A VOICE From the Word of the Lord to those grand Impostors called QUAKERS.  
Wherein is discovered their fleshly and filthy mindedness, together with the judgements of the Lord attending them.  
Also a word of caution to all that are called to be Saints in this Nation, which may be of concernment to all people.  
By JOHN GRIFFITH a Servant of Christ, and one that bears witness against those wand'ring stars.  
For this cause God shall send them strong delusions to believe Lies, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  2 Thess. 2. 11, 12. 
LONDON, Printed for Francis Smith in Flying-Horse Court in Fleetstreet. 1654.   

A Voice from the word of the Lord, etc.  
THe most high God that made the Heavens and the Earth, the Seas, and the Fountains of water, Rev. 14.7. hath moved me and stirred me up to bear witness to the truth, and to witness against the abominable fleshly-mindedness, and yet spiritual pride of those grand Impostors of these times, called Quakers, by whose sorceries many are bewitched, and drawn from the simplicity of the Gospel, to another Gospel; which is not another Gospel, but the vanity of their own minds, and their own fleshly and corrupt thoughts which they cry up as the Oracles of God.  
To them I say, I am to direct my speech from the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord to thee O Quaker, thou art fleshly minded, for thou lookest upon the institutions of Christ with a fleshly carnal eye, witness Richard Hubberthorn in his Antipathy between flesh and Spirit, where he saith that the bread and wine, which Christ commanded his Disciples to eat, and to drink in remembrance of him, and to show forth his death till he come, is carnal.  
O fleshly minded men, whom the god of this world hath blinded, because you believe not; thus saith the Lord, Mal. 3.14. ye have said it is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts, Malipiero 4.1. Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven, and all the proud; yea all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them, neither root nor branch.  
Yea, All that are spiritually proud, as you are that give out yourselves to be some great ones Act. 8.9. as Simon Magus did. Rev. 2.2. You say you are Apostles, and are not, but have been found liars, you proud Pharises, Hyppocrits, that say you are Just, holy, humble, etc. The Lord saith the poor sinful Publicans are more justified than ye.  
You that boast of your light within, Joh. 9.44. Thus saith the Lord, because you say you see, therefore your sin remaineth. For, for judgement is he, ver. 39, (Christ) come into the world, that they which see not, might see, and that they which see, might be made blind.  
If Christ, Joh. 15.22. had not spoke to you in his Word, you had had no sin, but now you have no Cloak for your sin. woe unto you Hypocrites, for you do not only neglect the weightier matters of the Law (as one of them taught the 27. of September, 1654. in my hearing, and many others that will witness it) but the Law itself, teaching men so to do; for you say that she Scripture is no rule of faith, and conversation, Matt. 22.29, You, err not knowing them, nor the power of God? your carnal minds discern not the power and spirituality of them.  
Thus saith the Lord, Joh. 6.63. My words are spirit, and they are life; although they are the savour of death to you that perish, 2. Tim. 3.15.16.17. The Scripture is able to make the man of God wise to salvation, and to furnish him throughly to every good work, Rom. 15.4. And what was before written, was written for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  
Therefore know this thou perverter of the right way of God, thou shalt be judged 〈◊〉 the word that Christ hath spoke, Hek. 〈…〉 How canst thou escape, that neglectest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 salvation, which at the first began to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him.  
Thus saith the Lord, Joh. 13.48. He that rejecteth me, 2nd receiveth not my words, hath one that Judgeth him; the word that I have spoken shall judge him at the last day, Joh. 12.48.  
Quake and tremble at this; that word which you reject and despise, shall judge you at the last day; for thus saith the Lord, Mar. 8.38. Whosoever is ashamed of me, and of my words in this adulterous & sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father, with his holy Angels; yea, 2. Thes. 1.7.8. when he shall come in flaming Fire, he shall render vengeance to you who know not God, nor obey not the Gospel.  
The Lord hath spoken it, and it shall surely come to pass, Prov. 13.13. whoso despiseth his word shall be destroyed. O you blind leaders of the blind, both of you will fall into the pit, Rev. 19.20. There is a lake prepared for you, where the beast and the false prophet shall be, where you shall gnash your teeth for pain, and be tormented day and night for ever; for you are those that the Lord hath before spoken of in his word (and therefore no marvel you would not have men read it) 2. Pet. 2.1. (throughout the Chapter) which shall bring in damnable herises, even denying the Lord that bought you, and bring upon yourselves swift destruction, and many shall follow your pernicious ways, by whom the way of truth is evil spoken of; and though ye through covetousness make merchandise of some, yet know that your judgement lingreth not, and that your damnation slumbreth not.  
For the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished; but chief you who are fleshly, and despise government, being presumptuous, and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities; but you as natural brute beasts, speak evil of the things you understand not, and shall perish in your own corruption.  
Wells you are without water, Clouds that are carried with a tempest, Prov. 25.14. To whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. for when ye speak great swelling words of vanity, ye allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness those which were clean escaped; from them who live in error, while you promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  
See thy portion, thy reward is destruction; you filthy dreamers, you raging waves of the Sea, that foam out your own shame, that are wand'ring Stars, to whom the blackness of darkness is reserved for ever, Jud. 8.13. So be it, quake at this; the day of the fierce wrath of God is at hand.  
You pretend to quake, it's true; you also pretend the example of the servants of the Lord, as Moses at the thundering of the Lord upon the mount, O abominable hypocrisy and dissimulation, what will that justify your shakeing; your hands like Idiots, and your raving like mad men: Moses was a man in whom the dread and the fear of the Lord was, who kept his Word, but you despise it; who loved his law, but you reject it.  
But what have you to do with Moses, Jeremiah, or Habakuk. they all served the Lord, but you serve your fleshly lusts, there examples are without you, that is therefore no light for you.  
If you are true to your corrupt principles, seeing you say, it's the Light within you, that you must walk by, and not any Light without you; It's true, if you served the Lord, and kept his word, it would make you tremble; as it doth those that fear him, and keep his statutes, and continue in the same all their days; but you have rejected the Law of the Lord, and the word which the Lord hath spoken in his Prophets, by his Spirit.  
The Lord shall break forth in indignation, and when he comes to shake terribly the earth, shall he give you your portion in the Lake which burns with fire and brimstone.   

A word of caution to all that are called to be Saints in this Nation, which may concern all people.  
DEarly beloved in the Lord, we may rejoice that we live to see not only the mystery of godliness (Rom. 16.26. which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith) but also the working of the mystery of iniquity in the fleshly corrupt and sensual-minded men called Quakers.  
I say, we may rejoice, and in nothing be terrified or removed, because the Scriptures did foretell of such, so that the truth of those say of our precious Lord and his servants of old are verified and fulfilled in these men, even as the Scripture was in Judas.  
Did not our Lord say, Matth. 24.5. that many should come in his name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.  
And again, doth he not say, Matth. 7.15. that false Prophets shall come in Sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves.  
And again, that blessed Apostle of the Lord Paul saith, Acts 20.29, 30. that grievous Wolves should enter in, not sparing the flock, yea that from amongst themselves should men arise, speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them.  
Yea, and as Acts 13.8, 9, 10. Elymas the Sorcerer withstood Paul, so there will be men full of all subtlety and mischief, children of the devil, enemies of all righteousness, that will not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord.  
The Lord likewise hath foretold by the mouth of his servant Peter, 2 Pet. 2.1. that as there were false Prophets amongst the people of old so there shall be false Teachers amongst you, whose ways are pernicious. Yea and also Judas doth foretell of these, jude 19 Cursed children who separate themselves (from the true Church) who are sensual, not having the spirit.  
And indeed we are fallen into the last times, yea those perilous times spoken of by Paul, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 wherein as Christ saith, Matth. 24.12. Iniquity shall abound, and the love of many wax cold: yea the time is at hand, 2 Thess. 2.7, 8, 9, 10. that that wicked one that son of perdition shall be revealed, who shall exalt himself above all that is called God, ere that is worshipped, Daniel, 11.30.36.37 38. Who shall speak evil of the holy Covenant; yea and against the God of Gods, who shall come with Signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivabelness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the truth in the love of it, that they might be saved; but the Lord shall destroy him with the brightness of his coming: Now my brethren seeing it's so, let us be filled with boldness, and let us contend (being filled with all might) against these ungodly ones that are now risen. My dearly beloved beware of men, believe not every spirit, nor be troubled or removed, at every wind of doctrine: Oh remember how the Lord hath forewarned you; there shall such arise saith he, but believe them not, take heed therefore to yourselves, grievous wolves are risen, Oh, Col. 2.18. Let no man beguile you of your reward, Rev. 3.11. Hold fast that you have, that no man take your Crown, Phil. 3.2. Beware therefore of Dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the consition; yea, be ware lest any man, Col. 2.8. spoil you through Philosophy, and vain deceit after the Traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world; and not after Christ.  
Oh, Consider that he that holds out to the end, only shall be saved, Mat. 4.13. He that overcometh shall ear of the hidden Manna, and shall sit with Christ on his Throne, and shall rule the nations with a Rod of Iron, and shall have the bright and morning Star, and shall be clothed in white Raiment, and shall not have his name blotted out of the Book of life, and shall be confessed by Christ, before his Father, and the holy Angels; it's he who shall have the white Stone, and in it the new Name, which none can read, save they that have it. Rev. 2.17.26.27.28. verse. But if any draw back, God's soul shall have no pleasure in him, Heb. 10.38. Oh remember Lots wife, and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: for God is a consuming fire; beware of Satan's baits; remember how he tempted Eve with higher enjoyments, she (he said) should be as God; that temptation many a poor soul is caught with, at this day, viz. High enjoyments, great revelations, and such like, and that without, Nay above, and beyond the Scripture; how many have been taken in this snare! Oh resist the Devil therefore, and all his children; they talk of that which is besides the Scripture; but such light is deep, and thick darkness, what hath not such lights led men too? Even contempt of God, his Word, Ordinances, yea, and all righteousness.  
Now that you may be, not only warned; but also armed against these deceivers, think on these following considerations. 

1. Labour to see an excellency in Christ.  
2. In the Word of Christ, and  
3. In the Church and Ordinances of Christ.    
1. Labour to see an excellency in Christ, and that thou mayst remember the never to be forgotten love of Christ to thee in laying down his life, and shedding his precious blood for thy sins, for thee a sinner, a wretched person. O how unspeakable is that love! How should this oblige thy soul to serve him, to honour him? Who could have paid a price for thee, if Christ had not? Count not then the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing, no, but a precious thing; the blood of Christ is, that which will cleanse thee from all sin, if thou walk and continue in the true light.  
Again, Christ is God's treasury, Col. 1.20. In him are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Where then shall we go for wisdom and knowledge but to Christ? Say then to him, Wnether shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Yea, 1 john 5.11. Life is in the Son, he is the life of Saints; if thou forsake Christ, thou dost forsake thy life, Col. 3.4.  
2. Labour to see an excellency in the Word of Christ, I mean the Scriptures, make them the rule of thy faith and conversation, and not the vain notions of men; for the Scriptures are so: they are able to make thee wise to salvation; then they must be thy rule in point of faith; yea and they will furnish thee throughly unto every good work, than a rule in point of conversation, also undervalue not the Scriptures, for what is written is written for learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. Christ made use of the Scriptures, so did his Apostles, saying, Thus it is written; yea Christ commanded the jews to search the Scriptures, john 5.39. they were they that testified of him. Yea and the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily, Acts 17.11. to see whether those things Paul spoke were so or no, and for that cause were counted more noble than they of Thessalonica. Yea, the mystery that was kept secret since the world began, was made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets, by the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith.  
There is a blessedness to them that read and hear the words of the Prophecy of the Scriptures, Rev. 1.3. Blessed is he that teadeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand. Col. 3.16. Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teaching one another, etc. 1 john 4.6. They that are of God hear us, saith the Apostle john. If you are of God, you will hear john, Peter, Paul, and the rest that were the servants of Christ, not the fleshly conceits of these or any other men. My Sheep, saith Christ, hear my voice, and a strangers they will not hear.  
O prise the Word of Christ, Ephes 6.17. it's the Sword of the Spirit; and if you deliver your Sword to your Enemy, he may easily overcome you.  
Consider the sweet frame of that gracious soul, the Lords servant David, See Psalm 119. What a high estimation he set upon the Word of the Lord; saith he, O how I love thy Law! its my meditation all the day; mine eyes prevent the night-watches, because I meditate on thy Word. Read that 119. Psalms, and make it thy meditation, there are many heavenly and soul-establishing sentences therein.  
3. Labour to see an excellency in the Church and Ordinances of Christ.  
Consider, Psalm 87.2. that God loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of jacob; the Church of Christ is the habitation of God through the Spirit, Ephes. 2.19, 20, 21, 22. God dwells there, Christ walks there. Psalm 26.8. It's the place where God's honour dwelleth: yea Psalm 87.7. All Gods pleasant springs are in thee O Zion: The Church of God is the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.15. therefore, Psalm 84.4, 7. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O God; they will be still praising thee; yea they go from strength to strength, every one in Zion appeareth before God.  
O therefore with David, Psalm 27.4. desire this one thing of the Lord, and that seek after, that thou mayst dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of thy life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his Temple, Psalm 84.10. for a day in his courts is better han a thousand: I had rather, saith he, be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  
Lastly, as thou seest an excellency in Christ, his Word and Church, so labour to see Christ in his Ordinances, as Baptism, breaking Bread, and Prayer, 2 john 9 Continue in this Doctrine, for they that do so have both the Father and the Son: and the more perverse speakers do arise, saying, In vain have we kept his Ordinances, the more do you love them, and contend for them, meeting often together, the Lord-will take notice of it, there shall be a Book of Remembrance written, yea, and you be his in the day the Lord shall make up his Jewels, and although they pretend never so much to holiness, and the like; yet let not your hearts be drawn away after their delusions, but Ephes. 6.7. as you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 2 Cor. 11.13, 14, 15. For such are false Apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ; and no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light; therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers be transformed as the Ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Therefore beware of them; such as bring not the doctrine of Christ, bid them not to house, neither bid them God speed, for he that biddeth them God speed, is partaker of their evil deeds. The Apostle Paul saith, Gal. 1.8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  
1 John 4.1. Believe not then every spirit, 2 Tim. 3.14. but continue in the things you have heard; and 1 Cor. 15.58. be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, 2 john 8. Look to yourselves that you lose not the things that you have wrought but that you receive a full reward: Blessed are you if you endure temptation; Satan will be stirring up instruments against you; but if you resist him he will fly from you: though he go about as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour; yet resist him, steadfast in the faith; the Lord will stand by you if you so do; for he will keep you in the hour of temptation, if you keep the word of his patience. And again many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. O let us watch then against Satan and his instruments, and remember that God will render to every man according to his works, to them who by patiented continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour, eternal life; but to them that are contentious, indignation and wrath. And again, we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ, that every one of us may receive the things done in his body, whether they be good or bad: be not deceived, God is not mocked; for what a man soweth, that shall he reap; he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; but he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but in due time you shall reap, if you faint not; this is the Saints sowing-time; the time of Harvest will come, nay, it is not far off, for he that shall come will come, and will not tarry: be patiented therefore unto the coming of the Lord, for it draweth nigh. You have need of patience, that when you have done the will of God you may receive the Promise, the Crown, the Kingdom, even that Kingdom; that it's the good pleasure of your heavenly Father to give to you his little flock. O therefore, if you will have right to the Tree of Life that stands in the midst of the Paradise of God, and a part in the holy City, you must keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of jesus; for, blessed are they that keep his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the City. Sad would it be if the gates should be shut against you, as they shall be against some at that day, even some that shall say in that day, Lord, Lord, open to us; Nay, though they shall say, We have prophesied in thy Name, yea, and done many wondrous works in thy Name, yet shall he say unto them, Depart from me ye that work iniquity, I know ye not; be not like the foolish Virgins, but have Oil in your Lamps; let your loins be girt, and your Lights burning; keep yourselves in the love of God, let Christ be precious to you. Behold the beauty of the Lord in his house: Say the Word of the Lord is precious in these days. Have respect with David to all the Commandments of God, and walk in them, lest you fall into the error of the wicked, and so fall from your steadfastness. 2 Thess. 2.15, 16, 17. Therefore brethren stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our Epistle. Now our Lord jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope, through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.  
Your Remembrancer at the Throne of Grace, JOHN GRIFFITH.  
FINIS.