reckoned among the Simpliciter credenda I have changed any one Principle Only as to the Sense of some Places of Scripture relating to Water-Baptism and the Supper I own I have changed my Mind but to the better and also as to some other places of Scripture improperly alledged to prove some real Truths P. 4. to p. 10. As concerning these several Testimonies they bring out of my Books in all these pages I own every one of them still as things sincerely believed by me and I believe by many others also so far as they relate to Doctrine But that I held them forth as the Principles of the Teachers among the Quakers universally or as the Principles of G. W. and W. Penn seeing I have since found them so palbably to contradict them in their Printed Books I freely acknowledge my shortness and mistake therein But they most uncharitably alledge That it is hardness in me to have changed my Opinion or Perswasion of these men seeing they have given me so great and just occasion so to do by boldly defending and excusing these vile Errors The next thing they charge me with is my Inconsistency and Self-contradiction but this is a False Charge their manifest failure in their undertaking will sufficiently I hope prove The first Self-contradiction they think they have catched me in is what they bring in pag. 111 2. viz. That I said Nameless Bull pag. 11. Seeing this true Faith is wrought in God's ordinary way by Preaching therefore the true Faith of Christ's Death and Sufferings ought to be one of the first and chiefest things that every true Minister ought to Preach c. But they think I contradict this Way to the City of God pag. 3. The knowledge of his inward coming is that which is the more needful and in the first place as being that by which the true and comfortable use of his outward coming is alone sufficiently understood Answ As I have somewhere else said It is my Lot to have to do with Men that have neither so much true Logick nor Common Sense as to understand what a true Contradiction is Let any Man of common sense judge if it be a contradiction or least inconsistency to say The true Faith of Christs Death is one of the first things that ought to be Preached to bring Men to witness the true Faith of Christs Death and being made Conformable to his Death And also to say The knowledge of his inward coming is the more needful in the first place As it is no contradiction to say George Whitehead was one of the first Quakers in the North of England George Fox was the first Quaker But for the better understanding of the Case the distinction betwixt general Religion and Christian Religion is to be considered which distinction I have used in my Book called Divine immediate Revelation and Inspiration continued in the true Church Printed at London 1684. and which was read and approved by the Second Days Meeting when I was present and therefore G. W. is bound to own what is in that Book unless he will say their Ministers are changed in their Principles see pag. 44. where I also distinguish betwixt general Revelation in Men and special the general I said was common to all Mankind the special given to true Christians By general Revelation which is that common illumination given to all Mankind men are taught to know that God is and that he is the maker of all things and that he hath given a Law to Men in their Hearts which they are to obey and when they disobey this Law they make themselves guilty before God and by this general Revelation or illumination Men generally know that they are Sinners all having sinned and by this inward Law and illumination common to all men is the knowledge of Sin and of the Wrath of God that is due for Sin and by this General or Common illumination many of the Gentiles came so far as the Servants state and had acceptance with God as Servants but were short of the state of Sons because they had not the Faith in Christ Crucified according to Gal. 3. 26. This same distinction of general and special Revelation in other terms I held forth in my Book of Universal Grace approved also by the Second Days Meeting and Printed in the Year 1671. which is about 25 Years ago see pag. 8 9 10. of that Book where I largely treat of a twofold inward Appearance of Christ in Men the first and second and how the first prepareth for the second and how the first is not to be rested in but that we ought to press forward into the second pag. 9. ad finitum And I said the first was that of the Law the second that of the Gospel pag. 8 The former that of the first Covenant the latter that of the second Covenant And I say expresly pag. 8. ' The Gospel lay hid within the Law as within a Vail which the outward Tabernacle did plainly figure and hold forth And notwithstanding that I have held forth this distinction in Print 25 Years ago yet many of my present Adversaries cry out against it as New Doctrine and contrary to Friends Principles And it most evidently appeareth from the express Words of my Book of Universal Grace pag. 120. That I did not then hold that the Light within was sufficient to Salvation without any thing else or without Christ's outward coming and his Obedience Sufferings and Death as my Adversaries Caleb Pusie and the Second Days Meeting that hath approved his Book do affirm and as these Men also do who have given out their Scandalous Book called The People called Quakers cleared for I say expresly in that pag. 120. The Light within and Christ's outward coming with his Obedience Sufferings and Death are both sufficient useful and necessary in their own kind and way Consummating and being Consummate in another And here Note that though I did not say Christ within and Christ without are two Christs yet I said his Light within and his Coming in the Outward with his Obedience Sufferings and Death were two things Consummating and being Consummated in one another Now to wipe off the Injurious Charge of my Adversaries G. W. and J. P. in this particular which I thank God I can as easily do and all other their Injurious Charges against me as Paul did throw off the Viper from his Hand I say conform to the Doctrine of my former Books and in good Consistency with all the passages in them the Light within which in a true sense is God and Christ the Eternal and Essential Word is to be Preached in the first place to Heathens and Gentiles or any other called Christians who have not any true knowledge of God or fear and reverence of him and to all bold and presumptuous Sinners and briefly to all Men whatsoever not really and truly converted to the Christian Religion to bring them in the first place to some
THE Anti-Christs and Sadduces DETECTED Among a sort of QUAKERS OR Caleb Pusie of Pensilvania and John Pennington with his Brethren of the Second Days Meeting at London called Quakers Proved Antichrists and Sadduces out of a Printed Book lately published by them falsly called A modest Account of the principal Differences in point of Doctrine betwixt George Keith and those of the People called Quakers in Pensilvania c. Being an ANSWER to the said Book Signed particularly by Caleb Pusie but expresly recommended in Print by John Pennington and approved by the Second Days Meeting at London With some few Remarks on John Penningtons late Book entitled The People called Quakers cleared c. And Geo. Whitehead his Postscript shewing some of their gross Perversions Falsehoods and Groundless Calumnies against G. K. And a POSTSCRIPT Containing an earnest Expostulation with the most Pious and Learned Persons whether in the Church of England or among other Protestant Dissenters and a serious Invitation unto them to employ some of their Time and Labour by their Pious and Learned Writings to oppose and refute those vile Errors boldly avowed and publickly broached in the late Printed books of some Leading Men among a Gang and sort of Quakrs By GEORGE KEITH London Printed for the Author and are to be sold at his House at the Golden Ball over-against Red-Lyon-street in White-Chappel THE Anti-christ's and Sadduces DETECTED Among a sort of QUAKERS IN the first place it is fit I should give the Readers some Information who the Second Days Meeting at London is It is a Meeting of the Ministry of them called Quakers of William Penns and George Whiteheads Party belonging to London and some of the Country that may happen to be present who Meet at Whitehart-Court in Lombard-Street every Second day of the Week and assume a Power to License and Approve of all Books that are to be Printed by any of their Party and have approved this Book falsely called A Modest Account and all the late scandalous Books of Thomas Elwood and John Pennington come forth against me and claim Authority over all other Meetings the Yearly Meeting perhaps excepted sending out their Circular Letters to all other Meetings in all parts of the World as they think they have occasion and to whom the Meetings from all places direct their Letters upon any occurrence of difference as the Churches and Bishops of other Countries had wont to direct their Letters to Rome which was the Rise of that Roman Hierarchy the which Meeting may be fitly compared to the Conclave of Cardinals at Rome but who is the Metropolitan of this new erected Hierarchy at London at present is not certainly known as whether W. P. or G. W. He doth acknowledg 1st differences in point of Doctrine 2. Principal differences How doth this agree with many of them called the Church Party here who say They do not deny G. K's Doctrine P. 8. As concerning the Sufficiency of the Light without something else that he saith you have made such a pudder about of late for this he brings a Proof from my Book Light of Truth p. 12. and 6. where I say the express Knowledg and Belief c. Is not universally of absolute necessity unto Salvation and so I say still annd so saith R. Barclay whom he abuseth as well as me for we both frequently caution and limit the matter saying the clear distinct express Historical Knowledg is not universally necessary See my Book Universal Grace p. 117. ad Finem But whereas he states the difference in point of Doctrine betwixt some in Pensilvania and me as if I said it were an Error to affirm ' the Light within were sufficient without something else which I never so said nor thought for the Light within is sufficient without not only something else but without thousands of somethings else But my assertion was and is ' The Light within is not sufficient to Salvation without ' something else which they blaming they ought to hold the contradictory assertion viz. The Light within is sufficient to Salvation without any thing else for two contradictories are not betwixt two particulars but one particular and another Universal now seeing they hold ' that the Light within ' is sufficient without any thing else it is plain they Exclude the Man Christ without us and his Death c. from being concerned in our Salvation P. 8. He basely forges me to say It is a real degree of Blasphemy to say this Light cannot make satisfaction for sins past citing pag. 38. 39. Refutation See the place I have no such words but plain contrary I say Refut p. 42. 43. Neither is the Saints greatest inward Righteousness or Holiness wrought in them by the Spirit of God an Atonement or Propitiation for their sins but Christ alone who Dyed for us the just for the unjust P. 9. He cites my Book Looking-glass for Protestants p. 10. That Magistrates may Preach which he thinks a contradiction to my late Testimony with Friends in Pensilvania that Friends of the Ministry should not meddle to be Justices and Judges in Criminal Cases but this is no contradiction for it is one thing occasionally to Preach or Teach or Exhort as any Christian can do and another to exercise the Office or Function of a Minister of the Gospel of Peace one day that saith Resist not Evil and our Weapons are not Carnal and another day to hang Men for Murder c. Which scarce any that profess to be Ministers do in Christendom but the Quakers in America P. 9. That I say of Christs Body now in Heaven It being no more a Body of Flesh Blood and Bones but a pure ethereal or Heavenly Body This he brings to prove a contradiction to my self leaving out the foregoing words Which remaineth the same in Substance that it was on Earth c. So that by my saying it being no more a Body of Flesh and Blood I mean it in the Apostles sense 1 Cor. 15. Flesh and Blood cannot inherit c. See my words cited by himself p. 10. a Testimony against the false and absurd Op. The Flesh that is mortal gross and corruptible is not the Flesh that shall be raised up immortal and incorruptible P. 12. He makes me to contradict my self in saying Presb. and Indep p. 133. The Express Knowledg of Christ his becoming Man and suffering was positively denied to be of necessity to Salvation but now I furiously quarrel with Friends about it that it is But his fallacy lyeth in this that I say the express Knowledg is not universally necessary but some knowledg if not express yet implicit is and this is no Contradiction P. 15. He Argues from my Book The Light of Truth p. 8. That the Light within is the only Christ and he saith p. 14. the word only admits of nothing else than Light Power and Spirit within Answ 1. Here it is manifest he placeth all on the Light within so that
justices but Criminal Judges a thing no where so practised that I know any where in Christendom beside But however whether G. K. was rightly informed in these Particulars or not that was not the Thing he was fined for but for calling Sam. Jennings an ignorant presumptuous and insolent man and saying he was too high and imperious in worldly Courts And this was and is well known to be a Truth And he since remains sufficiently under that Character And have not many called Quakers used greater liberty than all this to reprove the Pride of greater Men in Magistracy here in England in Times past under their sharp Persecutions And for a witness to it let the Trial of William Penn and William Mead Printed at London declare as well as other Printed Trials and Books not a few But it is but waste of Time and Paper to answer to all his Impertinencies One thing is greatly worth noticing That though these men showed great warmth to fine imprison and otherwse prosecute for some pretended Offences against them that were had they been real but small and had better become them to have passed them by being not against them as Magistrates but as Quakers and Neighbours Yet they did not only tolerate but support and countenance Persons guilty of blasphemous Speeches against both God and Christ and with an unbounded Liberty did abuse me in particular as well as my Friends one of them in a publick Meeting calling me Wicked Fellow another calling me Ranter wicked Man while I was in Prayer on my Knees in the Meeting And though they would not allow us to distinguish betwixt them as being Quakers and Magistrates yet they did so distinguish when they told us They were not for fighting as Quakers but as Magistrates which how apt and proper a distinction it was for them to use I leave to the intelligent to judge Page 46. He saith Now to be plain This is to shew That G. K. may be as well as others have been a man of great Knowledge in Chronology yet being led by a Wrong Spirit what doth it profit But how hath he proved that G. K. is a man of a Wrong Spirit What One Evil Thing hath he proved against me in all his book either in Doctrine or Conversation I know none Though I have proved him guilty of many And taking it for granted That G. K. on extraordinary great Provocations and Abuses did drop once or twice some unadvised yet true Expressions doth this prove him to be a man of a Wrong Spirit He hath been more ingenuous than all his Adversaries who have far exceeded him in heat and hard words to acknowledge it which I never knew that any of them did Page 47. He pretends he has got a great Advantage against me upon the Account of a Citation out of my book called Truths Defence page 169. which he recites though not so truly as is in my book But however as it is I agree to it as to matter and substance And though he saith Page 53. That they do not question that in the least that G. K. is of another mind now It is a false Insinuation I remain in the same mind still That I would have nothing urged nor pressed as Articles of Faith but what is delivered to us in plain express Scripture-words which is the substance of that large Citation And it is as false in him to say That this was so often desired but could not find place viz to take their Confession in express words for this we never refused but I said again and again We shall take your Confession in Scripture-words as many can bear me witness provided ye will condemn your Errors that are contrary either to express Scripture-words or to the plain and manifest Sense of them obvious to every intelligent Christian But this they would never do And whereas he querieth How know we that they have a Sense contrary to Scripture-words I answer They have sufficiently discovered it not only by One or Two unsound Expressions but multitudes of them as their Letters and Manuscripts there and the Printed Books here sufficiently prove And we need go no further for a Proof than the most gross and Antichristian Expressions and Sayings of Caleb Pusie himself in this very Treatise For whereas he hath plainly affirmed p. 15. ad finem That Jesus of Nazareth cannot be something else than the Light Power and Spirit within Now can there be any thing more contrary to express Scripture than this Assertion Was not Jesus of Nazareth a real man consisting of Soul and Body in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily and who above measure was filled with all fullness of Grace and Truth And is that Body and that Soul and that Fullness nothing else but the Light within us Oh Abominable Nonsense and Perversion and Contradiction to Scripture and all true Reason He may as much say The great body of water in the Ocean with the Channels and Places that receive it is nothing else than the River Thames and that little narrow Tract of Earth in which it runs And at this Rate whatever is declared of Christ as born at Bethlem or conversing with his Disciples in Judea teaching them and working mighty Signs and Miracles among them And lastly Crucified on the Tree of the Cross at Golgotha must be understood of nothing else but the Light Power and Spirit within If this be not as great and gross Ranterism as ever was among men I leave all sober Christians to Judge Again seeing he pretends so much to express Scripture let him tell me 1. Where doth the Scripture say That Jesus of Nazareth is nothing else than the Light Power and Spirit within I am sure it is no where to be found in the Holy Bible but in Antichrist's Bible it may be found and is found 2. Where doth the Scripture say That the Light within is sufficient to salvation without any thing else or that it is an Error to say The Light within is not sufficient to salvation without something else Which Two being contradictory if the one be false the other must be true 3dly Where doth the Scripture say it is sufficient to Eternal Salvation only to believe and obey the Light within without all Knowledge and Faith of Christ Crucified and raised again seeing the Scripture plain contrarywise makes it the Terms of Salvation in great part to confess with the mouth and believe with the heart that God hath raised Jesus from the Dead Rom. 10. 9 10. 4thly Where doth the Scripture say The Blood that was shed without the Gates of Jerusalem is not that Blood whereby we are justified which was John Humphreys Assertion a Minister in Pensilvania which we could never get him nor any of you all to condemn and no wonder for G. W. in his book Light and Life hath said as much 5thly Where doth the Scripture say The bodies of the Saints at the Resurrection shall be
Christ is said by Paul to have been kept secret since the world began but now is made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith Rom. 16. 25 26. Now what is made manifest but expres And what is kept secret but implicit So that this very distinction which my ignorant Adversaries blame in me as new and odd is the very distinction of Paul in equivalent terms And seeing they will not allow that distinction as applied to the Knowledge of Christ without us of express and implicit it is plain they hold that not any Knowledge not the least grain of the knowledge of Christ without men is universally necessary to Salvation neither express nor implicit which how Antichristian and Unscriptural it is I leave to all true Christians to judge But why will they not allow it as well with respect to the knowledge of Christ without us as of Christ within us Will they say that Men may be saved without all knowledge of Christ within either express or implicit If yea then we shall see what ignorant Persons they allow shall be saved and what a prodigious Ignorance they establish If nay then they must answer me with the same distinction in the same terms or in terms equilvalent and if they use that or any other the like distinction it shall be found new enough to them at least as new or rather much more new as that I have used in this case nor needs G. Whitehead blame me for using new Distinctions seeing both himself and William Penn have used them in several Cases to serve a turn a phrase they apply to me pag. 19. as in excusing Geo. Fox his saying Christ is not distinct from the Saints the Soul is a part of God And when they excuse Is Pennington's saying ' Can outward Blood cleanse And George Whitehead his excusing his former Sayings in divers of his old Books ' that Christ is not in all Men. He comes off with this distinction of late saying ' He is not in all Men unitedly or by union Which distinction I used not only in my Book of Universal Grace which was written in the Year 1669. though not printed till the Year 1671. but also in my Answer to the Thirty Queries sent by the Bishop of Aberden expresly mentioned in the Preface to Robert Barclay's Answer to VVilliam Mitchel in his Preface to it called Truth cleared of Calumnies The which Answer of mine to the said Thirty Queries was given in the Year 1666. before R. B. printed any thing or before he was a Quaker And I the rather mention this my Answer to these Thirty Queries because in these chief things which my Adversaries charge me to be changed in my Faith is the same now as it is there declared as well as in my other Printed Books which Answer I have in Manuscript writ 30 Years ago Copies of which are in several Hands and which I shall be ready to show to any sober Enquirers And what pittiful unsound and odd as well as new Distinctions hath G. Whitehead used to excuse G. Fox his saying Your Gospel Matthew Mark Luke and John are Dust and the Serpents Meat He saying It was to be meant of the Ink and Paper which would turn to Dust. But who did ever call the Ink and Paper the Gospel or who did ever think that the Serpent which is the Devil doth eat Ink and Paper Oh for shame let these Men cease to blame me for new Distinctions when they have made so many False and Nonsensical new Distinctions more Foolish than ever were heard of And his excusing Solomon Eccles Blasphemy in saying The Blood that came out of Christ's Side was no more than the Blood of another Saint Behold his most Unlearned and Foolish Distinction inconsistent with and contradictory to that known great Principle of the People called Quakers That Christ dyed for all Men and shed his Blood for all His meaning was said G. Whitehead as to Papists and you viz. Baptists whose Minds are Carnol But another idle impertinent Cavil they make against the distinction of express Knowledge of Christ's Death c. and implicit is ' That I use that Word express as a word of Course and of no ' Force as when I said That many of Adam's Posterity suffer disadvantage by his ' Disobedience who never knew it expresly But that ever any perished by Adam's Sin who never knew it either expresly or implicitly as they alledge seeing they bring no proof of it I reject as false and fictitious It is evident from the Heathen Philosophers Writings and particularly from Plato that they knew at least implicitiy the Fall of Man and the degeneration of Mankind in general for Plato not only mentions the Fall of Man but Tò 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. an imbred Evil in Men that is born with them And how can any Impartial Reader that reads my Books when I so oft caution restrict and limit the Words on that subject with the term Express and at other times with the Words clear Distinct Knowledge and at other times with the Words Historical Outward Knowledge all which and the like Words R. Barelay hath used in several Places of his Apology after my Method and divers Years after I used that Method of Expression and I well know we were of One Mind in that thing and I published his Latin Theses in Holland first of all and carried them over with me out of Scotland at his desire whereof I can bring sufficient Witness and we used to Discourse together frequently on that Subject and both of us on purpose used these Cautions and Restricted Words as express clear distinct historical outward and in the outward viz. in the outward History or Letter to signifie that we did not intend that any were saved with Eternal Salvation without all Knowledge or Faith of Christ without though without the express they might and still may where it is not revealed And they are as Nonsensical and Ignorant in seeking to marr my Distinction by falsly alledging I have marred it by their dictator-like saying There is no Medium between knowing very darkly in Vails and Figures implicitly in a very obscure Degree and not knowing at all pag. 15. But to confute their Ignorance let any Man of common Sense answer me Is there no Medium between knowing very Darkly and not knowing at all Is the Particle or little Word very Superlative in the highest Degree or is it not rather Comparative Is there no medium betwixt a Mans being very ignorant and knowing nothing at all If there be none then by George Whitehead's Logick who hath either writ this Book that I answer or approved it because he is very Ignorant as I have sufficiently proved he knoweth nothing at all But surely the most ignorant may and do know some things therefore G. W. is as ignorant in true
Logick as in true Divinity Another Forgery and Perversion they put upon my Words in pag. 15. when they make me say Men have been saved without the express Knowledge of the one viz. Christ's outward coming but not of the other viz. his inward coming But I never said or thought any such thing I have judged charitably and so I still judge that many have been saved and may be saved without the express Knowledge as truly of his inward coming as of his outward for many have felt and enjoyed the blessed Vertue and Power of Christ within them and so have had an implicit knowledge of it and it hath been saving to them though they had not that clear and express knowledge to call it by all or many of these Names that the Scriptures call it by expresly and shall we say they must all perish who though they own the Grace and Spirit of Christ and its operation in them yet are shy and fearful to call it Christ in them and to be sure as few of the Gentiles knew this inward Principle of Truth in them by the express Knowledge and Names of Jesus and Christ as knew him to be Man in the outward by these Names And here Note that ten several times at least in the Words and Passages they have quoted out of my Books they bring me in using the Word Express still saying The Express Knowledge and Faith of Christ's Death is not universally necessary to Mens Salvation And seeing in all my late Books and also at present I say the same I appeal to all moderate Persons of common sense if this be any contradiction or rather doth not this false and unfair way of their Arguing evidently prove them wonderfully ignorant and blinded with Prejudice against me and let any School-Boy or Tiro or Person of Common Sense judge if these two Propositions held by me and thousands more are contradictory The express Knowledge and Faith of Christ is not necessary to all that shall be saved Some Knowledge and Faith of Christ is necessary to all that shall be saved Even as whether these two Propositions be contradictory The clear Light of Sun Moon Fire or Candle is not necessary to see and read with Some light of Sun Moon Fire or Candle is necessary to see and read with Their next Head is pag. 23. That I said in my former Books the Inward Principle is to be Preached in the first place and the Effects thereof Answ This I grant still and how and in what sense in the Words aforegoing I have sufficiently declared and I further add That some true knowledge of God springing from the Inward Principle in concurrence with the serious Consideration of the Works of Creation and Providence is necessary as previous and prior to the knowledge of Christ's Death and Sufferings for our Sins for in God's ordinary way we are first taught that there is a God before we are taught that there is one only Son of God that proceeded from him by an Eternal Generation and who became the Son of Man by Generation in the Fullness of Time The first of these Lessons or Doctrines belong to all Men to know and they are rather Bruits than Men who know it not The second of these Lessons is proper and peculiar to Christians and may well be called at least one of the first things needful to be preached known and believed among them called Christians and as the Doctrine of Christ's outward coming is truly and duly Preached by enlightned and well qualified Preachers that more excellent and peculiar Influence and Ministration of the Spirit that accompanies the Faith of Christ crucified is also preached and not only preached but freely given and imparted by God through Christ to all such who hear it and believe it sincerely as it is preached Therefore what is necessary in the first place to be preached to them that have little or no true Knowledge of God or of an Inward Principle is one thing and what is first to be preached in order to bring Men to the Christian Faith and Religion more immedately and proximately is another as what is necessary in the first place to be Preached to Men that they may know God and believe in him as a Creator King and Lord over all is one thing and what is necessary to be preached to Men in the first place that they may know God and believe in him as a Gracious Father pardoning their Sins freely for Christ's sake and accepting them in him and that also they may believe in Christ crucified is another thing All which proveth sufficiently what I have delivered both in my former and latter Books to be well consistent on this very Head viz. That the Faith of Christ's Death and Sufferings is one of the first Principles of the Christian Religion and therefore is so to be preached together with the Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment and Repentance from dead Works according to Heb. 6. 1 2. which according to the Greek is there called The Word of the Beginning of Christ. But what do my Adversaries bring against me on this Head to prove my Self-contradiction Nothing at all therefore they show themselves stronger in Falsly Accusing than in justly Proving Their following Head is pag. 25. Where they charge me with a Self-contradiction in saying The Gentiles were savingly enlightned who knew not the History of Christ's outward coming c. And they think I contradict my self when I said in my Book called A further Discovery pag. 10. of one called a Friend that lately Preached That he was a bold ignorant Soul for preaching that the Blood which cleanseth from all Sin was the Life and the Life is the Light calling it a perverse Exposition I Answer That it is a perverse Exposition and that he who gave it was a bold ignorant Soul I still affirm and I charge them to be guilty of gross Forgery until they prove that I have said the same and gave that Exposition on that place of Scriptrue 1 John 1. 7. which I do not in the least remember but no proof they bring any where that I have so said and their Argument is Fallacious and Deceitful like themselves that because I have said It is the Life that saveth Rom. 5. 10. citing pag. 115. of my Book called Universal Grace therefore that by Blood in that place 1 John 1. 7. I did mean the Life which is the Light within And the Fallacy and Sophistry of their Argument lieth in this that because I have granted the Life within saveth or cleanseth from Sin that therefore the Blood mentioned 1 John 1. 7. is the Life Now if I had said Nothing but the Life within saveth or cleanseth from all Sin they might have justly so argued But seeing I ever held as I do at present hold that there are several concurring Causes in the great Work of our Salvation and cleansing from Sin which though agreeing in one Harmony
of this visible Earth What that part was unless they will say it was that Mountain in Yorkshire he mentions where he had his Vision but surely that could not be Paradise for the Barrenness of it A third Evidence for me and against these Men that have given out this Book is William Shewen a great Man among them lately deceased who to perswade us of his Infallibility hath told us Treatise of Thoughts pag. 14. That he cannot write contrary to Scripture being in unity with them And pag. 19 20. plainly tells us That the Man was not deceived with the Beauty of an Apple or some other outward Fruit nor by the Talk or Perswasion of any Creature like our English Snakes as vain Man in his carnal Mind imagins So we see his Censure of G. Whitehead and J. Pennington that they are vain who have so imagined in their Carnal Minds How G. Whitehead will clear himself of this and many other gross Self-contradictions I leave to the Tryal Pag. 36. Their Abuse and Perverson is manifest in seeking to fix a Contradiction on me for affirming in my Book Help in time of Need That the Scriptures are not that Word to wit that living essential Word more than a Map or Description of Rome or London is Rome or London or the Image of Caesar is Caesar or Bread and Wine is the Body and Blood of Christ And for Querying Truth Advanced Que. 5. Whether it may not be said there is one Baptism as that there is one Land ca led America though the Map or Figure of it is also called America even as there is but one Spiritual Baptism with the Holy Ghost though the outward Baptism with Water is also called Baptism Now beside that this last is only a Query but let it pass for a Position let the Intelligent judge what Contradiction is here or least Inconsistency Contradictories can never be true but both these are true 1. The Scriptures are not that Living and Essential Word which is Christ this is a Truth that all called Christians acknowledge But that they may be called the Word as a Map of America is called America I never denyed but have oft said and which is agreeable to many Protestant Writers who have used such a phrase a Map or Scheme of the Gospel Nor is the Bread and Wine the Body and Blood of Christ though it be so called Now if these Men deny this to be a Truth they must hold with Papists that the Bread and Wine is really the Body and Blood of Christ 2. That though there is but one Spiritual Baptism yet that the outward Baptism with Water is also called Baptism is also true for John's Baptism with Water is called in Scripture the Baptism of John And after they have thus shown their own Folly and Ignorance in a scoffing Spirit they call me Rabby though its the known way of the Quakers not to call a Man Master that is in Hebrew Rabbi Matth. 23. 7 8. yet to Indulge a Scoffing Humour they will transgress their Rule Here this Rabbi say they hath foiled himself sorely But let the Intelligent judge whether they have not foiled themselves sorely all along their abusive and scandalous Book that excepting these Sound Passages and Testimonies they have collected out of my Books which greatly make for me and show that I am constant in my Principles as to the Faith of Christ contains little else than a heap of Falsities and Perversions But that they say He once boasted in his Serious Appeal pag. 29. That he hath the Gifts both of Sound Knowledge and Expression with manifold other Mercies bestowed on him In this they falsly accuse me for there is nothing in that place that either expresses or implyeth any boast in the least For whereas my Opponent had charged me with marveous Ignorance Falshood and Giddiness I said among other things I doubt not but judicious and impartial Readers who compare his Books and mine will have another judgment concerning me and acknowledge to God's praise the Gifts both of Sound Knowledge and Expression with his manifold other Mercies bestowed on m for which I desire to Praise him forever But to make it look like a Boast they leave out these last Words and also the foregoing Words and its evident I used these Words only Comparatively and not Absolutely for I never judged my self absolutely Infallible nor have been a Self-Praiser as too many of them are and I may now say let their Books who have appeared against me of late as W. Penn G. Whitehead T. Ellwood and others be compared with mine and I doubt not but judicious and impartial Readers will have another judgment concerning me than these my prejudiced Adversaries and acknowledge to God's Praise the Gifts of sound Knowledge and Expression that God hath given me for which I desire forever to Praise him but this I understand only Comparatively for I never had such thoughts of my self nor have but that the Sentiments of my Mind and Expressions of my Mouth and Pen in divers things may admit of Correction though as to the main every true Christian as well as I may say We have a Sound Knowledge and Faith And whereas they pass another Scoff upon me pag. 34. calling my Book Truth Advanced His bulky Book which is but of small bulk in comparison of the bulky Volumns of G. Whitehead W Penn and divers others I am not doubtful to say that Intelligent Readers who compare their great bulky Books with that one small bulky Book of mine will say there is more Sound matter of Doctrine in it and the Contents of it are more for Edification than in their great bulky Books Yet I have been so modest a thing I never found in any of them to acknowledge that in some things I may receive some Correction and better information See my Pref. Truth Adv. pag. 45. Pag 44. They quarrel my expounding Adam and Eve's hiding themselves among the Trees of the Garden to be in a Tree of the Garden and that one Tree may be well understood to be the divine Mercy or Clemency I had said in my Book Truth Adv. the Hebrew doth bear it in a Tree of the Garden pag. 25. But I must excuse their Ignorance in the Hebrew that they will not admit of this true Translation And are they not Carnally Minded to think that Adam thought he could hide himself either among the Trees of an outward Garden or in any one Tree of it so as God might not see him this is to think at least that Adam was an Anthropomorphit or Mugletonian as having such a gross Opinion that God had bodily Eyes as a Man and that an outward Tree could hide him from God And their Argument is as foolish against my saying That Tree might be the Divine Mercy or Clemency They say The Divine Mercy is in Christ Jesus and if they were got there when they heard the Voice of the Lord God walking in
were they armed with Truth and Righteousness they needed not have complained of want of due preparation its odd and a new sort of Language for one called a Quaker to tell us of his not being prepared the Scripture saith 1 Pet. 3. 15. Be ready always to give an Answer to every Man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you When I was most falsly and uncharitably accused by John Voughton John Field and Thomas Ellwood at the Yearly Meeting 1694. I sought no Particulars of Quotations and Pages referred unto nor did any intimate to me before-hand the particular Passages in my Books that they justly excepted against I intirely relyed on the Assistance of God to help me what to answer to the many false Accusations and Perversions that my Accusers used against me and I found him a present help to me I had offered in Print before to Tho. Elwood that he would appoint Time and Place and I would stand to his Appointment And I make the same Offer to you again I freely allow you to serve me as I have served you Give out your Advertisement in Print appoint your Time and Place and let me have your Charge without your Proofs until we meet and then bring them forth against me I premise God permitting to meet you provided the Meeting be free and open to all Sober Persons A POSTSCRIPT Containing an Earnest Expostulation with the most Pious and Learned whether in the Church of England or among other Protestant Dissenters and a serious Invitation unto them to employ some of their Time and Labour by their Pious and Learned Writings to oppose and refute those vile Errors boldly avowed and publickly broached in the late Printed Books of some Leading Men among a Gang and sort of Quakers IT may seem strange how it comes to pass that while so many Pious and Learned Men are judged to be found in this Nation not only of the Church of England but among the Dissenters and Nonconformists there are found so few among them all that do imploy their Gifts to oppose such Vile Errors as are boldly and avowedly promoted among a sort and Gang of the People called Quakers not only as bad as any Popery but much worse than the worst of Popery in divers respects and I am confident if such Antichristian Errors and Heresies were but the tenth part so avowedly broached in the City of Rome or any where else in Popish Countries these esteemed Watchmen among them would be more alarmed to oppose them by Word and Writing than most among Protestants do which would seem to cast a great Reflexion on the Protestant Churches if some able Men and of good esteem among them both for Piety and Sound Knowledge be not awakened to bestow some of their time and labour by their Writings to oppose such Vile Errors and such a Work would be so far from unbecoming the ablest and most valuable Persons in this Nation for Piety and Learning that it would turn much to their Honour and real Advantage to bestir themselves in this Work It frequently happeneth that Books are more valued and the Contents of them the more regarded and considered and the more universally read and recommended that Persons of publick Note and Fame when Pious and Learned are the Authors of them And whereas many of the chiefest Teachers and Leaders among the People called Quakers have formerly with great boldness provoked such as have differed from them to publick Disputes viva voce and have oft gloried over them who refused to answer them that their Cause was bad and that they had not Truth on their side and in these days there was no such Cry to be heard from them as now That such publick Disputes will offend Authority and break the Civil Peace yea how oft have some of their Teachers assaulted the National Ministers in the Face of their Congregations and provoked them to dispute with them and on their refusal have cryed out against them to be Fugitives and Hirelings when the said National Ministers way of Religion and Worship was approved by Authority and that of the People called Quakers was not Would it not therefore be a most equal reasonable and commendable Practise for any Persons of true Piety and solid Learning moved with the Zeal of God's Glory and love of Truth and with a Holy Indignation against these Vile Errors that are publickly avouched by some Leading Men among the Quakers as appeareth both by their former and later Printed Books and with a tender Compassion to the Souls of so many Thousands in this Nation that are in danger to perish by the Infection of these Errors openly and publickly to call them forth to a publick Hearing and to press them by earnest Perswasions to retract and condemn those vile and damnable Errors contained in their Books or if they continue to justifie them to refute them openly in the Face of their own Meetings and in the presence of them that do so much admire and follow them And thus to serve them at they have served others and with what Measure they have met to others with the sone to mete to them again And it would be a Commendable and Praise-worthy thing for the Civil Authority to encourage such a Practise throughout the Nation that Men of true Piety and solid Learning might be allowed and Countenanced to Refute these Vile and Abominable Errors of these chief Teachers and Leaders anong them called Quakers in their Meeting-Houses at the end of their Meetings or at other fit times Surely such a Practise as this as it is no ways inconsistent with the Civil Peace and Liberty of Conscience granted to Dissenting Protestants notwithstanding of the idle Clamour of such Men who have an Evil Conscience and a lad Cause would be more effectual to Preserve the True Protestant Christian Religion in these three Nations than all the severe ways in former times used against then of Fines Imprisonments c. And though it is far from me to desire the least Suffrings to come on these Mens Persons or Estates yet if such a zeal were raised in them bearing Authority in this Nation to give order that all such Books of them called Quakers as can readily be found as great store of such there are that contan such Vile and Abominable Errors to the dishonour of the worthy Name of Christ and the Christian Religion and the great danger of many Souls be diligently searched and examined by the most Pious and Judicious Persons in the Nation and after due search and Examination be found guilty that by publick Authority all such Books may be suppressed and witnessed against I may freely say these Men should have no just Cause to Complain that their Books should be so dealt with for they have done the like to Books that have opposed their gross Errors witness a Parcel of Books writ by me some Four Years ago that came to London from Pensilvania opposing the