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 Doctrin nor do they own any such Saying I wholly disown it But then to beg the Question What was it you called Dust and Serpent's 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. 249. 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 Doctrin 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 Doctrin and Precepts which will not decay but be permanent and endure and therefore 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 Ink by Barach 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 Doctrin where 's then the Controversie indeed when the same thing is granted on both sides He quotes Gr. Myst. p. 302. Sect. 11. p. 146 147. 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 soure Leaven 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 Doctrin of the Scriptures which you blaspheme as Dust and Death and Serpent's Meat on purpose to bring Men off from trying your pernicious Heresies by those saecred Oracles p. 250. 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 Doctrin of the Scriptures as to term or deem it Dust Death or Serpent's Meat The Lord rebuke this lying envious Spirit Neither do I vilifie the written Doctrin and Precepts of God in comparison of our New Light as he falsly calls it p. 250 251. 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 or 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 Doctrin and Divine Precepts therein written for they testifie unto Christ our Light and our â—ight 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 p. 251. I deny that our Pretences to the Light within is either false or 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 them in 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 tho' my Accuser says 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 reprobaches 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 p. 252. 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
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 it a Subject of any further Contention against us Again my Accuser brings a heavy black Charge upon me in these Words viz. In this same 11th Article we are now upon after your full and Affirmative Declaration before he would have it Negative you subborn 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 to 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 synonimous to Shape p. 263. 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 above out of the Quakers Books And I have denied this as a Falshood before and now declare against his manifest Perversion and Injury to me and my Words herein For as I sincerely disown the Words charged viz. The calling Christ Jesus a Type or Figure of our Light within I could not apply the Words before in the Text Phil. 2. to have any relation thereto 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. 4. 1. 1. 15. 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 was 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 Trust of his Author F. Bugg upon his false Report which is besides all Justice Morality and judicial 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 at 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. 1 Tim. 4. 12. Titus 2. 7. 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 Patern and Example are rendered 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 the Veil Heb. 10. 20. it was to remove an Offence taken against my Friend J. P. for using the same And it would have become this Adversary to have forborn his blasphemous Scoffing at my Light as George if thy Light has hitherto forgot to tell thee c. I bless the Lord my God who is my Light Life and Salvation he has shewn me the new and living way of the New Covenant which our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ consecrated prepared or set open through the Veil that is to say his Flesh yea through his Sufferings and Death as being the Testator he hath enforced that New Testament or second Covenant he took away the first that he might establish the second and so hath open'd the Passage into eternal Life into the Hollest of Holies within the Veil and beyond all the Shadows and Veils under the Law It was in the most holy Place within the second Veil in
AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST THE VENOME OF The Snake in the Grass Or the Book so stiled AND THE Christian People CALLED QUAKERS Vindicated from its most gross Abuses and Calumnies In certain Reflections detecting the nameless Author's Malice Outrage and Persecution against the said People Unto which is Annex'd A brief Examination of the Author's second Book stil'd Satan Dis-rob'd Also Some Notice taken of his Discourse for the Divine Institution of Water-Baptism Psal. 83. 3. They devise deceitful Matters against them that are quiet in the Land London Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-yard in Lombard-street 1697. THE BOOKSELLER TO THE READER Friendly Reader THE so long delay of this Answer to The Snake in the Grass has been chiefly the Printers occasion and partly to have some Answer to his latter Book still'd Satan Disrob'd So Reader that thou may'st be preserved from the Venom of this Snake in all his twistings and twinings is the desire of him who wisheth the Well-fare of all Men. T. N. ERRATA PAge 37. l. 13. r. Persecutors l. 38. dele as p. 56. l. 6. r. Kingdoms p. 81. l. 1. r. Prosecution p. 166. l. 30. for them in r. in them p. 167. l. 12. for reprobachs r. reproaches p. 200. l. 25. r. universally p. 204. l. 7. r. who rendred p. 232. l. 4. r. of Sin and Death l. 5. r. of Life p. 235. l. 13. d. 60. Some litteral Faults and Points mis-placed may be understood by the sense of the matters Impartial Reader AFter the perusal of the said Snake in the Grass seeing the gross and absurd Aspersions Calumnies Perversions and scornful Stuff therein Contained and the great Malice of the nameless Author's Spirit against the People called Quakers It was slighted by us and laid aside for some Months being stuft with many lying and incredible Stories as scarce deserving any particular Answer except the notice of some few to discredit the Author and invalidate his fruitless attempts of his foul Envy and Falshood But some indifferent Persons being urgent for an Answer and the said Book being rendred as an unanswerable Piece by some too easily imposed upon and others in prejudice gave occasion for the insuing Reflections to be Exhibited in order to obviate the injurious Design of the Author and his Abettors i.e. some wrathful implacable and perfidious Apostates who are of those Cattle he has principally Plowed withal and from whom he has chiefly derived his unjust Authority to Defame and Scandalize the said People with those old false and refuted Aspersions and Slanders as Possessed with the Devil Enthusiastick Madness Blasphemy Heresie denying the true Christ and his holy Humanity or Manhood real Sufferings and Satisfaction and the Resurrection and Contemning the Holy Scriptures Doctrins and Precepts therein contained with abundance more of such like Calumnies and Slanders Abuses and Perversions of our Words and Doctrins frequently answered and refuted by divers of us in our former and latter Books And now because of our present Ease and Liberty which Mercy our Gracious God hath influenced the present Government to afford us from our late grievous and destructive Persecutions for which Liberty we are truly thankful For this Cause the Devil and his Agents appear the more enraged and to have exceeding great Wrath against the remnant of the true Seed and to combine together to persecute us with their most shameful Reproaches Abuses Lyes and Slanders which is the present Persecution we are under When the Devil was suffered to imploy his Agents to Oppress and Persecute us in our Persons and Estates by severe Imprisonments and spoil of Goods tending to Ruin us and our Families then the Pens of his Clerks and Ministers were quiet towards us But seeing his and their wicked ends by that kind of open and cruel Persecution could not be accomplished upon us now they bend their perverse Studies and Pens to persecute us with shameful Reproach and Blasphemy to Destroy and Murther our Reputations both as Men and Christians not sparing either the Living or the Dead The Lord our God will rebuke their Fury and Outrage and confound their mischievous Devices and Confederacies even the just and righteous God who by his power supported us under our deepest Sufferings and Persecutions and gave us Faith and Courage then to Face the severest Storms and Blustering Winds which rose up against us for our Christian Testimony and Assemblies he hath enabled and will enable us to face and outface this Storm of envious and outragious Persecution of our open and secret Enemies And 't is no small shame and disparagement for such Eminent Church of England Men as the Author of the Snake in the Grass would seem one of them to be beholding to pretended Quakers such as George Keith and Thomas Crisp for their Aid or Authority against us and to F. Bugg's Authority also who has been detected of numerous Falshoods against us since he left us and turned to the Priests and to the Publick as he calls it and the said George Keith contrary to his many and frequent Vindications of the People called Quakers and their Principles and above thirty Years Conversation among them now turned an open Adversary to Revile and Reproach them and yet a falsly pretended Quaker as if he would ingratiate himself into favour with the worst of our Enemies the Day will yet further discover him and them I confess where Persons of a contrary Judgment to us appear moderate and civil in their Discourse and Treatment in things wherein they differ from us they deserve to be gently and tenderly Answered and Treated and if such suppose me mistaken in any thing or circumstance of words from which I intend not altogether to excuse my self in all Controversies from my young and early Years and yet be assured by the Spirit of Truth in matters Essential to Salvation I would take kindly their civil and friendly Discovery thereof to me being desirous that the Truth may be exalted above all Self-reputation But when I find Persons like this Author of The Snake in the Grass maliciously set in a persecuting Spirit to defame and reproach Truth and our Christian Society which I am concerned in Conscience for I confess then a holy Zeal the Lord raises and has raised in my very Heart and Soul against such bitter Implacable and Persecuting Spirits And the Lord's Power I have felt and do still feel it to accompany and inable me in Defence of his blessed Truth and People And inasmuch as the said Author of The Snake in the Grass is so very liberal in his most odious Characters upon us and has so frequently Branded us even divers Persons by Name with Blasphemies and Heresies c. who have been and are known to be Persons of good Reputation both as Men and Christians in Life and Conversation 'T is pity but this Defaming Author should be publickly exposed by Name for his Folly and outrage especially if he persists in his Scorn and envious injurious
attempts against us that he may not be suffered to sculk and hide himself like a Snake under Grass And as to the seven Queries which he upbraids us with reproaching us As puting them all off with one general Answer c. as a trick and deceit of ours to hide and cover our monstrous Heresies and a full confession of our Heresies Pref. p. 350. Which being monstrous Calumnies and from which our general Answer to the unprejudiced clears us though we expected it would meet with such ill Treatment and Mis-construction as it hath from G. K. and this Author therefore thought meet to publish the said Answer herewith for the information of others more Charitable and Impartial than this our present Accuser and unjust Judge The said Queries appear to be of so little weight and some of them so indirect and in unscriptural Terms and perversly designed for cavil that I do not think they deserve to be reprinted here The following Answer being positive plain and scriptural as well as comprehensive of what 's necessary to be said to the matters chiefly Questioned And tho' I have long had a more particular Answer to the said Queries ready I do not think my self obliged at present to gratifie such imperious arbitrary Inquisitors as our present Adversaries with the publication thereof but rather for farther information in these matters chiefly Queried refer them and others to these our Books viz. First A Testimony of what we believe of Christ both as he was God and Man c. By G. F. Printed Anno 1677. And Secondly The Christian Doctrin and Society of the People called Quakers c. And Thirdly The Harmony of the Old and New Testament concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. With many more ancient Books whereby it may appear that we were not to seek our Faith concerning Jesus and the Resurrection before the said Queries came to our hands G. W. Lon. 3d day 4th Month call'd June 1695. Friend William Lancaster HAving received a Paper of great Objections against us the People called Quakers with seven Queries therein subscribed William Lancaster directed to our Yearly Meeting in Whitson-week 1695. and delivered to some of us very near the conclusion thereof and therefore only read in the said Meeting with not having any further time to consider the Contents thereof or to give any particular answer thereunto It was by the said Meeting left to a few to consider and answer as in the Fear of God and Meekness of Wisdom we should see Cause Wherein we observe is noted great Objections have been made against us by those who have departed from our Communion as by others To which we reply that 't is true and they have been answer'd to which we refer And we observe in the said Paper it s said We would not take an account of you only from your Adversaries c. And we have chosen this solemn Time And again And we have chosen this most proper and convenient Opportunity c. And then states the several Queries and says the Questions may be proposed and their Answer demanded Now the Objections having been publick and our Answers publick we desire to know who the We are that are intended in this Paper that we may apply our selves to them or give such Scriptural Answers as we hope may tend to satisfaction But to repeat Answers in writing or print to we know not who so often as demanded to the same things already answer'd We think it not needful Therefore have herewith only sent thee a few brief Lines being grosly Wronged and Misrepresented in the said Objections and divers of the Queries contain several Questions in them in different Terms and some Vnscriptural so not plain and direct Queries therefore cannot positively be answer'd by our simple YEA or NAY to each Query as designed We therefore at present send this general Answer to the Queries for thy information as follows viz. We sincerely believe and profess Jesus Christ and the Resurrection according to the Holy Scripture Testimony and to that measure of Vnderstanding which God hath been pleased to give us by his Holy Spirit We sincerely believe in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the living God both as he is true God and perfect Man our Emanuel and Mediator and as in the fulness of Time he was Conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea Suffer'd under Pontius Pilate was Crucified and put to Death was Buried rose again the third Day and visibly Ascended into Heaven and was received into Glory and that this same Jesus Christ that was Crucified shall so in like manner come as he was seen to go into Heaven in Power and great Glory to Judge both the Living and the Dead according to their Works at the last and great Day of Judgment in that great Harvest which is the End of the World And that by Jesus Christ there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Vnjust unto the righteous Judgment of the great Day consequently that the Resurrection is not past as Hymeneus and Philetus said 2 Tim. 2. 18. And that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible Every Man in his own order and that our low Body shall be changed and made like unto Christ's glorious Body The Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints We Believe shall be Spiritual and Glorious and that the Sons of God and of the Resurrection shall be equal with the Angels of God in Heaven and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father and yet there is such a great Mystery in the Resurrection as that Flesh and Blood cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption 1 Cor. 15. The whole Sacrifice of Christ whereof his Blood outwardly that was shed was a part was of great Price with God for Mans Redemption Christ's Blood that was shed without the Gates of Jerusalem together with the whole Sacrifice himself both of Soul and Body was a true Propitiation and Attonement for Mans reconciliation and peace with God for remission of Sins through a living Faith and true Repentance in his Name given and wrought by his Spirit and Word of Power in Mens Hearts whose sincere obedience to Christ and Walking in his Light being required of them in order to experience Christ the Author of their eternal Salvation and to wash them from their Sins in his own Blood For without this true Faith Repentance and Obedience to Christ Jesus Men lose and forfeit the great Benefit of Christs Sufferings and deprive themselves of the Eternal Redemption and Salvation which he hath hereby obtain'd for us Tho' he dyed for all Men tasted death for every Man and gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified of in due time being a true Propitiation for the Sins of the World From thy Friends and Well-wishers John Gratton Samuell Wattson Thomas Lower James Parke John Bowater George Witehead John
Vaughton AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST THE VENOME OF The Snake in the Grass BEING A Sober Caution against the great Malice and gross Abuses of the Book so stiled and the People call'd QUAKERS defended from the same SEeing the nameless Author gives his Book the Title of The Snake in the Grass or Satan transform'd into an Angel of Light which Character he intends for the principal Leaders of those People called Quakers It may be observed by the way what other Characters Charges and Languages he gives the said People and treats them with all in his said Book viz. Preface p. 7 8 9 17. False Prophets mad Enthusiasm obstinate Quakers their Rage their Folly rank wild Blasphemy proud blasphemous Spirit black-Mouth'd hellish Venom Coujurers Witchcraft and Conjuration p. 19. whatever the Power of the Devil may be in such cases c. There never were more visible and dreadful Effects of it no not in any possess'd Men mentioned in the Gospel than has been among the Quakers p. 21. even as declared and witnessed by themselves and that not only as to the strange and preternatural Distortions Quaking and Shaking of their Bodies past the Power of any to counterfeit or to act it by their natural Strength but what is much more horrible and exceeding all other Witchcrafts and Possessions of the Devil that were ever heard of before these possess'd Quakers do impiously blaspheme and call themselves Christ and some of them have imitated his Passion Death and Resurrection madly in themselves We may hence observe First the Authors most unjust and falsly reflecting these black Characters and Charges upon the Quakers Secondly How he shews Satan transform'd into an Angel of Light When and where did he ever see or read of an Angel of Light thus to appear like a mad Man a Witch a Devil a Blasphemer What horrid Madness Blasphemy and Self-contradiction does the Devil and Malice precipitate such furious foul-Mouth'd persecuting Agents into at unawares Thirdly But if the Quakers were such Madmen and possess'd with the Devil as he represents them how well has the Man spent his time in bestowing his Wit Drollery and Raillery instead of Compassion on such Madmen whose case if such were to be lamented rather than derided Fourthly For this great Madness and being possessed with the Devil as 't is cast upon the Quakers His instance of John Gilpin in 1653. James Milner and John Toldervy p. 22 23 24 30 34. can only prove himself impertinently malicious and can no more affect the People called Quakers nor be any more valid Argument to prove them Mad-men and Blasphemers since they have long since testified against the madness of those Persons he mentions than if one should argue against the Church and Clergy of England thus viz. That because many of their Members have run Mad and been put into Bedlam therefore the Church and Clergy of England are all Mad and must be turned into Bedlam if they had one big enough And many such other absurd Arguments and Consequences might be retalliated upon this Snake in the Grass if from a Particular to a General shall be admitted as a sound way of Arguing which no rational Man will allow Fifthly His Instance against the Quakers of James Nayler's failure and suffering a few mad Women to sing Hosanna to him This is as unjustly as maliciously remembred and cast upon us seeing that Madness was condemned and testified against by the People called Quakers And the Lord in mercy made James Nayler himself sensible of the great Temptation and Cloud he was for a time fallen under insomuch that he not only gave out a publick Testimony of his Condition and of the Lord 's dealing with him which was in Judgment and Mercy and publickly exposed under the Title of James Nayler's Recantation but also some are yet alive that were both Eye-witnesses of his many Tears and deep Humiliation besides his great suffering in Person by the then Government who being restored into his right Understanding and Sense of the Love and Mercy of God in Christ sometime after innocently ended his Days in Peace And therefore it shews the more implacable Malice and horrid Injustice to reproach us with any personal failing of his or any other And not only so but to reflect personal Miscarriages upon our Principles As where he thus unjustly infers viz. So very susceptible do the Quakers Principles make Men of the wild Impressions of Enthusiasm p. 35. So that by this Inference all Gilpins Milners and Toldervy's strange Whimsies lying Imaginations and Madness are unjustly and blasphemously father'd upon the Quakers Principles viz. The Light within Revelation the Infalibility p. 35. which we intend of the Holy Spirit 's Teaching and no other 6. P. 37. As for Quaking and Trembling so much derided how proves he that this proceeds from Delusion and Diabollical Possession p. 44. and not from the Word and Power of God at which many good Men both of Prophets Apostles and Primitive Christians have trembled And also by the same Power both wicked Men and Devils have been and shall be made to Fear Tremble and Quake 7. As to such strange preternatural Distortions he talks of where did he see them among the Quakers We know not unless some have been taken therewith in some Convulsion-Fits which are common to some Persons among divers sorts of People or when by the Power of our Lord Jesus Christ some evil Spirit has been about to be cast out 8. And how he can discern and judge all outward Quaking and Trembling which he derides to proceed from a being inwardly possess'd with the Devil and not from the influence and opperation of the Power of Christ we cannot understand unless contrary to his Opinion against Infalibility he proves his Judgment and Discerning Infallible and that even in the Tryal of Spirits wherein we cannot esteem him such a spiritual Man of Discerning as judgeth all things P. 34. Again from his dark Stories of Gilpin Milner Toldervy c. as in an high degree possess'd with the Devil He farther infers That there have not been among so many of all Mankind such a number a gross Lie as of these Quakers that have run quite Mad for their Principle is little short of Madness The Principles he presently mentions p. 35. Is that of expecting Revelations and of the Light within But granting that some pretending to Divine Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Revelations and Light within and from thence Infallibility in Matters of Salvation to proceed and yet some such have failed and run into Imagination and Delusion Is this any good Argument against the Principle it self If not this Opposer's Work is only to rake up and set forth Personal Failings which can no ways destroy good Principles from whence there have been many Revolters and Backsliders both in the Days of the Prophets Apostles and Ours and some because when they knew God glorified him not as God became vain in their Imaginations and their
foolish Hearts thereby darkned others begun in the Spirit yet would end the Flesh. But where 's his Catalogue to prove a greater number of Quakers have run quite mad than among so many of all Mankind Let him produce it if he can Now 't is observable That our Principle of Divine Inspiration Light within the Gift of the Holy Ghost the Work and Ministry thereof are plainly confest unto by this Author of The Snake in the Grass as That the Doctrin of the Church of England allows the same namely as constantly teaching that all saving Graces are wrought in our Hearts by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost and that this Inspiration is as necessary to our fructifying or bringing forth good Works as the Influence of the Sun is to the Earth's bringing ing forth of her Fruits p. 46 47. Further discovering That they do not only Teach but also Pray for and Sing for God's holy Inspiration of the Holy Ghost and plead for the necessity of Divine Inspiration Light within c. from page 46 to page 53. And that according to their Homilies and Liturgy p. 54 55 56. He also instead of confuting the Principle or proving us all Madmen that profess Divine Inspiration tells us What sort of Enthusiasm or Inspiration is allowed and own'd in the Church and that 't is full as much as any sober Quaker can mean by the Light within and that it is made necessary to every good Work And we are directed to it to follow and be guided by it and are assured that it will lead us to all Truth that is requisite and necessary for our eternal Salvation it is this that opens the Scriptures to us and our Vnderstandings rightly to apprehend the true Sense and Meaning of them and which inclines our Will to love and duly to follow the divine Precepts therein contained If any Quaker as I am confident all that are in the least sober-minded will say That this is all they mean by their Light within then where is the difference Why do they break off and separate from our Communion upon the pretence of the Light within wherein we agree with them pag. 55 56 57. Thus far his Confession to the Principle wherein he is more Ingenuous than in his bitter reproachful Language and foul Raillery against us which he somewhat minceth yet confesseth He is forced to a little Raillery now and then Second Part pag. 12. The greater shame for him thus to manifest himself an open Railer and Reviler about religious Controversies But seeing he has so largely confess'd and vindicated the Church of England's allowing Preaching and Praying for the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost and agreeing with the Quakers about the Light within c. how trifling and fruitless are his Attempts to vilifie and make them odious as Madmen Possest with the Devil Enthusiastick Madness c. from the Personal Miscarriages of some Distracted or Whimsical or Mad or loose extravagant Persons How many of his own Church have run mad How many Debauched and Wicked both of the Clergy and others Would he take it well to have a large Catalogue or Book writ thereof as the Cobler of Gloucester and others have done to shew the Contempt of the Clergy and then upbraid their whole Communion or Society yea and their Principles also therewith Surely no this he would deem very unjust Then let him peruse his own Work and better consider the Nature and Tendency thereof together with the bitter Invectives therein tending to raise a new Persecution which shews not a Christian Spirit or Charity in him or his Abettors Apostates from us or others whose Help by divers of of his silly dirty Stories he appears to have had A Catalogue of some of the great Mistakes Abuses and Calumnies in the Book sliled The Snake in the Grass with brief Reflections thereupon THat G. Fox's chief Principle was at first to direct Men to the inward Anointing and that they needed no Man to teach them but as the Anointing teacheth them and that God is come to Teach his People himself but that he would not trust to this for that he went about Teaching outwardly and has erected an outward Church-Discipline and Authority to over-rule the Anointing c. They keep up outward Ministry and Preaching which are more inconsistant with their Principle of reducing all to the Inward and waiting for the Lord in silence within Reflection Here are 3 Falshoods contained in this Calumnious Charge As 1. That G. F. would not trust to this Anointing 2. Church-Discipline to over-rule the same 3. Keeping up an outward Ministry and Preaching as inconsistant therewith These are both false and apparent Perversions reflecting also upon the Holy Apostles and their Ministry preaching and writing Epistles and Instructions to the Churches relating to both Church Order and Discipline and yet directed and referred them to the same Divine Unction received from the Holy One the Holy Spirit the Word of Faith and Grace of God within them Therefore Ministry and Instructions to good Order and Discipline were not to over-rule the inward Anointing but as proceeding from the same to help strengthen and confirm them in it for if the Doctrin of the Church of England be so much for the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost the Light within c. as he confessed what then is their Ministry and Discipline to over-rule the same How will he reconcile himself to his condemning us in this Case Sn. p. 95 96. These two Madmen Fox and Muggleton both their Inspirations came from the same Author the Father of Lies who in that Hurricane of Schism and Rebellion got an Act of Parliament for Tolleration and Liberty of Conscience to sow his Tares at Noon-day Ref. The first part is a gross Calumny against G. F. whose divine Inspiration and found Testimony given him of God was evident against Muggleton's dark Spirit presumptuous and blasphemious Doctrine 2. The latter part is a bold Calumny and Reflection upon the Parliament and Act thereof for Tolleration and Liberty of Conscience as if the Devil the Father of Lies did influence the Parliament to make the said Act which is a most presumptuous and audacious Aspersion We know no other Act of Parliament obtained for Tolleration and Liberty of Conscience but the Act of Exemption made in the First Year of King William and Queen Mary and which was made for no such end as for the Devil to sow his Tares but for the Ease and Liberty of tender Consciences from the Devil 's envious Work of Persecution God having so order'd it that the Seed of Christ's Kingdom his Word and Gospel may have Liberty and be sown the more plentifully But it appears our present Liberty is greatly envied by this persecuting Author and such scandalous Libellers Sn. p. 104. That one of the Orders given forth by their Yearly Meeting 1693. commands That none shall carry Guns in their Ships Ref. This also is untrue We know no
the Quakers will not allow Christ to be the promised Seed or that he was more a Man in the Body of Jesus than in the Body of any other Man Ref. These are gross and notorious Falshoods still We ever believed the promised Messiah the Christ of God to be the promised Seed which by the Power of God should bruise the Serpent's Head and that he was true and perfect Man in the Body which he took upon him which was the Body of Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary as he was and is a quickning Spirit in other Men especially in true Believers Sn. p. 239. He confesseth the Influence and Inspiration of his blessed Spirit is the ONLY true saving Light within us but not the Seed and Christ himself as the Quakers blasphemously dream only a Ray or Communication of his Light and Life to us But p. 242. he speaks of Faith in Christ's outward Blood by which ONLY there is Salvation Ref. If the only true saving Light within us be the Inspiratiou of the blessed Spirit and Communication of the Light and Life of Christ to us as is granted tho' this as within be not Christ in his fulness as in himself yet 't is as truly the Incorruptible Seed the Word Christ our Life and Light as the Life of Christ is Christ or as the Spirit of the Lord is the Lord as where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty now the Lord is that Spirit It is Christ gives us both Life Light and Spirit and Christ is our Life Light and Salvation But do not the Words only Salvation by Christ's outward Blood exclude any other means of Salvation And then how is his Spirit the only true saving Light within us Tho' that Blood of Christ be of true value and esteem as part of his Sacrifice and Price it is his Spirit and Power which quickens and actually saves the Soul from Sin and Death Sn. p. 245. He accuseth the Quakers with denying any other God or Christ but themselves Ref. This is one of his most horrid and blasphemous Slanders and solemnly by us denied with as utter detestation and abhorrence as any of the rest of his most gross and absurd Calumnies Sn. p. 251. That they expresly disown any other Christ than what is within them and that the Quakers do not believe that Christ has any other Body or other Humanity than that spiritual or allegorical Body which they say he has within them Ref. 1. To the first part We own not two Christ's the true Christ is but one Christ and we own him as he is both without us and within us tho' he is not wholly contained within us yet he 's truly within us by his Spirit Light and Life and dwelling in our Hearts by Faith What other Christ does this Man own than him who is in true Believers 2. The latter part of his Charge is not true We believe Christ has his spiritual glorious Body without us like unto which we also believe our low Body shall be changed and fashioned Sn. p. 254. That the Quakers by a monstrous sort of Transubstantiation think themselves to be the Christ. Ref. This is a monstrous Falshood and Forgery still to defame and odifie us grounded on divers other false and partial Stories and is before in substance answered Sn. p. 255. That G. Keith for his most Christian Doctrin of a Christ without was condemned by their last Yearly Meeting Re. This is a notoriously false Story again as the two Accounts given of him by two Yearly Meetings may evince having no such cause assigned in them for our conditionally disowning him but his unchristian Spirit and Behaviovr as an Instrument of divisions and disturbance in the Churches of Christ whereby he hath cut himself off unless he repent Sn. p. 262. Their spiriting away the Letter of the promised Seed the Humanity of Christ c. Re. This Charge with all the hard Consequences depending thereupon against us are sincerely and utterly denied by us As by the Letter of the promised Seed he means the Scripture-History of the Man Christ where proves he that we spirit this away Our owning Christ in Spirit and as a quickning Spirit in us was never intended as we know to deny his real Manhood Mediation or Intercession without us no more than the Apostle did See 1 Cor. 15. 45 47. where the second Man the Lord from Heaven is also called a quickening Spirit Sn. p. 263. He charges them with running into this Excess of throwing off the Humanity of Christ abusing the Scriptures by the contemptible Names of Beastly Ware Dust Death c. and calling the Holy Scriptures by the contemptible Names of Dust and Beastly Ware p. 267. Re. These are still old repeated shameful Calumnies against us The first part is sufficiently answer'd before and in many other Books for our sincerely and plainly owning the blessed and most-glorious Man Christ Jesus according to plain Scripture The latter part is some of F. Bugg's calumnious Abuses and Perversions and clearly detected and refuted in several Answers to his scurrilous Pamphlets and his Authority will go but a little way what Credit soever 't is of with this obscure Adversary 'T is far remote from us to own any such contemptible Names as to call the Holy Scriptures Beastly Ware c. Tho' perhaps making a Trade upon Scripture or Preaching for Hire or Mony hath been so called by some or other Sn. p. 268. That it is plain they never gave the Scriptures a good Word but meerly for popularity when forced to it Re. He is a very unrighteous and false Judge in this also both our Consciences in the sight of God and many of our Writings also testifie the contrary that freely and without force for the sake of that divine Inspiration from whence the Holy Scriptures proceeded and those blessed and holy Doctrins and Truths contained in them they are highly owned and esteemed by us Sn. p. 285. Judge whether these be sound principled Men that can turn conform and transform to every change according to the Times whether these be fit Men to teach People Re. These are still deceitful and envious Suggestions Our manifold Sufferings in our Persons and Estates for Conscience-sake by Persecutions many whereof being the Temporizers of the Clergy do manifest the contrary to what 's here suggested against us that we have not turned changed nor conformed according to the Times in point of Worship Principle Faith or Discipline for could we have so done we might have escaped many deep Sufferings and great Losses which we have undergone and then have been owned by such temporizing and persecuting Priests as now reproach us when they cannot otherwise persecute us as formerly Sn. p. 314. The Lord help them and hear our Prayers for them since they will not pray for themselves c. Re. We have no reason to believe that this Person can pray sincerely for us seeing he is so full
same import or near as high as what G. F. said or intended if rightly considered and therefore this opposer might have spared his many Reflections in this Point Some gleanings of Lyes Slanders and Perversions out of the Some Gleanings of the Author to the Snake in the Grass returned and recharged upon him with brief Remarks upon them 1. GReat Ignorance charg'd on the generality of the Quakers and that many of them do at this day plainly own the most Blasphemous â—nd Heretical Doctrins that have been objected against them And that such Heresies have been taught among them and are still so understood by their People and that vehemently p. 1 2. These superlative Charges of Blasphemous Heresies as own'd and taught among the said People are denyed as most gross Calumnies and Abuses against them 2. That a present Preacher of theirs i.e. Quakers This very Year being pressed to acknowledge the Man Christ without us and the necessity of Faith in him Answered The Man Christ a F rt Horrid This we suspect and question the Truth of it however we deny the expression with abhorrence and the unjust injurious improvement he makes of it and the subsequent stories as 3. That the said Preacher of the Quakers denyed that Christ's body rose out of the Grave that our bodies should rise that there would be any general Judgment or that the Scriptures were all true The improvement made of these stories questioned by us is This is a Teacher thus he has been Taught and thus he Teaches others And it is no wonder that they who are thus Taught to believe no outward Christ now in being should use him with the utmost contempt and his Worshippers with the greatest severity as being the grossest sort of Idolaters to worship a dead God p. 2. Note 1. We question the Truth of the particular stories and deny that the Quakers have or own any such Preachers as are justly chargeable with such contempt of the Man Christ without us or denyal of his Resurrection or general Judgment 2. We neither own nor know any such Doctrin among us as to deny any outward Christ or Christ without us now in Being or to use him with contempt These we look on as gross Lyes which seem somewhat generally to affect us as a People i. e. the Quakers their Faith in an inward Christ viz. their Light within being thereupon reflected on as in opposition to the Man Christ without when he can neither demonstrate nor disprove their Light nor their Faith therein 4. That they i.e. the Quakers reckon their own Blood to be the Blood of Christ and to be that Blood which cleanseth from Sin p. 3. Which is a gross Falshood 5. Their i.e. the Quakers frequent Idolatries to G. F. giving him the Titles and Attributes of God falling prostrate before him and adoring him with these Appellations Thou art the Son of the everlasting God the King of Israel all Nations shall worship thee c. p 3. We question these stories we denying all Idolatry and all such Attributes and Adoration to any Mortal 6. That the Quakers had vilely cast away the great Fundamentals of the Christian Religion p. 5. 7. The Quakers fasly charged with rage against G. K. p. 5. Which are both vile Lyes 8. That they are forced at last to a feigned complyance with the Doctrin that he Teaches i.e. by the Truths which he contends for prevailing against them Which is falsly stated against us the Truth 's prevalency upon us has not been by his contradiction neither can we own all for Truth which he contends for His great instability and late contradictions to his former and latter Testimonies both in behalf of the People called Quakers and their Principles are very Notorious to every rational person that reads the Collections thereof in Tho. Ellwood's John Pennington's and others Answers and Replies to him 9. A Blasphemous bantring Paper he tells of i.e. G. F. 's turning the Christ to the Light within which will bring you off all the Worlds teachers and ways c. but shews not wherein the Blasphemy is And we know no such Phrase as turning the Christ to the Light within but that Christ is the Light of the World c. 10. If he i.e. W. Rogers had said Christ was no more than another Man he had come off and been excused by the whole fraternity and reverenced as well as Sol. Eccles. p. 8. What a Lying imagination and gross piece of Forgery is this They i.e. Quakers refrained not to Print and Publish every day most virulent Invectives against other Protestants and dispers'd them by order of the yearly Meeting p. 9. These are notorious Lyes 12. That the Quakers are not concerned at the intollerable and blasphemous contempt of the holy Bible which he charged a prophane Papist A. S. withal as calling that Book their unjust corrupt and perverse Bible which was grosly Blasphemous indeed but then unjustly to hang this upon the Quakers He says J. Cole declares That they are not at all concerned He insults This is a strange story and incredible That ever Jos. Cole insulted in any such Blasphemous contempt of the Protestant Bible as to our being not at all concerned so we are not in any such contempt no farr be it from us Josiah Cole is so far from joyining with the said A. S. that he Writes in Testimony against him by way of Answer to his Pamphlet as finding him therein smiting at the People called Quakers and endeavouring to render them odious by affirming That they are led by a deluding Spirit c. So that Josiah Cole had no reason to joyn with him or take his part against any sincere Protestants Whore unvail'd p. 57. Our Accuser proceeds farther upon the said story which he would turn upon the Quakers viz. 13. p. 9 10. Now why should these Men be reputed Protestants they count themselves none of us who are not concerned on our part no not against the Church of Rome but draw their Arms against us who joyn with them not only against our Ministers but our Bibles Here are Lyes and gross Calumnies accumulated against us Why should these be reputed as Christians Can they be Christians who Blaspheme the Bible Answer No but these are horrid and gross slanders against the Quakers who have approved themselves both better Protestants and Christians than their Persecutors and such a Persecuting Sculking Adversary as this our Accuser who seems strenuously to seek our ruin by endeavouring to murther our Christian and Civil Reputations but to us it is no more than the hissing of The Snake in the Grass or like one that whispers out of the ground And his next Charge is also grosly false as 't is intended against us viz. 14. Surely their Light within is Darkness who joyn with the most ignorant and bigotted of the Romish Emissaries against our Bible p. 10. Quere When or where do the Quakers so joyn with those Emissaries I take this
all Quakers throughout the World is their supream Law p. 18. is false again we know no such Epistle that is so esteem'd our supream Law but rather Epistles proceeding from our supream Law of Love 30. That 't is only for placing their Faith in the outward Jesus that the Quakers have so condemned them i.e. the Priests p. 19. This is not true again 't is not for placing their Faith if it were really so in an outward Jesus or rather Jesus without them but for their dead Faith without Christ and without Works and Fruit and their many Corruptions as Pride Covetousness Persecution c. as justly Chargeable on many of them His story about one Archer in Wilts questioning whether he was not among the Quaker-Bishops who compos'd this last general Council p. 19. is very scurrilous and false as it is turned to affect the Quakers We don't understand he was here at London the last Yearly Meeting The other story thereupon concerning the said Archer That the Knaves of that Country after his Wickedness forced him to shift his Quarters and that then he came up to London to which the other Quakers gave the right hand of Fellowship and that there he Preach'd and exercised his Talent with great Approbation p. 19 20. Though we have heard of such an one's miscarriage yet I have enquir'd and am perswaded the latter part of the story is a great Forgery to scandalize the Quakers that either they gave him the right hand of Fellowship or that he preached at London with great Approbation after he fled upon discovery this is a very unlikely story basely designed to cast Dirt upon us for the World well knows our Christian care to expunge such from our Society upon the knowledge of their Enormities but whether there be the like care and practice in this Authors Church he may consider if he will Reader I Have in this precedent Examination passed by a great many more false Aspersions Calumnies and Perversions cast upon my self and divers others in the said Book Satan Disrob'd being not willing to undertake a full Answer to it nor to spend more time in raking in such dirty Kennels of Lyes and Abuses as the Books of the said Author are stuff'd withal against us c. There are also many Falshoods foul Perversions Charges and Reflections in The Snake in the Grass not particularly Remarked in the foregoing Antidote and in particular divers Passages relating to the Revolution of Governments in the Nation the substance whereof I long since fully Answer'd to John Pennyman's Invectives My Answer is Intitul'd Christ's Lambs defended from Satan's Rage Printed for Tho. Northcott in George-Yard in Lumbard-street London 'T is observable that the said Author of The Snake in the Grass values himself much upon that Title to several of his Books against us but upon the Readers perusal of these already Answered it will appear that Title will be his great Disgrace and Infamy seeing that he has merited the Character of a Hatcher of Cockatrice Eggs as well as the Author of The Snake in the Grass Which Title he may be as horribly asham'd of as afraid to expose his real name and place Some notice taken of the said Author's Discourse for Water Baptism HAving lately seen and received a Book stiled A Discourse proving the divine Institution of Water-Baptism c. By the Author of The Snake in the Grass and finding these Passages after the Contents viz. That there will be published a Discourse by the same Author shewing whom Christ hath ordain'd to Administer the Sacraments in his Church And another wherein is proved that the chief of the Quakers Heresies were broached and condemn'd in the days of the Apostles and in the first 150 Years after Christ. To the latter part whereof I must tell him and Advertise the Reader that this officious Author should have spared his other Discourse thus Charging the Quakers with Heresies so long since broached and condemned until he had seen an Answer to his Snake in the Grass wherein he hath most unjustly and falsly Charged the Quakers with numerous Heresies and Errors as also he hath in divers things very falsly aspers'd them in this Discourse And if he repeat the same again upon us as it may be suspected to prove them so long since broached and condemned this will add nothing of proof that we the People called Quakers are guilty thereof but only serve to shew his own Malice and Impertinency and gross Calumnies already confuted Upon the viewing his said Discourse for Water-Baptism I find nothing material but what is mostly answer'd in the foregoing Antidote and Book therein referred unto in page 126. Besides I find him very much imposing and begging the Question in his said Discourse 1st Pleading for Infant Baptism in his Preface as being the outward Seal of Christ's Covenant but without Scripture proof and then flees to the Baptists Arguments for Baptizing Believers or People Docible from Mat. 28. and other Scriptures which they use to urge in opposition to sprinkling Infants He miserably imposes in placing upon outward Baptism all these Priviledges viz. Regeneration or being Born into the Church Baptizing into the Christian Faith p. 9 10. The Promise of the Inward Baptism of the Holy Ghost p. 12. Calling the outward The means whereby we are made partakers of the inward and whereby the inward Baptizm of the Holy Ghost is given p. 34 60. All this he places upon outward Baptism with Water But then it must be upon the duly receiving thereof p. 12. wherein he hath before included Infants as well as others but all this without Scripture Proof Now if all those Infants that are Sprinkled or Baptized be Regenerated and Born again and Baptized into the Faith and partakers of the Holy Ghost and the Baptism thereof How will this agree or consist with their Preaching the necessity of Regeneration and the new Birth to such when docible seeing he saith a Man can be but once Regenerated p. 9. I find that when he pleads for Baptizing Believers p. 23. he cannot escape the Baptist's Arguments altho' he hath reviled them as badly in a manner as he hath done us as is before shewed I find that Text 1 Cor. 1. 17. doth Puzzle him esteeming it an obscure Text p. 22. Which is Christ sent me not to Baptize c. and he is very impertinent and begging the Question in his Answer to it But while he Argues with the Baptists Arguments for Believers Baptizm I take it for granted that he Argues for that which he and his Brethren the Clergy are out of the practice of and therefore insincere and consequently his Works deserves to be rejected whilst Infants are the Subjects chiefly intended He bitterly exclaims against both Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists Quakers Socinians Vnitarians Latitudinarians and Deists c. in his Preface as being the Spawn of Rebellion and multifarious Schism and especially against the Presbytery in Scotland either for their
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 Scriâ—ture 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 Prophets spake was false Which Expression 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 tho' 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 Lord 's 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 stumbled 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 40 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 Verfe 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 Holy Scripture Doctrin or Precepts therein for where either the Words Blasphemies 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 Salvo 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. 254. 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. 255 256. Here he accuseth me with breach of Promise but very falsly as in the said 11th Article 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 Christ Jesus a Type or Figure of their Light within p. 263 264. 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 cloathed himself in Flesh and Blood and that he took Flesh c. for so quoth he it may be said that our Soul is cloathed with our Body as with a Garment or Veil It is not Words but the meaning that we contend about saith he p. 257. We know best our own Meaning being well satisfied that 't is according to Holy Scripture Where 's then the difference 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