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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29128	The conviction of James Naylor and his black spirit demonstrated from his own confessions, lyes, evasions, and contradictions in the maine points of doctrine by him held forth against the truth in answer to a book of his called Wickednesse weighed : the which was writt in answer to a little treatise called The Quakers quaking principles examined and refuted, written by Ellis Bradshavv ... / written by Ellis Bradshavve.	Bradshaw, Ellis.	1656 (1656)	Wing B4140; ESTC R37455	43,826	56

obey such particular Scriptures as he bringeth to their minds and applyeth and wresteth for his owne ends The Devill never bringeth Scriptures but to deceive thereby alwayes wresting them from their genuine sense and proper meanings as James Naylor might see if he were not blinde or had not sould himselfe for the Devills service And againe whereas he saith that one may have the letter of Scripture and not have the word and that the letter without the Spirit is dead page 4. I answer as before that the letter of the Scripture is the word of God though it is not Christ And that the letter of the Scripture is no where in Scripture called a dead letter but it is words of spirit and life to them that beleeve and receive them in love nor is the Spirit of God at any time withdrawne from his owne words nor doe they returne voyde but alwayes accomplish what he pleaseth and doe that for which he sent them And it is not the Resisting of his Word or Spirit nor both joyntly that can disparage the validitie thereof whether it be set home by the finger of his Spirit or that mens hardned hearts still remaine obdurate Nor will James Naylors Directorie to a light within be effectuall to any for the saving of their soules that doe not beleeve the Scriptures and receive them in love but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse but will rather indanger them to be deluded with a lying spirit and acted by it in stead of the Spirit of God and to be carried blind-fold to their greater sinne and condemnation And therefore what is that to the matter though Satan have the Scripture and have no good by it there being no promise therein for him or what if James Naylor hath it and finde no life in it but a meere dead letter in his apprehension in regard hee wresteth it and doth not love it and therefore cannot afford it so much as a good word having an enmitie against it not caring much if it were all burnt as it is very likely because it condemneth him in something or other that he loveth or desireth and will not part with in obedience thereunto but will rather runne the hazzard of loosing all or he will disparage and make voyde the Scripture that hath touched him Nay hee seemeth to mee rather to preferre his owne words and his owne writings above any in Scripture commending his owne as words that proceed immediately from the eternall Spirit full of life and power but the Scriptures carnall and dead and vaine yea vaine hee accounteth them to such who have not the Spirit already Though he cannot but know they are appointed of God as the cheife meanes for ministration of the Spirit and of life and power for what life and power can be communicated or administred to any man by ministration of men but from Scripture-grounds and those pretious promises therein contained through Christ Jesus in whom all the promises are yea and Amen and through whom onely wee have interest in them being all finners and so excluded from life as well as the Devill were it not for him that hath merited our salvation And therefore what a devillish doctrine is this to dehort all men from reading the Scriptures till they first obtaine the Spirit of God What other end can this doctrine aime at but to keepe them still under a spirit of bondage as sure there are none that are set free and have the spirit of life in them through the hearing of faith preached That will owne this doctrine to be of God but a doctrine of Devills And againe hee telleth mee that hee might shew my blindnesse in all other Scriptures that I quote were it needfull as instance that 2 Pet. 1.19 Wee have a more sure word of prophesie to which you doe well to take heed as to a light that shines in a darke place till the day dawne and the day-starre arise in your hearts Now it is true I quoted this Scripture as one amongst the rest against his assertion in his answers to Baxter to wit that the Scripture houlds out but one light and word the which I there denyed and proved it first from Mat. 5.14 16. To wit Yee are the light of the world and John 5.35 that John was a burning and a shining light and Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple and then this of Peter Upon which I say that I suppose James Naylor will not acknowledge that he ever received any light from that sure word of prophesie as from a light shining in a darke place but onely some little braine knowledge of the bare letter else hee would not so reproach and disparage those that doe take heed to the sure word of prophesie till they be inlightned thereby in what they were darke and did not understand Now to all that I say in these words hee answereth not at all by way of contradiction but doth as much as confesse that hee was mistaken nor can hee possibly make that his assertion good against these Scriptures But hee heere undertakes to shew my blindnesse in quoting this Scripture to this purpose before-named to wit And this saith he you would have to be the letter of the old Prophets which shines in a darke place And so saith hee by thy doctrine the letter of the old Testament and in a darke place too is a surer word then what Peter heard God himselfe speake and were eye witnesses of his Majestie And this is all thou knowest of the spirit of prophesie the testimony of Jesus or the Scriptures that declare it To which I answer that I appeale to the Judgements and Consciences of all that know any thing of the spirit of prophesie or the testimonie of Jesus or the Scriptures that declare it Whether the Apostle doth not meane it of the old Prophesies of the old Testament when he thus speaketh yea I say the letter hee meant when hee so adviseth them and not the spirit onely of which the letter declares for the letter declares of the spirit and the spirit is the author and opener of the letter and that by the letter as an instrumentall meanes comparing Scripture with Scripture and spirituall things with spirituall things The Prophet Daniel himselfe understood by booke that the time of their captivitie was accomplished And James the Apostle produced the words of the Prophet Amos to Resolve that great doubt and difference amongst them Act. 15.15 To wit And to this agree the words of the Prophet as it is written c. Observe as it is written and so he Recites the very written letter for he knew by the letter what the words of the Prophet were because they were written And how else should wee have knowne the words of the Prophets if they had not been written and wee had seene or heard them read or recited those Prophets themselves being dead long since were they not written

like Returnes of Reciprocall Communication of love and honour where it is sincere For the looking forth of the spirit of love through the eyes and face is as an invitation to the same spirit if it be in another to looke forth also and salute each other beeing not two but one and the same spirit though in two persons by operation in both their spirits to shew its onenesse and make them so likewise if they doe apply yea that they may be one as God is one for nothing but love can make two one as God is one and there is no spirit of love but one and that is God I meane of love that is true and lawfull Now this spirit of love is the same spirit in us which was in the Patriarkes before the Law was given forth and did ingage them to such humble honourable and amiable affections and to such expressions as are naturall to it And if we have any little measure of the same spirit it will ingage us also to doe the like if wee doe not resist it and wee are forbid to resist the spirit Now it sometimes ingageth those in whom it dwells to lift up their eyes or their hands towards heaven and sometimes both according as it ingageth the heart and affections the which if wee resist wee resist the spirit And it is easily discernable through the eyes whether such their motions come from the heart or they are but fained especially by such who are also acquainted with such ejaculations of their owne hearts and of their eyes and hands as they are affected And I doe beleeve that many of the Quakers have resisted the spirit and quenched it also before they could get their hearts to comply with such uncourteous carriage as not to put off their hatts and bow their bodies and use the word you to such whom they formerly had been so accustomed So that now they are growne to such hardnesse of heart and searednesse of spirit that nothing can be seene in them of naturall affection but more like bruite beasts made to be taken and to be destroyed see 2 Tim. 3.3 2 Pet. 2.12 as was prophesied of them in these last dayes And whereas hee telleth mee that I belye the spirit of God for saith he the spirit of God forbids it James 2. even that which setts up pride and respects persons I answer so doe I also forbid pride and respect of persons in that sense there meant and in many other and I can love and honour the poore that are virtuous more then the rich that are either wicked or not so virtuous nor would I debase or depresse the poore because he is poore to exalt the rich in partiall respect But I must honour all men and give them due respect and shall I hope as I know what it is but to shew no respect to any at all as so the Quakers doe is to shew plainly that I have not any love or Respect in mee And againe saith hee Christ himselfe saith How can you beleeve that Receive honour one of another John 5.44 And if they could not beleeve that received honour how much lesse can you beleeve that seeke it and grudge if you have it not I answer let them that seeke it or Receive it either that which cometh but from men answer for themselves I seeke it not nor receive it neither but that which cometh of God onely if I know it from the other Now that which cometh of God is really cordiall and I must receive it and Returne the like as so I am naturally ingaged by the love and honour which is of God in my owne soule nor doe I dissemble any more then they Now there is a common love and a common respect and customarie honour to which I am bound by that command to wit honour all men but there is a nearer and more particular love and honour and courtesie which will induce mee to a fuller expression both in word and deed and I am so ingaged by the same spirit and in all this there is no partiallitie or respect of persons but as I ought to doe And so his comparison of mee to Haman and Saul I have good ground to deny And againe saith hee not having any Scripture to plead for these things thou wouldst plead for them under the pretence of love and being courteous and tender-hearted I say saith he silence deceite you have sett up these things till you have lost all love but what is selfish c. I answer I did produce diverse Scriptures but they are none it seemes with him is there no Scripture that commandeth love and to be courteous and tender-hearted What spirit is this but a lying Devill that proceedeth on upon this lying foundation to rayling and reviling and prophesying the destruction of all our fading glorie because wee maintaine the lawfullnesse of these customarie Civilities but because his bookes are so full of lyes I doe not much regard either his rayling or prophesying but to cleare up the truth which the Lord assisting mee I have in some measure done and doe commit the same to his blessing and disposall to whom be all the honour and glorie and praise for ever and ever Amen Amen The End A Postscript to fill up a sheet that wanted being a Catalogue of some of James Naylors lyes gathered out of his booke in five or six houres time to let the Reader see hee is none of those children that will not lye but when hee can no otherwise shift off the dint of a Scripture or argument hee maketh lyes his Refuge and under vanitie would hide himselfe if such coverings were not too narrow but that hee could wrapp himselfe How faine would hee appeare to be all in sheepes cloathing though Inwardly hee is ravening and Woolffish A Catalogue of some of James Naylors lyes 1. HEE saith my booke is much boasted off by the Author but as little worth as the boast is great 2. Hee saith it was my envie that carried me with such envie against the Innocent till I spake I knew not what 3. Hee saith hee hath set downe some markes and maintenance of the true Ministers and also of the false their fruits differing them according to Christs Rules in Scripture with diverse other things to keepe the simple from deceit 4. Hee saith it is by a friend to the worke of God but an enemy to the Devills worke where it is found and pleaded for called by the world James Naylor These foure lyes are in his Title page and are answered pag. 1 2 3. 5. Hee saith I have boasted much of my worke 6. That I have forgot that teaching to let other men praise mee and not my owne mouth 7. That I have prooved nothing against James Naylor but against my selfe These three are in his first page 8. That I have writ against the light of Christ being sufficient 9. That I would binde them to creature-worships and Nationall customes 10. That I