Ans. The Father , Son , and Spirit is one , this we believe and know , according to the Scriptures ; but as for thy word person , that is carnall and too low a word to denominate God by , who is infinite ; for God and the spirit hath no person , nor cannot truely be distinguished into persons ; for a person hath relation to place , time , and change , and is not in all places at all times at once , and the Scriptures knowes no such distinction , for God is is a spirit , and hath no relation to one time , place or alteration more then another , but filleth heaven and earth , and his presence is in all , and over all , who is blessed for ever , and is infinite , and without person , or confined being , and the Scripture no where in true translation , doth denominate God , Christ and the spirit by persons , and personall beings , nor doth distinguish them into three persons ; for persons are related to carnall , as I have said , and persons is to low , too denominate God and Christ and the spirit by : so thy principles are unsound , and not agreeing to the spirit of God , and the Scriptures , And therefore not to be beleeved nor received .

Whereas thou saist , That the one standing rule , according to which God is to be sought , worshipped and served , is the holy Scriptures , in which God hath revealed himself in all things which he would have believed and done , &c.

Ans. It is the spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures , which spirit was and is within the saints that leadeth into all truth , and teacheth to know all things , and that spirit of God only is the standing rule to walk in , and to walk by ; it was the rule to Abel , Enoch , Abraham , and the rest of the holy Fathers that lived before any scripture was written , and it was the rule to the Prophets , to Christ and to the holy Apostles , they all followed the spirit and walked in it , and spake and wrought and acted as the spirit of God within them moved them , and led them , it was not the Scriptures , but the sprit that gave forth the Scriptures that was the standing , unchangable , unerring rule of worshiping serving and obeying the Lord God , and that same spirit is the standing rule to us also ; for the Apostle commands to walk in the spirit , and that which we are to walk in is our rule , and as many as are the sonns of God are led by the spirit of God , and then the spirit is their rule , and that guides the feet in the way of peace , and in the spirit is God worshipped , for they that worship him must worship him in the spirit and in the truth , & such he seeks to worship him , for it is in the hearts of his people , and within them that God reveales himself by his spirit , for it is the spirit that revealeth the things of God , and none knows the things of God , saving by the spirit of God , and that reveals God , and teacheth to worship God and to serve him , and the Scriptures they declare of the rule , and of the revelation of God , and are a declaration of all things which is to be believed and practised by the children of the Lord ; so that the Scriptures are not the standing rule , neither doth it teach to worship and serve God , but the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures , that is the standing rule in and through all generations , and the spirit doth reveal the knowledge of God , and how he is to be worshipped and served .

And thou saist , the Scriptures are the word of God , given by imediate inspiration of God , and that they are given to all men to be read , and the Scriptures are sufficient to make the man of God perfect and throughly furnished , and are able to make wise unto Salvation ; and the Scriptures and plain and easy to be understood by the simplest , and there is milke in them for babes , and strong meat for persons grown up .

Ans. Christ is the word of God , and his name is called the word of God , and the word of God was in the beginning and shall endure for ever ; and this word is not the Scriptures , and the Scriptures are not the word , but the Scriptures are words of God , given forth from the Word which was in their hearts that spake forth the Scriptures , which were wro● as the holy men of God were moved by the holy Ghost , and given by the inspiration of the spirit of God , and the Scriptures are a declaration , and a treatise of the Word that was in the beginning , and shall endure for ever ; but the Scriptures are not the word , and some of them were given to one sort of men , and some of them to another , and some of them to all ; but as for the threatnings and Judgments pronounced , and the reproof of the wicked , that part was not given to the Saints nor spoken to them , and so not given to all , and the promises to the children of the Lord , and the Epistles to the Saints , and them that were sanctified , that part was not given & spoken to the world and to the wicked who are unconverted , and so not spoken to all , though all may read them , yet none can understand them but by the same spirit as gave them forth , and who hath not the same spirit to guide them , they cannot understand the Scriptures , for it was given forth by the eternall spirit , and the carnall wisdom that is from below , and sensual , cannot understand nor receive the things of the kingdom of God , which is declared of in the Scriptures , and so the Scriptures are not easy to be understood , but are sealed from the world , neither are the Scriptures without faith ( which thou hast left out ) sufficient to make the man of God perfect , but the Scriptures through faith , is able to make the man of God perfect , and throughly Furnished , this we know and beleeve , and doth set the Scriptures in its right place , and give it its right honour and respect ; and as for thee and thy generation who are erred from the spirit of truth , you know not the Scriptures nor the power of God , for Christ is the bread of life , and the water of life , in him is the milk for babes , and meat for strong men , and not in the Scriptures who testifie of Christ the life , and in them the Pharisees thought to have eternall life , but would not come to Christ the end of the Scriptures that they might have life , and this is the self same state with yours of this age , who thinks to have the perfecting of Salvation and the milk for babes , and the meat for strong men in the Scriptures , but will not receive Christ who is the perfect Salvation and the bread and water of life for all the children of the Lord who are born of the spirit ; and so thy Doctrines , and thy principles of thy Religion , are not sound nor agreeing with the Scriptures but contray , and by a contrary spirit , and therefore we cannot be of thy mind , but doth truly Judge thee to be unlearned of the Father , and knows not the way of Salvation , and so thou cannot truly inform nor direct others .

And thou saist , men are under a necessity of multiplying transgression ▪ &c. Rom. 3. 12. Ephes. 4. 17. 2 Pet. 2 4.

Answ. In this thou hast erred , and spoken contrary to sound doctrine ; for there is no necessity laid upon any to commit any sin , much lesse a necessity of multiplying transgression ; if there be a necessity , who layes it on men , and why is that necessity ? transgression is of the wicked one , and who sins is of the Devill , and there is no necessity for that upon any account , because sin destroyes the soul , and is a vexation to the Lord God , and a cause of everlasting misery , and for to act that , there is no necessity , which hath these effects , and thou hast perverted the Scriptures quoted by thee , to prove thy false assertion which I have set down for the Reader to peruse , that all may see thou hast perverted them , for they prove no such Doctrine , as that there is a necessity of multiplying transgression , which thou hast affirmed and brought the Scriptures to prove it , which is first false doctrine uttered by three , and also a perverting of the Scriptures to maintain it , and this is too evils , which thou hast committed in one work , and because thou hast done evill , it shall lie at thy dore , and there I will leave it .

And thou saist , to be Iu●●●fied is not to be really cleansed from all sin , nor is it to partake of real righteousness and holines , but it is to be accounted and reputed Iust and holy , and not to have sin reckoned , &c.

Ans. There is none Justified but who are in Christ , and are changed , and renewed and born again , and such are cleansed from sin , for he that is born of God sinneth not , and it is he onely that is Justified , and not the old man that is unchanged , and committeth sin , he is not Justified ; and who is born of God and are Justified , are really cleansed and really doth partake of righteousness and holiness , even of the righteousness and holiness of the Son of God , and in that righteousness he is accounted righteous , and in no other , nor by no other way then by receiving Christ and his righteousness , and being made partakers of it in their hearts , for the Apostle said , if Christ be not in you , you are reprobates , and such are not Justified , nor accounted just and holy who have not Christ within them , and his righteosness , but who hath Christ within , the hope of glory , and are accounted just and righteous in the sight of God , the body of sin is put off ; for if Christ be in you , the body is dead because of sin , and such are really cleansed , and if he be in you , you are made partakers of reall righteousness and holiness , and this is the truth of the Gospell of Christ which confounds and condemnes thy false Doctrine , for no man is accounted and reputed just and holy , but who are cleansed from sin , & are in Christs ; for who doth commit sin are unholy , and so reputed of God , and sin is reckoned to them , and this all will find in the day of the Lord , when he comes to Judge righteously , and to give every man according to his works , and not according to what he may make a shew of and profess in words , though all you false daubers with untempered morter , heale up the hurt of the Daughter of Sion deceitfully , and cry peace , peace , by a false applying the Promises and words of Christ , when God speakes no peace , and even you and your false daubed wall will be Whirle-wind of the Lord beat down and destroy utterly ; and this I assert contrary to thy false doctrine and principles , that none are Justified , but who hath Christ in them , and really partakes of holiness and righteousness , and are really cleansed from sin , and are born of the spirit of God , and is heire of the promise of eternall life .

And further thou saist Iustification admitteth not of any degree ▪ and if a person be Iustified from any one sin , he is Iustified from all sin , as well from sins to be committed , as those that are already commited , and who is once a Iustified person , is not unjustified upon new sin committed , &c.

Ans. Grace and faith , and truth , and Christ himself admitteth of degrees , or measures which are one , and there are severall measures of life , of light , of grace and faith , of sanctification , and of Justification also ; for according as every man , hath received Christ so hath he received Sanctification , and Justification , and no otherwise , for Christ is made wisdome , and Sanctification , and Salvation , and every one feels his Sanctification , and his Justification , according to the measure of the gift of Christ given to him , so that there are severall measures of Justification , and also a man may be Justified from one sin , or some sin , and not from all sin ; for according to every mans Sanctification , so is the witness of his Justification to him , and no more ; and if thou knowest any thing by experience thou knowest this , and no man is Justified from the evill which he is to commit , for that faith gives licence to sin , if any committing sin , shall beleeve that that sin is long since forgiven , and he is Justified from it , and if he shall beleeve he is Justified , though he commit sin , even long before he commits his sin , this will be a cause to run into sin , and is a gap opened by thee , unto all unrighteousnesse ; Why , if people can believe they are justified from the sins which they have yet to commit , what should restrain them from running with pleasure into all unrighteousness ? & if new sins alwaies committed , do not make persons unjustified , then may the sinners rejoice in their sins , and take their pleasure in ungodliness ; this doctrine of thine is pleasant to the wicked , and it is the way and principle of liberty in all sin , rather then the principles to lead from sin , and so thou hast shewed whose work thou art doing , by strengthning the wicked in his way , so that he cannot turne from sin , rather then drawing him from sin , and this is the Devils work .

And thou saist such as are justified , are regenerated and sanctified ; and a little before thou said to be justified is not to be cleansed , nor is it to partake of real righteousnesse ; and persons are justified from sins which they have to commit . And these are contradictions , and proceed out of darknesse , and not from the light ; and thy folly and ignorance may be read by all men ; for who are regenerated and sanctified are cleansed , and partakes of real righteousnesse ; and thou further saist , that sanctification is a real change from sin to the purity of the Image of God and I say none are sanctified but they are justified , so none are justified but who are changed into the Image of God , this the trut● saith , and wherein thou hast said contrary , thou hast spoken contrary to the truth , and the truth will judge thee .

Again thou saist sanctification is not perfect in this life , & the new man , the spirit or law of the mind , is that grace or imperfect sanctification , &c.

Ans. Then Christ is not perfect in this life , for he is made of God unto us sanctification , 1 Cor. 1. 30. but we say Christ is perfect , and therefore sanctification is perfect , and the new man is the Image of God , and is created in righteousnesse and in true holinesse ; but thou saist the new man is imperfect ; consider of thy principles , when they are compared with the scriptures , and see the error and wickednesse of them , and the spirit and Law in the mind is the spirit of God , and the Law of God in which the Apostles served God , and so doth all the Saints ; but thou saist the spirit and Law in the mind , is imperfect , and this is error in the highest degree , to say or signifie that the new man the Image of God , that is in righteousnesse and true holinesse , and the Spirit of God and the Law of God is imperfect sanctification , and grace is the salvation , and is Gods sufficiencie , and that thou saist is imperfect also ; and thus thy principles of thy religion which thou walkest in thy selfe , and would teach to others , are abominable , corrupted principles of error , and contrary to the spirit of truth , and to the scriptures also ; and no marvel that thy name is concealed , for thy work deserves not a good mans name to it ; much more might be said to lay open further thy folly , but this is sufficient to men of understanding ; and contrary to thee I do assert , that the new man , the Image of God , the Spirit and Law of God in the mind , is perfect grace and perfect sanctification , and thou hast said the contrary , and now whether thy principles of Religion , or mine , be the more true , and whether fals , let all sober men judg with the light in their conscience ,

And thou saist , the old man , the flesh , the body of sin , the body of death , is the sin that remaines in sanctified persons .

Ans. Who are sanctified , are ●reed from the body of sin and death , and hath put it off , and the Law of the Spirit of life hath freed them from the flesh , and from the old man ; for if the old man , the fl●sh , the body of sin , and death be in the sanctified person● , then there is none sanctified at all , and what are they sanctified , freed and cleansed from , if the old man , the fl●sh , the body of sin and death be yee remaining in them ? thou speakest like an unlearned man , and one that , knowes not the sanctified estate , but art erring in thy mind , and judgment , and in thy words also , for we have put off the old man , and are Crucified to the flesh , and made free from the body of sin and death , and this is our sanctification , and who are remaining in these things are not sanctified , but in the degeneration , and hath no part yet in the kingdom of God , nor in Christ Jesus , but are without him in the world .

And thou saist , the sanctification of the first day , hath put an end to the sanctification of the seventh &c.

Ans. Here again thou hast uttered that which thou knowes not , for all daies are alike unto God , and one sanctified as much as an other , and no respect of daies with him , but all are holy , and pure , and good , and when the sanctification of any thing is put to an end , ( as as thou saist the sanctification of the seventh day is ) then the thing is no more good , nor holy , but become evil and unclean , if it be no more sanctified nor holy , and in this principle thou hast erred also ; as for the seventh day it was commanded of God to the Jews , to be kept and observed holy to the Lord , and all manner of labour to all Creatures were forbiden , which thing was a signe and a shadow of a good thing to come , the end of which ordinance was Christs the substance of all things , and the end of daies , and that there was any anulling of that command to the Jews , and a command to keep and observe the first day of the week in stead of the other , by any outward command , this we read not in all the Scriptures , and what ground thou hast more then thy imaginations I know not ; to assert the changing of dayes , and to teach the observation of the first day , as the Sabbath instead of the seventh day , seeing thou hast nothing in the Scriptures to raise such a principle from , and so would make exception of daies , and respect of times which the Apostles did not , after the holy spirit was come ; for daies and times all are a like to God , and who are come to Christ the true rest of the immortal Soul , are in the end of daies , and out of the respect of times , in the substance which endures for ever , and in the Gospel ministrations , there is no command or injunction , by Christ or by his Apostles given to us for the observing any one day more then another .

And thou saist , when it is said , swear not at all , the meaning is not vainly and unnecessarily .

Ans. Christ hath not spoken doubtfully , but plainly , and he hath not left his words to thee to give thy fals meaning upon ; so thou takest too much upon thee , and intrudest into things thou hast not seen , and all swearing which is contrarie to the command of Christ , is unnecessarie and vain , though by such false consequences and perverting of Scriptures , thou & thy generation hast made the people to err , and led the blind by the way ; for where the Scriptures , as they are in themselves , doth not made for your turn , then it means not thus , but otherwise , and this is the consequence , and it must be interpreted say you , and so you pervert the Scriptures to your own destruction , and to the undoing of manie others , for you that lead the people cause them to err .

And where is thou speakst , of outward seals of the Covenant , which is Baptism ( saist thou ) which appertaines to grown persons converted , and also to children , &c. Acts 2. 39.

Ans. The seal of the covenant of God is the Spirit , even the Spirit of promise which sealeth and confirmeth unto God , and not any outward thing ; for the Covenant of God is inward and spiritual , and not outward and carnal ; and the seal and testimonie of it , is the spirit of life , and no tradition of man ; and as for Baptism in that way and manner administred and practised , as in the Church of England , it is wholie an invention of man , and not after any Institution and commandement of God , and sprinkling of infants , which is said to be Baptism , is so far from being a seal of the Covenant of God , that it is a mark of the whore of Rome , and was by her first of all ordained and begun to be practised in her Church , and your false Minsters have received it from her , and it is a seal and sign that you and you Ministrie and Church is of the whore of Rome , and not of the true Church of Christ ; for , the Apostles nor the true Church of Christ never ordained nor practised such a thing amongst them ; and in the true Church , as sprinkling of infants and calling it the Baptism in the faith of Christ , and the seal of the Covenant , there was no such practice and dostrine amongst them ; but it is come up since the true Church fled into the wildernesse , and since the beast received power over kindreds and Nations , and it is an institution of the great whore that hath sat upon the waters , for many generations , and she hath made Nations drink her cup of fornication , and the original of this practice and principle is received out of the whores Cup , and not by any commandement of Christ , or axample of his Church and Apostles ; and I cannot but charge thee , that thou teaches for doctrine the traditions of men , and holds forth for principles of Religion , to be believed and learned , the institutions of the great whore , of whose cup thou hast drunk , and would also give it to others that they may drink it also , and to accomplish which evil end thou hast perverted the Scriptures Acts 2. 39. for the Scripture hath no such thing intended in it , as to the baptising of infants , for which end thou hast falsely cited it , for though the promise is to as many as the Lord our God shall call , yet what is this to the sprinkling of infants , which thou asserts as a principle of Religion , and would seem to enforce it , by vertue of the Scripture mentioned ? but thou hast abused the Scripture , and shewed thy selfe to be disagreeing to the holie Ministers and Apostles of Christ , and to be agreeing with the false Church of Rome , and this is answer sufficient to thee .

And thou saist , The outward covenant of God is conditionall , and the profession of the faith entitles both such as make it , and their infants unto it ( to wit , ) the covenant .

Ans. The Covenant of God is not outward but spiritual , as I have said , and it is also free , even the free gift of God , and the promise and Covenant is freely manifested without the performing any thing by the creature to obtain it from God , for it stands not upon condition , but upon free love and mercie ; and many makes a profession of faith which hath not right nor title to the inheritance of Salvation , nor to Gods sure covenant , neither can anie upon earth , much lesse Infants void o● understanding , have any assurance or title in the Covenant of life eternal , but who are regenerated and born of the elect seed , for the unchanged and degenerated , in that state hath no title nor right in the Covenant , but Abrahams seed which is heir of the promise , which is born of God and not from below , to that is the Covenant ; so thou hast spoken things thou knowest not , and hast manifested thy false principles which thou walkest in , and would cause others to receive them also .

Then thou speakest , of bread and wine , which ( saist thou ) are the outward signes in the Lords Supper , and are aseal of the Covenant also , &c.

Ans. The supper of the Lord is the bread of eternal life , the bodie and blood of Christ , and who eats thereof shall never die , nor hunger and thurst any more ; and as for bread and wine visible and carnal , that is not the real Supper of the Lord , and even the purest institution and practice thereof is but a representation of a thing , and not the very thing , and the end and substance being come , the outward sign may be neglected ; But as for the manner and institution of that practice in the Church of England , and the practise it selfe , we deny to be either a sign of good past , or to come ; but in an Idolatrous way it is leld forth , and not in any true honour to God ; for he is thereby dishonoured ; for the false Church hath gotten the forme of that practice as well as of many others , ( which the true Church once practised ) without the power , and now doth practise many things , in meer imitation and vain Idolatry , and in form and tradition , and without the teaching of the Spirit , which sometime the true Church and the Apostles practised in the power , and by the leading of the Spirit of God , and what the command of God was unto them ; so that though you may in some things practice the very same which the Apostles did , yet having not the same Spirit to lead you , nor being guided thereby as the saints and the Apostles were , your works are but Idolatry and formal , and not accepted of the Lord , but stinks in his nostrels , and your covenant is outward , and your seals outward , your Baptism and Supper outward and carnal , and while you are with zeal prosecuting your outward proformances and following them , you neglect the inward , and the substance , which is Christ within you the hope of glory , which if he be in you , then the body of sin is put off , and the vail is done away , and the representations are done away , and the substance and salvation is come , and if Christ be not in you , you are reprobates , notwithstanding all your profession and practises of outward duties unto God without his Spirit .