perish but he that hath the true living hope in him which the Apostle speaks of in John 2.3 purifieth himself even as he is pure And again Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies Many other places of Scripture might be brought tending to the proof of what I have before asserted but these I judge might be sufficient The last thing I find my self concerned with him in his Book is in Page 69. Where he saith I called on him to make good the third part of the Charge viz That the prime Principles of a Quaker are the same which were held and professed by the Beasts that Paul fought with at Ephesus This I own indeed that I did call upon him to make good or prove as in his paper sent to us he said he would do with the greatest plainness and clearness out of the Holy Scriptures a copy of which paper I have still by me these words to wit with the greatest plainness and clearness I find he has left out and saith in his Book from the Holy Scriptures I note it because there is a great deal of difference between proving a matter with the greatest plainness and clearnness out of Holy Scriptures and proving of it by his pretended Logical Arguments and Cousequences Because the one makes a thing perfectly appear as it is but the other as ill managed and misapplyed darkens Peoples minds as his Ergo's it is so or consequently it must be or may be so in which manner of proving a matter may be gross erring as I have already shewed where he said of me That I never had the Spirit of God in me His first Argument to prove that was thus formed Using the Apostles Words in the 1 John 5.8 where he saith There are three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in me meaning himself But the Spirit that is in thee doth not agree with the Water of Baptism nor Blood of the Supper for thou hast renounced both the Sacraments therâ—fore the Spirit of God is not in thee Why should the Spirit that is in me agree with such a Popish Phrase as Blood of the Supper any moâ—e than with Sacrament of the Altar will this prove that I never had the Spirit of God in me or that the Spirit of God is not in me The like I never read in all the Scriptures of Truth that ever any of the true Ministers of Christ used thus to censure others on such occasion and terms But this was the way that this Man used to prove several of his charges against us But I minding this third Part of his Charge which was as beforemention'd That the prime Principles of a Qâ—ak r are the same which were held and professed by the Beasts Paul fought with at Ephesus And knowing it was too hard a thing for him to prove against all such as are call'd Quakers or any one as I know of I urged him to prove it if he could by plain Scripture but no such place of Scripture did he bring that could prove that charge for that the Principles of the People of God called Quakâ—rs and them Men called Beasts at Ephesus are far enough differing if they were Men the Apostle means as in point of Worship is well known to the Nation As in this particular that the People called Quakers do not Worship an Image an Idol God the Workmanship of Mans Hands which the Men at Ephesus called Beasts did as we may read in Acts 19.26 This Paul hath perswaded and turned away much People saying that they be not Gods which are made by Mens Hands and in Vers 27. So that not only our Craft is in danger to be set at nought but also that the Temple of the great Goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence should be destroyed whom all Asia and the World Worshippeth and in the 28 Verse And when they heard these sayings they where full of Wrath and cryed out saying great is Diana of the Ephesians and in the 35 Vers Ye Men of Ephâ—sus what Man is there that knoweth not how that the City of the Ephesians is a Worshipper of the great Goddess Diana and of tht Image which fell from Jupiter But the Principles of the People called Quakers in point of Worship is to Worship the true God in Spirit and in Truth and such Worshippers Christ himself saith the Father seeketh And their prime Principle is Christ Jesus the Power of God the Light that inlightneth every Man that cometh into the World And what other erronious Principles them Beasts at Ephâ—sus held I know the People called Quakers disown sufficiently but what need have I to make that my business to search for them now this Man viz Sampson Bond having charged us so grosly and falsly as he hath and saying He would prove with the greatâ—st in plâ—inâ—â—ss and clearness out of the Holy Scriptures it was his place if he could have done it to have brought forth the Scripture to have proved both the Principles of the one and the other and so have made them appear to be as one and the same as he in his Paper to us said he would But here I have answered that false Charge of his and made it appear by plain Scripture that their Principles or at least some of their Pâ—incipâ—es was to Worship a visible Image And no such thing can be proved against he People called Quakers Now where does it appear that the Principles of the Beasts at Ephesus these being some of theirs and the Pâ—inciples of the People called Quakers agree Surely the Principles of those called Beasts at Ephesus and the Principles of the People called Quaâ—ers are far enough from agreeing as one and the same But I find in his Book that he alleadges their Principles were First That the Body of Christ was not raisâ—d from the Dead Secondâ—y That no Mans Body shall be raisâ—d from the Dead Noâ— that these â—here the Principâ—es of these Feasts that Paul fought with at Ephesus I do not find the Scripture plain for it But that their Pâ—inciples were as I have befâ—râ—mentioned the Scripture is very plain clear for that if the Apostle speak figuratively But that it was part of the Apostles Testimony to preach unto People Jesus and the Resurrection I own and truly believe as may be plainâ—y seen both to the Aâ—henians and Corinthians and it is like to many moâ—e both Jews and Greeks and that it was strange Doctrine as we may read in Acts 17. It was to the Athâ—nians to whom Paul preached at Mars-hill â—ut what is this to prove that it was the Principles of the Beasts that Paul fought with at Ephâ—sus or of the Qâ—â—kâ—rs either This Man having given fâ—om under his Haâ—d that he would prove his charge with the greâ—test plaiâ—n ss clearness from the Holy
the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures through Holy Men 2 Pet. 1.21 And it is the Spirit that must open the mysterys in the Scriptures 1 Cor. 2.12 Or else all are blind like thee Sampson And S. B. doth strongly plead for his Masters Kingdom of Sin and Darkness from the 77 to the 87 Page of his Book and in these 10 Pages he hath made such a Babel building in confusion and wresting the Scriptures and giving his meanings upon them to prove what he saith and then concludes never to come our of Sin nor no Man else till they be Dead and hath charged all the Holy Prophets Fathers and Apostles to live in Sin he hath thrown dirt in the faces of them all and with his cloud of Darkness where under he dwells would he cover them all But God will judge thee for thy Lies and reproach thou hast cast upon his Ministers Servants and Prophets who were redeemed from the Earth and knew the Kingdome to be come in Power and sate together in Heavenly places in Christ Iesus who were Washed and Cleansed by his precious Blood and their Bodys were Temples for God to dwell in and walk in and not receptacles for Sin and Darkness as S. B. is and cannot come out of it as he saith till he be dead and so he will live and have all Men to live â—in and serve the Devil till they be dead and then they shall pertake of the fulness of God in Heaven 8 Page of his Book Oh! S. B. Thou hast sound out easy way to please Hypocrites to go to Heaven But if thou repent not of this thy wicked and confused work and believe in the Light of Christ Iesus that thy Heart may be cleansed thou wilt perrish in Darkness for ever But Job and Paul and John with the rest of Gods Servants whom thou hast falsly accused who were humble Men fearing God and did not justifie themselves but saw they were weak without him but as they stood in the Faith they beheld his glory and confest to his power which redeemed their Souls from Death and their Feet from falling And David was washed from his Sin through Repentance and Job was accepted of God but not in Sin S. B. do thou look to that Neither did Paul sit down in that state crying out O Wretched Man Who shall deliver me from this Body of Death But as a good Soldier in the Spiritual Warfare he followed Christ Jesus the Captain of his Salvation and sought a good fight and kept the Faith and did not sit down in unbeleif but bore Teâ—timony to the Power of Christ Jesus that had made him more then a Conquerer and then he came to know a better state and a growth in Christ Jesus and then he could say There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walks not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.1 2. And Christ Jesus said The Strong Man keeps the House till a stronger comes and binds him and spoils his Goods and disposses him And so they that are in the Faith which purifies the Heaâ—t not a Notion only they have experience of this blessed work and cannot plead for Sin term of Life but are in him that destroys the Devil and his works and brings in Everlasting Righteousness And they that are born of God sins not 1 Iohn 3.9 We believe the Apostle John spake true although thou S. B. would make him a Liar as in thy 83 Page where thou chargest the Apostle with saying We that are in the new Birth if we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us But John doth not say so but it is thou that art adding to his Words for he doth not say He that is born of God commits Sin but He that is born of God doth not commit Sin and so thou art a false accuser of the beloved Disciple of Christ Jesus Who saith 1 John 1.5 This is the Message we have heard and declare unto you that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we Lie and do not the Truth but if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have from fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin But if we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us but if we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness And here the Apostle speaks of states and conditions he had passed through that others who where Travelling after might be Encouraged to walk in the Light that they might know the Blood of Christ to cleanse them from their Sins And so he that hath this Hope purifies himself as he is pure 1 Iohn 3.3 And so we have Testimony unto the Power of Christ Jesus who destroys the Devil and his works and brings in Everlasting Righteousness and makes an end of Sin and so we cannot plead for the Devils Kingdom of Sin and Darkness like S. B. till he is Dead But let Sampson Bond plead for Sin till his Tongue cleave to the Roof of his Mouth yet God will establish Righteousness in the Earth And in thy 82 Page thou falsly accuseth Paul That perfection from Sin was not attainable in this Life but at the Resurrection of the Dead and bringest Phil. 3.12 But Paul says no such thing but he says He follows after that he may Apprehend that for which he is Apprehended of Christ And 14 Vers I press towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and preached wisdom amonâ—st them that were perfect And if S. B. had experience of the work of Christ Jesus in his Heart he would have seen a possibility of being washed and cleansed from his Sin and a further growth increase into the manifold Gifts and Graces of Gods Spirit for to be cleansed from Sin is not the highest perfection attainable in this Life But S. B. saith in his 80 Page The meanest Saint upon the Earth is like his Father in Heaven that he is like to God who begitteth all his Children in his own Likâ—ness How now S. B. what must we be like our Father which is in Heaven who begets his Children in his own likeness what is not this perfection to be like God But if this be true as no doubt it is then what will become of thy Kingdom of Sin and Death thou art pleading for term of Life in these 10 Pages of thy Book thou hast overthrown it all at once But saith S. B. No Man is like the Father or the Son in the degrees of these perfect or pure Qualities No who ever said they
their Hats a practice never used by the Christians in former Ages that ever we Read off and to bow and scrape and such like this its like would please thee well and for want of this I judge thou art so filled with Envy against the Innocent who cannot bow to thy proud Spirit nor cannot respect persons knowing that it is contrary to the Faith of the Lord Jesus and contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostle James who saith He that respects persons commits sin and is Judged of the Law as a Transgressor Jam. 2.1.9 And because we cannot thus stoop to the proud Spirit and bow to the Exalted will who lovest to have the preminence therefore it is that thou are so filled with madness against us calling us a proud People a People of a surely Dumb Scurvy Sneaking Deportment and Carriage making us to appear to thy hearers or at least to as to many of them as will believe thee that we were the worst of Men but this is no new thing to be reviled for the Christians in the Primitive times were accounted by the World as the off-scowring of all things so we are contented to bear thy Reproaches Railing and Reviling Speeches knowing we are not above our Lord whom thou hast Reproached with as Reproachful Terms as thou canst find to cast upon us his Servants So I leave thee it this particular to the Lord to Judge thee who will reward every one according to their Works And Proceed to the Scripture mentioned by S. B. in page 46. where he saith I brought in the behalf of my Clyant the false Christ thus Doubling and redoubling his Blasphemies to the filling up the measure of his iniquity the Scripture is Joh 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all unrighteâ—â—sness and because these Words seem to him too like a Quaker therefore after his usual manner because he cannot alter the words he will make his interpretation thereof to serve his turn and so turns all only outward Christ outward and Blood outward and Cleansing outward viz. from the Pain or punishment of Sin as is clear page 47. so perswading poor Innocent People that the Word of Life which made the World and preserves all things by the Word of his Power is such a thing or Person that might be seen with a visible Eye and whose voice might be heard with the outward Ear contrary to the Words of Christ to the Jews who did see the Body and heard the outward voice yet the same Jesus doth Testifie they neither had heard the voice of God nor seen his shape and farther he saith that God was manifest to three of the outward sences and so Lodowick Mugleton's God is S. Bs. God who said his God had Arms and Shoulders as he had and this appears to be S. B's Faith that the God head was manifest Flesh real Mankind Flesh as in page 41. so that he would have the Efficacy of the Blood extend no farther at the utmost then to take off the Punishment of Sin which is contrary to the Apostle in Heb. 9.14 Where he saith The Blood of Christ purgeth the Conscience from Dead works to serve the living God And whereas S. B. would make his interpretation seem good by the following Words if we say we have no sin we are Lyers by this he would make People believe that notwithstanding all the cleansing there spoken of yet sin remains and they are Lyers that deny it to which I give answer I do not so understand the Words but rather if any shall deny that they have any sin and so consequently that they have no need of cleansing they are Lyers and I have just reason so to Judge after the Apostle had farther Enlarged his Testimony concerning Cleansing in the last verse he speaketh thus if we say we have not sinned speaking of the time past and not of any present being of sin For indeed if there were no sin there were no need of a Saviour no need of a Sacrifice but this we do believe by Nature all are Sinners defiled with sin and children of wrath having the Heart and Soul defiled with Works of unrighteousness but now being washed and Cleansed from all unrighteousness what doeth or can remain when all is taken away then the Soul must needs confess to the Truth that he hath sinned and this must needs be the meaning otherwise the Apostle would be found contradicting his own Doctrine Chap. 3.9 He that is Born of God doth not commit sin and saith farther He cannot sin because born of God In page 48. S. B. saith he asked me a question viz. whether the Saints was cleansed from all sin by the water of regeneration or by the Blood of Justification To the which he saith I answered by the Water which he saith caused many People to Laugh Answer Of this Question I remember not one Word nor of the answer thereto annexed only this I very well remember that when I spoke of the opperation of the Blood of Cleansing he looking to the People said it was never known that ever the Blood of Christ ever cleansed any Man from Sin but he said it was the Water and said we deny the Water But having here an opportunity I do bear forth my Testimony according to the Scripture 1 Joh 5.8 There are three that bear Record on Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one so that this I believe that the Spirit Water and Blood do agree in one in their operation in Washing and cleansing the Soul from sin and there is three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost The next Scripture Alledged he saith was Heb. 10.15 But a Body hast thou prepared me to which Scripture several of us strictly urged an answer viz. who that me was for whom the Body was prepared although in his Book he said he answered that it was the God head of the Son yet I remember very well how he was at that time greviously confounded about it and no other answer could we receive from him at that time so far as I remember but this viz. by me was meant the Body though urged over and over though now after better consideration he hath brought forth a smoother answer in his Book And whereas in page 49. he saith that the Leading Quakers hath brought forth in Print that this prepared Body was prepared in Heaven and brought with him into the Virgins Womb which Body he saith that they the Leading Quakers calls a mistical Invisible Spiritual Heavenly Body of Flesh and Blood and that the mistical Invisible Body is the true and only Saviour whose Birth Death Resurrection and Glorification is only Mistical and Invisible Reply I am perswaded if this Priest had known any Quaker that had so written as concerning that prepared Body of the Son of God he had not so little Enmity in him but he would have brought forth his
say That the Word took Flesh of the Virgin and that he suffered without the Gates of Jerusalen c. And therefore Priest Bond is to prove who ever said That the Body of Christ attributes no more Soul saving Merit than to the Body of a Turk or a Jew And again Priest Bond saith I do acknowledge with him to wit the Quaker that the effects of Christs death and sufferings are to be inwardly Witnessed within us Page 8. And yet Chirst within is a Devil his Light an Idol within How agrees the Blasphemy with the Confession And who is it that works Doth not Christ work inwardly in his People by his Faith Light and Spirit And Priest Bond hath made a great stir in three or four Pages about the False Christ and he may apply all these Pages to himself for they do not at all concern the Quakers And all his Lies and Slanders and filthy calumnies and his ungracious filthy Language in his Book doth manifest him to be no Minister of the Gospel but a Minister of soul Language and Lies neither hath he proved the Quakers principles to be erroneous but hath manifested his own erroneous Principles 75 times over Priest Bond saith The Quakers in Burmoudos Tryed found guilty Sentenced and Executed But Priest Bond here is both False-witness False Accusor and Flase Judge and Party and yet accuses Francis Eastlack and saith He that was the Party made himself the determinating Judge Page 6. But the Quakers are clear of all his Slanders and he is found Guilty of all the false Charges that he would falsly Charge upon the Quakers in Burmoudas and others that he hath mentioned and wronged in his wicked Lying Book and therefore he may take them home for they are fittest for him and his Condemnation with the Light of Christ Priest Bond saith As I was about to read some of G. F 's Doctrine they grew impatient and by no means would have it read thereupon I did forbear But I have here inserted it to wit G. Fox in his Boook entituled the Mystery Page 49. 50. Hath these words Ye scorn me the Light in you they have disobeyed it and called it a natural Light and ye have said that I the Light am not able to save these that believe in me Furthermore Page 54. that if ye would believe and wait on me the Light I will purge out all your iniquity and forgive all your Trespasses and I shall change your natures if you hearken to me and obey the Light within These are the words I would have read but being hindred c. Answer These are Priest Bonds horrid Lies for there is not one of these words in all the Pages of G. F's Book which Priest Bond brings S. Bond thou brings G. F's query which any that reads G. F's Book may see which he queries of the Priest F. Higinson Where doth the Scripture speak of Humane the word Humane where is it written tell us that we may search for it S. B. forger of these Lies Now we do not deny that Christ according to the Flesh was of Abraham but not the word Humane and Christs Nature is not Humane which is Earthly for that is the first Adam And this is G. F's answer to Higinson who said That Christs Nature was Humane c. And S. Bond in Page 50. makes a great pudder about it but instead of proving of it which he hath not by Scripture but hath made the matter worse and saith G. F. puts no difference betwixt Humane and Humane which S. Bond hath proved neither of these words by Scripture which he calls his Rule And when he hath been beating the Air he confesses We have not such a Word And yet S. B. saith Having the thing who contradicts himself but he hath not proved it And again S. Bond saith Christ is also said to be from Heaven Page 50. and yet Humane And again Page 69. S. Bond saith Stephen saw Christs humane Body in Heaven Acts 7. Here thou wrongest the Scripture and Stephen for there is not the word Humame in Acts 7. But Stephen being full of the Holy-Ghost looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the Right Hand of God and said behold I saw the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the Right Hand of G d So he saw Christ being full of the Holy-Ghost And yet Priest Bond saith Chirsts Flesh and Bones was Spiritual after he was Risen Page 72. And the Quakers say The Word of God is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart which is the Word of Faith that we and the Apostle preacht And S. Bond saith c. I do not apprehend in Rom. 10.6 c. How these verses do answer the argument of any one of them which proves a Quakers pretended Saviour within to be a false Christ the Devil Page 13. Or how they preve the pretended Saviour within to be the true Christ and yet Priest Bond saith As the righteousness of Faith is the Redeemer against all doubts of Salvation c. But Priest Bond is not this Righteousness of Faith within the Hearts of Gods people And hi Page 15. S. Bond contradicts himself and saith That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shall believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved that is to say the word of Faith Preacht is nigh in our Mouths We have received Christ whom God hath revealed in our hearts and hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying Aba Father Gal. 4. this we witness 2. Cor. 13. Now S. Bond finds fault with G. F. for using the word their for our as in Page 51. and saith It is contrary to the Apostle But in page 15. Priest Bond uses the word is nigh in our Mouths instead of saying The word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth And so doth not he himself abuse the Apostles words as in Rom. 10. And I bring but this for him to see his own folly who is Straining at Gnats and swallowing Camels though G. F's word our to us and their to the Apostles is proper enough and the word of Faith is nigh us in our hearts and mouths as well as in thy as the Apostle said but Priest Bond who cavils at Words may see how he mistakes himself and utters forth his own Folly S. Bond brings Thomas Moors saying in Page 51. That Christ was absent from us while we were in this Mortal Body And G. F. answers contrary to the Apostle who said The Life of Christ is manifest in their Mortal Flesh yes and we say again that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Mortal Flesh and Christ is in us the hope of Glory But Bond makes a great pudder that the Life of Christ Jesus might not is but be made manifest in not their but our mortal Flesh But
vvhen all your Foggs and Mists of Darkness shall be driven avvay into the Pitt from vvhence it came Blessed be the Name of Christ Jesus vvho lives for Ever John Tysoe THE TRUTH OF Christ Jesus With the PROFESSORS thereof in the Island of BERMUDAS Commonly called QUAKERS Cleared from the Three Ungodly False Charges charged upon them by Samp. Bond Teacher in the said ISLAND in a BOOK Entituled The Quakers in BERMUDAS Tryed c. In which Book are found many Blasphemies Slanders false Accusations false Glosses and Interpretations herein searched and noted in their particular Pages and examined and confuted with as much brevitie as the matter could well bear By a Friend and lover of the Truth in the same Island called Francis Estlacke Psal 57.4 My Soul is among Lyons and I lye even among them that are set on fire even the Sons of Men whose teeth are Spears and Arrows and their Tongue a sharp Sword 2 Tim. 3.13 But Evil Men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived TO THE Unprejudiced Reader FRIEND The occasion of this following Discourse is this I meeting with a Book given forth by Sampson Bond a Teacher in Pembrook-Tribe in Bermudas in which Book I see my self greatly concerned for the Truths sake which was by him exceedingly Reviled Reproached and Blasphemed the Scripture greatly wronged through false glosses or Interpretatious upon them forceing the Saints Testimony to speak another thing then was truly testified by them in plainnes of Speech besides the many Lies Abuses and Slanders cast upon Friends by this malicious Priest who as it appears by his Book cares not greatly what he speakes or writes not having respect so much as to his own credit For these causes a necessity came upon me for the Truths sake to write this following discourse Therefore who ever thou art that reads this Book I advise thee to stand single to the Truth removeing all prejudice out of thy Heart against any neither look at the weakness and meanness of the hand that writ it nor to the ruggedness of the expressions all which tend directly to darken the Truth and thereby to bring thy Soul to join in affinity with the Enemy of Gods Truth and thy Souls Peace and then being so far entangled in the Snare the next thing will be thou wilt be ingaged in the Dragons Quarrel to take up his Weapon to defend the Dragons cause against the Lamb. And if so what canst thou expect but to receive thy Portion with the Dragon his Angels under the Eternal dispeasure of the Almighty in the day of the Lambs Victory who shall certainly overcome for he is mighty that hath promised to whom be glory Everlasting Therefore Friend or Friends in Bermudas chiefly the place where I drew my first Breath and amongst whom I now dwell feeling the love of God springing in my Soul toward you you were and are chiefly in my Eye that your precious Soules may not be deceived but that ye may be recovered out of the subtil Fowlers Snare who lays wait to catch your precious Soules To you therefore is mine advise read with Soberness and sink down in the waightiness of your Spirits that you may be Enlightned with the Light of Christ Jesus in which you may be able to see and reach the thing by me intended even the Truth to stand clear and Deceit to come under the Just Judgment of God And if this I obtain then have I my desire who am a Friend to your Immortal Souls and desire your Eternal Happiness Written in Bermudas the 25th Day of the first Month 1683. F. E. The Truth of Christ Jesus cleared c. BEfore I enter upon the discourse it self I find it necessary to note a few things in the Preface to the Reader where first Sampson Bond seems to lay down the moving cause which first moved him to give forth his three Questions with their Answers stated which was he saith He was informed of a Paper that the Quakers had lefâ— with a Gentleman in this Island intimating a Challenge to the Ministers c. which Paper although slighted by him he durst not answer which Paper was by way of Challenge given forth by Stephen Bullock to try their God by fasting which was the very thing upon which that word was spoken viz That S. B. durst as soon take a Bear by the Tooth as answer it and not upon the account of any dispute and as for any other letter that was sent afterward as he saith viz between the time that this Paper was given forth as a Challenge to their Ministers and the time he sent his Questions to us I never heard of any Paper that was sent to him And whereas he saith in the said Preface That they i. e. the Quakers came the first of May following to the place assigned Mark without giving him any special notice of it As if we had come upon him unawares To which I answer that this is absolutely false for after I had received his Paper and shewed the same to Friends who considering of the same and finding his promise that he desired a regular Dispute Friends generally determined to meet him at the place appointed whereupon I writ a few lines to the said Priest to signifie our Acceptance our intents to meet him and sent the Paper by his next Neighbour who brought me back an answer Beside the matter was made every way so publick that when the day came the House was greatly filled from all parts almost of the whole Island which is not usual on their Lecture-days But when we came expecting to have a regular Disputation viz that we should have had liberty to have answered to the Charge along as he went we found it quite another thing as doth appear in his Preface For his intent was to bind us down in silence until he had quite finished his whole work intended which I perceived by the time he spent in the answer to his first Question he would have wearied out the Peoples patience so that they would hardly wait to hear any return And Secondly The Peoples Minds would have been so stuffed with his multitude of Arguments Slanders Lies and false Accusations that there would not have been room for Truth to get any entrance And lastly it tended to prevent and stop us so that we should not find where to have an entrance to make any orderly reply to any thing that he spake for which cause it was that I stopt him when he had ended his first answer for which he charges us with Unfaithfulness who never made him no such promise as to give him such liberty as he required So having noted these things from his Preface I proceed to consider his first Proposition as laid down in the first Page of his Book which is as followeth That a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true Christ but the false Christ the Devil Which he saith was proved
He is the true Light that enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World and Christ himself said He was the Light of the World Which things are true and his Light is truly felt and known in the Hearts of his Saints So our Testimony we are not ashamed to bring forth to the inward manifestation of the Spirit of Jesus by which we are inlightned and by vvhich the Gentiles are inlightned and is become the glory of Spiritual Israel the inward Jew whose praise is not of Men but of God And so Simeon's Words or Prophecy of him is fulfilled he is become a Light to the Gentiles and Israels glory He likewise names John 20 27. Then said Jesus reach hither thy finger c. And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God So this Scripture brought by him to prove his Argument hath quite overthrown it For by Thomas his confession the same Jesus who was the true and only Saviour of the World was God as well as Man and Christ did not at all reprove him for his Confession And if God then a Spirit and so is within as well as without As to the fourth of John 42. where he seemeth to say The Men of Samaria confest to the Man Christ only to this I answer it was the same Christ to whom Thomas confest and the same that was before Abraham was even he that whosoever saw truly to be the Christ saw the Father also So here having no ground to prove his Argument which the said S. B. calls Apostolical it doth at once fall to the ground The third Argument that this Priest uses to prove his Charge viz The Quakers Saviour within him to be the false Christ is in page 3. If the true Christ and our only Saviour did at once without us in and by his own crucfied Body on the cross finish and perfect the work office of a Saviour ithen a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true Christ But the true Christ and our only Saviour did at once without us in and by his own crucified Body on the Cross finish and perfect the whole work and office of a Saviour therefore a Quakers pretended Saviour within him is not the true but the false Christ All which he grounds upon these Scriptures following Heb. 10.12 14. Heb. 2.14 1 Pet. 2.24 Eph. 2.15 16. Heb. 9.26 Eph. 5.2 Col. 1.22 Neither doth any one of these Scriptures prove the whole office of a Saviour perfected in his crucified Body at once upon the Cross Although I confess that the whole work of a Saviour so far as was of him required to be performed in and by that Body was perfectly performed and nothing wanting as pertaining to our Salvation But is this the whole office of a Saviour Is there nothing farther to be done Is the believing of this sufficient without sanctification Is it not the office of Christ as a Saviour to give rest and peace to such as he saves must he not redeem from under the power of Sin and destroy Sin in our mortal Bodys Is this no part of the office of Christ as a Saviour The Apostle Paul Rom. 8.2 testified to the work of the Spirit within saying The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free frrom the Law of Sin and Death Now this faithful Servant of the Loâ—d after he came to believe and was truly satisfied as concerning the work done by Jesus of Nazareth without him yet if you read Rom. 7. you shall see what a grievous complaint he makes concerning the Body of Death which still remained in him and of the Law in his Members that still made war against the Law in his Mind and captivated his Members to the Law of Sin and Death So that although the purchase was made the debt paid and remission of Sins obtained through the Death and Sufferings of Christ Jesus and also triumphantly manifested to the World by his Resurrection of which there were many Witnesses as the Apostle doth declare 1 Cor. 15. yet for all this the Enemy sought to keep his hold and Paul was so far sensible of the same that it made him cry out Oh Wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death which as he waited he came to know a farther work of Salvation then that which was done at once without him in the Crucified Body of Jesus on the Cross for through the power of the same Jesus not another he became crucified also to the World and the World unto him and so being Crucified with Christ by which he felt himself Dead to Sin he also did pertake of his Resurrection and so received a new Life through the quickenings of Christ Jesus who lived in him and so was truly made alive unto God Gal. 2.20 So this is the very thing that the faithful whom S. B. doth scornfully call Quakers do testifie of viz of the work of the Son of God within and of his inward quicknings in our Souls by which we also are made alive unto God though we do not deny the work of Salvation wrought by the Man Jesus Christ without us in his own Crucified Body on the Cross but believe it every whit even as the Scripture doth declâ—re oâ— it And do resolve to wait in the inward manifestation of the Son of Gâ—d wâ—o is Light whom S. B. so often reproaches in his scandalous Book â—ith wicked and reproachful Names yet we are not ashamed to own him in â—is inward manifestation through whose Power we do certainly believe and truly expect to feel the Power of Darkness Sin and Death truly vanquished in us as well as for us as it is written He doth all our works in us and for us And so he becomes the Author of Eternal Salvation to all that do obey him so Christ saves not to halves as People imagin as to pay the price of the Redemption for such as are taken Captive by the Enemy of their Souls and yet leave them under his Power and Jurisdiction but to as many as believe Love and Obey him he redeems also from under the Power of Sin and Death and gives them dominion over it and so he becomes a perfect Saviour saving both within and without saving to the uttermost all that come unto God by him So these are they who are for ever perfected through the one offering even those that according to the will of God are sanctified through the Blood and Spirit of Jesus which the Saints do inwardly feel to cleanse them from the defilements of Sin So this I Judge to any rational and unbiassed Spiritâ— is sufficient to the Answer of S. B's 3d Argument by which he seeks to prove his Charge viz That a Quakers pretended Saviour within him as he is pleased to call it is not the true Christ but the false Sam. Bonds 4th Argument in page 4. If the true Christ and our only Saviour be in Heaven
now having had so many stroakes at this Heavenly and Glorious appearance of Christ in Man and not yet sensible of the stroak of Gods Divine Justice against him he sets forward in his ungodly course and proceeds to call it an accursed Gospel within which saith he The Lord hath Cursed with a Reiterated Curse But I say unto thee who art thou that Cursest that which the Lord hath Blessed Yea and it is and shall be Blessed for evermore in which thou hast no part nor portion who art found Cursing Shimei like who Cursed David the Lords Anointed so art thou found Cursing Christ Jesus the Light and power of God within and his Gospel which as Paul witnesseth is the power of God to Salvation But tell me Sampson how many hast thou by thy Preaching turned from Satan to God although thou hast sold it at a very dear Rate taking for it after the Rates of 250 l. a year as thy self said thou wert put by a Benifice of 250 l. a year upon the Kings coming in and yet are not the People to whom thou Preachest and of whom thou takest Wages still in their sins and is this according to the Doctrine which Christ taught his Disciples freely you have received freely give but thou art Erred from that having not received freely thou canst not give freely and so people pay dear for that by which they have no profit and indeed they have little encouragement to give thee any more Wages who said in the Audience of many People in my hearing that sin must live in them as long as they live and so have no encouragement to follow thee who hast no other Gospel to Preach to them then that which cannot save them out of sin and so dost plainly appear to be none of Christs Minister neither hast thou received thy Gift from Christ for the Gifts that he when he Ascended up on High gave unto Men it was for the perfection of the Saints for the Edifying of the Body of Christ till they were grown up to a perfect Man to the Measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ in whom there was no sin found But to proceed In the same Page 20. this false accuser undertakes to charge upon us the sin against the Holy Ghost from the 6th of the Hebrews where he charges us with falling away or wilfully going back again from Faith and Repentance and further he saith that we whom he calls Quakers have Trodden under Foot the Son of God and have counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith we were Sanctified that is saith he Externally or as to the opinion once of Men an unholy thing Answer Then it appears by thy words that we were never truly or inwardly Sanctified but Men had only such an opinion of us If this be all then it appears by thy Judgment that we cannot be accounted among the Number of those spoken of in Heb. 6th for they were made pertakers of the Holy Ghost and had a Tast of the Power of the World to come Now the Apostle saith If such fall away it is impossible to renew them again c. besides it was such as were Sanctified not such as were only so in Mens opinions and were not so indeed But I demand what the ground is of this exceeding great charge thou hast laid against us for as I have said before in Effect if not in plain Words that we whom thou in scorn calls Quakers do believe in no other Jesus then that very Jesus who was Born of the Virgin who suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem whom God raised from the Dead by his Power and shewed him openly to many who became witnesses of his Resurrection of which Jesus we have received a Measure even of that fulness which in him dwelt i. e. of his Spirit by which we are Sanctified and cleansed even from the defilement of sin in measure and do feel as we are giving up to Obey the Spirit I say we feel a daily growth and Increase of the same And now S. B. what is become of the charge thou hast laid against us for which thou hast doomed us with no less then Eternal Judgment is it for any thing else then that thou hast thus Judged us but because we own the appearance of Christ Jesus within us by which he doth perform many great and mighty works in us and for us even to the overthrowing of the Man of sin and power of Darkness and casting him out of our hearts and also doth set up his Throne in our Consciences and so is become our King who hath purchased us through his Blood to be a peculiar people unto himself Therefore if thou hast any thing farther to accuse us of whereby thou canst prove against us such a dreadful charge as the Treading under our Feet the Blood of the Covenant c. Bring it forth against us or otherwise thou by this wilt be farther manifested to be a false Accuser and so shame will take hold of thee who has gone about this Island in divers places accusing us with Mallicious accusations viz. That we had committed the unpardonable sin even the sin against the Holy Ghost and now hast not been ashamed to bring it to the Publick view in Print and yet had nothing Justly to lay to our charge of any Evil but a heap of lies and false Accusations And thou thy self in the 21st Page of thy Book said I did confess to the same Jesus whom the Jews Slew and God raised again from the Dead where he saith by this confession I did openly declare my self a Christian and no Quaker And yet this pleases him not but immediately saith that by this confusion I had contradicted what I contended for before who never denyed the Man Christ Jesus no more then the Saints of old who confess to his inward manifestation or Spiritual appearance within But still this false Accuser S. B. goes on with his false charges against me takeing up a report from one Bethel who said in publick that I told his Wife that if she believed in any other Christ then that which was within Her she was Damn'd This Accusation I denyed as thus declared which now in his Book he makes a large report of the same and saith that I know they were worthy to be believed before me Answer What their Reputation is I leave at present only this I declare was false as then declared farther it was said that I charged Her with Blasphemy The truth is I do not remember I spoke one Word to Her at that time as to charge Her with Blasphemy But I being discoursing with Her and speaking something about the inward appearance of Christ in Man she was ready I perceived to Judge as this Her teacher doth that I had denyed the Body or Man Jesus and declared of another Christ whereupon she immediately started up clapping Her hands together expressing these words I pray God I may never be saved
Spiritual Appearance in the Inward Man and there is none knowes him truly to be their Saviour but who knows him Spiritually in their Hearts who workes all their workes in them and for them But S. B. such as thou Blasphemous Wretch who call'st his Spiritual Appearance the Devil may get the words of the Scripture and prate in thy Imaginations and deceive poor People with a Notion who through envy and malice which the Devil workes in thee art Smiteing and Reproaching them who live in the Life or Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which thou hast raked together in thy dark mind to prove Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among the People to be the Saviour which is not denyed by us but assuredly believed in and witnessed to be the true and only Saviour through the work of his Eternal Power in the Inward Man which is wrought through Faith in his Name who in the days of his Flesh went about doing good and wrought Miracles and did many mighty Works yet the Priests Scribes and Pharisees Envyed and Blasphemed against him a thou dost against his Spiritual Appearance at this day And we also believe Christ Jesus suffered by that envyous Generation of Professors Scribes and Pharisees and was Crucified under Pontus Pilate the Roman Governour and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and appeared to his Disciples and ascended into Heaven where he sits at the right hand of the Father in Majesty on High who is the Mediator between God and Man who is ascended above all Heavens and by whom all things do consist who said I and my Father are one and he that hath seen me hath seen the Father Iohn 14.7 9 10. Who said I am in the Father and the Father in me the words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doth the work and so Christ Iesus hath taught us by his blessed Spiritual Appearance in our Hearts not to separate his Man-hood from the God-head As thou S. B. hast done in thy ignorant dark Spirit who hast heapt up many Scriptures together in thy Book to prove the Man-hood only the Saviour which is no more proved by thee then if thou had said nothing for these Scriptures do severally prove and hold forth the power of the God-head which dwelt in that Holy Body whereby it was carryed forth and enabled in suffering and doing good healing the Sick raising the Dead as it is written and through the Eternal Spirit offered up himself a Sacrifice for the Sin of the World So not the Man-hood without the God-head was the Saviour as thou Ignorantly Blasphemously seeks to prove against the work and power of the God-head in the Man Christ Iesus and also against his Spiritual Appearance in his People Pharaoh like hast given these wicked Epithetes to wit The Quakers Idol Glow-worm and the Devil with much more Blasphemous stuff for which God will judge thee thou Hypocrite And S. B. in the 7th and 8th Page of his Book saith He doth acknowledge with Francis Estlacke that the Word took Flesh and suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem howbeit saith S. B. as it come from a teaching Quaker it is undoubtedly no other then a deceitfull shift but saith he Alas how many Turks and Jews believe this But the Quakers attribute no more Soul-saving merit in the Body of Christ then in the Body of a Turk or a Jew Reply In this thou hast falsly accused us and seekes to make Lies thy refuge and to render us odious to the People but the Lord is opening the Understandings of Men and many know us better then to believe thy Lies and Slanders which we turn back upon thy own Head with thy story of Turks and Jews believing Christ died by History which is thy own state who art scoffing at the work of Salvation by Christ in the Hearts of his People who knowest little but by History and therefore thou knowest not the vertue of the Body of Christ Iesus but art falsly accusing others whose tongue is at liberty and thy Heart filled with malice and thou throwest out Lies at random Who that is moderate and fears God will believe thee but it may serve with the rest of thy Lies and Blasphemous stuff to make thee manifest to the People For since we have been turned from Darkness to Light and believed therein we have known Salvation and Redemption by the pretious Blood of Christ Iesus which cleanseth our Hearts from Sin And so the Quakers do not make these effects within them to be Christ their only Saviour as thou falsly chargest them but we know the Operation of his Heavenly Arm and Power within us to work these good effects for us who hath opened a Spiritual Eye in us which sees where thou art and the true Light shines although thou in the dark Blasphemes which will yet make thy Folly and Darkness manifest to them that see it not Who art pleading in thy Notion and Historical belief of Christ without thee which Drunkards and Profane Persons have as well as thee who art dividing and scoffing at his Spiritual Appearance in Man without which there is no Salvation but all are in the curse where thou art in thy Notion of Christ only without thee with the Drunkards profane Turks and Jews to receive thy person except thou find a place of Repentance for thy Faith can be no better then a Notion profess what thou wilt who scoffs and derides at the blessed Appearance of Christ Jesus in the Hearts of his People for it is that which gives life unto the Soul as Christ Jesus said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no life in you Iohn 6.53 And he that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him Iohn 6.56 But this is a Riddle to thee and such as thou art who knowest little but what thou knowest naturally like a Beast wherein thou corrupts thy self and such as thou art in all Ages opposed the breaking forth of the blessed Invisible Life and Power of Christ Iesus who redeems Man to God out of Death and Darkness where thou art gnashing thy Teeth but the redeemed of the Lord whom thou scoffest at they rejoyce in Christ Iesus their Lord and only Saviour over thee and thy Head which is the Devil for he is a Lyar from the beginning and is the Father of all Lyars and Blasphemers in whose work thou art found and do not say this is railing for it is thy due as Christ Iesus said to thy forefathers of old Ye Generation of Vipers how can you escape the Damnation of Hell And Samuel Bond saith in the Six and Twentyeth Page of his Book Though the Spirit be the Dead Souls Quickner yet it is not the Quickned Souls Saviour Reply Where hast thou learnt this Doctrine thou Blind guide who leads all into the
Ditch that follow thee It is written The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Iohn 5.25 So it is by Christ Iesus the dead Soul is quickened and raised to Life who is the Saviour by the powerful working and operation of his Spirit in the Inward Man and so thy blind assertion is seen to be words without knowledge and in this and much more thou art found a false witness who wouldest wholely exclude the Spirit in the work of Salvation for saist thou Though it be the dead Souls Quickner it is not the quickned Souls Saviour who is it but the blind but sees thy confusion herein for Christ Iesus and the Spirit are one in the work of Mans Salvation And S. B. saith in his 54 Page That G. F. in his Book Great Mystery Page 49 50. hath these words ye scorn me the Light in you and ye have said that I the Light am not able to save those that believe in me and further Page the 54. That if you will believe in me the Light I will purge out all your Iniquitys c. Reply Herein thou hast spoken falsly of G. F. in thy scoffing Spirit for there is no such words in his Book therefore who should mind what thou saist who art publishing thy Lies and Blasphemy in print to the World for we do not say that every measure or operation in Man is the whole Light of Christ But in him is Life and the Life is the Light of Men who lighteth every Man that is come into the World Iohn 1.4 9. And they that believe in the Light and obey it they come to be the Children of the Light and of the Day and if the Magistrates and all the People in Bermudas did believe in the Light of Christ Iesus the would soon see what a blind Guide Priest Bond is who blasphemes and derides the Light of Christ and makes Lies his refuge and would through his malice and envy stir up the Magistrates of Bermudas to Whip and Persecute a People that lives peaceably amongst them and are believers in Christ Jesus their Saviour although falsly accused by thee Sampson Bond as in the 59 60 61. Page of thy Book where thou saist Christ whipt out the abusers of the Temple and why might not the Magistrates whip W. H But Christ Jesus did not whip such as thou art who said He was a Blasphemer and had a Devil which was worse then the Abusers of the Temple who were like thee who callest his Spiritual Appearance the Devil and what Christ Iesus did in that matter it was not only in respect of that outward Temple but also Figurative of his Spiritual cleansing of the Hearts of his People in the Gospel Day But S. B. where dost thou find the Ministers of Christ preach such Doctrine as thou hast done to the Magistrates in Bermudas in these 3 Pages more like a proud Pharisee then a Minister of the Gospel as thou would be esteemed who hast got the Sheeps cloathing but art seen to be Inwardly a Ravening Wolf thy work discovers thee And Sampson Bond saith in his 58 Page When Paul was Travelling in Birth for the Galatians Christ was not formed in them therefore saith he the Light which is in every Man is not the true Christ but a Quakers rotten Principle Reply Herein Sampson Bond hath manifest himself to be one that speaks out of thick Darkness who knows nothing of the new Birth nor travail for Christ to be formed in him but calls it The Quakers rotten Principle the Devil But in Gods Day it will grind him to Powder except he can find a place of Repentance before it be too late For thou dark Man who knowest not what thou stumblest at for although Christ Iesus hath inlightned every Man that comes into the World yet many hates the Light as thou dost and so such know not the way thereof no more then thou do'st but are in Darkness as thou art but it is they who love the Light believe in it and obey it who come to know the new Birth and Christ to be formed in them which thou knows nothing of thy Speech which is in Darkness and Blasphemy bewrays thee and hast lasht thy self and feel'st it not who art Dead in Darkness And this is written that People may see where thou art like a proud Pharisee whose Tongue is at liberty and pratest like a Perrot in thy Book which is stuft with Lies Ignorance and Blasphemy against God and Christ his Holy Angels Prophets and Apostles which thou most falsly chargest upon others in the 54 Page but art really found guilty thy self And also against Gods People whom he hath raised up by the Light of his Son Christ Jesus our Lord in this Day Who art Scoffing and Deriding at them and also the Light and gracious Appearance of Christ in their Hearts whereby its manifest thou knowest nothing hereof but by Notion and History For it is by the Spiritual Appearance of Christ that the Eye of Mans Understanding is opened to see and through the work of Regeneration Man comes to know the worth of that one Offering which for ever makes perfect them that are sanctified through the belief of the truth and in walking in obedience thereunto they come truly to know Christ to govern rule and be head in them And they are Spiritual minded Men and Women who are made sensible of that great work of Mans Salvation in Christs offering up himself in the Body of his Flesh upon the Cross whereby he put an end to the first Covenant which stood in outward Sacrifices Types and Shadows and opened a Door both for Jew Gentil to receive him who is the Second and Everlasting Covenant and they that know this Spiritual work and Christ to be formed in them as aforesaid they are made pertakers of that great benefit of what Christ wrought by his suffering without them and are sate down in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord and only Saviour Whilst thou Sampson Bond and such as thou art are foaming out your own shame who saist in the 69 Page of thy Book The Quakers deny that Christs Body is risen which is another of his Lies For we do know he is risen and to our Justification who believe in his Name and to the condemnation of such false Accusers as thou art But S. B. in the 18 Page of his Book saith Christs gracious Operation in the Heart in Scripture is called Christ in you And we who thou in scorn callest Quakers do believe it is he the Scriptures bear Testimony to be within his People who is their Saviour who in the beginning of thy Book calls him the Devil and so Pharisee like thou art calling the Master of the House Belzebub And here thou hast contradicted thy self who deridest at Christs being in his People and like a Blasphemer scoffingly Queriest Whether Christ be in our Arms Leggs and