hundred years, and all that saw Peter and believed him are dead many generations past since; but the reprobate's faith is very strong in dead mens words; but when they were alive they were counted by the seed of the serpent deceivers and liars, as we are counted. And this I say, whoever did believe Peter's voice of God, and his commission to bind and loose mens sins, they did pin their faith upon his sleeve, that is, upon his commission and doctrine.

Fourthly. You say the Scriptures are more sure, and safer to be heeded and minded, than any revelation or vision of any man whatsoever.

Answer. Do you not shew your blindness and darkness in this thing? Did the apostles, when they came with their revelations and visions, count the writings of Moses and the prophets to be more heeded and safer than theirs? Why did they then upbraid the Jews for putting their trust in Moses, and the worship of the law? For the Jews despised the Revelation of Christ and his apostles, calling it new doctrine, saying, they were drunken with new wine, because their revelation was new to the Jews, because they declared a new doctrine and new worship, contrary to the old doctrine and old worship of Moses, and the prophets; even as the rulers said to the man that Christ opened his eyes that was born blind, when he asked them, saying; will ye be Christ's disciples? They said, no; they were Moses's disciples. Here the serpent gave more heed to the Scriptures of Moses, and the prophets, they being all dead, than they did to any revelation or vision of Christ and his apostles, when they were living. And those devils thought it more safe to put their trust in dead mens' revelations, than in any man's revelation living whatsoever. So it is with you, being the

seed of the serpent, you look upon it to be more sure, and safer for you to depend upon the dead letter of the Scriptures for life and salvation, than upon any revelation, or vision, or voice, this commission of the Spirit hath declared: but you shall find it more unsafe for your soul, in that you did put your trust in the letter of the Scriptures, and reject the revelation of the Spirit; for the letter of the Scriptures shall do you no good, neither shall you find any comfort by them; but they shall rather be your torment, because you did not hearken to man's revelation and interpretation of Scriptures, that is now living, voy

Fifthly. You say, you would have your brother to speak as Timothy did, boldly, from God's word, and not (say you) from supposed commissions, as you imagine.

Answer. Your brother doth speak boldly from God's word, as Timothy did, because he spake in the faith of a commission, and knows that this commission is the word of God, as much or more, than that word of God as Timothy spoke; because Timothy was chosen a bishop by men, and sent forth to preach the word of God by men, at the second hand but John Reeve and myself were chosen by God himself, to be his two last prophets and witnesses, to preach the word of God; and as many as truly believe us shall certainly be saved, as those were that believed in Christ himself, when upon earth: also, we have power to ordain such as Timothy was, to speak the word of God boldly as he did, being ordained by the apostles, who were greater in power than Timothy was; so that your believing in Timothy's words now will do you no good; but those that did truly believe Timothy's words

when that commission was in being, should have been saved by it, but now it will profit you nothing; for it is but a dead letter unto you now and do you not paint the sepulchre of Timothy now, as the Jews did the sepulchres of the prophets? They spake well of the prophets, when they were dead, and honoured them; so the Baptists speak well of Timothy, and honour his words now he is dead: but if you had heard him speak as you did me, you would have counted it more safe to have believed Moses than Timothy; for the seed of the serpent always counts it a more safe thing to put their trust in dead mens words, than in those men that are alive. And those words your brother sent you ought to have been believed by you as much as the words of Timothy, they would have done you far more good than the words of Timothy will.

Sixthly. You alledge Paul's words, Galat. i. ver. 8. where he saith, Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other doctrine, or gospel unto thee, than that which we have preached unto you, let them be accursed.

Answer. I can as truly say so as St. Paul doth, that if any angel from heaven should come and preach any other doctrine than that which we, John Reeve and myself, have preached, I will not say as Paul saith, Let him be accursed; but I say, we have power ourselves to curse angels or men to eternity, that shall dare to say we are liars, deceivers, or that the doctrine we preach is false: so that the power of this commission of the Spirit is greater in spiritual matters than that, which Paul speaketh of; so that the Gospel of Paul, and others, preached at that time, will do you no good. It was life and salvation to those that believed Paul at that time; but what' is that to you Baptist-preachers? Now, that which

Paul preached will signify no benefit to you now, but rather do you more hurt; because you take upon you to preach as those vagabond Jews, the same Jesus that Paul preached, having no commission to preach from God so to do; for you should have harkened unto me, who make all unclean spirits subject unto me, as they were unto Paul: but the evil spirit in others, and the unclean spirit of reason in yourself, shall leap upon you, and rent, tear, and wound your soul to eternity, for preaching the words of Paul and of Christ, you being not sent of him. Seventhly. You quote the words of John, 2 Epist. ver. 10. He saith, If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not, nor bid him Godspeed.

Answer. Do you, the preacher of the Baptists, bring that doctrine as John the apostle brought? If you do, it is either under your arm, or in your pocket, in a Bible bound together that you bring; for you never knew that doctrine that John brough at that time, when he was alive; there is none knoweth that doctrine that John brought and taught the people at that time, but us the witnesses of the Spirit, and them to whom we have revealed it; neither need the believers of this commission of the

Spirit bid any of you, the seed of the serpent, Godspeed; for none of you know the doctrine of the true God, nor the right devil: but I know the Baptist-preachers will carry John's doctrine, the Bible, in your pockets, as aforesaid, and receive in it the notion of your brains, but I know you never did, nor ever will receive it in your hearts.

Eighthly. You say, verily brother, the great cause of errors, and delusions, and strong impostures, ariseth from slighting the Scriptures.

Answer. How can you, being the seed of the serpent, come to error and delusion, and never was in truth? Do you think reading the Scriptures will give you to know what error and delusion is, whereas you were always in the darkness and blindness of your mind; and truth was appointed to shut your eyes, and harden your heart, and make your ears deaf, lest you should see, hear, and understand truth, and be converted and healed? This power hath God given unto me, to shut your eyes, make your ears heavy, and your heart fat, that your conceited knowledge of the letter of the Scriptures; so that you might not be converted and healed by this commission of the Spirit; so that your owning of the letter, and not adhering to the interpretation given by us, the Witnesses of the Spirit; for none knoweth the Scriptures truly but us,. and this is the grand cause that you and others have fallen into such great errors, and strong delusions, because you slight the interpretation of the Scriptures, which I have given, and so have sinned against the Holy Ghost. This is the effect of your faith you have in the letter of the Scriptures; this will prove a great error and delusion indeed to you, and high imposture hath risen in you, in that you slighted your brother's advertisement in his letters to you, requiring you to lay down your preaching from the letter of the Scriptures, you having no commission from God so

to do.

Ninthly. You say, your brother doth abuse the Scriptures, to call it a dead letter: take heed, say you, brother, you are not cheated of that reason God hath given you.

Answer. Why! Is it not a dead letter? Doth it speak any thing at all to you? If the Scriptures were not a dead letter, such serpents as you would