Answ We truly and dearly own the Scriptures or Book called the Bible but the words contained in that Book are not all of equal Authority one with another See thy own Testimony concerning the Scriptures or Bible which is as followeth The Scriptures are not God Christ nor the Spirit but Laws and Doctrines Histories and Reports given by the Inspiration of God I say The words which God spake unto Man saying Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Were and Are of greater Authority than those words which as History or Relation declare of the Wars and Battels of the Jews and other such Historical Matters and of greater Authority to and among Christians than those words that related to Circumcision the Blood of Bulls Goats and Rams and the Ashes of an Heifer c. these being Shadows and to pass away And the words of Christ who said to his Disciples I am the Vine ye are the Branches as the Branches cannot bring forth Fruit except they abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me And without me ye can do nothing My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you These words are of greater Authority than the Relation or Histories of the Apostles outward Travel by Sea or Land and they are of greater Authority than those words that speak of Paul's Cloak that he left at Troas mentioned in 2 Tim. 4.13 and all other such Historical Matters The People called Quakers do prefer and esteem the Book called the Bible or Holy Scriptures above any outward Writing or Book extant upon the Earth because of the Verity and Plenty of deep heavenly Sayings uttered by God unto Moses and the Prophets through the several Ages of the World and particularly and eminently through the heavenly Man Christ Jesus who was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows and filled with the Spirit without measure Nevertheless we do affirm that the Spirit of God in this Age hath moved several of us to write Books which have been Instrumental in his Hand for Good unto many with respect to their Immortal Souls God the Holy One changeth not neither is he to be limited and all our Books and Writings are not of equal Authority one with another some treat of our inward Experience of the Work of God in which are contained words that do direct Man and Woman to the Manifestation of the Spirit of God which is given them to profit withal to the Grace of God which brings Salvation to the Light wherewith Christ lighteth every one that comes into the World Some others of our Books do treat of our Sufferings and outward Exercises c. which though all of them be true yet some are of greater weight than others And Destruction comes upon People because they do not believe in and obey the Light Grace and Spirit of God which he hath given them to lead them out of Sin into all Truth Those who read our Writings without Prejudice may receive Good thereby as by Instruments which God makes use of and such who do so they will return the Glory to God as we do And those who read our Books in Envy and Malice the Murdering Spirit blinds their Minds and God doth condemn such And for J. C's saying He proved by Arguments the Scriptures rightly to be called by this Title The word of God Here the Reader hath no more but his say so which I deny to be any proof at all neither did he prove it but in this also is a Lyar. J. C. saith The Quakers acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Words of God by their own Confession every Scripture Word is God's Word Reply This is a dark Consequence J. C. hath drawn Though we own God's Words in the Scriptures to be his Words yet this doth not follow that we own every word in the Scripture to be God's Word For in the Scriptures there are words of the Serpent who is called the Devil and Satan words of wicked Men as well as God's words and words of good Men And hath not J. Cheyney here manifested his Falshood Let the Reader judge J. C. further saith R. H. in the Dispute denyed all Scripture to be given by Inspiration of God and would read the words 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable leaving out Is c. Reply J. C. himself grants the word is not to be expressed in the Original Text but that the Original Text is read thus All Scripture given by Inspiration of God c. the word is not being expressed why then should R. H. be blamed for reading it according to the Original Text which was before the English Copy or Translation Yet there is extant some old English Bibles in which this Scripture is thus read All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable c. And the word is and also the Conjunction and about which J. C. quarrels so much are left out But it seems J. C. will rather skirmish with his own Shadow than have nothing to do For what he grants to be true R. H. must if he can reach it be stigmatized as some Blasphemer But this way of skirmishing will never hurt R. H. nor stain his Reputation amongst good Men. R. H. acknowledged and doth acknowledge All Scripture given by Inspiration of God to be profitable c. But J. C. is Angry with him because he will not say All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God though he grants the word is not to be expressed in the Original Text therefore R. H's Reading is true And that all Scripture which is as much as to say All Writing is given by Inspiration of God I think J. C. himself If considerate will not assert for All Writing contains or comprehends every Writing that is written not only in the Scriptures of Truth the Books of the Prophets Evangelists the Epistles of the Apostles and other Writings of Truth extant but all other Writings extant of what matter or subject soever they treat If J. Chayney grants this that all Writing viz. all Books of what nature or kind soever that are written printed and published to the World are not given by Inspiration of God as sure he will then he grants all Scripture is not given by Inspiration of God for All Scripture comprehends all Writing and all Writing includes all Books that are written and all Books that are written are not profitable to the Man of God for Doctrine c. Then he must needs grant the Apostles Meaning was according to the Original Text with which the old English Bibles agree to wit All Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable c. This sense the Original Text will bear without any wrong to the Truth or the Apostle who spoke it forth To this the Apostle
comes to the Father but by him In the same Way and by the same Rule viz. the Spirit in and by which they walked who had not the Scriptures walked they who gave forth the Scriptures not only before they gave forth the Scriptures but afterwards in the same Way and by the same Rule have they walked do and shall they walk who have come do or shall come to live the Life the Scriptures declare of and not one of these who lives the Life the Scriptures testifie of make the Scriptures void as J. C. falsly suggesteth who thereby hath manifested his Ignorance both of the Scriptures and of the Power of God being one of those unlearned who wrests the Scriptures to their own Destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 And for his saying The Scriptures were proved the Rule it is false For the Spirit was proved the Rule and yet the Scriptures not made void J. C. in page 10 11. to prove W. P. and R. H. confute themselves and so saith he down goes the whole Body of Quakerism affirms That Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith Historical and Saving Faith are not opposite where-ever there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same There is the same Law and Rule to wicked Men as to godly Men the same Scripture which breeds Historical Faith breedeth Saving Faith but neither one nor the other without the Spirit of God Reply Now if this Tale he true that Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and that upon this point Down must go the whole Body of Quakerism Then I argue thus He that hath Historical Faith hath Saving Faith if they be one as J. C. says they are and not opposite then there is no difference betwixt a Dead Faith and a Living Faith a Faith without Works and a Faith that hath Works J. C. saith They are not two nor opposite where-ever saith he there is Saving Faith there is Historical and the Rule is one and the same Is it not as broad as long where-ever then there is Historical Faith there is Saving Faith for saith J. C. They are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith and the Rule is one and the same But doth not this contradict the Scripture and give the Apostle James the Lye Who saith Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain Man that Faith without Works is dead James 2.19 20. What saith J. C Historical Faith and Saving Faith are not two Faiths nor opposite but one Faith What is this but to say the Faith of vain and wicked Men and the Belief of Devils and the Faith of God's Elect are not opposite not two Faiths but one Faith J. C's assertion plainly holds forth this Doctrine That there is no difference nor opposition between Historical Faith and Saving Faith Faith without Works and Faith which hath Works Dead Faith and living Faith the Faith of Wicked Men and the Faith of God's Elect. I will not say J. C. is a Ranter in Practice But let the Reader judge whether J. C. be not a Ranter in Principle For J. C. cannot deny but that Devils and wicked Men believe there is a God and that the belief of Devils and wicked Men is not saving and that wicked Men whose Faith is not saving but vain believe the History of the Scriptures Now whether the historical Faith of vain and wicked Men and the saving Faith of God's Elect be not opposite be not two Faiths but one entire saving Faith let Truth in all People judge Likewise observe how grosly J. C. contradicts himself for he says Neither the one nor the other doth the Scriptures breed without the Spirit of God If they be one and another they are two if they be two J. C. gives himself the Lye who before said They were not two but one and he makes God's Spirit the Author of them both And again he saith The Spirit in both concurreth and maketh use of the Scriptures in this he concludes them to be two for J. C. saith In both that is in both Faiths Historical and Saving Again J. C. saith Saving and Historical Faith are not two Faiths are not opposite Now the Verb are is plural and speaks of more then one So all along though J. C. deny them to be two he concludes them to be two Faiths and wofully contradicts himself and instead of throwing down the whole Body of Quakerism is sadly confounded Historical Faith is one thing the Drunkard Lyar Whoremonger Deceiver may have it or he that hath made shipwrack of that Faith which is saving and of a good Conscience may yet have historical Faith that is he may acknowledge there is a God But Saving Faith is another thing this Faith all Men have not 2 Thess 3.2 but God visits all with his Spirit and Power in order to give saving Faith but many resist the Visitation of God and perish in their Gain saying the Destruction of all such is of themselves and the Lord God is Clear Of historical Faith the History may be a Rule but of saving Faith the Mystery is a Rule The Spirit gives saving Faith and the Spirit is the Rule of it and this will stand over the Head of J. C. and his Ranting Principle And in his bold attempt he hath neither hurt W. P. nor R. H. nor the Quakers but has manifested his Distraction and given himself the Down-fall and his Confusion is laid open that the Reader if unprejudiced may see what an Unskilful Confounded Babylonish Builder J. C. is J. C. saith pag. 15. The Quakers prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures and call their own Writings by this Title The Word of God This was another thing asserted by J. C. at the Dispute to prove the Quakers Religion against the Scriptures Reply I answered at the Dispute and again say The Charge is false the Quakers do not prefer their Writings above the Scriptures of Truth nor call them The Word of God neither did any place in their Books which he read and were owned nor Quotation which he hath given in his Relation prove any such thing I owned and we own and dearly esteem the Scriptures of Truth Friendly Reader This false and malicious Charge of John Cheyney's is lately clearly answered by William Gibson in his before-mentioned Book entituled The Life of God which is the Light and Salvation of Men Exalted which Answer take as followeth By which thou mayest see clearly that the People called Quakers do not prefer their own Writings above the Scriptures Concerning the Holy Scriptures or Bible and concerning the Quakers Books JOhn Cheney in thy 8th and 9th page of thy Premonition to thy Sermons of Hypocrisie thou chargest the People called Quakers That they esteem their Books and Writings to be of Equal Authority with the Scriptures or Bible
A COLLECTION OF THE Christian Writings LABOURS Travels and Sufferings OF THAT Faithful and Approved Minister of Jesus Christ Roger Haydock To which is added An Account of his Death and Burial They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the Star's for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street 1700. TO THE READER THis little Treatise of and concerning Roger Haydock is Recommended to thy Serious Perusal and Christian Consideration and whatever therein thou findest of Benefit Comfort and Instruction unto thee give the Praise and Glory to Him that made the Instrument what he was and Called him by his Grace Fitted him by his Power Commissionated him from on High to Preach the Everlasting Gospel of Life and Salvation and Endued him with his Wisdom and Guided him by his Counsel and I am satisfied in Mercy hath taken him to Himself who is worthy of all Praise Honour and Glory for ever His Christian Character Exemplary Conversation Sound Judgment Fervent Zeal Great Labours Many Travels Godly Care for Christian Discipline in the Churches of Christ Faithful Testimony to the Truth and Sufferings for the same with his Earnest and Pious Endeavours that in Faithfulness and Simplicity it might be kept to by all the Professors thereof in all its several Branches that there might not be a Swerving from the same in any thing but in WORDS HABIT CONVERSATION SPIRIT FAITH and TESTIMONY there might be a diligent keeping thereto is largely Testified by many Witnesses his great Love to the Brethren and Concern for the Preservation of Unity his Sympathizing with the Exercised and Afflicted his Tenderness over Them his Strengthening the Weak and Comforting the Mourners Admonishing and Reproving the Careless and Disorderly are also Testified unto by those that knew him and had intimate Conversation with him and opportunity to make their Remarks thereupon And therefore I shall not Enlarge but Recommend thee to the following Testimonies and Collection desiring as thou findest them Agreeable to Truth and Corresponding with the Testimony thereof Recorded in Holy Writ thou may'st receive them in Love and use thy utmost Endeavours through the Assistance of the Grace of God to follow the same and him as he followed Christ That so through Faith and Obedience unto God and a constant and sincere Continuance therein to the End thou may'st finish thy Course keep the Faith and receive a Crown of Righteousness from God the Righteous Judge So to Him I Recommend thee that is the blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath Immortality dwelling in the Light which no Man can approach unto whom no Man hath seen or can see To whom be Honour and Power Everlasting Amen Thy Sincere Friend and Hearty Well-wisher John Feild The 14th of the 10th Month 1699. THE CONTENTS AN Epistle to Friends of Blackrod-Meeting page 1 The Skirmisher confounded Being a Collection of several Passages taken out of some Books of John Cheyney's who stiles himself The Author of the Skirmish upon Quakerism c. p. 5 A Hypocrite unvailed and a Blasphemer made manifest Being an Examination of John Cheyney's false Relation of his Dispute with the Quakers at Arley-Hall in Cheshire the 23d of the 11th Month called January 1676. Published in his Book entituled A Warning to Souls c. p. 27 A Salutation to Friends of the Men and Womens Meetings p. 162 To Friends in Holland p. 166 Concerning Roger Haydock's two Imprisonments in Lancaster Goal p. 177 Roger Haydock and Heskin Fell's Letter to the Judge concerning their Sufferings p. 180 A Copy of his Answer tendered to the Chancellor in the Consistory Court at York the 23d of the 2d Month called April p. 183 Justice Bradshaw and Penington's Warrant of Commitment p. 185 Roger Haydock Heskin Fell and Alice Haydock's Letter to the Bishop of Chester p. 190 A Brief Account of the Life Travels Sufferings and Death of Roger Haydock p. 201 Advertisement THere is lately Published a Book entituled God's Protecting Providence Man's Surest Help and Defence in Times of the Greatest Difficulty and most Eminent Danger Evidenced in a most Affecting Narrative of the Surprizing Danger and Remarkable Deliverance of Robert Barrow with divers other Persons from the Devouring Waves of the Sea amongst which they suffered Shipwrack And also from the cruel Devouring Jaws of the Inhumane Canibals of Florida Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street Eleanor Haydock's TESTIMONY Concerning her Husband Roger Haydock Dear Friends MY Spirit hath been and is bowed under a deep sence of my great Loss and Exercise in the Removal of my Dear Husband whom it hath pleased God in his Wisdom to take away from me who was Comfort to my Life and Joy to my Days in this World being given me of God in great Mercy and Loving Kindness and so hath been enjoyed by me in thankfulness of Heart to the Close of that time God had appointed and now is taken from the World with all its Troubles and Exercises as also from all his Labours and Travels which were great amongst the Churches of Christ which with me have no small Loss in his Removal But What shall I say Wise and Good is the Lord who doth what he will in Heaven and in Earth and amongst his Churches and his Chosen he can Break and Bind up Wound and Heal Kill and make Alive again that the Living may see his Wonders and magnifie his Power in all through all and over all who is God Eternal Blessed for ever Amen And now dear Friends I being sensible of the Wise Conduct and Vertuous Life of my dear Husband whom God hath seen meet to divest of this Earthly House and Tabernacle that he might possess a most sure House and Building with God Eternal in the Heavens that glorious Mansion which the blessed Lamb whom he faithfully followed in his Day hath prepared for him where he now rests from his Labours and his Works follow him And as one that had full Knowledge of him for many Years cannot but commemorate something of my Experience as a Mite amongst many faithful Brethren cast into the Treasury and left upon Record as a Testimony for him and can say He was a Man of Vertue from his Youth altho' of a Child I knew him not he being in Christ before me yet nigh from the Time of my Convincement which hath been for the space of Twenty Six Years and more he being at the first Meeting I was at when I received the Truth altho' I cannot say I was begotten into the Faith by him as a Father yet can say he was to me a faithful Instructor and a Furtherer of me in the Work of God as well by Conversation as Ministry His Love to me was great in those days for the Work 's sake which God had begun in me He with James Harrison had drawings to visit Meetings in Cheshire and I went with them which
no wonder for though it be not very long since he turned Parson and crept in among the Chemmarims or Men of the Back Robe for formerly he he was a Justice's Clerk and thirsted eagerly after the Quakers Money but as yet I hear not that he returned them their Money again yet in this short time he hath defiled his own Nest charged his Brethren with Vile Hypocrisie stiled them Hypocritical Ministers yet of himself saith I am the most Rude and Vnskilful of all thy Ministers Hath he not marked his own Nose What constrained him to Pray Hypocritically Dissemble with God and Lye to the Almighty Not the Truth for there is no Lye of it not the Spirit of Truth for that leadeth into all Truth He hath been acted by another spirit Well he is seen by many to be what he is an Hypocrite And whereas he saith Many will not endure such Preachers as he I add No doubt But from henceforth some that have heard him and approved of him being simply betrayed by him now seeing him will hear him no more but quite turn their Backs on that Rude Distracted Hypocritical Dissembling Lying Minister all which his own Confession proves him to be also a Base Wicked Confused Blaspheming Priest all which his own Works prove him to be Now if any moderate Enquirer shall ask a Reason Why I heap these things upon him I answer I am only an Instrument in the Lord's Hand and the God of Heaven is pouring Contempt upon him he hath lift up himself and not by the Lord and therefore the Lord is casting him down For the Truth 's sake and for the sake of the Simple-hearted where this may come have I collected these passages out of his Works giving the Title of the Book and Page in which whoso desires may in his Books read them more at large Many gross things I have pass'd by in his Books especially Quakerism subverted as also in his Skirmish the latter being fully answered already It is for Truth 's sake and the sake of People's Souls which are misguided that thus far I have run through his dirty Channel what I have written I commend to every Man's Conscience in the light of God who am Truth 's Friend and the Soul's Friend but an Enemy to that which misguided Roger Haydock A HYPOCRITE UNVAILED AND A BLASPHEMER Made Manifest Being an Examination of Iohn Cheyney's False Relation of his Dispute with the Quakers at Arley-Hall in Cheshire the 23d of the 11th Month called January 1699. Published in his Book Entituled A Warning to Souls c. Wherein John Cheyney's Lyes and Slanders are Detected his Hypocrisie is Unvailed his Confusion and Blasphemy is Manifested which he hath Published in his foresaid Book That the Simple-hearted People may see John Cheyney the pretended Gospel-Minister is No Minister of Jesus Christ By a Disciple of Christ Roger Haydock Isa 28.15 We have made Lyes our Refuge and under Falshood have we hid our selves Verse 17. The Hail shall sweep away the Refuge of Lyes and the Waters shall over-flow the biding-place Obad. 1.3 The Pride of thine Heart hath deceived thee Rev. 13.6 He opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God to Blaspheme his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwelt in Heaven A HYPOCRITE Unvailed AND A BLASPHEMER Made Manifest c. IT is not a Narrative of the Dispute I had with John Cheyney at Arley-Hall in Cheshire upon the 23d Day of the 11th Month last past that in this Treatise I am purposed to give for that would require an impartial Reiteration and faithful Relation of all that was spoken on both parts which Task I am unwilling to undertake First Because I have not John Cheyney's Crutch which he leaned upon at the said Dispute I mean his Notes which he Disputed by he may well bear the Repetition of his own Expression published to the World in his Sermons of Hypocrisie p. 203 204. where he saith Such as do use Notes in publick it is but as a Lame Man that makes use of a Crutch or as a Weak-sighted Man of Spectacles And that he made use of his Notes in that Publick Dispute it was evident to some Hundreds of People which Notes I having not cannot relate every thing that was spoken by J. C. in his assaying to prove his false Charges Secondly Because something of what the Lord gave me that day to speak in defence of the Truth is not now in my Remembrance it being some Months since the Dispute and I had not Notes to Dispute by like J. C. neither did I put Pen to Paper concerning it or premeditate before hand what to say that not being Truth 's Way nor according to Christ's Command but expresly contrary Mat. 10.19 20. Take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of the Father which speaketh in you But I was resigned in the Will of God and stood in his Counsel and it was given me of God whose Presence was that day with me who blessed my Undertaking concerning that Dispute to him alone be the Praise what to speak in Defence of the Truth whereby the Truth was cleared the People called Quakers and their Religion defended from John Cheyney's wicked Charges against both and J. C. proved a Lyar and a Deceiver Something of what was spoken-by-me which had then its Service is not now in my Remembrance so as to give a particular Account of every word I then spoke Therefore it 's not a Narrative of the Dispute I intend but an Examination of J. C's false Relation given concerning the said Dispute is chiefly hereby intended in order to detect his Lyes that the Truth may appear in which Examination I shall relate something of what was spoken and for clearing things to the Reader shall further declare my fence as the Lord opens things in me But before I come to Examine J. C's Relation of the Dispute at Arley I must intreat the Reader 's patience by the way to go along with me in the Examination of J. C's Account given of a Dispute at Croton in Cheshire between Mr. B. Minister of Wareham and Roger Haydock a Quaker I think it expedient for the opening the Matter to give the Reader a brief Relation how this Dispute was occasioned that it may appear I did not Challenge a Dispute with this Mr. B. as J. C. calls him whose Name is John Barber a thing I am clear of though of late I have been twice concerned in Disputation yet as Defendant through the daring Challenges the Priests have given amongst whom this J. C. of all others hath exceeded of which something more hereafter About the middle of the 4th Month 1676. I was in Cheshire at a Meeting of God's People at a place called Kingsley where there were some People lately Convinced of the Truth some of which were Parishioners and had
is resisting the Holy Ghost Holy Spirit as they did called a Sect and no doubt but the Apostles were accounted Sect-Masters by J. C.'s Predecessors as well as R. H. is stilled a Sect-Master by him for the Truth 's sake which prospers and prevails R. H. can bear it and J. C. hath discovered Himself and manifested his Folly But perhaps he thinks whatever he says or writes whether Slander Lye or Scoff his Coat will bear him out but if so his thoughts will deceive him for there are many will not so take things upon trust neither from him nor any of his Brethren either because of their Black Coat or White Coat but him will reprehend and judge for his Slanders Lyes and Scoffing Sure I may say a lying spirit hath entered him and acts him and it is against that spirit my controversie is I have Love and Good will to the Creature for the Scriptures were that day owned by us in their place as they have ever been by us since we were a People to God's Praise J. C. had Will enough to have proved all he hath said but he wanted Power Truth being stronger than all Neither had he so much Skill as Baseness nor Honesty as Impudence He laboured by indirect means to accomplish his wicked End but fell short and instead of Glory reaped Shame And why may I not use his own Expression published to the World only instead of the word Foes put in Opponent and say In this J. C. came poorly off as when he prayed his Opponent being too hard for him There were several that Day his Baseness and Wickedness being discovered and laid open cried against him and one called aloud unto him and openly asserted J. C. to be a Lyar and offered to prove it to his Face and said He was No Quaker But when J. C. had produced the Baptist's Book which he would have made the People to have believed was one of our Books out of which he brought a Quotation I asked to see the Book he refused I pressed again to see it not so much questioning the Book as that he had wronged the words in reading them he again refused I promised if he would let me have our Friend 's Bood to read the Quotation my self I would do the like for him with any Book I produced if requested when he saw I would not be satisfied but pressed still to see the Book then he confessed It was the Baptists Book and impudently asserted the Quotation was right and that they had truly stated our Friends Assertion But his dis-ingenuity thereby appear'd he being laid open and many saw him baffled in his Undertaking He also gave other Forged Quotations which he would have had the People believe were our Friends Assertions yet all would not avail to prove the Quakers Religion was against the Scriptures A Second Branch of the afore-cited Charge which in order to prove he asserted That the Quakers made the Scriptures useless and utterly void alledging That if the Scriptures were not the Rule of Faith they were useless and utterly void quoting the Second of Timothy 3.16 To which I replied I deny the Quakers do make void the Scriptures but that they own them I affirm and that they are profitable to the Man of god But there is no Man of God without God's Spirit it is the Spirit of God that makes a Man of God and it is the Spirit of God which was the Rule to the Man of God before the Scriptures were written and that which was the Rule to the Man of God is the Rule to the Man of God that which gives Faith is the Rule of Faith and that is the Spirit of God which gave Faith and was the Rule of Faith before the Scriptures were written Yet this makes not the Scriptures useless for the Man of God who walks according to this Rule the Spirit lives the Life the Scriptures declare of And to such a Man the Scriptures are profitable though he cannot set the Scriptures above the Spirit which gave them forth yet owning them in their place hath a more real esteem for the Scriptures than that Man who cries them up for his Rule yet walks contrary thereunto and short of the Life the Scriptures testifie of John Cheyney saith in the same Page R. H. would not say that the Scriptures were no Rule at all But he affirmed that they were not the Rule Reply This grant of J. C's proveth I did not make the Scriptures useless and void I asserted as before That the Spirit is the Rule of Doctrinal Saving Faith for that which is more universal than the Scriptures which was the Rule of Faith before and ever since the Scriptures were written to wit of saving Faith is the Spirit which gave Faith and ruled it and gives Faith and rules it for what it was it is and what it is it will for ever remain because unchangeable And I further add That that which the Saints walked in was their Rule and that was the Spirit Gal. 5.16 Walk in the Spirit c. Yet is not the Scriptures made void but fulfilled This is but a false Suggestion of J. C. That Scriptures are either the Rule or useless for he that walks in Spirit comes in measure to know the Scriptures fulfilled It is the Spirit of God which gives saving Knowledge and that which gives saving Knowledge is the saving Rule One to all God's People throughout all Ages of the World since Adam was created his Rule before he fell his Rule as he came up again in the same Life from which he fell Enoch's Rule in which he walked with God before the Scriptures were written the Prophets Rule who spake forth Scriptures by God's Spirit who were Prophets before the Scriptures they spoke forth by God's Spirit were written the Evangelists Rule who set forth a Declaration of those things which were most surely believed amongst them having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first Luke 1.1 3. Mark they had perfect understanding of all things they writ before they writ them the Apostles Rule who were Apostles before their Epistles were written the Rule of all the Holy Men of God since the Apostles days for there is no Holy Man of God without God's Spirit He that hath not the Spirit of God is none of his Rom. 8.9 He that hath the Spirit is to walk in it Gal. 5.16 25. He that walks in the Spirit it is his Rule he asketh Counsel of God as by Vrim and Thummim hath an answer from God takes Counsel of God and is covered with a Covering of God's Spirit such have comfort in reading the Scriptures being come in measure to the fulfilling of them in measure witnessing what their Elder Brethren the Prophets and Apostles declared of their Experiences as they did tread in their Foot-steps for One is the Way for the Righteous in all Ages Christ the Way the Truth and the Life John 14.6 No Man
hath commanded and perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect which was the Command of Christ Lev. 19.2 20.7 Mat. 5.48.1 Pet. 1.16 Would not J. C. have the best of People whilst in this World to Pray Hypocritically Dissemble with God and utter Untruths to him that searcheth the Heart This he confesseth to be his own state and further adds in the same page But either it must be so in part or there will be no praying in this Word And must there either be Hypocritical Praying Dissembling with God and uttering Untruths unto the Searcher of Hearts or no Praying in this World God forbid The Spirit of God prepareth the Morning and Evening Sacrifice which as sweet Incense is accepted of God who heareth his own Spirit The Spirit of God inditeth good Matter not Hypocrisie it teacheth all the Sons of God who are led by it to Pray with it and with Understanding also according to Scripture 1 Cor. 14 15. Therefore J. C's Unbelief as well as Hypocrisie is hereby made manifest who saith Either it must be so in part or there will be no Praying in this World I do believe it is so with J. C. viz. He Prays Hypocritically c. and that it will be so with him and his Generation so long as they resist the Holy Ghost the Holy Spirit of God and that the best of their Performances is Sin according to his confession That Distraction and vile Hypocrisie are and will be in their Prayers even in those they call their Solemn Prayers to God This we saw to be in that Generation which caused us to separate from them that the Lord might receive us But although it be so with J. C. and his Generation yet it is otherwise with the Children of Light the Sons and Daughters of God who walk in the Light of the Lamb having Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ who walking in the Light as he is in the Light have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin Rev. 21.24 1 John 1.3,7 But J. C. who despiseth the Light of Life cannot believe though a Man declare it unto him See Acts 13.41 J. C. in page 19. of Warning to Souls c. boasts of the Testimony of his Conscience That by the Grace of God he hath had his Conversation in the World and that he would not be in the Condition that a Quaker is in any of them all for Ten Thousand Worlds Reply A Pharisaical Boaster indeed J. C. is to the Grace Light and Spirit of God and Christ he is a professed Enemy and that he hath had his Conversation in the World according to it his Practice in wrongfully taking the Quakers Money proves the contrary which as some can testifie when he had got it he said to some of hs Acquaintance Let us Drink it or Spend it for it will never do good It would have done good if J. C. had either not taken it from them or restored it to them again The Grace of God neither led him to take it nor spend it The Light or Grace of God J. C. hath called Diana Dagon a Dumb Idol compared to a Drunken Coach-Man accused it to be guilty of all Heart-sins Tongue-sins Thought-sins and Life-sins charged it with the guilt of All Sins whether in Angels or in Men and in Hell to be its own Tormentor Indeed he hath exceeded all Men that ever I read or heard of in Blasphemy against the Grace Light Life or Spirit of God and Christ And for his saying He would not be in the Condition a Quaker is in any of them all for Ten Thousand Worlds I answer The Time is coming and hasteneth that he would be glad to be in the Condition of the least of them who really are in Unity with the Light viz. the Spirit of Christ which Ten Thousand Worlds cannot purchase for him Now Reader I have gone through his Relation of the Dispute and by way of Examination have given thee an Account That at the Dispute at Arley-Hall in Cheshire I cleared by the Help of God to whose Power I leaned and to whom alone my Soul ascribes the Praise the Quakers and their Religion from J. C's wicked Charges against both and also proved J. C. to be a Lyar a Deceiver and a Hypocrite after which time his spirit was much under for the Power of God was over him and he sought for an opportunity to be gone And it was observed by some that he might think time tedious whilst he stayed and that he might take more thought to get off the Stage than to prove the remaining part of the Charges which were five in number And though he had boastingly said One for one day and another one for another day and I will be for thee also when thou art as liberty yet it plainly appeared that one piece of a day gave him enough for having got the opportunity looked for he forsook the Stage and left me speaking thereupon and since that time would never look me in the Face to make further Proof of his Charges His Preparation to be gone was noted by many of the Auditory before he went and when he turn'd his back on me a Friend said to him Stay and prove thy Charge and one of his Brethren a Priest who had stood with him lifted up his Stick against the Friend and threatned to knock him down if he would not hold his Peace c. By this the Reader may observe in what a spirit they went away I kept speaking after the Priests were gone to the Auditory remaining and some other of my Brethren after me for some time and the Power of God was over all and the Testimony of Truth got room in many Hearts and the Event hath proved That that Day 's service tended to the Honour of Truth which prevailed and was advantagious to many simple-hearted People in those parts who since have turned their Backs on the Priests and enclined their Ears to a better Teacher even the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth which causeth the Priests to rage and some People to cry out as common Fame is They will all turn Quakers Reader I shall observe to thee some of J. C's Lyes and Slanders against the People of God called Quakers out of his Book in which he hath given his Relation of the Dispute which Lyes and Slanders are so gross and wicked that I think no wise Man will believe them Yet for the sake of the Simple-hearted lest any should stumble thereat I shall not only note them down but like wise speak something concerning them John Cheyney page 21. chargeth the Quakers That they teach plain Treason and Rebellion A gross Lye and wicked Slander In the same page That they make void the Fifth Commandment In the same page That they Abolish the Scriptures In page 22. That they do utterly Subvert the Rule of Duty by which
divided but remains indivisible over all through all and in you all as saith the Apostle And that every Man is enlightned with the Light of Christ and that the Light of Christ in every Man is perfect not liable to mutation or alteration And although every Man be lighted with the Light of Christ which is perfect yet every Man loves not the Light neither believes in the Light and because every Man hath not Faith in the Light every Man cannot please God for without Faith it is impossible to please God and every unbelieving Man who loveth his evil Deeds hateth the Light because it manifesteth his evil Deeds and he that hateth the Light can neither speak nor write by the Inspiration of God and he that speaketh or writeth and not by the Inspiration of God can neither speak forth nor write better or so well as the Prophets and Apostles of God and Christ who gave forth the Scripture of Truth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost So then every Man cannot make so good much less a better Bible than that which we already have This the Quakers affirm and so J. C's Slanders and Lyes are turned upon his own Head and he noted for a gross Lyar. The Light and Spirit of God and Christ wherein the Quakers walk and by which they are taught and led leads and teaches them to practise that Doctrine maintained by them and to do unto all Men as they would all Men should do unto them and to love God and Christ who is Light with a sincere Heart fully and to love their Neighbours as themselves and one by one and every one of them called Quakers who stedfastly walk in the Light and Spirit of God and Christ do practise that Doctrine maintained by them and shew it forth in Life and Conversation as well as Word and yet are clear and in the Light ever shall be clear of J. C's wicked Slander viz. That if the Quakers should practice their own Doctrine they would pass all that ever have been before them in Wickedness And in the Light which hath manifested and yet will further manifest J. C. and all such lurking Hypocrites the Quakers shall shine forth in Doctrine and Practice to the Praise and Glory of God who is in them and over Heaven and Earth blessed for ever Again J. C. in pag. 14. saith Supernatural Verities and Mysteries are punctually set down in the Scripture and no where else and that there is nothing within us or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them Reply To say That supernatural Verities and Mysteries are punctually set down in Scripture and no where else is contrary to the Scriptures for God hath put his Law in his Peoples Inward Parts and writ it in their Hearts according to his Promise Jer 31.33 Supernatural Verities are written upon the Table of Man's Heart 2 Cor. 3.3 And the Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 And whatsoever is to be known of God is manifest in Man Rom. 1.19 So was before the Scriptures were written and after part of the Scriptures were written yet unknown Rom. 2.14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by Nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shews the Work of the Law written in their Hearts Now the Gentiles who had not the Law doing the things contashed in the Law doth hold forth and prove that they knew something of God manifest in them and plainly shew forth the Works of the Law written in their Hearts And so then it is clear that supernatural Verities are punctually set down else-where than in the Scriptures and that the Mystery of Faith is held in a pure Conscience But J. C. affirms without any limitation That supernatural Verities and Mysteries are punctually set down in the Scriptures and no where else and this is false Doctrine And yet J. C. hath in another place contradicted it and given himself the Lye for in pag. 8. of his Skirmish he speaks of Precepts contained in Nature and else where in his Books of the Law of God being writ in Mens Hearts which is somewhere else besides the Scriptures But Contradictions Lyes and false Doctrine are so frequent in his Books and the strength and substance of them answered and laid open in several Books lately printed in answer to seven of his confused self-contradictory and Blasphemous Pamphlets this cuts my Work the shorter to the said Answers I refer the Reader for further satisfaction to one entituled The Life of God which is the Light and Salvation of Men Exalted another Skirmisher defeared and shall yet further reply to the remaining part of this Position which is as followeth J. C. saith There is nothing within or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them Reply That the Scriptures much less any thing derived from them are God who is Omnipresent and Omnipotent which the Scriptures are not I deny For God is a Spirit an Infinite Substance an independent Being whose Being is of himself who was God Omnipresent before the Scriptures were written and is God Omnipotent who without the Scriptures can do of himself whatsoever he pleases and who shall say unto him What dost thou Now God being a Spirit Omnipresent present every where Omnipotent he can make known supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them But J. C. hath affirmed the contrary in his Position Whereupon I thus argue He that affirms That there is nothing within or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them denies God who is Omnipresent to be Omnipotent and is a Blasphemer But J. C. hath affirmed That there is nothing within or without us that doth or can make known to us such Supernatural Verities without the Scriptures and what is derived from them Therefore J. C. denies God who is Omnipresent to be Omnipotent and is a Blasphemer J. C. saith p. 24. Because I have some Portion of the Genuine and Catholick Spirit of Holiness I am mortally Hated by them and yet I am as ill or more if more can be Hated of many of mine own way who agree with me in Opinion Reply Hypocrites formerly had high Conceits of themselves Luke 18. verse 9. to 13. of whose Generation this J. C. both by Disputation and Writing hath been and is manifested to be one and his Fruits plainly shew of what spirit he is For in his Prayer-Book in pag. 139 141 143 145. he saith I Tremble to have my Luke-warm Prayers abhorred by God c. Alas My Hands are feeble in Prayer often do I compel my self unto it I am Distracted in it I am soon weary I come poorly off I