AN Awakening Voice TO THE PAPISTS, Declaring to them The Fallen State of the POPE from PETER's, and of the Church of Rome from what it once was.  
In Love to the Souls of those who have any Uprightness in their Hearts towards the Lord (but through Ignorance are held in Bondage) that they may be Awaked, and see where they lie.  
And if any shall smother these things, lest they should come to the Sight or Knowledge of that People, let them take heed, that they bring not upon themselves the Gild of their Blood.  
William Tomlinson  
Printed in the Year 1673.   

AN Awakening Voice TO THE PAPISTS, Declaring to them The Fallen State of the POPE from PETER's, and of the Church of Rome from what it once was.  
WHen I look back, and view that pure State and Condition of that Ancient Church of Christ, which was first planted at Rome by Paul (as I suppose) that chosen Vessel of the Lord, and afterwards Watered by him, and Refreshed and Comforted, and Instructed, and Strengthened by his Ministry, and by his Epistle to them, which is full of Heavenly Doctrine and Consolation; and when I compare their State now with their Condition then, the words of the Prophet Isaiah concerning Jerusalem, 
Isa. 1.  arise in my mind concerning Rome, How is the Faithful City become an Harlot! It was full of Judgement, Righteousness lodged in it, but now Murderers. Thy Silver is become Dross, thy Wine Mixed with Water; thy Princes are Rebellious, and Companions of Thiefs, every one loveth Gifts, and followeth after Rewards; they judge not the Fatherless, neither doth the Cause of the Widow come before them: Therefore thus saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, the Mighty one of Israel, Ah! I will ease me of mine Adversaries, and avenge me of mine Enemies.  
As is befell Israel, so it hath herein happened to Rome; That as they fell from a more Entire State, to a Corrupt and Rebellious, so hath Rome fallen from that Integrity and Purity which the Church of Christ there, was first brought forth in, to a Corrupt, Erroneous, and Dismally Dark Condition, and is become a very Sink of Sin and Wickedness: And therefore the Words of the Prophet do every way as aptly fit her condition, as they did the Israelites of old.  
You that are of her Alliance, look not upon these words as Railing; for my Heart is not in Bitterness against you; but in Compassion to you for your Good, it desires to set before you something of the Danger you lie under, and consider it not; being involved in Darkness by Principles that have risen out of the Bottomless Pit, but were never taught by Christ, and thereby are you held as in Chains under the Dominion of the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition. Neither are these words Railing, as I shall make it manifest to you that have Eyes to see, and Hearts to consider thereof.  
I say therefore, in plain and open terms, The Popes, to whom you subject yourselves, they are not what you take them to be; nor can they do that for you which you expect from them: They cannot give you Pardon for your Sins, being themselves in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity. Think not these Harsh or Rash Words; I will prove them to be so, and that from Peter, whom they boast of, as if they were his Successors. And do you also learn with me the same Lesson from Peter, that you may the better know both your own state and your Popes.  
Take your Bibles and Testaments, if you have any, and read Acts 8. where you will find, That when the Gospel was first planted in Samaria, there was one Simon, who beforetime had used Sorcery in the same City, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out, that himself was some great One; to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This is the Great Power of God (thus the blind people took the Powers of Darkness to be the great Power of God) But this Simon the Sorcerer, beholding the Miracles which Philip did, and hearing the Doctrine: of Life held forth by him, believed, and was baptised, and continued with Philip as a right Discipie. Then the Church at Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who prayed for them, that they might receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost; for as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus; then laid they their Hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Now Simon Magus (as we may call him for Distinction sake) he was with them and remained all this while as a Disciple of Christ, and undiscovered to be what he was: Well, how came he to be discovered? What was the Discovery of him? (mark it) even that carnal thought of his Heart concerning the Gifts of God, and the Mysteries of his Kingdom, that they might be purchased with Money, and he manifested this his Thought by his Words, in offering Money to the Apostles for that Power, to give the Holy Ghost, as they did. Then said Peter to him, ver. 20, etc. Thy Money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with Money; thou hast neither Part nor Lot in this matter, for thy Heart is not right in the Sight of God; repent therefore of this thy Wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the Thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive that thou art in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity. Observe, there was nothing at all objected against him of his former Sorcery, in Way of Discovery of his Condition, but only this present Thought of his Heart, that the Gift of God was to be purchased with Money, Now if that Thought discovered such a Condition then, it discovers the same now, and at all times, and in all Persons, wheresoever it is found. It is a certain Discovery, and by it Peter certainly perceived him to be in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity, and saw that his Heart was not right in the Sight of God, and therefore excluded him from having my Part or Lot in those matters of giving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  
Now if any 〈◊〉 what is this to the Pope? I answer, He hath the same thought, therefore he is in the same Condition with Simon Magus. That he hath the same thought appears manifestly because he sets at Sale the Pardon of Sins, a Gift of God, which cannot be purchased with Money. If you say, He knows better, and hath not such a Thought as Simon Magus had. I answer either he hath such a Thought, or he hath not. If he hath not such a Thought, but knows better, and that the Gift of God cannot be purchased with Money, then is he the vilest Wretch and greatest Cheat in the World, to set that at Sale for Money, which he knows cannot be purchased with Money, and so to delude the Souls of Thousands and Thousands to their Perdition, in making them believe and depend upon his Pardon, and to purchase it with Money. If he hath such a Thought than he is where Simon Magus was, in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity. And in the Authority of the Truth I declare him to be so, and that his Heart is not right with God, and that he hath neither Part nor Lot in this matter of giving the Gift of God, which cannot be purchased with Money. And whereas he boasts of Peter as being his Successor; by Peter's Words is he cut off from Peter, and grafted into Simon Magus, and so is Successor in his Spirit to Simon Magus, and what help can you expect from such a one.  
You that are learned among the Papists, for shame a wake out of your Sluggishness, and inform your People better, and let them understand the Danger they are in, who thus hazard their Souls upon a Man that is one with Simon Magus in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity.  
Let it be granted you that Peter was at Rome, and that he and Paul abode there, and instructed the Church there: What will this avail as to Succession of Peter. It is not succeeding in Place or in any outward Concern that makes a Man a true Successor of those Holy Servants of the Lord; but only a continuing in the same Spirit and Doctrine. Now the Pope continues in neither, he is of another Spirit, contrary to Peter's: Nor doth he abide in Peter's Doctrine, as will be manifest from Peter's Words. That he is of another Spirit is plain by what hath been already said, Peter judged him that thought the Gift of God might be purchased with Money, he judged him by that very Thought to he in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity. But the Pope being blinded and not savouring aright the Things of God, he doth not judge so of them that have the same thought now. If he did, he must needs judge himself to be such a one, and all the Popes that ever have been, who have set to Sale their Pardons and Indulgencies; for the Buying and the Selling of the Gifts of God for Money arise both from one Thought, to wit, That the Gift of God may be purchased for Money, and so both are in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity. The refore be not deluded in thinking him to be Peter's Successor, because he may be in the same City, where Peter once was, and there usurp Authority over the Consciences of People, which was never given of God. For he is a Stranger to Peter's Spirit, yea and is grossly ignorant of, or rebelliously disobedient to Peter's Doctrine, as I shall further demonstrate from Peter's own Words, 1 Pet. 5. Peter writing to the Churches, exhorts the Elders of them after this manner. The Elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an Elder and a Witness of the Sufferings of Christ, and also a Partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed (now mark his Exhortation) Feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the Oversight thereof, not by Constraint, but willingly, not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready Mind, neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being Ensamples to the Flock; and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a Crown of Glory, that fadeth not away.  
From this Doctrine of Peter the Pope differs in many things.  
1. He doth not make it his Business to feed the Flock of Christ, as Peter did, and as he exhorted other Elders to do, to whom he commends the Episcopacy, or Care to watch over their Souls. And there was never any appointed Bishops among all the Churches, by any of the Apostles, but in Order to that Work of feeding the Flock. But the Pope hath found out a new Work even to rule Nations with the Carnal Sword, as the Princes of the Nations do, which was in plain Words forbidden by Christ, Mat. 20.25, 26. Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion ever them, and they that are Great exercise Authority upon them, but is shall not be so among you. What can be spoken plainer? Therefore Peter here exhorts the Elders, doth not thunder them with a Domineering Bull, as the Popes do, but exhorts them to their Duty. And Paul, he saith plainly, The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal, 2 Cor. 10.4. Let the Pope show where he hath his Fellow among all the Churches of Christ in the Apostles Days or for many Generation after, where any were chosen Bishops but to feed the Flock; he is grown as far different from the Apostles, yea, from the many succeeding Bishops of Rome after the Apostles Days, as a Leopard or Wolf is from a Lamb, as may easily be made manifest.  
2. He differs from Peter's Doctrine in desire of filthy Lucre; Not for filthy Lucre, saith the Apostle. But the Pope out of his desire of filthy Lucre, sets at sale what he accounts the Gift of God, as is showed already, unless he will blasphemously say, that the Pardon of Sin is not the Gift of God, but his own exclusively. And I cannot think that the Pope is so palpable a blaspheming Miscreant as to say so, though he blasphemes in other things, which he perhaps is not ware of, and which may in due Place be minded, if God will. But here I desire the Reader to note, that what is here said of the Pope, is applied not to any one particular Man of them only, but to that State of the Popedom, which makes them all guilty of these things that come into it.  
3. The Pope hath turned his Back of these Words of Peter, Not as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being Ensamples to the Flock. That he Lords it over God's Heritage is so manifest in the World that I think few will deny it, it being so apparent that he Lords it both over the Bodies, Souls, Consciences and Estates of People. I think Kings and Potentates may bear Testimony of this, as well as others, seeing they have felt his Power in disthroning some and enthroning others, and waiting attendance at his Gates till he was pleased to look upon them. Oh Lucifer whether art thou risen! darest thou look Peter in the Face? that Holy Humble Servant of the Lord, whom thou boasts of as his Successor? No, that Pure, Holy Humble, Heavenly Presence of Peter, if thou shouldst behold it would smite thee to the Dust; thou art not able to behold his Words without Gild upon thy Conscience, much less his Presence. How canst thou look these Words in the Face, Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage? If any shall say, he is not a Lord over God's Heritage; let him show how many Degrees higher he can be then he is, and how he can Lord it more than he doth over Men's Bodies and Consciences, thundering out his Eulls against those that break from under his Yoke, and flee from under his Bondage for the saving of their Souls; and so setting his Subjects against them, and animating them to destroy such.  
4. And for being an Ensample to the Flock, he is far from that, from being such an Ensample as Peter would have him; for certainly Peter who was so well acquainted with the Lamb of G●d, Christ Jesus our Lord, would have Elders and Bishops to hold forth his Example to the People, Meekness, Lowliness of Mind, a Saving Spirit that came not to destroy but to save. Now if we look no further than these principal things: How can a Proud Man be an Example of Humility? How can a Lofty Mind that exalts itself beyond all Patterns of Holy Apostles or Bishops, be an Example of Lowly Mindedness? How can be that smites Righteous Men, be an Example of meekness in Suffering for Righteousness Sake? How can he who destroys harmless men's Lives who suffer for their conscience Sake, be an Example of saving Men's Lives? He whose Principles lead to Blood, how can he hold forth the Example of Christ the Saviour, who came not to destroy but to save? but the Popes have been Examples of the contrary, of Cruelty, of Persecution, of Blood. Therefore from their Examples and Principles, what Beating, what Stocking, what Imprisoning, what Tortures and Cruclties, what Hanging and Burning with Fire and Faggot, what Massacrees and Inhuman Butcheries have been committed and acted by their Subjects? Oh, the Cry of Blood cries loud against thee, thou Bloody Mystery of Iniquity. And thou Froud Lucifer who art got to the Top-Stone thereof, and binds all the Building together and sits as Head, how is thy Countenance stained with Blood? the World rings with thy Cruelties and Massacrees. Is this that wherein Peter bid thee be an Example to the Flock? Art thou his Successor herein? for shame hid thy Face, come down and hid thee in the Dust, and wash thy Bloody Face, that thou mayst behold Peter with a better Countenance. Was ever any of Christ's Disciples encouraged or countenanced from Christ to do so? But shall I set before thee what Race thou art of, Thy Name is Apollyon, or at least wise thou art grafted into that Spirit that is Apollyon or Destroyer, and quite out off from Peter, for all thy Boasting of him, and thou art a Pattern of Bloodguiltiness, and not of Love in saving the Lives of Men. If any be minded to take up the Pope's Cause for him, let him show where Apoll●on is to be found; or Abaddon, as it is called in the Hebrew Tongue, both which signify a Destroyer; let them show, I say, within all the Compass of Christendom (as it is called) or among all that profess Christianity, where that destroying Spirit is to be found that exceeds all others in destroying, if it be not among the Papists. As for the Protestants (though they have too much tincture yet of that Spirit) yet they have not committed such Cruelties and Butcheries of Massacrees upon the Papists as the Papists have acted upon them; neither have they made such Shambles of Papist's Flesh and Blood, as the Papists have made of theirs in their public Cities and Towns, where they have had Power. So that neither in Way of Judicature, nor in the confused Tumults of Massacrees have they done like the Papists. When did they ever act like that which was done in our Nation in Queen Mary's Days, or like the Massacres done in Ireland of later Years? not to mention the many cruel and bloody Massacrees in Foreign Nations. Now tell me, where must we find Apollyon, but where the greatest Destroyer's be? and he is their King over them. If you can find out another besides the Pope, or that Spirit which acts the Papists in such Cruelties, I am willing to give Ear to it; but if you cannot, then know by whom you are acted in such things, and whose Example you follow; whether Peter's or the Pope's, for they are not both alike, one holding forth Christ's Example, the other a quite contrary, after which his Subjects walk, and therefore are they found so guilty of these things. For if he did hold forth the same Ensample as Peter did, his Followers would be ; as it was and is with the true Disciples of Christ Jesus our Lord, who take him for an Example, none of them are Destroyer's of Men's Lives for their Religion.  
5. One Difference more still here appears between Peter and the Pope, from these very Words of Peter before mentioned. The Pope hath made a Distinction among his Believers, thus, some he calls Clergy, and some he calls Laity: The Flock or Body of his Believers he calls Laity, whereas Peter calls the Plock that believed in Christ, and were to be said and nourished with the Word of Life, Peter calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or Clergy, that is Heritage or Lot, so he calls the Body of true Believers God's Lot or Heritage, and the Pope applies that only to his Clergy who are in his Holy Orders (as he accounts them) thus he hath cast off the Form of Peter's sound words, and hath taken up another unsound Form of Words contrary to Peter of whom he boasts. And the Protestents have not yet reform themselves throughly in that particular, but they still call their Priests or Teacher's Clergy, and the rest-Laity; as much as to say, the Common People. Thus as the State of the Popish Church is fallen from its Purity, so their Language is also changed with it. And seeing the Pope (who boasts of being Peter's Successor) hath thus degenerated from the written Tradition of Peter; what safe ground can any have to believe him in those he calls unwritten Traditions?  
Thus you may see what a vast Difference there is between Peter and the Pope, who pretends to descend from him. 1. Peter fed the Flock, and exhorted the Elders who were to be Bishops over the Flock, to feed them. 2. Not to seek after filthy Lucre (as the Pope doth) 3. Not to Lord it over God's Heritage or Flock (as the Pope doth) 4. But to be good Ensamples to the Flock (which the Pope is not) Such Bishops as these Peter appointed. And for any other sort of Bishops, as Universal Bishop, or Lording Bishop, there is no footing in Scripture for such a one, from any of the Writings of the Holy Apostles and Servants of the Lord; but against them there is sufficient Testimony of Scripture, as this of Peter, and that of Christ himself before mentioned, Mat. 20.25, 26. It shall not be so among you, saith Christ. So also Paul, the first Planter at Rome ●hat the Scriptures mentions, and the Lords chosen Vessel which, 1 Cor 8.6. To us there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ. I● the World there may be those that are called Gods, many, and Lords many; but to us who are the Church of Christ and his Servants, to us there is but one Lord Jesus Christ; not another Universal Lord, or Universal Bishop, nor any other Lords under him, for to us there is but one Lord. Therefore these Lords greater or lesser, universal or particuiar, cannot claim any right thereto over the Church of Christ, from him, or from Peter, or from Paul, being denied by every one of them. To whom then will they turn for their Foundation and Authority? Let them look to it as they will answer it before the only Lord that bought us, that we should be his Freemen and Servants to him, and not the Slaves of Men in our Consciences, as they are made in the Mystery of Iniquity, Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, Rev. 18.13.  
Let us view this Mystery a little further which is headed with such a Monster, that is got up above all Kings, Prince's Emperors, and see how it suits with that which was foretold of it by Paul that chosen Vessel of the Lord, 2 Thes. 2. He speaking there of the Day of Christ, satisfies the Brethren, that it was not at hand, nor should come, till there had been a falling away first, and the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition be revealed. And then gives them a little touch of him, that he might be known when he appeared. And thus he describes him, ver. 4. of that Chapter, Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God. This is the Apostles Description of him that was to arise in the falling away, and was to be the Top-Stone in the Mystery of Iniquity. Now let us make search, and see where we can find one that answers this Description like as the Pope doth. Who is there that sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God, and exalting himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped? who is there that hath risen in the Apostasy, and doth so besides the Pope? I know that some honest people sensible of a Mystery of Iniquity working Inwardly in the Heart, and not minding that which was to appear outwardly, do apply all Inwardly that is spoken of it; but I must desire them and others to consider. 1. That the Mystery of Iniquity here spoken of by the Apostle, was not yet risen in the Apostles Days when he spoke of it, only he saw it working to get up: But it was to be letted or hindered, until he that did let was taken out of he Way or he was an Enemy also that should let it, and therefore was to be taken out of the Way; but the Inward Mystery of Iniquity in the Heart was always the same. 2. I would have them to consider, that the man of Sin, the Son of Perdition which the Apostle spoke of, was not to be revealed till that which withheld the Mystery of Iniquity was taken out of the Way. And so it had its appointed time of working, of getting up, of being revealed, and of being headed by that man of Sin; and also of being consumed and destroyed, as is evident from this forenamed Chapter, 2 Thes. 2. I would not have any think that I speak against the searching out of that Inward Mystery of Iniquity lying and lurking in the Hearts of Men; but it's my present Work to discover something of that false Mystery that hath risen up as a compacted Body politic or City, and is headed by a particular person, in Imitation of the Body of Christ, and of Christ the one Head thereof, but under that shape a Devourer and Destroyer, and so hath his Name Apollyon, & Son of Perdition. John calls him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 9.11. And Paul here calls him, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, both from one root, which signifies destroying, for he is a Destroyer, and must go into Destruction or Perdition; and so Judas was called by the same Name, who betrayed the Innocent Blood; he was called, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the Son of Perdition, but this must be another, and not Judas; for Judas was gone to his place long before: but this Son of Perdition was not yet risen; and rightly may this Shedder of Innocent Blood have the same Name given him which was given to Judas, who betrayed the Blood of the Innocent, seeing they both agree in one Spirit of committing Murder; there is only this difference, that Judas had not a Mystery to act under, but this hath a Mystery of Iniquity to act his part under, which was not then risen in Judas' time: and so that which then went for plain downright Treason and Murder, now goes for something more plausible, that it may not be counted Murder, but the just Judgement of God upon Heretics, or the just Censure of the Church against Heretics: And then the people taught this bloody Tenent, That it is no Sin to kill a Heritick, and so the great Murders of the Papists come to be looked upon as good Service done to God. O horrid Mystery to make so great a Crime, which is not where tolerated or countenanced by Christ or any of his Apostles, but utterly forbidden, and the quite contrary taught by them; I say, to make this look as a piece of Service done for God So here the shedding of Blood of Innocent persons hath got a Mask over it, and is acted in a Mystery. The greatest Crime how fair a pretence it hath got! and so they that are involved in this Mystery, they come to be drunken with the Blood of Saints, and this stands as an inseparable Mark upon the Mystery of iniquity, Revel. 17.6. Blood of Saints, Blood of Martyrs. But how doth this their Tenent and Practice answer the Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord, and of the Holy Apostles. While he was in the Body, he went about doing good, but did no harm to any, nor would suffer it to be done to any: And therefore he forbade James and John when they would have called for Fire down from Heaven upon those that did not receive him; it is said, he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what Spirit ye are of; for the Son of Man is not come to destroy Men's Lives, but to save them, Luke 9.55, 56. But you see that the Mystery of Iniquity is come for another End, even to destroy Men's Lives. So when Pater drew his Sword and cut of the Ear of Malchus, Servant to the high Priest, Jesus would not suffer it to pass without healing it again, and saith to Peter, put up thy Sword again into his place, for all that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword, Mat. 26.52. And Christ told his Disciples, that the time would come, that Men should put them out of their Synagogues, yea and kill them, and think that in so doing they did God Service, just as they do under the Mystery of Iniquity. But mark, from what ground? These things will they do unto you, saith he, because they know not the Father nor me, John 16.3. So that you may see that Ignorance (which among the Papists is counted the Mother of Devotion) is the ground of murderring the Innocent. And such principles as this is part of that Smoke that hath risen, out of the bottomless pit of Men's Imaginations, and hath darkened the bright shining of the Gopel of Truth, and kept Men in the destroying Nature, ignorant of God and of Christ. And he that opened this bottomless pit, and let out such Smoke was a Star fallen from Heaven. The Angels or Ministers of the Churches Christ called Stars, Apoc. 1.20. Now this was a star fallen, to whom the Key of the Bottomless pit was given, who had power to open the pit. This must needs be in the Churches of Christ, for there were the Stars. Now what is the Use or power of a Key, but to let forth or shut in. This Star had got that power that he could let forth smoke out of the bottomless pit: He could establish Principles and Doctrines and Traditions of his own; and so open the bottomless pit of Men's Inventions and Imaginations, for there is no bottom to be found. And so here rises a smoke out of this pit which darkens the Sun, the pure Light received from Christ. And so the bright Sunshine of Truth being darkened with smoky Imaginations of Men's Hearts, and Wisdom of the Flesh, out comes the Locusts out of this smoke, who have Power to kill; and so comes in the murdering Spirit again, which was once cast out by the Doctrine of Christ and of his Holy Apostles. And the King over these murdering Locusts was he that was the Angel of the bottomless pit, the Star that was fallen from Heaven, Rev. 9.1, 2, 3, 11. Thus you see whence was the reviving of the kill Spirit, which had been prohibited by Christ: It was from a fallen Star, one that was fallen from the pure Doctrine of Christ, and from an Innocent and Heavenly Life, yet retained such Power from his place that he was in, that he could make his own smoky Imaginations take place, and his fleshly Wisdom, which works contrary to the Wisdom of God. Thus this man of Sin being exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, you may understand what Power he hath, and whereto it tends. It works quite contrary to Christ Jesus and to the Holy Apostles, though under pretence of honouring them, he bears up himself in people's Imaginations as Successor to them, and the chief Father in the Church of Christ.  
People open your Eyes, and be not so befooled with that doting blockish principle, that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, but search the Scriptures, and try all things, and hold fast that which is good, as you are exhorted in the Scripture to do, 1 Thes. 5.21. And those at Berea that did so when Paul preached to them were commended for it, and counted of a more Noble Spirit than others, in that they would search and see with their own Eyes, and not take things upon trust; therefore many of them believed, as you may read, Act. 17.10, 11, 12. Is it likely that Ignorance should make men more devout to God? Have not the most knowing Men in the World been always the most devout to God? Search the Scriptures from end to end and see? Begin at Enoch who saw Days that are yet to come, so far of; was not be devout to God, think you, who had this Testimony, that he walked with God? Was not Abraham devout towards God, who foresaw the Day of Christ in his time and rejoiced? Did Moses want Devotion? Did his being brought up in all the Learning of Egypt, or his great Knowledge in all the Counsels of God make him less devout to God? Was David less devout, because he made the Testimonies of the Lord his Delight and his Meditation? and doth not he pronounce him Blessed whose Delight is in the Law of the Lord? Was Daniel less devout by understanding by Books the time of their Captivity? O sottish principle, contrary to all Experience! have not the most devout Men mentioned in Scripture been Men of deep Understanding in the things of God? for shame you Teachers among the Papists, teach them better Doctrine, and let it appear that you do so, by their Liberty and Boldness to search into all Truth. For we know you do but lie if you say you teach them otherwise, whilst they live according to that principle, and dare not search the Scriptures. Do ye not remember that it was said of old, Hos. 4.6. My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge? What, do you delight in the Destruction of people, that you keep them locked up by such a principle from searching the Scriptures? It's a Doctrine to be abhorred by all Men, as fit only for Hell, and the Kingdom and Children of Darkness, who hate the Light, lest their Deeds should be discovered: But it's not to be admitted among the Children of Light, who are not of the Night, but of the Day, who love the Light, and bring their Deeds to the Light, that they may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. If the Pope and his Subjects were Children of the Day, they would not fear the Light but love it, as all Children of the Light do. But being in Darkness they love the Darkness, and its fit Doctrine for his Kingdom, to keep his Subjects and Slaves in Darkness, lest they should discover his Abominations, and so deliver their own Souls from under his Thraldom; for Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion to him, and to the dead Forms of Worship, and vain Repetitions and Traditions, which he keeps the People in Bondage to, for his own Gain. But let him or any of his show from the Writings of the Holy Men of God where ever such Doctrine was taught among them. It's he that hath the Key of the bottomless Pit that hath taken away the Key of Knowledge, darkening the Sun and the Air with his smoke: It's he that hath let out that Doctrine out of the bottomless Pit. Deliver yourselves you poor deluded People, who are held Captive in his Chains of Ignorance, under that serpentine Fallacy, that it is the Mother of Devotion; for its only so to him, but not to God, who will have the Knowledge of himself to be as the Waters that cover the sea, as he hath promised, and shall be fulfilled in due time. And therefore Peter opens to you the Way to Knowledge, but this false Successor shuts up the Way to Knowledge. Add to Faith Virtue (saith Peter) and to Virtue Knowledge; and to Knowledge Temperance, and to Temperance Patience, and to Patience Godliness, and to Godliness Brotherly-Kindness, and to Brotherly-Kindness Love; for if these things be in you and abound, 
2 Pet. 1.  they make that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see far off, and in that Blindness would the Pope and his Agents keep you by Doctrines of Darkness, lest you should see too far to be ruled by them.  
If you did but quit yourselves of that one principle of Darkness, and with single Hearts search into Truth as the Bereans did, you would come to see many more things of your own selves to be faulty. How easily might you see by the Scripture the horrid Blasphemy of that Man of Sin, that such a one as Simon Magus (who thinks that the Gift of God may be purchased with Money) should claim so near Title to the unspotted, pure and holy Lamb of God, while he is in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity; deluding your Souls with his pretended pardons for Sin to rob you of your Money. But indeed he cannot sell you that, nor give you that which he hath no Power in.  
Many other things are corrupted among you if I may not say all, and you are far from that pure State in which the Church of Christ was at the first at Rome. But these things were first presented in the Light before me to mind you of, that if it be the good Will of the Lord some of you may have your Eyes opened, that you may see to whom you enslave your Souls, and may flee out of Babylon, lest you partake of her Sins, and so partake of her Plagues.  
And if any of you shall be incensed against me for telling you the Truth, I must bear it. For I writ not these things in Contempt of any, or to vilify any particular Person, but in Faithfulness and Compassion to your Souls, to lay before you the State wherein you stand, enthrawled in your Spirits to a false Power, no Successor of Peter, but of Simon Magus, a fallen Star, the Angel of the bottomless Pit, King of the Destroyer's, who hath his Name Abaddon and Apollyon, who is exalted above all that's called God, or that is worshipped; and so seeing where you are, you that are simple-hearted, and have any Honesty in your Hearts towards the Lord, you may be awakened to look about you, and to quit yourselves like men, and may seek after the Liberty of the Sons of God and to serve him as his Free men, purchased by the Blood of Christ, from the vain Traditions and Injunctions of men which the Lord hath not commanded.  
Other things still open themselves before me, which I would not hold back from you, but as the Lord doth open the Error of them to me, so to communicate the same to you.  
Your Beads, and set number of Prayers, and Crucifixes, and antic Cross of yourselves, they are all Works of Darkness and of the Night, and not of the Day, and will not abidethe Light. Think you that that God which searcheth the Heart and Reins, and saith, My Son give me thy Heart, that he delights in Lip-Labour, or in the Number of Prayers, insomuch that you stand in need of a String full of Beads to count the number of your Prayers by? This is just to do like the Heathen, who think to be heard for their much babbling and vain Repetitions, which Christ forbade to his Disciples, Mat. 5.7, 8. And which the Lord hated, and cried out against by his Prophets among the Jews. Isa. 1.15. When you spread forth your Hands, I will hid mine Eyes from you; yea, when you make many Prayers I will not hear; your hands are full of Blood. And its in vain also for you, so long as you retain your Bloody Tenants, or Bloody Thoughts, to expect to be heard of the Lord. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth, for such the Father seeketh to worship him, Joh. 4.23, 24. And they that so worship him they have a better helper and remembrance than either Beads or Books. We know not what to pray for as we ought, saith the Apostle (to the ancient Church of Rome to whom he writ) Rom. 8.26, 27. But where's our Helper then? Not from Books or Beads, but the Spirit helpeth our Infirmities. There was the Helper of the ancient Church of Rome, and there's our Helper, one that knows the mind of our Spirit, and makes Intercession for us with groan which cannot be uttered. There's the Helper of those that cannot tell how to utter a Word, and their groan are heard of the Lord, who searcheth the Hearts. And this Helper administers Words also according to the Condition of the Heart, as there is need. But when the Heart is far from him, then to draw near him with the Lips, this is but an Abomination before him, and to offer up the Sacrifice of Fools, and so your Beads are of no use, but in the offering up the Sacrifice of Fools. I wonder that you yourselves do not consider the Childishness, and Ridiculousness, and Folly of them; they are so Ridiculous Childish Babbles, that they are not worthy to be mentioned by Christians, who should know a measure of the Spirit of Christ in them to teach them to pray; know ye not that Christ is in you, except you be Reprobate? reprobate to every good Work. But I shall come closer to your Prayers then your Beads. Your Prayers themselves are all Abomination to the Lord, with Beads or without Beads, by the help of Books or without them. Your private Devotions or Prayers, and your public Prayers, all are Abomination to the Lord, while your Hands are full of Blood, and your Hearts and Thoughts full of Blood. Your Principles are bloody, your Practices are like them, full of blood. Market-places, Stones in the Street will witness against you, that you are a bloody People; your Prisons, your Inquisitions will witness against you, and therefore your Prayers are an Abomination to the Lord. And it will not cure the Sore; it will not hid your bloodguiltiness to say, they are Heretics; they are Tares that we cut off, such as infest the good Wheat; they are Troublers of the Church, and it's no Sin to kill a Heretic. So indeed you are taught, as by your Practices hath sufficiently appeared to the World. But have you never read what Christ said to those his servants who enquired of him, whether they should pluck up the Tares or no, Math. 13.29, 30. How he forbade them, saying, Nay— Let both grow together until the Harvest, and then he explains to his Disciples when the Harvest shall be, and whose Work it shall be to separate the Tares from the Wheat. The Parable gins ver. 24. and ends with ver. 30. And Christ's own Explanation of that Parable you may read from ver. 36. to ver. 43. where he saith plainly, The Harvest is the End of the World, and the Reapers (who are to do that Work) are the Angels. And so he reserves that Work for them who shall be sufficiently able to distinguish Tares from Wheat, Heroticks from true Christians. And therefore till then they are to be let alone in the Field (which is the World.)  
Now here are two contrary Lessons, your Masters say, you may kill Heretics, and so instigate you thereto, and make you believe that you do good Service to God and the Church thereby. But Christ Jesus the Lord, and our alone Saviour saith, No, let them alone until the Harvest. Now choose which Master you will cleave to; for you cannot serve both in their contrary Precepts. If Christ Jesus be your Saviour then follow him; but if the Pope and his Companions be your Saviour's then follow them, and continue in your bloody Principles, and Practices, and bloody Spirits, and see if they can save you, who cannot save themselves, nor give account unto God for what they do, seeing they go contrary to his Commands; See if they can make your Prayers accepted, who are Men of Blood themselves, and whose own Prayers are therefore an abhorring to the Lord. Your Church is a Church of Blood, and therefore all your Prayers are an Abomination to the Lord. Repent therefore in the first place, of your Bloodguiltiness, whosoever of you hath but consented in your Hearts to that Act of killing for Religion; and cleanse your Spirits from that Scarlet Dye, whosoever you be; and come before the Lord with Love in your Hearts for your Enemies; and then your Prayers may find Access to the Throne of Grace. But if you come otherwise with a Principle of killing and destroying in your Hearts, you do but pray for your own Destruction, when you say, Forgive us, as we forgive.  
Nor will your Crucifixes, or Cross of yourselves prevail any thing with the Lord, being but empty shadows of things, whereby you evade the true Cross of Christ, and cast it off your Necks. It's true, Constantine the great (so called) he, as it's recorded of him, used the Sign of the Cross in his Ensigns in Battle, and that properly; to hold out against the Persecutors of Christianity, that he openly owned and embraced that Christ who was crucified upon the Cross, whom the Enemies therefore vilified, because of that manner of Death, and crucified some of his Followers after the same manner in contempt of him. But he was to honour him under the same Sign which they despised him for. We may believe that that thing was prompted to him from the Lord; But its good to consider his condition at that time, and how suitable it was to his Condition and the times. It's true, there was that in his Heart that favoured and cherished the Christians, and which abhorred the Persecutions of the other Emperors (for then was the Roman Empire divided among four, of which Constantine was one) And especially his Heart risen against the detestable Wickedness of one of the Emperors called Maxentius, who ravished the Citizen's Wives, and put many to Death unjustly. And so Constantine thinking how to remove that Tyrant, cast in his Mind, what God he should choose to himself to call upon as a Helper in that Work, in going against that Tyrant. And in this his Deliberation and Care to effect this Work, it's said, That abright Pillar shining in Heaven was represented to him in form of a Cross, with this Inscription, In hoc vince, that is, In this overcome. You may observe, that he was wavering in his mind, what God to turn to for a Helper, being yet ignorant of the true Helper; and therefore the Lord answered the Simplicity of his Heart by a Sign, showing him, to whom to turn; and also gave him that despised Name of Christ crucified, to war under; and by the outward Sign of the Cross, to hold forth in the World the Crucified Christ, being at that day so despised. And so being obedient to the Lord in holding forth that Name, and owning him openly by that Sign, the Lord made him victorious and great. But now ever after to make an Idol of the Cross, as if the Cross had done all for Constantine; this is just like the do of the Israelites; for whom the Lord commanded Moses to set up a forerunning Sign of Christ crucified, even the Serpent in the Wilderness; by looking up to which they should be healed who were stung with fiery Serpents; for after the use of that brazen Serpent, and service of it was ended, they went a whoring after it, admiring it, and idolising it, as if it had healed by its own Virtue. And just so do you, after the Sign of the Cross, when the service of it is finished. And therefore as Hezekiah took the brazen Serpent and stamped it to Powder, so ought the outward sign of the Cross which you so Idolise be dealt with. The Cross of Christ which you ought to take up daily, and bear about you, is, the Crossing of your own corrupt Wills and Affections, and fleshly and carnal Liberties, and Looseness of the Tongue to utter Vanity: You ought to cross your Wills in laying down your Necks to the Yoke of Christ, in bearing the Reproaches of lose and ungodly Walkers, who scoff at a Holy and Innocent Conversation; and also in bearing the Opposition and Contradiction of such as may traduce you for withdrawing from those who worship God after the Traditions of men, and have a Form of Godliness, but deny the Power thereof. In these and such like things as these doth the Cross of Christ lie, not in a Childish Picture of the Cross, or antic signing of yourselves, as if the Power lay in that. Therefore become Men in Understanding, and offer unto God a rational sacrifice, laying aside Childish things.  
I have something still before me, to offer unto you for your good, for my soul entirely desires your deliverance from under your bondage that you are in to the man of sin. Your Images and Pictures, wherefore do you use them in your approaches to the Allseeing God, who is present in all places, and searches all hearts, and knows the thoughts of the heart? Wherefore, I say, do you use them? If you worship them, then are you Idolaters. If you say, nay, we worship them not, but only use them, as representations, to put us in mind of God, and of Christ Jesus our Saviour; then be ye witnesses against yourselves. That Christ Jesus dwells not in your hearts to imprint the living remembrance of himself in you. Are you members of the Catholic Church, which is so surely built upon the Truth, that all deserve to be burnt as Heretics that submit not to your Traditions? And are you so forgetful of the Lord that you need Images to mind you of him? Be witnesses. I say, against yourselves, that God dwells not in you, nor you in him; and that you have lost the Union which the Saints once had and yet have with God; who therefore stand in no need of such things to put them in mind of the Lord; for his loving presence in them keeps their minds and hearts with the Lord. Therefore you are become strangers to God; and to the holy Anointing which keeps abiding in him. And herein you are degenerated from the first state of Believers, and of the Primitive Church at Rome, who were led of the Spirit, and had the witness of the Spirit, witnessing with their Spirits, that they were the Sons of God; and so walking with God in the Spirit they needed no such thing to keep them in mind of God, nor did they use any such things.  
But wherefore, I say again, do you set Images and Pictures before you, when you pray to the Lord? Is it to divert your minds that you should mind something else besides the Lord in your prayers, lest you should serve the Lord with all your heart, and with all your mind; or you set such things as mediators between God and you? If so, then know that you have Chosen to yourselves mediators which God hath not appoirted: but you have set up the devices of your own hearts. If it be only to put you in mind of the Lord, then when you are put in mind of him and go to pray to him turn from them, and put them out of your sight, lest they divert your minds.  
But wherefore must the Image of Mary the Mother of Jesus, and the Image of Peter, or any other holy servant of Christ be set before you when you pray? Do you worship their Pictures; Or do you pray to the Picture, or to them? If you worship their Pictures, or pray to their Pictures, you are Idolaters. If you pray to them that are represented by the Pictures, you make Gods of them, and so still you are Idolaters. And you give them that worship which is only due to God, & which Paul and Barnabas durst not take to themselves, when the men of Licaonia would have done Sacrifice to them, but rend their clothes and ran in among them, to constrain them, as soon as they perceived it. If you say, That was Sacrifice, but this is prayer to them. I Answer, Is not prayer Sacrifice? Is it not preferred before burnt Sacrifice? Is it not above the burning of a Lamb, or an Ox, or above the burning of Incense? Is not the thing itself more than the Type or Shadow? The Type sometimes is an abomination, though of Gods own appointment, as Sacrifices, and burnt Offerings, and burning of Incense was, Isa. 66.3. But the true Incense, the prayers of Saints never is so. Therefore prayer is greater than sacrifice, which the Apostles abhorred to be done to them: Nor would Petor suffer Cornelius to worship him, but took him up, saying, stand up, I myself also am a man, Act. 10.25, 26. Neither would the Angel of the Lord suffer John to worship him, when he fell down before his feet to worship, but saith to him, See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow Servant, and of thy brethren the Prophets, and of them which keep the say of this Book: Worship God, Rev. 22.9. You may hence learn, if you be Ignorant of it, That Angels, and the Prophets, and others that keep the say of this Book are all Fellow-Servants to God. And because they are Fellow-Servants they ought not to worship one another; the least Member is not to worship the greatest, neither Saint nor Angel. That's the reason the Angel gives why he would not suffer John to fall down before his Feet to worship; because he was but his fellow-Servant. Do you think that Mary, or Peter, or John, or any other holy Servants of the Lord would not say the like, if they were present, and see you falling down to worship before their Feet, and to pray to them? would they take the Honour of God to themselves any more than the Angel did? No surely, they would not stand between God and his Honour any more than the Angel did. Your falling down to worship them shows, that you are ignorant of that pure and holy Spirit that dwelled and dwelleth in the Saints, which makes them Jealous of such actions, lest God thereby should be rob, of his Glory. There's no right Spirit will desire it, or delight in it, but be afraid of it.  
It's the spirit of the Devil that delights to be worshipped, who would have had Christ to fall down and worship him; and now would have Men to fall down and worship any thing but God; and it's that spirit which Men gratify, when they worship any other but the Lord. Therefore turn from this Idolatry, and worship the only Lord God who made you, the Heavens, and the Earth, and all the Host of them, even all the Angels and Holy Men that are in Glory, who themselves fall down, and worship him, and dare not take to themselves that which belongs to God.  
Will you make Gods of Men, and imagine them to be present (as God is) over the Face of the Earth? It may be ten thousand Persons or more, in several parts of the Earth, as far distant some of them, as the East is from the West, may be all praying at once to the Virgin Mary, or to Peter, or some other; do you think them to be present in all Places to hear their Prayers, as God himself is present? If you do so think of them then how differ they from God in his Omni-presence and Omni-science. If you say, No, they are not present every where as God is; then (if they could hear Prayer) yet how many of these must pray in vain to those who cannot hear them? I thus follow you to convince you of your Error, if it may be. Away, away with your abominable Idolatry, in making God's of Men, and praying unto them as if they were every where; and let your Hearts turn to the Lord, who hath created you, and in whom you live and move and have your being, who upholds all things by the Word of this Power, and who is present in all your Hearts, and Reins, and sees the Intents and Purposes of your Hearts. Who though he made all things, and the Heaven be his Throne, and the Earth his Footstool; yet humbleth he himself to draw near unto his Creature; and to this Man will I look (saith he) that is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my Word, Isa. 66.1, 2. Therefore none need to be discouraged, and pretend to make Mediators of the Saints, as if they themselves were unworthy; for the poorer in Spirit that any one is, the nearer doth the Lord draw to that man. And he hath appointed no Mediator between himself and us, but one, even the Man Christ Jesus; for so the Apostle Paul hath plainly expressed it. 1 Tim. 2.5. For there is one God (saith he) and one Mediator between God & Men; the Man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a Ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Therefore they, they set up to themselves other Mediators, they are gone from the one Mediator which God hath appointed, and follow devices of their own Hearts, and the vain Traditions of men which will not profit them.  
Lastly you give us all ground to think, that you are guilty to yourselves, or at least wise your Predecessors were guilty to themselves of breaking the second Commandment by your Images and Pictures; or else what need they have put it out of your Bibles, or out of the number of the ten Commandments? But it looked them so full in the Face that they were not able to behold it, and therefore expunged it out of your Bibles. It may be some may read it here, who never read it in their Bibles, therefore I will set it down here for them to read.  
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven Image, or the Likeness of any thing which is in the Heavens above or in the Earth beneath, or that is in the Water under the Earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them; for I the Lord thy God am a Jealous God, visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me, and showing Mercy unto thousnds of them that love me, and keep my Commandments.  
This is that second Commandment, which your Books want, because your Practice will not bear it, it's written Exod. 20.4, 5, 6. If any be so bold as to say, there is no such Commandment; let them consult with the Jews, and ask them whether their Bibles have it in or no; for they can give you certain Information in that point, and from them we have all received the old Testament.  
Thus I have in Faithfulness laid before you, what was represented to me from the Lord concerning your Condition. And God is my Witness, before whom I stand, that I have not writ these things in Malice or Wrath against you, or any Person among you, but in Faithfulness to your Souls, to let you see where you are.  
And if any of you continuing in your bloody Principles and bloody spirit (for you are noted for a bloody People) shall seek my Life for my Love to you, in dealing plainly with you, in letting you know the Truth, and so add that also to your Bloodguiltiness, I value it not upon this Account, in Testimony of the Truth delivered to you, and of service to your Souls therein. And therefore I subscribe my Name, who am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness, Meekness, Humility, Love and Faithfulness in whomsoever I find them, and of all whose Hearts are towards the Lord in Sincerity.  Written in the Year 1673. and in the 7th Month, By William Tomlinson. 
THE END,