Spirit because none of them had this Spirit of Discerning To the first That all are excluded c. Every Member of the Church of Christ must necessarily have a measure of the Spirit of Christ else they are none of his Rom. 8.9 And this Spirit of Christ the Holy Ghost as in its fulness it is Infallible so every even the least measure or manifestation of it is Infallible To the second This Infallible Holy Spirit being of the THREE in the Godhead searcheth the Heart and trieth the Reins Jer. 17.10 But tho' this Holy Spirit can discover unto one the Heart and Thoughts of another as of Ananias to Peter Act. 5. Yet as that is not usual so neither is it necessary nor is it that which we pretend to nor hath G. Fox in the fore-quoted places pretended to it But that which G. Fox means and which we pretend to is That such who minister in and by that Holy Spirit which hath an Infallible Discerning of the Hearts and States of all the Persons ministred to This Holy Spirit doth direct the ministry accordingly that it may be suitable to the states of the Auditory Which they who pretend not to be led guided and assisted by that Infallible Holy Spirit in their Ministry cannot pretend to And as to his Objections that the Quakers did not discern G. Keith F. Bugg and other wicked Apostates There was a time when those Men I in Charity think were truly Quakers as they pretended and to have discerned them Apostates before they were such had not been true discerning There was a time when Demas walked with Paul was owned by Paul to be a Fellow-Labourer with him in the Gospel Col. 4.14 Phil. 2.4 There was a time when through the Love of the World he forsook the Apostles 2 Tim. 4.10 so I may say of these and others there was a time when they walked with us and now is the time when through the Love of the World and other things they are departed and fallen from that Unity and Fellowship they once had with us Ibid. p. 37. quoted from Great Mystery p. 105. We says he the Pope and you the Protestants whom he calls Professors are apostatized from the Infallible Spirit that the Apostles was in in which we are come For who witness these conditions that they were in that gave forth the Scriptures they witness Infallibility an Infallible Spirit which is now possessed and witnessed among those called Quakers Glory to the Highest for ever I shall first detect the Snake's base practice of mangling this as other places by setting down G. F's words as they lie in that Book and then shew plainly their Scriptural meaning The first viz. the Quotation And we say the Pope is not Infallible neither though he be your Father the Ancient Yet we say he and you are Apostatized from the Infallible Spirit that the Apostles was in in which we are come with which ye are seen and judged so not to have the Spirit of Christ Jesus not to have the Spirit of the Prophets and Apostles not to be led by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth not to be in the Spirit not to speak as ye are moved of the Holy Ghost But to be such as ravened from the Spirit of God inwardly and have gotten the Sheeps Cloathing ye and the Pope and so have devoured Nations for this many hundred years so have all been like ravening Wolves For who witness these conditions that they were in that gave forth the Scriptures they witness Infallibility an Infallible Spirit which is now possessed and witnessed among those called Quakers Glory to the Highest for ever This the Snake says Ibid. p. 37. Is Dreadfully Astonishing but gives no reason why it is so but that his practice is astonishing there are several reasons to prove it First In so basely picking and mangling Books that they may thereby be suborned to speak what the Writer never intended Next In his wilful perverting the plain and known sense which they carry and which their Writers had And upon Sober Inquiry what in this can be astonishing That the Pope is not Infallible I suppose the Snake will allow And that the Spirit of Truth doth see and judge such who apostatize from it the Scriptures teach And if the Snake doth account it astonishing that the Quakers should possess and witness according to Holy Writ the manifestation of the Holy and Infallible Spirit of Christ he shews his Ignorance therein tho' all who are truly sensible of these manifestations can in deep Humility of Soul give Glory to the Highest Yet to him must be applied that of Hab. 1.5 For it is a Work that God hath wrought in this day whether he will believe it or not Hitherto Reader pray Observe that tho' the Snake as quoted p. 88. foregoing hath said we placed Infallibility in every single Quaker confine it not to Faith but extend it to all Persons and Things in the World by their inward Light Yet the Charge is notoriously false and that the colourable pretence which he had for this his false assertion was owing to his own false quoting curtailing and mangling of our Books of which I have shewn eminent instances since that assertion of his in p. 88. And that our Books in the instances produced speak according to Scripture I shall leave with the Impartial Reader to Judge only adding that the Forms of Speech Try all things Teach all things Know all things and Judge all things which are frequently found in the New Testament cannot without great perversion be applied otherwise than to that Trying Teaching Knowing and Judging which are the proper effects of the Operations of the Holy Spirit in the Hearts of all that are obedient to it And that in order first to their own Salvation and then to the Service of God in his Church In this sense G. F. E. B. and others have used these Forms of Speech in this sense the Woman of Samaria testifies of the Messias our Saviour John 4.25 He will teach us all things In this sense our Saviour promised John 14.26 That the Holy Ghost should teach us all things In this sense John the Beloved Disciple testifies of the Believers 1 John 2.20 Ye know all things And in this sense the Apostle testifies of the Spiritual Man 1 Cor. 2.10 He judgeth all things And in this sense the Beloved Disciple 1 John 4.1 adviseth to try the Spirits whether they be of God Now these forms of Speech in these and many more places all things are truly as E. B. p. 137. foregoing hath said All things that pertain to Salvation Redemption and Eternal Life needful for Man to know all this was discovered revealed and made known to us by the Light which was in us which Christ had Lighted us withal Ibid. p. 37. But I was much more surprized to find the otherwise Ingenious Mr. Penn laugh at his Adversary for not being Infallible It is no surprise to find
attributed unto the Blood of that very Body of Christ to wit that it did propitiate For however it might draw stupendious Judgments upon the Heads of those who were Authors of that Dismal Tragedy and died impenitent yet doubtless it thus far turn'd to very great account in that it was a most precious Offering in the sight of the Lord and drew God's Love the more eminently to mankind at least such as should believe in his Name as his solemn Prayer to his Father at his leaving the World given us by his beloved Disciple doth plainly witness Thus W. P. Wherein I take it to be as plain as can be that he does declare and confess that the true Christ was Man And when he speaks of the Spirit of Christ in its appearance in Man under the Name or Epithet Principle he sufficiently shews that he intends more thereby than any Moral Virtue For in p. 100. speaking of the Spirit of God under this Epithet of Inward Principle he saith And as in Wicked Men God's Holy Light and Spirit or that Principle which is so called hath been deeply wounded yea as one slain so in Good Men that have had a sense of the Worlds Abominations hath it also born many Burdens and Weights for the Light and Life is one in all Now Reader what clearer Testimony can there be that W. P. does under the name Principle understand the Holy Spirit of God and not any Moral Virtue as the Snake would basely and falsly insinuate And for this his manner of expressing the Holy Spirit there are plenty of Examples in the Scriptures of Truth where under the Principle of Wisdom Isaiah speaking of Christ and his Dispensation in the Gospel-times Chap. 33.6 saith Wisdom shall be the stability of thy times And our Saviour saith Mat. 11.19 Wisdom is justified of her Children And the Evangelist speaking of the growth of the Child Jesus saith Luke 2.40 And the Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit filled with Wisdom c. These with abundance more of like import the observing Reader may easily find in Holy Writ Ibid. p. 131. The Snake makes a Quotation from W. P's part of Serious Apology c. p. 146. But that the outward Person which suffered was properly the Son of God we utterly deny And perversely would draw W. P's words to say or mean that the Body which Christ assum'd was but as a Cloak or a Vail like the Body in which Angels appear for a time and throw them off again Against this false and unjust Imputation I shall first give W. P's words in the page quoted from whence the impartial Reader may be able to take W. P's meaning from himself and then observe somewhat upon the Snake's perversion To the first Jenner W. P's Opponent had said We deny that Person the Son of God that died at Jerusalem to be our Redeemer To which W. P. replys Which most horrid Imputation has been answer'd more I believe than a Thousand times that is that he that laid down his Life and suffer'd his Body to be crucify'd by the Jews without the Gates of Jerusalem is Christ the only Son of the Most High God But that the outward Person which suffer'd was properly the Son of God we utterly deny and it is a perfect contradiction to their own Principles A Body hast thou prepared me said the Son then the Son was not the Body though the Body was the Son's This brings him more under the charge of making him but a meer Man than us who acknowledge him to be one with the Father and of a Nature Eternal and Immortal for he was glorified with the Father before the World began Thus W. Penn whose plain meaning is no other than that the Outward Person that Body which our Lord did take of the Virgin was not properly the Son of God by Eternal Generation and was not Glorified with the Father before the World began He is here distinguishing between the Divinity and Manhood of our Saviour and that according to Scripture The Divinity was from Everlasting the Manhood not so that was taken up in the fulness of time appointed by God born of Mary nourished and encreased in Stature Strength c. according to Nature's Law and Course This Body Christ laid it down for the Sins of the World he did thereby consecrate for us a new and living way Through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Heb. 10.20 and here the Flesh or Body of Christ is called a Vail by allusion to the Vail mentioned Exod. 26.33 which did divide between the Holy Place and the Most Holy and this the Apostle shews Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us And in this sense and no other have we ever used the words Vail or Garment in this case and not as is falsly alledged by the Snake to signifie a Body Ibid. p. 130. in which Angels appear for a time and throw them off again In like manner the Snake p. 131. curtails and perverts a Quotation from a Book of ours Entituled some Principles c. from which he quotes p. 126. thus The Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which he wore And we can never call the Bodily Garment Christ. If the Scriptures do so expresly distinguish Of which Instances are given why did the Snake injuriously make a Break in the Quotation instead of giving those instances For upon the Authority of Holy Writ it is that we do thus distinguish and if our Distinction be bad or weak he should have given us a better Exposition of the Scriptures therein brought for that purpose That he may not omit it in his next I here give some of the Instances from that Book wherein the Scriptures do expresly so distinguish Ibid. p. 131. I come now to a Quotation made from Isaac Pennington in his Question to the Professors p. 25. which the Snake does not only break to pieces but also to the several pieces joins some words of his own that they may like his Brethen of the Inquisition by them be forced to sound as he would have them It is in the manner following Isaac Pennington p. 25. Denies that it was the Flesh and Blood of the Veil of the outward Earthly Nature as he calls the Body of Christ by which we are cleansed for says he Can outward Blood cleanse the Conscience Thus the Snake gives it and makes nonsense of it for by the Pieces of the Quotation as he has placed them he says that I. P. calls the Body of Christ the Flesh and Blood the Vail of the Flesh and Blood or the Outward and Earthly Nature Thus making the Body a Vail to it self But Reader I will shew thee from the Book it self that I. P. is neither Nonsensical in his Expression nor Heretical in his Meaning but Scriptural
carried on by continuing in their Communion as I have before shewn for all which and more to the same purpose it may be supposed the Church of Rome owes him many Thanks But what thanks soever Rome may owe the Snake it is very plain W. P. owes him none for charging him indefinitely with representing the Resurrection of the Body upon a worse foot than Transubstantiation What W. P. did so represent was the Resurrection of the same Carnal Body which Dies Now if the Snake will please to tell us that this is an Article in his Creed and hath been received by the Catholick Church in all Ages It will be as easie to shew that he says false with respect to the Catholick Church as it will be to prove that himself believes falsly in the Article As for the Resurrection of the Body we with the Catholick Church do firmly believe it and have always so declared and have at all times been ready to testifie so much in the Language of Holy Writ Ibid. p. 158. What does he think Was not Christ's Body changed in his Transfiguration upon the Mount The Snake hath just before told us that Transubstantiation supposes a Change of Substance upon which in my turn I may ask What does he think Was Christ's Body so Changed upon the Mount Ibid. p. 159. The Grain must die or else it will not fructifie or rise again In this Death it loses something as the Husks but it retains the Substance which rises again And let it be observed by way of addition to the Snake's Agriculture that the Substance the full Grain in the Ear is covered when risen with much such an Husk the same for Nature with that which was lost in the Earth Ibid. p. 160. Death is a great Change yet if William dies it is William even the same William that Liv'd who Died And as sure it will be the same who shall rise again That Death is a great Change is doubtless very true but to bring the Question pretty near if Charles dies even the same Charles that lives shall Charles the same Charles of Flesh the same both for Substance and Husk rise again Ibid. p. 160. But I am now to tell you a very strange thing Yet if it be true its strangeness need not afright Ibid. Mr. Penn does understand that long and elegant Description of the Resurrection of our Bodies from the 35 th verse of the 15 th of the 1 st Epistle to the Corinthians only of the Spiritual State of the Soul in this Life And if so what then Does W. Penn therefore deny the Resurrection of the Body because he hath said that the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.35 doth here speak of the Spiritual State of the Soul If that be good Logick then it concludes thus against the Snake that he denies the Spiritual State of the Soul in this Life because he declares the 1 Cor. 15.35 is to be understood of the Resurrection of our Bodies And this Conclusion is very Natural till the Snake can give a good Reason why W. P. hath not as much liberty as himself to expound 1 Cor. 15.35 and that W. P's Interpretation is against the meaning of the Place But Reader for thy more full satisfaction concerning W. P. as quoted by the Snake from that Book of his Invalidity c. of which I have already given some small hint p. 239. foregoing I shall here briefly first speak to its occasion and afterwards pretty largely transcribe W. P's words whereby thou wilt fully see that he in this as in Reason against Railing c. does only deny that gross Conceit of the Resurrection of a Carnal Body which was the Question As to the first the Occasion it was this J. F. published a Discourse entituled Quakerism no Christianity made up in great part of Quotations as the Snake is so that he has not the Glory of being the first tho' he may stand in Competition with him for falsity in them out of our Books This W. P. answer'd in a piece of his Quakerism a New Nick-Name for Old Christianity And therein shews how grosly J. F. had mistaken our Principles perverted our Words in his Quotations And finally confirms our true sense with the Authority of the Scriptures In Reply to this J. Faldo published what he calls his Vindication to which W.P. did Rejoin under the Title of the Invalidity of J. F 's Vindication c. which is the Book now in Question from which the Snake does suggest W. P. to deny the Resurrection For utter confutation of which I entreat thy patience Reader to consider what I shall transcribe from that Book which will be the Substance of what W. P. hath there said on this Head Invalidity c. p. 368. We may guess how well he prov'd it in his Book the Resurrection of the Natural Body of Flesh and Bones by the strength he hath imploy'd to maintain it in his Second But let all Sober Men judge if this Reply be pertinent to this part of my Answer yet he promised he would answer my Arguments For the Scripture is clear That corruption shall not inherit incorruption neither can Flesh and Blood inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 Thus Annot. cert Divin Anno 1645. upon the place And if he will know the true Resurrection let him learn to understand this weighty passage For we know that if our Earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 And I cannot but wonder my Adversaries Understanding should be so benighted as that contrary to express Scripture he should assert a Resurrection of the Same Body that is Buried Properly and Strictly so The Apostle p. 369. teaches us to believe that it is not that same Body that is sown that shall be for though we shall be changed from Mortality to Immortality Corruption to Incorruption 2 Cor. 5.1 and 1 Cor. 15.37 50. yet Mens Bodies of Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God For the word Resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not strictly imply a taking up of the same numerical Body as he would have us believe from his new found relative It 1 st Book 2 part p. 138. for which Beza shall give him a release both from the Latin and Original Greek there being no word in either for his relative It on which he and his Factious Brother Hicks have so relatively insisted indeed as their last and best refuge The Text lieth thus 1 Cor. 15.44 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seritur Corpus Animale resuscitatur Corpus Spirituale i. e. A Natural Body is sown a Spiritual Body is raised That is They lay down a Natural and take up a Spiritual Body or in lieu of a Natural receive a Spiritual Body not that the Natural Body shall be transubstantiated into a Spiritual Body or that admitting of such an exchange that the Spiritual is the same
the Socinians I do still confess That as the Reasonable Soul and Body is One Man so He that is God and Man is One Christ. And whether this will give Satisfaction to an Implacable Adversary or no I value not knowing my Conscience Clear in the Sight of Him who Judgeth Righteously which I am sure this my Unjust Judge and False Accuser is not who presently after he has stiled me Honest George unjustly Brands me with Infamy as Sophistry Delusion Depths of Satan Mystery of Iniquity Equivocation Jesuitical Confession c. Oh! Rank Malice Bitter Envy c. As for my Confession in the 7th Art alledged against me it stands good and true viz. We own no such saying as that the Holy Doctrine or Divine Precepts of Scripture is either Dust Death or the Serpent's Meat but truly profitable to us by the Assistance of God's Holy Spirit given to us c. And this was in direct Opposition to F. Bugg's saying These Quakers who pretend to own the Precepts and Doctrine of the Bible to be Holy and Blessed yet say 't is Dust and Death the Serpent's Meat c. Apol. Introd p. 18. to his New Rome We do not believe any of these Quakers ever so said of the Precepts and Doctrine nor do they own any such Saying I wholly disown it But then to beg the Question What was it you called Dust and Serpents Meat Was it nothing else but the Ink and Paper Did any Body ever say That these were not Dust Or Is that any part of the Controversie betwixt us Snake p. 177. Here he yields the Point he grants the Ink and Paper to be Dust. I said Will decay and turn to Dust but so will not the Word the Gospel nor the Holy Doctrine contain'd in Scripture And it has been confess'd by F. B. and others That Holiness is not ascrib'd to the Paper and Ink or Inky Characters that will decay but to the Holy Doctrine and Precepts which will not decay but be permanent and endure and therefore are called the Holy Scriptures with respect to the Holy Matters therein contained That the Books and Writings in Ink and Paper will wear out so will not the Word is evident Jehoiakim King of Judah could burn Jeremiah the Prophet's Roll or Book writ with â—nk by Baruch but not the Word of the Lord nor properly the Words thereof for the same Word caused all the former Words to be written again after the Roll was burnt Jer. 36. If then the Books the Paper and Ink be combustible or will decay and turn to Dust but not the Word nor the Doctrine where 's then the Controversie indeed when the same thing is granted on both sides He quotes Gr. Myst. p. 302. as saying Paper and Ink is not Infallible that will come to Dust unto which the Word Christ and the Spirit is preferred in the same place quoted And in the said Gr. Myst. p. 78. by Letter he there means Paper and Ink but the Scripture the thing it speaks of is Spiritual the Word is Spirit And further p. 127. the Scripture or Writing it self without the Spirit that gave it forth is a dead Letter in it self The Spirit is that that gave forth the Scriptures For my part as I am not in the least conscious to my self of the least Contempt of Holy Scripture nor yet of the Bible for I have always preferr'd it to all other Books extant in the World and more affected Reading therein than any other Book even from my Childhood and often bless Divine Providence for preserving to us the Scriptures So I know of none among us guilty of contemning them Neither is what 's said from any Contempt of Scripture no more than it is of the Earth and the Heavens to say They shall wax old and perish but the Word that made them endureth Psal. 102.25 26. Heb. 1.11 12. But say what we can in this Case to clear our selves of any Contempt to the Holy Scripture this our uncharitable Judge and Accuser will not believe us He 's bent to asperse he has swallow'd down so much of the sour Leven of the Malice of a few false Brethren Persecutors and Apostates from whom he derives much of his Authority and thus scurrilously and most falsly imposes upon me viz. And therefore George notwithstanding all thy meally Modesty it is it is indeed George it is the very Doctrine of the Scriptures which you blaspheme as Dust and Death and Serpents Meat on purpose to bring Men off from trying your pernicious Heresies by those Sacred Oracles Ibid. This is a pernicious Abuse and Calumny against my self and others of us to out-face us against our very Sense and Consciences and in good Conscience I Testifie against it it never entred into my Intention or Thoughts so to blaspheme the Doctrine of the Scriptures as to term or deem it Dust Death or Serpents Meat the Lord rebuke this lying envious Spirit Neither do I vilifie the written Doctrine and Precepts of God in comparison of our New Light as he falsly calls it p. 177. but reverently esteem them The Man makes no Conscience of Defaming us Neither do we quarrel with the Law and the Testimony nor yet with Writing or Scripture as 't is in Ink and Paper but distinguish between the Writing and the Things written which is no contempt to either We are thankful to Divine Providence for both the Scripture or Writing and the Holy Doctrine and Divine Precepts therein written for they testifie unto Christ our Light and our Light to the Truth of them And to what he saith If any do not teach the same i. e. according to the Law and the Testimony or written Word it is because there is no Light in them Isa. 8.20 And then puts this Emphasis upon it No Light George Mark that Your false Pretences to the Light within are here over-rul'd Ibid. I deny that our Pretences to the Light within is either false or are here over-rul'd if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Morning to them If he 'll see the Note from the Hebrew in some Bibles he may see no Morning in the Margin over against no Light Then let him Mark that But is there no Light in the Creation before Morning either inward or outward pray Did not the Light shine in Darkness before it shined out of Darkness And had not the Believers a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto they did well to take heed as unto a Light shining in a dark place until the Day dawned and the Day-star arose in their Hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 And are not many reproved by the Light in them for telling Lies and speaking contrary to the Word c. And therefore there was some true Light in them before the Morning appeared to them And though my Accuser says Ibid. These and such-like Texts detect and explode the miserable Ignorance and Blasphemy of these Pretenders to Light For which we have
his own ipse dixit and much such Raillery but know no plain Texts of Scripture yet produced by him that so detects us but his own Falshood and great Ignorance about the Light is very apparent Again he falsly defames and reproaches me from p. 28. Of Innocency Triumphant with excusing and justifying Diabolical Suggestions in the Quaker-Refuge he saith against the Authority of the Sacred Scripture by saying That it questioned but some not all This Accuser has a most odious injurious course of defaming and perverting as well as curtalizing our Words wherein he has taken part with his famous Author F. Bugg to whom the Answer was given on which he grounds his black Charge against me Of Justifying Diabolical Suggestions c. In which Answer I expresly declare thus viz. His Accusation that the Quakers Insinuate in a Book called The Quakers Refuge That What the true Prophets spake was false and What the false Prophets spoke was true p. 47. New Rome Vnm. p. 23. We disown these Expressions and I think they are not duly inferred from the said Book questioning whether some Words were not spoken by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill expressed c. Now at my saying Yet this questioned but of some Words in Scripture not all he takes occasion to Rail fearfully against me as a Justifier of Diabolical Suggestions When my Answer was not with the least intent to oppose or lessen the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures but in direct opposition to F. Bugg's Calumny in these general odious and false Expressions viz. That the Quakers insinuate that What the true Prohets spake was false Which Expressions we utterly deny as both in themselves grosly false against the true Prophets and falsly charged on the Quakers to defame them And as to the Questions cited out of the Quak. Refuge at which Offence is taken 1. They are not mine 2. I do not believe they are the Author 's of that Quak. Refuge though Cited by him 3. It is apparent he does not espouse them as his own Judgment nor make them the Matter in that present Controversie nor resolve them in the Affirmative but seems to recite and wave them as Originally proceeding from some other Person as I understand The furthest that can be drawn from my said Answer to F. B. that may seem offensive which I should be sorry for if 't were really so is my seeming to grant the Question That in some Words some true Prophets were mistaken And if this be made an Offence I think 't is no real one for I designed none However I still confess I believe the Record of Scripture to be true Good Men and some true Prophets also have been and may be mistaken in some things and have had their Weaknesses and Failings truly recorded in Scripture and also their Deliverances for good Ends and Admonition to others Was not Samuel a good Man and a Prophet and yet mistaken when he took Eliab for the Lords Anointed 1 Sam. 16.6 7. And in the Argument upon Job in the ancient Bible is marked That Job maintaineth a good Cause but handleth it evil Again his Adversaries have an evil Matter but they defend it craftily Moreover he was assured that God had not rejected him yet through his great Torments and Afflictions he burst forth into many Inconveniences both of Words and Sentences See the Argument at large And was not the Prophet Elijah mistaken when he thought himself alone or none in Israel but himself that was zealous for the Lord God of Hosts But what saith the Answer of God unto him I have reserved unto my self seven thousand Men that have not bowed the knee to Baal 1 King 19.10 18. Rom. 11.3 4. And to say but little of the Old Prophet that persuaded the Young Prophet contrary to the Word of the Lord 1 King 13. I could instance Jonas David and several others that were good Men who had some Weaknesses and Mistakes in Words and Actions yet the Lord was good to them and helped them according to the Integrity of their Hearts towards him And these Things being truly recorded in Scripture for Instruction and Admonition we truly esteem the Scripture-Record thereof And even where the Words Lies Blasphemies and Actions of the Devil wicked Men and Persecutors and the Judgments which befel them are recorded in the Scriptures we own the Record or History thereof to be true and highly esteem it for Instruction and Warning to Men. And to distinguish between the Words of God in Scripture and the Words of the Devil is but what the Scripture it self doth which can be no Contempt to it for I have known some stumble by some of the Priests making no distinction but calling all that 's written in Scripture the Word of God as one that was the Mayor of Thetford near forty Years ago told me That a Priest wanting Induction into the vacant Benefice and preaching there for Approbation took his Text out of the Words wherewith the Devil tempted Christ Mat. 4. And bidding the People hearken to the Word of God as they should find it written in such a Chapter and Verse whereupon this Person that told me of it was so offended that he would not give his Voice to chuse the said Priest because he had told them that was the Word of God which was the Words of the Devil Now let none be so disingenuous as to take this as in Contempt of the Holy Scripture Doctrine or Precepts therein for where either the Words Blaspemies wicked Actions or Persecutions of the Devil or Men are therein mentioned the Record thereof is true and in Testimony against them and the intent of such Record holy just and good Farther my Accuser tells me Nor is my Salvâ— more ingenuous in the Eleventh Article And why so It is really say I contrary to our Faith and Principle to make Christ Jesus himself Only a Figure a Veil or Garment p. 178. Which was in direct opposition to his Author F. Bugg's falsly saying The Quakers would make Christ only a Figure a Veil a Garment implied by way of Question p. 58. New Rome Ar. Here he quarrels with the word Only as with the word Amply and accuseth me with Equivocating and that this is but a Negative Confession But really George quoth he this is not re-assuming your Christian Testimony in the Affirmative as thou didst promise c. still hiding your self in the Dark in Negatives But we would know affirmatively what it is you do profess and this thou didst promise and this thou hast not perform'd p. 179. Here he accuseth me with breach of Promise but very falsly as in the said 11th Article it is plain that my Confession of Christ Jesus himself is not only Negative but affirmative namely He being the Substance and End of all Figures Types and Shadows Is not this Affirmative pray And as remote from Truth is his accusing the Quakers Books of calling
he makes Choise of to send forth and imploy in the work of the Ministry So they who are so sent forth have or may have if they diligently attend to the Voice of this Infallible Holy Spirit speaking in them a certain Infallible Knowledge and Assurance of the Truth of what they so deliver And they who hear have or may have if they duly attend to that measure or manifestation of this Infallible Holy Spirit which they have received a like certain Infallible Knowledge and Assurance of the Truth of what they hear But tho' they who so minister and they who so hear have or may have this Infallible Assistance Yet this Assistance continues no longer with any than they to whom it is so given do continue faithful to it and herein is one remarkable difference between the Law and the Gospel the Law in its Offices went by Succession to the several Ages of the People of the Jews and was not alienable from them but fulfill'd and so ended by Christ Thus the Office of the Priesthood descended in that Tribe in which it was appointed at the giving of the Law so that in the execution of their Office they had the benefit of the promises made to the Priesthood at that time tho' some of them were wicked Men an Instance whereof is John 11.51 in Caiphas of whom it is there said He spake not of himself but being High Priest that Year he prophesied But in the Gospel Dispensation it is not so the Gifts of the Holy Spirit not being limited either to Person or Office in the Church nor can Man witness any Union with it or infallible Assistance from it but through obedience to and perseverance both in the Principles which it teacheth and that Holiness of Life which it leads into This thus briefly stated will plainly and truly shew the Inquiring Reader the great difference between us and the Romanists in this great Article of Infallibility Ibid. p. 32. But the Simplicity of our Quakers has deprived them of every one of these helps The Quakers as I have now shewn have no need of those helps because their Simplicity is Godly Sincerity which had the Snake had he would not have bely'd us as he does in the following words Ibid. p. 32. For as they place Infallibility in every single Quaker so they confine it not to matters of Faith but extend it to all Persons and Things To know all Mens Hearts and all things in the World by their Inward Light without being told by any Which are Abominable Lyes and Slanders as will be further manifested in detecting his Perversions and other Abuses of those quotations which he makes from our Friends Books to prove this Assertion Under the second head the Snake makes divers quotations Ibid. p. 33. he quotes from Great Mystery this Objection of the Priest's That is another Error of the Quakers that say he who is not Infallible in his Judgment when he gives Counsel and Advice is no Minister of Christ. The Snake has fairly as above put the Objection but hath falsly quoted G. F's Answer which is truly thus Now he that is not Infallible in his Counsel and Judgment and Advice is not he in Error And are not the Ministers of Christ the Ministers of the Spirit And is not that out of the Error which is Infallible in Counsel and Judgment And are they Ministers of Christ that are fallible And is not the Power the Gospel Infallible Which is briefly thus The Ministers of Christ ministring from the Gospel the Power of God which is Infallible are in such their Ministry Infallible This every Eye not blinded with Prejudice and Envy may by the context perceive to be the sense of the place But this Adversary hath here given a fair mark of his Prejudice and Envy in that he would rather false quote G. F's words by leaving out sentences in the middle of the Quotation than by setting it fairly down let it speak for it self Which practice of the Snake is base and cowardly as well as unchristian He hath posted himself Knight Errant like to Demand Reparation in the name of the Church of England And from this assumed Post he descends to call G. F. Valpoon one of poor Vnderstanding c. yet meanly and in very poor Manner false quotes his Books that he may be sure of a Triumph plainly enough intimating that G. F's words are sound till he has mangled them and which being restored do plainly shew that the Infallibility of which G. F. speaks is that of the Holy Spirit from which Holy Spirit so far as any do Minister so far and no farther are they Infallible in their Ministry Ibid. p. 33. quoted from Great Mystery p. 89. They can discern who are Saints who are Devils and who Apostates without speaking ever a word Tho' the Snake injuriously stop here G. F. goes on and in his next words shews who they be that can do so They that be in the Power and the Life of Truth Which does very plainly shew that G. F. did not attribute this Knowledge or Discerning to the Quakers or any Man but to the Power and Life of Truth where it is manifested And if the Snake will take upon him in his own name or others to deny and disown that any of the Church of England have the word of God or Christ in their Hearts or will say that Christ is not Eternal Infallible and Able to Judge of Persons or things which is the Doctrine that he opposes let him do it in plain terms Ibid. p. 33. quoted from Great Mystery p. 96. Thou not being Infallible thou art not in the Spirit and so art not a Minister and art not able to Judge of Powers that is not Infallible nor Magistrates nor Kingdoms nor Churches Here as I have just now observed the Snake breaks off too soon having purposely left out the very next following words which are these For who is in the Infallible Spirit is in the Spirit that Christ was in c. which words do very fully shew wherein the Infallibility of the true Ministry does stand And do as fully shew the injustice of this Adversary in the curtailing of them Ibid. p. 34. Quoted from p. 7. of E. B's Preface to Great Mystery The Snake says That E. B. says this Infallible Spirit was given to every one and then thus quotes him To us says he every one of us in particular And this Light gave us between Truth and Error and between every false and right way and it perfectly discover'd to us the true state of all things The Snake in this Quotation has treacherously abused and mangled E. B's Words and perverted his Sense I will desire the Reader 's patience to read what I have transcribed from E. B. his clear sense and true Gospel Doctrine will I hope answer the pains thou shalt be at in doing it And for the detection of the Snake in this his nibling practice I will
from a few words by him pickt from this Quotation very arrogantly pretends to say They the Quakers think that the name Christ does belong to every one of them not only more than to that Body but as well as to it while it was upon the Earth But what freedom soever the Snake has used to misrepresent I. P's words which as above quoted say no such thing yet it is intollerable that he should carry his Iniquity so far as to bely our very Thoughts and to tell the World that They the Quakers think c. what no Quaker did ever think In fine the Sum of I. P's words is only thus in the words of the Beloved Disciple 1 John 2.27 But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you all things and is Truth and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him Thus Christ the Anointed Isa. 61.1 Luke 4.18 gives the Anointing of his Spirit for a Guide to his Followers Ibid. p. 132. The Snake quotes from Great Mystery p. 88. Christ is the Elect. And falsly glosses upon it in this manner Thus Christ is the Elect and Elect are Christ's They make them convertible Terms The Prophet Isaiah speaking of Christ saith Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth c. And also the Holy Apostle 1 Pet. 2.6 Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner-Stone Elect Precious c. And we do say He Christ was from Eternity the Elect and Chosen of God by and through whom all who are made partakers of Eternal Salvation must be Elected and Chosen Yet the Terms are not convertible Christ is the Elect Head of the Church all who are obedient to his Spirit of Grace are Elect Members This is agreeable to a Cloud of Scripture Testimonies for the present take these following Mat. 24.31 Rom. 8.33 Col. 3.12 Tit. 1.1 Ibid. p. 132. Quoted from Great Mystery p. 207. A Priest had said That God hath a Christ Distinct from all things whatsoever To which G. F. replys God's Christ is not distinct from his Servants Reader I have in the last Section shewn thee what kind of distinction G. F's Opponents pleaded for and what he opposed viz. Separation and Incommunication And surely those terms Distinct and Incommunicable are not fit to express the Deity nor yet his Dwelling in Man and in such sense Christ is not Distinct that is Separate from his Servants Ibid. p. 133. They say a Man may tell a Lye so often that he may come to believe it himself at Last Of this the Snake may likely be an Instance Ibid. p. 133. Who that had not his Head turn'd with such Enthusiastical Delusion could have imagined that G. F. could not understand the Difference or Distinction betwixt Christ and himself And that Men of sense should lick up his Spittle Who that had not his Heart turned with Malice and Envy and thereby his Eyes blinded cou'd have failed to see that G. F. does according to Scripture understand the difference between Christ and himself But the Positions of the Priests were concerning not the Difference but the Separation of Christ What else can the Sense be of this Position of the Priest Great Mystery p. 293. The Father is a distinct Incommunicable Being from the Son and the Son a distinct Incommunicable Being from the Father and the Holy Ghost a distinct Incommunicable Being from the Son And if thus Distinct or Incommunicable to each other it 's not to be expected the Deity should be less Distinct and Incommunicable to Men And against this false and Anti-scriptural Doctrine it is G. F. hath declared as is before shewn And this is the Spittle the Snake licks up and defends Ibid. p. 133. And I have shewn several Instances Sect. 8. where G. F. does assume the Stile and Names of Christ to himself and that others do allow them to him I have in all those several Instances in Sect. 6. shewn that the Snake hath bely'd G. F. and others for that he hath not assumed them nor others allowed them to him as suggested by the Snake Ibid. p. 133 134. All which is excused by Mr. Penn in the 11 th Chapter of the Invalidity of John Faldo c. in such a wonderful manner as will leave no Blasphemy or Idolatry in the world without a very fair pretence W. P. shews in that Book that the Charges of our Enemies then were false as are now those of the Snake and rescues the words of some of our Friends therein from their Perversion as some others of them herein now are He speaks Scripture and Reason and shews we are agreeable to both and uses no fair pretences to excuse but solid Orthodox Truths to shew and explain that we are neither Blasphemous nor Idolatrous as may be seen p. 266. of that Book Invalidity c. Ibid. p. 134. These are the words of a great Apostle of the Quakers Edw. Burroughs p. 273. of his Works The Sufferings of the People of God Quakers in this Age is greater Suffering and more unjust than in the days of Christ or of the Apostles What was done to Christ or the Apostles was chiefly done by a Law and in great part by the due Execution of a Law The Snake here as is usual with him hath from several places pickt these words and jumbled them together that they might look as he would have them but as they stand in E. B. it plainly shews that his Comparison lies not to the Persons Suffering or to the greatness of the Suffering in it self considered but only with respect to the several pretences of those who were the Persecutors and E. B. does thereupon shew that the Persecutors in those times and also in the times of Queen Mary had the colour of unjust Laws but the Persecutors of his time had not in divers instances for which they did Persecute the Shadow of any Law at all such as for not pulling off the Hat for using the plain Language and such like The Snake next takes up three or four pages upon a Quotation from Solomon Eccles which no Quaker did ever approve much less justifie as hath been formerly observed by Thomas Ellwood to G. Keith and therefore is of no weight here And although he would p. 139. fasten it upon G. Whitehead by nibling at his words in that piece of his Entituled The Light and Life of Christ within p. 58. where he G. W. says that S. E. did speak of the Blood of Christ as more Excellent Living and Holy than is able to be utter'd c. He adds Which might have satisfied any spiritual and unbyassed Mind I say tho' he would insinuate from these words that G. W. does not disown this Expression of S. Eccles yet G.W. does in plain Words deny it which yet this Adversary Snake-like hath omitted to deliver His words
above-mentioned p. 45. made a Quotation from T. E's Further Discovery p. 99. thus In comparing the Books of Friends to the Books of them called the Greek and Latin Fathers He has not done as a Friend and Brother but as an Enemy in supposing Friends Books to have been written by no better Guidance or clearer Sight than theirs who lived and wrote in those dark Times Upon this G. K. remark'd to his Auditory You see how modest they are here At this Remark G. K. says his Auditors gave a Shout signifying as he says Their dislike that the Quakers Books should be preferred so far to the Greek and Latin Fathers next to the Days of the Apostles To all this T. Ellwood in his Answer to G. K's Narrative as above in p. 177 178. replies One might wonder here at the cause of his Auditors Shouting For such of them as could understand what was meant by Greek and Latin Fathers one might expect should be Men of greater Wisdom and Gravity than to Shout in such Assemblies and for the Vndiscerning Mobb it was a subject so much above their Capacity and Pretences that it cannot be supposed they should Shout at that if they had not been excited thereunto by some little Antick Gesticulation from him But to the matter They shouted he says signifying their dislike that the Quakers Books should be prefer'd so far to the Greek and Latin Fathers next to the days of the Apostles These are not my words I did not refer to the Times next to the days of the Apostles But my words were Who lived and writ in those Dark Times Must those Dark Times needs be next to the Days of the Apostles See what an unfair stretch is this Thus T. Ellwood And yet as unfair as G. K's stretch was the Snake has stretch'd beyond him and pronounces They the Quakers run them down by wholesale But whether it be so or not I leave with the sober Reader to judge and shall observe by the way that how jealously tender soever he is of the names of them he calls Ancient and Holy Fathers Yet Bishop Jewel being prest with some Authorities brought from them by his Opponent Harding the Jesuit makes no scruple to do what this Snake calls run them down by wholesake for applying to his Reader he says That Doctors in all Ages and in all parts of the World were brought against him And the Bishop then queries Who would not be afraid to see such an Army come against him Howbeit gentle Reader be of good Cheer all this is but a Camisado These be but Vizards they be no Faces they are brought in like Mummers for a Shew and say nothing Jewel against Harding p. 6. Printed 1566. What will the Snake think of the light Character given of Doctors in all Ages and in all parts of the World And were it proper in this place I could add plenty of Instances that many of the Reform'd have made so bold with those this Snake calls Ancient and Holy Fathers as to run them down If to discover their Errors and slight their Authority as incompetent when offered in Contradiction to the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit which gave them forth be so Ibid. p. 194. But now what Quarters shall we have If the Snake ask for himself the answer is ready if it be such as he deserves it will be none of the best For one who tells Lyes for Bread and can pawn all the pretences of Religion upon the Score of Malice and base Design may easily guess what value is to be put upon such an Undertaking Ibid. p. 194. How shall we be able to stand before them It is a Question the Snake may well ask concerning himself after so many Injuries of divers sorts and so great Injustice as he is guilty of towards us the weight of which may well be some pressure upon a Spirit that is at all on this side Obduration Ibid. They damn us all together to Hell i. e. all Christians It is false we Damn none no not the Snake much less all Christians Ibid. But they are more favourable to the Heathen whom they think Worshippers of the same Light with them and not led to Outward Things by the Belief of an Outward Christ and Faith in his outward Sufferings Death c. This Snake has an unusual degree of Impudence for he is not contented only to suborn our Books and pervert our Words and forge Lyes but he does bely our very Thoughts and say we Think what we never declared we did Think For we have never declared That the Heathens indefinitely speaking were obedient to the Light of Jesus Christ But we have often said according to the Apostle Acts 10.35 In every Nation he who feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him And concerning the Heathen in particular with the Apostle 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 sheweth the work of the Law written in the Heart And of such Heathens who do thus shew forth the Work of the Law written in their Hearts we may say when considered and compared with meer Nominal Christians who have not known the Inward Vertue of what they believe Christ did Outwardly Suffer as our Saviour did say concerning the Pharisee and the Publican Luke 18.14 I tell you this Man departed to his house justified rather than the other For a Man may have a Historical Faith of all the Outward Things which are recorded in Holy Writ that Christ did and suffered Yet through disobedience to the Holy Spirit which Reproveth for Sin John 16.18 he may never know that Faith begotten in him which gives victory over the World Yet hence it 's not to be concluded that such who are obedient to the Holy Spirit in its Reproofs for Sin do therefore slight much less disbelieve any part of what Christ outwardly did and suffered No they cannot but must and do highly value and esteem It knowing the Benefits that we receive by it and do bless God that it is our Lots to have the means of the Knowledge of what Christ did outwardly do So that the Snake is most injuriously Abusive in his false Insinuations to the contrary The Snake now turns again to G. F's Great Mystery from whence not unlike the Quacks of the Town who of their pretended Panacea's boast they will cure all Diseases he pretends to fetch proofs for every Charge tho' contradictory to themselves but how falsly I have at least in some measure shewn As that the Quakers at first setting up pretended to be equal and of the same substance with God And it must also prove that the Quakers now abated from that and do now only claim to be Infallible as Prophets and Apostles Again Great Mystery must prove that there was a time when there was no God p. 122. And also that not the
there wants not Examples of the like practice in the Reformation I will content my self to instance but in two Martin Luther and William Fulk who for the sharpness of their Style hardly come behind any Martin Luther being called before the Emperor Charles the Fifth to answer for his Books Having divided them into Three Sorts one of which was those he had sharply written refused though upon deliberation given him to retract or unsay any word therein as we read in Sleidan Yea he defends his Eagerness as being of an Ardent Spirit and one who could not write a dull Style and affirm'd he thought it God's Will to have the Inventions of Men thus laid open seeing that Matters quietly handled are quickly forgot Milton's Apology p. 24 25. And William Fulk comes not much short of him herein for it being objected to him that he had ill treated Allen Stapleton Martial Staphylus and Bristow who were Papists he defends the Treatment and further says I call not only Martial but all Papists shameless Dogs and Blasphemous Idolaters who maintain and make Vows to Images which travel to them and offer up both Prayers and Sacrifices of Candles Mony Jewels and other things Fulk 's Confutation of the Papists Quarrels p. 9. printed at the end of his Edition of the New Testament 1633. And upon a search neither strict nor tedious it were easie to heap up Instances of this sort which as I am not inclin'd to do so neither would I have mentioned these had not the meer necessity of Teaching this Adversary the practice of such whom that Church will own to which he is a Pretender But now this Snake who denies the soundness of such reproof as I have before shewn from Scripture and from the Reformation and will needs have it proceed from a Spirit Venemous and Nasty and that it is the effect of Fury Spight and Envy and proceeds from the wicked and hateful Ebullitions of a Distorted Soul May yet nay doubtless is when speaking of himself be in the right For it is not impossible but he may know what Distortion of Soul what wicked and hateful Ebullitions they were in him From whence proceeded his Fury Spight and Envy in the several Appearances which it has made against the Government against Vs and against Others It was a Venemous Libel which was writ in Answer to Dr. King now Bishop of London-Derry in Ireland It savour'd of no small Envy to endeavour to run over to our Enemies nor did it savour of less Nastiness to run away from the Messenger who by the force of some Sweet and Kind Expressions which were the Covers of Hypocrisie in the Snake was prevail'd upon to let him go and ease himself upon the occasion of a Violent Loosness which in Jesuitical manner he had before told the Messenger He feared would carry him off The Officer not mistrusting the meaning of the words carry him off had no fear upon him from them till it was too late and had found that his pretences to a Violent Loosness and which received some colour from the fear he was in had afforded him an opportunity which had indeed carried him off And now for the Libel The Snake in the Grass O! The Fury Spite and Envy which his Love and Good Nature or rather Wicked and Hateful Ebullition of his Distorted Soul hath vented as Valpoon Fool Blockhead Monster Deluded Wretch George Magus and G. W's plain words he calls Rank Sophistry Equivocation Jesuitical Confession Diabolical Suggestion and of all that differs from him he says they are like the Spawn of the Viper and that the Devil enter'd into the Herd of our Swine the Beasts of the People These are a few of the many Instances which this Libel affords which whether they are Kind and Sweet Expressions natural to Love and good Nature or Furious Spiteful Envious and Grating vented from the Wicked and Hateful Ebullitions of a Distorted Soul Let the Impartial Reader Judge But notwithstanding this his practice he objects to G. F. p. 199. That he calls William Thomas a false Prophet and that he said to Christopher Wade The Devil was in thee And of this what greater Proof need any Man give than false Doctrine and Lyes which G. F. hath shewn they had uttered Ibid. p. 299. You be in the Diabolical Devilish says he to some Priests in the Bishopwrick But the Snake has not told the Reader that the words Diabolical Devilish were not G. F's but the Priest's and G. F. did only shew that they themselves were in that which they had said the Quakers were in Is there no Venom in Diabolical Devilish when spoke first by Priests And yet much Venom when their own words are justly returned to them Ibid. p. 200. The Snake does from an Adversaries Book take upon trust a great many names which he gives without further Proof or attempting to shew that they are the words of our Friends or that if they were they were improper as spoken No that would have been a difficult task But it is easier for him to pronounce like one of Liberal Education Much of this is owing to the mean Education of these Scribes which furnished them with such Mechanick Ribaldry and Billingsgate And why owing to that Pray don't beg the Question since I have shewn before that sharp and severe Expressions have been the Immediate Dictate of the Spirit of God And that some not of meaner Education than possibly the Snake have used the like If they were proper as it may be the Snake will grant because properly applyed these may be so too if the Snake cannot shew that they were improperly apply'd let the Education of the Speakers be what it will Ibid. p. 202. You have seen the Venom Fury and Nonsense of this Quaker-Spirit c. And why pray the Venom Fury and Nonsense Names are no Proof and other than Names the Snake has not given Ibid. p. 202. That it may appear Vniform and all of a piece After all the Deformity and Distortion which the Snake from a likeness of it to his own Mind and Soul shall endeavour falsly to fix upon our Principles they will still when set in their true Light have a perfect Symetry and Proportion of Parts and agreement to the Truths recorded in Holy Writ Ibid. p. 202. These and such like were sent to John Wiggans from the Quakers in Letters open c. A good token there was nothing sent but what was true and if true A good means to have Truth Published and if read by others as the Snake says it was no hurt while Truth That which would have been of great Moment if I may inform the Snake after a Collection of these Characters Descriptions or Epithets given in these Letters said to be sent to John Wiggans would have been to have shewn that they had been Falsly and Nonsensically given but of this not one Syllable Ibid. p. 202. And this shews the true Picture of the
Quaker-Spirit No it can't because it is not only Cloudy but it is Dark and False to say that words are Furious Venemous or Nonsensical and not give any Proof that they are so It is no help to the Snake to say as he does There needs no Argument to Discern betwixt Perfume and Stench Because that if the Nose can Discern as his Philosophy expresses it without Argument yet the Mind is not established but by Arguments drawn from true Judgment and Reason and none such nay none at all does the Snake offer The Snake for Conclusion to this Section has brought in two texts from the Psalms which he does improperly apply to the Quakers as he has before falsly charged them with Venom Fury Spite Envy and Nonsense And till he can prove that the words spoken by our Friends which whether these quoted were so or not remains to be proved being only taken from Adversaries were in their Original from Fury Spite and Envy and in their delivery Nonsense The Texts of Scripture are but abused by him as a Text in the same Book Psal. 91.11 was by the Devil when he repeated it to our Saviour Luke 4.10 and it will be answer sufficient if after the Example of our Lord we answer in the words of Scripture Psal. 101.7 There shall no deceitful Person dwell within my House he that telleth Lyes shall not remain in my sight SECT XVI Of Fighting and Loyalty I Have hitherto shewn the falsity of the Snake's Charges and his perversions of our Words Doctrines and Principles and how Unduly and Unrighteously he would endeavour to inferr from them Meanings and Consequences which neither are nor ever were ours but which we Abominate as destructive of and contrary to those Doctrines and Principles of the Christian Religion which the Spirit of Truth teacheth and leads into and which we do sincerely Believe And what is thus already in the foregoing Sections made appear will be further manifested in this and the following Sections for that in these as in those he hath not shewn what we are but what he would have us appear to be under the disguise which himself has put upon us In the pulling off which disguise there is at least this accidental Help and Advantage that the disguise in which he has represented us is exceedingly unlike our true Features I call it an accidental Advantage because if his Malice could have been satisfied in accusing us with only an abundance of improbable things they might have found some unthinking People who might have been misled into a too easy belief of them But as that could not be satisfied but by charging us with a number of Absurd and Impossible things So all that shall consider the ground and nature of our Principles and the nature of his Charge will with little difficulty be satisfied of their Contrariety and Inconsistency And tho' from this Consideration the sober Reader might and would have ground sufficient to determine the Question in this particular Yet for the detecting his particular Charges Perversions and Abuses I shall as in the former follow him through them And for his more full and plain Confutation herein I will briefly hint our Principles as Influencing Men with respect to Fighting and Loyalty The first of which the Snake most falsly does Charge us to approve and use and that in the last we are short and defective And first as to Fighting We say the end of the coming of our Lord Jesus as is prophesied of him Dan. 9.24 was to Finish the Transgression and to make an end of Sin And in the Room thereof to establish Truth and Righteousness in the Earth And as many as do witness the Power of his Coming by the Operation of his Holy Spirit in them do know that the work thereof is to take away and cleanse from all the Fleshly Lusts that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 which the Apostle makes to be the ground of Outward Wars and Contentions James 4.1 and as the Holy Spirit in all those in whom it does effectually work does destroy and purge away the very root from whence unjust Wars do proceed so it prevents in them the occasion of all outward Wars And this our Saviour did Teach in that Sermon of his upon the Mount Matth. 5.21 22. Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time Thou shalt not kill c. But I say unto you whosoever is angry with his Brother c. vers 38 39. Ye have heard it said an Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth But I say unto you that ye resist not Evil but whosoever shall Smite on thy right Cheek turn to him the other Vers. 43 44. Ye have heard it hath been said thou shalt love thine Neighbour and hate thine Enemy But I say unto you Love your Enemies c. And if Anger Resistance and Hate be taken away What then can remain to occasion Wars Surely nothing From a sight of this Gospel Dispensation it was that the Prophet in the Holy Vision did foretel the peaceable practice of those who should come under the peaceable Government of Jesus Christ They shall beat their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa. 2.4 And they who thus are redeemed out of the Grounds and Occasions of Wars by the workings of the Holy Spirit in them Such if they continue obedient cannot any more take the Sword into their hands Hitherto with respect to those who are in and under the Administration of the Gospel of Peace concerning whom we have from the first since we were a People declared that God hath taken the Sword out of their hands But tho' God hath thus disarm'd his peculiar People of the outward Sword that he might bring them to have a full and entire Dependance upon him for their safety Yet he hath never disarm'd himself of the outward Sword and as he is as well Soveraign of the World as of the Church and ought to have the command of all Mankind so he may put the Sword into the hands of those who are not yet brought under the Administration which I have above spoken of and he can make them Instrumental in his hand to Chastize his and his Peoples Enemies Thus Cyrus who many years before he was born was by name foretold of by the Prophet Isa. 44.28.45.1 is there called in the Word of the Lord Cyrus is my Shepherd he is the Lord 's Anointed These Titles were given with respect to the Services which God had fore-appointed he should do viz. be instrumental in the delivery of Jacob his Servant his Elect. In like manner and to the like purposes the Prophet Jeremiah in the Word of the Lord does in three places call Nebuchadnezzar the Lord's Servant but neither of these were of the peculiar People of God but it pleased him to appoint the Sword into their
Christ Jesus a Type or Figure of their Light within p. 183. I know no such Books of the Quakers that so call Christ Jesus A Type of our Light within but that he is our Light which hath inlighten'd us among the rest of Mankind It 's implied by way of Question That Christ clothed himself in Flesh and Blood and that he took Flesh c. for so quoth he it may be said that our Soul is clothed with our Body as with a Garment or Veil It is not Words but the meaning that we contend about saith he p. 180. We know best our own Meaning being well satisfied that 't is according to Holy Scripture Where 's then the defference he then quarrels with our Meaning not with the Words here but elsewhere he doth as his Author F. Bugg has done with the words Veil and Garment in J. P's Question to Professors But this Author yields the Point he assents to both As our Soul is clothed with our Body as with a Garment or Veil and so of Christ. Which warrants J. P's Question against his Author F. B. and himself at least so far as not to make a Subject of any further Contention against us Again my Accuser brings a heavy black Charge upon me in these Words Ibid. p. 180. viz. In this same 11 th Article we are now upon after your full and Affirmative Declaration before he would have it Negative you sâ—bborn Two Texts as Favourers of your damnable Heresie before-told yet say you slily his Flesh was called the Veil Heb. 10. And he took upon him the form of a Servant and was made like unto Men and was found in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shape or Figure of a Man Phil. 2.6 7. And then exclaims Ah George George I could forgive thee any thing but this What! put upon us at this rate It seems my citing those Two Texts and alledging them to prove that the word Veil was applied to Christ's Flesh which he took upon him and the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shape or Figure of a Man to the form of his Manhood or outward Man tho' I intended no other than that without the least Contempt to Christ Such Words might be used as they had been by some of our Friends For this it seems I have committed such a heinous and unpardonable Crime or Sin as this my Severe Judge cannot forgive This is represented as my highest Offence and truly I shall not need seek to him for Absolution or Pardon nor to be my Confessor I have a merciful and faithful High Priest to apply and appeal to I need not go to unmerciful and implacable Ones for Pardon especially such a one as has so shamefully calumniz'd me with subborning Two Texts as Favourers of damnable Heresie How comes this Accuser in his Fallibility or Uncertainty thus severely to condemn me when he cannot refute Matter of Fact about the Two said Texts being alledged in behalf of my Friend's meaning and not at all with the least Intention to lessen the Dignity or Glory of the Son of God No far be it from me And where 's my unpardonable Sin in the Application of the Text Phil. 2 Why he saith George Whitehead brings in the word Figure which is not in the English Translation And what then But let him have it he himself makes it synâ—â—nimous to Shape p. 183. And he is forced to let me have it because he cannot well deny it without disparagement to himself But herein he would place on me a Mis-application of the Words Who being found in the Shape or Figure of a Man c. And therefore saith what relation has this to the calling Christ Jesus a Type or Figure of their Light within which I have shewn 〈◊〉 â—ut of the Quakeâ—s Books And I have denied this as a â—alshood before and now declare against 〈◊〉 manifest Perversion and Injury to me and mâ— Words herein For as I sincerely disown the Wordâ— charged Ibid. viz. The calling Christ Jesus a Type or Figure of our Light within so I could not apply the Words before in the Text Phil. 2. to have any relation thereto and much less as proof of that which I never held And I know none of us that doth so call Jesus Christ A Type of our Light within he being the Fountain thereof Nor that Christ is Only a Figure as falsly charged by F. Bugg Which Perversion so far as I can find was first forged from these Words in the Book Saul's Errand viz. Christ in the Flesh without them is their Example or Figure which is both one For his being their Example 1 Pet. 2.21 and 4.1 and 1.15 and John 13.15 are quoted See also Luke 2.31 he was called a Sign Now hence to say he was Only a Sign were a Gross Perversion Christ was our Example Now hence to say he is nothing else but an Example were an Abuse and to lessen his Dignity and a variation from the Sense as our Adversary has done upon Trusâ— of his Author F. Bugg upon his False Report which is besides all Justice Morality and 〈◊〉 Proceedings Now the Question is Whether Figure may be made synonimous to Example for the words Example or Figure as before I conceive it may For Type or Figure sometimes points a thing to come as in Rom. 5.14 who was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Figure of him that was to come And sometimes Type or Figure denotes a present Example or Pattern as in Phil. 3.17 Mark them which walk so as ye have us for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Example And the same word is used in 2 Thes. 3.9 and 1 Tim. 4.12 and Titus 2.7 and 1 Cor. 10.11 only in different Cases or Terminations And the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Example or Type John 13.15 Heb. 9.23 Thus Example or Type are made synonimous in T. C's Lexicon and the like in Crit. Sacr. but more fully explain'd for there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e Exemplum Exemplar Triplicem habet in Scriptura significatum 1. Significat Typum seu Figuram rerum vel praeteritarum Heb. 8.5 vel futurarum Heb. 9.23 2. Exemplum imitationis John 13.15 1 Tim. 4.12 Titus 4.7 3. Exemplum Monitionis sive Cautelae ut 2 Pet. 2.6 i. e. Exemplum Exemplar hath a threefold Signification in Scripture 1. It signifies a Type or Figure of Things either past or to come 2. An Example of Imitation 3. An Example of Warning or Caution Now see how synonimously the Terms Type Figure Pattern and Example are rendred in Scripture and of what extent not only in relation to the Types under the Law but in some respect to Christ and his Ministers tho' he be also confessed to be the Antitype Substance and End of all Legal Shadows Types and Figures But I have not called Christ himself a Type of our Light within nor justified the same As to my Accuser's Offence at my saying Christ's Flesh is called a Veil Heb. 10.20 it
says we are in pag 3. he says We speak Sense and English have in a great measure reform'd from the Errors of the Primitive Quakers Thus as his Mood Humor and Occasion Changes we are with him either Subtile or Simple speak Sense or Non-sense Blasphemous to the hight or in some measure reform'd But after all the Ipse Dixit of an Enemy is neither good Argument nor Conclusion as will hereafter appear in the examination of the several Heads of Doctrine P. 3. Many of them have really gone off from that hight of Blasphemy and Madness which was professed among them at their first setting up in the Year 1650. and so continued till after the Restauration Anno. 1660. What the Snake doth acknowledge is at present Sober and Christian in us is really no other than what he calls at our first setting up the hight of Blasphemy and Madness for the colourable Pretences of these are only the spurious Brood of his own ill-forming Fancy and as bad joyning Fingers which have been imploy'd in Mangling the Books of our Friends in his phraise not unlike Rats and Moths Ibid. p. 3. Therefore they endeavour all they can to make it appear that their Doctrine was Vniform from the beginning and that there has been no alteration And that endeavour has not been in vain it having been often made so to appear Ibid. p. 4. I would perswade them openly and above-bord to Renounce George Fox and their first Reformers and all their Blasphemous and Heretical Doctrine Before this be done two things are necessary First to examine whether what our Adversary calls Blasphemy and Heresie be so or not and then to know what he would perswade us to for the first hard names are no Proof For in the Way which some called Heresie the Apostle did Worship God and our Saviour himself The Green Tree was call'd a Blasphemer And for the Last it 's not Good or Safe to be at all much less easily perswaded to forsake Truth for Lying Vanities Ibid. p. 5. And I must say it they give the same Proof for their extraordinary Inspirations as the Quakers do that is none at all but their own confident averring of it And I must say that our first Reformers from Popery having urged for their Separation the Authority of the holy Spirit and being asked for Proof of that Authority could give no other but what in the Language of our Adversary is none at all but their own confident averring of it The Apostle Paul when questioned by the Corinthians for a Proof of Christ speaking in him did not evade the question nor direct to an impertinent Solution of it when he advised them Search your selves try your selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 This Proof the Quakers also give and that with reason for the publick Spirit of God privately working in the Hearts of Men is only able to give those in whom it does so Work evidences of its proper effects The Apostle is positive to the same purpose 1 Cor. 2.11 The things of God knoweth no Man but by the Spirit of God And all Inspiration of the holy Spirit will I doubt not be owned to be some things of God and of these no Man can make a right Judgment but by the Spirit of God Which who want it is no wonder that by such this be call'd as by the Snake no Proof but a confident averring of it Though I doubt not but the Sober Reader will have another sense of this Matter Ibid. p. 5. Now I would beseech Mr. Penn who has more Wit than all the rest of his Party to let us know what ground he had for leaving the Church of England more than Muggleton What Muggleton's ground was is not now our Business to examine and what W. Penn's was he hath often declared many Years ago which yet if I should here repeat the Snake might possibly mistake in Judging of it as it is possible he may also in the judgment he pretends to have of Wit Nay supposing it true that W. P. hath more Wit than all the rest of the Quakers yet this Snake not having had distinct Knowledge of every Quaker and of every Degree of their Wit was not capable of more herein than to give some Testimony of his Confidence not Judgment Ibid. p. 5. Why should we trust the Light within him or G. Fox rather than the Light within Lodowick Muggleton W. P. and G. F. did never direct or desire Men to trust the Light within them but have constantly directed Men to trust in the Light of Jesus Christ which is given to each Man for himself and is a sufficient Guide to the true Knowledge and Worship of God notwithstanding all that Men may speak against it Ibid. p. 5. Has Lodowick wrought no Miracles to prove his Mission No more hath G. Fox or W. Penn. To which I may add No more hath the Church of England nor the Snake in the Grass unless we account that for one Miracle in the Snake when he at Billingsgate run away from the Messenger Of which more in its place Are they G. F. W. P. very sure that they are in the right So is Muggleton If the Snake be not very sure that he is in the right he hath but an intention to deceive when he calls others into Communion with him Are they Schismaticks So is he And so is the Snake and by the Snake's Doctrine so is the Church of England as I have shewn p. 15 16 17. foregoing Are they above Ordinances If they be I know not but that we the Quakers are not I know For we own and use Preaching and Praying which the Snake owns to be Ordinances Is he against distinct Persons in the Godhead So are they Distinction in the Godhead we own according to Scripture but think the word Person too Gross to express it Is he against all Creeds So are they It it false we own the Matter contain'd in the Creed called the Apostles Does Muggleton deny all Church Authority So do they So does the Snake that does not please him But that we do not the Snake hath disprov'd himself as see Pagâ— 61. Yet does he require the most absolute Submission to what himself Teaches So does thâ— Snake But we do not so but like the Apostles commend our Testimony to the Conscience c. 2 Cor. 4.2 Does he Damn all the World and all since the Apostles So do they So does the Snake counting all others as the Spawn of the Viper Does he make a dead Letter of the Holy Scripture and resolve all into his own private Spirit So do they 'T is false we reject all private Spirits acknowledge the Scriptures to have been writ by Divine Inspiration and to contain a Declaraion of the Will of God and do refer to the publick Spirit of God for the understanding of them Ibid. p. 6. These are Twin
Enthusiasts both born in the Year 1650. for then it was Muggleton says he got his Inspiration If Muggleton did come forth in the Spirit of Deceit in the same Year that G. F. came forth in the Spirit and Power of the Lord What can be inferr'd from thence Theudas and Judas of Galilee came forth with their Impostors not much differing in time from our Saviour's coming in the Flesh Yet to correct the Snake's Lying Chronology the Reader may please to know that G. F. did come forth in the Power and Spirit of the Lord some Years before the Date the Snake assigns Ibid. p. 6. It will be proper in this place once for all to obviate a Prejudice which some may take at a little Railery I am forc'd to now and then in answer to such Sensless Arguments and Pretences as deserve no otherwise to be Confuted The Sober and Judicious Reader will no doubt but be Prejudic'd against such prophane Railery and manifest Contradictions as frequently appear of which these Lines are one Instance In pag. 34. foregoing We are the most subtle in Distinction of any Hereticks and it is not usual for such who Distinguish Subtilly to Argue Senslesly But Contradictions of this sort are frequent with our Adversary who throughout his whole Book as the Sober Reader may hereafter Observe doth frequently Contradict himself that he may Bely Us Mistake our Principles that he might have the Glory of a Triumph and Pervert and false Quote our Books that he might have the Reputation of Great Discoveries Of all which having gone through his Introduction remains next in order to be spoken SECT I. Our Principle of the Light of Christ in Men shewn to be Scriptural and our Books herein agreeable thereto THE Light preached and testified to by us ever since we were a People is no other than Jesus Christ the Son of the Father's Love who in due time was born of the Virgin Mary dwelt on the Earth and was in all things like unto Us Sin only excepted Who was Crucify'd under Pontius Pilate died was buried and rose again the third Day and ascended into Heaven This Jesus Christ while he dwelt on Earth preached himself the Light and Way to the Father and speaking of himself to his Disciples John 14.17 said He Dwelleth with you and shall be in you And of this Jesus Christ John Testifies He was the Word in the Beginning with God and that this Word was God and that in him is Life and that Life the Light of Men and that this Light Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.1 4 9. This is that Glorious Truth testified unto by us which is not Notion except to those only who have barely an Historical Knowledge hereof For to those that do reverently attend its discoveries it is no more Notion but a Home-felt Truth With this Testimony it was that it pleased God to send forth his Servant George Fox who tho' despised mean and unlearned in the accounts of Men was of God made an Apostle in this Age and hath been instrumental in his hand for the directing of Thousands to the Light of Christ in Men. Upon which Light as Men come to attend it will fully teach them their Duty to God and enable them to perform it it will discover to them a System of Principles truly Orthodox with more certainty than Council or Synod can not taught by it for he is indeed a Wonderful Counsellor And this not in Notion not meerly Historical No! But in Practice according to their Obedience to it It will first fully and truly beyond any Casuist shew unto Man what is his Sin and if Man dispise not this Discovery but close with it it will beget in him a loathing of his Sin and then procede to work in him a repentance from Dead Works which if unfeigned it will go on to sanctify him and when Man by this Light Spirit or Grace is sanctified it will then witness to his Spirit that he is justified So will Man truly come to be redeemed This in short is the substance of what hath been by us declared concerning this Divine Light Christ in Men and which is not more than is witnessed of it in the Holy Scriptures in the words whereof our Friends have frequently given their belief in this as in other Articles and that with good reason for the Spirit of God in his Church in this Age can well agree with the Language of the same Spirit in and to the Churches in the former Ages And here I may fitly observe that too nice expressing and minute particularizing of Articles of Faith has been frequently one ground of Heresie and Schism and occasioned great disturbance in the World and indeed it 's no wonder that when Men forsake that teaching Grace which brings Salvation they should set up that Earthly Wisdom which in matters of Faith breeds confusion Ibid. p. 7 8. And this Notion of the Light within as a Ray only or Illumination from the Holy Spirit the Ingenious Mr. Penn has let us see in some of his late Books to draw us insensibly off the Scent of the Quaker Notion of the Light within This Adversary that he may scratch more undiscernedly he Hypocritically flatters W. Penn of which as we pass shall meet with divers instances But it is false that W. Penn hath in any of his Books explained our Belief of the Light within in terms contrary to what G. Fox or other our Ancient Friends have done He being a Scholar might use other terms but not contrary he might vary from the express words of G. Fox or others but not from their sense Of this Holy Writ affords instances The Holy Apostle Paul's rethorical forms of Speech might be more agreeable to the Rules of Art but not of the Holy Spirit than those of the rest of the Holy Apostles Yet his Learning and their Illiterature were both of excellent use the minds of the Persons being under subjection to the Spirit of God This was their great Rule so that though according to the Humane helps they had had they might use various yet not contrary terms in the same Article Ibid. p. 8. And that is to make this their Light within not only an Inspiration or Illumination sent from God but to be it self the Essential God and Christ. What Christ hath promised and by the Holy Spirit hath dictated concerning God and Christ's Dwelling in Men as in these places refer'd to among many others it may be seen is so experienced a Truth as well as good an Authority for such like Scriptural expressions that it will stand the Shock of any capricious Gramarian who would pretend to speak more properly and distinguish more nicely than it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost to do John 14.17 20. Rom. 8.10 1 Cor. 10.4 2 Cor. 15.4.10.6 7.14.25.13.7 Gal. 2.20 Heb. 2.11 Col. 1.27.4.19.2.6 Ibid. 8. And from hence O Blasphemy to repeat it they
and Substance with God as the Snake suggests But to proceed We have found the Snake biting off the Beginning and End of G. Fox's words in the former Quotation in the next place we shall find him false quoting him But here he is pleased to give the Priest's words truly as they stand p. 13. thus There is a kind of infiniteness in the Soul but it cannot be infiniteness in it self Against this G. Fox disputes And no kind of infiniteness will serve his turn but infiniteness in himself which is the Infiniteness of God alone For he only has Infinity in himself as not being given by any other Thus the Snake's Remark and now his Quotation Is not the Soul says G. Fox without Beginning Hath this a Beginning or Ending And is it not infinite in it self and more than all the World This the Snake gives for a Quotation from G. Fox's Great Mystery p. 90. when as by the following will appear they are only Sentences standing at considerable distance in that Book and packt together in his and being so packt by him are urged to prove what G. Fox never said The place in Great Mystery is thus Is not the Soul without Beginning coming from God returning unto God again who hath it in his hand Which hand goes against him that does evil which throws down that which wars against it And Christ the Power of God the Bishop of the Soul which brings it up into God which came out from him Hath this viz. the Power he means a Beginning or Ending And is not this viz. the Power as before infinite 〈◊〉 it self and more than all the World Thus G. Fox the meaning of whose words is no other than thus Christ the Power of God and Bishop of the Soul who can only bring the Soul into acceptance with God is infinite in his Power and greater than all the World which plain sense of the place is vastly different from the perversion of this Nibler The Snake's next Quotation in p. 14. He makes from Great Mystery p. 91. and gives it thus Christ brings the Soul up into God from whence it came whereby they come to be one Soul This like the Last is miserably false quoted The place in Great Mystery standing thus So every one being turned to the Light which Christ the Second Adam hath enlightned them withal they shall see Christ the Bishop of their Souls the Power of God which is immortal and brings the Immortal Soul in to the Immortal God Christ the Sanctification who sanctifies their Bodies and Spirits and brings the Soul up into from whence it came whereby they become one Soul Thus G. Fox who herein is very plain shewing how the Work of Regeneration is began and carried on till the Soul arrive at that Spiritual Marriage-Union and Oneness for which our Saviour prayed that the Saints might witness The Snake's next Quotation p. 14. is from Great Mystery p. 229. Thus Who are come up into the Bishop Christ are one Soul To which he goes on and adds tho' cut off by this Snake They know the hand of God which the Soul lives in And it is doubtless very true for whosoever through obedience to the Holy Spirit comes to be one in Christ do certainly know his Power by which that Work is wrought and in which they live The Snake's next Quotation in p. 14. is from Great Mystery p. 273. thus It is not horrid Blasphemy to say the Soul is a part of God for it came out of him and that which came out of him is of him Of this the Snake says Fox does not say that the Soul came from God that is God Created it But that it came of God as a part of God his Substance Person and Essence But it is very false for G. Fox does not so say nor does his words import more than that it is created by God and the Last words which next follow and which the Snake hath bit off do shew as much For G. Fox saith it rejoyceth in him and so certainly every regenerated Soul does But for further proof that G. Fox did not mean more or other than that the Soul was created and that such was his belief see in the same Book p. 337. where speaking of the Soul his words are these God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul who hath all Souls in his hand and the Soul is Immortal and Christ the Bishop of it is Immortal and God hath it in his hand which goeth against him that doth evil whose hand is Immortal But Man transgressing the Command of God the Soul lies in Death So Christ is the Bishop of the Souls and they that come to know Christ their Souls rejoice in God their Saviour Luke 1. Here G. Fox hath very fully and expresly declared his Judgment in words unexceptionable to the Cavils of the Snake and contrary to his false insinuations Now in that I have brought another Quotation in the same Book to put out of doubt G. Fox's meaning in the former I have herein used a rule which the Snake lays down p. 195. viz. To hear G. Fox explain himself in other places of the same Book The Snake's next Quotation p. 14. is from Great Mystery p. 100. where he hath only taken these words which I take to be wrong printed of a passage Is not this of God's Being when in the Book it self it is thus And is not that which came out from God which God hath in his hand taken up into God again which Christ the Power of God is the Bishop of is not this Divine Life of the Soul of God's being By the context of which words it is plain G. Fox means no more than as is above observed from p. 337. The Snake's next Quotation p. 14. is from Great Mystery p. 248. Whence the Snake does but not fully give the Priest's words which in that Book are these Priest It is a false thing to say Christ's Person is in Man To which the following answer at which the Snake cavils is made by G. Fox which is as much as to say None are of his Flesh or of his Bone nor eat it nor had his Substance From which words I think nothing is plainer than that the Answer is Scriptural and the sense of it Spiritual as see Ephes. 5.30 32. John 6.63 The Snake's next Quotation in p. 14. is from Great Mystery p. 207. in which he hath not given the Priest's Words nor but part of G. Fox's Answer but I shall give both for the greater evidence of Truth Priest God hath a Christ distinct from all other beings whatsoever whether they be Spirits or Bodies G. Fox God's Christ is not distinct from his Saints nor their Bodies for he is within them nor distinct from their Spirits for their Spirits witness him And God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself who is the head of every Creature and there is not
p. 23. Fox having produced so particular a Charge of Gross and Abominable Blasphemies against himself and Partners did it on purpose that he might the more exactly and in terms most express and plain Renounce and Disown them The end for which G. Fox did in that Book entituled Saul's Errand c. set down the Petition of some Priests and others of the County of Lancanster to the Council of State together with the Crimes mentioned in their Schedule was indeed that he might fully answer them in shewing the Quakers Belief in opposition to those false Charges And this is done in that Book in terms so express and plain as leaves no room for doubt unless to such whom nothing will satisfie For to each particular Objection he gives a distinct Answer and that in Scriptures quoted for that purpose But this same Adversary seems to be dissatisfied with such Answer as no doubt he would have been with that of our Saviour to the Captious Jews Mark 11.33 and 12.17 and with many others of the like kind which he may be pleased to say are not in terms sufficiently express and plain Ibid. p. 24. Nay he down-right owns and justifies the greatest part of them as their preternatural Convulsions and Quakings Foamings and Swellings of their Bellies which seiz'd them at their Meetings even Little Children who could not counterfeit It is an unaccountable degree of Impudence for a man with so much assurance as this Snake does to say G. Fox owns and justifies Preternatural Convulsions Foamings and Swellings of Bellies and that of Little Children When G. Fox has not in that Book one such word That I may not herein impose upon the Reader as the Snake has done I will here give intire G. Fox's Answer to that Objection and then the Reader may find whether I or the Snake be the Lyar the page the Snake quotes is p. 5. of Saul's Errand which is thus Answ. The Meetings of the People of God were ever strange to the World for it was as though some strange thing had happened to the Saints as we read in the Scripture Psal. 71.7 1 Pet. 4.12 Which shews they are in the same Generation wondring and stranging at the Work of the Lord despising and casting Scandals Slanders and false Reports upon them And where the Works of God are now Acts 13.41 they think them strange things now as was then who are alive in the Flesh. It would be a strange thing now to see one fall down as Paul fell down and trembled and as Daniel fell down and trembled Dan. 10.9 And to see one as Habakkuk his Belly to tremble and his Lips to quiver Hab. 3.16 And as David to lye roaring all the Day long who cryed till his sight was grown dim and his Flesh fail'd of fatness and till he could number his Bones And to see one as Isaiah to rent his Garment and his Mantle and to pluck his Hair off his Head and off his Beard and sit down astonished And would it not be strange to see such an Assembly as came to Isaiah Isa. 66.5 Which had all trembling Hearts Hear the Word of the Lord all ye that tremble at his Word work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Before their faces the people shall be much pained all faces shall gather blackness Joel 2.6 The Prophets and Ministers of God have all one Spirit according to measure and did encourage those that did tremble Wherein it shews that you have not the same Spirit but seek to persecute and fix Scandals and accuse them falsly Here Reader thou mayst see the injustice and falshood of this Adversary in so boldly asserting what there is not a word of tho' he says p. 24. The Matter of Fact Fox owns p. 5. Thou hast here G. Fox's answer from p. 5. Pray see if it be as the Snake says it is The Snake has one Hiss more In this Section with which he concludes it and that is at James Milner of whom I have reserved to speak in answer to the Snake's 21st Section As I have already hinted p. 66. Wherefore I now come to the Snake's 4th Section of the Quakers Pretence to a sinless Perfection SECT III. We do own and believe that it is our Duty to press on to Perfection which by the assistance of the Spirit of God we believe it possible to attain unto REader I have already shewn thee in Sect. 1. p. 43. what we mean and understand by the Light within viz. Jesus Christ as testified of in Holy Writ where the Apostle testifies 2 Cor. 5.19 That God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself and we say that as Man through obedience to the Holy Spirit comes to witness a being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ he will more and more witness a growing into that Holy Oneness that Spiritual Union and Communion which our Saviour hath prayed his Disciples might witness as is already shewn Sect. 2. p. 64. tho' misinterpreted by our Adversaries to be an aspiring to Equality c. with God And all who in their several degrees of growth in Grace do witness the going on of this Work of Reconciliation must witness a going on to Perfection And I cannot see any absurdity in this Scriptural Doctrine For if I through the Power of Christ have witnessed a Being by him set free from one vile Affection or one inordinate Lust. Have I not good reason to hope that he that hath began this good work is able to finish it and so of the rest of Humane Infirmities which cannot be overcome but by the assistance of a Divine Power which being altogether Perfect in it self will lead on to Perfection all who are obedient to it Yet this Plain and Scriptural Doctrine professed by us from the first hath met with great opposition and perversion as now by this Snake Snake p. 25. After having shewed the Quakers claim to an Equality with God to be part of him of one Soul Being Person and Essence with him It may seem a saying less and going backward to say that they pretend to a sinless Perfection How idle and false is it in the Snake to say we pretend to be one Person with God when we reject the word Person as too gross to be applied to God or Christ or the Holy Spirit But after having shewn the falsity of that Charge as is plentifully done in the foregoing Section I shall go forward to shew also as is above hinted that the Sinless Perfection we contend for is only in the Holy Spirit and no further ours than we come into obedience to it and through obedience to it 't is possible 2 Pet. 1.4 To be partakers of the Divine Nature But because our Modern Quakers are abated somewhat from the Loud Blasphemies to which they at first pretended c. Here Reader Is an Instance of the Hypocrisie and Confusion of this Man He had charged us Sect. 1 2 3. that at our first setting up
so many Meetings and so great stir among theâ— For G. Keith was not so much as accused for Preaching any thing else but this But now Snake who mumblâ—â—â—â—istles was not he accused of very many Turbulent and Indecent Actions and Expressions as is at large seen in The State of the Case which I have above quoted and which the Snake also quotes with perversion as I have before shewn Snake p. 67. Here is a many forked and involved Infallibility one Meeting Justifying another Condemning G. Keith and all for the very same Doctrine Ibid. p. 68. This will not only overthrow the Infallibility in each particular Person but even of their Churches or Meetings That particular Persons may make Defection from the Guidings of the Spirit of Truth and may Apostatize from that Union and Fellowship which they had once with the Friends of it I have already largly shewn and what particulars may do Assemblies made up of such particulars may also do Floods and Parties as the Snake expresses it may Apostatize as well as particulars nay a whole Community may Apostatize and yet the Infallibility of the Guide of any one particular Person who continues Faithful and Obedient to the Holy Spirit remains firm and sure Thus 1 Cor. 10.4 The Apostle testifies of the Jews They all Drank the same spiritual Drink for they Drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ. Now this Rock could have as Infallibly preserved the whole Tribes of Israel from Egypt thro' the Wilderness to the promised Land had they been Obedient to it as it did Caleb and Joshua who were the only two of all the Thousands that left Egypt and entered in But further that Assemblies or Churches may Apostatize and Backslide the Holy Spirit is sufficient Warrant by the particular reproofs or cautions it gives to the seven Asiatick Churches mentioned Rev. 2.2 and 3. And sure the Snake will not be so hardy as to say that the Holy Spirit was able only to give Reproof and Caution suitable to their wants and defects but not to have preserved them blameless and to have guided them Infallibly in that way he appointed them to go Ibid. p. 68. Besides this first proof in Pensilvania there is yet another more express and positive called The Barbadoes Judgment c. And besides the detecting the Snake's false conclusion in that I have to say to this that according to his usual Injustice he herein makes use of an Adversary's Book Babel's Builders c. without taking notice of the Answer which was published to it Intituled A Babilonish Opposer of Truth reproved c. By S. C. I. P. and R. R. as he also passes over in Silence tho' mentioned in that Adversaries Book a Letter of G. â—'s and others writ to Barbadoes concerning this very thing wherein they are shewn their cause is not right that they had taken which Letter and the matter it relates to is fully spoken to in our Answer above mentioned wherein is also S. E's condemnation of his rashness in those words spoke by him to J. S. mentioned p. 125. foregoing Ibid. p. 69 70. I was told by one present at the Quaker Meeting at Ratcliff on Sunday the 17 th of February 1694 5 That Mr. Penn having Preached and after G. Keith rising up and expounding some Scripture in another manner than Mr. Penn had done Mr. Penn stop'd him and solemnly denounced these words against him In the Name of the Lord I pronounce him an Apostate over the Head of him Vpon which occasion I have these few Questions to ask Q. Whether this was a Sentence from Mr. Penn himself or from their Church Whether by an Ordinary Commission of Succession to Christ and the Apostles Whether by an Extraordinary Commission such as the Prophets and the Apostles had To the first W. Penn being in Unity with the Church declared this of one who had broken Unity by making defection from that term of Union which in time passed he had declared he was by the Light of Christ in him led to profess and believe Secondly All who are kept living by the Spirit of Truth in that bond of Union which that did at first lead into such have ordinary Commission therefrom to testifie against Apostates And this not by such falsly pretended Succession as the Papal Chair or others may pretend to from the Apostles But by succeeding in a measure of that same Light and Holy Spirit which they were in To the Last W. Penn tho' then knowing G. K. to have broken Union as is before expressed he might at that time in the Openings of the Spirit of Truth have a larger and fuller Sight of his Apostacy and so a Warrant to Declare it And for this there needed no new Credentials viz. Miracles it being no more than what hath been confirmed by those the Apostles wrought Ibid. p. 72. But for the present I only apply it to the point of their Church Authority over the Light within particular Persons their original and great pretence The Light within particular Persons is as much our Characteristick now as ever and we have no Church Authority over it or repugnant to it and that in the case of G. K. no such Authority was used Consider the following Lines G. Keith hath often Printed and Declared that he did believe and profess the same Doctrines and Principles of Faith with us and that he was led so to do only by the Light of Jesus Christ shining into his Heart Through and by which Light he did profess to have true union and fellowship with us and accordingly he so was denominated and distinguished Now the Light of Jesus Christ is not contrary to it self and if by the inshinings thereof and his obedience to it it was that G. K. did profess as above Then it naturally follows G. K's innovation to the contrary of what he hath so professed cannot proceed from that Light of Jesus Christ from which the above profession of Unity and Fellowship did Therefore to give Judgment against G. K. is not to give Judgment against the Light of Jesus Christ but agreeable to it even in G. Keith against himself The like is to be said of J. Story c. and others who have innovated and made defection as these did whose Works being bad the issue is the same with what Gamaliel shews Acts 5.28 They are come to naught And therefore after all the Boast which the Snake makes about Separation and Faction We may concerning all of them now declining and towards their end hope and have ground to believe that as many as are yet in a Spirit of Separation in whom are any true desires towards God for his guidance in the Truth such he will restore to the Fold they have strayed from And he will scatter them whose end is not his Honour agreeable to what the Psalmist said concerning the Wicked Psal. 37.36 He is gone I sought him but he could not be
we know it to be beyond our practice and liking For whoever is disowned by us for practices contrary to the Terms of their Union and Fellowship is not thereby broke and undone in his outward estate which the Excommunication above hath sometimes threatned Because our disowning of Backsliders and Immoralists does only extend to testifie against such Persons and Practices and it is the Duty of a Christian Community so to do And I herein charge the Snake with a Lie till he can prove Fifty in one Hundred who have been broke and undone in their Trade by such our Testimonies Ibid. p. 83. The surest method for a Young Man to step into an Abounding Trade and a Rich Wife is to set up first for a Preacher of which many Examples daily occur Tho' the Snake in his own Language p. 16. does boldly and impudently aver this yet no such Examples do daily occur because we own not any for true Preachers who do so set up themselves But who are thereunto inwardly moved of the Holy Ghost And this Call the Snake would have us think he owns it being a previous Question to Ordination as himself says p. 316. Ibid. p. 83. G. F. had more Mony at his Disposal than any Bishop in England he having the Command of the Quaker-Treasury It is a notorious Lie G. F. never had the Command of the Treasury of the Quakers Ibid. p. 83. There is a Topick behind which if the former convince them not may at least shame them out of their vain pretences to Infallibility and is the Pitiful and Childish Blunders which are daily seen among them This remaining Topick will on examination like the rest be turned Topsie Turvy for why should a real mistake be more prevalent to make a Man relinquish the guidings of the Spirit of Truth which is able and ready infallibly to guide him in all that concerns his Salvation Redemption and Eternal Life Then the Snake's false Suggestion of Heretical Opinions which he says we hold Which if it were true were a better Argument against Infallibility than the most Childish blunder that can be He quotes W. P. in his Christian Quaker p. 104. repeated by Tho. Elwood in his Truth Defended p. 167. Saying that Christ was born at Nazareth it was a Mistake And what will it thence follow that the Holy Spirit is not able infallibly to inform W. P. and T. E. all that pertains to their Salvation Redemption and Eternal Life If the Snake so think it is easie to know that he blunders and that very dangerously The same is to be understood of the mistake of G. F. if there be one which I have not seen He does also instance one William Walker who he says p. 84. did mistake John 14.2 In my Father's House are many Mansions for in my Father's House are many Manchets Ibid. 84. Another Preaching on Paul 's being bred at the Feet of Gamaliel and being asked by one in the Meeting what that Gamaliel was answered a Town in Judea These two hearsay Stories I disbelieve till proved and in his next desire it be not forgot if it can be done Ibid. p. 84. But above all his Battle-Door a large Book in Folio in defence of the phrase Thee and Thou out of several Languages Greek Hebrew c. of which G. F. understood not one Letter yet subscribes G. F. not only to the Book but to the several pages of this Poliglot That Book the Battle-door is a Collection of Scripture-Examples in the words of the several People recorded therein as the Medianites Hittites Sodomites c. and also a Collection of Examples in the ancient and Modern Languages testifying or proving their concurrence in the essential difference in expressing one and many This Compound work is subscribed by G. F. J. Stubbs and B. Furly For Scripture Examples it needed no greater Learning than English to collect them and that G. F. had For the other Languages the other Subscribers were qualified But the Snake is angry that G. F. is subscribed to the pages of this Polyglot But if he had not been blinded by Envy he might have observed That these words in the Handle of the Battle-Door The Light which Christ hath enlightned you withal believe in that the anointing within you may know to teach you which words are subscribed G. F. in the first page and are of the same signification in the other Languages throughout all the Battle-Door pages So that the words in the first page being G. F's his Fellow-Labourers in that Work to do him justice did in their translating his words into other Languages still put his Name to them Ibid. p. 85. But some Friends know the Jew who had 60 l. in New Crowns as himself told it out of the Quaker-Treasury for helping G. Fox 's Infallibility as to the Hebrew A Liar had need have the help of a Great Memory The Book was printed in 1660. And if a Jew helped he had earned his Mony before that and it is not likely if a Jew wrought for Bread that he could trust and I am sure there could be no new Crowns before 1660. But what is better there was no occasion for a Jew to do that which John Stubbs and B. Furly could and did do themselves that is throughly understand the Hebrew Language And if the Snake cannot prove to the contrary he has done like a Turk in telling this Lying Story of a Jew Ibid. p. 85. He is angry that G. F. should say in the Preface to this Battle-Door That all Languages are to me no more than Dust But has basely omitted to give G. F's reason why they are so which is being redeemed out of Languages into the Power wherein Men shall agree Thus having Tract and Discover'd this Snake through his many Lies base Insinuations and gross Perversions in this tedious Section I now proceed to his Seventh Section SECT VI. Concerning the Authority of the Holy Scriptures WE have always testified according to 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness And the reason of this is because according to 2 Pet. 1.21 The Prophecy came not in old time by the will of Man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And therefore it is that we have constantly directed Men to the Holy Spirit for the true understanding of them by the movings whereof they were at first written For as they do contain a true declaration of the things of God so they are not to be truly understood but by the Spirit of God How much the contrary of this can be prov'd by this Snake I shall now examine Snake p. 85. The Quakers notion of the Light within as before explained must necessarily out off our dependance upon the Holy Scriptures as a Rule either of Faith or Manners The Light within Christ in us as before I have explained
Life is thus prefer'd Reader I cannot here omit by a serious Appeal to thy self on the great Injustice and Falsehood of this Adversary And if thou art one who by Conversation with us or our Books hast any knowledge of us thou dost know the Charge of this Adversary is false And I do truly declare that our Value and Esteem for the Books of the Old and New Testament is much greater than for any other Book exstant in the World and this G. W. doth freely own and hath declared as much So also in this particular I will shew his falshood and perversion of G. W's words in the place quoted which the Snake has injuriously curtail'd They are these That which was spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater intending as received and proceeding immediately from that Spirit and spoken in the sense thereof as Christ's words were of greater Authority when he spake than the Pharisees reading the Letter and they in whom that Spirit speaketh not and their speaking we deny So that according to G. W's words that speaking or reading of the Scriptures which is deny'd to be of Authority is when spoken or read by such in whom that Spirit speaketh not that gave forth the Scriptures and we have good Authority for this for thus our Saviour Mat. 22.24 denyed the Sadduces when they spoke and repeated the Law mentioned Deuteronomy 25.5 and thus he also denyed the Devil Mat. 4.6 when the Devil repeated the Prophesy of the Psalmist 91.11 and thus also he deny'd the Pharisees of which are divers Instances Ibid. p. 110 111. Mary Tucker a Quaker Servant to W. Reyman a Barber now living in Queen-street Cheapside but formerly in Bread-street where this Mary then his Servant took the Bible and in the open Day publickly burnt it against the Church in Bread-street to shew her Zeal About 40. Years since one Mary Tucker then Servant to W. Reyman not in Zeal but discomposure of Mind did one Morning early before her Master or Mistriss were stirring burn the Bible For which act she was not only reproved by them but also by sundry of our Friends and disowned and among others concerned herein to reprove and disown this Mary Tucker E. B. as W. Reyman does testify was one which by the way Reader is another Evidence that E. B. had the Scripture in great Authority and Esteem As it is also no small mark of the Snake's Injustice to relate a Lye and say that no Censure was passed upon this Mary Tucker when he might have been informed to the contrary by W. Reyman the place of whose aboad he knew so well But we find he is rather willing to relate a Lye than either know or knowing speak the Truth not only in this Instance of Mary Tucker And the Censure past upon her which he might with little trouble have been informed of so much as this Snake hids in the City And in the Instance of Solomon Eccles p. 124 125. foregoing but also in divers other before and hereafter to be given wherein he hath affirm'd egregious falshoods not from any necessity he was under to depend upon false reports but from a base Inclination in him to shun the Truth and to hate Justice For had not this been his hinderance he might with the trouble of a few Lines and the small additional Charge of the Penny-Post to W. Reyman of Queen-street N. Marks of Cheapside R. Scoryer of Wansworth hereafter to be spoken c. have discharged these out of his Libel and by such other not chargable nor troublesome further than it is so to him that we should be in the right means he might have spared the rest Ibid. p. 111. Pursuant to this their Principle in their Disputes among themselves they appeal to their own Writings instead of the Holy Scriptures Pursuant to this Snake's Practice he hath affirmed a notorious Lye I dare him to give any Proof that may be allowed by Impartial Men that ever we did so appeal It can be no more Proof to quote a Book wherein G. Keith hath said so of us than it is for the Snake to quote Julian Porphery or Celsus for Proof that the Primitive Christians were in the wrong or to quote his own Opinion for Proof that the present Government is so But if the Snake will confute the Answer made to that Book of G. K's which he quotes that may be considered and reply'd to SECT VII His Charge of Idolatry refuted and the Quotations restor'd from his Perversions THat our Belief concerning the Light or Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ in Man is according to Scripture I have before shewn and how that by a sincere Obedience to it it will lead to God and Christ whence it comes and to have true Agreement and Unity with the Declarations from the same Holy Spirit which are recorded in the Scriptures of Truth and also with all the Manifestations of the same Holy Spirit wheresoever and in whomsoever appearing For as God is one so the Holy Spirit leads all that obey it into Unity and Oneness and to account worthy of double Honour the Elders that rule well especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5.17 And in this Section I shall shew that what is by this Adversary called The Quakers Idolatry is not so but only owing to his perversion for as Truth leads to give Honour to whom Honour is due So it also leads to account of no Man above what we ought Ibid. p. 112. They think it not Honour enough to stand before the Throne of God But G. Fox places them upon the Throne p. 31. I suppose Great Mystery for he mentions not the Book The Quakers are in the Power of God and in the Authority of the Lamb above all Houses and are upon the Throne I shall first here detect the Snake's Evil Practice in mangling this Quotation by giving it as it is in the page quoted and afterwards speak to the Doctrine of it To the first The Priest G. Fox's Opponent had said That the Quakers scorns to creep into Houses meaning when persecuted To which G. F. replies This doth not agree with the rest of his Company who say they do Creep into Houses The Quakers are in the Power of God and in the Authority of the Lamb and into Houses creep not but are upon the Throne but you that be in the Form that Deny the Power creep into Houses These Reader are his words and their sense is as plain and nothing but Envy and Ignorance I suppose the first in the Snake could cavil at them or it For who knows not that the word Throne in Religious Matters is a metaphorical expression denoting Spiritual Power and Dominion Christ promised Mat. 19.28 That they who followed him in the Regeneration should sit upon Thrones And to him that overcometh will I grant says he to sit with me in my
Throne c. Rev. 3.21 And John says he saw Thrones and they who sate on them Rev. 20.4 And after all the Exception that the Snake may take at it it is true that as many as through the Power and Authority of the Spirit of Christ in them do follow him in Regeneration they shall sit upon Thrones metaphorically speaking that is in the Power of God over that which heretofore while in Disobedience they were in Captivity to Ibid. p. 113. The Snake quotes part of a Letter said to be writ by G. F. but for any proof that he has given it may either be adulterated by the Snake or some Apostate or forged by them If they were G. F's why did not the Snake give the whole Letter To what purpose hath he made a break in it And what is left out at it The Editors of the Journal had no Reason why they should have left out or altered as p. 114. he says they have those words My Kingdom is not of this World and those words who is the Son of God which need not have given offence if they had been in For they whom Jesus Christ hath washed from their Sins in his own Blood are by him made Kings and Priests unto God Rev. 1.6 and to them it is their Father's good pleasure to give the Kingdom Luke 12.32 which is not of this World And for those last words said by the Snake to be omitted and instead of which he says are added I set my Name what room or place was there for all that to come after his Name was set which the Snake hath given and omitted with a Ibid. p. 114. In a Book called News coming out of the North p. 15. G. Fox says I am the Door that ever was the same Christ Yesterday to Day and for ever Reader if now upon view of G. Fox's words they shall plainly appear to be by him spoken of Christ thou wilt I doubt not agree with me that the injustice of this Adversary must be very great who hath of set purpose traduced and perverted G. F's words insinuating that he spake them of himself when in truth it is no such thing This will best appear by giving the Quotation with the Marginal Scriptures from the page quoted by the Snake and is as follows P. 15. Now to all dear Ones and dear Hearts I speak The same Seed which is Christ the same Spirit takes upon it now as ever was the same World is now as ever was the same Temptations and the same Devils and the same Worship of the World twining into one another Form and Colour And Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life he is the Door that all must pass through and he is the Porter that opens it I am the same Door that ever was the same Christ Yesterday to Day and for Ever Look at the Captain Jesus Christ who hath passed before who was tempted the Captain of our Salvation and the same temptation to Worship the Devil and if thou wilt Worship the Devil thou shalt have the Glory of the World but if thou wilt not bow down and Worship the Devil thou shalt have none of the Worlds Glory but be called a Devil as Christ was and be called a Mad-man as he was This Reader with much more of the like Import which I have omitted G. F. does there speak concerning the Power of Jesus Christ to preserve Men out of Temptation and the workings of the Devil to destroy Men by them Yet this by the Snake is accounted part of the Quakers Idolatry The Snake's Quotation from the Introduction to G. F's Battle-Door I have already reply'd to p. 149. and therefore need not say more to it here The Snake 's next Quotation p. 114. is from The Title Page of News coming out of the North from whence he insinuates and charges G. F. with saying of himself that he was prophesied of His Quotation is this Written from the Mouth of the Lord from one who is Naked and stands Naked before the Lord Clothed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which was prophesied of but now is fulfilled here the Snake leaves off but G. F. continues The Army is coming out of the North against you Terrible Ones whose Weapons are not Carnal but Spiritual G. F. Now from G. F's words it is plain that those words which was prophesied of relate to that Prophecy of Jeremy the 31.8 and not to himself or any Person and are only an allusion to those Prophesies of the H. Prophets concerning the Armies of the North which were to fight against and overcome the Jews and other Nations for their Disobedience and Wickedness Which as they litterally did do so by a usual allusion the People fulfilling this Prophecy Jer. 31.8 will through the Assistance of God's Grace their Weapons being Spiritual not Carnal go on in the Warfare of the Gospel-Day The Snake's next Quotation p. 114. is from Several Petitions answered c. p. 60. And he gives it thus My Name is Covered from the World and the World knows not me nor my Name G. F. Now who would not take this to be either all that G. F. had here spoken or else the words last delivered But Reader it is neither of these for G. F. is subscribed at the bottom of several lines more than these the Snake hath given and are continued by G. F. thus The Earthly Name the Earthly Man knows and he is afraid of Reproach and cannot bear it upon the Earthly Name he that overcometh hath the New Name and knoweth it Now Reader what is this but the sense of those Scriptures 1 Pet. 4.14 Rev. 2.17 and 3.12 which whether this Adversary did not know or had wilfully omitted to consider are yet sufficient to shew the falsity of his Charge of our Idolatry herein The Snake's next Quotations are from an Adversaries Book which was answered Yet such is his Injustice that he takes no notice of the Answer but objects as if they had not been reply'd to wherefore it deserves not to be taken notice of till he shall have reply'd to that Answer and disprov'd it And any Man may with equal Justice quote the Books of the Romanists to prove the Church of England Schismatical Heretical c. without taking notice of the Answers written to them Charges But whether such practice would be reasonable or not not only the Agrieved Party but all impartial Men can readily determine One of these Quotations is from part of a Letter writ by Josiah Cole to G. Fox and which had been formerly objected against by John Faldo and other Adversaries to which Objections W. P. did Answer in two several Books one Entituled Judas and the Jews the other Entituled The Invalidity of J. Faldo 's Vindication Of the first of these Books the Snake takes so much notice p. 115. as to say that W. P. does in p. 44.
Excuse and Justifie Josiah Cole in that Letter but has taken no pains to refute the Arguments nor any notice at all of the Book last named in which W. P. does justifie it but only Serpent-like would deceive his Reader by giving the Words in old Black English Letters as if that was Argument sufficient to shew that the sense of the Words were Black and Idolatrous But that they are not I shall Reader entreat thy patience to weigh and consider the five following Paragraphs which are the words of that Letter together with W. P's Defence and Explanation of them as they are in his Book Invalidity c. p. 354 355. First That he should call G. Fox the Father of many Nations but what is this more than to say that Men of several Nations have been begat unto Christ through him Thus Paul was a Father to the Romans Corinthians c. 1 Cor. 4.15 For though ye have ten thousand Instructors yet ye have not many Fathers for in Christ have I begotten you Secondly That his Life hath reached through his Children to the Isles afar off to the begetting of many again unto a lively Hope But what of all this The Life of God is one in all Paul lived by the Life of Christ and so did Peter Paul was present in Spirit though absent in Body 1 Cor. 5.3 4. Thirdly That Generations to come should call him blessed But is not the Memory of the Just blessed Prov. 10.7 and did not God by Isaiah promise concerning Israel I will make thee an Eternal Excellency and the Joy of many Generations Isai. 60.57 This belongs to G. Fox J. Cole and every Child of God yea and J. Faldo too if he were so good as he should be Fourthly That his Being and Habitation was in the Power of the Highest And so it should be for that is the Habitation of every Child of God for others dwell in the Power of the World In short we are exhorted to stand fast in the Power of Godliness and we read that it was the End of the Evangelical Ministry to turn People from the Power of Satan unto the Power of God which is the Power of the Highest Fifthly That he Ruled and Governed in Righteousness This is but what Paul exhorts Timothy to do in the Church of Christ as both his Epistles inform us at large Every Elder Overseer or Pastor in the Church of Christ is bound to do so If J. F. can prove he doth otherwise he may then charge him with uncomely walking but not J. Cole with Blasphemy for saying that a good Man governs in Righteousness The Snake's next Instance are some pieces of a Letter p. 115. which he says was writ by John Audland these I shall dismiss at present because at the end of his Libel he pretends to give it entire Spelt and Pointed according to the Original And I rather chuse to consider what he calls the entire Letter than these parts of it and therefore proceed to his next Instance p. 116. which is a Quotation from a Sheet Entituled The Quakers Challenge p. 6. wherein the Snake says Solomon Eccles says these words of G. Fox It was said of Christ that he was in the World and the World was made by him and the Word knew him not So it may be said of this true Prophet George Fox whom John said he was not Here the Snake takes some pains to wrest pervert and misconstrue these words of Solomon Eccles contrary to a Sober Explanation given of them by G. Whitehead in his Book Serious Search p. 58. But has knowingly omitted to accept or refute Solomon Eccles his own explanation of them words Contrary to what he hath in the like case p. 195. said concerning G. F. viz. You will best know his meaning from himself Which if true why did not this Snake either accept or refute Solomon Eccles his meaning which is given from himself and mentioned in p. 59. of Serious Search above-named and also in p. 75. of Judas and the Jews likewise before-named and which for the Readers satisfaction I here subjoin I did not say Nor did I ever believe that the World was made by G. F. but by Christ who was in the World and the World knew him not So that I say it may be said of G. F. the World knows him not though he be in the World as was said of Christ He was in the World though not of the World and the World knew him not And he said of his Followers Ye are not of the world as I am not of the world and I have chosen you out of the world John 17.16 and 15.19 Now Reader what Faith or Honesty can we expect to find in an Adversary who with deep Hypocrisie and Injustice shall thus wilfully pass over and not accept or refute a Man's own explanation of his words What is become of his Great Charity Real Kindness and Good Wishes which in p. 2. he pretended to have We may safely conclude they have no more reality than the Tears of a Crocodile which Naturalists speak of We come now to Hearsay Stories p. 117 118. wherein he says He hath it from Eye-witnesses who have seen them fall down to him and saying to him Thou art the Son of the Ever-living God the King of Israel all Nations shall worship thee c. And kneeling to his Wife Margaret gave her an Ora pro Nobis in these words O thou my Heavenly Mother Pray to my Heavenly Father for me These Adorations were common to G. F. and that Blasphemous Valpoon took it Gravely without any Reprehension I do here charge the Snake with a Notorious Lie in saying that G. Fox did with Delectation ever accept of any Adoration or to be stiled King of Israel c. or that his Wife accepted of any such Ora pro nobis as above or that it was given by any in true unity with us Ibid. p. 118. At another time a She Preacher arose c. To this Story thus boldly asserted the Snake offers no proof and I do deny that any She Preacher as the Snake floutingly speaks owned by us did so accost G. F. in any Publick Meeting of ours Snake p. 119. Let me here only observe what an uncouth and preposterous piece of Humility it is to deny the Title or Civility of Master or the Hat while at the same time they worship one another with Divine Honour Let me Reader here only observe the Profaneness and Falshood of this Adversary in urging for Truth false and hearsay Stories against us and at the same time decry as preposterous and uncouth the Precept of our Saviour Mat. 23.8 The Snake's next Instance p. 120. is a Quotation from a peice Entituled The Guilty Clergy-man Vnvail'd writ by Thomas Speed and Printed 1657. from which he picks these two Lines in p. 17. That you will by no means be thence cleansed but by the same Blood which you so cruelly shed And says They
The Word was made Flesh c. dwelt on the Earth and took on him not the Nature of Angels not any Aerial or Fantastical Body But the Seed of Abraham and David and this he did for the same reason and behoof mentioned by the Apostle Heb. 2.17 18. Wherefore in all things it behoveth him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a Merciful and Faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the People For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted For which Infinite Love of Jesus Christ in being both the Saviour and Reconciler of Men to God through himself we sincerely say with the Apostle Heb. 3.3 For this Man was counted worthy of more Glory than Moses in as much as he who hath builded the House hath more Honour than the House Reader These and all other Testimonies recorded in Holy Writ testifying to the Manhood as well as the Divinity of Jesus Christ we do and always did sincerely own So that should our Books in which is treated directly on this Subject and abundantly more largely and particularly than here it can be be collected They would make many Volumes Yet such hath been and is the Inveterate Malice of our Enemies that our Writings no more than our Words must not mean what we so often and solemnly have declared we do mean by them But what our Adversaries will have them to mean that so they may not seem to want proofs for these their false and envious Charges What now remains for us to do But still to persevere in our True and Scriptural Belief and to repeat our Testimonies of it to the envious Objections of Enemies and for the satisfaction of the Sober Enquirer And this Reader thou wilt find in reply to the false and envious Suggestions and Perversions of the Snake herein in this Section Snake p. 125. The Quakers Heresie in this is taken from the Socinians they say Christ took Flesh but no otherwise as they explain it than as Angels assumed Bodies or as he Christ or the Word did Inspire or Dwell in Prophets or Holy Men of old c. What the Socinians hold herein I neither know nor is it my business to now enquire But this I know that we do believe that Christ the Word took Flesh but not as Angels assumed Bodies His Body which he took of the Virgin was really truly and properly Flesh and had the gradual and natural Growth of Mankind from Infancy to Childhood to the State of a Young Man and so to the degree of Perfect Man and being Perfect Man did Dwell Eat Drink and Converse with his Disciples and with the Multitude did Preach did work Miracles was Tempted did Hunger and Thirst was crucified and did Rise again and Ascend into Glory Thus did never Angels assume Bodies Those Ministring Spirits when they have assumed Bodies it hath been upon particular and short but special occasions at once appearing without the gradual degrees of natural Growth or subject to the Infirmities and Accidents of natural Bodies and it could not be otherwise they being only Aerial and not truly Flesh and Blood as was that Body of Jesus the Son of the Living God Ibid. p. 125. But they deny any proper Incarnation of Christ that is that he was made Flesh or that he and Jesus was one Person 'T is false we own that He the Word was made Flesh properly Incarnate and was in the form of a Servant Ibid. p. 125. Yet they allow Jesus to be called Christ from the dwelling of Christ in him And if the Snake will not allow so much he contradicts the Apostle who saith of Jesus Christ With him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead Bodily Col. 2 9. Ibid. p. 125. But for the same reason they take the name Christ to themselves and say that it belongs to them as well as to Jesus c. Jesus Christ when he ascended up on High he led Captivity Captive and did give Gifts unto Men the Gifts of his Holy Spirit of which the Apostle hath testified Ephes. 4.7 But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ. Thus much we have often declared and that truly But it is falsly said and charged that we take the Name of Christ to our selves or say it belongs to us in any other manner than in these and other Scriptures is mentioned We say that Christ by his Ascension into Glory hath given the Gift of his Spirit to Men to which as they are obedient they will witness the Power of the Spirit of Christ in them to bring every thought into subjection and when through the assistance of this Spirit they thus have got the Victory over their own Corruptions and Lusts they will truly say it is no more I but Christ in me Yet the name Christ cannot hereby be supposed to belong â—o such nor was it ever said by any of us that it did belong to us in such manner as to Jesus for to him it belongs by Origination to us only by participation through him For he by partaking of our Nature made thereby Mankind partakers of his Spirit I say this with respect to the generality of the Gospel Dispensation for there were many particular Persons not within the Covenant of the Law in the time of the Law who had manifestations of the Spirit of Christ and in no other sense have we ever taken the name of Christ to our selves Ibid. p. 125. They say that Christ did raise up the Body if Jesus from the Dead but they say not that Christ did carry it up with him into Heaven What then do we say he did with it Why that the Snake shews not and good reason there is for this his Silence But Reader I will tell thee that we do say and believe according to Acts 1.9 When he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a Clâ—ud received him out of their sight Ibid. p. 126. They say there is no other Christ but what is within them they allow him no Humans Body but their own When we say there is no other Christ than what is within us we say true because Christ as God cannot be divided and the Measure or Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in us is not another but a Manifestation of the fame Christ which did in fulness and Bodily dwell in the Man Jesus But when the Snake says we allow him no Humane Body if he means Manhood he says false as I have before shewn and as is very often testified in many of our Books Ibid. p. 126. One of their Preachers prayed at a Solemn Meeting O God who was Crucifi'd Dy'd and Rose again in us We know very well that G. Keith did accuse Thomas Fitzwater of so praying at a Meeting in Pensilvania But unless the Snake has better proof than that
Satan Disrob'd See likewise Mr. Crisp c. To which he might have added See Bugg see Keith and so see see see till he had refer'd to all our Adversaries both Apostates and others To which I doubt not the Reader will Judge I should give sufficient answer in saying See G. Whitehead W. Penn E. Penington c. who have writ in answer to them SECT XI Concerning the Resurrection of the Body THIS Adversary the Snake after the example of some former Enemies does charge us falsly with the denial hereof And it is in some sort unaccountable to me how they should make it a Charge upon us to deny that which is indeed so firmly believed by us and by which we are stayed and supported under the Evils we meet and the reproaches which we suffer For were our hope in this life only we might with the Apostle say 1 Cor. 15.19 We are of all men most miserable But we have Faith and Hope in Christ in whom we have believed that after having passed through this Vale of Tears wherein we are encompassed with Perils of many sorts from Apostates and other Adversaries and are accounted Deceivers yet True We shall after this Life receive if we persevere in Faith and Obedience a resurrection to a Glorious Immortality through Christ our Saviour Thus and often more largely have we testified our belief of this Great Doctrine of the Christian Faith but because we deny as not being Scriptural that the same Natural Fleshly Body shall rise Our Adversaries do thence unrighteously infer and conclude that we deny the resurrection of the Body in any sense And thus does the Snake who in this Section does chiefly as in the last Section wholly quarrel and pervert these Books of W. P's Reason against Railing c. and the Invality of John Faldo 's Vindication c. and so gross is he in his perversion and abuse of them that he begins the very first line of this Section with saying Snake p. 155. This viz. the Resurrection the Quakers do positively deny Now that this Charge is positively false as made by the Snake from the two Books before mentioned will best appear by transcribing from the Books themselves not in Bits as this Snake has done both the occasion by which this Doctrine came to be spoken to and also pretty largely the manner in which W. P. does in them speak to it And I doubt not Reader but his Christian Belief and Scriptural Expression therein will be so much to thy satisfaction that thou wilt find reason therefrom to conclude in opposition to the Snake that we do positively own the Resurrection of the Body First To the occasion on which it came to be spoken to it was this Tho. Hicks an Adversary had published a piece under the Title of Dialogues wherein upon many of the Doctrines of the Christian Faith he propounds Questions And then brings in under the names of Quakers generally such Answers as might answer his purpose either to Refute or Cavil at In the 57th p. of his Dialogues he propounds a Question whether the same Carnal Body that Dies shall rise again In Answer to this Question he brings in G. W. saying Is it not written Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not the Body which shall be but God gives a Body as pleaseth him Thus says T. Hicks Whitehead reply'd and G. Fox the Younger speaks to the same purpose Fools that say this Body of Natural Flesh and Bones shall rise I say the Body which is sown is not the Body which shall be I query says T. H. whether both these Persons do not tacitly deny the resurrection This Reader was the occasion on which W. P. in his Reason against Railing c. speaks of this Doctrine I now come to the manner in which he speaks of it in that Book But will first only observe to my Reader that as in the Proverb A Lye does not lose by Carrying So the Snake has improv'd upon T. Hicks's disingenuity He was contented with querying whether we did not tacitly deny the Resurrection But the Snake scorning to mumble doubtingly says we positively deny it which as above and will also hereafter appear is a positive falshood But first I desire it may be observ'd from the foregoing that the Question was whether the same Carnal Body that Dyes shall rise c. In answer to which with the Appendices of the Question as laid down in the Dialogues W.P. imploys eight pages of the Book Reason against Railing c. and of all of them the Snake hath taken about so many lines by which according to his own words p. 350. It was intended purely to have it say that there was an Answer to such a Book or rather to this part of that Book But to shew that the Snake hath neither answered W. P. herein nor that the Quakers do therein deny the Resurrection take the following Quotation from that Book p. 132 133. Now that T. H. hath shewn himself at once dishonest and erroneous too let it be observed 1. That from our denial of the Resurrection of the same Natural Fleshly Body he absolutely infers and concludes our denial of the Resurrection of the Body in any sense Which is great injustice to any Adversary 2. Let it be well observed that he makes the Scripture it self to deny the Resurrection and so Heterodox by accounting G. W. and G. F. their Answers in Scripture Language to be a denial of the Resurrection For if T. H. does not intend by his arguing that the same Body that died without any mutation shall rise again what makes him to quarrel at the Apostle Paul's saying Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not the Body which shall be and repute us Hereticks for believing him Certainly his gross belief of the Resurrection is inconsistent with Scripture Reason and the Belief of all Men right in their Wits in the point Who can have the Confidence to call the Scripture his Rule and yet contradict it so Egregiously as when the Apostle tells us It is not the same Body that is sown that shall be to assert that it is the same Body and that who says the Contrary denies the Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Recompence In short We do acknowledge a Resurrection in order to Eternal Recompence and that every Seed shall have its own Body and rest contented with what Body it shall please God to give us But as we are not such Fools as curiously to enquire what So must we ever deny the Gross conceits of T. H. and his Adherents concerning the Resurrction p. 134. But he T. H. thinks he is not without reason For says he if the It in the Text be not the same Body how can that be called a Resurrection for that supposeth the same Dialog p. 58. I Answer if a thing can yet be the same and notwithstanding changed for shame let us never make so much stir against the Doctrine of
Hymeneus and Philetus in this Article of the Resurrection were direct Quakers These were they who as St. Paul tells of them 2 Tim. 2.18 Concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already That is they Spiritualiz'd it away from the Letter and meant it only of the Spiritual rising of Christ in our Hearts which having obtain'd as their Light within did assure them their Resurrection they supposed was past already and they expected no other The Snake does in p. 161. Charge W. P. with making Arbitrary Interpretations on 1 Cor. 15. but proves it not But I do here charge and shall shew that this Interpretation of the Snake's is Arbitrary and against the sense of the place The Holy Apostle speaking of these Men 1 Tim. 1.19 20. adviseth Timothy to hold the Faith and a good Conscience And he adds Which some having put away concerning Faith have made Shipwrack of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to Blaspheme And 2 Tim. 2.16 17 18. But shun Profane and Vain Bablings for they will increase to more Vngodliness and their word will eat as doth a Canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some From all this I would desire to know how the Snake does prove that Hymeneus Alexander and Philetus did Spiritualize the Resurrection from the Letter By the Character the Apostle gives them they do not seem to be such Spiritual Men for he says they had made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience and were Profane and Vain Bablers For Blaspheming Profane and Vain Baâ—â—ing they could have no assurance from the Light 〈◊〉 which they departed from when they made Shiâ—â—rack of Faith and a good Conscience And the â—nake by his Blasphemous Profane and Vain Floâ—â—â— at the Light within Christ in Men shews himâ—â—lf to have Shipwrack'd Faith as by his notoriouâ—â—alshoods he has Shipwrack'd a good Conscience Ibid. p. 163. And as they deny any outward Resurrection so consequentially they deny any outward Heaven But as we own as is plentifully before shewn what the Snake calls an Outward Resurrection so consequentially we own an Outward Heaven Ibid. p. 164. Where repeating the above quoted words in his G. F 's way that is never exactly seldom truly though they complain grieviously if but a Comma be mis-placed in quoting any of their Words c. That G. Fox hath truly if not exactly which I cannot say not having those Books which he answered to compare with quoted his Adversaries Books I take for granted in the Snake's Instance For if otherwise why did he not detect it And a Quotation may be be said to be truly made if it contains the whole meaning of the Writer in that place though it may not be exactly in the words of the Writer But the grievous Complaint which we have made against former Adversaries as now against this Snake is not for simple Comma's but for cutting assunder and sometimes leaving out Sentences for making breaks that break the sense of the Writer But if they happen to escape in all this which the Snake has hitherto seldom done then they pervert our words and will have them to speak their sense not our own and we must not be allow'd to mean by them what we have always declared we did and do mean but their Comment and Glossings they will have pass for our Text and that shall be either Blasphemous Impertinent or Ridiculous according to the several appearances in which they will draw us forth either of Monstrous Insignificant or Foolish according to their several Aims in which they would make us Obnoxious This is what I now complain grievously of in this Snake as others my Friends have grievously complained of former Adversaries Ibid. p. 164. Quoted from Great Mystery p. 214 There 's none have a Glory and a Heaven but within them which was before Man had a being And if the Snake had taken the pains to have consulted his Bible he might have found our Saviour testifying Luke 17.21 Behold the Kingdom of God and which is frequently called the Kingdom of Heaven is within you And this Kingdom ' tho it be in Man yet it was before Man had being and will always endure and whosoever are made partakers of this Kingdom of God in Men and continue obedient Subjects in this Kingdom that is in the Power and Spirit of Christ they shall surely have their Lot and Eternal Inheritance in the Father's House in which there is many Mansions Thus Reader having followed this Snake in his Entwinings and Foldings and in good degree I hope detected his ill practices and rescu'd ouâ— sincere Belief from his perversions in his several Instances hitherto I now proceed SECT XII Concerning Baptism and the Supper commonly called Sacraments WE have not in this Section of the Snake Entituled Of the Holy Sacraments any Quotations as in all the foregoing Sections That was not now necessary because of our known disuse of them But here what he gives is a continued Declamation against our disuse of them This Declamation he hath intersperst with some false reasonings to prove their continuance But he has not as it might have been expected he should examined and refuted those very many Reasons and Scripture Defences which we have frequently published for this our disuse But in Magisterial and Despotick Manner would obtrude his Arbitrary Interpretation and Additions to the Text of Scripture which he would have to pass and we must ask no Reasons Wherefore I might justly pass by without further notice taken of this his idle and false Declamation or at most only refer to those our Reasons and Scripture Defences which have been so often given till he should have shewn their Invalidity and have established what he proposes beyond the strength of those Arguments which we have offered And this I might likely have done but for the sake of those into whose hands this may come who possibly may not have seen them our Reasons and Defences Chiefly for the sake of such it is that I am content to follow him through this his Section to detect his false Reasoning and also to shew that by our Practice herein we are not unagreeable to the Scriptures though we are so to him The Snake in his first Paragraph as is his custom hath taken care to prepossess his Reader with a false comparison concerning us by joyning to our Description Hymeneus and Philetus That they did err we have Apostolical Warrant and the Snake the more easily to beguile his Reader would explain their error by a that is and then does boldly assert that what the Apostle did condemn them for is what this Snake does now condemn us for But upon Examination it will appear that his abitrary Interpretation or Explanation of their Error has in it much confidence but no certainty of which
agreement or likeness to Her in our Sense and Declaration thereof as I have already largely shewn Sect. 5. foregoing to which it is unnecessary to add more for the conviction of him whose Character is in nothing so eminent as in a Dogmatical Falshood of which a Notorious Instance now next follows Ibid. p. 189. The Snake doth implicitly charge Josiah Cole with Reprinting and Publishing with great Approbation a most violent Invective of the Church of Rome against the Protestants and chiefly against the Church of England in a piece of his Entituled The Whore Vnvailed Now Reader for thy more particular Information and the discovery of the Hypocrisie and Falshood of the Snake herein I shall acquaint thee That there was a Book Writ and Subscribed A. S. a Roman Catholick against the Church of England and other Potestants among which by the way the Quakers were included which he Entituled The Reconciler of Religions or a Decider of all Controversies in Matters of Faith In which Book there was divers Reflections upon our Principles as well as upon others who he pretended to Reconcile Josiah Cole writ an Answer to it which he Entituled The Whore Vnvailed or The Mystery of the Deceit of the Church of Rome Revealed By this Title it should not seem to be Repinted by J. C. with Great Approbation nor indeed was it For Josiah Cole as he quotes several parts of it he subjoins his own Answer detecting the Deceit of its Author A. S. very particularly And there being in this Book of A. S's a part which he made his 14th Chapter that did more particularly reflect upon and relate to those who in the Title of his Chapter he calls Protestant or Sectarian Ministers charging them not to be true Preachers or sent by God Josiah Cole with intent that the Persons charged might answer that which related to themselves does put it at the end of his Book and declares concerning it in his Title Page I thought meet to publish this herewith that the Sectarians or Episcoparians may answer for themselves This Reader is the Reality of that Business of which the Snake with so great Confidence and Falshood grounds that manifest Slander of his in saying The Quakers have more barefac'd than any openly sided with the Papists against the Protestants And I defy the Snake to produce any one piece written about that time which J. C's was that does more particularly detect and lay open the Deceit and Falshood of the Romanists than that of J. C's does So little reason had this Snake falsly as he does to bring in J. C. saying this Charge viz. the 14th Chapter against their Bibles and Ministers whose Cause says he I am not engaged in When J. C. hath no where said that he was not engaged in the Cause of the Bible But said he was not engaged in the Cause of them who A. S. had called Sectarian Ministers This briefly is the true state of that Matter on which the Snake makes near two pages of most false and scandalous Insinuations and Charges Ibid. p. 190. They have exceeded them in every thing and improv'd the Errors which they had learn'd from them Here the Snake will have the Quakers exceed the Romanists and that they have improv'd their Error even in a Question which himself determines p. 32. that our simplicity has depriv'd us of every one of these helps which the Romanists have But we having been from p. 32 to p. 190. under the Snakes hand it is no wonder if his Viparous Fancy having formed a Monster at first that he should think the proportions encreas'd Ibid. p. 190. G. W. asserts that the Righteousness which God affects in us is not Finite but Infinite Voice of Wisdom p. 36. And the reason which the Snake has left out is this For Christ is God's Righteousness and Christ is formed in us Gal. 4.19 and so that Righteousness which God works in us by his Spirit it 's of the same kind and nature with that which worketh it for the Saints are made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Ibid. p. 191. But if you will ask how could Infinite Righteousness fall G. Fox will answer you who wrote That he was beyond the state of the first Adam that Fell in the state of the second Adam that never Fell. But where G. Fox hath so writ the Snake tells not yet if he hath so writ what is it more than the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.22 45. hath said concerning our Death by Sin through the first Adam and our Regeneration through obedience to the Quickning Spirit the second Adam the Lord from Heaven And they who through the Operation of his Quickning Spirit have witnessed a being regenerated and born again may truly say that they are beyond the state of the first Adam that Fell. Ibid. p. 191. And in a Printed General Epistle of his to the Quakers which I have now here before me he says Who hath any thing against my way who never fell nor changed And he concludes This is the word of the Lord God to you all and spread this abroad The truth of the words is not less General than the Epistle for it is a General and a Standing Truth that the second Adam that never Fell Jesus Christ the Just Man's Path is the Everlasting Way to the Father which did never Fall nor never Change Therefore G. Fox might well ask who hath any thing against this Way And the Word and Command of the Lord through all Generations by his Servants hath been to call People to walk in this Way But that I may not forget I would now ask for that Answer which the Snake hath just now said G. Fox will give to the Question How could Infinite Righteousness Fall The Snake was willing to start some strange thing but not being then furnish'd with a seemingly probable Lie or forgetting to add such an one he hath omitted to say any thing which he calls G. F's Answer to that Question But the Snake is not more forgetful in this than he was in adapting the Matter treated of in this Section to the Title of it The Title he gives it is That Popish Emissaries set up Quakerism in England And to prove his Title he brings in G. F. saying That he was beyond the State of the first Adam that fell in the state of the second Adam that never fell That is He was born again by the Operation of the Quickning Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord. See Reader How far this proves that Popish Emissaries set up Quakerism in England If this Argument be insufficient he hath others of like sort of which one is That G. Fox hath said of Jesus Christ his Way Who hath any thing against my Way who never fell nor changed A fine Argument that Popish Emissaries set up Quakerism in England He hath also given a Quotation from G. W's Voice of Wisdom p. 36. That the Righteousness which God effects in us is
Divinity but the Incarnation of Christ is denied by them Again Great Mystery must prove that Popish Emissaries set up Quakerism in England And it must also prove that the Quakers Damn all the Christian World but themselves Again Great Mystery must prove that the Quakers are pure and sinless And it must also prove that they are Venemous and Nasty These with many other no less Contradictory and for which the Book affords no true Ground does the Snake by the help of a prolifick fancy draw Ibid. p. 195. G. F. in his Great Mystery p. 89. says That the Quakers have a Spirit given them beyond all the Fore-Fathers since the Days of Apostles In the Apostacy G. Whitehead would fain come off of this and thus endeavours to excuse it in his Charitable Essay Printed 1693. p. 5. in these words The very intent and meaning of G. F's words herein was not beyond all the Fore-Fathers without exception but beyond all in the Apostacy And indeed it is very plain that G. F's meaning must be so because the natural import of his words shew as much But the Snake says Here it would have been incumbent upon G. W. to have named those whom he or G. Fox did believe were not in the Apostacy Why so incumbent To what purpose should they be named who were not in the Apostacy The prophet shews not any Incumbency there was to have the Seven Thousand named whom God said he would spare and for whom he testified that they had not bowed their Knees unto Baal 1 Kings 19.18 Ibid. p. 195. Let us hear G. Fox explain himself in other places of the same Book you will best know his meaning from himself A Wonder The Snake has once spoke Truth But it mightily contradicts himself for in other places speaking of this very G. Fox whom he here supposes capable to explain himself He says he was a Fool one of such an immoderate degree of Dulness and lack of Vnderstanding as could hardly befall any thing in Humane Shape But to proceed let us hear G. Fox as quoted by the Snake from Great Mystery p. 217. He says That since the Days of the Apostles all the World went after him i. e. after those who as he there expresses it did inwardly raven in Sheeps Clothing And now says he are People but coming from them to a Rock This the Snake calls hearing G. Fox explain himself but is in Truth nothing less because the Snake has miserably cut assunder and disjointed G. Fox his words and by the help of i. e. he has put a meaning of his own upon them To prove which I shall only give the place as it is in Great Mystery by which we have the Snake's word we shall best know his meaning which with the occasion of them is as follows G. Fox his Opponent had said False Prophets and Christs and Deceivers many shall come if it was possible to deceive the very Elect. To this G. Fox says Yea Christ said they should come to his Apostles which before their decease did come and went forth from them which Christ said should inwardly raven and get the Sheeps Clothing And since the Days of the Apostles all the World went after them as thou mayst read in the Revelations and now are People but coming from them to the Rock and now shall the Everlasting Gospel be preached to them that dwell upon the Earth over the Heads of the Beast and False Prophet and they shall be taken and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the Victory This is what the Snake blinded by the Dim suffusions of Malice says is to condemn all the Christian World but our selves But whether it be so or not we will now examine by Scripture and there our Saviour tells us Mat. 24.24 that false Christs and false Prophets should come And the Apostle 2 Thes. 2.7 testifies The mystery of Iniquity doth already work c. and so great was the increase of its workings in the space of fifty years for it was hardly more from Paul's writing to the Thessalonians to John's writing the Revelations that John in the Revelations 13.3 says all the world wandred after the Beast I would here ask the Snake Did John the Divine herein condemn all the Christian World Did he condemn all those who at the writing of that Book did yet persevere in true Faith and Obedience to Christ Surely he did not Why then must G. F. using the Apostles words and having respect to the same Apostacy of which the Apostle speaks be so understood They cannot be justly so understood because their natural import as used by the Divine and from him by G. Fox is all the World that is all that were entred into the Apostacy which was foretold by our Saviour should come and declared by the Apostle Paul was come in its beginnings and which John testifies was more generally come at his writing of the Apocalyps To the same purpose with the Quotation last made by the Snake he makes about twelve more from several places of the same Book in all which the Snake would pervert G. Fox his words to be meant of such who were not in the Apostacy but offers not one Argument to shew that those to whom G. F. did speak were not so To which it may be convenient here to observe that as the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of Christianity had its beginning very early even while several of the Apostles were yet alive and was more generally overspread before the death of John So it did by general confession continue for many Ages after Nay it is not yet quite done away for all those who do resist and withstand the Spiritual Appearance of Christ in People and do endeavour to keep them from witnessing that Faith of which he is the Author and Beginner and which gives Victory over the World may be and are truly said to be in that Apostacy which did overspread the Nations through their forsaking the right way of the Lord. And to such who are in that Apostacy to tell them of it and admonish them to come out of it is not to Damn them No it is the Office and Duty of those to whom God giveth the Ministry of his Word as to the Prophet Isaiah 58.1 Cry aloud and spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their Transgression and to the House of Jacob their Sins And this the Prophet did do very sharply many times yet he did not therefore Damn them nor include every particular of the People and House of Jacob under his Charge no more hath G. F. or any other of our Friends For fuller evidencing of this past all the little tricks by perversion insinuation or false quoting of the Snake I shall for conclusion to this Section subjoin somewhat out of a piece writ by Isaac Penington which was first Printed 1660. and reprinted in his Works 1681. p. 313. and bears for Title An
in your high Nest of Liberty in the Lust and Pride and Filthiness of the Flesh. And in like manner he goes through many of the then Parties into which the People were divided and faithfully tells them their Trangression and admonishes to Repentance that so their then impending Destruction and which did come might have been averted And this is so far from being the effects of a Cursed Spirit or Hellish Thundrings and the opening of the Infernal Pit that it hath many Examples in Holy Writ in which God by his Prophets hath denounced and foretold grievous Desolations and Destruction which should come because of Transgression Thus the Prophet Amos 8.11 Jeroboam shall die by the Sword and Israel shall be led away Captive out of their own Land And the treatment he met with was much such as the Snake gives for we read in the 10th vers Then Amaziah the Priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam King of Israel saying Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the House of Israel the Land is not able to bear all his words Thus Amaziah and our Snake are of the same Mind who when a Prophet from the Lord declares his Will concerning the Disobedient these will have such a Prophet to Approve of and Glory in their Destruction Which horrid Imputation cannot appear in any thing to be more false than that these same Men with many of the Prophets of the Lord who have been concerned in like Messages have called in the Word of the Lord to Repentance and Amendment by which the Impending Judgments that they foretold should come might have been turned away and that there was need of Repentance King Charles in the Declaration before-mentioned has abundantly testified but of that I care not to be more large at present The Snake p. 208. next carps at a Book Entituled Good Council and Advice but mentions no more of the Title lest it should betray and destroy the purpose he quotes it for and testifie that the Writers of it were true Prophets it is thus Rejected by Disobedient Men. And the days of Oliver Cromwell 's Visitation passed over and also of Richard Cromwell c. Printed 1659. From which Book p. 27 36. the Snakes quotes thus and begins Oh Oliver arise and come out which is an abuse and false Quotation for these words in that Book do stand twelve Lines assunder and begins thus Oh Oliver hadst thou been Faithful And of this the Snake declares they did blow the Trumpet to Oliver effectually But it is very false for from the Title of the Book their Visitation passed over and from the event viz. Oliver's Death and Richard's being Cast out it appears otherwise Ibid. p. 208. And he further charges Oliver not to turn Sober Men and True Hearts out of his Army And a very good Charge it was Ibid. So it seems they esteem'd Fighting a Lawful and a Good Thing in a Good Cause because they thought it consistent with Sober Men and True Hearts According to what I have before observed p. 138. God not having disarmed himself of the Outward Sword he may and often hath for Causes seeming Good in his Sight put the Sword into the Hands of such whom he hath appointed to be the Ministers of his Anger against wicked Men and among these his Ministers we believe there very often is and hath been Sober Men and True Hearts according to those Discoveries of the Will of God which they have had And this we also know that if Sober Men and True Hearts who have been raised up by the Lord and made Instrumental in his Hand by the outward Sword to Castise His and His Peoples Enemies do humbly wait upon God to have further discoveries of his Will and thereby come into greater degrees of Obedience to the Holy Spirit of Christ the Peaceable Saviour they may at length come to see concerning them against whom God raised them up as Joshua in the word of the Lord recounts to Israel concerning their Enemies Jos. 24.12 And I sent Hornets before you which cast them out before you even the two Kings of the Amorites and not with thy Sword nor thy Bow For it is certainly true that those 〈◊〉 do come to that Spiritual Marriage with the Lord spoken of by the Prophet Hosea 2.9 they will witness the compleating of that Prophecy mentioned in the 18th verse of this Chapter And in that Day will I make a Covenant for them with the Wild Beasts and with the Fowls of the Heavens and with that that creepeth upon the Earth And I will break the Bow and the Sword and the Battle out of the Earth and will make them to sleep safely Ibid. p. 209. But since 1660. it is an Antichristian Doctrine Before and since 1660 even ever since we were a People it hath been our Principle and Practice not to use the outward Sword Ibid. One of the Orders given forth by their Yearly Meeting 1693. Commands that none should carry Guns in their Ships Our Yearly Meeting did never give forth any Commands but in Brotherly sort hath caution'd against those things which are not consistent with our Holy Profession of which this is one Ibid. p. 209. They presented G. K. as endeavouring to Subvert the Government which by their Law is Death because that in the 9 th and 10 th Articles of a Paper there Published called an Appeal from the 28 Judges c. he queried whether it was consistent with their Principle against using the Carnal Sword c. That it was not Because he Queried c. as the Snake falsly says he was presented but because of his indecent and tumultuary Behaviour the Declaration of the Sessions it self will best shew which I shall here quote from S. J's State of the Case p. 50 51. Their words are these Therefore for the undeceiving of all People we have thought fit by this Publick Writing not only to signify that our Procedure against the Persons now in the Sheriffs Custody as well as what we intend against others concerned in its proper place respects only that part of the said Printed Sheet viz. The Appeal which appears to have the tendency aforesaid that is Sedition Disturbance Subversion of the Government or aspersing the Magistrates and not any part relating to Difference in Religion c. Ibid. p. 210. But it is plain that they are not against Force of Arms when they like the Quarrel for they did not only encourage Oliver c. but they fought themselves against the King if you will believe G. F. who complains of many Quakers being Disbanded out of the Army and that for being Quakers tho' they were good Fighters It is false G. F. does not complain that any Quakers were disbanded much less that they were disbanded for being Quakers That which G. F. does here complain of is the Pride and Haughtiness of them to whom he writ and as an instance of their Apostacy from that tenderness towards Religious and
wrought by them nay expresly the contrary not by Sword nor by Spear And God as he pleases can overturn without the Sword as well as with the Sword And the overturn here threatned is not by Sword-men but of Sword-men Ibid. p. 212. The Snake hath here injuriously made a Quotation from A Declaration of the People called Quakers c. by leaving out the intermediate lines which are expressive of the sense of his whole Quotation and which are as opposite to the Gloss the Snake puts on them as can be After his Quotation from the Tract above-mentioned he saith This is plain Language they will not yet take Arms nor for the present not till they see their time But they have entered a Caveat to secure their Right and Title to it till they think sit to set up their Claim That Edward Burroughs Language in this place is plain Language is very true and therefore so much the greater is the fault of the Snake in perverting to a wrong sense what E. B. has delivered so plainly as these his words which the Snake hath left out in the Quotation does shew p. 9. But yet his Kingdom is not of this World neither is his Warfare with Carnal Weapons neither is his Victory by the Murdering and Killing of Mens Persons neither hath he Chosen us for that end neither can we yet believe he will make use of us in that Way c. This is indeed such plain Language that nothing but plain Malice could have perverted And tho' the Snake pleases himself by playing upon the words yet and for the present and would basely insinuate them to be a Caveat entered c. they are no such thing For First the word yet is not always an Adverb of time as in the words above it appears it is not for so would they absolutely destroy each other and the Snake don't seem inclin'd that the last words should for if they be then his pretence of their being a Caveat will necessarily vanish and yet before His Kingdom c. cannot possibly relate to Time because our Saviour hath assured us without all bound of Time My Kingdom is not of this World And by the way it is worth observing that our Saviour gives that as the reason why his Servants could not Fight John 18.36 now this reason must always continue and the Kingdom of God in the sense which our Saviour speaks it can never be of this World for that as the Apostle says It is Enmity with God therefore can his Servants not Fight and E. B. hath said expresly Neither hath he chosen us for that end Secondly Those words for the Present on which the Snake does with equal Malice and Falshood insult have no Relation to Fighting but to Suffering under which many of our Friends then were and as the words immediately following those quoted by the Snake do shew they are these P. 9. But for the present we are given up to Bear and Suffer all things for his name sake and our present glory and renown therein stands till the appointed time of our Deliverance without the Arm of Flesh or any Multitude of an Host of Men this we declare c. What more notorious and wilful Perversion could an Adversary be guilty of than to suggest and pervert the meaning of these words to be the Entering a Caveat to secure a Right and Title to take Arms What follows p. 213 214. Is already reply'd to and therefore shall not repeat the Answer tho' the Snake does the Objection It is with him an easie way of making a great Bulk of Charge and Slander but tho repeated a Thousand times over it is of no weight when refuted in the first Instances as these have been and now the Snake labouring in that Mine of Lyes his Brain has met with something which in p. 215. he calls a Material Discovery He expresseth it thus Because the Quakers since 1660. would make us believe that they had been Loyal in the Rebellion of 41. and the Reason they give is their Sufferings under those Vsurpers But here it is plain that their Sufferings were not for their Loyalty to the King but for their Principles destructive to all Government Here Reader is to use the Snake's expression a Material Discovery of the Snake's Lying Contradiction for in p. 329. foregoing I have observed him saying that we joyned with all the Vsurpations c. And here he gives as a reason for our Sufferings under them that our Principles are destructive to all Government How then could we Joyn with them that we were destructive too Or if we were not destructive to them How could we Joyn with them at the same time when we suffered under them all No it was impossible it could not be nor did we ever so Joyn with them For evidence of this take E. B's own words in the Declaration c. fore-quoted where he saith p. 8. Neither are we for one Party or another nor do we side with one sort and rebel against another neither do we joyn our selves to this sort or the other nor do we War against any by Carnal Weapons neither shall we ever provoke the Nation against us otherwise than by our Righteous and Holy Walking c. This our Testimony published 1659. had it been false could then have been easily detected and refuted but no such thing we ever heard of then But this Snake now will have that the Quakers did Rebel did Joyn with Vsurpers and Fight against the King tho' the contrary is most true as is above testified by E. B. We have for the present done with Edward Burroughs and now the Snake turns to Francis Howgill in a Book of his called An Information and also Advice to the Army c. printed 1659. from p. 7. of which Book the Snake in p. 216. quotes Them who were your real Friends called Quakers who gave you and the Army Intelligence about the late Insurrection c. This the Snake gives for proof that They the Quakers held out against the King to the very last and that not only in Talking Writing and Fighting but in Watching Discovering and Betraying And if this be proof sufficient for all this then it may be also proof sufficient that the Priests did to the last hold out against the King c. because that some of them did upon that Insurrection come up and acquaint the House with the same thing and declared they had not engaged with the rest of their Brethren Priests in Cheshire and Lancashire and they had thanks con'd them for their pains But this tho' mentioned in the same page from which he takes the foregoing Quotation the Snake takes no notice but when the Quakers gave Information to the House as F. H. says that they were Spoiled of their Goods and Horses to a great Value Oh! This is a great Crime this is Watching Discovering and Betraying Ibid. p. 217. And as the King deviated so says he the
other Books Writ about that time do abundantly testifie of the like evil Practices in other Counties And that they might the more effectually Convince their Persecutors of the wrong they then did them they Expostulate with them P. 78 79. concerning the Pretences on which these their Persecutors had proceeded against others for what they called Arbitrary Actings while they themselves were then found in Practices not less Arbitrary and Illegal The Words are these To what purpose have been the Hangings by the Neck the Cuttings of the Throat at Tyburn the Imprisonments Confiscation of Estates and other exemplary Punishments executed on Judges Justices and Ministers of State for Arbitrary Acting of which the Records of this Nation speak Why was Strafford's Head cut off and Canterbury's and Charles Stuart's as Traitors for Endeavouring to Subvert the Fundamental Laws of England and what Justice was there in all these c This it 's plain is not Exulting but Quaerying not Praising but Questioning yet the Snake by his Art in Splitting Sentences puts it in another face than this its true one Another Instance the Snake quotes p. 221. from the Book aforesaid p. 96. Multitudes of People flock'd up out of the City to Westminster to complain of their Sufferings which Charles Stuart call'd Tumults But the place as it lies in that Book is thus In the beginning of the Long Parliament some such thing viz. Guards was set at White-hall-gate to hiâ—â—er the Multitudes of People which flock'd up out of the City to Westminster to Complain of their Sufferings by the Bishops and Oppressions c. The last Words it seems the Snake would have kept under the Thumb and by no means have it known that the cause why the People then flock'd to Westminster was their Oppression and Suffering by Bishops No by no means the Snake can much more willingly have it known that King Charles the First was counted faulty than that those Bishops should stand Recorded for Oppressors and Persecutors This must not be Published in Gath nor had I now reviv'd it in this Instance but to Detect the Injustice and Falshood of this Partial Adversary I come now to a Book Entituled Several Papers given forth by G. Fox Printed 1660. From which the Snake in the same manner as from the last quoted gives many Scraps of Quotations with purpose that they may Answer the Title of this Section and to prove his Solecism That all their Fighting has been chiefly against the King But alas his base and nasty practice of Splitting Sentences Curtailing Periods and Perverting the Sense Scope and Purport of them will never be able effectually to do it as who shall read the Pages referr'd to by him viz. p. 8 9 12 15 16. and from which in an interwoven manner he hath plac'd the several Bits he picks will more fully see I omit to Transcribe them for Brevity but their Purport is this George Fox does in those Papers which were Writ long before the King's Restauration though not Printed till the Year before fore-warn and reprehend those who would have Constituted and Set Up an Oppressing King which it was fear'd some in Oliver's Days would have done thereby to Establish and Impose their Religion upon the Nation contrary to their former great Pretence to the Headship and Kingship of Jesus Christ over the Church And thus much as it hath the warrantable Example of Precedent from Holy Writ so neither was it any Fighting against the King When the Jews 1 Sam. 8.5 would have a King to Judge them like all the Nations it is said in the very next Verse according to the Hebrew It was evil in the eyes of Samuel yet Samuel was not therefore accused of Fighting against him whom God in anger gave them to be their King Samuel had a sight of that Declension which was in the Jews contrary to their former Practices in this their desire that displeased him and seemed evil unto him in that there should be such Declension in them Thus some there were who once had some beginnings of the Work of God in their Hearts and while they continued under that Sense were willing that Jesus Christ should have his proper Headship and Government in his Church and that all should be persuaded in their own Minds in the Exercise of their Religious Worship towards God But having declined from this they were endeavouring to set up the contrary viz. a Governour and Government by which they might impose upon those with whom they had formerly Unity as relating to the Freedom of the Conscience Against this it is G. Fox in those Papers speaks which shews the Snake in his scornful Flout p. 223. Alas wretched George now must all Men know that thou even thou thy self didst quench the Spirit and deny the Light c. does of none speak so properly as of himself concerning whom all Men that read him must know by this his Falshood and Malice that he does quench the Spirit and deny the Light which will further appear in the falsity of his saying P. 223. Thee G. F. didst Change just as the times did Change and just as soon The Instance which the Snake gives that G. F. did so Change is a Declaration which he with other of our Friends did give unto the King at his Restauration importing their Truth and Fidelity to him 'T is thus Entituled A Declaration and an Information from us the People of God called Quakers To the Present Governours the King and both Houses of Parliament c. And was delivered to the King the 22 Day of the fourth Month 1660. From p. 4. of this Declaration the Snake p. 224. quotes thus We therefore Declare to take off all Jealousies Fears and Suspicions of our Truth and Fidelity to the King and these present Governours That our Intentions and Endeavours are and shall be Good True Honest and Peaceable towards them and that we do Love Own and Honour the King and these present Governours what follows the Snake has cut off so far as they do Rule for God and his Truth and do not impose any thing upon Peoples Consciences but let the Gospel have its free passage through the Consciences of Men which we do not know that they have by any Law as yet imposed And if they Grant Liberty of Conscience towards God and towards Man then we know that God will bless them So that the ground of that Love and Honour which our Friends did then profess to have for that Government was their Ruling for God and his Truth and not impposing upon the Consciences of Men. And I must needs say that there never was any Governours in the World who have so Ruled but the People of God in every Age have lov'd and honour'd them as they have been always True Honest and Peaceable towards all and must continue to be so through every Age of the World and such Kings Princes and Governments God will bless But in all this where
the Fatherless and the Widow ver 29. And the Stranger the Fatherless and the Widow which are within thy Gates shall come and shall eat and be satisfied that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest This is a brief Account of these Ceremonial Tythes and the manner of their Payment according to that Law from whence the Snake pretends to fetch his Authority for their continuance at this Day Now according to this Rule let me ask the Snake Whether the Tythes at this Day claim'd by the Priests be first offer'd as an Heave-offering unto the Lord which those in the Law were to be before they were given to the Levites And to offer these Tythes as an Heave-Offering does necessarily infer both a Sacrifice and an Altar without which the Tythes given by that Law were unholy 2. The Priesthood at this Day are under no Sentence of Deprivation from Inheritances in the Land as were the Tribe of Levi they may and do many of them acquire large Possessions 3. Do they let the Stranger the Fatherless and the Widow to whom of Right they did belong as well as to the Priests and Levites partake with them of the Tythes Or do the Priests at this Day let the Persons with their Housholds from whom they exact the Tythes partake of them with themselves For to them that paid the Tythes it is said Numb 18.26 And thou shalt eat thereof before the Lord thy God and thou shalt rejoice thou and thine houshold Indeed The Snake says p. 266. all their Arguments as to the Law and Levitical Priesthood being superseded operate nothing against Priests of a Superiour and more excellent Priesthood But they are not superseded for the Objections still remain and the Arguments heretofore offer'd by our Friends are Unanswer'd as are these I have here already given and more that follow So that they do operate effectually against the claim of Tythes from the Law and Levitical Priesthood upon the false and vain pretence of being Priests after the Order of Melchisedec to pretend to which Bishop Reynolds p. 528. says Is Most Sacrilegiously to Rob Christ of his Honour Ibid. And there being as Ancient mention of Tythes as there is of Priesthood in the World I have no manner of doubt but they are as Ancient as Priesthood it self that is as Adam â— have already observ'd That the earliest mention of Tythes in the World is in Gen. 24.18 concerning Abraham and Melchisedec less ancient than Adam by more than Two Thousand Years and therefore I have no manner of doubt which is Answer Sufficient to such Insufficient Arguing that the Snake is quite out in making Tythes as ancient as Adam But if Tythes were as Ancient as Adam who paid Tythes To whom were they paid And when were they paid That the Knowledge of Tythes as of Sacrifices and Priesthood descended from Adam Is Gratis Dictum much of Confidence and Assurance but no Proof That the one was the Maintenance the other the Office of the Priesthood and therefore one must be as Ancient as the other Is no true Consequent For in those elder times and before the Levitical Priesthood was Instituted every one was in a Sense his own Priest and offer'd for himself as appears in the first Recorded Instances of Sacrifice offer'd by Cain and Abel each in his own Person and so downwards whereas after the Institution of the Levitical Priesthood it was peculiarly the Priests office to offer the Sacrifices for all the People And till the Priesthood was settled in Levi's Tribe there was no need of a settled Maintenance nor does there any footsteps of any such appear Ibid. They were all alike received by the Heathen World by an Immemorial Tradition from the beginning Immemorial Tradition A Fable which in many things has been long and often falsly pretended in the Church of which in the lump hear Bishop Taylor in his Liberty of Prophecying p. 95. Printed 1647. To Dispute says he concerning the Truth or necessity of Traditions in the Questions of our Times is as if Historians Disputing about a Question in the English Story should fall on wrangling whether Livy or Plutarch were the best Writers And the earnest Disputes about Traditions are to no better purpose For no Church at this Day admits the one half of those things which certainly by the Fathers were called Traditions Apostolical and no Testimony of Ancient Writers does consign the one half of the present Questions to be or not to be Traditions Thus he which as it shews the light esteem and little dependence which is to be had on Tradition pretended Apostolical so necessarily it includes at the least as great if not greater uncertainty and as little if not less dependence on pretended Heathen Immemorial Traditions But for his more full Conviction herein I shall add one more Authority particularly respecting his pretence of Heathen Immemorial Tradition upon this Point of Tythes It is Richard Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity Printed 1622. Book V. p. 427. Sect. 79. His Words are these And as Abraham gave voluntarily as Jacob vowed to give God Tythes so the Law of Moses did require from the Hands of all Men the self same kind of Tribute the Tenth of their Corn c. Insomuch that Paynims being herein Followers of their Steps paid Tythes likewise And that the Heathens were herein as in several of their Religious Performances borrowers from the Jews is not only the Opinion of this but many other Learned Men. Ibid. p. 267. God reserv'd the Tenth Part of our Substance as the Seventh of our Time to be paid as a Tribute and an acknowledgment to Him from whom we receive all c. Non constat No such Reserve ever was or can be made appear from Adam to Moses By Moses 't is granted God made a Reserve of a Tenth part not of our Substance but of some part of the Substance of his then peculiar People the People of Israel outwardly of the Increase of the Land of Canaan when they should come into the Possession of it And this Reserve he made as I have before shewn for the Maintenance of the Tribe of Levi the Poor Fatherless c. which Tribe he then Consecrated wholly to the Priesthood and excluded from their share of the Land at the Division thereof among their Brethren And as this is the only Reserve of the Tenth which it appears God did ever make So neither the Heathens at that Day nor the Christians in this were or are at all oblig'd by it or concern'd with it The Heathens were not oblig'd by it or concern'd with it because what the Law said it said to those that were under it Rom. 3.19 which the Heathens were not The Christians are not oblig'd by it or concern'd with it because the Tenth was appropriated to that Priesthood Worship and Oeconomy of the Jews which lasted no longer than till the time of Reformation Heb. 9.10 till
7.12 compar'd with ver 5. and 18. Ibid. He T. Ellwood quotes 1 John 4.3 which has no more relation to it than Neh. 10. to the 28 ver Did not the Snake sit playing at Tables a Sport he uses by him till his Eyes were dim when he read it he might one wou'd think have seen that T.E. did not quote that Text 1 John 4.3 to prove Tythes abrogated by Christ which he needed not do in that Controversie his Opponent then owning it but to prove that to deny Christ come in the Flesh is a Mark of Anti-Christ which that Text was aptly urg'd to prove and follow'd immediately after those Words is a mark of Anti-Christ So that both his foolish Cavil at T. E. for 1 John 4.3 and his frothy Squib upon the Prophet Nehemiah shews as well the weakness of his Cause as the levity of his Temper Ibid. p. 275. The Snake summons a great many Names without naming Books or Pages where to be found which he says F. Bugg an Apostate produces out of our Books but that Bugg's Charges upon us and Quotations from our Books have been repeatedly Answer'd not one Word No it will serve the Snake's base ends better either to be ignorant of our Answers or else knowing them not to consider them as they are but wickedly to pervert and false quote them of which two Instances now next follow The first is a Quotation borrow'd from this same Bugg out of the Guide Mistaken by W. P. Printed 1668 p. 18. which the Snake says was for the Church of England but it may appear otherwise by W. P's Words which are left out in this Quotation they are these But lest I may be Censur'd by the Reader for too Severe let me beseech thee to Inquire throughout the Story of the World where any kind of Religion has been or is Establisht by Authority and thou wilt doubtless find upon a diligent Search that the People's Judgments have ever been and are fast Chain'd in the Priest's Inquisition c. And of these Priests it is who through all Ages have thus Chain'd the Peoples Judgments in their Inquisitions that W. Penn does here speak And I think the Snake will hardly more own that they have done this than he can make it appear that the Church of England as now denominated hath been through all Ages If he can he will help her to one Mark which the Romanists say is a mark of the true Church And to another Mark which all will say is a mark of the false one The Second is a Quotation which he makes from W. P's Quakerism a new Nick Name c. p. 165. which the Snake says is For the Dissenters for he deals his blows round so Insinuating as if what W. P. there said did relate to all Dissenters which is notoriously false his Words are otherwise and do fully shew that they were only Relative to such grosly abusive Men as his then Adversary was to which I may add and as the Snake now is For his Words are these Is this the Man that must be thought fit to vaunt it over us with such Impudent Scurrility ungodly as well as unmannerly Reflections But in the Earth there is not any thing so fantastical conceited proud railing busie-body and sometimes ignorant as a sort of Priests to me not unknown among whom our Adversary is not the least who think their Coat will bear out their worst Expressions for Religion and practice an haughty Reviling for Christ as one of the greatest demonstrations of Zeal And of such as these it is that W. Penn said and said truly that they are an ill bred Pedantick Crew the Bane of Reason c. for so they really are And of such as these it was that W. P. in his Serious Apology speaks p. 156. as quoted by the Snake p. 275 276. And how strange soever he may make of it the Holy Prophets in the Scriptures do abundantly shew and denounce Woes and Plagues to those who made the People Drink and laid thâ—m to sleep on Downy Beds of soft Sin-pleasing Principles To such Isaiah spake Chap. 28.7 8. The Priest and the Prophet have erred through Strong Drink they are swallowed up of Wine they err in Vision they stumble in Judgment For all Tables are full Vomit and Filthiness so that there is no place clean And therefore he denounces from the Lord vers 18. And your Covenant with Death shall be disannulled and your Agreement with Hell shall not stand when the overflowing Scourge shall pass through then ye shall be trodden down by it And vers 22. he tells them I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts a Consumption even determined upon the whole Earth And in like manner Jeremiah 6.13 14 15. And from the Prophet even unto the Priests every one dealeth falsly Also the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly saying Peace Peace when there is no Peace Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination Nay they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush And for this the Prophet says vers 26. For the Spoiler shall suddenly come upon us And the same Prophet Reproving the Great Wickedness of the Priests c. Jer. 23. denounces from the Lord vers 19. Behold a Whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in Fury even a grievous Whirlwind it shall fall Grievously upon the Head of the Wicked These with abundance more of the Just Denunciations of God's Judgments upon the Wicked and such who pervert the right way of the Lord are to be seen in the Scriptures of Truth And it is not unlikely that those to whom these denunciations were sent did as this Snake now does ask What flaming Ovens are the Hearts of these Men Belching forth nothing but Hell and Damnation They who are hard enough through Rebellion against God to draw down Judgments seldom fail of being hard enough to Ridicule and Dispise the Monitors of them Ibid. p. 276. Bugg tells us in the same place how industriously these Books are spread amongst the Quakers insomuch that a Poor Widow-Quaker to whom he administred whose Substance did not amount to Ten Pounds had more than two hundred of them And in this place I do tell the Snake that we should be wanting to our selves if we were not as industrious to spread our Defences as the Snake or any Apostate may be to spread their Defamatory and False Charges As to what Bugg may brag of having Administred to a poor Widow-Quaker I have no need to question the truth of it nor what the Substance she left really was tho if it was but ten pound yet it was a Real tho but small Substance which if himself could have pretended to no more his Debts being paid and discharged I see not what just account or reason he can give for his compounding with his Creditors And if this Quaker-Widow had 200 of them Books of ours which I take to be false she was the better stored so
if he did not reckon them any part of her ten pound Estate he might if he had sold them somewhat encreased that Ibid. p. 277. Nihil Dicit is Confessing of Judgment c. Supposing Nihil Dicit to be Confessing of Judgment yet that is not our Case we have been far from saying nothing for we have replyed I think to all that Bugg hath writ against us at least while he pretended to bring a Stock of new Charges and so Contentious a Man deserves not to be hearkned to or answered only for his noise sake But now to Nihil Dicit which the Snake says is Confessing of Judgment Sure he unluckily forgot the Suspicions he lay under to which he never yet dare appear to make answer so that Nihil Dicit is Confessing of Judgment Ibid. If they could prove Tythes to be Abrogated by Christ then indeed Bugg 's Impeachment would appear to be Malicious Very well I am contented to put it to that Issue because they have not only been proved heretofore to be abrogated by Christ in the Writings of several of our Friends but herein also as I take it it is fully proved that Christ by coming in the Flesh and offering up himself hath abrogated Tythes And that confirmed by Scripture Reason and Authorities Ibid. It is no Objection that Quakerism has not been voted in St. Stephen 's Chappel as bad things have c. What he means by Quakerism being voted in St. Stephen 's Chappel may seem doubtful yet that the Parliament have given us a Christian Liberty we are truly thankful tho I question not but this Malicious Abdicated Priest is sorry for it But why Snake that scurvy and saucy flurt upon the House of Commons as bad things have Can't the Parliament escape the Lash of this Lurking Snake who by the base treatment he has given to the Reformation in England from Popery and also to the present Government seems to intimate both these to be some of the bad things he flurtingly means to have been voted in St. Stephen 's Chappel This brings me to the end of this Section of Tythes SECT XVIII Shewing that the Pretensions of the Present Quakers as of the Former to the Spirit of Prophecy Infallibility c. is according to and agreeable with the Scriptures of Truth THe Snake that he may encrease the Bulk tho' not the Weight of his Charge does in a Multiform manner repeat the same thing We have before had one Section and that not a very short one Concerning the Quakers Infallibility and another Section Concerning the Quakers Pretence to Immediate Revelation And in both these are included this Section Entituled The Pretensions of the Quakers to the Spirit of Prophecy Infallibility c. In almost every particular Instance which he has here mentioned so that to be distinct and particular in this to all the Parts of it were but to say the same thing over again which would be equally unnecessary both for my self and Reader But if in my way through it I meet with any thing new and not answered before I shall not willingly escape it or pass it over The three first pages and it hath but seven are near all taken up in quibling and foolish unprov'd Reflections not worth a Confutation when they are not dress'd in a false shew of Reasons Garb and then only for this Cause that by Derecting an Enemies false Reasoning he may not be able to deceive or impose upon his Readers which this Snake doth frequently endeavour both by false Relations of fact by false Quotations from our Books by gross known Perversions of our Words and giving meanings to them which were never ours and also by boldly affirming of things utterly false As where he says p. 280. Our present Obstinate Quakers refuse to be brought to disown their own False Prophets We have not refused to Disown and Testifie against any who have spoken falsly in the Name of the Lord No but have according to the Examples of like kind recorded in Holy Writ denied them of which I have already in the Section concerning Infallibility given some instances Ibid. But do still fearlesly go on and pretend themselves to the same Extraordinary Commission of Immediate Divine Revelation That Divine and Immedate Revelation to which we do pretend is no other than that which is declared and held forth in the Scriptures of Truth as I have already shewn Section IV. and which the Snake does acknowledge p. 27 28. In some sense they may be called Revelations and Immediate too And as to Extraordinary Commissions or the Special Manifestations of God to his Children in the Higher Degrees of Immediate Revelation those which we own are not repugnant to the Scriptures but are consistent and agreeable therewith as I have there more largely shewn to which I shall only add that God hath not in the Scriptures of Truth declared or bound himself that he would not any more manifest himself to Men in such special Manifestations or extraordinary Commissions which it is recorded he did give to his Ministers in the breaking forth of the Gospel Dispensation Nay on the contrary the Apostle Peter shewing the People what was the Dispensation of God to Men in the Gospel-day Acts 2.17 18. he saith having reference to the Prophecy of Joel 2.28 And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie and your Young Men shall see Visions and your Old Men shall dream Dreams And on my Servants and on my Handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall Prophesie Are not Etraordinary Commissions herein promised I think there be so that there is not any uncertainty or doubt to know whether such Commissions may be or not Which though the Snake wou'd suggest yet he dare not undertake to prove And therefore chuses to oppose the Spirit of Prophecy in the Servants of God at this day by saying they affix God's Seal Thus saith the Lord to whatever their Rage their Malice or Folly shall suggest This is to affirm but not to prove and unless it be proved it deserves not be believed Ibid. This is nothing short of Blasphemy Rank Wild Blasphemy To affix Thus saith the Lord to Rage Malice or Folly it is indeed as the Snake says nothing short of Rank Blasphemy But that the Quakers do affix Thus saith the Lord to Rage Malice or Folly is nothing short of Rank Lying in the Snake to affirm unless he can prove it It is no Objection to give particular Instances of some that have been called Quakers and have spoken falsly in the Name of the Lord and thence conclude and say therefore none of the Quakers speak truly in the Name of the Lord. For by such undue Inference all the True Prophesies in the Old and New Testament are at once denied and refused as not from the Lord because some
Petition p. 5. the other from his Saul's Errand p. 7. which are both to this purpose All that speak and not from the Mouth of the Lord are false Prophets and Diviners At this the Snake is wonderfully offended and taking his Copy from other Adversaries for he is not the first herein no more than in his other Charges makes many false Inferences from them As for the Assertion of G. F's it was as I have just now hinted objected against in the Year 1656. by Jeremy Ives and answer'd by James Nayler in a Peice of his printed that Year Entituled Weakness above Wickedness In p. 12 13. of which Book answering to this Charge he saith What is done now by such Diviners as deny the Faith of Christ and his Call and Spirit in them what such raiseth must needs be Conjuration who denies the Faith and Spirit of God And in like manner we find God by his Prophets hath often rebuked them who spake Lyes in his Name and who were Strangers to his Holy Spirit by the name of Diviners Jer. 27.9 Micah 3.7 Zach. 10.2 And their False Prophesies are frequently called Lying and Flattering Divinations which were Truths they could hardly bear any more than those to whom this was spoken But whether it can be born by them or not it will remain a Truth that such who deny the Faith and Spirit of God and shall yet pretend to speak in his Name it can be no other than the Lying Divinations of their own Brain Ibid. p. 285. If all the False and Foolish Miracles which G. F. tells of himself If all these were not from God then was he and those who recommended that Journal all Conjurers That the Miracles there related are False or Foolish is Gratis Dictum it is boldly said but not prov'd Prove them False and Foolish and then there needs no If they were not from God but till they be so prov'd their Authority and Being from God remains a Truth SECT XIX The Charge of Visible Possessions by the Devil Examined and Refuted HAving hitherto trac'd the Snake through the Twinings of his several Charges and discover'd at least in some measure his Falshood Hypocrisie and Malice in them I am not less in hope to perform the same in this His Charge is that many Quakers have been Visibly Possest by the Devil A Charge which if upon Inquiry it prove not true upon the Quakers will at least prove some such thing in the Charger who from a collected Malice cou'd with so much Confidence and bold Effrontry pretend to tell such Visible Falshoods Ibid. p. 286. A Visible effect of this Possession by the Devil was that extraordinary Shaking and Quaking like Fits of Convulsions which these Quakers at the first either acted or like the Heathen Priests of old were possess'd with If the Snake will venture to affirm that all Extraordinary Shaking and Quaking is a Visible effect of Possession by the Devil I can give him two Instances wherein himself has been so possessed The one was when he was seized at Lidd in Kent by Tompson the Messenger and the other was not very long since in the City when he was under some Apprehension of being retaken by the same Person from whom he run away And I make no Question but he hath frequently been attended with the like visible effects of Possession which whether he will attribute to the strong Impression made by the Devil upon his Imagination as I know not so I shall not trouble my self to inquire nor should I have in this place told this Truth but to redargue the Confidence of one who from a course of Clandestine and Base Practices shuns Day-light and is thereby justly subjected to the Frights which the ugly shapes of Fear can terrifie him with from his Superiours yet not that I might thereby pass over his False Allegation which I shall now consider And here concerning Quaking and Shaking I make no Doubt or Scruple to own and acknowledge agreeable to the Instances thereof Recorded in Holy Writ That God by his Power sometimes in this Age hath brought Holy Fear Trembling Quivering and Quaking upon the Bodies of some as in the former Ages we read he frequently did of which some few follow Thus the Israelites in the Camp Exod. 19.16 Trembled Thus Moses Acts 7.32 Trembled Thus the Psalmist 119 120. saith My Flesh trembleth Thus Habakkuk 3.16 saith My Lips quivered Thus God Commanded the Prophet Ezekiel 12.18 Son of Man eat thy bread with Quaking Thus Daniel 10.7 testifies of the Men that were with him Great Quaking fell upon them And many more such Instances there are of the visible effects of God's ower which howsoever Ridicul'd or Stigmatis'd by such who are Strangers to it are not to be despised or profanely contemn'd by any who are at all acquainted with the Work of Christ in them How much less then ought they Blasphemously to be call'd the visible effects of possession by the Devil which are really the visible effects of the Power of God And it is nothing strange that when God by the Discoveries of his Light in the Heart lets Men see their undone Estate without him that then they should be in trouble and cry out with the Apostle of that Body of Sin and Death by which they are held in Bondage And as many as have come to this Discovery and patiently abode under the Judgment of God's Grace by which they might be made Victors do know that through the gradual workings of the Power of God in the binding of the strong Man in the spoiling of his Goods and finally in casting him out of the Heart they can say it was the Day of Jacob's Troubles and these oft-times are such as do affect the Body And while the Soul is in this Conflict and the Creature groaning to be delivered the Tempter who as he always opposes the Work of God in Men so in this Day of Trouble he aims to Subvert the Soul by his Stratagems sometimes by Imitating the Discoveries of God and endeavouring to lead the Mind into Imaginations and False Appearances thereby to lift it up above the Sense of the Operation of God's Grace Sometimes by Imitating the Judgments of God and by endeavouring to lead the Mind down into Despair and a Distrust of God's Mercy An Instance of this sort is Martin Luther concerning whom Harding the Jesuit objected to the Bishop of Salisbury That the Devil in a Night Vision did reason with him against the Sacrifice of the Mass as the Jesuit calls it and the Jesuit quoted for this a Book of Luther's entituled De Missa Angulari Vnctione Sacerdotali and infers from it that the Reformation sprung in the School of Satan The Bishop in his Reply to Harding Printed 1565 p. 2 saith D. Luther sheweth what terrible Temptations the Devil hath to trap Men withall taking occasion sometime of well-doing sometime of Evil sometime of Truth sometime of Falshood And for example
he sheweth that the Devil on a time Assaulted him not in visible Form but by dreadful Suggestions in his Conscience as it were thus calling him to remembrance These many Years thou hast said Mass thou hast shew'd up Bread and Wine to be Worshipped as God yet now thou knowest it was a Creature and not God thereof follow'd Idolatry and thou wert the Cause thereof All these things he saw to be true by the Testimony and Light of his own Conscience and therefore confess'd he had offended and yielded himself unto God The Devil's purpose was to lead him to Despair but God mercifully deliver'd him If he think it so heinous a Matter for a Godly Man to be vex'd by the Devil perhaps he will also find some fault with Christ who was carried by the Devil into the Mount or with St. Paul that had the Angel of Satan to buffet him Thus the Bishop who seems to have had another Sense of this Matter than this our Adversary I shall only add to this before I come to his particular Instances to my Reader That if any Person Professing Unity with us in whom was began the work of Reformation hath not abode Faithful but run into the Temptations of the Enemy and hath had freakish Actions and Gestures and loose and wild Imaginations and have Falsly and Blasphemously Ascrib'd them to be the Operations of the Spirit of God We are not accountable for them as the Apostle was not for those in his time who were given up to strong Delusion because they receiv'd not the Truth in the Love of it All that we find the Apostle did to them that we have done to such that is testifie against them and their ways For we do not own such Inspirations as have not for their Origen the Holy Spirit and are warranted by the Scriptures of Truth I come now to the Snake's Instances His first is thus p. 288. John Gilpin of Kendal in Westmerland has given us a strange and wonderful account of his own Possession by the Devil while he was a Quaker in a Book which he Entituled The Quakers shaken Printed 1653. In Answer to this there was Published in that same Year 1653 a Book Entituled The Standard of the Lord c. to which Book E. Burroughs writ the Epistle to the Reader In which speaking of this same John Gilpin p. 2. he saith By hearing of the Truth declared through the Witness in his own Conscience he was Convinced of the Everlasting Truth c. This was very well but it seems he continued not under that Convincement for he ran out into Airy Imaginations and Imitations as E. B. saith who speaking further of him says I was mov'd to go to see him and his Will was at liberty got above the Judgment though the Judgment was upon the head of the Beast in him and a true Power working but his Will not being kept in Subjection it led him into Impatiency and into Rebelling against the Lord who was made manifest to destroy the unruly Will and wandring Mind And then I did declare against him and shewed him the deceit where it lodged in him Thus E. B. who it hereby appears did shew the Man his state and did also deny him and his doings But the Matter issu'd thus This Gilpin continu'd to go on in that same Rebellion of which E. B. speaks so that he quite run from under the Judgment and Gilpin in this his worst Estate endeavoured with the help of the then Priest of Kendal in a Book Publish'd under Gilpin's Name to charge the Wicked and Blasphemous Actions and Sayings which he had been guilty of upon that Principle of the Light of Christ in Men which the Quakers Profest though Gilpin being Charg'd with it did deny it in these Words I have neither written nor spoken any thing against the Quakers So that by this it should seem the Book was writ by the Priest and Gilpin's Name put for a Cover And if it had not been so but that Gilpin did really write it there was a fair opportunity given them to have prov'd it because the Words above-mentioned spoke by Gilpin were Publish'd in the Answer before-mention'd Entituled The Standard of the Lord c. which came forth in the same Year which that Book Subscrib'd by Gilpin did Ibid. Attested by the then Mayor of Kendal the Minister of Kendal and several other Persons It was not strange that the Mayor of Kendal should be procur'd to Subscribe what the Priest had so eminent a Hand in though he owns it no further than a Fellow Subscriber But as this was an early Instance viz. 1653. wherein the Priest did lead the Civil Magistrate into such a Mistake which a prudent Inquiry wou'd have prevented so we have often since found they have endeavoured to Ride the Civil Power blindly into Mistakes and Prejudices against us and where such have been able to Hood-wink a Magistrate we have seldom found so little disadvantage from it as is the setting his Name to Partial and Untrue Relations of Fact In fine the Case is thus Gilpin as before related was once under a Convincement of Truth but he abode not under the Judgment of God manifested in him for Sin but started aside as a broken Bow He got into Wild Blasphemous and Airy Whimsies and Notions In all this he was presently denied and testified against For Edw. Burroughs did while this Gilpin was under these Extravagancies deny him and we were sufficiently discharg'd of him And what may further shew the Degeneracy of the Man was the Dissoluteness of his After-time for some Actions of which a Warrant was it seems Issuâ—d out for his Apprehension but he like this Snake ran away from it as is express'd in the Book aforesaid which was writ in Answer to him The Snake's next Story is of one James Milner mention'd p. 66. fore-going This Man and some others did as the former start aside from under the Judgment but the Event was not the same as is seen in G. F's Journal p. 103. where speaking of this Man and his Condition he saith James Milner and some of his Company had true Openings at the first but getting up into Pride and Exaltation of Spirit they run out from Truth I was sent for to them and was mov'd of the Lord to go and shew them their Goings forth And they came to see their Folly and Condemn'd it and came into the way of Truth again That he did see and condemn his Folly was very well and it was yet better for him that he return'd into the way of Truth Ibid. p. 289. But then as an Excuse for his false Prophesies and his Blasphemies in calling himself Christ c. he G. F. makes this Comical Apology In some things his mind runn'd out and that he Condemns and yet these wicked Men will go tell the Nation of it Great Mystery Page 298. It is not very Comical but very Provoking to find one who
pretends to be a Lover of Souls to be really a Hater of Truth and a gross Perverter of Words Is it any Excuse for False Prophesies or Wild Whimsies to say of those who are guilty of them That they are got up into Pride and Exaltation of Spirit and that they are run out from Truth I think it is not but is on the contrary a Sound and Substantial Denial of them as it was an evidence of their Return who had so been guilty when from a sight of and sorrow for the Wickedness they had been guilty of they did Condemn their Wickedness and return into the Way of Truth which they had forsaken and when Erring Persons are so return'd it is no less than Wickedness imperiously and by way of Taunt to object to them their past Miscarriages and much more so to throw them Evils so forsaken and repented of at a Community for their Scandal Ibid. p. 289. I will trouble the Reader but with one Instance more Then we are not like to have very many for we have had yet but two And were I dispos'd to vie Numbers with the Snake I could enumerate more pretended Members of the Church of England who have in Wicked and Freakish manner pretended falsly to Revelations and Inspirations Ibid. John Toldervy has Printed a very Punctual Narrative of his Conversion to Quakerism and of the most Astonishing Possession of the Devil in which he was held after his said Conversion even to the Apparitions of Evil Spirits dancing and Singing about him and directing him what he should do and encouraging him in the Principles of Quakerism The Snake has taken up near three pages with the story of this Man of which the foregoing words are the substance which are a complex of falshoods as I shall presently make appear But first I shall desire my Reader to observe that the Snake affirms that the Astonishing Possession of the Devil did encourage this J. Toldervy in the Principles of Quakerism which is so venemous a falshood that nothing short of Envy could lead him to affirm it and that in opposition to the Authority he quotes viz. the Book Foot out of the Snare which is the Book which the Snake here calls a Punctual Narrative and also quotes in p. 290. I will give my Reader some account both of the Man J. Toldervy and his Book above-mentioned from both which it may fully appear how far the Astonishing Possession of the Devil or bewitched Imaginations in which he was was from being either owing to or encouraging of the Principles of Truth which we profess And first for the Man He was one who I shall anon give my Authority for what I say had been zealously affected in divers ways of Worship at length he made a shew of a Convincement upon his Spirit and did come to our Meetings but it was not long before he did discover himself not to have any true work of Regeneration upon his Mind but run out into very strange and wicked Imaginations for which he was soon reproved by the Quakers but he persisting they did separate from him and deny him both by Word and Writing because of his following a Bewitched Spirit The Quakers being thus discharged of him his Wild Imaginations turn'd to Envy and he endeavoured to charge his Crimes upon the Principle of the Light of Christ in Men professed by us in order to which he writes a Book Entituled Foot out of the Snare and to give it greater Grace it hath Eight Warrantees or Subscribers for the truth of it Wherein they pretend to set forth the Manner of his Separation from the Quakers In answer to this of theirs James Naylor wrote a Piece entituled as above Foot yet in the Snare in which he shews and often repeats it that J. Toldervy was denied by the Quakers and that they had Testified against him And for the fuller evidencing that the Quakers had denied him he does in p. 21 22. refer to their Book Foot out of the Sare and says In p. 33. Do you not confess that when he came to the Meeting at the place where the Quakers were shewing the holes he had made in his Thumbs and telling of those Lying wonders which he had been acting many of the Quakers being there all of them Judged him with one Consent charged him to be silent and told him that he was in Darkness and had slain the Witness of God in him Thus by their own Testimony nay by the Testimony of Toldervy himself for he was it seems the Author The Quakers had denied him of which we can desire sure no better proof than his own Confession attested by Eight Witnesses of which Tho. Brooks Tho. Jacomb Geo. Cockaine Joh. Tombs and Will. Adderly were part Having thus shewn that the Quakers did deny and therefore not chargeable with him nor his Actions I shall further shew from the same Authority which hath testified our denial of him as above that those his strange and wicked Imaginations were neither owing to nor encouraging of the Principles of Quakerism in him as the Snake has wickedly said For proof of this see Foot yet in the Snare p. 20. where James Naylor clearing our Principles from this suggestion saith thus quoting their own Book before-mentioned And have not you confessed p. 49. the Cause of these Distractions and Confusions in his Mind was having been zealously affected in divers ways before There was begotten in him much Fleshly Wisdom in which his Hope did rest believing it to be the Holy Spirit revealed in him and that he was covered with Deceit and could glory in that Condition Here in their own Testimony they say he was Covered with Deceit did rest in Fleshly Wisdom and believed it to be the Holy Spirit and in this he had been zealously affected in divers ways which was as themselves say the Cause of his Distractions and Confusions and all this before he came among us and staid not long when he was come But yet further James Naylor does in p. 26. quote them more amply clearing the Quakers Principle from his Delusions where they clear the Truth and say He J. T. being fully persuaded by what he learned from the Quakers of the Truth which was made known by the Light in us which Light is Spiritual and guides out of the Work of the Flesh to worship God in Spirit and Truth he was then to wait out of Thoughts and Imaginations c. And his Understanding being now thus opened he was possessed with much Joy in the Sense of that Love he had received whereupon he was resolved to give all diligence that his Calling and Election may be made sure But being naturally of a hasty and forward Mind and his Resolution in part being a Covenant of his own there was speedily begot in him an extream Fiery Zeal so that in the general he was hastily carried forth before the true Light by which in a short time he became lost in his
every True Son of the Church an Enthusiast Yet in p. 98. he says Enthusiasts indefinitely have no Principles they have no Rule but their own Fancy which is strongest in Mad-men Reader Is it not very Comical to see this Adversary dealing his Blows with so much blindness and malice thus to wound himself while he thinks he is hitting of others which is a very great Argument that whatsoever Inspiration he may pretend to believe to be in the Church yet that he has little benefit from any because of his repeated Contradictory Assertions in the same thing But besides the propense Malice herein Legible it 's like he used less guard and caution and car'd not how he put upon us since he declares his Assurance p. 32. That the Simplicity of our Quakers has depriv'd them of every one of these helps which others might have to detect him But be that as it will let me here add one Observation to shew yet plainer if plainer can be whether this blindness has led him He would have us believe nay he says p. 319. We are assured that it the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost will lead us to all Truth that is requisite and necessary for our Eternal Salvation Now if the Snake does here speak both the Churches Sense and his own I will shew that notwithstanding he has writ a Section of Tythes as payable to her yet he has absolutely cut them up by the Root while he doth positively affirm that Teaching does cease nay that it 's inconsistent with the Sufficiency of the Light within But if this Light within or Inspiration of the Holy Ghost Leads us to all Truth requisite and necessary for our Eternal Salvation as both himself and as he says the Church do confess I think it hath Sufficiency enough for all the wants of Men. For Proof that this Sufficiency supersedes all Teaching and necessarily Tythes which are the Reward of it turn to p. 166 167. where speaking against us upon this very Head of the Sufficiency of the Light within he saith Teaching does in its own Nature cease when Men are sufficiently Taught therefore to those who hold the Sufficiency of the Light within outward Preaching must be wholly Inconsistent How far this agrees or contradicts what I have above quoted from him in p. 319. the Reader may easily Judge Now again to Quotations and the first is from p. 38 of W. P's Preface to G. F's Journal and is this We have seen the Fruit of all other Ministries by the few that are turn'd from the evil of their ways And let the Snake think as he please it will always be one good Mark to Judge of a Ministry by its Fruit those that are turn'd by it from the evil of their ways It was the end of the Commission which God gave to his Apostles to turn Men from Darkness to Light and it is the end of the Commissions which he gives at this Day and where this end is not Answer'd there Fruit is not brought forth His Objection p. 320. is besides the Point where he says Mens being evil may proceed from their own perverseness For I know none that doubts it But what is to the present Case is That Men's continuance in Evil is often too much owing to the deadness of the Ministry they are under as in Hosea 9. And there shall be like People like Priest Ibid. And to Justifie rather the Ministery of Theudas Acts 5.36 37. who got above 400 to follow him No it is to Justifie rather the Ministry of Peter from the Holy Spirit Acts 2.41 by which there was at one Sermon added to the Church about 3000 Souls Ibid. p. 320. quoted from p. 21. of the Preface before mention'd where the Snake has given a notable Stroak of his Art in I will give the Quotation first as he has made it and then from the Preface it self They the many Ministers in the World declare of Religion say many things true in Words of God Christ and the Spirit of Holiness and Heaven c. but which of them all ever directed a Man to a Divine Principle or Agent plac'd of God in Man to help him c. Thus the Snake has given it but in the Book it self it is thus They declare of Religion say many things true in Words of God Christ and the Spirit of Holiness and Heaven that all Men should Repent and mend their Lives or they will go to Hell c. But which of them all pretend to Speak of their own Knowledge and Experience Or ever directed Men to a Divine Principle or Agent plac'd of God in Man to help him and how to know it and wait to feel its Power to work that good and acceptable Will of God in them Thus he So that when the Snake Answer'd the Question as himself had split it and said p. 321. Not one of them as I know of He did but Answer one half of it But if he will Answer the Question as it lies above in W. P's Words and say Not one of them Ministers but have so directed Men as is above-mentioned there may Thousands be able to Confront him and say his Answer is false In like manner he abuses a Passage in p. 39. of the fore-mention'd Preface Where W. P. directing his Words to those in the Ministry saith For even those that have receiv'd the Word of the Lord had need wait for Wisdom that they may see how to divide the Word aright which plainly implieth that it is possible for one that hath receiv'd the Word of the Lord to Miss in the Division and Application of it which must come from an Impatiency of Spirit and self-working c. What the Snake carps at in this is the Word Miss and among other things says p. 321. Hâ—w did he know they cou'd Miss but by their having Missâ—d I Answer Very well For as the Apostle does not Charge Timothy with having miss'd when he gave him that Caution 2 Tim. 2.15 to which W. Penn has respect in them Words which plainly implieth c. So I think the Snake will not be so hardy as to say That either the Apostle or Timothy had miss'd in the Division of the Word Ibid. p. 322. Will they give no body leave to miss but themselves We give none leave to miss in the Division and Application of the Word W. Penn hath truly said as above it is froâ— an Impatiency of Spirit and Self-working And if the Snake will not allow of that to be missing it is easie to know that himself does miss exceedingly Ibid. p. 324. The Snake makes a Quotation from p. 83. of G. F's Journal which is but a Repetition of what he has before quoted in p. 28. and which I have already Answer'd in p. 76 77 fore-going and therefore need not here repeat it Ibid. p. 325. But when p. 29. of his Preface before-mention'd Mr. Penn wou'd persuade us that this Fox had outward Revelations and
Discoveries are often small not only to try the Obedience but to encourage to Faithfulness And they who will not thankfully receive its lowest Manifestations and obey the Discoveries of the Light of Christ in the forsaking and denying vain Honours and Language are not likely to be obedient to greater Discoveries if they had them Ibid. p. 332. But G. Keith for his Christian Doctrine of a Christ without was condemn'd by their Late Yearly Meeting in their Bull of Excommunication It was not for Christian Doctrine but Unchristian Practice which G. Keith was denied as the Testimony given against him does fully shew in these words George Keith of late hath been and yet is acted by an Unchristian Spirit which hath moved and led him to stir up Contention and Strife in the Church of Christ and to cause Divisions Separations and Breaches amongst them that Profess the Truth and that the tendency of Divers of his late Writings and Actings hath been to expose the Truth and Friends thereof What has Christian Doctrine to do with such Unchristian Actions They have no agreement and this was the Cause there assigned of our denying him The Snake now gives p. 333. part of a Letter which he says W. P. sent to R. Turner of Pensilvania in which speaking of G. Keith are these words I love his Spirit and honour his Gifts and his Peculiar Learning especially Tongues and Mathematicks his Platonick Studies too all being sanctified to the Truth 's Service which is worthy to have the Preheminence Upon which the Snake says here will be a sad account of that Infallible Discerning Spirit which the Quakers do appropriate to themselves To which I shall first say that it is utterly false that the Quakers have ever appropriated to themselves the Spirit of Discerning It is only appropiated to the Holy Spirit and what true Discerning of Spirits is given to Men must be from that Fountain Now as to the Letter the words above quoted do well consist with that Spirit of Discerning because in order of Time it appears not but that that Letter was writ some Years before the Testimony of the Yearly Meeting against G. K. which I have before quoted And if G. Keith's accomplishments in Learning had continued to have been all sanctified to the Truth 's Service as it is there exprest which was the ground of that Love therein declared He could not have stirred up Contention and Strife nor caus'd Divisions Separations and Breaches which was the reason of his being denied But further If that Letter was writ when there was some small beginnings of Misunderstanding betwixt G. K. and those in Pensilvania Yet the words of that Letter referring the Love declared to his Spirit and Learning to be as all are sanctified c. they are very safe as G. K. would also have been had he kept to the Holy Spirit which sanctifies and that would both have prevented further Disturbance and removed all Misunderstanding Ibid. p. 336. I do here demand Reparation in the behalf of the Church of England But particularly in behalf of one whom they have most Scandalously Robb'd The Person wronged is Mr. Selden and the Thief is Francis Howgil A Snake turn Knight Errant the Scandal of the Church presume to set up for her Representative O Monstrum But to his Ridiculous Arrogance I do here demand c. What mighty I is this What Ratling Snake Why an Anonymous who is as fear ful of putting his Name to his Demand as he is to appear before Justice One who Jugler-like plays Tricks in the Dark Therefore sure no true Pleni-Potent of the Church not one Legally Delegated by Her And he is not less the Church's Delegate than he is John Selden's who in his time was one of the Glories of this Nation one whose Living Labours may at once endear and preserve his Memory with those who know his Works And with what Forehead one so differently qualified as is the Snake should pretend to demand Satisfaction if the Demand were just in his Behalf is no small wonder But the Demand is Arrogant Trifling and Impudent in that he says F. Howgil has stoln whole Paragraphs verbatim out of J. Selden's History of Tythes I have with what care I can examined the Charge by comparing the Books and cannot find one whole Paragraph so taken I find that F. H. does in some places treat of Tythes in the same manner as J. Selden does and the Books which are his Authorities he puts mostly in his Margin And among others which he quotes J. Selden by Name is one in his History of Tythes and upon this Subject of Tythes he is twice quoted by F. Howgil viz. p. 482 and in p. 567. which is sufficient to shew that F. H. is no Plagiary But since the Snake hath thus taken upon himself to be a Knight Errant I will direct him to a piece of Work of the sort he here speaks of and if he can get satisfaction he may pretend to be Captain of the Band of Knight Errants He may find it in John Daille's Treatise of the Right use of the Fathers first Book p. 104. In these words St. Hilary St. Ambrose and others who robbing poor Origen without any Mercy do not yet do him the Honour so much as to name him scarcely This is certain that you shall find in St. Ambrose many times whole Periods and whole Pages too taken out of St. Basil but unless my Memory fail me very much you shall never find him once named there Thus he I spare to give more such Instances till the Snake shall here have demanded Reparation in due form But now we are speaking upon the vice of Stealing it may not be improper to remind him that it had been highly necessary for him to have surveyed himself and considered with what Face he could unjustly object Theft to F. Howgil because he speaks of the same Subject in the same manner with John Selden whom he also names While himself if he had been duly prosecuted for Theft must of necessity have been hang'd if at least the Law of the Country where he stole the Virgin whom he made his Unhappy Wife be in that case agreeable to ours But as to the Punishment I shall not now enquire nor yet what Reparation he made to the injur'd Parents or Relations But as to the Fact it had the Forms of Theft in that he had not their good leave before he took her and whether the Canons do not declare the Theft of Souls the Stealing of a Wife to be in the same Class of Crimes in which himself puts Obedience to the King de Facto It may be proper for him to consider which if he find and that he squares himself in his Repentance for that by his practice in this his Repence will be as singular as his tenacious Disobedience hath been observable But of this now no more nor had there been so much nay here none at all had
Answers to F. B. or J. P. in their black Charges relating to Treasons c. my Conscience excuses me and that the mistake the one for the other was no designed Injury to either nor yet to this their Credulous Advocate And as to my Answer to John Pennyman Entituled Christ's Lambs defended c. However slighted by this Adversary as Impertinent Shuffling c. There is more in it to purpose and to the same subject of his 18th Sect. than he is able to answer I am perswaded though not to all he quotes upon G. Bishop which I had not read out of his own Books that I remember neither have I those Books or Papers of G. B's relating to State Affairs or Government And what tho' John Pennyman does not mention his large Quotations out of G. B's Works Ibid. It follows not that my Book Christ's Lambs c. contains not an Answer to the Substance or most Material part of his said 18th Section which I still think it does It is very Remarkable how confident the Snake is in notorious Falshoods as in what follows p. 355. viz. For to tell thee the Truth George I have undergone the Pennance of reading over thy â—edious Answer to John Pennyman Even thy Christ's Lambs and there is not one word in it from Top to Bottom one tittle to the purpose but such Shuffling and Cutting as in this present Answer to the Snake Only thus much it serves for that you may have it to say there is an Answer to such a Book c. Thus by the Lump he has passed his false Sentence upon my said Answer to J. P. as not one word or tittle of it to the purpose but as if both it and my Answer to the Snake i. e. my Antidote were made up of Shuffling and Cutting c. and that only they may serve â—s for the Name of an Answer But if the first was so very Impertinent Why did not John Pennyman make Reply and clear himself by shewing its Invalidity And if the latter i. e. the Antidote be so very silly and of no Vâ—lidity 〈◊〉 comes iâ— that this Author is so deepâ—◠〈…〉 at it as that when he has leasur◠〈◊〉 â—onsider it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he intends it p. 350. It appears he has passed judgment on it by wholesale without such consideration but what need of any such strict and particular consideration or replication if it be so siâ—ly and impertinent â—s he renders it Lyars have need of good Memories to make all their Falshoods hang together His Black Charge of Traiterous Principles and Actions Blasphemies and Treasons Blasphemers and Traitors c. which I took notice of in the Antidote p. 24. was not only upon particular Persons but as extended against the Quakers in General wherein he shewed the greater Injustice and Malice seeing what he calls Their Traiterous abetting Oliver and the Rump many Thousands of the People called Quakers were then Unborn in his day and chose that warred under him tho' they did it from a Principle of Conscience it was before they were Quakers and those of them that believed there was for a time a Providence of God with him and his Army in a way of â—â—dgment whereby they were a Terror to their Adversaries their 〈◊〉 therein is no ways 〈…〉 the Snake's Hissing at or against them on that account unless he can prove that God had no hand in that Judgment and those Revolutions and over-Turnings That the then Clergy abetted Oliver and highly applauded him and his Son Richard as their Moses and Joshua c. He denies not but saith As for the then Clergy as he calls them let the Quakers and them reckon about their Equal Treasons and Rebellion The Clergy of the Church of England are not herein concerned they then suffered for their King and with him p. 356. Observe here 1st In the first place the Quakers still without Exception are charg'd with Treasons and Rebellion and the then Clergy charg'd Equally with them therein so that those of his Brethren do not escape his foul hands no more than the Quakers tho' the latter cannot be justly charged with those high applauses which the other gave to O. C. and his Son 2 d. In the next place he will not now own them for the Clergy of the Church of England who were the Clergy in their time but only those few that suffered for the King and with Him And what then does he think of the Clergy now Who are the Clergy of the Church of England but those that have the Tythes and get into the Pulpits as did those in O. C's time But perhaps this Incendiary may have as much against the present Clergy and Government as against them only he hides and dares not utter it as yet What he and such Sowers of Discord may hereafter do if they have opportunity may be nearly guessed at by the course he now takes He Quarrels with us now about Past-times and Proâ—idence which neither he nor his Brethren of the Clergy nor we either could avoid no nor help if he were now more disposed to a peaceable and charitable Mind and Conversation towards others it would bespeak more of Christianity than to Quarrel and upbraid others about former Transactions and Revolutions wherein Divine Providence over-ruled Mens Contrivances and Actions considering that the most high Rules in and over the Kingdoms of Men and he giveth them to whomsoever he pleaseth Dan. 4.6 and none can stay his hand or may say to him What dost thou None may charge him with Treason or Rebellion neither do the Instruments he makes use of act merely of themselves nor is it just to upbraid or condemn others unconcerned for their actions as this Incendiary does us And 't is observable what a Valliant Warrier this Author of the Snake appears in his so severely Cudgelling Cromwell and Banging the Rump and Paying off the Old Army and Insulting over them now so many Years after they are Dead and laid Aside and not only so but upbraiding the Living and unconcerned with their concerns when as he and his Brethren of the now Clergy should rather be humbled and humbly consider the Cause and Reason of those Revolutions and of the Judgment of War and Devouring Sword why they came to pass or were suffered Had God no hand therein think they Many Men of Judgment and Valour have other considerations thereof than now to Boast and Insult over the Dead I doubt not but some yet alive can remember upon what Principle and for what end they acted whom he bitterly commemorates and inveighs against and how Religiously inclined in their way I have had credible Information from some of that Old Army and how they were often Preaching and Praying when many of the other were Drinking Swearing Cursing and Damning and what Service did they thereby do for the King when they came to Engage Were not such sometimes upon a Shout ready to run for it Did
was not to whom the Quakers did prefer themselves but whom they did Damn The Snake is not herein shorter in his Proof than he is false in his Charge when he says They have equalled Themselves to Adam in his Innocency as is above shewn The Snake hath indeed as is observed p. 290. foregoing said that G. F. Wrote but where he hath not told us That he was beyond the State of the First Adam that Fell But if G. F. hath so Writ it follows not that he hath equalled himself to Adam in his Innocency Cannot the Snake see a Difference between the State of Adam in the Fall and before the Fall Beyond the State of Adam in the Fall it is the Duty of all Men to come else they cannot witness the being born again by the Power of the Quickning Spirit the second Adam the Lord from Heaven This I say is our Duty and Interest and they who measurably do witness this Regeneration do not therefore Equal Themselves to Adam in his Innocency nor prefer themselves to all Others since the Fall Ibid. p. 192. Thus while they themselves pretend to Infallibility of Discerning and Infinity in Righteousness as shewn before they Arraign the Apostles of Gross Error and Delusion even where they speak from the Mouth of the Lord and in his Name That Infallibility Discerning and Righteousness which we own and contend for is that which is of the Operation of the Spirit of God and which he gives as pleaseth him to all those who through Obedience follow on to know his Will And which may be a strange thing to the Snake they are necessary to Man's Salvation For First Our Saviour speaking of his Faithful Followers John 10.4 5. They know his Voice and a stranger they will not follow But they could not thus chuse to follow Christ and not the Devil if there were not an Infallible Evidence in the Voice of Christ to testify that it is his Voice but such Evidence there is and they who persevere to be Workers together with the Grace of God shall by the Infallible Evidence of the Holy Spirit have a true Discerning between the Voice of Christ and the Voice of the Evil One And as they shun the one and follow the other they will come to witness a being clothed in their Measure with the Righteousness of Christ which is Infinite The Snake is not more false in his Charge concerning Infallibility Discerning and Infinite Righteousness as is above declared than he is grosly abusive and false in saying we Arraign the Apostles c. as will be seen by examining the Instance which he brings It is this P. 192 193. When St. Paul said 1 Thes. 4.17 We which are alive shall be caught up in the Clouds c. tho he said vers 15. This we say unto you by the Word of the Lord Yet T. Elwood in his Answer to G. K 's Narrative c. p. 162. supposes that St. Paul expected to be caught up in the Clouds himself and that the day of Judgment would come in his time while he was Alive And that the same was the meaning of St. Peter when he said The End of all Things is at Hand 1 Pet. 4.7 This Reader is the Snake's Instance that the Quakers do Arraign the Apostles of Gross Ignorance But that there is nothing more in the Charge but this Adversary's Gross Lye what follows will shew G. K. had in a piece of his Entiuled Gross Error and also in the Narrative of 1696. said in opposition to G. W. The Apostles using the word We there We that remain is an Enallage Personae putting We for They like that of James Therewith Bless we God and therewith Curse we Men James 3.9 To which Tho. Elwood replies Though he G. K. delivers it Possitively and like a Dictator yet I see not why he must needs be believed Why might not the Apostle speak in the first Person We As supposing that great and extraordinary Appearance and Coming of Christ the certain time of which no Man knew Matth. 24.26 was so near at Hand that it might probably fall out in his Life time For as the Apostles accounted the Times they liv'd in the Last Days or Last Times and ordinarily called them so Heb. 1.2 and 9.26 1 Pet. 1.20 1 John 2.18 so they thought the End of the World was not far off What else made Paul when he had told the Corinthians that the things he had related were written for our Admonition add Vpon whom the Ends of the World are come 1 Cor. 10.11 Why else did Peter say The End of all Things is at Hand 1 Pet. 4.7 Thus Thomas Elwood whose Querying the Snake calls Arraigning tho' by a very Gross abuse in that the words have no such thing in them For T. E. does here Query Why might not the Apostle speak in the first Person c. What else made Paul when he had the Corinthians c. Why else did Peter say c. It would have been more to the purpose if the Snake had answered the Questions and shewn why the Apostle might not speak in the first Person c. why and what else than the conjecture offered by T. E. did occasion the Apostles so to express themselves as is above quoted But this he drops and stands at a distance from the Questions and for answer flings Gross Lyes Ibid. p. 193. And at a Meeting or Council of their Ministers about the Year 1678. which will be told hereafter Hereafter when the Snake shall tell the Story at Large I shall then particularly reply to it and for the present shall here only reply to his False and Scandalous Insinuations hereon where he says They the Quakers prov'd themselves greater than Abraham because Abraham was before John and that the least in the Kingdom i. e. the least of the Quakers was greater than John Here the Snake by an i. e. does in most abusive manner insinuate his Base and Viper-like Exposition of the Text Matth. 11.11 to be our sense of the place which it neither is nor ever was And I do Charge him with Forgery herein and notorious Falshood unless he be able to prove that the Quakers have said they were greater than Abraham or that the least of the Quakers were greatter than John Which they I am well satisfy'd have never said Ibid. p. 193. Now they having treated the Prophets and Apostles at this rate we cannot expect that they should pay any great respect to the Ancient and Holy Fathers of the Church no they run them down by wholesale Having hitherto detected the falsity of the Snake's Insinuations and Charges in that no such treatment is given the Prophets and Apostles as is by him suggested I shall shew he is not less false when he pretends to give an account of the respect pay'd to them he calls Ancient and Holy Fathers From T. Ellwood's Answer to G. K's Narrative afore-mentioned G. K. had in that Narrative