Then, as though this thy unwise speaking were too little, thou breakest out with a taunt, or a jeer, saying, A larger portion, and more to the purpose might have been brought in, but with such as you had, or could procure from your Neighbours are you come. Answ. Friend, Who hath despised the day of small things. But again, we desire not to bring to others, no nor to know our selves, any thing else but Jesus Christ (the Son of Mary) and him crucified for our sins. 1 Cor. 2.2. Then thou sayest further in the same page, That though thou hast not seen our faces, yet our spirit is tried, and we are clearly described to thee, (sayest thou) to be of the stock of Ismael, & of the seed of Cain, whose line reacheth to the murdering Priests, &c. Answ. Friend, thou art very censorious, and utterest many words without knowledge. We bless God, for the most part of our line, we do labour to stretch it out either in building up and exhorting the Saints of the most high, to cleave close to their Jesus, or else much as in us lies, we labour to convince poor souls of their lost condition, according to the word of God, and not to murder any. Nay contrariwise, we desire through grace, if at any time we chance to see any of Christ's lambs in the teeth of any Woolf or Bear, be they never so terrible in appearance; I say, we desire, we labour, we strive, and lay cut our selves, if it be possible, to recover the same, though with the hazard of our lives, or whatsoever may befall us in doing our duty.1 And whereas thou sayest in the 4. Page. That we are found enemies to Christ, revealed in his Saints. Answ. Thou doest us wrong, for we labour all that we may to countenance the same, where he doth indeed appear: and if at any time we do see or discern, that any soul hath any breathing after the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are so far from disowning or discountenancing of the same, that we give, them all the encouragement we may: Nay, and we are so far from discountenancing the doctrine of God, and his Son Jesus Christ, that we say plainly, some have not the spirit of Christ in them and they are reprobates, according to that Scripture, Rom. 8 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And again, Some are sensual, having not the spirit. Jude. 19.
Then, as though this thy unwise speaking were too little, thou breakest out with a taunt, or a jeere, saying, A larger portion, and more to the purpose might have been brought in, but with such as you had, or could procure from your Neighbours are you come. Answ. Friend, Who hath despised the day of small things. But again, we desire not to bring to others, no nor to know our selves, any thing else but Jesus Christ (the Son of Mary) and him crucified for our sins. 1 Cor. 2.2. Then thou saiest further in the same page, That though thou hast not seen our faces, yet our spirit is tried, and we are cleerely described to thee, (saiest thou) to be of the stock of Ismael, & of the seed of Caine, whose line reacheth to the murthering Priests, &c. Answ. Friend, thou art verie censorious, and utterest many words without knowledge. We blesse God, for the most part of our line, we do labour to stretch it out ei•her in building up and exhorting the Saints of the most high, to cleave close to their Jesus, or else much as in us lies, we labor to convince poor souls of their lost condition, according to the word of God, and not to murther any. Nay contrarywise, we desire through grace, if at any time we chance to see any of Christ's lambs in the teeth of any Woolf or Bear, be they never so terrible in appearance; I say, wee desire, wee labour, wee strive, and lay cut our selves, if it be possible, to recover the same, though with the hazard of our lives, or whatsoever may befall us in doing our duty.1 And whereas thou saiest in the 4. Page. That we are found enemies to Christ, revealed in his Saints. Answ. Thou doest us wrong, for we labour all that we may to countenance the same, where he doth indeed appear: and if at any time we do see or discerne, that any soule hath any breathing after the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are so far from disowning or discountenancing of the same, that we give, them all the incouragement we may: Nay, and we are so farre from discountenancing the doctrine of God, and his Son Jesus Christ, that wee say plainly, some have not the spirit of Christ in them and they are reprobates, according to that Scripture, Rom. 8 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And again, Some are sensuall, having not the spirit. Jude. 19.
- 1Here is one false charge laid down by the Adversary against me.
