A LETTER FROM SR. BALTHAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT.  
TO HIS THREE daughters enclosed.  
In a Nunnery at Paris.   

MY daughters ELIZABETH, Susanne and Marie.  
I have thought fit to concude all my former letters to you with this, thereunto mouved by Fatherley tenderness to administer good and wholesome things unto you: Care of your salvation to drove you from pernicious errors, and justice to myself to vindicate myself from those asperssions as well implicit as explicit laid upon me on your subject.  
First therefore, since you with drew yourselves from the obedience to your Parents you have written that your EYES have been Opened; and ●●●t, it is sustained on your one utterances that you had no Religion before you were taught what you now seem to profess.  
As I do extremely wonder at it, so i must deeply lament your casse, since such a pretended and imaginary opening must be the work of a Spirit of strong Diluzion, Such as could persuade our first Parents in EDEN that they were blind; and that when they should follo●w his advice, their EYES would be opened, and that they should know good and evil: Such an opening I justly fear is yours.  
No wonder that you have been thus surprised when once you gave both your ears to charmers; and never lent one to your best and assured friends your Parents: to whom you never gave any intimation of your resolution what you would do: Onlly you let your Parents know (in fiew words (but to late) what you had done, leaving that injurious brand on them that during your abode under their roof you (as before said) had no Religion, and that they kept you in blindness.  
You were Babtifed in te name of GOD the Father the son, and the HOLLY ghost.  
When you came to yares you were under my roof instructed in the Articles of the Christian belief.  
You were taught the ten commandments, delivered by God in two tables on Mount Sinaï to MOSES.  
You were taught the Lord's prayer being the Sommary of all things necessary for us to demand of God: and how with an humble and elevated soul (on bended knees) you should power forth your supplications unto him: You were taught how you should receive the blessed Communion of te body and Bludd of our Lord Jesus-christ: and when ripeness of years permitted, you were thereto prepared; called, and admitted, and continued publicly in that practice.  
When you came to more strenckt (lest you should fall into those nets wherein now alas you are entangled because my employments under his (Majesty of great Britain in the Residency at Brussels during the space of eleven years occasionned my necessary conuerssation with Papists.) you were taught the solid answers to all the weak▪ objections of the Roman Sect, concerning their pretenc to ANT QVITI, VNIVERSSALLITI, VNIFORMITI, MIRACLES, and the rest. These being the main props of there ruinous building.  
You were instructed that antiquity is not to be determined by any episcopal Sea professing Christiannity, but by conformity unto the word of God: delivered unto us by Christ Jesus, his Apostles, evangelists, and Diciples, comprised by the Author of salvation in the two commandments of LOVE.  
For if all other Christians should since the Apostles time to this instant have continued in à Doctrine contrary to the express doctrine of Christ and his Apostles which is the doctrine of love (as a foresaid] and that but yesterday there had risen à congregation professing and practising truly the said Doctrine, it must needs be concluded that these would claim antiquity before the other, because the measure of Christianity must be the said doctrine of Christ and his Apostles, from which source Antiquiti takes its Original.  
Iff this be not the Ancient and true Religion necessary to salvation, and those marks the true signs of its Antiquiti what marks then?  
This i am sure we profess and indeaviour to practise, Therefore we cannot have any brand 〈◊〉 novalty cast upon us, butt rather it will light upon you, who both in Doctrine and practice infringe the parfaict law of LOVE.  
you were instructed that VNIVERSSALLITI must extend to the greater number.  
if we look on all those that profess the Christian Religion you shall find those that adherre to the Church of Rome feever in number, nay in extent and dominions than we are.  
Seventhien entire kingdoms are inhabitted by Legions of Christians under the dominion of him who we call PRESTEIAN where the Efnuc of Ethiopia (beloning to Queen CANDAS) which PILLIP converted settled the true Christian belief unanimousley professing the same there until this present day, and agreeing in tenants more with us then with you: Christiannity is practised throughout the kingdoms of England, Scotland, Suede, Dannemarc, norwege, Transiluanya, Holland, Zuitserland with the annexed Cantons and Geneva: all which are entire, and all together independent on the Sea of Rome: besides many bodies in these several kingdoms and provinces ensuing to weet, France, Germany, Bohemia, Poland, Ireland, and Flanders, were computing the one with the other the one half doth disavove the said Sea of Rome: So that there remains but Spain and Italy entire acknolledging the Popes suppremacij.  
Whereby it is clearly manifested that vniverssallity is not an anex of the Sea of Rome.  
What should men speak of several Religions not Christians, the Mahometan religion far more universsall than the Christian religion; and heathenism of larger extent than they both, witness the vast AMERICA, besides great and many kingdoms in ASIA, and AFRICA, one only king being as poverfull as all the kings of Europe put together.  
Whereby is manifested that the tuo main marks where to the Romam Church pretends to confirm itself to be the true Church of Christ do faille it.  
For the conformity in Doctrine (Which the Roman teachers will have another mark of the true Church) alas it is no other than what every sect and Religion in the world hath common with them.  
All the Calvinists do perfectly agree in tenants. Lutherans the same; so lickweise the Socinians, Anababtists: Famillists, Antinomiens, Nicholaitans, with all other Christian sects.  
The Jews do perfecty agree in opinions, yet alas they are so fallen from truth that they crucified the Lord of truth and continue unrepentent.  
The Mahometans do perfectly agree; yet they are so far from being the true Church that they are not honnored with the title of Christianitii.  
All conbinations of Headenish Idollators do agree in their opinions: whereby it is clearly evident to any not blind that conformity in Doctrine is likweise no express mark of the true Church of God.  
For MIRACLES, they are promised unto faith, and wheresoever that is found no greater than a grain of Mostart seed, miracles may be wrought, as their are manifest Examp●es▪ if, histories and relations maybe believed.  
The Religious among the Turks do daily work Miracles: It is not inpertinent in this place to tell the Story of a Turckis Emperor that defeated a Christian Host, who had broken faith; he being routed, rallied again, called upon Ch●ist Jesus (in whose name the Peace had been sworn) adjured him to revenge him upon those that had taken his name in vain, for in his name he would fight.  
That miracles are wrought by Protestants there are several examples: butt that they are not so frequently boasted off and forstalled among them is because of their common tenants that Miracles are ceased finding no use of them, the Ch●istian doctrine being established, and Miracles being prosmissed in the latter days as a mark of Antichrist by the expression of Lying wonders.  
The true marks of God's Church are true LOVE and CHARITI. For there by you shall knove true Christians, Christ Jesus saith, iff you love one another thereby you shall be knoune to be mine: And the effect of that true LOVE is the unction from the Holly ghost which S. Ihoan speaks of twice: wheresoever that onction is to be found there you shall find the true Church and no were else.  
Christ Jesus said that his kingdom was not off this world, which is full of hate, strife, and malice. Can their be a thing further of from love, then to condemn Christians to Hell, and that for bare opinions?  
Can their be a more sinful insolent presumption then to exclude heaven the source off mercy and compassion to any penitent Sinner that runes to Christ Jesus, that puts all his hopes in him that believes in him, that thirsteth after him, as the heart panteth after the water brooks?  
Can their be a greater depravedness than that which Teachers breathe forth of disobedience towards soweraines, superiors, and Parents, taking no other grounds for such lessons than difference of opinions?  
Can their be a more inpertinent Tenent then to sustain that Christians should be damned if they do not believe and do all what the particular Sea of Rome doth determine; since it is no more fire from errors then other Sects? But that i may come home to you my Children, iff you could take off those spectacles through which you look now, which shoe all things reversed, then would you see your Duty: Then would you see next unto to service and reverence due to God your heavenly father, what your Duty is to your Parents, whereupon you would conclude that those who persuaded you to set aside obedience to Parents do delude you with pernicious tenants: among the rest, that you cannot do your Duty to Parents nor see them without endangering your salvation, your one words; Neither can hose blanchers (in your last letter to me) any ways fire you of his just Censure that you conclude your Parents to be in the number of the Damned, and so argue you to profess à Sect void of all Christianity, since you have no LOVE nor CHARITI and that you do transgress the divine precepts of Christ who forbids that we should judge one another: judgement belongs to God, and to none else, for he saith judgement is mine.  
you would see indeed that the pretended opening off your EYES proves a ●hutting up of your spiritual EYES.  
Certailny if you could Seriously meditate on your said words, without any inuitations or any of my arguments conclude all this to be true: As i have suid before you have been duly and carefully instructed in the principles of the true CHRISTIAN belief, and helt to its practice as much as lay in your Parents to do.  
you my Daughter Susanne you must likweise acknowledge the same truth in your one particular; and for thecare I had to place you according to your one desires with a most virtuous Princess, the Duchess of TRIMOVILLE (reputed for an example of Piety) yet you were seduced by the same Spirits of Diluzion who had wrought on your two other Sisters, who moved you to run from the said Duchess as they had run from me, and all this you know on a pretence of worldly preferment: for so you written to me, when you gave me notice of the pretended opening of your EYES as that of your two other Sisters. Alas poor Susanne could you not reflect on your name if you forgatt your profession, and resist the Tempters; you felt no finger of GOD to touch your EyES.  
Alas poor Children these false pretences cannot excuse you.  
And you my poor daughter MARIE, it's but to Manifest that your escape from your parents without their knowledge was resolved on fiew days after that the eldist of you (Who pulled you as a sheep is drawn to slaughter) held in quality of God Mother a Child in the protestant Church at Charenton.  
It is certain that neither she nor any one of you did since that time see any heavenly vision, nor heard you any express voice of God, nor Angel call you from your profession and belief, nor could you in so feew days study any controversses that could argue to your minds that you had lived in blindness unto that very instant.  
You my daughter MARIE were said to have at your first being among the Eng●is● nuns almost converted sum by those principles of the Religion you have been Babtised in, taught and professed, and that you did ever say you would be no nun. But alas you to soon fell away from the said principles, yet are you some way excusable because you are the jongest, and that you were Kept in so strict a prison by your guardiens, that you were not permitted to read my letters, nor receive the wholesome council sent you.  
Butt you my eldist daugh●er Elizabeth you were reported to proceed with so much boldness, so much forgetfulness to your Parents, so much injustice to your self and insivillity to many that did wish you well even against the person of the reverend B●●hop of London Derry and against other divines, as that you would not after their first visitations afford them any fit impartial hearing: All this you● did with breach of divine laws; the law of Nature, the fondamentall laws of the land, and the laws of Nations, when you would be carried and maintained against your Parents with a Strong hand: with armed men, who did waste you to a Nunnery with Pistols, which were seen by a whole multitude and offered to be discharged against my men, that did run to stop your Coach, followed by me your father, who was constrained (by the Suddannis of the surprisal) to run a foot through the dirt of the streets of Paris in prosecution of you my Children; to try if I could rescue you from the lion's paws, following you to the gates of the Monnastery, witch were shut against me, and where you were detained.  
Thus on my particular hath been practised an injustice without example, since all Parents are permitted to have free acces to their Children in a neuter place, yet they be admitted to take any religious orders.  
All which considered, you may see how fallacious that reason is [which you say in one of your letters to me] to have been te ground work of what you do in these wores. Vi●z. My reason hath always shown and convinced me that they direct what is most good &c.  
To which I must repeat my former answer, that your REASON be the touchstone of their directions your reason being fallacious and contrary to the divine reason, expressed in the divine word; then off necessity their council agreeing with your REASON must be as eronius as your REASON; and consequently both deserve to be refo●rmed by the Ordinances of God; which commands Obedience unto Parents, ordinances that are infa●ible.  
your One REASONS indeed are the effect of your one Motions, iff there fore your Motions be subject te err why not your REASON?  
And where you are now taught to believe or at least to written as of late you did that you are in an extreme rest and security, &c. I must again tell you that their are no Ateists but rests securer and quietter in conscience than you can be, for they have no scruple though they do never so wickedly; and therefore your pretended security is butt à siprituall Letargy: living under your parent's roof you did behold those whose predecessors shed their blood for the defence of Religion, the same that your Parents have ever professed and wherein you were Babtised, instructed, and which you also did publicly profess, the same Religion for which your Father suffered even in his mother's womb, she flying the bloody persecutions.  
You ran away not for Religion, butt from Religion.  
You had coaches to transport you from your Duty.  
You could never since like Joseph make ready à chariot to transport you to your Duty: to visitte your Parents and receive their blessing, he went to gossen, and carried his two sons with him, you would not come your self the length of à field, nor permit your two sisters to come.  
Well poor Children, the God of mercy and compassion open the EyES of your souls and minds truly, so to look on yourselves, as that you may duly consider whence you are come, how you are gone forth from the unity into dissension, that you, have forsaken te Doctrine of LOVE, and laid hold on OSTENTATION, not considering that the Doctrine of Christ is nothing else butt a BROTHERLEy LOVE, whereby God bindeth himself unto us in Christ and we to him. That all teaching must ay me at that, as also all all owr villing, living and doing, and that whosoever teacheth and doth otherways, is BABEL, and a mere FABLE; a carved work of pride▪ in i●… profitable judgings: and disturbings of the world, and hypocrisy of the devil wherewith he blindeth simpliciti, when he talks of OPENING of EyES.  
May you so do your Duty to God and to your Neighbours (the first whereof your Parents are) that you maybe assured (in his infallible promises to all penitent Sinners that turn unto righteousness) to see the true light that enlightened every man that cometh into the world.  
And that finally you may hear spoken unto you come yea blessed of my father inheritte the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, the wishes of  
your loving Father BALTHAZAR GERBIER. Paris the 4. of May 1646.