world," for in him, [the Word of God] was life and the life was the light of man," as he was the light so he continues to be the light, or God's manifested Word to all men through the Spirit as the scriptures show. The scriptures are not the Word of God as some say,but of the Word of God. I believe as the scriptures say, (John, i. 1, 2, &c.) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God * * * * and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." The worlds were framed by the Word of God, (Heb. xi. 3.) The Word of God is Jesus Christ, "by him all things were created in heaven and in earth visible and invisible.". (Col. i. 16.) "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John, i. 3. The word of God, is the Spirit of Ged communicated to the world: the "Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword." (Heb. iv. 12.) "Is not my Word," saith the Lord, (Jer. xxiii. 29,) like a fire? **** and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Thus I do believe the scriptures but, I do not believe that the scriptures were in the beginning with God, or that the scriptures were made flesh. I do not believe that the scriptures are like a fire, or that they are quick and powerful like a two edged sword, neither do I believe that the worlds were made by the scriptures. The scriptures were not called the Word of God, until it was done

by the Pope and his predecessors. The scriptures were so called, in the apostacy of the church. Because, men put too much stress on the letter, they have robbed the people of the truth; and for this reason, the denunciation of the Lord against the false prophets, ought to be heard at this day. Behold I am against prophets saith the LORD, that seal my Word every one from his neighbor. What shall we say, to such teachers as deny the power and sufficiency of the Spi-rit, and openly preach, and declare that their foundation is in the letter; nine tenths of our preachers say that they would be without a rule, had they no bible. Surely these cannot be the ministers which Christ has sent, for such say as did the apostle; "Our sufficiency is of God who hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter but of the Spirit." Such preachers steal the true Spiritual word, from the people, they dupe the people to a dead letter, and "the letter kills." "Behold I am against the profit saith the LORD, that use the tongue, and say, he saith, **** and do cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness. *** I sent them not, I have not spoken to them, yet they prophecy, **** they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD." What do the people know by such prophets, or teachers, they are "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They have invented to themselves the system

of sermonizing in the letter. They choose a text, and was it not lamentable it would be laughable to see the twisting, turnings and different comments, there is frequently put upon a few words of scripture. They draw out head and horns to fit and defend their own beloved dogmas, and the people know nothing by what they hear; for should they hear the same text preached from by different preachers ten times running, perhaps not one of them would preach like the other. I want no greater proof to show that this is not of God, than the confusion and darkness, which attend such preaching. I do not say but the man may use the scripture and make it profitable, but I say they have no right to use them in this way, nor put them in the place of the Spirit, it is the office of the Spirit to give the condition of the people, and unless a teacher is furnished by the Spirit he is not qualified to open his mouth in the ministry. The method of taking texts was not invented until several hundred years after the apostles.* When the apostles and prophets spake from scripture, it was to prove the fulfilment of some prophecy, and like Philip, they embraced a subject and not a few words; they spake by the Spirit, therefore it was nothing like the dreamings of many, who in our day wrest the scriptures by their own false notions and comments, that they may display their parts in the letter? if a preacher preaches in

* ORIGEN I think was the first who invented this method ofsermenizing.

the power and demonstration of the Spirit, though he may like Christ and the apostles cite the meaning of scripture, without quoting the exact order of the letter; because it is no more orthodox it cannot be received. How is the meek, humble, simple and life-giving religion of Christ reduced, and the voluptuousness, pride and arrogance of the priesthood set up by the use they make of the scriptures!!

I have said and do say, that the scriptures. are made the foundation for priest-craft.When the Pope could make the people believe, that their salvation or damnation lay in the power of the popedom, Tetzel's pardons for sin were in good demand. So as long as designing men can make the people believe, that the bible is the only rule of life; or if they can make them believe that the bible is absolutely necessary to salvation, so long their merchandize will hold good. So long they may display their parts and wits in the affairs of religion, and stand in the holy place showing themselves to be God, and that the heathen, or such of God's creation who have not the bible, must all be lost without them. So long as they can make the people believe these false notions of divinity, they will rob them of the truth, and feed themselves, but not the flock. They will couch upon beds of ivory and eat the fatted calf of the stall; their eyes stand out with fatness, they will divine for money and teach for hire; and the fear of God will be taught by the precepts of men.

But I do not believe them when they say the scriptures are the light of the world, I believe as the scriptures say, (John i. 4, 9,) that "in him [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of man ***"this" is "the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." I do not believe that the bible is the gospel, but I believe as the bible says, (excepting the few accidents of time and translation) that they are the scriptures of truth. The gospel is the true light, and is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, (Rom. i. 10,) the gospel is everlasting. (Rom. xiv. 6.) The gospel does not stand in the wisdom of men nor virtue of money, but priests and bibles depend much upon both: saith the apostle, Gal. i. 11, I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me, is not after man: for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Then let the scriptures be heard, "FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.

I have said and do say, that the bible is the god of thousands. All nations swear by their gods. They swear by that which they.. reverence, and kiss that which they adore. I have seen fifty men swear by the bible (and as often kiss it) in the course of a few hours; and is not this the general custom of our nation? I believe as the bible says, "Swear not at all." Mat. v. 31. Most protestants say to believe in the scriptures, and so the Jews pre