A Word of Reproof TO THE PRIESTS OR MINISTERS, WHO Boast of their Ministry and Ordinances, and yet live in Pride, Disdain, Persecution, etc. SHOWING What such are; and how little cause they have to exclaim against those who separate from them. AS ALSO A word to the Papists Discovering their Foundation to be carnal and sandy. In a LETTER sent to some supposed Priests or Jesuits in the North, BY WILLIAM TOMLINSON.  In the Cup wherein she hath filled to you, fill to her double. 
London, Printed for Tho. wait, and are to be sold at the Pavement in York, 1653.   

A word of Reproof to the Priests or Ministers who boast of their Ministry and Ordinances and yet live in Pride, disdain, persecution, etc.  
O Ye Priests, 
* I do not call you Priests out of derision (I love not that) though some must deride you. But because most of you were ordained to your office under that very name, and few or none of you have renounced that your Ordination Secondly because you conform yourselves more to the Priests under the Law, then to the Ministers of the Gospel. The truth is ye are not worthy of that name: for it is a name peculiar to the Saints only, and to all the Saints under the ministration of the Gospel. 1 Pet. 2.5, 9 Revel. 1.6.  you call yourselves the Ministers of Jesus Christ, when as you do nothing resemble him. You have nothing to bear you out to be so, but only great swelling words. As the Jews once gloried in the Temple, when the Lord was departed out of it, crying, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, as if those great words had been argument enough to bear it out to be the Temple of the Lord, when he had left it. So you cry the Ministers of the Lord, the Ministers of Lord; the Ministers of Christ, the Ministers of Christ; the Ministers of the Gospel, the Ministers of the Gospel; as if those great words were enough to prove you to be so; when as the Lord is departed from you and your Ministry: and leaves it to become as the blood of a dead man, Revel. 16.3. In which no life is to be found but death, and stifling of the Spirit. For that holy unction which moves upon the hearts of the Babes of Christ, and weaklings, in stead of being strengthened, is among you strangled, and rendered as delusion, and fancy, and a thing which they must not trust to, though this testimony be given of it from above, That it is Truth, and is no lie, and is the only preservative against seducing; and the guide or Teacher that keeps us abiding in Christ. 1 Joh. 2.26.27. For that Unction is Christ moving in us, and as he is according to that obeyed and yielded to, so he abides with us, and we abide in him. By that he leads on from truth to truth, and so from strength to strength, from comfort to comfort, from light to light, until he lead into clearness and fullness, and present us perfect before God and the Father, without spot and blemish before his Throne. Yet dare you blaspheme this holy Spirit, which is no other but Christ himself in flesh, which you deny, fight against him in every appearance of his in flesh, and thereby manifestly declare yourselves to be Antichrist, and not the Ministers of Jesus Christ, as you proudly boast yourselves to be. He is Antichrist that denies the Father and the Son, 1 Joh. 2.22. He that denies the Son, denies the Father also, for they two are one. And he that denies the Spirit or Unction that moves upon the hearts of Christ's Scholars, and fights against it, when he would come and appear in flesh, he denies both the Father and the Son, for these three are one. 1 Joh. 4.3. Every Spirit that confesses not Jesus Christ come in flesh is not of God: and this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world. I say every Spirit that confesses not Christ come in the flesh: for so the words are more truly rendered as some of you know. And so rendered they hold forth a constant Character or mark of that Spirit of Antichrist. It doth not confess Christ come, (that is when he comes or appears) in flesh, or in his servants. To say (as it is translated in the English) every Spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh; To say thus, is not a full Character of Antichrist: For the Papists themselves, and the Pope (whom you all say is Antichrist,) He doth not deny but that Jesus Christ is come, that is, once came in flesh. Therefore in that sense it discovers not Antichrist. But both He and They, and You do all deny and fight against Christ come in flesh of his servants, that is when he comes and appears in them. Therefore in the same sense wherein it discovers him, (I mean the Pope,) to be Antichrist, in the same it discovers you also to be Antichrist For as he fights against the Appearances of the Lord and confesses not Christ in those come of his in flesh, whereby he leads his people out of his mystery: so no more do you confess Christ in those come of his in flesh now, whereby he would lead his people out from under your mystery. So that I say the Spirit of Antichrist manifests itself in you: and yet are you bold to cry up yourselves, The Ministers of Christ; The Ministers of the Gospel: as if you were able by these words to strike dead all Reasons to the contrary. You do wisely in your generation to keep you there, and so to fear and dazzle the minds of men with those great words, keeping them off as far as you can from reasoning about it: making them by your great words of Gospel Ministers, and I know not what, to fear even to question whether you be so or not. Oh ye Opposers, will you always strive against the Truth? how many of you who stand in the public Ministry (as you call it) have been leaders of the People out of Error? How many of you have lighted the People by your examples to forsake and renounce the world and the things thereof; yea I may say, The Relics of the Romish trash, that Idol service Book, and all the trumpery of it? Nay have not the People, therein rather taught you? are they first in the obedience? do not you stick to it until the stream of the People shame you from it; and the fear of losing of your livings (as you call them) make you to part with it? Is it not thus with you also in other appearances of Christ, when he comes in flesh in weakness, in his servants to consume the mystery of iniquity? do you not stand out striving and opposing until the last? If you can espy failings and weaknesses in that weak flesh in which Christ comes, those you use as instruments to fight withal against his appearings in that weak flesh: and so you stumble at that stumbling stone. Yea you speak evil of that which God approves of. If one come to you in meekness and calmness of spirit using gentleness and patience towards you, overmastering you with reasonings out of the Scriptures, Oh then you clamour, such a one is a dangerous fellow; He is as ill as a esuite; It's as dangerous to come in his company as to go into an house infected with the plague; such like railing accusations proceed from you to scar the people, and to turn them away from trying the Spirits whether they be of God, contrary to command, 1 Joh. 4.1. On the other side, if one come in the true severity of the Spirit as Paul and Steven and others, yea as Christ the Prince of meekness himself sometimes did, and tell you what you are, warning you of the judgements that shall come upon you, than such are cried out against as judging, censorious railing persons. Let the innocent nature of the Lamb come to you in what way he will, whether mourning, or piping and dancing, whether in Austerity, or more liberty, yet you will attribute it all to the Devil. Let us tell you that the Lord teaches us inwardly by his Spirit, you say that's the spirit of delusion. Let us say nothing of that but only bring the writings of the Scriptures, than you say the Devil can put Scripture into men's mouths. 'tis true, the Devil can put Scripture into men's mouths; but consider into whose months he doth put Scripture, whether into the mouths of those who would destroy his works, or of those who uphold them. Indeed where a Kingdom of Fried and vain glory and covetousness, and pomp of the world and such like works of the Devil is upheld by Scripture, there its likely that the Devil doth put Scripture into men's mouths, teaching them to wrest it to their own destruction. But it's strange that the Devil should put Scripture into men's mouths to destroy his works therewith: shall we say that Christ is become now an upholder of the works of darkness, and the Devil a destroyer of them? This is the consequence of such Doctrine when you say, It's the Devil that puts Scripture into the mouths of such as would destroy his works. You call yourselves, The Ministers of Jesus Christ. But if you be not so, and yet say you are, consider in calmness of mind what you then are. Some called themselves Jews and were not, and this was Blasphemy. So to say that you are Ministers of Jesus Christ, if you be not so, what's this but Blasphemy? For do not you Blaspheme that holy Name when you ascribe to him such Ministers as love the world and the things of it, But hate his children whom he hath chosen out of the world. Them whom he hath made as signs and wonders in the world by some appearances of his in them, them ye hate. Yea though words have fallen sometimes from your own mouths, which have driven some of them from you, yet you hate and oppose them for obeying that which your own mouths have uttered. When you have told the People that they worship God in vain if they have but the traditions of man for their ground, yet if any of them hereupon have left your traditions you have been their greatest enemies. Thus you hate the practice of Christianity, though you sometimes speak of it. You hate to deny yourselves, and to take up your Cross, and follow Christ. You hate to condescend to those of low degree, and to make them your equals, lest your familiarily bring you to contempt. You hate the way of Christ's allowance for his Ministers: namely, to receive only what's freely given, and of them only who receive spiritual things of you. You hate the way and manner of Christ's Ministration: and choose rather the manner of the Oratory of the Nations. Paul reasoned with them in the Synagogues, he suffered others to speak to him and reason with him in the Synagogues, This you hate. Christ and his true Ministers Preached without Praying before and after as you do, and this you hate. In the Churches, or assemblings of Believers they might all Prophecy, as they received the gift, and power, one by one, but this you hate. In these, and in many other things you hate to be reform. Showing forth to every one your dislike of the things of Christ, and yet you blush not to boast yourselves to be the Ministers of Jesus Christ. Consider if this be not to Blaspheme his name: and again consider it. Lay aside Passion, and consider also whether that spirit of Jezebel, Rev. 2.20. Do not rather act in you, who called herself a Prophetess, and yet taught the servants of the Lord to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols. Do not you keep the People in that spiritual fornication which all Nations have been drunk with, even to worship God after the traditions of men; and so to eat things sacrificed to Idols: things dedicated to your Idols of Honour and covetousness, and your bellies, I say things dedicated to these, and upheld for the honour of these; such things, such sacrifices must the People feed upon. But you shall not long continue to feed the flock with such things; no nor yourselves neither: for the Lord will deliver his flock from your mouth, that they may not be meat for you, as he hath promised. Ezek. 34.10.  
The Lord hath made me and others as examples among you for many years, and hath made our lives a speaking voice to call out from your Ministry, and by his strength hath held us as by an Anchor from returning to you; making us to abide in this our Testimony: And now I must also declare further against you (with the rest of my fellow servants) then yet I have uttered, and discover to the People what you are.  
You are that Antichrist (as I said before) spoken of in the Scriptures Because you deny Christ coming in flesh. Some of you have been convinced of some things, and seemed to make out after them, until the world stole upon your hearts, and then you have sought to quench and smother those motions both in yourselves and others. Others of you have been at continual defiance against the break forth of truth in every degree; and thus you stand in opposition against the truth. You neither enter in your felves, nor suffer those who are entering to go in.  
You are the false Prophets which are spoken of, and although you come in sheep's clothing, yet inwardly you are ravening Wolves, and now the day is breaking, and discovers you plainly to be so by your works. Mat. 7. v. 16. By their works yea shall know them saith our Lord, you are easy enough to be discerned, when men look upon your works. Indeed when men look upon your devotion, your prayers, your lifting up of your hands, and eyes to heaven, your sigh, and feigned tone and expressions, your seeming affections and such like, you hereby deceive the hearts of the simple. But these will not serve your turns now, your Covering is too narrow, it will not hid your nakedness. You are brought to the touch stone. Your work, Your works, they are your discovery. Your works are the works of Sodom, pride, idleness, fullness of bread, covetousness, wrath, malice, backbiting, persecution, disdainfulness. Oh the proud disdainful spirit that is among you! Is it not just so with you as it was with the Pharisees? What dost thou teach us said they; and is not the same in your hearts also against all that say any thing against you, if they appear not to be brought up in your Schools? But by such as you so scornfully disdain, even by such shall you be overthrown and confounded.  
You have clamoured against others, calling them wand'ring Stars, and falling Stars; as if the region of your traditions and human inventions had been the firmament of truth, and as if all that fell from these things, had fall'n from Heaven and from grace. But it will be made manifest to all men, that you are fall'n from the firmament of truth, from the ways, and from the words of the Apostles, and are found wand'ring in the foggy mists of human inventions. You have had a whore's forehead, impudent and bold to cast those names upon others, which do most properly belong to yourselves. Whether are they the falling Stars who arise in their spirits casting off every weight that binds down to the earth, that they may walk up closer to the example of their Lord Christ, and his holy Apostles: or they who fall downwards towards the earth, with Demas loving this present world; but forsaking the footsteps of the Apostles; fixing their roots into the earth, being held fast with the allurements thereof?  
You have called every one Deceivers, and Seducers, who have stepped forth from you, groping after the truth. But consider well whether you yourselves shall not be found Grand Seducers. First consider the Multitude of Deceivers, how many they are whom this whorish spirit of fornication & seducing doth possess. It sitteth upon many waters, Rev. 17.1. And those waters are Peoples, and Multitude, and Nations, and tongues. v. 15. And again it's said, all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, Rev. 18.3. And again, By thy sorceries were all nations deceived. v. 23. Now at whose hands do all nations receive this cup of fornication, but at the hands of the national ministeries? and who are the sorcerers who deceive all nations but their national teachers? who in some things imitate the true messengers of the Lord, but thereby take advantage to oppose them the more strongly in other things, and even in such things, as wherein their removing out of Egypt, spiritual lies: and so keep them as fast locked up in the house of Bondage as they can. Even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses to keep Israel after the flesh still in Pharaohs house of Bondage. A few that start aside out of these general Delusions cannot be they who thus deceive and seduce all nations. Again, look upon the spirit of Persecution, the Bloody spirit, stained with blood: and where find we that? Who are the persecuters; and who the persecuted? Are not those whom the national teachers call seducers the Persecuted; and are not the national teachers themselves the Persecuters? Judge by this where to find the seducers, for this is none of the least Characters. It's not the nature of the lamb to persecute; nor of them that follow the lamb. No they come out of great tribulation. They are nailed to the Cross of Christ; and for his sake are slain all the day long: and are as sheep appointed to the slaughter. But on the other side the Seducers and Deceivers drink blood. They thirst after, and procure the blood of saints; not under the notion of saints, that was never known, but under the notion of Deceivers, and Blasphemers, and Heretics, and such like. And so in her is found Blood, Blood, Blood, even all the blood of any that are slain upon the earth; Blood of Prophets, Blood of Saints, Blood of the witnesses of Jesus. Rev. 17.6. Chap. 18.24. Again we may guess at the Seducers, and Deceivers by the worldly pomp and Riches which they fall down to, and deck themselves withal, for the whorish spirit which seduceth is an earthly spirit, and so delighteth in an earthly kingdom; in the precious things of the earth. Rev. 17.4. They are every one for their gain from their quarter they can remove from worse quarters to better for a little more money, at their pleasure: and this is usually their call from one place to another. There be few of them but one may hire them from one place to another for forty pounds more per annum, if there be but equal honour and other accommodations in both places, and thus are they the hirelings of men, bought and sold for earthly riches, even as bruit beasts in a market, and they that give most get them. Thus they press after the ways of Balaam, tempting the Lord until he give them up to the swinge of their own hearts, as he did Balaam. But it is otherwise with the true messengers of the Lord. They prophesy in sackcloth, and the nearer that any one comes to the truth, the more he is made to die to this world, and to the things thereof.  
You call others Heretics, Schismatics, Sectaries and Separatists, (which are terms that signify a separation and division from the truth, from the saints who stand in the truth, and from Christ.) You are full of names of Blasphemy, and that's one character of the deluding spirit: your mouths, I say, are full of such names, but which of you shows the people, how they come to be worthy of such names, to whom you apply them; and why you call them so as you do. It's an easy thing to call any one by any name or odious term falsely, and as you do, without ground for it. That we may therefore understand better who they are, that are heretics and schismatics indeed let us mind where is the knot of all true union; the centre in which all must meet, who do not separate, and make schism. Is it not in Christ who is the Truth? Suppose that Christ were here in person upon earth, and a few despised men break off from the body of the Jews, (as once they did,) and follow him, all the rest cleaving fast still to their Judaisme: tell me now, whether are these few who forsake the body of the Jews, their rites and ceremonies to follow Christ, or they who stick still in them, the Heretics, and Schismatics? So when Christ's comes in Spirit, and calls a People out of Babylon, from the confusion of men's inventions, which hath overspread the Earth, and wherewith all nations are made drunk, a few in comparison of the rest, come out by degrees, the rest stick still in the Confusion. Which of these now are the Separatist, the Shismaticks, the Heretics, in Scripture account, making a rent and Schism from Christ▪ are not they the further off from Schism and Heresy, who obey Christ herein, and come out of Babylon, though they be but a few in comparison of the rest: for they follow him herein who is the knot of union: and so herein cannot be the Schismatics and Heretics and Separatists and Sectarists which the Scripture condemns. For their separation from the confusion, and them that dwell therein, is not a separation from Christ, nor from truth, being strictly commanded, and pressed both by promise and threatening. Rev. 18. Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. And again 2 Cor. 6.17. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. I say, coming out from your Humane inventions, and from all other inventions of man, though never so finely guilded, is here commanded, being comprehended under the word Babylon. I know that you will put off from yourselves the word Babylon, and apply it to Rome: and they at Rome will apply it to something else: for it is not to be expected that the Merchants of Babylon should confess against themselves that they are so; lest people should buy their Merchandise no more.  
Tell us what is Babylon outward if it be not a building or frame of Humane inventions whose top pretends to reach to Heaven (as the Tower of Babel was intended to do) and so promises to set People in thither. If it be any other thing tell us what it is.  
Now you either trade in these Humane inventions: or you trade with the pure Ordinances of Christ. If you trade with Humane inventions, and make sale of them; then I think it will be found that you are in the number of the Merchants of Babylon, enriching yourselves with the abundance of her delicacies, delicate carved images of your own brains, and of other men's: and if so it will be found no Heresy, Schisms, or unwarrantable separation to come out from amongst you. If you say, that you trade with the pure Ordinances of Jesus Christ, (for traders you are) than I desire to know which one of them you will avouch to be the pure Ordinance of Christ, answering the pattern as you uphold it.  
Secondly I desire to know upon what ground you dare buy and sell any pure Ordinance of Christ, or gift of the holy Ghost, (if it be so.)  
I know that you want not words to cry them up for the Ordinances of Christ. As the Jews did with the Temple; and as you do with your ministry; so you cry them up for the Ordinances of Christ, the Ordinances of Christ, crying to the People, Oh take heed how you turn your backs on the Ordinances of Christ. But as I said of your Ministry, so I say of your Ordinances; It is not enough to say only that they are so. Which of you take the pains to show the People what the Ordinances of Christ were: and compares yours with them, that the People may see them to be so? The truth is you dare not bring them to the light, nor suffer them to come to the light, lest they should be made manifest. For they are as far different from the pure Ordinances of Christ, or practices of Christ, and his followers, as Nadabs' and Abihu's strange fire was from the true fire, if not further.  
You say, you have Baptism, you have prayer, you have Preaching, you have singing of Psalms, and some of you have the Communion, and were not these Ordinances of Christ? I answer you Nadab and Abihu had their Censer, they had fire, and they had Incense; which things were commanded by the Lord. Yet for all this they did that which the Lord commanded them not. Levit. 10.1. And so you may have these things, and yet be as far off from the right as they were.  
First compare your Baptism with that which the followers of Christ practised. You Baptise Infants: where did they Baptise any? have you any example, or any rule for the Baptising of them? Is not this built upon the sandy conjectures and consequences of your own imaginations? I know that some of the acutest of you say, That it is built upon the Promise, which belongs to the children with their Fathers. But let such consider whether it was the Promise belonging to them; or their receiving of that Promise, that was the ground of Baptism. Which of the Apostles did administer Baptism to any of those to whom the Promise did belong, until they received that Promise by faith?  
As for your Prayer which you use before and after your Sermons, I know not one example left you for it, either by Christ, or by any of his Apostles. What can you plead for it, seeing they did not so? Did they fall short in what they ought to do? what! was Christ and the Apostles unfaithful in the work of their Ministry, to leave such a thing out; and to leave it unto you to amend what they failed in? No, no, your praying before and after is for the honour and magnificence of your Idol which is to accompany it: and that is your Preaching: (be patiented with this expression until you have the explication of it, for I shall not only call it so, and there leave it, as you do with many things.)  
I say your Preaching is an Idol. I do not say that Preaching is an Idol. Preaching is publishing, or declaring abroad, or telling to one another openly, whether by conference or any other way. Thus they preached or published, or told abroad what Christ had done to one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech Mark 7.36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they preached it, which word you know is used where preaching is expressed, and yet it signifies no more here but telling abroad; or publishing as it is rendered in the English. So likewise the multitude of Believers who were scattered abroad, Act. 8.1. Went every where Preaching the word. vers. 4. that is declaring it, or telling it abroad where ever they came: and this was Preaching, and Preaching to conversion too. So Paul's Preacling in the Synagogues, was it not for the most part Reasoning with them. Acts 17.2.3. that is, speaking to them, and suffering them to speak to him. But you do Idolise the manner of the Heathen Oratory made in Pulpits; and all other speaking must give place to that, and fall down silent before that Idol: or else you will exercise Nebuchadnezars Laws upon them, Dan. 3.  
If any manner of speaking will not be silent, and fall down and worship that comely honourable manner of Oratory when it shall be set up, then to Prison with him, make him fast. What's this but to do as Nabuchadnezzar did, when he had set up a golden image, and cast those that would not worship it into a fiery furnace? Did ever Truth stand in need of Prisons to make men fall down to it? Did ever any thing in that kind, need prison or furnace to make another thing stoop to it, except only Idols? Did ever Christ or any of his Apostles call to Magistrates, and Constables, and other Officers to take others away to prison who interrupted them? or needed they any other thing to keep men silent while they spoke, besides the Authority and Power of their words? Surely if you be their successors as you would have men believe, and if your Preaching be like theirs, you would not need any other thing to make men silent but the power of your words. But it's an Idol, and so needeth iron to uphold and defend it: and to fasten it as it were in a wall lest it fall. It may be some will say, Hath not God converted souls by this manner of Preaching in Pulpits? I answer if any were thereby converted, it was by some words of Truth falling upon the hearts of the hearers, which might have had the same effect in other manner of speaking: and therefore the converson of such is not to be ascribed to that Idolized manner of Preaching Sermons in Pulpits: but to the Power of Truth which ought to have liberty to be spoken in other manner, but cannot for that Idol. I do willingly give my Testimony, that the times of ignorance God winked at, and was pleased to step in, and give much power sometimes to the words of some who have spoken in that way, especially to such as have been under some suffering for not being fully conformable. Yea Babylon itself cannot keep him out, but for his chosen sake he will speak to them there, even in the midst of confusion. But what then! now when light is breaking out, and discovering things more clearly, He calls upon all men to repent, and forsake the Error of their do: and he that doth not follow the light, shall have nothing left him to uphold, but an Idol. For God is departing out of that which is not his own purely: and will leave it dead and dry, without life, without nourishment. Yea he hath already withdrawn himself, and where formerly some life hath been found, now it is become as the blood of a dead man. Again, if your manner of Preaching be not an Image, an Idol of your own, or other men's imaginations; but the pure offspring of the Spirit: then tell us how it comes to pass, that you can limit that holy Spirit now by the hour: doth the Spirit Order you, and administer words and matter to you by the hour; or you Order him and keep him to your hour? O vain men, is it not the Idol of your own heads; the formings of your own brain; your woven and carved Oration-like speeches, that you have this power over; to reach to what length you would have them, and to stop where you would have them? They who have tasted of the Spirits ministering by them can witness that they then could not be stretched out to the hour, or limited by the hour. Again, is not your Preaching an Idol; when as you uphold it only for Gain? It's from your own mouths; Take away livings, say you, (that is tithes and other hire) and what will become of the Gospel? that is of your Gospel. Oh ye earthly spirited men, doth the care of the Gospel lie only upon the shoulders of Hirelings? Surely surely, the time was when as the truth of the Gospel was upheld by suffering the loss of all things: and is it now upheld by hire? It was upheld, and also spread abroad by a few sufferers; but now it seems its otherwise. No hire, no Gospel: no Live, not Preaching. I think so indeed. Such is your care of the Gospel. You are worthy to be called Gospel Preachers, and Gospel Ministers: and yet the want of hire will divide between you and your Gospel. Take away the one, and take away the other also: for so you speak, plain out, and are not ashamed. Woe is us, hath God committed his Gospel to such careless ones? hath he hung it upon so tickle a point, and in these times when men are ready every where to withdraw their stipends, but only that they are held to it by awe. No, no, your Gospel, and your Preaching is your Diana, an Idol, a gainful Idol; and by that craft you have your gain. If you should let the magnificence of it fall to the ground your gain were lost. And therefore it behoves you to cry it up, as the Ephesians did their Diana. Act. 19.24, 25, 26, 27, 28. Cry it up with a shout and noise of words, with staves and clubs, and Constables and Bailiffs, and sins and Prisons, for this will be your best Argument. Tell the People ingeniously as Demetrius did, That by this craft or Art you have your wealth, and therefore it behoves you to uphold it: Not that you care for the Gospel any further than it's made a gainful trade; and upheld by you as an Idol, to bring in your gain: for take away gain, and farewell your Gospel and Preaching: all dies with hire if that be taken away. Much more may be said to your Preaching, but I pass on to your singing.  
You have Psalms indeed, but how come you by them? In the Primitive Church, that is, in the first gathering of Saints out of the world into fellowships one with another by the Apostles, they had Psalms, 1 Cor. 14.26 One had a Psalm, another a Revelation, another an interpretation. They had all these and such like gifts given them by the Spirit, which ministered to every one severally as he pleased, 1 Cor. 12.11. But whence have you your Psalms? Doth the Spirit of the Lord minister them to you? Or do not you (because you want that gift) set up a Clerk: or reader in many of your Congregations to supply the want of that gift; as if he were the ministering spirit to minister a Psalm to all the Congregation: what is this pure fire from the Altar: or strange fire like Nadabs', and Abihu's, taken from the Kitchen of your smoky imaginations? Or else you have your Psalms from your Books, and so all times are alike to you; you can sing when you will, and forbear when you will: which would not be if the spirit (which breathes when and where he listeth) did administer them to you: for he would rule you, and not you him. Did not Christ ascend on high, and give gifts to men for the work of his ministry? But you descend to make use of the invented Rhymes and Metters of men to make up with your ministry. I know and witness, that sincerity of heart expressing and breathing forth itself in these things in the time of ignorance, hath been accepted, and cherished by the Lord: but now when light is come to discover them to be of humane invention, in respect of the form and use of them, and yet men cry them up for the Ordinances of Jesus Christ: the Spirit of the Lord arises up in indignation against them, as they are so abused. If you say, where are those gifts of singing which are spoken off▪ there's no such thing to be found. I Answer you. They are not to be found with you: you are the Land of Captivity, you are Babylon, we may sit down by the Rivers of Babylon, weeping in remembrance of Zion (while we are held captive by you) for how should any sing the Lords songs in a strange Land? The shadows are not yet fled away: the winter is not yet over and gone: and therefore we cannot say to you, that the time of singing is come: we cannot tell you that the voice of the Turtle is to be heard in your Land. It may be it is heard somewhere, though you hear it not.  
Lastly you have that among some of you which you call Communion. But where that Communion lies I cannot tell. If it were Communion with God and Christ, than the Nature of God and Christ, which they have communion with at that Supper (as you call it, though it be a dinner) would put forth itself in the partakers of it. They would walk as children of light, and not as children of darkness, in the works of darkness. If any man say, he hath fellowship (or Communion) with God and walk in darkness, he lies, and doth not the Truth. 1 Joh. 1.6. But your Communion shows forth no such thing accompanying it. For men come to it proud; and they go away proud. They come covetous, and they go away covetous. They come persecutors, and they go away persecutors. They come worldly minded ones, and they go away worldly minded. Now they who are such, know neither the the Father nor the Son nor have Communion or fellowship with them. Yea it may be they come Extortioners, Oppressors, hard hearted task masters of Egypt, liars, cheaters, Over-reachers defrauders, drunkards, swearers, whore-mongers, full of malice and revenge; and such like. Thus they come, and thus they go as they came, having no participation or Communion of the Divine nature in their Spirits to alter them. But thus come and go in their sinful nature having Communion with the spirit of darkness, and unrighteousness while they pretend Communion with God: and thus go on eating and drinking unworthily they know not what: and you suffer them to do so, and do it with them: eating and drinking judgement to yourselves, while you thus take the Name of God and Christ in vain. 1 Cor. 11.29. This is not to eat the Lords Supper This is not to eat the flesh of Christ, and drink his blood: for than would ye become dead to this world with him, and Christ would live again in you. Take notice of the words which Paul the servant of the Lord spoke. 1 Cor. 10.16. The Cup of Blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ? Now the right Communicants, are one bread, and one Body, being all made partakers of that one bread. vers. 17. which bread is Christ. But ye cannot be partakers of this bread, nor have Communion with it, so long as you are in your Gentilism or heathenish Nature, living in Pride, Covetousness, Persecution, oppressing, overreaching, uncleanness, lies and such like. For saith Paul, v. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of Devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table, and of the table of devils. Now the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to Devils, and not to God, vers. 20. Gentiles are every one in their Gentilising nature; and what ever they sacrifice, that is, what ever worship they offer in pretence as to God, it is to Devils, and not to God. Though they say it is to God as the Athenians did Act. 17.23. Yet God owns it not: such as worship him in Spirit and in Truth, those are they whom he seeks to worship him. As for those who walk in the works of darkness, he hath not Communion with them, nor they with him. For what Communion hath light with darkness, 2 Cor. 6.14. Further you have not so much as Communion one with another, in that which you call Communion: for which of you imparts to the rest of the Communicants, as every one hath need. You are so far from Community in these outward things, that you will go to Law for your propriety one with another, if you apprehend yourselves but a little wronged therein, contrary to the mind and counsel of Christ. Mat. 5.40.  
Thus it is apparent, for all your boasting of the Ordinances of Christ, I say it is apparent, that you have but a counterfeit image of the form of some of them: and not the very true image of those which you have. If you had the very express image of all the outward forms of Ordinances of Christ, or practices of the Apostles and Believers: yet these were poor things to boast of, and to be exalted with Laodicean-like for if you had all these in form nearer than they are among any people in this Nation, yet if your spirits fall downwards and become earthly, the Lord would leave them, and slip away from you to another people who arise in their spirits casting off every weight, and the sins which beset them, or hinder them, that they might run with patience the race set before them. Yea let me tell you that if you had not only a true image and form of Ordinances; but also a form of godliness in words and say of Christ and the Apostles always in your mouths; Yet all this could not bind or hold the Lord with you. But still he would slip away from under all these; leaving these as husks and chaff for you who are disobedient and earthly to feed upon, and boast yourselves in; while in the mean time another people should enjoy his presence: for it is not any form of godliness that the Lord takes pleasure in: but the Power, the Truth, the life, the spirit. And therefore he doth not bind us his servants to abide in Communion with any, that live in any form of godliness without the Power. But commands us by his Apostle to turn away from such. 2 Tim. 3.5. And this is no unwarrantable Schism or separation. So that whether we look at the form of Ordinances, or at the Power of godliness we have warrant enough to turn away from you, and to have no fellowship in your holy things. For as I said, you have but an image of some Ordinances only, and that without the life and Power of them. Others traditions of Christ you do altogether disown, for they will not stand with your profit, as namely to deny yourselves to take up his Cross daily and follow Christ: which is a great Ordinance of Christ; for without this one cannot be his Disciple. Again you disown the liberty which Christ hath given to all his members, namely. Ye may all prophecy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. You disown every gift that would bring to nought the magnificence of your Diana. But what you can form to profit yourselves withal that you retain: And can add also other things, (to make Merchandise of them) which have no shadow of any footstep in the practices of the true Messengers of Christ, as namely, Your Marrying of Persons for money; your bury for money; and your most absurd Mortuaries or stipend which you challenge for the dead. Your funeral sermons for money also. I am weary with raking in these filthy puddles: which are fit for nothing but swine to wallow in.  
And thus though you both add and diminish from the things of Christ, and Sergeant other things which you uphold for your gain; yet all that separate from you must be cried against as Heretics Sectarists, Schismatics, Separatists.  
Indeed there is a separation, which I do not here plead for: and that's a separation upon conceit of ones own holiness, because they are devout in some outward observations of worship more than other men: such as are spoken of Isa. 65.5. Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day: and these were devout in holding up Ordinances: rather than they would have no sacrifice they would sacrifice in Gardens: and rather than they would have no incense they would offer it upon Altars of Brick vers. 3. They are charged to be a people who walk after their own thoughts, vers. 2. Such also were the Pharisees, who stood glorying in their own outside painted holiness; and thanked God that they were not as other men, and even as this Publican: when as within, they were full of rottenness, and all uncleanness: full of envy, wrath, malice, persecution, disdain, covetousness, pride and such like. And all these they retained under a show of godliness, and outward observation of Ceremonies and traditions of their Fathers. They were strict in washing off the defilement which they had any way contracted, if water would have done it. They bore great reverence to the sacrifices upon the Altar, which were Ordinances then in force. They made conscience of paying tithe of all they had, even of Mint and anise and Cummin. They were not wanting in prayers, and fastings to the Lord, and their prayers were no short ones, which gave all to think, that they were not weary of serving the Lord. Yea they compassed Sea and Land too to beget people to the Lord, to make proselytes: thus they appeared righteous unto men. But yet for all that they were but whited Sepulchers full of Hypocrisy, and iniquity, when that light came which was able to discover them: and to uncover their hearts by their works. Even by their covetousness, and hard heartedness to the poor Widows, by their love of honour, by their neglect of the weightier matters of the Law, Judgement, Mercy, Faith: as also by that persecuting spirit which was in them; and such like: and yet these men added one thing more to gloss all the rest over the better, they abhorred to be companions to Publicans and sinners, and blamed Christ for eating and drinking with such. Yea they made it matter of thankfulness to God, acknowledging it to be his work, that they were not such: and thus they said in their hearts, Stand by thyself, for I am holier than thou. There were some also spoken of in the Epistle of Judas, ungodly men, walking after their own lusts, sensual, not having the Spirit ver. 19 These separated themselves from the fellowship of those Saints, who stood in the pure truth: turning the grace of God into lasciviousness; the pure Love into wantonness. They crept in unawares, and drew an image of the pure Love and grace of God shed abroad upon the Saints, and in their carnal hearts it became wantonness, and lasciviousness: and so they withdrew themselves again, and separated from that holy fellowship to follow their ungodly lusts of uncleanness, covetousness, gluttony and such like. Now I say such separations as these I do not plead for. But I own and defend that separation from the inventions and traditions and Formalities of men which is commanded in Scripture under the name Babylon. Rev. 18.4. Jer. 50.8. Ch. 51.6, 45. The whole chapters speak much thereof.  
Oh ye Priests, ye Merchants of Babylon, out of the North there arised up a Nation against you, which shall make your Land desolate. Ch. 50.3. ch. 51.48. It is time to separate from your Babylonish inventions: for the hewers are already entered into your forest. Oh thou that dwellest upon many waters, thine end is come and the measure of thy covetousness Jer. 51.13. Thy strength faileth, the mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight: they have remained in their holds; they are become as women, Jer. 51.30. If my application fail, it will not fail long. Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of Devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a Cage of every unclean and hateful bird. All Nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornications: and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; and the Merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies, Rev. 18.2, 3. And for this cause is she fallen, Because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Rev. 14.8. Therefore to obey that voice from Heaven which hath said in the hearts of many come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, & that ye receive not of her plague; I say to obey this voice is not Heresy, Schism, and such a separation as you have made it.  
Heresy and Schism and Separation and Sects rightly taken is this, To separate, divide or make a rent and breach from the truth, and from them that dwell therein: as namely from the Spirit and life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and from such Apostles and servants of his as have walked or do walk in that spirit, and in that life: and from them in that thing wherein there is truth. But you cannot be said to be such: you are far enough from the paths and spirit too that dwelled in them. And therefore I leave it to the daylight which shall arise in men's consciences to discover whether you yourselves be not Grand Heretics, grand Schismatics, grand Separatists, swarving from the Life and Spirit of them, whom you cry up in words.  
And such grand Schismatics and Heretics you are, that you would stop up the way for ever (if it were in your power) to keep men from returning back again into the purity and Simplicity of that truth from which you are separated: crying out to the people, to take heed of Heresy and Schism, and separation, scaring them with these terms, when as you yourselves are the Schismatics and Separatists from the Truth: and so while you bid others beware of it, you hold them fast in it.  
O ye Deceivers God will require his flock at your hands. Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of Hosts is his Name, he shall throughly plead their cause, and deliver them out of your hands. Jer. 50.33, 34. Eze. 34.10, 11.12, etc.  
I pass on now to other terms which you have used against such as have pressed towards the Truth. For I must fill to you in your own Cup. You call others unlearned and unstable from the words of Peter in his second Epistle. Ch. 3. v. 16. And say that they wrist the Scriptures to their own destruction. We will first consider these words as they are translated: and afterwards as they may be more truly translated: and see to whom they may most properly be applied. First for the word unlearned: we shall see who they are that are unlearned, by taking notice what Learning is. Learning is nothing else but A right understanding of things as they are in themselves: an appendance whereof is Eloquence, which is a clear uttering of things rightly understood, to the understandings of others. I have seldom heard of any learned man of any depth of Judgement that will say that Eloquence lies in dark expressions, and hidden words, and vainglorious sounds of words which some delight in: but in a plain, pertinent, clear expression that comes home to the understandings of others: that's to speak the thing out, that's Eloquence. I know well, that there is an Eloquence, which is Eloquence but only to some, to others it is an unknown tongue, I am not against this, if it do clearly and pertinently express Truth: let men speak out truth as they can: but yet mind what Paul said, I had rather speak five words with the understanding, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue: speaking home to others understanding comes nearest to the end of speaking. Now here is the very End of Schools and Universities, namely, To bring men to a right understanding of things as they are in themselves, in truth, and to profit their utterance and demonstration of that truth that is in things, and for this end are disputations in Schools about Questions Moral, Philosophical, Divine, etc. Now he that reaches nearest home to these Ends, namely to understand things as they are really in themselves, and to utter forth the same to the understandings of others, he is the most Learned, Let his Education be what it will: for he reaches that, which all Universities are erected for in the right ends of them. Further the top of all learning, or the principal learning lies in a clear understanding of the highest things, or of the things of Christ and the clear Demonstration of these things to the understandings of others by words which the spirit administers; is the chiefest Eloquence. If learning and Eloquence consist in any thing else let them who list, declare wherein it lies. Now these things being well weighed, may in some measure discover to us who are learned, who are unlearned. Namely those who best reach these ends, be it in what way soever, by study, by Education, or by Revelation, they are the most learned. If one man be brought up at an University, and spend many years there: another follows his employment in some outward calling, walking in obedience to the light that's in him. Now let these two meet at the end of seven years; and he that hath followed his calling, and the light communicated to him be better instructed in the mysteries of Jesus Christ, than the other; and be more able to declare them with profit to the hearers than the other: yea to confound the other by the Scriptures, and discover his ignorance and disobedience: then let any rational man tell us which of these two men is the more Learned, and which is the more unlearned in the things of Christ. Now whether there be not many precedents of these afforded in this Nation of ours, let the experience of these times testify. And yet the unlearned ignorant Priests cry out against others as unlearned, who have more learning than themselves. Now for the word unstable that which is stability they account Instability. For stability is to stick close to the Lord, and to follow him whithersoever he goes, it is not to fix our roots into the earth, and there to stick fast. Suppose that when the Lord led his people out of Egypt, some would sit down by the fleshpots of Egypt, others would set forward, but yet sit down by the way, at some of those places where the cloud that led them stood still, others where the tabernacle was pitched for a season, others would turn back again unto Egypt: but others as Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord fully: removing from place to place, not turning back again in their hearts, but keeping entirely to the guide that led them. Now tell me, were Caleb and Joshua the unstable ones, who could no where sit down with the rest that turned back in their hearts to Egypt: or they who had motions for a time to go forward, but afterwards turned back again? So the Lamb may have as many removes out of Babylon and Egypt spiritual for aught I know; and if so: then whether are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes; or they who have motions forth of this Babylon, but turn back again in their hearts, choosing rather to sit down at ease there, then to go on. I say which of these are the unstable ones? judge in yourselves. But shall I tell you that the instability of many shall be laid to the charge of you Priests. You have met them and buffeted them with your terrible words, and have turned away many a soul from following the Lamb. Yea I myself have not been without buffet from some of you. Others (whom my soul tenderly looks upon with much compassion) have broken from you, and have broken the Ice as it were, pressing forward after the Truth, and to find out the way for us towards Zion. Yet thorough the violence of your Tempests, have been made to turn into creeks for harbour, where to make their stand, lest they should be overwhelmed in your Tempests: and so have been slacked and taken off from their stability in following the Lamb: and yet with an impudent for chead you brand that with instability which is stability and strength. Let us now consider of the words in a better translation. The words of Peter in the Greek tongue are these: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2 Pet. 3.16. And they are translated thus; Which they that are unlearned and unstable wrist. (I desire tender spirits not to be offended, that I use words here which they understand not; for I speak to those that do understand the literal sense of them; and must deal with them a little with their own weapons.) The words which may more easily be understood if they were translated nearer to the Greek words thus; Which they that are undiscipled, and unfixed wrest: for by unlearned is meant undiscipled here in this place; and by unstable is meant such as are unfixed in their hearts to Jesus Christ, and to his Cross. Now a man cannot be a Disciple of Christ except he deny himself, and take up his Cross daily and follow Christ. So that the meaning is this plainly: which they who are undiscipled not taking up their Cross to follow Christ: who are unfixed to Christ in their hearts halting between him and the world, do wrest. For such as these are the wresters of the Scriptures to their own destruction. These, because there is an edge of Scripture against them, therefore they turn aside the edge of it with their slippery and misty interpretations, that so they may sit at their ease enjoying the pleasures of this world, and avoiding the Cross, rather than put their necks under the yoke of Christ. That these are the unlearned ones spoken off in this place is plain by the very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies one undiscipled: for when men unlearned in another sense are spoken of, the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used, which signifies illiterate: and in that sense indeed Peter and John were unlearned, that is they were illiterate or ungrammerd men, Act. 4.13. Now herein is the foul Error of the Priests who have altogether applied that in Peter to illiterate men, such as Peter himself was who spoke them: whereas the words there are only proper to undiscipled men, unlearned in the Truths of Christ, disobedient to him in their hearts. These are the wresters of Scripture to their own destruction. I apeal to your selus, whether the very words do not fairly lead to this interpretation: or rather hold out this very sense without any further interpretation. And so Peter's unlearned ones that wrest the Scriptures, are very applicable to the greatest Doctors in the world. The most learned Rabbis, and Commentators, and Disputants in the world may be, and for the most part are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is undiscipled: unsubdued to the yoke of Christ; and so most fit to wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction.  
Again let us leave the bare words and consider of the deal of the Lord with men, and from thence take notice who are most likely to wrest the Scriptures. How come we to understand the Truth? is it not a thing given? Now to whom is it given? Only to learned men brought up at Universities? noe: the Lord chooses few of those to entrust with the Knowledge of his Truth. 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28. verses. Not many wise, and so on. But God hath chosen the foolish things, and weak things: and base things, and despised things, to do his works by: that no flesh should glory, vers. 29. Now if he will choose such for his works, who dare contradict; or say unto him why dost thou so? or clamour against his instruments, calling them unleamed, except only such as dare say any thing? Did not Christ thank his Father for hiding the mysteries of his Kingdom from the wise and prudent, and revealing them to babes? Mat. 11.25. And yet you would arrogate to yourselves a privilege of right understanding the Truth by virtue of your acquired wisdom, by humane learning, and vilify all others that want that learning, as wresters of the Scriptures to their own destruction: when as often times that which you call wrested, is the very Truth lying in plain words in the letter. The true Knowledge of the Doctrine of Christ, is not given to Humane Learning, but to obedience to the will of God. Joh. 7.17. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the Doctrine, whither it be of God. It's plain therefore, that the most selfdenying persons are most likely to know the Doctrine of Christ best; to them its promised. Every degree of self denial done in obedience to God, removes a vail from off the Creatures understanding, and so he going on therein, hath an abundant entrance opened unto him into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord: and the want of Humane learning cannot rob the Obedient of this Entrance into the Kingdom of light: whereas on the contrary Disobedience (though accompanied with never so much humane learning and wisdom) folds up a man under blindness, and strong delusions; even to believe lies. 2 Thes. 2.11. And yet by you all truth must be ascribed to Universities, and Humane learning, though God regard them not: and nothing taken notice of from such as want that Humane learning, though God make use of such for the most part, as his fittest instruments.  
Lastly, you have not been sparing in calling others Blasphemers, but what Blasphemy is one shall seldom hear from you. To Blaspheme is to speak evil of one falsely, to slander, to reproach, to revile, to strike thorough ones name with reproaches. Thus to revile the actings of the holy Spirit, is to Blaspheme the holy Spirit: as some of the Pharisees did revile the words and actions of Christ, when that Spirit put forth itself eminently in him in mighty works: they said spitefully and revilingly, that he did it by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils. Paul himself while he was Saul, a Persecuter, was also guilty in part of Blasphemy against that holy name, speaking evil thereof: and he looked upon it as a great thing that he obtained mercy. He did it ignorantly in unbelief. Thus also Paul himself and others were Blasphemed afterwards. Rom. 3.8. As we be slanderously reported, etc. now the word slanderously reported is in the Greek tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is, as we be blasphemed. In the same sense it is said 1 Cor. 4.13. being defamed we entreat, the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is being blasphemed we entreat. Again, Tit. 3.2. we are bid to speak evil of no man falsely, the word is, to Blaspheme no man, revile no man, slander no man. Now you, O Priests are full of slandering reviling names; and so full of names of Blasphemy. You Blaspheme Christ and his holy Spirit at every motion or step whereby he moves forward in his people. Every motion that leads forward from under the great mystery of iniquity towards Zion that you prosecute and dog with revile, which is nothing else but absolute Blasphemy. You Blaspheme both God that leads forth calling him delusion and Devil, and fancy: and also his Tabernacle (that is, his people in motion out of Egypt spiritual) calling them Heretics, Schismatics, Separatists, Blasphemers, and such like, when as in Truth you yourselves are the things you so call. O fools and blind, when will you see that the Tabernacle of God dwells under the cloud while its in the wilderness: and is to come forth of great tribulation: that's the Character of the Saints under which they must stand one day. But you by your Blasphemies, by your slanders, and revile, by odious terms, and other means are great causers and promoters of that tribulation.  
To the rest of your Blasphemies, I think I may not unfitly add this as one, that you call a building made of wood and stone, the Church: whereas the Church is the body of Christ. Surely, surely the very boys and children will ere long deride your folly. Your are so wedded to this name, that if any call it by any other name you deride them, though there be no reason why it should be called Church. What! is it the Body of Christ? Why will you continue to Blaspheme the name of Christ thus to call a dead house his Body? for the Church is his Body. Col. 1, 18, 24. See if you can any where find a house of wood and stone called Church in Scripture. If we call it Synagogue, or high place, or Idols Temple, or Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird, we can better justify these, because we find these names given to such like places in Scripture: but these you abominate. Or if we call it steeplehouse, or Pulpit-house from the form, or adjunct, yet these you cannot bear. I would you would tell us what to call them inoffencively. But I must tell you that if no name will serve you to call them by, but that which is proper to the Body of Christ, we must in indignation trample them under feet with the names which the Scripture hath given to such houses, calling them Idols Temples, high places, and such like.  
Some I know will frivolously answer and say, It's not the place, but the congregation which we call Church. I say that's an idle conceit: for if that were so then the name Church should go along with the Congregation. But that it doth not: let the Congregation move all together if they will to any place, yet the name Church moves not with it, but rests upon that Idolized Temple, and when none is in it, yet it's called Church. Again if you should call the Congregation the Church, yet consider what you do: for as I said, the Church is the very Body of Christ, acted by that Unction which is Christ, even by the same spirit wherewith the person of the man Christ Jesus was acted. Take heed how you call a company of people living in Humane inventions and traditions, satisfying themselves with the bare name of Christians, having their spirits in the earth: I say take heed how you call these the Body of Christ. A company of people acted by a spirit of persecution, vain glory, covetousness, worldly mindedness and such like, are these the Body of Christ acted by his spirit, whenas they walk most contrary to it? No no, it's somewhat else to be a Christian. It may be some will say, true, too many do walk so, but all do not so, some walk otherwise, and they are the Church. I answer, I do not deny but that some there, may be of the Church, and not of that earthly Congregation, though among them: but these cannot give the Denomination of Church to the rest, because they are not of them, but only among them as captive children in Babylon. So that I say now, if it were the Congregation itself (and not the stone house) which you call Church, yet consider whether this would be free from Blasphemy, if they shall be found the Synagogue of Satan.  
These now are some of those things which may be said concerning you and your Ordinances: both which you will needs father on Christ, crying them up for his Ordinances and yourselves for his Ministers: and more than this will the Lord in time discover both concerning you and others.  
You have set up yourselves as leaders and guides of the people; but you have hardened their hearts against the fear of the Lord: and so keep them from entering into the very beginnings of wisdom: for the fear of the Lord is the entrance into wisdom: how should it be expected that they should be moved to fear him, when as you their teachers, say and do not. Do not you thereby teach them to live in say without do, and that without fear? For by your examples you harden them in an hypocryticall form of words, without doing the will of the Lord: for how do you think that they should learn to do the will of the Lord from your mouths who are not moved through his fear to do it yourselves? You stand in the way letting and hindering men from entering into the Kingdom: and neither enter in yourselves, nor suffer those that are entering to go in; so far as you can hinder. If they had not you to rest upon, they would be stirred up the sooner to look after truth. The people themselves can say of you, that some of you say well, but you do not as you say. This they see in the best of you: but because of your examples set before them they rest in doing as you do, sheltering themselves under your practice and disobedience, although they see further. Thus by hardening the people in their evil ways you rob and spoil them of that Peace and rest and light and comfort which obedience to the Truth would lead them into. And so for all your boasting of your ministry and Ordinances, yet you do not thereby lead up any of the People to those high and noble ends, for which gifts, and ministry and the Ordinances of Christ were given: namely, to a conformity to Jesus Christ in this world: and to that end were they given, even to lead up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Eph. 4.8, 11, 12, 13. But how should you lead up further than you go yourselves? Nay, your ministry is so far from leading up to that conformity that the nearer any comes to it, the more are your mouths opened against them in your Pulpits. So that you are of that spirit, that sets itself in the Temple of God over men's consciences opposing and exalting itself above all that's called God; calling that delusion and fancy. 2 Thes. 2.4.  
Thus I have hitherto finished my Testimony against that mystery which is upheld by you, which the Lord is untwisting. In witness against which I have been kept back from among you, and have suffered the loss of all things and do suffer: and not only I but many others. This mystery of Humane inventions mixed with some appearances of Truth hath driven many into the Island of Patmos, (of suffering) for many years, even all those john's who have been faithful to the Revelation of it communicated to them. I for my own part thorough weakness and hardness of heart, mine own and others have been made for sometime to sojourn in Zoar. But now beholding so great burn arising upon Sodom, I am made to departed out of Zoar also. Behold there hath been a great Deluge upon the face of the Earth, overtopping all things: but some have been preserved as in an ark: and now I see innocent Doves sent forth again (for some have returned) to see if the waters be abated from the tops of the mountains: if that spirit of innocency find nothing but an Olive leaf, it must return again until the waters be further abated: these I writ for those who understand.  
And now I shall leave one Querie with you who are the Nationall Ministers.  
I pray tell me who are those Sorcerers which have been so numerous that they have bewitched and deceived all Nations? those Enchanters who have made the inhabiters of the earth drunk with the wine of their fornication? and with whom the Kings of the earth have been so good friends that they have committed fornication with them?   

Postscript.  
THese things which I have written are not from an intention to draw people off from these men to follow or hang upon myself: no, but to witness with the rest of my fellow sufferers against Delusion: and to help to bring down that proud Lording spirit which is in the new Prelates; which would sit as God in the Temple of God, Lording it over men's consciences through feigned words, and causing poor slaves and souls of men to dread them even as God himself. I say my desire is to be helpful to bring down to the dust that deluding Lording spirit, That the Consciences of people may stand open and free to the voice of the Lord in them: and may not be captivated with such who live in words. And if after these, others shall arise into the same spirit, as these have risen into the spirit of the Prelates after their decease, He that hath discovered them, and these, will also discover such as shall succeed; and so in this sense, as well as in outward Governments, Overturn, Overturn, Overturn, until he come into his Temple whose right it is.  
You may call these things which I have written flashes of new light if you please (for so you brand every thing that breaks forth now in this dawning of the morning after the sad night of Antichristian darkness.) But be it known to you it is not so to me, being that same which hath been sprinking up in me and others these many years. For you have been a long time represented to me as men under thick darkness, which hath kept me off thorough the tender mercy of my God from entering into your ways in which I could see no light. I have been only brought to the brink of your Babylonish Rivers, which bring up your gain, I mean your Ordinances, that I might taste of the bitterness of them; but there have I been made to sit down weeping in remembrance of Zion: which Zion hastens to appear. Allelujah.  
Thou that readest these things and art convinced of the truth of them, Boast not against these men: But look towards the Lord who is making his righteous Judgements manifest; and fear. For he will in due time discover much more than this, both concerning them and others. He is about to fan the Nations, and to gather his wheat into his Garner, and to burn up the light chaff with unquenchable fire therefore Glory not. But let him that thinketh hestandeth take heed lest he fall. Be not high minded but fear. For my part I writ not these things out of bitterness against any of their persons, or to boast over any of them, (for the Lord can soon make a blaspheming Saul to become a Paul.) But rather to let proud boasting, reviling Preachers to see, what little cause they have to carry so clamorously against those who withdraw from them. In respect of myself I had rather be silent, and let them blow all the day long upon my back with their revile. But if these things shall be instrumental to bring some of them to consider their ways, and to look better to the foundation of their practices, and to cease from beating their fellow-servants and be stirred up to seek the way to Zion that's as much as I look for: Farewell.   

A Letter to the Papists.  
SIRS,  
HAving touched in discourse with you upon that which is the very foundation of your Religion, and seeing it in my understanding to have nothing but the sands to stand upon, I cannot but in love to you, represent again before you the same thing that I then said to you, that you may seriously ponder it for it overturns your Religion at the very root. Your foundation is this, that Peter must have a succession, and secondly that the Bishops of Rome are the only successors of Peter: and so they being the successors of Peter are the Church built upon him the Rock, and from them all Teaching must flow. Here is your Basis or foundation on which you stand.  
Now friends consider whether an outward succession of Bodies inhabiting the place where Peter lived (if he lived at Rome) be a good foundation for the Church of Christ to stand upon. When Christ the promised seed came, you know that the Church slipped away from the carnal seed to a spiritual, leaving the carnal Jew boasting of its carnal succession, when as yet God had departed from it. Now shall we think that God would ever after tie himself to a carnal succession again, having once cut off Abraham's who was the friend of God? Certainly if any may stand upon an outward succession, than Abraham's seed after the flesh may, having so many Promises running to them in outward appearance. But he is not a Jew now who is one outwardly, neither is Circumcision that which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly: and Circumcision is that of the heart, and they who are of the faith of Abraham are counted for the seed. So I say, he is not of the succession of Peter who is one outwardly, but he who is of the same spirit with Peter. No Nation or place, or outward order of men can confine the succession of Peter to themselves, since God laid aside all such outward entailment from Abraham, and hath betaken himself only to a spiritual line, a spiritual seed. For it were contrary to all reason that God should lay aside or cut off Abraham's carnal seed of the Jews, to take in a spiritual seed out of any Nation, and yet after that take up again a carnal or outward succession to Peter, and that in one part of one Nation only, namely at Rome. For this were to build up again that which he had formerly destroyed; and to destroy that which formerly he had built up. To build up again a carnal succession to Peter, which he had destroyed in Abraham's line; and to destroy and keep out a spiritual seed fearing God in all Nations which once he had taken in. The Progress of the Lord with his Church is not a going back from spiritual to Carnal, but a going forward from carnal to spiritual, and after that to more spiritual.  
Now that the Bishops of Rome are not the spiritual seed nor the spiritual successors of Peter, nor the Rock upon which the Church of Christ is builded, no nor the Church of Christ itself; nor the sole feeders of the flock of Christ, no nor fit to be feeders of the flock of Christ at all, appears clearly by their lives. You shall know them by their fruits or works, saith Christ, (speaking of false Prophets:) do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? No they are so far from being discovered by their fruits to be Peter's spiritual successors, that their fruits discover them to be false Prophets, yea and such as have the pre-eminence among those who have deceived the Nations. This stands in great Characters upon their foreheads that all may run and read, Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots, and abominations of the Earth: For what abominations be there, that are not among them committed? As for persecution they excel, being drunk with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus. Rev. 17.5, 6. They are arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stone, and pearls, having a golden cup in their hand full of abominations, and filthiness of their fornication. vers. 4. How far are these things differing from the spirit that was in Peter?  
But to speak a little more particularly, that they are not Peter's spiritual successors appears in this because they are the least conformable or like to Peter of any men. For Peter did really in life deny himself, take up his cross and follow Christ: they do not so, but are exalted like Princes in the earth, possessing an earthly Kingdom. They have indeed many images of crosses, they glory in the shadow but deny the practice, the life of the cross, which is that which Christ called for, and Peter lived in, but they are far from. Again as they have not the life of Peter, so they have not the spirit of Peter in them, and therefore are not his successors, and so are not a Rock for the Church of Christ to be built upon. It was not Peter's outside that was called a Rock, but that spirit of life that was in him, which could flow into the spirits of others and so cement many living stones into one spiritual house with him. Now that they have not the spirit of Peter in them appears also by their fruits, their lives: their fruits are the fruits of Sodom, and not the fruits of the spirit: for they live in pride, fullness of bread, abundance of idleness, covetousness, Persecution and such like. They seek the honour of this world, and heap up to themselves, the riches of this world, and therefore cannot be Believers, much less Rocks for the Church to stand on, Joh. 5.44. How can ye believe who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Now none receive greater honour among men than they do: therefore none are further off from believing in Christ aright then they are. Again they have not the true love of God in them. 1 Joh. 2.15. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. And who are greater lovers of the world than the Bishops of Rome are? Again they are not fit to teach others. This also appears by their lives. For what have they to do to take the word of God into their mouths, who hate to be reform themselves, and to live as Christ and his Apostles did? How can they build up the Church of Christ by their Doctrine, who live contrary to the Doctrine of Christ? How can they teach men to take up the cross and follow Christ, who are enemies to the cross of Christ? whose God is their Belly, who glory in that which will be their shame, who mind earthly things? Phil. 3.18, 19  
Thus I say their lives discover them to be nothing conformable to Peter; to have none of that spirit in them, which dwelled in him; to be unbelievers; to want the love of the Father in them; to be unfit to teach others. All these I say appear clearly by their lives, by their fruits, by their works; the Character that Christ's gives to know false Prophet's day. Mat. 7.15, 16.20. And shall any man than look upon these men, as Peter's, as Rocks on which the Church stands, as feeders of the sheep of the Lambs of Christ; as the head of the Church: and patterns for the Church of Christ to follow? Friends it is love to you and the Truth which makes me to represent these things to you. And I desire that you may well consider where you stand, and on what you hang: whether you stand on the Rock Christ, or on the sands of an outward succession: whether you hang on a sure nail, or on a weak slippery pin. It behoves all to consider well their foundation, for the Lord is coming to discover the foundations of the Earth, and to shake them till all the buildings raised up upon the sands do fall, though never so glorious.  
W. Tomlinson.  
FINIS.