A DISCOVERY OF SATAN. Who hath in Man Covered Himself, by persuading Men, that Original Sin is the Corruption of the Nature of every Man, that is engendered of the offspring of Adam: Also, a Demonstration of the Messiah in Man, to whom the gathering of the People shall be, of whom Moses in the Law ●nd the Prophets did write, Gen. 49.18. Isai. 11.12. Written for the use of such that denyeth not themselves the use of Reason and Sense, and that are not wedded to their own Persuasion. An Epistle to the Reader. I Charge thee Reader, not to spend thy censures on thy loving friend, whose great desires for nothing more, than that Light should unmask the Whore, and tear away her painted dress, that all may see her nakedness; then introduced there shall be, new Heavens and Earth, that all may see, admiring much the glorious Frame, and strange composition of the same; then truth and justice shall appear throughout the World, without all fear; Darkness shall cease, and Light break forth, from East to West, from South to North: this is the time I long to see, till than we never shall be free from envy, malice and oppression, and what so ever is called transgression. The Author fain would teach all Men, the ground of things by word or Pen, that they may knows, (live, and not die,) Christ in their Flesh, God's mystery. Quest. WHat have been talked of in times past to be Original sin? Answ. The Pelagians talk, Original sin standeth in following of Adam, as it is noted in the Ninth Article of the Church of England; but the Church of England, in that Article saith, that it is the fault and conruption of the nature of every man, that is engendered of the offspring of Adam: This have been talked of to be Original sin. Mark, according unto holy Scriptures, that which moves in man, to move man to sin, is not the corruption of our nature, [for that is passive] but the power or motion of Satan in our flesh, which is active: This is the Original of Sin, for as 'tis written, sin is of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.8. Quest. Is the motion of Satan, which is in our members, sin? Answ. Yea, for it wars against the Law of God, which is in our minds, to wit, the Light; to war against the Law of God, is sin, and to move to man, or to tempt man to do contrary unto the being of God in man, is sin; whose being in us is as a Law to us, by which cometh to us the knowledge of sin. Quest. Shall not. the motion of Satan, which is sin, be imputed to man, if man obey not? Answ. Nay, to him that tempteth its a sin to be imputed, but to man that is tempted, it's no sin to be imputed, if he fall not into it; because man is not the author of the motion of sin, that is of the Devil, the motion of Satan which is sin, we have, when we do not commit sin; mark, it's one thing to have sin, it's another thing to commit sin; he that committeth sin is of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.8 Joh. 8.44. Quest. Is the motion of Satan in the Flesh of innocent mankind; if so, then may it not be in the flesh of little children? Answ. Yea, it may be in the flesh of little Children; that it was in the flesh of innocent man kind, Paul the Apostle saith, When I would do good, evil is present with me; Again, he saith, I find a Law in my members warring against the Law in my mind: Again, In me, that is, in my flesh, saith he, dwelleth no good thing, Rom. 7. James saith, Know ye not, that the spirit that dwelleth in us, lusteth to envy, James 4.5. that it is, I am a witness; for I find by the Law, as it is written, that when I would do good, evil is present with me, Rom 7.21. Quest. If the motion of sin be in the flesh of innocent mankind, is not that Adam 's transgression? Answ. Nay, Man's sin is no substance, but an act or accident, a transgressing against the Law of God: mark, that which moves in us, to move us to sin, is a substance, not Adam's sin, but the Serpent, that moved them to sin. Quest. Are not little children conceived and born in sin, as it have been conceived, declared, and believed? Answ. It's written, the Lord is the Former of all things, Jer. 10.16. and that in wisdom (which is contrary to sin) hath he made them all, Psal. 104.24. and his work is perfect, Deut. 32.4. Christ Jesus saith, touching little Children, of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke 18.16. Math. 19.14. Again, he saith, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little Children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 18.9. Again, it's noted in the common prayer Book, in public Baptism, that little Children are innocent; and in the Collect for Innocents' Day, see then, according to Moses, the Prophets, and Christ's sayings, little Children are innocent, and not born in sin. Quest. What is Innocency, and what is degeneration? Answ. Innocency is uprightness; Adam was in it, the Lord made man upright, Eccl. 7.29. Degeneration is transgression, the Lord made it not, nor man in it, Wisd. 1.13. Quest. Have not Christ by his death destroyed the power of sin, and satisfied the wrath of God for all transgressions? there are many that do believe that Christ, by his death, hath satisfied the wrath of God for all sins present, past, and to come, and hath by his death destroyed the power of sin? Answ. To believe that Christ by his Death hath satisfied God's wrath for all sins, and hath by his death destroyed the power of sin: Is to believe against Holy Scripture and knowledge, because we find in our flesh the power of sin undestroyed: Again, when we were the servants of sin, then as it's written, Rom. 2.8, 9 Upon our souls was tribulation, anguish and wrath: Again, if all sins present, past, and to come, was satisfied for, by the death of Christ; then there remains no place for preaching his name, for repentance and remission of sins, nor for Christ's Intercession. Mark, according to Holy Scripture, the ministry of the Gospel of God is to be preached among all Nations for obedience of faith; that they may come to repentance, and receive remission of sins, Luke 24.27. Except sinners repent, they shall all perish, Luke 13.4. Christ tasted Death for every man, for the redemption of the transgressions that was under the first Testament, Heb. 2.9. & 9.15. But for the sin of not believing the second Testament or Covenant of God, of that men must repent, or else for that they shall perish, and die in their sins, as the Lord hath said, John 8.24. Luke 13.3. Quest. What is the first Testament? Answ. Precepts of God gave forth, contained in Scripture without us. Quest. What is the second Covenant of the Lord, and where is it to be witnessed? Answ. The new and second Covenant of the Lord is the Law, which is spiritual, the true Light, gave and put by God in the minds of his People, according to his promise, Jer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. That lighteth every man that cometh into the World. John 1 9 It's perfect converting the Soul, making wise the simple, Psal. 19.7. The same to day as it was yesterday, and for ever; under differing names or sounds declared to us, he that doth believe have the witness in himself; 1 John 5.10. Quest. Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God the matter or substance of preaching, to beget faith in all men or mankind, to wit the World? Answ. If it was not in all the World, to wit mankind, than it could not be preached in all the World for a witness: mark, Christ saith, this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached for a witness in all the World, Math. 24.14. Again, he saith, behold the Kingdom of God is within you, Luke 17.21. It's written, the Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart; this is the word of faith we preach, Deut. 30.14. Rom. 10.8. Quest. Is that holy thing in man, by which cometh the knowledge of sin, the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever, the substance or matter of preaching to beget the lively faith? Martin Pereas, and many others saith; the matter or substance of preaching to beget faith, must be the written Word, or Scriptures of the old and new Testament, which by faith, γ€ˆβ—Šγ€‰ indeed the lively seed and firm foundation of faith: Wilson 's Dictionary, pag. 378. Answ. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, are God's witness, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. and that God was the Word, John 1.1. As it's written, nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, the word of faith the holy men preached, was in man, not Scriptures without man for a foundation of faith; no other foundation do the holy Scriptures witness unto, but to that which is already laid in thy heart, to wit, the Lord, who is as a Law to man, by whom cometh the knowledge of sin, to him gives all the Prophet's witness, that whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins, Acts 10.43. and not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3.15. Quest. What might be the cause that devout and great learned Men, pitched upon the Holy Scriptures for the matter or substance of preaching to beget faith? Answ. The light in them, made manifest to them, things that are reprovable, and brought as it do to us the Holy Scriptures to witness to it; they minded the things that are reprovable, and the Scriptures that was brought that testified to it, but not the wisdom that brought them, which is greater than all the Scriptures: this was the cause that they pitched upon the Holy Scriptures for a foundation of ministry: Is written, there was a little City, and few men within it; and there came a great King against it, and besieged it, and built great bul-works against it; now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the City: mark, yet no man remembered that poor man; the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard, Eccles. 9.14.16. Thus form was set above the Life; which was the cause of so much strife. Quest. May the wisdom of God, which maketh manifest things to man, be despised, and yet the things that are reprovable, retained in knowledge, and the Scriptures that do witness to them: If so, then may not a form of godliness be held by such that denyeth the power, and preached, and yet they perish in their sins? Answ. Yea, they that received the Law, it's written, perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them; 2 Esdr. 9.33. A man may in his knowledge retain the work of the spirit of God, and the Scriptures that do witness to it, and preach upon it the conceiving of his own brain: mark, and yet not retain God in his knowledge, but despise his wisdom, as before is written: mark that, ye Teachers, for ye that do so, the wrath of God is to be revealed against you from Heaven: Rom. 1.18. You are them that are not sent of God, neither shall your ministry profit the people at all: your ministry is considered perfectly, as the Lord hath said, it should be in the latter days; Jeremy 23.20. The anger of the Lord is gone forth against you, and it shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: mark, by that we know false ministry, we know the latter days is come. Quest. If all things, when they are rebuked, are made manifest by the Light, and that Light is the Lord. Why then was the Holy Scriptures written, and whereunto do they serve? Answ. The Holy Scriptures was written for our learning, Rom. 15.4. and are God's witnesses to men, that they may believe, that he which tryeth the Reins, and searcheth the heart, is the Lord, that so men might come to him and be saved; hereunto serveth the Holy Scriptures, 1 Chro. 28.9. Psal. 7.10. Jer. 11.20. Rev. 2.23. Quest. It the spirit of God, and the grace of God, and the righteousness of God, and the word of God, and the Son of God, one? Answ. Yea, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one, and the Righteousness, and the Grace of God is of the same Essence, and they are one in property, quality and virtue: 1 John 5.7. Joh. 10.30. Hos. 13.4. Quest. Why doth the Apostle Peter say, Acts 4. that there is no other name given among men, whereby they might be saved, but by the name of Jesus Christ, if Grace and Christ are one? Answ. The same Apostle saith, Acts 15. we believe through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved; Paul the Apostle saith, ye are saved by grace, through faith; not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, Eph. 5.8. Names or Sounds gives not a being unto Substances, but demonstrates them according to their nature, offices, operations and virtues: there are differences of administration, and diversities of operations, but it is the self same Lord: 1 Cor. 12.5. besides him there is no Saviour Hosea 13.4. Esa. 44.6. Rom. 1.17. The sound Jesus and Saviour is one. Quest. Is this the Testimony of God and his Prophets, and of wise men, to wit, that the Lord is in men, and searcheth all hearts? Answ. Yea, This is the Testimony of God, and his Prophets, and wise men, to wit, that the Lord is in their hearts, in the midst of them, searching all hearts, Hos. 11.9. 1 Chro. 28.9. Quest. What then is the saying of the Fool, and of them that are in the Tire of an Harlot? Answ. The Fool saith in his heart, there is no God: Psalm 14.1. and them that are in the Tire of an Harlot saith, the good man is not at home, he is gone a long Journey. Prev. 7.19. Quest. Are there three spirits in man, to wit, the spirit of God, Man's spirit, and the spirit of the wicked one; if so, what is their natures, properties, or qualities, and their workings in man? Answ. Yea, there are three spirits in man; first, the nature of God's spirit in man, is, the Light, powerful in its operations, immutable in his Essence, admitting no sin to join to it, the property and quality of it; briefly, it is meek, wise, searching all hearts, and making manifest unto men their thoughts, and the motion of Satan in their flesh. 2ly. The nature of the spirit of man singly considered, is mutable, the quality or property of ill in its working, is, its simple, fierce, furious; they that follow their own spirits, as it's written, have seen nothing: Ezek. 13.3. 3ly. The nature of the spirit of the wicked one is irreconcilable to any good, the property or quality of it in its working, is, It's subtle, envious and mischievous always in his working in man: he moves to man to do things contrary unto the being of God in man; whose being, to wit, God's in us, is, as a Law, by which Law, we know, that when we would do good, evil is present in and with us, according as it's noted in Scriptures of truth without us, Rom. 7.21. mark, the spirit of man is not begotten by man, or gendered of man, as some in Print have affirmed, than it would be mortal; neither is it that breath which God breathed in man, by which man became a living soul, as others in Print have affirmed; but man's spirit is given him of God, and is of the same substance that the created Angels are of; and it's that feeling sensible spiritual part in man by which we receiveth the things of the spirit, or breath of God: That man's spirit is not the breath of God, it may appear thus, by the breath of the Lord was the Heavens made, and all the Host of them, Psal. 33.6. and by the breath of his mouth, he will slay the wicked. Esa. 11.4. 2 Thes. 2.8. Quest. If there be three spirits in man, Is not there also three estates of man? Answ. Yea, the Son of God, Christ Jesus, is the righteousness of God; when man is in him, than man is in his first estate, in which he was form, out of which the Devil is, and into it he cannot come; but when man is between righteousness and unrighteousness, than man is as when he was born, which is man's second state: To man in that state the Serpent can come, as he did to the Woman; when Man transgresseth, than man is in that which God created not, nor man in it, which is man's third estate. In it the Devil is, and moveth, and it's under the wrath of God: He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; and awake to righteousness, and as it's written, sin no more. Joh. 5.14. Quest. Seeing that there is a threefold state of man, in which may a man abide and walk, and not commit Sin? Answ. In the righteousness of God, Christ Jesus, the way of holiness, may a way-faring man, though a fool, walk, and not err therein, Isa. 35.8. Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not, 1 John 3.6. Righteousness exalts a Nation, sin is a shame to any People, Pro. 14.34. Quest. What is the ministry of them that walk, and abide in Christ, and wherein do their worship consist, and in what do they worship, and what is the effects that follows of their ministry to them? Answ. Our ministry is that true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World, our worship doth consist in answering the Lord's requirings; we worship the Father, who is God over all, in him, in whom we walk and abide, the effects of the ministry unto us is, It makes the comers thereunto perfect, our upright, and satisfies our souls, and gives us the knowledge of God, which is life eternal, John. 17.3. which no changeable ministry can do, and by it in our hearts, as it's written, Math. 5.8. we have seen God, to whom be glory for ever. Quest. Why have, and do not God's People worship, and walk with sinners in their worships? Answ. Because sinner's ministry is changeable, and after the Law of a carnal Commandment, and their worships consists in teaching, and worshipping after the precepts of men, which is not bread, Isa. 55.2. Now Christ have forewarned his people to beware of men, that teach for Doctrine, the Precepts of men, Mat. 16.12. But in vain, saith he, do they worship me, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men, Mat. 15.9. Mark 7.7. Again, by his Apostles, we are forewarned to turn from them that have a form of godliness, and do deny the power, 2 Tim. 3.5. Again, we are forewarned by the Wise man, Prov. 19.27. to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of Knowledge: so likewise by the Lord of Hosts, in Jeremy 23.16. Now blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, Psal. 1.1. To all Rulers whom it may concern; A few words to consider of, seeing there is a time that one Man may bare rule over another unto his own hurt. Eccl. 8.9. IN the Apostles Days, they exhorted the Saints to be subject unto every Ordinance of Man, for the Lord's sake; to the King, to the Rulers, to all that was set in Authority under him; for said they, the Powers that are, are of God; the Rulers that then was, did not judge men for questions, and names, and words that related unto Religion, as it's noted in the Scriptures of truth, Acts 18. When the High Priests brought Jesus Christ before Pilate, and accused him of Blasphemy, producing their Law for it, John 19.7. Pilate denied them to give Judgement in that case, John 18.31. Again, when Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ, with others, was brought before Galio the Governor of Acaya, about words, and names relating to Religion; Galio said, if it were a matter of wrong, or evil deeds, reason would that I should bare with you; but if it be a question of words and names, or of your Law, look ye to it yourselves, for I will be no Judge of such matters, Acts 18.16. Mark that: Again, the 20th Article of the Church of England saith, it's not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing contrary to God's word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another: Again, the 2d. Collect for Peace in the Common-prayer Book, saith, The service of God is perfect freedom; this saying is true. Is not compelling to worship contrary to perfect freedom? judge in yourselves the things that are meet; for we who fear the Lord, are to prove all things, and do by the spirit of truth, which is within us, find, and according to the Scriptures of truth, that the say of many, and their do, do not agree; Consider of it, I pray you, that so you may do things worth to be called by us, who fear the Lord, Noble, as the Roman Ruler was by Paul, Acts 26.25. A few Words to those that may endeavour to oppose what is before written, touching little Children being born in innocency, and not in sin. IT may be conceived from what is written in Psal. 51.5. that little Children are shapen and conceived in sin. Mark. Thomas Wilson, that learned Man in his Dictionary, Page 602. saith on that place, sin entered with us into the World: This saying is true; but that little Children are shapen and born in sin, is contrary to holy Scriptures; which saith, In wisdom (which is contrary to sin) hath he, to wit, the Lord, made all his works. Quest. If Satan, or the motion of Satan, which is sin, entered, or is born with little Children, Is it not all as one, as though little Children was shapen and born in sin? Answ. Nay, he that is in sin, is under the Dominion of Satan, and is out of God's wisdom; to wit, the Son of God, in whom, and by whom the Former of all things made the Worlds, Heb. 1.2. Again, it may be conceived from the 2 Eph. 3. That by nature, little Children are Children of wrath. Mark, the 3d. Verse of that Chapter depends on the 2d. Verse. where it's written (that was spoken of such that walked, not of passive Children) according to the course of this World, according to the Prince of the power of the Air, the spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience: Mark, by following the Prince of the power of the Air, they are by nature the Children of wrath, but not as they was form by the Lord, of the nature of mankind. Again, it may be conceived by what is written, Joh. 3.3. That little Children are born degenerated, that Scripture points unto Man degenerated, not to little Children; little Children are form in righteousness, and born in innocency, as before is noted. Quest. If any Query, whether there be any saved by Jesus Christ, but those for whom Christ died; and whether he died for any but sinners; and then conclude, that little Children are born in sin, or the sin of Adam is imputed to them, or else Christ died not for them, and so conceive that little Children are not saved by Christ, if born in Innocency. Answ. We need not any Man to teach us, (as it is written, 1 Joh. 2.27.) but as the anointing teacheth us, the manifestation of it is given to every Man to profit withal; the anointing which is in us, convinceth us not, nor chargeth us not with the transgression of Adam, nor any of our Forefathers; because, for the Redemption of the transgressions that was under the first Testament, Christ tasted death for every man, Heb. 2.9. and the 9.15. So that little Children shall not answer for the sin of their Fathers, as the Lord hath sworn, Ezek. 18. but are guided in youth, Prov. 2.17. and are saved by the life of Jesus, Rom. 5.10. if they die before they transgress against the second Testament. Mark, it's the Soul that sinneth, it's written, shall die, Ezek. 18.20. Hos. 13.9. These things are written to stop errors, because an error in its beginning is next to the Serpent, the cause of all error and confusion, that have been upon the Earth unto this day; by the Light according to what is written, Jer. 16.19. It may appear, that our Fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. O Satan, old and subtle too, thy ways is hard to find, How thou dost work in Sons of Men, their children's minds to blind. Know Satan, thou Unveiled must be: No cover shall thee hid, Though thou moves Men, professing Christ: To judge that they may ride, Upon the truth, and her Children: a place not fit for Man. Know of a truth thy time is short. Yea, even now's at hand, For to be bound not to deceive, the Lord will do the thing, And we that do God's Name profess, will to Him for it sing. Finally, Because amongst the many thousand witnesses, I do testify that the true Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, is the matter or substance of Preaching to beget faith; some Men may think and say [as some have] that I do deny the Holy Scriptures. Know all Men, that I do own the Holy Scriptures, for they do testify that the searcher of all hearts is God, and that God is Light, and that all things that are rebukable, when they are made manifest, is manifested by the Light. Again, know that I am a witness, and do think of Holy Scriptures above Men, as it's written, 1 Cor. 4.6. But I may not think of Holy Scriptures above God in Man, or the Testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of Prophecy: for, as it's written, 1 Joh. 5.10. The witness of God is greater; he that do believe the Testimony that God gives of his Son, have the witness in himself; but every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, that Spirit is of Antichrist, 1 Joh. 4.3. Written by R. W. in the Year 1668. THE END.