A BRIEF TREATISE, ON The truth's behalf in discovery of falsehoods which are dispersed abroad in two papers of Richard Baxter's who is greatly esteemed of as an able Minister at Kedarminster in Worcester shire, but his ignorance and deceit is here made appear in his two papers, the one entitled, One sheet for the Ministry, the other A second sheet for the Ministry.  
And he hath pretended the one against Malignants, among whom he hath numbered them called Quakers, and uttered forth his envy in several lies and revilings against that people called Quakers, whose known integrity shall stand a witness against all such deceivers and revilers as he is proved to be perpetually.  
1. Here are several of this said R. Baxter's lies made manifest and void.  
2. Here is something concerning Ministers maintenance, and tithes, which this Priest Baxter goes about to prove that tithes are both of Civil and Divine Institution.  
3. Concerning the Priests call to their Ministry, and how it differs from the true call, with several other things of concernment that here both Magistrates and people may come to see the blindness of the deceivers in this Nation.  
This is given forth only for the truth sake and for their sakes who love it, by their friend, George Whitehead.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1658.   

IT was the enmity and hatred of the old serpent in the false priests and false prophets of old, when the power of truth did appear, to hate, persecute and falsely to accuse the Righteous seed of God, whom he had wrought deliverance for out of captivity and bondage, by his mighty power, and whom he had stirred up thereby to witness for himself, against deceit and deceivers both among Jews or Gentiles, so that the enmity of the righteous seeds adversaries was so great, and their rage so stirred against the true witnesses, that such as witnessed forth the truth, and such as loved the truth was not only persecuted and hated by deceivers, but also numbered among the seed of evil doers, and reviled by the wicked, that so one strengthened the hands of another in wickedness, who said report and we will report, and because of Lying, and swearing and drunkeness, the land mourneth and the false Prophets strengthened the hands of evil doers, and by their lies and lightness made people light and vain, and they put no difference between the precious and vile, and even, so it is evidently seen by the Priests of England, who make it their daily practice to rail, falsely accuse, slander and backbite the innocent people of God called Quakers, insomuch that the hands of the rude persecutors are daily strengthened by them, and in stead of seeking the preservation of the Lambs of Christ's they cast dirt on them, and these shepherds that feeds themselves and not the flock by their lies and dirty stuff which they disperse abroad, sets the dogs on the Lambs of Christ to worry them, so they are far unfit to be sheapherds or Ministers of Christ, but devourers, one of whom this priest Baxter is plainly proved, who hath numbered them called Quakers among the malignants, drunkards, whoremongers, covetous, and all ungodly persons, and compared them with the Papists, and says, that these wicked wretches despise and revile the Ministers (in his one sheet for the Ministry, (page. 5.) therefore, now I proceed to lay open his words and lies given forth out of envy against the Innocent, that this Priest may be manifest to be a deceitful tradesman, and not worthy to be suffered to sell any more of his deceitful ware, he hath confessed as much as that which they (to wit the Priests) are brought up to is a trade, as in page 6.  
Ans. But to his lie and false accusation, I answer, that malignant's are such as are in envy, and hatred, who are given over to a reprobate mind, and such as are filled with malignity, commit sin with greediness, Rom. 1. 28, 29. and for Papists and such, we are truly witnesses against them and against both root and branch of them, and if the Priests of England could as well show an evident example for their cleverness from popery, as we can for ours who are called Quakers, there should not be that vast difference betwixt us that there is; for than we should not have the Priests to cry against, for upholding many of their own traditions, and superfluities, and ceremonies, which in their worship they uphold, which in matter and form the Papists uphold, though in the esteeming of their traditions or in the conceit of them there may be some difference, but in the substance they do agree as in their sprinkling infants and using bread and wine, and calling it a sacrament, and in their owning the idols temples or Papists masse-houses, and the Priests in covetousness, and receiving Tithes (that great oppression) but something to that I shall speak hereafter: And for drunkards in this Nation, the greatest part whereof are of the Priests, hearers or owners of them who speaks well of the Priests, and will be the readiest to fight for the Priests, and to hail the children of the Lord out of their Assemblies, if any of them be moved to speak to them in their Idols Temple, so we are far from having fellowship with them. And for his accusing us for envying the Ministry; the true Ministry we own and love, and God knows our hearts we envy not them at all, neither hate we any man's person, though falsely here he hath numbered us among the wicked, so if he can let him clear himself from popery, for there are many things pertaining to Popery that we could justly charge these tradesmen, the covetouss Priests of England, with.  
This said Priest, Baxter, saith in page the sixth. These enemy's reproach as faithful a Ministry, as the world enjoyeth, the most of the protestant Churches have a Learned ministry, that is so taken up with controversies, that they are much less in the powerful preaching and practice of Godliness.  
Answ. Indeed that Ministry which the World enjoyeth, are but little in powerful preaching, for the Ministry which the world enjoyed was false Prophets and Antichrists, and they are of the world, and the world heareth them, (1 John. 4, 5.) and though the truth may be preached to the world by such as are in the truth, yet the world is not in the enjoyment of it, for the world loveth its own (Antichrists and false Prophets) who are less in Godliness indeed, for they are nothing like God, for they that were deceivers were ungodly men, Jude 4. 2 Peter 2. 14. so that if this priest and the rest did but consider what a ministry the world enjoyeth among them, they have little cause to boast of themselves, or their Ministry.  
Priest, It is for your sakes and souls that they study, and pray, and fast, and watch, and exhort and labour to the consuming of their strength; (and this he speaks to them he calls malignant's) on his own and the priests behalf in page 6. and in page the 8th. he saith of the same people he speaks against, nay such are noted for the highest sort of the wicked upon the earth, worse than drunkards, whoremongers and such filthy beasts, the persecutors of God's Ministers, have been ever taken as walking Devils.  
Answ. This is such a ministry as the world enjoyeth indeed, and altogether out of the faith (so unfaithful) where the teachers prays and fasts, for such as this priest confesseth to be the highest sort of the wicked, and as walking devils, surely they spend their strength in vain, that prays for such as they count as Devils, and the worst or highest sort of the wicked; and how can his or their praying be said to be in the faith, for such as he doth thus judge, and yet he confesseth that there is a little help and hope left for their miserable souls; see his blindness and confusion, have malignant's help and hope? for if they have hope, then have walking devils hope according to this man's account, and then have the reprobates hope, but it is manifest that there are some that are given over to a reprobate mind, and some are without hope, and some have neglected their visitation, and such are malignants, for whom we do not spend our strength, neither do we pray for walking devils, but▪ for them whom God hath chosen and will choose out of the world, neither did the Apostles pray for filthy beasts, but for men.  
Priest. I profess were it not for the belief of the greatness and necessity and excellency of the truths that I am to preach, and for the will of God, and the good of souls, I would be a ploughman, or the meanest trade if not a sweep-chimney rather than a Minister.  
Answ. As for the sake of the belief or greatness of truth: he himself is proved both to labour out of the true belief & to be out of the truth, whose labour hath so little effect as it hath, seeing he labours for such as he compareth to walking devils, and complains of the drunkards, whoremongers, covetous and ungodly persons in their parishes, and yet he is a Minister among such; truly he might see that he Labours but for very vanity if he were not blind, so that a ploughman or a sweep-chimney are more lawful than this man's trade who makes a trade upon the scriptures; and its better to be ploughman or sweep chimneys then an unprofitable Teacher.  
Priest, And he that is the accuser of the brethren which accuseth them before God day and night, and is not this the works of the Quakers?  
Answ. No, for the saints were not in the false accusers work when they cried against such teachers as were in the covetous practices, and called them cursed Children, neither are we accusers of the brethren when we witness against such Ministers now as are in the covetous practices, but do suffer by the false accuser, many of whose false accusations are extant in Priest Baxter's lying papers against us called Quakers.  
Priest in page ten, And what else do Quakers and all these sects that are the enemies of the Minictry, do they not go up and down the land, and say to the wisest holiest teachers, as if they took them by the sleeve, come down and let me preach, that can do it better, come down thou deceiver and ignorant man, and let me come up that am wiser and better.  
Answ. I question not but that there are many in this natition that can witness against this Priest for a false accuser in these words, for we do not use these words, he lays to our charge, as to say we are wiser and better, and let me come up, here he accuseth us as if we had as mind to come up into their pulpits, but such high places or chiefest seats, we desire not at all, but rather leave them for the hireling priests that they may appear like Pharisees who had the chiefest places in the assemblies, whom Christ cried woe against, and it is against the Priests, the deceivers that are in the Pharisees steps that we cry and not against the true Ministers; but we know that the seed is come that tramples upon the high places of the earth, and upon these places wherein Idolatry is upheld.  
In the 11 page, Priest Baxter takes the labour of most tradesmen in the Town, to be a pleasure to the body in comparison of his (and saith) they work in ease, and I in continual pain.  
Ans. Here let such as labour daily with their hands, consider whether this man hath spoken the truth or no, and whether compacting a sermon together in a week in his study or elsewhere, and much of it made ready to his or their hands, and declaring it over one day, it may be sometimes in two days in the week, and it may be speak by an hourglass as many of the Priests in England do, whether this be not easier to the body, then daily hand labours from mornings till evenings? and he that saith he is in continual pain, it appears then, that his trade is a bondage to him; but if he were a Minister of the Gospel, he would not be in continual pain in ministering that, neither would he murmur or complain as he doth, and as the filthy dreamers did, Jude 16. for the commands of Christ was joyous to his, and the way thereof they ran with great delight and had joy and peace and consolation in the Lord which they received through obedience to his commands, and were not in continual pain, as this priest confesseth he is, and indeed such as he is are like to be in pain they being in their steps who ran, and the Lord never sent them, and the Lord is against them, how can they but be in pain, for the wicked men have no peace with God, and surely this labour and travail and trade of theirs is deep in the curse if they be in continual pain.  
Priest. As wisely do the Quakers argue, that because we use spectacles or hour-glasses and pulpits, we have not the spirit; it is not want of your abilities that makes ministers use notes, I use notes as much as any man, when I take pains, and as little as any man when I am Lazy.  
Answ. Here he goes about to plead for the Priests using hour glasses, pulpits and notes for teaching by, but he cannot prove that the Ministers of Christ used these things as the blind guides in England do; and as for pulpits, such was in Ezra's time, in the time when the Law was read; and the Pharisees had the chiefest places in the Assemblies, who professed Moses but denied Christ, and he witnessed against them, Mat. 23. and it is manifest that these that limit a time to teach in by an hourglass, are not led by the spirit of truth; for the saints did not preach by hour-glasses, for they spoke when, and so long as they were moved by the spirit, neither did they use notes for Sermons as the priests do, but spoke in the power and demonstration of the spirit: And here he confesseth himself to be sometimes Lazy, and before said be had scarce time to eat and drink. R. Baxter, see thy confusion, What, art thou in continual pain and yet lazy? and yet hast thou scarce time to eat and drink, thou may have time for both if thou preach by an hourglass; for shame give over thy trade if it be so tedious to thee, and yet thou art Lazy:  

Now concerning Tithes and Ministers maintenance, and some other things of concernment.  
And where this said Priest would clear himself of covetousness and oppression, he begins to plead for their taking tithes, and his taking hire in these words, The same Law of the Land that makes nine parts theirs, doth make the tenth ours; if we have no title to the tenth, they have none to the rest; we ask none of our people for a farthing, they give it not to us, it was never theirs when they buy or take Leases of their Land, it is only the nine parts, they pay for.  
Answ. Here he hath neither cleared himself from covetousness, oppression, nor from lying, and here he challenges as great an interest in the Tithes as a man hath in his heritage, or possession which he hath by inheritance, and they that profess themselves Ministers of Christ, pleads now for Tithes by a Law of the Nation, when their Gospel will not manage them in taking Tithes; truly the mass Priests or Papists might have brought as strong a proof for their receiving Tithes as this man brings, and the manner of both their receiving of them is contrary to the Law of God, and what a man hath a just right to by inheritance is according to the Law of God, but so is not the Tithes due to priests, now seeing that the second priesthood is come which abolished tithes among the rest of the figures. And for people paying but for 9 parts of their estates, or farmed lands: Let people see this priest's deceit in this, and bring their evidences or deeds of lands or leases against him, for do they not mention that every part and parsel of a tenement or a living that's sold, is for the singular use of him or them that buys it, or for his or their heirs, executors or assigns, or every part and parcel of such a Tenement for the use of him that buyeth it, or for the farmer's use; These and such like expressions are recorded in many legal evidences of the nation for farms or livings without any exception for paying the priest tithes, besides there is the husbandman's labour, or his charges to labourers spended upon his living or Tenement and goods; so that being considered in the tithes what the priest takes for tithes, doth amount in many places to far more than the tenth of their estates, & if men's ground wanted labour it would lie waste, that the priests would soon want tithes, which were established by the Pope, and upheld by Tyrants who could argue as strongly for them as this priest doth, and therefore by this man's argument were the mass-priests to be upheld by them because they could plead for an interest in tithes and other things, by a Law. For shame you teachers in England, if you be not popishly affected, come out of their steps, places and oppressions, and if you ask not people for a farthing, then why are so many of the people of God subpoened up to the Upper Bench, and many have been imprisoned through your ungospellike means, and your envy and covetousness whereby the innocent suffers, and the creation groans, but the Lord will meet with you, and pay you your wages for all your deceits one day. And whereas this lying priest also would here accuse us to make people Thieves, and to have them rob God, and to prove his deceit he brings these scriptures, Mal. 3. 8. Rom. 2. 22. Gen. 14. 20. Heb. 7. 6, 9  
Answer. It's no marvel that this hireling hath here preferred an outward or national Law before the scriptures, for the scriptures in this place will not at all manage his design for tithes, for as for that in Gen. 14, 20. and Heb. 7. 6. 9 touching Melchizedeck's receiving the tenths of the spoil of Abraham when Abraham was returned from the slaughter of the Kings, which was before the Law was given, it maketh nothing for the priests now receiving the tenths of men's estates, labours and increases, and Christ being a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, was not in order to Melchisedec's receiving the tenths of Abraham, but in order to his Immortality, and his being without descent, without beginning of days or end of time. And Christ did not give any command for his to take tithes, and for that in Mal. 3. 8. in Malachy's time the Covenant was with Levi, and that was before Christ came in the flesh, when they were to bring the Tithes unto the store-house, that the Lord might have meat in his house for fatherless widows and strangers, which was according to his covenant and law to Levi, so that then in the prophet's time, when they did not bring the Tithes to the store-house they robbed God, and the priests had corrupted the covenant of Levi, and violated the Law of God, Mal. 2 2. 8. and 3. 8. so now seeing this priest counts the tithes or hire that they take to be of the Lord's portion in page 14 and that if they have never so much that they devote it wholly to the Lord as he saith, than I say where is their store-house, 
And if the reader would be further satisfied touching the ground and rise of Tithes, he may seriusly view a book called the great case of Tithes truly stated by A. P.  or when do any of them bring the tithes to a store-house for the relief of fatherless widows and strangers, seeing they bring that in, Mal. 3. 8. for their taking tithes; it may as well be said that they rob God: Now if the first covenant and Levitical Law, and priesthood were to be preached up now as they were counted robbers of God in Mallachies' time that brought not the tithes to the store-house. But we conclude that that priesthood that took tithes is changed, and of necessity, the Law is changed and the commandment disannulled that gave tithes. Heb. 7. and where this priest here would plead for tithes to be of divine institution, by that in Mat 23. 23. here he would grossly blind the minds of people indeed, and here he hath plainly brought a popish argument in effect, and cited the Scriptures that the papists plead for tithes by, as I have seen in an annotation of their, adjoined to that in Heb. 7. but let me tell both the papists and the priests of England, that when Christ spoke that in, Mat. 23. 23. that this was before he suffered on the cross, whereto he nailed the hand writing of Ordinances, and blotted it out, Colos. 2. and he abolished in the flesh, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; so that this priest and the rest that pleads for tithes to continue in that particular, do deny Christ come in the flesh, and are enemies to his cross, minding earthly things, and for earthly ends pleads for Tithes, as to maintain themselves in ease, and them and their wives and children in pride and Idleness, which causeth the creation to groan, and causeth many poor men to work hard and earn their livings dearly; so that which they receive from the people is not devoted to the Lord as the Lord's portion, but coveted unto themselves, for the maintaining of these covetous, lazy shepherds in England; and to maintain his deceit, he also saith that the primitive Christians gave not only the tenth, but all that they had, and laid it at the Apostles feet.  
I answer, but here the Apostles did not receive tithes for themselves, nor plead for tithes as a Divine institution, as the Priests do; for this was that distribution might be made unto every man according as he had need, Act. 4. 35. And this said Priest also goes about further to cover this his evil coveteousness and oppression by that in the 1 Cor. 9 5. 7. 13, 14. To which I answer, that he, and the rest of his companions, in iniquity are manifest to be in Antichrist's deceit, and in cursed practices, and the root of all evil sprung up in them, to wit covetousness after money, and the fruit of it, as oppression which abounds among them, and covetousness is idolatry, so the priests that are covetous are Idolaters, so than these Idolaters Antichrists, blind guides and Deceivers have no interest in that livelihood that pertained to the Gospel for their teaching, seeing that they are no Ministers of the Gospel; so for living of the Gospel they cannot, and for going a warfare for the gospel they do not foregoing a warfare is not a lying loitering at ease in settled places as the Priests in England do, like lazy drones who never came to endure hardship, as the soldiers of Christ have done and do, who go not a warfare at their own charges, but their Master Christ bears them out and rewards them, and puts them forth, and goes before them, and they live of the Gospel, as his true Ministers have done who had power from him to eat and drink, where they were received according to his command, Mat. 10. 1 Cor. 9 but not to take tithes, nor to oppress people as the Priests do; so now R. Baxter thy false cloak for covetousness is quite rent, and all thy arguing for preaching for hire, and taking tithes, will not at all maintain thee therein, neither doth any scripture prove these thy practices, nor are they at all concordable with the Saints practices.  
Priest. Prove us unsanctified, and we will refign our office.  
Answ. Thou art proved a covetous man, an idolater, a false accuser, a deceiver; and covetous unthankful men, (such as thou art) were unholy, 2 Tim. 3. 2, 3, 4: then you are unsanctified, for such as are unholy may Justly be said to be unsanctified, therefore if thou and you do not resign your office, you'll be further taken notice of, who hold up a deceitful trade that God will overthrow who make a trade upon the Scripture, and are teachers for hire which Micha and the Prophets of God cried against, & R. Baxter thou hast confessed as much as that which you are brought up to at the Universities as thou callest them is a trade, in these words (to wit, would not the time & labour and cost that they are at in the schools and universities, have fitted them for a more gainful trade?  
Answ. It appears then that they that have money enough thereby may bind themselves as Apprentiless at Oxford or Cambridg (or at Durham, which of late is set up to bring up such tradesmen) as through carnal industry and bestowing cost may come to such a trade as R. Baxter, and the rest of the priests are of, truly they may even be ashamed of calling themselves Ministers of Christ, seeing that they are set up and made Ministers by the will of man, through carnal cost, and their own labour, but here they are out of the true wisdom, for it cannot be purchased with gold, Job. 28. 15. And thus for the priest's education to their Ministry, they cannot prove it to be as the call that Timothy and the elders in the Churches of Christ had, though this priest hath gone about deceitfully in his second sheet to prove it; but y●u may see further concerning that shortly and in plainness.  
Priest. In his fifth and thirteenth pages he confesseth that there is scandals in the Ministry (as drunkenness and swearing, &c.) and saith, that Ministers are still spurring on the Magistrates, to cast out the insufficient, negligent, and scandalous.  
Answ. If the Priest be still spurring on the Magistrates, than they make slaves on them, and makes them as beasts, or horses that wants understanding, truly if the Magistrates grow not weary of their teachers they are very blind, and very much feared in their consciences, for who could still endure spurring on, but I believe that if the Priests spur the Magistrates on as he calls it, it's more for their own preferments that the priests have petitioned often to the Magistrates for Tithes, Augmentations and preferments in the earth to satisfy their ungodly covetousness, rather than spurred them on to cast out drunkards and swearers; but if the Magistrates stood in the counsel of God, they would have understanding how to act for God, and do their duty in obedience to God of a ready mind, and would not need the priests continually to spur them on as slaves; But be not ye like the horse or mule that wanteth understanding, but learn judgement and do justice ye Rulers. And what, have the Priests been Rulers so long, (as this priest pleads for them to be) and teachers in England so many years, and have they not cast out from among them the drunkards and swearers yet? It's even time for them to resign their office indeed: And this Priest saith, that Magistracy is as truly from God as the Ministry.  
Then I say what need any Ministers be still spurring on the Magistrates as this Priest saith, that they do (also he saith, that there is a clearer word in the gospel for the Ministry then for the Migistracy in page 2.) Then I say, How is Magistracy as truly from God as the Ministry? If there be a clearer word for the one than the other, and also to say that there is two words in the Gospel, the one not so clear as the other, is another error; for every Word of God is clear; and for Magistracy, and the power that Magistrates are entrusted withal it is ordained of God, but the Magistrates or Rulers that do uphold such blind guides as this, who is in such errors and confusion, they grossly abuse their power, and shall give an account for it one day. And this said Priest saith to them he calls Malignants, &c. If you will come and help us to cast out any that are vicious and unworthy, we will give you thanks.  
Answer. Here he speaks of such helping them as before he counted as walking devils, and as the highest in wickedness upon earth; surely he can but help his hearers badly and miserably for their souls seeing his strength is so much decayed, that he would thank them he calls malignant's if he could have their help, it may be justly said that they that seek to him for help do but go down into Egypt for help.  
Priest. If the Magistrates stop the mouths of such raylors and abusers of God and men, he doth no more persecute than he persecuteth a thief when he haugeth him (and this he speaks against them called Quakers in page 12.)  
Answer. Here his envy and maliciousness is made appear whereby he would stir up the Magistrates to persecute us for our profession, which we know Christ Jesus is the author of, and this is because that we are made to witness against him, and against such deceitful tradesmen as he is, but if he were in the truth, and saw us in errors, than he would not seek to incense the Magistrates to persecute us, but rather seek to convince us by sound doctrine, and a good example, but such as he are manifest to be out of both, and he would bring Paul and Peter and the Churches of Christ for a cloak to his malice, which here he hath uttered to the Magistrate against us, but they will not cover him nor his deceit; for though they rejected, judged and delivered some up to Satan, yet they did not persecute them nor complain to the Magistrates to have them east into prison, nor to have their goods taken from them for their profession, as many of the priests in England have done, by whom many of the servants of the Lord in England have suffered and do suffer, both the spoiling of their goods, and imprisonments, and some the loss of their lives in prisons, whose sufferings will rise up as a heavy judgement when their prayers shall be fulfilled against their persecutors.  
And this said Priest it appears allows of hanging them that steal, seeing that he would have us persecuted, and counts it as lawful as hanging a thief.  
Answer. Here this is a murderous spirit, that would take away the life for the creatures, and so doing is contrary to the Law of God, Let the Priest and the Magistrate read Exod. 22. 1, 2, 3. If a man shall steal an Ox or a Sheep and kill it or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an Ox, and 4. Sheep for a sheep. If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him; if the sun be risen upon him, there shall he blood shed for him, for he should make restitution. If he have nothing, than he shall be sold for his theft, Mark by this then if the thief was slain after the sun was risen, there was blood to be shed for him, and in verse the fourth, if the theft certainly be found alive in his hands, whether it be Ox, Ass, or Sheep, he shall restore double, and in Eph. 4. 28. Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth; but he doth not say that he is to be hanged for this theft, and how shall he labour or work with his hands if he be hanged? Therefore Magistrates had need to take heed of hanging thieves, and priests of allowing it.   

Now concerning the Priests call to their Ministry as followeth, and how it differs from the true call.  
Now whereas R. Baxter in his second sheet, goeth about to prove the priests call to their Ministry to be of God, and brings scriptures to prove his and their call to be lawful; for their sakes that desires to be informed in this thing I shall mention something concerning it, that the simple may be informed, and the minds of the ignorant unveiled, that they may see the difference between a true call which is revealed and a false call, where revelation is denied by the false ministers, and that the scriptures, and the form of sound words do not make void revelations.  
Whereas R: Baxter in his first proposition in pages 3, 4: goeth about to prove 2 distinct sorts of Ministers, first such as received revelation, or a particular law or message immediately from God, these were prophets and Apostles; and he goes about to distinguish a second sort of Ministers from them, and the second sort he calls over seers, Bishops presbyters or elders, pastors, and Teachers, and deacons, and that the latter sort (as he calls them) was not to declarewhat they had immediately from God but what is declared in Scripture, and what they have heard of others, and saith that the holy Ghost is to help us in keeping that which is committed to us, and not to reveal more.  
Answ. This is a false distinction and a perverting the scriptures to distinguish Elders, Pastors and Teachers, or Bishops from them that had Revelation and immediate teaching, and from being Apostles, for John was an Elder and declared what he had revealed, that which he had heard, that which he had seen, and which he had looked upon, which was from the beginning, the same he showed to others, 1 John 1. 1. And he saith the Elder unto the Elect Lady, and the Elder unto the well-beloved 2 John 1. 3. John 1. and John was an Apostle, Mat. 10. And the Apostle Peter was an Elder who had the word of God revealed, so an Elder not distinct from an Apostle here as this man would have them: And Paul was a father in the truth, and an Elder was as a father to be entreated, 1. Tim. 5. 1. so he that is a father is an Elder, and the same that was an Elder was an Apostle, and declared what he had received immediately from God, and the Elders, Pastors and Teachers had gifts given them from God when Christ was ascended he gave gifts unto men, he gave some Apostles, some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints; for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephes. 4. 11, 12. the Apostle doth not say, that the Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers had not received that immediately from God which they taught, as this man doth, for they had gifts given them when Christ ascended, which gifts were perfect, and was given for the perfecting, which gifts was revealed in the Church of Christ, for these gifts were for the benefit of the Church, neither had they received these gifts from man, but from God, and these that had gifts given them for the work of the Ministry, whether Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors, or Teachers, they had power to ordain Elders in the Churches, as well as the Apostles had power to lay on hands on several that believed, which when they laid their hands, immediately the holy Ghost came upon them, so that Paul, and Barnabas, and Timothy, and Titus had power to ordain Elders, Acts 14. 23. Titus 1. but this was in the Church whom Christ presented blameless, and fitted for himself. Ephs. 5. 26 27. and Chr●st had fitted them that were Elders, Bishops, or Deacons, for himself before they were allowed of for their Office by the Apostles who were first to be tried, and then they were to Minister; now that which presented them blameless was the gift of God, and they had the gift revealed in them, and a Bishop, and a Decon must be blameless, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy Lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, and apt to teach, and so must Elders, for they were Bishops, Titus. 1. 5, 6. 7.  
Priest. Now seeing this said priest professeth the Ministry in England to be of this sort, for he saith in page the tenth for qualifications, they have first competent knowledge, secondly and utterance, thirdly and godliness.  
Answ. That's all false, For first how can they have competent knowledge seeing that they deny revelation, and immediate teaching, when as Christ saith no man knows the father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Mat. 11. here they that denies revelation knows neither the father nor the Son. Let Christ's own words stand a witness against this lying Priest, and the rest of them: Secondly true utterance they are far from, seeing that they deny immediate teaching by the spirit; for true utterance was a gift of the Spirit, the Saints spoke as the spirit gave them utterance, and the spirit & word of God was revealed in Timothy & Titus, who were owned for Ministers by the Apostles, & Timothy had the gift of God in him, and unfeigned faith in him, and that gift was given by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the company of Elders, as it is in some translations recorded, now his call was not like the call of these Priests of England, for the Prophesies that went on Timothy, they came not by the will of man, neither was the laying on of Elders hands according to man's will. So that though the Priests would put themselves in number with Timothy and the Elders, yet we find them shut out from their call and Ministry, for we never understood that they that set up these priests were called as Peter or Paul, or the Elders, who had power to lay on the hands, that the holy Ghost fell on the party on whom they laid on their hands, and thus much will some of the Priests confess, which may be to the shame of him that here professeth himself to be called as Timothy was. And further this man aforesaid hath confessed that the Ministers for whom he pleads, are brought up at the Universities, as he calls them, where they have bestowed labour and cost to bring them up to the ministry, which might have fitted them for a more gainful trade; so that here their education is not to the true Ministry, but to a trade; but Timothy and Titus, and the elders in the true Churches, on whom the Apostle laid hands, did not make a trade on their Ministry, nor on the Scripture, though they knew the Scriptures and did preach the word of God according to the Scriptures by the gift of God in them, and who was to do the work of Evangelists, whom Christ had endued with gifts from above, neither was the holy Ghost to be bought with money though it fell on several who believed, when the Apostles laid their hands on them, for he and his money was to perish who would have bought the holy Ghost with money, Acts 8. 19 20. So all the cost that the priests bestows at Oxford or Cambridge, it doth but purchase them a trade, and that a deceitful one too, it cannot purchase the holy Ghost, nor the gifts of the spirit, which Bishops, Elders, and Deacons, in the true Churches were endued and fitted with, but not made Ministers at Schools, nor by the will of man, as the priests are now. Thirdly, Neither are they in godliness nor qualified as a true Bishop, or a Deacon, or Elder, seeing that the Priests in England, are covetous, greedy of filthy lucre, and many of them given to wine, and envious men, and brawlers, and novices as many in this nation can witness, but the true Elders were not such, and the man of God was to flee from the desire of money, and they that went in the error of Balaam for reward, and in the way of Cain to envy, and through covetousness made merchandise of people, were ungodly men, ordained of old for condemnation, Jude 11. 2 Pet. 2. Therefore the Priests being ignorant of Revelation, immediate teaching from God, and being out of the true knowledge, utterance and godliness, so strangers to the heavenly gift, they are not fit to teach, but are deceivers, shut out from among the number of the true Elders of Christ, for the ungodly shall not be numbered with the seed of the righteous; but we look at the life and gifts of God which qualifies and brings into the state and condition that the true Elders, Bishops and Deacons were in, more than their names, seeing that they could not have these names, nor be ordained for their office by the Apostles, till they were first fitted and tried in the truth, and by the gift of God which was in the Apostles and elders of the true Church, who denied not revelation and immediate teaching, for they had that revealed in them which they taught, and by that knew the holy scriptures which are able to make a man wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ, but without faith which is revealed, and the gift of God, the Scriptures cannot be known as they ought to be, for it is the man of God that the Scriptures are profitable for the furnishing of, and for our learning they are written who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.  
Priest. But we are not built on the foundation of every Pastor, Teacher, Elder, Bishop, or Deacon, though both in their places, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers are given for the perfecting of the Saints, &c.  
Answ. Here he would make two foundations, the foundatition of the Prophets and Apostles, not to be the foundation of the Pastors, Teachers, and Elders, (which were all given of God) here he hath quite shut himself forth of the number of the true Church, and hath shut himself out from being one of that sort of Ministers which before he pretended himself to be of, so that this doth the more confirm to what I have written, for how can he be either true Pastor, Teacher, or Elder, when he is not built upon their foundation, according to his own confession, so he cannot be any Minister of Christ who is not built upon the true foundation which is but one; so you may take notice of R. Baxter's confusion, for another foundation can no man lay then that which is laid, which is Christ, and they that were members of the true Church, were built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone, who was & is the saints foundation, and that building which is not builded upon Christ, shall as surely fall as R. Baxter is proved to be no Minister of Christ, and that is sure enough.  
Priest. In page the 14 he brins an objection which is, But you are not ordained by Bishops; his answer is almost all in England are till of late, if that will serve, our parish Presbyters are Bishops, &c.  
Answ. Here he goes about to justify the Bishops that was in England, ordaining of priests, so that in this he is setting up that which before he pretended they had taken down as in his other sheet in page the sixth, he saith, have not the Ministers themselves been the pincipal instruments of taking down Bishops, Deans, and chapters, Arch-Deacons, Prebends, and all means of preferments, and what have they got by it? so he that is here setting up that which before he hath pretended, that the Ministers have taken down, here he makes himself a transgressor; and people may take notice further against this priest for a liar that all means of preferment which the Bishops was preferred in, the Priests of England have not taken down, seeing that almost all of them, till of late are ordained by the Bishops; so they are not Christ's Ministers, but Bishops Ministers, and if all the Bishops means of preferment were taken down by the Priests, than what means the Priests taking Tithes and upholding such great oppression, as causeth the creation to groan, and their suing people at Law, and their causing of them to be imprisoned that refuse to pay the priest's Tithes (for conscience sake) surely here is Bishop's Ministers, upholding Bishops Tyranny, and that by Bishop's laws that are corrupt (and unrepealed) as may be made appear: This Priest hath quite cast himself into the mire, and hath made his call void, for he saith in his 16 page (the truth of our doctrine depends not on our calling) than it is manifest that their calling is a false calling, for if it were of God it were according to true doctrine, & true doctrine that's preached in obedience to a true calling; depends on, or hath unity with that calling.  
Priest. He that hath no just call shall answer for what he doth as an intruder, but the people shall have for all that the fruit of his Ministration, and preaching, and Baptism, and other acts shall not be null to them.  
Answ. That's false, for they that ran and the Lord sent them not (they had not a just call from God) they could not profit the people at all, therefore their teaching was null to the people as yours is, who are not built upon the foundation of the true Prophets, and Elders, accordingly as it is made appear in the foregoing words, as also is your unjust call; and here thou goest about to vindicate an intruders preaching, when as the Apostle witnessed against such, Colos. 2. for intruders are mainly puffed up in their fleshly minds, and even so is he that would have them to be preachers.  
Priest. In page the ninth, The necessities of the Church continue, we still need a Teaching Ministry, and for that he brings, Heb. 5. 11.  
Ans. In Heb. 5. there is no such word as that the necessities of the Church continue, here he is proved to be a perverter of the Scripture, as it may be seen in that place, for those unto whom the Apostle spoke was dull of hearing, so he reproved them, for when as for the time they might have been teachers, they themselves had need to have been taught, but he did not say they still needed teaching by Ministers, as this priest would have the Church to continue in necessity, and so then if the necessity of the Church continue, the Church is not supplied; Oh what blindness is here, that ever people should be blinded and led by such blind guides as this, they may be in want and necessity, still ever learning, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth indeed, that are lead by them, and never come to receive the promise, while they are led by such, but the promise of God was fulfilled in the Churches who were taught of God as he had promised, they shall not need to teach every man his neighbour, saying know the Lord, but they shall all know me from the least to the greatest saith the Lord, Heb. 8 and John wrote to them that needed not that any man should teach them, for they had the annoiting from the father which taught them of all things, but this said Priest hath been much pleading for himself, and such as he is to be the principal members, parts and supporters of the Church, but it may be truly said that such Churches as have such as he is for their principal members and supporters, that they are both blind and lame; & dumb from speaking any thing from revelation or immediate teaching from God, but them of the true Church witnessed both, for they might all prophesy one by one, 1 Corinth. 14. 31. And this priest also saith in the foresaid page that there is no salvation promised but to the Church, and brings Ephes. 5. 23, 25, 26, 27, and Mark 16. 16. to prove his deceit when there is no such word in these scriptures as he brings them for, but if he had said that there are none in whom the promise of salvation is fulfilled, but them of the true Church, he would not need have been questioned for so saying, but Christ who is the covenant and the salvation of God, he is promised to be his salvation to the ends of the earth, and he is given for a light unto the Gentiles, and the scripture foreseeing (or foretelling) that God would justify the heathen through faith, Gal. 3. 8. and they shall be called the people of God that were not his people, so that the promise of God reached unto a people, before it was fulfilled, and before that they were united into the Church, but this blind guide hath made manifest his ignorance concerning the promise of salvation as he hath done concerning many other things he hath given forth in his lying papers, who saith that many thousands are damned for want of the light, but in this he is also in error, for thousands are condemned by the light, because they hate it, and this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil, John 3. And this said priest in his second page would accuse them he calls Quakers for being the Papists Agents but this we deny and return it back again upon him, for both the Papists, their ways, worships, superstition and deceits and adherents we clearly witness against in life, conversation and doctrine, as in many things is evident to the World in many of our books and manner of our life; and for them he calls Seekers among whom he numbers us, All that are seeking, worshipping or waiting in their own wills and imaginations we deny, but they that seek in sincerity so as to find the right way we own them according to the true light wherein the drawings of God is manifest unto them that believe in the Light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world. And R. Baxter saith this is the saving Gospel that the Seekers, Quakers and their brethren preach, that the scripture is not the Gospel, &c. I answer,  
If the Quakers preach a saving Gospel, than out of thy own mouth art thou judged, to revile and speak evil of the Ministers of the Gospel, and then why hast thou written so much against the Quakers as thou calls them, if they preach the saving Gospel which is everlasting, which was before the scripture was. But didst thou mean as thou hast spoken? if thou did, then why do not you Priests preach that which here thou sayst we preach. But what thou R. Baxter hath uttered in these two sheets is not the first time thou hast set thyself against the innocent and against the Truth with thy lies and confusions, as the Reader may be further satisfied concerning thee if he read the Answer to thy book called The Quakers Catechism, and that book tituled (Many strong reasons confounded) in answer to another lying sheet of thine against the Quakers; And here thou art proved a Deceiver, a railer, and false accuser of the innocent, a teacher and disperser of lies and false doctrines, and thy call to be a false call, and thou and the rest that own thee to be out of the true foundation: Therefore stop thy mouth, and give over thy trade for shame, and be confounded, for the light is risen and the morning is broken forth which discovers all you blind guides, and destroyers of souls, and your filthiness shame and confusion is made appear, and your noisome smell of wickedness, oppression, pride and deceit is come up before the Lord who will consume you by the breath of his mouth and will scatter you and break you, and stamp you to pieces. Dread and tremble you Babylon's Tradesmen, for the time is a coming that your ware shall not be esteemed of, and you shall wail for the misery that is coming upon you, and let all that love their souls save themselves from this wicked generation of deceivers, and return to the Lord God, and walk in his light which shineth in their hearts, to receive the teachings of his ways, that the true promises and Ministry they may partake of, and deny the false ministry and ministers which we are made through the truth to witness against and renounce with their dishonesty, and we preach not to keep people always learning, but that they may be turned from the darkness to the light, and come to see the true Ministry fulfilled in them by the spirit of Truth. This only lay upon me to give forth for the truth's sake, to clear it, and them that are in it from lies, otherwise I should have been willing to have suffered under them, for it is no pleasure nor advancing to me to search in the priest's confusion.   
THE END▪