shews the Nâ—mness of thy Spirit and thy Error from the command of Christ and the Apostle who forbid Swearing So it is not a Foâ—m of our making but it s a Form or Command of Christ Jesus and calling God to witness in speaking the Truth is not Swearing by Jesus Christ the Truth and the Oath of God And as for kissing the Book there is no Example for that not in the Old Testament when there was Swearing And its false to say that G. P. or we when we call God to Record for the Truth which we declare own that to be Swearing and this is not straining a Gnat and swallowing a Cammel as thou scoffingly sayst And hadst thou distinguished between Ceremony and Substance thou wouldst not have called it our Form not to â—wear and where dost thou prove Verity Verily a kind of an Oath And how dost thou prove by Paul calling God to Record upon his Soul to be Swearing and the Son comes to fulfill the Oaths that were in the Old time and Genesis Exodos Psalms Acts 2. and Heb. 3. do not prove swearing in the New Covenant no more than outward Offerings of Beasts and Circumcision c. And we have the Son which is more then the Letter that doth fulfil Swearing in the Old time and we are come to Christ who gives us Life and he is come who hath given us an understanding and we are in him that is true So all Swearing hath been since Man sell from Gods Image but Christ is come who renews us up into the Image of God who ends Swearing and sets up Yea and Nay in the lieu of it And R. R. saith We have our appointed dayes and set-times for our Meetings to worship God and this thou scoffingly calls New-Moons and saith Are not these Formal and Customary and rather more to set up some distinction from other Sects then from any clear Testimony the Lord at all times loads them into These Observations and these Traditions are become Idols thou sayest as Papists c. Answ And why is R. R. angry at our Set Dayes and maliciously calls them Traditions and Idols as the Papists R. R. would become Judge of all but himself but he had better have judged himself and seen himself whether he had not been without all Form confused and empty And did not the Apostles and the Church meet together the First day of the Week and commanded them not to forsake the Assembling of themselves together as the manner of some did But it is like thy Evil Spirit hath no Peace in such Meetings and as for grievously Persecuting these are Slandrous words in applying them to us thou who art in Cains fear And the true Light and Life of Christ Jesus and his Spirit hath led us to meet together and to praise the Lord and worship him and in which Light we do hold Christ the Head who bruiseth the Serpents Head though thou one of Hagars Children dost Scoff at us and the true Light which is the Life in the Word by which all things were made makes us greatly to differ both from the Papists and thee And whereas R. R. saith We often scourge J. N. by casting him out of our Synagogues and by false Reports and sold him into Egypt and that our Strife and Contention is about Ceremonies and that our Holiness and Righteousness is of the outside of the Cup and Platter and not in the inward Circumcision of the Heart c. And then R. R. when he hath forged all these Lyes cries Hallelujah Answ The Lord knows that all this is Envy that comes from R. R's malicious Heart and his own evil Surmisings and from an uncircumcised Heart and our Holiness and Righteousness comes from Christ Jesus and J. N. in the worst of his time would not so Revile us as R. R. doth and as for false Reports evil Surmisings and outside Cup and Platter this R. R. might have kept at home with his Strife and Contention and doth R.R. think to sell us to his Brethren AEgyptians with his false Reports and evil Surmisings that he hath Printed against us The Son of God had a place in AEgypt when Herod did seek to kill him And what is this but Envy against our Form which was the Form of the Apostles and them that walk in the fear of God and what we claim to our selves in the Light of Christ we would have all to walk in who are taught of God though we Exhort one another and Edifie one another and Build up one another in our most Holy Faith and we cast out none but if they go from the Light and Spirit of Christ they cast themselves out of the fellowship in it And as for the Spirit of Vsurpation and causes the Creation to groan and breeds the Famine c. Let R. R look to that and we know that the Stone which the Builders rejected is become the Head of the Corner and is marvelous in our Eyes who gives us plenty of Bread and Milk and Wine without Money And if R. R. and they that printed this Book had known this we should not have had so many foul Expressions from his Mouth and Uncircumcised Lips as here may be seen in pag. 35. And G. F. and we know that Christ lighteth every man that cometh into the World and they that hate it have not the same measure and God doth send his Labourers into his Vineyard some at one Hour and some at another and art not thou Persecuting Scoffing and Reproaching of them let thy Book speak thy Spirit and whether thou art subject to that Light or Spirit which God hath distributed to thy Mortification and Reformation or Condemnation Let the Book speak whether thy Language does not betray thee to be the Tongue of the AEgyptian Sea And thou sayst Why may not God enjoyn that as an Ordinance to day and give hit Power to it which also to morrow he may lay aside as useless Answ Prove that in the New Covenant where God and Christ did so in that which is Substantial that God with-drew his Power from any such thing and left it no better then a dead Idol And was the Bazen Serpent Temple Tabernacle Offerings Jews Ceremonies enjoyned by the Lord as an Ordinance one day and another as useless and a dead Idol or were they not to continue except the Brazâ—n Serpent till the Seed came the time of Reformation And R R. dost not thou say When thou hast been speaking of Jewish Ceremonies and Sacrifices such also aâ—e many things at this day both among the Quaker and other Sects which have been Shadows and Figures of good things to come which are beautified in their Season whilst the presence of God was in thâ—m but that being with-drawn they became as dead Idols c. Answ But what are these forms of good things to come among the People of God in the New Covenant called Quakers doth not R. R. Dote and not know what
many of the Jews came out of Aegypt and turned back and stood against Moses and the Prophets and Christ and the Apostles and how many received the form of Christianity and after turned into vain Jangling and against the Apostles and went out from them and made up thy Number with Judas that betrayed his Master in this Catalogue And thou seem'st to boast of the Parts of Dissenters c. Answ Truly it is not manifest in this Book nor their Integrity Then thou speaks of the great Number of the Quakers that J. Parrot drew after him but thou hast not set down their Names but after they came to see him are they not turned to Truth again except the Contrivers of this Book and such as remain in Enmity And thou boasts of J. P. How far he excells G. F. in Naturals and in the Virtues of Meekness Patience Humility Vniversal Love and Brotherly-kindness which made him an Object of G. F's Persecution and Envy Answ G. F. is not of such a Spirit but the Envy and Persecution is from thy own Spirit and we cannot be deceived with the bare words of Love and Kindness and Humility c. when the Fruits of J. P. were otherwise his Life and End declared his parts and that it was worse then in the beginning If all the Papers should be printed that was given forth concerning him both at Jamaica and other places it would make a Volumn but the man is gone and Love covers much and not to publish it to the World a this envious Spirit hath done who saith in his Title page The Cause and Ground of their differences and falling out and what manner of Spirit moved and acted them to wit G. F. J. N. and J. P. And this he Prints and proclaims to the World many Years after J. N. and J. P and R. M. were dead Answ Will the World commend him for this Will sober men say this is from a Christians Spirit or is it not from Envy and Malice and not from Love Did R. M. or J. P. or J. N. give you order to Print their Papers so many Years after they were dead and especially J. N. who had condemned his running out and was reconciled to his Brethren and are such the Strife and Sedition-sowers or the Peace-makers let all sober People judge of this Spirit by its Fruits And R. M's Letter to J. P. wherein he seems to Justifie him and Reproach them that sought both their good and speaks of such that sent forth Bates and Snares Traps and Gins for J. P. from Dan to Bersheba and saith Who hath no Guile found in his Mouth and hath the perfect Life of Love and the Spirit of the Lamb risen in him c. Answ And yet it is said in the Preface All are subject to Err. And yet J. P. saith in pag. 19. I am Worser and Viler before the Lord then they have presented me in the Eyes of men c. And if any of you will delight your selves in War let it be with the Enemies of your Hearts c. Answ Now let the Reader see if these be not Contradictions for had J. P. been in the condition as he is flatteringly represented he had been in Unity with his Brethren And had R. R. taken J. P's Counsell that he seeks in his Book to maintain and others he and they would have warred with the Corruptions of their own Hearts and not against them that be in the Truth and R. M. was mistaken there is no such Fury nor Hatred neither against him nor J. P. but were for their good and that they might have lived as they said And as for Gins and Snares set as fas as Dan and Bersheba that is false and such as say so are too much at liberty with their Tongues to Print such things And is there not many more Letters of R. M's to J. P and how was it that they were not Printed but it s like they were against your selves And as for J P's Letter to G. F. and how he pleaded his Cause Answ How was it that his Letter was not sent to G. F. before he dyed And this Letter of J. P's doth not shew all the cause of difference between him and G. F. and Friends and though G. F. and others had a care of Gods Glory and did admonish J. P. of some things and of passages beyond Seas though all is not mentioned in this Book And G. F. and others had not told J. P. of Expences and giving Credit to two Women that were Prisonens at Malta and had he not spoken it so often to others and G. F. sitting up with him so late at Night was not that his own desire but the man is gene and cannot answer for himself And whereas J. P. saith That he should be told of his Charges and comparing it with Friends Horses and the Battle-door and of T. R's taunting sharply at him c. Answ He might have spared his Labour and not have reflected upon others which he had by Information for none told him of his Charges but by way of Admonition and if he had been of a meek Spirit as you and he says of himself he would never revillingly have called T. R's Exhortation sharp Taunting at him and none spoke to him of upbrading of him of great sums of Money which R. R. makes so much work about over and over in is Book or that he should make satisfaction and he makes much ado about E. Burroughs's speaking to him about his Hat keeping on in time of Prayer And as for G F. or E B. granting to J P to have a Meeting with all the Friends in the Ministry or other Friends in England and they were against it and what if they were and after granted J. P. a little Meeting J P. concluded G. F. changeable This doth not shew forth Love neither in him nor them that printed this Book neither proves it G. F nor E. B. changeable And J. P. saith The Lord required him to keep on his Hat in time of Prayer and for him to do contrary to the moving of the Spirit thereby he sinned against God Answ If J P. had such a Motion and Command to keep on his Hat in time of Prayer in England did not he manifest that it was a false Motion and false Spirit when he put it off in Jamaica and other places And he that had been against Swearing did not he put the Oath to others when he became a Clark And why should any be against us for admonishing him for laying that upon the Lord and his Spirit that was not but his own Imaginations And what J. P. said to F. H and G F. the younger they are gone and he too and this is Wickedness in thee R. R. and others to rake thus into their Ashes and though he pleads much for his Innocency and saith We found fault with his Evening-Meetings It was not without cause nor comparable to them at Gerrard
his Hat in time of Prayer and at other times kept it on and this was his freedom pag. 33. Answ And in pag. 7. J P. saith The Lord required it on him to keep on his Hat in time of prayer and for him to do contrary to the Motion of the Spirit and thereby to Sin against his God So here R. R. and J. P. contradict one another And R. R. saith Even as his Light and freedom led him to shew that the thing was to him indifferent What R. R. a command of God and sin against God and yet a thing indifferent and father this upon the Light Oh father not such Imaginations of your own Brain upon the motion of the Light and Spirit of God! but dread and fear the living God And G. F. doth not by Subtilty and Craft endeavour to bless that which God hath cursed neither doth G. F. preach to the World that the Light is an uncertain thing But that R. R. might have kept at home Neither is G. F. an Enemy to the Leadings of the Light nor a Judge above it nor his Friends called Quakers the Lord knoweth this R. R. might have kept at home But R. R. saith Whether G. F. be clear from presecribing and imposing upon others what himself practices as his pretended Form c. this will be worth the pains to examine because it may tend to undeceive the minds of the simple Ones who are engaged to follow him as their Lord and Leader either for love of the Loaves or some Carnal Ends c. Answ Now let the sober Reader see whether this again be not the Spirit of Malice and Scoffing Expressions For it was never the practice of G. F. to direct People to follow him neither for Loaves nor Carnal ends but to follow Christ their Lord and Leader for such would soon fall off in the time of Sufferings and Tryals as follow for Carnal ends And as for Pastors spoiling Gods Heritage R. R. might have kept that at home with many more Reproachful words he hath in this pag. 33. And we and G. F. uncovering our Heads in time of Prayer in publick Assembies it hath been our practice in the Spirit and Power of God from the beginning before either J P. or R. R. came among us or the Ranters did oppose us and t was the practice of the Church in the Apostles day the Men to be uncovered and the Women covered And R. R. might as well find fault with the Apostle and call it his Set-Form and pretended Custom as ours For if it had been good for Males to have prayed covered the Spirit of God in the Apostle would not forbid it in which Spirit the worship of God is and if R. R. doth pray with his Head covered in an Assembly doth not he pray like a Woman covered and so Transgresses the Apostle's Doctrine and his Spirit And doth not the Apostle reprove such men as pray covered or would have the Women uncovered like the Men and so make no distinction in the Sexes And so G. F. preached the Apostles practice and in this he was no more an opposer then the Apostle So the Apostle nor G. F. were no opposers of the Faith first delivered to the Saints the wise in Heart can judge though the Ranters oppose it and thou and J. P. have kept Hats on in time or Prayer but R. R. can deceive none but such as himself and in this G. F. doth not judge his Innocent Brethren and we know that God doth not justifie you in keeping on your Hats in time of Prayer publick Assemblies no more then he did the Ranters And R. R. saith Why must Hat be kept on in common Civility and put Hat off in worshipping of God Answ And R. R. why must it be put off to Man and not to God in time of Prayer in which they shew forth the Image of God and why are men so offended if they have not that honour and is R. R. offended because he hath it not or the printers of his Book and if he be wiser men then he and they are not And all this that R. R. hath said concerning J. P of wearing Hat in time of Prayer and himself he hath not undeceived any neither will he please any that is sincere and sober except it be the Ranters and was there not a time that R. R. could not bow and is there now a time that he can put off Hat to Men and Women and bow and scrape hath R. R. in this followed the Light that convinced the Saints and him if ever he was and now come to be seared as with an hot Iron Let him examine whether that was the true Faith and Light the Apostles were in that led him from such things which now he is gone into again and if so whether hath he not made himself a Transgressor according to the Apostles Doctrine And R. R. Queries What is the Name Quaker which thou givest to thy self c. was this done that it might be known who thou ownests and who are thy men of War to fight under the Number of thy Name c. Answ Let all People see if R. R. and the Printer of this Book be not in the same Nature as the persecuting Independant Justices who Scoffingly called us Quakers in the Year 1650. because we did Tremble at the Word of God And as for Men of War and Fighters R. R. and J. P. might have applyed that at home with their Guns and Carnal Swords for we are men of Peace and the believing in the Light of Christ Jesus doth distinguish us from the Haters of the Light So its Malice in thee to say that either G. F. or we gave the Name Quaker to himself And R. R. saith What is thy form of Words in Thee and Thou but a customary Singular Speech another Node of speaking then is commonly used which no way respects the Truth of what is spoken c Answ Was it not the Language of God and the Language of Moses and the Prophets and the Language of Christ and the Apostles in the Declarations of Truth Plural and Singular And was not that the true form of words that they declared the Truth in and so acceptable and is it not Confusion to speak Plural when they should speak Singular contrary to the Bible and all teaching Books and didst not thou once speak it thy selâ— and what art thou now so far degenerated from it that thou fight st against us in and like the Spirit of the World and though the Disciples declared the Truth to every man in their own Language did they not declare it Singular and Plural Read the Acts. And R. R. saith What is the refusing to Swear after the manner as the Magistrates command while in the m an time you will call God to witness to what you affirm for Truth Is this any more then to oppose the Magistrates Form by your own c Answ Nay R. R. this