following are left out viz. as received and proceeding immediately from that Spirit and spoken in the Sense thereof as Christ's Words were of greater Authority or Power when he spake than the Pharisees reading the Letter and them in whom that Spirit speaks not and their Speaking we deny whereby I did prefer the Spirit in it's Living and Powerful Ministry above the Letter but not a Word of preferring any Pamphlets to the Holy Scriptures God knows it never entred into my Heart to prefer any Pamphlets or Books extant in the World much less Lying Ones before the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament but do prefer and esteem them before all other Books or Writings extant whatsoever When Humphry Smith 's True and Everlasting Rule came in date the Scriptures became no better than an Old Almanack this from a Story of Tho. Hicks against one Tho. Holbrow though we know no such Person Dialogue p. 27. to which Edward Paye c. addeth these Words viz. These are the Men that in their Pamphlets profess so high an Esteem for the Holy Scriptures Antichrist in Spirit p. 13. Pray observe here These Men here accused with esteeming the Scriptures no better than an Old Almanack are therein most wickedly belied and scandaliz'd being those of us who publisht the Paper in Print entituled The Christianity of the People commonly called Quakers asserted wherein we sincerely declare the quite contrary to what 's here implicitly charged by E. P. c. against us namely That we do believe and own the Holy Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration c. Tho. Hicks in his Dialogue I. p. 24 25. and Edward Paye c. on his Credit Falsly and Wickedly Personate the Quaker thus viz. When we make use of Scripture it is only to Quiet and Stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule but for us had the Scriptures never been we could have known what is therein contained I hope quoth Edward Paye the Reader by this may perceive the Reason why the Quakers talk so much of Scripture in their Paper Observe we own not the Scripture we seemingly allow it but our End in this is only to stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule You see here quoth E. P. the condescending Spirits of these Men c. Antichrist p. 15. We do in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ utterly deny this Passage and Declaration as laid down in the Quakers Name and Person as no Declaration or Speech made or thus declarable by the Quakers on their Principle but a Horrid Abusive Forgery of Thomas Hicks long since detected and which you Baptists now may be horribly ashamed to bring forth or suffer to be renewed in Print The Names they i. e. the Quakers give the Holy Scriptures viz. No better than an Old Almanack a Dead Carnal Letter p. 18. But on second Consideration E. P. deems it a difficulty to prove that the Quakers do now in the present Tense say The Holy Scriptures are but a Dead or Carnal Letter as his other Pamphlet Raylings p. 23 24. and yet chargeth them in the present Tense with giving such Names to the Holy Scriptures but now 't is a Difficulty to prove his own Charge Among the Names which E. P. falsly chargeth the Quakers to give the Holy Scriptures viz. That they are the Precepts and Traditions of Men p. 18. That Obedience to the Scriptures is the Harlot's Child p. ibid. These are both utterly denyed by us the said People and the pretended Proof of the first is hereafter examined and proved false The latter I really believe could never be so said nor ever was held by the Quakers so to term sincere Obedience to the Holy Scripture but rather to reflect upon an Hypocritical Profession and Imitation of some Shadows and outwardward Things and neglecting the Substance of the New Covenant Dispensation That the Heaven they i. e. the Quakers intend wherein the three Divine Witnesses bear Record is No where else but within their Mortal Corrupt Bodies they intend no other Heaven than what is within them Antichrist in Spirit p. 20 21. This is expressly contrary to our known professed Principle of the omnipresence of God and his Spirit both in Heaven above and in Earth beneath and whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain And I take the Charge to be but E. P's own Consequence which he himself has drrawn from some Words he has partially and mincingly taken up against James Parnell Thomas Lawson Edward Burroughs c. First For a Pretext quoting James Parnell's Book as he calls it Satan's Design Discovered But I know no Bok of James Parnell's so entituled upon the Reviewing the Titles of his Books nor any of the rest quoted that oppose or disown God's Omnipresence much less that the People called Quakers are guilty of any such Charge I would desire E. P. if he will still be so injurious as to reassume this Charge against the People called Quakers that he would yet be so ingenious as fairly and fully to cite the whole Passages of the Authors quoted by him relating to the Matter intended and for Proof of his Charge without his own Consequences and Perversions That if it shall appear that any of them have opposed or denyed the Omnipresence of God or his Eternal Spirit we may shew our dislike thereof But I believe there 's enough in our Friends Books to clear them if honestly viewed and cited and we have great cause to Question and detect his unfair Citations as I have this following Instance against my self for Proof of his said Charge 8. Quoting Dipper plung'd Christ without us is not Scripture Language but the Anthropomorphites and Muggletonians Antichrist in Spirit p. 22. But E. P. in his other Pamphlet Railings p. 29. varies in his Repetition of his Charge thus viz. G. W. Dipper plung'd Jesus Christ a Person without us is not Scripture-Language c. Observe here in the one it is Christ without us where after Christ E. P. leaves out God-Man a Person i. e. without us which I said is not Scripture-Language c. In the other it is Jesus Christ a Person without us is not Scriture-Language where after Christ he leaves out God-man again and yet both charged by the same Credulous Person E. P. though both be falsly cited and unjustly charged upon me as mine For to Tho. Hick's strange Phrase viz. Jesus Christ God-man a Person without thee Dial. p. 9. My Answer was This is not Scripture Language but the Anthropomorphites and Muggletonians who profess a personal God denying him to be an Infinite Spirit Dipper plung'd p 13. Wherein my Objection was not against the Words Jesus Christ without us for he is both without us and within us but my Question was of the Words God-man a Person without us including God as well as the Man Christ Jesus as
being but a Person without us which may be ascribed to any Man or Woman that is but a finite mortal Creature which as it was not Scripture Language I did esteem it too low and mean an Epethite to ascribe to an Infinite and omnipresent God but does this deny either God or Christ to be in Heaven above or confine God only in the Hearts of his People No sure and I was very Conscientious and Tender of the Glory and Dignity of God and Christ therein as thinking T. Hicks and his Brethren would never preach People into the Knowledge of the true God or Jesus Christ by telling them That God and his dear Son Christ Jesus is a Person without them howbeit I am not so pertinacious in my Objection but if they 'l bring me Plain Scripture that calls the Infinite God a Person without them let it be in any true Translation of Holy Scripture and I 'le acquiesce for I am not willing to be under any Mistake Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Figura substantiae ejus Figure of his Substance 't is not Image of his Person nor the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in conspectu Christi as some have it others in persona Christi 2 Cor. 2.9 which proves not the Phrase God-Man a Person without thee to be a Scripture Phrase Whereas G. F. said He that hath not this Christ that was Risen and Crucified within is a Reprobate Great Mystery f. 206. Here E. P. leaves out the Words Risen and and proceeds viz. I think here is a bare-faced Piece of Blasphemy and down-right denying the Lord Christ. What was that the False Christ that dyed at Jerusalem without the Gates of Jerusalem Ay saith George Fox if there be any other Christ than he that was Crucified within he is the False Christ p. 28. quoting G.F. his Mystery p. 206. And then E. P. Falsly and Absurdly Discants upon the Words Crucified within whereby he saith is meant within that Man the Son of Mary not the Man that was Crucified was Christ p. 28. None but one blinded with Envy would ever have thus Charged G. F. or the Quakers with such horrible falshoods and Forgery G. F. gives no such Answer as Ay to the Question Before he owns no other Christ than him that was Crucified and Dyed at Jerusalem and the same Christ to be within as the Apostles did G. Fox's own Words clear him herein even in the very Book and Page cited by E. P. viz. Great Mystery p. 206. where G. F. saith If Christ that was Crucified be not within and Christ that 's Risen be not within I say that you all are Reprobates And this is not opposite to Jesus Christ without that Dyed at Jerusalem but the SAME And the Apostles Preach'd Christ that was Crucified within and not another him that was Raised from the Dead was Risen that Lord Jesus Christ within it was HE that was manifest IN the Saints that was and is and not another c. Now let all Impartial Readers Judge how clear G. F. and we are from the Blasphemies before-charged as both that of denying the Lord Christ or esteeming him the false Christ that Dyed at Jerusalem Oh! Edward Paye William Allcott and Henry Loader and those of your Congregation who approv'd of your said Pamphlet containing such Horrid Abominable Lyes Perversions Slanders and Forgeries as these against G. F. and us Be ye all horribly ashamed thereof and repent before it be too late Your following Charge deduced from the foregoing is of the same kind and as wickedly False and Pernicious viz. Christ that was Born of the Virgin was Crucified upon the Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem that was in all Points tempted like as we are yet without Sin This they i. e. the Quakers will not allow to be the True Christ or God's Christ which is a most horrid Lye elswhere detected Is not this a plain denying of the Lord that bought them Antichrist in Spirit p. 28 29. See also Mr. Penn's Sandy Foundation p. 25.30 To say God should Condemn and Punish his Innocent Son that he having satisfied for our Sins we may be justified by the Imputation of his perfect Righteousness p. 40. Here E. P. after Justified thou hast left out whilst unsanctified and so hast wickedly perverted and altered the Sense of his Words and belyed us and him shamefully in what follows Why should the Quakers be such Grand Deluders as so plainly pretend to believe it and say he i. e. Christ dyed for your Sins and rose again for your Justification when ibid. p. 16. Mr. Penn saith That the Consequences of SUCH a Doctrine are both Irreligious and Irrational and why should they believe Justification by Christ's Righteousness p. 40 41. This Charge appears as notoriously false in Fact as any of the Rest. I have strictly perused the Places quoted in W. P's Sandy Foundation p. 16 c. And I find no such Thing as the Doctrine of Christ's Dying for our Sins and Rising again for our Justification charg'd with Consequences either Irreligious or Irrational But the Doctrine That God inflicted the Penalty of Infinite Wrath and Vengeance on his dear Son Jesus Christ and that for Sins past present and to come he hath wholly born and paid it to satisfie the offended infinite Justice c. ibid. p. 16. 'T was the Consequences of this Doctrine and also that of the Justification of the Wicked or Impure Persons before Sanctification That W. P. deemed Irreligious and Irrational ibid. p. 16 22 24 to 31. And dare E. P. or his Associates own and stand by these Doctrines as Religious and Rational which W. P. opposed Though Christ Dyed for all Men suffered for the Sins of the whole World it was not under the Penalty of his Father's Infinite Wrath and Vengeance but as a Sacrifice of a sweet-smelling Savour to God He Rose again for our Justification but not to Justifie us in Sin or without True Faith and Real Sanctification by his Spirit in us Why should the Quakers be Angry as they have been for calling G. F. the King of the Quakers since he is as really so on their Account as Christ is the King of Christians p. 45. We do in our Consciences Testifie against this Charge as a great and false Scandal upon us the People called Quakers Jesus Christ being our King and Law-giver G. F. was never so accounted by us but a Servant of Christ and true Subject in Christ's Kingdom and Instrumental for the Good of many in his Day and Time But read p. 6 7. Saul 's Errand to Damascus And George Fox takes the Name to himself saying He is the Eternal Judge of Quick and Dead p. 46. This False Charge is again recited by E. P. in his other Pamphlet Raylings p. 35. and a Defence thereof therein attempted by him but to no purpose for as was told him it is notoriously False in Fact And instead
by a Mediate or Immediate Inspiration or Revelation p. 21. And what follows If by neither of these ways we can resolve him then not to pretend to Immediate Inspiration And yet he himself pretends to Mediate or more Common Gifts of the Spirit and then confusedly tells of the use of these more immediate or common Gifts p. 19 20. And yet by these his pretended more immediate or common Gifts of the Spirit or rather mediate Gifts in his sense I presume he cannot resolve himself his Two Questions before nor can he upon his own Principle either resolve them or be resolved them either by any mediate or immediate Gifts For the immediate he has disclaimed he needs it not he says but pretends the Scriptures to be the Only Rule of Faith By what Rule then should he be resolved what those or any of those other things were that are not written John 20.25 Therefore he has insincerely and temptingly imposed unlearned Questions and Propositions which he does not believe can be resolved to his conviction or satisfaction and thereupon has past unjust Judgment against our having immediate Inspiration yet in contradiction to himself tells us of common and more immediate Gifts and Graces of the Spirit and of the use of these more immediate or common Gifts to help our Infirmities p. 19 20. Altho I presume he would be loath to have his own Judgment and Condemnation against us return'd upon himself on the same condition For 't is certain he that has not the Spirit of Christ is none of his And what are these more immediate Gifts and Graces of the Spirit he pretends to the use of seeing he and his Brethren pretend not to immediate or extraordinary Inspirations p. 19 20. There 's another Contradiction in the Case to prove their Call to Baptize People in Water He saith they have a sufficient Call for it from the Commission of Christ our Great Prophet who is to be heard in all things Matth. 28. Mark 16. and the frequent Examples of his Apostles c. So that we need not immediate Inspirations for our Call or Authority herein p. 21. Ans. Which is to tell us you may take upon you to be Preachers and Baptizers in Water without being inspired by Christ because he gave a Commission to his Disciples to teach all Nations baptizing them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost But 1. This is no proof that you are called by Christ to either 2. Here 's no Water mention'd in the Commission 3. And to baptize into that Name is a work of the Spirit attending a living and spiritual Ministry given and authorized by Christ himself which this proves not yours to be no more than that the false Prophets were true and truly commissionated because they said thus saith the Lord when yet God never spoke to them no more than Christ hath spoke to you to Preach and Baptize with Water when as you do both without his immediate Inspiration Commission or Spirit and consequently you do not hear him in all things 4. Neither does it follow that you hear Christ because you Preach and Baptize People in Water by imitation of others whom he sent to Preach and Convert People by his Spirit whereby they did Minister 5. You might as well argue that because Peter James John and Paul c. were Apostles and Ministers of Christ therefore we Edward Paye and William Allcott c. are Ministers of Christ. 6. If Reading Christ's Commission to his Disciples Mat. 28. Mar. 16. be sufficient authority for persons to turn Preachers and then to tell People they hear Christ because they read his said Commission and presume to take it upon them without immediate Inspiration from him why may not the Priests of England c. be his Ministers as well as you and why do you dissent from them Thus we see how you have proved your Call and Authority for what you pretend even as well as any sensual Impostors blind Guides and Deceivers may On Rom. 10.6.7 8. E. P. saith neither did the holy Apostle understand the Word here to be Christ p. 22. Ans. How does he answer the Questions then which the Righteousness of Faith gives answer to Say not in thy Heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ from above Or who descend into the Deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is near thee c. Is this all one as to say the Scripture is near thee even in thy Mouth and Heart Or was the Enquiry after the Scripture Who shall ascend or descend to fetch me the Scriptures No sure Was not the antecedent Question of Christ And surely none can savingly believe with the Heart and in true Faith confess with the Mouth that God hath raised Christ from the dead so as to be saved but by that Living Word of Faith in the Heart which works a true and living Faith therein and therefore that Word of Faith which begets and works this Faith is Christ in Spirit who is the Author of this Faith otherwise the Questions who shall fetch Christ c. are not answered For where with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth maketh Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 he must needs first feel that Living Word of Faith in his Heart to work that Faith in him which produceth that Righteousness in Man which attends Salvation 'T is true that I did complain of E. P.'s injurious way of Writing in accusing us with giving better or higher Titles to our own Books than to the Holy Scripture instancing that of H. Smith's Book where E. P. gave these words only for the Title A True and Everlasting Rule being but the first words of the Title and leaving out the next following in the same Sentence viz. From God discovered This I did deem very disingenuous Now to extenuate and excuse the Offence he asks me Does those Words from God discovered added to The True and Everlasting Rule diminish the Heighth of the Title p. 23. Answ. Yes as the first Part was only by E. P. attributed to the Book contrary to the Design of the Title and Matter contained in the Book to which the Title had plain reference as taken together entirely that True and Everlasting Rule from God discovered being the Holy Spirit the Eternal Light and Manifestation of Christ within or what may be known of God being manifest in Man plainly testified unto in the said Book as that True and Everlasting Rule that was from God discovered so the Perversion and Abuse is plain I think E. P. might have spared his Labour of giving the Reader a Breviate of what he Ironically calls The Sweet Convincing Language the Quakers use to treat their Antagonists withal unless his own Language had been sweeter and more convincing than it is and less Partial and Abusive in his Accusations as to Matter
30. whilst he unfairly passeth by and leaves out what I Grant Ibid. Reas. aganist R. p. 23. If by Personal Being he means a Body distinct from ours I believe he hath a Spiritual Glorious Body distinct from all these Earthly Sublunary Bodies If by Personal Being he means the Manhood of Christ our confessing the Man Christ as Mediator is sufficiently evinced To the Question then put Is the Heavens that must retain him only the Hearts of Men My Answer was It is whom the Heaven must receive Act. 3.21 And this is above and larger than the Hearts of Men. Reas. against Rail p. 24. Excep G. F's Great Mystery p. 71. Christ's Nature is not Human which is Earthly and yet they profess to believe the Humanity of Christ. 'T is evident by Human in this Place he understands Earthly and therefore esteems it not properly applicable to the Heavenly Man Christ or his Divine Nature We may believe the Manhood or Humanity of this Heavenly Man and yet not his Nature to be Earthly as the first Adam's was G.F. in the very same Place alledg'd confesseth That we do not deny Christ according to the Flesh to be of Abraham Gr. Myst. p. 71. Except Against G. F. again Bunion is deceived who saith God is distinct from the Saints By the Words Distinct from here if not mis-printed he means Divided or Separate from as many in common Acceptation understand them for though God and his Saints be different or distinct Beings yet not separate or divided one from another Excep See Mr. Hayworth's Animadversions p. 11. One W. Bates a Quaker said more than once That what Christ took of the Virgin had now no Being p. 30 31. I know not how to credit this Story which E. P. is so credulous of but rather think 't was a Mistake or Misunderstanding in the Hearers for such Words are disowned by us and therefore not justly to be imputed to us Excep p. 31. Mr. Penn's Justification is not by the Imputation of another's Righteousness but from the actual Performance and Keeping God's Righteous Laws Sandy Found p. 25. This is not fairly cited for the Scripture Ezek. 18.20 26 27 28. from whence W. P. argues is left out and so are the Words or Condemnation after Justification and the Word Laws added instead of Statutes or Commandments Besides his Argument is mistaken for it is not to oppose Salvation or Justification by Jesus Christ his Righteousness Merits and Works for there cannot be any true actual Performance or keeping of God's Commandments by any Person whatsoever without Christ or without his Righteousness and Work being partaken of And did not the Lord say He that hath walked in my statutes and hath kept my judgments to deal truly he is just he shall surely live Ezek. 18.9 And if the wicked will return from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live and shall not dye v. 21. For as the real Righteousness of another belongs not to that Person that 's wholly Unrighteous but the Righteousness of the Righteous shall be upon him only that 's truly the Righteous Person so Christ's Righteousness cannot truly be reckon'd theirs that have none of It wrought in them but are wholly Unsanctified and Polluted for then 't is his and not theirs But who are made Just or Righteous by Christ Jesus Both he and his Righteousness is theirs so far as they are made Partakers thereof Without Christ we can do nothing 't is he that has purchased us to God 't is he that works all our Works in us 't is he that enables us truly to obey and follow him and 't is our Duty to obey him and to keep his Commandments So that both the Merit of our Redemption and our Sufficiency for true Obedience is Christ's and of and in him and not of our selves Excep p. 31. E. B's Works p. 33. God doth not accept any where there 's any Failing or who do not fulfil the Law and answer every Demand of Justice Here E. B.'s next foregoing words are left out viz. those that love God keep his Commandments and they are not grievous Whence it follows that they that do not keep his Commandments do not love him The Question is Whether God accepts them that do not love him 'T is true the words or who do not fulfil the Law and answer every demand of Justice seem partly to relate to a state under the Law according to James 2.10 11. Gal. 3.10 Heb. 2.2 Rom. 2.13 and partly to that sincere Obedience required under the Gospel and 't is certain God accepts none in any disobedience neither the Law nor the Gospel allows of sinning against God or Christ. See Luke 12.47 Joh. 14.21 1 Cor. 7.19 2 Cor. 10.6 Joh. 10.14 2 Thess. 1.8 1 Joh. 3.6 8. 2 Joh. 9. But every Disobedience is to be repented of Except Pag. 32. Truth 's Defence p. 101. They say That it is dangerous for Ignorant People to read them i. e. the Scriptures That is such Ignorant People as pervert them to their own destruction that must needs be dangerous yet profitable to the Man of God and those who are guided by his Spirit to the true understanding of them the Book quoted more fully clears it self Christ by his Divine Light and Spirit is the Only Rule and Guide of God's People both in the knowledge of his Divine Will and of the Holy Scriptures Christ is the Only Way and Means of Mens coming to walk with God and the Only Rule of Faith and Practice Christ who is the Author of living Faith must needs be the Only or Chief Guide Way and Rule unto his true Spiritual Followers And this answers most of p. 32 33. Except p. 33. See what my Antagonist saith Dipper plung'd p. 13. and then judge If the Scriptures be No Rule yea if it be Idolatry to call the Bible A Means as G. W. expresly saith Obs. I am very unfairly cited and wrong'd in both these and 't is notoriously false to say G. W. expresly saith either that the Scriptures are No Rule or that 't is Idolatry to call the Bible A Means for in the very place quoted my words expresly are these viz. 1. By what Rule must we believe that the Scriptures are the Only Rule of Faith and Practice while they no where do call themselves so 2. To Tho. Hicks's saying that the Bible is The Means of our knowing God Dial. p. 41. My Answer was He Idolatrously sets up the Bible in the place of Christ for no Man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him Matth. 11.27 Now pray observe further 1. My not granting the Scriptures to be the Only Rule implicitly grants them to be a Rule or some Rule my Question being on the Word Only in this case 2. By my not assenting that the Bible or Books are the Means of our knowing God
I do not therefore conclude that the Divine Doctrin therein contain'd may be no means of our knowing God for in Christ's hand and by his opening it to us and our understandings therein it may be and is A Means of Divine knowledge to us Christ being the Way and the Means original of Divine and Saving-Knowledge Obj. against G. W. again viz. Who also affirmeth that Faith grounded on the Scriptures is but an empty implicit Faith and bespeaks such persons void of the knowledge of God and Christ and Salvation and that such Men walk by their own Fancies and Imaginations Quoting Christ ascended p. 11. Observ. This Baptist has again apparently miscited and wrong'd my Answer 't was none of my affirmation or words That Faith grounded on the Scripture is but an empty implicit Faith c. I affirm they are not my words but E. P.'s fallacious abuse put upon me The Case was this viz. John Newman in his Book stiled The Light within c. having affirm'd p. 45. That without the Scriptures to be the Rule we know not that there is any God or Christ or Salvation c. all Men are left in the dark and no man knoweth how to enjoy Life Eternal neither do we know what God counteth unclean and what holy without the Scriptures we know not any Promise c. It leaves men to walk by Fancy and Imaginations Thus far he My Answer was Poor Men You have shewn your selves sufficiently herein and what an empty implicit Faith you are in and how void both of the Knowledge of God Christ and Salvation you are and how yet in your sins having denied Christ and his Light within to be your Rule Way and Foundation as he is to his Followers And so you are walking by your Fancies and Imaginations who set the Scriptures in the place of Christ as your only and absolute Rule and Ground of your Faith and Knowledge c. So that I did not own nor grant that their Faith was really grounded on the Scriptures herein but on their own unscriptural Fancies and Imaginations vid. Christ ascend p. 12. contrary to Scripture-Testimony of Christ. And I further oppose their Ignorance of God and Christ thus viz. And then what a sad Sentence of no less than condemnation doth this pass upon all People and Nations who have not the Scriptures as being all void of knowledge that there is either God Christ Salvation Good or Evil without the Scriptures whereas there is a Living Evidence throughout the Creation or Works of God therein of the Eternal Power or Maker thereof See Ps. 19. Rom. 1. Job 12. and many do know and have known these things written of which concern Salvation by the Light of God and Christ in them that never could read nor had the Scriptures outwardly as those Gentiles which had not the Law yet did those things contained in it and shewed the Effects of the Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2. Tho' the Scriptures are profitable to the Man of God who hath them being led by his Spirit which opens them Christ ascend p. 11 12. And now E. P. to prove thy Brethren W. Allcot and H. Loader's false Charge That the Quakers contemn and vilifie the Holy Scriptures in their Epistles and thy own horrid Slanders also that they are great Enemies to and Contemners of Holy Scriptures p. 20. of thy Antichrist in Spirit Thou summest up thy Argument with divers If 's but assumest no Assumption pursuant to thy general Charge as in thy 33 and 34 Pages of thy Railings and Slanders detected thus viz. Now if the Scriptures be a dead carnal Letter Ink and Paper saith Parnel If they are the Precepts and Traditions of Men saith Naylor in his Love to the Lost. If they are no better than an old Almanack as Holbrow said Hick 's Dial. p. 29. If to say an Ass hath as much Authority essentially in himself to teach and rebuke as the Scriptures c. be not to Contemn and Vilifie them I am yet to seek what is Ans. The Assumption or Minor Proposition intended i. e. but the Quakers say all these of the Holy Scriptures is here wanting and the Argument is lame and fallacious as well as falsly stated also in the first Proposition being not in the terms of the Charge For 1 st The Charge is general against the Quakers That they are great Enemies to and Contemners of the Holy Scriptures yet the word Holy not mentioned in the particular Instances fallaciously alledged for proof though it be in the general Charge 2. If some of the Instances were true yet to charge them upon the People called Quakers in general is an absurd and unjust way of arguing a particulare ad universale and no better than to argue thus If Edw. Paye the Baptist has raked up and charged divers of Hicks's Lies and Forgeries upon the Quakers and added many more of his own to them then the Baptists are all Forgers But Edw. Paye hath so done is apparent Ergo They may justly deny the Major though the Assumption or Charge alone stands good being plentifully proved against E. Paye in particular 3. Neither are the particular Instances true in fact the Holy Scriptures are not a dead Letter in the Quakers esteem tho' none of us ascribe Holiness to Ink and Paper or the dead Characters but to the living Divine Precepts and Doctrine therein contained nor did we ever think the Holy Scriptures to be but the Precepts and Traditions of Men or much less no better than an Old Almanack as the People called Quakers are most unjustly accused by these Adversaries Antichrist in Spirit p. 18. And 't is far from J. N. or any of us either to say or think that an Ass hath as much Authority essentially in himself to teach and rebuke as the Holy Scriptures For shame E. P. retract and leave off such foul gross and horrid Lies and Reproaches against the People called Quakers To prove that we name or call the Holy Scriptures the Precepts and Traditions of Men charged against the Quakers in general Antichrist in Spirit p. 18. Thou E. P. hast repeated this again in thy Railings p. 33. and quotest James Nayler's Love to the Lost for it but not in what Page and therefore I have been at the pains to view over that Book to see if I could find any such words but find nothing like them but the contrary namely 1 st That the words of the Scripture were given forth from the Light which he calls the Eternal Light Love to the Lost p. 4 20 21. And that the Ministers of Christ who have the Word who are begotten by the Word through such came the Scriptures which came not by the Will of Man but by the Spirit and so are of no private Interpretation Love to the Lost p. 73. which Spirit is the Eternal Spirit the Spirit of Light and Truth p. 13 18. Thus J. N. All which is far enough from calling or
and yet I did not call you Anabaptists on that score nor in derision as is wrongfully suggested p. 12. but only for distinction-sake my words at first being the People commonly called Anabaptists p. 1 'T is far from me to design any derision or to put any ridicule upon the People so called from E. Paye's particular abuses for I hope as some of them are more honest than himself so many of them will be ashamed of his malicious Pamphlets tho' he pretends the Approbation of several since p. 38. which we have little cause to credit without their own testimony for some eminent among that People have declared their dislike of his work already And it will be far more for their credit and reputation to stop him from his scribling to defame others than to suffer him to persist therein And as to his Challenging any to charge and prove against him any thing unbecoming a Man and a Christian respecting either Life or Principles Human Frailties excepted p. 38. I ask him if to bear false witness against his Neighbours to belie slander and defame them to take up reproaches against them to pervert and corrupt their words to gather up credit and publish their Adversaries malicious Defamations against them all which E. P. is proved notoriously guilty of be either becoming a Man or a Christian or be to do as he would be done unto What an easie matter is it for a wicked person to write malicious Pamphlets at that rate Or must these Enormities be reputed only as Human Frailties Will his Religion and Conscience allow him to slander to lie to defame others and yet for all that to be a moral Man and good Christian and Minister to others I am sure the just God will not so esteem him nor any one else in such a state Upon a serious View and Observation of the Method which he E. Paye c. has taken up against the People commonly call'd Quakers I find it thus 1. To quote and cite divers of their Adversaries Invectives against them 2. To mis-cite and abuse some of their own Authors Books and Writings against them sometimes leaving out the most emphatical Expressions in the middle and sometimes in the end of a Sentence and many times the most explanatory part of their Answers thereby greatly altering perverting and corrupting matters contrary both to the Authors own Words and Expressions 3. To invent and forge notorious falshoods contrary to our express Christian Profession and Perswasion 4. From such indirect and unjust Premises to draw his own perverse and evil Consequences against the People called Quakers in general to render them and their whole Society and Profession as odious and obnoxious as he can 5. Divers of his Authors to whom he has given credit and whose odious defamations he has raked up against us were persecuting Priests and others of party with them who were as much enemies to the Baptists as to us and long since answered and refuted 6. He is so credulous as he seems to take all for granted that such Adversaries have maliciously writ against us but in many cases takes no notice of our Answers to them and where he doth he is very subject to pervert mince curtailize and abuse them as before Now I am perswaded the Ministers and People of the baptized Societies would not be thus served after such injurious Methods And to me and divers others 't is a wonder that those Ministers and Elders of that Society who appear more discreet and judicious than this injurious Adversary E. P. do not give a severe check to him and put a stop to his perverse and contentious Scribling tending to Strife and to aggravate Divisions and cause Animosities among Neighbours and to make Breaches wider among People and rather seek Peace Mutual Love and Charity among all for I must tell them these crooked Methods which E. P. takes will be no small disrepute and disparagement to them that are of the same Society with him or that own him as a Brother or Minister among them And since in conclusion of his last he has given us a Threat as if he would frighten us That if he be foolishly provoked we may it is like have a quarterly Packet to keep our Fame in remembrance And truly if he will be so foolish as to be foolishly provoked or to make a foolish Provocation the ground of his Packets or Pamphlets against us we shall have little cause to be affrighted or deterred by his Threat from making our Just Defence and now since he has so loudly alarum'd us he has given us occasion to watch him narrowly and warily really believing he 'l make no great earnings of such his undertaking nor advantage of his atchievements but bring Infamy upon himself and an unnecessary Charge upon others and be no small Disparagement to his own Society I have traversed the Controversies long since and I bless God that he has made me a Witness for his Truth and for Christianity in Life and Power even from my Youth upward against Deceit Envy and Hypocrisie that I have seen in these our Adversaries and Opposers what personal Detractions or Reflections I meet withal I value not my Innocence and Christian Conversation being well known to many and my inward Peace with the Lord in my own Conscience but wherein I find the Truth abused and God's Heritage reproached I am constrained in God's holy Fear and Zeal to stand up for Truth and in its Vindication against its Adversaries and Gainsayers and their Contradictions and hope ever shall so long as the Lord gives Life and Ability And I humbly thank the Lord my God who hath hitherto helped and supported me and many more in his Work and Service and in Christian Love and Good-will towards all Men. G. Whitehead The Conclusion I Have hitherto been mostly on the Defensive Part to remove these Adversaries Calumnies and Misrepresentations of our Principles much I have to except against divers of their Unsound Doctrines particularly about the great stress they lay on their Water-Baptism and what they call The Lord's Supper 't is easy to make it appear that they exactly run parallel with the Rhemists in the manner of their defending ther Water-Baptism and the great Weight they place upon it contrary to Scripture and the Doctrine of the Ancient Protestants Please to take a View of some of these Baptists Doctrines and some brief Observations and Questions upon them as followeth 1. That by Baptism i. e. Water-Baptism we must put on Christ and so become Members of his Mystical Body Heirs of the Promise of the Holy Spirit c. Antichrist in Spirit p. 69. Observ. This is Popish Doctrine and contrary-to the Apostle's See 1 Cor. 12 13. 2. That the highest Attainments or greatest Measures of the Holy Spirit do but fit Men for Gospel Ordinances p. 64. Whereof their Water-Baptism is rendred a Sacred or Holy one p. 57 63. Qu. Where doth the Scriptures say That