that he that soothes you up in this Faith is the greatest enemy of your souls, and whosoever witnesseth Christ their Redeemer, shall witness that he is come to destroy the works of the Devil, which is sin, and to redeem out of the fall, out of sin, and out of the devil's kingdom, which is sin, and all sin is in the devil's kingdom, which is in the fall; but for this end Christ is manifested, to destroy the works of the Devil, and to redeem out of the fall, out of the devil's kingdom into his own kingdom, and no unclean thing 
Rev. 21. 27. Rom. 6. 6.  can enter therein, but none can witness this Redemption but through the death, and through the cross which Paul rejoiced in, by which he was crucified to the world, and the world to him, and had put off the body of sin, and was made free from the Law of sin which once warred against his mind, which once he complained of, which Scripture the unlearned, which are strangers from his conditions, who reads them with the carnal eye, now perverts, and wrists to their own destruction; 
1 Cor. 4. 15.  and this we witness, who through the Lamb our Saviour do reign above the World, Death, hell▪ and the Devil; but none can witness this whose eye is outward, looking at a Redeemer a far off, and still live in sin; but who cannot witness this Redemption here, must never witness it; for, as the tree falls so it lies, and sin is the mark of the Beast, and who lives in sin hath the mark of the Beast, and bears his Image, and it is written that the Beast and false Prophets, and all that 
1 John. 1. 8. Rom. 3. 23.  have his Mark or Image must be cast into the Lake that burneth, and must drink of the wine of the wrath of the Almighty poured out without mixture.  
But as for that Scripture that saith, If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us: All have sinned and fallen from the Lord, and he that hath sin, and saith he hath no sin, deceiveth himself and is a liar; but if he confess and forsake his sin▪ God is faithful and just to forgive him his sin, and to cleanse him from all unrighteousness; and this John witnessed, 
1 John 1. 9  and he that can witness this, is no liar if he say he is cleansed from all unrighteousness, but witness forth the truth and a perfect Redemption; and the same John said, He that is born of God sins not, neither can he sin because his seed remaineth 
1 Joh. 3. chap.  in him, and he that sins is of the Devil and n●ver knew God: By this are the children of God, and the children of the Devil made manifest; this John witnessed, he was no liar, neither did deceive himself but spoke the truth; and the same John said, God is light, and in him is no darkness at all: If we say we have fellowship with God, and walk in darkness, we lie, and 
1 Joh. 1. 5. 6. 7  do not the truth; but if we walk in the light we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin: this John witnessed, he was no liar, neither did deceive himself; and this John said, He that hath hope in him purifieth himself 
1 John 3. 3. Acts 15. 9  even as he is pure, and faith in God purifieth the heart: Now try your Faith and hope who plead for sin, for sin lodgeth in the heart, and while there is sin the heart is unclean; now here you may see all your faith is vain, & your hope which doth not purify the heart; and so it is feigned hypocrites faith, & not faith in God, and so perisheth; and who can witness Christ died for them, have passed through death; for none can live with him but those who die with him; and this is the true Baptism to be baptised into his death by one spirit into one body; and how can they that are dead to sin live any longer therein? and who can witness this hath faith in him, which purifieth the heart, and removes mountains, and the pure in heart sees God, and this the Apostles witnessed, & that he was made free from sin, and more than Conqueror, through Faith in Christ Jesus; he was no liar, and said that Christ was come to redeem unto himself a pure Church, not having spot or wrinkle, and though once they were sinners like the world, but they were washed and cleansed by the blood of the Lord Jesus, and the spirit of 
1 Cor. 6. 11. Eph. 4. 22. 23. 24. Col. 3. 9 10.  our God, and had put off the Old man, and put on the New which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness; but this you are strangers from who plead for sin, & are such as call yourselves a Church and are not, but the synagogue of Satan, in whom the Prince of darkness reigns, which ruleth in the children of disobedience; and as for that which blind 
Rev. 3. 9 Eph. 2. 2.  people calls Scripture, who says, The righteous man that is, sins seven times a day, there is no such Scripture, for it is false; but though the righteous fall he riseth again by repentance; and this the holy men of God witnessed; and though David through lust disobeyed the Lord, and forgot his God, yet he rose again by repentance and after witnessed that he walked in the midst of his house in the pureness of his spirit; and 
Psal. 101.  though Peter sinned through weakness, yet he rose again by repentance, and afterward exhorted the Church to be holy as God is holy; but this you cannot witness who plead for sin, and are not yet come to repentance, but denies Christ daily, and are convinced, but doth not repent; but they who dwell 
1 Pet. 1▪ 15, 16.  in the righteousness of Christ sin not; for they that are alive in righteousness are dead to sin; and they that live in sin are dead to righteousness; but how can they that are dead to sin 
Rom. 6. 18. v. 20.  live any longer therein? and this is the Devil which pleads for sin the enemy of the soul; for by sin did he obtain his kingdom, and so his kingdom stands in sin; and your Teachers which tells you, you can never get out of sin, nor be cleansed from sin here, errs, not knowing the Scripture nor the power 
Mat. 22. 29.  of God, but denies the end of Christ's coming, and brings another doctrine which they have from their Father the Devil; and so are the deceivers which Paul speaks of, who creep into Steeple-houses, & leads silly people captive, full of sin and corruption, 
2 Tim. 36. 7. 2 John 10. Ezek. 22. 28▪ Jer. 14. 13. 14. Ezek. 13. 18  ever learning and never come to the knowledge of truth, and so are not to be received, but held as accursed; for they daub you up with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies; who saith, the Lord saith, when he never spoke to them; they have healed the hurt of the people slightly, and have sowed pillows under their armholes, crying peace when there is no peace, because they put into their mouths, and they are not ashamed, neither do they blush, therefore they shall fall amongst them that fall, in the day that I visit them saith the Lord: And these are your Teachers that makes you, 
Isa. 9 16.  habitation in your sin while you are upon the earth, and so your Leaders cause you to err, but when the day of account comes, wherein the books must be opened, and every one judged out of the books according to their works, by him who sits upon the white Throne, and all must be cast into the Lake that burneth but those whose names are written in the book of life, and then you will find those the utter enemies of your souls, who persuades your hearts in sins, and he that hath no sin will be in the best condition, and here all your feigned, formed faith is unbottomed, and all your Priests found liars, deceivers, and Antichrists, in whom the false Prophet rules, which deceives the Nations, who must be cast also into 
Rev. 19 20,  the Lake that burneth, and there tormented for ever, and all that uphold him.   

We are accused to deny Christ come in the flesh.  
We witness the same Christ which ever was, now manifested in the flesh, and is appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh to 
Rom. 8. 3. Joh. 1. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 16.  condemn sin in the flesh, which is the Word, which became flesh, and dwelled amongst the Apostles, this Christ we witness, no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit; and before we knew him after the Spirit we had no profit by him, but was in 
1 Cor. 2. 2. Rom. 6. 6, 7. 1 Cor. 12. 13 Gal. 6. 14. Gal. 5. 24.  the state of Reprobation, and so is all now who profess him in words, and know nothing of him but by the Letter without them, and such deny Christ come in the flesh who plead for sin, who live in sin, and do not witness him come; but those who are crucified with him do live with him, and he in them; and none are Christians of the flock of Christ, but who are baptised into his death by one spirit into one body; and he that can witness this is crucified to the world, and the world to him; but who talks of Christ to be their Saviour, and are still alive in the world's nature, must first witness him a condemner, for his first appearance is with sword, and breaks the peace, and makes the war, and ends the war, and makes the peace, and this peace endures for ever, and so he is a Condemner 
Luke 11. 21.  before he is a Saviour, and he is a peace-breaker, before he is a peacemaker; but who are at peace in their sin, the Serpent is head, and the strong man keeps the house, and Christ they do not witness come in the flesh, but who endures the war shall enjoy this peace, and he that can witness Christ his Saviour can witness this: but silence all flesh before the Lord, and let him that nameth the name of God depart from iniquity: for he that saith he knoweth God, and keepeth not his 
2 Tim. 2. 19 1 John 2. 4.  commandments is a liar: For, saith Christ, why call ye me Lord, and do not things which▪ I say? And none can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost, so it is plain you know not God who cannot keep his Commands, then how can you believe in him whom you do not know.   

We are accused that we judge people.  
It is written, the Saints shall judge the world: and for judgement 
1 Cor. 6. 2. John 9 39  I am come into the world, saith Christ, that those which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind: and where Christ rules in his Saints he judges the world, as Paul witnessed, It is no more I but Christ in me, and he is come to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement: of judgement because the Prince of the air is judged, who rules in 
〈…〉 Joh. 16. 8. 11.  the children of this world, and they cannot bear the righteous judgement of Christ, but kicks against it, and calls him Devil, and so they kick against the prick, which will the more torment them: and this is the spirit of truth which come into 
Acts 1. 5. John 14. 17. Joh. 7. 7. Joh. 3. 19 20.  the world, which the world cannot receive because he testifies of it that the deeds thereof are evil, and this is the condemnation of the world, light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than life because their deeds are evil, and every one that doth evil hateth the light, and will not come into the light lest it should reprove them: yet they will say, Christ is meek, love, and lowly: It is so, but not to ungodliness: but he is meek to the meek, and lowly to the lowly, and love to the Seed of God, and his Saints are meek and lowly, and bears all, both scandals, reproaches, persecutions, and imprisonments, but to the Seed of the Serpent Christ is judgement, and woe, and a sword to that which is for the sword, and a condemner to the wicked, and our God is a consuming fire, and terrible to the wicked to consume the proud and haughty in their imaginations: and here Christ is a lion, and he is a Lamb, he is a Condemner, and he is a Saviour: he that 
Rev. 19 15. Rev. 5. 5. Hos. 5. 14.  can receive him let him: the hungry and thirsty he feeds with live food, but the fat he feeds with judgement, and that which would not bear his judgement, must never know his peace, but is for judgement, and cries out as the Devil did, who said he was come to torment them before the time, but the Teachers 
Mat. 8. 29. Jer. 6. 14.  of the world have deceived the people long, crying peace to them, because they put into their mouths, and healing them up in their sin, with a feigned formed faith which works no▪ reformation, so sewing pillows under their armholes; and here the Devil hath reigned in peace▪ and now Christ is come with 
Ezek. 13. 18. Rev. 12.  the sword to break his peace, with plague and judgement, and now he rages, and stands up for his life, in all both Priest and People, and now the Beast makes war with the Lamb, but it is hard for him to kick against the prick, for he must be bound and cast into the pit, and there be tormented quick, and the false Prophet, and all who bears his Image.   

We are accused to deny the Church.  
I answer, the true Church which is in God we own, and witness 
1 Thes. 1. 1.  through death, but the world's Church we deny; for the true Church is the Body of Christ, made of tried stones, elect and precious, washed and cleansed by his blood and spirit, that he might present it a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle; but this is not a house of Lime and dead stones, nor the people that meets in it; for all manner of unrighteous persons meets there, which is the synagogue of Satan, and a Cage of unclean Birds, and like people like Priest; but who comes to be elected into the Church of Christ which is spiritual, denies the world's Church which is carnal, and the world's Teacher who is carnal, selling the carnal for carnal money and earth; for Christ himself is the Teacher of his Church, who feeds it with living eternal food freely, and it needs no other 
Isa. 54. 13. John 14. 26. Ephes. 4. 4. 1 Cor. 8. 10. Acts 7.  Teacher; and this Church we own and witness, but all other Churches we deny; for the Church is but one & the Temple of God we own, which is at new Jerusalem, the City of the living God, but all other Idol-Temples we deny, which is the inyention and imaginations of man, & though God commanded Solomon to build him a Temple, nevertheless God that made the world dwells not in Temples made with hands; & when Christ the substance came he prophesied against it, & also Stephen was stoned to death when he prophesied against it, & this we witness whose bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost, who are now stoned and persecuted by such as know not the living God, but worship Idols because we speak against their Idols 
1 Cor. 6. 19  Temple, which God never commanded to be built, but was set up by the imagining idolising Papists, and upheld by the blind Protestant so called, and so they cast out the Papists, and uphold their Idols, and so the enchanters Diviners and Sorcerers of England, leads silly people in blindness to worship Idols telling them they are the houses and Temples of God, which is a mere delusion.   

We are accused to deny the Sabbath.  
The Sabbath of the Saints we own, which is not for a day but everlasting, and who dwells in Christ witnesseth this Sabbath, which is the substance, and the shadow without is vanished; 
Heb. 14. 10  for saith Paul let no man condemn you in respect of meats and drinks, or of an holy day, or of New Moons, or of the Sabbath days, which are but shadows of things to come, and so the world hath the shadow, and the Saints the substance, 
Col. 2. 16.  and you who have the shadow, persecute them who have substance, as the Seribes and Pharisees and high Priests did, who had and upheld the Types and figures of Christ, and persecuted them who was the substance, so they that are after the flesh, persecuted them that are after the spirit, but your Sabbath is a shadow of nothing, for the Jews Sabbath in the time of the law, was upon the seventh day, which was the last day of the week, but yours is the first day of the week; for which you have no scripture, and they were not to do their own ways, nor▪ their own pleasure, nor speak their own words upon the Sabbath day, and here you transgress in the 
Gal. 4. 29. Gen 2. 3. Isa. 58. 13.  figure, and walkin your own ways, and speak your own words, and do your own pleasures, both of that day, and every day.  
We are accused that we justify ourselves, and condemn all other.  
I Answer, When we were ourselves, without the Spirit of God, and had a form and profession of the Saints condition, which we did not possess, we seeked to justify ourselves in our profession, and earthly wisdom, and to exhalt ourselves and be something in the eyes of others; and here we were Pharisees, and yet feigned Publicans, saying we were sinful, but thought higher of ourselves than others, though we were in the same nature, and here our justification was of ourselves and not of Christ, and here are all you Pharisees and feigned Publicans, both Priests and Professors, who are in your earthly wisdom, feeding upon the Letter: but as the Light of Christ arise in us, all our earthly wisdom wherein we were exalted, became foolishness, and self was judged and denied, 
1 Cor. 1. 20. 1 Cor. 3. 18. 19 20. 21.  and all that which was of self, both wisdom and righteousness, wherewith we covered over our filthy, lustful, unclean hearts, and so were as painted Sepulchers, and here are all Professors at this day, who are feeding upon the Tree of Knowledge, and as from under the Cross of Christ, but all would not hide from the Light of God, but as it arose it searched through all, and 
Mat▪ 23. 27.  laid open all, and all our covers became rotten, and fell from us, and so it will be with all Professors: As the Light of Christ doth arise, and the Book of Conscience is laid open, for no flesh must glory in his presence: But now we have nothing 
1 Cor. 1. 29. 30. 31.  but what we have received of the Father through death, and Christ is made over unto us, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, and though we glory, we glory in the Lord; for we have nothing in ourselves to glory of, and the Saints thought it no presumption to call themselves the Sons of God, and said they were of God, and all the whole 
1 John 3. 7. & 5. 19  world lie in wickedness, and here the same spirit would have accused them: yet they were no Pharisees, and Christ thought it no robbery to be equal with God, yet he was no Pharisee, though of the Pharisees he was judged a Blasphemer, and as he is, so are we, saith the Saints, yet they were no Pharisees, 
Rom. 8. 16. 11. Phil. 26. John 10. 3▪ 1 John 4. 17. John 14. 6.  and so who are made the Sons of God, it is no self justification to witness it forth, neither those who are made free from sin, to witness it forth as the Apostles did, and to witness forth the life and power of truth, and deny them that have gotten the form, notion, or profession, and here Christ is the witness and the justification; for the way is but one, and the truth is but one, and they who dwell in the truth witness one with another; for the Light of God owns its own, wheresoever it is; for God cannot deny himself, but they that are not with us, are against us, and out of the truth in the state of condemnation; for all who are out of the truth, are under 
Mat. 12. 13. 1 John 5. 12.  the curse in the fall, and this truth we witness, by the Spirit of the living God, through death, the same truth as ever was, and there is that in every conscience, shall bear us witness; yea in the Heathen, and condemn them that hate it, 〈…〉   

We are accused to be one with the Ranters.  
I Answer, it is false; for we abhor their principles in our 
Gal. 5. 17. Jam. 1. ●7.  hearts, and deny any liberty to the flesh, or any light or loose or vain conversation, which they live in, or any thing which is impure or unclean; for our principles are pure and clean, and is at enmity with any thing that is impure or unclean; for purity and impurity, cannot agree together, and it is our desires to keep ourselves unspotted of the world; for that which is unclean, defiles, and from that we are separated, who are 
2 Cor. 6. 17. 18.  the Sons and Daughters of the living God; but some of them have tasted of the love of God, and grace of God, and have had appearances of God: but by harkening to the voice of the Serpent, and giving way to the lust, have turned with the dog to the vomit, and the grace of God into wantonness, 
2 Pet. 2. 22. Heb. 6. 6. Rom. 1. 26.  casting his pure Law behind their backs, and walking despitefully against the spirit of grace, and have crucified a fresh, the Lord of Life, and put him to open shame; therefore hath the Lord given them up to their own hearts lusts, and vile affections, and their consciences seared as with a hot Iron; for it is written, It is impossiblo that those who were once enlightened, 
Heb. 6. 4. 5.  and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the Powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again to Repentance; but they have deceived many with their alluring speeches, and have caused the truth of God to be evil spoken of, by their pernicious lascivious ways: But woe, woe, be to them, for double shall be their reward▪ but 
Mat. 8. 7. Rom 8. 1.  God is our witness, we deny and abhor all things which is filthy or unclean, and though all the world condemn, it is without: For there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit: and it is my tender desire towards all tender consciences that they may take heed of giving any liberty to the flesh, lest they 
Gal. 5. 13. 15. 16. Heb. 1. 13.  lose the tenderness of conscience, and harden it by lust and uncleanness, for nothing but purity will the Lord receive; for he is of purer eye, then to behold iniquity.   

We are accused that the ground of our Religion is Popery.  
The ground of the Religion made manifest to us, is God himself, for God is the Fountain of all truth, and truth is Religion, and Religion is truth, and this truth we witness, made manifest by God the life of truth, and here is the Religion which we witness forth; and here is the ground witnessed 
Joh. 16. 13. Jam. 1. 27.  forth from the ground: and this Religion is pure, unspotted and springs from the light which is pure, wherein there is no deceit, neither can be; for it discovers all deceit▪ and leads out of it, both within and without; but deceit discovers not deceit, for Satan divided against himself cannot stand; but all 
Mat. 12. 28.  sects and opinions ariseth out of darkness, and the end is confusion: and so as darkness is opposite to light, and death to life; so is all sects and opinions against the true Religion, and all will side together against the truth, though they be opposite one to another in judgement. as Pilate and Herod did against Christ, and the Scribes and Pharisees, and High Priests and Saduces, and the rude multude: so it is now, both Papist and Protestant, as they call them, and all other sects and opinions, 
Acts 4. 25, 26. 27.  which ariseth out of the fall; for though they differ in judgement, yet they spring from one root▪ and no difference in life; but the light strikes at the root, which is darkness, and lays open the hidden things done in darkness, so darkness cannot endure the light, and this is the condemnation of the world, who love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil: and this is the cause why our Religion is spoken against, more than any profession besides; all Drunkards, Swearers, liars, Whoremongers, Adulterers, 
Joh. 3. 19  Thieves, murderers, proud, covetous, lustful ones, and all unrighteous persons, will speak against it, and call it delusion and heresy, and witchery, and all manner of evil, which the Devil can invent, and those stands up for the Priests, and persecutes the truth as it was in the time of Christ, and his Apostles times, and this will all Pharisees and Professors do, as they ever did: for they can wink at one another, and bear with 
M●t. 26. Act. 17. 4.  one another in deceit, but truth cannot at all bear with deceit, because there is perfect enmity, as there was ever in all Ages, and it is no new thing, and here all your Sects and Opinions is shut out of the light and are in darkness, and so is confusion, both Popery and all other, but the truth is but 
1 Thes. 5. 5. Acts 4. 32. 2 Cor. 5. 2.  one, and who dwells in the truth, dwells in the light, and are the children of the light, and there is no confusion, but all of one heart and one mind: Epistles written in one another's hearts, and there is that in every conscience which shall witness it to be the everlasting truth which ever was, is, and is to be for ever, both in them that believe, and in them that 
John 3. 20.  perish, though to the condemnation of them that hate it, and this I witness by the infallible spirit of the Lord, which cannot lie.  
And now I have discharged my conscience, before all people, in the behalf of the truth of God, not that I would have any to speak well of it, but from the ground of it, for the 
Galat. 1. 10.  love and the hatred of the unrighteous is all one to me; but for some simple one's sake I have laid open myself, and freely discharged my conscience, and I doubt not that my labour is in vain; but whosoever owns the truth of God, must own it through good report and evil report, and must be content 
2 Cor. 6. 8. Luk. 6. 22.  to lose their good name in the World, as both Christ and his Servants did, and the Servant must not be greater than his Lord.  
And now a few words to all you Heads and Rulers, and Magistrates, in what degree soever, who have the Power in your own hands, who by your power persecutes and imprisons the Servants and Messengers of Jesus Christ, as deluders and deceivers, witches and vagabonds, and have no ground for it, but only by hearsay, and the evil thoughts and imaginations of your own hearts, and because they cannot please nor satisfy your corrupt proud wills, which is your Law by which you prosecute them, not weighing nor searching the ground of things: You are they in whom the Beast reigns, and his Image you bear, which upholds the false Prophet, and tyranizes over the Nations by his corrupt will, and causeth them to bow to, and worship his Image: and you oppress 
Rev. 13. Rev. 14. 9 10. Mat. 23. 30. 31, &c.  and persecute those who cannot. You must drink of the wine of the wrath of the Almighty, poured out without mixture; for in the bloody generation, you are found, filling up your measure of your father's wrath, upon whom must come all the Righteous blood, shed from Righteous Abel, until now, and this I say in the presence of the living God, by the Spirit of the living God, that all you who have had a hand in persecuting of them, guilt shall follow you in the conscience, until you come to judgement; and therefore I charge you all by the Lord, to take heed of meddling about Religion, or to lay your Law upon any tender conscience; but see that your Law be according to that in the conscience, which is pure and perfect, and meddle with such affairs as you are set about, and rather give Liberty to Religion than take it away, as you own the grace of God you will, and see that you discharge▪ your consciences there, lest that while you are persecuting the truth, you neglect that which you are set about; for you will both persecute them yourselves, and suffer the bruits to stone them, 
John 7. 51.  and strike, and buffet them, which is all contrary to your own Law; neither when they are brought before you can they have the liberty of the Law, to clear such accusations as is laid against them; but you will hear the Accusers and not the Accused, and this is contrary to the Heathenish Law, and you are more unjust than the very Heathen, who said, doth our Law judge any one before it hear him: and so for shame profess no more love to Christ in his nature, who executes your Law upon his servants, upon such a fallible ground which no Judge ought to do, by the Law of God, especially about Religion, but to search out the ground of the matter on both sides, before he judge, but this he cannot do about Religion, except he have the Spirit of the Lord; therefore take heed of meddling about spiritual matters, lest through ignorance you call Christ Belzebub, and persecute him as a Blasphemer, and Deceiver, as many of you have done, which is written in the book of conscience, and there you shall read it to your sorrow.  
And all you blind people who persecute, rail, and revile and reproach the truth of God, and have no ground for it but by hearsay, and the evil thoughts and imaginations of your own hearts, one imagining one thing and another, thing, as the tumult which gathered together against Paul, one crying one thing, and another, another thing, and the most part knew 
Acts 19 32.  not wherefore they came together, and so it is the same amongst you; but it is good for you to know certainly what you speak against▪ before you speak, lest you speak evil of that you know not, calling good evil and evil good; putting darkness for light, and light for darkness, against whom the woe from the Lord is pronounced, and it is written in the book 
Jude 10. Isa. 5. 20. Isa. 4. 15. Rom. 2. 5.  of Conscience, and there you shall read it with weeping tears, therefore take heed of treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and remember you are warned.  
And now something to all you tender hearted ones, who are convinced by the light of God in your consciences, which tenders you consciences, for whose sakes I have laid open myself freely, and so I desire that you may mind that Light of God, to which I speak, which is my witness, which hath convinced you, that it may be your guide, which will lead you to conversion into the Life to witness with me, against the world, that my labour may not be in vain, and look not out at scandals, false accusations or reports, for this is the reward that the 
Heb. 12.  righteous ever received of the world; and Christ our Lord and Captain showed the example; as it is written, They who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and they that depart from iniquity make themselves a prey, but that which cannot bear those things is not of God, but turn your ear inward to that measure of light in you, which is without guile, that is gentle, that can bear all, as it did, both in the Prophets and 
Jam. 5. 10.  Apostles and all the holy men of God; This led them through good report, and evil report, through persecution and through death, and this is the way to life, and who enters must enter this way; and here is the trial of faith, and the trial of faith is 
1 Pet. 1.  more precious than gold: so fear not but be willing to give up, and to part with all, though it be never so near and dear, yea though it be thy bosom friend and darling; for he that loveth any thing better than me, is not worthy of me, saith the precious pearl, and he that will not forsake all and follow me is not worthy of me; Moses thought it greater riches to suffer affliction 
Mat. 10. 37 Heb. 11. 25. 26.  with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of Pharaoh's Court for a season: for the pleasures of this world, and the afflictions of this world endures but a time and passeth away, For all things visible passeth away, but the joy of the Righteous endures for ever, but if our hopes was only in this world, we were of all men most miserable; but he that endures to the end shall 
Rom. 8. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 11. 2 Vim. 4. 7, 8.  have a crown of glory, as Paul witnessed, so fear not little flock but be faithful, valiant, and bold, for it is your father's will to give you the kingdom, and a hundred fold shall you receive, of what you lose, whether Lands or Livings, Wife or children, or whatsoever it is, the promise is to the faithful, and your joy and advancement shall be in the destruction of your enemies, when the Lord doth make your enemies your footstool, 
Rev. 2. 10. Luk 12. 32. Rev. 19 1, 2. Mat. 24. 15  but this is witnessed through the War, and he that endures to the end of the War shall witness this, and this in my measure I witness, and out of tender love from my soul, to your souls do I declare it, and desire that you may all endure to witness with me; for Love is Charity, and the Light leads through all, and so I rest in my habitation, known to all who can Read me in Spirit.  
J. P. Farewell.