Something in ansvver to the old Common-prayer-book and for the information of those who are for it, which is much of it taken out of the old Mass-book : both which are got up since the Apostles dayes ...

SOMETHING IN ANSWER To the Old COMMON-PRAYER-BOOK , And for the Information of those who are for it .

THE Apostles bid them pray in the Spirit , who was a true Minister , and it helpt their Infirmities , for they knew not what to pray for , but the Spirit made intercession with sighs and groans . For he saw many getting the Form of Godliness before his decease , which were out of the Spirit and Power , and such would be forward enough to set up Forms of their own . And the Apostle bid , Pray with the Spirit and with understanding , and Pray without ceasing : but does not set a long Form of Prayer ; but told them the Spirit did help them , and in that they might Pray ; And it made intercession , Rom. 8. 1 Thes . 5. And Cnrist said , Pray not as the Pharisees do , who think to be heard for their much babling , who stand praying in the Synagogues and Corners of the Streets , that use vain repetitious , as the Heathen do . But when thou Prayest enter into thy Closet , and shut the door , and Pray to thy Father in secret , who sees in secret , that he may reward thee openly : For the Father knows what things ye have need of before ye ask him ; Therefore be not like the Pharisees and Heathen : And when ye pray , pray after this manner : Our Father which art in Heaven , Hallowed be thy Name , Thy Kingdom come , Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven . Now can you say , The Will of God is done in Earth as it is in Heaven , Thy Kingdom come ; That be so cross one against another , and out of the peace that the Kingdom is in ? And give us this day our dayly bread ; Can you say , your dayly bread , who are persecuting about Religion ? who are like to devour one another , biting one another about your forms , and so are like to be consumed one of another . And forgive us our debts , as we forgive our debters ; Where is there ever a man of you all in England , or in Christendom , that has forgiven his debts , that speaks it in the Spirit of Truth ? Do ye not say these words like Pharisees , drawing nigh with your Lips , but your Hearts afar off ? If ye would forgive men their debts as ye would be forgiven , then ye would never persecute men for Religion . But are you not gone into Temptation , and so from the Kingdom and the Glory , and the dayly bread , into the evil ? And if ye do not forgive men their Trespasses , that Trespass against you ; neither will the Father forgive your Trespasses , Matth . 6. But if you forgive men their Trespasses that Trespass against you , your Heavenly Father will forgive you ; then you must give over your persecution . And you should not teach the People to call Sunday ; Munday , Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday , Friday and Saturday , but first and second , &c. according to the Apostles Doctrine , and Moses and the Prophets ; for there is no Scripture for calling them Sunday and Munday , which came from the Heathen .

And how can you give forth Prayers to be said at all times , and for every day , to be said at morning and evening ; who say you have not the same Spirit and Power that the Apostles had , that gave forth the Scriptures ? And yet you set forth long forms of Common-Prayers for People , which the Apostles did not , but bid them Pray in the Spirit ; And so there is the common way of Prayer , which Christ and the Apostles let you see , which is not like the Heathen , the Jews , nor the Pharisees , who had the Temple to pray in , called the House of Prayer ; And the Apostle brought them off the outward Temple , the House of Prayer , and told them their Bodyes were the Temple of God , and bad them pray in the Spirit , and likewise sing in the Spirit ; this was spoken to them that came off the Jews Temple and their singing .

And where did the Apostles say to the True Churches , they should read such a Scripture , such a Chapter , and such a Psalm , and so much for Morning-Prayer , and so much for Evening-Prayer ? Are not these Ministers of the Letter , and not of the Spirit ? Such Psalms you must sing for such a day , and such for such a day : Is this singing with the Spirit , by them that say they have not the same Spirit and Power as they had that gave forth Scripture ? How can you then set forth Forms , Collects , and Prayers , and Psalms , to be read at several seasons and times ? Is not this a form of Godliness and out of the Power , that have not the same Spirit as they had that gave forth the Scriptures ?

Rent your hearts , and keep out of costly and gorgeous apparrel , and turn to the Lord , and he will shew you mercy ; And do not say over these words in a form without the practice , Phariseelike , Ezek . 18.10 . and 20. Come to that which will make you a new Heart , and a new Spirit , that you may live a new Life , and where Repentance is , and wickedness is put out of the remembrance of the Lord ; for Repentance is a change of the mind from that sin it hath been in ; and then to say , if we have no sin we deceive our selves , and the Truth is not in us ; but mark and read on , If we do confess our sin , he is faithful and just to forgive us all our sin ; and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousness : Mark here is a time to see that people have sinned , and have sin , and to confess it , and to forsake it ; and then the Blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse from all sin ; and then the birth ; he that is born of God doth not commit sin , neither can he , because he is born of God , and the Seed of God remaineth in him . And here the Children of God are manifest , and the Children of the Devil , who sinned from the beginning , and so doth his birth , which the birth of God doth not ; for he that doth righteousness is righteous , even as he is righteous ; And let no man deceive you , Joh . 1.3 .

And all your form of Prayer will not cover a people , for that which must cover , must be the Spirit of the Lord , in which they must pray to God , and worship him ; neither can they set forth true Prayers that be not in the same Spirit the Apostles were in , neither do they pray in the Spirit , that say over those words . And the Scriptures do not command a kneeling always at prayer , for sometimes they stood , and sometimes they laid down on their faces ; And when ye come to pray in the Spirit , you will not follow the devices of your hearts , and it will lead you to do the things you ought to do , and lead you from those things you should not do : for they are the Sons of God that are led by the Spirit of God , for to do the things they should do .

And you who have gone astray , come to the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightened you withal , that you may come to the Shepherd , the Bishop of your Souls . And you say — There is no health in us , — And doth not the Scripture say , Christ is in you , except you be reprobates ; And the word is in your Hearts , Rom. 10. Col. 2. And God will put his Laws in their Hearts , and they shall be his People , and he will be their God ; And the Grace is in the Heart , seasoning and establishing it ; And the mystery of Faith is held in a pure conscience , which saves ; And they that have love , have this in them , and have health in them ; And they that have not this in them , wants the health in them .

And I say , all the confession in made Prayers , is nothing but like Pharisees , till you do forsake it , it is but lip labour ; and to make forms of Prayers and Praises , ( and not be in the same Spirit , as they were in that gave forth the Scriptures , ) and set them up , is to worship the works of their own hands ; and they cannot remit sins , that are not in the same Spirit and Power that they were in which gave forth the Scriptures : When a sinner doth repent from the bottom of his heart , the Lord will blot out his wickedness out of his remembrance . And yet , if ye say you have not sin , ye deceive your selves , and the Truth is not in you ; This is contradiction , that after Repentance the Lord hath blotted out your wickedness ; and then to say , there is sin in you , and to say , if you have none in you , you deceive your selves . And a general confession to be said by the whole Congregation , after the Minister kneeling , — that you follow the devices of your own hearts , and you have offended the Holy Laws , and done those things you ought not , and there is no health in you . —

This shews you are out of Christian life , far off them that sits in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus , and to be Children of Light , that can say , the darkness is past , and the true Light now shines . And for a whole Congregation to say — they have offended the Laws , and done those things they ought not , and there 's no health in them ; — ( This is sad , but when comes the amendment . ) which is as much as to say , Christ is not in them , and the Word of God is not in their hearts , Rom. 10. Col. 2. And to say , God hath not put his Laws in their minds and hearts ; and the anointing is not in them to teach them , 1 Joh . 2. And that Grace is not in their hearts to stablish them , by which they are saved ; And that Faith is not in their Hearts , with which they are saved , which is held in a pure Conscience , which purifies the Heart ; And where these things is within there is health , Is there not ? And where drunkenness , and prophaness , and cursing , and swearing , and all manner of pleasures and wickedness is , they may say they are gone from the ways of God , and there is no health in them , who are gone from the Spirit of Faith in them , which purifies the Heart , by which they are saved ; they may say , there is no health in them .

And after the Priest and the Congregation hath confessed , that they are miserable Offenders , and of their Errors , and if they forsake , it differs them from Pharaoh and Herod . But not in a form of Confession all their life time ; For the repentance is in the forsaking ; and no man hath power to remit sins . except they be in the Power and Spirit the Apostles and Christ were in . And you that say in your confessing and kneeling . — There is no health in you , — yet ye will give forth Prayers ; — And that you are erred and strayed from his ways and Laws , — cannot say you have the same Spirit and Power that the Apostles had , for if that be in you , there is health in you , and that takes away sin .

And where did the Apostles say , that they should say the Lords Prayer with a loud voice , and different from which they said other Prayers ? And where did the Apostles set forth a form of Prayer , and the People should say one part , and the Priest another , in all the Churches ? Where was that written ? And where did the Apostles and true Church set forth Lessons and Gospels out of the Scriptures ; but said , the Gospel was the Power of God . Where was this practised in the true Church , in the primitive which is the first ? A greater than Solomon with burnt-offerings , who was anointed King , is come , CHRIST JESUS , who sits upon his Throne , who is King among the Christians , as Solomon was among the Jews , and ends burnt-offerings , and mortal Crowns , and makes Kings , and puts upon them an immortal Crown .

And the Apostle which said , Let every Soul be subject to the higher Power , and the Powers that be are ordained of God ; And Custome to whom Custome , and Honour to whom Honour , and Fear to whom Fear : He denyed the Jews , Customes and Heathens , and he was in the higher Power , by which he saw the end of the Jews Customes and Laws ; and so he was not to fear him that could kill the Body ; But Fear God , that 's the Fear ; And who resisteth the Power , resists the Ordinance of God . Now all power in Heaven and Earth is given to the Son . For if the Apostle had been subject to every Power , and every Custome , in every Nation , then he had rendered his sear , and had worshipped Gods , worshipped the Devil , and followed the Customes of the Heathens and the Jews , and had had no persecution . Therefore there is a distinction in these words , what was the Custome , and what was the Fear , and what was the Honour ; For there is an Honour that God will lay in the dust , which we do not desire to be cloathed with ; that which gives the Fear to whom it belongeth , and Honour to whom it belongeth , and Custome to whom it belongeth ; where the man is that crossed people in their Customes , and broke the Customes both of Jews and Gentiles ; who comes into the Power of Christ , and Spirit that gave forth Scriptures , sees the distinction of all these things , and the customs that is vain , and fear that is to be cast out , and the honour that must be stained . And who comes to owe to no man nothing but love , which is the end of the Law , hath put on Christ ; so love is the fulfilling of the Law , which was to kill , which was among the Jewes , which the Royal Seed , the Royal Command of it , is to love enemies .

And where did Christ bid the Apostles , or the Apostles bid other Ministers , stand on the North side of the Table , when they said the Lords Prayer ? And have you said the Lords Prayer more than with lips ? So the Pharisees said Moses and the Prophets in their Synagogues and Temple , as you have said your prayer , in your Synagogues and Temples ; as to say — Forgive us our trespasses , as we forgive them that trespass against us ; — you not practisig to forgive them that trespass against you , but persecuting them ; How shall God forgive you that trespass against him ? So you go into the temptation and evil , from the day and daily bread , and the Kingdom , in which is peace , and cannot call God Father in truth , as the perfect Children of the Most High do , who love enemies , which differs them from Pharisees , and the Apostate Christians .

And where did the Apostle say , that any King or Magistrate upon earth was , A DEFENDER OF THE FAITH ? but said , they themselves had not power over mens Faith , 2 Cor . 1. but said , Christ was the Authour of Faith , and Faith is in the heart , which is a shield , which gives the Victory over that which separates from the Lord , which brings again , to have access to God ; and this is every particulars defence ; which Faith is the end of the Law , Christs and the Apostles words ; It 's much that people cannot take their words , and believe what they spoke ; And , if they do believe that they were grounded upon the Rock , to take their words ; but they must be setting forth , CHURCH-FAITH , and DIRECTORY , and MASSE and COMMON-PRAYER , and persecuting one another , that will not observe what each others sets up ; and every one will cry , they do it by the Higher Power , and have the Higher Power to do it , enough to distract people , and make them mad , that be out of the Faith that works by love , which Christ is the Authour of ; And that 's Church-Faith amongst whom he is KING and DEFENDER OF IT , who is the Head of the Church , and the Body of whom we are Members ; who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him ; The Chief Magistrate , and King , Authour and Defender of the Faith , and Strengthener ; who is our KING , our PROPHET , and our PRIEST , who teacheth us how to say , and what will lead us into all Truth ( the Spirit of Truth ) and teacheth how to worship God , and in what .

Now to say over the truest form of Godliness as ever was , and not to be in the Power that gave it forth and the Spirit , they are to be turned away from . Now to invent forms , and not to be in the same Power and Spirit that the Apostles had that gave forth the Scriptures , Are not those to be turned away from ? And did ever the Apostles set forth a form of Prayer for every day in the week , and those to be said all their life time ? Are not people to come into the thing they pray ? And so they are not to be kept in the form of Prayer , but in the Spirit ? And what good does the absolution and remission of sin pronounced by a Priest , after that people have confessed it , and do not forsake it , and do not come out of it ? This is not right in the sight of God ; And where did the Apostles or Christ set the Saints to read so many Prayers , and such a place of Scripture upon the Saints days ; as to read such a place of Scripture upon the day of the birth of Christ , and the day of the Feast of Circumcision , and purification of Mary , and for the 12 Apostles , for the Saints and All-Saints ? Where did Christ and the Apostles set forth these things , and give Scripture for it for the Primitive ? ( the true foundation of God was laid there in the Primitive Church ) Where did they lay any of this foundation among them , and set forth Whitsuntide , Easter , and Christ-mass , and Michel-mass , and Candle-mass , and Childer-mass ? Where did ever the Apostles set forth any of these things ? And hath not the Mass-book been the Authour of it ? Which came from the Apostates from the Apostles , who have apostatized from Christ and the Apostles , and the true foundation that was among the Apostles , of the true Church that was in the day before the Apostacy , and the Papacy got up ? for these things are not found among them ; for the Apostles work was to bring people to the Spirit and the Power of God in themselves , and to pray and worship in that ; for people would fast enough run into the form of prayers , without Life , without Spirit ; so the true Ministers work was to bring people to the Spirit ; but the false got them into a form of Godliness , before the Apostles deceased ; and so they that run into the form without the power , run to the observation of Dayes , and Times and Years , which they that were in the Power of God , and built upon the Rock and the Foundation , brought off the observing of Dayes and Times and Years , as Gal. 4. and Coloss . 2. and Rom. 14. Tim . 2.3 . They were not to judge one another about dayes , much less to present one another into Courts about Holy-dayes , or any dayes ; but he that did observe a day , did observe it to the Lord , and some accounted every day alike ; Now they were all to be perswaded in their own minds , that judged one another about such things , and not hale one another into Courts ; for Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and of other dayes ; who makes all things holy , who is to be received , who is the Prince of Peace and Life ; and people are to come to him ; not persecuting one another about Dayes and Times , and Months , and Years , and observing Christs day , and Saints dayes , and the Apostles dayes , and Sabbath dayes ; but come to CHRIST the REST , the LORD of the Sabbath , and come to the Apostles life , and Saints life , that the Apostles and Saints were in , the Life , the Spirit that they were in , and there you will have all Unity .

Where did the Apostles say , that they should read such a Psalm , or sing such a Psalm ? for have they not been turned into Meetre since the Apostles days ? and do not all sing them ? and is it not their principle that all have not the Spirit ? and do they not all sing together ? do not ye say — That all have not the Grace ? And do they not sing Davids Prayers and Prophesies , and his Victories in Wars in the time of the Law , and his reproachings , and his fastings ? are not all these put together in Meetre and given to People to sing ? Now there is a time to distinguish Prayer from Singing , and Fasting , and Reproaching , and Wars , and the Spirit distinguisheth the time of Prophesy and Prayer , from the time of Praises : Now there is a time of Singing in the Temple , Praising in the Temple , and Praying in the Temple , and Worshipping in the Temple ; and Christ puts an end to the Temple , and bids them Worship in the Spirit , and Sing in the Spirit , and Pray in the Spirit , and this was Christs and the Apostles Doctrine ; so none was to be persecuted for not going to the Temple then , which was called a House of Prayer , nor for not going thither to Worship .

Now there was but one Temple in the whole World , commanded of God , which was Solomons Temple set up at Jerusalem , which was not set up in Rome or England , nor Holland , nor Spain , nor any of those places ; But all other Temples were invented Diana's , and all other which have their compelling worship set up , and Men will fight about them , as the Heathen do about their Gods : Whereas Christ came to end the true Temple , and the Apostles came to bring them off the true Temple which Solomon built , and told them their Bodyes were the Temple of God , and they that were gathered together , were gathered in the Name of Christ .

And Christ did not tell the Apostles they should read such a Chapter such a day , and such a Psalm such a day , and say such a Prayer such a day ; but he told them the Spirit of Truth he would send to them , which should lead them into all Truth , and that should be their Comforter ; and did not set them Collects , and that they should read so much out of the Epistles , and so much out of the Evangelists , at several times , but he told them the Spirit should be their Leader into all Truth , and that should be their Comforter ; and so this is it that will teach every one to pray ; for he saith , It shall reprove the World of Sin . So the World coming to that which doth reprove them , it will teach them to pray in the Spirit , which knows the mind of the Lord , which they know not what to pray for out of that ; And so set Forms of Prayers to keep up Peoples minds from that which does reprove , and so does people hurt ; For there is a Nature that would be calling upon God with the Lips , and have a Form of Godliness , and so have a Sacrifice , and a Praying , and a Preaching , but not in the Spirit ; so that covering God will take off , which is not in the Spirit ; and that Form without the Spirit and Power which fleshly people would live in , and saying Forms over all their life time , calling upon God with their Lips , out of those Prayers they have made for several dayes , and for several times , and for others to say over , and when they have said them over , they think they have done , it is sufficient ; this is a worshipping the work of their own hands , and is not a praying in the Spirit , but in the Letter ; For who among you will say , that you have the same Spirit that gave first the Scriptures ? As for Praying for all them that be in Authority , that we may live a Godly and peaceable life under them , that by them we may not be brought into ungodliness , which is out of peace .

And whereas you fay , — Fear God , Honour all Men , Love brotherly Fellowshiop , Honour the King . — Honour all Men , Honour the King ; That is to have him and all men in esteem ; And we can do no otherwise , if we would have all men to be saved . And the Brother-hood is in the Salvation , wherein is the Fellowship ; And the Fear of God that brings to receive Wisdom . And where did the Apostles set forth some Lessons to be read with a loud voice , and some with a low voice ; And some Lessons to be song ? And did Christ say , they should pray with a loud voice ? Did not he say , Thou shalt enter into thy Closet ? Did he say , that the Priest should stand on the North side of the Table , and say the Lords Prayer ? We never read this Doctrine among the Apostles or Christ , but out of the Mass. And did Christ and the Apostles set forth a Creed that they should say , certain times People standing up ? And they with a loud voice , ( People and Priest ) say Prayers together kneeling ? Some may be made to stand , and some to kneel . And were did the Apostles and Christ set up an ALTAR to take the Communion at ? and bow before it ? and say certain Prayers there ? Is not this from the Mass ? not from the Scriptures : And where did Christ and the Apostles set forth COLLECTS ; such things to be read in the Evening , and such things in the Morning ? And where doth the Scripture speak of Three Persons and Trinity , but of the FATHER , SON and HOLY GHOST ? have not those things come out of the Mass-book ? and not out of the Scriptures ?

And where did the Apostles set forth Morning prayers , Evening prayers , Collects , and what they should read , and what they should sing , for every Evening and Morning for every day through the whole year ? Where did the Apostles do such things ? And they must say over so many Prayers , Is not this from the Mass-book , and not from the Scriptures , which say , they must pray with the Spirit , which must lead them into all Truth ? And sing in that , and Teach them to read Scriptures , and let them see the fulfilling of the Scriptures , and enjoy him in whom they end ? And are ye in a doubt and Question after ye have set forth so many Prayers , Psalms , Collects , Even Songs , Lauds , Praises ? is there not after a doubting and a questioning in your selves , that these things are not right ? Therefore these things must not be for a standing Form .

And no one can set forth a Form of Godliness , unless they be in the Power and Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures , that may answer the witness of God in People . Therefore it is dangerous to set forth Forms to People , not being in the same Power and Spirit that the Apostles were in ; that must be turned away from . For people grow in the Spirit in which they must pray . And the Apostles and Christ have set forth enough , how they must pray and preach , and worship God . And did ever the Apostle and Christ set forth a Form of Words that people should say at all times and seasons ? And did not he teach them how to pray , and ask in his Name ? and not think to be heard by much balling ? and pray in the Spirit ? Is not this the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles ? And did not Christ say that the Spirit should lead the Disciples into all Truth ? In that they were to pray ; and that should reprove the World ? And should not the World pray in the Spirit that reproves them ? Can they pray in the Spirit , if they quench that , and grieve it , and vex it ? Will the saying over then a Form of Prayer made ready to their hands do them any good , a praying by Letter and by Line , and singing by Letter and by Line , and not by the Spirit pray nor sing ? which Spirit distinguishes , which Spirit the Lord knows the mind of , which it helps the infirmities of , and it gives the utterance both to preach , to pray , to sing , to give thanks ; for it must be in the Spirit , the preaching , the praying , the singing , that keeps the condition in the Lord , out of the flesh .

And why do they call them Collects , rather than that which hath been gathered out of the Books of other men ? And the Four Sundayes in Advent , and not rather a coming before the time called Christmass and Christs birth ? And why call ye Epiphany , and not the Appearance ? And Septuagesima and Sexagesima , and Quinquagesima , rather than the 70th . and 60th . and 50th . day before such a time ? And why call ye that time Easter , and not the Passover ? And the other time Whitsuntide , and not Pentecost ; as the Jews did ? And where did the Apostles observe that time afterward , or give a command that that time should be observed after ? And where did the Apostles or Christ set forth a time of Lent , that they must eat fish on , and not flesh ? and call it a time of fasting ? And is there not a flesh of fish ? Cor . 15. And where did the Apostles set forth Collects and Epistles , and Gospels to be said on Munday , and Tuesday , and Wedresday , and Thursday , and Good Friday next before Easter , or the Scripture speak such things ? but the Old Mass-book , got up since the Apostles dayes ? And where did the Apostles appoint a day for the Trinity ? Whereas the Scripture makes mention of the FATHER , and the SON , and that the HOLY GHOST fell upon them , but no mention of the Trinity , nor that a day should be observed , which they should call Trinity-Sunday ; but these have come from the degenerated Papists , from the Mass.

Did Paul set forth that any Prayer or Collect should be said on the day of his conversion , or Mary , or Steven , or any of the Apostles or Saints ? Are ye not to come to the Apostles life , the Spirit and Power , and so to the general assembly and to Spirits of just men made perfect ? Where did the Apostle or Christ set forth a Collect and Prayer for St. Michael the Archangel ? hath not this come from the Mass , not from the Scripture of Truth ?

Where do you read that the Apostles commanded to spread a fair white Linnen cloath in the Temple , and the Priest standing on the North side of the Altar , to say Collects and Prayers , and one for the King , and the Creed and Homily , if there want a Sermon ? And why do ye call that a Homily , and not a familiar Speech , and the other a Speech ? And the Congregation must receive the Bread and Wine , kneeling on their knees ; Now the Apostles and Christ did not say so , that they should kneel when they took it , there is no such Scripture for that ; but sayes as they sate at Supper , and you take it at Morning or at Noon , and they took it at Night , a figure of his death , when he was betrayed in the night , and you take it at Morning or Midday ; so this taking of it kneeling hath come up since the Apostles dayes , for there was no such foundation laid in the True Church . And the Apostles did not set forth that it should be taken at Christmass , or at set times , not Christ ; but said as oft as ye take it . Did not the Apostle speak these words to the Cor . to whom he gave the Cup and the Bread , and brought to know and search whether Christ was in them or no , and brought people to Christ the substance , to know him in them , or else they were reprobates , though they had all the Scriptures ; and off observing of dayes and inventions ; and if they had him in them , they had him in whom the Scriptures ended , who is the Prince of Peace and Life .

Now that Church that is full of strife and persecution , and confusion , we cannot say that Christ is the Head of , nor it his Body : For the true Ministers of Christ wrestled not with flesh and blood , so they that have wrestled with flesh and blood since the Apostles dayes , we cannot say they are the True Ministers of Jesus Christ ; for they wrestled with the Powers of darkness , and Spiritual wickedness that led Men from God . So their Weapons , War , and Ministery , and Worship were Spiritual , and their Praying and Singing was in it , in the Spirit , and their fellowship was in the Spirit , which Spirit was before enmity was , in this War which we see Independents , and Baptists and Presbiters in ; Spiritual men should not wrangle one with another about Religion , but they should obey Christs Command , love one another , love enemies , and love doth edifie ; which hath been wanting among both Papists and Protestants since the Apostles dayes , having the Form of Godliness , but denying the Power .

This is the Word of the Lord God to you all ; To repent , and come to the Spirit that doth reprove you , that in it you may have Unity , in it you may Pray , in it you may worship God who is a Spirit , with it ye may have Unity with the Scriptures , and God , and one another . And so this is a visitation to you in the ending of this night of Apostacy . Whereas ye say — they are to sing a Psalm after the taking of it : — Those Psalms ye sing were not turned into Meetre then , they were turned since ; And so all these times , Christmas , Easter , Whitesuntide , they ye find not in the Scriptures , nor have them from the Apostles , but from the Papists ; And so ye call it a Sacrament , which is from the Papists likewise , not from the Scriptures .

Whereas ye say , — that Baptism with Water was ministred but twice a year , EASTER and WHITSUNTIDE , but now ye have thought it fit to be ministred on Sundayes , or other Holy-dayes ; — So ye have broken your own order ; whereas ye cannot say , that either of these Orders ye have had from the Apostles . And where did ever John or any of the Apostles give names when they baptized them , or their Parents give names to them ? Let see some Scripture for this . And where did John or the Apostles set up a Font or Water-pot ; doth not that signifie a Fountain ? Did the Apostles set up a Fountain in the Temple , or Synagogue ? Where did the Apostles set up God-Fathers and God-Mothers , to be ready there at the Font ? Are these savoury words ? Who is God's Father ? Is it not presumption to speak such a word ? And the Priest is to pray for the remission of the sins of the Infant ; and yet these Infants born of believing Parents called Christians , and yet not Holy ; Are the Children of such unclean ? have ye judged the Apostles Doctrine ? or have ye thrust in this Scripture among the Christians , which sayes . We are all by nature the Children of wrath aswel as others ? This was in the state of unbelief . Do ye not baptize all , them that are right births , and they that are not right births , do ye not baptize all , and then when they are baptized , they are regenerated and born again , and do sign the Child with the sign of the Cross ? Did ever the Apostles sign any , or John Baptist ? for they baptized many : Did they ever sign them with the sign of the Cross when they baptized them ? Had ye this from the Apostles ? If so , where was it written in the Scriptures ? or came it from the Papists ? And were not they to preach and bid them repent , and be baptized ? and do not ye baptize , and then bid them repent 30. or 40. years after , more or less ?

And the Priest asks the God-Fathers and God-Mothers , — Whether they forsake the Devil and ALL his works , and the vain pomps and glory of this World , with all covetous desires of the same , the lusts of the flesh , and not be led by them . — How many thousands of God-Fathers and God-Mothers have made this confession in the open Congregation ; and yet after they have made this confession , ask them whether they be perfect or no , they say — They sin in thought word and deed , all their best actions are sin , — and so there is open contradiction . And so when the Child is baptized , ye say , — It is ingrafted into Christ ; regenerated , — and then when the Child comes to be Catechized , say , — That his God-Fathers and God-Mothers , promised that he should forsake the Devil and all his works , and the pomps and vanities of the wicked World , and all the sinful lusts of the flesh , and to keep Gods Holy Will and Commandments all the dayes of his life , and to walk in the same .

Now if the God-Fathers and God Mothers had been so as they say , and had trained up the Child , as they say , to forsake the Divel and all his works , and have kept Gods Holy Will and Commandments all the dayes of their lives ; then had you been a sweet people and a sweet savour both to God and Man ; But do not ye say , after ye have said these words , that you do not keep the Commandments of God , and that none can keep them ? and so shews that you be out of the love of God ; for who loves him keeps his Commandments : And after that they be baptized , and fay they are regenerated , and born again , and Members of Christ , and Children of God , and Inheritors of the Kingdom ; do not ye say then after , if these come which are born again and regenerated , if they dissent from you — they are Hereticks ? It is a principle in Christendom , it is blasphemy to say , that any can fall from Grace . And yet when he comes to years , and questions you about Religion , you call him — a Heretick — then he is fallen from heirship , and membership , and from being a Child of God , the regeneration ; and is not this to fall from Grace , and to turn the Grace of God into wantonness ? And was Baptism with water held up by a Law among the Apostles , or by an outward power ? and some said they should dip , and some said they should sprinkle .

And doth not that in Matth . 28. say , Baptize into the Name ? and is not that more than in the Name ? And are all Children born in Original sin ? are the Children of believing Parents born in original sin ? are not they then born in the Devil ? is not he the Original of sin ? doth it not signifie the beginning ? and did not Christ destroy the Devil the Original ? are not they made Holy that believes in him , and so their Children ? and though unbelieving Wife , and unbelieving Husband , they were not to depart . And have not God-Fathers and God-Mothers promised to see the Children trained up , and have not the Priests taught them to vow it ? And did not Christ and the Apostle teach people to keep to yea and nay ? and doth not that end vows ? And so hath not this teaching of vows and not performing them , been since the Apostles , from the Papists ?

And ye say , — That no man shall think that any detriment shall come to Children by deferring of the confirmation , he shall know for Truth , that it is certain by Gods Word , that Children being Baptized , have all things necessary for their Salvation , and be undoubtedly saved . And will ye not say , that if they turn from you , afterward to other Sects , that they are damned ? is not this contradiction ? And Christ saying , suffer Children to come to me , for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven ; that was not to sprinkle them .

And where had you a command from the Apostles for confirming of Children , Bishopping of Children ? or have they all received the Holy Ghost , that they have laid their hands upon ? or have you the same Spirit and Power to do such a thing as the Apostles had ? did they do it by a Form and Custome , or Tradition , or did they do it by the gift of the Holy Ghost ? And had the Apostles a God-Father or God-Mother , when they did lay their hands upon any ? have ye this from the Papists ? or from the Scriptures ? If ye say from the Scriptures , bring it out , let us see where it is . And can any lay on the hands without the Gift of Prophesie ? Tim . 4. And can you hold the Gift of Prophesie by tradition , or the Words ? The Form of Godliness that ye may keep by tradition , but not the Gift of Prophesie , which doth fore-see who the hands must be laid on .

And must not these Bishops be blameless , that do lay on their hands ? not given to wine , not given to filthy lucre , not brawlers , nor covetous , no Strikers , no Persecutors ; For the Apostle said before , he had been a Persecutor . Have not all the Bishops been covetous , and Persecutors , Brawlers , and out of patience , haling before Courts , and up and down , even as mad as Saul with his packet of Letters ; The Fruits of the Bishops and Deacons have not declared themselves like Timothy and Titus , and the Apostles ; All these which have got up since the Apostles dayes : for what striking and fighting , and persecuting hath here been , and covetous practices , persecuting for the observing of dayes , which was not the Work of the Apostles , which shews they have been out of the Gift of Prophesie , and the Power and Spirit that the Apostles were in , who had Spiritual Weapons to wrastle withal , and not Prisons and Gaoles to put people into that had offended them .

And where did the Apostles set forth these names of Batchellors of Art , and Masters of Art , and Batchellors of Divinity , and Doctors of Divinity , Deans and Chapters , and Prebends , Parsons , Vicars , Curates , and set up Schools to train up these , and none must preach , but who are bred up there , and such who are Orthodox , have the tongues , which ends at Babel : are not these the Wise of the World and Rabbies , for which we have no Example from the Apostles ? Are not these they that will stand against Christ in his Vineyard ? that if the Father send forth into his Vineyard , they will keep them out , and say , they come not from the Schools ; if he call them from the Boats , from the Nets , from the Plough , and send them as he pleases , which hath his word , which was before Babel was ; where ends your Languages , by which ye make Ministers at the Schools .

For they that go into the Vineyard of God , they must have the Word of God , which was in the beginning , before tongues were ; and must not have tongues as the Original to open Truth , for Truth was before Tongues were ; The Apostle saith we must be redeemed out of Tongues , and Tongues are waters , and Tongues shall cease ; so when they are ceased the word remains , and the Ministry of the Word ; and this may be in a Plough-man , or a Fisherman , or a Carpenter ; the Ministry of the Word stands , when the Tongues cease which makes Ministers at Colledges ; And do not the Ministers cease when the Tongues cease ? Is not there a ceasing of the Original ?

And where did the Church among the Apostles set forth , that you should wear Surplices , Tippets , Hoods , and Gowns with long sleeves , or with short sleeves , and so by their habit to distinguish them , their places and orders ? Where is this in the Scriptures among the Apostles , but only among the Papists , in their Histories ? Now there were white Fryers , gray Fryers , black Coats , and Jesuits ; and when the KING turned from the POPE , The Jesuit turned from him to the COMMON-PRAYER-Men , and then the COLLEDGES came in to him to make Ministers for the Common-prayer ; and so though the Jesuit did turn from the Papist to the Common-prayer , he kept his black Coat , to distinguish his order , to shew what order he was off ; and he may say , he was but subject to the Higher power , in turning from the Papist to the Common-prayer , for the Higher power set it up ; and then when the Common-prayer was thrown down , and the Presbytery set up , he turned to them , and kept the black Coat , though he turned from Presbiter to Independent , from Independent to Baptist , he kept the black Coat ; distinguished his Order and Tribe ; and so though they bring POPERY up again , he keeps his Livery to shew that he hath been but subject to the Higher power , and is ready for it .

The BISHOP to bless people , cannot bless in Righteousness and Truth , for they that be so in Righteousness and Truth , they must be in the Word that was in the Righteousness , for that sanctifies them , and makes their hands Holy ; but this we say , that no Persecutor upon the Earth , ( about Church Worship and Religion ) hath clean hands , neither is his sacrifice accepted , no more than Cains was ; for he is out of the Faith that works by love , he is out of the Spiritual War and wrastling , and out of the love to Enemies and Brethren ; and does not shew the Fruits that he hath passed from Death to Life , & bears not the mark of a perfect Child , no Persecutor upon Earth , and differs not his love from Pharisees , and is out of the command of Christ and the Apostles ; and persecution was ever blind , and blind is out of the Light ; and therefore they are those that stand so much against the Light that doth enlighten every man , and therefore these are unfit men to be Ministers of Christ ; only they are Ministers made by the natural Tougues , at Schools , and so state Ministers , and National Ministers in the Form , out of the Power and Spirit that the Apostles were in .

And after they have baptized Children , whether they be the right birth or not , and say they are Children of God , Heirs of the Kingdom , and say they are regenerated , and born again ; is it not said again , that every one that cometh into the World is not lightened , those that they have baptized , and every one hath not the Spirit ; and yet they have taught to pray and sing , and to have set worships ; then mark what singing , what praying , what worship they are in , and yet they were regenerated , and born again , when they were baptized ; is not here contradiction ?

And as concerning MARRIAGE , Where was it among the Apostles and the dayes of Christ practised , when a Man and Woman was married , that they put a Ring upon the Finger , or that the Man should take the Woman by the hand , and plight their Troth ? Where was this ever practised among the Apostles , that the Priest should speak to the people , that they have given each other their Troth , and by receiving of a Ring , and by joyning Hands , pronounce Man and Wife ? Now have not all these things come up since the Apostles dayes among the Papists ? and is not here putting together by Men , and Men that put asunder again ? And is this as was in the beginning before the fall ? or Man was drove from God into the Earth ? For have not the Heathen gone together like beasts , and gone asunder again ? and the Apostate Christians done the same ? And did not the Jews after they came out of Aegypt , and knew the Power of the Lord , go together ? & did not they afterward for their hardness of heart , give a Bill of divorcement , and go asunder again ? but in the beginning it was not so , before man was drove from God into the Earth ; but since hath been all the hardness of heart among people ; And is not all the dishonorable marriages and the defiled Beds been since the fall ? Does any come out of the defiled Beds , out of the dishonorable marriage , but who are come out of the Earth , and sees over Jews , Gentiles , Apostate Christians marriages , the Lord joyning together , where no man may put asunder ; and men joyning together , men put asunder . For now we do not read that the Apostles did marry people for money nor Christian Children for money , nor the Clark have money for saying Amen ; for when the Church met , as ye may read in Cor . 1. That he doth not say , He to say Amen , in the Church , but They to say Amen . So have not all these Clarks , and these things come from the Papists , and were not among the Apostles , among whom the foundation was laid .

And now see what abundance of stuff ye build withal , which ye fall out about , which is not in the Scriptures . And we never read that the Apostle in all his Epistles who spoke of Marriages , did ever teach , that Man and Woman should say one to another , I pledge thee my Troth , or I plight thee my Troth ; This is beyond yea and nay , out of the Doctrine of Christ , saying ; Ye shall not Swear , and so not as it was in the beginning .

And so is that an honourable marriage , which is out of the Doctrine of Christ ? Is not all the observing of dayes , and bringing people to observe dayes , a bringing them into bondage , and there keeping of them ? and hath not these been the intruders into those things they have not seen , and neglecting the body in the whole Christendom , by which they should be made one : whose Ministry hath been for the bringing into the observing of dayes and times ; whereas the true Ministers and the Apostles have been for the bringing off of observing dayes and times . So bringing people to observe dayes after Saints Names for which ye have no command from the Apostles , this is to worship the works of their own hands ; for the Apostle brought people to the Spirits of just men made perfect ; and to the Church of the living God , yea , and to the knowing of no man after the flesh .

And so for visiting of the Sick . If there were more visiting of the Sick , and relieving the Widdows and fatherless among you , that there need not be a Beggar in your streets , nor stranger to wander , nor none to want , that there might be a better savour in the Creation ; but the Power of the Lord God , and his Life and Love ye must live in , who comes to love friends and enemies , and to wrastle with that which makes men enemies of God , and not with Creatures ; in that the blessing is felt .

And where did the Apostles set forth Funeral Sermons , and that they should go in black ; whence came this , from the Apostles or the Scriptures of Truth ? Did not it come from the Heathen , a Heatheanish custome ? And the Priest to meet singing , or else his Clark , and they must say such words , when they are casting into the Grave , and they must say such a Lesson , and such Collects ; Now where did the Apostles set forth these things , or where were they practised among the Apostles ? Did not Christ say to him that would go bury the dead . Let the dead bury their dead ? Was that the work of the Apostles ? and for a set wage ? was it not the work of the Apostles to bring them out of the Grave ? Did ever the Apostles set forth and hallow a piece of ground , and say that it was holier than other ground ? Did not Christ that destroyed the Devil , make all things Holy ? yea , and reconciles to God all things in Heaven , and things in Earth and destroyes him that made the separation between God and man ? And ye say — Keep Holy the Sabbath-day . — This was the Jews Sabbath which ye keep Markets and Fairs on ; which Sabbath was a sign of rest given to the Jews , after the fall , yea a sign to the Creation , which Christ the Substance , the Lord of the Sabbath , ends the sign , and destroyes the Devil , the Author of the burdening of the Creation , and gives Liberty both to the Family , the Ox , and all the Creation ; yea to Jews and Gentiles .

Now the Christians meeting together on the first day of the Week , one of the 6 , dayes , Christ and the Apostles do not set forth that as a LAW and COMMAND , that they should keep that as a Sabbath ; but they were not to observe Dayes , and Times , and Years , and they were not to judge one another about such things , but the Apostle said he was afraid of them that observed dayes , lest he had bestowed labour in vain . And are all the Apostles Labours and Epistles bestowed on them in vain , that be run into dayes , which was the work of the Apostles to bring them to Christ the Lord of the Sabbath ? And Christ said , Come to me , ye would not come to me that ye might have life , and who comes to him , makes all things holy , and all dayes holy to them , and the ground holy .

And where was it among the Apostles , that they had mony for Churching Women , and a piece of Cloth , saying some Prayers over her or some Psalms ? But this we say , that all that come to MARRY , or BURY , or give thanks , it should be freely , not for money , but a free people .

Where did the Apostles or Timothy a Bishop , or Titus look among the people for Tythes or Glebelands , or Easter reckonings , or Midsummer dues , where were these things set up among the Apostles by a Law ? Were not they that were redeemed out of the Earth , their doings were as they were moved by the Spirit of God ? for is it not Christ that doth redeem men out of the Earth ? were not Tythes in the time of the Law , and the first Priest-hood ? Is it not Christ that ends the Law , and the first Priest-hood ? and there do not people come out of the nineths , ( for Tythes were offered up in the time of the Law ) and so they are come to reign with Christ on the Earth . And did ever Christ and the Apostles say , that there should be a set maintenance for a Ministry , else they should be imprisoned ; so as it is done now in Christendom since the Apostles dayes ? we would fain see those Scriptures . Did ever the Apostles set forth what a Bishops Fee should be ( for among them was the foundation laid , ) and to have Courts to fummon people about such things , and to hale any before a Magistrate about such things ? And is not this called disturbing now among you , that if any thing be revealed to him that sits by , let the first hold his peace ; for ye may all prophesie one by one , that all may learn and be comforted , and this was order in the Churches of God , which since the Apostles dayes hath been accounted disorder and disturbance , for which a great deal of persecution hath been stirred up , which hath shewed , that ye have been naked of the Spiritual weapons , by which ye should have convinced gainsayers and stopped their mouths .

And where did the Apostles set forth a Clerk among them , and describe his wages , as you do ? and set up BELLS in the Steeple-houses to call them together , did ever the Apostles this ? And where did the Apostles bid them provide a Pulpit in every Church as they call it , and a piece of Cloth and a Cushion on it , and an Hour-glass at the end of it ? I would fain see some Scripture for this from the Apostles and Christ . Now if you say — Ezra had a Pulpit of Wood , Nehem . 8. — We say , yes , but it was set up in the street in the Water-gate , not in the Temple , where a matter of 14 men might stand upon it , who read the Law ; Christ is the end of the Law , and so his Ministers are the Preachers of the Gospel that ends the Law ; so that ends Ezra and his Pulpit . And where did the Apostles say , that there must be a Font of Stone set up in every Church , and a Communion Table set up at the East-end of it , & that the People should read the Sentences written upon the Wall ? Where did the Apostles set forth these things ? but they were to live in the Spirit , and walk in the Spirit , and to Pray and Worship in that , and they were to be baptized into one body with one Spirit , which plunges down the corruption got up in the transgression since the fall from God , that people are gone into many Bodies and Heads from Christ the Head .

Ye say , — In the primitive Church , there was a Godly Discipline , that in the beginning of Lent , such people as were notorious were put to do penance , — which you instead of have given forth many CURSES for people to say Amen to , till the same be restored again ▪ The primitive Church does not set forth a time of LENT to do penance ; Look where in all the Epistles is it read ; and that the people should read over a company of CURSES . The Apostles and Christ do not teach this Doctrine , but that they should Bless and not Curse , and that Christ became a Curse , to redeem from the Curse ; who ends the Curse in the time of the Law , and destroyes the Devil , and brings the Blessing , and takes away the Curse , and wrath and Law , and reconciles again to God ; and so they were not to read the Curses , for while Moses was read , the Vail was over their hearts ; so bringing to reading of Moses , brings people to be under the Vail ; who brings them to Christ , brings them from under the Vail and the Curse , and ends it , and in him there is none .

They that received the Bread and Wine in remembrance of Christ , shewing his death till he come , which the Apostle had received of the Lord ; and delivered to the Corinthians , which they were to ( Examine and ) eat and drink in the remembrance of Christ's death till he come , This was in 1 Cor . Then he writes again to the Corinthians , and bids them Examine themselves , and prove their own selves , knew they not that Christ was in them , except they were reprobates : So they may see that this was not a standing Form , but as often as they did it , they did it in remembrance of Christ , till he came ; & then examin your selves , prove your own selves , if Christ be not in you , except you be reprobates . So if you have him within , what need you to have that which puts in the remembrance of him ? And so if ye be risen with Christ , seek those things that are above ; for now Bread and Wine is below , which is in the remembrance of his death ; so that part dyes with him , which must have a sign to put in remembrance of him ; for the Apostles forgat , who said , that they thought that that man should deliver Israel . And ye say — The Priest must kneel at Gods board when he receives Bread and Wine , and give it to the people kneeling , — and say , — Receive ye the Body and Blood of Christ . — Now was the Body of Bread , the Body of Christ that was put to death , and the Blood of the Grape , the Blood of Christ that was shed upon the Cross ? had not he eaten the Bread before , and drunk of the Cup ? And the Apostle doth not set forth such an order and command , to take it kneeling ; And did not the Apostles sit when they took it ?

Whereas ye say , — That no Minister must hold any private meetings contrary to your Church ; — Were not they Christians which met together in several places , contrary to the Jews and Heathens meetings ? And was not the place which ye call the Church the Papists Old Mass House ? And did ye not put them out of that which ye call your Church ? And did not the Presbyters put you out of that which ye call the Church , the Old Mass House ? and then they call it the Church ; And the Independents and Baptists do not they pluck one another out of that which ye call the Church , and pluck out the Presbyters ? what a plucking is here of one another out of that which ye call the Church ? whereas the Church is in God , which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against ! what prevailing hath here been against that which ye call the Church ? — And none shall Preach or Prophesie in Towns or Markets without licence . — Ans. Who are you that will limit God the Holy one , or quench his Spirit ? from whom had the Prophets or the Apostles licence ? from any Authority or Earthly Power ? for they were neither set up by them , nor they could seperate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus . And Strangers not to Preach without licence . What would you have said to Peter and John that could not read Letters , and Amos the Herdsman , and Matthew the Publican , for we do not read these were brought up at Schools of Learning ? So how can we say , ye are agreeable to the Scriptures , or the Word of God , that limits and sets forth so many things that are not in the Scripture ? Where did ever Christ or the Apostles command to bid solemnly Holy-dayes , and that confirmation should be performed once in 3. years ? where is the Scripture for these , or is it found but among the Papists , and Old Histories ? As for all these Holy-dayes , Christ-mass-day , and Whit-sunday , & giving names to dayes as Sun-day , and Mun-day , and Satur-day , and Sabbath-day , and Sacrament , and Trinity , they have got up among the Papists and the Heathen since the Apostles dayes , for which there is no Scripture ; and your CROSS likewise you hold from your ancient Fathers , but not from Christ and the Apostles , who said , the Cross of Christ was the Power of God , and the Cross of Christ was a Mystery ; and a Cross of Wood or Stone is not a Mystery . Where did the Apostles procure monthly Sermons ; and the Sacraments to be three times a year ? have notall these things been done out of , & contrary to the Power and Spirit that the Apostles were in ? Did ever Timothy or Titus which were Bishops , or the Apostles set forth OATHS to be taken , or take OATHS themselves ? or did they make any Ministers by Oaths ? And did not Christ and the Apostles deny swering ? who said they that swear fal into condemnation , and sayes , in all your communication , let your yea be yea , and your nay , nay ; and before all things my Brethren swear not ; and tells them the danger , lest they fall into condemnation . And had they Courts of swearing , called Ecclesiastical ? And does not Christ say , that they of old time said , Thou shalt perform thy Oaths to the Lord , sayes now , Swear not at all by Heaven nor Earth , nor any other Oath ; and that Oath in old time was the true Oath of God , which they were to perform to the Lord , ( it was not frivolous Oaths ) which Christ the Oath of God ended , and said Swear not at all , but let your communication be yea , yea , and nay , nay , for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil , Now if ye say , — The Angel swore , — I bring forth my first begotten , the Son , into the World , which the Angels must worship . Now if they say , that the Prophets , MOSES , Abraham , Jacob and SOLOMON swore , and the Oath was to end the controversie of strife among men ; — Christ ( who ends the Prophets and the Law before Abraham was , reigns over the House of Jacob and Joseph , a greater than Solomon , that David calls Lord ) he saith , Swear not at all ; This is the voice of the King that destroys the Devil , the author of strise among men , who brings peace on earth , and good will towards men ; his teaching is , In all your Communication , let your Yea be Yea , and your Nay , Nay , for whatsoever is more than this cometh from evil ; Mark these . Therefore if men swear , they commit evil . Therefore all the swearing hath been since the Apostles dayes , when the true Church went into the wilderness , who taught their Brethren , above all things not to swear , but to keep to Yea and Nay in all your communication .

Have not all these things been done out of the Spirit and Power that the Apostles were in , that ye have not had the spiritual weapons to wrastle with , that there hath been so much persecution , and men have not loved enemies , and given their backs to the smiter , and have not been in the Faith that works by love , and have not differed from the Pharisees , nor have been like the Children of the Most High , the City set on a Hill , that cannot be hid , that was the Light of the world , which could keep all wickedness out of the City without carnal weapons , and Magistrates sword ? Will not the Papists say , that is a Tyranrannical power that holds up the Common-prayer ? And will they not say , that it is a Tyrannical power , that holds up the Papists ? And did not the Presbyterians say , that is a Tyrannical power , that held up the Common-prayer-men and Papists ? And did not the Independents cry , that the power that held up the Presbyterians was Tyrannical ? Is not this a shame how to all Christendom , who say they are Christians , and that it is a mark of a Disciple to love one another ? So mark the power of Christ , who hath all power given them in Heaven and Earth , which teacheth you , to love enemies , and came to save mens lives , and not to destroy them ; and told them that would have destroyed mens lives , that they did not know what Spirit they were of .

So now all in the whole Christendom that do persecute about Religion , that do not know what spirit they are of , there is no one that is wise that will trust either Body , Soul or Spirit into their hands , that do not know themselves what spirit they are of All the sacrifices of the world that be in the transgression from the Spirit of God , are but as the lowing of the beasts in the Lords ears ; and all the sacrifices in Christendom are but as Cain's , and in his way , that will kill about their Worship Church and Religion ; and this is not in the Spirit that the Apostles and the true Church was in , the spirit which offered spiritual sacrifices with the Spirit of God to the Father of Spirits ; and all that be in the birth born of the flesh , which doth persecute them that have been born of the Spirit , though they have a profession of Prayer , Preaching , Church , Singing , all this is but in the flesh , and not in the Spirit , while they persecute them that are born of the Spirit . The Law of God was not made for the Righteous , but for evil-doers , sinners and transgressors ; which is a praise to them that do well . And they that be in the higher Power of God ( which doth never change ) can put a difference between the pretious and the vile , and bear not the sword in vain , and they have the humility before the honour .

This is not to worship God in the Spirit , to get a Form of Godliness , and deny the Life and Power of God , and then to invent Forms contrary to the Scriptures , and compel others to worship by a Law ; this is to bring people from the worship of God in Spirit , and to make a wilderness for them ; which doth not say , ye must invent Forms , and set them up , which is contrary to the true Form of Godliness in the Scriptures , which saith , you must pray in the Spirit , and nor invent a Form and say over that , and then say , ye have not the same Spirit and Power that the Apostles had ; The Apostle saith , you must pray in the Spirit , and that brings every one to the Spirit in themselves ; and you must worship God in the Spirit and the Truth , which errour is out of ; and you must sing , in the Spirit , and rejoyce in the Spirit , and that keeps down the birth that would boast , glory and persecute him that is born of the Spirit .

We need not your Common-Prayer to teach us ; for the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture teacheth us how to pray , sing , fast , and give thanks , and praise , and worship God , and in what and how to honour and glorifie God , and how to walk to him , and all Men and Creatures upon the Earth ; And leadeth and guideth into all Truth , which was given forth from it , which is our Comforter , Leader , and Guider , which reproveth the World , by which we know Son-ship , in which we have Unity ; And this doth never change ; But that which men do invent , Prayers and Forms , which do say that they have not the same Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures , that will change Worship and Religion ; which that in the Spirit doth not .

All Christendom being on heaps about Church-worship , Ministry , and Scriptures , is , because they are out of the Spirit , which the Prophets , Apostles , and Christ was in , in which Spirit is the Unity .

Therefore come to the Spirit of God every one in your selves , that in that you may worship God in it , and in the Truth , and come to the Spirit that reproves you for sin , that you may pray in the Spirit , and sing in the Spirit , and have the Spiritual weapons to wrastle with all about your Religion , that you may be Spiritual Warriours , and Spiritual Weaponed men , in this you will come out of blind zeal , for blind zeal runs with his carnal weapon , when Christ bids , give there Ear and Cheeks to the Smiter .

It is said in Phil . 2. Every Knee shall bow at the Name of Jesus , of things in Heaven , and things on Earth , and all things you do not see when you Name the Word Jesus bow their knees , of things in Heaven and things in Earth : But you must bow at the Name of Jesus Christ , which is Immanuel , God with us , whose Name is the Word of God , which is , Power , and he that doth destroy the Devil , which is the cause of the Oppression of the Creation , and the same doth reconcile to God all things in Heaven , and all things in the Earth in one , him by whom all things were made ; Mingle not your Sacrifices with blood , least the Lord vagabond you out from him , as he did Cain which killed his Brother about Sacrifices ; whose blood cryed to the Lord : Let your hands be clean which you lift up to God , and your weapons Spiritual which you wrastle withal , about Religion Church and worship , and not with flesh and blood wrastle , that differs you from Cain Jews and Heathen , and Apostatized Christians , and makes you like the true Christians .

You may say , we have not the same Power and Spirit as the Apostles , so we are not the Spiritual Men , we have not Spiritual weapons to fight with all ; if you do not help us higher Powers , we fall ; for we hold our traditious , and that which we have is by tradition , is by the earthly Powers : for we are not made Ministers as the Apostles were , by the inmediate Spirit , and Power , and Gifts as the Apostles were ; therefore the higher Power must help us ; and to them we go with our Packet of Letters as Saul did , for we are not Spiritual weaponed-menas Paul was .

It is not in the power of the Bishops to make Presbyterians , nor are they true Bishops , that have not the gift of Prophesie , neither can they make with out that , for they cannot make Presbyterians nor Bishops , with the Law and by natural tongues at Colledges , nor by Oaths ; for this wayes the Apostles did not make them in their dayes ; but this way of making have been since their dayes , among them that have degenerated from their life .

All Religions will fight about Religion and Worships , like the Heathen about their Gods , as Nebuchadnezzar about his image , Jews , Gentiles , Papists , Protestants of all Sects , which be out of the Power of the Lord , and the Spirit the Apostles were in ; and so they be all out of the Royal Spirit , and the Royal Weaponmen , that hath the Spiritual weapons , and out of the Royal Seed , which saith , love Enemies , which is the Royal command to the Royal Priest-hood .

The Apostles were Ministers of the Spirit , and their Weapons were Spiritual , and their Guard that they maintained their worship withal , and their Church ; and they Ministred to the Spirit , and they brought People to the Spirit into it to worship God and in Truth ; and they brought to Pray in the Spirit , and to Sing in the Spirit , and in the Spirit they were justified , and they told them in the Spirit they were to walk ; so their War was Spiritual , and their Way was Spiritual , and the Life , and this was that which brought them to walk not as men ; and the Spirit brought them to have Unity with God , the Father of Spirits , and to have Unity with the Scriptures that were given forth from the Spirit , and to have Unity one with another in the Spirit .

And where did ever Christ or his Apostles make a Picture of God , and put it in Books , like the Image of a creature ? Did ever Christ or his Apostles give you a command to make a Picture of God , as you may see in your Bibles , and to bow before an Altar , or to bow to an Altar , is not this to worship the works of mens hands ? Do not all take Gods Name in vain , that be not in the same Power and Spirit that gave forth Scripture ? Did not the Lord say , you shall not make to your selves any Picture or graven Image , or the likeness of men and women , nor the likeness of any beast of the earth , nor the likeness of any feathered fowls , nor the likeness of any fish in the Sea ? For when God spoke to you in Horeb , in the midst of fire , you saw no manner of Image ; And do you set the Image of God in your Bibles , and liken God to corruptible man ? ( Rom. 1. and Deut . 4. and Deut . 16. and Exodus the 19th ) Look there you Pictured up God like an old man , in your old Bibles ; And do you not say , God is a Spirit ? You cannot make a Picture of that .

And you that take Tythes , who profess your selves Christians , which was the practice of the Jews , by the command of God , amongst whom there was not to be a beggar , though they were as the sand of the Sea-shore ; God said , there should not be a beggar amongst them , Deut. 15. So you that profess the Gospel , who take Tithes , which was not the way of the Gospel , amongst whom there is so many beggars , which shews you are not come to the Jews Law yet , which was the Law of God which was among the Jews , amongst whom there was to be no beggar , which Law Christ came to end , and who follows him are the true Christians , and are redeemed from the earth , and comes to reign upon it .

G. F.