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    Farnworth, Richard Author Profile
    Author Farnworth, Richard
    Denomination Nonconformist
    Discovery of the Kingdome of Antichrist Text Profile
    Genre Controversial Treatise
    Date 1653
    Full Title A brief discovery of the Kingdome of Antichrist. And the downfall of it hasteth greatly. With A Difference betwixt the Ordinances of Christ and of Antichrist. 1 Thes. 1.3, 4, 5. The Man of sin, who is exalted above all that is called God, and sits in the Temple of God, as God shewing himselfe to be God, deceiving the Simple Ones. Wisdome now cryeth out in the Streets, calling out of Babylon, Sodom, Egypt, where our Lord hath been Crucified; and spirituall wickednesse ie now committed in high places; therefore return and hearken to the vioce of Jesus Christ, and turne at his reproofe. 2 Thes. 1. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. For the Lord is comming in power and great glory, and Antichrist shall be consumed by the breath of his mouth, and the brightnesse of his coming.
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    A Discovery of Antichrists Kingdome,
    and the downfall of it
    hasteth greatly.



    NOw the Kingdome of Jesus Christ is setting up
    in the spirits of his people; And at that time shall
    Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth
    up for the Children of my people,
    saith the Lord, and there
    shall be a time of trouble, such as there never was, since
    there was a nation, even to that same time, and at that time
    there shall be deliverance, every one shall be delivered, that
    shall be found written in the booke of life,
    in the day of the
    day of the Lords power, Dan. 12 1. And it shall come to
    passe at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with Candles,
    and punish the men that are settled upon their Lees, that say
    in their heart the Lord will not doe good, neither will he doe
    evill: Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their
    houses a desolation, they shall also build houses but not inhabite
    them; and they shall plant vineyrds, but not drinke the
    wine thereof. The great day of the Lord is neare, it hasteth
    greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: there the great
    man shall cry bitterly.
    Zeph. 1. 14. Now the abomination
    of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stands up; let
    him that readeth understand.
    Now the man of sinne is
    revealed, and revealing, even the Son of perdition, who
    opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called
    God, and sitteth in the Temple of God, as God, shewing
    himselfe to be God, spoken of by the Apostle, in

    A2

    1

    2 Thes. 2. 2, 3. and the vialls are to be powred out upon
    the man of sin, spoken of in the Revelation.
    The Priests are the greatest persecutors of the truth
    of God; now where it is made manifest in the spirits of
    the people of God, the Lord hath sent to declare and testifie
    against their deceits and deceivablenesse, whereby
    they doe deceive the people, and they are raging mad
    because they are discovered; and they persecute, imprison,
    and petition, and doe all that beastly corrupt
    wills can invent, to keep the Israelites of God in bondage,
    that they might still be Lords and Rulers over
    Gods heritage, but though Gog and Magog joyne in
    battel against the Lamb, yet he shal prevail and get the victory,
    and the beast and false Prophet shall be cast into
    the lake that burneth, Rev 19 20 and they that worship
    the Beast and his Image, and receive his marke in
    their right hand, or in their foreheads, the same shall
    drinke of the wine of the wrath of the Almighty, poured
    forth into the cup of his indignation, and shall be tormented
    with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
    holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lambe, and the
    smoake of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever;
    and they shall have no rest day nor night that worship
    the Beast
    ,
    Rev. 14.9, 10, 11.
    Come out of the beastly worships God is a Spirit, and
    he will be worshipped in spirit, and the glorious Lord
    will be unto his a place of broad Rivers and streames
    of leve, and peace, and joy, and rejoicing for ever and
    ever, and all the children of the Lord are taught of the
    Lord, hee is Teacher alone by his spirit, and causeth
    people to profit by his Ministery. Therefore cease
    wholly from all your Priests, they are Decivers, and
    lead you from the teachings of the spirit, to observe
    dreames, and fancies of their owne braine, and are the
    upholders of pride, covetousnesse, and oppression, and
    never were yet taught themselves; they are in the state
    2

    and condition that the false Prophets were in, all teaching
    for hire, and are Lords and Rulers over the people,
    and ran but the Lord did never send them, as those
    did, that the Lord sent his true Prophets to cry out against,
    as in Jer. 23. and Jer. 5 30,31. and Isaiah 56.
    10, 11: Ezeck 34. Micha 3.11. Hosea 6.9. As a troop of
    Robbers wait for a man, so the Priests they murder
    in the way by consent. Now the Scripture is fulfilling,
    the Beast makes warre with the Saints; those beastly
    Priests make themselves manifest, that they are of the
    generation of Cain, and are of their Father the Devill,
    persecuting and imprisoning the servants of the Lord,
    as the Jewish High-Priests did. Persecution is begun
    here in York-shire, by the Priests of Baal, they cannot
    defend their Ministery any wayes, but by an outward
    Law, when any are moved by the Lord to speake against
    their deceits, they run away, as the Priest of Finningley
    did, and the Priest of Arkworth and others did, and
    will not stand to their flocks, but leave them, but the
    Scriptures is fulfilling, the hireling fleeth because he is
    an hireling. See if this be not contrary to that of the
    true Shepheard, that layeth down his life for the Sheep,
    John 10. 11. and 15, 16, 17. verses.
    They take the words of the good Shepheard to
    speak of, but deny to live his life; and they walk contrary
    to the Scripture. See if this be not errour; the
    true Ministers of the Gospel were to take the care of the
    flock willingly, not by constraint, but of a ready mind,
    and not for filthy lucre; neither were they to be Lords
    or Rulers over Gods heritage, but they were to be examples
    to the Flock, as in 2 Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3.
    But these are constrained by great Parsonages, and
    fat Benefices, and are Lords and Rulers over Gods Heritage,
    being puff't up in scorne and derision, pride, and
    ambition, and swell in iniquity, persecuting, and imprisoning
    the servants of the Lord, and act contrary to

    A3

    3

    the Scripture, shewing the spirit of errour, 1 Joh. 5.
    As the Priest of Tharnisworth, when one of his Heard
    that had been from him a while, and went to hear him
    againe, that he might have spoken to that which had not
    beene according to truth; after that he had done, but

    so soone as he came into the Idolls Temple, he
    over his speaking, and spoke to him, and had before
    beene at his house to bid him come againe to hear him
    and when he went, the Priest
    begun to examine him
    he being asked a question, made an answer, and [f*]
    that was he imprisoned
    by him, and hath lyen there almost
    a yeare, and doth still continue, for speaking the
    truth as it was made manifest
    to him by the Lord; being
    asked the question two or three times before he [illegible]
    answered: see if this bee not contrary to that Scripture
    in 1 Cor. 4. and see if this bee not errour; when the
    whole Church were together all might speake one [illegible]
    one, that all might be edifyed; and if any thing was revealed
    to him that sate by, the first was to hold [illegible]
    peace, 1 Cor. 14.23. 30, 31, 32 but this Priest acts
    contrary to the Scripture, and shewes the spirit of [*rour] .
    With the Priest of Tickhill, when one was moved to
    speake in the Steeple-house, after that hee had ended
    his Sermon, he would not stand to vindicate himself
    by Scripture, but got him set
    into the stocks. See
    this be not Antichrist; where ever did Christ or his
    true Ministers any such thing? and when he was [illegible]
    in the stocks, many people, scoffing Ishmaels were
    about him, and the rude multitude; and one was
    moved to goe upon the Crosse to speake to the people
    and one of those called Church-wardens, threw him
    downe some 13. steps high, and then the rude people
    threw dirt in his face: see if these doe not act the very
    same things that the Jewes did to Paul, when they [hal*]
    him out of the Synagogue, and when they struck [P*]
    4

    and Silas, and set them in the stocks, and threatned
    [*ter] and John that they should speake no more the
    name of Jesus, and stoned some, and imprisoned others:
    and now the same things are acted by those that
    professe themselves to be the people of God, as the Jews
    did, but they are found to be in the same state and condition
    that they were, as their fruits doe make manifest.
    This Priest afterwards would not rest till he had imprisoned
    the party that spoke to him, and filled a paper
    [illegible] flyes, in a Petition that was rejected. See what fruits
    these are; and the people at Leeds, with the Priests imprisoned
    others, and at Wakefield both stoned, so that
    stones flew like bullets in a battell, and slet their doggs,
    and none looked to still the rage, not so much as a
    Townes Clerke. See what fruits these are, whether of
    the flesh or spirit, and it will not be denied, but that
    they are of the flesh; then what reformation is there
    wrought by the Ministers of the world? for they that
    are in the flesh cannot please God: and so the Scriptures
    are daily fulfilled; they that are after the flesh,
    they persecute them that are after the spirit.
    The 2. Priests of Wakefield themselves came by at
    one time, and when they were spoken to, they would
    not stand to prove themselves. See if these be the Ministers
    of Christ, or of Antichrist; a good Shepheard
    layes downe his life for his Sheep. There was one Priest
    Robbison stood up in the Market at Wakefield to have
    maintained himselfe to have beene a Minister of Christ,
    but one taking him by the arme, and hee, the said
    Priest, being proved a lyar in the open Market, ran away,
    and the people set up a shouting: Is this the Ministry
    of Christ, or of Antichrist? hold them not up
    for shame.
    The Priest of Fetherston, when one was moved by
    the Lord to go speak to him, he caused that before ever
    he spoke word he should be put in the stocks; and the

    A4

    5

    Priest when he had done, one would then have proven
    him a Theefe and a Robber, but he got away.
    These Priests, with many more in York-shire, which
    is too large to expresse in writing, the passage of
    with the Priests in Lancashire, Westmorland, Notinghamshire,
    Lincoln-shire, and Darby-Shire, where the Lord
    hath raised up any to speake against their deceits;
    would fill up volumnes, but all ends in persecution,
    the Jewish High-Priests did, when Jesus Christ came
    in the flesh; so do these now, when Jesus Christ comes
    to be made manifest in the spirits of his people, to testifie
    against their deceits, wherein they have beene deceaved
    by them, that others may not be led to destruction
    by them; For the leaders of the people cause them to err
    Isaiah 3.12. Isaiah 9.16. And if the blinde leade the [illegible]
    blinde, they shall both fall into the ditch,

    Mathew
    15.14. .
    All people, take warning betime, and hold them [illegible]
    up, but come out of their dark Ministery, which is Sodome
    and Egypt, where the Lord is crucified; they are
    committing spirituall wickednesse in high places, both
    Priests and People; like Priests, like People,
    Hos. 4.9.
    Thus saith the Lord, Come out of Babylon my people [illegible]
    ye be partakers of her plagues
    : come out of the Idolle
    Temple, and out of the Idolle Worship; come out of Babylon
    with [illegible] in your hearts, and touch no uncleane thing, and
    the Lord will receive you, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18.
    The High-Priests were ever the greatest enemies [illegible]
    Jesus Christ, and they are yet alive to persecute him
    where he is made manifest in the spirits of his people
    Christ is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, Heb 13.
    8. The Chiefe Priests are the same that they were, [illegible]
    they did then, they shew the same deedes now; see [th*]
    Chiefe Priests first begun to joyne persecution with
    Herod against Christ, when he was borne. See Math. [illegible]
    5. to the 16. see Mat. 16. 21. The Chiefe Priests were
    6

    sore displeased at him, Mat. 21. 15,16. The Chiefe
    Priests and Elders came to question his authority, ver.
    23. Mat. 20. 18, 19. The Chiefe Priests condemned
    him, and delivered him to the Gentiles, to mock him,
    and scourge him: The Chiefe Priests covenanted with
    Judas to betray Christ, Mat. 26. 14,15. A great multitude
    came with Judas from the Chiefe Priests, with
    swords and staves to take Jesus, ver. 47. and Jesus was
    led to the High-Priest, where the Scribes and Elders
    were assembled, ver. 57. The Chiefe Priests and Elders,
    and all the Councell sought false witnesse against
    Jesus to put him to death, ver. 59. at last came two false
    witnesses, then the Chiefe Priests adjured him to speak,
    and when he spoke the truth, the Chiefe Priest rent his
    cloathes, and said he spoke blasphemy, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65.
    truth is blasphemy to the deceit; when Jesus was condemned
    to dye by the Chiefe Priests, Rulers, and Elders
    of the people, they spit in his Face, and smote him
    on the Cheek, and buffeted him, ver. 66, 67. And thus
    the Serpent spued out his venome then against the
    truth; and the Jewes, Chiefe Priests, and Elders are
    alive yet, to persecute Christ in his Members. This is
    the same generation of Cain that persecutes, a seede of
    evill doers: see if these doe not deny the Scriptures,
    and shew the spirit of errour, and cannot make good
    their call, but ran and the Lord never sent them, and
    have nothing but what they have studied out of Bookes,
    and Studies; and the Hireling fleeth because he is an
    Hireling, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled,
    John 10. 13.
    John Cart, the Priest of Hanseworth, when one was
    moved by the Lord to speake to him, he caused him to
    be taken prisoner; and so they all act in the same state
    and condition that the Jewish High-Priest did, and
    are enemies both to Jesus Christ and His; for inasmuch
    as they doe it to one of his, they doe it to him,

    7

    7

    and make their refuge to the Popes Law, that was
    made to uphold the Popish Clergy by, when they did
    uphold the Masse made by Queen Mary; see the Statute
    in the first of Mary, 2. Ass. 3. Ch: and againe see if
    it be not repealed by Elizabeth, in the first yeare of her
    reigne, 2. Ch. last clause. See Coke. pla. fol. 352. Sir
    Nich. Hides Chiefe Justice then in England cited, that
    it was wholly repealed by that of Elizabeth, in the first
    yeare of her reigne, 2. chap. last clause: see Dalton,
    103. 104. pag. See if these be the Ministers of Christ
    or of Antichrist, that make their refuge to the Popes
    Law to imprison by; neither Jesus Christ nor his true
    Ministers did ever so. Let truth come to light, and
    deceits and deceivers put to shame; God is judge, Lawgiver,
    and King.
    The said Priest, John Cart, he dealt deceitfully, just
    as Pilat did with Christ, who said he would wash his
    hands in Innocency, for, said he, I will forgive him,
    but Officers, saith he, looke you to your office. Pilat
    and Herod both joyne together to persecute Christ
    in his Saints; many friends went up to have spoken
    with his Priests afterwards, but he would neither come
    at them, nor suffer them to come at him, those which
    had been the chiefe hearers: see if the deceits bee not
    afraid to come to light, for truth seekes no corners;
    therefore love that which is good, and hate that which
    is evill, every one, and prove your owne worke; so
    shall you have joy in your selves and not in others, Gal
    6. 4. prove all things, and hold fast that which is good,
    but cease from all your Priests, deceivers, blind guides,
    Hirelings, Seducers, and Antichrists, they shall never
    profit you at all; they ran but the Lord never sent
    them, hold them not up, the Lord is against them, Ier.
    23. 30, 31, 32.
    The Priest of Doncaster, he imprisoned one for asking
    him a question, and when he was before the Major
    8

    and Justices to be examined, the Priest fled into the
    further corner of the house typeset error, as one James Nayler spoke
    to him, and the Priest did confesse there openly, that
    he had not attained to that which the party imprisoned
    by him had done, and desired the prisoner to pray for
    him; yet nothing will serve but imprisonment. See if
    this be not Antichrist, hold them not up, downe with
    them all, they are all falne backward, and gone out of the
    way of obedience, and selfe-denyall; but they must be
    called to account before the righteous Judge, the Lord
    of Heaven and Earth, that they may have their tryall:
    thus saith the Lord, Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill
    with them,
    and they shall be rewarded according to
    their doings, Isa. 3. 10.
    The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all those
    that forget God, and have their portion in the lake
    that burneth. The Lord is sending forth his Angels to
    gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend;
    then shall the righteous shine forth in brightnesse, in
    the Kingdome of their Father.
    The vials are pouring forth, and the beast begins to
    roare, the Lord is Judge himselfe, and he will plague the
    Beast, and burne the Whore, and torment the wicked
    for evermore.
    Both Gog and Magog is gathering to battell, as the
    number of the sand of the Sea, going on the breadth of
    the earth, to compasse the Camp of the Saints about,
    and the beloved City, and fire will fall downe from
    God out of Heaven and devoure them
    , Revelations 20.
    8, 9, &c.
    Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection,
    on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be
    Priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reigne with him a
    thousand yeares.
    Rev. 20.6.
    9

    This was written by a Thresher, that goeth
    about with his threshing Instrument, labouring
    where he findes work.
    Arise Sion and thresh with a new threshing
    Instrument, having Teeth.

    Thus saith the Lord, Hearken unto me ye
    stout-hearted that are farre from righteousnesse,
    I bring neare my righteousnesse, it shall not be far
    off, and my salvation it shall not tarry, and I will
    place salvation in Sion for Israel my glory,

    Isaiah 46.12, 13.

    FINIS

    10

    The Difference betweene the Ordinance of
    Christ and of Antichrist



    TAke heede of despising the Ordinance of Jesus
    Christ, who hath left it upon record, and also writeth
    it in the new Law of Righteousnesse, in the hearts
    of his people, saying, If ye love me keep my Commandements:
    1. love God with all your hearts, 2. forsake your
    lusts and vile affections in affecting earthly things, that
    [illegible] the Devils Ordinance, saith Jesus Christ, set not your
    affections on things which are on the earth, but set your affections
    on things in the heavens;

    that is the Ordinance of
    Christ: forsake your earthly mindednesse, for that is
    the Devils Ordinance; to be carnally minded is death,
    and the carnall minde is enmity to the Cross of Christ;
    Christ saith, Seeke first the Kingdome of God, and his
    righteousnesse, and all things else shall be added; and
    love thy Neighbour as they selfe, and doe unto all men
    as ye would be done by, and feed the hungry, and cloath
    the naked, and let the oppressed go free, and deny thy
    selfe of thy owne wisdome, and selfe-righteousness and
    conceitednesse, and heady high-mindednesse, and thy
    selfe-love, and the honour of the world; and forsake all
    vaine delights, and vaine pleasures, and take up a daily
    Crosse to thy own will and follow me, and learn of me,
    for I am meeke, and lowly in heart; and so shall you
    finde rest to your soules, following through the streight
    way of obedience and selfe-denyall. These things with
    many other, thou shalt finde commanded to be done by
    the new Law of Righteousnesse in thy heart; leave them
    not undone, Christ doth require it of thee, it is his Ordinance.
    11

    The Priests of the world are carnal and earthly minded,
    coveting after great Benefices, swallowing up the
    earth like Bell, and the Dragon, never have enough, belly-gods,
    that doe consume and devoure the Creation
    upon their lusts, pride, pleasures, & heady high-mindednesse,
    living in lust and excesse; oppressors they are, oppressing
    the poore people, and persecuting the servant
    of the Lord; the true Ministers had their conversation
    in Heaven, as in Phil. 3. 20. and they did exhort others
    to follow their example, and to marke those that did
    not follow them in life and conversation, Phil 3. 17.
    but these walke contrary to them, and have lost their
    example; herein they walke contrary to the Scripture
    and shews the spirit of errour. The Priests of the world
    doe persecute and imprison, as the Jewish High-Priests
    did imprison the Apostles, which were the true Ministers
    of Christ, who were blamelesse in their lives and
    conversations, and did walk blamlesly, giving no offence
    in any thing, that their ministery might not be blamed; but
    in all things did approve themselves as the Ministers of
    Christ, in much patience, afflictions, in necessities, in imprisonments,
    in tumults, in watchings, in fastings,
    &c..
    2 Cor. 6.3, 4, 5. But these are contrary that doe imprison
    others, and consume the creatures of God upon their
    lusts, living in pride and excesse, and by their cold,
    dark, barren Ministery, starve the soules and bodyes of
    others, and walk contrary to the Scriptures, as in this
    of 2 Cor. 6. 3, 4, 5. &c and that of Tit. 1. 7, 8. and 1 Tim.
    3. 1, 2, 3. &c. and that of 2 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. The Ministers
    of Christ are to take care of the flock willingly, of a ready
    minde, not by constraint, nor for filthy lucre, not
    to be Lords over Gods heritage; but the Priests of the
    world are constrained by fat Benefices and great Parsonages;
    and if they can but have 10. or 20. l. more
    a
    yeare in another place, it will constraine them to leave
    them where they are to goe to that: see if they doe not
    12

    act contrary to these Scriptures, and are guided by the
    spirit of errour, 1 Iohn 4. 5, 6. The Ministers of Jesus
    Christ were to be gentle towards all men, even to those
    that did oppose themselves, and were not to be Lords
    and Rulers over Gods heritage, but these are, and just
    act all those things that are forbidden: that which they
    should not be that they are, that which they should be
    that they are not, and have lost their examples in
    all things: see if this be not Antichrist; who deny
    the Scripture but the Priests of the world? and who
    cry out of errour more then they? but now they are
    found out, they cry as the Thiefe doth, that sayes, turn
    Thiefe, turn Thiefe, that he he may not be looked at,
    but sets the people to looke out at some others, and not
    at him: and see if the Priests doe not so; looke well
    to them, they can deceive none now, but blind-men, and
    fooles, that gaze abroad, for wise mens eyes are in their
    heads, in Christ that doth enlighten them, and so shews
    them their deceits; they that walk contrary to the Scriptures
    are to be noted, that they may be put to shame,
    2 Thes. 2. Now Priests be ashamed of the evill of your
    doings, that take the Scriptures to talk of, and make a
    trade of them for money, which is your Diana, and
    walke contrary to them: but it is fulfilled, the leaders of
    the people cause them to erre,
    Isa. 9.16. Blush for shame, and
    give over deceiving of the people. The Priests in the
    first Covenant were to live of the sacrifices that were offered
    up, which a people brought in freely, and had no
    other wayes: they were to wait upon that Ministery,
    and they sacrificing and waiting at the Altar, taking of
    the things sacrificed and offered up, was a type or figure,
    that they that preach the Gospell should live on the Gospell,
    and be set apart wholly for that worke. Now the
    Gospell is spirituall, and not carnall, and the carnall
    man knowes it not, because he doth not understand the
    things of God, who is a spirit, and the Gospell is spirituall,
    13

    and none can preach that everlasting Gospel but
    Jesus Christ who lives in our bodyes, that are made the
    temples of the Holy Ghost, and he preacheth to the spirits
    that are in prison, and he doth it freely, it is his delight
    to do his Fathers will, killing all our lusts, that
    were sacrificed too when we lived in the lust of the flesh,
    and he crucifieth them, and works us out of our selves into
    the divine nature, and his life is in doing us good,
    being his Fathers will, offering up our requests to the
    Father in us, and for us, that he by his own bloud,
    the spirit of life in us, killing, slaying, and crucifying
    the corrupt nature in us, and working out that which is
    evill, being made manifest in us to destroy the workes
    of the Devill, taking our mindes and affections into
    that which is eternall and invisible, working us into that
    which is pure and spirituall, that we may praise and
    glorify his great and glorious name, being made partakers
    of his divine natur freely for his names sake, and
    not for any deserts in us, and being brought out of darknesse
    into his marvellous light by the guidance of the
    eternal spirit in us, leading us out of bondage into liberty,
    sending the spirit of his Son into our hearts crying
    Abba Father, which none can do but those that are born
    againe, having their Fathers name given them at the
    entrance into the new Covenant, which is inwardly, to
    the Jewes inwardly, the seed of Abraham after the spirit,
    being baptised by the free spirit into that spirituall body:
    all that are born againe are redeemed from their
    vaine conversation to serve the Lord in newnesse of spirit
    in walking humbly before him, being borne againe
    of water and the spirit of the family of Abraham the Father
    of the faithfull; we are set apart to testifie against
    all unfaithfulnesse, for faith worketh by love, and causeth
    love to run forth to others, to all creatures, even to
    enemies; and so the Gospel comes to be preached to
    every creature in living in love with one another, even
    14

    in Jesus Christ, which is the Son of his love, having
    his treasure in earthly vessells: God manifesting himselfe
    in our flesh, and dwelling in us, taking away our
    stony hearts which was the cause of oppression, which
    caused the creation in us to groan under the burden of
    oppression by reason of that cursed nature which did
    [*ear] rule over the pure seed in us, which now the Lord
    of his infinite mercy hath delivered us from by the powerfull
    operation of his spirit in us, changing our vile
    affections that were set altogether on earth and earthly
    delights and vanities, and so ran after covetousnesse, and
    to satisfy the earthly lusts did oppress and burden others;
    but the Lord by the power of the eternall spirit in
    us, the divine operation hath wrought out our corrupt
    natures, & engrafted us into the divine nature, being the
    workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good
    works, which is the fruits and effects of the spirit of God
    that wrought faith in our hearts, giving us new hearts, doing
    good to all, even to enemies; for faith worketh by love,
    which love is Iesus Christ the Son of God, who preacheth
    the Gospel of his Fathers love in us, that we may bee
    what we do profess, not loving in word and in tongue,
    as the world doth, that lives in dissimulation, but in
    deed and in truth; for he that saith he loves God and
    hates his Brother, is a Lyar, and the truth is not in him;
    but truth dwelling in us, which is Iesus Christ the
    power of God that hath reformed and changed our natures
    and dispositions, and hath put in our hearts to execute,
    to doe his will, which is to testify against all deceits
    and oppressions, that are covered under a cloak of
    profession, and no true love but lust, both to pride and
    covetousnesse, anger and envy, lying and swearing,
    drunkenness, oppression, and grinding the faces of the
    poore, living in lust and excess; ye live in pleasures
    and wantonness upon earth, ye the proud Priests, and
    covetous professors, and heady highminded ones that

    B

    15

    fare sumptuously, feeding upon your dainty [dish*]
    Dives like, and grinding the poore to powder in taxations
    and oppressions; you that have got a great deal [illegible]
    the earth in your hands, which is the Lords, and [illegible]
    provides largely for every creature, but that proud Devill
    that rules in your proud flesh, doth oppress and grind
    the poore to pieces: Thus saith the Lord, What mean
    ye to beat my people in pieces, and grind the faces of the poor

    Dives fares sumptuously, and poore Lazarus is in want
    the rich drink wine in bouls, and the poor starve in the [illegible]
    streets: never like was seen in this generation, the [illegible]
    Lord is so displeased at it. Professe no more love [illegible]
    Christ, ye pround and lustfull ones; if ye did but know
    him ye would keep his Commandements, as to do to
    men as ye would be done by, and to love your enemies
    and seek out the poor & needy, and feed them, and cloth
    them, that the oppressed might go free; you consume
    more upon your lusts, pride, and covetousnesse, than
    would satisfy all that are in wants; pride, and covetousnesse,
    and the honour of the world, they swallow
    all, as Bell and the Dragon did, and are never satisfyed
    thirsting altogether after the earth, and love of [illegible]
    world, and the enjoyment of the world for the honour
    of your names, as Nebuchadnezar did, and talke [illegible]
    God, and Christ. Professe lesse, and practice more
    you are wise to do evil, Priests and People, but to [illegible]
    good have no understanding; cease to doe evil, and
    learn to do well: did you but know Christ you would
    not suffer him to want in his Members, you would [illegible]
    imprison him to satisfy your lusts;
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