somewhat resemble Conjuration And did not the Prophet Micah Prophesie against such Priests as Teach for Hire and such Prophets as Divine for Mony See Mic. 3.11 21th Charge Ibid. Truth 's Defence by G. F. and R. H. printed 1653. p. 101. It is dangerous to read viz. the Scriptures which the Prophets Christ and the Apostles spoke forth freely Obs Again what abuse this is in the Quotation for here they leave out the very Intent of the matter because it touches themselves as Persons Conscious 'T is not said in those general words that it is dangerous to read the Scriptures c. but it is dangerous to read and to make a Trade of that which the Prophets Christ and the Apostles spake forth freely and to give meanings to it contrary than it is And further it is said You wrest the Scriptures to your own Destruction Psal 56.5 These Men were willing to leave out what concerns their making a Trade of the Scriptures or of that which the Prophets Christ and his Apostles spake forth freely 'T is not said to be dangerous to all Men to read the Scriptures but to them that pervert them and make a Trade of them So 't is dangerous for any to read them for an unlawful end but not for any to read them for a good end For it is expresly said in the same page quoted Blessed is he that doth read and doth understand As to what they object in the latter part of their Quotation I answer that it is a great Evil to condemn either the Scriptures to the Fire or any other Books given forth from the Eternal Spirit of God the Evil in both is of the same kind tho' the Matter of Fact may differ in degree It was a great Evil and wicked Act in Jâ—hoiakim King of Judah to burn Jeremiah's Roll or Book writ by Barack Jer. 36. but it would be a greater Act of Wickedness to burn all the Books of the Holy Prophets or the whole Bible There are Degrees of Robbery but all of the same kind 22th Charge p. 10. Edw. Burroughs p. 47. of his Works That is no Command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was to another not having the Command to themselves Here they leave out the next words viz. I challenge to find an Example for it they were obliged every one by their own Command One was sent to Baptism and to preach the Gospel another was sent not to Baptise but to Preach the Gospel all these left out And then they go on with their Charge viz. And thou or any other who go to Duty as you call it by Imitation from the Letter without which was a Command to others in your Wills and Time your Sacrifice is not accepted but is abomination to the Lord for you go without the moving of the Spirit in your own Wills and Strength which God hates and which his wrath is upon Obs From what these Men have partially left out in their Quotation he intended Special Commands or Commissions as to Baptise to Preach or to pray c. which they that perform in their own Wills and Time and go to Prayer or other Acts of Worship or Devotion towards God without the Moving and Assistance of his Spirit 't is but Will-worship and they are not accepted therein but rejected of the Lord as Israel in their observing their Sacrifices Oblations Incense New Moons Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies and making many Prayers were rejected of the Lord and testified against by his Prophet tho' they imitated the Letter of the Law in these things Isa 1.11 12 13 14 15. But there are Universal and Moral Commands of Justice and Honesty and Prohibitions of the Contrary which are universally binding to Mankind but chiefly from Inward Light and Conviction And God has not left man without Light and Grace to oblige him therein it being Conviction that can Effectually only oblige to obedience W. P. who is also quoted in this Case against us out of his Quaquerism a New Nickname c. Printed 1673. p. 71 72. is further explanatory and distinguishing in this point as between Ordinary and Extraordinary Cases and I am persuaded these Adversaries cannot answer him in Justification of their Charge against us And therefore very partially quote him on the same Subject after these words viz. No Command in the Scripture is any further obliging upon any Man than as he finds a conviction upon his Conscience otherwise Men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in a Man They leave out these following viz. Therefore the Apostle when he wrote to the Churches exhorted them not to do those things whereof they were ashamed and to shun what was manifested to be evil and affirms That whatever might be known of God was manifested within for God had shewn it unto them To which I further add how can Man truly know that there is an All-seeing God who is Judge of all and that he is to be loved feared and worshipped And how can he truly believe the Holy Scriptures and obey the Good Precepts thereof without Inward Illumination and Conviction by the Holy Spirit Light and Grace in his Heart Charge 23. p. 10 11. A Shield of the Truth by James Parnel Printed 1655. p. 11. He that saith the Letter is the Rule and Guide of the People of God is without feeding upon the Husk and is ignorant of the true Light Edw. Burr p. 515. tells us That the Scriptures are not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life unto the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures Obs These two Instances are both brought to prove that we slight or contemn the Scriptures which is very unjustly surmised For if they had honestly observ'd what both write upon the same Subject they might have seen there is no denial or slighting of the Scriptures As first J. P. on the place quoted confesseth that who are guided by the true Light cannot walk contrary thereto i. e. to the Scripture And Secondly E. B. on the place quoted also confesseth that the Scriptures are profitables and were given forth to be read and to be fulfulled and that the Spirit of God which is the Rule of the Saints Faith and Life leads them to walk in the fulfilling of the Scriptures and according to them Which therefore cannot Import any Contempt of them but the contrary And their Preferring the Spirit to the Letter and to the Scripture as the only or chief Rule of Faith and Life unto the Saints as it was before the Scripture was written this can be no undervaluing of the Scriptures seeing they testifie of Christ the Way the Truth and the Life and of the Spirit as that which guides true Believers into all Truth and even into a right Understanding and profitable Use of the holy Scriptures or Doctrine
People to the Consideration of the King and both Houses of Parliament under such Pretences endeavouring to Incense them against the said People and consequently to deprive them of their Religious Liberty legally Granted them and others by Authority under that invidious as well as false Pretence of their being Blasphemous and Seditious in Principle and Practice 4. That we may justly take for granted that the Opinion of these Three Norfolk Clergy-Men is contrary to what they have quoted as Blasphemous and Seditious in each particular so quoted by them and that they hold Principles and Practices contrary to those so condemned by them as Blasphemous and Seditious There 's two things to be Examin'd in the Sequel 1st Their Quotations whether Partial or Impartial Just or Unjust True or False 2d Where Quotations or Citations are truly given either by them or made appear as they are by us Whether the matter it self be of a Blasphemous Import or their so Charging the same Note That many Words and Things are Partially and Unjustly left out in their Quotations are in this Examen truly Inserted or References had hereto Now let 's proceed to examine some of these Three Clergy-Men's Principal Quotations charg'd upon us as Blasphemous Their First and Principal Quotations so Charged follows I. Of the Light Their first Charge of Blasphemous Principles against the said People viz. George Fox the First Founder and great Apostle of this Sect Great Mystery p. 209. saith against his Opponent thus This Light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World which he calls Conscience Is the Light that doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World These Lines are left out of their Citation that through him they might believe and is not Conscience and he that believes hath the Witness in himself and that all might hear the Son and confess him to the Glory of God and therefore are enlightened c. And in p. 331. he further saith The Light which every one that cometh into the World is enlightned withall is not Conscience for the Light was before any thing was made or Conscience named Here observe that they also leave out of the very next distinguishing words viz. So the Light is that which exerciseth the Conscience towards God and towards Man where it is loved and the Voice heard But where it is hated and the Voice not heard the Conscience is Seared and the Light is their Condemnation whose Consciences is Seared which i. e. Light was before Conscience was Now pray observe where 's the Blasphemous Principle Is it in saying That this Light which doth enlighten every Man that cometh into the World John 1.4 9. is not Conscience but was before any thing was made or Conscience named Have not these Clergy-Men herein charged both John's Gospel-Testimony with Blasphemy and Christ's own Testimony also See John 1.1 2 3 4 to vers 10. How clear and evident the Evangelist is in this case for us That the Word which was in the beginning which was with God and was God by which all things were made and in which was Life and the Life was the Light of Men even that Word i. e. the Son of God was the true Light which enlightens every Man that cometh into the World 'T is no Blasphemy to say That God was before Conscience was or Man was made and that this Word this Eternal Son of God was before Conscience was and before any thing was made or Conscience named Seeing All things were made by him and without him was nothing made that was made So that the Charge of Blasphemy in this case does not only affect us the People called Quakers but John the Evangelist and Christ himself who saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not abide in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life John 8.12 And Believe in the Light that you may be Children of the Light And the whole Soul Mind and Conscience of Man must be Exercised Instructed and Swayed by this Light or else Man's Conscience is not only weak but defiled also and may become Seared But so is not this Divine Light it remains Pure and Incorruptible So that the Light whereby not only we but every Man ought to be guided is the true Eternal God and Christ the Word which so to teach or assert is not Blasphemy as you our Adversaries have Reproach'd us We pity your Ignorance in this principal Point for let 's take your contrary Opinion to what you have here charg'd with Blasphemy and then 't is That Light which enlightens every Man that cometh into the World John 1.4 9. was not before any thing was made or Conscience named which is to oppose the Deity or Divinity of the Son of God the Word which was with God by which both Man and all things were made 2. Charge of Blasphemy p. 3. viz. And G. F. Junior in his Works Reprinted 1665. p. 50. I the Light will fall upon you and grind you to Powder All who will not own me the Light in you And I will make you know that I the Light am the true Eternal God which Created all things and that by me the Light all things are upheld and that there is not another besides me that can save Observe Though what 's here be very Partially Cited 't is no Blasphemy the Quotation is very unfairly taken by these our Accusers not taking notice either of the Title of this part of G. F. Junior's Book or to whom writ or what he further clearly saith for the Light His Title of what he writes in that part being The Words of the Everlasting and True Light who is the Eternal Living God and the King of Saints which he gave unto me his Servant to declare unto the Inhabitants of the Earth c. He speaks therefore in the Name of God and Christ as the true Light and not in his own name and those to whom he saith I the Light will grind you to Powder are such as Murderers Whoremongers Thieves Cheaters Swearers Lyars c. and all Workers of Iniquity who hate the Light which hath made manifest their Abominations and reproved them for them These with other words previous to what 's quoted are left out As I have been prest with your Iniquities But I the Light will arise upon you and if you will not hear and return speedily I 'll fall upon you and grind you to Powder And is this Blasphemous pray Have you not here so charged the Testimony of Christ himself who is the Light of the World and the Chief Corner-Stone the Foundation-Stone see Mat. 21.42 44. Luke 20.18 Whosoever shall fall on this Stone he shall be broken But on whomsoever it shall fall it shall Grind him to Powder After I 'll make you know that I the Light these are left out which lighteth every Man which cometh into the World that all through me should believe am the true Eternal God
deny with all outward Wars and Strife and Fightings with outward Weapons for any end or under any pretence whatsoever And this is our Testimony to the whole World And we do certainly know and so testifie to the World that the Spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to Fight and War against any Man with outward Weapons either for the Kingdom of Christ nor for the Kingdom of this World c. said to be subscribed by G. F. Sam. Fisher and many more Now let it be farther observed that notwithstanding this Innocent and Christian Declaration against our use of the Carnal Weapon these Adversaries make another Marginal Note to the contrary upon Sam. Fisher's Message from the Lord to O. Cromwel and the Parliament of England printed 1656. and in his works Re-printed 1679. p. 19 20. after the note against the use of the Carnal Weapon their other note is Although none before so much for it as they Their proof is S. F's said Message which they have thereby greatly perverted to render us Seditious and Dangerous to the Government as their Title imports Whereas S. F. writ the said Message in the name of the Lord agreeable to what God's Holy Prophets have formerly foretold He saith I will hold my Peace now no longer saith the Lord as concerning this Evil which they so profanely commit and do daily against my Chosen i. e. by Persecution but will utterly subvert and overturn them This is according to Ezek. 21.25 26 27. and bring the Kingdoms and Dominions and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven into the hands of the Holy Ones of the most High This is according to Dan. 7.18 27. And give unto my Son and his Saints to reign over all the Earth and to take all the Rule and Authority and Power that shall stand up against my Son in his Saints This also is according to Rev. 20.4 5. and to Dan. 7.18 27. and to Psal 2.8 9. and 45.5 and 110.1 2 5. And I will put my high praises into their Mouth and a two-edged Sword into their hands and they shall Execute Vengeance upon the Heathen and Punishments upon the People and shall bind their Kings in Chains and their Nobles in Fetters of Iron and Execute upon them the Judgment that is written c. Thus far S. F's Message recited agreeable to plain Scripture Psal 149.5 6 7 8 9. please to read it at large Surely these Persons who stumble at such Messages and would make us Criminal for such Prophesies understand not the Voices of the true Prophets They take things literally which are Metaphorical and Spiritually intended as that of the Two-edged Sword they put Sword in Capital Letters to make People believe that none before 1660. were so much for the Vse of the Carnal Weapon as the People called Quakers according to their said Note as if they supposed it must needs be a Carnal Sword the Quakers are minded to make Use of when they can have an opportunity tho' their patience and long-suffering under various Persecutions and Severities and Revolutions have sufficiently proved the contrary But if the Saints Two-edged Sword mention'd Psal 149.6 must be taken for an Outward Material or Carnal Sword why not the Rod of Iron wherewith the Son of God shall break the Heathen Psal 2.9 for an outward material Rod of Iron or Steel But these Persons might have better considered the point in a Spiritual Sense that there is another sort of Rod or Sword than that Outward Material one of Iron or Steel There is the Rod of his Mouth i. e. of Christ's Mouth Isa 11.4 Out of his Mouth went a sharp Two-edged Sword Rev. 1.16 There is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which the Saints took unto them Eph. 6.17 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp Sword Isa 49.2 Therefore have I hewed them by the Prophets I have slain them by the words of my Mouth Hos 6.5 So that there 's both the Rod the Sword hewing and slaying as well as binding Mystically and Spiritually spoken of by the Holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles These things are hinted for better information and moderating these our Adversaries and that their Hearers may not be influenced with their Anger against us As to what they quote in p. 21. First some broken pieces out of something they call The Quakers Declaration to Oliver and out of Geor. Rofe's Book Entitled The Righteousness of God and something to Cromwell in 't these two I have not But in short may say thus much that Oliver and his Officers and Army had a day and Power given them and were a Dread for a time to their Adversaries when the one was for seeking God in Prayer and the other for Swearing Cursing and Damning c. But they i. e. O. C. c. lost their Power and Day through their Abuse of it Which was plainly told them and their downfal as plainly foretold them by G. F. E. B. and divers others of our Friends These are Matters of Fact I am not concern'd to vindicate them or their Form of Government The Lord has laid them aside who is no Respecter of Persons nor doth he accept the Persons of Princes Job 34.19 As to what they quote out of a Letter directed To the Council of Officers of the Army and out of a Declaration wrote by E. B. in the Naâ—ne of the Quakers and subscribed by several of the Principal Leaders of them as these Men say Printed 1659. I shall forbear Commenting upon these forementioned Instances in their 21st and 22d pages they being in Substance fully answered in a Book of mine Intitled Christ's Lambs defended from Satan's Rage Printed 1691. being first writ in the Year 1677. particularly in p. 19 20 21 22 23. and in many other places throughout that Book as in p. 34 35 36 37 c. where the said Declaration in particular with the import of the foregoing is fully spoke to and Objections explained To their other Marginal Note p. 22. viz. And may reassume it again when they shall judge it meet The Antecedent of this Note I understand to be their foregoing two Margent-notes p. 20. which three Notes joined together run thus viz. which Government that they i. e. the People called Quakers might not support they declare against the Vse of the Carnal Weapon in 1660. altho' none before so much for it as they and may reassume it again when they shall judge it meet This looks like a very Invidious Design to raise Suspicion and Jealousie in the Civil Government against us But we hope and trust in the Grace and Goodness of our God that we shall both constantly and sincerely approve our selves Innocent and Clear from these Mens prejudicial Insinuations and Jealousies and to their diappointment Of our Assemblies c. Now concerning our several Religions Christian Meetings as in good Conscience we affirm they all are
These our Accusers appear most invidious against them as if influenced by some treacherous Judases or envious Apostates They begin to quote Mr. Bugg and Mr. Kieth as they stile them their Authority against us And what says their Mr. Bugg They tell us Mr. Bugg's Pilgrims Progress Chapters 7 8 9 10 11. give an account of their several Meetings and of their Fund Exchequer or Common-Bank And what says there Mr. Kieth to it seeing he is join'd with F. Bugg for a witness against us Mr. Keith say they who has been a Quaker above thirty Years more shame for him now to vilifie them in his Second Narrative p. 5. says I am not able to Print Books as they Quakers can they are many and have a Common-Stock I am but one To which we Answer we deny their Terms of Fund Exchequer or Common-Bank we know no Common-Stock we have that can properly be called a Fund or an Exchequer for improvement of a Stock or advancing and increasing Mony upon as a Fund Foundation or setled Bottom c. What Fund for Improvement can a Collection for poor be that is soon distributed and spent Tho' we have free and voluntary Collections in our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Charitable Supply and Relief of the Poor and Indigent among us that they may not be Chargeable or Burdensome to our Neighbours of other Persuasions nor to the Parishes wherein they dwell Thus we relieve our own Poor and also pay our share or Proportions severally to other Poor of the respective Parishes and Places where our Friends inhabit And now as we are a People we must needs have divers Charges upon us as Our Poors Rents and charge of Meeting-Houses Rents and Reparations in many Places As also for the necessary Supply and Relief of our Friends when impoverished or disabled under or by extream Suffering and Distress in this or other Countries as in Ireland when they had greatly suffered by reason of the late War and of late in Scotland where in divers parts they have wanted Bread and Subsistence through the late Years great Failing of their Harvests And also for the Relief of our Friends who have been for many Years Captives in Algiers Macqueness and Sally under sore and miserable Hardships and Extremities whereby many have lost their Lives Upon these and other Occasions and Necessities relating to our suffering Friends and Brethren our Friends in this Nation who are capable have been free and willing without any Compulsion to contribute their Christian Assistance Charitable and Necessary Supplies and accordingly Distributions have been made thereof pursuant to these good and necessary Ends So that we have no Fund of Improvement nor any Tax imposed by any of our Meetings but the necessary Occasions tenderly recommended in the Love of God in these Matters and accordingly left to every ones free Liberty as God shall incline their Hearts to consider the Poor and Needy and Distressed c. And if these our Accusers who seek to Jealous and Criminate us in these matters were charitably disposed as Christians they would not render us Criminal Dangerous or Seditious for such Religious Acts of Charity and Christianity But would better consider the Primitive Christians Practice in such Cases than to misrepresent our Meetings wherein such Christian Care is taken as opposite to the Government This Savours rank of an Uncharitable Persecuting Spirit as their long Marginal-Note on p. 22 23. doth beginning with these words They have a Government within the Government independant from it and opposite to it This is like Judas and the Priests and the False Witnesses against Christ to make him an Enemy to Caesar thus they would make us the People of God called Quakers greatly obnoxious as if we promoted Regnum in Regno not only Independent but Opposite to the Civil Government which none of our Meetings are being all Peaceable and Innocent both for the Worship of Almighty God and Service of one another in true Christian Love in order to promote the real Practice of Piety Christianity and true Religion among us as a People and to prevent the contrary as much as in us lies by Warning and due Admonition against all disorderly loose Conversation Immorality and Profaneness tending to the Scandal of our Holy Profession And for such good Ends there were Helps in Government in the true Church 1 Cor. 12.28 and all in Subjection to Christ's Government who is Head and Law-giver to His Church and upon whose Shoulders the Government is laid And this is not opposite to the Civil Government in the Nation neither hath the King the Government or the Nation ever sustained any Hurt or Prejudice by these our Meetings or by the Christian Care or Service thereof and their being Monthly Quarterly and Yearly is for conveniency of the Times and due Notice and in no wise to Confront the Government no more than our First-Days and Weekly Meetings for our Meetings are Innocently upheld in the Name of the Lord for his Worship and Service and have accordingly been manifest these many Years under the various Revolutions of Government and we hope we shall in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ stand for and innocently Vindicate our Christian and Just Liberty therein against this Persecuting Spirit which unjustly seeks to Influence Authority against us and our Religious Exercise in the Practice of our Christian Religion But blessed be the Lord who by his Power hath better inclin'd the King and Government to Moderation and Gentleness towards all their Peaceable and Serviceable People As we do not assume to our selves a Government or Dominion over our People or their Faith nor place a Supremacy or Headship in Persons or Assemblies but in Jesus Christ our Head and Governour so we know no such Supream Assembly among us as gives Laws and makes Orders for the Government of our People and suppressing Books writ against us as is falsly suggested we know no such Supremacy or Dominion exercised among us though we have Christian Assemblies both general and particular held only in the Name and Power of Christ Jesus Neither have we our Laws and Orders for the Government of our People to make by Assemblies but to see those put in practice which Christ our Head and Law-giver hath taught us and revealed to his Servants and that agreeable to the Holy Scriptures of Truth and no ways injurious to the outward Government But for the promoting of Truth and Righteousness in the Earth and as Fellow-helpers in Christ provoking one another to Love and Good Works And as for Passing Censure upon Offenders so did the Primitive Christians And what have they against Passing Censure upon Offenders Why may we not as a Christian Society Censure Offenders and Disorderly Walkers and such as cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel It is evident the Primitive Christian Churches did both Instruct Exhort Reprove Rebuke and Reject These our Persecutors over and over
one like a Conjurer c. quoted against G. W. and other Quakers as they say in their Book Intituled Ishmael and his Mother cast out As to this Quotation though not truly taken yet as the Words are in the said Ishmael c. quoted G. Whitehead hath positively disown'd the Words and affirms They are none of his and that he writ not that part of the Answer to Townsend which was in the Year 1654. and that he neither shall stand by nor own these Words and that after he saw them in Print he was sorry his Name was to that Paper without distinction between what he writ and what he did not write in it wherein the Words are which gave the Occasion and which appear too Rash and Irreverent either to Vindicate Solid Truth or oppose any wrong Notion For a more full account of G. Whitehead's Innocency and Clearness in this very Matter he refers the Reader to his Answer to Dr. Forde Intituled The Christianity of the People commonly called Quakers Printed 1690. p. 28. Now pray observe That in the Vnity of the Godhead there is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost being those Divine Three Witnessing in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and that those Three are One of one Substance Power and Eternity As we have not denied but confess'd this Doctrine herein we don't disagree II. Concerning Christ our Blessed Lord. 4. That the outward Person which Suffer'd was properly the Son of God we utterly deny against W. P's Serious Apology p. 246. Here I take him to mean the Son of God in respect to his Divine Being as He is of One Substance with the Father which his Body that Suffered Death was not Though He was truly the Son of God as He took upon Him that Body and as made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 Being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary Take W. P's own Explication in the same Page and Paragraph which is unfairly left out where he plainly confesseth That He that laid down his Life and suffered his Body to be Crucified by the Jews without the Gates of Jerusalem is Christ the only Son of the Most High God c. one with the Father and of a Nature Eternal c. These Words our Adversaries leave out 5. Your Imagined God beyond the Stars and your Carnal Christ is utterly denied c. Here they quote Sword of the Lord drawn p. 5. By C. A. Which Book I have not but these Words are denied as well as the Person that writ them as Offensive and as neither proper to the true Christ or Omni-present God who therefore is not an imagined God nor is the true Christ a Carnal Christ but a Spiritual and Most Glorious Christ See Antidote against the Venom of the Snake in the Grass p. 145. 6. The Devil was in thee thou sayst thou art Saved by Christ without thee and so hast recorded thy self a Reprobate Against Great Mystery p. 250. Which was because this Adversary was Ignorant of the Mystery of Christ within him as the Words there follow which are unjustly left out For instead of owning the Mystery of Christ within the Adversary in the place quoted pleads the Continuance of Sin in the Saints for their Humiliation Gr. Myst p. 250. 7. What was his Christ's Person being mean and contemptible to them his Disciples more than another Person Against Will Bailey's Works p. 307. The Parenthesis is wrong placed here to pervert the Sense 't is thus in the Book quoted viz. They loved his Person for the sake of the Frame and Quality of the Spirit that dwelt in Him or else what was his Person being mean and contemptible to them more than another Person but for that which dwelt in him they loved him let none mistake I do not slight it c. So that by this his Person was more than any other i. e. more excellent though made very low by Suffering 8. That Finite and Impotent Creature Speaking of Christ Here they quote Sandy Foundation p. 20. Which is a shameful Abuse and Lie he speaks not a Word of Christ in that Paragraph but of the Finite and Impotent Creature in general as being capable of Forgiving Injuries done him which the Notion of an Adequate and Rigid Satisfaction allows not God 9. The Sufferings of the People of God Quakers c. Quakers is added and the Subsequent Matter Answered before 10. The Blood of Christ was no more than the Blood of another Saint Quoted against S. E's Letter Not warrantable Expressions and disown'd in the said Antidote p. 223 224 225. Where the Benefit of Christ's Blood is truly confessed Their Charge against W. P. about Christ's Co-essentiality and Co-eternity with the Father of his being made Man c. p. 4. Answered by W. P. himself hereafter 11. Christ's coming in the Flesh was but a Figure i. e. a Figure or Type of the Inward Christ or Light within This is quoted against G. Whitehead's Truth Defending the Quakers p. 22. They abuse me still in this it was none of my Assertion That Christ's coming in the Flesh was but a Figure Neither is there such a word in that page quoted but in the Priest's Question p. 20. as before is answered and it is a manifest Forgery upon me that Christ's coming in the Flesh was but a Figure or Type of the Inward Christ or Light within I positively disown these words as a down-right Forgery and Abuse put upon me What a horrid shame is it that any Priests or their Agents should have a hand in presenting the Parliament with such Lies and Abuses 12. One outward thing cannot be the proper Figure or Representation of another The Outward Lamb shews forth the Inward Lamb i. e. The Paschal Lamb was not the Figure or Type of the Outward Christ but of the Light within of which Christ himself was but a Figure This is quoted against W. Penn's Christian Quaker p. 97. Their subsequent Perversion is notorious and as grosly false Tho' it is not the way of the Scripture to teach us as W. P. saith in the page quoted that One outward thing is or can be the proper Figure or Representation of another yet it is a twofold Falshood and Perversion to make it the Quakers Doctrine that the Paschal Lamb was not Figurative or Typical of Christ as without us but of the Light within As also that Christ himself was but a Figure of the Light within These I testifie against as a Two-fold Falshood and Perversion against the Quakers And how will these Men prove that the outward Paschal Lamb was the proper Figure or Representation of Christ's outward Person pray What proper Resemblance had they Was not rather the Lamb in respect of its Innocency a proper Figure of Christ's Innocency as the Lamb of God once Offered for Sin 13. The Quakers see no need of directing Men to the Type for the Anti-type nor yet to Jerusalem either
old Incendiaries to Mischief and the best to be spared of Mankind c. Against W. P. Quakerism a new Nick-name p. 165. This is not the Quakers Treatment of Dissenters in general or without exception as hereby falsly represented But W. P's occasional Treatment of Such a Proud Railing Busie-body and such a sort of Priests who think their Coat will bear out their worst Expressions for Religion and practise an haughty Reviâ—ing for Christ as one of the greatest Demonstrations of their Zeal as in his antecedent words After these words of W. P. Against whom the boiling Vengeance of an Irritated God is ready to be poured out These Men leave out viz. To the Destruction of such if they repent not and turn from their Abominable Deceits Certainly neither the fore-going Citations under their 18th Head nor that which they subjoyn against the bitter Stock of Hirelings and their Sin-pleasing Principles c. could ever be intended for the Quakers Treatment of Dissenters Indefinitely or without Exception for we always distinguish between the Moderate and Immoderate the Charitable and Vncharitable the Ingenuous and Disingenuous even among Dissenters of several sorts and others also When Men are charging Blasphemy and Sedition upon a People out of Books and Quotations as these Men do they should be more fair and just therein than these Men have been They are very Injurious and Offensive both in Charge and Citation we only Defensive and not under a necessity of reciting and reprinting their whole Citations in every part Let their Books and ours be compared to evince them more fully and clear our Innocency from these Adversaries gross Calumnies Perversions Misapplications Misrepresentations and fruitless Attempts Ingenuous Reader please to take W. P's own following Answer to several Charges against him LIBEL p. 4. quotes W. P's Sandy Foundation p. 20. thus viz. That Finite and Impotent Creature speaking of Christ Which is so gross a Strain of Envy and Abuse that no Ingenuous Person can read it without an Abhorrence of the Author's Temper and Work and shews how little Credit ought to be given him in the rest of his Work For it is plain W. P. made the Absurdity lie here That the Doctrine he oppos'd makes it Impossible for God to forgive without a rigid Satisfaction and yet Man who is a Finite and Impotent Creature is not only capable of it but commanded to do it See Sandy Foundation p. 18. Sect. 7. Again Libel p. Ibid. Christ's Co-essentiality and Co-eternity with his Father of his being made Man Dying for Sins Rising and Ascending into Heaven c. they make W. P. to call Confused Babble and by Rote-Canting By-paths of vain Tradition and Invention Romancing dark Results of Factions and Corrupted Counsels c. Whereas 't is plain from his Book at large as well as from the Words themselves which they have cited he writ not in Contempt of the Matter but in Reproof of the Man For he taxes him with Babbling by Rote-Canting and Romancing over the weighty Mysteries of Eternal Life which words they left out because being in they would have disappointed them of an Opportunity of Abusing W. P. So that in short he reproved the Rambling and Insensible Manner of the Priest's Writing and not the Matter treated of which W. P. expresly calls the Weighty Mysteries of Eternal Life Which yet plainer appears from p. 28. upon occasion of some Queries made by W. P. to shew the Indistinction and confused Way of the Priest's Writing viz. Thou must not Reader from my Querying thus conclude we do deny as he hath falsly charged us those glorious Three which bear Record in Heaven the Father Word and Spirit neither the Infinity Eternity and Divinity of Jesus Christ for that we know he is the Mighty God nor what the Father sent his Son to do on the behalf of Lost Man declaring to the whole World we know no other Name by which Attonement Salvation and plenteous Redemption comes But rather to let thee see how unsatisfactorily he has imposed Religion on the World and how exceeding open he lays his Principles to the Objection of every reasonable Inquirer For the Priest's Book was intituled A Guide to the true Religion after going forward and backward four times in his Religion and therefore deserved an Answer as W. P. did in his Book intituled The Guide Mistaken Page 19 and 20 The Libel quotes W. P. giving hard words to the Clergy which W. P. is far from disowning allowing him as in Reason his own Sense and Intention Are they not Idle Gormandizing Priests that Feed the People with that which is not Bread and yet live upon theirs That teach for Hire and make a Trade of the Ministry Have not they been the Bane of Soul and Body through Ages that have either been the Ground or Fomentors of the most bloody and infamous Revolutions of the World Go ask the Martyrologies of all Nations who are the Fire and Faggot Men against Tender Consciences and Reformation W. P. does not charge every Person of the Clergy some being of a more Moderate Temper and better Principles but he would have these of the Clergy that take his Words hardly or any of their Hearers inquire how many of the Clergy stood to their Principles in the Times of K. Henry VIII Edward VI. Q. Mary and Q. Eliz. they will find of the whole Ecclesiastical Body containing about 12 Thousand Persons not 5 Hundred of all Ranks and Degrees that shewed Conscience for their Religion but took their Turns at all And how few through the many Revolutions since our late Civil Wars began have been true to their Principles many yet living know to the Scandal of Religion as well as the Nation After this W. P. thinks himself very little accountable for what he has said to a most Temporizing and Hypocritical Parson J. C. of the Men of his Qualifications for he having excluded the Quakers Socinians c. from Salvation must not take it hard of any of us called Quakers if they think such Turn-Coats and Hypocrites have nothing to do there Libel p. 4. That the outward Person which suffered was properly the Son of God we utterly deny Against W. P. Serious Apology p. 146. The Answer is That if what W. P. hath said and plainly meant is not true then the Body that Suffer'd must be of the Divine Nature and consequently that which is of the Divine Nature is Mortal But that which is properly the Only-begotten of God must naturally be Immortal So that properly and strictly speaking that which could die cannot be the Only-begotten Entire Son of God and yet it was his Body that died and as such it may in a Sense be said He died and in no other respect does W. P. deny that which died to be the Son of God See his Book Serious Apology at large upon this Passage which sufficiently explains it self and exposes their great Disingenuity that Cite it Page 146. Priest Jenner chargeth us with Denying the Lord that bought us because as he falsly says we deny that Person the Son of God that died at Jerusalem to be our Redeemer Which most horrid Imputation says W. P. has been Answer'd more I believe than a thousand times that is That he that laid down his Life and suffer'd his Body to be Crucified by the Jews without the Gates of Jerusalem is Christ the Only Son of the Most High God But to Assert the Body which Suffered and Died was properly the Entire Son of God this brings Him more under the Charge of making him but a meer Man than us who acknowledge Him to be One with the Father and of a Nature Eternal and Immortal For he was Glorified with the Father before the World was And that it may yet farther appear that what we give for our meaning is such besides what is already cited turn over Leaf to Page 149. and observe what Confession the said W. P. then made as to the Matter Controverted We do Believe in One Holy God Almighty who is an Eternal Spirit the Creator of all things And in One Lord Jesus Christ his Only Son and Express Image of his Substance who took upon Him Flesh and was in the World and in Life Doctrine Miracles Death Resurrection Ascension and Mediation perfectly did and does continue to do the Will of God to whose Holy Life Power Mediation and Blood we only ascribe our Sanctification Justification Redemption and Perfect Salvation And we Believe in One Holy Spirit that proceeds and breaths from the Father and the Son as the Life and Virtue of both the Father and the Son a Measure of which is given to all to Profit with And he that has one has all for those Three are One who is the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last God over all Blessed for ever Amen FINIS