Mof. The fundamental proof required is to prove Jefus Chrift an impoftor.

Luth. & Calv. This is not neceffary.

Mof. Upon this principle the church of Rome ftands or falls.

Luth. & Calv. The church of Rome is idolatrous, hateful to God, and detefted by men. Mof. I know not what are the crimes laid to her charge, or what fhe is; but upon this principle fhe ftands or falls.

Luth. & Calv. To charge Jefus Chrift with imposture would be charging ourselves with the like infamy.

Mof. There is no alternative.

Luth. & Calv. This is a principle we cannot understand, to charge the church of Rome with reprobation, Jefus Chrift must be an impoftor.

Mof. This is as clearly ftated as one and one makes two.

Luth. & Calv. We wish you would explain this mystery, at least it appears fo to us.

Mof. There can be no mystery in a matter that is as clear as the fun.

Luth. & Calv. We cannot fee it in the light you do.

Mof. There is none fo blind as he that will not fee.

Lath. & Calv. We fhould be glad to fee all things clearly.

Mof. Your falvation is the price, if Jefus Chrift is your God.

Luth. & Calv. Neither the fcriptures or creeds mention the church of Rome.

Moj.

Mof. What do you understand by the church of Rome ?

Lutb. & Calv. We understand it to be the Roman Catholic church, which has infected all chriftendom with its damnable doctrine, in which is no falvation.

Mof. You mean the church of christendom, that Jefus Chrift had established with his moft folemn promises.

Luth. & Calv. We mean all christendom being in league with the pope transformed herself from the holy catholic church to the church of Rome, or, in other words, the fynagogue of Satan for 1000 years, until Luther and Calvin reftored her to her priftine and pure ftate,

Mof. This is the principle or ground of the proteftant reformation..

Luth. & Calv. We have no other, nor claim any other upon which we wreft our church..

Mof. Upon the principle you have set your reformed church, you have charged Jefus Chrift with impofture; fo that by this principle, that you have placed and established your church, you have expofed your foolifhuefs and abfurdities. You pretend to prove Jefus Chrift and the fcriptures both falfe, and then to found your religion upon this falfehood. You must, to appear, and as others, reasonable men, accufe yourselves of this blafphemy, and restore to Jefus Chrift, if you think him your God, and the fcriptures the truth they are entitled to, and take what is your own falfehood and inconfiftency. You involve us in the fame incon-. fiftency with yourfelves, by giving the GodD

head

head to Jefus Chrift, and then charging him with treachery and falfehod, which falls alfo and deftroys our feriptures and religion. By this falfe principle you have drove many into defpair, fome of whom have put an end to themselves, others have quitted all religion, relying on your fantaftical and incoherent clamours and blafphemies against the fcriptures, have taken it for a truth that all is prieftcraft and deception, and that there is no revealed religion, and in one word, that there is no God, as great fools as yourselves. Be for once honeft, withdraw yourselves from Jefus Chrift and his church; as you have feparated from the body, feparate from the head alfo, and leave the feriptures to thofe concerned in them; by this rectitude we fhall each fociety maintain his own right, and give no offences to each other; adhere to this advice in future that the world may enjoy a religious peace and tranquility rating togeomet

Luib. & Calv. Your advice is not good, by following which we fhould be in a state of reprobation

Mof. The matter is not material. 7

,

Luth. & Calv. Our confcience, or inward man, will never permit our Lord to be accufed of deception and falfehood.....

Mof. You acknowledge him then to be the promifed Mefhah, and that our fcriptures with the chriftians are true??

· Luth. & Galv. This is the truth, and whoever, of what men, or body of men, fect, condition, fociety, or religion, that dare contra

dict

dict or gainfay this truth, let him be excommunicated and accurfed, and be for ever held in derifion and fcorn, and be looked on by all good men as heathens and publicans.

Mof. Your cenfuring the church of Rome has entailed this infamy.

Lub.&Calv. This cannot be fo; the proteftant is established on the ruins of the Roman church, who became accurfed for her adulte

Mof. Could you prove this convicton the Jews would efteem you as they did Mordecai, for gibbetting Hamon, and make most ample prefents for being the inftruments to detect Jefus Chrift, and reftore them to their former glory and honour, of being the chofen people of God. In this detection you would prove yourfelves in the face of the world lovers of truth and enemies to oppreffion, which would heap confufion, infamy, and fhame, on the church of Rome, your moft implacable enemy, and deliver and free yourselves from the excommunication you now lie under, and turn their venom on their own heads. This would be an act of justice.

I Luth. & Calon To reftore Judaifin would be to join in the crucifixion of our Saviour, Lord, and Judge, in whom we place our hopes, and, through him, life everlasting.

Mof. Schifmatical and heretical factions, both in the Jewish and chriftian covenants, have been raised on this exprefs condition, to destroy the body or trunk, from whence they sprung, or that gave them birth or being. I will, if D 2

you

you will give me leave, lay before you a few exam. ples, but proved abortive with many others which you are not unacquainted with in the chriftian annals, either of you I fuppofe being preachers have ftudied these matters many years back. 1

Luth. & Calv. Upwards of forty or near fifty years, at least, as we are turned of seventy.

4

and

Mof. It would be unbecoming in me, a ftranger, to fet myfelf for a Doctor of chrif tianity (farther than common occurrences, which daily come before us) who am a teacher in Ifrael, I will give you the examples I pur pofed of herefy and fchifm, in the Jewith church, beginning with the primitive or in the life-time of our Law-giver. Exod. xxxii. The firft of note is the fetting up the calf in the wilderness; and when Aaron faw it, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made proclamation, and faid, to-morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rofe up early on the morrows offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people fat down to eat and drink, and rofe up to play. And when Mofes came down from the Mount, and faw the calf and faw the people naked, for Aaron (in your cafe Luther and Calvin) had made them naked unto their fhame among their enemies; then Mofes ftood in the gate of the camp and said, who is on the Lord's fide? and the fons of Levi' joined themselves to him. And he faid unto them, Thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, pur every man his fword by his fide, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp and flay every man his brother, and every man his compa

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nion,