that does not allow that Compleat Justification is a making inwardly Just through a purging out Iniquity mortifying of Corruption and bringing in of Christ's Everlasting Righteousness As if he should tell us That the Doctrine of the Church of England is contrary to this before-cited i. e. That Compleat Justification is not a making inwardly Just nor a purging out of Iniquity or Mortifying of Corruption c. but that Justification is VVholly fulfilled and compleated without men they are compleatly Justified by Christ's Merits while inwardly Unjust and their Iniquities unpurg'd out their Corruption unmortified and Christ's Everlasting Righteousness excluded or wholly shut out of them At this rate this Person may reckon himself one compleatly Justified whilst a Persecuting Malicious Scornful Spirit remains in him whilst he is a Railer a Persecutor a Scorner and Oppressor c. but herein he is highly guilty of that Abomination which he that justifieth the Wicked and he that condemneth the Just are guilty of As also I must tell him He has in this matter apparently wrong'd the Doctrine of the Church of England and several of the Eminent Doctors thereof who have not only in their Prayers but Preaching called for and urged a Real Righteousness both Inherent and Practical to constitute men Just and Righteous and Acceptable to God and have flatly opposed the Imputarians Calvinists and Antianomins in their asserting Persons imputatively Righteous and Justified while actually Unjust Immoral c. § VII Pr. Ibid. But the worst is yet behind And what is it †W.P. If not then to exclude this and yet conclude men compleatly justified by what Christ hath done wholly without is a Doctrine of Devils for it leaves men in an Impure state and allows the Devils Kingdom to continue in Being Pr. Priest Answers p. 12. These Quaking Lines according to this Quakers base words in Print the Church of England doth hold fast that which is a Doctrine of Devils c. a base Aspersion cast on that Church which is beautiful in the Eyes of all sober Christians Answ He wrongs the Church of England again he would bring in his Antinomianism and father it upon the Church of England as if it were Authentick in the Church of England to exclude Christ's Everlasting Righteousness and deny inward Purging and Mortification in the point of Justification and as if to conclude men compleatly Justified by what Christ hath done wholly without while they are both Unjust Unpurg'd Unmortified Corrupt and Wicked were good Profound Doctrine in the Church of England or to conclude men compleatly Justified while the Devils Kingdom is in being in them For opposing this he balls and clamours most Hideously against W. Penn crying up the Doctrine of the Church of England the Church of England against him but has most shamefully abused that Church with his Antinomianism Pr. Ibid. Christ's Righteousness wholly without Iibid. Made our's by Faith a Doctrine of Devils How base is the Light within W. P Answ If Christ's Righteousness be made ours by Faith then 't is not wholly without This Priest is inconsistent here One while 't is wholly without another while 't is made ours by Faith the latter is true No Doctrine of Devils as most wickedly he hath charged the Light within For true Faith and Christ's Everlasting Righteousness are Inseparable This Faith has its Righteousness from Christ and is attended with true Obedience good Works and â—oly Conversation 'T is a Heart-purifying Faith a Justifying Faith a Faith by which we see him who is Invisible and bring forth Fruits to him Let 's see if our Adversary dare deny this § VIII Pr. Ibid. Surely it is high time for the Kings Majesty the Defender of the Faith to gird on his Sword those that make so bold with this and other Truths are but like stinging Snakes in the bosom of Indulgence Answ Here this Incendiary would instigate the King in defence of his Antinomianism of Justifying men in their sinful and corrupt state and to Persecute the Quakers for asserting that Christs Righteousness wherein the Saints are Justified is not wholly without them but they are inwardly Partakers of it by Faith and through a Purging out Iniquity Mortifying of Corruption bringing in Christs Everlasting Righteousness otherwise to deny or exclude this saith the Quaker and yet conclude men compleatly Justified wholly without is a Doctrine of Devils leaving men in an Impure state and allowing the Devils Kingdom to continue Because of this the Persecuting Clergy-man would have the King's Majesty to gird on his Sword and what for but to cut down this Quaker that is for asserting a Real Righteousness of Christ within and against the wrong Imputation of the old Antinomian He is angry that such are Indulg'd that cannot favour the Devils Kingdom he counts the King very faulty and charges him highly as preserving stinging Snakes in the Bosom of Indulgence though doubtless he wanted Indulgence before he Temporized But now this Popish persecuting Spirit in the Clergy-man wants to have the Miter set above the Crown all that are not for his Turn he would have them punisht He can assume the boldness to publish to the Nation that the King harbours stinging Snakes in the Bosom of Indulgence You have heard his Charge and his matter before and what Refuges he flees to to maintain his Antinomian Sin-pleasing Doctrines and revile them that oppose him he would fain have the Church of England and the Kings Sword to maintain him in that which is plain Repugnant and Abusive to the Church of England Thus like a Temporizing Mercenary Hector and Popish Agent he has manag'd his Work as will further appear to his shame as a Hectoring Bravado a scornful proud disdainful Person § XI See what follows about a Book of mine Entituled The Nature of Christianity Pr. p. 13. Upon my Confessing to Christ Jesus his Manhood and Divinity the Priest saith viz. Here 's a parcel of good Words to gull unwary Readers the Devil to promote Errors hath alwayes used to dress himself his Agents in the Garb of Truth The Quaker will anon shew us his Horns we shall ere long know him to be no tame Beast His ill inspiring Spirit will appear you may certainly expect from this Quaking Pamphlet most base pitiful Stuff Answ Behold how he Boasts Vapours Infults Hector Scoff Jeers and Contemns but the frothiness falseness and silliness thereof will more evidently appear in the Progress of our Controversie It is not for any weight in his Words that I cite them but to let the serious Reader see the Image or Character of his proud and scornful Spirit Ibid. Touching my Opposing R. G's affirming a Justification and Redemption of Men even while no good is wrought in them by any Light or Spirit whatsoever and when no qualification is wrought in man by any Spirit whatsoever All this Passage the Priest leaves out and only falls upon my latter Words concerning my calling in question R.
WHOLLY WITHOUT By which 't is still evident how he has contradicted the Church of England in this Point Pr. There is not one Syllable of Redemption by Purchase to be found in it p. 16. Answ He intends this of my sense of certain Scripture-terms relating to Christ and his Work pag. 8 9. of my Book Nature of Christianity but herein he has shamefully belyed me For Redemption is found and thus explained in it viz. A Ransoming Buying again a Rescuing or Recovering such as were under Bondage c. Pr. p. 17. Not only ignorantly but basely explain'd they must be all felt and experimentally fulfill'd within Professors Answ No base Explanation to feel and Experience Justification Salvation c. the Works of Christ fulfilled within But this man shews his Baseness in contemning this and his Contrapiction to the Bishops Article before cited else what mean those words therein viz. Such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the Works of the Flesh c. Pr. Ibid. Justification is altogether Popishly explained a plain Instance that the Quakers Light within is from Rome below and not from Heaven above This is an Abuse again 't is not Popishly explain'd by us For though the Papists place the first Justification of men through the Means and Merits of Christ to be when God finds no good Works to Reward but Sins to Pardon unto such as have Faith in him yet they hold a second Justification and Salvation through the Merits of their own Works by the Assistance and Co-operation of God's Spirit * Vide Rhemists Annot. in Nov. Test on Rom. 2 3 4 9 10. Chapters and on 2 Tim. 4. Chap. Vers 8. where they say That all good Works done by God's Grace after the first Justification be truly and properly Meritorious and fully worthy of Everlasting Life and that thereupon Heaven is the due and just Stipend Crown or Recompence which God by his Justice oweth to the Persons so working by his Grace by which Merit or Meritoriousness of their own Works they do not mean in a mild sence an obtaining acceptance with God as by doing their Duty but in a strict sence that they have so deserved their Hire or Reward at God's hand as that they reckon God as a Debtor to them Whereas we place the Merit Deserving or Dignity wholly upon Christ both in his obtaining Redemption for us and his working in us that which is well-pleasing to the Father and his enabling us to do those things that please him wherein our Acceptance is wholly in him both with respect to his Suffering for us and his working in us and his working by us and what good we do by his Assistance 't is but our Duty not our Merit 't is that wherein we obtain Acceptance through the Assistance of his free Grace and not that whereby we can be said strictly to merit buy or purchase Salvation to our selves For what 's of Grace is not of Debt as from God to us we are Debtors to him for Christ's sake but he is no Debtor to us in his Gracious Rewards For we have all that 's good Root and Branch from him who hath ordain'd Peace for us having wrought all our works in us and we are bound to give thanks to God always for what we have and are even by his Grace and Goodness in Christ to us § XI Pr. Pag. 19. To believe and wait for the Life Everlasting after Death is no Article of this Quakers Faith this is a putting Salvation at a great Distance Answ This is a foul Perversion as if I did not believe Life Everlasting after Death whereas I only detected R. G. his Mistake on Heb. 9.28 his making the Believers looking for Christ and his Appearance the second time without Sin to Salvation to be a hoping and waiting for Salvation after the Bodily Death whereas I intended a Salvation from Sin and consequently from Wrath that this Salvation ought not to be put off till the Life to come For all that truly know this Appearance of Christ for this end experience him to save them from Sin and can truly say Now is come Salvation and Strength and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ Rev. 12. Pr. p. 20. To affirm that the Salvation of Sinners yea of the whole World should be compleatly finished by Christ's Death upon the Cross above Sixteen Hundred Years since this is strange Doctrine to this Ill principl'd Quaker Answ If the Salvation of the whole World was compleatly finished by Christ's Death on the Cross so long since what should hinder any man of Salvation And if so compleatly finish't there is none like to miss of it let them be as Corrupt as they will in themselves there is no exception of Condition on Man's part But if Salvation was so long since compleatly finished for Sinners yea for the whole World why does this Priest so Rail against me and the Quakers He should think by his own Rule that we are compleatly saved as well as he But if he says that we want Faith Christianity and sound Principles and therefore are not saved this still confutes himself and grants an inward work of Christ to produce Faith Christianity c. for the compleating our Salvation although Christ dyed for all men Pr. Ibid. You see clearly it s no part of this Quakers Faith to believe that Christ is the Son of the Virgin Mary Answ This is an apparent Lye and gross Perversion we have alwayes believed the Scriptures even in this very matter of Christs being born of the Virgin Pr. Ibid. This Quaker is bold to say to this Purpose If any man believes that Christ shall come at the last day to judge the quick and the dead to adjudge the Righteous to Heaven to condemn the Wicked to Hell then he may look till his Eyes drop out c. Answ A Notorious Perversion again I said nothing to this purpose against Christ's coming to judge the quick and dead at the Last Day but against my Opposer's putting off Salvation till after the Bodily Death in reference to that Appearance of Christ without Sin to Salvation to them that look for him and this on Heb. 9.28 Upon which I said 'T is strange that Salvation of Sinners yea of the whole World should be compleated at once above sixteen hundred Years since and yet to be so long after Death look't for how long is not known to thee c. Nat. Christ p. 29. Here is not one word in opposition to Christ's coming to Judgment But what was argued by me in this Case was in respect to the Salvation of Sinners and Christ's Appearance to save from Sin For but in page before I mentioned his Saving us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the holy Ghost on Tit. 3.4 5 6. Pr. p. 21. As for Christ's Righteousness without us made ours by Faith this is the Doctrine which is disowned by
not a little Flie-blown with Spiritual Pride Answ That 's thy own state Proud and Scornful Man Spiritual Pride and Conceit puffs thee up Qr. J. P's Tryal of Faith You believe you shall never overcome your sins so long as you are here Here you shew your Faith is not built upon Christ who came to destroy the Works of the Devil and to cleanse from all sins Pag. 60. Priest Answers This is the Corrupt Testimony of this Quaking Martyr that they are no sound Believers whose Faith doth not cleanse them from all their Sins that the Faith of Christians is not built upon Christ if it doth not make them free from their Sins Answ That which the Priest calls the Corrupt Testimony is according to Christ and his holy Apostles Testimony Christ came to Wash and Cleanse true Believers from Sin that they might be Clean every whit he gave himself for his Church that he might Wash it by Water through the Word that he might present it holy without Spot c. By Faith he purifies their Hearts he destroys the Work of the Devil the Blood of Christ cleanseth them that walk in the Light from all Sin And Faith in him overcomes the World it was and is the Saints Victory These are plain and Scriptural Testimonies how ignorant soever this unsanctified Priest shews himself wholly a stranger to the washing of Regeneration Pr. Ibid. A sinless state reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven is no true Divinity in the Quakers School Answ How is a sinless state reserved for that Kingdom if not attainable in this Life Pr. Ibid. If we say that we have no sin which the Quakers usually do we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us Answ An Untruth against the Quakers where or when do they usually or ever say they have no sin but that though there is a time of having sin there 's a time of confessing and forsaking sin and if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL SIN 1 John 1.7 9. And saith he My little Children these things write I unto you that you SIN NOT Chap. 2.1 What John writes relates to several states Pr. Ibid. This Quaker is certainly for a more holy Faith than God himself did ever require It s not the Ruling Power but the being of sin which this Quaker's Faith makes free from without doubt this is to be Righteous over much in this World Answ The Priest is grosly Erroneous here the Quaker is for that holy Faith which is the Gift of God whereby he purifies the Heart and which Faith overcomes and is the Saints Victory over the World And to have the being of sin destroyed by Christ is not to be Righteous over-much in this World for 't is for this End that Christ is made manifest to take away our sins and to destroy the Works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. Christ destroying the Works of the Devil is to destroy the being of Sin that it may neither Rule nor be in true Believers And this work of Christ is effected by degrees as he is obeyed and truly followed whose Work of destroying Sin this Priest has apparently opposed lest he should be Righteous over much in this World so that his Faith will carry his sins with him into the next World if he relinquish it not and where he will get rid of them there he tells us not but by his Opinion he must expect a Purgatory or place of Purgation after Death seeing he confesseth A sinless state is reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven Observe here how near of Kin he is to the Papists and how nearly he has border'd upon the Doctrine of Purgatory only they exceed him in believing that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs shall escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven Pr. Ibid. If the Ill Spirit of the old Catheri was not gotten into this Young Quaker The Quakers Idolized Perfection Answ If by his word Catheri he means the Puritans or those called Old Puritans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ì i. e. Puri then I must tell him that many of the Old Puritans were more Conscientious Sincere and Religious to what they knew then himself is or ever was Hist Eccl. Euseb Pam. Lib. 6. C. 42. for they were not such Temporizers and Opposers of the Light and Work of Christ they durst not call either an Idol as he has done And whatever Novatus was who called his Sect Cartharous that is Puritans I matter not there were many Honest people in England and other parts of those called Puritans Pr. p. 61. By this false Doctrine he hath concluded the Church of England at home all Reformed Churches abroad under Vnbelief for being of this right sound Mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins as long as they are here Answ Here he counts it a right sound Mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins so long as they are here but when and where they shall be freed he tells us not I am sure it is not the Mind of Christ that men should live in sin all their days And I think this Priest has wrong'd the Church of England if the Church of England means as she speaks and professeth viz. in promising to forsake the Devil and all his Works c. And in praying O God make clean our Hearts within us and take not thine holy Spirit from us Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this Day without Sin with many other passages to this purpose in the Morning-Prayer and service-Service-Book And what has this Priest done less then charged the Church of England with Dissimulation and Hypocrisie as being of a contrary mind then what 's here exprest As also Edw. Stillingfleet in his Sermon preached before the King March 13. 1666. he strongly argues and pleads against that Opinion of God's laying Impossible Laws upon the Sons of Men and puts the Question thus * Ed. Still 6. Serm. 1669. pag. 69 70. For what is it that God requires of men as the Condition of their future Happiness which in its own nature is judged impossible Is it for men to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this World For that was the End of Christian Religion to perswade men to do so § XXII Qr. The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light the Word the Life the Judge the Rule the Guide nor the Tryer of Spirits for all this belongs to Christ Pr. p. 61. I must truly say this is none of Abel his Language nor a faithful Testimony for God except another Qr. Atheist or Anti-scripturist none would have laid such base things to the charge of the holy Scriptures Answ Here is one of his base Abuses For to say The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light the Life the Judge c. is only as much as to
Spirits who further manifests his Folly and Ignorance in his Discant or Paraphrase upon Nicholas Knights Book Entituled A Comparison between the true and false Ministers Printed 1675. After this Priest hath told us that in this Quaking Book the false Ministers of England are thus described and after several Descriptions given of them the Priest cites these following in his pag. 142. which I recite directly as he has done viz. Tythes are only claim'd by false Teachers I ask him where did true Ones or Christ's Ministers ever claim them They deny the Doctrine of Christ enlightning every one with a saving Light and that truly for it is a Quaking falshood They deny the manifestation of the Spirit in all they reproach the true Ministers of the Light and justly because of their Folly They are Persecutors of the Children of Light but the Quakers have no Truth nor Righteousness to be persecuted for They deny that any are made Perfect from all Sin in this Life which they ought to do Observation Observe that these Words within the Crotchets are the Priest own very words wherein first he hath blasphemously charged the Light of Christ who is that true Light which lighteth every man that comes into the World John 1.9 2dly He has reproached the true Ministers of the Light in directly charging them with Folly 3dly He has slandered the Quakers in saying They have no Truth nor Righteousness 4thly He counts it a Duty to deny that any are made Perfect from all Sin in this Life herein he has justified the false Teachers against Christs Doctirne and Work who taught his to be Perfect and is come throughly to purge his Floor to sanctifie wash and cleanse his Church and People that there may be no spot in his Spouse But this work of Christ the false Teacher denyes he says they ought to deny it The Lord deliver People from such blind Guides § XXVIII Pr. p. 101. You see that the Quakers are accused justly for asserting a perfect freedom from all Sin on Earth of this false Doctrine this Quaker is a sorry Champion Answ Such a freedom from Sin must be on Earth or never there is no Purgatory after Death and no unclean thing shall enter into Gods Kingdom If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 Unto him that loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 Blessed are the Undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord Psal 119.1 They also do no Iniquity ver 3. And this was on Earth therefore no false Doctrine Pr. Ibid. Nothing less than a perfect freedom from all Sin on Earth was the End and Aim of Redemption by Jesus Christ to deny a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life is according to this Quaker to make Christ only a part of a Redeemer and to establish a middle way betwixt Earth and Heaven in which to be made free from Sin Answ Our Saviour Jesus Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from ALL Iniquity and Purifie unto himself a peculiar People Zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 By one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified Heb. 10.14 This was the End and Aim of Redemption by Jesus Christ who therefore is not only a Redeemer in part but wholly wherefore to deny such freedom from all Sin in this Life is to suppose Christ only a Redeemer in part some middle place to be freed from Sin in after Death Pr. Ibid. To assert this great Truth that there is no perfect freedom from Sin to be attained to in this Life is as the Quaker doth basely speak a great Delusion of the Devil Answ 'T is a great delusion of the Devil to assert that there is no perfect freedom from all Sin to be attained in this Life and contrary to Scripture-Testimonies before cited Pr. p. 102. That if they lay hold on him by Faith their Sins shall not be imputed to them though they Sin daily that the Righteous man sins seven times a day Answ Here he hath accused true Believers and the Righteous man without exception both with sinning daily and sinning seven times a day such a Champion is this Priest for Satans Kingdom against the Righteous for which he has no rule in Scripture that we know that saith The Righteous man sins seven times a day but that a Just man falls seven times and rises up again Prov. 24.16 Here 's neither sinning nor day mention'd he may fall so often into Trouble Affliction and Suffering Psal 56.1 and not into Sin and rise up again out of his Troubles The Lord knows the dayes of the Upright and their Inheritance shall be forever Psal 37.18 Also in Zachariah's Prophecy of Christ and his Salvation he saith That we being delivered out of the Hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the dayes of our Life Luke 1.74 75. And thy Testimonies are very sure Holiness becometh thine House O Lord forever or to length of days Psal 93.5 Pr. Ibid. That their Sins shall not be imputed to them that believe in Christ though they sin daily Answ Sinning daily is neither consistent with true Faith in Christ nor with the estate of the Righteous and blessed of the Lord to whom Sin shall not be Imputed see Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is NO GVILE unto which the Apostle refers Rom. 4.6 7 8. Pr. Ibid. That the Righteous man doth sin often in one day that the Holy men of God have sinned that do deny a perfect freedom from all Sin attainable in this Life Answ His Charge against the Righteous man without exception is refuted before as contrary to Scripture and indeed 't is Antichristian Sin pleasing and Impious thus to plead for Sin against the Righteous and 't is a great aggravation of this Impiety to accuse the Holy men of God with denying a perfect freedom from all Sin to be attainable in this Life Come Priest thou that say'st The Scripture is thy only Rule produce us plain Scripture to prove this thy Charge which is general against the Holy men of God where ever they denyed such a freedom from all Sin to be attainable in this Life either bring us Scripture-proof for this or else forever be silent and deceive the People no longer Pr. Ibid. To speak this Quaker's mind without being perfectly cleansed from all Sin no man can witness Christ to be his Redeemer nor that he is come to destroy the Works of the Devil nor can he witness that Christ is come to redeem him Answ The Priest hath here utter'd his own mistake and not the Quaker's mind For every true
of England assembl'd in the late long Parliament and in the last Parliament received and had concerning the People called Quakers as when Motion was made in the House of Commons for their Relief from those Laws made in Q. Elizabeth's dayes against Popish Reousants and the Case committed and publickly examin'd and heard and our Declaration against Popery accepted in a Great and Publick Committee assembled in the Commons House as a sufficient Test to distinguish us the People called Quakers from Popish Recusants Thus far in the late long Parliament And in the last Parliament the Remembrance of that Resentment of the former was so much alive that the House of Commons past a Bill against Popery wherein there was a Clause provided for our Relief with other Dissenting Protestants from Laws made against Popish Recusants the Copy of our Declaration aforesaid that was delivered to the Committee of Parliament only a little more briefly contracted and as it was delivered in Print to the Member of the last Parliament is as follows A Protestation or Declaration to Distinguish Protestant-Dissenters from Popish Recusants I A. B. do in the Presence of Almighty God solemnly profess and in good Conscience declare It is my real Judgment That the Church of Rome is not the Church of Christ nor the Pope or Bishop of Rome Christ's Vicar and that his or her Doctrines Of Deposing Heretical Princes and Absolving their Subjects of their Obedience of Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead Of Indulgences and Worshipping of Images Of Adoring and Praying to the Virgin Mary and other Saints deceased And of Transubstantiation or changing the Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ at or after the Consecration thereof by any Person whatsoever are False Erroneous and Contrary to the Truth of God declared in the Holy Scriptures And therefore the Communion of the said Church is Superstitious and Idolatrous And I do likewise sincerely testifie and declare that I do from the bottom of my Heart detest and abhor all Plots and Conspiracies that are or may be contrived against the King Parliament or People of this Realm And I do hereby Faithfully Promise with God's Help to live a Sober and Peaceable Life as becometh a good Christian and Protestant to do And all this I do Acknowledge Intend Declare Subscribe without any Equivocation or mental Reservation according to the true Plainness Simplicity and usual signification of the Words Witness my Hand Thus serious Reader I have plainly Introduced our Case in order to manifest our Clearness from our Adversary's unjust Imputations and Calumnies as 't is more fully evinced in the ensuing Treatise Dated London the 22d of the 9th Moneth 1679 G. W. THE Real Quaker A Real Protestant OUR Adversary having appeared so very gross and shameful in his Abuses I shall cite his own words in Paragraphs that most concern us to answer and then our Vindication in Answer to each particular Abuse and Falshood will be the more evident and the Method plain as in the ensuing Controversie § I. Priest page 1. My present Design is not to trouble this delicate People to prevent this I shall only give them their own Meat cook't by themselves in their own Dish Pag. 3. I shall only transcribe their own Books to serve as a Looking-Glass Ibid. I shall not Wyr-draw one Line in their Books to speak more than their own words will bear Answer Now if it appear that this Adversary has done more against us than only giving us our own Meat as he calls it cook't by our selves in our own Dish and than only transcribing our own Books and that he has made false Constructions upon them then he is an apparent Breaker of his own Promise perfidious and false to his own Words and Engagement before cited But that it will so appear and that to his Shame take a view of some of his own Gross and Vilifying Reflections Abuses Aspersions and Revilings Scoffing and Railery against us and Blasphemous Expressions against the Light within in his own Terms as followeth viz. The Quakers lamentable Brats My Design is only to remedy that Flatus or Windy Spirit that troubles them Their Enthusiastick Follies Their silly Quakerism Epist to the Reader The Quakers Fondling the Light within pag. 7 34. The Quakers Light within burnt dim in his Sockot pag. 8. The Light within is at unawares singing the old Cuckoes Song pag. 14. The Quakers Ignis Fatuus pag. 14. What a blind pitiful Elf is the Quakers Light within pag. 14. Quakers Ill-fighted Light within pag. 18 Quaking Lines frequently Socinianizing Quaker Papal Quaker pag. 17. Canting Quaker pag. 21. Brain-sick Quakers pag. 22. A Pope in their Bellies This pitiful Quaker pag. 22. Quaking Ramble pag. 25. Wants a Dose for his Perecranium pag. 27. The Quakers Idol the Light within pag. 33. Babel Quakers pag. 51. Rare Quaking stuff pag. 56. This Quaking Holy Man of God pag. 59. Another Quaker Atheist pag. 61. Hath not this Man Quaked to purpose pag. 65. Melancholly Quakers pag. 73. Lawless Quakers pag. 93. More of this Quakers stinking stuff pag. 98. Quaking Freedom from Sin pag. 102. O Quaking Perfection pag. 104. A great Quaking Heat pag. 114. Quakeriz'd Vnity pag. 117. These Quaking Vnities pag. 117. Quaking Inspiration pag. 127. Quaking Zelote pag. 132. Quaking Bishop pag. 137. Rebel and Traiterous Quaker pag. 138. Traiterly Quaker pag. 140. Much more of such like Scurrility Blasphemous and False Aspersions both against the Light within and against us hath our Adversary stufft his Large Pamphlet and Libellous Book withal From all which it follows directly that he has broke his own Promise and violated his Engagement For this Impious Atheistical Stuff before cited is his own Cookery not ours he hath herein done more than only transcribed our Books See what an unconscionable Antagonist we have to deal withal This is the Man that promised only to Transcribe our own Books only to give us our own Meat cook't by our selves c. Contrary whereunto he hath here taught People to Scoff Traduce give Names of Reproach and Vilifie both us as a People and the Light within profest by us which is no other than that True Light which lighteth every man coming into the World testified of in John 1.4 9. And this Adversary is the man that hath pretended Kindness of Love to undeceive the Quakers p. 3. But the Kindness he shews and Course he has taken to undeceive us is to Rail Scoff Jeer Vilify and Reproach us as his Language bespeaks Whereby also his gross Hypocrisie in pretending such Kindness to us is very obvious and his Abominable Malice and Envy as well as Falshood will further appear on many Particulars before we have done Pr. Page 1. Their Quakerism is a Compound of False Doctrine newly brought to Light several Old Errors new vamp't Antichristian Popery put forth in a New Dress Answ What he calls Quakerism is no such Compound of either
the consequence of placing the Rule of Faith Knowledge of God and Salvation only upon the Scripture and not upon the Light of Christ within Pr. Ibid. Vnto the Law and the Testimony is no Rule for Children to walk by Page 65. By no means the Law and the Testimony mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah may now be our Rule Hath not this man Quaked to purpose Answ He still wrongs and abusively derides the Quaker for children are not so taught that the Law and the Testimony is No Rule for them to walk by whether it relate to the Law and Testimony of God as outward in Scripture or inward in the Heart whether to the Law and Testimony of God by Moses as in Tables of Stone or to the Law and Testimony of Christ as in fleshly Tables of the Heart we cannot say of either that 't is no Rule at all for every Command or Precept from God or Christ whether it be upon outward or inward Record is a Rule in it self for Instruction by the Spirit 's Assistance The Law and Testimony as given by Moses and as in Tables of Stone were a Rule to Israel after the Flesh yet not to exclude the Word nigh them even in their Hearts or their hearkening to the Voice of God for that was through all Dispensations The Law and Testimony of the New Covenant written in the Hearts of spiritual Christians under the Guidance of the holy Spirit must needs be their Rule now who Worship God in Spirit And further the Commandment which is a Lamp and the Law which is Light and the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy are not only the Principal Rule in the Hearts of Spiritual Christians who are the Evangelical Israel and Inward Jews but also of more Universal extent as to Nations then the Scriptures are For when even those Gentiles who have not the Law and yet do by Nature the things contain'd in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2.14 15. So that the Scripture could not be their Rule who had it not but the Law and Light of God and his Christ in their Hearts And the Law and the Testimony within contain the Substance and Truth of what 's written in Scripture and will the more clearly and livingly appear and be read in the Heart as the Vail of Darkness Sin and Corruption in man is removed and taken away in his Conversion and coming into the New Covenant Dispensation On the words To the Law and to the Testimony I would Query If this Testimony could be the Books of the New Testament which this Prophet Isaiah referred them then to No sure how could they when those Books were not then written Yet whoever obey and follow the Law and Testimony of the SPIRIT of Life in Christ Jesus within such cannot Oppose Slight nor Invalidate any thing of holy Scripture but have real Union therewith and be in the Life Practice and Fulfilling thereof Pr. Ibid. The Spirit that doth infatuate the Quakers is the foolish Guide whom this Quaking Father would have his Child to follow Answ What Blasphemous Folly is this against the Spirit of Truth which the Quaker would have the Child yea and all Men to follow which 't is Horrid Blasphemy to charge with being an Infatuating or Foolish Guide whereby he hath also abused and slighted Christ's Testimony and the Scriptures which testifie of the Spirit of Truth to guide into all Truth Pr. Ibid. This Quakers Faith to undermine the Scriptures to render them good for nothing for saith he the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things therefore the Scriptures to be minded in nothing Answ He hath herein abominably belied the Quaker and perverted his words though he himself has cited but a few Lines before in the same page 36. viz. The Scriptures are a true Testimony of what the Saints were made Witnesses of This is no undermining nor rendring them good for nothing Again from minding the Spirit alone in all things it follows not that the Scriptures are to be minded in nothing He might as well have said that nothing else upon any account is to be minded but the Spirit alone howbeit that the Spirit alone is to be minded in all things as the Principal and most Eminent Rule is true yea 't is to be minded even in the reading Scriptures or else they cannot be rightly understood Pr. p. 37. The Quakers ill Spirit is to be minded in all things this alone is the true Discerner betwixt Truth and Falshood but pity those poor Children that have no better guide to follow Answ When the Quakers speak of the Spirit of Truth this Priest will have it the Quakers Ill Spirit thus he Blasphemously perverts still But that the Spirit of Truth is both the true Discerner and Giver of true Discerning betwixt Truth and Falshood I suppose he dare not deny S. XVI Pr. pag. 38. As for those Priests that do warrantably use the Common Prayer-Book either in the King's Chappel or else-where to speak this Quakers mind or sense they are a company of dull Ignoramusses they cannot pray at all a sad Case except it be in the Quakers Dumb Meeting or amongst those that are acted by the Spirit of the Hat Answ The Quaker so called was speaking of such Priests and Teachers as pray not with the Spirit nor with Vnderstanding and of some that cannot pray at all but as they have Made Prayers by others in a Book to read and such it seems he renders those Priests in the King's Chappel and else-where so dull as that they cannot pray without Book for he has made the Application with such a Reflection As for our Meeting which he Scornfully terms Dumb we therein wait upon God in his holy Fear and have regard to the Motions of his good Spirit in his Worship and Service both in our inward Attention Meditation Souls breathings unto God Preaching Praying to and Praising our God who is a Spirit and to be Worshipped in Spirit Truth I take his telling of the Spirit of the Hat also to be in Scorn and Contempt nothing at all of any serious Sence or Argument in it he should have explain'd himself therein Pr. p. 39. According to this Quaking Rant is not the King's Majesty basely reflected on Hath he not a dull Clergy to minister in his Presence Is not this Church whereof he is a Nursing-Father in a bad Cafe Answ I think this Priest hath Reflected on the King and his Clergy to purpose while he has rendred them such as do not pray with the Spirit or as cannot pray without Book for such was our Friend writing of about which this Priest takes all this occasion And why does he call the King a Nursing-Father of the Church He rather means as he would have him the Nursing-Father of the Clergy that they may feed upon the Fat
live upon Tythes and Forced Maintenance Imprison and Spoil many Innocent Subjects that the Lofty Domineering Priests may live in Pride and Fulness which thing doubtless can be no Delight nor Advantage to the King that the Priests should thus harrass and destroy his Subjects considering his divers Declarations for Liberty of Conscience and Toleration But if the King should grant and cause a Law to be made to leave People free to their Consciences and Perswasions in that Case of Payment or Non-payment of Tythes then I suppose this Priest would not so readily cry up the King as the Churches Nursing-Father What the Prophet saith That Kings shall be thy Nursing-Fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-Mothers relates not at all to any Persecuting Church or Priest-hood but to God's own afflicted People Zion or Church of Christ in the Restoration and Gathering of the Gentiles thereunto to whom he saith Thy Destroyers and they that made thee Waste shall go forth of thee Isa 49.17 So that when such Persecutors and Destroyers as many of the Priests are come to be removed and the Hearts of Kings and Princesses come to be made tender by the Invisible Power of God they shall be a Comfort as Nourishers and Relievers of God's afflicted People from their Oppressions when the Beast shall hate the Whore and lay her Desolate that she may no longer persecute nor drink the Blood of the Saints So that this Prophecy of Isaiah Chap. 49.23 does not appertain to a Persecuting and Oppressing Priest-hood or Church but to the Afflicted and Oppressed Zion and People of God in the Day of his Churches Restoration and encrease even among the Gentiles Pr. p. 39. Our Singing of Psalms in the Time of Divine Service is as bad as our Preaching and Praying Answ Praises are not comely in the Mouth of the Wicked their Prayers and Sacrifices God regards not If I regard Iniquity in mine Heart God will not regard my Prayers You sing what you experience not in David's Psalms Prayers Complaints Lamentations c. You falsly personate David in Conditions that are none of your own Pr. Ibid. The Quakers to the shame of true Christianity are they only who sing with the Spirit and Vnderstanding Answ We do not say that Quakers only sing with the Spirit and Understanding but that the true singing is therewith If this Priest pretends to sing with the Spirit then I hope he will own the Spirit 's Guidance in this point and so to sing and pray without Book by the Spirit 's Motion and Guidance if he owns this to be concern'd in true Christianity then why does he Revile the Quakers so called for owning the Spirit 's Rule and Guidance If he owns it not then no Injury to tell him his Defect wherein his Brethren are generally concerned Pr. p. 39 40. To mount the Baseness of Quakerism aloft the singing of Psalms at Court in the King's Chappel in the City and Country in Cathedrals and Parish Churches is a very prophane piece of Service Answ Their being sung at Court in the King's Chappel and in Cathedrals c. does not make the Service one bit better 't is not the Places but the Hearts of men that God looks at if the Hearts be bad and wicked at Court in the City or Country in Cathedrals or Parish Churches so called God will never a whit regard their pretended Services for the sake of the Places for he is no Respecter of Persons he regards not the Face of Princes It is not the Kings Palace that will excuse men in offering Prayers or Praises from a poluted Heart Iniquity at Court is Reproveable in God's sight as well as in City or Country 't is Truth in the inward parts God requires Pr. Qr. Prim. p. 36. Christ did not ordain sprinkling Water in a Child's Face Answ If he did let 's have Scripture proof for it where-ever Christ did ordain or command Infants to be sprinkled or called that the Baptism I am apt to be more than confident that he has no Scripture to be his Rule in this Practice Pr. Priest answers pag. 40. We have quite lost Baptism and the Lord's Supper in the Church of England This Quaker doth buldly say They rose from the Pope's Invention Answ The true and real Baptism and Lord's Supper both in the Type and Antitype did not rise from the Pope's Invention but dipping or sprinkling Infants and calling that Baptism was imposed by Popes I challenge him to produce plain Scripture-proof for sprinkling Infants if he can Pr. pag. 41. Who can but laugh this Baal 's Prophet to Scorn or rather who can but pity his great Ignorance Answ This Person is given more to Laughter and Scorn than he is to Pity but his Laughter and Scorn are but like the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot for he laughs and scorns at such as truly own the Light and Spirit of Christ within to be their Guide and Teacher Pr. Ibid. Let this be noted that the Quakers own no other Baptism but that which is in the Spirit which certainly is NO SCRIPTURE-BAPTISM Answ The One Baptism which the Quakers own is the Baptism of the Spirit testified of in Scripture There is one Faith one Baptism Ephes 4. We are all Baptized by one Spirit into one Body and As many as are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ For this man to say This is no Scripture-Baptism shews his great Ignorance as well as Error Pr. pag. 42. Alas poor despised Church of England What 's become of thy Two Sacraments which are generally necessary to Salvation Answ Where is his Scripture for this Passage for the word Sacraments and for the Two Sacraments necessary to Salvation If he cannot produce plain Scripture-proof herein then the Scripture is not his Rule but the Church is his Rule as the Papists say His Railing and crying out The Vgly Face of these Quaking Lines is no Proof for his Positions but Reviling still Pr. pag. 4 3. Who knows not that a Material Church is a Place made by Men and not by Angels Answ Where is his Scripture for a Material Church made by Men or that a Steeple-house or old Mass-house is the Church He distinguishes not between Ecclesia and Templum here Pr. Ibid. As for that Church which this Quaker calls a Living Thing it is an Vnlawful Conventicle Ecclesâ—a Malignantium the Congregation of Evil-doers with which this Church and Kingdom is too much pestered Answ That Church which the Quakers call a living Church is built up of Living Stones whereof Christ is the Head and Chief Corner-Stone no Unlawful Conventicle He now talk like a Malicious and Popish Informer that would incense the Magistrates to Persecution against us Pr. Pag. 44. Not the King's Majesty on the Throne nor the Peers of this Realm do escape this Quaker 's Lash Answ Neither the King on the Throne nor the Peers of the Realm will be able to excuse this Priest in the great Day of God
Answ Here the Priest makes an Objection against all the King's Subjects which he himself cannot Answer but only askes If it be not rare Quaking stuff He argues neither as a Christian nor like a rational or sober Man as if he would bear us down from a Practice or Custom among many of the King's Subjects and thereupon Argue That because many of the Kings Subjects Swear by a Law of Man therefore Christ's prohibition is thereby abolisht and Whatsoever is more than Yea Yea Nay Nay comes not of the Evil one it s but Quaking stuff to say as Christ says that it so cometh of Evil or of the Evil one as the Priest himself has given the Interpretation of Christ's words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And yet opposeth and derides the thing where conscientiously obeyed by us not with Disrespect to King or Government but with respect to Christs Command not to Swear Pr. Ibid. St. Paul might have known this new Light Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths where Strife was if this be not Abominable Doctrine delivered by this Quaker let the wise Readers â—udge Answ What knows he but Paul knew this Doctrine that Christ ended the Dispensation of Oaths among his Followers the true Christians He does not say that an Oath for Confirmation is an End of Strife among Christians but among MEN and such Men were the Jews under the Law that were in the Strife which was the occasion of Oaths and Swearing And however where Strife and the Nature of it is removed and ended by Christ Jesus there need no Swearing to end it among such Men aâ—d Christians But that Solemn Oaths as he calls them are as bad now as Vain Oaths are none of our words but the Priests unnatural Inferrence for there is a difference between an Oath taken solemnly though under a misguided Conscience or Judgement Oaths used vainly and frequently by Prophane Persons who therein often sin against manifest Conviction of Conscience Yet that Swearing was lawful under the old Dispensation but unlawful now as is inferr'd upon us I grant and this the Priest has not removed he has made more Objections for us in this case than he either doth or is able to Answer And seeing he has handled the point so very shallowly against us I refer him and the Reader to a Book Entituled The Case of the Quakers concerning Oaths Defended as Evangolical and another Book more large and full Entituled A Treatise of Oaths wherein both by Scripture Reason Authorities of many Authors our Case is defended in our not Swearing § XX. Qr. p. 46 57. If thou observest a Day observe it to the Lord The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun and called it Sunday Pr. p. 57. When the King and Parliament made the late Act for the better Observation of the Lord's Day then they did nothing but make a Law to establish Will-Worship according to this Quaker Answ We do not Reflect upon King or Parliament for making such an Act nor judge their Intention or Design to be to establish Will-Worship therein Here the Priest still persists in his old Course of Hectoring to incense the Powers against us which is no Rational Argument nor Christian Confutation but still shews that his Religion and Worship have their Dependence upon men He is for that Way Method and Religion that is the uppermost imposed by the Magistrate and that 's his chief Argument But what 's this to Confute our Friend's saying The Name Sunday is from the Heathens who Celebrated that Day to the Sun And dare he deny this or say that the Name Sunday Munday Tuesday Wednesday c. did not spring from the Heathen in Relation to their Gods whom they Worshipped And did not the Primitive Christians call that the first day of the Week which you professed Christians call Sunday after the Heathens Example And in our Meeting on the First Day of the Week as the Primitive Christians did we do not superstitiously observe the Day or place an Esteem or Sanctity upon that day simply consider'd more than others but observe it to the Lord. The Apostle did not impose the Observation of Days upon the Primitive Christians nor were they to judge one another in that matter One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the Lord c. see Rom. 14.4 5 6. Pr. p. 58. Doth not this Quaker's Ignorance in effect count all holy Dayes Apostatical Are not these the Festival Days c P. 59. Real Quakers do not observe holy dayes as this Church appoints Answ The Real Quaker owns the Apostle's Doctrine Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an holy Day or of the New Moon or Sabboth Days which are a Shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Certainly Christ is the Substance and End of the Shadow But this Priest is now for Festival Days and Holy Days as the Church appoints Observe how like a Church-man of Rome he here talks as if he were directly steering his Course to Rome The Church is his Rule here and not Christ nor the Scriptures he is for Festivals and Holy Days as the Church commands that is He is for the Observation of Saints and Angels Days and doubtless for Mass-Days too which if he would have us observe he should plainly tell us whence the Observation of such dayes sprung and whether they are not enjoyned in the mass-Mass-Book and from Rome Pr. Ibid. Whither do the Quakers come when they are gotten over the Observation of Days for my part I cannot tell Answ Seeing he cannot tell whither we are or do come he should have let us alone and not revil'd nor abus'd us as men in such deep Ignorance because we can neither keep up the Names of Heathen Gods in Dayes nor Popishly observe Festival Days Holy Days Mass Days c. So here I must leave him in this point with his Face towards Rome not towards Zion nor New Jerusalem § XXI The Priest's next Quarrel is against James Parnel on the Collection of his Writings He is offended to hear That they are given forth from the Spirit of the Lord or that James Parnel should be counted a Servant of God as in the Title of the said Collection and therefore proceeds as followeth Pr. Ibid. This Quaking holy Man of God was in the Quakers Account no less inspired by the holy Ghost than the holy Pen-men of Scripture Answ We make no such Comparison of his being inspired yet though we do not equalize him with those holy Pen-men he was in some degree inspired by the same holy Spirit and bore a Faithful Testimony in his Day and in his Suffering against the Corruptions of those Times both of the then Persecuting Priests Rulers and People Pr. Ibid. The Quakers are
James Parnel's Books that in reading them over he found Cramben his Coctam he might have forborn this for shame in this case For as for Reiterations Repetitions and Tautologies of worse stuff than Colewort twice boild I never read any that surpassed him especially any of his Coat that stuff'd up a Book so big as his with so much Scoffing Jeering trifling and impious Reiterations with so little shew of Reason as he hath done which shews after what an Ungodly rate he has spent his Time and Study and how therein he has been attended and prompted with a Diabolical Spirit to inveigh like one mad with Envy against the Light of Christ within Perfection partaking of the Divine Nature and Unity of the true Church § XXXII Pr. pag. 122. Take heed to the Light of God within you this is only a Whim of the Qrs. Brain which hath no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings In Scripture we find mention made often of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you But take heed to the Light of God within you this is only the Quakers false Doctrine Answ Look here he can scarce write a Paragraph without scoffing at the Qrs. Thus he inveighs against taking heed to the Light of God within he sayes It has no Foundation in any Apostolical Writings But see the man's Contradiction as well as his Ignorance herein He confesses that in Scripture we find often mention made of Christ the Light and sometimes of Christ in you and has this no Foundation in the Apostles Writings If Christ be the Light and Christ within must not he be taken heed unto and followed as he is manifest within even in them that believe in his Light as he has taught but if God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Must we not then take heed unto his Inshining Light in our Hearts when he shines in our Hearts to give us such Knowledge I had not repeated so much of this Man 's reiterated trifling and scornful Contradiction and Opposition to Truth but that his Folly may the more be seen and remain on record against him â—r Ibid. To be one in the Eternal Vnity smells strong of Parnel 's Partakers of Christ's Divine Nature that God is with us manifested in the Flesh all which is Abâ—â—inable â—lasphemy Answ As for Eternal Unity among Christ's Followers did not he pray for it John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us And this partaking of Christ's Divine Nature offends the Priest still but his Folly therein is sufficiently detected before which now he greatly adds to in accounting it Abominable Blasphemy to say God is with us c. How then is Christ called Immanuel God with us And hath not God promised to dwell and walk in his People And were not the true Believers given up to suffer with Christ and to be delivered up to Death for his sake that the Life also of Jesus might be manifest in their mortal Flesh And doth not the Spirit of Christ dwell in true Believers and quicken their mortal Body to yield their Members as Instruments of Righteousness to God that Christ may dwell in their Hearts by Faith that they might know the Love of Christ and be filled with all the Fulness of God For which End Paul bow'd his Knees unto the Fathers of our Lord Jesus Christ see Ephes 3.14 to the end Pr. p. 124. Christ Jesus his Body is one which is his Church behold except the Church which is Christ's Mystical Body our Saviour hath no other Body Answ The Priest takes occasion for these words from a Passage he cites out of a Book called Truth 's Defence which as he cites it is That the Body of Christ is but one and he is the Head of the Body which is the Church Whence he infers our Saviour hath no other Body which is but his own Narrow Construction For it follows not from saying the Body of Christ or his Church is but one that Christ hath no Spiritual or Glorious Body peculiar to and of himself whereof the Church contains Members For what 's more plain than where it s said For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ 1 Cor. 12.20 Then that all those many Members and that one Body of Christ whereof they are Members make upone Body collectively and joyntly in Christ and that the Church and Members of Christ as joyn'd to him and his Body to make up one Body in universal Union and Fulness of Christ Jesus so as all are joyned to him and Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone this makes us one Body where there is likewise one Christ who takes in and comprehends with him both his own Glorious Body like unto which the Body of the Saints Lowness was to be fashioned Phil. 3.21 and all the Members thereof who are joyned to him in that Mysterious Union that is between Christ and his Church as he is the true Vine and they the Branches And granting still that Christ has a Glorious Body most near proper to himself above and more excellent than all our Earthly Bodies like unto which he will change our Low and Humble Body 't is not improper to say The Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body Now are there many Members yet but one Body 1 Corinth 12.20 And there is one Body and one Spirit Ephes 4.4 Therefore a plurality of Bodies and Members may be truly called one Body in that Mystical or hidden Union that is between Christ and his Church for any Collective Body consisting of many People may be called one Body though this be far inferiour to the heavenly Union between Christ his Body and Church Lastly How can true Believers who are many be said to be One Bread from their eating of that one Bread which is Christ even of his Flesh which he gave for the Life of the World or be said to be Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone from their Union with him or his Church be said not only to be his Body but the Fulness of him that filleth all in all if in this Bread his Flesh Body and Fulness Christ's own Body be not so included and his Church therewith so nearly united as All comprehensively to make up One universal Body in the Fulness of Christ for how should his particular Body be excluded out of his Fulness and yet there are those who discern not the Lord's Body who eat and drink unworthily and so eat and drink their own Damnation But this Priest still proceeds in his Envious Attempts telling
us That to speak the Qrs. Mind more fully two of his Neighbour Qrs. told him That Christ's Body did vanish at his Ascension and that now he hath no other Flesh or Body but the Flesh or Body of his People p. 124. To which I answer That the first is a palpable Untruth I deny it to be the Qrs mind that Christ's Body did vanish so as to be annihilated at his Ascension 'T was chang'd and more glorified but not vanisht To the last part accusing two of his Neighbour Qrs. with telling him so this is very questionable and suspicious the man's Credit is at such a low ebb with me because of so many Lyes cast upon the Qrs. that I do greatly suspect this Story against two of his Neighbours And I am also satisfied that none in their right Understanding or Sense would give him any such mistaken Answer or Account concerning the Body of Christ that it so vanished as to become annihilated Though some Adversaries have been apt to be too Curious in their Enquiries about that Point obtruding Unlearned Questions more than are necessary to Salvation We are satisfied that the same Christ that humbled himself to the Death of the Cross is highly Exalted and hath a Name and Authority given unto him unto which every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess and the Mouthes of Gain-sayers shall be stopt in the Day of his Power which is dawned in our Age Glory to God and to the Lamb forever AN APPENDIX IN Vindication of the Soundness of the QVAKERS Faith from the said Adversary's Fictitious Creed Unsound Faith and most Knavish Forgeries and Sordid Abuses as stated by him in the Quakers Name SInce that instead of an Index our Adversary the Priest hath added an Appendix of Ninety Eight Articles in number which he would have the Reader to look upon as the Quakers Vnsound Faith and which he is bold to set down as the Quakers Belief and that with reference to what he hath in the foregoing Discourse taken out of their own Books and all which he promises to do either in their own words or according to the true Meaning of them By the Letter Q. is meant Quakers page 144 145. By all which the Reader may observe that all these Ninety Eight Articles which he has framed in the Qrs. Name he would have the Reader look upon them as the Qrs. unsound Faith Whence it follows that none of them are according to his Faith let this be remarked by the way And therefore I shall give the Reader a few Instances out of the aforesaid Articles 1st To shew that many of them are neither set down in the Quakers own words nor in the true Meaning of them and therefore that the Priest is a manifest Forger therein 2dly That there are many Truths set down in many of the Articles which are not according to this Priests Faith because he has given them all the Title of the Qrs. Vnsound Faith Which things premised to be observed I proceed Pr. Art 1. We Q. do believe as W. P. doth write that Jesus Christ is not a distinct Person without us and that there is not one place of Scripture to prove him to be so nor do we believe Christ to be God-Man for it is no Scripture-phrase Answ This is a Forgery and Perversion as from a Denyal of the Terms to a Denyal of the Thing Jesus Christ is owned to be a Distinct Intelligent Being without us but not as wholly excluded and limited only as a Circumscribed Person without us he is within us also spiritually As also to say We do not believe Christ to be God-man is a down right Slander for we have fully declared him to be both God and Man see Section 2. Pr. Art 2. We Qrs. do believe that the Scripture is not a Rule directing our Vnderstandings or Lives Answ False again we have granted the Holy Scripture to be a Rule but not the Only the Primary or Chiefest Rule The Holy Spirit and Divine Light hath the Preeminency and Preference as a higher and more universal Rule even where the Writing comes not § 2 3. Pr. Art 5. We Q. do believe that the Justification of a Sinner is not by Christ's Righteousness imputed that Justification by Christ's imputed Righteousness is a Dangerous Sin-pleasing Notion Answ False again Christ's Righteousness as imputed or reckoned by himself to true Believers we believe and never opposed it but the Imputation or Reckoning of it to Persons wholly unsanctified by Sin-pleasing Teachers we do oppose § 5 6 ◠Pr. Art 6. We Q. do believe that Christ God-Man did never purchase the Redemption of any Sinners by the Price of his own Blood Answ A gross Perversion We do believe that Christ as Mediator hath obtained Eternal Redemption for us and that by his own Blood that we might be sanctified and redeemed from all Iniquity for which End he gave himself for us But not that he as God-Man did strictly purchase or buy Redemption of God the Father in a way of rigid or strict Payment in the Offenders stead to acquit and clear the Wicked or Guilty in whom no Good is wrought that they may live and dye in Sin and yet be esteemed the Redeemed and Justified of the Lord. This is the plain Case and this we cannot believe But that Christ gave himself a Ransom for all to redeem and purchase lost Man to God out of the Fall and out of Transgression § 9 10. see also § 5 6 7. Pr. Art 7. We Q. do believe that there is no Salvation to be hoped for after this Life is ended by any faithful Christians and that there is no Resurrection of the Body from the Grave unto Life Everlasting Answ Manifest Falshoods We believe both Everlasting Salvation Resurrection and Everlasting Life from the Dead according to holy Scripture but that the Appearance of Christ unto Salvation is not to be put off nor Salvation from Sin deferred till after Death And this also answers his Forgery reiterated and enlarged in his eighth Article But only his saying That there is no Coming of Christ as Judge at the Last Day is also a forged Falshood See § 11. Pr. Art 9. We Q. do believe as the Papists do that true Justification is only by Inherent Righteousness Answ Here 's a Perversion again for we do not place a second or compleat Justification Salvation or Heaven upon the Merit or Deserving of our own Works of Charity c. as the Papists do rendring God a Debtor to them for those Works after the first Grace received Herein we manifestly differ from them And we do not place Justification wholly upon the Inherent Righteousness of Christ but also upon his Merit and Dignity in procuring or obtaining Eternal Redemption for us by his Blood Suffering and Sacrifice Yet that absolute Justification is not compleated without the Inherent or Inward Righteousness of Christ through Faith and Sanctification we must confess §