A DECLARATION Or Testimony given by Captain ROBERT NORWOOD Under his hand, (the which was by him publicly read at a meeting in Ab-church before Mr. Sidrack Simpson together with many others;)  
April 21. 1651.  
Together with several his answers and desires, proposed to them for satisfaction after his EXCOMMUNICATION;  
Worthy the most serious consideration of all: Now brought to public view for clearing of truth, discovering of error, and his own vindication in reference to many unjust and untrue aspersions cast upon him.  
LONDON, Printed in the year 1651.   

A DECLARATION Or Testimony given by Captain ROBERT NORWOOD Under his hand, (the which was by him publicly read at meeting in Ab-church before Mr. Sidrack Simpson together with many others;) April 21. 1651.  
Wherein is laid down his belief concerning God, what he is, who Christ is; and what the Spirit is; what the soul is; what the body and spirit of man is; and also his belief concerning the resurrection: With certain quere's preposed concerning what the Devil Satan or Serpent is? what Antichrist, the false prophet or dragon is? what the true and very Christ is? Now brought to public view for clearing of truth, diseovering of erro, and his own vindication in reference to many unjust and untrue Aspersions cast upon him.  
I Do believe one God, or one infinite eternal being, which only or alone gives a being to all things that are, in whom, from whom, and by whom, all things do confist, exsist and subsist, he to be unchangeable or immutable, whose essence and presence is every where, yet comprehended no where, be only having life in himself and is the alone life of all things, whether visible or invisible; in him I verily believe there is not the least variation, or shadow of change, for he I or I am: That this same infinite, eternal one hath given a threefold declaration or manifestation of himself in One.  
I do farther believe, according to the Scriptures, the declaration manifestation or outgoing of this infinite, eternal being in or by the word in infinite wisdom and power in creation, according to that which is written, That by it all things were made, and without it was made nothing that was made; which is also called Christ or the first borne or only begotten of the Father, or the Anointed or anoining of God; in which respect, he is said to be the life and light of the world, as indeed he is, which I steadfastly believe; and that this light (as it's written) shineth in the darkness, though the darkness comprehend it not; and that he was in the world, and the world was made by him, though the world knew him not; that he came to his own though his own received him not: the same Christ I steadfastly believe to be my only and alone light and life and salvation; and so much and so far as I have attained, him or it or rather he or it, is risen up or brought forth, it or himself in me, so far I judge myself to live or be alive or saved, or to have attained salvation and no farther: and what ever else is in me, I take to be of the flesh, the devil or darkness, or sin or hell, antichrist or of the false prophet: for that which is borne of the flesh is flesh, and that which is borne of the spirit is spirit. That this Christ, Word, or Son is One with the Father in the Spirit, I also steadfastly believe.  
I do farther believe concerning the Spirit, or Holy Ghost as it's called, that it infinitely and eternally proceeded from the Father and the Son, and that he is the immediate life and being of all things, and is the alone true witness bearer to the father and the son John 5, 6. and neither Father nor Son, yet both Father and Son, not three but One: One entire, simple, undivided being in themselves; whence in Scripture he is called sometimes the spirit of the father or God, and sometimes the spirit of Christ; in or by which spirit we have communion with the Father and the Son: he in us, we in him are by it made perfect in one; which also is more or most properly called the spirit of truth; or rather the spirit which is truth: he only and alone leading into all truth, or the all of all truth which is God himself.  
Concerning that we call main, Paul distinguishes into three: soul, body, and spirit. The soul I take or believe to be of the divine essence: for it's said, God breathed into him the breath of life, and he or it became a living soul: for so the Scripture renders the divine principle, sometimes he, sometimes it; and indeed, that which is there said to be breathed into man, I cannot conceive to be less or other than his own essence or spirit, there being nothing but himself, to go forth from and in himself uncous: he in his Son by his Spirit, stating himself in us though in weakness, called elsewhere his Image, or Spirit; as where it's said, My spirit shall not always strive with man: for that he also is flesh. It's called also the spirit of truth or which is truth, true holiness or truth in holiness and righteousness: which image or life of God in man, is confessed by all or most if I mistake not neither was nor could be totaly or finaly lost, though much defaced as they call it: And truly (as I conceive) there must be, and is a perfect truth in every created Creature according to its kind, which is the invisible life and being of it, the visibility being only a representation or figure of the invisible life and glory, according to that in the Romans, That which may be known of God, is manifest in them: for God hath showed it unto them: for the invisible things of him, that is, hiseternal power and Godhead are seen by the creation of the world, being considered in his works, to the intent they should be without excuse. By the Godhead must be there meant Trinity in Unity & Unity in Trinity; yet every thing in its order, kind or end, according to what he hath appointed every vessel to hold forth of himself, according to that in the Corinth's, where it is said, that there are bodies heavenly, and bodies earthly; and that the glory of the heavenly is one, and theglory of the earthly is another; and that one star differeth from another in glory yet all these but one in the union, according to that Paul speaks in another place, that there are several gifts and administrations, yet but one spirit, and all by one and the same spirit; which perfect and invisible truth cannot be less or other than the divine essence: Man carrying the beauteous transparent splendour of the representation in this earthly creation; yet is not God the Creature, nor the Creature God: for we must hold God and the created by God for could you speak all; the invisible glories shadowed or held forth in the whole visible creation, you could not speak God: for he is all things yet nothing: He is; which short word, if truly known and understood, speaks him most. And indeed, were this light, life, or image or God in man, wholly extinct, man would become more brutish than the beasts; which that it is not, appears plainly to me from that place where it is written, That the Gentiles who have not the law, do the things contained in he law; which show the effects of the law written in their hearts, their consciences bearing witness, & their thoughts accusing or excusing one another.  
For the spirit of man or man's natural spirit, It's that if I mistake not, which is called the Devil, or Satan, or Serpent, or Antichrist, or false prophet, or spirit of darkness, or death, or sin, or hell, James 1. 14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. Hence Christ tests the Scribes and Pharisees, they are of their father, the Devil, and his works they do who was a liar or deceiver from the beginning: hence also some are called dogs, some foxes, some wolves in sheep's- clothing: and Paul is said to fight with beasts at Ephesus: & Christ when tempted by Peter, (although a Disciple) he calls him Satan: Every one or every thing taking its denomination from the property or quality of that spirit which hath the major or most ruling power and dominion in and over him or it. It's said, here are legions of devils & we say, there is a covetous devil, an unclean devil, an envious devil, a wrathful deiul and the like. And so it's said, there are many Antichrists, no one carrying the whose fountain in him, though each one be from one fountain: so on the contrary, no one hath the whole fountain of life or light in him, (if I may so speak) but every one in measure according to the good pleasure of him who filleth all in all things. Hence Paul saith there are babes and strong men in Christ: and so John calls some children, some fathers, some young men: and farther saith thus. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that hath righteousness, is righteous, as he is righteous: he that committeth sin, is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was made manifest, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is borne of God, doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is borne of God And hence Paul also, It's not I, but Christ in me. And again It's not l, but sin in me. And the Scripture every where comprehends all under these two states or terms of light and darkness, the natural man, and the spiritual man children of light or life, and children of death and darkness, according to the rule, power or government each spirit hath in them. Wherefore it's said, Know you not, that to whomsoever you give yourselves as servants to obey, hti servants you are to whom ye obey, whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Again it's written you who were darkness, are now become light; you who were dead in trespasses and sins hath he now quickened, and translated into the Kingdom of Christ: and that we are risen together with Christ; and that he is our resurrection & glory: and that he hath raised us up, and made us sit together in the heavenly places or things in Christ. And in the same 2. to the Ephe. This spirit in man is called the spirit or Prince that ruleth in the air, which indeed is an airy, lying notion swimming in the head or brain of man, having no foundation or root in God who is truth, but is always at enmity with it. We are also said to be dead whilst we live. From all which I conceive, the chief, if not the only resurrection pointed unto and intended in Scripture, is our rising up out of that death and darkness, or hell we were held in or kept under by: or rather Christ who is our light, our life, our all in all, arising in his own life, light, power and glory in us, swallowing up or destroying death, darkness, sin, hell and what ever else is contrary to or against him and us and so bringing us in and with himself into that glory he had in and with the Father before the world was. Wherefore it's said, The kingdom of heaven is within you: & when they say, lo here, lo there, believe it not. But I expect not, neither think this will be in its height and full perfection till the separation by that we call death, it be accomplished and completed, not whilst in these earthly tabernacles, not until we have laid off all our earthly garments, and be clothed upon of him who is indeed our true clothing; which made Paul so groan with desire thereof: indeed the Saints are unclothing daily and marvellous unclothing and clothings are at hand.  
For the body which is indeed beastial, of the same nature and substance with the beasts, I conceive and believe; it also shall have its resurrection in its kind, together with other of the like kind, according to that in the first of the Corinth's 15. For to speak properly, nothing dies, that is, annihilated, as many do imagine; but is changed from glory to glory: but for the soul to be reunited again to this earth by beastial body of flesh blood, and bones after separation, and to live together in some one or more place or places, some to enjoy eternal happiness or salvation, and other some eternal misery and damnation; I find no foundation in scripture firm enough to build any sound belief upon: for Christ saith, In the resurrection there is no marrying nor giving in marriage, but that they are as the Angels in heaven. Then no eating, nor drinking, except of that spiritual rock or Manna. Then sure no flesh, blood or bones. And as sure it is, that in no proper or true sense whatsoever can flesh and blood inherit the kingdom of heaven: for it lusteth or is at enmity against the spirit: wherefore I say, this doctrine deserves not only to be exploded the schools, but excommunicated all Churches. For he who maketh or worketh a , shall be shut out of the new Jerusalem; as also he who would sit in the temple of Christ, as if he were Christ, as if he were the true Anointed or Anointing, who will have others to believe as he believes, for no other reason, but because he believes so; forgetting that Christ, as he is the life, so he is the light of every one that comes into the world, & that none can come to the Father but by the Son: nor none unto the Son but by the Spirit, which 3. are one in the union.  
For farther manifestation and clearing of the truth, I desire in all humbleness of mind and meekness of spirit, in reference to my own and others satisfaction, in a sober & orderly way, an answer to these following quere's.  
1. What that Devil or Serpent was, that is said to deceive Eve; his, or its nature and property what it is?  
2. Whether properly and truly there can be said to have been, or is, any more than one devil, serpent, Satan or deceiver; though he or it manifest itself several ways, and after divers manners?  
3. What the true and very Antichrist, or false prophet is; their nature, property or quality what it is?  
4. Where the true and proper seat, residence, power or dominion of the devil, Satan, Serpent, deceiver, or Dragon is, or this false Christ, or false prophet is?  
5. Whereby, or wherewith they are said to deceive, or wherein the power or strength of their, or its temptation or deceit lies?  
1. What the true and very Christ is, who is said in Scripture to be the only and alone light and life of the world?  
2. How, and in what sense he is properly, and truly saip to deliver us from sin, death, and hell?  
3. The true, real and very ground, cause and end of his sufferings, death or dissolution, resurrection, and ascension; as also his incarnation and intercession what they sigfy or hold forth to us, and how or in what manner or sense, we are to look upon them, and what use we are to make of them, since the scriptures both old and new are very mysterious, as where Christ saith, Except ye eat my flesh, & drink my blood, you have no life in you: and that he was that rock that followed them, and that Manna that came down from heaven; And Paul saith, although he had known Christ after the flesh (which could not be meant of a corporal knowledge) yet henceforth would he know him so no more: and he farther saith, That Christ is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever?  
An answer whereunto I desire on this day sennit, here in this place before all the people in writing, or else some other may in love, peace and quietness, have liberty to give answer thereunto.  
And I do farther declare, what ever man or men, report, accuse, or charge me with blasphemy, or any error or errors maintained countenanced orencouraged by me, or any other thing or matter contrary to or against the laws of this Nation, or prejudicial to this State or Commonwealth, and do not duly prove the same against me, is in the sight of God and man a slanderer, backbiter and murderer: and in case any the said crime, or crimes be proved against me, I shall desire no favour; but shall willingly and readily give up myself, to undergo and suffer what penalty or penalties so. ever by law, is to be inflicted in such cases without the least partiality.  

POSTSCRIPT.  
To which Queres I could not obtain from Mr. Simpson any answer, nor so much as whether he would, or could answer them or no? whether he did less than belly or blaspheme God before all the people, I will not, let them present judge. And if I prove not him & the Clergy of England generally, who cry out of others for heresy & blaspheming greatest deceivers, or falsifiers of the truth, and Blasphemers (as themselves call it) in the Nation, let me die the death.  
This I speak not to cast reproach, disgrace or obloquy, upon any ingenuous, sober, quiet, peaceable-minded man or men; but to stop the career of that spirit, which drives more fariously to the engaging the people more in blood, than the Bishop did, were their power and other advantages answerable. Let therefore the moderation of your spirits appear and judge not lest you be judged: for assuredly you are guilty of as great, if not greater crimes than other men.  
But stand still and be quiet in yourselves, that you may see the great sallvation the Lord is about to bring forth.  
Be truly noble, search as the Bereans did whether the things be so or no.  
It were much to be desired, that the Clergy might once more be enjoined to assemble together, to give an account to the people (of whom and from whom they have received and taken so much of the sweat of their brows) what that true very God and Christ is that they have so long talked of to the people. It mayjustly be suspected from their preach and practices, that they have need of a Paul to show them what that God and Christ is, whom they ignorantly worship; lest the blind leading of the blind both fall into the ditch.  
To them all I propose these quere's, hoping it will not be long before they shall receive answer under a known hand, they being concerning such points in which they are daily conversant; if not, they must give the people leave to say, there is little reason to continue the wages or stipends of such stewards, who can give no account of their stewardship.  
Or to believe them the true Ambassadors of God and Christ when as they cannot tell us what their Lord and matter is. Let them then forbear any more to bind the people to their faith and belief, since themselves cannot give an account or reason of their own faith and hope that is in them. Tell us also, O ye dreamers, where and what your Hell and Heaven is: I acknowledge both.  
Robert Norwood.    

For Master SIDRACK SIMPSON.  
SIR,  
INstead of answering my Queries proposed, or from Scripture duly proving my assertions, errors. I understand that you with your Church (as you call it) have excommunicated me, I having long before come out from you, having of myself left communion with you, neither could I without sin any longer upon that account, hold communion or fellowship with you, the ground and reason whereof I forbear to publish at present, because I will yet spare you. You have also as I hear, given me up to the Devil, I therefore do here before all this people require of you, whose duty I suppose they will all say it is, to instruct, teach and tell me, what that Devil is to whom you have so given me up, hoping you are not so ignorant as to give me up to him whom you know not, or what his properties and qualities are?  
And then, what it is you have so given up, whether the whole; Soul, body and spirit? or what part, power or saculty you have given up?  
3. What power, right and authority you had so to do?  
4. Whether you have power again to deliver me from the devil?  
Thereason why I require this, is that I might get from under his power and dominion, avoid and be delivered from his snares, wiles and subtleties, as I and all people ought to do.  
Next, I require for how long, or until what time you have given me up to the Devil? If you say, until I repent; you must then first prove from scripture, that that which I have asserted, is to be repent of and turned from, and the contrary to be received, embraced, owned and walked in; which is indeed true repentance, which yet you have not done, as you ought to do, before you make any such proceed against any.  
Now I do here solemnly promise before all the people, that if you shall from Scripture prove the things such, where of you did accuse me, and I under my hand have asserted; that I will so fare as God shall enable me, truly repent & turn from the same, & under my hand publish my recantation till which time, I may not reced from the things; lest I be found in the sight of God, & man a desertor of that truth, God by his spirit in the Scriptures hath made known to me; as also an eminent and evident breaker of that first and great command, which saith, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, and him only shalt thou hear and serve; and become a hearer, server or worshipper of men, or the false or lying spirit in men, which is to worship the devil: for not to worship God or truth, is to worship he devil, or a .  
That which you did then charge me with, as error or blasphemy, was (as I understand) that I held the soul to be of the Divine essence, or of the essence of God.  
Now I earnestly desire, beg and entreat; Nay I do here in the presence of all this people, require you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Ambassador or Minister you say you are, and whose mind you then must needs have; and as you will answer it at the great day of his appearing; that you tell, decalre and prove, to me from Scripture or any other way, that holds Analogy therewith; what in very deed and truth the soul is, that so I may repent and recant this my error (if it be found so) and be delivered from the power of darkness and of the devil or snares of Satan, the very end for which Christ his Ministers and Ambassadors were sent, and that in writing; that it may be considered, compared with and tried by the Scriptures and true Analogy of our faith, I being very desirous to forsake all and every error, though carrying never so specious a show of truth, though never so old or new, profitable or honourable in the world's esteem, knowing well what they are, & whence they come and also that true salvation is only and alone of and in the truth: And that because it's strong above all THINGS, IT, and IT only being everlasting.  
2. Secondly, that you prove to me from Scripture, or sound reason, what the spirit of man, or man's natural is.  
3. What the true and very heaven and hell is, spoken of in Scripture, and you from God or Christ (as you say) so much promise to, and threaten the people with, the very right and true knowledge whereof, is of the greatest and highest concernment to be clearly made known and discovered to the people of all other things: all things else being but as it were accessaries thereunto, therefore certainly must needs be known to you, if you be what you say you are: yet it's very much to be feared, that very few of you have the true knowledge either of the one or the other, but that most fancy both the one and the other, as the Papists their Purgatory, and the Poets their Elysian fields, is a bundantly evident: Both God and the Devil, both death and life, both heaven and hell, being very much nearer to us all, than we are ware of.  
I do therefore again in the love and bowels of Christ, entreat and beseech you for my own and others satisfaction (as you are or pretend to be his Minister or Ambassador) that I may speedily have answer hereunto in writing, as also to those former Queries proposed, that I may not longer continue in error, and so under the power of the Devil or darkness; you have bound yourself here unto, not only by your profession, but especially by that act of yours against me: for how shall I believe concerning that which I know not? how shall I repent, disclaim or revoke that you charge as error upon me, except you prove it so from Scripture? And do not say in excuse, that I disown you, as having any relation to you; since yourself have taken that authority upon you, and you ought in this case to give an account or reason of the faith and hope that is in you, as I have done, who pretend not to any such thing as you do.  
If you do not, let me tell you, I cannot in reason, justice or judgement, take or account you for any other than an impostor, deceiver and deluder of the people, nor will any other sober, judicious man, neither will they esteem your excommunications of any more worth than the Pope's bulls, which equally with those if not more, in respect more is pretended to by you, deserve to be together with yourself excommunicated the Nation, and the rest of your fraternity as the very plagues and pests of the Nation, the very firebrands of hell, workers of all mischief. I speak not to cast contempt upon any sober, peaceable-minded man or men, who seek and follow the truth in love: no, such I love and honour with my soul.  
All you charged as crime upon me, so fare as I can understand in reference to my outward conversation, was, that I should tell a  in reference to a trust reposed in me: to which I often and again before yourselves and divers others, did solemnly protest in the Presence of God, if it were the last word I should speak, I speak not the words as some present conceived I did; and further did declare, that if I did speak them, I was a very knave, rogue, and liar therein; and if I should say I did speak them, I must sin against my own soul, no falsifying or breach of trust was found or proved against me.  
James saith, that the tongue sets on fire the very course of Nature and that it is set on fire of hell, where then is hell? and what then are those criers out of Others, for blasphemers, heretics and the like? who indeed come nearer the truth, and give a better account thereof then themselves can or will do. Judge O England! Nay, Judge O all ye Nations, who they have been and are, that have thus set England, nay all Nations on fire, as at this day; and at whose hands that abundance of blood which hath been shed shall be required!  
Where I speak of the spirit of man or man's natural spirit I do not mean it was made such as is there expressed; no, but no sooner made but it became such, and remains such until renewed, in lightened, or born again: wherefore Paul saith, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, being in your own spirit in which you are fallen and gone from God, from life and salvation and so become dead, bestial and devilish of sin and hell; be as you were at first, return to your life: this is indeed that Prodigal, that having gotten his stock would now live and be of himself, he would not that God should be all▪ he nothing, but in him, but he would be in and of himself: and this that god of the world, that devil, that beast, that serpent, that dragon that hitherto hath had the chief government of the world, even man's natural spirit, which is at this day much heightened and improved: but God is coming to destroy both it, and all its seeming gloricus erections, together with that Antichrist, man of sin, and false Prophet.  
ROBERT NORWOOD.