to be as Pighius and Echius amongst the Papists and as Bellarmine the greatest Writer amongst them I told my Opposites I would therefore Answer this Bellarmine and I would not say Bellarmine thou liest but I would by Holy Scripture shew G. Fox and his deluding Foxians how the old Fox the old Serpent was too crafty for them all and had brought them and their Followers to the brim of the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone First then I said let who will that understands true English and are able to read and write true English though he know no more take G. Fox his Folio Book in hand and tell me whether 183 through his whole Book he writes like an English-man And though he upbraids all his Opposites scornfully and ridiculously as poor Children that know not the Bible nor their Accidence in saying you to a singular c. whether in many scores of places in his Book he confounds not the singular and the Plural I confess when I urged this in publick my Opposites desired of me no proof of this out of Foxes Book and therefore remembering my quarter hour Glasse I fpared Quotations but now through Gods patience and my Readers my Tedder being longer I shall give one or two brief Proofs and Instances In page 282. in G. Fox his second Answer he saith You where you are sees him nor where it should be the Plural see him not if this Proud Bruit had known either his Accidence or the Bible In Page 300. he saith The Scriptures is able to make wise unto Salvation which should be are able c. In Page 16. The Churches was to hear for were to hear In Page 110. As thou doth which should be as thou dost And abundance more of this Boyes English all his Book over which I cannot impute to his Northern Dialect having been so long in the South and London and read and answered as he dreams so many English Books nor to the Printer the faults of that kinde being so numerous but to the finger of the most High and most Holy whose property it is and therefore delights to run thwart and cross the shins of proud and insulting Souls and Spirits 2. I observe throughout his Book a Devillish Black Line of despising those that are Good as the Scripture speaketh He counts none Godly but himself and his Foxians yea there is no God no Christ no Spirit but what is in him and them feelingly though they say he is in every man and woman in the world and Christ Iesus the Sun of Righteousness and the Holy Spirit and the Kingdome of God which they confess consists in Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirits and yet as they impiously and simply speaks these Inhabitants and Hosts to all these Guests know nothing of their lodging and dwelling within them G. Fox gives a shrewd suspition that he never knew what the true fear and love and peace and joy of God mean if he did is it possible that he could puff at so many Writers excellent for great Knowledge and godliness denying any thing of God or 184 Christ or Spirit or Grace to be in them some of them eminent servants of God I have known of others of them I have smelt the sweet Odour of an Heavenly report from the mouthes of others and in their Writings But as G. Fox will be found to adore an Image Crucifix for the true Lord Jesus so whatever he say of others will his Faith his Love his Spirit of Discerning and Hope of Glory and Salvation prove without Repentance dolefully false in the latter end For doth not this Proud Censor know that men may be true Saints in their persons and yet be subject to sudden Epileptical Falling Fits may not David walk with God with a perfect heart and yet in the matters of Bathsheba and Uriah and many other particulars fall down like a Jewel into the Dirt that Christ Jesus owns Peter and his Confession c. and yet in another case get thee behind me Sathan That Peter resolves to dye for Jesus and yet denies with Cursing and Swearing that he never knew him and after Christs Resurrection and Ascention even Peter plays the Hypocrite Dissembler Yea did not the high Fathers in Godliness famous Kings in Gods Church live long in the incivility of many Wives and the impiety of Worshipping in the High places c. to what purpose doth the Lord inspire his holy Pen-men to write these holy Histories was it to shame his Saints departed or to shame his own Holiness and to cast a stumbling block and a protection for after sinners and transgressors or amongst other holy ends to teach us like Moses to distinguish between an Egyptian whom he slew and the Israelites whom he chid for wronging each other since they were their Brethâ—en so that he is a poor Christian Goldsmith that knows not to discern the Gold of Holiness and the Copper of Hypocrisie yea and to give the best Gold in the World its due allowance with which it will pass currant in Earth and Heaven with God and such who truly know and love him But with G. Fox in all this great Book the most humble and able godly and conscientious are with him but Vipers Serpents Cains Iudasses false Prophets Pharisees dumb Dogs Sorcerers Witches Reprobates Devils c. 3. In this Book of G. Fox all along he denies the Scripture to be the Word of God and he said that every man in the world hath that Spirit that gave forth Scriptures and that all Saints are 185 acted by the same Spirit immediately that moved the Prophets and Apostles and holy Pen-men of the holy Scriptures all tending to vilifie and nullifie the Holy Scriptures Besides his Impiety in these Assertions which half an eye of Mahumetans Iewes Papists Protestants will see I note his Simplicity for a Fox though he be crafty is but a Beast still For out of his Piety he grants the holy Scriptures through all his Book to be the Words of God though not the Word of God and for this his Grant he quotes Exod. 20. God spake all these Words and the four Books of the Revelations which I nor my Opposites could tell in publick what to make of But if they are the Words of God and fome of them fearfully written by the inconceivable Finger of God once and twice then every particular word of these words must needs be the Word or Will or mind of God every grain of gold is gold and every drop in the Ocean is Water and Salt too as I urged to them before concerning every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God else the Words of God when brought to particular examination they are not the word of God but of Angels or Men or Devills How sweet are not Words but right Words every man shall kiss his lips that gives
the Scriptures within their Teacher within They stil say The Scripture was not the Word of God the Scripture is but a dead Letter they have no need of Paper-Teachers having the spirit that gave it forth Yea as the Papists say if the Scriptures were lost and burnt out of the world the spirit within them could give new Scriptures T is true the Quakers in this Dispute professed to be tryed by the Scriptures which the first Quakers among us wholly denied but only by the Spirit within them But what avails this Confession Is it not but a subtle trick of Equivocation when stil they profess to owne G. Fox all along and he professeth the Soules of all men to be a part of God and the divine Essence and that their is no distinction between God Christ and Spirit and themselves what should hinder but that the Scripture is but a dead Letter and compared with their spirit a weak and needless Paper unto them that hath such a light and Spirit within to guide them I told them before and now that there was an Irish Papist in the late warrs that spoke the very heart and soul of Iews Papists and Common Protestants and the Quakers themselves as to the holy Scriptures In plundering and rifling a Protestants house he found a Bible and flung it in the Kennel and kickt and trod upon it saying The plague of God take this Book it is the cause of all these Quarrels My Opposite said they owned the Scriptures in their place as a Declaration of the Saints Conditions Iohn Burnet took a Bible and read publickly that Passage in Luke 1. where Luke calls his Writing a Declaration I urged that this will of God for this Declaration of what Christ said and did and of all the rest of the Scripture was a Declaration and Revelation of Gods Will to his People and to the whole World this written and revealed 90 will of God I said was the Judge and Decider of all Questions the tryer of all Spirits all Religions all Churches all Doctrines all Opinions all Actions They answered they did owne the Scriptures and would be tryed by the Scriptures which is a new trick meaning according to their own not to be questioned Interpretations I urged that they set up their Spirit above the Scriptures fathering all their Revilings Cursings and Abominations upon the holy Spirit I asked whether they owned the Scripture as the square Rule or Guide according to whose sentence all the Knowledge of God and of our selves the Knowledge of Gods Worship and Service and our own Blessedness and Salvation was to be determined yea and the Spirit within them to be tryed determined approved and condemned also They still fled to this Burrough the Spirit that gave forth Scripture is greater then the Scripture the spirit is in us that Spirit only opens the Scripture the Spirit is immediate and infallible and they only who have this Spirit know the Scriptures I answered that I maintained the inward breathing of the holy Spirit more than themselves for I quoted before Luke 11. viz. that we ought in all our Preachings Hearings Readings Prayings c. to beg the help of the Spirit called the Finger and Power of God and yet I also maintained that this Record this Word Will or Mind of God written and pen'd by chosen Pen-men as Pens in the hand of his holy Spirit and so miraculously preserved from the Rage of the Devils fiery Instruments Babilonian Assyrian Romane and Popish Tyrants and that much among the Jewes and Papists and much by their meanes also though they hate it I say this Record is the outward and external Light Lanthorn Iudge Guide Rule by which God witnesseth himself and his Truth in the World comforteth and feedeth his saints in their Dispersions discovers and reforms the defects and wanderings of his People as in Iosiah his finding this Record and Ezekiel Iohn eating the Book out of which the holy Spirit inspired them to prophesie to Kings and Peoples c. T is true who doubts it but that God and the Spirit were before the Scriptures and so he was before the Creation before Christ Jesus was born and his Redemption actually accomplished are the works of God therefore and the several Dispensations and Institutions and Instruments of God in their several times and 91 places of any whit less power or esteem because the most holy God and his most holy Spirit were before them Iohn the Baptist saith that Christ Jesus was preferred before him for he was before him and he was not worthy to unloose the Shoe-latchet of Jesus the Lamb of God and yet for the fulfilling of all Righteousness the Lord Iesus must come to Iohn to be baptized of him and the holy Spirit of Light will declare himself to be true by the holy Scriptures and discover all other Spirits to be spurious false and Bastards and notwithstanding their cracking and prating of Light if they slight this outward standing Record and Witness of God in the World it is because there is no light in them One of these two must be done either we must subscribe to the Papists and by their pretended Spirit and Church find out and authorize the Scriptures just as the Foxians say or else we must with Luther and his Associates Calvin and his followers maintain Learning study the Scriptures search the Originals Copyes and Translations and vindicate their Purity and Perfection their Authority and sole external Direction how to judge of all pretending Christs and Prophets and Doctrines Churches and Spirits While we were thus discoursing W. Edmundson propounded this Similitude if I should write a letter to a friend and subscribe my name W. Edmundson doth it follow therefore that the Letter is W. Edmundsons I answer that the Quakers do affirm that the Scripture is within them what is the english of that but that the Light which they and every man in the World hath within them the Christ the Spirit which every one hath is Scripture and in a sence I said it was a Truth that W. E. his letter to his friend was W. Edm. not only a Declaration of his word mind or will to his Friend but in a respect his mind and will it self that he sent in Writing to his Friend and so the Scripture in a Sence is Gods mind and Will to us Upon this occasion I told them that the Scriptures were the Love Letters of Christ Iesus to his Church as the Love-Letters of some mighty Monarch to his Betrothed Queen or Empress they are dear not as common Paper and Ink but as the Good-Will the dearest Love and heart of the King and Emperour himself and thus are holy Scriptures highly prized and embraced and laid up in the heart and bosome of the true Children of God 92 believed listned to and followed as the voice of Christ Iesus to his true sheep and Spouse the Bastard Children and
the Wolves covered only with the sheepskins they have other Words Letters Spirits 2 Thes. 2. whatever they prate of Scripture and speak brave swelling empty words as Iude speaketh T is true as G. Fox all along in his Book vapours that the Spirit was before Scripture and gave forth Scripture but I proved before that their Spirit their Light their Christ were but hellish Darkness the spirit of Sathan and a false lying Christ c. 2. The Dispensations of God were many and divers as before the Law and after but in this last and third dispensation he hath spoken that is his word mind and will whatever the Quakers as well childishly as Blasphemously prate to the contrary by his Son And as the Son himself the Lord Jesus in his own person when he personally maintained that famous combat with the Devil used no other weapon but Prayer and Fasting and the Holy Scripture so he left written this holy patern and example that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 14. Luther being demanded how he gain'd such knowledge and abilities in such blind Popish darkness he freely confessed that the holy Scripture was his first help the second Meditation the third earnest Prayer to God to vouchsafe his Spirit to bless the two former unto him The Lord Jesus therefore not only ordained his Messenger or Preachers of his glad Tydings to Iews and Gentiles but his Pen-men also Ioh. 20. for those two great ends as to us to wit 1. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ to wit that that individual person and man called Jesus was the Christ the Messiah so long promised and expected contrary to the Blasphemous Fancies of the Quakers And 2. That Believing in him that individual person called Jesus and not in a Fancy within we might have Life and Blessedness It is no wonder therefore that the Devil the great Thief as he compasseth Sea and Land with the Pharisees Iesuites and Quakers to make Proselytes so wherever he comes he labours to blow out the Candle of the Holy Scripture It is the Spirit Breath or wind of the Devil in the lips of Atheists Iews Papists Quakers Ranters c. that puffs and blows 93 against this Holy Light more precious infinitely then the Sun in the Heaven it hath been most wonderfully to amazement preserved like the Sun in the Firmanent and shines most gloriously again and again after the blackest and longest storm and night of Apostacies and Persecution The Turkish Hystory tells us of a Woman appearing in the Heavens with a Book open in her hand some of their Mahumetan Priests dared to say for which one greatly suffered that the Woman was the Christian Church and the Book was their Bible or Scriptures which threatned ruine to their Mahomet and Alcoran Iohn was not commanded and in him the Protestant Witnesses to stand still and listen to a Light to a motion or voice within but to eat up the little Book open once again in the hands of Christ Jesus Rev. 10. and after this eaten up to prophesie to Peoples and Nations to Tongues and Kings Whether this Book be the Book of the Revelation or the Book of the whole Bible or Scripture it is apparent that during the 42 Months of the the Papal Reign and Darkness Christ Iesus hath given Authority and power to his Witnesses to search after the Holy Records in the Original Hebrew and Greek Copies and to bring them forth by Translating and Preaching the Doctrine of them c. for which they have suffered Death and Burning as Tindal and many other excellent men of God The Walls of Rome yea the Gates of Hell have shaken and felt the might of this Heavenly Artillery It lies therefore the Devil and all his Messengers in hand to break to pieces or to nail up their heavenly Ordinance It hath been observed that there never were any more than others famous for Christanity but they first were famous for an admirable Love kindled by God in their Hearts to the Holy Scriptures It is true the Iews to whom the Oracles of God were committed to wit in the Old Testament how studious have they been in it even to every Word and Letter they accounted it a crime for any Book to ly upon it but this alwayes to lye uppermost My self have seen the Old Testament of the Iews most curious writing whose price in way of trade was threescore pound which my Brother a Turkey-Merchant had and shewed me But I speak of an inward love a Soul-love c. It is wonderful what Luther relates of that blessed Duke of Saxony whom 94 God stir'd up to favour and cherish Luther c viz. that he caused his six Pages each of them to read to him daily everyone his hour in the Holy Scripture This was the affection in all the first Witnesses the Waldensians the Bohemians the English French Dutch Scotch c. who together with the Scriptures had mighty Affection to the study of the Hebrew and Greek in which golden Cups and Bowles the King of Kings was pleased to convey the Wine like Ahashuerosh of his Eternal Majesty and Goodness to us It is wonderful to consider how much the study of the Scriptures and of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues confounded and put to flight the Papists and forced them to study the Scriptures and the Tongues also both which the barbarous dark Spirit of the Quakers hate as darkness hates the Light It is no wonder this Spirit of Lying cries out so fiercely against the Schools of Learning in Old and New England it knows that the right and regular propagation of natural of civil and especially of Divine Knowledge scatters the thick Fogs of the Quakers affected hellish ignorance The blessed Martyrs and Witnesses of Jesus in all ages have been ravished with holy delights like David in the holy Scripture in Q Maries dayes that famous Ridley called Bishop of London he had got most of the holy Epistles in Greek by heart even before he left Pembrook Hall in Cambridge and as the fire of persecution grew hotter so did those blessed Witnesses like Jesus with Moses and Elias and Paul at Troas spend hours and nights in Prayer and holy Conference upon the Scriptures and those things which the Lord Jesus should and hath now accomplished according to the Scriptures It is true in print Iames Parnel spake like a Papist an Atheist and a Quaker of the holy Martyrs or Witnesses of Jesus Christ and of the book of Martyrs it self It is no wonder that the most Righteous and jealous Lord left him not to dye the common death of all Mankinde but to Murther himself by a proud presumptuous attempt of declaring himself to be Christ by fasting 40 dayes and 40 nights I believe this to be a Truth from the Testimonies I have seen of Parnels
he brings in the Author of Hosannah to the Son of David saying The sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of is the Prophesie of Scriptures He Answers Doth the Scripture shine in a dark place until the Day dawne Are they them them that must be taken heed unto as to a Light Can any see the Scripture and know the Scripture but with the Light within Can not a Cain a Baalam a Core bring Scripture that is gone from the Spirit of Prophesie within and then put the Letter for it 98 I Reply 1. I know that Fox makes their Idol within called Light to be the more sure word of Prophesie and his usual proof is The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie But first why must all the Prophets or Messengers of God who from the beginning of the world were Gods mouth and Pens Concerning the Birth Life Death Burial Resurrection Ascention and coming to Judgement of the Lord Jesus be here cast out from the Word of Prophesie Is it nothing Luk. 1 that God spake surely Gods speaking is his word God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the World began And Heb. 1. God spake sundry times and in divers manners in Time past unto the Fathers but how did God thus speake or utter his word but by the Prophets And Rom. 16. But now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandment c. Therefore how oft is it written concerning the Lord Jesus These things were done that the Scriptures might be Fulfilled in which regard as to our satisfaction and belief the written word of Prophesie of the Prophets are a more sure Word and Evidence to us concerning the Lord Jesus then the Miraculous Appearance from Heaven of Moses and Elias and the voice from Heaven of which Peter here speaketh though in it self a true Testimony yet not so sure so firm and pregnant as the Word that God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets from the beginning of the World c. Hence the Answer of Abraham and indeed of Christ Jesus If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one should rise from the Dead 2. How sure is the Quakers Light their Word of Prophesie A sober mind can not but admire that Face and Forehead of Brass and Adamant with which God the Righteous Judge of the whole hath plauged Satan and his Followers so that they blush not to prefer such a simple Image a meer Babie and Childs Puppet of their Immediate Word of Prophesie before the Word the mind and will of God by the mouth of all the Prophets For is it not known in the holy Scripture in all Histories in all Ages in all Nations what Cursed Opinions horrible Uncleannesses Bloody Murthers and Slaughters have been Conceived and brought forth from the Spirit within and Revelati 99 on s from Divilish Lights and Spirits and the horrible End that generally the Authors and Promoters of such Spirits and Inspirations have come to 3. This Scripture Revel 19. The Testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie what is it but Goliahs Sword to fetch off the head of this proud Philistin for doth not the Angels forbid Iohn worshipping of him upon this ground viz. that the Angel was his Fellow Broker Fellow Servant Fellow Worshipper Fellow Witness Is not this the Argument whereby he prohibits him viz. that one Testimony of Jesus was the work of Gods Spirit in the Angels in their way as well as in Iohns and Peters in theirs c. and shall we say that the Angels too are Quakers and Christ hath enlightened them also as well as every man that comes c And Revel 22. Doth not Christ threaten the Adders to and Diminishers from the word of this Book of this Prophesie what Affinity hath a written Book a written Prophesie with Immediate whisperings and Inspirations 2. Why should G. Fox here mention Cain Balaam Core what Scriptures could they bring what Scriptures were written in their times I think it no breach of Charity to guess that the Quakers and G. Fox are so used to Cursing and Censuring their Opposites at the first dash for Cains Baalams Cores that they could not well tell how to miss them Such persons no question and the Foxians and the lying Spirit the Old Fox and Serpent bring Scripture But doth the Divel cordially prize and love the word of Prophesie the Testimony and Witnesses of Jesus However he plainly here Confesseth that the holy Scripture is so powerful that the very Counterfeit the picture and Name of it will do him good Service with such whom he desires to cheat and Ruine And yet secondly this shews the Quakers horrible wickedness that although they love the holy Scripture for the general of them as well as doth their lying Father yet turn they the Truth of God into a lye and with the ugly Spider sucks that which he turns into poyson even from the same Flowers of Paradice the holy Scriptures from whence the hony Bees the true Believers suck the pure hony of Eternal Truth and Comfort 3. Again what madness is it for this blind Dreamer to ask his Opposite whether the Scripture shines in a dark place until the 100 dawne whether they must be taken heed unto as to a Light For how often is the holy Scripture even the very Law before the Gospel or glad News was preached adorn'd and beautified with the Illustrious Title of Light and all the subtle Foxes in the world must know that if they attend unto whisperings and peepings Isai. 8. and leave the written Law the Word and other Prophesies of Scripture or written Prophesies Words and Oracles of God! For all their Childish Vapourings and pratings of their Light the Eternal Father of Lights proclaims them to be Children of howling darkness and that there is no Light within them I speak it with horrour and Amazement and also with sorrowful Confidence that he that shall find a spark of true Light either of the knowledge or grace of the true Lord Jesus in this their Fantastick Light he shall find the Living among the Dead he shall prove the Prophets that spake and the Lord God of the Prophets whose word was spoke to be Lyars for saying there is no Light within them But Fox again demands Can any know the Scripture but with the Light within And I ask him what Light have the Papists and Iews and the Divel himself when they and he bring Scripture to Christ himself I know very well what he means in his Iesuitical Diabolical Reservations by the Light within and by knowing the Scripture his meaning is known and Common viz. except he be one of those dark Souls called Quakers But did not the Devil bring a pertinent Scripture and promise to Christ Jesus as ever Papist or Quaker could have alleadged though pointed and directed
the Holy Scriptures He is the sole Judge and Interpreter of them and the sole decider of all controversies in Religion about the expounding of them yea he hath power to dispence with Peter and Paul c. yea what Christ and God can do that gave forth Scripture that can the Pope their Lieutenant do hence all this Dispensations of Oaths of Marriages c. Do not the Quakers also tread this Holy Scripture this inestimable Jewel of Gods Writing and Book under their proud feet as formerly I noted upon the fourth Position of their not owning the Holy Scripture Do they not upon the point say that they made they wrote and gave out the Holy Scripture and though in our late Conference they said they would be tryed by the Scriptures yet as the Papists they admit no Interpreter but themselves for the Spirit within them they say gave forth the Scripture and is above the Scripture and both they and the Papists have said that there would be no losse if they were gone out of the World for the Papists say their Traditions and their infallible Spirit would supply the loss and the Quakers say the Scriptures is within them in effect they say that all that they do and say is Scripture so far are both Papists Quakers from a Christian and Candid Profession of being tried by the Holy Scripture that they most Horribly and most Hypocritically trample it under their proud feet 166 4. These Romanists or Proud ones as the Hebrew signifies both Papists Quakers most insultingly lift up themselves against the Servants and Children of God all the world over that bow not down to their Images be a Soul never so humble and penitent never so holy and mortified believe the Scriptures c. and give his life for the truth of of them yet he is damned if he believes not the Pope to be the head of the Church and say not the Quakers the same of all that believe not in their pretended Lights your Repentance is nothing your Holiness nothing your Zeal Praying Preaching Fasting Suffrings nothing and they think they have reason to say so because you believe not in the true Christ and therefore you are in Cains Nature in the Satanical Delusion Reprobates c. so that all the blessed Souls under the Alter calling for vengeance against the shedders of their blood the Roman Emperour or since the Roman Popes they are all branded with a black cole of damned Souls and Reprobates by G. Fox because they professed preacht and died for a Christ without them though that Christ without them dwelt in their hearts Ephes. 3. by believing and for his sake they loved not their lives to the Death I told them that the Pope and they were one in the great point of the Infallibility they both pretended the Spirit of God as did the Apostles c. but I have proved their pretence is as true as that of Apollo's Worshippers by whose Priests the Devil gave Oracles Extripode from their threefold stool and that so subtilly and cunningly that whatever Oracle or Voice it was and whatever the event were yet the Devil would save his own Apollo should be the true God of Wisdome and Apollo's Priests true Prophets At last when Christ came Apollo being consulted and failing to give answer the Devil was forced to answer that there was an Hebrew Childe borne that stopt his mouth I am sure this Hebrew Childe the true Lord Jesus Christ hath often also stopt the mouthes in one sense of Pope Quakers for their Predictions have not come to pass though some which the Devil could guess at have and he will shortly stop their mouths forever It was truely said of that long eighteen years hatching Devilish Junto of Trent that the Holy Ghost that is the Popes Holy Ghost came every week from the Pope at Rome c. to his Legates at Trent in a Cloak-bag and do not G. Fox his Books 167 and all their writings declare for their corrivality and competition with the Pope for this their pretended Holy Ghost do they not upbraid all other Ministers and People for being out of the infallible Spirit Do they not say their Ministers and their Commissions are invisible because immediate and infallible do they not assigne this to be the cause of all the Sects and Divisions among the Protestants because they have not the infallible Spirit as the Quakers have Here as I remember Iohn Stubs stood up and alleadged that place in 1 Iohn 4. Hereby we know that we dwell in him because he hath given us of his Spirit And again you have the unction and know all things And W. Edmondson boastingly and proudly said that they had the same immediate and infallible Spirit which the Apostles had and that Iohn Peter were but their elder Brethren Unto which I answer Peter I know and Iohn I know but who are you For 1. They were Eye-Witnesses of the Lord Jesus his Life and Death and Resurrection 2. They were immediately endowed with fiery Tongues and fiery hands to preach in all Languages and to pen from Gods mouth his holy word and Pleasure and to work real Miracles not metaphorical ones only as G. Fox said at Providence the Quakers did that is open the eyes of the Blind by Conversion c. I added that it might please the infinite Wisdom of God to send higher Pretenders to Apostleship then the Quakers who should speak all Tongues doe Miracles But as Gods Servants had a Rule Isa. 8. the written Law and Testimony and were not to believe their Dreames though they came to pass Deut. 13. So have Gods Servants now viz. The Doctrine of Christ Iesus both concerning Faith and Order and to strive earnestly for the Faith once delivered The Pope like Baalam sayes he is the Mouth of God whome he blesseth they are blessed and whom he curseth c. therefore sendeth he his Curses like Thunderbolts yea among Kings Kingdomes in other Nations and our own as K. Henery 8th K. Edward 6th Queen Elizabeth experimented c. and is there any People bearing the name Christian so like the pope their Father as these whose Mouth saith David is full of Cursing and Bitterness like Floods out of the Dragons Mouth and fire-brands arrowes and Death crying out against the most Humble and Con 168 scientious Cain Saul Iudas Viper Serpent Reprobate Dragon Devil yea one of their Shee-Apostles Devil Devil Devil all at once to one that opposed her amongst us and such foul stinking exprefsions like the Quakers in London about the Dung of Mankinde that modesty especially the bashfulness and modesty of Women would have been far from A seventh is that great point of horrible Pride in both Pope Quakers exalting the Dung and Dirt of their own Qualifications Excellencies Graces Labours Fastings Satisfactions Believings Suffering as a price and satisfaction to Gods Justice
The word Effects The Papists and Quakers call the holy Script a dead Letter The power of Writing in all Affairs Josh. Miller The Quakers notorious Covenant-Breakers Means of Salvation A Union between the Meritorious Cause and means and the Instrumental and Efficient or worker Hosanna to the Son of David The more sure Word of Prophesie Gods speaking by his Prophets is his Word The madness of leaving the Scriptures and turning to a Spirit within The workings of Satan by Spirits and Inspirations in all Ages The Devil and the Quakers alleadging Scriptures No Light in the bold pretenders to so much the Quakers The pure Scripture filthily abused Pag 14 Henoch Howet By the Weapon of the Scripture only Christ Conquered the Devil The Scripture mosh fit and proper Weapon against the De. The Devil a Fox too Crafty for all the Foxians Francis Duke The Quakers Rieiculous for and in their Tautologies The Quakers mad Fancies as to Christ and the Scripture The Humanity of Christ. Pag 16. John Timson The holy Scriptures the Rule 〈◊〉 leading of the Spir it Gods Spirit given by means The fifth Position The danger of being deceived Depths of Hipocriâ—y 1 In the copy in possession of Brown his autograph across the outside edge of University Roger Williams has placed this page Lies in Hipocrisie Two sorts of Soul Deceivers The Quakers of late have Changed much of their Spirit or else more notoriously Equivocators The Jugling of the Quakers about Christ. About the Church and Ordinances Inward and outward Preachers As to the Scriptures G Fox his last Book Exalting the Heathen As to Magistrates Pag 170 John Stallam The Quakers Principles are for Persecution The Quakers Zealous Persecutors Yet will not own it The Quakers Perfection and yet in Measure Pag. 221. Hosanna to the Son nf David The Old Romans with their Dii Minores or lesser Gods and the Papists and Quakers all one The Perfection of the Godhead The Quakers Fallacious Perfection Hosanna to the Son of David G Fox his Falla-Presence of Christ Visible and Natural or Miraculous and Supernatural Eating of Christ. Christ Head of the Church His Bodily presence The Quakers Count all Gods Children Apostates G Fox his Juglings and dreams about the person of Christ An Apostrophe or Peâ—tion to the Lord Jesus 259 James Brown Christs Kingdom in or among the Pharisees Horrible and hipocritical Chistianity A Monstrous King and Kingdome of the Quakers Abominable lyes in hipocrisie The Pharisees and Quakers hipocrisie wonderful The sixth Position The Heresie of the Quakers Heresy what The Quakers Hereticks against all the Christian Principles and more Heretical against the first Christian Religion then any Protestauts or Papists The Quakers Heresy in matter of Repeutance This 24th of Luke I earnekly Insisted on The Papists and Quakers Repentance The Quakers Converts The Protestants true Repentance The Quakets despiling And Revili others Their Covetousness A sowre Spirit is the Common Spirit of the Quakers The Quakers False Faith G Fox his horrible Confounding of Faith and all other Chistian Virtues and Graces together True Faiah what it is The Quakers Transubstatiarion worse then the Fantastick Tranâ—ubstantiation of the Pepists John Burnet his Sermon And my Answer The Quakers and the Papists general Faith and Repentance The Juglings of the Papists and Quakers The Hope peace and Joy of the Quakers Christ the Hope of Glory 1 Interline it is after world R. W. Ms. Ann. The Simplicity as well as Impiety of the Quakers Hope Humpry Norton his Hope The Quakers Hope of life to come The Quakers bait by which Satan takes them John Bunyan The new Birth of the Quakers The true and false new Birth 1 Interline is after preached R. W. Ms. Ann. The Quakers put out the Eyes of their own Experience Pag 44. George Willington The Quakers meer Jewish and Popish The doleful state of all men till mercy not justice pitty them Pag 47 Joseph Miller The Quakers Justificatson within us Fox his Babilonish tumbling of all in a Croud and Heap together Justification opened The Quakers Popish Justification by works The Papists and Quakers see no need of Christ. The Papists and Quakers know not the difference between the two Covenants Fox his playing with the word Justification The last of the seven Positions at Newport The Quaker Religion pieced up â— many old Heresies Of Natures its Impurity The Papists righter then the Quakers The power of Natuâ—e in Spirituals The way of Conversion both of the Papists and the Quakers The way of the trâ—e Protestants Acts 17. Rom. 9. 2. Falling from Grace The true Protestants Doctrine as to Falling away The Papists and Quakers agree against the holy Scripture The Papists and Quakers Enmity against the Hebrew aâ—d Greek The Papists and Quakers Judge of Scripture Interpretation of Scripture The Papists and Quakers slighting holy Scripture The Papists and Quakers would be rid of the Scripture The Papists and Quakers unite against the Blood of the Lord Jesus The Infallibility of Papists and Quakers The Quakers Popish Perfection The Popish Revelations of the Quakers Popists and Quakers one in Ceremonies and Inventions The Quakers and Papists agree that that hge Pope is not Anti-Christ The Quakers not owning freely their Names The Quakers and Popish Monks and Munns all one The Papists and Qâ—akers Cursing The Persecuting Spirit of the Papists and Quakers The Quakers Tongue and hand The Quakers Oneness with the Arminians The Quakers and Socinians Oneness Christ Jesus but a Fancy with the Quakers The Sabellians and Quakers all one The Quakers Judaisme The Quakers Traditious and Ceremonies Dumb Worship Either none or Immodest Salutations The Quakers disrespect to aâ—l Superiours The Qukers against Musick Fantastical singing Carving painting Ornaments The Conclusion of the Conference at Newport The quickest and last turn about where Christ is An Unexpected yet Seasonable and true Testimony from Elizabeth Williams The Conference at Providenceâ— Passages about Reading the former Recited Letter Thomas Olny About a strange Query put to my Autagonist by Captain Green A Moderator motioned The first of the Positions debated at Providence Alexander Ross G Fox his Non-Senâ—e Quakers blasphemous opinion about Goa and the Sovl About Gods Breath The Quakers Gross conceit of soul body Their high blasphemyes Pag. 89. Magnus Bine About the fulness of the God head Unreasonable Reasoning The great temptation of knowing and holy People The Quakers make themselvs God and Christ. Magnus Bine The Soul of man infinite The Quakers are the old Manicheans 1 Change no to in R. W. Ms. Ann. Municheus his 2 Principles The infinite patience of God The Quakers obstinate in horrible fancies Blasphemies Daniel Caudry The Quakers challenge an equality with God The Quakess make themselves Faâ—her Son Holy Spirit Christ. Wade H. Nortou more plain then G F. Fergison G F against the mystery of Father Son and Spirit The Quak blasphemyes as to the most holy Spirit Tee Quakâ—rs Chaos babel
favour of my Positions any might freely speak against them they sat in the midst of the Governour Magistrates of their Opinion and the whole Assembly of their way W. Edmundson though I. Stubs twice said in publick that I had not inter-interrupted them yet W. Edmundson would frequently and insolently interrupt me so that I was not only forced to bear patiently through Gods only help but to suppress my thoughts which here I have added in some places 8. I know that a great weight of your Opinions and Actings lye upon your believing your selves guided by the immediate Spirit of God but I believe that I have proved that it is no more the holy Spirit of God that speaks and acts in you then it was the true Samuel that spake such heavenly words in the appearance of Sam. Mantle amongst a cloud of other witnesses you shall never perswade Souls not bewitched that the holy spirit of God would perswade your Women and Maidens to appear in publick streets assemblies stark naked c. of which I have spoke more particularly in our disputations 9. It is hard to perswade a Fox or a Wolf that he is so c. or that he doth Rob or Steal or Murther it is hard to perswade a man while he dreams that he is in a Dream yea though he be a filthy Dreamer as Gods Spirit speaks In our Dreams we believe lyes and impossibilities to be true as that we are many thousand miles of that we talk with dead men c. that we are at Marriages or Burials and are Kings and Queens c. 10. All that I can hope for without Gods wonderfull mercy is to give my Testimony in my generation for as Solomon speaks of the Whore few or none of you return Yet I know Gods foundation is sure he knows who are his amongst you as amongst other perswasions I have proved and will prove if God please that spiritual Pride that is Pride about spiritual matters is the Root and Branch of your whole Religion and that the King Eternal who did cast out proud Angels out of his Palace will hardly open his Gates to proud and scornful Dust and Ashes Providence March 10. 1672 3 so called I am one of your best Friends R. W. To those many Learned and Pious Men whom G. Fox hath so sillily and scornfully answered in his Book in Folio Especially to those whose Names I have been bold to mention in the Narrativt and Apendix Mr Richard Baxter Mr Iohn Owen c. Sirs THrough your sides the Devil by the Clawes of this wily Fox hath tore at the heart of the Son of God it is no wonder then if he tear at the Heart of his Love-Letters and Institutions and the true Professors of his name who are innumerable in Abrahams Bosome and the rest travelling uprightly thither For Brevity sake I was forced to omit many excellent Passages selected by Fox out of your Writings to select short Sentences of yours unto which he gives short Answers As to matters in Difference between yourselves and me I willingly omitted them as knowing that many able and honest Sea-men in their Observations of this Sun one picture of Christ Iesus differ sometimes in their Reckonings though uprightly aiming at and bound for one Port and Harbour Eternally praised be the Father of Lights and mercyes that we are one in that most glorious ever fixed Cynosura about whom his true Prophets Messengers ever have and doe and shall move and he holdeth them in his right hand I humbly beg of you 1. That you will more and more earnestly candidly and christianly study the things that differ without reflecting upon Credit Maintenance Liberty and Life it self remembring who it was that said it He that loves his life shall lose it 2. More and more to study the Prophesies and the Signs of the Times You know when it was that sive Bishops twenty-two Ministers almost three hunared other precious Believers in the true Lord Iesus were sacrificed in the Flames for his ever blessed sake against that monstrous Man of Sin and bloudy Whore of Rome These Foxians fancy is but a feather to to those high Pico's and Tenariffs the Pope and Mahomet whom some of you may live to see flung into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone Were it not that the infinite Compassions of Heaven had made our gracious Sovereign the Breath of our Nostrills the fiery Fornace had certainly burnt seven times hotter against Hananiah Mishael and Azariah Surely as for Conscience sake we ought to obey so sor Conscience sake we ought to be Instant and Constant at the throne of Grace for his Royal Preservation and Salvation Prov. March 10 1672 3. I am unworthy to be yours R. W. A Narration of A CONFERENCE OR DISPUTE This last August 1672 so called in the Colony of Rode-Iland and Providence Plantations in N. ENGLAND between Roger Williams of Providence who Challenged Fox by writing which followes and all his Friends then met on Rode-Iland and G. Fox withdrawing Iohn Stubs Iohn Burniat and William Edmundon three of their ablest Apostles on the other that is on the pretended Quakers Party HAving long heard of the great name of G. Fox a man cried up by the People called Quakers and having read his book in Folio some years since against as I think above six score Books and Papers written by pious and able pens against them and now this Summer hearing of his coming into these Parts of N England and the poor cheated Souls the Quakers with joy expecting his coming as the coming of an Angel of light from Heaven I read over his Book afresh as in the holy presence and eye of God with a single Eye and Heart and more clearly finding his Answers so weak and silly so Anti-Christian and Blasphemous and yet so Imperious and Scornfull so Cursing and Censorious 2 Damning and Reprobating all that bow not down to their new Upstart Image my Spirit rose up within me and I believe the holy Spirit of God in answer to my poor Petitions and Meditations resolved and quickened my Spirit to the present Undertake and Service And therefore for his most holy Names sake and the name of his most holy only begotten the true Lord Iesus the God-Man and Mediator c And for the honour of the most holy Spirit of God so horribly torn in pieces by this foul Spirit of the Quakers For the vindicating of many of the precious Truths of the old Christian purity and for the sake of so many precious Souls lying slain and bleeding before me I made this Offer following to G. Fox and any or all his Followers or Associates then together at New-port on Rode-Iland T is true G. Fox was at Providence some few dayes before and spake publickly and it was free for me publickly to have heard him and opposed him But going the last year to one of their general Assemblyes at New-Port
Ministeryes or Offices 3. Operations Works or Successes all wrought in the Saints by the holy Spirit for the Glory of the same Father Lord and Spirit the mutual comfort and edifing of the Saints yea and for the Convicting and drawing of other poor Sinners out of the World to God The Lord mercifully awaken your Souls to the Love of God and the Love of his holy Truth for the not beleiving of which but the profane playing with it the most high and righteous Judge of the whole world in a way of Iudicial Sentence delivers up poor Souls to believe Lyes and that so strongly as to give their bodyes to be burned for them The Papists catch hold upon a Letter This is my body You as simply as doe the Generalists catch hold upon the Letter All every man that comes into the world .c. whereas the Scope and Connection in all writings and in all matters in the world are rationally to be minded The Sence and Meaning is in all Speech and Writing in our own and other Languages the very Speech or Writing it self These Words All and every one in our own and other Tongues 9 are often used figuratively it is so all the Scripture over and thrice in one verse Colloss 1. 28. where Reason cannot imagine that Paul did literally and individually admonish every man teach every man and present every man that comes into the world perfect in Christ Jesus which could not cannot possibly be true without another Sence and Exposition then the words literally hold out 4 Again you are dangerously bold to say that you write from the Spirit of Truth wherein you Father these your childish Irrationalityes your profaning of the holy Majesty of God his holy Scriptures and writings and your rash Judging and Examining of others upon the holy Spirit of God But I do humbly hope to evince that the Spirit you boast of is so far from the Spirit of God that it falls beneath the foot of a sober and well grounded Humanity At present I only Instance in that whorish and monstrous act of your Women and Maidens stripping themselves stark naked by your Spirit and with a face of brass coming into the open streets and publick Congregations of Men and Youths This Spirit though defended by G. Fox and others is such a piece of unnaturall and bruitish Impudence that I cannot hear of the like amongst Jews or Gentiles yea not amongst the most Savage Base and Barbarous of them all all Circumstances considered 5. In the last place I observe your Fickleness and Inconstancy what and how often have I heard you speak of the Chief of the Quakers now at Newport How lately and how much have you uttered of John Crosman his Cross and froward spirit even since he pretended the Spirit yea how inhumane and injurious to your self in the way of his Calling now all on a sudden for I heard but little untill I saw your Lines you are got up into the lofty Chair of Judging and ready to say God I thank thee I am not as this Publican I beseech the Lord to make you savingly to remember that Word God resisteth that is sets himself in Hostility against the Proud but he giveth Grace unto the Lowly so prayes your old unworthy Friend R. W. Providence 18th 5th 72. I had hoped that I had Conjur'd down at least for the present that Waspish spirit but he flyes out against me within a few dayes in this second Letter following 10 Providence 23. 5. 75. ANcient Friend and Acquaintance I read thy Note four dayes after the subscribing it that so thy Councellors might throughly be informed of thy continued Zeal in a dangerous Case What I write to thee in Love hath a contrary effect in thy Spirit being so prejudiced against us according to the Proverb Nothing is well spoken that is not well taken Upon Discourse thou didst say the Quakers could not be believed on their Words or Writings having a secret Reservation within them which gives me to conclude that wee are Iudged before wee Speak For my charging upon thee Slanders and Lyes Examine but thy Positions which will make manifest what I say As for the Terror which thou speakest of c. I leave it to thee to consider what thou art about least thou be called to Account for it before thou art ready As for charging me with Irrationality for not alleadging Scripture for what I write yet I alleadged three Scriptures one of which thou wrestest adding what I wrote not so that if I had urged more I should have had the like Catching But we both must come to give an Account of what is done in the Body In this my Letter thou mayest see my witnessing against most of thy Slanderous Propositions Concerning the Spirits manifestations 1 Cor. 12. 13. I freely consent that they were the Saints by Calling who are there Considered As thou alleadgest the Papists Catch at a word This is my body so we catch at a word All and misapply Scripture so that I perceive thou hast not a Guide to thy mind but utterest thine own Conceivings John 3. 16. The Promise is to them that Believe and not to All. Again Thou findest fault with my rash judging thee and abusing Scripture Take it to thy self for the word Damning thou foistest in thy self neither dare I pass Sentence of Damnation upon any For Iudgment belongeth to the Lord and we must stand or fall to our own Master As for my Fickleness and Inconstancy Lay thy hand upon thy mouth and Consider thy Windings and Turnings in thy Iudgment and Practice how thankfull thou wast to J. Burnet whome thou highly commendest after thou camest home and now reproachest the Truth which then thou assentest to and in thy 14 Positions thou hintest by thy wicked Surmises what the sudden spirit of the Quakers is to take away the Lives of Kings .c. but I told thee in my first Letter thou art a stranger to that holy Spirit we act by But further thy Malice appeareth in going to one thou saidst that 11 if the spirit of the Governour were to cut of his head he must doe it Call to mind what thou didst to thy peaceable Neighbours seeking their Blood crying out Treason when the Court discerned thy Blood-thirsty spirit which thy friends at Newport were ashamed of and thy Accusations proved Invalid How childish didst thou act to swear against One when another told thee of somewhat spoken to allay thy fury against William Harris Call to mind thy Books written and see thy Fickleness wanting a Guid to thy mind being for and against Persecution Thou chargest me to have gotten into the Chair of Iudging thy two Scripts I return upon thy self Physitian heal thy self The Wisdom of man puffeth up but the Wisdom of God humbleth that God may be all in all I desire thee to look back to thy Lines and where thou mentionest the Satisfaction of infinite
us Did not W. Harris when in place more than justifie us by judging himself bound to hurry your self and about twenty more to Newport to answer for Contempt of the Kings Authority though but in an accidentall peaceable and by his Covetous violence occasioned Meeting Was not Mr Clark though favourable to W. H. so amazed at W. Harris his desperate Presumptions that he readily acted with us in Examination and Commitment Yea did not W. Harris upon the point Confess that we could not but Commit him and therefore provided beforehand his Bedding and other Conveniences for a Prison 8. It is not true that either in Word or Writing I cryed out Treason against him But it is notoriously known that he and his Complices lay in Wait and at Catch at every word as Foxes and Lyons for Mr Greens Blood and mine as Traitors against King Charles for our pleading the Colonyes proceeding against W Harris in the time of the Parliament and Oliver Cromwell Oh Friend whither will thy poor Soul next be hurried Is not the Gap and Gate now left open for W. Harris or any man to Dispute openly against the Kings Prerogative and tell him that he knowes not nor his Councill nor Iudges the Laws that he cannot dispence with penall Laws on the Consciences of his Subjects Papists or Protestants at Home or Abroad But see the Finger of the most High the Kings Majesty as if he knew all our proceedings against W. Harris his presumptions debasing the Kings Power and Prerogative in the present juncture of these Affairs sent forth his Royall Declaration to the World asserting his Supream Power and Authority in such matters and by virtue of many Statutes and Acts of Parliament 9. In the last place that your self and others may admire your new spirit how much and how often and how long hath your own Mouth and Hand and Capt. Fenner and diverse with you declared and remonstranced to the Generall Assembly against W. Harris which Assembly therefore fined him and outed him as the restless Fire-brand of Town and Colony and who hath with all his power now kindled and blown this Fire between 15 Conecticut Colony and our selves Yet now in your and the Quakers bosom must W. Harris be hug'd as an innocent and peaceable Soul and the Kings faithfull Officers reproached and threatned as Blood-thirsty and cruel Oppressors 10. You bid me mind my Books and my being for and against Persecution But through Gods mercy I can look at them with humble Thanksgiving and peace without any recoiling thought to Persecution as you falsly intimate from them 11. As to G. Fox his Armour Sword and Cuttings with which you threaten me I desire to think as low of my self .c. as you or G. Fox can think high of himself It is infinite mercy that I live and as a Living Dog may wait for Crums of mercy clearly to See dearly to Love uprightly to Follow and constantly to Maintain the eternall Crown and Glory of the true Lord Iesus Christ and his most holy Spirit and Scriptures with whose gracious Assistanee I hope to prove that the Quakers spirit and Christ have no Communion Roger Williams THe Ingenious and upright Reader might now well suppose that the Contest were over but it is not the Light of Truth or Reason or Scripture or Experience or the Testimony of the Prudent or their own Consciences that will satisfie this white Devill of this pretended Light and Spirit within them and therefore must I crave the Readers Patience while I produce I. T. his third and last Letter to me and my Answer to it Neighbour COncerning the mistaking the Date of my Letter as thou writest which could not be seing I sent it thee the same day I writ it but thine I heard of it some dayes before I received it As for my passing over many particulars which did not concern the matter in handling I willingly omitted them discerning thy subtil spirit in no respect answering by scripture or reason my loving Admonitions to thee But in thine own words is it not bruitish irrationall childish to affirm we are worse then Barbarians which thy sordid Positions do hold forth How childish yea how foolish dost thou shew thy self in thy first Position for G. Fox to prove what he and all friends disown and in scorn thou callest Quakers And in thy 12th Position dost affirm That our Sufferings are no Evidence of the truth of our Religion Thou mightest have spar'd thy paines in bringing 16 forth this Brat which is of thine owne begetting But we are sure it is an Evidence against thee all other of thy Spirit which persecute that they have drunk deep of the Cup of Fornication upon whom the Violls of Gods wrath are powred forth in spirituall Fornications How darest thou find fault with me in not alleadging scripture nor reason in declaring against thy impious Charges mentioned in thy railing impious positions Would'st thou have me to take the matter in hand which thou challengest G. Fox to answer to give like a fool scripture reason for what thou assignest another to doe Oh what Serpent-like spirit dost thou act by that dost not own my plain dealing with thee in owning the scripture wrestest foistest in as I meant not nor writ If thy spirit were reall as before men thy words seem to import thou wouldest not then shew a smiling Countenance when War is in thine heart in witnessing against thy Neighbours secretly against that Golden rule Doe as thou would'st be done by Thou countest it open violence for a Woman to speak in the Church but if thou knewest what Woman that should not speake thou would'st have spared me these lines writing have eased thy selfe of thy great struglings strivings within thee to bring forth on Abortive Thou chargest me in making a great Out-cry against thy Blood-thirsty spirit concerning W. Harris as though thou didest at no time cry out Treoson Treason Answ. how dost thou shift of as one that is guilty and dare not mention the case I writ upon shufling it to be his last imprisonment which I know not the ground of but as I had it related by thee But the Circumstances considered it cannot possibly be paraleld as my Letter declareth with this last Case of W. Harris First thy taking Oath against my wife upon an other mans word on purpose to allay thy furious spirit against W. Harris he not thinking thou wouldest have prosecuted against her as also against sixteen of thy peaceable neighbours Can thou deny that at that Court thou cryed not out Treason Treason making all as guilty as W. Harris Thou sayest I bid thee mind thy Book written against Persecution and yet thy self a Persecutor of thy peaceable Neighbours even unto death Answ. How canst thou in peace through the God of peace as thou sayest look upon thy wicked Travels to murther the Innocent as thou didest at Newport crying out Treason
being President Also what I have spoken against W. Harris touching his firing the Town and Colony I thought so and therefore contended against him but I never sought his life note that R. W. Thou sayst 17 thou art not conscious of any recoyling in thy spirit so much as in a thought Here thou manifest's an impious spirit that seekes to murther the Innocent what Fury possesseth thee to talk of the God of peace yet retainest a murtherous mind not having repented of thy wickednesse how is thy heart hardned in seeking the lives of such as thou thy self hast confest to be the Children of God Oh murtherous man that hath not any Remorse for thy long-liv'd Wickedness I am sorry for thee though thou slight all my writings counsells take all in the worst sence yet I beseech thee to consider thy latter end my desire for thee is that the Lord would awaken thy Soul give thee Repentance unto life In the last place thou writest how highly I esteem of G. Fox and thou desirest to think as low of thy self How will this agree with thy boasting of great Education great Experiences great struglings and strivings within to bring out thy Positions and Conclusions which all my loving Testimonyes against as issuing from a diabolicall spirit did no more take place with then a Feather against a Rock Call to mind the preaching of Jonas to Ninive yet forty dayes and Ninive shall be destroyed a short speech yet they repented and the Lord pardoned And so I desire thou mayest repent and find mercy with the God of mercy Thy Neighbour I. T. THus Reader it pleased the Infinite Wisdom of the most holy and only Wise to pierce through my heart with the thrusts and stabs of a of a foul-mouth'd slanderous spirit by the hands of long professed friends and lovers yet pretending the name of God and of Scripture as wel as my self How doth it behoove us then to make sure that we can in truth say as Ieremiah Lam. 3. Thou art my portion saith my Soul O Lord Thou and none else Thou alone without Health Strength Beauty Honour Lands Goods Friends .c. How should we make sure that with Thomas we may say unto the Lord Jesus my Lord and my God for whose sake we ought joyfully to bear what false Christs false spirits and their Souldiers can dart from Earth or Hell against us My Answer was as followeth MY ancient Friend it pleaseth the most High to give to all mankind his Children also and them especially many bitter Cups and that oftentimes by the hands of dear friends and 18 dear Relations that we might fall more in love with himself then ever who isinfinitely more sweet and even Holiness and Power and Wisdom and Love it self Your Lines in this your third Fury against me being full of Bitterness in themselves are more bitter to my Spirit upon diverse accounts But the most High and only Wise will have it so and your judgment and Conscience and mine will have it so yet that will not acquit us we both say we must come to another Barr and there stand or fall eternally In this First You tell me you willingly omitted the Particulars I mentioned as not concerning the matters in handling I am not of your mind it is an Easie yet a Suspicious way of answering and implyes not only unwillingness but a willing Ignorance and Guilt also For is it not concerning the matter in hand especially when so personally provoked to vindicate our selves and friends our Teachers and Apostles our Spirits and Religion also 2. Next you blame my subtle spirit for not answering by Scripture or Reason your loving Admonitions I gave you my Reason shewing how simple it was for you to give fire upon me and tell me my Paper was Scurrilous full fraught with impudent Lyes and Slanders and yet give me not one Scripture nor Reason to prove any of them to be so 2. I shewed you how irrationall it was for you to think that I should so suddenly renounce my understanding and Conscience and Positions upon the sudden sound of your Outcry Repent Repent 3. You tell me it is childish bruitish and irrationall to say that you are worse then Barbarians Answ. I said not so in generall you and all the world ought to abhor the particular case viz. the stripping Naked of your Women and Maidens a case worse then Savage and Barbarous only practised by the Bruites and sometimes by Indians and Whores in their drink when all Modesty and Reason is overwhelmed with more then common Drunkenness Who can but abhor to think of such whorish and monstrous Immodesty such an hellish Incentive to filthy Lusts and that under the most holy name of the Spirit of God 4. As to my first Position you now tell me that it is childish and foolish for G. Fox to prove I suppose you mean for me to desire G. Fox to prove what he and all friends disown and thou in scorn callest Quakers Answ. I know the Quakers say 19 that name is given them in scorn and yet we also know it it hath its denomination from those great bodily Shakings which have been believed to have come in mightily upon them by the power of Devillish spirits for many Reasons of which afterward However G. Fox in 370th page of his Book in Folio writes thus in the title of each page The Quakers answer The Quakers Answer I know what may be said and I know may be said and justly to that excuse and what shall be said in the Dispute following 5. As to my 12th Position of Suffering of the Quakers and you say it is a Brat of mine own and that is an evidence against me and all os my Persecuting Spirit Answ. I shall by Gods assistance prove that you doe make it an Evidence of your Religion and then it must be your one Brat and Bastard As to my persecuting spirit the most High hath been a holy witness to my Travels and losses and hazards and other sufferings in my vindicating and procuring Soul-liberty and I humbly hope in his mercy he will preserve me from being like many Quakers fouly fallen from their former Christan Religion 6. You say How darest thou blame me for not giving Scripture or Reason against thy railing and impious Positions when thou challengest and assignest another to doe it G. Fox .c. Answ. I only blamed I. T. for being so fierce and furious so hot and hasty in crying out a scurrilous Paper fraught with lyes and impudent slanders and yet gave me not one Scripture or Reason against any one of them common Modesty and humane Sobriety would have taught a little Patience till G. Fox had answered or untill you had answered something of Scripture or Reason your self 7. Nextly you tell me of my Serpent-like spirit in witnessing against my neighbour secretly To which I lay before the most High I
no other Presence or Absence of a Christ but invisible and Spiritual and subtilly affirms that Christ Iesus hath no bodily Presence at all in the sence which all Christians of what sort or Sect soever but these Iuglers and themselves also in word and horrible hypocrisie do acknowledg and profess In Page 10 He brings in the same Author saying Christ was not in his Disciples when he said I am the Light of the world G Fox answers And so corrected by Christ I in you and you in me Pag. 12. He brings in the same Author saying The Body of Christ is out of the sight of all his Saints G. Fox Answers they sat with Christ in Heavenly places the Saints are Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone were the Church which he is head of his Body In which I Answer and all his Book over though he own a Christ without and that died at Ierusalem in word yet he allows in effect no other Body to Christ Iesus but what is Mistical and Spiritual so that with notorious Iugling and Iesuitical Impudence they would make their simple Followers believe that they own such a Christ as shed his Blood at Ierusalem and yet leave him in his Body no more Blood to shed then is in a Spirit which hath no Bones Flesh nor Blood to shed at all Pag. 17. He brings in Enoch Howet Affirming That it is Blasphemy to say that Christ is in Man as God Man G. Fox Answers still like the Cuckow in one silly Note How are they of his Flesh and of his Bones And doth not the Scripture say Christ in you and God will dwell in you and walk in you and are not his Saints of his Flesh and of his Bones and there is one sentence added are they not partakers of the Divine Nature I Reply this Participation of the Divine Nature is saith Peter in the Saints by those precious Promises that is by receiving Christ Jesus by believing in him according to that Ephes. 3. 10. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Believing not that the Divine Being or Essence and Nature or Godhead is communicable to a finite Creature from hence these proud Simpletons fancie and some have been such bold Bayards as to say they are Christ and God as much as he that died at Ierusalem Christed with Christ and Godded with God 51 It is remarkable that Nicholas the Deacon was the Father as I believed of the old Nicholaitans and Henery Nichols in King Iames his time the Father of the new Nicholaitans in London and other places crying up their perfection their Spirituality and Godhead all leading from the purity of Gods Worship and Authority of the Holy Scripture and at last to carnal Filthiness as the Daughters of these the Ranters declare evidently This Humane Nature humane Soul and Body of Christ Jesus is so cross opposite and contrary to their new whimsical Christ Jesus the Light within them that G. Fox in all this Book cannot endure to hear of the word Humane as being a new Name and never heard of in the Scriptures As to the word Humane such an odious Word and Bugbear to G. Fox in all this Book I said in publick many Words truely and properly English were well and commendably used that were not in the Scripture in English it is true the word Humane comes from the word in Latin Humanus signifying partaining or belonging to Man so a Humane Soul or Body is no more but such a Soul or Body as all Mankinde have Hence I told them that the word Anthropinos peirasmos 1. Cor. 10. I presumed Iohn Stubs knew might have been turned Humane but is truely turned no Temptation or Trial but such as is common to Men. This Fox knows that if Christ Jesus be granted to have had such a Soul and Body as is Humane or Common to Men down falls their Dagon before the Chest or Ark of God viz. their Horrible Monstrous Idol of a Christ called Light within them We went on thus in alleadging Quotations though not in a close Examination of them which they endured not though ever and anon I made some sallies out upon them and had some Skirmishings and sometimes sharp Disputes before I would retreat from the Quotation In Pag. 282. He brings in Daniel Gaudry saying We shall not see Christ as he is until he comes to Iudgement and then and not before we shall see him G. Fox Answers You where you are see him not nor know him as he is we do believe you but the Saints the true Church whom he is the Head of in whom he is in the midst and in whom he is c. I was not desirous to trouble the Audience with more Quotations but they still urged haste thou any more hast thou any more c. upon their provocation I Quoted many more to 52 make up an overwhelming Cloud of Witnesses against these Protestant Iesuites and Iudasites Betrayers of the Son of God the true Lord Jesus Christ. In Foxes Answer to his Opposite Daniel Caudry it is clear that he affirms the contrary to his Opposite to wit that Christ Jesus is as much now seen visibly as ever he shall be seen in which I believe he speaks the heart of all the Antichristian Wolves and Foxes who quake and tremble at the thought of Christs return again to judgment and therefore these deluded and deluding Souls in their dark Prisons of willing Blindness and the hellish Chaines of the pride and hardness and security of their hearts they dream they sit in Robes of Glory themselves now keep open the high Court of eternal Iudgment and pass Sentence upon this Christ without as a poor Outside Christ and all that worship him 2. I observe in Fox his answer that he can not keep out of his Burrow of confounding a visible eye and a Spiritual a visible and invisible seing you see him not saith he where you are that is you that look upon such a real person indeed such an one born living and dying as the History sets forth you cannot see him as he is but we that look at Christ Iesus and the history of him as Mystical immediate invisible though we use to please you children and fools with the words of Christ dying at Ierusalem we see him he is in the midest of us and he is the invisible Head of the Church in God while you talk of Visibles and seing him as Visible c. In Page 276. he brings in Richard Meyo saying that he did believe in a Christ that dyed at Ierusalem and that he doth not believe in a Christ within and preach Christ within is a Reprobate Colloss 2. 2. Cor. 13. And he is not in a true Belief of Christ without that doth not believe in a Christ within but is in the Devils Belief and believes as the Devils do In this his answer an
Interruption as he twice openly confest that I had not interrupted them but when he had finished his Sermon and I had gained a little calm and liberty of Speech immediately before I could finish one Sentence that Pragmatical and Insulting Soul W. Edmundson stopt and Interrupted me so that I openly complained of incivility and inhumanity that hearing patiently their two Sermons they were set down and common Reason said that it was my turn to speak and every body desired what Answer I could frame to hear it that then I should be disturbed and stopt was no way befitting the Societies of Civil and Morral men I then Answered that those very Sermons or Orations which they had now made to the People were so far beneath the merit of an Answer to them that they ministred and afforded to me a mighty and invincible Argument that the Spirit of God 64 was not the Author of them For we all knew that the Spirit of God was most purely Rational and a Spirit of pure Order and did not prompt or move men to break Hedges and leap over one Ordinance into another We were engaged in a mutual Conference and Disputation we were in the midst of it how came we then to fall into Popular Orations and Sermons is it comely when persons are Disputing to fall upon our knees and Answer an Argument with a Prayer as it is a frequent practice with the Quakers is it proper to break off Prayer and fall to disputing or out of Disputation into Preaching But I said my Opposites Spirit was far from the Holy Spirit of God and his movings are far from the Motions with which my Antagonists were acted for they had neither power to keep civil Order nor to be patient for not being able to answer nor bear my words W. Edmundson said expresly what should we sit here and suffer him to vent his Blasphemies and Lies he hath kept us here two dayes and have proved nothing c. I took a little boldness and told them that if Paul himself were present or Iesus Christ himself in their bodily presence which they confessed he died in at Ierusalem yet they would say unto them even unto Christ himself thou hast falsely charged but thou hast proved nothing Paul himself should be an Enemy and Jesus Christ should be a Blasphemer and a Beelzebub because he brought glad news of the Truth from Heaven to them I further said that I had more to offer in the name and in the cause of the true Lord Jesus Christ and after I had got liberty of speech I said that as they which denied the person of the true Lord Jesus denied the true Lord Iesus himself so they which denied the Offices which God the Father had invested him with and designed him to fulfil the denied the true Lord Iesus Christ. They demanded of me wherein they denied the offices of Christ Iesus I Answered I had many things to declare in which they denied the Offices of Christ Iesus as well as the Papists for which we seperated from them as Antichristans not holding the Head the true Lord Jesus the Sacrifice and Sacrificer the only Prophet Apostle and Messenger bringing in the last times the last Dispensation and Will of his Father contrary to the Papists who set up some of them the Pope and some of them the general counsel above the Lord Jesus declaring his mind in the Holy Scriptures and con 65 trary to the Quakers who set up a voice or motion within them over topping and over pouring the voice of Christ Jesus in the Scriptures some of them maintaining that this Light within them is that great Prophet that was to come which Moses Prophesied of Deut. 18. I said I would contract my thoughts and speak at present only a little of his Kingly power and Office and I plainly denounced that they were all notoriously guilty of High Treason against the King of Kings the Lord Jesus yea as far as in them lay they robd him of his Crown and Life and All. In particular I told them I had abundant proof there ready to bring forth from G. Foxes Book that he and his Associates denied yea all of them that visible Kingdome and Church and Institutions which he as King over all his Subjects hath Sovereign Right unto and most faithfully and wisely ordained to continue until his coming again I told them that G. Fox his Book and all their Books and Professions denied any visible Church of Christ at all and though they maintained and kept up Congregations of pretended Christan Worships and Worshippers in a direct contradiction unto their own Tenents yet they maintained the Church was in God and so not visible the Officers of the Church were invisible and immediately made by the immediate and invisible Spirit The Baptisme was within and only the Baptisme of the Spirit and of Fire The Lords Supper appointed by the Lord Jesus to be a Spiritual Feast remembring him until his coming was with them nothing else but Spiritual joy which they have one in and with another which they have by the second coming of the Lord Jesus to them who they said was come again to the Apostles the second time and unto themselves also Upon this as I remember there fell out some words between my Opposites and some of the people called Baptists But some of them especially Iohn Stubs demanded of me why I thus charged them and was my self so guilty not living in Church Ordinances my self I Answered that it was one thing to be in Arms against the King of Kings and his visible Kingdome and Administration of it to turn off all to Notions and Fancies of an invisible Kingdome and invisible Officers and Worships as the Quakers did Another 66 thing among so many pretenders to be the true Christian Army and Officers of Christ Jesus to be in doubt unto which to associate and to list our selves After all my search and examinations and considerations I said I do profess to believe that some come nearer to the first primitive Churches and the Institutions and Appointments of Christ Jesus then others as in many respects so in that gallant and heavenly and fundamental Principle of the true matter of a Christian Congregation Flock or Society viz. Actual Believers true Disciples Converts Living Stones such as can give some account how the Grace of God hath appeared unto them and wrought that Heavenly Change in them I professed that if my Soul could finde rest in joyning unto any of the Churches professing Christ Jesus now extant I would readily and gladly do it yea unto themselves whom I now opposed But Thirdly Not finding rest they themselves knew there is a Time of purity and Primitive Sincerity there is a time of Transgression Apostacy there is a time of the coming out of the Babilonian Apostacy Wilderness there is a time of many Flocks
for the spirit lead them to speak forth Scripture I Reply If among the seven things that God hates he is an Abomination that soweth Discord what is he that would Oppose and set at Odds the most holy spirit against the holy scriptures Inspired by him and in Effect declares that Gods Children are not to attend to the voice of God in these his holy Inspired writings but to a secret Voice or whispering within them Contrary to the scriptures Voice both before and since Christs coming as I have and shall further manifest 2. As to the spirits leading into all Truth and the sons of God are led by the spirit of God Is not Fox here in his Burrough not distinguishing between the Extraordinary leading of the holy Apostles Appointed to be the Eye Witnysses of Christs Death 104 and Resurrection c. and the first Messengers or Apostles to the Nations in which Respect the one Author of those three Gifts Administrations Operations 1 Cor. 12. peremptorily asks the Question Are all Apostles are all Prophets have all the Gifts of Miracles and yet all Gods Children are Regenerated are sanctifiâ—d are guided and built up an habitation of God through the Spirit and yet also the gracious presence and working of the holy Spirit may be hindred and quenched by neglecting of the holy Fuel of the holy Scriptures and other holy means appointed And therefore the Lord Jesus Commands us to pray for the Spirit and Daved cries out Thy Spirit is good lead me c. and take not thy holy Spirit from me And this is the Devils the Old Fox his Devilish Subtlety to make the Cloak of the Spirit Extraordinary Assistance and the Angels Extraordinary protection a ground of Christ Jesus and his Servants flinging themselves down from the Pinacle of the Temple and this I say from the God of Truth will be the Breack neck of the People called Quakers without Repentance every Soul of them We now descend to the proof of the fifth Position with their Consent which was their Principles and Professions are full of Contradiction and Hypocrisies I told them that they knew well that the Spirit of God had given us abundant Warning against false Gods false Worships false Christs false Spirits false Prophets He Commands us in Scripture not to believe them c. but to try them to try all things as we do with Touchstones and with Ballances yea with Fire it self For some Counterfiet Coyne hath been so like pure gold so double guilt in the middle and the Ring round about pure gold that it hath deceived the Touchstone The Devil himself as black a Fiend as he is the Spirit of Darkness yet he knows how to wear Samuels Mantle and the white Robe of an Angel of Light c. I told them it was Common for Spanish Turkish or any other Enemy in Time of Warr to hang out English Colours the more easily to deceive Catch the poor Merchant man and Iudas the Traitour gave no other signe to the Iews in his betraying of his Lord and Master the Lord Jesus but God save my Master and a Kiss 105 Most of this I Remember I spake and then I told them that Paul tels Timothy of some that should speake Lyes in Hipocrisie I told them of these there were two sorts 1 Such as knowingly for wicked and Devilish Ends of Profit or Preferment take the Leading Staff in hand as 't is more then probable that the Misleader of so many Millions of Mahumetans did and as one of the Popes in Merriment to his Cardinals Confest it saying Quantum Lucri fecimus ex hac Fabula Christi What gain have we made of this Fable of Christ Thus Iudas knowingly for his Gain sought Opportunities to betray Christ Jesus Thus the Schechemites and Millions are their Successors as they are to Nebuchadnezzars Idolaters underwent that painful and shameful Ordinance of Circumcision partly to please their Princes and partly for that hope as Schechem told them that all that Israel had should be theirs A second Sort of Soul Deceivers that are and yet know not in their Consciences that they are blind Guides or blind Followers but for not loving Truth God hath given them up to believe Lyes for Truths false Christs and Spirits for true Christs and Spirits yea and with Paul to think that they verily ought to do many things against Iesus of Nazareth yea and as the Lord Jesus Positively Foretold they shall think to do God Service to kill himself in killing his Servants I told them my Charity bid me hope that the Quakers and themselves present were not of the first but of the second sort and I prayed them to be as patient as they could while I must prove that their Principles and Professions were full of Lyes and Contradictions and of Hipocrisies and Dissimulations I wondred that my Opposites and Auditors bare all this Load so silently But at this word W. Edmundson and the rest brake out saying We regard not what thou thinkest and sayest of us nor do we need thy Charity but go on to thy proofs c. I then said that their many Books and G. Foxes that thereby me and their Professions did so exceedingly Clash one with another and some of their latter Books as Christopher Houldsworths and some of theis latter Professions and Practices were such that many of their Observes Conclude that either they had altered their Religion in many of their Principles 106 and Practices and were turned from what they formerly held and were amongst us Or else their Hipocrisies and Dissimulations were more and more prodigiously Abominable I came to Instances and told them that when they were Charged to deny that man Christ Jesus they profess and preach they are wronged for they believe in that Christ which was born of a Virgin and died at Ierusalem and yet for all this it is but in Truth a Spiritual and Mistical and Allegorical Christ which under boord and in the bottom which they hold For in New-England before G. Fox came H. Norton and others say is not Christ God and is not God a Spirit and is there not a Spiritual Virgin a Mistical Bethlehem an Heavenly Ierusalem And do not G. Fox and Ed. Burroughs all along hold out such a Christ whose Body is not now to be found and such a man as is in every Saint or Quaker and in every person in the world except he be a Reprobate Again 2. They say they hold the Christian Church the Christian Ordinances the Christian Ministry the Christian Baptisme Supper the Resurrection the Iudgement the Life Everlasting but search their Books Examine their preachings and professings and you shall see and may admire their Juglings and Dissimulations Do not Fox and Burroughs all along disclaim any Church Ministers Baptisme c. but what is Immediate and Invisible Do they really own any Supper but Christs inward
in this present world I told them that in our Native Countrey and in all civilized Countreys the civility Courteous Speech Courteous Salutation and respective Behaviour was generally practised opposite to the cariage of Barbarous Unciviliz'd People This I said was according to the command of the holy Spirit in Paul Eph 4. and in Peter 1. Pet 3. Be pitifull be Courteous c. Such a Spirit was Christ Jesus of even to his greatest Opposites and to the greatest Sinners insomuch that for his Courtesie Gentleness Sociableness with open Sinners the dogged proud and sullen Pharises counted him a Drunkard and Glutton a friend and Companion of Publicans and sinners We English were our selves at first wild and savage Britains Gods mercy had civilized us and we were now come into a wild and savage Countrey without Manners without Courtesie so that generally except you begin with a What Chear or some other Salutation you had as good meet an Horse or a Cow c. And hath not the Quaker â—pirit been such a Spirit amongst us have we not known persons formerly loving courteous c. and as soon as this Spirit hath come upon them have not our eyes seen them pass by their Familiars their Kindred 202 their Elders and Superiours and though kindly spoken to not give a Word or a Look toward them as if they were not worthy of a word or a look from such High Saints c. How like indeed have they been to the Popish Saints in a Procession they See not Hear not Speak not c. or like these very Barbarians and therefore I said 2. G. Fox in his book affirms that the Conversation of these very Barbarians in many things were better then his Opposites c. I mused in my self being much acquainted with the Natives what G. Fox should mean he not having been in N. England when he wrote that passage but since I have heard that the Quakers have commended the spirit of the Indians for they have seen them come into English Houses and sit down by the fire not speaking a word to any body But this cariage of the Indians proceeds from a bruitish spirit for generally they have boldly come in without Knocking or asking of leave and sit down without any respect in word or gesture to the Governour or chief of the Family whosoever just the Quakers general fashion and Spirit Further I told them that in some respect the spirit and cariage of the Quakers was worse then that of the Indians for if they were sd by the English in the high-way or coming into an House they are very ready to receive your Salutation kindly and return you another But commonly we know that it is not so with the Quakers bruitish spirit 2. The Indians morning and evening and upon all meetings they give a respective and proper Salutation to their own Superiours and sometimes in gesture as well as speech 3. Although the Indians are bruits in their Nakedness both men and women yet they never appear no not in private houses stark naked as the Quaker men and women doe yea they so abhor such a bruitishness except it be in their mad Drunkenness for then they will be stark naked that as to their Female kind they will carefully from their birth keep on some modest covering before them W. E. rose up and said they did abhor Uncleaness as well as our selves or any their women were sober holy and Modest and would not endure some of them to have a Toe to be seen naked but he said if the Lord God did stir up any of his Daughters to be a Sign of the nakedness of others he believed it to be a great Cross to a Modest womans Spirit but the Lord must be obeyed Iohn Stubs immediately seconded him and quoted again the Command to Isaiah Chap. 20. to go naked he added whereas I said at Newport that it was in the time of Signs Types Figures c. He would now prove that all Signs were not abolished by the coming of Christ for Agabus Act. 20. took Pauls 203 girdle and bound himself I replyed that was indeed one of my Replyes at Newport and I was yet far from binding the sweet Influences of the holy One by Dreams Visions immediate Impulses Revelations Signs c. but withall I said that before the coming of the Lord Iesus and at his coming was the time and season of such Appearances from God now he hath fully declared his mind to us by the Personal and most wonderfull coming of his Son out of his Bosome who had commanded his Pen-men to write his Birth his Life his Life his Doctrine his Miracles his Death Resurrection Asscension and promise of Return to us he had also preserved these holy Writings Records most wonderfully that Ioh 20 We might believe in him follow him and live with him But 2. I said what did this concern the monstrous stripping their women naked of which we never heard a tittle either at coming of the Lord Jesus or in those proper seasons of such Administrations before his Appearance Iohn Stubs said he had been a Quaker 19 years and yet had never seen a woman Naked and some of the Quakers said to me aloud when didst thou see any of our women Naked and another of them said We did not think that thou wouldest have been such a wicked man These two though of the Quakers spirit yet of long time had been Loving and respecttive to me but now they were enraged so that I said unto my Antagonists seeing some Heat is risen about these matters I will if you please go on to the second Branch of this 14th Position I told them the 2d Branch was That the Spirit of the Quakers tendeth to bring in an Arbetrary Government I said we all knew how it had cost the blood of thousands ten Thousands this matter of Goverment Lawes that the Most High only Wise choosing one People and Nation of Israel to be his own he wrote them Laws some with his own inconceivable finger written and some by Moses his inspired Pen-man it pleased him not to leave their Wisest and Holyest Kings Governours without written known Lawes with Rewards and Penaltyes annexed But I argued if that were true that all the Quakers were guided in all they said and did by the immediate Spirit of God as I proved Fox maintained then if they obtain higher or lower Governours of their Spirits Surely it shines cleer that there is no need of Laws for them to rule act by for they had no need of Scripture and seing the Immediate Inspirations of God would not suffer them to erre in Judgment for as they said of the holy Scripture they had no need of it for they had the holy Scripture within them their Teacher within them and all that they spake was Scripture and the voice of God c. So
Soul Summond to Death and Judgement looks to Relations c. they all Answer they are in the same Case c. It looks to Wordly Estate c they tell us they will go with us as far as the Grave and provide a Coffin and a Sheet and a Burial c. 3. The old friend is Conscience who will go with us but can be a thousand witnesses against us c. It follows then clearly that the young Prince is the true Lord Iesus Christ not vanished away into a Light in every dark dungeon in the World but Conscience saith he is litterally ascended up into Heaven and will as literally make his speedy Return again to Iudgement The third Instance G. Fox pag. 12. brings in the same Author saying the Light doth not shine in the Consciences of them that be lost The Answer But Iohn saith he Light shines in darkness but the darkness cannot comprehend it and there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience and Reprobates as in Rom. 1. and 2. Chapters I Reply G. Fox is here in his Burrough and takes not the word Light in the same Sense his Opposite doth the Common trick of Cheators His Opposite takes it not for the heavenly Lights Sun Moon nor Earthly Light of Fire Candles precious Stones nor the Metaphorical Light of mens minds differing them from Beasts Birds Fishes Nor the Light of peace joy and Prosperity call'd in Scripture Light c. Nor the Light and Evidence of witness or Reason in Cases depending Nor the Light of the holy Scriptures and the preaching and offering of a 5 Saviour to poor lost Sinners But for that awakening saving Light convincing all mens Condition to be miserable and damnable of Grace and mercy offered and applied to a Soul by the good News of a Saviour someway heard of and the holy Spirit the finger or power of God G. Fox saith this saving Light is in mankind only persons don't mind it and so Christ Iesus is Crucified and slain in them and God and Christ and Spirit and Light c. are all captived hindred from working yea altogether killed slain in them because a Soul doth not mind them and hearken to Christ in them Ah poor simple bruitish Imagination that ever it should enter into the thoughts of Men professing to be Christians c. or of men professing to know more than the Wolves and Foxes in the wilderness I have spoke to this before therefore a word only to G. Fox his proof Rom. 1. and 2. Chapt. From these two Chapters he proves that there is that of God in the Children of Disobedience and Reprobates who denies it For there is something of God that is from the power and wisdome of God in the Fallen Spirits the Devils themselves But I know by that of God G. Fox means God himself prest down as a Cart with sheaves the holy Seed Christ Iesus under the Clods the holy Spirit in prison for the Soul is a part of the Essence or Being of God himself But that there is here a word or title of Colour to any of this dirt and filth flung in the face of the Majestie of Heaven This Scripture speaks of the work or working of the Law written in their hearts but what is this to a second writing of the holy Scriptures or writing inspired into the heart by the most holy Spirit yea what is this to a third writing of their Names written in Heaven in the Lambs Book of Life yea what is this to fourth writing the writing of the new Covenant Consisting of Sin and a new heart a heart of flesh in which his Law is written as formerly in Tables of Stone and yet we poor men of Iabesh Gilead must leave the Testimony as Gilead imports and suffer Nahush the Serpent to put out our right eyes and believe that every man hath the new Covenant Christ Iesus and the Kingdom of God c. with the Pharisees in every mans heart and yet he never knows of it 4. Instance In the same pag. 12 he brings in the same Author saying It is a Counterfeiting of the new Birth for men to 6 follow the Light wherewith men coming into the world are inlightned G. Fox Answ. which none comes to the new Birth but who come to the Light which every man c. in which believing is a Child of the Light c. I Reply G. Fox runs round agian and again like the windmil Sails It is saith he no Counterfeiting of a new Birth why because it is no Counterfeiting none comes to the new Birth but who comes to the Light c. As to the words in Iohn 1. Hitchcock at Newport alleadged that it was not in his Bible enlightneeth every man but lighteth every man c. John Stubs lockt in his greek Testament and confest it was Photizes which is not inlightneth but Lighteth 2. As to the Light We know there are two Opinions how Christ lighteth every man c. First as God in the Creation 2. As God man and Mediatour and that the Greeks word Erchomenon doth not relate to the word anthropon the man or every man that cometh into the world but phoce Light and that it must be read in this Sense viz that Christ Iesus the true Light cometh into the world lighteth every man that is in the world freely that will receive him Even as many whomsoever look up to him as Iohn 3. the stung Israelites to the brazen Serpent and that Christ Iesus is the Light of the world John 8. and 12. to as many as receive him according to 1 Iohn 12. and that the meer phrase imports no more then a Light held forth to all in the world as the Sun in the Heavens and Christs Followers Math. 5. are called by Christ Iesus the Light of the World Thus the word all and every man as I hinted before is used not absolutely but Comparatively and is figuratively taken in many places and four time in that one ver 1 Col. 28. viz. warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that we may present every man perfect in Christ Iesus which literally cannot be true Now G. Fox runs into his Burrough of the many significations of the word Light and the word all and the word inlightneth willingly ignorant that Christ Iesus as Mediator of the new Covenant inlightens none but those whom his Father gives him unto whom he gives Repentance to whom he opens the door of Faith and gives them to believe and suffer c. So that G. Fox Confounds the Elect and the World together and brings in a Counterfeit new Birth a Counterfeit Christ and at last a Counterfeit Salvation 7 5. Instance G. Fox pag. 20. brings in Henock Howet saying It is a fancy to say the Covenant of God is to all men in the world and the grace of God hath appeared to all men c. He Answ.
of God For what man knows the things of a man save the Spirit of a man c. now we have not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things which are freely given to us of God In ver 6. the Spirit of God speaks of a twofold wisdome first the wisdome of this world and the Principles of this world which come to nought Secondly the wisdome of God in a Mystery even the hidden wisdome which God ordained before the world unto our glory Again ver 12. God tells us of two Spirits The Spirit of the world Secondly The Spirit of God Now this woful Cheator finding the word Spirit Confounds as his Course is all together and because Gods Spirit regenerates the Corintâ—ians and opens to them a glimpse of the Godheads power and wisdom and Goodness by Pauls preaching and opens their hearts to it therefore he must also enlighten the world with the same Light whereas that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and that of Flesh is Flesh This Change and renewing of the Spirit by the Holy Spirit I fear G. Fox and most of his Foxians never Experimened 74 though they enjoy in common a Light of Nature though God hath endowed him and many of them with excellent Natural Parts yea with a Light from the holy Scripture yea with a Light of Experience and common Motions from Gods holy Spirit and have been lifted up by their own thoughts and others as Capernaum up to the Heaven and therefore my Soul fears as to most of them that God will bring them down to Hell with the greater Condemnation The 38th Instance is in Pag. 222. where he brings in the same Author saying Salvation and Faith are the gifts of God distinct from Christ He Answers They are all of him and from him and with him And how is he the Author of Faith in whom it ends and from whence it comes I Reply as Potiphars wife cries out against Ioseph and pretends Chastity so doth this subtle Whoremonger pretending that all is pure Christ the Light is Christ their Hope is Christ their Faith their Spirit is Christ himself yea the Saints are Christ No distinction between Christ and them for they are all of him from him and with him In short I pray the Reader to mind with me the first Chapter to the Colossians where ver 1. The Spirit of God declares how Gods Children poor slaves at first in Sathans Clutches are Translated from the Kingdome of Darkness into the Kingdome of his dear Son In whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sins I know the Foxians turn Christ yea his Blood also into a Spirit a God How admirably doth the holy Spirit of God declare the Godhead or Divinity of Christ Jesus and his Manhood or Humanity unto ver 21 out of both which I shall select two or three Attributes of the Lord Jesus 1. The State of Christianity amongst many other high Expressions in the Scripture is here called the Kingdome of Gods dear Son which argues a distinction from all other Kingdomes and a distinction from his Saints as a King is not his Subjects nor their Gifts and Honours and Estates and peace and Ioy though given by him to them and procured by his great wisdome and love for them Oh poor Ungrateful Monsters not content to be taken from 76 the Kingdome from the Dungeon of Darkness and Hell and that by the Ransome and price paid and Blood and Death of his only Beloved the Prince of Life but we must be the King of Heaven and Prince of Life our selves 2. I observe The Instrumental and purchasing Cause or price is said to be his Blood which argues the Infinite value of his Sufferings in which Respect only it is called the Blood of God I know the slight esteem that some of these Foxians have of the Blood of the Lord Iesus saying that wicked men the Souldiers shed it that it was spilt upon the ground that there was no difference between that Blood and the Blood of another Saint That by Gods blood is only meant godly and heavenly power and Spirit by which God applies Mercy and pardon Iustification Righteousness c. I have read the Blasphemous Discanting of the Iesuit concerning Maries white Milk and Christs Crimson Blood in the close his preferring the Milk of the Mother before the Sons Blood I have heard also the foolish Blasphemy of one of my own Neighbours saying That the Blood of the Quakers and by name of W. B. was Saving and Salvation to the World 3. But I pass on The Lord Jesus is here called the Image of the invisible God If this should respect the Godhead only which is invisible how could Christ be a visible Picture of Invisibility If the Manhood only is God a Man and Man his Image or Picture as the old Heretick and late in London Reeves and Mugleton fancied The Truth is as Christs Blood is but figuratively for an Antitipe and fulfilling of all the Figures foregoing him and for all his Sufferings and many Blood-sheddings both of Minde and Body so this Image or Picture this Blessed Lamb of God consisting of the Godhead wonderfully assuming such a none such Manhood both which the Papists and Quakers are forced to confess I say it is clear he was the brightest Image or Picture of God to the World that ever God appeared in and therefore called the Word of God the fullest and loudest of all the Words of God in which ever he spake c. 4. Many more I might insist on but I must abbreviate and only mention ver 18. where the Lord Jesus is made the Pallace of 77 the Godhead that in him as the Head of the Body his Church should all fulness dwell reconciling and making peace through the Blood of his Crosse c. Iohn tells us that of this fulness in him we receive all the World receives the Mercy and Patience of God by him all his Followers receive his Grace and Spirit Converting Sanctifying Comforting c. so that his most holy and glorious Manhood visible amongst us c. was as a fair and spacious beautiful Conduit into which the eternal and inconceivable Counsels of the eternal Power and Godhead flowed and from whom by all those blessed means and Ordinances as by so many Cocks turned and let loose flow and run into poor empty Souls as Pails and Tankards all sorts of mercies to the whole World and especially to the Elect and Chosen his Church and Body that believe in him what poor Children and Frantick Souls are we then that cry out poor Pots and Pails and Tankards that we are the Conduit it self yea we the Well-head Fountain and Spring and as this frantick Fox in his Book once and again affirms no distinction between God Christ his Saints yea
I said much more 204 might it be said of Mens Laws Writings that surely they had no need of them for what could be more just and equal more pure holy in all Cases Controversies Businesses then the immediate Voice of God W. E. said what dost thou fill peoples ears with strange Notions as if the People of God called Quakers were a lawless people and would bring all Government and all Laws to nothing We are for righteous Goverment and righteous Lawes we are not for any to rule by Force and more he spake to this purprse I Replyed that he mistook me by an Arbetrary Goverment I did not intend a Goverment ruling by Force for there could be no Goverment in the world without the Sword but Arbitrary I said came from Arbitrium which signified Will or pleasure and so my Argument was that Persons immediately speaking from God it was impertinent and profane to clog and cumber them with Lawes for the Voice of God the Law of all Laws proceeded out of their mouth then which there could be none more Just more Wise more Holy Here stood up an Aged man and as able as most in the company T. A. though much of late adhering to the Quakers and said Methinks there is Weight in Mr. VVilliams his Argument He being a noted man and his voice very audible and so heard by all VV. E. was forced to take notice of his speech and said wherein is there any weight in it T. A. Answered why if a Magistrate be immediately inspired by God and speaks Gods Laws Sentence sure there seems to be no need of any other Laws They saw they were in a Pound and I perceived it and yet not being willing to grate upon them but watching my time as I was glad all along to pass handsomly from one Point unto another I said unto them if they pleased I would pass on to the Third Branch viz. That the Quakers Spirit tending to the sudden cutting off of People yea Kings and Princes that oppose them I here told them that I must crave their patience whiles I must profess my fears least that Spirit by which they were guided might run them upon their own and others temporal Destruction I told them I thought they had no such thing in their Thoughts or Eye at present but if power of the Sword come into their hand it was easie to imagine that whom their Spirit infallible decreed to death Peasant or Prince if it were possible he must be executed c. W. Edm. said Thou here makest a false and lying charge against the People of God who are peaceable and quiet and yielding to Magistrates c. I Replied I charge them with no matter of Facts but I charge them and their Spirit with a tendency c. For why 205 might they not say that Abraham with an impulse was killing Isaak Moses the Egyptian Ehud killing Eglon the King of Moab Samuel hewing Agag the King of Amelech in pieces and Paul Ananias and Saphira c. and why not Sathan stir up his Instruments to pretend the like Spirit as we know he hath done both in former latter days My Antagonists joyntly bid me shew when any of the Quakers had done so I Answ. They spake not to the point c. for I did not charge them to have done so but that their Spirit tended to it I was saying that Faubord at Grindleton was killlng his Son in imitation of Abraham if his Sons crying out and the breaking open of the House had not prevented and that Iames Parnel moved by this Spirit to Fast forty dayes c. perished the eleventh day c. but perceiving more than ordinary heats and that W. Edm. charged me that I had a false heart of mine own and would measure others by my bushel I told them of the wonderful actings of Tho. Munster and I. Becold and Fifer Knipperdoling c. in Germany and of their Pretences Murthers Poligamies and all by the Spirit c. I told them that our Royal Sovereign his Grandfather Henry 4th of France that famous and wonderful Man he was stab'd to death by a Frier pretending a Vision of Angels on Christmas night who commanded him from God to dispatch and kill the King which he most desperately effected W. Edm. interrupted me and spake to this effect why should we suffer this man thus to wrong the innocent people of God we will measure him with his own Bushel For thy Book declares thy approving of the killing of the Kings Father and said where is the Book At which word W. Harris a Fire-brand of Town and Colony Country rose up and carried a Book which they said was mine to W. Edmundson I perceived that W. Edm. W. H. who was for any Religion and a malicious mortal enemy to all good had been a plotting and I said openly I knew what malicious bloody counsel had been between W. Har. and themselves but they would finde themselves befooled for there was nothing in the matter but ridiculous malice for all of us knew that W. H. loved the Quakers whom now he fawn'd upon no more then he did the Baptists whom he till now fawn'd on but would love any as a Dog for his Bone for Land which he had a long Suit for as was known to all the Country and their cost Hereupon Capt. Green of Warwick Magistrate desired that such matters might be forborn and others spake to the same purpose and I Stubs and others are said to speak to W. Edm. to forbear so that the Book was laid aside and delivered again to that 206 malicious bloody Soul W. Harris I challenged them again and again to read and improve what possibly they could which I knew was no more then fome words applauding the Parliaments Iustice and Mercy which these Bloody Sophisters would like Wolves Foxes construe as my approving the Kings Death which God knows I never approved to this day Upon this Occasion I may now inform the Reader how easily the malicious Spirit of W. Edm. W. Har. met in one formerly no man amongst us had spoken more scornfully of the Quakers then W Harris now he extreamly privately and publickly fawns upon them seeing them my Enemies who had ever been his Friend and never his Enemy but in his outragious practises against Town Colony Country He was a Pretender in Old England but in New my experience hath told me that he can be one with the Quakers yea Iesuits or Mahumetans for his own worldly ends and advantage He is long known to have put Scorns Ieers upon the eminent Inhabitants of Town and Country He hath been notorious for quarrelling and challenging and fighting even when he pretended with the Quakers against Carnal Weapons so that there stands upon Record in the town-Town-book of Providence an Act of Disfranchisement upon him for fighting and shedding Blood in the street
and for maintaining and allowing it for ought I know to this day Then he turns Generallist and writes against all Magist-ates Laws Courts Charters Prisons Rates c. pretending himself and his Saints to be the Higher Powers as now the Quakers do and in publick writings he stir'd up the People most seditiously and desperately threatning to begin with the Massachusets and to cry out no Lords no Masters as is yet to be seen in his Writing this cost my self and the Colony much trouble Then as the Wind favoured his ends no man more cries up Magistrates then not finding that pretence nor the People called Baptists in whom he confided serving his ends He flies to Connecticut Colony then and still in great Contest with us in hopes to attain his gaping about Land from them if they prevail over us to this end he in publick Speech and Writing applauds Connecticut Charter and damns ours and his Royal Majesties favour also for granting us favour as to our Consciences which he largely endeavours by writing to prove the K. Majesty by Laws could not do My self being in place by Speech Writing opposed him Mr. B. Arnold then Governour and Mr. Io. Clark Deputy Governour Capt. Cranstone and all the Magistrates he was Committed for speaking writing against his Majesties Honour Prerogative Authority He 207 lay some time in Prison until the General Assembly where the Quaker by his wicked ungodly and disloyal plots prevailing he by their means gets loose and leaves open a door for any man to challenge the Kings Majesty for being too Godly or Christian in being too favourable to the Souls of his Subjects against his Laws c. I had thought to have declared thus much publickly and how seasonably the Kings Declaration came over against him also how that one General Assembly and another and another had been troubled with him c. and fined him c. but now my Lord Edmundson grew hot and told me that I had charged the People of the Lord with many great and grievous Charges which he said I could not prove yea he said he would speak it before the Lord I had not proved one of them and therefore he warned me being an old Man that I should not carry such a Burden on my back to my Grave and among other angry insultings he said he heard I had been a Magistrate and said I was a fit man to be a Magistrate that would so wrongfully charge the Innocent Io. Stubs spake to the same effect and how I had hindred them from going about the work of the Lord he said also that it was only the Light which they had spoke for and that some had interrupted them but he confest that Roger Williams himself had not done it I saw God in their Confession And for the last point and Branch of the 14 Position viz. Their Persecuting Spirit having spoken to it before and finding them unwilling to mention it I urged it not having at Newport shewed from Page 170 of G. Fox his Book That the Magistrate that is the Magistrate in their Light ought to Subject the Nation to his Light else he is not a faithful Magistrate In page 90. 96. G. Fox sets up his Saints as formerly W. Harris his Antagonists to be the higher Powers as knowing who Worship God aright and who not and only able to judge of Powers Magistrates Kingdomes and Churches Herein W. H. and the Quakers are one c. It is true that W. Edm. declared that the People of God were not to meddle with Carnal Weapons as also that before time many of the People of God called Quakers had been Souldiers Captains and Colonels yet now coming to the Light they had laid down their Carnal Weapons but if Fox say true in his Book either they Mope or Equivocate for Fox speaks of the Magistrates for Christ in the aforesaid Page 170. he discerns who be Idolaters who not which true Churches which not and are to praise the VVell Doers and terrifie the Evill Doers with the Carnal and Material Sword or else they talk nothing 208 But 2. If this Confession Profession of theirs were not yet if Chrst Jesus say true viz. The Tongue tells to all the World what the Heart is was there ever People professing the Name of Christ Jesus except the Papists so Reproaching the Protestants and amongst the Protestants was there any ever so Reproaching Reviling the Professing and Conscientious People as Quakers do was there ever any known professing the fear of God in so high a measure so sharp and cutting in their Tongues even to eminently knowing and Conscientious persons Thou Lyar thou Serpent thou Cain thou Judas thou Hipocrite thou Devil c. Shall we rationally question whether their hands like Simeons and Levyes will not be as fierce and cruel if the most holy and only Wise permits Whips Halters Swords Fagots to fall into their Hands and what did Sam. Fisher Ed. Burrowes write less to the Souldiers at Dunkirk that if they received the light they should on to Rome 3. Have we not known the deceitfulness of mens hearts fly out into greater matters then Persecution Hazael earnestly asked whether the Prophet thought him a Dog that he should doe such matters c. Pendleton vow'd his Collops should fry ere he would to Mass in Q Maryes dayes and yet to Mass he went and persecuted others also that would not bow to the Image as he had done Just here Capt Green of Warwick desired leave to speak to two things 1. To immediate Revelations such as Abraham and Moses and Ehud had 2. As to the Soul being a part of God I was weary and withdrew but afterward Capt. Green told me that none of them were willing to speak punctualy to either of these two but rather desired to wave them as a bstruse and high matters and Mysteryes Then Pardon Tillinghast a leading man among the People called Baptists at Providence he prest against them the continuation of Christs Ordinances untill he came The Quakers said Christ was come again to his Disciples He replyed that after Christs Ascention he spake of another Coming his second Coming Heb 9. W. E. fel to Prayer as with me he ftl to Preaching Pardon Tillinghast as himself told me declared to them that he was free to discourse with them but he was not free to joyn with them in Worship so he departed and after W E. his Prayer the whole Assembly And thus it pleased the God and Father of Lights and Mercyes to bring us to the end of this 4th dayes Contest and the end of the whole matter in much Peace and Quietness and the Consideration of matters left to every mans Soul and Conscience and so doe I this Narrative which God knows is the Sum and Substance of all our Transactions Unto his Eternal Majesty therefore I humbly